#long term storage boston

[bloodyknucklesforme]

Red Summer | Ghoap x F!Reader | Slasher!AU

After breaking up with your long term boyfriend you take a job working as a camp counselor in Northern Vermont. Seven weeks of swimming, volleyball, archery and hiking. There's even a hot lifeguard. It seems perfect until you find something evil is lurking in the woods

Tags: Slasher AU, Ghoap x Reader, intro chapter, nondescript reader, dark fic

Chapter 1: Girls Just Wanna Have Fun

5.5k words

It smelled like Summer. Ozonic and earthy, carried into your car by the breeze as you drove North through winding roads. Montpelier was two hours behind you now. 

Despite the eighty degree heat, Vermont was lush and green. Only a couple more miles of shaded forest roads before you reached camp. At least you hoped so. Your maps app had been slow to load the last twenty miles.

The place was North, nestled between the border of Canada and the New Hampshire state line. It was gorgeous though. Anytime you thought about moving out of New England to somewhere cheaper the next season changed your mind. The trees just didn’t look as pretty in fall or the snow as splendid in winter. You just wished it was cheaper.

Suppose that’s why you took this job, as much as it didn’t appeal to you. Camp counselor for seven long weeks, the pay was shit but your food and board came free. After a bad breakup you didn’t have time to find a new lease so your life was packed up into a rented storage box with anything valuable shoved into the back of your car. 

A friend of a friend recommended it. She’d been working here for years, attended for even more. She was an old money New Englander. Boarding school outside of Boston and all that. She was nice though. Got you the job over any qualified candidates. It wasn’t nepotism but whatever it was called you wouldn’t complain.

Your car dinged. Low gas. Shit.

Scrolling quickly through the map you saw a gas station up ahead. You’d just make it… hopefully. 

You let out a sigh of relief as you pulled into the station. It was older with dusty windows and sun-faded posters for cigarettes. 

A piece of paper was taped to the pump.

“Reader broken. Pay inside” scribbled in sharpie.

You sighed and headed inside. 

It was dusty inside too. A couple aisles of brightly packaged food and walls lined with fridges filled with beer and soda. The man behind the counter glanced up from his book when you walked in.

He was handsome. Black with dark, short cut curly hair and big brown eyes. Much too handsome to be working in the middle of nowhere. He’d look more fitting in the corner of a bar, buying you a drink. He smiled up at you and your heart might have skipped a beat. 

“Pump three? How much?” He was English… strange.

“Just…uh… ten bucks.” You stumbled out. 

“It’s the accent,” he chuckled. “It throws everybody off the first time.” 

“It’s a strange place for an Englishman to be, I guess.” You swayed awkwardly. 

“I go to Middlebury. Easier to get a summer job than fly home.” He shrugged. 

“Understandable.” You weren’t an expert on Vermont geography but you swore the college was on the other side of the state. 

“Ten on three.” He said, nodding his head towards the window.

“Oh yeah. Thank you.” 

“You still got to pay, love.”

“Oh fuck, yeah. Sorry… uh… Kyle.” You read his name tag before digging through your tote bag, finding the last bit of your cash.

“No worries. What brings a girl like you out here.”

“I’m working at the camp.”

“Weldon lake, right?”

“Yeah. First time… I’m going the right way, right?”

“If you continue up the road. There will be a sign when you need to turn.” He handed you your receipt. 

“Thank you.” 

“Hey!” You were half way out the door when he called. “Stay alive out there. Heard the campers can be down right evil.”

“I’ll try!”

The rest of the journey was smooth, there was a sign just like Kyle said. Another one after that taking you down a long gravel drive and into a dirt parking lot. A couple other cars were there already. 

You made sure everything important was locked up in the trunk before grabbing your duffel bag and tote. You hoped you brought enough sunscreen. 

The sun was warm on your back as you made your way up to the main building. Two other girls were hanging around on the porch. They each wore matching white baseball shirts with red sleeves and trim, each labeled with STAFF on the back. 

“Hey, you’re Sophia’s friend, right? I’m Janie.” She jumped down from the porch fence. “I love your braids by the way.”

You’d done your hair before leaving, figuring it’d be easier to keep clean braided than fight for limited shower time. 

“I’m Natalie,” The other girl greeted. You introduced yourself, thanking Janie for the compliment.”

“I think your cabin is next to mine. I can take you over once you check in.” Janie said.

Check in was easy enough. Sign a couple more papers, show off your ID to prove you were you and get your cabin assignment, key and two staff shirts. Tomorrow was orientation before the campers arrived Monday morning. Tonight was for getting to know everyone. 

“So, where’s this cabin?” you asked, walking outside.

The girls grinned and led you down the path. Everything seemed to branch off from here. They pointed out where the dining hall was just past the main office next to the nurse’s station.

“Don’t expect much. They’re still recovering from when Covid almost killed this place.”

“Damn.”

“Yeah. They had to raise fees and a bunch of parents freaked out. Guess an extra hundred dollars really threw all the millionaires off.” Natalie laughed. 

Next was the pool, fully fenced in and surrounded by two tennis courts and two basketball courts on either side. 

“Hey lasses!” A man called from the pool, leaning over the chain link fence. Natalie rolled her eyes and crossed her arms over her chest. “Who’s the new girl?”

He had a thick Scottish accent. Lots of transplants for the area, you guessed. He was also handsome. Muscular with a dark mohawk and light eyes. He was shirtless with very short and tight red shorts on and a silver whistle around his neck. He was dripping water over the ground.

“You say that like you aren’t also the new guy, Johnny!” Natalie called, clearly annoyed already. 

“Nat hates him.” Janie giggled. 

“It’s been three hours and he’s already tried to fuck half the counselors. He’s a dog.”

“One I’d put on a leash.” Janie laughed.

Johnny walked over, still dripping wet. His crocs squeaked with every step. 

“Johnny,” he grinned, holding out his hand to you. You introduced yourself as he shook your hand excitedly. He had a tattoo on his side, up by his ribs. You couldn’t see all of it but it looked like a heart with someone’s initials in it. S and something else, you couldn’t tell for sure. “Beautiful name for a beautiful gal.”

Your cheeks felt hot as his blue eyes traveled over your body. 

“It’s going to be a fun seven weeks with all you bonnie lasses around.” He grinned. Nat looped her arm around yours.

“Down dog. We still have half the camp to show off.”

“You know where to find me. Pool looked like the lake when I got here.” He raised his hands up as he walked backwards towards the pool again.

“Come on, before we lose Janie.”

“He’s hot!” She defended. 

“You just like him because he got your name right on the first try.”

“He’s intelligent too!”

The cabins were next. Ten white painted buildings split in half with about eight beds on each side and a shared bathroom in the back. They formed a circle around a fire pit with log benches. 

You had cabin room 14. Janie was the building next door in 15 and Nat with 16 sharing with her. They took turns explaining everything.

“Your bed is the only non bunk and the chest underneath locks so anything you don’t want the campers to find should go there.”

“Basically all your shit. I had a copy of Crime and Punishment stolen last year. Fucking Crime and Punishment like any of these kids could read Dostoevsky.”

“Showers are in the back. Hot water is sparse so if you want some, move quick and early.”

“Breakfast is at 8. Coffee tastes like shit unless you pour half a pound of sugar in it.” 

“You can vape just outside but if you smoke you gotta ask your neighbor counselor to watch your kids. At least thirty feet away or they’ll snitch too.”

“Weed is only for days off because they'll either snitch or demand you share. That goes for kids and counselors.” 

“Days off are randomly assigned but you should get one every other week.”

“I don’t recommend sleeping with other counselors but if you must, go to your car.” Natalie said. 

“We’ll leave you to get settled. Dinner is in an hour. You can meet everyone else then.”

“Thank you guys for everything.” You felt overwhelmed just a bit. 

They left, still arguing about Johnny. He was cute but the break up wounds were still fresh. You didn’t want to sneak around either. You weren’t a teenager anymore.

You haphazardly dumped the contents of your duffle into the lock chest before shoving it back under the bed. You had seven weeks to organize it. 

The bed was okay. A plastic covered mattress with an old sleeping bag. You should have brought your own pillow. Maybe a Target run on your next day off whenever that was. 

The ache in your muscles from driving all day hit hard the moment you sat down. 

There was a knock on the door. 

“Hey sleepyhead!” Sophia came in. You rubbed your face as you woke up. Out the window you could see the sky looked darker, a blue summer evening. “I’m glad you ended up coming.”

“Yeah. Thanks for getting me the job.” You stretched, your shoulders cracking. “It’s nice to get away.” 

“I’m sorry about you and Ale.” There it was. She was nice but always craved gossip. 

“It’s okay. Just wanted different things.”

You shrugged. It wasn’t a bad breakup, no arguing, just a slow and painful demise. He’d even offered to let you stay with him when the lease ended and he found out you didn’t have a place to go. You chose this instead. 

“Well, let’s get you something to eat. The food is incredibly mediocre but I heard a rumor that the lifeguard has beer and weed for the fire pit.”

She was not wrong about dinner. Hot dogs with a slice of Kraft cheese melted on top with a bag of chips as a side. 

You sat with Nat, Sophia and Janie. 

“There are my lovely ladies!” Johnny sat down, forcing his way between Cel and Sophia. Nat looked like she wanted to kill him. “Coming out to the lake tonight? Hope you all brought swim suits or birthday suits.”

“Jesus Christ.” Nat groaned. 

“I think we’re gonna have an easy night. Some of us had long drives.” Sophia motioned to herself and you. “Just some girl time.”

Johnny pouted. 

“Fair enough but I do expect all of you at the bonfire tomorrow.” He pointed at all of them, even Nat. “Especially you new girl.”

He got up and jogged off to another table of girls. 

“Am I allowed to call him a slut?”

“What happened to dog?” Janie asked, raising an eyebrow. 

“Dogs can be trained.” 

You all laughed. You’d been worried that you wouldn’t fit in. All the other girls knew each other for years at this point. Janie and Sophia had been coming here since they were kids. Nat met Janie in high school and got a job as a junior counselor with her the first chance they got. 

It wasn’t a super attractive job and the pay was shit but it looked good on resumes and college applications apparently. Showed responsibility. Most of your experiences with camp were from horror films. 

The sun was still out as the four of you walked back. Sophia was your cabin neighbor, taking care of room 13. It’s where you all gathered. 

Sophia and you sat on her bed while she did your nails. 

“Red looks nice on you.” It was a bright cherry red. She’d picked it out, saying they should all match. 

The evening was spent talking and laughing. You asking questions about camp life and getting advice from the other girls. 

You had friends back home but you were glad you fit in so fast. Any anxiety and fear for the Summer slipped away as the sun set. 

“I’m beat.” Nat yawned. It was almost midnight now. Janie agreed and the two wandered off back to their cabin. 

“I’ll head back too. Thank you for being so welcoming, Soph.”

“Absolutely! It’s nice to get fresh meat every once and a while. It can be tough with the kids so some people get jaded. I hope you have fun this Summer and if you don’t you can blame me.” She laughed. 

The air was cool on the little porch out front. Most of the other cabins had their lights off by now and the center was lit up with fireflies, neon yellow dots. 

There was an orange dot out towards the back of one of the cabins across the way. A cigarette. The man smoking it seemed larger than any counselor you’d seen but it was dark and he was half hidden behind the building. It was Johnny’s cabin, you think. He was big. 

He waved and you waved back. He dropped the cigarette and stamped it out. The little corner fell dark and you went into your side.

You didn’t realize how quiet the world could be as you curled up in your sleeping bag. No hum of electronics or cars. No people yelling above or below you. Just the stillness of the stars.

It was an early morning. Johnny was running around the circle of cabins playing music to wake everyone up. He was shirtless again and his shorts seemed shorter than the day before. You wouldn’t complain. 

“So why did you choose this wonderful vista as a summer job?” Johnny asked, jogging up next to you as you made your way to the dining hall. 

“Needed a break. Get out in nature for a bit. I grew up in the suburbs and just broke up with my boyfriend so I guess I wanted to breathe for a bit. You?”

“Running from my previous life of crime.” He smiled. “Nah, just also trying to get away. Was military back home, knee injury did me in. Didn’t know what else to do. Hiked part of the Appliachian trail. You know, it's the same mountain range as the Highlands. Felt like I had to see them. Haven’t really felt like going back home yet.”

“You hiked alone?” You raised an eyebrow. You knew that it was one of the longest and hardest trails in the country. 

“Had a mate with me but I’m on my lonesome now.” He opened the door for you. Sure, he was boisterous but he seemed harmless one on one. Maybe a little dogish but he wasn’t going to hump your leg unprompted. 

“Shirts are needed in the dining hall, Mactavish!” Sophia called. He held up his hands in surrender before fishing out a cropped muscle tee that had been shoved into his pocket. It was a nice change of pace to be around a man that wanted to show off his own skin rather than try to get girls to show theirs. 

You told yourself before you got here that you wouldn’t look for that kind of distraction. It wasn’t worth it, especially not this early. You could look though. No harm in that. 

Bacon, Eggs and self-serve cereal was today’s breakfast. You joined back up with the girls from last night. Orientation was supposed to take up most of the day so they encouraged you to grab a couple pieces of fruit and a protein bar.

“Only fill up your water bottle in here. There are fountains elsewhere but I think they taste weird.” Said Janie. 

You were put in a group with Johnny, Sophia, and another guy named Warren. He and Sophia were long term counselors so they gladly took on the role of being you and Johnny’s tour guide. Johnny had been hired because of his lifeguard training so he already knew the layout of the lake and pool. You were scolded for not having proper shoes for hiking.

“What’s your size? I might have an old pair in my car.” Sophia offered. “If not I think there’s an L.L.Bean like two hours away. We can go on our next day off.”

You weren’t sure if you could afford brand new boots so silently hoped that Sophia did have that old pair and they fit. 

“Don’t want ya getting blisters all summer.” Johnny said. He was doing the hike in crocs but apparently did have boots back at his cabin. 

You didn’t do the full trail but Warren pointed out the different routes and how difficult each one was and which ones kids could do by themselves and which ones they couldn’t. The fields were next. A soccer field and baseball field were across the way from the cabins. It was a loose definition of each. One was a huge patch of grass and the other a diamond of dirt. Both looked a little off size wise. There was the sports supply shed that had all the equipment in it. Only a couple counselors had keys to it.

“People kept using it inappropriately.” Sophia smiled.

There was the art building, the rec hall, a path leading towards the archery field and riflery field.

“Riflery?”

“Yeah. We used to teach kids how to shoot. Mostly clay pigeons but it was one of the programs cut after Covid,” Warren explained. 

“Shame I missed it. Could have taught the kids trick shots.” Johnny joked, pretending to aim a rifle backwards over his shoulder. 

The horse stable was also closed. Too expensive to have horses here for even half the season. 

The Lake was the last part of the tour. It was on the other side of the road so to get there was an underpass to get there. It was large enough for five adults to walk side by side comfortably but the yellow light from the lamps gave it a sickly vibe. 

It ended a little ways before the beach. There were several rows of Kayaks and another shed filled with life preservers and paddles. 

“Wow Johnny! You cleaned it up well.” Warren clapped him on the back. For a moment Johnny looked irritated that he’d been touched but he shoved that emotion out of the way to make room for his usual excited self. 

“Yeah. Cleaned up the best I could.”

“It looks great, Johnny.” You were impressed. He’d even sprayed the kayaks down, bright clean plastic in a rainbow of colors.

“Yer making me blush.” He laid a hand over his heart. 

The lake was gorgeous. Cream colored sand feeding into sapphire waters. You could just see the beach on the other side, a small empty dock with a path leading into the woods. The camp side had a floating platform about thirty feet into the water. 

“Campers have to swim there and back to pass the swimming competency test.” Sophia explained. “If you can’t swim on your own you’re stuck in the buoyed area.” 

There was a ten by ten foot area cordoned off by buoys, keeping to the shallow end of the lake. Made enough sense. No one wanted to fish a dead kid out of the water.

“Let’s head back. We don’t want to miss lunch.” Warren clapped his hands together. 

The four of you made the trek back to the dining hall. You did feel like blisters were starting to form on the back of your ankles. You’d have to put band-aids on them later. 

The rest of the afternoon was spent going over itinerary for the following week. Campers would arrive tomorrow between ten and six. It was a day mostly planned out for settling them in with an inaugural bonfire that night. After that it was seven weeks of regular old American camp adventures. 

You went back to your cabin the moment you had free time. Your ankles hadn’t started to bleed but they were bright red and throbbing. You applied the bandaids and grabbed another pair of socks to wear the rest of the way. 

There was about an hour and half before dinner and final orientation from the camp managers, who, you had been told, often made themselves scarce throughout the summer to avoid having to do their jobs. You settled on top of your sleeping bag. A nice breeze came in through the screen door. Janie had told you that it was the best way to keep the building cool.  

You thought about Ale. His smile and deep laugh. How he’d wake you up in the morning with kisses to the back of your neck. How he loved your hair and ass. How he’d whisper in Spanish to you. You still had the English/Spanish dictionary he gave you shoved in a box back in the city. You missed him. Your cowboy. He would have been so disappointed to hear the stables were closed. Maybe you’d call him after all this. Ask to work something out. 

You drifted off daydreaming about the scent of his cologne.

“Bonnie! You’re gonna miss dinner!” Johnny was knocking on the screen door. Maybe Nat was right in being annoyed by him all the time. 

“I’ll just miss it.” you sighed, rolling over on the bed. 

“You never know which meal is your last. Best not to skip any! C’mon or I’ll drag ya myself.”

You would have thrown a pillow if you had one. How did he always have so much energy?

He jogged literal circles around you on the way to the dining hall.

“How are your feet?” he asked.

“Huh?”

“You were limping on the way back to the cabins earlier.”

“Oh…yeah just blisters.”

He tutted at you. 

“Got to get you some good shoes soon.”

Dinner was the same hot dogs as the previous night with a bonus of a bowl of lettuce, cherry tomatoes and a slice of cucumber. 

There was an excited energy in the room. Most people who’d snuck in alcohol or drugs said tonight was the best night to use it all. An unspoken competition of who could drink the most and still function when the first campers started to arrive. It could be fun, you mused. You were never a big partier in college and what was this if not a perfect chance to make up for that. 

The boys built up a nice fire, each poking and prodding their own side with their favorite stick. You sat on one of the log benches next to Sophia and Janie. Johnny was across the fire, his arm around the waste of another girl counselor. Ceilidh you think it was. Pronounced like Kay-lee, she’d said. Pretty name, Gaelic. Made sense for him to go after a piece of home.

“Glad he’s finally left us alone.” Nat chuckled. 

“I think they’re cute.” Sophia said. You pushed down the twinge of jealousy you felt seeing her giggle at his joke. 

Warren came around with a cooler filled with a hodgepodge of beer. He was his fraternity’s president and one of his responsibilities was to get rid of any extra at the end of the term to avoid trouble. Dry campus issues. 

You grabbed a Modelo. Ale’s old go to and one you’d gotten used to drinking. It left a familiar warm feeling in your stomach.

You drank, you danced, you ate s’mores, you laughed with your new friends. The stars seemed so bright and clear out here. Janie had you all lay out on your backs in the grass nearby as she pointed out each constellation.

“That’s the big dipper and above it is the little dipper but Draco is the constellation between them. If you guys tell me your star signs I can point it out for you.”

There was laughter nearby and you glanced up to see Johnny and Ceilidh sneaking in the dark towards her cabin. 

You had another beer. And another. Maybe one more after that. 

Someone offered you a hit off a joint so you did that too. 

The four of you were laughing and stumbling back to Sophia’s cabin. You had no idea how late it was. The fire was dying out. Warren said he would make sure everyone got back inside all right. The designated driver of drunken counselors. He was a good guy. 

You found yourself laying on your side on one of the empty beds. Sophia and Janie were on her bed, half asleep against each other. Nat and you were talking about your childhoods. 

“I broke a bone three years in a row, each time in May. I missed field day every time. My mom once pulled me around in a wagon so I wouldn’t feel left out,” She laughed. 

“How did you break so many bones?”

“Catholic school where the playground was just a parking lot. I was a wild kid. I broke my arm tripping and falling against the priest’s car. I dented it too. I thought I was going to hell.”

There was a shrill noise. Loud and stomach dropping. A scream cut off. You and the other girls all jumped to attention. It was silent except for the crackling of the fire outside. 

“Fisher cat.” Janie said, trying to convince herself.

“Or a fox.” Sophia added. 

“Did you guys hear that?” Warren said, coming in. 

The four of you nodded.

“It sounded close. I’m gonna check it out.”

“By yourself?”

“One of the other guys is gonna come with me. It’s probably just an animal. If you see Johnny tell him to go check on everyone. I want a headcount before we all go to sleep.”

You all watched from the window as Warren met another guy holding a flashlight and a baseball bat. Sophia turned on the porch light. They disappeared between the cabin’s across the way. 

“Johnny and Celilidh went off together. Should we try to find them?” Sophia offered. 

“Maybe we should just stay here. Safety in numbers.” Janie answered. 

“Safety from what? It was just an animal.” Nat insisted. 

“Didn’t sound like an animal.” You thought. No one else would say it but you were all thinking it. A slide show of clips from horror films played through your mind. 

Four sets of eyes darted around, looking out windows and the front door, waiting for some masked killer to seep through the walls.

Bang!

You all screamed as Johnny flew through the door, clutching his stomach. 

“We have to go now!” He grunted. Blood was pouring between his fingers.

“Oh my god. What happened? Where’s Ceilidh?”

“Dead… fuck.. She’s fucking dead. Fucker came in through the window in the bathroom. I tried to fight him off. I’m sorry.” He gulped. “We have to go now!”

“You’re bleeding. Please let me look.” Janie reached out and he pushed her hand away. 

“Don’t have time. We have to go. Get my car keys. I can fit us all.”

“What about everyone else?” You asked. There was so much blood, it was dripping on the floor now. 

“I don’t know… when..when’s the last time you saw anyone?”

There was another scream from outside. Silence took you over again.

“Please… we can get out and get help but we have to go now.” Johnny pleaded. His bright blue eyes were watery and his tan skin was stained red down his legs. 

“I’m going.” Sophia said, grabbing her backpack. “Fuck this. I’m not fucking dying like it’s a movie. We’re all going. Johnny, do you need help?”

“No, I can manage. I need to get my keys though.”

“I have mine. We can just take my car. It’s an SUV.” Sophia urged, crouching down to look out of the door.

“No…no…I…I uh…I have a gun in my car.”

“You brought a fucking gun to camp?” Nat’s jaw dropped. 

“Old shotgun. It works. I’m trained for this. Get to the car and I… I can kill him.”

“You’re bleeding out, Johnny.” Janie cried, reaching for him again and once again being pushed away. 

“Come with me.” Johnny looked at you.

“I…I…I don’t know.” You were shaking. It didn’t seem real. Too cliche. A real life spree killer running around the woods of a Summer camp. Sophia was right, you didn’t want to die like it was some movie. 

“He knows I’m weak. He’ll go after me first. We’ll get my keys and if he shows up… you take them and run.”

“You..can’t sacrifice yourself.” Your voice warbled.

“It was my job to do that. If I can’t die saving my country, I’d like to die saving a group of pretty girls.”

Johnny was pleading. He seemed to know he couldn’t do it on his own. You thought about Ale saying you needed to stand up for yourself more. You never did. You didn’t stand up to bullies in high school, rogue professors in college or shitty demeaning bosses. You didn’t even stand up for yourself when Ale said he wanted a break. 

Nat was saying how you should all just run to Sophia’s car. She had her keys. Sophia was agreeing. Janie was crying silently. 

“I’ll go.” You forced the words out like vomit. It was that or actual vomit.

“Okay.” He almost smiled. “Sophia, turn off the lights. We’ll give you a signal when it's safe to come out. Then we all run to the parking lot.”

“What’s the signal?” Janie sobbed.

“I’ll whistle.”

You were shaking so much you worried you’d fall right down the front steps of the cabin. Johnny was in front of you, shoulders hunched up, his eyes darting everywhere. Sophia turned off the lights, leaving the two of you in near darkness. The fire was nothing more than orange smoldering logs. 

“You seem like you’ve done this before.” You said quietly, finding yourself holding the bottom hem of his shirt. 

“Like I said. It was my job.”

You walked on your tiptoes, trying not to make any noise. Your heart cried for the others. Even if you didn’t know them. You didn’t hear or see anyone. Maybe they all got out? They escaped already…or the killer was chasing them deeper into the woods.

You didn’t want to die. In the movies it always seemed so prolonged. The stabbings and bleeding out. Johnny had been hurt and he was still going on, trying to save you and everyone else. 

“Stay here. I’ll go check to make sure it's clear.” He said. You’d made it to his cabin, whole body still shaking just on his porch now. Your heart leapt into your throat as the door creaked open. 

“Be careful, please.”

He winked at you before heading in. You picked at the skin around your nails, a nasty old habit that you tried so hard to kick. You could forgive yourself for this relapse. It seemed an appropriate time to scratch out anxiety.

The step behind you creaked. Any light from the fire was blocked out. A arm wrapped around your neck and pulled you flush with a wall of muscle. You screamed for Johnny as a knife cut into your stomach.

It hurt worse than you thought it would. He was stabbing you over and over. All those movies and none prepared you for the sound that came from being stabbed yourself. The rush of blood in your head. You kicked and scratched the best you could, catching the gap of skin between his gloves and sleeves. Flesh caught under your nails and tore. The knife cut sideways across your stomach. Something wet and heavy hit the floor by your feet.

“Fucking cunt.” The man growled. You could have thrown up if it didn’t feel like your stomach had been torn open. 

You hit the porch face first, no strength left to even try to hold yourself up. Blood pooled in your mouth. He stepped around you and in the corner of your eye you could make him out. 

Large, well over six feet and bulky with large shoulders. A half skull mask covered the top part of his face. His head was buzzed. He had a hunting knife in his hand and it dripped your blood onto the wood and onto your face. 

“Johnny!” Your killer called. You’d doomed him too. He could have gotten away. Johnny would die and it would be your fault. They all would now and it was your fault. 

You closed your eyes as the throbbing subsided. You didn’t want to listen. He was so nice. He didn’t deserve it.

You didn’t deserve this. 

You closed your eyes and let yourself slip away. 

You heard music. Loud obnoxious music and singing from an off key baritone scot.

You opened your eyes and you were in your sleeping bag in your cabin. It was Sunday morning again. 

Shout out to @ceilidho for being an inspiration to me to write darker fics and letting me use her name for a counselor.

[charnelhouse]

bad people

Gif by @jdmorganz

Pairing: Joel Miller x F!ReaderWordcount: 3kWarnings: rough sex. age gap (tho undefined). violence. oral. blood. joel being a dick. drunk sex. Summary: When it happened, it happened in the dark.

Ten Years Post Outbreak

Boston was dirty. The summer rain had been relentless, liquefying the dirt to unforgiving mud. She’d had enough of rain. Her shirt stuck to her skin, constricting her limbs and soaking her feet. She was lightheaded. She’d had a spoonful of canned peaches earlier, and the sugar smudged her tongue. 

She blinked down at her feet, the sneakers threadbare and soaked. Her eyes flitted to the wood-brown boots beside them. They dwarfed her shoes in comparison.

The man next to her was one she knew. Joel Miller.

He was rough-looking with his weathered skin and dark hair threaded with a bit of silver. He was also handsome, seemingly carved from a shard of rock. Strong. Brutal. 

Hephaestus. 

If he were a God, she’d choose Hephaestus.

The things she did know about him were both second-hand and from afar. He was mean and ruthless. He beat the shit out of a rival smuggler and blinded another. 

Tonight was purely coincidental. The rain was too hard. The soldiers were out in droves due to a recent Firefly attack. Joel had stumbled upon her hideout: a narrow storage closet that smelled like bleach. He’d turned the tiny light on, and she’d snapped like a feral cat. He’d shut it off without apologizing.

Instead, he glanced down at her, frowning, and for a split second, she thought he was going to murder her for the shelter. Instead, he tugged a large plastic bottle of brown liquid from his pack and offered it. 

Whiskey–she guessed. A homegrown brew that might make her temporarily blind. The good stuff. 

Wordlessly, she took it. The terms were met. You can share this space with me. She would have said yes regardless.

Joel sat beside her, and after she swallowed enough to burn her lungs, he accepted the whiskey again.

***

When it happened, it happened in the dark. 

They barely spoke. Instead, they passed the bottle back and forth. Both of them were loose with it. The whiskey warmed her belly, making everything somewhat bearable. Her vision became edged with gauzy sweeps of color–finger painting in the dim light. The world was bathed in butter, gold, and temporary numbness.

Thirty minutes had passed when she finally spoke. “Great weather we’re having.”

He paused, the plastic crinkling in his hand, the rim scraping against his chin. He smiled briefly.

“Used to like the rain,” he replied. “But now?” He shook his head, and she noticed the raw cut of his jaw, his patchy beard. He was someone who had worked too long in the sun, and yet she found him unbearably attractive. Rugged. A hot coal pulsing fire, and she was desperate to get warm. 

She thought of fungus. She thought of it growing in this narrow room with its perfect conditions. Humidity. Wooly heat. A petri dish. She could become it–become the sick and she could rot into the wall with Joel sitting silently beside her. She’d swell with a patchwork of pretty colors: blister-red, jaundice-green, bile-orange. 

Jesus. She was maudlin. She was drunk. 

The rain fell harder, pelting the walls of the building. She knew things were hanging on by spit and glue. She knew everything could–would–collapse eventually. No more clean-cut grass. No more distinct roads. No more potted flowers. 

Joel turned his head, his dark gaze landing on her face. The irises shimmered like a sun-drenched black top. He had somber eyes. Expressive for once. Doe-like. He stared at her as if it was the first time he actually was actually seeing her. 

She wondered if he went through life avoiding the periphery. There was only the direct line in front of him. When he came into this closet, he shoved the bottle forward and only saw her hand accept it.

He blinked at her sluggishly, his pink lips parting beneath his mustache. There was a flicker of recognition.

“You ran with Luke, right?”

Surprised, she nodded. Joel had remembered her.

Luke. Gorgeous Luke, who was the very picture of a homecoming king. A movie star. Corn-fed. Blonde hair, white teeth, and sea-glass green eyes. He had been full of hope, and there had been a time when Joel and his brother, Tommy, had worked with them. She’d stuck to the corners. Watched. Observed. Frightened out of her mind because she didn’t understand how to live anymore—how to function, barter, or be content. Luke had done it all, protected her to the best of his ability.

“You’ve gotta take a deep breath, baby,” Luke had ordered, shrouding her face between his dry, clean hands. “You adapt. You live. That’s it.”

“Good guy,” Joel offered, somewhat awkwardly. Everyone knew what had happened to Luke. She’d been surprised that many people cared at the time. The Apocalypse had occurred, but the community still gave a shit over the handsome jock with the diplomatic smile.

She huffed a laugh, and he frowned.

“He was an idiot,” she hissed–very resentful even if it had been three years. He’d left her here. 

There’d been so much blood—eggplant purple pouring out of Luke as he gurgled for her. 

Joel pushed the bottle into her hand, his knuckles brushing her palm. She took a pull and didn’t wince. “He still operated as if the rules hadn’t changed. He didn’t understand that you have to be a bad person to survive here. He trusted too easily. Far too empathetic for his own good.” She scowled as she knocked her head against the wall. It throbbed–spots of white sprouting across her vision like a fungus–

“Hey,” Joel said, leaning into her. “You’re gonna hurt yourself.”

She could smell the honey-burn of whiskey on his tongue, in his beard. There was also the press of wet dog, sweat, and body odor. She was used to that. She was used to the smell of unwashed humans. Those were good scents because they didn’t carry that mildewy stench of fungi. A water-logged basement. A moss-covered stone at the edge of a pond.

She inhaled and found Joel’s hair brushed in smoke. Cigarette ash. He was closer to her, his denim sleeve rasping her bare arm. 

“You’re shivering,” he mumbled.

“I know.”

It happened within a second. An unspoken decision erupting like a metallic click of a lighter.

She was lonely—so lonely and she wanted to burn. Perhaps, he did too.

His eyes found hers, his lids heavy, and his cheeks flushed. She wasn’t sure if she moved first or he did, but she knew they didn’t kiss. He jerked to the side last minute, his mouth scraping down the side of her cheek.

He encouraged her to lie down, his chest against her breasts as he petted her hips, the outside of her thigh. He was heavy, breathing hard as he buried his face into her neck.

“Lift your hips,” he murmured as he popped the button on her jeans and rucked them down to her knees with his nose still rooted against her jaw. 

They fucked fully clothed on the filthy, cement floor. 

She pushed his jeans under his ass as he gripped his cock and smeared it against the lips of her cunt. It was clumsy and desperate, but it felt good. Everything felt good. She had to bite his shoulder when he finally breached her. He moved too quickly, sinking to the hilt as her body tried to accommodate his girth. He’d broken her in, forced her to mold to his size, and she found herself fisting his hair, biting his neck.

“You’re good,” he hummed as he slowly began to saw his hips. “Fuckin’ great, sweetheart.”

The drag of his cock sizzled her insides and spread her apart. He pinned her down and buried her with his full weight. She felt safe—blanketed by him and all of his denim.

Every thrust forced her spine up the wet floor. Her knees dug into his ribs, her ankle wrapped around the back of his calve. He smelled like a soaked garden. Soil. A brushfire. Wood. His nails were dirty, and she arched when he dug them into her waist. 

He ground against her in a way that made the wiry hairs at his groin stimulate her, his pelvic bone rubbing her clit. She climaxed a little too quickly. Embarrassingly quickly. It had been so long since Luke and Joel was big. The pain was welcome. The ache of him. She clenched around him, tightened to a knot as she cried out into his hair. His curls were caught in her breath, his beard burning her skin. 

Afterward, he stood, tucking his soft cock, shiny with her, into his jeans. The near-empty bottle of whiskey rolled against her leg. He attempted a smile that was more of a glower and shook his head a bit to clear it before backpedaling out the door.

***

It ended up working out—forced proximity. 

He needed a second hand, and anyone else found him scary. He seemed taken aback when she offered her help, perhaps surprised at her forwardness. 

We fucked. That’s it. 

But–he accepted her, begrudgingly pulling her into his plans. She was a tiny island in a sea of several. Her group had been Luke, and the others within it had done what they did to him. She’d killed them for that—no more group.

He gave her the couch in his small place. Tommy was in and out. Ships in the night, she supposed, though she didn’t know what had broken between them.

Most of the time, Joel ignored her. He seemed unable to look her in the eye, which she found hilarious. Her ego had long been snuffed out, but she couldn’t help the pinch of hurt at Joel’s coldness.

You’ve been inside me. C’mon. 

He gave her orders. She watched his back. He was someone who would know of her existence if she died. 

Would he care? She doubted it.

But he’d know she’d been there. Breathing. Alive. 

***

One midnight, Joel returned to the apartment, pissed off. She hated waiting for him, being left behind. She’d rather be out there and with him.

Luke had died alone. He’d told her to stay put, and he’d gone out and died. 

Joel had stumbled toward the couch in the dark. Forgetting she was there, he’d crashed into her, and she’d yelped. 

“Fuck,” he growled, shoving a hand through his curls. “What the hell!?”

“It’s my bed,” she murmured, and it seemed to douse his fire. He blinked at her, the moonlight turning the edges of his face silver. 

“I don’t understand,” she continued, voice a little thick with frustration. “If you don’t want me here–”

“Lie back.”

He went to his knees, hands moving under her ass and pulling it forward. He cupped it and lifted her pelvis. Shorts gone. Joel’s skin was cold from the outdoors, and he hitched her knees over his shoulders. His hair tickled her skin. He covered her cunt with his mouth and drank from her. He devoured without a hint of shame because she could hear herself on his tongue. The wet mess of her pussy. The room rang with her whimpers, and when she tried to silence them with her hand, he growled like an animal–a beast. 

Afterward, he stood up mechanically, before stalking back to his room. He left her with her shorts around her ankles, her cunt tender and soaked.

He hadn’t even wiped his lips.

***

She learned from him—what he had become. He was selfish and drowning in the bloodlust that rippled under his skin like a parasite. She got it. She found it stimulating. His philosophy of kill or be killed. His ego stroked with every fight he caused or fatal situation he inevitably won. 

Two months in, she watched him put a bullet in a newbie smuggler who had sold him pills made from chalk and sugar. 

He turned around, grabbed her hard by the back of the neck and shoved her up against a wall. He dragged her pants under her ass as he fiddled with his belt. After a distressing second, he pushed himself into her. No spit. No preparation at all. It was dry enough to hurt them both, but she still moaned. He gagged her with his palm as he fisted her hair. He fucked her in short, brutal strokes. Thump...thump….thump against the plaster wall. An even, steady rhythm. He didn’t rush it. He didn’t speak either. Just grunts. Just feral, low noises from the back of his throat. 

“Joel,” she gasped, and he pinned her with his hips. He withdrew until only the tip remained before plunging back inside her like he could fuck her guts. Maybe, he wanted to. Maybe, he wanted to punish her and remind her:

I’m a bad person. I’m the kind of person who survives in a world like this. Isn’t that what you want?

***

“How old are you?” Joel asked out of the blue; his brows knitted together in concern. 

It was a little late for that. The air between them spiked before becoming sour and viscous as jelly. He pulled his shoulders back, his expression twisting into something hesitant and concerned. 

She chewed her lip thoughtfully, wondering if she should lie for his benefit. Finally, she told him, and he grimaced. The age difference wasn’t that obscene. It wasn’t unheard of or ugly. There weren’t many people left to begin with. She’d seen him kill. He knew what she had done to avenge Luke.

Joel rubbed the scar across her belly. "Was this from the woods? After Luke?"

"You should see the other guys."

Joel grinned in a way that was so deliciously impressed. Smug. "Oh," he said, curling with glee. "Oh-I did. Had no idea a little thing like you could even think of such things."

She leaned forward, her lips hovering over his own. His hands found her ass and he encouraged her down until he was half-way inside her. He was all blood - unforgivably hard and he split her down the middle. She loved it.

"I lost my mind for a second," she revealed, deliberately flexing the walls of her pussy. He grunted and became slightly cross-eyed. "You know...” she continued. "If it had happened to you? I might have done the same."

"If I had been Luke?"

"If you had been Luke."

Suddenly, he grabbed her hard and shoved her down, impaling her on his cock until he couldn't drive further. He was in her throat--her lungs. Joel. "I wouldn't be Luke," he argued huskily as he snapped into her - once - twice. He smacked her ass and the sound rocketed through the room. "I'm a bad guy, remember?"

She tried to laugh, but it tumbled out of her like a whimper. "Still," she said between the continuous, punishing stabs of his cock. "Still--I'd avenge you."

She held her hand out, and he took it. He could wrap his whole fist around hers and she’d disappear.

“Don’t worry so much,” she warned. “You’ll get wrinkles.”

Of course, he was already well-worn. She bet he was lined and edged even before the infection. He was a constant overthinker. She knew he’d been a carpenter, but the rest was a wash—all diluted gray mass of nothin’. His life before was not something he gave her.

“Why are we holdin’ hands again?”

She lifted her shoulders, gaze wandering away from his pointed stare. “Just consoling you now that you’ve realized you’re a dirty old man.”

He squeezed until her bones trembled before rolling his eyes in a disarmingly young way. “You need to watch that mouth of yours.”

***

Joel was swollen with a fever. She touched his forehead, dragging her fingertips across his cheekbone. She traced a letter and then her name. He leaned into it, lips parting as his whiskey-damp breath brushed her skin. 

“You’re not doing too well,” she observed. His bare shoulders bulged from the edge of the blanket, and his lashes fluttered. His mouth curled as he tried to shift against the thin mattress.

“S’fine,” he slurred. 

She swallowed a scream. She wanted to burst. She could do nothing for him but wait. Hope it was a virus. Hope it was a plain old illness that had to tire itself out. 

“Let me go to the other side of town,” she murmured. “I’ll find you meds. I’m sure I can.”

His eyes snapped open at that. He attempted to sit up before groaning. “Don’t–don’t–you fuckin’ dare.” He said her name softly as he melted back into the mattress. Coughing. Moaning. “Do not go.”

He pushed his head into her lap in the blurred daze of his fever. She swept his hair away from his face, combing his fingers through his damp curls. 

If he got worse, she’d go. She’d have to. 

The next day, the fever dropped a point. Joel couldn’t fall asleep, instead trembling in the bed, sweating rivulets of sickness. 

She played him Lee Hazlewood. Your Sweet Love. She played it on repeat. It rocked him somewhat, and with her imagination, she turned the popcorned ceiling into stars and a twilight sky. 

Joel curled into her. “You smell nice,” he sighed. He held her closer, demanding warmth even though his skin was oven-hot.

In the morning, his fingers wandered down between her legs. He touched her, stroked her until she shook in his sweat-sodden sheets. The intimacy killed her. It was too much and not enough.

***

She worked one of the body disposal shifts and cut her hand on some glass. The wind was painfully cold, and the blood that bubbled up from the gash felt like hot tea. She studied it, somewhat enraptured by its brightness of it. It turned the dirty snow at her feet maroon.

She heard her name. It was muffled, and then it was louder, familiar, and seared with frustration. Joel. He gripped her hard by the arms, twisting her around. Joel handled fear terribly. Terror could only be molded into anger for him. Violence. 

He shook her. “Where have you been? I waited an hour.”

She lifted her hand to show him. She still could be childish. She wondered if she had stopped maturing after the world had ended. 

His eyes slowly crept from her face to her hand. “How?”

“Some glass,” she shrugged.

“Is—are—-,” He trailed off, audibly swallowing.

She found it off-putting. Joel was usually so collected. 

“If I were infected—they would have shot me,” she reminded him, and he sagged an inch. Of course. Of course. How silly of me. 

He rearranged his expression so that it was his usual gruff stoniness. 

“You’re freezing,” he accused as if she could help it. Boston winter. Not enough layers.

We thought the cold would stomp out the infection–the bacteria–the fungus. 

“It’s fine–”

Wordlessly, Joel wrapped his arms around her shoulders, hauling her into the heat of his chest. Surprised, she gripped the fabric of his shirt as he forced his jacket around the both of them. The sky was blue-black, and the snow clung to her hair and scalp. It coated his coffee-brown hair in powdered sugar.

She pressed her face into his sternum, nuzzling her nose into the space between his pecs. 

“Let me see your hand,” he urged. 

She gave it to him, still dripping and tender. She needed a bandage. Of course, FEDRA tested her, but they wouldn’t waste a single strip of gauze.

She heard Joel curse them under his breath before cradling her hand, fingertips barely nudging the injury. He dropped his head and kissed the vulnerable space between her thumb and index finger, and when he pulled away, there was the faintest trace of her blood on his chin.

“So weird,” she said. “So alive.”

His brow furrowed. She might be a little light-headed.

Yes. Yes. Hot-feverish blood meant her heart was pulsing, thumping with life just like Joel. His anger. His pain. What he does to her in the dark. 

“C’mere,” She grasped his face between her hands. Unshaven. Prickly. Her blood. On tiptoe, she claimed his mouth, and he accepted, even demanded more.

[boldlyvoid]

December 16th, 1986

Steve Harrington x Eddie Munson

Summary: It took 8 months, but Steve's parents finally sold their house... and Steve has no idea where he's going to live now.

Warnings: drug use, mutual pining, first kisses, getting together, moving in together, Wayne and Mr. Clark are dating in this

Word Count: 2.5k

For the past 8 months, Steve has been getting ready for this moment. 

His parents announced pretty soon after the earthquake that they would be moving. They put the house up for sale, they packed their things and they left… they said he could stay there till it sold, make sure that the Realtor showed the house off right and answer any questions that the potential buyers have. He answered things that he shouldn’t have, he told lies, he made the house seem haunted and he prolonged living there as long as he could until another rich family decided they’d take it no matter what. 

His last day to live in his childhood home is December 16th. He has 2 weeks to pack, find an apartment and start living life on his own terms. His parents “helped” the best way they knew how. With a check for $1000 as a thank you for looking after the place until now and words of support… those words being “We know you can do it, and if not, here’s our new address.” 

Robin offered to let him stay with her but without her mom knowing because she already thinks they’re dating in secret and that wouldn’t help. He can’t ask Nancy for help cause she’s in Boston— Jonathan might be willing to help but since their breakup… he’s not really hanging out with anyone much. Dustin's mom has made it clear he can stay over whenever he wants but he’d have to sleep on the couch in the living room and there wouldn't be much privacy.

The 4 apartments downtown are taken currently, they won’t be available for god-knows how long and he can’t afford to buy a house of his own… his job sucks, and he’s worried he won’t even be there much longer once Robin goes off to college cause Keith hates him, so he should be looking for both a new job and a place to live. 

It all comes tumbling out of him after a joint and a beer while lying on the carpet in Eddie’s room. 

“Dude,” Eddie stops him mid-ramble. “You can stay here.” 

“Where?” 

“Here,” Eddie waves around. “In my room, with me, for as long as you need.” 

He laughs as he sits up, “Yeah I can see it now, my race car poster can go there. My trophies will sit in a box over there on the floor and after I organize your closet for the first time like, ever, I’ll put my clothes in there.” 

“I mean, I think the race car would look better over there,” Eddie points to the one blank spot on his wall with a smirk. “I’m completely serious, Stevie, you can stay here. Wayne won’t mind.” 

He just sighs, “I mean, I think I can store all my things in Dustin's weird bomb shelter storage thing—

“Wait, what?” Eddie cuts him off. “He has a bomb shelter?” 

“I don’t know it’s like not connected to his house and it’s in the backyard and it’s underground and all concrete,” Steve explains. “But they just keep his mom's homemade stuff down there like she pickles shit and makes jam, so... I could keep some boxes down there and just bring the important things here.” 

“See, that sounds like a great plan,” Eddie cheers him on. 

“But…” he doesn’t know how to ask. 

“What?” 

He sighs, “where am I going to sleep?” 

“Here,” Eddie says like it’s no big deal, pointing down at his bed. “It’s not like you haven’t slept here before.” 

“Yeah, but, every night, for-for I don’t know how long?” Steve worries, “You’d seriously be okay with that?” 

Eddie nods, “I mean, we sleep pretty good when we’re together…”

Steve sighs, he’s right. No nightmares, no night sweats, no morning headaches, notate night anxiety attacks— and that’s just all the stuff on his end. Eddie hasn’t been on a regular sleep schedule like this since he was a toddler, sleeping from midnight to 9am every time they’re together, he’s more productive and he’s happier and they really love sleeping together... It just feels right. 

“Don’t-don’t take this the wrong way, but-but—

“Oh no,” Eddie worries right away.

“No, no, it’s a good thing I promise,” Steve assures. “I just wanted to say I… I love you, man. You’re a wonderful person and you take such good care of all your friends and-and don’t tell Robin but you’re one of the best people in my life and I don’t know what I’d do without you.” 

Eddie tries to make a joke response but his mouth just opens and closes and he shakes his head in disbelief, “You do?” 

Steve nods, “I really do. Thank you… for everything.” 

Eddie gets off his bed and crowds Steve on the floor, wrapping him up in such a powerful hug they end up lying down with Eddie on top of him, “I love you too, Stevie.” 

They’re like that for well over a minute, but with the weed in their system, it might’ve been even longer than that. They end up cuddled on the floor, Eddie’s face in Steve’s neck, Steve’s fingers tracing shapes on Eddie's back, the two of them silent and content and oddly comfortable. 

They cuddle often. This is how they fall asleep. After long chats about all sorts of things: work, bad dads, evil teachers, stupid ex-friends, relationships that went south... You name it, they’ve talked about it. It started one night after he drove Robin home from work, she had a headache and just wanted to sleep and he needed someone to talk to— somehow he ended up parked in front of Eddie’s trailer before he could even register how he got there and Eddie was coming outside to make sure he was okay. He wasn’t. But he’s been okay since then, since knowing he has another safe space with someone who cares about him. 

Now he knows that someone loves him… and Steve loves him right back. Maybe more than how he loves Robin or Dustin. Maybe he loves him more like he loved Nancy? This did feel an awfully lot like when he cuddled with her, only, they did this after sex… completely naked, cuddled up for 10-20 minutes before he had to get her home for her curfew, but he soaked it all in. It was his favourite part of the whole thing. 

And now he has it again, just in a different form. In a different shape… an Eddie shape that’s even warmer and heavier and smells like home and doesn’t have to leave after a few minutes. And when Eddie said he loved him back, it was real. It was sincere. It was everything he wanted. 

He rests his cheek against the top of Eddie’s head for a moment, lets out a sigh from all his thoughts and then he does it. He kisses the top of Eddie's head and squeezes him tighter. And to his surprise, Eddie kisses him right back. His lips touch Steve’s neck and they stay there, again and again, he kisses him until he’s straddling Steve’s hips and his lips meet his jaw and Steve stops breathing. 

His eyes blown wide, his hands fallen to his sides, he’s frozen. Eddie notices and pulls back, he cups Steve’s jaw and stares at him, “hey… I’m sorry, I can—

Steve doesn’t let him finish, he simply grips his t-shirt and pulls him down into a real kiss. Lips pressed firmly together, eyes squeezed shut— on his end, at least. It’s not Eddie's turn to be shocked still. Steve holds him there for a moment and then releases, noticing Eddie’s now frozen as he opens his eyes. He laughs, finding him so un-godly cute, “Sorry…” 

“No, no, don’t apologize,” Eddie says in a mere whisper, still dumbfounded that that really happened. But he comes back to reality, he stares at Steve’s lips and then back up to his eyes, “Kiss me whenever you'd like, pretty boy.” 

Steve sits up with Eddie still in his lap, chest to chest now, he cups Eddie’s face, “same goes for you, handsome.” 

So, Eddie kisses him this time, sweet and gentile and everything Steve’s ever wanted. It’s slow and sweet, and his lips are soft, Eddie wraps his arms around him and holds him close. Steves is the first one to initiate more, swiping his tongue across his bottom lip, Eddie almost moans as he lets him in. 

Steve's hand slips from his cheek, down his neck and rests on his chest before he wraps his arms around Eddie’s middle and tugs him in even closer. He’s never had a kiss that feels like this: there’s love and passion and a familiarity that feels like they’ve kissed a million times before. 

He’s not sure how long they kiss, but it feels like hours.

Glorious, fantastic, and magical hours that he never wants to end.

When Eddie finally pulls away he doesn’t look too happy— which worries Steve. “I love this, but I’ve gotta piss so goddamn bad, dude.” 

Steve laughs, “Go, go pee and then we can continue this in the bed, my ass is going numb.” 

Eddie steals one last kiss, “Okay, I’ll be right back. Might get some snacks too… the munchies are kicking in.”

And then he’s gone, leaving Steve alone in his room… he reaches over for the walkie-talkie on Eddie’s bedside table, pulls out the antenna and changes the frequency to the one he and Robin use. It’s late, she’s probably asleep, but he’s allowed to wake her up when he needs her. 

“Rob? Robin? Are you up?” 

He waits a moment and then he hears it, she groans, “What?” 

“It happened.” 

“You’re gonna have to be more descriptive, dingus,” she bullies him. “And speak up, where are you?” 

“I’m at Eddie's, he’s gonna be back in a second but… but we kissed. It happened, Rob.” 

“Do you want a parade? Some gay confetti cake?” She teases, tired and not in the mood but he can hear her slight smile. 

“No, I just wanted to tell you,” he smiles like an idiot on his end. “And I told him I love him, so there’s that…” 

“Congrats, you kissed the same sex before I did— can I please go back to bed now?” She begs. 

“Yeah, sorry, I’ll see yo tomorrow,” he lets her go. “Night, rob.” 

“Night, dingus,” he says back and then the line goes dead. She’s turned it off completely. 

He flops back to the bed with the walkie pressed to his chest and the most shit-eating grin plastered to his face. He’s never felt so happy in his life. And Eddie sees it. He leans against the doorway, bag of chips in hand, just smiling back at him. 

“You know, I always wondered what my dad meant when he said I was more like Wayne than anyone else in their family, that I had to be a Munson like my mom said because I’m his twin…” Eddie explains and Steve sits right up, nervous that he was caught. 

“What?” 

“Wayne’s had the same boyfriend since I was like 14,” he explains. “They see each other in the mornings when he’s coming home and his lovers getting ready for work. He brings him coffee, they get a few minutes to just chat and then he'd come back here to make sure I was ready for the bus… and I didn’t know he was his boyfriend for a long time. I actually didn’t know for sure until we were in the hospital, and Scott was there, holding Wayne’s hand.” 

“Wait, that’s why Mr. Clarke was always around?” Steve can’t believe it. “I knew they were friends but… oh my god?” 

Eddie makes his way to the bed and nods, “They’ve been together for a while. And happily. If it wouldn’t fuck with his job, they’d be living together… he has a second room in his house so they’ve been thinking about pretending to be roommates but, I don’t know who’d buy that.” 

“I would’ve,” Steve assures him. “Believe me, that is not the first thing I think of when I see two older dudes hanging out.” 

“And if Wayne moves in with him… then I get the trailer,” Eddie explains. “And there’d be more room for your things… and you’d never have to leave…” 

“Oh,” Steve’s heart swells. “You’d want that?” 

Eddie nods again, “I want you for as long as I can have you.” 

“How does forever sound?” Steve teases, wanting that too. 

“Perfect,” he agrees before lunging at him for another kiss. 

—

When December 16th rolls around, Steve has all his things packed, they load it all into Eddie’s van and keep the non-essential things at Dustins in his cellar. It’s a relatively easy move, the hardest part was organizing Eddie’s closet so Steve’s things could fit in there. He convinces Eddie to donate some things, but by “donate” he meant put shit in a box and give it to Mike. 

And Wayne’s home that day too, he doesn’t go back to work until 8pm which means that he can make them dinner. He’s s happy to have Steve around, slightly because he’s loved Steve ever since he dragged Eddie out of hell and to a hospital— but mostly because Eddie loves him. They’re a little family. 

And, speaking of family: Scott comes over too. 

The 4 men sit around a little table and chat and laugh and celebrate the start of something new. Something beautiful. New love, but more specifically, Gay love. 

“Um,” Steve starts to speak when the conversation starts to lull. “Do you guys know any other lesbians in the area?” 

They nod, “Yeah, we do, why?” Wayne asks. 

“My best friend thinks she’s the only lesbian in the whole town and I thought maybe we could have like a gay New Year's party or something so she would feel less alone?” 

“Does she have a fake ID?” Eddie asks and Scott glares at him. “What? Candace and Sharon literally run a gay bar in Indy, we could just go there all together.” 

“You guys can go,” Scott waves his hands. “I am not going to a club at my big age. I am long past finding that fun.” 

“Robin would love to go,” Steve announces for her. “We’ll find her something to use.” 

“Candy isn’t above sneaking someone in,” Wayne teases. “You guys will have a blast.” 

“Can I just say thanks again for letting me stay here?” Steve asks, feeling a little emotional with how amazing this is all turning out to be. 

“Oh, it’s nothing,” Wayne waves it off. 

“You could’ve even moved in with me, or just kept your things at my place,” Scott offers. “Any kid of Waynes is a kid of mine.” 

He gets a little choked up, unsure of what to say, he just smiles. “Thank you,” is all he can muster. 

Going from having 1 dad who didn’t even care to call him on his birthday to having Eddie’s 2 dads who’d do anything for him, thanks to Eddie is just too much to handle right away. But he’ll get used to it. 

This is his family now. 

They’ll have to do this every year now; a big dinner on the 16th of December every year to celebrate coming home. 

General Taglist 

@ncsls0515 @stevesmunsons @reidsbookclub @sweetyyhippyy @manuosorioh @mrs-dr-reid @k-k0129 @squishyturtle @katsukis1wife @buckleyhans @mrs-ssa-hotch @ssavanessa22

Steddie

@nosaladallowed-ao3  @wifeyreid @girl-with-an-orange-cat @sunshinemunchkin @luna-munson83 @manda-panda-monium @steve-thehair-mamabear 

[lsvdw-blog]

Drained (3/?)

Pairing: Ethan Ramsey x f!MC

Word Count: 2.3k

Warnings; Rating: Angst; General

Premise: Serena makes moves and Ethan finds out.

Author’s Note: I'm sorry ☠️ I hope you enjoy and thank you for reading 💖 **HSM reference included

Serena comes to a halt in the middle of a crosswalk. Rebecca continues to lay out the terms of the contract, but time stands still as Serena drones out, shocked.

An offer. 

This is exactly what she wanted. A dream come true for her younger self.

So why does she feel so conflicted? 

~~~~~~

Serena hangs up the phone just as she’s stepping into her apartment, all of her roommates, along with Bryce and Rafael, are gathered in the living room, watching a movie. 

She stands at the edge, absorbing the laughter and camaraderie filling the space. Silently taking in what she would be giving up. 

Although becoming Head of the Diagnostics Team has been far from what she expected, she’s comfortable here — it’s familiar. She knows the ins and outs of Edenbrook now, a far cry from the intern that got lost in the hallways. She has an incredible friend group that would drop everything if she needed them. She knows the language, the culture, the unspoken rules and etiquette. 

She’d go from a three hour flight home to being across the ocean. She’d miss birthdays, holidays, and impromptu get-togethers. She'd miss the mundane things: days out in Boston Common, going on shopping trips with the girls, getting lost in the farmer's markets. 

But this was something she had wanted her entire life. What she’d worked nearly a decade for. 

By everyone else’s standards, for anyone on the outside looking in, she’s flourished in her three and half years at Edenbrook. Yet she feels like a trained falcon: tethered and only able to fly when told how high and how far.

She owes it to herself to make her dream a reality, to spread her wings, and not only fly, but soar.

Her eyes grow misty the longer she stands there, contemplating all of the things that would change. It isn’t until she’s deep in her spiral that Elijah calls out her name. 

“Serena, are you okay?” 

The backlight from the television reflects the tears in her eyes. “I’m really gonna miss you guys.” 

Understandably, she’s met with a room full of confused expressions. While they know about her struggles as Head of the Diagnostics Team, they don’t know about the events of the last forty-eight hours. 

Serena walks towards them, plopping down in the middle of the floor, and begins to fill them in. 

By that night, Serena had signed a year-long contract, shipping out in six weeks. 

~~~~~~

The next few days are a blur: making phone calls to potential movers and storage unit companies and having conversations with her new team. 

It seems as though Ethan finally took the hint that she wanted space. His interactions are gentle, but few and far in between. 

Serena knows it’s not fair to keep him in the dark, but she’s still too hurt and overwhelmed to bring herself to do the right thing.

Ethan interprets her space as her just needing to work through it first, that she’d be ready to talk soon.

How wrong he was. 

~~~~~~

“Great work today, Carrick. There might be some hope left for you after all.” 

Tobias chuckles. 

“Gotta keep the lead on her toes!” He does a little boxing move, causing Serena to laugh. “This will be my team before you know it.” 

Serena sobers at that comment, remembering the big news she has yet to share with anyone other than her family and roommates. 

Tobias notices the sudden change in energy, a cloud of sadness settling over them. 

“Tobias… take a seat. There’s something we need to discuss.” 

His brows furrow and his head tilts to the side in confusion as they both take a seat at the round table. Serena huffs out a long breath, sitting with her back ramrod straight, hands clasped in front of her. Any and all traces of joviality are gone.

“This should be your team."

“Serena, I was just kidding. You know I respect you as Hea—”

“I know. This has nothing to do with that. I wasn't ready then and I'm not ready now."

“You’re doing a fanta—”

Serena's hand shoots up to interrupt him. 

“It's okay. I know you see the way I’m being treated and have heard some… not very nice things said about me.” 

“Well, yeah, but they’re all just boomers who have a stick wedged so far up their asses that they’ve forgotten what it’s like to be a decent human being.” 

Serena snorts. “While that may be true, you know it’s more than that.”

Tobias leans forward, placing a hand over Serena’s that she hasn't stopped wringing. 

He looks at her earnestly. “You are doing an amazing job. And when have you ever cared what other people think? I say fuck ‘em.” 

“If only it were that easy.” 

She brings a hand out from under his, placing it on top. 

“It has been made very clear, time and time again, that I am not wanted here.” 

“That’s not tru—”

“I’ve accepted another position.” 

Tobias blinks rapidly at Serena. 

“With Médecins Sans Frontières.”

His jaw goes slack.  

“In Myanmar.”

At this, Tobias’ eyes look like they’re about ready to pop out of his head. 

“No.” 

“What?”

“I reject this.”

“Tobias… This is something I need to do.”

“You’re an invaluable member of this hospital! Anyone who means anything knows that — I know that, the DT knows that, the Chief—”

At that, Serena scoffs and rolls her eyes. 

“No, he doesn’t.” 

“What are you ta—”

“I’ve already signed the contract. I’ll deploy in five weeks.”

“What?”

A booming voice echoes around the room. Serena jumps backwards, extricating her hands from Tobias’, and looks at the floor. 

This is so not the way I wanted to tell him. 

Serena gives Tobias a curt nod, letting him know that it’s okay for him to leave the room. 

“Page me if you need anything,” he whispers before exiting. 

“Serena, what the hell is going on?”

“Ethan, sit down.”

“No! I’m not going to ‘sit down.’ Tell me what’s going on right now.” 

Serena sighs and pinches the bridge of her nose. “I’ve accepted a position with Médecins Sans Frontières in Myanmar. I start in five weeks, so you can count this as my four week notice.” 

“Is this one of those pranks from social media that I don’t understand?”

“Do I look like I’m joking?” 

“Well, you must be. You were just made Head of the Diagnostics Team! This is your dream job.”

“It was. It’s not anymore.”

“Oh, but moving to Myanmar is?!” 

Serena gets out of her chair. “You’re missing the point.” 

“Then enlighten me!”

Ethan knows he needs to get a grip and control his emotions, but the utter fear coursing through him is paralyzing.

“I have been so busy supporting you in the last three years that I lost sight of myself.

“And I’m not saying it’s your fault, it’s not, I happily put you first. I wanted to put you first. With Naveen, Louise, Edenbrook possibly shutting down, everything. 

“But I had always dreamed of leaving our planet a better place than we’d found it. Of traveling the world while volunteering with different organizations… Did you even know that?" Serena whispers.

“You’re making a difference here.” 

Serena shakes her head furiously. “It’s not the same! Life kept getting in the way and I lost myself in the process, don't you see?!” 

“So what?! You felt sorry for me, is that it?! You saw me as some pet project — someone you could fix and mold into your perfect vision, so you stayed. My savior." 

The word drips with disdain, mockery, disgust.

Ethan expects Serena to yell obscenities at him, but when she speaks, eyes locked on his, she's deathly calm. 

Which causes Ethan to become even more frantic.

"I never wanted to save you. You were never broken, not to me. The things you see as flawed and jagged all fit together perfectly to create you. 

"'The whole is greater than the sum of its parts.' And you, as a whole, as your entire being, is the man I fell in love with.

"But my love for you has nothing to do with the struggles I've faced in my short tenure as lead. 

"I've done my absolute best to carry this team to new heights, to carry on the legacy and the mission. But it's become practically impossible to do when everyone in this hospital constantly undermines me, questions my competence, and makes bets on when I'll fail." 

"Not everyone. I don't—"

Ethan is interrupted by a barking laugh of disbelief. 

"It seems you've already forgotten, so let me remind you." 

~ 2 Months Ago ~

Serena exhaustedly walks through the door of Ethan’s apartment, the tail-wagging greeting of Jenner always a welcome, and much needed, dose of serotonin. 

Ethan follows closely behind the golden retriever, greeting Serena with a lopsided grin and kiss.

They have a nightly routine whenever she stays over, which is more often than not nowadays, and tonight is no different.  

Ethan notices that Serena is quieter than usual as they go through their ritual. He doesn’t bring it up, but keeps a close eye on her, ready to talk if and when she feels ready. 

Cuddled up on the couch after dinner, watching some brain-numbing show, is when Serena decides it's a good time. She pushes herself off of Ethan’s chest and sits criss-cross applesauce as she turns to face him. Her hands are in her lap, fidgeting in nervousness, internally trying to hype herself up. 

Ethan places one hand over hers in a reassuring gesture, patiently waiting for her to speak. 

“I’ve, uh—” Serena clears her throat. “I’ve been having some management challenges. Senior personnel in other departments have created a hostile work environment that isn’t letting me adequately step into the role as Head of the Diagnostics Team.

“There is no level of trust and this is shown day in and day out, in any decisions I make; I receive constant pushback, refusal to cooperate, and at times, am completely ignored.”

Serena’s heart is hammering in her chest and her palms are sweaty as she waits with bated breath for Ethan’s response.

“Tension is never one-sided. Be careful and cognizant of how you are treating others as well.”

Serena is taken aback. “That’s not me and you know it. There was practically no handover period, let alone adequate training. I was left to my own devices. Everyone assumed I would ‘figure it out,’ but it seems to have been forgotten by literally everyone that I don’t have anything to base this on in order to ‘figure it out!’”

Ethan sighs and pinches the bridge of his nose. “Is that what this is about? I can’t just give you handouts because you’re my girlfriend.”

“When have I ever asked you for a ‘handout?’” Serena stands from her spot on the couch. “Why are you being so unsupportive? Don’t join the ranks of the people who think I slept my way to the top,” Serena says, a challenge in her tone.

Ethan is stunned into silence, bewilderment in his eyes.

The tension between them fills the penthouse, engulfing them in a silent standoff, neither backing down. 

Until Ethan says something that completely breaks Serena’s resolve. 

“Maybe you’re not mature enough to handle this yet. Perhaps I should have given the team to Tobias.” 

Ethan’s statement is coming from a place of hurt, her previous flippant remark cutting deep, as if his greatest fear concerning their relationship is becoming a reality. But it is also coming from a place of mentorship, invoking the “tough love” tactic he is so renowned for. The tone reminiscent of the very first day they met, following the thoracotomy in the waiting area. 

Tough love that pushes her to be better, to reach the staggering heights he knows she’s capable of, to fulfill her full potential. 

But all Serena wishes for is the floor to open up and swallow her whole. She wishes she hadn’t said anything at all, that there was a time machine that would take her back. Because how foolish of her to assume that Ethan could set aside his role as Chief to be the loving and supportive boyfriend she needed, not only in this moment, but also in the past four months. 

"You single-handedly tore a wound that I've been bleeding from ever since. I wasn’t confiding in you as Dr. Harlow; I was confiding in you as Serena. As a woman who, in that moment, needed the man she loved to love her.

Ethan is utterly horrified by the conversation from a couple months back and he grows ever more appalled with himself as Serena continues to put her feelings into words — yes, taking over as Chief was a bigger task than he had anticipated, but how could he not have noticed her cries for help? 

*"What about us?" 

Of all the thoughts and emotions swirling within him, this is the only one Ethan cares about right now. 

“What about everything we’ve been through?” Ethan presses. 

"You told me that you don't need me to take care of you. I realize now that I threw myself on the fire to keep you warm, but you'd say that you never asked me to. So I'll keep myself warm from now on."

“What am I supposed to do? I don’t want to lose you.”*

The words come out jumbled, rushed beyond measure, as if they'd be lost to time forever if Ethan didn't get them out right that instant.

His heart is beating like a hummingbird's wings, but it stops dead in the next second.  

"You've been too distracted to realize that you've already lost me a long time ago.

But you got what you wanted after all — this is Tobias' team now.”

[stairhoppermovers-boston]

Boston Area Mover's Tips and Tricks to Streamline Your Move

Moving can be a daunting task, especially in a bustling city like Boston. Whether you're relocating within the city or moving to Boston from another area, proper planning and organization are key to a smooth transition. Boston area movers understand the unique challenges of navigating through the city's narrow streets and bustling neighborhoods. To help streamline your move, here are some tips and tricks to consider. Declutter Before Packing Before you start packing, take the time to declutter your belongings. Boston local movers recommend sorting through your items and getting rid of anything you no longer need or use. This not only reduces the amount of stuff you have to move but also makes unpacking easier at your new place. Donate, sell, or dispose of items responsibly. Pack Strategically When packing your belongings, Boston's best movers suggest packing strategically to make unpacking easier. Start by packing items you use infrequently and label boxes clearly with their contents and the room they belong to. Use sturdy boxes and packing materials to protect fragile items during transit. Plan Ahead Planning ahead is crucial for a successful move. Boston area movers recommend creating a timeline leading up to moving day, including tasks such as changing your address, transferring utilities, and scheduling professional movers. Make sure to book your movers well in advance, especially if you're moving during peak season. Take Care of Logistics In a city like Boston, logistics can be challenging. Boston local movers advise considering factors such as parking restrictions, building regulations, and elevator reservations when planning your move. Communicate these details with your moving company to ensure a smooth and efficient process on a moving day. Consider Hiring Professionals While DIY moves may seem cost-effective, hiring professional Boston area movers can save you time, stress, and even money in the long run. Experienced movers have the expertise and equipment to handle your belongings safely and efficiently, navigating through Boston's streets with ease. Utilize Storage Solutions If you find yourself in need of temporary storage during your move, consider utilizing storage solutions offered by Boston local movers. They often provide short-term storage options to accommodate your belongings until you're ready to move them into your new home. This can be particularly helpful if there's a gap between moving out of your old place and moving into your new one. Label Essential Boxes Before you start packing, designate a few boxes for essential items you'll need immediately upon arrival at your new home. Boston's best movers recommend labeling these boxes as "Open First" and packing them with essentials such as toiletries, a change of clothes, bedding, and kitchen essentials. Keep these boxes easily accessible during the move so you can quickly locate them when needed. Bottom Line Moving to the Boston area can be a breeze with the right tips and tricks. By decluttering before packing, strategically packing your belongings, planning ahead, taking care of logistics, and considering hiring professionals, you can streamline your move and make the transition smoother. For a stress-free moving experience, consider reaching out to Stairhopper Movers, a trusted moving company in the Boston area, for all your relocation needs.

[michaelleafer]

Pest Control 101

Stages of Pest Control Every Rental Property Needs

Pest control. It's something every landlord has to think about, and the presence of vermin can cause problems that affect your reputation as well as potential legal consequences. So, what can you do to properly handle pest control on your rental property.

Here are the stages of pest control:

Pest Reduction Upgrades

The first stage is to do property upgrades that help reduce pest problems. These include:

Sealing any holes in the walls, doors, and inside cabinets. Mice can get through holes the size of a dime. Avoid expanding caulk, which many pests will chew through.

Fixing leaky plumbing, which pests can use as a source of water. Fill holes around the pipes with steel wool.

Caulk crevices around cabinets or baseboards.

Repair warped or broken doors and windows.

Repair rips or tears in insect screens.

Install bulbs with pink, yellow, or orange tints on all exterior lights. These are less attractive to flying insects.

Inspect crawlspaces to look for rodent and ant nests.

You should do an "audit" for problems like this before renting the unit and also between tenants in case issues have developed.

Long Term Maintenance

Long term maintenance that is your responsibility can also help reduce pests. For example, trimming trees that overhang a house removes the "highway" squirrels might use to enter the property. Mulch should not be used right up against the foundation.

Arrange for pest control to enter each unit at least once a year. You may want to do it more often. Put this in the lease if you need to to ensure that tenants are aware. Most pest control services do not require that tenants move their property or not be in the unit when the treatment is done. You may have to do harsher treatments if tenants report a problem.

Provide tenants with an easy way to report sightings of significant pests such as mice, cockroaches, or bed bugs. Sightings of house centipedes should also be reported. Although house centipedes are not dangerous, if you have house centipedes, you have roaches.

Routine Maintenance

You can't always control what your tenants do. However, it's a good idea to educate them, especially in larger buildings where an issue can easily spread to neighboring units, on what they can do to keep pests out of their unit. Some tips you can pass on:

Store all food properly, in sealed containers. Do not leave pet food out overnight. Cover the kitchen trash can.

Empty the trash as soon as it is full. Take stacks of newspapers or cardboard to recycling promptly.

Wash out containers that contained food before putting them in the trash.

Reduce overall clutter

Clean sink and tub drains with baking soda and vinegar regularly. This also reduces clogs.

Clean regularly.

Keep the patio or deck free of leaf litter, mulch, plant clippings, and standing water.

Inspect packages for pests before bringing them inside.

Promptly launder and, if possible, tumble dry clothing when returning from trips. Also treat clothing that has been in storage.

Vacuum the bed and upholstered furniture.

Close exterior doors and use screens if opening windows for temperature control.

Again, provide tenants with a way to report pests and encourage them to do so. Some pest control might be doable by you or your maintenance people, such as providing mouse traps. Keep a regular contract with a pest control company who can come in and deal with infestations both mundane and exotic. Discourage tenants from trying to treat a heavy infestation themselves, although it's not a terrible idea to provide information on simple things they can do, such as repellents.

A good property manager can help you find the right pest control service and give you advice on the best upgrades and long term maintenance to deal with Boston's common pets.

[otiskeene]

Fourth Power Secures $19M For Low-Cost Utility-Scale Thermal Energy Storage To Enable A Fully Renewable Grid

Leading $19 million in Series A funding was obtained by Fourth Power, a business devoted to transforming renewable energy storage, from DCVC, Breakthrough Energy Ventures (BEV), and Black Venture Capital Consortium. With the help of this investment, they hope to expand their cutting-edge thermal battery technology and construct a prototype plant outside of Boston by 2026.

Their thermal energy storage system addresses the intermittent nature of renewable energy sources like solar and wind by storing energy for both short- and long-term periods of time. In order to provide a dependable and affordable grid-scale energy storage solution, Fourth Power's technology transforms renewable energy sources into heat and uses carbon blocks to store and release heat as electricity.

CEO Arvin Ganesan expressed confidence in Fourth Power's ability to transform the clean energy environment and stressed their ambition of making renewable energy a dependable supply for the grid.

Their technology enhances the value of producing renewable energy by transforming it into thermal energy stored in liquid tin and carbon blocks heated to extremely high temperatures. The released light is then converted into electricity using thermophotovoltaic cells. In comparison to alternative energy storage solutions, the technology is intended to provide grid operators with more control and flexibility at a cheaper cost. Moreover, it is modular and scalable, enabling longer storage times by adding more carbon blocks.

Read More - https://bit.ly/3RiOvUc

[manleycollins]

Journal Entry #76 - Happy Halloween…Letters of Presentment…Same Thing or Process, but Different Version to Challenge Culture that You Will Not Ever Do That Again for the Rest of Your Life or Career.

JOURNAL ENTRY #76 Name: Manley M Collins Social Security Number: 5 7 9 – * * – 6 5 4 1 Date of Birth: 06/21 Place of Birth: Washington, District of Columbia Country of Birth: United States of America Date: October 24, 2023

TOPIC: Happy Halloween…Letters of Presentment…Same Thing or Process, but Different Version to Challenge Culture that You Will Not Ever Do That Again for the Rest of Your Life or Career.

NAACP Membership renewed after decades.

Street Money Donations Massachusetts General Hospital Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. Boston Public Library NAACP

Had a fantastic time at Boston's Veg Food Fest. I sampled Jack Fruit and Kombucha for the first time. I saw the Reggie Lewis Indoor Track. Go Vegetarian or Vegan.

I purchased so far two 2024 Paris Olympics Athletics Event tickets to watch my race 200m and other sprint events. I made 1 out of 3 hotel reservations for Paris, France. I am awaiting the results from my volunteer application. I also sent my resume for employment, but got rejected probably because I do not have a legal right to work there.

I received my Federal Government tax refund and bought my Comfort+ AirFrance plane ticket from Boston, Massachusetts to Paris, France. I researched registration with the United States Embassy in France.

I had my reservations booked well in advance for South Carolina State University homecoming in Orangeburg, South Carolina with lodging at Fairfield Inn and Suites in Santee, South Carolina, and car with Enterprise. I also was able to reserve a spot with Bulldogs on the Run.

Had an unexpected good time running into the 15th Anniversary of Boston Book Fair. I did not purchase any books, but it felt good being amongst all types of writers and readers.

I got PUBLISHED in my first peer-reviewed academic journal. Journal of Business, Economics, and Technology, Spring 2023, Volume 26, Number 1.

I got my certification in AFAA Kickboxing.

Applause To McDonald's McRewards on National Cheeseburger Day. I have not had a double cheeseburger in decades. It was for $0.50. I had to cheat. Congratulations to McDonald's for the store traffic today – everyone in the house, kids, teens, young adults, adults, seniors – whew.

My Old Self - Office Work or White Collar positions still alive and well. Just have to pay upfront to return to the past and we interdependently agree on our terms. Welcome to the headquarters of Collins Incorporated.

Fall, Winter, Spring Season sessions are in. I told you Life's A Party. Here is one beginning. For in-person class, be in my geographical area. For virtual class, just have Zoom, FaceBook, or YouTube. I had my first Zumba class in September 2023 and had my second Zumba class in October.

I renewed my NASM AFAA certification for another two years so the expiration is 12/16/2025.

I signed up for subscriptions or accounts and email newsletters of Life Fitness, Rogue Fitness, Spinning, Think With Google, Microsoft Advertising, and Google Ads, etc.

I realize Apple drops the backups of iPhone and iPod Touch after a certain period of time.

United States Department of Navy and United States Department of Justice got my tort claim forms and responded. However, due to the span of time, they told me to file in federal court to sue. I already did that long time ago. I sent them the copy of one case for review. However, just like before no accountability about the harm done to me.

I left Beacon Hill Athletic Clubs and joined GymIt. GymIt is a healthworks brand of gym. I only have one location and reduced workout to 90 minutes with the annual membership; however, I still have Planet Fitness 2,000+ locations. I rented to storage lockers at GymIt, which are half the size and space of Beacon Hill Athletic Clubs.

I am filling out plenty of surveys with Google Rewards, Massachusetts General Hospital, AllofUs Research, Boston Medical Center, McDonald's, CVS, Walgreens, Walmart, TruHearing, BlueCross BlueShield, etc.

I have a job offer, but do not have job offer with New York Sports Club. We are onboarding, but with plenty of hiccups.

I lost USB number two so I purchased two as a replacement along with the use of Google Drive.

I researched for the Massachusetts License to Carry a gun application and the requirements.

I did my first letters of presentment to the City of Boston and Commonwealth of Massachusetts regarding SplitSpot and Pine Street Inn.

Urbanity Dance and I were arguing it out regarding rental room reservations, but life for some odd reason did not want me to make it for my appointment. Boston Dance Studio accommodated my Zumba classes and they are uploaded on zumba. com.

I did my first letter of demand to Progressive in regards to me being hit by an SUV.

Some of the apartment complexes I applied to and on the waiting list requested updates.

I submitted my returns of service and service of process on four (4) out of five (5) cases before my personal vacation to South Carolina.

I am frustrated that the BlueCross BlueShield Medicare Advantage HMO plan is not a dental plan nor have dental benefits.

I received my Social Law Library membership invoice for the next year. I need the membership, but it is not in my budget currently.

I subscribed to Apple Storage Plan, Google One Storage Plan, YouTube Music, Google Nest Home plan, AT&T ActiveArmor

CVS Pharmacy knows how to move products with 15%, 20%, 25%, 30%, and 40% off products. They had me in the store for every coupon.

I tried traditional marketing of my Zumba classes in a variety of places.

I retrieved Washington, DC Chamber of Commerce and Boston Chamber of Commerce applications for possible future use of networking.

Extra Space Storage took over Life Storage so I had a higher bill and loss of amenities, such as the restroom and business conference room. I have to punch in everytime to enter the building. The registration with the app was painless. The customer service was good to honor previous monthly payment before rent increase.

I got an unexpected message from Massachusetts General Brigham Biobank after two years from the blood donation for research.

I attended some French Library events, such as the online conversation club.

I kept applying for new jobs with Massachusetts Careers when they roll out new opportunities. At least the notifications are relevant, such as Chief, Director, and leadership positions.

My 9A Packet with the Collins vs Federal Express was denied. Thus, the reason for the Rule 9A teaching moment from the Massachusetts attorneys.

I ordered a new Nike pair of shoes around my budget of $50. Yes, the Revolution 6 is very comfortable and squeaks every time I make a step.

Federal Express Print and Go function works really well, but I had to go to Office Depot for my production and large print jobs. It came out well from Office Depot. I had 110 pages of Collins vs Pine Street Inn case times 10 copies.

I launched my small business, Collins Incorporated and Manley Collins Health and Fitness Club, websites and new way of doing business. My target audience is the shop and go without a membership subscription, but still adhere to membership policies for repeat customers and visitors.

I attended Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission OFCCP Job Fair. MRC provided transportation and food to and from the event for disabled persons.

Massachusetts Department of Transitional Assistance ended my SNAP after full synchronization of my income behind the scenes. However, after a month, I applied for an appeal. I went to my first DTA hearing. It was my first time attending an in-person visit to a physical DTA office in Nubian Square. I went early to ensure I meet the hearing officer on time.

Eric Jerome Dickey's Waking with Enemies was filling the gaps of other books. The end of this book was the most captivating because when death comes in either shape or form, and depending on the person it is done too. It changes the perspective and life of the person who did it. This is definitely a climatic and funny scenario of tough guy talk, and not backing it up, and not checking to see the targets are dead, and death comes biting the tough guy in the butt. I am that leave-no-trace-of-evidence guy - clean up is slow or fast and at my pace. Gideon, the main character, you better work and train the next generation. My current example: SplitSpot - 228 Washington St, Brighton, MA - clean the entire house out - it took me a week, but it was cleant - we are still fighting over a foreclosed house not mine and my small room eviction, and probably disrupting the company's headquarters and foreign investor money laundering systems. Wrong type of company (SplitSpot, Bungalow, or June Homes) capitalizing on other people misfortunes of homeownership.

I am going to take a break from the alternative knowledge of books to focus on my group fitness classes.

Eric Jerome Dickey's Before We Were Wicked was really good reflection on positive versus negative in relationships. Every woman and all Africans, the Islands, and Asian Indian need to read or listen to this book. If you are the color of me lighter or darker, then think people of opposite color going to treat any different than those of the same DNA gene, skin tone, pool in the United States of America. Reality check is coming if you have not experienced it like me. Ken Swift is my dawg, my N-word, and favorite character. Women in any culture that are a Jimi Lee-type stay away from me because it reminds me so much of my ex-girlfriend. Jimi Lee-type women do not figure the consequences of death in trying to negotiate an assassin's or shark's business. Let Africans, the Islands, and Asian Indians run around thinking they are white in the USA, when groups like the KKK and white supremacy run around, and I want to physically see the consequence of the African, the Islands, or Asian Indian. Colorism is real in the United States of America, which is you black, brown, or white. Another note, families think they are better families than other families because of a child. Glad I woke up and understood the war. Let any of my exes or even his/her exes bring that war to my door.

Eric Jerome Dickey's Decadence provided me knowledge about Atlanta, Georgia that I did not realize I missed. Who has been to Trapeze Atlanta, Decadence, Rooftop 866? Wow, my opportunities were missed, and I would love to meet freaky women that can come close to the characters in this book and book 'Pleasure'. Is that too much wishful thinking? The brutal truth in honesty when asking about people's relationship history.

It is hilarious on the decision on whether or what choices to change the FaceBook status for relationships. I am wondering if my last ex-girlfriend took a course in oral sex to give me the best blowjob before leaving the relationship. Getting the explanation of sexual science is so helpful for things I did not notice about the other partner or myself. This book of eroticism is ablaze and millions of fire or fireworks emojis. I wonder who I will run into in such places.

Women do have a time period to make babies. Men can make babies all the way in the age of 80s and 90s. This is a good book on how exes from teenagers or college when someone does wrong and expects to be justified for being wrong, and things get uglier on reunions or reuniting because of the wrong choice. "Fornication Under Consent of the King." "For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge." I am loving these history terms of where words came from. I knew all the sexual options between female and male ("heterosexuals") were not totally crazy, but it is the spouse or partner's level of acceptance.

Wow…unbelievable for hopeless romantics holding out for that one to change their lives. Marriage is a serious business built on many wanted and unwanted factors. If you want to see my skeletons and bodies, then I want to see your skeletons and bodies. At this stage of life, no such thing as a Virgin Mary or Virgin Joseph. If you are claiming to be a virgin, let's go to a gynecologist, proctologist, and/or urologist. I was not wrong in thinking of prenuptial and postnuptial agreement even when neither party is wealthy. Men do not realize women have been empowered to want equal access to everything, become independent and forward thinkers, and believe they can do life without us. The backhanded trash comes out so later in life for everything that was not mentioned during high school and college. Nia Simone Beju is one good character. The truth spared no feelings. End of the day or the moment of opportunity comes reconciliation and closure…and physical separation forever (connected only by text, email or social media for some, and no communication for others) at least for my end. Hate is what people have when it is something or someone (like me) they cannot control. Glad I got to know all my living siblings from all my daddies, mother, and fathers.

Race (2016) film about Jesse Owens was good and touched all the areas of life surrounding his life, family, and handling situations. It shows the realization when to capitalize on opportunities benefitting not only you, but the organizations as a whole because sports never sees color while people or humans make it an issue. I still love my sport, track and field. Eric Jerome Dickey's Pleasure made me reflect back on my sexual situations using sex as a way to resolve conflict. This was one heck of a story with twins, a wife, and the side chicks. Sometimes I do not realize the pains from other people when they come to me to find resolve when nothing about resolution comes to my mind. At this point in my life, sex is a task, responsibility, pleasure, healthy, a release of all emotions, and a job.

Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s Why We Can’t Wait was a transition in writing and was very different. I am glad to hear from him how he developed his platform for the non-violence movement toward civil rights. In previous posts, I did indicate some harsh comments for continuing to treat me like him. Similar logic and same purpose, but different platforms. Unfortunately, I can understand his choices as being the leading voice for his movement, the United States slow progress for change, harsh compromises for changes, but I am grateful for his writings in letting us (African-Americans/Black/Colored) people know what truly transpired in Birmingham, Alabama, the Deep South, and he made mention of all the events that literally saw through monuments and tours of Birmingham, Alabama with my fraternity brothers, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. Best Quotes:

1. “You have to be prepared to Die in order to start Living.”

2. “Freedom is the reward from the Oppressor. The Oppressed has to demand and fight for Freedom.” (I may have added some words, but it works.)

Thanks to all the African-Americans/Black/Colored, young and old, who truly sacrificed in the attempts to become equal and be free totally, and paved the way for me, my generation, and future generations. Just thirteen (13) years before my birth….wow! Thanks my dear fraternity brother, Dr. King, and his family for preserving his legacy.

Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s Where Do We Go From Here was a very intellectual work and more descriptive of the same black history that successfully passed on to at least my generation. This work gave a more definitive definition of racism as a disease. I do agree it is a disease. Some parts were sampled from his previous works and more explanations in depth. I was surprised he mentioned or met President Barack Obama before he became President, and he made plenty of United States Presidential comparisons. A lot of the people from plenty of restaurants and churches that I visited that had pictures of him, Smithsonian museum photos, and very popular people marching with him were mentioned. This is a real story and not made up. I comprehend his logic on whites trying to support the civil rights and equality causes, but whites truly could not relate what their race and ethnicity does to the minorities. It was plenty of groups mentioned with variety of perspectives including the militant perspectives. I guess it was an indirect mention of Malcolm X and Black Panthers. The price was high for the high profile assassinations going on from all the groups. Again, I am grateful for the survivors and my condolences for the families in their losses to provide for my generation, or at least for me to do what I do in the United States of America that can be transferred anywhere.

July 2023 This weekend Boston, Massachusetts welcomed more African-Americans and its supporters. I am glad to be an African-American/Black/Colored person. We went through alot as a people and still being done wrong. I attended my first NAACP National Convention ever. I had fun getting to know and seeing my people like me. I even ate collard greens, macaroni and cheese, and turkey at the black people price of $16 plus $4 dollar drink. It was cool. BLACK POWER

Well, the United States Track and Field Association Masters Championships in Greensboro, North Carolina is over. It was a very nice weekend to reacquaint with folks I have not seen in decades or a few years. I made some new acquaintances and surround myself with champions for fun, times, advice, and records. Thanks for the moments, USATF, Delta Airlines, Marriott Hotels, City of Greensboro, North Carolina A&T State University, and Potomac Valley Track Club. I love track and field. I did the 100m dash, 4x800m relay, Long Jump, 200m dash, 4x100m relay, 4x400m relay.

Top Ten (10) Personal Music Playlists

Water - Tyla

BomBon - Daddy Yankee

Seven - Jung Kook (featuring Latto)

Not Letting Go - Tinie Tempah (featuring Jess Glynne)

Rush - Troye Sivan

Promise - Ciara

Turn Back Time - Diplo & Sonny Fodera

Is My Living in Vain - The Clark Sisters

Drugs from Amsterdam - Mau P

Look At Me! - TokyoSleep

LinkedIn Learning (formerly Lynda.com)

Artificial Intelligence for Cybersecurity

Linux Security and Hardening Essential Training

Human Resources: Payroll

Generative Artificial Intelligence: Working with Large Language Models

QuickBooks and Excel: Importing and Exporting Transactions

QuickBooks Payroll Essential Training

Top 10 Rules for Highly Effective Leadership

Leading Virtual Meetings

Dentist appointments were with Tend. Tend continuously pushed for dental insurance. I am/was a cash payment person for dental services.

Doctor appointment with Heather Edwards of the Boston Medical Center Department of Otolaryngology was cancelled.

Boston Neurobehavioral Associates was a very awful therapy service when they hardly kept a regular schedule of appointments like my previous therapists in Boston.

I had a motion to compel or a 9c conference with Federal Express for the unanswered or vague responses to interrogatories.

I met with my psychiatrist at Massachusetts General Hospital.

I went to the Boston Library KBLIC Podcasting Class. It was very informative on how to do podcasting and more tips to make sessions better.

I met with a friend at Caffe Nero.

Pine Street Inn played so many housing games that they do not even respect their own rules and 365 suspension. When I told them about SplitSpot beating them to the shared housing punch and their own 365 suspension of services, they finally got the message and cancelled everything from the Housing Tour and Metro Housing Leasing Public Housing Voucher that assign the voucher only to the specific room at 51 Beals St, Brookline, Massachusetts.

I attended a webinar with French Entree called Your Moving to France To-Do List: Visas, Healthcare, Paperwork.

I had the 9C Conference with City of Boston. I had a 9C Conference with Massachusetts AGO Office. I had another educational moment with how the 9A packet is presented. All other defendants attorneys did a similar presentation.

I did another gym audition at a gym I use to go to.

I attended another French Library Online Conversation Zoom meeting.

I met with my UOPX Mentee and discussed each other's accomplishments and topics around the IRB process.

I met with Microsoft Advertising on optimizing my marketing campaigns for my small business.

I met with my HearUSA for a hearing appointment. This time no raising hands, but yell out the repeated word from a sound booth.

I attended parts of the UOPX Knowledge Without Borders Summit.

I attended a UOPX Webinar named Feeling 'Enough': Empowering Multicultural Identities and Fostering Inclusive Connections. And another one named Transform Conversations of Bewilderment to Bravery

I went to the first hearing date of October 20, 2023 of Collins vs SplitSpot at Eastern Housing Court of Massachusetts. Only to discover the court date was canceled. No one informed of the date change.

My OMNY card sent a notice of expiration.

I had to contact Nelnet to put all loans in deferment.

Thank goodness I have service libraries to complete the tasks of Adobe Acrobat Pro software, printing, scanning, and copying. I like the Print Management System in one library and the Scanning Management System at another library.

With my new BCBS plan, I was still able to see MGH doctors, but they are called specialists. I had to return to BMC to be seen. I saw a MGH dermatologist for removal a mole on my back near my spine. It was benign for cancer or any other diseases.

I did not win the $1+ billion dollar lottery. My mind is still playing tricks on me.

I met with my Studio Optics ophthalmologist after a year away. We have a hold order for another pair of glasses. We discussed contacts and he saw that I could read the charts well. He mentioned the contacts would blind me and I would not be able to read.

I ordered my Caplyta via CVS Caremark mail service and it actually worked and got my medication through the mail. After my refill order, I maybe denied for any future orders.

Potomac Valley Track Club has the Young Flyers for children and teens that would like to run track. Let me know.

September Holidays and Awareness

Happy Labor Day, Happy Rosh Hashanah, Happy Yom Kippur, Happy Mawlid, National College Colors Day, Happy World Beard Day, Happy Patriot Day, Happy National Boss/Employee Exchange Day, Happy Mexican Independence Day, National Childhood Injury Prevention Week, National Suicide Prevention Week, National Historically Black Colleges and Universities Week, Happy Hispanic Heritage Month, National Singles Week, National Fruit & Veggies Month, National Self-Care Awareness Month, National Sickle Cell Awareness Month

SmartPhone Apps

Bounce - temporary storage app.

Oracle Authenticator - new multifactor cloud authenticator

Venmo - mobile payment processor

KFC - Kentucky Fried Chicken ordering app.

SCSUBulldogs - South Carolina State University Bulldogs ordering and athletic news app.

Keep Notes - Google note taking app. I was able to synchronize my notes from Apple to Google, AOL, Microsoft OneNote, and Yahoo.

AudioFetch - GymIt television tuning application to listen to the various channels.

Curb - Taxicab ordering application (Best alternative to Uber and Lyft).

Office Depot - supplies, technology, ordering app.

Stop and Shop - ordering app and rewards.

[prismmediawire]

SinglePoint Inc. Acquires remaining 49% of Box Pure Air LLC, Implements Strategic Restructuring to Enhance Indoor Air Revenue Opportunity with Schools in California, Box Pure Air LLC Now a Wholly Owned Subsidiary

$800,000 in pending orders to fulfill through the $5,000,000 Grant Award Notification (GAN) in California

SinglePoint Inc. retains minority interest in Ballistic Product America, LLC (“Ballistic”)

Ballistic has entered into an agreement with SinglePoint in which it Ballistic agrees to pay to SinglePoint, as a periodic royalty (“Royalty”), five percent of the gross revenue of sales of the Ballistic Barrier products by Ballistic until such amounts total $2.5 million dollars

Phoenix, AZ, October 19th 2023 - SinglePoint Inc., (OTCQB: SING) primarily focused on building a portfolio of renewable energy-focused companies in solar, EV charging and energy storage announces  acquisition of the remaining interest of Box Pure Air LLC and a new transitional leadership team to execute and deliver on the remainder of the allocated funding available to the Company through the initial $5,000,000 Grant Award Notification through the California EANS program. Currently the Company has approximately $800,000 in approved orders pending shipment.

The April 2022 acquisition of Boston Solar was a key fundamental piece of the SinglePoint energy centric strategy focused on rolling up high quality residential and small commercial solar installation companies within the fragmented solar industry.  On a pro-forma basis Boston Solar grew revenues to approximately $25M in FY2022, up from approximately $17.6M in FY2021.

On April 20, 2023 the Company announced shareholder and board of director approval of various strategic transactions, including exploring options to sell or pursue a spin off of Box Pure Air/BPA Solutions to existing SinglePoint shareholders.  The acquisition of the remaining 49% interest in Box Pure Air, making it a 100% wholly owned subsidiary, was necessary to give the Company optionality to continue to pursue strategic options for Box Pure Air.  The company will continue to reposition certain assets and non-core business designed to allow the company the flexibility to focus and capitalize on the long-term acquisition and roll up opportunities in the renewable energy and energy storage sector including commercial energy services, solar installation, and energy storage solutions for residential and small commercial customers.

"This transaction allows SinglePoint to direct sales efforts and capitalize on the over $121B federally allocated to enhance indoor air quality in our nation’s schools. Box Pure Aire is committed to providing commercial grade products and solutions that are designed to provided and improve indoor clean air to schools.  We’ve proactively repositioned personnel starting in Q2 with Jason Lally to accelerate sales efforts to capture the remainder of the $5M award in California designated to Box Pure Air. By mobilizing additional sales and marketing professionals and leveraging strategic partnerships, we're committed to elevating awareness and offering top-tier air purification units to classrooms across California," stated Wil Ralston, CEO of SinglePoint.

Jason Lally, a California resident, has been and is actively meeting with private schools in California advocating the benefits of our portable indoor air products that were engineered and designed to foster a safer environment for students, teachers, and staff, especially those funded by the EANS II program. California remains a crucial high-growth market for Box Pure Air. Through EANS and ESSER dollars there is more than $1 Billion available for public and private schools throughout the state.

In addition to Jason Lally, SinglePoint’s EVP of Revenue, Chad Miles, SinglePoint’s EVP of Operations are dedicated to transition of the daily business operations and contracts associated with Box Pure Air.  The Company is finalizing an agreement to add a Senior Vice President (“SVP”) of Business Development who will focus on increasing revenues, product offerings and solutions in order to best position the company in the event of a sale or merger. Box Pure Air provides industrial-grade high-efficiency air purification products designed for schools and commercial buildings.

Highlights:

- SinglePoint acquires the full interest of Box Pure Air LLC from a minority shareholder

- Box Pure Air has secured a $5,000,000 Grant Award Notification (GAN) under EANS II from the California Department of Education

- Box Pure Air maintains its exclusive contract with AIRBOX™, a premier manufacturer of Indoor Portable Air Cleaning devices

Box Pure Air remains committed to pioneering innovative solutions for better indoor air quality, using strategic partnerships and cutting-edge technologies. The AIRBOX™ Air Cleaner product line epitomizes the brand's commitment to ensuring safe and healthy environments in high-traffic areas.

About Box Pure Air:

Box Pure Air, a subsidiary of SinglePoint Inc., is a distributor of industrial-grade air purification products. The company is dedicated to helping businesses and consumers establish a healthy ambiance. Box Pure Air stands out with its commitment to surpassing national standards for indoor air quality, adhering to CDC ventilation requirements, and utilizing HEPA certified filters combined with proven antimicrobial technologies.

For more information, visit Box Pure Air

About SinglePoint Inc. (SING)

SinglePoint Inc. is a renewable energy and sustainable lifestyle company focused on providing environmentally friendly energy efficiencies and healthy living solutions. SinglePoint is initially focused on building the largest network of renewable energy solutions and modernizing the traditional solar and energy storage model. The Company is also actively exploring future growth opportunities in air purification, electric vehicle charging, solar as a subscription service, and additional energy efficiencies and appliances that enhance sustainability and a healthier life. For more information, visit the Company’s website (www.singlepoint.com) and connect on social media for the latest updates.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements in this news release may contain forward-looking information within the meaning of Rule 175 under the Securities Act of 1933 and Rule 3b-6 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and are subject to the safe harbor created by those rules. All statements, other than statements of fact, included in this release, including, without limitation, statements regarding potential plans and objectives of the Company, the use of proceeds, anticipated growth and future expansion, are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties.

There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Technical complications, which may arise, could prevent the prompt implementation of any strategically significant plan(s) outlined above. The Company undertakes no duty to revise or update any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this release.

Investor Contact:

Tra-Digital IR

Investors@SinglePoint.com

(212) 389 - 9782 ext. 107

SOURCE:  SinglePoint Inc.

[stairhoppersmovers]

How Residential Movers Can Help With Storage Solutions?

In today’s fast-paced world, relocating to a new home can be a complex and often stressful process. One of the challenges that many homeowners face is finding appropriate storage solutions for their belongings. Whether it’s a temporary need during a move or a long-term requirement for extra space, storage is an integral part of the moving process. This is where residential movers step in. Residential movers near you not only offer assistance with the physical moving but can also provide tailored storage solutions. Today, we’ll explore how residential movers in Boston and beyond are transforming the way we approach storage during a move. Read more here...

[efficientmovingservices1]

Affordable and Secure Storage Services in Boston

Looking for a secure storage services in Boston? Efficient Moving Services offers convenient storage options to fit your needs. Whether you need short or long-term storage, they have you covered.

[spartanmovers]

Are you looking for Moving - Lifting services in Jamaica Plain area?

Our services include all types of moving and lifting services including long term storage facilities. We have an efficient team of movers in Boston area providing excellent relocation service at budget friendly prices. http://www.spartanmoving.net/jamaica-plain-moving-services.php

[heattimernj]

Domestic Hot Water Solutions for Older Commercial Buildings

The graying of residential buildings is a very real problem for building owners, especially in older US cities like New York and Boston. In fact, in a recent study published using data from NYC’s PLUTO database, one can determine that the median age of a surviving residential building in greater NYC is over 90 years old!

As initiatives like Local Law 97 and other go-green rebate programs drive upgrades and updates to heating system infrastructure,the other frontier in the upgrade of these buildings has to do with their solutions to domestic hot water and the ever increasing difficulty of delivering consistent, and safe hot water to residents. With the dramatic increase in reported cases of deadly legionella bacteria in the water supply across the country (including recent outbreaks in NYC) the pressure is on for building owners to provide updated solutions that satisfy city regulations for safety, provide safe, consistent temperatures to folks at their sinks and showers, and do it as efficiently as possible.

Common Problems with Domestic Hot Water Systems in Older Buildings.

At the end of the day, the net problem is getting reliable hot water to residents safely, at all hours of the day. Especially so called rush hours, when demand for showers and such is high. Yet age and other factors conspire to keep older DHW systems from maintaining their operational readiness.

Leaky     Storage tanks. – Every tank has a shelf life of 15 – 30     years.

System     Sizing – Changes to apartment layout, resident     count and increases in peak demand over many decades, can tax an existing     system not designed for it resulting in frequent rebuilds of the     light-commercial gas water heater originally spec’d. These rebuilds are     expensive and wholly unnecessary in a properly sized system.

Dissolved     Mineral Content – Hard water supplies with high mineral     content can tax piping and valves leading to expensive periodic rebuilds     or replacements that take down hot water for the entire building.

Temperature     Creep – Older thermostatic mixers can fail in such a way as to     prevent mixing during dormant periods, such as overnight. In these cases,     the first hot water users in the morning can find the hot water initially     arriving at the sink or shower to be almost 160 degrees Fahrenheit, a     temperature that can cause burns and scalding in a matter of seconds.     These mixers then have to be rebuilt causing more expense and downtime not     to mention potential lawsuits.

Heat-Timer® ETS is a Key Part of the Modern Solution to DHW Upgrades

Whatever heating technology your domestic hot water solution employs, a good heating design engineer will specify a DHW system designed for reliability, efficiency, serviceability and longevity. In 2022 with outbreaks of legionella on everyone’s mind, we must also add Safety to that list.

One key part of this upgrade is an electronic mixing valve like the Heat-Timer® Electronic Tempering Valve to finally deliver perfectly regulated hot water to residents. Heat-Timer® encapsulates this system into our Electronic Tempering Station (ETS) which is a pre-plumbed, small footprint assembly saving installers hours and hours of time doing installation, and limiting overall install downtime. The internal ETV control module uses remote sensors tied to proprietary algorithms to electronically control one of the industry’s most durable 3-way stainless steel mixing valves. The Heat-Timer® ETS can deliver an adjustable domestic hot water temperature to the end user, under any condition allowing hot water to be stored at a temperature that kills bacteria, while providing perfectly safe temperatures to users at the sink.

The presence of dissolved mineral content can present a challenge to any valve design long term. One solution to the reliability requirement of a hot water system is a level of redundancy in the specification of components. In a properly designed domestic hot water system, no failure of a single component should take the system down.

A common solution to this is a dual valve ETS configuration. By specifying a second ETV or ETS Duplex, piped Isolation valves can be installed all around the mixing valve. In this way if the motorized valve fails due to scale, the alternate mixing valve can be immediately engaged, and there is virtually no downtime to end users. When you are finally able to repair the other valve, the replacement takes 30 minutes, not all day like before.

For more information on the ETV or ETS in your domestic hot water solution, call Heat-Timer® today.

This blog was originally published at

https://www.heat-timer.com/domestic-hot-water-solutions-for-older-commercial-buildings/

[careeralley]

Top 10 Metros for Highest-Earning IT Professionals (and Their Local Homeownership Prospects)

IT professionals are some of the best-paid professionals in the U.S. However, their dollar stretches differently when it comes to buying a home, depending on how well local incomes can compensate for the increasing home prices of today’s real estate market. To investigate how well each city responds to prospective homebuyers, StorageCafe researched the most trending professions by metro areas and ranked them according to their ability to afford a home. Local incomes, home prices, and the time it takes to save for a down payment are some of the metrics used to determine the final determination. Self-storage was also added into the mix as it’s a commonly used service when moving into a new home. According to the report’s findings, most professions can afford to buy a home in a region where the Midwest meets the Northeast, with Ohio metro areas dominating the list. On the flip side, Californian metropolises are the least affordable for most occupations. West Coast claims 4 metros with high-earning IT professionals Despite CA shaping up as the least affordable for most professions, it’s still where the main tech hubs of the country tend to be concentrated. That means that IT professionals here stand the best chance of making maximum earnings in the field. The San Jose metro comes out on top for IT workers, paying out the fattest checks ($152K/year). Despite this high income, however, it takes these professionals close to a decade to save for a down payment here thanks to home prices being among the highest in the country ($1.5M). San Francisco San Francisco comes second, with computer professionals bringing home close to $140K/year. Displaying similarities with San Jose in terms of labor and real estate markets, San Francisco’s IT professionals need to wait approx. the same time as those in San Jose to put down enough cash for a down payment – homes average a whopping $1.4M here. Seattle Moving a little further north, Seattle is an attractive market for IT professionals, who can make around $128K/year. The housing market is quite competitive here too, with homes costing, on average, $728K. However, IT professionals can save up enough money for a down payment in about 5.6 years, slashing the savings time in half compared to many of their Californian counterparts. To help when transitioning into the new home, renting a self storage unit in Seattle, WA, costs $208/month. IT professionals are some of the best-paid professionals in the U.S. However, their dollar stretches differently when it comes to buying a home, depending on how well local incomes can compensate for the increasing home prices of today’s real estate market.Click To Tweet Washington D.C. As a vibrant metro area, Washington D.C. offers IT professionals the chance to earn a hefty annual income ($118K). That makes even the pricy average homes here $530K within the reach of this professional category as they can save enough to buy one within 4.5 years. New York The bustling New York metropolitan area might be the financial center of the U.S., but it’s also a fertile ground for IT workers – they can bring home $115K in this field. With home prices registering around $578K, it takes this occupational category five years to afford a home, based on the time needed to save for a down payment. That’s just as long as long as it takes Seattle IT workers to make similar savings. Boston Still in the Northeast, Boston also crops up among the places where computer professionals can make a pretty penny, with average earnings of around $114K/year. Since the housing market is very competitive here, homes are even pricier than in NY or Washington D.C., averaging $618K. Therefore, it takes IT workers around 5.4 years to save enough for a down payment in Boston. Baltimore Living in Baltimore as an IT professional can earn you just as much as in Boston, but it comes with a huge perk: average house prices are almost half ($358K) those in the City on a Hill. That puts the period needed to save for a down payment within a three-year timeframe, the shortest time required among the 10 highest-paying metros for these professionals in the country. San Diego Back to the West Coast, San Diego emerges as an excellent place to earn more as an IT employee. Annual earnings can reach $110K for this professional group. With homes averaging close to $840K, it takes workers in computer occupations around 7.6 years to save enough cash for a down payment. Wrapping up the top 10 best places for high-earning computer-based occupations, Durham-Chapel Hill, North Carolina, is a great metro area for IT professionals as they can make over $100K annually. What’s more, it costs considerably less to buy a home here – $375K on average. That puts local IT employees in a great position if homeownership is on their to-do list. It takes only 3.5 years to save up for a down payment if you’re in this employment category. Read the full article

[matterstonki]

32 oz mason jars wide mouth

32 oz mason jars wide mouth professional#

We have many sizes in wholesale and bulk glass bottles and jars: 2 oz, 4 oz, 6 oz, 8 oz, 12 oz, 16 oz, 32 oz, and moreĬanning? Have DIY projects that need glass? Like to make unconventional event décor on the side? Meet Jar Store, our sister company specializing in economically priced glassware.Not sure what thread sizes of bulk and wholesale glass bottles and jars to pick? Consult our thread spec sheet.All of our wholesale glass bottles and jars have something to offer. The wholesale wide mouth glass jars are good for pure and secure long term storage and can act as canning jars, mason jars, spice jars, herb jars, honey jars, or other food packaging jars. The most popular wholesale straight sided glass jars are good for labels and easy filling and can be used as cosmetic jars. Advertise your restaurant or brewery on the growler. The large decorating area allows a design screen printed. Add a rustic country-chic style to your beverage service. Perfect match for breweries and micro-brews. Glass jars with wide-mouth openings allow easy access to paste-type materials - no struggling to dispense. Ball Quart 32oz 12pk Glass Regular Mouth Mason Jars with Lids and Bands, for Canning or Drinkware. clear mason jar is great for beer, ales, soda, juices, and other uses you could think of. 131 product ratings - Ball Wide Mouth Quart (32 oz) Mason/Canning Jars with Lids and Bands, Case of 12.The French squares are also perfect as sauce bottles and overall spice containers for herbs. Each pack includes a dozen of these clear canning jars with silver lids. They're BPA-free to help ensure the safety of everyone in your environment. Smooth pouring Boston round bottles and the French square fancy glass bottles for product displays are always ready-to-ship. These wide mouth mason jars have a storage capacity of 32 oz and are ideal canning jars for whole fruits and vegetables, as well as arts and crafts materials and supplies. Glass is one of the few materials in the world that is 100% recyclable, and glass jars are super easy to re-use around the house. Glass jars are sustainable and impermeable.Our bulk glass bottles are glass containers with smaller openings to make pouring easier and smoother.Bulk glass bottles and jars are compatible with a wide range of chemicals, they can hold many materials that are not compatible with plastic.While plastic containers have their own advantages, there are some use-cases where glass bottles and jars are the more optimal choice. If you are wondering where to buy wholesale wide mouth and bulk glass bottles and jars for your pharmaceutical, farming, or other general purpose needs, look no further!

32 oz mason jars wide mouth professional#

24 Bottles (GJO85153) Zep Professional Trigger Spray Bottle, 32 oz. Wholesale Wide Mouth and Clear Bulk Glass Bottles and Jars: Which Is Better for You? 14 current price 25 Wide Mouth HDPE Jars - White Show per page We offer a variety.