#where are benches are there handrails

[zwampy]

im not trying to halt discussions related to public transit i am number one public transit freak i hate cars i love buses i love trains i love functional transport and in time this following fact may change but, broadly, people with mobility issues still cannot take buses or trains.

like when i try to logistically imagine someone I know who can't walk far, taking one of the buses i'm familiar with, to the hospital for an appointment, and i visualize the bus stop and the walk inside and then the department they're going to.... it's not happening.

yes ideally this would change but like as of right now disabled people need parking and they shouldnt be charged. the car is a required part of their being present at all! it's not the same as abled bodied people at ALL.

[stripydottycat]

Alt Takiawase. Bev lives!

Beverley is almost shaking out of her skin as she tucks the meat sample from Hannibal’s fridge into the back of her jeans & carefully descends the steps down to who knows what. She is about to exonerate Will & end the reign of the Chesapeake Ripper.

Also known as Dr Hannibal Lecter.

Her solid FBI-issue torch makes the plastic sheeting hanging from the ceiling in the (murder) dungeon shine & sparkle; the stainless steel autopsy bench - for that is clearly what it is - glints ominously. Bev takes a deep breath in at the sight of a couple of meathooks hanging from the ceiling, a large drain directly below. There are multiple trays of what she recognises as surgical instruments laid out in an orderly manner on a stainless steel cart. Bev dares not stray too far from the safety of the steps. She tightens the grip on her gun, safety off. What horrors this place must have seen.

The torch beam sweeps across a section of wall & she spots a light switch. She flicks the lights on…and suddenly the hairs on the back of her neck prickle with the certain knowledge that she is no longer alone down here. Her heart rate picks up & she clenches her teeth as she turns around slowly. The Chesapeake Ripper (for she can no longer think of him as Hannibal, or Dr Lecter, or any other name) is standing 12 feet away from her, his face in shadow. He is utterly still.

Bev knows the steps are 5 feet away from her at most. They are steep. She’s sure that monster can cover the distance between them in no time, with his home ground advantage. Bev needs to incapacitate him before she goes up those steps. That there is clearly another way in and out of the dungeon complicates matters.

This will be a fight to escape, or a fight to the death.

Bev is not willing to make the first move.

It feels like time stretches before her.

She has trained for situations where her life is at risk.

She has exceptional shooting skills (the image of Will in the Quantico gun range flicks in & out of her head).

She is Special Agent Beverly Katz.

She is a fucking BAMF.

𝘚𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘥𝘪𝘦 𝘵𝘰𝘥𝘢𝘺.

Not at the hands of a monster in a 3 piece suit.

She’s got 17 bullets with the Ripper’s name on, & a torch that can smash a skull without too much effort.

He makes his move, lunging to kill the lights & Bev keeps that torch beam on his face to blind him as he advances towards her at a steady pace, not running, pulling his arm back as if to throw something, but Bev is quicker & she gets a shot off, she takes a step back & he takes another step forward, dodging to avoid the light but she keeps it shining on him & she has him in her sights when he lunges at her, fast, she gets a shot off then another & he pushes her up against a wall trying to choke her & she shoots again, close range, swings at his head with the torch & connects hard with his head.

His grip on her loosens & he staggers back, Bev gasps desperately for breath as she bathes him in light. He sinks to the floor. He’s down, there is blood, she is up those steps at speed & almost at the top when she hears a groan & the slap of one of his hands on the handrail at the bottom. She leaps the last two steps up into the pantry & flashes the light down onto a bloodied Chesapeake Ripper, his face contorted with rage, trying to haul himself upright at the the base of the stairs. Bev knows too well that appearances can be deceiving. She slams the hatch shut & sprints on jelly legs through the kitchen & the dining room & into the lobby, every shadow in the house of shadows a threat. She hauls the front door open & sprints for her car. She knows she’s not safe till she’s away from here.

She staggers as she reaches the car, falling into the drivers seat & shaking so much she can hardly hold the steering wheel. She checks the rear view mirror for a black Bentley as she speeds away & calls Jack. He sounds tired when he answers.

“Yes Bev.”

“HANNIBAL IS THE FUCKING CHESAPEAKE RIPPER I MIGHT HAVE KILLED HIM BUT PROBABLY NOT BUT HE WAS TRYING TO KILL ME AND HE HAS A MURDER DUNGEON” she shouts

There is a moment of silence on the line

“You’ve been talking to Will, haven’t you,” Jack sighs.

He is way too stoned for this. He hangs up. It can wait till morning.

Bev screams in anger. She’s going to head to the nearest police station. And call Zeller & Price.

She suddenly realises she still has the meat sample tucked in the back of her jeans. Ugh. She pulls it out & tosses it with disgust on to the passenger seat, shuddering.

At the next lights, a black Bentley pulls up next to her.

[pentecostwaite]

Last Sunday, by luck, the caretaker of the 1757 Harpswell Meetinghouse in Harpswell, Maine offered to let us in. I’ve wanted to see inside it for years but it’s never been open.

Outside, to the west, the meetinghouse has a beautifully restored graveyard. I’ve spent a lot of time in this graveyard. It sometimes looks like the headstones are parishioners leaning in towards the meetinghouse, listening to a sermon.

Inside at last, it was wholly breathtaking. There was the eerie feeling that the past was suddenly very close by.

The old 18th-century Communion rail was still there by the pulpit. You could see where the folded hands of hundreds of communicants wore the paint from the rail as they knelt to receive.

The caretaker pulled out a powder keg from under one of the seats and told us to look inside. There was still powder within. The keg was found in the attic, supposedly a relic from the American Revolution.

But the reason I’ve wanted to see inside the meetinghouse for so long, is that a 19th-century book about the history of the area claims that seats in the balcony of this very building were set apart for the enslaved. In 1765, a census shows there were 14 people of color living in Harpswell.

New England still struggles with its history of enslavement and racism. You have to look hard to see any remaining traces of that shameful history in the New England landscape. People have tried to forget.

I wanted to go upstairs. I wanted to see what was hidden.

The handrail on the stairs leading to the balcony was worn smooth.

The view of the pulpit was stunning from this height.

The caretaker led us into the northwest corner of the balcony, beyond the box pews the wealthy white parishioners paid dearly for.

There, behind a jumble of ancient pew doors he showed us a bench with a rough, unplaned edge. There had originally been at least two benches there, anchored to the floor, unable to be moved from their spot.

My heart began to hammer. The caretaker told us he couldn’t imagine who would have sat in those rough seats. But I knew who sat there.

These were the seats set aside for people of color.

I’ve begun research to learn the names of the people who sat in these seats. They deserve to be remembered.

I’ll let you know what I find out.

[the0ldmann]

Quick reminder that Something's Wrong With Sunny Day Jack and affiliated content (both official and fan-made) are for 18+ audiences only. If you are a minor, do NOT interact- I will not hesitate to block you. Same goes for ageless blogs.

I will have an "author's note" of sorts at the end to ask something quick of you, dear reader.

It looks like it's getting dark out. I've been out here awhile... Hey, is that an abandoned mall? Seems unlocked... Surely no-one will mind if I duck inside to stay out of the cold night air. Ah, this bench by the door will be a good spot to stop and rest until morning.

...

You wake up, unsure of where you're at. You could've sworn you had laid down on a bench inside a mall entrance, right by a wall of windows. However, there was now a solid wall of brick beside you.

A solid wall of brick it was, and no more.

Which meant no door, no exit.

I ducked inside just to rest, I didn't explore. Where is the door?

Running your hand along the wall, you hoped maybe you'd bump into a handle or that one of the bricks would push out and reveal the secret entrance you'd mistakenly stumbled through. No such luck was to be had though, as the wall remained firmly a wall.

Doing your best to keep your breathing steady, you turn to look into the mall. If this wasn't a way out like you thought, then you needed to look for an exit.

Before you was an almost endlessly long stretch of walkway, fake plants dotting the center with the sides lined with empty and caged storefronts. While the walkway was lit, the rest of it was so dark you couldn't even make out the shapes of the stores behind the bars. A fountain was at the far end, running with more water than seemed financially sound for a place that saw no business. From there, the path split off to the sides.

With no other option but forward, you started walking.

The mall didn't look this big from the outside. You didn't recall there being any running lights or sounds of water when you initially entered either, but you were exhausted enough you purposefully weren't paying attention.

That was certainly a mistake you were kicking yourself for. In all of the exploration you'd done on your days off, you'd been so careful before. Making sure you had shelter where the owners were okay with you staying, or that the place was abandoned with no owners was always important to you. You'd made a few new friends that way even. Law-abiding was something you tried so hard to be though- you had a home, an apartment, and the last thing you wanted to do was lose it. It wasn't much, but it meant safety, and with all the work you put into getting it, it mattered to you a lot.

You hoped you'd be able to make it back in time to sleep before your next shift. The plush animals in your bed were sure to be getting too cold.

Looking around, it seemed like you hadn't gotten any closer to the fountain despite walking for several minutes. The wall was far behind you, or at least you assumed so since it was out of sight when you turned around. Unlit walkway behind you meant you couldn't tell if the wall was there or if something had happened to it.

Being so close to the looming void sent a shiver up your spine. It felt like it was threatening to swallow you whole so you turned back towards the fountain and started running. The sound of rushing water was welcoming and as you ran towards it, you noticed a single bathroom right behind it. Spurred on by fear of the unknown behind you, you passed the fountain and burst through the door of the little bathroom, ducking behind the door and slamming it shut behind you.

The lock clicked, and you were alone.

Well, you weren't sure there had been anything out there, but something felt inherently threatening in a way that didn't seem to reach you in here. The light was dim, damn near burnt out, but you could see enough to make out what was in the room. By the sink was a heavily discolored portion of wall where a mirror would have been, and a toilet with a handrail beside it. Surprisingly, there was a fresh roll of paper on the holder with soap and a hand towel sitting neatly on the sink.

A single-use bathroom in such a large mall with a single nice hand towel and seemingly no trash can was a little weird, but you weren't about to question it. You couldn't remember the last time you'd stopped anywhere before passing out, and you could only guess how long you'd been asleep by judging your bladder screaming at you as much as it was.

The facilities worked fine, which was a relief in itself. You weren't sure how you would have handled a broken toilet after everything else that had happened.

Or didn't happen. The door wasn't where you thought it was, the hallway was too long, a couple of lights had gone out, and the bathroom was unusually small. Strange, sure, but not anything that would be unexplainable. Perhaps you were losing it? Or were you in a dream of some sort? Splashing ice cold water on your face didn't wake you up, same went for pinching yourself.

Okay, so maybe you were awake. Drying your face you decided you needed to take a second look to get your bearings. It wasn't hard to imagine horrible things in the dark- it was a natural fear of many people, especially children, or else night lights wouldn't have lasted as long as they have. You needed to go back out there, take a look at the two different paths, and figure out which one looked more likely to lead to an exit.

This immediate plan was immediately forgotten as you took your bag off the door hook (you don't recall picking it up, when did it get there-) and opened the door.

Lights, sounds, and so much color.

The long dark walkway and branching paths were gone, replaced by a sight best described as an actual, functional mall. If this wasn't a dream, then did you die? Surely, there was no way this was reality.

The sounds, the sights, the smells... All of it felt far too real for it to not be real. Maybe... Maybe this was a prank? Surely that was it, and you could get more answers from the next person you saw.

Except looking around, there were no other people. There was gentle instrumental music straight out of the 80s playing over the loudspeaker, occasionally interrupted by the voice of a woman so muffled that what she was saying couldn't be understood. The stores on the first floor were all still closed, though they looked like they were occupied with stores and full of merchandise. A staircase behind the fountain led to the second floor, where it looked like a movie theater and the food court were located.

The smell of something sweet wafted down from somewhere up there, so with no other option but to go towards the source of life you climbed the stairs. Several places up here were closed too, but you kept looking around anyway. Eventually you found the source of the delectable smell.

It was some kind of mom-and-pop breakfast place, tucked into a corner and out of the way. The sign didn’t have any writing, but was instead an image of a plate with scrambled eggs on one side and syrup-smothered pancakes on the other. Walking in made a little bell ding, but still nobody was around to say a word.

Is someone in the back then?

You didn’t particularly feel comfortable barging into the back. As far as you knew, this was a normal eatery and you were some lost stranger wandering in. However after waiting for a minute and still having nobody come out to greet you, you decided to head back anyway.

The kitchen was larger than you expected for such a small dining area, but at the far end you could see movement through a rack of hanging pots and pans. Weaving through the prep tables you approach what you hope to be another person- you genuinely weren’t quite sure what to expect or if this was some elaborate prank like you were trying to talk yourself into believing.

Their figure certainly looked like that of a human- a tall man with enough muscles to lift you, a jean jacket with colored stripes on the cuffs and collar, dark pants with red and gold stripes, and the fluffiest mullet of blue hair you’d ever seen. He seemed to be quietly humming to himself. Since you didn’t want to scare the man with your presence when he turned around, you cleared your throat and spoke.

“Excuse me?”

He froze. Slowly, he turned to face you. He appeared to be in his mid-twenties and his eyes were a beautiful brown. There was clownish red face paint on him as well. It looked like he said something, but it was far too quiet to hear over the sizzling of the griddle behind him. Though he looked shocked, you didn’t know if he was going to panic, so you kind of held your hands up in the best non-threatening gesture you could muster before you tried to explain yourself.

“Look, I’m sorry if I startled you. I don’t know where I am and was wondering if you could help me find an exit? It’s a lot to ask of a stranger maybe, I know, but I haven’t been able to find anyone else and I really, really would like to get home. Please help?”

The man didn’t move for a minute before he broke out into a smile.

“Oh, don’t worry about being a bother- I’m not used to seeing others down here with me is all. At least not others that look like I do… Why don’t you stay for breakfast?” Though you didn’t catch part of what he said, you were confused by his friendly invitation.

“Not used to seeing others? Down here? W-what do you mean by all of that? Where are we?” It was a little difficult to hide the panic from your voice.

“Hey, take a deep breath and I’ll explain over some pancakes, alright?” He walked over to a nearby fridge to retrieve a bowl of pancake mix and pour the rest of it out into a few more circles on the hot surface. “You don’t mind if they’re blueberry, do you? I wasn’t expecting company this morning so I didn’t make a separate batch.”

“Um, yeah, that’s fine.”

As he made the pancakes, you found the stack where he got his plate from and grabbed one for yourself. You also made sure to grab two forks so you both had one and went back over to set everything down. Once the pancakes were finished, you both grabbed your plates and headed out to the dining area to sit down. You chose a booth in a corner that would be easy to overlook on a busy day and he followed, sitting across from you.

The silence was a little awkward as the two of you started eating. They tasted delicious- the best pancakes you’d ever had in your life! However the situation before you was enough to make your anxiety run high and your stomach unsure if it wanted to eat.

“Thank you, for the food.”

“Oh, of course Sunshine!” His voice was chipper as he responded. Almost too chipper.

“Sunshine? We literally just met.”

“A-ah, excuse me. I didn’t mean to offend. It’s just I never see anyone else around, so getting to talk to someone is… Well to me it’s like seeing the sun! Which I’ve never gotten to do. It’d be so nice to feel its warmth some time- to find out if it is like I’ve seen it described…”

“Wait, you’ve never seen the sun? How is that even possible? Actually, again I ask, where are we?”

“That’s… That’s the hard part to explain I suppose. I, uh, am not exactly sure myself.”

What followed was the most confusing, hour long explanation you’d ever heard. It’d sound like some bad dream or a made-up story someone was telling you to freak you out, if you hadn’t already experienced some of it for yourself.

“So let me get this straight- you were ‘born’ ‘down here,’ wherever here actually is, as a fully realized adult with knowledge of how to talk and do things that you shouldn’t have logically had. This place defies the laws of reality but you’ve gotten used to it. You can’t leave, so you’ve given up on the idea of getting out and have decided to live here in this unsettling place where things always happen to be in tip-top shape because that’s easiest. Oh, and the only reason you’re not bored out of your mind is because new stuff- from clothes to movies to books- show up in the stores from time to time. Also a single calendar that changes on its own is the only reason you know it’s been supposedly about 40 years since you first came to be down here. Does that about cover it all?”

He nodded.

“Yeah, that covers it. I’m glad you understood what I was saying. Since I’ve never really talked with anyone else I was worried I’d mess the whole thing up!”

“There’s only so many ways one can describe the unbelievable though. Trust me, if I hadn’t had a weird experience myself, I don’t think I would have believed you.”

He quirked an eyebrow and you dove into an explanation of what’s happened to you, starting from when you ducked into what you thought was an abandoned mall last night. Even saying it out loud, you found it all hard to believe yourself. As he kept nodding along however, he didn’t seem weirded out in the slightest. If anything, he seemed quite sympathetic.

“Yeah, that does happen on occasion. It can be hard not to freak out, but I’m glad you found the bathroom! Don’t worry, if you stick with me, I can teach you the ins and outs of this place.”

“I appreciate the earnest help but…” He had been so nice to you already, but he basically established he was the equivalent of some humanoid creature from what seemed like a gods forsaken hell. “How do I know I can trust you exactly?”

The crestfallen look on his face hurt to see, but you’d spent enough of your free days exploring new places for fun- caution was not something you were keen to throw to the wind. Caution was especially necessary in such strange circumstances like these.

“Is there not a way for me to earn your trust?”

That… was a very good question.

Was there a way for him to prove that you could trust him? You had to sit there and think about it for a moment, before an idea struck you.

“You look human, but you’re not exactly human, correct?”

“I-I suppose? I’m not sure why the difference matters.”

“Can you lie?”

“Nope!”

“Prove it.”

He looked at you as if you sprouted three new heads.

“Prove that I can’t lie? Do you realize how hard that’s going to be to do?”

“I’m fully aware, but the quickest way to gain my trust would be to prove that you’re trustworthy and this is the best idea I have. Do you have any better ones?”

He sat in silence for a few minutes before speaking.

“I don’t have any better ideas, but I’m still not sure how to prove I can’t lie. Can we at least clean up first while we think about it?”

The two of you had long since finished your food and it would be rude to not clean up after yourselves. It didn’t take long to fill the sinks in the back to clean what little dishes you had had. You were lost in thought after putting them all on the drying shelf, you didn’t notice how close you were to a shelf behind you and bumped into it. A heavy pot was on the top but within seconds you were on the floor, caged in by his strong arms as the pot loudly clattered to the ground behind you two.

“Thank you.”

“You’re welcome Sunshine! Wouldn’t want you getting hurt now, would we?”

“Yeah… Yeah I guess so.” He stood up and held his hand out to help you up. You took it gratefully. “What’s your name?”

“The name’s Sunny Day Jack!” Puffing his chest out as he said it, he looked pretty proud of that fact. “What’s your name?”

You gave him a look and he seemed to kind of understand.

The two of you lifted the pan up together and put it on a lower shelf. Walking back out to the main section of the mall, it was clear the lighting had shifted a tiny bit. There was a clock on the wall that read 12 o’clock, and the lighting seemed to match that of noon time.

Was this how he kept track of time?

“Well, if you don’t want to share your name, do you mind if I call you Sunshine then?”

“Go ahead. I was never particularly a fan of my name anyway.”

“So you want me to make it your new name then?”

“Works for me.”

“Now I feel super special! This makes us friends now, right? I mean, we shared a meal, we cleaned up together, we know each other’s names, I saved you from being potentially fatally hurt, and we’re basically stuck in the same place together.”

You didn’t think the pot would have hurt that much, but then again it did sound and feel like it was full of bricks. If it wouldn’t have killed you it would have still done some serious damage. What idiot put a pot like that so high up in the first place?

Actually, it was probably the natural layout of this place, and lords knew that was not worth questioning the logic of at this point.

“I guess so. Not sure I trust you 100% though.”

“Haha, that’s alright. I’m sure we’ll get there with time.”

You weren’t keen on staying here too long, but since he seemed happy you couldn’t bring yourself to burst his bubble.

Having to rely on his help also meant you wanted to remain on his good side. If it meant making him think you wanted to be besties, then going along with it wouldn’t be too hard.

Part of you kind of hoped maybe you’d get a new friend out of this adventure, and if that new friend happened to be some long-lived humanoid creature from what was best described as an alternate dimension, then so be it.

A bright side to everything, or at least you kept telling yourself that so you wouldn’t start to lose it. Assuming still that you hadn’t lost it already.

“Oh, would you mind if I showed you around? Like I said, I’ve not been able to leave, so the least I can do is help you get comfortable.”

And so the tour began.

He took you around and showed you the different stores and food places. There was a pool area with a locker room and showers. A janitorial area had a washer and dryer for washing clothes and towels. The movie theater was clearly his favorite area though.

It was the only thing keeping him properly connected to the world outside. He couldn’t talk to anyone, so it was clear this was the best representation he had of what things were like all this time. You felt kind of bad for him, actually. If Hollywood was all he had, you at least hoped he had some sensible and fun choices, and not the bleaker stuff.

“So, what do you think? Not so bad here, is it?”

“No, it’s honestly not bad at all. Lot more to a mall than I thought there could be. Hey, there was a toy store back there, mind if we go check it out?”

“Not a problem Sunshine!”

You didn’t know where you were going to be sleeping yet, but at home you normally needed a stuffed animal. If you were going to be stuck here, the least you could do was grab one to cuddle with.

He led the way to the store and when the two of you got there, he decided to wait up front for you while you looked.

“If you need me, give a yell, okay? Don’t go through any doors or past the third row of aisles.”

You nodded and he sat down behind the counter on a stool. He found a toy catalog to flip through and keep him occupied while you carefully wandered. Made sense if you went too far the place would try to change.

It seemed a little odd that the place had not tried to change again. Perhaps some areas were more stable than others? You should make a point of asking him. There wasn’t a way to prove he wasn’t lying, but you didn’t have much of a choice.

That was until you spotted a plush toy that looked exactly like him- down to the tiniest details like his belt and the positioning of his make-up. Flipping the tag over you proceeded to read.

Sunny Day Jack

A down-on-his luck musician on a teacher’s salary and your new best friend!

Times may be tough, but with Jack around, you’ve nothing to worry about.

An honest helping hand that wants what’s best for you- and he knows first aid if you ever find yourself in need.

So Jack is a character, huh? You’d never heard of a toy or brand like this before, but perhaps it was from before your time. This was exactly what you needed to know though. If he’d been through here before, surely he saw it himself. If you saw a toy of yourself, you’d check it out too.

While you weren’t keen on the idea of stupid middle school trust games, for a potentially dangerous situation like this, it might actually come in use for once. You kept this knowledge tucked away in the back while you continued searching the shelves.

Finally, you found it. Off in the distance you spotted a frog plush. It looked so soft and round. Plus, it was holding a smiling toadstool mushroom. The epitome of what makes a plushie so cute!

Only problem was it looked to be about 3 aisles back from where you were, and you were standing right between aisles 2 and 3 already.

“Hey, Jack?” Your eyes remained set strictly on that frog plush while you called out for him. Though you didn’t hear a response or any sort of movement, you did see him walk up out of the corner of your eye.

“You called for me, Sunshine?”

“Can I?” Pointing towards the frog as you spoke.

“It’s 5 aisles back.”

“But the place changes when you go too far and there’s not enough to anchor it, right? You’ve only been able to test this on your own though. Could I not count as an anchor for you, or you as an anchor for me?”

“That is sound logic. I don’t see why it wouldn’t work… Just to be on the safe side though, let me go get it, okay?”

He didn’t wait for a response as he already started briskly walking over. Grabbing the plush, he turned around and almost tripped over his own feet trying to get back to your side quickly. When he was within arms reach he held the plushie out for you to take. He was fully prepared for you to take it. What he didn’t expect was to be thanked with a hug. It took him a second, but he did eventually hug you back. When the two of you parted to walk back, he couldn’t help but blush as he noticed you hugging the frog tightly. You didn’t notice him sneaking peeks at you though, and when you got back to the store’s entrance, you held the frog up triumphantly.

“My theory was right! That might make exploring and looking for a possible exit a little easier for both of us now.” He looked a little bothered for a second.

“Haha, you’re certainly one smart cookie! I’m glad to have you around. Things will definitely be a little more lively now too.” But he brushed off any negative feelings he had quickly.

“Ah, that does remind me, I do have another question for you.”

“Oh? What is it?”

“Your name… Did you have it already, or did you pick it up from somewhere?”

He looked a little uncomfortable as he answered, but he did his best to not let it show too much.

“W-well, I guess, technically speaking, I picked it up. I didn’t have any memories of a name, but I did find toys that looked like me that had the name Sunny Day Jack printed on them, so I figured that had to be it.”

You nodded, satisfied with the answer. He’d been truthful, despite his obvious discomfort. Any possible way he could have used a loophole to get out of telling the truth would be nigh nonsensical given the circumstances.

“Makes sense to me. Oh, one more question for you Jack. Do you have any influence over this place? Like, when it changes what’s behind a door?”

“I’m sorry.” He offered such an apologetic look. “Do you wanna go see where we get to sleep?”

And so the tour wrapped up with sleeping arrangements. Even though it hadn’t felt like a whole day, somehow it had passed, according to the clock. You were stuck sharing a bed with your new-found clown friend since there was only one in the whole place, but it wasn’t so bad. Your new froggy friend was with you too.

The next two days you managed to convince Jack to look for an exit with you. Though he seemed displeased with the idea, he went along with it. The two of you talked about life outside while you searched- what yours was like and things he learned from movies that may or may not have been true. It was certainly a learning experience for him and a bonding experience for both of you.

The third day you had kind of lost steam. You tried searching for the first few hours, but then when it came time to break for lunch, you suggested doing something else. Jack was elated with the change of heart you had, while you figured if you were going to be stuck here then at least you could bring yourself to enjoy your time.

Two weeks pass by in a flash when you’re having fun.

Routines also develop a lot quicker than one would expect.

The routine the two of you fell into was comfortable, and you easily could have continued it indefinitely.

Until one day when the two of you got accidentally separated. Your sunny boy had been very insistent that the two of you always stay together so you wouldn’t get lost. Considering he was from around here, it made sense he’d know how to stay safe.

You were usually so careful in following his directions. When weird doors popped up you never followed them and faithfully returned.

You were so, so careful. Until one day the bathroom decided to mirror itself and you hadn’t paid enough attention to know which side you had come out of. He was always respectful enough to stand far enough away- you had asked him too, for your own comfort.

So naturally, he wouldn’t have been able to hear if you yelled. It took awhile to get used to how strange the rooms could get and how sound didn’t always move like it should.

Taking a guess, you walked out one of the exits.

Your guess was horribly, horribly wrong.

As you walked out of the bathroom you were greeted by an ominously dim walkway that you hadn’t seen since you first arrived.

You tried to turn around, to go back into the bathroom, but there was nothing there. The fountain wasn’t running, the lights weren’t on so the paths to either side were too dark to explore, but in front of you…

In front of you was the source of the light. The walkway was a lot shorter and at the end you could see there were windows, bright morning sunlight streaming through them.

The exit.

The one thing you’d been so desperately searching for!

Yet, you stood there, paralyzed, staring at it. It would have been so easy to run out and never look back. To run home and try to piece what little of your life back together that you could- assuming you could after being a missing person for two whole weeks.

But then you’d be leaving Jack behind. He was so nice and so full of wonder for the outside world… You didn’t want to just abandon him to be left alone in that place again.

Surely your old friends missed you, but your new friend…

You didn’t have any of your stuff on you either. Car keys? Wallet? It was all in your bag back in the bedroom you and Jack had been sharing.

And getting a spare pair of car keys to get out of here wouldn’t be very easy to do either. Also assuming your car had been raided for parts just for sitting where you had parked it for so long.

Sighing, you turn to go down one of the dark paths. Eventually familiar fluorescent lighting starts to come into view as you know you’ve made it back. As much as you want to be excited over finding an exit, you can’t bring yourself to feel any kind of happiness.

As soon as Jack spots you coming down the hall instead of from the bathroom, he immediately rushes over.

“Are you okay Sunshine? Where did you go? Is everything alright?”

You nod your head, letting him look you over to make sure you didn’t somehow get injured.

“I’m okay, Jack. It’s…”

“It’s… what?”

You had to look down before you could speak.

“I found an exit.”

He froze. It wasn’t hard to notice and the shock on his face almost looked tinged with fear.

“Y-you found an exit? Where?”

“From where I came in, initially.”

“What, seriously? Why did you come back then? Haven’t you been wanting to leave?”

“That’s not entirely wrong, but I…” You felt you had to look up at him now. The expression of panic on his face that he was trying so hard to hide hurt to see. “I couldn’t bring myself to leave you behind.”

“You… came back for me?”

You responded with a nod. His face seemed to light up as he pulled you into the biggest bear hug.

“Oh, I’m so glad you didn’t want to leave! You have no idea how happy it makes me that you wanted to stay! I was scared I wouldn’t have been good enough of a friend and you wouldn’t… well… you came back, and that’s what matters.”

He held you close for a long while before he put his arm around you and started leading you back. The whole event had you feeling conflicted and very tired, so you just wanted to go lay back down with him and sleep it off. He had forgotten his key to the room, but he somehow managed to get it open just jiggling the handle a bit. Pulling him close once you both laid down, you opted to cuddle him instead of the frog.

Relax.

That’s what you were trying to do.

Relax, and get to sleep.

His presence was comforting, despite the fact you had this nagging feeling that you should run back to the exit.

Sleep started to take over and you were finally able to start relaxing.

Then that nagging voice insisted you pay attention to two important thoughts.

Jack was able to influence the door.

‘Sorry’ does not mean no…

--- end, pt 1 ---

YEAH THAT'S RIGHT THERE'S GONNA BE A PART TWO! ALSO THIS WAS 5373 WORDS I HOPE YOU ENJOYED THE FACT I SPENT ALL DAY WRITING THIS!

And my question for you does have to do with part 2 (which i do not guarantee will be nearly as long- this part kinda got away with me in trying to set the setting).

Should I try to go more horror for the ending, or more fluffy?

Admittedly, a fluffy end would involve just Sunshine and Jack.

A more horror ending would probably focus on Sunshine and doing something like reuniting with friends like Shaun and Nick.

I could write both I suppose, but depending on which is more popular, that'll be the one I start with. Or just write in general because if the other one gets zero love I'm not going to focus my energy on that one.

[chroniccoolness]

things that help me manage pain and fatigue as a chronically ill high school student who can't get a mobility aid yet (most of these are abt school specifically but I also use them elsewhere):

dressing for comfort not fashion

sitting in the shower before school instead of wasting energy standing

taking breaks to sit on the ground/floor/bench whenever possible on outings

sitting as much as possible classes like drama where it's chill and you can just do that

sitting, basically. sitting ily!! best coping mechanism of mine hands down

finding the shortest possible route from one classroom to another

just like. sleeping or near-sleeping at my desk for like 5 minutes at a time lol

ibuprofen <3

faking a specific injury (like "oh no I hurt my ankle") in PE so I can get an ice pack to use on whatever myriad of joints/muscles that are hurting

writing with really big, loose letters to prevent wrist pain

using desks, handrails, and other sturdy objects as substitute canes

if u are also chronically ill and Struggling, feel free to add your own 💛

[constabletrans]

One of the highlights of my day was visiting Washington / Wabash in the loop!

Basically I love this station. The undulating modern canopy contrasting with the old architecture surrounding it is really surreal and beautiful! It's a fairly new station that finished construction in 2017, after a process of 20 odd years of trying to accommodate the passengers of the old Madison / Wabash station. I'll link to a very interesting article written by the CTA detailing it's design and construction that I would really recommend, the design process is really well laid out. I'll just say my own personal experience with the station here.

Coming into the station it definitely doesn't have as nice entrances as other CTA stops with just stairs up to the bottom floor of the station. The ceiling is quite low but has lovely steel girders across the ceiling and glazed glass walls that make it feel incredibly open, even if the ceiling is low. My only complaint is that this is the first station I've been where the train goes basically directly over your head which is absolutely deafening. But it is sandwiched in between the Jewelers Row skyscrapers so space is obviously at a premium.

As you enter the main mezzanine it is incredibly light and open compared to most other CTA stations I've encountered. The canopy sloping away from you and intertwining with itself to reveal the buildings and sky around you makes you feel more in a courtyard than an area shaded from rain and snow. The benches and handrails have been built to match the canopy and gives it a lovely cohesion. All the lighting and wiring has been integrated with the pillars and canopy so it feels very clean and uncluttered. Overall, a really lovely station that is next to my HRT provider and I am very excited to visit more!

Anyways, here is the article I sourced the pictures and information from, again a great read!

https://www.chicago-l.org/stations/washington-wabash.html

[crimeronan]

i think i can attribute how good swimming feels not Just to the physical component but Also the mental aspect of: my local pool is so friendly to disabled bodies. there are reserved parking spaces for both handicapped and 'special needs' patrons, people wheel their wheelchairs all the way out to the pool, there's a bucket for canes and leg braces right beside the ADA steps into the water so no one has to walk unassisted, the walk-in showers have fold-down benches and handrails. the older ladies in the locker room will cheerfully commiserate and give tips when i mention having inflammation / arthritis-adjacent problems instead of making sad noises or regarding me with suspicion. athletes will happily share swim lanes with very slow very obviously disabled people, i haven't run into any size discrimination or weirdness, everyone has been very sweet. feels like a place i actually Belong instead of most public spaces where i hide my braces under long skirts to avoid eyerolls. it's good

[inochinoyomikata]

Inochi no Tabekata Part 0 Translation

Part #0-   過去＝．彼方   Past =. Beyond

Hold the bar with your right hand. Lightly gaining momentum, he went upside down with one hand. Put your left leg on the horizontal bar and lift your body at once.

Otogiri Tobi stood on the horizontal bar and folded his arms.

"Oi oi, Tobi..."

The backpack hanging on his left shoulder laughed in amazement.

"I'll tell you. Is it because you’re a bit eccentric? You're a strange guy from the looks of it, aren't you?"

Tobi pretended not to hear and looked around the small children's park. horizontal bar. slide. Two trees were planted. There were two benches. A drinking fountain. Outdoor lights. A two-seater swing.

A pair of boys were on a swing. Both were younger than Tobi. Fifth or sixth grade? Both of them had faces as if to say, ‘What is that junior high school student, scary?’

"Look!"

“Kek, kek, kek,” The backpack let out an obscene laugh.

Tobi clicked his tongue. Shut up, Baku, he just thought and didn't say. Those elementary school students can't hear Baku's voice. Tobi is the only one in the world that could talk to this backpack.

Tobi jumped off the horizontal bar.

"That’s needlessly agile, isn't it? You’re like a monkey."

Ignoring Baku, who never got tired of teasing him, he went up the slide this time.

The boys on the swing were no longer looking at Tobi. They were fiddling with a smartphone instead of swinging the swing.

Tobi crouched down on the slide. Back then, Tobi was probably about that tall.

The part that slides down was made of metal. It was a silver color with conspicuous dents. The yellow paint on the handrail was peeling off in places.

“…Could it be here?” Baku said in a whisper.

"How about that?"

Tobi answered in a whisper and turned up the left sleeve of his uniform. The liquid crystal display of the wristwatch he got from a recycle shop shows 4:59 p.m. Tobi was in middle school, and had not joined club activities, and had not attended cram school. The curfew at the facility is 5:30.

"You won’t be in on time if you don’t go home soon," Baku sneers.

 Shut up. Thinking that, Tobi jumped off the slide.

The shadow of Tobi, who was carrying a backpack on his shoulder, was extremely long.

A chime started to ring. There was a small glow at sunset. A familiar melody. A familiar sound.

Tobi looked up at the dusky evening sky.

"...Piggyback"

"Ah? What?"

Instead of answering Baku's question, Tobi muttered repeatedly.

“Piggyback—”

---

That's it.

A piggyback.

He came to this park on his brother’s shoulders. His brother was singing something softly.

"Hey brother, what song is that?"

When Tobi asked, his brother laughed and dodged.

"What song is it?"

"Tell me."

Tobi pestered him by gently pulling his brother's ear.

"Hey tell me what song?"

"I made it."

"You did?"

"Ah, I made that song just now."

---

He remembers. Clearly. He remembered vividly.

A slide. Tobi played on that slide many times. His brother sat on the bench and watched him. He was slouching forward with his legs crossed and his eyes squinting. His brother was smiling.

He also rode the swing. The swing is a two-seater. His brother also got on the swing.

"……That's it"

"I'm not going."

The piggyback was on the way home.

Tobi’s brother carried him on his shoulders when he was tired from playing. His brother was singing another song on the way home with the glow of the setting sun.

"Tobi." Baku calls out.

"Hey, Tobi."

Tobi left the children's park without answering. In front of him was a two-story house. Right here? Or left? Where did my brother go that day? No. I don’t know.

For the time being, Tobi tried walking to the right. The road was so narrow that cars could barely pass each other. None of the buildings facing the road were very new. Some of the buildings were quite old.

There was a barbershop with red, blue, and white sign poles. The outer walls are dark green. The name of the shop is Barber Shop Hatsushima. Some things look familiar, some things don't.

"What is it?" Baku asks. Tobi shook his head without stopping.

"I'm looking for an apartment." He didn’t know the address, but it should be around here. The color was white-ish, and it was a two-story building with an outside staircase and an outside corridor. Tobi lived with his brother on the second floor of the apartment.

What number was it on the second floor? It was a corner room. He generally remembered what the room looked like. A black fence was installed outside the window, and his brother let him sit on it. The image of his older brother smoking a cigarette with his elbows on the fence was burned into his memory.

Tobi stopped in the middle of the T-junction. There was a manhole at his feet.

No matter which direction he looks, there is no view that sticks in his memory.

Eight or nine years have passed since then. Things might have changed in the meantime.

"What's going on, Tobi?" Baku says.

“So—” Tobi tried to hold back. "Shut up, you!"

It was impossible. He just yelled.

"...Don't get angry. That was my bad."

It's not like Baku to apologize. Tobi sighed and turned on his heel. It was at that time a blackened old block wall caught his eye. There was a corner on the other side of the fence. A black and dirty block wall. A corner.

Strangely curious, Tobi went over there. At the end of the corner was a fairly narrow alley, lined with one-story and two-story houses on both sides. The roadside was lined with potted plants, and the telephone poles were extremely thin. It looked like the power lines were covering the path. Tobi’s heart beat as if it were jumping up.

"Here - we passed..."

---

That day.

Tobi ran along that path. Not alone. He was with his brother. Tobi was being led by his older brother. He was in a hurry. Were they being chased? That's it. Someone was chasing Tobi and his brother. They were running away. Why?

Why were we being chased? I didn't even have time to think about that? He wondered. He couldn’t remember. Tobi wondered if his brother had explained what was going on. Or maybe his brother didn't understand either. He did not know. He was desperate anyway. That's it.

There was no one. It was dark. He didn't think it was pitch black. After sunset? Was it early morning? It could’ve been either.

The path came to a somewhat wider road. To the right, there are two shops with tents on the right and one on the left. Tobi and his brother probably ran on this road.

It must have been quite painful. Tobi was not running now. However, his chest hurt.

Tobi was sure he had whined many times. ‘Brother, I can't do it anymore. Impossible. It hurts and I can't run anymore. Stop it.’

His brother must have encouraged him. “Go for it, Tobi. I can run. You can still run.”

That's it.

I have to do my best.

Because brother said he could run.

After going through that road, Tobi came to a cobbled road instead of asphalt. It was an old shopping street. Most shops were shuttered. He didn't remember this shutter town. Did he take a wrong turn?

 That's not it. It was an alley. His brother and Tobi entered the alley right there and passed through.

“What is this place, Tobi?” Baku pressed him. Tobi doesn't reply. He thinks it was here. There’s no doubt. Really?

Downtown, no distinctive features? In other words, it was an ordinary townscape. Was it really here?

 Tobi’s brother finally picked him up. At that time, Tobi might have been crying, or he fell and couldn't get up. That's it. He fell here. His brother picked him up and ran.

"It's okay, Tobi!"

His brother's voice revived him.

He heard the sound of a car. There was a red light in the distance, and his brother said, "Shit!"

It was likely there were more than one or two people chasing Tobi and his brother. There were many.

---

"Stop!" 

That's what he was told. It was a man's voice. Not now. It was around that time. However, Tobi suddenly stopped. He had a creepy feeling. How can he remember it so clearly? Tobi clung to his brother, who was holding him, and probably closed his eyes. He opened his eyes in surprise when the man said “stop” him in a threatening tone.

The man was standing there. The man was holding something in his hands. The object was pointing towards him. A loud noise resounded. A bursting sound. It sounded like a hard hit. What was that sound? He didn't know at the time. In retrospect, it must have been a gunshot.

The man had a gun. He fired at Tobi and his brother.

His older brother yelled, "Ah!" and staggered. At that time, he never thought that he had been shot with a gun. But something happened to his brother. Even Tobi understood that.

However, after that, his brother continued to run away while holding Tobi in his arms. His brother had a limp. He was clearly injured. It was hurting.

How long did they run away? Not tens of seconds or minutes. Dozens of minutes, or maybe more?

His brother ran into an alley between buildings. Before that, his brother had put him down. Tobi also remembered that he asked to be put down. In any case, Tobi was holding hands with his brother. It was very damp, kind of smelly, and filthy. A number of outdoor units of air conditioners protruded overhead like half roofs and were roaring.

His brother suddenly opened the door and pushed Tobi inside.

"Hide here."

"But brother..."

"Stay still until I say okay. Understood, Tobi? Promise me. Never raise your voice."

His brother was in the alley. Tobi was indoors. His brother was trying to close the door. Tobi was scared and anxious. If he did as as brother said, he would be alone. He refused. He didn't want to be alone. He wanted to be with his brother, he did not want him to leave.

But his brother was injured. It hurt the whole time and must have been tough. He was sure he was at his limit. He couldn’t.

Tobi was pulling his leg. He was a hindrance.

I don't want to be separated, and I don't want to be alone, but I have to obey, he thought.

“Yes.”

Tobi nodded and his brother put his index finger to his lips.

"Shhh."

He could hardly see his brother's face.

However, somehow, he felt like his brother was laughing at that time.

Tobi nodded once more, this time silently.

His brother closed the door. It got dark.

Tobi remembers that darkness.

It was not just dark. He could even feel the texture. That darkness had weight. It was so dark and he couldn’t see anything. Tobi was blindfolded by darkness. If the darkness covered Tobi’s eyes, nose, ears, and even his mouth, he would not be able to breathe. Darkness came to Tobi.

He felt like he was going crazy, so he put his ear to the door and heard the sounds outside. The outdoor unit is humming. He was a little relieved to hear that sound. The darkness had not completely blocked his ears yet.

He immediately heard another sound. Could it have been the sound of footsteps? He heard a loud noise.

And also a voice.

Someone was yelling. Was it his brother? Could it be another person?

Of course, Tobi wanted to go outside. He put his hand on the door knob. He was on the verge of opening it, and he hesitated many times.

"Hide here." His brother ordered him to do so. Tobi nodded when asked to make a promise. He couldn’t break his promise to his brother. He couldn’t do that.

But in the end, I was scared.

He was so terrified that all he could do was hold his breath in that darkness.

Before he knew it, Tobi was crouching down. He waited for his brother.

His brother would definitely come back. ‘It's okay, that's enough, Tobi,’ he’d call out to him. Tobi believed in his brother. He had to believe.

It was probably a stairway that was closed in darkness. The stairs lead down and down. Maybe anywhere. Down to the bottom of the earth.

At times, he sensed that something was moving beyond the darkness. Each time, Tobi almost screamed. He managed to suppress it and called out to his brother in his heart.

 Brother.

 Brother.

 Brother.

Help me, Brother.

Come back, brother.

Come back soon, brother.

Please, I'm begging you, brother.

Brother.

Brother.

Brother.

I'll be waiting here Because I promised I'd do what you said. Brother──

Tobi wondered how long he had been waiting for his brother, shivering in the darkness, perhaps dozing off, and suddenly waking up.

Three hours?

Four hours?

Ten hours?

More than that?

Half a day?

One day?

Maybe two days?

Even more?

“──T……”

Suddenly, there was the sound of the door opening, and light flooded in. It was dazzling. For a moment, his eyes hurt. It didn't matter.

"Brother!"

Tobi climbed the stairs. The door was still open. He went out from there. It smelled like a ditch. The alley was paved with concrete. Dirty and cracked concrete with red stains.

It's blood.

──He thought.

Whose blood is it? No way.

No way, brother.

"There's no way." Tobi was on the stairs leading to the dark basement. He was alone. Someone opened the door from outside. Who opened it?

"Brother"

 That's it. His brother. His brother opened the door. He decided. His brother is back. He came to pick him up.

Tobi searched for his brother. He must be somewhere. If it was his brother who opened the door, it would be strange if he wasn't right next to him.

"Oh..."

 There. A man stood near the exit of the alley. But that, Tobi shuddered. Wrong.

You're not my brother.

The man was facing Tobi. He was tall and wore a hat. At that time, Tobi didn't really know what kind of hat it was. But that hat must’ve been a silk hat. The man wore a scarf and a long black coat.

The problem was the man's face.

The eyes.

There is only one.

No, it's just the eye.

One eye.

That was the man's face.

It's not the centerpiece. It's just the eyes. If Tobi wasn’t mistaken, the man's face, one eye, blinked. It means that there was something like an eyelid.

The one-eyed man had a bag or something on his shoulder. He didn't seem to have anything else. 

At least he wasn't holding a gun. It's not the guys who were chasing Tobi and his brother. He had a feeling it wasn't something like that. 

After all, he had one eye.

Or it could be something more dangerous, scary, or mysterious. After all, he had one eye.

The one-eyed man slowly took off his bag from his shoulder and held it out towards Tobi. Accept it, the behavior seemed to say.

Tobi immediately shook his head. The one-eyed man looked suspicious, and he didn't recognize the bag either. He couldn’t take that kind of thing.

Before long, the one-eyed man lowered his face slightly. After that, he bent down and gently put the bag on the ground.

A bag.

It was probably a bag.

It had a strap so you could put it on your shoulder or carry it on your back. It was a big bag.

Tobi stared at the bag for a while.

When he woke up, the one-eyed man was gone. Nowhere. He's gone. It's as if the one-eyed man never existed.

But I can't pretend it wasn't there.

I have proof.

That bag was left behind.

It was left behind by the one-eyed man.

"Because of him..."

Tobi suddenly felt like crying.

It's because of him, that one-eyed man. Because he opened the door, Tobi accidentally went outside. He should have waited until his brother came back. Because of the one-eyed man, Tobi broke his promise to his brother.

Tobi was originally a crybaby. He often cried for no good reason. When Tobi started crying, his brother hugged him tightly. His brother didn't tell him not to cry.

‘Don't cry, Tobi. You can cry as much as you like.’

For some reason, tears came to his eyes when he remembered his brother's words.

Since then, Tobi has never cried again.

After some hesitation, Tobi reached out for the bag the one-eyed man had left behind. When he picked it up, it was light for its size. Even Tobi, who was only five years old at the time, was able to carry the strap over his left shoulder like the one-eyed man did.

Strangely, he felt like he wasn't alone.

The red stain continued to the outside of the alley.

“My brother is injured.”

Tobi was convinced.

The stain was his brother's blood.

His brother may have intended to scatter the pursuers on his own. He was sure he was going to come back after making sure it was safe. But something happened and he couldn't come back.

In that case, Tobi should go to his brother's place.

"I have to search for him–"

[futelco]

Urban Furniture

Urban furniture is an important part of the lives of those of us who exist in urban environments. It is easy to ignore urban furniture and let it shape us, but to do so is not only boring, but foolish.

What Is Urban Furniture?

For our purposes, urban furniture will refer to the collection of physical features deployed in the public environment and oriented towards pedestrian activity for the purposes of providing or removing amenities. This definition is flexible and there is not much point in worrying about the edge cases. Pedestrian versus vehicular activity is the most significant boundary. The difference between a person in an automobile and a pedestrian is large, both in what they can do and how they behave, and we don't want to care about amenities for automobiles, which occupy an entirely different world, hostile to everyone else. Bicyclist versus pedestrian activity is a smaller leap, especially because a cyclist can change into a pedestrian and back easily. And then, with scooters, wheelchairs, and other mobility devices, the lines are blurry. Similarly, public and private space can intersect; an accessible space might be considered public but exclude enough freedoms to make the designation questionable, for example by requiring but not enforcing payment, or by denying freedom of expression.

What Are The Goals Of Urban Furniture?

Objects themselves have no purpose, of course. Their purpose comes from how and why they are deployed and used. What is the purpose behind installing urban furniture? Is it help or harm individual people? Yes, but more importantly, it is to help, harm, or influence populations.

Urban furniture provides or denies an amenity, essentially granting or removing an ability. It can allow rest with a bench or wall, give shelter with a roof, wall, or bollard, assist movement with a sidewalk, ramp, stairs, or handrail, or provide other resources such as a hitching post, heat, or water. It can distribute items, for example a newspaper box, ATM, rental bike rack, or vending machine. It can facilitate communication with a telephone, speaker, sign, or other content distribution method. And it can enable expression with services like a graffiti wall, amphitheater, or public square. It can deny rest with anti-sit and anti-lie devices or other obstructions, and it can deny movement with walls, railings, anti-skateboarding devices, or turnstiles.

Often, urban furniture might modify or encourage where an amenity can be accessed. A tree can be protected from pedestrian wear with a paved walkway that provides an easier path at a suitable distance. The mechanism used might not be completely physical, using communication such as markings or sounds that guide interactions between people, or assist the enforcement of rules by a separate class of people in police or security roles. In this way, the goals of urban furniture can be seen to be behavior modification.

How Should We Understand Urban Furniture?

The urban furniture around us should be considered with a psychogeographic approach. Notice what affordances are being given and taken away, and what behavior those changes are promoting or discouraging. How does it change the relationships between people, and between people and their environment? How does it shape the human society around it, and change the mood of the neighborhood and its occupants? It can also be helpful to explore the ecosystem of processes behind the deployment of urban furniture. What are the systems that cause it to end up where it is? How long are the bureaucratic supply chains behind it, and what are the conflicts between objectives which affect the placement and removal of urban furniture?

As pedestrians, we are the subjects of urban furniture, it is our behavior being modified. In the long term, our outlook is also being modified, as we respond to our environment and gradually alter what we consider to be possible and desirable. Do we think it is weird to pay a fare before entering a subway platform, or not be able to lie down in public, or only discard trash in a receptacle? Is it normal to loiter and interact with other people? While we may have exhibited some of these behaviors regardless, the help or hindrance provided by the built environment, amplified by the effects of observing how it is used by the people around us, influences many of our actions and even our desires.

Examples of urban furniture analysis

Pretend Benches

At the first look, this might be described as an actual piece of furniture. It presents as a bus stop bench, designed to allow the human body to rest while waiting for a bus.

What affordances are really provided or denied by this item? Its shape shows one which is only slightly subtle. It has a tilted surface at waist height for some people. Is it intended to provide support, for people to snug their butts on the surface to lean against it? No, it is not. Nobody has ever done this. The resting surface is merely cosmetic, to provide the illusion of an amenity. It is meant to appear to be a minimum viable bench even though it is completely unsuitable for that task.

The most important aspect is the vertical surface. It is a billboard. Why is there a fake leaning surface at all? Because the bus company can say that the primary purpose of this item is for passengers to rest on while waiting for a bus. There is a design requirement that must be followed for this item to exist here.

Why is this billboard important? The bus company gets income by renting it out to advertisers. This also requires more behavior modification. Ordinary people are not allowed to decorate the billboard, only the advertisers approved by the bus company may. We might want to improve its message or replace it with our own, but we may not. In this case, the physical characteristics of the item don't prevent us, but the related machinery of civilization does. If the police catch us altering it, we will be punished.

Of course, it was illegal to sleep on a bus stop bench long before someone invented this assault on our humanity, but it is much more efficient when physical characteristics prevent the action and enforcement isn't necessary. The iterations of this kind of design in attempts to allow sitting, but not reclining, make benches a favorite subject for students of hostile architecture. Also well studied are the many amusing examples of methods to circumvent these design elements. In the end, it has always been the police who are the final method of compliance. This fake bench doesn't require them, because it is impossible to lie on. All that was required was to make it useless as a bench.

It is interesting to deduce the processes behind it. Why not just remove the bench? Because that also removes the advertising, which is the whole reason for its existence. But what is the system that makes it even possible? The bus company can't just put a billboard there, otherwise we'd see panels of them at every bus stop. The city lets them advertise on benches because, hey, people get a bench, so the company is allowed to fund it with an ad. They need to pretend that this is a bench. But it is obviously not a bench. The designers knew that it would never be used as a bench. The city regulators knew. And they knew that we knew.

This is the core of psychogeographic inquiry. What does the built environment reveal about the priorities of those who deploy it? What are the expressed motivations and what are the real motivations? How do they mold us, as people and as populations?

Bollards

image distributed by IRSystems under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License.

One of the oldest items of urban furniture is the bollard. Bollards can be seen all around the city, doing important work. Bollards evolved from mooring posts, and now serve as automobile area denial.

Look at any ATM or gas meter on a sidewalk vulnerable to ramming by a runaway or marauding car, and a bollard will be seen guarding it. The presence of a curb or a person is not enough. These bollards will be sturdy metal poles filled with concrete. Now visit a separated bicycle lane in America. You will not see the protection of a bollard. You may see Botts' dots, round domes a few inches high which give drivers a tactile warning as they swerve into the bike lane. Or you may see vertical traffic panels, flexible plastic pretend bollards designed to not damage the vehicles which strike them. What does this tell us about the values of hardware and humans? How does the escalation of the response to danger change with the source and target of that danger? How are we supposed to feel as people in these environments? Are we safe? Are we free? Can we be unguarded and open with each other?

Poles And Hitches

Poles are everywhere and are perhaps the simplest form of urban furniture, a stick to elevate something else. The way that they are used is what makes them interesting. They are appropriated as hitches, signposts, and a substrate for artwork. Explicit hitches are also used in this way. It makes a routine event fun. Locking a bike gives us a moment to see who has been there, and provides a visual sniff test of the neighborhood.

An important purpose of these objects is also protection from automobiles, a kind of single-use bollard. Because this is not their intended purpose - they are too expensive for that, their main reason for being goes away after they absorb an impact, and the humans they protect are not valuable - they often remain for a while after an impact until workers can be tasked to replace them. This allows them to fulfill another unintended purpose, a signal about the environment. You could be next!

Newspaper Boxes

Newspaper boxes come in two varieties, coin-operated and free. Along with the intended purpose of distributing newspapers and pamphlets, they also create little coves of higher entropy where eddies of activity will deposit items. Shopping carts and items of landfill capitalism such as rental scooters can often be found in these zones, and of course smashed off pieces of cars.

Their lifecycle also often involves them being abandoned in place after they are no longer being filled, where they will remain as they are slowly bludgeoned into crumpled masses. All of these factors make them interesting zones of urban anthropology, where the detritus of a neighborhood can be examined. However, they also illustrate the sad human custom of stuffing trash in any space that will hold it. And any protected space may become a site for a tent or a makeshift shelter.

Writing Surfaces

Urban furniture doesn't need to be intentionally placed as furniture. "The street finds its own uses for things". Any flat surface can become a place for notes to be written: graffiti, messages to specific people, or just as a kind of talking to oneself. It is interesting to see what the neighborhood is thinking about.

What Should Be Done About Urban Furniture?

We should, of course, gladly adapt our actions and values to accommodate those examples of urban furniture which are helpful and have a beneficial effect on our communities. And we must approach all urban furniture in the same way we do the rest of the urban environment, with playful intentions and actions. We must appropriate our surroundings in order to survive as individuals and as populations, and those of us who are able are obligated to do this with ludic engagement, by perverting functional directives into play structures.

Examples Of The Use Of Urban Furniture

Repurposing

Many items of urban furniture can be repurposed. Often, the systems which were allowed to originally place it will revert it back, but some subtle alterations go unnoticed for long periods, and even obvious ones will sometimes reveal that nobody who is supposed to be responsible is paying attention. Newspaper boxes are good targets because, as noted, they are just left lying around without much organization.

This box was turned into an art installation years or decades ago. It was moved into an out of the way side street, and it's just a remnant now, the rotating art show hasn't been updated for ages. Nobody is paid to care enough to remove it.

A more low-key change is to keep the original purpose of the device, but to replace the contents. Again, newspaper boxes are obvious candidates, more so during the golden age of copy shop exploitation and crackpot zine distribution, but still viable today.

With luck, the turf wars of that era can be revived. Some friends of mine once rebranded a vacant free newspaper box to give away their manifestos. After a period of successful distribution, they didn't refill it often enough and another group covered their signage with their own and took it over for their own zines, leading to some ironic complaining.

Additions, Improvements, And Alterations

It's always so nice to see that somebody has made the environment better for everyone. A handhold, a bootscraper, anything. A climbing rope in a fire escape, or a sketchy swing that is probably better left alone. And if not better, then at least different or confusing. Who is to say that an item bolted to one surface would not better serve the community bolted to a different one? Signs and other information sources can also be created or improved, wayfinding, notices and educational content can be placed. Rules, terms of service, legal boilerplate can be changed. Ideas workshopped, questions posed, color schemes rotated.

Games

The landscape of urban furniture can be made into a playground without anything other than the participation of one or more people, just by finding challenges. Physical contests can be invented on the fly anywhere, as anyone who is or was a child knows. Games can be created by adding rules or goals. Urban furniture can be used in unexpected ways, to see how creatively they can fulfill their original or new purposes, or just to see what assumptions can be broken without greatly changing the overall interactions. Routes can be followed to remain within or without the sight lines of types of installations. Stories can be built and expanded based on the engagements of unwitting passersby. By adding communication, other participants can be included without ever meeting. Chalk, stickers, or simply the placement and collection of objects can be used to communicate. Mazes can be drawn, puzzles eked out, and interactive guides can be grown.

Any surface can be made into a challenge just by finding something difficult to do with it. The payphone near my house used to accumulate those stupid free commercial flyer boxes that littered the city. Walking home late one night, I thought they would look better if stacked. The newspaper box was empty and plastic, and all of its mass was in the weighted base. It turned out to be surprisingly hard to place it upright on top of the booth! It was taller than I could reach, so I had to toss it up there. It was easy to get the base to land, but if the pillar wasn't vertical, it would swing forward and back and fly off again. It became a fun test that amused me for a long time. Eventually, I gave up and began to walk away, only to hear a yell from an unidentified apartment nearby. "Don't give up! You can do it!" I waved in the direction of the voice and resolved to try again sometime, but a couple of days later, I found the box on top of the booth. My encouragers had succeeded where I had failed! Incidentally, this payphone was a COCOT, and the phone line was routed through the lamp enclosure, which can be accessed without breaking in or using specialized tools. Someone spliced a jack in there, so calls could be made for free by bringing a desk phone.

Adding Entire Instances

The city is full of features added by people and groups without permission, with good and bad motivations. It's incredibly fun and powerful to become the provider of urban furniture. Who's the boss now? But while the spirit of play might, if taken shallowly, encourage the practice of plunking down equipment and letting somebody else deal with it when it turns into street trash, this isn't sustainable for a long-lived project. The flip side is that the realities of maintaining assets and neighborhood relationships can be wearying. The behavior modifications we've been discussing don't just exist to turn people into docile sheep, they assist the maintainer's ability to keep the furniture available for all. To take the simplest example, flat horizontal surfaces are harder to maintain because people will leave their trash on them. It's easier to provide service if surfaces are tilted and won't hold items. Nooks and crannies will collect needles and cigarettes, alcoves may encourage activities better suited for other locations. In general, the lack of basic services provided by a callous society pushes some people into acting in unsustainable ways.

This is not to say that fun must be suppressed until all play is replaced by work. The balance must be found between propagating the ubiquitous smooth, secure, low-entropy facades of the cityscape, and giving people a little elbow room where they can decide to be socially redeeming even if some will not choose wisely. This hopefully encourages enough community support to avoid a wholly adversarial mindset.

Futel's Nefarious Role In The Ecosystem Of Urban Furniture

Futel's angle, of course, is to replicate and tweak structures that still have a few existing instances in the field. Why do we do this? To provide telephone service, of course, and to provide links to service providers over the telephone. And to provide radically accessible opportunities for pedestrians to interact creatively.

We are used to writing about this over and over again to drum up funding or outreach. It was more fun when we weren't as obvious about it, just putting down phones without any explanation, giving people something to discover and letting them wonder how many there were. The mere existence of our devices in a public setting is enough reason for us to place them, and luckily, we have found that they are still approached with curiosity. Do people doubt their memories when they see a new payphone? Do they invent strange backstories and weird organizations? Many do. More importantly, because our telephones cause some people to view their built environment with a critical eye, or make up stories and myths, or think about how they might participate, we know the project is extremely successful. We have a role in shaping not only the urban environment, but perceptions of the forms of the city and the forces behind them. And all we had to do was run a phone company for nine years.

[grismavessel]

Tunnel Tears

Author's Note: I wanted to write some small things between Gris and Ingo, as sort of warm-ups between my fic writing sessions. Expect some more in the future!

Oc x Canon

Tags: Crying, tears, insecurity, comfort, dorks in love, oc is they/them, he/him, trans masc but they can dress however they want because I gave them too much gender, One shot

Description: Social events are tough, at least in Gris's eyes. They leave early, in tears, and Ingo chases after them.

The sound of water soothed Gris even on the worst of days.

They'd run to the water's edge and sit in the sand. Alola's coastal waters always swallowed their tears after a horrible day.

They liked it best at night. That way no one would see their red puffy eyes and tear-stained face. No one would see how they sobbed or lurched with each breath. The best part, the sound of rushing water swallowed up their voice too.

------------------------

Ingo's lungs burned, his chest heaving. He stopped, reaching out to a nearby pole, his hand grabbing the metal, accidentally catching some flyers in the way.

He coughed before looking up, looking at the mostly empty city street around him.

'Where did they go?' He looked around the block corner, his eyes straining to try and spot them. Very few people were out, the night dragging on, and the only thing populating the streets were the nocturnal pokemon that ruled the city's underbelly and the taxi cabs drifting down the roads.

Ingo sucked in a deep breath, cupping his hands around his mouth. "GRIS!!" He shouted, rivaling any train whistle, a voice that could pierce the ambient nose of any Nimbasa City rush hour.

His voice echoed, several lights from the neighboring buildings flickering on. But there was no response.

"Not here," He sighed, before taking another deep breath. He broke into a sprint, his legs sore, but he only cared about one thing at this point.

------------------------

He couldn't breathe. Couldn't think. His limbs were like jelly. Full of lead too.

Ingo's walk staggered into a limp crawl, draping himself over the nearby handrailing. His stationary lifestyle of conducting office work did not suit this critical task. Ingo looked around him, seeing he had somehow ended up in a park, one that featured a grand stream, Ingo was on one of its many bridges that stretched over the water.

He could hear the steady flow and splash, a few basculin swimming by.

And a quiet quiet noise in a voice that struck a chord with him.

As steady as he could, he rounded the bridge's end, shimming down the hillside. The quiet noise grew louder, the sob echoing off of the brick-and-mortar. It had a familiar tune. Ingo stood and looked into the tunnel, a reasonable bank sat between the water and the brick, wet sand and mud.

Some teens or children must've played under the bridge, a makeshift bench of wood pallets sat in the center. And Gris sat on top of it, knees curled up and face buried in their arms.

"GRIS!" Ingo called out at the realization, rushing in before they could react.

They snapped up to watch Ingo run at them. Gris's white hair once carefully styled white hair was now a mess, carefully done makeup running down their face.

"I-Ingo!" They gasped in shock, grey irises widening.

"I've scoured half of Nimbasa looking for you!" He rushed in for an embrace, holding Gris tight and close, falling to his knees and into the questionable mud. "You ran without your phone! What in the blazes were you thinking?!"

"Ingo I'm sorry I-I-" The words were getting stuck in their throat, their emotions swelling again.

"A-Are you hurt?!" Ingo pulled away, assessing any potential injury from their sudden departure. "Love, y-you scared me." Ingo began to feel the exhaustion take hold, adrenaline gone. He wiped their face, smearing the dark makeup more. Gris looked anywhere but at him, something that irked Ingo. "I would have happily left the party if you were not feeling well." His hands went to hold theirs, Ingo hiding the wince as he felt how ice cold their hands were.

Gris let out a staggered sigh, still refusing to look at Ingo. "I'm okay, just-" They tried to excuse it.

"You are not okay. Not in this moment of time." Ingo corrected. Gris flinched at the truth. "Darling, what happened?" He asked them.

Gris stared at the water, a piece of plastic floating by. Their eyes went to this outfit, the once pretty dress now ruined with mud and splinters.

"I heard some people talking." They told him.

"Consquences will be unavoidable." Ingo already had a list in his head.

"They were talking about me, I-I'm used to people saying stuff, but then-" Gris swallowed down the lump in their throat, it was an effort to say something coherent without the sentence being racked with tears. "Then they started talking about you. And you being with me." Gris confessed.

"Who cares what others think!" It boiled Ingo's blood. What others had to say about the two of them mattered little. All he cared about was his and Gris's well-being and happiness. Not some gossip about petty things.

Gris frowned. "I do if it's in front of everyone!" Gris pulled away from Ingo, huddling back up with their knees. "I felt so pretty. And now I don't. Because they said I look ridiculous, and they were saying how could Ingo be with such a mess?!" Gris hated when the bullies won. Their icky ideas get stuck in their head.

Ingo sat next to them, unsure of how to remedy this.

"I-I know, I know," Gris sniffled. "You love me no matter what. But, it just creeps in. The doubt. And it fucking sucks when it does." Gris leaned onto his shoulder. "I just didn't wanna make a scene in front of everyone. More than I already did." The tears had started to well, and Gris had to leave as fast as they could, the bathrooms were occupied and there was only one exit. Once the tears started coming it was hard to stop.

"You didn't make a scene."

"It's on me though, I thought Nimbasa would be a little different, but some stuff is always the same." Gris had been looking forward to tonight. It was the first party they'd ever gone to in Unova. It was casual with a drop of formal, and Gris had just the slamming dress that was both.

"You look absolutely lovely." Ingo leaned a little back, laying his head on Gris's. "But you should not flee. Not without me at least." What if something had happened? It terrified Ingo. Gris stayed silent, tears washing away even more makeup. "I am here." He laced his hand with theirs. "When you need a shoulder to cry on, all you have to do is tell me. With a look or a phrase, I am always on call."

"I'm sorry," Gris spoke.

"And no more sorry's! The budget's been cut for sorry's this year," Ingo tried to joke, watching Gris's frown twist, a small hum coming from it.

"Then what do I say?" Gris asked.

Ingo fell silent this time.

Besides the occasional silent sniffle, the sound of the water in the tunnel was quite nice. Calming.

"Say 'water under the bridge', and I will escort you home, with take out, and an impromptu cuddle, or whatever you would like to do with my newly freed schedule." Ingo decided.

Gris wiped the last of their tears away. "What about you?" Gris asked. Ingo pulled a blank expression. "I might be a crybaby, but you get upset too sometimes." Gris rarely saw Ingo in that state. Having known him for a while now, both as a close companion and their love, Gris could tell when Ingo's usual frown was an actual one.

It was a subtle sign. Like a gray cloud trying to turn a few shades darker. It might rain. It might not. Ingo kept it to himself except when the storm was about to blow through. He'd avoid anyone, sometimes even Emmet. "You'll come to me and tell me when you're having a rough time, right?" Gris circled their thumb around his palm.

"Yes," Ingo's eyes lidded, his frown smiling. Even in the worst of times Gris still thought of him. "Water under the bridge for you, and for I . . . caboose!" Ingo decided.

Gris snirked, Ingo joining, their laughter echoing and even bothering the pokemon swimming nearby.

The chuckles died, and still, they sat.

"I thought I had my phone on me," Gris confessed. "I wasn't thinking." They sighed, rubbing the last bits of their eyeliner off. A numskull they were.

"I am just thankful you're safe. I didn't know you had a fondness for mildew tunnels."

"You have a fondness for dust-filled ones." Gris jabbed back.

"The subway tunnels are well kept!" Again Gris laughed, their head nuzzled more into Ingo.

"Is Emmet still at the party? Did Elesa or Skyla come after me too?" Gris asked.

"No, I left as soon as you did. They probably think we slipped away." Ingo quirked his brow. Gris bapped his arm. "Ow!"

"You're silly dude," Gris said, before reaching up and kissing his sideburn. Ingo blushed, tipping his cap down out of habit. "Oh, so you can say that without blushing but a little peck's got you red?"

"Words and actions are very different my love,"

And they sat some more in the dank tunnel. It wasn't long before the smell of mildew and other things got to Gris.

"Can we go home?" Gris asked. This night being a bust, Gris hoping for some pj's and cuddles.

"A return trip home or a stop by the deli for some well-deserved sandwiches?" Ingo was more hungry than tired. The party had no snacks.

Gris hummed in thought. "Sandwiches!" Comfort food and pajamas!

"If I may," Ingo rose, his shoes sinking in the wed soil. He put an arm behind his back and extended the other towards Gris before bowing slightly. "May I escort you, my prince?" Ingo asked a charming smile-frown looked lovely on him.

Gris smiled, grabbing his hand without a second of doubt. Ingo pulled him up and beyond, swinging Gris around before setting them down.

"Show off," Gris laced their arm with him, and together they walked out into the night, mud on their shoes but smiles on their faces.

[flurrys-creativity]

Okay so I love this new yugyeom image he looks so hot and just so different and so himself….. so can you do a yugyeom x reader base on his new image pls 🥺 I love your work so much your so good at it thank you for your writing ❤️❤️

Thank you so much! I'm glad you think so! I wasn't exactly sure if I got the right image.. but after a little discussion with the people from @got7writerscollective and a very intriguing picture I came up with this! Hope you like it!!!

Skaterboi

Pairing: Kim Yugyeom (GOT7) x GN!Reader; Genre: Skater AU, Fluff, Strangers to lovers, Humour; Rating: sfw, PG - 13; Warnings: Yugyeom being a tease, skating and not being good at it, some kisses; Wordcount: 988

Summary: A leap of faith brought you together. Or maybe it was your leap of not being able to skate and crashing right into him. Whatever it was you still loved watching him in his element.

“He’s so cool!”

You bit on your lower lip, trying to prevent your proud smile upon hearing the kids gasping in awe.

“When I grow up I wanna be like him!”

“Me too!”

“One day I’ll just be as good, for sure!”

Your eyes wandered from the kids to the man they were admiring, your smile now on full display. It didn’t surprise you that they looked up to him.

You caught his attention, making him smirk mischievously. He did another flip before he almost calmly rolled around the course, only to lift his shirt and wink at you, sticking out his tongue teasingly.

Yugyeom was in his element. Free, wild, stunningly handsome and confident in what he did. Anybody would fall for him. You most certainly did. Quite literally even. Well. Almost.

A year ago you had discovered your old skates again and after trying them on and noticing they still fit you, you felt the incredible urge to try skating again. What could have gone wrong. Skating was like riding a bike, wasn’t it? At least that’s what you thought. But you were incredibly wrong.

The minute you stood up from the bench at the skatepark, you started wobbling around, arms making big circles in hopes to keep you steady. That’s when you started to roll. Panic was written all over your face since you hadn’t intended to leave the bench or anything in general. After all, you wanted to have something like a handrail for support, but now you rolled into open space and had no idea what to do.

At the same time Yugyeom arrived on his board with a few friends, chatting with them while rolling through the park. He didn’t see you but as soon as he heard your panic screech his head whipped around. He didn’t have much time and he moved rather on instinct than knowing what he was doing.

You on the other hand were quite sure that you blacked out, because the next thing you knew, was how you clung to a very tall and very handsome guy for dear life. “I’m so sorry.”

“No worries, you alright?”

You swallowed harshly and avoided looking at him. You desperately wanted to flee the situation but you knew you would make a fool out of yourself the moment you would let go of him.

“First time skating?”

“What? No! I used to skate quite a bit when I was younger!” 

He huffed in amusement, moving one of his hands away from your body. He kicked his board up and caught it in his free hand. “Let me help you, sweetheart.”

If the embarrassment wasn’t enough to heat your face, that little word sure did the trick. Still, you thanked him, telling him where your stuff was.

“Maybe you should start skateboarding instead”, he said, lifting his board to underline his statement. “It’s easier to jump off it when you lose control.”

“I think I should stay away from any of that to be honest.” You still held on to him, basically in tow while he walked to your stuff. For a minute you even worried that you might be hurting him with your grip but since he didn’t say anything, you quickly forgot about it again.

“I can’t keep it at that now. Let me show you the joy of skateboarding.”

You were still sceptical but agreed nonetheless under the condition he showed you first before you would try anything. 

And so he did. He moved around swiftly with the biggest grin on his face possible. At one point it even looked like he had wings on his back, carrying him through the air with each flip.

You watched him in awe, falling for his carefree attitude and the lightness of his movements. You still stared at him with a slightly agape mouth when he stopped in front of you, pushing his hair out of his face and grinning down at you.

“Your turn.”

You literally heard glass shatter inside of your mind, picturing you on that skateboard, being as elegant as a fish out of water. “Are you sure?”

“Absolutely!” He nodded and held one of his hands out for you to grab it.

And even though it might sound clishé, the moment you grabbed his hand was the moment your life changed. Okay, maybe it was the moment you crashed into him.

The first few weeks you simply met every now and then, after that you hung out regularly - even staying at each other's place for the night. And seven months ago Yugyeom asked you to be his.

Even though a year had passed Yugyeom still hadn’t given up on teaching you how to skate. Hence the reason he stopped in front of you again, leaning down to place a kiss on your lips. 

“Your turn”, he grinned.

You rolled your eyes but stood up anyway. “You know I actually practised and came up with a move I’m very confident in!” 

Yugyeom’s eyes widened in surprise, followed by an excited and proud smile. He followed you like a big puppy, his teasing attitude gone momentarily. He stopped in front of the ramp you had jumped up on, a quizzical and slightly worried expression adorning his features.

“You ready?”

Yugyeom nodded tentatively.

You grinned brightly and sat down on the skateboard, pushing yourself down the ramp with your hands, whoo-ing as you rolled towards Yugyeom. You raised your hands over your head, making grabby motions until Yugyeom caught them and stopped you in front of him.

The minute you looked up to him, he burst into a fit of manic laughter, going down to his knees and doubling over. “You could become a pro”, he wheezed and wrapped his arms around you, pulling you with his board closer against him. “Gosh, I love you.” With that he kissed you again, still snickering into the kiss.

“Love you too, skaterboi.”

© all rights reserved

[steamkittens]

Shoot Breakdown - Xanetia Sunset Shoot

I generally only shoot over interstate con weekends, either at the event or side shoots at the hotel. Interstate location shoots are just too difficult given the logistics involved, in finding a location in a city I don't know well and the effort of getting around with my disability plus the con takes up most of the time and side shoots are squeezed in around the event usually in the evening. What I really want to do is more outdoor shoots with interesting backgrounds and beautiful ambient light. 

Every year I plan to get out and shoot more in Adelaide but while I know hundreds of cosplayers interstate I know relatively few people in my hometown.

So the plan is to try and shoot most weekends. With the beautiful warm weather at the moment, I planned a couple of beach shoots. One of the benefits of Adelaide is the coastline directly faces the setting sun so you get uninterrupted golden light.  I like to shoot at sunset because apart from the golden hour you don’t have to worry about cloud cover like you do earlier in the day and getting harsh overhead light from the sun and needing much more powerful strobes to combat it.

I've been trying to use different jetty's so they don't all look the same but the funny thing is most have identical railings and all look the same anyway but do have small differences, the main one is the seating design which is a major consideration. For this one, we chose Grange Jetty because the seats aren't indented or have handrails at the end. Like all beaches on a hot Australian weekend getting any sort of a park was near impossible let alone a disabled park near the jetty. Jetty’s are perfect in Adelaide because the lead to the horizon with the setting sun behind the model and create beautiful leading lines in the photo. 

We started shooting around 7.15pm (with sunset at 8.34pm), the sun was just to the left of the jetty so shooting a pose at the railing was almost directly at the sun. I started off at 1/1000 (above left is the very first test frame) and slowly worked my way up to the Sony a7iii's max shutter speed of 1/8000.

With the sun so harsh it wasn't until we changed the angle that we finally achieved a better balance between ambient and flash. With this type of photography, the basic rule is Shutter Speed controls the background exposure and the flash power controls the model exposure and it's getting a nice balance of the two to get the perfect shot.

Below you can see a final processed image along with the purely ambient light and the out-of-camera frame with flash.

The other thing you'll notice between the final and the out-of-camera is the corrected horizon line. The majority of shots have been corrected to have the horizon square to the image. Human beings generally prefer straight, levelled lines instead of odd angles. When you hang a photo in your living room, why do you want to align it perfectly with the ceiling, floor, or furniture? And how off-putting is it when you see and crooked photo? We just find straight lines more aesthetically pleasing. That being said you'll see some of the images here that don't have straight lines, there are either deliberate choices or the images aren't going to be output and are here to show some other element.

I was shooting with a Godox AD300 with a gridded Godox 85CM AD-S85S Deep Parabolic Softbox. I meant to take off the grid but forgot, so I would have lost a lot of light. I didn't have a second helper so I didn't get any BTS material but the light was being handheld on a pole like the image below from a shoot a few weeks earlier.

7.30pm - We moved to the bench seat and did a few sitting poses with the light to the right of the camera and using the sun as a hair/rim light. I don't generally like visual clutter behind my subjects like groups of people too close. It's ok if they're a good distance away and are artistically blurred by the depth-of-field into nice shapes. We had a number of frames where Xanetia looked amazing, with the perfect wind in the hair but there was a large group of people crowding the scene however I like the shot on the right because she is haloed by the people, a light pole, and two beautifully placed birds.

7.43pm - We then tried a few shots without the shirt. In this shot leaning forward, I didn't correct the horizon to accentuate the lean.

I was shooting directly into the sun and was maxing the camera out at 1/8000. I don't believe I've gotten anywhere near that before. I could barely see a hazy silhouette in front of me with the sun in my face so I have no idea what the camera focused on, especially at f/2.

8.00pm - Half an hour before sunset the light was finally coming to us with the intensity noticeably dropping. It's around this time you get the best mix of ambient and flash.

I love the first image with the leading lines of the jetty and its railing shadows heading to the horizon. Again the second image has a non-corrected horizon to accentuate the lean....or I just forgot

8.12pm - The next few are probably my favourite shots of the shoot. We added the white shirt and got beautiful rim light from the sun on the legs. By this time with the rapidly falling ambient light, you are constantly scrolling Shutter speed and flash power to compensate.

8.26pm - A few minutes before sunset the wind started to pick up which was perfect. I always want a lot of hair movement, it adds so much to an image. You want to take lots of images because everyone will be different and give you a wide choice for the one you find most aesthetically pleasing.

In the first image, I really like the angle of the face but the 90-degree piece of hair just looks awkward.

8.30pm - As the sun hit the water we swapped sides to get it in frame. At this point, the wind really picked up so much that my assistant had an issue holding to light too high but it had a good effect on the hair and shirt.

8.33pm - We turned the flash off and just used the ambient light to get some beautiful silhouette shots to show off the hair in the wind.

Overview

----------------------

Location: Grange Jetty, South Australia

Date: Sunday 8th January 2023

Model: Xanetia

Assistant: Leighlan Doe

Shoot Time: 1.5 hours

Total Frames: 476

[equalonline]

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EQUAL Aluminum Ladder Products:

1. Household ladder

Equal household ladders offer safety and functionality at the highest level. They conform to exacting requirements, not just in the materials and workmanship. With unique as well as intelligent and practical details they make work easier at any height. Day in, day out.

 At the EQUAL store, you will find these Household ladders.

Domestic Aluminium ladders

Aluminium ladders for home

Aluminium roof ladder

Aluminium tower ladder

Aluminium tripod ladder

2. Industrial Ladder

Equal’s range of products includes industrial ladders such as tower ladders, step ladders. Aluminum extension ladders, self- supporting ladders and many more items at the equal’s online store.

At the EQUAL store, you will find these variety of industrial ladders

Fixed Aluminium ladder

Window cleaning Aluminium ladder

Aluminium hydraulic ladder

Aluminium ladders with handrails

Single section Aluminium ladder

3. Telescopic Ladder

Equal’s range of telescopic ladders is the perfect solution for situations where the ladder has to be regularly moved or stored. Collapsing down into a compact package, they can be carried in car boots yet extend, making them perfect for engineers or other mobile professionals.

EQUAL’s telescopic ladders option is at online store do check out.

Aluminium telescopic ladders

Telescopic Aluminium ladder

Telescopic Aluminium ladders for sale

Telescopic Aluminium ladders India

4.  Multipurpose ladder

Equal presents Fold-able Multipurpose Super Ladder which converts/transforms into 6 different positions based on Requirements. It can be used as a wall supported straight ladder or can be an A-shape Ladder to work in the center without any Support. It can also be converted into a Work Bench table. It is the only Ladder-type which can be used even on Staircases.

EQUAL’s Ladders at the online store.

Triple Aluminium ladders

Three-stage Aluminium ladders

Tool station Aluminium ladders

Tower Aluminium ladder

Outdoor Aluminium ladder

5. Scaffolding Aluminium Ladder

Owing to their vast industry experience, Equal is offering a wide range of Scaffold ladders to our respected clients. All these products are made from quality-proven components with the assistance of well-qualified professionals at the ultra-modern production unit. Furthermore, Equal is offering these products in customized options too at industry-leading rates. These products are highly demanded among clients for their optimum performance and premium quality.

EQUAL’s Aluminium Ladders

Aluminium ladder 10 meter

Aluminium ladders 3 section

Aluminium ladders 8m

3 tier Aluminium ladder

6.  Aluminium Step Ladders

Equal’s Step ladders are offering clients very satisfactory use, over the years. These Step ladders are made by the top-notch qualitative products. Step ladders are used by many of equal’s customers and their feedback after using this very positive. Step ladders are a household ladder, and in the house, it is used by a wide audience, it has various different use which gives you relief in your work at home.

Lightweight Aluminium step ladders

Domestic Aluminium step ladders

Aluminium step ladders 2 step

Heavy-duty Aluminium step ladders

3-way Aluminium step ladders

7.  Aluminium Extension Ladders

These kinds of ladders can be used as a leaning ladder, or step ladders and also can be changed in too many different shapes to meet the different height requirements.  Industries and as well as at home these kinds of ladders have a use, in industries.

These kinds of ladders are very useful to carry one to another place because of its build. It can go up to 11-12 feet long if we need to extend his height according to requirements

Aluminium extending ladder

Aluminium extending roof ladders

Aluminium double extension ladders

Aluminium extension ladders for sale

These kind of ladders are useful for the restricted spaces at home or at the office, these ladders are very easy to operate. Equal Provides these ladders for you at very best quality, direct to your home and your office. Please check out the store for more exciting ladders. 

Loft ladders are useful in the short space where you make a store upwards or downwards, it is easy going with every possible situation. Because of its qualities loft ladders are very handy.

3 section Aluminium loft ladder

Aluminium loft ladders best price

Aluminium Ladder Specification

Ladders are a lightweight, trivalent, metallic element that has good electrical and thermal conductivity and resistance to oxidation. Ladders used widely in industries and at home also. Later ladders are only used at industries because of their length and weight but after the introduction of these Aluminium ladders for home use also increased.

We use at home ladders window cleaning, storeroom cleaning, etc. People have a question like which is better in fiberglass vs. Aluminium ladders. These two are the most common type of ladders and they both give their customers advantages and disadvantages. The major difference between these two ladders is a strength.

Fiberglass is much stronger than Aluminum ladders, which doesn’t state that Aluminium ladders are less strong. If we look at the differences in handling weather aluminum ladder is fairly resistant form rusting. In the heat, fiberglass won’t lose their strength but the aluminium ladder becomes weaker in the heat.

Aluminum ladder certainly lighter than the fiberglass ladders and one of the most advantages of aluminum ladders is that they are very affordable and with good quality. In the comparison fiberglass much more expensive. Aluminum ladders are very easy to carry and if they are fold-able it can far better option than the fiberglass.  

Where do you buy aluminum ladders?

From cleaning up the house ceiling, fixing up the bulb, and storing your useful items on the shelf. A ladder is the most needed materialistic thing you can buy online to do basic chores at home.

Not having a ladder at home would be a hectic task for you to do normal stuff that you can do with the help of a ladder. There is the number of ladders distributors and suppliers, but in the crowd how to find the best quality and affordable ladders is the big task to do.

But here in the EQUAL online store, you will find all the Aluminum ladders at the very best cost and quality. Companies are selling mixed products that look like Aluminium but after using you will find that you have invested your valuable money in the scrap.  If you are looking for Aluminum ladders, and if you want to buy at the very best cost and quality then you can check out EQUAL ONLINE STORE. Prices of Aluminium ladders of equal are very pocket-friendly they will not charge you any hidden money from you like others do.

Check out the EQUAL to find out the ideal ladder to suit your needs.

FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)

Q. Why are ladders made out of Aluminium? 

A. It is the most popular choice for ladders used in domestic settings. Because they are lightweight, Aluminium ladders are easy to lift and move. And they are fairly resistant to rusting, these qualities make the best fit for ladders.

Q. Scrap value Aluminium ladders? 

A. Scrap value of ladders is 15 cents per pound, Rather than throwing your ladder away in the garbage, contact scrap dealer in your area. The money you got from your old  ladder can help you to save when you will buy a new one

Q. Use of Aluminium ladders in hazardous areas?

 A. If you are using it in the right way, in hazardous area Aluminium equipment should not be used too long because these area owing energetic reactions on impact with rust.

Q. How to clean Aluminium ladders? 

A. To clean Aluminium product you can use plain water, kerosene, turpentine, chemical cleaner, abrasive cleaner, etc. After cleaning the aluminum should be washed thoroughly and dried up to prevent rust. Always follow the manufacture’s recommendations when using ladder cleaning products.

Q. How are Aluminium ladders made?

A. Making a ladder is a very long process start with the formation of the right quality Aluminium, also which gives strength. It a process which is done by the automated machine where they made parts after that they assemble them to a different kind of Ladders like household ladders, industrial ladders, etc.

Q. How long do Aluminium ladders last? 

A. If you used as intended and properly stored, you will enjoy these ladders for many years that why EQUAL’s ladders are most durable and trustworthy in the market. 

Q. How to cut Aluminium ladders?

A. You can chop off extra area that you don’t want, it is easy to cut an Aluminium ladder. First mark a point on the ladder where you want to cut, after aligning those points so that you can have an idea all are similar points. After that cut those points with the Aluminium cutter.  And use it wherever you want to.

Q. Can you store Aluminum ladders outside? 

A. Ladders are robust and can be used in the outdoor environment, they should not be stored outside for too long. It won’t rust unlike other ladders, it is prepared for the outdoor environment, and we are concerning other material that causing that you should not keep outside for too long.

Q. What is the benefit of Aluminum ladders? 

A. There is a number of benefits that you can have form the ladder, it is easy to store it won’t take up your too much space. They are very lightweight, because of this quality you can move these ladders one to another place very easily without any efforts and help. You can use these ladders at home, outside, workplace, etc. ladders are cost-effective also, they are not too expensive to buy you can buy affordable ladders at the EQUAL store.

Q. Can Aluminum ladders be used for electrical work? 

A. You can use these ladders for electric work but keeping in mind that aluminum is conduct electricity and can be dangerous around the electric wires. So if you want to use in the electric work make sure you have proper precautions.

Q. Do Aluminum ladders rust? 

A. It won’t rust, because they are made like this that won’t rust. But you have kept some precautions because in keeping the outside environment for too long it gets affected by some other material that causes rare rusting in the Ladders. Keeping manufacturer recommendations in mind you can use your ladders for years. 

[trafficsafetysblog]

6 Creative Ways to Use Bollards for Public Space Design

When it comes to urban design, every element plays a pivotal role in shaping the environment. One such unsung hero of public spaces is the humble bollard. These sturdy and versatile posts are not just for traffic control; they can be harnessed creatively to enhance the aesthetic appeal and functionality of public spaces.

In this blog post, we'll explore six innovative ways to use a Traffic safety bollards in public space design that go beyond its traditional roles.

Artistic Guardians: Transforming a Bollard into Public Art

Who says a bollard can't be aesthetically pleasing? Imagine a row of beautifully crafted bollards standing tall, not just as functional barriers but as pieces of art.

Local artists can be commissioned to paint or sculpt these urban sentinels, turning them into vibrant, eye-catching installations. This not only adds a touch of creativity to the streets but also fosters a sense of community pride.

Bollard Gardens: Greening Up Urban Spaces

With environmental consciousness on the rise, integrating greenery into urban landscapes has become a design trend. A bollard can be repurposed as a miniature garden, providing a home for small plants and flowers. This not only softens the harsh urban environment but also contributes to the overall well-being of the community.

Imagine strolling down the street, surrounded by a corridor of blooming bollard gardens – a refreshing sight for any city dweller.

Interactive Bollard Installations: Engaging the Community

Let's turn the mundane into the interactive! Incorporating technology into a bollard design can create engaging installations for the public. Imagine touch-sensitive bollards that emit soothing sounds, change colours, or even display local art when interacted with.

This not only brings an element of surprise to the urban landscape but also encourages community participation, turning a simple stroll into a multisensory experience.

Bicycle Parking with a Twist: Bollard as Functional Art

Bicycle parking doesn't have to be dull – it can be an opportunity to showcase creativity. Designing a bollard with integrated bike racks not only serves a practical purpose but also adds a touch of flair to the streets.

These functional art pieces can be strategically placed to encourage cycling, promoting a healthier and more sustainable mode of transportation.

Bollard Benches: A Seat with a Purpose

Why settle for conventional benches when you can have a bollard bench? These hybrid installations serve a dual purpose – acting as both seating and safety barriers.

By incorporating comfortable seating on top of a sturdy bollard, public spaces can be transformed into inviting areas for socialising and relaxation, all while maintaining safety standards.

Lighting the Way: Bollard Illumination for Nightscapes

As the sun sets, the role of a bollard doesn't have to diminish. Illuminate the streets with stylish bollard lights. These functional light installations not only guide pedestrians in the dark but also add a touch of sophistication to nighttime urban environments.

Imagine a cityscape where bollard lights create a captivating interplay of shadows and highlights, turning an evening stroll into a visual delight.

Conclusion

A bollard is more than just a traffic control measure – it is a versatile element that can redefine the aesthetics and functionality of public spaces. From artistic installations to interactive experiences, the potential for creativity with a Industrial safety handrails knows no bounds.

So, the next time you encounter this urban sentinel, take a moment to appreciate its potential to transform the ordinary into the extraordinary.

[naturecoaster]

James E. Grey Preserve: Hidden Gem in the Heart of New Port Richey

Squirrel Woah! We jumped back as a chunky grey blur rushed past us on the boardwalk handrail. It leaped onto a nearby tree trunk. The squirrel stopped and turned around chattering its teeth in a warning to us, its fluffy tail shaking with each sound. “Get out of my swamp”, it seemed to be shouting- or maybe “Don’t take my picture!” We weaved our way to safely avoid the squirrel when a second ran across the railings and then a third! Squirrel on the boardwalk at James E. Grey Preserve. Photo by Sally White “There’s a lot of squirrels here,” I told my daughter as we wound our way along the wooden trails beside the Pithlachascotee River at James E. Grey Preserve in New Port Richey. James E. Grey Preserve An 80-acre nature preserve nestled along the Pithlachascotee River, also called ‘the Cotee’, the James E. Grey Preserve is located in the heart of Pasco County’s New Port Richey on Florida’s Nature Coast. On the map, this city park is surrounded by neighborhoods, yet only 10 miles away from Tarpon Springs, but in person, the upland scrubs, sandhills, and swamps seem like a world away. This green space in New Port Richey is a place to reflect and escape in nature. Photo by Sally White The Preserve came to be as a community project. Originally intended for development like the surrounding communities, locals joined forces to create a haven for enjoyment of this unique natural setting along the Cotee River. Hiking the Grey Preserve Trail  From the gravel parking lot, the Grey Preserve trailhead is located past the toilets, a picnic pavilion, and a playground. Follow the trail to the right to circumvent the fishing pond. A sandy path flanked by palmettoes leads the way toward the water. It circles a little cove. Fishing and reflection areas framed by palm fronds make this a scenic stroll. Pause to rest on the bench by the water to watch the wading birds and ponder how this slice of paradise could exist so close to the surrounding communities. The ¾ mile trail crosses over water with the first boardwalk, a weaving journey along the muddy marsh and this is where the environment turns from sandy earth to muddier turf as the Pithlachascotee sidles up to the parklands. From here cross the boardwalk with an observation deck over the river.  The Cotee River in James E. Grey Preserve The Pithlachascotee River is a 20-mile+ waterway beginning in Crews Lake and traveling through Starkey Wilderness Park, James E. Grey Preserve, and several urban areas of New Port Richey until it reaches the Gulf of Mexico. A tidally influenced river, it is a brackish mix of salt and fresh water.  A 6-mile Florida Paddle Trail on the Pithlachascotee begins at James E. Grey Preserve and ends at Nick’s Park at 7926 Bayview St, Port Richey, FL 34668 (by US 19). The portion of the paddle trail through the preserve is considered to be the most scenic and wild of the journey. Fishing Pier & Observation Deck  The small fishing pier and observation deck stretch out over the blackwater river, lined by palmettoes and sawgrass. Towering palms rise in distance across the water. There are places to fish, watch the wildlife, and sit on the covered deck. Here visitors may spot some of the 150 birds that inhabit the Preserve, one of the places along the Great Florida Birding Trail. Observation deck, fishing pier at James E. Grey Preserve. Photo by Sally White Boardwalks over the Swamp Eco-friendly boardwalks stretch out over the swampy landscape along the edge of the Pithlachascotee River. Resurrection ferns adorn the oak branches overhead and coontie ferns and palmettoes abound. As do squirrels. They race across the wooden planks and scamper up trees. The ones we spotted were well-rounded out (fed) and curious.  Don't feed the squirrels at James E. Grey Preserve. Photo by Sally White Don’t feed the squirrels! Plenty of berries and wild edibles are in the preserve to satisfy the squirrels. The smell of sulfur rises in the air, as the boardwalk nears a small seep framed by leaves. It’s a little creek running through a swale. The palmettoes are exceptionally bright green around the mineral-rich water. The boardwalk ends on a concrete path. Ahead is the way to the parking lot, to the left is another trail and a covered observation pavilion, and another concrete path leads through stands of low palmetto bushes- the Palmetto Loop.  Sulphur smells rise from a seep by the boardwalk at James E. Grey Preserve. Photo by Sally White Each public library sign is numbered along the Palmetto Path and sponsored by a local business as part of a trail for kids to help ignite critical thinking skills.  Songbirds flit through the underbrush, and open skies rain sun from overhead. An abandoned gopher tortoise burrow lays like a small cavern in the sand beneath a brush pile, awaiting future occupants. Everywhere around is life and nature- thriving in this green space. The trail leads back to the gravel parking area from the start. Visitors can loop around to the left to do the full Palmetto Loop trail or end the hike here. Palmettoes and scrub line the Palmetto Loop at James E. Grey Preserve. Photo by Sally White The Upper Trail Across the other side of the playground by the parking lot, the Upper Trail is located. This hiking path was created as phase III of the James E Grey Preserve by the City of New Port Richey with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s Recreational Trails Program. The Upper Trail is a 2/3-mile looping path through scrub and sandhill ecosystems.  Kayaking at the James E. Grey Preserve Kayak launch site at James E. Grey Preserve. Photo by Sally White Although pets are not permitted at the preserve, kayaks are allowed.  Paddlers can explore the park’s waterways by putting in at the ADA paddle launch onto the Pithlachascotee River. The official paddle trail beckons to the adventurous, as does the cove. The launch site is easily accessible with a circle drive drop-off point by the river. A hidden green space in the heart of a city, James E. Grey Preserve offers a brief escape into nature. The squirrels stayed on the boardwalk-perhaps guarding their swamp, or maybe the abundant food that came from the plants there.  “It’s getting late,” my daughter said, “I could use some dolmades. You know, Tarpon Springs is only a few miles away.” The picturesque cove at James E. Grey Preserve from the Grey Preserve Hiking Trail. Photo by Sally White Things to Know Before You Visit the James E. Grey Preserve - This fee-free city park is open from sunrise to sunset. - Pets are not allowed. - Playground, restrooms, and picnic pavilions are available - ADA kayak launch - James E. Grey Preserve is located at 6938 Plathe Road in New Port Richey, Florida Sources:  - https://www.fivay.org/new_port_richey.html - https://pureflorida.blogspot.com/2007/11/james-e-grey-preserve-opening-day.html - https://cityofportrichey.com/parks/ Read the full article

[hitechstainless]

Sleek Sophistication: Enhancing Spaces with Stainless Steel Benches, Handrails, and Balustrades

In the realm of contemporary design, stainless steel has emerged as a versatile and sophisticated choice for elevating interior and exterior spaces. From sleek benches to elegant handrails and balustrades, stainless steel seamlessly combines aesthetic appeal with durability, creating a modern and timeless impact on various settings.

Stainless Steel Benches: A Fusion of Style and Functionality

Stainless steel benches are more than just utilitarian surfaces; they are design statements that exude sleek sophistication. The clean lines and reflective surface of stainless steel bring a sense of modernity to kitchens, outdoor spaces, and commercial environments. In kitchens, stainless steel benches are prized for their hygienic properties, resistance to stains, and easy maintenance.

The versatility of stainless steel extends to outdoor spaces where weather-resistant benches stand up to the elements while maintaining their aesthetic allure. Stainless steel benches are also favored in commercial settings such as restaurants and laboratories, where hygiene and durability are paramount. The choice of stainless steel benches transcends mere functionality, becoming a design element that adds a touch of elegance to any space.

Stainless Steel Handrails: Elevating Safety and Style

Stainless steel handrails offer a perfect blend of safety and style in staircases, balconies, and walkways. The inherent strength of stainless steel ensures a reliable support system, while its sleek appearance contributes to an overall sense of modernity. Whether indoors or outdoors, stainless steel handrails provide a secure grip while making a bold visual statement.

Indoors, stainless steel handrails complement various design aesthetics, from minimalist to industrial chic. Outdoors, they stand resilient against the elements, resisting corrosion and maintaining their polished finish. The versatility of stainless steel handrails is evident in their ability to enhance both residential and commercial spaces, where safety is paramount, and aesthetics are equally important.

Stainless Steel Balustrades: Defining Elegance and Transparency

Stainless steel balustrades are architectural elements that define elegance and transparency in spaces with staircases, terraces, and mezzanines. The use of stainless steel in balustrade design allows for a sense of openness, creating a visual flow while ensuring structural integrity. The sleek and slender profiles of stainless steel balustrades contribute to an unobstructed view, making them an ideal choice for contemporary and open-plan designs.

The durability of stainless steel makes it particularly suitable for outdoor applications, where balustrades need to withstand exposure to the elements. Stainless steel balustrade resist corrosion and require minimal maintenance, ensuring they maintain their aesthetic appeal over time. The combination of strength and visual lightness in stainless steel balustrades reflects a commitment to both safety and design excellence.

Harmony in Design: Integration of Stainless Steel Elements

The beauty of stainless steel lies not only in the individual components but also in their harmonious integration within a space. When stainless steel benches, handrails, and balustrades are used in conjunction, they create a seamless and unified design language. The reflective surfaces bounce light, creating an illusion of spaciousness, while the sleek lines contribute to an overall sense of modern sophistication.

In conclusion, the use of stainless steel in benches, handrails, and balustrades represents a commitment to both form and function. Its sleek sophistication enhances spaces by adding a touch of modernity, durability, and timeless elegance. Whether incorporated into residential interiors, outdoor environments, or commercial spaces, stainless steel continues to redefine and elevate the way we experience and design our surroundings.

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Contact us : Hi-Tech Stainless Fabrications