#rain gutters in Sun City

[azraingutter]

6 Signs Your Home Needs Rain Gutters and Professional Installation

Where seasonal rains can be intense, having an effective rain gutters in Sun City is crucial for protecting your home from water damage. Rain gutters play a vital role in directing water away from your roof and foundation, preventing it from pooling around your home. Without proper rain gutters, rainwater can cause significant damage to your property, including erosion, foundation cracks, and damage to landscaping. In a region known for its occasional heavy rainfall, investing in quality rain gutters ensures that your home remains safe and dry during storms.

[oriistar]

Googly Eyes

Sun x GN! Reader

Summary: A slow day at the plex leads to a lot of things and finding ways to entertain Sun was one of them.

Warnings: Just Fluff!

Today was an unusually quiet day throughout the Pizzaplex. The hallways and open rooms that were usually teeming with activity were early silent with only the sound of heavy rain hitting skylights and muffled thunder off in the distance. There was a freak storm passing through the city that had left streets flooded and electrical wires down. Every time you checked your phone you were met with news article warnings to seek shelter and refrain from traveling anywhere until the storm passed. Faz Co was an incredibly shitty and greedy corporation though, and had sent out emails to its human staff detailing the fact that no employee was permitted to miss any amount of work during the storm. Failure to show up for your assigned shift would lead to immediate termination. You were about 98% sure that you and the other employees could sue for such a claim and as far as you could tell, a very vast amount of your coworkers had in fact skipped out of work for the day and possibly the days after until everything outdoors went back to normal. You were not so fortunate though.

Being a broke college student that was hardly making ends meet as it is didn't give you the luxury of tossing away a decent paying job and honestly? What you were making now as a daycare assistant for the plex was far more than you could earn as a fast food worker and you weren't so keen on simply throwing this job into the gutter on account of some bad weather. Even if that bad weather might have been kind of life threatening. Why the damn place insisted on being open today was beyond your comprehension though. You practically had to swim to the doors to get here this morning and it was already almost noon with no sign of a single customer anywhere. You were glad that no one was stupid enough to even try to bring their children here on today of all days but it did make you question your own sanity a bit. 

All things aside though, it wasn’t too bad being stuck in the plex while a huge storm raged on outside. As cheap as Faz Co was, they didn't skip any corners when constructing the building and you honestly felt like you’d be safer here than at your rundown apartment that leaked whenever it rained anyway. At least you were smart enough to bring a few things to keep you occupied for today. And so here you were, lounging across one of the huge bean bag chairs with your old tablet propped up in your lap and playing Gordon Ramsey’s ‘Kitchen Nightmares’ at full blast since there weren't any children around to hear it anyway. Your coworker; however, was not so happy about the show choice as he leaned his large circular head over your shoulder so he could watch as well. 

Sun was very noticeably bored today. Usually he’d have so much to do but with the daycare empty for the day he just didn't know what to do with himself. He had been pacing back and forth before he decided to lay on the floor beside you and now he was making comments about the show. “He’s just so mean!” Sun exclaimed as he leaned closer, one of his firm silicone rays pressing against your cheek. “I don’t know how you enjoy watching this…” The animatronic gave another heavy sigh as he flopped fully onto the padded floor beside you. You just shrugged in response, too absorbed in watching Gordon yell at some incompetent manager to worry about Sun dying of boredom. 

He huffed again before he rolled a few times and sprung up to his feet. You glanced up from your tablet as you shoved a chip in your mouth and watched as he took long strides over to the craft nook of the daycare. Deciding he wasn’t doing anything he wasn't supposed to, you went back to watching your show. You heard the jingle of his bells as he approached and were vaguely aware of him sitting beside you and messing with something but you didn't really mind as long as he wasn't whining in your ear again about the foul language that often came from the show you were watching. Sun began to hum along to the daycare theme that was playing quietly in the background and you could feel his hands brushing against the sleeves of your Superstar Daycare branded hoodie. You relaxed a bit further into the beanbag chair and let him do whatever he wanted, finding no harm in him fiddling with your clothing and soon he had drifted from your sleeve, to your shoulder, and even around the back of the beanbag chair. 

After the episode ended, you turned your head to see what Sun was up to only to jump in surprise as you sat up and realized that he had been sticking fucking googly eyes to you this whole time. “Sun, what the fu- heck are you doing?” You questioned, catching the curse before it could slip out. Sun just hummed in response as he grinned mischievously, sitting with his legs crossed and a half empty sheet of adhesive googly eyes in his hand. “Well, you weren't giving me enough attention Starlight..” Sun said, his rays spinning from side to side as he watched you, “So I figured, if you had more eyes then you’d be looking at me all the time!” He laughed, falling onto his back as he kicked his feet and giggled as if his joke was the funniest thing in the world. You were not so easily impressed. 

“You are one weird clown.” You said with a sigh but your expression cracked a little as you smiled at him. Sun didn't seem at all offended by your words as he pushed himself up and quickly crawled over to you. He shoved your tablet aside and flopped himself across your lap in its place, nudging his head up against your hand just like a cat. You rolled your eyes and began to stroke his rays in the way you knew he liked and he sighed happily in response. “You’re just a huge baby, you know that right?” You asked him and he tilted his head a little in your lap, his rays retracting where his faceplate met your thighs. “Yeah, but I'm your baby aren’t I?” He asked innocently and you felt your face warm in response. You scoffed and shoved him off your lap as he started up his giggles again. 

“Okay, whatever weirdo. You better help me get these googly eyes off or else i'll take all the glitter glue home with me tonight.” Sun gasped at your threat and jumped back up immediately, removing the googly eyes from both you and the beanbag chair while pleading with you not to take his precious supply of glitter glue. You were pretty sure he ate it when everyone was gone but hey, everyone has some freaky habit so you couldn't really judge him too hard. You just laughed as you let him pluck the sticky eyes off of you.

All of my writing is original work created by me. Please do not repost, translate, or alter them in any way.

[quixotical-lymbo]

Warnings/Tags: Pre-S2E7, implied/referenced child neglect, cussing, implications of sewer slide, starvation, angst, hurt/comfort.  Word Count: 2400+ words

It was raining. Thick, heavy droplets of condensed water from the sky wept upon the earth as the darkening clouds above kept the sun from witnessing the scene. Amidst the bleak atmosphere of Megapolis, a hooded figure rushed through the opaque curtain of rain as steam rose from the gutters. 

That hooded figure didn't stop as they maneuvered through the alleyways and rooftops, scaling the buildings and traveling the road less taken.

The streets of the coastal city changed from the shining lights of the city to the gloom-ridden slums. Approaching a building, the mysterious person squeezed into a crack in the boarded window.

The crack itself, small and jagged with sharp splits in the wood, wouldn't have fit an adult. It suited someone of a smaller stature—someone like a young adolescent or toddler. Or perhaps, a malnourished teen. 

Once in the safety of the building's looming shadows, then, and only then, did the hood-donning person stop and pull back their soaked hood to reveal your face.

There was a lack of light that once burned with a hearty warmth in your eyes. The chilliness of the approaching night nipping at your dried lips and sunken cheeks reminded you of your drenched hoodie clinging to your sweat coated skin. 

You peeled the hoodie from your body and chucked it carelessly in the corner. You shuffled over to the little makeshift bed you crafted and fell face first into it. A grumbling noise roared from your stomach and pressing your hand to settle the beast called hunger did nothing to ease its cries.

Was it Wednesday? Sunday? Or perhaps it was three days ago since you've eaten? It was hard to keep track of such things when you were too busy focusing on retrieving the last of your items from your home-...your previous home. 

Your eyes stung with the familiar lump forming in your throat as you recalled the reason you were in this abandoned building in the first place. 

You couldn't recall what the argument was about, but all you could remember was the overwhelming sensations of rage that boiled beneath your skin, eating away at your heart and gnawing on your veins. 

Unfair, unfair, not true, that wasn't fair-

The whispers egged you on, vindicating the very thoughts that swarmed in your mind. 

Then the next thing you knew, your guardians were staring at you in horror from across the crater with what was the living room's couch split in two.  

After that incident, more things started to happen that drove the wedge deeper between your guardians and yourself. These weird…abilities of yours only showed up when you wished them away the most, yet without fail they appeared every time you were under distress and that was practically all the time. 

These damned emotions of yours were hard to control, especially when you needed help the most during this time but ended up driving everyone away. 

Your grades start slipping, your friends begin distancing themselves from you, rumors begin, your guardians couldn't even look you in the eye—and worst of all you can't blame them. You were a danger to everything and everyone around you.

Nobody wanted to deal with your mess and you deserved it. 

Burden. Annoying. Waste of space. Monster. 

You exhaled softly, your bottom lip quivering as a tear slipped from the corner of your eye. Curling into yourself more as you buried your face in your knees, trying to keep your emotions at bay as the wisps of shadows flickered around your body—twisting and curling around you like a protective blanket. 

You couldn't make sense of why these powers of yours showed up. Neither the research you did, trips to the library, or your guardians (not like they were of any help anymore) provided any answers. 

It was obvious that the only solution to keep everyone safe was to put an end to all of this. 

…

..

.

You were too cowardly to go through with it, despite everything that has happened. 

So, you decided to run away. 

No one could get hurt if you kept to yourself. So far, this plan has worked.

CRASH-!

You jumped from your bed as the wisps of shadows swish wildly. They grew faster than wild grass to attack whatever had crashed through the window. You couldn't see if your tendrils landed on their target, but after a few seconds they were smacked away as something large flew out of the darkness and was heading toward you. 

Your reflexes and tendrils were too slow to the shadowy figure that slammed into you. Something warm and fuzzy wrapped around your throat, squeezing your windpipe and their pointed nails dug into your skin enough to draw blood. 

You gasped and clawed at the hand keeping you pinned. Your eyes began to water faster as your vision blurred, the lack of oxygen added onto the fact you hadn't had any food in the last few days made you weak. 

Perhaps this was your punishment, your guardians may have hired someone to take you out once and for all. 

With this in mind, your attempts at getting free slowed as you stared into your captors glow-y purple eyes, then closing them as you fell limp to accept your destiny. 

"...wait…you're a kid?" 

The next thing you knew, you were tossed out of your bed and onto the floor. The remaining amount of air within you was knocked out the moment you landed on the ground. Coughing and wheezing, you gently held a hand to your bruising throat, wincing at the dull ache beginning to form. 

"...tsk, and here I thought some lowlife demon decided to squat in my place," The voice continued. 

You glanced up from the ground and tilted your head at the figure.

"Wh..who are…?" 

The figure seemed to have glanced in your direction, given by the way you saw the outline of their head turn to you. 

"Oh, right." The figure snapped their fingers and soon the room was bathed in dark purple light provided by the burning, purple flames lit up from the chandelier above. 

"Better?" The figure–monkey, grinned at you. 

You squinted at the stranger who stood before you, questions rushing through your mind at the display of power he had demonstrated. Why did it seem so familiar? 

Whatever it was, you couldn't exactly pinpoint why you felt that way since your brain slowly processed why/how there was a monkey communicating with you. Then it hit you all at once. 

"Monkey King-?" 

"No, no, but I get it…we look the same and all–ahem!" The monkey coughed into his fist. "Anyway, the names Macaque, the Six Eared Macaque is my full name." 

"Nice to meet you," You rasped, your eyes downcast as you moved to sit up. "Sorry for intruding… but I need to stay until the rain passes and then I'll leave for good. I promise." 

Macaque raised a brow before squatting in front of the pitiful teen. His eyes quickly took in the appearance of the boy who looked worse for wear. 

The teen looked like he had seen better days and that was coming from someone who came back to life a few weeks ago. 

The kid seemed harmless enough, the monkey had thought. However…

"Sure, sure, now are you gonna tell me about that cool party trick of yours or…?" 

"Oh!" You remembered how your powers had attempted to harm Macaque. You jumped back and scooted away from the monkey. "I-I for-for…forgot! You need to stay away from me! I might..I could..I don't wanna hurt you…" 

"Heh! Hurt me?" Macaque halfheartedly chuckled. "You can't hurt me." 

"No, you…you don't understand, I-'' Your stomach decided it was time to make its presence known as it growled. 

"-You're hungry? Hm, well, you are technically a guest," Macaque cut in as he grinned at your feeble attempts to hide the noise coming from your belly. "Wait here, kiddo, I'll be back." 

It didn't take long for Macaque to return with two plastic bags of takeout. 

The savory aroma of steam wafting from the bag that was handed to you made your hands tremble as you began digging into the meal. Macaque plopped down next to you as he opened his own bag as his brow rose in mild concern and amusement as you tore into the noodles. 

"Slow down or you'll-" 

Your cheeks bulged as you leaned forward to cough out a piece of noodle that fell down the wrong pipe. 

"-choke." Macaque sighed. 

"Sorry." 

"No worries, but…you haven't eaten in a while, have you?" Macaque twiddled with the chopsticks, his eyes straying from his bowl to look at your side profile. "Why is that?" 

"I…um, ran away,"  You admitted. This guy was nice enough to buy you food and provide shelter. Why shouldn't you trust him a little? 

Macaque hummed, urging you to continue. 

"It's a long story, but I ran away because of…um, well, I'm-" You found it harder to articulate everything you've experienced so far—but you somehow managed to spill everything. Something about the tragedy of it all made you realize that this was now your reality.

The tears that welled up from earlier began to fall down your face before you could stop them. Your breath hitched as something heavy landed on your shoulder, you flinched and looked at the hand before looking at Macaque. 

 "Your power…is that right?" Macaque guessed, his eyes shifted from your face to something below. That's when you noticed the small tendrils of shadows curling between the two of you, one of them even began poking  against Macaque's thigh.  "Those things that attacked me from before…hm, looks like me and you have a lot more in common than I thought." 

"Huh?" You hiccuped as you brushed your arm across your damp face. 

Macaque simply grinned before moving the cape of his scarf away to reveal a strange looking object. Before you could ask what it was, Macaque raised his hand in the air and the shadows created by the chandelier began to move in unnatural ways. 

You watched in awe as Macaque manipulated the shadows into different shapes; a horse, a pig, and a dragon. You felt a smile creep up your face at the less-than-flattering shadow imitation of you running around the room.

"See?" Macaque lowered his hand and made the shadow puppets disappear as well as the glow from the lantern. "We're alike, you and I." 

Your smile falters as the horrified expressions of your guardians appear. "No…we're not, you bring joy while I bring nothing but pain." 

Macaque resisted the urge to scoff at the irony, but he figured he could at least entertain whatever else you had to say. 

You wrapped your arms around your knees and pressed your face into them. "Your powers are cool and mine? Uncontrollable and dangerous…that's why I ran away." 

"Well-...I could do a lot more than that, but I thought showing you something like this would be better than messing up my home even more," Macaque stood up and offered his hand to you. Your gaze flickered between his hand and face before reaching out to take it. The moment your fingers touched, a burst of energy knocked you back before you could even see what it was. 

Your gasp was caught in your throat as what held you against the wall was none other than your tendril…but it wasn't? You followed where the ribbon-like tendril led to and found Macaque staring at you with a shit-eating smirk. 

"See? What did I tell ya?" Macaque stalked over to your pinned form step by step. His hands stuffed in his pockets as he leaned down to your level. "You aren't the only one who can be capable of mass destruction, kid…but at least I have the sense to not trust the first guy who gives me a free meal." 

You became aware of how tight the tendril around your throat was, yet it was either the adrenaline, lack of oxygen, or the deficiency of common sense that made you blurt out-

"Could you train me?" 

Macaque blinked a few times before throwing himself back to rest on his tail as he laughed. The tendril loosening around your neck, causing you to fall on your ass. 

"Train you? Tra-..pfft hahaha!" 

"Can you stop?! Fine, I get it, you don't want to," You spat with crossed arms. Your cheeks felt scorching hot as his laughter began to intensify, the least that jerk could've said was no. 

"Haha! Ha, heh…ha…okay, okay! I'm done," Macaque rubbed his chin as he gave your form a once over. "You sure are one of a kind, kid…asking the person who was about to kill you to train you is…heh–sorry, hilarious." 

"You were gonna kill m-?" 

"Anyway, I need to ask a few questions before I decide, think of this as an…" Macaque glanced around for a moment. "…interview! Wouldn't want to waste my time if it turns out you're not worth it, amirite?" 

You nodded your head before the monkey began shooting question after question at you. Some of them were weird, like how many friends you had (none), do your parents know where you are (no), and stuff like that. 

Macaque moved to sit on the ground after the 'interview' was done. There was nothing that he could lose if he did decide to take you in. You were ripe for the taking as you had no one else to rely on or any pesky friends to get in the way of him shaping you into the perfect little sidekick for his schemes. 

There was always the possibility of you betraying him, but that would most likely be years down the line…yet Macaque noticed a growing darkness within you–and he wasn't referring to your powers. If you were already abandoned by the world just as he was, then who was he to turn a fellow lost cause away? 

"Alright, here are the ground rules," Macaque shifted onto his feet and knocked his finger into your forehead a few times. You, in turn, swatted the offending hand away but the smile couldn't be wiped from your face even if you tried to make it go away. 

"First rule, you will listen to everything I tell you to do."

"Ok!" 

"Second, make sure to clean up after yourself, I'm not your dad and I am not anyone's babysitter." 

"Of course!" 

"Third, you gotta understand that I'm not your friend…if you truly want to learn how to control your powers and learn from me, you will undergo a lot of harsh, mind breaking and vigorous training…got that?" 

"Mmhm!" You nodded. 

"Finally…tell me your name," Macaque grinned. 

You told him your name with gusto. 

"Nice name, now, let's get some shut eye, yeah?" Macaque stretched his arms above his head before yawning. He waved a hand over his shoulder as he turned around to make his exit. 

"O-oh, okay! See you in the morning!" You answered back before bouncing over to your bed and hurrying to get a head start on sleeping.

Seems like your days will get better from here on out. Hopefully. 

🍜 - I do not give permission for anyone to translate, copy, republish, or plagiarize any of my written works. I provide no permission for any of my literary works to be used in artificial intelligence. sparkle banner(s) by @adornedwithlight !!

[ink-flavored]

#OCKiss2024 Day 2: Rain

Sunshower Part of the @ockissweek event from Feb. 12-18th, featuring the titular couple from Pride & Justice. Tips are appreciated!

It was a peaceful day out. Pride walked down the street hand in hand with Justice, sated from lunch date and gawking around the local curiosity shops. They didn’t end of buying anything—or stealing anything, no matter how much he wanted to—but looking was enough. On a clear, warm day like this, walking around was an activity unto itself.

The first droplet struck his nose out of nowhere. Startled, he swiped it off and frowned up at the sky for an explanation. It wasn’t supposed to rain today. Sure enough, not a single dark cloud appeared to take the blame. They were all fluffy, white, and innocent. Pride narrowed his eyes.

“What’s the matter?” Justice asked.

“Did you feel any rain?”

Curious, Justice stuck his palm out, but he shouldn’t have bothered. A second drop, a third, followed by dozens and dozens more freckled the city streets. In a heartbeat, they were subject to a downpour. They both froze in shock, Pride gasping as water drenched his hair and shoulders and Justice hunched over with his hand over his head in a feeble attempt to shield himself. A torrent of rain plastered them, with pearly white clouds and the sun shining merrily.

“What,” Pride demanded, “the fuck?”

“I didn’t know this could happen,” Justice said, awed at the concept.

“What is happening? What’s going on?”

“I don’t know.” He laughed, shaking his head. “I have no idea!”

Pride tugged him down the street. “Come on, let’s get somewhere dry.”

All around them, frazzled pedestrians dashed down the sidewalk to find refuge. No one had an umbrella, resorting to holding books, suitcases, purses, anything with a decent mass above their heads to poorly mimic one. Pride searched all around, trying to find an awning or a doorstep or something for them to stand under. Wet hair slapped his cheeks as he whipped his head back and forth. He swiped it away with growing annoyance, clothes getting steadily soaked through. He couldn’t find any escape.

“Oh no, Pride,” Justice warned.

“What?” he asked, squinting through the rain.

He squished his lips together, suspiciously amused. “Your eyeliner is…”

Pride froze, hand flying up to the corner of his eye. He stared in horror when his fingertips came away bright red. “Motherfucker.”

Justice snorted hugely before dissolving into laughter. Water ran in rivulets down the sides of his face, and they could have been tears of joy. Pride tried to swipe his face clean, but only succeeded in smearing it around.

“Ugh!” he complained. “I look like a mess now.”

“So do I!” Justice agreed, as if it were a good thing. “Here, here, watch.”

He flipped his locs over one shoulder, gathered them in his fists, and wrung them out like he did after a shower. A tiny waterfall rushed from his hands, splattering on the ground into the puddle forming at their feet. Pride stared, completely bewildered, while Justice broke into giggles again.

“What the Hell is so funny about this?” he asked.

“It’s fun to be a mess, isn’t it?”

“Only when I want to be.”

Justice shrugged, grinning in the face of his frustration. “You’re not getting any drier!”

With that, he skipped off down the street, arms outstretched to the pouring rain. Astonished, Pride could only chase after him, not enjoying it nearly as much.

The clouds hadn’t let up in the slightest. Rainwater rivers glugged into the street gutters. Puddles gathered in any unsuspecting divot, pooling at the ends of the sidewalks. There wasn’t an inch of Pride that wasn’t soaked, outfit ruined from the impossible storm. But ahead of him, Justice jumped and twirled around, water thrown off his locs in a shimmery arc.

“Can you slow down?” Pride called.

Instead of replying, Justice turned around and skipped his way back down the street. He took Pride’s hands and dragged him in a circle. Stumbling around, he sputtered through the water dripping down his face.

“What are you—why?” he asked.

“It’s fun,” Justice said, not dampened by the rain or his confusion. “Come on, try it.”

Pride resisted making a sour face. He wasn’t in the mood for fun. He wanted to stomp his way home, throw on some dry clothes, and complain incessantly about this disaster. But Justice was… happy. So he didn’t want to mess that up.

“Fine,” he sighed. “I guess I can’t look any more ruined than this.”

Justice stopped spinning and pulled him along at an eager pace. Pride jogged with all the effort he could muster, boots splashing in the rain. Justice’s sneakers matched him beat for beat, water bursting from under his soles. The drops continued to fall, flying right into their faces as they trotted through the curtain of rain. Pride swiped his eyes, clenched Justice’s hand, and picked up his pace to keep up. Justice smiled back at him, but with a brow raised. He sped up just enough to stay ahead.

Pride narrowed his eyes. If this was a race, he wasn’t going to be left behind. He lengthened his stride, practically jumping over the asphalt squares of sidewalk. With the advantage of height, Justice matched him easily. Pride steeled himself and went even faster, each footstep creating a burst of water that crashed back down like turbulent ocean waves.

He nearly tripped, alarmed, when he caught himself smiling. This… was fun. In his shock, Justice pulled ahead far enough that their linked hands stretched to a diagonal.

“No!” he growled.

Justice startled—a fatal mistake. Pride sprinted ahead with all his strength, wet footsteps matching the competitive thud in his ears. He grinned fiercely the second he was in the lead, fingers straining to keep their hold on Justice. Their wet hands slipped apart for a second, but he barely noticed, focused only on his victory.

The entire world lurched away. Justice snatched his waist, hoisted him into the air, and spun him in circles. Water flew off his soaked hair and clothes, and all Pride could do was laugh. Like their race mere seconds before, Justice matched him, beat for lighthearted beat.

On the way down, Pride twisted around to plant a wet kiss on his cheek. Justice set him down, spun him around, and cupped his cheeks for a full kiss. Pride grabbed his shirt, twisting his hands in the wet fabric to pull him closer. It squeezed a stream of water on the ground, joining the raindrops all around them.

“I don’t think you look ruined,” Justice murmured to him, “by the way.”

“No, I do,” Pride corrected. “But I make it look good.”

[moorishflower]

Hi! I absolutely loved 'Those who have yet to decide'. I've read it three times and want to read it again. My friend sent the fic to me and I was floored at the beautiful descriptions, but also establishing a new, profound love for Hob in makeup and a corset. This line will forever make me crack up because it's so accurate. Woof to Hob in a corset! I wish I could see it in live action haha. I can hear it in Boyd's voice actually. I love how you wrote this Corinthian.

“Check out these tits, my lord,” the Corinthian says; Dream did not refashion him to have any sense of propriety or good timing, and he regrets this now, immeasurably. “Woof. Bark bark, am I right?”

It was sensual and made me all tingly. I loved how Hob was waving his bi flag proudly and as a bi man myself I salute him. It was just such a brilliant fic and I'm so happy you shared it with us.

I have a read almost everything you have written and I was hoping I could make a small request. Something short and sweet. Could I ask for you to write Hob taking Dream out on a date, strolling through the city at night? Honestly I have no plot idea for you because anything you write will be amazing.

I hope you are well and happy new year to you! I wish you all the happiness and success this year ahead :) (I just saw now that my fave fic is getting a sequel. I'm jumping up and down from happiness!! I'm sat and ready for this!)

Bi Hob means a LOT to me. Bi characters in general mean a lot to me! It's so fuckin important that they're included in any discussion of queer history and queer acceptance, because they, along with like, hetersexual aromantic/heteroromantic asexual people and also hetero trans men/trans women, are very frequently excluded from under that umbrella and it's not fucking right because who you are doesn't change based on who you're dating or fucking and bisexuality isn't just a "cry for attention" or "playing it safe" and I just get very irked by the whole disk horse about it. Which is to say I am SO glad that you liked the fic. <3<3<3

The "sequel" to Those who have yet to decide is now up! It's called "Ab instrumento ad corpus" and it's uh 27k l o l.

Short and sweet short and sweet hmmmm

"Dream!" Thunk. "I know you're up! I can see your light on! Please, Dream, I just want to talk, let me explain..."

It is 11:30 in the evening, and Dream has, for the last fifteen minutes, been listening to the steady tap of stones pelting against his bedroom window. The sound is not unlike hard rain, and if it weren't for the increasingly frantic voice accompanying each volley, he might be able to turn over and accept it as yet another piece of white noise in the background of his room, slotting neatly into place beside the fan whirring by the closet and the gentle hum of his desktop, the water rushing through the pipes in the walls, the clink of ice from the kitchen as Del fetches herself her customary glass of midnight orange juice.

But the voice cannot be ignored. Easier, he thinks, to ignore the sun, to ignore gravity. To ignore the pounding of his own heart, the lurid thud against his ribcage. He manages to hold out for a further, and remarkable, thirty seconds, before there is a sound from below his window that is not a whispered call, and is not a rock pattering against the glass. It is, to his horror, something more like a sob.

He is out of bed and to the window before he has even fully processed his own intention, fingers fumbling numbly for the latch. A bevy of tiny stones litter the ledge of the roof outside, and yet more have trundled down into the gutter, which he can see if he leans outwards, which he does now.

"Hob Gadling," he says severely. Tries for 'severely.' Fears that he has fallen far short, somewhere in the territory of 'desperate.' "Cease your hysterics at once and tell me what do you want?"

The figure that is sat upon the lawn below his window, miserably hunched with his face pressed into his gangling knees, has hair like petrified wood, smooth and glossy and dark redwood brown. When the sunlight hits it perfectly it highlights coronas of sublime amber, all streaked and brilliant and falling in lose waves to cover apple-blushed cheeks and the decent beginnings of scruff along his chin. His chin has a darling cleft in it, which he had once told Dream was a source of some embarrassment for him, and which Dream had told him ought not to worry him, as people would not be looking at his chin, but at his eyes. Hob had assumed he was being quite literal -- had laughed, in the way he has when he isn't certain if laughter will be welcome, but is unable to help himself -- but what Dream had meant was that Hob's eyes were like molten gold, like the beating core of the universe, like sundogs flaring in summer, warm and liquid and arresting to heart and mind.

Hob does not look warm, nor arresting, at this moment. He looks like a seventeen year-old boy sitting in a quarter-inch of snow, slowly soaking through his denims, lifting his head to reveal red-rimmed eyes and damp cheeks. Dream refuses to let the sight stir his heart to pity. He refuses.

"What do you want?" he repeats, and Hob scrambles to his feet, slipping and sliding in frost. He is holding some sort of bundle in one hand, Dream realizes -- in the dark, where it had lain beside him, it had not been obvious. Is still not obvious, but is now undeniably there.

"To apologize," Hob says, and Dream narrows his eyes.

"I am not interested. In your apologies. I do not need you, Hob. I do not need friends. I certainly do not need friends like you, and furthermore --"

"Dream will you just shut up for five seconds? For five bloody seconds while I try to explain?"

Dream shuts his mouth. Inhales, deeply, as his therapist has taught him, and counts to ten. Exhales slowly.

"I am listening," he says. Fury and desire trembling in his breast, vying for control of his heart.

Hob, also, is breathing deeply. There are high spots of color upon his cheeks, and his eyes shine with intensity, and not only wavering tears.

"I'm lonely, too," he says, and Dream holds on to the windowsill. As though by doing so he might prevent himself from flying apart. His knuckles, already pale, turn tea rose pink, and then bloodless white beneath the pressure. "If you'd have let me finish before storming off like a prick, I could've told you that I'm lonely, too. And, and the only time I'm not lonely is when I'm with you. Every room that you aren't in feels empty. The house feels empty. All I want, every minute of every sodding day, is to be right next to you, whatever you're doing, whether you're studying or reading or writing, or, or watching birds. I'd watch birds with you for hours, Dream. I'd pick that over footie, or porn, or..."

"Charming," Dream says. Feels the frost that wafts along the winter night against his neck, and feels the heat blooming under his skin all the same, warding it away. Hob pushes his hand back through his hair, messing it thoroughly, giving him a rakish and dangerous silhouette that makes Dream's heart beat uncomfortably loudly in his ears.

"I'm serious, Dream. I don't. I'm not good with words, the way you are. But I know what I feel, all right? And what I'm trying to say is that I love you. I love you, you dense prick, I'm in love with you, I'm fucking mad with it and if you want me to climb Nelson's Column and shout it from the top I'll fucking do it!"

"Please do not risk legal action for my sake," Dream says. His heart, already rabbit-fast, has elevated itself to speeds normally reserved for jets. It soars in wild loops through the spaces between his ribs. He feels as though he is flying. He feels as though he is going to start hyperventilating. Hob gazes up at him from the lawn, the snow a blanket of cream-white tulle that he scuffs with the tips of his Docs, rucking it up like a sleeper's blanket until Dream can see the still faintly-green grass beneath. The seat of his denims is soaked through, and his hair is a wild bird's nest, and his nose is red, and blotchy, and in the winter silence Dream can hear his stuffy breathing. He sounds as though he is trying to inhale jello through a straw.

"Give me. Five minutes," he says, and Hob nods, and rubs his nose against his sleeve. Disgusting. Foolish. Stupid.

Dream fetches his jacket from the back of his desk chair, slips on his Uggs without bothering with socks, and stuffs a scarf and some gloves into his pockets before he creeps downstairs. The night is blessed: Del has returned to her room, and neither his mother nor father are up. Not even Desire, who seems to sense gossip in the way that homing pigeons can orient themselves towards their nests, is awake. Dream deactivates the alarm on the door to the kitchen and steals outside, into the frigid night.

Hob is there, waiting for him. He has left a shuffling trail of disturbed snow in his wake, and is not dressed at all for the weather, with only his customary jean jacket as any protection. His breath puffs into the darkness in clouds of frost-ringed fairy floss, and the tears on his cheeks glisten like they, too, might turn to ice. When Dream nears, he thrusts out the bundle that he has been cradling. Up close, it resolves into a carefully-wrapped conical shape, swaddled in layers of silver and blue tissue paper.

"Didn't want it to get wet," Hob mutters. The red at his cheeks has spread downward, inching along his neck. Dream takes the bundle, and carefully peels its thin exoskeleton back.

"Oh," he says. Hob scuffs his boots into the snow.

"The lady at the shop thought I was mental," he mutters. "Said nobody pays attention to flower meanings anymore and it was going to be the ugliest bouquet, and I said he cares, and if I get him something as prosaic as roses he'll spit in my face."

"I would never," Dream says, momentarily distracted from the beauty of the bouquet in his hands.

"Yeah, but you'd want to."

Dream huffs, and his own breath joins Hob's, mingling clouds of crystalline vapor. He strokes his fingers through the flowers, all bundled and tight within their wrapping. "Heliotrope," he says softly, "for undying love. Forget-me-not, for faithfulness. Aster?"

"Yeah, she said it stood for patience. 'Cause I will be. I'll wait for you, as long as you need me to. If you need me to wait 'til you come back from uni, or until we're both eighteen or twenty or thirty, or..."

"Hob," he says, and Hob stops, his teeth chattering gently. At some point within the last minute their eyes have caught, and Dream cannot look away. Hob's eyes are honey, thick and sweet and gleaming with inner light, and Dream digs haphazardly into his pocket. Retrieves his scarf, and holds it out.

"You are freezing," he says, and Hob starts.

"I'm fine."

"Do not be dense. Put on the scarf."

There's a quick flash of a smile, just enough to show a hint of teeth, white and gently crooked, and Hob takes the scarf without further protest. He winds it around his neck, and buries his nose into the dense cashmere, inhaling. Dream's heart kicks like a startled mule, and the heat in his skin travels downwards. He keeps his hand extended, and Hob, his fingers buried in the scarf, looks at him quizzically.

"I have heard it is impolite to keep one's boyfriend waiting," he says, and the smile, which before had been only a hint, blooms spectacular and free across his face. "Walk with me."

"Anywhere you want," Hob says, and, fingers warmed from the huff of his own breath, tucks his hand into Dream's.

[garden-ghoul]

Happy Gushiwensday Shabbes! Tonight we have two weeks' worth of poem for you, the hefty "Changping Arrowhead Song" of Li He!

The artist's brush paints the Redwater sands in ash and powdered bone while the murky old blood in the soil seeds copper flowers. The gleaming gold white-feathered shafts are long eaten away by the rain and my search finds only broken wolf's teeth still standing upright in the ground. I search the field so long my horse is exhausted; I must ride the other east from the relay station, over rocky fields, to the old wall drowned under wormwood. The wind is ceaseless, the sun's warmth brief, and the stars are dull. Black flags of wet cloud hang in the air and render day night. Souls on one side, spirits on the other, wailing from mouths of wasted flesh--- I promise them an offering of fermented milk and roast mutton when I'm done. For now I search: a wild goose writhing with worms, blighted reeds and bamboo shoots. The wind rises to see off its visitor and my little fire gutters in fear. An ocean overflows my eyes. I search, and find a snapped-off arrowhead. The fractured point is crazed with red, that once cut clean through flesh. A child comes riding south along the old east wall of the city telling me to change my gold for a bamboo shaft.

Plenty of notes and original text under the cut.

长平箭头歌

漆灰骨末丹水沙，凄凄古血生铜花。 白翎金竿雨中尽，直余三脊残狼牙。 我寻平原乘两马，驿东石田蒿坞下。 风长日短星萧萧，黑旗云湿悬空夜。 左魂右魄啼肌瘦，酪瓶倒尽将羊炙。 虫栖雁病芦笋红，回风送客吹阴火。 访古丸澜收断镞，折锋赤璺曾刲肉。 南陌东城马上儿，劝我将金换簝竹。

This one was kind of a lot! As with a lot of Li He's work I prioritized atmosphere, and taking a little longer to finish it let me also do some stuff with nonliteral translations + consonance and mouthfeel. I also did some maybe slightly awkward stuff to ensure that I could get the word "search" in every pair of stanzas to kind of underline that the poet is here aaaaall day long. Here are my notes.

The artist's brush --- this first line has a LOT of words that suggest paint or pigment! 漆 paint 灰 ash or lime 末 powder 丹 cinnabar and 沙 powder again (sand in this case). To me it suggested mixing pigments on a palette, except the pigments are poison ash and bone dust.

Redwater --- it's just called the Cinnabar River (in Shanxi), but I thought "Redwater sands" sounded very nice.

broken wolf's teeth --- Li He goes into more detail about why they're like wolf's teeth; they're serrated! The literal line is a fairly dry description of arrowhead morphology.

drowned under wormwood --- it doesn't say "drowned under" it just says there's wormwood/mugwort growing there, but its habit seems drownsome and I'm goth.

and render day night --- arguably it just says "in the night air" but when I thought about it it didn't make a ton of sense that he would be looking for relics on the battlefield at night so I decided it's a very overcast day.

Souls... spirits --- 魂 is an immortal soul and 魄 is a mortal soul. I'm not an expert on the distinction but it sounds pretty gnarly on the ghost plane around here.

I promise them an offering --- it's not outright stated but heavily implied that this is a food offering for the emaciated dead who haven't received offerings in centuries because their bodies weren't recovered by family.

my little fire gutters in fear --- I'm not super sure about this one. It literally says 吹阴火 blow yin fire, and I don't know how to interpret "yin" here. Laurence had yin fire as "ghost fire" which is cool. I'm playing more in the space of yin as darkness or diminishing, but not in a way that's, like, grammatical.

An ocean overflows my eyes --- 丸澜 is a fun idiom for crying, consisting of 丸 round things [tears] and 澜 swelling water.

crazed with red --- this one puzzles me. We think it's more likely the arrowheads are bronze (maybe the 'copper flowers' mentioned above), not steel, so they wouldn't be rusting, and the red is 璺 cracks, not just dried blood. Maybe blood that has the appearance of cracks? I chose a somewhat nonliteral word for this reason.

change my gold --- otherwise known as "buying." I think the reason he didn't just say "buy" was probably metrical, but I feel like the exchange is kind of striking and wanted to draw attention to it; it has something to say about tourism, the commodification of emotion. It's a pretty striking end for this poem wherein the poet has spent hours listlessly haunting the battlefield with the rest of the ghosts, weeping, and now a kid is trying to sell him souvenirs.

bamboo shaft --- there's some debate about the identity of the souvenirs: are they arrowshafts, or are they offering plates for temple sacrifices of meat? I chose to go with arrowshafts because it feels more... kitschy and pointless.

[honourablejester]

Thoughts on Druids in Urban Environments

“Purple lichens grow on the bare, blasted rocks of frozen tundras. Fish swim in lightless depths that have never seen the sun. Life grows, and should be encouraged to grow, everywhere. This manufactured landscape is no different.”

“Do you think we have no place here? We are the rats in your walls and the starlings in your eaves and the rain in your gutters. Did you think you could just build a wall and keep nature itself out?”

“Beavers build dams, dragons build lairs, and mortals build cities. It is the way of things. To every creature their dwelling. But all dwellings are fragile, all dwell at the mercy of the forces that surround them. The cities, no less than any other habitat, require guidance and sheltering. And, occasionally, clearing.”

So I’ve been noodling around these sorts of thoughts previously with my homebrew urban druid subclass and thoughts on a green dragon trying to greenify a city. I just really enjoy urban fantasy, in the literal sense of fantasy in urban environments, as well as the noir-influenced genre sense. You can see this in stories like Cityside Fairytale, the idea of nature spirits interacting with the city. I grew up in a river town, you don’t get to avoid nature just because you live in an urban environment.

So. I like the idea of D&D druids being integrated even in the more urban areas of their worlds. Not even as specialist urban druids, but just in general. Quite a few of a baseline druid’s abilities and spells fit very well into a city environment, and some of them have very interesting worldbuilding implications if you tease them out the right way. Heh.

I’m going to be talking about this mostly from a worldbuilding, DM, NPC sort of direction, but there’s maybe inspiration here for player characters as well. Just. Some thoughts, character concepts,  worldbuilding ideas:

Spymaster

Well. Spymasters, spies, city watch, urban infiltrators. Because three things. Wildshape. Speak with Animals. Pass Without Trace. This is a city. Every rat, sparrow, rook and crow are now your eyes and ears. Or you. You can go almost anywhere. You can see almost anything. Magics like nondetection that protect against divination don’t do shit against the 2 million beady eyes watching people come and go. A druid spymaster in a city milieu would nearly be terrifying. Small wildlife is everywhere. And, yes, a druid can only take one shape at a time, and only talk to so many creatures. But the paranoia fuel is exceptional, just from the idea. A druid that’s strategic about it, that has creatures they regularly talk to watching particular hotspots, could cover a lot of a city. A network of druids, a whole spy network, could cover … a lot.

Just. Picture a city, in your world, where the rats are always watching. Sorry. The Pied Piper of Hamelin is one of my favourite fairytales. The rats and the city, and the magic figure at the heart of it. A druid spymaster, a small, grubby figure behind the throne, their eyes and ears spread chittering out across the city. In the gutters, in the streets. Behind the skirting boards. Under your bed. In your eaves, eavesdropping. There are ten rats for every person in the city, and they can talk to all of them. The bats, the starlings, the sparrows too.

And on a smaller scale, this does work for things like investigators, spies, criminal gangs. You’re a city watchman and almost none of your informants are humanoid. You’re a thief who can climb up any drainpipe, hide behind the skirting boards, pull a cloak of shadows around yourself and blend into the brickwork. Why a druid? Because the rats taught you. The shadows hide you. You’re one with the world around you, this habitat build by animals who think they’re smarter than maybe they really are. Dirt, nature, gets everywhere. You thought it was a good lesson to learn.

Beggar Lord/Street Gang/Urchin Leader

Again, inspired mostly by a single spell. Goodberry. Imagine Goodberry in an urban slum. Imagine the implications of being able to feed someone for a day on one berry.

Imagine trading favours on it.

Swing it for good or ill. Feeding the hungry, or extorting them. But a druid has a lot to offer in densely packed, poverty stricken areas. Food and water from the area. Purifying water. Healing. Granted, a cleric has a lot of the same merits. But Goodberry. Goodberry in particular. As I mentioned with Ylin Dos, my villainous druid, it’s such a fascinating spell for implications. You can give a street kid a berry that’ll feed them for a day. What do you charge them for it? (Might link back up to spymaster, above, there).

It can be villainous, extortion. But there’s also room for camaraderie. Support. Beggar networks. If they want to starve us out, we’ll bloom to spite them. If they want to deny us everything, we’ll just make it. Druids have such a theme of growth and survival, and that’s interesting in a city. Weeds growing where they’re not wanted, not supposed to be, and thriving despite anyone’s best efforts. There’s a sort of a theme of urban anarchy and urban support there. You can’t keep nature out. You can’t decide what you want to grow where. Weeds get in. Weeds are supposed to get in. The only thing ‘weed’ means is a plant where you don’t want it to be, but you’re not the only one who gets to decide that. Put some urban druids down at the bottom of urban society, in the cracks in the pavement. People are starving, but nature provides. Even when it isn’t wanted to.

(Seriously, on a worldbuilding level, druids have so many spells that are interesting in urban environments. Purify food and drink. Create or destroy water. Protection from Poison. Lesser Restoration. Detect poison and disease. Think about things like cholera epidemics. Sewage. River water. If you’re in a highly urbanised fantasy world, an extremely developed magical society, city health inspectors. Your entire health department could be druids. Huge chunks of your civic planning departments. Magical CDC. There’s so many options …)

Harbour Master/Dock Master/River Master

This does go back to Carla James in Cityside Fairytale for me, but the epitome of a high-ranking civic position for a druid in a city is Harbour Master, River Master, something similar. Because cities run on rivers, harbours, water, trade. Access to water is a primary consideration for a city, and usually one of the defining factors that determine where they locate and grow. How many of our worlds cities are defined by their relationship to their waterways? And the river giveth, but the river also taketh away. It gives trade, water, access, control, and it costs lives, damage, a steady force eating at the base of everything you build. Water moves, water flows, water floods, water erodes. Cities sink slowly into their lagoons, silt clogs the harbours, waves flood the levees and drown districts whole. Whoever controls the water, in some very real ways, controls the city.

And what class, in D&D, controls the water more?

If you want to give a druid an office in a city. If you want them to be a fundamental, powerful city figure, an overt power in their own right. Harbour Master. River Master. A high ranking, powerful magic user. And, underneath them, whole departments, organisations. (Circles). They protect the city from floods, from waves, from erosion. They direct the currents that guide trade. They defend the harbour from foreign ships. Your ship tries to sneak in or out? Control Water is bringing it right back. They patrol the harbour, the docks. Your water police, your city watch, your river patrol. Some of them can walk on water. Some of them can pretend to be seagulls. Some of them can pick your whole damn smuggler ship up and sit it on the dock next to the Harbour Master’s office.

And, to go back up to the previous point, do consider sewage. Sewers. Cholera epidemics. Flood defenses. Sea defenses. Buried rivers. Storm drains. Consider harbour dredging. Large scale water purification (perhaps even water purification festivals). Cisterns and water storage. Aqueducts, aquifers. Enough drinking water to support the population of a city, where is it brought from, how is it brought, how is stored, how is it accessed? Cities are built around water. As well as, often, in defiance of it. Which can create a certain tension.

Consider the relationship between the river, the city, and the sea. And, thus, between the druids and the government. Cities are fragile, especially when set against raw elemental might. How much power does this River Master hold, and how happy are people about it? How happy are they about it? How they view the city, how does the city view them?

Honestly, you see all these fantasy cities with powerful wizards, because intellect and magic and construction, but you could do so much with a city druid. A city official, in their brown-and-silver robes, their gull-shaped badge of office fixed to their shoulder. Several of them, even. The Harbour Master, the River Master, the Sewer Master. The River Patrol, the City Health Department. And, yes, the Spymaster. Druids are considered the antithesis of the city, the forces of the wilderness in stark contrast to the artifice and civilisation of the city, but honestly druids could run a city. They could keep it alive, keep it afloat. A habitat as delicate as any other, a challenge as harsh as any other.

Nature doesn’t stop at the wall, no matter how much we like to pretend. Maybe druids shouldn’t either. I don’t know, I just really like the idea of urban druids. I like the worldbuilding potential of so many of a druid’s abilities and spells. I like how they meld and contrast with an urban environment. In some ways, a city only gives a druid advantages. Narrow streets and alleyways, for a class that excel at area of effect. A fragile, artificial environment, in the hands of a class that wields raw elemental wrath. A city full of eyes and ears, packed solid with bodies, for a class that can change shape, and that deals with poison and healing in equal measure.

And there’s thematic push and pull too. Weeds in the cracks. Power and protection. Stealth and solidarity. How much is the habitat worth protecting at the cost of everything around it? Did you think you could keep us out? The river giveth and the river taketh away.

I like it. I like the ideas of it. If you have nature magic in a world, it will exist everywhere, not just the most obviously thematically appropriate places. If people exist who can speak to animals, who can control water, who can cast Spike Growth in the middle of urban warfare and decimate an enemy gang unfortunately crammed into the same alley … Well. Then chances are someone will think to do just those things. Some druid somewhere will walk into a city, to see what it’s like if nothing else. Some urchin somewhere will make a connection to the rats, or the water under the stone, or the scrubby weeds that stubbornly push through the cracks and refuse to die, just like them. So. Why shouldn’t a city have as many druids as anywhere else?

The weeds get everywhere. And the water wears away the stone.

[periofthesea]

Home is Where you are

(This is a short little fic that I had posted on ao3 but I thought I'd share it here as well <3)

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Sunday morning. In the midst of May, the beginning of summer where the days slowly get longer and the sun bores down from a clear blue sky. This particular Sunday, however, was different. Flat gray clouds covered the sky, rain pattered on windows and flooded rain gutters. The howling wind shook the trees and branches beat to an invisible melody against the walls of houses. It was the perfect setting to be inside a warm home, blanketed under layers of warm blankets, and to do nothing but enjoy the sound of the rain.

Inside of a stylish condo in the city, on the tenth floor with a generous view of the city lights at night, Syren lay trapped beneath the warm, solid arm of a lover. Slowly, consciousness returned to her, as she became aware of her surroundings. She was in their shared bedroom, Toaster had hogged most of the fuzzy blankets, leaving Syren with only the main duvet coiled around her legs. Their floor was littered in old clothes they’d discarded from the night before.. And the night before that, not that either were slobs but sometimes after a long day of work the two were too exhausted to care. Normally, on Sunday’s the two decided to work together to clean the entire house. It was a little routine they’d developed together after Syren agreed to move in with them. Blinking away the sleep, Syren scanned the rest of the room. The interior design was a perfect blend of both of their personalities, on the shelf were little 3D printed figurines of Toaster’s characters, as well as a few of her own that he made for her. An assortment of crystals lined the shelf, and on the dresser Syren stored her ever growing candle collection right beside the two stuffed animals that she bought for the two of them, each with their own respective stuffed laptops and headphones. The closet was filled with clothes, mixed and tossed together. It wasn’t so unusual that Syren would pick out one of Toaster’s shirts to wear, and on occasion Syren spotted them sporting one of her long skirts. Of course, everything that fit on Toaster practically drowned Syren and everything that was long for her was considered short - but somehow the two of them made it work. 

The thought brought a smile to Syren’s lips as she twisted in her position to glance at Toaster who was nestled in the left side of her shoulder. Her arm laid beneath their neck, so it wasn’t difficult for her to reach up and thread her fingers through his hair. The practiced motion was almost a natural instinct by now. Whenever the two sat together her hand would find its way to their scalp, and he would practically melt into her arms. She never thought that he’d take such a liking to it, when they first met, she mentioned briefly that she was originally drawn to his hair and wanted to braid it. She also mentioned how she leaned toward physical touch, and despite turning bright red whenever she reached out for him, he also pouted whenever she didn’t. Syren couldn’t stop the flutter in her chest from the image. When they would sit next to each other on the couch, watching a movie or doing something relaxing, he would always do little subtle movements that indicated he wanted her to play with their hair, but he would never ask for it. It wasn’t really subtle at all, but sometimes she pretended not to notice, just so she could see the adorable pout on his face when he realized she was toying with them. She always caved though. They were almost spoiled with it, with how often he wanted her to braid his hair. She loved it though. She would spoil him for the rest of her life, if he wanted.

A soft whine drew her attention back to reality, and through her prereferral vision, Syren saw Toaster crack open his eyes, and lean into her touch. Immediately, there was a giddy smile on her lips at seeing how pretty they looked first thing in the morning. She still couldn’t wrap her head around how lucky she was to be laying beside them, and how they were seeing each other, instead of just through a computer screen.

“Morning,” Syren said quietly, running her nails down the middle part of his scalp.

A soft groan was her response, as Toaster pushed his face deeper into her neck- the ticklish sensation making her giggle.

Suddenly curious, Syren leaned up from where she was laying to scan for her phone. She spotted it amidst the mess of blankets and reached for it. She must have forgotten to plug it in last night. The bright screen lit her face and she physically recoiled from the burn in her eyes. Turning down the brightness, Syren looked at the time. “It’s already noon,” she groaned, tossing the phone aside and laying back down, her hand still tangled in Toaster’s hair.

“Ugh, already?” Toaster asked, and Syren had to keep the flip in her stomach contained at their morning voice.

“Mhm,” She replied, pulling him closer to her chest, and he responded in kind, wrapping both arms around her and intertwining her legs. 

“Did you sleep okay?” He asked, “Sorry I got to bed late last night, the raid went on pretty long.”

Syren chuckled, to this day she still hadn’t managed to get too excited about fourteen, it wasn’t her type of game style but for him she would try . Plus, he was adorable whenever he got excited about it. Running her fingers down the backside of his neck she hummed. “It’s okay. I was out like a light so I didn’t even notice.”

A quiet sigh escaped them as she ran her fingers in small circles behind his ear, and it took all of her willpower not to squeal at how adorable he was. So easy to fluster, his blush was the prettiest thing about them… Besides from his voice. 

Looking out the window which was fogged from the rainstorm, she sighed. Syren loved the rain more than anything, and was excited that the sun had finally taken a break and she could enjoy the dark and cold. “Ugh,” she suddenly remembered. “Don’t we have to be somewhere today?”

Toaster groaned and held onto her a little tighter, without realizing she leaned down and kissed the top of his head- relishing the way their breath hitched. “M-My business partner invited us out.” He stammered, and Syren felt a slow grin overtake her face but decided not to tease him any further.

“How much do we like this partner?” She asked lightheartedly, only half joking. Toaster groaned again. “We should go.” “We should.” Syren agreed.

A slight pause. The only sound that could be heard was the patter of the rain against the window, and the muffled sound of cars on the street.

Slowly, Toaster raised their head and Syren looked into their clear blue eyes decorated by long, pretty lashes. They stared at each other, having a conversation only they could understand through their eyes. Syren could read his words loud and clear.

Let’s stay home .

Relief flooded through her entire body, leaning forward she planted a soft kiss on the bridge of his nose, then on his mouth. When she pulled away, his face was bright red, but his eyes were soft and a small, a lovestruck smile grew as he watched her lovingly. Biting her bottom lip, Syren marveled at how well they understood each other, and how deeply she loved them. 

“How does a home cooked brunch sound?” She asked quietly, and he laughed softly, the sound that rivaled the beauty of the sun, the stars, and every astral body combined. “Perfect.” He said, and Syren leaned in to kiss him again. He kissed back, his hands slowly rising to lay on her arms. It was short, and soft, but loving. She could feel the flutter of his lashes against her cheek, it was moments like these that she wanted to engrain in her memory.

“I guess we should get up then,” she said, their faces still close together, lips barely touching and his warm breath on her mouth. She didn’t even care that they had just woken up. “Mhm,” he hummed quietly, leaning in for another kiss. Laughing softly, Syren wrapped her fingers around the back of his neck, and kissed back. 

Breakfast could wait just a little longer.

--------------

[raven-ette]

Going Dark Prologue { DaminetteDarkRomance }

includes violence, graphic topics, strong language, and mature scenes

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That night it rained in a cold and heavy shadow. The ground was slippery and wet from the bad weather and everything was far from okay. The Parisians had a look of mourning and everywhere you went black curtains were drawn in every building with a slight hit of green. To everyone else from the outside, it looked like the city of pairs had gone insane. 

The city wasn't nearly as beautiful and full of light as the world of the outside had perceived it to be. Not now at least. It was filled with gutter and sadness. The clouds had been drawn together for days now and the sun seemed to have shied away as well. Raining nights and horrible windy days seemed to be the norm now, and the Parisian charm seemed to be missing from every person you passed by. But today of all days seemed to hit the worst out of the rest of the week that had past. 

To the people of pairs, this was a day that held more than one meaning. More regrets than one, and support and love shown in every corner despise the gloomy atmosphere. This day held happiness and freedom from a feeling of capture that every Parisian had been feeling for years. But it also held sadness about what came with the freedom that they were finally able to enjoy. 

Two giant statues held together by a single point of touch were seen in the middle of a huge park. The statues of ladybug and Chat Noir, the two famous Parisian heroes. The statue was made two years before the defeat of Hawk Moth. In a time where Hawm Moth seemed winning when he took all of the miraculous. This was an idea very popularize that the people wanted, their way to show their love and support for their heroes even with the struggle they were going through. 

It was a realistic statue of both heroes, who had posed for it years before the idea even came to light. It united in the middle where they held their famous 'pound it' with a fist pump. A common phrase that many Parisians recognized since it was a phrase their heroes would do after they defeated their current akumatized villain. 

However, this time around the chat noir side gathered the majority of Paris inhabits. Having watched and heard the news of the fallen hero, many took the time to mourn over the loss of their protector. In front of the fallen heroes' side held a sign on a silver platter. 

Chat Noir, 

the beloved hero of Paris 

Below held a small description of the hero. It started with his believed age which was about over a thousand years old. Then went to say his hair and eye color. His abilities, miraculous, signature power, and his famous weaponry of choice. After they talked about his personality and how he loved to interact with his fans and people in pairs on the daily. As well as his jokester personality and friendly nature. He was a people person and fought greatly when it came to protecting his city. 

They also mention his unmatched love for his lady. Ladybug who was his long-lasting partner and best friend. It mentioned how the two of them held an unmatched love and connection for each other that was so strong nothing was able to get in between them. They also predicted that they were in fact together even with them both denying otherwise. 

After it went on to talk about his great accomplishments as a hero. The number one was being able to finally defeat Hawk Moth but at the cost of his life. It doesn't say how he died or how it happen, mostly due to the fact that many already knew. Not to mention that Ladybug personality asked the city to not put that specific information on there as well. 

On the very bottom read 

friend-son- boyfriend-

As people passed by and dropped flowers and various gifts on his honored platter, you could see the tear-staining look on many people's faces. Most of these people had maybe spoken to him once or even not at all, but all of Paris still felt the pain as if they had lost a loved one. He was a Parisian and their protected and he had died protecting them from a great evil. That was something every Parisian was thankful for and would never forget. 

In the very back, in the corner closest to the ladybug statue held a group of close nit friends and classmates. Some talked lively to each other and others just stayed quiet as they enjoyed the rainy day. However, if you looked closer you could see very sad and stone-cold looks on four people sitting down against one of ladybugs legs. 

Two held hands. The brunette girl holding her boyfriend in a hugging position, the guy looked like he wanted to cry but couldn't.  On the other end was a blond and raven-haired girl. The blond held onto the raven-haired girl the tightest she could. Talking quietly and smoothly, telling her everything was going to be alright. The raven-haired girl looked in physical and endless pain. 

she looked horrible and although she looked presentable she looked like she was a living vampire. Pale and shaking abnormally it looked like she was in the middle of a panic attack, however, that wasn't the case since she was just coming out of one. Out of everything that happened that morning, the only thing she managed to do by herself was shower and brush her teeth. 

Even if she couldn't she knew Chole would have done it for her if she saw she couldn't. She had done everything to get her ready for the funeral that day. She had spent all her time surrounded mostly by Chole and Alya lately, although Chole most. She was currently living with her, since she claimed she needed the company and she would not allow her to be alone right now. Alya would visit occasionally but Nino was in horrible shape and needed to be there for him as well. 

While getting dragged and transported to the funeral, Chole and Marianne would rarely talked to each other. Mari had totally close herself out, too in shock. Right now Chole was mostly distracting herself from crying by taking care of someone she had grown to be closer to. Mari was in worst shape than anyone else, and like the hero she was she refused help at first. She had grown to know her and found that forcing her way to help her was the best method. 

She had done everything from getting her food and forcing her to eat at least half to picking her clothes and also forcing her to get dressed as well as shower. Everything has completely switched between the two girls. Mere years ago they were enemies and hates each other's guts, then they were friend-enemies and now they simply were closer to the found family side of things. 

Right about now all that Mari wished was to be able to go back to Chole's room a pass out in her bed under her expensive covers. They were the softest and warmest she had ever felt in her entire life, she wished she could stay there and asleep forever. She knew Chole would never allow her that, giving her one thing or another to do thought-out the day. By the end of her endless tasks of the day it would already be midnight or close to it.

By then they had to go out and patrol the city before coming back at one and falling asleep. She didn't complain because whether she realized it or not she appreciated Chole helping her this way. If she stayed put doing nothing, she stayed thinking and repeating everything in her mind. Right now everything that went through her head was chat noir and only chat. Blaming herself for his dead or even reliving the day he died. Over and over again in her head on repeat until she got a raging headache.

Sometimes she even woke up from nightmares of that night. Of everything that went wrong and happened that day. Or even memories of their times together. Those were nice to remember but at some point, she woke up scared out of her mind when the nice ones turned evil and wicked. They would always end with him saying it was her fault or that she could have done something to save him. Even saying she failed as a guardian.

She knew it wasn't true, deep down she knew. Chat would never say that to her, nor blame her ever for his death. He would have said something cheesy like he would have rather it was him than his lady. Or that it was destiny. she used to believe in it, but now she doubted what destiny meant without him. She could even hear him say that it wasn't her fault, that it was okay. She tried and that was what mattered, that he was proud of her finally defeating Hawk Moth in the end even if it meant his own death.

It was a blur. In the days after his death, after his funeral. Everything was blurring up together, she didn't even know what day or month it was anymore. She thought about things, about how she could move on being the guardian without her chat noir. Nothing would ever feel the same, ever. 

"I think I'm going to leave" She had said weeks later on the edge of the Eiffel Tower.  Chole was sitting next to her. They were enjoying the night sky, one thing they shared in common is their love of views and they agreed that this one was one yet to be beaten.  Since then they had come here after their patrol to enjoy the view and each other's company if they felt up to it. Today was one of those days.

"ummm? what do you mean Marinette?" She asked steadily. This was the first in a while that she had talked and started a conversation instead of answering questions. Even then it was short-ended response like a yes, no, maybe, okay, yea, etc.  

"I think I want to leave Paris"

"Now or later" 

"Soon, maybe after we graduate. I just don't think I would be able to live in pairs my whole life knowing he's not here with us" She said the mere mention of was a struggle for her. 

Silence followed soon after. It was like both were trying to understand what was just said moments before. Chole was thinking, thinking long and hard about what she would ask next. 

"Where would you go?" 

"As Mariette maybe somewhere in America, there seems to be a lot of hype about California and LA. " 

"I like New York or Gathom City better."

"What?" 

"I'll go with you and before you say anything I have always planned on traveling the world one day. This gives me a chance to do so, and you're a famous fashion icon now. you might as well take advantage of that and spread your iconic-ness around the world too and travel. "

"How do even know I would even be able to do that." 

"Mari I've never said this before because we used to hate each other but you are the most fashionable and clever person I have met. Your designs are to die for, and coming from someone who could quite literally come from a family of fashion you are the best. My mother even thinks so. You will make it" 

"Thanks, Chole, what about you?" 

"Well apart from being a famous Bee, journalist doesn't sound too bad" 

"So after graduation?"

"After graduation" 

Both of them smiled that day. The biggest smiles they have smiled since his passing. That year had a lot of twists and turns. Although they had lost a very important person and part of themselves they had gained each other in the process. No one knew the truth about Adrien and Gabriel Agreste. 

The Bonjoir family made sure to cover it and only a select few knew the truth behind it. Including only the people apart of the Hawk Moth ordeal. Everyone had to agree the whole thing was a very traumatizing thing for such young kids. A group of kids were able to defeat and save a city, no older than 15. Adrien was said to transfer to study abroad and pursue a career in movie directing and script writing of his own, his dad left Paris for good not being able to keep it together without his son. Instead went to England and spend time in the city his wife was from.

Whatever the case, all the miraculous holders now knew one truth good that came from this.

Adrien was able to be finally with his mother again, and he forever would be happy and at peace with her by his side. That was the only thing all of them could truly smile about. 

__________

Thank you for reading, will have the next part as soon as I can. This is just a nice and short prologue so you guys can see why she left with Chole. My spelling might be off on a few names and things but I just really just wanted to get this out. If you want to correct it I would appreciate it so I can edit it when I come back but on my Wattpad would be a lot easier.

This is also an idea I got from a user on here. I will link them in the comments after since she wanted someone to write this story idea. Hopefully, you see it, I'm so excited to write this, and thanks for giving me the idea I really needed a distraction right now. Hopefully, it's to your satisfaction.

[earlgaylatte]

This Is Not a Poem-

This is not a poem/ But attempt to be as good as you can be./ Walking a mile in the rain until your hair smells of it./ Trying to wash the yearning off of you./ Like it's something you could repent for./ Or that the monsoon raging outdoors isn't impartial to your exsistence./ You don't have to be good./ You don't have to fill every hollow of your body with thunder to be made/ meaningful./ So there is a grief inside of you/ Like a storm seeking a full life./ You're waiting for the lights of this city to go green,/ Sleeves soaked in gutter water from the tidal waves outside./ Eventually, the sun will rise on your face,/ And the ghosts you carry like penance will bask in the warmth./ But for now,/ The pertrichor on your jacket feels like a diagnosis./ And the sound of rain hitting your umbrella is enough to believe,/ Momentarily,/ That the phantoms are gone.

[maxparkhurst]

Job

Send a word and I will write a drabble or headcanon based on it

His calloused fingers brushed against her palm, and she became acutely aware of her surroundings at that moment.

The streets were dark and slick. Empty save for the echoes of drunkards and alley cats. The storm drains whispered secrets to the rain. They spoke of channels surging beneath the city, carrying long-forgotten woes and fermented regrets out to sea. She could smell it, the pungent sweetness wafting from the gutters. The scent clung to everything. To her hair plastered on her cheeks. To the damp cloak that pressed on her shoulders. To her fingers, her eyes, and her soul. As she watched the vials disappear into the man’s pocket, she knew. When she looked up at him, catching a glimpse of the angry blisters crawling along his neck, she understood. And as their eyes met, her myopic gaze and his shifting eyes, she accepted this new truth. Never could she wash this scent away.

The vagrant stood hunched. Suspended in time as his beady eyes shifted: Up and down, up and down, up and down. Then, a blackened-gummed smile crossed his lips. And as he leaned in close, Max became suddenly aware of herself.

A chill lingered at the tip of her spine, waiting as her heart skipped to an offbeat tune. Her breath escaped in short hiccups. And her clammy hand palmed for the knife sheathed on her hip. Max stepped back into the lamp post’s waning light. She knew the flame inside was hungry by how it gnawed at the shadows. The fire would not last until dawn.

“Thank you, sweetheart.”

The heat of his breath remained long after he shambled away, vanishing into the mist. In his absence was a hefty coin pouch in one hand and her stiletto dagger clutched in the other. There, Max remained. Quiet and still. She was aware of the rain, of herself, and everything in between.

Then, Max heard the faint knock of a cane against the cobblestone. He appeared in her peripheral as if manifested from the dark itself. Dressed in his heavy coat soaked with the scent of bittern ash and earthly residue, Master Schultz came to stand beside her. She wordlessly passed over the coin pouch and stepped into his shadow. It suddenly became easier to breathe. Max hugged her stomach as she listened to him count under his breath. His voice was unlike the storm drains. Neither clear nor smooth. It was like the crackle of distant lightning. Low, coarse, but somehow bright.

“You did good, kiddo.”

She met Master Schultz's gaze and nodded. Then turned her attention to the flooded gutters. Her insides felt pungently sweet. “I don’t” - she remembered she possessed a voice of her own - “Feel like I’ve done good.”

There was a moment of silence. Deliberation, Max reasoned through the shift of his shadow. It grew darker. Dark enough for two. His question split the quiet in twain, “How do you feel?”

Max leaned into him. Clung to the scent of alchemical ash and the slick varnish of his leather coat. Would she smell like that one day? Would her shadow grow to be twice its size? And would the dark ever cleave to her as it did to him, he who was the hungry flame?

“Feel as though I’ve robbed several years from a man’s life.”

It was quick and unexpected. Gone so fast it made Max recoil. She turned to him with an incredulous furrow. Sure as the sun would rise, the evidence was there. Laughter remembered by way of a wane grin pulled at the edges of Schultz’s lips.

“Always with the waxing poetics.” Schultz shook his head with a sigh. He jingled the coins in their pouch. “S’ just a job.”

Thanks for the ask @nixalegos!

[pureblisscleanings-blog]

Housekeeping and the Florida Climate: Tips for Dade City Homes

Housekeeping and the Florida Climate: Tips for Dade City Homes

Living in Dade City, Florida, offers the charm of small-town life combined with the beauty of warm, year-round weather. However, Florida's unique climate—characterized by high humidity, frequent rainfall, and intense summer heat—can present special challenges when it comes to maintaining a clean, comfortable, and well-maintained home. From managing humidity to preventing mold and mildew, here are some housekeeping tips for Dade City homeowners to help keep their homes in top shape in Florida's climate.

1. Combat Humidity with Regular Ventilation

The humidity in Florida can reach uncomfortable levels, especially during the summer months. High humidity not only makes the air feel warmer but can also cause moisture to accumulate in your home, leading to musty odors and mold growth.

Tip: Use fans and air conditioners to circulate air, and open windows when possible to allow fresh air in. Consider installing exhaust fans in high-humidity areas like bathrooms, kitchens, and laundry rooms to keep moisture from building up. Investing in a dehumidifier can also help control indoor moisture levels and maintain a more comfortable living space.

2. Protect Against Mold and Mildew

Mold and mildew thrive in Florida’s warm, humid environment. These fungi can grow on a variety of surfaces, from walls and ceilings to carpets and furniture, leading to health problems and damaging your home's interior.

Tip: Regularly inspect areas prone to moisture, such as bathrooms, kitchens, and basements. Clean up any visible mold with a mixture of water and vinegar or specialized cleaning products. If mold is particularly persistent, it may be worth hiring a professional to assess and treat the issue. Also, ensure that your home has proper insulation and waterproofing to prevent water leaks and condensation.

3. Maintaining Floors: Preventing Dirt and Sand Build-Up

Given Florida’s mix of beach sand and rainfall, your floors can quickly accumulate dirt and debris. Whether you have hardwood, tile, or carpet, keeping floors clean is essential for maintaining the beauty of your home.

Tip: Place doormats both outside and inside each entrance to catch dirt and sand before it spreads throughout the house. Sweep or vacuum regularly, particularly in high-traffic areas, and clean up spills immediately to prevent stains. For tile and hardwood floors, mop weekly with a mild floor cleaner to keep them looking fresh.

4. Keep Pests at Bay

Florida's warm climate is also a haven for pests such as ants, termites, mosquitoes, and rodents. Pests not only pose health risks but can also damage your home and belongings.

Tip: Seal any cracks or gaps around doors, windows, and foundation walls to keep insects and rodents out. Regularly check your home for signs of pest infestation, particularly after heavy rains or during peak mosquito seasons. Consider using natural repellents or hiring pest control professionals for more extensive treatments.

5. Regular Roof and Gutter Maintenance

Florida’s heavy rains, especially during hurricane season, can cause water to accumulate on your roof or in your gutters. This can lead to water damage or the growth of mold and mildew if not properly addressed.

Tip: Regularly inspect your roof for loose or damaged shingles, and clean gutters to ensure that water can flow freely. Trim back any overhanging branches that might drop debris onto the roof. In Dade City, where severe storms are common, consider having a professional roof inspection before and after the rainy season to prevent leaks.

6. Protect Your Home’s Exterior

Florida’s intense sun and frequent storms can cause wear and tear on the exterior of your home. UV rays can fade paint, and stormy weather can damage siding, windows, and doors.

Tip: Repaint or reseal the exterior of your home every few years to protect against sun damage. Use UV-resistant paints and finishes to ensure your home looks vibrant for longer. If your home is exposed to heavy storms, consider installing storm shutters or impact-resistant windows to reduce the risk of damage.

7. Preventing Water Damage

Frequent rainstorms and occasional hurricanes can lead to flooding or leaks that might cause long-term damage to your home. Keeping your home dry is essential for protecting both its structure and your personal belongings.

Tip: Install sump pumps or French drains in areas prone to flooding. Ensure that all appliances, especially air conditioning units, are well-maintained to prevent water damage. Check the exterior of your home for signs of water infiltration and address any issues promptly.

8. Landscaping and Lawn Care

Florida's warm weather promotes lush, green lawns and gardens, but it can also encourage the growth of weeds and pests. Maintaining a well-kept lawn not only enhances your curb appeal but also helps to prevent pests and improve drainage around your home.

Tip: Mow your lawn regularly and keep shrubs trimmed back from the exterior of your home. In addition to regular watering, consider using a sprinkler system to avoid over-watering, which can create mud or attract mosquitoes. Mulching your flower beds can help retain moisture and reduce weed growth.

9. Air Quality Management

Given the high humidity and the potential for mold growth, air quality can sometimes suffer in Florida homes. This is especially true in places like Dade City, where pollen and allergens can also cause issues for those with respiratory sensitivities.

Tip: Change air conditioning filters regularly to improve indoor air quality and ensure efficient cooling. Consider using an air purifier to help remove allergens, dust, and other pollutants. If your home has a humidity problem, a dehumidifier will reduce excess moisture in the air, improving overall air quality and preventing health issues.

Conclusion

Maintaining a home in Dade City requires attention to the unique challenges posed by the Florida climate. By staying on top of humidity control, pest management, and regular maintenance, you can keep your home comfortable, clean, and in great shape year-round. Whether you’re protecting your investment or simply creating a healthier living space, these housekeeping tips will ensure your home thrives in the Florida climate.

Housekeeping Dade City

abliss@pureblisscleaning.com

Call: - +1 813 838 2810

[faircontractorsales]

Roofing Excellence Across Palm Beach County: Trusted Tips for Homeowners

Living in Palm Beach County means enjoying some of the most beautiful landscapes Florida has to offer, but it also means preparing for a range of weather conditions, from intense sun to tropical storms. At Fair Contractor Sales Roofing, we specialize in providing roofing services that cater to the unique needs of communities from Boca Raton to West Palm Beach and every town in between. Here’s how homeowners across Palm Beach County can ensure their roofs are in top shape year-round.

Tailored Roofing Care for Palm Beach County

Our approach to roofing in Palm Beach County is customized to meet the specific needs of each area, ensuring that whether you’re inland or along the coast, your roof is prepared for the local weather nuances.

1. Regular Maintenance Checks: A well-maintained roof is crucial, especially in areas prone to sudden weather shifts. Regular checks can help identify potential issues like tile damage, leaks, or wear and tear before they become major problems.

2. Gutter Maintenance: Keeping gutters clean is essential for protecting the structural integrity of your roof. Ensure that your gutters are free from debris to prevent water buildup, especially in areas like Jupiter and Loxahatchee where rain can accumulate quickly.

3. Professional Inspections: Schedule professional inspections at least once a year. This is particularly important in regions like Delray Beach and Boynton Beach, where salt air can accelerate roofing material degradation.

4. Storm Preparedness: For residents in storm-prone areas like Riviera Beach and Palm Beach Shores, preparing your roof for hurricane season is a must. This includes securing loose shingles, checking for proper sealing, and considering impact-resistant materials if a roof replacement is necessary.

5. Efficient Repairs: Addressing repairs promptly is key to maintaining roof integrity. Whether it’s a minor fix in Lake Worth or a major repair in Belle Glade, quick action can prevent further damage.

Why Invest in Regular Roof Care?

•Longevity: Regular maintenance extends the life of your roof, delaying costly replacements and saving money over time.

•Protection: A well-kept roof better protects against weather-related damages, keeping your home safe during severe weather events.

•Energy Efficiency: An intact roof contributes to better home insulation, reducing energy costs by keeping your home cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter.

•Property Value: A well-maintained roof enhances curb appeal and increases the overall value of your property, a significant advantage should you decide to sell.

Connect with Fair Contractor Sales Roofing

Fair Contractor Sales Roofing is committed to serving all communities within Palm Beach County, from the bustling streets of Boca Raton to the serene shores of Juno Beach. We understand the unique roofing challenges faced by homeowners across the county and offer tailored solutions to meet these needs.

If you’re in Palm Beach County and need professional roofing services, contact us today. Whether it’s routine maintenance, emergency repairs, or a complete roofing overhaul, our team is ready to provide expert service and advice. Let us help you keep your roof in excellent condition, ensuring it continues to protect your home and enhance your living experience for years to come.

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[crmsnmth]

Diamonds In a Street Lamo

We speak softly, almost in whispers and keep our laughs as quiet as possible We don't have too, but conversations in the early morning seem to mean more with hushed voices And by the end of it, when the sun crept into her room And hit her face just right, through shade and curtain I knew I was hers and irreversibly falling in love

Laughter fights for volume as she sings Creep way off key we waltz in the kitchen where I ruin the cooking and she makes fun of me because of the irony that I was supposed to be good at this She makes me still have those rookie mistakes I'm nervous even after she claimed she loved me

The gutters overflow and the water is so very cold but we're still hopping puddles like children in galoshes And the rain that's coming down is like diamonds in the street lamp Still, my eyes never fell away from her She was proof of beauty in this harsh world''

I can't hear her over the band on the bar stage But I can see her as she dances to the music Like liquid, her body seems to lose all rigidity As if her bones themselves could fold and bend And I want to be part of that liquid she'll play the spill and I'll be her smoke the movements are just one and the same

The sun is setting and her heads on my chest as we lay in the grass of a park looking over the city And its man-made constellations are reflected in her eyes I can't take this anymore, I put my hand to her chin and we kiss in the glow of downtown light pollution I've never tasted anything quite as sweet as that kiss

[mtgroofing]

Roofing Installation & Repair Sydney

Roofing Installation & Repair in Sydney: A Comprehensive Guide

Roofing is a critical component of any building, providing protection from the elements and ensuring the structural integrity of your home or commercial property. In Sydney, where weather conditions can range from scorching sun to heavy rain, having a robust and well-maintained roof is essential. This article explores the key aspects of roofing installation and repair in Sydney, offering insights into why professional services are vital and what homeowners should consider.

Importance of Professional Roofing Services

Roofing Installation & Repair Sydney are complex tasks that require specialized knowledge, skills, and equipment. While DIY enthusiasts might be tempted to tackle roofing projects themselves, the risks often outweigh the potential savings. Professional roofing contractors in Sydney have the expertise to handle various roofing materials, including tiles, metal, and shingles, ensuring that your roof is both aesthetically pleasing and durable.

Hiring a professional also ensures that your roof complies with local building codes and regulations. In Sydney, these codes are particularly stringent due to the city’s diverse climate, which demands roofs that can withstand both extreme heat and torrential rain. Professional roofers are familiar with these requirements and will ensure that your roof is installed or repaired to the highest standards.

Key Considerations for Roofing Installation

When installing a new roof in Sydney, there are several factors to consider:

Material Choice: The type of roofing material you choose will significantly impact the longevity and appearance of your roof. Metal roofs, for instance, are popular in Sydney for their durability and ability to reflect heat, reducing cooling costs. Tile roofs, while heavier, offer excellent insulation and a traditional look that many homeowners prefer.

Climate Adaptability: Sydney’s climate varies significantly throughout the year. It’s crucial to choose a roofing material and design that can cope with these changes. For example, materials that are resistant to UV radiation and waterproofing features are essential in Sydney's environment.

Insulation: A well-insulated roof can make a significant difference in maintaining a comfortable indoor temperature, reducing the need for excessive heating or cooling. Professional roofers can advise on the best insulation options for your specific roof type and design.

Common Roofing Repairs in Sydney

Even the best-installed roofs require maintenance and repairs over time. In Sydney, common roofing issues include:

Leaks and Water Damage: Heavy rains can cause leaks, especially in older roofs or those not properly maintained. Addressing leaks promptly is crucial to prevent further damage to the underlying structure.

Roof Tile Replacement: Roof tiles can crack or become dislodged due to strong winds or falling debris. Replacing damaged tiles is essential to maintain the roof’s integrity and prevent leaks.

Gutter Maintenance: Gutters play a vital role in directing water away from your roof and home. Regular cleaning and repair of gutters can prevent water buildup and potential roof damage.

Conclusion

Roofing Installation & Repair Sydney are essential services for maintaining the safety, functionality, and appearance of your property in Sydney. Whether you’re building a new home, replacing an old roof, or need repairs, hiring a professional roofing contractor ensures that the job is done right. With the right materials, proper installation, and regular maintenance, your roof will protect your home for years to come.

[commercialroofers]

Elevate Your Home's Durability and Style: Metal Roof Installation in West Palm Beach

When it comes to protecting your home from the harsh elements of West Palm Beach, a metal roof stands out as one of the most reliable and aesthetically pleasing choices. Known for its durability, energy efficiency, and modern appeal, metal roofing is quickly becoming the go-to option for homeowners in the region. But what makes metal roof installation such a smart investment in this part of Florida? Let’s dive into the details, exploring the benefits, installation process, and essential considerations to keep in mind.

 Why Choose Metal Roofing in West Palm Beach?

West Palm Beach's tropical climate brings a mix of intense sunlight, high humidity, and the occasional hurricane. Metal roofing offers several advantages that make it particularly suitable for this environment:

1. Unmatched Durability: Metal roofs are designed to withstand extreme weather conditions, including strong winds, heavy rains, and even hurricanes. In a coastal city like West Palm Beach, where storms can be severe, the durability of a metal roof provides peace of mind.

2. Energy Efficiency: Reflecting much of the sun's radiant heat, metal roofs help maintain a cooler indoor temperature, reducing your reliance on air conditioning. This energy efficiency is especially valuable in a hot climate, leading to significant savings on your energy bills.

3. Longevity: Unlike traditional roofing materials that may require replacement every 15-20 years, metal roofs can last 50 years or more with proper maintenance. This long-term investment not only saves money but also adds value to your home.

4. Eco-Friendly: Metal roofing is often made from recycled materials and is fully recyclable at the end of its life. This makes it an environmentally responsible choice, contributing to sustainable building practices.

5. Aesthetic Versatility: Available in a variety of styles, colors, and finishes, metal roofs can complement any architectural design, enhancing your home’s curb appeal. Whether you prefer a sleek modern look or a more traditional appearance, there's a metal roofing option to match your vision.

The Metal Roof Installation Process

Installing a metal roof in West Palm Beach requires precision and expertise. Here’s a step-by-step overview of what you can expect:

1. Initial Consultation and Inspection: The process begins with a thorough inspection of your existing roof and a discussion of your needs and preferences. This helps in selecting the right type of metal roofing and identifying any structural issues that need to be addressed before installation.

2. Choosing the Right Material: Based on your budget, aesthetic preferences, and the local climate, you'll choose from materials like aluminum, steel, copper, or zinc. Each material offers different benefits, and your contractor will guide you in making an informed decision.

3. Preparation and Removal: Before the new roof is installed, the old roofing material is carefully removed. The underlying structure is then inspected and repaired if necessary, ensuring a solid foundation for the new roof.

4. Installation: The metal panels are installed using specialized techniques to ensure they are secure and watertight. This part of the process is crucial, as proper installation determines the roof’s longevity and performance.

5. Finishing Touches: After the panels are in place, additional components like flashing, vents, and gutters are installed to complete the roof. These elements are essential for preventing leaks and ensuring proper drainage.

6. Final Inspection: Once the installation is complete, a final inspection is conducted to ensure everything is in perfect condition. This step is important for identifying any issues and guaranteeing that the roof meets all safety and quality standards.

 Key Considerations for Homeowners

Before committing to a metal roof installation in West Palm Beach, there are a few important factors to consider:

Cost: While metal roofing can be more expensive upfront than other materials, the long-term savings in energy bills and maintenance costs make it a worthwhile investment.

Local Regulations: Make sure to check local building codes and regulations. In hurricane-prone areas, specific standards may apply to ensure the roof’s resilience against strong winds.

Contractor Expertise: Choose a contractor with experience in metal roof installation, particularly in the West Palm Beach area. Local knowledge is crucial for ensuring the roof’s performance under regional weather conditions.

Maintenance: Though metal roofs require minimal maintenance, regular inspections and occasional cleaning will help extend their lifespan and keep them looking their best.

Conclusion

A metal roof installation in West Palm Beach is more than just a home improvement project; it's a strategic investment in your property's future. By choosing metal roofing, you’re opting for a durable, energy-efficient, and visually appealing solution that stands up to the unique challenges of the local climate. With the right material, professional installation, and regular maintenance, your metal roof will provide reliable protection and enhance your home’s value for decades to come.