#denver home cleaning

[denverhomecleaner]

Top Benefits of Hiring Denver Home Cleaning Services

Life in Denver is fast-paced, and between work, family, and personal time, keeping your home spotless can feel like an impossible task. That’s where Denver home cleaning services come to the rescue. Professional cleaning services not only take the load off your shoulders but also ensure your living space is healthier, more organized, and simply a joy to come home to. Let’s dive into the top reasons why hiring a cleaning service in Denver is a smart choice for your home and your sanity.

1. Save Precious Time

Time is the one resource we can never get back. Whether you’re juggling a busy career or trying to balance family responsibilities, finding time to clean your home can feel impossible. With a professional Denver home cleaning service, you can delegate this time-consuming chore to the experts. Spend more time doing what you love, whether that’s hiking in the Rockies or catching a game at Coors Field, while your cleaning team takes care of the rest.

2. Professional Results You Can Count On

Cleaning isn’t just about making your home look good; it’s about making it healthier. Dust, allergens, and bacteria can build up in areas you might not notice or have the tools to address. Experienced cleaning teams deliver a deeper clean with professional-grade equipment and techniques. From scrubbing hard-to-reach spots to sanitizing surfaces, hiring maid services in Denver guarantees your home stays sparkling clean and safe for everyone. Learn more about these services maid services in Denver.

3. Customized Cleaning Plans

Every home is unique, and so are its cleaning needs. The best maid cleaning service Denver has to offer will work with you to create a customized cleaning plan. Need your home cleaned once a week? Prefer a deep clean every month? Whether you require routine upkeep or a one-time deep clean before hosting guests, these services have you covered. Tailored plans ensure that your cleaning priorities are met with precision.

4. Say Goodbye to Stress

Let’s be honest: Cleaning can be stressful. From deciding where to start to tackling stubborn stains, the process can quickly feel overwhelming. Hiring professional housekeeping in Denver removes that stress entirely. You get peace of mind knowing that trained professionals are handling the task, leaving your home spotless and inviting.

5. Eco-Friendly Cleaning Options

Many Denver cleaning services are embracing eco-friendly practices, using non-toxic, sustainable cleaning products. This not only protects the environment but also ensures that your family and pets are safe from harsh chemicals. By choosing an environmentally-conscious cleaning service, you’re contributing to a greener Denver while keeping your home healthy.

6. Maintain a Consistently Clean Home

With a professional cleaning schedule in place, your home will never feel out of control again. Consistency is key when it comes to cleanliness, and the best Denver home cleaning companies excel at keeping your space in pristine condition. No more rushing to clean before guests arrive or stressing about unexpected visits—your home will always be ready to impress.

7. More Time for Yourself

Cleaning takes a lot more than just time; it’s exhausting. By hiring a professional cleaning service, you reclaim hours of your life that can be better spent recharging. Whether it’s indulging in self-care, catching up with friends, or simply enjoying a quiet moment, your time becomes truly yours again.

8. Enhance Your Home’s Longevity

Regular cleaning does more than make your home look nice. It helps protect your furniture, floors, and appliances from wear and tear. Dust and grime can cause damage over time, so investing in a reliable maid cleaning service Denver can extend the life of your belongings and maintain your property value.

Redirecting to Your Next Read

Ready to make the most of your time and enjoy the benefits of professional cleaning? With so many advantages, there’s no reason to put off hiring a cleaning service. Once you’ve experienced the magic of a spotless home, you’ll wonder why you didn’t do it sooner.

Curious about how to choose the perfect cleaning service? Don’t miss our next article, "How to Choose the Best Maid Cleaning Service in Denver."

[cleanzencleaningservicesdenver]

5 Reasons to Hire a Professional Cleaning Service

One of the best investments you can make for your home is hiring a professional cleaning service. Cleaning services are a reliable and affordable way to keep your home looking its best, especially if you can’t find the time to keep up with the job yourself. There is no need to be embarrassed to ask for help cleaning up around the house, that’s why these services exist! If you have been on the fence about hiring a professional cleaning service to help get your home in order, here are just a few reasons you should finally make the call.

You’ll be saving money on supplies

One of the best things about cleaning services is that they bring their own cleaning products and supplies with them. When you don’t have to worry about having the right cleaner for your floors or the best microfiber cloths for your windows, you’ll feel the ease on your wallet and your supply cabinet. The best part is that most cleaning services will work with you to figure out the best products to use in your home. They will be able to tailor their cleaning to be pet-friendly and kid-friendly and even allergy safe so that you won’t have to keep anyone out of the house while the cleaning is done. Imagine all that time and money being saved when you don’t have to find the right products yourself!

Higher standards for cleaning

If you’ve ever had to speed clean your house before a guest arrives, you’ll know the sinking feeling of finding a whole area you missed when its too late. When you hire a cleaning service, you’re guaranteed to be left with a completely clean home without a single missed spot. Most cleaning services will offer a satisfaction guarantee that meets your cleaning standards for your home or they will return to clean at a reduced cost or even for free. So you know they will want to do the job well and correctly the first time. They work thoroughly and efficiently so that no nook or cranny is forgotten and not a single speck of dust remains. You’ll be able to work with the service to find and meet your cleaning goals to the highest standard without even lifting a finger.

Less stress on your shoulders

There are so many things that need to be done during your day, why add cleaning to the list? You probably have more than enough on your plate each day and by hiring a service to ease your workload, you’ll be saving yourself time and stress. Hiring a professional cleaning service to take care of all the daily cleaning tasks around the house you have a whole list of things you won’t have to worry about. Allow your chosen cleaning service to sweep and mop away the stress of having to clean before guests or the seasonal hassle of deep cleaning while you declutter your closets. All you have to do is ask yourself why you hadn’t hired a professional cleaning service before.

The dirty jobs are done for you

One of the simplest and most obvious reasons to hire a professional cleaning service is so that you don’t have to get your hands dirty. When you think of all the cleaning that needs to be done round your house, you can probably think of at least five areas you haven’t touched in years that may require some rubber gloves and a mask to clean. There’s no shame in dreading having to clean these spaces, but the easiest solution is simply hiring someone else to clean them for you. What’s great about professional cleaners is that even if you feel embarrassed for the state of your home, they can clean it all without any questions or judgement. As their client, their job is to help you maintain a clean and happy environment for you and your family to live in, not to shame you and the state of your house.

You’ll have more time for yourself and your family

Last, but most definitely not least, you’ll have more time to spend with family or just to be on your own to do something you love but haven’t had time for. The professional cleaners you hire to take care of the messes around your home know you have lots of other things you need to do or may not have had time for and want you to be able to get those things done. They take the hassle and stress out of your day when they clean for you and leave you with a tidy and fresh space for you to do the things you love. Whether that’s finally having family over for dinner or being able to quietly read on your couch without seeing a pile of dust out of the corner of your eye. Professional cleaning services will give you back the time and energy you would have spent cleaning your home and allow you to spend some time for yourself.

To hire professional cleaners in Denver, visit our website.

Contact Us:

Cleanzen Cleaning Services

Address: 6565 E Evans Ave, Denver, CO 80224

Phone: (720) 807-1833

Email: support@cleanzen.com

Website: https://cleanzen.com/denver

[303junk]

[ageofbajabule]

Come Undone | Josh Kiszka

Josh Kiszka x Fem Reader

Word Count: 2.5k

Warnings: Oral Sex (F and M Receiving), Teasing, Unprotected Sex, Fluff. (Let me aware if I missed anything.)

Author’s Note: Hey y’all!! I saw those pictures of Josh meeting that fan in Brussels earlier today and saw the hoodie he was wearing under his jacket and all I could think about was him wearing Gray Sweatpants😮‍💨 And well… let’s just say it got the best of me. I hope you all enjoy it🤭 (also this is poorly edited)

Another leg of the tour done, Josh would be home soon. The weather in Nashville was cold, a little bit of snowfall had happened. Nothing to make the roads bad, but enough to be cold out.

Josh had an arranged ride home, which left you the time to make his favorite dinner. You had your home decorated in Christmas decor, it was your favorite time of the year as it was for Josh. He always made sure to host a big Christmas party at your home that you shared together.

The house smelled of vanilla and sandalwood. You giggled softly as you played a John Denver record, finishing up the last touches to dinner. You pulled out a bottle of wine, along with two glasses. You had the table set up for dinner. After setting the dishes down on the dining table, you poured the glasses with wine.

Eventually you heard the lock click on the door, turning on your heel you’re greeted with Josh’s head poking in. You smiled softly running over to him to help gather his things inside the house.

Once he was safely inside your home he pulled you in for a tight hug, kissing your lips softly.

“I missed you, Mama…” He hummed against your lips caressing your face.

“I missed you more…” You smiled resting your forehead against his.

“Smells good in here.” He grinned softly, rolling his suitcase into the mud room.

“I made your favorite.” You smiled softly, helping him take his jacket and scarf off.

“My favorite meal is right here.” He smirked, pulling you close to him.

“Joshua…” You giggled softly. “Dinner first, then you can have dessert later.” Patting his chest lightly you walked over to the dining table taking a seat across from where he sat down.

Over dinner Josh had rambled on about the European leg of the tour. You enjoyed when he talked about the things he loved, it was joyful to see him so happy and excited.

You watched every single detail of him, the way his nose would scrunch when he smiled and laughed. The way his eyes sparkled every time he looked at you, how his curls rested against his forehead. The little cheek scar, and his god-like jaw structure.

“What is it, mama?” He chuckled softly, as he gathered your dishes walking towards the kitchen.

“I just get lost in you…” You giggled softly, taking over and starting on rinsing the dishes and loading the dishwasher.

“How about… I finish cleaning down here while you unpack and get a shower?” You smiled at him, kissing his lips softly.

“Okay, okay. But, we are watching a movie tonight.” He kissed your hands softly.

“Your choice. I’ve watched enough of my rom-coms while you’ve been gone.” You giggled, as he chuckled softly.

“Director’s choice…” He hummed walking away. You giggled to yourself checking out his ass as he went off.

You could hear his footsteps as he climbed the stairs with his luggage. Hearing him hum along to the record you were playing. Smiling softly to yourself you finished wiping down the counters and table, putting everything back in its rightful place.

After finishing up cleaning you ran upstairs to put on your silk set pajamas then ran back downstairs to make popcorn and gather your glasses of wine for the two of you. You put a log in the fire that was already burning, then turned the tv on, setting it up to whichever streaming platform he wanted.

You grabbed your favorite fleece blanket that Josh had gotten for you a while ago, laying it across your lap as you placed the bowl of popcorn on the coffee table. You could hear Josh padding down the stairs. He came around the bend, wearing a white long sleeve and gray fitted sweatpants, his curls still dampened.

You smiled, as you felt your cheeks heat up. Definitely a rosy shade now, you felt like a school girl watching him. You bit your lip softly as you saw the outline of his semi hard dick in his sweatpants. You quickly averted your eyes before he could notice.

He turned the record player off, then made his way over to the couch lifting the blanket to sit beside you. He placed over his and your lap, wrapping an arm around your shoulder pulling you into his side.

You smiled softly, kissing his cheek. Your hand found a natural placement on his thigh, letting it rest there softly.

“So what movie are you picking tonight?” You smiled, grabbing the bowl of popcorn. Eating a few pieces from it.

“How about John Wick?” He grabbed the remote, setting it up. You nodded your head in agreement, as the beginning credits played you rested your head on his shoulder.

He smiled softly, resting his head on top of yours as he ate a handful of popcorn. You then remembered where your hand was placed, inching your pinky closer smirking to yourself as you imagined his cock twitching.

Hearing Josh’s breathing pattern change a little gave the sign that he indeed felt what you were doing. You bit your lip softly, keeping your eyes trained on the television. As you inched your fingers closer you could feel him grow beneath your touch.

“Mama…” His low register tone popping out. You felt a flood of arousal, clenching your thighs together. You worked your hand closer to his inner thigh squeezing softly.

Earning a groan from Josh, you giggled to yourself softly. As you felt his hand move to grab yours, moving it away swiftly.

“Are you just gonna be a tease, or am I gonna have to take care of it myself?” He growled into your ear, causing goosebumps to form on your skin.

“Is my baby all hot and bothered now…” You purred at him.

“The fact I haven’t had you in over a month is driving me insane. And seeing you sit here in your matching silk set, with your tits sitting nicely, it’s been hard not to just take you right here.” He spoke softly in his low register tone still.

“Well perhaps you should do something about it.” You cocked an eyebrow, standing slowly from where you sat putting the bowl of popcorn on the kitchen counter.

You stretched, letting your shirt lift a bit and reveal your tummy. You faked a yawn. “But it’s getting awfully late Josh…” You sighed softly, heading to walk up the stairs.

Hearing the tv make a noise as he shut it off, he was quick on your tail into your bedroom. In an instant he was pressing you up against the wall in your bedroom.

“Awfully late my ass…” He purred against your ear. “How many times have we stayed up till dawn, while I fucked you into the mattress? Or do I need to remind you…”

You bit your lip softly, looking down at his sweatpants seeing him completely hard and straining against the seams. You moved your hand to palm him through his sweats. “Hm… Painfully hard Joshy… Is that all for me?”

“Of course it’s all for you. Do I need to remind you that I'm yours?” He bit your earlobe softly, earning a whimper from you.

“Please…” You whined, slipping your hand into the waistband of his sweatpants. He wasn’t wearing any underwear, not like he normally did in your home. You bit your lip softly, stroking him through his pants earning a groan from him.

“Are you gonna be nice and take care of me?” He whispered against your ear. You nodded eagerly, sinking to your knees in front of him. You pulled his sweatpants down slowly, his cock springing free. The tip was swollen and leaking with precum.

He kicked his sweats away, as you sat on your heels taking him into your hand. You stroked him slowly, licking the precum off the tip. He shuddered moving his hands to push your hair back into a makeshift ponytail.

Slowly you wrapped your lips around him, taking him whole into your mouth making your motions achingly slow for him. Earning another groan from him, he tightened his grip on your hair, earning a hiss from you as you started to pick the pace up, bobbing your head up and down while using your hand to stroke what you couldn’t fit into your mouth.

“Fuck, Y/N…” His head rolled back as you looked up at him. You hummed contently, sending a shock of vibrations through him nearing him closer as you continued to lap your tongue around his length.

“Fuck, if you keep doing that I’m not going to last long.” He pulled away from you, a string of your saliva trailing from your mouth and his cock. You frowned, as he looked down at you.

“Mama, if I don’t have a taste of you right now…” He chuckled softly, picking you up and placing you on the bed softly. You helped him get rid of your clothing, as he stripped himself of one last final piece of clothing.

You smiled softly, resting against the thick duvet beneath you. Josh crawled above you, kissing your lips softly and trailing wet hot kisses down your neck, chest, and abdomen. Your hands found their way into his now dry stated curls.

He nestled between your legs, feeling his breath against where you wanted him so badly. He licked an agonizingly slow stripe, earning a jolt and whine from you. “Don’t tease…”

“You get what I give you, but my baby always gets what she wants? Doesn’t she?” He looked up at you smirking softly, before diving back in with consistent kitty-like licks. Your thighs gently wrapped around his face as he started to eat you out like a starved man. You couldn’t help the whimpers that left your mouth.

Josh then slipped a finger into you, toying with you as he set a pace for himself as he drowned himself in your arousal. “Josh…” His name rolled off your tongue like a mantra. He buried his face into your cunt, his licks becoming stronger pointing his tongue as he sucked on your clit. You gripped his curls tighter in your hands, earning a groan from him.

He started to shake his head fervently as he lapped at you, inserting another digit into you. Pumping them in and out at a strong pace hitting that spot you so desperately wanted him at, making your body arch off of the mattress.

You felt yourself close to coming undone, you started to praise him as you came closer to the edge. He pulled you closer to his face by your hips, earning a yelp from you. He continued to work, flicking his tongue and licking up every inch of you causing the rubberband in you to snap. Your legs shook violently around him, as he basked in your arousal.

Breathing heavily as you came down from your orgasm. He pulled away, crawling on top of you. He smiled at you, you giggled softly seeing the mess you made on his face. “You always taste so sweet…” He pulled your face to his kissing you roughly making you taste yourself.

You were getting impatient with him, wanting him to already be inside of you. “Please Josh… I need you inside of me.” You stroked him slowly, helping line him up with your entrance. He gently pushed into you, the both of you groaning from the contact.

“Like fucking velvet…” He moaned against the shell of your ear, as you wrapped your arms around his back pulling him closer to you. He started to slowly rock his hips into you, his one hand placed on your hip while the other gripped the headboard.

Running your hands up and down his back, feeling his muscles flex beneath your touch as he kept thrusting into you with slow languid strokes. Moans slipped your lips, as he brought his face close to yours, his eyes meeting yours. He kissed your lips passionately, as he continued to pick up the pace feeling him stretch you out making himself home again.

A gasp came out, as Josh picked up the tempo earning a grin from him. He moved back a bit to sit against his heels as he placed your legs over his shoulders, earning him a deeper angle.

“Oh my, right there-“ You moaned, as your hands reached out to grab a hold of his. He smiled softly, kissing your hands as he interlaced them together. He then placed his one hand below your navel, pressing lightly as he thrusted into you.

“You feel me… Right here, mama?” His eyes rolled back, as you clenched around him.

“Yesyesyes���.” It rolled off of your tongue, you were drunk off of him. Letting him take what was rightfully his. “Don’t fucking stop…” You let out a pornagraphic moan, that would be sure to wake the neighbors if you had any…

He eventually pulled out of you, tapping your legs softly. “On all fours…” He kissed your lips roughly, before letting you get in the position he had told you.

Once you were settled, he rammed right back into you. Earning a yelp from you, he gripped your hips with his soft strong hands. You felt yourself nearing another orgasm, as your legs started to feel like jello. It had been so long since you and Josh had last been together like this.

“Y/N, you keep doing that I won’t last much longer…” He groaned softly, as his hips slowly faltered.

“Josh… I’m s-so close…” You moaned out gripping the bed sheets.

“I am too baby…” He kept fucking you at a relentless pace, hitting your gspot every time. Making you see stars as he did. Earning nothing but everlasting whines from you.

Josh then grabbed you by the neck pulling your back flush against his chest. “C’mon Mama…make some noise for me while I’m filling your pussy up with my cum.”

Those words sent you seeing white, as you came undone around his cock. You were sure the noises leaving your mouth would make people turn their heads in ways thinking you were being manhandled. Suddenly you felt him twitching as he filled you up with his release.

He pulled out slowly, earning a whine from you. As you turned to lay on your back, he laid down next to you. Pulling you close to him, as you cuddled into him.

“So, perhaps I should wear these sweatpants in the house more often?” He chuckled playing with your hair gently.

“I mean, you could walk around the house naked too… I wouldn’t complain.” You giggled softly.

“You want me to run you a bath?” He kissed your cheek gently.

“No… I just wanna lay here with you.” You kissed his lips softly.

“I love you…”

“I love you too…” You smiled softly before sleep overcame you. You would deal with cleaning the sheets tomorrow morning, as they were bound to be ruined again anyways.

.

.

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Taglist-

@lyndszee @fkfearandliveyourlegend @starcatcherry @hi-hi-hello11 @gvfmuse @meetingthestardust @myleftsock @thunderstomp-and-tequila @sinsofstardust @vanillabear27 @dharma-divine33 @holybananafuck @thecoldwind @gretasfallingsky @char289

[harlowtales]

Y/N feels trapped with a baby on the way and Jack distances himself to think

18 Plus Only - Adult Themes and Content

Nobody knew you were pregnant yet. You asked Jack to wait to even tell his family as it had just passed 3months and you didn’t want to jinx it. He was being super paranoid not letting you do anything, and barely go anywhere. He was hyper about germs and the cleaning lady had to be extra careful about how she disinfected every surface.

“Baby come on wash your fucking hands” Jack said one day exasperated and whipping out wipes to wipe your fingers like a child.

“Jack I can lick my fingers I’m at home.” You shot back with your mouth full of popcorn. “Hey when are we going out tonight?” You asked casually assuming you would be going to The Hub with your fiancée and asking to see what time you should get ready. Pregnancy was already making you more tired than usual and you wanted to take a nap before you left.

“Uhh WE?” Jack asked you back

“Yes. When are we leaving?” You repeated

“Baby.” Jack said calmly and sat down looking you in the eye “You won’t be going.”

“What??” You fumed “What the fu…” you firmly clamped your mouth as Jack was trying to not swear around the future baby.

He shot you a disapproving glance. “Please babe, stay home from now on k? Can’t have you in the mix anymore.” Jack explained and thought that would be that with a kiss on your forehead.

“Oh the fuck I’m not going. I’m not sitting home pregnant while you go out and girls seeing you ALONE?? Are you mental?” You raged.

“You don’t go on tour with me and I behave” Jack said to his credit. “You trust me I know you do. You just want to party.”

“No…um not true.” You said as he caught you in your true motives. You loved being out and hanging with everyone. “C’mon baby…Pleaaaassee” You begged flashing your megawatt smile and fluttering your eyelashes.

“That ain’t gone work.” Jack said sternly

“What about this.” You said going down on your knees and starting to pull down his sweatpants.

“Ok baby stop. You’d suck dick to get to go?” Jack said laughing.

“I’m going to be trapped for months after the baby is born.” You said pouting to which Jack finally relented.

“Ok mama you can go.” He said “But I’ll take a rain check on that sloppy toppy, I got some stuff to do before we leave.”

You took a nap and woke up around 6PM to get ready to go. Excitedly you texted your friends Jack actually said yes. You were only slightly showing with a hint of a bump. Most people had no idea you were pregnant, and you weren’t a heavy drinker so the fact that you turned down alcohol the last few weeks didn’t raise any eyebrows either. Urban knew and a couple of Jack’s friends who did security for him when he went out. This was to ensure you had extra protection.

You put your hair up in a ponytail with a longer extension for fun and put on a jumpsuit that wasn’t too tight to give the secret away. To go to the Hub you didn’t have to dress up. Jack thought you looked adorable which got him going even more than you looking ultra sexy.

“Mmmm” he said looking you up and down and pulling you close. “Can I jump in your jumper with you?”

“You passed on a blow job remember?” You reminded him as he kissed you.

Just then your driver and security buzzed up, it was time to go have fun one last time.

The energy of the club is what you needed. You dodged Jack and his friends successfully until the club started getting full. Jack sent Timo to hunt you down and bring you to where he was heading to behind “the wall”. “The wall” was the literal wall Jack’s friends formed in front of him when he went out to clubs so no random people could get too close to him.

Unfortunately for you who had just been convinced by your friends (who didn’t know you were 3 mos pregnant) to dance on the bar and you took the challenge, not because you were drunk but because you just wanted one last crazy thing to do.

“Whooo!! Go Y/N!!” They encouraged you as you twerked a little sticking your tongue out with plans to come down right away but Timo caught you and Jack spotted you texting Timo furiously “BRO TELL HER TO GET DAFUQ DOWN!” Jack texted in all angry caps.

You were in the process of coming down when you met Timo face to face as you touched the ground with his help. “Y/N! You are in trouble young lady.” He said sternly “Come with me.” He said taking you by the arm and whisking you off to where Jack was waiting beet red. You looked back at your friends who felt guilty for egging you on.

“Don’t” Jack said turning his head away as you went up on your tipi toes for a kiss. “I can’t even talk to you right now.”

“It’s called having fun old man.” You snapped “ I went up there on a dare for 2 mins”

“Can you act like a mother for 2 fucking seconds?” Jack angrily whispered. People nearby were trying to hear what was going on but fortunately the thundering bass drowned him out.

“Maybe I would act more like a mom if I wasn’t trapped!” You shot back hurting Jack deeply. All he had been doing was protecting you. He said nothing in return and sipped on his water to calm down. He reasoned you were being emotional given you were pregnant.

“Ok fine. 2 can play this ignoring game.” You said to him to which he pretended not to hear knowing it drove you nuts.

“Ok girly let’s go to the bathroom.” Urban’s girlfriend said taking you away to talk about what was going on with you. It was not like you to be so irresponsible. For once she agreed with Jack. “What’s going on mama?” Azura said kindly hugging you.

“He tells me what to do CONSTANTLY!” You said bursting into tears.

“He does always tell you what to do. Jack is like a stern father, I don’t know how you stand it.” Azura said trying to influence you to jump to Jack’s defence. Her and Urban had just got back together and she didn’t want to see you go through fighting with Jack while pregnant.

“Jack is not a stick in the mud” You said in his defence which Azura knew you would. “He is just trying to…oh I see what you’re doing. Nice one, making me realize my man just wants the best for me and his baby and maybe dancing on a bar is a bad idea.”

“Bingo!! You catch on quick” Azura said sarcastically making you laugh.

“Ok girl let me go apologize to my man.” You said feeling horrible for how you had spoken to Jack.

He was vibing in a corner not talking to anyone. The way you had acted had him down. He had fulfilled his obligation to appear at the club so he was just waiting for you to get out of the bathroom so the both of you could go home. He should have stuck to his guns and made you stay back. Now gossip blogs were going to be reporting about your 5 secs dancing on the bar and the obvious argument the two of you had. When they did the math months later and found out you were pregnant when you were up there, it’s going to be a mini-disaster.

“Ready? We’re leaving early, I have an early morning.” Jack lied.

“Baby…Jackman” You said reaching up to turn his sulking face to yours “I will never do anything like that again. I love you”

“Babe…no come on” He said avoiding your kiss as you reached around his neck to pull him down to you. He was really irritated and sad. It took you by surprise that you couldn’t work your magic and smooth it over. Urban and Azura exchanged concerned glances as you and Jack made your exit.

He was silent all the way home which thankfully wasn’t far from the condo. It was so awkward. When you got back you didn’t push him to talk to you and got ready for bed. Usually by now you guys would be joking again already. Jack didn’t come to bed with you. He sat in his studio room listening to a beat on loop with a pen and pad out. You tossed and turned while you heard the muffled beat through the bedroom walls. When you tipi toed into the studio you found him laying on the floor staring at the ceiling like he often did when he felt depression setting in. There was a whole bunch of scrunched up balls of paper that he had missed the waste paper basket with.

You said nothing and laid down on the floor in the same position next to him. At first he didn’t notice you and then glanced over but maintained his silence. You took a chance and reached out to hold his hand. He took it slowly and held it gently giving you a sense of relief. “Nice beat.” You said quietly

“Thanks. Clay made it.” He said expressionless

“Writer’s block?” You asked referencing all the crumpled up paper on the floor.

“Um sort of” He said turning to you propped up on his elbow “Do you believe in destiny baby?”

“To a degree. I’m not sure.” You said honestly turning to him. “Why?”

“I dreamt you and then I met you.” He said with a whimsical smile taking you by surprise and giving you tingles. “And now you have a part of me inside of you. We’re bonded forever now. Do you understand that means everything to me?”

“Not until now. I…I have felt trapped and sometimes…replaceable.” You said blinking to hold back tears coming.

“I could never do better than you.” Jack said moving closer and kissing you passionately. “Will you just trust that I always mean to do right by you?”

“Yes Jack I will.” You nodded as tears started to fall down your cheeks and he wiped them.

“I will always be here for this moment and wipe every tear as it falls.” He vowed in a near whisper. That’s it!! He said suddenly making you jump. “That’s the song! I’m unstuck! Thank you baby.” Jack said kissing you roughly on the head and leaping up to grab his pen and pad.

“Happy to help.” You said sarcastically “Don’t stay up too late.” You said yawning and heading to bed.

“Oh I’m coming to get some don’t worry” he said looking at your ass in your pyjama pants as you walked away.

@itsyagirljaz @okaaay-mice

[dreamwatch]

Disenchanted Lullaby

Written for @corrodedcoffinfest

Day #16 - Prompt: Struggling | Word Count: 1000 | Rating: T | CW: depression, chronic pain, referenced drug use | POV: Eddie | Pairing: None | Tags: Eddie Munson, slice of life, introspection, the comedown after touring, loneliness, ennui

In all my universes Eddie has Bipolar type 2. Make of that what you will. :)

Technically no pairing... technically...

Eddie opens the apartment door, a rush of stale air meeting him in the hallway. He steps inside and drops his bag, toeing his sneakers off. The curtains are still closed, dust motes decorating the room; there are upturned dishes by the sink that are long since dried. The sofa is a mess of clothes and books, discarded when he was packing. The place is just as he left it four months ago.

He sorts through weeks of unread mail, bills on one pile, junk on another. Starts a third pile when he recognises the handwriting on some letters; Dustin, Mike. Steve. He sticks that one into a pile of it’s own. No overdue notices because he cut off the cable and sent checks from the road for the rent and utilities. Probably confused the hell out of them with all the different post marks.

There’s a lingering smell of himself in the bedroom, an echo of him, and he wishes he’d changed the bedding before he left for the tour. He unpacks his bag, checking for clean clothes, but there’s road-stink on everything so he takes it all down to the laundry, trying to get four months of sweat and cigarettes out of the fabric.

He had the good sense to empty the fridge before he left; he forgot once and came home to find food so rotten it was almost sentient. But that means he has nothing to eat. He’s been living off pizza and Taco Bell for sixteen weeks; there was a venue in Denver that gave them fruit and vegetables among the usual subs and pizzas. He never realised eating a carrot could be a spiritual experience.

The aisles of the local supermarket are filled with women and their offspring, an old lady hits the back of his bad leg with her trolley, doesn’t even say sorry. 

The harsh fluorescent strip light flickers above him as he stares at the deli meats. There’s fifty cents off pastrami. He needs to get bread. 

The strip light hums. 

Maybe some mayo. Should definitely get some oranges. 

“Sir?”

He blinks and looks as the girl behind the checkout.

“Sorry, what…?”

She sighs. “$26.55.”

“Right. Yeah, sure.”

He hands over three tens and walks out as fast as he can. As he loads up the car he notices the twin six packs of PBR at the bottom of the trolley.

The stairs finish off the job the old lady started, he feels flayed and raw, but he ran out of Vicodin about eight shows back. The apartment is quiet enough that he can hear the whistling of his tinnitus. He thinks about calling Wayne but it’s lunchtime in Indiana and the old man will be sleeping. He’ll catch him another time.

He’s in pain and exhausted, so he slides out of his jeans, climbs on top of the dirty bed and sleeps.

Wayne used to say that his mother ‘suffered with her nerves’, and Eddie could never make any sense of that until he started high school. They didn’t see it for what it was at first, teenage boys and their angry moods, but Wayne recognised it eventually. Eddie’s been on and off meds ever since.

Right now he’s off. But they numb him, dial him down when he needs to be dialled up, so he doesn’t take them when he tours. It’s not smart; the last few weeks he’s felt it creep back, insidious tendrils grabbing him, pulling him down. His ‘nerves’. He needs to call his doctor.

It’s amazing how many people think everyone in a band lives together like The Monkees, all trapped in one big house. They did, when they first moved to Indy and found a two bedroom shitbox. Now, though, they can’t wait to get the fuck away from each other the second the tour ends. Weeks trapped on a bus with no privacy and very little hygiene doesn’t do much for long term friendships. By the end any camaraderie has begun to curdle. 

Gareth and Matt live with their girlfriends now, Jeff with his wife and baby. They have solid families, good reasons to not be in the same room as one another until they have to get back into the studio. Eddie has his books, his records and a television set. He considered getting a dog for company but there’s nobody to look after it when he inevitably goes back out on the road.

He doesn’t verbalise it because it’s painful to admit, even to himself, but he’s lonely. He made some friends in LA, just for him, never to be shared. An actual boyfriend once. Or maybe just a lover, Eddie’s never sure where the line started and ended. But he has a habit of pushing people away, doesn’t even know why he does it. Hurts just to hurt.

He glances at the letters on the table. The letter from Steve. 

The red light of the answerphone blinks at him, telling him the tape is full.

He sits down with a beer and a bag of pretzels and switches the television on, flicking through the channels until he finds the Wheel of Fortune; he and Wayne used to watch that together. 

He really should call Wayne.

It’s nearly eight o’clock. He’d have finished his vocal warm up by now, finished his stretches, gone for a piss before drinking more water, drinking more beer, finishing up with a line of something. Roadie hands him his guitar, the black Flying V, he runs some scales. Hears the chanting as the crowd get antsy while their techs do the last mic check and clear the stage. Jeff is always first so the wall of sound has already built before Eddie walks out. A crushing roar that rumbles deep in his chest before he even strikes the first chord.

The crowd applaud as Gary from Sioux Falls solves the phrase: There’s No Place Like Home.

Eddie gets up for another beer. Comes back with two.

[sigynpenniman]

AIRPORT TIERLIST OF AIRPORTS I’VE BEEN THROUGH FROM SOMEONE WHO FUCKING LOVES AIRPORTS

S TIER:

- MCO Orlando. My love my queen. Platonic ideal of airports. All the other airports wanna be her.

- MSY New Orleans - I have only seen your beautiful face once but your vibes were just impeccable. I miss you beautiful

A TIER:

- LHR London Heathrow - you’re so chill and sweet to be such a major airport. Weirdly calming somehow. Sterile, but the big boy of London airports. When you’re here you’re in London. Smells like joy.

- CDG Charles DeGaulle Paris. Dripping in stunning retro futurism and has a Concorde on stands by the runway. We love her

- DCA Ronald Reagan Washington DC. So pretty. So clean. So easy to navigate. Prevented from S tier status by being one long skinny thing with no way to get quickly across it.

B TIER:

- DEN Denver Colorado. Architecture for the gods but somehow the vibes are off. I’d fly through you again happily but I don’t feel especially warm when I think of you.

- FLL Fort Lauderdale - Hollywood. You’re permanently attached to very warm memories for me because of the trip I took from you but you’re just kind of there. Vibes are off. Meh.

- ORD Chicago O’hare. Aesthetic perfection but weirdly stressful. While I had a great time on this trip I do not think warmly of the airport other than the rainbow lighting. Jules got yelled at here. -10 points.

- CLE Cleveland Ohio. Another airport that is home of warm memories due to loved ones but just really not the vibe as an airport.

C TIER:

- LGW London Gatwick. I don’t like you for no reason. Like a disappointment, you’re in London but not at Heathrow for some reason.

- PHL Philadelphia. Again, weird aimless dislike. I cannot justify.

- BNA Nashville. Meh. Fine, which may be the worst insult I can lob at an airport.

D TIER:

- LGA New York LaGaurdia. Fuck you and your tiny spirit terminal in the middle of nowhere and your hard to access rental cars and your poor road signage that sent me round and round on the New York interstate in my rented Corolla. The bigger terminals are pretty though, and anyway. New York City!

E TIER:

JAX Jacksonville. Ew.

F TIER:

BOS Boston Logan International Airport. I loathe you. Less busy numerically than ATL and yet somehow even more spread out. Signage is bad. Directions unclear. Nothing makes sense in this alternate reality. Labyrinthine building designed by the god Hades. Never again would be too soon.

UNTIERABLE:

ATL - Hartsfield Jackson Atlanta. The biggest and busiest airport in the world. When you buy a ticket on Delta a box pops up that says “by buying this ticket you agree to see the inside of Hartsfield Jackson Airport.” Not actually a real place, but a floating parallel dimensional space you enter when you walk through the doors. When you get off the Plane Train at terminal D a sign to the left points down a hallway and says “Walk to Terminal E. Time: 45 minutes.” Bigger than many cities and some European principalities. And sometimes you’ll be forced to run clear across it when your gate gets changed. Send every domestic flight that goes near it and many that don’t through it for a completely unnecessary 45 minute layover and sautée until golden brown to birth this unholy god of a space outside all time. They have CPR training machines. They have bathrooms too rarely. They have a whole other airport underneath for international transfers. Don’t die before you see it. Everyone should, at least once. 🎶Welcome Aboard the Plane Train!🎶 next stop: the 4th circle of hell. Walk to purgatory: 45 minutes. Moving sidewalk out of order.

[equallyshaw]

the one where - | nico hischier

─ nico x erik johnson oc sister

warnings: swearing, anxiety attack. angst, thats all i can say. a bit slow burning as well. sexual themes at end, but its like pg.

word count: 5.8K

shoe link.

dress link.

clutch link.

second outfit.

─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──

the first time they met.

miranda stepped into the prudential arena for the first time since she had been hired by the management team. she followed the team assistant that had been waiting for her as soon as she walked into the staff wing, and the two made their way up to her office than she would be getting a personal tour of the arena. miranda johnson was hired as as the devils second in command to their head psychologist, thought she was hired for the social worker aspect. "is it true your erik johnsons little sister?" the assistant asked and the girl nodded towards the older girl. "yep unfortuntly." miranda hummed causing the blonde girl to giggle. "i have an older brother too- id like to kill him sometimes." and miranda laughed. "oh good lord, i want to sometimes as well. sometimes they need their lives threatened every once in a while." miranda joked as casey opened her office door.

four walls covered with grey paint, a desk, small leather couch, mini fridge, a tv, some fake succulents and a desktop computer filled the room. "home sweet home." miranda said softly, setting her bag down under the desk. "lets head down to the ice, I'm sure its different then denver." casey smiled and miranda grinned. "well for starters yall have no mountains." miranda joked. miranda had done her undergraduate and graduate degree at the university of denver, and as soon as her brother was traded she no longer wanted to be in denver. so she headed out to the east coast, looking for different jobs in the new york area and came across the devils. match made in heaven she thought, doing what she loved and working within the sport she adored. the two headed down talking about jersey and the team themselves, "i would say the captain does a great job of keeping the team together but he's also younger so sometimes it doesn't always work out." casey explained and miranda nodded. "good to know." she hummed, now walking down to the bench. the ice was clean, patiently waiting for the players. they sat on the bench taking in the quietness of the arena. "it definitely is different than ball arena." miranda commented, with slight sadness in her voice. the two spoke about the team, the coach and anything else casey had to say. they stood up just as some of the players began to filter out. "casey!" the boys said as they noticed the girls. they smiled at miranda before stepping out on the ice, and then nico stepped out. "hi casey!" he said and then stalled seeing the dark haired girl. casey noticed him trying to figure out who miranda was as she watched the players skate around. "oh this is miranda johnson, the new social worker we just hired for the team!" casey explained and miranda was pulled out of her trance and turned to look at nico. "miranda johnson, nice to meet you..." she trailed off as she held out her hand. he took off his glove and held out his hand, "nico hischier, captain." and she nodded before pulling back her hand. "hopefully we arent too much work." he joked and she waved him off, "nothing i cant handle." she smiled and he chuckled softly. "let me know if that's the case in a...week." he joked before stepping onto the ice. miranda looked at casey, "you're gonna hate jack hughes in a week." casey joked causing miranda to smile respectfully. "trust me, you will..." casey added, before the two headed back upstairs.

°

the time she ended up at his place. and one where she got fired.

it was saturday night, before a early afternoon game between her brother and the devils in jersey. she had been with the devils for about two months already and was enjoying her time, and most definitely understanding the chatter (mostly harmless) around jack hughes. he definitely had a lot to say, and most of the time it was just drama he wanted to talk about. she had to remind him many times, that she was a mental health professional not somebody who talked about drama all day everyday. he still came around, to do just that. but she enjoyed getting to know the other players and some of their wives, all of them wanting to meet the person on the team who had been knocking some sense into their men and who was making progress. like real progress. and creating an environment that made the team, staff, and everybody who came across her safe.

she smoothed down her black mini dress and stepped into her baby blue heels, making sure everything looked good before she left her apartment. she quickly made her way down to her car, sliding in and letting erik she was on her way. about 35 minutes later, she pulled up to the Italian restaurant in lower manhattan and pulled up to valet, letting them pull her car around back. she made her way in and greeted the hostess, and they took her towards her brother. "bean!" he said wrapping his arms around her 5'5 frame. "hi bear." she smiled, taking in the hug she had missed the most. they parted, and he pulled out the chair for his sister and she thanked him. "so tell me about jersey, how is it?" he asked as she sipped the wine he had ordered for the two. she smiled, "its good! i've pretty much have found my groove with everybody. i think they're really taking to my style of work and i think the way everybody has responded to it has been good. though." she paused giggling, "there is one guy that quite literally just wants to gossip with me, he knows my role and stuff but just wants to gossip. half the time its funny shit but others its like serious and so i tell him he cant go around blabbing his mouth but i know he doesn't listen." she said and ej laughed. "hows buffalo though, hows josty?" she questioned, a small smile forming on her soft pink lips. ej laughed, "he's great! he's happy to have me on the team...y'know he still asks about you." ej said grinning and miranda rolled her eyes. "last time i checked..isn't he the one that said we couldn't be together after he was traded? that he didn't want to do long distance?" she smirked, quirking an eyebrow. he shrugged, "i think because im now there, he realizes how much he's missed having a johnson in his life." he said with a toothy smile. she rolled her eyes, "alright big bear." she hummed.

_

as the dinner progressed, miranda's phone hadn't stopped vibrating in her clutch that sat next to her. erik took notice of it, but did not say anything at first. "hey randy, you wanna check your phone?" he asked slirping spaghetti in his mouth. her eyebrows creased in confusion, and she pulled out her phone to see multiple messages from nico as well as a few phone calls. she read the messages, nico clearly in some sort of distress. "do you need to take it?" ej asked and she looked up at him, "its one of the players." she said looking back down debating if she wanted to call or text. she chose the latter,

miranda: you ok?

nico: i dont know whats happening

miranda: whats going on? are you hurt? do you need an ambulance or me to call somebody?

nico: thats why i was calling you. my chest hurts, i cant breathe.

miranda sighed knowing what was happening.

miranda: do you need me to call?

nico: can you come over? i need to talk face to face with whatever this is

miranda thought long and hard, before looking back up at erik. "one of the players needs me to come to his place and i-i don't know." she paused to bite her lip, thinking if ethically she could. "ej-im sorry." she said looking up at him but he waved her off. "your job calls, don't worry randy. go, ill take care of the bill. ill see you tomorrow." he said standing up to hug the girl. the big bear wrapped his arms around her, kissing her head before they pulled apart. "ill let you know when i get home!" she said before taking off towards valet. she texted nico, asking for his address and he responded quickly. back to jersey.

_

she knocked on the highrise apartment, alerting the swiss inside. he stood up and dragged his feet towards the door and as soon as she saw the state of nico; she knew she was in for a long night. he opened the door wider for her, and she took in the surroundings. clean, crisp, and sleek, she thought. she turned around to face nico, keeping a bit of distant between the two. he took in her attire and then looked at her. "were you on a date?" he questioned, with somewhat of a distaste in his mouth. she shook her head, "no i was out with my brother. him and buffalo just got in." she said and he was confused. "my brother is erik johnson." and then nico's eyes went wide. "i had no idea, I'm so sorry!" he said feeling bad, his anxiety rising even more. she shook her head, "no no, its ok! i just want to make sure you are ok nico. whats going on?" she asked softly. he closed his eyes and sighed. she took in his composure and his inability to relax. may it be because he's the captain and he feels as if he can't show any weakness or maybe its pride. "take your time nico, you don't need to spit it out all at once i promise. whatever you feel comfortable with." she said trying to gage his reaction. he nodded, reopening his eyes, and looked towards the kitchen. "would you like some water?" he asked shooting himself in the foot, calling himself stupid for not asking it to begin with. "sure, ofcourse, thankyou." she said following him towards the kitchen now. she could tell that it was eating him up inside, and knew at some point she'd need to inquire about it. but tonight was not the night. she sat down at the island counter, and he pulled out a bottle of water for himself and her.

"how are you feeling right now nico?" she asked sipping a bit before setting it back down. he shrugged, "i feel a bit better, after you said you were coming i kind of calmed down a bit but my mind wont st-stop racing. which is causing my to be nervous about something, i have no idea." he rambled as bit and she nodded. "what are the thoughts you're having? are they about hockey, personal things, family?" she asked tilting her head to the side just a bit. he bit his lip, "its-its nothing." he said closing off, and she nodded "okay. in order for this to work nico and to understand more of why you called me, can you explain a bit about how you were feeling earlier?" she questioned, treading water. he was either going to answer it or retaliate and get upset. he sighed, "it felt like i had a weight on my chest or something, i couldn't breathe. my breathing was fast and shallow, i was sweating..i-i cried a bit." he said looking down at the ground. "I've never had that happen before though, it was a shock and so that made it worse." he said looking up at miranda. "well it is completely normal, nico. i can assure you that. sometimes our bodies can not always tolerate or compensate our anxiety. thus, leading to anxiety attacks. so we have chills, the sweats, overwhelming thoughts for various reasons. could be from work, could be our family or personal life or it can just be triggered for no apparent reason." miranda explained and nico nodded. "i don't want you to feel as if its wrong or that it means you are weak, because that is far from the truth. i like to say that when people have an anxiety or panic attack, it shows how strong mentally we are because to get to the point of an attack we would have had to gone through so much turmoil mentally and emotionally. and sometimes the only release is for those to happen. to think of how much you might have been taking on and that is remarkable in itself. besides, having an anxiety attack makes humans more resilient." and that made nico relax just a bit.

"well good thing you said that, i was feeling like a freak over here." he said cracking a small smile. she nodded, "yeah no, you are from a sneak i can assure you. if its considered to be a freak, then call me one. i don't wanna feel left out." she hummed, "you've had them before?" nico asked quickly. she nodded after realizing what she had said and the fact that she shared personal info, "uh yes. I've had them throughout my childhood and adolescence. its gotten better over my young adult years but i still get them occasionally. especially when i feel like a fraud at work or in my personal life." she said shrugging. "a fraud?" he questioned, moving towards the kitchen island and resting his elbows on it, their hands now only inches away from one another. she nodded, "yes. i believe and feel as if i don't belong where i have ended up. i believe that i don't know enough, have enough experience for the work i do. and then i don't feel as if i deserve the friends i have, especially the ones i made back in denver. I've always thought that if they did not know my brother, they wouldn't give me a second look." she said shrugging before she took some sips of water.

nico took in that information and his heart broke just a bit, she didn't understand what a god send she was. how kind, open hearted, always willing to help in any way she could and on top of that, she was hilarious. always had a joke or two to cheer up some of the guys. he didn't like how she sold herself short over friendships. "i don't buy that for one second." he said, "the friends part. you're pretty rad miranda." he hummed and she felt her cheeks heat up just a bit. "oh really? i guess ill add that to my case file." she said laughing, and nico chuckled softly with a smile forming.

"what do you like to do to relieve any stress or anxiety?" she asked, trying to regain focus on why she was here. he shrugged, "does hockey count?" he asked genuinely. she nodded, "ofcourse but that is also your job. so anything else that you do outside of work would be a good place to start." she said and he nodded. "i uh like to hang with the guys, um i read a bit, i like to workout and play video games." he said, "but i don't know if those count." he said but she nodded anyways. "ofcourse! anything you do to distract yourself in a healthy way and relieve stress are coping skills, the ones you have are great nico!" she said smiling and he nodded, mirroring hers. "i would stick with those but would not limit yourself to just those. there are so many out there, i can definitely offer some others when i go back into the office monday." she offered and he nodded.

"thankyou, i definitely am feeling much better now. you've relieved a lot of anxiety i had tonight, by just talking and listening to me." he stated and she nodded. "I'm glad nico, i find that talking about things in a safe place can do wonders. and having somebody understand you as well can be beneficial. would you like to come see at some point this week?" she questioned and he nodded. "yeah id like that." he said smiling. the smile he gave everybody closest to him. "great, ill send out a few times for you and we can go from there." she said standing up. he nodded, again taking in her outfit. "sorry, i came right from manhattan so i didn't have time to change." she said feeling self conscious, "nonsense..you look uh, you look really nice." he said. really nice? oh my god, he thought. "well uh thankyou nico, ill see you monday. text me if you need anything else." she said praying to the universe to get out of there as quick as possible. he nodded her walking her back to the front door, he thanked her once more and she slipped out.

_

she woke up the next morning to a text from her boss, stating the he needed to see her in the office today. she groaned as she stood up, her body feeling the effects of only getting 6 hours of sleep. she quickly got ready and stopped at starbucks before heading over there. when she walked into the arena, some of the players had just begun to arrive. she slipped between arena personal trying to get to her office. once she opened it, she saw nico sitting in one of the seat two seats in front of her desk. "ah hi nico, how can i help you?" she questioned setting her bag down under her desk and sitting down. "i wanted to apologize for calling you over last night. it was way outta line and it shouldn't have happened." he said feeling remorseful and guilty for the reprimand she was about to get, "oh uh, no problem nico. its all good." she said trying to reassure him but she could tell that by the look in his eye, it was not. "i have to go see larry, ill stop by and talk to you guys soon. just check in." she said as they both stood up. he only nodded before walking out. she sighed, placing her hands on her hips. what did all this mean? she did not have time to ponder anymore because larry knocked on the door. "hi larry! what did you want to speak about?" she questioned, her hand raising for him to sit down in front of her. he sat down sighing, not sure of how to say what he was about to say. "you're fired miss johnson, i'm sorry i have to do this. but you are not permitted to treat players at their residences." larry said feeling horrible, he really liked miranda but nobody from upper management liked that she did what she did. "wait-what? he was having a crisis! i went over there, besides. nobody wanted to tell me this, tell me what i cannot do?" she said as her heart beat began to rise. he shook his head, "it was in your contract." he stated and she shook her head. "larry excuse my language, but what the fuck? it was not!" she said taking out the contract she kept in her desk. she threw it on the table before them, "you no what no. I'm taking this." she said snatching it up and putting it in her bag. "seriously larry what the fuck. fuck you." she said angrily. she hoisted her bag up and threw open the door, and made her way down the hallway toward her car.

"miranda!" he screamed but she didnt budge. she continued walking faster now, weaving in and out of people. she sighed knowing that she was about to pass the lockerroom and most likely a group of guys playing soccer. "miranda!" larry yelled again, gaining some attention from people. "don't you fucking say another word larry. you guys will be hearing from my lawyer." she spat as she turned around to face him. larry froze taking in the words, and knew she was serious. the group of players looked up as soon as she had said that. all of them confused and looking at one another. she shook her head turning around and continued towards the exit. larry stood there shocked, and mentally panicking. they did not need a scandal to get out, and he quickly made his way out to find somebody in upper management.

°

the one where she confronts nico.

she sat at the bar, sitting next to a friend she had made in her time here in jersey. "i cant believe they didn't even give you a warning! fuck them, I'm never supporting them ever again." molly spat, and miranda chuckled. the two had had there fair share of cocktails the past 2 hours as they conversed. "but that means you can come work with me!" molly added causing the dark brunette to giggle. "we'll see. I'm sure erik would want me to come to buffalo." she sighed. "or ill go back to denver." she said shrugging. molly nodded before swearing, "you are fucking kidding me." she growled seeing some of the devils players walk in. miranda followed her eye sight before the taste of vile hit her throat. "fuck off." she mumbled, pinching her nose. "lets go." molly said looking at her phone calling an uber. "yes lets." miranda sighed, "lets head outside it'll be five minutes." molly said and they both stood up. as they began their dissent out, nico took notice of the dark haired girl. he immediately felt guilty and a sense of dread washed over him. "isn't that-" jack didn't even finish his sentence before nico was off to go talk to the girl. molly and miranda held hands as they filtered their way through and miranda felt a tap on her shoulder as they were close to the door. she turned around and looked up at nico. "oh no not you." she growled but he wouldn't let her leave that quickly. "wait miranda!" he said but she was not in the mood. "what do you have to say nico, huh? wanna let everybody else in the world know that i came to your place last night to talk? huh! you wanna tell explain to them that that was the only reason why i came over? you wanna tell management that that was all that happened? because they think other stuff happened and i'm you know quite disappointed in you, being the captain and all. let me know if you need some help, i know a great captain that can help you out if you need it." she seethed, molly and the rest of the team taking in the interaction between the two. nico felt like an ass watching her as she walked out. he felt like an idiot too for telling a trainer that they had seen each other last night. not thinking anything of it when they asked what he did over the two day break.

°

the one where nico apologizes.

miranda was back in denver by new years, taking on a new position with the denver hospital. she would be working in case management and was happy to be back with her friends and the organization that adored her. she worked part time for the avalanche, after nathan mackinnon begged for her to come on for the rest of the season. he accredited some of his work these past few years to her. even if she was just a student at the time, her advice had helped tremendously. it was right before all star break when the devils came into town and she was dreading the game. she stood down near the entrances that the players used to get to the lockerroom. she was chatting with the head sports psychologist about a research article they'd both read in the past when nico saw the girl. she did not notice him at first but when she heard jack, she knew that the devils were arriving. she turned to look when she heard the whiney voice call her name. barabra the psychologist laughed and then bid her goodbye until after the game. "if it isn't mr hughes." she said crossing her arms, "oh it is me johnson. I'm sure you've missed our gossip sessions." he said cheekily, smiling widely. she rolled her eyes, "not in the slightest, bud." she said smiling just a bit. he grabbed his chest where his heart was, "that hurts." he said causing her to giggle. she saw luke walk in and she smiled to him and he waved back with one. "hows luke doing?" she asked the older brother, and he shrugged. "taking it one game at a time. day by day." and she smiled. "well good, im glad." she hummed. nico stood by jack, waiting to continue their walk together but also hoped there would be a chance to apologize. "well jack, good luck with the game." she said bidding her farewell. he nodded, saluting her briefly before turning back around. as miranda was about to take off, she heard her name. "miranda!" nico called out, his thick swiss german accent sending shivers down her spine. she sighed stopping and turned around, "yes?" she asked curtly. "can we talk..in private?" he asked and she thought for a brief second. "come e're." she said motioning for him to follow. they walked off into a hallway over from the opponent's lockerroom that was deserted. "yes, nico?" she asked, and he sighed. he knew he didn't have much time, "im sorry." he blurted, and her lips turned inward. "im sorry i said something without clarifying what had happened. im sorry i didn't defend you or speak to management. i fucked up badly, i know that and i wish i could take it all back." he said taking in her reaction.

her arms were crossed per usual, her neutral stance. "nico, i-i cant talk about this." she said shaking her head. he knew why, he knew about the lawsuit going on. "yeah, i know. I'm sorry about it though." he said and she nodded. "yeah, thanks." she mumbled. " i really am, you were an asset to our team. larry couldn't crack half these guys in the time he's been here and it took you all of 2 days to. the guys miss you, especially me." he said the last part softer. her eyebrows crinkled, "you made my job easier ofcourse." he teased. "ahh gotcha." she said rolling her eyes playfully. "its unfortunate that you guys are the most affected by this. the constant in and out of psychologists and therapists is not good for the morale and the mental health of the team, so I'm sorry you guys are going through the ever-revolving door." she said and he nodded. "yeah its too bad. i don't particularly feel comfortable talking to any of them." he said non chalantly. alrighty, she thought. "i hope things get fixed soon nico, i really do. if any of the guys need a place to talk outside of larry, i can send some referrals out." she said looking at nico in the eye, and he nodded. "thankyou miranda and again...i really am sorry." he said genuinely. she nodded, "its all good." she said. "good luck tonight, you'll need it." she said grinning as she began to walk backwards towards her team. his face lit up in a cheeky smile one second and in the next she was gone.

°

the one where they confess.

molly and miranda laid out in the sun of sunny hawaii, as by week had finally rolled around for the nhl. molly jumping at the opportunity to join the girl, her brother and her brother's fiance. the two chatted for a while in the sun, sipping on some mimosas after brunch. miranda stood up, stating that she was going to get another. she walked from the private pool area where the villas were and walk towards the main one that had a bar. she took in her surroundings, lots of families, couples, and great, the familiar group of guys from jersey. she sighed hurrying towards the bar across from them, and she quickly ordered another mimosa and a water bottle. she tapped her fingers tapped the wooden bar and took in the slight chill that was coming off of the ocean just beneath them. "holy fuck- johnson?" she heard to her right and she turned to see john marino. "john!" she said smiling softly, "how are you?" she asked taking the mimosa and water bottle from the bartender. "good, good! can never be sad with by week." he mused and she nodded, "no you cant, or else i would knock some sense into ya." she teased and he laughed. "oh don't we know it." he said laughing. "randy!" she heard her brothers name from the left of her, and she turned to see him waving her over. "good luck with the rest of the season and have a wonderful rest of the week." she said before walking off.

she walked towards erik when she heard the group of guys talking loudly, all now looking over to see the girl. nico took in her two piece suit, the soft waves hanging off of her shoulders and the confidence she possessed. "whats up bear?" she asked erik, shielding her eyes from the sun. "dana wants to know if you guys wanna get dinner at 7." he stated and she nodded, "i don't see why not. we didn't have any plans." she said and erik nodded, "see ya bean!" and she smiled, "see ya big bear." and the two went their separate ways. nico watched as she went back to the private area with bungalows. he prayed to the universe he'd see her again.

-

it was 6:20 when molly and miranda went down to the hotel bar before dinner. the two had napped and sobered up since their mimosas and sun time. they stood there drinking some champagne, when molly had left briefly to use the washroom. miranda sat down on the bar stool and took out her phone. she heard the familiar deep voice of the swiss she hadn't seen for a few weeks. she turned to her right and saw him in black collard shirt, black suit jacket and black pants. he looked good, she thought. too good. she turned back to her phone and hoped molly would come back soon. "fancy seeing you here." she heard and she turned towards nico who had a toothy grin. "hi nico." she said setting down her champagne. "what can i do for ya?" she said turning towards him. "well for one you can let me join you." he said boldly and she was taken back, but found her self nodding softly. he sat down next to her, "how are you enjoying your by week?" he questioned, sipping his drink. "its been nice thus far, especially when i'm not the one footing the bill." she grinned and nico chuckled. "i told ej to spread the wealth one time years ago and thankfully he hasn't stop providing." she teased causing nico to laugh again. "all jokes aside, im extremely grateful for him. he just doesn't know how to take no for an answer." she said as nico looked at her. "oh really? so you're not a moocher?" he grinned, and she grinned. "not in the slightest!" she said placing a soft hand on his arm. he looked down at it, and then back at her. she didn't move it, especially not when he looked back at her. she left it there for a few seconds, before pulling away. "sorry, i should probably be finding molly. we've got dinner with my brother and his fiance." she said clearing her throat. nico nodded, a tad bit sad. "well i think she'll be a bit occupied for a while longer. saw john sneaking her into the elevator as i walked in." he mused and miranda's eyes went wide. "no way!" she said, her hand going back to the spot it had just occupied.

"things have happened since you left, that happened quickly after you screamed at me in the bar." he said and her face flashed through guilt and remorse. "yeah...sorry about that." she said biting her lip. he shrugged, "i needed it. it knocked some sense into me." he hummed finishing the rest of his drink. "well now i don't feel as badly." she grinned, enticingly. he looked at her, and she at him. her hand softly moved down his arm, her head cocking to the side. call it alcohol, call it the heat of the moment, or the fact that she'd been thinking about nico since she spoke to him in his apartment. "maybe you could also sneak me into the elevator." she whispered just loud enough for him to hear. nico had a mischievous look on his face, once he realized what she was getting at. "lets go." he said pulling her off of the bar stool by her hand.

as soon as they entered the elevator, nico placed his hands on her waist pulling her in closely. "god I've been waiting for this." he whispered in a husky voice. "oh really?" she teased innocently, catching the heat in his eyes. "hmm mmm. couldn't wait to tell you that i like you...the first moment we met i was a goner." he said as the elevator dinged to his floor. "is that so?" she grinned, feeling butterflies flutter in her chest. "uh huh. surprised you didn't notice that long stares, always finding ourselves in the same area and the smiles i reserved just for you." he said as they entered his room. "i thought you were just being nice, nico." she hummed, placing her hands on his chest. "oh no, only reserve those smiles for the girl who stole my heart one casual conversation at a time." he hummed sliding out of his suit jacket as she began to work on his buttons. "i feel quite flattered, cap." she grinned looking up at him with a glint of excitement in her eyes.

clothes were quickly discarded after that, teasing and many kisses were exchanged after that. "well its a good thing i like you too, nico." she said as she laid in his arms. she looked up at him with a smirk, before he leaned down and kissed her. "how bout i come to denver after the season ends?" he questioned and she nodded. "id really like that, really would." she smiled resting her head on his chest. they looked at one another for a minute more, "now tell me whats going on in that pretty head of yours." she smiled and he blushed. "where do i begin?" he smiled.

─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──

pls like and reblog if you enjoyed, it would mean a ton!

@hischierhaze @nicohischierz @jayda12 @skatesnstuff

[ohraicodoll]

Does Ellie ever (consciously or not) call Red mom?

Ellie has never had a mom really. The word isn't something that comes to her mouth naturally.

She grew up in FEDRA school with most of the orphans and only had Officers and Supervisors and things like that. It doesn't mean she didn't want one, didn't crave to have that kind of affection and love and care and protectiveness. In the brief time since getting bit, she had mother figures for a very short time. Marlene, who was direct and driven but compassionate. Tess, who explained the world to her before and beyond the walls. Maria, who was cautious and so wanted her to just be a kid and be like everyone else. And then there was Red, who consistently showed she'd protect her against whatever the world threw at her. Would kill and bleed for Ellie but also kept an arm on her when she wasn't paying attention while walking and made her brush her hair and gave her small smiles and never told her to shut up.

Red who she had named when her real name refused to leave her lips and she could see the conflict in her eyes and Ellie said the first thing that came to mind. She latched onto her and wouldn't let go until Joel agreed she could come because while Joel was quickly filling that fatherly spot in her mind, she needed to just feel what it was like to have a mom. And she was it. She never flinched at all her flaws, never called her annoying, was forgiving of her mistakes and relentless in her defense. Red who had murdered her way and found her in Denver, both soaked in blood, and promised her, "I will always find you." Red was her mom and it was so engrained in her head that when she saw her across the Jackson courtyard and heard the teenage boys calling her a freak nearby, Ellie instantly was on them, punching, yelling, "Don't you fucking talk about my mom!" It was her arms that pulled her off of the guy and dragged her away silently, tucking her into herself and taking her back home. When someone yelled at them, Red's look silenced them quickly. She didn't say anything to Ellie, only sighed and shook her head, pushing her through the front door and sitting her down on the couch while she grabbed the first aid kit.

Red cleaned every split knuckle and bandaged them up without a word. Meticulous and gentle, cleaning every bit of blood from her hands. Then when she was done, she cupped her cheeks and kissed the top of her head gently before pulling her in to her arms. "You need to remember not to tuck your thumb in when you punch," she muttered against her hair, "You're gonna break it, Ellie-bean." Ellie only smiled at her.

[denverhomecleaner]

How to Stop Fireplace Smell

1. Introduction

A cozy fireplace adds warmth and charm to your home, but the lingering smell of smoke, creosote, or mustiness can disrupt your indoor comfort. If you’ve ever wondered how to stop fireplace smell, you’re not alone. Many homeowners struggle with unpleasant odors that seep into their living spaces, especially during humid or rainy weather. Luckily, there are effective ways to eliminate these smells and prevent them from returning.

In this guide, we’ll explore the common causes of fireplace odors and provide practical solutions to restore freshness to your home.

2. Common Causes of Fireplace Smell

Understanding the root cause of fireplace odors is the first step to solving the issue. Here are the most common culprits:

Creosote Buildup:

Creosote is a tar-like byproduct of burning wood. Over time, it accumulates in the chimney and produces a strong, smoky odor.

This buildup not only smells unpleasant but also poses a fire hazard.

Moisture in the Chimney:

Rainwater or condensation can mix with creosote and soot, creating a musty smell.

Uncapped chimneys are especially prone to this issue.

Negative Air Pressure:

When air pressure inside your home is lower than outside, odors from the chimney can be pulled into your living space.

Animals and Debris:

Birds, squirrels, or other animals that nest in your chimney can leave behind droppings or die inside, leading to foul smells.

Leaves and organic debris can decompose and contribute to the odor.

Poor Ventilation:

Inadequate ventilation can trap odors inside your home, making the smell linger even when the fireplace is not in use.

3. How to Stop Fireplace Smell

a. Clean the Chimney Regularly

Why It Works:

Regular chimney cleaning removes creosote, soot, and debris, eliminating the primary sources of fireplace odors.

How to Do It:

Hire a professional chimney sweep annually to ensure thorough cleaning.

DIY alternative: Use a chimney cleaning brush, but only if you're comfortable with the process.

b. Close the Damper When Not in Use

Why It Works:

Closing the damper prevents outside air from entering the chimney, reducing the chances of odors wafting into your home.

How to Do It:

Ensure the damper seals tightly. If it’s damaged, replace it or install a top-sealing damper for added effectiveness.

c. Install a Chimney Cap

Why It Works:

A chimney cap prevents rain, debris, and animals from entering your chimney.

How to Do It:

Choose a stainless steel or copper cap for durability and hire a professional to install it securely.

d. Deodorize the Fireplace

Why It Works:

Neutralizing odors at the source ensures your home smells fresh.

How to Do It:

Sprinkle baking soda or place bowls of vinegar in the firebox for 24-48 hours.

Use commercial fireplace deodorizers for long-lasting results.

e. Improve Airflow in Your Home

Why It Works:

Adequate ventilation prevents negative air pressure, reducing odor seepage.

How to Do It:

Use air purifiers with activated carbon filters near the fireplace.

Open windows periodically to balance indoor and outdoor air pressure.

f. Address Animal Infestations

Why It Works:

Removing animal nests or remains eliminates a significant source of foul smells.

How to Do It:

Inspect the chimney for signs of animals. If you find any, contact a professional to remove them safely.

Install a mesh screen under the chimney cap to prevent future intrusions.

g. Maintain a Dry Chimney

Why It Works:

Keeping your chimney dry prevents the musty odors caused by moisture mixing with soot.

How to Do It:

Ensure your chimney cap is watertight.

Check for leaks in the chimney structure and repair any cracks.

4. Preventing Future Fireplace Smells

To keep odors at bay, follow these proactive measures:

Schedule annual chimney inspections and cleanings.

Use only seasoned, dry wood in your fireplace to reduce creosote buildup.

Install glass fireplace doors to seal odors when the fireplace is not in use.

Regularly clean the firebox and dispose of ashes in a non-flammable container.

Check for proper ventilation throughout your home.

5. When to Call a Professional

If the smell persists despite your efforts, it’s time to seek professional help. Experts can:

Conduct a thorough chimney inspection to identify hidden issues.

Perform deep cleaning and deodorizing treatments.

Address structural repairs or recommend upgrades like a top-sealing damper.

Fireplace smells can be a nuisance, but with the right techniques and regular maintenance, you can enjoy a clean and odor-free home. By addressing the causes of odors and following the steps outlined in this guide, you’ll no longer wonder how to stop fireplace smell.

For professional cleaning and maintenance in Denver, visit cleaning service Denver CO to ensure your fireplace and home remain fresh and welcoming year-round. Let the experts handle the tough jobs, so you can relax and enjoy your cozy fireplace.

[im-on-my-vigilante-shit-again]

Most and least (not including songs on the set list) played surprise songs from each era:

Debut:

Most played: First place is Our Song with four plays, second is a three way tie between Tim McGraw, Teardrops On My Guitar, and Should've Said No with three plays each.

Least played: Literally every other song on debut has been played once, I am not kidding, she hasn't played Picture to Burn since Denver if you're wondering.

Fearless:

Most played: First place is a four way tie between Fifteen, Hey Stephen, White Horse, and The Other Side of the Door, each with three plays. Second place is a seven way tie between You're Not Sorry, Forever and Always, Jump Then Fall, Untouchable, Today Was A Fairytale, and Mr. Perfectly Fine with two plays each.

Least played: First place is a tie between That's When and Bye Bye Baby, they have not been played at all, every other song has been played once.

Speak Now

Most played: First place is Haunted with four plays, second is a three way tie between Mine, Sparks Fly, and I Can See You.

Least played: First place is a seven way tie between Back to December, Better Than Revenge, Innocent, Superman, Electric Touch, When Emma Falls In Love, and Foolish One, which have all been played once. Every other song has been played twice.

Red

Most Played: First place goes to the title track with five plays, second place is a tie between Everything Has Changed and Come Back...Be Here with four plays each.

Least Played: First place is a three way tie between Girl At Home, Ronan, and Forever Winter, which have not been played yet. Second place is a five way tie between Nothing New, Babe, I Bet You Think About Me, Run, and The Very First Night, with one play each.

1989

Most Played: First place is a tie between Out Of The Woods and Clean, each with six plays. Second place is Is It Over Now? with five plays.

Least played: The only song that has been played once is Sweeter Than Fiction. Second place is a seven way tie between I Wish You Would, I Know Places, Wonderland, New Romantics, Say Don't Go, Now That We Don't Talk, and Suburban Legends, with two plays.

Reputation

Most played: First place is Getaway Car with five plays, second place is a tie between Dress and Call It What You Want with four plays each.

Least played: The only song with one play is So It Goes..., all of the other songs except for King Of My Heart and New Year's Day are two plays each.

Lover

Most played: First place is Death By A Thousand Cuts with five plays, second place is Daylight with four.

Least played: First place is Soon You'll Get Better, which hasn't been played yet, and second place is a three way tie between London Boy, ME!, and It's Nice To Have A Friend, which have all been played once.

folklore

Most played: First place is a tie between exile, mirrorball, and this is me trying, all with four plays. Second place is the lakes, which has been played twice.

Least played: Every other song has only been played once, including the songs that got cut from the set list.

evermore

The most played songs are a four way tie between gold rush, coney island, ivy, and cowboy like me. The least played songs are a tie between closure and 'tis the damn season with only one play, and everything else has been played twice, except for tolerate it, which hasn't been played since it got cut.

Midnights

Most played: We all know this, You're On Your Own, Kid is the most played with 10 plays, and Maroon is in second place with 8.

Least played: First place is a tie between Bigger Than The Whole Sky and Glitch with one play each, everything else except for Snow On The Beach, Would've, Could've, Should've, and Hits Different has been played twice.

TTPD (original disk)

The most played is a tie between mother's favorite child Guilty As Sin? and loml, least played is a tie between the title track and So Long, London, everything else has been played twice.

The Anthology

The Black Dog has been played the most at three times, then it's imgonnagetyouback with two, and everything else except for Cassandra, which hasn't been played yet, has been played once.

Misc.

The most played miscellaneous track is I Don't Wanna Live Forever, and the other various songs of hers that she's played are Eyes Open, Safe and Sound, This Is What You Came For, Carolina, and Crazier, all with one play each.

Covers as performances with other people

With Gracie Abrams she has done us. and i miss you i'm sorry.

With Ed Sheeran she's done Thinking Out Loud.

And with Sabrina Carpenter she's done Espresso and Please Please Please.

Unplayed album tracks: That's When, Bye Bye Baby, Girl At Home, Ronan, Forever Winter, Soon You'll Get Better, and Cassandra.

to see all of the songs, here is my spreadsheet:

[rachelkaser]

Masonry Monday: The Case of the Perjured Parrot

A wealthy investor is murdered while at his fishing getaway, with the only apparent witness being his parrot, who repeats the same name over and over. Taking this to be a repetition of his final words, the sheriff arrests Ellen, the dead man's secret mistress, but Perry Mason has his suspicions about the bird's credibility.

Who's Who

Perry Mason's client: Ellen Monteith, a librarian recently married to a man who, to her shock, already has a wife

The victim: Charles Sabin, a wealthy man who's harsh on everyone except his mistress and his talkative parrot

Suspects: Stephanie Sabin, the victim's legitimate wife, who's left to clean up following his death Helen Watkins, the victim's step-daughter, who may or may not have committed a serious crime Richard Waid, the long-suffering secretary, who shifts loyalties to the missus after the murder Fred Bascomb, the cabin's owner, who came across the body and the chattering parrot Casanova, the Sabin family parrot, who apparently witnesses his final moments and repeats his last words over and over

The Setup

Charles Sabin returns home from a trip and completely blows off his wife Stephanie in favor of fawning over his parrot, Casanova (who has been "a very busy bird," according to the man himself). He retrieves an envelope with his wife's name on its from a drawer in his desk. He calls in his secretary, Richard Waid, just to snarl at him for not taking proper care of Casanova. He leaves instructions for Waid to procure some mineral rights, then tells Stephanie and her daughter Helen Watkins that he's decided to drive to his fishing cabin a day early. The ladies aren't packed, and Helen snarls right back at Sabin.

Sabin accuses her of being a thief, and Stephanie refuses to go with him if he's going to attack Helen. Sometime later, a fancy man in a bolo tie drives up to Bascomb Lodge and Cottages in Logan City. He approaches a cabin where a convertible is parked and hears a parrot squawk through the window. Looking through the window, he sees Sabin's body on the ground, with Casanova's cage open and shavings all over the floor. The parrot is walking around the body, repeating, "Helen, give me that gun! Don't shoot!"

In the offices of Perry Mason, Della and Perry are visited by Stephanie Sabin and Helen Watkins. Stephanie tells Perry -- who'd been handling some of Sabin's business affairs -- that a Mr. Bascomb found her husband's body that morning at his fishing cabin. Helen blurts out that she'll be suspected due to Casanova's repeated words. Perry asks when the murder was committed, and Stephanie says they suspect the previous Tuesday. Sabin left for the cabin on Saturday, and Stephanie took Helen to her school, Hollymount, the next day. Stephanie herself stayed in a hotel that same night as she planned to divorce Sabin. Helen didn't stay in school but followed her to the hotel. There's no record of her at the hotel until Wednesday.

Enter Perry Mason, Attorney at Law

Perry and Della drive out to Logan City to meet with Sheriff Barnes, introducing himself as the late Sabin's lawyer on instruction from the widow. The Sheriff introduces Edward Langley, a criminology professor at Logan City's college, who's helping out with the investigation. Perry enters the cabin, where Casanova is chattering away in the cage, repeating the line about Helen. The gun was laying near the body with no fingerprints. The Sheriff and Langley estimate, based on the fish he'd caught and the fact they weren't cleaned, that he was killed Tuesday morning after eating lunch.

They also found a woman's slip and a pair of stockings, which Mrs. Sabin denies belonging to her or to Helen. Perry picks up a book on the side and notes it's from the Logan City Library. There's a knock, and Waid arrives to retrieve Casanova and Sabin's belongings. Langley asks where Waid was on Tuesday -- he was in Denver dealing with the mineral rights. Waid says Sabin called from a payphone as the line was dead, which Langley confirms by picking up the phone. Perry takes his leave and meets Della, who's feeding wildlife outside.

While looking at birds with her, Perry notes a wire on the phone lines -- someone's tapped Sabin's phone. They follow the wire into the foliage, where it leads to a empty, ramshackle cabin. Cut to the Logan City Library, where Ellen Monteith is reading about the murder in the papers. Perry and Della pull up, and Perry greets Ellen, asking her about the book he found in Sabin's cabin. Ellen's obviously distressed, and asks to speak with Perry alone. She confirms she took the book and asks to meet him in the park.

In the park, Ellen tells Perry her story of moving out West and suddenly finding love in the form of "George Walman," a.k.a. Charles Sabin. They met at the library, and Ellen describes him as the kindest person she knew. They married two weeks previously in a quiet ceremony in Las Vegas. Ellen left behind the slip, stockings, and gun, which she owned for protection while closing the library at night. Sabin left on Saturday morning, and she never saw or heard from him again. Della arrives and says Paul is checking on any calls made from Sabin's cabin. Ellen asks if she'll be suspected, and Perry says, "Yes."

The Murder

Prosecutor Sprague brings Ellen Monteith and Fred Bascomb, the gentleman with the bolo tie, into this office and asks Ellen if she's ever seen Bascomb before. She says she never has. After she's escorted out, Bascomb confirms that he saw her driving up to Sabin's cabin on the morning of the murder. Later, Paul enters Perry's office with info: Sabin's will splits the estate between Stephanie and the heretofore-unmentioned brother Arthur Sabin. Also, Helen didn't join her mother at the Windsor Hotel on Sunday. She had run away from school and was waitressing in Logan City when her mother found her on Tuesday. Perry suspected as much.

Perry speaks with Stephanie, who thinks Casanova must have been saying, "Ellen." He asks her about Arthur Sabin, and Stephanie says she's never met him. Later, Perry meets with one Rufus Bolding, who says that Sabin called him about forged checks he'd discovered. Sabin sent Bolding, a handwriting expert, the checks and a handwriting sample. Bolding says Sabin suspected Helen, but she's not the forger, which he informed Sabin of on Monday. Sabin said he'd pass along other samples, but Bolding never received them.

Case under review; please return at a later date

[rjzimmerman]

Excerpt from this story from Inside Climate News:

A federal district court judge ruled last week that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers violated the National Environmental Protection Act and the Clean Water Act when it approved expanding a Colorado reservoir. But a footnote to that decision is even more significant, experts and environmentalists say, with potentially far-reaching impacts on water management in the West and current negotiations to cut back use of the declining Colorado River. 

Since 2002, Denver Water, which supplies 1.5 million people in the Denver metropolitan area, has been seeking to expand the Gross Reservoir. Construction that began in 2022 and is expected to be completed in 2027 will add 131 feet to the reservoir’s 340-foot dam, allowing it to triple its water storage capacity and hold an additional 72,000 acre-feet of water diverted from the declining Colorado River—enough water for roughly 150,000 homes. 

The diversion of more water from the already over-appropriated Colorado River would threaten the wildlife that depend on the waterway and put the state at risk of violating the guidelines that regulate the river’s water supply, environmentalists have argued. Senior federal judge Christine Arguello agreed, noting that diverting more water from the Colorado River could result in forced reductions for the state. Any proposed new diversion must keep that risk, as well as reduced flows in the river due to climate change, in mind when pursuing new projects that would take more water out of the river, she wrote in her decision. 

“The cracked foundation of the Colorado River’s management system all but demands skepticism over any proposal that will affect the hydrology of the Colorado River basin,” Arguello wrote in the footnote of her decision. She added that the Army Corps did not adequately consider the possibility that the collection of states dependent on the river’s water could make a “compact call” that could cut the amount of water to projects like Gross Reservoir. “It is perplexing to this Court that the Corps dismissed the possibility of a compact call in its analysis of a proposed water management project,” she wrote.

The Colorado River Basin is regulatorily split in two, with the Upper Basin consisting of Colorado, Wyoming, Utah and New Mexico, and the Lower Basin composed of Arizona, California and Nevada. Under the 1922 Colorado River Compact, which divided up the river’s resources and is the bedrock document of how it is governed, the Upper Basin is required to allow the Lower Basin states’ allocation of water to flow downstream and then gets what is left over for its own use. Every 10 years, the Upper Basin is required to deliver 75 million acre feet of water (an acre foot is 325,851 gallons) to the Lower Basin—7.5 million every year. If it fails to send what’s required, the Upper Basin’s allocation could be cut in a compact call to ensure the Lower Basin, which has more senior water rights, gets what it is owed.

But the original compact measured the river’s flow during a series of wet years and overestimated what would actually be available in the river in the future. Today, years of overuse, combined with climate change, has left the Colorado River in dire straits, making the unthinkable—like a compact call—a possibility. The river that enabled the Southwest’s rapid growth and vital agricultural production is now declining in a megadrought, with its flows diminishing roughly 20 percent over the past two decades. The federal Bureau of Reclamation has reduced water allocations in recent years, paying users to conserve water, and the seven basin states, tribes and the federal government are in negotiations to cut even more. Meanwhile, cities and states are scrambling to find new water supplies. 

“What the footnote calls out is that the people planning projects need to be realistic about the fact that there may not be water to put in them,” said John Fleck, a water policy expert at the University of New Mexico School of Law’s Utton Center whose work on the Colorado River is cited in Arguello’s ruling. 

[denverneumann]

Before the dark days, it was said that bad things come in threes. Well apparently, at least in Denver's situation, so do fugitives. It was an odd band, the three of them, but none could risk long enough in the streets to go home, let alone risk going home. So Cain, Denver, and Monty stayed together, for a few weeks at least, and tried to survive.

The nightclub wasn't one Denver had been to before. BEEF was a gay club, so she wasn't the target audience. Despite presumably having been abandoned in the middle of the night, it was fairly clean, for which Denver was grateful. She didn't know much about cleaning. She also didn't know much about survival. She did, however, know about revolutions. So, in her own mind, though it was never discussed, Denver appointed herself leader, and determined that it was her job to keep her little alliance safe.

They slept in shifts, and went out individually for supply runs. They told stories and played with a deck of cards they found behind the bar. They never forgot where they were, or why they were there. Some days were easier than others.

Cain had the most questions. Denver would have thought she'd been prepared for them all with her years of scholarship, but there were too many flaws in her logic. Nothing made sense anymore. And that wasn't good enough for Cain. He went back to the Tower, to join the Vox, the new regime. Denver didn't hold it against him. She'd probably try to go herself, if her convictions were anything other than a tangled ball of twine, stuck without any direction.

Maybe their "new friend" was the voice of god. Maybe the people of Panem themselves were the gods. Maybe there were no gods. But a god-like wielding of power had created Panem, created Arenas, and a god-like show of force brought it all crashing down. Which side was the right side when both sides had iron fists they brought down on any who disagreed?

Denver didn't know, so she stayed in the bar. She listened to Monty recount his adventures. She took over Cain's watch shift. She went on supply runs. She kept notes of what she saw, so history wouldn't forget. And she waited for answers that part of her knew would never come.

[odinsblog]

Justice Gorsuch sold property to a lawyer whose firm had numerous cases in front of the Court.

On April 16 of 2017, Greenberg’s Brian Duffy put under contract the 3,000-square foot log home on the Colorado River and nestled in the mountains northwest of Denver, according to real estate records.

He and his wife closed on the house a month later, paying $1.825 million, according to a deed in the county’s record system. Gorsuch, who held a 20 percent stake, reported making between $250,001 and $500,000 from the sale on his federal disclosure forms.

Gorsuch did not disclose the identity of the purchaser. That box was left blank.

Since then, Greenberg Traurig has been involved in at least 22 cases before or presented to the court, according to a POLITICO review of the court’s docket.

They include cases in which Greenberg either filed amicus briefs or represented parties. In the 12 cases where Gorsuch’s opinion is recorded, he sided with Greenberg Traurig clients eight times and against them four times.

In addition, a Denver-based lawyer for Greenberg represented North Dakota in what became one of the more highly publicized rulings in recent years, a multistate suit which reversed former President Barack Obama’s plan to fight climate change through the Clean Air Act.

Gorsuch joined the court’s other five conservative judges in agreeing with the plaintiffs — including Greenberg’s client — that the Environmental Protection Agency had overstepped its authority by regulating carbon emissions from power plants in the decision that makes it more difficult for the executive branch to regulate emissions without express authorization from Congress.

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