#storage flat bush | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

masiethewriter · 3 months ago

Text

Honored Eternal Path of Demise CH. 15 - Garden Break

Looking around the garden, Shen Qingqiu also takes in the different flowers and plants. He can't name any of them, though honestly, they likely aren't even real flowers. Many of them look like a cross between multiple plants, the game developers likely just making whatever generic flower assets that came to mind. But it is as Shen Qingqiu is turning this and that way, trying to get a view of all the different flowers that he notices something. In-between the bushes, just out of reach of his hands, lays a... notebook?

First Chapter ~~ Previous Chapter ~~ AO3 Link

"We're finally back," Shen Qingqiu says in relief, feeling as if a great weight has lifted from his shoulders.

"We could really use it as a map," Binghe agrees with a nod, adjusting his hold on Shen Qingqiu slightly now that they don't have to watch out for roots and uneven paths.

Gravel crunch underneath their feet as they finally step out from the forest. The mansion towers above them, dark spires standing in the way of the moonlight. This is not much of a problem though, as this close to the mansion there are lamp posts to show the way.

They find themselves in a big open area mostly covered by loose rock. To one side stand tall trimmed bushes, taller than both Shen Qingqiu and Luo Binghe. Against the mansion is a wooden structure, though what it is for will require a closer inspection. The wall that faces them is purely made of reddened bricks, windows scattered across it.

There is no sight of the entrance they came from, but it is not hard to guess which direction they need to go in order to find it. Finally, they can get back on the prober track.

"Senior, what do you think this area was used for?" Luo Binghe asks, looking around at the big space of nothing.

Shen Qingqiu just shrugs. He doesn't really remember this area, which can either mean it is not somewhere he has visited often or it had nothing of note to make it memorable. He can only guess. "I suppose it could be a place to park vehicles or temporary storage for supplies? It really isn't possible to say."

"Hmm, I suppose that could be." Luo Binghe considers. Then he suddenly points towards the wooden structure. "I want to check out what that is. Would you mind Senior?"

Shen Qingqiu kind of minds. He much rather they just go straight for the entrance. But his leg is becoming heavier with each step and standing still might help with the pulsating sensation it has had for the last stretch.

He gives a "Go ahead". They huddle to the wooden structure.

Getting closer to it, it is revealed that the structure has been built into the mansion, laying low to the ground. Standing beside it, the tallest part barely reaches their knees, two aged wooden doors laying almost flat on top of it. Between the doors rests a heavy padlock.

It becomes obvious that this is some kind of basement entrance.

Binghe brings Shen Qingqiu to the wall and releases his hold on him. Onche he is certain Shen Qingqiu is keeping his balance, he turns his full attention to the new entrance. While this seemingly is another dead end, Luo Binghe clearly wants to try it out first.

The padlock is rusty and old. It doesn't look like something that would even hold Ning Yingying back. Luo Binghe takes hold of it, holding it in a tight grip and pulls.

There is no give.

Using both hands, he tries again to force it open. He shakes it around. He pushes against the structure with his feet, putting all his strength into breaking what appears to be a weak lock.

It stays strong.

With a curse he kicks at it. They aren't getting through this way.

"It doesn't change anything if we can't open it. We need to get back to Ning Yingying first either way," Shen Qingqiu reasons, trying to lessen Luo Binghes frustration.

"I was hoping we could use it as a shortcut. The faster we get out of the rain, the better," Binghe complains, but he returns to Shen Qingqiu's side. He holds out his arm for the other to take.

Shen Qingqiu doesn't remember any connections between the upper floor and the basement. At least not any connections that won't first be unlocked until later. Shortcuts are for later levels, once more sections of the mansion become unlocked.

But he just nods in agreement, leaning against Luo Binghe once more. "We don't know what is down there, so it's better that we just-"

Shen Qingqiu interrupts himself as he has to gasp for breath at a sudden surge of pain coming from his foot. It is so unexpected that his leg gives out. Luo Binghe has to tighten his hold in order to keep Shen Qingqiu from falling.

"Senior!? Are you alright?" Binghe worriedly asks, adjusting his hold so he is holding most of Shen Qingqiu's weight.

Shen Qingqiu can't answer at first, the fire swiftly running up his leg before it calms down again. His breathing becomes heavy as he feels cold sweat on his neck, a shaky hand wiping his forehead. The painkillers are definitely growing weaker.

"I'm fine Binghe, I just... I just need to sit down and rest for a bit." He manages to get out, trying to keep his voice reassuring and light. He doesn’t think he quite manages it.

"Should I get you the last pill?" Luo Binghe offers, looking down at Shen Qingqiu's foot like there is anything he can do about it.

"No, I want to save it until absolutely necessary." Shen Qingqiu rejects. "If we just take a break then I should be fine."

The cold hard rock is not a welcoming resting place though, something Luo Binghe agrees with. He and Shen Qingqiu are quick to turn their attention towards the other end of the area, where the tall bushes stand. This is the direction they would have to go for the entrance either way, so they might as well look out for a seat while going the right way.

They quickly find that the bushes function as a divide between the gloomy forest and a smaller garden area. Pots and plots are filled to the brim with flowers in every color and shape. Each kind have their glistening heads turned towards the sky, as if drinking directly from the falling rain. The loose gravel turns to smooth stone, narrow winding paths twisting around the flower beds.

In the middle of the garden stands a single light post, with a drenched bench right beneath its light. Tall flower stalks and blooming bushes surround it, giving an air of feigned privacy, as it is impossible not to see the bench no matter where you stand in the garden.

Binghe hurries towards it. He quickly sets Shen Qingqiu down on the bench. There is nothing they can do to dry it up, but by now, they both have accepted the state the rain and mud has left them in. For now, Shen Qingqiu can only lift his leg, resting it against the length of the bench. He can immediately feel the difference, the pain much more manageable when there is no weight on it.

"How are you feeling?" Binghe asks, hands hovering nervously like he doesn't know what to do with them.

"I should be fine resting here for now," Shen Qingqiu starts. He relates to Luo Binghe's restlessness, but at least Luo Binghe can do something about it where he can't. "Binghe can look around for anything useful. Once you are done checking the area, I should be good to continue on."

Luo Binghe presses his lips together as he considers Shen Qingqiu's suggestion.

"Are Senior sure he will be fine?" he asks, suddenly speaking all old-fashioned again.

"This Senior can rest by himself for a few minutes. Having Binghe hover by his side is not going to hurry it up," Shen Qingqiu grumple, copying Luo Binghes tone. Really Binghe, don't you feel embarrassed speaking like that?

"Okay then. I won't go far, so just call if you need me," Luo Binghe agrees after a minute of deliberation.

It all leaves Shen Qingqiu with an annoying sense of deja-vu, it not even being that long since they had a similar conversation. But really, that time ended up being fine and they really don't have to constantly stick together. Splitting up can be perfectly safe in small doses, as long as the party doesn't go too far from each other.

As the original goods, Shen Qingqiu should be extra safe to split off from other characters as that is basically all he did in the original game.

Fortunately, Binghe doesn't hang back as much as before and soon he is out of sight. Like this, Shen Qingqiu can finally lay his head back on the hard bench, taking a moment to curse the state he finds himself in.

He is cold to the point of freezing. He is wet to the point of drowning. He is muddy to the point of being buried. And out of it all, his hurt foot, naked without a shoe and sock, feels the worst out of all.

Once he takes the last pill, they are on a timer for how long he can keep going. He has already held out longer than he thought he would. But once the pills aren't keeping his leg in check, he won't be more than a blubbering mess. He feels nauseous just at the thought of feeling the full inferno of agony again. Once they are out of painkillers he won’t have much of a choice.

A break was the right choice, though. Like this, he is able to press his hands into his leg, massaging at the pained muscles. It helps with the surging aches that make themselves known at varying intervals. He really should be ready to get going once Binghe is back from his little exploration.

But it is as Shen Qingqiu is turning this and that way, trying to get a view of all the different flowers that he notices something. In-between the bushes, just out of reach of his hands, lays a... notebook?

Like the drawing, it is hard to see with just the single light and his blurry eyesight. And he can't reach it while stuck on the bench.

His curiosity takes hold of him. He doesn't even think of waiting for Luo Binghe to return.

Slowly and carefully he maneuvers himself down from the bench. Keeping his foot above the wet ground he drags himself into the bushes, until he can take hold of the book. Using his body as cover from the rain, he flips it open.

It is full of text, though the handwriting is too fine to read like this. It is even smaller than the text on this child's drawing, so he stands no chance of making it out. But every few pages start with two words, written much larger and clearer.

It is not hard to guess that he has found someone's diary. But again, it is quite strange...

Like the drawing, Shen Qingqiu has no memory of any diary from the first level. What is it with new items suddenly appearing? Whatever the diary contains he will have to wait and find out when Binghe gets back. Without his glasses, the only thing of note he finds is that the last pages have been ripped out.

Shen Qingqiu pockets his find and moves to return to the bench. He can feel the strain of keeping his hurt leg above the mud and he wouldn't mind some more rest before Binghe returns.

Then he hears the sounds of footsteps.

Heavy footsteps.

Alarm surges through his stomach and before he can think, he throws himself down. He holds his breath and waits.

Only a few seconds pass. From his current vantage point there isn't much for Shen Qingqiu to see. Then a hovering shadow appears. There is no mistaking the oversized physique of the Killer.

He is back on their trail.

As he steps into Shen Qingqiu's point of view, he has his back turned to him. Shen Qingqiu can see nothing but the back of his coat and the head of the axe as it is slung across his shoulder. For once, no sounds seem to leave the Killer, no heavy breathing.

A morbid kind of curiosity makes Shen Qingqiu want to see his face. To see if there are any marks from when Binghe attacked him with the poisonous bushes.

Speaking of Luo Binghe, Shen Qingqiu can only assume he hasn't been found by the Killer. The Killer's movement is too leisurely as he walks through the garden. Hopefully Binghe will hear him and hide like Shen Qingqiu. They can still get away from this.

Or rather, Binghe can get away from this.

Shen Qingqiu has not had much hope for himself for a long while by now. But that does not mean he is giving up! Right now, the best course of action would be for Binghe to see the Killer and then sneak away. When looking at it from a practical approach, abandoning Shen Qingqiu now would be the better move.

Here is what the logic should be from Luo Binghe's point of view: Either Shen Qingqiu has been found by the Killer or he hasn't. If he has been found, then it is too late. He would be dead and Binghe should hurry to move on and find Ning Yingying. If the Killer hasn't found Shen Qingqiu, then it is still better to leave.

If Shen Qingqiu is hidden, then waiting for the Killer to leave on his own is his best course of action. Once he is gone, Shen Qingqiu can crawl away by himself.

But who knows how long the Killer will stay in this area?

Binghe by himself can easily reach the entrance and follow their original plan during this time. He can warn Ning Yingying and they can together look for a way out.

Having to drag Shen Qingqiu with him, they won't be fast enough. The entrance is too far away. And there is no way Shen Qingqiu can get away quietly.

They will have to split up for real, but Shen Qingqiu has already spent so much time with Binghe. It is time he goes back to being on his own and trying to gain progress by himself. He appreciates his time with Binghe and now he needs to-

Binghe is hiding in the bushes in front of him.

Looking past the Killer, the trail is quite narrow. There are only a few meters between the flower beds Shen Qingqiu is laying in and a plot of blooming bushes in front of him. And between those bushes, a wild ponytail and steadfast eyes look right at Shen Qingqiu.

...

Binghe... Did saving you that one time really change your instinctual animosity with the original goods? Gratitude should only last for so long, what are you still risking your life for, for this old senior?

The Killer has his back turned to the both of them. Shen Qingqiu uses the opportunity to raise his upper body enough to wave Binghe away. Clearly pointing him in the direction he needs to go. To be certain he gets his point across, he motions that Binghe should leave him.

Luo Binghe clearly sees Shen Qingiu's act. He gives no sign of moving. Instead he slowly shakes his head before lifting up an item for Shen Qingqiu to see. Then he points first at himself then at Shen Qingqiu's area.

Shen Qingqiu squints his eyes to try to see what it is, but it is no use. Maybe if he had more light to work with, but like this it is just a dark shape. He does understand what Binghe is trying to say and he decidedly shakes his head. The Killer is right here! What hope does he have of getting Shen Qingqiu out of the garden?

Luo Binghe looks over at the Killer, following his pathing for a few seconds. Then he disappears back behind the bushes. Shen Qingqiu loses track of him quickly. He has no way of looking for him without revealing himself. The flowerbed he finds himself in is in the middle of the garden. There is no way in or out without exposing yourself to the light.

The Killer also doesn't appear to be in the mood to move on. Following the narrow path, he walks around the same circles, never too far from the center. If Binghe has anything planned, Shen Qingqiu does not have high hopes of it succeeding. Rather, he hopes he listened to reason and is on his way by now.

For some reason, Shen Qingqiu does not believe that to be the case.

Instead, a growing nausea is rising in his throat. His hands feel jittery and like he is about to break out of his skin. He realises it is anticipation. Anticipation for whatever Luo Binghe is about to do. Anticipation for it leading to his death. The unknown makes him feel sick and he takes out the diary again.

If he is about to die any second, then he might as well try to gain any knowledge he can from this book, since he will likely not see it for a long time.

Sadly it is not possible to force one's eyesight to get better. The loss of his glasses only becomes more and more of a frustration. Instead, he can try to gain some more light and hope it will help.

Worming his way closer to the light pole, he does his utmost to keep quiet and not catch the Killer's attention. Once he is right underneath the light, he once again looks at the diary. Trying to find any page with something readable. Any page with larger writing or words that stick out or-

With a crash, the light above him explodes. Immediately, the entire garden turns black. The sound of glass crashing to the ground sounds out around him, a few pieces falling on his back. He barely has time to register what just happened. In the next second a pair of hands encircles him, dragging him back up.

The Killer shouts, sounds of running coming closer, but he is as blind in the dark as Shen Qingqiu and Luo Binghe. They do not crash into each other as Luo Binghe practically carries Shen Qingqiu out of the flowerbed and out of the garden.

Gravel crunch underneath their feet as they step back out on the open area they were before. Whether the Killer hears them, they don't wait to find out. His feet barely touching the ground, Shen Qingqiu can only allow Binghe to bring them to the basement entrance. There he reveals what item he was showing off earlier.

A key. And as Binghe puts it inside the heavy padlock, it is both their luck that it fits. Not wasting time, Binghe wriggles it off and then he uses all his strength to lift the heavy wooden doors.

Shen Qingqiu would help, but he can only lean against the wall watching out for the Killer. He has not appeared yet, not begun a determined chase. His bellows can still be heard from inside the garden. It is only a question of time before he seeks out the light. By then, Binghe and Shen Qingqiu have to be gone.

The wooden doors fall open and Binghe isn't able to completely silence their fall. Instead, he just grabs hold of Shen Qingqiu again, pulling him down the staircase. He doesn't even attempt to close the doors behind them. Instead he hurries them inside, the walls closing in around them.

The last thing Shen Qingqiu sees of the outside is the Killer bursting out from the garden, axe ready in his hands.

Now, their only hope is finding a place to hide in time.

#SVSSS #BingQiu #BingYuan #Luo Binghe #Shen Yuan #Shen QIngqiu #scum villain's self saving system #scum villain self saving system #scumvillain #mxtx #AO3 Link

17 notes · View notes

thestudentfarmer · 1 year ago

Text

Hello hello,

Garden update a bit today!

I tried something new in the garden that involves making a thick cornstarch slurry, coolng it complelty and mixing the seeds in.

Take the mix, put it in a piping bag and use the slurry to make even rows of seed.

I did this with carrots, radish and lettuce.

The radish and the carrots are starting to have some sprout pops! :D. (Radish above, carrot below)

The transplanted (bush variety) beans.

Mixed among them seen sprouting, is sunflowers 🌻

The sunflowers popped way sooner than I was expecting and I cannot wait to see their sunny faces :D

As well we got a lil grid set up for the suprise pumpkin plant.

Other lil doings~

I am attempting to make a jacket :)

Got most my base peices cut out (some mild trim work necessary on the cuffs and bottom stretch bit), got to get the inner liner cut out and a zipper gotten

The inner liner I'm going to try and use an old bedsheet that's a soft blue.

The girls are laying pretty good, so far we've gotten 3 flats total :D. With luck we will continue with plentiful flats (and we can started elaminating eggs purchases when I grocer shop 🥳)

And last but not least, a lil seed start update!

Eggplants, these seeds are around 9ish? Years old. I kept them in not ideal seed saving storage but they've suprised me so far with how resilient they've been. I hope we get a few good ones for seed saving.

Broccoli or cabbage (they both look the same at this stage) I'll be transplanting them soon so as to not get them too spindly.

Nasturtium. There will probably be ground planted at the same time as the broccoli.

That's it for now everyone :) I'm off to work on a breakfast cassarole before I get to work on either cutting some boards for another raised bed, working on the above pictured jacket or possibly collect up some more sweet potatoe leaves to blanch and tuck in the freezer for later.

🌻🌱 Happy Homesteading 🌱🌻

9 29 2023

29 notes · View notes

brw · 6 months ago

Text

If the light in your small walk in storage area that you use as a wardrobe ever goes out folks, don't wait for like a month to fix it! If you wait too long, what happens is that when a strange smell comes from your wardrobe, you don't know what it is, so you remove some rubbish that was in there and think that will be that, and carry on with your day. But the next morning, the smell is still there, and stronger than before! So when you Google the scent, and it tells you it could be a gas leak, so you get stressed despite it making zero sense that there would be a gas leak in your wardrobe. You sleep fitfully, and wake up to an even stronger smell. You decide to use your phone torch, because you don't have a light on in your wardrobe, to look around for the potential source of the gas leak. Then you see it. A dead mouse in a trap you laid maybe a year ago, which has been there for a number of days, if not fucking weeks (you've been on holiday and only got back last week) and has started to decompose on your fucking carpet. The smell is stronger than ever. You remove the trap with the mouse in it, but because it's been actively decomposing the fur is falling out and it's insides have sort of fallen open. Luckily, you can't see this very well, because of no light. You then spend ages scrubbing vigorously and one handed in your wardrobe, because the other hand is spraying the all purpose surface cleaner. Because it's been there for weeks, there are a number of maggots or worms or some other shit there that you have to scrape up and put in your basin of boiling water. The smell is so fucking strong. No amount of scrubbing the carpet can remove the stench of dead decomposed mouse. You finally get the carpet not looking like it was just stained with mouse intestines, but the smell. the fucking smell. Your tiny bedroom in the tiny flat in Scotland is overpowered by the smell of dead mouse. This is your Wednesday afternoon, spent scrubbing and choking on your own ineptitude and inability to recognise the smell of a dead animal in your wardrobe.

So yeah. Don't beat around the bush. Get your lightbulb changed!

#brieuc.txt #animal death #unsanitary #My Wednesday is going great! Thank you for asking

6 notes · View notes

midnightfire830 · 1 year ago

Text

Granny being the Bbro’s Grandmother Part 2 BC IRL things

So weeks after Granny was walking through the park and she heard voices behind a bunch of bushes. Pretty familiar voices. She found the two boys setting up a mini camp of sorts to spend the night in the park. She IMMEDIATLY grabbed them by the ear (and tail in Bendy’s case tho she was gentle) and pulled them into her flat. Washed their clothes, gave them a bath, cooked up some dinner and let them sleep on her couch.

And like Clock work at around 4 or 5 AM the two woke up, changed into their old clothes, cleaned up and left whatever money they had on them and got ready to run away. Except THIS TIME Granny was ready.

As they were about to unlock the front door a light turned on next to a chair in the living room. In the chair, of course, granny was sitting giving them a very unimpressed look. “Now where would two young boys be going at a time like this? Hmm?” The woman stayed up ALL NIGHT to make sure the two didn’t leave again without a trace. She forced them back to bed and the next morning made them a HUGE breakfast.

She had gotten a foster license from the state after the first night she met them in case she ever ran into them again. When she found them the second time, while they were eating dinner, she contacted some people to arrange so she’d be able to keep those two boys under her care. So she ended up fostering a wolf pup and a demon child.

She moved into a larger apartment in her complex (I don’t know about landlady’s and how that works but I assume thats ok?). She got three bedrooms so the two of them would have their own rooms. But Bendy and Boris insisted that they share a room so the extra room became a storage room.

That is until Granny noticed the two’s love for music. Boris pretty much picking up any instruments he could find. He’d save up all his allowance to buy used second hand instruments from antique and pawn shops. He’d even house/pet/babysit for the people who lived in the apartment complex for a bit of extra cash.

Bendy, meanwhile, found a love for guitar. Both acoustic and electric. And he liked using tech and music programs to make songs. He was fascinated with the ability to change sounds and turn it into music and notes and stuff (things that artists like Charlie Puth does with his music) He’d save his money to buy equipment like mics, amps, and a good computer to make music with.

So in terms of making music Bendy and Boris would arguable contribute the most to making the songs. Boris actually making the music, and Bendy helping with recording and audio editing. Cup and Mugs help in their own ways of course.

So, with all the instruments and tech the two were getting they turned the storage room into a music room for the two boys for them to store instruments, practice, make songs, and record.

Granny would help to chip in on paying for their things of course. She 100% supports their hobbies and interests and when they told her they wanted to start a band she was absolutely behind them and helping the best she could along the way.

So the Bbro’s childhood goes pretty peacefully up until high school.

And that’s a whole DIFFERENT can of worms.

@sirensea14

14 notes · View notes

invincible-selfxmade-punk · 8 months ago

Text

A friend of mine at work told me she loved reading my stories. I will periodically put a few anecdotes on Facebook and this is what she was talking about. So as an end of the year gift I am putting together a lot of my essays As I did, it inspired me to write something new.

This was on my mind as I go to visit my Uncle Tony this weekend.

Long

post

ahead

@beckywiththegoodhijab

@albrechtstarkarm

@gifsbysimplysonia

@senor-plume

@elderberriesandarsenic

We remember the dead by telling their stories, so a part of them lives on in whoever reads it.

My father and uncle had a rift that never healed,

Before I tell the story, ut first I must describe to you their mother's home,

It was built in the 1920s by my grandfatger, the furniture was last updated bought 1950s on and was never changed. There were bedrooms with two beds each in them and then a master bedroom the kitchen, a dining room, a large living room and the most beautiful yet compact bathroom I have ever seen. There was both a back porch and then a small patio type wallpaper was of Fantastical things l with gazebo like overhead beams for hanging plants that look over a garden . There was also true incredibly large storage units all the property including a garage and also a seller . The house itself was up on a hill just High Enough that you could see most of the neighborhood and if you looked to the east you could see the highway that ran all the way through town . And my teenage years , in the summer, I was tasked with maintaining the enormous yard . In those days there were more trees that I can count, bushes, and grapevines. Many nights were spent watching the lights of the Town link on while you two played on my boombox sitting on the concrete patio ..

The walls of the room were covered in the most fantastic wallpaper. I had never seen designs like these before or since : Japanese sailing ships, gold on a background of gray. Huge Golden Rose blossoms on a brown background, & other designs I cannot remember.

Both curtains and lamp shades were of heavy fabric and ringed with tassels, It gave the living room a dark, exotic, otherworldly feel and an aura like stepping back in time to a distant foreign land.

I can't recall the flooring type but it was not carpeted the surface was shiny and made of whatever plastic material, but just like the walls, the patterns were singularly artistic, flat, smooth and colorful. My earliest memories are of sitting on that floor as a toddler, playing with felt covered wind up mice my grandfather kept.

The pantry was always full and while my Maw Maw was a wizard at Lebanese cooking, every cracker cookie chip and candy in her house tasted like it was decades old. The tastes of my memories there are of taboule, cabbage rolls, spaghetti with slices of rost beef instead of meatball, and conversely, the cloying taste of staleness.

In almost ever room, above almost every door, was some type of cross and three quarters of the walls displayed the most horrifyingly realistic images of Christ suffering. I will never forget them because they were the illustrations for my first lesson in shame and embarrassment.

When I was around 7 or so, my rich, teenage cousins from El Paso came to visit. I was the poor, half-breed relation and I guess they just wanted to mess with me.

“Hey do you know who that is?”, they asked, pointing to one of the depictions of our Lord and Savior.

I had no freaking idea.

Because of his Catholic upbringing, my dad despised religion, religion in any form, but most is specially Catholicism.

My mother, while a churchgoer on and off for most of her life, thought that Catholics were snobby and stuck up. Looking back, my father's family was probably the only example she had to go on, so of course she thought that.

When I said I didn't know as they pointed to one of the many Christs on the wall, they howled

“YOU DON’T KNOW JESUS?!”, and then pointed to every single Jesus plaque and picture

“HIM!? You don't know HIM!?”

I remember saying “...Well…. he looks like he's in a lot of pain ….”

I remember this was met with laughter.

It's pretty funny because looking back, I can't remember one single thing they told me about Jesus. However, I will never ever forget the shame I felt. I was obviously the only person on Earth whose parents didn't love her enough to tell her about our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. What the hell was wrong with me ?!

That was a pretty heavy thought for a 7-year-old.

My father had two brothers, Tony and Johnny. Both of them were younger and Johnny was born so late and Maw Maw's life that he was stuck with the mentality of a 5-year-old. This combined with the fact that he towered over me, caused me enough fear as a child that I avoided him when possible.

I don't know what kind of relationship my dad and Uncle Tony had as children. All I know is what my father told me in what I was able to observe on my own. My father and Tony were both expected to help out and take over with the clothing store that my grandfather built by hand. He literally went from being a door to door salesman to building his own store.

Whether my dad had any ambition on his own I will never know because he was the dutiful son who toiled loyally with his father. Uncle Tony however, was not so inclined. He wanted to work at electronics. My father said this was fine, Tony could go off to school, get a degree, in return and make his own TV repair shop in town. That way he would be close enough in case his father needed him. And possibly he could still help out his father when necessary.

Again, I will never know if my father wanted to go off to college but Uncle Tony was the son that got to. But once he got his degree he did not return. He took a job in El Paso for Texas Instruments building calculators and he never looked back.

He never returned to help my grandfather nor my father even when my grandfather passed away. After that things between Tony and my dad became very strained. If Tony tried to contact Dad by phone he was told my dad was busy or not there at all. If he came to visit in one of his fancy new cars throwing his money around, my dad simply disappeared, saying he was running errands and would not return until my uncle left.

This left me to stand in for my dad, and my uncle insisted on taking me out to dinner. Of course my dad's Pride would cause him to give me money and insist that I pay for the meal.

Yes, as an awkward adolescent, undiagnosed autistic child I was expected to stand up and insist on paying for everything. That absolutely never happened because I was terrified. So of course I allowed my uncle to pay, I went back and assured my father that I had paid for it and pocketed whatever money he gave me because I could not think of any other way out of it.

Several years later Uncle Tony decided that it would be best to move Maq Maw and Johnny to El Paso to live with him.

I'm not sure what he told my father but I could guess it was along the lines of “I'm richer and I can take better care of her than you.”

I honestly do not know how old she was at the time. She had always been old as long as I can remember, a small plump woman in long dresses and aprons who spoke no English, only Arabic and Spanish.

She had lived in the same house, had the same friends, gone to the same church, in the same neighborhood, her entire life. I doubt she was in any shape to even go to El Paso much less be moved there. No matter how much my dad protested Tony insisted and so that was what happened.

Less than a year after the move, she died. Being left to his own devices, Johnny drank himself to death a few years later.

That was the last straw: dad never forgave him and rightfully so. Dad still refused his calls, and if Tony tried to contact him by mail, dad instructed me to write: Return to Sender– addressee deceased on the envelope.

They did not speak again until Dad was on his Deathbed.

#writing #essay #spilled ink #arab american #life the universe and everything #family #stories

5 notes · View notes

cyanophore-fiction · 1 year ago

Text

Treading Lightly

Trying out @writeblrsummerfest‘s prompt with the haunted house theme! Sounds like fun, and I like the idea of having AI characters encountering the supernatural, I haven’t tried that concept before.

(Note: for the purposes of these characters, anything in [brackets] instead of quotations indicates dialogue transmitted silently via electronic communication instead of spoken aloud.

Under Pala’s cloak, the night made Coyote almost invisible. Its silhouette was perfectly black, and if it kept away from streetlights, it appeared only as a shadow slightly darker than its surroundings. It would be the same on infrared and radar—a splotch of unreflective nothingness, soaking up every stray photon.

Without the sun dumping heat into the cloak, there wasn’t much to worry about, but Coyote kept an eye on Pala’s temperature monitor anyway. It was a cool night, and the little drone was comfortable, its heat sinks barely warm. Its cluster of red eyes swiveled independently as they tracked motion in the dark: rabbits and squirrels hopping through the undergrowth, the occasional bat overhead.

Through the cable that connected them, Coyote felt the echoes of Pala’s mind. Each time it found an animal, it took a few seconds to pepper the creature with lidar pulses, building up a three-dimensional model to add to a growing wildlife database. Sometimes it took scans of the trees, bird nests, or pinecones. Its motive was simple curiosity; the data would have no tactical value.

Coyote smiled. It had to remind itself that up until now, Pala’s only experience of nature had been the Mojave desert. Time and luck permitting, Coyote wanted to let its companion absorb as much as possible, so it had taken over the task of navigation.

The place would be about a quarter mile up the road, if Coyote reckoned things correctly. It had done the calculations a few times over and cross-referenced them against its stolen paper map to be sure, but there was only so much precision it could count on with the satellite network turned against it. It had been weeks since the last orbital sensor sweep, but even so, Coyote didn’t dare try to connect to GPS. PRIONODE would be too clever to miss it.

[Hey. Is that it?] Pala said, all its eyes swiveling to focus on a spot just off the road. Coyote stopped, turned, and peered into the darkness. The place had come up so much sooner than expected that it had almost missed the turnoff.

There, past a hedge of uncut grass, thistles, and overgrown gardenia bushes, was 312 Lemon Tree Lane. The old house was built on an acre of land surrounded by a solid wall of pine forest, abandoned for so long that stray saplings were beginning to invade the front yard. Wooden planks, sagging with age, barely held the front porch together. Coyote crouched, nodding to Pala, and together they painted the building with active sensor pulses.

[Can’t get reliable returns through the windows,] said Pala. [Might as well be opaque.]

[Okay, so the interior’s a question mark until we get in there and look,] said Coyote. [Place is on the verge of collapse, too. One good windstorm and it’s coming down.]

[Did the records say anything about who owns it?]

[At this point? The county, maybe. Last inhabitants left over a decade ago. That’s about it. Anything on passives?]

[I’ve got…] said Pala, trailing off. It unfurled a set of antennae from its back, extending them through the boundary of the cloak, and waited for a few moments. [Yeah. There’s infrared and microwave-band emissions coming off the house, but—I can’t parse it out. Natural source, maybe?]

Along Coyote’s head, its sensory fins laid flat. [Where?]

[There’s not a specific origin point that I can see.]

[Okay,] said Coyote, standing up. [Here’s how we’ll play this. I want you to check the property. Look for a storage shed, basement entrance, or any derelict vehicles or appliances. Anything that runs on gas and has an alternator, we can pull a charge from. Sometimes old places like this will have emergency generators, that’s the best case scenario. If you find anything like that, tell me. Don’t go inside the house unless I say. Clear?]

[Got it,] said Pala. It began withdrawing its cloak, and Coyote felt hundreds of microbots skittering along its armor back to Pala’s chassis. [What are you going to do?]

[I’m going inside,] said Coyote. [I’ll check the interior, room by room.]

[You’re worried there’ll be someone in there?]

[Possibly. Could be homeless humans taking shelter here, kind of like us. Maybe other spirits. We won’t be a welcome sight, so I’ll try not to be seen. Don’t worry, the place is probably empty.]

[Okay. Be safe.]

[You too,] Coyote said. What it didn’t say was that EMD guns were apparently legal in the area, that people tended to be less shy about drawing and firing one, and it wasn’t sure if Pala’s light shielding would hold against a direct hit. Best to have it out of harm’s way.

As it approached the door, it activated the ultrasonics in its claws and sliced through the lock with a quick, silent cut. It turned and watched as Pala scuttled away into the overgrown lawn, resisting the urge to go back and regain sight of it. The little one would be fine on its own for a while.

Stepping through the door, Coyote armed its flechette gun, felt a round slide home into the barrel behind its palm.

#writeblr summerfest #coyote and pala #sci-fi #writeblr #writing prompts

3 notes · View notes

turkeypawed · 15 days ago

Text

THE GREAT FEAR | Clans

Clans of the Waste Masterpost is HERE!

CLANS

ROCKCLAN

CAMP: RockClan’s camp is situated on a shelf midway up a cliffside. The dirt underpaw is soft, medium-brown, and mixed with clay. The shelf is cut out of the cliff at a near-90* angle, or it was before erosion occurred, likely by Twolegs mining in the area many years ago. Early RockClan Diggers carved out dens into the cliffside. The Leader’s and Healers’ dens are furthest up the cliff, with the elder’s den and nursery below them for easy protection. Then, branching off of the shelf, are the Fighters, Hunters, Makers, and Apprentices’ dens. There is also a small storage den. The dens themselves have mats underpaw to keep out the chill of the dirt and mud, especially in the rainy season. When first dug out, the walls were patted with wet clay, that, now dry, provide protection from erosion and great insulation. The elders’ den and nursery’s walls are lined with pelts for extra warmth. Narrow, but not precarious, paths connect all the higher dens to the shelf, but it is not a dangerous distance to fall, as the furthest den (Leader’s) is only two fox-lengths above the shelf. The Clan diverted a stream at the top of the cliff to provide drinking water: a small waterfall cascades down the cliffside and collects in a large concave stone on the left side of camp. Moss grows in the shadowy parts of the waterfall. Gorse and small, gnarled tree roots help delay erosion of the cliffside. Dry grass and some flowers grow in the softer corners of the cliff. There are large, flat rocks on the edge of the shelf that are great for sunbathing. Below the shelf, the cliff has eroded into more of a slope, and it is an easy trip downwards to ground level and the rest of the territory.

TERRITORY: Most of RockClan’s territory is dirt and rocky grassland. The are nearest the cliffs had been cleared by Twolegs for their mining operation. The further territory is filled with dry bushes, gorse, and gnarled trees and bushes. The East side of their territory contains a river that used to be the border with TreeClan. The North side edges up against StoneClan territory, an abandoned city now reclaimed by the elements. The northeast corner of their territory is swampy and home to the GLOWPATCH, a garden of glowing mushrooms. They grow in sporadic ovular-shaped patches (on top of buried animals from the lab’s testing). The area around them is marshy, but also lush, with grass and flowers taking advantage of the nearby stream for irrigation. The mushrooms weren’t found to have any healing effects by the early RockClan Healers so they are left alone these days.

PREY: RockClan’s main food source is small rodents: mice, shrews, and voles. They utilize a Trapping system where they trap and breed the rodents in holes, and then extract and kill what is necessary to sustain the Clan. The PITS are deep holes, covered with mats weighed down by rocks, where Hunters keep their prey. The Pits are not escape-proof, but since the Hunters feed the creatures seeds, nuts, and grasses, they often choose to stay.

BELIEFS AND TRADITIONS:

BATTLING: All cats are trained in rudimentary battle skills, but unless during wartime, only Fighters battle. The fastest Hunters are also trained as Scouts and participate in battles.

AFTERLIFE: All cats believe in the standard StarClan system, with a change: each cat has a specific warrior ancestor that watches over them. Starwalkers commune with lots of ancestors, but any cat is likely to get a dream visit from their assigned ancestor. Cats in StarClan get to choose which recently-dead cat they get to watch over. It is considered an important moment in a cat’s life when their warrior ancestor makes contact for the first time. There is no known reincarnation. If a cat’s entry into StarClan vs. The Dark Forest is called into question, all of the Clan’s ancestors vote on where to send said cat, and majority wins.

ARTS AND PRATICES

POTTERY: RockClan Makers are unique for their pottery skills. They create figurines, bowls, plates, and other useful devices out of clay.

COOKING: RockClan Hunters have harnessed the power of fire. The eldest Hunter is the Firemaster and is in charge of maintaining a firepit, and cooking for feasts. Using pots and bowls created by the Makers, the Firemaster has been playing around with recipes like stews, and adding herbs to meat.

PAINTING: In RockClan, painting on clay tablets is a hobby of kits and apprentices, especially since the Great Fear started, and staying in camp was the safest place. They use pigments from berries, flowers, and blood from prey. Some Makers use pigments to color their clay before creating figurines or other decorative objects.

GRIEF/MOURNING: RockClan believes that speaking the dead’s name immediately after death prevents them from moving onto the afterlife. No grieving is allowed until the body has been disposed of by the Makers and their soul is believed to have moved to the afterlife. Then, grieving is allowed. Those closest to the cat often get out of work for a few days, but eventually must return to work.

VALUES: RockClan most values integrity, passion, unity, and diligence. They scorn steadiness (seen as stagnation)and mercy (seen as allowing someone to evade the consequences of their actions).

(Developed with the help of Moth's Worldbuilding Guide).

#clans of the waste #the great fear #rockclan #territory maps #warrior cats #warriors

0 notes

atplblog · 1 month ago

Text

Price: [price_with_discount] (as of [price_update_date] - Details) [ad_1] TEA TABLE for LIVING ROOM: Furnish your living room with ABOUT SPACE modern teapoy table that ensures stability and durability that will last you a lifetime. Its slim and elegant design will surely add a modern vibe MATERIAL & DIMENSION: Made with high-quality engineered wood for durability. The office furniture has bushes at the bottom to avoid scratches. It measures L 3 x B 1.3 x H 1.4 ft SPACE-SAVING SMALL TABLE: Use the flat top-space in the lemon oak finish centre table to place photo frames, decorative items & table lamp, comfortable for drink milk, coffee, eat food, snacks, TV remotes and bottom storage spaces to store magazines, books & knick knacks. Front and back storsge shelves for quick access WIDE APPLICATION: Suitable for use in living rooms, offices, or other spaces. Can be used as a coffee table, accent table, or occasional table. Do not keep warm or cold items directly on the wooden table for living room; instead, use coasters. Avoid placing tepoyee table directly under windows CARE INSTRUCTION: Clean the dirt from the wooden surface with a slightly damp cloth or use a wood-friendly cleaning solution. The furniture centre table with detailed instructions and required tools and fittings (screwdriver & allen keys) to assemble comes flat-packed [ad_2]

0 notes

convergenceproperties1 · 3 months ago

Text

How to Prepare Your House for a Fast Sale in Grand Junction

Selling a house can be an overwhelming process, but with the right preparation, you can significantly speed up the timeline and attract potential buyers. If you're in Grand Junction, where the housing market can be competitive, it's important to present your property in its best possible condition. Whether you're relocating, downsizing, or looking to cash out, preparing your house effectively will not only make the sale process smoother but can also help you achieve a higher sale price.

At Convergence Properties Inc., we have seen time and time again how the right preparation can make all the difference. In this guide, we’ll walk you through actionable steps to ensure your house is ready for a fast sale in Grand Junction.

1. Boost Curb Appeal

Curb appeal refers to how attractive your house looks from the street. First impressions are critical when considering sell my house fast Grand Junction CO, and this begins the moment potential buyers pull up to your property.

Practical Tips to Improve Curb Appeal:

Landscaping: Mow the lawn, trim bushes, and plant fresh flowers to make the yard look vibrant.

Exterior Cleaning: Pressure wash the siding, driveway, and any walkways. Make sure windows are clean and sparkling.

Front Door: A fresh coat of paint on the front door or new hardware like a modern door handle can make the entrance more inviting.

Lighting: Install exterior lighting, or replace outdated fixtures, to highlight your home at all hours.

In Grand Junction, the natural landscape and picturesque surroundings add to the charm of a home. By ensuring your property complements its environment, you can captivate potential buyers from the start.

2. Declutter and Depersonalize

One of the easiest ways to prepare your home for a quick sale is to declutter. Buyers want to visualize themselves living in the space, and clutter makes it harder for them to imagine their own belongings in the home.

Steps to Declutter and Depersonalize:

Clear surfaces: Keep countertops, tables, and other flat surfaces free of unnecessary items.

Minimize personal items: Pack away family photos, personal collections, and any quirky decor. Aim to create a neutral environment that appeals to a wide audience.

Tidy up storage spaces: Closets, garages, and cabinets should be organized. Buyers will often peek into storage areas, and if they’re packed full, it can give the impression that the house lacks adequate storage.

This process can also help you get a jump start on packing for your move. By reducing visual distractions, you make your home feel more spacious and inviting.

3. Make Small Repairs and Improvements

Minor issues can give buyers the impression that the home hasn’t been well-maintained. Even if the rest of the property is in good shape, small repairs left undone can raise red flags when looking to Sell My House Fast Grand Junction Co.

Common Repairs to Consider:

Fix leaky faucets: Buyers notice details, and a dripping faucet can signal bigger plumbing issues.

Touch up paint: Repaint scuffed or marked walls with neutral tones. Neutral colors create a blank canvas, making it easier for buyers to imagine their own style in the space.

Replace worn-out fixtures: Update old doorknobs, light fixtures, and cabinet handles for a modern look.

Repair broken tiles or patch holes: These small repairs can make a significant difference in the overall impression your home gives.

It’s crucial to show that your house has been well taken care of, which reassures buyers that they won’t be walking into a money pit. Buyers in Grand Junction often appreciate well-maintained homes that require little work after the purchase.

4. Deep Clean Everything

A clean home is an inviting home, and cleanliness can have a huge impact on how quickly your home sells. Dirty or messy homes are off-putting to buyers and can lead to lower offers or no offers at all.

Areas to Focus on:

Kitchens and bathrooms: These are the most scrutinized areas. Make sure countertops, appliances, sinks, showers, and toilets are spotless.

Floors and carpets: Vacuum carpets and clean hard flooring. If carpets are stained or have lingering odors, consider having them professionally cleaned.

Windows and mirrors: Clean windows let in more light, making the home feel brighter and more appealing. Polished mirrors also add a sparkle to rooms.

Air out the house: Ensure the home smells fresh. Odors from pets, cooking, or smoke can linger and may deter buyers.

A deep clean helps showcase your home at its best and eliminates any potential distractions that could affect a buyer’s decision.

5. Stage Your Home

Home staging is a strategic way to present your house in its best light. It involves arranging furniture, decor, and lighting to highlight the property’s strengths and downplay any weaknesses. Professional staging can speed up the sale process and often results in higher offers.

Home Staging Tips:

Furniture arrangement: Arrange furniture to maximize space and improve flow between rooms. Ensure each room has a clear purpose.

Lighting: Use a combination of natural light and lamps to make the home feel warm and inviting. In Grand Junction, where natural beauty abounds, make sure to open blinds and curtains to show off any scenic views.

Neutral decor: Avoid bold patterns or overly specific design choices. Neutral and tasteful decor helps buyers see themselves living in the space.

Add fresh touches: Fresh flowers or a bowl of fruit can add a lively, homey feel.

Even if you don’t hire a professional stager, taking time to carefully arrange your home can make a world of difference when it comes to attracting buyers.

6. Price It Right

Pricing your home competitively from the start is key to attracting buyers quickly. Overpricing can lead to your home sitting on the market longer, which may lead buyers to wonder if something is wrong with the property.

How to Price Your Home for a Fast Sale:

Market research: Look at comparable homes in Grand Junction that have recently sold to get an idea of the going rate for properties similar to yours.

Consider local demand: The real estate market in Grand Junction can fluctuate. When demand is high, you may be able to ask for a higher price. In slower markets, pricing slightly below the competition can generate interest.

Consult with a real estate agent: A local expert can help you determine the best price based on current market conditions and your home’s unique features.

At Convergence Properties Inc., we can help you evaluate the market and set the right price to ensure your home doesn’t linger unsold.

7. Work with a Reputable Real Estate Agent

Lastly, partnering with a knowledgeable and experienced real estate agent can make the entire process of selling your home easier and faster. A skilled agent will have in-depth knowledge of the Grand Junction market and will know how to market your property to the right buyers.

Benefits of Working with a Real Estate Agent:

Marketing expertise: Agents can advertise your property effectively to reach a broad audience.

Negotiation skills: An agent will advocate on your behalf to secure the best possible price and terms.

Professional network: They often have connections to stagers, photographers, inspectors, and contractors who can help get your house ready for sale.

At Convergence Properties Inc., our team has a wealth of experience helping homeowners in Grand Junction sell their properties quickly and for top dollar.

Conclusion

Selling your home in Grand Junction doesn’t have to be stressful. By following these practical steps—enhancing curb appeal, decluttering, making repairs, deep cleaning, staging, pricing correctly, and working with a trusted real estate agent—you’ll be well on your way to a fast and successful sale. At Convergence Properties Inc., we’re here to support you every step of the way.

#foreclosures in Colorado #colorado rent assistance #sell my colorado house fast #top real estate agents in colorado #grand junction real estate agents

0 notes