#black or white frame full box awning.

[chrsity1990-blog]

factory supply electric full cassette retractable awning

[soufcakmistress]

Bon Anniversaire

A/N: I turned 26 on Friday, and in the midst of my birthday activities 🌚 I wanted to get out this fantasy too. Shoutout to all the Virgo queens! Again, as always thank you all for reading, and please let me know if you wanna be tagged!

Pairing: Erik x Thick Black Reader

Fragrant breeze flowing through the open window, the Egyptian cotton sheets surround your naked body, soft snores coming from you as dawn begins to crest. You stretch out in the king bed, fully rested from yesterday’s activities. It’s your birthday today and you’re grown grown. You’re finally at a place where you can play just as hard as you work and having a spouse who would do anything for you, the sky is the limit. Feeling around the king bed, something is missing. Your husband. Your hunk of a husband.

Erik coordinated a birthday getaway like you’ve never experienced before. Zip lining through the rain forest, jet skiing on the lake, private meals under the stars, courtesy of the finest chef the exotic locale had to offer. He was sooooo good at gift giving; nothing was too extravagant for his baby. He kept everything secret from you, not even revealing the destination to you until you stepped off the jet. Renting a mansion on the water, with so much space and the mind blowing view of the pier from the master room balcony, the possibilities were endless.

Your nose catches the scent of breakfast, getting closer to the room. In walks Erik, his locs free, wearing some white linen pants slung low carrying a silver platter of eggs, breakfast meats, fruits and flavored croissants. Placing it on the table set in your room, he goes back and gets the mimosas and water, to complete the smorgasbord. You’re fighting not to shed a tear at his thoughtfulness, and wrap the large bedsheet around your body and walk toward your lover man. “Now who made all this? You call yourself cooking?”

Erik throws his head back at your teasing and turns himself fully to you, pulling your pelvis to his. He definitely doesn’t have any underwear on, and the beginnings of a full blown erection is starting to poke through the thin material. “Daddy did this. It’s my baby’s birthday, I wanted this to be special for you. Now kiss me, with your mean ass so we can eat.”

You peck Erik and he always has to be extra holding your face and licking your lips and sucking them into his mouth, making you yelp and giggle. He plays so damn much. Both of you begin to dig in, heading straight for the bubbles to set your day off right.

Erik pulls you into his lap, your legs hanging over, your fat cheeks right on top of his cock. At this moment, the mimosas have been emptied and refilled several times; the bubbly has set in fully between you and him, and you were both getting handsy. Grabbing your chin, he leaps in with his tongue first opening your mouth, while pulling down the front of the bedsheet wrapped around your breasts. Your chest is exposed to the air and your nipples harden as he begins to tweak and pull at them, making you squirm.

His dick is so hard right now, fat and long, stiff between his strong thighs. The entire sheet falls from your body and you get up and straddle him, looking at him in his dark eyes. You look down at his pants and back at him, eyebrow raised. There was already a wet spot on the front of his pants from the precum seeping out of his mushroom tip, no need for them to stay on at this point.

You back away and let him stand, his 6 foot frame over your 5 feet and change body, and Erik pulls down his pants, big dick swinging and bobbing. It’s so engorged and beautiful and you’re still in awe every time you see him like this. Naked, vulnerable, open....and yours for the taking. He sits back down in the chair, legs wide, pulling you back down into his lap.

Erik’s lip is pulled under his perfect white teeth, making his dimples pop, breathing hard at your skin touching his. Your pussy is so wet right now, your mound and lips rubbing across his shaft, leaving traces of you behind. “How did the birthday girl like her meal? Looks like she’s feeling nice and energized..”

Smirking at his banter, you reply, “It really hit the spot, baby. But there’s another breakfast sausage that I’m in need of this morning...”

Riled up at your innuendo, Erik grabs you by your cheeks, tilting your body back, spreading your legs and lays his big slab of meat on top of your mound, the head of his dick passing your clit and landing right below your belly button. It was a definite power play; a subtle reminder of the power he possessed and the power you craved for him to unleash upon you. You gulp softly and look up at him, looking super mischievous and prepared to do his worst.

With one big arm wrapped around your body, he raises you up slightly and penetrates your soft hole, your breath caught in your throat by the invasion. His mouth flush against your ear, “One breakfast sausage, coming right up, hot and ready..” Bouncing your body on his dick, juices starting to accumulate in his lap, Erik takes a nipple of yours into his mouth, thrusting up when you bounce down.

Your spirited moans cascade out of the open balcony doors, carried over the lake as you sing of you and your husband’s love. He’s all smiles as he gazes upon you overwhelmed and desperate, in shock and awe at how his cock plunges in and out of you. He’s so deep, and so skilled with his hips, your arms are wrapped tight around the back of his neck so you stay on this wild ride.

Nipping at your neck and ears, he stands up and carries you to the day bed on the balcony, covered by a massive awning to block the sun and keep it cool. Bouncing your body on him the whole way, your braids are splayed all over your face, eyes shut tight at the demon dick you’re receiving. Erik places you on the luxurious mattress, dick throbbing and dripping of your sweetness. “C’mere, open them legs.”

Spread eagle, Erik has both of his hands behind your knees damn near touching the bed behind you. Groans keep falling out of your mouth, dutifully holding your lips open as he inches inside of you, that fat phallus stuffed into your little slit. He shows no mercy, pushing your shit in, marking his territory in your cunt. Eight and a half inches of manhood tunneling through you, all you can do is lay there and take it. “Oh my fucking-oh my....Erik....what is wrong with you? What are you doing to me baby?”, you whine out, as Erik pounds you. Erik is all hard muscle and steel while you were soft, sweet, and round, the perfect balance to bring pleasure forth for the both of you.

He’s panting from giving you a good thrashing, not daring to stop. He gets the good idea to raise your head up and make you look at the intrusion and retreat of his dick inside you. One hand on the side of your head, the other behind your neck; he pulls your head forward so you can see the most erotic sight ever. His fat fucking penis nearly has you bursting at the seams and he can somehow fit every inch inside you. “You see that??? Shit! Dick all in your stomach! Happy birthday baby, I love you..” His hips gyrate forward and he gives you every inch down to his balls, laying heavy on your ass. The bottom of your stomach is protruding slightly from the bulge of his cock, and you’re in disbelief at this wild man between your legs.

Erik pulls out and flops it out on your mound again, coated in your juices, veins popping with the rush of blood through his magical organ. Both of you are breathing harshly, letting your legs fall back down, dick drunk and woozy.

“I love you wife. Turn over. This birthday dick is all yours, let me slice that cake.” He flips you on to your soft stomach, putting your braids to one side and slides inside you, bottoming out in a solitary stroke. Laying right on top of you, he stays right there, sighing softly in your ear at the smooth and light crush of your pussy around him. Your back to his chest, he’s able to really dig you out in this position, his lower back bowed completely to make sure he touched every part of you.

“You just can’t get enough huh? You just can’t stop fucking me into any mattress you see? Nasty ass nigga, keep fucking me just like that!” Your mouth just gets more filthier by the minute, thankful that you two were alone on this side of the lake. This lit a fire under his ass, and he moved to grip your shoulder to keep you in place and the other hand gripped under your chin, punishing you by bringing you back on to his stroke. “Oh, your birthday roll around and you start talking shit huh? All right, let’s see what you gotta say after I pound you out, nasty girl. Dig this good pussy out..”

Your eyes are permanently rolled back in your head at his onslaught, wishing you had just shut the fuck up. He turns your head to look at him, and you’re met with your husband’s beautiful face, masculine features tight and pinched, lone vein in his forehead. He’s trying to make you tap out. Erik’s tongue is resting on his top lip, concentrating on unraveling you totally; his dick is throbbing inside you alerting you to his orgasm. You finally clench on him so you can both cum together and he yells a curse out at that snapper in between your legs. “Fuck, I’m about to-I’m about to!”

Three punishing strokes more and you can’t hold it anymore and gush as he fills you up, his hot semen strengthening your climax, forcing tears from your eyes at the tidal wave of immense pleasure brought to you by your man. He’s leaving open mouth kisses along your neck, collar bone and chin while you gather yourself; everything is super sensitive and his very touch could have you tumbling down the rabbit hole at any moment.

Sitting up on his knees and straddling your body, he is laughing so hard internally at you right now trying to pull it together. Sneaking a slender box from under one of the pillows of the day bed, he caresses your face and kisses you softly to get you to open your eyes. “Baby, baby. I got you another gift. Open your eyes for me baby, please?”

Rubbing your eyes and pushing your braids out of your face, you crack open your eyes and see this gift in Erik’s hand. “Erik....what is this...”

“Something for my baby. Just a small token of my appreciation and part of your birthday gift. Open it, baby.” You pull yourself up and gather the sheets under your chin, opening the jewelry box. It was a iced out white gold herringbone bracelet, with the matching diamond studs. “Erik, this is is too much. What...how....this is too much!”

“Nothing is too much for my wife. Better act like you know! Happy birthday baby!” Out of nowhere, he rings a small bell and two attendants come out pushing a cart with a three tier cake with sparklers flying everywhere with your name written out in icing. You turn and kiss your beloved for this amazing birthday, Erik smooching your tears away, prideful that he could bring so much joy to your special day.

Both of you, covered in blankets from the day bed, get up so you can blow out the smaller candles and make a wish. Erik swipes a finger and catches some frosting, and you suck his finger into your mouth. Wearing his brand new jewelry gifted to you, you drop to your knees and pull the sheets from around the both of you. Slapping his big strong thighs, you come closer and rub your face all over his snake. “Lemme show my appreciation baby, you’ve done so much for me already. You deserve a reward...”

Holding it in your hand, you let it flop on your face, head of his dick on your forehead, balls resting against your chin. Erik grabs the cart for stability, knowing firsthand how voracious you are when it comes to sucking dick. You hold his dick up on his stomach, lacing his balls in saliva, taking them both into your mouth while you jack off his warm shaft. Erik’s toes are starting to curl and his head is rolling back, arousal on a steady incline. Popping his sack out and throating his cock, your nose is flush against his pelvis, smelling the remnants of you and his cum in his pubic hair. “Shit girl, you can have whatever you want! Don’t make no sense for you to be swallowing this whole thing..” His knees are buckling and you grab him by his tight little butt to hold him steady, beaming at his praise, blissed out at your wonderful ass birthday.

TAGS: @l-auteuse @chaneajoyyy @thadelightfulone @gdharpo @sparklemichele @bitchacho25 @nickidub718 @raysunshine78 @randomwordprompts @thornedviolet @loveeeeandaffection @mydemons-aremy-friends @uzumaki-rebellion @heykillmongerluhme @amirra88 @blackmissfrizzle @scrumptiouslytenaciouscrusade @theogbadbitch @lostennyc @daughterofyeezus @ljs-writing @toniilaney @janelledarling @sweetestdream92

[johnskleats]

Beautiful Fool

That Great Gatsby!Merther AU, ya’ll.

@the-once-and-future-love @arthur-of-the-pendragons @the-fated-dragoness @pretty-pendragon

He had only wanted a little space to himself. That was natural enough, Gaius had said, provided he be mindful to keep sharp whilst on holiday. Privacy was recipe for secrets, his mother had said, get too used to it and risk a doomed marriage. What his uncle failed to understand was that this was not, in fact, a holiday, and his mother, bless her, would have to come to terms with his preferences. Whomever he found as a companion, eventually, would favor a similar life to his- that was what made a household, after all -harmony. “Find a woman who hates flowers,” he had jested, “and lake houses, and sunsets.” Merlin had been grinning. His mother had not. “Specifically task her to woo me, see if I give it up.”

“Give what up, Merlin,” mother had sighed.

He had only gotten so far as opening his mouth before Gaius boxed his ears in scolding. Mother fussed over supper. Merlin set the table. All was as it had always been in their little house on the corner, only in his room, there was a suitcase by the door, and the drawers were empty, and nothing was as it had been, really, at all.

And now he was home, where a new always would forge itself. Even as he had told mother to her bleary-eyed face that he would visit often and call yet more, Gaius had watched the lie weave through his lips as it was spun. His brow had been stern, but understanding. As always, he neglected to stop him spouting words that dug graves; Merlin couldn't blame him, as whatever came to him, he would probably deserve in one way or another. Yet, here he was: Camelot Isle, renting out a minuscule gardener's cottage that overlooked the harbor. His backyard, backwoods rather, lead into the gardens and courtyards of the looming mansion next door, Pendragon House, the full and dreary history of which he had gotten in his tenancy letter. Merlin had skimmed it. As his personal contract with the cottage was in no way connected to Pendragon House, originally servant's quarters or not, he had no interest or attachment to its grounds whatsoever. Because he lived here, he preferred not to be treated as a tourist, though the thought crossed his mind that the rent was fixed where it was for a purpose. The possibility of poor neighbors hadn’t crossed his mind. Between himself and whomever occupied the mansion, they had the isle to themselves; whatever it was that rendered his house so cheap couldn’t be so bad.

Merlin, on the porch of his new-to-him, two-room-with-a-bathroom-and-a-patio house, drank in the character of his little abode through a lens of intentional whimsy. It had windchimes nailed to the wood frame of the awning, bits of Cola bottles and seaglass turned in the lake and hung up with cord. The step into the living room and kitchen area was high and gnarled, and in his rounds about, Merlin had tripped on it no less than three times; his bedroom, the aforementioned second room of the two-room-with-a-bathroom-and-a-patio house, was a splotched lavender color, unevenly applied rose wallpaper fading and peeling away at cracks in the corners of the walls. His favorite part of the bedroom was probably the curtains, orange and visible, with their thick plumes of dust and heavy shadow. They were hideous. They were his.

Between his house and his neighbor's stood a dock leading out to a pier, at the end of which was a signalling bell. It was here that Merlin’s attention was drawn when with a peal of joy, the bell, chimed with the wind, his permanent glass fixtures tinkling with it and all the leaves sounding applause through the boughs of the canopy. A chill cut through him, and Merlin retreated inside to weather the surely impending storm. Awaiting him was a house of his own, just as cramped as his mother’s and far less comfortable, made sweeter and more welcoming by the name on the lease.

Merlin was a third of the way through chipping the grime from his stovetop when the first cracks of thunder rent the air. He jolted in surprise, butter knife clattering to the tile, and, shakily, took up his task again. The sound of pouring rain had deafened him to all other stimuli, and the sense of exposure rattled his bones. With the panes trembling in their frames and shutters fluttering, clamoring against the sides of the house along with the waving branches and pelting rain, wind whistling through the waterspout with the gush of overflow, he felt swallowed inside a void. The house was empty, save for himself. A new always, he supposed, being safe, unscathed, while simultaneously so utterly immersed in what his mother lovingly referred to as trouble. It filled him to the brim with the kind of excitement that makes boys leap from cliff faces to the sea, the kind of adrenaline that demands to know whether or not he could make the jump. The chaos scraped at his safehouse as the wall of his own skin, itching. It called to him like a siren song and, oddly, his heart ached. Merlin had longed to be alone, but the magic had followed him anyway.

Forlorn, he closed again the beaten shudders.

--Merlin opened them again.

There, in the earth driveway leading up to his neighbor's abode, was a car, the likes of which Merlin had only ever seen on magazine covers in stores. Yellow, canary yellow like rain slickers, yellow like bananas and technicolor and his mother's good dress stared back at him, obscured by black mud and torrents of water coursing along the body of metal. Outside the vehicle was a man of equally astounding quality, although less from the fact that he was soaked through to his designer shoes with water-dark hair in his eyes, and more so that he stood outside apparently his car, mixing himself in what was about to be ankle-deep mud. The moment Merlin had registered that the man was trying to push it out of its rut to no avail happened to be the same moment that the man had given up, throwing up his hands and kicking at the white-faced wheels with petulant abandon. The car wasn't hooded, rather open, actually, and the man looked away, paced, fumed as it rapidly took up water. Much longer in the road, which was flooding quickly, and the vehicle may not be operable at all.

Merlin, despite his brain telling him quite avidly that this would somehow change the course of his day, if not his life, in a way that would render him devoid of control, took it upon himself to don his raincoat, nevermind the boots, there was little time, and help the remarkable stranger.

When Merlin dashed out his front door, the look of surprise and relief he expected left much to be desired. Instead, he saw bewilderment and agitation, characteristic of a man who has had a very, very long morning. The man was shouting at him. Merlin was shouting back, but both voices were carried away in the storm, leading to a mutual agreement to shut up and push the car. He was struck with regret at his choice in priorities; his raincoat did him little good, as the exertion and laboured movement lead to water penetrating and eventually inundating his upper half, while he suspected galoshes would have done him much good indeed, in place of the cold mud oozing beneath his heels and riding up his socks. In several short pushes of combined effort, plus one big push, the buggy was out of the worst of the puddle, and arguably fit to go again. Still too loud to speak much, Merlin offered a thumbs up, and the man blinked at him, surprised again, although it may have been to chase away water clinging to his lashes still blindingly. Merlin gave that close-lipped, polite smile that offered immediate exit to limited acquaintances to urge him forward and out, but when the strange man, a drowned cat in a suit, continued to look at him as though transfixed, Merlin decided to make an executive decision on part of the universe.

He turned, and went inside.

The man watched him go, Merlin could feel it like the prickle of lightning in the sky, but he dared not look back, not even out his ugly curtains until he was certain his guest was gone. When he opened the shudder for the third time that rainy first day, it was to a flooded, murky street made to a mud pond in front of his house, and a long trail of tire tracks he could trace like a piece of string to the gates of the beautiful Pendragon House.

-

The first of the letters arrived the following morning. Merlin had only barely begun updating his address, most of his mail sure to be forwarded by his mother in the coming months, but this first letter, addressed to him, was from someone he was vaguely surprised but not astounded to hear from. Arthur Pendragon, his landlord. He could assume it was just like the last few he had received, informative snippets about his tenancy or more fluffy introduction to the place he was so privileged to live in, and so he paid it little mind. Merlin set it aside. The man with the yellow car crossed his mind once or twice, but only in passing. He hoped he had made it wherever he was going without much more trouble, even if it was his own fault for leaving such a valuable possession vulnerable to the elements like that.

He spent the day cleaning and tidying, much as he had the day before. The sunny sky and renewing smell of rain set him in a mood of rebirth, of new beginnings, and everything in his cozy fixer-upper was an opportunity to make something lovelier than before. He had a day or two yet for his holiday before he would have to call into work, and until then, he intended use his time wisely.

The wallpaper was the first thing to go.

With the night came the smell of drying paint and the sound of cars passing his house one after another, the chatter of excitement and the glare of filtered, colored light. Merlin would have shut it out if he could, but to close the window would be to suffocate in paint fumes, his beauty rest be damned. He wanted a good night's sleep, not a hangover. In the earlier hours of the evening, he had thought this would be an eight to ten kind of affair. Then the music started, a whole brass band, it sounded like, and he knew he was in for something interminable.

Merlin rolled around his cluttered living room, everything from the bedroom shoved into it whilst his paint aired out. He perched on his loveseat, did a lazy summersault out of his pillowfort, baked cookies to warm the house, even put on his own record as though to spite Pendragon House for its inconsiderate racket. The latter was to no avail, and he turned it off after a few minutes; the clash of melody was giving him a headache. He checked his watch- almost three in the morning. He was agitated enough to round up; at most, he had dozed a little under two hours between nine and now, fifteen minute increments interrupted by raucous laughter and what he assumed to be drunkards skinny dipping in the lake. He wished he didn’t know, but again, his windows were all wide open, and if anything killed him, it would be curiosity, followed swiftly by this miserable Arthur Pendragon.

Just then, Merlin remembered the letter he had received this morning. Was it a notice? He could find it in himself to be less put off if he had been warned- at least then it would be his own fault. Eyes shot, he fumbled with the heavy envelope until the seal popped- who wax-sealed their letters? -and squinted to make sense of the elaborate script.

Hereby invited...party...courtesy of Arthur Pendragon…

That was about all he got out of it, and all he really needed to read. Merlin tossed it aside with a huff and, exhausted, covered his ears with  throw pillows.

-

The letters kept coming. The parties kept happening. The house was coming together.

Merlin had painted the outside a soft blue and rigorously cleaned the white trim, although he left the knobbed stair and wind chime as they were. The living room and bedroom were a brisk white, the curtains had been washed- Merlin didn't have the heart to throw them out -and he had livened up the space with a new dining table, a novelty painting of a farmhouse, and a little potted plant. The teakettle was operable, and life was good.

Still, the invitations came. Invitations to day trips into the city, rendezvous on the yacht, tours of the estate, and at the end of each was a reminder of the inevitable nightly house party.

Merlin had received seven now, and other trinkets had started to accompany them in little red boxes. A birdhouse. A teacozy. A brass watch, at least he hoped it was brass. All in all, it was unsettling, but Merlin had managed to put it out of his mind. It was thoughtful, and probably born of guilt, although, if Arthur knew he was a terrible neighbor, Merlin wished he would just start being a good one instead of perpetuating this compensation nonsense. It was the ninth night, and the eighth letter that finally convinced him. It had come in a box that was shaped frighteningly like a necklace from Tiffany’s, or some other such bizarre place, and Merlin had opened it with pallor and trepidation. The letter was on top, he could only guess its contents, but beneath that, in the box itself, was a simple, soft, blue...scarf. There was no price tag, no note, for when he did open the envelope, it was only his name in that elegant script he had come to be so familiar with. Somehow, that was enough.

Merlin made yet another executive decision.

He would attend one of these parties, only one, and put an end to this strange outreach of companionship. He was willing to make passing friends, would allow teatime some afternoon or another, but this gift business would stop, and by the stars and stripes, they would be on a mutual last name basis. No more of this dear Merlin business, no signed Arthur. It would be Mr. Emrys, Mr. Pendragon, chatter about the water pressure, the Sox game, and no more.

-

Merlin was unfit to be there. He didn't only feel that way, but was, surrounded by people he saw glimpses of in movie pictures and heard on the radio, talking about their careers and mixing brandy in their sequined dresses and tight suits. Even amongst those closer to his own economic class, college students wasted out of their minds, he didn't feel at ease. There was no theme, no center, no purpose to their frivolity- only music, loud and frenzied, and glittering champagne, dancers, fireworks above the tower raining stars into the lake. Whoever he spoke to told him something different; Mr. Pendragon was a prince, an actor, a war hero, a famous doctor, a mob boss. Not once did he hear Arthur. No one seemed to know him, or where he was, if he even lived in the house bearing his name, if he intended for there to be a shindig tonight. Apparently, the gates opened and people came, from everywhere, and no one was ever turned away.

No one was ever invited.

That put a knot in his stomach like nothing else, and he kept a white-knuckle grip on his little box of unsolicited gifts. He would find Arthur, if he could, and return them, explain himself if there was air left in the atmosphere. He would apologize. He would leave. The stars fallen into the lake would stay there, extinguished, and Merlin would soundproof his bedroom. The next letter he got, he would pack his things. The overwhelming sense of impending change, so much like doom, made his heart beat heavy and his teeth ache.

He had meandered for two hours, and like Persephone in the underworld, dared not partake. Unlike her, he could leave whenever he pleased, even if it didn't feel like it just then. The pull of destiny made him stay put, and with every passing moment, he was tempted to throw caution to the wind and join the fray.

Four hours in. Midnight. Merlin felt a tap on his shoulder and turned, the band meeting crescendo to the coo of a love song and the stars bright overhead, a moment of stillness and light, he stared, caught in the blue eyes of Apollo himself. He wished he had had something to drink. Heart fluttering in his chest, he half listened to the man welcoming him with a smile, leading him by the shoulder to somewhere more private where they could talk, and yes, he did have a lot on his mind, and indeed, the decorations were splendid. The click of a door brought him to his senses.

“What’ve you got there?”

They were in a study lined with chestnut bookshelves, each full of old, decorative books and ships trapped in bottles. The man who Merlin recognized as Mud Man With the Yellow Car had seated him on a plush lounge, black leather that squeaked faintly when he moved and smelled particular, but good. Its arms were too wide for his comfort, and he felt small. The man, much neater than when Merlin had last seen him, placed a cold glass in his hand.

“Just water,” he assured amiably.

Mindlessly, Merlin broke his vow and sipped.

Arthur Pendragon was a tall, broad man, who knew his way around a suit. In private now, he had shucked his coat to a hanger and loosed his ascot, red, to leave it hanging about his neck. He had never seen a man in suspenders any color but black or brown before, but for the sake of fashion, Merlin compelled himself to understand one's need for scarlet, if only to pair with a white suit. A white suit that looked fantastic, mind.

His host was watching him bemused, as if he knew what Merlin was here for. Merlin certainly didn't. He swallowed.

“Is that for me?” Arthur probed again. All eyes went to the repurposed gift box in Merlin’s hands, suddenly thrust into Arthur’s, who took it with mild surprise. Opening it, the look of someone enjoying a marvelous and delightful game was lost to one crestfallen. In the box, was a birdhouse, a teacozy, and a brass watch. Arthur closed the box. Had he continued to paw through it, he would have found the stack of letters, each written in this very study. Merlin, feeling like he was intruding on a private moment, was relieved that he had stopped there.

“Would you like a drink? I'd like a drink,” Arthur hummed, and he was gone again, opening wine.

“So you're not a gift person,” he said cheerily. A new glass found its way into Merlin’s hand. “Or a, how do you say, luxury adventure person,” he was starting to feel guilty, “or a party person--”

“You don't even know me,” Merlin heard himself say. The half empty wine glass he didn't remember drinking set itself on the table. Everything about this night was shiny and ethereal, his whole body abuzz with newness and golden warmth. He didn't know he had passed four hours wandering this house, drunk on art and a myriad of mismatched strangers, didn't realize he had spent almost half an hour drinking with the mysterious Arthur Pendragon in his private study, didn't know how he had gotten to the point where he could hear the words coming out of his mouth but couldn't understand who on earth had put them there, but here he was, and, “You don't know a thing about me.”

Arthur furrowed his brow and stared into his glass, the box far from forgotten on the coffee table. “I know you like the color blue,” he said quietly. “I know you like to watch birds. I know you like to work with your hands when you could call someone instead.”

Merlin, at once feeling too big for his skin and yet very small under the pressure of Arthur’s attention, watched him carefully. He watched his body language, stiff even in as casual a position as he was, legs crossed and leaning. He watched his lips, red from the worry of teeth and wine, round themselves about his words, saw his eyelashes cast shadows on his cheeks.

“I know you don't mind helping strangers,” Arthur was saying. Merlin’s mouth was dry and his water was gone. Arthur was watching him now, too. His eyes were blue, bluer than anything, his jaw was sharp, his shave was close and he could smell his cologne and Arthur was saying, softly, “I know your name,” and then, “Merlin,” and then.

Hook, line, and sinker.

“We know each other plenty well,” returned the easy smile. The moment was gone just like that, leaving him breathless, as though he'd been kissed. Arthur hadn't kissed him, though. He hadn't touched him aside from the occasional brush of fingers exchanging a glass, hadn't tried to breach the distance. He was still talking. Merlin wondered how his a smile didn't reach his blue, blue eyes. “But you've avoided me quite avidly, I would say. I was starting to get ideas when-”

“--When?”

“Beg your pardon?” Arthur flushed red, not expecting the question. He was used to Merlin’s silence, had no way of knowing how unusual it really was. Perhaps he had rehearsed parts of this conversation. Regardless, he disliked being thrown off guard.

“Ideas. I've been here a week, when could you have possibly found time to get ideas?”

Arthur was incredulous.

“You'd be surprised to find I do have a brain, you know,” he seemed about to continue, but Merlin glowered. Arthur began again.  “...Ideas about you?”

“The Queen,” Merlin answered dryly.

“Victoria or Elizabeth?”

“Mary.”

Arthur winced, and poured more wine.

“You pushed my car,” he murmured. “No one asked you, there was no proposed reward, you just came out in your loafers and helped me.”

Merlin thought back to that night, the sniffles he'd had the remainder of the evening, the mud he had to mop up the following day. “I help people who need it,” he corrected. “The ‘who’ makes no difference to me.”

Arthur toasted him halfheartedly. “‘Sure know how to make a guy feel special, don't you?” His host glanced back to the box of rejected gifts, rejected friendship, and again, Merlin felt a pang of guilt. The distant sound of the party made its way to them, a bass beat that had always been there but had still managed to be forgotten. The clock read two.

Merlin took a drink.

“What do you want from me?” His glass clinked against the wood of the table.

“Are you flattered?” He frowned in confusion. Arthur repeated himself, clearer and more distinctly. “Are you flattered, Merlin?”

“I…”

Merlin didn't know. Why was he here, he thought, what brought him into this situation? Why had he set out tonight, bent to break his promise to his mother? Why did he insist on following that drag of purpose clutching his heart, leading him into danger such as this?

“...I am.”

There was a breath, Arthur waiting for a ‘but’ that didn't come. Again, Merlin was caught in the gaze of an Adonis.

“Would you come back?” Arthur’s tone was low, wistful, concealing. His look didn't waver, daring Merlin to lie, staring into his heart or perhaps just enjoying what he saw- both concepts he couldn't understand. “If I let you go tonight, home,” he sighed, every word sounded like a sigh now and the world was a void, “would you come back?”

The implication that his landlord might not permit him to leave should have been disturbing. Much of this should have been, in fact, he ought to have reported it or left or something--

“Yes.”

What.

“Yes?” Arthur smiled.

What are you doing?

More than smile, he beamed. He tried to hide it but couldn't, the relief overwhelming his composure and Merlin was damned if he saw anyone more beautiful than Arthur Pendragon was in that moment.

“...That's all I wanted,” he said simply.

Merlin was damned.

He knew then that if he took even the smallest amount of momentum towards Arthur, he would do something they would both regret. He would lose a potential friend, although an odd one, of his an admittedly lousy, endearing neighbor. He could always say he had been drunk, which he was, a little- he wasn't -and bank on Arthur being the same- sober, that is -and maybe, maybe then he could get away with it. Dangerous thought, danger, danger--

“Will you stay tonight?”

His heart leapt to his throat to choke him, treacherous thing.

“...Until the party is over?”

The clock read two fifteen, Merlin unabashedly eyeing those red, red lips.

He made an executive decision.

He left.

[boogiewrites]

Mae Flowers Ch. 2

Characters: Alfie Solomons x Mae LeBlanc (OFC)

Word Count:  6600+

Summary: A modern, magical Alfie Solomons AU. After a soul awakening of her own, Mae LeBlanc, a natural born witch, as well as a sensitive and kind woman from New Orleans soul finally starts to bloom and calls out to Alfie’s, unbeknownst to her. Not believing in supernatural powers, she finds herself thrown into a new existence that is full of things she never thought possible, including magical powers of her own. Alfie takes her under his wing to teach her about her powers. As she grows and learns, so does he. They navigate her lessons together, come to terms with how lonely their lives have been without the other and face these very human emotions together. With a newfound friendship formed out of necessity, will the idea of a soul mate translate from a mere magical meaning to a romantic one?

Warnings/Tags: Language. Spooky Imagery. Mentions of violence, poor self image. Magic/Supernatural. Soul mates. Lots of environmental descriptors but bare with me. 

Positive feedback is MUCH appreciated! Reblogs, likes, asks and comments feed me to write more! Let me know if you’d like tagged in my work.

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Alfie drives over to the Westbank into the residential parts of town. Old and new houses, apartment complexes and shotgun homes. He follows the GPS to Mae's house and it looks how he thought it might.

 A small colorful front, with a tall wooden fence around the sides and backyard. The door was a deep teal set against a faded yellow exterior. An awning over the front door, with a small porch, a stoop that was painted and worn. Flower pots of all sizes and in the color of gemstones and varied conditions sat on the stairs and around it. Wildflower boxes sat underneath windows with shutters of the same teal color as the door and fencing. It was quaint, comfortable and colorful just like she was, he thought it suited her well. He pulls into the small driveway, in the residential area with houses that look much the same as hers. It homed older houses with older owners that had fallen into a less than pristine condition, newer family homes with landscaped front lawns. But Mae's had a small patch of grass, closer to the road as he suspected the backyard would be where most of the bulk of the grass would be for a garden.

He carries Mae into her house, unlocking her door with a nod of his head. Finding the interior to be as warm and comfortable as she felt in his arms. He walks directly into the far corner of the living room. The large bay window seen from the front of the house is bleeding bright light into the room from behind a large and plush couch. The room is decorated in deep jewel tones, a teal sectional sits against navy walls, with a collection of warmer color throw pillows in bohemian and southwestern styles. A shaggy faux fur blanket was thrown haphazardly over the extended lounge end of the couch. Large potted palms sit in the corners, succulents in tiny decorative pots on the window sills. They carried onto the mantle of the brick painted black fireplace that sat like a huge room divider, sitting in a huge square column in the center of the large space of the living room and kitchen. A flat-screen tv rests on the opposite wall of the couch above the fireplace. A driftwood coffee table containing a large fern in a bright yellow pot, books on plants and herbs stacked with various remotes and cat toys.

He places her gently on the extended section of the couch, careful to place her head on a pillow and make sure none of her limbs are twisted.

He hears and feels his darkness rev and purr and push around inside him. "Yeah I know, me too." he sighs.

-"Been waiting so long."- it moans. "So soft. So much life. She glows like the sun. The companion to our moon."- It starts reciting its own strange poetry for its mate it's waited millennia for. It hadn't been with its light since the dawn of time he assumes, as he knows his darkness is so old that time isn't even relevant to it for the most part.

He recalls the dark horrors of primordial ooze and black endless voids and abyss when it had come upon him. He was impressed it was behaving itself. For so long he'd had to fight so hard to control it, making him do evil, terrible things. Deeds so bad he'd exiled himself for years away from civilization. But in her presence it was calmed, it rippled like water, it was happy and he'd never known his darkness to feel happy about anything. Except when he was digging through the insides of innocents. He shakes the old thoughts from his head, still feeling guilty even almost a century later and trying to make amends ever since.

He traces his fingers over her face and whispers calming words to help ease her anxious nature he sensed. He stands and takes in the room. Her house is very quiet. He moves soundlessly around the fireplace and sees a quaint little kitchen. Driftwood light fixtures, colorfully painted window and door frames in the same jewel tones that carry throughout the house. The kitchen is white-walled, sunlight from a window over the sink pouring in against the far wall. But the majority of light came from the two patio doors that led to her garden. A closed-door sits off to the left next to an open archway that goes down into a sunroom. He looks over the open shelves on the kitchen walls and is very excited to find tins of various teas lining them.  Old jars of pantry staples sit across the wooden countertops, some he'd say were from his time possibly, he wonders if she inherited them or if she simply had classic taste. He finds a small, dinky metal kettle and starts on making her some tea. He figured he needed something to calm her, finding her windowsill full of herbs he could easily use to make something to soothe her.

He senses something alive in the house, something besides the plants. He turns, seeing a large white long haired cat staring at him from a short hallway between two doorways to his right.  It swishes its tail and they both narrow their eyes at each other.

"Who are you, lad?" Alfie asks as the cat continues to sit and stare at him. "You must be with Mae." he says with a nod, going back to searching through the cabinets. "Not much for talkin' to strangers, eh?" he chuckles. "Must mean there's a little more to ya than being a common house cat."

Percival lets out a noisy huff of air, taking offense to the term common house cat. He lets out a low growl at Alfie. He could sense his dark energy and he didn't trust him. Although why he had brought Mae home and was now making her tea was a bit confusing if he wished her ill.

"I'm not here to hurt your girl." Alfie says, still not looking back to him. "I'm here to help her. You know she has powers, yeah? I'm here to teach her how to use them. I have similar powers, although I'm not a witch like her." he shakes his head, his fingers digging into a small tea tin.  

Percy knew he wasn't a witch, he didn't feel like a witch, didn't have the aura. He lets out a typical meow.

"You can say somefin' better 'an at mate." Alfie grins.

He lets out another meow of the same tone.

"Fine, fine. You're protective, I understand. She seems like a sweet, soft girl I can understand your concern." he remarks as he looks at him with a sympathetic expression.

Percy moves to jump up on the kitchen island to get a better look at this new person that'd come into their lives.

"'Ello." he says, leaning back against the counter while the kettle fills.

Percy says nothing and continues to sit and stare as he had been.

"I'm Alfie Solomons. You're probably sensing my darkness. But I've had it for a very, very long time, yeah? We're in control, we're not gonna hurt Mae." he states again. "We're here because of her lightness. She's our mate, right? We've been lookin' for her since me 'n this darkness got together. So the last fing I wanna do is cause her harm, 'right?"

Percy tilts his head, content for now with his explanation. But he wasn't so sure what Mae, who had no knowledge of anything of their world was going to think about this.

Mae's eyes blink open and then widen as she finds herself at her home, which is not where she remembered last being. She sits up slowly, her head feeling a bit swimmy but she's quickly aware of that strange feeling in her stomach acting up again. This time it felt different, it was what she imagined a jolt of electricity might feel like. A humming in her ears she hadn't heard before, a warm tingling in her limbs. She wonders if she has a concussion. Her attention is drawn towards the kitchen. She hears the clang of something metal and the sounds of someone clearing their throat. Her eyes are the size of saucers again.

"Oh, shit." she whispers, eyes darting around the room, hearing movement and now humming and in a distinctly male tone coming from the kitchen. She moves slowly, trying to be as quiet as possible, feeling that vibration inside her intensifying and she reads it as anxiety. She sees her shoes have been taken off as they rest by the couch, which makes her brow furrowed in question. She peeks around the corner of the fireplace, see's the same man from her dreams in the kitchen, now recalling the man walking into her shop. Then she recalls fainting and rubs her head where she's guessing she hit the ground as if it might give her some answers. Why was he in her dreams? Was she having prophetic dreams now? Great, that's just what a weirdo like her needed, more weirdness stacked on top of everything else strange about her. Was she being kidnapped? Why was she at home is she was being kidnapped? Is this a hostage situation perhaps? Holding her for ransom in her own home. She recalls reading about Stockholm syndrome and makes a quick pact with herself not to fall into that sort of mess in her manic rush of thoughts.

She eyes the large cast iron skillet on the counter in front of her, and if Saturday morning cartoons had taught her anything, is that when you needed to knock someone out, that's the way to go. So she grasps the grainy handle in both hands, holding it to her chest because of its heavy weight as she tries to sneak up on him. Little does she know he knew she was awake the moment her eyes popped open. But as is in his nature, he wants to learn about how she reacts to the unknown, taking this as a learning experience about her. He can sense she's scared and he understands that much. But her reaction with violence surprises him. Perhaps it was his darkness being near that made her so bold and go for that method first. Maybe it was trying to mingle with her to even her out, make her less passive and more reactive.

So as he hears her deep inhale as she's about the bring the pan across the back of his head, he turns and stops it, putting his hand over hers as she's about to swing on him.

"Fuckin' 'ell girl." he frowns down at her short frame.

Her bottom lip juts up, her brow going low in surprise for his hearing her and being so calm about her attempt at murdering him.

"I ain't here to hurt ya." he says with that thick accent she heard in her dreams. "If I was would I be makin' bloody tea and layin' ya down all nice and comfy while you'd passed out?" he asks, his gingery beard jutting towards her as he spoke to drive his point forward.

Her large hazel eyes blink rapidly, taking in the new information, still wild and large and full of questions he could sense. Her mouth opens and her lips twitch but no words come out. He had a point.

"Now let's put this down, eh?" he says, taking the large black pan and setting it on the counter behind her. "I know you got a lot of questions, yeah?" he nods, his lips pouted out as he moves closer to her. "I know you've been dreamin' 'bout me 'cause I've been dreamin' 'bout you." his voice dips lower, but not in a threatening way. "Do you think there might be a reason for that?" he tilts his head and their eyes connect fully for a few seconds, that flame inside her makes her take a sharp inhale. What was this feeling?  He reached out with tentative hands, putting them on her shoulders to ground her, depart a bit of calm energy into her. She feels it immediately, not understanding the source. Her muscles loosen, her heart rate slows and it's like the best anxiety medication she's ever taken. "Let's just breathe... calm down..." he says nodding slowly and she mirrors the gesture without thinking much about it, their eyes still fixated together.

She gives a quick but still unsure nod.

"We don't want ya gettin' all excited and burnin' down the place now do we?" he says with a smile that tugs back the corner of his mouth. Her eyes go wide again and he feels that spark of fear come back. She recalls being angry a few weeks ago. The flames in the fireplace lapping out wildly for a moment, catching one of the plants on the rug on fire, the singed piece of rug still black despite her scrubbing it. "Yeah, I know all about that sweetie, come now." he says, putting a hand on her back, moving her towards the round kitchen table that sat in the space between the bar top and the sunroom. "Try some proper tea made by a real Englishmen and have a sit down with me, hmmm?" he suggests with a kind smile and a nod of his shaggy head.

She still doesn't speak but another series of quick nods as she places her hands flat on the table top and stares with those big enticing eyes as he moves about her kitchen. He pours the tea from the kettle in such a delicate way it takes her by surprise. He'd chosen her favorite mug somehow, an old one of Bessie's, textured like tree bark and cream, a funky green and orange mushroom on the side that she liked to run her fingers over as she drank. He sits next to her, pulling the chair closer to her, taking a sip and motioning with the steaming mug for her to do the same. She was taught not to take drinks from strangers but what is proper etiquette for a stranger, but not really a stranger, who brings you home after passing out then tells you secrets you've not told anyone else? Where was the after-school special on that when she was a kid?

"It ain't poison." he says with a chuckle into his mug. "See? I'm drinkin' it too. No worries, love." he says in a soothing even tone.

Once again she responds in a nod, taking the mug into her hands and taking a sip. It was nice, she had to give him that.

"Best start with the basics, yeah?" he says with a quirked brow, taking a deep breath and setting the mug back own. "My name is Alfie Solomons," he says with an authoritative tone. "I've been tryin' to find ya for weeks but I think you know that." his eyes narrow almost playfully at her. "I know Cordelia and Fiona-"

"I'm not going to that stupid academy." Are the first words out of her mouth to him and he smirks at her stubbornness. She was going to need that.

"Now sit on back, darlin' I ain't here to try to get ya to go." he dismisses the thought with a sweep of his hand. "I just know 'em and they know you eh? I'm tryin' to create some familiarity here understand?" She nods and keeps her face harder than it had been. "I'm not a Salem witch, I'm not a voodoo priest or nuffin' of the sort like Maria who does your hair."

"What are ya then?" she blurts out, her brow lower and her eyes more curious than frightened now.

"Someone that has been lookin' for you for a very long time, love." he says with a softer expression, his hand resting out of the table. "There are some things I'm gonna tell you about yourself, yeah? And I need you to believe I ain't here to lie to you because you're not gonna believe it. I know enough about you just by how you've reacted to me bein' here to know you aren't naive."

Her lips purse at the compliment, her eyes finally leaving him and watching Percy jump up onto the table and join them. He seemed calmed as their eyes met, a slow lazy blink as he laid down. She took this a sign to proceed. "I'll listen." she says softly.

"You are a very powerful woman Mae." he begins, a finger tapping the space on the table between them.

Her face scrunches and he can tell she's already not believing him.

"I'm not on about no modern feminist rant here, love, just hear me out, please," he adds. "You're very powerful and you need to be guided by someone who knows what it's like. You and I are very similar, contrary to what our appearances might indicate. I'm here to help you understand that power." he pauses, watching her face and she's still listening, even if shes' taking everything with a grain of salt. "You are a natural born witch. But beyond that, you were born with a very special soul. A very rare and powerful thing, yeah? I happen to have the same sort of soul. You might understand it best as a...yin and yang situation. Your soul balances out mine you see. Your powers are complementary to mine."

His face is very serious, she can tell at least he doesn't think he's lying. But crazy people believed their own lies so of course, he would.

"I ain't crazy, sweetheart." he gruffs out, furrowing his brow and taking a sip of tea.

Her eyes shoot over to him and she stiffens. Can you read my mind? She thinks with a tilted head.

"Yes." he nods. "But only to prove a point." he shakes his head and looks up at her from under a heavy brow. She gulps noisily. "You can do it too. But you've not had any discipline, no one to explain the strange things that happen to...and that's why I'm here." he says with a sweet soft voice as his hand touches her knee for just a moment, trying to show her he meant her no harm. He wishes she could read his mind so she would understand how entirely the opposite was his intention.

"To help me with my..." her face frowns. "Powers?" she says with a solid nod of her head.

"Precisely," he says with a large nod. "You see, every so often there is a soul created that takes a bit of ancient power with them into creation, into this world, this...plane of existence if you will." he begins speaking with his hands. "You are one of these souls. I think the term white witch might be easiest for you to relate it to. You've been denying these power and they keep manifesting in inconvenient ways, yeah?"

He sees the realization come over her face as she hides her uncertainty with a long sip of tea.

"Things explodin' when you're angry, your wonderful gift with plants. How you speak to them and they flourish. How every full moon you find yourself almost uncontrollably amourous." he says with a cheeky tone and looking away with a quirk of his brow.

She lowers the mug and frowns at him, giving him a warning glance. There's no way he could've known that.

"I'm not tryin' to start trouble, love, I'm simply trying to ease your mind that I'm insane." he explains with another low swing of his voice, back to seriousness. "I'm here to mentor you. It's how this system works. Our souls need each other to balance the other out. And that normal, part of how the universe keeps it's balance, yeah?" he nods and looks to see her processing the information.

Something fluttering inside her tells her to trust him, even though anything she'd ever been taught should be telling her otherwise. She studies him, thinking he looks perfectly human, but so did she, and if she, in fact, did have these powers then he wouldn't look any abnormal than she did. "I...I don't know why but... against my better judgment I'm inclined to believe ya." she says with a sigh that slumps her shoulders. As her nerves ease, her southern accent comes out a bit more, her throat not feeling so tight and it causes a little smirk to come across his face. "But I ain't really sold on it." she adds with a furrowed brow.

"Right." he drags out the word, looking around the room for a moment, trying to think of how to prove it to her. "Ah." he says, grabbing a tiny succulent that sat in a homemade planter that resembled Percy, he waves his hand over and it withers and died immediately.

"NO!" she cries out, taking it in her hands as her breathing picks up and she stares at the plant. "Poor little thing..." she whines, her face entirely distraught, her mouth hanging open.  She glares at him while stroking the plant and without her noticing, it starts to plump back up again. As she looks back down she drops it against the table, but only by a few inches and it thuds as a tiny flower that hadn't existed before starts to bud on it as it goes back to how it had been.  "Oh," she says with a straight face, only her eyes moving over to him. "I...I've never done that before." she states quietly, her face still in shock.

"You need to start believin' in yourself before you believe in me, love, see? Ya powers work. They're charged with your emotions right now because they're not trained. I can help you with that. You might be hesitant to my being here, but clearly, your powers aren't, eh? We can feed off each other in that way." he explains, taking the plant and studying her handiwork before placing it back where it had been.

He sees her eyes going cross before they squeeze shut and she lets out a little moan, reaching up to touch her head.

"Right," he says with a wrinkling of his face in concern. "That'll happen at first." he says in an unintentionally condescending way. It'd been so long since he'd thought about what it was like to only be learning of powers that he'd forgotten how draining it could be.

She moans and he holds her shoulders as she slumps forward. "So tired." she rasps out, her eyes looking a bit sunken, as they look up at him like a little, injured kitten.

"You're learnin' but you're weak, love." he nods, rubbing her shoulder. "We can make ya stronger, but now let's get some food in ya and get ya to bed, eh?" he says with a caring tone again, patting her head before pushing her back in the chair as she rests her weight on the table.

He rises and moves to the fridge, angling himself so she isn't out of his sight. His darkness is already impatient to get back to touching her, letting Alfie know of its greed to connect with her. But Alfie feels the sadness that's coming from her that it's choosing to ignore in its selfishness.

As her head spins, the frown on her face is not only from the uncomfortable feeling she has. She'd never thought she could be special. Only Bessie and Charles had even told her she could be but she'd never believed it. So it turns out she actually was special and that felt like it should feel better than it did. If she was different, then that explained a lot but it also meant she could never fully blend in and disappear like she'd always tried to. So she had to form a new approach to how she lived, which felt incredibly daunting and made her head throb. Percy senses her pain and walks over and purrs, rubbing against her face.

Alfie leans against the counter with his hips as he mindlessly put together a sandwich for her. He sees the deep blues around her, can feel the confusion and sadness and he wishes he could take it away but it's all part of the process. It physically hurts him to feel her pain, he hopes he can show her what a gift these powers can be. How it can make her life easier and all the perks that come along with it. She had so much love to give inside her and no suitable outlets for all that life to escape and flourish. She must be so unhappy with all that confusion and pain from a source of love and life only needing to be properly expelled, used and focused. He takes solace in knowing he can help her. They've found each other now and the wait was over. His darkness does it's equivalent of wiggling in excitement at the thought. She seemed so very sweet and kind, a real ray of sunshine in human form and he supposes she very well could be. He swears to himself no matter how this goes he'll do everything within his own enormous powers to help her figure herself out, learn how to flourish on her own. Only that would lead to a better life for them both.

Her favorite comfort sandwich, bologna and cheese with lots of mustard and pickles appears before her. He refills her tea and sits next to her wordlessly.

"So..." she begins, forcing her eyes open and taking a bite. "Ya gonna be teachin' he, huh?" her face winces as she turns it towards his.

"That is the plan, yes." he nods.

"You said you were lookin' for me. That means you're not from here, right?"

"Right. I'm not from anywhere really, just got into town last week."

"Where are you stayin'"? she asks

"I've been at the Academy while I've been lookin' for you."

"Ah." she nods, taking a bigger bite, her strength starting to come back. She weighs the next thought that pops into her head before she expresses it out loud. "I can..." she tilts her head back and forth in uncertainty, "I can trust you right?" she asks with a weaker voice than she intends to.

"Of course, love. I said I'd never hurt you and I mean that. Hurting you is hurting myself and that'd be rather daft of me seein' as I've waited so long for ya and my soul has waited even longer than either of us could fathom." he says with an expressive face.

She nods and looks at the table as she chews another bite. "So you would like.. protect me basically? Teach me how to use this and keep me from hurting myself?"

"Yes, of course," he says earnestly again. "I know you can be a little clumsy." he chuckles and she smirks because he's right. "Not gonna let ya hurt yourself." he gives her a smile that feels genuine, the hesitation and instructional tone in his voice now gone and only that charm of his handsome face and accent remain as she feels an unfamiliar warmness spread through her body. She wondered if it was the light she was told about. Should I ask him to stay here? She asks herself, her eyes studying his. And as if she was hearing a voice that was carried downwind by a breeze, the faintest lightest 'yes' she hears.

"I have a spare room," she says, her head motioning to the closed door by the sunroom. "If ya... wanted to stay." she says blinking and looking away from him. "I mean... would that help? Make things easier for..." she motions her hand back and forth between them. "Whatever this is." she lets out a huff of a laugh with raised brows, her face no longer looking sad and he's thankful.

"It would make it immeasurably easier." he says with a grateful nod and another dashing smile that she's not used to receiving from men that look like him.

"I don't want you to have to stay with those witches anyway." she shakes her head and looks away again, taking another bite. "And it's not like I live that close to them," she adds. "Would hate for you to have to do that every day." she shrugs. "Plus this way when I blow up a cauldron or whatever you'll be here to help." she smiles and takes another bite.

He knows she's making excuses now but he doesn't mind. Her capacity for kindness is showing already, inviting to share her home with him. He wasn't going to ask to stay with her but this was the ideal situation. "I can help with that, yeah." he nods and lets out a little chuckle, much like the one she'd heard in her dream, she feels that warm feeling again, like walking into the sunlight after being inside in the air conditioning. It felt good and something was telling her this was right and it certainly wasn't her common sense.

She finishes her sandwich, still feeling extremely drained but no longer dizzy or in pain. She shows him to the room, switching the light on and revealing yet another cozy space. The walls were white, it was filled with plants. A shelf full of ivy rests the length of the wall over a soft looking bed with dark colored and mismatched pillowcases, blankets and sheets. A southwestern style rug in pinks, yellows and burnt orange rests across the floor at an angle, a blanket of the same color scheme but different pattern rest across the lower half of the bed. A worn wooden dresser rests under the window, plants in pots, an old metal fan, and an incense holder sit atop it.  A nightstand with a lamp sits against the wall next to the bed. He sees a fireplace on the wall opposite the bed, giving a thankful nod as it would make his spellwork much easier to have it so close and with such privacy. Boxes with the names of her foster parents sit stacked in the corner.  

"I can move some of the plants if you need me to." she offers. "This room gets really good light during the day so I put a bunch in here." she moves towards the window. "I'm sure I've got some darker curtains if you need them. This doesn't shield you at all from the sun." she shakes her head as her fingers tug on the sheer fabric. "I'll get the boxes out of your way tomorrow." she says with a kind but tired smile as she turns back around to look at him surveying the room.

"You can leave them, love, no problem at all. I get some curtains if it turns out I need them," he says with a dismissive wave of his hand. "No rush on the boxes either." he adds with a smile that reads as thankful. "It's a very cozy room." he nods with pouted lips.

"The bathroom is on the other side of house." she says walking out of the room and he follows. He sees the rectangular space. His eyes are first drawn to the old and large claw foot tub that had been painted yellow and hooked up to also function as a shower. The same navy paint on the walls as the living room, with white tile on the floor. A sink with a cabinet underneath, various toiletries rest on top of the small counter space. A large worn mirror hung above it with a golden frame that showed it's age. As was with the rest of the house, the plants had made their way in here as well. Leaves of eucalyptus hung from the silver hardware shower head, plants rest atop the makeshift wooden stands the fit snug around the tub, some of the leaves and branches falling down into it slightly. The shower curtain was shoved back and out of the tub, he took this to mean she took baths more often. A window with a bright paisley fabric cover keeps the view of the outside blocked. And old work of embroidery of a bouquet of flowers is framed and rests above the toilet. "I'll bring in a basket from my room for you to put your stuff in, there's not much room left under here." she says with her foot tapping the door to the cabinet under the sink.

"Much appreciated, love." he says, eyes still scanning the busy space. There was so much to look at in her home. She turns to open the other door, different from the rest as it was painted lavender.

"And this is my room." she says almost timidly. He feels the magic wafting out of the room as soon as she opens the door. The walls were a deep teal, a paisley purple rug covered the worn hardwood floor. A thick and plush mustard yellow comforter cover the bed, another faux fur, shaggy throw in strewn over the bed like the one on the couch. Her pillows are all mismatched, some with floral prints, some shades of purple. A fireplace rests in this room as well and he can feel the age in the house as he enters the room. The mantle is painted the same shiny black as the other fireplaces and pillar candles of all colors, widths, and sizes rest atop the mantle. Some in tiny silver platters, some melting down onto the wooden surface.

The room smelled deeply of lavender and seeing an incense burner next to a flat screen tv on her purple dresser he knew the source. A closet door of the same lavender color rests in the corner. A large chair next to a bookshelf sat next to it in front of a window with flowing jewel-toned fabrics and sheer panels create a blanket around the chair. A wicker clothes hamper and a stained glass lamp on the nightstand all fall within the same color scheme, the room full of all sorts of energy. A small table pushed into the corner with a runner across it, a worn little pink stool pushed under it with a laptop on top. Framed pictures of all sorts, from all time periods and mediums, cover the far wall, some she'd inherited, some from her weekend trips to the flea market. Of course, the room was not complete without a large palm overgrowing in the corner next to a standing mirror.

He felt his insides quiver. This was her nest, he thought. This was her safe space and her sanctuary and his darkness knew it too. The space wasn't as well lit as he imagined but it was night and he hoped he'd get to see it in the morning light, anxious to know what else it would reveal about her. She felt a bit exposed and vulnerable suddenly, there'd never been a man in this room before with her.  But he took in everything with a look of awe on his face, she watched his thoughts pass over his face, eyes tensing, lips twitching.

She tried to read his thoughts, but of course, she had no real clue as to how to do it, but she still felt no maliciousness in him towards her. There was something under the surface, she could tell. Something about him was timeless in a way. He had said their souls were ancient, perhaps that's where the term old soul came from? Without the new explanation of there actually being souls at all, and now knowing they could, in fact, be old, she thought the descriptor on a more lamen's terms still made sense about him. He had an ease about him, the bohemian sort of casual and comfortable style to him. The messy hair, the beard, and jewelry. It would seem their aesthetics matched well, which she hoped was a good sign.  for

"If you need anything, feel free to knock." she says turning to leave the room before looking back at him. "But knock first." she says with a stern nod of her head and he flashes another smile, happy to see her giving him boundaries. The lightness in her could make her too giving, too compassionate to the point of harm to herself and he was hopeful that this wasn't the case with her as she gave him a look that told him not to push it with her. "I guess we'll get ya a key tomorrow..." she says rubbing the back of her neck. "You have stuff with you or...?" her face contorts in question.

"I got stuff in me car, yeah." he nods looking towards the door. "I'll try to be quiet bringin' it in. You need to get some rest now though," he says with a wag of his finger at her. "Very important you take very good care of yourself while you're learnin', love. You can drain yourself and your health will suffer and we can't have that." he says with a clap of his hands. "So I will get my things, settle in, and we can convene in the mornin', eh?"

"That sounds good. I get up between seven and eight usually." she says, moving back towards her room. "So uh...goodnight?" she asks with a soft laugh for the unique nature of the very unusual situation.

"Goodnight Mae." he says with a nod and smile. "If you need anyfing, you come knock as well, yeah?"

"Yeah, no problem... uh...." he looks at the floor realizing she doesn't even remember his name. She lets out a laugh and rubs her head. "I'm sorry but I don't remember your name." she admits with a bitten lip and an apologetic glance.

"It's Alfie, love." he grins. "Alfie Solomons." he nods again. "You've 'ad a lot coming at you today Mae, I take no offense." he says with a hand to his chest.

"Thanks for that." she nods. "Movin' in and I don't even know your name. What a weird ass day." she shakes her head but she's smiling as her eyes shift around, trying to process everything.

"Things'll start to feel more normal again once we establish a routine, you'll see. It'll be fuckin' weird at first, I won't lie." he laughs and she's hit that warm feeling again, recalling her dream and the same sound she'd heard then as he moves towards her. "But we'll get through it together, yeah?" he responds supportively with a hand on her shoulder.

"I appreciate the honesty." she says sheepishly with a smile that reflects the tone.

"Ain't got no reason to lie to ya, sweetheart. Now you get on in bed. I can tell you're fadin' on me." his eyes almost twinkle at her as he motions to her door.

"Lock the door before you go to bed, please."

"I will. But if anyfing came in here, believe me, it'd regret it as soon as it met me." he chuckles again.

"Also good to know." she nods."Night Alfie." she says with a wave from her doorway.

"Night, Mae. Don't worry 'bout a fing!" he says loudly as he walks towards the door.

She lies in bed wondering what the fuck she was doing. There was a man in her house. Not just that but an attractive magical one that was apparently lethal and her... soul mate? She groans and rolls over to her stomach. Yeah, the term fit didn't it? She had too many questions but she knew she'd get answers as he'd already been very helpful so far. Well, helpful in the sense of turning her life upside down. But at least he was sticking around to help clean up the mess and make sense of it. She couldn't say she'd ever known any man to do that before for her. She decides to go to sleep on that hopeful note, wondering what she would dream about now that he had found her.

@jaegeeeeer @negansdirtygirl22 @brianaisasongbird @hardygal69 @emerald-bijou @captstefanbrandt @coolgh0st @tinastarkandco @stylishmileage 

[meltingalphabet]

I Should've Known

I should’ve known something was off about Juniper.

For starters, her name was Juniper. That should have been my first reg flag. But when her photo popped up on tinder, my thumb hesitated over her face. Yeah, it was a bathroom selfie and yeah, her lips were pursed in an annoying semi duck face, but fuck she was hot.

My thumb slid across my phone’s screen as I swiped right.

Our first date was at a bar near her work, somewhere in Midtown. She wanted to meet up on a Tuesday. I’d have preferred a weekend night, but whatever. I’m flexible.

When the catch is hot enough...

It was some douchey place with a sports reference for a name. Foreplay or something. The place was filled with frat-boy-now-financial-advisors taking advantage of the happy hour specials and attractive bartenders in tight tank tops.

I grabbed us a table in the back, behind the giant jenga and pool tables.

My phone buzzed with a text message. Running late. Be there in 10.

I rolled my eyes and took a sip of my cheap lager. She better be worth it.

My beer caught in my throat as she walked past the bar into the main seating area. She scanned the room for me, her long blonde hair over one shoulder. She wore a fitted button up shirt, unbuttoned at the top, and a pencil skirt. Her long thin legs ended in a pair of pink pumps. A little bit of spice in an otherwise fairly conservative business outfit. I felt my groin warm as my eyes lingered on her calves.

Her face lit up with recognition when she caught my gaze. Her tinder picture didn’t do her justice. Her nose and chin were round, her face an oval with a slight widows peak. Her lips were full and rosy pink. Her blue eyes wide with excitement. I raised my glass and smiled my most charming first date smile.

Five hours later, I lay in her bed empty and satisfied. Overall, a decent first date. As I listened to the water running from Juniper’s bathroom, I decided with drowsy comfort that she would make a great sacrifice.

We dated for a few months. Juniper was hot, cheeky, and wild in the bedroom. Things were going great. Until she invited me to her parent’s cabin for Christmas.

My father passed away earlier that year, so no one was waiting for me. I had to keep Juniper close for this year’s offering and I figured it was the season of family. As they say, the more the merrier.

We weren’t able to drive up to her family cabin till Christmas eve. Juniper worked as a legal secretary, and the office didn’t give her much time off, so it wasn’t till around 3pm before we  were loading Juniper’s luxury crossover. It’s ok, I thought. Still plenty of time.

She wove the car through snowy back roads and explained to me what a “snow tire” was. I had only recently moved up north from Florida and I thanked Christ she didn’t ask me to help drive. But I had never seen snow before and its beauty struck me. I watched out the window as we passed the sparkling white landscape, mesmerized.

Her parents, both lawyers, were loaded so I don’t know why I was surprised when we pulled up to the “family cabin.” The two story mini-mansion was built from polished wood and stone. Large columns stretched up from the ground to the roof, creating a sharp awning that sheltered the double glass front doors and floor to ceiling windows that spotted the modern exterior.

Juniper parked her car at the top of the driveway, expressing obvious annoyance that all three spaces in the garage were already taken by her parents’ and sisters’ cars.

I peered out the passenger window at the house. Large soft snowflakes fell lazily to the ground, illuminated by two spotlights shining from the front yard onto the cabin’s facade. The light reflected off the snow, giving it the illusion that the heavens were raining gold.

“Wow, I know I’m from Florida, but…” I paused. “This isn’t really what I was picturing.”

Juniper lowered onto the wheel to get a better look at her family home. Her face glowed in the warm light from outside. She chuckled, “yeah, I know. But don’t be fooled, it’s not all fancy.” She eyed me mischievously, “the cell service is fucking shit.”

“Ah.” I nodded, as if that one fact brought her whole family back down to earth.

“You brought your swimsuit, right?”

I laughed at the joke. “Oh, of course.”

Her smile fell. “No, Calvin, I’m serious. You brought your suit, right?”

I looked out at the snowy wilderness around us, unsure how to respond.

Juniper sighed. “For the jacuzzi! I’m sure my dad has an extra pair you can borrow.”

“Oh, great.” I said without much enthusiasm.

Big wet snowflakes coated us in the few minutes it took to unload the car and jog to the house. The door closed with a thud and Juniper dropped her bags, kicking off her pristine duck boots before bounding down the hallway.

“Amber, Clover, where are you guys?!”

I placed the box of meticulously wrapped gifts I had been carrying down and grabbed a quick look at my watch. 5:14. Perfect. The ride up was faster than I had expected. Still plenty of time.

I looked around to see that I was standing in an entrance room. The wood floor and walls glowed with the yellow light radiating from a huge chandelier hanging above my head. It was made of light grey branches braided around each other, their bark smooth and manicured as if they had naturally grown like that.

Feminine squeals rang down the hall from the back of the house. I stood there, awkwardly unsure what to do. At least I looked the part. Juniper, dissatisfied with my wardrobe, had bought me a tan wool coat. She explained that my faded leather jacket was neither weather appropriate nor fashionable. I had moved up to the city during the summer and my closet hadn’t been prepared for the blistering winds and snow of the north. I’m lucky I had Juniper to help with that. At least according to her.

Snow clung to the shoulders of the department store coat as the warmth of the house embraced me. I could feel the chilly wetness of melting snow sink into my knit beanie. A matching scarf was wrapped around my neck, the fibers clinging to my moist lips unpleasantly.

I grabbed at the scarf with my gloved hand and pulled. In my defense, I wasn’t used to the lack of individual fingers and the clumsiness of a hand wrapped in thick wool. I had half of the unwieldy piece of clothing in one hand while the end hugged my throat tightly when the Mills family entered.

“Oh no! Baby!” Juniper’s voice was filled with amusement as she rushed to help me. She took the scarf and carefully untangled it from my neck.

A gravelly voice boomed, filling the space, “June mentioned you were from the South! Guess you guys don’t really need winter accessories down there, huh?”

Juniper continued to help me undress out of my winter outwear as I turned. Behind her stood a beast of a man. He towered over my 5’11” frame, his shoulders broader than a football player’s. His beard was thick yet neatly trimmed. He wore a fitted flannel shirt and pressed jeans, making him look more like a lumberjack who modeled for L.L. Bean on his off days than a lawyer.

My mouth hung open for a moment before I regained my composure. “Mr. Mills, it’s nice to meet you.” I extended my hand around Juniper, who was still working on my coat. “I’m Calvin.”

“Matthias, Matthias!” He roared joyously, pushing Juniper out of the way as he pulled me into a tight embrace. My body was engulfed by his meaty chest. I’m not ashamed to admit it, it was the best hug of my life. Comforting and warm. For a moment, I forgot about the greater good. My purpose in life. My father. It was like being suspended in a vat of Christmas and love.

He let go of me and I stepped back, noticing for the first time the two figures behind him.

“Calvin, these are my sisters: Clover and Amber.” Juniper said, beaming from me to them.

Juniper was the middle daughter of three. Clover, at 29, was the eldest and Amber, at 22, was the youngest. The only thing the sisters had in common was that they were three of the most gorgeous women I had even seen in my life. Clover had silky black hair, cut short at her chin. Her features were sharp, her thin grey eyes bordered by heavy eyelashes. She smiled coyly at me as she extended her hand.

“Nice to meet you, Calvin.” While Juniper’s voice was high and bubbly, Clover’s voice was low and throaty. Similar to her father’s but with a husky feminine quality that made it difficult to think of her as my girlfriend’s sister.

“And I’m Amber.” A soft voice said to my left. I tore my gaze away from Clover to the younger sister. Amber was much shorter than her siblings, with thick red hair and a circular face. She had a button nose and round green eyes. She looked like she had stepped out of an Irish folktale. Amber contrasted sharply with her sisters. Juniper was tall and had an athletic build. Tight but soft, firm and preppy like a cheerleader. Clover was tall and thin, angles and bite, the only one in the room who actually looked like a lawyer (but ironically was a painter).

And Amber…. Well… Let’s just say Amber’s curves swelled and ebbed in all the right places. A sailor could get lost exploring those rolling waves.

I smiled and took her hand. “It’s a pleasure to meet you.” Juniper didn’t talk about her family much and I knew well enough not to ask, but I made a mental note to discreetly broach the subject of whether her and her sisters all had the same parents. “Where’s Mrs. Mills?”

Matthias’ smile wavered. “Eh, she had to run an errand.” His eyes shifted to Clover, who's returning gaze narrowed slightly. His dark eyes shot back to mine and he smiled confidently again, the moment of weirdness over as suddenly as it had started. “She’ll be back later.”

“Come on, Juniper. Help us with dinner!” Amber said as she grabbed her sister’s hand and began to pull her down the hall.

Clover’s mouth turned downwards as her dark eyes lingered on me for a moment before following her sisters.

Something heavy hit my shoulder and I jumped. Matthias had clapped his huge hand onto my back. “Let me tell you, it’s nice to have a man to talk with! I’m always surrounded by women!” He laughed a low good hearted growl as he lead me into another room.

We entered a cavernous living room, the ceiling arching high above us. Several thick naked wooden beams held it up. A large red oriental rug stretched from wall to wall, complimenting the forest green walls well. Two large brown leather couches sat kitty corner to each other in the middle of the room.

The walls were lined with hunting trophies. The taxidermied heads of different animals stared out across at each other, their dead glassy eyes unseeing. Deer and bears snarled meaninglessly, their teeth barred without emotion. A bobcat perched on a rock in the corner of the room next to a fat pheasant. Against one wall was a large glass gun rack. Polished rifles gleamed in the warm overhead light. The centerpiece of the room, a massive moose head, rested above the marble fireplace in which a large fire roared, radiating heat and golden light around the room.

Catching me eyeing his collection, Matthias laughed. “Are you a hunter, Calvin?”

I thought for a second before carefully choosing my next words. “My father and I used to go hunting once a year together. I still practice the tradition.”

“Good.” His deep voice resonated with the warmth from the fireplace, creating an atmosphere of masculine comfort and safety. “I like a man who hunts.”

I smiled at him and nodded, unsure how to respond.

“Sit down, sit down!” He ordered as he fell into one of couches. I obliged, sitting on the other couch facing him as I prepared for the inevitable father-boyfriend interview.

“Calvin…” he rolled my name around his tongue experimentally as he eyed me. “That a protestant name, isn’t it?”

“Uh…” I stammered, taken off guard. “Yeah, I guess so.”

Matthias leaned forward, resting his forearm against his thigh. “Do you believe in God, Calvin?”

The line of questioning was going down a dark path I had not expected. In the four months I had been dating Juniper, she had never brought up religion.

“Of course...” My answer was slow and deliberate.

Matthias nodded, his eyes narrowing at me. “God is the most important thing to this family. The Mills clan walks close with Him. We are His servants, and we take that role very seriously.”

I nodded. “My family believed the same. We were very devote.”

“Were?” Matthias asked.

“My father died this past February. I never knew my mother, but my dad raised me to be fearful of God.”

“And what do you believe now?”

I hesitated. “I still practice.”

“You can be honest with me, Calvin.” Matthias sat back into the thick leather couch. “I won’t tell Juniper not to date you because of your religious beliefs. Or lack thereof.” He laughed, as if that last part was a joke.

I smiled at him, “I’ll admit, I do not follow the more embellished of the ceremonies my father taught me, but I still believe in his word and actions.”

He nodded. “I can respect that. I know my daughters only participate in some of the more, how did you put it… embellished of the ceremonies solely for my benefit. I understand the younger generation doesn’t care as much for the ritual of worship. But I think it’s important that you know how deep this family’s spirituality runs. God comes first in this house. When God asks us to do something,” he paused, looking towards the floor as he cleared his throat. He looked back up at me, his gaze fierce, freezing me in time and space. “We obey without question.”

“As it should be.” I said.

We stared at each other for several moments before the tension was broken by Matthias’ deep laughter.

“I like you, Calvin.” He stood. “I’m gonna go grab a beer, want one?”

“That’d be great, thanks.”

He left and I sat in the living room, surrounded by fire and death.

Dinner and drinks passed uneventfully. The food was delicious and Matthias’ wine cellar impressive. I didn’t even notice the absence of Mrs. Mills throughout the course of the dinner. Matthias kept filling my glass and I drank the rich red wine with relish.

I should’ve known better. Christmas eve had been me and my father’s night and so maybe my overindulgence was an attempt to deal with his absence. Maybe I wasn’t ready to go through that night’s rite without him just yet. But I knew at the back of my mind that I had to. That it was my duty. I owed it not just to my father, but to the world.

As Matthias poured another glass of wine, I looked down at my watch. 9:58. I needed to pace myself. To rest. I’d need my wits and strength for the witching hour. Luckily, I did not have to excuse myself early. As the clock struck ten, Matthias raised his glass in cheer.

“Let us bless our last sip of wine before we head to bed.” His eyes twinkled with drink. “Tonight’s a big night for us, and so let us toast to family” he held his glass towards me, “and new friends. To endings and new beginnings.” He winked, his smirk lopsided. “To the most sacred holiday, and to God. Let us give to Him all that He asks of us, and hope He favors us with the treasures of His bounty.”

He stretched his glass to mine. “To Saint Nicholas.” Our wine glasses clinked as the sister’s voices echoed their father. “To Saint Nicholas!”

I laughed and drowned the last of my wine, attributing each and every red flag to the quirkiness of a rich and spoiled family of lawyer lumberjacks.

I awoke later the night to hands running up my chest. I opened my eyes, my mind groggily trying to catch up to my body’s instant reaction. A warm naked body pressed into me and I rolled towards her, pulling her closer. My lips found her soft skin and I kissed her neck, tracing the gentle curve to her jaw. Something brushed lightly against the back of my neck, but my brain was too drenched in desire and sleep to register the sensation. She moaned and I ran my hand up her side. As I cupped her breast, the supple flesh gave under my fingertips and electricity shot through my body as I squeezed. Bringing my mouth to hers, I kissed her deeply

Arms wrapped around my back and I opened my eyes with instant focus, my vision suddenly filled with Clover’s cold grey gaze.

I recognized the sensation of breasts much larger than Juniper’s or Clover’s pressing against my back, firm and soft. Amber’s breath was hot on my ear. “Shhhh, don’t fight it.” Her tongue slid across the sensitive skin at the top of my neck and brought my earlobe between her lips. She sucked softly and my dick swelled.

I turned to face her, her lips finding mine as I pressed myself into her thighs. I moaned lightly as Clover’s hand snaked around my hip. As I kissed Amber, Clover moved to my cock, gently teasing it before wrapping her fingers around the shaft.

“Oh, fuck.” I gasped as she began to stroke. I rolled onto my back, my eyes closed as Amber and Clover explored my body, their heat radiating into my sides.

Clover kissed my cheek and whispered, “open your eyes.”

I obeyed.

Above me, standing at the foot of the bed, was a woman. I sat bolt upright, filled with sudden panic. Clover and Amber’s hands fell away as they watched my reaction with amused expressions on their faces.

The woman stood, looking at me. Her hair was long, longer than Juniper’s, and it was stark white. Not graying, but pure white. She stood completely naked, her pale body glowing in the silver light of the moon outside the window. Her eyes were wide, revealing pupils completely milky with cataracts. She looked ageless, color fading from her along with her youth, yet her fair skin was still smooth and firm.

“Calvin, mom. Mom, Calvin.” Clover cooed beside me, her voice a mix of sensuality and power.

Mrs. Mills stared at me with those unseeing eyes, and she smiled.

“It’s nice to meet you, Calvin.” She said quietly, her voice delicate.

I was breathing heavily, my panting shifting from arousal to fear in mere seconds. My fight or flight instinct was screaming at me to do something, but I was frozen. My eyes darted to the digital clock on the nightstand. 11:28. My alarm was set to go off in only a few minutes. I still had time to prepare for the ritual. I looked up at Mrs. Mills, who was still smiling at me, waiting for a response.

My voice came out strained, tight with fear, confusion, and some embarrassment at the sheer amount of nudity around me. “You too, Mrs. Mills.”

“Please, call me Holly.” Without waiting for a response, she turned to Clover. “He will do. Prepare him for sacrifice.”

I felt a pinch in my neck, then darkness.

I opened my eyes slowly. My head throbbed and my body was shaking uncontrollably, the air shockingly cold. I tried to take in the scene around me through blurry vision. I was sitting on the cold hard ground. Short walls of snow surrounded me in a circle, but the circle itself was bare except for dozens of thick white candles. My ass cheeks were numb against the frozen leaves that had only recently been covered. I was naked and I realized the Mills family was kneeling around me.

Juniper and her sisters swayed in the chill night air, the slowly falling snow soaking into the delicate fabric of their nightgowns. They chanted together, their voices joining in a chorus of a German sounding dialect I did not recognize.

Directly in front of me stood Matthias. His hands clasped in front of him as if in prayer. A black, crooked dagger jutted out from his grasp towards his face.

Jesus fuck, what time is it? I thought as I tried to stand, but my hands were tied behind my back.

A creature stepped out from the chilly darkness and into the circle. Looming above me was a reindeer, Holly straddling its back. She wore a long, flowing white gown. A crown of icicles was perched on her forehead and she looked down, her white eyes glowing in the candlelight.

Contrasting starkly to Holly’s disturbing beauty, the reindeer was twisted and distorted. It looked more like someone’s idea of a sick joke than a living animal. Instead of standing on hooves, the deer’s leg bones protruded from the ends of red oozing stumps. Bloody velvet hung loosely from white bones in fleshy stripes. It’s face was dirty and blackened with what looked like charcoal. A long, black tongue lolled out of its mouth between two rows of human teeth.

I squirmed in the rope that bound me, trying to pull its knot loose. Juniper and I had played with bondage in the bedroom and I knew her style. It wouldn’t take me long to undo anything she had done and my adrenaline silenced any doubt that it could have been any one of the other four family members.

The creature stepped forward towards me as it spoke, its exposed ankle bone pressing into the frozen earth with a dull crunch.

“I am the soul of Saint Nicholas.” It roared, its voice cracking through the air like thunder.

I paused my squirming. “I’m sorry, what?”

“You heard him, mortal!” Holly shrieked. Her voice had lost the fragile air from before. It was now dry and harsh, like paper crinkling into a ball. Or wood cracking as fire bites into it. It didn’t sound real. More like a demon's voice than a human’s. Like a succubus or siren. High pitched and flittering. The cackle of an evil witch.

My fight against the rope renewed with desperate determination. Fuck this shit and fuck this family.

The reindeer snickered quietly before beginning to speak again. “I am weak and old, but fresh blood will wash me anew.” His eyes glowed like burning coals.

“Oh Saint Nicholas, we worship thee!” The voices of the Mills family rose above the circle, their eyes closed with intense concentration.

Matthias continued, “we call upon the witching hour to bring our deity new life!”

“Let Saint Nicholas live again!” The daughters chanted.

The rope fell loosely from my wrists and I silently thanked my now ex-girlfriends crappy survival skills. I jumped up, naked and filled with a fury that easily squashed all self-doubt I had going into this cursed holiday. My father’s death was far from my mind, replaced with hatred.

Matthias’ eyes shot open. His daughters’ chanting faded as they looked from him to me to the god before us.

I looked at my watch. 11:58. I sighed with relief. Witching Hour wasn’t for another three hours. I had plenty of time to deal with the Mills’ shenanigans before it was too late to complete the ritual.

The reindeer, who stood almost a foot beneath me, smiled. “Oh, the foolish confidence of the son charged with the burden of the father.” He bellowed, his voice deep and impressive.

I looked down at him, our eyes locking. “What did you say?”

The deer began to paw the ground, shifting right and left. He looked like a child doing the pee-pee dance. “Oh, look at me.” He said in a mocking tone. “I’m Calvin and I’m an orphan. My daddy entrusted me with our family’s sacred duty but I’m scared.” The reindeer shook its head dramatically with each word, “if only daddy was here to help me kill these people.”

Holly’s anger faltered on her face. She was confused as well. This behavior, apparently, was not what the Mills family expected from their god.

“What the-” Matthias stood, his face twisted in confusion.

“Get the fuck off me, lady.” He bucked and Holly fell to the ground with a painful thud. Matthias reached out and quickly pulled her towards him. His daughters were now cowering at his sides. All malice and power gone from their faces, replaced with utter confusion.

How do you like it? Fucking assholes.

The reindeer continued, “luckily for little Calvin, the Mills are too dumb to know that the witching hour isn’t midnight. Little Calvin still has hours to kill all of them and burn their black little hearts in a fire born of coal and pine.”

He stopped his dance, his face becoming stern again. “You must’ve been thrilled when you were brought to the woods. No fake Christmas for Florida boy, oh no. No mail order pine needles and coal for daddy’s little boy. No, you thought coming up north was the right thing to do. Not like daddy made you live somewhere where it didn’t snow for a reason.”

I spat at the ground and look to the Mills. “This isn’t fucking Santa Claus you dim fucks.”

The reindeer took a steps towards me. “Do you believe in fate, Calvin?”

I looked down at him. “How did you find me? How… how are you even mortal?”

He leaned forward, his dead animal lips hovering by my face. “I followed you, Calvin. I could smell your hunter scent in the snow and I followed it.” He stepped back and looked up at me, smirking. “I found the same idiots I knew you would. A little early Christmas gift, just for you.” His long tongue stretched out towards me. I flinched as the dry leathery skin touched my face, caressing me. It smelt of dried fish and dirt.

“How were you able to become corporeal?” I asked, shooing his tongue away from me. It fell lifeless, hanging in front of him uselessly.

He turned his head to look at the Mills family, who stood behind him, mouths agape. Juniper’s mascara ran and she cried, confused at the scene in front of her. My mind shot back to Matthias’ gun rack. His hunting trophies on the wall.

“Oh god, he made this vessel for you? Fucking sick, man.”

The reindeer shrugged. Or at least, he lifted his shoulders in what could be interpreted as a shrug.

“So what now, are you going to kill me?”

“Not tonight, Calvin.” He winked.

I looked down at my watch. 1:15.

“I still have two hours to perform the ritual…” There was a hiss around me, like sand flowing. I looked up to see a pile of black where the Mills family had been seconds before.

The reindeer swung his face around, as if in astonishment. “Oh my! Where did those rascals get to!?!” He stomped around in mock confusion, the bare bones he stood on audibly snapping with the weight.

“Welp,” he looked back up at me, “good luck trying to find new sacrifices in the middle of bum fuck whatever state this is. I’m out.” He turned away from me and leapt into the snow. He bounded deeper into the woods, his legs spasming in front of him as if he didn’t have the right number of knees.

“See you next Christmas Eve, mother fucker!” He said over his shoulder as he disappeared from sight.

And now, because of the idiocy of one family, my legacy has died. For the first time in 200 years, my bloodline has failed in our sacred duty.

And for that, I apologize. I have failed you. There were so many signs, so many red flags. I should’ve known.

So here’s a warning, the last thing I can offer you in my father’s name. This Christmas Eve, make sure to lock your doors and windows. Leave your shoes outside and stay bundled in your bed. Because this year, Krampus is back.

[katerbees]

A Sherlolly Halloween part 3

Pt 1: https://katerbees.tumblr.com/post/166457341430/sherlolly-halloween-pt-1

Pt 1.2: https://katerbees.tumblr.com/post/166511390155/sherlolly-halloween-part-12

Pt 2: https://katerbees.tumblr.com/post/166528520875/sherlolly-halloween-pt-2

Ok! Here is the final installment. Post TFP. Based on a real party that will be happening in London that sounds super cool :D Thanks everyone for reading, can’t wait to get on AO3 here in a few days so I can get these in an easier to find location. Enjoy!! Please send me any prompts for Sherlolly from Sherlock or Elorcan from Throne of Glass

Halloween today

Molly walked around her apartment, pacing anxiously. She stepped into her bedroom, turning to her full length mirror on the wardrobe. She fussed about with the skirt, reaching underneath to lay the petticoat flat. There. Now she looked like a proper lady.  Another Halloween. Another year alone. Well, maybe not for much longer.

She had received a mysterious package on her doorstep. Considering the craziness she had endured the past couple of years she likely would have called Greg to bring the bomb squad except she saw the gold filigree and the letters MH embossed on the tag. She rolled her eyes but had persuaded herself to take the package into her flat.

She opened the box, first finding an envelope. It was an invitation to the Century Club in Soho, normally a member’s only club. A Halloween Ball was being held there in the theme of the Edgar Allen Poe’s Masque of the Red Death. Accompanying the invitation was a typed note from the desk of Mycroft Holmes.

Dr. Hooper,

I know this past year has been difficult for all of us. I also have heard that you quite enjoy Halloween. Please do me the honor of attending this ball in my stead. I will not use the invitation as I hate these sorts of things, but I do believe you would have a fun time. As always, take care of yourself, and thank you for always looking out for Sherlock.  

M. Holmes

Molly sighed. She didn’t have any plans. But Mycroft probably already knew that. The damn Holmes siblings knew everything about her. She continued through the box to find a beautiful dark red gown. Well. Fuck it. Why not?

Molly sighed; second guessing her decision to go. She had spritzed herself with perfume, curled her hair and put it into a loose up-do after watching a youtube video. It didn’t look great, but it definitely looked more put together than normal. She had applied a small amount of makeup and packed her small clutch. Maybe she would just stay in. She wouldn’t know anyone there, and she would be forced to make awkward small talk with strangers. Morbid Molly. Ugh….

At that last thought, she heard a knock on the door. Who on earth could that be? She wondered.

She went to the door, and looked through the peephole. She saw the top of a woman’s head and opened it.

It was Mycroft��s assistant.

“Good evening Dr. Hooper. Mycroft sent me to get you and give you a ride to the party so you wouldn’t need to fuss with a cab.” Anthea said, head down the whole time, madly texting on her phone.

“Oh. Um.. ok. Call me Molly, and let me grab my bag.” She replied.

Anthea didn’t respond, she just kept texting. “Make sure you grab the invitation as well.”

“Got it!” Molly yelled from the kitchen, grabbing her bag and a shawl.

The two women got into a black town car and headed to Soho.

The car dropped Molly off in front of the Century Club. Clearly Mycroft knew she was going to second guess going and sent Anthea to ensure she went. Why the hell did he care so much? Molly had to admit, the entrance of the club looked really cool. There were hearses parked out front with skeletons perched in the driver’s seat. Fog machines were piping their fumes into the courtyard as the guests were lining up to show their invitations. Real ravens were all over; on the awning, in the courtyard, on the fake tombstones. This was awesome! Molly arrived at the doorman, he quickly scanned a qr code she hadn’t even seen.

“Have a good time Ms. Hooper.”

“Thank you” Molly said, and smiled. She had forgotten how much she did actually love Halloween. The past few had been so crappy, it was easy to forget, but seeing all the macabre decorations made her felt at home and looking forward to the ball.

The lobby was about half full, true to form, there were several smaller rooms off to the side, lit up in various shades of the rainbow, just as in Poe’s original work. Molly was fascinated, and spent the first hour walking through the different rooms, viewing the decorations, enjoying the different vibes that each room gave off.

She was in the white room getting a drink when she heard it.

“Molly.” A deep baritone voice, like liquid silk, spoke her name.

Goddamned Mycrorft Holmes.

Molly slowly turned to see Sherlock, dressed in a tuxedo, staring intently at her.

Ever since that phone call, things had been awkward. Well. More awkward. Once they returned, Molly had been taken for a debriefing session, her apartment turned upside down while they found several cameras, and searched for bombs. The Eurus situation had been explained to Molly, all of the tests the men had been forced to endure, including the one where Sherlock watched her in her kitchen as he agonizingly forced those words from her lips. It had all been so much. She had dreamt of hearing those words, but never like that. Never forced. And not with cameras watching her, displaying her for Mycroft and John to see. God knows how long those cameras had been in there. Every sense of privacy she thought she had, had been violated.  Molly had actually taken up Greg’s offer to stay at his place for a few weeks after, and he surprisingly was not a creep at all. It had taken her forever to feel safe in her apartment after that. Sherlock had been distant and busy following the Sherrinford incident. He had refocused himself on Eurus. On trying to fix his family. Molly could not fault him for that, but it also hadn’t left room for them to discuss what had happened.

“Sherlock.” Molly returned his gaze. “Is this Myrcroft’s idea of a joke?” she asked, surprising herself with how cold her voice sounded.

“I don’t believe my brother knows how to do that. I believe this was his way of doing something thoughtful. You look lovely by the way. May I?” he gestured to her hand, took it in his and kissed the top of it.

Molly stepped out of the drink line, “What are you doing here? You don’t like parties.” Molly deflected.

“No? I suppose I don’t. But, I do like Edgar Allen Poe, I do like dancing, and I do like you. So that seems like a winning combination to me.”

“If this is your idea of another way you and one of your siblings fucking with me, you can forget it.” Molly responded.

“Molly.” Sherlock still held her hand in his, he moved himself closer to her. “I am not joking about any of it. And I wasn’t joking that day on the phone. I meant what I said.”

Molly stood there. Her cheeks heated. That day. She had replayed him saying those words to her over and over again. The whole thing was both like a dream come true and a nightmare simultaneously.

“How can you say something like that and then disappear for months? Hmm? That’s what I don’t understand. How can you tell me you love me, make me say it, and then act like It never happened for months?” Molly asked, letting the words that she had held in all these months come flowing out.

“Walk with me, Molly. Please.” Sherlock countered. He led her back into the atrium, where classical music was being mixed with modern to form an interesting waltz. Sherlock took her hand, and put his other hand on her waste.

“It was important to me to make sure that Eurus wasn’t a threat any more before I pursued anything further with you. She threatened to kill you right in front of me. And I had no reason to believe she wouldn’t do it regardless. We played by the rules for the two previous games, and she still murdered everyone involved. I thought she was going to kill you. And if you died, I selfishly wanted you to say those words to me. So I could relive them in my mind palace for the rest of my miserable life.”

“Sherlock. Oh my God. I didn’t know that she killed everyone else no matter what. I was only given the basics. Oh my God. I’m so sorry you had to see all of that.” Molly had moved her one arm off his shoulder and was cupping his face.

“I was shocked she didn’t kill you. And I will admit, I was even shocked myself when I realized that I also love you.  I think I’ve loved you for a long time, I just didn’t understand what it meant. And I was afraid. But nothing made me as afraid as when I thought you were going to die.” Sherlock rested his face on her hand. Molly stood on her toes, and reached up to kiss Sherlock.

It was such a tender thing. Like a question. His lips pressed back against hers. At that she slowly wrapped her arms around his neck, framing his head with her hands, intensifying their kiss.

“Molly.” Sherlock whispered as he gently pulled back. “Forgive me. I have and always will be rubbish for you. But I am learning to be a better person. Please let me be your person.”

Molly smiled, blinked back some tears. “Sherlock, you’re already my person.”  She pulled him down for another kiss. The two of them became lost in each other; it would have been rather distasteful if not for the darkness of the Halloween mood lighting. Molly made a mental note to send Mycroft a thank you card.

Molly finally broke away from their kissing session. Sherlock breathed heavily.

“Sherlock. I just need to know one thing?”

“Of course Molly, I want to be an open book. No more secrets.” Sherlock bent down to kiss her once more. It seemed as though this might be his newest addiction. Molly gently pulled away.

“What is your costume?” Molly asked, with a sly grin.

“Hmm..” Sherlock thought for a moment. “How about, Molly Hooper’s boyfriend?”

Molly answered him with a kiss.  

[arplis]

Arplis - News: Sympathetic Black Screen Door

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Arplis - News source https://arplis.com/blogs/news/sympathetic-black-screen-door

[artisticvicu]

Dancing in the Rain

Everything was soaked. Her clothes were soaked, her bag was soaked, the work papers and her phone - all of it completely soaked as she stood under the shop awning. Tears blended with the rainwater on her face, sobs pouring from her chest unhindered. It was all she could do to remain standing tucked against the building.

“Hey, you ok, miss?”

The smell of cigarette smoke curled around her as her head snapped up, surprise interrupting the sobs. The shop door had opened and a man was leaning from the door frame looking at her. He took a step out of the door and straightened, facing her properly. “Want to come in and dry off? I’m sure a coworker has something you can wear while your clothes dry.”

She glanced at the shop, overwhelmed. The shop itself looked sketchy with things she didn’t recognize being sold and promoted. The man himself was in black skinny jeans, black tank top with some sort of graphic on it, and black knee high boots that had a full lace work and buckles. He wasn’t overly build but his tattooed arms looked like they could hold her in place with ease.

His brown eyes, though, were kind, careful, like he knew what he must look like to her and was doing his best not to scare her off. He felt bad for her - it was clear on his unshaven face - but it wasn’t demeaning like it could have been. If she was reading him right, he felt bad for her situation than anything else.

Her grip on her bag tightened. “O-ok,” she finally uttered.

He grinned at her. Beyond the slightly yellow coloring, he had a perfect smile. “Awesome. Come on in and we’ll get you wrapped up in something warmer.” He gestured into the shop even as he called into it. “Hey, Lacy! Come give this lady a hand!”

There was a shout from the back of the shop as she stepped in. He closed the door before stepping around her, whatever response sent back at his words jargon to her ears. He kept walking towards the back and seemed to understand the jargon because he shouted in turn, “Well then it’s a good thing she isn’t a customer!”

He disappeared between a set of shelves near the back. She remained dripping at the entrance but her gaze didn’t stay where he had vanished.

Now in the shop, she could see that it was a lot of everything. The area she stood in held the register to her left and music of all formats to her right. Instruments were tucked in along the walls or hung from the ceiling. The short racking that separated the music section from the rest of the shop was filled with knickknacks, small purchase items, and snacks. There was a section at the end that held a few clothing items. The section beyond the music section was books. Lots and lots of books packed into tall bookcases. Beyond the register was all sorts of games and game components. The short glass cases that defined the register area were packed with card packs, boxes of loose cards, all variety of video games, and dice. A lot of dice. The high shelves behind the counter that stretched along the wall were packed with figurines both in and out of boxes. There were wall units under the high shelves beyond the counter that held DVDs and video games for a wide range of consoles.

She found herself coming to a stop at the end of the music section at the start of the book section. The shop was far larger than it looked from the front. The tall shelves that held the games hid the opening in the left wall that led into a space full of tables. The tables were empty and the chairs tucked in neatly but the walls were covered in posters and a number of white boards and tv screens. There was a second counter that looked like a coffee shop counter with a display case of goods and a menu hanging on the wall. The remainder of the back area of the shop and wall were filled with racks of clothing and other accessories.

“On top of being a popular hangout space, we do an assortment of tournaments and DnD nights so the cafe’s been the best decision we’ve made with the old restaurant kitchen.”

She jumped, spinning around to face the new voice. The stranger she found herself facing had sounded female but her first visual impression said male. The stranger’s hair was short, the strands barely tall enough to hide the fingers that ran through it briefly. The outfit didn’t help. The stranger was wearing a blue jeans overalls dress over a black and white striped short sleeved shirt but there was no bust to be found. If the drape of the dress was anything to go by, though, the stranger’s body shape was more female than male with narrow shoulders and waist and wide hips.

“There’s also a few old arcade games in an office offshoot of the gaming room but I doubt that’s of much interested sopping wet. I’m Alix. Or Lacy, if you listen to Lent.” She frowned and the stranger grinned. They too had a slightly off white perfect smile. “It’s a blend of Alex and Alice. Just replace the ‘e’ in Alex with the ‘i’ in Alice and you get my name.”

“Why?” she found herself blurting through chattering teeth. The shop wasn’t exactly cold but it was cool enough that she was now freezing.

Alix shrugged, the grin now an encouraging smile. “Why not?” They gestured towards the doorway on the other wall. “Come on. Lent’s running a few towels through the dryer to warm them up for you and I’ll see if I have anything you can wear.” The stranger started for a door opposite the space full of tables. “If nothing else, we’ll find something in the shop in your size that you can have.”

The door led into a hallway that ended in a door a stretch to the left. A staircase ran along the opposite wall. The stairs and the hallway itself looked recently renovated compared to her first impressions of the shop. Her gaze drifted as she waited for Alix to close the door and take the lead; there were two other doors on the wall that had the door for the shop.

Alix took the stairs slowly, looking to her as they kept talking. “Lent owns the shop with his husband and leases out the second floor apartment to a small fraternity of a nearby college. Good batch of boys. They do a lot around here.”

They came to the second story landing as the only door opened on the wall opposite the top of the stairs. Two young men looking like stereotypical jocks stepped out and immediately beamed at Alix.

“We wondered what Lent was hollering about,” the first of the two commented, both of their gazes drifting to her for a moment.

“Do you need us to get anything?” the second offered, voice softer, calmer than his companion. “We’re doing a quick grocery run Picking up Lent’s list while we’re at it.”

Alix shook their head, starting for the next stretch of stairs. “I have an order in for the shop so don’t buy anything for it, regardless of what Lent says.”

“Ay, Captain!” the two men chorused. The softer spoken one started down the stairs as the first one paused at the edge of the stairs. “You sure you don’t need anything Alix? I could always call Brooke. She and a number of her girls live close by.”

“I’ll send a text if I need anything,” Alix returned, a large smile on their face. “Promise.”

The young man gave a determined nod before barreling down the stairs. Alix rolled their eyes before leading the rest of the way up the stairs. “Good batch but they can be a bit much sometimes.”

The third landing had a slanted ceiling over the stairs, as if they had stepped into the attic of the building. The only door on the landing was open into the apartment beyond and she hesitantly followed Alix into the very modern, very well kept living space. The apartment was an open floor plan with vaulted ceilings. The entire right wall was windows. Whatever view was beyond was obscured by the rain and she turned her attention to the rest of the space as Alix disappeared through a door at the other end of the space past the kitchen.

Chatter drifted into the living space as her shivering subsided. It was warmer in the apartment than it had been in the shop - not to mention the two flights of stairs she had climbed. A man she didn’t know stepped out of the bedroom with Alix.

“This is Lent’s husband Derrek.”

“Pleasure.” Derrek offered his hand and a soft smile. She shook it, unsure. “Lent’s getting the towels laid out in our bathroom. We figured you’d appreciate a hot shower before changing into something else.” Derrek turned his gaze onto Alix. “You were checking to see what you had?”

“Yeah. It’s downstairs, though, so I’ll be right back.” Alix paused at her side, meeting her eyes with a serious expression. “Are you comfortable with that? I can have one of the boys go check, or even Derrek if you’d feel more comfortable with me here. Not that either Derrek or Lent will do anything.”

“I-I-”

“Bathroom’s set up,” Lent announced, stepping out of the bedroom. He met her gaze with that kind, careful look again. “ And we’ll just negate that situation. Derrek and I will start prepping the shop for open while Lacy takes care of you. Bathroom door does have a lock on it, as does the bedroom door if you need to barricade yourself in.”

She found herself nodding, watching the tension leave the two men. “Take as much time as you need,” Derrek encouraged. “And if you need anything, just let Alix know. They know where everything is at.”

“Thank you,” she offered quickly as the two men started for the door.

Alix shifted their weight, gaining her attention again. “Checking to see what I have will only take a few minutes but I can stay outside the apartment for fifteen or thirty minutes, if you want to be alone.”

“Why are you all doing this for me? Letting some stranger into your home like this.”

Alix smiled gently. “Lent told me he found you crying on the doorstep looking like a drowned rat.” Her cheeks colored in indignation and Alix laughed, hands gesturing in a placating manner. “It was said as an expression rather than a description. He was very concerned about you. Derrek had to actually talk him down from the panic that started to set in.”

“Panic?”

Alix’s expression softened. “He may look gruff but Lent’s a mess like the lot of us. He over thinks everything and, while he’s getting better, he still frets over every little action. It’s why we’re all a little more blunt that what people expect around here, why there is so much communication. It helps everyone not worry about misstepping or poor impressions.”

She gave a breathy chuckle at that. “That doesn’t seem real.”

Alix grinned. “Oh, trust me. It was extremely difficult adapting to it. But, it’s been worth it. I love working here because of them.” They shrugged. “Clientele helps a bit with that too.”

She glanced at the front door. It was still open and the sounds of happy, very enthusiastic chatter was echoing up the stairs. Her grip on her bag tightened.

“Hey.” She looked back at Alix. “If you’d rather, I can just call you a lift and send you out the back door without anyone being the wiser. You don’t have to take their offered hospitality if you don’t feel comfortable doing so.”

She looked towards the stairs again as a roar of several different laughs came from the stairwell. “You’ll stay out for the time I ask for?”

Alix nodded. “I’ll either put the clothes or a note saying to raid the closet outside the bedroom door. Won’t even get close to the bathroom.”

Some of the tension left her shoulders and she smiled. “Thank you.”

Alix grinned. “Of course. How much time do you want? 15 minutes? 30?”

“Fifteen’s just fine.”

“I’ll be back at half past, then.” Alix paused in the process of closing the front door. For a moment she watched as their expression turned thoughtful before they looked back at her. “Hopefully the next time you find yourself soaked like this, it’ll be from dancing in the rain rather than whatever it was you went through; that it was by choice, rather than bad timing.”

She chuckled softly at that. “I don’t really dance.”

“What if I was dancing with you?” Surprise filled her. She wondered if Alix noticed as they added, “Could make it a bonding moment with new friends.”

“Friends?”

Alix grinned again and despite all the stress and apprehension, she found herself mimicking it. “I will bet you that if either Derrek or Lent let you out of here without gaining your name, number, and a few tidbits about you at minimum, I will call you a limo to take you home. The fanciest limo I can find on such short notice.”

She laughed at that. “Seriously?”

“Absolutely.”

“What an absurd thing to bet,” she commented around giggles. “And what if you are right?”

“I teach you to dance.” She blinked, taken aback by that. Alix’s smile was soft, endearing. “That way you have no excuse to keep you from dancing in the rain.”

With a waterlogged phone in her bag in some stranger’s home over a shop she’d never dreamed of visiting conversing with the strangest of people, she found herself relaxing in this stranger’s presence and taking the bet. “Only if you agree to dance with me.”

Alix beamed at her. “Always.”

[samuelmmarcus]

Dark Exterior Farmhouse

  It’s always wonderful to have Pike Properties LLC  (previously featured here) on Home Bunch. They are one of my favorite builders in Charlotte, NC and it’s easy to see why… just take a look at this newly-built modern farmhouse with dark exterior. Here, the builder share more details with us:

“Pike Properties was presented with a relatively flat lot with large dimensions, and therefore it was time to go about building something truly special. It isn’t uncommon for Pike to build a special home, but this home took everything to new heights and was full of new design ideas and concepts never before seen in Pike builds.

One important thing to note is that Pike Properties isn’t a custom builder. We are purely building homes on a speculative basis. We buy the dirt, design the home, bring it to life, and sell it to its new owners. That said, many features you find inside this home and others we have built are at our additional cost. Did we need copper gutters? No. Did we need a stacked stone wing wall? No. These are the extra sizzle features we add to our homes to make them stand out and live up to our high standards.

Welcome to the tour of this striking Modern Farmhouse build in Charlotte, North Carolina!”

  Interior Design Ideas: Dark Exterior Farmhouse

This home is so very eye-catching. The contrasting colors and boldness of the overall design ensures that brake lights come on as cars drive by and that people stop and let their dog sniff just a bit longer. The overall design is actually just a slight tweak on this home: “Farmhouse-Style Home Inspired by Chip & Joanna Gaines“.

Tired of white, white, and more white, Pike Properties decided to take a slight risk and go dark with the main body paint color (Benjamin Moore Raccoon Fur). This color is very unique and actually can look more dark gray in some lights and more dark navy at other times. If you are looking to paint your home this color, definitely throw up some samples at different locations (shade and sun) to ensure you like the looks.

As briefly mentioned before, the gutters are genuine copper. It is an upgrade of around $2,500 over aluminum gutters, but WOW. They make such a statement against the dark facade that we knew we just had to splurge on them. Looking now, we don’t think the home would have felt “complete” without the copper.

CertainTeed Weathered Wood architectural shingles cover the roof, while a metal accent tops the window awning, a classic farmhouse feature.

Beautiful Porch Furniture Sets: here, here, here, here & here.

Shingles

To lighten the facade up a bit and to ensure a focal point of the design, we used cedar shake and a stacked stone wing wall to coat the gabled bump out. A window box adds a feeling of quaintness and homeliness. The shake, as well as cedar columns, a front door are all stained in Benjamin Moore Hidden Valley 50% formula (semi-transparent). The front decking/skirting is Hidden Valley full formula (solid). 

Front Door

The front door is very inviting and is made from genuine Fir. We used a Schlage electronic keypad door lock with matching handle, found here. The ease of use and ability to not have to carry around a key is a great added benefit.

Rain Chains

Rain Chains are from Houzz.

Garage

From this angle you can see the detached carriage house as well as side entrance overhang with custom crafted bracket supports.

Living Room

As you walk into the home, you are greeted by this living space. Located at the front left corner of the home with plentiful windows facing east and south, the natural light is incredible. Access to the rear wrap around porch is granted via the glass door, adding to the farmhouse vibes. Your focal point in a living room tends to be the fireplace, and that is no different here. For the surround we went with a curved trim detail that supports the cedar mantle. The hearth is black granite. We always paint the inside of the firebox in a heat resistant black paint, as it is much more pleasing to the eye than leaving it tan. This fireplace wouldn’t be complete without the designer tile.

Tile: Soho Studio MJ Sabino Asian Statuary Polished & Honed – Others: here, here, here, here, here & here.

Paint Color in all the main living areas of this home is Benjamin Moore Dove Wing with trim being Benjamin Moore White Dove.

Couches- Discontinued – Others: here, here, here, here, here, here & here.

Beautiful Brass Table Lamps: here, here, here & here.

Coffee Table- Arteriors Home.

Rug: Jaipur Living – Others: here, here, here & here.

Kitchen

Taking some of our favorite elements from previous kitchen designs and blending them created the masterpiece that you see here. A Modern Farmhouse kitchen that possesses both Modern and Farmhouse ingredients and feels warm and welcoming, while sustaining that ever so slight feeling of exquisite luxury.

Navy cabinetry is trending big right now, and for good reason. We went with that trend and painted these custom cabinets in Benjamin Moore Lead Gray. Although the color refers to Gray, they are truly a gray/navy. This tone is perfect because it isn’t too deep or bright of a navy that would lend itself to be too casual or unsophisticated. These cabinets were custom made by a local Charlotte shop.

The 10′ center island anchors the kitchen and creates a natural gathering spot. It is topped off in a white Quartz that contrasts beautifully against the cabinetry. Speaking of contrasting, we feel that the brass accents in this space pull everything together so wonderfully.

The custom range hood really exemplifies both Modern and Farmhouse elements. Making it squared off with hard edges and no flare and or trimmed edges, it is a very modern statement piece. Add in the shiplap look and you have the epitome of a Modern Farmhouse range hood.

Counterstools- RH – Others: here, here, here, here & here.

Refrigerator

From this angle you can more thoroughly appreciate the great expanse of the island. In addition, to keep scale with the rest of the kitchen, we choose a jaw dropping 60″ French door refrigerator! It comes in two separate pieces, the fridge and freezer columns.

Appliances: Freezer, Refrigerator, Trim.

Sconces Flanking Hood: Savoy House.

Range Wall

This may just be one of the most beautiful tiles we have ever seen before! The striking intricacies and brass branding is truly special. We went with a simple marble tile for the main backsplash that is full height up the wall, and then for the picture frame accent we splurged big time for this amazing tile. It was quite worth the extra money!

Accent Tile- Soho Studio Empress Helena – Others: here, here, here & here.

Main Backsplash Tile- Jeffrey Court Wall Street White 3×9 – similar here.

Pot Filler- Delta Contemporary in Matte Black.

Range- Jenn-Air 48″ Pro-Style.

Faucet

Faucet is Brizo Litze in Matte Black with Brilliance Luxe Gold.

Lighting

Pendants are Hudson Valley Blake in Aged Brass. Other Beautiful Lighting: here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here & here.

Kitchen Island

This angle of the kitchen is truly stunning. It shows off the open floorpan between kitchen, keeping room, and dining area. Windows galore offer loads of natural light. The space elicits warm and cozy feels, as a Modern Farmhouse should. This home is certainly perfect for those who love to entertain.

To the left of the apron front farm sink is a trash drawer with two built-in bins, a functional upgrade. With the press of a button, the Jenn-Air microwave drawer opens up and allows you to easily drop in whatever it is that needs heating up.

Hardware: Cabinet Hardware is all from the Emtek Alexander Collection in various sizes.

Kitchen Sink: Blanco Profina.

Dishwasher: Jenn-Air.

Dining Room

This dining space serves as the sole dining area in the home. It is the formal dining room, the breakfast room, and everything in between. Is the formal dining room going out of style? In many cases we tend to say yes. With that said, it was important to ensure that this room maintained elements of formal and informal design. The open concept ensures some informality, while a striking chandelier and stained ceiling trim detail keeps the formality in check. From a standpoint of being in this room in person, we would say the stained wood ceiling accent trim is what really sets this room apart and causes visitors jaws to drop. Take that away and it is a typical dining room. This is a prime example of our belief in going a little above and beyond the ordinary to create spaces that are truly extraordinary. This dining space is perfectly situated overlooking the backyard as well. Wow!

Chandelier

Chandelier- Visual Comfort EF Chapman Oslo – Others: here, here, here, here & here.

Dining Table- Jeffan – Others: here, here, here, here & here.

Dining Chairs- Joss & Main.

Rug: Jaipur Living.

Flooring

We will dive into the Keeping Room next, but first we’d like to take a moment to talk about the wood flooring that spans throughout this home. The floors are 3.25″ White Oak site finished with an eco-friendly durable finish called Rubio Monocoat. The name of the finish is Havana.

Chandelier: Visual Comfort.

Keeping Room

A brief history. “Keeping rooms can be traced to 18th-century Colonial America, when most cooking was done around a home’s only fireplace. Since this was the warmest part of the house, family members were drawn to the kitchen; but to avoid being underfoot and annoying the chef, they gathered in the next closest area: the keeping room. It was typically furnished with a comfortable couch, where they could lounge and accomplish small tasks such as sewing or writing letters.” (Via Realtor.com)

With that history lesson under our belts, we feel like having a keeping room in this home further extends the coziness and livability of this home. While things aren’t like they used to be in many regards, people still have a tendency to gather in and around kitchens, so why not have a cozy spot for them to sit?

This ceiling is vaulted 20′ high and boasts exposed cedar beams, keeping things just a tad rustic. When faced with a tall, focal point wall there is almost no better choice than to cover it with shiplap, so we did just that! Something about having that trim and not just drywall enhances the coziness of the space. The second fireplace of the home is more informal with simpler trim and a black granite surround, versus tile. Keeping with the hint of modern found throughout this home is the Visual Comfort Ian Fowler Bistro Chandelier.

Coffee Table: Discontinued – Other Beautiful Coffee Tables: here, here, here, here, here, here, here & here.

Couch- Discontinued – similar here.

Chairs- Orient Express.

Rug: Jaipur Living – similar here, here, here & here .

Beautiful Rugs & Pillows:

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  Powder Room

This picture really and truly speaks for itself. This is the sole bathroom on the main floor and functions as the go to bath for visitors. Imagine your guests reaction when they walk into this? Many synonyms for “jaw-dropped” come to mind, no doubt.

What we have here is a floating cast concrete vanity that is mounted to the wall. It is a custom made piece but shockingly costs no more than an average Restoration Hardware vanity. With no base, your piping is exposed. Luckily they make champagne bronze pipes! The brass look against the black wall tile is simply unbeatable.

Paint- Benjamin Moore Moonshine.

Mirror- West Elm Antique Tiled Wall Mirror.

Faucet- Delta Dryden Widespread in Brillance Champagne Bronze.

Lights- Elk Bremington in Oil Rubbed Bronze/Aged Gold.

Tile- Soho Studio Hexagono Cuna Grafito Matte – similar here.

Stairway

When walking into this home, the stairway is one of the first things you see. That said, we wanted to ensure it made a great impression. This was our first time doing tile risers as well as our first time using metal railings. Well, it certainly won’t be our last. We love the look and think you will too!

Tile- Jeffrey Court Acquerello Palermo Field Tile – Others: here, here, here & here.

3rd Floor Bonus Room

It is a great added benefit to have this finished space on the 3rd level that would have otherwise been unfinished attic space collecting dust. It could be used for a variety of uses like a media room, billiard space, exercise room, etc. We even incorporated a built-in desk perfect for kids homework or a crafting table.

Paint- Benjamin Moore Dove Wing.

Stair Fixture- Kichler Rocklyn

 Pike Properties Built-in Bunks

Are the kids having a sleepover? Well, we’ve got you covered. These built-in bunks are not only functional but also stylish. Carrying in a nautical theme makes them feel like ship bunks.

Fun fact: Inside that small door to the right is a kids play nook with lowered ceilings!

Lights- Hinkley Mercer in Heritage Brass.

Guest Bathroom

This bathroom is great for kids. It is connected to a secondary bedroom as well as the hallway to service a bedroom across the hall. Plenty of countertop space and drawer storage abounds. Carrying the hardwoods into the bathroom is a great look, especially given the white furniture vanity.

Paint- Benjamin Moore Moonshine.

Vanity- London 72″ Vanity from Houzz – also here.

Faucets- Delta Ashlyn 8″ Widespread in Chrome.

Lights- Kichler Braelyn in Chrome.

Neutral Bathroom

An en-suite bath, this is the private bathroom to one of the secondary bedrooms. One of our favorite elements is the basket weave tile in black and white. It has a 3D look to it in person, and takes you back to earlier, simpler times.

Paint- Benjamin Moore Moonshine.

Floor tile- MosaicArt Epic Basketweave Matte from Florida Tile – similar here.

Shower wall tile- Dorian Streamline 3×6 Arctic White from Florida Tile – here.

Vanity- Scott Living Canterbury 36″ from Lowes – Others: here, here, here, here, here & here.

Mirrors: 45.5-in L x 33.5-in W White Beveled Wall Mirror.

Lighting- Kichler Braelyn in Chrome.

Master Bedroom

A relaxing oasis was created with the use of neutrals and earth tones. This room features abundant sunlight throughout most of the day, and is just the perfect spot for an afternoon recharge. The diagonal shiplap accentuates the recessed bed wall. If the shiplap isn’t enough, we also put V-groove on the tray ceiling inset!

Paint- Benjamin Moore Halo.

Wicker Pendants- Mistana Durrant 1-Light Wicker Outdoor Pendant – Also available here.

Ceiling Chandelier- Crate and Barrel Finley.

Bedside Tables- Joss & Main – Others: here, here, here, here, here & here.

Recommended Bedding: here & here.

Headboard: here.

Chair- Uttermost – similar here – Others: here, here, here & here.

Rug: Jaipur Living.

Master Bathroom

This is the home of absolutely gorgeous bathroom vanities it so seems! What a great way to start your day each morning. Get out of bed and splash some water in your face in front of this beautiful accent wall.

With this bathroom overall, we went with a more so coastal theme. The blues and whites abound. It is truly causal elegance at its finest.

With such pretty tile, we wanted to hide the least of it possible with mirrors. That led us to these beautiful and unique round mirror that hang with leather straps. It’s also a bit nautical which was fitting.

Vanity- London 72″ in Grey from Houzz – Others: here, here, here, here, here, here, here & here.

Faucets- Delta Trinsic 8″ Widespread in Matte Black.

Mirrors- West Elm Modern Hanging Mirror.

Tile- MSI Surfaces Tamensa Porcelain.

Sconces- Hinkley Morgan.

Tub Nook

Feel like a king or queen in this rectangular freestanding tub raised on an elevated platform. Doing a small raised platform where the tub sits helps to define the space. The tub goes from feeling inside the bathroom, to having its own defined space that feels separated. Stylish cedar floating shelves are perfect for candles and towels. Romantic evening, anyone?

Paint- Benjamin Moore Halo.

Tub- Mirabelle Hibiscus 66″.

Faucet- Delta Trinsic in Brillance Champagne Bronze.

Chandelier- Hinkley Astrid in Metallic Matte Bronze.

Shower

Carrying the coastal theme onward, we went with this bold and beautiful baby blue tile for the master shower. Adding the brass banding and brass hardware really compliments the look. To not overwhelm the eyes, we went with white/grey tile on the floor. This shower has the rain head as well as a wall mounted head that is not seen in this photo.

Don’t miss the peek of the owner’s bedroom.

Tile- Soho Studio Rumba Ash Blue – Also here – Other Tiles: here, here, here, here, here & here.

Shower Floor Tile: here – similar.

Mudroom

Heading inside from the detached carriage house via the side porch entrance you are welcomed by this space. Have muddy shoes? Is it pouring rain? Whatever the case, these floors are meant for handling anything. Durable brick tile from Jeffrey Court ensures that you don’t ruin your floors and allows for easy cleanup of messes. On top of that, it is simply stylish, especially when laid in this herringbone pattern. In all honesty, having a brick floor in a mudroom just feels right!

Hooks and cubbies and a built-in bench add all the functionality you expect from a drop zone. We didn’t have to add the shiplap backing but we figured, why not!?

Brick Flooring: Jeffrey Court – similar here & here.

Computer Cove

Everyone needs a spot where the junk and extra stuff can be hidden away. Everyone needs a room where they can retreat to in order to get things done. This computer cove, or small home office space is just what the doctor ordered. Located off the back hallway through a pocket door, is this handy room. Plenty of built-in cabinet space for extra storage and granite countertop space for accomplishing work.

Cabinet Color- Benjamin Moore Gray Owl.

Light- Feiss Waveform Mini Pendant x3 with ceiling mount.

Built-In Dog Station

One of our favorite sizzle features to add into our homes is what you see here! It is relatively cheap ($500-$750) and is such a cool WOW factor and talking point. It is a ledge that is framed and trimmed out and topped in granite with stainless steel bowls set in. Tile lines the walls to prevent water as your dog splashes with their tongue from messing up your wall. A pot filler makes it super simple to refill. How cool is that!?

Pot Filler- Danze Opulence.

Rear Porch

A Modern Farmhouse wouldn’t be complete without an expansive covered rear porch. With access from the keeping room and dining/living space it is easy to take a step out and enjoy the amazing North Carolina weather. With room enough for dining and sitting, there is no limits with what you can do with this space. It overlooks the flat rear yard which is very large for an in-town location!

Ceiling Stain- Benjamin Moore Hidden Valley Semi-Transparent.

Decking Stain- Benjamin Moore Hidden Valley Solid.

Fan- Kichler Hatteras Bay Oversized in Distressed Black.

Outdoor Dining Furniture: here & here.

Outdoor Lighting

Front Door Light- Kichler Mount Vernon Hanging Lantern.

Dream Home

“When the sun sets over this Modern Farmhouse, a genuine feeling of calmness and tranquility sets in. The lights inside come on, dinner is prepared, and living begins.”

That is a direct quote from our Instagram post of this photo, and we feel it really evokes the emotion this homes brings into peoples lives, both those inside and those passing by.

Many thanks to the builder for sharing the details above!

  Builder: Pike Properties (Instagram)

Architecture: Frusterio Design, Inc.

Home Staging: Jenna Jackovich, Style Fix Staging.

Photography: Joe Purvis Photography.

  Best Sales of the Month:

Thank you for shopping through Home Bunch. I would be happy to assist you if you have any questions or are looking for something in particular. Feel free to contact me and always make sure to check dimensions before ordering. Happy shopping!

  Serena & Lily: 25% Off Outdoor Furniture!

  Wayfair: Up to 70% OFF – Home Remodel Sale!!!

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  Pottery Barn: Free Shipping – Use code: FREESHIP

  One Kings Lane: High Quality Design Decor for Less.

  West Elm: Best time to shop. Up to 40% off Everything!!!

  Anthropologie: See the super-popular Joanna Gaines Exclusive line!

  Urban Outfitters: Hip & Affordable Home Decor.

  Horchow: High Quality Furniture and Decor. Up to 30% off the entire site!

  Nordstrom: Up to 40% OFF. New Easter Decor!

  Arhaus: Dining Sale. Up to f0% OFF!

  Posts of the Week:

Small Lot Modern Farmhouse.

Coastal Farmhouse Home Decor.

Painted Brick Cottage.

2019 New Year Home Tour.

2019 Home Renovation Ideas.

Modern Farmhouse with Front Porch.

Modern Coastal Shingle Home.

Beautiful Homes of Instagram: Fixer Upper.

Classic Colonial Home Design.

New England Home.

Kitchen Renovation with Before & After Pictures.

Full-scale Home Remodel Inspiration.

Beautiful Homes of Instagram: How to Build your own Home.

Connecticut Beach House.Grey Kitchen Paint Colors.

Follow me on Instagram: @HomeBunch

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See more Inspiring Interior Design Ideas in my Archives.

“Dear God,

If I am wrong, right me. If I am lost, guide me. If I start to give-up, keep me going.

Lead me in Light and Love”.

Have a wonderful day, my friends and we’ll talk again tomorrow.”

with Love,

Luciane from HomeBunch.com

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[dawnjeman]

Dark Exterior Farmhouse

  It’s always wonderful to have Pike Properties LLC  (previously featured here) on Home Bunch. They are one of my favorite builders in Charlotte, NC and it’s easy to see why… just take a look at this newly-built modern farmhouse with dark exterior. Here, the builder share more details with us:

“Pike Properties was presented with a relatively flat lot with large dimensions, and therefore it was time to go about building something truly special. It isn’t uncommon for Pike to build a special home, but this home took everything to new heights and was full of new design ideas and concepts never before seen in Pike builds.

One important thing to note is that Pike Properties isn’t a custom builder. We are purely building homes on a speculative basis. We buy the dirt, design the home, bring it to life, and sell it to its new owners. That said, many features you find inside this home and others we have built are at our additional cost. Did we need copper gutters? No. Did we need a stacked stone wing wall? No. These are the extra sizzle features we add to our homes to make them stand out and live up to our high standards.

Welcome to the tour of this striking Modern Farmhouse build in Charlotte, North Carolina!”

  Interior Design Ideas: Dark Exterior Farmhouse

This home is so very eye-catching. The contrasting colors and boldness of the overall design ensures that brake lights come on as cars drive by and that people stop and let their dog sniff just a bit longer. The overall design is actually just a slight tweak on this home: “Farmhouse-Style Home Inspired by Chip & Joanna Gaines“.

Tired of white, white, and more white, Pike Properties decided to take a slight risk and go dark with the main body paint color (Benjamin Moore Raccoon Fur). This color is very unique and actually can look more dark gray in some lights and more dark navy at other times. If you are looking to paint your home this color, definitely throw up some samples at different locations (shade and sun) to ensure you like the looks.

As briefly mentioned before, the gutters are genuine copper. It is an upgrade of around $2,500 over aluminum gutters, but WOW. They make such a statement against the dark facade that we knew we just had to splurge on them. Looking now, we don’t think the home would have felt “complete” without the copper.

CertainTeed Weathered Wood architectural shingles cover the roof, while a metal accent tops the window awning, a classic farmhouse feature.

Beautiful Porch Furniture Sets: here, here, here, here & here.

Shingles

To lighten the facade up a bit and to ensure a focal point of the design, we used cedar shake and a stacked stone wing wall to coat the gabled bump out. A window box adds a feeling of quaintness and homeliness. The shake, as well as cedar columns, a front door are all stained in Benjamin Moore Hidden Valley 50% formula (semi-transparent). The front decking/skirting is Hidden Valley full formula (solid). 

Front Door

The front door is very inviting and is made from genuine Fir. We used a Schlage electronic keypad door lock with matching handle, found here. The ease of use and ability to not have to carry around a key is a great added benefit.

Rain Chains

Rain Chains are from Houzz.

Garage

From this angle you can see the detached carriage house as well as side entrance overhang with custom crafted bracket supports.

Living Room

As you walk into the home, you are greeted by this living space. Located at the front left corner of the home with plentiful windows facing east and south, the natural light is incredible. Access to the rear wrap around porch is granted via the glass door, adding to the farmhouse vibes. Your focal point in a living room tends to be the fireplace, and that is no different here. For the surround we went with a curved trim detail that supports the cedar mantle. The hearth is black granite. We always paint the inside of the firebox in a heat resistant black paint, as it is much more pleasing to the eye than leaving it tan. This fireplace wouldn’t be complete without the designer tile.

Tile: Soho Studio MJ Sabino Asian Statuary Polished & Honed – Others: here, here, here, here, here & here.

Paint Color in all the main living areas of this home is Benjamin Moore Dove Wing with trim being Benjamin Moore White Dove.

Couches- Discontinued – Others: here, here, here, here, here, here & here.

Beautiful Brass Table Lamps: here, here, here & here.

Coffee Table- Arteriors Home.

Rug: Jaipur Living – Others: here, here, here & here.

Kitchen

Taking some of our favorite elements from previous kitchen designs and blending them created the masterpiece that you see here. A Modern Farmhouse kitchen that possesses both Modern and Farmhouse ingredients and feels warm and welcoming, while sustaining that ever so slight feeling of exquisite luxury.

Navy cabinetry is trending big right now, and for good reason. We went with that trend and painted these custom cabinets in Benjamin Moore Lead Gray. Although the color refers to Gray, they are truly a gray/navy. This tone is perfect because it isn’t too deep or bright of a navy that would lend itself to be too casual or unsophisticated. These cabinets were custom made by a local Charlotte shop.

The 10′ center island anchors the kitchen and creates a natural gathering spot. It is topped off in a white Quartz that contrasts beautifully against the cabinetry. Speaking of contrasting, we feel that the brass accents in this space pull everything together so wonderfully.

The custom range hood really exemplifies both Modern and Farmhouse elements. Making it squared off with hard edges and no flare and or trimmed edges, it is a very modern statement piece. Add in the shiplap look and you have the epitome of a Modern Farmhouse range hood.

Counterstools- RH – Others: here, here, here, here & here.

Refrigerator

From this angle you can more thoroughly appreciate the great expanse of the island. In addition, to keep scale with the rest of the kitchen, we choose a jaw dropping 60″ French door refrigerator! It comes in two separate pieces, the fridge and freezer columns.

Appliances: Freezer, Refrigerator, Trim.

Sconces Flanking Hood: Savoy House.

Range Wall

This may just be one of the most beautiful tiles we have ever seen before! The striking intricacies and brass branding is truly special. We went with a simple marble tile for the main backsplash that is full height up the wall, and then for the picture frame accent we splurged big time for this amazing tile. It was quite worth the extra money!

Accent Tile- Soho Studio Empress Helena – Others: here, here, here & here.

Main Backsplash Tile- Jeffrey Court Wall Street White 3×9 – similar here.

Pot Filler- Delta Contemporary in Matte Black.

Range- Jenn-Air 48″ Pro-Style.

Faucet

Faucet is Brizo Litze in Matte Black with Brilliance Luxe Gold.

Lighting

Pendants are Hudson Valley Blake in Aged Brass. Other Beautiful Lighting: here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here & here.

Kitchen Island

This angle of the kitchen is truly stunning. It shows off the open floorpan between kitchen, keeping room, and dining area. Windows galore offer loads of natural light. The space elicits warm and cozy feels, as a Modern Farmhouse should. This home is certainly perfect for those who love to entertain.

To the left of the apron front farm sink is a trash drawer with two built-in bins, a functional upgrade. With the press of a button, the Jenn-Air microwave drawer opens up and allows you to easily drop in whatever it is that needs heating up.

Hardware: Cabinet Hardware is all from the Emtek Alexander Collection in various sizes.

Kitchen Sink: Blanco Profina.

Dishwasher: Jenn-Air.

Dining Room

This dining space serves as the sole dining area in the home. It is the formal dining room, the breakfast room, and everything in between. Is the formal dining room going out of style? In many cases we tend to say yes. With that said, it was important to ensure that this room maintained elements of formal and informal design. The open concept ensures some informality, while a striking chandelier and stained ceiling trim detail keeps the formality in check. From a standpoint of being in this room in person, we would say the stained wood ceiling accent trim is what really sets this room apart and causes visitors jaws to drop. Take that away and it is a typical dining room. This is a prime example of our belief in going a little above and beyond the ordinary to create spaces that are truly extraordinary. This dining space is perfectly situated overlooking the backyard as well. Wow!

Chandelier

Chandelier- Visual Comfort EF Chapman Oslo – Others: here, here, here, here & here.

Dining Table- Jeffan – Others: here, here, here, here & here.

Dining Chairs- Joss & Main.

Rug: Jaipur Living.

Flooring

We will dive into the Keeping Room next, but first we’d like to take a moment to talk about the wood flooring that spans throughout this home. The floors are 3.25″ White Oak site finished with an eco-friendly durable finish called Rubio Monocoat. The name of the finish is Havana.

Chandelier: Visual Comfort.

Keeping Room

A brief history. “Keeping rooms can be traced to 18th-century Colonial America, when most cooking was done around a home’s only fireplace. Since this was the warmest part of the house, family members were drawn to the kitchen; but to avoid being underfoot and annoying the chef, they gathered in the next closest area: the keeping room. It was typically furnished with a comfortable couch, where they could lounge and accomplish small tasks such as sewing or writing letters.” (Via Realtor.com)

With that history lesson under our belts, we feel like having a keeping room in this home further extends the coziness and livability of this home. While things aren’t like they used to be in many regards, people still have a tendency to gather in and around kitchens, so why not have a cozy spot for them to sit?

This ceiling is vaulted 20′ high and boasts exposed cedar beams, keeping things just a tad rustic. When faced with a tall, focal point wall there is almost no better choice than to cover it with shiplap, so we did just that! Something about having that trim and not just drywall enhances the coziness of the space. The second fireplace of the home is more informal with simpler trim and a black granite surround, versus tile. Keeping with the hint of modern found throughout this home is the Visual Comfort Ian Fowler Bistro Chandelier.

Coffee Table: Discontinued – Other Beautiful Coffee Tables: here, here, here, here, here, here, here & here.

Couch- Discontinued – similar here.

Chairs- Orient Express.

Rug: Jaipur Living – similar here, here, here & here .

Beautiful Rugs & Pillows:

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  Powder Room

This picture really and truly speaks for itself. This is the sole bathroom on the main floor and functions as the go to bath for visitors. Imagine your guests reaction when they walk into this? Many synonyms for “jaw-dropped” come to mind, no doubt.

What we have here is a floating cast concrete vanity that is mounted to the wall. It is a custom made piece but shockingly costs no more than an average Restoration Hardware vanity. With no base, your piping is exposed. Luckily they make champagne bronze pipes! The brass look against the black wall tile is simply unbeatable.

Paint- Benjamin Moore Moonshine.

Mirror- West Elm Antique Tiled Wall Mirror.

Faucet- Delta Dryden Widespread in Brillance Champagne Bronze.

Lights- Elk Bremington in Oil Rubbed Bronze/Aged Gold.

Tile- Soho Studio Hexagono Cuna Grafito Matte – similar here.

Stairway

When walking into this home, the stairway is one of the first things you see. That said, we wanted to ensure it made a great impression. This was our first time doing tile risers as well as our first time using metal railings. Well, it certainly won’t be our last. We love the look and think you will too!

Tile- Jeffrey Court Acquerello Palermo Field Tile – Others: here, here, here & here.

3rd Floor Bonus Room

It is a great added benefit to have this finished space on the 3rd level that would have otherwise been unfinished attic space collecting dust. It could be used for a variety of uses like a media room, billiard space, exercise room, etc. We even incorporated a built-in desk perfect for kids homework or a crafting table.

Paint- Benjamin Moore Dove Wing.

Stair Fixture- Kichler Rocklyn

 Pike Properties Built-in Bunks

Are the kids having a sleepover? Well, we’ve got you covered. These built-in bunks are not only functional but also stylish. Carrying in a nautical theme makes them feel like ship bunks.

Fun fact: Inside that small door to the right is a kids play nook with lowered ceilings!

Lights- Hinkley Mercer in Heritage Brass.

Guest Bathroom

This bathroom is great for kids. It is connected to a secondary bedroom as well as the hallway to service a bedroom across the hall. Plenty of countertop space and drawer storage abounds. Carrying the hardwoods into the bathroom is a great look, especially given the white furniture vanity.

Paint- Benjamin Moore Moonshine.

Vanity- London 72″ Vanity from Houzz – also here.

Faucets- Delta Ashlyn 8″ Widespread in Chrome.

Lights- Kichler Braelyn in Chrome.

Neutral Bathroom

An en-suite bath, this is the private bathroom to one of the secondary bedrooms. One of our favorite elements is the basket weave tile in black and white. It has a 3D look to it in person, and takes you back to earlier, simpler times.

Paint- Benjamin Moore Moonshine.

Floor tile- MosaicArt Epic Basketweave Matte from Florida Tile – similar here.

Shower wall tile- Dorian Streamline 3×6 Arctic White from Florida Tile – here.

Vanity- Scott Living Canterbury 36″ from Lowes – Others: here, here, here, here, here & here.

Mirrors: 45.5-in L x 33.5-in W White Beveled Wall Mirror.

Lighting- Kichler Braelyn in Chrome.

Master Bedroom

A relaxing oasis was created with the use of neutrals and earth tones. This room features abundant sunlight throughout most of the day, and is just the perfect spot for an afternoon recharge. The diagonal shiplap accentuates the recessed bed wall. If the shiplap isn’t enough, we also put V-groove on the tray ceiling inset!

Paint- Benjamin Moore Halo.

Wicker Pendants- Mistana Durrant 1-Light Wicker Outdoor Pendant – Also available here.

Ceiling Chandelier- Crate and Barrel Finley.

Bedside Tables- Joss & Main – Others: here, here, here, here, here & here.

Recommended Bedding: here & here.

Headboard: here.

Chair- Uttermost – similar here – Others: here, here, here & here.

Rug: Jaipur Living.

Master Bathroom

This is the home of absolutely gorgeous bathroom vanities it so seems! What a great way to start your day each morning. Get out of bed and splash some water in your face in front of this beautiful accent wall.

With this bathroom overall, we went with a more so coastal theme. The blues and whites abound. It is truly causal elegance at its finest.

With such pretty tile, we wanted to hide the least of it possible with mirrors. That led us to these beautiful and unique round mirror that hang with leather straps. It’s also a bit nautical which was fitting.

Vanity- London 72″ in Grey from Houzz – Others: here, here, here, here, here, here, here & here.

Faucets- Delta Trinsic 8″ Widespread in Matte Black.

Mirrors- West Elm Modern Hanging Mirror.

Tile- MSI Surfaces Tamensa Porcelain.

Sconces- Hinkley Morgan.

Tub Nook

Feel like a king or queen in this rectangular freestanding tub raised on an elevated platform. Doing a small raised platform where the tub sits helps to define the space. The tub goes from feeling inside the bathroom, to having its own defined space that feels separated. Stylish cedar floating shelves are perfect for candles and towels. Romantic evening, anyone?

Paint- Benjamin Moore Halo.

Tub- Mirabelle Hibiscus 66″.

Faucet- Delta Trinsic in Brillance Champagne Bronze.

Chandelier- Hinkley Astrid in Metallic Matte Bronze.

Shower

Carrying the coastal theme onward, we went with this bold and beautiful baby blue tile for the master shower. Adding the brass banding and brass hardware really compliments the look. To not overwhelm the eyes, we went with white/grey tile on the floor. This shower has the rain head as well as a wall mounted head that is not seen in this photo.

Don’t miss the peek of the owner’s bedroom.

Tile- Soho Studio Rumba Ash Blue – Also here – Other Tiles: here, here, here, here, here & here.

Shower Floor Tile: here – similar.

Mudroom

Heading inside from the detached carriage house via the side porch entrance you are welcomed by this space. Have muddy shoes? Is it pouring rain? Whatever the case, these floors are meant for handling anything. Durable brick tile from Jeffrey Court ensures that you don’t ruin your floors and allows for easy cleanup of messes. On top of that, it is simply stylish, especially when laid in this herringbone pattern. In all honesty, having a brick floor in a mudroom just feels right!

Hooks and cubbies and a built-in bench add all the functionality you expect from a drop zone. We didn’t have to add the shiplap backing but we figured, why not!?

Brick Flooring: Jeffrey Court – similar here & here.

Computer Cove

Everyone needs a spot where the junk and extra stuff can be hidden away. Everyone needs a room where they can retreat to in order to get things done. This computer cove, or small home office space is just what the doctor ordered. Located off the back hallway through a pocket door, is this handy room. Plenty of built-in cabinet space for extra storage and granite countertop space for accomplishing work.

Cabinet Color- Benjamin Moore Gray Owl.

Light- Feiss Waveform Mini Pendant x3 with ceiling mount.

Built-In Dog Station

One of our favorite sizzle features to add into our homes is what you see here! It is relatively cheap ($500-$750) and is such a cool WOW factor and talking point. It is a ledge that is framed and trimmed out and topped in granite with stainless steel bowls set in. Tile lines the walls to prevent water as your dog splashes with their tongue from messing up your wall. A pot filler makes it super simple to refill. How cool is that!?

Pot Filler- Danze Opulence.

Rear Porch

A Modern Farmhouse wouldn’t be complete without an expansive covered rear porch. With access from the keeping room and dining/living space it is easy to take a step out and enjoy the amazing North Carolina weather. With room enough for dining and sitting, there is no limits with what you can do with this space. It overlooks the flat rear yard which is very large for an in-town location!

Ceiling Stain- Benjamin Moore Hidden Valley Semi-Transparent.

Decking Stain- Benjamin Moore Hidden Valley Solid.

Fan- Kichler Hatteras Bay Oversized in Distressed Black.

Outdoor Dining Furniture: here & here.

Outdoor Lighting

Front Door Light- Kichler Mount Vernon Hanging Lantern.

Dream Home

“When the sun sets over this Modern Farmhouse, a genuine feeling of calmness and tranquility sets in. The lights inside come on, dinner is prepared, and living begins.”

That is a direct quote from our Instagram post of this photo, and we feel it really evokes the emotion this homes brings into peoples lives, both those inside and those passing by.

Many thanks to the builder for sharing the details above!

  Builder: Pike Properties (Instagram)

Architecture: Frusterio Design, Inc.

Home Staging: Jenna Jackovich, Style Fix Staging.

Photography: Joe Purvis Photography.

  Best Sales of the Month:

Thank you for shopping through Home Bunch. I would be happy to assist you if you have any questions or are looking for something in particular. Feel free to contact me and always make sure to check dimensions before ordering. Happy shopping!

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  Posts of the Week:

Small Lot Modern Farmhouse.

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2019 New Year Home Tour.

2019 Home Renovation Ideas.

Modern Farmhouse with Front Porch.

Modern Coastal Shingle Home.

Beautiful Homes of Instagram: Fixer Upper.

Classic Colonial Home Design.

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Follow me on Instagram: @HomeBunch

You can follow my pins here: Pinterest/HomeBunch

See more Inspiring Interior Design Ideas in my Archives.

“Dear God,

If I am wrong, right me. If I am lost, guide me. If I start to give-up, keep me going.

Lead me in Light and Love”.

Have a wonderful day, my friends and we’ll talk again tomorrow.”

with Love,

Luciane from HomeBunch.com

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“For your shopping convenience, this post might contain links to retailers where you can purchase the products (or similar) featured. I make a small commission if you use these links to make your purchase so thank you for your support!”

from Home http://www.homebunch.com/dark-exterior-farmhouse/ via http://www.rssmix.com/