#minimal floating wall desk

[daphranko]

Bedroom Guest in Phoenix Inspiration for a huge contemporary guest medium tone wood floor bedroom remodel with white walls and a metal fireplace

[saigonmarket]

San Francisco Built-In Inspiration for a mid-sized modern built-in desk light wood floor and wood ceiling study room remodel with white walls

[cowgirl326]

Built-In Home Office An illustration of a mid-sized urban built-in desk with a multicolored floor and beige walls.

[nihilminus]

Eclectic Bedroom

[d6volution]

Punishment.

caine x f!reader fic.

tags: established relationships, dom / sub undertones, anal sex (w minimal prep) , blow jobs, exhibitionism, dub con(?)

That asshole Gangle couldn't keep her mouth shut.

You hated referring to her in such a manner, but ever since Zooble gave her that damn mask, she's been on a managing rampage.

Punishment? Seriously?

You had enough tension with the ringmaster as it is.. Even though he runs the place as if it never even happened.

Which in turn made you act the same, you wouldn't give him that type of power over you. Not while you're stuck with him for eternity.

SNAP.

The swift friction between Caine's fingers sent you teleporting, although it felt more like flying into his office, you landed on your butt right in front of his desk.

"Ouch.. so this is upper management?" You took a moment to look around, purposely ignoring Caine. "Looks tacky."

"Tsk, tsk! That smart mouth of yours is exactly what landed you here in the first place, you know!" He spoke excitedly, expressing himself with his body language like usual.

You blinked, and Caine was floating above you now, looking down at you with an oddly sinister twinkle in his eye.

"So what? You want me to slave away in that stupid fast food restaurant like an idiot as if—" Your words caught in your throat as the ringmaster pressed his cane beneath your chin. The cool texture made you shiver as he trailed it down and along your throat.

You swallowed.

"Exactly, yes! But, according to gangle you were a very rude employee, ....I thought more of you dear!"

"T.. Those customers were acting crazy, I–I mean one of them had cereal in line! Who does that!?" You sputtered as he continued to stroke your skin with the end of his cane. Using it to tilt your head from side to side as if to inspect you.

"Mmhm, buuuut the customer is always right, or have you forgotten such a simple thing? And to think you used to be so obedient, ha!"

He smoothly added that last bit in, causing your cheeks to heat up. You swallowed, and before you could say another word, you were teleported again, not even able to register the sound of his snapping fingers.

It was disorienting. To say the least.

"Would you stop doing th— ouch!" Your head collided against the wooden desk above you. Only when the pain seemed to ease up did you finally realize he transported you to the cramped space beneath his desk.

You had half a mind to crawl out but had a feeling he would— and he plopped down directly in front of you.

Purposely man spreading. Of course.

You huffed offended, wasn't this supposed to be some type of punishment anyway!?

"Caine, if you think I'm giving you a damn blow job after all this time—!" You remarked in a mocking tone.

"Ah, ah, ah! Stay quiet dear. We'll have company soon!" He said followed by a light chuckle, but you were trying to push past his legs.

He used his leg to push you back with ease, "Oh my, perhaps I should pacify you, how would you like that, my dear?"

"What? Are you insane?" The words escaped your gritted teeth. Despite your words your heart was racing in your chest. He was so nonchalant about all this. It was pissing you off.

"Come now." His voice was oddly calm, and he undid his zipper. His semi hard shaft was pulled from his black slacks.

The pervert.

"This will shut you up won't it? Just like old times!"

You averted your gaze immediately, scooting back beneath the desk as far as you could, "C.. Caine, this.. isn't—"

"Isn't ….what? Oh, perhaps you'd rather have our guest watch you do it out in the open? I can arrange for that!"

"N.. No..!" You jerked and bumped your head again, and just then you heard footsteps in the hall. Man these walls were thin.

"I see, then perhaps you're doing this on purpose, are you trying to make me upset [y/n]?" He scooted back, just enough to give you one of those soulless stares.

One you're oh too familiar with, it triggered something within you. Causing the words to carelessly tumble from your lips.

"N.. No sir.." Instinctively the words came out and you regretted it immediately.

Fortunately, before Caine could comment on it and torture you further, the door opened,

"Ah! Gangle, perfect timing! Take a seat here!"

“Caine.. Were you talking to someone..?” Gangle inquired, taking a look around the office, but it only contained the two of them.

“Oh you know, just phone calls! Busy busy at the workplace!”

He exclaimed, his other hand dipped below the desk and started stroking his cock a few times before curling his index finger inwards, beckoning you over.

Fuck.

You crawled closer towards him, reluctantly.. excitedly? Damn it. how did he flip this entire situation on its head within mere minutes.

Your thoughts began to fog, you could smell his arousal and finally gave in.. planting kisses at his member, before licking a long stripe along his twitching cock until your lips met his tip.

Caine shivered, "Bbbrrr did it suddenly get cold in here!?" He tried to play it off and Gangle just blinked.

"Ah.. no, what I was saying about [y/n] their behavior is beyond disrespectful!" Gangle rambled on , but her voice was garbled in your head.

You'd already taken him further into your mouth, inch after inch. It wasn't until he was fully sheathed in your warm throat did you start to move. Careful not to be too loud.

Caine scoots closer, causing his tip to bump at the back of your throat. You tried to pull back before you gagged but as if predicting you would, the ringmaster grabbed the back of your head and held you in place. Rocking his hips and grinding against your throat.

“Mmph, mnngh-” You tapped at his thigh, struggling to keep up with him and stay quiet.

Damn him.

The ramblings of Gangle were long forgotten by now, even Caine was struggling to maintain the conversation.

He suddenly slammed his fist on the table, maybe it was the way you were drooling on his cock. Or how you tightened around him everytime you gagged. But he was at his limit already, “G-Gangle, I’ve heard quite enough and I’ll deal with this at once now run along!” He quickly dismissed the bundle of ribbons and she did not think to question him or his odd behavior. He’s always odd.

The door shut and Caine pulled out of your mouth, leaving you sputtering and gasping for air. “St-Stay still dear,” He panted and took hold of your chin while he stroked his cock a few times before ropes of cum spurted from his tip and all over your face.

“Ah.. I must've missed your mouth more than I thought, ..you wrung me out like a wet towel!” He laughed.

“Y..you’re a pervert..” The words don’t hold much weight as you lick your lips, tasting his cum on your tongue and poorly wiping the rest off.

“Is that so?” He gripped you under your arms and lifted you onto the desk, “Fortunately!” He snapped, and your clothes disappeared. You tried to cover yourself but Caine already had you sprawled out on his desk, looking in between your legs, a pool of your own arousal was rapidly forming. “So are you.”

“D.. Don’t look, fuck.. You asshole!” You whined, more embarrassed now than upset.

“Leaking like a fountain..” His gaze was intense, even though you were naked you felt as if he were gazing directly into your soul.

“Oh! And don't think I forgot about you calling me sir, earlier.” He added, snapping you out of your little daze.

Unexpectedly an unseen force, or energy..? Pinned you down on the desk, while Caine used his limbs for other matters.. another one of Caine's tricks, you guessed.

You grunted and struggled, you weren't sure why.. your body was so hot. Needy. You needed to be relieved but you were still so mad at him.

“I.. I didn't expect you to remember.. wouldn't be the first timEE— Ah!” You squealed as he tugged you to the edge of the desk, he rubbed his tip against your leaking hole.

“Oh please! How could I forget about my ever so obedient [y/n]!” He prodded against your cunt, and you whimpered instinctively grinding your hips against him.

If Caine could smirk he would, but he just stared down at you, his large tongue briefly rubbing along his teeth.

“Which is why I'm sorry I have to teach you a lesson today! This is punishment, remember?” He dragged his thick tip from your weeping hole down to your ass, poking against the tight entrance teasingly.

“W.. Wha— Caine!” You exclaimed and wiggled , but that unseen force kept you in place. “I.. haven't.. not there..!”

“Oh, sweetheart.. I know that's why I'll guide you!~” He laughed and ran his gloved hand up your body, cupping your breast and gently massaging them.

“Mmh..” You turned your head away from him, embarrassed at how easily you were giving into this. At how good it felt.

“Keep looking away and you'll miss the main event dear!” He pressed against your tight hole again to garner your attention and it was successful.

You couldn't help but glance down at his shaft, twitching needily even after the sloppy blow job.

“J.. Just be gentle..” You sounded so pathetic, but what more could you do?

“Breathe darling,” It was meant to be soothing but it sounded more like a warning, he shifted towards your cunt again. Lathering his cock in your natural lube before pressing against your asshole.

You yelped as he started to sink into the restricting entrance, luckily your natural lube and arousal made it an easier task than you would have thought possible.

“Caine..” You whined.

The ringmaster had to control himself, you looked so cute and vulnerable beneath him. The code embedded in him seemed like it was glitching, failing.

“It's ..fine, dear.. I've always taken care of you, haven't I? Y.. You can take it!” He thrusted hard following his last words, and you shrieked.

“S.. So deep— ah… caine..!” You squirmed, as he thrusted into your tight hole, unable to hide your pleasure any longer.. you felt so pathetic, getting off to him using your ass.

Caine grunted and hooked one of his hands beneath your knees, the other slipped between your legs and gently rubbed circles along the sensitive bud decorating your dripping cunt.

“S.. so good for me, just like old.. times!” He grunted, struggling to keep his composure.

“Going to fill .. you! My dear!” He exclaimed, his pace only quickening. You felt the air being knocked from your lungs, the weight behind his thrusts was too much to bear.

“F.. Fuck caine.. im.. please..!” You were reduced to a teary eyed whining mess, cunt dripping down your thighs as your ass sucked him in desperately.

“S.. So much for punishment, [y/n] .. ! Ha it would seem you're a little anal slut as well! Now take it..!” The ringmaster practically declared, thrusting hard one final time into your ass.

His words sent you over the edge, your legs twitched and hips bucked as you clenched around nothing. “Nngh..!”

Dazed.. and tired, you felt the warm sensation of his cum filling your tight hole, you could hardly move. Your limbs only twitched in response.

“Phew.. well, that was my workout for the day!”

Caine exclaimed happily. “Well then. I hope you learned your lesson.”

[babyboiboyega]

Short on Time (Hobie Brown x F!Reader)

Hobie Brown x f!reader

Summary: Hobie has a weird way of convincing you to sneak out to the roof despite your roommate being home… 

Word Count: 7.3k

Content: nothing but fluff, the very real and very apparent fact that I have an unhealthy obsession with this man, Hobie being an incredibly loveable and hilarious menace, horrible cockney/british slang, a bit of profanity, some rough writing bc it’s been a while

Inspo: All I Wanted - Paramore (paramore never misses)

A/N: heyyyy! Enjoy this Hobie Brown oneshot that took me too long to complete but I absolutely loved writing <3 

TAGLIST FORM

The sunset lamp in the corner of your room cast varying hues of purple and blue across the walls of the room, bouncing off of the numerous glass trays and items dotted throughout it. It provided a good backdrop for a night of nothing but deep breaths, slowed thoughts, and mere relaxation- and you were adamant about experiencing all of those and more of the same sentiment. 

It was just…a little hard to do so when the sounds of unhinged and drunken laughter floated from your shared living room and right through your door, effectively putting your plans of relaxation on hold.  

After an entire week of completing assignments and dealing with people who were less-than-pleasant, lacked common sense, and just made everything harder, all you wanted to do was something that required minimal thinking and produced the most amounts of serotonin; But it seemed as if that would be next to impossible.

You dropped your head onto the wooden surface of your desk, your third groan in the last 10 minutes leaving your mouth and joining another chorus of laughter from the living room. Your eyes closed tightly while you blindly reached for your phone, intent on turning your music to the max volume. Your roommate and her friend would be able to hear it, and your neighbors would be able to feel it, but you were desperate. That desperation only grew as your fingers closed around nothing but air. 

With furrowed eyebrows, you lifted your head and look to the spot where you could’ve sworn you put it-

“You’ve got an ace personality, love, but rubbish taste in music.”

The voice was as familiar as ever, but the suddenness of it appearing in your room made you jump slightly, your body rocking back in your chair. Your mouth opened on a yelp as you felt the front two legs of your chair lift off of the ground, and just as your arms instinctively reached out to grab onto something, you felt a slight push to the back of your chair.

“Jesus-!”

“Far from it, actually.” You heard the amusement in Hobie’s voice before you turned to face him, your heart beating rapidly because of his sudden appearance…and because of him in general. 

His smile was familiar, as was his tendency to just show up at your window…or in your room, as was the case tonight. Despite knowing that he could just pop up at any time, there were still a number of times when he had managed to sneak up on you. 

Your room seemed smaller as his lanky frame walked further in, his eyes focused on your phone in his hand as he continued to hit the skip button. With furrowed eyebrows and a breath of exasperation, you stood up, quickly reaching for your phone only for his arm to raise. 

“Not you breaking into my room and insulting my music taste- all in one night. Hobie, gimme my-”

“Now, wait a minute, love, you know I’m only jokin’.” He replied, his smile widening as he watched amusedly while you raised yourself in an attempt to grab your phone. It was no use, as he effortlessly towered over you, and judging by the smile on his face, he was enjoying the sight. 

“This the playlist we listened to ���round last week, yeah?”

Your movements paused at the mention of the playlist currently pulled up on your phone, and at the memory of you two sitting in the same room the week before, listening to the same music. It had been a rather uneventful day for Hobie, or Spider-Man, but your day had been the exact opposite: hectic and so busy that you’d had no energy to do anything but sit at the head of your bed and talk with him about any and everything- at least until you had fallen asleep, propped up against your headboard, your head tilted back. 

That had been last week and since then, you hadn’t seen the lanky, eccentric man. Well, you had seen him on the news and on the internet, but only as Spider-Man; you had seen him enough times to know that the reason for his lack of visits was because of his ‘job’ as the city’s mostly friendly, ‘take no shit’ Spider-Man. 

But now he was here, and his presence was already making up for those days you had gone without being able to see him. 

“The same one, yes. Why? You tellin’ me I converted you to neo-soul?” Your eyebrow raised as you finally gave up on trying to get your phone, your arms falling only to cross in front of your chest. The corner of your mouth lifted into a knowing smile as you watched his eyes scan the screen of your phone while the next song played. His lips pursed slightly as his eyes met yours.

“I’m tellin’ you…that you could have worse taste.” 

It was slightly laughable knowing that even if he had liked a few songs from the playlist, he’d make sure to keep it to himself…at least as a facade. Despite his very different taste in music, there had been a few songs that he had listened to simply because you had asked him to, and he’d had no problem letting you know that he had liked them. But occasionally, he liked to put on the ‘my music is better’ facade, and you entertained it every time. 

“You didn’t even say hey to me or nothin’; just came in being a straight menace.”

A laugh left his mouth as he finally handed your phone back to you, a song that he had previously stated was ‘okay’ coincidentally playing through your speakers. You didn’t make a move to change it. In fact, your phone was all but forgotten as he gazed down at you, an easygoing smile on his face. 

“You sure about that? I could’ve sworn I said hi when I got here-”

“No, you did not, and you know you didn’t-”

A peal of laughter floated through your bedroom door, and it only served as a reminder of the night’s events leading up to this point. Your shoulders sagged slightly at the sound, and only sagged more as you internally chastised yourself. 

It wasn’t your roommate's fault that you’d had a shitty week and couldn’t seem to relax, and you couldn’t exactly be mad that they were having fun and enjoying their Friday night…

They could be a little quieter though.

Hobie could see it as clear as day on your face, your internal struggle and frustration. It made his smile drop slightly, though it still remained in place and only softened in response. His lanky frame sat on the edge of your windowsill, his legs extending straight in front of him and his arms crossing. His posture expressed nonchalance- indifference, even; but his eyes and his expression showed exactly how attentive he was when it came to you.

“You look rather brassed off. Wanna talk about it?”

Did you want to talk about it? Or would you rather indulge in Hobie’s regular antics in an effort to forget about your own list of shortcomings spanning the week? On one hand, you’d never grow tired of his random tales of breaking past riot police’s defenses or interrupting the most recent, half-assed charity speech done by a corrupt politician. Each account would end with you slightly chastising him for doing something that bordered the definition of dangerous, and each time, he’d only respond with a cheeky grin and a not-so-subtle attempt at changing the subject. Regardless of how many times it happened, you still couldn’t deny the fact that you loved every single one of your conversations. 

“Nah. ‘S just the regular.” You start, joining him on the windowsill with a sigh. It wasn’t lost on you that with only a glance, Hobie knew the state of mind you were in; this time was only a reminder that he possessed that ability, as he had done it multiple times before. He had a talent for exuding the chillest, most indifferent demeanor, but when it had come down to it, he had been there when you needed him. Now was no different.

Instead of leaving your answer as it was, he simply turned towards you, resting his back against the window sill and raising an eyebrow in your direction. His eyes narrowed slightly as he looked at you, his lips pursing as he took in the look on your face. It spoke volumes, as did the look in his eyes. It was the look of someone calling another person’s bluff without any hesitation whatsoever, and seeing it on his face had you smacking your teeth in resignation. You still refrained from continuing. 

“You don’t have to tell me, love,” he starts, bending his knee and setting his foot on the windowsill. His hands fidget with something- an object- that he was able to pull out of his pocket between one second and the next, though his eyes stay focused on you. 

“But, it was you who once told me that I was an ace listener…”

He ends the sentence with a shrug of his shoulders; though, judging by the small grin curving his lips, it's apparent that while his words are said in jest, they still hold meaning behind them. You know as much, because you _do _remember telling him how he was rather easy to talk to. The words, no matter how serious or casual they were, always flowed easily whenever you were in Hobie’s presence. And now was no different.

A heavy breath left your mouth as you mimicked his position, leaning your head against the windowsill and bringing your knee up to bend in the space between you two. Your hands fiddled with a loose thread hanging from the shorts adorning your legs while your eyes flickered from his to the window that he only crawled through a few minutes ago. 

“Actually…”

“Here we go.” The rumble of his voice blended seamlessly with the music coming from your speakers and the little bit of comfort it brought made your lips loosen to let out your account of your week, starting from the beginning. 

During the entire recount, Hobie only interjected to offer his own commentary - usually containing weird, cockney insults for the people you described; but aside from that, he sat and listened. Well, that wasn’t exactly true.

His tendency to keep the air surrounding the both of you lighthearted showed itself whenever you seemed to be growing irritated just from recounting the details, and he reminded you of this tendency by methodically and gradually taking off his bracelets and rings, and transferring them to your wrists. As you continued talking, your wrists and fingers had taken on a bit of weight from the metal and leather of his jewelry, though it didn’t stop you from gesturing as you spoke. As soon as he was done with one hand, you’d take it back and use it to gesture while placing your other in his. Now there was just the occasional clink as the rings that fit his fingers perfectly but were a little too big for yours knocked into each other. It only resulted in him taking your hand and sliding the rings back onto your finger should they look close to falling off. 

Had it been a month earlier, you would’ve gaped at the physical affection. It was something small, and something you suspected he did absentmindedly; but the fact remained that he hadn’t always been this comfortable around you. There was a time in you two’s… friendship (?) when you wouldn’t even contemplate unloading your problems onto him under the guise of not wanting to bother him when in reality, it had been an attempt of keeping him around longer. The last thing you had wanted was to run him away with your- in your words- constant nagging, complaining, and non-stop talking.

You could vividly remember the face he made the day you had explained that to him. He had called you ‘silly’ in the nicest way possible before laughing loudly.  Ever since then, he had made it a point to remind you that while he was constantly busy saving civilians and the city, there would always be time for you and him to sit and just talk to one another. He’d kept to that promise since then. 

By the end of your series of misfortunate events, you wore one of his black, spiked bracelets, and 3 of his rings that knocked against each other as you settled your hands in your lap with a sigh.

“So, that’s how my week went.”

What followed was a few seconds of silence, broken only by the soft music emanating from your speaker,  though it wasn’t long before the sound of more shrill laughter joined the noise. Another sigh, a heavier one, left your mouth as you let your head thump against the windowsill behind you. 

“And I came home, just…knowing that I’d be able to chill, relax, get my mind off of the week, but my roommate has her friend over and they’re hellbent on drinking as much as they can and speaking as loud as they can tonight. And I can’t even be mad at ‘em!”

A sharp, almost hollow laugh left your lips as you shook your head, your eyes turning to the view on the other side of your window. The city was wide awake, and as much was clear by the various sounds that usually accompanied living in the city. Closer to the center of the city, there seemed to be some kind of event going on, as the dark sky was cut through with bright lights that waved as if wanting to draw everyone’s attention to it. 

Probably some event for the top 1% to go to and pat themselves on the backs for the ‘good deeds’ they had done for the city; the ‘good deeds’ that only seemed to help those they deemed worthy of it. 

Goddamn…Hobie’s rubbing off on me.

Hobie’s narrowed eyes and slightly pursed lips were the only responses you received at first. While your fingers fidgeted lightly with the rings adorning your fingers, he simply gazed at you… then he was swinging his leg through your window to the fire escape.

You watched in confusion as he stood on the other side of your window, motioning for you to join him with a smirk that not only made your heart quicken but also made your confusion and curiosity grow. Your eyebrow raised in question. 

“Stop being so skeptical- we’re just going to the roof.” 

You gawked at him slightly, your eyes widening and your head tilting. He had said the words with a lighthearted sigh and a roll of his eyes.

“The roof? You said that like it's a normal occurrence for us to go to the roof- the hell we going to the roof for?”

“Well, it’d be a normal occurrence if you weren’t boring, love-”

“Hobie…why are we going to the roof?” You repeated the question, standing and turning to where he stood outside your window. It was easy to ignore the jab; the lightheartedness and teasing in his tone told you that he hadn’t meant them. But that didn’t stop your wariness from growing. 

“You trust me, right?”

The words were simple. 4 words said with a lopsided smirk and a twinkle in his eye that was so uniquely Hobie Brown you couldn’t imagine finding it in anyone else’s eyes, no matter how many variants of him existed, as he had once told you.

They were simply words, but your answer to the question was so much more. 

Of course, I trust you. I honestly don’t know if I trust anyone else as much as I trust you. And I don’t think it's because you’re Spider-Man. It's definitely because you somehow know exactly what to say and what I need to hear even when I don’t. Its also because I can’t go a damn second without thinking about you or your voice or your laugh or your eyes-

“Of course, I do…but I feel like you’re about to give me a reason not to.”

The laugh that left his mouth admittedly made a smile of your own appear on your face. It was loud, and it sounded as if it…belonged in your space. You certainly thought it belonged in your space, as well as thinking that you’d like to hear it more. 

“Now why would I do that? Just wanna show you somethin’, love. ‘S all.”

This time, your look of contemplation was purely for show, as you had already decided to indulge in this little ‘surprise’ of his. There was only one obstacle. Or more like two. 

“I can’t exactly walk out and just say I’m goin’ to the roof.” You motioned to your door, and the sound of your roommate and her friend’s laughter almost ironically emphasized your statement. “They’ll have at least 5 questions - each, and then they’ll probably even follow me up there. I don’t know about you, but I’d rather not have them walking up on me just speaking to Spider-Man.”

Exasperation appeared on his face in response to your words, and when he spoke, his hand gestured between the two of you.

“Who said anythin’ about them seein’ you?” 

If possible, the mischief in his eyes grew, as did the smirk on his face. It was only when he reached a hand through the window towards you, your lights subtly catching the web slingers on his wrists that you understood what he was alluding to, and it made you immediately shake your head. 

“You deadass?”

“I’m deadass, love.”

“You can’t be deadass.”

“You know I won’t drop you! You just said you trusted me-!”

Laughter coated his words as he watched you quickly stand up, your head shaking adamantly. 

You did trust Hobie, there’s no question about it. But being more than 10 feet off of the ground and relying on nothing but a piece of web to hold the both of you up was not an appealing or exciting thought. 

He wouldn’t have bothered offering had he any reservations about the security and safety of his webs, and you were aware of that fact; but still…the thought of swinging through the air, several feet above the ground, and relying on nothing but a piece of web to catch the both of you-

“Nah, you got it.”

“Oh, for bloody-”

“I’ll take my chances with the drunk women in the front room, and I’ll meet you up there since you’re so adamant about going to the damn roof.”

Hobie knew not to take the snide tone of your words to heart. If anything, he only found them amusing, as made evident by the smile on his face and the disbelieving shake of his head. His eyes followed you while you found a pair of slides and a jacket before shrugging it on and turning back to him. 

“I don’t get any type of hint for what's up there?”

“No- but if you aren’t up there in the next 5 minutes, my new name will be Barney Rubble.”

The words made you pause, your lips parting slightly as you replayed his words in your mind. Another one of Hobie’s endearing, and incredibly amusing (and confusing) qualities is that he has no problem letting a Cockney insult or saying slip. It could be in the middle of the most casual conversation one could have, or it could be in response to something outrageous he heard. Or maybe he just felt as if the curse would further enhance whatever he needed to say; you suspected it was more so that third one this go around. 

You were used to it; used to hearing a word you had never heard prior to it coming from Hobie’s mouth in the middle (or beginning…or end) of a statement. Every time you thought you knew every piece of cockney slang- at least the ones Hobie used- he just…lets out another one. You had half a mind to keep a record of them to look back on.

You were used to it. You were also used to the feeling of confusion and amusement that always went through you every time he did it. 

“...the fuck did you just say to me?”

Hobie smacked his teeth and rolled his eyes once more in faux outrage, and it only made your amusement grow. A small peal of laughter left you as you repeated the phrase in a horrible imitation of his strong accent. Pitching your voice low enough was a struggle, but you personally thought that your imitation of his accent was spot on. Judging by the deadpan look on his face, though, he disagreed.

“What even is that? Who even is that- Barney Rubble? Barney got a last name? Didn’t know tha- where you goin?”

Instead of sitting there and taking your teasing, he did something that surely had your body preparing for a heart attack, the way you tensed and quickly jumped into action.

Once he had ducked back into your room, it had only taken him 3, wide steps to reach your bedroom door…the one that would lead straight into the living room.

The living room that was occupied by your roommate and a friend. 

With a hand closing around his wrist, you dug your heels into your carpeted floor, pulling him to a stop. It was barely enough, as you also had to insert yourself physically between him and the door.

You had a clue as to what- or who- Barney Rubble is, and ironically enough, it rhymed with ‘trouble’. 

“What are you doing?! Alright, alright! 5 minutes- I’ll be up there. Damn-”

“Aht- you’ve got 4 minutes and 30 seconds now, love. Better get a move on.” 

And if the mere thought of him walking into your living room in his suit didn’t give you enough of a heart attack, the way his hand landed on your hip and squeezed surely did. 

The flush that went through your body had your eyes widening slightly and your lips parting on a quick breath. The place where his hand still rested emanated nothing but heat as he turned you towards the door, nudging you slightly forward. His steps shadowed yours, except they did so on the outside of your own. It allowed his chest to barely brush against your back, but it was enough to have your heart speeding up in the slightest. 

Hell, anytime Hobie initiated any type of physical contact had your heart beating a little faster. 

“W-well, what am I supposed to tell them when they ask where I’m going?”

You turned slightly once you reached the door, your hand landing on the knob and opening it slightly. The sound of the tv in the front room along with the two women’s voices immediately increased in volume as you did so, but your focus was still on Hobie’s hand and how it turned you slightly to face him.

The proximity between you two had gotten smaller at some point, forcing you to crane your neck back just to be able to meet his gaze; and perhaps it was the reflection of your lights in his eyes that were somehow always intense and soft as they gazed at you, but you could’ve sworn there was something else beneath that usual look of mischief. Something that you continued to convince yourself was simply a trick of the light, or a quick flash of his eyes- anything besides what you hoped it was. There was no point in giving yourself false hope.

It didn’t matter how much you were in denial, and it certainly didn’t matter how sure you were that he only saw your bond as that of a pair of friends, you still found yourself instantly being drawn into him as he spoke to you. His voice was a deep rumble- one that floated over your skin, leaving a trail of goosebumps on every part of you. His touch was a beacon of something akin to hope as he squeezed your hip again, bringing your attention back to what he was saying.

“Between us two, you got the beau’y and the brains, so use ‘em, love.” You gaped at the compliment he let slip- as if it were the most normal thing. He continued talking before you could fully process his words or the reaction they drew out of you. 

“May wanna hurry up, though; you got ‘bout 4 minutes now. 3:59…3:58…3:57-”

“Goddam- you’re such a menace. You actually make me sick-”

The last thing you heard was his low chuckle as you opened the door, quickly stepping out and leaving it cracked behind you. The sound of laughter and a blaring TV grew as you walked closer to the living room. From your position, you could see the backs of your roommate and her friend, both of them lounging on the couch and talking loudly. Their words ranged from gossip they had gotten from their place of work to whether or not they’d marry someone they had yet to meet- and it wasn’t hard to see that their words only reflected the tv show they were watching. 

For a second, it seemed as if you’d be able to slip behind them unnoticed and make it to the door. Their voices were loud enough to cover your steps, and the tv was certainly loud enough to cover the sound of you opening and closing the door. And for a moment, you though that you’d make it. Your hand closed around the knob of the front door, turning it lightly, only for a quick call of your name to stop you in your tracks.

“Where you goin’?”

Your roommate’s words slurred slightly, and there was a wide and curious smile on her face as the both of them turned towards you. Her words were loud to compensate for the volume of the tv, and it only made you wince slightly as you stopped and turned toward her. You could feel your lips turn into an expression that looked more like a grimace than a smile.

“I think I forgot my charger in my car. Was gonna run down and get it.” 

It was the first excuse to reach the forefront of your mind. It made sense, and it was also something that you’d done multiple times on accident. You surely thought that it would be a valid enough excuse and that you’d be able to slip away… but leave it to your roommate to make things the slightest bit difficult.

“Oh! You can just use my charger. I’m not using it now!”

Your mouth opens to maybe provide another excuse or to even decline her offer, however, your words stop at the sight just down the hallway. It's hard to keep your eyes from widening at the sight of Hobie poking his head out of your door while leaning against the frame. 

With a shit-eating grin, he held up 3 fingers to signify the number of minutes you had left before you truly learned what- or who- the fuck Barney Rubble was. 

Deep down, you knew that his actions were joking; he wouldn’t actually walk out into your living room with his suit on, prompting screams of confusion and questions from the two drunk women in front of you. He wouldn’t. 

He wouldn’t.

It was almost as if the menace himself read your mind, as his eyebrows rose in a challenge and the grin on his face grew. There was the slight sound of your door opening followed by the sight of his foot stepping past your doorframe. And then his hands raised as if he were going to slip his mask on over his face-

“UH! Yeah-I…actually lied. I’m not going to get my charger, I gotta…run to the store. For, uh…floss.”

“...I’ve got floss sticks, Y/N. I can get you one-” Your roommate threw back the cover she used before moving to her feet. The mere thought of her turning and seeing Hobie right at the end of the hallway made you quickly step forward. You weren’t the best when put under pressure, and there were so many different factors of the situation you had found yourself in, and Hobie was still at the end of the goddamned hall, smiling and holding up two fingers, and since when was your roommate so charitable-

“NO, you’ve got the mint ones- I don’t like those. They make my teeth…burn. I mean- hurt.”

By sheer will alone, you didn’t curse at yourself for that response right then and there. Instead, you stood there, ignoring the sight of Hobie doubling over with silent laughter at the end of the wall, and praying to whoever listened that your roommate was drunk enough to write off your excuse as something not worth your time.

Perhaps the universe was on your side, as she tilted her head and regarded you for a second, her eyes narrowing slightly. You had no doubt that she was the least bit suspicious, and you honestly couldn’t blame her. You had no idea what the hell you were saying, each word seeming to miss the filter of sense they usually passed through before leaving your mouth; despite the absurdity of your words, your roommate simply shrugged before lowering herself back into her spot, mumbling something that included the words ‘weird’ and ‘strange’. 

You, however, certainly didn’t waste another second before turning and quickly making your way out of the apartment, your steps quickly taking you to the rooftop. And just as you had expected, the sound of laughter was the first thing you heard once you pushed the door open. 

The sound lead you to a corner of the rooftop that was only illuminated by a string of dusty lights left by someone who’d had an idea for the rooftop but had given up. You had a perfect view of the city, the lights being easier to see from the rooftop. You were sure that you’d see elegant cars and even more elegant dresses and tuxes if you were closer to the event, but you weren’t…and you didn’t want to be.

Despite the laughter that still fell from his lips, at your expense, no less, you found that you still wouldn’t rather be anywhere else than on the rooftop with Hobie…goddamn Brown. 

“I ain’t a dentist, but maybe you should get that checked out, love.”

“Don’t start-”

“Don’t think I’ve heard of someone’s teeth burnin’-”

His words broke off into another rumbling chuckle, one that immediately prompted you to roll your eyes. Nonetheless, you still walked closer to where he leaned against the low wall surrounding the roof.

Your arms crossed in front of you, your facade of being fed up with his antics quickly crumbling as his eyes narrowed at you. The soft lights reflected off of his dark skin, glinting off of each piercing he had and therefore highlighting the skin pierced by them. The action of his arms crossing drew your attention to the sinewy muscles of his forearms as they raised, copying your pose as he gazed down at you. 

“You gon’ tell me why I’m up here, or are you gonna stand there and make fun of me? Because I can definitely turn right back around and go back-”

That was a lie. The fact that Hobie had wanted you there in the first place was enough to ensure that you’d stay until you saw whatever he wanted to show you. It was the emptiest threat. 

“You gonna be patient and let me surprise you, or are you gonna keep askin’ questions, love?”

Another chuckle fell from his lips as he dropped his arms. One of his hands stretched out, his long fingers hooking beneath his loose bracelet that still adorned your wrist before pulling you a tad bit closer. His body turned slightly to the side, allowing space for you to lean against the wall as he jutted his chin towards something you had yet to see, though you kept your eyes on him.

It was your turn to narrow your eyes in suspicion at his actions and his refusal to answer you straightforwardly. It made your curiosity grow. 

This was new, whatever…this was. You could confidently say that you two were close friends, but the softness of his eyes and the way his lips curled fondly into a smile that you liked to think was only for you said differently. It watered that little seed of hope in your chest. Now it was only a waiting game to see what it would grow into. And for some reason, you had a suspicion that tonight would not only give that seed enough room to grow but that it’d also become a little clearer, this bond between you two. 

“You’re bein’ rather skeptical instead of just takin’ in what’s right in front of you.”

“And what exactly is right in front of me, Hobie?” You questioned, raising an eyebrow. You hadn’t meant for your voice to be so soft. You certainly hadn’t meant for your eyes to flicker down to his full lips as they pursed slightly at your question. But you found that maybe it was a good thing, as Hobie used the same loose grip he had on the bracelet to pull you just a few inches closer. 

There was more than one way to take his words, and the realization, paired with his actions, came with a small increase in your heart rate. 

The grin on his face had slowly disappeared, being replaced by a look of contemplation and something else you couldn’t quite put your finger on. His eyes roamed over your features as a heavy silence fell over the two of you. Your room had been a space of familiarity; a space with enough distractions that served in keeping your thoughts from straying to things you were too scared to ask for and too self-doubtful to openly wish for. But now…with nothing but the open city skyline and the two of you alone on a nearly barren rooftop…those same thoughts reared their head. Only this time, you were almost certain that you weren’t the only one being pestered by them.

“Oh, I wish I could show you, sweetheart.” 

His words echoed with every beat of your heart, no matter how irregular it had grown because of his presence. His eyes flickered from one point of your face to your eyes, and back. The subtle feeling of his fingers tightening around the bracelet, pulling you even closer was nearly lost on you as you focused on the way his lips parted slightly, an inaudible sigh lifting his shoulders. Though as they lowered with the same breath, his eyes flickered quickly over your shoulder, the grin you knew all too well appearing on his face once more. 

“But you can see for yourself.”

With a mind that still worked on getting itself through the fog of longing that had been brought on by Hobie, you let him turn you towards the edge of the rooftop that looked over a grassy park. It was one that you sometimes found yourself walking through when you needed or wanted to, but now the usually open area was crowded with people either sitting on blankets or lawn chairs, all of their attention on the stage that sprawled over the park’s pond. 

It wasn’t hard to figure out why, as the sound of music reached your ears no sooner than you had realized that there were people on the stage. And it wasn’t just any music. The opening notes to one of the songs Hobie had recommended to you were as familiar as the sound of your own name, as you had certainly listened to the song more than enough times. Along with the recognition of the song came the realization that the band playing was one that you both were rather fond of. 

“Is that…?”

Hobie’s answer came in the form of a chuckle and a nod of his head that you saw out of your peripheral, but other than that, he simply let the music speak for itself. Despite your distance from the concert itself, the music effortlessly rode the soundwaves before reaching the two of you, making your smile grow. 

You’d had no idea that they were even coming to your area, let alone holding an entire concert. But somehow Hobie had known, and he had made sure to bring you to a view no one else had to watch it. 

“Mate of mine only had 2 tickets, and one was for him.” He shrugged one shoulder as you looked at him, your eyes bright with excitement for the music that just started. 

“Thought that I’d have a better view from here, with someone who’s a lot less annoyin’ and a lot prettier.” 

A sound close to a laugh and scoff left you at his words, your head shaking slightly. Despite the smile he wore, there was nothing else to imply that his words were joking. The music provided a background of harmonies and lyrics that you felt only added to the atmosphere, and you briefly wondered if the feelings going through your body were a result of the music’s bass traveling through the air before settling into your bones, or if it was an amalgamation of feelings you were finding a little easier to put a word to. 

“Hobie, you didn’t have to do that. Giving up a free ticket to watch it from a rooftop?” Your voice still held a bit of disbelief as you questioned him, your eyes flickering between the performance and his features. Your divided attention caused you to miss the way his eyes softened as they landed on you, but you were perfectly aware of the way he turned, leaning his elbows on the wall and letting his arm rest firmly against yours. You may or may not have instantly leaned into the warmth his body emanated. 

“There’s a difference between having to do somethin’ and wantin’ to do something. It’s always the second one when it comes to you, love.”

Your smile grew- if that was even possible- and you leaned more into him, your skin flushing from the combination of his words and the point of contact between you two.

The music switched to one of the band’s slower songs, and it only seemed right to hum along with the music. The opening notes garnered cheers from the crowd and a wide smile from you. Though a tug at your wrist paused your humming, and with curious eyes, you turned to Hobie.

“You trust me, right?” He asked the same question he had posed earlier, yet this time, his words were softer; more genuine. Your answer was the same as before…but softer; more genuine.

“Of course I do.”

His eyes brightened at your answer before looking above the two of you to a slanted roof that jutted out over the edge of the roof. He took a step back, pulling you along slowly as if to give you a chance to change your mind, but you did nothing of the sort. You let him lead you to where the roof’s corner was directly above you, and you could only watch as he let go of you before lithely and quickly jumping onto the same corner.

You’d seen Hobie’s powers in action multiple times, and each time, you could remember your heart speeding up in concern and worry. Especially when you saw the familiar webhead fighting the week’s newest villain on the news, or heard another news station calling him a menace or even a villain himself. Now was no different as you watched him balance precariously on the edge of the roof before crouching and offering a hand down to you. 

You took a breath, one that both steadied you and tampered down your nerves, before reaching for his hand. Hobie was one tall guy, and that length only transferred to his arms as he was able to easily grab your hand and hoist you up to the roof…but that was as far as you got before your nerves got the better of you.

His hand was clenched tightly in yours, and your eyes widened as you noticed just how…far from the ground you were-

“Oi, look at me.” 

Neither his voice nor the sound of the band playing could tear your gaze away from how far away the ground looked. Was the ground moving or was that just your mind playing tricks? Was it getting closer? If the ground was getting closer that meant-

It was only the feeling of his arms wrapping securely around you, your body being pulled into the wide and hard expanse of his chest as he settled the two of you on the roof, that pulled you out of your spiraling thoughts. 

“You know ‘ve got you. ‘M not lettin’ you go anywhere.” He mumbled reassuringly, his arms squeezing lightly around your shoulders where they were still wound around you. Your breath hitched once more, but not because of the height you two had found yourselves sitting at. 

Without a hint of hesitation, your own hands raised, securing themselves tightly around his forearms across your chest. You pushed your back further into the confines his arms made around you until you could feel every point of contact between his chest and your back, and only then did you take a deep breath before letting it out. 

“You good, love?” His breath puffed lightly against the shell of your ear as he lowered his head, and the sensation sent a chill down your spine that you didn’t bother trying to hide. 

Sitting there, watching a band you both enjoyed from a view no one else had, knowing that Hobie had specifically wanted this moment between you two made your words catch in your throat. It made every nerve ending in your body alight as if Hobie held the sun itself in his veins, transferring its heat and fire to you every time you two touched. While his touch was like fire, his voice was like a soothing balm that washed over you, always rumbling from deep within his chest.

The word ‘good’ would never be adequate enough to describe how you felt in his arms. There was only one word that even remotely fit the emotion flowing through you at his touch, his voice- him, except this time, there was no self-doubt holding you back from admitting it. To yourself, at least. 

The slower music reached the two of you, the familiar tune helping you relax into Hobie’s chest and helping you realize just how perfectly the two of you fit together. His feet bordered yours, knees bent and giving the two of you an extra sense of security as they kept you from sliding off of the roof. While one arm stayed wrapped around your shoulders, his other unwound itself so that his fingers could find yours. They gently twisted the rings- his rings- that still adorned your fingers before almost slowly lacing with yours. Your smile grew as your head fell back to rest against his shoulder, his chin nudging slightly against your temple. A content sigh left you in the form of words. 

“Yeah, I’m good.”

A/N: I hope y’all enjoyed this little oneshot that came from staying up too late and fantasizing about Hobie Brown (its an obsession at this point but can you mf blame me?)

All interactions are greatly appreciated! Likes, reblogs, comments; give it all, I’ll take it all <33

Y’all’ stay safe!

Tag list:

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Please please , write something. Noah and Lily, she is designer and painter, they are working together on design for new album or merch, or something like that. She is redhead, have freckles, have a lot of tattoos, like to wearing skirts and sundresses. thank you! I love your work so so much 💔💔🥲

Bb you are my first ask! So, naturally, you have my undying love and affection for eternity!

Also, this physical description is giving me such inspiration. My best friend has a very similar physical appearance, so this will be fun!! (I just finished this and OMG this got away from me. I did not intend for this to be this long...I really got into this one. I hope you enjoy!)

So let’s get into this, shall we?

Rating: Mature (for language)

Warnings: None.

Into The Ocean

What did I think would happen when I moved to New York City? That I would get here, put a few paintings in some galleries, and suddenly I’d be making millions? How fucking insane am I?

My inner monologue continued as I catatonically stirred my bowl of soggy Frosted Flakes, moping heavily.

It had been six months since I moved here on a whim and a breath of a dream, thinking that with my ‘sparkling personality’, ‘adorably good looks’, and ‘raw talent’ I’d be a success so quick. These days, however, I spent a lot of time wishing I had stayed back home in Hartford, in my Mom’s two bedroom home, with my dog and my normalcy.

No, couldn’t be me. I had to go off with delusions of grandeur, and get myself a full time job as a desk girl at a law firm (which sucked), and had virtually no time to paint like I wanted. My studio apartment in Queens was big enough for me; a bed, a small table, and my paint supplies. I had a clothes rack for my small wardrobe, and a television on the wall adjacent to my bed. My minimal belongings were strewn haphazardly around with no real method. It felt much like my life - off kilter.

Frustrated, I decided to get off the bed, still holding my bowl, and stared at the cereal floating sadly in the milk. It looked so pathetic, the same as I felt.

My eyes wandered to the floor, then the edge of the bed, and eventually to the right of it, where the seven-foot by four-foot canvas sat.

I had that particular canvas since my first day here in New York. I swore that canvas would hold my best work. The piece that would change everything for me. I promised myself I wouldn’t touch it until I was certain I knew what it would be, and was ready.

But now? Staring at it? It mocked me. Day in, day out, it reminded me that I was just another struggling artist in this God forsaken jungle of a city made of concrete and exploitation. It laughed at me. It told me I had failed.

Without realizing it, my arm shot the bowl in my hand clear across the room, the milk and flakes splattering all over my bed, and eventually spraying the canvas. It left a sickly gray hue against the stark white vastness behind it, giving me a sense of anger. A sense of rage.

Climbing up onto my bed, my feet digging into the mattress while I reached for the shelf above it, grabbing random paints from the bowl they lived in. I hastily twisted the caps off of each, my breathing becoming frantic as I felt the sudden anxiety surge through me.

Once the tubes were open, I didn’t bother with my palette, or my brushes, I just squeezed the tubes, three in each hand, until they all sprayed like firehoses over the canvas, all in varying shades of blue and black. I hadn’t even realized I only grabbed blue and black paint.

Finally, after several minutes of raging, smearing paint across the canvas with no structure, using my palms and fingers, I stepped back. The anger and fire in my chest had dulled. I took a step back, and caught a glimpse of myself in my wall-length mirror across the room, and cringed.

Navy blue paint streaked my pale yellow shorts and faded UC t-shirt. I had a large glob of black paint on my face near my hairline, turning that spot of my red waves a midnight color. I needed a shower.

Now that I had thoroughly ruined my clothes, bed, walls, and canvas, I elected to head for the bathroom to clean myself up before the process of cleaning my apartment.

However, as I turned away from the canvas, I caught a sight of it in my peripheral, and something in my brain sparked. The blues and blacks, which turned dark grey when mixed. The lines and swirls they fell in. The non-uniformity of it all.

Waves.

Ocean.

Chaos.

And like that, I was climbing back up on my bed, ready to finish my painting.

It was after 5AM, and I only had three hours before I had to be back at work before I finished. When I did, I gasped at what I saw in front of me.

It was superb.

The waves crashed everywhere as the moon hung low in the sky, storm clouds covering. Amidst the maelstrom that was the ocean, there was one large, beautiful, impossibly sad octopus, thrashing in the waves, bleeding from the eyes.

The octopus was a deep gray, blending but also naturally contrasting the color of the waves, deep crimson blood running from its desperate eyes.

It was painful. It was despondent. It was powerful.

This was it.

-

Forty-two days had passed, and I was struggling to breathe as my hands trembled where they sat in my pockets, watching the droves of people walk by me. I did my best to smooth down the skirt of my lime-green sundress and tugged at the lapels of my denim jacket. My hair was pulled into a tight ponytail, leaving my waves to cascade down my back loosely, out of my face.

The sun above provided a warmth that was needed, but I had forgotten SPF today, which meant I would likely have a fresh batch of freckles on my cheeks to add to all the others. Today had to be the day. Something in my skin told me it did.

I had been to three art fairs, two open galleries, and a fine arts convention, trying to get something, anything sold.

Three days after I finished my piece, I was told that Burgen & Black no longer needed my position, so this was all I had right now. This, and the three hundred dollars my mom loaned me when I told her I was a little short on rent.

Rent wouldn’t be an issue soon if I didn’t sell anything, as cardboard boxes are real cheap.

This open fair was in Central Park, mid-September, so it was comfortable outside. The sun was getting low, causing a golden sky to reach overhead. I had been here all day, and was beginning to feel defeated.

I hadn’t sold as much as one print. One painting.

After staring at the crowds for another twenty-minutes, I finally decided to start packing up. It was a long bus ride back to Queens, and I would be too cold after dark.

Stuffing a handful of my prints into my portfolio bag, I huffed at myself, shaking my head.

Maybe it was time to go home. Maybe being an artist just wasn’t where I fit. Maybe I did need to reconsider college. It wasn’t too late. Twenty-six was an easy age, right?

“Is this all you?”

A sharp, deep voice snapped me out of my thoughts, making me spin on my heel, to see who was standing at my booth, scanning the pieces set up on the table.

The first thing I noticed was how tall he was. He had at least a foot of height on me. I noticed next that he was covered everywhere in tattoos. The long expanse of his arms that led to the bit of his chest I could see behind his tank top was littered. It made my mouth dry.

His hair was short, hidden under a ball cap, sunglasses perched on his nose.

It took me a moment of staring before I realized he had asked me a question.

“Oh, uh,” I walked back to the table, standing directly in front of him. “yeah these are my works.”

He nodded, looking down at the table and flipping fingers through the prints.

“I like them. They’re different.”

I gave my best ‘please buy this’ smile, and nodded.

“Thank you. I just paint what I feel. It helps me deal.”

He smirked. “I get that.” His eyes came back up to my face. “Not the painting. I can’t do that. But having something to help you deal? I get that.”

That’s interesting. “Yeah? What do you use to deal?”

He flashed his teeth at me. “Music.”

Oh, brother. A musician. Any awe I was feeling was dissolving. I had yet to meet one that was worth his salt in anything, let alone carrying a tune.

“Ah, well, different animal, same results?” I tried not to sound disinterested.

“How much for the prints?”

I felt my lungs tighten. Money?!

“Ten, but it’s two for eighteen.”

He smirked. “What would a hundred get me?”

If I had not caught it quick enough, my eyes would have bugged out of my head. I stifled a cough to cover up my surprise.

“Uh,” I looked around. No one had purchased one hundred dollars of my work before. Not all at once. “Seven prints? Or four prints and a canvas or two? Depends on size.”

I pointed to the side of my table, there I had a cardboard box full of canvases. He glanced over, and turned so he could see better.

With a ‘hmph’, he squatted down and looked through them, nodding at some, disregarding others.

Eventually, he came back up and had two smaller canvases perched in his hands.

A painting I had done of ravens when I was sat in a cemetery one day for inspiration, and one of a dark room that held a single bright red wood chair. That had come to me in a dream.

“Okay, and I’ll take these four prints.” He handed me the laminated copies and gave me a sweet, polite smile.

“Sounds good, it’ll be a hundred even.”

“Can you take card?” My face fell. I couldn’t handle my rent and groceries, let alone a card reader.

He must have noticed, because he raised his eyebrows.

“Got Zelle?”

I nodded, pulling my phone out, a rush of relief washing over me. I gave him my phone number, and he pulled me up, transferring a cool one hundred dollars into my account. My stomach flipped. I was halfway to rent with my borrowed cash, and I still had two weeks before it was due.

It was the first shred of hope I had felt in a while.

“Noah!” A male voice called before a shorter man bounded up, and my eyes popped open.

Nick Folio, the drummer from Bad Omens, stood in front of my table, and I just about fell over with a stroke.

My mouth was hung open, in pure disbelief. It hadn’t even occurred to me who he had called for.

Folio held a plastic bag, having clearly grabbed something else from another table.

“There’s a guy selling homemade lures, dude. I bought six!” His teeth flashed in excitement, and my customer shook his head, smiling.

“You’re going to go broke buying those things.”

It was in that moment it dawned on me. That voice. Those tattoos. Those sinfully long fingers…

“Are you Noah Sebastian?” My words came out rushed, before I could stop them.

A sly grin fell over his lips. “Never heard of him.” He smoothly turned around, preparing to leave. “Thanks for the artwork.”

Folio gave me a small wave before following Noah. I was frozen.

I just met one half of Bad Omens. I had sold artwork to Noah Sebastian. He liked my art. I couldn’t breathe.

It took me a solid ten minutes before I could move, then packing my things and heading for the bus with my bag and box in arms, glancing around the park a few times for a familiar ball cap and forbidden fruit tattoo.

-

Nine days have passed since I unexpectedly met Noah Sebastian and Nick Folio, and it had been heavy on my mind until the stress of my rent became the reason I was laying awake at night.

With no other real resolve, my hunt for another nine-to-five not getting very far, I found myself trekking back to Central Park, ready to set up another table. I had fresh prints, and a dozen new canvasses to hopefully sell.

Now that we had crossed the threshold into October, the air was becoming more brisk. Today, I had elected to wear a floor-length forest green skirt with a white crop top, my black zip hoodie keeping my arms warm.

Today was more lively, giving me the opportunity to sell six prints and four canvasses by noon. I had made my rent, and was working on the power bill next. I had slightly raised my prices, given my circumstances, but I justified it with the need to survive.

Did I expect to run into him again? Not at all. In fact, I had convinced myself that my once in a lifetime chance to meet him had passed, and I should be excited about it. I was a Bad Omens fan, and had been since their second album. Their style of music was absolutely cathartic for me, giving me inspiration on more than one occasion while painting.

So, imagine my surprise, when I heard the same deep, smooth voice while I was reorganizing my canvasses.

“Back again?” This time, he wore a hoodie, beanie over his hair, and no sunglasses. His eyes were so big, so brown. I wanted to stare at them for hours.

I snorted. “Me? I could say the same to you?”

He leaned his hand on the table, smiling down at where I was crouched in front of my box.

“Selling a lot?”

Triumphantly grinning, I stood up, leaning my palms on the table. “Actually, yeah. It’s been weird. Central Park isn’t normally a hot spot for me, but today has been great!”

There was a flash of thirty-two stunning teeth, and I held myself upright.

“Maybe the word is spreading?”

“Maybe. Going to buy anything today?”

Raising a row, he scanned the table, tapping on one print. “This one is nice. How much?”

“Fifteen.”

His head snapped up, bewildered look on his face.

“It was ten last week?”

A sheepish blush crept over my face, and I tried to be sweet, brushing some of my loose hair behind my ear.

“Yeah, uh,” I couldn’t look right at him. “I had to raise the price a little. Living cost’s a bitch.” I shrugged.

He looked absolutely amused. “I see.” He pulled his phone out, and began tapping at something I couldn’t see. Afterwards, he picked up the print he chose, and gave me a two finger salute.

“Thanks a lot, Red.”

I smirked, feeling the phone vibrate in my pocket. I ignored it for now and approached a young couple who had walked over to my table. I did, however, watch as Noah left, making his way straight out of the park, not stopping at any other tables.

Finally home, I flopped down on my bed, and let my eyes fall closed for just a moment. I had called it early, feeling exuberant and deciding I deserved an afternoon to just relax, not painting, not trying to find a job, just snacking and watching Netflix.

Slipping my phone out of my pants pocket, I sat up, seeing some missed messages and scrolling through my notifications.

When I came to the last one, I nearly dropped my phone.

Zelle Notification: Noah Davis sent you $100.

My jaw dropped. He only bought one print. Why would he give me so much? He must have done it by mistake.

I bit my lip, bothered. I felt guilty, as if I had stolen the money from him. People were generous, but no one was that generous...right?

Staring at my Zelle account, I took a deep breath, and tapped on the transaction, pulling up the details. My finger hovered over Noah's name, wondering if I'd just get his email. After counting three calculated breaths, I finally tapped it, and a phone number flashed under the name.

Oh God, I had Noah Sebastian's phone number.

It was me being a good samaritan that caused me to pull up a text thread, and begin typing a message. The voice in the back of my head screamed at me that I could just sent eighty-five dollars back, and not invade his privacy by texting him.

But...

Me: Noah?

After hitting send, I physically tossed my phone on the mattress, and pulled my knees up to my chest, breathing erratic. I sat in absolute silence, waiting. Each passing second made my soul fall. What if it wasn't his personal cell he used for Zelle? He was a somewhat celebrity, after all. Would he really just casually give his number out to a random girl in the park?

My phone chimed, and I thought my carotid was going to blow out of my neck. Shaking fingers lifted the phone.

Noah: Who is this?

No confirmation of identity, but the number worked.

I went to type a response, telling him who I was, until I realized I never gave him my name. Sure, I had signed my art, but my signature was decently illegible.

Chewing my lip, I wracked my brain for the right response.

Me: Red.

The text bubbles had turned blue, and I saw he had received and read the message, but his type signal hadn't come up yet.

I was insane, I had to be.

Noah: LOL you mean Lily?

My blood ran cold.

Me: How do you know my name?

Noah: Well, much like my own, your Zelle tells me your first and last name.

I felt like such a moron. Of course it did.

Me: Oh, LOL yeah I didn't think of that.

I typed out another message, before I forgot.

Me: You sent me too much for that print!

Noah: No I didn't.

Me: You did. You sent me $100.

Me: I can send back $85.

Noah: Don't you dare.

This made me pause, already on the Zelle screen, his message flashing as a banner on top, making my fingers halt.

Me: Noah, I can't take that from you for one print.

Noah: ...because...?

Me: Because it's way too much! I appreciate it, but I'm not comfortable with that.

He waited a few minutes, his type bubble appearing and disappearing a few times.

Noah: So I'll buy something else from you, then.

I rolled my eyes.

Me: What would you like?

Noah: You have a portfolio online?

I sighed, embarrassed. My online presence was close to nonexistent. I had an Instagram, with all of five photos on it, and they were all four months old. I didn't have a website, not having the money to create one yet.

Me: I don't, I'm sorry.

Noah: Studio I can check out?

I stared at the screen, and laughed loudly. Oh, I've got a studio alright. Just not what he's thinking of.

Me: Not exactly. I'm a very small artist. I do all of my work out of my apartment.

Noah: Which is where?

My heart sunk. No way. Not letting him in my four hundred square foot, paint covered, disarrayed apartment.

Me: Queens.

I stayed vague.

Noah: Oh yeah, I'm over in Central Park West right now.

I sighed, relieved, and slightly disappointed.

Me: I can send you some pictures of my work? I'll just need a few to take them.

Noah: Can you just FaceTime? Seems faster.

How on Earth did we get here? I was going to FaceTime with a rockstar, and show him my paintings? This couldn't be real life.

Me: Sure. Call when you're ready.

I walked over to the corner of my studio that I kept my completed works in, a sheet thrown over the large canvas in an attempt protect the paint from the sun rays. I had yet to take that one anywhere yet. I hadn't found the right venue to sell.

After about five minutes, my phone began vibrating in my hand, and I looked down to see his name flashing.

My heart was beating so frantically, I was sure it would disconnect and come out of my throat.

I swiped the call open, and held the camera at the most flattering angle I could. Once the call connected, he sat on what appeared to be a staircase, somewhere outside, same beanie on his head from earlier, and was smiling into the camera.

"Hey!"

His enthusiasm surprised me, and I waved nervously, smiling back at him.

"Hi."

"Why do you look so uneasy? Are you being held hostage or something?"

My face fell, wildly confused by his comment. "What?"

His laugh echoed through the receiver, which made this weird jittery thing happen in my stomach.

"I'm just joking. You just look uncomfortable." He pulled his beanie down more, and I swallowed dryly, trying to giggle.

"Oh, yeah. No I'm good."

He sat back, elbow resting on the step behind him. "You sure?"

I felt like we weren't getting past this point. "Can I be honest?"

He didn't respond, just gestured for me to continue.

"I'm a fan. A big fan. So, yeah, I'm a little nervous."

His smile could've illuminated a small town.

"Oh yeah?" He ran a hand over his face. "Don't be. I'm just a guy."

Feeling rebellious, I rolled my eyes. "Yeah. A guy who hundreds of thousands of girls would kill to FaceTime with."

This made him blush, so he looked down. "Ah, I don't know about that."

I decided to press my luck. "I do."

He furrowed his brow, smirking. "Oh yeah? So you're just that lucky, huh?"

This made me grin, in near disbelief. "Ah, the great Noah Sebastian. Cocky, huh?"

This made him laugh again, to which I joined.

"Nah. Like, I said, I'm just a guy. Really cool to know you're a fan, though." I nodded in response. "Ever seen us live?"

I shook my head. "Cost of living's a bitch. You think I can afford concert tickets?"

He shrugged. "Fair enough, dude."

"Anyways, you want me to show you the artwork?"

He agreed, and I flipped the camera around, scanning through the various pieces I had out in the corner. At his request, I would get closer to a piece, or pull it up to the camera. I watched as his eyes would get close to the phone, analyzing each canvas.

"I really like the desert painting." He was referring to a painting I had done that was slightly more abstract of a desert with random melted items such as longhorn skulls, cacti, and pieces of driftwood. They melted into the sand below.

"Okay. That would bring your total with the print earlier to fifty, since this one is bigger."

He nodded. "Do you have anything for fifty even?"

Biting my lip, I scanned my eyes, landing on a painting I had of a black cat, perched on the edge of a pond, cleaning it's paw, a skeletal hand reaching out of the water for it. The painting was done in nearly all neon colors, which was different for me.

"This one." I held it up in the camera.

"Oh dude, that's fucking sick." He pulled back from the camera. "I'll take it."

I chuckled. "Okay, do you want me to ship them?"

I flipped the camera back around, and he raised an eyebrow at me. "To Central Park West?"

I shrugged. "I could."

"Nah. I can get them from you. I don't live in New York and I leave back home for LA this weekend."

This made my chest sink only a little. "Right, I can ship them there if you want?"

He shook his head. "Let's meet up and I can get them?" I hesitated to respond, and I swear I saw a flash of concern on his face. "Unless you've got plans or something."

This made me smirk. "We didn't even say when? How would I know if I had plans?"

He huffed out a laugh, grabbing his beanie off of his head and smiling. "Sorry, you're right."

"When do you want to meet?"

"Tonight? I'm busy most of the week, but I'd really like to get my stuff soon."

Pondering this, I sat down on my bed, back to my art corner. "Where?"

"There's an Italian restaurant near my hotel. We can get dinner?"

I'm going to dinner with Noah fucking Sebastian?!

"Sure. Just text me the address?" He nodded in response. "What time?"

"Whatever time works best for you, Red."

I rolled my eyes. "You know my name, Noah."

A small wink, and he smiled. "I know, Lily. I just like your hair."

My face turned a deep shade of crimson, and I felt the urge to pull at my long red waves.

"Well, if that's the plan, I'm going to get ready. I have to leave a while before you to catch the subway."

I stood off the bed and went to turn, but he spoke and stopped me.

"Hey, what's that behind you?"

I turned, scanning. "What?"

"Under the sheet."

It occurred to me what he was referring to, and I waved it off.

"Just another piece."

"Can I see it?"

I shook my head. "Nah, I haven't shown anyone yet."

"So? I can be the first!" He seemed so excited, which made me giggle.

"It's an emotion piece. Not like the others."

He raised a brow. "Still not hearing why I can't see it."

Biting the inside of my cheek, I shrugged. "Alright, but don't get too excited. It's not as clean and precise as my other work."

He just shrugged, and I reached over, pulling the sheet off the canvas, and flipped the camera.

I watched his eyes, scanning the screen over and over. He looked so enamored, I was confused. Was the connection bad?

"Noah? You okay?"

He leaned back, blinking. "Lily, that's fucking amazing!"

I laughed, stepping closer to the painting. "It's okay. It's a rage painting. Something I started in a fit, and kind of worked into what it is now."

"I can tell. You can feel the pain in the image. The colors are unbelievable."

"Oh, I don't know. It's okay."

"Okay? Red, that painting is unreal. How much do you want for it?"

His question caught me by surprise, nearly knocking me down. "What?"

"How much? I want it." He was so matter of fact, that the air rushed out of me.

"I haven't priced it. It's a big piece, bigger than anything else I've ever done."

"Okay, well tell me what you think, because I'll pay a lot for it."

My heart began stammering, words not forming on my lips. "Y-You really want it?"

"I don't just want it; I want to use it."

I was confused. "What do you mean?"

"I'll tell you at dinner. Just do me a favor? Think about a price? I really want that painting."

-

We agreed to meet at 7PM, but I was late. The subway had been packed, and I missed the first one. I didn't come jogging up to the front of the restaurant until fifteen after, seeing Noah stood outside, same outfit on as earlier today. I had to calm my insides at the sight.

I waved when he caught a glimpse of me, earning a smile in my direction.

"Hey, Red!"

I rolled my eyes. He wasn't letting that go.

"Hi, Noah."

When I approached, he put an arm out, and wrapped it around my shoulders casually. I had to take several deep breaths to remind myself that, like he said, he's just a guy.

An attractive guy. With tattoos. And the voice of an angel.

And this wasn't a date...right? This was a transaction...right?!

Trying to shake off the thoughts, I handed him the bag on my arm.

"Your goodies."

He smiled and took the bag, looking inside. "Nice. Thank you."

I followed him into the restaurant, which didn't look too terribly fancy. We were dressed casually, as were most people here. We were sat at a small table, a little dish with butter and rolls already in the middle.

We sat down, and began scanning the menus. The prices jumped out at me as relatively expensive, and I knew I would be taking my work out again tomorrow to make back the money I would be spending tonight.

Noah ordered a beer. I ordered water.

Noah ordered a steak with linguine on the side. I ordered a salad.

This caught his attention. "You don't want more than a salad and water?"

I hid behind my glass, shrugging. "Not the most hungry."

"Hm," He sat back and eyed me. "okay. For now."

The fuck does that mean?

"So have you given any more thought to how much you want for that painting?" He spoke before I could respond.

"I haven't. I really don't know, Noah." I shook my head, thinking. "Three hundred?"

His eyes widened. "No way, man. It's worth way more."

I was dumbstruck. "Are you asking me to charge you more?"

"Fuck yeah I am. That painting is worth ten grand, at the very least."

As badly as I wanted not to, and prayed I hadn't, I spit my water out onto the table, spraying my salad. My face immediately turned bright red, matching my hair.

"Excuse me?!"

He seemed very unfazed. "What?"

"Did you say ten grand? As in ten thousand?" He nodded. "Dollars?!"

He rolled his eyes. "No. Marshmallows."

Without thought, I picked up a cherry tomato and tossed it at him, bouncing it off of his hand on his plate. He glanced up at me, mouth open, amused.

"Did you just throw a tomato at me?"

I pressed my lips together in a very small, devious grin. "Maybe."

He picked up the tomato between two long fingers, considered it for a moment, and popped it in his mouth.

"I've never had that happen. And I'm a singer."

This made me laugh. "Oh God."

He wiped his mouth on his napkin. "Seriously, though, Red. You need to price your stuff fairly. Don't accept less than what you're worth."

I leaned back in my chair, considering this. "So, you want to pay me ten thousand for my painting?"

He shook his head. "I don't." My heart sunk for a second. "My label will, though."

My eyebrows shot up. "Pardon? The label?"

He was chewing some steak, and waited to swallow before he responded. I found myself staring at the apple on his throat bobbing.

"I want that painting to be our next album cover."

I felt my jaw physically hit the floor, break through the table and all. I was hallucinating.

"You...what?"

"I've been looking for months. I had been looking at photography until very recently, because I just wasn't finding anything that worked. I started scouting art fairs and galleries almost a year ago."

My eyes were blinking at an alarming rate.

"So, that's why you came to Central Park twice, then."

He smirked, lifting the beer bottle to his lips. "That's why I came to your table twice, yes."

I was pushing my salad around on the plate, not looking at him. "Ah, and here I was thinking you came back to see me." I looked up and gave him the cheekiest smile I could, joking.

Snorting, he flashed his teeth again. "Well, that too."

My stomach stuttered, and I set my fork down. I folded my arms on the table, looking straight at him.

"You're serious? You really want my painting for the album?"

He put his hands in his sweater pockets and leaned forward, so his face was hovering over the table.

"I'm dead serious." His tongue slipped over his bottom lip, catching my attention. "There's more to it than just buying it. We'd have to purchase rights from you, so you can't sell copies."

I raised a brow, now intrigued. "Oh?"

He leaned back again. "I don't want anyone else having our original piece that you did. We would, of course, credit you on the album, and maybe even ask you to do some additional work for the rest of the art?"

There was a lump in my throat I couldn't swallow. "Rest of the art?"

"Yeah. The back of the album. The vinyl casing and variants. Merch, maybe?"

I couldn't breathe. It was so hot all of a sudden.

Noah could sense my panic. "I'm sorry. I'm not trying to overwhelm you."

I gulped down half of my water at once. "No, I just..." I trailed off, staring at the tablecloth. "I've never had anyone want my artwork that bad."

He smiled. "Isn't the point to sell it? Success?"

"Well sure, but to go from selling prints and small canvasses in the parks to doing artwork for a huge band like Bad Omens? That's a bit of a step." I stared at him, trying to mask my anxiety, and failing horribly.

"I don't know if I'd call us huge." His smirk was coy, and I rolled my eyes.

"Wow. Cocky." I echoed my earlier statement, and this made him giggle like a child.

"Listen, think about it? In the meantime, can I ask a favor?" I didn't respond. "Don't sell any copies of that? Once you do, I can't use it."

I shrugged, and nodded, agreeing.

-

Two weeks had gone by, and I had not seen Noah since the night at the restaurant. I had re-covered the canvas, but the question replayed in my mind over and over.

Noah had decided to buy more pieces off of me, bringing my profits up to six hundred, which had my utilities paid this month and a small batch of groceries in the refrigerator. I agreed to ship them as soon as I could, but he kept telling me to take my time.

I knew what he really wanted to ask, but he held back.

I had thought about it over and over, trying hard to not let my bias toward Noah, or the bad, sway me.

This was a big step. Not owning my own art? Being pressured to make more that met a standard? Being under a contract? That wasn't what I got into this for. This wasn't why I became an artist and moved here. One of the best parts about creating something that you love, is that you get to do it freely. Once you have to do it, or do it a certain way, it becomes all too tedious. It's work now. I wasn't sure I'd be happy with it.

But on the flipside, there was a strange thrill at the idea. Someone wants my painting bad enough that they are willing to give me so much leeway financially, I can paint whenever I want. I'll get exposure. This could be what does it.

This painting could change everything.

And that was the point, right? I bought the canvas telling myself that this was the piece that changed it all. This was my ticket to success. And here it was, in front of me...

Ripping the sheet off of the canvas, I stared at it. The waves crashed over one another. The moon, bright, but somehow so ominous, shone through, bouncing off of the water in a way that made them look almost silver. The octopus, tentacles scattered amongst the waves, stared at me, bleeding eyes seeing through my soul.

"Is this what I'm supposed to do?" I asked the creature. I was met with silence. Loud, deafening, overwhelming silence.

"Fuck it."

I picked up my phone from the bed, bringing up my recent text thread with Noah, smiling at the meme he had sent earlier in the day.

I typed out a quick message, and sighed when I saw he read it quickly, and responded even quicker.

Me: I'm in.

Noah: Oh FUCK yeah!

-

Six months ago, I met Noah Sebastian for the first time, and he bought some of my art for a hundred dollars. Five and a half weeks ago, he bought more of my art for a hundred more dollars.

Five months ago exactly, his record label offered me twelve thousand dollars for my painting, and the rights to it, and offered me a contract to complete and provide artwork for all pieces surrounding their upcoming album, with an overall gross value of eighty-two thousand dollars to be paid up front, with the understanding that I would provide the artwork within one year of the contract signing.

Naturally, I was a mess.

Still living in my studio apartment, I had rented a painting studio six blocks from my apartment, and spent near all of my time there. I had completed the entire album artwork, maintaining the theme of the original piece, but adding in major twists in each installment.

So far, the label, the band, and mostly Noah, were pleased.

But today, I was stressed. There was one insert in the vinyl copy of the album that needed artwork. It needed a standalone piece, and I was drawing a vivid blank. I had been staring at the 3 foot by 2 foot canvas for two hours, paintbrush twirling between my paint-stained fingers. My old, ratted jeans were blotched with deep blue paint from my last attempt, which had been scrapped.

I was getting nowhere way too fast, and needed a break. I stood from my stool, and pulled my t-shirt off, standing in only my dark red sports bra to fight against the heat. I kept it warm in the studio to keep the paint from hardening in the palette.

Pacing back and forth, music pumping through my Bluetooth speaker, I sighed. I needed emotion. I needed something to throw at this damn thing, like before.

My phone quieted the music for a moment, and I snatched it to check.

Noah: In town this weekend. Want to get lunch?

As badly as I wanted to, I just couldn't.

Me: I can't. Trying to get this piece done.

Noah: Want me to bring you food? Can't paint on an empty stomach.

Considering this, I pursed my lips. He wasn't wrong.

I responded with the address to the studio.

Forty-five minutes later, and Noah was pushing his way into the small studio, bags of Chinese in his hands. I was sat on the stool, still staring at the blank canvas, twirling my brush, and didn't even look at him.

"Hey!" He set the bags down on the table on the far side of the room. "You haven't started yet?"

A hard, deep growl came out of me, and I chucked my brush at the ground, hearing it clatter. I stood, fingers gripping my hair at the root.

He threw his hands up. "Woah, it's okay! I wasn't trying to say anything to upset you."

I took a deep breath, letting go of my mop of hair. "You didn't. I'm just drawing such a fucking blank! I can't figure out what to paint for this insert!"

He tightened his lips, putting his hands in his jean pockets.

"What usually helps?"

"Anger! And I've got plenty! But I've still got fucking nothing!" My foot kicked the stool, sliding it several feel away.

He took a step forward, toward me, hands coming out in front of him.

"Okay, so anger isn't working. Any other emotions we can use?"

I raised an eyebrow, halting my pacing. "What do you mean?" My words were sharp, and he cracked an amused smile.

"You're a real fireball, clearly, Red. But, do you have other emotions we can channel?"

I narrowed my eyes. "Of course I have other emotions."

"Like?"

Suddenly feeling cornered, I squeezed my eyes closed, breathing deeply.

"I don't know." I looked up at him. "Sadness? Depression?"

He snickered. "Why all negative emotions?"

"What?"

"Why not joy? Enthusiasm? Excitement?" He looked so genuine, it almost hurt my heart, because I was so angry and it wasn't his fault.

I paced over to the stool, coming down with a screech against the floor. "Sorry." I confessed. "This is just hard to do under pressure, you know?"

He nodded, standing next to me, a soft hand coming down on my mid-back, rubbing slow circles on my bare skin.

"I get it. More than most, I think." I looked up at him. "But if what you're used to isn't working, then we have to do something different."

I scrubbed a hand over my face, and smiled weakly. "How?"

He pursed his lips, and his hand came under my arm, pulling me up from the stool. "Grab your brush."

Opting for a fresh one, I held it in front of me, and waited for further instruction.

He smiled, and put both hands on my shoulders, pulling me toward the easel and canvas. I followed absently, trying not to focus on my skin tingling where he was touching me.

"Okay," He moved behind me, pushing me closer to the canvas. "pick a color."

I chuckled, and leaned over to the palette to my right, picking up a deep navy on my brush.

Satisfied, he squeezed my biceps for a second before letting his hands fall away.

"Now, close your eyes."

I turned my head to look at him skeptically, but his eyes pleaded with me, so I obeyed, holding my loaded brush and letting my lids fall closed.

The room fell impossibly quiet, and I could feel his presence heavy behind me. The sensation brought goosebumps to my warm skin.

I was nearly startled when I felt his fingers brush my thick hair over my shoulder, and his breath came across my ear.

"Now," His voice was baritone, so raspy and so close to me. "I want you to picture what you're feeling at this very moment."

Feeling? What is feeling? Who am I ?

"Picture your emotions. Picture them as colors. Objects. Lights." He let out a deep exhale that washed over my neck, making me shiver.

"What if I can't?" My voice was small.

A large, strong hand grasped my right hip, pulling me to lean slightly backward, pressing against the front of his body.

"You can. I know you can."

The fingers of his other and were trailing up my hip, tracing patters over the tattoos on my ribcage.

"You know how to do this, Lily. Just see what you feel."

I wanted to push this. I wanted to see how far I could take it.

Eyes still closed, I let my lips turn up ever so slightly. "What if I can't feel enough, yet?"

His chest, pressed against my back, trembled with quiet laughter, "No? You need more stimulation?"

Jesus this guy's is going to murder me.

"Maybe." I smiled slyly.

His lips ghosted over the side of my neck just under my ear, his hand on my hip slipping around the front of my waist and pulling me even closer.

"What if I," His lips trailed up my skin, grazing the flesh so gently. "give you," Up to my chin. My breath was shaking. "something to feel?"

His lips were testing mine, tip of his nose bumping my own.

The lowest, most whispered moan escaped my lips before he dipped even lower, gently pressing his lips against mine. I molded to him, body encased by his arms, lips slotting into place against his, eyes rolling back behind my lids.

The feeling exploded out of me, pouring into his mouth, hands reaching up to grip his hair.

We stood there, mouths fighting for dominance, before I pulled away, pushing his hands off of me frantically, and nearly jumped toward the canvas.

I heard him breathing heavily behind me, a low chuckle erupting from him.

"I guess it worked?"

I stopped my brush strokes, turning my head and letting my hair flip over my shoulder.

"For now. Might need more stimulation later."

[kingshimura4872]

Don't you Remember?

First installment of something I daydream abt allllll the time :]

May or may not add onto it, honestly all depends on the feedback I get from it.

Word count: 722 (Not as long as I'd like, but eh)

Not really specified towards a character rn, but kinda childhood friends to enemies??

Tw: Nothing much, just a little angsty.

__________________________________________________

“Attention, class.” The voice of Class 1-A’s teacher echoed gently against the walls of the classroom and everyone, who’d previously been talking amongst themselves about topics he couldn’t care less about, went quiet and turned to face him. “As you know, we’ve talked about a new student coming a little late this year. You’re all second-years now so I expect you to know how to act. He’ll be here in just a moment with All Might and Hawks.” He explained.

   “Oh yeah, I almost forgot about that!” Ururaka, a short, brown haired girl chimed, placing an index finger to her cheek.

   “I heard that they were a villain before this-”

   “Kaminari, I will not tolerate you finishing that sentence. And you will tell me who told you that after class.” Aizawa cut into the yellow headed boy, who immediately looked down, dejected.

   “Are there any questions before he arrives? That he himself can’t answer?” 

Everyone looked around at each other, small whispers floating but no one speaking up.

   “I do not believe so, Sir.” Iida, an assertive blue haired individual, spoke up in a sharp tone.

   “Alright. Stay in your seats and don’t be too loud. We’ll hold lessons for the rest of the week so he can get acclimated with the environment, but don’t think you can slack off. We’ll still be having training sessions.” 

And with that, everyone slowly went back to their own conversations, some moving to sit on their desks rather than in it, some simply turning around or crossing their legs in their seat to talk to their friends. They talked about who it could be, if anyone knew him, if he was famous or just stupid since he was coming in so suddenly. But after a few minutes, the talks diverged back into a daily talk about this and that, grades and places to go after school.

Aizawa looked down at his phone, reading a message he’d received from the winged hero notifying him of their arrival.

Hawks: Heyooo~ were on our way, so get ur kids in line lol ;]

The mere sight of his lackluster way of communicating irked the teacher, making him roll his eyes and shove the phone back in his pockets. The kids could talk and relax for a little while longer before they were thrown into a new situation. He wasn’t sure if any of them had dealt with sudden transfer students before, but he felt it was best to have them as comfortable and open as possible so there would be minimal tension. He just wanted his kids happy. 

And no matter how much taunting he got from his peers about acting more like a father than a teacher, he couldn’t deny he cared for his students like his own. He just wanted them safe, happy, and engaged with the activity.

A cheery knock on the door caught everyone’s attention immediately and they all piped down again, turning to face the doors.

   “Ugh, him and his weird knocking.” Aizawa groaned. “Alright, students. Remember, be kind and welcoming. It’s just as awkward to be the new kid as it is to watch the new kid. Don’t be rude and be patient with him.” He ordered, turning his own body to the door. “Come in.” 

Hawks, the winged hero, strutted in first. He flashed his signature smile, waving at the students that waved back and moving to stand in the middle of the front classroom area.

   “Alright-y, Kiddos! Who’s ready to make a new friend?” He sang, hands sinking comfortably into his pockets. Everyone was silent. 

   “Huh. Tough crowd. Welp, bring him in, All Might!” The dirty blonde chuckled, glancing back to the doors. Just in front of All Might waltzed in a boy, dressed in the U.A. uniform, face blank and hands by his sides. He walked until he reached the other hero, turning to face the class and blinking slowly. All Might took his place beside the boy, placing a large hand across his shoulder and flashing his own signature smile.

   “I AM HERE!...To welcome our newest student! Young heroes, this is-”

   “(Y/N)?!” The shout came in unison from two different students, both of which jolted up immediately. Everyone looked to see Bakugou and Midoriya being the owners of each voice, watching in shock and new interest.

[8-rae-rae-8]

Trick or treat Juli (I think it spelt it right) kidman ^__^ (I'm kinda scared tbh) -🐯

Trick me thinks

From a place she never belonged, to another place she really hated, Juli tended to float around. Desk to desk, break room to office, work to house. She's never quite called it a home, not with them on the lookout.

MOBIUS kept a close eye on all of their operatives, even paper pushers weren't safe from the procedures. Minimal anesthetic and a chip pressed into their skills. For benefits, they said. And Juli listened, because she needed the job at that young age.

Even as she got older, the routine remained the same while a small bit of hope began to shine through the sealed windows. Pressing against the cracks in the glass, daring to shatter it and let her go.

The core going AWOL was what she needed to find the people that would help. With Myra deep in STEM, Lily lost, and Sebastian hobbling around, she found the pressure point to shatter the glass that kept her inside. Use them, while giving them what they all have been needing.

Juli found a place to take out the chip for way too cheap. A place that would keep it, burn it, trash it.. whatever. As long as this could happen.

She knows how to use people. And Sebastian knows there's nothing he can do but comply... Though, as he woke, and the administrator fell dead against the glass, it didn't feel like the end. Was it ever the end?

Did this get to go away?

Juli got to watch as Sebastian and Lily drove out of Krimson City, she got to see them smile and wave. But it still ate at her. Did this get to end?

It was a mistake to go back into thar building. Cobwebs covering every corner and dust coating the wall. She feels the subtle warping, the high pitched sound in her ears.. She leans to look into the STEM room.

Red text lines the screens, prompted with new codes and commands. Body scans picked up heartbeats and life. Without a core to go off of.

She can't leave the room, her eyes stay locked on in horror as a face peeks from behind the tube that once held Lily.

Leslie? Ruvik.

[manishaasinfratecho]

Maximize Charm, Minimize Square Footage: Innovative Interior Design Ideas for Small Spaces in Noida.

Living large in a small space might seem like an oxymoron, but with a dash of creativity and some clever interior design tricks, your Noida apartment can transform into an oasis of comfort and style. Here at MITS, we specialize in helping you unlock the full potential of your compact abode.

Embrace the Power of Multifunctional Furniture:

Gone are the days of bulky furniture hogging precious real estate. Invest in pieces that serve multiple purposes. Opt for a sofa bed that doubles as a guest room, a coffee table with hidden storage compartments, or a dining table with expandable leaves. Consider ottomans with built-in storage or nesting tables that tuck away neatly when not in use.

Lighten Up with Smart Space-Saving Techniques:

Mirror Magic: Strategically placed mirrors not only reflect light, making your space appear larger, but also create an illusion of depth. Place a large mirror opposite a window to bounce natural light throughout the room.

Folding Wonders: Folding furniture is a lifesaver for small spaces. Invest in a foldable dining table, a wall-mounted ironing board, or even a convertible desk that folds up when not in use.

Verticality is Your Friend: Utilize vertical space to maximize storage. Install floating shelves, bookcases that reach the ceiling, or hanging storage solutions to keep clutter off the floor.

Embrace the Power of Light:

Natural Light is King: Let the Noida sunshine work its magic! Keep windows free of clutter and consider translucent curtains that allow natural light to filter through.

Strategic Lighting: Employ layered lighting to create a sense of spaciousness. Opt for recessed lighting, sconces, and task lighting to illuminate specific areas without overwhelming the room. Consider warm white LED bulbs to create a cozy yet bright atmosphere.

Declutter and Create a Sense of Calm:

Less is More: Declutter ruthlessly! Donate items you no longer need and find clever storage solutions for the essentials. A cluttered space feels instantly smaller.

Soothing Color Palettes: Paint your walls in light, neutral colors. Whites, beiges, and light grays create a sense of airiness and spaciousness. Consider accent walls with calming colors like light blues or greens to add visual interest.

Open Up the Floor Plan:

Embrace Open Floor Plans: If possible, consider knocking down non-load-bearing walls to create a more open and airy feel. Partition spaces with room dividers, curtains, or strategically placed furniture to maintain a sense of separation without sacrificing flow.

Personalize Your Space:

Statement Pieces: Don't be afraid to incorporate a statement piece, like a bold rug or a piece of artwork, to add personality to your space. Just be mindful of the scale and ensure it doesn't overwhelm the room.

Greenery is Good: Plants not only add a touch of life to your space but also act as natural air purifiers. Opt for low-maintenance indoor plants that thrive in small spaces.

Find Inspiration in Noida:

Noida itself can be a source of inspiration. Visit local design stores, art galleries, or even traditional Indian markets to find unique pieces that reflect your personal style and add a touch of local flavor to your space.

Finding the Perfect Interior Design Help in Noida:

At MITS, we understand the challenges and joys of living in a compact space. Our team of experienced and creative interior designers in Noida is here to help you translate your vision into reality. We offer a personalized approach, working closely with you to understand your needs, budget, and style preferences.

So, what are you waiting for? Let MITS help you transform your small space into a haven of functionality and style! Contact us today for a free consultation and discover the possibilities for your Noida home!

[thumbtack47]

Neptunia Cartooncore story-related stuff

I'm on vacation and kinda unable to draw stuff for this au rn (I have my tablet w me, but i dont have 1. a good desk to put it on and 2. the actual file where I have all the other designs stored) so this is the most I can do 4 it rn could probably accompany it w doodles in the future and I probably should but uh. fuck you take my wall of text

For All Games:

story is largely the same per game, with small tweaks on the side

focus on minimizing fanservice and tired, dated jokes

text ver under cut

Nep RB1 (ok this is a bit weird cuz this game isn't canon and has a lot of parts that would be difficult to write out but im gonna try to make it canon anyway)

use the main map from RB2 onwards

forget about the Maker characters (aside from IF and Compa), they don't really add much to the story

forget about the main goddess, Histoire + Arfoire plotline

Celestia exists as a floating island that each goddess strives to take control of, contains valuable resources and acts as a status symbol

Celestia falls to the earth after the final battle with Arfoire + Momus, losing its power (eventually becomes the Gamindustri Graveyard and rises again in RB2)

nix the CPUs turning into humans thing for the ending, Celestia falls and they all agree to stop fighting as much

Histoire is the only Oracle to exist, acts as a neutral traveling advisor to each goddess and knows how to best utilize Celestia's power

leads to her being kidnapped by Arfoire who wishes to use Celestia for malicious purposes

Celestia requires the Bridge Disc to be able to access it-- Arfoire breaks it and the pieces scatter throughout the 4 nations to serve the same purpose as the key fragments

game opens with the 4 goddesses fighting on Celestia-- Neptune's idea to fight for it fair and square

meanwhile Arfoire kidnaps Histoire, hitches a ride on the Bridge Disc's bridge, and hides to subtly influence the fight from afar

others are too focused on the fight to notice that there is a new voice, convinced to target Neptune (Neptune is not convinced)

after Neptune is kicked and the others realize, Arfoire knocks everyone off and destroys the Bridge Disc (everyone else is fine, though-- they catch themselves while Neptune doesn't)

Underling exists in this game, carries out the word-spreading of Momus

Momus is created with Celestia's power instead of just """""fear""""""-focus on minimizing the game's misogyny problem (remove the fuckin basilicom member distracting bit, rework the brothers to only be weird ab tall people and have no character want anything to do with them, have less side characters being really weird ab the main cast in general, etc)

Vert and Blanc's rivalry is now instead about height instead of boobs

HDD still exists, I need to figure out designs

IF was previously very enamored w Vert, this is cute but we need to connect it w the other games

IF is still enamored w Vert but like in a distanced way. Doomed romance, or at least she thinks. Meets up w Neptune and Compa, IF and Compa really hit it off. End up in a relationship but then they actually go to visit Vert, and Vert is enamored w IF. Now has internal struggle of choosing between longtime crush and current partner. Current partner wins, of course, but the conflict still exists (along with the internal conflict of being convinced to kill Nep. Just a lot going on for IF in Leanbox)

Noire is the most invested in getting Neptune's memories back, poorly tries to hide it but also frequently checks in on Neptune despite everything, takes time off from CPU duties, etc

im probably forgetting some things cuz it's been a while but that's the big things(edited)

Nep RB2

THE CONQUEST AND HOLY SWORD ROUTES

Throughout the game, there will be dialogue options! Possible actions for Nepgear to take (say, for example, scene where Nepgear has to comfort someone, say, Uni. 2 possible options would be 1. Asking them what's wrong, or 2. Vainly attempting to cheer them up). The correct choice would be fairly obvious, but still. The point is to showcase Nepgear's indecision and issues with self-confidence, as she learns to believe in her own abilities and grow as a person throughout the story. Unless you keep choosing the wrong options. With each incorrect dialogue option, Nepgear starts to doubt herself more and more-- her ability to console people, think tactically, etc. while also distancing herself from, and worsening her relationship with, the other main characters as a result.

Both the Conquest and Holy Sword Routes are only available if you chose every single incorrect dialogue option. Probably include a sound cue to let you know you've chosen wrong

At the end of the game, then, Nepgear will be too scared for the team to take on Arfoire and ASIC, lamenting that they're too weak. The CPUs protest, saying that they haven't even tried yet, but Nepgear doesn't budge-- they already spent all this time getting the main CPUs and Nepgear doesn't want to lose them again, so her anxiety spirals. So they, reluctantly, listen to her, and try to find ways to strengthen themselves. Nepgear herself does research and finds out about the Gehaburn, which would practically guarantee a win. Everybody else knows it as the Cursed Sickle, but, still apprehensive, follow Nepgear to find it.

at this point before the dungeon the Gehaburn is located in, the game will warn you that it's about to get a lot harder. Every enemy will become Viral, and there will be certain boss battles with special, difficult conditions (mostly just the fact that reviving characters is disabled). This is to prepare the player for the difficulty spike that is to come.

The Gehaburn's dungeon turns out to be a dungeon type all its own-- an overgrown, underground labyrinth. Viral enemies lurk throughout, and there are 3 sections to it instead of the max of 2. Just to sell the long, doomed journey for the cursed sickle.

Upon Nepgear touching the Gehaburn, the sickle will freak out and instantly take control of her. This starts a boss battle where your performance will dictate the ending you'll receive. (Win = Holy Sword Ending, Lose = Conquest Ending, renamed to Ruin Ending)

RUIN ENDING

Killing Order changes, first of all: Neptune > Vert > Noire > Blanc > Ram > Rom > Uni

Nepgear goes berserk during the battle and is too much for anyone to handle. Murders Neptune and Vert in the process, and then goes back to normal.

whatever Nepgear did while berserk completely shatters her-- in this state, the mere notion that she killed her own sister is too much to handle. Everyone else scatters.

Nepgear hides away somewhere else, not wanting to be close enough to anyone to be able to hurt them. The problem? She can't let go of the Gehaburn. Physically.

Due to having no CPUs at this point, Planeptune and Leanbox fall to ruin. This will happen to every nation in due time, hence the "Ruin" part.

Nepgear eventually succumbs to the Gehaburn's control, and becomes naught but a killing machine. She's going for the other CPUs first. She's conscious enough to be eternally crying, though, unable to stop the ensuing chaos and left to stew in her own guilt and anguish. This breaks her in due time, leaving one unable to tell the difference between Berserk Nepgear (Gearburn?) and normal Nepgear.

The game ends with every nation left in ruins. Arfoire and ASIC have been taken care of (by Nepgear), but at this point it doesn't really matter. People go about their lives with uncertainty-- the Fallen CPU could be just around the corner (think the same vibes of like-- undertale Neutral Ending where you've killed most major characters)

HOLY SWORD ENDING

the gang successfully snaps Nepgear out of it, causing the Gehaburn to get tossed aside in the process

Nepgear, understandably horrified that she just tried to kill everyone, tries to run away but the gang stops her

an intervention takes place. Due to Nepgear's actions she's led to think that nobody actually likes her, and that she can't do much of anything. They tell her the opposite

NG: "But, why would you even want to talk to me? I can't even help anyone. I almost killed all of you, and went after some stupid thing that would probably do more harm than good. I'm not even cut out to be a CPU Candidate..."

B: "Ugh, would you quit it with the self-deprecating crap?! You're a CPU, whether you like it or not! Same as us. You damn well better start ACTING like one!"

V: "Uh, what she MEANT to say was... we all have our own little hangups, okay? None of us are perfect."

NR: "It was a high-stress situation, you weren't ready for it. It's not like we blame you or anything."

NP: "Yeah! If I had a nickel for every time I pissed off ol' Noire for having no friends, I'd be rolling in it-- yet we still hang out. Makes ya think, doesn't it?"

NR: (Distant) "THAT'S NOT EVEN THE POINT! IT'S NOT EVEN TRUE!"

U: "Gear, I hate when you talk about yourself like this. I wouldn't have stuck with you for so long if I thought you were useless. We can do this; we'll be alright, okay?"

NG: (Blubbering) "But... what if I actually killed you? What if I black out, and the next moment, you're gone?"

U: "shhhhhhh, don't worry. That thing can't hurt ya now. Can't hurt any of us now. Trust me: if that happens again, we'll just beat it outta ya like we did just now."

NG: "Okay."

or something like that

The CPUs attempt to destroy the Gehaburn; however, after hitting it, it glows and the soul possessing the Gehaburn apparates and then flees to the base of the Gamindustri Graveyard

A special, secret boss battle ensues once the player tries to enter the Gamindustri Graveyard where you fight the Gehaburn itself

Revives are prohibited in this boss battle

Failing the boss leads straight to the final ending cutscene of the Ruin Ending. Winning however purifies the sickle, making it unfurl into a proper sword named Excaliburn that can only be equipped by Nepgear

Wields the power of the Gehaburn with none of the drawbacks, best sword in the game

Arfoire and ASIC are defeated with ease, leading to a much happier alternate ending

[nkyangiehomes]

Modern Glass Photo Frames: Timeless Elegance for Your Photos

Memories are the threads that weave the fabric of our lives, and photos help preserve those precious moments. But how we display these memories is just as important. Enter modern glass photo frames – the epitome of timeless elegance and functionality.

The Appeal of Modern Glass Photo Frames Sleek and Minimalist Aesthetics Modern glass frames exude sophistication. Their clean lines and transparency allow the focus to remain on the photo itself, blending seamlessly into any decor style.

Versatility in Home Decor Whether your home leans toward rustic charm or ultra-modern minimalism, glass photo frames adapt beautifully. They’re a versatile choice for any space, from bedrooms to offices.

Enhancing the Beauty of Photos The clarity of glass enhances the details and colors in your photos, ensuring they shine with brilliance and vibrancy.

Types of Glass Used in Photo Frames Clear Glass Simple yet effective, clear glass offers high transparency and works well for showcasing vibrant photographs.

Frosted Glass This type adds an artistic touch with its soft, matte finish, perfect for modern and stylish interiors.

Anti-Reflective Glass For those who value clarity above all, anti-reflective glass eliminates glare, making it ideal for brightly lit rooms.

Styles and Designs of Modern Glass Photo Frames Classic Single-Photo Frames Perfect for highlighting a single cherished moment, these frames are ideal for desks or nightstands.

Multi-Photo Collage Frames Tell a story by grouping multiple photos in a collage frame, an excellent way to showcase themes or special events.

Floating Glass Frames For a contemporary touch, floating frames give the illusion of your photo "hovering" within the frame.

Digital Glass Frames Blending technology with tradition, digital glass frames allow you to display a slideshow of your favorite memories.

Benefits of Modern Glass Photo Frames Durability and Longevity High-quality glass frames are resistant to fading and scratches, ensuring your photos remain protected for years.

Low Maintenance A simple wipe with a microfiber cloth keeps glass frames looking as good as new.

Eco-Friendly Features Many glass frames are made from recyclable materials, making them a sustainable choice.

Choosing the Right Glass Frame for Your Space Matching Frame Style with Decor Choose frames that complement the color scheme and aesthetic of your room for a cohesive look.

Size and Orientation Considerations Consider the size of the photo and the wall space available when selecting a frame.

Personalizing Glass Frames Opt for custom engraving or decorative elements to make your frame truly unique.

Caring for Your Glass Photo Frames Cleaning and Maintenance Tips Use a soft cloth and gentle cleaner to avoid streaks and scratches on the glass surface.

Preventing Scratches and Damage Always handle frames with care and avoid placing them in high-traffic areas where they could be knocked over.

Creative Uses of Glass Photo Frames Displaying Art and Certificates Glass frames aren’t just for photos – they’re also perfect for showcasing artwork, diplomas, or awards.

Incorporating Frames in DIY Projects Transform glass frames into unique decor pieces by adding pressed flowers, fabric, or other creative elements.

Where to Buy Modern Glass Photo Frames Online Retailers Websites like Amazon and Wayfair offer a vast selection of glass frames in various styles and sizes.

Local Home Decor Stores Visit nearby decor stores for hands-on inspection and to support local businesses.

Custom Frame Shops For personalized options, custom frame shops can create frames tailored to your specific needs.

Conclusion Modern glass photo frames are more than just a way to display photos – they’re a statement of elegance and a testament to the value of preserving memories. Their versatility, beauty, and practicality make them an excellent choice for any space.

To Known More . . . https://angiehomes.co/blogs/press/modern-glass-photo-frames-timeless-elegance-for-your-photos

[learnhowtocreatemusic]

How to Record Music at Home Without Disturbing Neighbors

Producing music is a deeply rewarding experience, but it can also pose challenges, particularly when you live in close proximity to others. One of the biggest concerns for any home-based music producer is the impact of noise on neighbors. Here’s how you can record music at home without disturbing neighbors and continue creating music without upsetting those around you.

1. **Soundproof Your Space**

Soundproofing is the most effective way to minimize noise leakage. Here’s how you can do it:

- **Acoustic Panels:** Installing acoustic panels on the walls of your studio can absorb sound, reducing the amount that escapes. These panels are designed to target specific frequencies, helping to keep your bass and treble levels contained.

- **Sealing Gaps:** Doors, windows, and other gaps are notorious for letting sound escape. Weather stripping and door sweeps can help seal these gaps, while heavy curtains or soundproof window inserts can block sound leakage from windows.

- **Floating Floor:** If you’re serious about soundproofing, consider installing a floating floor. This is a floor that sits on a layer of padding, isolating it from the structural floor and preventing vibrations from traveling through the building.

2. **Use Headphones**

Headphones are an invaluable tool for producers who need to keep noise levels down. High-quality studio headphones allow you to hear every detail of your mix without disturbing others. Closed-back headphones, in particular, are great for preventing sound leakage.

3. **Consider Your Timing**

Even if you’re well soundproofed, consider the timing of your sessions. Producing music during hours when your neighbors are less likely to be home or awake can prevent potential conflicts.

4. **Adjust Your Monitor Levels**

It’s easy to get carried away with the volume when you’re in the zone, but constantly cranking up your monitors can lead to issues. Keep your monitor levels reasonable, and try to keep bass levels low as these frequencies tend to travel further.

5. **Communicate with Your Neighbors**

Open communication is key. Let your neighbors know that you produce music and ask if they have any concerns about noise. Sometimes, just being considerate and checking in can go a long way in preventing complaints. They may appreciate your efforts to minimize disruption, and you can establish a more understanding relationship.

6. **Invest in Isolation Pads**

Isolation pads are a small investment with big returns. These pads sit underneath your monitors or speakers and help to reduce vibrations that can travel through your desk or floor, minimizing the noise your neighbors hear.

7. **Use Software Solutions**

If physical soundproofing isn’t an option, consider using software solutions that allow you to mix and produce at lower volumes. Tools like **Sonarworks Reference** can help you achieve accurate mixes even at low levels, reducing the need to blast your speakers.

Conclusion

Producing music at home without disturbing your neighbors is not only possible but can also be relatively straightforward with the right approach. By investing in soundproofing, using headphones, managing your noise levels, and maintaining good communication, you can create music peacefully and productively. Remember, a little consideration goes a long way in maintaining harmony—not just in your tracks, but in your community as well.

[uniqueinterior10]

Maximizing Small Spaces: Interior Design Tips for Compact Living

Living in a small space doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice style or functionality. Whether you're in a studio apartment, a tiny house, or just looking to make the most of limited square footage, clever design can make all the difference. With a few smart strategies, you can turn even the smallest of rooms into a comfortable, stylish, and efficient living space.

1. Opt for Multi-Functional Furniture

When square footage is limited, every piece of furniture needs to earn its keep. Multi-functional furniture is a game changer. Look for beds with built-in storage, sofa beds that double as a guest sleeping area, or coffee tables that also provide hidden storage. Modular furniture is another great option—pieces that can be rearranged and reconfigured depending on your needs.

Check this page: best interior design company in bangladesh

2. Use Vertical Space

In smaller spaces, it’s important to think upward. Shelving units, wall-mounted desks, and floating shelves are fantastic ways to free up floor space while adding storage and style. Hanging plants or artwork can also draw the eye upward, making the room feel taller and more spacious.

3. Choose Lighter Colors

Light colors make a small room feel bigger and brighter. Soft neutrals like whites, creams, and pale grays can reflect natural light, making the space feel more open. If you love bold colors, incorporate them through accents like throw pillows, rugs, or artwork. Just a few pops of color can add personality without overwhelming the space.

4. Declutter and Stay Organized

In a small space, clutter can quickly take over. It’s essential to maintain an organized environment. Utilize baskets, storage bins, and clever organizational tools to keep things tidy. Consider hidden storage options, like ottomans that double as seating or storage, to keep your space clean and free of excess items.

Checkout this page: interior design company in bangladesh

5. Mirrors Are Your Best Friend

Mirrors can make a small space appear larger by reflecting light and creating a sense of depth. A large mirror or several smaller ones can enhance the feeling of openness, making your room feel less cramped.

6. Create Zones

Even in a small room, you can create functional "zones" by using rugs, curtains, or furniture arrangements. For example, in a studio apartment, a bookshelf or a room divider can separate your sleeping area from your living or dining space, helping to define different areas while maintaining an open feel.

7. Keep it Minimal

Finally, in small spaces, less is often more. Avoid overcrowding the room with too many furnishings or accessories. Focus on a few key pieces that offer both style and utility, and leave plenty of breathing room around each item.

Living in a small space can be a challenge, but with the right interior design strategies, you can maximize every inch and create a space that’s both functional and beautiful. By being strategic with your furniture choices, staying organized, and keeping things light and airy, even the tiniest of spaces can become your perfect sanctuary.

Related Post: interior design company in dhaka

[decorworks]

15 hallway office ideas to create desk space in your entrance area

Having a small home office is a must for anyone working from home or anyone who finds themselves wishing they had a desk to make their daily tasks easier. The dining room table is a quick solution, but it can quickly become cumbersome and is typically not a space free of distractions. However, it’s hard to justify setting aside a whole room for a workspace. But what if there was a middle ground between using a dining table and taking over an entire spare room? Below, you can find the most inspiring ideas to help you find inspiration to transform an empty hallway into a small home office space to maximize your square footage without compromising floor space.

Modern-Style Wooden Desk and Chair in an Elegantly Decorated Hallway

If you have a wider-than-average hallway area, you can simply place a desk and matching chair against one of the walls for easy access to your workstation. This desk perfectly blends a modern design with a more traditional wood finish in a muted tone. The color of the wood is complemented well by the similar and contrasting tones in the wallpaper as well as the parquet flooring. A vintage chandelier and simple off-white runner are excellent finishing touches and round this inviting space off beautifully.

Styled by Grey Deco, photographed by Henrik Linden for Alvhem

An End-of-the-Hallway Desk Nook Made of Floating Shelves

Some hallways have empty, unused spaces at the end, or a tiny linen closet that may not be needed in your house. These small spaces are an excellent area to set up a compact home office. With only some fairly minimal modifications, you can create a lower desk surface with room for storage in the vertical space along the back wall. This example office also features a floor-to-ceiling curtain that can be pulled across for a bit of privacy or to keep the area out of sight of house guests.

photographed by Krister Engström, styled by Livindeco, sold via Kvarteret Mäkleri

A Bold, Standard-Sized Desk With a Bright Chair to Fill the Unused Space at the Top of the Stairs

The landing at the top of the stairs is ideal for a comfortable desk with plenty of storage space. This dark-colored desk sits wonderfully against the grey-blue walls. Touches of decor on the desk and the retractable task lighting are great editions for this area and the pop of color from the bright desk chair draws the eye, creating a focal point in the room. Given the position of the desk in relation to the stairway railing, an L-shaped desk could also work well here.

Photographed by Mia Borgelin for Historiska Hem

A Narrow Task Desk and Statement Chair in a Tiny Space

If you’re someone who only needs a desk occasionally or for quick chores, a more quaint and decorative office desk may be the better fit for you. This narrow shelving unit has been placed against this recessed wall and repurposed into a small home office space. The bold, black traditional-style chair draws the eye and is an attractive element in this room. Where other desks may protrude into the already tight walkway, this narrow option is a creative solution to this issue.

styled by Livin Deco, photographed by Jonas Berg, for sale via Stadshem

A Discrete Home Office Nook to Eliminate Wasted Space

Similar to some of the small office ideas we’ve seen so far, this small space has been transformed into a home office with a bit of extra storage space and a curtain to hide the area when needed. The powder blue seat is a charming touch that subtly pops when placed against the intricate wallpaper. Natural light coming from a nearby window bathes this compact space in a warm glow, creating an inviting workspace.

styled by Apartment Studio for Stadshem

A Floating Desk at the Top of the Stairs to Create a Functional Workspace

Just steps away from a child’s bedroom, this small home office area is positioned in the perfect spot for parents to get things done while keeping an eye on the kids. White walls and a thin floating desk help to keep the immediate space stress-free and tidy. The opaque curtain here is used to block off a storage space as opposed to hiding the workspace, allowing you to maintain a neat appearance without sacrificing keeping needed items close at hand.

via Alvhem

Create a Dedicated Space for Work in an Unused Corner

Similarly to the previous small home office area, this placement has a small desk situated in a corner just outside the family room. This makes for a convenient workspace that doesn’t impede the functionality of the more frequently used room. A small cork board fits perfectly on the wall to keep important papers in view while the rest of the area is reserved for a laptop computer or notebook.

via Bjurfors

Transform a Shallow Hallway Alcove into a Small Home Workspace

Awkward recessed areas in a hallway present an excellent opportunity to set up a home office. In this particular example, the shape of the room itself also helps to provide a buffer to the natural walking path. Framed photos and prints can be hung on the wall for a more personalized touch and a modern small lamp and matching metal seat pull the small area together to create a functional workspace you won’t mind spending time in.

via Entrance Makleri

Encourage Focus With a Compact Desk Workstation

If you’re someone who values focus and sophisticated air, a small desk set apart from other furniture may be the right choice for your home office. The warm wood tones, bright walls, and black accessories such as the mirror and lamp work together to result in an academic appearance with minimal potential distractions. This is the ideal situation for those who use their small home office for their job. For even fewer distractions, choose a hallway in your home that sees little traffic during the day, if possible.

via Stadshem

Place Task Lighting and a Chair in a Built-In Storage Area to Create the Perfect Spot to Complete Quick Chores

A disused coffee or breakfast bar is a quick and easy answer to your home office search. Surrounded by shelves and with a convenient outlet, this type of area requires minimal changes to become a small home office. Simply add some seating and a light source and you’re ready to go. Because so few changes are needed if this area already exists in your home, this may be the most cost-effective method of creating a home office.

via Alvhem

A Thin, Dark-Colored Desk and Seat in a Bright White Hallway

For a small home office that looks as if it was purpose-built by an interior designer, combine sleek and abstract items and a color scheme that creates a bold contrast. This home office area features both modern and contemporary design elements for a chic, professional look. The artwork on the wall is attractive to those walking by, drawing attention to the area and showcasing the thoughtful and purposeful configuration.

via Alvhem

Use a Deeper Desk and Uniquely Bold Chair in a Slightly Industrial Space

If you feel that your small home office needs more surface area, wider desks are the way to go. The desk pictured here is more square than all of the other desks we’ve seen so far. Wooden bar stool-style seating pairs well with the flooring while creating a contrast in texture to the smooth desk. Small light sources brighten the room and complement the mild industrial aesthetic. The combination of shiplap with a flat surface wall as well as the patterned rug continues to bring texture to the area, keeping the eye moving throughout. Read the full article

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What Low-Cost Decor Ideas Can Elevate the Look of Your Small Office?

Creating a stylish and functional small office space on a budget can seem challenging, but with the right approach, you can achieve a professional and inspiring environment without breaking the bank. Low budget small office interior design doesn’t have to mean sacrificing style for practicality. In fact, with a few clever tricks and budget-friendly decor ideas, you can transform your workspace into a place that fosters productivity, creativity, and comfort. Here are some low-cost decor ideas that can elevate the look of your small office without straining your finances.

1. Use Multi-Functional Furniture

In a small office, space efficiency is key, and multi-functional furniture is an excellent way to maximize your available square footage. Choose pieces that can serve more than one purpose, such as:

Convertible desks that offer extra storage or fold out when needed.

Storage ottomans that double as seating or footrests.

Shelving units that can be used for both storage and displaying decorative items, keeping your office organized and visually appealing.

By opting for furniture that can serve multiple functions, you can achieve a low budget small office interior design without compromising on storage or comfort.

2. Incorporate DIY Decor Projects

If you enjoy getting hands-on, consider DIY decor projects that can add a personalized touch to your small office. Not only are these projects cost-effective, but they also allow you to express your personality and creativity in your workspace.

Wall art: Create your own artwork or frame affordable prints. Even inexpensive frames can be transformed with a bit of creativity, such as painting them or adding decorative details.

Custom shelves: If you have a small space, build simple floating shelves to store books, plants, or office supplies. This can add both functional storage and visual interest to your small office.

Desk accessories: Handmade pencil holders, wall organizers, or a repurposed jar for pens and pencils can be both budget-friendly and stylish.

DIY projects are a great way to implement low budget small office interior design ideas while keeping the cost down.

3. Embrace Minimalism with Smart Storage Solutions

One of the challenges in a small office is maintaining an organized space. Minimalistic storage solutions are perfect for keeping the area clutter-free and visually spacious while sticking to a tight budget.

Under-desk storage: Use bins, baskets, or boxes under your desk to hide away office supplies and paperwork.

Vertical storage: Take advantage of vertical space by installing wall-mounted shelves or pegboards. These storage options are relatively inexpensive and keep your desk area clear.

Cable management: Use inexpensive cable organizers to keep cords tidy and out of sight, improving both the functionality and aesthetics of your small office.

By minimizing clutter and using smart storage options, you’ll create an organized, low budget small office interior design that feels more expansive and efficient.

4. Incorporate Greenery and Natural Elements

Adding plants to your small office is a simple and affordable way to breathe life into the space. Indoor plants not only enhance the aesthetic of your office but also improve air quality and reduce stress.

Low-maintenance plants like succulents, snake plants, or pothos are budget-friendly and easy to care for.

Creative planters such as mason jars, tin cans, or recycled containers can add a personal touch to your plants without the need for expensive planters.

Natural materials like bamboo, wood accents, or rattan furniture can also create a warm, inviting atmosphere in your office while sticking to a budget.

Incorporating greenery into your low budget small office interior design can make a significant difference in how the space feels.

5. Use Paint to Create Visual Impact

One of the most effective and affordable ways to elevate your small office is by using paint to add color and character. Whether you opt for a feature wall or choose to refresh the entire space, a new coat of paint can work wonders.

Neutral tones: Soft shades of gray, beige, or white can make the room feel larger and more open.

Accent walls: A bold accent wall in a deeper color can add depth and visual interest without overwhelming the space.

Creative wall designs: Use painter’s tape to create geometric patterns or stripes on a wall for a modern and stylish look.

A fresh coat of paint is a low budget small office interior design solution that can completely transform your workspace.

6. Add Soft Furnishings for Comfort and Style

Soft furnishings like cushions, rugs, and throws not only add comfort but also contribute to the overall aesthetic of your small office. They’re affordable, easy to swap out, and can significantly enhance the ambiance of the space.

Area rugs can define your workspace, adding warmth and texture to the floor while also helping to reduce noise.

Throw pillows on a chair or sofa can bring in color, pattern, and comfort.

Curtains or blinds help manage natural light, add privacy, and create a cozy, inviting atmosphere in your small office.

These low budget small office interior design elements help make the space feel more personalized and welcoming.

7. Repurpose Old Furniture

Instead of buying new furniture, consider repurposing or upcycling old pieces to fit your current needs. This not only saves money but also contributes to a sustainable design approach.

Refurbish old desks or chairs with fresh paint, new upholstery, or updated hardware.

Repurpose cabinets or drawers into storage units or shelving.

Update old lamps with new shades or coat them in a fresh coat of paint to match your decor.

Repurposing old furniture is a great way to create a low budget small office interior design that is both unique and cost-effective.

Achieving a stylish and functional low budget small office interior design is entirely possible with the right approach and a bit of creativity. By incorporating multi-functional furniture, adding DIY decor, embracing minimalism, and using natural elements like plants, you can transform your workspace into a professional, comfortable, and inspiring environment. The key is to prioritize your needs, get creative with affordable materials, and invest in the right small touches that will make a big impact. With these low-cost decor ideas, your small office will not only look great but also help boost productivity and make your workday more enjoyable.