#much more now whenever i look at my draft in the installment that will center what happened to them in their high school

[vanaera]

@xakemi-chiix replied to your post The Prince and His Rose Masterlist

Hi! So I finally decided to read through my to-read list and your story the prince and his rose was the first and I love this whole concept. This is so soft and cute and kookie is such a sweet friend! Gosh my heart is melting when I read through this whole drabbles. I really loved that both of them are each support pillars. That they help each other when they are about to give up and how well they know each other(their teenage years made me cry damnit, with Jungkook's dad and everything.)

I also love their little arguments and how awkward kookie is to compliment oc and how frustrated Jimin/Taehyung are lol Also this little misunderstanding of Jungkook thinking how oc was going to submit an application for the female leading role and jungkookie applying lmao I love this drabble ahaha Also bc of how throughout the performance how he looked into the audience, in other words looking at oc, which was just so cute gosh

Also I really love the way how she got the red scarf you already mentioned and how cute it was how disappointed he was that oc couldn't be there and celebrate his birthday and ahh this whole series is really cute and I would def read it a hundred times again.☺️

Oh my god, this feedback got me happy-crying!!! TT u TT  God, I’m so happy you saw the essence in OC and Jungkook’s relationship. Writing the fluffy and awkward moments between these two is so fun! But what made me truly happy in writing TPAHR is how I tried to humanize these two characters. Writing about their fears, pains, mistakes, and how they try to deal with them while supporting each other made me go through a journey of my own along with these characters. And I am so happy you saw these too! One of my greatest joys is to have my readers get the thesis of my stories. That’s why I feel so blessed I managed to have readers like you get interested in my stories!

The story-telling I did for the red scarf is one of my favorite things I’ve ever done in writing! When I first started this series, I decided I don’t want to write OC and Jungkook’s story in a conventional linear structure. I want to tell this “cliche” story of friends falling in love with each other in a different way that could give a fresh twist to this established trope. Hence, the jumping from past to present, present to past, in the story was born. I guess this is TPAHR’s charm because I managed to get my readers curious enough to follow this story and know more about OC and Jungkook and their past. So I’m beyond ecstatic you loved what I did for this series!

I, too, have read stories I like re-reading again and again and never get tired of doing it. They have touched my life in so many ways/ I feel so lucky I got to read/watch them bc idk what would I be now If I didn’t encounter them. Thus, I think to be write a work that could astound people that they will not get enough of going back to it is a great feat for any artist. So to have you say you’ll read The Prince and His Rose a hundred times again,  I feel like I’m standing on the other end this time, overwhelmed with love and happiness. Thank you for letting me have this experience that once was a dream a thousand light-years away from me 😊😊😊

[issa-me-addy]

Better Than Words (OC x Bucky Barnes) 

Corner’s

PART ONE/?

A/N: HELLO welcome to my chaos. This takes place in an AU after Spiderman: Homecoming where the Avengers have reassembled and the following all live in the Avengers tower: Tony, Pepper, Steve, Bucky, Natasha, Wanda and Vision. Peter Parker’s identity is still intact and he spends his free time training at the Avengers tower under a “Stark internship”. 

also here is my masterlist! 

Word Count: 2261

Warnings: fluff, mild angst, and slow burn 

New city. New apartment. New job. New life. 

Maya was ready, though. After living in her parents house up until her mid 20s, she was beyond prepared to leave and get the change of scenery she’s been craving since middle school. And with everything she did, everybody could see how sure of this she was.

She did everything without hesitation. She said yes to the Midtown School of Science and Technology without even taking the time offered to think about it. She signed the lease to the first studio apartment she found in Manhattan and she started packing the moment she knew the job and the apartment were hers. 

By the beginning of June, Maya had moved everything to New York and was pushing her parents out of her apartment. But of course they insisted on staying. 

“Just one night! I can make you dinner and help you organize the kitchen. We’ll be out of your hair by the morning.” Her mom practically begged, as she was, quite frankly very anxious about the entire move. 

And of course Dad agreed, “I could install your shelves and build your bed frame so you don’t sleep on a mattress on the floor tonight.” 

But Maya needed this. She couldn’t wait another night to fully embrace the reality of her new life. 

“No, it is fine! Really!” Maya was already grabbing her mom’s purse, and fishing her dad’s keys out of the pile of junk on the kitchen counter. “I want you guys on the road before it gets too dark. Just make sure you call me when you get back to Philly!” 

And through bewildered arguments at the daughter’s new found independence, Maya continued to walk them towards the door. She managed to yell over them, and then physically pushed them out of the apartment, “I love you! Drive safe! Dad, make sure to use your turn signals!” 

And like a coming of age film, she closed the door, fixed all the locks, and pressed her back against the door of her studio, her eyes scanning the first thing that was completely and utterly hers. She took a breath and felt excitement like no other started to fill her veins. 

Maya spent the rest of the night fixing the bathroom and then the kitchen. By 3 in the morning she was freshly showered and sitting on the floor of her living room with her back pressed against the couch. She smiled at the cluttered space, a piece of pizza in her hand, and Shrek 2 spinning in the DVD player. 

For the next two weeks Maya spent her days unpacking, arranging, decorating, reading, online shopping, rearranging, and singing at the top of her lungs.

Most afternoons she’d go downstairs to the Corner Cafe that was renting the apartment to her. Maya would sit and work on transfer paperwork, brainstorm potential classroom setups, and draft book lists for the Fall semester. Every now and then she’d make conversation with the barista, a high school student named MJ. Maya would ask about local bookstores, where to get the best Thai food, and eventually about Midtown. They both laughed when they realized they’d probably be spending the school year together. Needless to say, Maya and MJ got along really well. 

-- 

The following Friday afternoon, the Cafe was a bit more crowded. But all the same, Maya sat at her corner table by the pick up counter. She had always gravitated towards this spot, but now it was mostly to chat with MJ when things got slow and to cheer her on during the rushes. And MJ definitely needed a lot of support this shift. 

And then to Maya’s disbelief Natasha Romanoff walked in. 

It was an interesting scenario considering everyone knew who the Avengers were now, but what was far more interesting to Maya was the way no one paid any mind to her presence. She figured it was true what they said about New York: everyone just minded their own business, really. In any case, Maya didn’t feel any strong emotions towards being in the presence of known vigilantes, but she couldn’t help but feel her muscles tense when Natasha stood at the side of her table. 

A few moments passed and before Maya could properly comprehend what she was doing, she opened her mouth. “Would you like to sit?” 

Natasha was taken aback but nodded appreciatively, smiled and pulled the chair opposite to Maya and sat down. “Thanks, stranger.” Natasha’s knees were facing the counter though, an elbow each on the back of her chair and another on the table they were now sharing. 

A handful of moments passed again and Maya let out an exasperated groan after realizing that she, yet again, sent the wrong attachment to her new boss. 

Natasha’s fingers were now rapping rhythmically, against the wooden table top and then she spoke up. “Rough day?” 

Maya was a bit razzled, despite the fact that she was the one that opened up the possibility of a conversation just moments ago. “Uh, yes and no? It's just a new job. It's a bit overwhelming, you know?” 

It was only after the words came out of her mouth that Maya realized she shouldn’t have said her job was overwhelming to a person who fought crime for a living. She bit her tongue and braced herself for a laugh but it didn’t come. 

“You’ll get a hang of it.” It was at this moment that MJ called Natasha’s name out. She stood and pushed in her chair before grabbing the little white baggy off the counter. “Try one of the pastries. I promise it’ll make you feel a bit better; they’re the best in the whole city.” 

Maya gave her a small smile and a nod, “I’ll do that! Have a good night.” 

“You too, Stranger.” Natasha proceeded to pinch the little bag between her teeth, rummaging through her pockets and walking towards the exit 

-- 

In the following weeks, the interactions only became more frequent. It was probably every other day that the two would see each other at Corners. 

At first it was Hellos and Goodbyes but eventually Natasha would sit at the same table with Maya while waiting for her order to be ready, not that it ever took all that long. Before the end of the month, the two exchanged names and Maya was happy to find that Natasha actually preferred to be called Nat. 

Shortly after the proper introductions Nat started to enjoy her pastry at the table with Maya before leaving. 

Very quickly, Maya grew tired of the same courteous conversations and started talking about her new teaching job and Nat helped in large part with all of Maya’s online shopping decisions. Sometimes Maya was afraid of coming off as self centered but she was pretty wary of asking Nat about her life outside of the coffee shop. But, fortunately Nat was much more interested in classroom decor and keeping updated with Maya’s personal challenge of trying every possible drink MJ was willing to make. 

By July, Nat started bringing the other Avengers by for coffee runs. 

Maya immediately hit it off with Steve. After finding out that Maya was a literature teacher, Steve would talk about how reading was his favorite pastime pre-serum and that he’d love to visit the classroom one day. He even geeked about the latte art that MJ would do in the wide mouth mugs for Maya. She and Nat did not miss the opportunity to laugh about this when Steve excused himself to use the bathroom. 

It was peculiar though. Nat would tease that Maya and Steve were a literal match made in heaven. She’d go on about their overlapping interests and how smoothly they got along from the beginning. Maya had to think about it, though. On one hand, Maya thought, who wouldn’t want to be of interest to Captain America himself? 

But alas, Maya was the kind of girl who believed in the kind of love that you felt in your gut. And despite the blush on her cheeks when Nat talked about the two of them, Maya didn’t feel it in her gut. 

Weeks had passed and Maya had grown accustomed to greeting Nat, Steve, Pepper, Sam & Wanda whenever they made their way into Corners. None of them really stopped to chat, except for Nat and Steve, but Maya thought it was still nice to share small smiles and waves with the rest of them. 

In the back of her mind, Maya thought a lot about the rest of the Avengers. She was well aware of Tony Stark and heard things about Vision in passing, but Nat eventually clarified that Tony doesn’t get his own coffee and Vision still doesn’t entirely comprehend the act of food consumption. 

Truly, Maya was most curious about Steve’s best friend, Bucky. Steve did talk about him in passing from time to time but Maya knew to not straightforwardly ask about him. She knew the bare minimum about The Winter Soldier from the Daily Bugle and the tabloids. And knowing that Steve was his best friend, Maya bit her tongue despite all the questions flooding her mind whenever his name came up. 

It was the last week of July when Nat finally brought Bucky to Corners. 

-- 

In Maya’s mind, aside from meeting Nat, Bucky’s introduction was the most memorable. When she thought long and hard about it, it was mostly because of the fact that Bucky’s first impression was distinctly different from the rest of them-- less chirpy, you could say. 

When the two of them walked in, Nat basically made a beeline for Maya’s little table and greeted her right away. 

“Hey, Nat! Pastry or coffee today?” Maya hummed, barely looking up from her laptop. She was intensely focused on finishing a thought about her lesson plan before properly opening herself up to conversation. 

Nat sat to the right of Maya, her back facing the counter. Then, Nat gestured for Bucky to sit in her usual spot, across from Maya. 

“Pastries! I caught ol’ Bucky here snagging some of my extras in the middle of the night, so I decided to let him in on the secret.” 

Maya nodded before properly looking up, “Sounds like quite the racoon to me,” a small smile forming on her face. Then she lifted her eyes from her computer screen and there he was. Maya’s stomach turned in the most peculiar way.  

Bucky had on a hoodie and his hair was tied up in a low ponytail. The hood wasn’t up on his head but instead fluffed up enough to come up around the bottom of his ears and his hands were in his pocket, resting in his lap underneath the table. He seemed hesitant to hold any eye contact with her, which Maya didn’t take offense to, but he did manage to look at her for a moment. 

He gave the smallest acknowledging grin before saying, “Hello, I’m James.” 

Nat was preoccupied during this small moment, busy trying to wave down MJ who was in the middle of pulling a shot of espresso. “MJ! Just the pastries today, but make it a double order, please!” 

Nat turned back to Maya before she could properly introduce herself to Bucky.

“Yeah, he caught me with a jam filled one last week and has been snatching them ever since.” 

Maya smiled at this. “So what? The jig is up? Everyone in the tower knows that tough Natasha Romanoff is obsessed with flakey pastries?” She loved to tease Nat, but some of her joy was being overcome by the tension she was creating in her own mind about even looking at Bucky. 

Hearing him chuckle at her remark did help her muscles ease up though. 

“Ha. Ha,” Nat dully retorted. “The only reason I decided to share my secret with him is because he won’t tell a soul. It’d be much easier for me to gain my dignity back if I got caught, but he would lose most of, if not all of his tough guy credentials.” 

Maya giggled in response before looking straight into Bucky’s eyes and reassuring him, “Don’t worry. Even if you get caught I think Corner’s pastries are well worth losing your street cred.” 

Bucky chuckled and brought his flesh hand up to rub his index finger underneath his nose. “I think you’re right, doll. I’d risk it all for another raspberry one.” 

Maya felt a wave of mixed emotions following Bucky’s response. She felt her skin grow hot after processing the outdated nickname and only hoped that her complexion wasn’t visibly compromised. All the while though, she was glad to have been able to have any kind of conversation with him. 

Fortunately for Maya, she didn’t have to withstand that burning feeling for much longer because MJ called out Nat’s name and she was quick as a cat to grab the little white bags off the counter. 

Nat patted her hand on Maya’s shoulder, not even bothering to sit back down. She looked at Bucky and nodded her head towards the door. “Alright, Maya! We’re out. I’ll see you next time.” 

“Yeah, get back safe,” Maya responded, her hand reached up and patted Nat’s knuckles as Bucky pushed in his chair. “It was nice to meet you, James.” 

“You too, Maya,” and with that, Bucky gave a small wave and pulled his hood up as he and Nat made their way out the door and down the street. 

Maya watched until they were out of sight. 

—

TAGS: @asuperconfusedgirl

[man-creates-dinosaurs]

SPOOKY PALEONTOLOGY: THE (OC)CULT OF NESSIE One reason I haven’t been blogging as much here is that I’ve been busy with various academic projects including two book chapters, submissions for conference presentations, serving as a member of the steering committee for this year’s Religion and Monsters panel at the AAR, getting the long awaited second installment of Scholars Talking Toku up, and preparing to start applying for PhD programs at the end of the year.

One of the books I recently contributed to is tentatively titled “Paranormal and Popular-Culture” and should be coming out from Routledge early next year. The volume was conceived and edited by Darryl Caterine and John W. Morehead. My contribution was a chapter on the intersection of cryptozoology and science-fiction in which I endeavored to show that the central aims and obsessions of cryptozoology (i.e. the discovery of monstrous creatures alive in the world today) can be found to have originated in the realm of fantastic fiction.

My original draft for this chapter was over 11,000-words and had to be drastically reduced at the behest of the publisher (actually the entire book had to be shortened apparently). So I decided I could make use of some of that research here on my blog and just in time for Halloween. In this case I want to talk about lake monsters. Spooky lake monsters. Specifically the Loch Ness Monster.  

Though reports of a monster living in Loch Ness don’t begin until 1933 the idea of such a creature dwelling somewhere within the British Isles can be found in The Lair of the White Worm; a horror novel by Dracula author Bram Stoker originally published in 1911 by Rider and Son of London with interior color illustrations by Tarot Card artist Pamela Colman Smith. In 1925 an abridged version of the novel was issued, losing more than 100 pages and 12 chapters.

Set in Derbyshire, England The Lair of the White Worm concerns Australian transplant Adam Salton who has traveled to meet his great-uncle, Richard Salton, as Adam is destined to become the heir of the family estate. As Adam quickly learns, however, high strangeness of various kinds is at work in the surrounding countryside including the death of livestock, mysterious black snakes slithering about, a child with vampire-like bite marks on her neck, hostile pigeons, and the mysterious Arabella March who lives nearby in a house located in Diana’s Grove; an area known to have once been the center of pagan religious rites.

Eager to get to the bottom of these various mysteries, Richard introduces Adam to his friend Sir Nathaniel de Salis; who fulfills the Van Helsing role in this novel of occult scholar. In Chapter 5, “The White Worm,” Sir Nathaniel fills Adam in on the various legends concerning Diana’s Grove including that it is the lair of a monstrous albino serpent or dragon; what the Anglo-Saxon’s called a ‘wyrm,’ hence the novel’s title. When Adam displays some skepticism about such tales Sir Nathaniel informs him that…

“A glance at a geological map will show that whatever truth there may have been of the actuality of such monsters in the early geologic periods, at least there was plenty of possibility.  In England there were originally vast plains where the plentiful supply of water could gather.  The streams were deep and slow, and there were holes of abysmal depth, where any kind and size of antediluvian monster could find a habitat.  In places, which now we can see from our windows, were mud-holes a hundred or more feet deep.  Who can tell us when the age of the monsters which flourished in slime came to an end? There must have been places and conditions which made for greater longevity, greater size, greater strength than was usual.  Such over-lappings may have come down even to our earlier centuries.” (p. 187 in Penguin Classic’s Dracula’s Guest and Other Weird Tales, 2007)

Here we see that Sir Nathaniel is something of a proto-cryptozoologist and like his 20th-Century contemporaries advances the idea that the menacing white worm, like Nessie, is a prehistoric holdover who has somehow managed to survive for millions of years in the supposedly “abysmal depths” of the United Kingdom’s many lakes and lochs. Of course, the novel ends with the revelation that the worm is real and dwells in a pit beneath Arabella March’s home in Diana’s Grove where March worships and feeds the beast who in turn appears to endow her with evil supernatural powers. Ultimately, Adam is able to dispatch the monster via the handy combination of dynamite and a well-placed lightning bolt.

In 1988, English filmmaker Ken Russell (1927-2011) filmed a theatrical adaptation of The Lair of the White Worm. Russell’s version actually puts more emphasis on the story’s latent paleontological elements. Rather than being set in the early 20th-Centrury the story is moved up to the present day (i.e. 1980s) and Adam Salton is recast as Angus Flint (Peter Capaldi; the Twelfth Doctor); a Scottish archaeologist excavating the site of a Roman era Christian convent in Derbyshire. Among the ruins Flint discovers what appears to be the skull of a dinosaur! The locals connect the skull to the legend of the d'Ampton wyrm, said to have been slain in Stonerich Cavern by John d'Ampton, the ancestor of current Lord of the Manor, James d'Ampton (Hugh Grant of Four Weddings and a Funeral [94] and Bridget Jones’s Diary [2001]). Flint attends a party at d’Ampton Manor where he meets James and the audience is treated to a rocking rendition of the legend of the d’Ampton wyrm (based on the real-life legend of the Lambton Worm).

Stonerich Cavern is connected to the home of the enigmatic Lady Sylvia Marsh (Amanda Donohoe) who steals the skull from Flint and also abducts his girlfriend Eve. While a symbiotic relationship between Marsh and the White Worm is only hinted at in Stoker’s novel, it is explicit in Russell’s film with Marsh assuming the form of a silver-skinned serpentine vampire who’s appearance I would have to guess was inspired by the look of a similar monster seen in Hammer’s The Reptile (1966, dir. John Gilling). It is soon revealed that Marsh is the immortal priestess of an ancient pre-Christian snake god named Dionin whose next sacrifice is going to be Eve. In order to rescue his girlfriend and expunge the evil from the countryside Flint enlists the aid of James and the two mount an assault on Marsh and Dionin.  

For most cryptozoology enthusiasts, Nessie is believed to be an extant plesiosaur which somehow survived the K–Pg extinction event some 66-million-years ago. As a result the idea of Nessie being related to anything like the subject of Stoker’s The Lair of the White Worm – with its occult evil, secret cults, human sacrifice and vampires – may seem strange indeed. However at least one noted Nessie research drew just such a circle of connections around the Loch Ness Monster. That man was Fredrick William Holiday (1921–1979).

Like most Nessie researchers, Holiday started out proposing that Nessie was a prehistoric survivor. Not a plesiosaur but rather a Tully Monster (Tullimonstrum gregarium); a genus of soft-bodied bilaterian that lived during Late Carboniferous period some 323.2 million-years-ago to 298.9 million-years-ago and whose fossil remains were discovered in Illinois in the late 1960s. The exact nature of the Tully Monster is actually a source of great paleontological controversy which you can learn about here. Like all cryptozoologists expounding prehistoric survivor paradigm theories Holiday was at a loss to explain how the warm water Tully Monster had survived hundreds of millions of years in a cold lake on the other side of the world. He also had the not insignificant problem that the fossils of Tully Monster indicated that its maximum size was about 14-inches, pretty puny for the Loch Ness Monster. Nevertheless, Holiday put forth his Tully Monster theory in his 1968 book The Great Orm of Loch Ness; “orm” being another variation on “wyrm.”

However, as Holiday continued to research the Loch Ness Monster he began noticing strange things happening to him. This included his camera always malfunctioning whenever he tried to take a shot of Nessie, glimpses of mysterious orbs of light, apparent UFO sightings and experiences of missing time. As a result by the early 1970s Holiday ceased promoting the idea that Nessie was a Tully Monster and started claiming that it was a supernatural entity that was both the basis of ancient dragon legends and somehow connected to UFOs; hence the title of his second book: The Dragon and the Disc (1973). This trend in Holiday’s research continued and by the late 70s Holiday was apparently wrapped up in all kinds of occult phenomena and evidently claiming that Nessie was the object of reverence of a secret dragon cult practicing human sacrifice hidden in the surrounding Inverness environs. All this prompted Holiday’s final book The Goblin Universe (published in 1986, after his death) which was co-authored with sci-fi writer Colin Wilson; author of The Space Vampires (1976), which was later turned into the film Lifeforce (1986) directed by Tobe Hooper (Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Poltergeist) and scripted by Dan O’Bannon (Alien). You want a crazy Halloween double-feature? Watch Russell’s The Lair of the White Worm and Hooper’s Lifeforce back-to-back.   

[yournewapartment]

Moving to A New Home

Moving to a new home can be daunting and complicated at times, especially if it’s something you’re doing on your own. I promise that no matter how stressful it may seem, this process will become exciting and invigorating for you to conquer. Regardless as to whether you’re moving across state lines or to a new country, the adventure begins now! I hope this helps babes.

Before You Move

1. List it up. Make a list of everything that you will need to accomplish before you are ready to move. This includes items that need to be packed, people that need to be contacted, pet accommodations, etc. I love lists, but you may not, so use any organizational technique that works for you.

2. Divide and conquer. After you’ve made your list, organize items based off of how much time they’ll take you. Packing will be fairly time-consuming, so this is something you’ll want to invite friends over for and break up over several days. I like to have “moving” parties whenever I’m getting ready to move, essentially I buy some chips and dip, play some Trap, and invite my friends over to act as my minions. Something like canceling your subscription to Cosmo will take you very little time and energy to do, so it’s something you can do when you’re ready for a stress-free activity.

3. Contact companies. Speaking of canceling your Cosmo subscription, you will need to update your address with all of the companies you use. If you’re no longer going to be using that company, you’ll need to call them and tell them when to end your service. If you’re going to continue to using that company, you’ll have to call them and tell that you’ll need an address change. Give them the exact date you’ll be moving so that they can backdate your information. Some examples of companies:

DMV in the county you’re moving to (if you’re going to drive)

Your doctor’s office

Your college (even if you graduated, they send out alumni letters all the time)

Your credit/debit card company

Your bank

Your phone company

Any government programs you’re a part of

Any companies that you have loans with

Your health insurance company

Your auto insurance company

Amazon

4. Set up. Nobody likes living without internet in this modern age, so make sure to call your internet/cable provider for your new home and setup an installation date ahead of time. Do the same for your electric company, although they will probably be able to activate your electricity remotely.

5. Send ahead. If possible, send/drop off some of your items ahead of time. If you have a family member or a friend that lives nearby where you’ll be staying, ask if they can hold a few boxes for you. You can also mail yourself packages and ask your local post office to hold them for you, but you’ll need to arrange that ahead of time.

6. Forwarding address. You will inevitably forget something, so make sure to leave your forwarding address and contact information with your landlord, college, ex-roommate, etc.

During Moving

1. Take your time. Don’t try to unpack everything in one day! Take some time to explore your new space, and decide where to put everything in a leisurely way. There is no set schedule for moving.

2. Assistance. If you have friends/family helping you make the move, assign them specific tasks so that nobody spends their time pestering you and asking “what do you need help with?”. You can even decide these tasks ahead of time, during your plane or car ride over.

3. Be neighborly. You’ll likely meet some neighbors during this process, and make sure to stop and greet them, even if you’re in the middle of something. First impressions do matter, even when they shouldn’t, and spending thirty seconds to greet someone in a parking lot may save you a lot of hardship in the long run. Ask your neighbors to recommend local attractions, places to eat, what laundromats to use, etc.

4. Check everything. Walk around your new home and make sure that everything is as it should be. Make sure all the light switches work, all the doors open, that the cabinets are empty, that everything has been cleaned properly, etc. Address anything that is not right immediately in a letter to your new landlord. 

After You’re Settled (Specifically for Living Alone)

1. PKW. Phone, keys, wallet. Every time you go anywhere. Check twice. The worst part of living on your own is having to rely on yourself to never forget to lock yourself out or leave your wallet at a sandwich shop in a mall. Make absolutely sure you have duplicates of your keys (I would get a couple made) and give one to a friend who lives nearby who you can count on. I also like to keep an extra set inside the apartment itself in a secure place, just in case. Your landlord can let you in during office hours, but giving a key to a trustworthy friend helps you 24/7.

2. Cleaning routine. You don’t have to sit down at a writing desk and draft this out, but spend a few minutes coming up with a basic cleaning regime for you to follow. It’s definitely easier to do a little each day, but if that doesn’t work for your schedule set aside at least an hour and a half during your time off to get your apartment spotless. I don’t know about you, but whenever I deep clean my apartment I feel like I’m living in a hotel for a day, and I absolutely love it.

3. Make a “moving” shopping list. This is everything you will need (minus food) for your first week at your new place. Do a big shop, and get all the essentials out of the way: first aid kit, cleaning supplies, tape, cat food, etc. Your first week moving into your new place will be stressful enough, you don’t want to be halfway through setting up your living room and realize that you forgot to buy trash bags.

4. Secure yourself. I’m not the most agile or fast person in the world, and I do live in a mid-sized city that has a good deal of crime. The apartment complex I live in is very safe, but I still like to double lock my front door at night. It might be smart to keep some pepper spray or a baseball bat somewhere in your apartment, just in case.

5. Stay social. Even the most anti-social person gets lonely. Make sure to hang out with your friends, not just your co-workers, your actual friends. Get out off your apartment every few days and go see a movie, get a cup of coffee, go people watching at the park, etc. It’s easy to get depressed if you’re living alone and doing the same things the same way every day- allow yourself to mix it up.

6. Meal prep. It can be stressful and seem useless to cook complicated or “fancy” meals when you’re living on your own. Plan your meals for the week and make a list before going shopping. Get yourself enough food to make a variety of dinners that will only take you fifteen minutes. If you do want to go crazy and make steak and mashed potatoes for yourself, make enough for two meals. Also, nobody is going to think poorly of you for stocking your fridge with a couple frozen dinners.

7. Customer service. Living alone means that you are going to be doing a lot of talking to customer service representatives. Get comfortable talking to people over the phone. Tell the rep what you need as quickly as you can, and try to be polite because customer service at a phone center is a garbage job that doesn’t pay well. On the flip side, don’t be afraid to ask for a manager if you’re upset or unhappy with your service. Take their survey at the end of your phone call, tell them how unhappy you are. It’s someone’s shitty job to look at all those surveys, no complaint goes unheard. Companies with great phone service: Verizon, Apple, Amazon. Companies with awful phone service: USPS (literally the worst), electric companies, health insurance companies.

8. Guest space. This is not required, but it’s a good idea to have some sort of space for a friend to stay the night. A friend of mine had a bad breakup, showed up at my apartment with ten minute’s notice, and then fell asleep on my couch after an hour of crying. It as 7:30! Whatever, she needed it. Keep an extra blanket and pillow in your closet, I like to keep travel sized shampoos and conditioners in my bathroom cabinet on the off chance a guest wants to use my shower. I got these at a hotel for free, but they’re available at CVS and other pharmacies.

9. Toilet paper. Don’t let yourself run out of toilet paper! I like to buy more when I notice I only have one roll left. The same deal goes for paper towels.

10. Enjoy. Living on your own is simoltaneously exciting and exhausting, but an all around must-have experience. Enjoy the freedom to forget to make the bed, to decorate your bathroom however you want, to have ice cream for dinner, to watch reruns of Friends and cry when Rachel decides to move to France. Make sure to give yourself lots of space to move at your own pace, but please remember to eat three meals a day and to go to the doctor’s for a checkup at least once a year!

Making Friends and Staying Social

First things first- we as humans are social creatures. We seek out social interaction, even the most antisocial person in the world still needs the occasional stimulating conversation. Don’t stress about making friends, it’ll happen one way or another.

The best friendships are created organically, but that said, there are some things you can do to quicken the process.

1. Friends by proximity.  Be social and inquisitive when meeting your new co-workers and that openness will help you create fast friendships. Ask lots of questions, people love it when you ask them lots of questions about things. Remember elementary school? Remember how easy it was to make friends then? You’ve got this.

2. Places. Hang out at places that you would normally hang out with your friends. Scope out cool bookstores and cozy coffeeshops, and be on the lookout for similar-minded people. Find reasons to talk to these strangers, whether that means asking them for directions, what they’re drinking, etc. The next time you run into them, you’ll be able to start up a conversation.

3. Events. One of the quickest ways to make lots of new friends is to join a group that meets weekly that does something that’s important to you. This could be anything from a book club, to a Dungeons and Dragons game, to volunteer work. Go to your local library and read the bulletin board looking for groups that interest you. You may have to get on the internet to find something close by. At the very least you’ll have a weekly social event to go to where you won’t feel out of place.

4. Neighborly. This next one depends on you, but if you have cool looking new neighbors introduce yourselves to them. Hit them up at random and say something casual like “I was going to go out for a drink, wanna join?” Planning things in advance puts pressure on acquaintances, so try to be spontaneous.

[ichikonohakko]

[Kuroko/Everyone] Love Letters to Nobodies

Happy birthday to the prettiest basketball player in the world! I hope the fandom can enjoy my contribution for our boy’s birthday!

AO3

Flashing lights, buzzing noises, and people trying to ask a million questions all at the same time were not anything new for Kuroko Tetsuya.

And yet, it still brought a sense of surprise whenever he sat down to be the center of attention to all of the reporters in the huge conference room that was rented out solely for his sake. Years of living as a shadow had always made him so grateful to the world around him and people had perceived it as a trait of humbleness that made his words seemed so genuine for anyone who read them. The books he had written had received so much love and Tetsuya was forever amazed by the reaction he received.

Love Letters to Nobodies had been a smash hit books that were universally loved by everyone in almost every age bracket, from schoolchildren to elderly adults. Those books were his musings, his letters to everything that he had observed, and Tetsuya had fallen in love with the world in its simplicity. The office workers all adored the Love Letters to Nobodies: A World Seen from Bullet Trains while the teenagers could not stop talking about the Love Letters to Nobodies: Chiming Clocks of Schoolyards because it suited them. Tetsuya expressed his love to the simplest things, be it the sound of coffeemakers buzzing at two o’clock at night or the sound of school-end bells that started the club activities, and everyone had loved the way he loved everything.

And yet no matter how many books Kuroko Tetsuya had written, he never wrote about people. That was why the current installment had been such a groundbreaking work of his, because it was about people.

Tetsuya was calm, smiling as he let the cameras flash and the questions to continue. Love Letters to Nobodies had started from his cellphone journal, ones he made in strikes of boredom about everything and everyone he found interesting. It was only natural that they will include people, because people had always been interesting. But still, the ones he deemed good enough for public consumption were always the ones he wrote about things and not people. And now, he had released a eight-chaptered book that contained his love for the people he loved the most and the world wanted to know.

“Kuroko-san!” A woman’s voice reached his ears, and Tetsuya smiled to her and asked her to ask her question. The crowd died down as she caught her breath. “I would like to ask you about the person in chapter Cherry Blossom. Is she your girlfriend? Are you romantically in love with her?”

Tetsuya let his mind wonder to the mentioned chapter and the girl who had loved him with such kindness and tenacity…

---

Cherry blossoms bloomed underneath the blue skies of spring and she glared at the ground below her with an intense frown.

The lights from the convenience store illuminated her face as she looks mad at the boring world around her, so I gave her an ice cream stick that was my lucky stroke of the day.

She looked happier than I have ever seen her and she showed a smile that rivals the cherry blossom petals fluttering in the wind.

‘Thank you!’ she beamed, kind as a breeze and bright as the stars, and I smile back.

Cherry blossoms bloomed in spring, but her smile cheered me up all year.

I love the smile on her face.

///

Cherry blossoms wither underneath the dark skies of winter and she asked me if I remember a fond memory.

I lied to her. I told her I don’t remember.

I watch her leave like a flurry of petals, shedding tears as she run away from me and leave me behind.

I love the smile on her face, and yet I did nothing to protect it.

I made her cry.

I love the cherry blossom when she blooms, and yet I did nothing when she withers away.

I love you.

I am sorry.

---

“No, the person in question is not my girlfriend. We are merely friends who are close to one another. I am to give a speech in her upcoming wedding.” Flashes of cameras went wild as the crowd rouses with questions. This was the first time Kuroko Tetsuya ever reveal anything about his private life, after all.

This time, a man’s voice reached him. He had blue eyes that struck Tetsuya with a sense of nostalgia. “The tone of your writing in chapter Brightest Light is the saddest I have ever seen in Love Letter to Nobodies series, can you give your thoughts about that?”

How coincidental was it that a man with blue eyes was the one who asked a question about the man that was his brightest light? Tetsuya gave him a nostalgic look as he reanalyze the things he wrote on the chapter in question…

---

They say shadows may only exist when there is light.

Then you are my light.

In a sea of nothingness that echoed throughout the huge field where I stand alone with my persistence, a light was shivering.

I was alone, but then the light found me and I was no longer alone.

The shadow that I am grew darker and darker while the light that you are shine brighter and brighter.

We smile, we laugh, we became each other’s everything and I love the way you smile as you offered your fist to me.

Our fists met, shadow and light existing in the perfect harmony that was you and me.

But then you shine brighter.

Brighter and brighter until there is no room for shadows to exist.

We do not smile, we do not laugh, and we drifted apart from each other until the day you say you do not remember why we stand next to each other in the first place.

It was not you, it was me. I was not good enough to be your shadow anymore.

You shine and shine and left.

I love the way you shine so bright.

And yet there was no place for me any longer, so I ceased to be.

///

(And I am sorry.)

(I am sorry that you are alone.)

(I love you.)

(Forgive me.)

---

“Brightest Light is a chapter that hold much of my regret to the person in question,” Tetsuya answered with a calm tone, blue eyes staring at him as the reporter waited for his answer. “It is a chapter of regret, so I think it was only fitting that the tone will be sadder than any other thing I have ever written. In a way, this is also a letter of apology that I wrote for the person in question and he had phoned me the second he managed to read it himself. We have made up for a long time, but this is the first time I wrote what I felt during the time we drifted apart, so he was rather touched by it.” Tetsuya remembered the phone call so clearly, of angry, muffled crying that accompanied his former light’s apologies and regrets as well. He remembered the laugh they shared after, too.

Speculations were made about the man in question. The question of ‘are you romantically in love with him?’ were made from here and there. Tetsuya neither confirm nor deny the statements, he too, was not quite sure of what he felt about the subject, after all.

Then another voice with a question that were different from the others perked his attention and Tetsuya asked the woman to speak with the same smile on her face. “Well, I would like to note that while Brightest Light was the saddest letter to date, the Sunset letter was the most lighthearted one in the book,” Tetsuya warmed. Aah, the first chapter, the unsent letter he still had in the draft box of his cellphone. “May I assume that you have recently reunited with the person in question? While the others are full of parting, this one just screamed reunion to me.”

Tetsuya nodded as he fondly remember the smile on his sun’s face as they meet each other once more. His regret melting like the ice cream they used to share together and he remembered the nostalgic days of his childhood…

---

On a sunset of my newfound hobby, I meet the person who is like the sun.

He is bright and cheerful, full of promises and potentials that matched his wide grins.

Toothy smile of an innocent child, epitome of wonder and curiosity.

My child-self did not know that I had fallen in love.

He had left with a promise that gave me a drive, just like on the sunset when he came.

We drifted apart once, in tears and broken promises, accompanied by feelings that no word may express, but he returned.

With a grin and a piece of broken promise, he returned.

He never drifted, I was the one who left.

I was sorry, but he beams like the sun and asked me why I was even sorry.

I love you, he said, has been and will always be.

And I told him:

I love you too.

///

We are children again whenever we are together.

And we love that.

---

“The events written in this book all happened before I reach adulthood, so it will be incorrect to say that we only recently reunited,” Tetsuya answered. “These letters represent the strongest feeling I have for these eight people I hold very dear. So it speaks a lot about parting, because that is when my feeling is at its strongest. But with the person in question for the Sunset chapter, the strongest feeling I had is when we are reunited once more.” Flashes of cameras and rousing crowd, Tetsuya chuckled to himself and shook his head.

“No, I am not in romantic relationship with the person in question. In fact, the person mentioned in Sunset chapter is going to get married with the girl I mentioned in Cherry Blossom. I am to be his best man at their wedding.” The reporters roared in excitement. Most of them already speculating who these people were, and Tetsuya could feel his phone vibrating within his pocket—no doubt notifying him of people mentioning him on twitter and other social media around. He paid it no mind.

Questions after questions were asked, but then Tetsuya hold up his hand sighed. “Anyone have any other question that are relevant to my book?”

Then there was a girl with green hair, smiling at him with a knowing smile and Tetsuya remembered that Midorima Shizuka was a fan of his book and he already knew that she was going to ask pertaining to that. Tetsuya gave her a smile, noting how similar she was to her brother nowadays.

“I want to know what your feelings were when your write the Lucky Pencil chapter of the current installment.”

Tetsuya smiled as he remembered the slightly humorous tone he used for that chapter.

---

The Rolling Pencil: Pencil of the Lazy God was a merchandise of a TV show that meant so much to a person I like.

He is as eccentric as the geniuses of old, as hardworking as our boatmen ancestors, and his words do not seem to match what he feels inside.

But I love how extraordinary he was.

And yet above it all, it was his hardworking traits that seem to pull him through everything life throws at him.

He is as distinctive as he is hardworking.

Yet he refused to be acknowledged by the single trait that made me love him in the first place.

The Lucky Pencil is kind to those who believe in it, and he too, is kind.

The Lucky Pencil is merciless to those who oppose it, and he too, can be merciless.

They say the color green may bring peace if you stare at it long enough.

He, too, bring me peace when I am with him in the cold library.

///

When we drifted, I did not feel the sadness I felt with others.

I feel that we will talk again, though not as close as before.

But he is kind, so I am not worried.

But still, I am sorry.

---

“The Lucky Pencil chapter is one of the earliest letter I wrote, along with the Sunset letter,” Shizuka looked giddy as she waited more of his answer. “I think this is one of the most lighthearted letters I have written, not counting the one I made for the coffeemaker in my home of course,” There was a surge of laughter coming from the audience, Tetsuya continued with a smile. “The person in question believes that he and I were born just to piss each other off. But I find an unexpectedly good company in him.”

“Will you consider going out with him?” Midorima Shizuka asked, a cheeky grin in place because she knew that her brother is watching this press conference with his phone at this very moment. Tetsuya had to give to her, really. “Well, no. He is married to the love of his life and that love of his life will probably hunt me down with his pet hawk if I ever consider dating his husband.” The crowd laughed again, and Tetsuya could distantly hear the sound of Takao-kun’s laughter, along with his husband’s embarrassed quips from somewhere within his skull. Shizuka thanked him and he thanked her in return, lingering smile on his face as he sought out another question that piqued his interest.

And then there was a girl with purple pin on her hair, wearing a limited edition t-shirt of a famous pastry place and Tetsuya instantly knew who to pick. She was surprised that he would pick her out of all others who were trying to ask him their question, but she cleared her throat and shyly asked her question.

“I have my suspicion about the person you wrote chapter Vanilla Candy for…” her voice was meek and sweet, Tetsuya nodded and urged her to continue. “Is he… is he a pastry chef right now?”

Tetsuya hummed, wondering if she made the connection because of the chapter title that had mostly nothing to do with the letter he wrote.

---

He and I are different.

This is apparent in every shape or form, from our heights to our personalities.

And yet we strangely fit each other in everything but one thing.

I have passion yet no talent.

He had talent yet no passion.

He hated that, a lot, and I hated that, too.

But we do not hate each other.

He smells like candies and snacks, towering over everyone in height yet was more of a child than anyone in the room.

I liked that side of him.

And though I was smaller than everyone in the room, he said I am more of an adult than everyone was.

He offered me vanilla candies.

It paints a funny a picture, back then, because he is tall and sweet and I am short and bland.

But we fit each other in everything but one thing.

Back then, it was enough.

///

He left without a word, and then we meet again.

We meet again through that one thing that fit us not.

And yet he treats me like nothing ever changed.

I found myself liking that side of him, somehow or another.

---

“Ah, I find myself wondering just how on earth you made that connection…” Tetsuya answered with a contemplative tone. “Well, as per my agreement to all the people mentioned in this book, I can neither confirm nor deny your suspicion. You are welcome to find out through other means, though.” Mystery was one of the intended purpose of his most personal book yet, after all. Tetsuya had become famous enough for his stories to be heard, for his farewells and reunions to be a tale for others to enjoy. She blushed and thanked him, Tetsuya then moved on to another question.

This time it was a woman that dressed like she was a model. She was tall and imposing, even when she was sitting among countless others. She raised her hand daintily and Tetsuya asked her to ask her question.

“I am here to ask a question my dear friend have about the book, but he cannot come here by himself…” She explained to everyone, as if not wanting the cameras to have the wrong idea about her intention. “Will you ever consider going out with the person in chapter Flash?” She looked glad to be rid of the question and Tetsuya instantly knew who she was here for.

Oh boy, he knew he had the right doubts when contemplating if he was ever going to publish Flash letter to the public…

---

A flash of lightning in a clear blue sky.

That was how I saw him when we first met.

Excellent in everything he does and overflowing with passion that rivaled the brightest light’s, I found myself jealous of him.

He shines, too, keeping up with the light that was his inspiration. I followed him closely behind.

I followed and followed and followed, until the day I decide that he too, could darken my shadow.

And he was wonderful.

He exceeded everyone’s expectations in a blur of flash.

He reminded me of the sun, he reminded me of the brightest light,

He could be everyone, he could be everything.

I watched him grow and grow and grow until he no longer needed me.

It supposed to be a moment of pride, and yet all I feel is emptiness.

I love him, he was my pride.

And yet when everyone left, he did not look back.

///

He regretted leaving, but not for the reason why I turned away.

But at least he still had a smile on his face, a different one than before, but it was a smile.

I love his smile, whichever it may be.

---

“No, I will never consider dating the person in question. Please tell your friend that I will confirm it to him right now that I have no such feeling towards the person in chapter Flash.” Tetsuya had a smile on his face, but his statement was delivered in the monotone that was his entire arsenal of expression he had back when he had to deal with a certain annoying blond. The lady looked relieved more than anything, then she thanked him and went to type on her phone.

The crowd murmured again and Tetsuya waited patiently until a question piqued his interest. He smiled as he searched through the crowd and he found a man dressed in casual jeans, bomber jacket, and baseball cap that caught his eyes and he asked him to ask his question.

“I have two questions, but you have to answer the first one according to my speculation. Then I can ask you the next question. Is that okay?”

Interesting. Tetsuya nodded with an intrigued expression and the man asked his question. “First, are you in romantic relationship with anyone you mentioned in this book?” Flashes of camera and roaring of the crowd. Tetsuya sighed. “Well, as I said before, I can neither confirm nor—“ His phone vibrated twice, signaling a text message from the one and only person who still sends him text messages nowadays instead of using instant messaging service like everyone else.

He sighed one more time.

“Fine, I will confirm that I am in a romantic relationship with one of the people I wrote these letters for.”

The crowd got louder and a million different questions that had the same answer popped out from reporters, men, women, girls, and boys alike. Tetsuya kept his smile, cursing his lover who was probably watching this conference from somewhere nearby.

The man then cleared his throat and continued his question. “Now my next question: between chapter True Light and Red Truth, which one did you write first?”

The teenage girls squealed first, obviously noticing the implication of the man’s question. He had so far deny any romantic feelings towards the people in the previously mentioned chapters, so there was only True Light and Red Truth left. And whichever he wrote first was the one he had relationship with. Tetsuya took a deep breath and put on his best smile.

“They were both written roughly at the same time, because it was the same event that made me realize my feelings towards both the persons in question for True Light and Red Truth. Technically, I finished Red Truth a few minutes before I finished True Light.” Tetsuya looked at the watch on his wrist and sighed, relieved. “It seems that I have overstayed my welcome. I look forward to meet you all in my next book signing event. Good evening everyone.”

Tetsuya stood up and bowed, typical of him to be punctual in his press conferences, and left. The people were all roaring for him to stay, but he wasted no time to return backstage and went over to the sofa.

“That was tiring…” He murmured to himself. Waiting patiently for his manager and editor to return from their battle outside.

Tetsuya stared at the book he had written, the accumulation of his teenage feelings that carried on until today.

Love Letters to Nobodies: Fragments of Miracles.

The only work he will ever write about people close to him. The only work that lay everything that is Kuroko Tetsuya bare for the world to see…

Tetsuya smiled to himself and hugged the book close to his heart. It was like a birthday present he made for the world that had given him so much.

He could feel his phone vibrating twice, no doubt his lover was asking him to call, but Tetsuya resorted to a nap instead.

[nationalcashoffer]

Home Improvement – That Add Real Value

You may be well-settled into your home without plans of changing it anytime soon, however, carrying out some home improvements can make it easy for a FAST CASH SALE whenever you are ready. What you need to know is that certain Home Improvement projects have a larger financial value than others. That’s why you need to read ahead and understand which home repairs will rake in more value when selling a home for cash. This is a starter list which has been compiled based on the value they can add to your property.

Renovating your home is a numbers game. How much do you have to spend to fix up your home and what will it get you in return? When is it worth it to spend more on high-end finishes to get a better return on investment (ROI)? What are the best renovation projects and features that will appeal to the widest range of buyers when you decide to sell?

Home buying and design style are intensely personal choices, and not everyone will love the changes you make. However, using Zillow Talk, Zillow Digs keyword analysis, and data from the Zillow blog we pulled together some averages of home improvement projects. The results? By swapping out certain elements in your home, adding keywords to your listing, and playing up certain aspects of your house, you may be able to increase your resell value and sell your home faster. Not all of our suggestions below had an impact on the house sale price and time on the market, but they could be great investments for you.

Home Improvement | Home Improvements | Home Improvements Ideas

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The kitchen is the heart of the home, and how it appears can make a buyer decide whether or not you are worthy of receiving a check on closing day. You may very well end up recouping between 60% and 120% of your investment if you make the right updates in this special room of gathering.

Remodeling a kitchen could mean knocking down a wall, extending it into the yard, or simply changing the existing space to be more efficient and updated with modern touches. Look at the appliances you have in your kitchen, spending a little to replace them with energy efficient ones will boost your home value.

Some people spend as low as $5,000 on kitchen remodeling while the price can also be as much as $75,000. The more you spend on your kitchen, the lower the chances of recouping the value. How much you spend will often be determined by the size of the room, as well as the neighborhood where your house is located. Certain locations have expectations on which materials should be used. In addition, the cost may be determined by what the property will be used for. Is it an expected rental property, or is it a dream home for a lucky buyer?

Some quality features that would give the kitchen an updated and expensive feel are:

Island with a flat-top grill and/or an added sink.

Stainless steel energy efficient appliances.

Recessed lighting and dimming.

Separate pantry for added storage.

Added cabinets, and hidden storage features.

When you are done with a kitchen update, it should inspire you with a feeling of openness and cleanliness.

National average cost: $18,856

Return on investment: 82.7 percent

As Remodeling Magazine defines it, a minor kitchen remodel consists of replacing cabinet fronts with raised-panel wood doors and drawers, along with new hardware; replacing wall oven and cooktop with energy-efficient models; replacing laminate countertops; installing a mid-priced sink and faucet; and repainting and replacing flooring.

The kitchen is always a good place to invest money, because it’s the heart of the home, Kmiecik said.

“Whenever I take buyers to look at a home, we spend most of the time standing in the kitchen, sitting at the table, getting a feel for how this kitchen will fit into your lifestyle,” he said. “It definitely adds value. Just be careful not to overdo it.”

A major kitchen remodel, meanwhile, would cost $54,909 and has a 74.2 percent ROI.

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Add an Extra Bathroom

An en suite bathroom is a major luxury feature to have right now. Nonetheless, if your home has just a single bathroom, you can add an extra one to increase the property value with minimal effort. Rest assured that you will see the return on your investment when it comes time to sell your house fast.

There will always be potential for an extra bathroom, as 18 square feet is what is needed for a half bathroom, and 30 square feet for a full bathroom (35 if you crave a bathtub). With the bathroom addition, you should recoup at least 80% of your investment while reducing the amount of time spent on the market.

The cost of a bathroom addition will be determined by the extent and luxury, just as it did with the kitchen improvements.

How can you make the bathroom a special place?

Adding a jetted tub and a large tiled shower in a full bathroom will give the new buyer a feel of awe upon entering the room.

Multi-directional shower-heads – spraying the bather from the top and the sides is a luxury feature that any buyer will absolutely love.

Higher end property? Try adding a bidet? His and her bathrooms? Add a urinal to his and make him feel at home.

National average cost: $16,798

Return on investment: 74 percent

Remodeling Magazine’s quoted cost includes updating an existing 5-by-7-foot bathroom and replacing all fixtures, including installing a porcelain-on-steel tub with ceramic tile around it, new shower, standard toilet and new tile floor.

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Acquire Energy Efficient Insulation

A home without energy efficient insulation costs more to live in – not only long term, but monthly as evidenced by the gas bills for drafty houses. Updating your home for energy efficiency will not cost you an arm and leg. Instead, it will make your home appealing to potential buyers.

Small changes such as an extra insulation to your attic will save you close to $2,500 yearly and doesn’t cost much to fix. We’ve seen some insulation improvements costing in the range of $200.

Check your windows and doors, socket and electrical switches, basement, attic and every other little opening. Look for holes, cracks, and worn materials. Some of these areas may not seem that important, but they can be a cause for major heating or cooling loss. Not to mention, they can invite unwelcome critters into your home. In addition, a house that is not properly sealed can end up with water damage.

Consider using a spray foam insulation as your air-tight solution. Using an open-cell foam will out-perform your old fiberglass insulation and stop any leakage in its tracks. There are some things to consider when using the spray foam insulation however.

Make sure that you haven’t been shorted. With a closed-cell spray foam, it can be harder to detect whether it has been applied enough. Open cell foam will fill the framing completely and efficiently to show you right away if enough of it was applied.

Check to see that there aren’t any missed spots. The insulation won’t be effective if corners or attic spaces were not sprayed.

See if the contractor has a warranty on the work, in case of a bad batch of foam which could cause it to contract from the framing. It does not happen often, but when it does, it can leave the area with a serious problem.

While there are some occasional pitfalls to spray foam as outlined above, know that they do not happen very often. The pros outweigh the cons, and can provide an energy savings for years to come. In the end, you’ll have added enough value to your house than you spent. You’ll also feel much more comfortable without the unwanted drafts giving you the chills.

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Deck Addition

Outdoor relaxation areas have become more desired and popular in recent times. Potential buyers often check if homes have this feature. Make your deck and backyard usable and appealing, which will help in convincing potential buyers that they will be able to entertain and relax. You can recoup 60% to 90% with a deck addition, and it will cost you a little above a thousand bucks.

To make the deck a more enticing feature, turn it into a wraparound, or include built-in features for entertaining or cooking. You can transform it into a multi-seasonal space by including a retractable awning or covering, or an enclosed space with retractable walls.

National average cost: $9,539

Return on investment: 87.4 percent

Only two years ago, wooden decks recouped about 70 percent of their value, having dropped during the recession. But with the economy improving and outdoor spaces becoming more popular, buyer interest is again piqued by a quality wood deck out back. The cost assumes a 16-by-20-foot deck with built-in bench and planter, stairs and railings.

A composite deck will also pay off, but not quite as much. A composite deck costs about $15,437 nationally and has an ROI of 74.3 percent.

Conclusion

When looking to cash out your equity in a home, you need to have a realistic expectation of what the market demands in regards to value. Every buyer is different, and each individual will have their take on what constitutes quality living.

It’s important to take many things into account, such as the location of your property, and what kind of updates will return a value or speed up the sale. One thing is for sure…Updated homes sell fast in the retail market. Updating a home is not for everyone however, and this those cases, you can sell your house fast to a cash home buyer.

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  Home Improvement

  Home Improvements: Under $100

Tip 1: Spend an Hour With a pro

Invite a realtor or interior designer over to check out your home. Many realtors will do this as a courtesy, but you will probably have to pay a consultation fee to a designer. Check with several designers in your area; a standard hourly fee is normally less than $100, and in an hour they can give you lots of ideas for needed improvements. Even small suggested improvements, such as paint colors or furniture placement, can go a long way toward improving the look and feel of your home.

Tip 2: Inspect it

Not every home improvement is cosmetic. Deteriorating roofs, termite infestation or outdated electrical systems — you can’t fix it if you don’t know it’s broken. Hire an inspector to check out the areas of your home that you don’t normally see. They may discover hidden problems that could negatively impact your home’s value. Small problems (such as a hidden water leak) can become big, expensive problems quickly; the longer you put off repairs, the more expensive those repairs will be.

Home Improvement

Tip 3: Paint, Paint, Paint.

One of the simplest, most cost-effective improvements of all is paint! Freshly painted rooms look clean and updated — and that spells value. When selecting paint colors, keep in mind that neutrals appeal to the greatest number of people, therefore making your home more desirable. On average, a gallon of paint costs around $25, leaving you plenty of money to buy rollers, painter’s tape, drop cloths and brushes. So buy a few gallons and get busy!

Tip 4: Find Inspiration

An alternative to hiring a designer is to search for remodeling and decorating inspiration in design-oriented magazines, books, TV shows and websites. Simply tear out or print off the ideas you want to try and start your to-do list. Keep it simple — when remodeling on a tight budget, do-it-yourself projects are best.

Tip 5: Cut Energy Costs

The amount of money you spend each month on energy costs may seem like a fixed amount, but many local utility companies provide free energy audits of their customers’ homes. They can show you how to maximize the energy efficiency of your home. An energy-efficient home will save you money now, which can be applied to other updates, and is a more valuable and marketable asset in the long run.we buy house, house for buy, selling your home fast, sell my house fast for cash, sell my house fast phoenix, buy foreclosed home, sell house fast phoenix, tips on selling a house fast, how can i sell my house fast

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The post Home Improvement – That Add Real Value appeared first on National Cash Offer.

from https://nationalcashoffer.com/home-improvement/

[mysteryfanfictheatre3000]

Back to the Frollo, Chapter 20

Warning: More racism. Seriously. They call Esmeralda “g*psy vermin” in paragraph 2 of this. It’s repulsive. 

Claude escorted me up to the belltower, while Quasimodo took Renee on a little tour of Notre Dame. We both endeavored to keep our amusement in check, but as soon as we reached the top, Claude Frollo fell to the floor, convulsing with uproarious laughter. "My darling", he said between deep, throaty chuckles, "that was one of your best performances. The way you dispatched that gypsy vermin!"

The sheer amount of pure, unashamed racism in this story is physically making me sick. This author is a terrible human being.

The melee between Esmeralda and myself became the talk of Paris; Claude didn't even try to stop me from my 'big payback'. Esmeralda was now locked away deep in the dungeons of the Palace of Justice. Claude would later interrogate her on the whereabouts of Malus' accomplice. I knew Claude had 'special' methods for making people talk, and I never questioned those methods.

Holy FUCK. This just gets worse and worse. When did this stop being a creepy romance story and start being a story about how Esmeralda is tortured?!

Hmmm --- 'cruel and unusual punishment' --- a lot of folks in my time would say, "Bring back the rack!"

I literally cannot talk more about how this author is a horrible human being. Blaming the victim of harassment, attempted rape and attempted homicide is so unbelievably wrong on so many levels, and I cannot stress that enough.

Claude caught me trying not to laugh. He held my hand and asked me, "Oh Danisha, dearest...Do you have to leave? I thought we could enjoy an extra week together, what with things turning out as they did." He leaned over and kissed my mouth, then, pulled something from his pocket. It was the pager.

Because what’s funnier than torturing an innocent girl?!

"I know you have responsibilities at home, but, no matter."

What responsibility?! She was able to leave her home for 2 solid months to go on a joyride to the past. Even if she’s a teacher, the summer isn’t just free time, it’s classroom-setting up, lesson-planning time. Danisha is just ignoring all her responsibilities, why should it change now?

Claude sighed as I pulled my own pager from my purse. "We still have this; we're not that isolated.", I said, returning the kiss. Claude Frollo smiled and asked, "Do you remember when you received this little device?" I nodded, replying, "Do I ever! And I thought everything was a dream! Then..." Claude finished my sentence, "Strange things began to happen..."

We don’t care. Why is this dragged out for so long? They’ve gotten together, Esmeralda’s been (wrongfully) assaulted and captured, and Malus is dead. The drama is over. Who cares about these jerks anymore?

************************* Was it all a dream? A summertime fantasy? An hallucination brought on by too much exposure to Midwestern heat and humidity? I threw myself back into work and routine. Jacki had already returned to graduate school, and Kyle started his sophomore year at Ball State. I'll never forget Claude's expression when Kyle said he wanted to "be a teacher, just like Ma." I supposed Claude had hoped Kyle would go into law; after all, as Claude told me, "I had hoped to act as his mentor." Yeah...right. Like Kyle's going to travel back in time just to start a law career. That would never happen -- could it?

I mean, yeah, this story is dumb enough that it could happen.

I was beginning to wonder if I dreamed it all. But I still had the sterling silver key, and the tapestry which hung on my living-room wall. Many of my friends kept asking, "Where did you get that?" I just said, "A friend gave it to me." Whenever I looked at the tapestry, I wondered if Claude Frollo and I would ever cross paths agaim.

It’s “again.” PROOFREAD YOUR WORK. And hopefully you don’t, because I hate you both.

Fern seldom mentioned our trip to medieval Paris; I guess she didn't want to upset me, seeing how painful it was for me to say me final good-byes to Claude. Oh well, as Claude always says, no matter.

final?! She has weekends and holidays off, and there’s always next summer!

As I said, I threw myself back into my old routine. Everything seemed to go smoothly; I was beginning to put Claude Frollo's memory 'on the back burner'. Then very odd things began to happen to me.

Of course they did, because this story has to go on even longer!

Fern and I made our annual visit to the State Fair, taking in all the agricultural and industrial achievements. Naturally, I wanted to see the farm animals. Fern left me to get us some lemonade, saying, "Why don't you mosey into the draft horse barn; I'll meet you in front ot the Percherons." I wandered up and down the aisles, marvelling at the Belgians, the Clydesdales, and, my favorites, the Percherons. One particular animal seemed peculiarly friendly as I petted his nose. Hey, this one looks like Snowball...

Ughhhhhh. Here we go.

A young man who was standing nearby spoke; his French-accented voice sounded awfully familiar. "You know, my brother owns such an animal. Fabulous black stallion."

A French guy has a brother who owns a horse? That’s sure strange!

Something about the man's voice clicked. I wheeled around but saw no one but Fern, who was carrying two lemonades. "It ain't the fair without a lemonade shake-up", she said as she handed over a cup. "Damn good-lookin' animal!", was all Fern said as she studied the stallion.Down in September, my old car gave out on me; I had no choice but to buy another. I finally chose a late model Camry, recently repainted a lovely shade of violet. When I picked up my car, the mechanic told me, "My master...I mean, my boss made sure everything was in working order."

If this is Quasimodo, which I’m sure it is, because this author is bad at subtlety, he should really be more careful. Normal people don’t refer to their “master” ever.

I didn't get a good look at the young mechanic as I replied, "Thanks..." Then I noticed something else as I examined the inside. "What is this?", I asked, pointing to the violet button under the dash. "Oh that", said the mechanic, "My master...I mean my boss said to give you this." He handed me a glossy booklet entitled, Traveling Tips. But this doesn't tell me about the button; and, I have all the travel books I need. "Wait a minute!", I called to the mechanic, who had already left the garage. I caught a glimpse of him as he crossed the parking lot. He was deformed, with a humped back, and walked with a slight limp. This is getting too weird...but that guy can't be Quasi...

I don’t understand this. Are all these characters somehow traveling to the future just because they like Danisha and want her back soooooo very much? How does Quasimodo know who Danisha is, which car is hers, how to install time-travel buttons, and how to pass as a mechanic? The fact that he’s portrayed as a stupid man-child only makes this weirder.

Yet, the oddest occurence was when I finally received that curious device; then, HE showed up on my doorstep.

Come oooooooooonnnn. Just let this stupid, racist mess end already.

It was the day of homecoming; I was looking forward to the pep rally and parade that afternoon. In the evening, Fern and I would attend the football game. The day started out as any other Friday. I joined my co-workers for our usual 'whoopee-it's-Friday' coffee hour.

Can teachers just take random weekly coffee hours? Don’t they have classes, and papers to grade and copies to make and so on?

The early morning conversation centered around the rally and parade. Just before my first class, I checked my message box. There was the usual stuff: attendance reports, minutes from a departmental meeting, booklists - and something else: A small box wrapped in shiny purple paper and tied with a black velvet ribbon. I thought it was an early birthday present, so I locked the package in my car until school ended.

Who let a random elderly priest into a school to slip a message into a teacher’s mailbox? And how did Frollo know how to get to said school?

After the rally and parade, I unlocked the glove compartment and removed the package. I untied the ribbon and, very carefully, removed the paper. I cautiously opened the box and took out what looked like a pocket pager - but this was unlike any pager I've ever seen. It was about the size of a poker deck, but not as thick. It was of the most exqusite sterling silver, with tiny amethysts encircling the front and edges. I flipped it open; there was array of buttons, and a screen.

Frollo somehow knew how to find a magic time-travel pager? This story makes less and less sense at it rambles along.

Immediately, the pager flashed brightly and beeped loudly; a message began to scroll across the screen.

This will make the trip that much faster! I love you.Hugs and Kisses, Claude. Claude Frollo? How can this be?

Well, gee, I don’t know. Maybe you’re just a horrible writer who can’t have historical accuracy or any sort of consistency in your work?

I gasped with the sudden realization that THAT'S what he meant by, "We'll see each other again." Maybe that mechanic was Quasi. Then again, this could be just another hallucination; after all, I was tired and stressed-out. I put the pager back in it's box and went home. Maybe Fern knows something about this...

Why does Fern care so much about these two idiots’ relationship? Why is this even important to her? Her level of involvement is getting weird.

I said I'd meet Fern at the gate around seven; maybe we can get a good seat. This ought to be an interesting game...even if I do hate football...

Why are so excited about homecoming if you hate football? Why are you even here, then? Teachers aren’t like, required, to go. My mother was a teacher and she almost never went. I quickly showered and changed into my 'spirit' clothes: blue jeans and my black-and-orange high school sweatshirt. I even tied my hair with black and orange ribbons. I had just turned out a few lights and headed for the back door when I heard the front doorbell. Now who can that be? I'm almost out the door, for goodness sake...

Frollo, I bet. Somehow.

Visibly annoyed at having to postpone my departure, I turned on the front porch light and opened the door. At once, my annoyance turned to sheer delight and utter surprise when my eyes met those of Claude Frollo. He smiled at me then began to speak. "I hope I didn't come at a bad time. I know you have plans for the evening, but I had to see you, my love."

Of course. I don’t know why I was expecting anything better.

[long passage about them making out, cut for time and also because ew]

This is just gross at this point. Disgusting, stupid, unnecessary… I could go on.

Now, I was too ecstatic from seeing Claude Frollo, again, in the flesh; I never noticed what he was wearing. "Hey, baby", I said as I stepped back to admire his fabulous ensemble. Oh my goodness! Check out sexy Claude Frollo!

Remember how I said every time I see Claude Frollo described as sexy, I lose a little bit of my will to live? Well, my will to live right now is right about zero.

Claude was clad in tight - they looked as if they were sprayed on - black leather pants and matching vest, a purple silk shirt, black velvet cloak, and, of course, that famous triangular hat. "Ooh, Claude", I cooed, my eyes taking in every detail. "You sure are looking mighty fine." Mmmm...I like the way the leather hugs every contour of his glorious body...those pants are really fitting...in ALL the right places!

Now it’s negative one.

Claude Frollo, smiling broadly, again took me in his arms, kissed me deeply, then said, "I'm glad you approve." He laughed when he kissed me again, then modeled that fabulous outfit, saying, "Jacqueline showed me a picture of this in...what is that publication...GQ? If I remember correctly, you fantasized about me wearing this very ensemble."

Negative two.

Claude smiled again as his hand caressed my waist and back. I turned on a few lights; Claude favorably assessed my living room. "Charming home", he said; his eyes falling on the tapestry. "I see you've put this in a prominent spot", Claude said, feeling the softness of the fabric. I said nothing as I watched him move about the room, his eyes taking in everything. He stopped then looked quizzically at me.

We still haven’t discussed how he got here.

"What's this? A chilly October night, and no fire." "But Claude, I'm going out. I have to meet Fern at the field..." My voice was silenced by Claude's lips. Mmm...it's so good to have him here with me... Claude continued to caress me then said, "My darling, I had hoped to spend a quiet evening with you." He kissed me again, then smiled and asked, "Now where is that delightful 20th Century music?" I complied and tuned the radio to my favorite urban station. Then, something in the back of my mind snapped. Hold it! How did he get here?

You didn’t think to ask this question before?! How did Danisha even live this long with only half a neuron to her name?

Claude must've sensed what I was thinking for he immediately reached in his cloak and pulled out what looked like that pager -- it was identical! "Jacqueline is so brilliant, my dear", he began. "She managed to make this little device right after you left. You see", he flipped open the pager and continued, "these buttons allow us to contact each other any time we want." He then pointed out a red button.

Jacki’s brilliance knows no bounds, and the fact that she’s not using this skill to help the world or make money makes me think she’s being forced to use it for evil purposes such as this by Fern. Jacki and Esmeralda are the real victims here.

"This is an emergency button. It allows its owner to instantly transport him or herself to the desired time period. I had Jehan test it with Jacqueline back in August." Claude then smiled, adding, "Isn't that ingenious? I can visit you whenever I want, as you can visit me."So...that man at the fair...it was Jehan Frollo!

And Jehan was totally okay traveling to the 20th century. It’s not like he would be completely bemused, alarmed, and endangered by the new technology, or at the very least curious. But yeah, of course the only thing he did was hang out with a horse. And if this emergency button lets them transport themselves effortlessly, why did Danisha need to use the car at the beginning of this story if she had the pager?

I immediately rifled through my purse and took out my pager. "So that's why you sent this -- to keep in touch", I told him. I threw my arms around him and exclaimed, "Claude Frollo, if you aren't the sweetest man...I love you!"

Yes. Sweet. Sweet in that he’s a racist, murderous, homicidal, genocidal, rapist maniac!

Claude returned my kiss, then said, "And, dear Nisha, I hope you like the vehicle. I thought the color would please you." My eyes widened. "YOU found that car? I supposed you arranged to have that button installed. Wait a minute...", I said, just now recalling that mysterious mechanic. Claude smiled again. "Yes, my dearest. That was Quasimodo. I thought he'd like a special treat -- to visit your time, albeit briefly.

And again, like Jehan, do nothing of note but meet Danisha for less than a minute. Sidenote: how can they control where and when they go? Is there a little dial that can change the time and place? Can one use this as a teleportation device by changing the time to one second earlier and the place to, say, NYC, and just pop up there? Because that would be a way more useful thing to do with this miracle device than have this stupid summer fling between these two unlikable idiots.

Let's say it's a 'thank you' gift for being so kind to him. He talks of little else these days." I then asked him about the de Chateaupers children: Jules and Renee. "They are well and adjusting quite nicely. Mme. d'Arcy has found them a place; Jules is working in the stables and Renee has taken up sewing. The girl is rather gifted." He smiled again, then said, "I didn't come here to discuss other people. I thought..." Well, it is getting late...guess I'll call Fern...looks like my previous plans have fallen through...HE'S here...that's all that matters.

So the de Chateaupers are happy, but what about Esmeralda? Is she still being tortured?!

"Umm...Claude?", I began, my hands caressing his slender waist, "Why don't you start a cozy fire while I call Fern. I guess I can skip homecoming this year." Claude looked puzzled. Once again, I had to explain another 20th Century American custom. "But won't you miss seeing your old classmates?", Claude asked as he built the fire. "There'll be other games; I can see old school chums anytime. Besides...I hate football."Claude burst into laughter as he removed his hat and cloak. Oh, Claude! Now I can REALLY feast my eyes on all your leather-clad glory...baby, you sure look good!

Why is that funny? Also, my will to live is at -5 now. Thanks.

A roaring fire, a bottle of my best California Zinfandel, and mellow, yet, sultry music, set the stage for a perfect romantic evening. And just when I thought it was all a dream. Mmm...it feels so good to hold him again, kiss him, hear that deep, manly voice. I sure like the way this leather feels...the way these pants hug his long legs...Oops...I didn't mean for my hand to go...there! "Oooh, my love", Claude moaned softly as he returned my every caress.

Negative ten. Hope you’re happy.

Suddenly, Claude asked, "My dear, what is that song?" It was Adina Howard's Freak Like Me; both the rhythms and the lyrics were rather sensual. "I think it sort of fits. You know, how I feel about you", I told him. Claude, still kissing and caressing every inch of me, softly chuckled and said, "Darling, I would hardly call you a 'freak'."

Well, I would! If the Frollo fetish wasn’t enough, the racism is!

"Baby, what else would describe how I feel! I guess I'm just 'freaky' over Claude Frollo." Claude Frollo laughed again, saying, "Well, Danisha dearest, if you want to go about and call yourself 'Frollo's Freak', I'm not about to stop you." I kissed him back. "Honey, from this day on, at least in your little circle of ladies, my code name will be 'FrolloFreak'. How does that grab you?"

Oh dear God almighty. This is just outright admitting that this character is a shameless self-insert, the story is a wish-fulfillment fantasy and the author is PROUD of it! We all knew that, of course, but outright saying it is another thing!

Claude smiled broadly, kissed me deeply, then said in a wildly seductive voice, "If that is what you want...mmm...Speaking of 'grabbing' things..." And with that, he took my hand and placed it on a special spot that he knew I loved to caress -- the inside of his slim thigh.

Negative twenty!

At last, Claude and I were together again. It would be like this for many days and nights to come.... ********** Claude walked me to my car as he voiced small protests. "I don't see why you can't stay at least another day. After all, this has been a trying week." He was referring to the tragedy of Jules' death. "Claude", I tried to reason, "you know very well I have responsibilities at home.

Responsibilities you consistently ignore in favor of stupid romances. Also, jumping timelines again!

Besides, you want me to write up that account of what really went down that night after the Festival." Claude Frollo nodded sadly as he handed me a some papers. "Oh well...no matter. You'll return to me someday." He smiled, then added, "Oh yes. Jules dictated this to Jehan the day Jehan found him. It's a confession of sorts, explaining Malus' role in the plot to destroy me, and how Malus died."

Like we care at all.

That's right...I never learned what really happened to Malus...finally, I'll know everything... Claude continued to give me instructions as I unlocked the car. "Of all people, Nisha, I'm leaving it up to you to tell the world the truth." He then kissed me goodbye, then mounted Snowball. "I shall leave you now, my love. I've found it far too painful to watch you depart." Claude blew me a kiss, then rode away. I wanted to cry, but, just as he said, we'll see each other again -- and again.

Negative fifty! My will to live is at negative goddamn fifty!

I locked Jules' paper in the glove box, then started the engine. Just as before, I looked back one more time to see Claude riding away in the distance. I floored the accelerator and depressed the violet button underneath the dash... Ah, home again! It's been a long weekend...hmm...what day is it? Saturday?! Glad I had someone cover for me at work. Look at the mail! Hey, what's this? A card? Looks like...Claude Frollo's handwriting! Aww...this is so sweet.

My Darling Danisha, Thank you for a wonderful weekend. I regret that things did not work out for the best. But at least I did get to see you, my darling. Make sure to get some rest. I love you so. A Thousand Kisses, Claude Frollo.

I have this sneaky feeling I'll see him again. Only then, it'll be under more pleasant circumstances! Hmm...now where did I put that catalog from Christy's..Ah! Here it is! Now...wonder if Claude will like this...oh my!...that IS kind of sexy!

NEGATIVE ONE BILLION.