#Wooden Planks Manufacturer

[thepascalofus]

Supply Run - Return (part two)

AO3

PART ONE

Supply Run - Exchange (part three)

Pairing: Mando/Din Djarin x afab!Reader

Word Count: 8.0k

Summary: You’ve been Mando’s crew partner for a year now. Throughout that year Mando has warmed up to you and given you signs that your heart throbbing crush on him is reciprocated. There’s one thing making you hesitate. The condoms he bought on the most recent supply run.

Chapter Summary: While Mando takes a trip to the market and gets what he needs, he ponders your relationship and what it means to him.

Content Warnings: MDNI, 18+ only! Switching POVs, post season 2, the Crest lives, strangers to friends to lovers, mentions of Grogu, soft!Mando, insecure!Mando (a smidge), helmet loopholes, pining, idiots in love, jealous!reader, sad!reader for a little, mentions of sex work (sex work is work!), eventual SMUT (making out, grinding, f!receiving fingering, f!receiving oral sex, p in v, PRAISE kink, dirty talk), FLUFF, cuddling, happy ending guaranteed!

A/N: Thank you all so much for the responses on the first part! This is my first fic that I've ever shared and it makes me so happy that other people enjoy my writing! Enjoy!

Mando handed his scope off to you in the worn down store. Wallpaper peeled from the ancient wooden planks of the walls. Cobwebs littered the untouched areas of the store. The work stations in the back, visible from the pick up counter at the front, were in complete disarray. Several projects started, but not finished. Several projects finished, but not retrieved.

You took the scope in your hand and twisted it in your hands until your gaze landed on the name of the manufacturer and the serial number. Your eyebrows shot up once the brand of the scope was revealed, it twisted in your hands once more. Hands raising the metal tube so it was level with your eyes, you looked into the scope. 

“Ah! I know what it is!”

Mando watched in confusion as you ran to a workstation and grabbed a singular tool. How did you know what was wrong so quickly? He sat in the hull of the Crest for hours attempting to fix the scope. The motions of taking the scope apart and putting it back together were etched into his brain from the number of times he did so. 

You returned to the front of the store with the tool in hand. “This manufacturer has been having these issues lately. They built their magnification system like no one else, but they didn’t seem to account for the need to recalibrate the scope every once in a while. Recalibrating too often causes the lenses to misalign.” 

Mando calibrated his every day. He had to. It was part of his job. A miscalibration could be the difference between a two hour hunt and a twelve hour hunt.

Your face twisted in concentration as you inserted the tool into the side of the scope. Jostling the metal, it popped open and allowed access to the inside. “For some reason they put these weird pins in…” You trailed off while you removed a total of three thin metal pins. Once the pins were removed, you clicked the top of the scope back into place and handed it to Mando.

Mando previously took the scope apart countless times. He never noticed any pins.

“Twenty credits, please.” You said with a smile. Your gaze met his–you somehow found it through his black visor–and you maintained eye contact.

The display on the inside of Mando’s helmet only progressed seven minutes after he entered the store. Inside of his helmet his eyebrows shot up. He was impressed. Not only with your efficiency, but with the reasonable price as well.

“I’m impressed.” He stated. Nodding at you, he retrieved a few credits from his utility belt and set them on the paint chipped counter. He turned and walked a few paces and then stopped in front of the door.

He’s been looking for a crew mate for weeks. The potential candidates he’s stumbled across were either annoying, rude, or incompetent. Throughout his time as a bounty hunter he’s been to countless repair shops. The service was always lack-luster, prices were too high, repair time much too long. 

Sure, he just met you eight minutes ago, but you had potential. He turned on his heel and faced you. Armor glinted in the low lighting of the run down shop. 

“Are you in the market for a new job?”

–

Walking to the market, he’d been reflecting on his decision to bring you onto the Crest as a crew partner.

It was the best decision he ever made, besides saving Grogu from the Empire.

You were intelligent. Friendly. Resourceful. Efficient. Brave.

You stared a Mandalorian straight in the eyes–well, visor–and didn’t even flinch. You didn’t even break eye contact, unlike everyone else. People would turn to whoever they’re with to avoid his gaze. They spoke like he wasn’t a meter or two away–and like he couldn’t amplify their voices with his helmet.

His tall, broad stance usually set everyone on edge. The heavy weight of beskar armor, a reminder of his skillset, didn’t aid in calming the nerves of anyone either. He was typically soft spoken around others, as he noticed people’s reactions when he spoke–eyes wide, speech stuttering, shaking hands–scared. 

Everyone was afraid of him.

Except you.

When you first boarded the Razor Crest, Mando was extremely careful in making sure you were comfortable. The majority of his days not hunting were spent in the cockpit or in his bunk. Whenever you crossed paths in the hull you offered him a small smile and quickly looked away. Did your bravery fade away?

He came back from a hunt one day, quarry in tow, and he was relieved to hear, “How was your day?” Fall from your lips once the bounty was in carbonite.

Still cautious–mindful of how the modulator made his voice sound–he kept his answers short and to the point.

“Fine.”

“Busy.”

“Awful.”

Hearing the four words you said after each return from a hunt, and being able to give you a response without you slinking away, made the hunts worth it.

One night always stood out in his mind. It was just like any other return from one of his hunts. Mando dragged the quarry up the Crest’s ramp by a cord tied around their ankles. He lifted the man to stand up, doing so effortlessly with a few grunts to spare. 

Your living space was in the hull, so he always tried to make the ends of his hunts fast. You didn’t have any choice but to watch. Mando didn’t want to make you watch for too long. Maker, he didn’t want you to watch at all.

His fist slammed the button to begin the freezing process. Breathing heavily, he stood and watched the bounty as they froze into the carbonite cell. A blanket of silence covered the hull once the hissing of the freezing mechanisms came to a stop.

“How was your day?”

There it is. His favorite part after the hunt. Knowing you were there, safe within the hull, and that you wanted to be friendly with him–even after witnessing him freeze a person he tracked down for several hours.

“Nothing you want to hear about,” he replied, his voice tinged with tiredness. The helmet’s modulator most likely didn’t register the sleep in his voice. Truly, he didn’t think that you would want to hear about it. The Mandalorian was afraid that hearing about his hunts would put you on edge. You already extended a branch of friendliness to him twice a day. He didn’t want to give that up by talking about the bounties he tracks down.

“Try me.”

Those words.

Those words have only ever been spoken to him by enemies. It always caused annoyance to wash over him, head to toe. He’s a Mandalorian. Confident of his skills in combat. No matter the odds, Mando knew he would like them.

But when those words tumbled from your lips, it was different. When his enemies weren’t scared of him, it was annoying. When you weren’t scared of him, adoration filled his body. And not adoration in a patronizing way, but adoration as a form of respect. 

It made him want you that much more.

Snapping out of his thoughts, Mando realized the crotch of his pants were tight. Nonchalantly, he clasped his hands together and rested them below his belt.

“Quarry tried to escape and they ran. Would have been back four hours ago,” the modulator gritted out. Again, he was conscious of how the modulator warped his voice. “Not too fun,” he added in an attempt to make the conversation more casual.

You were silent. He whispered a curse to himself under his helmet, one that he was certain wouldn’t be picked up by his modulator. Was his answer too much? Mando quickly became nervous and started to shift his weight from one foot to the other. The silence you left in the air made him a bit anxious.

The T shape of his visor peered over to you. You stood still in shock, reminiscent of the people that saw him in public. Before his thoughts could spiral too much, you replied, “Oh, I’m sorry.”

Dank farrik. He didn’t want you to feel like you had to comfort him. “You don’t have to be sorry,” his chest brushed against your shoulder as he swiftly hopped onto the first rung of the ladder up to the cockpit. “It’s my job.”

“That doesn’t mean it sucks any less,” you said. He smiled underneath his helmet at your consideration. Your eyes widened and your mouth opened and closed as you realized what you said, “sorry, I probably shouldn’t have said that your job sucks.”

You weren’t wrong. Making his way through tough terrain, relying on a blinking red light on a piece of metal to guide him. Finding them was a task in itself, but dragging them back to the Crest was the other half of his job that sucked. Mando looked over his shoulder at you and replied matter-of-factly, “My job does suck.”

A giggle bubbled out from your chest. Every once in a while you would be reading a funny article on your Holopad and your laughs would echo through the hull of the Crest, making their way up into the cockpit. He needed more of them. His silver helmet shook slightly from side to side and he turned back to climb the ladder. But not before he also let out a small chuckle.

If you were comfortable enough to stand up to him, and laugh at his awful attempts at jokes–after he just hauled a bounty onto the ship–Mando realized he was safe.

Not only were you safe with him. He felt safe with you, in more ways than one.

Kriff it. You extended a friendly attitude towards him–a faceless warrior covered in impenetrable armor–then he could extend a friendly attitude towards you as well.

You asked him about this day, both in the mornings and the evenings. He learned about what you like and didn’t like. One item stood out to him. Caf. He always entered into a cloud of caf scent when he sauntered into the hull in the mornings. Mando was usually up before you, so he figured he would start making you a cup every morning. Confident enough in knowing which kinds of caf you preferred, he would stock up on caf every supply run.

The Mandalorian got closer to you, both physically and emotionally. Sometimes he would catch his hands landing on your waist or your lower back when he passed you on the ship. You’d shoot him a small smile in response. The distance he kept from you only decreased. He wanted to see your smile more and more. 

One thing he didn’t see coming was your interest in Mando’a. He would mumble to himself in the ship while completing various tasks.

“What’s that word mean?” You’d occasionally ask. The Mandalorian would explain their meanings, sometimes struggling to translate the word to Basic.

He must have taught you at least two dozen words in Mando’a by now. Each time you asked you would give him your full attention. 

At night, if he amplified the sound with his helmet enough, he could hear you practicing the words and recalling their meanings. It motivated him to share more words with you.

–

All of these experiences have led to this day. He’s been planning it for a month or two now. 

He wants to ask you on a date. Nerves bubbled up from his stomach and throughout his body. They suddenly came to a halt. 

Not now. First, he needs to collect information on a quarry.

Lost in his thoughts, he looked up and the market filled his vision with you in his peripheral. It wasn’t too busy, part of the reason why he was comfortable enough for you to shop on your own. He clarified the meet up point to you and watched as you took off. You had a bounce in your step, probably due to your excitement at shopping alone. 

Once he meandered further into the market he began to collect information. This market was the bounty’s last location. Mando’s guess was that he either simply wanted to be in a small city, gambled their life savings away, or they paid for visit after visit with the workers at the brothel until they ran out of credits.

Only one way to find out. The gambling and brothels didn’t start up until later in the afternoon. To kill the time, and to possibly find the quarry, Mando wandered throughout the different sections of the market. 

He asked a few vendors about the bounty. Mando described the man to many market sellers and only got a slight lead from one woman donned in patterned fabrics. 

“I think he went that way,” the woman gestured with one of her hands towards an intersection, “Take the left path. I don’t know anything else beyond that.”

Mando dropped a few credits into her hand and gave her a polite nod, “Thank you.” He continued on and curved his gait to take the left path. From the signs and general merchandise displayed on each stall, he knew he was entering the clothing section of the market.

The helmet covering his head swiveled from left to right and right to left. No one matched the description of his quarry. Repeating his previous process, he made his way down the stall-lined alley and asked a couple different vendors.

Once the last vendor finished talking, and provided him with another lead, he dug his hand into his pocket and slid the credits on the stall’s counter towards them. Turning his back towards the vendor, his feet carried him two steps back into the market.

Then he saw you.

You stood hunched over a table of colorful bracelets. Tapping his fingers to the temple of his helmet, Mando zoomed in and the helmet displayed your face to him, deep in thought. Looking down, you were hovering your hands over a grid of various green bracelets. 

You stopped on one. Mostly brown, almost too much to be in the green section, Mando thought. Nonetheless, the green and silver streaks peeked in and out of the thick threads of brown that made up the bracelet. Your fingers sorted through the sizes of the bracelet and selected one that looked close to your size. 

Clutching it in one hand, the other hand searched for another of the same bracelet. It was larger than the previous size. You set the smaller bracelet down and tested the strings. The bracelet was adjustable, and you smiled at the discovery.

You transferred the bracelets onto the table of the stall and used one hand to dig into your pockets. Palm held out flat, Mando guessed that about twenty credits sat in your palm. He followed your gaze to the sign listing the prices.

PRICES

1 bracelet = 15 credits

2 = 30 credits

3 = 45 credits

4 = 60 credits

Shoulders falling, you dropped the credits back into your pocket and returned the bracelets to their original spot in the grid of green. Ground crunched beneath your shoes as you turned and continued wandering through the market.

Mando noted it was the third stall to the left of the bright green stall on the left side of the alley.

Not wanting you to realize he saw you, the Mandalorian walked in the opposite direction you took. After twenty minutes he noticed that the stalls became much more strange than the stalls in the clothing section of the market. Peering at the different products for sale, he saw a potions shop offering “super strength elixir” and a vendor selling various pet-like creatures. A few more vendors passed his peripheral vision as he continued his strides. They came to a stop once a building larger than the surrounding stalls came into view.

His helmet tilted upwards to read the sign displayed front and center on the large building: BROTHEL.

Tapping the side of his helmet, the time on the helmet’s display indicated that the brothel and gambling scenes had just begun. Mando tapped the temple of his helmet once again and the warm bodies within the building lit up, like he had x-ray vision. He counted a dozen in total. One body stood in the same spot inside near an entryway–the bouncer, Mando thought.

The bouncer was the individual that allowed access in and out of the building. If their memory was decent, they would be like a living guest book. Mando figured he could bribe them to reveal information, which was his usual plan with most of the beings he spoke with.

He sauntered over to the side of the building the bouncer was standing at. A singular light flickered over the side door, the sun was still out, so Mando was confused why it was on. The beskar helmet observed the side door.

Metal. Double deadbolts. Keypad on the left side. Small slit at eye level–neck level for the Mandalorian.

As soon as he crouched down to look near the slit, it slid open and revealed a thick pair of black eyebrows. Black eyes bore into the brow of Mando’s helmet, as the bouncer couldn’t seem to find his eyes. 

“Do you have an appointment?” The bouncer asked. The voice behind the door was gruff, as if the words had to crawl from the depths of his throat. 

“No,” Mando responded.

Black eyes blinked and then disappeared when the bouncer closed the metal slit. 

Mando was taken aback and furrowed his brow. His fist pounded on the door. He just wanted this hunt to be over with. He wanted to get back to you.

The slit in the door revealed two black eyes once more.

“I have credits and will pay you if you give me information on a client your establishment may have served.” Mando’s modulator gritted out loudly. Straight and to the point. All business. 

Eyes disappeared again, but were then accompanied with the sounds of the deadbolts unlocking. The metal door swung open to reveal a man dressed in all black with a silver name tag. Black hair matched the rest of his ensemble. 

Still holding the door, the bouncer asked, “What’s the bounty look like?”

An eyebrow raised inside Mando’s helmet, but he figured the bouncer knew the drill by now. Even other bounty hunters knew that brothels were what many bounties visited. A gloved hand unbuttoned a pocket on his belt and retrieved a bounty puck. Clicking the side of it, the puck displayed the quarry. 

The man stepped out of the doorway and onto the pavement, pulling the door closed behind him. His black eyes slightly squinted when his gaze trailed up and down the hologram.

“Ah yeah, I’ve seen this guy. He has a type, always goes for the blondes.” 

“Does he have any upcoming appointments?” Mando questioned.

The bouncer sighed in thought and pulled a small notepad from his pocket. Mando mirrored the man’s motion and produced a pen and notepad from his pocket. 

“The guy has an appointment in two days. He just asked to see a blonde. Figures.” The man shrugged and opened his notepad. Mando noticed it was a planner, and the bouncer flipped to the pages for the appointments two days from today.

“Which workers would take him as a client?” Mando’s modulator churned the words. His pen clicked as he readied himself to write.

The man donned in black made a fist with one hand and raised a finger with each name, “Ari. Taima. And Nomi. They would be in rooms one, five, or seven.”

Wow, Mando thought, this guy really knew the drill. He quickly finished up writing down the names and room numbers of each worker. The pen scratched feverishly against the cream colored paper, leaving behind black strokes to form letters and numbers. Notepad folding closed and the pen clicking, signifying the end of his notes, Mando returned the pen and paper to their place in his pocket. His opposing hand reached into a different pocket and produced a sizable amount of credits. Feeling generous, thankful that this hunt was going to be quick, he compensated the bouncer handsomely.

First task done. Second task on the horizon.

Creaking produced from the hinges of the metal door as the bouncer disappeared behind it once more. Flickering light gleamed off the beskar armor that protected the Mandalorian in combat. Although he wasn’t going into combat, because he wouldn’t be nervous if he was. 

Mando trained most of his life with the greatest warriors in the galaxy. Combat flowed through his blood easily. It was a part of him. 

But he was never trained on how to ask people out on dates.

On top of that, he was never trained on how to ask you out on a date.

He didn’t want to misread the situation. You could just be friendly. Who would want to date a man and not know what he looks like? Who would want to constantly live on a ship, without a permanent home? 

Being Mando, he prepared for the worst. If you said no, he figured that you would be uncomfortable living with the man who asked you out on a date. Knowing that he’s attracted to you. He would fly wherever you wanted and give you some credits to get started. Kriff, he’d send credits for however long it takes for you to get on your feet. Then he’d leave you alone. 

Admittedly, the Mandalorian would probably keep an eye on you to make sure you were safe. You just wouldn’t know he’s there.

But if you said yes.

Mando’s chest bloomed with anticipation. Firework-like tingles trailed up and down his limbs at the thought. He bit his lip within the confines of his helmet when he realized his pants had gotten tighter. Thankfully he was a Mandalorian, because heat washed over his face, half due to arousal and the other half in embarrassment.

The brown eyes underneath the helmet widened. If he wanted to do more with you and you agreed, he didn’t have protection.

Turning on his heel, cape whipping behind him, he made a quick pace back to the brothel.

Once he arrived at the gray building, the light at the side of the building having more of a purpose, Mando glided towards the same door as before. Bringing a fist up to the metal, he knocked three times.

Knock. Knock. Knock.

Clink. Shhhkt.

“Do you sell condoms?” the modulator quickly blurted.

All business.

—

He arrived at the meet up point before you. Leaning against a nearby tree, Mando checked the time constantly, as if he was devoted to the action more than his Creed. If you were late, he always went looking. 

Thankfully, you trudged up to the food stall on time with a hefty bag full of purchases. Fine, brown gravel grinded against the soles of Mando’s shoes as he made his way over to you. His gloved hand slipped the bag from your grasp and the pair of you began walking back to the Crest.

Both of you carried on with your normal post-supply run routines. You and Mando, but this time just Mando, piled the purchases from the market onto the hull’s floor. From there, the items could be sorted through and put in their respective places around the Crest.

As Mando finished unloading the large bag of purchases, he quickly dug around for the receipts. He knew how much you liked to review the shopping haul each time a supply run was completed. Mando enjoyed seeing the satisfaction wash over your face after you read over the receipts.

But this time was different. You froze once you got to the last receipt.

Mando’s helmet tilted in confusion. He took a few steps closer towards you, “What’s wrong? Did we forget something?”

You remained still while your eyes darted over the lines on the receipt. With your back turned to him, Mando found the opportunity to zoom in on the ink printed on the flimsy paper.

ITEMS PURCHASED (1)

CONDOM - 12 PACK

Oh. Fuck. FUCK.

He hasn’t even asked you on a date yet and now you probably already think he’s a perv. Nerves took over his body as you continued to stand still.

Your hand quickly crushed the receipts and threw them in the trash, “Nope! The last receipt didn’t look familiar but,” you trailed off slightly but recovered, “I remembered what I bought from the place.” A nervous laugh–obviously fake, Mando knew what your real one sounded like–escaped from your lips.

He fucked it up. You knew he was interested in you like that. And you didn’t feel the same. He hasn’t even asked you on the date yet. It’s all screwed up now.

But he also felt like he didn’t have enough evidence. What if you did like him but the idea of…needing to use the condoms…made you nervous.

Mando had to at least try. The least he had to do was ask you.

He cleared his throat and grabbed the bag off of the floor. You stood away from him, biting the inside of your cheek, nervously watching his movements. 

“I’m going to go to the night market,” he informed you, “I have some business with a bounty I need to take care of.” 

The bounty wouldn’t be captured until two days from now. In reality, he was really going to go and purchase snacks, takeout, and a pair of those bracelets you admired. It would have been suspicious if he met you back at the meet up point with bags full of snacks. The beskar man figured it would be best to hold off on buying them until later, and tell you he was getting a bounty, so you wouldn’t catch on.

He should’ve waited for this second trip to buy the condoms, he thought.

–

Mando left to, “Go to the night market,” he said. You saw the condom listed on the market receipts, you knew where he went tonight. What he’s going to do. 

The brothels.

Yeah, sure, he’s paying a worker to give him a service. No feelings attached. But you didn’t want him to be with anyone else. Was Mando necessarily yours? No. Have you ever had sex with him? Also no.

That didn’t stop you from getting jealous.

And it wasn’t just jealousy. It was fear. What if he fell in love with one of them? Or what if he was going on dates? He could have a romantic interest you don’t even know about. Next thing you know, they’re going steady and you’re kicked off the ship. Or worse, you have to watch him love someone that isn’t you.

No more silence with him in the cockpit, watching as the hyperspace lights soar past the windshield. Feet tapping down the ladder as you both began your nighttime routines. He’d wait in the hull near the door of the fresher in just his helmet, undershirt, sleep pants, and socks. As he lifted off the wall from his leaning stance he’d ask you, “Are you done?” Holding his own hands in front of him, trying to seem relaxed, as if he was trying to look less intimidating. “Yeah,” you’d quickly respond, leaving the fresher and brushing past him. Sometimes his hand found your waist as he passed, or the small of your back. “Thank you,” he’d grunt gently as he closed the fresher door. 

No more of Mando letting out a small, “Good night,” before lingering on your closing eyes and watching as your lips smiled, forming your response, “Good night.” 

Falling asleep, you knew you’d wake up to him. He would be up before you on most days, leaving you a fresh cup of caf and your favorite ration pack (when he had them). The short chatter between you two, going over the logistics of the next hunt, telling stories from your past, or just thinking out loud to each other. Gone.

You would be banished from home.

The fear struck your chest. Heat searing through your ribcage and meeting your spine, the visions repeated over and over in your head. Tears fell like waterfalls from your eyes. Most streams connected underneath your chin and trailed down your neck. Your back met the hull’s wall as you sank down onto the floor. Deep breaths. In through the nose, out through the mouth. Your head was heavy and numb.

Just breathe. You knew you weren’t going to die. Go through some heartbreak? Maybe, but you knew you’d be alive. It helped. Your breath slowed and the fear dissipated into the air around you. That didn’t stop the flow of tears down your cheeks as your eyes were fixed on the closed ramp.

–

Mando’s footsteps set a steady pace back to the market.

Crunch. Crunch. Crunch. Crunch.

He displayed a map of the marketplace as an overlay on the display of his helmet. Mando usually reserved this practice for combat to aid in determining exit strategies and the best plan of attack.

But now he was using it to calculate the most efficient route throughout the marketplace in order to see you again sooner. 

Closing the overlay from the helmet’s display, he was met with the sight of the market. Long strings of lights decorated the different stalls. Many vendors took advantage of the dark and used different, bright combinations to reel in customers. Some lights were multicolored. Some flashing. Some huge and some small. He thought of the “ooh”s, and, “ahh”s that you would let out at the brilliant display.

The Mandalorian started in the food section of the market. Carefully examining which vendors carried your favorite snacks, he made purchase after purchase in quick succession. His helmet remained on a swivel, scanning the stalls from right to left and left to right. 

A stall offering your favorite kind of takeout came into view.

Once Mando arrived at the stall he ordered two takeout meals. The vendor looked startled and confused as he ordered. They shakily accepted the credits for the two meals. Gazes drifted away from Mando and quickly returned as he stood waiting for the meals to be prepared. A bell rang and he retrieved two warm containers, placing them in his bag alongside the snacks.

One last stop. The bracelets.

Marching through the food district, he came upon an intersection at which the left path led him to the clothing district. Yet again, his helmet pivoted on his neck from one side to another. 

The third stall to the left of the bright green stall on the left side of the alley.

Mando continued his steady pace until the bright green stall came into view. The brightness of the exterior paint was exaggerated by the warm light emitted by lanterns, which decorated the outside of the shop. He didn’t notice before but the store sold children’s clothes. Onesies. Small shoes. Tiny hats.

A small tunic. Small enough for a human child younger than one year old. The tunic reminded him of Grogu’s. Mando’s bare hands brushed against the material countless times as he cradled The Child in his arms.

The last time he spoke about Grogu was with you. You listened and offered support. He’s never had anyone do that for him.

His visor turned to his left. The soft fairy lights of the stall reflected off of the beskar helmet on his head. As if the beskar reflected a dark sky decorated with bright stars. Various fabrics hung from the side of the vendor’s stall to cover the old wooden planks. Little accessories were placed throughout the shop on different tables and displays. 

Mando wasn’t focused on those items, he was focused on the long table of bracelets organized by color. His feet carried him to the green section. The helmet turned downwards to allow him to observe the selection. 

Shit.

There were so many bracelets similar to the pair you held, just all in different combinations of green, silver, and brown. Was it the bracelet with the large green cord and the small silver and brown threads? Or the one with the large silver cord and green and brown threads? Or thick brown cord with streaks of green and silver? His hands hovered over the options, doing his best to recall the details from earlier in the day.

“It’s this one,” a woman’s voice said.

A bit startled, the Mandalorian looked up and found a woman standing on the other side of the table. She wore long robes with intricate patterns. Jewelry decorated every limb and part of her body, like jewels were dripping down from her skin from a storm of gemstones. Hair cascaded around her shoulders and down her back. Her smile was kind and her gaze met Mando at his eyebrow.

A good try, he thought.

“I’m sorry?” He replies. She couldn’t possibly know which bracelet he was trying to find.

“You were watching them earlier. From across the street,” she let out faint exhales as she let out a short laugh, “Maybe you should hide a little better next time.” 

She reached out and picked two bracelets out of the display grid. “I remember the sizes too,” she said, “The person you watched held onto them for so long, they seemed pretty attached to them. I kept track of which bracelets they were just in case.” The robed woman shot him a friendly wink.

“In case of what?” Mando questioned. He was still in shock that the woman noticed him staring at you from across the street. 

The woman glanced up at him like that was a dumb question, “In case you came back to get them, Mandalorian. This isn’t my first day on the job.”

It saved him the time and stress of trying to remember which one it was, so he shrugged and watched the woman’s jewelry dangle as she typed onto the register. 

Beep. Beep. Beep beep. Ching.

“Okay sir, twenty credits please!” The woman extended her hand out and waited for Mando to place credits into her palm. She was met with the tilting of the black T shape on Mando’s beskar helmet. 

“I thought the price was thirty,” he stated as he began to reach into his pockets to retrieve his credits.

The woman let out another small laugh, “Oh, I suppose I should have made the sign larger,” her decorated fingers pointed to a small sign above the one that displays the bracelet prices.

$10 OFF WHEN YOU BUY TWO OR MORE

Mando’s shoulders dip in realization that you could’ve bought the bracelets in the first place. A sigh escapes his modulator and he hands the credits over to the intricately robed vendor. The credits clink into her palm, and then into the register.

He waits silently for her to package them up in a small bag. 

“They like you, you know,” the woman mentions, “No one like them would be deciding on which bracelets to buy for that long if they didn’t.” She paused as she was about to place the larger of the two into the small bag, “And look at the size of this one! It’s definitely for you.” 

The Mandalorian nods, “I appreciate that,” he pauses before turning away, “let’s hope they do.”

–

Mando sets a faster pace back to the Crest than the one he took from the Crest to the market. He’s impatient, he can’t wait to walk up the ramp and see your body curled up, comfortable and safe, while you sleep soundly in your bed–if you can even call it that, he thought. You usually went to bed early when he went on hunts, otherwise you would be awake talking to him.

Slipping the bag from his shoulder, an ungloved hand rummaged through the contents searching for a small bag. His fingers found the familiar texture and he pulled it out from between the snacks and the takeout. 

Mando slung the bag back over his shoulder, pulled the larger of the two bracelets out of the small bag, and slipped his hand through the ring of brown, silver, and green. Grabbing one of the ends with his fingers and pinning it to his palm, the other hand tightened the bracelet to a comfortable size around his wrist.

Once the small bag was returned to its place inside of the larger one, Mando peered around him to get a good look of his surroundings. 

The sun was about to set, leaving only a sliver of light available to provide dim light to the landscape. Rocks littered the ground. Shadows from each one making them appear larger in the light of the impending dusk. He reached up and tapped a finger to the temple of his helmet. No living thing was around him.

He paused and set the bag on the ground. Doing one last scan of the area, one of his hands gripped the chin of his helmet and lifted the beskar from his head. The hand held the helmet at his side while he marveled at his wrist.

He caught a good patch of remaining light and watched as the green and silver threads gleamed against the thick brown ones. The bracelet was beautiful. Not only because of the design, but because you picked it out. And it was for him.

Becoming paranoid, the Mandalorian quickly slipped his helmet back onto his head. He waited for the seal of the helmet to engage before continuing back towards the Crest. This time, at an even faster pace.

–

You sat there until you heard heavy footsteps approaching from outside, the hydraulics of the ramp coming to life. Thinking fast, you stood up and made your way towards the fresher to start your nighttime routine.

“Why are you still awake?” Mando’s voice was confused. He stood in front at the top of the ramp with his helmet tilted, hands resting on his hips, but his shoulders were slumped, a bag slung around one. He looked…worried.

Mando was right. Usually when he went on hunts you went to bed early. Nowadays the only thing that kept you awake was him. Talking with him was how you spent most evenings on the Crest, your voices echoed and bounced back to each other in the hull.

He’s used to seeing you curled up on the sleeping pad covered in blankets. Soft breaths came from your body and radiated throughout the Crest. Just like a minute ago, his footsteps would come up the ramp with his bounty in tow. Soft grunts could be heard kitty-corner from your spot in the hull. A hiss of mechanisms as they froze the bounty in carbonite. Then a bit of silence. 

The absence of the carbonite freezing stood out in your mind. No bounty, even when he said he was going to go and find one. Your eyes teared up slightly again as the realization truly set in. Mando really did go to the brothel.

You just wanted this night to be like any other night he came back to the Crest with a bounty.

After the bounty was frozen, heavy footsteps made their way across the floor of the hull. But they always stopped a few paces away from your bed, halting for a moment. Mando would complete his nightly routine. Setting the Crest’s coordinates for the next planet and showering in the fresher if he needed to–he usually did.

No matter what the events of his nightly routine were, it always ended with him standing in the doorway of his bunk–the sound of his footsteps always stopped partially inside.

“Good night, cyar'ika.”

You didn’t know what the Mando’a meant, since Mando never used that word around you, but you knew that the, “good night,” was all you needed to finally fall asleep.

You always waited up for him, only until reasonable hours of the night, of course, but he didn’t know it.

The sound of his footsteps in the present snapped you out of your hazy state. Crying really does a number on your brain.

“Just…couldn’t fall asleep,” you offered him a small smile as you pulled some products out of the tiny fresher cabinet. You wet your face and applied a small amount onto your fingertips, tapping them together for both hands to have the product. As you lifted your face and your hands to the mirror to begin washing your face, you were met with swollen lips, puffy eyes, and slight tear trails dried onto your face, despite the water you just splashed onto it. You froze.

There goes any of your chances to get away with how you spent your night. Staying up late staring at the Crest’s ramp. Waiting for Mando to come home. At least what you thought was home.

“What’s wrong?” Mando’s voice got clearer as he approached the fresher door. His strides long, footsteps clunking, as he removed his leather gloves and tucked the pair into his utility belt.

You went to turn away from him but he got there faster than you could. His ungloved hand rested on your shoulder, grip slow yet firm as he turned you to face him. He rubbed tiny circles onto your skin with his thumb once his eyes beneath the helmet noticed yours.

Your reflection on the silver beskar of his helmet stared back at you. Could you even get away with a lie at this point? What else would have made you cry? It’s not exactly like you could have said the truth either.

Oh yeah, I was sitting here having a panic attack as you participated in a perfectly normal service that is offered on this planet. Then I spiraled and thought about how you might not even want me to be here, that you’ll find another partner to be on this ship with you, and toss me away like none of this meant anything to you.

Mando’s hand waved in front of your face and it brought you back into the present moment. “Did someone come onto the ship while I was gone?” His voice gritted out from the helmet’s modulator. 

“Maker, no,” you huffed and tried to look less suspicious, hoping he’ll just drop the topic.

“Then what is it?” He murmured, his modulator barely picking up his syllables. His wide shoulders took up most of the fresher’s door frame. The grip on your shoulder tightened slightly.

“It’s…I don’t think you’ll want to hear it.” You shrugged and repressed the heat of anxiety creeping down the back of your head. Turning to wash and dry your hands, you let out a sigh and started to walk towards the main open space of the hull. Your shoulder gently bumped him as you slid past his large frame in the doorway. 

Suddenly your hips were being snapped backwards and dragged back towards the fresher. His damn finger was in your belt loop again. 

He pulled you close to him, feeling the heat from his knuckle dig into your hip and spread throughout the rest of your body. His helmet leaned down to look you in the eye and tilted once again.

“Try me,” he paused. He brought his hand up to grip onto the valley where your neck meets your shoulder, slowly enough so you could back away if you so desired. His large palm and thick fingers were calloused and warm. The grip he had on you was still gentle, slightly squeezing. “You know you can tell me, right?”

You let a deep inhale permeate through your lungs. The words flowed through your individual cells. Thoughts of lying escaped your body with each breath. The debate inside your head would end. Whether he had those feelings for you or not.

“I got upset because you went to the brothel.” You told him. Lips trembling and eyes squinted open in an attempt to meet his gaze.

“The brothel?” He held both of your shoulders and brought his visor closer to your face. Thumbs rubbed your shoulders yet again. He sighed as your name left his lips and traveled through his helmet, “I didn’t go to a brothel tonight.” A titled T-shaped gaze met yours. You knew he was looking you in the eyes, and yours into his.

Brows furrowed, you sniffled slightly, “I-, I saw that condoms were on the market receipts.” The thumbs on your shoulders stopped, his chest didn’t rise and fall. He froze. You made Mando freeze. 

“Look I know I’m just being dramatic and paying for that kind of thing is completely normal. I just,” you trailed off and thought of a quick replacement for your worry, “I was worried you would get hurt there.”

Mando’s shoulders fell and his helmet cocked to the side. “What?” He questioned. “How would I get hurt? None of the workers there had weapons.”

“How would you know that if you didn’t go?” You whispered to him. Your gaze left his and it dropped to the shape in the center of his chestplate. The crystal shape rose up and down slowly.

“I got information on a bounty there earlier,” he sounded like he was talking to a hurt animal. Gentle. Slow. Calm. “What's the actual reason you’re upset?” 

Kriff it.

“I had a panic attack because I thought you went to the brothel. Maybe you would like the worker there more than you like me, I spiraled and thought about how you might not even want me to be here, that you’ll find another partner to be on this ship with you,” your chest heaved and as you listed off your previous thoughts of worry. Your hands shook as they landed on top of Mando’s, and you took a deep breath, eyes meeting his gaze like before, “and toss me away like none of this meant anything to you.”

Mando is quick. He flipped his hands to grab one of yours and tugged you into the hull. Kneeling, he opened a cloth bag, one from the market, and dug into it to search for something. 

He actually went to the night market. You thought, now you look so clingy. So needy. He was just going to show you what he got to prove he went.

He turned and held his hand out. Sitting on top of the golden skin on his palm was a bracelet.

The bracelet from the market.

“I saw you looking at these, you looked for a long time and then put them down,” He stood up and set his gait to slow steps as he made his way over to you.

You laughed nervously, accompanied by a small sniffle, “Sorry yeah, I know I just should have been getting the stuff we needed. You didn’t have to go back and get it for-.” Mando raised a finger to halt your speech and continued what he was saying previously, “you put them down. You had two bracelets.”

“They had lots of them that I liked…I had two that were a tie and I just decided to get neither-.” Mando cut you off again.

“You were holding one bracelet consistently and then picked another in a bigger size,” you froze at his words. Dank farrik. Now he was going to think you’re super clingy. 

“I wasn't completely sure who you wanted to wear the bracelet, but I took a guess.” He pulled his long sleeve past his elbow and revealed his bare forearm. Strong. Capable. Solid. And a matching bracelet was donned on his wrist.

Your cheeks radiated with heat as he took your wrist and put your bracelet on you. His warm fingertips brushed the soft skin of your wrist, sending chills throughout your body at the meticulous skin-on-skin contact. 

Once the bracelet was secure around your wrist, Mando dipped his head and looked down at the floor. One of his hands gripped the underside of his helmet, and the other held onto your wrist. Your breath caught in your throat at the gesture. He quickly lifted his helmet to release his mouth, and he pressed three kisses on your wrist where the bracelet was. Mando’s lips were soft and timid, his hand caressing the skin on yours. Silver from his beskar helmet blocked your view, but Mando sealed his helmet and brought his eyes underneath the visor to look into yours.

“This means everything to me.”

Supply Run - Exchange (part three)

[zaunseye]

[@jynxd]

Satisfaction was all too often earned through pain and frustration. He knew this well after Vander, and even more so after the trouble with the Firelights. He had expected confrontations and scuffles along the way to securing his empire of shimmer within Zaun, but he hadn't expected such a large fly to nestle itself into his ointment. Time after time again, he had faced reports of failed deliveries and disrupted smuggling plans. It was enough to give anyone a headache, even him. Eventually, he was certain, the satisfaction of capturing their troublesome leader would be his.

And he wasn't mistaken. All it would take was some time and escalation.

What he had not expected was their level of resourcefulness. Not only had they discovered one of his shimmer plants, they had found out which days he went to inspect it. He had been flanked by two of his best men as he walked through the manufacturing lines, paying little attention to the underage workers moving and processing his drugs. They were all parts of the grand machine fueling Zaun's soon-to-come independence. Their parents should have been proud, if any of them had parents at all. Then, amongst the crowds of juvenile faces, he spotted a mask.

Before his men could react, they were set upon by at least a dozen of the Firelights, mounted atop their hoverboards and armed with blunt objects like pipes, nail-spiked planks, and dulled blades. While his men set to protecting him, they were easily taken down by crystal bombs, pinning them to the metal grate flooring of the catwalks. Silco, now left to defend himself, reached for his knife and shouted an order to activate the chemtank guards.

It was chaos. Firelights swarmed about him, all of them ready to take their swings. A few hits landed, with one particularly painful strike to his shoulder with a nail-ridden wooden board. He was able to pay that back in kind by slashing the neck of its wielder. As soon as the chemtank guards were activated by a child worker, the fight was his. He watched as they leapt from wall to wall, picking the Firelights down one by one with brutal efficiency.

Out of all of them, only one was left, battered, bruised, and bloodied from the battle. It was time to gather information, then. He gave the signal of a whistle and snap of his fingers, and the programmed obedience of the chemtank guards kicked in. They stopped their attack, hauntingly shifting to a more idle state as he approached the downed firelight. "Well, well. Aren't you a strong one." He knelt down on one knee to peer down at him. His eyes grew wide when he recognized the mask from descriptions. "Ahhh, so you must be the leader of this little group. I have so many questions to ask you." A smile grew on his slim lips.

Satisfaction through pain and frustration.

[mpreginthestars]

Louis and Harry stared at the jumble of crib pieces spread out across the nursery floor, their brows furrowed in frustration. Having fantasized about setting up their baby’s nursery for months, they had imagined the process of assembling her crib to be one filled with excitement and joy… but instead, it was turning into a test of their patience.

The thin instruction pamphlet sat atop the mess of useless scraps, open, and taunting them with it’s complexity. So far, it hadn’t been much help at all. The printing of the words seemed liked it had been cracked and warped on the flimsy newspaper during its manufacturing, which made reading it a pain… and, after spending nearly an hour trying to decipher the botched text, Louis and Harry decided to take matters into their own hands, and just wing it.

Piece by piece, bit by bit, they began to cobble their baby’s crib together — relying on their vision and common sense to get the job done. If a particular piece looked like it was supposed to fit somewhere, they used brute force to get it fixed into place, without a second thought. Whether their first-glance assumptions were correct or not, though… well, that was anyone’s guess.

Despite their best efforts, feelings of confusion and impatience quickly began to arise, as they attempted to piece together the rest of the parts. Screws rolled away, nuts and bolts seemed to vanish into thin air, and at one point, they found themselves with an extra wooden plank… which didn't seem to belong anywhere.

In the end, after wasting the entire afternoon, the two fathers-to-be decided to throw in the towel for good, and wait a few months to finish the job. Their little girl wouldn’t be needing her crib for a long while, anyway… and her bassinet was already waiting for her in her parents’ room. What was the use in killing themselves over it now?

_________________________________

[saintsmith]

The descending lift was claustrophobic. The landsaint was becoming an under-landsaint with every jagged tug towards the bowels of the earth. She kept her breath steady and long so as not to panic. A Dromag attendant in the opposite corner of the lift had his arms crossed, and she could feel his hot breath, and smell its pungent spiciness.

The light approached from beneath, piece-by-piece with each pull of the chains. (The bigger cities had automatic lift mechanisms, but these were still hand-cranked.) The landsaint must have begun to hold her breath when the light first appeared, because it escaped in a single burst once they reached the lift’s landing below.

The attendant opened the brass-barred door, letting in more light from the landing. “This floor,” he mumbled, well-practiced but bored, “Market. Shrine.” He stood on his tiptoes to check the landsaint’s irises. “You know this. Blest day, saint.”

The landsaint stepped out of the lift, which immediately began to ascend to pick up more visitors to the city’s belly. 

She hated the air down here. Dry and stuffy. Even when the air was cool, it felt hot. She was going to finish her work here and return topside, as soon as possible.

Two half-halberd-wielding Greshtal guards let her through with a nod. The landsaint returned the gesture curtly. Beyond the guarded brass door was a deep-dug city of stone, four stories high, stone stairs winding up and down the sides of stone buildings to stone balconies giving landing for brass doors, wooden planks from surface trees filling in gaps and forming crossings where the stone streets were narrow. Blackflame lamps kept the streets and stairs lit, but the closer to the roof, the darker it became. Up there, tall shadows danced. Only Dromag were short enough for the low ceilings in these reaches, but children of all types daredeviled from ledge to ledge.

The lower two levels were purely commercial, various shops and stores and groceries and boutiques lining the streets and dazzling passersby with brightly painted signs and intricately-woven tapestries. The two levels above were for the homes of the merchants. But not all who did business in this district lived here. Many commuted with their stalls and carts from the lower residential levels via the bigger, industrial lift by the main gates of the surface town.

The landsaint scraped past pedestrians and took in some of the shops and stalls. She saw a smithy selling blades –

– but the smith couldn’t call them blades. It was illegal in this jurisdiction of Kolqust for most tenvo to carry weapons larger than a work-knife. But many smiths circumvented this restriction by selling sharp scraps of bronze that almost looked like blades, but by the precise wording of the law couldn’t be called weapons. All it took was some string, resin, and a suitable length of wood to manufacture a “self-defense implement” at home. The landsaints politely ignored these loopholes; it was their job to enforce laws, not argue them.

– a wooden sign, painted with the words “mostly-meat sausages” (in smaller script beneath: “accepting chit only”), indicated such meats were hawked at the rickety stall where it hung by a lanky Dromag –

– those words being all the butcher needed to claim to bypass a law regulating the use of mineral additives in such products. Dromag had sturdy teeth and hardy stomachs, and could handle a little clay or limestone in their mixed meats. (During ancient times of poverty, clay was a common food source for the Dromag, earning them the now rarely-used sobriquet “clay-eaters.”) Aajakiri and Greshtal, on the other hand, could not digest these things. But when the prices were this low, a chipped tooth or a little indigestion was worth it.

– in a dim corner, lit by an array of colored paper lanterns, sat the waterpipe lounge –

– where the only smoke of griidc could be found in these times, as individual possession and consumption of the narcotic by claypipe had been outlawed by the state about a decade ago, much to the dismay of the large smoking subculture of Kolqust. Begrudgingly, tenvo would pay to smoke in these lounges for an hour, taking up their hoses around the communal waterpipe and allowing the smokemaster to supply them with their fix.

– a beautifully engraved storefront advertised “Oshr’s Fine Jewelry.” Through the open arches of the facade were rows of glass-protected counters bearing precious jewels, rings, necklaces, bracelets, anklets, torques, tiaras, and more. In the back, at a counter operated by Oshr herself, a beautiful face-painted Aajakiri, were displayed the finely cut, delicately-faceted receptacle gems for spirits, future thoughtstones –

– illegal to fill without saint sanction, but not illegal to cut and sell beforehand. Only saints or temple priests are allowed to capture spirits or sell thoughtstones.

The landsaints brow-plates flexed as she listened vaguely in the direction of the jeweler’s shop. Something tickled her brow-plates, and she focused on it.

It spoke of mastery. It spoke of a job well done, a product complete. Satisfaction – of the mind and the chit-purse. A deal. A transaction. A bargain sworn.

The landsaint squinted at Oshr. Her neck gleamed with a brilliant ruby. Personal thoughtstone. Not for sale.

The landsaint’s brow-plates resumed a neutral position as she carried on down the street. Finally she reached her destination: the town shrine. Its set of concentric walls were beautifully engraved and brightly painted, the outer ring etched with the laws of the priests of Raam. The landsaint ascended the radial stairs, passing one circular gate as she did, leaving behind the first circle, representing Uodh, the Void. The next ring depicted the victories of local saints throughout history – this circle represented Uorh, the Word. She passed its gate, leaving her one more circle to pass – Eilh, the World – displaying the triumphs and tribulations of Raam before he ascended to bring the day. Its gate had a door, which she slowly pushed open to enter the outer sanctum, where only priests and saints could pass.

A fairly reverent tenvo, the landsaint closed the door tightly behind her. She had expected to be greeted by a priest as soon as she entered, but none appeared; all that welcomed her was the floral scent of welic incense smoke wafting from censers hanging from the high rafters. Taking a left, she walked the circular corridor, lined with shelves bearing sacred scrolls, tomes, and tablets, until she came back around to the Eilh gate. She doubled back, but stopped as she met the Raam gate, a tightly shut door to the inner sanctum, halfway down.

Her brow-plates widened, and she swallowed deep. The door of the Raam gate was of plain wood, ornamented only with a single sacred symbol etched in gold in the center. Hand shaking, she reached out for the handle…

The door burst open from the inside, and a priest rushed out. It was Jark, coadjutor of the shrine’s chief priest. The landsaint’s hands were safely behind her back, but she did catch a glimpse of the black velvet curtain behind Jark shifting – the last barrier between unsanctified eyes and divinity.

“Imreb!” snapped Jark as he nearly ran into her, clutching his chest with his large Dromag hand. “What are you doing here?”

“I was waiting for you, Holy,” Imreb replied.

“You’ve been waiting?” stormed Jark as he pushed Imreb from the Raam gate. “I got so tired of waiting for you that I went ahead and joined the other Holies for evening communion!” He made a show of straightening his beard. “Where have you been?”

“Capturing a fallen spirit topside,” Imreb explained in a rush, flustered. “For young Kheloz.” She patted the collection case on her belt.

“Ah, young Kheloz…” mused Jark, still stroking his beard. “I remember being as young and curious as him…”

Imreb wondered if Jark had, in a past life, been a miner, or logger, or wrestler; he had a sturdy physique, and was tall for a Dromag, coming halfway up Imreb’s chest. He was this shrine’s first Dromag priest – they usually selected for Aajakiri with keen brow-plates. But Jark had somehow formulated a roundabout mystical way of interpreting thoughtstones; his rate of success was high enough to be dependable.

“Nevermind that,” Jark said, taking a seat at a bench wedged between two shelves. “Have a seat, landsaint.”

Imreb obeyed, sitting next to Jark. “What troubles you, Holy?”

Jark reached into a pocket of his robes and retrieved a small sapphire thoughtstone. But Imreb didn’t need to attune her brow-plates to hear it speak.

It spoke of tears. It spoke of wailing, weeping. Wet eyes and running noses too pitiful to look at, but demanding attention regardless.

“It’s leaking,” said Imreb, having to fight back her own tears from sympathetic reaction.

“As I suspected,” Jark said with a nod. He extended a massive hand to show Imreb the stone. “See the facets, here? Asymmetrical. Imperfect cut.”

“Where did you get this?” Imreb asked, her brow-plates receding into their sockets, trying to distance themselves from the pained thoughtstone.

“One of your knights confiscated it from an Aajakiri thief. Not sure the original source.”

Imreb leaned forward. “Which knight?”

“Confidential, I’m afraid,” said Jark with an apologetic smile raising the corners of his whiskers. “But it’s not the only such thoughtstone I’ve been delivered. It’s a pattern, now.”

“‘Illicit manufacture and sale for profit of thoughtstones,’” quoted Imreb from the legal code. “Could likely append ‘improper treatment of a spirit’ due to the poor gem quality.”

“Precisely,” agreed Jark. “An investigation is in order. Too delicate for a knight. You’ll handle it personally.” He handed Imreb the thoughtstone, which she quickly pocketed to silence it. “Start with talking to Oshr, the jeweler.”

“You suspect her?”

“Raam, no. Her handiwork far surpasses this. Don’t even suggest that, she’ll just be offended. Be discreet with her. Don’t let on too much.”

“With all due respect, I know how to conduct an investigation, Holy.”

“Of course, Imreb, of course,” said Jark with a gracious nod. “Go. Do what you must.”

Imreb nodded and stood to leave the shrine. “Wait,” said Jark as she was halfway to the Eilh gate. 

Imreb turned back. “Yes, Holy?”

“I probably shouldn’t tell you this, but…the knight who brought me that thoughtstone told me they suspected you. That’s why they brought it to me instead of you directly.”

Imreb’s eyes widened, her brow-plates spreading apart. “Holy, I-I…”

“Don’t worry,” said the Holy with a wave of his hand. “Mortals can be easily mistaken. Would I have discussed this with you if I believed you were the culprit?”

“I suppose not, Holy.”

“Relax, and do your duty, saint.”

Imreb nodded and left the shrine.

- - - - -

Imreb knocked on the arch bordering Oshr’s shop as the jeweler nearly finished shuttering it. Oshr spun around, eyes and brow-plates wide, clutching her chest. She exhaled sharply when she saw Imreb. “Saint! A pleasure. What can I do for you?”

“Evening, Oshr,” smiled Imreb. “I’d like to ask you a few questions, if you don’t mind…but first, why are you so startled? What troubles you?”

“Oh, nothing,” said the jeweler with a dismissive wave of her hand. But a flutter of her brow-plates indicated she was lying. Imreb copied the flutter to show she caught on. “Okay,” admitted Oshr. “You are my landsaint, after all…” Oshr looked around nervously before coming closer to Imreb and whispering, “Lately, I’ve noticed suspicious youths leering at my wares from a distance. I don’t see them now, but I’ve seen them the past few nights, around this time. I worry they’re planning something drastic.”

Imreb, a good, stoic landsaint, kept an even expression even at this alarming news. “Do you know these youths?”

“No, no…but…is there anything you can do?”

“I’m afraid not,” Imreb sighed, “without any hard evidence. But I’ll assign one of my knights to keep watch down here at night. Would that make you feel safer?”

“That would be wonderful, landsaint,” said Oshr, smiling wide, her hands clapping together, and her brow-plates raising. “Now, sweet landsaint, what was it you needed?”

“Let’s speak on that inside,” said Imreb, gesturing through the gap still left in the storefront’s shutters.

Oshr nodded and led Imreb inside, closing the shutter behind them. Oshr stood behind the counter at the back as Imreb leaned against it from the other side.

“Allow me to begin by showing you something,” Imreb said. From her coat pocket she retrieved the leaking sapphire thoughtstone, her brow-plates clenched so as to ignore its speech.

Oshr reacted to the thoughtstone’s wailing immediately, her brow-plates seeming to nearly pull away from her face. “Raamfire,” she moaned, “what are you showing me, saint?”

“Confiscated faulty thoughtstone, as you may have guessed.” Imreb set the sapphire on the counter between them. “What can you tell me about its manufacture?”

Oshr futilely covered her brow-plates with one slender hand and delicately plucked the sapphire between thumb and forefinger. She rolled the cut stone between her fingers, eyes scanning the facets. “Yes,” she said, squinting, “there are some obvious flaws here. Rather glaring, honestly. What novice cut this?”

“That’s what I was hoping you could tell me,” Imreb sighed. “Do you know any local…amateurs or enthusiasts?”

“Well…there’s of course the topside jeweler, Glaa’ib, but while insufficient to my skill –” she made a sour face “– he is not this bad…I believe he took on an apprentice lately, but I heard they had a falling out. Not sure what happened to him.”

“What was his name?” Imreb asked.

“Oh, I’m not sure…Something like ‘Druugam’ or ‘Mogram’ or…something. I’m sorry, saint, I only know through hearsay from customers.”

“Don’t worry, Oshr. You’ve been very helpful.” Imreb held out a hand to take back the thoughtstone. Oshr quickly thrust it forward, grateful to be rid of it. The landsaint put it back in her pocket, silencing it and pleasing the two Aajakiri’s brow-plates.

“Blest day,” concluded Imreb as she opened the shutters and passed through the gap.

“Blest day, saint,” responded Oshr, who resumed the process of closing up shop.

Outside, Imreb looked up at the shrine at the end of the street. A solemn group of the faithful gathered around the outer Uodh wall: some kneeling with small prayerbooks in hand, counting out repetitions on their rosary belts as they mumbled the words of ancient saints; some ran their fingers reverently over the gold-inscribed engraved laws of the wall’s surface; others partook in heated ritual debate over the dictates of the priests and Raam himself.

Imreb gazed down the rings of the gates and tried to imagine what lay beyond the last, the Raam gate, that she almost caught a glimpse of earlier. She offered a prayer to that vague image and made her way topside to return home for the night.

[quagmatastic]

Built a new tank the other day. Full of tannins.

I love you axolotl who I haven't named yet bc I'm incredibly indecisive and also bad at naming!

This little guy, in the short time I've had em, has already grown back the missing stump to almost the same size as the other one!

I had a TON of fun building this tank. I used some rock tiles I found for super cheap at the home depot that I really liked, gonna go back for more, simply bc it's so good. I built this tank out of loose stuff and plants that I had hanging around. Fun thrifted pillowcase turned table cloth, clear vinyl, atop of cinderblocks atop some old leftover wooden flooring planks and scrap wood on top of the blocks. Had to use a couple of shims to level it, but I got it there in the end! Rocks are the last of a bag of rocks I had for a different project, as well as the last of my 50lb bag of silica sand. Wood, decor, plants, lights, filter, all are either leftover scraps or clippings from other tanks. The tank itself I got off the classifieds, simply bc it was such a unique color! Not painted plastic, that color is straight from the manufacturer! No idea who makes them, though. Used filter media from their old tank to help kickstart that nitrate cycle.

I had to put this fella in there after my other one, Fermi, confirmed himself to be male and began trying to sex up this one, who is half his size. I only have the two axolotls, and the small one was a rescue I got at an auction (long story). Had em both in there (after a two week quarantine), to observe their interactions and learn more about em, but I don't want a million babies, so it's seperate tanks now. I had to nuke their old tank due to excessive black hair algae, and they shared the new one. Wanna see what it looks like?

This is Fermi, in there, and you can see where the freshly added nerite snail has been! I've been slowly growing out the plants in there. Fun axolotl tip: they love hides! My favorite hide method, and one I've always wanted to try, is terracotta pots that I've smashed in half. Available in a variety of sizes, they make for great naturalistic feeling, easy to decorate, cute, and durable, hides! They're great temperature sinks, leopard geckos, bearded dragons, skinks, it makes for great basking or hiding or cooling off, great moist hide, or dry if you need that.

Unnamed (already growing back their gill stubs) (left), and Fermi (glowing green eyes and vacant mind)

Unnamed (left). Fermi (right). Both are side eying the camera. Neither knows what taxes are.

Unnamed, showing off their regrown arm (the one on the viewers right), with fully functional fingers and all! The little missing bites from their tail have filled in. You can even see where the gills have started growing back (the sharply tapered, thin, and narrow part of the tips). The whole time that arm was growing back, they swam lopsided. Unnamed is a wild type morph, no GFP (green florescent protein) and adorable as all get out!

[art-student-rants]

okay but hear me out. magical libraries. magical libraries where the fantasy section is full of enchantments, and you can float to get a book off the highest shelf. magical libraries where the romance section manufactures meet-cutes, and the wooden planks bend up to “accidentally” bump you into someone. magical libraries where the mystery books are IMPOSSIBLE to find because you have to solve clues to get to them. magical libraries with long grass up to your knees in the folklore section and perpetual scary music in the horror section. magical libraries magical libraries magical libraries.

[sjsports123]

Cricket Kit - Protect Yourself and Enhance Your Game

When it comes to playing cricket at a serious level, equipment is critical. Regardless of whether you're playing terrace or gully cricket, it’s important to have the right kit to enhance your game and protect yourself.

Ensure your cricket kit includes the following:

Bat

The bat is the most important piece of cricket equipment, enabling players to hit the ball across the field. It’s a long, padded wooden plank with a handle similar to – but sturdier than – a tennis racquet.

To prepare a new bat for use, apply a light coat of Raw linseed oil to the face, edges and back of the bat. Be sure not to oil the splice, handle or labelled areas. Oiling will help prolong the life of your bat. Fibre tape is also useful for repairing minor cracks on the bat.

Ball

The ball used for cricket is made with a cork core wrapped in string and covered with leather. It must adhere to a strict universal standard for weight and dimensions.

Other essential cricket gear includes batting gloves to protect the fingers and knuckles and a batting helmet to offer head protection against fast bowlers. A cricket hat is also useful for shielding the skin from sun exposure.

To help transport equipment to and from the ground, cricketers should invest in a kit bag that can accommodate a lot of gear. Wheeled cricket kits bags feature robust wheels and a pull-along handle, perfect for adults seeking high-quality gear curated for optimal performance.

Gloves

A batsman needs to wear gloves when batting, they protect the fingers and wrist from the impact of the ball. They also help a batter get a good grip over the bat.

Depending on the side of the hand, the gloves will have different protection; righthanded gloves have additional padding for the thumb while left-handed gloves have extra protection for the bottom fingers. Some gloves also have special features such as D3o or Smart fabrics.

The gloves need to be well ventilated because hands tend to sweat during play. They should be cleaned after each use and stored in a warm place to prevent them from drying out.

Leg Guards

Batting pads are used by Cricket bat to protect the legs from hard balls bowled at high speed. They are often accompanied by knee and thigh padding to give additional protection.

The lower leg guards appear soft and flexible, but quickly mold to the player's leg, transforming into a lightweight shield that deflects ball impacts. Be sure to schedule at least 30 minutes to fit the EvoShield catcher's leg guard system, and remember to wear game pants and cleats during molding. Aim for a tight fit that stays in place during play.

Arm Guards

Designed to protect your dominant arm from impact during cricket games and training, these arm guards provide a comfortable fit while also protecting against any potential injury. They are ambidextrous and available in both adult and Youth bat sizes to ensure the best fit.

Arm guards can be made from a range of materials, with leather providing the most durable and protective option. Synthetic alternatives, such as neoprene, are lighter and more flexible but can be less durable over time.

Choose a model that fits your needs and preferences. Consider factors such as size, material, and how it secures to your body.

Chest Guard

Protecting the chest is essential when playing Cricket kit bag that involves contact with balls and bats. Chest guards are padded garments that shield the chest and rib areas from impact injuries.

Chest protectors are designed to absorb and disperse the force of impacts, reducing the risk of serious injuries like broken ribs and punctured lungs. They also increase a player’s confidence and allow them to play with more intensity.

Ensure that your chest guard is the right size and shape for maximum protection. Follow the manufacturer’s guidelines for cleaning and maintenance to extend its lifespan.

Thigh Pads

The thigh pad is used by batsmen in cricket to protect their legs from the impact of hard balls. They are also used by wicket-keepers and catchers in a variety of sports such as baseball, fastpitch softball, field hockey, ringette, and bandy.

The cricket thigh pads are lightweight and fit snugly on your thighs, ensuring full movement for maximum performance levels. They feature high-density, dual layered EVA foam padding to protect batters from the impact of high velocity cricket balls.

Players are now customizing their thigh pads with treDCAL, turning their protective gear into a form of personal expression on the field.

[tilecleaningtoday]

What is the Best Low Maintenance Flooring?

Looking for a luxurious flooring solution that won’t require hours of routine maintenance? There are a lot of excellent easy maintenance floors on the market today. Designed to fit in with your busy lifestyle, low maintenance flooring is a popular choice for family homes and businesses.

So, what are the best low maintenance floors you can invest in? Below, we’ll reveal some of the best on offer.

Maintaining Luxury Vinyl Tiles

When it comes to low maintenance flooring, luxury vinyl can’t be beaten. Not only is it easy to maintain, but it’s also the easiest to keep clean too. It doesn’t require any special care unlike wooden flooring, and it’s available in a huge choice of designs.

Advancements in manufacturing techniques have improved the aesthetics of luxury vinyl flooring. Available in both wood and stone effects, it’s difficult to tell modern luxury vinyl floors apart from the real thing. They boast excellent water and stain resistance too, enabling you to install these floors in practically any room of the home.

All you really need to do to keep luxury vinyl floors looking like new, is vacuum them daily and give them a weekly mop. This will help to control dust, dirt and residue. The only thing to be wary of is if you’re using glue-down vinyl, you’ll want to avoid getting it too wet. So, when mopping glued down vinyl flooring, it’s important to use a damp, not wet mop. This is because the water could seep through the edges, weakening the glue over time.

The strength of these floors also keeps them protected against scuffs and scratches. They tend to feature a protective top layer which not only reduces maintenance but lengthens the lifespan of the floor too. You’ll find vinyl floors come with an excellent warranty, with some even boasting a lifetime guarantee.

Maintaining Laminate Flooring

Another low maintenance option is laminate. While it used to be quite tricky to maintain, advanced manufacturing techniques have made the planks much stronger and easier to keep clean. They tend to feature a photographic layer too, mimicking the look of solid wood perfectly.

Laminate floors today come with a wear layer to protect them against wear and tear. The maintenance is very similar to that of luxury vinyl. Just a daily sweep or vacuum will keep the floor dust and debris free. Just be careful about how much water you use when it comes time to mop the floor. Unless the laminate has waterproof properties, too much water could cause irreplaceable damage. Read more about how to maintain and clean laminate flooring here.

Maintaining Engineered Hardwood

If you really want the look of solid hardwood floors without the maintenance, engineered wood floors are a great choice. While the surface layer is made from solid wood, it is also heavily protected by either an oiled or a lacquered surface. The majority of the planks are typically made up of HDF layers, which aren’t as temperamental to changes in temperature or moisture. This, alongside their excellent scratch and scuff resistance, makes them a breeze to maintain.

Like laminate and vinyl, you’ll need to give the floor a daily vacuum or sweep over. Besides this, a dry mop once a week should be enough to keep the floor looking brand new. The only thing to be wary of here, is that any spills should be cleaned up quickly. Engineered wood floors aren’t usually as stain resistant as vinyl or laminate.

Which Floors Require More maintenance?

So, we’ve covered the floors that provide low maintenance benefits. Now let’s look at the floors that require the most amount of maintenance.

Solid wood floors are notoriously tricky to maintain. They can be easily scratched, and they warp and damage easily when exposed to changes in temperature and moisture. This means you not only need to be careful where they’re installed, but also with how you clean them. You’ll find it difficult to clean off any stains and spills can easily cause damage. If you have your heart set on solid wood flooring, it’s best to install them in low-traffic and non-family areas such as the bedroom.

Other types of flooring that are harder to maintain include ceramic and tiles. Interestingly, the colour of the floor you choose also makes a difference to how easy it is to maintain. Did you know for example, that white coloured flooring is notoriously difficult to keep clean? So, in higher traffic areas, it’s best to opt for darker coloured flooring that will hide daily wear and tear.

When choosing a new floor for your home, it’s important to consider how easy it’s going to be to maintain.

Source: www.StoriesFlooring.co.uk

[deckingproducts]

Types of Wood Decking

Redwood, cedar, and pressure-treated wood (which may be created from various wood species) are the three most popular options for wooden decks. Despite their shared natural beauty and resistance to insects and decay, redwood and cedar each has drawbacks.

Redwood Flooring

Applying a sealer on redwood and reapplying it over time is necessary for its upkeep. It’s more costly since it’s cultivated on the West Coast and shipped to the rest of the country. Because of its inherent stability, it does not warp when used as decking.

Redwood is more long-lasting because of its stability. It’s able to keep its finish since it includes very no resins. From a conservationist’s point of view, old-growth redwood is the best option, but stocks are running low. Only one percent of the original redwood forests remain.

Red Cedar Planks

Cedar, a rather soft wood, has a long history of usage as decking. Although it is naturally resistant to rot and insects, which makes it appealing, it may be too soft for decking and has a propensity to splinter. Vertical features such as the balustrade of the railing, privacy fence, and structures like pergolas and planters benefit most from its usage. Like redwood, the best cuts of wood come from old-growth cedars that are between 100 and 250 years old, but these trees are at imminent risk of being chopped down.

Manufacturers now provide cedar called S4S, or smooth on all four sides. This can help it be less likely to splinter.

Planks of Pressure-Treated Wood

Pressure-treated timber is accessible almost everywhere in the United States, is resistant to rot and insects, and is much cheaper than redwood or cedar. It lasts long and is usually hidden by the deck flooring. Therefore, deck builders employ it to construct deck support systems.

This kind of wood can be unstable, particularly when sold at reduced costs. Low-quality wood often experiences shrinkage, warping, and twisting. Pay more for better quality timber pre-treated with water repellents and occasionally pre-stained at the mill.

Treated Yellow Pine is the most popular choice for decking in the United States. It’s beautiful, long-lasting and more environmentally friendly than other types of wood popularly used for decking.

[umisonsindustries]

Buy 𝑾𝒐𝒐𝒅𝒆𝒏 𝑩𝒆𝒂𝒎 𝑴𝒂𝒌𝒊𝒏𝒈 from #Umisons

Features Stagger Butt Joints To Distribute Flaws evenly throughout Beam This hydraulic m/c help in making sturdy beams from wooden planks, strips. m.c can be built customized sizes.

For more details👇 📱 Call: +91 9925034042, +91 9825095103, +91 9925049042 💬 WhatsApp: https://wa.me/+919925034042 🌐 Visit: https://www.umisons.com/services/wooden-beam-jointer/ . . .

#Umisons #Wooden #Woodenbeam #Woodenbeammaking #manufacturers #umisonsindustries #woodcuttingmachine #cuttingmachine

[itsnazib]

How To Choose A Suitable Floor?

Are you wondering which floor is the best for your interior, apartment or family home? How to proceed when choosing a floor? Which floor to choose for individual rooms in the house?

We will talk about the advantages and disadvantages of individual floors in today's article, so read it carefully until the end.

The floor should match the style of your home and the way you live. The floor that is made of a suitable material should be chosen, as each material has its own advantages and disadvantages. 

Acquiring a floor for the interior represents an investment for many years, therefore it is necessary to carefully consider which floor covering should become part of your home and which will meet all your expectations.

The floor affects the look and feel of the entire room, while it must be durable and able to handle the daily stresses of people, pets, furniture, spills and other dirt. When choosing, it is important to consider quality, appearance and price. 

The floor should be in more neutral colors that better adapt to the different color shades of the walls and home accessories in the interior. Floor manufacturers currently offer a wide range of design options when choosing different floor materials. For example, you can find wood decor in the offerings of manufacturers of ceramic tiles, vinyl, laminate and linoleum. 

However, choosing a floor is also a matter of feeling. Today brings a selection of floors from different materials that have a modern and timeless design.

A smaller and darker room will be brightened by a lighter floor color. A light floor visually enlarges the room. A dark floor will appeal especially to those who like contrast. Light walls and bright home accessories go well with a dark floor.

So what are the flooring options?

expensive laminate costs almost the same as the cheaper category of wooden floors.

Different Types Of Flooring: The Materials

Let's now look at the most popular materials on the market.

The Hardwood 

Among the various types of floors, the most sought-after is certainly hardwood flooring, very elegant and adaptable to various environments. However, it has several limitations that make it quite inconvenient. 

Starting from the high costs up to the incredible delicacy. It is in fact easy to scratch and replacing damaged parts can prove to be a real undertaking, as well as a nightmare for the wallet. 

These types of floors also tend to be very sensitive to moisture. In fact, over time, the planks could deform and change color.

When choosing a wooden floor it is a good idea to evaluate its porosity, its resistance and the ways in which to maintain it, ensuring its resistance over time. You can also take help from a professional flooring consultant from Floor N More.

Marble

Another very popular material is natural stone marble. We are talking about a type of rock, resistance is a must, except that even in this case prices tend to rise dramatically. Obviously the price varies based on the type and quantity of marble, but using it for just one room can be excessively expensive. 

You also need to pay attention to how it should be cleaned, as marble is a porous material, you will have to find alternative methods for cleaning it.

The Resin

Another type of flooring that is finding a fair diffusion is resin flooring. This is an excellent alternative for creating a continuous floor without joints, very often used in offices. 

Unfortunately, it does not seem to be very resistant to time, in fact it tends to yellow and shows scratch resistance characteristics very similar to parquet. Walking on it and moving furniture are activities that can increase this risk.

Porcelain Stoneware

All the aesthetic characteristics seen so far, but without the technical and practical defects, can be found in porcelain stoneware. For those who don't know, we are talking about a modern and innovative material. 

The porcelain tiles are produced through the use of clay, minerals, and sand, mixed and fired at very high temperatures (1200-1400 C°). Thanks to this production technique, the tiles develop an incredible hardness which makes them very resistant to impacts.

Furthermore, porcelain stoneware tiles are waterproof and resistant to chemical agents, this makes us understand that there are no restrictions on cleaning. The material is also fireproof and frost-proof, meaning there is no risk of fire and they do not degrade with the action of frost.

Carpet Flooring

Carpet is a textile type flooring, however it is often also used as a wall covering.

Carpet offers comfort, soundproofing and safety often at lower prices than other coverings on the market.

A carpet floor is pleasant to the touch and elegant to look at. In general, the carpet is made up of a support made of rubber latex, jute, or synthetic material, into which different types of yarns, synthetic or natural, are inserted.

Its advantages derive from the protection of the floor under the carpet, from soundproofing, it is anti-slip, prevents trauma, and has capacity in terms of thermal insulation. There are several types of carpet on the market, and you can check it here “Carpet Floors”.

Ceramic Flooring

Ceramics still represents one of the ideal and most widespread solutions for covering the floor of any room, home, or office, because it is a very resistant material and above all adaptable to any environment because it is found in the most varied colors. 

Precisely because there are various types of ceramic on the market, it is advisable to at least know what characteristics distinguish them so as to understand well which one is actually right for you and manages to meet your needs in terms of both taste and habitability.

Floor For Individual Rooms

Kitchen

The floor in the kitchen must be resistant to mechanical damage when sharp and heavy objects fall, and especially around the kitchen countertop, it must be well reinforced and not easy to walk on.

Bedrooms And Children's Rooms

In children's rooms and bedrooms, the floor should be pleasant to the touch. Children often like to play on the ground and should feel comfortable there. For maximum comfort and convenience, you can add small rugs to these rooms, which will keep warm and make the rooms even cozier.

Entrance Room, Hall And Corridor

For the entrance door, we recommend a really high-quality floor that can handle constant movement and dirt from the outside. Do not choose tiles in this place, as dirt and dust would settle in their joints. 

Living Room

The living room is where most of the action takes place and where a lot of time is spent. The floor here should therefore easily handle the movement of people, animals and, for example, moving furniture, and for that highly resistant floor is suitable.

So you have to answer the question of which floor is best for yourself. A different floor covering will be suitable for everyone and for every household. So which do you prefer?

You can easily choose and buy floors at our flooring shop Floor N More.  If necessary, contact us at the following address and phone number. Obviously, we will be happy to advise you on choosing a suitable floor.

[homeimprovementway]

How Does a Jointer Work: Unlocking the Secrets of Woodworking Precision

A jointer works by leveling and smoothing the edges of a wooden board or plank to create a flat surface.

Working Mechanism Of A Jointer

A jointer is a versatile woodworking tool used to create flat and even surfaces. It is an essential tool for woodworkers and carpenters in achieving precise results. Understanding the working mechanism of a jointer is crucial for using it effectively. Components Of A Jointer A jointer consists of several main components that work together to achieve its functionality: Component Description Infeed Table The surface where the rough stock is first fed into the jointer for initial planing. Cutter Head The rotating cutting knives that remove material from the wood and create a smooth surface. Outfeed Table The adjacent surface to the infeed table where the wood exits the jointer after being planed. Fence A vertical guide that ensures the wood is positioned at the correct angle and maintains a straight edge. How A Jointer Achieves Precision A jointer achieves precision in woodworking through a systematic process: - The wood is fed onto the infeed table. - The rotating cutter head removes material from the wood's surface. - The fence guides the wood, ensuring a straight edge is created. - The outfeed table supports the wood as it exits the jointer, providing stability. This step-by-step process allows the jointer to flatten and square wood surfaces accurately, which is essential for various woodworking projects.

Step-by-step Guide To Using A Jointer

A jointer is an essential tool for any woodworking enthusiast. It helps flatten and straighten wood material, ensuring a smooth and precise finish. Whether you are a professional carpenter or a DIY enthusiast, understanding how to use a jointer correctly is crucial. In this step-by-step guide, we will take you through the process of preparing the wood material, setting up the jointer, using it correctly, and ensuring precision and safety. Preparing The Wood Material Before using a jointer, it is important to properly prepare the wood material: - Selecting Suitable Wood: Choose a piece of wood that is free from knots, cracks, and warps. This will ensure a better result. - Measuring and Marking: Measure and mark the areas on the wood that need to be flattened or straightened. This will help you focus your efforts and achieve the desired outcome. - Securing the Wood: Use clamps or a vice to securely hold the wood material in place. This will prevent it from shifting and ensure stability during the jointing process. Setting Up The Jointer Proper setup is essential for using a jointer effectively: - Adjusting the Fence: Ensure that the fence is square to the jointer table. Use a square to make any necessary adjustments. This will help maintain accuracy while jointing. - Setting the Depth of Cut: Adjust the depth of cut according to the thickness of the wood material. Start with a shallow cut and gradually increase it until you achieve the desired result. - Checking the Blade Alignment: Make sure the blades are aligned parallel to the jointer table. If necessary, adjust the blade height and alignment using the manufacturer's instructions. Using The Jointer Correctly Now that you have prepared the wood material and set up the jointer, it's time to start using it: - Feeding the Wood: Place one end of the wood material on the jointer table and push it steadily against the fence. Use even pressure and maintain a consistent feed rate for the entire length of the board. - Supporting the Wood: To prevent snipe (excess material removal at the ends), support the wood with a roller or an auxiliary table at both the infeed and outfeed sides of the jointer. - Repeating the Process: Continue jointing the wood material, taking light passes and making adjustments as necessary. Ensure that each pass slightly overlaps the previous one to achieve a smooth and flat surface. Ensuring Precision And Safety To ensure the best results and maintain safety while using a jointer, keep these tips in mind: - Protective Gear: Always wear safety glasses and hearing protection when using a jointer. - Feeding Direction: Feed the wood against the rotation of the cutterhead. This helps prevent kickback and ensures a smoother cut. - Cleanup: Regularly clean the jointer table and remove any wood chips or debris to maintain optimal performance. - Regular Maintenance: Keep the blades sharp and properly aligned for accurate jointing. Follow the manufacturer's guidelines for maintaining the jointer's overall condition.

Frequently Asked Questions On How Does A Jointer Work

What Is A Jointer And How Does It Work? A jointer is a woodworking tool used to flatten and straighten boards. It works by rotating a cutterhead with sharp blades, which trims off the high points of the wood surface. As the board is guided along the tool's flat table, the blades remove small amounts of material for a smooth, even result. Do I Really Need A Jointer? Yes, a jointer is essential for woodworking. It helps create flat and smooth surfaces by leveling and squaring edges. This tool ensures accurate woodworking projects, improves the quality of lumber, and reduces the need for sanding. A jointer is particularly useful for making furniture, cabinets, and other precise woodworking tasks. What Is The Difference Between A Jointer And A Planer? A jointer is used for flattening and straightening the edges of boards, while a planer is used to make their surfaces smooth and even. Jointers are primarily for edge work, while planers are for overall thickness control. How Does A Jointer Straighten A Board? A jointer straightens a board by removing small amounts of material until the surface is flat and even. The board is passed over the jointer's rotating knives, which cut away high spots, resulting in a straight and smooth finish.

Conclusion

To sum up, a jointer is an essential tool for achieving precise and smooth edges on wooden boards. By flattening and squaring the surface, a jointer ensures seamless joining and enhances the overall quality of woodworking projects. With its adjustable fence and cutter head, it offers versatility and control. Understanding how a jointer works empowers woodworkers to tackle challenging tasks with confidence and produce exceptional results. Incorporating a jointer into your woodworking arsenal will undoubtedly elevate your craftsmanship to new heights. Read the full article

[mapeidubai]

PU Adhesive for wood floor Manufacturer in Dubai, UAE - Mapei

ULTRABOND P902 2K

Two-component, epoxy-polyurethane adhesive for bonding all types and sizes of parquet on screeds made from MAPECEM, MAPECEM PRONTO, TOPCEM or TOPCEM PRONTO, cementitious screeds, old wooden, ceramic, marble, and terrazzo floors, etc. Also suitable for heated substrates. TECHNICAL DATA: Consistency: comp. A: paste; comp. B: paste. Colour: comp. A: beige or brown; comp. B: off-white. Mixing ratio: comp. A : comp. B = 90 : 10. Pot life of mix: 60-70 minutes. Open time: 1 hour. Set to light foot traffic: after 24 hours. Sanding: after 3 days. EMICODE: EC1 R Plus - very low emission. Storage: 24 months. Application: N° 2 or 4 notched trowel for wood. Consumption: 1.0-1.5 kg/m². Packaging: 10 kg drums (A+B).

WHERE TO USE Bonding of all sizes and types of wooden flooring. Some application examples Ultrabond P902 2K is used for bonding small and large sized planks and all types of wood on: cementitious screeds; Mapecem, Mapecem Pronto, Topcem, Topcem Pronto screeds and similar; existing flooringin wood, ceramic tiles, marble, terrazzo tiles, etc.; anhydrite screeds and metallic sheets. Suitable for underfloor heating systems

Choose Mapei to get the Best Adhesive for Parquet in UAE at great offer and quality assured.

[gsmdoors]

Modern Trends in Stylish Wooden Doors

Introduction

Wooden doors are not only functional but also aesthetic. They can add a touch of elegance, warmth, and personality to your home. However, not all wooden doors are created equal. Different types, styles, and designs of wooden doors can suit your preferences and needs. In this blog post, we will explore some of the modern trends by stylish wooden door suppliers that you can consider for your next home improvement project.

Solid Wood Panel Doors

One of the most popular and classic types of wooden doors is the solid wood panel door. This type of door is made of solid wood planks that are joined together to form a flat or raised panel. The panel can have various shapes, sizes, and patterns, depending on the design of the door. They are durable, and sturdy, and offer good insulation and soundproofing. They can also be painted or stained to match the color scheme of your home.

Velvet doors

These are modern-style wooden doors that are milled according to individual clients' requirements. The surface of the door is precision milled with grooves that create an undulating surface, which in turn plays with light in an interesting and different way. Velvet doors are ideal for adding a touch of sophistication and luxury to your home. They can be customized with different colors, finishes, and patterns to suit your taste and style.

Glass doors

Glass doors are another popular trend in wooden doors for homes. They have glass panels that run the length or width of the door, providing ample natural light and visibility. Glass doors can be used as interior or exterior doors, depending on the type and thickness of the glass. They can also be combined with wood frames, panels, or louvers to create contrast and balance. Glass doors are perfect for creating a spacious and airy feel in your home. They can also enhance the aesthetic appeal of your home by showcasing your décor, garden, or view.

Carved doors

Carved doors are wooden doors that have intricate and ornate designs carved on them. They can be made from solid or engineered wood and come in various styles, such as floral, geometric, or abstract. Carved doors are a great way to add some personality and charm to your home. They can also reflect your culture, heritage, or personal preferences. Carved doors are suitable for traditional and modern homes, as they create a focal point and statement piece.

Best Wooden Door Manufacturer in Greater Noida

If you are looking for a reliable and reputable stylish wooden door supplier in Greater Noida, look no further than GSM Doors. GSM Doors is a leading manufacturer and exporter of high-quality wooden doors, windows, and frames. They have over 20 years of experience in the industry and have a team of skilled and trained craftsmen who can produce any type of wooden door you desire. Whether you want a solid wood panel door, a flush door, a carved door, or a glass door, GSM Doors can deliver it to you with the best quality and service.

Some of the benefits of choosing GSM Doors as your stylish wooden door supplier are:

●       They use premium quality wood that is sourced from sustainable and certified forests. They also use eco-friendly and non-toxic materials and processes to ensure the safety and health of their customers and the environment.

●       They offer a wide range of designs, colors, and sizes to suit your taste and budget. You can also customize your own door by choosing the wood type, finish, panel style, carving, glass, and hardware.

●       They provide fast and hassle-free delivery and installation. They have a network of dealers and distributors across India and abroad who can deliver and install your door within the stipulated time and with the utmost care and professionalism.

Conclusion

Wooden doors are a great choice for your home if you want to enhance its beauty, security, and value. However, you need to choose the right type, style, and wooden door design that suits your needs and preferences. You also need to find a trustworthy and experienced stylish wooden door supplier who can provide you with the best quality and service. GSM Doors is one of the best wooden door manufacturers in GreaterNoida that can fulfill all your wooden door requirements. Contact them today and get ready to transform your home with their stylish wooden doors.

To know more about GSM Doors and their products, you can visit their website or contact them at +91-9876543210. You can also follow them on Facebook and Instagram to get the latest updates and offers.

Also, read:

Innovations in Wooden Doors: What's New in 2023?

Originally published at: https://gsmdoors.blogspot.com/2023/12/modern-trends-in-stylish-wooden-doors.html