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midlandmetalproductshammond · 2 years

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The Advantages Of Metal Stamping In Commercial Lights

Wonderfully created illumination designs change industrial areas immediately. With the proper lights, your service might operate more effectively. Staff members set in dark lighting or customers overwhelmed by brilliant lighting existing extreme concerns about your service. Expert steel producers offer steel marking solutions.

The advantages of metal stamping in commercial illumination markets include boosted presence, decreased prices, and also enhanced productivity of workers. Commercial lighting requirements and fixtures vary widely, but working with a manufacturer of metal fabrication with the highest level of expertise assures that your company will have the illumination it needs to succeed.

What is Metal Stamping?

Metal marking describes converting level metal sheets into various shapes and sizes. Metal stamping in lighting styles uses identify precision to create the fixtures used in commercial lighting. The tools utilized to carry out steel stamping include cable EDM, laser cutting, as well as press brakes. These strategies boost business and commercial LED illumination and building light designs by producing parts that work specifically as a service demands.

The history of steel marking dates back to the 7th Century BC. Early innovators of metal stamping made use of a screw press, requiring the toughness of 12 men to supply enough stress to develop metal surfaces. Screw-pressing metal quickly replaced steam-powered presses, which lingered till the beginning of the Industrial Era. Today’s steel marking technologies utilize electrical motors and also flywheels.

The evolution of metal marking modern technology continues today. Industries use arising technologies such as sophisticated CAD software applications as well as hyper-focused laser cutting services. As the need for commercial lights grows, developments in metal stamping innovations will proceed to improve.

Examples of Metal Stamping

Digital, army, and also medical care sectors count on metal stamping to complete high-precision construction services effectively. The tools these industries utilize are essential to saving and securing lives, so metal marking ensures that every component is up to the task. You can locate examples of metal stamping all over.

Likewise, lights need tremendous attention to information to abide by The Occupational Security as well as Health Administration’s (OSHA) illumination standards as well as offer consumers and also employees adequate visibility. Flimsy components would result in poor illumination which could be hazardous.

Other instances of elements produced by steel marking consist of:

Automotive bearings

Devices

Electric devices

Aerospace systems

Soda canisters

Clinical instruments

Fashion Jewelry

Ammo

The listing of products improved by metal marking extends endlessly. The efficiency, high-volume output, and economical top qualities of steel stamping have long proven crucial. Organizations requiring thousands, or even countless minuscule components, count significantly on constructions created from steel marking.

Advantages of Steel Stamping in Commercial Lighting

The following are some advantages of metal stamping in commercial lighting:

Quick Results

Thanks to developments in computer system software applications and computer-learning innovations, customers get steel stamping orders faster than in the past. For sectors such as medical facilities calling for professional-grade lighting to carry out detailed procedures, the prompt conclusion of metal stamping proves paramount. Enhanced efficiency of steel stamping practices makes it possible for entrepreneurs to spend less time stressing over lighting fixtures and even more time serving their clients.

Inexpensive

Industries that require substantial light, like healthcare facilities and also institutions, understandably pursue any kind of chance to save their restricted funds. Steel stamping offers high-quality outcomes without costing company owners unreasonable quantities of cash. Automation, reduced labor costs, and enhanced production results permit steel marking procedures to offer the most affordable cost feasible for consumers.

Accurate Outcomes

Computer-Aided Design software, or CAD, completely transformed the metal marking market. Trained specialists make use of CAD software applications to render 2D as well as 3D versions of metal marking jobs to make certain the accuracy of every piece of information. Business seeking upgraded illumination fixtures can watch their tasks using the Autocad and Solidworks programs before manufacturing begins. They can team up with the supplier to guarantee that the final product looks as well as operates specifically as needed.

Flexibility

The parts of lighting fixtures differ substantially in size, form, and also style. Steel marking supplies numerous dimensions, measurements, and specs to fulfill clients’ needs. Those browsing shops fruitlessly for specific components for their lighting systems commonly locate metal marking a one-stop store. Lights components constructed by steel marking include:

Brackets

Clips

Springs

Places

Junction Boxes

Lenses

Trim

Successfully crafting the one-of-a-kind shapes and sizes of light parts requires expertise as well as exact implementation. Professional professionals have trained for several years to develop the abilities essential to offer quality steel marking solutions. Steel marking methods create specific outcomes successfully and economically, and conference every requirement.

How To Pick The Best Metal Stamping Company For Your Requirements

Choosing the appropriate metal stamping company for your business calls for a complete understanding of your industry’s light demands. OSHA needs specific light needs to be fulfilled by all markets. The “foot candle” describes OSHA’s recommended unit for determining light distribution. One foot-candle describes the illuminance of one square-foot surface area from a particular light.

Depending upon the market, foot-candle requirements vary. For example, hospital evaluation spaces may need 150 foot candles, while basic evaluation areas call for just 50 foot-candles. Understanding the state foot-candle needs enables the company owner to purchase light components accurately.

Be sure the metal stamping company worked with wields years of experience in the field and can meet your business’s OSHA needs. Quickly built lighting fixture parts jeopardize the safety and security of those entering your business.

Midland Metal Products maintains over 100 years of experience in the metal manufacturing industry. What once was just a little cord store in 1923 has become a full metal construction production venture. Our professionals use the most recent equipment and methods to guarantee our customers obtain the very best possible results. Results are assured when you select Midland Metal Products for your upcoming commercial lighting installation.

Rely On Midland Metal Products

If your business looks for the benefits of steel stamping in business lights, call Midland Metal Products. Say goodbye to waiting on products to ship from abroad as well as undoubtedly experiencing delays; Midland Metal Products does all design, production, as well as producing services right here in the United States. Real-time diagnostics and stringent quality control steps ensure our customers get what they purchase. Call Midland Metal Products at 773-927-5700 the next time you require superior metal stamping, or contact us online to talk with a member of our welcoming staff.

Midland Metal Products Co

1401 165th St, Hammond, IN 46320, United States

+1 773-927-5700

https://goo.gl/maps/YEMDCAr6qLRkirNg9

#custom light fixture fabrication #commercial lighting industries #decorative metal stampings #custommetalfabrication

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hometoursandotherstuff · 3 months

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I live in Bergen County, NJ, however, I only went to Demarest a couple times in HS for football games, where this home is located. It's an ordinary looking 1977 home, 4bds, 2ba. Surprisingly, it was priced at $1.04M and was reduced to $999K. Why is it so pricey? Gold. Most of the rooms have either gold or marble. Check it out.

Built and designed by its owner, the house has custom woodwork and features a touch of gold in nearly every room. It's on the cabinetry, light fixtures, door handles, fireplace, and along the walls — also in both the artistry of the wood and the marble walls and floors.

I guess it's b/c of the photos, but I can't tell which is wood and which is gold. Are those gold strips on the fireplace or wood? I think wood.

It's surprising that such an elegant home doesn't have a formal dining room. It does have a chandelier in the kitchen, though. Let's play Spot the Gold.

I like the big blue island and matching range hood. I see gold on the backsplash, cabinet handles and lights.

Gold stools. But, the thing is, it's not real gold. It's gold toned metal.

This is an open concept family room and kitchen.

Again, I can't tell if those strips are gold or wood. I'm gonna say that they're gold. Maybe.

In this bedroom there is no gold. The closet handles are black.

The price also includes all the marble. Marble on the floor and tub. Wow, look at the blue piece. And, check out the fancy toilet with the gold design. There's also a gold strip around the shower.

More blue marble on the wall.

This is the largest secondary bedroom. The bedrooms aren't very big in this house.

This one is very small.

By $1M home standards, the primary bedroom isn't that big, either. And, there's no marble or gold. There's a regular door to the yard.

This really isn't that big.

It does have a walk-in closet.

The en-suite is just a small shower room with marble and some gold accents. The toilet's different. I like the design b/c I hate having to clean around regular toilets with all those indents and crevices.

Small patio, nothing spectacular, but it is fenced for privacy. Standard 3,920 sq ft lot. I don't even know if there's room for a pool, if the new owner wants one.

Narrow path along the side of the house.

One car garage. I'm glad that they reduced it by $41K, but now it's $999K. Demarest's median home price is $1.7M, but

by comparison, this one is $750K. It has 4bds and 3ba.

https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/10-Christie-St-Demarest-NJ-07627/37869764_zpid/

#houses #house tours #home tour

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plasticfangtastic · 1 year

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american royalty. ch. 2

A Homelander x F!reader fanfic.

a/n: will post ch. 3 this week but sadly my other fic will be posted next week, enjoy this slow burn dadlander fic, and thx u to all the readers. prev. chapter:

Sypnosis: Homelander never wanted to remember you, but after welcoming Ryan into his life, he thought of you & the lie that tore you two apart. Now... thinking back, thinking of your betrayal-- was he perhaps wrong about who the father of your unborn child was? Did you perhaps told the truth all those years ago?

Tags: mild gore, angst, lots of angst, slow burn, fluff, OC characther, child neglect, dadlander, romance.

Chapter Two

Red

It had been a very long day, business was booming nowadays and since that influencer had made a couple videos on your pizzeria, you had been more than just busy, you began to run out of ingredients.

In the last four years, the restaurant had grown, it had been there since 2002 ran by your boss’s father and his brother, who had ran their own pizza shop since the 80’s but as the economy and other events hit, they had decided to relocate and re-brand, now managed by their son– a man you owed so much, had his heart not been filled with kindness you would most likely be in the streets. So you made sure his restaurant was the best, you had accolades, you’ve worked in some of the best restaurants, you were once a very prominent fast rising figure of the New York culinary scene– until Homelander came along.

Your talent revamped the restaurant and now your food was once again on the spotlight, for the first time since you left Vought, you were happy with yourself, even if it was pizza. Cooking made you happy, and this job needed you, you didn’t live in fear of sleeping in your car anymore, you didn’t need to worry that your daughter would sleep on somebody’s couch again, you were able to quit your third job and go casual on your second thanks to this place, right now you didn’t live in the best of places but you were saving up and in a couple months you’d have enough money saved up to move, and send your daughter to a better school, somewhere were her talents wouldn’t be wasted.

So here you were ten minutes before closing, another extra couple hours of overtime for your dream two bedroom apartment, where it would be safe for her, where you could finally feel like your life had moved on from him, that the door opened up and your cashier squealed.

It was a quaint looking restaurant, the wood seating was new and the wall decor had been changed trying to look less cluttered, with Art Deco lighting fixtures as the stand out feature. The place had been remodeled recently it seems, the kitchen and its big brick oven looked clean but ancient to Homelander, he stared at the menu board and metal boxes of accouterments by the counters, taking in that this was in fact a pizza place, that you of all people did in fact work at a pizza place. You who could whip up amazing fare, now made greasy cheap slices, but he had seen people come in and leave endlessly these past few days, people taking selfies, and recording themselves with your food, nothing he understood.

He looked back at the teenager on the counter offering his signature smile as she blubbered her script, then as you took a step closer knowing you couldn’t hide in this open kitchen you finally looked at each other for the first time in seven years.

Your throat collapsed and your whole body became prickly and tight, your heart was beating so fast you thought you might be having a heart attack, you looked at the clock cursing that it wasn’t over, you were almost done packing the kitchen and readying for tomorrow, having a customer at this hour was awful but having him here was about to take you to an early grave.

“What’s your best seller?” Homelander muttered looking straight at you with an aloof stare, then back at the cashier– is pizza night at my house, sorry for coming so late hope that’s not a problem?” he said exceedingly politely.

The teenager blushed and looked back at you as if asking you to pinch her.

“That would be our pepperoni queen– is two types of cheese, extra pepperoni, with our signature house made marinara, with a dash of vodka sauce in our sourdough thin crust… chili oil is optional” You had managed to say trying to ignore those piercing blue eyes, you moved back to your place staring at the few remaining trays of dough balls left– our second best seller is our chicken florentine pie.”

Homelander admittedly detested pizza, it was greasy, gooey and heavy, it was fattening and gross, but there was a familiar aroma in the room, something that was making his mouth water lightly. Looking back at the girl, he ordered both in their smallest size offered, he sat by one of the wooden booths for the ten minutes he was told to wait, and not once did he made a comment, maybe that’s why your heart stung so much, why it felt as if you were about to collapse– that after seven years, he had completely forgotten about you, while only now did you began to feel as if you could heal from all the suffering he’d cause you, how insignificant had you been all along, how you love never registered.

You both had talked of moving in together and buying a home, he wanted to buy you a restaurant, and you wanted to give him your life, you had never loved somebody as much as he made you love him, and now you were just some bum wearing a graphic t-shirt making him dinner.

You packed his food, your boss Kaleem had given him extras on the house, practically begging for Homelander to give them a photo for their socials and you simply stare as he did his superhero thing, you took one of the delivery bags knowing he would lose the food if he flew with them in hand.

After the photoshoot, Kaleem and your cashier had run to the back to show the picture to the only other staffer left at this hour.

You both looked at each other as he took the bag off your hands, you wanted to cry, your eyes welling up but you looked down afraid of him, no doubt he could hear your heartbeat tickling his ear.

“It's been a while hasn’t it?”

You could’ve collapsed into tears right then and there, it was worse to be remembered.

Growing angry at the sound of his soft voice, and that concerned expression in his face.

“Yes…”

“How you been? Didn’t think I'd ever see you again.”

“Should’ve killed me back then… got fucking close to it tho.” You dropped all pleasantries, hearing him talk and not hearing the word sorry 5 seconds in, had infuriated you. His stupid face, those stupid eyes, and that clown suit was too much for you, maybe it was the poor diet and lack of sleep but right now you wanted to ban him from Lucci’s– hope you enjoy the food.”

You pushed the bag jumping from the kitchen to the front as you headed for the door, holding it open for him.

“I’m doing alright. Now leave!”

“You don’t even want to know why I'm here?” he was taken aback by your brashness, you had always been sweet to him, tender, barely ever angry before, so why now?

“You got a little kid now, I gather like any other kid, he likes pizza… and good for him because mine is the best!”

“Not really… I actually wanted to see you. I… I just wanted to ask you something–

“Mother!!”

Your daughter emerged from the depths of the kitchen, she carried a kindle in one hand and a giftcard in the other.

“Is it okay if I use my present now? They got some books on sale and you said not to buy more books until I finished… oh…”

In the light and in front of him, your daughter truly looked like your mirror image, copy and pasted into a miniature. Her hair just past her chin, and her bangs indeed covered her eyes, peeking behind those curtains were the prettiest blue eyes he’d ever seen, there was no unnatural shine to them– just blue. Her lips so thin and her complexion just a tad paler than your own now that he gave it a proper look, she was so small-- too small for her age.

“Is okay honey, is your birthday you can get any books you want” Your tone shifted entirely lowering yourself to take her face and plant a quick peck on her cheek– now go back with uncle Kaleem and let mommy close shop, okay? We’ll go home in a minute.”

“Is it your birthday young lady? Congratulations.”

Homelander threw his best smile, giving the kid a cautious pet, catching the rage in your eyes as his gloved fingers touched your daughter.

“Thanks. Is not a milestone birthday so it is not worthy of congratulations… seems inane to celebrate it” she looked at her mother with a jaded expression– " I'll go get my bag, have a good night, sir.”

Homelander pressed his lip as the most deadpan voice came out of this little girl. Her oversized black sweater and the black tights made her look oddly unhappy, but the kid just stared at him with boredom, no surprise or interest when she stood next to America's favorite son.

He wondered if that was an adult or a seven year old for a second.

He worried if the kid had told his mother about that other night, but looking back at you he went with 'maybe'.

“What’s your name?” he asked, still forcing a smile– "my… you seem like a smart girl getting books for your birthday.”

“Helena.”

The kid couldn’t muster the energy to give him anything but her dead ass voice, she began to walk away not caring for manners, nor Homelander.

“She’s… cute.” he said watching that tiny figure walk away and surviving after her second nsult– great pronunciation for her age, does she even know what she’s saying?”

“Helena is not like other kids.”

“How so?”

You looked at him more tired than anything, rubbing your temples as you made yourself waste spit to talk to him.

“She’s a Supe… by the time she was two she could speak in full sentences, by three she could read at a first and second grade level, and by five she was teaching herself calculus and piano… she’s a genius; I thought she was a normal genius until… her other powers manifested– none of this matters! Just go!” You shook your head in frustration.

“You gave her V?” He said while staring at Helena.

“... I didn’t know what V was until the news broke out, I thought Helena was chosen by God! That the world blessed her with those powers, but when that story came out I’ve been wanting to ask you– did you give her V? but… if you didn’t… who… are you lying to me, John?”

Homelander looked past the concrete walls looking back at that little girl, he didn’t know what to say or do, before you could utter another word he left.

Ryan nose picked the meal quickly, glad that it was friday and his dad would let him stay up ‘til late, Homelander just dropped the meal on their new table and the kid was quick on his feet, the food was still warm, only now did Homelander noticed the extras, couple of small containers holding chili oil and freshly made ranch, garlic knots and a lemon meringue pie, it was too much but Ryan hadn’t hesitated to dig in, before Homelander could ask him to wash his hands he had ripped a slice of pepperoni.

“This is so good!” He said so cheerfully– gosh I was starving, dad.”

“I sure hope so, bud… let’s leave the pie for tomorrow…” he looked grossed out, Ryan sat opening up the garlic knot’s containers– not gonna eat?”

Homelander sat down to join him, the thought of touching all those greasy surfaces was making his stomach hurl, but he relented, taking a slice.

He was young again, and you were there coming back with some drinks as he ate your chicken florentine, this was the same recipe, the chicken was so juicy and the cheese wasn’t greasy. Ryan was shocked to see his father sound so happy as he took another bite.

It was the first time they both ate together where they felt completely comfortable with each other, maybe it was seeing Ryan not pick at his food that made Homelander able to just talk, Ryan told him all about his homework, and the videogame he was playing, he really liked Fifa at the moment even if he himself cared not for the sport.

Helena watched as her mother stood silently hovering above the sink, you hadn’t moved much for a couple of minutes, your daughter more annoyed than anything else regarding this display.

“How do you know Homelander?” she asked with a yawn.

“Huh?” you woke up from your trance– you should be in bed, darling.”

“You too. So… How do you know the clown?”

“Honey, don't say that!”

“He walks around wearing a onesie all day… like a clown… like the rest of those super clowns”

Your daughter always spoke with a creepy maturity, her voice didn’t belong to a kid.

“... He used to be my boss… he was a really bad boss…”

“You used to work for Vought?” She softened her stand.

“Honey… I don’t really want to talk about this… it's late and we are going to the museum tomorrow so you should get some sleep, mommy is just tired… hope you had a good birthday.”

“You should rest too, mother.”

Your daughter's eyes glowed momentarily turning th blinkers off before she made her way to bed, you stared at her door, thinking if she could see you.

No mother should think their child was creepy, Helena was just difficult and abrasive, to be a small kid with her brain must be unbearable. You could recall the moment she asked you about V so vividly, she looked angry, but you had no honest answer to give her, you had to lie, god knows if you got the details right about how these people committed these crimes. Helena simply had no ability to relate to people, and without the funds you couldn’t help her meet her potential, not while you were both stuck living in public housing, not while scraping every penny.

Her few friends forced her to dumb down and even they found her uneasy, only the old people seemed to handle her best, she loved to listen, and her teachers always thought of her as a delight, yet she knew no other Supe beside herself, those pageants were expensive, and networking meetings were hard to get in, talent agencies were costly– having a super-abled kid and trying to make them into a Supe was locked behind a massive paywall, all you could hope was that her genius would let her enter a university early on scholarships.

There was always Godolkin, but god knows if they would let her enter at a young age.

It would be easy if her father was involved, if John was there in her life, she would have the world but he didn’t want her, he had made that clear years ago.

So why did he lie about the V?

It had been two weeks since you seen Homelander, but he saw you a lot, he'd come back and forth-- watching you and the child with ardent curiosity, seeing you made him reminisce, of those many nights and afternoons, of the way no matter how tired you were, you always made sure to look happy when he showed up, the way you looked so at peace while cooking, of the feel of your skin against his and the taste of your precious lips as you kissed him good morning.

He followed you, on your only day off as you took Helena around the city, watching you share a slice of overprice cake while taking notes, and ate cheap chinese for lunch, you waited for two hours as Helena played chess and checkers with some oldies at a chess shop, some russian man gave her lessons-- some of these people dressed nicely perhaps pros. Some won over her and some lost but the games were quick, your daughter seemed happier when she loss than when winning.

Something about that didn’t sit well with Homelander.

Somehow he found himself in your apartment, cracking open the window to sneak in while you headed back home– the tiny apartment felt more like a closet than a habitable space, the ceilign was run down, and the appliances ancient but well kept, your bedroom was simple, cooking books and boxes sat on top of your dressers, a single’s bed with plush comforters and pillows stuck against the wall, with a wardrobe in front of it, and a cheap fan tucked in the corner. He left for your daughter’s room just a few feet away divided by the bathroom were most of the clutter and laundry lived, her bedroom was just as plain, but the books didn’t seem fit for a small child, her desk tidy and organized, he picked up a notebook from the pile, seeing math equations that hurt his eyes within seconds. All her stuff were nice and new, she had a decent computer on top of her bed, an old dresser, but there was an absence of toys– compared to Ryan’s bedroom that was filled with anything he wanted and decorated expertly. A clock adorned her walls but not much else, the few things that looked messy was a tiny plastic chess set, the kind with magnets on the bottom, and some DIY stem kits.

He took to the bathroom, it was old and falling apart, mold was growing in the corner much to Homelander’s disgust, trolley held dozens of beauty stuff and shampoos and detergents, a shelf on the wall held towels and toilet rolls. Homelander looked at a sparkly hairbrush, picking a couple strands of lost hair knowing by their lengths and color that they weren’t yours, and cursing himself for doing this as he place them on small plastic bag he had hid in his glove.

#homelander #homelander fanfiction #homelander x you #homelander x reader #the boys fanfiction #personal #my fic tag #not proofread sorry #american royalty #already got 2 more chapters done for this hope yall like it #I really like slow burn stories #my natural enemy is the short story it seems #homelader x f!reader #dadlander #the boys oc

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angryschnauzer · 2 years

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As Sweet As Honey - Chapter 3

Summary: Finding a new life in a new town, you stumble upon a Honey farmer at the town market. You both have pasts that have shaped the way you now live your lives, but can you find a way of putting them behind you to find happiness?

Pairing: ‘Lucas’ Syverson x Female Reader

Fandom: Henry Cavill, Sandcastle (Movie).

Ongoing Genre: Fluff, Angst, and Smut

Warnings: Slight Angst, Talk of a car accident in the past, Anxious Sy, Mild Embarrassment, First Date Nerves, Kissing

Here is my masterlist and AO3

Chapter 1, Chapter 2,

Wordcount: 4346

I do not run a tag list, instead please follow @angryschnauzerwrites and put that blog onto notifications, you’ll then get an alert each time i post something new. My AO3 also has my entire back catalogue of stories (going back to 2013).

Chapter 3

The water levels were rising, a steady flow coming in through the door seals. With the car hanging at such a precarious angle your full weight was pulling on the seatbelt, holding you in place. Your mind was hazy, and as you reached out for him in the driver's seat he slapped your hand away;

“Don’t touch me!” he spat out, the venom in his tone one you were used to.

You shook your head, trying to stop the loud buzzing in your mind, the water continued to flow higher. The cold crept in, it was up to your knees now, the hem of your dress was dark where the river was encroaching.

The car shifted on the rocks, the icy waters surging with snow melt wanting to push you further downstream. Blue light flooded the windows. You wanted to scream but knew it would only be greeted with more venom. The car shifted again, metal on stone…

And you were awake. You were safe.

The soft light of the new day came in through the window, the light drapes softly moving in the breeze. The room was warm, but you were drenched in a cold sweat.

Pulling the twisted covers off you sat on the side of the bed, your heart racing. It had been a long time since you’d had a nightmare like that, months at least. The events of four years ago were something you’d been able to finally put behind you with the relocation to this sunny little town. You’d moved on, built a new life. Taking a deep breath you stood and stripped, heading into your bathroom and the custom steam shower you’d had installed. Turning the heat up as high as you could bear you washed away the sweat and any last lingering memories of the icy water of your dream, scrubbing yourself clean and getting ready for your day.

As the work week rolled along you were busy with deadlines, updating papers and writing new requests. Sy had been on your mind non stop after his visit at the weekend. You’d texted back and forth, and you’d been avidly watching his social media, enjoying the regular updates on his businesses’ day to day life, and the promise of dinner at the end of the week, this time his treat. You’d put the nightmare behind you and had dived head first into work, getting well ahead of schedule with your workload, so when an invite for coffee with a good friend had come through you didn’t feel the slightest hesitation to down tools and agree to meet her.

Tamara was already sitting at the open window counter when you approached the coffee shop, looking out as the warm breeze blew along the tree lined main street. Through the trees you could see the old town water tower up the small hill behind the coffee shop, the decades old wooden structure now used for little more than water for the flower filled planters that lined the streets, the town water system updated meaning the tower was no longer needed to add water pressure. It looked rickety as hell with the wood now a dull faded grey and the painted town name barely visible, but it was part of the town and seemed a fixture that would be there forever.

Waving as you entered the coffee shop you ordered your drink before joining Tam at the window, climbing onto the high bar style stool;

“Hey”

“Heyyyy” she replied, stretching her greeting out which wasn’t normal and it made you pause.

“What?”

“How was your weekend?”

Scrutinising her face you saw she had a slight look of amusement on her face;

“It was good. What… what’s going on?”

“Oh, it was only good?”

“Tam” you said, getting frustrated

“Okay okay, i drove by your place at the weekend to return those books i borrowed”

You looked at her, knowing what she was hinting at;

“And you will have seen Lucas Syverson cutting the lavender for his honey business”

“Oh” She looked a little deflated and turned back to her drink, stirring the straw to let the ice cubes clink against the glass. She took a sip as you continued;

“But he asked me out”

Tam’s drink caught in her throat as her brain processed what you said.

Tamara was one of your oldest friends. You’d bonded in high school and had ended up at the same college. After you’d graduated you’d drifted apart, she’d moved to a small town for a Veterinarian job but you’d had other reasons to stay on in your college town. After the accident she’d reached out and invited you to stay with her, giving you the chance to put thousands of miles between you and the trauma.

She’d helped you get settled, find a realtor and even signed as a guarantor on your mortgage. In the last year she’d been lightly encouraging you to consider dating, but hadn’t pushed you, so the news that you’d not only met someone by yourself but had arranged a date was the best news she’d heard in years.

Sy paced the room, glancing at the wall as he chewed on the side of his thumb. The sound of tyres on his gravel driveway drew his attention to the incoming visitor, watching as the big truck pulled up and its owner came to a halt and quick ran up the steps of the cabin, not waiting to knock and walked straight in, only pausing when he saw Sy;

“What’s wrong?! Are you ok?!”

Sy held up two shirts;

“Which one?”

Walter paused, closing his eyes and pinching the ridge of his nose;

“Excuse me?”

“Which One?” Sy repeated, holding the shirts in turn up to his neck.

“Sy… you got some explaining to do… I was busy…”

Sy took a deep breath;

“I have a date”

“A date?” Walter cautiously repeated

“And you weren’t busy, you were still trying to build that damn racoon trap”

Walter took a deep breath. He knew what his natural response would have been. His cousin calls him on a rare day off, it's something that he’s put so much thought into and still can’t come to a conclusion. So he does what he does best; problem solves.

“Where are you going for the date?”

“Antonios on Main Street”

“What date is it? First, Second, Third?”

“First”

Walter crossed the room and plucked both shirts from Sy’s grasp;

“Neither of these, you’ll look like a lumberjack” he rooted around in the closet and pulled out a dark cotton button up shirt with long sleeves.

“Walt…” Sy started

“I know, you’ll get too hot. But not if you leave a couple of buttons undone on your chest and roll your sleeves up once you’re sat in the restaurant. Girls love that shit”

Sy plucked the shirt from Walter’s hand, pulling it on and buttoning it;

“How did you suddenly turn into a chick magnet?”

Not turning to Sy, Walter started to hang the discarded shirts back in the closet;

“They dig my big magnum” as he tapped the gun hanging in its holster on his belt. Even off duty he still carried it.

Sy coughed and muttered something along the lines of ‘bullshit’ as Walter spoke;

“The girls at the Station, they talk, and they don’t know I listen. They spent 45 minutes last week instilling the virtues of a man’s hands, and how if they say ‘you’ve got nice hands’, it doesn’t just mean that you have nice hands, it means they’ve fantasised about those hands doing things - good things - to them. We had some average guy come in to install fibre optic into the bullpen to upgrade all the computers, halfway through the job he stopped and carefully rolled his shirt sleeves up. I have not seen so little work going on at any given point since they pulled an ice cream truck up outside last summer”

He turned and saw his cousin standing still, arms held out expectantly;

“What’d’ya think?”

Walter nodded;

“Looks good, but unbutton one more, girls like a bit of chest hair”

Sy did as Walter suggested, before turning to the mirror and smoothing the dark shirt over his chest;

“It looks ok? Doesn’t stick to my gut? I’ve put on a few pounds since the last time I went on a date”

Walter crossed the room and clasped a hand onto Sy’s shoulder;

“Man, you look fine. Who is the lucky lady then?”

Sy went on to explain how he’d met you, and his trip to your house with the lavender and how you already loved Akia. At the sound of her name she came trotting over and gave his hand a small lick before sitting down at his side.

Walter nodded to the furry friend;

“You want me to babysit?”

Sy looked at the big brown eyes staring up at him;

“It should be ok, I’ll only be a couple of hours”

“You’ll be longer than that if you’re going to Antonio’s. The food is good but on a Friday night they can take a while. Plus it’ll be nice if you take her around the park, the Mayor just installed a bunch of lights and it looks all pretty and shit, girls love that stuff” Walter crouched down and roughly petted Akia; “You want to come to Uncle Walters for the night girl? Want to help me chase racoons?”

The dog immediately got to her feet, wagging her tail before she ran off and came back dragging her blanket from her basket;

“I think that’s decided then” Walter smiled as Sy let out a sigh; “You’ll do great”

Holding the mascara wand you were debating whether to add another coat to your lashes when there was a knock at the door which made the decision for you. Putting it back into the tube you twisted it before placing it on the table, running to the door and opening it quickly with a smile;

“Sy!”

“Wow, you look stunning” he stepped in and pressed a small bunch of red roses into your hand, resting his hand on your hip as he gave you a kiss on your cheek.

You felt the heat rise to your face, unfamiliar with a man giving you such a compliment, stumbling a little at your words;

“Th-thanks… i’ll just go put these in some water”

A few moments later Sy was holding the door to his truck open as you climbed up, and you were somewhat regretting wearing heels and a dress as you hadn’t counted on the fact the truck was considerably taller than you were used to.

The ride into downtown was fairly quick, and the pair of you made small talk as Sy searched for a parking spot before finally finding one half a block down from the restaurant. He got out first and quickly rounded the truck, opening the door for you and offering his hand. Turning in the seat, taking Sy’s hand and resting your other hand on the door handle, and you tried as elegantly as possible to slide out of the seat until your feet could touch the asphalt below. However mid slide it became clear your plan had a flaw in it, your dress pulling up your thighs but with gravity in motion you were sliding further;

“Help!”

It took a second for Sy to realise what was happening, but he thankfully closed the gap and shielded you from the view of the sidewalk;

“What’s happened?” he asked, his body close as he did his best to avert his gaze from your now exposed thighs. You’d grasped at the hem of your dress, trying to pull it down to cover your panties.

“My dress has caught on something” you went to look over your shoulder but couldn’t turn without showing him - and everyone on the street - your ass.

“I can go around the other side and unhook you?”

As he went to step away you grabbed his arm and pulled him back;

“No! Everyone will see!”

He nodded;

“Right… you’re right…”

He moved towards you, pressing his body to yours as he looked over your shoulders at the situation;

“Hang on, i might be able to unhook it from here”

Reaching both arms around you, his body fully pressed against yours and you were caged in by his shoulders and biceps. He pushed himself a little closer, his entire body against yours, his leg between your thighs and you could feel the rough touch of the denim through the lace of your underwear. After a few moments of trying to pull the fabric loose he pulled back and gently held your shoulders;

“The fabric is pulled too tight, it needs some slack”

You could feel your bottom lip start to wobble, your throat tight. As the tears of embarrassment started to well in your eyes you nodded as you gnawed on your bottom lip. Sy rubbed his hands over your arms;

“Listen, it’s going to be ok, we’ll get this sorted… don’t cry, you’ll be alright”

There was something soothing about this calm voice, the reassurance that he could be calm even when you were bubbling on the edge of emotional mess. You took a deep breath as you were transfixed by the pale blue of his gaze, before you gave him a slight nod of your head.

“Okay… i’ve got an idea. Brace yourself”

“For wha… ohmygod!”

Without warning Sy had grasped your thighs and lifted you back onto the high seat of the truck. Pushing the door closed he trotted around to the other side before climbing up and leaning over to your seat, pushing your dress out of the way so he could get to the seatbelt clasp. After a couple of minutes of prodding and poking with a small screwdriver that had been in the centre console he let out a triumphant ‘ta-da!’, holding your dress up to show it was now free from being trapped.

“Thanks” you said quietly, calmly taking it from him and lowering it so your panties weren’t completely on display. He softly cupped your cheek and pressed a kiss to your lips;

“C’mon, let me buy you a drink. Do you drink?”

You nodded;

“Yes. I need that”

This time when he rounded the car and opened the door, he checked that you weren’t caught up before taking hold of your ribcage and lifting you out of the truck and setting you down onto the ground. Slipping your hand into his, he made sure you were well out of the way as he shut the door, before the pair of you strolled along the sidewalk to the restaurant.

“You just seemed so calm when i was turning to a complete mess” you commented as you sipped your wine whilst the pair of you waited for your food to arrive.

Sy smiled at you;

“Guess it was just old habits, when i was a First Responder the one thing you can’t do is panic. I could see your anxiety was rising and i took control” he sipped at the Non-alcholic beer he’d ordered; “I’m sorry for manhandling you…”

“It was fine! I kinda liked it” the words had slipped out of your mouth before you could stop them, and you felt the heat rising in your cheeks as you watched Sy quirk an eyebrow and grin at you;

“I’ll keep that in mind”

At that moment your meals arrived, and small talk continued as you ate. When the time for dessert came you barely had enough room, Sy letting you choose something for the two of you to share. When the waiter brought over the mini churros with hot honey dip Sy looked at you quizzically;

“Honey dip?”

“I was intrigued what a honey expert would think of them”

Pushing your glasses to the side, Sy unbuttoned his cuffs and rolled his sleeves up, seemingly unaware as you watched him do so. Picking up one of the churros he gently pulled it in half, handing you one piece before you both dipped it into the honey mixture that had small pieces of fresh chilli pepper in it;

“Cheers”

Putting it in your mouth you chewed thoughtfully on it as you let the flavours hit your tastebuds.

“Another?” Sy asked to which you nodded, watching again as he snapped a churro in two and dipped it.

“Thanks” you paused; “You have really nice hands” you complimented as you took the treat from him, the two glasses of wine you’d had making you miss the blush that extended from his beard all the way to the top of his ears.

As you finished the dessert and the meal finished, Sy asked for the check. You went to grab your purse but he held up his hand;

“No no, this is on me”

“Are you sure? At least let me get the tip”

He took a deep breath and smiled;

“Sure”

As you left the restaurant Sy held out his arm for you, watching as you hooked your own through his as he nodded to the small park at the centre of town, surrounded by stores on all sides;

“Fancy a walk to see the lights? Walt told me it looked real pretty”

“Walt?”

“Walter, my cousin. He’s the sheriff”

“Oh, Sheriff Marshall. I didn’t realise you were related”

Crossing the street Sy paused as you stepped up the kerb;

“Yeah. After i was medically retired from the Fire Dept i wanted a new start. Walt had been telling me to come out West and enjoy the quiet life. Didn’t have anything keeping me in the City so i sold up and loaded everything into a U-Haul. Took a long drive with Akia in the passenger seat. Been here just over four years now”

“How long have you been doing the honey?”

Sy picked up some small pebbles from the ground and started to skip them across the pond;

“Been tending to the bees for as long as i’ve been here, their care was part of the purchase agreement for the cabin. Was only when it came to harvest time that i suddenly ended up with 40lbs of honey that i had no idea what to do with did the business start up. My nephew helped me set up with a website and social media, he’s great with all that stuff, he’s a Junior at college now”

“Nephew, would that be Walter’s kid?”

“Yeah, Mike, he’s a cool kid. Thinks he’s god's gift to women, but then so did Walt at that age, that’s how he ended up with a kid that’s in college before he’s even 40 himself”

You laughed as you rested your arms on the railings to the pond as Sy skipped pebbles across the water;

“I cannot imagine Sheriff Marshall as a ladies man. He always says so quiet, or is grumpy as hell. I had to go into the Station to apply for some permits when i had the cottage’s bathroom upgraded and needed to get the utilities company to install a new water main, i don’t think he said more than two words to me even though he was on the front desk”

“Ah, it was probably after a late night of racoon hunting”

“Huh?”

Sy laughed;

“Walter has this racoon in his backyard. He’s been trying for years to trap it. That little bandit has outwitted our fine towns Sheriff every single time”

You joined Sy in the laughter, watching as he skipped another rock across the water, only this time it skipped into the reeds and was followed by the sound of angry quacking;

“Oops” he grabbed your hand; “C’mon, lets get out of here before we get an angry duck coming after us”

You laughed as he started to walk;

“Us? You were the one that skipped the rock”

“Yeah, but you’re an accessory to the crime, you stood by and didn’t stop me”

“Hey!” your laughter filled the space around you as you hooked your arm through his, falling into step beside him; “What did you think of that honey with dessert?”

“Honestly?” he looked at you as you walked; “You could tell it was synthetic honey, or at least a blend of mass produced honey from bees that get very little wild food”

“You should approach them”

“Who? The bees?”

“No, silly. The restaurant. See if they want to do a collaboration or something? They had a few more local suppliers mentioned on their menu since the last time i went there”

By now you were back at the truck, Sy opening the door for you;

“Do you need a boost?” he asked, a smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth

“I’ll be fine” you replied, struggling to get your feet up onto the kick plate in your heels and your slightly drunken state.

After trying for a few seconds you felt Sy’s hands on your butt, before he gave you a push and propelled you up and into the seat of the truck;

“You were taking too long, woman” he muttered as he shut the door, grinning at you as he circled the truck and climbed in with ease. As he sat in the drivers seat he leant across the car, his hand reaching behind you and you leaned in for a kiss, pressing your lips to his. The touch was sexually charged and as he finally pulled away he had your seatbelt in his hand;

“I was just going to buckle you up but that was more than welcome”

“Oops”

Once he was buckled in himself he started the engine and pulled away, his hand resting on your leg as he drove.

The trip to your cottage didn’t take long, and as he pulled onto the gravel driveway the security light came on, illuminating the entire side of the house;

“That’s a good light you got there”

“Yeah, got them all around the house, just to be sure”

As he shut the engine off he smiled at you;

“I’ll walk you to your door”

Ever the gentleman Sy quickly rounded the truck and was at your door, this time you were prepared and had swung your legs around to face him, placing your hands on his shoulders as he lifted you out of the truck and set you on your feet. Sliding his hand into yours he turned and walked you to your door. You stood on the porch fiddling with your key;

“Would you…”

Sy looked at the door;

“I would love to come in, but i won’t”

“Oh”

“But it ain’t because i don’t want to. Hell, i want to. But you’ve had a drink, and i’ve got to work the farmers market tomorrow” He stepped closer, resting one hand on your hip as the other cupped your cheek; “But would would very much like to kiss you, properly this time”

You nodded, already leaning into his touch as his lips met yours. His hand on your hip reached around you and grasped your ass, pulling you flush with his body and made you gasp, giving Sy the chance to deepen the kiss. And god damn it that man could kiss. His tongue danced against your own, his hands pulling your body against his as you both swayed, before he turned you and pressed you against the side of your porch. The movement had cause you to straddle one of Sy’s thighs, his hand pulling your leg up around his hip as he wedged his thigh between your legs, the thick muscle flexing against your core.

When you finally had to break the kiss for air you both were breathless, your chests heaving. He rested his forehead against yours;

“I’ve got to go”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes. Before i end up staying”

“Okay”

He pressed one last kiss to your lips before he stepped back, you couldn’t help but to glance down and notice the sizeable bulge now pushing at his dark jeans. You tried to hide your smile as you turned to unlock your door, hoping he didn’t spot you looking.

As you held the screen door open you turned to him, smiling as you saw him reach out to hold the door as you unlocked the inner door;

“Can I make you dinner Sunday night?” he asked

“Sure, i’d like that”

He pressed a kiss to your cheek and you watched as he walked back to his truck. You waved as he pulled out of the driveway before you stepped inside, locking the door behind you.

Setting your bag and keys down onto the kitchen table you let out a deep sigh;

“I need a cat or something I can tell about my date” you mused to yourself as you ran a glass of water. Just then your phone chimed, and as you checked the screen you smiled;

“Even better”

Dialling the number you kicked your heels off and sat on the couch;

“Hey Tam, you will not believe how my date went…”

Sy twisted the cap off the beer bottle, taking a drink as he held the phone between his ear and his shoulder;

“Why are you calling me? Shouldn’t you be ‘busy’?” Walter’s voice was kind as he spoke

“I’m not gonna fuck her on the first date. Plus she’d had a drink, and i got market tomorrow”

“But it went ok? Are you seeing her again?”

“Sure am. Gonna cook her dinner Sunday night”

“Nice. Hey, shall I drop Akia for you tomorrow at the market or at your place?”

“I’ll be at the market from 7am so unless you want a real early start, the market’s fine”

“Sure thing buddy. I’m glad it went well”

“Thanks Walt. Oh hey, guess what she said?”

“Go on”

“She likes my hands”

He could hear Walter sigh;

“I should never have told you that”

“And she kisses real good too”

“You know what, save it Mr Loverboy. I’ll see you tomorrow morning”

Chapter 4 >>>

#as sweet as honey #captain syverson #captain syverson x reader #sy x reader #henry cavill

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secret-fiction · 11 months

Text

Sonic & Tails vs the Lingering Haunt One Shot Late-Halloween Story.

On the night following Halloween, Tails takes Sonic to one of his many Auxiliary workshops. However it turns out that a new Haunted "Ware-"House has opened in the next door abandoned factory. Seeking some spooky themed fun they head inside to check it out even though it should already be closed. However inside they find signs of an out of control accident and it becomes increasingly hard to tell if it's all just part of the attraction. If it isn't, then several lives may be on the line.

Flickering yellow lights illuminated a dilapidated asphalt road ahead. Rotten utility poles creaked as they strained to hold many thick cables against a light breeze. On either side stood tall red brick buildings, warehouses and factory plants strewn with cracks. Far ahead past the flickering lights and under an old electric substation was a small shed with an uncharacteristically well sealed metal door. This whole environment offered many interesting sights of old industrial technology. So Tails wondered why it seemed Sonic didn’t agree this was a good place to take it slow.

“Yet another hidden lair, one of many scattered around the world. What sort of machinations do you undertake here?” Sonic the Hedgehog stretched his arms as he strolled onward, giving Tails a glance of his cheeky grin.

“Only the dark matters of sleep, microwave meals, and video games,” said Tails, “...and maybe some evil reverse engineering.”

Sonic chuckled, then started humming as he resumed meandering from side to side ahead of Tails. “You really chose a spooky place to put this one huh?”

“Well, I guess if you find cool mechanical computers and assembly lines scary, it is.” A nearby light fixture exploded with a pop, making Tails jump and sending a shower of sparks and glass to the ground. “...And I guess electrical fires can be scary.”

“Pfft, bring it on!” said Sonic.

Chuckling to himself, Tails rubbed his heavy eyes and pulled out a tablet device. It’d be a good idea to disarm his security system so he wouldn’t have to run a gauntlet to get to bed. Of course there was no doubt Sonic wouldn’t mind that.

As he watched his tablet attempt to contact the auxiliary workshop, Tails felt a tap on his shoulder. Sonic was pointing at the front office of the largest nearby factory. It was decorated with black and orange paint and a sign that read ‘Haunted ware-House.’

“Wanna check this place out?” said Sonic, “I’ll bet I can get through without screaming once.”

“I’d make that bet if Halloween wasn’t last night,” said Tails.

“I’m sure whoever set this up won’t mind us checking it out alone real quick,” said Sonic.

“You’re probably right.” Tails glanced at his tablet still trying to make a connection, then put it away.

The two of them pushed through the front door, it was heavy but left ajar. All sorts of custom made spooky art and decorations adorned this office, now converted into a foyer to some scary times. Many decorations were made from rusty wires and shaped into classic skeletal imagery. Most notably was one wire-skeleton slumped back in a rolling chair, its hand pointing at a dark hallway surrounded by warning tape. The creepy vibes here were actually pretty neat.

Sonic had already started wandering around investigating the wire skeletons and copying their poses. His impression of a skeleton face down, fully dead, in front of a computer terminal made Tails chuckle. But after a moment Sonic looked up at the terminal. “Oh hey this things on.”

“It is?!” Tails ran over and leaned over the wire skeleton. The crt screen in front of him was indeed on, showing a list of green text. One glance at the ports on the terminal showed it wasn’t connected to a full computer anymore. Yet the terminal still displayed a history of input commands and responses between the last user and a computer.

There were several commands to send power to machines whose names were completely corrupted. These commands ended with a mistyped command to shut everything down, followed by a notification that connection between the terminal and the computer was cut. Even then there were three more attempts to command a shut down with no response. A chill ran up Tails’ back as he noticed that at the bottom, one more shut down command was half-typed but never entered.

“Must be pretty immersive, huh buddy?” said Sonic

“Oh! Yeah, this is so clever!” Tails couldn’t help but smile as he quickly recounted everything he’d observed. He then paused for a moment to articulate better to Sonic. “Basically this feed makes it look like some terrible accident happened here! I can’t believe they left this here, who’d even pay attention to it?”

“Well evidently they got one fan,” said Sonic.

Tails giggled, Sonic was right. He now really wanted to meet whoever set up this ‘haunted ware-house’. Upon noticing the slightly ajar staff room door nearby he figured maybe he could. He hurried over and took a peek inside, it seemed to be a dressing room. Many hangers were covered with mundane jackets and clothes. Nearby old mirrors were set up over tables with an assortment of makeup.

“Tails buddy, It’s probably rude to just walk into a dressing room,” said Sonic.

Tails frowned and started to object, but he focused on the mundane clothes again. Those were definitely not the costumes actors would be wearing here. Those were their casual clothes. Several bags and other garments strewn about reinforced a growing notion in Tails’ mind that didn’t make much sense. “Wait, are the actors all still here? With no guests?”

Sonic stepped past Tails and looked around for a moment. “Any way this is another part of the immersion?”

“...Maybe? Well no, it doesn’t make sense with the theme…” said Tails, “Unless, we’re supposed to think the staff here actually fell victim to evil machines.”

“Or they actually did,” said Sonic.

They both glanced back to the dark tunnel leading into the attraction proper. A hum of electricity echoed from within the factory.

“Hello?” shouted Sonic, His voice echoed and faded into the background hum. “Anyone in here?! Is this part of the act?”

Tails felt his ear twitch as he thought he heard something else, a distant scrape, or even yell? It sounded as though it could be part of the humming or Sonics distorted echo. Even still his heartbeat elevated slightly. He then saw Sonic’s ear swivel.

“Did you hear something?” said Tails.

“I’m not sure,” said Sonic.

Tails felt his tails puff up slightly at Sonic's response. “Same here…”

“Well, let’s check it out!” Sonic turned to Tails and gave him a wide smile.

Nodding in response, Tails followed Sonic into the dark hall. If anyone was in actual trouble Sonic could help them. They moved quickly, finding just enough dim light from the buttons and bulbs on several large old terminals along the sides of the hall. Tails kept his eyes and ears focused on everything they passed. First he noticed that this hallway was ramshackled together out of spare metal sheets and bolts. Many disparate extension cords ran in and out of the walls to the terminals as well. Clearly a lot of work went into moving this equipment around… and maybe an electrical fire should be a real concern.

A crunch rang out from Tails’ foot. He stopped, and lifted his shoe to see a crushed lollipop. There were a couple other pieces of candy dropped on the ground. Not a good sign. He scanned the area closely and noticed the candy forming a messy trail down the hall. Surely this could be part of the attraction. Signs that some trick or treater had been dragged away, leaving only a trail of candy was a compelling idea. But the trail didn’t lead to a spooky set, it led to a wall.

“Sonic!” said Tails, “There’s a trail here!”

It took a second, but Sonic appeared from around a corner further down the hall. He still didn’t look worried, which was comforting. But as he opened his mouth, he let out a gasp. In an instant he glared daggers toward Tails, his quills shooting up into spikes.

Tails’ heart skipped a beat. He managed to dive to the ground and roll away in time to avoid a large shape that hit the ground behind him. It was a badnik.

It was, until Sonic slammed into it with a spin dash. Its body shattered instantly. Most of the shrapnel and Sonic himself tore through the ramshackled wall. The resulting cacophony echoed through the factory. Somewhere in Sonic's path of destruction he must’ve hit some wires as the little light they did have disappeared with a loud pop. All of the terminals and industrial control panels went silent and dark.

“Are you okay?!” said Sonic from within the hole in the wall.

“Am I okay?!” Tails ran over to the hole and pulled out his tablet. Its flashlight illuminated Sonic, who was completely tangled up in wires and warped metal. “Are YOU okay?!”

“Watch for more!” said Sonic.

Tails knew Sonic was right. He swiveled on his heels and aimed the flashlight to the ceiling. Up in the old rusty rafters hung several dark light fixtures, many industrial sized wires, and more notably some sort of rail. There was a mess of cord all along this sprawling rail line. That was some high end tech for a factory like this. It was also exciting. Scanning his light over more of the rafters revealed that the rails seemed to form a grid. He stopped his light at a trolley wheel fixture that had a cord hanging from it. It was snapped halfway down, looming over the spot the badnik fell.

“Oh.”

Sonic appeared by Tails’ side, accompanied by flying shrapnel. “Are there more?”

“No… Not yet.”

Tails leaned down and picked up a piece of the badnik. It was the head of a grabber, a spider like badnik. But some of the damage on it was old. He quickly gathered more parts of the badnik to examine the damage closely. Within a minute he had most of it laid out on the ground. It didn’t take long for him to recognize the signs of previous damage, as well as patches on its body. Then he found a cord hanging from a cavity on the badnik. It had been powered by the factory’s electricity.

“Hey bud I know you like this stuff but I think we’ve seen this one before,” said Sonic.

“We have.”

“Okay then let’s get movi-”

“No, we've seen this specific one before. You probably busted it a while ago.”

Sonic squinted, then his eyes started to widen with realization. Tails couldn’t help but smile as Sonic picked up what he was getting at.

“They made this part of the attraction?”

“Definitely,” said Tails, “It doesn’t even have its brain. It was being run from whatever this cord connects to.”

“Wait…” said Sonic, “You didn’t set all this up to scare me, did you?”

“What, no?”

“It just seems up your alley, literally and metaphorically.”

“If I was trying to scare you I wouldn’t just explain how this works yet. Besides, I’dve put it together a bit better than this.”

“Okay I believe you on the point that you’re a better engineer.”

“But, I do think this came from my stash.”

“... your what.”

“Don’t be mad.”

It didn’t take long for Sonic & Tails to run outside and to his nearby workshop. If Tails was right, then the whole haunted ware-house was being operated from his computer inside. As they reached the secure metal door on the small shack entrance he whipped out his tablet. His security system was still not responding. He growled at this, if someone shut down his security system he was supposed to get an alert about it.

“Sonic, can you use your spare key?”

“Are you sure?”

“Yeah. Have fun.”

With a woosh Sonic dashed away. Then with a delayed boom Sonic returned and slammed into the door. He bounced backward and careened through the air as the door, and the wall around it, collapsed. Tails took note that he oughta remember where he got that security door.

After Sonic shook off the impact he accompanied Tails inside. With the press of a button, the floor inside the shack lowered and became a rampway to a bunker below. The collapsed security door slid down the ramp and hit a tripwire. An alarm blared and a large net fell over the door, magnetic weights clamping it down. This was a surprise. His security system was online. Which was worse.

Luckily none of the further traps and barriers along the path to the control room stopped Sonic as he sped through. This wasn’t by design, but Tails tried not to be bothered by that right now. It wasn’t long until he saw Sonic reach the door to the control room, where he should’ve been stopped by an energy barrier boxing him in. Instead nothing happened. Great. This was a good thing. Very good.

As Sonic forced open the last door Tails ran inside past him. Someone had definitely been here. Most of the space here had been reserved for storing mostly intact badniks, but only a few pieces of scrap were left on the pallets.

“Oh shit.”

“Tails.”

Tails glared at Sonic, who was giving him a disapproving head shake. This didn’t last long as both started laughing. Things felt a little less tense.

“Soooo, what were you doing with the badniks?”

“Nothing anymore…” Tails walked across the room to an area with several desks, a foldable mattress on the ground, and a ‘modest’ computer. “Sometimes I went back to help clean places up after we chased Eggman away. Back then I still wanted to know how his badniks worked inside and out. So I brought them here and reassembled them.”

“Without turning them on, right?”

“Duh!” Tails rolled his eyes. “I took out all of their brains. But, they could still be run by direct commands if you hooked a computer up to their empty heads.”

Sonic meandered over to Tails and patted his head. This was distracting, but nice.

“So why’d you think I’d be mad?” said Sonic.

“Because someone found them. Now people might be getting hurt.”

As Tails pressed the power button on his computer, the screen lit up instantly. It didn’t need to boot up. Cool. he also found that there was no longer a password necessary to access his operating system. Nice, very convenient. Tails knew he must’ve been glowering because Sonic nudged him and gave him a reassuring smile.

“Well I know it’s not your fault.”

“How, my security system didn’t work at all apparently.”

Sonic pointed to a nearby wall. Though it was dark, now that Tails paid attention he could see a large forklift shaped hole in the wall. The hole led directly into the dark basement of the next door factory. A bundle of cords laid across the floor to Tails’ computer, all plugged into a port on the back.

“Huh.”

“Workplace accident,” said Sonic, “go figure.”

The solution here was obvious, unplug the cords. But, it’d be prudent to check what they were doing first. He dug around the task manager for a bit before finding a terminal emulator running. “Wait what?” Opening the window revealed a screen similar to that on the old terminal in the office, a list of green text. The last output from whatever computer he was connected to claimed to be running a ‘plant containment simulation.’

“So can you shut it down or do I gotta smash some stuff?” said Sonic.

“...Could you try cutting the power lines outside?”

With a woosh Sonic ran outside the workshop bunker. A second later Tails heard a distant snap. An echoing crack and winddown sound emanated from the tunnel into the factory. Then a following powerup sound echoed out accompanied by several bells and alarms. The piercing ringing made his ears twitch as he checked the terminal window again.

‘ALERT. AUXILIARY POWER ONLINE.”

“How about you don’t,” said Tails.

With a gust of wind Sonic reappeared behind Tails. “Didn’t work huh?”

“I’ll keep trying here, you should probably-”

“Find if anyone’s in trouble, got it!” said Sonic before he ran down the dark tunnel.

“TURN ON YOUR COMMUNICATOR!” shouted Tails.

Tails’ wrist beeped, and Sonic's voice replied over the comm, “Oh yeah, gotcha!”

Typing at an admittedly incredibly fast rate, Tails attempted many generic help commands to find out more about what he was hooked up to. In short order he found it responded with a new window labeled security mainframe. It was sending a constant stream of indecipherable data. As he squinted at this, the computer automatically opened several more windows. Then in quick succession they closed. It was a very good thing he didn’t keep anything important on here.

Distant echoes of crashes put pressure on him. Then he noticed outputs from the terminal window with each crash, ‘power redirected.’ This usually accompanied a new window opening on his computer that spat out garbage text or fuzzy visuals. “Hey Sonic, can you stop breaking the badniks for a second?”

“If they stop jumping me,” said Sonic over the comm, “can you get some lights on in here?”

“Uh, probably,” Tails entered a couple more commands, and suddenly a wave of hanging lights lit up down the tunnel and inside. “There you go.”

“...Buddy, how many badniks did you have?”

“Why?” Tails was refocused on his computer as he now managed to find a window that opened up a security camera feed. It was fuzzy but he could make out Sonic on the floor, he was staring up at the ceiling. “Uh, hang on.” Tails flipped between cameras, each with incredibly fuzzy feed, some completely black. All were looking at Sonic from different angles. “Hey, are there any cameras looking at the ceiling?”

“...There aren’t any cameras,” said Sonic.

“Wha-oh…” Tails felt his hands shake. But not from fear. “Okay okay, I’m patched into the badniks. Let me have a look around.”

Tails started flipping through every available feed. Most were in the ceiling above Sonic and the ramshackled haunted-house path. As he found another black screen and went on to the next feed his computer let out a garbled noise. He paused, then went back to the black screen. The garbling resumed. Tails pressed his ear close to the speaker. Then he realized it wasn’t coming from his speakers, it was playing over the factory intercom.

“Tails, what is that?” said Sonic.

“I don’t know,” said Tails.

Suddenly a voice could be made out through the garbling. “Hey! Is someone Here? We need Help!!”

As the voice spoke a garbled ringing escalated through the intercoms, eventually drowning everything else out. The piercing noise made Tails fold his ears down. Since Sonic’s inside it must be worse for him. Then with a loud pop, the intercom, and evidently the lights, went out. A fuse must’ve blown.

“Tails! Where are they? Tails!?” said Sonic over the comm.

“I don’t know!” said Tails.

Down the tunnel Tails heard the echoes of combat resume. Flipping through the feed on his computer revealed the badniks chasing Sonic as he ran through the floor. Motobugs rolled after him as buzz-bombers swung down at him from the ceiling.

“Shit, sorry Tails!” said Sonic, as one by one the visual feeds cut out.

As before, the workshop computer went haywire. Windows opened all over making it impossible to use. Still he managed to reach the terminal window again and attempted several shutdown commands. Each was met with ‘unknown command.’ A growl rose from his throat. He wasn’t able to help at all from here. Screw it then. He reached around the back and pulled the cords out of the port on his computer.

The computer crashed of course. But in the factory all of the old machinery began turning on. With the sound of engines, the song of the factory drowned out everything else. This was bad, it was dark and now Sonic couldn’t hear. Why did the power redirect like that anyway? What was turning everything on? Tails almost dropped the bundle of cords in his hand, then looked at them closely. Oh, duh!

“Sonic! I’m gonna find the main computer, hold on!” shouted Tails into his communicator.

Sonic's response was completely muffled by the running machinery. Right, too loud.

Plugging his ears with the closest rags he could find, Tails ran through the tunnel and into the factory. He kept his light on the bundle of cords as he followed it along the wall. This path took him behind the set of the haunted ware-house and up a pole to the ceiling. With his spinning tails he flew up into the rafters. There were many more cables here wrapped along the ceiling like old corroded roots. But with the light of his tablet, Tails could discern the bundle of newer cords from the rest.

Ducking and weaving past cables and rails, Tails heard the occasional crash of Sonic breaking something below him. He glanced down at the dark for a second, seeing only bits of action from flying sparks. Suddenly his body hit a net of cables. He yelped and flailed, nearly dropping his tablet as his tails tangled up in the cables.

“Ow ow ow!” said Tails as he scrambled to grab the cables above him. Soon he got a grip of one and shined the light on his tails. The knot wasn’t that bad. What was bad was the eyes of a buzz bomber on the other side of the mass of cables.

“...Please don’t.”

The Buzz-Bomber came to life and fluttered only one in-tact wing. As it charged into the cables, Tails gasped and dropped his tablet. Several cables snapped, allowing the Buzz-Bomber to slam its body into him. They both fell down toward a spinning machine of many spikes and gears. But before they met that fate the cord on the Buzz-Bomber came taut and sent them both swinging back up into the Rafters. Tails kept a tight grip on its thorax as it carried him back up and onto a rusty beam.

Now on stable footing, Tails kept hold of the Buzz-Bomber while reaching for the cable hooked into its head. It glared at him while trying to fly with its single wing. Tails gave it a smile back. “Thanks, and sorry.” With a hard yank he pulled out the cable and the badnik went limp.

Now back to that dang bundle of cords. Glancing around, another flash from below showed Tails a large utility tunnel into the ceiling in front of him. Most of the cables and cords, old and new, ran up it.

“HEY! Up here!” shouted Tails.

Despite the deafening machinery and Tails’ earplugs, Sonic shouted back, “‘Kay! One sec!”

With a running leap Sonic landed onto the beam next to Tails. An odor of burnt rubber accompanied him. His quills were clearly covered in oil and fine metal dust. That had to be uncomfortable, and yet Sonic just casually stretched like normal.

The two of them looked up the utility tunnel and saw more darkness. Spooky. Undeterred, Tails took Sonic's hands and flew him up the tunnel, being mindful of anything in his path.

At the top, they were met with a large open room. In the middle was some sort of dark mass. From within the mass came a series of fuzzy speaker sounds. It’d be really nice to have a light here. As Tails waited and tried to discern what they were looking at, Sonic walked closer. Suddenly a series of red lights lit up the chamber, making Tails jump. Seeing Sonic stiffen up made him feel less embarrassed. But the mass of cables hanging from an Eggman capsule in the ceiling made Tails feel less relaxed.

Inside the capsule was a small group of mobians. Most of them seemed to be unconscious, but one jackal looked down at them. “H-hey! Watch out!” she said, muffled through some kind of speaker.

“Hang on!” said Sonic. He immediately dashed a lap around the room and jumped up to the tangled up capsule. Then as soon as he touched the wires he seized up. With a flashing arc of electricity Sonic was sent flying off of the capsule.

Heart jumping in his throat, Tails flew after Sonic and caught him just feet from the ground. He could feel Sonic grip his hand, which was a relief. It shouldn’t have been, Sonic is tough.

“I’m good. But how do we get them out?” said Sonic.

“Uh…” Tails looked over the wires, they seemed to lower down from the capsule on the ceiling and form a curtain shrouding the middle of the chamber. He took a step toward it. The wires shook and parted, but nothing clearly came out from underneath. Yet cables on the ground shifted around. Each one getting nudged was closer to Tails and Sonic.

“Sonic.”

“I see it.”

Tails stepped aside and watched Sonic spindash in that direction. With a loud bong he bounced back. For the moment of impact a much larger than usual chameleon shaped badnik was visible. It was a Newtron, but with bounce pads on its head and back. It continued crawling toward Tails as it returned to invisibility. They could handle this.

Sonic spun around and hit the Newtron a few more times from each side. Eventually he landed in its path and waited. After a few more steps, the Newtron reappeared with its mouth open toward Sonic who immediately rolled at it. But instead of firing a projectile, a vacuum in the Newtrons mouth sucked Sonic right up. Its tail extended to the curtain of wires and cables, where Sonic was shot into a vacuum tube of some kind and pulled up to the capsule.

Tails’ mouth was wide open as he watched Sonic get dropped into the pile of people inside the wrapped up capsule.

“Tails,” said Sonic through the muffling of the speaker, “Coulda warned me that Badnik could do that.”

“I didn’t build that one!” said Tails.

“Okay! But you can handle this!”

Tails made eye contact with the large modified Newtron before it turned invisible again. His heart started pounding more, but he didn’t need to panic. This thing wasn’t that fast. He watched for any cables hooked into its invisible body as he got some distance away. Then he saw it. One black cable rising into the air, the end of it fading into invisibility. He let out a slow breath, then dashed toward it. Using the momentum he flew up into the air right at the cable. But as he almost reached it, he hit the bumper on the Newtrons head.

Tails yelled as he careening up toward the tangled up capsule. Heart pounding, he swung around and used his spinning tails as a brake. His shoes stopped inches short of the exposed high-voltage wires. Looking up he made eye contact with Sonic, and gave him a shaky thumbs up.

“Watch out!!!”

Tails looked down and saw the Newtron visible again, its jaws open. A powerful vacuum of wind into its mouth started to pull Tails down. He clenched his teeth and spun his tails as hard as he could. But the wind continued dragging him down. There had to be a way out! He was smarter than this. Yet he wasn’t able to fly himself away and the vacuum showed no signs of losing power.

A series of loud bangs above Tails got his attention. It was Sonic, kicking the side of the capsule repeatedly. It felt awful to make Sonic worry like that. But as they made eye contact Sonic gave him a wink. With one last kick one of the wires fell loose, its torn end casting sparks around. That could work! Tails let the wire fall past him, then stopped spinning his Tails.

Sparks flew as the Newtron choked on the hot wire. The vacuum in its throat stopped, and Tails landed right on its snout. It made eye contact with him, so he gave it a wink. He then jumped off of its snout and dived toward the cable in its head. The Newtron turned its body invisible again, but Tails managed to reach the cable. He gripped it as hard as he could and tried to fly up, but it was plugged in tight. Growling as he strained, Tails felt the Newtron trying to shake him loose. If it hit him with those bounce pads he’d be back at square one.

That was an idea though. Tightening his grip, Tails bit into the cable. Then he let himself drop. As soon as his feet hit the bounce pad the force shot him away, putting strain on his arms and jaw. Strain the cable couldn’t take. Hearing a snap, he opened his eyes to see himself swinging away from the now powerless Newtron. He’d done it.

Tails couldn’t help but shout a muffled cheer through the cable in his teeth. This was interrupted by an impact into the ceiling, and a subsequent flop down to the ground. Taking only a moment to catch his breath, Tails cheered and laughed some more. Soon he saw Sonic standing over him with a relieved look on his face. Tails started to stand, but Sonic lifted him up under his arms.

“You good pal?” said Sonic.

“Yep!” Tails wagged his tails despite the soreness in his body, “just jostled.”

“Good! Let's get everyone out of here then!”

While the others in the capsule were drowsy and thirsty, no one was badly hurt. The costumes most of them wore implied they must’ve been here since Halloween the previous night. One problem emerged as they got ready to lead everyone out though, the factory floor below was still running with dangerous machines everywhere.

“Hey, do any of you know where the computer running all of this is?” said Tails.

“...Uh, yeah.” A dark green jackal lady with grease matted fur walked forward while rubbing the back of her head. She wore overalls that were pierced with metal shrapnel and blood stains.

“Are you okay?!” said Tails.

“What? Oh yeah, it's a costume.”

She led Tails to a wall next to an elevator on the other side of this upper chamber. A panel moved aside easily, revealing a massive computer room. Tails felt his jaw drop in awe, it was beautiful. Rows of ancient electrical computers the size of sheds buzzed and clicked. At the far back wall was one large control panel with a button for every function. As Tails approached and saw several new components plugged into this panel he realized what the problem was.

“You… you supplemented the processing power of the factory with computer chips from badniks?!”

“Yeah, I thought they’d be cool with it,” said the Jackal.

“That’s actually super cool!” Tails looked over at Sonic, “But reckless! So reckless. Irresponsible.”

“Also maybe don’t steal stuff,” said Sonic.

“Everything here’s abandoned,” said the Jackal, “also you look kinda like Sonic the Hedgehog.”

“Dude my computer was obviously way newer than all this,” said Tails. “Did you really think my workshop was part of this factory?”

“I mean it was full of old broken stuff,” said the Jackal.

Tails shook his head and crawled into the control panel computer. It wasn’t hard to find the power supply and unplug it. With that, the entire factory shut down with a whine. He looked at the badnik computers for a moment then left them plugged in as he crawled back out.

“Okay, these Badniks should stop trying to kill us with assembly lines now,” said Tails.

“Oh before you guys go, did our Haunted Ware-House scare you at all?” said the Jackal.

“At most it was startling sometimes,” said Sonic, “but I’m used to danger, so I’m not a good metric for that.”

“I did like the aesthetic!” said Tails.

With the danger passed, Sonic and Tails lead the staff and kids out of the factory. In that time Tails grilled the staff more about how they’d set all this up. Apparently the Newtron sucking people into a capsule was supposed to be the main attraction. But then it didn’t release anything it had sucked up afterwards like it was supposed to. Even still this ‘Haunted Ware-House’ seemed pretty neat, maybe they could run a safer version next year.

But not at this sight, as within minutes of everyone escaping out the front, the old factory became engulfed with flames. A strong scent of burnt rubber as it started told Tails exactly why. “Electrical fires spread scary fast. Neat.”

“I guess the true haunting was the safety violations we made along the way,” said the Jackal.

“This is one awesome fire though,” said Sonic. “But yeah, you all could’ve died if we hadn’t showed up.”

#Fanfiction #Sonic the Hedgehog Fanfiction #Sonic Fanfiction #Sonic #Fanfic #Miles Tails Prower #Sonic the Hedgehog #Tails the Fox #Halloween Fanfic #Halloween #Secret-Fiction #My Writing

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sparcdesign-1 · 5 months

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Elevate Your Living Space: Exploring Luxury Home Interior Design

In the realm of interior design, luxury isn't just about opulence; it's a reflection of your lifestyle, taste, and personality. Crafting a luxury home interior entails an artful blend of exquisite materials, meticulous attention to detail, and a keen eye for design harmony. Whether you're envisioning a sleek contemporary penthouse or a timeless classic estate, the essence of luxury lies in creating a space that exudes comfort, sophistication, and refinement.

The Foundation of Luxury:

Luxury home interior design begins with a solid foundation, which includes architectural elements, spatial layout, and structural integrity. A well-conceived floor plan that maximizes natural light, offers seamless flow between spaces, and provides breathtaking views sets the stage for a truly luxurious living experience. Attention to detail at this stage ensures that every square foot is optimized for both aesthetic appeal and functional comfort.

Exquisite Materials and Finishes:

At the heart of luxury home interiors are the materials and finishes that adorn the space. From sumptuous marble and rare woods to gleaming metals and plush textiles, the selection of materials plays a pivotal role in defining the ambiance and character of the home. Each element is chosen for its quality, durability, and ability to evoke a sense of luxury and exclusivity.

Timeless Elegance vs. Contemporary Chic:

Luxury is a timeless concept, but it can manifest in myriad styles, from classical elegance to cutting-edge contemporary design. Whether your preference leans towards the timeless allure of traditional architecture and ornate furnishings or the sleek minimalism of modern interiors, luxury home design allows for a seamless integration of styles to create a space that is uniquely yours.

Attention to Detail:

In the realm of luxury interior design, it's the little details that make the biggest impact. From bespoke lighting fixtures and custom millwork to handcrafted furniture and curated art collections, every element is carefully considered to contribute to the overall aesthetic and ambiance of the space. Attention to detail extends beyond mere aesthetics to encompass functionality, comfort, and the overall user experience.

Creating Ambiance with Lighting and Technology:

Lighting plays a crucial role in setting the mood and ambiance of a luxury home interior. From soft, diffused lighting that creates a cozy atmosphere to dramatic accent lighting that highlights architectural features and artwork, a well-designed lighting scheme can transform the feel of a space. Incorporating cutting-edge technology, such as smart home automation systems, further enhances the luxury living experience by offering convenience, comfort, and energy efficiency.

Personalized Touches:

Ultimately, luxury home interior design is about creating a space that reflects your personality, preferences, and lifestyle. Whether it's incorporating personal mementos, family heirlooms, or custom-designed elements, infusing the space with personal touches adds depth, character, and a sense of belonging.

In conclusion, luxury home interior design is a multidimensional art form that encompasses architectural excellence, exquisite craftsmanship, and thoughtful curation. It's about creating a sanctuary that indulges the senses, inspires creativity, and elevates the everyday experience of living. By prioritizing quality, attention to detail, and personalization, you can transform your home into a luxurious retreat that is as functional as it is beautiful.

#interiors #architectural design #designers #sparc design #architecture #luxury home interior design

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sikariatech · 8 months

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VICTORIAN FISH TANK

Creating a Victorian-style fish tank involves blending the elegance and aesthetics of the Victorian era with the practicalities of modern aquarium keeping. The Victorian era, characterized by ornate designs and a fascination with nature, can inspire a captivating and unique fish tank. Here's a guide to crafting a Victorian-inspired aquarium that harmonizes historical charm with contemporary fish-keeping principles.

1. Aesthetic Elements: Victorian design is known for its opulence and intricate detailing. Incorporate elements such as ornate frames, detailed moldings, and elegant furniture-style aquarium stands. Consider wooden or metal frames with decorative embellishments to capture the essence of Victorian aesthetics.

2. Tank Selection: Choose a tank that complements the Victorian theme. Rimmed tanks with dark, ornate frames or even custom-designed tanks that mimic antique furniture can be excellent choices. Select a size that suits the available space and allows for the comfortable accommodation of the chosen fish species.

3. Decorative Substrate: For a Victorian fish tank, consider using a substrate that reflects the elegance of the era. Dark gravel or sand can provide a classic backdrop for the aquarium. Substrate materials like crushed coral or natural gravel can enhance the visual appeal while promoting a healthy environment for the aquarium's inhabitants.

4. Victorian-Inspired Décor: Integrate Victorian-inspired décor elements such as faux coral, classical sculptures, or miniature replicas of Victorian artifacts. Porcelain figurines, small vases, or even miniature sculptures reminiscent of the Victorian period can be strategically placed to create a visually appealing underwater landscape.

5. Plant Selection: Incorporate aquarium plants that align with the Victorian theme. Anacharis, java fern, or other plants with a lush and slightly wild appearance can evoke a sense of the Victorian fascination with nature. Ensure that the selected plants are suitable for the fish species and tank conditions.

6. Lighting: Victorian-era interiors were often characterized by soft, warm lighting. Mimic this ambiance with subdued aquarium lighting. Use fixtures with warm-toned bulbs or consider incorporating dimmable LED lights to create different moods within the tank. Ensure that the lighting is suitable for both the aesthetic appeal and the well-being of the fish and plants.

7. Fish Selection: Choose fish species that thrive in the aquarium conditions and are compatible with the Victorian aesthetic. Species like angelfish, guppies, or gouramis can add elegance to the tank. Research the specific care requirements of the chosen fish to ensure their well-being.

8. Filtration and Heating: Modern filtration and heating systems are essential for maintaining a healthy aquarium environment. While the equipment itself may not be visually Victorian, it should be discreetly placed and hidden behind decorative elements or within the aquarium stand. Prioritize the well-being of the fish by providing stable and suitable water conditions.

9. Maintenance: Regular maintenance is crucial to keep the Victorian fish tank thriving. Perform water changes, clean the substrate, and trim plants as needed. Incorporate maintenance activities seamlessly into the overall aesthetic by using Victorian-style tools and accessories.

#FISH #FISH TANK #TANK FISH #FISHING

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alwaysdevilday · 2 years

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BLACK FRIDAY (2)

One of your (many, good god so many) normal duties in the Store involves wiping down the self-serve registers to cleanse them of the interminable grime. This requires the use of powerful chemicals that sometimes leave your hands cracked and itchy even after the customary dilution in water. You once asked them to switch to something softer or provide latex gloves. They hemmed and hawed and eventually stated that the procedures as they were written were sufficient for the safety and comfort of everyone involved.

Because the chemical fumes could prove dangerous to inhale if spilled, the bottles are not kept up by the registers, but in one of the store rooms in the back near the loading bays. After checking that no more customers are left to avoid, you grab your gloves (that you bought with your own money) and head to the back, shouldering your way through the swinging double doors and into the poorly lit service halls that connect the employee areas and utility rooms.

Aging fluorescent tubes buzz overhead, casting a wan glow that one could barely read by without straining their eyes. No customers are permitted back here so the floors aren't kept very clean–"a waste of shift time" said your managers. That would explain how there seems to be a new bug carcass every time you pass through. Strangely enough, there are scores of them clustered around the base of the door to the third storage room. How has nobody gotten around to clearing them out? The thought briefly crosses your mind to do it yourself, but the exquisite shrieking of your aching legs and back silences the notion.

You take out your keys and unlock the sturdy metal door. It pushes open with the same whispered screech of corrosion that it always has. Beyond is the long and low concrete box that is Storage #3. It's utterly unremarkable in construction but something about it always gave you a bizarrely comforting vibe, despite the persistent notes of barely-suppressed mildew that hang in the air.

The light switch next to the door is unresponsive, not responding to any combination of flicking and hope. You curse under your breath and take out your phone, using the glow of the screen to light your way towards the back of the long room where the chemical bottles are kept. Halfway there something brushes against your face, something long and thread-like that makes you sputter and swat at the air as you leap back in panic.

To your surprise and chagrin, the thread is revealed to be the metal-beaded pull-string to an old-fashioned light fixture. A brand new bulb gleams softly in the dull shine of your phone, its old-fashioned base seated firmly between two fluorescent fixtures. You don't remember having seen it before, but if management decided that it was cheaper to start using the building's original lights again rather than replace a couple fluorescents... well, that unfortunately tracked.

You reach up and tug on the pull-string. With a satisfying clicklunk the bulb flashes to life, leaving a spot in your vision for a few seconds. The illumination isn't especially powerful but it's sufficient for your purposes. You spot the cleaner and grab a bottle and a roll of cheap brown paper towels, the kind that seem to push liquids around rather than absorb them. You're almost at the room's exit when the light suddenly drops again... then returns.

You glance back at the bulb warily, wondering if the fixture is old enough that an electrical fire is a real concern. It doesn't spark or click or hiss, however... it just slowly dims down to almost nothing, then snaps back to full brightness. Well, no, not full brightness. Just below that...

You slowly move over and linger beneath the bulb, eyeing it curiously. If the base is old enough, it could be dangerous to leave it as-is, right? It might pop and scatter glass all over, or... something like that. It might be better to change it. You start towards a box of bulbs on a nearby shelf when suddenly the quality of the light changes.

You find yourself blinking furiously for several seconds, trying to clear your vision. It takes you a long moment to realize that there's nothing in your eyes, it's that something about the light around you is has gone indistinct. It's hard to make out any details. You look back at the bulb, confused, only to find that something about it seems subtly off.

Before you realize it, you're standing beneath the fixture again, squinting up at the bulb. This doesn't feel right. You reach up, intending to unscrew the thing before it gives you a headache, and–well that's odd. You can't reach it. You strain upward, stretching your arm and even standing on your tiptoes, but you only manage to brush it with the very tips of your fingers. Blinding pain fills your fingers and you jerk backwards, stumbling and clutching your hand to your chest. There's no way in hell a bulb should be that hot!

Your good hand shoots outward for the pull-string to shut this thing off before something catches fire, but before you can grab it, it seems to... be in the wrong place. The bulb is so much higher than it was before. You look behind you towards the door and it's only a few feet away, but the bulb is so, so high up. You stare up towards it, your eyes stinging from its brightness, your fingers throbbing in time with its warbling radiance.

Behind you, in the darkness that lies outside of your new light, you hear the soft padding of steps moving toward you. Before you realize what you're hearing and think to call out for someone, anyone to pull you out of this, a hand is gently placed on your shoulder. You try to tear your gaze away from the brilliance of the light (so, so high now, it's so high) but that isn't–it's not something you can do. Or want to now.

You find your left hand slowly rising in front of you, the jug of chemical cleaner held white-knuckle-tight. Without taking your eyes off the light, your right hand slowly unscrews the cap. The searing heat of the light high, high above you is complemented by the sudden and slight warmth on the nape of your neck. You hear the sound of lips parting and the intake of breath next to your as someone prepares to speak. You lift the bottle higher, in an almost exultant pose.

Suddenly, the harsh bite of the chemical cleaner's scent crowds into your nostrils. The odor always seems to make you feel ill, but this time it blasts you with a wave of incredible nausea so intense that the bottle slips out of your hands. Plastic bounces on concrete and you reflexively close and shield your eyes as several drops splatter against your face.

All at once, the world comes rushing back. The jug of cleaner glugs out its viscous contents, the caustic chemical pooling around the rubber soles of your work shoes along with the desiccated carcasses of hundreds of tiny insects. You begin to cough as your lungs start to itch from the fumes. You start to rush out the door, but take one last moment to wrench at the pull-string of the light fixture. The room snaps back into darkness and the chain is torn clear out of the socket. You flee back into the hall, barely hearing the soft crunching sounds made by the evidence of so much death beneath your feet.

The registers remain uncleaned that night. Nobody notices. You want to tell someone, anyone about what happened, but the look on your manager's face the next day cows you. You just get back to work. The flecks and dots of irritation branded into your face by the undiluted cleaner fade within a few days, as do your memories. You try to hold onto what happened to you in Storage #3, but some combination of exhaustion and confusion ensures that after a few weeks, little remains.

You don't go into that room much anymore, but the last time you did the fluorescents were working again, albeit poorly. The old light fixture was gone. Only a small patch of bare concrete remains in its place.

Unfortunately, many things leave wounds, even if the marks go unseen. What scar marks you now?

#black friday #horror #choose your own adventure #interactive fiction

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