#striplights

[chalkboardfridge]

5 Creative Lighting Solutions for Your Small Closet Enhancing your closet with effective illumination can significantly improve its functionality and visual appeal. Whether you have a modest wardrobe or a spacious walk-in, the right illumination can transform your space. This guide provides essential insights into selecting and

[chronos-lights]

Why Interior Designers Love Neon Flex LED Strip Lights for Modern Spaces (2025)

Table of Contents

Introduction

The Rise of Neon Flex LED Strip Lights in Interior Design

Why Interior Designers and Architects Choose Neon Flex LED Strip Lights

Color Variations & Their Impact on Interior Spaces

Orange, Green, Red, Yellow, Blue, Pure White, Ice Blue, Pink, Warm White, Purple

Application Ideas for Modern Interiors

Is LED Strip Lights Energy Efficient? More Light, Less Heat, Lower Cost

How to Choose the Best LED Strip Lights Near Me?

FAQs

Where to Buy the Best LED Strip Lights in India 2025

Conclusion & Call to Action

Introduction

Modern interior design is all about combining functionality with aesthetics, and nothing enhances a space quite like Neon Flex LED Strip Lights. Whether used for architectural highlights, ambient lighting, or custom signage, these flexible, energy-efficient, and durable LED strip lights are a favorite among interior designers and architects in 2025.

The Rise of Neon Flex LED Strip Lights in Interior Design

With the demand for personalized and dynamic lighting growing, Neon Flex LED Strip Lights have become a go-to choice for designers looking to create visually stunning interiors. Unlike traditional neon tubes, these silicone-encased LED strips offer greater flexibility, low energy consumption, and a seamless glow that enhances any modern space.

Why Interior Designers and Architects Choose Neon Flex LED Strip Lights

✅ Superior Aesthetic Appeal: Soft, uniform illumination with vibrant colors. ✅ Flexible & Customizable: Cuttable and shapeable to create unique designs. ✅ Energy Efficient: Lower power consumption, reduced electricity costs. ✅ Durable & Long-Lasting: Waterproof (IP67) and heat-resistant. ✅ Easy Installation: Non-adhesive backing with mounting clips for secure placement. ✅ Versatile Applications: Suitable for homes, offices, retail, hospitality, and entertainment venues.

Color Variations & Their Impact on Interior Spaces

Neon Flex LED Strip Lights are available in ten stunning colors, each bringing a different mood and ambiance to interiors.

🔶 Orange – Warm, energetic, and inviting, perfect for cafes, gaming zones, and themed spaces.

🟢 Green – Refreshing and calming, ideal for biophilic designs, spas, and home interiors.

🔴 Red – Bold and intense, commonly used in restaurants, bars, and creative workspaces.

🟡 Yellow – Cheerful and lively, great for accent walls, decorative patterns, and artistic spaces.

🔵 Blue – Cool and soothing, perfect for bedrooms, study areas, and modern retail stores.

⚪ Pure White – Classic and sophisticated, used in architectural highlights and commercial spaces.

🔷 Ice Blue – Futuristic and vibrant, excellent for gaming rooms and entertainment hubs.

💖 Pink – Playful and romantic, a favorite for boutique stores and feminine interior themes.

🏮 Warm White – Cozy and elegant, enhances living rooms, hotel lobbies, and luxury interiors.

💜 Purple – Regal and mysterious, often used in nightclubs, fashion stores, and high-end designs.

Application Ideas for Modern Interiors

✨ Architectural Highlights: Outline false ceilings, staircases, and coves for a dramatic effect. ✨ Custom Neon Signs: Perfect for personal branding, home decor, and commercial spaces. ✨ Furniture Accents: Add an illuminated border to beds, sofas, and tables. ✨ Retail & Showroom Lighting: Attract customers with vibrant, energy-efficient lighting. ✨ Event & Party Decor: Elevate weddings, festivals, and celebrations with stunning LED backdrops.

Is LED Strip Lights Energy Efficient? More Light, Less Heat, Lower Cost

Absolutely! LED technology consumes significantly less power compared to traditional lighting solutions, generating more light with minimal heat. This makes Neon Flex LED Strip Lights ideal for long-term installations, ensuring reduced electricity bills without compromising brightness.

How to Choose the Best LED Strip Lights Near Me?

When searching for the best LED strip lights in India 2025, consider the following factors:

Brightness & LED Density: Higher LED density ensures uniform lighting.

Color & Mood: Select the right hue for the intended ambiance.

Power Efficiency: Opt for energy-saving DC12V LED strips.

Durability: Ensure an IP67 waterproof rating for outdoor and indoor use.

Ease of Installation: Look for products with flexible mounting options.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1️⃣ Can I cut the Neon Flex LED Strip Lights?

Yes! The 12V version can be cut every 2.5 cm, allowing for custom designs. Ensure you properly seal the cut ends for safe operation.

2️⃣ Are these lights waterproof?

Yes! With an IP67 rating, these lights are water-resistant and suitable for both indoor and outdoor use.

3️⃣ Is it safe to use LED strip lights for extended hours?

Yes! LEDs generate less heat, making them safe for continuous operation.

4️⃣ What is the lifespan of Neon Flex LED Strip Lights?

Our premium LED strips last 50,000+ hours, ensuring long-term performance and reliability.

5️⃣ Where can I buy the best LED strip lights in India 2025?

You can order Neon Flex LED Strip Lights from Chronos Lights here: 👉 Buy Now – Neon Flex LED Strip Lights

Where to Buy the Best LED Strip Lights in India 2025

Looking for the best LED strip lights near me? Get high-quality Neon Flex LED Strip Lights from Chronos Lights at unbeatable prices. Available in multiple colors, our LED strips are durable, energy-efficient, and easy to install.

🛒 Order Now: 🔗 Chronos Lights Official Website

Neon Flex LED Strip Lights are the future of modern interior design. Whether you’re an architect designing luxury spaces or an interior designer crafting personalized experiences, these versatile LED strips offer endless possibilities.

🔥 Upgrade Your Interiors with Neon Flex LED Strip Lights! 🔥 👉 Shop Now: www.chronoslights.com

[skbai0224]

Brighten Up Your Room: How to Choose the Right LED Strip Lights.

50ft Bluetooth LED Strip Lights, SMD5050 Music Sync LED Lights Strip，RGB Color Changing LED Lights with Remote, Smart Phone APP Control, LED Lights for Bedroom, TV, Room DIY (APP+Remote +Mic/50ftx1) Brighten Up Your Room How to Choose the Right LED Strip Lights LED strip lights are a fantastic way to add a touch of air and illumination to any room. They come in a variety of colors, styles, and…

[bluehopper]

commercial strip lighting

What would you say is your outer look of business?

strip lighting, right? let me introduce you to some of the best commercial strip lighting to illuminate your place with lots of color & increase the vibe of the place.

[manover40inlove]

Home Bar Single Wall in Auckland Inspiration for a mid-sized contemporary single-wall wet bar remodel with a medium tone wood floor and beige floor, as well as a drop-in sink, glass-front cabinets, black cabinets, and marble countertops.

[charleytakeabow]

Contemporary Home Bar Inspiration for a mid-sized contemporary single-wall wet bar remodel with a medium-tone wood floor and beige floor. The remodel will include glass-front cabinets, black cabinets, a drop-in sink, and black cabinets with marble countertops.

[qveen-brallie]

Home Bar Single Wall in Auckland Inspiration for a mid-sized contemporary single-wall wet bar remodel with a medium tone wood floor and beige floor, as well as a drop-in sink, glass-front cabinets, black cabinets, and marble countertops.

[peanutbutterandbananasandwichs]

Sam Week 2025 Day 3: the concept of “impurity” or “evil” / childhood / mental health

I don't usually say this explicitly because I don't write Sam as autistic, I just write Sam, who is autistic, but this does contain a description of a meltdown and I want to warn for that. It's not graphic, and it is written by an autistic person, based on my own experience. Mostly, this is about othering and how that builds Sam's sense of uncleanliness.

I also want to make extremely clear that I'm not demonising Dean in this, he's an 8 year old, testing boundaries, this is about how John's absence allows those boundaries to get pushed further than they should without a parent stepping in.

Also, sorry Sam, tomorrow is gonna be a happy one, I promise x

--

Also on Ao3

--

Christmas 1987

The morning is exciting. The three of them crowding around the tiny thing the motel calls a dining table. Potted plant in the centre serving as a tree. Sam tearing open little newspaper wrapped packages. Handing over his own that are more sticky-tape than paper. He and Dean clutch at each other helplessly, giggling as Dad struggles to wrench the nest of tape apart, until he pulls out the knife at his belt, finally admitting defeat, slicing through like butter. A rare moment where dad feels human-sized.

It can't last. Christmas dinner, such as it was, is done and dad's settling into the single armchair, whisky bottle in hand. And he's huge again. Presiding over his domain. Dean’s, sat criss cross on the threadbare carpet, planted in front of the TV. Gunfire and whooping, trumpets and wavering guitar blaring. Sam doesn't leave the table. Dad. And the TV. And the florescent striplight in the ceiling that's so bright and is flickering so fast it should be imperceptible but Sam can feel it thrumming in his head.

Dean’s staring at him, and Sam realises he must have that look on his face again. Whatever it is. No one will tell him, but it seems to make them uncomfortable. 

“Sammy, come watch the movie with me.” Dean calls.

Sam shakes his head, it feels like it's buzzing. 

“Fine.” Dean responds in a huff. And then. 

“Why's Rabbit a girl?” 

Sam freezes, mid-chew on his stuffed toy’s ear, he hadn’t even realized he was doing it until now.

“Babies play with girl toys, Sammy.” 

Dean’s been teasing him about this for weeks. Mostly when dad isn't around. It started light-hearted, but every time he pokes a little more.

Sam tries to hide Rabbit in his lap, but it’s too late. His cheeks flush red hot. Dad's not saying anything. And Sam doesn't know if he's letting Sam fight his own battle. Or if he agrees with Dean. And usually Sam would snip back at Dean, or ignore him until he gets bored. But the TV’s still loud and the light’s still bright and it's too much.

He balls Rabbit up in his fist and runs out the door. Out into the lot. Out into the relentless drizzle. Dean follows, standing halfway between him and the door. Sam flings her, as hard as he can, into the dumpster. Making a show of it. He turns. Panting. Meets Dean’s eyes. Dean’s moving towards him, and suddenly he wants nothing more than his brother to wrap his arms around him. Dean’s face says the same. But then Dad’s behind Dean. A looming silhouette against blinding sunlight. 

“Dean. Go back inside.” His voice is low. Steady. But it thunders in the deafening silence. Subsuming everything.

Dad is rummaging in the dumpster. Sam chewing on his thumb, in place of Rabbit. What if she’s gone forever? But then Dad's handing her to Sam, who clutches her desperately to his breast. Dad steps nearer, crouching, reaching an arm behind Sam’s shoulder, pulling him in, pulling him to his chest just as desperately. They stay there, raindrops falling softly on them. Damp seeping into their hair, clothes. Damp on both their faces despite them being nestled against one another. Sheltered. The warmth of Dad’s breath puffs against Sam’s cheek. Familiar mix of alcohol and tobacco. Disgusting. Comforting. And then Dad stands, silent, and heads toward the motel. He doesn’t look back. Sam stays a moment longer, suddenly shivering, without his father’s body heat pressed against him, then follows.

Dad is returned to his throne. Eyes flick from Sam to Dean, to Sam again. A look that says “this ends now” louder than words ever could have. Dean nods solemnly, fixed directly on Dad. Sam stands at the door, chill air biting at his back. He can’t step between them. Waits. Dad nods in return. Dean turns his attention back to the TV. Face bathed in the glow of the screen. Sam, closing the door behind, ventures cautiously across the threshold. Dean giggles brightly at something in the movie. Clink of a bottle knocking the rim of a glass. Dad is pouring his third whiskey. Abrasive waft of disinfectant. Everything is restored. Put back in place. But there’s a pressure crushing Sam’s chest so hard he thinks his lungs might collapse. 

He scurries to the bathroom. Quick. Quiet. Careful not to disturb them. Air rushes into the space the moment he shuts the door. Into his lungs. Finally, he looks at Rabbit. 

She’s dirty. Splotch of grease on her belly. Red brown staining her ears. Black spots maring her fluffy, white tail. And his lungs collapse after all. 

The anguish that wells up inside him is all consuming. He drops her, disgust curling in his stomach. Instantly replaced by agonising,  tearful remorse, the second she hits the tile. It's his fault, all his fault. The dirt doesn't feel like it came from the trash any more.

He scoops her up anyway. Even though he's sure he's getting her dirtier. Chants “I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry.” Over and over under his breath like the repetition might fix her. Fix him. Electric sparks zap across his brain, and it's buzzing and filled with static.

He's cradling her in his hands and she's soaked through. The static is clearing and he hears a tap running. Shuts it off. Sinks to the floor, back pressed against the door.

He looks at her again. She's still dirty. But he holds her close just the same. 

@seasononesam @suncaptor

[jellyfishdoodler]

This was my first crack at a larger piece earlier in the year that I gave up on. It was supposed to have a portal in the corner implying that either Marvin or one of the other egos was using a wormhole to visit Jackie in his timeline.

I struggled so much with coloring the whole piece and overwhelmed myself so much that I put it down to work on other things. While Im happy with that I did, I keep finding so many things that need to be fixed and at this point I've already bitten off more than I can chew. XD

So have the unfinished version anyway!

Details and original sketch undercut

Honestly Ive found drawing detailed areas/ "set dressing" areas is my favorite part of drawing. I need to work on the broader strokes of landscapes/ backgrounds and pull back on adding little details until I have everything else done lol

Fav details:

-Implication that Jackie is the one painting the graffiti in the back -Discord friend's/mutual's goobers - Sketchbook PLASTERED with stickers in his backpack -Each window room having a peek at the person's personality -The re-creation of Marvin's pages of the first ALTRVERSE comic -Possum doodle on the tree pot by the greenhouse -Protect Trans Lives patch on his hoodie -Reference to partner's OC's bookstore for the mural (also painted by Jackie) -Partner's cat in the window -"Red Hallway" recreated by a shittily stick on LED striplight

[cabezadeperro]

kiss prompt: 🧡 dealer's choice, star wars

hiiiii!!

i went with codex, with the inquisitor rex au, because apparently i haven't had enough. T, ~640w.

---

Tinny music, crackly and too loud. Rex grumbles into his thin pillow, shifts in his bed, tries to fall back asleep. Someone curses, and the noise stops; Rex sighs and relaxes, his limbs heavy. 

He’s well on his way to actually falling back asleep when he remembers why he shouldn’t.

The bunk room is small and bare. Rex blinks in the dark and sits up on the narrow cot, shivering in the cold. Cody’s armour stares back from the blankets, the black plasteel reflecting the light from the emergency striplights. The door is open just a crack, and a clean slash of white light cuts through the narrow room, shining on boots and undersuits and Rex’s lightsaber.

Rex stays there for long minutes, very still and very afraid, his heart beating very hard inside his chest. He’s safe: of this, he is certain. He can feel it in the air, in the Force, in his bones. He can’t quite believe it, can’t quite remember how or when that happened, not at first.

And then—Cody, across the ship, tired and focused on something and vaguely worried but… happy. Incandescently happy. He burns brighter and hotter than a star.

Rex lies back down, but he doesn’t fall asleep. It’s warm under the blankets, and the pillow smells like Cody, of his hair and his skin. Rex sighs and tries to breathe through the fear that lives in his chest.

The burns on his side complain every time he breathes in or out. First Fourteenth’s lightsaber and then the depot explosion, hot air and burning tibanna eating through body armour like they were flimsi. 

That will buy them some time. Vader will know he’s not dead, but Rex wants to think that he won’t—care enough. That he will be made to let him—them—go.

Cody’s coming back. Rex keeps his eyes closed and focuses on the sound of his footsteps on the ship’s creaky metal flooring, on the well-loved, well-known feeling of his mind. He steps into the bunk room and closes the door at his back once again, and then he sits on the edge of the bed to start unlacing his boots.

“Nav computer’s still working,” he says. Of course he knows Rex’s awake. “How’s your side?”

Rex sighs. He doesn’t open his eyes, but he reaches out until he can touch Cody. He’s not wearing a shirt or pants, just his underwear.

“Itchy,” he replies. “It’s fine.”

Cody hums. He slips under the blankets, and then there are arms around Rex, warm and heavy, Cody’s cold feet sliding between his. 

The cot is narrow, and the metal bulwark is cold against Rex’s back. He shifts closer to Cody and opens his eyes to Cody’s own. He’s watching Rex in the dark, the emergency lights reflected in his eyes. He still smells of the Empire’s harsh cleanser, but underneath Rex can almost find his own smell—warm skin, the smell of his hair. Rex closes his eyes again and kisses him, off-centre and clumsy. Cody smiles under his mouth.

He’s so warm. Rex shifts until he can place his head under his chin, tucks his nose in the hollow of his throat, Cody’s heartbeat quick but steady under his lips. He can feel it against his own chest when Cody sighs shakily, and then there’s a hand on the back of his head, rubbing at the buzzed hair with careful fingers.

This can’t last. If not Vader, someone else will find them. Rex stretches out his senses, Cody like an anchor back to his body: he reaches out to the galaxy, and the Dark reaches back.

Dry lips on his forehead.

“I have you,” Cody mumbles. He’s half-asleep.

Rex returns to himself, to his aches and to his fears, to a shared bed on a stolen shuttle.

Yeah. Yeah, he does.

[alovelyburn]

Day 8232....

It's starting to come together actually. The display as of RIGHT NOW is unlit because i ordered striplights fuck spotlights. and the specifics of each display will change as more of my preorders come in and more of the cases get built but AS OF RIGHT NOW....

The centerpiece of the collection for now, a 1:3 Prime1 Guts. HE'S THREE FEET TALL. THE MAN IS HUGE. Anyway.

A life and times of Guts display. This one is definitely going to change, like I'd rather have the 100 man statue alone but until i build more cases I can't. so for now he gets to be the centerpiece of a whole thing about Guts' experiences and problems. Details:

Please ignore my beverage collection. I like the idea of this statue but I might need to get a new one done because it annoys me that the bangs didn't come out and that the painter made him so light skinned. But for now here it is.

The Golden Age Plus display, aka Figma and Art of War showcase:

Since I put the Figma Femto up front with the Gutses and Casca I swapped him out for the Art of War statue in the back. Appropriate since it's a moment from the Eclipse.

Eventually I want to do a Post-Eclipse display and then Femto and Berserker Guts can move over there, which will make Casca stand out less HAHA RIGHT NOW SHE'S A BIT OF AN ODD ONE OUT but I don't have all the stuff I need for that yet.

Edit: It wasn't obvious that Judeau has a Hawks flag, haha.

And of course, Griffith remains as he was:

So, I have one (already built) case left to fill, and I have one more Prime1 statue (for now), but I only have two ThreeZero Guts figures, two banpresto figures and this nose demon:

So the next one will be sort of random until I have more figures and more cases to start theming more accurately.

But yes for now, that is my update.

[chalkboardfridge]

5 Creative Lighting Solutions for Your Small Closet Enhancing your closet with effective illumination can significantly improve its functionality and visual appeal. Whether you have a modest wardrobe or a spacious walk-in, the right illumination can transform your space. This guide provides essential insights into selecting and

[nmpositive]

Discovering (after living here like fifteen years) the big horizontal striplight at the Metro station makes an excellent selfie softbox.

ACW cap paired with the ACW Concrete Beats, plus an ACRONYM J94-VT I didn't think I'd get away with; I wear ACR large and this was on sale in medium only, but the fitted look works better than the square cut drape it's meant to have.

[fateheartblog]

Home - Sobfest Starless Sea event

My submission for @thehauntedair 's September sobfest fic event - making Dorian cry.

This one is, as ever, contingent upon the Fateheart timeline. Sorry about it (but not really). Also I have not even slightly read this for typos.

And it's way too long, but oh well. Dorian cries and gets hugged about it. It's a good time.

-

Home

Dorian stands up.

He sees in the window panels the faces that look to him. He sees his own. The Tokyo night beyond it is startling as it sharpens into focus. A galaxy rendered closer by attention. A star mess he is lost in, standing at the far side of the table.

The room has fallen silent.

“I have to go.”

They glance at each other. The conversation has been long and tense. The hours just as long. Empty coffee cups are little satellite dishes amongst the papers and scrawled suggestions about how to move forwards. But without the town planning information they don’t stand a chance of solving this this evening.

And he’s tired.

Shever has stood as well. “Can I assist you?”

“No, you’re alright. Is Leander still here?”

She stands down at a lift of his hand.

“Yes,” offers Farne. “He’s gone up to a room. He wanted to stay so if he was needed in the morning he’d be on hand.”

Dorian nods, thanks them, ends the meeting, leaves, climbs the stairs, makes eye contact, does not make eye contact. Wonders, amongst those littering stars and the Tokyo striplights, what is wrong.

He’s not sure. But that in itself feels wrong.

Knowing himself is half the battle. Standing firm in the centre of this maelstrom is so much of the winning. Anchorage in the face of all kinds of weather. These people - his people - who drift in the sky, catching the turbulence and following it, reporting it back to him. All tied to him.

Being ‘not sure’ can be the death of so many things. Certainty.

He is walking quickly down the corridor. He is high above the world. He has a signet ring on his left hand bearing the embossed face of an owl - sharp lines, barely signifying a creature. More of a symbol than an image. A crown etched above it. Eyes perfectly open. Sight unclouded. Sure.

The room unlocks at the touch of the ring, as all of them do. A key as well as a crown. Hidden at the heart of the owl there. A heart as well as a feather.

The symbols dance around his head in the dark.

He crouches by the bed.

“Leander.”

Leander jolts awake, turning to stare at him. He pushes himself up quickly.

“Dorian - is everything okay?”

“Sorry to wake you. There’s no emergency, it’s okay.” He lets Leander blink a few times. The light from the corridor has made a landing strip across the blanket. The room would be spartan and miserable but for the presence of a dear friend and a shelf of books. “I’m leaving. I’m going back to the Harbour. Just… just for tonight. For now. Possibly tomorrow as well. To be honest, we’re not getting anywhere with the municipal office in the foreseeable future anyway, and all the Owls assure me the consequences of going ahead without permission would be considerably more dire than waiting.” Dorian sighs and stands up again, looking out to the landing.

The light out there does not seem as bright as it does once it has fallen in here. Or maybe it is because here there is darkness to cut through.

“That’s fair. I thought it might take a few days. Happy to stay, if you need me.”

“That would be helpful, if that’s okay,” Dorian answers without turning back.

Silence.

“Dorian, has something happened?”

Dorian does not answer. He does not turn.

“Do you ever…” The crown, the heart, the feather. A faint buzzing. Some kind of story. A sword upon his chest. A key above his heart. A heart that gives a crown. A crown upon a feather. Dorian looks back at Leander in the darkness. “Do you ever feel all of a sudden that you’re in the wrong place? That there’s a place you are supposed to be - absolutely and unequivocally. And you have to be there. No matter what. No matter why.”

Leander looks at him for a long minute. “Yes.”

Dorian nods. “I have to go home. Right now.”

“Is Zachary okay?”

“Yes. Well, I’m assuming so. I haven’t… I haven’t called him yet.”

“Right. Are you okay?”

This is much harder to answer. Dorian looks back at him, feeling the answer with some difficulty. Because he’s not sure why.

“I’ll take that as a no,” Leander says, and after a brief pause he shuffles out of the bed, leaning over and turning on a lamp with a touch of a stump. Dorian takes a step back in the light.

“I don’t know… what’s wrong. I’m not sure.”

Leander looks him up and down, his hair tousled, eyes puffy with sleep. “Does there have to be a reason? Sometimes you just get homesick. That’s fair. It’s been an exhausting few days and I was only here for two of them.”

Dorian frowns.

“Do you need me to get up and like, be functional?”

“No. You can go back to sleep. I just wanted you to know what you’d be waking up to. And to ask - if anything happens, call me immediately. Please.”

Leander nods and falls back onto the bed.

“Gotcha. Go home, Dorian. Take a breather. Sounds good.” He is asleep again before Dorian has closed the door behind him.

He does not call Zachary as he descends the stairway, fourteen floors through the hotel. He does not call Zachary as he debriefs Shever in the lobby and pulls his coat on. He does not call Zachary as he walks out into the night, moving swiftly through the people and the lights and the stars the stars the stars.

And then he’s sat on a train, heading away from all those stars. And the phone is in his hand, and he cannot work out why he is hesitating.The last train out of Tokyo that night is quite empty. One man further down is reading a book. A trio of teenagers are talking quietly in the stark carriage lighting.

It takes him nearly forty miles to dial the number.

He doesn’t answer the first time.

He does answer the second time.

“Hello?”

“Hey. Hey, Zachary. It’s me. Hey.” He stares out of the window. Instinctively turning his head away from the carriage, hiding his mouth. At such an angle that even in the reflection his words can’t be read on his lips.

“Oh hey! Dorian. Hi. You okay?”

He stares at his own face in the darkness. Old instincts, an old restlessness. Running.

“Dorian?”

“I’m here.”

“Are you okay?”

“Not really.”

“Oh no - has something - I’m - hang on - what’s happened - I can-”

“No, no, nothing’s happened. I’m okay. Stay where you are, my love. I…”

“No, I’ll come, it’s okay-”

“No, you don’t need to. I’m coming home. I’m - I’m on my way back now.”

“You… you are?”

“Yeah. I’ll be, um, an hour or two. Probably closer to two, actually. I’ll keep you updated.”

“O-okay. You’re coming home?”

“Yeah.”

“Oh Dorian.”

“Yeah.”

“I love you.”

Dorian tips his head a little, hiding from the world. Unseen, unnoticed in the darkness and the harsh white of the train carriage lights. The starscape that ricochets by is bitingly cold against his forehead. The darkness is sheer glass and chill but at least there are stars. At least there are stars.

“Could you-” His voice breaks. He shuffles a little further down in his seat. “Could you say that again?”

“I love you,” Zachary says immediately.

Dorian closes his eyes. “I love you too,” he says into the phone, and something hurtles past. An unfamiliar city. Well, not quite true. He’s lived here. He’s lived so many places. If you could call it living. One all too familiar city out of many. One train out of thousands. One fractured existence over decades of loneliness.

“I love you,” he is saying again. And again and again. “Come home for a night. Let me look after you. You said… you said it’s been going badly. Are you just… has something happened, Dorian?”

The train window is sheer cold and hard, unforgiving vibration against his head. The train carriage smells of city and breath and fatigue and it makes him so, so tired. So many lifetimes spent on trains. So many cities.

“No,” he clears his throat. “I don’t… I couldn’t even tell you, really.”

The pause is only a moment.

“Oh, Dorian.”

He knows he’s crying. Zachary can always tell. Even though Dorian himself could barely tell. Could barely have said why.

Leander’s voice comes back to him, rattling beneath the seats the way the metal panels do as the train takes him home. Sometimes you just get homesick.

He opens his eyes, which lets loose a few more tears. He sits back a little, keeping his breathing steady, though the crying is steadier.

“Something about being in Japan,” he says eventually. Hiding his mouth with the hand which holds the phone. Just an instinct. An automatic one - to hide himself, his speech, his voice. To press against that cold hard darkness as the stars slip by.

“You spent quite a lot of time there, didn’t you?”

Dorian can hear that Zachary is moving. He hasn’t asked where he is. The phone works underground now - he’s probably in the Harbour somewhere. He can hear background music possibly but that doesn’t mean he’s at home.

Home.

“I did, yeah. But that’s not bothered me so much before. I think… I realised after today. You know it’s been difficult. The whole prefecture is in Sinjuin’s pocket. We got nowhere with it today. And I was just… I was sitting there-” Dorian breaks off as that feeling from the conference room washes through him again.

He leans back into the seat, but his chest has constricted.

He wishes he wasn’t on a train. He wishes his husband was with him, to catch this, to understand him, to help his breathing ease.

He wishes he wasn’t in public. Out in a world he trained hard for years never to trust. A world he has learnt to navigate in darkness.

He wishes he was home.

“I love you,” Zachary says again, and his chest loosens enough for him to talk through the tears.

“I realised, Zachary. I realised I wanted - I wanted to go home. And that’s - sometimes when I’m - I don’t always - I don’t usually-” It is difficult to find the words. It is difficult to do anything but cry.

“Oh, my Dorian. I’m sorry. I love you. So, so much.”

Zachary sits with him in the silence. A world away. A home, waiting for him. A home to go back to. Something he has never had before.

Eventually he manages to talk.

“I realised I had a place to long for. I realised I was homesick. And so… I wanted to come home.”

He ends in a whisper. He hears Zachary let out a long breath.

“I’m gonna come up to the cave. I’ll come wait for you by the door, yeah? We can - we can do something fun this evening, if you - wait, it’s the middle of the night for you, isn’t it? Well-”

“You don’t need to come wait for me, Zachary, I-”

“But I want to.”

Dorian finds himself laughing at the slightly put-out tone in his husband’s voice. And it doesn’t stop him crying. In fact it compounds it into something that might be hiccups. 

Which quiet down back into gentle crying as the train and the night and the aching for home stretches on.

He nearly falls asleep. Zachary stays on the phone with him for a bit until the battery protests. But by that time he is nearly home. 

Nearly home.

He had managed to persuade Zachary not to come sit in the entrance hall, though he is half-expecting to see him there when he opens the door. The cave is cold, but the two women passing outwards into the world beam at him. And the elevator moves smoothly. And the air is warm and soothing and tastes of lemongrass and honey and a little bit of blossom and apple and wood.

And the chamber doors open to the warm golden glow of the Starless Sea. And he is being greeted by several voices in the entrance way. And there is his husband.

Dorian takes a deep breath as Zachary closes his book and rises from a bench in the alcove.

He slips an arm around him, but he is looking out at the honey. That deep wave of a strange, pulling ache breaks upon the shore of his home.

“Hey. Hey, Dorian. Welcome home.”

He stands beneath the constellations of the vaulted antechamber and holds his husband.

Dorian feels so many things ease from his constricted ribs, his hurting, releasing heart, in Zachary’s arms.

He pulls back, looking over his face.

“You okay?”

Dorian smiles. Tears are pricking again, but they feel a little more like relief now.

“Oh yes,” he murmurs, and brings his lips to his for a slow, long kiss. “I’m home.”

fin.

[wellthatsclever]

⚠️ Warning to Leopard gecko parents: watch out for coil UVB bulbs. I was using one for my gecks and noticed my tangerine morph started shedding excessively. I just put 2and2 together and realized she's probably doing it because the concentration of light is too intense. I feel horrible. I've removed the bulb and will go back to square one by supplementing with D³Calc instead until I research more about the hood striplight UVB.

[luminicouk]

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