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lloydskywalkers · 29 days

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moats and boats and waterfalls

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Post-Crystalized — after surviving apocalypse no. 2 (possibly 3, currently under debate) the ninja now face the unspeakable horrors of budgeting.

(Years late to the Crystalized party but here's part one of my seven billion fanfics about this season because there are Thoughts to be had about this one)

As it turns out, rebuilding a monastery is a whole lot more trouble than rebuilding the Bounty for the eightieth time.

And by trouble, Cole means incredibly expensive.

“Re-installing central heating costs what?!”

Kai’s horrified cry reverberates throughout the half-constructed monastery, the echo from the noticeably empty rooms only adding to insult.

Oh, what Cole would give to have his bed back.

“I guess we’ll have to use you during the winter,” Nya sighs, patting Kai on the back. “Lloyd, get ready to supercharge him.”

“Forget heating, do you know how much Wi-Fi costs?” Lloyd stares at the estimated summary like it’s personally kicked his pet. “Who even has that much money? God?”

“If god had money, he could’ve given Sensei Wu his inheritance and we’d all be loaded,” Jay mutters. “But noooo, ‘material possessions are the death of the soul’, blah blah blah, we’ll see whose soul is dead when the gas cuts out and he can’t make midnight tea anymore.”

“It does seem a bit extreme, looking at it all like this,” Zane remarks. Somewhat ironically, as he’s taken one look at the bill then wisely retreated across the room.

“Well, blowing up the entire monastery with us in it was extreme, so it figures repairs are just as bad,” Nya grumbles.

They all shift, the mood dampening at the reminder.

Lloyd opens his mouth. “I’m sor—”

“Do not,” Kai stabs a finger at him. “Even try.”

Lloyd slumps. “If I hadn’t gotten caught—”

“We all agreed to the plan, okay?” Cole says. “Also, no one knew we’d be sending you to Harumi, so the whole thing was doomed from the start.”

While he looks a bit miffed, Lloyd gives it up. Though perhaps that’s mostly in part because he desperately wants to avoid any more conversation about—

“So speaking of Harumi,” Jay starts.

Lloyd springs for the window.

Unfortunately for Lloyd, said window is currently boarded up by heavy-duty plywood, since quality window glass fell low on the list of priorities, which gives Kai plenty of time to tackle him before he can even raise his leg to kick it in.

“No!” Zane cries. “We can’t afford anymore plywood!”

“Or like, Band-Aids at bare minimum, so don’t you dare!” Nya adds.

“—overdramatic phase has gotta go, what are you, five — hey, no biting!”

Lloyd makes a muffled sound as he wrestles on the floor with Kai. Cole turns, very slowly, to glare at Jay.

“Oh come on, we were all thinking it,” Jay defends, reluctantly standing to help pry Lloyd from the floor. “Fine, hey, I promise we won’t talk about certain loser ex-princesses who are nice and cozy in their prison cells right now, okay? There, there, little gremlin, she can’t hurt you anymore—”

“I’ll bite you next,” Lloyd threatens, but he returns to his seat, wincing as Kai scuffs his hair.

“Turn Oni again, and that might be an actual threat.”

Lloyd startles terribly, staring at Kai with wide eyes. “That’s — not — I wouldn’t—”

“Kai,” Nya hisses.

“Woah, hey, no, I didn’t mean it like that!” Kai says quickly. “It’s supposed to be positive reinforcement! Easing it into a normal thing, y’know?”

Lloyd growls. “Nothing about this is a normal thing—”

“Except none of us are normal, so therefore it is,” Kai interrupts him smoothly. “Also we already loved you when you were a tiny demon, turning into a literal one is nothing. Give us some credit.”

Lloyd pulls his hood over his flaming face, thunking his head against the table. Kai pats him cheerfully on the shoulder.

“Additionally, unless we can swindle someone by selling Lloyd in his Oni form on the black market for cold cash before stealing him back, I don’t see how this helps matters.”

Zane finds himself on the receiving end of five blank stares. Lloyd, successfully having been pulled from his hood, whistles.

“I forget how evil you can be, sometimes.”

Kai gapes at him. “So that makes you feel better?”

“I mean, in terms of normalizing it—”

“Alright!” Cole slams his hands on the table, silencing them all. He glares them down. “Meeting room in five. We’re figuring out how to make this place livable if it kills us.”

There’s a brief silence, then Jay hesitantly raises his hand.

“Hey, so uh, we kinda don’t have a meeting room right now?”

Cole collapses on the table in despair.

---

Twenty minutes and one session of shoving chairs into what could have been the living room later — it’s hard to tell, with all the construction markings and plywood still up — they’ve kicked off the official first meeting of the Finish-Making-the-Monastery-Livable plan.

“Alright,” Lloyd announces, brushing his hands as he steps back from the chalkboard that may or may not have been stolen. “At the top of the list we have Wi-Fi, central air and heating, beds — huh, maybe those should go higher — running water, electricity — that one’s debatable, me and Jay can tag-team it if we get desperate — blankets-slash-pillows-slash-etcetera, stuff to cook with, actual food — y’know what, I’m putting that closer to the top—”

“So basically, we have nothing,” Cole says blankly.

Lloyd glances at the list, then to the sliver of chalk left in his hands. “Uh. Yeah.”

“Take the weaponry, sure, but all my albums?” Jay mourns. “I spent years collecting those.”

“I lost the blanket we stole from that super fancy apartment we lived in for like five minutes when Lloyd was a kid,” Kai sighs. “That thing literally made it through the apocalypse, just to bite it now.”

“Two apocalypses too many,” Nya says.

“Did the Preeminent count as an apocalypse? Like, a minor one?”

“Three apocalypses. It took three apocalypses to vaporize my closet,” Cole sinks lower in his seat. “Man, the hoodie you got me for my birthday was in there.”

“All of our photographs are lost, too.” Zane stares at his hands.

Lloyd murmurs something under his breath that sounds a lot like family pictures and figures.

The mood plummets a bit more, after that.

“Motherfu—”

“Alright, this isn’t helping,” Cole claps his hands. “We can all cry again later. Lloyd, overall mission status conclusion?”

“Well, like you said, we basically have nothing,” Lloyd sighs. “So unless Zane wants to stop chickening out and abandon his morals so we can just hack into everything and get it free, we need to find some way to pay for all this.”

“Again, I cannot hack in to rebuilding an entire cooling unit throughout the monastery, much less make the latest clothing line from Gucci materialize,” Zane says. Kai swears. “Also, that is called stealing.”

“You call it stealing, I call it a charitable donation,” Nya says. “I turned into the ocean for this city, the least they can do is cut me a check.”

“Besides, even if it is stealing, what are they gonna do, send us to jail again?” Jay scoffs.

Lloyd jabs the piece of chalk in his direction. “Don’t jinx us.”

“Too bad we wasted our chance at crime and didn’t even get rich,” Kai mutters. “All we got was Nya.”

He yelps as she punches him in the arm. “What, too soon?”

“You should be so lucky to have me,” she sniffs.

“Hey, but going on the donation thought train — do we know anyone who’s rich?” Jay asks. “Why don’t we have any rich friends?”

“Hey, you know what’s rich? That coming from the son of a billionaire.”

“Hey, you know what else got blown up? My inheritance!”

“Please, let it go,” Zane says. “We do have rich friends, I’ll remind you, we’re friends with actual monarchy. But we can’t exactly go and ask anyone else for money, since they all already helped out so much in getting the monastery rebuilt.”

There’s a moment of pensive silence. Lloyd draws a little sad face on the chalkboard next to ASK FOR DONATIONS.

“What if we just…sued Harumi,” Cole says. “Like, there’s gotta be some law that could work in our favor here.”

“I don’t think the court would go for that,” Lloyd mutters. “Since they’re all morally corrupt frauds who hate us.”

“Yeah! Down with the system!” Kai punches his fist in the air.

“Also, Harumi likely has very little in the way of money, either,” Zane says. “Considering she blew up any and all assets she might have had claim to.”

“Haha, what a loser,” Nya crows.

“What if we sued Garmadon?” Cole tries. “The courts have to hate him more than they hate us.”

Lloyd scowls, scrawling a large NO on the chalkboard. “Not worth the effort. Plus, I’m pretty sure he’s still couch-surfing at Vinny’s, which means also penniless.”

“We could sue Kalmaar,” Nya cracks her knuckles.

“Isn’t he dead?”

“Oh, yeah.” Nya looks disappointed.

“Did anyone survive that we can sue successfully?” Jay muses. “And actually get money out of?”

“Vangelis,” Cole snaps his fingers. “Wait. No, we ousted him from the throne, so he’s probably broke too.”

“Vangelis survived?”

As they dissolve into bickering over the status of enemies potentially living-or-dead, Kai squints at the chalkboard, where Lloyd is still scratching out letters despite having completely lost the room.

“We…are…fu—Lloyd!”

“Well it’s true,” Lloyd huffs, finishing off his message with a flourish. “Tada. There’s my grand plan.”

“That’s not a plan, it’s a pessimistic estimation at how things are gonna go.”

“It’s extremely rude language, is what it is! I thought we taught you better.”

Lloyd simply looks pleased with himself at having recaptured the room’s attention. It is, of course, then that Sensei Wu walks into that room. He stops, looking from where they’re all frozen in place, then to the chalkboard.

Lloyd pales.

Sensei Wu pinches the bridge of his nose between his fingers and closes his eyes.

“My dearest nephew, you have three seconds to make that disappear, or I’ll be forced to—”

Lloyd springs for the chalkboard in record time, wiping frantically at his writing with the sleeve of his gi.

“People would kill for that thing, and here he’s using it as a chalkboard eraser,” Jay mutters.

It isn’t until later, when they’ve all retreated to the collective mass of blow-up mattress and borrowed blankets they’re calling a bedroom, that anyone breaches the topic again.

There’s a loud rustling as Cole turns over where he’s precariously shoved between Kai and Zane.

“…can we sue the mayor?”

There’s a noted pause of silence, only broken by the whirring of the cheap oscillating fan.

“You know,” Zane says slowly. “In terms of slander and defamation…”

An evil, sharp-toothed smile spreads across Lloyd’s face. “I like the sound of that.”

“Hey, let’s sue the new ninja, too,” Jay grins. “Can Pixal retroactively trademark our vibe?”

“You cannot sue them based on vibe appropriation.”

“Yeah, but I can sue them for impersonation.”

---

They cannot, as it turns out, sue the mayor, because legal work like that costs even more money.

They can, however, ruin his year by filing (and forging) every possible insurance claim under the sun, so they all walk out of the office a little more satisfied than before.

“I hope all your socks go missing in the laundry!” Nya yells toward the building as they hit the streets. “I hope you have a rock stuck in your shoe for the rest of your life! I hope you’re plagued with a mildly inconvenient headache every waking moment and never fully enjoy anything ever again!”

“Alright, alright, we’re getting looks,” Cole grabs her arm. “Let it go.”

“As much as I appreciate it, I am not going back to jail,” Jay shudders. “Twice was enough.”

Kai frowns. “Twice? When else did you get arrested?”

“We all did, re—” Jay cuts off, suddenly aware of the absolute daggers Nya is staring at him. “Uhhh…aw, snap, another mental breakdown, haha!”

“Is this the whole ‘we all have missing memories you guys are definitely hiding from us’ thing again? ‘Cause I swear—”

“I said I’m getting to it, it’s a really boring story anyways—”

“Didn’t you say you lost an eye—”

“Oh look, a window!”

This time, Jay is thwarted by Lloyd, who’s simply jumped out enough windows to recognize when someone’s about to try it themselves. Except Jay is aiming to jump inside a window this time, so they both go crashing into Pixal just as she joins them.

To her credit, she barely flinches. “I thought I heard clown noises nearby.”

Lloyd stares at her in such utter betrayal, the mental breakdown thing might become valid.

“Pixal,” Jay simply begs. “Please. Help your clowns scavenge our clown dinners.”

Pixel surveys them all, a fond smile tugging at her lips. “There is a nice pizza place down the block.”

The cheers she’s met with nearly succeeded at knocking her over where Jay failed.

Dinner that night comprises of actual, warm, take-out pizza, which nearly moves Cole to tears.

“Definitely changing the priorities order,” Lloyd says blissfully through a mouthful of cheese. “Food goes at the top, no questions.”

“Seconded,” Kai mumbles.

“Thirded.”

“Fourthed.”

“I cannot believe, that after everything we’ve been through, we did not qualify for the post-apocalypse discount,” Zane bites out.

“Well,” Jay says brightly. “Pixal hacked the card reader, so technically we got a hundred percent discount.”

Zane stares at her, in equally utter betrayal. “Pixal?”

She shrugs. “They can try to send me to prison. They will fail.”

---

Two days later, Skylor cements herself as everybody’s most favorite person in the entire world by not only saving them from starvation by demanding they sit their butts down in the restaurant and eat for free, but also donating six pillows and a year’s worth of shampoo.

“I know it’s not a lot, but I’m on the lookout for more,” she tells them. “I’ve asked other people to help chip in, too, so hopefully that’ll make things a little easier.”

“Skylor,” Cole nearly sobs into his new, beautiful pillow. “If Kai doesn’t marry you, I will.”

“H-hey!”

“No marriage necessary,” she snorts. “Consider keeping you all fed my way of saying thanks.”

“But you already helped out with the monastery,” Nya says, around the same time the rest of them assure her there’s no need for thanks, despite the fact that no one has the slightest desire to relinquish their food.

“Fine, then,” Skyler huffs, her cheeks turning pink. “Make me say it out loud, will you — consider it my way of showing that I care about you all. Very much.”

“Aww,” Lloyd says.

Kai makes a face somewhere between melting and heart eyes.

“I hate all of you,” she mutters.

“We love you too, Skylor,” Cole grins.

“Hate you!”

Despite her words, they all leave with six boxes of leftovers and free dessert.

This, of course, brings another slightly-pressing issue to mind.

---

They end up getting a refrigerator for a steal of a bargain, which is probably again influenced by Pixal’s criminal extremely generous activity.

Given how enthusiastic they all are about getting it installed, Kai is half-expecting there to be no work left for him at all by the time he returns from the food run.

He’s…not entirely disappointed when he walks into the kitchen, though he is rather baffled.

The room freezes as if on record-scratch. Jay is perched on top of the counters, Lloyd has a sledgehammer raised halfway in the air, and Cole is on the ground beside the refrigerator crying.

“What?” Kai asks, blankly.

“The fridge…doesn’t fit…” Cole moans into the floor.

“We didn’t leave enough space between the cabinets,” Jay informs him through a mouthful of gummy worms. “So the door can’t open.”

Kai looks at Lloyd. “So the sledgehammer is for…?”

“DIY home improvement,” he shrugs.

“Huh.” Kai glances at the cabinets. “Put some safety goggles on first, okay?”

Lloyd only gets about two swings in before Zane descends with the all wrath of the Ice Emperor and adds to the tally of times-the- Green-Ninja-almost-met-his-doom, but it’s fun while it lasts.

They were ugly cabinets, anyways.

---

While his love for his family could potentially fuel a nuclear power plant, Kai does grow tired of being the living team space heater rather quickly.

The effort of keeping his power going all night just gets annoying (and exhausting) — so by the time he’s tagged in Lloyd to use his power to keep him going, they’re up to two moody ninja short on sleep, and no one wants to deal with that.

While they’ve scrounged up a few dollar-store quality blankets, Jay takes the opportunity to highlight his accomplishments in arts-and-crafts.

“You mean your mom’s accomplishments.”

“Hey, we made it together! It counts.”

The it in question quickly gains the name “god-awful-t-shirt-blanket” simply because the blinding combination of all their cast-off shirts sewn together is impressively terrible.

“I still think this is a waste of good clothes,” Kai grumbles. “It’s not like we have outfits to spare these days, you know.”

“Do you wanna keep heating the room at night or no?” Nya threatens.

Kai quickly shuts his mouth and returns to sewing Cole’s old plaid shirt to one of Jay’s neon blue shirts that features a dolphin printed in enough colors to kill a man.

“So, what do we think?” Lloyd steps back, wiping at his forehead with his arm as he surveys their masterpiece.

Staring at the multi-colored mess they’ve patched together into a quilt, Nya announces, “It’s the ugliest blanket I’ve ever seen.”

“Harsh.”

“Hey, we did our best!”

“See if I ever sew for you again,” Lloyd huffs.

“I didn’t say that was a bad thing,” Nya quickly interjects. “It looks a little like us!”

“Are you saying we’re ugly?!”

“Nya, no, our family genes are enough to carry us through this, I promise—”

---

They’re in the middle of figuring out how to steal Wi-Fi from the government when Tox drops by, Karloff in tow.

“You really…need…to get an elevator…or something,” she pants, red-faced and sweaty as she hauls several large bags behind her.

In contrast, Karloff looks unfazed, casually toting a hideously floral-patterned sofa over his shoulder.

“Skylor mentioned you need furniture, no?” he says. “It’s not much, but you need somewhere to sit.”

“Karloff,” Jay tells him, very seriously. “This is the most beautiful sofa I’ve ever seen.”

“Haha! Karloff is right once again,” he brags to Tox.

Tox stares at Jay in flabbergasted despair.

“You can’t put that in your home,” she mutters. “You can’t. It’s a crime against eyes everywhere.”

“Well, it’s better than no sofa, and we’re literally turning down nothing these days,” Nya says cheerfully. She leans over to peer at the bags Tox has managed to drag up. “Speaking of…?”

“Oh, yeah.” Tox heaves the bags in front of her. “Skylor said you guys needed help interior decorating? So I brought a couple rugs. She also mentioned something about the ugliest blanket she’s ever seen, so we called up some of the other Elemental Masters and got like, six or seven together. They’re not exactly works of art, but they’re okay?”

Kai tears open the first bag, his eyes lighting up. “They’re beautiful,” he whispers reverently. “Hey, guys, we got blankets! Dibs on the one with a wolf.”

“Oh, no, not that one, it’s from my awful middle school phase—”

“What do you mean, dibs, I want the wolf one!”

“Oh yeah? Down to fight for it?”

“You’re on. Training ground in five.”

“Absolutely not, we are not fighting over a blanket we’ve been so generously gifted,” Zane snaps, snagging Kai and Cole by their collars.

“Yeah, we also don’t really have a training ground anymore,” Lloyd says, half-buried in a blanket embroidered with countless bug-eyed fish. “It went ka-boom.”

Nya rubs her temples. “Zane?”

“Already factored into the expenses,” he sighs.

“Oh wow, you guys weren’t kidding,” Tox says. “Do you want, uh, like a keychain? I have some mints here too I can donate…man, Karloff, help me out!”

“Does the monastery need a metal helmet?”

“We’re really not that broke,” Nya says hastily, pushing away the offered mints. “But thanks.”

“Speak for yourself.” Lloyd snags the mints, clasping his hands together in prayer at Tox before slipping back into the emerging blanket battle.

Nya sighs. “Do you guys want tea? We’ve got three whole mugs, now.”

Tox glances from the other ninja, where Jay has been successfully rolled into a blanket burrito and is in potential danger of being rolled right down the mountain, to Karloff, who’s the reason said danger is potential.

“We can spare a minute, I guess.”

The t-shirt blanket is later relegated to the living room, where it lives as a throw blanket over Karloff’s floral sofa. They unanimously decide it’s the perfect home for it, and the only real critic is Skylor, who’s almost reduced to tears the next time she visits.

---

They celebrate their achievement of having a living room by all eating dinner on Karloff’s floral-patterned couch. This comes with a good deal of kicking and squirming and the tragic loss of Kai’s fortune cookie, but they make it work.

“This is kind of depressing, though. Sitting in the dark,” Nya remarks.

A muscle in Jay’s jaw twitches. “Well, maybe if someone hadn’t melted all our candles—”

“You were the one who had the brilliant idea of trying to barbecue with them, genius!” Kai snaps.

“It was a pretty spectacular fire,” Lloyd admits. Then, hastily, “In a really cool way!”

“Perhaps a lamp should go next on the list,” Zane says. “Rather than relying on Kai as our light.”

“Hey, I’m a great light,” Kai scowls. “I’m the light of your life. I could light this place up all day!”

“Yes, and I’m sure it would end similarly to the time you nearly burned down a building under the belief that you were achieving your true potential, but were, in fact, just dehydrated.”

Kai gapes at Zane in betrayal. “You said you’d take that to the grave!”

Zane carefully laces his fingers together. “Technically, I did.”

“No you didn’t!” Jay interjects. “We never buried you, so you never had a grave! Ha!”

Zane looks affronted. “I didn’t get a grave?”

“You got a statue!” Kai quickly consoles .

“Yeah, what’d you want us to do, pick your exploded pieces out of the street for half a year then toss ‘em in the ground?”

“Oh, as if that’s any worse than being left to pour your corpse out in cups of water.”

“It wasn’t my corpse, I was still alive!”

“You were the literal ocean. Fish swam in you.”

“Ew, does that mean—”

“Finish that sentence and I will drown you where you stand—”

“You’re all in desperate need of counseling,” Pixal mutters.

“Tell me about it,” Lloyd says, leaning back on the armrest of the sofa.

Cole shakes his head. “Lost causes, all of them.”

Pixal stares at them both, expression pinched, before deciding to respect the hopelessness of lost causes.

“Hold on, I think Kai’s crying,” Lloyd moves to sit up, only to wobble, slip sideways, and go crashing to the floor gracelessly.

“Just like when I fell to my doom off the Bounty,” Cole reminisces.

Pixal’s eyes glaze over.

---

Later that evening, Pixal adds “therapy” to the list of potential expenses on the fridge door. Regretfully, it loses miserably in the debate against hot shower expenses, so it too joins the pile of repressed memories that will undoubtedly haunt them in the future.

“But hey, a hot shower can cure depression on a good day,” Cole says, and that settles that.

---

Hot showers, as it turns out, are a hard-won priority.

It’s less so after Jay, Nya, and Pixal camp out overnight near the pipeline and perform their own less-than-legal maintenance, but one of Zane’s carefully filed insurance claims actually went through the other day, so they’re taking their luck as they can.

It’s not until they get working on the bathroom itself that the true difficulty makes itself clear.

“Hey, uh,” Kai stares down at the patch of rotted floor he’s ripped up, wiping at the fog that’s spread across his safety goggles. “Is the base layer supposed to look like that?”

“Look like what?” Cole abandons the tiling he’s been placing to glance over. His face drops. “Uh-oh.”

“Is that all black mold?” Nya gags, nearly dropping her bottle of cleaning bleach.

“FSM, no wonder we’re all crazy,” Cole mutters.

“Alright,” Kai strips off his rubber gloves. “Nothing for it. Back up, guys, I’m barbecuing this baby.”

“Wait wait wait don’t—”

Ten minutes and a good deal of hacking and wheezing through teary eyes later, Cole murders Kai while they all look on.

Well, he attempts to.

“You filled the monastery with chlorine gas, you absolute moron—!”

“How was I supposed to know that would happen, I’m not a chemist—”

Nya glares ahead darkly as Lloyd gingerly treats the reddened blisters on her hands.

“None of you,” Zane says, through gritted teeth. “Are touching cleaning chemicals for a year.”

---

“Not sure I wanna know how you pulled off poisoning yourselves, but I’m kinda impressed you did a better job of it than most criminals would,” Ronin tells them, once the monastery has been successfully de-chlorinated and the bathroom tiles firmly put in place, sans black mold.

“Maybe we can hire ourselves out to them when we’re strapped for cash,” Nya sighs.

“We’re literally always strapped for cash. We’re broke.”

Ronin laughs, clapping Jay on the back. “Welcome to adulthood, kid.”

“I don’t think normal adulthood gets their home blown up on a regular basis,” Lloyd hisses.

“Fair point,” Ronin nods.

“Well, thanks for saving us all from a slow and painful death,” Cole scrubs his hands over his face. “We can pay you back sometime in the next century. Maybe.”

“Ah, don’t worry about it,” Ronin waves them off. “It’d be like kicking a dog when it’s down, askin’ you all to pay. Besides, I probably owe you one.”

“You sure do,” Jay glares.

“Hey, hey, I said I was sorry for the whole human sacrifice thing,” Ronin placates. “Want some good news, at least?”

“Is it actually good news?” Lloyd eyes him shrewdly.

“Lighten up, captain trust issues.” Kai barely snags Lloyd before he lands himself back in jail. “I looked into some more of those insurance claims you filed, and you actually got somethin’ out of it. I, uh, helped the bank along a bit, with the refund.”

“Bank?” Cole whispers.

“Refund?” Jay’s eyes shine.

“Yeah, got you all your checks right here,” Ronin says, tugging six neat envelopes from his jacket. “Just don’t blow ‘em all at once, okay? Haha.”

Zane looks as if he might propose to him on the spot.

“Hey, this isn’t too bad!” Kai exclaims. “We got money!”

“Guys,” Lloyd says, staring at his check. “You know we should probably pool all this together and spend it on necessities, right?”

“Yeah,” Cole sighs.

“It would be the smartest course of action,” Zane adds.

There’s a noted silence.

“Or,” Lloyd says.

---

In their defense, they spend exactly two-thirds of their checks on household items.

Whether or not these are needed household items remains a debate.

“If we’re all buying lamps for the living room, can we at least attempt to match?” Zane sighs.

“Booo, where’s your joy and whimsy?” Jay sticks out his tongue.

“That isn’t even a lamp, it’s a light-up axolotl.”

“The heck’s an axo-lot—”

“It lights up, doesn’t it? Ergo, it’s a lamp.”

“Ergo, what are you, Sensei Wu—”

“We’re never having guests over again,” Cole remarks, as Lloyd and Nya maneuver a five-foot-tall rendition of Godzilla into the shopping cart that may or may not light up.

“The monastery’s gonna look rad as heck, we’re forcing everyone to come over and look at it,” Kai corrects as he tosses a set of flame-patterned curtains into the mess.

“Absolutely not.”

“I actually might like them,” Zane muses. “They would capture the energy of our kitchen perfectly.”

Kai beams. “Flame curtains are a go!”

In the aftermath, they total around six individual blankets, five mismatching lamps and one light-up axolotl, a table that no one knows how to put together, one set of flame-patterned curtains, another hideous couch, and enough cutlery and kitchenware that no one has to eat out of Sensei Wu’s incense bowls anymore.

“Alright,” Lloyd says. “We’ve got three hours until the stores start closing. Everyone take the rest of your checks, don’t think about how much of a disaster the monastery still is, and start thinking about how valid retail therapy is.”

“Aye-aye,” Kai salutes, before immediately booking it for the clothing outlets.

---

Three hours later, Kai’s happily blown his entire check on a new wardrobe and exactly one pair of name-brand brand shoes. He’s unreasonably proud of himself for his restraint, until he catches Cole with three pairs of his own name-brand shoes, and immediately regrets being responsible.

He spots Jay going off in the N-Pop section of a music store, Nya investing in a sinfully-priced espresso machine, and Zane walking toward the clothing outlets himself with a high-quality pair of noise-cancelling headphones.

He doesn’t find Lloyd until well after he’s picked up his own clothes, already sporting an oversized hoodie he could’ve just stolen from Kai.

He’s more concerned when Lloyd proceeds to blow the last of his check at the sporting goods section of the local convenience store. Considering how long Lloyd spent looking wistfully at the candy aisle, Kai is baffled by the decision.

He’s even more baffled when Lloyd proceeds to box up his purchase for delivery instead of keeping it himself.

He’s utterly horrified when he sees who it’s addressed to.

“Are you serious?!” he asks shrilly, torn between ripping the box from Lloyd’s hands or immediately calling the mental health hotline. “You’re sending her gifts?”

“It’s not a gift, it’s — look, it’s a long story, you wouldn’t get it,” Lloyd grumbles, plastering another layer of duct tape over the box. “Just help me deliver it to Kryptarium and I’ll show you, okay?”

Kai very much does not help, because he’s not an enabler and he cares about his brother’s mental health, but he does follow Lloyd to Kryptarium Prison and lurk behind him as he eagerly watches the surveillance screens.

Harumi stares at the box before her, looking every bit as baffled as Kai is.

“Who would send me a volleyball—”

She freezes, her face going utterly blank. A muscle in her jaw twitches.

There’s a brief flash of what could be amusement, a brief expression as if she’s eaten something sour, then a fury like no other eclipses her face.

“LLOYD! I’LL KILL YOU MYSELF, YOU THINK YOU’RE HILARIOUS—”

Lloyd’s still laughing by the time they’re escorted from the premises, hard enough that Kai has to catch him when he trips at the top of the steps.

“What’d you even write on the note?” Kai finally asks, a bit in awe.

Lloyd grins. “I told her good luck getting together her villainous volleyball team in jail.”

Kai blinks. “Do I…want to know?”

“Nope!” Lloyd says airily. “But I’ve made my point.”

---

Regardless of some behaviors, the mental health hotline remains a constant idea. It simply happens to come up at inconvenient times, such as when Cole drops a dresser on his foot halfway across the courtyard.

He swears so loudly the whole monastery echoes with it.

“Oh geez, Cole, are you okay? Why’d you lift the whole thing on your own?”

“We could have helped,” Zane rushes over. “You don’t have to do it all yourself—”

“Yes I do!” Cole yells. “I’m stronger than that, I’m supposed to be stronger, I have to be stronger or you’re all going to die next time—”

He cuts off abruptly. Zane looks heartbroken. Jay—

Is suddenly busy smacking Cole upside the head.

“No, you don’t!” he snaps back, even louder. “You don’t have to do it by yourself! None of you do! Every time anyone tries to do something by themselves it all goes wrong and we lose someone, so we’re never — doing that — again!”

He seizes Cole around the arms, his wild eyes meeting Cole’s wide ones. “No one blames you for the stupid tunnel. I don’t care how strong you are. We’re all here and that’s what matters, so don’t you dare put that at risk.”

“But I—”

“No.”

“Jay, I—”

“No.”

“I—”

“No!” A manic expression overtakes Jay’s face. “No, no, no! No one’s taking the blame. No one’s isolating themselves. No. One. Is. Going. Off. Alone. You hear me?!”

The others are frozen, halfway outstretched hands caught as if suspended in ice. Kai’s expression is twisted painfully. Lloyd’s eyes are on the ground. Zane is as frozen as the metaphorical ice, and Nya looks devastated.

“No more being alone,” Jay says, the fire in his voice giving way to something wetter and considerably more sniffly. “No more. Don’t — you can’t—”

“Okay,” Cole whispers. He carefully takes Jay’s hands from his shoulders, grasping them in his own instead. “Okay. No more going at it alone. I promise.”

The monastery courtyard seems a little colder, in the silence.

“Anyone feel like circling back to the whole ‘suing Harumi’ idea?” Kai finally speaks up.

Jay gives a wet snort.

“Well, we’re probably gonna need to afford tissues,” Lloyd says. His own voice isn’t exactly dry, either.

---

The downside to sticking therapy smack at the bottom of their priorities is that they all really are, in fact, not okay.

Most of the time, they manage.

There’s a solace in being together, a comfort in having the people you trust and care for most in the world right next to you when the nightmares get bad. When Jay awakens screaming for Nya or clutching at his throat for air, Nya is already holding his hand and Cole’s holding the rest of him.

When Zane lapses into silence too long, emotions a roiling mess that leave him paralyzed, Kai is there with one-two-three’s for breathing and Lloyd is there to draw little cats with him until the world subsides again.

When Cole’s eyes shadow in training and his hits grow wild, Zane is there to pin him before he bloodies his hands and Jay is there to sing horrible off-key songs he loves until the panic ebbs.

When Nya stares at the water too-long, her eyes misty and her expression dreamy, Jay is there to hold her tight and Kai is there to talk until his voice goes hoarse and hers returns.

There are other times, though, when it’s harder.

It hits Kai this time about halfway through painting the walls of the kitchen a cheerful yellow, said paint splattered up to his elbows, courtesy of Lloyd. He glances down — to joke, to laugh, to not think—

And pauses. With the headband he’s stolen from Pixal in place, pushing back the mass of thick blond hair, Kai can just see the purple-red edges of the swollen, irritated wounds that scar Lloyd’s scalp. The twin marks are a better sight than when Kai first glimpsed them, bleeding circles that looked as if someone had drilled into Lloyd’s skull — but not by much.

“S’fine,” Lloyd mutters, catching Kai’s devastated expression. “I can’t even feel ‘em. Not really.”

“Liar,” Kai rasps. “They look awful.”

Lloyd makes a face. “Gee, thanks a lot.”

“I mean it. What if they get infected, or worse, or — have you had Sensei look at them?”

Lloyd wraps his arms around himself, avoiding Kai’s eyes. “No. I didn’t really…I did what he asked. What they both did. And then screwed the whole thing up, so it was all useless anyways, so I—”

He bites his lip, hard enough to crack the already dry skin.

“I don’t really wanna hear anyone telling me what else I’m doing wrong with myself, right now.”

Kai is angry enough to feel sick.

“That’s stupid. That’s so stupid, he should — it shouldn’t be like that, it’s — why didn’t anyone—” he shakes his head. “Why doesn’t anyone ever ask us if we wanna be — if we wanna—”

Lloyd’s hand closes around his wrist, gently tugging Kai’s own hand from where it’s clawed unconsciously at his arm, leaving ugly red stripes against his skin.

“You asked,” he says, quietly. “That meant a lot.”

Kai looks away. “Lot of good it did.”

Lloyd’s grip tightens. “It meant the world to me,” he repeats, stronger this time.

“But I couldn’t—!”

Lloyd abandons his hold on his wrist to wrap his arms around Kai entirely, holding tight. Bony and strong and familiar, Kai’s little brother to the core.

“Thank you,” he says, fervently enough that Kai can feel the ache in his voice. “Thank you for looking out for me.”

Kai’s voice is a miserable mess of fought-back tears. “I couldn’t even do anything.”

“You asked me what I wanted,” Lloyd says once again, and Kai can hear the edge of tears threatening his voice, now. “That was everything.”

Giving in, Kai drops his head into the mess of blond curls and hugs Lloyd back. Lloyd’s hair smells like blood and paint and steel and the strawberry shampoo Skylor gave them, and now it’s gonna smell like Kai’s stupid snot and tears.

“Hey, having another hug party without me is lame.”

Kai gives a wet, broken response as Nya throws her arms around them both.

“Idiots,” she murmurs, resting her head atop theirs. “I love you both, you know that?”

“Ew, gross,” Lloyd snorts wetly. “Hey Kai, Nya loves us.”

“Little jerk, who you callin’ gross? And here I thought you loved us too.”

“Well obviously I love you guys back, who’s the idiot now—”

Kai simply clutches them both and cries harder, as if holding onto them will stop himself from falling apart.

It works, in the ways that matter, though it’s always because they’re holding back even tighter.

Later that evening, Zane bathes Lloyd’s head in antiseptic and Jay forces them all to sit through the PowerPoint presentation he’s made with Nya titled “Every Super Cool Totally Good Character with Horns Ranked”. He loses them the minute he brings anime characters into it, as everyone suddenly develops incredibly passionate opinions about the rankees, but Lloyd’s laughing too hard to have his own opinion and Kai doesn’t feel like he’s drowning under inadequacy anymore — just choking to death under the weight of Jay’s elbow for daring to insult Re:Zero as an anime “since it actually has Oni in it, idiot, your opinion is trash—”

They get things back to being okay, one way or another.

---

Somewhere in the third month of renovations, they finally scrounge up six whole beds. It takes a good deal of dragging and cursing, but they finally manage to move into their own rooms, the once-empty spaces looking a little less lonely.

“Now we don’t have to all sleep together in the same room anymore,” Jay announces. There’s no small amount of celebration at that.

The celebration lasts up until sometime around three in the morning, at which point the consistent nightmares land them all right back in the pile of communal air mattresses.

“Just for like, one more night,” Kai yawns, as Lloyd curls closer beneath his arm.

“Totally, yeah,” Nya echoes, one leg spread across Jay, her arm sprawled over Kai.

“Go to sleep already, FSM’ sake,” Cole begs, before slumping over Zane.

For all Cole’s begging, he’s still the first to act when Zane suddenly lurches up from the bed, gasping for air like he’s drowning and giving them all joint heart attacks.

“—hey, hey, it’s okay, it’s just us—”

Cole’s hands hover, non-threatening, as Zane buries his face in his palms, breathing ragged. The others have begun to get up now as well, the slow kind of approach that lets Zane know exactly where each of them are.

“I despise this,” Zane spits, as his hand drags down to fist over his chest. “I hate feeling like this. I hate it, I hate it, I hate it—”

“I know,” Cole says. “I know.”

“This is why — it’s so much easier—“

“It’s okay, it’s—”

“It is not! I do not need to breathe, and yet I can’t!” Zane bursts out, frustrated and frightened. “I’m not supposed to break down like this, I do not, I do not—”

“You’re not a machine,” Cole says steadily. “You get to break down.”

“But if I—”

“You don’t,” Lloyd murmurs. “You don’t have to turn ‘em off, Zane. You’re one of the strongest people I know.”

Zane’s head lowers, his eyes shadowed. “It wouldn’t hurt,” he says, but it’s reluctant.

“Yeah, you’d never hurt, but you’d never be happy, either,” Kai says. “And that’d suck.”

“It’d suck for us, too,” Cole speaks up. “We’d have to live without your laugh. Without your sassy remarks. Without your kindness.”

“We’d live without you,” Lloyd says, quietly. “And you wouldn’t really be living, would you?”

Zane crumples, his shoulders shaking as he allows Kai to pull him close.

“If it gets too much, just come to us,” Jay says. “We’ll be more, okay? We’re pretty good at that.”

Zane gives a wet, stifled laugh.

“Don’t go, even if it’s just your emotions leaving,” Nya murmurs, her head against his. “It isn’t worth it.”

With slowing shudders, Zane lets himself relax, the warmth of their little family pressing around him. Kai is an immovable barrier at his side, save for where Lloyd’s tucked beneath his arm. Jay’s legs tangle with Lloyd and Cole’s, his hand held tightly in Nya’s.

“Leaving isn’t worth it,” Nya echoes. “Not in any lifetime.”

---

Bit by bit, the monastery comes together.

The smell of new paint gives way to a familiar scent of mixing elements and laundry soap, one that’s followed them since the first Bounty. They comb through every online shop until they find the exact brand of sheets that feel like the first apartment they ever lived in together. Thrift shops and sales and birthdays stock closets once again, new hoodies that are quickly stolen and passed back and forth. The collection of CD’s and movies rebuilds into stacks once again through shared movie nights and pirated music.

And little by little, with the consistent passage of time, photographs line the walls of the monastery once again.

A little older, a little worn, but a collection of family all the same.

---

“Except we still don’t have damn central heating—”

“Suck it up and light the fireplace, hothead.”

“No respect in this city. None at all.”

#lego ninjago #ninjago #post-crystalized #my fanfic #had to post one (1) at least #tbh this is terrifying! i forgot how to write #my fic

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hometoursandotherstuff · 11 months

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WTH House has been removed from the market. Built in 1932 in Westmont, Illinois, it's been renovated, but whoever did the reno must've been on shrooms at the time. 4bds, 4ba, and they're asking $849,900, which is probably why it's been taken off the market, b/c no one would pay that much for it, and it can't possibly pass a home inspection. Take a look.

Weird entrance. I don't even know if the door clears that first step, but there's this ersatz elevated platform w/a small door and angled stairs so you can display a lovely collection of large vases. (Also note the off-center pot light shining brightly.) That abstract painting is a prophesy of things to come.

The platform continues on around to the side entrance. Why do they need that thing at all? Unusual features: Light fixtures under the window sills and another one under the stair railing.

I don't know if this is the family room or main living room, but it's normal.

Observe the obstacles in the hall to get to the kitchen steps. The frame around the windows doesn't look right.

You can see it better from here. They made an elaborate kitchen entrance, there's some room off the stairs, maybe a toilet, and the fridge is too close to the edge.

Double doors in the dining area open to a bedroom.

Floor tile on the bathroom walls.

By the wild wood grain on the door to the primary suite, it looks like they used plywood to make the doors. There's a simple homemade kitchenette behind the door.

PeeWee's Playhouse doorway to the en-suite shows the shower in full view. (Nope.)

The mirror continues the theme of the ceiling angles and there's a long window seat.

Okay, this deck off the primary bedroom is nice.

This is another large bedroom.

These angle-lovin' folks must've had all the mirrors cut to order.

A monolithic column with niches stands in the middle of this bedroom.

The best part is the basement, though, where there's a castle-like feel. Love the walls and the fireplace. I must say that the mason they hired was superior to the carpenter.

This bath is nice and carries through with the castle theme.

The levels and angles continue on the exterior of the home.

Nice big yard. The house is on a .49 acre lot.

#WTH House #odd architecture #houses #house tours #home tour

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littlelostmabari · 2 months

Text

The Wrath of Talos

Happy birthday, BG3! I didn't have anything prepared so I decided to offer a snippet of what could be for Irradessa and Gale after A Touch of Darkness... but it's reader-insert today because that's the vibe I had going.

For the beautiful and wonderful @alpydk, @miradelletarot, @sorceresssundries, @the-real-housewives-of-waterdeep, @gale-force-storm

(continuing the list bc Tumblr is being silly) @mumms-the-word, @weaveandwood

(divider here)

Pairing: Gale x gn!Reader [SFW, angst, hurt/comfort] CW: violent storm imagery, nightmares, PTSD, anxiety/panic Word count: 1.4k

You are a chosen of Talos, and you know that storms are not meant to be enjoyed — only feared. Gale promised to be home before the storm reached the tower, but he's not here and you're forced to prepare for Talos' wrath yourself.

The thunder rolled in with the tide.

It was the storm of the age, if the newsies at the corner in the market could be believed. Anyone with windows facing the water was buying up plywood or protective charms, often both, and storing enough food to get through the next ten-day in case the diviners at Blackstaff were wrong about how terrible the storm would be.

If you were less occupied, you might wonder what the Blackstaff wizards were even doing to let such a storm strike the City of Splendors.

Instead, you were mirroring the terrified preppers and pulling everything you needed for a ten-day into a central room of the tower — one with windows that were only enchanted to reflect the outside weather instead of reaching the outside air. Water. Rations. You'd dragged a pair of spare bedrolls down onto the floor as well, since there was no way you would be able to heft the down mattress through the winding stairways. Sheets, though; those were perfect for covering the windows. Even enchanted, you doubted they were safe from His gaze. Tara found you with a medicine kit under one arm and a supply of canned fish under the other, just as the first rains began to fall.

"What in the heavens are you doing, my dear?" she squawked as you passed her by. Her tail poofed up, and she had to jump up to the staircase railing and flap her wings in indignation just to make room for you to pass.

"Storm," you said hastily, throwing the supplies into the room and then holding the door open for her. "Are you in or out? I'm closing up."

"You needn't worry about the weather, dear, the tower is enchanted six ways to Tenthday. There shan't be any —"

You slam the door behind you and lock it and slide a chair into place beneath the knob. It doesn't matter how many charms Gale has put upon the bricks of this tower, nor whether or not the room you were sitting in was in fact in the Prime Material Plane. You knew better. If He willed it, Talos would have His due.

Storms were never something to be enjoyed, they were only ever something to hide from. Lightning was a weapon, thunder the rolling hooves of steeds approaching with armaments. Sleet and rain was meant to limit vision, clouds meant to prevent sun- and moon-lit protection. You'd served the Lord of Storms for long enough to know that not even his faithful were safe when his ire was raised.

You double check the ties on the windows, fluff up a pair of pillows, and settle in to wait with the sending stone clutched between hands, knuckles white with fear.

----------

He had promised to be home before the storm hit, and the rain on his face and hood is a pounding reminder that he had broken that promise. It was the night after the rains began, and he worries what he would find at home. He bounces between the balls of his feet which squish in the traveling boots not meant for the flash flood he had just waded through. One more thing. It was always one more thing.

A password is uttered too loudly so to be heard over the roar of thunder. A flash of an uneasy smile. An exchange of coin. A waxed bag to hold the raging waters back from pages that would undoubtedly crumble at the first sign of liquid. He had it.

He had to get home.

Gale turns his face up to the clouds above, brown eyes lit up under the heavy gray hood with a burst of lightning from not but a hundred yards away. He clutches the waxed leather bundle tightly to his chest and reaches out a hand. The Weave is only a breath away.

He says your name, takes a deep breath, and teleports home.

----------

Your nightmare is one you have had before. For as many times as you have been here, the landscape is still unfamiliar. Sand-like granules fall underneath your feet as you trudge through a cemetery of upturned obsidian shards. They vary from inches to hundreds of feet tall, and you can only see them with flashes of lightning that strike the tips of them irregularly.

The taste of ozone on your tongue means one thing, and you dive into the sands just in time for a bolt of electricity to instead strike the obsidian shard next to you. It alights with Weave and you glance up to see yourself — prone and pathetic — staring back at you with eyes full of the same lightning that threatens to strike you down. Your reflection stands easily and tilts its head, grinning as they snap a hand to the side and wrangle the next lightning bolt into a spear of sparking blue.

Then the sight is gone and you're left staring into the black glass at your regular reflection, still on the ground and covered in black and brown sand. With the next strike of lightning comes rain, and the sound of someone screaming. Another, and the scream turns into your name, and you find yourself turning towards the sound because that sound means safety and comfort and another thunderous boom, this time without lightning, and the sand reaches up your legs and begins pawing at your waist and shoulders and hands and face and you can't breathe and

Your eyes fly open into darkness, the lights of the room snuffed out by the magic swirling in the air from your connection to Talos. The chair under the door handle has flown across the room, the doors themselves blown off their hinges and now open to the tower. You try to move to remedy, to protect your safe space, your sanctum, but the blankets and bedroll won't let you up. You scramble against them, and they call for you to stay, to calm, to be safe, you're safe, you're safe, my love you are safe!

You recognize that voice. Your eyes drift back to coffee hair and chocolate eyes and olive skin and your face is wet and he is soaked and everything around you is spinning and your forehead finds his shoulder and you crawl as far into him as you can and you weep.

----------

An eternity later, you let go of Gale only long enough for him to shrug off his traveling gear and prestidigitate the moisture from the rest of his clothing. You don't mind that he still smells of his travel. He is home.

Your home is home.

"I am so sorry, my love," he murmurs into your ear as he wraps arms around you once more. He has moved you over to one wall away from the doors or windows, so that he can lean back and hold you across his lap. Your tuck your face into the side of his neck and stifle the next sob. "To say I was delayed is an understatement and ignores the very reality that I promised I would be at your side when the storm front reached the tower. You should never have needed" — you feel him intake a quick breath as if he his holding his own tears back — "I am so terribly sorry that I was not here to protect you from this."

He rocks you in his arms, back with the inhale and forward with the exhale and presses kisses against your forehead and your hairline. He continues his murmurings of how brave you have been and how awful that nightmare seemed and oh how safe you are tucked away in this tower where, with a wave of his hand, the now-unadorned windows show a moonlit night over a field of white flowers blowing in an unseen breeze. You don't see the doors repair and close by themselves, nor a fluffy tail and feathered wings disappearing as they do so, her contribution to your state of mind complete. In here, the winds cannot be heard, the thunder cannot be felt, the lightning cannot flash across your skin. There is only the smell of petrichor and beard oil, the flavor of rosewater Weave, and the arms of your beloved surrounding you.

#happy birthday bg3 #bg3 anniversary #bg3 #bg3 gale #gale x gn!reader #gale x reader #gale angst #angst #hurt/comfort

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iminthetunnels · 1 year

Note

Were you always healthy? When did you start the herbal/holistic lifestyle?

oh girl.

i was raised on government cheese and 50¢ party pizzas with ramen (eating it both dry and made). and i lived in government housing with plywood floors and ramped mold. my mom also smoked around us constantly. we were not raised healthy and sick very often. when i was 9, i developed an eating disorder where i got really paranoid about food. i wouldn’t eat food wrapped in plastic. i started to have thoughts like “how can this food be shipped to so many people and it still be safe” if that makes sense???? i would have thoughts like “there’s definitely something wrong with the food” LMFAOOOO

when i was 15, i got my first phone, and i began researching the veganism diet hardcore, that’s when i became a vegan and from there my nutritional intrigue started. i started researching ingredients i didn’t understand. around this time i started doing other things (LOL its traumatizing, so i’m gunna omit that part)

basically, i got into wellness/health/and ayurveda at 15, lots of stuff happened from 15-22 and when i became healthy again, (around 2017) i started my job at this farmers market that has a holistic section. it furthered my education and my knowledge being in this position. i basically researched and learned about herbs all day long, and when id go home i’d further my education on my own time. my manager paid for my nutritional school. so in 2017 is when i really started to expand my holistic knowledge. i’ve learned so much and am always learning. it feels like it’s always been around me, despite never being raised that way and coming from something the complete opposite. it’s why i say a lot of the times, it feels divine and spiritual in a sense.

i’ve also worked at an apothecary where we made our own mushroom tinctures, fire ciders, tonics, kombucha, and kefir.

if u know me, u know that nothing else rly makes sense to me. i don’t understand much, if i’m being real.. but herbs, nutrition, and health make a lot of sense to me. i’m always learning and always growing.

this is so long, but a REALLY GOOD QUESTION THANK U FOR ASKING!!! u can always start somewhere, the information is kinda hard to find nowadays, google is really trash. i use duckduckgo (a lil better than google)

it’s really interesting becauseeeeeeee, my little sister whose 15 (about to be 16 so soon 🫣) she called me not too long ago and said some of the same things when i was 15 about nutrition and wanting to get better aquatinted with herbalism and nutrition. really surprised me!! must run in the family LOL.

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jsplywood · 22 hours

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tmr-blogs2 · 2 days

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Sustainable Construction: How the Particle Board Market is Evolving in 2024-2034

Particle board, also known as chipboard, is an engineered wood product made from wood chips, sawdust, and resin. It has become a cost-effective alternative to solid wood and plywood, used extensively in the construction, furniture, and packaging industries. The global particle board market is expected to see considerable growth from 2024 to 2034, driven by increasing urbanization, rising demand for affordable furniture, and a growing focus on sustainable building materials.

The global particle board industry, valued at US$ 25.1 billion in 2023, is projected to grow at a CAGR of 5.6% from 2024 to 2034, reaching US$ 45.3 billion by the end of 2034. Factors such as the expansion of the construction sector in emerging economies, the increasing demand for eco-friendly products, and innovations in particle board manufacturing technologies are contributing to this growth.

For More Details, Request for a Sample of this Research Report: https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/particle-board-market.html

Market Segmentation

The particle board market is segmented based on various parameters:

By Service Type:

Raw particle boards: Used for structural purposes in construction and furniture.

Laminated particle boards: Used for aesthetic purposes in interior decoration and cabinetry.

Melamine-coated particle boards: Used for surfaces requiring water resistance, primarily in kitchens and bathrooms.

By Sourcing Type:

Softwood-based particle boards: Primarily used in construction and insulation due to durability.

Hardwood-based particle boards: Preferred for furniture making and decorative items for finer finishes.

By Application:

Furniture: The largest application segment, driven by the demand for cost-effective materials in household and office furniture.

Construction: Used in flooring, wall panels, and insulation.

Packaging: Gaining popularity as a sustainable material for packaging.

Others: Applications in exhibitions, partitions, and shelving units.

By Industry Vertical:

Residential Construction: High demand due to urbanization and affordable housing.

Commercial Construction: Used extensively in office spaces, hotels, and retail outlets.

Furniture Manufacturing: Essential for producing mass-market furniture.

Packaging Industry: Growing demand for eco-friendly packaging solutions.

By Region:

North America

Europe

Asia-Pacific

Latin America

Middle East & Africa

Regional Analysis

North America

The particle board market in North America is driven by increasing demand in the residential and commercial construction sectors. Sustainable building practices and a growing preference for eco-friendly materials are key drivers in the region, with the United States and Canada being major markets.

Europe

Europe holds a significant share of the global particle board market, particularly in the furniture manufacturing industry. Countries like Germany, Italy, and Poland are leaders in particle board production. The European Union's emphasis on sustainability and circular economy principles further boosts the demand for particle boards.

Asia-Pacific

Asia-Pacific is the fastest-growing market for particle boards, with China and India leading the way. Rapid urbanization, a booming construction industry, and increasing consumer demand for affordable furniture are key growth drivers. The region’s strong industrial base in wood-based manufacturing supports particle board production.

Latin America

In Latin America, countries like Brazil and Mexico are witnessing growth in the particle board market due to increasing construction activities and growing demand for budget-friendly housing materials.

Middle East & Africa

The particle board market in the Middle East & Africa is relatively nascent but growing due to increased investments in infrastructure and construction projects.

Market Drivers and Challenges

Drivers

Cost-effectiveness: Particle boards are cheaper compared to solid wood and plywood, making them a popular choice in construction and furniture production.

Sustainability: As a product made from wood waste, particle boards align with the growing global focus on sustainability and reducing deforestation.

Urbanization and Infrastructure Development: Increasing construction activities, especially in emerging economies, are driving demand for particle boards.

Furniture Demand: The growing trend of affordable, ready-to-assemble (RTA) furniture has expanded the market for particle boards, especially in the residential and commercial sectors.

Challenges

Durability Issues: Particle boards are less durable compared to plywood and MDF, limiting their use in high-load applications.

Moisture Sensitivity: Particle boards are prone to damage when exposed to moisture, requiring additional treatments and coatings for certain applications.

Environmental Concerns: The use of synthetic resins, often containing formaldehyde, in particle board production has raised health and environmental concerns.

Market Trends

Sustainable Materials: The shift toward environmentally friendly building materials is pushing manufacturers to develop particle boards with minimal environmental impact, using bio-based resins and recycled wood materials.

Technological Advancements: Innovations in resin technology and production processes are enhancing the strength, water resistance, and overall performance of particle boards.

Rising Popularity of RTA Furniture: Ready-to-assemble furniture, particularly in the e-commerce sector, is boosting demand for particle boards, which are a key material in such products.

Future Outlook

The global particle board market is expected to continue its upward trajectory through 2034, with substantial growth opportunities in emerging markets. Increasing environmental awareness, combined with technological innovations in particle board production, will create a favourable market landscape. Additionally, advancements in coatings and laminates will enhance particle board durability, expanding its use in diverse applications.

Key Market Study Points

Market Size and Forecast: Evaluation of market value from 2024 to 2034.

Key Market Drivers: Identification of factors driving growth, including cost-effectiveness and sustainability.

Challenges: Analysis of issues like durability and moisture resistance.

Technological Innovations: Overview of advancements in resin and production processes.

Regional Insights: A detailed analysis of regional markets with growth potential in Asia-Pacific and North America.

Competitive Landscape: Insight into the leading market players and their strategies.

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Competitive Landscape

Major players in the global particle board market include:

Kronospan: A leading manufacturer with a strong global presence.

Egger Group: Known for innovations in wood-based products, including particle boards.

Norbord Inc.: Specializes in engineered wood products, including particle boards.

Weyerhaeuser Company: One of the largest producers of wood-based products, focusing on sustainability.

These companies are focusing on product innovation, expanding production capacities, and enhancing sustainability initiatives to maintain their market positions.

Recent Developments

Sustainability Initiatives: Several manufacturers are investing in bio-based resins to reduce the environmental impact of particle board production.

New Product Launches: Companies are introducing particle boards with enhanced moisture resistance and improved surface finishes for high-end furniture applications.

Capacity Expansions: Increasing demand for particle boards has led to new production facilities being established, particularly in the Asia-Pacific region.

About Transparency Market Research

Transparency Market Research, a global market research company registered at Wilmington, Delaware, United States, provides custom research and consulting services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insights for thousands of decision makers. Our experienced team of Analysts, Researchers, and Consultants use proprietary data sources and various tools & techniques to gather and analyses information.

Our data repository is continuously updated and revised by a team of research experts, so that it always reflects the latest trends and information. With a broad research and analysis capability, Transparency Market Research employs rigorous primary and secondary research techniques in developing distinctive data sets and research material for business reports.

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floorings101 · 3 days

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Why Choose Engineered Wood Flooring for Your Home?

Choosing the right flooring for your home can be a daunting task, with countless materials and styles available on the market. Engineered wood flooring has become a popular option for homeowners looking for the timeless appeal of hardwood, but with additional durability and versatility. Combining the beauty of natural wood with the resilience of modern engineering, this type of flooring offers a wide range of benefits that make it suitable for nearly any room in the house. In this article, we’ll explore why engineered wood flooring might be the perfect fit for your home, covering its key features, installation methods, and long-term advantages.

What is Engineered Wood Flooring?

Engineered wood flooring is a type of hardwood flooring that consists of multiple layers of wood, rather than a single solid piece. The top layer, known as the wear layer, is made of real hardwood, providing the authentic appearance and texture of solid wood. Below this wear layer, multiple layers of plywood or high-density fiberboard (HDF) are stacked in a cross-grain configuration. This layered construction increases the floor’s stability, making it more resistant to changes in temperature and humidity compared to solid wood.

The beauty of engineered wood flooring is that it offers the same rich and elegant look as traditional hardwood, but with improved durability and performance. The wear layer can come in a variety of wood species, including oak, maple, walnut, and cherry, allowing homeowners to match their flooring with any design style. The thickness of the wear layer varies by product, and thicker layers can even be sanded and refinished multiple times, extending the floor’s lifespan.

Overall, engineered wood flooring offers a combination of aesthetic appeal and practical benefits that make it a popular choice for modern homes. Its versatility and ease of installation make it a viable option for a range of spaces, from living rooms to basements.

How is Engineered Wood Different from Solid Wood Flooring?

While both engineered wood and solid wood flooring have a similar appearance, they are constructed in very different ways. Solid wood flooring is made from a single piece of wood, which gives it a classic, timeless look but also makes it more susceptible to environmental changes. Solid wood expands and contracts with fluctuations in humidity and temperature, making it more prone to warping, especially in areas like basements or humid climates.

In contrast, engineered wood is designed to counteract these issues. Its multi-layered construction provides more dimensional stability, meaning it is less likely to warp, shrink, or expand. This makes engineered wood ideal for areas that experience temperature or moisture changes, such as kitchens or bathrooms, where solid wood would be a risky choice.

Another key difference is installation flexibility. Solid wood floors typically need to be nailed or glued down, whereas engineered wood can be installed in various ways, including floating installations, making it easier and quicker to install. Engineered wood is also compatible with underfloor heating systems, which is not the case for most solid wood floors. While solid wood can be sanded and refinished multiple times over its lifespan, engineered wood can also be refinished, depending on the thickness of its wear layer, but usually not as often.

The Key Benefits of Engineered Wood Flooring

Engineered wood flooring offers several benefits that make it an attractive choice for homeowners. One of its most significant advantages is its stability. Thanks to its multi-layered construction, engineered wood is less susceptible to warping and movement caused by temperature and humidity fluctuations. This makes it suitable for installation in areas where solid wood flooring would struggle, such as basements or rooms with radiant heating systems.

Another key benefit is its aesthetic versatility. With a wide range of species, finishes, and styles available, engineered wood can closely mimic the look of solid hardwood flooring while offering a broader selection of design options. Homeowners can choose from various plank widths, colors, and textures to match their interior decor.

Durability is another strong point for engineered wood. The wear layer of engineered wood is made from real hardwood, providing the same resistance to scratches and dents as solid wood. Thicker wear layers allow for refinishing, which can extend the floor’s lifespan by many years.

Lastly, engineered wood is easier to install compared to solid wood, with several installation options including floating, glue-down, and nail-down methods. Its versatility, stability, and aesthetic appeal make it an excellent flooring solution for virtually any room in your home.

Durability and Longevity of Engineered Wood

One of the standout features of engineered wood flooring is its durability. Unlike solid wood, which can be sensitive to environmental conditions, engineered wood’s layered construction offers increased resistance to the effects of humidity and temperature changes. This makes it less prone to issues like warping or shrinking over time, particularly in areas where moisture levels fluctuate, such as bathrooms or basements.

The lifespan of engineered wood largely depends on the thickness of its wear layer. Thicker wear layers, typically 3-6 mm, can be sanded and refinished multiple times, much like solid hardwood, extending the floor’s longevity to 20-30 years or more. Even engineered wood with a thinner wear layer can last over a decade with proper care.

In addition to resisting moisture, engineered wood is tough enough to withstand daily wear and tear. Its durability makes it a great option for high-traffic areas like hallways and living rooms. While scratches and dents are possible, especially with softer wood species, these imperfections can often be minimized with routine maintenance or refinishing.

For households with pets, children, or heavy furniture, engineered wood offers a resilient and long-lasting flooring solution. Its durability, combined with its timeless aesthetic, ensures that it remains a smart investment for years to come.

Installation Methods for Engineered Wood Flooring

Engineered wood flooring is prized for its ease of installation, with several methods available depending on the homeowner's preference and the condition of the subfloor. The three most common installation methods are floating, glue-down, and nail-down.

The floating method involves laying the engineered wood planks over an underlayment without adhering them directly to the subfloor. The planks are connected via a tongue-and-groove system or a click-lock mechanism. This method is often the simplest and most cost-effective, making it popular for DIY installations. Floating floors are also ideal for areas with radiant heating systems, as the lack of adhesives allows the floor to expand and contract freely.

Glue-down installation involves applying adhesive to the subfloor before laying the engineered wood planks on top. This method provides a more secure and permanent installation, making it well-suited for high-traffic areas. However, it requires more skill and preparation, as the subfloor must be clean, dry, and level to ensure a smooth installation.

The nail-down method is similar to the installation of solid hardwood floors, where the planks are secured to the subfloor with nails or staples. This method is typically used for installations over wooden subfloors and provides a very stable, long-lasting floor. Although more labor-intensive, this method ensures that the engineered wood remains securely in place for decades.

Conclusion

Engineered wood flooring is a versatile, stylish, and practical choice for homeowners looking for the beauty of hardwood without the drawbacks of solid wood. With its superior resistance to environmental changes, easy installation methods, and wide range of design options, engineered wood offers the perfect balance of form and function. Whether you’re upgrading your living room, renovating a basement, or installing new floors in a high-traffic area, engineered wood flooring provides a durable and aesthetically pleasing solution for any space.

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homerenovationinnerwest · 25 days

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DIY Built-In Shelving: Adding Storage and Style to Your Inner West Home Renovation

Home renovations in the Inner West of Sydney offer homeowners the opportunity to not only increase the functionality and value of their homes but also to inject a sense of personal style into their living spaces. One of the most effective ways to achieve both of these goals is by incorporating built-in shelving into your renovation plans. This DIY project can transform any room in your Inner West home, offering additional storage space while enhancing the aesthetic appeal of your interiors.

In this comprehensive guide, we will explore the benefits of built-in shelving, the steps involved in creating your own, and how this addition can elevate your home renovation in the Inner West. We'll also address common questions and provide practical tips to ensure your DIY project is a success.

The Appeal of Built-In Shelving in the Inner West

1. Maximizing Space in Compact Homes

The Inner West is known for its charming, yet often compact homes. Built-in shelving is an ideal solution for maximizing space in these residences. Unlike freestanding furniture, built-in shelves are integrated into the walls, making use of otherwise wasted space. This is particularly beneficial in smaller rooms where floor space is limited.

2. Enhancing Aesthetic Appeal

Built-in shelving adds a sense of sophistication to any room. Whether you opt for sleek, modern designs or more traditional styles, these shelves can be tailored to complement the existing décor of your home. The seamless integration of built-ins can create a more cohesive and polished look, elevating the overall aesthetic of your living spaces.

3. Increasing Home Value

Incorporating custom built-in shelving into your home renovation can also increase the value of your property. Potential buyers often appreciate the added functionality and style that built-ins provide, making your home more attractive on the market.

Planning Your DIY Built-In Shelving Project

Before you start your DIY built-in shelving project, it’s essential to plan carefully to ensure that the finished product meets your needs and enhances your home.

1. Assess Your Space

The first step is to assess the space where you plan to install the built-in shelves. Consider the dimensions of the room, the layout, and any existing architectural features that may affect your design. For example, if you're installing shelves in a living room, you might want to incorporate them around a fireplace or under a staircase.

2. Determine the Purpose

Consider what you will be using the shelves for. Will they primarily serve as storage for books, or do you plan to display decorative items? The purpose of the shelves will influence the design, size, and spacing of the shelves. For example, if you’re storing books, you’ll need sturdy, deep shelves that can bear significant weight.

3. Choose the Right Materials

Selecting the right materials is crucial for both the durability and appearance of your built-in shelving. Plywood, MDF (medium-density fibreboard), and solid wood are popular choices. Plywood is strong and lightweight, MDF offers a smooth finish that’s easy to paint, and solid wood provides a classic, high-end look.

4. Design Considerations

When designing your built-in shelving, think about the style of your home. In the Inner West, many homes feature a blend of classic and contemporary styles. Your built-in shelving should complement this aesthetic. Consider factors such as the type of trim, the color scheme, and whether you want open or closed shelving.

Step-by-Step Guide to Building Your DIY Shelving

Building your own built-in shelves can be a rewarding project that enhances your home renovation in the Inner West. Follow these steps to create a stunning and functional addition to your home.

Step 1: Measure and Mark

Begin by measuring the space where you plan to install the shelves. Use a tape measure to determine the height, width, and depth of the shelving unit. Mark these dimensions on the wall with a pencil, ensuring that the lines are straight and level.

Step 2: Cut the Materials

Using your measurements, cut the plywood or MDF to create the sides, shelves, and back panel of the unit. If you're using solid wood, make sure to cut it carefully to avoid splintering. A circular saw or table saw is ideal for making precise cuts.

Step 3: Assemble the Frame

Assemble the frame of the shelving unit by attaching the sides to the back panel. Use wood glue and screws to secure the pieces together. Ensure that the frame is square and level before tightening the screws.

Step 4: Install the Shelves

Attach the shelves to the frame by drilling pilot holes and securing them with screws. If your shelves will hold heavy items, consider adding additional supports or brackets underneath for extra stability.

Step 5: Install the Built-In Unit

Carefully position the assembled shelving unit into the designated space on the wall. Use a level to ensure that the unit is straight. Secure the unit to the wall studs using screws, making sure it is firmly attached.

Step 6: Finish the Shelves

Once the unit is installed, you can finish the shelves by sanding any rough edges and filling any gaps with wood filler. Paint or stain the shelves to match your desired look, and add any trim or molding to complete the design.

Styling Your Built-In Shelves

After successfully installing your DIY built-in shelving, the next step is to style them in a way that enhances the overall aesthetic of your room.

1. Mix Functionality with Style

When styling your shelves, aim for a balance between functionality and style. Incorporate a mix of items, such as books, decorative objects, plants, and personal mementos. This approach not only adds visual interest but also ensures that your shelves are both practical and beautiful.

2. Create Visual Balance

Arrange items on the shelves in a way that creates visual balance. For example, if you have a large, heavy object on one side, balance it with a group of smaller items on the opposite side. Varying the height and size of objects also adds depth and dimension to the display.

3. Incorporate Lighting

Consider adding lighting to your built-in shelves to highlight your displays and create a warm, inviting atmosphere. LED strip lights or small recessed lights work well and can be easily installed along the top or bottom of the shelves.

Conclusion

DIY built-in shelving is an excellent way to add both storage and style to your Inner West home renovation. By carefully planning and executing this project, you can create a custom feature that not only enhances the functionality of your living spaces but also adds value to your property. Whether you're looking to maximize space in a compact room or elevate the aesthetic appeal of your interiors, built-in shelving offers a versatile and stylish solution.

FAQs

1. Can I install built-in shelves in any room of my Inner West home?

Yes, built-in shelves can be installed in virtually any room of your home. They are particularly useful in living rooms, bedrooms, home offices, and even kitchens, where they can provide additional storage and display space.

2. Do I need professional help to build and install built-in shelving?

While it's possible to build and install built-in shelving as a DIY project, it's important to have basic carpentry skills and the right tools. If you're unsure about your ability to complete the project, you may want to consult a professional for assistance.

3. What materials are best for built-in shelves?

Plywood, MDF, and solid wood are popular choices for built-in shelving. The best material for your project will depend on your budget, desired finish, and the weight of the items you plan to store.

4. How do I ensure my built-in shelves are sturdy enough?

To ensure your shelves are sturdy, make sure they are properly anchored to the wall studs and that the shelves themselves are supported by brackets or additional framing if necessary. Using quality materials and construction techniques will also contribute to the durability of your shelves.

5. Can built-in shelving increase the value of my home?

Yes, built-in shelving can increase the value of your home by adding both functionality and aesthetic appeal. Potential buyers often view built-ins as a desirable feature, particularly in homes where space is at a premium.

By following these guidelines and tips, you can successfully create DIY built-in shelving that enhances both the style and functionality of your home renovation Inner West.

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