#Real Estate Extend Tour
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SOTM: Bryce/Jared, Elaine; Man of the Hour (Day, Week, Month, Year)
For the prompt: One of the articles Bryce mentions. "…like, a profile thing? How it was growing up gay in hockey, that kind of thing… A chance to establish myself as like, I am now,” Bryce says. “Kind of like — not set the record straight, exactly, but like, show I’ve matured and stuff. "
It’s the definition of a typical Vancouver day, drizzly and overcast, when I meet Bryce Marcus. He likely needs no introduction, but I will introduce him anyway: the star centre for the Vancouver Canucks who went from being the enemy while playing for the arch-rival Calgary Flames to becoming possibly the most beloved man in the city: certainly if you you asked the fans streaming out of Rogers Arena after watching the Canucks win the Cup for the third time, or the hundreds of thousands of lining Burrard to cheer on their Canucks at the Stanley Cup Parade on a beautiful sunny day this June.
The weather is anything but glamourous today, however, and at the Marcus Matheson household, the surroundings aren’t either.
Jared Matheson, husband and teammate of Bryce, apologizes as I step over a box in their hallway. “We’re kind of in the middle of a move right now.”
They’re trading their two-bedroom condo for something ‘a little more permanent’. Both have decided that wherever their NHL careers may take them, Vancouver is going to remain home, and they’ve just closed on a house nearby.
“Bryce is weirdly excited about getting to mow the lawn,” Jared tells me as we wait for Bryce to finish getting ready. In light of the hyper-competitive Vancouver real estate market it’s entirely understandable to be excited about lawncare — it means you have a lawn to care for — but one wouldn’t have expected that to extend even to Vancouver’s sports stars.
When Bryce emerges, five minutes after my arrival, he announces himself by swearing as he trips over a box of his own, and then apologising, both for his language and his tardiness.
“He was doing his hair,” Jared says.
“I was not,” Bryce scowls, but doesn’t offer an alternative explanation.
After a quick tour of their condo, which is currently half in boxes, Bryce and I hop into his Audi S8 — naturally courtesy Capilano Audi, whose ads featuring him are inescapable during Canucks games. We drive to Richmond so he can show me his old haunts: elementary, middle, and high school — though he finished high school in Washington while playing for the Spokane Chiefs — his home rink, the Dairy Queen his mother took him after hockey games. He’s a capable, if slightly aggressive driver. I mention this because from the dire warning I received from Jared on the way out the door I genuinely believed I might not survive the drive.
Bryce finally pulls into the driveway of an unassuming but cheerful house on a quiet suburban street. The morning drizzle has faded, and the weather is now just as bright and warm as his childhood home, and the mother who raised him there. Already waiting for us on the porch, his mother Elaine Marcus offers me a glass of lemonade. “Store bought, I’m afraid,” she says with a smile. “I’m not much of homemaker.”
Over lemonade and cookies — “Also store bought,” Elaine admits, “but this bakery is very good!”, and she’s right about that — she shows me an array of childhood and teenage photos while Bryce complains to his mother that she’s ‘embarrassing’ him.
The photos are more inspiring than embarrassing: photo after photo of a beaming little boy in an equally small Canucks jersey, proudly brandishing a plastic mini-stick (Canucks branded, of course). A true example of someone who grew up to live his childhood dream.
Sadly, as he gets a older the smile disappears, as does the man beaming in the background of so many of those happy photos. His father, Ben Marcus, was killed by an impaired driver at the age of 32. It devastated Elaine and Bryce, who was only four at the time.
“It was hard,” Elaine says. “He didn’t understand. I didn’t understand, when it came down to it. It was a hard time. He wanted to play hockey all the time, it was the only thing he wanted. He was really only happy on the ice.”
“I just wanted him to be happy,” she says, smiling tearfully, and as Bryce wraps a protective arm around his mother's shoulders, I offer to give them a moment.
“It was a long time ago,” Elaine says in dismissal, wiping her eyes. “It’s just hard sometimes. Ben loved hockey, loved watching the Canucks with Bryce — he’d have been so proud to see Bryce lift the Cup for them. I am too, of course, but it was always Ben and Bryce’s thing. He would have been so proud.”
I do give them a moment then, and when I return, my lemonade has been refilled and both are all smiles once again, though Bryce's doesn't last. He cringes as we go through photos of his teen years. There’s a sullen look on his face in every picture.
And what was Bryce like as a teenager?
"I'll let him answer that," Elaine says diplomatically.
“I don’t really know,” Bryce says, looking thoughtful. “Angry, I guess. I was an angry kid. And confused.”
About his sexuality?
“Everything was confusing,” Bryce says. “But yeah, definitely that too.”
“Bryce cared so much,” Elaine says. “About everything. He still does. The world’s hardest on the people who care most about it.”
Like so many hockey players who’ve come out since Dan Riley and Marc Lapointe did in 2010, he credits their coming out as a major influence on his journey of coming to terms with his identity as both a gay man and a pro hockey player.
“You don’t really put it together,” Bryce says. He turned sixteen the summer the Leafs won the Stanley Cup, and Riley and Lapointe subsequently came out. “Like, okay, sure, you can be gay and play hockey. Except nobody thought that. I didn’t think that. If you said that, maybe I’d say okay, but I didn’t believe it.”
How, then, did he reconcile being gay and playing hockey?
“That's the thing,” Bryce says. “I didn’t, you know? I was playing hockey, so obviously I wasn’t, right? Because if I was gay, then I wouldn’t be playing, would I?”
“It sounds so ridiculous saying it now,” he reflects. “But that’s what I thought. And I wasn’t the only one.”
But even more than Riley and Lapointe blazing a trail before him, he credits meeting his husband Jared at a hockey skills camp in Calgary. In the year before he met Jared, then twenty year old Bryce was arrested twice, for assault and DWI: the latter in particular shook his mother, considering how his father died.
"I was worried about him," she says. "That's probably an understatement."
“I don’t know where I’d be if I hadn't met Jared,” Bryce says. “I genuinely don’t. I don’t think I’d be out. I know I wouldn’t be happy. You know, everyone says it isn’t like in the movies. Falling in love, I mean. That love at first sight and all that is b******t. But that’s pretty much what it was for me.”
Was it mutual?
Bryce laughs. “You’d have to ask Jared, he tells it better than me,” he says. “But no, not really. I wasn't good enough for him. I'm still not good enough for him, but I try to be."
Another warning I’d received from his husband before my tour around town? That Bryce was an incurable romantic. This warning certainly seems more warranted than the one about Bryce’s driving.
And what does Bryce think about Jared’s warning, and his additional suggestion to take anything Bryce said about him with a healthy grain of salt?
“[Jared]’s just modest,” Bryce says.
“He lights up when Jared’s around,” Elaine says. “It’s just like when he was a little boy — every time he stepped onto the ice, he beamed. It’s the same thing with Jared. He’s so happy. It’s so wonderful to see him like that.”
And how was it, not only getting to play with his husband, but to raise the Stanley Cup together?
“It’s a dream come true,” Bryce says. “Really. I know that’s such a cliche, but so is love at first sight, right? And the hometown boy winning it all for his childhood team. They’re all cliches. But they’re my life.”
“I know just how lucky I am,” Bryce says. “Winning with Jared, with this team — it’s been such a whirlwind of a year.”
I tell him to enjoy it.
“I do,” he says, smiling so widely I have no doubt he’s telling the truth. “I really, really do.”
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Influencing The Influencer III
As Tom made his way out of the bedroom and towards the front door of his hotel room, the magically-gifted man couldn’t help but take a moment to check himself out of the mirror one last time. It had been over a month since his bar hookup, which had originally been meant to be his last hurrah as Chris Nelson before Tom moved onto a new body the next day. Unfortunately for Tom though, the man he had planned to possess had to cancel at the last minute, so he was left for the next few weeks trying his best to find a replacement body to take over.
While there were certainly countless men in North America that Tom could have taken over, the time he had spent trying to find a replacement body had caused him to begin expanding his scope until it became an international endeavor. Although this only added more potential men for him to become to his list, Tom soon found himself quickly narrowing down his selection until there was only one man left: Max Biechl.
Given the fact that there would be no reason behind their meeting since Max had a career as a German real estate agent, Tom found himself trying his best to formulate a plan that would allow them to meet. Despite Chris’ popularity as a content creator, the man wasn’t obscenely rich since Tom was still forced to continue Chris’ night job as a security guard at a bar. But after pulling a few strings and dipping into the man’s savings, Tom purchased a one-way flight to Germany and secured a meeting with Max under the guise of wanting a European home for him to visit whenever he was free. Obviously Tom had no intention of purchasing a house from the man, but Max was completely clueless as to the real reason behind their meeting.
So as he exited his hotel room and made his way out to the busy streets of Cologne, Tom quickly hailed a taxi and gave the address to the location where he was going to meet Max. Given the fact that he wanted to keep his attempt at purchasing a house realistic, he opted to pick the cheapest residence that Max had for sale. Upon arriving at the residence and exiting the cab though, Tom could understand why the house was the cheapest place as the house was fairly rundown in terms of the exterior and looked incredibly small in comparison to the other houses that lined the block.
But once Tom took note of the front door opening, the man continued his performance as an interested buyer while watching Max and a well-dressed female step out. Eager to meet such a hunky and well-dressed man, Tom quickly extended a hand towards Max and smiled as the man nodded and shook it back. “It’s a lovely house huh?” Tom said with a slight chuckle, awaiting for Max’s response but coming up empty-handed.
Turning his attention towards the woman, she kindly informed Tom that Max isn’t well-versed in English and she was asked to tag along to be the translator between them. As such, she quickly dominated the conversation with Tom as she allowed Max to lead the way and translate what he said to Tom. Throughout the entire tour, Tom found himself less interested in the house and more focused on the deep Germanic tone coming out of his mouth. To the American, nothing seemed hotter than a hot stud speaking a foreign language, so he was understandably annoyed as the woman’s voice continued to overpower it while explaining what he was saying. Given his annoyance, he wanted nothing more for her to disappear so he could finally possess the hunky and oblivious realtor.
Luckily, Tom found his wish coming to fruition sooner than he expected as the tour finished and the woman asked the man about whether she needed to get the purchasing paperwork from her car to finalize the deal. Realizing that this was the opening he was looking for, Tom enthusiastically replied “I’ll take it!” before smiled at both individuals.
“Excuse me for a moment then, I’ll be right back,” the woman said with her accented voice, turning on her heels and quickly pacing out of the residence. With a prime opportunity for possessing the man emerging with the woman now out of the way, Tom couldn’t resist smiling slyly as he slowly shifted orientation towards Max. Watching as the German man had his back turned towards him while doing something on his cell phone, Tom quietly slinked up closer like a predator preparing to pounce on their prey. With his grin widening to extreme levels, the man closed his eyes and dived straight into the man’s back.
“Scheiße!” the man cried out, frantically tensing up and arching his back while trying to resist the intense pressure that was permeating through his back. But despite how frantically he flailed his arms behind him to try and stop whatever was happening, Tom’s skill at possession meant he was unstoppable against the German man’s feeble attempts. Given the fact that the woman would surely be coming back soon along with Max’s continued grunts and loud cursing, Tom found himself no longer delaying the inevitable and finally pushing the entirety of his bulkier body into the smaller German man before being consumed by total darkness.
While inside Max’s body, there was an intense feeling of discomfort and extreme tightness that Tom picked up. Given their clear size difference and Chris’ own bulkier build, the possession of such a lankier man was the source of clear discomfort for Tom. But as time went on, this feeling slowly melted away as if his bulky frame was being stripped of its innate musculature for the time being to be a better fit for his new host. As that tightness finally faded from existence, a sudden sensation of tranquility and comfort pulsated through Tom as the process completed and he found himself in complete control of a brand new body.
Opening up his eyes, Tom instinctively looked down and chuckled as he saw the man’s snazzy suit covering up his taut and buff body along with the pair of outstretched light white hands. Tom’s enjoyment of the racial change element was on full display, his eyes fully focused in on those hands as they traveled up his clothed torso to feel the muscle underneath. Not surprisingly, the factors of his possession and racial change were quick to elicit a physical response through the man’s new cock, which became rock hard in a blink of an eye and strained against the form-fitting dress pants that made no attempt to cover that bulge.
Both overly joyous and turned on by his new form, Tom couldn’t keep his mouth shut any longer and thus decided to verbalize his own enjoyment. But as he tried his best to talk about how hot this experience was and how eager he was to become Max Biechl, his eyes widened as foreign words escaped his lips. “Verdammt, das ist so heiß! Daran könnte ich mich sicherlich gewöhnen,” the man said instead, causing his eyes to widen and mouth to go agape at the revelation of his new primary language. While it was certainly understandable looking back why he would have gained the man’s natural desire to speak in German, there was a slight moment of panic at the man due to the disconnect between his mind and mouth. His mind allowed him to properly think in English, but no matter how hard he tried to verbalize it, German was the only thing that could come out. Hell, Tom even struggled to say his real name, hearing his now-accented voice falter over the simple first and last name!
As the sudden noise of heels clacking against the wooden floors of the residence, the new Max Biechl shifted his attention towards the source. With the assistant returning with a bunch of papers and manila folders in hand, she wasted no time cutting right to the point. “Where did the American go?” she asked, Tom smirking to himself as he grew relieved by the fact that he could comprehend the woman’s German speaking with his mind immediately translating them to English for him.
Upon fixing one of his lower buttons and adjusting the suit jacket he was now wearing, Tom took a moment to formulate a quick plan to explain the sudden disappearance of Chris Nelson. “Oh, he had to go back to his hotel. Some sort of emergency, I guess,” Tom offered up, trying his best to still hide his awkwardness about being a native German speaker for the time being. It was still quite an erotic aspect of the possession, but Tom couldn’t help but wish that he’d adapt to the language shift as soon as possible!
After her trip to go get all of the paperwork, the assistant was understandably furious about the man leaving before she could have returned to secure the deal. In fact, as the two of them made their way out of the property, locked it up, and returned to Max’s car, the woman was still going on her rant about “ignorant Americans” and talking about how she warned him about taking the meeting with “Chris”. But as he entered the car and prepared to drive off, Tom found himself instantly transfixed by his own reflection in the rear view mirror to the point where her words faded away into nothingness. As such, the man was quick to pull out the cell phone tucked into the pocket of his dress pants and take a few celebratory selfies to upload to his social media later before driving off and returning to the real estate office.
Upon making his way back to his new workplace, Tom’s hopes of getting an easy day were quickly dashed as Max’s secretary gave him a slew of notes from people that needed to be handled as soon as possible. So as he made his way to Max’s desk, Tom found himself tapping into the man’s memories and personality sooner than expected as he began to handle the overeager or frustrated clients. Throughout the next few hours, Tom easily slipped into the role of Max Biechl and began to understand why he was one of the top realtors in the country; he had a natural confidence that meshed well with a cool and collected personality to make him instantly desirable by anyone.
Seamlessly juggling phone calls between clients and inspection agencies or renovators, Tom was growing quite turned on despite the rather mundane work. So when the time for his lunch break arrived, Tom found himself eager to handle his sexual appetite rather than the hunger in his stomach. Using his desk chair to roll away from his desk, Tom made his way out of the room and towards his restroom with an obvious swagger in his step. Given how many people said hello to him and complimented his designer suit, Tom found himself having more and more reason behind this natural cockiness.
Once he reached the men’s restroom, Tom quickly pulled open the door and closed it before twisting the lock to provide no interruptions. Making his way towards the long mirror that ran along the wall of sinks, the man licked his lips and smirked to himself as he began to give himself his own private show. Slowly undoing each button of his suit jacket, the man’s cock began to throb as he pulled off his suit jacket to reveal the physique that filled out his dress shirt quite nicely. Using his hands to traverse across the luxury fabric, pre-cum began to leak into the man’s underwear as he gripped and squeezed the man’s firm biceps and cupped his modest pecs.
With his hands continuing to move down his torso, the man shivered in pure pleasure as he felt the ridges of his washboard abs until he reached the waistband of his pants. Unable to resist, he untucked his dress shirt and quickly undid his belt before tossing it aside. Gripping onto the top button of the pants, he once again put on a show by teasing himself and slowly undoing it before pulling down the zipper. As he tugged the pants down after getting stuck around his rather perky ass, Tom audibly gasped as he took in the rock-hard bulge jutting out against his tight athletic underwear. In all honesty, he had expected Max to be on the smaller side given his smaller size, but based on what he was seeing, he was even bigger than Chris in the manhood department!
Now with a clear sight of his throbbing manhood, Tom’s striptease began to hasten as he grew eager to get to the main event. So upon quickly unbuttoning and pulling off the black dress shirt, Tom only momentarily took in the sight of his tattooed physique before pulling down his underwear and getting to work. Taking a moment to quickly spit into his hand, Tom lubed up his cock and began to passionately stroke it while staring into the mirror. Turning to his side while continued to jerk himself off, Tom reveled in the sight of his new buff white body.
With one hand still furiously stroking himself, the man made his non-dominant hand move towards his rear end and grip onto those perky ass cheeks reflected back at him. Curious about why the man had such a perky ass, a quick search through Max’s own memories provided the information that the man had experimented between men off and on for a few years. With this revelation, it left Tom eager to revive that aspect of Max’s personality while he was in control. Clearly based on how well-built he was in both the cock and ass department, he had amazing potential as a versatile gay man. With these thoughts continuing to run through his head, this was the final trigger that caused Tom to reach climax and coat both the sink and mirror with several thick streams of cum.
After quickly cleaning up his mess and beginning to put his clothes back on, Tom took a moment to pull his underwear and pants back on. Staring down at his torso, he couldn’t resist pulling out his phone and once again documenting the moment with a sea of selfies. While he was certainly unsure of how long he’d want to remain a hardworking (yet hunky) realtor, Tom was relieved to know that the plane ticket and other various expenses had been worth it. Although there were certainly potential issues he would experience in terms of adapting to living in Germany, Tom was relieved that he at least had Max’s memories and personality that he could pull from. So after pulling his clothes back on and adjusting his suit jacket once more, Tom gave a wink to the mirror before heading back out to his office to finish his shift.
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“Vague Job Description”
Natalie is the paralegal that's been in love with Matt since she's known him.
Unbeknownst to her, Matt knows all too well how she feels about him, but tries to keep her at arms length to keep her safe.
When she starts to get dragged into the underbelly of hell's kitchen he calls home, some things can no longer remain hidden, and some emotions aren’t so easy to control.
Summary: It’s literally the pilot. First installments are always iffy just bear with me.
Warnings: Mention of death, mention of blood, mention of homicide, SO MUCH PINING. Matt being a human disaster, Natalie being a simp. Matt also being a simp but quieter. These two idiots can’t express their feelings for the life of them.
"Foggy." The automated voice on his phone droned. "Foggy. Foggy."
Matt sighed, reaching to accept the call before sitting up. "Hello?" He answered, yawning widely.
"Good morning, sunshine!" Foggy chirped from the other side of the line. The sounds of other peoples' footsteps and the general business of Hell's Kitchen coming with it.
"What time is it?" He fingered the silk fabric of his sheets, savoring the feeling between his fingertips. Far too happy to lay back down for the time being.
"Half past get the hell up," Foggy replied. "Let's go! We gotta meet the real estate agent in..." He paused, Matt assumed to check his watch. "45."
"Usually, Nat calls me when i'm late." He pointed out, effectively ignoring Foggy's instructions.
"Nat's not answering her phone. She's probably already finding stuff to do." Foggy rationalized, the sound of people talking now starting to overcome him. What he said was odd. Nat usually always picked up her phone, even when she was so hungover she sounded like she'd been hit by a train. "Must've stayed out too late."
"She tell you about any dates or something last night?" Matt pushed, feeling an unwelcome dart of worry run through him for a split second.
"Aw, Matt, you do care. I'll need to get that in writing and give it to Nat for her birthday. She might cry." Foggy said sarcastically. "Seriously, get moving. I've got to go bribe a cop."
"Ah, Foggy." Matt warned, standing up to grab his phone, wandering into his living room.
"Kidding, NSA, if you're listening. But really, yeah, I gotta bribe a cop."
Matt shook his head smiling, and started his morning routine.
"You've got a reception area, a conference room and two offices. Corner suite has a view of the Hudson..." Natalie was only partially listening to the real estate agent giving them a tour of the floor, her fingers clenching around her black folder she was holding to her neatly pressed pencil skirt. She looked around, pushing up her glasses as she ran her eyes over the yellowed molding on the floor, looking for loose nails or lifted floorboards. Anything a cane or a shoe might catch on.
"You can flip a coin with your partner for it." Susan joked, gesturing to Nat.
Natalie fought a flush as she spluttered a little. Holding up her hand and laughing awkwardly. "Oh, I'm not-"
"Uh, he can have the view." She heard a familiar voice and a creak of the door before turning to see Matt entering through the door. A small smile on his face.
Susan, the realtor, immediately widened her eyes. plastering a charming smile over her face. "I'm... So sorry. I didn't mean to-"
Matt smirked, standing just ahead of the door holding his cane. "Of course not."
Susan chuckled, taking a step forward and extending her hand for a shake. "Susan Harris. Midtown Property Solutions."
"Matt Murdock."
Susan seemed to realize her mistake and dropped her hand, choosing instead to do an odd knee-bend. Nat fought not to roll her eyes. Somehow Matt always found a way to make the gorgeous women in his vicinity turn into bumbling fools.
Foggy saved them both from the palpable awkwardness. "She just curtsied. It was adorable."
Matt chuckled, turning his head briefly to the floor. "Well, it's nice to know Chivalry isn't dead." Matt lifted his chin, turning his head in a way that Foggy recognized was him listening for something. "Natalie?"
She turned from the window with an audible, "Hmm?" Matt smiled just a little, turning to face the sound. The action causing her heart to flutter momentarily. She convinced herself over the years that she imagined it, but part of her leapt at the way he always seemed to smile when he recognized her presence nearby.
He lifted a hand, palm up, a silent request that she had become accustomed to at this point. She immediately walked from the side of the room to Matt, taking his rough hand in hers and guiding it to her side, where he instinctively curled his fingers at the spot where her bicep met her elbow. She tried not to shudder, like she always did, when he touched her skin. Hoping the goosebumps didn't feel as obvious as she dreaded.
"Susan, if we could continue with-" Natalie urged, looking briefly at Matt before turning back to the agent expectantly.
"Yes of course, my pleasure. As I was telling your associates, Mr. Murdock, this office was barely touched by the incident, which is why it's on the market already. The neighbors weren't so lucky."
Matt snickered softly. "'The incident'? Is that what we're calling it now."
Natalie scoffed. "Well, it sounds so much better than 'death and destruction raining from the sky, nearly wiping Hell's Kitchen off the map'." She murmured.
Matt laughed aloud. Something she didn't expect. "Shorter, too." He quipped. Making her smile.
Foggy crinkled his nose a little, pointing out the window. "Owner figuring in the delightful view of cranes and scaffolding?" He asked, eyeing the construction work outside distastefully. "Feels like we're getting pre-incident prices."
Susan flashed him a smile that was more teeth than anything. "They're a quarter of what they used to be. Hell's Kitchen's on the rebound, Mr. Nelson." She took a step closer to the group. "And in eighteen months you won't be able to rent a broom closet at this price point."
Matt squeezed her elbow, and she tried to tell herself that the touch was unconscious as he stated. "We'll take it."
Foggy snorted, looking quickly at Matt. "We will talk about it. Because we're not sure we can even afford this palace." He said pointedly.
Nat looked between Foggy and the man holding her arm. "Unless you both make some changes to your current clientele policy." She pointed out.
Matt nodded, turning to 'look' at the realtor. "My partner and I are having some disagreements over the direction of Nelson and Murdock." He clarified, his free hand fidgeting with the handle of his cane. "I believe we're here to defend the innocent."
Foggy sniffed, smiling with a strained expression. "And I believe the innocent includes everyone not yet convicted of a crime."
Natalie coughed, "You know, as the law states." Matt shook his head, not acknowledging her comment.
"He likes to use fancy terminology."
"And my partner fails to recognize that, as attorneys, we're never gonna be able to keep the lights on, waiting on a horde of innocent souls to stumble into our loving arms." Foggy sighed, exasperated.
Matt blew out a quiet breath. "At this point. I think i'd settle for just one."
"Foggy called to drag my ass out of bed this morning." Matt spoke into the quiet space. Natalie looked up from her new desk to see him standing in front of it. The suite only had two offices, and as they had decided Matt utilized her the most, she would share with him. Instead of his normal glasses she was met with his brown, unseeing eyes. Looking somewhere past her head.
"Sounds about right." She said, bending down to pick her little plant out of the cardboard box she'd put it in for the move. Along with the dainty watering can.
"Usually you call me." Matt continued, folding up his cane and placing his hand on the thin wood of her desk. She didn't respond. "And Foggy said you weren't answering the phone."
Natalie closed her eyes for a moment. "Did some meditating last night and forgot to turn it back on." Not quite a lie, but not quite the truth either. She did turn her phone off so she wouldn't be bothered. But not for meditating. And she didn't forget to turn it back on.
"Nat..." Matt murmured.
"Matt, I didn't get abducted. I don't see why you're so upset about this." She said testily, standing from her desk to connect her extension cord to the outlet.
She heard a soft sigh, and when she stood back up she saw Matt was rounding her desk to lean against it, next to her chair.
"You're not just my associate, you're my friend. It's normal for me to care about your well-being. Especially in Hell's Kitchen." He spoke mildly, but she could see his fingertips squeezing the lip of her desk.
Just like many times before, she was grateful Matt couldn't see her wince slightly at the word friend. She forced a laugh, but it sounded strained even to her own ears. "I'm touched, Matt, but i'm fine. Just a mix up."
"Natalie."
"Matthew." She countered, trying for a playful tone.
"I missed your call." He confessed quietly, and her heart lurched. A soft blush climbing high in her cheeks. It was moments like that that made it hard for her to go on blind dates. To text the barista who wrote his number on her coffee order. She was fucking pathetic...
"Also, it's really hard to find a good paralegal who is pleasant in conversation and can take notes in braille." Matt added, breaking some of the awkwardness. Nat laughed. Staring at her stupid little plant instead of the incredibly oblivious, gorgeous man leaning against her desk.
Foggy burst through the office door, phone still in hand and eyes bright. "We have a case!"
Matt raised his eyebrows, reaching to unfold his cane. "Since when?"
"Since that cop I bribed fell in love with me!" Foggy exclaimed, waving anxiously for them to follow him. "Come on, come on! Homicide! Suspect doesn't remember anything! Let's go!"
"Go where?" Natalie huffed, grabbing her notepad and folder as well as Matt's briefcase.
"Precinct two blocks west of here! Let's go!" Foggy urged, practically dragging Matt by the elbow out of the office.
The sight of a thin, blonde woman practically shriveling behind the metal table was the first thing Natalie noticed when she entered the room. The second was the metal cuffs digging harshly into her wrists. She immediately looked at the officer standing to her side.
"Can we please take the cuffs off the 110 pound suspect?" She gestured to the blonde. "Poor thing's literally shaking."
The detective who showed them to the room gave Natalie a strange look, then proceeded to look at Matt and Foggy skeptically.
"Miss Page, can you tell me who these men and their... associate, are?" The gruff man drawled, looking entirely displeased with the new arrivals.
"We're her lawyers." Matt said, before turning his head towards Nat. "This is Ms. Bishop. Uncuff our client and give us the room, please." Matt's tone left no room for disagreement, and Nat watched the officer free Miss Page.
"And a chair for Ms. Bishop, if you don't mind." Foggy added. Matt nodding at him gratefully.
The detective huffed but dragged one of the aluminum chairs loudly to the edge of the table. The four of them stood in awkward silence as the detectives left the room, the lock buzzing ominously as the door closed.
Matt wasted no time. "Ms. Page, my name is Matt Murdock. This is my partner, Foggy Nelson and-"
Ms. Page zeroed her gaze in on Natalie. "Are you a lawyer, too?"
Natalie cleared her throat, smiling nervously. "No, i'm, uh-"
"Paralegal." Matt said, at the exact moment Foggy said, "Assistant."
Ms. Page looked between all three of them confusedly. As Matt angled his head at Foggy for a moment, before lifting his chin back to where Ms. Page's voice was coming from.
"It's a... Wide job description at the moment." He clarified, before gesturing in the direction of the chairs. "Do you mind if we sit?"
Natalie watched her adjust in her seat, dropping her gaze.
Foggy tilted his head towards Matt, whisper-yelling in an effort to break the tension. "She gave a vague shrug, I say we go with it." Matt nodded and all three of them promptly sat in their respective chairs. Natalie took out the physical notebook to start writing things down.
"We understand you're in some trouble." Matt began, bracing his hands on the table. "We, uh, may be able to help."
Foggy also got right down to business. "Can you tell us what happened?" He held his hands out, "Why don't we start with what we know, then?" He sighed, searching the woman's blank face. "You were found in your apartment with one..." He checked the name on the report he'd been given. "Daniel fisher."
"Who appears to be the victim of a homicide," Matt continued. "And, currently, you're the only suspect, Ms. Page."
Ms. Page looked between the two of them incredulously, and Natalie noticed that not only did she have blood stains on her hands and forearms, but her eyes were also red and rubbed raw from crying.
"Who the hell are you guys?" She breathed, gripping her arms to her body tightly.
"I'm Matt, he's Foggy." Matt said; matter-of-fact. "She's Natalie." He nodded his head at Nat, who had been waiting for something important to be said.
"Who sent you?" Ms. Page continued her questioning, leaning her head forward just enough for her wheat-colored hair to fall forward in a curtain around her face.
"No one sent us." Matt reassured her. And almost before he could get the words out Ms. Page started to speak again.
"So, what?" She laughed humorlessly. "You're just a couple of Good Samaritans? Todays just my lucky day?"
Foggy chose this moment to say, "I bribed the desk sergeant with a box of cigars for his mom." As a way of explanation.
Matt took a classier approach. "Our practice is relatively young, Ms. Page, and we are aggressively pursuing new clientele." He sighed and turned to Foggy. "You gotta stop giving Bess cigars."
Foggy scoffed. "She likes to smoke, Matt. It's a free country."
Natalie watched as Ms. Page observed the exchange. Clearly at an impasse as to what was the right decision here. She swallowed hard. Looking between Natalie and the two lawyers.
"So..." She began. "How long have you been practicing law?"
Matt turned his head towards Natalie. "What time is it?" She and Foggy checked their watches at the same time but Natalie replied first.
"It's 12:22 AM." She murmured to Matt.
Matt cleared his throat and turned his head back towards Ms. Page, folding his hands neatly on the table. "About seven hours." He said firmly.
Nat scoffed quietly. "Well, if you go from when you passed the bar-"
Matt pursed his lips thoughtfully. "I was going from when we got our own desks."
Foggy nodded as if that was the most logical approach to the situation. "Oh, then, yeah. Seven hours." He turned back to Ms. Page with a proud smile. Natalie rolled her eyes with a faint smirk playing on her lips.
This was going to be a long night.
a/n: WHOO BOY this one is chunky. 2.5k words. I know this bit is kind of dull but I promise there’s more Nat and Matt next time. Getting a story going is incredibly boring sometimes. Thanks for reading! If you feel like it consider dropping a note or a follow for more of this story. Have a good day/night!
As always, special thanks to @abucketofweird for your support in this series. You’re currently the proud owner of the dedication for it. <3
- Sybil
#matt murdock x you#matt murdock x reader#matt murdock x ofc#matt murdock#matthew murdock#matt murdock x oc#marvel#daredevil x ofc#daredevil x oc#daredevil#daredevil x reader
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CHAPTER VIII [masterlist]
pairing: bang chan x ofc
genre: general audience, wholesome summery fluff; regency period drama
wordcount: 4k
summary: improvements of a household
warnings: regency era setting; countryside; countryside estate; and their tenants, peachs; and laughter of a fond dad
also available in ao3, if you prefer that format
© Do not repost, copy, or republish into another site or under another name.
⚠️ All characters that shares the name of real life person in this story are represented in a fictional manner for entertainment purpose, and not to be alluded with real life.
TAGLIST: @spookykryptoniteperson @nixtape-foryou @do-you-know-what-else-is-big
Commodore Bang maintained all manners of acquaintances — most of his friends among them stood as godparents to his sons. Mari did not catch many names, except that Mr Bambam was Changbin’s, while Minho’s were his uncle on his mother’s side and Commodore Bang’s sister. Seungmin’s godfather was away on a tour across the sea, but the Commodore received gifts from his butler. That, and many other parcels from their father, was the highlight of the day after for the boys.
“Miss Son, look!”
“Do you like it?”
There were wooden and lead soldier figures, books, pencils and papers for each boy; a pendant of glass dove for Hyunjin; and a silver pen for the eldest two. Lady Jang gave them each a handkerchief. Changbin received a new book and bookends from Mr Bambam, on the occasion of his birthday. Minho was twirling his pen; he had been quiet since the Commodore assembled them all into the drawing room to share his gifts. Among the hum and excitement of his brothers, suddenly he remarked, “You never gave us gifts before.”
The Commodore's face mellowed as regarded his son. It was easing how he took care to let some warmth break through his cold and austere shield. “I wanted to,” he said.
The eldest was hardly mollified by this change. Nearing midday they still revelled in the gifts, but Minho set his pen on the table and muttered to Mari that he needed to see his cats in the barn.
“But lunchtime is approaching,” she said.
“I’ll return soon.”
Minho’s chair remained untouched through lunch. The footman sent to fetch him returned to inform the Commodore that his son refused to attend. Between Lady Jang and Mr Bambam's witty conversation, Mari fidgeted as she heard the two. She was rising to excuse herself and see the boy, but Commodore Bang's voice paused her, “I will seek him, Miss Son. Do not fret yourself, and please enjoy the custard.”
“He must not miss his meal," Mari insisted as he passed her. "It won't do for his health."
Commodore Bang hummed. He wiped his mouth and took a sip of water, then rose and walked to the end of the table. “Then I shall seek him now—do sit down, Miss Son, let me. Lee Hongjin, tell the kitchen I should like a slice of pie.”
“Of course, Commodore,” the footman bowed and rushed out of the dining hall.
“ Bambam, you will entertain our guests for a moment?”
Mr Bambam sighed, “If needs be so.”
“Then you boys mind Miss Son.” Commodore Bang turned to Mari, “And I’ll leave you in charge of them to go about their day. And Lady Nayoung…” The Baroness, who occupied the table’s end at Mari’s right, gave him her hand, which the Commodore bowed over.
“You must excuse my company for some moment. I have to make an understanding with my son,” he said. “One which has been too long postponed.”
“I suppose I can spare your society to hasten it,” responded the Lady. Commodore Bang grasped her hand and left the hall. Mari did not see him again until she stepped out into the terrace in the late afternoon. Minho walked with his father, appearing from the bushes that surrounded the kitchen's garden. The boy caught sight of her, turned to his father, and his steps picked up into a jog towards her. Mari extended her hand, yet surprised when he circled his arms close about her. If she questioned it he will evade her, so she rested her hand upon his hair. “I hope another time you escape the company I will not find you in a worse state of illness.”
Minho let out a small chuckle, and then he pulled away to regard her.
“You must be knighted by the king, Miss Son,” he said.
Mari scoffed. “What nonsense is that?”
“For doing something I thought impossible,” the lad continued. Mari noticed that he was flushed, but he was already moving towards the house before she could fuss over it. “You truly are heaven’s intervention!”
“How very eloquent of you,” Mari drawled in confusion. Minho grinned, shrugged, and rushed in, leaving her standing there. The Commodore came up after him and nodded when she acknowledged him.
“It ended well, sir? The... understanding?” Mari inquired.
Commodore Bang smiled. “Better than I dared hoped.”
Mari would not pry further than that. “I’m glad.” She was about to turn away if not the sight of him tickled her mischief. “See, it’s not so difficult.”
Commodore Bang’s head snapped towards her, a frown marring his brows. “Pardon?”
“Smiling,” she pointed out.
“Oh.” Understanding had eased his feature, but soon his lips quirked up again and a chuckle broke through. Mari smiled, turning to follow Minho.
“I had feared you would not know a joke, sir,” she hummed.
“You thought so little of me?”
One afternoon, Mari and the boys set out of the house for their walk. While inquiring her about the day’s destination — that they might run ahead, Seungmin caught their father following them. Commodore Bang had a hat and gloves ready on his hand, waving back to his boys.
“Any particular destination to choose?” he asked. Mari was still tying up her bonnet, and they looked at her for the answer. But Commodore Bang spoke again before she could reply.
“If you don't mind me joining, would you like to pick peaches?”
While appealing, it was a novel offer; they turned to him with big wondering eyes.
“Where?” Yongbok asked.
Commodore Bang set his hat on firmly, pointing away to the south and began to describe the route to his tenant’s land. They agreed on the new destination, then skipped around the pathway and headed out of the garden.
“Miss Son, you are coming along?” Commodore Bang called.
“If you don’t mind, sir,” Mari replied, more surprised than the boys by his involvement.
“Why should I—you are the one who proposed this idea in the first place.” She came down the stairs, and he added, "And I hope you will have mercy to not leave me alone in the company of these rascals.”
The boys and Mari knew the path, but now they took a turn to the left where they had usually walked ahead. Trees made an arch over their path. They passed a few stone walls, and the grassy lawns inside them, until they gave way to branches laden with round fruits. The boys exclaimed in awe, and the Commodore directed them to an opening of the orchard. They walked among the trees to reach the other side. Mari saw the main house at a distance from the orchard, and standing there was a middle-aged man. His thick brows lifted in surprise at seeing the children's appearance, but they curved warmly with his smile as he took notice of the Commodore.
"My goodness ‘tis Lord Bang. I nearly thought you were an intruder. How do you do?" They shook hands. "A pleasure to have you at my fields, sir, a pleasure—though unexpected—I'm glad to see you well. My, isn’t it a beautiful day! And the young masters! How do you do?" He tipped his hat to them, then to Mari. "I saw all seven of them walking with our Miss Governess here a few days ago, and thought, worlds! They're doing very well are they not!? Trampling around the fields and climbing up the hills, it’s good to know that they enjoy our humble grounds. And you seem to be getting along well with the young lady, that’s delightful. It's a good blessing that everyone in the house is happy and healthy.”
“Indeed it is. Though, Miss Son may take all the credit for perpetuating it,” the Commodore said.
Mari sighed, “Commodore…—”
“For as you know, Mr Byun, I have been far too often away in town to do any good,” Commodore bang easily interjected.
“I will take no grudge for that sir—let’s not mind that,” Farmer Byun shook his hand again. “We all know you were having a hard time, and all that is important is that I am seeing you well and smiling with my own eyes. And that’s very good itself!”
Commodore Bang nodded to the statement; he asked the farmer about his crops and the upcoming harvest. The boys were wandering off and looking about. Mari counted their heads and found the twins standing a bit behind them, near a tree. One of the branches was low enough, with fruits close to their reach. Their heads were together in a whisper, and Jisung raised his finger, giving the lightest poke to the peach. It barely shook the fruit. He grinned, Yongbok did the same, and Mari walked towards them as they snickered.
“Jisung, Yongbok-ah…”
The twins turned their heads to look up at her. “Miss Son, they’re very pretty,” Yongbok declared.
“Fuzzy aren’t they?” Mari smiled. “Take care when you touch them, they might fall.”
“Will they?” Jisung asked.
“Peaches fall to the ground when they’re ripe. Heavy as they are.”
The boy hummed and returned to admiring the fruit. His hand brushed over his nose and pronounced his sudden wish to eat it.
“So do I,” Yongbok seconded.
Abruptly, Hyunjin and Seungmin rushed past them deeper into the orchard; they heard Mr Byun’s called out, “Will the young masters have some then?”
Commodore Bang approached and handed Yongbok a large wicker basket.
“We’ll have this much, and no more until harvest, pups. So share the space with your brothers,” he instructed.
“We may pick them ourselves?” Yongbok asked.
“Like this?” Jisung had reached for the fruit he touched earlier and pulled at it.
“Give it a little twist, Jisung,” said the Commodore. “Better than just pulling it. There!”
Mari urged them to their brothers, and with many pairs of hands picking, it didn’t take long for the basket to fill up. Commodore Bang lifted Jeongin into his arms, and let the youngest pick a peach at a higher place. It pleased the baby very much, and he was content to hold the fruit in his hand. They bid Mr Byun goodbye, with the Commodore promising to come back during the harvest. They stopped by a stream and sat on the rocks. Jeongin handed his father the fruit. After letting the water rinse it, he pulled out his pocket knife, then peeled and cut up the fruit into pieces.
“Here, have a taste,” he said, letting them all pick a piece, even reaching far that Mari might take a piece over four heads. The sweet juice bursting into her mouth engrossed her pleasure, eliciting her praise for Farmer Byun's care. They all shared two peaches, though Hyunjin dropped his cut with a yelp.
“Hyunjin, you silly boy,” Minho sighed. That was all he was scolded with; other than the giggles from his younger brothers.
“I’m sorry,” the chastised younger murmured.
“Don’t you worry, the worms and birds will delight in it,” Commodore Bang consoled, offering another cut. “Anybody wants more?”
“But Appa hadn’t even had any!” Changbin exclaimed.
It was beyond Mari’s grasp how the days after unfolded. One day Jisung paused to start his reading before the class; then crossed the room to shove his father out into the hallway. The Commodore had been watching the boys' studying unnoticed and laughed through Jisung's eviction. While Mari was mortified by the sudden visit, Jisung whined that his father was "most embarrassing!”
Commodore Bang accompanied Lady Jang to tour the country in the afternoons or make calls with the other gentries. In the evenings they would leave for dinner or parties. But between those hours when he was not occupied by such engagements or his duties, he was among the boys. In the gardens as they water the sprouts for their morning, and make arrangements for the plant’s future with Mr Park. The afternoon after naps was now dedicated to kites or bowl pins. The walks in between were for him to indulge in climbing trees or searching for birds and insects in the meadows.
Mari could sit easy as they play in the garden, or join them in their walks. But she delighted the most (and was in great awe) to notice the Commodore's frequency in involving himself in some of the boy’s occupations, and how easily the boys pull him into their amusements. He was a good sport to their youthful humour, amiable in the face of their teasings—for he never could stop himself from laughing at their sharp wit. His sternness was only present when an action might bring a possible injury, or when banters were on the descent to sharp animosity. To that, he proved Mari’s words true in managing to make them attend to his words. The boys respected him and he always made an effort to consider all sensible reasons to resolve their feuds and settle back into harmony. With the trouble forgotten, they return to boyish romps and he laughed at them.
Commodore Bang was in every sense of the word, a devoted father. Ever since that particular morning with Mari, 'twas as if a burden lifted off him, all restraints unbounded. He took great liberty to lavish them all in nurturing care and attention, for they would baulk at his blatant loving gesture. Another by way of his time and presence. Yet for all of Mari's delight, it was soon countered by some worry.
It was one morning when Mari had roused early, as she was wont to at times. She wrapped herself in her robes and sat on her table to do her letters and journal. Some shuffling outside, and a knock at the boys’ door disturbed her. She heard it open, and murmurs of low conversation. For a long while she listened, then wrapped the robe tighter about herself to look outside. Minho and Changbin were awake, well dressed in their trousers and jacket. The younger grinned at the sight of her, bidding good morning and receiving a low perplexed one in return. The child approached, and whispered, with constrained excitement, “Appa is taking us riding!”
“Before breakfast?” Mari wondered. Minho nodded, and giggled at her confusion, despite his sleep-ridden face.
“Don’t you worry and think that they might have escaped,” Commodore Bang said. “We will only be away for an hour.”
“But so early?” Mari said. “Commodore Bang, do you not sleep?”
She knew full well that he had attended a party last night with Lady Jang and Mr Bambam; he might have returned a mere two or three hours before. But the Commodore tilted his head, and said, “I shall after breakfast.”
His eyes were alert, she'd take assurance in that. She still could not help but press her lips, and spoke again, “Do take care of your health, sir.”
“As you wish, Miss Son.” He nodded his head to her and called the boys out down the hallway.
They returned to the small breakfast party, in high spirits and ravenous appetites, much to the younger ones' envy. Commodore Bang hushed them and made a firm promise — despite Yongbok's wide, pleading eyes — that only when they turned ten, they might come down the stable with him.
“Minho’s lessons are long overdue — I apologise for that, son,” he said. “But then there's better steadiness in you already.”
“I suppose so,” Minho replied, after a silent contemplation. He then declared louder, “But didn’t Harabeoji set Appa to stand on a great shire horse when you were three years old?”
Commodore Bang winced, holding back a laugh as his sons cried at him for the story. But of course, he would not refuse to indulge them well with the story, letting them have the satisfaction of teasing him. Mari knew if it meant that they could be occupied with him for some moment longer, he would forsake all and do it. Though she would not wish it to cost his health.
Commodore Bang had his duties to his tenants in the days, his balls and assemblies at night, the afternoon and early morning spared to his younglings. Mari knew he was at rest while the boys are studying. Then he would join them for lunch, and again in the afternoon to see whatever mischief they’re up to, ever enthusiastic to be involved or to hold them close.
One such afternoon Mari mused on the terrace, neglecting her book while watching the Bangs trying their new archery targets. Yet Yongbok toddled towards her, joined by the others to reach the basket of fruits and bread on the table. The Commodore trailed behind them. “I have reasons to claim that you are irked at me, Miss Son,” he declared by way of greeting.
It was a sudden remark, though when Mari turned he had spoken with generosity and amused eyes. Knowing he was open humour at the moment, she asked, “And what reasons are they?”
“Your manners, Miss Son; the look on your face when I took them away for some games.”
He nodded towards the children, who were taking hearty bites of the pastries with no mind to the adults' conversations.
Mari chuckled with dry mirth. “You have stolen my companions for lengthier hours than last month, Commodore,” she said, making a point by letting Yongbok settle on her lap. “Yet it irks me more that it is not justified for me to be resentful, considering their father genuinely wishes to indulge them.”
Commodore Bang laughed. Having the boys spend their time between the two meant that Mari's share decreased. But her vengeance towards the man was mild compared to her delight at the happier days. Exuberance was a pleasant air to behold in him, and she marvelled at his radiance as he was between his boys. Mr Kang and Minatozaki-san agreed how such pleasant air had emerged from him.
“He does look remarkable these days, praise the heavens for that,” Mr Kang commented as they had tea in the kitchen. Having more spare hours allowed Mari to join their company and hear their opinion on matters.
"Would you say younger?" Mari asked.
Mr Kang chuckles, "I vouch for your statement, Miss Son."
“Well, wringing them seven with his own hands will try him enough, Mari," said Minatozaki-san. " And no, I'm hardly cruel. It's the least he can expect as their father. Aren’t the roses lovely? They’ll be perfect for winter.” The housekeeper took up her stringed stalks of roses, handing them to a younger maid. They are hanging them upside down on the knobs above the kitchen. Minatozaki-san had become busier on account of a great event this autumn.
“We might even need to borrow some hands from the inn,” she said. “The ball is but three weeks from now, I should like to have it a well-done affair. After all, it is the first ball in some four, or three years. We have to take some measured preparations to make it grand—as grand as Barlnshore should be.”
"I can write the letter, if you'd like," Mr Kang offered.
"Thank you, Younghyun. I appreciate it."
"How many invitations?" Mari inquired.
Mr Kang and Minatozaki-san turned to each other, a slight frown on their brows as they calculated and made recollections. "Fifty families?" Minatozaki-san estimated.
"The bachelor nephews included," Mr Kang added.
"Good gracious," Mari shuddered. “But it is private at the least. It would not be as crowded as an assembly ball.” She remembered the twenty pairs of dancers surrounded by the entire habitants of S—. The room was full of shuffling people and clacking shoes. It was too much for Mari — she spent the night above the floor chattering and arguing with Jung Soojin.
Lady Jang had proposed the idea for the ball, after viewing the boy’s accomplishment one evening. Jisung and Seungmin had played without Mari, with Minho and Hyunjin singing along to the tunes. It was a splendid performance, to Mari's pride. Between the praises and claps Jang Nayoung simply popped the request. “But why have a grand house with a ballroom but no parties? Wouldn’t it be marvellous to see the whole house light up? And you might say it was in honour of me, Chan, but what better way to meet and greet your friends in the country properly?”
With Commodore Bang’s easy affirmation, Barlnshore was soon set in a flurry. Though Minatozaki-san’s excitement demures those of the younger maids, she was not entirely out of spirit in setting the house into liveliness.
“With his class in society, he could not reduce his respect to smaller numbers,” Mr Kang hummed in response to Mari.
“And it’s the boys’ first time as well,” Minatozaki-san murmured. Then she turned to Mari, “It might be a disaster if Jeongin finds his house suddenly packed in. You know the boy is so timid before new things, Miss Son.”
“Indeed he is,” Mari agreed. “But—his brother’s excitements might distract him.”
Though the Commodore and Lady Jang was present during the arrangement to settle the menus and flower arrangement, much of it was left to Mr Kang and Minatozaki-san to oversee. Mari often slipped into the servant’s hall to help. Any time her charges napped or were relegated to their Father’s hand for some while, she would don her apron and find some napkins to sort and fold, or vases and drapes to choose for the housekeeper.
The ballroom hall took most of the work. It had been locked for some three years; although the servants had kept it in good condition with the occasional dusting, significant changes were made at present. The dark curtains were removed and exchanged for newer red ones. There was dust to wipe, brass candle holders and mirrors to polish, as well as carpets to air. Then they were to open the paintings under their veils and restore them as necessary.
Barlnshore was gifted to Lady Bang—then Miss Hwa Jaebin as was—from her widowed aunt. But it was a recently built house. Therefore the paintings were relatively new, instead of portraits from generations of family members. Most were hung on the ballroom walls. Some were purchased or commissioned: views of landscapes from the Commodore’s seaside town and the Hwa family's grand halls and gardens. Some were smaller pictures of animals and flowers, painted by Lady Jaebin, and some were the boys’ portraits in watercolours. There was a grand picture of the family as three, or five, then growing into seven. The children in groups, a few more of the Commodore in his naval uniform; Minho at eight years old. Most striking of all was that of Lady Jaebin—her femininity striking among the eight men in her life. The portrait was covered in black crepes, alongside the pair of her and the Commodore’s portrait. Commodore Bang’s was painted in his earth-green suit, with golden and black shadows behind him. Lady Jaebin sat with a smile towards the audience, her lilac gown contrasting sweetly with her blonde hair and the red background.
“Master Jeongin! ‘Tis your mother!” the maid who unveiled the crepe exclaimed.
The youngest had just risen from his nap and wandered into the ballroom for its commotion. He said little on account of sleepiness, but after a fixed stare towards the portrait, he sneezed.
“Bless his soul!” Yeonji laughed. “Take him away from the dust here, Miss Son. You’ve been a great help.”
The boys took advantage of the polished floors of the open ballroom to slide as they pleased. Mari only shrugged when Commodore Bang observed their amusement. For the ball, he had agreed—among eagerly consenting nods—that they may stay for half an hour later than their bedtime, with the condition to maintain proper manners and hushed voices. With what Mari thought was good foresight, he allowed them to run about on the terrace outside the ballroom. The boys’ loud ‘yes’ settled it all, anything to humour themselves to a different night.
“Does your father play by chance?” Mari asked had asked Minho after their performance. She handed him his tea.
“Oh, he does,” the lad exclaimed in a hushed whisper. His eyes drifted to his father, who was occupied with tickling Seungmin. “We’re quite musical—I must’ve told you. And he plays better than he sings. He’s a nice tenor voice, but Eomma sings stronger.”
“How about he performs for us some other time?”
Minho chuckled, “Appa’s modest about such things. One must force or threaten him altogether.”
[Minho and Changbin and their car driving debacle in SKZ-CODE Jeju was just the peak first and second child duo. I’m living it, I’m living for implementing it in this AU]
[uni has started again and after struggling through the first week and completing a maddening event, I'll be darned if I don't upload the few chapters I've managed to work on the hols. the fact that I have the mornings off on Mondays makes it all the better for this new semester so you'll know what to wait for these weeks👀 BRAEM HAS RETURNED what do you think of this new chapter now? replies, reblogs and likes are always appreciated and thank you for reading!]
#straykidsland#stray kids fic#stray kids fanfic#stray kids fanfiction#stray kids fluff#skz ficskz fanfic#skz fanfiction#skz fluff#skz family#stray kids family#family au#siblings au#regency au#musical au#bang chan fanfic#bang chan fanfiction#bang chan x oc#bang chan fluff#lee know fluff#changbin fluff#hyunjin fluff#han jisung fluff#seungmin fluff#i.n fluff#lee felix fluff#bang chan imagines#lee know imagines#changbin imagines#lee felix imagines
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The House Guest - AU Bucky Barnes x OC
warnings: demon bucky, dom bucky, rough smut, manipulation, minors DNI
word count: 7.3k
WP: https://www.wattpad.com/1276145496-the-house-guest-ember
authors note: it's another super dark one loves, please pay attention to the warnings!
Masterlist
Taking a deep breath of fresh autumn air, Ember looked around what was about to become her new neighborhood. It was nearing sunset, the orange leaves fell onto the street and she could see kids playing up ahead. A small smile crept onto her lips as a breeze swept her brown hair back. This was going to be the change she needed.
Ember turned on her heel and started up the stone path to her new home. It was an older house, built in 1922 with a red brick exterior and black accents lining the windows and features. The front door sat up on a large front porch. When she had found it at such a low price, she practically jumped at it and with no other offers, it was hers immediately.
As she stood there admiring her new home, a car horn behind her made her spin around with a gasp. Scanning the street, she could only see a white sedan waiting for some kids to get their hockey nets out of its way.
“Ember!” A deep sultry voice came from behind her.
She turned around with a relieved smile. “Mr. Barnes! How do you always get here before me?” She laughed, extending her hand to him as she walked up to the front door.
“Great timing I guess. And I told you before, it’s Bucky” He winked. “Come on in!”
She followed him through the black wooden door and her face instantly lit up. Bucky shot her a friendly smile “it’s got some personality, hasn’t it?”
Certainly did, Ember thought to herself as they walked over creaky hardwood floors covered in a thick layer of dust.
She returned the smile in response as they made their way through the foyer. "I do have to thank you for being available to do the hand-off today after your normal work day ended, Bucky."
“I’m not your usual real estate agent, sweets. It’s on the card.” He winked at her, flicking his business card between his fingers. Ember gasped softly as it seemed to appear out of thin air. “Just a few papers to sign and it’s all yours.”
"How did you do that?"
"Do what?" Bucky asked.
"Make that card appear?"
Bucky blushed. "Used to do magic at kid's parties-- actually, you have something behind your ear... hang on."
He reached toward her, brushing her hair away from her face, his fingers gently caressing her neck with the backs of his knuckles with a feather light touch. Ember's heart began to hammer, her cheeks flamed, and she felt goosebumps as Bucky pulled the pen she was keeping in her purse out from behind her ear.
"You lose a pen, darlin'?" He purred as he presented it to her, his eyes glittering.
Ember could feel her cheeks burning up as she slowly took the pen back from him. Keep yourself together, he is just the realtor and being nice is part of his job Ember thought to herself.
She wandered from the foyer into a large living area to their right, dust floating in the sunlight of the bay windows at the front of the house. Gazing up at a brass chandelier, Ember watched as a moth fluttered in a spider's web. A pang of sympathy echoed in her stomach as she watched the creature struggle.
Suddenly, a warm hand splayed across her lower back, making her jump nearly to the ceiling. Ember whipped around to meet Bucky's amused stare, her heart hammering. The smell of something smoky tickled the back of Ember's throat, like a bonfire.
"Sorry to startle you, sugar," he said with a soft laugh. "Do you want to take a tour? Some changes have been made since you were here last."
A shiver ran up her back where his hand had been, but her brow furrowed, "Changes?"
She nodded though, "Uh, sure. A tour would be good, I suppose?"
“Nothing major,” Bucky said quickly as he ushered her further into the foyer. “I think you’ll find they increase the value of your new home.”
She passed by him on their way past the living room, and they briefly locked eyes. Ember swore she saw a glint of something sinister flicker in his baby blues. Her cheeks grew warm, color rising to the surface, and she quickly looked away.
Before she realized it, she heard herself chuckle. “I guess that makes sense,” she said. The pair walked into the kitchen and it was as if she was watching herself from an adjacent room.
Bucky spun around with a wolfish grin, “Take a look around, I had the contractor restore the old brass finishings and we were able to save the butcher's block on top of the island.”
Ember smiled listening to his almost sing-songy voice that made her ears tingle. It was almost addicting. She rounded the island running her fingers along the re-oiled wood. “It’s beautiful.”
“Yeah she is,” he said, a little softer this time.
Ember’s eyes flew up to meet his and he winked at her, his grin broadening. He chuckled and there was something there, a rumbling undertone that raised the hairs on the back of her neck even as her cheeks flushed at his brazen flirting.
She shook her head once and took a deep breath as they continued moving through the house. Running her hand along the dark wooden fixtures of the banister, and taking note of the original carvings in the crown moldings. Ember really couldn't believe this house was hers.
"Ok I have a question.." She paused, turning to fix her eyes on Bucky and tilting her head to the side. "This house is gorgeous, and was a steal of a price. Why were there no other offers when I bid on it?"
A smirk pulled at the corner of Bucky's lips, and Ember could have sworn his eyes darkened.
Bucky leaned closer, and locked eyes with her "She's a special kind of house.. waiting for exactly the right person to come whisk her away" He whispered. "Houses like this have a personality that very few can handle, love.. Do you think you have what it takes?"
"I'd like to think I do. Let's see if I can prove it to the house and you." Ember said with an underlying wickedness.
His eyes darkened at her response, a grin finding a home amongst his beautifully tanned features. She could feel her throat getting a little dry as her heart hammered against her chest, but she couldn’t bring herself to look away from his eyes.
“I’m sure you will sweetheart, I can sense you’re very special.” The husky tone of his voice and a slight breeze winding its way behind her, brought goosebumps to her skin. She broke away from his gaze momentarily to look back, only to be interrupted by his hand landing softly atop hers.
“What do you say we sign those papers, love?”
Ember nodded, her head feeling light as Bucky pulled his hand from hers, fingertips grazing her wrist as guided her to the kitchen island where the papers were suddenly laid out waiting.
“Ready for your life to change, darling?”
“That’s a… uh, that’s a big question.” Ember replied nervously, “oh do you have a—“
Before she could finish her sentence, Bucky held out a pen. Onyx and gold, expensive in every sense of the word.
“Just a signature on the line, sweetheart.”
She must have caught something over the past few days between packing and running herself ragged, because Ember felt herself sweating, the letters on the page rearranging themselves and swirling in front of her vision. She smelled the faintest hint of sulfur, followed closely by the rich woodsy smell of Bucky's cologne, almost like firewood.
Ember reached for the pen and Bucky quirked a brow and his tongue darted out to flick across his bottom lip. Her knees nearly buckled.
"You alright there, sugar?"
"Y-- yeah," she rasped, quickly signing to avoid any further embarrassment as her cheeks blazed. She smiled and returned the pen. "All good."
As she signed her name on the dotted line she could have sworn the ink was a deep red... but when she blinked it was back to a deep blue color. She pushed the papers back to Bucky.
“There you are. That wasn’t so hard was it?” He grinned as he looked at her signature.
Ember swallowed, placing the pen back down onto the table. Sweat trickled down her spine and her thighs were sticking together under her skirt.
"Ember... can I ask you a question?"
His husky voice made her head snap up to meet his gaze and she hummed in acknowledgement. Bucky stared at her for a moment before leaning forward, his eyes never leaving hers.
"Why are you scared?"
Ember felt lost in his intense gaze for a moment before she forced herself to blink.
"Scared?" She laughed nervously, "Why would I be scared?"
Bucky's lips were curled into a seductive smile though, "Sometimes signing these things... can feel like signing your life away," he said with a wink.
There was a sudden flash of lightning across the sky- the kitchen was bathed in bright white light, and Bucky’s face was illuminated against the backdrop of the dark wooden cabinets. Ember glanced out the window and could see dark clouds gathering outside, hiding the orange and pink hues of the sunset. The lights overheard flickered as thunder boomed. A chill ran down her spine.
“I’ll make sure the electrician sorts that out,” Bucky whispered with a toothy grin.
Ember’s eyes raked over his features, somehow his cheekbones were sharper in the dim light of the kitchen and his stubble only further contoured his jawline. For a moment she imagined the small pickles of his beard against her skin and what his skin would feel like under her touch.
"Ember?" The gravel of his voice pulled her back as she shook her head, trying to shake the thoughts and the warmth spreading through her away.
"Sorry..." She nervously chewed on the inside of her lip as he smiled once more at her, narrowing his eyes for a split second before standing straight.
"No need to apologize, sweets." Bucky gestured to the hallway leading out of the kitchen, "Let me show you some of the more important things you'll need to know to live here."
Ember walked through the doorway in front of him, brushing her bangs away from her damp forehead. Maybe she was coming down with something. She felt the heat of his hand return to the small of her back and when his thumb began tracing small circles against the edge of her top she almost moaned.
“Which way first, sugar? Upstairs or the basement?”
Swallowing thickly, her eyes bounced between the stairs going up and a dark door with a padlock she was sure led to the basement. It was like a magnetic pull was drawing her towards the door. Like it was whispering and calling her name…
“Let’s go upstairs first!” She said quickly. “I uh, I need to make sure there’s enough closet space for all my.. clothes” she winced at herself, knowing how dumb that sounded.
“As you wish, Ember.. right this way” Bucky gestured to the stairs, his eyes never leaving hers.
The electricity sparking in the air, Ember followed Bucky up the stairs, her eyes fixed on his broad frame encased by a well tailored suit.
Once they reached the landing, Bucky led her down the hallway to their left leading them towards the master bedroom.
The room was exquisitely decorated in bold colors, mahogany furniture and the most amazing mirror she'd ever laid eyes on rimmed with gold detailing. Ember looked around the room in awe, meeting Bucky's satisfied gaze with a smile.
"What do you think? Everything up to your expectations, sweetheart?" he asked as he slowly made his way next to her.
“It’s— honestly I’m lost for words,” Ember breathed, jumping a little as she turned to find Bucky right beside her.
He had been silent, not even a creak of the old floorboards had given him away and Ember shivered, a cold sensation creeping across the back of her neck.
“Have a wander, the view from the window is to die for.” Bucky murmured softly, his voice low in her ear.
She gulped and headed for the window, staring out at the gorgeous and expansive backyard. Red and gold leaves littered the ground and the entire yard was surrounded by iron fencing that was painted black. The trees were a mixture of red, gold, and bright yellow, leaves slowly trailing off of the branches and fluttering to the ground as the sun shone through them.
"Breathtaking, isn't it?" Bucky asked from behind her, his warm breath on her neck felt almost fiery and she began to sweat. "Might make you feel better about signing your s-- life away."
"Yeah," she rasped.
"It's all yours, darlin'. How does it feel?"
“Like I can’t exactly believe how lucky I am” Ember said as she continued to look out the window, it had begun to rain and the wind was blowing through the trees. She hadn’t realized how dark it had suddenly gotten. It was as if someone turned off the sun.
Bucky hummed and Ember swore she felt the vibration in her bones. A flash of lightning illuminated them once more, their reflection appearing in the windowpane.
"I think," he whispered, creating a flicker of heat deep within Ember's body. "I might be the lucky one."
Her eyes fluttered closed, the smell of smoke and sweetness growing stronger. A feather light touch skimmed across the side of her throat as heat flickered in her belly and a whimper nearly slips through her lips.
Another flash of lightning snapped Ember from her daze and she turned suddenly, meeting Bucky's wolf-like grin.
"Just you wait, Miss Morris. We aren't even to the best part yet."
Ember took a shaky breath in, "Uh huh?"
Thunder rippled through the room and a moment later lighting illuminated everything again - the storm was closer than she had thought.
But the light had cast their shadows sharply on the wall behind Bucky - if she didn't know better she could have sworn his had horns.
"Uhm... Y-you wanted to show me the basement as well?" She finally managed to get out.
His head tilted to the side, studying her for a moment, his grin still playing on his face, "Sure thing, sweetheart."
Gazing at him felt like she was staring into a funhouse mirror, except he was the only thing in focus. Her body felt tingly as if she was drunk and normally she liked the feeling. It made her feel relaxed and unwound but with Bucky, there was an underlying tension that it combatted. Like the feeling your stomach gets at the top of a roller coaster just before going over the edge but on repeat.
"Lead the way," He urged, a cool hand once again found its way to her lower back, gently encouraging her forwards through the doorway and down the stairs.
They reached the bottom of the stairs and turned towards the basement door. She felt it again, that strange calling, drawing her ever closer to the padlocked door. It shimmered, as if in a heat haze, and she leaned into Bucky’s hand, searching for any shred of comfort. An ice cold tingling spread up her arm as he pressed a heavy iron key into her palm.
“Go ahead, unlock it. It’s your house.”
She slid the key into the rusted padlock and with a menacing click it unlocked. Pushing the door open, the air filled with a loud creaking sound, Ember's eyes adjusted to the imminent darkness.
It looked like a normal basement and she was momentarily confused as to why a dusty basement could be “the best part.”
“It’s, um… it’s a basement.” She chuckled despite the prickle of heat on her skin and the sudden feeling of her blood simmering in her veins.
She could feel Bucky behind her, his hand daring to rest on her waist.
“Ready, sweetheart?”
“For what?” She breathed, why the hell is it so hot down here?
In her peripherals, Ember watched as Bucky brought his hand up, poised to snap his fingers. She squeezed her eyes shut as the sound echoed loud and clear in her ear.
"Open your eyes, Ember."
His voice sounded more like a raspy snarl that invaded her ears. She smelled smoke, almost felt it filling her lungs, and her eyes popped open. Around them was a sea of flames. Bucky was still in his crisp suit, the fire licking the icy blue color of his eyes.
In his hands, was the contract she signed upstairs. She looked down to see the floor black as night. The two of them were standing in a large pentagram with perfect lines etched into the floor in crimson paint. She smelled copper and her heart began to pound.
"What's going on?" She whispered. "Is this a trick?"
Bucky shook his head and took a step toward her. She tried to move backward, but it felt like she was pressed up against some kind of invisible wall. He reached out a hand and cupped her cheek, his skin searing hot as he ran his thumb across her cheekbone. His eyes dug into her soul.
"I've waited centuries for you."
His fingers moved to hold her chin between his thumb and forefinger and he lifted her chin ever so slightly so his eyes burned into her soul. She gulped a little, behind his piercing blue eyes there was something sinister that was calling towards her as if there was a force pulling her towards him.
“That’s… uh… an awfully long time to wait to sell a house” she whispered.
Bucky huffed out a laugh as his thumb grazed her bottom lip, causing her mouth to fall slightly open.
"You're worth it. So kind, so soft, so...human."
Ember shivered as his hand trailed down her neck, long fingers gently resting at the base of her throat. The flames flickered and his grip on her soft skin tightened as he held the papers up between them.
"And now, you're all mine."
What exactly had been in that contract?
She bit her lip, lost in his gaze, he was so handsome - did she really want to be anywhere else?
She whimpered - what was he doing to her??
Ember felt like her entire body was on fire as the heat swelled around her, but even then she was so entranced by him.
“What are you doing to me?” She managed through an almost moan.
His eyes darkened at the noise making him tilt his head to the side and making a few tsks as he slowly dragged his index finger down the column of her throat causing her to lean involuntarily into him, “Oh, Baby girl, I haven’t done anything to you, yet.”
Flames burned in his gaze as he leaned forwards, his lips following the path of his finger, leaving a blazing trail in their wake. Ember drew in a shuddering breath, her fingers twisting in the fabric of his shirt, pulling him closer, and he chuckled darkly.
“I knew it was you,” he whispered, his tongue flicking against the shell of her ear. “As soon as I saw you.”
He nipped along the edge of her jaw, the gentle scruff of his beard a counterpoint to the sharpness of his teeth.
Ember's breath hitched as his mouth inched closer to hers. It was like she was hypnotized by him. Nothing around them mattered anymore. As soon as his lips touched hers it was like a volcano exploded in her.
Their lips moved together in perfect harmony, as if they were made purely for each other. Electricity shot through her nerves as he wrapped his hands around her waist and brought her closer to him. He bit her lip softly and ran his tongue across it before pulling back from the kiss.
"I don't- What do you mean you knew it was me?" she whispered through ragged breaths.
"I've been waiting for the perfect partner to share all of this with and when you came into town it was like something came alive in me. All this time all I needed was you, Ember."
“But you don’t know—“ her words were stolen with another kiss, bruising and hungry. The heat within her burned brighter, white hot sparks with every tender brush of Bucky’s hands.
He was confusing, contradicting in the way he kissed and touched her, her mind felt dizzy with him.
“I know you, Ember.” Bucky purred through labored breaths, “I know your soul, it won’t be missed.” He laid a hand on her chest, his palm feeling like it was burning through her clothes. “And that makes you perfect for me.”
“My soul … won’t be missed, what is that supposed to mean?” She asked, she could feel her heart pounding in her chest. All along her skin she felt light sparks of electricity as if she was constantly getting small static shocks. The air around them seemed to grow heavier and more humid by the second.
Bucky groaned, throwing his head back in impatience.
"It means that when you signed yourself to this house," he murmured as his hands gripped the fabric of her skirt at her hips. "You signed yourself to me."
He pulled her forward and started to press soft kisses to her face, her jaw and down her neck as she whimpered.
"All you have to do, sweet girl, is say yes. I wanna hear you say it."
Each kiss down her neck felt like fire, igniting something deep within her.
"What - " she gasped when his lips landed on a particularly sensitive spot, just below her ear, "Mm, what happens if I say no?"
She felt his chuckle against her skin, "Your soul already belongs to me, sweetheart - You're stuck here now. Might as well give me everything else, right?"
Something at the back of her mind was screaming - but his body against hers felt so, so good. It was too late now, wasn't it?
"Yes," her response fell from her lips with another gasp as he squeezed her closer.
Bucky’s teeth nipped gently at her ear lobe, sending shockwaves straight to her center. She felt hands creep against her shoulders and gently shove her coat off. Yet, his hands were still firmly grasped at her waist.
The coat pooled around her ankles, touching the flames, and she gasped as his thumbs pushed against her hip bones.
“Whose hands were-“ he cut her off with a vicious kiss, their teeth clicking.
“It’s all in the contract, sweets,” he groaned, kissing down the length of her shoulder. “We can go through it later.”
His tongue felt razor sharp against her skin as he nipped and sucked at her collar bone. Ember let out a sultry moan in response to him as her fingers clamped around the lapels of his suit jacket. She could feel his fingertips bruising into the soft squishy flesh around her hips.
"What do you desire, Ember?" He cooed, pulling back slightly as his lips hovered over her kiss bitten ones. "Tell me what you desire and I'll burn the world down to give you it all."
“I…I want…”
She slid her hands under his jacket, slipping it off his shoulders.
“Bucky I want…you.”
She made quick work of his tie and the buttons of his shirt, relishing in the low growl he made when she scraped her nails up the plane of his chest.
Ember's head was spinning with thoughts of Bucky. That was it. It was as if everything else she had been worried about that day or throughout her life just vanished. All she could imagine was him. What his hands would do to her, how his tongue felt on her throat, the smoky smell of his cologne and how his beard felt scratching her skin.
He moved to grasp her wrists gently in his hands and took a small step backwards, "Easy there, sugar.. All in good time.." He smirked before pressing his lips to hers. "Let me show you how long I've waited for you.. Let me ravish you the way you deserve" He growled.
She felt her breath grow heavy as her head got lighter. The overwhelming lust made her feel limp, powerless. But she loved it, in fact she craved it.
“Tell me, sweetheart” he whispers as he brushes a strand of hair from in front of her hair behind her ear. “How good are you at obeying?”
Ember felt her cheeks heating up at his question but it felt like she lost her ability to speak.
"I want you to kneel, sweets. Can you do that for me ?" Bucky whispered in her ear causing a wave of goosebumps on her skin.
"Kneel?" She asked.
Bucky grinned and grasped her chin, lifting her eyes to meet his.
"I asked you how good you were at obeying me, sweets, so show me." His lips hovered just above hers. "Kneel."
His voice was commanding and low, rippling through her bones like a low burning flame. Suddenly, it was as though her body wasn't her own, but she didn't care. She dropped to her knees in front of him and licked her lips. Bucky chuckled softly as he pushed her hair back.
"Such a good girl."
Ember nuzzled into his hand, eyelashes tickling the palm of his hand. She looked up at him, his broad form towering over her as the firelight cast shadows on his sharp cheekbones and shined in his pitch black eyes.
"Your good girl, right?" she whispered breathlessly.
Without a second thought, she opened her mouth and took two of his fingers in, swirling her tongue around the tips and causing his mouth to fall open. The groan he let out shot straight between her legs and she raked her nails down the front of his pants. He slipped his fingers from her mouth as she fumbled with the belt of his pants.
She pulled his dress pants and boxer briefs down in one fell swoop, his hard cock slapping against his abs. A moan spilled from his lips as Ember grasped his impressive length at the base and spit into her other hand. He slipped his open dress shirt off his shoulders and tossed it aside, cast into the fire.
Again, it felt like she was watching herself from across the room- this newfound, confident Ember- amongst the flames and fire of the basement.
She pumped Bucky’s cock in her hand as she adjusted her knees against the concrete floor. She could feel small rocks and debris digging in to her skin, but it didn’t matter.
Bucky’s hands wove into her long hair, gently pulling her face back as she continued to stroke his cock with one hand. She looked up at him through her lashes. “My good girl, mmm- I like the sound of that,” he moaned as his hips bucked into her hand.
Ember ran her tongue along her bottom lip, her eyes never leaving his blackened ones. The flames flickered against his golden skin, casting shadows against the ridges of his abs and the sharp V that led straight to where her hands were working, doing absolutely nothing to stave off the warmth currently pooling in her panties.
"You're so big." She whispered, her eyes trailing down his body, to his cock currently weeping precum onto her hands. Ember felt him twitch every so slightly as his lips wickedly curled upwards.
"You can take it," He growled lowly, sharp teeth biting into his plump bottom lip watching as she slowly wrapped her lips around him.
She hummed as she took him farther into her mouth, keeping her eyes locked with his. A sultry moan dripped from his lips as he pushed her head gently, urging her forward to take him deeper.
"That's it sweet girl, a little more.. you can do it" He coached, brushing his fingertips lightly on her hollowed out cheeks.
Ember pulled back, and swiped her tongue through the slit gathering up the pre-cum before taking him back in her mouth.
"Mhhm. Fuck. Such a good girl." He droned, he let his head fall back in pleasure as Ember swirled her tongue around his cock, coaxing another guttural moan out of him.
She relaxed her throat and took him in further, hollowing out her cheeks as she bobbed her head. The soft graze of his nails against her scalp and his moans served as encouragement. Ember pulled slightly back, lifting her hand to grasp the base of his cock. Her mouth and hand worked in tandem to bring him to his peak.
"Shit. I'm gonna come sweetheart, just like that." he panted.
Bucky's fingers began to swim through her hair as his moans got louder, but almost sweet. Ember could feel wetness pooling between her thighs and he chuckled, gripping her hair and setting a firm pace. His cock slammed against the back of her throat and Ember could feel tears forming in her eyes.
"You look so pretty crying for me, sweet thing," he murmured as she felt him wipe a tear away with the pad of his thumb. "It makes me want to rip you apart."
She liked the sound of that.
Ember moaned loudly, her fingers finding their way between her thighs, teasing her swollen clit through her panties. Bucky drove his cock deeper down her throat and finally, she felt him come as pressed her face against his pelvis. Tears dripped down her cheeks, mixing with her mascara to form thick, dark rivers that stained her skin.
"Take all of it-- that's a good girl," he rumbled.
He slid out with a hiss, pulling her mouth open to see the evidence of him on her tongue.
"Fucking perfect," Bucky groaned and Ember felt her panties soak even further at the praise. "You ready for more, sweetheart?"
Ember stood, pulling her sweater over her head and making messy waves fall around her tear-stained face. Bucky's eyes flickered over the lacy cups of her bra and the swell of her breast, licking his lips. Her hands fell on her skirt and Bucky made a noise, stepping forward to grasp her hand.
"Leave it on," he growled before capturing her mouth with his own.
She whined into the kiss as his hand slipped under the edge of her skirt, tearing her panties away like they were nothing.
"Pretty girl," he groaned, licking her jaw slowly, one hand on her bare hip, the nails of his other dragging across her thigh till it was between her legs.
The moan that escaped her was downright sinful - there was pain where his nails had dug in, but it was good pain.
Bucky lightly ran his fingertips through her slick folds and a moan bubbled up in her throat. He removed his hand from her core before he spun her around. She gasped at the loss of contact, and immediately arched her back as she felt his thick cock against the fabric of her skirt.
He snapped his fingers and, out of nowhere, a large rock formation grew from the ground, i the middle of the pentagram. It was covered in the same red as the ominous shape.
Bucky grabbed her hips and roughly walked her forward, toward the rock. He put his large hand in the middle of Ember’s back and started to bend her over the rock. “Is this okay with you?” he sang, his voice sickly sweet. She nodded quickly, her eyes rolling back as he pushed further- her hands landing against the rough rock.
Ember's hands slipped against the crimson sticky substance that covered the formation, almost sliding forward but she felt his strong arm quickly wrap around her waist, catching her fall.
"Careful sweetheart," Bucky warned, leaning over her and pressing his chest against her back. His fingers trailed down the front of her stomach to the junction between her thighs, "I'm not done with you yet." He growled into her ear, nipping at her earlobe before pressing a soft kiss against her neck, dragging his teeth along her shoulder.
Ember whined, planting her hands firmly against the formation determined to not let herself slip again even though something in the back of her mind told her he'd catch her if she did. Bucky's fingers spread through her folds once more, his index finger rubbing slow teasingly tight circles against her clit.
"Take me," She breathed, pressing her hips into his pelvis feeling just how hard his cock had stayed.
A mix between a chuckle and growl left Bucky's throat from deep in his chest. He pulled his hand away and pressed his hip against her ass. "Don't be a bad girl Ember... You'll get what you want if you listen"
"Bucky please.." She whimpered, turning her head to look back at him with a small pout.
Bucky smirked, and leaned forward, taking some of the red substance from the rock and swiping it across her bottom lip. "My pretty girl.. " He whispered, before bringing his hand back down between her thighs and shoving a long finger into her, pulling a gasp from her lips.
Ember felt like her head was spinning with pleasure. All she wanted was him. And he was depriving her of that. It wasn't fair.
"Just. Fuck. Me" Ember growled back.
Bucky's tongue swiped his bottom lip as a toothy grin appeared on his lips, "There she is..."
He slid his finger from inside her and turned her around slowly to face him, pushing her back against the rock. Her knees nearly gave out when she was met with the sight of Bucky licking her slick off his finger. His other hand found her thigh and he swung her leg across his hip, the tip of his cock teasing her entrance.
"Bucky, please." she whispered.
"I'm getting there sweetheart, I just need one more thing from you, ok?" he purred as his hands worked the clasp of her bra, slipping it down her arms and throwing it into the flames. "See I need, just a couple of drops of well, you, to finally bind us for eternity."
Ember smiled at him, he doesn't need anything else to have her for eternity, she's his. "I'll give you anything."
"Mmm, as I you." he hummed. She watched the cerulean of his eyes be completely eclipsed, as his nails turned into claws. She felt no fear as he looked deep into her eyes, he was absolutely breathtaking. Bucky dragged his nail down her chest and she felt a sharp sting as he broke skin and blood began dripping down her chest. He swiped a finger through the red stream, collecting some of her blood as his tongue slipped between his plump lips. As he extended his hand to the side, letting the drops of blood fall to the pentagram below them, he dipped his head and dragged his tongue along the cut lapping up her blood. Ember let out a guttural moan at his action as the flames around them grew taller.
"Oh my God!" Ember gasped.
Bucky pulled back, his eyes black as night. She could see her terrified reflection staring back at her within them. It felt like looking into an abyss. A black, forked tongue darted out from between his lips as he shook his head slowly, her blood staining his lips. Small dark veins appeared on the skin around his eyes, pulsing like lightning strikes.
"No God," he whispered.
The flames grew taller and he smiled at her, dragging a claw across the open cavernous wound on her skin. She hissed in pain and he smiled, but Ember could still feel her cunt pulsing and aching for him as he pushed a claw into the edge of the wound and formed a "J", as though he were using a paintbrush.
"What are you doing?" She groaned.
"Signing my half of the contract."
Her skin split like butter underneath a hot knife and more blood began to stream down her chest. All she smelled was copper and sulfur, all she wanted was for him to consume her completely. Bucky caught it with his tongue and groaned, his claw forming the letter "B", followed by another.
Ember's breath came out in shaky pants and Bucky's inky black eyes locked onto hers. He dragged his knife-like claw across his chest as he viciously thrust into her. Pain coursed through her body and her back arched like a bow. Her scream was eaten by the flames that surrounded them as his blood began to mix with hers.
"Oh, darlin', that is such a sweet sound," he groaned with a toothy grin, drops of her blood staining his sharp features.
His hips snapped into her relentlessly and she dug her nails into the taut muscles of his back, trying desperately to hold on. It feels like he's fucking in her chest, stealing her breath with every slam.
"Bucky," Ember whimpered. "It's too much..."
His lips brushed her sweaty temples, inhaling blood and something sweet as he fucked her deeper.
"You can take it, Ember. I know you can."
Maybe it was the praise, maybe he did something else - but the pleasure was starting to override the pain.
Everything else was nothing now - there was only Bucky, his low grunts, the way he was biting on his plump lower lip - and oh, hell - the way he was looking at her.
She knew she was getting close to her breaking point, but she didn't want it to stop now.
"Bucky!" She cried out, "Keep going - just like that!"
His head dropped to the base of her neck, "Ember!"
She could feel this prickling of his forked tongue trailing down the column of her neck, teeth bared and snarls escaping his lips as their eyes met, for a moment the black in his flickered to the ocean blue she'd come to know. Her chest stung and felt tight from the heat and pleasure building within her.
"I am yours," He growled, pressing crimson stained lips to her own in a wet slick kiss. Bucky's hips snapped relentlessly, her back undoubtedly getting thrashed from the rough edges of the rock, "As you are mine."
Ember's hands found his chest, digging her own nails into his skin causing tiny crescent moons to form on his chest. Bucky hissed, his eyes darkening as small trickles of dark blood, darker than her own, trailed down his chest.
"Mine." She groaned as the tip of his cock began hitting that spot inside of her that made her euphoric.
The fire in her belly grew as the flames did around them. Pain and pleasure mixing together as Bucky slammed into her. Ember could feel herself clenching and fluttering around him getting closer and closer to her edge. She couldn't remember the last time a man had made her feel like this. In fact she couldn't remember anything. And Bucky was no man.
"Come on baby girl.." He grunted, his fingers digging into her skin. "You can hold on a bit longer.." He smirked into her skin.
Tears pooled in her eyes as she shook her head, letting out a raspy moan, "No.. Bucky please.. I'm gonna.."
She felt his thumb wipe a tear from her cheek, "Don't you dare... A little longer sweet thing.. you can do it" He whispered, capturing her lips once more.
Ember dragged her nails down his back. The chorus of their moans and groans lost between their lips as he clapped his hips relentlessly against hers. He grasped his chin with her hand breaking away from the kiss, to lick away her tears. Her eyes were slammed shut as she tried her hardest to hold off her climax.
"Look at me, Ember." his raspy voice, making her cunt flutter once more. He grinned as her eyes fluttered open.
"Let go." he whispered against her lips.
His black eyes sunk into her like the claws that had pierced her skin not moments ago. The sensation running through her was electric, warmth spreading through her belly. Pleasure and pain were swirling in her body and she felt her chin tremble.
"I'm afraid," she whimpered.
Bucky's mouth dropped open and he drove himself into her with a brutal thrust that caused her to cry out. His hand cupped her cheek and she could feel sharp claws grazing lovingly against her skin. His lips hovered over hers.
"I've got you, mon amour." She sobbed and he licked away another tear that trickled down her face, smiling at her with hollow, shark-like eyes. Somehow, she found warmth in them as he nuzzled his nose against hers.
"You're okay."
Her eyes rolled back and his mouth eclipsed hers as a blinding climax began to consume her like the flames that surrounded them. She had to break the kiss to scream as Bucky bit into her shoulder, leaving a blackened mark on her skin as he fucked her through her climax.
The all-consuming pleasure still hadn't subsided when Bucky's own movements started to become erratic.
"Close, sweets - so close," he panted.
For a moment, as his pleasure peaked and he lost control, Ember got a glimpse of his true form - skin grey, red veins spreading out from his black eyes.
It was the horns that really stood out though, and Ember reached up to touch one as her vision cleared.
That seemed to trigger what he had been chasing, a drawn out whine escaped him as her fingers dragged along the rough horns.
"Give into me," She begged as Bucky's hips continued to brutally snap against her own spilling into her. His head fell back with a guttural growl and a haze of black smoke began emanating off of him. He was dark and as her eyes grazed over his form, she should have been scared, but instead was filled with adoration.
Ember's fingers trailed down his hairline and along his jaw before running her thumb along his blood stained bottom lip admiring the noises he was making, her own moans still filling the room as he pushed her to the edge of another tiny bursting orgasm. Dark eyes locked with hers again and she knew he had her. Her body trembled against his own, their bodies slick with sweat and blood and all she wanted was more of him.
"So perfect," he panted, hips slowing down their erratic pace as exhaustion began washing over her overstimulated body. Bucky peppered her jaw and neck with kisses, every so often licking the still drying blood from her body before soothing the gashes with his tongue.
"Mmm.." Ember hummed, as her arms moved up to drape around Bucky's shoulders. Her mind felt clearer then ever, and she could see her entire life here with him. All the worries, and terror of not being able to think of anything else had been washed away. "What now..?" She whispered, sleepily.
Swooping down, Bucky hooked an arm under her legs, and hoisted her up into him as he shushed her. He carried her up the stairs and made his way back up to the second floor master bathroom. Ember took note on how the basement door swung shut and the click of the padlock all happened behind him. He placed her on the white marble countertop and moved swiftly to start the bath, steam emanating from the tap. As the clawfoot tub began to fill, he moved back over to Ember, picking her back up and facing her towards the mirror.
"I told you my love... I'm going to take care of you" He whispered, moving her dark hair off her shoulder so she could watch her body heal. The "JB" above her heart now looking more like a faint scar than an open cut. "You are mine"
"I am yours" She repeated, feeling him place a light kiss on her shoulder.
#bucky barnes#bucky barnes au#bucky barnes x oc#bucky barnes one shot#bucky barnes oneshot#bucky barnes imagine#marvel oneshot#marvel imagine#marvel one shot#demon bucky barnes#fluff#smut#one shot#bucky barnes fanfic#bucky barnes fanfiction#bucky barnes drabble#marvelous
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The Benefits And Applications Of Matterport Technology In Marketing Commercial Properties
Innovative marketing strategies play a crucial role in attracting potential commercial real estate buyers and tenants. One of the most groundbreaking advancements in this area is the use of Matterport technology.
Matterport, a leader in 3D capture and spatial data, offers a suite of tools that are revolutionizing the way commercial properties are marketed. Through this service, a cutting-edge 3D capture system can produce realistic, interactive digital replicas of physical spaces.
By combining spatial data and high-resolution real estate photography, Matterport generates immersive virtual tours that allows users to explore and experience locations remotely as if they were physically present.
What are its specific benefits and applications in commercial real estate?
It has revolutionized property showcasing with 3D technology:
Matterport’s 3D technology has dramatically altered the commercial real estate industry’s approach to property showcasing. Traditional methods of property viewing are often limited by static images or time-consuming physical tours. Matterport addresses these limitations by providing immersive, three-dimensional real estate virtual tour services. These tours enable potential buyers or tenants to explore a property digitally, giving them a comprehensive understanding of the space without the need to be physically present. This technology is particularly advantageous for showcasing large commercial spaces, such as office buildings, warehouses, and retail complexes.
It enhances remote viewing capabilities:
In today's globalized business environment, potential buyers or tenants may not always have the opportunity to visit a property in person. Matterport’s technology bridges this gap by offering high-quality remote viewing experiences. This is especially beneficial for international clients or investors who can now virtually tour properties from anywhere in the world. Such accessibility broadens the potential market reach for commercial properties, extending access beyond local or regional confines.
It provides an accurate and detailed property representation:
One of the key strengths of Matterport is its ability to create accurate and detailed representations of commercial spaces. The technology captures every aspect of a property, from room dimensions to the layout of office spaces, and even the texture and finish of surfaces. This level of detail is crucial for commercial real estate, where the specifics of a space can significantly influence leasing or purchasing decisions. Accurate representations help in reducing misunderstandings and misrepresentations, thus streamlining the decision-making process.
It saves time and resources:
Organizing physical tours of commercial properties can be time-consuming and resource-intensive, both for real estate professionals and clients. Matterport’s real estate virtual tour services alleviate this by offering an efficient alternative. Real estate agents can conduct fewer physical showings and focus on clients who have expressed serious interest after experiencing the virtual tour. This efficiency not only saves time but also reduces operational costs associated with property showings.
It comes with interactive features and customization:
Matterport’s platform allows for the incorporation of interactive features, such as tagged information points, which can provide additional details about specific areas or features of a property. This interactivity enriches the viewing experience and delivers valuable information in an engaging format. By using spatial data and high-resolution real estate photography Matterport tours can be customized to highlight particular aspects of a property, catering to the specific interests of potential clients.
It facilitates pre-leasing and pre-selling activities:
For new or under-construction commercial properties, Matterport can be an invaluable tool for pre-leasing or pre-selling activities. It allows developers and agents to showcase properties before they are physically complete, providing a realistic and tangible sense of the finished space. This capability can significantly accelerate leasing or selling processes by generating interest and commitments early in the development phase.
It aids in space planning and design:
For potential tenants or buyers, Matterport tours can be a valuable tool in space planning and design. The detailed representation of the space allows them to envision how their business could operate within it. This aspect is particularly beneficial for businesses looking to lease commercial spaces, as it aids in decision-making regarding layout and suitability for their specific needs.
Matterport is a game-changer in the marketing of commercial real estate. Its ability to create detailed and immersive virtual tours revolutionizes property showcasing and offers unparalleled convenience and engagement. This innovation not only enhances marketing strategies but also significantly influences buyers' decision-making processes.
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RCDAW Day 5 - New York Plus Two
Just a couple days later 🤦🏼♀️ Now my life has settled down, hopefully I can get caught up because today is the last day of Red Carpet Diaries Appreciation Week 2022. This has been super fun and although we haven’t had much participation, but it’s all good. I really slacked on this one and only used the one word prompt.
Prompt will be in bold.
Thomas tags: @choicesrcd2022 @alj4890
RCDAW tags: @alleksa16 @kuladekiwi @lilyoffandoms @moodyvalentinestories
Warnings: none
****
After realizing her brother and Addison would be a perfect couple, Natalia knew she must fly her friend to New York for Christmas. She and Thomas decided to stay a full week and her family, mostly her mother, doesn’t mind the extra guest. Most of their time in New York has been relaxing and consisted of all sorts of Christmas activities. Not to mention all the dates Thomas has taken her on. Many five star restaurants have been tried or revisited and both have favorites they’ve found together.
“Landon, mother, we are home.” Natalia leads Addison and the suitcase toting Thomas into the foyer before Mr. DuBois helps them with her luggage and coats.
The blonde marvels at the estate, running her fingers across the delicate woodwork that the mantle dons. Her eyes trace each piece of artwork on the walls and each statue setting atop one of the many tables.
“Is that a true Monet? A real one?!” She squeals quietly, rushing over to it, admiring each and every brushstroke.
“Indeed, it is.” Landon strides in, wearing an easy smile while his unruly chestnut hair is freshly trimmed and combed into place. “I am Landon York, Natalia’s brother.”
Addison freezes when the handsome young man extends his hand, her eyes widening slightly at the sight of him. His olive skin is perfect and his smile could rival many of the multimillion dollar, heartthrob actor’s.
“I—erm—“
“This is Addison Sinclaire. A very talented fashionista.” Natalia nudges her friend with an elbow.
Clearing her throat and pushing hair off her reddened cheeks, she takes Landon’s hand, shaking it. “It’s so nice to meet you. Nat has told me so much about you.”
Quietly pulling Thomas away from her intended targets, Natalia whispers into his ear, “I think it’s working.”
She smiles towards her brother and her friend talking and standing close together as they admire the art around the foyer. Soon, Landon leads Addison to the great room, giving her a tour.
“Natalia, are you certain this is the best idea?” Thomas’ deep voice is hushed as he wraps an arm around her waist.
Her shoulders raise and fall in a shrug, “Worst case scenario, they never see one another again. Best case… my brother and my friend will become what each other needs.”
He squeezes her waist, sighing quietly, “I do hope your idea works and does not hurt either in the process.”
She turns in his arm and places her hands on his chest, smoothing out his blazer. “I’ll believe for the best outcome. I just want to see them both happy.”
“As will I.” He kisses her softly, cupping her cheek with a gentle hand and rubs his thumb across her cheekbone.
By the time dinner was served, Addi and Landon had started becoming quite close. Thankfully, Mr. York had a prior engagement and would not be present for dinner, so the mood is light and cheerful. Quiet Christmas music plays while the clinking of silverware on fine china accents it. Most of the conversations have died since the food has been served, save for the two sitting together and whispering between laughs.
“Landon, perhaps you two would like to share what is so amusing?” Their mother looks at him with a neutral expression, but her eyes hold a glimmer of mischief.
A deep red flush spreads across his handsome face, but Addison just smiles brightly.
“I was just telling Landon, since I’ve been here, I’ve thought about starting a clothing line for all the statues that are naked. The sculptors were so inconsiderate.”
Thomas nearly chokes on his bite of beef Wellington, he hurriedly swallows before glaring at his former student and taking a sip of water.
Mrs. York just laughs, dabbing the corners of her mouth with a cloth napkin, shaking her head in amusement. “I’ve often wondered why they must show the human body so freely myself.”
Rubbing his back and holding back a smile, Natalia looks at the flustered Thomas, still glaring and scowling at Addison who just beams at him. He leans over to Nat, pressing his lips against her ear and bracing his hand on the back of her chair.
“You’ve created a monster, Miss York.” His lips subtly brush against her cheek before he sits straight again, shooting Addi a warning glance.
A simple grin is her only response and Thomas just moves his scowl to the woman next to him.
Once the plates have been cleared and everyone is full from a four course dinner Addison stands and claps her hands together excitedly. “Can we take a picture?”
“A photograph? But why?” Landon quirks a brow at the beautiful blonde standing next to him, he looks up to her with a smile across his face.
She proceeds to grab his hand and pull him up to stand with her before looking at the rest of the group. “Because! It’s our first dinner together and all of you mean so much to me. You’ve made me feel like a part of the family.”
Wearing a motherly smile, Elizabeth stands and nods. “I agree. This is a memory I’ll cherish for a long time.”
Her soft gaze slowly travels from her son and the woman who has grabbed his attention to her daughter and Thomas. All she has ever wanted was her children to be happy, seeing them happy in this moment, it means they must savor it.
The group gathers in front of one of the fireplaces when Carlton, the butler, comes up to the family. “Would you like me to take the photo for you?”
“Nonsense.” Natalia gently grabs the older man’s arm and pulls him into the group. “You will be in the photo with us, Mr. DuBois. You are family as well.”
Thomas grumbles quietly being squished between Natalia and Addison, scowling at the blonde when she hugs him tightly with one arm. Natalia ignores his grumpiness and focuses on the way her brother’s arm wraps around Addison’s waist, pulling her smaller body tight against his.
Addi looks up to the man next to her who has quickly turned her hopeless romantic ideas into beliefs since she met him.
He’s so charming, kind, funny, and handsome.
Their eyes meet and Landon’s smile grows as he gazes into her blue eyes.
Carlton got a younger maid to take the photo, and thankfully for Thomas’ sake, she didn’t take ten minutes to simply get one good photo. Before anyone else could look at the picture, Addison squeals while she reviews it. As the whole group gathers around, smiles grow wider.
Thomas pulls Natalia a ways away to kiss her softly and hold her close to him for a moment.
“I believe you can also add matchmaker to your list of talents.” As he releases her from his embrace, they both watch as Landon leads Addison off towards the large windows overlooking the city. “I’ve noticed how they’ve begun looking at one another. It reminds me of us.”
Her brother’s fingers are laced with Addison’s and Natalia feels her heart swell at the sight. She looks up to Thomas, only to find his gaze on her already. His eyes soften as he leans down and kisses her forehead.
“Every woman deserves a man to look upon her like you look at me.”
Thomas smiles when she rests her head on his chest, tightening his arm around her shoulders.
It was a perfect evening, for Christmas cheer and love was in the air.
#choices#playchoices#thomas hunt#red carpet diaries#choices red carpet diaries#thomas orson hunt#choices rcd#professor hunt#addison sinclaire#addison sinclaire x oc#choicesrcd2022#red carpet diaries appreciation week#rcdaw day 5
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We’re planners. Some people think it’s much cooler to be spontaneous. But planning has served us well – getting our adventures just to our liking and enjoying the planning process itself. The important corollary to planning, of course, is that we’re both pretty good at rolling with unexpected situations that muck up the plan. Our polar bear trip? Covid delayed it over a year. Galapagos and Machu Picchu? Civil unrest in Peru got in the way. But intrepid planners that we are, we regrouped. A friend (thanks, Paula!) recommended a terrific Costa Rica-focused tour company that fixed us up nicely, even at the proverbial 11th hour. Galapagos and Costa Rica – we’re on!!
We have different areas that need focus in preparing for a trip and extracting ourselves - temporarily - from our day-to-day lives. For Jillebob, getting work in order for an extended absence is key! For Sebbie, identifying a colleague to look out for her real estate clients is vital, as is lining up Kim for Fergie care. The rest of the stuff – that we’re in the thick of just now – is fun: Starting a pile of clothes and supplies to bring; making an appointment for shots (ok, not fun); making sure we have enough camera memory to take a zillion photos in the hopes that a small sub-set are wonderful.
The count is on. Liftoff is March 16th. Giant tortoises, blue-footed boobies, sloths and red-eyed tree frogs, here we come.
March 3, 2023
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MAY 21-29, 2023 Sicily: A Different Italy
Sicily: A Different Italy
May 21-29, 2023
PALERMO > REGALEALI > RAGUSA > MODICA > NOTO > ORTIGIA
with Peggy Markel and Linda Sarris
"Strong and elemental, Sicily retains an unconquered character and romantic spirit, and you can taste it in her food. Greek ruins dot the landscape. Arabian eggplants, lemons, saffron and nutmeg thrive in rich volcanic soil. Local artisans hand-make chocolates and cheeses. Sicilian dishes draw on history but abound with independent ideas and innovative interpretations that stand apart from the cuisine of mainland Italy."
I would like to introduce you to my good friend Chef Linda Sarris who I have invited to join me again. Her love of Sicily is as deep as mine and her knowledge increases daily by living in Palermo over the Ballarò market.
Together, we will coil our way across this dramatic region from Palermo’s rowdy ancient markets, through the lesser-known entroterra, to Baroque Modica and the picturesque historic center of Siracusa on the island of Ortigia. We’ve added in a few special treats this spring by extending the program by one day to include a chocolate class in Modica and two additional hands-on cooking lessons! We’ll take walks through the countryside, taste noble wines from famous vineyards, enter private kitchens, gentle olive groves and gardens bursting with flavor.
As we cross the island, Sicily reveals her secrets to us.
BOOKING IS NOW OPEN:
Double: $7,175 per person | Single supplement: + $1,175
additional info online
Peggy Markel’s Culinary Adventures
WHO WE ARE
Peggy Markel’s Culinary Adventures delivers personalized, educational, hands-on travel experiences that feed the soul. With a perpetual curiosity and reverence for the rich tapestry created by food and culture, Peggy Markel has designed and directed carefully hand-crafted food and culture trips around the world for 25 years. She is a pioneer not only in culinary travel, but was instrumental in bringing Slow Food to America and championing the farm to table movement as early as 1993.
WHAT WE DO
With each handcrafted experience, Peggy creates a container that allows her guests to relax immediately and drop beneath the surface. Good choices, deep relationships and loyalty have their benefits. It’s like traveling with a friend of a friend: someone you don’t know, but you feel like you do.
All of our trips are food-focused. Each itinerary is designed for immersion. But it’s not all about food. It’s about the art of living. We are the real deal and consider your experience and care paramount. Programs are built on long-term relationships, handpicked properties and carefully crafted itineraries.
The Cheeky Chef: Linda Sarris
WHO SHE IS
Linda Sarris was raised in a big Greek-American family with a Chef grandfather and a fisherman Dad. After studying at the French Culinary Institute and working a few stints in restaurant kitchens, Linda took off to sharpen her culinary skills in her own adventurous way - by working on a farm-to-table cooking school and wine estate in Sicily, spending two summers private-cheffing in Tuscany, consulting for restaurants in Romania and Colombia, and traveling for songwriting camps in Italy and France.
WHAT SHE DOES
Linda is a food/wine travel consultant and private chef based in Palermo. From her sun-lit studio kitchen above the 1,000-year-old Ballarò market, she works as a freelance writer and culinary communications consultant; while still traveling regularly for private chef work with clients in the fashion/music industries. Known best as The Cheeky Chef, Linda curates a series of culinary retreats, personalized travel itineraries, private sailing adventures, and chef-led market tours/tastings in Palermo. She is currently writing her second travel book with Hachette Book Group and will be self-publishing an ingredient-focused mini’zine shortly after.
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Increase Your Sale by Listing Properties Online
As the digital landscape continues to reshape real estate, more and more buyers are turning to technology for their home search. In fact, 66% of all real estate searches are now initiated online rather than through a realtor or browsing print ads.
This statistic indicates that the virtual sphere has become the primary way to reach potential customers – meaning it’s time for brokers to get on board with this trend.
Furthermore, connecting your listings with buyers through websites and apps is becoming a necessity in order to keep up with other brokers who already have an online presence.
In fact, 66% of all real estate searches are now initiated online rather than through a realtor or browsing print ads.
If you still aren’t convinced about how beneficial it is to list your properties online, read on for some pros of putting your listings on websites and apps...
Increase awareness of your listings
Real estate listings that aren’t connected to a virtual database are invisible to the majority of buyers. When information about your properties isn’t accessible online, only those who are actively looking for a new home will know about your listings. If your listings are only visible through printed advertisements or through real estate agents, you’re missing out on a massive portion of customers.
Real estate websites and apps, such as Zillow, Trulia, and RealtyHop, have millions of monthly visitors – many of whom are actively searching for a new home or shop but aren’t receiving your listings through other channels. Simply by linking your listings to these platforms, you extend their visibility and make them accessible to millions of potential buyers.Image Credit: Pixabay
Help your listing stand out from the crowd
There’s no doubt that there’s a lot of competition on real estate websites and apps. With so many potential customers scrolling through listings and viewing homes, how are you going to make yours stand out? As of May 2019, there were 1,336,854 homes for sale in the United States alone. That’s a lot of competition between agents and brokers alike!
Even if you manage to reach the right people, how will they know that your listing is the one they want? Using images, descriptions, and virtual tours to highlight the best aspects of your properties, you can help your listings shine through the crowd. And, when your properties are connected to these online databases, you have the chance to change your listing as often as you like, making changes to outdo the competition.
Provide a platform for virtual tours and showcases
One of the biggest benefits of listing your properties online is the ability to create virtual tours and showcases. Virtual tours are created using panoramic images that allow users to scroll through a 360-degree view of a property from every angle. Rather than writing out a description, virtual tours allow potential buyers to see homes in an interactive way that’s easy to understand.
These tours are one of the most effective ways to showcase your properties and are a must-have feature for an effective online listing. Similarly, property showcases allow you to collect images, descriptions, pricing, and other crucial information about your listings in one place. This allows you to easily share information about your listings with potential buyers and gives them a single location to browse all of your current listings.
Showcase information about your brokerage
A majority of homebuyers are already turning to the internet to search for their next home. Rather than keeping your online presence focused on just your listings, you can also use this to showcase information about your brokerage. With an online presence, you have the opportunity to connect with customers and let them know about your business, services, and team.
You can use your online properties to provide information about your team, office location, and contact information so that buyers can easily get in touch with you. You can also use this space to provide information about the services your brokerage offers and any specialties your company focuses on. This allows customers to learn more about your business and find out if you are the right brokerage for them.
Image Credit: Pixabay
Bottom line: Increasing online presence will increase profits.
If you’re still not convinced that increasing your online presence is beneficial, consider this: more than 85% of consumers conduct online research before visiting a property for a purchase or for investment. This indicates that buyers are using the internet to inform their decision-making processes, meaning you have to be online to reach them. Moreover, people are now using the internet as a resource to learn about the real estate process before ever visiting a broker or office.
This means that you have to be online to be accessible to these potential customers. If you want to stay ahead of the competition, it’s time to get on board with the real estate trend toward digital marketing. By listing your properties online, you extend your reach to millions of potential customers and showcase your business to the world.“I am an amateur astronomer, a writer, and an artist. I love reading and I believe that learning keeps you alive. I am writing blogs for several websites and I enjoy doing it.”
Read the full article
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i am thinking about how the c!wilbur apology world tour 2022 has hit pogtopia, l’manberg, and the community house. location location location. landmarks and hubs, places people gather and want to spend time at (or at least they used to).
like i would prefer some parts of the old server landscape within reach in volume 2 and i don’t want every character and story to be reset and forgotten, but getting some New Space to fill i totally get. like there aren’t a lot of good spots to make a proper community hub since a lot of the area around spawn is taken and everyone lives like 5+ minutes travel apart from each other. like l’manberg’s location was perfect because it was barely two minutes from spawn and had a huge chunk of unclaimed forest and lake around it. like up to the first walls being built and the prime path being extended out that place was Wilderness and so l’manberg was fairly easy to grow and expand as more people wanted to join or hang out. there’s a lot less Prime Real Estate on the server now (even if a lot of the developed real estate is unoccupied) so it’s like. how do you make amother community when there’s nowhere to build it.
#on one hand don’t abandon the server history for temporary convenience#on the other hand making a community hub in a server is hard when all the land near spawn is taken
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Tony Robbins Gets Actual About Success In Life And Wellness
I've had a lots of failures, and a couple of huge successes, because I'm regularly trying new things. Or just how I intentionally obtained 40 pounds in 2015, then got into the very best shape of my life in 2016. It wasn't simple to eat so much food, or to visit the health club weekly, however I put in the effort to reach my goals. I recognize the diehard followers-- the self-proclaimed Cult of Robbins that "consume alcohol the Kool-Aid"-- are currently having doubts about this post. Robbins' next huge book 'Awaken the Titan Within' appeared in 1991. He utilized his own strategy, 'Neuro-Associative Conditioning,' while attempting to provide his visitors with individual developing methods.
Tolly Burkan revealed Robbins exactly how to firewalk in 1983, and also Robbins began utilizing it in his workshops. He is currently living an affluent way of living in an amazing fashion. Because he is presently working, his net worth is anticipated to rise in the future. In the interview, the way of living professional pointed out that parents should have the ability to speak to their children in a way that would aid them boost their mindset. In his career extending 4 decades, Robbins has actually discussed a variety of topics from finance to facing ones' fears.
Since then, the married couple has constantly been with each other. Furthermore, both of them are seen taking a trip the world together on Robbins' seminar tours. He additionally declared that he and also his relations were blessed to have Sage in their life. Robbins' publication, "Life Force," is a collection of study, stories and improvements in medication that all readers can use to change and also boost the top quality of their very own lives.
Recap Of Millionaire Success Behaviors By Dean Graziosi
You're mosting likely to come for 5 days for the owner's future difficulty. In 5 days, we're mosting likely to show you what you need to be offering as well as how to offer it. Kevin, I like the inquiries you asked due to the fact that it simply shows your deepness of years in business. We're 64% women, and also we freakin love it due to the fact that ladies are lastly able to unlock as well as let loose that imagination they have.
Today's meeting is with Dean Robert Graziosi that's the best selling writer of several publications consisting of millionaire success practices. Be a Real Estate Millionaire will show you Dean Graziosi's personal approaches for turning property "losers" right into champions. Discover the seven keys to uncovering "hidden realty worths." Learn to determine the 5 sorts of real estate markets and the right approach for every. Take Dean's regional market evaluation examination to figure out the precise nature of your regional property market. Get Dean's one-of-a-kind formula for win-win-win real estate deals and also experience exactly how you can generate income while assisting others make money, also. Read as well as act upon Dean's suggestions as well as you also will come to be a realty millionaire.
They do yet they're not as remarkable as you could believe. The fact is millionaires make some small but considerable shifts in their behaviors which then produce large outcomes when applied in time. The path to success is difficult, yet there are some points you can do to better your possibilities of coming to be effective. So listen and listen to this motivating tale on what you must and also should not do if you intend to become successful.
Exactly How To Develop An On-line Program In 2022 14 Straightforward Actions
Besides, if you create an online training course in an area you do not absolutely have any type of authority in, you'll have a difficult time getting individuals to join. One can introduce the video clip web site templates as well as themes to dazzle the audience without coding. It will certainly aid grow the business with automation and also integrated marketing devices to supercharge the reach.
To find out more about the different plans available for training course makers as well as register to begin producing your course, most likely to smartpassiveincome.com/teachable. campaigns was my initial product, so there was a good deal of uncertainty when it concerned launching it. I had actually published a lot free material at this point that I was unclear of how marketing a program would be gotten and exactly how it would impact the perception of my brand name. What are comparable programs opting for, and just how do they contrast in regards to worth to your own? Their comments on how much the training course is worth will certainly be invaluable in establishing your final cost. There are no collection regulations when it comes to valuing your course, but you can still fail if you wind up with a rate factor that's expensive or too low.
A good alternative if you want to organize your program by yourself site system, such as WordPress. If you're uncertain specifically what your attainable result is, that's all right. You can crystallize this in the following section as you research more. Be clear on your subject, as well as exactly how you can monetize that topic. [newline] What you consider to be an "fascinating" topic might not actually be fascinating enough for other individuals to intend to pay to discover. To focus in on your winning idea, it is very important to ask on your own some guiding concerns. Now that you comprehend the fundamental components you require to include in the production of your online program, we can move on to the real procedure.
Food Protection
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Conquer Your Atlanta Dream: Navigate Homes for Sale with Chimpre's Expertise
Atlanta's allure is undeniable. From the vibrant energy of Buckhead to the historic charm of Inman Park, the city pulsates with opportunity. But for many, the dream of finding their perfect place among the countless homes for sale in Atlanta can quickly turn into a labyrinthine odyssey. Fear not, intrepid explorer! Chimpre Real Estate Group is your trusted guide, ready to equip you with the knowledge and expertise to conquer the MLS (Multiple Listing Service) and unearth Atlanta's hidden gems.
Beyond the Glimmering Portals: Why the MLS is Your Secret Weapon
While online listings offer a glimpse into Atlanta's real estate landscape, they often paint an incomplete picture. The MLS is the key that unlocks a treasure trove of possibilities, compiling a comprehensive database of homes for sale in Atlanta listed by real estate agents. Partnering with Chimpre Real Estate Group grants you access to this powerful tool, empowering you with several advantages:
Unearth Atlanta's Unexplored Gems: The MLS boasts more properties than limited online listings. Imagine strolling through a secret garden, discovering charming bungalows in quiet lanes or spacious family homes tucked away in burgeoning neighborhoods. With Chimpre Real Estate Group, these hidden gems become a reality.
Decipher the Details: Unlike generic online blurbs, MLS entries for homes for sale in Atlanta provide in-depth descriptions. We'll delve into the intricacies of these descriptions, translating square footage into expansive living spaces and transforming feature lists into visions of sun-drenched patios and cozy fireplaces.
Become a Market Master: The Atlanta real estate market is dynamic. Chimpre Real Estate Group's Atlanta realtors are market mavens with access to valuable MLS data. We'll translate this data into actionable insights, revealing current market trends, average listing prices in specific neighborhoods, and the history of similar properties. This empowers you to make informed decisions and negotiate like a pro.
Your Personalized Atlanta Adventure: How Chimpre Real Estate Group Guides You
At Chimpre Real Estate Group, your home search should be an adventure, not a stressful trek. Here's how we ensure a smooth and successful journey:
Charting Your Course: We don't believe in a one-size-fits-all approach. Our Atlanta realtors take the time to understand your unique needs, wants, and budget. They'll then leverage their MLS expertise to curate a personalized selection of homes for sale in Atlanta that perfectly align with your vision of your dream home.
Your Trusted Navigator: Finding your dream home is more than ticking boxes on a list. It's about finding a place that resonates with your lifestyle and plans. Our Atlanta realtors are your trusted advisors, offering invaluable guidance and support throughout your search. They'll answer your questions promptly, address your concerns, and become your champion.
Tech-Savvy Exploration: We use cutting-edge technology to enhance your home search experience. Imagine interactive maps showcasing homes for sale in Atlanta through the MLS, allowing you to explore neighborhoods from the comfort of your couch virtually. Immerse yourself in virtual tours and receive real-time market updates to ensure you can access the most up-to-date information to make informed decisions.
A Network Beyond the MLS: Our expertise extends beyond the MLS. We can connect you with reliable mortgage lenders, experienced home inspectors, and other essential professionals to ensure a seamless buying experience.
Unlocking Your Atlanta Dream with Chimpre Real Estate Group
Atlanta is a vibrant tapestry waiting to be explored. With Chimpre Real Estate Group as your guide, you'll have the tools and knowledge to navigate the MLS confidently, unearth hidden gems, and conquer your Atlanta dream. Don't settle for a generic online search. Contact Chimpre Real Estate Group today and embark on a personalized adventure toward finding your perfect place in Atlanta.
#mls listed properties#homes for sale in atlanta#chimpre real estate group#atlanta real estate agents#atlanta realtor
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NEXUS MARKETING
In the dynamic landscape of real estate, where competition is fierce and trends shift rapidly, traditional marketing strategies are gradually making way for innovative approaches. One such approach gaining prominence is Nexus Marketing, a concept centered around building interconnected networks and fostering meaningful connections. In the realm of real estate, Nexus Marketing is not just a trend but a crucial strategy for success in the digital age.
Nexus Marketing revolves around the idea of creating a network of relationships, both online and offline, that amplify brand visibility, trust, and engagement. In the context of real estate, where trust and credibility are paramount, establishing a strong nexus becomes indispensable. Here’s how Nexus Marketing is reshaping the real estate landscape:
Personalized Engagement: Nexus Marketing emphasizes personalized interactions tailored to the needs and preferences of individual clients. In real estate, this means going beyond generic advertisements to create targeted campaigns that resonate with specific demographics or buyer personas. By understanding the unique requirements of each client, real estate professionals can deliver a more personalized experience, thereby strengthening client relationships and fostering loyalty.
2. Digital Presence and Brand Building: In today’s digital era, a robust online presence is non-negotiable for real estate professionals. Nexus Marketing emphasizes the creation of compelling digital content, including social media posts, blog articles, videos, and virtual tours, to engage and educate potential clients. By consistently delivering valuable content across various digital platforms, real estate agents can position themselves as industry experts and build a reputable brand that attracts and retains clients.
4. Community Engagement and Networking: Building a strong nexus extends beyond client-agent relationships to encompass the broader community. Real estate professionals can actively engage with local communities through participation in events, sponsorships, and community outreach programs. By becoming ingrained in the fabric of the community, agents not only enhance their visibility but also establish themselves as trusted advisors and advocates for their neighborhoods.
5. Data-Driven Insights and Analytics:
Nexus Marketing relies on data-driven insights to refine strategies and optimize results. Real estate professionals can leverage analytics tools to track and analyze consumer behavior, market trends, and campaign performance. By harnessing the power of data, agents can make informed decisions, identify emerging opportunities, and adapt their marketing efforts to better meet the evolving needs of their target audience
In conclusion, Nexus Marketing represents a paradigm shift in the way real estate professionals approach marketing and client engagement. By prioritizing personalized interactions, digital innovation, strategic partnerships, community involvement, and data-driven strategies, agents can build robust networks that drive success in an increasingly competitive market. Embracing Nexus Marketing isn’t just about staying ahead — it’s about redefining the future of real estate marketing one meaningful connection at a time.
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Beyond Bitcoin: How Blockchain is Revolutionizing the Real World 🌐💡
Hey there, fellow tech aficionados and curious minds! Raul here, ready to dive into the fascinating world of blockchain technology and its real-world applications that are turning heads and reshaping industries. Strap in, because we're about to embark on a journey beyond Bitcoin, exploring the innovative ways blockchain is changing the game.
Finance: Breaking Down Barriers
First up, let's talk finance. Blockchain technology is tearing down traditional barriers in the financial sector, offering faster, cheaper, and more transparent transactions. From cross-border payments to remittances, blockchain-powered platforms are making it easier for people around the globe to access financial services without the hassle of intermediaries.
Supply Chain: Tracking Transparency
Next on the agenda is supply chain management. Blockchain's immutable ledger is revolutionizing the way we track and trace goods throughout the supply chain. With blockchain, companies can ensure transparency and authenticity from the source to the consumer, reducing fraud, mitigating risks, and enhancing trust in the products we buy.
Healthcare: Securing Sensitive Data
Now, let's talk healthcare. Blockchain technology is unlocking a new era of security and privacy for sensitive medical data. By storing patient records on a decentralized ledger, healthcare providers can ensure the integrity and confidentiality of patient information while facilitating seamless data sharing between authorized parties. It's a game-changer for patient care and medical research.
Beyond: Unlocking Endless Possibilities
But wait, there's more! Blockchain's potential extends far beyond finance, supply chain, and healthcare. From voting systems to digital identity verification, real estate transactions to intellectual property rights, blockchain technology is opening doors to endless possibilities across virtually every industry imaginable.
Closing Thoughts: Embracing the Future
So, what's the takeaway from all this blockchain buzz? Well, it's simple. The future is blockchain, and it's here to stay. As we continue to explore and harness the power of this revolutionary technology, we're bound to see even more groundbreaking innovations that will transform the way we live, work, and interact with the world around us.
That's it for today, folks! I hope this whirlwind tour of blockchain's real-world applications has left you feeling inspired and excited about the possibilities that lie ahead. As always, stay curious, keep exploring, and remember to embrace the future with open arms.
Until next time, Raul 🚀✨
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Sell My House Fast in Montgomery: Strategy to Sell Vacant House
You’re worried about your vacant house and are now thinking, “Just sell my house fast in Montgomery. Selling a vacant house in Montgomery comes with its own set of challenges, though, from maintenance costs to limited buyer interest.
Effective strategies can help sell your vacant property quickly and hassle-free.
We discuss the reasons why houses become vacant, the challenges of selling a vacant house, and the benefits of selling to a professional home-buying company like Rapid Fire Home Buyers.
Discover how you can sell your vacant house fast in Montgomery and make the process smooth and convenient.
Key Takeaways:
Sell My House Fast in Montgomery
Selling a vacant house in Montgomery can be challenging due to maintenance costs, security concerns, and a limited buyer pool.
To sell a vacant house fast in Montgomery, consider hiring a professional home-buying company, pricing competitively, staging for virtual tours, and effective marketing.
Selling to a home buying company offers benefits such as a fast and convenient process, cash payment, no need for repairs or renovations, and savings on closing costs and agent fees.
Selling a Vacant House in Montgomery: An Overview
Selling a vacant house in Montgomery offers a unique set of challenges and opportunities for homeowners looking to liquidate their property quickly. With Montgomery’s dynamic real estate market, finding the right buyer for a vacant property requires strategic planning and effective marketing.
One primary consideration when selling a vacant house in Montgomery is understanding the current market conditions. Factors such as supply and demand, interest rates, and economic trends play a crucial role in determining the selling price and timeline.
In a fast-paced market like Montgomery, where properties can receive multiple offers within days, leveraging the expertise of real estate buyers like Rapid Fire Home Buyers can expedite the selling process. These buyers are well-versed in the local market dynamics and can offer competitive deals for vacant properties, providing sellers with a hassle-free selling experience.
Why Do Houses Become Vacant?
Houses in Montgomery can become vacant due to various reasons such as inheritance, relocation, foreclosure, divorce, or financial difficulties faced by homeowners.
One prevalent reason for houses becoming vacant in Montgomery is when individuals inherit properties but are unable to maintain or occupy them due to various factors. In some cases, heirs may need more financial means to take care of the property, leading to its vacancy. Similarly, some homeowners facing financial struggles may find it challenging to keep up with mortgage payments, eventually resulting in foreclosure and the property being left vacant.
Situations like relocation due to job changes or personal reasons can also contribute to homes becoming vacant in Montgomery. Individuals moving to another city or state may leave their property unoccupied, mainly if they cannot sell or rent it out quickly. Divorce proceedings often involve decisions regarding the family home, which can sometimes result in the property becoming vacant until a resolution is reached.
Relocation
Relocation often results in houses becoming vacant in Montgomery as individuals or families move to new areas for work or personal reasons.
As homeowners decide to relocate, whether seeking better job opportunities or a change of scenery, they face various challenges in the process. One of the primary obstacles they encounter is finding suitable buyers or renters for their properties before they can move. This can lead to extended periods of their houses remaining unoccupied, impacting the local housing market in Montgomery. The increase in vacant properties not only affects the aesthetic appeal of neighborhoods but also influences housing prices and availability in the area.
Inherited Property
Inherited properties in Montgomery can frequently lead to houses becoming vacant as beneficiaries may not reside in the area or have alternative housing arrangements.
This phenomenon creates a unique challenge in the local housing market, where these empty homes can impact the overall property value in the neighborhood.
Historically, inherited properties have posed a complex dilemma for families, as managing and maintaining these additional assets can be overwhelming. The financial burden of upkeep, property taxes, and potential renovations often dissuade beneficiaries from taking immediate action to utilize or sell the inherited homes.
Foreclosure
Foreclosure is a common reason for houses to become vacant in Montgomery, as homeowners may be forced to leave their properties due to financial difficulties.
When a property goes into foreclosure in Montgomery, it affects the current homeowners and has broader implications for the neighborhood and community as a whole.
Vacant properties can increase crime rates, decrease property values, and create a general sense of neglect in the area.
Homeowners facing foreclosure may feel overwhelmed and distressed as they are forced to uproot their lives and search for new housing solutions.
The empty houses left behind can create a ripple effect, affecting neighboring properties with visual blight and potential safety concerns.
Divorce
Divorce often leads to houses becoming vacant in Montgomery as part of the settlement process, where one or both parties may need to vacate the property.
This vacancy can occur due to various legal and financial complexities surrounding divorce.
For example, during divorce proceedings, the couple may need to decide who stays in the house and who leaves, leading to one or both parties needing to find alternative housing arrangements.
Additionally, financial constraints post-divorce can make it challenging for individuals to maintain the property, resulting in it being left unoccupied. This ripple effect in Montgomery’s housing market can contribute to a noticeable increase in vacant properties.
Financial Difficulties
Financial difficulties, such as bankruptcy or job loss, can lead to houses becoming vacant in Montgomery as homeowners struggle to maintain their properties.
When individuals face significant financial hurdles in Montgomery, it can create a domino effect on property vacancy rates.
Unforeseen circumstances, like mounting debts or reduced income, can exert pressure on homeowners, making it challenging to afford the necessary upkeep on their residences. As a result, some properties may need to be occupied, further escalating the issue of vacancy in the region. This trend not only impacts the homeowners directly but also influences the overall real estate market landscape in Montgomery.
What Are the Challenges of Selling a Vacant House?
Selling a vacant house poses challenges such as maintenance costs, security risks, and a limited pool of potential buyers in the Montgomery real estate market.
One of the significant obstacles faced when trying to sell a vacant property in Montgomery is the financial burden associated with maintaining an empty house. The ongoing expenses for upkeep, utilities, and general maintenance can quickly add up, cutting into potential profits for the seller. There are security concerns with leaving a property unoccupied, as it becomes vulnerable to break-ins, vandalism, or even squatters.
The limited buyer interest in vacant houses can prolong the selling process. Potential buyers may be wary of the additional work and costs involved in renovating or bringing a vacant property up to living standards. This narrow pool of interested parties can result in a longer time on the market and potentially lower offers, further complicating the selling experience.
Maintenance and Upkeep Costs
Maintaining a vacant house in Montgomery can incur significant costs for homeowners, including utilities, repairs, and property taxes.
Property owners in Montgomery often find themselves shouldering a myriad of financial obligations when it comes to unoccupied homes. Beyond the basic expenses of utilities and property taxes, there are additional burdens such as security measures to deter vandalism and theft, ongoing maintenance to prevent deterioration, and landscaping to uphold curb appeal. These expenses can accumulate quickly and become a strain on the homeowner’s finances, especially if the property remains vacant for an extended period.
Security Concerns
House security
Security risks are a major challenge when selling vacant houses in Montgomery, as unoccupied properties are more vulnerable to vandalism and break-ins.
Protecting these vacant properties is essential for preventing property damage and maintaining their market value.
Landlords and sellers must prioritize installing security measures such as alarm systems, motion-sensor lights, and security cameras to deter potential intruders.
Hiring a property management company to check on the house regularly can provide an added layer of security.
By proactively addressing these security concerns, property owners can ensure a smoother and more secure selling process in Montgomery.
Limited Buyer Pool
Vacant houses in Montgomery often need help attracting buyers due to a limited pool of interested parties looking for such properties.
This scarcity of potential buyers can significantly impact the sale of vacant houses, making it essential for sellers to implement targeted marketing strategies tailored to attract the specific audience in Montgomery. Understanding the demographic and preferences of the buyer pool in the area is crucial in devising effective promotional campaigns that highlight the unique features and potential of these vacant properties. By leveraging digital platforms, local real estate networks, and strategic partnerships, sellers can increase visibility and engage with potential buyers who are actively seeking homes in Montgomery.
How to Sell a Vacant House Fast in Montgomery?
To sell a vacant house quickly in Montgomery, homeowners can consider partnering with a professional home-buying company, pricing the property competitively, staging it effectively, and deploying a comprehensive marketing strategy.
Working with a reputable home-buying firm can streamline the process significantly by offering a quick sale option without the hassle of traditional listing and showings.
Strategic pricing is crucial; research the local market to determine the optimal listing price that will attract potential buyers.
Effective staging showcases the property’s best features, creating a lasting impression on potential buyers.
A well-thought-out marketing strategy utilizing online platforms, social media, and professional photography can generate increased interest and expedite the sale process.
Hire a Professional Home Buying Company
Engaging a reputable home-buying company in Montgomery can streamline the sale of a vacant house by offering convenient solutions and a hassle-free transaction process.
These professional home-buying companies in Montgomery have extensive experience in handling all aspects of property transactions, from valuation to closing. By leveraging their knowledge and network, sellers can benefit from a quicker sales process and avoid the complexities of traditional real estate sales. Home-buying companies also often purchase houses as-is, saving sellers time and money on repairs and renovations.
Price the House Competitively
Setting a competitive price for a vacant house in Montgomery is essential to attract potential buyers and expedite the selling process in a dynamic real estate market.
Strategic pricing plays a crucial role in positioning a property optimally within the market, helping it to stand out amidst other listings. By utilizing pricing strategies that align with the current market conditions and taking into account factors such as location, property condition, and recent sales trends in Montgomery, sellers can increase buyer interest.
A well-thought-out pricing strategy can not only attract more potential buyers but also potentially lead to multiple offers, creating a sense of urgency among buyers to act swiftly. This can significantly shorten the time a vacant house spends on the market, reducing holding costs and maximizing overall profitability for the seller.
Stage the House for Virtual Tours
Staging a vacant house for virtual tours in Montgomery can enhance its appeal to potential buyers and provide a realistic representation of the property’s potential.
By strategically placing furniture, decor, and accent pieces, house staging creates a warm and inviting atmosphere, helping viewers envision themselves living in the space. Professional staging can highlight the unique architectural features of the property, such as high ceilings, hardwood floors, or custom built-ins.
This curated presentation not only sets the scene for a visually captivating experience but also allows for better online engagement, as prospective buyers are more likely to linger on listings that offer a virtual walkthrough. In a competitive market like Montgomery, these visual marketing tactics can make a significant difference in attracting serious buyers and ultimately securing a successful sale.
Market the House Effectively
Implementing a robust marketing strategy, leveraging online platforms, social media, and targeted advertising, is crucial to attracting buyers and selling a vacant house quickly in Montgomery.
With the rise of digitalization, utilizing online platforms has become essential in the real estate market. Social media plays a pivotal role in not just connecting with potential buyers but also in creating a buzz around the property. By strategically using platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn, sellers can amplify their reach and engage with a broader audience. Targeted advertising allows for precise audience segmentation, making sure that the property is showcased to the right individuals at the right time.
What Are the Benefits of Selling to a Home Buying Company?
Selling a house to a home-buying company offers numerous advantages, such as a fast and convenient process, cash payment, no repair requirements, and savings on closing costs and agent fees.
By choosing to sell to a home-buying company, homeowners can avoid the lengthy traditional sale process, which often involves uncertainties and delays. The streamlined nature of transactions with these companies means that deals can be closed in a matter of days, providing sellers with quick access to cash.
Opting for a home-buying company can eliminate the need for costly repairs and renovations before selling. This not only saves sellers time and effort but also spares them from the financial burden of investing in fixing up the property to attract buyers.
Fast and Convenient Process
Selling to a home-buying company ensures a swift and hassle-free transaction process in Montgomery, allowing homeowners to liquidate their properties without delays or complications.
Homeowners in Montgomery are finding the convenience of working with these companies quite appealing. The streamlined nature of the process means that sellers can avoid the traditional complexities of listing, showing, and negotiating. Instead, within a few days, they can have a fair cash offer in hand, ready to close the deal. This efficiency is particularly attractive to those who need to sell quickly due to relocation, financial constraints, or other pressing circumstances. By opting for this straightforward approach, homeowners can have peace of mind knowing their property sale is in reliable hands.
Cash Payment
Home-buying companies in Montgomery offer cash payments for houses, providing homeowners with immediate liquidity and eliminating the need to wait for traditional financing approvals.
This method is particularly advantageous for those looking to sell their homes quickly without the lengthy process of mortgage approvals. With cash payments, sellers can avoid the uncertainties of bank approvals, inspections, appraisals, and other potential delays associated with traditional transactions. Receiving cash offers from home-buying companies in Montgomery ensures a fast and efficient sale, allowing homeowners to access their funds promptly and move on to their next chapter with peace of mind.
No Need for Repairs or Renovations
Selling to a home-buying company in Montgomery relieves homeowners of the burden of repairs and renovations, as these companies purchase properties in their current condition.
One key advantage of selling your property in Montgomery to a home buying company is the time and effort saved. Typically, when selling through traditional methods, homeowners need to invest significant resources in fixing up the property to attract buyers. With home-buying companies, there’s no need for expensive repairs or time-consuming renovations, allowing you to sell quickly and hassle-free.
Cost savings are another significant benefit. By avoiding the expenses associated with repairs and updates, you can maximize your profit margin while still selling your property swiftly. Selling ‘as is’ to a home-buying company in Montgomery means you won’t have to deal with the stress of managing contractors or overseeing renovation projects, streamlining the selling process.
No Closing Costs or Agent Fees
Home-buying companies in Montgomery typically cover closing costs and eliminate the need for agent fees, reducing the financial obligations for homeowners during the selling process.
This can lead to significant savings for the seller, as closing costs and agent fees can add up to a substantial amount.
By selling directly to a home buying company, sellers can avoid these expenses, allowing them to keep more of the profits from the sale.
Not having to pay agent fees means that sellers can retain a larger portion of the sale price, maximizing their financial gains.
Frequently Asked Questions
1) How can I sell my house fast in Montgomery? The best strategy to sell your vacant house quickly in Montgomery is to work with a reputable home-buying company, such as Rapid Fire Home Buyers. We specialize in buying houses fast and can provide you with a fair cash offer in as little as 24 hours.
2) What makes Rapid Fire Home Buyers the best option for selling my vacant house? Our team at Rapid Fire Home Buyers has years of experience buying houses in any condition, and we can close the sale within days, not months. We also offer fair cash offers, free consultations, and a hassle-free process.
3) Can I sell my house in Montgomery even if it is in poor condition? Yes, you can! At Rapid Fire Home Buyers, we buy houses in any condition, whether it’s outdated, damaged, or in need of major repairs. You won’t have to spend any time or money fixing up your vacant house before selling it to us.
4) What are the benefits of selling my vacant house to a home-buying company like Rapid Fire Home Buyers? When you sell your house to us, you’ll enjoy a quick and hassle-free process, no closing costs, no commissions, and a fair cash offer. You also won’t have to deal with the stress and uncertainty of listing your house on the market.
5) How long does it take to receive a cash offer for my vacant house in Montgomery? At Rapid Fire Home Buyers, we can provide you with a fair cash offer in as little as 24 hours. This allows you to sell your house fast and move on with your life without any delays.
6) What sets Rapid Fire Home Buyers apart from other home-buying companies in Montgomery? Our dedication to providing a transparent and fair process for selling your house sets us apart from the rest. We value our clients and strive to make the selling experience as smooth and stress-free as possible.
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