#best deals big spring sale

[ismail786blog]

Explore Creator top sellers from the Big Spring Sale

[newsreports-online]

Best tech deals from Amazon's Big Spring Sale

As a participant in multiple affiliate marketing programs, Localish will earn a commission for certain purchases. See full disclaimer below* Amazon’s Big Spring sale is live only through tonight and one of the biggest categories seeing the steepest discounts is tech. We’ve rounded up the can’t-miss tech deals below from the sale line right now. These include Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Gen) under…

[lamentationsofalonelypotato]

It’s Not A Big Deal

Pairing: Soldier Boy x f!reader, Reader POV

Summary: Dean's in for a rude awakening when he finds out exactly what you did when you got stranded in another universe.

Tropes: Fluff, Frenemies (Dean and the Reader), Awkward Situation, Multiverse Problems.

Word Count: 3.1K (I promise I didn't mean for it to happen)

Warnings: I'm gonna label this 18+ just to be sure. There is some swearing (only a few times), Heated Kiss, Sexual Innuendo, References to Sex/Past Sex (it happens quite a bit). Soldier Boy being Soldier Boy (Everyone knows he’s a warning).

Note: This is told from Reader's perspective. Any references to the reader is made using you or your. There is minimal use of y/n. I tried my best to proofread, but nobody's perfect. If you don’t like, don’t read, but if you do like, you’re my favorite!

Internal monologue is in italics and is in first person

Main Masterlist

A/N: Okay I know that I should be working on my other fics, but I had this idea after reading an INCREDIBLE fic by @justagirlinafandomworld called "Stranded" for @jacklesversebingo and I couldn't help myself.

Sam squeals the car into the parking lot of the motel so loud that Dean and you can hear the high pitched scream of rubber on asphalt from your room on the second level.

"If he ruins those tires he's going to pay for them." Dean grumbles under his breath from where he sits at the small wooden table under the window, wiping down his gun with a clean rag. The sunlight that came streaming through dramatized the sharp angles of his jaw and the soft sleepy strands of his hair that still stuck up from when he woke up an hour ago.

"I don't know what his hurry is." You don’t look up from the worn paperback perched in your lap, gently turning the page. "If he's that eager to get back here to tell us something he should have just called."

“Maybe there was a sample sale on hair gel.” Dean laughs at his own joke and you can sense him look up from the gun to try and catch your eye, but you don't raise your gaze from the text.

“That’s pretty brave coming from someone who owns 90% of the products in that bathroom.”

“What? I do not-“

“Really? If I walk in there right now there won’t be seven different half-used deodorant sticks?”

“They’re different smells." Dean says defensively. "And shut up. I don’t comment on how many books you bring with you. Don’t know why you need to shove a million in your bag and then just buy one while you’re here.”

“Because I might not feel like reading the ones I bring. I might want to try something new. And this book,” You wave the book in your hand for emphasis. “Is very good and I don’t have it back at the bunker, and it was only two bucks!"

“But the others ones might be good too. You don’t know.” Dean sighs, looking at you like you're insane. "You just let them sit and rot in your suitcase."

Today was the last day that you would be staying in Louis, Illinois. The current case that the three of you had been working on together had been solved, which meant that the townsfolk were no longer dealing with a zombie outbreak and you were at peace to settle down on your pull out bed with a good book, taking a few moments for yourself.

You desperately needed at least five, but you also wished that you were already back in your room at the bunker.

The bed there didn't have as many springs that stuck into your back at odd angles and didn't squeak whenever you moved an inch. Your inability to find a comfortable position meant that the mattress squeaked all night long and Dean had thrown his pillow at you to make it stop. He hadn’t been pleased when you returned it back to him. Then again, you had hit him in the face with it as hard as you could when you did.

And like hell you were going to give Dean Winchester the satisfaction of sleeping in bed with him. You’d had to do that one time on a hunt where there were no extra rooms and Dean refused to let you sleep on the floor or in his car. He said that you might make it spontaneously combust.  So you'd shared the bed and learned that he was the biggest blanket hog you’d ever met, not to mention when you woke up he was spooning you and you couldn’t be certain, but you thought he had tried to cop a feel at least once.

If anything you’d maybe sleep in Sam’s bed, but the guy was so much bigger than you he took up most of the space, so you were stuck with the pull out couch.

You couldn't wait to be home. You liked going out on cases, but you liked that you had a home now, a space that was only yours, and someplace where you could shut yourself away from the world. And most importantly, away from Dean Winchester, who had been the bane of your existence since the night you met him for the first time.

Of course this wasn't too bad either. Taking a few moments of quiet for yourself while Dean cleaned his guns and sorted some of his tools in his duffle. The two of you were getting more comfortable around one another. When you’d first met there had been a lot of screaming and several "she's not going to be there is she?" and "what the hell is she doing here?" questions that Dean moaned to Sam over and over the more the three of you teamed up.

You weren't used to working with other people, well, now you were,  but before it had just been you and the endless road. But as it began to happen more and more you tried to fit comfortably into the swing of things. Dean and you would occasionally bump heads, but it happened less now than it did before. After five years you'd hoped that the two of you could be more civilized, for Sam's sake at least.

Sam and you got along much better. You didn't understand what Dean's problem was with you, or why he hated you so much. He was always correcting you, insulting you, and snatching things away from you as if you hadn't been hunting your entire life. Occasionally it wasn't that bad, like right now, but it had been much worse a few years ago.

When you'd met Dean you'd hated him, thought he was a dick, but the more the two of you spent time together on cases the more you saw that he did those things to hide what he was feeling and the more you saw how big his heart was.

You believed that your relationship now with him had progressed to a sort of symbiotic relationship, but honestly it was more like passive aggressive roommates who fight over whose turn it is to clean the dishes.

Dean still tended to get high and mighty sometimes and annoyed you without end, but you stuck around and in Sam's words "bickered like an old couple."

Sam had gone to grab some snacks and fill the tank at the gas station down the street twenty minutes ago, leaving with a joyful "Don't kill each other."

So far there were no casualties, but apart of you itched to beam Dean in the back of the head with the paperback just for a little bit of excitement.

Sam bursts into the room out of breath. "Okay I-"

"Where's the fire Sammy?" Dean sighs looking up from his gun.

"I ran into someone when I was at the gas station." Sam says it all together, as if it's one sentence.

"And?" You move your hand in a come on gesture hoping that Sam will get to the point.

"Well he's- he's-"

The man that pushes into the room past Sam is not Dean, he looks like him, but that's not why he's so familiar. He's muscular with dark brown hair that hangs a little longer than Dean's, over the top of his ears, while a few strands fall forward on his forehead. He's allowed a dark beard to cover his cheeks, but his eyes are the same piercing green that they were the last time you saw him. And if that wasn't enough for you to recognize him, the dark green superhero suit would be a dead giveaway.

Oh shit.

"Ben?" You drop your book onto the thick carpeted floor in surprise.

Two months ago you had been unwillingly transported to another reality, a reality where superheroes were real, people had powers, and where you met a version of Dean that you actually got along with better than the Dean in your reality.

You hadn't told Sam or Dean what happened between Ben and you. You weren't about to admit out loud that you actually got along with another version of Dean or admit that you found the other version of Dean aka Ben, attractive. So attractive in fact that you had spent a good amount of the time in the other universe in bed with him before you came back to your reality.

Ben doesn't respond, instead he crosses the room in several powerful strides, and hauls you up off the pull out couch.

"What are you-"

One of his hands tangles in the back of your hair, pulling your mouth against his in a furious kiss that steals your breath away and silences whatever you were going to say next. A part of you registers that Dean and Sam are still in the room, but it's quickly swept away by how it feels to kiss Ben. You hadn't forgotten him, anything but that. Sometimes you actually kind of missed him, when you were lonely or when the Dean from your universe annoyed you too much. Because Ben annoyed you too, but at least at the end of it there was a way to relieve the tension. With Dean the only place you put all your frustration was into the hunt and there were only so many times you could bash a Djinn’s head in.

Ben's tongue brushes against your bottom lip, begging for entrance, and you let him in, bringing your hands up to the back of his neck to thread into the long strands of his hair. The strands fall between your fingertips, feathering out from your grip. You moan softly into his mouth as he deepens the kiss, feeling the familiar scratch of his beard against your cheeks, and feel his hand begin to slip down your back to rest on the curve of your ass.

Well, he certainly hasn't changed.

"Fuck I missed you sweetheart." Ben murmurs against your mouth squeezing your butt to emphasize the point. "You and this sexy fucking body."

"Ben." You roll your eyes with a snort.

"What? You didn't miss me?" He raises an eyebrow, forcing his mouth into an attractive pout. "Because you certainly seemed happy to see me a second ago." His free hand gently traces your plump lower lip with the pad of your thumb.

"I did and I am happy to see you, but what are you doing here?"

"Thought so." Ben leans his head back down towards yours, ignoring your question as he tries to kiss you again, but before he can Dean interrupts.

"What the fuck is going on?" Dean shouts, standing from the table under the window, and points his gun at Ben's unprotected back. "Who the fuck are you?"

Ben half turns over his shoulder eyes flicking from the gun to Dean with a sigh. "Look the only thing that's gonna do is piss me off. And you don't want that kid."

Dean makes a face. "Who the hell are you calling kid?"

"Now why don't you two fuck off for a few hours, let me give her a proper hello." Ben turns his dark eyes back on you, cupping your chin in his large hand.

"Y/n? You want to tell us what's happening? Or who this guy is?" Sam asks, but you can't look away from Ben.

You really had missed him. Ben was even more attractive than you remembered. The day that you'd left his universe, Ben had asked you to stay, well, had asked you in his own way. He'd said that he wasn't done with you and if you had stayed he would have made it worth your while. But you had to come back. You weren’t sure how Dean and Sam would survive without you and also because the universe that Ben inhabited was more terrifying than yours, and that was saying something, given that you dealt with demons on a daily basis.

"Guys this is Ben." You clear your throat. "Ben this is Dean and Sam."

"Ben as in Soldier Boy? From the fucked up reality with the people with superpowers Ben?" Dean sputters. He lowered the gun slightly, but he's still looking from Ben to you like he's just walked in on his parents making out.

"Yes." You say it slowly, trying to find a way out, but there really isn't any way to hide this.

It's not that big a deal, is it?

Ben releases you and turns to look at Dean, eyes skating over his body. "So that's Dean?" He tilts his head to the side. "Kinda scrawny. The way you described him made me think he'd look a little more like a man and less like a fucking pussy."

"What the fuck did you just say to me?" Dean takes a step towards Ben, holding his gun steady out from his chest. You noticed that Dean did try to puff it out more after Ben's insult.

"You heard me." Ben smirks, welcoming the challenge.

"Whoa!" You step between them. "Calm down ladies there's enough Prada to go around at this sample sale."

Ben's eyes narrow in confusion at your comment, but he doesn't back down from Dean.

"I'd say that you left a few details out of your trip!" Dean shouts looking from Ben to you in disgust. "Did you sleep with me?"

"What?" You look at him like he’s crazy.

What does he mean?

"You, and him." Dean gestures wildly with the gun. "Did you sleep with me?"

"What are you talking about? No I didn't sleep with you, I slept with him and it was only once!" You shout back.

Ben clears his throat.

"Fine. A few times.” You correct with a sigh.

“But- you- him-“ Dean’s head turns from Ben to you. “Him- you-.”

“Yeah. Me and her fucked.” Ben says it slowly like Dean is a child.

Honestly he was acting a little bit like a child.

Sam is holding back his laughter behind a hand while Dean’s eye begins to twitch aggressively.

This is exactly why I didn’t tell him. They aren’t the same person! Dean is Dean and Ben is Ben. Someone who shares the same face. And probably the same other things that I’m not going to think about right now because that seems crazy.

"How many times is a few?” Dean demands.

"Why does that matter?”

"HOW MANY?" He shouts so loud that you think the people in the next room over were probably having a wonderful time listening to this soap opera.

Because it kinda did sound like one right? The main character never gets along with someone and then gets transported to another reality through a colorful portal and immediately clicks with another version of him. And-

Maybe I need to rethink my life.

"Well..." Your face scrunched up trying to count exactly how many times that you and Ben had sex. It was difficult. Not that it was hard to remember, you knew that you weren’t going to forget it anytime soon, but just the amount of times the two of you were together was more than you could count on your fingers.

"Well what? You were there for five days!"

"I mean..." You shrug.

“Why?” Dean groans pinching the bridge of his nose as if trying to scrub the images from his brain.

Honestly, if he’d told you that he had sex with another version of you, you probably would have had the same reaction, but you were not about to admit that to Dean Winchester of all people.

He’s not gonna win this argument. Especially not when he's waving his gun around like a psychopath.

“Because he's-“ You  glance over at Ben who winks at you. “I don’t know. He’s just kinda-.”

“Everything you’re not.” Ben raises his eyebrow at Dean.

“Sammy you gonna weigh in on this?” You look at Sam expectantly hoping that he can jolt Dean out of the never ending loop he seemed to be stuck in.

“Nope. I’m staying out of it.” Sam holds his hands up in surrender.

“I cannot believe you slept with me!” Dean shouts again.

“Stop saying that! I didn’t sleep with you! I slept with him. Can we please move on-“ You groan.

"Same thing!"

"What? How is it the same thing?” You plant your hands on your hips glaring at Dean.

"He's me from another universe!" Dean is gesturing wildly with his gun now. “How would you feel if I slept with an alternate version of you?”

“It’s completely different!”

“How?”

“They aren’t us!”

“He sure as hell looks like me!" Dean snaps back. "What did you close your eyes the whole time or something?"

Your cheeks flare bright red with Dean's question. "No I didn't!"

“And I don’t look like you.” Ben grunts crossing his arms over his chest and giving Dean a once over again.

“He also doesn’t act like you.” You add.

It was true, Ben didn’t. And for some reason you got along with him more. You didn’t understand what Dean’s problem was, but for the better part of five years he’d been treating you like you hadn’t been hunting your whole life. Not to mention the first three years were spent with Dean barely saying two words to you without some kind of insult attached.

“That’s beside the point!”

“How is that beside the point?” You demand.

“I can’t believe you did this!”

"I didn't kill anyone Dean. I didn't torture any babies or kill any puppies. We are consenting adults! We had sex-"

“No no no!” Dean puts his fingers in his ears. “Lalalalala.” He sings to himself to avoid the image.

"And we're gonna have it again. So the two of you should clear out, unless you're in to that kind of thing Deanie.” Ben wraps his arm around your shoulders to pull you into him, but you don’t take your eyes off of Dean.

“Fuck I’m gonna need so much therapy after this” Dean groans putting the gun down on the table. Which was a good sign because now you weren’t worried that he would accidentally shoot Sam in the foot.

“Really? After everything you’ve gone through that’s what pushes you over the edge?” You ask him in shock.

“Yes. Are you happy? You’ve driven me to the point of insanity!” Dean snaps.

"You're acting like a child."

"I am not! I am having a completely normal reaction to finding out you slept with Wannabe Captain America!” Dean gestures to all of Ben who looks at Dean like he can’t tell if it’s an insult or not. 

You take in a deep breath to calm your racing heart. “Why are you so upset that I slept with him Dean? I don’t understand how this is so earth shattering to you that two people had sex! You have sex with people all the time-“

“Not with you!”He snaps back, but then clears his throat when he realized what he just said.

“He is not YOU!” You shout rolling your eyes for the millionth time. At the rate he was going, you were sure they were going to roll out of your head. 

“As important as this conversation is… can we maybe put a pin in it and go back to why he’s here?” Sam asks diplomatically.

“No-“ Dean says at the same time you say.

“Yes! Ben why are you here?”

“Don’t really know.” He shrugs taking a long hit from a joint that seemed to materialize out of thin air, while tightening his arm over your shoulders. “All I know was that I was fighting Homelander and someone hit me from behind. Then I ended up here.” Ben’s eyes trace your body. “But I’m not complaining, especially not because I got to see you again doll.” He winks.

“Homelander?” Dean repeats. “That is the stupidest hero name I’ve ever heard in my entire life.”

“He’s anything but a hero.” You fight the shudder from the last time you ran in to him. “Think about Superman if Superman was a narcissistic sadist with a massive inferiority complex, no weakness, and an obsession with perfect hair.”

Dean looks Ben up and down with a heavy sigh. “I’m disappointed that I couldn’t have at least been a bit more like Batman.”

“Trust me. You don’t want to meet knockoff Batman from his reality either.” You respond.

"I guess I'll start doing some research." Sam says slowly, looking from Ben to you while hiding a smile.

He’s enjoying this way too much.

"Good." Dean frowns at Ben, before he claps him hard on the shoulder. You saw Dean fight the wince when he felt how solid Ben was. "Let's get you home buddy." His eyes dart from Ben to you. "Before you do anything else that'll scar me for life."

Thank you so much for reading! Likes, Comments, and Reblogs are not required, but are always appreciated! 😊

Taglist: @roseblue373 @mrsjenniferwinchester

[the-bofurin-digest]

Hayato Suo: Casual Headcanons

Casual Headcanons

~ Absolutely hits up thrift shops, antique malls, and estate sales. He feels like someone my grandma would be friends with ~ Older sibling energy. I could see him with a couple of rowdy, hard to manage little brothers. that's how he is so patient and calm when dealing with his classmates. They are nothing compared to the little monsters at home. ~ Snores when he sleeps, denies it when people tell him. ~ Has a fascination with supernatural things (ghosts, aliens, cryptids, Sakura when he is in a good mood) ~ Collects pretty rocks and stones from all the places he visits when they have a good memory attached to them. He seems the type to appreciate a good agate or a pretty layered gneiss ~ makes the absolute best soups in winter. ~ His room is a mess of books, papers, and other misc things. ~ He never makes his bed. ~ Would pass up soaking in a hot spring, but loves saunas ~ LEGALLY NOT ALLOWED TO DRIVE. And not just because of age. Suo would literally be the worst casual driver in the world and shrug it off. (It wasn't me, the curb just jumped in the way of the car!)

Dating Headcanons

~ Suo is the type of guy to date in the winter when the world is cold and all you are looking for is warmth. ~ A warm bowl of soup, a cup of tea, cuddled up in the window seat together in a nice warm blanket, and reading a book together or talking while watching the snow slowly fall is his heaven with you. ~ Love language when receiving love from a partner: Acts of service even if its something as small as holding the door for him. He is very big on showing love once he sees it makes a difference in the relationship, and really enjoys his partner doing it to show their love for him. ~ Love language when giving love to a partner: Words of affirmation. Suo is very kindhearted towards his partner and loves building them up, seeing them glow when he compliments them or notes improvements. ~ You knew it was getting serious when he got you your own teacup to keep at his place. ~ I like to think that he would actually not be the one to make the first move. You would be and his normally cool self would be so flustered and taken off guard. While his normal affection and happy demeanor are still there, it will take him awhile to warm up to and sort of differentiate affection for a romantic partner vs platonic. but once he gets comfortable, it's a wonderful feeling for both of you. ~ Cute Suo moment? Slow dancing to the in the kitchen together while waiting for the tea to boil while he teases you about your two left feet and you giggling at his horrible off tune humming of some song neither of you know.

[sexy-opium-ravioli]

Photo Booth

Universe: Resident Evil

wc: 1,791

Pairing: Stepbro!Leon S. Kennedy x Reader

Warnings: Not many, just the fact that Leon is your stepbrother and he is .5 of a little shit. Otherwise, this is a good, old fashioned fluff piece.

a/n: Hihi hello hello :) I've been trying to claw my way out of depression for a while, but here's some cute Leon content in the meantime!

@lipglossanon !! thank you for being such a wonderful writer, honestly reading you has been really inspiring as of late! and your characterization of the Leons you have are among my very favorite.

It not my best work by any means, but I hope anyone reading this enjoys <3

--

The liminal space of a mall was the place where you could see through a person, like light through glass. You'd get to see what stores they prefer to go to, what mall food they like to eat (or if they can't), what they buy vs what they don't. 

Or sometimes, as is the case with you and your weird, pseudo-freudian stepbrother-boyfriend Leon, you just get boba and mess around. 

There were other things you'd like to do with him, sure. Sometimes you two would catch a movie- or fuck each other until you're both sensitive and whimpering (as young lovers often do). Really depended on the day. 

But it was earlier in the morning and it was a free, clear Saturday, in the haze of a temperate spring. And, the last couple of days were kind of stressful. Keeping up separate social lives, exams, dealing with your shared parents- sometimes just being apart from each other was okay.

You were starting to suspect something in Leon. You didn't know what it was, really. Everything was in a haze with him- truer emotions he always hid behind something snarky and barbed. And since you could never really get an accurate read on him, you could only try to squint in the dark and decipher the signs in front of you. 

Still, something foundational was shifting. And there was a strange feeling in your stomach that had been there all morning, and it wasn't bad, per se; but it was constant and unusual. You sipped on your boba and started chewing. 

You and Leon were both sitting on public benches. The time was before most of the retail shops started setting up, only the food court was open. You laid your head on Leon's shoulder and closed your eyes while you both soaked in the sun's warmth. 

The mall was bright and quiet, not many were there yet. You still felt a bit sleepy, but it didn't seem like Leon minded resting either. There was a difference in the emotions you feel someone going through when you rest your head on their shoulder- and the way Leon's was giving into the weight of your head spelled relaxation. The both of you spent a bit of your morning like this. You lifted your head and glanced at how the sunlight reflected off of Leon's golden hair. How it also cut a shadow at the curve of his jaw. 

"You wanna walk around?" You asked with your voice low, not wanting to disrupt the quiet, alive whirring of the building. Leon looked at you, smiled a bit and nodded his head before getting up. 

When you caught up to pace with him, you decided to annoy him and cross pinkies. He retaliated by taking hold of your entire hand, and you tried not to make a big deal about it. Your heart was starting to beat really fast, though. 

You thought he would let go after a couple of seconds. He didn't. 

Exiting the first floor common area to the escalators surrounding it, you both enjoyed the warmth of a second floor perch. Leon hasn't let go of your hand yet, but you were joking around about other people you were seeing at the mall, or the vaguely strange sale ads you'd see posted on windows. 

It was light, conversation felt easy for once.

And then Leon saw something, and you watched the way his eyes captured a glint of absolute mischief. 

Your eyes followed the laser point focus of his- and oh. 

Oh. 

A photo booth. 

And before you knew it, the distance between you and the box was already halved from Leon practically yanking your arm off. It didn't hurt, so all you could do was laugh. 

Walking up to it, Leon already got his wallet out and was feeding the machine bills. You decided to slip in and look around inside. All photo booths look different- this one was pretty new and sparkly. 

Not long after, Leon swept the curtains and stepped in with a mean smirk. You got yourself ready, trying to make yourself look alright while Leon selected to start through the menu. 

You always felt a weird sort of anxiety in photo booths. They never gave anybody enough time to actually prepare for a photo, but Leon was already doing someth- "Hey-!"

He quickly stepped behind you, caged you in his arms, gave two hand horns, and made such a twisted face he actually did kind of resemble the devil, because in his heart of hearts, Leon S. Kennedy was a dork. 

You decided that if he was going to suffocate you with all the muscle he was trying to show off, you were going to get a picture of biting it. 

The bite wasn't too hard, but the quick noise that Leon gave was mostly out of being startled anyways. He quickly retaliated by flicking your arm before posing for the next- 

"Let's do a nicer one," you interject, quietly and quickly. You both prepare and in time, you're smiling together while Leon has his arm draped over your shoulders. It all happened so quickly and concisely that the warm feeling you got in your stomach from all the affectionate, silly, friendly contact was delayed. 

The countdown started again. Leon almost shoved you in front of him, but instead of putting his arms over your chest and neck and face, (being annoying about it), he placed them gently over your waist. And then when the camera flashed, he was kissing your cheek. 

You turned around in his arms, not really caring about the photos anymore. But he was the one that leaned down and kissed you gingerly, and with meaning. His lips were always so soft and smooth against yours-

The camera flashed. You two were together a little longer, and then you both separated. It was a few long seconds where time just stopped, and you could swear that if you opened the curtain and tried to find one of the rare morning pedestrians of the mall, they would be left unmoving. 

But all you could do was look at Leon. It didn't help that he was so pretty. But there was this weird flash of emotion in his eyes, that same one you couldn't read and he wasn't looking away-

The camera flash made you both jump a little, and then Leon gave a quiet, nervous laugh to himself that sparked yours. He looked at you again, an upward pull of his lips that didn't seem too mean anymore. "Better get those photos," 

"Yeah," you offer back, already leaving the booth. He followed you, and not long after, the booth started to give out a noise before producing two copies of the same strip. Leon quickly snatched them before you could even hope to grab them, and he held them out of your view after that. 

"Leon," He was snickering. That pretty smile he hasn't dropped for 5 minutes now has had its teasing quality reapplied. Irritation quickly bubbles back up in your throat. 

"Ugh, Leon, you-" He does that little shit older brother thing where he lets the strip creep just into your reach before yanking it away a couple of times, but he doesn't do it too much. He gives you one of the copies after starting to giggle at you. 

You shake your head, ready to be embarrassed at your own face or maybe even his, and- well, the first photo has you laughing. Your head is tilted backward and your eyes are closed, and the laughs pour out of your throat like smooth wine. 

"Leon you're such a dork,-"

"Oh ok! And we're not gonna talk about the absolutely feral thing latching itself to my arm-," 

"Noo~, we're not," You interrupt teasingly, and you take a look back at the pictures. The air swiftly changes from playful, easy and teasing to meaningful, endearing- kind of tense in a way. Leon looked beautiful, and you looked nice too, and now you just noticed that Leon is right behind you actively gauging your reaction. 

The third photo was almost too sweet and intimate to look at publicly, and you could feel the tips of your ears start to heat up. Leon's face is mostly obscured, sure, but the way you react to why it's obscured is so sweet and genuine it kind of embarrasses you. Your lips try to hide a smile and your eyes are cast downward and away from Leon- low, but not closed. One of your arms rests on the lean coils of muscle wrapped around your center, while the other reaches up for your hand to rest on his head. 

The fourth makes you inhale a little sharper, and you can now feel the high part of your cheekbones heat with your ears. Leon's chin is resting on your shoulder now, and you can't even imagine the shit-eating grin he must be wearing on his face. Well, both of your faces can't be seen by the camera, if that's any consolation to your poor, heated skin- you might melt ice at this point. 

You don't know why it has you so weirdly dizzy, but maybe it's the way Leon looks so boyish, almost soft kissing you. His head is so slightly tilted, and the way his body curls around yours is just so engaged-

The fifth one is sweet in a different way. It makes your heart instantly crackle and spark for hope, which any sort of tired rationality your dopamine abused brain has left is probably screaming at. 

There's that fear in your chest, but there's no denying the fact that there's a light glimmering in Leon's sea glass eyes that you haven't seen from him too many times. 

It's a look that makes your entire body feel warm, like your skin is being pricked by needles. At this point, you've stopped looking at the photos altogether and buried your face in your hands. It makes Leon's chin lift off your shoulder, and you hear a chuckle come from him, but nothing sarcastic. 

"C'mon, stores are opening soon, weirdo," And when he says that you realize that there's warmth behind his words. You lift your head and look at him, and he's scratching his nose but- is he blushing too? Oh. 

Oh. 

He is. 

Probably not as scorching hot as you, but still. He starts walking, you start walking with him. And then, he takes your hand like that entire thing just didn't happen, and you find that you can't really stop smiling. Even if you reduce it to the smallest pull of your lips, it's still on your face for a while longer. 

--

[seat-safety-switch]

What is the best part of a thrift store, other than the deals? It’s gotta be picking over the detritus of other people’s lives. If you go to a store very frequently, you’ll know when there’s been a big “get” by the administration. Suddenly, matched sets of furniture will appear. The store’s pervasive odour will take on a threatening new tang. An estate sale has happened, and not a successful one.

When a life together has ended, and a house is cleared out, there’s gonna be some tools left over. Whether it’s an uncaring professional salesman, or a technically-disinclined disappointment of a grandson, something will always pass through the cracks. And that’s what starts the real detective work.

Of course, it’s not polite to speak of this sort of ghastly hoovering-up of the departed’s assets. In this country at least. In other, more evolved, countries, taking Not-Your-Grandpa’s old timing light and using it to adjust the distributor cap just so on a 1980 Trans Am Turbo is basically the equivalent of giving his spirit closure.

His soul will be released as soon as you dog it on the highway and get those nice little pap-paps as the wastegate spring bounces. And once Ghostpa has gone to the Great Hereafter with a smile on his ethereal lips, you get to throw the timing light back into your own hoard, which will eventually return to that very same Value Village when the social workers finally shovel out your corpse.

[jeffhirsch]

Super Boom Spring Break Easter Sale!

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Rally Respite After Big Best Six Months Gains

Monday is the beginning of the last month of the “Best Six Months (BSM)” (November-April) for the Dow and S&P 500 – and what a banner one it’s been so far. From our Seasonal MACD Buy Signal on October 9, 2023, through the close on March 28, 2024, DJIA is up 18.46% and S&P 500 is up 21.19% – more than double the historical average BSM gains. Our Best Six Months Seasonal MACD Sell Signal can trigger anytime on or after the first trading day of April, which is Monday April 1st this year. NASDAQ’s Best 8 Months end in June, which is up 21.47% since our buy signal, not quite double the average but give it time.

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[wanderfulescapes]

Tips to find the lowest airline tickets 💻🌅How to avoid mistakes when booking cheap tickets 🎫 🛫

Planning a trip is always exhilarating, but the excitement can quickly give way to stress when it comes time to book flights and transportation. With varying ticket prices, seemingly endless fees, and complex booking platforms, sorting through travel ticket options can be overwhelming. Where do you even begin to find an affordable fare without spending hours searching every airline website? When is the best time to purchase airfare or train tickets for the lowest possible price? What factors into pricing and availability? In this guide, I'll walk through the key considerations for booking both domestic and international travel tickets. You'll learn insider tips on finding deals, dodging extra fees, timing your purchase, and maximizing flexibility. With strategic planning and research, you can master travel ticketing and lock in the best value seats for your next big journey or quick getaway. Let's explore how to take control of travel booking and make ticketing a breeze, not a burden.

Here are some tips on when plane tickets tend to be cheapest:

- Tuesday and Wednesday mornings are generally when airlines release sales and cheaper seats. Set fare alerts for midweek mornings.

- Tickets are usually cheapest 1-3 months in advance of travel dates, when airlines are trying to fill seats. Avoid buying last-minute.

- Flying on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays tends to be cheaper than high-demand days like Friday and Sunday. Flexibility helps.

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[prince-rowan-of-the-forest]

Patton Darling Heart (1/2)

—-

How can a mortal baby befriend four fae courts, their leaders and their queens in less than five years? How does said baby grow up with such a strange family? Well...

Patton Heart knew he wasn't like the rest of his family, he also knew that his situation was an unorthodox one. He also knew that one family wanted him and the other didn't, so to be honest, Patton was pretty happy with his weird and wonderful life.

----

| Ao3 | Next -> |

Warnings: nothing explicit, but some bad parenting is implied. A couple of mentions of murder and execution, again, not explicit. If there's anything else I should add please lmk

Pairings: all platonic

Word Count: 5909

Notes:

Yes, this is the fic where Patton reverse-adopts all of the fae. have fun!

Part of my New Years verse, which is what I'm going back to calling it because the other name was kinda shit tbh, this is a backstory fic so you don't need to read the other ones for this one to make sense!

I also have an Ask Blog for my aus too! So you can ask my characters from this series and my others random crap too :D

I hope you enjoy!

----

There are some bad people in this world. Patton knew this from a very young age.

Patton knew that the people who raised him were not his real family. They were also not the kind of people to soften the truth, so he knew that his real family hadn’t wanted him.

He knew that they had swapped him like a piece of junk at a yard sale for a baby they considered better, he was aware that he didn’t grow up in the same way as most of his kind, and he knew this well even by the age of four.

And you might be thinking, what a poor child, to be left in a mortal household by the cruel fae! Right? Because that’s the usual story, well maybe it was, but Patton knew better than most that mortals could be just as cruel.

Because Patton was a mortal, not fae, and his mortal parents were the cruel ones, but really Patton wasn’t qualified to tell this story, because it all happened when he was far too young to remember…

—

It was a particularly cold evening in January when a group of faeries lead by some summer gentry who’s name Imari- Lord Winter, to you- couldn’t remember burst into his court unannounced. Immediately he was suspicious, because the summer gentry tended to avoid him at all cost during his season, he could identify maybe one winter fae in the small group as well as an autumn who looked so scrawny that she barely compared, the rest of the fae were Seelie and the gentry held a small bundle tightly in zir arms.

“What is the meaning of this?” Imari asked, keeping his tone level, contrary to popular belief he didn’t actually want to scare the Seelie, especially the ones willing to come into his court. 

“We don’t mean anything by the intrusion,” The summer announced, shifting the bundle ze held, “We just- um- have a situation, that we’re not sure exactly how we should go about dealing with, and we concluded it best to come to you before acting beyond what we already have…”

Imari couldn’t help how he became more curious by the moment as to what on earth was going on, so he asked as much.

“Well!” A spring pixie piped up, her voice high pitched and glowing wings flittering as she hovered next to the summer, “We were just out in the woods makin’ sure the trees an’ the plants were all ok after all that snow last night and- well-”

“Two mortals,” The autumn took over, “Summoned us, with cream and fruits, and, well I suppose we’re lucky Mari was there because-”

“They tried to… reverse changeling us…” The winter finished, looking a little concerned as they crossed their arms.

“I don’t understand,” Imari said, standing up, “Reverse changeling?”

“That’s all we can think to call it,” The summer sighed, turning the bundle in zir arms so Imari could see what it was… a tiny mortal child, pink in the face with big blue eyes looking up at him, “They- made a deal. Gave us their child in return for one of ours- and- well obviously we had to take it when they practically forced their poor child into my arms-”

“They said they would have left it in the woods otherwise!” The spring pixie said, “It wouldn’t have survived-”

“We didn’t think such a small child deserved such a fate-” Said the winter.

“So I gave up my own child in return,” The autumn finished, voice quiet. 

“How old is it?” Imari asked, looking from the tiny child to the summer who held it. ze sighed.

“We’re not sure, sire,” ze said, “But- as a guess- it has been in this world barely two weeks,”

“Mortals can be so cruel…” Imari said, looking down at the tiny child in the Summer’s arms and feeling nothing but disdain for the mortals who would so readily give him away, “I will never cease to be surprised by their hatred for life, you said you gave your child in return?”

“Yes, Lord,” The autumn said, bowing her head, “My son who’s been on this earth not yet a year, He was not born to be a changeling, but I knew he would serve to give them hell.”

“What season?” He asked.

“Spring, Lord.” She answered.

“I shall speak with the Lord of Spring to ensure that he is able to safely return to you should he wish,” Imari said.

“There is no need, sire,” The autumn told him, standing tall despite her ragged form, “Jay will handle it, they are strong, he is more than capable of teaching those mortals the lesson they deserve for their cruelty.”

Imari paused for a minute, she really did believe in her child. If that was the case then he wouldn’t interfere. She seemed to prefer to let it take its own course. 

“Did they give you a name for this child?” Imari asked instead, turning back to the summer, who recoiled slightly, zir expression immediately suspicious, “I do not intend any harm to the mortal child, I am simply curious as to whether he has one.”

“They did give me a name,” The summer said, shifting awkwardly, “They called him Patton.”

—-

By nature, Winter got first claim to the child. Patton had been born in its season, after all, and to the fae that is how it worked. 

Unfortunately, and the reason it was a debate at all, Patton was not fae and the other courts seemed to feel they had reason to keep the child as well.

Summer because Marigold, the summer gentry, had been the one to make the deal in the first place, and thus by right the child belonged to zem.

Spring because one of their own had been given up in exchange for the child, so they believed themselves entitled to the mortal child if this were to be a fair trade. 

And Autumn felt entitled to the child only because one of their fae had been the one to give up a child for the deal, so they wanted the new child for compensation.

It was madness throughout fairyland at first, when word spread about the mortal child and the unorthodox deal. No-one really knew who should have the child or where he belonged. By fae law, all of them had some right, and no Lord or Lady was about to back down to the others. 

Which is why only a week after Patton was given to Imari, Lord of Winter, the Unseelie Queen- it being her domain for the remainder of winter- called for a meeting between the four High Fae of Season in order to settle this dispute. She ordered that they should settle it even through bloodshed, should it end up necessary, but it was to be settled tonight.

They had been sitting at this table for hours, each of the four practically campaigning to be the one who keeps the child. They were all tired by now, despite new refreshments being brought in every hour on the hour. They had gotten nowhere by arguing and every hour they got closer to midnight and with it the idea of this despite being settled by battle. 

That is until Harley- Lord of Spring- stood from his seat and placed his hands on the table. He spoke calmly, cutting through the argument being held currently between Ladies Summer and Autumn.

“If you will be inclined to listen,” Harley spoke smoothly, “I believe I have a suggestion for a solution that may work for us all.”

“Right,” Ember- The Autumn Lady- said with a sigh, sitting back in her chair, “At this point I’ll hear you out, flower boy, just this once.”

“If it’ll stop all of this senseless arguing.” Said Rhaine, Lady Summer, with a sharp side eye at Ember, “Then I’m happy to listen.”

“Good!” Harley smiled after Imari had nodded, “So, I remembered only a short while ago there was a certain custom mortals partook in, primarily when two parents of a child had split and were unsure as to who should keep the child- but I think it can be applied to our situation as well.”

“Spit it out,” Ember groaned, picking at her nails, “I don’t have all day to sit around listening to you ramble about stupid mortal customs.”

“Right, of course,” Harley said, waving a hand, “In such a situation mortals may… I think the term used is ‘share custody’ of the child, meaning they live separately and the child will stay with one parent for a certain time before staying with the other parent for a certain time, I thought perhaps we could employ this strategy and have the child stay with each of us during our own season, and then pass him to the next court when the seasons change.”

“That-” Rhaine said, before pausing, “Actually may work out, you’ve outdone yourself this time, Lee.”

“I hate to disagree with what seems like a wonderful idea,” Imari said quietly, “But surely moving around so much would put strain on the child? I am aware mortals are fragile…”

“Considering it would only be four moves a year,” Harley said, “And he will be spending roughly three mortal months in each court, presuming each will provide him a safe environment-”

The room seemed to turn on Ember for a second, who frowned.

“-It should not be too stressful for the child,” Harley said, before beginning to pace as he continued to explain, “It is beneficial that there was at least one member of each court present when the deal is made, because it means that the little flower will be familiar with a faerie from each court to a small degree, which will help him to settle in, perhaps I could suggest that all four of us become familiar with the child during the next few months so that the moves aren't too daunting for any of us?”

“I think this could work,” Ember said, a little begrudgingly. The others hummed in agreement.

“Then it is settled,” Imari said, “We will follow Harley’s plan.”

—-

The first two years of the child’s life were mostly uneventful. 

Luckily, Harley knew enough about mortals to instruct the other fae lords in caring for the child adequately, though it had been a surprise to all of them how… stupid, human babies were for the first few years of life.

The Lord of Spring was happy that he got to care for the child for the first few months, mainly because he was terribly worried about how Summer and Autumn would treat them (though he wouldn’t say such a thing out loud, he didn’t want to end up in a fight). Caring for the child at least got him time to learn about what mortal babies needed- he was the expert on the topic of mortals, after all.

Fae children tended to be easy to care for. Mostly they could eat anything, especially nymphs and green men, but mortal children were surprisingly picky, too much or not enough of certain things could result in damage and some things- or parts of things- they couldn’t have at all. Harley couldn’t count the amount of times just in the first week that he’d had to chase away well-intentioned but wildly mis-informed fae who kept trying to feed the poor dear things he couldn’t consume- either yet or not at all. 

Fae children, also, were much more independent much earlier in their development. They were able to run around and start using their powers and start talking- those who could- very early on. Some skipped childhood altogether and appeared to the world fully grown, some stayed children for far longer than a mortal would. It was just the way fae… were. Patton grew steadily though, as human aging was linear, and quickly. 

By the time the solstice came and with it the passing of the child from Spring to Summer, Patton was crawling around already and had managed to endear himself to the vast majority of the spring fae, so Harley deemed this season a roaring success. 

When Patton returned to him the next spring, he had grown so much that Harley barely recognised him. 

He had known, somewhere in his mind, that humans aged much faster than fae did. Humans were mortal, living their lives in what was to fae a mere blink in time. Patton had gotten bigger and stronger, enough to barely start walking (Imari had informed him that some of the Winter fae had started attempting to teach the child to walk in the last few weeks of winter). Patton had grown much more hair now, blond curls that tickled his chin. His eyes were still that brilliant blue that had been before, his smile still just as bright and happy. But the changes were still… startling. 

At least the other fae in the court seemed to love the sweetheart just as much as he did. They’d thrown a revel that lasted three days straight on the equinox and the following days, to celebrate not only the changing of the seasons (which was always celebrated anyway, but never this dramatically) but also Patton’s return to their court. Harley wasn’t certain that the child could quite appreciate the effort they had all put into such a party, being barely a year old. Harley brought him to experience the celebrations regardless, where he was decorated in flower crowns and bracelets and pretty trinkets, Harley had never in his long, immortal life, seen such frivolous giving of gifts from fellow fae, but a little part of it told him that Patton’s smiles were… and would always be… exchange enough for whatever treasures the other fae wished to bestow upon him.

—-

It should come as no surprise that Harley wished to know how Patton was faring in the other courts as well. The first year had been near torture as he forced himself to wait his turn, leaving the others to care for the human child as he had said they should.

This year, as Harley had seen Patton grow up so quickly without him being there for any of it, he couldn’t quite help himself but to check up on him.

He didn’t even really want to hand Patton off to Rhaine when summer began, Patton had said his first words by now, he’d started walking- properly walking now- and laughing, he’d even been able to play with some of the pixies who were present for the deal and fae children who were willing to compromise their own abilities for his sake. Harley didn’t think he could stand not seeing Patton for another three seasons and having him come back in spring twice the size. 

It seemed, funnily, that he wasn’t the only one who thought this. 

When the midsummer celebrations came arond at the height of july, all three other fae lords - and some representatives from each court - arrived by their own volition, none of them invited. Even Imari had braved the heat of high summer to attend. 

Rhaine might have been offended had she not been feeling the exact same way throughout the other seasons, and it was lovely to see that the summer court was just as exuberent about Patton as his own, possibly even more - summer was known for it’s passion, after all. They had all agreed rather quickly that they’d do something similar for Midwinter, as well as Beltane in the spring and Samhein in autumn. 

During Midsummer Harley had danced with Patton alongside some other children from summer who’d avoided such an activity after being told it could harm the little mortal flower, who’s mind and body were both far more delicate than any fae. Harley’s seelie magic wouldn’t be too much for the child, though, he could control it like second nature, Patton hadn’t been hurt, and afterwards had managed to co-erce all four fae lords to join in a circle to dance with him and the summer court. Harley couldn’t remember ever having so much fun before. 

—-

Another year passed and now Patton was two years old.  Harley knew by faerie standards that was hardly long at all, but to humans… was two years in their world a milestone? He wasn’t sure, thought what he was sure about was that Patton’s quick growth made him painfully aware of the passage of time. 

Where before he had glided through the years like a pond skater across water, coasting through and responding to problems as they seemed to come, barely aware that time was passing at all, now he was horribly aware of every second. Every passing minute, day, month, that Patton got older, such a short life that could just flash by if he so much as blinked. Moments he would miss if he looked away. Harley wasn’t scared by many things, but the way he could see Patton’s life flashing before his eyes, as he giggled and talked nonsense with a small gaggle of fae, some pixies and some nymph children, a kelpie child and a sentient wisp of smoke that seemed to enjoy playing hide and seek with the children, he could see that barely toddler as a child, a teen, an adult, hunched over in old age, and finally… Harley didn’t want to think about what came next.

Instead he did what he could. He blessed Patton with the gift of health, a strong heart and strong body that could carry him right through to his death, he touched a finger over Patton’s heart as he gave it and the brush of his hands left the tiniest pattern of freckles shaped as flowers in it’s wake.

The other seasons seemed to notice what he had done, and before he had even lived four years, the mortal child had four gifts. Strength from Spring, beauty from Summer, a power that allowed him to send others to sleep from Autumn and from Winter the power of memories. 

—-

Rhaine had absolutely no idea what she was doing. 

Okay, to be fair, when Harley spoke about mortal customs she tended to doze off and ignore him, sue her, he was boring, Ember would agree. 

But she would admit that in this instance perhaps it would have been more helpful to have listened. 

Patton- the darling mortal child he was- had been talking about ‘human school’ since he found out that it existed. Which was- fine. The flower was human and probably needed to learn human things that they wouldn’t be able to teach him. ‘They’ excluded Harley, because he seemed to know just about everything about mortals, for some reason he found them interesting enough to study. 

All throughout Summer he had been talking about it and gushing about how he was supposed to be going now that he was five years old. As much as Ember liked to tease her about not being able to say no to the mortal child she knew that Ember would barely have been able to say no either. 

Rhaine liked mortals, she was seelie of course, but that didn’t mean she wanted to be entirely surrounded and outnumbered by them. There was a slight difference between playful pranks and games and being completely swamped outside of her own territory. 

But Patton wanted this, which is why she was doing it, Rhaine reminded herself sternly, because Patton was mortal and he wanted to go to the mortal school. 

She stared down a sea of humans, children and their parents all talking and moving and being generally loud in the way humans were. She couldn’t count how many were here, but it was definitely way more than she had been warned. The youngest kids - younger than Patton at least - were with their parents, some of them laughing, far more were yelling or crying whilst their parents tried to get them to quiet. Rhaine took a deep breath, the summer revels were just as loud and rowdy, she could deal with noise, this was fine.

And she was absolutely not about to be a coward and have to admit to Ember than human gathering places were horrible. Because she definitely wasn’t even the slightest bit afraid.

Not that she would try and say that out loud, though. 

Patton, the sweetheart tugged on her hand, bringing her back into the moment. She wore a glamour, which had surprised the child at first, and they had wasted a while fifteen minutes having to reassure him that she was still the same faerie. It wasn’t something she’d anticipated needing to do this morning. 

But now she looked a lot more like she could be Patton’s human mother, long blond curls replacing her blue water-like hair, freckles blooming across her face to match his. She thought she had done well to make herself look human, now she looked around at the other mortal parents present and realised she may not have quite done well enough if all the strange looks and staring were anything to go by. 

They could get through this, she carried a wad of papers that Harley had given her the night before which she needed to get to the ‘principal's office’, wherever in the stars that was, along with Patton himself, then she would leave him in their care until the end of the day, when she would come back to collect him and bring him home.

Easy, simple. Rhaine was a faerie, the lady of her season, she could handle some mortal teachers.

—-

Patton’s first day of school had potentially been the most terrifying day of Rhaine’s life. She would never admit it, but mortals could be frightening when they were attempting to argue and even the meeting with the principal had needed so much more magic than she had ever expected. Harley had sorted out the paperwork as he had promised (Because Rhaine was not doing that) but she’d needed to alter the principals memories multiple times when he had questioned why he had never seen her or Patton before this, she’d needed to twist her words so much that she was dangerously close to outright lies when he’d asked about Patton’s upbringing, Thankfully what the fae had done seemed to count- to whatever higher power that dictated the way they couldn’t lie- as adoption and homeschooling, because otherwise she may not have gotten through that conversation with her sanity intact.

Collecting Patton at the end of the day had been only marginally less stressful. She’s attempted to slightly tone down her glamour this time in hopes to avoid all the staring and blend in a little better, though it apparently didn’t matter. Mortal women loved to gossip about things that were absolutely nobody else’s business. At least three people had attempted to talk to her about ‘the PTA’, whatever that meant, and at least four people had asked for her name and then found her reaction to be ‘rude’ and ‘weird’ when she refused to give it. 

She was pretty sure Harley had explained that one, but again, she hadn’t listened to him and was far too embarrassed now to ask for a refresher, so she’d told them to call her Rai and hoped that they’d just leave her alone from there.

Apparently not, because someone else decided that she really wanted to hear about her neighbour’s sister’s husband’s affair with Sydney (she neither knew nor cared who Sydney was, but whatever). And then another mortal had joined their little circle to begin discussing the apparent bi-weekly scandal caused by Sydney’s six year old kid, which she had discovered seemed to be a hot topic amongst these people. She still didn’t care about Sydney or her son, though, so she had turned them out whilst she waited for Patton to appear amongst the crowd so she could scoop him up and get the hell out of here.

Rhaine had hoped it would get easier as time passed, but, alas, it did not.

She was more than happy to hand Patton off to Ember at the end of September without a warning, though. Because that would be terribly funny for everyone except the Autumn lady, and, being completely honest, Rhaine sometimes lived solely to annoy her friend in the funniest of ways. 

—-

Ember was going to kill Rhaine for this. 

She wasn’t, not actually, because that would land her with an entire court as well as the Seelie Queen at her back and Ember really didn’t have time to deal with that. She did, however, strongly consider murdering the human woman who kept trying to talk to her whilst she was very clearly attempting to exit the one-sided conversation she had never wanted to be part of in the first place.

“Oh my lord, ok, you need to tell me where you got your hair done! Like what is your secret??” This woman practically whined and Ember had half a mind to pull the knife out of her sleeve and stab her tight there and then, the only thing stopping her was the fact that she was pretty certain murdering the mortals would ruin Patton’s day. 

“You need to tell me why you think annoying me is going to get you a better hair-do,” Ember told her, in the same tone, before walking off towards the little snack table that seemed to be the only good part of this whole sky-dammed party and even that wasn’t great, they didn’t even have cream! She heard the woman scoff behind her before muttering something like ‘rude’, but honestly? Ember really didn’t care.

Instead of bothering herself with the annoying humans and letting herself go mad, Ember grabbed a handful of the little icing-covered biscuits they’d called Party Rings and retreated to watch this pitiful excuse for a party (to celebrate another mortal’s Birthday, which was apparently a mortal custom, she thought the kid who’s honour this party was thrown in looked practically miserable, but Ember wasn’t one to pry.)

She was starting to get incredibly bored when finally something interesting happened. That being in the form of one of the smaller kids managing to sneak up on her.

“Trade?” Was all they said, he stood confidently, one hand tucked in a trouser pocket, their hair covered half of their face while the little hat he wore was pulled down over his eyes too. He was holding out a cupcake that had the same volume of icing piped on top as there was sponge along with pink sugar sprinkles.

“For one of the biscuits,” He specified when she didn’t answer, a little too shocked that he’d managed to sneak up on her to speak for a moment. She blinked before glancing at her stash of party rings, she could give him one, she’d be getting more out of it, but the cupcake he was giving in return certainly warranted two. 

“Two biscuits,” She answered, offering her hand to shake, the kid smiled and shook it with the hand that had previously been in his pocket (they were wearing only one glove, how curious) before handing her the cupcake and taking the biscuits and rather elegantly folding down into a seated position next to her. Strange, most children seemed to have a surprisingly strong instinct to avoid her, even more than the adults did. 

What else was curious? That deal had been weak, easily fulfilled and incredibly short lived. What interested her was the thrum of magic she had felt from the child when he’d offered it, which meant that they were almost certainly fae. She wondered if that was why he had come over, and if it was then how long would they sit in silence before he brought it up, after all, she was fairly certain they had been testing her with that deal.

It turned out that fae children were just as impatient as human ones, because they only remained sat in silence for the time it took the child to finish the cookies. 

“You’re like me,” They said quietly, as though it should be a secret, “Aren’t you?”

“Maybe,” She replied with a smirk, “But I think you already know the answer, don’t you? Wasn’t that deal enough evidence for you?”

The child blushed and tried to hide the visible side of his face, “They don’t like me doing them, but it’s a good way to tell.”

“Who might ‘they’ be?” Ember asked.

“Them,” The kid said, gesturing to the room at large. Ember felt a sad little pang in her chest, she didn’t know this faerie kid, had never seen him before in her life, but something in her said that they were important, that he deserved her protection.

“Do you have something I can call you?” Ember asked, instead of putting a voice to any of her feelings.

“You may call me Jam.” They said, Ember wasn’t quick enough to stop the snort of laughter that escaped her.

“Jam?” She asked.

“Yes,” the kid huffed, looking disgruntled, “The mortals tried to call me James, but that ain’t my name, so I go by Jam instead.”

“I didn’t mean to laugh,” Ember admitted, “You may call me Autumn.”

“M’kay,” Jam said, leaning back on the wall and watching the party, they sat in silence for a moment, before Jam turned back to her, “What are you doing here, anyway? You don’t fit in.”

Ember chuckled, this kid was cute, she pointed over to the small gaggle of children, “See the kid over there, with the blonde curls? Next to the one who looks seconds away from crying?”

“Pat and Lo?” Jam said, tilting his head a little, Ember nodded.

“Yes, Pat is our child, and he wanted to come here,” Ember explained, “So I have to stay to watch over him.”

“But… Pat isn’t fae?” Jam said, looking confused, they whispered the word ‘fae’ as though it were a curse,, “And you don’t even look alike,”

“You aren’t human, but you live here, don’t you?” Ember pointed out. Jam seemed to consider for a second before nodding.

“I guess you’re right,” They said, letting the conversation drift away into silence. Ember didn’t mind, in fact she was happy to go back to watching the human children talk together. Patton was still with the boy (Jam had called him Lo) who’s birthday was being celebrated. Despite the sparkly cone hat that sat on the child’s head, he didn’t look too happy to be the centre of attention at this party. 

She wondered what might be wrong with Patton’s friend. To have a party thrown in your honour surely was quite special? But he seemed to back away whenever any of the other children came over to speak with him and Patton (the sweetheart he was) would jump in and gently guide them away. 

Was Lo afraid of people? Or perhaps just these people, because he seemed happy enough to hang around with her Patton. She noticed flinch and cover his ears when a balloon popped (Jam had flinched too, gosh she was a little worried about these kids, though she’d never admit it, Ember had a reputation. Someone made the already far too loud music louder and Jam seemed to curl tighter into a ball, covering his ears.

“How would you like to go outside for a short while,” Ember asked Jam, who nodded just slightly. She glanced around at the mortal parents, unsure of who’s child she was more or less stealing right now, before offering Jam a hand once she concluded no-one was watching. He took it warily and she lead him outside the house where the party was being held and into the front garden, where she found a set of chairs surrounded by plants and got him to sit down. 

“Alright, will you be alright here for a moment if I go back inside?” She asked, Jam nodded again and she smiled, “I will hopefully not take too long.”

—-

Patton had immediately gotten along with Jam, somehow he seemed to have that way with just about everyone he spoke with. Ember couldn’t quite understand it. Lo had been afraid of her, which she’d half expected, so she’d stepped away whilst the three kids talked. Lo and Jam seemed to get along well too, Lo maintaining a surprisingly intelligent conversation for a six year old mortal. Patton had kept hold of Lo’s hand the entire time they were outside, and Ember decided that for now she wouldn’t read more into that. Not unless they were still friends when Patton was a little older.

—-

“Come onnn Lo!” Patton called, tugging on Logan’s hand, “We’re gonna miss the start of the revel!”

“We will not be late,” Logan told him, adjusting his glasses and continuing to walk at a regular pace despite Patton’s tugging, “Because even time within this forest seems to somehow bend to your will.”

“Yeah well, that doesn’t mean I don’t wanna hurry!” Patton said, turning to him and grinning, “Jam is waiting for us!”

“Pat, I suspect we will get there in the same amount of time whether we rush or not,” Logan pointed out, making Patton pout, “And this is the first time I will be attending one of these revels, I would like a chance to get used to the surroundings…”

Patton paused his attempts at tugging Logan ahead and instead fell into pace beside him without letting go of his hand, “Are you… nervous?”

“A little,” Logan admitted, looking away, “Fae have not been known in the past to be kind to strangers, especially not humans, I’m glad Jam will be there, but they are the only faerie I know.”

“You know Emmy, and you know Ray a little,” Patton pointed out with a smile. He remembered when Em had saved Logan from his own uncomfortable birthday party almost six years ago now. Patton knew he had briefly met the Autumn Lady a bunch of times since then. But even so Logan still seemed wary.

“She is the Lady of Autumn, I don’t expect her to protect me.” Logan said, “I’m sure she has more important people to look out for.”

Patton barely managed not to gasp.

“What?” Logan asked, obviously noticing the look on his face.

“Lo, Em personally threatened in front of the entire summer court to excecute anyone who so much as laid a hand on you without your consent, Ray backed her up almost immediately, they’ll protect you,” Patton told him, looking up through his glasses at his taller friend, who stopped walking, staring back at him with wide eyes.

“I- execute??” 

“Yeah, it’s uh- a fae thing- try not to think about it too much,” Patton waved him off, “But both Em and Ray will protect you if you need it, which you shouldn’t because the summer court are all lovely, kay?”

“...Okay Pat, I trust you,” Logan said, squeezing Patton’s hand.

“Great!” Patton smiled, pushing aside a large curtain of leaves to reveal a massive clearing open to the warm summer skies, lit with bonfires, fireflies and the rising full midsummer moon overhead and decorated with garlands of summer flowers and vines, tables made from tree stumps housing food and drink that fae who were just beginning to arrive now and those who hung about the clearing were happily enjoying, “Because we’re here, right on time as always.”

----

Tags:

@full-of-roman-angst-trash @reptilianrapscallion420 @your-local-random-dino @cutebisexualmess (if anyone wants to be added let me know!)

[buygoodsales]

How to Get the Best Deals on Products .The Ultimate Guide to Buying Products on Sale .

Know before Buying Products on Sales.

Buying products on sale is a great way to save money. But with so many sales and discounts available, it can be difficult to know where to start. Here is an ultimate guide to help you find the best deals on products and save money.

Best deals on products Seasonal sales

Many retailers offer discounts on seasonal items during the off-season. For example, you can find great deals on winter clothes in the spring and summer. and also Holidays like Black Friday and Cyber Monday are a great time to find deals on a variety of products. Retailers often have clearance sales to get rid of excess inventory. This is a great way to find deals on discontinued items or last-season styles. and  Outlet stores sell discounted merchandise from brand-name retailers. This is a great place to find deals on name-brand products.

Second-hand stores sell used items, including clothes, furniture, and electronics. This is a great place to find deals on gently-used items. Buying products on sale .

Do your research: Before you buy anything, do your research to find out the fair market value of the product. This will help you avoid overpaying. check price on the online platform like Amazon , Flipkart and all . Because to know the price difference from offline retailer and online platform so that you can compare the best product at good price .

Use price comparison tools: There are a number of websites and apps that allow you to compare prices from different retailers. This is a great way to make sure you're getting the best deal. There are many number of the tools which give You the best Analytics graph of price difference so that people can check the price up and down on that product in the online platforms because they want to give you the best .

Sign up for retailer newsletters: Many retailers offer email newsletters that notify you of sales and promotions. This is a great way to stay up-to-date on the latest deals. Here one thing you can also do is giving your Mobile number if you know them or trust them because through this they can send you the message of offers and high sales and Seasonal discount on the each product which help you to reduce the time of research .

Use coupons and promo codes: Many retailers offer coupons and promo codes that can save you money on your purchase. Be sure to check for these before you checkout. Uncover a treasure trove of savings through coupons and promotional codes. Retailers frequently provide these codes, translating into significant price reductions when applied during checkout. Remember to scout for these virtual keys to savings.

Shop around: Don't just buy from the first retailer you see. Compare prices from different stores to make sure you're getting the best deal.

Negotiate: If you're buying a big-ticket item, don't be afraid to negotiate the price. Many retailers are willing to negotiate, especially if you're a loyal customer and Embarking on a significant purchase journey? Don't hesitate to flex your negotiation muscles. Retailers often respond favorably, particularly when dealing with loyal customers. Your prowess in negotiation can unveil hidden discounts.

How to get discounts

Be a loyal customer: Many retailers offer discounts to loyal customers. Sign up for their loyalty program and start earning points or rewards . and Forge a digital connection with your preferred retailers on social media platforms. Their posts often unveil hidden gems – sales and promotions that would otherwise remain concealed. Stay effortlessly updated on the latest deals through these channels.

Use a credit card with cash back rewards: There are a number of credit cards that offer cash back rewards on your purchases. This can be a great way to earn money back on your shopping.

Shop with cashback websites: There are a number of websites that offer cashback rewards when you shop through their website. This is a great way to earn money back on your shopping.

Use a price drop protection service: There are a number of services that will refund you the difference if the price of an item drops within a certain period of time after you purchase it. This is a great way to ensure you're getting the best deal.

Shopping tips

Set a budget: Before you start shopping, set a budget and stick to it. This will help you avoid overspending.

Make a list: Before you go shopping, make a list of the items you need. This will help you stay focused and avoid impulse purchases.

Shop online: Online shopping can be a great way to find deals. Many retailers offer discounts and promotions on their websites.

Shop during off-peak times: Retailers are more likely to offer discounts during off-peak times, such as weekdays or during the off-season.

Conclusion

Embrace Timing Flexibility: Not all sales are born equal. The off-season and weekdays often play host to some of the most remarkable deals. Keep your shopping schedule versatile. Explore Every Avenue: The first option isn't necessarily the best. Allow yourself the luxury of exploring multiple retailers, comparing prices, and ensuring you're capturing the most favorable deal.

Seek Expert Advice: If the path to remarkable deals seems intricate, don't hesitate to seek assistance. Sales personnel possess a wealth of insights that can steer you toward the most lucrative deals. A simple question can lead you in the right direction .By following these tips, you can find the best deals on products and save money. So don't wait any longer, start shopping today!

[treeremovalpensacola]

Water winterization: How to prepare your water features for the cold

If you're in the Pensacola area, then you have probably already experienced the need for having to remove a tree or stump or getting your tree's trimmed. The cost of tree removal varies depending on a few factors, such as: - The type of tree that needs to be removed - The size of the tree - The location of the tree - The condition of the tree Pensacola Tree Removal offers competitive pricing for our tree removal services. For a full list of services Tree removal services visit Pensacola Florida Tree Removal for a fast, friendly and reliable quote that you can count on. This will help not only beautify your property but also is the safest way to do it. Tyler Fisher, Northeast regional sales manager for Atlantic-Oase based in Aurora, Ohio, says an old tagline he’d heard from his CEO was “life is better living in water.” He’s sometimes surprised many landscapers and clients often overlook the value water features can add to a property. “Sometimes you can have somebody out there and say, ‘Hey, close your eyes. Imagine there’s water running.’ Or you can have the sound of it going, and that’s sometimes enough to seal the deal for somebody,” he says. “It’s something to have in your toolkit that is a really good upsell.” One of the main disincentives with water features, especially the farther north you go, is that the process of preparing them for winter can be tricky, meaning landscapers should be well-versed in the topic if they want to utilize effective water features. Don’t fall short As most things in the industry go, preparation starts early, and landscapers should be thinking about winterization for their water features in the fall. Fisher recommends preparing for winter by keeping water features clean during the warm season. Plus, treating larger water features with aeration and regular applications of sludge-consuming bacteria to reduce organics is another important step. Using pond netting to intercept leaves before winter arrives is another great technique for smaller features. For pondless features and fountains with water stored in an underground basin, Fisher says it’s best to clean out any organics in the fall, then remove the pump and check valve before cleaning and servicing them if needed before storing them inside for the winter. Freezing over While smaller features may be allowed to freeze right over, Fisher says anything with fish in it requires some extra steps. “When it comes to a big pond, you can put filtration on there, you can put a plethora of things to clean it out —treatments — but you’re still dealing with an ecosystem,” Fisher says. Many of the bigger features like ponds, waterfalls and other open bodies of water already need extra attention, and when it comes to caring for fish, Fisher points out that they need to be able to breathe under the ice. If possible, cleaning ponds in the fall reduces the organics that would eat up the oxygen over the winter. To further ensure a good supply of oxygen for the fish, Fisher recommends placing an aerator in the shallows to keep a hole free of ice, leaving the deepest, warmest water undisturbed. Set for success Not every water feature needs the same kind of preparation, and with all the options out there, Fisher says finding a solution that fits your feature is key. “Staying consistent is a big part of it,” he says. “If you did one thing the first winter and it worked, do it again the next winter.” Plus, as winters in places like Ohio seem to get tamer each year, it’s important for landscapers to attack the problems early instead of assuming the cold season will get easier or cause less problems. “Maybe it wasn’t an issue last winter, but it could be an issue this winter, so definitely be prepared,” Fisher says. “Everything you’re doing now is setting you up for what you have to deal with in the spring.” The post Water winterization: How to prepare your water features for the cold first appeared on Landscape Management.

[cashoffercompany]

The Best and Worst Time To Sell A House

When it comes to selling a house, timing is everything. The real estate market is influenced by various factors, and knowing when to sell can significantly impact the speed and profitability of your sale. In this blog, we’ll explore the best and worst times of the year to sell a house, offering insights into when you might want to list your property. We'll also consider the worst times to sell and how companies like Cash Offer Company can help if you need to sell your house fast, regardless of the season.

The Best Time of Year to Sell a House

Spring: The Peak Selling Season

Best months to sell a house: March, April, and May are generally considered the best months to sell a house. As the weather improves, buyers are more motivated to shop for homes. The market is typically more active, with more buyers looking and higher prices being offered. This period is ideal if you want to sell quickly and at a good price.

Advantages: During spring, homes often sell faster and for more money. The curb appeal of homes is at its peak, with blooming gardens and pleasant weather making properties more attractive.

Summer: A Strong Contender

Best time of year to sell a house: June and July are also excellent months to sell a house. Families looking to move before the school year starts often search during the summer, creating a robust market.

Advantages: The long days and favorable weather conditions make it easier for buyers to attend open houses and viewings. However, competition is high, so pricing your home right is crucial.

Fall: A Strategic Window

Best months to sell a house: September and October can still be good months to sell, particularly early in the fall. The market starts to cool down, but there are still serious buyers looking to close deals before the holiday season.

Advantages: With less competition than in the spring and summer, your home can stand out. Motivated buyers during this time are often ready to make quick decisions, which can lead to a faster sale.

The Worst Time to Sell a House              

Winter: The Slump Season

Worst time to sell a house: December, January, and February are generally considered the worst months to sell a house. The holidays and cold weather keep many potential buyers indoors, leading to a slower market.

Disadvantages: Fewer buyers mean less competition, which can result in lower offers. Additionally, winter weather can make homes look less appealing, and open houses are less attended.

Holiday Season: A Tough Market

Worst month to sell a house: December is often the worst month to sell a house due to the holiday season. People are preoccupied with family gatherings and holiday expenses, which means fewer buyers are looking to make big purchases.

Disadvantages: The market tends to slow down, and you may find it challenging to attract serious buyers. If you must sell during this time, be prepared for longer listing periods and lower offers.

Mid-Summer: A Cooling Off Period

While early summer is a good time to sell, mid-summer (late July and August) can see a slight dip in buyer activity. Many people are on vacation, and the intense heat in some regions can deter buyers from attending showings.

Disadvantages: Although the market isn’t as slow as in the winter, there may be a noticeable decrease in buyer interest compared to early summer and spring.

Factors That Influence the Best and Worst Times to Sell

Local Market Conditions

The best time of year to sell a house can vary depending on your local market. In some regions, summer might be more competitive due to favorable weather, while in others, fall might be better because of less competition.

Economic Conditions

The economy plays a significant role in determining the best and worst times to sell a house. In a strong economy, buyers are more confident and willing to invest, making it easier to sell at a higher price. Conversely, during economic downturns, the market can be sluggish, regardless of the season.

Interest Rates

When interest rates are low, buyers are more likely to enter the market, as they can afford more expensive homes. This can make traditionally slower times more active.

How to Sell My House Fast, No Matter the Season

Even if you find yourself needing to sell during the worst time of the year, there are strategies you can use to ensure a quick sale.

Price Your Home Competitively

Setting the right price is crucial, especially in a slower market. If you’re looking to sell my house fast, pricing it slightly below market value can attract more interest and lead to a quicker sale.

Enhance Curb Appeal

Make sure your home stands out, even during the off-season. Simple upgrades like a fresh coat of paint, landscaping, and decluttering can make a big difference in attracting buyers.

Consider Selling to a Cash Buyer

If you’re in a hurry and need to sell your house fast, working with a company like Cash Offer Company can be an excellent option. Cash buyers purchase homes directly, eliminating the need for financing and the lengthy closing process. This option is particularly appealing if you need to sell my house fast for cash, regardless of the season.

Conclusion

The best time of year to sell a house is generally in the spring and early summer, when buyer activity is at its peak. However, the worst time to sell a house is during the winter and holiday season, when the market tends to slow down. Understanding these seasonal trends can help you plan your sale for maximum benefit.

If you find yourself needing to sell during the off-season, don’t despair. By pricing your home competitively, enhancing its appeal, and considering alternative selling options like working with cash buyers, you can still achieve a successful sale.

For those looking to sell quickly and without the stress of the traditional market, Cash Offer Company offers a hassle-free solution. We provide fair cash offers and can close deals in as little as seven days, making it easy to sell your home fast, no matter the time of year.

[mendhambicycle]

Why Fall MTB Season Is the Best Time for a New Bike

If you've been contemplating getting into mountain biking or you’re already an avid MTB rider, there's no better time to make your move than this fall. With the crisp air, changing landscapes, and quieter trails, fall offers a fun opportunity to get into the sport or look at buying a new mountain bike. Here’s why you should consider purchasing a new mountain bike this season.

End-of-Season Sales and Discounts Everyone loves a killer deal, especially on a significant purchase. Now is a great time to find a brand-new bike at a substantial discount. Whether you’re looking at end-of-season sales or buying factory direct, you can save a ton of money on high-quality discount bikes, which can go toward other gear you need to enjoy mountain biking to the fullest. Some of the best bike companies may even offer free shipping, so that’s yet another way to save.

Beautiful Riding Weather Many mountain bikers say fall is their favorite season for riding. The cooler temperatures mean you can ride longer without overheating, and the crisp air is a refreshing change from the summer heat. The scenery is also unbeatable as the leaves change and wildlife becomes more active. If you’re into exploring, you may be able to cover more ground if you look at discount electric bikes with a front suspension fork. Create your own adventures this fall with a new bike. Quieter Trails With the busy summer trail season winding down and kids going back to school, it’s a great time for quieter trail traffic. Feeling like you have the trails to yourself allows you to enjoy some peaceful moments in nature. Also, if you’re a beginner, you may feel less intimidated, and you can take your time, get comfortable riding your new bike, and practice some skills without feeling pressured. Time to Learn How the Bike Handles Buying a mountain bike in the fall gives you plenty of time to get familiar with your new ride and learn how it handles. You can also brush up on your skills, learn new skills, and get to know your local trails better. When spring rolls around again, you may have more confidence in your skills and new steed. Whether you’re learning the basics or practicing your best bunny hops, fall is perfect for skills training. Motivation for Staying Active When the days get shorter and darker, it’s easy for some to fall into a more sedentary lifestyle. Owning a mountain bike can motivate you to keep active and enjoy the outdoors, even as the weather cools down. Mountain biking is great for not only physical fitness but also mental health, offering a brain break from the hustle and bustle of daily life. Get to Know the Community Mountain bikers have a chill vibe for the most part. Many local biking communities and organizations hold events, group rides, and beginner clinics in the fall, providing a supportive environment for new riders. Joining these events can help you meet other riders and become part of a community that shares your passion for the sport. About Mendham Bicycle Co.

Mendham Bicycle Co. is committed to giving you the best possible price on factory-direct bicycles and delivering them straight to your door. Look for bicycle sales online and get deep discounts on high-quality mountain, hybrid, road, electric, and kids' bicycles—and save big with free shipping. For unmatched savings on clearance bikes, the company cuts out unnecessary intermediaries and passes those savings on to you. Make your next bike purchase one you can trust. High-quality bicycles at discounted prices are a sure thing with the Mendham Bicycle Co. Best Price Guarantee. The company stands by its commitment to offering great bikes from reputable manufacturers at the best possible prices. Whether you’re a fitness enthusiast, casual rider, BMX fan, or looking for a great deal on a kid's bike, make your next purchase with Mendham Bicycle Co. Enjoy fall riding weather with a new bike from Mendham Bicycle Co. at https://mendhambikes.com/ Original Source: https://bit.ly/3Mx02x7

[thecleaningguide]

The Advantages of Hiring Professional Cleaners: A Worthwhile Investment

When Should You Hire Professional Cleaning Services? A Guide to Knowing When It's Time

Maintaining a clean home or office can be a daunting task, especially when juggling a busy lifestyle. While many people handle routine cleaning tasks on their own, there are times when hiring professional cleaning services is not only beneficial but necessary. If you’re unsure whether it’s time to bring in the pros, here’s a comprehensive guide to help you decide when to hire professional cleaning services.

1. When Life Gets Busy

One of the most common reasons people hire professional cleaning services is simply due to lack of time. Life can get hectic with work, family, and social commitments, leaving little time for thorough cleaning.

Busy Professionals: If you work long hours or have a demanding job, you may find it challenging to keep up with cleaning tasks. A professional cleaning service can help maintain your home so you can focus on your career and personal life.

Families with Young Children: With young children in the house, maintaining a clean environment can feel like a full-time job. Hiring professionals can take the burden off your shoulders, allowing you to spend more quality time with your family.

2. Before or After Special Events

Special occasions often call for a deep clean to ensure your home or venue looks its best.

Hosting Guests or Parties: If you’re hosting a party, gathering, or family event, a professional cleaning service can help get your home ready for guests. They can handle everything from general tidying to deep cleaning, ensuring your space is spotless and welcoming.

Post-Event Clean-Up: After hosting a large event or party, the last thing you want to do is deal with the mess. Professional cleaners can efficiently handle post-event clean-up, allowing you to relax and enjoy the aftermath without the stress.

3. When Moving In or Out

Moving can be one of life’s most stressful experiences, and cleaning is a big part of it. Professional cleaning services can make this process easier and less stressful.

Moving Out: When moving out of a home or apartment, leaving the place clean is often required to get your security deposit back or to ensure a good relationship with your landlord. A professional move-out cleaning service can take care of this for you, ensuring the space is spotless.

Moving In: Moving into a new home is an exciting time, but it can also be overwhelming. Hiring a professional cleaning service to clean your new home before you move in ensures that you’re starting fresh in a truly clean environment.

4. For Deep Cleaning Needs

Regular cleaning might keep the surface dirt at bay, but every home and office needs a deep clean from time to time.

Spring Cleaning: A thorough spring cleaning can refresh your home and remove the buildup of dust and dirt that accumulates over time. Professional cleaners have the tools and expertise to tackle those hard-to-reach areas and deep clean your home from top to bottom.

Seasonal Changes: As the seasons change, it’s a good time to deep clean your home and prepare for the next season. Professional cleaners can help clean out the cobwebs, dust baseboards, and ensure your home is ready for the change in weather.

5. When Selling Your Home

If you’re putting your home on the market, first impressions are crucial. A clean, well-maintained home is more attractive to potential buyers and can even increase the value of your property.

Staging for Sale: A professional cleaning service can help ensure your home looks its best for showings and open houses. They can provide a deep clean that highlights the best features of your home, making it more appealing to buyers.

Photoshoots: Real estate photos are a critical part of marketing your home. Professional cleaners can ensure that every surface shines, and every room looks immaculate for the camera.

6. When Dealing with Allergies or Health Issues

A clean home is essential for good health, especially for those with allergies, asthma, or other respiratory conditions.

Reducing Allergens: Dust, pet dander, and pollen can accumulate in your home, aggravating allergies and asthma. Professional cleaners use high-quality vacuums and cleaning products that can help reduce allergens and improve indoor air quality.

Preventing Illness: During flu season or in the case of a household illness, a thorough professional cleaning can help eliminate germs and bacteria, reducing the risk of spreading sickness.

7. For Specialized Cleaning Needs

Certain cleaning tasks require specialized skills, knowledge, or equipment that professional cleaners can provide.

Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning: Over time, carpets and upholstery can collect dirt, stains, and odors that regular vacuuming can’t remove. Professional cleaning services have the tools and expertise to deep clean carpets and upholstery, extending their lifespan and improving their appearance. By investing in professional carpet and upholstery cleaning services, you can extend the life of your furnishings, protect your investment, and create a healthier, more comfortable living environment.

Window Washing: Cleaning windows, especially on multi-story homes, can be challenging and potentially dangerous. Professional window cleaners have the equipment and experience to safely and effectively clean your windows, inside and out.

Post-Construction Cleaning: If you’ve recently completed a renovation or construction project, you’re likely dealing with a lot of dust and debris. Professional cleaners can handle post-construction cleaning, ensuring your space is safe and ready for use.

8. When You Need a Break

Sometimes, you just need a break from the routine of cleaning. Whether you’re feeling overwhelmed or just want to enjoy more leisure time, hiring a professional cleaning service can provide much-needed relief.

Mental Health Break: Taking care of your mental health is important, and sometimes that means taking a break from daily chores. Professional cleaners can give you that break, allowing you to focus on self-care or other activities that bring you joy.

Holiday Prep: Preparing for the holidays can be stressful enough without adding cleaning to the list. Professional cleaners can take care of the cleaning, leaving you more time to enjoy the holiday season.

Final Thoughts

Hiring professional cleaning services is a smart decision for many reasons. Whether you need a deep clean, are preparing for a special event, or simply want to save time, professional cleaners can provide the expertise and convenience you need to maintain a clean and healthy home or office. By recognizing when it’s time to call in the pros, you can ensure your space is always looking its best, giving you peace of mind and more time to enjoy life. So, the next time you’re overwhelmed by cleaning tasks, consider hiring a professional cleaning service – it could be just what you need!

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Send flowers cheap, don't send cheap flowers!

When you are short on cash but you want to send someone flowers, don't try to save money by going to the first online flower delivery service you see and choosing their click here cheapest floral arrangement, because you'll end up sending cheap flowers. What you want to do is find the best deal on the nicest flowers, so you end up saving money, but not compromising on quality.

Send Flowers Cheap Tip #1: Order Flowers Online

The way to get the best deal on flowers is to order flowers online for delivery. Local florists have huge overhead and sometimes their flowers are not as fresh as you'd like them to be. But when you order flowers online, the flowers are usually coming direct from the grower.

Online flowers are cut that morning, arranged into your flower arrangement and sent out before the flowers wilt. . That means you get the freshest, most inexpensive flowers because there is no middleman. Just a website between you and your flower delivery.

Send Flowers Cheap Tip #2: Choose Weekday Flower Delivery

Flowers delivered during the week, Monday to Friday can save you a lot of money on delivery charges. Some places, charge way more for Saturday deliveries. Another tip to keep in mind is that most florists don't work on Sundays, so if you send flowers on Monday, you are likely getting flowers that were cut on Saturday. For the freshest flowers, have your flowers delivered from Tuesday to Friday.

Send Flowers Cheap Tip #3: Choose Seasonal Flowers

When you browse through a website looking for just the right flower arrangement to send, go directly to the seasonal flowers. It's usually called, Spring Flowers, or Sale Flowers, or Best Sellers. These flowers are growing strong and lovely right at the time you order so they are the best choice for three reasons. One, there are a lot of those flowers available. Two, they will last longer because flowers are strongest when they are in season. And three, because florists have an abundance of seasonal flowers, they want to sell more. Seasonal flowers are the most inexpensive flowers online.

Send Flowers Cheap Tip #4: Order Early for Special Occasions

Some online flower shops raise their prices around special occasions like Valentine's Day, Mother's Day, Christmas, etc. especially for delivery. But if you place your order at least 7 days before the big day, you can save money on delivery and you can usually get a great deal on the flowers too.

Send Flowers Cheap Tip #5: Buy a Year's Worth of Flowers at Once

I know it sounds crazy, but more and more online flower delivery services are doing this. They offer monthly flowers gifts, a different flower arrangement every month for a year. They send out the freshest, in season flowers once a month to your recipient. You can personalize the card each month so your recipient doesn't have to know you bought them all at once. The advantage to this is that you can save a lot of money by buying in bulk. They give you the best deals possible when you order a year's supply of flowers at once. If you don't follow any of the other tips above, follow this one and send flowers cheap all year long. You'll be a hero in your recipient's eyes.