#Lead Free Bronze Fittings

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Lead Free Bronze Fittings: Ensuring Safety And Sustainability

In today's world, the emphasis on safety and sustainability has become increasingly important. This is particularly true when it comes to the materials used in plumbing systems, such as fittings. One material that has gained significant recognition for its safety and sustainability is lead-free bronze.

Lead-free bronze fittings are made from a combination of copper, tin, and other trace elements. The elimination of lead, which was commonly used in plumbing fittings in the past, makes these fittings much safer for both human health and the environment. Lead is a toxic substance ...

With growing concerns over the environmental impact of lead-based materials, the demand for lead-free alternatives has been on the rise. In various industries, including plumbing and construction, lead-free bronze fittings have emerged as a popular choice. These fittings not only provide a safe and sustainable solution but also offer excellent performance and durability. In this article, we will explore the benefits and applications of three commonly used lead-free bronze fittings: Press Fit Bronze Adapter, Press Fit Bronze Elbow, and Press Fit Bronze Tee.

[giuliettagaltieri]

A Hundred Sleepless Nights

Pairing: Husband!Coriolanus Snow x Wife!Reader

Chapter Synopsis: The Beloved

Warning: perversion, explicit smut, unprotected sex, sexual euphoria

Word Count: 3988

5 of 7

Coriolanus thinks he might have made a mistake in choosing your honeymoon destination.

Mrs. Plinth apparently owns a private beach down in the south. She insisted that you spend your honeymoon there as it was more private.

Private.

A scowl made it to Coriolanus’ face the moment you arrived in the secluded beach town. He was still in his suit and you were still in your wedding dress.  Anybody with eyes can see that you were just married.  But the locals knew no shame.

The men, their skin bronze from being on the coast, fit from constantly moving, their faces sculpted manliness. And they seem to have taken a liking to you.

“May I help you with that, Miss?” A man asks you for the third time that night, referring to the handbag you carried. It has your personal effects, you would not trust anyone with it.

“That would not be necessary.” Coriolanus quips, his arm circling around your waist.  The man straightens up and looks Coriolanus up and down before he grins

“Her other baggage, then? You won’t be able to carry them all.”

Coriolanus scoffs and you politely smile at the man. You know Coriolanus is more than capable of lifting baggage but there is too much of it, it seems unreasonable to make your husband carry them all.

“Oh, we have more than enough help. Thank you.” You say sweetly and as if on cue, peacekeepers and porters appear to start putting your bags in the yacht.

The man frowns, his mind whirring before he comes to a realization.

“You’re those politicians who just got married.”

Coriolanus looks at him, his eyes now sharp.

“Does the Capitol news not reach this part of Panem?” He raises a brow.

The man chuckles as he rubs his stubble. “Nah, just don’t watch any of that bullshit.”

“You watch your words very carefully.” Coriolanus grins, the iciness in his tone not matching his charming face. “The Capitol is not very kind to those who call our affairs ‘bullshit’.”

You look at the man with much fascination. You have to commend how he stands his ground, now sizing Coriolanus up, but his lax posture was breaking apart on the surface. Ignorance really has a feeble power to it.

Despite the burliness of this person, you are not too worried about Coriolanus as he had his fair share of training. And the peacekeepers are just waiting for the man to cross that fine intangible line, their postures tight and ready to spring.

“Now, if you’ll excuse us. My wife and I have other places to be.”  Coriolanus leads you to the yacht where your luggage has been placed.

“The impudence of some people.”  Coriolanus spits.  “He does not even recognize the President.”

“I will talk to the mayor.” You attempt to soothe him but he clicks his tongue.

His jaw tightens before he takes a deep breath. “We agreed not to work while we are on our honeymoon.” He says but you can see how excruciating it was for him to say.

You grimace before breaking to a smile.

“If you say so, my love.”

You glance behind you and see the man still staring at you. You turn away when he sends you a boyish smile and a wink.

Coriolanus grunts when you cling to his arm tightly.

“Hurry, Corio.”

He straightens his back and slows his pace. “I see no purpose in rushing.” He’s not running away from anything.

It makes you roll your eyes but you match his pace anyways.  You enjoy the night stroll, the cool breeze refreshing your skin that is trapped in your wedding gown. You wanted to get out of it the moment the reception ended but Grandma’am almost dropped her turban when you mentioned a change of clothing.

Perhaps it was an old Panem tradition but she said only the groom must free you of your bridal gown.

Again with the superstitions but Coriolanus and you both decided you’d listen. A way to apologize after that stunt you pulled in the middle of the reception.  Coriolanus tightens his hold around your waist as you board the yacht.

“I’m hungry.” You tell him. 

He nods. “So am I.”

With the pressure of the ceremony and reception, you did not get to enjoy the food served despite them being of the finest qualities.

“I’d love to have that filet mignon again.”  You sigh as you sit on a sofa.  Coriolanus watches you with a smile.  Your face was full of disappointment and you looked adorable as your poofy gown swallowed you. “And posca.”

“Mhh, agreed.”  He sauntered over to the glass windows. Watching how the hydrofoil cuts the waters below.  The ruffling from your gown makes Corio turn to look at you once more.

You have occupied the entire sofa, now lying on your back as you stared into the tall ceiling. Your eyes have glazed over and he can see how your fingers picked at your gown.

“Tell me what you are thinking.”

Sighing, you close your eyes. He’s always so commanding.

“Nothing.”

He walks over to sit on the armrest. You look up to meet his glacial eyes with your own.

“There is definitely something in there, wife.”

Wife

You bite your bottom lip to contain your smile. Coriolanus raises a brow, his lips quirked up.

“Wife?”

You giggle as you reach up to pinch him but he easily swats your hand away.

“Are you regressing to your teenage self?” He pulls you up and slots himself under you so you are sitting on his lap.

“No.” You answer quickly. Too quickly.

You play with your ring as he watches you, still waiting for you to talk.

“I will hold you the entire night if you refuse to tell me.”

You shrug.  “I’m comfortable.”  His nimble fingers slip to your waist and your breath hitches.

“Yeah?”

You nod hastily.

“Tell me what is going on in that head of yours.”  He whispers against the shell of your ear, sending a shiver to crawl up your spine.

“Corio!”

“Yes?” He flashes you that charming smile again.

“Stop it.” You say, your cheeks are now bubbling.

He tilts his head to the side.  He is fooling nobody with this pretense.

You try to get off but he keeps you in place with a hand.  He is looking around the room now, acting nonchalant to your struggle.  He looks at you with his face passive and you eventually settle.

“Stop making me flustered.”  You raise a finger at him and he grins lazily at you.  The glint of those rather sharp looking canines had you retreating your finger back.

He sets a steady bounce of his leg, jostling you and you click your tongue at him.  “What are you doing?” You grab at his coat to steady yourself.

“Trying to calm your tantrum.”

“I am not a child.” 

His eyes return to the carpeted floor and now just leans back on the sofa.  “I can see that.” You ignore how his eyes roam to your bosom.

“If you must really know, I was thinking of having a new signature.”

A perfect blonde brow was raised. “Signature.”

“I want to keep my maiden name in it but I also wanted to add yours.”

“Ours.”

“Ours.” You echo as you smile at him meekly.

“You are a Snow now.” He reminds you sternly and your cheeks warm up as you nod.

“I know that, Corio.”  You shift in his lap and he rubs your waist.

The air shifts, making it difficult for you to keep still. 

A knock pulls your attention to the door.

“Mister and Missus Snow, we have arrived.”

Coriolanus looks at you and raises both brows briefly as if making a point.

You roll your eyes and get off, he lets you this time.

The private beach.  Well, more like a private island.  It was like how every beach shown in brochures is.

The staff is already waiting by the docks, standing tall and in uniformed clothing.

“Don’t worry, Missus Snow.  The staff will be here only until seven in the evening.”  The head butler tells you as he escorts you and your husband off the yacht.

“The security?”  Coriolanus looks around the island, taking in every face that was present.

The butler nods, a proud smile on his lips.

“Stationed just in this dock and on the ocean.”

You would love to have privacy but not if it meant compromising you and your husband’s safety.

“Peacekeepers are also stationed on the coast.”  The head butler reassures you.  “This island is also being covered by the most recent security offered by District 3.  We have sonars covering the waters.  There is no need to be uneasy.”

It was these kinds of over the top operations that reminds you that it is the President you have married.  His security can easily topple the peace that the retired President Ravinstill tried so hard to maintain.

“The staff will come to prepare your meals and leave after the dishes are cleaned up.  The day after tomorrow, the cleaning crew will take care of the linens and your laundry.”  The staff bows at you as you pass by them.  “Should you need something else.  We are a call away.  We are stationed in the ocean to respond right away to your every need.”

You share a look with Coriolanus.  It was a bit overkill, you both can agree.  But nothing less for the Presidential couple.

“Food is being prepared right at this moment.”  The head butler continues.

The villa is nice and airy.  Spacious and a perfect place to relax in.  And the smell of food, oh it is divine.

“The gods heard you.”  Coriolanus jests and you scan the table to see a glistening filet mignon.  Coriolanus pulls a chair for you and you thank him.  The head butler pours you a glass of posca and you smile gratefully.

Coriolanus and you eat your dinner quietly.  Giving compliments to the chefs who are standing in anticipation behind you.  You are generous in your praise, just to help in easing their anxiety.

You bid them goodbye as they all board a boat to take their leave.

When they are a considerable distance away, you and Coriolanus are able to drop the pretense. 

“Ugh.”  You groan as you grip your gown up to head inside the villa.  “I refuse to see anybody for twenty-four hours straight.”

Coriolanus follows after you, his hands clasped behind his back in a relaxed manner.  “Does that include me?”

You look at him briefly.  “What a stupid question.”  You link your arms to his and he glances at the clam expression on your face.

Now that he is standing so close, he notices just how much your childhood features remained in your face.  Your eyes and lips stayed the same.

“There was this one time I found you under the tables during a banquet held by our fathers.”  Coriolanus tells you and you don’t look up to him.  “I accidentally kicked you.”

You only hum to acknowledge him.

“I slipped under the tablecloth and joined you.”  He recalls.  “And you stole my first kiss.”

“Corio, stop talking.”  You groan.

“You told me you will be my wife.”

You purse your lips, not knowing how to respond.  

Sighing, you finally say,  “You were distraught.”  

“I was five.”

“In the Academy.  You hated me.”

“I envied you.”

Coriolanus opens the door and lets you pass first.  You continue to walk until you find the bedroom and he follows suit.

“Is that why you preferred Clemensia Dovecote’s company?”  You say sharply and Coriolanus looks at you as he leans on the vanity to undo his coat.

“She was pretty.  A nice accessory.”

You walk over to him, throwing your arms on his shoulders as you look deeply into his eyes.

“You think she’s pretty?”

He shakes his head.  “Not anymore.  She’s more of a snake than a dove now.”

“But you thought she was pretty.”

Coriolanus places a hand on your waist to steady you.

“That was because I did not want to admit my attraction to you.”

You pull away, doe eyes looking up at him meekly as your brows raise hopefully.  “You were attracted to me?”

“I am attracted to you.  How could I not be when everything about you tells the entire Capitol that you are mine?”

With utmost shyness, you focus your attention on his tie, not quite able to meet his eyes.  “You didn’t care.”

“The rosettes you used to wear in your hair were pretty.”  He smiles as he tucks your hair to the side.  “And so were the rosette patterns on the lace of your panties.”

Your movements have gone still.  Your eyes wide as you feel like a bucket of ice was dumped on your head.  Your eyes are frantic as you look up at him.  His face was passive, not betraying him.

“You think you were sneaky?”  He taunts as he starts to pull at your dress.  “You thought I would not know about your naughty little secrets?”

You gasp when he rips a stitch of your dress as he tugs it.

“Corio.”  You say breathlessly.  “How did you-”

“That initiation we had in our first year.”  He says gruffly as he pulls your gown once more until your breasts come spilling out.  “You were to exit the academy with just your skirts and blouse.”

Your face flushes.  “Y-you saw?”

“Everybody did.”  He tells you and you bury your face in his chest.  “It worked in my favor.  No boys came after you in the Academy.”

You cursed the wind that day.

Coriolanus pulls your gown and his fingers hook on the dainty fabric that cupped your innocence.

You place your hands on his shoulders as he tugs them down.  You cover your face as he gets the fabric off.

“Oh, will you look at that?”  He chuckles as he examines the lacy fabric.  “Still adorned with rosettes.”  He twists the fabric in his long fingers and you swallow as your throat has gone dried up at the sight.  You grab his arm when he brings it up his nose.  He looks at you sternly.  “Smells like roses too and feminine musk.”

You have had enough.  After securing your gown, you turn your back to him and head to the closet, muttering angrily but he chases after you and pulls you to the lounge instead.

“You are a…a sick man!”  You say angrily as you pull away.

“If I am sick, then so are you for liking it.”  He laughs as he finishes his work with your gown until your torso is bare but he never quite got it off you just yet.  “Come here, my love.”  He sits on a plush chair and beckons you by patting his thighs.

You attempt to sit sideways but he clicks his tongue and with much reluctance, you straddle him instead.

He keeps his eyes on you as he holds your hips, his fingers digging in the large poof of your gown.

“You look so bridal.”  He says.  “I’d want nothing else but to ruin you while you still have the dress on.”  Coriolanus noses your cheek. 

“You’d let me, won’t you?”  He asks in a deeper voice, making you nod your head with your eyes closed and lip caught between your teeth.

He chuckles at your startled gasp as he prodded at your petals.  His fingers spread to your lips, creating a wet noise that had you wrapping your arms around his neck once more as you hid away.

“She’s wet.” 

You buck your hips against his when his thumb presses flat on your pearl.

“You like it?”  He smiles against your hair and you hum.  “Words, darling.”

“I do, Corio.”  You murmur against his chest.  “More please.” 

He swallows thickly as he lets a finger slip between your folds and he winces lightly when you bite his shoulder.  His finger was met with resistance but he pushed it further, willing you to relax.

“There you go.”  He says as you start to grind against his hand.  You throw your head back as your hands grip his shoulders.

“Mmh!”  You mewl, your eyebrows pinched as hot puffs of air escape your lips that have bloated after being nibbled.  “F-feels sooo good!”

Coriolanus watches your face as you move above him, his fingers dripping with your sweet honey.

The thickness of his fingers nudged at your quivering walls, it had soft sighs spilling from your lips.  He curls his fingers upward and you melt as it massages the sweet spot inside you.

You suddenly gasp, bowing your head as your hands grasp at his hair.  “C-Corio…I’m-…Oh!”

Your body seizes up as you pull him close, your walls pulsating around his fingers as you cum.  Your honey stains your thighs and he revels at the look on your face.

Coriolanus carries you to your bed as he dips his head to kiss you.  You are mewling his name through the kiss as his fingers keep massaging your walls.  He gently slips his fingers out of you, the sensation most frustrating.

He slips out of his coat and you admire him for a while before trying to tug your gown off but he glares at you and your hands retreat from doing it.  The gown is soon tugged from you and you find yourself covering your feminine parts as his eyes roam around your body. 

Warm rough hands cup under your knee to part your legs further.  You whine in embarrassment and you make an attempt to pull your knees together.  Still so shy from him seeing your body.

“Don’t.”  He warns and your bones turn weak, you feel shameful with how much your body responds to him.

“I’m sorry.”  You say meekly.

Both of you are thrumming in anticipation as he unbuckles his pants and you wait with bated breath as he frees himself.

Coriolanus grunts as he grips his cock, pumping until you feel a warm dribble land on your stomach.

You watch his face contort with concentration as he guides his leaking tip on your entrance and you bite back a moan as the tip catches, the head slotting itself between your petals.

“If you hold back on your sounds, I would get upset.”  He says pointedly and you nod at him, your hand running on his arm to soothe him and to get him to hurry.

Coriolanus hooks your legs over his arms, he holds your waist as he slips himself inside you.

Your pained gasp had him gritting his teeth. 

“Just a bit more, darling.”

But that was a lie.  He was barely in.

Your nails are biting at his arms, forming red angry crescent moons.

“Almost there.”  He groans and you let out a choked sob, feeling the burn from the tight stretch.

Coriolanus inhales sharply as your tightness keeps him from filling you.  He places your legs back on the mattress and he clicks his tongue at how your walls reject his size.  He glances at your face before he tongues his cheek.

“I’m sorry, my love.” 

You don’t get to ask why when he crawls on top of you, his corded arms slipping under you so he can grip your shoulders.  He pulls back slightly and your juices, now painted pink with the mixture of your broken innocence, slips to coat your inner thighs.

Coriolanus murmurs apologies on your hair and makes shallow thrusts, your hands gripping his nape with the conflict of pleasure and pain, making you wetter and wetter.  And in one full thrust, he sheaths himself.

Your eyes shot open as you clawed on his back, feeling yourself tipping before you came crashing down.  Your flower clenches as it pulses around him, your slick overflowing with his tip kissing your cervix.

You are making noises that Coriolanus never thought you were capable of.  Your words were more of like babbles as wet sobs spilled from your lips.

The sight of you, so debauched, makes Coriolanus laugh.  “You come from just being stuffed full?”

Your glare up at him but your tongue is still unable to form words as pleasure makes tears leak from your eyes.

“Yeah, feels good, doesn’t it?”  He chuckles while he rocks his hips against yours.

He watches with amusement at how you throw your head back when he pounds on you.  He can see your pulse jumping and he wonders if you know how vulnerable you are right now.  He grazes his teeth on the thinness of your skin and to his surprise, you mewl wantonly, only tightening around him.

“Naughty girl.”  He chuckles but you look at him, offended.

“I’m not.”

He kisses your pouting lips.  “Hm?”

You shake your head.  “I’m not.”

“You’re not naughty?”  He snickers and you nod.  You are acting no different to a drunk.  “That’s right.  You’ve been a good girl, haven’t you?”

Coriolanus wonders if the look you are giving him are what they say heart eyes are.  

He realized that he feels most powerful when he is on top of you and making you feel good. 

Your feet absentmindedly slide to caress his leg and he smiles at your adorable display of affection.

Nobody would believe the sight of you right now.

So docile, so submissive.

The damp fabric under you was uncomfortable and it was too warm, but such tiny discomforts flew over your head when Coriolanus was making you feel too good.

Your big teary eyes look at him as your brows curl in pleasure, you were too adorable he had to kiss you.

You break the kiss with a whine, your heels digging on the mattress as your back arches off the bed.

Coriolanus understood and fucked into you rougher, trying to keep a steady pace but it was getting harder and harder for him to do when your soft wet walls rub against his sensitive cock.

“Corio, Corio please!”  You beg him as your hands cupped his face in desperation.

He seethes through gritted teeth, his hands leaving a red print on your shoulders as he crushed you with his weight.  You were sobbing, just needing him all to yourself.

And you cum once more.  You are lost as every coil in your body snaps.  You are unraveling beneath him and Coriolanus grunts, chasing his own high and he slots the tip of his manhood deep inside you and spills his seed.

You wince at the warm spurts of his spend and you pull him to share another kiss.

Coriolanus breathed heavily against your lips.  He felt invincible yet ready to go down on his knees for you.  No wonder why so many empires collapsed for women.  He would gladly die if you asked him to at this moment.

Your sob pulls him from his thoughts and looks at you with concern.

Coriolanus tucks your damp hair to the side as he kisses your cheek.  “What’s wrong, sweetheart?  Did I go too rough?”

You shake your head as you pull him closer, your legs crossing over his posterior, burying him deeper inside you, making him groan, the tendons on his arms popping in an attempt to control himself.

“I love you.  I love you, Corio.  It felt so good.”

He chuckles at your words and he nods, dipping low to kiss your lips once more.  “I love you too.”  He looks deep into your eyes and starts moving his hips once more, determined to make love to you again.

You give him a tired smile but you encourage him by tracing his nape sensually with your manicured nails.

You share a look of pure fondness, so in love and lost in pleasure.

It was then you realized that you need nothing else but each other and you would do everything to protect this love you found.

Quest for Happiness

[clarisse0o]

Camp Wiegman - Part 2

Ona Batlle x Lucy Bronze

Alternate Universe : Military School

Words: 7k

Masterlist

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Monday, October 5th, 6:00 PM - Ona's Room

I groan in displeasure upon hearing a door slam. I take off my headphones, which are no longer playing music. I realize I’ve managed to fall asleep again, and someone has just woken me up. How do I sleep so much? I sometimes wonder. A girl with perfect brown hair has just entered the room. I guess she’s the roommate I was told about.

-  "Oh, sorry if I woke you," she says. "I didn't know you were already here! You're the new one, right?"

-  "Hmm." I make the effort to get up after stretching well. This girl isn't to blame for my bad mood, so I’ll try to be nice for our first meeting. She gives me a smile that shows her perfectly aligned white teeth. I briefly look her over. She seems nice, that's something. She’s not a bimbo, and she’s rather pretty. Probably a girl who turns many heads.

-  « Alexia Putellas" she introduces herself, holding out her hand.

-  « Ona Batlle" I reply, shaking it.

-  "They gave me your stuff," she informs me.

-  "Really?" I look at the clothes I’ve just received, frowning. There are different outfits, each given in triple copies. Tell me this isn’t what I think it is... I look at her to be sure. She’s wearing exactly one of the outfits I’m holding.

-  "No way am I wearing this."

-  "Sorry," she grimaces. "It's in the rules. You'll get used to it quickly, you'll see."

-  "I don't think so, no. I don’t plan on staying."

-  "Oh... I see." I feel like she’s mocking me. She’s immediately less friendly than I thought. I prefer not to comment on her attitude so we don’t start off on the wrong foot. Instead, I focus on what I have in my hands. I observe the set with a look of disgust. Uniforms, seriously! That’s not going to work for me. They’re all in khaki, black, or gray. As dull as this place. It seems like they do everything to demoralize us.

-  "Did they tell you that you have a supervisor or something like that?"

-  "I think so, yes. They mentioned something like that."

-  "Oh, and do you know the person’s name?"

-  "No, they didn't tell me anything," I say, shrugging.

-  "You'll find out tomorrow, I guess. Well, I was going to see some friends before dinner. Do you want to come with me? I'll introduce you."

- "Why not, yes," I reply after hesitating.

It’s not necessarily a good idea, but I’m here now. Might as well try to fit in until I leave. I don’t plan on staying alone either, and making new friends shouldn’t be a bad thing. I just need to be pleasant, but that might be complicated given my mood. Alexia smiles broadly, showing her pleasure. I put the uniforms she brought me into my wardrobe. If there’s one thing I can't stand, it’s people touching my stuff. Thanks to that, I’ve gotten used to putting everything away instantly. Alexia patiently waits for me to finish before we go downstairs. She talks to me about a room I don’t know yet. We reach the ground floor. I thought we’d go outside, but she leads me to an old wooden double door to the left of the stairs. I hadn’t even noticed it when I arrived, which shows how much attention I paid. I was probably too busy being angry with my mother.

-  "Here we are. This is the students’ common room."

-  "The students’ common room?" I repeat.

-  "Yeah, it’s a large break room where we can do whatever we want during our free time."

-  "I thought it was a prison and we had to go back to our rooms..."

-  "Oh no," she giggles. "You’ll see, it’s not that bad in the end. Just stay out of trouble and they leave us alone."

-  "Hmm..." She opens the wooden door, which seems heavy and rusty given how it creaks. It’s impossible to enter unnoticed.

She gives me yet another smile before entering the room first. I discover a large furnished room. Alexia is probably right. The camp might not be as terrible as it looks. There’s a TV, foosball tables, sofas, tables... Basically, a place to hang out. I think I’m going to like this place. I’m surprised people don’t care about our arrival. I expected to be the center of attention for being the new one arriving in the middle of the year, but apparently not. Everyone continues their activities as if nothing happened. There are bursts of laughter, conversations coming from everywhere, and even people with their noses in their books. I don’t know how they can study in this atmosphere. It’s impossible for me. I need calm to concentrate. The room must be well insulated because I didn’t hear anything from the outside. I come back to reality when Alexia stops in front of already occupied sofas. These must be the friends she talked about. The sofas are arranged facing each other with a small table serving as a footrest. I feel uneasy imagining that this group must have known each other for years.

-  "Hola chicas ! I brought some company!"

-  "Hi," I say timidly.

-  "Hey! You must be the new one? Alba, Alexia’s sister. »

OK, that’s clear. I didn’t expect such a warm welcome. They don’t seem at all bothered to see me, on the contrary. Irene smiles just as much as her sister, it seems. I stop analyzing and give a small smile back, introducing myself. I turn to the other two, who seem just as nice at first glance. According to Alexia, they are two inseparable best friends. Their names are Patri Guijarro and Claudia Pina. I learn that the group isn’t complete and that two more people will join us for dinner. I hope they’ll be as nice as these guys. Alexia sits next to her sister on the couch and pats the last spot beside her. I join her, and what I feared quickly happens. I’m subjected to a real interrogation about my city, my age, my class, and more. I answer vaguely to the last questions that became too personal. I don’t like revealing myself. They’ll have to be content with my answers. I’m not very brave, especially with strangers. They seem to understand because they go back to normal conversations. I don’t understand much, but at least they stop asking me questions. Alexia takes the trouble to explain some things so I can follow along a bit. It’s a quarter to six when we head to the cafeteria. We have to walk behind the administration building to get there. The cafeteria is a stone building that has been renovated. It looks like a café with its bay windows and a few tables at the entrance. It’s just a dream scene once you go through the second door. Reality hits with a cafeteria more in line with the school’s image. There are many tables and perfectly aligned chairs. I follow my new friends to the left of the room where a line has formed in front of a large buffet with staff to serve us. It’s early, yet there are already some people. I imitate Alexia by taking a tray and cutlery. She explains the process as we go. It’s similar to the canteen I had in high school, but she seems to enjoy explaining it so much that I don’t dare say anything. When our trays are full, I follow her to a table where two people are already seated. I recognize the principal’s daughter, Lotte, I think. I don’t know the other person, who introduces hermself as Leah Williamson. I sit across from Alexia and the girls quickly join us to start a conversation with the two new people. I’m reassured to see that the atmosphere remains the same as before.

-  "You got caught again Leah, ?" Alba mocks.

-  "Yeah... I got more laps around the field."

-  "That’s what happens when you try to skip out," Alexia laughs.

-  "Laps around the field?"

-  "Oh, yeah! Don’t try to defy the instructors," she warns me. "You’ll regret it quickly!"

-  "Hmm, we’ll see."

-  "Do we have a little rebel here?" Leah comments.

-  "No. I just don’t plan on staying locked up here."

-  "Trust me, I’ve tried everything! There’s no way out," she tells me.

-  "I’m sure," I sigh. This school looks like a prison to me, and Leah, seems to share my opinion. She tells me about all the infractions she's committed. She's the rebel of the group. I finally feel understood by someone. She wants the same thing as I do, and yet she's been here for three years. My dismissal might be more complicated than I hoped. She teaches me a lot by sharing all her crazy ideas for driving the instructors mad. She seems pretty funny. I appreciate that they've integrated me into their group so easily. It's as if I've been with them from the beginning. I even find myself feeling sad when it's time to go back to the room. Alexia is an easy-going girl. I shouldn't have any trouble getting along with her, just like her friends. I hope I won't ruin everything by shutting myself off. I answered many questions tonight, but none about my arrival. It must be a taboo subject because no one mentioned their reasons for being here when it was their turn to talk about themselves. At least I didn't shut down during the evening. I feel better than when I arrived since meeting them. I even continue talking with Alexia on our way back to our room when we discover that we are in the same class. It's good news; at least I won't be alone. She's the only one from the group with me, but it's convenient since we share the same room. I'm sure I'll never get lost at least. It's a bit before ten o'clock when Alexia decides it's time to go to bed. I'm disappointed and far from tired since I slept half the day. I try to change her mind until she mentions the word "curfew." I thought this school couldn't get any worse... That's the last straw. If it were up to me, I'd keep chatting, but Alexia has already turned her back in bed. I resign myself to doing the same, turning off the last light in the room. I try to fall asleep, but it's impossible. I turn countless times in my bed, trying to get there. I feel like the night is going to be long...

Tuesday, October 6; 06:00 - Ona and Alexia's Room.

I jump when the alarm goes off. Well, more like the alarm clock. Damn! I thank Joan at this moment for training me to wake up energetically. I grumble and pull the blanket over my head when the daylight blinds me. It wasn't there a second ago. I guess it's the work of my roommate who is shaking me energetically.

"Move your ass, Ona! Or you'll get busted!" "Hmm."

I don't even know what time it is, but it's way too early for my little body, especially since I fell asleep at two in the morning. She gives up on getting me out of bed and starts moving around farther away. As for me, I can't react. I'm so exhausted that my body doesn't want to move. I even curl up to try and get my sleep back, which isn't hard to return.

Tuesday, October 6 ; 06:30 - Ona and Alexia's Room.

"GET UP, BATLLE!"

I groan, sinking into my pillow. What's with that voice? It could have been very pleasant to my ears if she hadn't raised her tone like that. I tighten the blanket against my face. Whoever it is, I just want to fall back asleep one more time, but I doubt they'll let me do that.

"You have three seconds. ONE," she starts counting down. "TWO. THREE."

Go to hell. This thought comes straight from my heart, if only she knew. She'll have to lift me if she wants me to get up. It only took a fraction of a second for me to feel a draft followed by a wet sensation. I scream in surprise as water runs down my face. I inwardly call my unknown assailant every name I can think of, never imagining I could think such things about anyone. I don't have time to reply verbally before the mattress I was lying on is yanked out from under me, sending my body crashing to the floor. She dared! She dared to throw me out of bed to get me up! I never thought that phrase I was thinking would take on a literal meaning. I violently extricate myself from the situation to stand up. Now I'm wide awake and she's going to regret her actions.

"WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH YOU!" I shout. "WHO SAYS I'M NOT CARDIAC!"

A pair of emerald eyes I wasn't expecting is fixed on me. I had already prepared a long speech to unleash, but I'm frozen. Who is this girl? She looks so young. I have to look away to hide my discomfort. I take the opportunity to analyze the room. Alexia is no longer there, and her bed is perfectly made. I think I'm in deep trouble. Maybe I should have listened to Alexia when she shook me awake. I turn my attention back to the only person present. She took advantage of my distraction to move closer. She looks angry while I am completely lost. I can't seem to organize my thoughts in the face of her imposing presence and unwavering gaze. I back away to escape her, but an obstacle prevents me. I look down to find the mattress she overturned earlier. I come back down from my emotional high, remembering her actions. The witch!

"So you're the new one," she begins in a surprisingly calm voice. "Know that if you were cardiac, you wouldn't be here."

"What do you know?" I retort bluntly. "And who are you anyway?"

"Your supervisor," she states sternly. "Keep defying me like that, and you'll be doing ten laps around the field."

I start to laugh nervously. I dare to look her up and down to muster some courage. Her, my supervisor? This must be a joke! She's barely older than me. They seriously put a young girl like her in charge of me? They really underestimate me. This girl is going to crack first. She'll soon regret having me under her care, given the hard time I plan to give her. I'll never manage to address her formally, and I sense it's these little details that will irritate her. She furrows her brows and yanks my arm with a sharp gesture, forcing me to follow her. I almost trip over the mattress in the process. She opens my wardrobe without any shame while I watch her, unable to move. I hate it when people rummage through my stuff. She glances through until she finds what she's looking for. She grabs a pair of black jogging pants and a gray T-shirt that's half too big for me and thrusts them against my chest. I catch them with a grunt. She continues searching lower this time to pull out the black combat boots brought with my uniforms. She places them on top of the pile with a khaki jacket with a military pattern. It's a really awful outfit. I grimace just looking at it. I look like I'm in the army.

"I'm not wearing that!"

"Yes, you are. It's in the regulations," she retorts coldly. "I'll give you five minutes to get ready. Then you'll make your bed properly."

"Dream on! I'm not a maid."

"And do you think I am?!" she snaps. "We're not at your service, Batlle. Here, I'm the one in charge. I give an order, and you follow it, period. Is that clear? So now you will listen to me."

I stay silent, taken aback by her tone. I didn't expect to be dealing with this kind of character. She's more authoritative than she appears, or maybe I just didn't see it coming. She yanks my arm again to drag me to the bathroom door. I reluctantly step inside. I'm going to have a bruise soon if she keeps holding me so firmly every time.

"Hurry up. I don't have all day," she snaps.

I slam the door in her face as a response and even go so far as to lock it for some peace. It's the only door with a lock. Maybe I'm annoying her, but she's annoying me even more. She splashed me with water, threw me on the floor, and keeps yelling at me. I get my revenge by taking my time getting ready. If she thinks I'm going to let her push me around! I start by fixing the mess the water made on my face, then brush my teeth. I then put on eyeliner and mascara after applying some cream and foundation. I finish with the hideous sports outfit. I mustn't let myself be intimidated, or I'm done for. I want to get out of here, and I will succeed, even if it means driving her crazy. I take a deep breath while looking at myself in the mirror. I smile, realizing I was right. My T-shirt under the military jacket is slightly too big. They're lucky I like large T-shirts; otherwise, I would have made a fuss. Time to face the tyrant now. If I could, I'd stay locked in. She might be a more formidable enemy than I initially thought. I gather my courage and unlock the door, putting my hands in my pockets. It's not my usual style, but I want to show her I don't care to irritate her further. My plan seems to be working judging by her tense expression.

-  Fifteen minutes for that? Seriously?! she scolds me in a bored tone.

-  I can take more time if you want... Shall I go back? I suggest mockingly.

-  No way, I must be dreaming, she mutters. Hurry up and clean up this mess instead of mocking me! Bingo, I've managed to irritate the little brunette. I hold back my laughter seeing her like this. It's simpler than I thought. Her finger points towards my bed. Now that I pay attention, there's a huge mess. My mattress is on the floor next to my wardrobe, while my quilt is on the other side.

-  You did this, and I have to clean it up?

-  As far as I know, you didn't get up. I wouldn't have done anything if you had followed the rules. And there she goes again. Does she only know that word? No one ever told me anything. I wasn't even informed there was a curfew and uniforms. So I'm definitely not going to know this damn rule.

-  Rules, rules, I mutter. You only have that word in your mouth. How am I supposed to know if no one tells me anything about these damn rules?!

-  What do you mean, you don't know anything?

-  No one ever told me the rules here. I just arrived yesterday! She remains stoic at my revelation. She seems to be thinking before running her hand through her hair with a sigh.

-  Fine, we'll deal with this problem later. In the meantime, keep a low profile and stop talking back.

-  I'm not talking back.

-  Yes, you are. You just did, and it won't go without consequence. Now, stop being smart and clean up this mess. I won't repeat myself. She points to my bed again with a stern look that doesn't make me want to listen to her at all. Yet she seemed friendly for a second, wanting to help me. Her threats seem serious, so I resign myself to follow her orders, starting with putting the mattress back. I then deal with the quilt, quickly making my bed to get rid of her.

-  There. Happy now?

-  No. She messes up my bed with a brusque gesture. I can't believe it. She must be messing with me; it can't be otherwise.

- Why did you do that? What's your problem?! I made your damn bed!

- Firstly, as far as I know, it's your bed. Secondly, I told you to make it square, and it was far from it. Thirdly, I've already told you to stop talking back, and especially, don't address me informally! Now do it again.

She doesn't bat an eye. She has incredibly controlled coldness. I regret listening to her. Now she knows she can do it again. I've lost this first battle, but my next attack will be even more terrible. For now, I show her my obedience and remake the bed. It doesn't look much different from before. I just tried to make the quilt neater by smoothing it out. I stand up to show her I'm done. She doesn't even bother to examine it before messing it up again.

-  No, stop! It was fine!

-  No, I said square. You will redo it until you get it right.

-  Damn it! I don't even know what a square bed is!

-  That's enough. I've warned you enough. You will immediately tone it down, or things will go very badly between us! A palpable tension arises. She is very intimidating in her stance and severe expressions. I promised myself I would stand up to her, so I must do everything not to look away. I'm supposed to be the queen of the staring contest, but it's hard to hold out against her.

-  Do it again, Batlle, she orders.

-  But I'm telling you I can't do it! I get angry. If it's just for you to ruin my work again, it's out of the question!

-  Then all you need to do is ask. I remain incredulous. I expected a sharp retort. She tilts her head and raises an eyebrow. Is she mocking me? No way I'm asking her for help! I've never asked anyone for anything, and I'm not starting with her. I've always been free to do as I please. I'm not used to being given orders, let alone asking for help. I quickly had to learn to manage on my own. I bite my cheek as I look at the quilt on the floor. This time it's different. I have no choice but to ask. I don't know how to do it, and she has remarkable composure and patience. She will certainly not be the first to give up. My throat tightens just thinking about the words I'm going to have to say to her.

-  Help me...

-  Can you teach me how to make a square bed, please? she reformulates.

-  Can you teach me how to make a square bed, please? I repeat.

-  Come here, she says. I approach her to reach the foot of the bed.

- Redo it. I look at her incredulously. She rolls her eyes at my immobility.

- Come on, do it. I'll guide you. Understanding better, I comply. She takes her time explaining each fold to make and corrects me when I'm wrong. Finally, I realize it's not that complicated. It's just going to be annoying to have to

do it every morning as she just announced. I stand up and proudly observe my work when I'm done. It was short-lived as she undoes it again without hesitation. My blood boils quickly.

-  You had no right! It was just how you wanted it!

-  I want you to do it all by yourself, she says calmly. I just told you you'll have to do it every morning, so I want to make sure you can do it without my help. It's by doing it again that you learn, right? I roll my eyes. At least she didn't yell at me this time. I control myself and redo my bed the same way. I succeeded, but it's not as perfect as before. I look at her, waiting for her opinion. She doesn't seem angry or anything.

- There you go. I sigh in relief. Phew! I would have been very upset if she had undone it again.

-  Can I go eat now?

-  You should have gotten up in time for that. The service time is over.

-  You're not going to do this to me? It's not my fault I barely slept last night! Breakfast is sacred; you can't take it away from me!

-  I will, believe me. Think about it tomorrow morning; it might motivate you to get up. In the meantime, I have other plans for you anyway.

-  Oh yeah...? I ask, uncertain.

-  Yes. You and I won't be parting ways this morning.

-  Aren't I supposed to go to class?

-  I'm excusing you. I'm your supervisor, which means I have full authority over you. If I decide you're not going to class, that's my prerogative.

-  Basically, you're my hierarchical priority.

-  Exactly. Me and, of course, the principal. Other instructors are instructed to send you to me in case of any issues with you. I'm going to be the person you'll spend the most time with in the coming days.

-  What luck, I say ironically.

-  I think so too. Follow me now, we're going out. I miss classes, what more could I ask for? I'm wary of her intentions. I don't know her yet, but I've already seen her capabilities, and she's not one to joke around. I follow her through the hallways and stairs. She seems to know exactly where we're going. I understand the need for the jacket once outside. It's much colder than in Miami. I must not be used to it because my supervisor doesn't seem bothered by the weather. Her accent doesn't come from here, though. We're heading away from the dorms. I slow down when I realize her intentions at the sight of the gymnasium and sports fields. I don't think and turn around behind her back. I thought I could sneak away until a firm hand catches me in my tracks. I instinctively close my eyes at the contact. Damn! I should have left when I had

the chance! I try to struggle, but it's no use. She increases the pressure on my arm and drags me with her by force.

-  You won't escape, Batlle.

-  Damn it! I did everything you asked! She stops suddenly, making me bump into her before she turns around. I look up to meet her eyes. Bad idea... She scares me even more than before. I can't step back more than a step due to her grip.

-  Yes, you did, but you mostly talked back and addressed me informally. I'm not your friend, okay? I warned you to stop, and you didn't listen.

-  I won't do it again...

-  Oh no, that's too easy! We both know you'll do it again. If I punish you, it's so you'll think twice next time.

-  I promise I won't do it again! I say in a too confident tone.

-  And yet you're continuing, she raises an eyebrow. I want to retort, but I have no argument. I'm talking back and addressing her informally. Damn, she annoys me! It's not my fault she's young and beautiful! I would have preferred to deal with someone ugly and old. At least I wouldn't have trouble seeing her as my supervisor.

-  Okay, the informal address is going to be tough, but-

-  But what? she cuts me off. You're breaking both things I just told you. Not only are you addressing me informally, but you're also talking back and now negotiating?

-  Sorry, I grumble, powerless.

-  When I tell you to do something, you do it and stay quiet, period. Do we agree?

-  I guess, since I have no choice.

-  Fine. She continues on her way, still dragging me along. If it were up to me, I would break free, but I'm not sure she would appreciate that. At least she's loosened her grip. Just enough that I can't escape. She must be the devil incarnate to be ready to do what she's about to do! She makes me lose all my means and defenses. She's trying to unsettle me with her harsh, angry voice. It will be difficult to contradict her because her tactic is working. She will eat me alive and win if I let her. This wasn't at all in my plans. All I want is to get out of here. I fully intend to do so, with or without her on my back. She won't stop me from going home. We're approaching the grassy field. Doesn't she know it's cold? She releases me once we reach the middle of the field. I look around us. From here, you can see the entire camp space until it's bordered by the stone walls. On the other side, the gym blocks the view of the back. I wanted to turn around to see the buildings behind me, but the snap of fingers in front of my nose dissuades me and brings me back to reality. I refocus my gaze on my supervisor, who is waiting for me.

- You are going to do ten laps of the field.

-  Ten laps of the field? Are you kidding me? I scoff.

-  Hurry up. We'll stay here until you've done them all. Don't even think about leaving; I'll catch you before you make it.

-  That's way too much, ten laps! Do you want my death on your conscience or what?

-  Do you want fifteen maybe? I stay silent. She is capable of increasing the amount if I continue. I head to the edge of the field she indicates, not forgetting to sigh and drag my feet. I can't believe what I'm about to do, but I have no choice. She made it clear that there's no way out. If I start running, there's a good chance she'll catch me in no time if she's a bit enduring. I'm far from being an athlete, and on top of that, she has the home advantage. I don't know the camp well enough to hide somewhere. I could get lost or end up in a dead end by mistake. The worst part of this punishment is that she's watching me from her spot with her arms crossed. As if it wasn't already humiliating enough, she has to supervise me, showing her superiority. I stop after half a lap. I'm completely out of breath. I'm not enduring; it was to be expected. I haven't exercised in at least three years. I try to walk, but even that is difficult.

-  Hey, don't stop, she yells from the middle of the field. I said run, not walk!

-  Let me breathe, damn it! I manage to shout between breaths. This time I stop. I bend forward to rest my hands on my thighs. It's so cold that steam is coming out of my mouth. I thought it couldn't get worse, but I start feeling raindrops. This is hell! I will never get used to Manchester. I'm almost sure it's sunny in Barcelona. Plus, I'm certain she'll make me keep running in the rain. She made it clear we won't move until I'm done. We might be here for a long time given how long I'll take. My breathing is far from normal. My heart is pounding, I have a stitch in my side, and to top it all, I'm sleep-deprived, which doesn't help. When I open my eyes, I see a second pair of combat boots in front of me. A few seconds later, a hand rests on my shoulder.

Straighten up. What now? I manage to say. Can't I even breathe? She places her other hand on my other shoulder. I'm so weak that I don't resist when she pulls me up. Her green eyes are examining me. My condition hasn't improved, and I can't change it. Don't expect better from a former smoker.

- Calm down. Of course you can breathe, but not by bending over. Your body needs to be straight to catch your breath better.

Her hand touches my skin above my chest. It's warm, unlike my body. Her other hand still holds me so I don't literally collapse on her. I close my eyes to enjoy this moment of respite and regain my strength. My supervisor asks me to focus on my breathing and her hand following my body's movements. Then she sets a rhythm of inhaling and exhaling out loud. I focus solely on her voice, and I must admit it's effective. She only lets go once she's sure I'm better.-  Good, now keep running.

-  Can't you see I'm not able to? And it's starting to rain!

-  Of course you can, and it's just a few drops. The cloud is already passing.

-  Please, I barely did half a lap, and I'm completely dead! How do you expect me to do ten? At least lower the number!

-  No, I stick to ten. We have all the time, you have until noon. Stop when you can't go on, and I'll help you. You'll face this sanction more than once from me, so you might as well get used to it now. I grumble to myself at the edge of the field while she returns to her spot. To think I'll have to deal with her in the coming days. I'll die if she orders me to do laps every time. I'm already at the end of my rope now. What will it be like in the end? I sigh before forcing myself to resume running to get this nonsense over with as quickly as possible.

Tuesday, October 6; 12:30 PM - Cafeteria

I'm sprawled out like a pancake on the table. I finished my entire meal. It wasn't very good, but I needed it. My stomach was growling from my punishment and my missed breakfast. At least my supervisor was a bit kind. After my laps around the field, she took me to the cafeteria and got us each a chocolate croissant. I think she felt sorry for my stomach, which was growling loudly after my exercise that ended around nine. We stayed on the field for two hours because of me. I'm exhausted; she completely wore me out. "Are you going to be okay?" Pina asks me. "You don't look well." "Yeah," I mumble into my arms. I lift my head to see that I'm the focus of the table's attention. Do I look so terrible that they have to stare at me like that? I don't need their pity; I hate it. "What?" I snap, more sharply than I intended. "You haven't said anything since we started, and you weren't even in class this morning... It's enough to make anyone worry!" Alexia says. "Where were you this morning, anyway?" I ask. "You weren't in the room when I woke up." "Engen sent me to eat after I told her you were the new girl. She said she'd take care of you; there wasn't much else I could do," she explains. "I'm sorry, but I tried shaking you awake and you wouldn't budge!" I can't blame her. She did her best to wake me up. I sleep heavily, and I'm stubborn when it comes to getting out of bed. If I don't wake up on my own, someone has to jump on me like Joan does, or they have to use the radical method my supervisor employs. I realize that Alexia finally gave me her name. So, she's called Engen? She's a real viper. Speaking of her, she passes by the table right now. I glare at her. I follow her with my eyes as she heads to the line to dispose of her tray. I absolutely have to find a way to get back at her. If I don't, she'll eat me alive, and that's not what I want. I don't want to become a well-behaved student who follows all the rules. That's not me. "Is she one of your supervisors?" Patri asks me. "Yeah, the one on the right," I reply, turning back to the table. "Why?" "Ouch, you hit the jackpot," Leah laughs. "Why?"

"Let's just say she's the worst instructor here. You must have quite a file if Wiegman assigned her to you!" Alba comments.

Her, the worst? She's the youngest employee I've seen so far! Her and her companion. Given what happened this morning, I can believe it. I turn to look at her again. I underestimated her. She's not just some young, insignificant staff member... She's the worst. My mother is certainly behind this. She finishes placing her tray and our eyes meet while she waits for her colleague. Oh, the bitch! She smiles at me! She's mocking me! She must be proud to see me crumpled on the table. If she wants a war, she’ll get one! I let her win one battle, but I won’t let her win the next ones. I turn back to the table. I need to know more about her. I need to know everything, or I'm in big trouble.

"What do you know about her?" I ask.

"Her name is Bronze," Lotte informs me.

"I thought it was Engen? At least, that's who woke me up this morning!"

"No," Alexia laughs. "Engen is the one who accompanies her. She’s in charge of checking the senior floor in the morning. They’re partners, so they’re almost always together."

I try to process this new information. I saw Engen this morning. They share an office for the two of them. It makes more sense now that I know they’re partners.

"If Bronze was assigned as your supervisor, Engen probably called her," Leah says. "Everyone gets an assigned supervisor when they arrive. They’re the only person who takes care of us until we adjust," she explains. "Unless they're not available, which is very rare."

"Let me guess... Bronze is never absent?"

"Very rarely," Patri laughs. "I think it happened once in the three years we've been here."

"Great..." I sigh. "So, you all had a supervisor?"

"When we arrived two and a half years ago, yes," Alba responds. "I had Bright. She’s the second partner who supervises our year along with White."

"I don't know them," I admit.

"It’s our third and final year here, so it’s normal that we know all the rules and people," Lotte says. "You’ll get used to it, don’t worry."

"I don’t plan on getting used to it."

"You won’t have a choice with Bronze," Leah chuckles. "I told you we could outwit the instructors, but not the Commander."

"The Commander?" "That's her nickname here," she tells me. "No one can contradict her, not even me." "Well, I'll be the first then."

"Impossible, I’m telling you! Every trick I've found for the others doesn’t work with her! She always... I mean always, has a move ahead of us."

I groan in frustration, letting myself fall back onto the table. Bronze is indeed a demon incarnate. I need to be even more cunning than Leah. It’s very complicated, maybe even impossible.

"Is there anything else I need to know about her, besides the fact that she’s going to make my life a living hell?" I grumble.

"I don't think so," Alba replies. "The instructors don’t talk about their lives. They’re very secretive about it. We don't even know the first names of the new ones."

"Why is that?" "The rules were tightened two years before we arrived." "Okay. So Bronze is the worst?" "The worst of all," Pina confirms. "If we get stuck with her, it’s never a good sign."

So, they’ve figured out that I'm not here for nothing. Fortunately, it’s a taboo topic here. At least I won't be pressured to open up. I like them, but not enough to confide in them when I barely do that with my best friend. I hate my mother, I hate this place. She managed to cut me off from the world. She doesn't understand that I don't want to be anyone's puppet. I just want to be left alone, but that seems like too much to ask. We leave when we’re all done. The stress starts to build as I realize that my first day is approaching. Bronze kept me with her to help with the archiving. I had to go up and down stairs with her, carrying big cardboard boxes. As if the field laps weren’t enough. My legs are jelly because of her. I hope she at least made arrangements with the teachers for this morning. I think she did, but who knows. I sigh as the bell rings. I barely had time to recover from my morning, and now the afternoon is starting. Here’s hoping everything goes well this time.

[syndrossi]

resonant ch27 dvd commentary

Favorite line:

The red priestess had thought Jon’s resurrection irrefutable proof of her god’s power, yet at times Jon had wondered if he was so different from the wights he faced across the battlefield: something dead, with fire breathed into him rather than ice, intended instead to be a puppet for R’hllor.

It's an interesting parallel, and one that I'm sure Jon has mused upon before. The dead are not allowed to rest; they are tools to be used by unknowable forces. Unlike the wights, of course, Jon is alive and has free will, but that doesn't mean his return to the living wasn't meant to serve a purpose, as the wights do.

Favorite detail:

The gifts! I had a lot of fun picking the first batch out. Rhaegar's gifts are pretty easy/obvious, and we even had Daemon musing last chapter about getting him charcoals and parchment. The book written by Aenar Targaryen will definitely be important/useful as they go through it. With the dragons left in the care of the Dragonkeepers, it's not a book that anyone has likely read in a century. Aegon or Visenya could very well have been the last to do so, other than Viserys briefly scanning it for information to reconstruct the hatchery in his model.

Meanwhile, the generational cartography is something that felt fitting for dragonriders to do. It is far easier to map something from a bird's eye view versus going about slowly on foot, though it requires recalling the details later, as dragonback is not the most stable position to draw from! One eagle-eyed commenter on the chapter guessed at Daemon's reasoning for Jon's gifts: in both chapters 24 and 26, he's shown interest in ship movement on dragonback and the landscape in general. So he gets a map and wooden model ships!

(Obviously Jon is attached to his bronze knife, but Daemon needs more lead time to have a Targaryen equivalent made.)

And the gifts also reflect aspects of Daemon that he shares with both children: a curiosity about the lay of the land and the movement of people and things below (a strategic eye), and his own interest in their family's history and dragons. Daemon's similarities to Jon are often more obvious, because their personalities on the surface are closer, but he shares many things in common with Rhaegar too!

Favorite dynamic:

The cousins, naturally. Aegon and Aemond's childish jealousy (enhanced by their existing dislike for their nephews) of their shiny new cousins spending time with other children, doing that thing that kids do where they demand you admit that they're your best friend obviously and far superior to any other friends.

Then we have Aemond "letting" Jon be Aemon so that he can be Rhaegar's brother instead, living out the dream of having a brother he likes and can relate to / have adventures with. While Aegon wants to buy "cool points" with his secrets.

And the sibling sabotage with Aegon's secrets, of course! With Otto as their grandfather and Viserys as their father, they are privy to some interesting conversations, which is a resource that Jon and Rhaegar can try to leverage in the future.

Meanwhile, no one has made any guesses yet as to the secret Aegon wants to show them...

Quick hitters:

I hate the flow of "Princesguard" but it's KINGSguard and QUEENSguard, so symmetry demands it. It's also very patriarchal (it's not called Princessesguard), but so is the Kingsguard tbh. I imagine "Princesguard" will be considered a neutral term.

I quite enjoyed delving into Jon's musings on the gods, and his conclusion that he'll pray to whoever keeps his family safe. It's a sentiment we've seen from him before, when Rhaegar has been in danger, where he throws out prayers to whatever god might listen.

Jon opens himself a little bit to Jon Redfort and receives a memory in return. A few folks on AO3 have wondered why Rhaegar can remember parts of Raymar's life but not Jon, and it comes down to Jon being very resistant to opening himself up that way. He keeps a very hard line of separation, which can make his emotions more volatile (Jon Redfort's emotions reach a boiling point that spills over).

I considered writing the gift-giving from Daemon's POV after I finished writing it in Jon's. I'm fond of the "least knowledgeable" POV principle, aka writing a scene from the POV of the character who knows the least about what's going on. Daemon lacks context on the candle, and he has no idea what the boys feel about his gifts, so we'd get his reads on both their reception of the gifts and what they're feeling about the candle. But it also felt reasonably fine from Jon's POV and I usually don't bother rewriting a POV unless I'm unhappy with a scene.

Harvest festival + ball name drop! It's about two months out for the start of the monthlong festivities, which gives interested knights of the land time to make the trek for the Princesguard tourney at its close (3 months from now).

The toy ships were a bit of a bust from Jon's perspective, since he's not actually all that interested in nautical matters aside from their implications for conflicts/supplies. But he wouldn't ever want Daemon to think so, so we'll see if Jon forces himself to play with them for his benefit later. 😅 Laenor+the Velaryon boys are more likely to be interested! (Laenor: You know, Daemon, if you ever need someone to teach you about seamanship...)

I really like the godswood as a setting. It's quite peaceful.

This chapter in general was quite peaceful, until Daemon dropped not one but two "famous last words" remarks at the end.

No deleted scenes or even deleted bits this time to share!

[legacygirlingreen]

Mornings on Pabu

For week 4 of @summer-of-bad-batch's alt prompt: "You really think you're going without me? Not going to happen"

Pairing: Tech x F!Reader

Summary: An early morning on your lovely island home leads to some reflexion on how hard your lover has been working... and possibly explaining why that is...

*** no use of Y/N ***

Warnings: mildly suggestive, mentions of having children, no actual baby making activity I promise! mostly fluff! Domestic but non sexual nudity!

Word count: 2k

MASTERLIST

Rustling curtains and the muted sound of crashing waves were the perfect lull from sleep as you rolled over. Hair tumbling across the pillow as you did so, you blinked the caress of sleep away as your eyes focused while you moved. That’s not to say you weren’t careful of the dead weight from the arm perched over your waist. He rarely slept. Forcing him into the bed and to lay down - without that blasted datapad - was still a challenge after a year of island life. 

  You were finally free. Free of the Empire. Free of Dr. Hemlock. Free of the danger. Free to be at peace. Free to help give Omega the childhood she deserved. Free to heal those wounds both mental and physical. Free to love as you all saw fit. Free to have the lives you truly had always wanted. 

  Pabu was every bit the sanctuary Phee had promised. While you initially had been wary of the pirate - especially the way she continually flirted with Tech despite your unofficial yet apparent feelings for the man - you’d come to respect her in time. After a few drinks late one night, she admitted to flirting simply to push the two of you together. To her credit, her work along with the unscheduled descent that nearly claimed his life, it worked. 

  Tech was every bit of man you had longed for. Noble. Intelligent. Thoughtful. Sexy. 

  Even while sleeping, low rumbled snores escaping past his lips, he looked alluring. Those thick eyelashes that framed his deep brown eyes, visible due to removal of his staple goggles, which rested on his nightstand during the night. Skin having grown into a deep bronze with the sunlight, giving way with every deep inhale and exhale. His hair was an absolute mess, and finally grown to a length you wouldn’t have anticipated. No longer on the run, and needing to be practical, he’d let it go and given up on gel: meaning the carmel strands were curling around his neck and ears now instead of being cropped short and pushed back. Something about seeing him like this made you truly feel every ounce of raw arousal for him almost every moment in the day. The added freedom to slip away whenever you liked only increased the desperate need you both shared for one another.

  The dark ink he’d always had marked in his skin, now accompanying two new additions. An oval design replicating Omega’s old headband along his bicep next to symbols he bore for all his siblings: Crosshair’s reticle design, a red band that stretched the entire circumference of his arm for Hunter’s bandana, a childish outline of lula for Wrecker, and Echo’s old handprint armor. He kept his siblings close to him, having marks for them just under his shoulder where their old squad logo lay. However the most recent addition to his body lay directly over his heart: your name in aurebesh.  

  Tech hadn’t warned you of the change, simply appearing one day with it over his pectoral and the explanation of, “I wanted to keep you close to heart”. Which promptly led to your heart beating as if it was going to bust. Well, that and some mind blowing time between the sheets to show just how much the gesture had meant to you. He still shrugged it off, as if the act were common sense. You beg to differ but were never going to argue with him over something so kind.

  Laying next to him every morning had come to feel like a dream. Days on Pabu were met with Tech’s talent for mechanics being put to good use, while you took on random tasks assisting him. That didn’t stop the frequent routine of sharing meals with Shep and his daughter, Tech’s siblings and occasionally Phee. After which, you both would make it back to your own private domicile - something Tech requested after some time given he didn’t enjoy being quiet when it came to giving you pleasure - before hopping into bed together. 

  Initially the transition had been difficult on Omega. The girl not used to Tech being under a different roof and still anxious from his time captured on Tantis away from her watchful eye, but once she discovered that Tech’s absence meant she had her own escape from the other boys she finally came around. 

  Each morning had come to be filled with sweet whispers rousing you from sleep, as Tech often rose before you. Not long after you had arrived, you both began taking the mornings to swim, before the island awoke. The gentle breeze, the calm lapping waves, and the way Tech’s brown eyes looked at dusk: perfection.

  However, with the amount he’d been working lately, you felt guilty about waking him up for something as trivial as a swim. He’d taken it on himself to fix all of lower Pabu, fortifying it against future storm surges so the island could function. This was great - if he wasn’t doing so single handedly, pushing off your attempts at helping him.

  Carefully you tried to maneuver your way out from under his arm, hoping that you could be gone and back before he woke up, but when you had just gotten your foot out from under the covers, said arm tightened, trapping you under a sudden burst of strength. Immediately being alert and aware were side effects of his programming, meaning the first stroke of being awoken meant he was at full capacity to react almost suddenly.  

  Sighing you gave up, knowing you had failed to slip away without him realizing and just allowed the man to pull you back into his chest as he tangled your legs together. A gruff tone to his voice as he whispered, “You really think you’re going without me?” into the skin of your neck. The way he almost purred the words as he wrapped himself around your body made you melt as he continued, kissing your neck as he mumbled, “not going to happen…” along that spot that always made you squirm. 

  “I just wanted you to rest-” you began and his sweet kisses turned to a playful nip as he shook his head, turning you around before you could react and pulling you on top of his body. In doing so the covers tumbled to the floor, leaving his beautiful bare body full on display as his hands sought out your rear, giving it a squeeze as your face fell into the crook of his neck. He smelled musky, as if he’d sweat a bit in the night, but you didn’t mind as. 

  “I got more than enough rest to be sufficient for my body to complete its tasks for the day,” he commented, eyes blinking open as he adjusted to the first crack of light coming through the open window. 

  “Sufficient doesn’t mean you couldn’t do with a bit more sleep,” you grumble as that light puff of air that indicated a sudo laugh came from his nose and his arms tightened around your lower back. 

  “Not at the expense of missing out on our early morning routine,” he commented, mentally preparing to get going on the day. Where he discovered such energy in the morning you’d never know. 

  “Just one day wouldn’t be the end of the world,” 

“I have a different opinion on the matter,” he challenged, reaching over to retrieve the goggles on the nightstand as you reached an arm up to stop him. He used them to hide from the world, but you refused to let him do so with you. 

  “You’ve been working so incredibly hard lately Tech, no one is going to get angry if you take a bit of a break,” you challenge as you remove your arm, seeing he gave up on reaching his frames. 

  “I am aware that there shall not be hostilities if I pause the rate at which I have been repairing the lower half of the city. But as I said, I have reasons for a differing perspective on the issue,” he states bluntly. 

  You loved Tech for many reasons. His brilliance. His ability to remain calm no matter the circumstances. Usually you enjoyed his bluntness, since it meant he was straight forward and there was no guessing. Having him dance around the issue was very out of the norm. 

  “Is something wrong?” you sighed through the question, leaning up on his chest as he looked around the room for a moment, letting his eyes settle back on you. 

  “No, I do not mean to cause worry or distress,” 

  “Then why can’t you tell me what it is that is causing you to work yourself to an early grave?” you question softly, hand cupping the side of his face as his eyes fluttered closed. Stubble caught along your thumb and you knew he’d shave it when he got out of bed, as he did every morning without fail. He loved his routines after all. 

  “I just want to make sure that this is a safe place for children,” he says quietly, eyes still closed. 

  “You know that ever since the wave, Shep moved the families with kids up above the wall, and allowed more of the older residents to migrate south. Omega is old enough she can handle herself anywhere on the island-” 

  “I am not talking about Omega,” Tech replies as he finally looks up, hopeful gaze in his eyes. 

  Suddenly it all made sense. The overprotective nature he’d had lately. His hard work repairing the lower section of the island. His hyperawareness at your health as of late. His acceptance of life here and mentioning how it was one of safety. Him pointing out neighbors with children and how fascinating they behaved. 

  “Tech, do you-” you began to ask and his eyes grew wide, almost as if he’d been caught doing something he shouldn’t be. 

  “I would never encourage something given we have not discussed it before, nor would I take actions you were not okay with. I hardly know your opinions on the matter…” he trailed off in a rare occurrence, hands dragging over his face as if to hide. 

  “But?” you press carefully, tone not indicating malice or frustration, simply a need to understand where he was coming from. 

  “But yes, I have found myself interested in the idea of possibly having children. Naturally that is. With you.” he said it all so simply despite the very apparent war he seemed to be having with himself for saying it out loud. 

  “Oh,” you whisper. To be frank, the idea hadn’t really crossed your mind. Not that you were against it, per say, just hadn’t really imagined it. 

  “We do not need to discuss it, and I shall continue fixing the walls regardless as it is a benefit to all who live here on Pabu-”

“Tech,” you cut him off with a small smile. 

  “Yes?” 

“Can we continue this conversation out of bed? I would like to hear all your ideas on the matter but I’d like to be in a neutral location if we are going to discuss them. Besides, I’ll never get over how wonderful you look in that early morning light in the water,” you tell him softly. 

  Tech looks up hopefully into your eyes, seeing the way they soften for him. Something tells him that he has nothing to fear, as a practical discussion of such matters is important for anyone attempting to bring life into the world with the one they love. Especially for someone as logically minded as him. You can’t help but laugh at the way he nearly hurls you onto the floor as he begins rushing about the room, pulling on something to swim in while encouraging you to hurl it along. 

  It’s in that room where you decide perhaps he’s onto something, and that maybe the two of you are ready for those next steps. But for now, the sun and sand are calling your name. Well, that and your love, who can’t wait to talk about the future with you as the sun peaks over the horizon. 

NOW CLICK TO READ PART TWO (NSFW)!!!

[nomorefstogive]

Our Dearest Sin: Chapter 2 "Eventually, We All Rest In An Oaken Casket.” 

Good evening dear readers, once again we bid you welcome to this mess of a fic of ours, with little else to say but that greeting, how about we go ahead and skip formalities and get started shall we?

Ah! We almost forgot, before we start this chapter we want to tell you all that if you ever want to use any of the ideas you see in this fic for some works of your own you are free to, so long as you let us know when it is done so we can see what you have made.

With that out of the way, let the show begin!

Also, @servalisms this is the Oak ficlet I mentioned.

Chapter 2: “Eventually, We All Rest In An Oaken Casket.” 

It was a multitude of things that contributed to a room possessing what could be dubbed a ‘Perfect’ atmosphere, however arbitrary and vainglorious such a descriptor was in the long run, for not one thing that exists in the plane of flesh and bone and blood and stone and steel can be labeled as perfect, yet the ambience of this room was a close contender.

The floor was of a stone that had been so meticulously cleaned that as opposed to its natural gray in coloration, it appeared to be more an off shadow of white, and so free of dirt and debris was it that one would be tempted to say it had been laid to the cold earth but that day were they none the wiser. 

Yet it was not the floor that so interested the arrival, rather it was what laid upon it, for before the door of heavy wood that lead into the room was a rug of dark emerald color, adorned with black and stark white designs depicting symbols and sigils who belonged to a language from realms beyond the White Sands, one whose name was known not to most including the arrival, yet well known was their meaning to the one who now stood upon the rug.

‘Beyond this point there lay the kingdom of bones. Silence here be thy virtue, disturb not those interred herein.’ 

As if in agreement with the rug there was no sound within the room, rather a total and perfect stillness held fast an iron grip to rival even the most power drunk of tyrants upon their nations over the room, so great was the stillness that for a moment the arrival dared not to breath for fear of upsetting some unseen threat should they do so.

Silently and carefully did they creep into the room, pausing but to remove their shoes and to sit them beside the door to the room as they turned to close the heavy wooden door, taking a moment to fiddle with the metal latch that adorned the dark wood as they did so, turning around to face the room in full but when they were certain the door was properly latched.

The walls, of the same stone as the floor, were similarly well maintained, though festooned were they with bookshelves and and sconces that held candles of a shade of white so pale that one would assume them to be bone were they not able to spot the beads of wax that dripped down the bone like candles and into the stained bronze sconces, the faintest smell of lavender and vanilla filling the room.

Cozy, that was such a word that under normal circumstances would describe the room, the dark wooden furniture of bookshelves and table and desk and chair, further accompanied by the carpentry station that lay against the leftmost wall, were all lovingly maintained and bore not even a speck of dust as they stood in stark contrasts to the pale stone.

Yet cozy the room seemed not, for the silence was to heavy, its weight to much for anyone to bear, there was no rustle of skirt and dress as one moved to and fro as they went about their activities, nor was the ancient brass gramophone filling the room, and hall beyond the stone walls, with haunting operas and soothing orchestras.

Indeed, the room could not be called cozy in this state, perhaps a more fitting word for it instead would be ominous, yes the ambience of this room was perfectly ominous indeed, for with the shadows cast by the candles seeming to be as writhing stygian limbs and digits that thrashed against the flickering flames for dominance over the room as they swarmed and writhed, coating all not touched by the warm light in a stygian morass that would have made lesser beings turn tail and flee from the sepulchral chamber could there be a more apt descriptor for the chamber?

Yet the arrival was of sterner stock, and so they silently crept around the room, navigating not by sight, but by memory as they did so, they turned to the side to avoid the chair that rested on the right side of the desk, and swayed just enough to avoid bumping into the stand the gramophone rested on as they neared the farthest corner of the room.

In dim candle light and writhing tenebrous feelers, that which laid there was all the more beautiful, the lacquered dark wood was mixed with cherry in a way that enveloped it in intricate designs made of the intersecting types of wood, the tarnished bronze hughes standing in rich contrast to the wood, though not as much as what lay within the object.

Rich white cloth was carefully inlaid within the box such that only the rim of the opening would be visible as wood from the inside, though such a thing would not be on the mind of the one who was laid upon the plush and pillow like fabric, nor would it be the weight of the gray and silver weighted blanket that would lay upon them, or the softness of the pillow below their head.

No, such things are as nothing to the dead after all. 

Indeed the arrival now stood before an intricately, dare one to say lovingly, carved coffin that dominated the space of the furthest most wall of the room from its position on the ground, its door ajar enough that the corpse that lay therein was visible to their blue-gray eyes. 

Even as they slumbered within the embrace of the coffin, the one within never ceased to steal the arrival’s breath from them.

Long locks of white hair with several streaks of black in it fell in a halo around their face, pale skin standing out in stark relief to the black gown that covered their body, visible but by the grace of their arms being crossed across their chest with their hands resting open just above their breasts.

The arrival idly reached out and laced their finger through their hair, delicately lifting the ivory locks to their lips to press a slight kiss to it as they inhaled the familiar scent of oak that accompanied the one before them, their eyes closing as they relished in the silken feel and scent of the locks for a moment before they tucked them back behind the ear of the one who rested within the coffin. 

Idly the arrival allowed their gaze to rake over the form of the resting figure, the weighted blanket and gown did little to hide the curves of the form, the tantalizing swell of full breast and of hips that beckoned for hands to caress them, of long legs that ached for the feeling of fingers and lips gliding across them in worship…

A low gulp resounded in the room like the crack of a rifle as the arrival delicately reached out their hand once more, gently cupping the skin of the figures cheek, trailing their thumb in small circles over it before they descended to trace down their neck as they lightly pressed their fingers against the bodies pulse point and-

A hand blurred with movement faster than the eye of any normal human could hope to perceive, cool skin meeting their own flushed flesh as they were pulled atop the formally still woman who rested within the coffin, mismatched eyes of bright green and violet slowly opening to gaze into startled blue-gray as dark lips curled into a soft smile as a throaty voice filled the room.

“Don’t you know dear one? Those who tamper with the dead, are bid to lay with them.” Barely had the words been registered by her mind when the young woman heard the door of the coffin close over them, the darkness that suddenly engulfed them broken but by the faint glow that seemed to emanate from the eyes of the woman who even now began to pull her close.

Dark lips ever so gently pressed against her own as glowing eyes became heavy lidded as blue-gray eyes fell close and pale lips eagerly surged forward to meet with the ones that pressed ever so gently against them, parting into a faint gasp as teeth nipped at the bottom lip, allowing for a tongue to slide into their mouth and begin to dance with their own as hands began to wander.

For moments there was not but a muffled moans as tongues dueled, though perhaps dueling was the wrong terms, for neither fought for victory and instead seemed to take turns exploring each mouth, at an unspoken sign one would wrap around the other and guide it into the opposing mouth so their dance could resume within a new ballet hall. 

Hands glided across bodies unseen, delicate caress and affectionate squeezes bringing forth yet more pleased sighs and moans that soon came to fill the coffin as the two writhed in their shared passion and delight, nerves coming alight with delight as hands began to grope and paw hungrily at bodies lost to the dark. 

Soon it was that the glowing eyes reopened to stare down into the similarly opened blue-gray eyes, their bodies having shifted such that those blue-gray eyes were now facing upwards into those glowing eyes, their blown pupils visible even in the darkness to the one who lazily began to palm the beast that rested above the thundering heart of her partner.

Idly the hand began to rub in circles, dark lips quirking up in delight as they both felt the hardness begin to rise as one of their partner’s nipple grew hard, but also heard their dulcet moans begin to fill their shared casket, their own arousal growing such that they let out a low groan as one of their hands drifted up and over skin yet concealed by far too much clothing to a gathering patch of dampness at the apex of unseen thighs. 

The breathy moan that echoed in the casket made the one whose fingers were idly caressing the gathering dampness bite their lip as hunger began to build and swell within them, the desire to devour the one below them till no more could they think or move and instead fell into the slumber of the dead alongside of them becoming too much for them to restrain any longer. 

“Let us hope you have nothing to do tomorrow my dear.” The throaty voice purred down to the young woman pinned beneath it as pale hands began to seize and pull at clothing till they could feel naked and flushed flesh writhing beneath them as their liver tried to conceal themselves in vain.

“Because you will not be walking out of here for quite a while, after all I have to punish you for disturbing my rest don’t I?” Those words brought forth a sharp gasp as a yet clothed leg moved to apply pressure to that damp center as dark lips descended once more, pausing but a hair's breadth from unseen ears as they spoke once more.

“Now dear Peresphone, let us see how much you can take shall we?” 

And with those words spoke, their lips descended once more as their hands began to knead and grope anew as moans filled the coffin till near when the sun had begun to rise, only then did they begin to die down into whimpers and groans of over exertion and pleas for mercy that were soon matched with coos of delicate affection as a flushed face was tucked into sweat covered breasts, hands delicately carding through blue-gray locks as humming filled the coffin. 

“Look at you my dear, all tuckered out.” Gently cooed the voice of Oak Casket as she gently stroked her lovers weary frame, smiling as she nuzzled into sweat slick locks as she felt Persephone latch onto her, lips fastened around her neck as she left yet another mark before hse pulled back and blinked up at Oak as she gave a low yawn.

“Oak…what time...is…” Her words trailed off as Oak Casket leaned down to offer a loving kiss, lightly caressing the Chief’s lips with her tongue before she pulled back, moving to cradle Persephone against her body and direct her to rest her head against her neck as she lifted the lid of her coffin.

“It is nearly time to rest my love, stay here a moment for me would you?” Oak asked to the woman draped over her, smiling at the low whine Persephone let out as she delicately moved her to rest atop the plush lining of her coffin as she gracefully rose from her coffin, uncaring of her nudity as she stretched for a moment before she reached into the casket and tucked the blankets over Persephone, smiling slightly at the scene and leaning down to press a kiss to the chief’s brow before she stood and moved into the shadows of her room. 

Perhaps she was gone a moment, or perhaps hours, Persephone could tell not, nor did she care for even a moment without feeling that ever so cool skin against her own and hearing the echoing of a powerful heart as hands caressed her was much to long for the chief, yet eventually she found herself drifting off from the weariness of the nights activities and into a blissful slumber.

Yet her slumber was not to be, for soon she felt weightlessness engulf her as she was lifted from the coffin by lean and powerful arms, tucked against a naked body as she was carried across the shadow laden room and to where a once concealed door had been opened to reveal a dimly lit bathroom.

Faintly her senses registered the smell of candles and steam blanketing the room, her blurry vision and weary mind registering as to just how perfectly the smell matched the ambiance of the shadows that were broken but by the flickering light of the candles that only faintly illuminated the room, faintly revealing a sink and a tub filled with water from whence the steam wafted. 

Soon she found herself drifting off again as she nuzzled into the body that held her close, awakening but when she felt herself being lowered into the water, yet still held in powerful arms as she found her body being caressed with a dampened cloth coated in a sweet smelling soap that aided in lulling her into keeping her eyes closed as she allowed herself to be pampered.

A low hum filling her ears alongside of the gentle sloshing and splashing of water as her body was cleaned, then her scalp was gently massaged as her hair was likewise cleaned, even the cascading of water brought over her body by a pitcher failed to make herrise from the haze of comforting bliss she was submerged within.

She was only able to rise from below those wondrous waves of bliss when she felt something smooth and cool placed against her lips, absently she opened them to feel something placed within her mouth as she began to chew what she recognized as a piece of an apple, a drink from a glass of grape juice soon being similarly swallowed as Oak tended to her until at last the plate beside the tub and the jug of grape juice were emptied. 

Soon thereafter Oak rose from the water, grasping a nearby blanket and beginning to dry herself off before she turned and pulled the plug out of the tub to allow it to begin draining as she lifted Persephone from the water, smiling to herself as she sat her down on a towel, her smile growing wider as she saw the chief try and nuzzle into the towel and pull it over herself like a blanket. 

Chuckling to herself, Oak gently began to dry Persephone off, smiling to herself at the mark she saw adorning the other woman’s body, the scratches and bite marks and hickeys and handprints, the sight making a feeling of satisfaction well within her, one that grew when she recalled that she shared those same marks all across her own form as well. 

Soon enough the chief was dried off, her weary frame lifted into Oak’s arms as she was carried back to the coffin and gently tucked in under the weighted blanket before Oak herself slipped in as well, holding Persephone to her in a firm and yet tender embrace as she laid one last kiss to her brow before she closed her eyes and joined her in blissful slumber, not to awaken till the sun was high in the sky and the day long begun.

Fin

[claire-starsword]

Shining Force World Book translation - part 4

Previous part here

Last force member entries, next part is the villains. I’ll also shove here the species and classes pages from further on the guide, just don’t get any expectation for those, they are very short and generic descriptions.

A knight who drifts carefree like a cloud

Pelle Class: Knight Species: Centaur Gender: Male Age: 33 years old Height: 233 cm Weight: 198 kg Place of Origin: Runefaust Starting Level: 8 Starting Weapon: Bronze Lance

Traveling lots of countries in the world while looking for his birthplace!?

A free man who wanders aimlessly while working as a mercenary knight. He doesn't know much about where he was born or who his parents are, but doesn't care in the slightest and continues to live as he pleases.

His pride and self respect as a knight are exemplary, and he never forsakes those in his actions.

Being an elite knight who has served in countless battles, he is also quite fearsome.

Strength is not all you need to win! His sense for battling is excellent!

Fitting for his personality, his growth by leveling up is uncertain, and can be fast or slow. He's a reputable knight, but that doesn't mean his attack is extraordinary or anything. In the end, his worth in battle might depend on how well he uses the spears and lances available.

He's more effective fighting as part of a team than taking the lead at the front.

_____

Alcohol is a source of power!

Vankar Class: Knight Species: Centaur Gender: Male Age: 44 years old Height: 231 cm Weight: 195 kg Place of Origin: Runefaust Starting Level: 8 Starting Weapon: Bronze Lance

The unhealthy lone wolf who does as he pleases

A centaur who drinks lots, and has more pride as a knight than anyone else. In his youth, he was an excellent knight of some country, but lost the job after getting in a fight with the minister. Even though that was due to the alcohol, he did not bother and has not quit drinking, working as bodyguard for taverns and traveling merchants in towns.

He cannot stand the heinous path Runefaust has gone down, and decided to fight alongside the force.

[Note: in game he joins by Koron’s orders, though it’s not hard to believe he also disliked Runefaust at the same time.]

He loves building more than fighting!

Lyle Class: Assault Knight Species: Centaur (subspecies) Gender: Male Age: 34 years old Height: 204 cm Weight: 181 kg Place of Origin: Rindo Starting Level: 8 Starting Weapon: Robin Arrow

A centaur who keep messing up with his laid back personality

Like Vankar, he couldn't stand Runefaust's ways and joined the force. As a centaur with a great sense of justice, he used to serve a kingdom. However, his laid back personality caused a lot of disaster and he was fired. After that, he immersed himself in his beloved inventions, and nowadays uses weapons he created himself. He joins the battle with his prized cannon.

His slow movement is a problem, but his power is outstanding!

Using a unique destructive weapon, his attack is great. But because his movement is low, he can't make the best out of that power. If you manage to support his low movement, defense and agility with the other characters, he can still be a power up for the party. If you want certain victory, he's a must have in the team.

[Note: Most other sources including the other guide book credit Crock for creating the cannon, but it’s not hard to believe they worked together, they’re just bickering over first author credit like any other academic.]

_____

An intellectual and poweful knight!

Guntz Class: Steam Knight Species: Armadillo Gender: Male Age: 21 years old Height: 142 cm Weight: 68 kg (not counting the armor) Place of Origin: Rindo Starting Level: 8 Starting Weapon: Bronze Lance

An armadillo who hates fighting but hides terrific power!

Member of the armadillo race, of which there are few around. He wears a heavy special armor. Unlike what you'd assume by his tough exterior, he's quite sensitive. He's hardworking and has dexterous fingers. Like Lyle, he works as an assistant to the inventor Crock, and has made a bunch of inventions.

He looks like he enjoys battling, has actually has more inclination to be an advisor.

The heavy armor is both his strong and weak point

Because he uses a heavy armor, his agility and movement are low, however his defense is quite high. His attack is also high, and he'll certainly be useful if you let him fight.

The most effective strategy would be to put his attack and defense to good use, slowly approach the enemies and then defeat them at once. But if you push things too far, his small amount of HP becomes a problem so you must be careful.

Species

A game world with countless species

In the world of "Shining Force", 17 species are shown, including humans. To help you understand what they are like, we explain ten of them here, from the common humans to dragonewts and the mysterious Yogurts. At the end of the explanations we list representative characters of each species as well.

Humans

Compared to other species they are short lived, weak, and have no special abilities. However they may acquire special abilities through the way they are raised and trained. Representatives: The protagonist, Ramladu, Anri

Hobbits

They are generally short and robust. A race that prefers using their heads as opposed to fighting. Representative: Lowe

Elves

They look much like humans, and are slender, tall and dexterous. They are skilled with bows and magic, and have long lifespans. Representatives: Hans, Tao

Dragonewts

A humanoid dragon species. Superior to other species in power, skill, intellect and everything else. Representatives: Nova

Centaurs

A species with a human upper body and a horse lower body. They use the same weapons as humans, and are drawn to fighting. Representatives: Mae, Arthur

Birdpeople

A humanoid species with wings on their backs. Many like toying with their enemies with their distinctive swift movements. Representatives: Balbaroy, Amon

Dwarves

They grow long beards, and have sturdy bodies. With very lively personalities, they usually work as warriors. Representatives: Luke

Giants

They usually have large bodies, and are a violent and savage race. They are easily fooled by people, but their strength is superior. Representatives: Gong

Wolfling

A species with wolf faces much like werewolves. They excel in fighting, and are proud of their own species. Representatives: Zylo

Yogurt

A mysterious species that only appears in this game. Weird creature from the evil planet Yogurt. Representatives: Yogurt

[Ah yes, this one makes some rounds on random trivia websites. The other guide book also brings it up in a section I didn't care much for translating, since it was just explaining secret items, Musashi and the Sound Test.]

What's the Yogurt Ring?

The weird animal, Yogurt. It is said he came from Planet Yogurt to turn all people into Yogurts. The Yogurt Ring is supposedly a tool for that purpose, but no one really knows the truth.

Classes

There are lots of classes!

We explain here in detail 8 classes, from the typical swordsmen and knights to the odd ones like birdpeople!

Swordsmen

They fight with smart moves, using mainly swords. They don't use heavy armor or big shields, having to rely on the sword for both offense and defense. In terms of constitution, many tend to be stout yet slim. In this game, the protagonist is a swordsman.

Knights

Usually elite knights at service of a sovereign. The king's orders are absolute, and they act on them even when having misgivings. They are loyal to the point of sacrificing their own lives to protect the king, They usually use lances, and fight mounted in horses. In the game, centaurs are the knights.

Warriors

A class for people who can use any sort of weapon. Not worrying with the loss of mobility and agility, they use armor to raise their defense. Their constitution is great and their have vitality, being capable of resisting wounds to some extent.

Archers

Skilled at shooting down prey from afar with a bow. Due to using long distance attacks, they usually have great sight and high concentration. But, they cannot use heavy weapons or armors, and many have low endurance as well.

Mages

A class lacking fighting skills in exchanging for acquiring magical abilities. They have no strength or endurance and cannot use heavy equipment, so they are weak in terms of defense. They also can only use staves as weapons. Tao and Anri are examples of mages.

Priests

Primarily a class that serves the gods. Instead of offensive magic, they use mainly defensive spells. Unlike mages their defense is high, and they can fight. Those of this class are intelligent, quiet and level headed. Lowe and Khris are examples of priests.

Monks

Usually ascetic monks training their body and spirit. Monks don't use weapons such as swords and axes, nor equipment like shields and armors. Their fight with nothing but their own body. The only force member of this class is Gong, who joins in Chapter 1.

Birdpeople

A class of winged people who used to fly freely through the skies. They patrolled their borders and castles using their wings. With superior movement, they are very useful for surveillance. Balbaroy and Amon are birdpeople.

[winterhawk-olympic-bang]

The Fuzzy End of the Lollipop by VeryRachael

Artists: c.Art

Summary: Valentine’s Day 1929: After accidentally witnessing mafia boss Kingpin massacring several of his rivals, Bucky and Steve take a job as musicians in a traveling band so they can hitch a free ride to Florida in order to skip town. The catch is that they have to dress as women to fit in with the band. Things get complicated even further when Bucky falls head over heels for the band’s lead singer Clint Barton, Steve catches the eye of local millionaire Tony Stark, and their hotel turns out to be the venue for the mafia’s annual beach holiday... It’s got flappers, it’s got jazz, it's got more fake identities than you can shake a stick at, and it’s got a hot water bottle full of bootleg liquor.

Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply

(Please see tags on the fic for further trigger/content warnings.)

Read the fic here!

Art:

1 by c.Art

The following WHOB medals have been earned for this collaboration!

@Mightymightygnomepriest (VeryRach) - Bronze Writer’s Medal

c.Art - Bronze Artist’s Medal

[piquedpequod]

"Concentric" – a soundtrack for the Patroclus-Achilles portion of the Iliad. In three suites.

Listen (YT): Suite I | Suite II | Suite III

Lyrics and excerpts below:

SUITE I

“I swear the day will come when every Achaean soldier will groan to have Achilles back. That day you shall no more prevail on me than this dry wood shall flourish. In the day of your distress, when your men fall dying by the murderous hand of Hector, you shall not know how to help them, and will eat your heart out, cursing the hour when you offered insult to the bravest of the Achaeans.”

1. Build Me Up, Break Me Down – Dream Theater Today I will be your savior, tomorrow a demon You crave my erratic behavior And watch my every move

Tonight I am the new messiah you deify When I’m no longer desired I’ll be crucified The one who’s free from sin The first the cast the stone

“God forbid the rage you nurse should master me. You and your fearsome pride! What good will come of it to anyone, later, unless you keep disaster from the Argives? Have you no pity? Peleus, master of horse, was not your father, Thetis was not your mother! Cold grey sea and sea-cliffs bore you, making your mind so harsh. If in your heart you fear some oracle... then send me out at least, and send me quickly...!”

2. Love Like Blood – Killing Joke We must play our lives like soldiers in the field But life is short, I’m running faster all the time Strength and beauty destined to decay So cut the rose in full bloom

Till the fearless come and the act is done A love like blood, a love like blood

Every day through all the frustration and despair Love and hate, fight with burning hearts Till legends live and man is god again And self-preservation rules the day no more

Patroclus now put on the flashing bronze. Greaves were the first thing, beautifully fitted to calf and shin with silver ankle chains; and next he buckled round his ribs the cuirass, blazoned with stars, of Achilles; then slung the silver-studded blade of bronze about his shoulders.

3. Judas (Outro) – Depeche Mode

“My lord, you heard me praying before this, and honored me... Let your glory, Zeus who views the wide world, go beside him. When he has thrown back their shouting onslaught from the ships, then let him return unhurt to the shipways and to me.”

4. Atlantic – Keane I hope all my days will be lit by your face I hope all the years will hold tight our promises I don't want to be old and sleep alone

Before them all two captains stood in gear of war: Patroclus and Automedon, of one mind, resolved to open combat in the lead.

5. Empty Spaces – Linkin Park

Whom first, whom later did you kill in battle, Patroclus, when the gods were calling deathward? First it was Adrestos, Autonoos, and Ekhelos; then Perimos Megades, Eristor, Melanippos; afterward Elasos, Moulios, Pylartes. These he cut down while the rest looked to their flight. Troy of the towering gates was on the verge of being taken by the Achaeans, under Patroclus’ drive.

6. Durga – E.S. Posthumus

Then Patroclus, disabled by the god’s blow and the spear wound, moved back to save himself amid his men. But Hector, seeing that his brave adversary tried to retire, hurt by the spear wound, charged straight at him through the ranks and lunged for him low in the flank, driving the spearhead through. He crashed, and all the Achaean troops turned pale.

7. Dead End – Echoes and Signals

In the shelter of the curled, high prows, Antilochus found Achilles, envisioning what had come to pass, in gloom and anger saying to himself: “Ai! why are they turning tail once more, unmanned, outfought, and driven from the field back on the beach and ships? I pray the gods this may not be the last twist of the knife!"

8. Black Mirror – Arcade Fire I will walk down to the ocean After waking from a nightmare No moon, no pale reflection: Black mirror, black mirror

Black mirror knows no reflection Knows not pride or vanity It cares not about your dreams It cares not for your pyramid schemes

SUITE II

A black stormcloud of pain shrouded Achilles, on his head he scattered dust and ash in handfuls and befouled his beautiful face.

9. #1 Crush – Garbage I will burn for you, feel pain for you I will twist the knife and bleed my aching heart And tear it apart

I would die for you, I would kill for you

“Ah, child, let him lie dead, for all our grief and pain, we must allow it; he fell by the gods’ will. But you, now – take the war-gear from Hephaestus. No man ever bore upon his shoulders gear so magnificent.” And she laid the armor down before Achilles, clanging loud in all its various glory.

10. The Tide – Hans Zimmer

Great Achilles who held back from the brutal fighting so long had come blazing forth. Every Trojan felt his knees atremble, terrified at the sight: the headlong runner coming, gleaming in all his gear, afire like man-destroying Ares.

11. Sun. Tears. Red. – Jambinai In a silence heavy with darkness and sorrow When the sun sheds dark red tears Through the black shroud Black turns gray and gray turns red When the burning lights Turns the earth to red

The moment I breathe the air of the hollow dawn The moment I end up all deep darkness The moment of my end has arrived here

As Achilles rampaged on, his sharp-hoofed stallions trampled shields and corpses, axle under his chariot splashed with blood, blood on the handrails sweeping round the car, sprays of blood shooting from the stallions’ hoofs and churning, whirling rims. And Peleus’s son kept riding for his glory, staining his powerful arms with mire and blood.

12. Depthcharge – Killing Joke I don't see the stars Can't touch the grass I don't feel the tides Tight as Kali's smile

No more beautiful, no more terrible No more beautiful, no more terrible

“Idiot, don't talk to me of what you'll barter. In days past, before Patroclus died, I had a mind to spare the Trojans... But now there's not a chance - no man that heaven puts in my hands will get away from death here before Ilion - least of all a son of Priam. Come, friend, you too shall die. Why should you whine this way? Patroclus fell, and he was a better man by far than you are. You see, don't you, how large I am, how well-made? My father is noble, a goddess bore me. Yet death waits for me as well.”

13. Voodoo In My Blood – Massive Attack It's not quite right, you must be a cynic Sign of the wars is my grinning Come in to my time and see me

I'm yours, I'm yours Why does the blood always stick to your teeth? Momma, stop giving me grief!

Barely, barely grieving Keep the front door open Wipe that cheeky grin and come on, now

Now close at hand, Achilles like the implacable god of war came on with blowing crest, hefting the dreaded beam of Pelian ash on his right shoulder. Bronze light played around him, like the glare of a great fire of the great sun rising, and Hector, as he watched, began to tremble. * They ran full speed, not for bull’s hide or a ritual beast or any prize that men compete for: no, but for the life of Hector, tamer of horses.

14. No Horses – Garbage They'll love you, too, they'll love you, too They'll come to you, they'll come to you, too They'll worship you, they'll worship you, too They'll use you, too (they'll use you, too) They'll lie to you (they'll lie to you) They'll steal from you (they'll steal from you)

There's nothing to grieve There's nothing to lose

He had in mind for Hector’s body outrage and shame. Behind both feet he pierced the tendons, heel to ankle. Rawhide cords he drew through both and lashed them to his chariot, letting the man's head trail. Stepping aboard, bearing the great trophy of the arms, he shook the reins, and whipped the team ahead into a willing run. A dustcloud rose above the furrowing body; the dark tresses flowed behind, and the head so princely once lay back in dust.

15. Catharsis - Hante. Release of your emotional tension Elimination completed

SUITE III

Achaean peers induced Achilles now – barely prevailing on his grief and rage – to visit the Lord Agememnon; and when they came up to the Marshal’s hut they bade the clear-voiced criers there set out a tripod cauldron on the fire, thinking Achilles might wash off the blood that stained his body. He would not hear of it, but swore: “By Zeus, I will not! By that god best and all-highest, it is not in order to bring hot water to me, till I lay Patroclus on his pyre, and heap his barrow, and shear my hair. No burden like this grief will come a second time upon my heart while I live.”

16. I Am Stretched On Your Grave – Sinead O’Connor I am stretched on your grave And will lie there forever If your hands were in mine I'd be sure we'd not sever

The priests and the friars approach me in dread Because I still love you, my love, and you’re dead

“Let me pass the gates of Death. Shades that are images of used-up men motion me away, will not receive me among their hosts beyond the river. I wander about the wide gates and the hall of Death. Give me your hand... The day of wrath appointed me at my birth engulfed and took me down. You too, Achilles, face iron destiny, godlike as you are...”

17. Home – Depeche Mode Here is a song from the wrong side of town Where I'm bound to the ground by the loneliest sound

And I thank you for bringing me here For showing me home, for singing these tears Finally I've found that I belong Feels like home

God, send the only true friend I call mine Pretend that I'll make amends the next time And befriend the glorious end of the line

But Achilles thought of his friend, and sleep that quiets all things would not take hold of him... He lay on his right side, then on his back, then face downward – but at last he rose, to wander distractedly along the line of surf. This for eleven nights.

18. Atlantic (demo) – Keane I need a place that's hidden in the deep Where lonely angels sing you to your sleep Though all the world is broken

The first dawn, brightening sea and shore, became familiar to him as at that hour he yoked his horses to his chariot, with Hector tied behind, that he might drag him about, three times around Patroclus’s tomb.

19. IV - Echoes and Signals

Phoebus Apollo spoke among the gods: “How heartless and how malevolent you are! Did Hector never make burnt offering of bulls’ thighbones to you, and unflawed goats? Even in death you would not stir to save him for his dear wife to see, and for his mother, his child, his father, Priam, and his men: they'd burn the corpse at once and give him burial. Murderous Achilles has your willing help – a man who shows no decency, implacable... The man has lost all mercy; he has no shame...”

20. Hour of the Furnaces – Algiers Sometimes I drift away And I wish I could say that one day It'll all be OK, we'll be OK Lighthearted violence (no standing around) Sacred offense (no standing around) Outright denial (no standing around) And unearned irreverence (no standing around) They re-arranged their faces (no standing around) But you know all their names (no standing around) And I'll be damned (no standing around) If I jump into the flames But they got you singing

Priam, the great king of Troy, passed by the others, knelt down, took in his arms Achilles’s knees, and kissed the hands of wrath that killed his sons. * Now in Achilles the evocation of his father stirred new longing, and an ache of grief. He lifted the old man’s hand and gently put him by. Then both were overborne as they remembered: the old king huddled at Achilles’ feet wept, and wept for Hector, killer of men, while great Achilles wept for his own father as for Patroclus once again; and sobbing filled the room. But when Achilles was now sated with grief and had unburdened the bitterness of his sorrow, he left his seat and raised the old man by the hand.

21. For Everything You Lost - Jambinai

“Patroclus, do not be angry with me, if somehow even in the world of Death you learn of this – that I released Prince Hector to his father. The gifts he gave were not unworthy. Aye, and you shall have your share, this time as well.”

22. ...Like Clockwork – Queens of the Stone Age And I’m swimming in the night, chasing down the moon The deeper in the water, the more I long for you

Holding on too long is just a fear of letting go Because not everything that goes around, comes back around you know One thing that is clear, it’s all downhill from here

Cover: Bob Paris and Rod Jackson photographed by Herb Ritts (from Duo). started 2011, revamped 2021, fin. 2022.

[sparkledlotus]

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[fadavalve]

The Significance Of The Emergence Of Lead-Free Bronze Fittings

In the intricate world of plumbing, the emergence of Lead-Free Bronze Fittings marks a pivotal moment in the pursuit of safety, health, and environmental consciousness. Traditionally, lead has been a common component in plumbing materials, but its potential health risks have prompted a shift toward safer alternatives. Lead-Free Bronze Fittings represent a technological and ethical leap forward, underscoring the industry's commitment to delivering reliable and health-conscious plumbing solutions.

Lead is a toxic substance that, when ingested, poses severe health risks, especially for children and pregnant women. Historically, plumbing systems incorporated lead-based materials, raising concerns about lead leaching into drinking water. The emergence of Lead-Free Bronze Fittings addresses this critical issue by eliminating lead content, ensuring that water remains free from this harmful contaminant. This shift aligns with a broader commitment to safeguard public health and prioritize water safety in residential and commercial settings.

The significance of Lead-Free Bronze Fittings is underscored by their alignment with increasingly stringent regulations and standards governing plumbing materials. Recognizing the potential dangers posed by lead, regulatory bodies have implemented measures to restrict its use in plumbing components. Lead-Free Bronze Fittings not only meet but often exceed these regulations, providing assurance to professionals and consumers alike that the materials used in plumbing installations adhere to the higher safety standards.

[alzerwatradingllc]

Important Factors to Consider When Choosing Gate Valves

Gate valves are essential components in many industrial systems, as they control the flow of liquids and gases. Choosing the right gate valve for your application is crucial to ensuring optimal performance and safety. There are several important factors to consider when selecting gate valves:

1. Size and Pressure Rating: Gate valves come in various sizes and pressure ratings to accommodate different flow rates and system pressures. It is important to choose a gate valve that can handle the specific flow requirements and pressure levels of your system.

2. Material: Gate valves are available in a variety of materials, including bronze, cast iron, stainless steel, and PVC. The material of the valve should be compatible with the type of fluid or gas being controlled and the environmental conditions in which it will be used. For example, corrosive chemicals may require a valve made of a corrosion-resistant material such as stainless steel.

3. Type of gate: There are different types of gates, such as solid wedge, flexible wedge, and split wedge. The type of gate affects the sealing and performance of the valve. Solid wedge gates provide a tight seal but may be more prone to wear, while flexible wedge gates are better suited for high-temperature applications.

4. Operation: Gate valves can be operated manually, with a handwheel or lever, or automatically, with an actuator. The method of operation should be chosen based on the frequency of valve operation and the level of control required. For example, automatic gate valves may be more suitable for systems that require precise flow control.

5. End Connections: Gate valves come with different end connection options, such as threaded, flanged, or welded. The end connection should be compatible with the pipes and fittings in your system to ensure a secure and leak-free installation.

6. Brand and Quality: It is important to choose gate valves from reputable manufacturers that are known for producing high-quality products. High-quality gate valves are more reliable, durable, and less prone to malfunctions, reducing the risk of system downtime and maintenance costs.

By considering these important factors when choosing gate valves, you can ensure that you select the right valve for your specific application, leading to optimal performance, longevity, and safety in your industrial system.

[instrumxx]

How to install hydraulic hose fittings?

Hydraulic hose fittings are crucial components in hydraulic systems, as they connect hoses to various equipment and ensure a leak-free fluid transfer. Proper installation of hydraulic hose fittings is essential to maintain system efficiency and prevent costly leaks or failures.  As the leading manufacturer, supplier, stockist, and exporter of Hydraulic Hose Fittings in India, Instrumxx Industries understands the importance of proper installation. 

In this blog post, we will guide you through the step-by-step process of installing hydraulic hose fittings, ensuring a secure connection and optimal performance for your hydraulic systems.

Understanding Hydraulic Hose Fittings!

Hydraulic hose fittings are components that connect hydraulic hoses to other hydraulic components, such as pumps, cylinders, valves, and motors. They serve as the intermediary link that allows the hydraulic fluid to flow between different parts of a hydraulic system.

Hydraulic hose fittings are designed to create a secure and leak-free connection between the hose and the hydraulic component. They are typically made of durable materials such as Stainless steel, Titanium, Monel, Nickel, Inconel, Hastelloy, Aluminum, Copper, Brass, and Bronze to withstand high-pressure hydraulic systems. These fittings come in various shapes, sizes, and configurations to accommodate different hydraulic hose types and system requirements.

The fittings consist of two main components: the male end and the female end. The male end has external threads that screw into the corresponding internal threads of the female end. The male end is attached to the hydraulic component, while the female end is connected to the hydraulic hose.

Step-by-Step Guide to Installing Hydraulic Hose Fittings

Gather the necessary tools and equipment:

Before you begin the installation process, make sure you have all the required tools and equipment at hand. Here's a list of commonly used tools for installing hydraulic hose fittings:

Wrenches or spanners (appropriate sizes for the fittings)

A hydraulic hose cutter or a fine-tooth hacksaw

A deburring tool or file

Safety gloves and goggles

Clean rags or towels

Measure and cut the hydraulic hose:

Carefully measure the length of the hydraulic hose needed for your specific application. Once you have determined the correct length, use a hydraulic hose cutter or a fine-tooth hacksaw to make a clean, straight cut. Ensure that the cut is perpendicular to the hose axis to ensure a proper fit.

Prepare the hose ends and fittings:

Using a deburring tool or file, remove any sharp edges or burrs from the cut ends of the hydraulic hose. This step is crucial to prevent damage to the inner tube and ensure a leak-free connection. Clean the hose ends and fittings thoroughly with a clean rag to remove any dirt or debris.

Identify the hose and fitting orientation:

Before proceeding, identify the correct orientation of the hose and fittings. Hydraulic hose fittings typically consist of a male and female end. The male end has external threads, while the female end has internal threads. Ensure that the hose and fittings are properly aligned to achieve a secure and leak-free connection.

Attach the fittings to the hose:

Starting with the female end, securely attach the hydraulic hose fittings to the hose. Ensure that the fittings are tightened properly using the appropriate wrench or spanner. Avoid over-tightening, as it may damage the fittings or the hose.

Test the connection:

Once the fittings are securely attached, it's important to test the connection for any leaks or abnormalities. Apply a hydraulic fluid-compatible test fluid to the connection point and examine it closely for leaks. If any leaks are detected, recheck the fittings for proper tightness and repeat the test until the connection is leak-free.

Secure the fittings:

After ensuring a leak-free connection, secure the fittings to the hydraulic system. Depending on the specific setup, this may involve using clamps, brackets, or other fastening mechanisms. Follow the manufacturer's guidelines or consult with a hydraulic expert to ensure proper installation and secure mounting.

Applications of Hydraulic Hose Fittings

These fittings are designed to provide a secure and leak-free connection, allowing the transmission of hydraulic fluid or oil under high pressure. Here are some common applications of hydraulic hose fittings:

Construction Machinery

Agriculture Equipment

Industrial Machinery

Material Handling Equipment

Automotive Industry

Mining and Oil Industries

Aerospace and aviation

Marine and Offshore Applications

Manufacturing and Assembly Lines

Waste Management and Recycling

Other Applications

Final Thoughts!.. Proper installation of hydraulic hose fittings is vital for maintaining the performance and integrity of hydraulic systems. As the leading Hydraulic Hose Fittings Supplier, manufacturer, stockist, and exporter in India, Instrumxx Industries offers a wide range of options to suit various project requirements.

By following this step-by-step guide, you can install hydraulic hose fittings accurately, ensuring a reliable and efficient hydraulic system for your applications. For any further assistance or inquiries, feel free to reach out to Instrumxx Industries' knowledgeable team of experts.

[suburbeastern]

Bathroom Renovations in Sydney South

A deluxe bathroom renovation in this Penshurst home used classic white walls with a feature wall tiled in penny round tiles in Norwegian Rose. Brushed bronze tapware and shower accessories added a stylish touch to this modern bathroom.

Once drywall is installed and dry, your carpenter can install vanity units and cabinets. This is also when you can add decorative trims like crown molding or wainscoting. To know more about Bathroom Renovations Sydney South, visit the Eastern Suburbs Bathroom Renovations website or call 0415902838.

Bathroom remodels involve more than simply changing the paint color and fixtures. It can mean dropping walls and rerouting plumbing lines, and requires an experienced general contractor who understands local and state building codes.

Homeowners who want to update their bathrooms can consider wall colors such as soft mauve or lemon chiffon for a country style, and relaxing earth shades like fennel bronze for a spa-like atmosphere. However, homeowners whose bathroom windows receive western and southern sunlight should be careful with cool color options that may appear stark in natural light.

Once the demolition is complete, your plumber and electrician will carry out a rough-in fit. This involves putting plumbing and electrical wiring in place without connecting it. Your plasterer, tiler, and painter will then finish the walls and floors.

Bathroom renovations are complex work. They are wet areas prone to mould and leaks, and require special consideration for waterproofing and ventilation. That’s why working with a professional is always recommended.

Eastern Suburbs Bathroom Renovations offer their clients quality inclusions and exceptional workmanship, creating beautiful bathrooms in Sydney’s southern suburbs. To book your free consultation, contact them today.

For any electrical work in the bathroom renovation, it’s important to use a licensed electrician. This ensures that all work is done safely and to code.

This may include core drilling in the concrete floor to install new powerpoints and lighting, or it might involve running electrical cabling from an existing switchboard to a new outlet. This will generally take one to four days for a sparkie to complete.

If you’re relocating plumbing or making major structural changes, you may need to apply for a building permit. Check with your local council to see what requirements there are.

A bathroom renovation is an excellent opportunity to lay a new floor. Vinyl is an option as it provides warmth, is water resistant and can look like timber. Concrete flooring is also a good option as it can be polished to look fantastic and has good slip resistance.

After the plumbing rough-in and tiling is done it’s time for the sparkie to install all the electrical wiring and powerpoints. This can take one to four days.

Unforeseen issues can crop up during a bathroom reno, such as discovering asbestos behind tiling or structural issues in the walls and floors. These can increase the cost of the reno and need to be addressed.

Lighting is a key element in any bathroom. It can be subtle and functional or dramatic and decorative. There are many ways to light a bathroom, including recessed lighting, pendant lights and wall sconces. Accent lighting is also a great way to highlight decorative elements like a textured feature wall or brushed bronze tapware.

Bathroom ventilation is essential to prevent unsightly mould and mildew. Without proper bathroom ventilation, moisture can build up around the taps, in the corners of showers and over tiles. This moisture can lead to the growth of harmful bacteria.

Bathroom remodelling is a large project that involves plumbing, tiling and cabinetry work. If you hire an expert, they can provide you with high-quality work that is worth the investment.

They can also upgrade the look of your bathroom by installing different types of vanities. You can choose modern or classic designs depending on your preferences.

Some people also remodel their bathrooms to repair issues like cracked pipes, rotting floors and long-term leaks. A renovation is the best time to fix these problems before they become worse. They can also replace old cabinets, re-stair the floor and install new appliances like shower heads or bathtubs.

A modern bathroom renovation can add a huge amount of beauty and value to your home. However, the process is not without its challenges and unexpected costs can pop up. Common problems include rotting timber, asbestos discovery behind the tiling, mould growth and choked drains.

Adding finishing touches can make your new bathroom feel complete and on-trend. Functional furniture like heated towel rails, a feature stool and framed artwork can add a touch of luxury to your space.

The best way to ensure your bathroom renovation is a success is to work with an experienced professional company. Eastern Suburbs Bathroom Renovations are one of Sydney’s leading one-stop bathroom specialists and offer a free consultation and quote. To know more about Bathroom Renovations Sydney South, visit the Eastern Suburbs Bathroom Renovations website or call 0415902838.

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Bronze Aluminium Cabinet | Drawer Knobs and Pull

Looking for the perfect finishing look to your cabinet? Dluxdekor is here to help you find it. We offer a multi variety of finishes that will compliment your cabinets and make them look perfect. For a home that's always stylish and comfortable, it needs to be matched with the right accessories. 

We offer an assortment of finishes that will fit your particular decor perfectly, and we only use high-quality materials so you can be sure your purchase will last. Our Aluminium Cabinet Knobs are made from solid bronze, Finishes: Platinum | Champagne | Espresso, Solid Cast Bronze – Lead Free Individually Black Sand Cast & Painted, lacquered to protect from discoloration & environment, each part is Hand Crafted & Hand Finished. 

A cabinet knobs kit from dluxdekor will give your cabinets that extra something that makes them stand out from the crowd.

Finishes : Platinum | Champagne | Espresso,Solid Cast Bronze – Lead Free Individually Black Sand Cast & Painted, Lacquered to protect from discoloration & environment, Each part is Hand Crafted & Hand Finished. 

Website: https://www.dluxdekor.com/product-category/premium-knobs-and-handles/premium-cabinet-knobs/

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Cremation Services in Ipswich

Cremation is a dignified and respectful way to say goodbye to your loved one. It also offers families some flexibility in terms of funeral or memorial services.

The decision about how to care for your loved one's body after death is an emotional and difficult one. A qualified funeral professional will help you to understand your options and guide you through the process. To know more about Cremation Services in Ipswich, visit the Farewell Funerals website or call 0404660974.

Farewell Funerals is a family-owned company that provides funeral arranging services and expert advice to Ipswich and East Anglia. They are the UK’s largest funeral provider and have 1,000 funeral homes nationwide.

Their Cremation Services in Ipswich offer a range of options for your loved one’s final send-off. They can help you plan a personalised, unique funeral to honour your loved one and their life story.

They can arrange a traditional religious or non-religious funeral service, or a celebration of life that is both modern and personal to your family. Their team of experienced funeral directors can guide you through all the options available, making sure that your loved one’s last goodbye is a fitting tribute.

The Simple and Bronze plans include an allowance towards defined third party costs, whereas the Silver and Gold plans include a guarantee. The guarantee can be used to cover any extra costs associated with the funeral service.

You can buy a prepaid funeral plan from Co-op Funeralcare online or by visiting your local branch. You can also take advantage of a free 30-day cancellation period.

Buying a funeral plan is an important decision as it helps to cover your final expenses and removes the financial stress from those left behind. It will also give you peace of mind knowing that your loved ones will be looked after in the future.

Farewell Funerals is an ethical, member-owned funeral director in Suffolk. They offer a wide range of services including prepaid funeral plans to help save families money and stress later on.

The staff at Farewell Funerals understand that every family is unique and they will work with you to plan a service that suits your loved one and your wishes. They are on hand to guide and support you through every step of the process, providing expert advice and reassurance at this difficult time.

They are a leading funeral home in Ipswich and have been serving the area for over 90 years. They are a member of the National Association of Funeral Directors and follow their strict Code of Practice, which means you can trust that your family will receive the best possible funeral arranging services.

Another great feature of their Ipswich cremation services is their identification tag system, which ensures that the cremated remains you receive are truly your loved ones. This tag is placed on the body and follows it throughout the entire cremation process to keep it from being mixed with other bodies in the crematory.

Direct cremation is a relatively new funeral option and it is proving to be very popular with many local Ipswich families. It is a practical, affordable and more private way to say goodbye to your loved one.

When it comes to cremation services in Ipswich, the crematorium you choose should be able to provide you with options that suit both your wishes and the deceased's family's. This includes the choice of whether to hold a public viewing or a private service.

Another option is to arrange for a funeral or memorial service after the cremation takes place. This allows you to say your last goodbye in the way that is most meaningful to you and your loved ones.

As well as offering a range of funeral and memorial services, the crematorium has an on-site chapel that can be used for all sorts of ceremonies. This chapel can seat up to 220 people and features a number of visual and audio facilities.

The chapel is also wheel chair accessible, so it can be used by anyone in need of extra support. There is a large on-site catering and refreshments lounge too, which can be hired throughout the week.

Cremation services in Ipswich can be performed with dignity and respect. They are also extremely affordable, which makes them a great choice for people looking to save money on their funeral costs. To know more about Cremation Services in Ipswich, visit the Farewell Funerals website or call 0404660974.