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1d1195 · 3 months

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My Friend's Toyota II

Read Part I here: My Friend's Toyota

~7.9k words

Warnings: a bit more angsty this time around.

She nodded feeling a little worried about the conversation she was waffling on thinking about it more. The kind of girls that flirted with Harry didn’t look like her. They were loud and boisterous. Fun and exciting. They probably didn’t get enjoyment out of perfectly stacking the dishwasher or the smell of laundry on Sundays while watching TV.

Told me that she’s never been in love before / Darling, I can treat you right, take you to the shore / Every time you cross my mind, I just want you more / Sitting in the grass looking at the tower / Thinking ‘bout her eyes every single hour / She’s my wildflower

She brought water and pain pills into Allie’s room and plopped on the bed beside her. “Good morning, sunshine!” She chirped.

“I hate you,” she hissed from beneath the blanket.

Giggling, she laid beside her hungover form and smiled at the ceiling. It felt like her organs were made of liquid. They were all warm. Like her heart had sent too much blood to each of them. Her face felt warm. He wasn’t even around and just the mere thought of Harry had her feeling downright giggly. It had never felt like this before about a guy. Not when she pined over the guy in her high school biology class. In her sixteen-year-old rom-com ridden mind, that guy was the love of her life. They were going to live happily ever after. One day he was going to notice her, not just as his lab partner but as someone he wanted to spend the rest of his life with. It was foolish to think. Not the guy she dated briefly when she was seventeen. But she tried not to think about him too much.

Sixteen and seventeen was so young. Twenty-one was still young but she felt more confident about Harry making the giddy feeling flood over her as she laid beside a headache-ridden Allie.

“Did you sleep in Niall’s bed?” Allie asked.

Her cheeks flushed hotly. She shook her head, glad that Allie was hiding beneath the covers. “No, of course not.”

“I don’t think anyone would blame you. That wouldn’t even be the worst place Harry’s taken a girl to bed,” Allie murmured. Allie’s hungover, she reminded herself. She doesn’t know what she’s talking about. Speaking before she had time to process what she was saying. Worrying about something she had no control over.

She didn’t want to think too much about the rumors that swirled around Harry. After last night, if anyone saw her go into a bedroom with Harry, she was certain the rumors wouldn’t just be about him anymore. “I think I have to ask him about the rumors,” she whispered.

“Yeah? That’s good, honestly. It’ll probably make you feel better. You’re already on his side,” Allie was gentle. Even though her head was screaming, and she probably still didn’t trust Harry the way she did implicitly. But his previous relationships, they were none of her business. As long as he was kind to her, she had no reason to believe he would break her heart.

“What’s on the docket for today?” Allie asked sitting up and taking the medicine and water from her.

“Nothing,” she shrugged. “I was going to work on my online class, do some chores.”

“Well, I need hangover food, so put it off. We’re going to breakfast,” she said getting out of bed and pulling her hair into a twist and out of her face. She giggled in response.

“You don’t have to tell me twice.”

She was right about the rumors. As Allie devoured her bacon-y potato cure, she could hear the next booth over talking in low whispers about how Harry brought another girl into Niall’s bedroom. “They were in there for two hours.”

“Lucky girl.”

“Lucky Harry,” a guy muttered to them. “Did you see her? She’s hot.” She was glad the booth wall that separated them was high enough to keep her hidden. Allie seemed to be too focused on her breakfast to notice the others chatting about her one table over.

“That’s a new record for him. He hooked up with like five girls over the summer.”

That was the kind of rumor that made her stomach churn. “She’s nerdy and so not Harry’s type. I have a class with her, and she sits in the front. I give it two weeks now.”

“So why does he keep hanging out with her?”

She pushed her plate of French toast aside and tried to tune them out. She looked at Allie, head resting on the table beside her plate of food. “It’s so good,” she moaned.

Laughing, she shook her head. “No one forced you to drink that much,” she reminded her.

Allie smiled. “No one needs to.”

She knew she was being quiet. “Y’okay, love?” Harry asked as they walked to math class. She nodded, still silent. Harry didn’t press her, which she was grateful for; it seemed hard to believe he was planning this long extravagant plan to impress her long enough to sleep with her or something. The rumors continued to swarm from the weekend. She wondered if Harry heard them or if people were smart enough to not to talk about him in front of him.

But all the rumors were about how she wasn’t good enough. How Harry was wasting his time. It felt true. She probably wasn’t like the other girls Harry dated. The October breeze chilled her cheeks and she nuzzled into the collar of her jacket briefly to avoid the breeze. “Do you have plans tonight?” Harry asked.

Nothing besides studying and homework. But she didn’t want to sound unbelievably lame. “No,” she cleared her throat.

“Would y’want t’hang out?” He asked.

“Hang out?” She repeated.

He smiled. “Yeah... we can order pizza and study. Or watch a movie. Jus’ hang out,” he repeated. Her heart fluttered at how sweet it sounded. How innocent. She really needed to tell him about her worries.

Be careful with your heart. Allie’s voice was loud in her head. She loved her best friend, but kind of wanted to shove her for getting into her head like that. She was blissfully unaware of Harry’s reputation until Allie brought it up. Now it was tainting her walk. Ruining the nice late-night chat she had with him in Niall’s bedroom. If she ever ran into Niall, she would have to remember to thank him.

“Mitch works on Tuesdays and then stays at his girlfriend’s place so...I know y’don’t have class tomorrow. Y’could stay if y’want t’stay the night.”

Her heart felt uneasy, and she didn’t know how to answer without sounding like an idiot. “Um...”

“You don’t have to,” he said quickly. “Jus’ thought I’d offer. I’ll take y’home any time y’want,” he promised.

Biting her lip, they entered the Sawyer building, and she paused right by the door ignoring the passing groups of students hurrying to and from their next class.

They stood near the ancient radiator for a building that was built in the late 1800s. It was painted over in white, about two inches thick of the chipping color. She wondered how it hadn’t melted off when the air was so chilly. While she warmed herself, Harry said hello to a friend of his and she got the gist that he was asking about the soccer game later in the week.

For whatever reason, in her mind, now was the perfect time to ogle Harry. His black jeans (they were her favorite of his) hugged the muscles of his legs like they were nearly painted on. She never cared about a guy’s legs before until she met Harry. His hair was coiffed to perfection in those lovely chocolate curls that made her want to run her hand through them herself. His jacket was lighter than hers; of course it was. It was probably a normal temperature to him and not frigid the way she thought it was. He looked so cozy she wanted to hug him. Other than gentle touches to the arm or hand, they hadn’t touched one another all that much. The ache she felt in her muscles to reach out and hug him was so strong she had to silently berate herself that she would look like a lunatic hugging in the middle of the building between college classes.

Eventually, she pulled herself from her thoughts. She found Harry smiling at her so sweetly while she thought about everything rapid fire while waiting for an answer. His friend was gone and she wondered how long she had been caught staring and nearly drooling over him while she warmed by the antiquated heating system.

“I would love to hang out, I’m not sure about staying over,” she admitted. “I have work in the morning.”

“S’fine,” he answered eagerly. “I’ll take any time I can have with you, love,” he looked at his feet and then up again, shyly through his eyelashes. Standing by the radiator was suddenly too hot. All he had to do was look at her. She would never need a heating system again.

“Do I look okay?” She asked Allie. She wasn’t trying to overdo it. She wanted to be prepared without looking insane. If she stayed over, she would have the T-shirt she needed for working at the local Starbucks. She could wear the jeans she had on currently, and no one would be the wiser. Her little bag of toiletries was shoved into the middle pocket of her backpack. The last step was to have Allie double check her outfit, hair, and makeup. That she wasn’t overdoing it for a Tuesday evening.

Allie paused from her painting wiping the back of her hand across her forehead to get the hair out of her vision. In doing so, she swiped teal paint across her skin. But it only made her look like the project herself. Her major was art, of course—she wanted to teach because it was one of the most passionate classes she took growing up.

Her teachers inspired her, and she wanted to do the same. Honestly, she already looked the part. Her outfits always consisted of bohemian skirts and the like. Her hair was a little frazzled but in an organized messy way. Allie added décor around the apartment that sparked a little flare to the selection of items she had purchased when they moved in. Her eye for color was impeccable and while she would probably have the same six prints hung on the wall, Allie was able to add something that didn’t quite fit their modern-twenty-something-year-old theme but nonetheless went perfectly. She was like a ballerina, utterly graceful. Like she floated from room to room and exuded beauty like it was her job.

Now, Allie looked her up and down. A black, long-sleeved T-shirt with the college name along the sleeve that she would wear to bed if she had to. She crammed a pair of leggings and socks alongside her bag of toiletries just in case as well. She wore a pair of Converse just in case she stayed the night and had to go to work right from Harry’s. “You look really pretty,” Allie promised with a smile. “Effortless beauty.”

She sighed with relief. “You’re sure. My hair isn’t too much?” She straightened it after a late afternoon shower. It would be easier to deal with if she did end up staying the night and didn’t shower.

“It’s very practical of you,” she assured her. “You’re not trying too hard, sweetie. I swear.”

“Okay,” she sighed again. “Is it weird I’m nervous?” She asked.

“Not at all. You really like him,” Allie reminded her. As if she could forget. “It’ll be fine though. You have nothing to worry about.”

Even though Allie was definitely her best friend, they hadn’t known each other long; there was still a long list of things she hadn’t told her yet. “I’ve...never spent the night with a guy,” she admitted.

Allie blinked. “Oh,” tilting her head curiously at her lovely friend. It seemed a little...not weird, but genuinely surprising. The girl was sweet as could be. They hadn’t delved too deeply into romantic histories, but it sounded like she had gone on enough dates back South to have stayed at a guy’s place before. “Well...it’s okay,” her tone was comforting.

Her face turned pink, and she looked at Allie as if she had all the answers. “What if I do it wrong?”

Allie smirked sadly. “Sweetie, you can’t do it wrong. Not if Harry likes you as much as he says he does. The way I saw how much he liked you. You were right,” she nodded her head firmly. “It’s different with you, trust me,” she wrapped her arm around her shoulders and gave her a squeeze. She smiled brightly as she ushered her out the door before she could talk herself out of doing something she knew she wanted to do. “And if he does try something shady, you just text me and I will come cut his dick off.”

Harry said five and she knew it was a fifteen-minute walk to his dorm from her apartment. It seemed like everything was a fifteen-minute walk. She passed dozens of people hurrying to their late-night classes or to the nearest dining hall (it was breakfast for dinner night which was always a school favorite). The air was so brisk for her southern skin. She wished she wore a scarf. But she wasn’t too far away, and she was sure she could convince Harry to turn up the heat for a bit if needed.

The sun was lower in the sky. The blue wasn’t quite visible anymore. The clouds turned the light around the sun varying degrees of white, pink, purple, and orange. It was stunning and she took a picture on her phone for Allie in case she needed something to paint. She had already painted another photo she had taken earlier in the summer when they first met and told her anytime that she took a nice picture she would gladly paint it.

Harry told her to text her when she arrived, and he would run down to let her in. But due to students not caring about the safety protocols of the building, she made her way in easily when someone held the door behind them while exiting. Once inside she was grateful for the warmth and took a few moments to enjoy the heat and calm the nerves bubbling in her veins. Once she gained feeling back in her fingertips, she called Harry. “Hey love, are y’here? I’ll head down,” he said and she could hear the shuffle of items.

“M'actually in the lobby. If you want to tell me which floor, you’re on, I can make my way myself.”

“Oh, love. M’sorry. I hope y’didn’t wait long,” she could hear the frown in his voice. “Fourth floor. M’standing outside the elevator waiting.” she headed up to the fourth floor of the building via the elevator. She pressed the button and waited for it to descend.

“Not at all. Got right in behind someone exiting,” she promised.

“Oh good. Okay, see you in a minute.”

Taking a deep breath, she was grateful she was alone on the elevator. It was just hanging out. It wasn’t a date. There was no reason to be nervous. Harry was extremely nice to her. When the elevator door opened, her heart stopped seeing him waiting for her. “Wow, y’look beautiful,” he said in greeting looking her up and down but in a way that didn’t feel excessive. Her cheeks felt red at his assessment.

“Thank you,” she smiled. “Thanks for having me.”

“M’pleasure, love,” he tilted his head for her to follow him down the hall to his room. She could hear music coming from the other rooms and even below her. “S’not as loud inside,” he promised.

She smiled. “It’s fine.”

He tapped the number on the keypad and opened the door for her to enter before him. “S’a pretty standard suite,” he shrugged. “Mitch’s room is over there,” he pointed to the door on the right side of the room. “Help yourself to anything in the fridge or cabinets.”

“You have a balcony?” She asked, dropping her bag on the sofa in the sitting area and rushing to the slider to look at it. He smiled at her excitement. She could feel it on her back as she looked through the glass. Harry didn’t go out there much because it was pretty closed off. Each balcony was enclosed with concrete walls on each side and a sloping wooden awning over top that extended past the rail. It almost looked like a prison cell with bars extending from awning to railing from end to end. Worry that drunk college students would fall being the reason. “Can I go out there?” She asked.

He chuckled. “Course,” he reached in front of her, unlocking the handle and pulling it open.

She stepped on the little area and peered between the bars to look at the cotton candy sky. “You get to see the sunset like this every day?” She asked.

He smirked. “Yeah,” he shrugged. “When m’home, I suppose. M’usually working or out and about around sunset.”

“I would live out here,” she told him.

“S’a little cold for you, I think.”

She wrinkled her nose at him so cutely in mock distaste, the expression on Harry’s face changed minutely and he smiled a little more. “That’s what blankets are for. It’s so nice,” but an involuntary shiver ran down her body completely shaking her theory.

Harry tilted his head back toward the inside. “Let’s get y’back inside before y’freeze t’death.”

“If I was going to freeze to death, it would have been on the way here,” she told him. “I should have gloves,” she rubbed her hands together quickly in response. He was right, unfortunately. The chill on the balcony ruined the warmth she got back when she entered the lobby of his building.

“Let me get y’some tea. The pizza should be here soon, too,” he promised. “I thought y’might want t’study a bit before we watch a movie,” he admitted. “If y’don’t, we can start right on the movie.”

She shook her head. “No,” she was quite relieved. There were a few homework problems she needed to finish and dreaded the idea of staying up late tomorrow night after a long day at work but of course would gladly suffer such a thing if it meant an evening with Harry. “That would be great actually.”

“Great,” he smiled. “Make yourself at home. I’ll get the tea,” he turned to the little kitchen area.

After homework, pizza, and a movie, it was nearing ten. They sifted through their regular course of conversation throughout homework and pizza time but remained pretty silent during the movie. The tension she felt between them was thick. She wanted to snuggle up to him but instead wrapped herself snug under the blanket he gave her. The idea of walking back in the cold fifteen minutes away seemed like a terrible idea. Even if Harry went with her.

Her thoughts rolled over about a hundred times weighing her options. She wondered if she should excuse herself to the bathroom to get a pep talk from Allie but stopped herself when Harry’s laugh quietly jolted her from her thoughts. Harry had one socked foot on the coffee table, the other on the floor, one arm draped along the back of the sofa behind her, but not in a romantic sort of way. His other hand propped his head up. His foot on the table bounced back and forth lightly in an easy rhythm. He looked so at ease. Not worried about embarrassing himself in anyway.

Must have been nice. When the movie ended about twenty minutes later, she glanced at her watch as discreetly as she could. “D’you want me to walk you back?” he asked.

She shook her head. “Um... it’s pretty late... and cold. I wouldn’t want to put you out—”

“S’no trouble at all,” he promised.

Her face warmed feeling like now he wanted her to leave. “Well, if you’re sure you don’t mind. I hate to think you’d have to walk back in the cold. I did bring a change of clothes but if you need me to—”

“Oh, oh,” Harry shook his head. Dropping his foot from the coffee table to the floor and turning to her completely. His eyes looked a little wild and she was surprised he looked so at ease moments ago. “Of course. I want you t’stay, love,” he promised. “You must pack light,” he shook his head. “M’so sorry it sounded like I wanted you t’leave. I do not want that. I jus’ assumed y’didn’t bring anything t’make y’comfortable staying over,” his cheeks turned the lightest shade of pink. She could see it in the low light of the lamp he and Mitch brought instead of the fluorescent overhead light. She sighed a bit with relief. “I don’t want you t’leave at all,” he promised.

The air in her lungs felt lighter then. “Oh. Okay.”

“Really,” he inched just a hair closer to her. If she wasn’t so focused on him, she might not have noticed the minute shift in his body language moving toward her. “M’really happy you’re here,” he whispered, and she knew the moment he looked in her eyes he was going to kiss her.

He was moving closer, she wasn’t helping. Her heart was beating so hard, she was surprised he couldn’t hear it. Surprised it wasn’t louder than the thrum of the music playing from the suite below him. He kept looking at her lips. The way they parted slightly. She breathed through her nose as she waited for him to get closer.

“I’ve never slept in a guy’s bed,” she blurted. Blinking, Harry stopped his motion half an inch from her lips. She could feel his warm breath across her face. He pulled back, creating a bit of space between them. He waited patiently for follow up. Gazing at her a little bit nervously. She closed her eyes and bit her lip. She turned her face away from him. “I’m sorry. That totally ruined the moment.”

“No,” he put a hand carefully on her blanket covered knee. “Not at all, love. M’jus’ trying t’give y’some time,” he promised. “M’jus’ waiting.”

She scrunched her eyes shut tighter seeing her blood rush in imaginary shapes behind her closed lids. She still faced away from him. She wanted to blurt it out. But was so scared he would reject her. Then she would have to walk home alone in the cold and dark. “I’m sorry.”

“For what, love?” She imagined the cute little pinch of skin between his eyebrows. Like he got when he concentrated while studying.

She took a deep breath and released an exasperated sigh. Her face felt hot still and maybe a walk in the cold would help her forget this. When she started to speak, her voice shook ever so slightly, and she prayed Harry didn’t notice. “For ruining—”

He did, and it broke his heart before she could finish the sentence. “Love, will you please look at me?” He interrupted. Harry didn’t rush her. It was so slow. A whole hour could have passed in that minute it took her to turn back to him, her hair falling in front of her face still hiding her expression from him. “You didn’t ruin anything,” he promised. “M’honestly... glad y’told me; means you’re comfortable.”

She didn’t have the heart to tell him this was the least comfortable she had ever felt in his presence, but she knew what he meant. “I really want to kiss you,” she whispered.

He smiled sadly. That must be a good sign for him, she thought. Despite the pause. But Harry must have also sensed there was more. “...but?”

She was quiet, bit her lip, and covered her eyes with her hand. “I’ve never been in love before,” she told him, the shake of her voice unmistakable. That must have really surprised him because he was silent. She didn’t dare look. There was still more. “And I’ve never—”

“Love, stop,” he said quickly. She was wrong. He wanted her to leave. This was so embarrassing. There were tears stinging the back of her eyes, but she still didn’t look—couldn’t look. Gently, he pulled her hand from her face holding it in his lap. He cupped his face with his freehand. “I jus’ want t’kiss you,” he whispered rubbing his thumb so softly against her cheek. It felt like the equivalent of his whispered voice. “Nothing more,” he promised. “Can jus’ be one kiss, even,” he suggested. “Nothing else,” he repeated.

She looked at those brilliant green eyes for so long she swore another hour passed in that minute. The shake of her voice disappeared. The stinging behind her eyes stopped. Her heart felt achy, and she leaned the final empty inches between them and granted his wish.

It was not one kiss. One kiss turned into another and then another and then she wasn’t sure she could keep count even if she wanted to. Harry’s hand cupped the side of her face the entire time. His fingers sliding between her hair right behind her ear and tugging her close. It had to have been hours by the time Harry pulled away, resting his forehead against hers. His breathing heavy across her cheeks as he pressed a kiss on her cheek, then pulled away to kiss her forehead. He tucked her head beneath his chin and pulled her toward him. It was quiet, aside from the music below them and their slightly ragged breathing. “Thank you,” he whispered.

She giggled slightly shaking her head against his chest. She was clinging to his short shirt sleeves with both hands, like he was a life raft. Granted, he did make her feel like she was drowning with kisses only moments before. They were quiet for a while, just basking in the warmth of each other. Every so often, Harry kissed the top of her head. His hand moved up and down her spine soothingly.

“Are you tired?” He asked. She shook her head. “Are you alright, kitten?” He asked nervously.

She nodded. “I’m good,” she sighed. “Promise.”

He sighed with relief. “Good,” he murmured in her hair. “’Ve wanted t’do that since I met you,” he admitted.

She smiled against his throat. “Yeah?”

“Very much so,” he mumbled.

“Can I ask you something?” She asked pulling back from him. It seemed colder than the air outside being so far away from him. It was almost harmful to her health.

He nodded. “’Course.”

“Have you heard the rumors about me?” She wondered.

He blinked. “No,” he frowned. “M’sorry. What rumor—”

She blushed. “Um... just that I’m not your type. I’m nerdy. Not...gonna be around long,” she turned away briefly. “I don’t expect you to propose or anything just for kissing me, Harry. I’m not insane. But I’m looking for a relationship,” she sounded way stronger than she felt. Looked him square in the eye as she said the next part. “But I don’t want to date lots of guys for weeks and not have it go anywhere or do anything. I want to have someone to depend on when I feel stressed, someone to sit with me while I do homework, go out to eat with or watch movies and—”

He smiled and chuckled softly as she spoke. Her heart felt so fragile and exposed and his laughter momentarily made her feel ridiculous. But after just a few seconds of his low chuckle, eventually, he sighed with relief. “Kitten, I’ve been waiting a very long time for you,” he whispered, cupping her perfect, gorgeous face, and kissed her again.

“Is it everything you expected?” He whispered. She snorted in the dark and Harry chuckled. Her body was warm and pressed close to his, spooned against his chest. She smelled like the raspberry chapstick she put on right before they climbed into his bed. He squeezed her, kissed her temple. His heart nearly broke listening to her worry about sleeping in the same bed as him. He knew there was more. More she was embarrassed about she couldn’t get it out in one full sentence. None of that mattered to him. Not even a little. “Can we talk?” He asked. She nodded silently against him. “You’ve never been in love?” He wondered.

She shook her head. “I think I’ve made it... too big of a thing in my head,” she admitted. “Too many rom-coms, fairy tales, and books I read as a teenager,” she explained. “It’s silly,” she whispered.

“I don’t think it’s silly,” he kissed the back of her head. “S’really nice.”

“My parents met on this campus,” she explained. “They love each other like...” she shook her head, his lips basically rubbing against her forehead with her motion. “I’m a lucky girl to witness that kind of love. To have grown up around that love while I lived at home.”

“S’that why y’transferred here?”

She shrugged. “It worked for them.”

“Love, m’not trying t’pry or say s’weird. Or make y’uncomfortable in anyway. But... m’shocked y’haven’t been in love. You’re stunning,” he punctuated the thought with another kiss to the back of her head. “Sweet, intelligent, jus’ so lovely. S’a miracle for me y’don’t have a line of admirers.”

She turned around in his arms to face him. She was eye level with him. Their heads sharing a pillow on the extremely small twin mattress. Her nose bumped his and he smelled her raspberry chapstick even stronger. “When I was in high school,” she whispered. “I thought I was in love. I thought we were in love. He carried my backpack with my insanely heavy AP History textbook, he brought me coffee to school, and drove me home from soccer practice,” her voice was even. Not a hint of sadness yet Harry felt this rush of sadness all through him.

“Y’don’t have t’tell me, kitten.”

She glanced up at him, even though it was dark, the light thrown from the moon, made it bright enough that he could make out the whites of her eyes. “I want to,” she admitted. Her regular confidence seemed to be shaken during their almost kiss. The thought of making her uncomfortable, especially after feeling like she ruined their first kiss was his worst nightmare. But conviction seemed to resurface as she began her story. Harry wasn’t sure he’d be able to stand where he thought it was going, but if she wanted to share, he would listen to every word.

He nodded. “M’listening,” he promised.

“We were having our first study date at his place,” she continued. “It was for our English literature class. We had to create a PowerPoint about a book we read. Highlighting all the symbolism and allegory. The history and whatnot,” it wasn’t relevant as to what they were studying. It wasn’t the point. She was stalling. Harry knew it. But he let her continue. “He invited me over because his parents weren’t home. His siblings were out. It was just us.” Harry was terrified he knew where it was going and even though she was perfectly whole in front of him, he felt so much anger coursing through him he worried he might hold her too tight. He held his breath waiting for the shoe to drop. “I thought he would just want to make out or something,” she whispered. “I’m pretty certain I was in love with a guy in my biology class the year before, so I knew I didn’t love him so maybe it’s my own fault for going to his house. Knowing what a guy like him—”

“It’s not your fault,” Harry interrupted. His voice was flat. He didn’t want her to continue. But he had to know. Needed to know. Because very honestly, Harry was going to kill him for hurting her.

She swallowed loud enough for Harry to hear, and she took a deep breath. “I told him I didn’t want to have sex,” she whispered very softly. “He said I was a waste of his time. All this time he could have been with,” she shook her head. “Three, four other girls. Not wasting months on someone that didn’t want to sleep with him,” she pressed her forehead against the top of his chest. “I felt so stupid,” her voice was so thin it was hard for Harry to hear her. He cupped the back of her neck and kissed her forehead. He hoped it was encouraging. So she would keep talking if she wanted. “I thought he liked me. I thought that maybe I wouldn’t get that earth stopping love my parents had, but maybe I would find a guy and we would grow to love each other like that. I know in hindsight that’s stupid to think at seventeen, but it was the only thing that made sense at the time.” Harry remained silent. “I walked home,” she whispered. “My mom just knew. She asked me a thousand questions if he hurt me. I told her he didn’t, but I think part of her still believes that I lied to her—”

“Y’did, kitten. He did hurt you.”

“He didn’t—”

“Love he broke your heart and your trust. He hurt you,” he said simply. “He’s an ass. An idiot. He should be in jail just for breaking your heart,” he promised. It felt so unbelievable that she had never been in love. He wanted to know more about the guy from her biology class, but he couldn't believe that someone so perfect to him hadn't been in love. “S’no wonder y’mum kept asking. Y’mum knows he hurt you. Y’jus’ pretended he didn’t so y’could protect your heart, love,” he explained. She was silent for a minute. Harry could feel her foot impatiently shifting between the covers, near the bottom of his legs and he continued waiting while she processed this information. “Have y’ever told anyone ‘bout this?” He asked quietly.

She shook her head. “It wasn’t...a huge deal,” she shrugged.

He was silent for another long moment, trying to control his anger. If he had his address, Harry was certain he would do something drastic “M’sorry y’feel like y’have t’minimize your feelings. You shouldn’t do that. Please don’t do that around me,” he murmured.

“Harry,” she sighed and pressed her forehead against his. “Where did you come from?” She asked. “Guys in college don’t... You can’t possibly be real.”

He smirked sadly. “I told you, I’ve been waiting a really long time for you,” he kissed her forehead, her eyelids, the bridge of her nose, and her cheeks.

“Harry,” she said softly.

“Yes, kitten?” he was so happy to have her so close to him. None of his daydreams during their walks or math lectures compared at all.

“It’s not going to bother you if—”

“M’sorry t’interrupt, love. But, don’t bother finishing that question. M’gonna take care of your heart. That’s it,” he promised and gave her another gentle squeeze. “Go t’sleep,” he murmured.

For a while it was so quiet, it barely sounded like she was breathing. “Thank you,” her voice was so soft he hardly heard her. As he drifted off with surely the love his life in his arms, part of him thought she wasn’t speaking to him at all.

In the morning, her alarm went off pulling Harry from his dream state. Surely having her in his arms was still a dream, though. He yawned, stretching, and turning to her as she looked nervously. “Sorry, I didn’t know it would be that loud.”

He smiled. “S’okay. Can I make y’breakfast before you go?”

“Oh, no thank you. I’m good.”

“Jus’ lemme get dressed and I’ll drive you.”

“That’s unnecessary,” she promised.

He smiled and kissed her forehead. “S’too bad,” he shrugged, rolled out of bed and headed to the bathroom to brush his teeth. When he returned, she passed him to get dressed in the bathroom and Harry quickly stripped himself of his pants so if she was finished in the bathroom shortly, he wouldn’t embarrass her by being naked from the waist down.

She did catch him with his shirt off, making her cheeks turn the lightest shade of red. Harry smirked tugging his shirt over his head. “Sorry,” she murmured and grabbed her bag to shove her clothes inside it. “Er...I was thinking, by the time I get out, it will be colder...and I don’t have the right coat to walk home. Could you drop me off at my car?” She asked.

Harry tilted his head at her. “I’ll jus’ pick y’up, kitten,” he could see her mulling this over in her head. There was a bit of worry in her eye. Fear of putting Harry out, he was sure. “Love,” he smiled sweetly. “M’picking y’up,” he promised. “More time t’spend with you.”

“You are...” she smiled shaking her head. “Something else, Harry Styles.”

Hey, kitten. Missing you. Hope you’re having a good day xx

Hi! I’m good. Busy with work and studying. Hope your day is good too!

It’s pretty good. Heading to the mechanic. Cars are the worst 😔 Work later. Wish I could see you 😭

At least there’s no class tomorrow

I’d rather have class just to see you xx

That’s really sweet 🥰 Maybe we should meet up during class time anyway?

You’re a genius, love 😘 absolutely. I’ll meet you after your class.

Sounds perfect!

Harry felt shameful. It was a bad week and Thursday was supposed to be a good day after all since they agreed to meet up despite not having class. Well... it was bad aside from math class and studying. Two things he never thought he would say out loud or even think in the privacy of his own thoughts. It was also good because she said yes to a date—a real date.

After their night together over a week ago and a busy schedule on both parts, this was supposed to be their first official date the coming Saturday. He had it all planned out. A fancy restaurant that he made a reservation for in the city. They would take the train in to save them the nightmare of parking. He asked her on Tuesday after class and he didn’t think he would ever forget her beautiful smile when she said yes. It felt like he won the lottery.

But Harry’s car had other plans. He took it in for a routine oil change the night before. During breakfast, he got the call. He needed new tires and new brakes. He knew about the brakes, but he thought he could wait until spring to get new tires—just get through the winter. The mechanic was insistent.

He felt awful as he walked with her on Thursday to study in the library. She was bubbly with excitement for the last week. About him. It was too good to be true. Of course, something had to go wrong. He felt terrible that he was going to have to cancel. “Hey, love?” He asked.

She was rambling about something. Harry wished he had tuned in more to know what and felt bad seeing her excitement waver. “Yeah?”

“Uh...” he sighed and gestured to the bench along the sidewalk. “I have t’ask y’to reschedule our date,” he looked so miserable. Her heart felt so sad seeing how upset he was.

“Oh,” she frowned. The excitement in her eyes was officially dead. Harry felt horrible. “Yeah... of course! Of course, we can. Is... are you okay?”

“I jus’ feel so awful,” he mumbled. “Asking t’reschedule.”

“Oh,” she felt her face wrinkle in confusion. She placed a hand on his bouncing knee trying to help the anxiety he felt. “That’s... that’s okay. Is everything alright? Like, is your family okay or is it a doctor’s appointment?”

Harry thought he was going to cry. “Uh... s’a little embarrassing,” he admitted rubbing his hand on the back of his head. He couldn’t look at her.

“More or less than me getting lost on my first day of class as a twenty-one-year-old?”

He smirked. “S’nothing,” he promised.

“I... I hate to ask this because it makes me sound so insecure... but is it something I did? Or did someone say something about me and now you don’t like me—”

“Jesus,” he shook his head and pulled her toward him quick. He kissed the top of her head, his arm draping around her shoulders. If there was any question of them being an item, Harry certainly squashed them all in front of everyone walking by. Being broke wasn’t as awful as listening to her feelings of inadequacy. “No, no,” he sighed heavily. “God, no, kitten. S’nothing you did. You’re... you’re perfect,” he gazed down to meet her gaze. “M’so embarrassed... I had a pretty expensive car repair t’take care of... so m’over m’budget for the month. I didn’t know at the time—”

“Oh,” she blinked and shook her head. “Oh... that’s okay. We don’t have to go to that restaurant,” she shrugged. “I mean... if you don’t want to go out, of course. But... I don’t need a fancy restaurant.”

His heart jumped to his throat. “Really?” He sighed with relief. “Kitten, I don’t want t’wait any longer t’take you on a proper date... would you want to have a picnic or something? I know that’s lame. S’not a proper date because y’deserve so much more but...m’not making sense, I know—m’jus’ really overwhelmed and—”

She put a gloved hand on the side of his face and smiled. Harry thought that he would see her eyes in every one of his dreams. In his head. Every time he closed his eyes. “I would love a proper picnic date,” Harry swore her smile was made of stardust. Or maybe snowflakes. “Will it be too cold though? We could have an indoor picnic.”

“I’ll make sure you’re warm,” he promised.

She picked Harry up and drove them to where he said. He filled her car with a whole bunch of supplies, food, and drinks. He told her to dress warm and she looked like she was ready to hike. Boots, warm thick socks, a big sweatshirt. She looked so cozy and warm. Once they got to the little place Harry had found when he first made it to college, he requested she wait in the car while he set everything up. “Don’t look, yeah?” He smiled.

She nodded and made herself busy looking at her phone. But after the third trip to the car, Harry could tell she felt bad. “Are you sure you don’t need help?”

“Stay put,” he insisted. After a few more minutes, Harry was at her car door. He was grinning like an idiot as he opened her door. “After you, kitten.”

There was a massive blanket laid on the grass. Along the edges there were little twinkling lights that he hoped made it feel like something out of a movie. Harry’s heart was thudding in his chest. A cooler with drinks and another with food was on one corner of the blanket. Finally, a tiny, portable space heater from camping with Mitch was directed at the blanket. She giggled. “Harry,” she sighed. “This is better than a fancy restaurant," he shook his head with a smirk.

“You’re still getting a fancy dinner, but I couldn’t wait any longer.”

She bit her lip and laid across the blanket gazing up. “This place is so pretty,” she whispered. “Look how nice the sky looks.”

It was getting chillier by the minute with the sun getting lower in the sky. Harry hoped to stay an hour or two but with the slight breeze he worried she would freeze. But the way she laid across the blanket made her look like a goddess. She belonged to nature. He knelt on the blanket beside her and grabbed the food he had planned. She rolled onto her stomach and then to a half-kneeling, half-sitting position. Harry brought sandwiches delighted by her request that her favorite sandwich was peanut butter and strawberry jam. They ate quietly for a bit and Harry poured cans of the sparkling wines he had in his fridge (he thought they might be Sarah’s, but he wanted something classier than beer or seltzers for their first real date).

The sky was pink and purple again after they finished their sandwiches and two glasses of sparkling wine. Harry baked cookies before she came to get him. They nibbled on those while chatting but mostly he just enjoyed her company and how happy she was to just be there with him. It seemed like she really didn’t need a fancy restaurant—even if he thought she deserved it more than all the rest.

When they finished snacking, Harry put the coolers back in the car and laid beside her gazing up at the sky. He pulled the corner of the huge blanket up over her shoulders and kissed the top of her head. “I could lay here forever,” he murmured.

“Me too,” she nuzzled herself closer to his warm jacket. He kissed the top of her head.

“M’sorry this is the lamest first date,” he grumbled still feeling the bits of inadequacy of what he wanted to give her because she deserved the best and not a single thing less.

“No way,” she shook her head. “This is so nice, Harry. I’m warm and cozy. I’m not worried about my dress looking right or spilling something on it. I don’t have to worry about which fork to use. There’s no one around to interrupt or stare at us...” she sighed. “It’s literally the best first date,” she promised.

“Stare at us?” He repeated.

“Surely you see everyone eyeing us every time we walk to class.”

He frowned. “I didn’t know,” he mumbled.

She tilted her head to meet his gaze. She looked genuinely surprised. “Hmm,” she hummed. “I’m not used to people staring at me,” she smiled teasingly. “You probably just tune it all out.”

He chuckled, rolling his eyes at her as he flicked her gently on the side of the head. “I only care when you’re staring,” he brushed his finger across her cheek. “S’like the only thing that matters now.”

“This is crazy, isn’t it?” She whispered.

“What?”

“Falling so hard?”

“Didn’t know y’were falling so hard,” he chuckled. She smacked his chest.

“Shut up,” she tucked her face into his side. He cupped the side of her face.

“I fell so hard, love,” he promised. “Fell so. Very. Hard.”

Harry thought about getting her back soon. It was getting colder by the second. But the sky was this multitude of sunset colors that made him never want to leave. He only wanted to exist right beside her in this little meadow of peacefulness and never let go of her.

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thegreatsylvando · 5 months

Text

A short little dotmunch fanfic i wrote, delving more into their bond & whatever powers munch might have. also posting here in case the link fails for whatever reason.

Dot is not outright paying attention to the commercials, but the banal jingles stick in her mind uncomfortably enough for her to note that a particularly annoying one has played four times. She has a headache that coffee and breakfast failed to soothe, but she can't muster any energy to switch the TV off and give her brain some reprieve from the light and sound. Wayne is at work. Scotty is at school. They have the house to themselves. When it's all four of them, it's a hearth in the darkness. She could never want for anything ever again. She even turned down Lorraine's offer to relocate them somewhere bigger and fancier. Dot was never one for showing off wealth. Not that she ever had it to begin with, but she always found Lorraine's castle garish and hollow; a museum that happened to have some beds and a kitchen. A trophy hall. She could never leave this house. It breathes with her, is scarred like her, is bent and broken in some places but patched up in others, where it matters. And when it's just her and the strange man with ancient eyes, she feels its tendons and capillaries bind to her own.

She decides not to call his name. He might get scared, or think she wants him to do something. She shuffles up to the guest bedroom, trying to dodge the places on the stairs that creak. He's almost deliberately quiet, in everything he does. When she fed him for the first time, he cried, but he did it silently, swallowing everything with each bite of pancake. She felt it anyway. The way the fork trembled in his hand magnetically resonated in her own. He held the rim of his plate delicately, but she noted the tips of his fingers were white with effort, as if he were trying to prevent his good fortune, this dream, from floating away. She watched his tears drip into the syrup, the muscles in his swollen throat working to make room, his jaw clenching sharply to keep it focused on nothing else but chewing.

He cleaned his plate and allowed for one singular moment to drop decorum, when he sucked some residual syrup off his thumb. Dot's insides twisted when she saw that, her own throat closing up at how innocent it was, and the deprivation it inferred. A ragged "thank you" clawed itself out, and he stood robotically to start helping her with the dishes. Wayne and Scotty were stirred momentarily from their chatter when they saw him looming in their peripherals. Scotty got right back to it, but Wayne's eyes lingered before resuming, the cadence in his voice implying a sort of desperation to uphold normality in the wake of this intimidating stranger he had no words for. Dot told him he didn't have to help, but he didn't seem to hear, instinctively reaching for the dishwashing liquid and sponge with the same stiffness. He did look at her, though. His eyes were bloodshot. The skin across his cheekbones and the bridge of his nose were flushed, and, against every titanic ounce of effort he put forth, his bottom lip quivered like a little boy's. She squeezed his hand as tight as she could, keeping his gaze, hoping that through the tears he could see her seeing him. Her own welled up, and spilled over when he squeezed her hand back. The water softened his calluses, and their bony sharpness made them feel like that of an old woman.

She knocks on the door gingerly.

"Munch?"

She's surprised she was able to go this long without catching his attention. His senses seem so primal. He turns to look. Around his shoulders is a thick, washed-out-blue comforter. Instead of reclining on the bed, he's curled up in the corner it makes with the nightstand.

"Dot."

A fuzzy warmth pools in her belly.

"Whatcha doin' up here?"

He holds up a yellowed copy of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz she didn't know she had.

"...Reading."

Her ears perk up. She enjoys the way he speaks, the way he makes her name thicker with his pronunciation, though she has no idea how to articulate that. His voice is raspy, but marbly, purposeful, with the kind of crisp emphasis on each syllable that implied English was not his first language.

"Oh, yeah? That's a blast from the past. We should watch the movie sometime."

"...Movie?"

"Yeah. You ever seen a movie before?"

"...No."

A pause.

"I know what movies are."

Something about the way he says that, the unintentional attitude, almost makes her laugh. She nods, remembering when he told her he was very old without clarifying exactly what that meant. She chose not to pry any further. It was none of her business, and she probably wouldn't understand anyway.

His expression softens as she approaches to sit beside him; the beginnings of a smile in his eyes. He's wearing a loose charcoal t-shirt with a lighter gray thermal long-sleeved underneath and plaid pajama pants, courtesy of Wayne. Dot notices the soapy scent coming off him, mixed with what seemed to be the unwashable smell of age. Musky and slightly damp, but not unpleasant, as if he were an old house, too. It's a stark contrast to when she first invited him in a week ago, and there were no forces of weather or perilous circumstances to distract her senses. Immediately, she was hit by unwashed hair; sweat; clothes that smelled as if they were locked away in the dark for a long time; fresh dirt, but dirt nonetheless; and something coppery, not dank enough to be blood but not mundane enough to be pennies either. His skin was badly chapped, his lips split in multiple places, and she noticed he tucked his chin in when he deigned it necessary to speak, as if to hide his teeth. She watched his eyes dart around self-consciously, his bottom lip disappearing into his mouth to be gnawed at. The maneater with the sun at his back that pulled her up from the pit of rot was nowhere to be found. In his place, a lost child who does not speak the language of his saviors. Immediately, she felt her chest collapse in on itself. Please don't tell me I've already taught him shame. Thankfully, Wayne saved the day, clapping a hand onto Munch's shoulder.

"S-so, you're the guy, huh? I gotta say, um...thank you for your service. I...uh...I mean, th-thank you. For what you've done. You really, um--"

He takes a breath. Maneuvers into shaking Munch's hand after realizing he flinched from the clap.

"You saved my Dottie's life. Thank you."

Munch gave a curt nod, still a deer in headlights. The face of someone who'd never been congratulated for anything in his life. Dot suddenly felt her surroundings melt away. She was eight years old, in a verdant field, the summer breeze warming her neck. In front of her was a little boy, shaggy pale hair obscuring a dirty, gaunt face that was more shadow than skin, shreds of filthy cloth hanging on his shoulders and waist. She cocked her head, and he did the same. She raised her palm towards him, and he followed. The childlike glee of old bubbled under her skin, fireworks going off in her head. The boy interlocked their fingers, and she heard cheerful laughter somewhere in the distance. Before she could determine where it was coming from, the vision vanished, Munch's wide eyes locked onto hers. He blinked away. The base of her neck tingled. Somehow they both knew this was never going to be a one-time compensatory meal. There was a thread between them.

"You have many books. We have not had books in a long time."

She almost asks what a long time entails, but bites her tongue.

"Yeah, I see ya hoarding books whenever you can like a little squirrel. You show up in front of the bookcase and there's a big gap all of a sudden."

Munch looks like he's trying to figure out how the word "little" tastes.

"I...do not mean to steal."

"No, no-no-no-no-no, hon! You're all right! I'm just playing. I'm glad you're a bookworm. I see Scotty try, but she mostly stays on her computer."

Munch starts to smile, but sucks in his lip before his teeth can show, turning it into an awkward wince. She reaches to gently squeeze his shoulder.

"Don't be afraid to smile, hon. Everything here is yours, too."

He seems to embrace her with his eyes. They're heavy with longing, and gratitude. Too heavy to hold up. He looks back at the book cover blankly, curling up further into himself.

"We--I...am not afraid of you."

"I know," she whispers.

"You can talk to me about whatever you want. You know that, right?"

"Yes."

"Good. I don't want you to coop yourself up here because you don't wanna bother us or whatever."

"...I cannot just speak whenever I want to. Forgive me if I seem...ungrateful. The words stay in my head. Never become anything.

...But I feel. I feel...so much...and I...it is a stomachache. I have never been so full."

His voice cracks as he finishes, each word more deliberate than the last. She can feel the threads there too, making each letter longer and meatier, all of them held together by fleshy ropes of held hands that bloom from one palm to the next. She can't help but hug him, cradle his head into the crook of her neck. He shrinks into her.

"I wish I knew you when I was little. We could have played together. You'd have liked our farm. Lots of apples."

"Would have protected you."

"I know."

Then Dot blinks. She starts to ponder his tone, insistent and specific.

"From the wolves."

She flinches away from him. Fear stiffens his face, worried that he's scared her off for good.

"...How?"

He starts to take her hands, but stops before they touch, swallowing to ground himself and changing the look in his eyes to do what his hands cannot. Admirable, she thinks. An emotional maturity she truthfully, ignorantly, didn't think he possessed.

"...Things...are known to me. Other people's feelings. Their weaknesses, their strengths. Like they are on fire, and I can see it breathing around them. Changing color. Getting bigger, getting smaller."

Somehow, the explanation starts to comfort her. Thoroughly supernatural, delusionally magical, but an explanation, nonetheless.

"I...do not know why...but your fire..." He looks above and around her with reverence. A hand grazes the air for the proper words. "You...are the strongest. I can see you, hear you, have seen and heard you, from very far away. It came out at me when I--" He swallows again with discomfort, like he's tasting something bad. "--tried to hurt you. Gold, and black. After that, my head..." He knocks against his temple. "...pounded like there was another heart. And I learned that it was yours. You were everywhere."

Dot is not aware of the tears rolling down her cheeks until one drops onto her clasped hands. The wet sniffle that follows embarrasses her. Tigers don't cry.

"They tried to pay me to hurt you again. I was close-by, but I saw someone else's flame. I thought maybe I could try something else, try to ignore you. Hers...was liquid. Oozing around her in blue and gray, like ash. Her heartbeat reached out to me, too, but she did not know me. Not in this life." He taps the book cover with a sardonic wince-smile. "Once upon a time."

"Y-you know those things, too?"

"If I focus. Not very successful most of the time. But...this woman, she...when Munch was a boy, a very long time ago, she gave me water. And a potato from her garden. I was very sick. I had started to digest myself. But she gave me another chance. The water was clean. Not like water from the forest. And she washed the potato for me. Cut it up into small pieces. I did not expect her to know me now, but..."

But it still hurts, Dot thinks. Munch's face twists. His bottom lip trembles in that way again. She chooses not to acknowledge the fact that he seems to nod at her thoughts.

"She was killed...because of me. That...boy, that...creature, followed me and attacked her. I gave her money...for food. She went out...and I found her later, on the ground. Her head...cracked open--"

Munch hugs his legs, burying his face in his knees, rocking back and forth. A whine turns into an agonized groan, a child getting his first shot.

"Munch? Hey. Hey-hey-hey. No. No...look at me--Munch? Hon?" She starts to pry his arms apart, but they snap back to scratch at his scalp. She tries to force herself between his arms, but he begins to hit himself. "Don't do that, honey. Look at me." She clenches her belly instinctively, gathering the strength to fight his own, clawing at his shoulders and waist until she gets ahold of his wrists and worms her way in, and he eventually gives, hugging her back just as tightly, unloading what sounds like decades (centuries?) of pain and loss with the most ragged wheeze she's ever heard come out of a human being. Munch is tall, wiry, muscular in his thinness. He's all sharp edges and endless bony limbs, and yet the crooks of his joints melt into yarn. His hollow cheek squishes against her collarbone.

"Shh-sh-sh."

He cries so strangely, as if he's pulling a blade out of his diaphragm, and she shudders, not knowing what to do with all the blood. Closing her eyes tight, she flexes the muscles in her core again, breathes in, and relaxes, trying to make the words in her head as tangible as anything else in the room.

Can you hear me, hon? Can you feel me?

The next heavy breath is quieter, less abrasive on his throat.

They can't hurt us anymore. Its over.

Dot imagines the ribbons of her flame cloaking them both, binding them together.

You never have to be alone again. Just hold onto me.

They stay entwined for some time. Eventually, Dot weeps as well. There's a completeness here that she wouldn't be able to explain to anyone. Its not the way Wayne makes her feel, or what its like to comfort Scotty after a bad day at school. Its not a sexual or romantic fulfillment either -- couldn't be further from it. But Munch's skin and hair and even his stilted voice feel like her own. She thinks back to the vision of the boy in the field, recalling how similar he looked to her with his long hair and scabby knees, how their palms felt fused together.

"Can you read my mind, Munch?"

He sniffles. The fresh vulnerability in his voice, the way it rolls out with his head rested comfortably near her chest, makes her shiver. "...No. I feel people's intentions. Their emotions. I do not know what you are thinking. Just how you feel when you are thinking it.

Turn off the lights...for a moment."

"Yeah, sure." She reaches up for the lamp, surprised at how inky the darkness is at midday, even with the pulled curtains. Two faintly iridescent feline-like dots stare back at her. It takes her a second.

"This is what I am."

She can't hide the icy stab of fear that seizes her when Munch's voice matches them. Its immediately followed by viscous, acidic shame, then balmy fascination. In response, his cool hands slip into her own.

"...What happened?"

"...I've told you. I am very old. When Munch was a younger man, he would do anything not to starve. He would wait outside the houses of evil men, until they left or went to sleep. Then he would take their food. Most of the time, he would have to kill them. Learned to do it quietly after a while. When he was caught, he made a deal with the men in charge. He would live, but he would have to take on the sins of other men. When they died, bread and porridge were placed on their bodies. Prayers were said. Their sins were absorbed by the food. And we got to eat."

The ridiculousness of the ritual itself doesn't surprise Dot. She's never been a particularly religious woman and, after being with Roy, has not had much need to respect it.

"Many years. Many years. No one talks to us. They turn away or spit at our feet or throw things at us when we make ourselves known."

I would have killed them all, she thinks. Everyone in that damn village...or wherever he lived. The wives, the husbands, the kids. She doesn't care how unfair or cruel that sounds. Rage has been her friend longer than she's been a mother and wife. I would have fed them all to you.

Munch takes a moment to gather his thoughts. She remembers he can taste that bloodlust. This time, she doesn't feel exposed. The hair on the back of her neck bristles like a wartime cat.

"You are so angry for me," he says with a slight smile in his voice; part prideful, part touched, part in disbelief that someone could love him this much, or at all.

"I did kill them. The priests. The congregation. I finally got to watch them squirm, they way they did me. I ate the sins directly from their flesh, and got stronger each time."

Good, Dot thinks. Eat their eyes and lips and tongues and fingers. Everything they ever used to hurt you.

She blinks. Again, she is transported somewhere else entirely. The acrid funk of animal filth and poor hygiene is magnified by the flames licking the walls of the church. Someone knocked over a lantern in their scramble to escape, but the windows are too hot and broken to touch. The head priest lays shattered at her feet, screaming, his legs bent in unnatural directions. I'm saving you for last, she thinks. The moment the thought concludes, she lunges into the crowd, nails and teeth sinking into man, woman, whoever's unlucky enough to be caught. First come the layers of dirt and grime on their skin, but then the cartilaginous crunch of flesh and muscle, the savory salt of their blood and tears seasoning their meat, the pungent sour of their terror. Never has her stomach felt so empty, but so prepared. It roars, and she roars louder, her insides the sacred halls of a king, and her voice a war horn.

How much of this rage is his? How much of it is mine? Is there a difference anymore? Does it matter?

She jumps from one member to the next indistinctively. A cheek, a nose, a throat. The tendons of someone's hand as they try to push her off. Eyeballs snap in her mouth like fresh berries. Someone's brain matter smashes against the stone wall like a boiled yam. They all come apart with the ease of slow-cooked pork. She never realized how soft and tender human beings were. The blur of the slaughter starts to come into focus once the priest is truly defenseless, with no one to hide behind. His skin crackles with blisters from the heat, while she remains very much unscathed. Instead, the flames seem to coax her, comforting her with loving, delicate fingers. Mama. She starts with his arms, chewing into the muscle. The skin peels away like chicken fat. Her fingers easily sink into the priest's thighs, then his sternum. At some point, he'd finally screamed his throat raw, the only sound coming from him now the dumb, pained braying of dying cattle. She rolls the eyeballs around in her mouth, tracing the veins and residual tails of flesh with her tongue before swallowing them whole. Finally, she gets to the heart. Its rewardingly tough. The chambers are gummy. She giggles as they bounce against her molars almost playfully. A floodgate is opened, and the laughter is in full bloom. Mama's tickles don't help.

"Dot. Dewch yn ôl ataf. Fy chwaer fach."

She's back home. The air is crisp and clean. Munch is cupping her face, their foreheads touching. The edges of her mouth are sore from the laughter, and the feast.

"I did not mean for it to go that far."

"No, no. It's okay. It was...fun. I'm so proud of ya, hon."

"Dot. You must look at me."

"Munch, I'm fine. I swear."

Dot's eyes immediately sting when the lamp is switched back on. She admittedly feels a little less rabid. He looks down in shame.

"I only meant to share my memory. Not have you participate in it."

"You think I haven't felt that angry? You don't think I would have done that to Roy if I had the chance?"

"No. Did not mean it like that. I just...you have had enough inflicted upon you. Including myself."

"You can't do mind control, can you? Takin' over other people's thoughts?"

"I cannot."

"So? You didn't inflict anything on me. You wanted me to see through your eyes for a little. And if you can't control me, you can't pull me into your head against my will. I wanted to be there."

"...It was still a painful memory. I do not want to see you in pain."

"You told me before you weren't scared of me. What's so scary about you that doesn't already exist in me?"

He takes one of her hands, petting the back softly. She acquieses.

"...You would not say that if you knew how old I am."

"Try me."

A heavy pause. Then he looks up.

"...The memory you saw happened almost five hundred years ago."

It is, truthfully, shocking. But for some reason, Dot doesn't feel it. Maybe she will later. But if nothing about it stirs her now, she doubts it ever will.

"Stranger things have happened."

Munch cocks his head to the side. She caresses his cheek with her knuckles.

"I'm still proud of ya. You're the one who said you'd have protected me when I was little. Would you have helped me tear Roy into little pieces?"

"...I would."

"Well, there ya go."

Dot gets an idea. An image of Roy splayed out upside down on their old bed, spread-eagle. Munch is mounting him like a woman, kitchen knives buried deep in each pectoralis. Munch's lips and eyes are peeled back, his pupils shrunken to feral pinheads, his overcrowded, nicotine-tarnished teeth resembling fangs. Dot is at the foot of the bed with a toothy knife of her own, carving into Roy's neck. He splutters and gurgles stupidly as they bathe in his blood. She can see the inner meat of his throat snapping apart with each slice. Munch is hissing profanities in Welsh, riling her up enough that she abandons the knife halfway and starts to pull, slamming one foot flat against the edge of the bed for purchase. The sensation of her muscles digging as deep as anatomically possible for every ounce of strength she can muster is as exhilirating as it is exhausting. Her teeth clench so hard she thinks they might break. Her howls of effort erupt behind her eyes and billow into her brain. Roy's head finally snaps free, and she back to reality. Munch's eyes, aglow with encouragement, bore into her own.

"Some of that was you, ya know. On account of the Welsh."

He tries smiling again. "You knew it was Welsh."

"Only because you were in there with me." She taps the tip of his nose.

This was always me, you see, she thinks. This is what they made me. Its not evil or poisonous. They already showed their true colors when they sold me to keep the farm. When he touched me for the first time. When my menses was late. When he'd break and rebreak my bones after talking back. Everything I did, everything I became since then, was to protect myself. To survive. Just like you. And look at us now. We found each other. Against all odds. Against time itself.

She giggles as Munch rubs his forehead against hers like a cat. He raises her wrists against his eyes in veneration.

"C'mere, you." She pulls him in for another long hug, stroking his hair.

"Maybe you could teach me how to speak Welsh sometime."

"I have never taught anyone anything. I might not be good at it."

"Then we both can learn something. For example; what did you call me before?"

"Fy chwaer fach. My little sister."

#fargo fx #dot lyon #ole munch #idk if the Welsh is accurate #dont tag as ship

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bloggirl8842 · 6 months

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Need

-accordion folder for old photos and kids stuff

- thermos for soups and rice dishes

- drink thermos, for hot drinks

- my own pots and pans

- forks

- magazines

- meyers dishwashing liquid

- a desk

- drafting table attachment for said desk

- laptop

- art supplies organizer

- something to store my yarn in

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saintmeghanmarkle · 3 months

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Time to play SXSW Bingo by u/Hermes_Blanket

Time to play SXSW Bingo I have no talent in computer graphics, so can't arrange these into a board, but here are some ideas for squares.Super-expensive outfit (Archewell is footing the bill) in beige and/or black"As a mother ...""My husband ..."Interrupting other panelistsCopious grinning and laughingPricey necklace "paying tribute" to Archie and LiliRecycled story on "how I broke barriers" -- either the "make your own box" one or the dishwashing liquid commercial oneLong speech on how social media impacted HER mental healthPlug for "Archetypes" -- "now available across all platforms"Ignoring the least famous panelistCopious use of the words "genuine", "feminist", "organic", "authentic", "voice", and "truth", and of course "I", "me", "my" and "myself".Pointing out Brooke's connection to royalty post link: https://ift.tt/t78ejxa author: Hermes_Blanket submitted: March 07, 2024 at 04:12PM via SaintMeghanMarkle on Reddit

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nice2meetyouu · 1 year

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I know na sabi ng marami, i-track daw dapat ang spending pero I can't wrap my head around categorization. Weakness ko 'yung mga ganyan at organization. Sa ngayon, hindi ko rin siya actively ina-address.

Ang masasabi ko eh nice pala na gumawa ng invoice dun sa isang part-time, like nata-track ko lahat ng trinabaho ko for that company and minsan pag nade-demotivate ako, nakikita ko na, ito na 'yung lahat ng na-accomplish ko so far.

I planned na gawin din 'yun for the other companies pero so far I'm lagging behind. Iba kasi 'yung style sa other company like sinesend ko lang sa isang thread sa slack 'yung updates. And then sa main job, nothing. Hahahaha ang loser ko. Sinummarize ko lately 'yung mga nagawa ko na and mga pending kasi na-pressure ako kay dokie, maybe I should start from that list. Ang laking struggle ng documentation for me...

Anyway, regarding expenses, gusto ko na talagang de-card lahat para free short-term loan always and madaling i-track kasi siya na ang naglista for me. Bulk buyer naman ako so 'yung alcohol, dishwashing liquid, etc. sa bahay, 'di 'yan bababa sa isang gallon then planado ko na 'yon na dapat next year na ako ulit bibili. Nasa isip ko pa lang pero kung sisipagin ako baka ilagay ko na sa excel lahat.

Problema lang eh hindi lahat tumatanggap ng card, maski sa mall, koomi at coco na 'yon ha, walang terminal. Cash at gcash lang pwede.

Anyway, may tracker ako ng savings and plano kong iconsolidate sila at ikarga na muna sa unobank lahat. Masyadong nakadiversify 'yung small amounts eh. Tipong tig-10 thousand nasa iba't ibang dako LOL. Kung may 1M ako, sure na ako sa RTB maglalagay. Wahu daming plano, wala namang pera.

Bakit hindi sa MP2? Kasi sobrang dami nang naglalagay ng pera, bumababa na ang dividends (say ko lang) since 2017. Also antagal ng 5 years for me! 6.5% naman interest ng unobank so hindi naman nalalayo sa current ng MP2. 'Yung sa seedin naman medyo hindi ko ma-appreciate kahit 10% ang interest. Probably may mali sa pag-compute ko somewhere.

In summary, I need to grow up, track things better and learn how to categorize in an intelligent way. Alam mo naman ako, out of sight, out of mind.

#pera #struggles #hindi organized

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texasmadehustler · 2 years

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1. What would you do if you found a dead body in a hotel room?

2. If bald people work in a restaurant, do they still need to wear a hairnet?

3. Which one would you prefer: have no nose but have really good smelling fingers or be blind but have a really nice smile?

4. If you have described something as indescribable, haven’t you already described it?

5. Why is it called "beauty sleep" even though you wake up looking like a hot mess?

6. What has been the most embarrassing thing you’ve ever worn?

7. Which one would you choose: be alive and alone or about to die with a group of friends?

8. How many pennies do you think would fit into this room?

9. Should a man about to be executed in the electric chair be saved if he had a heart attack?

10. Do you think if anything is possible, it’s still possible for anything to be impossible?

11. Is it possible to hear someone's iPod while they're running at maximum speed?

12. Have you ever attempted to swallow toothpaste?

13. What music would you choose to play every time you walk into a room?

14. Do fish have a thirst for water?

15. Is there a limit to how intelligent a single person can be?

16. Why is sandwich meat round when bread is square?

17. Who’s the fifth person on your missed calls?

18. If man developed from monkeys, why do we still have monkeys?

19. Which would be the nicest if animals could only talk?

20. If you punch yourself in the face and it hurts, are you weak or strong?

21. What’s your most hated mode of transportation?

22. If there’s an ambulance on its way to save someone and it knocks down someone, would it stop to help them?

23. If you had the chance to invent a country, what would you name it?

24. Have you ever taken something out of your possession and failed to return it?

25. How would you be able to solve problems if you were from Mars?

26. What are two things that you think are normal, but become really strange when you do them repeatedly?

27. Is it permissible for minors who act in R-rated films to see them?

28. What’s the color of the mirror?

29. What do you usually think about while you are on the toilet?

30. Which superpower would you not want?

31. What hair color do they list on your driver's license if you're bald?

32. How do birds actually pee?

33. Will someone ever be able to live forever?

34. You have discovered a beautiful island upon which you may build your own society and you can even make the rules. What’s going to be the first rule you’ll put into place?

35. Why do you perceive everyone driving faster than you as an idiot and those who are quicker than you as a moron when?

36. Why aren't they using blankets if it's friendly fire

37. To kill an elephant, how many chickens would be required?

38. If you took out a ship and changed all of its parts until none of the original parts are intact anymore, is it still the same ship or a totally different one?

39. Is it possible that morality is derived from morons, just as electricity is derived from electrons?

40. Have you ever unwrapped and rewrapped a gift bearing your name?

41. Why is it that lemon juice has an artificial flavor while dishwashing liquid has real lemons?

42. Why do you think are manholes round?

43. Are eyebrows also considered facial hair?

44. Is your time truly wasted if you enjoy wasting it?

45. What’s your most favorite pooping position?

46. When you know the battery is dead, why do you press harder on the remote control?

47. Which individual, corporation, country, or organization would you bankrupt if you had the chance?

48. Have you ever been tempted to sleep inside the fridge?

49. In 2050, what will be the fastest mode of transportation?

50. Which famous celebrity would you want to punch in the face?

51. Male ballerinas are referred to as what?

52. Is it safe for someone to park their vehicle near a fire hydrant if it is on fire?

53. Do you think cavemen experienced nightmares about cavewomen?

54. What is the shape of your peripheral vision?

55. Which side of the armrest is really yours at a movie theater?

56. Why do you think are blueberries not bright blue?

57. Do you really want someone to give you an honest answer when you ask them how they've been?

58. Suppose you have been given an elephant and you can’t give it away or sell it. What would you do with it?

59. Why do you lower the volume on the radio when you're driving and looking for an address?

60. Is it a hostage situation if a person with several personalities threatens to kill himself?

61. Why is it so difficult for women to apply mascara with their mouths closed?

62. How many pairs of underwear do you actually own?

63. What characteristics would your nemesis have if you had one?

64. What is the highest number that anyone has ever counted?

65. How would you know if someone has manipulated your memory?

66. When Donald Duck gets out of the shower, why does he put on a towel when he normally doesn't wear any pants?

67. What have you forgotten today?

68. Would it be acceptable to say that the opposite of progress is congress because the opposite of pro is con?

69. Which of the two would you prefer to have as your roommate: A bird or an ostrich?

70. Why do you think 11 isn’t pronounced onety-one?

71. Why is it called "taking a dump"? Shouldn’t it be leaving a dump instead?

72. Why can't the professor on Gilligan’s Island fix a hole in a boat if he can construct a radio out of a coconut?

73. Have you ever dropped food on the floor accidentally and then picked it up to eat it?

74. What kind of tree would you be if you were a one, and why?

75. Do bald people still get dandruff?

76. Are we really living or just slowly dying?

77. Do you think a short person can “talk down” to a taller person?

78. Why do you think is a boxing ring square?

79. Have you ever had an extremely bad haircut?

80. What is the least important thing that is very important to you right now?

81. Is it weird to enjoy the smell of your own fart?

82. What kind of noises did dinosaurs make?

83. Where does your idea go when it has already been forgotten?

84. How many times a day do you check yourself in front of the mirror?

85. Is it possible to purchase a complete chess set at a pawn shop?

86. Do the minutes on the movie boxes include previews, credits, and additional features, or are they just for the movie itself?

87. What would you paint on your first day if you were an artist?

88. How long do you think will you be remembered after the day that you die?

89. Why do you have to “put your two cents in” when it is really only a “penny for your thoughts”? Where’s that extra penny going to?

90. Are you keeping a really huge secret from someone you love?

91. Why does the sun make our hair lighter but make our skin darker?

92. Do animals have the ability to commit suicide?

93. Why does raindrop but snow falls?

94. Have you ever peed while sleeping?

95. Do you think you would be friends with a clone of yourself?

96. When Greenland is white and ice-covered, why is it called Greenland?

97. When did time actually begin?

98. Why does wet hair turn darker despite the fact that the water is clear?

99. Why does anything exist? In the beginning, there was totally nothing so how did something come from nothing?

100. Which of the teachers would you prefer to have if you were a Hogwarts student?

101. If we are clean before using bath towels then why do we need to wash them?

102. Would you rather play in the sand or play in the water at the beach?

103. What was the worst song that was ever composed?

104. Which orange came first: the color or the fruit?

105. Is it true that if you got into a cab and the driver drove backwards, he owes you money?

106. How would you be able to handcuff a one-armed man?

107. Would you dare to take a lie detector test with a loved one asking the questions?

108. Do you think you can daydream at night?

109. Why isn’t there any mouse-flavored food for cats?

110. Have you ever tried eating a piece of paper?

111. Which day was a kid born on if his leg came out at 11:59 p.m. but his head didn't come out until 12:01 a.m.?

112. You've recently joined the Spice Girls. What Spice name have you created for yourself?

113. What do you think existed before the universe?

114. You have a date with someone in this room tomorrow. Who would be the most unfit candidate?

115. What was the weirdest text message you’ve ever got?

116. Are the 10 calories in a pack of gum just for chewing the gum, or also for swallowing it?

117. What’s the most boring sport to play and watch?

118. Who actually decided what’s right and wrong?

119. Why do adults say they "slept like a baby" when babies wake up every few hours?

120. Which one would you rather do: ask a question someone does not want to answer or give an answer someone does not want to hear it?

121. Why do we enjoy Halloween if our parents tell us not to take candy from strangers?

122. Do you think coffins have lifetime guarantees?

123. When you can't drink and drive, why do you need a driver's license to buy alcohol?

124. Can you describe the smell of your armpits?

125. What are the things that would be much better if you could change its color?

126. Is the Bible kept in the fiction or non-fiction section of libraries?

127. Why don't ghosts fall through the floor if they can walk through walls and glide downstairs?

128. Which Disney princess do you think would make the best spy?

129. What’s the purpose of setting goals if we're all going to die in the end?

130. Why can't you just feel whelmed instead of overwhelmed and underwhelmed?

131. Do fortune cookie predictions have a time limit?

132. Which one would you rather do: sit in the snow while it is falling or dance in the rain?

133. Do dentists consult with other dentists or do it on their own?

134. What do you think is the ugliest part of your body?

135. Does time flow forward only, or does it move differently also?

136. What would happen to the sea level if every boat in the world was removed out of the ocean at the same time?

137. Who do you think taught the first teacher ever?

138. SpongeBob’s parents are both rounds like sea sponges, but why is he square like a kitchen sponge.

139. Would a bubble in space pop if you blew it?

140. Do you believe there is something beyond what we can currently perceive in the universe?

141. Why does grape flavor smell like it when real grapes don't taste or smell like it?

142. How many kilograms of potatoes have you consumed throughout your life?

143. How can pessimists motivate themselves to get out of bed every day?

144. Why are they described as apartments when they are all connected?

145. Rabbits don’t lay eggs, so why does the Easter bunny deliver them?

146. Is it legal to drive down a road backward as long as you stay in the right lane?

147. When was the last time you screamed your lungs out?

148. Should fishermen consume the fish they catch, or should they simply release them?

149. What sound would be the most horrifying if you could hear it?

150. Why are we so terrified of making mistakes if we can learn from them and improve?

151. Why is the Lone Ranger nicknamed "Lone" though he is constantly accompanied by his Indian friend Tonto?

152. If an orange is color orange, why isn’t a lemon called a yellow or a lime called a green?

153. When doing first aid, have you ever purposefully hurt someone just enough to make them scream?

154. Do you think prison buses have emergency exits?

155. What is the longest time you have gone without showering?

156. Why do you think is vanilla ice cream white when vanilla extract is brown?

157. Are there belly buttons on Adam and Eve?

158. If you’ll be expecting the unexpected, doesn’t that make the unexpected expected?

159. Isn't it strange that rearranging the word "teacher" gives "cheater"?

160. Is it true that cannibals don’t like eating clowns because they taste funny?

161. How can a brain that is closed inside our skull ever be called an open mind?

162. If you will be looking at a map of the inside of a planet, what would it look like?

163. Why is your head sticking out from your t-shirt?

164. Do you have crazy thoughts running through your head all day?

165. Doctors call what they do practice, isn't that a little unnerving?

166. Cured ham was formerly infected with what disease?

167. Why are the small candy bars referred to as "fun sizes"? Isn't it more fun to consume the big one?

168. We all know that milk goes bad if not refrigerated, but why doesn’t it go bad inside the cow?

169. Which one would you rather have an arm that regenerates every week or legs that grows back in every week?

170. How would anyone ever know if a word was misspelled in the dictionary?

171. Why do green olives come in jars and black olives come in cans?

172. When sheep brush against each other, do they get static cling?

173. Have you ever been tempted to slap someone you’re talking to while you’re talking to them?

174. When it involves the living body, why is it called plastic surgery?

175. Did you fail or succeed if you were trying to fail and you succeeded?

176. Why do banks charge money for insufficient balance, even when they know there isn’t any money?

177. Do the FBI have to pay if they break down your door?

178. Can you cry underwater?

179. What language do people speak in their heads if they were born deaf?

180. Is it possible for fish to be seasick?

181. When we can't sleep, why do we count sheep but not dogs?

182. Would you believe a person who told you they were a pathological liar?

183. Why do 7-11 stores have locks on the doors if they are open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year?

184. Is it required for atheists to swear on the Bible in court?

185. What’s the weirdest job you’ve ever had?

186. Where does it say that Humpty Dumpty is an egg in the nursery rhyme?

187. Do stairs go up or go down?

188. Is ketchup considered a smoothie since tomatoes are considered as fruits?

189. If everyone says that life is totally unfair, doesn’t that just mean that life is fair?

190. Would a vacuum form in your stomach if you farted and burped at the same time?

191. What is a workstation if the train station is set to where the train is bound to stop?

192. What lies beyond the limit if the sky is the limit?

193. Is it still a dog pile when dogs climb on top of each other?

194. How much wood do you think can a woodchuck chuck?

195. Is there a synonym for synonym?

196. When it comes to movies and concerts, do conjoined twins pay for one or two tickets?

197. Is it true that if a child refuses to take a nap, it means they are resisting a rest?

198. Which one would you rather walk around with: a salad on your head or broccoli on your arms?

199. If corn oil is made from corn and vegetable oil is made from vegetables, where does baby oil come from?

200. When someone with an accent thinks to themselves, do they have an accent in their thoughts, too?

201. If no one is supposed to step foot on the grass, then how did someone put the “keep off the grass” sign there in the first place?

202. Why do you think isn’t bacon baked and cookies cooked?

203. Do you become a hater if you despise haters? Will you despise yourself if you despise haters?

204. Why is it that the glue doesn't stick to the inside of the bottle?

205. Why is it that your nose runs but your feet smell?

206. What do you call a question with no answer?

207. Did the sun shine first, or did the moon reflect it?

208. Why is phonetic not spelled exactly as it sounds?

209. Why aren't curtains double-sided so that they look good both inside and outside your house?

210. Why is hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia such a long term if it means "a fear of long words?"

211. Are individuals buried with their braces on?

212. Why is patience a virtue if early birds get the best advantages?

213. Why do we kill people who kill people if killing people is wrong?

214. How could the Wicked Witch of the West ever bathe if she melts in the water?

215. Why do you think is it called a building when it is already built?

216. Is it possible for monkeys to have a monkey’s uncle?

217. Are the animals homeless because they don't have a home?

218. Can the word “dictionary” be found in the dictionary?

219. Would the other doctors treat the doctor or the patient if a doctor suffered a heart attack while performing surgery?

220. Why do we park on driveways and drive on parkways?

221. Even when it's delivered by plane or truck, why do we have to call it "shipping"?

222. Do you yawn when sleeping?

223. Are you a waiter yourself if you're waiting for the waiter to take your order?

224. When we like something, why do we put our hands together?

225. Do you know the phrase “throw ya hands in the air like ya don’t care”? Why bother doing that if you don’t actually care?

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econicenaturalclean · 3 months

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Organic Dishwashing Liquid 5 Litre at Best Price | Econice

Buy Econice Organic Dishwashing Liquid 5 Litre online at best price. Our Organic dishwashing Liquid deep cleans utensils using minimal water, no malodours or sticky residue.

#organic dishwashing liquid #5 litre dishwashing liquid #dishwashing liquid 5 litre

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herbalstrategi · 1 year

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Organic Dishwashing Liquid

#cleaner #ecofriendly #natural #herbal #organic #organic dishwashing liquid #natural dishwashing liquid #eco friendly dishwashing liquig #natural dish wash liquid

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dejavusecondhandboutique · 21 hours

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Check out this listing I just added to my Poshmark closet: New Tupperware Basic Bright Round 3 Piece Canister Set Blue Liquid Tight Lids.

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summerlandenviormental · 3 days

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How to Keep Your Septic Tank in Top Condition: An Overview from Summerland Environmental

Your ability to maintain septic tank systems is directly proportional to your level of knowledge about them. Then, what is the general operation of a septic tank? There is a pipe that goes from the industry to the septic tank, where all the waste is collected. The vital process of decomposing waste is carried out by millions of living microbes in the septic tank. So, particles end up as sludge at the tank's base, while scum forms on top from lipids, oils, and grease. Flowing into the drain field for additional soil treatment, the liquid effluent makes up the middle layer. Septic tank systems ought to be operational in a perfect environment. Poor septic tank maintenance, on the other hand, can damage various parts of the system, eventually causing it to fail. Sludge buildup, wastewater back troubles, unpleasant odours, and other difficulties are all possible outcomes. To ensure your septic tank continues to function at its best, here are the five most important things to remember when maintaining it:

Inspect for Leaks:

The first step in septic tank maintenance is to do a regular inspection. Leakage of the septic tank releases strong sewage odours. The tank is underground, so it will be challenging to detect any leaks. Therefore, when the septic tank is pumped, that is the best time to check for leaks.

Don’t Flush Everything:

Things that you flush down the toilet every day without thinking about them go up in the system as solids. They rapidly occupy the space and obstruct the flow, necessitating a method to pump out the tank. Failing to recognise or carry it out could result in serious problems or even system failure. Keep these things out of the toilet to prevent such situations. Dishwasher tabs, hair, filter-tip cigarettes, grease, and more are just a few of the everyday things that might ruin your septic tank maintenance.

Regular Pumping:

You still need to pump out your septic system sometimes, even if it is meant to remove certain substances through bacteria and your leach field. It is recommended to pump your septic tank every three to five years for an industry system. Which end of that spectrum should you shoot for? There are a lot of variables to consider, such as the average annual wastewater output, the size of your tank, and the number of people working in your industry.

Water Consumption:

The typical industry uses 70 gallons of water daily. A running toilet or dripping faucet can waste as much as 200 gallons of water every day. That is incredibly wasteful and harmful to your septic system. Aerators for faucets and water-saving toilets (which consume 25–30% less water) can make a difference.

Use a Bacterial Additive:

Bacteria aids in the slow breakdown of residual waste in the tank, which is good for your septic tank maintenance. The bacteria in the system are susceptible to strong cleaning solutions, antibacterial soaps, and drain cleaners. To safeguard the naturally existing bacteria in the septic system, you can introduce new bacteria that decompose synthetic substances, such as detergents and soaps, using specific organic additives. However, before using these additives, make sure they are beneficial by conducting thorough research.

Importance of Septic Tank Maintenance

It is critical to the integrity of your industry, as well as your health and the environment, that you do routine septic tank maintenance. Maintenance should be performed on septic tanks every six months on average, although the size of your industry, the type of your industry, and the number of people working are factors to consider. Maintaining a regular maintenance schedule will help your septic tank last for a longer period, as well as prevent potentially hazardous damage and contamination throughout that time. You can contact Summerland Environmental for the maintenance of septic tanks and waste collection services.

All of the aforementioned septic tank maintenance suggestions will help keep your septic system in good working order. The most critical thing you can do is hire a septic system expert like Summerland Environmental, as we know what we are doing, can help you develop a maintenance schedule, and only use long-lasting, high-quality septic equipment.

About Summerland Environmental Your neighborhood experts in liquid waste management are Summerland Environmental. Some companies produce large volumes of liquid waste every day. To avoid the buildup of waste that might result in hazardous working conditions and environmental contamination, proper waste management is crucial. It can be perilous to handle, transport, and dispose of hazardous liquid waste products. Hazardous liquid waste can pose health and environmental risks if it is not disposed of properly. Summerland Environmental provides waste collection services and has the tools and expertise needed to safely manage and transport hazardous liquid waste. We can properly and legally dispose of waste since we hold the necessary licences and permits

#grease trap waste #septic tank maintenance #chemical waste disposal

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priyanshisingh · 5 days

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Water Soluble Detergent Pods Market Report: Opportunities and Challenges (2023-2032)

The Water Soluble Detergent Pods Market is anticipated to grow at a substantial CAGR of 11.70% in the upcoming years. The Global Water Soluble Detergent Pods industry was estimated to be worth USD 30.1 billion in 2021 and was expected to be worth USD 58.5 billion by 2028.

Water Soluble Detergent Pods Market is witnessing significant growth, driven by a combination of consumer convenience, environmental concerns, and technological advancements. Water soluble detergent pods offer a hassle-free and efficient way to dose laundry and dishwashing detergents, eliminating the need for measuring and reducing product wastage. These pods are designed to dissolve completely in water, ensuring that all the detergent is utilized, thereby enhancing cleaning efficiency. The rising consumer preference for convenient and easy-to-use household products is a major driver of market growth. Busy lifestyles and the increasing participation of men in household chores are further contributing to the popularity of detergent pods. Additionally, the eco-friendly nature of these pods, which typically come in biodegradable or recyclable packaging, aligns well with the growing environmental awareness among consumers. This shift towards sustainable living is encouraging more households to opt for water soluble detergent pods over traditional liquid or powder detergents.

Technological advancements in pod formulation and packaging have also played a crucial role in market expansion. Manufacturers are continually improving the solubility, stability, and effectiveness of these pods to cater to diverse consumer needs, such as hypoallergenic formulas for sensitive skin and pods designed for cold water washing to save energy. The market is seeing increased innovation in terms of multi-chamber pods that combine different cleaning agents in one pod, providing comprehensive cleaning solutions. Moreover, the integration of natural and organic ingredients in detergent pods is gaining traction, appealing to health-conscious consumers looking to avoid harsh chemicals in their cleaning products.

Regionally, North America and Europe dominate the water soluble detergent pods market, driven by high consumer awareness, disposable income, and well-established retail infrastructure. However, the Asia-Pacific region is emerging as a lucrative market due to rapid urbanization, rising disposable incomes, and a growing middle class. The market in these regions is further supported by aggressive marketing and promotional strategies by leading brands, making detergent pods more accessible to a broader audience.

Water soluble detergent pods offer several advantages over traditional liquid or powder detergents, making them a popular choice for many consumers. Here’s a detailed comparison highlighting why water soluble detergent pods are often considered superior:

Convenience:

Pre-measured Dosage: Pods are pre-measured, eliminating the need to measure out detergent for each load. This not only saves time but also ensures the right amount of detergent is used, preventing overuse or underuse.

Ease of Use: They are simple to use—just toss a pod into the washing machine or dishwasher. This simplicity is particularly appealing to busy households and individuals who value quick and hassle-free solutions.

Efficiency:

Enhanced Cleaning: Detergent pods are designed to dissolve completely in water, ensuring that all the detergent is utilized during the wash cycle. This enhances cleaning efficiency and ensures no residue is left on clothes or dishes.

Multi-functional: Many pods are multi-chambered, containing different cleaning agents (like stain removers, brighteners, and fabric softeners) in a single pod. This provides a comprehensive cleaning solution in one convenient package.

Environmental Benefits:

Reduced Waste: Pods help in reducing product wastage because each pod contains the exact amount of detergent needed for one load. This precision helps minimize the environmental impact of detergent overuse.

Eco-friendly Packaging: Most water soluble pods come in biodegradable or recyclable packaging, which is more environmentally friendly than the plastic bottles or boxes used for liquid and powder detergents.

Less Water Use: The production and transportation of pods often use less water compared to liquid detergents, contributing to lower overall water consumption and a reduced carbon footprint.

Safety and Storage:

Less Spillage: Unlike liquid detergents that can spill and cause messes, pods are contained and reduce the risk of spills and leaks.

Compact Storage: Pods are compact and easy to store, taking up less space in the laundry room or kitchen compared to bulky detergent bottles and boxes.

Innovative Formulations:

Advanced Ingredients: Pods often contain advanced cleaning formulations that include multiple active ingredients, providing superior cleaning performance. They can also be designed for specific needs, such as hypoallergenic formulas for sensitive skin.

Temperature Flexibility: Many detergent pods are formulated to work efficiently in cold water, helping to save energy by reducing the need for hot water washing.

Cost-effectiveness:

Controlled Usage: Although pods can be more expensive per unit compared to traditional detergents, their pre-measured nature helps control usage, which can lead to cost savings over time by preventing overuse and wastage.

Major Key Players-

Changzhou Water Soluble Co., Ltd.

Unilever

The Procter & Gamble Company

Unimasses Group

Guangdong Youkai Technical Co., Ltd.

Shaoxing Xinkaiji New Material Co., Ltd

OceanStar

Gel Caps

Ecozone

Sindhu Ultramarine Chemicals Private Limited

More About Report- https://www.credenceresearch.com/report/water-soluble-detergent-pods-market

The Water Soluble Detergent Pods Market is highly competitive, with numerous players vying for market share by leveraging innovation, branding, and sustainability initiatives. Here’s a detailed competitive analysis of this dynamic market:

Product Innovation:

Advanced Formulations: Companies are continually innovating to enhance the effectiveness of detergent pods, incorporating multiple cleaning agents, enzymes, and fragrances to cater to diverse consumer needs.

Customization: Brands are offering specialized pods for different applications, such as hypoallergenic options for sensitive skin, high-efficiency machine-compatible pods, and pods designed for cold water washing.

Sustainability Initiatives:

Eco-friendly Packaging: A strong focus on sustainability has led to the development of biodegradable and recyclable packaging, appealing to environmentally conscious consumers.

Green Ingredients: Many companies are formulating their pods with natural and organic ingredients to reduce environmental impact and cater to health-conscious consumers.

Marketing and Branding:

Strong Branding Campaigns: Major players invest heavily in branding and advertising to build brand loyalty and attract new customers. Emotional and lifestyle-centric marketing campaigns are commonly used to resonate with target audiences.

Consumer Education: Educating consumers about the benefits and proper use of detergent pods is a key strategy to overcome safety concerns and promote adoption.

Strategic Partnerships and Collaborations:

Retail Partnerships: Collaborations with major retailers help ensure wide distribution and visibility. Exclusive partnerships and promotions can also drive sales and market penetration.

Innovative Collaborations: Partnering with technology companies to develop smart packaging or eco-friendly solutions can set brands apart in the competitive landscape.

Geographic Expansion:

Emerging Markets: Companies are expanding their footprint in emerging markets where rising disposable incomes and urbanization are driving demand for convenient household products.

Localized Products: Tailoring products to meet regional preferences and regulatory requirements helps brands gain a competitive edge in diverse markets.

Price Sensitivity:

Cost Comparison: Detergent pods are generally more expensive than traditional detergents, which can be a barrier in price-sensitive markets. Companies must balance cost with perceived value to attract a broader customer base.

Safety Concerns:

Accidental Ingestion: Incidents of accidental ingestion by children have raised safety concerns, prompting the need for secure packaging and clear warning labels. Addressing these concerns through design and education is crucial.

Raw Material Costs:

Fluctuating Prices: The cost of raw materials, particularly those used in biodegradable packaging, can impact production costs and profitability. Efficient supply chain management and cost control measures are essential.

Segmentation of Global Water Soluble Detergent Pods Market-

Global Water Soluble Detergent Pods Market – By Type

PVA

PVOH

Global Water Soluble Detergent Pods Market – By Application

Detergents

Hand Wash

Dishwash

Others

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b2bbusiness · 8 days

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Overview of the MEA Household Products Market analysis

The Middle East and Africa (MEA) household products market is a dynamic and rapidly evolving sector. This market encompasses a wide range of products used for daily household activities, including cleaning supplies, personal care items, laundry detergents, and air fresheners. The region's unique socio-economic landscape, coupled with its diverse consumer base, makes it a significant area of interest for global and local manufacturers alike.

Importance and Relevance in the Global Context

The MEA household products market holds substantial importance in the global context due to its large population and growing consumer base. The region's economic growth, urbanization trends, and increasing disposable incomes are driving the demand for household products. Additionally, the market's potential for growth presents numerous opportunities for international brands seeking expansion.

Market Segmentation

Product Types

Cleaning Products

Cleaning products, including surface cleaners, dishwashing liquids, and disinfectants, are essential for maintaining hygiene and cleanliness in households. The demand for these products has seen a significant rise, particularly in urban areas where hygiene standards are higher.

Personal Care Products

Personal care products such as soaps, shampoos, and lotions are integral to daily grooming routines. The preference for branded and premium personal care items is increasing as consumers become more health and beauty conscious.

Laundry Products

Laundry products, including detergents, fabric softeners, and stain removers, are crucial for maintaining clothing hygiene. Innovations in laundry care, such as eco-friendly detergents and concentrated formulas, are gaining traction.

Air Care Products

Air care products, such as air fresheners and odor eliminators, are becoming popular in households seeking to improve indoor air quality and create a pleasant living environment.

Distribution Channels

Supermarkets and Hypermarkets

Supermarkets and hypermarkets are the primary distribution channels for MEA household products, offering a wide range of brands and products under one roof. Their extensive reach and convenience make them popular among consumers.

Online Retailers

The rise of e-commerce has transformed the retail landscape, with online retailers offering household products at competitive prices and with the convenience of home delivery. This channel is particularly appealing to the tech-savvy younger generation.

Specialty Stores

Specialty stores, which focus on specific categories such as organic products or high-end personal care items, cater to niche markets. These stores provide a curated shopping experience and often offer expert advice to consumers.

Convenience Stores

Convenience stores, with their strategic locations and extended operating hours, serve as a quick and accessible option for purchasing household products. They are especially popular in urban areas where time-saving is a priority for consumers.

Buy the Full Report for MEA Household Products Market Forecasts Download a Free Sample Report

#current household #marketing

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homeimprovementway · 13 days

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Removing Roofing Tar from Metal: Expert Tips

To remove roofing tar from metal, use a petroleum-based cleaner or a citrus-based degreaser to loosen the tar, then wipe it off with a clean rag. You can also try using mineral oil or baby oil to loosen the tar before wiping it off with a clean rag and washing the metal with soap and water. Removing roofing tar from metal can be a challenging task, but with the right approach, it can be effectively accomplished. Whether you're dealing with a small tar stain or a larger area covered in tar, knowing the best methods for removing it is essential. In this guide, we will explore the most effective techniques and products for removing roofing tar from metal surfaces. By following these tips, you can restore your metal surfaces to their original condition without causing any damage. Let's dive into the details of how to effectively remove roofing tar from metal.

Understanding Roofing Tar

Roofing tar is a viscous, black, and sticky substance commonly used in roofing applications to seal and protect metal roofs. It is a byproduct of the coal and wood distillation process and is often mixed with mineral fillers and organic fibers to create a durable and weather-resistant material. Understanding the properties and uses of roofing tar is essential for effectively removing it from metal surfaces. What Is Roofing Tar? Roofing tar, also known as coal tar pitch, is a thick, sticky substance derived from the distillation of coal or wood. It is commonly used in roofing to create a waterproof and durable seal on metal surfaces. The tar's composition includes various hydrocarbons and organic compounds, making it an effective protective coating against the elements. Common Uses Of Roofing Tar Roofing tar is widely used for sealing seams, joints, and flashings on metal roofs to prevent water infiltration and corrosion. It is also applied as a protective coating to extend the lifespan of metal roofing materials. Additionally, roofing tar serves as an adhesive for attaching roofing materials and acts as a barrier against UV radiation and thermal expansion.

Challenges In Removing Roofing Tar From Metal

Removing roofing tar from metal surfaces can be a daunting task due to the strong adherence of tar to the metal, which can potentially cause damage. Understanding these challenges is crucial to effectively tackle the removal process. Adherence To Metal Surfaces Tar's strong adherence to metal surfaces makes it challenging to remove. The sticky nature of tar causes it to bond tightly with the metal, requiring specialized techniques for effective removal. Potential Damage To Metal The process of removing roofing tar from metal can potentially lead to damage to the metal surface if not handled carefully. Harsh chemicals or abrasive methods may cause corrosion or scratches on the metal. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZLT-IcO6eoQ

Expert Tips For Removing Roofing Tar From Metal

If you're dealing with roofing tar on metal surfaces, these expert tips can help you effectively remove it. Using Petroleum-based Cleaners When it comes to removing roofing tar from metal, petroleum-based cleaners are highly effective. Mineral Oil Or Baby Oil Method Another effective method is using mineral oil or baby oil to dissolve and remove roofing tar from metal surfaces. Dry Ice Blasting Technique The dry ice blasting technique is a powerful method to remove roofing tar from metal without causing damage. Solvent-based Tar Removers Solvent-based tar removers can also be used to effectively dissolve and eliminate roofing tar from metal surfaces.

DIY Methods For Removing Roofing Tar From Metal

To remove roofing tar from metal, try using a petroleum-based cleaner or citrus-based degreaser to loosen the tar. Dilute the cleaner, apply it to the stain, and wipe it off with a rag for effective results. Another method is to use mineral or baby oil to break down the tar before wiping it clean. Vinegar And Dishwashing Liquid Solution Vinegar, known for its acidic properties, combined with dishwashing liquid can effectively remove roofing tar from metal surfaces. Mix one tablespoon of vinegar with two cups of water and add a few drops of dishwashing liquid. Apply the solution to the affected area using a sponge or cloth, and gently blot it continuously to lift the tar stains. Olive Oil For Tar Removal Olive oil can serve as a natural and gentle tar remover for metal surfaces. Apply a small amount of olive oil to the tar-stained area and let it sit for a few minutes. Then, using a soft cloth, gently rub the area in circular motions to lift the tar. Repeat the process if necessary until the tar is completely removed. Bug And Tar Remover For Stubborn Tar If the roofing tar on the metal surface is stubborn and difficult to remove, a bug and tar remover can be an effective solution. These commercial products are specifically designed to break down and lift tough tar stains. Follow the manufacturer's instructions for application and ensure proper ventilation when using these products.

Best Practices For Safe And Effective Tar Removal

When it comes to removing roofing tar from metal, it's important to use a petroleum-based cleaner or citrus-based degreaser to effectively loosen the tar. Dilute the cleaner as directed, apply to the stain, and wipe off the tar with a rag for safe and efficient tar removal. Protective Gear And Equipment When removing roofing tar from metal, it's crucial to prioritize safety. Wear protective gear such as gloves, safety goggles, and a respirator to prevent direct contact with the tar and inhalation of harmful fumes. Additionally, ensure that the equipment used, such as scrapers and solvents, is suitable for the task at hand. Proper Ventilation And Environment Proper ventilation is essential during tar removal to minimize exposure to potentially hazardous vapors. Work in a well-ventilated area, ideally outdoors, and consider using fans or open windows to improve air circulation. It's also important to remove any flammable materials from the work environment to reduce the risk of fire hazards. Disposal Of Tar Waste Disposal of tar waste should be handled responsibly to prevent environmental contamination. Collect the removed tar in a designated container and dispose of it according to local regulations. Avoid pouring tar waste down drains or into the soil, as this can have harmful consequences for the ecosystem.

Preventative Measures To Avoid Roofing Tar Buildup On Metal

Ensure regular inspections to detect any signs of roofing tar buildup on metal surfaces. Maintain the roof to prevent the accumulation of tar and address any issues promptly. Protect metal surfaces by applying coatings or sealants that prevent tar from adhering. Choose high-quality products that offer long-lasting protection against tar buildup.

Seeking Professional Help For Stubborn Tar Removal

Struggling to remove stubborn roofing tar from metal? Consider seeking professional help for effective and safe removal. Using a petroleum-based cleaner or a citrus-based degreaser can help loosen the tar, making it easier to remove. Removing roofing tar from metal can be a daunting task, especially if the tar has been there for a long time. While there are various DIY methods available, some stubborn tar stains may require professional assistance. In this section, we will discuss two ways to seek professional help for stubborn tar removal: hiring professional cleaning services and consulting metal roofing specialists. Hiring Professional Cleaning Services One of the easiest ways to remove stubborn roofing tar from metal is to hire a professional cleaning service. These services have the necessary equipment, expertise, and cleaning agents to remove even the toughest tar stains. They will use specialized solvents and cleaning agents that are safe for your metal roof and environment. Most professional cleaning services have years of experience in dealing with different types of roofing materials, including metal. They will inspect your roof, identify the areas with tar stains, and use the appropriate cleaning method to remove the stains. This method is ideal for homeowners who do not have the time, equipment, or experience to clean their metal roof. Consulting Metal Roofing Specialists If your metal roof is new or has special coatings, it is essential to consult metal roofing specialists before attempting to remove tar stains. Metal roofing specialists have a wealth of knowledge and experience in dealing with different types of metal roofs, including their coatings, and can advise on the best cleaning method for your roof. Metal roofing specialists can also provide valuable information on how to prevent tar stains from forming on your metal roof in the future. They can recommend the best roofing products to use, including coatings and sealants, to keep your metal roof looking new and free of tar stains. In conclusion, while DIY methods may work for some tar stains, it is always advisable to seek professional help for stubborn tar removal from metal roofs. Hiring professional cleaning services and consulting metal roofing specialists are two effective ways to remove tar stains from metal roofs. These professionals have the necessary equipment, expertise, and cleaning agents to remove even the toughest tar stains, and they can advise on the best cleaning method for your roof.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will Wd-40 Remove Road Tar? WD-40 can effectively remove road tar from surfaces. Simply spray, let sit, and wipe clean. What Is The Best Solvent For Removing Tar? The best solvent for removing tar is a petroleum-based cleaner or a citrus-based degreaser. Dilute the cleaner according to the instructions and apply it to the tar stain using a rag. This should loosen the tar. Then, wipe it off with a clean rag. It is recommended to use mineral oil or baby oil to loosen the tar from skin. How Do You Remove Hardened Tar? To remove hardened tar, use a petroleum-based cleaner or citrus-based degreaser on the affected area. Dilute the cleaner as directed, apply to the stain with a rag, and let it sit to loosen the tar. Wipe off with a clean cloth to remove the tar from metal surfaces effectively. Does Vinegar Remove Tar? Yes, vinegar can remove tar. Mix one tablespoon of vinegar with two cups of water and a dishwashing liquid. Apply the solution with a sponge and blot the surface continuously.

Conclusion

Removing roofing tar from metal can be effectively done using petroleum-based cleaners or citrus-based degreasers. Dilute the cleaner, apply to the stain, and gently wipe off for best results. Choosing the right solvent is key to safely and efficiently removing tar from metal surfaces. Read the full article

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