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writers-hes · 1 year ago

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Sydney Saw it First (c. berzatto x reader)

You’re Carmy’s friend from Noma and he asks tou to mentor Marcus before he heads to Copenhagen to stage. Sydney thinks you’re both fools in love and she’s determined to fix it. (fluff, sydney being the best wingman, inspired by the scene in new girl when nick points his shoes to jess, two fools in love)

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It was hard for anyone to read if the Carmen Berzatto cared.

Some days, he was loving but most days he was tenacious. It’s not like he meant it. It was just how he was wired; how he reacts to things. The crew learned that the hard way, when he exploded on Marcus, when he screamed at Sydney…when the stress gets to him, it really gets to him.

He’s imposed penance on himself for his actions, secluding himself from the world…being unreachable. If there was one thing in the world that he craved and that he was afraid of, it was love. So he secludes himself until he feels alone. Relationships were unnatural to him.

But it came naturally with you.

You were training to become a pastry chef at Noma when Carmy was there. You met each other at the halls, shared friends that it was inevitable for you two to become friends. He was your first taste tester when you first made croissants. He helped you make your own sourdough starter for the sourdough cookies that you were experimenting on. You were the first person whom he cooked his mom’s picatta. You were his sous chef, helping him prep the vegetables on important dates. When news arrived detailing Mikey’s death, you were the first person he called.

You two were great. You were great.

If anyone deserved praise, Carmy thought that it was you.

He didn’t know why but when he saw that Marcus was really interested in pastry, he called you; asked you to come and teach a really, really eager student that was going to stage in Copenhagen soon. Sydney also suggested that sweets are needed in a restaurant. You didn’t hesitate to board the plane upon his request. If anything, you were glad that he was finally asking you for a favor. It only meant that he was still—if not more—comfortable with you.

You arrived in Chicago all smiles, and greetings. It was Richie and Carmy who picked you up from the airport and Richi was floored. How did his cousin even manage to tolerate you? He didn’t hate you immediately, of course. In any case, Carmy told you about his little girl; you decided to bring her a little gift.

“I didn’t know what to get you but Carmy said that you have a daughter so I got this instead,” you said, extending a toy. “My niece has the same one…so, I figured…”

“Yeah, yeah,” Richie nodded. He muttered a small ‘thanks’ before helping you with you luggage.

The night before, Carmy instructed everyone during family to behave.

“Look, there will be no funny business, alright? My friend is flying in tomorrow to oversee Marcus and act as his mentor while we fix the Bear. No taking her knife away, no screaming, no fighting, no fucking anything, alright, chefs?” he asked. When he was met with silence, “Alright, Chefs?”

A couple of ‘heards’ were thrown.

“Who is this friend, anyway, Jeff?” Tina asked. “You didn’t tell us to behave when Sydney over here first came,”

“Someone from Copenhagen. She, uh—“

“She?” Sweeps asked, his eyebrows raised in anticipation. “You got a girl, chef?”

“No,” he replied. “She studied in Copenhagen as a pastry chef, okay? No big deal—“ he proceeds to mention your name and how you’re just really super cool. “No big deal—“

“Wait, Chef, that’s a big deal!” Marcus said. “Oh, you know her recipes are all over my station, right?” he asked. “Sydney—“

“I went to the place she worked at in New York after I graduated. Everything’s just so…good. Amazing,” she recalled. “So, yes, it’s a big deal,”

“Yeah, whatever. Just promise me to behave, alright?” Carmy asked. “She’ll have to make do with what we currently have but I’ll try to stock up and set up the station before she arrives tomorrow.”

You arrived at the Beef—er, the Bear a day after your arrival in Chicago. You were able to find a place that was near the city center for a good deal. You were here indefinitely, still trying to figure out if you wanted to run your own bakery or just work with others for the rest of your life. Seeing Carmy take the leap was insipiring.

“Hello, chefs, I’m Y/N,” you said, a friendly smile gracing your features. Carmy was right beside you, watching everyone. “I’m a pastry chef and I graduated with Carmy in Copenhagen. I’m here to mentor Marcus but of course, if you have any questions regarding anything, you can ask me. I know how to cook too…and uh, I’ll be taking care of family tonight,”

Carmy jerks from his relaxed position.

“You sure?” he asks softly. “I can take care of family, if you’re too tired.”

“Yeah. It’s like initiation,” you nod, looking at him and then looking back at the new faces in front of you again. “Do you have any questions…”

Sydney raises her hand.

“Um, I’m sorry if this comes across rude but why are you here?” she asked.

“Oh, well, I’m not really tied down to anything right now. When Carmy called me, asking if I could come here, I decided to go. I’m here in Chicago indefinitely and I’ve been receiving invitations to cook, teach a class, whatever. I might accept some of those,” you said. Sydned nodded. Damn, Noma’s chefs were being chased from left and right. She was in the presence of two.

“Do you have a little notebook?” Tina asked, making Sydney scofd. “With recipes?”

“Um, no,” you shook your head. “I keep all my notes in my head and then write it afterwards,” Tina liked you already.

“What do you think about Carmen Berzatto—“

“Anyway, that’s all, Chefs! Marcus, come to the office with me, chef,” Carmy said, breaking up the huddle, and making you laugh. He discreetly pulls down your shirt, a sign that you should follow him too to the office. When you were both out of earshot, Sydney asked no one in particular.

“That girl and Chef? There’s something,”

That afternoon, during family, Sydney watched the two of you like a hawk. Confirming her suspicions when Carmy stayed for family and sat beside you.

Sydney notices it for the second time. You were going over the Noma “picture book” with Marcus, telling him how some of the desserts came about.

“What’s this?” Marcus asked, pointing at a photo of the dessert that put you on the map.

“That’s a dish of candied hallabong peel, with a prosecco peach sorbet, on a bed of meringue, topped with candied cherries. I got it because some of my friends went to Jeju sometime and brought back this orange hybrid. I think….I think we can recreate it but it wouldn’t be the same without the orange.”

“What about the flesh and the juice?”

“I turned it into like an orange-chocolate cake with chocolate mousse,”

Carmy was just passing by but he decided to watch you interact with his employees instead.

“Anyways, where’s your chocolate cake? Let’s taste it and compare it from the last one. Also, I can send you my recipe for sourdough doughnuts. Just give me your email,” you said, looking up briefly to find Carmy already looking at you. It made him feel good to see you incorporate yourself so well in the kitchen. Well, it’s not like the Bear is open but his staff went to you for some tips and advice. They were all undergoing some sort of training to make everything more elevated. “Hey, Carm. Do you need anything?”

“Hey-hey,” he coughed, ashamed for being caught. “Nothing. Uh—“

“Chef, did you ever try Y/N’s stuff?” Marcus asked. He’d really, really, really want to taste something that you made someday. They were all delicate and so detailed. It’s probably why you got multiple awards at such a young age.

“I did. She used to bring big Tupperware containers of things they made in the kitchen,”

“He finished them all,” you told Marcus. “Wouldn’t spare me a bite,”

“I don’t know, bug,” he teased. “I vividly remember you begging me to do it because you were so sick of fucking croissants.”

“You’re so annoying,” you huffed, a playful smile on your face. “Go on now. Marcus and I have stuff to do and you’re distracting us.”

“In my own restaurant,” Carmy mutters, shaking his head. Sydney’s eyes immediately directed to Tina. Did you see? Did you hear the word ‘Bug’?. Tina only shrugged.

Sugar dropped in to check on the improvements being done at the Bear when she saw you and Carmen at the back, talking. She had to double take what she saw because it was quite…odd to see him talk to you with the same twinkle he used to have. She has never seen him like this. He was genuinely laughing at some of the things that you were saying, a shared plate of leftover chocolate cake between the two of you.

“Who’s the girl outside?” Sugar asked, looking at Richie and Sydney for answers.

“Some fancy pastry chef Carmy met in Copenhagen,” Richie replied. “It’s a whole bet now, you know? They’re always out in their own world ever since she got here,”

“Everyone puts in 10 to predict what’s going to happen,” Tina said. “You’re betting?”

“Yeah, sure,” Sugar says, giving a bill to Tina. “I bet…I bet they’ll fall in love right before she leaves Chicago. Like, on the way to the airport. Carmy’s going to tell her that he loves her and she stays,”

Laughter echoes in the room.

“This is not some fucking movie, cousin,” Richie said. “Obviously, Carmy’s not gonna do shit about it.”

“I think…she’ll call him over and they’ll share a moment,” Marcus said. “He’s always at her place, did you know that?”

Meanwhile, unaware of the ongoing bet, Carmy looks at you.

“What do you think about Chicago?” he asked, a cigarette hanging idly on his fingers.

“It’s nice…chilly,” you said. “But it’s nice. I’ve been offered jobs here, you know?”

“Hm?” he asked. “Are you planning to take them?”

“I’m…thinking about them. They’re all the same but like, I want my own bakery, you know? My own place.” you said. “It’s going to be a lot of work if I do that and I don’t necessarily have the staff to do all that.” you said.

“If you want…you can come stay with us if you’re not sure,” he offers. “Like a pastry chef. Actually, I’ll have to ask Sugar and Sydney if it’s alright with them but you can stay here,”

“Bear, I don’t want to impose—“

Sydney was walking outside to throw the trash but she stopped her trackes when she heard you talk.

“I want you here,” Carmy said with conviction. “But if you don’t-don’t like it here in Chicago, I wouldn’t mind either, you know? It’s just that…I want you here and-and fuck, I don’t know. I guess working with you made it so much more fun again, you know? Like us in Copenhagen. I mean, we’re always a team and-and it’s nice to have you here with me. Sugar and spice? Sweet and spicy or whatever the fuck they called us back then,” he chuckled, inhaling his cigarette to calm himself down. “We can make it work,”

“Yeah, yeah. You go talk about it to Nat and Syd,” you said, taking a swig of your water. “And then we’ll talk. Cool?”

“Cool,” he shrugged. Sydney leaves and goes back to where the commotion was.

“I change my scenario,” she said.

“You can’t do that, Sydney,” Richie said. “It’s a bet! You have to pay again,”

Sydney breathed, what was ten more, right? Fuck.

“Fuck, sure, okay. Whatever,” she said, giving Richie the bill. “She’ll stay here. She’ll realize the there’s nothing waiting for her back home and she’ll stay here,”

“Where did you get this?” Fak asked. “Quite—oh my God. Sydney, did you fucking cheat?”

“No, I didn’t fucking cheat!” she defended, it was a lie. “Can’t you see the two of them? Always in their own world? How would Carmy let her go?”

“Jeffrey has a point,” Tina shrugged. “But if she loses, just know that you lost twice, Jeff,”

“I know,”

You, Sydney, and Carm all went to his apartment. It was where the two of them made a menu while you acted as a consultant and a taste tester. Their palates were fucked and they didn’t know what to do or what to cook anymore. So they asked you. But you weren’t there today. You and Marcus were in your apartment, making up stuff for dessert. The Beef has officially closed down and is a rubbled mess. There was no space and Carmy just wanted to be there with you.

“Can I ask you something and you can tell me to fuck off?” Sydney asked while she watched Carmy plate the hamachi crudo.

“Hm?”

“Do you…have feelings for Y/N?” she asked, looking at Carmy. He blushed, his ears turning red for being caught.

“Is it obvious?”

“To everyone but her,” she shrugged.

“Fuck, really? I thought I was being discreet,”

“Oh, you can stay here! You’re so good and so smart and so pretty,” Sydney gushed, mocking Carmen.

“Fuck off,” he laughs. “I…I do,”

“Yeah?”

“I just…just…she’s uh, so amazing, and like, I’ve been feeling these feelings since…since Copenhagen,” he mumbles, finishing the garnish with an oil.

“Damn. You never made a move?” she asked, getting forks. She gives one to Carmen and they both taste the crudo. It was amazing. “That’s good,”

“It is. Good job, Syd,” Carmy replied.

“It was her who told me to try adding jalapeno slices,” Syd said.

“You can’t do that,” Carmy warned her. Why did she want to get you two together so bad? “But I haven’t done anything. I mean, like, she was dating these guys and they’re so cool that-that it was never really my turn,” he remembered.

“But you’re the best chef in the world! That trumps that,” she encouraged. “None of them worked out?”

“No,” Carmy shook his head. “She’d always end things and I don’t want that for myself. She told me none of them worked out…wasn’t what she was, uh, looking for?”

“Oh,” Sydney nodded. “Well, if you’re feeling brave enough…”

“I haven’t been having…fun,” Carmy acknowledges. “With the Beef and the Bear until she got here, you know? Made me feel like I was young in Copenhagen again,”

“Another question. You can say fuck off if you want,” Sydney says and watches as Carmy bites a smile. “The last one. Is that why you asked her to stay? It’s just that I heard you the other day and…”

“Fuck off,” he laughs but Sydney noticed how everything about him conveyed everything that she needed to know.

“This is a quenelle,” you told Marcus. You, Marcus, Carm, and Sydney were at your apartment. It was bigger than Carmy’s and your oven didn’t have jeans in them. “This took me at least a hundred tries,” you chuckled. “You just…away, back, and then hands…” You demonstrated, making a quenelle of a yuzu mousse.

“Damn, Chef. How’d you do that?” Marcus asked, trying it for himself. He failed, his quenelle being a little bit smaller than yours.

“I had a friend named Luca. He didn’t let me out of the kitchen until I made a perfect one,” you recalled. “Carmy was there and he was laughing at me. He could do it in like three tries and I remember hating him,”

“You hate me?” he asked, leaning on the countertop. He didn’t like to hear about Luca. He only wanted you to talk about the two of you.

“Hey, Bear. Try this?” you asked, spooning him the raspberry curd. Carmy opens his mouth and you walk over, feeding him the pinkish liquid and then watching his face. “It goes with a black sesame shell. Do you like it?”

He notices your close proximity and flushes.

“Y-yeah,” he coughed, looking away. “Really good. Uh, very good,”

“No notes?” you asked and he swore he could kiss you right there because you were so beautiful.

“No notes,”

“Thanks, Chef,” you said. Sydney whistles as you help Marcus master his quenelle. Carmy looks at her and she teases him with a mockery of what he just said.

Carmy and Marcus left after cleaning up. You and Sydney decided to have a girl’s night. You were both sitting on the couch, mud masks on your faces when she turned to you fully.

“You know, he likes you right?”

“Who?” you asked, trying to fit a handful of chips.

“Carmy,” you heard and you choked on the bits of chips in your mouth.

“Fuck!” you choked. “Sydney!” You were coughing while Sydney handed you a glass of vodka cranberry. You gulp it down. “You—can’t say shit like that!”

“What?” she laughed. “Look, I’m not kidding! Whenever he talks to you, his feet are pointed at you. I’ve read enough fucking books and body language shit to know that he’s interested,”

“I don’t think so,” you said. “That’s bullshit,”

“It’s not though,” she shrugged. “He asked you to stay for a reason,”

“He needs a pastry chef,” you shrugged. “Besides, he and I are friends, Sydney. I’ve been trying to get him jealous all my time in Copenhagen but he never…he never got the signal,”

“Oh,” Sydney nods. Two idiots in love. “Have you ever tried telling him?”

“Of course not! He’s always on about how he doesn’t have the energy to love or date. I tried the jealousy thing before but it never worked. Trust me, there’s nothing.”

Carmy arrives at your doorstep the next morning, bright and early. Sydney had already left, telling you something about stopping by at her dad’s apartment to get stuff. You were going to the Bear with him to help Sydney choose plates for the restaurant.

“Good morning,” he greets. Two cups of take-out coffee in his hands. “I got us some coffee while we walk on the way,”

“Thank you,” You took the cup from his hands and clutched your jacket tighter. It was so, so, so cold. “Didn’t know it was going to be this chilly today,”

“You wanna wear my jacket?”

“You’ll be cold,”

“It doesn’t bother me,” he said, already taking off the jacket to the best of his one-handed ability. He was only wearing a gray sweater underneath. “I have something. See?” He doesn’t take no for an answer, taking your coffee and your bag from you so you could wear the colorful jacket.

“Thanks, Bear,” you said, smiling at him. The sight of you in his clothes does something to him and he couldn’t help except give you a slight nod before forging on in the chilly Chicago weather.

You both entered the Beef giggling amongst yourselves when the usual buzzing stopped.

“Remember when Luca—“

You halted, finding the silence odd. You looked around to see everyone looking at you.

“What’s wrong? Is something wrong?” Carmy asked, removing his hand from the small of your back. “Syd—“

“Love the sweater,” Richie teases. You look down and feel the warmth on your cheeks.

“It was cold and he asked me to wear it,” you shrugged, leaving Carmen to deal with the staff out front. You were signalling Sydney for help but she only looked away. Traitor. “Um—“

“Y/N, if you could please help me out here,” Carmy called you.

“Your boyfriend’s calling,”

“He’s not!” you huffed before walking over. “What is it?”

“I need you to time me, is that okay?” he asked. He nodded towards the stopwatch and you complied. “Thank you. I just need to check or like, map out the kitchen you know?”

“Of course,” you replied.

“Do you need help getting on—“

“It’s okay it’s just an old thing,” you replied.

“Yo, cousin! If you’re done eye fucking, Sugar needs you.” Richie calls.

“We’re not eye-eye fucking!” you complained. “What the fuck?” You stood up from your corner before you could even work and accidentally looked down. If a man is interested his feet will—

You move to the side and Carmy follows. And then to the side again.

“Y/N–“

“Stay there,” you asked, walking around him and him turning around. “Carm!”

“What?” he asked, grasping your shoulders. He looks down to his shoes. “Are my shoes dirty?”

“No, it’s just—“ you tried again but Carm still followed. “Sydney told me about like, how when a guy is, uh,”

“Cousin!”

“Fuck, okay. Let’s talk about it later okay? Once everyone’s out?” he asked, looking at you. “Can we do that?” His jacket felt softer on you than it ever did on him.

“Yea-yeah,” you nodded. “I’ll go help Sydney,”

The afternoon passed by and you were alone at The Bear. You waited for Carmen to finish up at the dining area like you promised. Your heart was beating so fast, maybe a thousand miles an hour. What Sydney said has been on your mind and what if it wasn’t true and you get embarrassed? Fuck, could you even handle that?

You sighed, burying your head between your hands when Carmy walks over to you.

“What’s up?” he asked. “Everything alright?”

“Y-yeah,” you nod. “Can you stay there and just, I don’t know, be Carmy?” you asked, standing up to test the theory again. He just stands there, dumbfounded. You circle around him and he follows. You were looking on the ground.

“Fuck, what the fuck?” he asked. “Is there something wrong with my shoes? I know they’re old and not—“

“Carmen, shh,”

“What?” he asked, grasping your shoulders for the second time that day to steady you. “What’s wrong?”

“Fuck, I don’t—“

“What’s wrong?”

“Sydney told me that there’s like, this body language thing and like, uh, says that when a guy is interested his shoes are always pointing at you and well, she told me to look at yours,” you rambled, looking away in embarrassment. “Look, if this will be weird between the two of us, I mean—“

“Why would it matter?” he asked, hands inching closer to your neck. He was nervous but maybe this is the opening that he’s been waiting for for years. When you didn’t reply, he asked again. “Why would it matter?”

“Because…because I’ve been trying to make you jealous for years in Copenhagen and it never worked,” you whispered. You were embarrassed. It felt like you were in high school telling your crush that you liked him. “I know you don’t see me that way,” you replied, trying to look for the right words. Carmy lets you finish. He wanted to hear you. “And it’s fine. If this is stupid, let’s forget that this ever happened. Okay? God, I’m so fucking embarrassed right now,”

“Hey, hey,” he cooes, his thumb tucked the hair back and then caressed your cheek. “Whoever said that I wasn’t jealous? I had to leave all the time because I was so fucking jealous. Those guys were cool. Don’t-don’t be embarrassed, okay? I like hearing that-you, uh, like me,”

“Carmy…don’t lie to me, okay? You don’t have to pretend—hm,”

Carmy had just kissed you. Carmen Berzatto just kissed you. You were clutching on his shirt so tightly, afraid that if he lets go, he’ll be gone. But he doesn’t. He just trails his hands down to your back, touching skin to skin until you’re one.

“I’ve been waiting years to do that,” Carmy rasps, breathing heavily.

“Yeah? Then, do it again,” you whispered, smirking slightly at how he seemed to blush hard. Before you could tease him though, he tucks your hair back again, bringing your lips closer to his.

He did.

A/N: Thank you for giving my recent fics so much love and for being so motivating. Your kind words really make my day and I hope that you love this too. Don’t forget to reblog and comment! Thanks again!

TAGLIST: @kpopgirlbtssvt

#carmen berzatto x reader #carmy berzatto x reader #carmen berzatto fanfiction #carmen berzatto #fanfiction #fluff #the bear #carmy berzatto #carmen berzatto x you #the bear fic #carmen berzatto fluff #the bear fx

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astermath · 1 year ago

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nemesis; part two.

pairing: carmen berzatto x fem!reader

summary: with carmen reworking the restaurant, you’d think his mind would be far too occupied to even think about anything else. yet he can’t shake the guilt from what he’d put you through a month prior. after some talks in therapy, he decides to take a leap of faith and see if he can talk it out with you. he not only wants to convince you that he can be better, but he's got an offer for you too. one you truly can't refuse.

♡ landing page ♡

word count: 4.9K

tags: carmen being unsure about his feelings but trying to be better episode 3265742, letting reader in a little more, APOLOGIES!!!, cursing ig, carm goes to therapy yippee, syd being the absolute realest, regular font below!

notes: sorry this took literally forever omg, I lost my carmen muse for a bit but we are SO back baby. I missed him so much and so sorry if some things don't follow the canon completely (I've been watching season 2 on and off bc I've been so busy lol BUT my fics never follow the canon completely anyways),, hope u guys enjoy and let me know if you'd like a part three ;))

lmk if you'd like to be added to the tag list for further carmen berzatto related content! comments and reblogs are highly appreciated!

Carmen’s life hadn’t known a moment of mental rest in ages. If you asked him when he last sat down with his thoughts or acknowledged his mental anguish, he probably would have said he couldn’t remember the last time. If ever.

With plans to completely revamp The Beef and everything that came with it, now his feelings should be the last thing on his mind. Renovation plans, unforeseen costs and a completely new menu, sure, he could worry his ass off about those, but feelings? Absolutely not. Good thing he was usually so good at suppressing those anyways.

So why was it that he couldn’t shake the thought of what he did to you?

Why, every time he had a moment to himself, would he be overtaken by this intense feeling of guilt? He didn’t even have to be alone, just a second of quiet and the image of you crying in distress would intrude on his thoughts.

It was getting to a point where he’d told his sister, Natalie, about it. Well, not all of it, he wasn’t even sure if he knew all of it. Just that he knows he hurt you, and that coming to terms with what he projected onto you might be a good first step in understanding himself better.

Or maybe it was something more along the lines of “I gotta talk my shit to some people”. Probably that.

To his surprise, it was actually helping. Besides the group therapy sessions where he’d talk about Mikey, the business and his future, he was talking to other people in his life too. Even told Sydney about you, kind of on accident. The words just seemed to… Flow out. It was probably the exhaustion doing its thing.

“I guess I just felt like,” he kept his eyes on the floor he was sweeping, “she was doing it all to fuck with me. I don’t even know where I got the sick idea that she had some obsession over me, but it— it drove me at the same time. It’s like her being on my heels at every aspect of culinary school just made me want to try even harder.”

“Maybe you painted her in that light because you knew it was a good way to keep pushing yourself.” Sydney spoke almost absentmindedly, sweeping the other side of the room. She listened to everything he said in the meantime, and though what he was telling her was a bit worrying, she was glad they got to have talks like this. Carmen often doesn’t like to bring up his past like that.

“Huh,” he paused sweeping for a moment, “yeah… yeah, maybe. Or maybe it was something else.”

Sydney wasn’t even sure he knew what he was referring to. It sounded like something entirely different, like a crush, but what kind of person treats their crushes like that?

Probably an overworked, pressured, overachieving culinary student with a dangerous need for validation. But she wasn’t about to tell him that.

“So yeah, I visited her restaurant, and… It just felt the exact same as back in New York, you know? Like she was rubbing it in my face again, and— and I know that sounds insane, or conceited, but I just can’t let it go. It’s like the thought of her is stuck to my brain like a stubborn piece of gum.” He wanted to smack himself for that stupid analogy, but what was said was said.

“So how’d you handle it?” Sydney’s head perked up, some of her braids now draping over her shoulders.

“Handle what?” Carmen became more and more uneasy the more he talked about you. Like his chest was tight, it was uncomfortable, but not in the way he was when the health inspection came by, it was different. Weirder. Unfamiliar. He didn’t like it, because he didn’t understand it.

“The talk with her.” She emptied the last bit of dust into the trash bag.

“Oh,” his mind took him back to the parking lot a month ago. The way he could almost taste the tears of your skin from how close he stood, he could hear the shakiness of your breath and the profound desperation in your voice when you apologized to him, when you really had no reason to.

If it was still so clear in his mind, then what must it be like for you?

“Carmen?” Sydney snapped him out of his oncoming train of thought.

“Yeah? Sorry, I— Uh, I don’t know it was…” He runs a hand through his hair, suddenly finding it in his best interest to look anywhere else but her face. “Bad. It was— It was bad.” He looks a bit shameful when he meets her eyes. “I fucked up. I like, went all New York boss on her. And then I just… Left.”

His colleague just stares at him for a moment. She knew what he was like when he snapped like that, but that was with his staff, people he liked. So how badly did he snap on you, a person he’d been resenting for years?

“I’m gonna go take out this trash, and uh… Head home.” She lifts the grey plastic bag she was holding. “But uh, Carm?”

“Yeah?”

“You got issues, man.” She has a bit of an awkward smile on her face, but he knows she means it. He knows she’s right. She usually is.

He nods, silently, letting her words sink in. He did have issues, everyone knew that, but most people didn’t just say it. That’s why he liked Sydney, she was so real, so honest. She was so good for the business, for the kitchen. And maybe her saying that to him was all part of grounding him in the reality of it all. Of his issues, just that they existed.

“Heard.” he says. His voice comes out raspier than he expected, like he’s struggling to say it.

“Goodnight, chef.”

“Night.”

He’d thought about what Sydney said the entire night. He does have issues, he knows that, he’s just mad at himself for letting everything get this far before seeking help. It scares him. Because it reminds him too much of Mikey. Or what he heard about him when things got bad.

He doesn’t want to make the same mistakes his brother did. Lock people out of his life just because it seems easier, because it’s better to minimize the damage than to figure out why you’re doing damage at all. And yes it’s uncomfortable, yes it’s scary, terrifying even. But he keeps being reminded of how it must feel for you.

It’s something he’d never considered before. He always thought he had you all figured out, all fake smiles and backhanded compliments to distract him. It never occurred to him to just… Ask. It was always just easier to assume. It fit his view of you and it kept him going, even if it was at the expense of ever getting to know you at all.

He’s hoping he can change that with a few text messages and a long, probably uncomfortable, talk over coffee. Just hoping, trying, that’s really all he can do. He’s well aware of how bad he is at communicating, but he has to give it a shot. For you, at least.

He stares at his phone screen for far longer than is necessary, continuously rereading the messages he’d typed. His eyes keep flicking to your contact, making sure he sent it to the right person. The only thing you two had texted about before was a time and place for him to try your new restaurant. His heart aches at the exclamation points and emojis you’d sent; you were so excited, and he drove all that excitement straight into the ground.

He closes his eyes and shuts off the phone. His chest hurts, like he’s been holding his breath the entire time. Maybe he has. You could have that effect on him, making it harder to breathe. He always wondered why he had such nervous reactions around you specifically. He always figured it had to do with your one sided rivalry, but it feels… Different. More complex.

Your eyes are finally peeled off your computer screen when numerous phone notifications alarm you. Truth be told, you’ve been trying your best to keep yourself occupied as much as possible. That usually helps when you get waves of emotions like this, keeping busy, distracting your mind from overthinking.

Ever since your last encounter with Carmen, you’ve been so on edge. Always trying to do something, anything, so you wouldn’t have to think about what happened, why he acted like that to you. Because you know if you did, you’d just start blaming yourself again, and you’d be back to square one.

Your eyebrows raise at the name of the contact. You were sure he’d blocked you, or at least deleted your number after last time. He was avoidant like that, and frankly, you weren’t sure if you wanted him to talk to you again after that anyways. Maybe it was just to drive the point home, make you feel even more worthless.

Still, you were curious. Even if it was just to cuss you out even more, at least you knew what to expect, right?

[carmen]: hey, I really want to talk to you about what happened last time.

[carmen]: well

[carmen]: I want to apologise

[carmen]: but I can’t do that like this

[carmen]: I’d much rather do it in person

[carmen]: if you’d let me

[carmen]: meet me at odette’s tomorrow around 10? coffee’s on me, I just want to talk

[carmen]: please

The last message was sent minutes later than the rest, while you were reading them. He was desperate for an answer, and though you wanted to hear him out, to talk to him, something in you felt off about the whole thing. Like he was just doing this to clear off his own guilt, only to then ditch you just like he ditched you after culinary school. Because you’re rivals, apparently. That’s what you do.

But then there’s something else in you too. The part that’s still nostalgic about New York with him. About the glances back and forth when you were timed on preparing certain things, about the way he’d stare at you when you got feedback, the ignorant bliss you lived in. When you still believed he might have liked you just a little.

That part of you takes the upper hand when you reply and take his offer. Your heart is in your throat, nerves overtaking you already and you weren’t even with him yet. He had that effect on you sometimes, making it harder to breathe.

You wondered what that meant.

Carmen sits alone at a booth, all the way at the back of the café he’d chosen. It’s rather quiet, as most Mondays are, yet at the same time, it’s so loud. Loud in the way he hears the clinking of every spoon against porcelain cups, the crinkling of a napkin and the not so subtle ticking of the clock above the entrance. 10:06. You were late.

Suddenly he's filled with more regret than he's ever felt before. He's not ready to see you again, only to be reminded of how he made you cry, and of his own tumultuous emotions and shortcomings that lead to this moment. It's surprising how fast the emotions he associates with you changed; he's not angry anymore, he's scared, guilty, nervous. He wants to see you so bad and yet he feels like you'd be better off never talking to him again.

It's too late to make a run for it when you finally walk through the door. Hair a little damp from the rain, just a bit disheveled from what he could only assume to be rushing over to the café. And that same angelic smile you offer to the barista that greets you, the same one you'd offer him every morning, whether he looked at you or not.

He had no choice but to look now.

Your smile falters into something more nervous, a little melancholic, when your eyes meet his across the café. Though you knew he was going to be there, something in you feels surprised to see him again. Maybe it’s because he isn’t yelling at you or throwing insults at your head this time. Or maybe because he’s actually looking you in the eye. Since when did he get so good at that?

You sit down across him, taking off your coat and putting your bag besides you.

“Hey.” You smile again, much more awkward this time.

“Hey.” He returns the same thin lipped smile.

It’s quiet for a few seconds. Carmen swears the whole café has gone silent in that moment, leaving the two of you to listen to the sound of your own breathing and heartrate picking up. You’re not sure where to look, not being used to being in such an intimate setting with him.

“Do you want a coffee?”

“Sorry I was late.”

You both talk over each other, and the urge to chuckle about it overtakes you. Carmen can’t help but smile as well. You seem nervous, and somehow that puts him a little more at ease. Like he’s not the only one who’s in their head about it.

“Sorry, I, uhm, yeah— I would like a coffee.” You scramble over your words. “Please.”

“Sure,” he nods, “and no worries.”

“Hm?”

“That you were late. I haven’t been here that long either.” He lied. He’d been there half an hour early, cursing himself for letting him sit along with his thoughts for that long and psyching himself out into almost leaving.

You both order and another heavy silence sits between you two. You both know why you’re there, what needs to be talked about. Yet neither of you know how to bring it up.

You’ve lived most of your lives believing this version of each other you had in your minds. Because it kept you grounded. Because it was easier. He never let you in and for the longest time, you were at peace with that. You could have a slightly distant view of who he was, your classmate, your rival. And he could do the same. Keep you out, pretend you were there to keep him on his toes, to always try to outdo him.

Those facades of each other don’t work anymore. The real world has forced you to reconcile with each other, whether you liked it or not.

Your coffee gets brought to your table, and both of you feel this urgency to say something, anything, at least.

“The pastries here are good too, if you want to get one.” He finally broke the awkward silence. He can start with talking about food, something he knows. If all else fails, resort back to that.

“I haven’t tried a pastry besides my own in a long time. Maybe I could learn a thing or two here.” You admit. He knows that feeling. He’s not nearly as adventurous with his food choices as he wants to be, but as a busy chef on the brink of a new entrepreneurship, it’s usually beef sandwiches and frozen meals.

“I think yours were better though.” He takes a sip of his coffee.

“Huh?” You look up, realizing you were avoiding eye contact by staring into your cup.

“The danish I tried at your place. It was fire.”

“Oh. Right. Thank you, we make everything from scratch.”

“I could tell.” He takes another sip. “I guess I— I kinda forgot to tell you that. In the heat of it all.” He huffs to himself. “Food was so good it made me upset.”

“Upset?” His word use frustrates you. Upset is when they forget to give you your sauce with your order. What happened back there was not upset. That was rage. Wrath. You raise an eyebrow and he realizes he said something wrong.

“Well, more than upset. Listen, I— We need to talk about what happened.” His blue eyes peer into your own. They’re almost distracting enough to avoid you noticing his fidgeting hands.

“I’m listening.” You lean back slightly in your seat. You’d played nice with Carmen all your life, given him every chance to return it. Now it was his turn to try.

"Right." Of course he has to talk. It's his fault, isn't it? He's the one who snapped-- why did he even imply you'd have to explain yourself? He runs a hand through his hair, and there he goes again, eyes darting across the café to find something to focus on as he sought out the right words. You'd almost find it endearing, how bad he is at this, if it wasn't so important to you.

"You don't do this often, do you?"

"What, like-- meeting up for coffee?"

"Talking about stuff. Your feelings and shit." You hid your slightly amused smile behind your coffee cup before taking a small sip.

"Oh. Yeah, no, I-- I don't. Not until recently." He takes a deep breath. Just like they had told him to. “I’ve been going to this therapy thing my sister recommended. S’not much, but… It’s a start. Talked about the restaurant, my brother—“

“Your brother?” Your eyebrows raise slightly.

“Yeah, my— my brother. Mikey.” He looks a bit surprised. He’s come to the shattering realization that he’s never told you anything about his personal life, ever. You don’t even know about one of the most important people in his life, his main drive. You’ve known each other for so long yet you know so little. “I never told you about him?”

“You never told me anything.” You answer curtly. “We never really… Talked, you know?”

“Yeah— yeah, you’re right. I just thought… Wow.” He smiles, more out of shock than anything. He feels so stupid. How immature is it to be feuding this much with a person who doesn’t know anything about you?

“I guess I really don’t know much about you either.” His fingers rake through his messy curls again. “Makes me feel like even more of an idiot for going off on you like that. Like I had you all figured out.”

“Yeah, that was uh... That was something." The mood shifts a little. His smile fades as soon as he sees the melancholy in your eyes return. Of course it wouldn't be that easy for you to forgive him, to feel better about all this. "You know, I never knew you thought of me like that." A small smile graces your features. Somehow it's sadder than the expression you had before.

"I mean, I knew you didn't like me. I was pretty much at peace with the fact that you were never going to like me, either. But I never thought you hated me that much." You sniffle, trying your hardest to blink away any oncoming tears. "Like your life, your entire career, would have been easier without me there at all."

His heart aches at the sight of you, all teary eyed and trying to be brave. You're much braver than him. Sadness is a much harder thing to express than anger. He's starting to figure that out more and more.

"I don't hate you." He starts. He sees the confusion contort your features, and he knows he's not making any sense. "I mean I did-- I did hate you. Or, maybe not you, just... The fucked up idea I had of you. And-- and that was on me, that was my own fault." He feels an urge to touch you; to rub your back, hold your hand, anything to comfort you. It's tearing him apart to know that he's the cause of all this.

"But why?" A single tear rolls down your cheek, leaving a wet streak on your skin in its wake. "Why did you think that about me? I-- I get that we had a little rivalry going but jesus Carmen, did you really think I spent my whole culinary school career trying to outdo you?"

"To be honest... Yeah." He feels ashamed. So ashamed. He hopes the waitress doesn't walk by and listen to any of this, see you crying, and make you feel even worse. "Cooking was always just... My thing. If I was good for anything, it would be that. So seeing you do so well at something I'd started to base my whole existence around, it made me jealous, so fucking jealous." He meets your eyes, even if it's hard. You have to know he's being sincere.

"And it's-- it's unfair, it's so unfair to you, I know, and I'm really fuckin' sorry. I'm trying to work on myself, on everything, and I hope I can prove that to you." His face has that red tint you recognize whenever he's nervous or stressed. You can tell this is taking a lot from him.

"Is that really all? You were just jealous?" Your voice is quieter, fragile almost.

"I don't know. I wanna think it's that simple but I really don't know. There's a lot I don't understand about me, or you, or us. My mind doesn't know how to react when I see you anymore I think, now that things are different." He takes a deep breath, like saying that took a physical toll on him. "You have this-- this weird effect on me, and I don't know how to cope with it. I think it was just easier to be mad at you than to be anything else."

Anger is easier to express than sadness. The easiest out of all emotions, actually. Sometimes a little too easy.

You look to the side, wiping your cheek with the back of your hand. You huff out something close to a laugh, and though he’s caught off guard by it, he doesn’t mind it. Even if you’re laughing at him, at least that means you’re not crying.

“You’ve got issues Berzatto. You know that?”

“Yeah. I’ve been told.” He smiles, and it’s heartfelt this time. Not nervous, or sad, or awkward. He’s happy to see you a little more at ease.

“It’s just really crazy to me.” You trace your finger over the edge of your coffee cup as you talk. “I spent so much time in culinary school looking up to you. And then I find out you were always just trying to keep up with me.”

Carmen’s eyebrows raise a little at your words. “Looked up to me?”

“Yeah, like… Your drive, your passion, it’s so impressive. Always looking to improve, to do better, it just— it inspired me to do better too. As cheesy as that may sound.” You smiled. “S’why I opened up in Chicago, you know.”

“Really? Huh.” He leaned back in his seat.

“Because I wanted to work with you. Or for you. Either would have been fine with me.” You sigh. “I like owning my own place, but… I don’t know, for some reason I always imagined us working together.” You smiled. “Is that stupid?”

“No,” he replied quickly, “no not at all, I— I totally get that.” He’s quiet for a few seconds, and you can practically hear the gears turning in his head when he stares at you for a moment.

“I mean you’re a remarkable chef, really, like— insanely remarkable, and, well, we’re revamping the restaurant completely right now. We need people— more people, new people, and so, I was wondering— or I’ve been thinking—“ He stops himself from losing his breath from all his rambling, before he freaks you out even more than he already has.

“I want you to come work for us at the Bear.” He puts his hands together, as if he’s about to beg. “Please.”

You can almost hear yourself blinking out of confusion. There’s suddenly no more loud silences, no, the café seems dead quiet for once. All you can do is stare at him, wait for a laugh, because clearly this was a joke right? There’s no way Carmen Berzatto, chef supreme, arch nemesis of yours, would want you anywhere near him, let alone work in his own establishment.

“I’m sorry?”

He feels stupid already. You had every reason to say no. He’d been the biggest asshole in the world to you, he’d kept his distance all his life, and now he expects you to be his employee. Or, well, colleague, more so.

“I’m uh— we’re redoing the restaurant entirely. New equipment, new staff, new everything.” He swallows; the thought of everything that needed to be done arises for a moment. “We need people that work hard, who know what they’re doing and who are passionate about it. And I barely know anyone who’s better at what you do than yourself.” He pauses, waiting for you to stop him. But you don’t.

“So I’m asking if you’d work for me. With me. It won’t be anything like old days, if anything I— I need to learn from you.” He scoffs at himself. “Could take a thing or two about how to communicate with my staff.”

You smile, and he genuinely thinks you’re about to start laughing at him. You chuckle, but it’s not mean, it’s honest. Cute.

“You know, you have great timing.” You grin.

“I do?” the smile on his face reflects the hope he feels.

“One of my chefs wants to take over the place for me. Well, has been wanting to. I haven’t had an exact reason to say yes to her yet.” You shrugged. “Guess I do now.”

“…Is that you saying yes?”

“It’s definitely not me saying no.” Your eyes meet his, and there’s something between you both that’s different now. It’s not like there’s a switch that’s been flipped. It‘s more like this conversation was the turning page of a new chapter.

“I’ll think about it. I want to see it first. Maybe talk to some of your staff.” Carmen’s chest strains a little when he thinks about you interacting with Richie. Then he’s reassured when he thinks about you interacting with Sydney or Marcus. You’d fit in well, you have great feeling for people.

“Yeah— yeah, I get that. Totally. I can arrange that. Uhm, we’re renovating right now, actually, it’s all really kinda wild, but if you wanna stop by, chat with Syd, or Nat, or talk about the plans, let me know. I’m sure they’d love to talk to you.” He’s not lying, you seem like you’d get along well with them. Especially Sydney. Your thinking processes are very similar to each other. And to his.

Carmen gets the bill, even though you try to pay for it.

“It’s just a coffee, just let me get this one.”

You let him have this one, simply because you can’t argue with him after the conversation you just had. You’re in too good of a mood after his proposition too.

He walks you to your car, hands in his pockets when you reach it. It’s cold outside, and his breath comes out in visible puffs of air. His nose is a little red, but you think it looks cute.

“Thanks for coming, by the way,” he starts, “I know you didn’t have to. Like— after how I acted to you. But— But I really do appreciate that you’re givin' me a chance here.” He’d always been confused about how positive and faithful you were in people. He never thought he’d be grateful for those exact features too.

“No worries, I… I had a good time. I’m glad we talked.” The keys jingle as you fidget with them. Among them is a keychain in the shape of a cherry, he recognizes it. It reminds him of how little you’ve both changed. And how much.

“Yeah.” He sighs. Relieved, almost. “Me too. But I’ll let you leave, might wanna tell your chef the good news.”

“Good news?” You quirk an eyebrow.

“That you’re selling them the business.”

“I haven’t decided yet, Carm.” You scoff. But he can tell you have, you look too excited about it all to not have your mind made up yet. It excites him too. Scares him a bit as well, but what’s a new chapter without a bit of tension?

“Right. Sorry.” He huffs. “Just text me when you wanna head over to see the place. It’s uh… It’s a work in progress, but it’s getting somewhere.”

“I believe you. I’m looking forward to it.” You lean back against your car a little.

“Yeah. Me too.”

“See y’around?” You unlock it and walk up to the driver’s side.

“Course. Uh, don’t be a stranger.”

You grin, leaning down to get into the vehicle. “Never with you, Berzatto.”

He watches you drive off, standing in the cold for far longer than any sensible person has any business standing there. But he feels good. He feels warm.

He thinks about what you said to him before you left. You were right, you were never a stranger to him. You were always like a constant in his life; whether you were actually present or not. And even if he didn’t know that much about you, which he was insistent on changing, you were never a stranger.

Never with him.

tag list <3

@beebslebobs @thatone-brightstar @spr3id @deadandstill @777iii @magicboytrash @dogdevourer @wiipes @sierrahhh @crayzmarvelfan800 @azxulaa @astridyoo15 @rexorangecouny @azxulaa @jointherebellion215 @diorrfairy @chanluuvr @idontexist-anymore @wolfiealina

#carmenmath #aster writes the bear #carmen berzatto writing #carmen berzatto x fem!reader #carmen berzatto x reader #carmen berzatto x you #carmen berzatto the bear #carmen berzatto imagine #carmen berzatto fic #carmen berzatto blurb #carmen berzatto x y/n #jeremy allen white imagine #jeremy allen white fic #carmy berzatto #carmen berzatto the bear fx

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readingwiththereids · 1 year ago

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yanda! speaks: hello my pretties! as promised, here is chapter 2! again, minimal carm so i’m sorry but we do get to see camila interact with the rest of the gang <3 hope you like it, don’t forget to like and reblog! lots of love and light 🤎

masterlist

night rain ; chapter 2

2022

Emilia was hyper and extremely difficult to tire out. Even after a two-hour trip to the park filled with nonstop monkey bars and swings, the young girl still always had another activity in mind for her and her mother to do. And that was why Camila was currently trying to stop Emilia from jumping from couch to chair and cracking her head open as they played “pirates”.

“Emmy, I swear to God if you jump, I won’t make you pudding for a week.” Camila yelled as she eyed her daughter sternly.

As the toddler huffed and sat down on the arm of the couch, a muffled ringtone sounded from under the pile of toys on the living room floor prompting Cam to rush to answer. It was Tina.

“Mami? ¿Qué pasó?” [What happened?]

“Why would you assume something happened, Camila? What if I just wanted to hear your voice?”

“Because when I tried to call you during the day last week you told me to, and I quote, ‘hop off your dick’.”

“Okay but that was different, I actually want something from you now.”

“So you do need something.” Camila chuckled into the speaker.

“Yes. Yes, whatever, God you’re just as bad as the new girl.”

“Who?”

“No one. Could you please be my darling daughter and bring me one of my extra clean aprons? Your boyfriend won’t stop yelling at me about it.”

Ignoring the way her mother referred to Carmy, Camila replied watching Emilia start to yawn on the couch, “Are you aware that your darling daughter is also the mother to a two-year-old?”

“Isn’t it nap time? Just bring her with, she can sleep in the car.”

A pause.

“Will you take care of her on Friday during the gala?”

^^^^^^^^^

“I’ll be right back.” Camila whispered as she exited and locked her child in the car.

5 minutes. Just 5.

The woman thought as she hesitantly walked through the door of The Beef before being met with almost half a dozen bodies hovering around what seemed to be sandwiches.

“Cam?”

Marcus spotted her first, immediately walking around the group to engulf her in a huge bear hug. Suddenly everyone was surrounding her. She couldn’t even count how many hugs, kisses on the cheek and pats on the back she received from her chosen family. The commotion obviously summoned the king of noise and ruckus himself, Richie and an unknown girl with multi-coloured braids trailing behind him.

“As I live and breathe!” Richie’s voice boomed through the front of house.

“Hey, Cousin.” Camila laughed as he picked her up and spun her around.

“Feel like I haven’t seen you in ages, Mini.”

“Likewise,” she said before turning to the girl she had yet to be introduced to. “Camila, nice to meet you.” she smiled.

“Hi! My name’s Sydney, I’m staging today.”

“Awesome, I hope everyone’s made you feel welcome.”

Angel stepped in, clearing up the confusion on Sydney’s side. “Cam is Tina’s daughter.”

“And Carmen’s ex-girlfriend.” Ebra loudly whispered.

“Ebraheim, you know you can’t whisper.” Tina rolled her eyes, slapping his arm.

Breaking the awkwardness, Sweeps walked up to Camila with a sandwich in his hand. “Yo, you gotta try this.”

“Holy shit, this is fu-”

“Fucking fire, we know!” Richie groaned. “I don’t know why you all act like Cousin shits out a golden egg every time he makes something, nothing is that good!”

“Well, have you tried it, Richard?” Camila asked.

The scruffy man paused before shaking his head as if that was one of the most absurd questions anyone had ever dared to utter in his presence.

“Exactly,” Cam continued. “Also, I’ve seen you eat a slice of pizza off the floor in the middle of Millennium Park, so I’m not entirely sure if your standards are up to code, Rich.”

That statement resulted in many exclaims and expressions of disgust, amusement and pure shock which were all interrupted when the kitchen door slammed open.

“Alright! Everyone stop standing around, we only have an hour left till-”

When Camen looked up from his phone and saw the very reason his employees refused to get back to work, he froze. Believe it or not, this was the first time in three years that he had seen Camila’s face. After she left, she never told him where she went, removed him from all her social media, left some money for him to pay off their apartment and basically disappeared off of the face of the earth. It hit him hard at first but he soon realised that he had to just keep going, keep himself busy, which his career did a fine job at.

However, it still felt weird seeing her again. Not exactly like reopening an old wound but rather reminding him of one that never really healed, that he’d just forgotten was still hurting.

Due to his train of thought, Carmy failed to notice that the room had almost entirely cleared out, leaving just him and the woman he’d been in love with once (and honestly was still in love with).

“Hi.” he eventually croaked out.

“Hi.” she smiled sadly.

yanda! speaks (again): cam in her bad mom era tbh. like girl why are you leaving your child in the car in the middle of river north?? 🤨

🏷️ list: @rexorangecouny @louderfortheback

[dm me to get on the tag list :b]

#carmen berzatto #carmen berzatto fic #carmen berzatto x reader #carmen berzatto imagine #the bear #the bear fanfiction #the bear fic #the bear fx #carmen berzatto x oc

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sydneyadamuhusband · 1 year ago

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SYDRICHIE FANFIC (cause im not good at titles, people) part one

note: never worked in a restaurant, I barely even know what I am saying with the slang being tossed around. Let's hope it makes sense.

words: 5k (ish)

rating: gen.

warnings: light mentions of anxiety. (And possible misspellings, im sorry in advanced)

﹋﹋﹋﹋﹋﹋﹋﹋﹋﹋﹋﹋﹋﹋﹋﹋﹋﹋﹋﹋﹋﹋﹋﹋﹋﹋﹋﹋﹋﹋

It was peak hour and the tickets were coming in hot and fast. Richie was out on the floor, serving food to guests and buttering them up while Sydney was yelling out the rapid orders and taking them down.

They were packed tonight and people’s orders were shooting out the ticket machine faster than Sydney could see.

Clashing sounds of dishes, silverware and cups were all around. Clouds of steam and smoke were in the air followed by sizzling. Plates and plates were being dished out and walked in what felt like milliseconds to Sydney.

Unlike the first night, Sydney was prepared. Her braids were held back into a tight bun and draped over with a sharp white bandana wrapped tight around her head, her eyes darted with each order with proficiency, and her hands were quick to scratch out orders.

She was getting in a zone, a fast and stressful zone and it felt freeing. The zone wasn’t safe nor a fun, not even close. But somehow that made it more exhilarating.

She had control over the life of chaos and it was powerful. Being able to handle it and go with the flow in a world that felt like it had none, now that was a feeling like no other

Everything was under control and even if it wasn’t; Richie, Tina, Marcus, Sweeps and Sugar got her. Hell, even Fak got her. They have each other, they hired an excellent group. Everything was under her control.

Well almost everything.

“That’s not cooked all the way you are supposed to steam. them.” It was Carmy’s voice Sydney heard. Unfortunately she wasn’t surprised.

He was in tonight, disheveled and tired practically screaming down the ear of an employee, Jacob.

“Do you know how to steam vegetables chef!?” Carmy is practically on the guy's ear.

The vegetables are burnt with a tangy smell in the air floating all over the kitchen, Sydney’s nose wrinkles. The station’s stove is too hot obviously with the burst of more and more smoke coming out of the pot’s rim. But Sydney can’t focus on that right now.

“Fire two by two t-bones!” The chefs respond to Sydney quickly. “Thank you chefs!’

Jacob is shaking like a leaf, his blond hair starting to fall out of place as he quickly restarts his process of cooking. His hand’s trembles as he cuts. Carmy is still there though. He hovers over him with cold blue eyes, practically trying to pierce into him with his glare.

Sydney looks down, “Fire bucatini two by two. T-bone to table 15 please!” The chefs responded.

As long as they can get through it without paying too much attention to Carmy, they’ll be good. His yelling got louder though. Sydney can see the poor chef shrink under Carmy.

Carmy kept asking rapid questions leaving strays of spit and vicious anger flying everywhere. His face was getting hotter by the second. At this point, it looked like his goal was to keep yelling until his face turned blue.

Sydney tries to interfere. “Chef!-”

“Not now, Chef” Carmy replies smoothly to Sydney before she’s able to finish. He keeps his eyes on his target the whole time. “Answer the question, Chef.”

“Yes chef, I know how to make veg...vegetables, chef…” The man whimpers quietly.

Oh boy.

The air is thick in the kitchen next to it’s usual smokey delicious air from the various foods they cooked.

His hands were shaky and he was practically vibrating with the vibrato of Carmy’s voice. He was starting to get too loud. The other chefs were staring, distracted by their works which Sydney had to remind and repeat commands to them to get the orders across correctly.

Carmy kept pestering the chef to go faster and faster, cook better. Holy shit he was so red. Sydney looks back down, four more orders past her, fuck.

“We gotta go move faster chefs, fire two fishes, four by four copenhagen, one focaccia to table 11 please, walk bucatini, cannolis two by two!”

“You’re falling behind!” Carmy’s voice comes into view at the wrong time. Even though it wasn’t directed at her, Sydney still flinches with a pang of aching in her stomach.

They really were starting to fall behind right now.

“Fire two t-bones?” One of the chefs asked.

“Sorry, chef.” The man says, “I can’t focus with you this close-” Sydney can’t focus on that right now. She’ll deal with Carmy later. The five more tickets fire.

Sydney looks back at the chef who asked and shakes her head vehemently.

“No-” She glances at the clock, 5 more minutes. “Fire two fishes, four by four copenhagen,” She scratches out the various food items on the list below her.

So many fucking papers everywhere and the tickets won’t stop…

“One. Focaccia. To. table. 11. Please, walk the bucatini. And Marcus,” he raises his head up, “Cannolis two by two.”

Marcus nods, “Yes chef.”

He got her. The chefs are cooking, they got her. It’s fine they got this.

“Fire three t-bones and a welcome broth for table 12 and 8!” A rough jagged sigh drags from Sydney, “two by two focaccia.” And she keeps continuing the list.

“Four by four…” Deal with Carmy later,

“Two by two…” 4 1⁄2 minutes..

“Another four by four…” Why is Carmy so fucking loud?

“..to table 14 please!” Why is the ticket machine so loud??

“...hands for cannolis please, thank you chef!” Why is Sydney’s brain so fucking loud???

The kitchen’s door opens, it’s Richie.

He has a brisk pace, strolling in smoothly and so casually. He’s calm, level headed and relaxed. Sydney needs whatever fuck he’s on make him so easy going and clear headed in times like these.

He’s fixing his suit, pressing any creases and folds out with rough palms. He’s watching them, encouraging them yet pestering them to quiet and settle down so softly and nicely.

Good god it’s so uncanny of him. No more sweats, no more overpowering pine tree cologne, no more yelling and obnoxiously loud talking. He’s just oddly mature and reasonable, mannered and good. He smells good

And with that suit He looks so…

Sydney looks back down the tickets and continues calling out orders. She has no time to address whatever the hell that was because that’s not important. No more looking at Richie of all people like that.

Out of the corner of her eye, she sees when Richie finally glances over at Carmy who’s lashing out on the chef next to him. He turns to face Sydney and their eyes meet for a brief moment as he fiddles with the cuffs of his suit.

Richie leans over to her, close enough for just her to hear. His breath brushed against her skin. His hand on her shoulder.

“Carmy’s gonna need to step out, Syd.” He says and Sydney knows he’s right, “The customers can hear him.”

Just as she expected. Sydney looks over to him now, he’s close. He stares at her with those bright eyes, they're like ocean waves crashing in the sea on a sunny day.

Unlike any of the other times they have gotten close and personal in each other's spaces, Richie doesn’t smell like cheap cologne and cigarettes. He smells fresh, minty and so good. He’s looking at her soothing concerned eyes.

How are they always getting this close and personal in each other’s spaces?

She nods at him. “I know.” and Richie gets it.

He watches as she sorts out the orders for a brief moment, like he’s assessing what he was gonna do. Camry was still yelling, getting red in the face. It reminds Richie of someone but he quickly lets that thought pass him.

Richie takes a breath and begins to make his way over to Carmy. He slips behind chefs, announcing his presence incase of a run-in. Some are giving Carmy quick glances that dart between him and Richie, asking if they should do something. Richie just nods at them to continue their work and they do.

He squeezes in between Carmy and the chef.

The guy was trembling, nearly knocking into other equipment.Maybe if Carmy could just calm the fuck down, the chef could do what he’s ask him.

Richie clears his throat. "Hey, cousin-"

“Back the fuck off, Richie.” Carmy doesn’t even hesitate to say.

But Richie wasn’t going to back down. This restaurant needs to thrive and Richie isn’t letting one (or a couple of) bad day(s) fuck up this resteraunt. Especially since Carmy himself worked so damn hard for it.

“No.” Richie says plainly, “You gotta step out or calm down Carm, the customers can hear you.” He tries to reason. But Carmy shakes his head softly,

"What? you trynna say I'm fucking up business?"

"Two by two for bucatini." Sydney's voice rings in the kitchen, 2 ½ minutes left.

Richie raises his hands in a soothing gesture, softly shaking his head, "You know I would never say that, cousin."

Carmy doesn't meet Richie's eyes. He paces around, hands on hips. Eyebrows furrowed, Richie tried to meet Carmy's eyes again but he refused to look at him. It doesn't even seem like Carmy was looking at anyone or anything.

Richie grabs a hold of Carmy's arm in the middle of his pacing"Hey hey!" Carmy doesn't respond, his head down.

Richie likes to say he knows Carmy, hell he practically grew up with him and Mikey. He was changing the fucker’s diapers and taking him to school in a beat up honda. He should know Carmy.

He should be able to read him just as well as he could read Natalie or Mikey. But it wasn’t the case at all. Whatever the fuck was happening right now had Richie feeling like he was being thrown to the sharks.

It makes him anxious, and when he gets anxious, he gets shitty thoughts.

Thoughts about Donna, the way she blows up in people’s faces and lashes out so viciously. Thoughts about Mikey and how he was acting months before what happened. How he felt like he was being thrown to the sharks with him too. Got that same pit in his stomach like now…

They just kept coming. They do this really fucked up thing where they fill up in his brain, removing any distractions so his attention is on them. And they like to whisper at him. Tell him shit that he knows everybody would disagree too.

“You’re worthless..”

“You serve no purpose..”

“You’re a loser..”

He tries not to agree with them and let them win. But sometimes they’re just so loud and they remind him of—

Sydney’s chuckling but there’s no humor to it “You wanna talk about fucking ugly, Richie?”

—things he’d rather not think about.

Richie's grip tightens on him, Carmy flinches but doesn't move his head, "Cousin." No response again.

"You're getting too loud and you're holding your staff behind. Go step out for a minute, cousin" Richie whispers

Carmy glares at Richie.

Sydney voice calls from what feels like afar "Hands for Cannolis please."

“Yes Chef!” Fak says. Fak and Sweeps were the only ones out there. Richie can't be here all day, they have job to do. So he straightens up

"I'm serious." Richie gives him a hard stare. "Put on your big boy pants—“

“Don’t fucking tell me-“

“This is your restaurant cousin.” Richie continues, “don't you wanna see it exceed?" He emphasizes by sticking a finger out to Carmy’s chest.

It was ironic to think about. All the other times Richie has brought up this place being Carmy’s, it was usually as a way to talk shit. This time though, he was being sincere.

Reminds Carmy of the times Richie would apologize for yelling too harshly at him when he was nine. Or when he tried encouraging him on his academics in when he was in high school. It's raw, close and loving. Cause Richie cares about him and his little dream of a fancy restaurant.

That what's makes Carmy pause.

He's still staring at Richie but it's no longer a glare. It's just painful and blue. Like how his eyes would get when Mikey and him didn't invite a young Carmy to any of their parties. It sends nostalgic wave down Richie's back.

Finally, Carmy was stepping away, a hand drags down his face. He briefly looked at the chef, finally out of the dream (or nightmare). The poor guy was shaken up, eyes stinging and nose runny.

"Fuck. I'm sorry.." Carmy raises a hand and the guy moves away. "Yeah I'll uh, I'll step out"

The crew watches as Carmy walks from Richie and for the back door, his head low. The restaurant is silent again for a moment. Then Sydney calls out another order and the chefs are back at it.

Like Sydney said, they got her. Richie got her.

The Bear was going great, amazing actually. It honestly felt unreal. The work, frustration, anger, fees oh the fucking fees and construction had paid off so smoothly. The restaurant was upscaled now, beautiful and classy. It was a complete turn around from the beef.

The kitchen was sleek and pristine, no more random stains and ominous (possibly expired) food in the refrigerator. The chefs worked together strategically and were actually taking the job seriously.

Richie cleaned up pretty well and really improved on himself. He was still charismatic and raunchy. But during work he really toned himself down, became more softer and mature, stayed relaxed during peak hours, and Sydney has barely even had an argument with him in the past week.

It was incredibly weird but Sydney was grateful for it.

She does get an aching pit of guilt every time they talk though. Mostly about the day she quit and the things she said (and did) to him.

She should probably talk to him about it and apologize.

“Syd, you good in there?” Speaking of which. Richie taps at his forehead with his hand, the other holding the steering wheel as he drives.

The night had settled and morning came, the blue and purple waves came to paint the sky as the sun began to arise. Chicago's mornings were cold and brisk as the weather changed and Sydney could see her breath visibly each time she spoke.

She shimmies in her jacket, Richies AC’s still busted but hey, he cleaned the car up pretty good. No more Arby's cups (or bags) scattered around the floor.

“Yeah. Just thinking.” She replies absentmindedly. Her body’s slumped in Richie’s passenger seat.

“Don’t hurt yourself.” Richie teases.

“I should be saying that to you.”

“Yo you’re gonna be old too like me one day.”

“Oof don’t remind me.” And Richie laughs.

“Cold blooded, Syd, cold blooded.”

For the past few weeks, they’ve practically been carpooling. It started off as a one-off's, or just plan b's incase it was super late and money was tight. In plus Richie offered and Sydney doesn't turn down free rides. She was more than fine with sitting in tense, awkward silence as he takes her home.

But then it kinda became a habit. Richie always offered and Sydney always needed to save up money anyway.

Soon enough he was taking her everyday practically. They were listening to prank calls on the radio with small snickers and snorts by the absurdity. Sometimes quoting iconic lines to each other after work. Or listening in on talk about recent celebrity drama. Or maybe just sitting in silence as the engine rumbled.

The silence tension dimmed with every ride and soon enough, became comfortable and it was kind of calming. Something calm and quiet for once in the hectic world Sydney lived in. It was so so nice. To the point that Sydney was actually looking forward to the rides.

And Richie did that. So. Fucking. Weird.

She reminds herself to apologize. She'll find a way to. Kinda feels like it's a big conversation to have that needs time to be talked about.

But who was she kidding? Sydney chuckles at that thought. She doesn’t even have time for herself, let alone Richie.

“What’s funny?” Richie asks softly. Softly, surprising isn't it?

Funny thing about Richie is that in the morning his voice is so low and soft with a slight rasp. It's like whiplash to Sydney every time she hears that calm and quiet voice.

She wonders what he looks like just waking up in the morning. What his routine is like. Maybe he makes weird old man noises when gets up. Maybe he drinks coffee. He looks like he drinks his coffee straight black.

Then she immediately shoves those questions down into the deep pits of her brain to discuss with herself about later when she finds the time.

Which she probably won't so she's fine with that.

“You saw that video I sent you on instagram?” Richie ask.

“Yes I did and that was not funny at all.” Sydney remembers that dumbass video (and the other thousand videos) he sent her. She regrets ever giving him her instagram account.

She did skim through his though. Just a tiny skim.

He mostly post about sports teams, family, or Taylor swift? Didn’t expect him to be a Swifite but no judgment.

She saw his daughter, he post about her a lot. She’s adorable. Got those same bright blue eyes like her dad.

Richie smacks his lips “Ehh you don’t get it.” He makes a turn, “You’ll get it when you're my age.”

Sydney shakes her head, “Sure Richie, sure.”

The air between them is nice. Sydney liked it. Liked it feeling nice. She didn’t want to ruin that with weird feelings. She’s just gonna let the air be nice and not weird.

No weird air. Weird air can go fuck off. She’s not gonna be weird about this. She got better things to focus on, like the damn restaurant. And Carmy

Speaking of which, The Bear was doing good, stressful but good. A lot of orders means they’re getting a crowd. Means people like the food. Just need a new cook. They're good.

But Carmy. He's not good. Obviously. Sydney still doesn’t know what happened that night in the walk-in, but it was affecting Carmy and as a result, the chef’s workflow.

They’re lucky Jacob didn’t quit after what happened last night, they don’t need to be short of two chefs when they could barely find one as it is.

The new chefs, bless their hearts, have been getting the grunt of Carmy’s wrath. Mixed in with a couple of back and fourths he’s been having with Sydney. Which reminds her of Richie which gives her so much whiplash.

It’s like the two switched personalities on some Freaky Friday shit. Now Carmy is stressing her out more than anything.

Honestly, he's stressing everyone out.

He needs a break. (And he needs a damn hug, guy got a resting face of a depressed orphan puppy).

For the restaurant and for Carmy himself. Dude has just been so out of it it’s seriously scaring Sydney. When she’s talking to him, his gaze just seemed to be somewhere else so distant and far. Like he was in a different reality altogether.

Which Richie pointed out was weird cause he quotes, “always makes weird googly eyes at you Syd, kid’s obviously fucked.”

Which is–

Sydney’s not even going to go into that. No time for whatever the hell he’s going on about.

They pulled up into the parking lot, Natalie seemed to already be there. They come up right when she had gotten of her car, her hair blowing light with cold air.

Richie eyes her coat "She looks like a fucking eggplant.” He’s not entirely wrong.

She was wearing a warm looking purple jacket with a matching beanie, her hands shoved down into her pockets. She looked really snugged, probably warmer than Sydney is in this freezer like car. Dude really got to fix his AC.

But it's not like he has money for that anyway.

“You look like the grim reaper.” Sydney shoots back.

Small little smile grows on Richie’s face. He had on his infamous suit again, looks nice as always. And very professional. And that is all Sydney has to say about that damn suit. Not else. No other thoughts.

Richie murmurs as they pull up. “Better than looking like an eggplant.” And Sydney snorts.

Soon enough they were out of the car and coming to Natalie. She looked very worried…and tired. Her eyes were big and round with just worry all in them and her eyebrows were scrunched upwards.

Sydney, Richie and Natalie were all huddled in a circle at the front of The Bear, mostly for warmth.

Natalie crosses her arms, feet antsy. "You know, I really don't think he's okay..." she kept her voice low and soft like someone who hear besides them two.

Sydney noticed how her lips folding in on one another every breath she takes in-between talking.

"He's been really out of it lately." Natalie adds.

Richie nods in agreement, arms crossed and frame high.

"Was he ever okay?" Sydney says but immediately cringes at her wording. Richie and Natalie grimace at it.

Sydney's green jacket moves awkwardly with her as she tries to explain. "Sorry like- Was he, was he always like this but like-"

"Was he always so distant and estranged? I mean for these past couple of years, yes." Natalie began to answer, nodding along,"Have I ever seen him so..like that?" She takes a deep breath.

Her eyes are drawn down, her fingers begin to play with the fabric of her purple coat.

"No. Never."

Richie rubs a hand across his beard before grabbing his cigarettes. It'd be the first time in a while that Sydney had seen him smoke.

She guessed a new suit, proper manners, and calm mask doesn't fix a nicotine addiction and stress from work. She watches him as he pulls it out of his slick black suit and sticks one in his mouth. His lips aren’t necessarily pursed around the cig, more like dangling from the side of his mouth.

They seemed a little smooth too. Must've some chapstick on them. Maybe she was staring too hard because when she looked away from the, Richie’s eyes were on her's curiously.

She looks away.

‘stop it’, She scolds herself. No time to unpack or understand that.

Sydney turns her focus back to Natalie who hugs herself closer to her body. Her knit eyebrows creased her skin. She's looking at the ground as if the broken pavement and stomped out buds had the answers.

Sydney has bigger things to focus on. Carmy is the priority right now, not however the hell Richie smokes cigarettes or his lips.

"I don't want him working here," Natalie answers truthfully, "I understand it's his dream but, I don't want this to destroy him." Richie and Sydney get it.

It's Sydney who reaches out first, rubbing her arm soothingly. She gives her soft 'it's okay’ even if she doesn't believe it herself.

“I told him that he spent too much time here…I told him.” It's a quiet remark that could barely be heard under the breezy wind.

Richie grasps her shoulder with a sympathetic nod as well. the same way he did to Sydney a previous night.

“The kid’s not doing so great."

Way to state the obvious, Richie. Sydney doesn't say that out loud.

But it didn't take a genius to tell what she’s thinking by the look she gives him. Richie ignores it.

"The Claire thing has got em all screwed up right now." Richie continues. His words work around the cigarette. “He needs some time away from here so let’s give him that. Some time away from here and some support so he can get his shit together. Don't like seeing him like this.” Richie says that last part low.

“Yeah..” Natalie breathes.

It was strange how much he had changed in his week and it made Sydney think. Did he really change all that much?

Or was he always like this?

She thinks back to when he apologizes for the gun. When he asks her if she's okay after somebody shot their glass. Took accountability and felt guilty for the cigarettes being left out on the stove. How he was trying to help her with those damn vegetables when everything went to hell with the pre-order shit. How he was actually trying to help everyone that day.

How he didn't even give her shit for the knife.

‘Apologize to Richie about the knife’, She reminds herself. She should start putting some sticky notes on her mirror, her dad does that.

Sydney clears her throat and nods, "Agreed." She says simply, smoothing out her hair, "I'll text him that I can do interviews on my own."

Again, she thinks. Last time it was because of Claire too. Sydney didn't really know what happened to them, just that it was a pretty rough breakup.

She remembers trying to go back to comfort Carmy in some way that night. But the moment she was back inside, Richie had stopped her.

He had an inordinately soft look on his face, his posture heavy with ache. She doesn’t know what happened back there but from the looks of it, Richie and Carmy must’ve gotten into it. He placed a gentle hand on her shoulder and shook his head lightly.

It was the second time they had gotten close that night, the same good smell from earlier coming in to fill her senses. He rubs the thick hand on her shoulder as he dragged his palm up and down in a soothing gesture as if she was the one who’s hurt.

“He needs some time” is what Richie said that night, “Just go home, Syd, he’ll be okay.” Sydney remembers it vividly.

She also remembers wanting to give Richie a hug, pat, or something to soothe his troubles away. He looked like he really needed a warm hug. Maybe something even warmer..

She also remembers trying to shove that thought down the moment it reared it’s ugly head nights after. She has no time for that.

"Interviews?" Natalie asks. "For what? I thought all our spots were filled."

Sydney thins her lips. "Yeah well uh, Josh was smoking meth out back so obviously..." She trails off but Natalie understands nods.

Half of Sydney wishes she didn't tell her cause Natalie looks like she was just given a stack of paper work to do.

Natalie sighs, "Fucker..."

Richie softly snort.

“Yeah." Sydney grabs onto her bag at the hip, feeling for her papers through the fabric as a way to remind her of their presence, "The interviews are going to start at 10."

"Shit I'm sorry I can't help." Natalie softly murmurs, "I got an appointment at like 11:30."

Sydney smiles, it doesn’t reach her eyes though, "I'll be fine, don't worry."

Natalie still looks worried but she smiles, thankful. It seems like a worried face is the only thing she pulls these days. She really needs a break. Her sleeping schedule was worn around her eyes. Her skin’s been looking sickly for a while and Sydney can’t help but think the stress from here is what’s causing it the most.

“Okay, well" Natalie whispers quietly and then glances at her watch, "I should probably go, just wanted to uh talk to you guys real quick."

She goes in for a hug to Richie. Sydney watches the way Richie hugs her. He seems a bit surprised at first but he accepts no less. She watches the way he engulfs her into his arms. They wrap around her nice and snug with a lil squeeze and give her a soft lil pat on the back at the end.

He really likes giving those tiny little pats. He even does it to pens, markers and papers.

He whispers something low and quiet that gets a weak but genuine chuckle out of Natalie before he lets go. He relaxes at the smallest glimpse of a smile from her. Like it was a make or break moment. It's really sweet to see him care so much.

Once again, Richie was surprising Sydney.

"Bye." Natalie says as she now hugs Sydney. She’s warm and soft. Her hugs are surprisingly really comforting. But for some reason all Sydney can think about is how Richie’s hug must've felt.

To be pressed against his chest of nice black fabric and good cologne. To have his voice dangling above her ear, whispering some shitty joke just to hear her laugh. Would he ever even give Sydney one if she needed it? Would he give her a little pat at the end?

Sydney brushes those thoughts away and returns the hug, squeezing just a bit too tight.

She whispers before letting go. "Take care of yourself." And watches a warm but exhausted and fragile smile slip on Natalie's face before peeling away.

Soon, Natalie and her car were out of sight, leaving only Richie and Sydney. Alone. Together. It felt different from the car rides. Usually there's some type of low music, or just comfortable slience in the air as they drive to their destination. Now it feels weird.

It was quite early. Interviews don't start yet and they weren't exactly scheduled to be open today anyway. Sydney just came a little early to set up. Basically, there was no point for Richie to be here.

But he was anyway, standing around awkwardly. With a cigarette still lit, he takes a couple of drags.

“You don't have to stay, you know?' Sydney says and immediately regrets. "Like not in a mean way just like- if you're staying cause I'm here you don't have to." She fiddles with the restaurant keys as she speaks. “Like I don’t mind and-”

“Yo, I understand.” Richie looks down at her, seemingly amused. It was still so weird for her to see him so patient and relaxed.

Sydney nods with a small smile as she gets the door opened. The sound of the door creaking is met with silence as the two stand in the doorway. Richie stomps out the cigarette.

"I can help." He says finally, his voice echoing in the empty restaurant. "With the interviews." He clarifies, scratching a part of his beard. "If you want me too?" he says softly.

Sydney looks up at him surprised, "Really?" She says, slightly dumbfounded, "You, Richie, wanna help me?" she asks incredulously.

And Richie has to laugh at that. It's a nice gruff one with vibrato in it, the laugh bounces off the walls. He laughs like he gets it, like he knows and understands where Sydney’s coming from.

Surprises, surprises.

“Cut me some slack!” Richie’s got a sly smile dancing all over his face, “I’ve been killing it this past few weeks.” He says humorously, “I’m like your little helper. Sidekick even.”

And now Sydney’s laughing. It’s not a tense one nor a condescending one either. It’s genuine and real. Sydney notes that this was probably the first time she ever laughed with Richie and not at him and it's outside of their little carpooling. She doesn't know why but it makes it feel real.

Sydney, amused, replies. “Sidekick is pushing it.”

"Clyde to your Bonnie?"

“Clyde to my Bonnie?” She repeats.

“Yeah,” And Richie got a little smile on his face. “practically.”

Sydney gives him a look, “Sure, Richie.”

And Richie laughs again. Laughs that loud bright laugh. It makes Sydney’s smile widen and it's so weird because she used to hate it. She would always hear him joking or fucking around at The Beef, ignoring her so he could just kick it like it was a friday night.

And his laugh used to be what really ticked her off.

Made her feel like he was laughing at her and her authority. Like some mean girl was making fun of her from school all over again. Kinda felt weird to compare a grown ass man to a mean middle schooler but Richie wasn't really known for being mature anyway.

Now though, that laugh doesn’t piss her off. Doesn’t frustrate her or make her angry. It doesn’t feel mocking or rude. It makes her feel warm and soft.

Maybe it’s because for once, it’s with her and she’s in the joke with him. He's laughing because of her, for her.

And it feels too fucking weird. Richard dickhead Jerimovich was giving her the most sincere look with crinkled eyes and a huge smile and she felt weird about it.

‘Shut up.’ She chastises herself. Thoughts are for another time. (Time she still doesn't have).

It’s Richie who’s drawing her back to reality, “Hand me some of the resumes,” He nudges her. “I know you would print them out like a smartypants.”

"Yeah, because that’s what you’re supposed to do when interviewing, Richie.”

"That's what a smartypants would say." Richie says so facetiously with such a big smile. It should really irritate Sydney, it used to, but he doesn't.

Sydney shoves some papers in Richies face and his big fat smile. "Just take the resumes, Richard." And she's smiling right back at him.

"Knew it." He says. Their fingers brush one another when Richie grabs the resumes and Sydney’s very normal about it. So normal.

She watches as he goes through the papers, eyes darting from left to right. He looked focused, concentrated and actually invested.

He looks up at her for a moment and winks. "Let's do it sweetheart."

"Richie-"

"Yeah yeah sorry." He mutters playfully but genuine, "Don't call you sweetheart, sorry Syd." He nudges her a little with a playful smile crawling onto his face.

“Fuck off.” Sydney says to Richie.

But also to those stupid weird feelings that came up again.

﹋﹋﹋﹋﹋﹋﹋﹋﹋﹋﹋﹋﹋﹋﹋﹋﹋﹋﹋﹋﹋﹋﹋﹋﹋﹋﹋﹋﹋﹋

Here's what I got so far for the starving Sydrichie fans out there. Next part might be more Richie centered idk idk. Let's pray I got the motivation to do a part two. This took about a few weeks but I'm really proud.

#sydrichie #sydney adamu #richie jerimovich #sydney x richie #richie x sydney

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scary-movies-on-netflix · 1 month ago

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NOCTURNE (2020)

This movie is about Juliet (Sydney Sweeney) and Vivian (Madison Iseman), who are twins, and they attend a music high school together, but before we get to them we watch as Moira plays “The Devil’s Trill” by Guiseppe Tartini (18th century). Then she throws herself off a balcony.

Now, to the twins. They return to school, and the principal tells everyone that, since Moira died, they need a replacement performer for the big school concert later that quarter. They will hold a competition in Moira’s memory. We then see the students practicing. Apparently, Juliet is good enough to turn the pages for Vivian. The sisters talk about what they’re going to play for the competition, but just then Moira’s old notebook falls on the floor, and Juliet sweeps it up. Juliet practices her Mozart, but she really wants to play Saint-Saens, which is Vivian’s piece! She tells “Dr. Cask,” a teacher, that she will play the Saint-Saens, instead of Mozart, and then practices late into the evening. She hears music from another practice room and ends up in the same room where Moira died! Juliet finds a symbol etched into the wall, and it matches a symbol on the front of Moira’s notebook! Juliet plays “The Devil’s Trill” from the notebook, which is also filled with strange drawings. There are five drawings, but then the next page is missing.

Anyway, the next day is the big competition. Juliet gets her period. They go to the auditorium for the competition. Juliet takes some pills. Vivian plays the Saint-Saens. Then Juliet plays the same Saint-Saens! Awkward! Then…Juliet is in a world of red! That is, she’s in a red hallway. There’s a brilliant yellow light at the end of the passage. She ends up in the practice room (where Moira died) and steps out onto the balcony, where she looks down on herself completing a successful concert performance. Everyone is clapping, and the Juliet on the stage looks up at the other Juliet and smiles. Then Juliet wakes up in the auditorium, by the piano. The principal tells her that she passed out. “How’d I play?” she asks. “Was I good?”

Later, Vivian is furious at Juliet, and Vivian even won the competition, so all of Juliet’s efforts were for naught. She goes to practice with her tutor, who tells her that she can have a perfectly fine career as a teacher or a member of a chamber group. Juliet says that she’s sacrificed everything for music and wants more. Her teacher tells her (and us) that she only applied to Julliard, and no other schools, and since Julliard didn't accept her, her career is on hold. Juliet then insults the man, and he slaps her. He is suspended, naturlich, and Juliet demands to be taught by Dr. Cask, who is also Vivian’s teacher.

Vivian responds by putting some bloody tampons in Juliet’s mailbox. Juliet goes to yell at her (on a roof), and Vivian plays it off as now they’re even. “Together forever,” she says. Juliet goes to her first session with Cask, and he asks why she changed her piece (to Saint-Saens). “I want to beat her,” Juliet says. Cask explains that the sisters are essentially equal in skill, but Vivian “plays like the Devil is at the door.” Juliet asks about Moira. “She played like the devil was in the room.”

That night Juliet looks at the drawings in the notebook in the mirror, because Moira could write backwards. The pictures have various ominous titles, but they aren't really important. Later, as Juliet is sleeping, she wakes up to a glowing yellow light in her bathroom. She sees Moira, whose head is bashed in! She smiles at Juliet, who then wakes up. She receives a text from Max, Vivian’s boyfriend, who invites her to the “senior party.” They head over. Juliet takes some drugs and is freaking out. She overhears Vivian telling someone that their affair is over. Juliet then talks to Max, Vivian’s boyfriend, but Vivian finds them and thinks that they’re flirting. The sisters shove each other, and then Juliet runs off. Juliet sees a brilliant yellow light before her, maybe like an eyeball, and she falls to her knees, but Vivian runs right past her and falls off a cliff. Max goes to help her and tells Juliet to tell everyone else to leave the party.

Juliet wakes up in the morning. She has scribbled “VI” on a bunch of papers. She is summoned to the principal’s office, and the woman explains that Vivian broke her arm in two places, and is suspended! The principal offers Juliet the solo in the big school concert! Vivian is pissed. There is some more bickering between the sisters. Juliet talks to Max, Vivian’s boyfriend, about Moira’s notebook, and then she tells him that Vivian is cheating on him. After some more stuff, Juliet and Max end up in practice room and have sex, and then Max runs away. Then we join the sisters, their parents, and Cask for the girls’ birthday dinner. Mom asks Cask about the future of “classical” music, since its audience is aging and shrinking, and Cask extols the sacrifice of musicians. “So long as there are people who appreciate that sacrifice, real music will live on.” Vivian dumps the birthday cake on Cask.

Cask then takes Juliet to his house. Juliet looks at a second-place prize he won twenty years previously. He tries to encourage Juliet, but she kisses him! He says that she’s misread the situation, but she tells him that she knows he and Vivian have been fucking. She makes fun of his second-place prize, and she says that’s she going to be “great.” Cask then tells her that truly great musicians are already accomplished by Juliet’s age. “You’re not going to miss your chance at greatness, Juliet. You already have.” She throws his second-place trophy, a conductor’s wand, into the fireplace. He tries to save it.

Juliet goes to her room and draws another picture into Moira’s notebook. It shows a woman standing on an edge, and it says, “SACRIFICE.” She burns the notebook. She wakes up the next morning, the day of the big concert! She goes to a dressing room and puts on a nice dress (the one she was wearing earlier in the vision) and then Vivian enters. She asks, “What did I do to make you hate me, Jules?” Vivian recounts a childhood memory, where she had to pull a panicked Juliet off a stage. Vivian says, “I told you I would always be there for you.” Vivian accuses Juliet of taking everything from her, but Juliet says that now she’s better than Vivian. “We’ll see what those scouts from Julliard say when the understudy walks out onstage in ten minutes’ time.” Vivian laughs and says that schools like Julliard don’t send scouts. “It’s the best art school in the world. It doesn’t need to.” Juliet is shaken. Vivian calls her “mediocre.” Or, “mid,” as the kids say these days.

Anywho, Juliet goes out onto the stage. Everyone is looking at her. She sits at the piano to play, but she freaks out and runs away. She sits in a stairwell and bangs her head against a door, but then an “EXIT” sign flashes yellow at her. It leads her to a ladder going to the rooftop, and Juliet climbs up and then moves to stand on the ledge of the building. A brilliant yellow light, like the symbol on Moira’s notebook, glows at her, and she steps off the ledge. Inside the auditorium, Juliet completes her performance, and everyone is clapping for her. Even Vivian is smiling at her. The principal says, “Juliet, you’re a star.” “I am,” Juliet says, and then we are back outside, where we see Juliet’s bloodied face as she hangs off a big art piece in the courtyard. She manages to smile before dying. People walk around the courtyard.

This was ok. There are hints of “Black Swan” (2010), what with the protagonist’s obsession with artistic greatness, but that movie was a work of art. This was middling. The movie is supposed to be about sacrificing everything for art, but it lacks any the mania displayed in “Black Swan” or even, say, “Whiplash” (2014). (“Not my tempo!”) We also have maybe hints of “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Price” (2009), where Harry Potter is inspired by one of Snape’s old notebooks, but that movie actually shows us how the book teaches and inspires Harry Potter. “Nocturne,” on the other hand, simply says that Juliet is somehow a better musician, without showing us that she’s actually better or explaining how she accomplishes that improvement. So, yes, the story isn’t great, but the acting is fine. Sydney Sweeney and Madison Iseman are competent as bickering sisters, and Sweeney does what she can with the artistic mania. They both adequately pretend to play the piano. There are some strong images, such as the first red hallway, and the ending is nicely creepy and ambiguous, but everything is dragged down by the lackluster and underdeveloped plot.

#nocturne #horror movie #horror movies #movie review #2020 #ok #sydney sweeney #madison iseman

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evita-shelby · 1 year ago

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Love's a state of mind

Chapter 4

Cw: mentions of past trauma, mentions of death in childbirth, research about abortion

Taglist: @thegreatdragonfruta

He could lie and say he’s over her, but his resolve breaks the moment he turns and finds unresponsive on the floor.

Her PA had wanted to sweep this under the rug only for him to point out she hit the side of the table on the way down.

To let his ex-girlfriend have some dignity, no paramedics had been called and Rob was going to have Chrissy say whatever Eva was hiding while she drove them to the nearest emergency room.

It was far too easy; Chrissy had always been very chatty. Eva didn’t like silence and kept her no matter how many times she spilled any secret of her boss because while you could get Chrissy Gutierrez to speak, an extractor couldn’t rob them blind.

All Riley and Fischer Morrow employees with any access were trained against extractions, as a precaution. Everyone knows if you want to make it into the next decade you have to get on with the times.

“She’s been sick for a few days, after this meeting she’s supposed to go to the doctor.” The assistant isn’t lying, but he’s been around her enough to know there’s something else.

“Chrissy.” he warns as takes the backseat with a still unconscious Eva. The things he does for this woman, this fucking woman who used him and has him crawling back to her without any effort from her part.

“Six pregnancy tests, fifty percent chance it’s another scare.” The plucky assistant admits knowing he was there the last time.

Eva hadn’t told him; he’d found out on his own when she left the test in their bathroom. He had been nervous and a bit excited at the prospect of a life with her and their hypothetical children. She had been relieved when her doctor told them it was a false positive.

Her sister had died from childbirth complications, Eva was terrified of it happening to her. They’d talked about it that night, sitting on the rug with their backs to the bed. To think all of it was a fucking lie, maybe she just didn’t want to have kids with him.

Everything was as real as you and me, her words hadn’t left his head since she spoke them making him doubt his new perception of her.

He had kissed her thinking it would not be like the ones before and feel nothing after, and yet it had the opposite effect.

Robert had gone there with every intention of taking that wind park that gave her company its name and destroying it just as Uncle Peter had been meaning too. He had folded, not because she seduced him, but because she had told the truth.

He’s known her for a year, Eva’s a good liar but not good enough when she’s not firing on all cylinders. She hadn’t had a hair out of place, but he could tell from the way she tried to get the meeting over with and how pale she was at the end.

He was petty and taught to exploit his opponents’ weaknesses. Robert’s just never been as good as his father nor Uncle Peter.

Never good enough.

“Chrissy, you’re fired.” Eva keeps her eyes shut and mutters something in Spanish when she opens them to see him hovering over her.

“I’m fine.” She says and refuses his help as she moves as far as she can in Chrissy’s little sedan. “If there is anything you should know, I will tell you. If I don’t it’s because its none of your fucking business, Rob.”

Stubborn as always, even as she is shaking off the effects of a minor concussion and a fainting spell, Eva is as stubborn as a pack mule.

He always liked that about her, even in moments when it grated him.

Like now.

“I think it’s my fucking business, Evie, it is our baby you might be having.” He points out and she threatens Chrissy with a bad reference for running her mouth like that.

“Don’t you have a plane to catch?” Eva asks knowing he’d delayed his bimonthly visits home for this fucking meeting alone.

“No, my schedule is perfectly clear.” Just for you. “Besides, if that fifty percent chance turns out to be true, I would rather be here with you than in Sydney with my dad.”

“How sweet of you. What do you want me to do now? Give you a pat on the back? Feed you a treat, give you a belly rub and call you a good boy?" She mocks him, hitting every button she knows so he leaves and takes that fucking private jet to Sydney and all it does is have Chrissy call her out on being such a bitch.

But he won’t. His dad was right to be disappointed in him, Robert thinks as he shoots down every protest his ex throws at him as she tries to get him to leave.

Robert gets that look on his face like he did that time months ago when he thought she was pregnant as well. That dopey one that is already seeing them settle in some picture-perfect place with perfect kids and a perfect life.

Save for their bickering, you couldn’t tell they were over. He stood by her every fucking second and even told Chrissy ---told her as if he had any right to run her life--- he’d be taking her home before she left.

Eva hadn’t been in a good mood in days, while Robert was the perfect patient when he busted his knee when they went hiking one time, Eva was the worst.

“It’s pretty impossible for me pregnant, just so you know.” She says breaking him out of his thoughts as they wait for the ER doctor and the results of all her tests. “Even when we weren’t playing it safe, I never slipped up.”

“It surprises me that you didn’t jump at the opportunity to baby trap me.” He countered making her falter when he looked at her too intently.

“Please, your damn eyes had the guilt eating me up inside the whole time, its why I couldn’t say yes to a lifelong commitment to you. As much I ended up loving you, I just couldn’t look you in the eye without knowing I had used you.” Eva admits and now he’s the one looking away feeling conflicted.

Rob had been told the worst of her and his family couldn’t help but fan the flames of his loathing for her after they were proven right.

And yet he is here because there is a thin thread tying them back together like a red string of fate and Robert’s held to it like a lifeline.

It makes her heart hurt to know that she spent most of last night researching whether she could end her pregnancy at eight to ten weeks in the state of California. The answer was yes, she could.

“I thought you liked my eyes.” Robert says knowing she’s been very appreciative of his inhumanly blue eyes. Poetry, specific paint hues and a pendant he got her with the exact shade of blue as his eyes.

“I do, it’s one of the reasons actually.” She responds and both forget its over between them. Eva could taste him in her mouth still and burned to feel him under her hands and mar his fair skin with love bites. “Made me feel as if I was naked before you.”

Bad choice of words, she thinks when his pupils dilate and his Adam’s apple bobbed as he swallowed no doubt remembering their very extensive history.

Eva had no issue with physical nakedness, especially around him. Several times she’d surprise him at work by wearing nothing under her coat or wearing nothing at all when he came home. She’d worn nothing underneath her coat the day they left on his private jet to New York. Eva would bet her wind park that was what brings them here today.

But neither Eva nor Robert can seem to speak or do anything than stare at each other as they both come to the same realization: despite the way things ended, their feelings for each other are as strong as they were then, if not stronger.

I still love you; his eyes say just as the obstetrician comes in at last.

#eva smith riley #robert fischer x oc #robert fischer #robert fischer x reader #robert fischer x eva smith #love's a state of mind fic

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aunoahsblog · 16 hours ago

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Why Parquet Flooring Sydney Homeowners Love Timber for Stunning Floors

In Sydney, where design and practicality intersect, parquet flooring has emerged as a popular choice among homeowners. Timber parquet flooring, in particular, offers a unique blend of sophistication, durability, and environmental sustainability. Let’s explore the reasons behind its growing popularity in Sydney homes.

Timber Parquet Flooring: A Design Masterpiece The geometric patterns of parquet flooring instantly elevate any room’s aesthetics. Sydney homeowners appreciate its ability to add depth and texture while maintaining a clean, elegant look.

Key Advantages of Timber Parquet Flooring

Durability: Timber parquet withstands daily wear and tear, making it ideal for family homes.

Versatility: Available in various patterns and finishes, timber parquet complements both modern and traditional Sydney interiors.

Ease of Maintenance: With proper care, parquet flooring remains stunning and functional for decades.

Sydney’s Climate and Parquet Flooring Timber parquet flooring is particularly suited to Sydney’s climate. Treated timber resists humidity and temperature fluctuations, ensuring it retains its shape and beauty over time.

Popular Timber Choices for Sydney Homes

Oak: Known for its strength and classic appeal.

Teak: A luxurious option with high resistance to moisture.

Walnut: Adds richness and warmth to interiors.

Why Sydney Homeowners Choose Timber Parquet Flooring

Timeless Appeal: Its patterns never go out of style, making it a long-term investment.

Value Addition: Parquet flooring increases property value, making it attractive to future buyers.

Eco-Friendly Option: Timber sourced sustainably aligns with the eco-conscious values of many Sydney residents.

Maintaining the Beauty of Timber Parquet Flooring

Cleaning Routine: Regularly sweep or vacuum to remove dirt and debris.

Professional Refinishing: Periodic refinishing restores the wood’s natural shine.

Humidity Control: Use dehumidifiers during Sydney’s humid months to prevent warping.

Conclusion Timber parquet flooring continues to be a favorite among Sydney homeowners for its aesthetic appeal and practical benefits. Whether you’re renovating or building anew, parquet flooring is a choice that offers enduring beauty and exceptional value.

#parquet flooring #flooring #timber flooring

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domocleaning1 · 14 days ago

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How to Organise House Cleaning in Sydney

Maintaining a clean and tidy living environment is essential to your health and wellbeing. But juggling work and family commitments can make it difficult to keep up with household chores.

Effective decluttering, regular sweeping and vacuuming and smart storage solutions simplify the cleaning process. Incorporating a regular schedule of specialised cleaning services helps to eliminate stubborn stains and allergens.

Well-thought-out cleaning schedule

A clean and organised home is not only visually appealing, but it also provides a safe environment for your family. However, juggling work and family responsibilities can leave you with little time to dedicate to cleaning chores.

The best way to prevent this from happening is by having a well-thought-out cleaning services company schedule. This will help you stay on top of your cleaning tasks and ensure that your home is always clean and organised.

A cleaning schedule can be a simple checklist or a detailed list of tasks that need to be completed each week, monthly, or seasonally. It may seem like a daunting task at first, but once you create and stick to a cleaning schedule, it will become easier to manage and maintain.

Organise your cleaning tools and products

House cleaning Sydney is a never-ending chore, and it can be difficult to keep up with. To avoid a messy and unhealthy living space, consider organising your cleaning tools and products. A streamlined cleaning process can make it easier to tackle intense whole-house cleans in Sydney.

For example, a caddy can be an ideal way to corral your cleaning supplies. It can be placed in a convenient location, such as the kitchen sink. Just be sure that it doesn’t lean against pipes or the garbage disposal, which could cause damage to the items inside.

Start with a thorough dusting of hard surfaces to remove indoor air pollutants. These contaminants can trigger various health issues, including eye irritation, headaches, and respiratory problems. In addition, they can be a serious fire risk for your home.

Prevent stains and spills

In order to avoid stains and spills, it is a good idea to always keep absorbent materials in close proximity. Paper towels and microfiber cloths can quickly soak up liquid spills, preventing them from becoming permanent messes. Stain removal solutions can also be kept in easy reach. It is a good idea to test a cleaner on an inconspicuous area of the surface or fabric to ensure that it won’t cause discoloration or damage.

Maintaining a clean and tidy living space helps foster a healthy environment for family members. For busy individuals, hiring professional cleaning services is a convenient and reliable way to keep the house spick-and-span without sacrificing their time to do other things that they enjoy. Calibre Cleaning is a well-respected cleaning service that provides residential and commercial cleaning services in Sydney and beyond.

Clean hard surfaces

Whether they are toys, tabletops or kitchen appliances, hard surfaces in the home are often the source of harmful bacteria that can spread illness-causing germs throughout the house. To prevent this, they should be regularly cleaned and disinfected.

Dust, pet hair and other air pollutants can settle on hard surfaces and pollute indoor air quality. This can cause eye irritation, headaches, respiratory diseases and other health issues. To prevent this, they should be regularly dusted and vacuumed.

Professional cleaners use the best cleaning tools to ensure a spotless finish on all types of floorings. They also follow a proven cleaning process for a stress-free service. In addition to providing regular domestic cleaning, they can also handle the messy tasks at the end of a lease to help you get your full bond back.

Clean delicate floor coverings

Keeping delicate floor coverings clean is important to prevent a build-up of bacteria and allergens. It is also essential to vacuum or steam clean them regularly and to use felt pads under furniture legs and drip trays for plant pots to avoid scratching the surface. You can also spot-clean stains on hardwood floors using a solution of white vinegar and water.

Sydney is a bustling city with plenty to see and do. It is home to iconic landmarks like the Sydney Opera House and Bondi Beach and offers a vibrant nightlife scene. However, living in such a busy city can make it difficult to keep your abode tidy. Hire a professional cleaner to help you keep your abode clean and organised. The cleaning professionals at Calibre Cleaning are known for their impeccable attention to detail and customised service plans.

#best cleaning services sydney #house cleaning sydney #cleaning services company #house deep cleaning service #domo cleaning

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allareass · 1 year ago

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Cleaning Services Sydney

Cleaning services Sydney are a great way to keep your home looking and feeling fresh. Whether you need a quick clean or a thorough deep cleaning session, these maids can help.

Professional cleaning services can also save you time and money. For example, a dirty office can make employees sick and cause productivity to suffer. To know more about Cleaning Services Sydney, visit the All Areas website or call 1300659609.

A one-off cleaning service is a great way to get rid of stubborn stains and dirt that are difficult to remove. A professional domestic cleaner is trained to tackle these problems and will clean your home from top to bottom, including the windows, light switches, skirting boards, and kitchen appliances.

Keeping your house tidy is important, but it can be difficult to keep up with a regular cleaning schedule. Many people find that their homes are spotless some weeks, but others are a disaster. With a one-off cleaning service, you can create a consistent level of cleanliness and avoid criticism from family members when they visit.

The best thing about a one-off cleaning service is that it’s convenient and affordable. A cleaning company will quote you for the number of hours needed to clean your home, and you can book the service at a time that suits you. This makes it a convenient option for busy individuals who don’t want to spend their free time on cleaning.

A clean workspace is essential for your business to be productive. It can also help you build strong relationships with your clients and partners. Corporate cleaning services can keep your space organised and help you stay on top of your game.

The cleaning process may include emptying rubbish bins, sweeping and mopping floors, vacuuming and scrubbing bathrooms, wiping down sinks and benchtops, and restocking toilet paper and sanitary supplies. They can also disinfect high-touchpoint areas that are often used by multiple people, such as doorknobs and light switches.

Commercial cleaning companies in Sydney are licensed and insured and comply with Occupational Health and Safety regulations. They also carry public liability insurance and workers compensation. This will protect you from any unforeseen damage or injuries that may occur during the cleaning process. They will also use environmentally friendly chemicals that are safe for staff and visitors. Their prices are also low, making them an affordable option for most businesses.

Construction sites create a lot of dust and debris. If this isn’t dealt with promptly, it can lead to health problems and other issues. Hence, it’s best to hire a professional cleaning service to deal with this mess. This way, the work can continue without any interruptions.

Whether you’re in need of commercial office cleaning or after builders clean Sydney, you can find the right company for the job. These professionals are experienced in dealing with a wide range of cleaning tasks and offer top-notch customer service. They can also provide you with a quote before beginning the task.

Aside from removing rubbish, they can also clean surfaces and tidy up the entire site. This is essential to ensure that your building is safe for employees and visitors. These professionals will remove all the dust and dirt and leave your building looking brand new. They will also ensure that all areas are free of hazardous materials and contaminants.

Cleaning is a necessity in the workplace, but it is also important to maintain hygiene in the personal spaces of individuals. This can be done through professional cleaners and cleaning services. Depending on the specific needs, these services can range from general cleaning to deep cleaning. In addition to sweeping, vacuuming, and mopping, they can perform sanitation and disinfection processes as needed.

Sydney is Australia’s oldest city, and it’s home to many cultural attractions, universities, and a bustling central business district. However, the hectic schedules of local residents can leave little time for household chores. This is why some people hire help from a maid service to keep their homes in tip-top shape.

The best cleaners in Sydney are friendly, trained, and experienced. They offer flat rate hourly pricing and can be booked online. You can also manage your bookings, payments, and cleaner feedback online. The process is fast, convenient, and secure. You can even choose the exact date and time that works best for you. To know more about Cleaning Services Sydney, visit the All Areas website or call 1300659609.

#Pressure cleaning Sydney #Regular maintenance services Sydney #Cleaning services Sydney #floor sweeping Sydney #sweep scrub Sydney #sweep scrub #Industrial sweeper Sydney #Industrial scrubber Sydney

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timberflooring525 · 15 days ago

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Why Hybrid Flooring In Sydney Is The Perfect Choice For Style And Durability

Choosing the right flooring for your home or office can be a daunting task, especially when you want a solution that offers both style and practicality. In Sydney, where modern living spaces demand versatile flooring options, hybrid flooring has become increasingly popular. Combining the best features of laminate and vinyl, hybrid flooring offers durability, water resistance, and aesthetic appeal. But what makes hybrid flooring a standout choice for Sydney homeowners? In this blog, we’ll explore the reasons why hybrid flooring in Sydney is the ideal option for those seeking a blend of style, durability, and ease of maintenance.

What is Hybrid Flooring?

Hybrid flooring is a revolutionary flooring option that blends the rigid core structure of laminate with the water-resistant qualities of vinyl. It is designed to withstand the demands of busy households and commercial spaces, offering exceptional durability and resilience. Here’s what makes hybrid flooring unique:

Multi-layered Structure: Hybrid flooring typically consists of four layers— a UV-coated surface for scratch resistance, a decorative layer that mimics natural materials like wood or stone, a rigid core for stability, and an underlayment for sound insulation and comfort.

Waterproof: One of the key benefits of hybrid flooring is its waterproof nature, making it suitable for kitchens, bathrooms, and other moisture-prone areas.

Durability: Hybrid floors are highly resistant to wear and tear, making them ideal for high-traffic areas in both residential and commercial settings.

Why Choose Hybrid Flooring in Sydney?

There are several reasons why hybrid flooring is a great choice for Sydney homeowners:

Weather Adaptability: Sydney's varying weather conditions, from humid summers to cooler winters, can affect some flooring types. Hybrid flooring’s ability to resist temperature changes and moisture makes it an excellent option for this climate.

Stylish Aesthetics: Available in a wide range of designs and finishes, hybrid flooring can replicate the look of natural timber, stone, or tile, offering versatility in design while maintaining durability.

Ease of Maintenance: Hybrid flooring is easy to clean and requires minimal upkeep. With a simple sweep and occasional mop, your floors can maintain their beautiful appearance for years.

What Should You Consider When Installing Hybrid Flooring?

When planning to install hybrid flooring, keep the following factors in mind:

Subfloor Preparation: Before installation, it’s essential to prepare the subfloor. The surface should be smooth, dry, and free of debris to ensure a seamless finish.

Professional Installation: While hybrid flooring features a click-lock installation system, hiring professional installers can help achieve a flawless, long-lasting result.

Room Suitability: Consider the rooms where you plan to install hybrid flooring. Its water resistance makes it ideal for kitchens and bathrooms, but it’s also a great option for living rooms, bedrooms, and hallways.

What Are the Benefits of Hybrid Flooring?

Hybrid flooring offers several advantages, including:

Water Resistance: Unlike traditional wood or laminate floors, hybrid flooring is completely waterproof, making it perfect for wet areas.

Scratch and Stain Resistance: The durable wear layer protects against scratches and stains, ensuring your floors remain pristine even in busy homes with pets or children.

Cost-Effective: Hybrid flooring is often more affordable than hardwood or stone flooring, providing a cost-effective way to achieve a luxurious look without breaking the bank.

Quick and Easy Installation: The click-lock system allows for easy and quick installation, reducing labour costs and minimising disruptions during renovations.

Conclusion

Hybrid flooring in Sydney is the perfect solution for homeowners seeking a stylish, durable, and water-resistant flooring option. With its versatility in design, ease of maintenance, and ability to withstand the city’s varying climate conditions, hybrid flooring is an excellent investment for any space. If you’re considering a flooring upgrade, hybrid flooring offers the ideal combination of aesthetics and functionality, ensuring your floors look great and last for years to come.

#Hybrid flooring Sydney

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stonesupplierssydney · 29 days ago

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Timeless Elegance: Why Porcelain Tiles Are a Popular Choice in Sydney Homes

Porcelain tiles have gained immense popularity in Sydney's interior design scene, renowned for their blend of sophistication and functionality. Their timeless elegance, coupled with impressive durability, makes them a preferred choice for various applications within homes. Whether it's for a chic kitchen backsplash, a luxurious bathroom floor, or a stylish living room, porcelain tiles Sydney offer both aesthetic appeal and practical benefits. This blog explores why porcelain tiles are a standout choice for Sydney homes and how they can elevate your space.

Advantages of Porcelain Tiles

Aesthetic Versatility

Porcelain tiles in Sydney are celebrated for their versatility in design. They come in an array of colours, textures, and patterns, from classic marble effects to contemporary geometric designs. This variety allows homeowners to achieve a wide range of looks, from sleek modern interiors to timeless, traditional styles. The ability to mimic natural stone or wood while offering superior performance makes porcelain tiles an attractive option for any design scheme.

Durability and Maintenance

One of the key reasons porcelain tiles are so popular is their durability. Unlike some other flooring options, porcelain is fired at high temperatures, making it extremely hard and resistant to wear and tear. This durability makes it suitable for high-traffic areas, including kitchens and hallways. Additionally, porcelain tiles in Sydney require minimal maintenance. They are non-porous, which means they resist staining and are easy to clean with regular sweeping and mopping, maintaining their appearance with minimal effort.

Applications of Porcelain Tiles

Flooring and Wall Coverings

Porcelain tiles are ideal for both flooring and wall applications. In Sydney homes, they are commonly used in bathrooms and kitchens due to their water resistance and ease of cleaning. Porcelain floor tiles provide a sleek, durable surface that can handle heavy foot traffic, while wall tiles can add a touch of elegance and protect surfaces from moisture. Porcelain tiles in Sydney also excel in creating striking feature walls or stylish backsplashes, enhancing the overall look of any room.

Outdoor Use

In addition to indoor applications, porcelain tiles are increasingly being used for outdoor spaces. Their resistance to moisture and frost makes them suitable for patios, pool surrounds, and exterior walls. The high density and low porosity of porcelain tiles ensure that they can withstand the elements, maintaining their beauty and functionality even in challenging weather conditions.

Choosing the Right Porcelain Tiles

Quality and Finish

When selecting porcelain tiles in Sydney, it’s important to consider both quality and finish. High-quality porcelain tiles will have consistent colouration and a smooth surface, free from defects. Finishes can range from matte to gloss, each offering different aesthetic and practical benefits. For instance, gloss finishes can enhance light reflection, making spaces appear larger, while matte finishes provide a more subdued, contemporary look.

Professional Installation

Proper installation is crucial for ensuring the longevity and performance of porcelain tiles. It’s recommended to hire a professional installer who is experienced with porcelain tiles in Sydney. They can ensure that the tiles are laid correctly, with proper grout application and sealing, to prevent issues like cracking or water infiltration. Professional installation not only enhances the durability of the tiles but also ensures a flawless finish.

Conclusion

Porcelain tiles in Sydney offer a perfect blend of elegance and practicality, making them a popular choice for various applications within the home. Their versatility, durability, and ease of maintenance make them an excellent investment for homeowners looking to enhance their spaces. Whether used for flooring, wall coverings, or outdoor areas, porcelain tiles provide a stylish and enduring solution that adds value and beauty to any home.

#marblebenchtopssydney #porcelaintilessydney

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travertine-pavers · 1 month ago

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5 Impressive Courtyard Designs to Look Forward

In Sydney, outdoor areas play a major role in enhancing the ambience and functionality of the house. Among these, the courtyard stands out as a personal paradise. They are an amazing addition to the house, whether built within a garden or in an outdoor space of your home. To make them more eye-catching and stunning, natural stones are the perfect choice.

These building materials are not only durable but visually appealing and resilient too. They are perfect, as they blend seamlessly with all the elements. Out of all the most trending one in Sydney is Travertine tiles.

In this blog, we are going to talk about some creative courtyard designs. Each design shows how versatile these natural tiles can be, perfectly complementing different styles and enhancing the beauty of your outdoor space.

Here we go,

Travertine Tiles for Courtyards: The Benefits

Travertine tiles in Sydney are not popular for nothing. They are famous for their beauty, cool underfoot and the following features.

Travertine tiles are a strong and sturdy natural stone. They can easily withstand extreme weather conditions and heavy foot traffic, making them an ideal choice for outdoors.

These tiles offer natural slip resistance, which is great for areas around pools and pathways.

You can use these tiles to create any look, from rustic to polished. This allows you to choose any theme and style for your courtyard space.

The tiles are easy to maintain and clean. You simply have to sweep them daily to remove dirt and debris. Use water to clean them once a week to keep them bright and shiny for years.

The Classic Mediterranean Courtyard

If you want your courtyard to look warm and pleasant, choose the Mediterranean theme based on earthy tones and natural materials. This will give your courtyard a timeless appearance. To add a warm beige colour, you can use the Travertine Tiles for flooring. The rustic charm of these tiles will definitely match the theme.

To complete your piece, converge the tiles with arcs, lush green plants or a small fountain in the centre. This style will feel like bringing the outdoors into your living space, as it offers a seamless flow.

Contemporary Minimalist Courtyard

For a modern and minimalist courtyard, you should focus on clean lines, neutral colours and simplicity. To have such a sleek look, Travertine Tiles in Sydney are preferred the most in their silver-grey shade. These tiles have a smooth texture and neutral tint, which showcases your courtyards as a clean, uncluttered space.

To enhance its beauty, add elegant outdoor furniture, planters and a small water feature. The contemporary minimalist courtyard is perfect for homeowners who want a smooth finish on the floor, adding a modern feel while still being easy to maintain.

Lush Green Courtyard

Imagine a courtyard filled with lots of greenery, trees, colourful flowers and other flora. Sounds enchanting, right? Well, you can create one using Travertine Tiles in your Sydney house. Use these tiles to create the pathway that guides you through the lush garden. These tiles are perfect as they can easily withstand harsh weather conditions without any wear or tear.

The lush green courtyard is just perfect for a naturalist or for people who want to reconnect with Mother Nature. You can also add unique features such as a birdbath, fountain or a small side seating area under a tree. The colour and texture of the natural elements blend beautifully with the stunning tiles.

Outdoor Entertainment Courtyard

If you are a person who loves to host extravagant parties, then creating an entertaining outdoor courtyard area is a must. You can build a comfortable space for gatherings, having BBQ parties near the firepit and more. Since Travertine Tiles are heat resistant and can handle heavy footfall, they are perfect for creating such a happening courtyard.

Furthermore, the natural beauty of the tiles adds a touch of elegance to the space. Your guests will love the cosiness of this space, its functionality and its durability. Get ready to hear some compliments!

Courtyard with a Poolside Retreat

Owning a home with a pool is already extravagant but having a poolside courtyard will give a more luxurious touch to the overall look. You can go with any colour of Travertine Tiles, as they stay cool underfoot even under the hot sun. Further, as mentioned above they offer natural slip resistance making the wet areas safer and reducing the risk of injury and slip-offs.

In this design, you are free to use Travertine as pool coping and the surroundings. The silver shade of these tiles will offer a bright and refreshing vibe, while the classic earthy shade will give an old-world charm. You can further some lounge chairs and umbrellas, and your poolside paradise will be ready.

Final Note

You can build any of the courtyards discussed above using Travertine Tiles in your Sydney home. Whether you want a Mediterranean look or a minimalist or cosy entertaining area, you can have them all with these versatile tiles. These tiles can turn your outdoor space into a paradise where you can enjoy, relax, and chill with your family and friends.

Are you ready to build the courtyard of your dreams? If yes, connect with the trusted supplier of Travertine Tiles in Sydney and place your order today!

#travertine pavers #travertine tiles #sydney australia #brisbane #Pavers #floor tiles

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classicjalopy · 2 months ago

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The Long Way Euround – Day 6: Bombala to Sydney

Today was the final day of our big Classic Mercedes Road trip. We started at 6:15AM in Bombala where it was 2 degrees outside. We were down to 9 cars, as one of our drivers had some unexpected work commitments that came up, so had to leave his car in Melbourne.

We stayed in the pub in Bombala. I generally only book places that have private bathrooms, so I must have missed that it didn't. Having said that he rooms were very nice and the food was great. The bed was the most comfortable of the trip.

As we drove out of Bombala, the sun was rising over the Monaro region. The sunrise illustrated the high country landscape and the farms along the route. The road was great and the cars were running well.

Originally we planned to drive to Bredbo, but we decided to refuel in Cooma instead. This worked out well, as while Bredbo has a pie shop, it does not seem to have a service station. In Cooma, we filled up all the cars and had breakfast at McDonalds. After all the troubles I had with my car the day before, it was going very well. I was getting occasional noise from my rear left wheel when turning, but none of the previous issue. The noise was also different. The noise led me to believe that its probably not a wheel bearing issue. I suspect part of the handbrake mechanism, perhaps that little spring, has come loose. It is probably moving around as I corner and the ends of the lug nuts are scraping against it. A few people were very keen to get home by dinner time, and one of our group had a flight to catch, so we had fewer and shorter breaks today to move along. Everyone was keep to complete the full route then be home for dinner. We continued north, through the outskirts of Canberra and then up through Gunning and Crookwell. Crookwell was our lunch stop, at another Bakery. The lamb pie was the best I've had all trip and the Vanilla slice was good, although a little too much icing for my liking. The road from Crookwell up to Georges Plain was excellent, full of long sweeping curves, elevation changes and great scenery. The only downside was that there were many caravans on the road, and a Nissan Patrol that couldn't climb hills. One of the guys is interested in buying a 280CE, so had a turn of the white car during this section and thoroughly enjoyed it. It was around here that the 380SEC started playing up more. So far it had only given issues while idling. However, on multiple occasions it cut out while at road speed. Most of the time it would restart while coasting in neutral, but not always. Luckily there was not much traffic on the road. As we passed through Perthville, we saw a 450SLC for sale by the side of the road. One of the guys went back to have a look it it, and it was in a sorry state. Rust in the firewall, chassis rails, holes in the floor and more. It was a D-Jet car and a sad way for an early 450SLC to go. I suspect its destiny is a wrecking yard like the one we saw on Saturday. After a good drive though to Lake Lyell, we all went our separate ways. A couple of us refueled in Lithgow, and then took Bells Line of road back. I hate the Great Western Highway with a passion, so Bells line was the obvious choice. It was very foggy, but the traffic was light and it was a fairly relaxed cruise home the back way. After I rolled into the garage, I checked my odometer and I had travelled 3,883km in 6 days. My 450SLC is now almost at 318,000km. I have a few things to attend to. Obviously the noise from the wheel, whatever it is. The A/C, and the starter motor has started playing up, not always engaging. All the cars and drivers made it back home safely. Overall, the trip was great and I thoroughly enjoyed it. It was a great break from work and we saw a lot of Australia I have never seen before.

Read the full article

#BellsLineofRoad #Bombala #Canberra #LongWayEuround #Monaro #Road-trip

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homerenovationinnerwest · 3 months ago

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Extending the Lifespan of Your Renovated Kitchen and Bathroom: A Guide for Homeowners in the Inner West

Renovating your kitchen and bathroom can significantly enhance the functionality, aesthetic appeal, and value of your home. However, after investing considerable time, effort, and resources into these spaces, it’s crucial to ensure their longevity. This guide focuses on homeowners in the Inner West of Sydney, providing practical tips and strategies to extend the lifespan of your renovated kitchen and bathroom.

Understanding the Importance of Durability in Home Renovation Inner West

The Inner West of Sydney is known for its diverse architecture, from charming heritage homes to modern apartments. Whether you’re renovating a classic terrace house or a contemporary unit, durability should be at the forefront of your renovation plans. A well-executed renovation not only improves your daily living experience but also boosts your property’s value. However, without proper maintenance and planning, even the most meticulously renovated spaces can deteriorate over time.

Choosing the Right Materials for Longevity

One of the most critical factors in extending the lifespan of your renovated kitchen and bathroom is the selection of materials. The materials you choose must withstand the test of time, particularly in areas exposed to moisture, heat, and heavy usage.

1. Cabinetry and Countertops

Materials: Opt for high-quality, water-resistant materials for cabinetry, such as marine-grade plywood or medium-density fiberboard (MDF) with a durable laminate finish. For countertops, materials like quartz, granite, or engineered stone are excellent choices due to their durability and resistance to scratches and stains.

Maintenance: Regularly wipe down surfaces to prevent the buildup of dirt and grime. Avoid using harsh chemicals that could damage the finish.

2. Flooring

Materials: Porcelain or ceramic tiles are ideal for both kitchens and bathrooms due to their water resistance and ease of cleaning. If you prefer a warmer feel underfoot, consider luxury vinyl tiles or waterproof engineered hardwood.

Maintenance: Keep floors clean by sweeping and mopping regularly. Immediately clean up spills to prevent staining and damage.

3. Plumbing Fixtures

Materials: Invest in high-quality, corrosion-resistant fixtures made of stainless steel or brass. These materials not only look elegant but also resist tarnishing and wear over time.

Maintenance: Regularly clean fixtures to prevent limescale buildup. Check for leaks and address any issues promptly to avoid water damage.

4. Tiles and Grouting

Materials: Choose tiles with a glazed finish for easier cleaning and greater resistance to moisture. For grouting, epoxy-based options offer superior durability compared to traditional cement-based grout.

Maintenance: Clean tiles and grout lines regularly with a mild detergent. Re-seal grout annually to prevent water infiltration and staining.

Smart Design Choices for Longevity

In addition to materials, the design of your kitchen and bathroom plays a crucial role in their longevity. Thoughtful design choices can reduce wear and tear and make maintenance easier.

1. Ventilation

Importance: Proper ventilation is essential in both kitchens and bathrooms to prevent moisture buildup, which can lead to mold growth and deterioration of materials.

Solution: Install high-quality exhaust fans in both spaces. In the kitchen, consider a range hood that effectively vents outside the home. In the bathroom, ensure that the exhaust fan is appropriately sized for the space and runs for at least 20 minutes after a shower.

2. Storage Solutions

Importance: Adequate storage reduces clutter and keeps your spaces organized, which can minimize damage to surfaces and fixtures.

Solution: Incorporate custom cabinetry that maximizes storage without compromising on style. Consider pull-out shelves, lazy Susans, and deep drawers in the kitchen. In the bathroom, opt for mirrored cabinets, vanity units with drawers, and recessed shelving.

3. Lighting

Importance: Good lighting not only enhances the aesthetics of your renovated spaces but also ensures that they are functional and safe.

Solution: Use a combination of task, ambient, and accent lighting. In the kitchen, under-cabinet lighting can illuminate countertops, while in the bathroom, backlit mirrors can provide adequate lighting for grooming tasks. Use LED bulbs for energy efficiency and longevity.

4. Ergonomic Design

Importance: An ergonomic design minimizes strain on your body, making daily tasks more comfortable and reducing the likelihood of accidents that could damage your renovated spaces.

Solution: Ensure countertops are at a comfortable height, and install pull-out shelves or drawers to reduce the need for bending and stretching. In the bathroom, consider walk-in showers and grab bars for added safety and convenience.

Regular Maintenance: The Key to Longevity

No matter how well you renovate your kitchen and bathroom, regular maintenance is essential to extend their lifespan. By establishing a routine, you can prevent minor issues from becoming major problems.

1. Routine Cleaning

Kitchens: Clean countertops, sinks, and stovetops daily to prevent stains and buildup. Deep clean appliances like the oven, refrigerator, and dishwasher every few months to ensure they function efficiently.

Bathrooms: Wipe down shower screens, tiles, and fixtures regularly to prevent soap scum and limescale buildup. Clean drains to prevent blockages and keep the exhaust fan free of dust.

2. Inspect for Wear and Tear

Kitchens: Regularly check for signs of wear and tear, such as loose cabinet hinges, damaged countertops, or malfunctioning appliances. Address these issues promptly to prevent further damage.

Bathrooms: Inspect seals around bathtubs, showers, and sinks for cracks or wear. Reapply sealant as needed to prevent water infiltration.

3. Pest Control

Kitchens: Food particles and crumbs can attract pests like ants, cockroaches, and rodents. Keep your kitchen clean and store food in airtight containers. Consider periodic pest control treatments to keep infestations at bay.

Bathrooms: Moisture can attract pests like silverfish and mold. Ensure your bathroom is well-ventilated and promptly repair any leaks.

4. Seasonal Maintenance

Kitchens and Bathrooms: Change HVAC filters regularly to ensure proper airflow and reduce dust. In colder months, check for drafts and seal any gaps around windows and doors to prevent heat loss and moisture buildup.

Renovation Tips for the Inner West Climate

The climate in the Inner West of Sydney can influence the longevity of your renovated spaces. Hot summers and humid conditions can affect materials and finishes if not properly managed.

1. Humidity Control

Importance: High humidity can cause wood to warp, paint to peel, and mold to grow.

Solution: Invest in a dehumidifier for your home, particularly in areas like the bathroom. Ensure your kitchen and bathroom have adequate ventilation to reduce humidity levels.

2. Sunlight Exposure

Importance: Direct sunlight can cause materials to fade and deteriorate over time.

Solution: Use UV-protective films on windows or install blinds and curtains to limit sunlight exposure. In the kitchen, consider positioning appliances and countertops away from direct sunlight to prevent fading and heat damage.

3. Water Conservation

Importance: Efficient water usage can reduce wear on plumbing fixtures and lower your utility bills.

Solution: Install water-saving fixtures like low-flow taps, showerheads, and dual-flush toilets. Consider incorporating a rainwater harvesting system to reduce your reliance on mains water.

The Role of Professional Maintenance Services

While regular DIY maintenance is crucial, professional services can also play a significant role in extending the lifespan of your renovated kitchen and bathroom.

1. Professional Cleaning Services

Importance: Deep cleaning by professionals can reach areas you might overlook and ensure your kitchen and bathroom stay in top condition.

Services: Consider hiring professional cleaners for a thorough clean of your kitchen and bathroom at least once a year. This can include deep cleaning of tiles, grout, and hard-to-reach areas.

2. Plumbing and Electrical Inspections

Importance: Regular inspections can identify potential issues before they become major problems.

Services: Schedule annual plumbing and electrical inspections to ensure everything is functioning correctly. This can prevent leaks, electrical faults, and other issues that could damage your renovated spaces.

3. Pest Control Services

Importance: Professional pest control can help keep your home free of pests that could damage your renovated kitchen and bathroom.

Services: Consider regular pest control treatments, especially if you live in an area prone to infestations. This is particularly important in the warmer months when pests are more active.

FAQs About Extending the Lifespan of Renovated Kitchens and Bathrooms

Q1: How often should I re-seal the grout in my bathroom?

A1: It’s recommended to re-seal grout in your bathroom every year to maintain its water-resistant properties and prevent staining.

Q2: What’s the best way to prevent mold growth in my bathroom?

A2: Ensure your bathroom is well-ventilated by using exhaust fans and keeping windows open when possible. Regularly clean surfaces with a mold-preventing cleaner and address any leaks promptly.

Q3: How can I protect my kitchen countertops from damage?

A3: Use cutting boards, trivets, and coasters to protect your countertops from scratches, heat, and stains. Wipe up spills immediately to prevent staining.

Home Renovation Sydney Home Renovation Hills District Sydney

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homerenovationsydney1 · 3 months ago

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Why Soundproofing is Essential for Your Sydney Home Office

Soundproofing your home office is not just a luxury; it's a necessity, especially in a busy city like Sydney. The need for quiet and focus has never been more critical, with more people working from home than ever before. Distractions from street noise, household activities, or even the weather can severely impact your ability to concentrate.

When planning a home renovation in Sydney, integrating soundproofing into your office space offers several benefits:

Increased Productivity: A quieter environment allows you to focus better, improving your work efficiency.

Enhanced Privacy: Soundproofing ensures that your conversations remain private, essential for confidentiality.

Reduced Stress: Less noise leads to a calmer atmosphere, which can reduce stress and promote well-being.

Understanding Soundproofing: The Basics

Before diving into specific techniques, it's important to understand how soundproofing works. Soundproofing involves two main strategies:

Absorbing Sound: This prevents sound waves from bouncing around the room and creating echoes. Materials like carpets, curtains, and acoustic panels absorb sound effectively.

Blocking Sound: This prevents sound from entering or leaving a room. This is achieved by using dense materials, adding mass to walls, and sealing gaps.

Techniques for Effective Soundproofing in Your Sydney Home Office

1. Insulating the Walls

One of the most effective ways to soundproof a room is by insulating the walls. During your home renovation in Sydney, consider the following methods:

Use Acoustic Insulation: Acoustic insulation is specially designed to reduce noise transmission between rooms. Materials like rock wool or fiberglass are commonly used because they are dense and can trap sound waves.

Install Soundproof Drywall: Also known as sound-deadening drywall, this material is thicker and denser than standard drywall. It often contains layers of gypsum, metal, and other sound-absorbing materials.

Double Layer of Drywall: For even more soundproofing, consider adding a second layer of drywall. This creates an additional barrier for sound to pass through, reducing noise significantly.

2. Soundproofing Doors

Doors are a common source of noise leakage. In your home renovation in Sydney, consider the following tips:

Solid-Core Doors: Replace hollow-core doors with solid-core doors, which are heavier and more effective at blocking sound.

Weatherstripping: Adding weatherstripping around the edges of the door can seal gaps where sound might enter or escape.

Door Sweeps: A door sweep attached to the bottom of the door can help block sound from passing underneath.

3. Upgrading Windows

Windows are another weak point when it comes to soundproofing. Here’s how you can upgrade them during your home renovation in Sydney:

Double or Triple Glazing: Installing double or triple-glazed windows is one of the best ways to reduce outside noise. These windows have multiple layers of glass separated by air or gas, which significantly reduces sound transmission.

Soundproof Window Inserts: These are clear panes that can be installed over your existing windows. They create an air gap that helps block sound.

Heavy Curtains: Thick, heavy curtains not only block light but also absorb sound. Consider using soundproof curtains for an added layer of noise reduction.

4. Flooring Solutions

The type of flooring in your home office can also affect sound levels. Here are some flooring options to consider:

Carpeting: Carpeted floors absorb sound much better than hard surfaces. If you prefer hardwood or tile, adding area rugs can help reduce noise.

Acoustic Underlay: During your home renovation in Sydney, consider installing an acoustic underlay beneath your flooring. This material helps to dampen sound and is especially useful in multi-story homes.

Cork Flooring: Cork is a naturally sound-absorbent material that can reduce noise transmission between floors.

5. Ceiling Treatments

Sound can travel through ceilings, especially if your office is on the lower level of a multi-story home. Here are some ways to soundproof your ceiling:

Acoustic Panels: Installing acoustic panels on the ceiling can help absorb sound and reduce noise levels.

Drop Ceilings: A drop ceiling, or suspended ceiling, can create a gap between the original ceiling and the panels, which helps to trap and reduce sound.

Insulating the Ceiling: If your home office is on the top floor, insulating the ceiling can help reduce noise from outside, such as rain or traffic.

6. Acoustic Panels and Foam

Adding acoustic panels or foam to your home office walls can significantly reduce noise. These products are designed to absorb sound waves and prevent them from bouncing around the room, which is crucial in creating a quiet workspace.

Wall Panels: Acoustic wall panels come in various styles and colors, making them a functional and aesthetic choice for your office. They can be installed on walls and ceilings to reduce echo and reverberation.

Acoustic Foam: While often used in recording studios, acoustic foam can also be effective in a home office. It is particularly useful for targeting specific areas where sound is a problem, such as corners or around windows.

7. Sealing Gaps and Cracks

Sound can easily travel through small gaps and cracks in walls, floors, and ceilings. During your home renovation in Sydney, make sure to:

Seal Cracks in Walls: Use acoustic caulk to seal any cracks or gaps in your walls. Unlike regular caulk, acoustic caulk remains flexible and won’t crack over time.

Fill Gaps Around Electrical Outlets: Sound can travel through gaps around electrical outlets. Consider using foam gaskets to seal these areas.

Window and Door Frames: Ensure that all window and door frames are tightly sealed to prevent sound leakage.

Advanced Soundproofing Techniques

If you require a higher level of soundproofing, consider these advanced techniques during your home renovation in Sydney:

1. Mass Loaded Vinyl (MLV)

Mass-loaded vinyl is a flexible material that is highly effective at blocking sound. It can be installed within walls, floors, and ceilings to add mass and reduce noise transmission. MLV is particularly useful in situations where space is limited but soundproofing is essential.

2. Resilient Channels

Resilient channels are metal strips that are installed between the drywall and the framing of your walls or ceiling. They create a small air gap that helps to decouple the drywall from the structure, reducing sound transmission. This method is especially effective when combined with other soundproofing materials.

3. Soundproofing Paint

While not as effective as other methods, soundproofing paint can provide an additional layer of noise reduction. This type of paint contains sound-absorbing fillers and can be applied to walls and ceilings to help dampen sound.

Incorporating Soundproofing into Your Sydney Home Renovation Plan

To effectively incorporate soundproofing into your home renovation Sydney, it’s important to plan ahead. Work with your contractor to identify the areas of your home office that will require soundproofing and choose the methods that best suit your needs and budget.

Consult with a Soundproofing Expert: If soundproofing is a top priority, consider consulting with a soundproofing expert who can assess your space and recommend the most effective solutions.

Budget Considerations: While some soundproofing methods can be expensive, there are cost-effective options available. Prioritize areas that need the most soundproofing and invest in high-quality materials to ensure the best results.

Integration with Design: Soundproofing doesn’t have to compromise the aesthetics of your home office. Many soundproofing materials come in various styles and finishes that can be seamlessly integrated into your overall design.

FAQs About Soundproofing in Sydney Home Renovations

Q1: How much does it cost to soundproof a home office in Sydney?

A1: The cost of soundproofing a home office can vary depending on the methods used and the size of the room. Basic soundproofing, such as adding weatherstripping or heavy curtains, can cost a few hundred dollars, while more comprehensive solutions like installing soundproof drywall or double-glazed windows can range from $1,000 to $5,000 or more.

Q2: Can I soundproof an existing home office, or does it need to be done during a renovation?

A2: While it's easier to incorporate soundproofing during a renovation, many soundproofing techniques can be applied to an existing home office. For example, you can add acoustic panels, weatherstripping, or heavy curtains without major construction work.

Q3: How effective are soundproof curtains?

A3: Soundproof curtains can be quite effective at reducing noise, especially when used in conjunction with other soundproofing methods. They work best for blocking high-frequency sounds and can reduce noise by up to 50%.

Home Renovation North Shore

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