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spunkpunx · 3 years

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Bittersweet Bundle Of Misery - Graham Coxon

Plot: Reader is dating Alex James, and finds herself miserable, but finds comfort in a tumultuous affair with his friend, and guitarist, Graham Coxon.

I will probably do a part 2.

Word count: 5153!

Warnings: Drugs, Alcoholism, Smut, Angst, Smoking

April 1996

Alex loved France. Not only that, but the French loved him, specifically the women. I didn't need to understand his words to recognise the flirty tone in his voice when he spoke to the waitresses, the bar staff, in fact, basically any attractive woman who fluttered her eyelashes at him. I wasn't sure how to feel about it. Of course, I knew Alex well, so I was never under the impression that he would be a devout, faithful partner, but I also never expected him to be so explicit in his relationships with other women. We both considered the relationship open, but Alex was the only one who seemed to take advantage of that situation.

I found solace in hanging around with Graham. The tour was stressful. We both struggled. We all drank, but for Graham it was a necessity. I spent more time with Graham than with Alex, but of course he didn’t care. The words “jealous” and “possessive” were not in his vocabulary, but then again, neither was “monogamous”.

I was tired and miserable. The venues where the band played could be stubborn about sound-checking themselves. This resulted in a lot of arguments, as I was strictly instructed that the band were only to have their own sound technician (me). Alex and Damon could be rude. Since I’d been dating Alex, nobody took my work seriously. I stopped being a technician with almost seven years experience on tour, and became “Alex’s girlfriend helping out”. The crew could be horribly sexist at times. Even Ivan dismissed me when I brought him a problem.

“Get one of the other technicians to look at it,” he said, after I told him that one of the venue’s sound guys had wired the bass into a guitar amp and not the subwoofer. He must have turned up the volume to compensate for the sound and blown the speaker.

“I know what I’m doing! I’ve worked with this band for years!” I ended up snapping. I heard one of the roadies mumble something about a period and it sent me over the edge. Sometimes I got so angry it was like I didn’t have control over my impulses anymore. I told them all to fuck off and stormed out the room, kicking the door with a tremendous thud as I left. After I’d cooled down and returned, the crew tiptoed around me like I’d overreacted. After the gig, Ivan came over to speak to me.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to undermine you. You’re one of the best sound techs we’ve had,” he apologised, giving me a friendly pat on the shoulder. I appreciated the apology, it was the first one I’d had since the tour began.

Alex and I had an argument that night. We argued often, but this was explosive. He came into my room, coked up and horny, sitting next to me on the bed and pressing wet kisses to my neck.

“Are you over your little tantrum?” he asked, kneading my breast a little roughly. I pulled away.

“Little tantrum?” I repeated, surprised at his tactless words. “Everyone has been treating me like shit recently Alex.” He shrugged, running a hand up my thigh over my jeans, toying with my top button.

“Whatever it was. Ivan was trying to help and you just went mental,” he laughed, like it was all a big joke. He pressed his lips against mine and I pushed him away.

“It’s your fault I’ve been feeling like this!” I snapped. “If I didn’t start dating you then people would actually treat me like a professional! All of a sudden Damon is asking the drum tech to check the mic volume before they go on!”

“All of a sudden it’s my fault?” he asked, voice raising slightly. “Just cause you overreacted and bit Ivan’s head off?!”

“You don’t get it Alex! If you were ever actually here you’d understand how I was feeling, but you’re always off snorting lines and banging these fucking French girls!” I shouted at him.

“Well maybe I’d be here more if you actually put out instead of just going off at me!” he yelled back. I stood up, walking across the room with my hair clenched in my fists. I wanted as much distance between us as possible.

“Put out?” I looked at him incredulously. “So you’re only here if you can have sex with me? This relationship only exists so you can rely on me having sex with you whenever you fancy?!” We were both properly shouting now.

“That’s what relationships are! That’s what love is! The only difference between friends and relationships is sex!” he replied, seeing this as perfectly valid reasoning.

“So all I am is sex to you?” I asked, my voice now dangerously softer but still dripping with venom.

“No... That’s not- Stop twisting my fucking words!”

I calmly picked up my cigarette carton and lit one, letting his point ferment.

“Get out,” I spat. He glowered at me, standing up and leaving the room, slamming the hotel room door behind him.

As soon as he left the room, hot tears started spilling down my face, not tears of sadness but of rage. I felt overwhelmed. I smoked a cigarette, then another, the deep inhalation subduing my frustration. I heard a soft knock at the door.

“Piss off Alex!”

“It’s not Alex,” came Graham’s gentle reply. I stood and opened the door, wiping at my cheeks with the back of my hand.

“Gra,” I huffed in relief at his presence.

“I heard you were arguing, I wanted to see you were okay,” he said. It didn’t surprise me he’d heard it. Graham’s room was just across the hall, and we’d not been quiet. “Pub?” he offered, smiling slightly.

“Yeah alright, I’ll just grab my coat.”

We found a small bar not too far away from the hotel. Neither of us spoke particularly good French, but Graham knew enough to order some wine. The Parisians didn’t drink the same way the British did, and both of us were a little too embarrassed to try and order two pints of beer and a pack of cheese and onion crisps. Instead, we sat with a bottle of Sauvignon Blanc and two glasses, hidden away in a back booth and laughing at our clumsy attempts at the French language.

“It’s so embarrassing walking round with Mr Culture speaking fluent French like it’s the most natural thing in the world, meanwhile I struggle asking the man in the shop for a packet of fags,” I complained, chuckling.

“If you don’t mind me asking, what were you arguing about before?” Graham queried.

“Oh, just...” I paused, unsure whether to tell him or whether he’d just agree with Alex. “Well you know how I lost my temper before?” Graham nodded, sucking his lips into his mouth like he always did when he was listening. “Well he made a joke about it, and it pissed me off. I dunno, I feel so tired and miserable recently, and the way everyone has been treating me like I’m totally incompetent at my job is so difficult. Alex is never there, he just swans around doing whatever he wants, meanwhile I just feel so overwhelmed,” I spilled, not even intending to share that much. Something about the build up of emotions in my life and Graham’s reassuring presence at the end of the table made me feel the sudden need to tell him everything. “I just don’t feel happy anymore.”

“I know how you feel, kind of,” Graham reassured, placing his hand over mine, while I took a large swig of wine. Looking back, I think that was the first moment I thought about kissing him. Of course I didn’t, we stayed out most of the night and then stumbled back to the hotel drunk. But I actually considered that maybe I wouldn’t feel so bad if I was dating Graham, not Alex.

October 1996

I never expected the knock at the door. It was a cold night in mid October, so when I opened the door wearing only a large t-shirt and odd socks, the biting breeze nipped at my bare legs. Graham stood there awkwardly, wrapped up in a fleece lined jacket and his eyes slightly glazed in his drunkness. I didn't ask any questions, just greeted him with a hug that lasted a few seconds longer than usual, then invited him in.

Graham wasn't a happy man, but I myself was hardly a ray of sunshine. I sat down next to him on my old settee, lighting a cigarette and refilling my wine glass. I offered him a glass but he shook his head.

"What's up Gra?" I asked him softly, reaching out to cover his hand with my own. He let out a dejected sigh.

"I can't do it anymore (y/n)," he explained. "The band. I'm starting to hate them all. The press, the tours, the people. It's way too fucking much. Damon won't change the music we do, he's being a controlling bastard, and then Alex, fuck." Graham pulled at his earlobe, something I noticed him do often when he was feeling nervous or stressed.

"What is it?"

"He's out living his playboy lifestyle, shagging around, doing lines, drinking champagne. Meanwhile, you just sit around pretending like everything is fine!"

I dropped my hand from his. I wasn't ready for this criticism, especially not from a man who was currently drunk every second of his life.

"It is fine, Gra."

"No it's not, because he barely gives you a backwards glance when he goes out and I have to watch it," he complained. He turned to me, looking over my face like he was drinking it in. "I think you're so beautiful."

"What?"

"So, so fucking beautiful," he repeated. Graham was bad at eye contact, but right now he was drunk, and looking at me with such a sinful look in his gaze. He glanced over my lips, and the small flip in my stomach as he did was my only sign. There had been moments over the past year where Graham and I had shared similar glances, but neither of us acted on impulse, until now.

I leaned in and pressed my lips against his. Immediately his hands slipped around my waist, pulling me flush against his body. His tongue slipped into my mouth, and as he deepened the kiss I pushed his jacket off of his shoulders. He assisted my movements, pulling it off to fall lazily on the floor.

His hand travelled down to my underwear, tucking a finger beneath the waistband of my knickers, pausing to see if I stopped him. I did, but only to pull his t-shirt over his head. I had seen Graham without a shirt before, but now I took in his lithe physique and broad shoulders. He slipped his hand to my clit, rubbing it in slow circles. I gasped at his touch and he leant down to brush his lips against my ear.

“You turn me on so much,” he whispered honestly, slipping two fingers inside me and curling them up. I moaned into his neck, pressing a kiss against it. Alex never really bothered with foreplay so this felt like heaven. After a minute he pulled his fingers out to push me down against the sofa, as I pulled him into another hungry kiss. He pushed his hips against mine and I let out another soft moan while he smiled into the kiss. Soon the desperation over took us and I fumbled with his belt, helping him remove the rest of his clothes before he pulled my t-shirt over my head, drinking in my body.

For a second he tucked his hands into my hair, holding my face behind my ears and stroking me cheeks with his thumb, before kissing me playfully on the nose. He pushed himself inside me with a slight groan, watching my face as I let out a satisfied sigh. I felt so appreciated, the way he looked at me was so tender. Unlike my day to day misery with Alex, this felt so raw, so right. He cupped one of my breasts with his hand, kneading it gently as he softly kissed and nipped at my neck. I felt sweat beading along my thighs, pressed into his body as we lay on the sofa, fully naked with the exception of our socks. He picked up the pace, and I could tell he was trying to control his urge to finish as quickly as possible. He rubbed my clit with the rough pad of his thumb, causing me to let out an unexpectedly loud moan as I clenched around him and my body shook. This brought him over the edge and he finished inside of me with a string of swears. He looked at me slightly panicked.

“Are you on birth control?” he asked, and I laughed, nodding, still out of breath and thrumming from my orgasm. He rested his forehead against my own and we lay there for a moment, panting, letting it register what had just occurred. I didn’t feel guilty at all, although I could tell Graham did. Alex had said so many things to me now that I couldn’t feel regret for sleeping with his friend, not when the moment was so sweet. Then he seemed to be pulled back into reality.

“I’m sorry,” he apologised, standing up and looking for his boxers. “I didn’t mean to do that, it wasn’t the plan.” I furrowed my eyebrows slightly.

“The plan? What was the plan?” I asked.

“I was going to tell you I love you, but you weren’t supposed to... You were going to tell me to piss off and then I could lay it to rest. I’m sorry. I’m drunk.” He pulled his boxers up and started looking for his jeans, but I reached out for his hand, pulling him round to look at me. I was still naked, knees drawn up to my chest on the sofa. I saw his eyes soften, his behaviour calm.

“Gra, I don’t want you to go,” I pleaded, my voice coming out a lot quieter than i intended. Alex and I had had another argument, and I was already feeling so lost until Graham showed up.

He paused, looking at out two hands together. I held my breath, waiting for his response. I needed him to make the irresponsible decision. Eventually, he nodded, and I nipped to the bathroom to clean myself up. When I came back in, clean and wearing a t-shirt and knickers, Graham had settled on the settee with the telly on, he’d also pulled his t-shirt on. I came to sit next to him, and he rested his head on my chest slightly while I began to run my fingers through his hair and he hummed contentedly. The show was boring, a late night crime drama. Within a few minutes Graham was snoring softly on my chest. I sipped my wine and smiled to myself.

November 1996

“I love you.”

“I love you too.”

Graham rolled over with a groan of pleasure, panting with sweat on his brow. I turned on my side to face him and he pulled a stupid face, still lying on his back. I let out a sigh and turned over, away from him.

“Hey, what’s wrong?” he asked, concerned, moving closer and pressing a kiss onto my shoulder. One of his large hands rested on my waist and I suppressed the urge to sniffle.

“We don’t love each other though do we?” I said rhetorically.

“Why’d you say that?”

“Well, if we loved each other, then I’d leave Alex and you’d stop drinking so much.” I felt so bad saying it, but it was true. Even as Graham arrived in a better mood today, there was still an alcoholic taste on his tongue. We’d been seeing each other for over a month, and I knew I wasn’t breaking up with Alex any time soon.

“Maybe you’re right, but still, it feels nice to say, doesn’t it?” he pointed out, nuzzling his head into my neck as he ran his hand round to lay against my stomach, pulling my back closer to his chest.

Sometimes it felt like Alex must have known about me and Graham’s relationship, because he suddenly changed last month. Of course, we still argued. He still enjoyed champagne and cocaine and plenty of women, but god he was good at apologising. After arguments he’d always pull off the perfect apology. He’d me out to an expensive restaurant and completely overlook every gorgeous woman there. He’d make a point of telling the waitress that he must be the stupidest man on earth to have an argument with his ‘beautiful girlfriend’ and would try and show me off to every person in the room. Sometimes his apologies were less flashy, sometimes they came in the form of a home cooked croque monsieur in the morning, and kisses all over my face. Alex had the ability to make me feel both completely worthless and wonderfully special, but when he made me feel so special the guilt always tainted my mood.

In fact, it was at this moment a knock came at the door. I sat up in slight panic. Graham looked at me in confusion.

“It must be Alex,” I told him in a hushed voice.

“Shit.”

The knock came again. I pulled on a shirt from the cupboard, padding through my flat to the living room.

“Hey, (y/n). I know your home,” he said through the door.

“Can you come back later, Al?” I asked, doing up a couple of the buttons. “There’s someone here at the minute.”

“No, just open the door,” he persisted. I sighed, walking over and unlocking it. I stood there in a just the oversized shirt and some underwear I’d pulled on. My bedroom door was shut, Alex wouldn’t mind as long as he didn’t know who was in there.

“I’m in the middle of something,” I said slightly exasperated.

“Fucking hell, you look good,” he grinned, looking me up and down before pushing his way past to get into my flat.

“Hey, don’t come in!” I protested.

“It’s fine, love. I left my keys somewhere here, I just came to grab them,” Alex replied, going into the kitchen and picking them up off the side. He walked into the living, cheeky smile on his face. “Hey, can I say hello to whoever is in there?” he teased, stepping towards my bedroom door. I rushed forward, pushing him away while he teasingly stood his ground.

“No you cannot, it’s weird. If I come into yours while someone’s there you look like a philanderer, but when you come here guys think you’re my pimp or something,” I argued, managing to get him across the room toward the front door.

“Okay, fine,” Alex agreed, dropping his hands to around my waist. “Kiss goodbye?” he requested in a silly voice, tilting his head to the side. I rolled my eyes, but agreed. He pressed his lips to mine for a moment, dropping his hand to squeeze my arse jokingly, and I pulled away to give him a lighthearted smack on the arm and hurrying him out the flat.

When I walked back into my room, Graham was still nestled beneath the duvet, his head poking over the top.

January 1997

"You have to be joking, right?" came the surprised voice of Blur's bassist. Alex was stood in the doorway of a backroom at Groucho's. His pupils were like goddamn dinner plates, as per usual, but for once he was acting surprisingly sober for someone so off their tits. We'd been caught, and as Alex cast a disbelieving look between myself and his bandmate my heart dropped down into the bottom of my stomach.

I had been dating Alex James for just about two years, and had known him for four, and although our relationship wasn't defined as such, it was a rather open one. This, however, seemed to be a breach of our agreement. This wasn't a random person, or even a distant friend, this was Graham.

When Alex had walked in, he'd come across a scene that was a little bit more than over friendly. The guitarist had his hand underneath my skirt and was kissing my neck while we laughed drunkly. Of course, then came the interruption, and we had jumped apart at the arrival of my boyfriend. I sat awkwardly, chewing my lip, feeling like a naughty school kid. Nobody spoke. It was difficult to know what to say. There was no chance of convincing him it was less than he thought, I'm sure our guilty faces spoke volumes. After a pause that went on for way too long, I tried to speak up.

"Al-" I began to reason but my voice was cut of.

"No," he interjected. "I can't fucking believe it. You're my mate, Gra. You're in the band. Of course, the quiet, sweet one. Works for you doesn't it? 'Cause this whole time you've been fucking my girlfriend," Alex snapped. I saw Graham look down, his jaw clenched slightly. I wanted to reach for his hand but I knew it wasn't the time.

"Alex,” I warned but he scoffed at me.

"Piss off with that, (Y/N)," he scolded with an incredulous laugh. "Get your stuff from my place tomorrow, but don't come too early 'cause I'm bringing home that blonde girl from the bar tonight," he told me harshly, leaving the room, probably to go practice his lines in the bathroom.

I sat back down next to Graham, my frown mirroring his. I tipped my head onto his shoulder, and he pulled me into him with a comforting arm. It was difficult to pin down my feelings, although guilt was the presiding one. I felt especially guilty for not finding the ability to care that Alex had just split up with me. I felt tears prick my eyes, unable to stop myself from crying. Graham tilted his head to me, brushing the tears from underneath my eyes with his thumb, and pressing a kiss onto my forehead. I tried to pull him in for a kiss, to distract myself from my current feelings, but he turned his head away.

“Now’s not the time,” he told me gently.

February 1997

I didn’t expect to still accompany the boys on the American tour, in fact, I was aware Alex had greatly argued against it, but Ivan had insisted. I was under contract to the record label and familiar with the set up and how the band liked things. I rather have stayed in London to be honest.

Before we left, Blur released their self titled album, kicking it off with a 'secret' gig at the Astoria to a sold out crowd of two thousand people. The mood was so elevated, all tensions seemed to be erased. A huge after party went down. It was packed with Britpop royalty and went completely out of hand. That night I even stupidly assumed that things would go back to normal, water under the bridge.

I only listened to the album two days later. It was totally different to anything they'd done before. I recognised the influence of the underground bands Graham listened to, although the tone seemed slightly ironic. The album seemed fast paced, but then, halfway through the album came an unexpected softer number, Graham's soft voice coming into my living room through a layer of crackly voice effects. The first verse was despairing. I knew Graham was struggling with his alcohol, but I'd been doing so awfully myself that I didn't even realise how bad it had gotten. It was the chorus that really ruined me though; heartwrenchingly honest and bitterly optimistic. I didn't care if he'd written it about me or not, but that last line hit me somewhere deep in my heart and put tears in my eyes. By the time the song had ended I was a sniffling mess on my living room floor and brimming with such a strong sense of love.

We left to France two days later. The crew were acting strange with me. Everyone knew that I’d now slept with two members of the band, and there was lots of implication I was going to try a third. Damon was acting well off with me and usually I found myself sat with Graham receiving glares from both Damon and Alex. We had to go through Paris and then Tokyo before we arrived in the US at the beginning of March. Things were okay when we all got drunk enough, the boys tended to forget about my crimes against the band. We did sing alongs at our hotels. Alex got a bit arsey when Graham fell asleep with his head in my lap in Tokyo, but he’d happily bring girls to drink with us and happily snog them while I was sat there. I didn’t mind, the part of me that cared was so easy to shut off now.

I loved Japan, and the Japanese loved Blur. Damon was particularly popular with his blond hair, blue eyes and pretty face. The reception at the airport was always brilliant. There would always be a crowd of teenage girls desperate for a signature off their favourite band member, I think one of the Gallaghers already said it, but it was like a second wave Beatlemania. I usually sat back with Ivan, watching the boys deal with their fans, especially Graham. While Alex and Damon used a charming smile, Gra always seemed so unsure what he was doing was right. It was very endearing. I wanted to stay as far away from fame as possible.

Me and Alex’s breakup was extremely high profile. Of course, why we split up was a public mystery, only adding to interest levels. We kept our relationship fairly private, although I had experienced the odd incident with paparazzi, but the Blur management team saw great opportunity for promotion with our split. I was hounded by music journalists for weeks, and photos of me suddenly started appearing all over the gossip magazines. As much as I didn’t want to be stuck on tour with Alex, I had to say it was a relief to leave it behind.

Graham still came to my hotel room late at night, but for both of our sakes he left way before the sun rose. That part was the hardest, when he climbed out of bed to get dressed and leave. I’d watch him put on his clothes, peeking my head over the bedsheets and not speaking. He’d press a kiss to my forehead and tiptoe out the room, back to his own. Then I was alone. I think that fear of being alone was what kept me from ending things with Alex, because staring up at the ceiling after Graham left was the most saddening feeling in the world. I couldn’t say I love you to him anymore, even if I did. When I was still with Alex, it was just a phrase, but then it had become an empty promise. I was far too scared to bear my soul to him like that. I think it upset him slightly, when I wouldn’t say it back, but he never mentioned it.

It was moments like that, lying alone in bed and feeling totally isolated, with nothing but the rushing thoughts in my head, that I would have given anything for Alex to burst into my room and pick a fight with me again. Sometimes I wanted him to loose his temper, to see me across the room and to shout at me, to call me names. His willing acceptance of the situation hurt me most. His ability to move on like it was nothing.

March 1997

Things went downhill once we arrived in America. Everyone was jet lagged from the flight and we were mainly travelling around on a tour bus. Being in such close confines did have a habit of getting on everyone’s nerves. I was sharing a tour bus with some other sound technicians, which was a nightmare. I was the only woman on tour, and every morning I got up an hour before everyone else so I could get dressed without being stared at by a group of blokes. Unfortunately, I was also going to bed in the early hours of the morning anyway, so I was feeling twice as exhausted as usual.

Suddenly, Alex seemed a whole lot more pissed at me than before. Any time Graham and I were even in the same room, he would glare until one of us left. He couldn't help but leave snide comments.

The other issue with being on tour was privacy. I barely got a second alone with Graham. Damon had walked in on one of our few opportunities, while Graham had his head between my legs, and aside from it being very embarrassing, since the incident Damon had been twice as off with me as ever before. Eventually, Graham and I settled for cuddles and conversation, this seemed to cause the least tension.

One night in Detroit, we all went out to a bar. I found in America all anyone ever wanted to know was 'what you did'. Of course, this was in reference to career, but I'd recently found entertainment in replying "nothing much". I spoke to lots of American's, receiving regular compliments on my accent. We drank lots, Alex ended up taking a very attractive blonde girl to the tour bus, leaving the rest of us to continue our evening by drinking enough to knock out an elephant. At one point I wobbled outside for a cigarette and some fresh air.

I stood by the back door and the bins, inhaling the smoke and letting the cold sober me slightly. Then, a very drunk Damon stumbled out the pub, proceeding to bend over by the wall and vomit onto the floor and his trainers. I rushed over, putting a hand on his back and trying to shuffle his feet away to avoid where he was being sick. He finished throwing up and swatted me away.

"Piss off (y/n)," he slurred. "It's your fault it's like this." I stepped back, surprised at his words.

"What?"

"You cocked everything up!" he whined, leaning against the wall for support. "You broke Alex's heart, and now he's mad at Gra, and now Gra's in love with you and you're going to hurt him. Fucking hell, (y/n), look at him! Can't you see what it'd do to him!"

I couldn't help it. For what seemed like the millionth time in the past month, tears prickled my eyes. I never usually cried, but now all my emotions lay very close to the surface.

"I don't want to hurt Graham, Dames. I never wanted to ruin anything," I sniffled, taking a drag from my cigarette to try to calm my wavering voice. "I love Gra, I really do, it's just... complicated."

Damon's eyes softened slightly, and then he fell over into his own sick.

#graham coxon #graham coxon x reader #blur band #britpop #90s imagine #smut #blur #britpop imagine #alex james #alex james x reader #battle of britpop

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kaminobiwan · 4 years

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embrace

pairing: obi-wan kenobi x ambassador!reader

summary: After a hard day of politicking, you find solace in the presence of your temporary bodyguard.

a/n: Whipped this one up real quick on the road! It’s short and sweet, and I really didn’t have to go that deep into the plot, but I actually quite liked doing the research :-) this was also a request from @aty-cgca7 for some stress-relief and Obi-Wan a couple milestones ago...I hope you like it, Chasity! Here’s my taglist!

“Karking — animals!”

Obi-Wan regards you with a mixture of trepidation and reverence, fisting his hands at his sides as you storm into your flat. You’ve been ranting about the usual CSA lawyers that had put a crimp in your day, constantly undermining your work to forge a stronger — and less corrupt — relationship with the Republic.

He’s only known you for a couple weeks, but you’re fiery, determined in every sense of the word. Most Galactic senators would cower in intimidation from your capable aura, but lucky for them, Cantonica — just like the rest of the star systems under the fiefdom of the Corporate Sector Authority — was an independent system, and your involvement as an ambassador only saw time in the Senate chamber for lobbyist proceedings. Unlucky for them, however, you’d just been appointed to the Galactic Corporate Policy League, and your position with the public interest group meant you’d be staying on Coruscant for an indefinite amount of time.

And luckiest of all, Obi-Wan had been assigned to your security detail, following a second attempt on your life after the first failed assassination that had introduced the two of you in the first place. Undoubtedly thanks to your recent and untarnished surge to prominence.

Many politicians hadn’t batted an eye at your steady career growth, dismissing you as another pretty face that had risen to power thanks to family connections — and though you did have the legacy of your mother’s father on your side, Obi-Wan knew that it was all you at the root of it. Your hardworking spirit had shown itself quite early when he’d witnessed you earn a spot on the policy group, seemingly playing along with the interests of the cabal, then revealing yourself to be opposed to the exploitative initiatives the CSA had hoped to pass under the willful ignorance of dirty representatives. Obi-Wan had nearly laughed aloud at the reactions of the lobbyists when you’d blocked the unanimous vote needed for a rollback of government restrictions on mining and child labour. More than that, he’d been impressed — you’d shown extreme patience and resilience in keeping your cards to your chest.

And patience, if anything, was Obi-Wan’s most well-known trait. Right after negotiation and dashing good looks.

Today, though, that patience of yours seemed to have worn thin at the hands of the plutocratic attorney generals that had managed to get a large and hardly-legal mining project on your homeworld approved, despite the objections from you and several others. Once the decision was finalized, you’d gathered your things, not bothering to keep the scowl off your face, and headed straight home, leaving Obi-Wan little choice but to follow you inside until the Coruscant Guard that was scheduled to stand post outside your door arrived.

“The second I bring up evidence of treaty violations or unlawful encroachment into other territories, they threaten to cut off our trade routes! I mean, the nerve of them, to toy with the fate of an entire planet like that!”

Obi-Wan’s brows knit together in confusion. “Surely that’s not within their power. Doesn’t Cantonica have agency over its political affiliation?” It’s normal for him to chime in on your thinking-out-loud, your knowledge on the Outer Rim surpassing his own, though on more than one occasion he’s assisted you in cracking a difficult case — but he’s trying to be careful not to press any more buttons than have already been pushed today.

A wry scoff escapes you, grim resignation overtaking your expression. “The entire Corporate Sector is governed by corporations, not the people. Our autonomy is really just for show.” You march to the kitchenette, predictably looking for the same tea you always brew after a challenging session, he’d come to notice. “Even if there were enough citizens that wanted to secede, which there isn’t, the Authority has too much power over our economy. As much as I hate to admit it, without the casinos and racetracks, Cantonica would be bankrupt.” As you nudge more leaves than usual into the steeper, Obi-Wan catches a glimpse of the nearly-empty pouch. Maybe he’d be able to make a stop at the market on his way home.

His thoughts are interrupted by the sudden shattering of your teacup on the floor, a sharp curse leaving your lips.

Your hands are shaking.

In a flash, Obi-Wan jumps to action, ushering you away from the mess of shards and herbs. “Here, let me.”

You let him guide you to take a seat and sit back as he easily guides the scattered fragments into the wastebin by way of the Force, almost no trace of the accident on the durasteel. He turns to you with a pleased smile, but it drops when he notices you.

Your head is buried in your hands, and although he doesn’t think you’re crying behind your fingers, the stress is evident in your weary frame.

He calls your name in question, approaching hesitantly. “Are you alright?”

You drop your arms to show your features, but they’re creased in frustration as you rub your temples. “I’m fine. It’s just a headache.”

Obi-Wan drags a chair to sit beside you, craning down to meet you at eye level. “You know, it’s perfectly normal to need a break every now and then. You’ve had a long day.” You give a little shake of your head in response. “Trust me, no one is immune to their own humanity. I’m sure I’d have figured it out by now.”

His characteristic banter earns a small quirk of your lips, and he grins as you meet his gaze with a snort. “I don’t know how you do it.” You gesture to him vaguely. “I‘ve no doubt I’d crumble under the pressure of your responsibility.”

“I could say the same about myself in your shoes,” he counters, just as serious. “If I’m being honest, these assignments with you are a bit of a respite in the midst of an intergalactic war.” It’s true, the way he no longer feels antsy at being handed protection duty. It doesn’t feel like being sidelined anymore, not when your presence is as as exhilarating and rousing as battle can be. Though, you’re definitely much more inviting.

The look you give him is agreeable, but still earnest in intent. “Then you’ll be happy to know that I enjoy your company just as much.”

In a second, however, the weariness returns, and your contented demeanor from the exchange evaporates before Obi-Wan’s eyes.

Before he can stop himself, he lays a hand on your shoulder, squeezing in reassurance and hoping it conveys everything he wishes he could say. You lay your own hand on top of his, thumb caressing his knuckles absently. It’s as if you’re a droid, robotic and barely mentally present. Obi-Wan frowns.

Attachments may be forbidden for his kind, but the Jedi Code encourages compassion. Demands it, in fact.

That, at least, is something he can allow himself towards you.

His hand snakes carefully behind your head, leading you to his chest slowly enough that you’d be able to escape him if you wanted to. But you don’t, and his arms encircle you fully as he accepts your body as it moulds into his comforting embrace. Another pair of arms tighten around him, and he feels you release a strong exhale in appreciation, limbs loosening. Your face is nestled against his armor, but Obi-Wan can feel your forehead touching the exposed skin of his neck. He forces himself to swallow down the lump in his throat.

After an eternity that passes in seconds, you extract yourself from his hold with a last smoothing of fingers over the hairs at the nape of his neck, and Obi-Wan holds strong against the urge to lean into your touch. Still, he feels pleasantly warm, and his stomach has a peculiar fuzzy sensation.

“Thank you, General Kenobi.” In an instant, you’re back, perfect and poised like how he knows you to be. Not without the remnants of the day weighing on you, but now there’s a gentler light in your eyes when he searches them. “You’ve helped me more than you can imagine.”

He nods, plastering a composed look on his face. But really, his inside are turning with the imprint of your body upon his. “Anytime, Ambassador.”

A beat passes, and after a moment of barely disguised contemplation, you reach up, cupping his cheek in one hand as you lean up to place a chaste kiss on the other. Obi-Wan freezes in his place, staring after you as you smile at him gratefully before getting up and disappearing into your bedroom.

He doesn’t realize you’ve left a lip print until he’s back in his quarters at the Temple. No wonder why Mace had smirked at him curiously in the hall.

#rini writes #obi wan kenobi x reader #obi wan x reader #obi wan kenobi imagine #woohoo!!! another request done hehehe #this one is from so long ago i'm so sorry lmao #working through my inbox #also cannonball sequel is coming but probably won't be this week AH SORRY #there's a lot I wanna get done first #but it's coming hehe I haven't abandoned jedi!reader

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comfortwear · 3 years

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Best Men’s Work Boots for Narrow Feet Review

Wearing work boots is a well known decision among men. They're incredible at securing your feet while you feel good. Yet, they will not work in the event that they don't fit, and customary sizes aren't ideal for thin feet. You'll require the best men's work boots for thin feet all things being equal.

Why Is This Important?

A few people may feel that having shoes intended for their tight feet isn't actually too significant. That is false by any means. Having the ideal fit for your shoes is urgent, and that implies considering in the width of your feet as well. It's difficult about the length of your feet.

In this blog, we will tell you the best way to see whether limited fitting boots are ideal for you, and we will then, at that point analyze the top decisions available. This incorporates an outline of these decisions, just as the advantages and disadvantages of each.

Before the finish of this blog, you can ideally track down the ideal thin work shoes that fit your necessities.

1. Wolverine Men's SR Dura Shock DA Work Boot

The Wolverine brand has been around since 1883 when it was first settled in Michigan, and they've adapted a considerable amount about work boot craftsmanship throughout the long term.

They've made it their main goal to give the most agreeable work boots that can assist with shielding you from the most difficult workplaces.

Item Highlights

How about we start with the soles. These are slip safe soles, and this is maybe the main element you need to get for your work boots. Slip opposition makes it so you ideally absolutely never slip on the floor when you're busy working.

It's difficult on account of the agony and expected injury, yet additionally in light of the fact that it's humiliating and can look amateurish. So regardless of whether your working environment has bunches of wet spots, you're not going to be as inclined to sneaking in these work shoes.

In any event, when you step on oil, you can simply dawdle on some other surface and the oil will be ousted. For the upper, you have tumbled full-grain cowhide. This implies that the finished cowhide is pleasantly adaptable to oblige your foot developments.

It's likewise water-safe, and it's ready to handily persevere through broadened times of mileage. It's ready to keep your feet dry from within as well. Regardless of whether your feet sweat, the cross section inside covering wicks away the dampness so that you're feet doesn't remain wet.

This accompanies an antimicrobial layer, and it truly works, as this shoe finishes the smell assessment. With the steel toe, your toes are heavily clad and shielded from any effect from an external perspective. The EH assignment likewise shows that you're shielded from electrical perils also.

It's agreeable as well, with the full-pad double thickness foot bed. This is a removable insole, so it's simpler to wash, or somewhere in the vicinity you can place in orthotics in the event that you need them.

The Good

Clearly your feet get incredible insurance with these shoes. Truly bewildering that the solace level is incredibly high. The entire shoe is lightweight, despite the fact that these boots are fundamentally similar to covering for your feet. They're light to the point that they gauge like regular cross coaches.

You can wear this the entire day, and you'll feel comfortable regardless of whether over the span of the day you walk 5 miles or more. It feels so light that you neglect you have a steel toe. It's entirely sturdy as well, as the outsole doesn't handily give indications of wear.

The Bad

You do need to comprehend that it's not totally waterproof. This implies you can't anticipate that your feet should stay dry in the event that you swim into a stream. The tongue isn't intended to keep the water out from the top, so even a hefty storm can get some water inside.

2. Caterpillar Men's Diagnostic Waterproof Steel-Toe Work Boot

This present Men's Diagnostic Hi Steel Toe Work Boot from Caterpillar is intended to assist your feet with withstanding the components, even while you look great wearing these work boots.

Caterpillar is a renowned brand because of how it extends to different instruments to create the employment open door at a site simpler. You can view these work boots as one of those instruments.

The essential objective of these shoes is to assist with guaranteeing that you're agreeable in the work environment the entire day, regardless of whether you need to do a great deal of standing and strolling.

Item Highlights

The way in to its viability in giving the entire day solace is the means by which it's intended to accommodate your feet in an anatomically right manner. Feline Footwear here utilizes what they call their ERGO It upholds the real state of your feet as well as the regular developments of your feet as well.

Rather than having a nonexclusive shape, it highlights explicit forms that are intended to help each progression. Here you have a high-cut 6-inch shaft with heaps of cushioning for the entire day support.

Then, at that point you likewise have the assurance brought by the steel toe. Then, at that point you get extra help from the removable, punctured EVA that accompanies gel innovation to ingest the effect of each progression you take.

It's particularly extraordinary in wet and chilly climate. This accompanies 200 grams of warm protection to keep your feet quite warm. Your feet are additionally kept quite dry from an external perspective, with the waterproof full-grain calfskin upper that is impenetrable to dampness. The outsole is likewise slip-safe.

The Good

What you have here is a couple of boots with astounding defensive highlights. However, what will truly make you grin is the way agreeable these boots are for your feet. Your foot developments are not hampered by the boots as you make each stride. The heel support is unbelievable also.

The Bad

With all its rough materials, it's not shocking that it's somewhat on the substantial side. Yet, for most men, the weight isn't actually too awful. You simply need to consider the additional weight when contrasted with every one of the extra highlights, and conclude which is more imperative to you.

3. Danner Men's Acadia 8″ Boot

These look significantly slicker and more beautiful, however on the other hand it's a serious costly pair. It's a US-made pair of boots made with cowhide and cordura, and it's a top pick among the formally dressed administrations.

It's defensive and stable, and simultaneously it doesn't hamper your capacity to move rapidly. So it's not shocking that it's exceptionally not unexpected among unique strategic units.

Item Highlights

The upper uses full grain calfskin which you can without much of a stretch clean, and 1000-denier nylon that opposes scrapes, tears, and scraped spots. The nylon upgrades the breathability, and it dries immediately when you get it wet.

You have a ribbon to toe plan that gives you a safe and comfortable fit. Inside the Gore-Tex liner is both breathable and totally waterproof. The hand-created stitchdown development gives you a more extensive stage to upgrade your strength.

Extra help and strength come from the fiberglass knife. The heel stature is 1.5 inches, with the heaviness of each shoe (size 10) coming in at a pound and 13 ounces.

The extraordinary "Vibram Kletterlift" outsole likewise assists with making these boots both sturdy and agreeable to wear. The outsole offers breathtaking steadiness, alongside extraordinary footing for wet and dry surfaces. The heel is truly agreeable, particularly with its pleasant shock ingestion.

The Good

This gives you a decent cozy fit, but simultaneously your feet can move unreservedly and rapidly. This keeps your feet quite dry, while you additionally keep your balance on wet and dry floors. This looks extraordinary, and it's likewise simple to clean. It's lightweight also.

The Bad

Simply recall that these are still boots and not running shoes. So while they're on the light finish of boots, they're absolutely heavier than standard tennis shoes. You'll likewise have to break this in, as it's anything but somewhat firm out of the case.

4. Georgia Boot Men's Athens Work Boot

Do you simply detest it when you're wearing shoes and your feet actually get wet? That won't occur with these boots, as they're totally waterproof. They are 10 inches tall, so on the off chance that you just swim in streams that don't arrive at the highest point of the boots you're all set.

Item Highlights

The waterproof framework is maybe its most notable component, yet that is not all advantage you get. This boot is very solid, so you can anticipate that it should last some time. It's as yet agreeable as well, so your feet will not say anything negative.

Alongside the EVA padded sole you have the high level memory polyurethane (AMP) footbed that offers plentiful curve support. The curve support settles on this an extraordinary decision for those with fallen curves.

For help, you have a TPU knife alongside the Georgia anchor circle. The elastic outsole is slip-safe as well, so with everything taken into account it's extraordinary.

5. Ariat Men's Workhog Pull-on Waterproof Pro Work Boot

Pull-on boots can be fairly irritating, as they can represent a test when you need to put them on. It's difficult when the highest point of the boot is up to your shins. Yet, that is not an issue with this work boot by any means.

Item Highlights

They have a unique protected framework called the U-Turn Entry System which really makes it simpler for you to get your feet inside these boots. When they're in, your feet are in for a treat.

For shock retention, you have the EVA padded sole and the gel-padded footbed. To diminish foot weariness, you have an extra-wide knife alongside stabilizers for the forefoot and impact point.

The outsole is impervious to slips and oil. While it's adaptable enough to help your foot developments, it's additionally profoundly impervious to wear. It's even self-cleaning, so you don't follow in earth from an external perspective.

These boots are likewise styled like rancher boots, so assuming that is your inclination, you will track down that these boots look incredible.

The Good

You will not think that its difficult to put this boot on, in spite of its looks. As it resembles you have a piece of cowhide covering your whole foot. It's additionally totally waterproof.

Then, at that point, you get incredible shock retention with adequate help to limit foot weariness. The outsole is spectacular, as its impervious to wear, slips, and oil. It allows you to move unreservedly and it doesn't follow earth.

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searchingwardrobes · 4 years

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Here’s my next previously unpublished story from What Hindered Love, all of which are from Micah’s point of view. Here have Micah playing the guitar and being a hot dad with adorable Luke. With a side of angst as he pines for Chloe.

Summary: When life seems at its lowest, Micah has learned to turn to his music for comfort. His five year old son and his childlike faith helps too. This takes place right after chapter eighteen in What Hindered Love.

As Micah pulled the door of his son’s room quietly shut, the weight of the day suddenly was too much to bear. He’d put on a brave face for his son, not wanting him to sense anything was amiss. But now, he could finally retreat and try to make sense of the ache within him. He knew just where to find solace; the same place he’d found it back when he was a confused teenager. The place of solace he had lost for a time following Rachel’s death. The place of solace that had gotten him through rehab and back to a place of healing. His music.

He went to his bedroom and pulled the case holding his acoustic out from under his bed. A Taylor he had bought after celebrating one year of being clean. He sat on the bed and rested the instrument on his knee, strumming a few times as he turned the pegs to tune it. When he finally started to play, he was surprised at the song that he began to strum: REM’s “Losing My Religion.” It had been a favorite of his as a teen – the words seemed to speak to his wandering, questioning soul. He no longer was floundering where his faith was concerned, but his heart. His heart was still lost. He had given it years ago to Chloe and didn’t he think he would ever get it back. The song talked about the distance in a lover’s eyes and the fear of saying too much. There had been distance in Chloe’s eyes, all right. The entire time at the diner today, he could feel her walls like a tangible thing, higher and more impenetrable than ever.

Micah belted out the chorus next, about a person losing their religion. This was the part of the song that the confused preacher’s kid had been able to relate to so strongly. All his life, lived under a spotlight, yet the real him deep inside slowly fading, shrinking away in a corner. Because who he really was would never be good enough.

The contradictions in the song spoke to him in this situation just as much as it ever did. He felt in some ways he had revealed too much of his heart to Chloe the last few days. Hell, the last few months. The near kiss on Christmas night replayed in his mind over and over. She seemed to want him to kiss her. Had he read things completely wrong? And now that they were in this impossible situation with Scott, the song he had sung to her as a Christmas gift seemed like an over-exposure of the depths of his soul. Surely she couldn’t misread how he felt. Then again, their past still loomed like a mountain they couldn’t scale.

He thought so many things when it came to Chloe. He thought she enjoyed his company. He thought he saw something the night they were tending to Lincoln when he was sick. She seemed ready for the next step. She said staying away from one another was the only safe way to handle Scott’s threats. But Chloe seemed to be protecting her heart again as well. Why?

He transitioned into the second verse, which was all about confessions. He knew plenty about confessing. But where Chloe was concerned, there was still so much left to confess. Namely what he had told her that fateful day, the last day he truly saw her. Family court didn’t count. Maybe he should tell her the truth about what he had said. Micah lowered his head closer to the guitar as he continued to sing, the words coming from a place deep in his soul.

What if he said too much? What if what he longed for was nothing but a fantasy? The last few words of the song where like razors dragging across his raw heart. He had vowed so long ago that he would never hurt her, but he had failed. He failed then. What if he failed her again?

“Daddy?”

Micah stopped strumming at the sound of his son’s voice, laying his palm flat against the strings to stop the sound. Luke stood in his doorway, rubbing his eyes and clutching his favorite stuffed dog to his chest.

“I’m sorry, little man, was I too loud?”

“Kinda.”

Micah had intentionally left his amp and sound effects pedals alone, but he knew he had a tendency to play even acoustic a little loud. He strummed really hard, probably because playing was so emotional for him. Kate and Hannah were always complaining that he broke strings too often in the middle of worship sets. His father had even been forced to sheepishly tell him the church could no longer pay for his strings. And Beau was constantly grumbling from the sound booth that it was impossible to get the levels right when Micah played so much louder than everyone else.

Luke shuffled across the room and climbed up on the bed. Lightning lifted her head and watched the boy, then jumped up on the bed as well. For some reason, the golden retriever thought Luke being on Micah’s bed meant she had permission as well. The dog licked Micah’s ear, but once he gave her the obligatory rub behind the ears, she curled up contentedly at the foot of the bed. Luke stared at the pattern on the quilt, tracing it with his finger. It was a gesture so like his mother, it made Micah’s chest ache.

“Why are you singing sad?”

“Am I?”

“Uh huh. You and mommy are both sad,” Luke looked up with hopeful eyes. “Maybe you wouldn’t be so sad if . . . you got married?”

Luke phrased the last part as a tentative question, as if he thought his daddy would be angry with him for asking. Micah sighed softly and set his guitar aside. “Is that why you asked Santa for all of us to be together at Christmas?”

Luke nodded, his face sad. “Mhm, and I’ve been praying for it, too. ‘Cuz when I told Grandma that I want my mommy and daddy married, she said I could ask God anything. Are you mad at me for praying?”

Micah pulled Luke onto his lap and brushed a kiss to the top of his head, “Of course I’m not mad. But I have to prepare you for something, Luke.” Micah took a deep breath. He hated what he had to tell his little boy, but he wouldn’t lie to him or give him false hope. “Your mommy and I won’t be able to spend time together anymore – at least for a while.” God, he hoped it wasn’t forever!

“But why? Is this because of the lady with the clipboard? She looked all around and asked Mommy questions.”

Micah sighed and brushed his chin against Luke’s unruly dark hair. “Yes, Luke. I’m afraid so. But that doesn’t mean we’ll be with you any less. And Mommy and I are still friends.”

“So I can keep praying?” Luke asked, looking up into father’s eyes.

Micah smiled down at the little boy he loved more than his own life. “Of course, buddy. You can always keep praying. No one can stop you from doing that. And, honestly, with what your mommy and I are going through right now, we need your prayers more than ever. ”

“Can I pray right now?”

“Sure.” Micah expected Luke to just bow his head and say his prayer, but instead, Luke stood up on the mattress next to his father and placed a hand to Micah’s head. Micah smiled wryly. Yes, grandma was definitely a strong influence.

“Jesus, please help Daddy not sing so sad. Help Mommy, too. Grandma says we can’t always understand why you do things, but can you please, please, please, help Daddy marry mommy? Amen.”

Luke dropped his hands from Micah’s head, but then quickly put them back. “Oh, and I pray that Daddy can be Lincoln’s daddy, too. That’s it, Jesus. Amen.”

Micah had to clear his throat and blink before he could start crying. How did Luke know to throw his little brother into his prayer? He also hated the unwavering faith he heard behind Luke’s prayer. How would it feel when Luke discovered his prayer was impossible? Almost as soon as the doubt came to his mind, that still small voice he had learned to listen to during rehab whispered a response. Is anything impossible for God? He chuckled a little to himself. Faith like a child, indeed.

“Okay, little man, speaking of prayer, we need to get you back to bed. We have church in the morning, and when you’re staying with me, we have to be early. Praise band warm up, remember?”

“Can I take my guitar? Just for the warm up?”

“Sure, why not?” Kate would hate him, probably, but Micah could handle his sister-in-law.

“Can I play one song with you just before bed?” Luke saw the stern look come over his father’s face, and instantly reverted to pleading. “Please? Just a bedtime song? One song, please?”

Micah groaned as he looked at the clock, then sighed. “Fine. Okay. One song.” He picked his guitar back up as Luke raced to his room for his Baby Taylor. “You want me to teach you the Boat Song? The one I sang for Mommy? You said you wanted to learn it?”

“Uh-uh. My Lighthouse.”

“Again?”

“Please?”

“Fine,” Micah relented with a shake of his head. So he had sung the song what seemed like a hundred times. For his son, he would do it a hundred more.

Micah placed Luke’s hands on the neck to demonstrate each of the chords in the song. He knew Luke would only play the first one and then revert to strumming any old sound. He was only five. Micah wanted the guitar to be fun for Luke, though, so he patiently pushed back his frustrations. Micah started with the chorus, and as he sang, he felt that his son made the perfect choice. This song was the balm his soul needed. The Lord was their lighthouse, and he would carry them through the storm.

#shameless self promotion #my book #sort of #micah's stories #what hindered love #oh no i've said too much

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emmamiri8 · 4 years

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Things to Notice While Choosing Flooring For Your Remodel

Our flooring likely takes more maltreatment than some other piece of the home. Steady pedestrian activity, dropped things, spilled drinks. The rundown continues endlessly. At the point when a renovating venture goes along, it is basic to pick tough, alluring flooring that will address your issues. How about we glance through four things you ought to consider during the initial steps of the determination procedure.

By what method Will It Be Used?

Formal rooms with just infrequent use do well with higher-upkeep floorings, for example, light-hued rugs or artistic tile. As the room gets busier, however, the floor should be prepared for the additional work. You will likewise need a floor that is simpler to clean since those increasingly consumed spaces will require it all the more as often as possible. On the off chance that you have little youngsters, you will need a low-heap cover in the rooms where they play–however not where they eat!

Where Are People Walking In From?

Keeping up your flooring begins with containing soil however much as could reasonably be expected. Flooring simply inside an outside entryway ought not to include covering. The wet, filthy feet of the individuals who enter will rapidly recolor it, and their strides will be moved in a little territory that will for all time straighten the floor covering. Rather, use hardwood flooring for strength, at that point add a launderable area rug to catch water and soil.

What Is Your Budget?

Since flooring is so intensely utilized, you ought to put resources into the absolute best you can bear. Compromising on the floor covering for any room, not simply your busiest spaces, will prompt a previous requirement for substitution. Those supplanting expenses can be kept away from with somewhat more speculation. So assemble your undertaking's whole spending plan with precise figures to guarantee that you realize exactly what amount is accessible for flooring.

What Is Your Decor? A few people tragically choose a room's components independently. They go to the paint store and begin to look all starry eyed at a shading, at that point go to the flooring store and get amped up for a specific flooring. At the point when it's everything introduced, it looks incoherent and befuddling. Keep in mind your shading plans, subject, and lighting as you pick your flooring.

The flooring you pick is a major piece of how you are to redesign turns out. With such huge numbers of decisions available, it tends to overpower to pick through them and attempt to choose only one for each room. The means we've quite recently delineated can assist you with doing some fast work to wipe out a ton of the alternatives. From that point, you'll have a reasonable rundown of decisions to consider, making the procedure quicker and simpler.

Things To Contemplate Before Changing Old Flooring

What's The Location Of The Room Where You Want To Install The New Floor?

In the event that it will be on a ground level or on the off chance that you're searching for flooring alternatives for your storm cellar, at that point ensure that your new floor ought to have the option to deal with dampness. The necessities will change definitely if the room arrangement fills in as a play region for your children and pets as in such spaces you need your floors to deal with the mileage. This is the place home investigation organizations in Oakland Park FL help you the most, likewise with their experience, you can generally choose what's best for you.

How Is The Climate?

You may imagine that floor coverings look incredible and include that additional piece of solace around the room, however, in moist conditions, they can rapidly get form. In such situations, tiles compensate for an extraordinary option because of its quality and style.

Will You Have To Redecorate The Room For Your New Floor?

The shade of the floor can make a gigantic effect on the whole look of the room. Consequently, ensure that you are going for a floor that should supplement well with the present shading plan of the room.

Will The New And Old Floors Coordinate Well?

It's fundamental that your new floor should mix well with the past floors and by and large inside or else the inverse can make the entire space look od.

The amount Is Floor Care Required?

Will you have the option to stay aware of the upkeep necessities of the new floor? It is in every case better to counsel home investigation contractual workers in Oakland Park FL in the event that you need a floor that should require less cleaning and revamping.

Does Anyone Suffer From Any Allergy At Home?

On the off chance that there is anybody in your home who has a hypersensitivity, at that point hard-surface flooring shields you from getting less residue or allergens.

Will You Go For A Heated Floor?

Not all floors can withstand subfloor warming. Thus, on the off chance that you need to keep your home extra warm, at that point pick the material of the floor in like manner.

Would you be able to Install The New Floor Yourself?

On the off chance that you have involvement in securely discarding the old floors and introduce the new ones with an ideal completion, at that point your home can be the best spot to flaunt your abilities.

Is it accurate to say that you are Aware Of The Additional Costs?

With new floors, you may even need to supplant existing trims and edges. Such easily overlooked details can expand the general cost of putting in new floors.

Would Refinishing Work For Old Floor?

It is conceivable to breathe life into your old floor back with new revamping, which will likewise inevitably cost you less.

Floor Tiles, Parquet Flooring, Interior Design

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lovelyrhink · 7 years

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he can feel your muscles under your skin, solid & tightening beneath the meat your wrists find solace at the stretch of his back as his arms enclose you like towers - this is your shape the damp warmth of his breath at the crook of your neck feels too raw, too human - this is his vulnerability, a bare, breathy hint of 'i'm here, i live' & if you lean back enough to meet his eyes, you might see a forest grove, storm-green marshes & misty-wisp rainwater ghosting at the surface in lovely spirals - sink his hands are barns, warm in the summer gold, peaceful at the wheat field slope of your waist if this is so, then his hair is coarse straw in your fingers, & his beard might be too the line of him against you fits like two seams meeting at the breach of press & touch you wonder what it means to be 'mythical,' humming into a dimension where wolves speak tongues that get you hot & with you between his legs, his legs could be bridges, heavenly stone, you, the hard water beneath melting down from the mountains compare him to nature, take him from the static of busy life in motion, & pause below the stars watch your breath climb up to the moon when you tell him 'forever,' & note the twitch of his cunning lips hold out your palms & he'll trace the crinkled lines, say, 'i was there, there too,' before laying the cup of his mouth in the dip of your hand & sealing your fate with a kiss admire him this way, as a fragile being strengthened by your history, built by bricks tinged blue from your young laughter someone asked you once to name his animal, but lions and tigers and bears don't feel quite right perhaps instead, he is a lamb, big-eyed and wobbly, unsure how to stand on such skinny legs but growing big & warm & wooly, snuffling a muzzle at the soft crease of your thighs he is your gentle pet, but do not be fooled by his capacity to orgasm, in which he becomes not a pet but a man with his heavy body pressing you down & into yourself, he calls you bo & says you feel so good let yourself receive the slit of his lips & the rock of his body, relax into the hollow of your own pleasure be unafraid to growl animalistic in your response - feral & when you return, he will be there with you he is there, just like the start, two boys beside the river, a boulder & a creek & again that heavenly stone the two of you swore, smearing in blood, to create something together perhaps this is it, you & him, a culmination of memory & history & laughter & fucking & love & maybe it does not end here, with your lamb-boy in your arms, perhaps the seam has blurred & it has just begun.

he is a freshwater spring & you were born thirsty

#rhink #poetry #oh my godddd #i've had a rhink poem inside me for months #i just had to find it #ahahah i'm laughing

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htdwx-blog · 6 years

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MIT - Blogs

What is something vexing that you're currently wrestling with?

While at Interphase, I’ve come to realize my mom was right in most of the predictions she made for when I would leave for college. I do miss home cooking, having a whole room to myself, and a big, personal fridge. I’ve gotten over those little nuances, but my mom was right when she said I would miss my little brother a lot.

I dreamt I was back home the other day. We were getting ready to go on a family outing, and I held my brother’s hand. I wasn’t aware I was dreaming yet, but I did know it had been a long time since I had last held his hand. I hugged him tight and began crying because of how long it had been since I left for MIT. I cried so hard I woke myself up, with tear drops on my pillow.

I knew from the beginning I would miss my little brother, but I couldn’t imagine how it would actually feel to be apart from him. I feel a huge weight on my heart when I remember the songs we sing together and our secret handshake. I always tear up when I think about how I can’t be there to see him grow up, that I’m not by his side as much as I want to be.

It’s incredibly difficult for me to confront this reality that had been waiting for me. My little brother became the light of my life -- my inspiration for everything I do. It doesn’t feel like home when I can’t hear him laugh or have him run into my room and ask me to play the guitar for him.

But it’s in recognizing how much I mean to him that I feel a little solace. In the four years between his birth and my departure, we developed a bond as brothers that I had always wanted growing up. Granted I grew up wanting a big brother, but I’m happy being a big brother for him.

Being at MIT and striving for success is my duty as his big brother. I’m here to inspire and guide him. Maybe I can’t be there to hug him and spend time with him as much as I’d like, but that doesn’t mean I can’t be a good big brother.

These past four years went by much faster than I wanted, but I know time will only go by faster. And so I’ve come to realize that I have to make sure everything I do is meaningful and beneficial to the world. I have to set an example for my little brother. I can be the brother I want to be, no matter how far away we are.

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What happened Tuesday?

I don’t call Tuesdays “Tuesdays,” at least not anymore. Now I just call them “the day before the physics pset is due,” and honestly it feels just as etymologically correct. On the days before the physics pset is due, I either feel a huge weight on my body or on top of the world. This week, I was fortunate enough to feel the latter.

More often than not I have a lot of physics to do on those days. Luckily my brain was on hyper-drive today, and I was busting out physics on my paper. I use long pieces of paper to make myself feel as though I’ve done more work when I reach the bottom of the page, but usually the page is just filled with the same equation rewritten and scribbled because of an algebra error.

I’ve developed a strange relationship with physics; usually my brain hurts in trying to wrap my head around all these concepts, but it’s inexplicably rewarding to get the problem right. Of course, I usually require a lot of guidance from my more gifted “physics phriends”, but I’ve come to enjoy working out these tough psets in a group setting. When we feel like we’re about to burn out, we pause and basically switch our brains off and operate at minimum brain power. This week we sang Las Mananitas even though it wasn’t anybody’s birthday.

I always felt as though I loved learning and that belief still holds true with how much physics has pushed me; this isn’t your average, everyday problem-solving session, this is advanced problem-solving. I can say with absolute certainty that being able to work in a group with wonderful people has helped me love the tiring physics psets. I definitely could not last these days before the pset is due on my own.

And recognizing that has been absolutely liberating for me. I don’t feel any shame in admitting I have absolutely no idea on how to approach a problem. I used to feel like I wasn’t smart enough for the class, but I realize now that’s a silly worry to have. I’m not gonna know how to do everything perfectly, and that’s perfectly fine -- no one will (except some absolute legends in my class that I respect immensely, I don’t know how they do it.

This day before the physics pset was due, this Tuesday, I learned the fun in being stuck together. I embraced humility and recognized I don’t have to do everything alone. In the haze of endless angular momentum and gyroscope problems, I came to love the people I work with every week, and recognize my own potential.

Every week I always say “this physics is going to kick my [butt]” always with the same weirdly excited voice. I know my brain’s about to be amped up to eleven for awhile, but I know I’m gonna have fun while it is.

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What is your current obsession?

Being away from home, I’ve realized how ephemeral everything is. I mostly came to this revelation after understanding that you cannot walk from Maseeh to Building 36 in ten minutes. Whether I’m late or actually reflecting on how fast the days and weeks go by, I’ve learned it’s important to hold on to little things.

I’ll give myself some credit in saying I already knew this fact, I just never really internalized it. I say this because one of the songs on my album Are You Sure? is titled: “You’re Getting Older, But Your Memories Are Immortal.” I admit I’m not actually that deep 24/7, I just put my deep-thinking cap on when I title my songs (because obviously that’s the most important part of music). I do think the title holds a now-relevant truth: time goes on, but you’ll always have your memories. My favorite way to think about it is brushing my teeth. Once I’ve brushed my teeth, that whole event is gone, lost to the past. But my breath is minty, and that’s what’s important.

Basically the things you do are important not entirely for the “now” in which they occur, but for how you’ll look back on them later on. Leading the cheer section and dancing to September and Redbone for the soccer game at the MITES-Interphase Challenge was fun in the moment (even though my back was killing me), but I’m happy I did it because of how I can look back on it. The way all of Interphase danced in unison (unlike MITES), how we stormed the field when we won the last penalty kick and carried our MVPs, the little-league style finale: ice cream afterwards. Although all those individual moments technically no longer exist, my memory of them and my joy does, and that’s really what matters.

My favorite way to collect and cement these memories and emotions is through music. At night after some tough psets, my roommates and friends listen to albums like Childish Gambino’s Awaken My Love!, Rhye’s Woman, Kendrick Lamar’s Good Kid, m.A.A.d City, and MED’s Bad Neighbor. We dance and laugh and once we’re tired we sit down and have meaningful conversations. And when I revisit those albums, those memories are revitalized, ensuring I don’t lose them.

When I walk through the Infinite, Killian, towards Kendall, or across the bridge, whether it be alone or with friends, there is music. The serenity of a non >80 degree day is captured by The Flashbulb’s Compositions for Piano. The waves of little kids here for a summer camp or a tour crowding me as I walk through Infinite happens at the on beat with Cap’n Jazz’s Analphabetapolothology. Me running from W31 to Maseeh in the middle of a pouring rainstorm that came out of absolute nowhere has Ratatat’s Classics as its soundtrack.

I guess I’m just as obsessed with the individual memories as I am with music and I’ve just so happened to lump them together so they occur simultaneously. This new part of my life, with wonderful friends who make my days worth remembering, deserves to be immortalized in anyway possible.

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myeryaek434-blog · 6 years

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Free Online Games For Everyone

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osunews · 7 years

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osu!weekly #89

It’s the season of the best. The best of 2016 is live, players are voting for the best players of the year. Maybe after this, we should hold a best weekly of 2016. That only seems fair, doesn’t it?

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Weekly news

The third Aspire mapping contest has started. This time around, we’ll be using The Solace of Oblivion, one of Helblinde’s tracks from this new album, Ephemerality. The contest will run for 32 days which should give people more than enough time to create some wonderous eye candy for this almost 6 minute beast of a song.

Our new year gifts don’t stop there though with though, as the best of 2016 voting is now finally live! For those new to osu!, at the start of the year, we hold a vote where you - the players get to vote for what you think were the best maps of the year.

ztrot and myself (deadbeat) have released another new osu!talk. This time around, we got to talk to two time OWC winner, Toy. So if you’ve ever been interested in learning a bit more about him (or where his name came from), now’s your chance!

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We have some new additions to the BNG this week. Give a warm welcome to the following users: * Bakari * Battle * F D Flourite * Garden * Nao Tomori * Naxess

We also have 2 returning members to the GMT. ToGlette and Atrue are now back in green and ready to lay down some smack down.

osu! players have long since admired the nono keyboards, but what about extending that to other game modes? Surely osu!mania could also benefit greatly from something similar? Well you’re not the only one to think so. LastExceed has created something similar to the infamous nono keyboards, but with mania more in mind. Could we be seeing more of this in the future?

The guys over at #modhelp have decided to host another modhelp mapping contest. Contestants will have 48 hours to create and submit a single difficulty. Winners will receive 6/4/2 months of supporter with first place also receiving a fancy profile badge. The contest will start on the 28th, so be sure to check out the thread for all the information.

The Community Mentorship program has started preparing for round three. Hosted by Yuii- and Okorin, the program is scouting for mappers motivated enough to take on a beginner mapper to show them the way into the mapping community. The applications are open until the 5th of February so if you are mapping osu! and are interested in this idea, give this thread a read.

handsome has gone out of his way to dig up some neat stats and records regarding mapping during 2016. For example, did you know that there were 481 mappers in 2016, 153 of which were new?

Scorewatch: January Week 3 (with Scorewatch Patrol)

Vaxei just can’t stop choking can he? He managed to set an impressive choke on Izumi Akazawa (CV. Madoka Yonezawa) - Responsibility Response on the Slayed’s Answer difficulty with a 98.08% 2 miss 632pp play. This play, however, is at 303BPM with the DT mod slapped on, forcing him into situations where he singletaps at 303BPM! What can this kid not do?

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Cookiezi went a step further beyond the boundaries of insanity and HDDT FCed M2U feat. Guriri - Magnolia on AngelHoney’s ExtrA with a 97.92% 454pp play. Watch out at 0:54 where it all goes down the drain, Cookiezi manages to FC all the sliders despite dropping some sliderends which is an incredible feat regardless. Take a gander at this amazing score.

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Chiyoko - Baby Fantastic!(Epsilon Remix) is a 5:34 6.37* marathon map for taiko. So what happens when the global No. 1 decides to try this map with HDDT? Well, he FCs it of course. _yu68 shows that he can still hit those drums to the beat with a 99.57% 633pp play. This is nothing short of breathtaking for this Japanese player.

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WindyS has been going on a DT mania run himself too, clinching an amazing 3rd place on the DT leaderboards for orangentle / Yu_Asahina - HAELEQUIN (Extended ver.) on Jinjin’s 7K difficulty. This places the song at a staggering 258BPM. This play is also, apparently, worth 1629pp. I don’t know if that amount of pp equates to the speed seen in this video, how about you judge it yourself!

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osu!mania 7K World Cup Week 2: As we Wave goodbye

The quarter finals got off to a solid start with convincing 5-0 win for South Korea in their match against Thailand. South Korea left the group stage having only conceded one point and are looking to make sure it stays that way. With an average accuracy of 99.67%, South Korea are looking just as strong as ever.

We’ve already seen one 5-0 win, but did we see any more? Yes, yes we did. In the second match, we saw another convincing 5-0, this time between China and France. While France did put up a strong fight with some rather close scores on Sora no Senritsu and Hyori Ittai, it just wasn’t enough to calm the Chinese storm.

Chile and Indonesia took to the stage next, with many hoping that this would be the match to break the 5-0 streak. To everyone’s relief, we saw not a 5-0, but a 5-2 in favor of Indonesia. Chile did put up a valiant effort, having the highest scoring player in 4 of the 7 maps.

Our last match of the day was between the United States and the Philippines. While the United States was the favorite going into the match, and managed to snag a few points on both Pink Gold and X-D-A-T, it wasn’t enough as the Philippines surged ahead to a well deserved 5-2 win.

With all the mapping contests, MWC and voting out and about, it sounds like you’ll all be busy for a while. However, If you have any suggestions for what you would like to see in the weekly (and have some spare time), feel free to drop by the osu!dev discord and directly highlight Nyquill or myself (deadbeat) in the #osu-weekly channel. Alternatively, you can also e-mail as usual at [email protected].

See you next week!

—deadbeat

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