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running-with-toast · 2 years

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Lettering sound effects in Shiori Experience

Hi! I’m Toast, the letterer on #dropout’s English translation of Shiori Experience. This series was my first time doing typesetting, and I’ve learned a lot over the two years I’ve been involved in the project. Each new chapter brings new challenges, and as our team has matured we’ve gotten more ambitious. We recently began translating the comic’s sound effects along with the dialogue, a decision which instantly doubled the size of our workload.

Our most recent release, Chapter 64, was probably the most technically complex chapter we’ve done so far. The sound effects in this chapter were varied and complicated, presenting a number of interesting challenges. Today I thought it would be fun to give y’all a peek behind the curtain, and show the thought process and effort that goes into the adaptation of sound effects in Shiori Experience.

Shiori Experience is a music manga [citation needed], so it isn’t surprising that the sound effects can get pretty complicated. Music manga need to convey not just the sound, but more importantly the impact of a performance, conveying an auditory experience in a totally silent medium. Shiori Experience’s approach to this problem is to make the sound effects semi-diegetic objects. They hang in the air, burst out of crowds, get obscured by foreground objects, and cast shadows on their environment. This is a really cool effect, but also makes converting them from Japanese to English a fucking nightmare.

(Look at the shadows)

Shiori Experience is kind of a nightmare

In some ways, lettering for Shiori Experience isn’t actually that difficult. Sound effects in this series are goddamn everywhere and they’re fucking gigantic, but they’re always straightforward. Much like the art of the series, the sound effects are clean and angular, strong dynamic shapes which are easy to parse even if you can’t read the katakana. For a great example of this, look at this sequence from Chapter 64.

This sequence demonstrates what you can achieve with good lettering. The sound of the band is conveyed perfectly with these visuals. The clear and regular beat of the drums, the dark and energetic bass line, the screaming uncontrollable energy of the electric guitar. We didn’t even bother translating it. We didn’t need to.

But look at the sequence again. In spite of its apparent complexity, there’s only two fonts here, a dynamic block text and an angular brush. Those two fonts represent the vast majority of SFX in Shiori Experience. The rest is just text effects and perspective tricks.

So to convert these sound effects into English, we just have to find equivalent fonts. It took me a while to pin down a set of fonts I was happy with. For the pointy brush font I eventually settled on Jolly Lodger, a brush font with a sort of piratey vibe. I’m still not 100% satisfied with this conversion, it isn’t as pointy as the original, but it’s good enough for now.

And for the big block font I chose Boogaloo. It looks a little thin when it’s on its own like this, but it really bulks up with the right text effects.

Great! We’ve got our fonts! Doing the sound effects should be as simple as erasing the old text and replacing it with the new text, right? Wrong. The nightmare begins.

Different approaches

There are several schools of thought when it comes to lettering manga SFX. One is the "keikkaku means plan" approach. In a translator's note outside the panel, or in plain text near the SFX, describe what the sound is. This is incredibly easy. This is also lame.

(This is from the official release of Dungeon Meshi. I wouldn’t want to redraw this one either, but like, come on guys.)

Another school of thought is style matching. Similar to the translator’s note approach, but rather than plain text, the translation uses similar text effects to the original SFX. This works fine, but it can create a lot of visual clutter if implemented poorly.

(This is from Drifting Dragons. Please read Drifting Dragons.)

The last approach is full replacement. In this approach, the original SFX is (are you ready for this?) fully replaced by the new SFX.

SFX Redrawing

Replacing a sound effect isn’t as simple as just erasing it. We work with tankoban pages, scans of the Japanese volume release. These files are flattened, with the art and text all on one layer as a single image. We can’t just disable the text. In order to remove the original SFX, we have to redraw them.

(for context this is from when I had covid)

Redrawing means recreating the art hidden by the original SFX. This is a complex process, requiring a steady hand, sharp eyes, and a lot of guesswork. Since we don’t know what precisely is underneath the original SFX, we have to use context to reconstruct it. The goal of any localization is to make the translation invisible to the reader. The same principle holds true in redrawing. The art we add needs to be invisible, meshing seamlessly with the original artwork.

(I made this dude up out of whole cloth. I’m honestly really proud of how he came out.)

#Dropout uses a mix of style matching and full replacement, with the choice between the two being determined by a number of factors. To illustrate that decision-making process, let’s break down the process of redrawing a page of Shiori Experience, specifically the spread across pages 172 and 173 from Chapter 64.

Deciding between Style Match and Full Replacement

This is the original untranslated page, and there’s a lot going on.

In the background of the first panel is the sound of the band, バアアアン, phonetically translated as "BA-A-A-A-N", localized as “BWAAAM”. In the foreground is the cheering of the crowd, ボオワアアア, "BO-O-WA-A-A-A" phonetically, “ROOAAR” localized. Lastly, along the side of panels 3 through 6 is applause, パチ, "PA-CHI", “CLAP”.

At a glance, this page is overwhelming. The cheering sound effect is huge, with custom text effects conveying the energy of the crowd. Worse is the clapping, which overlays multiple panels with dozens of unique partially obscured faces. This looks like a pain in the ass to redraw, but in the end I decided to do a full replacement instead of a simpler style match. With the number and size of the SFX combined with the visual density of the panels, doing a style match would result in a cluttered unreadable mess. Too much of the original artwork would be covered, and there just isn’t enough space. So, full replacement.

The redrawing process

As I’ve gained more experience, it’s been surprising to learn what constitutes a difficult redraw. You’d expect crowd shots to be the hardest, with lots of unique faces and little details, but they actually aren’t that bad IMO. More detail means more context means less guessing. Definitely a lot of work, but not difficult. Meanwhile, something like a gradient or screentone pattern which looks simple is actually a goddamn nightmare to recreate, as we'll see later.

That’s why I started my redraw for this page with the clapping. Again, this looks like it would be really hard, but looks can be deceiving. There’s a lot of clapping, yes, but the text is thin and spaced out. Whiting out the text reveals just how little artwork is actually hidden by the sound effects.

After whiting out the original text, the next step is connecting as many existing lines as I can. I do the panel and bubble borders on a separate layer since they’re simple structural elements. The artwork itself requires a bit more thought. I need to examine the original artwork carefully to avoid connecting lines that shouldn’t be connected. Context can also provide guidance where there are no lines to connect, such as the cheering guy’s hat in the first panel, or the clapping hand in the second panel. Also, when there’s lots of little SFX like this it’s easy to miss a few lines, like the box thing near the bottom of the last panel (don’t worry I catch it later).

The last step is adding in all the inking and screentones, the pattern templates which fill in the “color” to the line work. I have to go through with the clone stamp tool, collect samples from the image, and extend the pattern to fill the blank areas. This is the most annoying step in the process for me, because it requires a level of precision even beyond what’s required for the line work. Humans are pattern-recognition machines. Our brains are really good at catching tiny discrepancies, like when a section of a pattern doesn’t quite line up with the rest of it. My patch job on this panel wasn’t perfect, and you can see where I couldn’t quite line things up in areas like the guy’s checkered shirt in the first panel.

And with that, this redraw is complete! Now it’s time to insert the English translation of the sound effect.

SFX Lettering

The clapping SFX is in that same brush font I pointed out earlier, which we use JollyLodger for. There’s no real perspective things or text effects here, so mimicking the original isn’t difficult. Here’s the before and after.

This approach of fully redrawing the old SFX before inserting the new SFX only works in situations like this, where the text is small and there’s enough detail to reconstruct the image with a high level of confidence. As an SFX gets larger, like the roar of a crowd, the harder it gets to fully replace. This calls for a different approach.

Because of the size and complexity of this sound effect, I decided to do the lettering first. This is the block font I identified earlier, which is replaced by Boogaloo. I do some basic manipulation right away, applying a black outline and distorting the text to create the same perspective effect as the original. The SFX in this series are subtly three-dimensional, and the replacement text needs to be in the same orientation to sell the effect.

I’m also being careful with my placement here, doing my best to align the new text with the old. This will be important later.

Next we need to recreate the distortion effect. Photoshop has functionality to mimic this kind of effect, but I opted to do it manually. Osada (the mangaka) does all these layouts, SFX and all, on paper. The original effect was hand drawn, so the replacement effect is hand drawn.

The lettering for this effect is now complete, and we can begin the redraw process. Since we already have the letters in place, we have the advantage of knowing exactly where a redraw is needed, turning what would otherwise have been an enormous replacement into a minor patch job. From here, it’s the same process as the clapping SFX: Raw, Blank, Line, Fill.

Minor sidebar: translating Japanese sound effects presents an interesting and incredibly niche problem. The katakana symbol オ is translated phonetically as “o”. The problem with that is that when you’re replacing a オ with an O in a sound effect, the hole of the O is positions right on the center of the オ. This makes オ really annoying to redraw. Every O turns into a little window of totally new art, with barely any reference points to draw from. It violates the principle of invisibility, but there’s really no way around it. You can see I got a little lazy here, and clonestamped a different section of the crowd into the hole. As long as I don’t draw attention to it nobody will notice. I hope.

Sidebar over. Just for fun, here’s the before and after for the whole page.

Closing thoughts

So that’s what it takes to do the sound effects for one page of Shiori Experience. This page alone took me multiple days to complete, and it wasn’t even the most complicated page in this chapter. It isn’t why our releases take so long (that can be laid at the feet of staffing and scheduling issues), but hopefully I’ve given you a sense of how much work goes into each new chapter.

This chapter would have taken even longer without the help of Adi and Bangistus, who pitched in on a lot of the smaller SFX. Up until now the lettering of this series has been a solo show, Toast all the way down. Now that Adi and Bang are on the team I’m still keeping most of the big pages for myself, but being able to toss to the others when I get overwhelmed is going to be invaluable. Hopefully I can rely on them in the future as well, there’s some big things coming down the pipe

This series is a labor of love. Sometimes frustrating, often exhausting, but always worth it. I owe this series a lot, and I hope it shows in the work I put into it. I think it would be fun to do more behind the scenes process content like this, so maybe keep an eye out for that in the future.

Lastly, just as a status update, #dropout is not dropping Shiori Experience. We have a temporary translator who’s helping us put together Chapter 65, which will be coming out Eventually™. Not as long as last time, but like always don’t hold your breath. We’re not sure what will happen after 65 drops. We’re still desperately hiring for a main translator, seriously if you know anybody please hit me up.

That’s all from me. Take care y’all.

#shiori experience #scanlation #lettering #typesetting #redrawing #manga #toastpoasting

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starqueensthings · 1 year

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Dork Love: Part Three

Summary: Tech returns to Coruscant to take charge of the required repairs on the reader's electrical panel, and his anxiety is only intensified by the unexpected surprise waiting for him at your shop.

Rating/WC/POV: Teen 16+ for slight whumpage. 6161 words, 2nd POV (though this chapter follows Tech, and reader is only alluded to).

Warnings: casual conversations about anxiety, mentions of blood splatter, mentions of blood soaked objects (LOL this one took me down a weird path).

A/N: this one was a challenge and a half, my friends, so I apologize that it’s not up to my usual standard. I just need to finish it and move on before I pluck my eyebrows off my face. But pls enjoy! LMAO. And thanks to the queen of whump herself for proof reading @staycalmandhugaclone

Chapter One | Chapter Two | Chapter Four | ao3

As if it were funneling every effort in to soothing his nerves, the weather had fashioned itself significantly more pleasant than when he last traversed this pathway; the cool drizzle falling that day managed to dampen the typically unabsorbent collar of his blacks with an irksome ease, and had lingered unpleasantly against his skin for several hours afterward. Despite now being favourably warm and dry, elongated shadows cast by the sun’s obtuse position over the mouth of the underworld was making the screen of his datapad annoyingly difficult to discern, the intermittent bouts of intense glare blinding him to the articles that he was only absentmindedly scanning, yet relentlessly fetching.

Bemused that the apex of Tech’s affection had landed itself upon a person and not a superfluous piece of technology, Hunter was insistent that he accompany his brother on today’s voyage, though the guise he’d chosen to conceal his disbelief was a weak one. The coils of wire that he had absurdly deemed “too heavy” for one man to carry, swung daintily from the crooks of their elbows with every stride, and despite having bore witness to the innumerable sleepless nights that Tech had spent meticulously studying current commercial Electrical Code, Hunter remained unwavering in his adamance that his heightened senses may prove valuable – (“what if you need me to sense where the wires are in the wall?”)

‘If only the journey to Coruscant had been for a more inconsequential reason,’ Tech found himself longing as the armoured duo departed the ship. ‘Simply a mission to seek a replacement part, or a simple separatist data decryption.’ Had this been the case, his sergeant’s company would have been welcomed and even encouraged; independent as he was, Tech rarely declined an opportunity to be accompanied by a brother, particularly so if it meant freeing the cockpit of any officious, unsupervised visitation in his absence. Today on the other hand, as his mind continued to shirk his every offer of distraction, and perpetually whirred with cyclical, desultory thoughts, he would have much preferred to make the journey solo.

As they typically did to pacify his overactive mind, his fingers danced fervently across the illuminated buttons of the device clutched tightly in his left hand, the absentminded prods and swipes of his fingers triggering a near constant pull of new, yet continuously marginalized information. Most recently ignored was a collection of graphs depicting the primary effects of seasonal climate changes on the pollination schedule of Felucia’s native flora, though more imperative to Tech in that moment, was calculating the likelihood that you would notice the droplets of engine oil still splattered across the toes of his boots; the only remnants of a night spent repairing the damage that Wreckers most recent attempt at landing the ship had caused to the Marauder’s undercarriage.

Regrettably, the poor condition of his boots was only one of several trivial misgivings. In its company was the budding dread that his lenses had dirtied themselves again despite having mastered the disinfection process, and the fear that the callouses emerging on his palms from several hours of dismantling and reassembling the hyperdrive would deter you from initiating the contact that he’d found himself near-addicted to.

But anchoring all of the other menial anxieties, was the gnawing possibility that the entirety of this adventure could be naught but a misunderstanding; those were, admittedly, frequent occurrences for Tech. The disfigurement of his genetics had rendered him largely unable to accurately identify and categorize the infinite array of human behavior, particularly when expressed by those with whom he was unfamiliar.

What if this was one of those times? What if the request that he come find you was merely a parting statement made with the sole intent of being complaisant, and not one that you intended he act on? Much to his dismay, it was a hypothesis that warranted investigation; after all, you were quite polite… and intelligent… and munificent… and welcoming… and so very becoming to him. What if the profound sense of adoration that welled inside him at only the thought of you, was not a feeling mutually shared? What if the unrelenting desire to be back in your company, with your chilled yet capable hands curled around his, was simply unreciprocated? Could all of this be yet another miscategorization of body language, and was he presently walking toward a potentially crippling rejection? And why did Hunter have to insist that he come along?

Seeking any semblance of reprieve or solace from the advice of a brother was an idea banished from his mind almost as swiftly as it presented itself, as even the most casual, off-hand comments regarding a squad mate’s possible love interest typically had Wrecker jeering so extravagantly that even droids in the immediate vicinity saw their circuits overheating under a potent, secondhand indignity.

Crosshair’s passive yet targeted quip of being to spot “dorks in love” from a mile away had caught Tech entirely off guard as the squad marched otherwise silently through the arid and brittle forest abutting a Separatist ComHub on Sullust, yet the sardonic remark, while unprovoked and initially jarring, did succeed in diminishing a portion of Tech’s uncertainty, and he clung to it as if it were a talisman against the degenerative doubt.

That was until today. With boots clunking noisily along a familiar pathway now bathed in a radiant sunlight that in no way mirrored the turbulence in his mind, his every step toward the bright, yellow door of his emotional demise saw the protection of his brother’s sentiment almost entirely stripped of its integrity.

Tech swallowed heavily, stumbling over the fragmented motions of his feet, the fluidity of their typically athletic movements interrupted by the sudden and irrepressible urge to try and remove the oil from the toe of his left boot with the back of his right pant leg. Hunter, nostrils flared against the onslaught of foreign underworld aromas, remained tactfully blind to the uncharacteristic stumble on his right, only concealing the first signs of a smirk by shifting the coil of wire from the crook of his elbow to the ridge of his shoulder bell, and offering the tip of his nose an absentminded scratch.

“You, uh… excited?” the sergeant probed, waiting until the pair had fallen back into a casual cadence to cast an inquisitive glance toward his brother.

“I am most eager to begin the installation, yes,” Tech answered smartly, his response somehow void of the apprehension currently plaguing his thoughts. “I suspect this to be a multi-faceted problem requiring an equally detailed and well-planned solution. The existing circuitry was designed to house breakers of a 15-amperage allotment, and was thus outfitted with 14-gauge wiring throughout. The previous owner was, regrettably, an amateur in the field of electrical requirements and failed to investigate the symbiotic correlation of breaker-to-wiring before interchanging several breakers, thus rendering the preexisting wires incapable of transporting the increased charge and escalating the likelihood of an electrical fire. A complete overhaul of the electrical panel, including all new breakers of the correct specifications, paired with a 10-gauge wire that appropriately fulfills the demand of several different amperage allotments, would serve the in building’s best interests. Additionally, I will need to determine which of the machinery have a load requirement exceeding that of the common 20 amperages. I suspect both the generator and the lens polisher will both require a replacement breaker with a higher allotment, which may, in turn, require me to reconfigure neighbouring breaker requirements to accommoda—”

“That’s not what I was asking,” Hunter interrupted, the vocoder in his helmet failing to smother the exasperation that wreathed his words. “And I think you know that.”

Offering only a guilty glance toward his sergeant, Tech pursed his lips and refocused his gaze upon his datapad. All too aware of the heat surging to his cheeks, and the failure of his helmet to completely veil its presence from the attuned senses of his brother, he maintained a contemplative silence while earnestly scrolling back to the beginning of the article he’d been thoughtlessly skimming (an abstract on the ‘Primitive Parasocial Behavior Patterns of the Felucian Flying Manta’, a species they were likely to encounter during their next mission).

“You know, you don’t need to deflect, Tech.” Hunter finished the assertion by pulling his helmet from his head and shaking his long locks from his shoulders, an absentminded smile peeling across his lips as the radiant sunlight warmed his tattooed features. “I’ve been in your shoes before… I can help you sort out your feelings if you want.”

The gentle, yet, surveying gaze that his sergeant turned toward him while a discomfited silence expanded the space between them saw Tech nearly flinching; not entirely prepared to respond to his brother’s request for vulnerability, he inculpably reattuned his attention to his hands.

“The Felucian Flying Manta bears the ‘Repatavian’ genus, unlike its fellow Manta counterparts with the Reptaquatic subclassification, though socially maintains a similar hierarchy—” he read futilely for the ninth time. “—A lone alpha maintains a symbiotic and systematic breeding schedule with the females of the colony, and remains largely unchallenged for his position as protector and genetic contributor. Rival males must only challenge the alpha for authority during that of a waning gibbous moon, when shifts in the atmospheric currents bring forth—”

“Or… we don’t have to talk about it at all,” Hunter continued with a small shrug, noting both the redoubled avoidance and the subsequent microshift in Tech’s posture. “That’s cool too, but don’t feel like you need to suffer in silence. You know that I’m here for you.”

The likelihood of retaining any imperative information about the flying Manta continued to reduce at a rate that nearly matched the dwindling of Tech’s confidence; the source material slipping from the clutches of his mind as if both the memory of you (and the remnant oil on his boots) were expropriating any and all available cranial space.

Despite his sergeant’s head swiveling about next to him, eagerly taking in the domestic sights of the under-city and offering respectful nods to passing pedestrians, Tech could spare no consideration for the surroundings attempting to permeate his attention. It was likely that they’d already passed the seamstress’ shop that he knew to be only a dozen doors from yours, its impeccably maintained windows exposing the myriad of wealthy politicians pompously designing their senatorial wardrobe from scratch. And if that were true, then surely the cobbler’s shop would be approaching imminently, its windows nearly opaque under the duress of a hundred exuberantly colourful signs, all iterating the implausible claim that Mr. Purble’s shoe repairs were “out of this world!” Yet… despite the dwindling proximity, he still could not summon the resolve to lift his gaze and watch that jubilant yellow door draw nearer.

Tech cleared his throat quietly, nudging his goggles further against his brow in a motion as soothing as it was unnecessary, as he’d long since modified the bridge of his helmet to keep them securely in place on his nose. With time continuing to betray him, now seemed an appropriate opportunity as ever to seek a moment of private counsel.

“I… I am not sure how to quantify the nature of my feelings,” he admitted with a sigh, conceding to Hunter’s periodic glances of encouragement. “I am undeniably excited to be returning, as I have been anticipating this reunion for several weeks, yet I am unreasonably apprehensive. I fear that I may have misconstrued the entirety of this situation and am walking toward an… ignominious encounter.”

Hunter’s sharp eyes softened under the admission, lips momentarily compressing into an empathetic grimace before offering his reply. “I’d argue that’s a pretty normal emotional reaction,” he acknowledged with a reassuring nod, “though even normal is a spectrum from person to person. And some degree of insecurity is to be expected in a situation like this, especially when we’ve placed a high value on someone else’s opinion of us. But your actions speak volumes about how you feel if you take a step back and look at logically: for one, I couldn’t tell you the last time you put your datapad down and forgot about it, let alone for hours and immediately before a mission. That’s gotta mean something, right?”

A moment’s hesitation stilled Tech’s response on his tongue, his eyes narrowing against the embarrassment of his previous, neglectful mistake. Discarding both his datapad and the com system on his gauntlet had been a highly irresponsible oversight, but the hours hidden away in the blissful seclusion of your workshop had seen him too enraptured by your capabilities and intelligence to spare his squad even a transient thought.

“I suppose that is accurate,” he beseeched, apologetically glancing downward to the aforementioned device still encircled by his hands.

“And I have a scar on my wrist from the last time that I tried to touch your goggles. From the few details that you’ve agreed to share, you seem to have no issue letting this mysterious ‘labcoat’ completely dismantle them. Surely, that means something too?”

“Well… yes. Yes, I would agree.” He barely managed to get the words past his lips before they began to curl into a reminiscent smile; the petrification that had coursed through his veins upon hearing the audible snap of his lens unceremoniously snapped out of his goggles, now only a comical memory.

“And you tried every trick in your arsenal to keep me from joining you today,” the sergeant continued with an amused scoff. “So there is obviously an element of confidence here that you’re just overlooking in the shadow of nerves. Seems to me that you really like this person. As far as if the feelings are reciprocated or not? There’s no way of knowing until it plays out, but show me a person that holds hands with a stranger platonically and I’ll eat my fucking boots.”

A chuckle that perfectly matched the hoarse nature of his smoky voice, left lips now smirking under his feeble attempt at humour. “And speaking of boots,” he continued, the smile slipping from his features and replaced with the ghost of a mildly disgusted grimace. “You should have thought about giving yours a quick wipe before we lef— Tech?”

But the sage advice had utterly dissipated into that moment’s soft gust of summer wind; frozen mid step on the pathway, Tech had fallen long out of stride with his brother, the response stolen off his tongue by the peculiar and devastating sight that had finally torn his attention from his hands.

The vibrant entryway that he’d deliberately forestalled seeing was, quite frankly, nowhere near as welcoming as he’d remembered it to be, the joy of its vibrant colour almost entirely negated by a new and… obtrusive… addition.

A perplexity as dense as the furrow in his brow triggered those magnified eyes to fervently dart across the unexpected dereliction in front of him, and a prickle unrelated to the blissful daydream of which he’d just been yanked quickly raised the fine hairs along the back of his neck.

Hunter reappeared at his elbow a moment later, his posture quickly moving to mirror that of his brother with bewilderment knitting his brows, and his head tipping delicately toward one shoulder. “Is this the place?” he asked Tech, his query dripping in skepticism.

“Yes.” A solitary word was all that Tech could formulate, the shambolic disrepair having entirely robbed him of both breath and understanding, his mind whirring near frantically as he tried to make sense of the unheralded situation.

Almost every inch of glass had been opacified; the oversized windows spanning the entirety of the storefront, now completely obscured by the adherence of several, nondescript wood panels affixed into place from the interior of the store. They’d been hung somewhat impetuously; this was apparent on first glance with the lopsided positioning and the subsequent gaps created between panels intensifying the appearance of arrant abandonment. The smaller window inset into the entry door appeared to have been treated similarly, but it was the barrier hung hastily behind its panes that had seized Tech’s attention and refused to free it.

An untidy, scrawling note had been imprudently scrawled across the wood, the dark ink of each letter seeping into the surrounding fibers and ominously distorting the redundant message.

“Temporarily Closed.”

His lips wrapped their way around the pairing of words though no sound left them, his throat bobbing under the duress of a heavy swallow as his heart slipped unsettlingly from his chest to his stomach.

“Looks, er… welcoming…” Hunter chirruped from Tech’s left side, removing the thick loop of wire from his shoulder and tossing it unceremoniously to the ground at his feet.

Tech remained deaf to everything except the trepidation still tickling the hair on his neck. Even the dull ache radiating from his elbow as the joint began to mutiny against the prolonged oppression of its freight was rebuffed, disappointment and a puzzling sense of foreboding fighting for position at the forefront of his mind.

He stepped over Hunter’s abandoned cargo, deftly stowing his datapad away into its respective pouch as he neared the door. “Temporarily closed,” he repeated to himself, as if the act of voicing the phrase might provide some semblance of the understanding that he just couldn’t seem to excogitate.

‘This is highly nonsensical.’ The thought flashed like a warning across his mind as he cautiously pressed a palm to the glass. It was unsurprisingly warm to the touch, the heat of the sun trapped between the glass and the wood panel on its other side, radiating easily through the pliant yet protective Kevlar of his gloves; a sensation that entirely juxtaposed the blossoming dread prickling his skin.

“Safe to assume this isn’t what you expected?” Hunter mused, the soft chortle that encapsulated his words exposing his equanimity, but something sinister had caught Tech’s eye as he tipped his head back and reread the sloppy message. A smattering of red dots, soaked deeply into the fibers of the wood below the scrawling penmanship that he did not recognize to be yours…

Something near a gasp left his lips as he yanked his hand from the window, quickly jerking the wire from his arm and hurrying to engage the mechanical visor on his helmet. Hunter continued to mutter queries over his shoulder, but Tech remained incognizant to it all, too intent on initiating a scan of the liquid that he was praying he’d misidentified upon first glance.

“Sanguination: POSITIVE.” flashed devastatingly across his vision. “Origin: HUMAN- HS.”

“I… I do not like the looks of this.” He pushed the visor up and out of his line of sight, the presumption spoken lowly, and saturated in a sense of foreboding that could not be immediately rationalized.

“Talk to me, Tech,” Hunter probed, knotting his arms semi-impatiently over his chest. “What am I looking at? Other than a sign that looks like someone wrote it with their kriffing toes…”

“There… there are several things amiss,” Tech muttered unhelpfully, wrenching his gaze from the carnage only long enough to tug his helmet from his head and lower it sightlessly to the ground beside the abandoned wire. “I cannot make sense of this.”

“Sense of what, exactly?” Hunter urged through another infuriating chuckle.

But all desire to answer his brother had dissipated, its urgency overtaken by the dread surging through his veins and pounding heavily in his ears. He turned his attention toward the window on his right, eyeing the linear gap between the frayed edge of the wood board and the window frame. Desperate for a clue as to why there would be blood splattered ominously across a barrier hung where it shouldn’t be, he jammed his eye to the glass; the audible clunk of his goggles hitting the window went completely ignored, his attention funneled blindly toward only that which would provide him even an inkling of plausible reasoning. But the opacification of the boards had rendered the inside of the shop completely enshadowed, and the only detectable movement in the dim was the soft cycling orange glow of the sleep light on your computer monitor.

He affixed his gaze to it determinedly, squinting his eyes to near-closed in an effort to focus on anything in the area that its glow may illuminate, but the same irksome glare that had rendered the screen of his datapad nearly indiscernible minutes previously continued to rob his eyes of the clarity that he desperately sought, and while the cupping of his hands around his face helped marginally, he was soon wincing against the pain of his goggles digging forcefully into the side of his nose as he pressed his eyes ever further against the rigid glass.

“Anything?” Hunter probed curiously.

“No,” Tech lamented, shifting his feet below him to further alter his vantage. “It is too dark to differentiate anything.”

“Well, here…” the sergeant chuckled. “Here, Tech… Tech!… Maker, will you just take the damn flashlight?”

Tech permitted his gaze to depart the shadows for only long enough to snatch the offering from his brother’s outstretched hand, igniting it with a deft flick of the switch and aiming at as precisely as he could through the infuriatingly small gap, but the presence of any obvious clues remained shrouded in darkness… evading him, and every panicked exhale accumulating like a cloud on the glass in front of him, saw the simmering panic in his chest continue to boil until even the innate act of swallowing became a challenge.

“Well… I don’t sense anything weird,” Hunter offered, his voice perfectly pairing the phlegmatic way he stepped backward and looked casually toward the direction they’d come from. “I thought I could smell blaster fire a few minutes ago, but it might have been that pair of shifty looking Rodian’s we passed. And, if I’m being honest, it’s hard to smell anything over the rank trash scattered everywhere in his hell of a hole-in-the-ground. How does anyone even bre—”

“There is a mug,” Tech interrupted gravely, his gauntlet clunking against the glass as he impatiently moved to wipe away the condensation collecting in his line of sight again.

“A what?” Hunter chirruped, cocking an eyebrow.

“A mug,” Tech repeated, stepping away from the window and pointing uselessly at the gap he’d been peering through. “On the counter nearest to us. During my last visit, the sullied dishes had been collected and arranged in the sink in preparation for washing. I– I cannot fathom that someone partaking in a planned, prolonged absence would abandon dishes to garner bacteria.”

But those lips, pressed thin with worry, relaxed only long enough to shift into an indignant frown at the nature of his sergeant’s suceeding reaction; Hunter’s long hair brushing gently atop worn, painted shoulder bells as his head tipped back, and his chest heaved beneath uninhibited laughter.

“Come on, Tech,” the sergeant chuckled. “You’ve lived with Wrecker your whole life. You’ve seen how he leaves his bunk on Kamino… wrappers everywhere… used spoons hiding under his pillow… dirty socks crammed at the bottom of the bed…”

Growing increasingly inexorable, and frustrated that his brother continued to make light of a clearly ominous situation, Tech shook his head. “The Fichus is limp, Hunter,” he spoke intently, jabbing his finger toward the narrow space between wood boards.

“The what-now is limp?”

“The fichus,” he repeated unhelpfully. “The potted plant beside the computer. It appears as if it’s been severely neglected in my absence.”

“Probably,” Hunter agreed, his shoulders jerking lightly in motion of delicate frustration. “It’s dark as hell in there. It’s likely starving for sunlight.”

“Precisely.”

Tech disengaged the flashlight and held it loosely at his side, jamming his goggles back up his nose as he turned pleadingly to his brother. “That is precisely my concern, Hunter. During my last visitation, I observed several written reminders. There was every intention to ensure that all the soiled dishes were sanitized, that each of the various plants were watered, and that the electrical panel was urgently cared for. It was written in ink clearer than this foreign writing. I saw it; I kissed it.”

Hunter’s eyes shifted behind a lagging, unhurried blink, the weight of his skepticism apparent as he looked doubtfully back at the anguished hitch in his brother’s eyebrows, those large brown eyes peering at him in something near a plea behind now crooked goggles. “I don’t know, Tech,” the sergeant sighed, tightening the fold of his arms across his chest and dropping his gaze to the small pebble below his boot. “I’ll agree it’s unusual that someone would board the windows for a temporary closure, but it probably has a valid explanation. I hate to say it because you’re usually not one to jump to conclusions, but… I think you might be overreacting on this.”

“I’m going inside.”

It was not a question nor a request, and Tech didn’t spare his brother even a glance before pocketing the flashlight and stooping to collect both his helmet and the coils of wire from the pathway at his feet.

“Woah, woah, woah,” Hunter protested immediately, unknotting his arms and extending a hand to still his brother’s seemingly impulsive movements. “I can see you’re a little worried, Tech, but this isn’t a separatist stronghold. It’s a private place of business, and we can’t just break our way in and sniff around. It’s an invasion of property and privacy.”

“I familiarized myself with the locking mechanism during my last visit,” Tech answered smartly, throwing a heavy coil over each shoulder. “So nothing is required to be broken for me to gain entry, and my scanners will ensure that neither of us are required to make determinations based on the evidence gathered by the use of our respective olfactory systems.”

“Tech…”

But Hunter’s impatience was matched by only that of the man in front of him now jamming his helmet back onto his head and reengaging his visor.

“I will not cause a disturbance of any kind, I assure you,” Tech continued, dropping to a knee in front of the door and examining the keyhole with narrowed eyes. “My objective is simply to gather the evidence capable of disproving my emerging theory that a perilous, possibly life-threatening event has taken place.”

“Perilous and life threatening?” Hunter repeated after an indignant scoff left his lips. “What in Maker’s name do you think happened here? It’s likely this is just a planned vacation and the topic just didn’t come up in conversation last time. Let’s just take a deep breath and head back to the ship for now. If everything goes to plan on Felucia, we can stop back here on the way to Kaliida Sho—”

“Hunter,” Tech interrupted, pivoting on a knee to look upward at his brother. “My feelings on this are clear and unclouded. I– I feel an admittedly unprecedented yet intense sense of unease, and I am confident neither will subside until I am able to disprove my suspicions. Several aspects of the present situation do not stand to reason. Our final conversation, while frenzied by the urgency of my departure, left me with the premise that I was to return here at my earliest convenience. There is no mistaking the task list that I observed: ‘wash mugs, water plants, call electrician.’ And– and my scanner indicates that there is substantial sanguineous residue embedded into that sign. I suspect the source of the blood is inside, so I must go in and investig—”

“Okay okay okay,” Hunter appeased, his dark eyes thankfully beginning to soften again as he acceded to his brother’s concern. “I don’t necessarily understand your fear, but it’s very unlike you to lose your cool so I’ll heed your curiousity. But make it quick; this walkway is a little too crowded for my liking and we’re already turning heads by loitering.”

Anything even resembling an argumentative retaliation didn’t dare depart Tech’s tongue, the risk of Hunter redacting his already precariously offered blessing was simply too probable, and this was too important. It was imperative that he gain entry.

“I’ll go up top and keep a lookout,” Hunter continued, gesturing with a nod to the roofline above them. “Poke around, but don't linger. Can you get in there without making a mess?”

“Well, of course I can,” Tech answered immediately. “The door is equipped with a primitive deadbolt system; one easily disengaged with the right leverage of a micro tool similar to that of—”

“Okay, do it.” Hunter waved away the unnecessarily lengthy explanation, impatience and regret beginning to ghost across his features. “If you’re interrupted for whatever reason, Plan-11.”

Tech signaled his understanding with an appreciative nod and a heavy swallow, returning his attention to the door while Hunter’s heavy footsteps vanished amongst the crowd of passing children, their raucous screeches and laughter echoing tauntingly into Tech’s ears.

His composure began to dwindle, adrenaline inciting a tremble in his fingers as he retrieved the soldering needle from his belt, sitting back on his heel to reevaluate the best method for a clean and concise entry. Overriding a lock system with his datapad was child’s play, but manually disengaging a deadbolt was not something he practiced regularly. After a deliberative pause, he jabbed the fine tip into the keyhole and began to methodically maneuver it around. With ears attuned for the nearly inaudible clicks that would affirm his success, he redirected his efforts into preventing the simmering panic from permitting his mind to wander; concerns for what potentially lay on the other side of the door pulling droplets of sweat to his furrowed brow. Fear was not a commonplace emotion for soldiers, particularly not for a squad of enhanced commando’s with a 100% mission success rate, but fear for the safety of someone else… a civilian… was both a foreign and a potent feeling, and not one that he was eager to reexperience.

The deadbolt released with a click audible enough to warrant Tech quickly glancing over his shoulder for prying eyes. When satisfied that he hadn’t garnered any unwanted attention, he quickly turned the handle and pushed the door ajar. Long stagnant dust particles danced about in the beam of stark luminescence as the disturbance imbued them with new life, yet Tech observed them for only moments before hurriedly shutting the door behind him; he could not risk a pedestrian risking the open door as an invitation to enter.

He reactivated the borrowed flashlight, his eyes hungrily following the beam as it darted toward the darkened corners. Was it worth calling for you? Making his presence known before clearing the area of perpetrators seemed a foolhardy action given your obvious incapacitation, but his frantic need to establish any semblance of your safety, paired with Hunter’s request for efficiency, demanded that he at least try. The echoing silence in response to his call only succeeded in inflating the now undeniable dread sending his blood pounding heavily through his veins.

He engaged the visor over his eyes again, ignoring the strobing alert in the upper corner warning him of his increased heart rate, and directed both the beam of light and his line of sight toward the floor beneath his boots. Despite having anticipated its presence, the blood splattered amongst the floorboards threatened to tear the breath from his lungs.

Sporadically smattered like a trail of morbid breadcrumbs, he followed the droplets into the open space of your shop, peering around in the oppressive darkness. The familiar orange glow from the computer stole his attention almost immediately, and after casting a final glimpse at the gruesome implications dotted across the floor, he departed their path and made for the counter. The dilapidated ficus was offered only a fleeting glance as he passed, as was its equally dehydrated fern counterpart and the ivy trailing down the wall, their dilapidation having already been registered. No, he was more interested in the mug; the second clue.

The degradation of its contents became obvious within seconds of stepping into its proximity, yet despite the aroma of its putrefaction forcing his top lip to flatten, Tech continued toward it without hesitation. Milk had coagulated densely in the center of the unfinished liquid, and a quick activation of his scanner indicated a bacteria progression only achievable by several weeks in an undisturbed environment.

“Unusual,” he mumbled to himself, stooping to observe the sparse layer of crystallization forming around the rim where the anemic looking liquid met the white ceramic.

A sudden, booming thud against the window sent his shoulders jerking in alarm; his datapad stowed deftly into its pocket and his pistol departing its holster in the span of a blink, but the ringing laughter and jeers of the passing children outside quickly exposed the intrusion as nothing more than an inopportune distraction, and a reminder that time was of the essence.

Tech cast one last surveying look at the mold festering in its unmolested paradise before departing the area and retracing his steps back toward the droplets of blood scattered atop the floor. Like the worn footpath that his own boots had traversed during his last visit, the red blemishes formed a direct path toward the back room, scattered at near precise intervals as if a gruesomely soiled object had been dripping as its holder tread across the store, yet the macabre trail was but a walk in the park compared to the door to which it led. He stared, horrified to the point of immobility at the once glimmering gold knob that would permit his entry, its radiance hidden by a crusted, red handprint.

The grip around his pistol tightened until his hand began to tremble, yet despite its demand for absolute security, he longed to simply drop it and reach instead for his datapad, his always reliable source of information… his comfort, but too much unknown still lingered in the air; too many enshadowed spaces still to explore. A horrifyingly developing theory needed disproving if he were to be able to leave this place with his heart intact.

He dared not disturb the third clue lest it be scanned at a later time and tested for identification purposes, so an assertive kick of his boot saw the door swinging ajar, the hallway opposite as hauntingly enshadowed as the one in which he stood. A seemingly endless trail of blood lay on the floor in front of him, nearly stealing what was left of his resolve; the droplets increasing in frequency and size before diverging into a small room on the left that he knew to be the kitchenette.

His fear only intensified at the sight of another morbid handprint, this one smeared across the faucet of the sink where… in the depths of the aluminum basin, was a soiled hammer.

The threat of suffocation encompassed him as a sinister realization began to fit puzzle pieces into place, but he was robbed of the opportunity to process the additions by the chirp of his comm.

“Tech,” Hunter urged. “I think you may have a visitor inbound. Someone is hovering by the door but I can’t get a clear line of sight through the crowd.”

Plan-11: The Perceiver. Hide and observe; do not engage until you’ve established a visual on your approaching backup.

A degree of focus that only imminent danger could provide saw his jaw tensing beneath his helmet, his gaze darting from the bloody tool in the sink toward the door in which he’d just passed through. He raised his pistol, crossing one wrist over the other so that blanching beam of light may guide him back through the din.

Your workshop, the haven in which he’d mentally prepared himself to spend the next several hours in, was as dark as it was silent, and for the first time hesitation stilled his steps from exploring the the uncharacteristically lifeless space, as there were numerous shadowed corners in which further clues, or dare he think it, your body might be found.

But time had seemingly diminished, and every extended blink into the darkness was a moment wasted; a moment he needed to enact Plan-11 while he still could. He disengaged his flashlight, and a quick nudge of the door with his knee saw him reentering the retail space, his eyes immediately darting around to search for any semblance of cover; somewhere he could stoop and watch until Hunter appeared in the doorway to flank the intruder, but his moment of hesitation had cost him.

Poised to welcome the perpetrator who’d likely come to clean up their mess, he refused to squint against the onslaught of sunlight as the door creaked slowly open and exposed the intruder.

Final Chapter coming soon!

taglist: @anxiouspineapple99 @sinfulsalutations @starrylothcat @nobody-expects-the-inquisitorius @dystopicjumpsuit @freesia-writes @blueink-bluesoul @littlemissmanga @523rdrebel @wings-and-beskar @sunshinesdaydream @clonemedickix @drafthorsemath @jediknightjana

**if you are on my taglist but were not tagged, it's because you indicated whump is a no for you**

#bad batch fan fic #tech x reader #tech x gn!reader #tech bad batch #bad batch tech #gn!reader x tech #queued

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thefanciestborrower · 1 year

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[I had a thought while watching Ninjago and I'm subjecting you to it, since it's partially your fault <3]

There was something to be said, Jay thought, about the amount of running they ninja did. Buildings blurred familiarly in fine, colored lines that wove in and out of his sight as they darted down narrow alleys and clambered over unstable fire escapes. The rhythm of footsteps drummed like the beat of his own heart, singing of adrenaline and bruises. Of combat and steel.

"Are you still up there?" Zane's voice was something far away, faded in the world of darting, zipping lights.

"Haven't dropped me, yet." Jay's words were more of a chirp, really, unhindered by the breathlessness that came with running, for at the moment, he really wasn't. his heart had stopped hammering long ago—before Zane had even started running—and instead was replaced with a steady, eerie calm. As if everything was too far away to be concerned over.

And, granted, despite the current caved-in-ness of Zane's primary chest compartment, and the disconcerting sparking resulting, they really were too far away to really be concerned over the small mob of rabid (Jay thought they were rabid. Zane less so) unrulies that so rudely interrupted what should have been a perfectly sane perusing of Borg's latest wares.

Sure, they may have replaced one of Borg's flavor pills with those shrink-people diet pills, but it wasn't Jay's fault his batch was soured. It hadn't even tasted good. More like metal and sadness than anything, really, although that might have been partially his initial outrage upon finding himself small enough to hitch a ride on Zane's shoulder.

Anyway, Jay's favorite nindroid currently vaguely annoyed with him, and a definitive lack of ninja vehicle in sight, they found themselves stopping at the old depot. The one Lloyd and the resistance had apparently set up shop in during the Garmadon 2.0 incident. Zane needed to reconnect whatever it was in his chest that was sparking and/or burning (Jay knew roasting-electrical-wire-casing-smell anywhere), and then they needed a way to hail the bounty because, according to Zane, being small would be a lot less about eating him-sized snacks and a lot more about getting chased by rodents if they left him alone.

It was a sad day that any of them had to settle down on a literal wooden box to make repairs, but Jay supposed it was no worse than getting stuck in the Oni realm for a couple of weeks. Still, watching Zane pick somewhat cautiously at the minuscule wires usually hidden by metal and now shot through with various types of shrapnel (okay, so maybe Zane did most of the fighting, since Jay was too busy freaking out about his newfound lack of vertical status) made his fingers twitch.

"Let me do it." Aside from the usual status checks to make sure Jay hadn't been lost in the time it took to run one city block, they hadn't really spoken much since the store. They didn't particularly need to, honestly. Zane knew where they were going, and Jay trusted him well enough.

A click, and Zane turned his head (too far to be normal-looking for anyone but Zane), revealing something like amusement on his face, the more flexible metal-lined silicone lending itself to a wrinkled nose and a perked eyebrow, the lopsided smile laying beneath it a whisper of laughter. "I am perfectly suitable for the task."

As much as he could at his diminutive height, Jay puffed out his chest. "But I'm better." He wiggled his fingers in Zane's face, mouth stretched into a grin. "Little hands for little wires."

"It would make repairs faster." He always knew he'd hit it right when Zane started talking to himself, and soon enough, a robotic hand with a couple joints exposed near the knuckle was lowering him down to Zane's chest panel like a glorified window washer.

The thing was mangled—destroyed, really. Whatever he'd been hit with had caved the entire panel door into itself like it was hit by a bullet. Pieces of it flaked off in sharp shards just large enough to slice through casing, and whatever paint had been on the metal was all-but vaporized. The inside looked better—marginally. a couple of wire casings were slit here and there, and some of the braiding had been cut, causing sparks when it brushed against other strands, but that wasn't something a little electrical tape couldn't fix.

There was something more for Zane to have stopped like he did.

Lip firmly gnawed between teeth, Jay leaned forward, bracing a hand against the outer casing of the port to get a good look. Under the wires, a brass plate parted the limb and internal functions segment. Around where it met the main body, it discolored, turning a darker brown and bending outward. From one of the raised corners, a pale blue fluid trailed lazily toward the wires, viscous in its consistency and somewhat sticky. It was cold, too. Coolant, maybe.

"Hang on, I'm gonna—" Jay's world jumped a little bit as he hoisted himself over the wires (avoiding the bits of shrapnel still stuck in the colorful casings) and shoved his arm—quite nearly up to his shoulder—through the thin gap created by the bent brass. Had Jay actually have been listening, he might have heard the disapproving voice of Zane telling him that there was nothing back there damaged recently, but Jay was never a really good listener, and he was far more interested in finding the source of the mystery blue fluid. Who knew what it could do to open wiring, and Zane probably needed that inside wherever it was supposed to be, so he found himself entirely justified as he rooted around in the back of Zane's switch panel.

What his hand hit first was smooth and almost leathery. Like silicone but smoothed to a finish and reinforced by something. It was almost the same texture as Zane's faceplate, if less porous.

"Hey, Zane, what's—"

"I think that's enough."

Jay squawked as a hand looped its way through the wire holding him somewhat upright and prized him from the depths of Zane's machinery. he was careful—he always was with the ninja, honestly—but his grip was somewhat constricting around Jay's ribs even as he whined and wiggled in an attempt to get back at the thing he was looking at. "I wasn't done. You're leaking something in there! It's probably important!" And yeah, he was a little offended, but moreso, he had nerves rising from his throat. Like a poison, it chilled his heart and made his hands shake.

The silence lasted a beat too long.

"It's nothing."

Zane was, as he always had been, a terrible liar.

DUDE I’M SCREAMING????? THIS WAS THE FIRST THING I SAW WHEN I WOKE UP TODAY AND OH MY GOSH IT’S AMAZING. LIKE. ACTUALLY SO GOOD. I AM SO HAPPY TO HAVE partially CAUSED THIS BECAUSE HOLY CRAP!!!! I shall be reading and re-reading this idea for the next few hours because it’s giving me ideas as well

And like....your descriptions of Zane????? Are fantastic???? Oh my gosh??? I may have some new ideas for how to draw him now because my goodness!!! Anyways this made my morning and probably my whole day and I cannot properly articulate how much I love it here but uhhhh please fill free to send drabbles and ideas like this whenever you want because I am LIVING for it

#the way you write their speech patterns #And the descriptions of Zane’s wiring #not to mention the brief little setup of background #AAAHH #I can’t dude this is so cool and text cannot properly articulate how I feel rn #fandom stuff #n.injago vore #I mean not really but that’s the tag I’ve got lol so #ask #Phyre-anon #screaming about this forever actually #writing stuff #Jay you goof I love you #also Zane you moron let Jay help your insides are busted you could use the help

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streamlineenergy · 1 month

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skaddy111 · 2 months

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uselectriccontractors · 2 months

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denverbreaker · 2 years

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excelsafeelectrical · 2 months

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Longevity: Proper care and maintenance can significantly extend the lifespan of your solar power system, protecting your investment.

Safety: Regular inspections help identify and address potential issues, such as damaged wiring or loose connections, reducing the risk of electrical hazards.

Optimal Performance: Maintenance ensures all components of your solar power system are functioning correctly, providing consistent energy output and savings.

Comprehensive Solar Panel Maintenance Services

Excel Safe Electrical offers a range of maintenance services designed to keep your solar maintenance panels in top condition. Our services include:

Cleaning: Dust, dirt, and debris can accumulate on your solar panels, reducing their efficiency. We provide thorough cleaning services to ensure your panels are clear and capable of absorbing maximum sunlight.

Inspections: Our team conducts detailed inspections of all system components, including panels, inverters, wiring, and mounting structures, to identify and rectify any issues.

Performance Testing: We perform tests to ensure your system is operating at peak efficiency and producing the expected amount of energy.

Repairs and Replacements: If any components are damaged or malfunctioning, we can carry out necessary repairs or replacements to restore your system's performance.

Detailed Reporting: After each maintenance visit, we provide a comprehensive report detailing the condition of your system and any actions taken, giving you peace of mind.

Why Choose Excel Safe Electrical for Solar Maintenance?

Experienced Technicians: Our team consists of certified and experienced technicians who specialize in solar panel maintenance. Their expertise ensures high-quality service and reliable results.

Customer Focus: We prioritize customer satisfaction and work closely with you to understand and meet your maintenance needs. Our team is dedicated to providing prompt and efficient service.

Flexible Maintenance Plans: We offer flexible maintenance plans tailored to your specific requirements, ensuring your system receives regular care and attention.

Affordable Pricing: Our maintenance services are competitively priced, offering excellent value for your investment in solar power.

Testimonials from Our Clients

Here’s what some of our satisfied clients have to say about our solar panel maintenance services:

“Excel Safe Electrical has been maintaining our solar panels for several years. Their team is reliable, professional, and always ensures our system is in excellent condition.” - Lisa H.

“We’ve been very pleased with the maintenance services provided by Excel Safe Electrical. Our system’s performance has improved, and we have peace of mind knowing it’s well taken care of.” - Michael B.

Conclusion

Regular solar panel maintenance is essential for ensuring the efficiency, safety, and longevity of your solar power system. Excel Safe Electrical offers professional and reliable solar panel maintenance services near you. Contact us today to schedule a maintenance visit and keep your solar panels operating at their best.

#solar panel maintenance near me

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appliancenj · 4 months

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Appliance Repair Near Me

Top 6 Signs Your Appliance Needs Repair (And What To Do About It)!

Appliances make our lives easier. From refrigerators to washing machines, these devices are integral to our daily routines. Recognizing the signs that an Appliance repair near me can save you time, money, and inconvenience in the long run. Here are the top signs to watch out for and what you can do about them:

1. Strange Noises

Strange or unusually loud noises coming from your appliance can indicate a problem.

For example, a grinding noise from your dishwasher may signal an issue with the motor, while a rattling sound from your dryer could mean a loose part. Ignoring these noises could lead to further damage or even a breakdown.

What to Do:

• Identify the Source: Try to pinpoint where the noise is coming from and describe it to the repair technician.

• Schedule a Repair: Contact a professional appliance repair service to diagnose and fix the issue before it escalates.

2. Leaks

Leaks around or under your appliance are a clear sign that something is wrong. A leaking refrigerator, dishwasher, or washing machine can lead to water damage to your floors and cabinets, as well as potential mold growth.

What to Do:

• Turn Off the Appliance: Stop using the appliance and turn off the water supply if applicable.

• Call for Service: Contact an appliance repair technician who can assess and fix the leak.

3. Failure To Start

If your appliance doesn’t start when you press the power button or turn the dial, it could indicate an electrical problem, a faulty component, or issues with the control panel.

What to Do:

• Check Power Supply: Ensure the appliance is plugged in properly and that the outlet is working.

• Consult a Technician: If the appliance still won’t start, it’s best to consult a professional to diagnose and repair the problem.

4. Inconsistent Performance

Appliances that no longer perform as efficiently as they once did, such as a refrigerator that doesn’t cool as well or a dryer that takes longer to dry clothes, may need attention.

What to Do:

• Assess Performance: Keep track of any changes in your appliance’s performance.

• Schedule Maintenance: Regular maintenance can often prevent major issues. Contact a repair service for an inspection.

5. Unusual Odors

Strange smells emanating from your appliance, especially burning or electrical odors, can indicate overheating or wiring issues.

What to Do:

• Power Off the Appliance: Stop using the appliance and unplug it if you smell burning or electrical odors.

• Call a Professional: Contact a repair technician to inspect and repair the appliance safely.

6. Visible Damage

Physical damage, such as dents, cracks, or frayed wiring, should be addressed promptly to prevent further deterioration or safety hazards.

What to Do:

• Assess the Damage: Take note of any visible damage and where it’s located.

• Repair or Replace: Depending on the severity, decide whether to repair the damage or consider replacing the appliance.

Conclusion

When you recognize these signs your Appliance repair Colts Neck can help you avoid more significant problems down the line.

While some issues can be addressed with simple troubleshooting, many require the expertise of a professional appliance repair technician.

Don’t wait until your appliance breaks down completely—act promptly to ensure your appliances continue to serve you well.

If you notice any of these signs, contact us. We at Advanced Appliance assess the situation and provide the necessary repairs.

Taking care of your appliances ensures they remain in good working condition and extends their lifespan, ultimately saving you time and money in the long term Refrigerator Repair Colts Neck.

Find Us On Google Maps: ( Advanced Appliance )

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renewenergy123 · 4 months

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Harnessing the Future: Smart Home Energy Solutions with Solar Consultants Near Me

In the fast-paced world we live in, energy efficiency and sustainability are becoming increasingly crucial. As more homeowners look for ways to reduce their carbon footprint and cut energy costs, the demand for smart home energy solutions is on the rise. This burgeoning interest has paved the way for innovative technologies and services, including the invaluable expertise of solar consultants. If you've ever searched for "solar consultants near me," you're already on the right path to transforming your home into an eco-friendly haven.

The Rise of Smart Home Energy Solutions

Smart home energy solutions refer to the integration of various technologies and systems that work together to optimize energy use in a household. These solutions encompass everything from energy-efficient appliances and smart thermostats to solar panels and battery storage systems. The ultimate goal is to reduce energy consumption, lower utility bills, and minimize environmental impact.

Key Components of Smart Home Energy Solutions

1. Energy Monitoring Systems: These systems track energy consumption in real-time, providing homeowners with detailed insights into their energy use. By identifying energy-hungry appliances and understanding peak usage times, homeowners can make informed decisions to reduce consumption.

2. Smart Thermostats: Devices like the Nest Thermostat or Ecobee learn your schedule and preferences, adjusting the temperature to save energy without compromising comfort. These thermostats can be controlled remotely, ensuring optimal energy use even when you're not at home.

3. LED Lighting: Replacing traditional incandescent bulbs with LED lights is a simple yet effective way to cut down on energy use. LEDs consume significantly less power and have a longer lifespan, making them a cost-effective solution.

4. Energy-Efficient Appliances: Modern appliances are designed to use less energy while maintaining or improving performance. When shopping for new appliances, look for the ENERGY STAR label, which indicates superior energy efficiency.

5. Solar Panels and Battery Storage: Solar energy is a cornerstone of smart home energy solutions. By harnessing the power of the sun, homeowners can generate their own electricity, reduce dependence on the grid, and lower energy bills. Pairing solar panels with battery storage systems ensures that excess energy can be stored for later use, providing a reliable backup during power outages.

The Role of Solar Consultants Near Me

As the popularity of solar energy grows, so does the need for professional guidance. This is where solar consultants come into play. If you've ever searched for "solar consultants near me," you're likely seeking experts who can help you navigate the complexities of solar energy systems and make the most of your investment.

Why Hire a Solar Consultant?

1. Expertise and Knowledge: Solar consultants possess in-depth knowledge of the latest solar technologies, market trends, and regulatory requirements. They can provide personalized recommendations based on your specific needs and circumstances.

2. Site Assessment and Feasibility Studies: Before installing solar panels, it's essential to assess the suitability of your property. Solar consultants conduct thorough site assessments, evaluating factors like roof orientation, shading, and structural integrity to determine the feasibility of a solar installation.

3. Customized Solutions: Every home is unique, and a one-size-fits-all approach doesn't work for solar energy systems. Solar consultants design customized solutions that maximize energy production and efficiency, ensuring you get the best return on your investment.

4. Navigating Incentives and Financing: There are numerous incentives, rebates, and financing options available to help offset the cost of solar installations. Solar consultants stay up-to-date with these programs and can help you take advantage of the best offers, making solar energy more affordable.

5. Project Management: From obtaining permits to coordinating with contractors, installing a solar energy system involves multiple steps. Solar consultants manage the entire process, ensuring a smooth and hassle-free experience for homeowners.

The Benefits of Solar Energy

Adopting solar energy offers a multitude of benefits, both for homeowners and the environment. Here are some compelling reasons to consider making the switch:

1. Cost Savings: One of the most significant advantages of solar energy is the potential for substantial cost savings. By generating your own electricity, you can reduce or even eliminate your monthly utility bills. Over time, the savings can offset the initial investment in solar panels.

2. Environmental Impact: Solar energy is a clean, renewable source of power. By reducing reliance on fossil fuels, you can significantly decrease your carbon footprint and contribute to a healthier planet. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the average American household generates approximately 7.5 tons of CO2 annually from electricity consumption. Switching to solar can dramatically cut this figure.

3. Energy Independence: Solar energy provides a level of energy independence that is not possible with traditional grid electricity. By generating your own power, you become less vulnerable to price fluctuations and supply disruptions. This independence is especially valuable during power outages, as battery storage systems can provide a reliable backup.

4. Increased Property Value: Homes equipped with solar energy systems typically have higher property values and sell faster than those without. Prospective buyers are attracted to the prospect of lower energy bills and a reduced environmental impact.

5. Long-Term Investment: Solar panels have a long lifespan, often exceeding 25 years with minimal maintenance. This longevity makes them a sound long-term investment, providing reliable energy and cost savings for decades.

Finding the Right Solar Consultants Near Me

When searching for "solar consultants near me," it's essential to choose a reputable and experienced professional. Here are some tips to help you find the right consultant:

1. Research and Reviews: Look for consultants with positive reviews and testimonials from previous clients. Online platforms and local directories can provide valuable insights into the reputation and reliability of various consultants.

2. Certifications and Credentials: Ensure that the consultant holds relevant certifications and credentials, such as those from the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP). These certifications indicate a high level of expertise and professionalism.

3. Portfolio and Case Studies: Request to see examples of previous projects and case studies. A reputable consultant will be happy to showcase their work and demonstrate their success in designing and installing solar energy systems.

4. Transparent Pricing and Contracts: Choose a consultant who offers transparent pricing and clear, comprehensive contracts. Be wary of hidden fees or ambiguous terms that could lead to unexpected costs down the line.

5. Personalized Service: A good solar consultant will take the time to understand your needs, preferences, and budget. They should provide personalized recommendations and be readily available to answer your questions and address any concerns.

Conclusion

As we move towards a more sustainable future, smart home energy solutions and solar energy are playing a pivotal role in reducing our carbon footprint and promoting energy efficiency. By embracing these technologies and seeking the expertise of solar consultants near me, homeowners can enjoy significant cost savings, increased property values, and a cleaner environment.

Whether you're just beginning your journey towards energy efficiency or looking to upgrade your existing system, the right combination of smart home technologies and professional guidance can make all the difference. So, take the first step today—search for "solar consultants near me" and start your journey towards a smarter, greener home.

#solar consultants near me #Smart Home Energy Solutions

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