#deep freezer repair

[feralgoblinqueen]

I’m not the first to write something like this but here’s my spin on shifter!141.

*****

They had spent too long in their bestial forms. Time feels different when the wolf takes over, easier to lose track of and even harder to remember their human lives. By the time one of them remembers the house in the woods and its many acres that still needs a final payment under a fake name it’s too late.

They look on from the tree line, taking note of the changes made by the new owner. A budding flower garden in front of the house, well kept and just starting to show its spring colors. Around back a large vegetable patch was still green, nothing yet ready to harvest. The exterior had a fresh coat of paint and small repairs had been made. A single faded blue truck rumbled up the long and winding driveway. That’s when they first laid eyes upon you.

—————

“Abandoned, Selling As Is” was what the advertisement had read. No one else had wanted the plot of land hours away from civilization. For you, though, it was perfect. Somewhere to start over, to be alone and relearn who you are.

The rooms still held the previous owner’s belongings. Everything had been left untouched as if they just vanished one day. All men, you assumed, just from the sparse decor and the clothes left behind. Military, maybe, from how the beds were made with their sheets tucked into hospital corners. Paranoid loners, possibly even doomsday preppers, was another guess you made after discovering a gun safe hidden behind a false wall under the stairs.

It was almost a game, once a day trying a hand full of combinations to see if any worked. Something mindless to fill an unoccupied moment of time. That’s when you really started going through the papers and books left behind. Looking for any clues at what the code might be. A notepad left on the small hallway table is where you scribbled down all the combinations that hadn’t worked, in a meager attempt to not repeat yourself. A small mystery to add a little life to your loneliness.

At night is when things really come to life this far out into the wilderness. In the early days of owning the property, before you were able to get the satellite internet set up, you’d spend the evenings watching and listening on the back porch. Deer were the most common, using the wide open expanse of a backyard as a place to graze in the evenings. Owls silently swooping down on field mice before retreating to the trees once more. Coyotes, crickets, and night birds made a symphony of nature most nights.

The most exciting were the wolves. You could always hear them howling in the distance, calling to one another. They weren’t like the coyotes that cackled over one another in attempt to sound larger or more numerous than they actually were. These were direct calls and responses. Their vocalizations sounding almost melancholy, as if they were yearning for something that seemed just out of reach.

It was a quiet night when you finally decided to respond to their calls. The evening had been spent making supply lists for your trek into the nearest town in the morning. A large cooler had been thrown into the bed of your truck to store items intended for the refrigerator and deep freezer.

You sat on the tailgate, listening to the night song that seemed to encapsulate the peaceful valley you now owned. A celebratory drink held in one hand and a small, proud smile graces your lips. Your house was starting to feel like a real home and that was definitely worth celebrating.

The wolves that you had grown fond of, yet had never seen, were starting up. Your favorite night song. A melody that you could listen to for hours. One you had listened to for hours.

Four. You could make out four distinct calls at this point. Two were more vocal than others, their tones more playful. One was definitely the pack leader. His call the first and last each night, like a command or an order. And one was rarely heard, usually only short responses and never as loud as the others. But the valley always carried their calls to you, teaching you their voices. They were faceless friends in your solitude.

So you call out into the night. The long howl a poor imitation of theirs, straining your vocal cords.

The night grows still. All goes quiet. As the silence passes for a beat, then another, your smile slowly falters and fades. A pang of disappointment and a small bubble of guilt at interrupting their conversation.

All animals, even fierce predators, could be skittish. You worried that your call had scared them off, ruining your chances of ever spotting them. With a hop you jump off the tailgate, slamming it shut in frustration. Heavy feet stomping all the way onto the porch and inside. You could only hope they hadn’t heard your foolishness and that something else has quieted them.

The night remains silent as you crawl into bed. The night song ending early and sewing sadness into your dreams.

But they had heard you.

Your distinctly human howling calling to a dormant part of their minds. They remembered themselves. They remembered their life in the valley. They remembered the house where their human lives were lived.

And they were coming home.

[wizard-finix]

LU Star Wars AU: Part 4

This time we got Twilight and Wild!

PART 1 | PART 2 | PART 3

Wild

Wild doesn't look very old, but he was actually a Jedi Knight in service to the Republic Army back during the Clone Wars. He worked closely with the other Champions at the time; the five of them were on a mission to protect King Rhoam and the royal family of a Mid-rim planet when Order 66 was enacted and the Republic Army turned on them. The other champions were killed, and Wild was nearly fatally injured.

In a last-ditch attempt to save his life, Rhoam and Impa used an industrial carbon-freezer to put him in a state of suspended animation and keep him hidden from any Imperial scanners. He was found and unfrozen many years later by Purah and Robbie, and the hibernation sickness on top of his injuries gave him some degree of amnesia.

0/10 experience, he would not recommend it.

Nowadays, he works closely with Purah and Robbie. Flora, who wasn't even born yet at the time of the incident, met him properly for the first time after he woke up again. They didn't get along at first, but after finding out she was Rhoam's daughter he's determined to stick by her side.

His old lightsaber is broken beyond repair, so he picked up a habit of collecting various weapons. He's also wanted by a group of bounty hunters known as the Yiga.

Twilight

Twilight is from a backwater planet in the Ordonian system, working as a rancher in a farming village. He met Midna when Zant came to the planet and forcibly tried to take over.

Long story short, the kids of his village went missing, and he ran across some of Zant's forces in a bad way. He actually came in contact with a dark Twili artifact that granted the user the ability to change shape and got stuck. Midna, being a shapeshifting Twili, bailed Twilight out of trouble and taught taught him how to change back, but to do that he had to learn the basics of the Force. (It took a while. He's not very good at it, but he can do the basics.)

In exchange for her help, Twilight helped her with her own goals along the way; eventually, he learns that the reason Zant showed up is because he followed Midna's trail there. With the help of some local Resistance members, they eventually even managed to get rid of Zant.

Somewhere along the way, Twilight and Midna followed a rumor of an old weapon hidden deep in the woods on the planet. Eager for any advantage they could get, Midna insisted they find it; they followed the trail until it eventually led them to an old intact lightsaber that had been deliberately hidden away there.

Midna left very suddenly after everything with Zant was over. Twilight decided to look out for her through his new friends in the Resistance, and eventually came in contact with other members of the Chain that way.

[heartfullofleeches]

dude abby is so fire can we get more hcs or a snippet i beg

It's been a hot minute since I've done HCs and they give me excuse to flesh out my characters so we'll do with that-

Abby [Rental Zombie Spouse HC]

Warnings: Dismemberment, Mentions of death

-

Abby doesn't remember much about himself before he died. Everything predating the night he woke up in the back alley behind a restaurant witu a hole in his head is a blur to him. All he had to his person was a wallet, his phone, and the keys to an apartment - none of which helped jog his memory as the man the ID inside the wallet couldn't possibly be him.

As recently established, Abby earns money by hosting services where he will be the customer's partner- There are a handful of male options, but he prefers to pose as females in his disguises because those usually pay more and he likes the dress up.

While Abby doesn't require human flesh as his only food source, he can eat chunks of it to repair rotting or damaged tissue. He can also swap out parts that are no longer useful with fresh ones which is a major factor to how successful his business is since changing a few features makes him a completely new person. He has a deep freezer in his apartment where he keeps his "accessories" until they expire.

When it comes to what he likes in a Darling not even Abby knows. He's very easily distracted by things and an encounter with him trying to cut out a part of you he likes can instantly switch to yout first date of many just by him seeing you like that peeks his interest as well.

"Hey, You! Cute eyes you got... Mind if I borrow them?.... Oh! What are you listening to?... I love this band! I think.... Maybe the old me did. Let's listening to more songs together and find out!"

Since you would probably like to keep all your limbs, Abby steals physical objects that belong to you to feel closer to you. He would insist on something like matching tattoos or piercings since if you can't share the same flesh - you can at least have the same branding. Do not leave any jewelry or clothing that may fit him unattended.

Any body part that was at one tethered to him will still be usable even if it's separate from him as long as it's functional. There's a reason he always knows what you're thinking- he's got eyes and ears everywhere. Please don't throw them out if you happen to find any. :(

You'll almost never meet him when he isn't "Abby". When he doesn't care about his appearance or how bad the state of his decay is and just slaps on a hoodie and a face mask to get around. It's how he keeps watch on you without use of his spare eyes and sorta feels like how some people without their makeup.

He/him, but doesn't care about whatever pronouns his clients use for him.

Spends his money on brand new items for you, but goes broke buying second hand goods from yard sales and thrift stores because he loves older furniture and giving things a new home... Will pawn his junk off on you when he has strength in your relationship that you won't leave or make fun of him for his odd purchases.

"Why do you mean "why did I buy twenty cassette players"?? If you use the one I bought you already are a diary, I wouldn't have to stalk you as frequently!"

[orcasoul]

Din Djarin Imagine #1

Warnings: None

Word count: 859

Captor Din who, when he approached you with his typical "I can bring you in warm..." was not expecting the look of confusion and fear staring back at him. Who could tell from experience that your reaction is genuine and you had no idea you had a price on your head. Who slapped the cuffs on your shakey wrists while ignoring your distress and pleas for mercy. Who kept quiet while pushing you firmly from behind all the way to the Razor Crest as your tears flowed freely. Who felt a twitch of pity in his chest at your predicament, but a bounty's a bounty and he's not here to ask questions.

Captor Din who cursed under his breath when the carbonite freezer broke down moments before forcing you inside. Who now has to deal with you taking up space and rations on his ship for the next few days until he can land on Tatooine for repairs. Who can see the fear still flash in your eyes whenever he comes down to the hull. Who says very little to you besides insisting you should eat and rest, and tries to move carefully around you as not to startle you. Who finds himself answering your questions (against his better judgment) about why you're wanted and can't help but believe - after hearing your side of the story - that you'd acted in self defence. Who's beginning to feel that an injustice has been dealt to you and he's part of that.

Captor Din who warned you to not even think about trying to run once he'd landed the Razor Crest in Peli's hangar, instilling the "fear of god" into you about about how easily he would find you and the repercussions when he does - run, and he'll freeze you as soon as the repairs are completed. Behave, and he'll grant you the small mercy of staying warm and conscious. Who, until now had only taken the cuffs off of you when you used the fresher, but decided to give you a bit of freedom while at the hangar (since it's going to take Peli most of the day to repair the freezer). Who huffed his distaste at you when you befriended Peli's droids, in particularly BD72 (Kriffin droids!).

Captor Din who stayed true to his word and didn't subject you to carbonite freezing. Who invited you to join him in the much warmer cockpit and felt a fleeting rush of relief when you'd accepted, but that feeling was soon replaced with confusion as to what had caused such a reaction in him. Who, over the next couple of days spent travelling to the next world (as there was one more bounty to pick up), got to know more about the incident which led you to being in his custody, and the more he knew the more his stomach roiled with guilt and anxiety. Who knows deep down that you don't deserve this, but at the same time won't release you just for another hunter to track you down; No, you're safer with him, end of.

Captor Din who has begun to notice little things about you; the way your eyes soften when you smile, the way your brows dip so endearingly when you frown and even the way you move; effortlessly feminine and graceful. Who finds himself hanging on your words, and enjoying your company more and more with every conversation (even if you are still somewhat reserved. He can't blame you; after all, you are his prisoner). Who battles the conflict warring within; Turn you in, collect the reward and not get involved? (any more than has), or protect you and help you regain your freedom and your life? Who knows the answer already and who knows he is well and truly screwed.

Captor Din who, this time, doesn't warn you to not run while he's on a two day hunt, but instead finds himself worrying about your safety while you're alone, drilling into you the few unbreakable rules he has implemented; Lock yourself in the ship when dusk falls and don't leave the immediate area. Do not speak to or trust anyone and if there's an emergency do not hesitate to contact him. Who feels a gnawing sense of unease at having to be so far from you and already wants to get back to you before he's even left.

Captor Din who rushes back to the Crest when you call him in a panic because people (probably other bounty hunters) have discovered your location and are trying to get in the ship. Who gets there moments after the men had forced their way inside and who's heart dropped at the sound of your terrified scream. Who wasted no time in brutally slaying every one of them in a matter of seconds. Who held you in his arms until your tears had dried and your trembling ceased. Who tucked your head into his neck and whispered a promise to you that he'll help you clear your name if it's the last thing he does. Who swears that while you are with him no one will hurt you ever again.

[ak-vintage]

Quarry - Chapter 4

Pairing: Din Djarin (The Mandalorian) x f!reader

Summary: Din Djarin is on what he expects to be his last bounty hunt for Greef Karga. After all, Nevarro is swiftly moving away from its previous reputation as a Guild member’s paradise, and Din has more important concerns now, like finding a Jedi to train his mysterious foundling. However, after capturing a wanted starship engineer who would rather go anywhere other than “home,” the Mandalorian is forced to reassess his priorities.

Your taste of freedom had been brief but glorious. Now you are a prisoner of the most infamous bounty hunter in the Outer Rim – it’s only a matter of time before he turns you in. There isn’t much you would not do to keep from being sent home, but as you find yourself growing closer to your captor and his strange little companion, you start to wonder whether escape is really what you want.

Set after Chapter 13: The Jedi but before Chapter 14: The Tragedy.

Chapter Tags & Warnings: Reader is Mando's bounty, second-person POV, Din Djarin POV, no use of Y/N, minimal descriptors of reader character, starship mechanics, unresolved sexual tension, light angst

Series Masterlist | Read on AO3

By the time Din Djarin returned to the Mos Eisley spaceport and hangar three-five, almost three full days had passed, and he came laden with sacks of supplies for his next foray into deep space. Ration packs, nutrition supplements, medical supplies, a broad selection of ammunition for his many weapons, and – the crown jewel – a selection of fresh produce he had been promised would last at least another two weeks if properly stored. He had even managed to pick up some short-term contract work as a body guard for a visiting trade syndicate representative in Mos Eisley on business; the pay from that had easily covered the cost of his restock. He hoped it would cover Peli Motto’s bill, as well.

A ship repair hadn’t exactly been part of his plans for this run, but although it had delayed him by a few days, he stood by the choice. For all of its charms, the Razor Crest had never been properly equipped to handle prisoners without the aftermarket mobile carbonite freezer unit he had had installed a few years back. It had been his first big purchase after he finally started making enough money to pay for fuel, contribute to the covert, and also manage to feed himself, and its addition to the ship had made his life infinitely easier. Especially now with Grogu to look after, he couldn’t afford to have bounties loose in his ship, even if they were in binders. It wasn’t safe. Truthfully, he knew he had gotten lucky that his first quarry on this trip hadn’t been more dangerous.

As they often had over the last few days, Din’s thoughts turned toward the woman he had left in Peli’s care alongside his foundling. You were… Well, to say that you puzzled him would be an understatement. In all his travels, he was certain that he had never met anyone quite like you.

He could tell that you were not a skilled fighter, and yet you had attempted to evade capture, to outrun him. It had been unsuccessful, of course, but he couldn’t help but admire the effort.

You possessed a strong spirit, unwavering and stubborn, and he also knew that you were deeply frightened to have landed in his captivity.

You had a sharp, biting wit, but even from your first encounter, you had handled Grogu with a softness, a tenderness that Din had rarely experienced.

You were beautiful. Distractingly so.

Altogether, it left him…unsettled. He could not help but feel eager to be rid of you, if only to save himself from the disquieting thought that perhaps there was more for him to discover about you.

That, of course, was preposterous. There was nothing more. You were a quarry. There was a bounty on your head. He had accepted the task of tracking you down and turning you in, and he would be paid well for the effort. That was that. Bounty hunters didn’t ask questions.

Until recently, Din had actually been quite good at that part of the job. He felt a brief surge of thankfulness for the anonymity of his helmet as he rolled his eyes at himself. He was growing soft.

As the Mandalorian crossed the threshold into hangar three-five, he was met with the familiar sight of Peli leaning heavily against the exterior wall of her office, thumbing at a datapad as her pit droids milled about the place, tittering and whirring at each other.

“Ah! Mando!” she called out, flagging him down with a grin the moment she spotted him. “Welcome back! Successful trip?”

“Successful enough,” he replied tersely. His eyes hadn’t stopped scanning the hangar for evidence of his foundling as he approached, but the little green child was nowhere to be seen. “Where’s the kid?”

Peli waved him off dismissively. “Don’t worry, he’s just with the girl. You know, she came up with this slick design for a carrier for him? He’s been happy as a Nabooian clam riding around in that thing! She’ll be out in a minute, I expect.” She nodded in the direction of the Razor Crest, glinting brightly in the afternoon sun in the center of the hangar. “Just putting the finishing touches on the hyperdrive.”

Din felt his eyebrows raise inside his helmet. “The hyperdrive?” he echoed flatly. The beginnings of aggravation itched in his chest. “I asked you fix the carbonite unit.”

“Cool your jetpack, Mando – I fixed your carbonite unit,” the engineer assured him, extending her palms placatingly. “It’s good as new! Well, pretty sure it’s good as new – guess you’ll have to find out when you try to seal a bounty in there! I wasn’t about to test it myself. I’m thorough, but I’m not that thorough. You understand.”

Drawing a centering breath deep into his lungs, he repeated, “Peli. The hyperdrive?”

“Listen. The list of systems on the Razor Crest that needed a tune-up was a mile long. I had time, I had help, and I knew you wouldn’t mind a bit of extra output! What self-respecting starship pilot is going to say no to a bit more efficiency, eh?”

“What do you mean, you had help?” Din gave up on attempting to reign in his irritation. His words were clipped, his tone gruff. Peli was a friend – she was good to Grogu, and she was a damn fine mechanic – but dank farrik, what he wouldn’t give for her to get to the point. Something about this situation wasn’t sitting quite right with him. Where was the child? “What exactly is going on here?”

A metallic thud, like the sound of someone dropping from a height onto deck plating, reverberated from inside the Razor Crest. His gaze snapped to the ship immediately, his senses on high alert.

Peli, however, seemed less than concerned. “Why don’t you see for yourself?” she suggested with a shrug, gesturing in the direction of the Crest.

Almost as if on cue, you stepped into the light of the afternoon sun from the belly of his ship, and Din’s breath seemed to seize in his chest.

It was as though you had transformed into a different woman than you had been when he left you here three days ago. Your long, braided hair had been wound up at the nape of your neck and partially covered with a scarf that you had tied around your head, and a welder’s helmet perched precariously on top of that, the tinted shield flipped up so you could see clearly. You had stripped the top half of your olive-green boilersuit down your body and tied the sleeves together low on your waist, leaving your chest covered in nothing but a sweat-soaked black band around your breasts. Your skin gleamed with exertion in the sunlight, highlighting the smoothness of your forehead, the hollow of your neck, the soft angle of your shoulders, and you were painted with the grime of engine oil and durasteel dust. You had a fusion cutter in your gloved hand, your grip practiced and strong.

And, as if all of that were not enough, there, strapped in a padded leather harness across your back, peaking up over your shoulder, was Grogu.

After a beat too long of silence, you seemed to spot him in the shade of the hangar, and you smiled softly. “Mando!” you called out, pointing to him. “Grogu, look – he’s back!”

Din watched as the child blinked in the direction that you had pointed, and then his little face split in a broad, toothy grin. He let out a joyful screech and immediately began squirming in his carrier, suddenly desperate to be let down.

You laughed – laughed – at this and began to descend the ramp, reaching back to lift Grogu from his post on your back and up over your shoulder. “Your little guy missed you,” you said fondly. You passed the child into the bounty hunter’s arms, that same softness he had noticed before dancing in the corners of your eyes. Din felt an inexplicable heat rising up his neck under his cowl.

Thankfully, both you and Grogu seemed oblivious to his body’s baffling response; you simply continued across the hangar, returning your fusion cutter to one of Peli’s many equipment racks, while Grogu babbled happy nonsense and gently patted the cheeks of Din’s helmet as though to say, “Welcome back.”

“Peli,” Din said, his voice strained and hoarse, “I’m only going to ask one more time. What. Is. Going. On.”

Peli rolled her eyes dramatically . “Your bounty here has skills, Mando!” she declared, gesturing emphatically at you with both her free hand and the one holding the datapad. “You had to know that! Took her less than a day to start pointing out all the stuff I was doing wrong. Figured I’d have her put her money where her mouth is.”

A bright flush made itself known on your cheeks, and you shook your head. “Excuse me – no, no. If you recall, I saved your life. And then you asked me to help you.”

“Details, details,” the older woman scoffed dismissively. “Look, Mando, she’s a starship engineer. And a damn good one, I’d say. She’s the one who figured out how to fix your carbonite freezer, not me.”

Din’s gaze snapped to you at that revelation, and he watched as you raised a hand to rub at the back of your neck in clear discomfort. You had fixed it?

Mentally, he quickly ran through all of the data in your bounty puck. Nowhere in your files had your profession been mentioned. How did you have the skills needed to repair something so sophisticated?

“I couldn’t just let her sit around on her hands the whole time you were gone,” Peli continued, completely unaware of Din’s distraction. “I mean, take a look at everything we’ve been able to get done with both of us on the job.” She passed him the datapad, pointing to the line items on the work order she had pulled up.

Din took a moment to study the list, both wary and reluctantly impressed. Peli wasn’t wrong – the amount of work the two of you had accomplished in just three days was staggering. In addition to the carbonite unit and a much-needed tune-up on the hyperdrive (which had apparently resulted in an efficiency gain of 25 percent), you and Peli had managed to replace about half of the Crest’s leaking powerlines, update the navigation to the latest operating system, recalibrate the deflector shield projectors around both engines, and scrub the carbon scoring from the Crest’s last fire fight from the hull. At the bottom of the list, a perfunctory five-credit charge had been added for something Peli had labeled as a “privacy screen.”

“This is…impressive,” he admitted. Grogu squealed happily in agreement from the cradle of Din’s arms.

The older engineer nodded, smirking in self-satisfaction. “Try it all out. You’ll see, it’s good work,” she said, gesturing toward the Crest. Din nodded once and strode up the gangplank, finding himself almost eager to see the improvements for himself.

He spent the next several minutes surveying the changes, noting that the repair of the carbonite freezer had apparently necessitated the complete disassembly of most of the starboard wall. He could also see where panels of the bulkheads and deck plating had been displaced to access other tubes and powerlines, though if this were not his ship, if he didn’t know it better than his own reflection, he wasn’t certain that he would have noticed. Everything had been re-assembled flawlessly, the only evidence of tampering being the slightly shiny look of freshly-welded solder along the panels’ joints.

However, he nearly burst into laughter when his eyes landed on the change that clearly had to be the “privacy screen” Peli had referred to in the work order. In the space between his bunk alcove and the port wall, a steel rod had been mounted, and a thick, black tarp had been hung from it, attached with a series of matching metal rings.

You had installed a makeshift curtain in front of the ship head.

Trusting that he would be able to test the improvements to the hyperdrive once he was out of the atmosphere, Din returned to the hangar, still chuckling under his breath.

“Well?” Peli prompted, crossing her arms across her chest in a confident pose.

“This is more than I could have asked for, especially given the time,” he replied honestly. He glanced back and forth between the two of you, noting the way Peli’s smirk expanded into a grin and the way your posture seemed to loosen as if in relief. “Thank you.”

“Aw, shucks, Mando! No need to thank me,” the older woman insisted. In spite of the dismissal, her voice couldn’t hide her pleasure at the praise. “Just sign at the bottom of that work order and hand over the credits! That’s always thanks enough!”

Din sighed, hearing it as a gruff hissing sound as his vocoder transmitted it. Why was he not surprised? “Yes. Of course,” he agreed, pulling the work order back up on the datapad. The price quoted at the bottom was significantly more than he had planned on spending (which, he knew, was very much intentional on Peli’s part), but the work was already done, and the security job he had just been paid for made it so he wouldn’t have to dip into his profits from this trip too much. He signed the work order with the tip of his finger. “This should do it, I think.” Reaching into a pouch on his utility belt, he pulled out a sizeable cloth drawstring bag, half-full with New Republic credits, and dropped it into Peli’s waiting hands.

Peli yanked the bag open immediately, assessing its contents with a keen eye. “That it will, my friend. That it will.”

Now that the hangar operator had been satisfied, Din turned his attention to you. At some point during this exchange, you had removed the welder’s helmet and your gloves, and you were in the process of untying the dusty scarf from around your head, revealing your hair. You had been sweating, and tendrils of it clung damply to your forehead, ears, and neck.

Shoving each of these inappropriate observations to the back of his mind, he cleared his throat and said, “So. You’re a starship engineer. I didn’t know.”

You seemed taken aback by that statement, your eyes narrowing and your brow crinkling in puzzlement. “Huh. Well. Like I told Peli. I’m not…exactly a starship engineer. But I suppose I might as well be.” You paused for a moment as you tugged your lower lip between your teeth. You seemed to debate something for a beat, and then you added, “I worked in the Chardaan Shipyards for almost a decade. I guess I thought you already knew that?” You phrased that statement like a question, confusion evident in your tone. “Didn’t you get a bunch of background information on me when you accepted my bounty puck?”

The Mandalorian shrugged. “Every bounty is different. Yours was…sparse. Planet of origin, last known location, your name. Some biometric data that allowed me to find you with your tracking fob. Nothing else.”

You seemed to digest that for a moment, your expression thoughtful, but before you could comment further, Peli interrupted.

“Hang on, honey – did you say the Chardaan Shipyards? The one where the New Republic has their fighters built?”

You nodded, a tight, closed-mouth smile tugging at your lips. “Yeah, that’s the one.”

Of course, Din had heard of the Chardaan Shipyards. Anyone who knew anything about starships knew about them – the conglomerate of pressurized hangar spheres orbiting the planet Chardaan in the Inner Rim, the home of some of the most well-known custom starship and engine producers in the galaxy and the shipyard of choice for the New Republic since the days of the Galactic Civil War. He knew your bounty originated on Chardaan, though it hadn’t occurred to him that that might have been a clue as to your personal history. You had been easy enough to find, even easier to capture. He hadn’t bothered to dig any deeper than that. For some reason, that ignited a pang of guilt in his gut. He typically made it his business to know everything there was to know about his quarries. If he knew their history, if he understood them, he could walk in their shoes – predict their next move.

“That explains a lot,” Peli quipped, putting words to Din’s disorganized thoughts.

You didn’t respond, but regardless, an idea occurred to him then, and he couldn’t stop himself from taking a step toward you.

“You could have repaired the Razor Crest on your own. The carbonite freezer, the hyperdrive, the powerlines, all of it,” he said, trying to keep the accusation out of his voice and only partially succeeding.

A blush burned high on your cheeks, and you stepped back, bringing your bare arms to wrap around your midriff defensively. A heavy silence descended on the hangar, and you looked away. You were chewing on your lip again, digging your teeth into the rosy flesh, and Din allowed the quiet to linger, allowed you to come to your response on your own.

“Yes,” you eventually whispered. “I could have.”

“You never said.” Din recalled the way you had known the carbonite unit was broken before he did, the way you sat in the Razor Crest’s cargo hold, cradling Grogu, and watched him futilely attempt to repair it, the way you had sat back and allowed Peli to take the lead on the ship repair in his absence. Had he even needed to come to Tatooine? If you could have done it on your own…

You sighed then, your expression shifting from guilt to something like annoyance. “Mando… Come on. Why would I help my captor fix something he has already promised he will use against me?” You reached down to the tied sleeves of your boilersuit then and began tugging the garment back up your torso and over your arms. “That’s why we’re here, right?” you continued, your voice picking up speed and intensity as you spoke. “Peli and I did a bunch of other work, but it was the carbonite unit you were after. Why would I make it easier for you to put me in stasis? I’ve seen what that thing can do to people with just…the smallest miscalculation. Why would I volunteer for that?”

If you are able to fix it…are you going to freeze me?

Are you going to try to run again?

Three days, you had been here. No restraints, no locked doors, just a few meters away from potential freedom. You hadn’t run. Instead, you had repaired the means of your continued captivity. Why?

“Then why help fix it at all?” Din asked incredulously. “Why not just let Peli – ”

“Because her life was in danger,” you cut in. You seemed almost offended at the suggestion that you ought to have done something different. “Carbonite technology is dangerous, and not just for the people imprisoned in it. I wasn’t going to let her die just for the chance of keeping myself out of stasis.”

Peli chose that moment to weigh in. “It’s true, Mando. It was almost ‘time’s up’ for old Peli – if your girl hadn’t caught a gas leak, I’d have blown myself and your ship sky high.”

“And…” you shrugged, less defensive now, “It was better than doing nothing at all. It’s been a while since I got the chance to get my hands on a pre-Empire vessel. It was…nice.”

Din frowned. He had underestimated you. Not just your technical capabilities, but your character. He hadn’t met many bounties who would sacrifice their own freedom for someone they hardly knew. Unbidden, the memory of what you had said when you learned about the threats to Grogu’s life echoed through his mind. How could I ever hurt him?

There was no way he was going to be able to sleep at night if he froze you. The guilt would eat him alive.

“Well.” He paused, considering his next words carefully. “You’ve done fine work. Both of you.”

Peli grinned toothily and offered Grogu a tiny high-five. “Damn right, we did!”

“Unfortunately, I’m not able to compensate you for your work,” he continued, addressing you directly. “However, I would be willing to consider allowing you to remain out of stasis for the remainder of this run. In exchange for some additional maintenance work on the Crest as we travel. As a thank you.”

All of the breath seemed to leave you at once – your shoulders sagged, your mouth dropped open, and you allowed yourself to drop back to lean against the sandstone wall of the hangar. “You’re serious?” you asked softly, bewildered.

Din nodded once. “You’ve demonstrated that you can be trusted without restraints. You’ve been kind to my foundling. And you’re a talented engineer.” He paused for a moment, then added, “You have to understand, I will need to turn you in once I’ve collected the other quarries. I accepted your bounty puck – my Guild agent is owed a return of the asset. I can’t go back on my word. It’s against the Guild code, and against mine. But…I see no reason for you to suffer in the meantime.”

You broke his gaze, staring down at your hands. After a few seconds of contemplation, you murmured, “I understand.” With a nod seemingly to yourself, you pushed away from the wall, closed the distance between you, and extended a hand to shake on it. “It’s a deal.”

Din accepted your hand, finding it to be small in comparison to his own, but your grip was strong, and he felt his lips curl into a small smile behind his helmet.

With an affable grin, Peli patted each of you on the back bracingly. “See, Mando? Everything works out!” she crowed.

And Din thought that perhaps she was right.

___

With the matter of payment already settled, it took only a handful of minutes for the Mandalorian to load his many sacks of supply purchases into the Razor Crest and begin his pre-flight checks. With Peli’s blessing, you took those sacred few minutes to duck into her ‘fresher and take a break-neck sonic shower, eager to get the sweat, engine grime, and Tatooine desert dust off your skin before you settled in for another indeterminate period of time in deep space.

As the sonic waves vibrated and lifted away specks of oil and dirt faster than your eyes could follow, you felt as though your thoughts were moving just as quickly. You had known the risks when you stepped in to assist with the carbonite freezer repair. You had fully anticipated that the moment Mando returned and confirmed that it was once again operational, his first action would be to seal you away in frigid, half-life stasis between two sheets of carbonite. Regardless, you had done what you needed to do to keep Peli safe and to keep the Razor Crest intact. You had never expected compensation for that choice.

To know that the bounty hunter recognized this, to know that he acknowledged not only your technical skills but your sacrifice, and saw fit to offer you what he could in exchange was both validating and deeply unsettling.

Resentment and bitterness still clung to your sentiments toward the Mandalorian. You could appreciate that he was just doing his job, that he had been given a task and he was executing on that task for payment, just like anyone else trying to make a living in the galaxy. He ensured you were well fed, he offered you medicine when you were injured, he left you in the care of a kind woman when he had to leave, and now, he was giving you the opportunity to remain both out of stasis and out of your restraints for the next several weeks while he finished his hunt. There was man of honor buried under all that stoicism and beskar. You couldn’t deny it.

But before he had come into your life, before he had stood across from you on the other side of your bar with your bounty puck glowing in the dim cantina lighting, you had finally gotten a taste of freedom. You had gotten to choose the clothes you wore, the food you ate, how long you slept. You had been paid a fair wage, and you had gotten to choose how you spent it. You had even started to make friends, which wasn’t something you had experienced since childhood. It was a life unlike any you had known before, and you had relished it.

Every time you caught yourself thinking somewhat fondly of the Mandalorian and the respectful, almost gentle way he treated you, you were immediately reminded that if it were not for him, that freedom would still be yours.

What he was offering you was far better than the carbonite alternative, and you would be a fool to turn it down. But it was not true freedom. It was temporary, false. You were grateful, but you would be lying if you said it didn’t leave a touch of sourness in your stomach.

Your mind was still cloudy when you emerged from the ‘fresher, your long hair clean and soft against your neck as you braided it back away from your face once more. You spotted Mando immediately, hovering near the ramp up into the Razor Crest, Grogu balanced contentedly on his hip. You smiled involuntarily. In spite of your complicated feelings toward his caretaker, you couldn’t seem to muster any negative sentiments toward the child. He was easily the best part of your current situation, with his toothy smiles and his sweet babbles and his giant, bug-like eyes. After the life you had lived, he brought a softness out in you that you hadn’t been certain you still possessed, and you adored him for it.

“Ah, there she is!” Peli called out, shading her eyes and spotting you in the shadow of the overhang.

Mando turned to face you, his impenetrable black visor reflecting a mirror image of the surrounding hangar. “Come,” he said, beckoning to you with orange-tipped fingers. “It’s time to leave.”

You nodded once and crossed quickly into the beaming sunlight.

Peli smiled at you, offering you a firm handshake. “Well, missy, not often do I get to work with someone like you around here,” she said brightly. “It was fun. Maybe we’ll get to do it again sometime.”

You swallowed hard and fought to muster up a smile in return. You wondered if that was just a platitude, something people said to one another when parting ways, or if she meant it. You weren’t sure which one you would prefer.  

“Yeah, maybe we will.” You hoped your voice didn’t sound as shaky to her as it did to you. The Guild is sending me back to Chardaan. We’ll never see each other again, you thought.

“And you take good care of the little guy, Mando, you hear?” The older woman stepped forward and offered Grogu an affectionate rub of one large ear. “See you later, bright eyes.”

Mando nodded in her direction. “Thank you again,” he said. With a gesture that told you to follow him, he strode up the ramp and disappeared into the cargo hold, you close on his heels.

As the gangplank retracted and the blast doors closed, the bounty hunter passed Grogu into your arms.

“I’m going to get us out of the atmosphere,” he rasped through his helmet modulator. “There’s fresh fruit in the chiller locker if you’re hungry.”

The child cooed at that, and you felt the corners of your mouth turn up in spite of yourself. “Sure, thanks,” you said. Mando quickly ascended the ladder up into the cockpit then, leaving you and his foundling to your own devices.

Grabbing a meiloorun from storage, you settled yourself on top of one of the anonymous gray cargo bins, Grogu watching your every move with interest as you peeled back the skin and exposed the sweet flesh inside. You took a bite as you heard the Razor Crest’s engines turn over, and you passed the fruit to the child as you felt the landing gear retract beneath you. He dug in with gusto, his ears wiggling in approval as juice dripped down his chin and onto his brown robes, and you couldn’t help but laugh at his enthusiasm.

The sound of heavy footsteps on the deck above drew your gaze away from the spectacle, and a moment later, the Mandalorian dropped down the ladder into the cargo hold.

“We’ll get out of the system then jump to hyperspace,” he said somewhat absently as he examined a datapad that he had brought with him from the cockpit. He grabbed one of the several packs he had loaded onto the Crest from his supply run and began pulling various items out, appearing to record them on the datapad in some kind of inventory. He said nothing more, and it left you feeling a bit out of place just sitting and watching him while he worked.  

After what felt like several minutes of this, you cleared your throat. “So…what happens now?” you asked, your hands twisting hesitantly in your lap.

Mando did not look up at you, ostensibly fully absorbed in his task. “Now, I move on to the next bounty,” he said. “And you do what you did with Peli. Identify systems on the Razor Crest that need your attention and repair them accordingly.”

You frowned slightly at that. “I’m sure you know that some work I won’t be able to do while we’re in hyperspace. Some things will have to wait until we’ve landed somewhere.” You were already mentally running through the list of systems in need of repairs based on the diagnostics you and Peli had run before you left Tatooine. There were more powerlines to replace, the air recycler was well past due for a cleaning, not to mention you were certain that given enough time, you could get more out of the Razor Crest’s hyperdrive than it was currently giving you…

“I’m aware,” the bounty hunter agreed. “Those are things you can work on while I’m away on a hunt.”

“You want me to stay on the ship by myself while you hunt?” You did nothing to hide the discomfort in your voice. In spite of your complex emotions surrounding the Mandalorian, you felt as though you would be safer with him than you would be on your own. You didn’t know the first thing about bounty hunting, but surely it would be taking you to some…unsavory places? Did he really want you to stay behind?

That was finally enough to get him to look at you. Dropping the datapad into the supply bag, he turned in your direction, crossing his arms over his broad, armored chest. “Do you know how to handle a blaster?” he asked impatiently.

You shook your head. “No.”

“What about a vibroblade?”

You bit your lip, shaking your head again. “…no.”

“Then yes, I want you to stay on the ship while I hunt. It’s too dangerous to take someone with no combat training into the field. You’ll be safer here with the ground defense systems activated.” His tone carried a note of finality you knew better than to argue against. You supposed you could understand his stance, and though you didn’t relish the idea of being cooped up in the narrow walls of the Razor Crest for days on end, you knew yourself well enough to acknowledge that you didn’t have the skills you would need to be of any help against another bounty.

“And, if you’re up for it,” he added after a moment, “Grogu will stay here with you.”

You felt your eyebrows raise at that, but you didn’t protest. “Sure. I don’t mind keeping an eye on him,” you said. The little guy had a streak of mischief in him a mile wide, but he was also incredibly sweet, and he seemed fond of you. You knew that if he ever got out of hand, you could simply strap him to your body in the carrier you had fashioned for him, and he would be content.

Mando nodded at that. “Then it’s settled.” Turning back to his inventory task, he continued, “You’re welcome to any of the food or hygiene products we have on board. You don’t need to ask permission before you use something. The only thing off limits is that cabinet.” He pointed at the mysterious silver cabinet you had noticed days ago when you had been surveying the ship. A flickering control panel was mounted to the wall next it, which you knew meant it was locked. “Don’t attempt to open it,” he cautioned, his voice firm and dark. “If you do, I’ll know.”

Inexplicably, the harshness of the command sent a flash of heat through you, and you knew a blush had to be burning in your cheeks. “Understood,” you said, your throat suddenly dry. You looked away from him immediately, desperate to find somewhere else to rest your gaze.

As you did so, another thought occurred to you. “Um…one last thing?”

“Yes?” His reply was curt but not cold as he continued his work.

“Sleeping,” you said hesitantly. “Where should I sleep? If you have a few spare blankets, I can make do with the deck, it’s not a problem. I just don’t want to be somewhere where I’m going to get in your way.”

That seemed to give him pause, and he turned his head to you once more. After a brief silence, he answered, “There’s a bunk in the corner.” He said it as though it was the most obvious thing in the world, as though he was confused as to why this was even a question.

You fought not to roll your eyes at him as your blush burned hotter. “No, I know, it’s just that…that’s your bunk,” you said.

The Mandalorian appeared to consider that for a moment before shrugging dismissively. “I’m accustomed to going long periods of time without sleep. It won’t be difficult for us to take turns.”

“Are you sure? I really wouldn’t mind sleeping somewhere else,” you insisted.

Rather than replying, he simply stared at you. It was clear that he wasn’t understanding your hesitance, and you thought perhaps it was best to just drop it before he began to question it further.

“Got it,” you said eventually. “I’ll use the bunk when I need it.”

“Good.”

“So what’s the next stop?” you asked after a beat. Grogu had finished the meiloorun, and you took the sticky remnants from him and hopped down off of the storage bin to toss it in the refuse recycler. “Where’s the next quarry?”

“There’s a bail jumper whose last known location was on Ryloth. I wasn’t planning on doing that one next, but it’s so close, I don’t know if I will be able to justify a trip back to this sector. It’s just a short jump down the Corellian Run,” the bounty hunter explained.

You considered this information for a moment. You knew little of the planet Ryloth; it was mostly known for being the home planet of the Twi’leks and for its somewhat treacherous terrain, so you didn’t feel as though you knew any better what to expect when you landed than you had a minute ago.

Just as you were using the back of your sleeve to wipe the meiloorun juice from Grogu’s mouth, Mando seemed to finish his inventorying.

“We should be well out of Tatooine’s star system by now. I’ll get us into hyperspace,” he said.

“We’ll be here,” you said, gesturing at the grinning child now nibbling absently on the wrist of your boilersuit.

Mando paused for a moment then, one foot on the ladder, and appeared to study you both. He glanced from you, to Grogu, and then back to you, and that blush came roaring back into your cheeks as you swore you could feel his gaze settling on your body through his helmet.

You almost laughed at the ridiculousness of that notion. What the kriff was wrong with you?

However, the moment passed as quickly as it had come. The bounty hunter appeared to almost shake himself, and then without another word, he took the ladder rungs two at a time and disappeared.

[operationandre]

i love the idea of benson being somewhere between 30-40 years old.

he grunts when he gets out of his car and when he lays down in bed at night. he bought his shotgun when he was in his mid twenties and only uses it to hunt, but he can’t ever kill anything. he went to college at 18, dropped out in his junior year, and moved back in with his mom.

he’s worked odd jobs since then. his favorites have been repairing cars and a random construction job an old friend from school needed help on.

with age, he’s become a quieter person. he hates how randy gets bullied at work; it brings him back to his childhood. there’s something deep inside him that burns with guilt after he gets off work after a long day of watching the torment but never stepping in.

his hips have gotten worse, and his knees get weak after a while. he consistently asks hardy for jobs in the back like inventory or stocking the freezer because it means he can sit down and take breaks. when he takes his actual break during a shift, a shitty 30 minutes of sitting with customers while eating cold fries before going outside to smoke, it’s never enough. he’s always tired.

he’s had his eyes on randy for a while. he doesn’t get his hopes up that the boy might like him or even feel anything other than apathy for him. still, randy is something he can look forward to when he gets up in the morning. he’s far from his teenage years and his twenties, but something about randy brings him joy like a crush in elementary school.

[thehouseofevangelista]

Ok, so a lot of us have contemplated how Carmy will repair relationships post freezer, and rewatching him and Richie, it occurred to me that Richie is very much arguing with Carm the same way one would argue with an addict. For Richie there is so much love there and he can see Carmy self destructing, and it’s not that Carm’s words don’t hurt, but that Richie knows that Carmy is scrapping the bottom of the barrel and trying to cut deep as possible. And I’m not saying that Carm doesn’t need to make amends, what I’m trying to get at is that I don’t think Richie will put up a fight when carmy does. Richie wants to see Carmy succeed, and his anger revolves purely around the frustration of seeing someone you love, someone you know has so much potential, self destruct. Exactly like how he had to watch Mikey self destruct.

[chrysochroma]

within your walls (desire, desire, till there’s nothing left of me)

@febuwhump 2024: Day 2: solitary confinement

@badthingshappenbingo : locked in a freezer (card is at the end)

Rating: Teen And Up

Words: 2,367

Fandom: Hermitcraft

Warnings: Kidnapping, Torture, Human Experimentation, Unethical Experimentation, Temporary Character Death

Read on Ao3

the title is from Strangler Fig by the Crane Wives

this is inspired by @aquaquadrant and @lunarcrown ‘s Hels to Pay AU and From Eden by aquaquadrant.

i highly suggest you read that first bc it is both amazing and the context is helpful

this is the link to aquaquadrant’s From Eden master post

this is also inspired by this piece of art by lunarcrown

as well as lunarcrown’s orginal comic

anyways, enjoy some pain and suffering :)

Deep inside the Hels Tek facility, Tango stood, claws dripping with redstone dust, in front of a grid of circuitry.

The machine Dr. Atlas had sent him to repair wasn’t too complicated, in fact it wasn’t much of a challenge at all. It was just as simple as replacing a few components with the ones the circuit required and drawing a few more lines of redstone dust. The mechanism felt reminiscent of a puzzle you might give a toddler—Tango felt that all he was doing was placing the different shaped blocks in their corresponding holes—but he figured that it was just a test to see what he knows, which didn’t surprise him. This was like his entrance exam before being hired to work at Hels, he supposed. It explained why Dr. Atlas always seemed to be just a few feet away, no matter where they were. Tango hoped that that was a good sign.

A voice came from behind him. “Very nice.”

Tango jumped and spun around to come face to face with Dr. Atlas. “Oh! Doctor, didn’t see ya there. I finished fixing this thing for you,” He gestured at the contraption behind him.

Atlas took his eyes off Tango and studied his repair job instead, as Tango continued to talk.

“It wasn’t too hard, a few things were in the wrong places but that’s pretty much it.” He turned around to look back at his work.

“I see,” Atlas responded, somewhat distracted. His eyes had locked back onto the swirling crown of blaze rods floating above Tango’s head, and he reached into his lab coat.

“So, do you have anything else for me to do?” Tango fiddled with a spare comparator as he spoke.

Atlas stepped closer. “I think that you’ll be very beneficial to us here at Hels Tek.”

“I’m glad to hear that, Dr. Atlas.” Tango spoke, still focused on his redstone.

“So am I.”

Tango felt a sharp prick on his neck, and before he could turn to see what it was from, his legs gave out from under him and his vision went black.

A numbing chill spread through Tango’s bones as his eyes slowly opened. His mind was racing but his breathing was sluggish, muscles slowed by the cold. His senses seemed dulled—whether it was because of whatever knocked him unconscious or yet another effect of the raw, sharp iciness he was surrounded by, Tango didn’t know.

He was laying on the floor, staring up at a plain, white ceiling, dotted with glowstone lamps. They cast a warm yellow over the room, providing Tango with a false sense of warmth that he wished was real. He started to sit up, then immediately noticed an unfamiliar weight on his wrists and neck. The deep jangle of chains being dragged along the floor pulled him even further out of unconsciousness.

“Good morning, Mr. Tango.”

Tango’s eyes snapped up to see Dr. Atlas writing something into a small notebook. The pair made eye contact through the wall of glass separating them, and Atlas smiled. Tango tried to push himself up onto his feet, his arms trembling, but nearly fell onto his face instead. (He glanced up to see Atlas watching him fail to adjust to his lack of energy, then write something down.) His arms, his legs, his brain all seemed to betray him as he struggled to stand, but finally, he forced himself to do so. The heavy iron chains that connected to his collar and shackles and kept him tethered to the ground seemed to drag him back down, but he stood and looked Atlas in the eye.

“Hey, Atlas.” He called out. “What is this?” His voice was filled with confusion and frustration, but overall much less fear than there should’ve been.

“Your new assignment,” Atlas responded.

“Uh, no, thanks. What even-“ He looked around for a second, cutting himself off as he stared into the solid white room beyond the glass box he was trapped in. “What is this?” He repeated.

Atlas snapped his notebook shut and tucked it into one of the pockets of his lab coat. “Like I said, your new assignment, where you will be staying. Indefinitely.”

Tango frowned. “Yeah, no, let me out.” He looked down at the new jumpsuit he was wearing. “And where are my clothes?”

Atlas didn’t respond.

“Hey!” Tango raised his voice. “Let me out of-“ He stepped forward and the chain attached to his collar pulled taut, momentarily choking him. Hurriedly, he stepped back, coughing.

Dr. Atlas stepped up to the glass door, then punched a code into the keypad mounted on the wall next to it. The door opened with a click and Atlas stepped inside, followed by two other Hels Tek employees, who moved to stand on either side of him. Tango’s eyes flitted around the room, trying to keep track of all three at once. Then, Atlas nodded, and the other scientists stepped up, each grabbing one of Tango’s arms. Tango’s muscles tensed up—at least as much as they could—and he pulled against the scientists restraining him. Still, they held him fast, not much effort required.

Atlas stepped forward, reached up, grabbed one of Tango’s blaze rods, and yanked. The blaze rod sizzled, leaving a trail of sparks behind it, but it came loose from Tango’s crown and smoldered in Atlas’s hand. He brought it up to eye level to inspect it—golden, shining, smoking, and most of all, valuable.

Tango gasped in pain, but quickly regained his composure and continued to pull away from the scientists, while glaring at Atlas.

“Hey! Stop it! You can’t do that!”

Dr. Atlas tucked Tango’s blaze rod into his lab coat, then looked back at Tango. “Yes I can.”

The two scientists pushed Tango down, forcing him to his knees. He pulled against their grip with all his strength, but couldn’t do anything to stop them as they pushed him closer and closer to the ground, until he was on his stomach, his face pressed up against the concrete. One of them pinned his wrists behind his back, and the other held his neck against the ground until they had him under their control.

“Guys, hey-!” Tango protested.

Atlas leaned down, fixated on Tango’s swirling crown, then plucked each of the blaze rods out of orbit, one by one. Tango felt each and every one of them leave their place, their absence feeling like a pit in his heart.

“C’mon, not another one,” Tango pleaded. Dr. Atlas ignored him.

In the absence of any blaze rods, sparks fizzled up around Tango’s head, but no new ones formed.

Atlas frowned. “Hm. That’s a shame.”

“Atlas, stop this! Just- c’mon-“

One of the scientists forced his head back to the ground, slamming it into the concrete. Tango gasped at the impact. Then, from the sparks, a new blaze rod flared into existence. Atlas smiled.

“You know,” He looked Tango in the eye. “You and I are going to do great things together, Mr. Tango.”

“Atlas! St-“ he cut himself off with a wince as Atlas stole his final remaining blaze rod.

Still smiling, Atlas stood and walked out of the room, the other two following him out. The door slammed shut behind them, pushing another wave of ice cold air over Tango.

Slowly, he sat up, aching and fatigued, shivering. Then he tucked himself into a ball, too tired to fight back. He closed his eyes.

All of Tango’s days seemed to blend together, forming one painful, seemingly endless existence. Except it wasn’t really endless—Tango had died almost too many times to count over that long expanse of time. Almost.

Minuscule thorns like hypodermic needles jabbed into his skin from all angles. They seemed to suck the blood out of him, slowly and steadily, until there was none left. The branches wrapped around his arms and legs bore scarlet red berries, and the droplets of Tango’s blood scattered over the leaves and floor looked just like minuscule versions of them. They brought a constant, throbbing, piercing pain that Tango could never take his mind off of, at least until-

But that was too slow.

Deep red mist seemed to linger in the air, clouding Tango’s vision and filling his lungs. It burned his eyes and throat, adding to the pain swirling around his body. Each time a bottle dropped, he felt as if a portion of his soul was ripped away, claimed by the burgundy flecks that seemed to glimmer in and out of existence. He lost more and more of himself, never given a chance to recover, until-

<Tango was killed by magic>

But that was too effective.

Steam swirled up from the ground, enveloping him in a cloud of warmth. The red-hot, glowing coals were almost comfortable under his feet. The heat was scalding, yet familiar, and almost sympathetic. Tango was hardly surprised when the first sharp sting across his face came. The Doctors needed to have their fun, after all. So, he stood in the welcoming embrace of liquid hellfire and heard his bones snap, and break, and shatter, until-

<Tango walked into danger zone due to AtlasSyn>

But (as much as it was fun) that was too inefficient.

A cold, slippery nothing filled Tango’s throat, invading his lungs and emptying his mind of anything except panic. It was too thin, too slick to get a hold onto as it dissolved into his core, turning his embers into nothing but smoke. It filled him with terror like nothing else ever could. He was surrounded by it, and helpless to do anything to stop it from ripping away his life, his soul, his fire, until-

<Tango drowned>

But that harmed the product.

A prickling, unnatural chill crept over Tango’s bones. It seeped into his skin like salt dissolving into water—slow and gradual, yet present all the time. It seemed to touch each and every one of his nerves, somehow lighting them on fire and enveloping them in numbness at the same time. It sent a shiver down his spine so curious it almost could’ve tickled if it didn’t hurt so much. It ate away at him, bit by bit, until-

<Tango withered away>

It was perfect—slow, constant, enveloping, (painful,) impeccable. And so the experiments began.

Tango sat, unmoving, just like they told him to. He held still, just like they said, as rows of thorns were stabbed into his arms. Both of his arms were completely numb, yet seemed to be flickering with pinpricks of pain. Dr. Atlas himself was there to pluck the blaze rods from his crown, tucking each one into his coat as if he meant to protect them with his life. It was a constant cycle: Dr. Atlas would take a blaze rod from him, another thorn would be stabbed into his arm, and another blaze rod would appear, ready to be stolen once more.

There had once been a bouquet of wither roses in front of him. They were enchanting, almost would’ve been beautiful, if he hadn’t known what it was like to feel their wrath. Now, there was a pile of deep purple, almost black rose buds lying discarded on a table off to the side (they only needed the thorns).

As a scientist moved to place another bud in the pile, a clump of black, dusty pollen tumbled out of the flower and onto Tango’s arm. Almost immediately, it melted into Tango’s skin, turning the surrounding area a bit gray.

Dr. Atlas’s eyes instantly locked onto the still slightly gray spot. He pointed to the scientist holding the rose bud. “Bring that over here.”

They complied, and Dr. Atlas stuck his finger into the center of the rose, then pulled it out. Black dust coated the tip of his gloved finger, sticking to it like glitter. He turned back to Tango, then smeared the pollen across his forearm. Just as quickly as before, it absorbed into Tango’s flesh, this time leaving faint traces of black veins underneath his skin.

A newfound sense of pain rushed through Tango’s arm, pumping through his bloodstream. The sparks above his head flared, and a blaze rod shimmered into existence, taking its place in his crown. Dr. Atlas reached up a hand, then plucked it, a faint smile on his face.

The pollen was better, they’d found. It was more potent, more harmful, more efficient. The once discarded rose buds had suddenly become a treasure trove for the scientists, and Dr. Atlas couldn’t have been more pleased. And so the testing began.

Test #1: Tears welled up in Tango’s eyes as the now familiar prickling numbness drove him further to insanity. That black dust coated his throat and lungs, making him cough. A couple tears rolled down his cheeks as he felt one of his blaze rods get ripped away from him.

Test #60: Slowly but surely, they were tearing him apart. He felt like, as each blaze rod was stolen from him, a part of his fire went along with. His soul was being taken and sold to the masses for nothing but a bit of profit.

Test #157: Tango longed for the sliding metal doors to his blank white room to open. Even when they were there to refill the respawn anchor, trapping him here. Even when they came to empty the hoppers of his blaze rods, using him for their gain. Even when they came to chop off his claws, preventing any resistance. Because it was better than nothing, right?

Test #326: For Tango, crying was a constant. He took some comfort in it—among all of the deaths, all the malfunctions, through the never-ending blanket of prickling numbness, at least he had this. It was enough.

It wasn’t too much of a change for Tango when Dr. Atlas and the others came to move him into his new home. Just one torture chamber in a blank room to another. He could barely even notice a difference (maybe he didn’t care to).

Dr. Atlas smiled at him through the glass. “Welcome to your new home, Tango Tek.”

[hellsbellschime]

I really cannot with life right now. So on Thursday night, I noticed that stuff in my freezer appeared to be unfreezing. I called my management company Friday morning because the fridge came with the apartment, and presumed naturally that they'd have someone out that day. Incorrect. I called back on Friday afternoon after not hearing anything and the receptionist told me that someone would get in touch with me to come for the repair NEXT WEEK, because it's Friday and whoever they use doesn't work on weekends. So, I have to throw away my perishables, buy ice to put stuff on, whatever, at least it gives me the opportunity to do a really deep clean which hasn't been done since I moved in. So I was taking the shelves out of the freezer just now, and one of them got pretty stuck. I was pulling at the little latch thingy which finally came loose, but because I wasn't expecting it and I was pulling pretty hard, the thing popped up and HIT ME IN THE FACE, so no I have a cut over my eyebrow.

[nudibutch]

nothing better than ur alternator giving out on the highway 3h away from home when you have your entire thesis in the back of your car on ice in coolers and no mechanic can repair it till monday but u have a flight on monday to go see your family for thanksgiving BUT FORTUNATELY the exact place you broke down was the exact place and time your two good friends were on their way to their gay aunts (gaunts) house for thanksgiving. and you were able to use the gaunts' really nice deep freezer and have thanksgiving dinner with them and youre still gonna be able to make ur flight bc ur roommate is gonna come pick u up tomorrow

[wowbright]

Just moved into this new place and already annoyed at my landlord! We had this great refrigerator--perfect design for the space, easy to organize food and get it in and out.

Alas, 2 days after we moved in the automated defrost stopped working properly. The coils iced up and blocked the flow of air from the freezer to the refrigerator, so that the freezer worked but the fridge was too warm.

I let him know, hoping he would up for repair, but he decided that scrapping the nice fridge for the cheapest one he could find in a similar finish was a better option.

The problem is that he didn't really follow the measurements I sent him. I told him that the refrigerator was 30 in deep, and then one he selected is 31 in deep. Which maybe doesn't seem like a big difference but he should remember that this is a galley kitchen. The refrigerator was delivered today and I can't even get the door open 90° without disassembling part of the cabinetry across from it. I also can't open it far enough to slide out the fruit drawer that is closest to the refrigerator door.

I let him know about these problems, but honestly I doubt he is legally obligated to fix them as long as we have a working refrigerator.

(It also has a shitty layout, but that's beside the point.)

I am so fucking annoyed.

[kiraman]

I AM ON MY KNEES SCREAMING ALL OVER THIS VID goodness me!! it takes a lot of NERVE to stare into someone BURSTING like a mf firework with rage and beg “COOL IT COOL IT COOL IT”

he is so SLEEK. so focused, ruthless, relentless, an agent of his own will, he can already see the finish line and nothing’s waiting for him there but death but he’s already dead anyway, he’s got nothing to lose. LIKE.

i can’t explaing how much I LOVE writing modern mizu as yakuza-born vengeful, furious, tormented orphan unleashed like a raging inferno upon the world, hungered for revenge!!!!! this is my fav AU and i am OBSESSED

he is the boogeyman? mizu is the onryo. he kills for what’s been violently taken from him? so does SHE and she’s unstoppable, uncompromising, ferocious, unhinged I AM RAMBLING but some parts of my story just have me so floored because I frantically, fiendishly adore this modern version of Mizu SO BAD

“One of the russians asks him incredulously if he’s got a woman stashed away somewhere. ’‘probably in a freezer” Vladmir, the driver, comments later. Mizu does not answer. She does not smile. Apathetically she slowly dons her leather jacket, readjusts her shades on her nose. In the morning, a man washes up on the banks of the river. Vladmir does not show up at work.

LIKE SHE. SHE!!!

and when she cries out in desperation, says “Mizu please. Fuck, please—” Mizu stills the hand between her legs to complete motionlessness, growls. “No— ride my hand.” And she does, god, she does, she’s a wild thing on her lap, feral with desire; she clutches at her shoulders and rolls her hips violently back and forth, lets her fingers sink inside her again and again, snapping her hips forward, hungered for more. Mizu keeps her hand achingly still, tightly pressed against her pussy, but she, too, is completely gone, hanging on by a thread; she watches her ride her hand, feels her walls spasm around her fingers, feels them quiver, god she’s burning from the inside out, taking her in again and again, she’s barely lifting her hips off of her now, keeps her fingers buried so deep inside her, Mizu thinks nothing will ever be able to fill her like her fingers have,

LIKE BITCH. why are you so FERAL.

She looks like an electrical storm waiting to happen. There is thunder in the way she cracks her bones, slow, precise, everything about her is so, dark and hungered, even the way she looks at you has teeth. She wonders who Smoke really is at 4 a.m. when the rest of the world is sleeping. She’s never seen her fall asleep, just once, back in that room, overtaken by fever…

listen writing this chapter is absolutely DEMOLISHING me. I am trying so so hard to find the right words and ways to make you all understand how INSANE she is, trying so hard to somehow cross all the wires. all of them. every wire in her very human damaged beyond repair (huh) brain—rage and fury, love, desire, sex, hatred, hunger, repulsion, shame, pragmatism and choice; affection and how she LOATHES it because she is so unworthy she doesn't know what to do with it , her anger that eats her up right down to her bones, pride, betrayal, her selfishness. her lies. all of them, every single one—make it snarl up like a bunch of her lover’s necklaces left on top of her dresser before she leaves her.

She rips right through the night like a bullet, fills her hands with blood. when she comes back she sits soaked in blood that is not her own on the floor and slowly, perfectly, unerringly unpicks those necklaces left on her dresser, so that Geraldine can wear them again. She does not react when she thanks her but eats her out like she is starving for it and when she tries to return the favour Mizu shrugs her off and takes the COLDEST iciest shower possible. when she leaves, she does not look back. BYE this girl is insane I love her. Mizu in her dapper suit, shades on, neon light glinting off its pristine skeleton, that sleek curling strand of her hair falling into her eye, sprawled out, legs open, the two top buttons of her shirt undone and a perpetual cold snarl on her mouth which is very sweet and sometimes slick with lipstick.... PEACE OUT

[maheshhotelware]

Kitchen Equipment Suppliers in Bangalore: Essentials for a Modern Kitchen

In the bustling city of Bangalore, where culinary arts meet diverse tastes, the demand for top-quality kitchen equipment is on the rise. Whether for home kitchens, commercial establishments, or industrial food production, reliable equipment is essential to ensure efficiency, safety, and optimal results. This article explores the offerings and importance of kitchen equipment suppliers in Bangalore and highlights how choosing the right equipment can transform cooking experiences.

The Demand for Quality Kitchen Equipment

In Bangalore, known for its thriving food scene, the market for kitchen equipment spans a variety of needs. From startup restaurants and large-scale hotels to food processing units, each establishment requires specific tools to meet its unique operational demands. High-quality kitchen equipment ensures seamless food preparation, maintains hygiene standards, and boosts overall productivity.

Suppliers in Bangalore offer a vast range of kitchen tools and appliances to cater to these diverse needs, often bringing in products that meet international standards. The focus on providing equipment that is both durable and technologically advanced reflects the city’s growing reputation as a hub for hospitality and food innovation.

Types of Kitchen Equipment Available

Kitchen equipment suppliers in Bangalore provide a wide spectrum of tools and appliances, categorized broadly into preparation, cooking, and storage equipment:

1. Preparation Equipment: This includes everything from mixers and slicers to grinders and food processors. Such equipment helps reduce the time and effort spent on preparing ingredients. With Bangalore’s fast-paced culinary environment, having efficient preparation tools can make a noticeable difference in workflow.

2. Cooking Equipment: Ranging from commercial-grade stovetops, ovens, and grills to specialized appliances like deep fryers, steamers, and induction ranges, cooking equipment is essential in any kitchen. Suppliers in Bangalore offer products designed to withstand high usage and meet the safety standards required for commercial kitchens.

3. Storage Equipment: Proper storage is crucial in maintaining food quality and safety. Suppliers offer refrigerators, freezers, and coolers, catering to both small cafes and large hotels. Effective storage equipment can help manage inventory and reduce food waste, which is especially important for establishments handling perishable items.

4. Cleaning and Hygiene Equipment: Given the stringent hygiene standards in the food industry, kitchen equipment suppliers in Bangalore also provide cleaning solutions, including dishwashers, sanitation stations, and waste management tools. These items help maintain a clean environment, ensuring compliance with health regulations.

5. Utensils and Small Tools: No kitchen is complete without small utensils like knives, pots, pans, and baking trays. Suppliers in Bangalore offer high-quality items that enhance cooking precision, durability, and ease of use, catering to both home cooks and professionals.

Choosing the Right Kitchen Equipment Supplier

The choice of a kitchen equipment supplier can significantly impact an establishment’s efficiency and success. When selecting a supplier in Bangalore, it’s essential to consider a few key factors:

1. Quality Assurance: Reliable suppliers offer equipment that is certified for quality and safety standards. Durable and high-performing equipment ensures that establishments can run smoothly without frequent breakdowns or repairs.

2. Product Range and Customization: A broad product range allows buyers to choose items that best meet their needs. Some suppliers in Bangalore offer customization options to adapt to unique kitchen layouts or specialized functions, which can be particularly useful for niche culinary businesses.

3. After-Sales Support: Effective after-sales service, including warranty options and maintenance support, is crucial for kitchen equipment that undergoes high levels of wear and tear. Suppliers with responsive service teams ensure minimal downtime in the event of equipment malfunction.

4. Energy Efficiency and Sustainability: With increasing awareness of sustainability, many kitchen equipment suppliers in Bangalore now offer eco-friendly options. Energy-efficient appliances help reduce operational costs, which is a significant advantage for businesses looking to manage expenses while contributing to environmental conservation.

5. Price and Financing Options: Since investing in kitchen equipment can be costly, many suppliers provide flexible payment plans, leasing options, and financing solutions to make high-quality products accessible to businesses of all sizes.

Emerging Trends in Kitchen Equipment

As Bangalore’s food industry evolves, so do the demands for advanced kitchen technology. Modern kitchens are integrating smart appliances that can be controlled remotely or programmed for specific tasks. Automation in cooking and food preparation equipment helps reduce labor requirements, especially in large commercial setups. Some suppliers in Bangalore are leading this transition by offering innovative products such as automated ovens, robotic arms for repetitive tasks, and IoT-enabled refrigerators for real-time inventory monitoring.

Furthermore, the shift toward healthier cooking methods has prompted suppliers to introduce air fryers, steam ovens, and sous-vide machines, catering to the health-conscious market. Equipment that uses less oil, retains nutrients, and offers versatile cooking options is increasingly popular among Bangalore’s culinary establishments.

Conclusion

The kitchen equipment suppliers in Bangalore play a pivotal role in supporting the city’s vibrant food industry. By offering quality products and services, these suppliers enable restaurants, cafes, and food production facilities to meet the high standards expected by customers. With a diverse product range, competitive pricing, and a focus on sustainability, suppliers in Bangalore provide establishments with the tools needed to thrive in a competitive market. Choosing the right kitchen equipment supplier is crucial to operational efficiency, safety, and ultimately, customer satisfaction.

[expresshoods]

The Importance of Restaurant Kitchen Cleaning in Canada

Running a successful restaurant in Canada requires more than just great food and excellent service. Maintaining a clean, safe, and hygienic kitchen is crucial for the health of both employees and customers. Regular restaurant kitchen cleaning in canada not only ensures compliance with health regulations but also promotes efficiency and reduces the risk of fires or equipment failures. In this blog, we’ll explore the significance of restaurant kitchen cleaning in Canada, key areas that need attention, and tips for keeping your kitchen in top shape.

Why Regular Restaurant Kitchen Cleaning is Essential

1. Health and Safety Compliance

Canadian health and safety regulations require restaurant kitchens to meet strict cleanliness standards. Failing to adhere to these guidelines can result in penalties, fines, or even the closure of your establishment. Regular restaurant kitchen cleaning in Canada ensures compliance with local health codes, preventing bacterial contamination, cross-contamination, and pest infestations.

2. Preventing Foodborne Illnesses

A dirty kitchen is a breeding ground for harmful bacteria and pathogens that can lead to foodborne illnesses. Contaminated food can result in serious health issues for your customers and harm your restaurant’s reputation. Regular deep cleaning, including sanitizing food preparation surfaces, cutting boards, and utensils, can minimize the risk of cross-contamination and foodborne diseases.

3. Fire Hazard Reduction

Grease buildup in the kitchen, particularly in the exhaust hoods, ducts, and cooking equipment, is a significant fire risk. The accumulation of grease over time can ignite if not properly cleaned, leading to dangerous and costly kitchen fires. Professional restaurant kitchen cleaning in canada and regular deep cleaning of kitchen equipment help eliminate this risk, making your restaurant safer.

4. Prolonging Equipment Life

Your kitchen equipment is one of your most significant investments, and proper cleaning is essential to extend its lifespan. Dirt, grease, and grime can build up in appliances like ovens, grills, and fryers, causing them to work less efficiently and eventually break down. Regular cleaning keeps your equipment running smoothly and can save you money on costly repairs or replacements.

5. Improved Efficiency and Organization

A clean and well-organized kitchen allows your staff to work more efficiently. Clutter-free countertops and properly maintained equipment reduce the time spent cleaning during shifts, leading to faster food preparation and smoother service. Regular cleaning routines help create a more pleasant and productive work environment for your employees.

Key Areas of Focus in Restaurant Kitchen Cleaning

1. Exhaust Hoods and Ducts

Grease buildup in exhaust hoods and ducts poses both fire and health hazards. Regular professional restaurant kitchen cleaning in canada are essential to prevent grease fires and ensure proper ventilation. The frequency of hood cleaning depends on the volume of cooking in your restaurant, but a professional service every 3 to 6 months is generally recommended.

2. Ovens, Grills, and Fryers

These high-use appliances accumulate grease, food debris, and carbon deposits quickly. Routine cleaning of grills, ovens, and fryers is necessary to prevent buildup that can affect the taste and quality of your food, as well as reduce the efficiency of the equipment.

3. Floors and Walls

Food spills, grease splatters, and debris often end up on kitchen floors and walls. These areas should be cleaned daily to prevent slips and falls, maintain hygiene, and eliminate potential breeding grounds for pests. Ensure that floors are mopped and sanitized, and that walls near cooking areas are scrubbed regularly.

4. Refrigerators and Freezers

Proper refrigeration is critical for food safety. Dirty or poorly maintained refrigerators can lead to food spoilage and contamination. Regularly clean shelves, drawers, and door seals, and ensure that temperatures are consistently monitored to prevent bacterial growth.

5. Food Preparation Surfaces

Cutting boards, countertops, and other food prep areas should be sanitized frequently throughout the day to prevent cross-contamination. Use food-safe cleaning products and ensure that your staff is trained in proper sanitation techniques.

Tips for Effective Restaurant Kitchen Cleaning

Establish a Cleaning Schedule: Implement a detailed cleaning schedule that outlines daily, weekly, and monthly tasks for each area of the kitchen. Assign specific duties to staff members to ensure accountability.

Use Professional Cleaning Services: While daily cleaning is essential, professional deep cleaning should be done regularly to tackle areas that need specialized attention, such as exhaust systems, grease traps, and hard-to-reach spaces.

Train Your Staff: Ensure that your staff is trained in food safety and cleaning protocols. Proper cleaning methods and sanitization practices are essential for maintaining a hygienic kitchen.

Use Quality Cleaning Products: Invest in high-quality cleaning products that are specifically designed for commercial kitchens. Ensure they are food-safe and effective against grease, grime, and bacteria.

[insurgoservices]

Industrial Cleaning Services Clayfield

Industrial cleaning services are needed to keep facilities clean and safe. Industrial cleaners use specific products and methods to clean hazardous areas like warehouses, data centers, food processing plants, and manufacturing spaces.

They also clean and disinfect high-touch surfaces that are frequently touched by staff members. This reduces employee sick days and makes the workplace a safer environment.

Office Cleaning

A Industrial cleaning services Clayfield can help businesses maintain a clean, healthy workplace, ultimately increasing productivity and employee satisfaction. Many cleaning companies specialise in specific industries, such as medical facilities, schools and hospitality venues, and are familiar with the regulations and expectations that come with them.

Unlike general cleaning, industrial cleaning requires specialized equipment and methods. These can include deep cleaning of heavy machinery, decontamination and disinfection of surfaces, and washing or removing hazardous materials. This type of cleaning is typically performed outside regular business hours so that production can continue uninterrupted.

In addition to regular cleaning services, commercial cleaners can also provide emergency cleaning services for spills or fires. These services are essential to maintaining a safe environment and complying with contamination laws. They can also help prevent costly repairs and improve productivity. Commercial cleaning services can also offer janitorial, maintenance and waste management services. They may also sanitise appliances, empty trash cans, and mop floors. They can also replace bin liners and wash kitchen counters, walls and windows.

Warehouse Cleaning

Warehouses have a lot of surfaces that need to be cleaned. These include floors, walls, and storage areas. They can be dirty and hazardous to workers, which is why warehouse cleaning services Clayfield are necessary. Professional cleaners will use specialized equipment and cleaning products to ensure that all the surfaces in the warehouse are sanitized.

Warehouse cleaning involves sanitizing the floors, bathrooms, rafters, ceilings, HVAC vents, and more. It also involves removing trash and sweeping and mopping the floor. The cleaning service will ensure that the workplace is safe and healthy, which will help reduce employee sick days.

Warehouses are large spaces, and it can be hard to keep them clean. Getting commercial cleaning services in Clayfield is an easy way to maintain the cleanliness of your warehouse, and it will also improve employee morale. It will also reduce the risk of germs and illnesses, which is beneficial for your company’s bottom line.

Food Processing Cleaning

Food processing facilities require a higher standard of cleanliness. Proper cleaning and sanitation can help reduce employee sick days and improve quality control. Cleaning services can wipe down equipment and surfaces, vacuum carpets and mop floors, take out trash, and disinfect high-touch surfaces like door knobs. They can also clean food storage rooms and equipment, such as refrigerators, freezers, and blenders.

Effective cleaning in food manufacturing environments requires wet and dry cleaning processes. Wet cleaning involves pre-rinsing, washing with chemicals, and post-rinsing of all food contact surfaces. Dry cleaning involves the use of powder cleaners to eliminate sticky soils and reduce the risk of cross-contamination.

When choosing an industrial cleaning service, ask to see proof of insurance and a list of references. Make sure they carry workers’ compensation and general liability insurance in case an accident occurs on the job. Also, find out if they pay prevailing wages to their employees. This will ensure that they are not violating any employment laws.

Manufacturing Cleaning

Manufacturing spaces have complex Window cleaning services and chemicals that require a more intense type of cleaning. Industrial cleaning companies specialize in sanitizing and decontaminating these types of environments and extending the lifespan of equipment. They use specialized products, equipment, and more efficient manpower to keep these facilities clean and safe for employees and customers.

Look for a company that offers hydro-blasting, which uses high-pressure water to remove paint, rust, lead, and other substances from surfaces. They also know how to treat mold, mildew, and other contaminants that regular janitorial services can’t get rid of.

In case of a disaster like a spill, fire, or explosion, they can quickly respond to the emergency by containing the contamination, testing the air, securing the containment zone, and offering decontamination services. They can also take care of hazardous waste management and disposal. In addition, they should have workers’ compensation and general liability insurance for their employees. This protects the business and ensures employees are covered if they get hurt on the job.

[statclimate]

Commercial Refrigeration Repair: What You Need to Know

Commercial refrigeration plays a vital role in various industries, from restaurants and grocery stores to healthcare facilities. Keeping these systems running smoothly is essential, as even minor issues can lead to costly downtime and spoiled goods. In this article, we'll dive deep into commercial refrigeration repair—covering common issues, the importance of timely fixes, and why professional repairs are a must.

What Is Commercial Refrigeration?

Commercial refrigeration refers to the equipment used to store perishable goods at a controlled temperature in a commercial setting. These systems are far more powerful than household refrigerators and come in different forms like walk-in coolers, freezers, display refrigerators, and refrigerated prep tables. Industries such as hospitality, food retail, and pharmaceuticals rely on these units to keep products fresh and safe.

Common Problems in Commercial Refrigeration Systems

Like any machine, commercial refrigeration systems can encounter issues over time. The most common problems include:

Refrigerant Leaks: Low refrigerant levels can cause the unit to struggle with cooling, leading to temperature inconsistencies.

Thermostat Malfunctions: If the thermostat fails, the refrigerator may not maintain the correct temperature, risking food spoilage.

Compressor Issues: The compressor is the heart of the system, and any malfunction here could lead to the entire unit shutting down.

Electrical Problems: From faulty wiring to blown fuses, electrical issues are a frequent culprit behind refrigeration system failures.

Signs Your Commercial Refrigerator Needs Repair

It’s crucial to recognize early warning signs of refrigeration problems to prevent more significant damage down the line. Here are some red flags to watch out for:

Unusual Noises: Grinding, banging, or hissing sounds often indicate mechanical or electrical problems.

Inconsistent Temperatures: If your system struggles to maintain a consistent temperature, it may indicate a failing compressor or refrigerant leak.

Ice Buildup or Water Leakage: Excessive ice on evaporator coils or water pooling near the unit can point to airflow issues or blocked drains.

Rising Energy Bills: A malfunctioning system often uses more energy to compensate, leading to higher operational costs.

The Risks of Ignoring Repairs

Delaying necessary repairs can have severe consequences for your business. First and foremost, you risk violating health and safety regulations if food or products are not stored at the correct temperatures. Spoiled inventory is a direct financial loss, but energy inefficiency can also quietly eat into your budget, as malfunctioning systems demand more power to operate. Worst of all, neglecting small issues can lead to a complete system breakdown, forcing you to replace the entire unit.

Why Hire a Professional for Commercial Refrigeration Repair?

Commercial refrigeration systems are complex, and DIY fixes are rarely a good idea. Here’s why hiring a professional is the smarter choice:

Expertise: Licensed technicians have the specialized training to diagnose and repair commercial refrigeration issues effectively.

Safety: Handling refrigerants and electrical components can be dangerous. A professional ensures that repairs are done safely and in compliance with regulations.

Cost-Effectiveness: While it may seem cheaper to attempt repairs yourself, a professional will fix the root cause and prevent recurring problems, saving you money in the long run.

Key Components of a Commercial Refrigeration System

Understanding the essential components of your refrigeration system can help you better grasp the importance of timely repairs:

Compressor: Pumps refrigerant through the system.

Evaporator: Absorbs heat from inside the fridge, cooling the air.

Condenser: Releases absorbed heat outside the refrigerator.

Expansion Valve: Regulates refrigerant flow, controlling cooling.

The Commercial Refrigeration Repair Process

A typical repair process involves several steps to ensure that the system runs efficiently again:

Diagnosis: The technician will inspect the unit, test components, and identify the problem.

Repair or Replacement: Depending on the issue, they will either repair the malfunctioning part or replace it entirely.

Testing: After the repair, they’ll run tests to ensure the system is functioning properly and efficiently.

Preventive Maintenance for Commercial Refrigeration Systems

Preventive maintenance is the key to extending the life of your refrigeration system. Regular tasks like cleaning condenser coils, checking refrigerant levels, and inspecting door seals help catch potential issues early. Scheduling routine maintenance checks can prevent breakdowns and improve the system’s overall efficiency.

Emergency Commercial Refrigeration Repairs

Breakdowns don’t always happen during convenient hours. That’s why many repair services offer 24/7 emergency repairs. These companies understand that a non-working refrigeration system could mean thousands of dollars in lost inventory and business interruptions. By acting quickly, they minimize downtime and get your business back up and running.

How Long Do Commercial Refrigeration Repairs Take?

The time it takes to repair a commercial refrigerator depends on the issue. Minor fixes like thermostat adjustments or replacing a fan motor can take just a few hours. However, more complex problems, such as compressor replacements, might require several days, especially if specialized parts need to be ordered.

Cost of Commercial Refrigeration Repair

Repair costs can vary based on factors like the complexity of the issue, the cost of replacement parts, and labor fees. On average, minor repairs can range from $100 to $500, while major repairs may cost up to $2,000 or more. It’s essential to budget for unexpected repairs and decide whether repair or replacement is the better option.

How to Choose the Right Commercial Refrigeration Repair Service

Choosing the right repair company can make all the difference. Look for companies with:

Certifications: Ensure the technicians are licensed and trained in commercial refrigeration.

Reputation: Check reviews and testimonials from past customers.

Availability: A company that offers 24/7 service can be a lifesaver in emergencies.

The Role of Technology in Modern Refrigeration Repairs

Modern refrigeration systems often come equipped with diagnostic tools that can detect issues before they cause a breakdown. Remote monitoring systems allow technicians to monitor performance and catch early signs of trouble, minimizing the need for emergency repairs.

Commercial refrigeration systems are a cornerstone of many businesses, and keeping them in top shape is crucial. Timely repairs by a professional can help avoid costly disruptions, keep your energy bills in check, and ensure your products stay fresh. Regular maintenance and staying on top of small issues will save you time and money in the long run.

Address: Bay 10, 3716 56 Avenue SE Calgary Alberta T2C 2B5 Contacts: Email:info@statclimate.ca Phone:(403) 226-6066 Social Media: https://www.facebook.com/statclimate/ https://twitter.com/statclimate https://ca.linkedin.com/company/stat-climate-control-solutions