#it's still enough moisture to get that open structure but easy to work with

[why-the-heck-not]

2nd batch of sourdough! Lots better than the first, actually got some crumb structure this time (bc the starter is finally ready for bread)

[drcabinet]

Cabinet Face Repair Guide [2025]: Easy Fixes, Pro Tips, and Modern Trends

Nothing freshens up a kitchen like great-looking cabinet faces. Well-maintained cabinet doors and drawers can boost your home's value and make any kitchen feel more inviting. Chips, scratches, stains or peeling veneer are common problems that can drag down your kitchen's appeal, especially as trends shift towards modern styles and eco-friendly finishes in 2025.

DIY repair kits are easier and more effective than ever, letting homeowners handle minor issues with confidence. Still, recognizing when to call in a pro can save headaches and extra costs down the line. In this guide, you'll get clear advice on the latest repair options, when DIY makes sense, and what to expect from professional services this year.

Identifying Common Cabinet Face Issues

Spotting problems early on your cabinet faces saves time, money, and frustration. Cabinet wear sneaks up fast, especially in busy kitchens and bathrooms. Knowing what to look for makes it easier to decide when a DIY fix will do the trick, or when it’s smarter to call a professional.

Surface Damage: Scratches, Chips, and Dents

Every cabinet takes a beating in daily life. Tallies from cookware, pet paws, and even wayward shopping bags leave their mark. The most common surface issues are:

Scratches: Usually show as fine, light lines on the finish. Most appear around handles and corners—spots you touch and bump the most.

Chips: These look like small “bites” or missing bits along door edges or drawer fronts. They pop up where doors bang into each other, countertops, or appliances.

Dents: Small sunken spots, sometimes with discolored edges. Dropped utensils or sharp objects cause these dents, especially on lower cabinets.

Visual signs to check for:

White lines or faded spots in stained wood indicate surface gouges.

Odd, rough patches—often exposing the lighter wood beneath the finish.

Edges that catch cloth or fingers when wiped.

Light scratches often buff out with wood markers or wax sticks. For deeper damage, wood filler or putty works well. If you see splintered or crumbling wood, the issue may need more attention or professional repair.

Hardware Problems: Loose Hinges and Handles

You’ll know hardware issues by sound and feel. A wobbly door or a rattling handle sends a clear signal: something’s off. Look for these signs:

Loose hinges: Cabinet doors droop or swing open unevenly. Screws may be missing or refuse to tighten. You might hear creaks or experience sticky closing.

Wiggly handles or knobs: Handles spin or move in place, or you simply can’t get a secure grip.

Why do these problems start?

Everyday use wears down screws and screw holes.

Exposure to moisture swells wood, loosening fasteners.

Overloaded doors or hanging on handles speeds up wear.

Potential headaches if you ignore hardware issues:

Misaligned doors rub paint or finishes, causing more damage.

Doors may fall off, leading to chipped wood or even injuries.

Hardware damage can stress door faces, causing splits or cracking that require more than a quick fix.

For basic repairs, tightening screws with a screwdriver is usually enough. If screw holes are stripped, wood filler or a toothpick coated in glue set into the hole can restore grip. If repairs don’t hold, or if you notice larger cracks around hardware, get advice from a cabinet repair pro.

Structural and Moisture Damage

Water is the main enemy of any cabinet. Sink leaks, damp air, or even splashes from cleaning all add up. Here’s what to watch for:

Warping: Doors and drawer faces bend or twist. You might notice trouble closing or gaps along the frame that weren’t there before.

Swelling: Panels look puffed or uneven. The face may no longer sit flush with the box, and finishes may bubble or peel.

Delamination: Layers of material (often veneer or laminate) separate. The top layer peels, cracks, or curls away from the surface.

Easy ways to spot structural trouble:

Flick the panel with your finger. A hollow or papery sound means the core is damaged.

Run your hand along the edge. Any soft spots signal moisture damage, especially near sinks or dishwashers.

Check the finish for wrinkles, bubbles, or areas that feel tacky or soft.

Severe moisture damage weakens the structure, making repairs tricky and sometimes unsafe to handle without special tools. If warping or swollen panels affect how doors close, or if delaminated layers keep spreading, it’s wise to consult a cabinet professional. In some cases, whole sections may need replacing to restore both safety and good looks.

Identifying these issues sooner means faster, easier repairs and a kitchen that stays sharp, year after year.

Step-by-Step Cabinet Face Repair Solutions

Cabinet faces go through a lot, from daily bumps to splashes and sticky fingers. Fixing surface problems, tightening up hardware, and tackling moisture or warping doesn't have to stress you out. Here’s how you can bring cabinets back to life—safely, easily, and with results you’ll notice every single day.

Repairing Superficial Scratches and Chips

Small scratches and chips are the most common and simple repairs you can take on yourself. Here’s what works:

Wood Fillers: For deeper chips or gouges, start by cleaning the area thoroughly. Use a high-quality wood filler—press it into the damaged spot with a putty knife. Let it dry fully, then lightly sand until level with the surrounding surface.

Stain Markers and Touch-Up Kits: These are your best friends for quick scratch cover-ups. Select a marker or crayon that matches your cabinet color as closely as possible. A good trick is to apply a bit at a time and buff gently with a soft cloth, blending as you go.

Sanding: Lightly sand scuffed areas with fine-grit sandpaper (around 220 grit) to create a smooth surface. Always move with the grain, not against it.

Priming and Repainting or Restaining: After filling and sanding, apply a primer suited to your cabinet material. Finish with matching paint or stain, feathering the edges for a seamless blend. Use a small brush for control on detailed spots.

Color-Matching Tips: Bring a cabinet door or drawer front to the paint store if you’re unsure about the match. Test new stains or finishes in an out-of-the-way spot first. Natural wood changes color over time, so aim for close rather than perfect.

Advanced Blending: For tricky spots or multi-tone wood, gently layer different marker or stain colors, dabbing and blending as needed until you’re happy with the look.

Key pointers:

Wipe down surfaces before repairing to remove dust and oils.

Work in good light to see true colors.

Patience pays—multiple thin coats always blend better than one thick one.

Fixing Hardware and Hinge Problems

Loose, squeaky, or misaligned hardware is easy to fix and makes a big difference in function.

Tightening Screws: Use a screwdriver (manual is best for control) to tighten loose handles, pulls, and hinges. If the screw just spins, remove it and squirt a bit of wood glue or slip in toothpicks/wooden matchsticks to fill the hole, then reinsert the screw.

Replacing Outdated Hardware: Upgrading to new handles, pulls, or knobs instantly updates style and feel. Choose hardware with the same screw spacing to avoid extra holes.

Hinge Repair: Sagging doors or sticky closures usually mean hinges need attention. Adjust alignment screws. If hinge mounting holes are stripped, plug them with dowels or glue-filled toothpicks, then reinstall as above.

Thread-Locking Adhesives: A drop of thread-lock on hardware screws keeps them secure against vibration and repeated use.

Upgrading to Soft-Close Mechanisms: Installing soft-close hinges or dampened drawer glides prevents slamming and reduces stress on joints and finishes. These are often simple drop-in replacements for standard hardware.

Extra tips:

Don’t force screws; if they won’t bite, fix the hole before trying again.

Lubricate hinges with silicone spray or a dab of household oil to silence squeaks.

For a professional look, match hardware metal finishes throughout the kitchen.

Addressing Structural Issues and Moisture Damage

More advanced repairs deal with cabinet faces that are swollen, warped, or peeling because of water, humidity, or age.

Fixing Swollen or Warped Faces: Remove cabinet doors or drawer faces. Dry them out slowly in a well-ventilated room (avoid intense heat which can cause further warping). For minor warping, use gentle weight or clamps to coax shape back as they dry.

Veneer or Laminate Overlays: If the top layer is peeling or bubbling, carefully trim away loose material. Use waterproof glue to press detached veneer or laminate back in place, clamping until fully set. Fill any gaps with matching wood filler, sand, and touch up as needed.

Replacement: If water or structural damage is severe—soft spots, crumbling wood, or large warped areas—replacement is the safest route. Measure carefully and match the replacement door or face as closely as possible to the remaining cabinets.

Preventive Sealing: After repairs, apply a moisture-resistant sealer or paint (water-based polyurethanes are easy to use and eco-friendly). This locks out future spills and makes cleaning easier.

Drying Methods for Minor Moisture: Wipe moisture away promptly. Use a fan or dehumidifier in damp spaces, especially near sinks and dishwashers, to stop recurring damage.

Best practices:

Always wear protective gloves and a dust mask when sanding or using chemical adhesives.

Work on one cabinet face at a time for best control.

Regularly inspect under sinks and close to appliances for hidden leaks—early fixes save major repairs later.

These steps make cabinets sturdy, good-looking, and ready for years of real-life kitchen chaos, all without breaking the bank or your spirit.

Cabinet Refacing, Professional Fixes, and Modern Trends

Cabinet face repair offers a spectrum of options, from quick DIY touch-ups to full-scale professional transformations. Whether you want a fresh look without tearing out your kitchen or you’re dealing with challenging damage, understanding the best approach puts you in control. Here’s how cabinet refacing stacks up against full replacement, when it’s smart to call in a pro, and what’s trending in 2025 for materials and finishes.

Cabinet Refacing vs. Replacement: Compare Costs, Time Investment, and Results

Refacing and replacing cabinet faces both give your kitchen a huge style boost, but each comes with its own set of pros and cons.

Refacing: The Middle Ground for Fast, Cost-Saving Updates

Refacing means swapping out or covering just the visible parts—cabinet doors, drawer fronts, and often hardware—leaving the cabinet boxes in place. This approach is ideal if your cabinet frames are still strong.

Lower Cost: Refacing is usually half (or less) the price of replacing cabinets.

Less Downtime: Most refacing jobs finish within a few days. You can keep using your kitchen, and there’s little demolition.

Eco-Friendly: It keeps old cabinet boxes out of landfills and uses fewer new materials.

Style Flexibility: Choose new veneers, paints, hardware, and door styles to suit any trend or taste.

Replacement: A Full Reset for Damaged or Outdated Cabinets

Replacement means removing everything—doors, faces, hinges, and even the boxes—and installing new cabinets from scratch.

Higher Cost: Expect to pay two to three times as much as refacing.

More Disruption: Projects often last a week or longer, usually with more dust and more mess.

Best for Structural Issues: If boxes are damaged, warped, or wrong for your needs, replacement is the way to go.

When to Choose Refacing vs. Replacement

Refacing is ideal when: Cabinets feel sturdy, you like the current layout, and you want to refresh style with minimum hassle.

Replacement is the right call when: Cabinets have structural damage, funny smells, or an inconvenient layout that doesn’t suit your lifestyle.

Common refacing options:

Veneer overlays (wood, laminate, or eco-friendly alternatives)

Painting or staining existing faces

Upgrading to modern hardware (like soft-close hinges or bold handles)

When and Why to Hire a Professional

Some cabinet fixes go beyond DIY skill or require special tools and experience. Calling in a pro can save both frustration and money in the long run.

Jobs That Should Go to a Cabinet Pro:

Severe Warping or Structural Damage: If faces or boxes are badly bent, sagging, or swollen, pros have clamps, drying rooms, and advanced resins you likely won’t have at home.

Antique Preservation: Older cabinets—especially those made from rare woods or with ornate detailing—require careful repair. Pros will use period-appropriate materials and touch-up techniques to protect value.

Mold or Water Issues: Hidden mold or spreading water damage often needs assessment, safe removal, and repairs that prevent health risks.

Veneer or Laminate Peeling Over Large Areas: If large sheets are loose, pros use heat-specific tools and presses for a seamless result.

Custom Color Matching and Finishes: Achieving a factory-fresh look or matching unique stains is much easier for those with a full workshop.

Signs It’s Time to Call In Help:

Repairs keep failing or materials won’t stay put.

Hardware won’t stay tight, even after you’ve filled and redrilled holes.

Unusual odors, bubbling, or soft spots keep coming back.

The repair involves power tools, heavy sanding, or anything close to wiring or plumbing.

Professional repairs might cost more, but they’re worth it when issues threaten the cabinet’s integrity, your safety, or the value of your home.

2025 Cabinet Face Repair Trends and Materials

Staying stylish while keeping things functional and green is the name of the game in 2025. Here’s what’s hot for cabinet faces this year:

Eco-Friendly and Sustainable Materials:

Bamboo and Reclaimed Wood: These have surged in popularity. Bamboo renews quickly, and reclaimed wood brings unique character and reduces waste.

Recycled Metals and Composite Panels: Composite panels blended with recycled fibers offer strong performance and a modern look.

Fresh Finish Tech:

Low-VOC and Non-Toxic Finishes: Water-based paints and stains, plus sealants that don’t off-gas, are more in demand than ever. These options mean fewer indoor air worries—great for homes with kids and pets.

High-Tech Sealants: New polyurethane and nano-sealants offer longer-lasting moisture protection with thinner coats and easier cleanup.

Customizable Veneers and Textured Surfaces:

Textured and Natural Woods: White oak (often wire-brushed), walnut with live edges, and pronounced-grain hickory are everywhere, adding warmth and a connection to nature.

Custom Veneers: Modern overlays come in nearly any color or finish, from matte pastels to bold jewel tones. Many are now stain-resistant and even antimicrobial.

Smart Upgrades and Hardware:

Integrated Lighting: LED strips and touch-controlled lights inside cabinets brighten up work spaces and make storage more useful.

Statement Hardware: Oversized pulls, mixed metals (like gold and black or chrome and brass), and built-in charging stations blend beauty with utility.

Soft-Close and Touch-Open Features: These boosts are often added during repair or refacing and instantly upgrade both value and feel.

Trend Highlights for 2025:

Use floor-to-ceiling cabinetry to maximize storage.

Try bold, rich color palettes (emerald, navy, burgundy) paired with metallic accents.

Bring in smart storage upgrades: built-in spice racks, hidden drawers, or pull-outs.

Go frameless for a sleek, open look, or stick with classic frames for added strength on a budget.

With cabinet face repairs or upgrades, blending eco-friendly materials, advanced finishes, and smart functions keeps your kitchen future-ready and personalized.

Best Practices and Preventative Maintenance for Long-Lasting Cabinets

Keeping cabinet faces in great shape doesn’t just protect your investment, it helps your kitchen or bath look fresh year after year. Simple routines and a little attention to detail go a long way. Below, discover practical tips to prevent wear, keep surfaces looking new, and avoid the most common problems that lead to expensive repairs. Here’s how you can give your cabinet faces a long, trouble-free life.

Routine Cleaning and Surface Care

The right cleaning methods keep your cabinets looking sharp and stop surface issues before they start. Think of cleaning as your first line of defense against sticky grease, dust, and stains that can ruin finishes over time.

Best cleaning agents and methods:

Use a soft, damp microfiber cloth for daily or weekly wipe-downs. Microfiber traps dust and dirt without scratching the finish.

For grime or light stains, mix a few drops of mild dish soap in warm water. Gently wipe the surface, then dry immediately with a dry towel.

Avoid all abrasive cleaners, pads, or anything containing bleach, ammonia, or strong solvents. These can strip finishes and dull your cabinet faces.

For added shine, use a wood-safe polish or cabinet cream polish (if recommended by your cabinet maker) every month or two.

Skip commercial sprays that claim to deep clean if they contain alcohol or harsh chemicals.

Cleaning frequency:

Daily: A quick pass with a dry or lightly damp cloth catches crumbs and dust.

Weekly: Damp-wipe areas that get the most touching, like around handles and lower doors.

Monthly: Deep clean greasy spots (especially near stoves and dishwashers) using mild soapy water.

Seasonally: Polish or apply a protective furniture wax if your cabinets are finished wood.

Extra tips:

Immediately wipe up water around sinks or spills on doors and drawers.

Use a toothbrush to clean in detailed profiles or around hardware edges.

For persistent sticky spots, warm soapy water usually works—never scrape with tools or hard brushes.

Establishing a simple but steady cleaning routine prevents buildup that can lead to finish dullness or stubborn stains, keeping paint, stain, or veneer as close to new as possible.

Hardware and Hinge Upkeep

Knobs, pulls, and hinges do a lot more work than you think. Loose or squeaky hardware makes cabinets look rough and can quietly wear out the wood over time. A quick checkup every few months will save you headaches and cash.

Key maintenance steps:

Tighten all screws on handles, pulls, and hinges with a screwdriver. Most get loose from constant use.

Check hinge alignment. If doors are sagging or not closing straight, adjust the hinge screws slightly.

Lubricate hinges and slides with a silicone-based spray or a dab of mineral oil, especially if they squeak or feel stiff. Avoid WD-40 as it can attract more dust.

Replace stripped screws or hardware as soon as you notice a problem. For stripped holes in wood, fill with wood glue and toothpicks or use a repair kit, then reinstall.

Periodically inspect drawer slides for smooth operation. Clean and lubricate as needed so drawers don’t stick or wobble.

When to replace hardware:

When handles wobble even after tightening, or if metal parts are corroding.

If hinges don’t adjust back into place or have visible damage.

When original hardware no longer matches updated finishes or is simply outdated.

Quick reminders:

Match replacement hardware to original hole positions to avoid extra drilling.

If you hear persistent creaks or see doors rubbing, inspect immediately—catching these issues early means less wear on cabinet faces.

These fast, regular checkups keep doors aligned, prevent extra wear on faces, and protect your repair investment.

Moisture Control and Protective Measures

Moisture and cabinets never mix well. It causes swelling, warping, veneer peels, and even mold. With just a few habits and some easy upgrades, you can avoid most moisture woes.

Simple strategies for moisture protection:

Wipe up spills right away, especially near sinks and dishwashers.

Always run kitchen exhaust fans while cooking to remove steam and greasy moisture.

Use under-sink mats to catch leaks or drips before they reach cabinet bases.

For wood cabinets, check edges and seams for peeling or cracks. Touch up with clear sealant as soon as you spot a problem.

Avoid hanging wet dish towels over cabinet doors.

Humidity management:

In humid climates, run a dehumidifier during muggy seasons or place moisture absorbers inside cabinets.

Keep the room temperature stable; avoid dramatic shifts from cold to hot.

Open windows or cabinets for air flow if steam builds up regularly in your space.

Protective finishes and sealing:

Apply a fresh topcoat of water-based polyurethane or cabinet-grade sealer every year or two, especially on cabinets near sinks and appliances.

Re-caulk along backsplashes, counters, and walls, making sure there are no cracks or gaps for water to sneak behind the cabinets.

If installing new cabinets or refacing, choose water-resistant materials or finishes for high-moisture areas.

Extra touch:

Use shelf liners in base cabinets or drawers prone to spills. They add a barrier against water and make cleanup easy if a leak happens.

By adopting these simple moisture controls and protective steps, you’ll stop a small drip from turning into a major cabinet crisis.

Routine care, minor hardware tune-ups, and smart moisture practices are your best bet for keeping cabinet faces strong and good-looking for years. Investing a few minutes each week and a little more attention each season pays off with lasting beauty and peace of mind.

Conclusion

Repairing cabinet faces does more than fix worn spots or scratches—it freshens up your whole kitchen and keeps your home feeling current. Small repairs protect surfaces and help cabinets last longer, while updates like new hardware or trending finishes add style without a full remodel. Making these quick fixes or strategic upgrades keeps your space working for you and lets your personal touches shine.

Now is the perfect time to walk through your kitchen and check those cabinet faces. Use the repair tools and maintenance tips we’ve covered to smooth out trouble spots and boost both value and appeal. Keeping up with small repairs and routine care saves money, supports sustainability, and keeps your kitchen looking sharp through every trend and season.

Thanks for reading! Share your thoughts or before-and-after photos, and keep an eye out for next season’s tips on modernizing your space.

[woodflooringuk]

Why Light-Washed Wood is the New Neutral in Flooring

Why Light-Washed Wood is the New Neutral in Flooring

Author, Written by:  Bledy (Installation Expert and Technical Writer)

If you’re planning a renovation or refreshing your interiors, chances are you’ve come across light-washed wood flooring—and for good reason. This pale-toned finish has quickly become the go-to neutral in modern homes, replacing cooler greys and competing with classic oak in both contemporary and rustic spaces.

So, what makes light-washed wood such a favourite? Let’s take a look at why this flooring trend is catching on—and why it might be the perfect backdrop for your home.

1. It Pairs with Everything

One of the biggest draws of light-washed wood is its versatility. Whether your style leans Scandinavian, coastal, farmhouse, or minimalist, this flooring works effortlessly with a wide range of palettes and textures.

It acts like a blank canvas—subtle, warm, and understated—allowing your furniture, wall colour, or art to take centre stage without clashing.

2. A Brighter, Airier Feel

Light flooring naturally reflects more light, which helps to open up smaller rooms and make larger spaces feel even more expansive. It’s especially effective in homes with limited natural light or darker walls.

Think of it as an easy trick to achieve that light and airy look without major structural changes.

3. Hides Dust and Pet Hair Better

This one might come as a surprise—lighter floors tend to conceal dust, scratches, and pet hair more effectively than darker finishes. For busy homes with pets, kids, or lots of foot traffic, that’s a definite plus.

You’ll still need to keep up with cleaning, of course, but the floor won’t show every footprint or speck of dust between cleans.

4. Timeless, Not Trendy

While bold patterns and statement tones come and go, light-washed wood has a timeless quality. It feels fresh now but is rooted in natural, organic materials that won’t quickly go out of style.

If you’re looking for a safe bet that still feels stylish and current, this might just be it.

5. Works Across All Rooms

From living areas and bedrooms to kitchens and hallways, light-washed wood is flexible enough to suit nearly any space in the home. Many engineered wood and LVT ranges offer pale-toned options that are also suitable for moisture-prone areas—meaning you don’t have to compromise on looks or practicality.

6. Complements Other Wood Tones

Worried about mixing woods? Light-washed flooring plays well with others. Whether you have darker wood furniture, natural-toned cabinets, or rustic beams, it tends to soften the contrast and tie everything together, rather than competing.

This makes it ideal for layered, eclectic interiors with a mix of materials and finishes.

The Modern Neutral Worth Considering

While greys and medium-toned browns have long been considered the neutral base for floors, light-washed wood is now setting the tone for modern interiors. It's clean, adaptable, and quietly elegant—just the kind of flooring that lets your personality shine through in the rest of your space.

Whether you’re after a Scandinavian-inspired retreat or simply want a flooring option that will grow with your style, light-washed wood is a smart, beautiful choice that’s here to stay.

Need help finding the perfect pale-toned floor? We’re happy to recommend styles that suit your space and lifestyle—just get in touch.

About Author:

Bledy is a flooring installation expert with over 15 years of experience. He writes easy-to-follow guides and tips to help homeowners and professionals with flooring projects.

[gutterbrush01]

Best Gutter Guards for Pine Needle Protection: Keep Your Gutters Clear

For homeowners living in wooded or mountainous regions, pine trees offer beauty, shade, and natural charm. However, they also shed pine needles year-round—creating a unique and frustrating maintenance challenge. These fine, sticky needles easily bypass ordinary gutter screens, causing blockages, overflow, and long-term damage to roofing and siding. To keep your home protected, the right solution lies in Gutter Guards for Pine Needle Protection, which are specially designed to filter even the smallest debris while maintaining water flow.

If you’ve found yourself constantly cleaning your gutters due to needle buildup, this guide will help you choose a lasting solution tailored to your environment.

Why Pine Needles Are So Problematic

Unlike broad leaves or larger debris, pine needles are thin, lightweight, and often sticky. Their shape allows them to slip through wider screens and nestle inside your gutter system. Once inside, they form dense mats that trap moisture and cause water to back up—leading to roof leaks, fascia damage, and even mold.

Additionally, these needles are flammable and can present a serious fire hazard when dry. Keeping them out of your drainage system is not just about reducing maintenance—it's about protecting your home from structural and safety threats.

What to Look for in a Protective System

When searching for the right product, there are several key features that help prevent clogging while allowing rainwater to flow efficiently:

1. Fine Mesh Construction

The most effective systems use stainless steel micro-mesh with openings small enough to block pine needles. These fine filters prevent even the smallest debris from entering while letting water pass through easily. The rigidity of the frame also matters—look for reinforced edges that won’t sag under needle buildup.

2. Raised or Angled Surface

Some models are built with raised ridges or sloped designs that allow wind and gravity to naturally remove debris. This self-cleaning action reduces the amount of time you’ll spend checking or brushing off your system after storms.

3. Compatibility with Roof Type

Make sure the model you choose is compatible with your roof material—whether it’s asphalt shingles, metal, or tile. Improper fit can lead to leaks, poor water flow, or even voided roof warranties. Most quality systems offer universal brackets or customizable trims to ensure a snug, leak-free installation.

4. Strength and Durability

Products made from stainless steel or aluminum perform better over time, especially in areas with snow, ice, or frequent rain. Cheaper plastic models may warp or crack, allowing pine needles to bypass the barrier and collect inside.

Types of Systems That Work Well

Here are a few styles known for effectiveness in high-needle zones:

Micro-Mesh Guards

Widely regarded as the best option, these systems use ultra-fine mesh layers attached to a strong frame. The mesh blocks pine needles and roof grit while accommodating high volumes of rainwater. Popular brands include LeafFilter, Raptor, and MasterShield.

Reverse Curve Systems

These direct water around a curved edge into the gutter while pushing debris over the side. While effective for leaves and twigs, some pine needles may still cling to the lip. They require professional installation and work best when paired with regular inspection.

Foam Inserts

Budget-friendly and easy to install, foam filters sit inside the gutter and allow water to pass through while catching debris. However, pine needles may get stuck in the foam over time, making them less ideal for long-term use in dense pine environments.

Installation: DIY or Professional?

While some systems are designed for homeowner installation, others require professional tools and techniques. For areas with significant pine coverage, investing in expert installation ensures proper alignment, secure mounting, and optimal water flow.

Additionally, many professional services offer warranties and follow-up inspections that can save you money and time in the long run.

Maintenance Tips for Pine-Prone Areas

Even the best system benefits from occasional upkeep, especially in fall and spring. Here’s how to keep your protection working properly:

Inspect quarterly for accumulated needles, especially after storms.

Clear the top surface using a soft brush or blower—never use pressure washers that could damage mesh.

Flush your downspouts annually to prevent hidden buildup inside.

Look for sagging or gaps at joints, which can occur with older systems.

Following these habits will extend the life of your setup and maintain clear, efficient drainage year-round.

Cost Considerations

Prices vary depending on the material, brand, and whether installation is included. Micro-mesh systems installed by professionals can range from $15 to $30 per linear foot. DIY kits may cost as little as $2 to $5 per foot but typically require more frequent maintenance.

While it might seem like a hefty upfront investment, preventing water damage and reducing ladder climbs will likely pay off within a few years.

Additional Benefits Beyond Debris Control

Choosing the right setup offers more than just relief from clogged gutters:

Fire prevention by keeping dry, flammable debris out of your roofline

Improved home value through enhanced curb appeal and protective upgrades

Pest deterrence by blocking rodents, birds, and insects from nesting in your system

Peace of mind during storm season, knowing your foundation and roofline are secure

These added advantages make this investment a smart choice for long-term home maintenance.

Conclusion

Pine needles present one of the toughest challenges for maintaining clear, functional gutters. Their shape, size, and stubborn nature make traditional covers ineffective in many cases. Fortunately, innovations in design have led to products specifically made to address these issues. By carefully selecting a system tailored to your environment, you can reduce cleaning frequency, improve drainage, and protect your home year-round. For homeowners in wooded areas, Gutter Guards for Pine Needle Protection are not just a convenience—they’re a necessity.

[thevirgodoll]

hi! i was wondering if you have any tips to stay organized and stay on task? i’ve been doing a short online course this year and have really struggled to ACTUALLY bring myself to do the work, as assignments and lessons are not under any time constraints i just don’t do it. i also have adhd so get bored or distracted easily. do you have any tips for me?

This is really close to me because I also have ADHD. I have both inattentive and hyperactive type. *As a result, this academic tip guide will be a guide for people with ADHD and not neurotypical people, without disability. There is a difference.*

I am doing online as well this semester.

1. I create a schedule. If I do not create a schedule, I will be unproductive the entire day. So, what will help you is to do things in orderly fashion.

For example, at 12p - I will do this assignment/watch this lecture. You have to dictate what time you’re doing everything. Then, you also have to block out technology distractions while you are working. 

-> Even if you’ve gotten halfway through the day with no schedule, write down or block off times on your digital calendar for what you are going to do at each time. ADHD is easier to tackle if you break things down into smaller tasks.

*Pro tip that I almost forgot: before you do anything, wear your day clothes. Don’t wear pajamas. Actually getting dressed or even doing hair/makeup changes things.

2. Download the Forest app after you have created your schedule. I consistently recommend this because it works in increasing productivity. It allows you to set it for however long you’re doing this task, say 30 minutes.

-> Why?: It will block all apps on your phone for (insert time here) to plant a tree, and if you leave the app your “tree” will die. Eventually, the more sessions you do, the more points you will gain to plant different plants, and eventually plant real trees around the world.

3. Have a list (& a planner) as well. Not only is the schedule creating structure, but the list creates even more structure so you know what you need to get done for the day. It also helps you not fall victim to the classic symptom of forgetting. Each day, you should write down what you WANT to get done and create your own times to look at lecture and assignments. Have goals for the day.

For example: complete assignment 2.

If you do not have expectations with yourself before the day begins, your ADHD will kind of take over and do something else. I have structure to my day. I set a timer to wake up at the same time. I take my ADHD medicine 90 minutes before my final wake up time, and I do my morning routine once it kicks in. Having the same routine helps.

-> Focus on your goals. Don’t be super harsh about the times.

-> Don’t overwhelm with how many things on to do list. Again, break it up into small tasks. For example, one part being: Wash dishes or fold laundry. It makes it less overwhelming to your brain and gives you a choice of which task. Typical non ADHD people just tell you to prioritize tasks but that doesn’t work for us. Do it in a random order and it gets the job done.

4. TAKE BREAKS! The other side to this is making sure that you give yourself adequate breaks.

*For hyperfocus, wait til your hyperfocus has started to wear off. Use it to your advantage for peak productivity. It is no joke.*

-> The misconception is that some people with ADHD are lazy and as a result, some ADHDers won’t take breaks. You can take a break. Healthy, long breaks do more for you long term.

-> Have a timer set. For example, after a 45 minute session or an hour session, I will take a break to do another task that has nothing to do with studying, like laundry, eating a snack, or stretching. Then after that task is done, I will go back to studying.

5. Have a workspace. Only do work at this space. I do schoolwork at my living room table and it is perfect. I do not study in my room because that is my sanctuary for relaxation and rest, not productivity. Make an effort to make the workspace clean, with your supplies - laptop, notebooks, pens, etc - readily available.

-> Once I get to my workspace, everything for the morning is already done. I’ve done my morning routine, so all there is left to do is hydrate while I study.

6. Recognize if you have adequate energy to do the task. Sometimes, with ADHD you may neglect your needs. If you are not getting enough rest, here are some tips:

•Bed should be for rest only.

•Blackout curtains

•Lavender essential oil, I have a diffuser but you can also put it on your pillow

•Background noise: pick what you want, lo fi music, rain sounds, binaural beats, singing bowls

•If all else fails, ADHD is often comorbid with other illnesses, meaning you could have a form of depression causing insomnia for example. This should be considered if you are having long term issues and symptoms.

7. Don’t overdo it. We are not neurotypical. Executive dysfunction is real - meaning our brains actually shut down when it perceives a task to be mundane.

-> You do not have to fit everything into one schedule for the sake of being “productive”. Each day should be what you know you can do, and there are different days to tackle different goals.

-> When you feel like you cannot continue, which is literally a symptom of ADHD, sit still for a few minutes.

8. Have a “What I Did Today” List. Because of how ADHD actually makes us feel, we don’t realize how much work we have put in. ADHD actually can be explained easily, we have about 2 dopamine workers showing up to work while most people are at maximum capacity. We are working overtime to do our best, even on medicine. So, acknowledging what we did today is good and encouraging, or at least reflecting in a journal.

9. Play music. It’s recommended to play study music without words because with ADHD we will submerge ourselves into the playlist of nostalgic 90s R&B. I recommend lo fi hip hop on YouTube, video game instrumentals, classical music, or jazz instrumentals. Whatever gets you going just do it!

General ADHD tips:

•Rewrite lecture notes and type the lecture notes.

•Color code with bright colors and pretty drawings or calligraphy

•Instead of telling yourself “I need to take notes” which usually leads to procrastination say “Rewrite lecture notes and emphasize main points” ... this is useful in your to do list but in everyday goals

•Generally try to get your assignments done ahead of time if there is structure to certain courses, if not, again, stick to the schedule. If you slip one day off your schedule then don’t beat yourself up. Breathe!!!

•Side effect of most ADHD meds is that you’re not hungry so buy easy things to eat like muscle milk or yogurt and granola or smoothies so you can sustain yourself

•Get a dry erase board to show what you need to do for the day and put it on the fridge with command strips

•To avoid forgetting things, put them at a table near the door where you leave your apartment/dorm/house.

•Don’t overthink the time it takes to get ready, often that’s why ADHDers are late. Better to be super early than late though - have a routine set so you know how long each task takes - for example “I know a shower takes me 15 mins, washing my face takes 60 seconds and a few more including sunscreen/moisturizer, etc...”

•In that same grain, set timers for going to the bathroom, showering, etc just in case you one day hyperfocus and push yourself too far

•Open the blinds!!!!

•Clean your room and tidy up your space. A cluttered space impacts your mental health in a really negative way. Your space reflects your mental state at times as well, so check in with yourself. Have a specific day where you know you’re going to clean, but ADHD sometimes gives us bursts of cleaning so take advantage of that as well.

•Anytime your water bottle empties refill it. Have your water bottle or mason jar next to your workspace, and drink 5-10 gulps. Seriously. ADHD depends a lot on hydration, especially if you are on medicine which naturally dehydrates you. If you do not stay hydrated, you’ll get that massive headache mid day and crash sooner. A lot of times, lack of productivity can be due to not drinking enough water.

•If you don’t take medication, then sometimes you may notice you love coffee, and that’s because it’s a stimulant. Too much of anything is not good, but balance it with water. If you’re going to use coffee to kinda “medicate” then do it close to when you’re going to be productive.

•Setting yourself up to do a task rather than envisioning the overwhelming act of doing the entire action. “Okay, lets just get up and get the first step down, such as opening the laptop or wetting the toothbrush.” Baby steps.

•Take advantage of accommodations! Your college more than likely has an Office of Disability Services. Also, email your professors...they’re actually just as stressed as you about classes being online.

•Remember that you’re already trying as hard as you can, so don’t listen to the narrative of “try harder”, “you’re *r word*”, “you’re cheating by using medication”, “just do it,” “it’s easy,” “what’s so hard about it?” or “you’re lazy”. Anyone telling you that, even yourself, is wrong. And DO NOT allow anyone to be ableist, even yourself.

•Validate yourself. Don’t let anyone to do the “I experience that too”/“I know what you mean”/“we ALL have trouble with this!” and they don’t have ADHD. No. It’s our experience, it’s valid, and unlike anything on the planet. If you’re reading this and you don’t have ADHD - no, you do not experience any of the things in my next bullet point.

•Don’t be hard on yourself if you stumble along the way getting this right. ADHD completely changes your executive functioning.

We see the task, but our brain blocks it.

We have something marked down as “important” but our brain tosses it out in the “trash”.

We watch an entire episode of a show, but our brain ignored the entire thing. Our brain picks and chooses what is stimulating, our brain changes our interests.

We have sensory overload, we have no dopamine, we have bursts of curiosity that cannot be contained (often inconvenient) and if interrupted, our brains cannot take it.

People often discount how many things ADHD actually changes because it’s widely misunderstood. I want to take the time to acknowledge that ADHD, formerly known as simply ADD, has different types: primarily inattentive, primarily hyperactive-impulsive, or combined which is what I have. So it’s not “hyper” and “relatable”. It is also not a buzzword to use to describe things. I must put stereotypes and misrepresentations of ADHD to rest.

It impacts us emotionally as well, which most people don’t know... such as rejection dysphoria — extreme sensitivity to being criticized to where our brains self destruct. Our brains don’t regulate emotions well.

ADHDers - do not fall victim to how everyone else operates and call yourself a failure. We have to work twice as hard and the results actually come out brilliant especially with our determination and imaginative ideas that are also seen in autistic individuals, honorable mention!

There’s good days and bad days. There’s literal changes in thinking that other people do not experience. We all collectively know wouldn’t be who we are without ADHD, but we all recognize the challenges. However, it makes me happy to see messages like this so that I can make a difference and hopefully help one person with ADHD, especially of color, at a time stop being so hard on themselves. 💗

[malachi-walker]

Happy birthday, Mal! I love your fics, they evoke so much emotion in me and have made me cry many a time. I don't often reread fics, but i've reread multiple chapters of Rhythm and Blues because they're stuck with me so much. You capture the emotional pain of their trauma and the catharsis that comes with their growth so beautifully. You also write some brilliant meta and just consistently post some fantastic thoughts. Also your love for swords is very appreciated. <3 have a lovely day!

First of all, my apologies for not replying sooner. I was making my mind up about something that would definitely require the use of a read more and thus necessitate dragging myself to desktop (which I hate because my laptop predates the dinosaurs.)

But seriously. Thank you so much. This is honestly one of the sweetest comments I've ever gotten and definitely made my already pretty sweet bday even better.

So about that read more. In honor of you, @metalesbo, my friends @n7punk and @jem-jarrett and everyone else who sent me well wishes or just really loves my work... Here's the opening section of the next chapter of R&B. Enjoy. It's a long one.

Adora Eternia is about two months shy of her fourteenth birthday when she first realizes she's in love with her best friend.

Though--if asked--she would hasten to explain that it wasn't when she fell in love. But trying to pinpoint the exact moment is an exercise in catching mist: the more she tries to grasp it in her hands the more it spreads out and covers everything. It just is: pure and simple and very, very complicated.

It's the beginning of December and the whole town is covered in a thick blanket of snow. Winterfest will be here in a few weeks, so to help out the kids who want to get gifts for their friends the Right Zone administration has shuffled around the groups that usually take their monthly trips on the third and fourth Sundays of the month to double up with the other two. As part of group three, she and Catra got the first week (the other three members of their crew are week two folks anyway and thus outside the reorganization.)

It's still kinda weird to think that: their crew. For so long, it was just Catra and Adora. Adora and Catra. One unit bound together, just them against the world. But there's also something nice about being part of a small cluster, their "scrappy little lone wolf pack" as Catra had once put it with a wry grin before Lonnie shoved her over with an, "Excuse you, I'm a great people person when I'm not busy making sure you idiots haven't set yourselves on fire!"

They all got a good laugh out of that one.

But regardless, the holidays are coming up and this is the first year that any of their group has felt like actually doing anything for it, aside from wrangling together a sleepover and seeing if they can convince the kitchen staff to slip them some leftover eggnog.

They made each other promise not to go too extravagant and keep each person's gift to ten dollars or lower. Even though their quarterly stipend has increased from three hundred to four hundred to match with inflation over the past eight years, it still isn't a whole lot for three month's worth of expenses, especially when they also have to budget regularly for clothes to keep up with the seemingly endless growth spurts.

There's also the usual budgetary concern of keeping her and Catra's first aid kit well supplied...

Adora shakes her head to dislodge the intrusive thought and continues marching onward through the snow. This trip is a good thing. She won't let all the awful realities of their life taint it.

With so many kids running around and wanting to shop on their own to surprise their giftees, Right Zone had to negotiate with both the local police and whatever other civic authorities they could get ahold of to come out en masse and keep an eye on them all. The kids had still come with their usual teachers, of course, but doubling the load and also splitting up was a logistical nightmare. Which is just a convoluted way to say the town is positively crawling with uniformed officers, off duty members of the fire brigade, emergency personnel, and other such authority figures quietly keeping watch and making sure no one tries anything.

Adora knows that somewhere in the press of bodies, Grizzlor's busy wrangling two new "brats" (seven and nine, respectively, and definitely not friends.) Somewhere, a certain Magicat is probably grumbling over the indignity of being forced to wear shoes and kicking every snowpile she can, like she can send a direct message to whatever cosmic force is responsible for her current frustration.

On an ordinary month she and Catra--being old enough to be allowed a bit more freedom to do what they want--would buddy up to watch each other's backs while they did their shopping. But this isn't an ordinary month, so once they'd each gotten gifts for the other three they'd split up on opposite ends of Main Street with an agreement to move clockwise to avoid running into each other. Afterwards, the entire group would rendezvous at the small clock tower in the park a block over before heading back to Right Zone.

Ten dollars wasn't a lot to work with, but Adora had done her best: a new stress ball for Kyle, some moisturizing oil for Rogelio since the early winter shed had wiped out his supply and he'd been too busy to pick up some more, a twelve pound kettle weight for Lonnie now that their shared exercise routine was getting a bit too easy for her... Utilitarian choices, to be sure, but she's been paying attention and that has to count for something.

Catra's the difficult one, of course. Partly because Adora doesn't want to just get her something practical, but also because they share nearly everything between them already. About the only thing that is definitively off limits is Catra's guitar, and she's told Adora enough about her time with Tao over the years that Adora wouldn't even ask. Beyond that... Well, there's a reason why most of Adora's day off hoodies have small strands of orange fur stuck to them.

Still. I want to get her something that's hers. Something she'll like. Something she doesn't have to share with anyone, not even me.

In the end, she nearly walks past it. In one of the artisanal shops that dot small towns like liver spots, she finds a display of hand stamped necklace pendants, with a design sheet beside it. There are a lot of the usual nature designs and such, but the one that catches her eye is a treble clef with the five staff lines bleeding out from it. They ring the edge of the pendant in a half circle, and scattered haphazardly along the lines are the other music notes.

The lack of proper order would drive Adora insane. She understands that it's just meant to look pretty, not be an accurate representation of musical notation, but still... She knows her own (broken) brain well enough to know that.

It suits Catra, though.

"Hey," Mismatched eyes looked down at Adora as her head draped backwards over the back of their desk chair, the throbbing behind her left eye threatening to escalate into a migraine. "Guess I don't have to ask how the composing's going."

"It sucks," Adora groused back, sitting up and gesturing Catra over. She jabbed at two particular spots with the half chewed off eraser end of her pencil, two hard jabs each, like she was filing a complaint. "Most of it is just what I'm going for, but these two places here... They aren't sounding right. I've been going back and forth over structure all afternoon, but nothing I do helps."

"Hmmm..." Catra stroked her chin and nudged Adora over so she could sit on the arm of the chair (they'd never gotten around to requesting a second, mostly because Adora didn't want to risk Shadow Weaver suspecting they were getting too chummy.) "Got any scratch paper?"

Adora pointed to the pile of half crumpled notebook paper she used when making adjustments and Catra snorted. "Ok, dumb question. Just let me see here..."

Grabbing a pen, she quickly inked a fresh set of staff lines and copied the notes Adora had already put down, making sure to leave space to work. Glancing between the two, she drummed her fingers on the desk, playing along in her head.

"Hmm..." Catra murmured, worrying at her lower lip with a fang in a manner that was... Oddly distracting. "Ok, how 'bout this?"

Adora jolted, tearing her gaze from Catra's face to look at the sequence of notes scribbled onto the scratch paper. She paused, brow furrowing as she played them over in her mind's eye. It was a little unorthodox, veering away from the path she had carefully laid out... But also blending well with the next part. Almost like the notes took a quick detour and then lead the listener back to where she wanted them.

"Yeah..." Adora replied thoughtfully, the tension all over her body starting to smooth out. "Yeah, that could work."

"Awesome. Let's take a look at the next part."

They ultimately ended up spending several hours going over the entire piece, sussing out every place where Adora was having even the slightest niggle of unease. She didn't accept all of Catra's changes and Catra didn't push the matter, but the ones she did...

They felt right. More right than they had ever felt when it was just Adora running circles around herself.

When they finally finished up she looked over at Catra, tail waving sedately in that way it got when she was simultaneously engaged but relaxed, and asked, "Umm... Do you want to learn with me? I like doing this."

'I like making music with you.'

Catra paused, looking over at Adora searchingly, almost like she couldn't believe the question had come up. No matter how many years had passed between them, that look never really went away, and every time she saw it Adora's chest ached in a way that was hard for her to process.

"I'd like that."

Catra's composing style is very different from Adora's. More wild, more willing to bend and break the rules if it means maintaining audience engagement, but there's always an underlying order to the chaos. To her surprise and pleasure, Adora found herself learning just as much from Catra as Catra was learning from her. Their styles brought out the best in each other.

The jingle of a bell kicks her out of the memory. Mind made up even though it's nearly double her budget, Adora scans the stand of necklaces for the one with the treble clef pattern.

It isn't there. Adora swallows down the disappointment, though she can't help the sigh. Of course. The town was well aware of the large population of music students a short drive away and catered to them accordingly. But there are also dozens of kids out on the street tonight. It isn't that big of a surprise that the design sold out.

Not surprising, but disheartening nonetheless.

She's just begun to turn away when a voice calls from the back. "Hang on a sec there, little miss."

Adora jumps, but remains where she is as a large Taurian man with a massive snow white beard trundles out from a door behind the counter, wiping his hands on his apron. "Was there a particular design you were interested in?"

Adora points at the treble clef, hope rising. "This one. But it looks like it's already sold out."

"Hmm..." The man scratchs at his chin. "Well with Winterfest coming up, I'm out of blank pendants-"

Adora's shoulders slump.

"-But," The man continues with a smile. "I can double stamp it onto the back of another. Ordinarily I'd charge extra for that, but it's my fault for not ordering enough blanks. Rookie move. Besides, it's the holidays. Now would that be all right by you?"

Nodding frantically in case he changes his mind, Adora scans the other designs, quickly alighting on one in particular. "That one!"

"The claw marks? Bit of an odd combination, but the customer is always right," The old man winked as he reached out to take the necklace from her. "My jig and press is in the corner over here if you wanna watch."

Adora was glad he specified, because as nice as the man seemed there was no way in hell she was going into a back room with a stranger. But she stood next to the window beside a display of miscellaneous knick knacks and puzzles, watching him carefully place the pendant in a cushioned stand to avoid damaging the already printed side and tighten it into place before moving beside the machine.

"You're gonna want to cover your ears," He tells her, patting the machine with one massive hand. "Had to switch to a steam press when the arthritis caught up to me. Used to do it all by hammer. This boy's okay, but he gets loud."

Adora nods, glad for the warning when he bellows "Clear!" and the machine's hammer comes down once, twice, three times with a sound like the ringing of an enormous bell. Once the machine is stopped and carefully turned off, the old man removes the pendant from the press and hands it over to Adora for inspection. "What do you think? Does it pass muster?"

Adora runs her fingertips over the impressions in the metal, memorizing the feel of it, the leftover warmth of the impact. "Perfect."

"Good. Now let's get you rung up."

Counting the five dollars she attempted to surreptitiously slip into the tip jar (the old man winked as he turned back around, so stealth fail) Adora went very over budget, but the others would have to put a gun to her head for her to admit it.

Besides, it's Catra. They already know she's the sole exception to all of Adora's carefully maintained rules.

With everything finished, she continues trudging through the snow toward the park, breathing a sign of relief as she moves away from the shopping district and the people thin out; no one wanting to go to the park in the middle of such bleak weather. Angling around a clustered group of bare trees, she spots the small clock tower in the distance, as well as the figure already standing beside it. Grinning, Adora picks up the pace a bit until she can see Catra clearly and--

Her breath catches.

Since her only experience with this kind of thing has been through books, Adora always expected this moment would be more dramatic. Like back to back in the middle of a fight, or eyes locking from up on stage. Something spectacular, like fireworks, lime explosions, like the feeling of playing a song without a single mistake for the first time. It's always seemed like such a big deal in the stories, and in a way, it is.

Because there's Catra, lost in her own world as she gazes up at the streetlight that's just come on, her left hand extended to let the snowflakes fall into her palm and the light catches the orange of her fur just right to make a blaze of color against the black of her coat. She looks so small, standing in that space all alone on a cold winter's night, but Adora knows deep down that she could never be that small, not when she's Catra, not when she means so much...

Pretty much everything about the past hour--about her entire life since they met if she's being honest--snaps into crystal clear focus.

Oh. I get it now. I'm in love with you.

It's a bad idea. Adora knows that. Shadow Weaver is enough of a menace while believing Catra is simply her roommate, her sometime tool--and Catra had ended up being all too right about the torture not stopping, even after years of Adora trying to direct Weaver's attentions away from her. If the evil old bitch figures out Adora's feelings run deeper, so much deeper...

Her heart beats double time. This whole thing is an unmitigated disaster.

But it's still the best worst thing that's ever happened to her.

She must make a noise, because Catra's ear twitches in her direction, snapping her out of that distant contemplation. She turns her head and looks at Adora, lips curling in a lopsided grin. "Hey, Adora. Wow, you look like you've seen a ghost."

Adora blinks, coming back to herself and mumbling the first excuse that springs to mind. "... Just cold."

"Well no shit. C'mere."

When she closes the distance Catra glances around warily, making sure they're the only ones around, before reaching up and retying the scarf around Adora's neck, patting it once when she's done. "There. I know I make it look good, but you don't have the advantage of fur like me."

Adora looks down at the thin AC/DC t-shirt that Catra's wearing beneath her half open coat, the line of her collarbones and neck, and makes a snap decision. "Is it okay if I give you your present now?"

Catra blinks, a little thrown by the non sequitur. "I mean... Sure? Do you want me to give you yours?"

"I'm good with either," Adora shrugs, trying to ignore how fast her heart is beating, how much she wants to do this before this moment slips away. "I just want to."

There's a long moment of silence as they each examine the other, equally searching. What Catra's looking for, Adora doesn't know. She isn't sure she wants to know.

"Okay."

Breathing deep, Adora reaches into her pocket and pulls out the necklace on its leather cord. Careful to keep the pendant hidden in her hand, she passes it over, fingertips sparking as it's taken. Catra brings it close to her face, running her fingers over the four parallel slashes on the side facing her.

"Why the claw marks?"

Adora laughs, nervous butterflies positively rioting in her stomach. "Because you're a badass. Duh."

"True," Catra smirks, flipping it over and squinting at the other side. "And this?"

"Badass, loves music with all your heart. Not mutually exclusive concepts," Adora says, trying not to give away how much she thinks about this, how much she wants to take that hand in hers. She settles for a playful shoulder bump instead. "Plus we all know you're secretly a big softie."

"Excuse you, I am all sharp edges," Catra giggles, lightly elbowing her before transitioning into a soft little smile. "... Just not with everyone."

Oh God oh God oh God. That smile will absolutely be the death of her.

Swallowing past her horrible awareness of that softness, Adora asks, "So you like it?"

"I love it. Good luck ever getting me to take it off," Catra laughs, then frowns, flexing her fingers. "Hands have gone a little numb, though. Help me put it on?"

Adora.exe promptly crashes to desktop. But she still somehow manages to move, helping Catra hold back her mane so she can slip the leather cord over her head and tuck it beneath her hair. If she hesitates a moment too long in letting go, at least Catra only shoots her an amused glance. "How's it look?"

"Great," Adora manages to croak out, trying to swallow past the sudden dryness in her throat. "You look great. Umm... Happy early Winterfest, I guess?"

"Well, I'm gonna hold onto yours a little longer," Catra laughs, playfully sticking out her tongue before reaching out. "C'mere, you big dork."

Adora shuffles closer, mind and heart both screaming as Catra draws her into a hug, nuzzling her head against the side of her neck. A little whisper. "Thank you."

Adora swallows again, even harder. "You're welcome."

Between them, the necklace rests, the music side pressed right up against Catra's heart.

----------

Fun fact: the shopkeep is based off a cool old dude selling machine pressed necklaces I ran into at a Scottish festival when I was 13, and he made such an impression I never forgot him. Anyway, happy Valentine's! Have a Big Gay Realization!

[therealmadblonde]

October 22

A chihuahua?” The Thing in the Circle suggested. “Just for laughs?”

“Nope,” I answered. “Language barrier.”

“Come on!” it said. “I’m almost strong enough to break out of here on my own now. It won’t go well with you if you keep me till I do.”

“‘Almost,’” I said, “isn’t good enough.”

It growled. I growled back. It flinched. I was still in control.

The Thing in the Steamer Trunk had become a lot more active, too, glaring at me through its aperture. And we had to install a sliding bar on the wardrobe in the attic, as the Thing there succeeded in breaking the latch. But I drove it back again. I was still in control there, too.

I went outside then, checking for foci of interference. Finding nothing untoward, I walked over to Larry’s place, intending to bring him up to date on everything and to see what news he might have. I halted as it came into sight, though. The Enderby coach was parked out front, the heavy man beside it. Had I let this go on too long? What might the Great Detective find so fascinating here that it warranted a return visit? Nothing I could do now, of course.

I turned and walked back.

When I reached the neighborhood I found Graymalk waiting in my yard.

“Snuff,” she said, “have you been calculating?”

“Only in my head,” I replied. “I think it might be easier to work this one out from a vantage.”

“What vantage?”

“Dog’s Nest,” I said. “If you’re interested, come on.”

She fell into step beside me. The air was damp, the sky gray. A wind gusted out of the northeast.

We passed Owen’s place and Cheeter chattered at us from a branch: “Odd couple! Odd couple!” he called. “Opener, closer! Opener, closer!” We did not respond. Let the divinators have their day.

“It is an odd curse you are under,” Graymalk remarked after a long while.

“Say rather that we are the keepers of a curse. Perhaps more than one. If you live long enough, these things have a way of accumulating. How do you know of it?”

“Jack said something of it to the mistress.”

“How strange. It is not usually a thing we speak of.”

“There must be a reason.”

“Of course.”

“So you have been present at more than one. You have played the Game — many times?”

“Yes.”

“Do you think he might be trying to persuade her to change — orientation?”

“Yes.”

“I wonder what it would be like?”

We passed Rastov’s place but did not stop. On the road, later, MacCab went by, a stick in his hand. He raised it as we neared, and I snarled at him. He lowered it and muttered a curse. I am used to curses, and no one can tell when I smile.

We continued into the countryside, coming at length to my hill. There we climbed to the place of fallen and standing stones. Southward of us, the black clouds rumbled and glared above the Good Doctor’s house. The winds were stronger at this height, and as I paced the circle a small rain began to descend. Graymalk crouched on the dry side of a block of stone, watching me as I took my sightings.

Out of the southwest, I took my line from the distant graveyard, extending it to all of the other points of residence in view or in mind. Then, from the place where lay the Count’s remains, I did it again. In my mind, I beheld the new design. This pulled the center away from the manse, downward, southward, passing us, coming to rest ahead, slightly to the left. I stood stock-still, the rain forgotten, as I worked it out, repeating the process line by line, seeing that center shift, positing where it had to fall…

Again, the same area. But there was nothing there, no outstanding feature. Just a hillside, a few trees and rocks upon it. No structures at all nearby.

“Something’s wrong,” I muttered.

“What is it?” Graymalk said.

“I don’t know. It’s just not right. In the past, they’ve always at least been interesting, acceptable candidates. But this is — nothing. Just a dull stretch of field to the south and a little to the west.”

“All of the other candidates have also been wrong,” she said, coming over, “no matter how interesting.” She mounted a nearby stone. “Where is it?”

“Over there,” I said, pointing with my head. “To the right of those five or six trees clustered on that hillside.”

She stared.

“You’re right,” she said. “It doesn’t look particularly promising. You sure you calculated correctly?”

“Double-checked,” I answered.

She returned to her shelter again, as the rain suddenly grew more forceful. I followed her.

“I suppose we must visit it,” she said a little later. “After this lets up, of course.” She began licking herself. She hesitated.

“I just thought of something,” she said. “The Count’s skeleton. Was that big ring he wore still upon his finger?”

“No,” I said. “Whoever did him in doubtless collected it.”

“Then someone’s probably doubly endowed.”

“Probably.”

“That would make him stronger, wouldn’t it?”

“Only in technical prowess. It might make him more vulnerable, too.”

“Well, the technical end of things counts for something.”

“It does.”

“Do the Games always get confusing at some point? Do they mess up the players’ thinking, ideas, values?”

“Always. Especially as events begin to cascade and accelerate near the end. We create a kind of vortex about us just by being here and doing certain things. Your confusion may trip you up. Somebody else’s confusion may save you.”

“You’re saying that it gets weird, but it all cancels out?”

“Pretty much, I think. Till the end, of course.”

There came a flash of light from nearby, followed by an instant crack of thunder. The Good Doctor’s storm was spreading. Abruptly, the wind shifted, and we were drenched by the sudden pelting.

We bounded across the way immediately, into the shelter of a much larger stone.

Sitting there, miserable in the special way that wetness brings, my gaze was suddenly fixed upon the side of the stone. There, brought out perhaps by the moisture, a series of scratchings and irregularities now appeared to be somewhat more than that.

“Well, I hope the whole gang of them appreciates all this trouble,” she said, “Nyarlathotep, Chthulu, and all the rest of the unpronounceables. Makes me wish I had a nice simple job catching mice for some farmer’s wife — ”

Yes, they were characters in some alphabet I did not know, incised there, worn faint, emphasized suddenly as the trickling water darkened the stone in some places, bringing out contrasts. Even as I watched, they seemed to be growing clearer.

Then I drew back, for they began to glow with a faint red light. They continued to brighten.

“Snuff,” she said then, “why’re you standing in the rain?” Then her gaze moved to follow my own, and she added, “Uh-oh! Think they heard me?”

Now they were ablaze, those letters, and they began to flow as if reading themselves. Excess light formed itself into a high rectangular perimeter about them.

“I was only joking, you know,” she said softly.

The interior of the rectangle took on a milky light. A part of me wanted to bolt and run, but another part stood fascinated by the process. Unfortunately, it was the latter part that seemed to be in control. Graymalk stood like a shadowy statue, staring.

Deep within it then came a roiling, and I suppose it must be called a premonition, for suddenly that other part of me was in control again. I sprang forward, seized Graymalk by the nape of her neck with my teeth and sprang away to the right. Just as I did, a flare of lightning sprang from the rectangle and fell upon the area we had occupied but moments before. I stumbled, feeling a small shock, feeling my hair rise. Graymalk wailed, and the air smelled of ozone.

“I guess they’re kind of touchy,” I said, rising to my feet and falling again.

Then I felt the wind swirling about us, ten times stronger than it had been earlier. I tried again to get to my feet and was again knocked down. I glanced back at the stone, saw that the roiling had subsided, that another lightning bolt might not be imminent. Instead, a faint outline hung there, of a silver key. I crawled nearer to Graymalk. The wind increased in intensity. Somewhere, a voice came chanting, “Iä! Shub-Niggurath! The Black Goat of the Wood with a Thousand Young!”

“What’s happening?” she wailed.

“Someone opened a gate to provide means for expressing disapproval of your remark,” I suggested. “That’s done now, but the door hasn’t swung shut yet. That’s what I think.”

She leaned against me, back arched, ears flat, fur risen. The wind, stronger still, was pushing against us now, near to the point of irresistibility. I began to slide across the ground in the direction of the gate, dragging her with me.

“I’ve a feeling it’ll close too late!” she cried. “We’re going through!”

She turned then and leaped upon me, clinging with all four paws to my neck. Her claws were very sharp.

“We mustn’t separate!” she said.

“Agreed!” I choked, as I began sliding faster.

I was able to gather my feet beneath me as we moved. Rather than being pushed through, willy-nilly, some measure of grace might provide a survival edge.

It was easy to stop thinking of it as a rock wall that we were approaching, for there were obvious depths to it, though no clear features presented, and the image of the key had already faded. What lay beyond, I’d no idea; that we were going to go through, I’d no doubt. Better a little dignity then…

Straightening my legs, I leaped forward. Into the breach. Into the mist…

…Into the silence. Immediately, as we passed through, the sounds of wind and rainfall ceased. We did not come to rest upon a hard surface, or any other surface. We were suspended in a place of pearl gray light — or, if we fell, there was no sensation of falling. My legs were still extended — forward and back, as if I were leaping a fence — and while misty eddies and currents, faint as high clouds, played about us, my sense of motion was paradoxical; that is, by turning my head in any direction, I could create the feeling of pursuing a different vector.

I did turn my head to the rear in time to see the rectangle fade behind us, paling stones and grass within it. Dotted about the place where it had been, as well as about ourselves, droplets of rain and a few leaves and strands of grass hung in the air. Or perhaps we were all falling together, or rising, depending on —

Graymalk gave a little wail, then looked about. I felt her relax after that, then she said, “It is important that we not be parted here.”

“You know where we are?” I asked.

“Yes. I’m sure I will land on my feet, but I don’t know about you. Let me move around onto your back. We’ll both be more comfortable that way.”

She worked her way about my neck then, finally settling into a position behind my shoulders. She did retract her claws as she settled.

“Where,” I said, “are we?”

“I see now that something tried to help me as we were being swept forward,” she said. “This is not of a piece with the lightning stroke. But the way was opened and he seized it as a means of rescue. Possibly there is even more to it than that.”

“I’m afraid I don’t understand you,” I told her.

“We are between our place and the Dreamworld now,” she said. “You have been here before?”

“Yes, but not right here recently.”

“It feels as if we could drift here forever.”

“I suppose that we could.”

“So how do we go ahead — or go back?”

“My memories of this part are all scattered. If we do not like where we find ourselves, we withdraw and try again. I will try it now. Call to me if anything too unnatural occurs.”

With that, she grew silent, and while I waited for whatever sequel was to ensue I thought back over the events which had brought us to this place. It struck me as odd that her mere disparaging mention of the Elders had not only been heard, but that whichever had taken umbrage thereby had been strong enough to do something about it. True, the power was rising in this, a most powerful time, but I wondered at such profligacy with it when there must have been multitudes of better uses to which it might be put — unless it were simply another instance of that famous inscrutability which I sometimes think is to be better understood as childishness. Then a possibility struck sparks deep within my mind, but I had to let it go, unexamined, as alterations began about me.

There came a brightening from overhead — nothing as patent as a single light source, but an increasing contrast to the darker area below my feet. I said nothing about it to Graymalk, for I had resolved not to address her — barring emergencies — until she spoke. But I studied that light. There was something familiar about it, from driftings off and awakenings perhaps…

Then I realized it to be an outline, as on a map, of a continent or island — perhaps two or more — hanging there, as in a skiey distance, overhead. This did peculiar things to my orientation, and I struggled to alter my physical relationship to it. I moved my legs and twisted, trying to turn my body so as to look downward rather than up at it.

It was almost too easy, for there followed an immediate turning. The view became clearer, the land masses larger, as we seemed to drift nearer, topographical features resolving themselves against a field of blue, wispy swirls of cloud hung above prominences, along coasts, a pair of large islands surmounted by great peaks between the two greater masses — to the west, if what seemed upward along the vertical axes were indeed north. No reason that it should be, of course, nor, for that matter, that it shouldn’t.

Graymalk began to mutter then, in a flat, affectless tone, “.    To the west of the

Southern Sea lie the Basalt Pillars, beyond them the city of Cathuria. East, the coast is green and home to fishers’ towns. South, from the black towers of Dylath-Leen is the land of white fungi where the houses are brown and have no windows; beneath the waters there, on still days, one can see the avenue of crippled sphinxes leading to the dome of the great sunken temple. To the north again, one may behold the charnel gardens of Zura, place of unattained pleasures, the templed terraces of Zak, the double headlands of crystal at the harbor of Sona-Nyl, the spires of Thalarion…”

As she spoke we came even nearer, and my attention was taken from spot to spot along the coasts of that sea, those features somehow magnified across the distances, so that I beheld things with the vision of dreaming; though a part of me was baffled by this arcane phenomenon, yet another accepted with a feeling more of memory than discovery.

“…Dylath-Leen,” she mused, “where the wide-mouthed traders with the strange turbans come for their slaves and gold, anchoring black galleys whose stench only the smoking of thagweed can kill, paying with rubies, departing with the powerful oar strokes of invisible rowers. Southwest then to Thran of the sloping alabaster walls, unjoined, and its cloud-catching towers all white and gold, there by the River Shai, wharves all of marble…

“And there lies the granite-walled city of Hlanith, on the shores of the Cerenerian Sea. Its wharves are of oak, its houses peaked and gabled…

“There, the perfumed jungle of Kled,” she went on, “where lost, ivory palaces sleep undisturbed, once home to monarchs of a forgotten kingdom.

“…And up the Oukranos River from the Cerenerian Sea slope the jasper terraces of Kiran, where the king of Ilek-Vad comes once a year in a golden palanquin, to pray to the god of the river in the seven-towered temple whence music drifts whenever moonlight falls upon it.”

We moved steadily closer as she spoke, drifting now over vast regions — brown, yellow, green…

“…Baharna is eleven days sailing from Dylath-Leen, most important port on the island of Oriab, the great lighthouses Thon and Thal at its harbor’s gate, quays all of porphyry. There is its canal to Lake Yath, of the ruined city. It flows through a tunnel with granite doors. The hill-people ride zebras…Westward lies the Valley of Pnoth, amid the peaks of Throk. There the slimy dholes burrow among the mountains of bones, cast refuse of ghouls from centuries of their feasting…That peak to the south is Ngranek, two days’ ride on zebraback from Baharna, if one would brave the nightgaunts. Those who dare Ngranek’s slopes will come at last to a vast face carved there, with long-lobed ears and pointed nose and chin. It does not appear to be happy.

“…And back to the northern land, fine Ulthar lies near the River Shai, beyond a great

stone bridge in whose arch a living man was sealed when it was built, thirteen hundred years ago. It is a city of neat cottages and cobbled streets where wander cats without number, for the enlightened legislators of long ago laid down laws for our protection. A good, kind village, where travelers take their ease and pet the cats, making much of them, which is as it should be.

“…And there is Urg of the low domes, a stop on the way to Inquanok, frequented by onyx miners…

“…And Inquanok itself, terrible place near the waste of Leng, its houses like palaces with pointed domes and minarets, pyramids, gold walls black with scrolls and swirling with inlays of gold, fluted, arched, capped with gold. Its streets are of onyx, and when the great bell sounds it is answered by the music of horns and viols and chanting voices. High up its central hill lies the massive temple of the Elder Ones, surrounded by its seven-gated garden of pillars, fountains, pools wherein luminous fish sport themselves and reflections of tripods from the temple balcony shimmer and dance. The temple itself bears a great belfry atop its flattened dome, and when the bell sounds masked and hooded priests emerge, bearing steaming bowls to lodges beneath the ground. The Veiled King’s palace rises on a nearby hill. He rides forth through bronze gates in a yak-drawn chariot. Beware the father of Shantak-birds who dwells in the temple’s dome. Stare too long and he sends you nightmares. Avoid fair Inquanok. No cat may dwell there, for many of its shadows are poison to our kind.

“..And there is Sarkomand, beyond the Leng Plateau. One mounts salt-covered steps to its basalt walls and docks, temples and squares, column-lined streets, to the place where the sphinx-mounted gates open to its central plaza and two monumental winged lions guard the top of the stairwell leading to the Great Abyss.”

We drifted even lower now, and it was as if I could hear the winds that blow between the worlds as she continued her litany of Dreamworld geography.

“…On the way to Kadath we cross the terrible wasteland of Leng, where, in the great windowless monastery surrounded by monoliths, dwells the High Priest of Dreamworld, his face hidden by a yellow silk mask. His building is older than history, bearing frescoes of the story of Leng; barely human creatures dance amid gone cities, the war with the purple spiders, the landing of the black galleys from the moon…

“…And we pass Kadath itself, enormous city of ice and mystery, capital of this land…

“…Coming at last to fair Celephais in the land of Ooth-Nargai on the shores of the Cerenerian Sea. ”

Now we swooped very low, above a snowcapped peak.

“…Mount Aran,” she intoned, and I saw ginkgo trees upon its lower reaches; then, in the distance, marble walls, minarets, bronze statues. “The Naraxa River joins the sea here. There in the distance lie the Tanarian peaks. That turquoise temple down the Street of Pillars is where the high priest worships Nath-Horthoth. And so we find our way to the place where I have been summoned.”

We dropped steadily then, to touch the bright-cut onyx-stone of the street. Immediately, there were sounds about us once again other than the wind, breezes that I could feel.

Graymalk leaped from my back, alighting beside me, shook herself, and stared.

“You wander these lands in dreams of catnappery?” I said.

“Sometimes,” she replied, “and sometimes elsewhere. And yourself?”

“I think that sometimes I might have.”

She turned in a complete circle, paused, then began walking. I followed. We walked for a long while; none among the merchants and camel drivers or orchid- wreathed priests disturbed our passing.

“There is no time here,” she remarked.

“I believe you,” I answered, and sailors passed us from the pink-vapored harbor and sunlight sparkled upon the streets, the minarets. I saw no other dogs about, smelled none.

In the distance, a blinding spectacle came into view and we made our way toward it. “The rose-crystal Palace of the Seventy Delights,” she said, “whence he has called.”

And so we walked toward it, and it was as if a part of me normally awake were sleeping and part of me normally asleep were awake, a reversal which led to easy acceptance of wonder, to easy forgetting of daylong movements and concerns these past several weeks.

The crystal palace grew before us, gleaming like a piece of pink ice, so that I looked past it rather than directly at it. Our way became more quiet as we approached, and the sun was warm.

When we came into its precincts, I beheld a small, gray form — the only other living thing in sight — sunning itself on the terrace before the palace, head upraised, regarding us. Graymalk led us that way. It proved to be an ancient cat, lying on a square of black onyx.

Drawing near and prostrating herself, she said, “Hail, High Purring One.”

“Graymalk, daughter,” he answered. “Hello. Rise, please.”

She did, saying, “I believe that I felt your presence at the time of an Elder One’s wrath. Thank you.”

“Yes. I have been watching for all of your month,” he said. “You know why.”

“I do.”

He turned his head, antique yellow eyes meeting my own. I lowered my head out of respect for his venerability, and because Graymalk obviously regarded him as someone of great importance.

“You come in the company of a dog.”

“Snuff is my friend,” she said. “He pulled me out of a well, cast me back from the Elder One’s lightning.”

“Yes, I saw him move you when it fell, right before I decided to call you here. He is welcome. Hello, Snuff.”

“Hello — sir,” I answered.

Slowly, the old cat rose to his feet, arched his back, stretched low, righted himself.

“Times,” he said, “are complicated just now. You have entered an unusual design. Come walk with me, daughter, that I may impart a small wisdom concerning the final day. For some things seem too small for the Great Ones’ regard, and a cat may know that which the Elder Gods do not.”

She glanced at me, and since few can tell when I am smiling, I nodded my head.

They strolled along into the temple itself, and I wondered whether, somewhere, an ancient wolf in a high, craggy place were watching us, always alert, his only message, “Keep watching, Snuff, always.” I could almost hear his timeless growl from the places beneath thought.

I sniffed about, waiting. It was hard to tell how long they were gone in a place without time. But it followed that it should not seem to take long. Nor did it.

When I saw them emerge, I wondered again at the strangeness which had paired me in friendship with an opener. And a cat, at that.

Coming up to me, I saw that Graymalk was almost disturbed, or at least puzzled, by the way she raised her right paw and regarded it.

“This way now,” the old one stated, and he looked at me as he said it, so I knew that I was included in the invitation.

He led us up an alleyway beside the Palace of Seventy Delights, where fluted dustbins of umber, aquamarine, and russet, their sides inscribed with delicate traceries of black and silver, handles of malachite, jade, porphyry, and chrysoberyl stood, holding forgotten mysteries of the temple. Purple rats fled our approach, and a single lid shivered, emitting a bell-like tone which echoed from the rose-crystal wall.

“In here,” he told us, and we followed him into a darkened recess which held a temple postern. Beside it, a less substantial door quivered upon the crystal wall — a churning milkiness beginning within its suddenly apparent rectangle there as we approached.

When we came up before it, he turned to me.

“As you have been a friend of one of my own,” he said, “I would give you a boon of knowledge. Ask me anything.”

“What does tomorrow hold for me?” I said. He blinked once.

Then, “Blood,” he said. “Seas and messes of it all around you. And you will lose a friend. Go now through the gate.”

Graymalk stepped into the rectangle, was gone. “Thanks, I guess,” I said.

“Carpe baculum!” he added as I followed, somehow knowing that I recalled a bit of my Latin, and doubtless getting some obscure cat-laugh out of telling me to fetch a stick in a classical language. You get used to little digs from cats about being a dog, though I’d thought their boss might be above that sort of thing. Still, he is a cat, and he probably hadn’t seen a dog in a long time and just couldn’t resist.

“Et cum spiritu tuo,” I replied, moving forward and entering.

“Benedicte,” I heard his distant response as I drifted again in that place between worlds.

“What was all that business at the end?” Graymalk called back to me.

“He gave me a quick quiz on my Virgil.”

“Why?”

“Damned if I know. He’s inscrutable, remember?”

Suddenly, she wavered within another rectangle. It was odd, watching her go two- dimensional and ripple that way. Then she turned into a horizontal line, and its ends collapsed upon its middle and she was gone. When my turn came it didn’t feel that complicated, though. I joined her atop Dog’s Nest before the block of stone, which was again just a stone with some scratches on it. The sun was far into the west, but the storm was over.

I turned in a circle. No one was sneaking up from any direction.

“There’s still enough light to check out that spot you located,” she said.

“Let’s save it for tomorrow. I’m late making my rounds,” I told her.

“All right.”

We headed homeward. I thought about the old cat’s boon, but that wasn’t till tomorrow.

“Dognappery’s a lot less lush than Celephais,” I said, as we walked.

“What’s it like?” she asked.

“I’m back in a primal wood with an old wolf named Growler. He teaches me things.”

“If there are any Zoogs about,” she said, “we passed over your wood to the west of the River Shai. It’s below the Gate of Deeper Slumber.”

“Maybe,” I said, thinking of the small brown creatures who lived in the oaks and fed on the fungi, except when there were people about. Growler laughed at them as he did at most things.

The clouds purpled in the west and our paws grew damp from the grasses. Blood and messes…Perhaps I could use a review.

Tonight Growler and I would ramble, till we fought and I was beat.

[spoon-writes]

Ends of the Earth | Chapter 4

Fandom: The Mandalorian

Pairing: Mando x OC

Read on FFN or AO3

Summary: When Sinead's husband is ripped from her, she escapes the Hutt Empire and goes on a quest to find him. Since being a runaway slave in the Outer Rim isn't exactly easy, she makes the Mandalorian an offer he can't refuse and soon they travel across the galaxy, looking for her missing husband.

Chapter index

Chapter 4 - The Ruins

The Razor Crest descended on Siskeen and soared over the emerald jungle, scanners working to find a place they might be able to land in the sea of green.

Sinead felt it in her body when they entered Hutt space. Old and new fears mingled and turned into a hard knot in the pit of her stomach, making her body slump and turn in on itself. She had it on good authority that the Hutts thought she died with Slezza, but one could never be too sure when it came to remaining free.

Somewhere in the knot of fear was a small flicker of hope. She doubted Kyen was there because when had she ever been that lucky, but if she found just a tiny trace of him, it'd all be worth it.

She took a deep breath and tried to relax. The last time she'd tried going near Siskeen she'd almost been discovered by a passing ship bearing Hutt colors and sent back to the palace. This was the closest she'd been to Kyen in over five years.

The child cooed, and Sinead looked at him in his improvised seat. He reached out after her, and Sinead leaned across the gap to let him grab on to her finger. As she watched him examine a button on her sleeve, a little tension seeped out of her body. There was a glimpse of pink as he stuck his tiny tongue out in concentration, managing to wedge a stubby finger under the button.

Sinead pulled her arm back before he could tear it off. "You are a force of destruction," She told the kid solemnly, who giggled and reached for the button. Sinead dodged his hand and pulled on the brown robe he was wearing, a couple of sizes too big by the look of it. "How'd you feel if I started pulling off all the buttons on your clothes, hm?"

The child babbled.

"That's right, you're not wearing any buttons. Foiled again."

Mando cleared his throat, and Sinead straightened up. She'd almost forgotten him, quiet as he was.

"The scanners picked up a structure to the north." He turned the ship slightly, and soon it flew over a great lake, which was the only body of water they'd seen since descending on the planet; everything else was an impenetrable wall of green.

On the monitor, there was indeed a little blip in the middle of the jungle.

"Is it a settlement?" She leaned forward to get a better look.

Mando flicked a row of switches. "Mhm. Five klicks due west."

"You think it's the Hutts?"

"I don't know. Let's see."

The ship touched down in a clearing a good hour from the settlement, far enough away that they wouldn't be spotted coming. Metal groaned as shock absorbers struggled with keeping the ship in one piece.

It was clear the clearing had been made by sentients; it was a perfect circle carved out of the trees, and it didn't look like there had been anyone for some time.

As the ramp opened, a blast of hot and humid air hit Sinead, making sweat break out under her clothes. The air tasted thick and earthy, and an unknown animal screeched in the distance.

Sinead stretched as she reached the ground and looked up at the blue sky. A formation of birds made their way across, small dots in the distance. The forest teemed with life.

She already missed the coolness of space, the smell of metal and stardust. Here everything smelled old and rotten as if the ghosts of long-gone fruits still hung in the air.

As she came to terms with being back in a murky hell, the Mandalorian was busy trying to get the kid to stay in the ship, but every time the little green child would waddle after him, grunting in a decidedly offended way and trying to keep up his long strides.

"No," Mando said, grabbing the kid and placing him back in the ship. "It's too dangerous."

Sinead turned her head to hide her smile.

The kid wailed as the ramp started to rise and it halted for a second before becoming stuck with a grinding sound. His ears were flat against his head, face scrunched in a pout. Mando sighed and turned his helmeted face towards the sky.

"Why don’t you just bring him along?" Sinead said after getting her facial muscles under control. "We're just checking out the place, right?"

The Mandalorian glanced at her before looking back at the kid, whose ears started to perk up again. He sighed deeply before pressing a button on his wrist, making the ramp go back down. The kid babbled excitedly as the Mando grabbed him and went back into the ship, coming out a few minutes later with the child in a sling strapped to his chest.

Sinead scratched her nose to once again hide the smile that threatened to break out on her face, but Mando wasn't fooled. He rolled his shoulders and grunted a "c'mon."

The ground outside the careful circle was covered in dense undergrowth that slowed them down as they made their way to the settlement. Vines hung from the trees in suffocating loops, and thick roots broke through the ground and formed treacherous holes that just waited for someone careless enough to step in it. Strange animal calls filled the air, and high above them, the green canopy rustled as small monkey-looking creatures watched the three of them struggle their way over a fallen tree, so old that it was completely covered in moss and ferns.

Sinead discarded her outer jacket, tying it around her waist and drawing a hand across her sweaty forehead. The humidity made it feel like she was breathing in soup, and her shirt clung to her back. She wondered if the Mandalorian was struggling in the heat, but if he did, he didn't show it. The kid seemed fine, his head swirling around to take everything in.

After a few paces, the ship disappeared, and everything was in a shade of green or brown. Sinead followed Mando, trusting that he knew the way through the overgrown hell. Once she found Kyen, settling down on a jungle planet was out of the question.

As Mando squeezed between two trees, a wet leaf swung back and smacked Sinead in the face. She broke it off with a snarl. "I hate this," She said through gritted teeth, squeezing past the trees that were slick with moisture. "Why did someone bother making a clearing if they didn't make a path as well?"

"Just walk."

Sinead scowled at the Mandalorian's back and bit back a retort that sounded whiny even to her. Her feet sank into the soft ground with every step, making the trudge even slower. She felt like she was back on Nal-Hutta, an experience she’d rather not think about.

She scoured her mind for anything to distract from the fact that they were slogging through a murky hellhole.

"You ship, it’s Old Republic?" She asked after they edged around a black pool, the still water perfectly reflecting the tree crowns above them. She wondered what kind of monsters lurked beneath the surface. They had to be pretty terrible to live in a place like this.

"Save your energy for walking."

Sinead made a face. "It's either this or I start flinging curses left and right, and since there's a child present ..."

The Mandalorian glanced back at her, and Sinead could feel the heat of his gaze.

"It's too old to be New Republic and not enough of an eyesore to be Empire," Sinead said and ducked under a low-hanging vine.

They stopped as Mando made sure they were heading in the right direction. Sinead had all but given up getting an answer when he said so quietly that it was nearly swallowed by the jungle, "it's Mandalorian."

"Makes sense I didn't recognize it, I've never been. How is it?"

He didn't answer. Of course.

Sinead barrelled on. "I met a Mandalorian once. She was extra security back when the Meram sector was overrun with pirates. I heard they're mostly gone now, but you couldn't swing a dead tooka without hitting one back then. It didn't take long before word spread, and we were mostly left alone. She did not fuck around."

The Mandalorian made a sound that might have been an agreement.

"Expensive, though I guess not as expensive as you."

Mando cleared a rocky outcropping, and Sinead was surprised when he turned and offered his hand to help her over. The kid swung around and cooed happily when he saw her.

"How do you even know about the Nau'orar?" he asked once they were back on the spongy ground. The forest opened a bit, making it possible to walk side by side.

"I only know what I overheard, that it’s an old Mandalorian weapon. Why, do you know more about it?”

The silence that met her could cut glass.

Sinead scratched a mosquito bite on the back of her neck. “You know, under any other circumstance, I would’ve returned it to Mandalore.”

He glanced at her. "How generous of you."

"Don't give me that," She said, shooting him a look. "You'd do the same thing."

"I wouldn't wait five years."

Sinead's hand shot out and grabbed him by the arm, making them both stop in their tracks. He tensed up, staring at her until she let him go.

"You have no idea what I've been through the last five years," Sinead said hotly, her voice shaking despite her best efforts to keep it even. "Or before that. You have no right to judge me, bounty hunter." She stalked past him in the general direction of where they were headed. Her anger surprised even herself; heat flushed through her body that had nothing to do with the temperature.

The Mandalorian followed behind her, keeping some distance between them. The child cooed now and again, but a tense silence had fallen between the two adults.

Slowly, the terrain rose up in a gentle slope, the ground becoming drier and lose with each step, the trees thinned out, sunlight filtering through the leaves.

Sinead reached the edge first, out of breath and now wholly drenched in sweat. Below, the ground dropped away abruptly into a caldera that stretched almost a kilometer across, which was dotted with ancient ruins, grey pillars rising from the earth like jagged bones. The jungle grew between the pillars, trees and great big fronds rustled in the wind. A large structure stood in the middle, taller than the caldera's edge, a pyramid made of the same stone as the pillars. The top had caved in, and big cracks stretched across the surface. Sinead's breath caught in her throat. Looking at it hurt her eyes like trying to stare directly into the sun.

Mando came up beside her, his shoulders heaving, and Sinead was glad to see that she wasn't the only one winded from the trek. The kid chirped when he saw the caldera in all its glory.

Mando scanned the area below with a compact scope. "Doesn't look like anyone's home. I see scorch marks on the walls. Signs of fighting."

"Any bodies?"

"No, this looks old. There’re some crates by the main building, doesn't look like it's been touched in a long time."

They were too far away to see anything with the naked eye, so Sinead just had to take his word for it.

"We should check it out.”

Mando lowered the scope and seemed to weigh the options. He looked up at the sun, which had reached its apex and was slowly descending towards the horizon. "We stay out of sight. If anyone's there, do not engage, got it?"

"Got it."

Stairs cut into the stone led into the caldera, the steps worn smooth and slippery by centuries of feet, and Sinead had to grip hold of the slimy rope attached to the cliffside so she wouldn't careen over the edge.

As they descended into the caldera, the sounds of the jungle faded; ever since they stepped out of the ship, there had been the sounds of hundreds of critters moving through the undergrowth, of monkeys calling to each other, and birds swooping across the sky, but now they were replaced by a low and insistent hum that reverberated between the rocky walls.

"Do you-"

"I hear it. Stay alert."

They reached the bottom of the caldera, and the sound got louder, caught somewhere between the buzz of an angry swarm of bees and a distant bird screech. The high cliff walls acted as a funnel, trapping the wind and sending it into a wild spin with the giant pyramid at the center.

Sinead looked around, her brows furrowed. Save for the wind that bounced between the walls, there was no movement at all. No birds, no bugs, no ants crossing the ground in a straight line. As they descended into the caldera, they were cut off from the rest of the galaxy.

"What is that? I've never heard wind make a sound like that," Sinead said, her voice sounding weak.

"Just stay close." Mando pulled his blaster and held it at his side, his head going side to side as he scanned the ground.

The kid whimpered and sank further into the sling until only the tip of his ears were visible.

Sinead reached out and patted the kid gently on the head, his sparse hair tickling her hand. "I don't like it either."

The child cooed in response but stayed in the relative safety of the sling.

As they went further into the caldera, the buzzing died down, but the silence that emerged in its place was almost worse. They moved slowly, staying on a faint path that wove between trees but always in the direction of the pyramid. As they came closer, it became clear that it was a temple of sorts, abandoned a long time ago.

The pillars that looked so much like bones from the caldera's edge were much larger as they came closer. Strange shapes had been carved into the stone, most of it had been worn away by wind and the passing of time.

"You ever seen anything like this before?" Sinead said, moving closer to the Mandalorian. The blaster was heavy in her hand and she felt eyes on her from every direction.

"No.”

The trees fell away abruptly, and they reached the foot of the temple, where charred debris and broken droids littered the ground.

"It must've happened some time ago," Sinead said, bending down to examine a security droid with a hole straight through its main circuits. "I wonder who attacked them."

Mando rooted through a small pile of debris, standing up holding a piece of blackened armor.

“New Republic,” he said, showing Sinead the sigil imprinted on the plasteel before throwing it aside.

“Of course. I guess they raided this place after the Empire fell. I wonder when exactly.”

Something caught Sinead's eyes and she weaved through the battlefield. Half hidden behind a fallen pillar, a cluster of cages stacked haphazardly was in the process of being reclaimed by the jungle; vines snaked through the bars like tentacles.

Sinead grabbed a ropy vine, but no matter how much she pulled, it wouldn't budge. Still, there was no mistaking it.

"I know these types of cages," she said, turning to the Mandalorian. "The Hutts use them to transport their captives."

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah." She glanced at the cages. "I'm sure."

This day was just lousy with rotten reminders of things best left in the past.

Mando looked up at the ruin towering above them, the sunlight reflecting on his helmet. "They're long gone by now."

Sinead looked up at the temple with unease. This close, it looked dark and malicious, a void in the greenery where sunlight didn't reach.

"There might be clues in there, leads to follow. We can't just go flying blindly through the galaxy, hoping to trip over Kyen on the way." She could feel his indecision as he looked down at the kid. "Look," she said, pressing a hand to her damp forehead, "you can stay out here while I search the place, okay? Won't take long."

She was halfway up the stairs when the Mandalorian came up beside her, the set of his shoulders betraying just how on edge he was. Wordlessly, they continued to the top.

... ... ... ... ...

Din didn't like this place. The further they went towards the temple, the surer he was that this was a bad idea. An underlying menace grew with each footstep, and the child seemingly felt the same way, as Din saw two dark eyes staring up at him, the little face etched in a frown.

"Is he okay?"

Din looked at Sinead, her hair plastered to her face and neck.

"The kid, I mean." She nodded towards the sling.

"I think so. He doesn't like this place."

"That makes two of us."

They reached the top of the stairs, and Din turned to look across the caldera. Up here, it almost seemed peaceful.

As Din and Sinead passed under the great stone arch, the temperature dropped in an instant, making Sinead's breath crystallize in front of her. She shuddered and pulled on her jacket.

"It shouldn't be this cold in here."

"No."

Din scanned the area, but his sensors didn’t pick up any movement. They found themselves in an antechamber that led into a large atrium where the same strange symbols on the pillars were carved into the wall.

The smell of mildew and rot was overwhelming and thick moss grew on old and broken furniture. Their footsteps echoed between the stone walls.

Inside, the signs of battle were even more apparent. Plasteel cases and wooden tables had been used as improvised cover, their surfaces covered with scorch marks. The ceiling had caved in, littering the ground with debris. A lone droid slumped against an overturned table, its armor plate torn apart by blaster bolts.

The entrance was the only light source, only reaching a few meters into the ruin. Din attached a torch to the side of his helmet. The moving light made the shadows twist and turn.

A set of stairs led down into the bowls of the ruins. Din threw out an arm to stop Sinead in her tracks.

“We don’t know what might be down there,” he said, keeping his voice low. “Be careful.”

Sinead pressed her lips together in a thin line and nodded once. Din lowered his arm and let her pass, following her deeper into the temple.

The air went even staler the further they went, the stairs winding down until they were deep in the ground. Din’s breathing was loud in his ears.

At the bottom, another antechamber opened into a bigger hall, exactly like the one above. The difference here was it was clear that a great deal of people had lived there for quite some time; two long tables stood in the middle surrounded by chairs in various states of disarray. Half-empty bottles piled up on the tables or lay dusty and forgotten on the floor. At least one of them was broken, and the contents had long since evaporated. Containers filled with scrap metal lined the walls.

“Looks like they had to leave in a hurry,” Sinead said, grabbing a bottle from a table and peering at the label. "They'd never leave Kowakian rum behind unless it was absolutely life or death." A small cloud of dust rose when she placed the bottle back on the table.

“C’mon,” Din said and turned down one of the two solitary corridors that led away from the chamber. He walked slowly, watching for any movement in the gloom while keeping an eye on the kid, who silently watched him from his little cocoon.

They hadn’t gone more than a few paces before Sinead drew in a sharp breath. Rows of cells stretched into the darkness, no bigger than the cockpit in the Razor Crest. It would take a thermal grenade to get through the thick walls, and if they did, the occupants would suffocate under a mountain of dirt and rubble.

“These are new,” Din said, examining the bars that made up one side of the cells. Made of durasteel and outfitted with electronic locks, they looked wholly out of place in the damp dungeon.

“So the Hutts found an abandoned ruin and made it their own. Nobody ever said they weren’t crafty.” Sinead grabbed hold of the bars and tugged on it. “Impressive.”

Din watched Sinead from the corner of his eyes, keeping some distance. Her jaw was set and her dark eyes seemed bright in the low light.

“Look for a convor carved into one of the walls,” Sinead said before sensing his confusion and adding, “we agreed that if we ever got separated, we’d leave a sign for the other to find.”

“And that sign is a convor?”

Sinead’s smile didn’t reach her eyes. “Yeah, well, neither one of us knows how to draw a Sarlacc."

Continuing down the corridor, they strained their eyes in the dim light to look for any sign of a convor.

Farther ahead, there was a steady drip of water and a new kind of dampness snuck in under his armor. This was a dismal place, even by prison standards. Being frozen in carbonite was preferable to this.

“What do you think this used to be? Before the Hutts took over.”

“Probably a prison.”

Sinead huffed. “I can see that. Who do you think it was meant to imprison?”

Din sighed. He just wanted to get this over with. “I don’t know.”

“You’re quite the talker, you know that?”

They walked on in silence.

Suddenly, Sinead rushed forward, and Din raised his blaster, turning slightly to shield the child.

"Look!" She put her hand through the bars of the nearest cell, pointing to the far wall where an oval had been scratched into the wall. If he put his head to the side and squinted, it could charitably resemble a bird. “He’s been here,” she breathed, her eyes fixed on the convor. She pulled on the door, but it didn’t budge.

Din realized with mounting horror that her eyes were filling with tears, and he looked away, unsure of what to say.

He left her alone, wandering farther down the corridor, wanting to give her some semblance of privacy. Besides, he had no idea how to comfort a crying woman; comforting the kid was hard enough.

Now and again, the cells were broken up by archways that led into small rooms, most of them caved in and the rest empty. Din looked in every room, but when the Hutts cleared out, they did so without leaving anything useful behind.

Up ahead, a noise cut through the darkness.

Din froze and turned to shield the child, his free hand going up to turn off the flashlight, leaving them in the pitch black.

Carefully, Din snuck along the wall, pressing a protective hand to the child, who hadn’t made a sound since they entered the ruin. As he got closer, the noise turned into a low whirr.

Soft light shone through an archway, painting the opposite wall golden. Din leaned against the stone wall out of sight, and he heard whatever making the sound moving around in the alcove.

Blaster at the ready, he stepped into the light and pulled the trigger.

A droid collapsed in a cloud of dust, a smoking hole in its head.

Further down the corridor, Sinead swore, and Din heard her splash through shallow puddles as she ran toward him.

“What the fuck happened?” She looked at the droid. “Did you shoot that? We could’ve used it!”

Din’s jaw tightened, but he remained silent. He didn't want to spend a moment more than he had to trapped in here.

Sinead blew out a long breath as she looked around the room. “They must’ve forgotten this one.” Her eyes were red, but otherwise, she looked composed. “A shame we can’t take it with us.” She glared at him.

“I don’t want any droids on the ship.”

“Right. And I’m sure if I ask why you’re just gonna ignore me.”

Din did just that, shifting some rubble with his foot but found nothing but rotted wood and ancient cloth that looked like it would crumble if exposed to direct sunlight.

There was a sound of groaning metal, and Din turned to see Sinead trying to pry the droid’s chest plate apart with nothing but a small knife and determination.

“What are you doing?”

Sinead glanced at him. “I’m trying to find the memory bank since you would rather shoot first and ask questions later.” She stuck out the tip of her tongue as she worked.

“Do you even know what you’re doing?”

“At least I’m doing something."

She managed to get the knife under the plate and wrench it up, making the metal shoot away with a clank.

Din kept his distance as she shifted through the droid's innards, looking for the memory bank.

The child moved for the first time in what felt like hours, and a small green hand appeared from the sling. He reached out, and Din let him grab one of his fingers. The contact, even through his glove, comforted him. The kid’s dark eyes looked at him, unblinking, in a way that made Din feel like he could see right through his helmet.

Sinead let out a sound of triumph, and the kid let go of Din’s hand.

She held up a small black box, fraying wires trailing after it. “I got it,” she said, getting up. “Now we just gotta find someone who knows how to extract the data. That shouldn’t be too hard.”

“Let’s go.” Din gave the child a small pat on the head before moving towards the door, stepping over the droid with its wires spread across the floor like black entrails.

When they emerged out in the world, the sun hovered a few inches above the horizon, bathing the jungle in a golden light.

He took a deep breath, trying to dispel the stale, dusty air from his lungs. The ruins felt like a presence behind them, trailing after as they returned to the ship.

<- Previous chapter - Next chapter ->

[hollowmoonpriestess]

"There are days I drop words of comfort on myself like falling leaves and remember that it is enough to be taken care of by myself.” -Brian Andreas

Self-Care tips can be found below. Remember, self care is not a one time deal. Once you find something that seems to work for you, that speaks to your soul, keep doing it. Let it change and evolve as you get older. Let it become more complex and keep your interest.

*Disclaimer* I’m no therapist, the self care listed under the cut is what I’ve found works for me through trial and error. This is not a guarantee that these tactics will work for you or in the same way. Ultimately, your brain is different from mine and that’s okay. I made this list for those who, like me, ‘don’t know where to start’ and need a list to cross off of. Take it for what you will and I wish you the very best on your journey.

For the Mind

Compliments file: Start documenting the nice things people say about you. Ask your friends “If you were describing me to someone I had never met before, how would you do it?“ and make a note of what they say. When bad thoughts start creeping in and getting stuck in your head, go back and read those compliments.

Scratch off a lurker on your to-do list: This one can be difficult because I am a “box checker” type of person. I need to accomplish things on my to-do list in order to feel... well... accomplished. When you look at your list, and see that one thing that keeps getting put off, every day, a glaring reminder that you didn’t get everything done. That thing that likes to keep you awake at night like a parasite eating up your lower spine. That thing... cross it off, right now. Release yourself of that burden. You don’t need to do it. The world didn’t stop spinning because it wasn’t done two weeks ago, I promise it’ll keep spinning when it never gets done at all. Let go of it.

Go cloud/star-watching: If the weather, and your area permits, lay down outside, turn on some soft meditation music, and lay in your yard. Touch the earth and find that it rises to meet you too. Staring at the openness of the sky and seeing just how small and insignificant you are, and still, you exist. You have created yourself by insisting you deserve a place in this universe, no matter how big it is, your imagination is bigger, your dreams are bigger. 

Be goofy for 5 minutes: As embarrassing as it sounds, I have alarms set on my phone. Every two hours, that alarm goes off, and no matter what I’m doing, I stop and I play for 5 minutes. No structure, no games, just whatever sounds like fun in that singular moment that I can never get back. Find my happy place, feed the inner child. I blow the paper off of my straws at my husband. I dance. I improvise a song. I force a smile. I look up a joke and tell it to the nearest person to me because I’m a sucker for a good dad joke.

Center on yourself: I intentionally changed this from ‘be selfish’ because the word Selfish has so many negative thoughts that follow it, it doesn’t warrant following the word BE. Make it a part of your day’s schedule, to do ONE thing that makes you happy. It may take some time to find it, and its worth thinking about, but whatever it is, make it a priority. One thing, every day.

De-clutter: If you suffer from depression, this is a typical thing. You have no desire to clean, but the mess still comes, it stays and grows until its overwhelming and you’ve broken down. This can be debilitating, terrifying even isolating because you get so embarrassed about it you can’t ask for help. This I get. Fear not, find one thing that will be easy for you to knock out, do that today. Feel the joy that your desk is cleared off, even if its just for today. Be happy you did the dishes this afternoon. The rest of the kitchen can wait, take that small victory, you earned it. Play in your closet and get out three shirts you never wear, you don’t love anymore, they don’t fit, whatever, and recycle them. Turn them into something else if they\re sentimental, or donate them so they can make someone else happy for a time.

Edit your social media feeds: Unfollow, take out negative influences. You’re on social media because its fun, because it keeps you in the loop on the best memes, its part of your support group, remember that that’s great! But if Sara’s posts are getting on your nerves and make you wish Facebook had an ‘eyeroll’ reaction, unfollow her. Get rid of the influences that don’t make you happy to see.

For the Body

Check in with your body: Give yourself ten minutes a day, as often as you feel you need to, and check in. Use the body scan technique. This will get easier and less awkward with practice. Communicating with your body and finding out your real feelings is always a good moment. This lets you unwind your shoulders, take your tongue down from the roof of your mouth, remind you that you’re in control.

Oxygenate: It sounds easy, I know. It’s just breathing. Lay down (or sit in a chair), one hand on your chest and one hand on your belly. Breathe in through your nose, and out through your mouth. Keep the hand on your chest still. The hand on your belly should rise up and down. Do this 3-4 times a day. This will: 1) Strengthen the diaphragm 2) Decrease the work of breathing by slowing your breathing rate 3) Decrease oxygen demand 3) Use less effort and energy to breathe.

Activate your self soothing system: Yeah, you have one of those. That tingly feeling you get when someone rubs your head, or drags their fingertips up and down your back, that’s it. Do that for yourself every once in a while, whenever it seems like the right time to do it, give yourself a few goosebumps and rub your arms gently. You deserve a soft touch. If that feels awkward, moisturize.

Make one small change in your diet: Eat an extra portion of veggies with each meal, or drink an extra glass of water during the day. I named these two things specifically because I don’t do either. I know that I should though, and that one small step is all it takes to build new habits.

 Give your body a treat: Pick out clothes that feel good on your skin today.

Inhale an upbeat smell: Peppermint suppresses food cravings for me and boosts my mood and motivation. Peppermint gum is also cheap and easily accessible.  

For the Soul

Imagination: Look at yourself in the mirror and pretend you’re looking at your best friend, they’re feeling the way you’re feeling right now, what would you tell them to make them feel better? Say that to yourself.

Beauty hunt: On your commute, search for five beautiful things you didn’t notice before. Take pictures of them and find out how quirky and interesting your town really is.

Help someone: Do a good deed. Offer to carry groceries out to someone’s car on your way out of the store. Hold the door open for someone. Grab that last gallon of milk for your neighbor.

Check in with your emotions: Sit quietly and make an assessment of everything you’re feeling in that moment, without judgement. Recognize the part those emotions are playing in the choices you’re making, are you strictly reacting instead of acting for yourself? Who are you letting control you in this moment?

Write your thoughts: Write them all down, go for 15 minutes about anything that’s bothering you right now, express all those bottled up things running circles in your mind.

Give love to a pet: Pet someone special and furry. If you don’t have one of your own, go to the nearest park and find one (with the owner’s permission!)

Take yourself on a date: You read that right. Prepare a special, romantic date for yourself. Go out to dinner, go see a movie, do make up if that’s your thing, dress nice, smell nice, take a bubble bath with candles when you’re done. Date yourself.

NOTE:

1] Scheduling can be a tricky thing, but you see me mentioning it a lot in this post. Me keeping a day-to-day schedule, lets me feel in control of what’s going on. Yes, not everything goes according to plan, life will flow the way it does and that’s fine. I decide I have three primary responsibilities every day: a) Something that has to be done today b) Something that’s just for me c) Something that’s needed to keep my home running. I refuse any new responsibilities until one of those three things are done. What this does is keep my schedule short and easy to reach, and also leaves room for those little things that are inevitably going to pop up that aren’t on the schedule. Even if I just get those three things done, that’s still three things I got done.

2]  The reference to “Sara” was not directed at anyone specific and is not meant to call out anyone or offend the Sara’s of the world. To be fair though, regardless of the name of this fictional character, everyone knows a Sara, and during the description above, you thought of that person that needs to be unfollowed for your self care. The name doesn’t matter, its about cutting out toxic people, not letting them drain your mentality anymore.

Try a little every day. Let yourself fall in love with the magic that comes with being you. I hope this helps anyone reading them in some way. They seem small but they’re oh so important.

[meetthetank]

Bestiam

So yesterday was the 1 year anniversary of one of my personal favorite fic’s I’ve written. It’s been a hell of a year in this fandom and the time I’ve spent and friend’s I’ve made here mean a lot to me. Thanks to all you nerds and I hope the next year is just as amazing!

https://archiveofourown.org/works/11907945/chapters/26905050

Rating: Explicit (the first chapter is only M though)                                                  Category:  F/M Fandom: NieR: Automata (Video Game)                     Relationship: 2B/9S (NieR: Automata)                    Characters:   2B, 9s, Original Machine                              Additional Tags: Suspense, Hallucinations, little bit of eldritch nonsense, bloodborne references, Biting, they do the fuck, Power Struggle

Chapter 1: Insight

"And that's the long and short of it." Operator 6O says in an uncharacteristically somber tone, "The troops deployed in the sewers and both recovery teams have disappeared. You two are the last chance for them...if they're still alive."

"Understood," 2B responds, before she closes the communication channel.

"I did a little asking around the Resistance Camp and Pascal's," 9S says while flipping through a couple holo-screens. "Apparently there have been reports of a rogue machine in the depths. Think it could have something to do with the missing androids?"

"Even if it doesn't, it means we'll have to be on our guard. More than usual."

9S nods in agreement. A vague feeling of uncertainty starts to worm its way through his gut, though the soldier part of him tries to force it down. Not only have the complex network of tunnels and pipes left by humanity not been properly mapped out, but there could be an untold number of unrecorded machine life forms lurking within. There were too many variables for 9S to feel comfortable with this operation.

However, his programmed curiosity is at odds with his discomfort. There are so many opportunities to learn and discover down in the uncharted sewers. New machines to study, a whole new maze to explore. It's both exciting and terrifying to him.

2B doesn't seem bothered by the unknowns that 9S is running through his mind. To her, this is just another job that will probably end with dead Yorha troops. That and she's very much the "figure it out as you go" type. Maybe that's why they made such a good pair.

She casts a quick glance over at 9S, who's busy making sure they have enough supplies for the mission. Typically she's the unofficial leader, but this is his specialty. They're diving into enemy territory, a scanner's main job. She's only some extra muscle.

"Okay, I think that's everything," 9S announces and disperses his screens. "Ready?"

She gives him a curt nod, "Are you?"

"Am I allowed to say I'm a little nervous?" A sly smile creeps across his face, "Or is that prohibited."

"It is." 2B can't help but smile back at him. Just a small upward quirk of the lips, but he catches it all the same.

"Oh? So you can/ smile!" 9S teases.

She scoffs and turns away from him, "Watch the chatter, 9S."

He throws his hands up, "Alright alright. Let's get going then."

"Lead the way."

The pair had no trouble finding the entrance to the depths with 9S tracing the Yorha signals. In retrospect, it wouldn't have been hard to find without tracing anything, seeing as it's nothing but a massive hole in the earth decorated with machine and android corpses. Whether nailed to the stone or impaled on crude rebar pikes, it was an unceremonious end to machine and android alike. They frame the mouth of the cavern in a way that reminds 9S of the teeth of some great beast. It almost seems...alive.  The way some of the fresher bodies drip with various fluids only adds to his analogy.

"Well..." 9S says, swallowing hard, "Whatever lives here definitely doesn't want visitors."

He commands Pod 153 to scan the android corpses for the Yorha signals they're searching for. Unfortunately, the bodies are those of long dead Resistance members and Yorha troops. He records their data and location for the recovery teams regardless.

"It'd be too easy if our missing androids were right out here." He says to himself. "Just our luck, huh 2B."

He prepares for her to chide him, but gets nothing in response. When he looks over his shoulder in confusion, he sees her staring intently off to the side. She holds Virtuous Contract in her iron grip but isn't in her typical battle stance. 9S follows her gaze to see a lone machine dragging the corpse of a larger machine towards them.

"AAH!" The little machine shrieks, once it takes notice of them "NO! LEAVE! BAD PLACE! BAD!"

It hobbles over, abandoning its haul and waving its thin arms at them, "STUPID ANDROIDS!! DON'T YOU SEE THE WARNINGS I MADE?!"

"Huh?" 9S lowers his own sword, "You did all this?"

"YES! FIND BODIES TO SCARE AWAY! BROKEN MACHINE LIVES THERE. TAKES EYES. VERY BAD!"

"What do you mean it...takes eyes?" 2B asks the shouting machine.

"TAKES EYES, STUPID ANDROID! LIVES IN SEWERS AND TAKES EYES!"

Though cryptic, the machine's words do strike a bit of fear in 9S. He hadn't heard of a machine that only collects certain parts of androids and machines. Sure there was the singing machine in the amusement park they had seen, but that one took the whole corpse. Why in the world would a machine want only eyes?

The way the small biped in front of them is screaming and babbling at him and 2B means that it's at least heard of whatever's in there before. Though it doesn't seem too keen on sharing information other than "it's dangerous."

9S puts a hand on 2B's shoulder and tugs her in the direction of the cave, "Come on, 2B. This guy's clearly missing a few screws. We can handle whatever's in there."

"Right." She responds and sheaths her sword.

"STUPID ANDROIDS ARE GOING TO DIE!" The machine screams at them as the pair enter the dripping maw of the cave entrance.

Past the grim warnings out front, for all 9S could see, it was a completely natural cave. No signs of blasting or boring from any source, machine or otherwise. A small stream leads from deeper within out to the entrance, and moisture drops from barely formed stalactites. The air even in the entryway is humid and thick to the point where both androids begin to sweat lightly.

The Pods illuminate the cave with their admittedly primitive lighting feature, but it's welcome nonetheless. Going deep underground cuts them off from the satellite maps, and sonar can only get them so far. They'll have to rely on 9S' navigational abilities to keep on their path. It's easier said than done, however. The natural cave system alone is complex, let alone the man made and unnatural structures they'd be encountering down here.

About five miles down they find their first body, crushed under a pile of rubble. Only their upper body was still intact, the rest was flattened beyond any repair. Their fingers were partially buried in the earth in a panicked attempt to free themselves. Part of the ground underneath them was darker than the rest, where they had bled to death most likely.

"Yeesh..." 9S mutters to himself, "What a terrible way to go. Trapped alone just waiting to die..."

He forces that line of thought away with a shudder before his nerves get the better of him. "I'm going to hack into them and see if they have any information left on our targets, or whatever's living down here." He says with a hint of trepidation.

"Alright, I'll cover you," 2B states, taking a defensive position behind him.

9S sits cross legged in front of the corpse. It's a bit unnerving to him, having the lifeless optics stare back at him, but a quick look back at 2B helps him regain his composure. If only a little.

"Okay, hacking in."

With no systems online, accessing the dead android's data is pathetically easy. However, this android, an older Resistance member judging by their ID code, had been dead for quite a while now. There are huge gaps in their memory data from time alone, and more from the damage they've taken. The stark white of their hacking space crumbles away into the darkness around him. 9S scours through the fading memory space as fast as he can, looking for the dead unit's last memory. Or something close to it at least.

He finds the partially corrupted memory of an empty stretch of a sewer. The location data was for an area roughly 3 and a half miles below where they are now, and the time stamp only an hour or so before their death. 9S accessed the static riddled memory before he thought too hard about what he might find.

"STOP! G-GET AWAY FROM ME!!"

The android's voice echoes against the concrete tunnel. 9S can feel their heart thundering in their chest and synthetic adrenaline coursing through their veins. With quaking hands, they aim their assault rifle at...

Nothing?

The sewer is empty aside from them. The memory shows no other being, no android, machine, not even animals. Yet they're horrified at the sight of something in here.

"NO! It-...it's not you!! It can't be!! Stay the hell back!!"

They open fire into the darkness. The recoil from their firearm combined with their already shaking body throws the bullets wildly off course. 9S winces from how loud the gunshots are, even in a corrupt memory. The bullets harmlessly embed themselves in the concrete, spraying chunks of the stuff as they land. The flash of gunfire illuminates the sewer, but just like before, there's nothing there. 9S closes out the memory as the dead android flees from their imaginary pursuer.

"Find anything?" 2B asks as 9S stands up.

"Not really. Found a memory of them screaming and shooting at nothing but that's it." He responds, dusting off his shorts.

"An invisible enemy?"

"Possibly. I don't like it either way." He mutters, rubbing his chin in thought. "We should stick together and stay on guard."

She nods, "Pod, alert us if you detect movement besides ourselves."

"Affirmative,"

9S instructs his Pod to do the same. If they were dealing with something that had camouflage abilities then they'd have to take every precaution they could. He sticks close to 2B as they descend further into the caves, and to his surprise, she actually follows his lead. He can't help but smile a little bit. She trusts him, at least enough to get them from point A to point B.

A half mile down, they come to a dead end path with a hole blown in the floor. Pod 153 shines its light down to reveal a smooth concrete tunnel with a steady stream of what appears to be water running through it. 9S covers his face when a putrid smell hits him full force.

"Ugh,...I think we found the sewers." He says through his hands.

He's about to ask 2B if she's doing alright, but she's already jumping down the hole by the time he's done talking.

"Hey, 2B! Slow down!" He shouts.

"...Area secure." She says back to him, and motions for him to follow her.

9S mutters something about reckless combat models before jumping after her. The moment he touches down, he becomes painfully aware that this liquid is not water. It's some kind of viscous, off color sludge that sticks to his boots. Between that, the smell, and the air that grows thicker the more they linger, he almost gags.

"Come on," he says, "The trail leads just a little further down."

The sewers made both androids wish for the caves again. The air alone felt like a physical object resisting them, not to mention the liquid of dubious origin they had to trudge through at points. Not counting those factors, 9S felt...uncomfortable. Like there was something crawling under his skin. Occasionally he finds himself scratching at his arms or the back of his neck before he realizes that he's just imagining it. ...Or is he? Shadows seem to shift right in front of his eyes, he trips over debris he could have sworn wasn't there a second ago, and sometimes he thinks he hears an odd sound he can't quite place the source of.

In the middle of one of his scratching fits, he looks back at 2B. She's not doing much better than he is. Her breaths are labored, and she can barely hold her sword up. He can see her trying, and failing, to keep her normal posture.

"Hey, do you need to take a break? We've been going for a few hours now." He asks.

2B shakes her head. Of course she does. "No. No point in prolonging our mission here."

Well, he has to agree with her there. "Yeah, I guess. I don't want to be down here any longer than we have to. This place doesn't feel right."

She's about to respond to him when something catches her eye. Without a word, 2B strides past 9S to another dead android. This one was lying face down in the sludge, naked and mostly decomposed. 2B reaches down to flip them over, and 9S nearly leaps backward at the sight.

They're empty.

A huge hole exists where their abdomen used to be, completely cleaned out of any internal systems, fluids...all of it. They're just a husk.

"God..." is all 9S can say. He's seen a lot of gruesome things in his life, but nothing as...eerie as this. What kind of creature leaves shells of their victims like this?!

"9S...look at their skull." 2B barely whispers.

"....Their eyes. They're gone."

It's not just that. Upon closer inspection, 9S finds that all of their optic systems are gone. Unceremoniously ripped from their head to boot, if the frayed and torn wires are clue enough. As if to add insult to injury, 9S finds multiple other holes bored into the skull for seemingly no other purpose than to see what was inside.

"It looks like...whatever did this started rummaging around in their head after taking the eyes. All their systems are just...scrambled around. I can't make sense of what anything is supposed to be anymore." He muses while examining the dead android.

"I guess hacking into them is out of the question," 2B mutters, gripping the pommel of her sword a bit tighter.

"Yeah. I can't hack into systems that just...aren't there anymore. No memory, no data storage. It's all either irreparably damaged or missing entirely."

She hums a quiet response, then suddenly taps his shoulder. "9S, do you hear that?"

"What?"

He almost misses it. It's a faint, but bone chilling sound. The more he listens to it, the more fear seizes his heart for reasons he can't quite explain. 2B seems to be having the same feeling as well, the way she stares dead ahead though there's nothing but sludge.

It's almost like...a song?

As quick as he places it, it disappears, leaving the androids with an eerie silence.

"...Let's keep going." 9S says, making 2B jump a little at the sudden noise. "The trail ends not too far from here."

The further down the pipe they go, the thicker the air becomes. Simply breathing becomes a taxing chore for both androids, as if there's a crushing pressure on their chests. They're sweating profusely, which only serves to weigh them down further with their clothes clinging to their bodies. A dense fog begins to form, obscuring their vision and rendering the lights from the Pods all but useless.

There are multiple points where 9S puts his foot down and forces 2B to stop and catch her breath. Despite protesting, she complies without hesitation. Both of them start to cough up contaminants that accumulate in her lungs every so often in the form of a sickly beige gel. 9S dreads the hours of maintenance the two of them will have to undergo to clean out their systems of garbage.

They've lost track of time, but after what feels like hours they come to the end of the signal trail. And the end of the sewer system.

"Whoa..." 9S breathes, taking in the sight before him.

All the sewers converge on this one point, dumping their contents into an impossibly huge cesspool. Clouds of steam and gaseous chemicals rise from a lake of fetid liquids, filtering what little sunlight could be seen from the cracked ceiling miles above them. Dead goliaths rise out of the bog like grim spires amongst countless other machine, android, and animal corpses. Refuse, millennia old fluids and festering bodies all intermingle in this defiled pit at the bottom of the world.

Even 2B, impulsive and borderline reckless 2B, hesitates at the edge of the pipe.

"Alert: Target IDs nearby. Proposal, use dynamic scanner program." Pod 153 announces.

9S takes as deep a breath as he can, "Well...let's get this over with." He takes hold of his Pod's claws, "Stay within sight of each other. There could be anything hiding in there."

They jump into the cesspool together, and for a brief moment, 2B clutches 9S' hand before they drift apart from each other. She lands on a somewhat stable sheet of corrugated steel, while 9S lands right in the muck. Sludge splashes against his thighs and settles a little above his knees. The fact that it's warm nearly makes him vomit. The fact that he's standing knee-deep in the dead, does.

He feels 2B's hand on his shoulder while he's in the middle of a coughing fit. If he were more coherent he might have been bashful about it. For now, all he can muster is a quiet "thank you."

"Guh...how are you holding yourself together like this?" He grumbles, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand.

"...Barely. I'm trying not to think about it too much." 2B mutters after a harsh swallow.

Once 9S recovers as much as he can, the two begin searching through the mire for the missing androids. They're never out of sight of each other, and both are constantly throwing glances over their shoulder to make sure nothing drags them away.

2B tries not to let the sight of the thousands of eyeless bodies unnerve her, but even she hasn't seen anything as horrifying as this before. She's a combat veteran, one who's suffered through years of war, done terrible things to the ones she cares about. Yet this scene fills her with a dread that tears through the pits of her stomach. A deep breath calms her shaking body and briefly strengthens her resolve to continue the search.

"Alert: Abnormal movement detected." Pod 042's voice echoes through the pit.

Her head whips to the side just in time to see a set of long tendrils disappear into the muck a good distance away from her. "9S...did you see that?"

"Yeah, I did." He calls back, "Guh, tentacles...Why did it have to be tentacles?"

2B draws her sword and wades towards where she saw the creature disappear. Every movement, even the bursting of a bubble in the muck, earns a response from her. Despite her efforts, the fear of this unknown monster is getting the better of her. They didn't even know how big it was, let alone what it could be capable of.

She begins to hear things; faint whispers in the putrid fog. Though she can't decipher words, she's drawn to them. Something in the back of her head itches as she approaches the last place she saw the fading ripples of the creature. The world warps around her, not in the static she associates with malfunctioning systems, but in waves and shifting planes that threaten to topple her.

There's...someone singing. Who are they? Why are they down here?

"Hey, 2B!"

Her head snaps up at the sound of 9S' voice. Somehow, he made it further in front of her, standing near an open pipe at the edge of the pit. "Over here! I've found another signal trail!"

"Alright. On my way." She calls back to him.

Though it does little in the way of alleviating the dizziness, she shakes her head.  Perhaps it's just reflex at this point. The itching in the back of her head grows more troubling to the point where scratching at it is a primary focus. But looking at 9S...somehow, she has no idea how, it calms the urge.

She has to get out of this god forsaken place soon.

2B follows the sound of his voice and descends further into the bowels of the sewers.

"2B. I found a few of our missing signals, but-"

9S' head whips around, searching for 2B.

"Huh? 2B? Where did-...2B?"

He catches a glimpse of her white hair disappearing down a tunnel at the far side of the pit, nearly half a mile away.

"Wh- hey!!" He fights against the thick sludge trying to run to her. "2B!!"

"Where the hell does she think she's going?!"

2B kicks her boots against the tunnel walls, splattering them with what little sludge will come free from her legs. 9S urges her to hurry up from around a bend in the pipe, and she can't help but note the odd role reversal. Usually, it's her pushing him forward when he just wants a break. There's a twist in her stomach, but she refuses to give it a second thought as she catches up with 9S.

He's always three steps ahead of her, it seems. Every time she rounds a corner to meet him, he'll be down further in the pipe chiding her for being too slow. Every time she thinks she's caught up to him, he's moved impossibly far impossibly fast. She can't even stop to examine the...things she's spotting on the walls. Not between 9S' constant goading and her own desire to get the fuck out of here.

Something inside her head feels...wrong. Pod 042 isn't warning her about potential logic virus corruption, or malfunctioning systems. In fact, Pod 042 hasn't been saying much of anything since she left the pit. The only thing she can really hear besides 9S calling out to her is this quiet ringing. It makes her stomach churn when she focuses on it.

"2B! Come on it's just down-...GAH!!"

Her heart drops when she sees 9S' legs fly out from under him and his body fall down a gap in the tunnel floor. She doesn't even shout his name, she only allows herself a sharp intake of breath before charging after him and jumping down the hole without hesitation.

She neglects to grab onto Pod 042's claws to slow her fall, she didn't think she had to at first. From the top, it only seemed like a ten-foot drop, but she falls for what seems like an impossibly long time. The world stretches out around her, the features of the cave walls grow blurry. The itching in the back of her head grows in intensity until it's she has to fight the urge to rip out her hair while falling. She hears a droning noise that's similar to her Pod's voice over the rushing of wind, but can't understand what it's trying to tell her. Her vision grows dark with abyssal static, her body forcing itself into preservation mode the moment before she hits the ground.

.....

....

"...be!!"

"2B wake-...."

"2B please wake up!!"

She doesn't undergo the preservation mode rebooting process like she expects. Instead, she awakens to 9S straddling her hips and shaking her shoulders. The moment she opens her eyes, he pulls her into a tight hug and buries his face into her shoulder.

"Oh, 2B! You're okay!" He sobs.

She idly rubs his back, despite the confusion. "I'm alright."

9S has been touchy before, but this is pushing it even for him. Not that she's complaining about it. It feels...nice.

This...something's not right...

Once his sobs quiet, he reciprocates her touches with his own. His fingers ghost around the open back of her shirt, tracing the outlines of her synthetic muscles.

No, this feels wrong. Something's very wrong.

2B doesn't move, she sits there with 9S in her lap taking in the bizarrely intoxicating feeling of his fingers grazing her skin. She lets out a quiet sigh and leans into his touch. She never realized just how...warm he is

This isn't right, you need to move. Now.

"Mm....2B." He moans in her ear. His breath against her sensitive flesh causes a shiver to run down her spine. The hand that isn't on her back starts to creep up her leg, inching its way past her skirt.

"9S what-..."

No. No this isn't right.

The hand on her leg mirrors the one on her back, tracing the muscles in her thighs. She doesn't want to move, but she pulls herself back from his embrace. It's only now that she notices his visor is missing. With this clear view of his half lidded eyes, she can see the dark lust contained within them.

This is wrong. He doesn't...he's not like this...

9S shifts himself in her lap, and she feels his erection press against her leg. Her breath catches in her throat as a slurry of conflicting emotions threatens to overload her systems.

Something's wrong! He's not like this! You need to get out of here!

When she makes no move to touch him, he takes the initiative and starts rubbing himself through his shorts. He breathes a lewd moan into her ear as he grinds against his hand and her lap. She grits her teeth together, fighting back any reaction that threatens to break her resolve. His free hand runs up and down her shoulders, neck, and face. His finger hooks underneath her visor and pulls it off of her face, letting it sit around her neck.

This is wrong!!

2B can't move to stop him once he begins undressing, nor can she find the proper words to protest. She sits rigid and stiff as he moans her name while stroking himself. Her eyes roam up and down his lithe body, admiring the subtle muscles in his chest and legs. A dull ache works its way through her whole lower body. She wants to touch him, to hold him, but the battle within herself keeps her locked in place.

Wrong!!

His tongue hangs lewdly out of the side of his mouth, breath irregular, and hips rocking back and forth.

"2B...fuck me...please.."

She knows it's wrong. She knows full well the risks and repercussions of giving into...whatever is happening right now.

Wrong!!

But fuck it.

WRONG!!

She wants this.

/STOP!!/

She always has.

"Report: Black Box signal for unit 2B located. Marking on map."

9S didn't take the time to clean the gunk off of his legs. "...How could she get that far in such a short time?!"

His mind reels at the increasingly terrifying possibilities that his mind conjures. According to Pod 153, she had made it another half mile down before stopping where she is now, which means that either she started chasing something, or was grabbed. In the past she at least lets him know when she's about to charge after something. It's not like her to up and abandon him.  So that leaves the latter.

...He has to hurry.

There's a point where the concrete pipes end, and a hastily carved out tunnel begins. The earth is scarred with irregular fractures, scorched stone, and bizarre claw marks. Something had bored its way through the bedrock itself to make its home here, and at this point, 9S wasn't sure if it was machine, animal, or some unholy hybrid of both. The streaks of blood and oil, or what he assumed to be blood and oil, pushed his already rising pulse rate further into dangerous territory. He was alone, save for his Pod, in an uncharted labyrinth that houses an unidentifiable creature that does horrible things to its victims.

If it wasn't 2B, he would have turned tail and ran long ago.

The faint echo of a wet, thick, scraping noise makes him stop dead in his tracks. He had not once encountered anything alive down here, but what he finds makes him wish it had stayed that way. A lone machine props its legless body up with one thin arm, and frantically scrapes and claws at a pool of mud and android parts with the other. Sparks fly out of where it's lower body would be, and out of the empty sockets that once held its eyes. Wires jut out from several holes bored into its head, which also occasionally give off sparks.

"Has someone...anyone...seen my eyes...?" It groans, "I'm afraid I've dropped them in a puddle..."

There's nothing resembling eyes in the pile of gore and mud the machine is searching through, though 9S doesn't look at for very long. He grants the suffering machine a quick end with Cruel Oath, before pressing onwards.

Don't think about it don't think about it. Just focus on finding 2B and don't think about it.

He tries his best to ignore the growing number of eyeless machines, and empty androids as he progresses. He tries his best to swallow the bile rising in his throat as he passes their bodies arranged in bizarre symbols. He shields his eyes from the symbols carved into the tunnel walls that make his teeth itch when he looks at them.

He can't help but stare in horror when Pod locates the rest of the missing androids.

"Alert: Missing Yorha rescue teams found. Marking location for body recovery."

They were here all right, what was left of them. Stripped of skin, skulls empty shells, and bodies strung up to a wall over a crude altar. Each one was manipulated in the same pose; one arm straight in the air, the other held out to the side. They surround a large carving of a rough star with a rudimentary depiction of an eye in the middle.

As he stares transfixed by this macabre display, 9S begins to hear the singing he thought he heard before. It's closer, louder this time; like it's being broadcast directly into his head. A distorted female voice sings a wordless lullaby that drags his heart to the ground. His shoulders slump, knees weaken, and breathing slows as he fights the urge to curl up in the mud and fall asleep. The song grows louder as 9S' body weakens.

It's melodic.

It's dissonant.

It makes him feel warm.

It fills him with unknowable dread.

It's beautiful.

It's horrific.

It should not exist.

The volume grows to the point where it causes 9S actual pain. He claws at his head, trying to make the pain stop somehow. Pod 153 drones a message that sounds like harsh static to him.

9S feels something crawl up the back of his neck and prod at the lowest point of his skull. It's only when he feels the skin give way, and the object slips underneath that he snaps out of his trance. Cruel Oath materializes in his hand when he whirls around to face his attacked, slicing through the mechanical tendril that had been probing his neck.

The monster towers above 9S, it's hundreds of glowing yellow eyes all focused on him. Its face is that of a normal machine life form, round and featureless aside from the eyes. Its body is where it deviates from its brethren. A mane of writhing tendrils sprout from the open back of its head and curl around a primitive rib cage made of jagged strips of metal. A thin, disturbingly flexible spine flows as its head twist and turns in hypnotic rhythms. It's disproportionately long arms reach out to him, cupping his face with thin claws. It gurgles unintelligible phrases while countless yellow eyes bore into 9S' mind.

It's tendrils begin to uncoil from around its rib cage to creep up his face. They prodded his skin, slick with a cold sweat, looking for a weak point to break through. There's a figure being held in its open chest by a few tentacles. The skin of their face bulges where tendrils writhe just below the surface. Stormy blue eyes partially obscured by white hair stare back at him, begging for help as a tendril forces its way into the tear duct. Their black skirt-

"2B!!"

9S snaps out of his fearful trance and wildly slashes at the machine's face. A few tentacles are severed as it leaps backward, screeching an unholy sound in pain and fury. It abandons 2B's body on the floor in a heap as it puts more space between itself and 9S.

He grabs 2B by her arms and drags her further away from the machine creature, propping her up against the tunnel walls. "Come on come on...wake up 2B.."

"Nine-...9S?" She groans, regaining her senses after whatever it was that monster did to her. "What...where are-"

"Okay, good." He interrupts with a sigh of relief. "Stay here."

9S stares down the machine monster, sword in hand and Pod at his side. His heart is thundering in his chest, and the roar of blood in his ears drowns out the shrieking monster and the horrible song it creates. The combat high sets in, replacing his fear with exhilaration.

So this is what 2B feels like when she fights.

The creature lunges forward with several claw swipes. Most of them miss as 9S dodges backward, but two slash through his coat and another grazes his face. He counters with a few well-placed swings of his own, severing components in its arms as well as several tendrils. It grabs for 9S' head, but he skids through its legs and slashes at its feet. Sparks fly as the machine tries to right itself and 9S takes the opening to attack the back of its head directly.

He unleashes a hacking barrage, but the moment he breaks through the initial defenses a horrid distorted wail rips through his systems. The sound rips through his body like a physical object as he holds back cries of terror.

"̧͙͍̳͎W̷̻̮͕̩E̡̳̼̣ ̹̦͓A͙͔̺Ṛ̺͜E̢̦̜̪͉͙̦̗ ̬̭͈̮B͕̥͙͜O̱̞͖̬̭͔̲R̯̪͈͝-͏͖.͖̪̯̖͝.̻̻.̨̼ͅ ̢̟̟͖̼͕̻ͅ ̶̺̜͈̞͙̬ ͍ ̳̲̹̩̦̣͝ ̲̻̟̺̠̫ ̖͢ ̵͉̝ ̢͙͚̝                                                           ̻̻̩ ̬̩̙͞ ̳͎͚̰̥ͅ ̠̟̮̻̬ ͔̻͔͎̤̤͓͘ ͎͙̺͇ ҉̗̲̠͕̳̣ ̸ ͍͔̪͝ͅ ̝͖̻.̩̣̕.͚͖̳̱̫̘.̯̼̗̼͚̫͉-͉̗͕͉̗͓͠A̦͎͓̣̟D͉͉̯̠̮E͍̻͕̭̯͎ ͚̮͠M͓͝E҉N̨̙͙͚ ̥͕ͅB̴̹̙̱̻͖Y̝̘̭͘-̙̯̼͡ͅ..̜̰͖͚.͏̖̳͍̭̣̼ ͏̩͓̘͕ ̤̥̘ͅ                     ̟̭͉̫̮ ͙͈͍͙ ̝̫̩̱̬͎ ̣̼̩̜͜ ̶̰̟̤͕̘̩ ̤̭̭̙ ̼̮̻͓͉ ͖͍͓̖̲͔̥ ̙̲̝̼͡ ͚̤͕͔ ̜̟͉̺̰ ̡͈̗ ͢ ͉̟̹͍̭̱͓͘.̜.͘.-̝̥̮̼̹̬͖O͍̲͇̰N͈̤͍͙E̛ ͎̱͎͙̮̗͈B̨͉̦̙͍Y̤͇̼̟̠ ̡̬T͖̳̥͈ͅH̘̼̭E̻͔̠̙͡ ̛̯͚B̮̪͍̲͙͠L̹

                ̰̲̥̪͚ͩ̂̾̈́̚ ҉̠̬͍͚͇̜̩.̲̥̬̔̇̒͒.͎͉̣̺͕̱̻ͣ͑.̷͕̣̮̄̐ͭͪͯ̃͗.̛͑̌̽O͈͙̳̜̎̓̍̊͢Ụ̧͚͓̠̩̦̅̍̊̋R͐͠ ̴͓̠̳͑̾ͭ̌̽̌E̼̳͓͔͎͞Y̭̲͠-̵͈̝͔̼̈́̄͌.̡͓̺̙ͣͤ́͂̆.̴̄͗ͤ̑͑̈.̨ͧ͂̃ͩͬ.̢̊͂-̞̗̒ͨ͑̀ͩ̚̚Ỏ̬̟̹͉͉̲͔̑̓̆̒͠P͕E̸̞N̗͇̱̣͗                                                                                          

                                                                                                      ̸̵͑̋̀̍ͬ̎͐̒ͣ͆̕ ̽̎̇ͭ͊̑̾̏ͧ̒ͨ̃ͣͧ̎ͤͥ̃̑͢҉ ̶ͭͩ̉ͪͨ̂̋̎͢͜F̶̛ͣ̄ͯ̾ͥ̕E̵̵̸̛̽ͮ͐͐ͦ́̊Aͪͦ̈͊͆͒̐ͭͥ͊̍̔͂ͮ͋̃̎̕͟͟͠Ŗ̂ͯ̍ͥ̈́ͣͫ͢ ̸̶̛ͦͯͩͮ͌ͭ̑̿̅ͪ͒̿̚T̡̛̛͐ͧ̊͗ͩ͑͆ͦ̒͑͊̿ͧͪ̃̑̊ͣ̓͞H̨̛̆̐ͤͫͭͥ̓̓͌̒ͦ̏ͩ̈͠E̷͑̑͒ͮ͛͋ͬ̚ ͐́ͬͦ́̋ͥͧͭ̈́̊̿̂͋̄ͦ͢͡Ơ̵̶̛̆̃̔̍͋̂̀L̶̨͐͗̾̍ͫͥͨ͟D̷̨̛̿ͣ̈͑̂͌ͨ̆̋̽͛͒ͨ̿̓ͯ̈́͟-̶͛̏͊ͯͭͨ͌̏̓̉̅͑̔̊.͌͊͑̆̑̍ͧ̔͏̴̵̡.͋ͤ̆͌͟.̸̛ͨͫͣ͋̿̿ͤͭ̓̔̏ͣ̏ͫ̓̓̇͂͜.̿ͪ͆̐́͘̕͘͜-̴̊̑̎͆ͯ̓̾͢͠Dͯ̍ͣ̎͛͗̕͢͡͏.̸̢̛̀̾̉̈́́ͯͨ̅̇̃ͭ̾ͫ͑̌̅"̴͗ͭ͗̓̽̎͋͗̉ͥ̎ͭ̽/̸̵̡̄ͫ̎͂͂̈́ͤͧ̃̎ͦ̾͠

It's mane of tentacles shoot out and snag 9S' ankles while he's stunned, yanking his feet out from under him. His head cracks against the stone, and before he can react the creature is slamming his body against the tunnel walls like a rag doll. It throws him to the ground and pins it's clawed foot against his chest as tendrils wrap around his neck. 9S' finger scrape and grab at the mess of wires and machinery, but it's a futile endeavor as he feels his throat begin to collapse on itself. Each second its grip tightens, constricting the life out of his body-

A flash of white tears through the tendrils crushing his neck and another cleaves the machine's spine in two. The creature lets out a series of guttural shrieks before collapsing to the ground beside 9S. 2B stands above him, breathing heavily with sword in hand.

With the help of Pod 153, 9S tears the still writhing tendrils from around his throat, all while gasping for air.

"Th-thanks for the assist..." he sputters, throwing the last of the tentacles as far as he can.

2B gives him a curt nod but refuses to look at him. He notices just how red her face is, the rigidness of her stance, and the thin coat of sweat that covers her skin.

"...You okay?" She helps him up, but won't make physical contact longer than necessary. Once he's on his feet she backs a few feet away from him.

"Yeah, nothing too serious I think." 9S sniffles a bit and wipes the blood dripping from his nose with the back of his hand. "I've had worse... probably. What about you? What did that thing do to you?"

2B's hands curl into fists, "...I think it altered my sensory processors. Made me...hear things, see things, that weren't there."

"Alert: Unit 2B was seized by an unknown enemy and place in an uncontrolled state." Pod 042 announces, "Proposal: Return to the Resistance Camp to perform a full data overhaul and repairs immediately. There is a high probability of corruption by enemy logic virus."

9S fights the burning curiosity raging through his head. What was this machine lifeform? Why did it desecrate its victims like it did? What was the purpose of the altar? What did it make 2B see and how did it do that?

Why was 2B avoiding his touch and refusing to look at him?

He shook his head. This was neither the time nor the place to be thinking about any of that.

"Let's get the hell out of here."

UNIT DATA OBTAINED: WILLEM

[livingcorner]

10 Things I Wish I’d Known Before Starting a Vegetable Garden

Longer days and the first brave flowers poking through – spring is nearly here! This is the perfect time to plan for the coming growing season. If you’re new to gardening – welcome! You’re about to embark on a journey that’s equal parts challenging, rewarding, mystifying and uplifting. Here are the top ten things I wish I’d known when I started out…

You're reading: 10 Things I Wish I’d Known Before Starting a Vegetable Garden

1. Right Plant, Right Place

The first thing to consider when starting a vegetable garden is light. Most vegetables, fruits and herbs grow best in full sunshine – somewhere that receives at least six hours and preferably eight hours of direct sunshine a day, though some shading is welcome in hotter climates.

Some cool-season crops – for example spinach, cabbage and radishes – can be grown in part shade, while there are plenty of flowers for both sunny and shady locations.

2. Convenience is Key

You’ll need to tend your garden regularly, so if possible position it close to the house where you will see it – that way you won’t forget about it and can see what needs doing as it needs doing. Try to site it near a source of water, or install water butts or other means of collecting rainwater close by to make watering quick and easy.

3. Love Your Soil

Lavish your soil with love. Nourish it with organic matter, including garden compost and manure. Manure must be rotted down for at least six months before applying it because fresh manure contains weed seeds, can harbour disease and may ‘burn’ plants due to its very high nitrogen content.

Read more: How to Harvest Kale: Cut and Come Again | Epic Gardening

Add organic matter whenever you can and at least once a year. This can be simply laid on the soil surface, as what’s known as a ‘mulch’. Over time your soil’s structure will improve, becoming better draining and a healthier environment for roots. You can add organic fertilisers too of course, but think of these as a short-term boost, rather than building up long-term soil health like organic matter can.

4. Don’t Be Hasty

As a new gardener it’s easy to get carried away, but a little restraint is essential. Plant too soon and tender plants are likely to be caught out by a sudden frost or will fail to thrive as they grow on. In most areas your last and first frost dates define your growing season.

Our Garden Planner can help. It automatically calculates your frost dates based on your location. As you add plants to your plan the accompanying Plant List grows too. Open it up and you’ll be able to see exactly when you should be sowing, planting and harvesting your chosen crops.

The Garden Planner recommends ideal planting and harvest times for your garden’s location

5. Give Plants the Best Start

Begin sowing outside only once your soil has warmed up and dried out enough to become workable. Seed beds – that’s the area you sow into – should have a fine, crumbly texture. Sowing under cover into plug trays and pots is a great way to get a head start while outside temperatures are still too low, but they’ll need plenty of light for a good start.

Compost is darker-colored than garden soil, so filling rows with multi-purpose compost after sowing seeds can help you to distinguish your own seedlings from any weeds that emerge.

Transplants need planting holes that are bigger than the existing rootball. The soil then used to fill in the hole will be looser, which will make it easier for new roots to grow out into the surrounding soil and help plants to establish quicker in their new home. Using a darker-coloured potting soil where you have planted can help you to distinguish your own seedlings from weeds that emerge.

6. Water Well

Most plants need an average of 1-2 inches or 2-5cm of water a week. You’ll probably need to water more as it gets warmer, but this does depend on rainfall. It’s better to water heavily, once a week, than a little every day. This forces roots to reach further down into the soil to seek moisture, improving self-reliance. Plants in containers can’t do this of course, so water them more often.

7. Act Fast on Weeds

Weeds compete with your plants for moisture and nutrients. Remove weeds as soon as you see them so they don’t have a chance to produce seeds and spread. Hoeing is quick and easy, and severed weeds may be left where they fall to wither in the sun. Keep the blade edge sharp and close to the surface to prevent damaging crop roots. Hand-weed where the hoe can’t reach.

Mulching with organic matter is a great way stop new weeds popping up as well as improving your soil as it gradually rots down.

Read more: Home gardens: a promising approach to enhance household food security and wellbeing

8. Keep Picking to Keep Producing

Some vegetables must be picked regularly to keep the harvests coming. Beans, courgettes and tomatoes are just a few examples where picking will encourage even more pods and fruits to follow.

Similarly, removing old blooms from ornamental flowers – called ‘deadheading’ – encourages more to follow, extending the display a little longer.

9. Tidy Up…But Not Too Much

An end-of-season tidy up is a great way to ensure a clean start the following year, but don’t get too carried away. Old seed heads of, for example, coneflowers and thistles will help feed birds over winter, while ornamental grasses can be left to add movement and structure to the garden – and overwintering sites for beneficial bugs such as butterflies.

Fallen leaves are a welcome resource. Add them to compost heaps, compost them alone to turn them into leafmould, or pile them thickly over tender perennials to protect them over winter.

10. Keep Records

Good gardeners make lots of mistakes but they learn from them! By keeping track of when, where and what you grew and noting any pests, diseases or failures, you can build up a personal record of what works best for you and your garden.

Use the Garden Journal to learn from your mistakes and successes

Take advantage of our free online Garden Journal, which makes record keeping easy. Take photos outside, on the go, then upload them with your written notes. Record when you planted, watered and tended your crops, get to the bottom of problems, and see how much you’ve harvested.

Source: https://livingcorner.com.au Category: Garden

source https://livingcorner.com.au/10-things-i-wish-id-known-before-starting-a-vegetable-garden-4/

[mydazeenthusiast]

Here's the Truth About Wood Veneers

When you learn that a piece of furniture has a veneer, does it make you cringe a little? Admittedly us, too. But wood veneers, in fact, are a traditional and structurally significant aspect of furniture-making that still come into play in contemporary design. Wood veneers have been used in furniture-making and millwork techniques for over 200 years, says interior designer Cate Caruso, of Studio C, who uses them for all kinds of high-quality custom furnishings. In woodworking, a veneer is actually a paper thin cut of wood that's applied to both sides of a strong core surface, like furniture-grade MDF or substrate material, to seal and stabilize it—which is critically important when you're fashioning built-in furniture or anything with a mechanism. The reason is simple: Solid wood expands and contracts as the temperature changes, and your apartment isn't temperature controlled no matter how powerful your A.C. unit is. A dining table, for instance, can be made from solid wood (and many are), but a wood piece with moving parts cannot. With kitchen cabinetry, drawers, and anything built-in or paneled, you really have to have veneers, Caruso explains. A solid piece of wood just isn’t always structurally sound enough to fabricate a millwork.

What she is not using is fake wood. Oftentimes, when people see a veneered furnishing that’s cheap, it’s actually not wood at all—it’s a laminate material, Caruso explains, putting a name to the faux surface that gave all veneers a bad rap somewhere along the line. (Those are made from plastic, paper, or even foil that's been printed with a wood grain pattern that often wears away at the edges—a sure way to spot them.) But of course, there's also a range in quality of proper veneers depending on who makes them. All woodworking can be done well or it can be done poorly—but an expert millworker will make veneers look seamless, with perfect corners, Caruso says, which explains the misconception that a wood engineered veneer is cheap when it’s anything but.

Besides keeping a wood panel stable, veneers have other perks and purposes. They're considered an environmentally conscious option because you're maximizing that log in thin little sheets, Caruso says, and then the core is furniture grade MDF or substrate material. In extreme cases, they can even be cost-saving. Think about Brazilian rosewood, which is rare, endangered, very hard to get, and very expensive, says Patrick Muecke, Caruso's general contractor, who was a millworker for 15+ years before opening his own GC and management company. If you want to do a rosewood paneled room in solid wood, you’d have to be the Sultan of Brunei in order to afford it. The same would go for any project in an expensive wood; veneers would bring down the cost. Beyond millwork, natural bamboo veneers are also required for certain special techniques: Book-matched wood doors (or book-matched wood anything) would have to be fashioned using bamboo veneers because you'd never find wood planks with grains that perfectly match—it's necessary instead to have a series of veneers cut from the same log. Then there are labor-intensive inlay arts like marquetry and parquetry, which require veneers cut to certain sizes and shapes that are then fit into the top of a structure. A far cry from laminate surfaces, right?

When you’re choosing your residence hall furniture and deciding on the specs, you’ll inevitably choose what materials you want.

Should it be totally solid wood or a laminate variety?

If you choose to go with the latter, you’ll have to answer another important question.

What kind of wood edge banding do you want?

For many people who are new to buying residence hall furniture, that’s going to elicit some questioning faces.

What’s edge banding? Good question.

Or, if you’re a veteran, you already know how painful the wrong edge banding choice can be. That is to say, peeling, ongoing maintenance, and mounting work orders.

What Is Edge Banding?

So let’s start at the beginning. What is edge banding?

It’s actually kind of simple, and the video below will help you understand it even better, but this is a simple overview to get you started.

Here’s the basic non-technical idea.

Plywood, particle board, and other manufactured wood cores like MDF have rough, unfinished, unprotected, and generally unsightly edges.

To account for that, some clever folks developed technologies that allow you to glue different bands of glossy finished material to those rough edges to match the tops and sides.

Those narrow bands or strips are called edging tape, and they range in thickness from 0.018-inch to 5mm thick and in 250 ft rolls.

The thicker edging is used in high traffic and commercial environments because it provides greater resilience and impact resistance. For example, the military requires a thicker ⅜” solid wood edge banding for maximum impact resistance.

And edge banders are the industrial grade machines that apply the edging tape to the raw edges of the wood panels with a hot-melt adhesive or glue.

The Purpose of Edge Banding

Edge banding serves both functional and aesthetic purposes.

Functionally, edge bands perform some key duties for your furniture. First, it keeps moisture out serving as a de facto seal on the edge of the core material. Second, edge banding improves durability and resilience by providing impact resistance. If you’re using solid wood edging, it can also add to the overall strength of the furniture.

Aesthetically, edge banding covers up unsightly rough edges and creates a glossy finish to match your tops and sides. You can also create radial edges to soften sharp angles.

What Is Edge Banding Made From?

What are the edging tapes made from? There are different materials, and we’ll just focus on a few here.

1. PVC is the most popular material for edge banding. Pros: It’s inexpensive, durable, and boasts a long life. It doesn’t require any finishing process. It’s also easy, albeit tedious, to repair. Cons: You can’t recycle it. It doesn’t biodegrade. Once it’s blemished, you can’t refinish it. (NB: ABS—Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene—is an eco friendly alternative to PVC because it’s both recyclable and safe to incinerate.)

When it comes to PVC, we recommend 3mm edging in general because it goes on cleaner, quicker, and with better adhesion. Another advantage is that you get a graceful radius and a nice soft-looking finish. In general, we avoid .5mm edging because the corners tend to be too sharp.

2. Solid Wood is still a favorite in many woodworking camps. It’s durable, recyclable, easy to fix and refinish, strong, stiff, and economical. Benefits: is more resistant to chipping than veneer edge tape. Solid wood glues are more reliable and less prone to peeling than veneer and PVC. It provides additional dimensional support to plywood and mdf. Climate neutral manufacturing. Cons: Difficult to use for curves.

When it comes to solid wood we recommend 9.5mm on case good tops.

As we explain below, at DCI, we believe the best way to apply wood edge banding is “internally” with a HPL top. Why? Because in our experience, it’s incredibly durable and never requires additional service.

Wood Veneer

3. Wood Veneer, including reconstituted veneer is another common edge banding material. It’s made from thin slices of wood—typically oak, maple, ash, walnut, birch, and mahogany—that are joined together in a roll using finger jointing. It usually features a heat-sensitive glue backing.

Pros: It’s attractive, durable, and strong. It provides a clean solid-wood look, and it’s pre-sanded to easily absorb stains and finishes to seamlessly match your wood. Cons: It’s not heat resistant. Avoid putting it near a heater. It doesn’t do well in high-use environments.

[thumbgarden]

How I made a narrow garden bed and simplified my life

The most difficult work in the "garden field" is laying out of the site. Breaking it down into beds, and digging it up in the fall.

Loosening the soil, planting, tending, and even watering (although this is not an easy task for older people) is less scary for the gardener because these tasks are more time-consuming and can at least get a short break in the warmer months.

So, how do you organize your summer cottage with plots to keep it attractive, keep the vegetable garden clean, and reduce caregiving? I suggest making a Narrow Garden Bed.

In this material, I will tell you how Narrow Garden Beds save a lot of labor for large estate owners and share the experience of creating them.

WHY BIG GARDENS DON'T EQUAL BIG HARVESTS Years of gardening experience have shown that the quantity of quality harvest is not provided by a large area.

Plants can be more carefully cared for in smaller areas, which means that bushes and entire areas will yield the most and have the best quality fruit. It takes 2-3 times less effort and time to take care of crops on small plots.

Multi-field rotations (8-12 crops) with large beds can be an overwhelming task in later years.

My grandmother is 77 years old and has been using the Narrow Garden Bed method in my vegetable garden for the past 15 years. It is very convenient and does not require money or excessive physical labor.

AN EASY WAY TO CREATE A NARROW GARDEN BED To change a traditional vegetable garden into a more progressive one, you first need to measure the total area of the plot. Level the area set aside for the vegetable garden and divide it into Narrow Garden Beds with wide paths.

The beds should be no more than 15-25inch (40-50cm) wide. A wide path should be left between the beds: 30-50inch (80-120 cm). The length of the seedbed is arbitrary and depends on the owner's wishes.

Beds are better oriented from north to south. Such an arrangement will extend the light hours for the plants on the beds. All remnants of grass and vegetable plants (not affected by diseases) are dumped on the paths.

You can exchange narrow beds and paths after 2 to 4 years. Allocate a narrow bed in the middle of a wide path and form a wide path from the sides of the worked-out bed and path.

Over the years, weeds, tractors, and garden plant stems will accumulate enough of a semi-decomposing ground cover layer.

The new Narrow Garden Bed is loosened 3-4inch (8-10cm) deep with a hoe. After winter, the soil becomes plumped up and aired out, and in the spring, it is loosened again. No recultivation is required.

If not all the work is done in time (for various reasons) and weeds have risen in flower beds and paths, they are mowed and allowed to rot.

Narrow seedbeds can be left untouched and wide paths can be seeded with resilient grasses such as Kentucky bluegrass, Kentucky bluegrass, and other grasses. They suppress common weeds and you get the bed in green turf grass.

Some owners cover trails with old plywood and roofing materials to reduce weed overgrowth and make it easier to work in the bed. In this case, the removed weeds are left between the rows of the bed.

If you have the time and energy, you can fence off the beds and raise them above ground level. However, this work requires time and materials. In addition, plants develop better on free soil without any fencing.

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF A NARROW GARDEN BED?

Free access to the plants on such a bed from both sides. It is easy to cultivate, loosen the soil and plant.

These tasks can be performed while sitting on the bench next to the bed or moving around the bed while planting large planting materials (potatoes, onions, small huckleberries, peas, etc.).

Only one condition is strict: you must not step on the bed, so as not to compact the soil. All work is done from a wide path between the beds.

On the wide path, all auxiliary work is carried out using containers, carts, and auxiliary tools, without touching the bed.

Crops are no longer planted in 2-3 row garden beds, except for small seeds (leeks, dill, radishes, lettuce, etc.). In narrow seedbeds, the rows should be kept as narrow as possible.

This way, the expansion of the above-ground parts of vegetable plants will cover the bare soil more quickly.

For example, in a narrow bed, rows are spaced 14x14inch (35x35 cm) for early tomatoes, 16x16inch (40x40 cm) and no more than 20x20inch (50x50 cm) for tall bushes, 2x2inch (5x5 cm) for carrots, and no more than 8x8inch (20x20 cm) for cucumbers ).

It will die under the green shade of the crop, so there is no need to relax often to get rid of weeds. In addition, water evaporates 20-25 times less from the surface of the plant's leaves than from the open soil surface.

In winter, there is enough time to consider crop rotation in the vegetable garden. The basic rule - in a bed, crop rotation should continue throughout the warm season.

For example, if you do not need a large harvest, you can divide the bed into 2-3 parts. One of them is sown with a few mature radishes, the second with spinach or salad, and then an onion bath as an annual crop.

Radishes will occupy their part of the bed for no more than 1-1.5 months. After their harvest, you can plant early cabbage, early tomatoes, sprouts of 40-day potatoes.

After harvesting lettuce, the second half of the bed can be occupied by medium or medium-early tomatoes, greens (dill, celery, parsley, basil), and spring garlic.

If it is planned to grow medium-late tomatoes in the garden, cabbage tomatoes, it is necessary to sow such beds together in the fall or spring so that they do not become empty and become a testing ground for weeds.

When the seedlings are ready to be planted, cut the oxalate and use it as a mulch for crops. All crop care can be carried out slowly, preferably on benches suitable for this operation.

CARING FOR CROPS ON NARROW RIDGES

1. Loosen the soil On the bench, you can easily reach a row of plants on one side of the bed and on the other, loosening the soil and killing weeds.

It is best to leave the weeds in between the crop rows, but if there are still a lot of weeds and they are overgrown (as they will be the first year), then destroy the weeds that are dumped in the path.

This layer of weeds will pop up under your feet, which will put less pressure on the soil. It will not be trampled as much.

The weeds will be decomposed and form a ground cover that will be very useful in the future. If weeds also appear in the path, they can be easily eliminated by surface loosening.

2. Mulch Mulch is easily laid in narrow beds. As mulch, use the same weeds (they are spread between the rows), straw, sawdust (except for conifers) and wood chips, and green blocks of mowed green manure.

With a 3-4inch (7-10 cm) layer of mulch (no less, or the mulch won't work), the weeds won't germinate and die, as well as some pests, including the Colorado potato beetle (for which the number of treatments is reduced).

In addition, the green manure will loosen the soil with its root system, it will not need to be re-tilled, and at the same time, it will act as a green fertilizer for the main crops.

Constant occupation of the plot eliminates the need to pay high costs for constant weed control. Mulch prevents soil contamination of the fruits of vegetable crops close to the ground (tomatoes, gherkins, strawberries, etc.) and prevents infection by fungi (phylloxera, rot).

Through decomposition, the mulch replenishes the soil with organic matter, which will increase its fertility and improve its structure.

If the plot is heavily clogged, some weeds can be removed before spring construction without much effort. It is only necessary to provoke them to germinate more quickly.

Spread peat, grass ash, and hummus on the snow in spring and cover it with cling film. Sunlight is attracted to the dark surface, the ground under the film warms up faster, and the weeds begin to germinate. Within 1.5-2 weeks, loosen the soil in flower beds and paths to eliminate weeds.

Repeat the provocation technique if you plan to plant late crops in the bed. Just the bare soil is again fluffed by surface loosening (too hard soil is not necessary).

It is convenient to cover narrow ridges, especially under strawberries or perennials, with mulching material that will not let in light but will allow moisture to escape.

If weeds are not removed from paths in a timely manner, they can be cut back by the roots and used as mulch for garden crops in beds.

3. Water the plants If there is sufficient rain in May and a lot of timely soil mulching, it is possible to reduce some watering by increasing the time between irrigations.

Moisture is well retained under the mulch and does not allow the soil to form dry crusts, which can often harm delicate plant stems.

Drip irrigation is easily arranged in narrow field ridges. From the main water pipe running along with the vegetable garden, a perforated hose is directed to each narrow bed.

The smaller the diameter of the hole, the more often it is placed. The main hose is connected to a water tap. The water pressure is low - it should be dripping, not pouring.

Dear readers Please keep in mind that transitioning to narrow ridges will not automatically rid your garden of weeds in a year, but it will help reduce the labor cost of handling the site and give you a fairly high yield of vegetables without physical overexertion.

#ThumbGarden #Vegetables #GardenBed #NarrowGardenBed #HowTo #SmartIdeas #idea #Inspiration #UrbanGarden #FlowerGarden #Garden #SmallGarden #SmallSpaces #Harvest #PlantCare #Inspired #Benefits #Phylloxera

Author: Ms.Geneva Link: https://www.thumbgarden.com/made-a-narrow-garden-bed/ Source: ThumbGarden The copyright belongs to the author. For commercial reprints, please contact the author for authorization, and for non-commercial reprints, please indicate the source.

[chellesbookreport]

How to choose a sofa? 9 Tips for buying a new sofa

In our era of unlimited freedom of choice when buying a sofa, an infinite variety of options open up.

At first, it seems that you know exactly what you want. But as soon as you enter a salon or open an online catalogue, the variety of styles, shapes and alternatives is overwhelming.

A few tips will help you save time and money and avoid future disappointments, allowing you to get a clear idea of ​​what you really want (and what you need!) Even before you start hunting.

9 Important Tips for choosing the right sofa:

1- Check the Frame

Sit on the couch: if it squeaks, then the couch frame is loose and won’t last long enough for you.

It is better to choose the base from steel: the cost of the sofa will be higher, but metal is the most durable material.

Wood takes the second place in strength, but the most fragile base will be made of chipboard, but it is also the most budgetary. The armrests are usually firmly knocked into the mainframe – they should neither move nor wobble.

2- Durable padding

Corners and frame must be carefully padded. Run your hand over them, firmly pressing your palm: if there are any defects, you will immediately feel them.

Thanks to the good upholstery of the frame and corners, the fabric on the top of the sofa wipe less. And this, in turn, means that the original appearance will remain much longer.

Pay attention to the drawings and lines: they should connect correctly, smooth lines without sharp transitions at the seams.

Even if there is a small error, you should not choose such a sofa: thoughts of a defect will not leave you.

3- Convenient mechanism

If you are looking for a sofa bed, it is important to carefully check the entire structure and fixtures – they should work smoothly and easily.

There are three main folding mechanisms: a “book”, a roll-out sofa and a module. When choosing a sofa for sleeping, rely on the model that is easiest to use, because you will be laying it out at least twice a day.

Furniture with a good, high-quality mechanism, as a rule, is more expensive, because, in addition to the sofa itself, you pay extra for the construction, and it will not be superfluous to check it right in the store.

4- High-quality filler

Seating cushions should be well-padded and fit snugly on the sofa and should be the right size for the sofa.

In addition, They should easily regain their shape after you apply pressure to them with your hand. If the dents still remain, abandon the purchase.

Most likely, the material with which they are stuffed is of poor quality and will not last you long.

5- Good build

If you have chosen a sofa with a metal frame or details, pay attention to their shape. All sharp corners must be smoothed and rounded, otherwise, you risk snagging upholstery, clothing, or even injury.

Another important safety point: hard and sharp parts that protrude from the back of the sofa. They should not be in any case! They not only spoil the appearance of furniture but can also cause injury.

6- Perfect shape for the sofa

Comfort, comfort and more comfort. First of all, you should be comfortable on the couch. Sit or lie down on it right in the store.

See if the sofa suits you in terms of the height of the back: the taller the person, the higher it should be.

As for the shape, it all depends on the size of the room where the new sofa will arrive: if there is a free corner, then a corner sofa is a good solution.

It will not take up precious space in the centre of the room and will cover an empty corner. If the area is very small, then stop at a straight two- or three-seat model.

7- Choose your style

It can be difficult to decide on your own style, but only relying on your taste can you choose a sofa that will harmoniously fit into the overall interior. Simple and practical shapes and rich colors.

8- Examine the upholstery materials

Aesthetics are important, but functionality is key when it comes to upholstery choices. As great as white suede is, buying such a sofa will be a disaster if there are animals or small children in the house.

Dark leather, on the other hand, is both stylish and easy to clean. Alternatively, outdoor fabric upholstery for outdoor furniture can be used successfully in the home. Such furniture will definitely withstand exposure to direct sunlight, moisture or pets.

9- Neutral, bright, colored

New upholstery can transform and personalize furniture beyond recognition at a minimal cost. Don’t be afraid to choose a sofa with a fun, unique print!

The pattern of the upholstery can radically change the perception of the situation.

If you’re worried about experimenting with the bold colors and patterns of the sofa itself, try a bright ottoman or coffee table first – to complement more conservative sofas and armchairs, this accent will make the interior play in a new way.

Conclusion

No matter how much you want to save money, you have to admit that it is impossible to buy a good sofa cheaply.

All parts from the frame to the upholstery must be of high quality, which means that they require corresponding costs.

http://www.thechairandsofa.co.uk/?p=7559

[imotibg2015]

How to choose a sofa? 9 Tips for buying a new sofa

In our era of unlimited freedom of choice when buying a sofa, an infinite variety of options open up.

At first, it seems that you know exactly what you want. But as soon as you enter a salon or open an online catalogue, the variety of styles, shapes and alternatives is overwhelming.

A few tips will help you save time and money and avoid future disappointments, allowing you to get a clear idea of ​​what you really want (and what you need!) Even before you start hunting.

9 Important Tips for choosing the right sofa:

1- Check the Frame

Sit on the couch: if it squeaks, then the couch frame is loose and won’t last long enough for you.

It is better to choose the base from steel: the cost of the sofa will be higher, but metal is the most durable material.

Wood takes the second place in strength, but the most fragile base will be made of chipboard, but it is also the most budgetary. The armrests are usually firmly knocked into the mainframe – they should neither move nor wobble.

2- Durable padding

Corners and frame must be carefully padded. Run your hand over them, firmly pressing your palm: if there are any defects, you will immediately feel them.

Thanks to the good upholstery of the frame and corners, the fabric on the top of the sofa wipe less. And this, in turn, means that the original appearance will remain much longer.

Pay attention to the drawings and lines: they should connect correctly, smooth lines without sharp transitions at the seams.

Even if there is a small error, you should not choose such a sofa: thoughts of a defect will not leave you.

3- Convenient mechanism

If you are looking for a sofa bed, it is important to carefully check the entire structure and fixtures – they should work smoothly and easily.

There are three main folding mechanisms: a “book”, a roll-out sofa and a module. When choosing a sofa for sleeping, rely on the model that is easiest to use, because you will be laying it out at least twice a day.

Furniture with a good, high-quality mechanism, as a rule, is more expensive, because, in addition to the sofa itself, you pay extra for the construction, and it will not be superfluous to check it right in the store.

4- High-quality filler

Seating cushions should be well-padded and fit snugly on the sofa and should be the right size for the sofa.

In addition, They should easily regain their shape after you apply pressure to them with your hand. If the dents still remain, abandon the purchase.

Most likely, the material with which they are stuffed is of poor quality and will not last you long.

5- Good build

If you have chosen a sofa with a metal frame or details, pay attention to their shape. All sharp corners must be smoothed and rounded, otherwise, you risk snagging upholstery, clothing, or even injury.

Another important safety point: hard and sharp parts that protrude from the back of the sofa. They should not be in any case! They not only spoil the appearance of furniture but can also cause injury.

6- Perfect shape for the sofa

Comfort, comfort and more comfort. First of all, you should be comfortable on the couch. Sit or lie down on it right in the store.

See if the sofa suits you in terms of the height of the back: the taller the person, the higher it should be.

As for the shape, it all depends on the size of the room where the new sofa will arrive: if there is a free corner, then a corner sofa is a good solution.

It will not take up precious space in the centre of the room and will cover an empty corner. If the area is very small, then stop at a straight two- or three-seat model.

7- Choose your style

It can be difficult to decide on your own style, but only relying on your taste can you choose a sofa that will harmoniously fit into the overall interior. Simple and practical shapes and rich colors.

8- Examine the upholstery materials

Aesthetics are important, but functionality is key when it comes to upholstery choices. As great as white suede is, buying such a sofa will be a disaster if there are animals or small children in the house.

Dark leather, on the other hand, is both stylish and easy to clean. Alternatively, outdoor fabric upholstery for outdoor furniture can be used successfully in the home. Such furniture will definitely withstand exposure to direct sunlight, moisture or pets.

9- Neutral, bright, colored

New upholstery can transform and personalize furniture beyond recognition at a minimal cost. Don’t be afraid to choose a sofa with a fun, unique print!

The pattern of the upholstery can radically change the perception of the situation.

If you’re worried about experimenting with the bold colors and patterns of the sofa itself, try a bright ottoman or coffee table first – to complement more conservative sofas and armchairs, this accent will make the interior play in a new way.

Conclusion

No matter how much you want to save money, you have to admit that it is impossible to buy a good sofa cheaply.

All parts from the frame to the upholstery must be of high quality, which means that they require corresponding costs.

, http://www.thechairandsofa.co.uk/?p=7559

[lucian-bane]

How to choose a sofa? 9 Tips for buying a new sofa

In our era of unlimited freedom of choice when buying a sofa, an infinite variety of options open up.

At first, it seems that you know exactly what you want. But as soon as you enter a salon or open an online catalogue, the variety of styles, shapes and alternatives is overwhelming.

A few tips will help you save time and money and avoid future disappointments, allowing you to get a clear idea of ​​what you really want (and what you need!) Even before you start hunting.

9 Important Tips for choosing the right sofa:

1- Check the Frame

Sit on the couch: if it squeaks, then the couch frame is loose and won’t last long enough for you.

It is better to choose the base from steel: the cost of the sofa will be higher, but metal is the most durable material.

Wood takes the second place in strength, but the most fragile base will be made of chipboard, but it is also the most budgetary. The armrests are usually firmly knocked into the mainframe – they should neither move nor wobble.

2- Durable padding

Corners and frame must be carefully padded. Run your hand over them, firmly pressing your palm: if there are any defects, you will immediately feel them.

Thanks to the good upholstery of the frame and corners, the fabric on the top of the sofa wipe less. And this, in turn, means that the original appearance will remain much longer.

Pay attention to the drawings and lines: they should connect correctly, smooth lines without sharp transitions at the seams.

Even if there is a small error, you should not choose such a sofa: thoughts of a defect will not leave you.

3- Convenient mechanism

If you are looking for a sofa bed, it is important to carefully check the entire structure and fixtures – they should work smoothly and easily.

There are three main folding mechanisms: a “book”, a roll-out sofa and a module. When choosing a sofa for sleeping, rely on the model that is easiest to use, because you will be laying it out at least twice a day.

Furniture with a good, high-quality mechanism, as a rule, is more expensive, because, in addition to the sofa itself, you pay extra for the construction, and it will not be superfluous to check it right in the store.

4- High-quality filler

Seating cushions should be well-padded and fit snugly on the sofa and should be the right size for the sofa.

In addition, They should easily regain their shape after you apply pressure to them with your hand. If the dents still remain, abandon the purchase.

Most likely, the material with which they are stuffed is of poor quality and will not last you long.

5- Good build

If you have chosen a sofa with a metal frame or details, pay attention to their shape. All sharp corners must be smoothed and rounded, otherwise, you risk snagging upholstery, clothing, or even injury.

Another important safety point: hard and sharp parts that protrude from the back of the sofa. They should not be in any case! They not only spoil the appearance of furniture but can also cause injury.

6- Perfect shape for the sofa

Comfort, comfort and more comfort. First of all, you should be comfortable on the couch. Sit or lie down on it right in the store.

See if the sofa suits you in terms of the height of the back: the taller the person, the higher it should be.

As for the shape, it all depends on the size of the room where the new sofa will arrive: if there is a free corner, then a corner sofa is a good solution.

It will not take up precious space in the centre of the room and will cover an empty corner. If the area is very small, then stop at a straight two- or three-seat model.

7- Choose your style

It can be difficult to decide on your own style, but only relying on your taste can you choose a sofa that will harmoniously fit into the overall interior. Simple and practical shapes and rich colors.

8- Examine the upholstery materials

Aesthetics are important, but functionality is key when it comes to upholstery choices. As great as white suede is, buying such a sofa will be a disaster if there are animals or small children in the house.

Dark leather, on the other hand, is both stylish and easy to clean. Alternatively, outdoor fabric upholstery for outdoor furniture can be used successfully in the home. Such furniture will definitely withstand exposure to direct sunlight, moisture or pets.

9- Neutral, bright, colored

New upholstery can transform and personalize furniture beyond recognition at a minimal cost. Don’t be afraid to choose a sofa with a fun, unique print!

The pattern of the upholstery can radically change the perception of the situation.

If you’re worried about experimenting with the bold colors and patterns of the sofa itself, try a bright ottoman or coffee table first – to complement more conservative sofas and armchairs, this accent will make the interior play in a new way.

Conclusion

No matter how much you want to save money, you have to admit that it is impossible to buy a good sofa cheaply.

All parts from the frame to the upholstery must be of high quality, which means that they require corresponding costs.

http://www.thechairandsofa.co.uk/how-to-choose-a-sofa/http://www.thechairandsofa.co.uk/?p=7559