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flaminpumpkin · 4 years ago

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Small treasures

“Five more minutes,” Bruce grumbled as he distantly heard the door open through his sleepy haze.

There was some shuffling sound around the room and then it was flooded with bright morning light as Alfred mercilessly opened the heavy curtains, the rays of sunshine hitting the Bat right in the face, making him scramble for the covers to hide his sensitive eyes.

“Very well, Master Bruce. Breakfast will be ready for you in the kitchen.”

He was so used to Alfred’s barely hidden exasperation after all these years that his words took longer than usual to register with Bruce. A frown appeared on his face as he finally realized what was wrong with the butler’s statement.

Alfred never served breakfast – or any meal for that matter – in the kitchen.

He would rather shoo everyone out with a spatula full off batter than let anyone eat where he cooked. Bruce couldn’t even count the number of times he had seen Dick or Tim appear in the dining room with a sheepish look, a thoroughly exasperated Alfred hot on their heels.

Pushing the sheets away just enough to uncover his head, Bruce peeked over his shoulder at the still open door, eyebrows knitting further in confusion.

“What?”

Something caught his eyes.

There was a piece of yellow paper on the nightstand. An origami bat, he realized after finally deciding to emerge from the sea of sheets and pillows he had buried himself in during his sleep. He reached for it and took the little paper animal gingerly between his fingers, eyes focusing enough to read “unfold me” written in elegant cursive right at its center.

Bruce did as he was told.

Dear Master Bruce,

My words most probably confused you as the kitchen is a place I do not tolerate for anyone to eat in. But, need I remind you, there always has been one peculiar occasion where I allowed you to do so.

Bruce stared at the note, confusion growing.

Oh.

His eyebrows raised a bit, pleasantly amused. There was indeed one occasion Alfred would let him eat in the kitchen while he worked. What did the kids put Alfred to this time?

Led by his curiosity, Bruce climbed off the bed, fully awake now as he put on a shirt, and padded out of the bedroom, towards the kitchen.

No one was there when he arrived, which wasn’t odd per say but he had learned to be cautious over years of attempted surprise parties. There was a plate though, on the little table, with French toasts that smelled like butter and cinnamon and a cup of coffee with probably enough sugar and cream that it didn’t even taste like coffee anymore.

It was a breakfast Alfred had always prepared for him on the morning of his birthday after his parents’ death. He would put the plate on this same table and work silently as Bruce happily ate, the two of them sharing the same space in the simplest way. It wasn’t a grand gesture but it had meant the world to him nonetheless.

Another little origami bat was waiting for him, propped against the cup. A small smile tugged at his lips.

Bruce put it aside before starting to eat, careful not to stain the paper with coffee or grease, only taking it again once he had cleared the table and washed his hands. He unfolded it with the same care as the first.

My happy place.

(Took a piece of bread. Alfred said yes. Thank you.)

Cass

The dance studio on the third floor.

A while back, Bruce had decided to redesign one of the biggest rooms on that floor in a place where Cass could dance that wasn’t the ball room. He had wanted for it to be a place only for her, where she could express herself and spend time however she pleased, without anyone bothering her. His greatest recompense had been the radiant smile on her face before she had locked himself in there and played music until late that night.

The next course of action wasn’t too hard to guess so Bruce quickly folded the paper back into its bat form, slid it in the pocket of his pajama pants, along the first one, and headed for the next place.

As expected, he found another bat in Cass’s dance studio, tucked into the folds of a bright orange knitted scarf. There was a running joke between his kids saying that it was because Bruce always forgot to take a scarf with him during winter that his Batman voice sounded so bad.

One thing was for sure, he would not forget this one.

Hey B, remember that time you told me you were proud of me and then proceeded to suffocate me with your muscles? Just kidding, you give great hugs. Like, super comfy, 10/10. But yeah, go there next.

Steph :p

He huffed at Stephanie’s words, eyes rolling with fondness. He remembered perfectly what she was referring to.

The young woman had been staying in the manor for a few days that time, Alfred being keen on keeping her under careful observation after she had been hit with a new type of fear gas while on patrol with Dick. She had continuously apologized to Bruce, blaming herself for Dick’s injuries.

Until the third day, where he had found her reading in the library, curled up in one of the love seats. Before she could utter a word, he had crouched down and grabbed her hands firmly.

“You do not need to apologize or blame yourself for anything, do you hear me? You managed to drag Dick and yourself out of this building while under the influence of fear gas when most would have stayed frozen in place. I’m sure he will agree that a few scratches and broken bones are far better than what would have awaited him if you hadn’t been there. I’m proud of you, Stephanie Brown. More than you’ll ever know.”

After that, she had thrown herself at him and Bruce had hugged her for the better part of an hour until Alfred had come to fetch her for some blood analysis.

This time, when he walked into the next place of this little treasure hunt, he found a laptop, sitting open on the table next to one of the windows. The windows of the library were wide and high and the spot where the next gift awaited was one of his favorites.

So he let himself sink in the armchairs cushions and started to play the video.

“You better not ruin this, Todd,” Damian was saying, standing next to the piano in the lounge of the west wing, violin already positioned on his shoulder.

Jason was scowling at the piano in front of him, focused.

“Just take the lead, brat. I’ll follow.”

“Could you two focus, please?” Tim said off camera.

The other two huffed with the same affronted look towards the camera.

Then the melody started and both of their faces softened. It was gentle, melancholic. Almost sad if you asked Bruce. But he listened with a smile on his face, bemused at the sight of his two quick tempered sons playing with a soft kind of intensity together, Jason following Damian’s lead flawlessly – probably the result of hours of practice. It was truly beautiful and he knew that the melody was one of Damian’s compositions.

But it was over too soon for Bruce’s taste so he played it a second time, closing his eyes. And then a third as he read the next message, only heading for the next place once it was over.

Blah blah blah, some cute shit about us bonding, blah blah blah. Just get your ass to the garage old man.

Ps: Remember your Aston Martin? I think I scratched it a bit but I’ll blame it on Timmy anyway.

Jay.

Bruce knew exactly which car Jason was talking about (and knew perfectly that he didn't scratch it). An Aston Martin DB5 he had inherited from his father. Nobody had driven it in ages when Jason had brought it up during dinner one evening, not long after he had taken him in.

“Isn’t that James Bond's car?”

“It is. But it’s been so long since the last time I used it, I’ll probably need to pop open the hood before anything else if I want to drive it again.”

“Can I help you fix it?”

Jason’s eyes had been so full of hope and excitement when he had asked Bruce. He had laughed before agreeing. The next day, Alfred had had to come and pry them away from the car for lunch because both of them had forgotten about eating in their eagerness.

He noticed a tape case on the board as he approached, in front of the wheel. Bruce opened the door and climbed in so he could reach for it easily. On the piece of paper tucked between the clear case and the tape, Bruce could see every song scribbled, one in each of his children’s handwriting. He recognized a song by The Clash in Tim’s handwriting – of course – and Midnight Sonata in Damian’s. The other titles and artists were mostly lost on him, except maybe for that Belgian one Cass listened to a lot.

I can’t count the number of times I fell asleep there while you worked and you had to carry me back to my room.

Dick

Bruce couldn’t recount either.

Although he remembered fondly the first time Dick had fallen asleep in his study, curled up in one of the seats across his desk while he worked on some urgent papers for WE. They both had been so young. Bruce being completely new to parenthood, he had seeked out Alfred who had only fixed him with a blank stare before sending him back.

“Don’t you dare wake up this child, Master Bruce.”

He had actually managed to pick up the gangly child without waking him up, even if rather awkwardly, and had carried him all the way to his bedroom uneventfully. Only to trip on one of Dick’s schoolbooks once there, nearly dropping him.

They had both elected not to mention it to Alfred and, to this day, it was still something only the two of them knew about.

When he arrived at his study, another message was waiting for him in the seat Dick used to sleep in, along with a gift card for that 24 hours coffee shop that had opened recently in downtown Gotham. Bruce let out a breathy laugh at that.

I know you always listen when I play, Father. Why do you think I leave my door open when I do?

D. Wayne

And here he thought he had been smooth. However, he should have expected that his son would pick up on his habit of passing by his room while he rehearsed with his violin.

But Bruce couldn’t resist the pull in his chest. Damian was a gifted player, just like Jason, able to translate raw emotions in barely a few notes. It always put his mind at ease, smoothed out his most troubled thoughts even for only a few moments. He had caught everyone at least once, standing outside of his youngest’s door, listening to soft melodies in a rare moment of peace.

It was silent moments shared with everyone, brought together by Damian's deft fingers. Something he had been doing knowingly and willingly apparently. It made it all the more special for Bruce.

There was no gift when he went searching for the next clue in Damian’s room. Or so he thought.

Sitting on his son’s music-stand along with yet another yellow origami bat, was an open partition. It was still in work, Bruce could tell. Notes were hastily written with a pencil, a few stains where some had been erased. Nothing out of the ordinary for Damian and his creative mind. Except for the title.

Ode to Family.

Thankfully, no one was around to witness the shuddering breath that escaped him as he read. He exited the room still unable to breathe normally, heart so full he almost felt like suffocating, and walked towards his next – and probably last – location.

You spent hours trying to teach me how to dance the waltz there after I told you I wanted to take Steph dancing for her birthday. I still don’t know how to dance but we had fun.

Tim

Indeed, Bruce still regularly caught Tim stepping on his partner’s toes during charity galas and other events. But he suspected the young man of going to great lengths to not learn how to dance correctly because it usually dissuaded most people from asking him to dance with them. And god knew how much his son disliked dancing.

That was why it had greatly surprised him when Tim had asked him for help.

“I wasn’t really the best boyfriend to her so I just… I thought I could at least be a good friend and take her dancing? She loves it when Cass takes her in the studio and they dance so I just thought… Yeah…”

Five hours later, Tim had made absolutely no progress. He had known the steps by heart at this point, had it memorized and yet, he couldn’t seem to stop stomping on Bruce’s toes. To both Dick’s and Alfred’s delight.

His eldest son probably still had videos of it, he thought as he entered the vast and empty ballroom. There was nothing out of the ordinary or out of place and Bruce almost expected for his family to sneak up on him and surprise him when he noticed one last, black origami bat on the wooden floor, right in the center of the room.

He crouched down and unfolded it slowly, warily even, some would say.

Terrace on the second floor. You know, the one where I inelegantly asked you to marry me and you just stared for a good five minutes before laughing. (And saying yes, of course.)

It wasn’t signed and even if the message wasn’t telling enough, he would recognize that hasty scribble everywhere.

Bruce took off, climbing stairs two by two and running down hallways. His heart was pounding in his chest.

He had been gone for six months. Six excruciatingly long months of absolutely no contact, of not having any means to make sure his husband-to-be – yes, that idiot had asked him to marry him just before leaving – was still alive and well. Six months of worrying, of his children asking nervously if he had any news of his whereabouts.

Bruce barged through the French doors leading to the wide terrace on the second floor of the manor and, surely enough, everyone was there. Absolutely everyone.

“Happy birthday, Spooky. Half a century, we gotta celebrate,” Hal drawled with an easy grin.

“Someone take the cake away from Hal. Right now, before they ruin it!” Bruce heard someone say distantly and, next thing he knew, he had taken the few steps still separating them and was kissing Hal, holding him close by the lapels on his jacket.

There were groans, cheers and something that sounded a lot like someone telling them to get a room. Hal laughed against his lips, pecked him one last time before pulling away, opening his arms widely with a grin. A clear invitation for everyone to pile up on them which everyone took with great enthusiasm, barreling into them and crushing Bruce and Hal under their combined weight.

#batfam #bruce and his kids #that's it #batlantern #at the end #as a treat #cuz I love these old men #bruce wayne #batman #happy birthday batsy #this was supposed to be a short drabble i don't know what happened #clemwrites

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andypantsx3 · 4 years ago

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war paint | 5 | hot water

pairing: Bakugou Katsuki / Reader

length: 27,765 words / 10 chapters

summary: Desperate times force you to disguise yourself and join the kingsguard. When a suspicious string of crimes strike the palace, however, Captain Katsuki Bakugou starts paying extra close attention. (spin off of in cinders)

tags: mulan AU, secret identity, romance, reader-insert

warnings: aged up characters, some violence, eventual smut

You laid low over the next few weeks, avoiding Captain Bakugou to the best of your ability.

You didn’t make eye contact during your drills, shifting behind Kaminari and Sero’s shoulders when you could. You kept to your bunkroom when you weren’t on duty, and ate quickly in the mess halls, leaving as soon as you were finished lest he come dine with his battalion. You left the palace grounds only to post your wages to your family, and hurried back quickly in case Bakugou came looking and found you gone.

You also steered clear of Nishimura and his idiot friend Hasumi, taking alternate routes when you saw them on the training grounds and saying nothing about the animals and bugs you continued to find in your sheets.

Your only relief was your continued patrols, especially when you were assigned to Sero or Kaminari. Kaminari in particular was good at getting you out of your funk, tripping over himself to make you laugh and forcing you to socialize with all his palace favorites like Hagakure the laundress or on one notable occasion, Ochako Uraraka, companion to the princess-to-be and wife of the prince’s trusted valet, Izuku Midoriya.

His favorite stop, however, continued to be Mina’s workrooms and you found yourself getting quite comfortable with her, relaxing into her bright and cheery presence. She kept you well entertained with easy humor and palace gossip.

“I heard Captain Bakugou told the prince he’ll have the thief in chains before the wedding,” Mina said one evening as you and Kaminari finished up your rounds. “But it’s hard to know where he’ll strike next. There’s no discernable pattern in the rooms he targets or the things he seems to take.”

“Wow, never thought anyone would be able to stump that guy,” Kaminari said, kicking his feet up on Mina's worktable. Mina growled, shoving his muddy boots off the bright fabrics. Kaminari overbalanced and only just managed to stop himself from face planting, grabbing her chair tightly.

He shot Mina a dirty look but continued. “Bakugou’s basically like a bloodhound. I thought for sure he would have sniffed the thief out by now.”

Mina sighed. “I know! And it’s giving the servants ideas now, too. One of them stole Lady Yaoyorozu’s best gown right out of the laundry rooms last Sunday. The housekeeper’s had a right time of it trying to track down the culprit.”

You thought back to your own patrol on Sunday, but it hadn’t taken you anywhere down near the laundry rooms. Nishimura and Hasumi’d been on that route and you wondered if the theft had occurred right under their noses, the pair of fucking idiots.

“If I were the thief,” Kaminari said, “I would steal an entire tray of those little cinnamon buns cook Rikido makes.”

You laughed. You had yet to try one, but from the way the other soldiers waxed poetic about them, you didn’t doubt they were worth stealing.

“Ooh, I would pilfer those sweet cakes he does,” Mina said longingly. She looked as though she was thinking wistfully of a long lost lover.

You thought to yourself. If you were any kind of thief, you’d steal money, most likely, to send back to your family. Or maybe something of the captain’s to burn. You wondered if he cared enough for anything that you could get him to beg you for it back. You quite liked the image of him on his knees before you...

A chuckle from Kaminari brought you out of your fantasy.

“Maybe we should take up a life of crime,” he said.

Mina eyed him. “Think of how fast Bakugou would figure you out and say that again. He’s the smartest person in this entire castle.”

Kaminari winced. “On second thought, protecting and serving is my passion. I’ve never so much as looked at a stolen pastry. If someone approached me with one I’d report them straight to the captain.”

You’d heard from Mina exactly how the prince’s future bride had bribed her way into the mid winter ball, so you weren’t buying it.

“In other news,” Mina said, “The new servants' baths are finished. You lot might get to try them! I heard they’re only waiting on an inspection from the steward to open. Hagakure said she already snuck in for a dip in the ladies’ baths and just about melted.”

Your interest piqued. You hadn’t had more than a rushed scrub down in weeks, and if the baths weren’t open yet, your chances of being disturbed were few.

“Where are they?” you asked, trying not to look as interested as you felt.

Mina described their location and dropped the tantalizing fact that they’d been built over a natural hot spring just south of the castle. Mentally, you could feel yourself rubbing your hands together with glee. Maybe tonight you could soak away all the stress from the past few weeks.

Kaminari yawned in disinterest. “No wonder you’ve got such a girly face, L/N. You’re basically as bad as Mina.”

You scoffed. “There is nothing wrong with being clean.”

He raised a golden eyebrow. “You even sound like Mina.”

Mina patted your arm sympathetically. “Denki was born to repel women, L/N, don’t hold it against him. A woman likes a well groomed man. Keep it up and you’ll have your share of ladies hanging off you when you grow up.”

You stifled a laugh. You certainly hoped not.

Kaminari, however, looked absolutely incensed and he bit out a retort at Mina, storming out of her office and bodily dragging you with him. You suppressed a smile and followed him through the rest of your rounds, trying to look appropriately chastened when he told you off for not defending him.

You felt lighter than you had in ages, though, and you looked forward to an evening spent in the baths.

Late that evening, hours after everyone went to bed, you crept out of the barracks and followed a worn path to the south of the castle. The baths proved tricky to find in the dark, but soon enough you stumbled upon the entrance. In case Hagakure was around for another illicit dip, you stuck to the men’s side, not wanting to explain to the laundress why her friend the soldier suddenly had sprouted a pair of breasts.

You lit a match and followed its light into the steamy heat of a dark room. You pressed it to a set of sconces set into the wall which, when lit, revealed an open pool sunk into the floor of the room. The light wasn’t enough to see the bottom of the spring by, but you could see steam curling off the surface of the water and you shivered in delight.

You quickly undressed, leaving your clothes and your breast bindings in a neat pile by the side of the pool, and climbed into the dark water. The heat instantly loosened your shoulders, and you could feel what must have been months of tight knots unraveling within your muscles.

You let out a sigh and sank in up to the top of your head, letting the water sluice over your shoulders and hair. You grabbed for your soap and washed down thoroughly, luxuriating in a feeling of total cleanliness that you hadn’t felt in months.

Then you let yourself float, feeling near ecstasy in every single nerve where the warm water touched your skin. The gentle lap of the water against the side of the pool and the steam curling up around your face lulled you into a stupor.

Until the scrape of a boot at the entrance reached your ears. Cussing, you ducked back down in the water, swimming over to press your chest up against the side of the pool, your heart beating frantically like a frightened rabbit.

Your stomach dropped when light caught on a lock of unruly blonde hair, and Captain Bakugou slipped into view.

“Interesting place for me to find a soldier who’s supposed to be in their bunk,” he said, smirking. His eyes were bright in the torch light.

You wanted to rush out of the baths and leap into your clothes, but you could only hold still in fear as he stepped closer. He looked like he’d come from his own bed, only wearing a loose linen shirt over a pair of soft breeches, his usual uniform conspicuously absent. You tried to ignore the peek of a well defined pectoral through the low collar of his nightshirt.

“Captain,” you said quickly, “I, um...I couldn’t sleep.”

He moved to the edge of the pool, staring down at you. “And you think that means you can just defy my orders, pretty boy?”

You flushed. “No, sir. I’m sorry, sir.”

He looked you over, scarlet eyes running over your wet hair and shoulders. “You look awfully comfortable in there. Not gonna get out?”

Your heart shot into your throat. You couldn’t get out, not in front of him. Not if you didn’t want this whole charade to be ruined right here, right now. You didn’t know if Bakugou would knife a woman, but you didn’t want to take your chances and find out.

“I’m, um, embarrassed to, Captain,” you said by way of explanation. You stared at his boots, not daring to look up into his handsome face.

“Well aren’t you delicate, princess,” he quipped. His boots shifted and all of a sudden his face was in front of yours. You startled, shooting back from the rim of the pool, water sloshing loudly around you. You covered your chest protectively -- you didn’t know how well he could see in the low light of the torches but you didn’t want to test it.

A gleam of interest came into his eye and his gaze picked over you again. He looked disconcertingly curious, his head cocked to the side, like a wolf considering which part of the prey to tear into first.

To your horror, his hand moved to his shirt. Before you knew what he was doing, Bakugou grinned and pulled his nightshirt over his head. You had a glimpse of strong arms and a defined chest with a mouth watering set of abs before you panicked and whipped around, staring hard at the opposite wall.

“What are you doing?” you asked, your voice coming out high and squeaky.

“The fuck you think I’m doing, shrimp?” he asked. You heard the mortifying sound of his belt being undone and the scuff of his boots as he stepped out of them. “I’m testing something.”

“C-captain,” you said. “You’re not coming in here.”

You heard a low chuckle. “Don’t wanna share, princess?”

“Th-that’s not it!” you gasped, spine locking up as you heard his pants hit the ground. There was a slosh and water rushed over your back in a small wave. “Captain, this isn’t right.”

His rough voice was coming too near. “It’s a communal bath. We’re communally bathing. You some kind of pervert or something?”

You certainly felt like one if the way your eyes had tried to stay stuck to his chest was any indication. “And if I am?” you asked.

There was another low chuckle, this time right by your ear. “Awful shy for a pervert.”

You stood still, hardly daring to breathe. Your thoughts raced wildly from one topic to the next. What did he think he was doing? How were you going to get out of here without him figuring you out? If you pushed him, could you make it out of the baths before he caught you? If he caught you, what would he do?

A broad, hard chest pressed right against your back and your brain froze completely. You stopped breathing.

What was this? This was beyond teasing. What was the captain trying to accomplish?

“Still embarrassed?” he rumbled in your ear. A shiver went through you and your arms tightened around your chest, praying he couldn't see anything over your shoulder.

“This is the most embarrassing thing that’s ever happened to me,” you blurted. You tried to will your mind to disconnect from the nerve endings in your back. He was so, so warm.

He snorted, and there was a moment of hesitation before he sloshed away from you again. You sighed in relief as the heat of his body left your back. “Not counting you getting your ass kicked in the mess hall.”

Irritation flashed through and you would have rounded on him if you could have turned around. “I wasn’t getting my ass kicked.”

There was a splashing sound from behind you. “Oh, were you only pretending to be losing spectacularly?”

You clenched a fist under the water. “Look, why are you here?”

There was a beat of silence.

“You ain’t the only one who can’t sleep,” Bakugou admitted roughly, surprising you. You chanced a look at him over your shoulder, only to whip back around, shame-faced. Yep, his abs were still there.

“W-why can’t you sleep?” you asked for something to say, voice a little shaky. You cleared your throat.

“Why can’t you?” he asked.

You frowned. “I asked you first.”

He let out a low chuckle. “You’re such a pain in the ass.”

You could feel your cheeks heat, and you tamped down on an indignant so are you. A soldier didn’t talk to their commander that way, nor a peasant to a marquis.

“I’ll tell you if you tell me, princess,” Bakugou said. His voice sounded smug, like he knew what retort you were clamping down on.

You thought for a moment on what you could tell him. You couldn’t exactly admit to waking in the middle of the night to bathe without having your gender revealed. You could be vague, though, and still tell the truth.

“My family,” you said. “There were some things that, uh, led me to the kingsguard, and I was thinking about that.”

Bakugou seemed to accept that. “I was thinking about how I'll kill that thief nice and slow when I get my hands on him.”

You shivered despite the warm air of the bath house. The thought was unsurprising, but Bakugou being kept awake by it was. “You’re more bothered about this than I would have guessed.”

A loud, gusty sigh echoed from the other end of the spring. “They’re fucking with my territory. And they’re bothering the shit out of Shouto and his dumbfuck valet.”

“The prince?” you asked, surprised.

“He’s a...friend,” Bakugou admitted. You were somewhat shocked by the admission that Bakugou had anything like friends. You wondered what the prince was like, to be so unbothered by Bakugou’s rough manner. Or maybe Bakugou didn’t try his usual tack with a member of the royal family.

“I’ll kill anyone who fucks with him,” Bakugou growled quietly, “Or that green-headed little snot rag.”

You guessed he meant Midoriya, the valet. He sounded oddly protective for someone he called a name like snot rag. You wondered wildly if, despite the disturbing terms in which he spoke of them, he considered the prince and his valet something like family. It would explain why he was so bothered by the thief when he was normally so unflappable.

“I hope you find them,” you said, the sincerity in your voice surprising even you.

“Oh, I will,” he promised darkly. You shivered again.

A loud splashing from his end of the spring distracted you and you looked back over your shoulder, only get an eyeful of a very chiseled butt leaving the pool. You yelped, covering your eyes.

“What are you doing?” you gasped.

Another low chuckle reached your ears, along with the rustle of fabric. “Leaving. Didn’t you want that, princess?”

You took a breath. “Well--yes.”

There was more rustling. “I’ve had my fun with you,” he said, and you heard the scuff of his boots as he pulled them on again. “Don’t let me catch you out of your bunk again or I’m fucking discharging you.”

You nodded, heart beating wildly. Had you really gotten away with this? “Yes, sir,” you answered dutifully.

Bakugou let out another derisive snort. “Get to bed,” he said imperiously, and then he was gone.

You turned to stare after him, listening to the tread of his boots grow further away. Finally, as the sounded faded, your knees gave out and you sank back under the water, feeling horribly relieved, and yet more confused than you had ever been before.

You'd escaped, but...what the hell had just happened?

#bakugou x reader #fanfic #bakugou katsuki x reader #bnha #bnha x reader #boku no hero academia #bakugou katsuki

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nahoyaglock · 4 years ago

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📃 AS I AM CHAPTER 3 — Discovery

SUMMARY — You knew Kageyama Tobio since you both were in diapers, being close family 'friends'. You always wanted to befriend the quiet kid but no matter your efforts, he would never crack. When you transfer schools and meet Kageyama again, what will happen to your relationship?

PAIRING — family friend!kageyama x y/n

GENRE — fluff/crack/angst

WARNINGS — kags being a bigger meanie

WORD COUNT — 2.6k

FIND THE MASTERLIST HERE

It has been about more than two weeks since your first day at Karasuno, already creating good bonds with Hinata, Nishinoya, Yamaguchi, and even Tsukishima. You were pretty close to all of them, spending alot of time together at lunch or after school, and even during the weekend. They wanted you to feel welcome, after all, you even had a little text group chat.

(Sent October 10th at 11:15 am)

Y/N: [Good morning yall, and happy birthday noya!]

Shoyo: [HAPPY BIRTHDAY NOYA!]

Tadashi: [goodmorning and happy bday!]

Tsukki: [morning, happy birthday]

Noya: [GOOD MORNING, AND THANKS GUYS!]

You smiled down at your phone before shutting it off. Since it was Noyas birthday, your mom let him and your friends come over, it also being a Saturday. You planned to have a sleepover with your new friends, Kageyama, and Tanaka of course. You had finished cleaning your living room, and despite it being small, it was big enough to fit a bunch of enthusiastic dorks, and Tsukishima.

You had begun cooking lunch, making sandwiches for you and Hinata, who was already on his way to your house. "Good morning honey," your mom spoke softly, rubbing her eyes as she walked past you to the coffee maker. "Good morning mom, Hinatas on his way here already," you smile and finish the sandwiches, putting them on a plate and walking to the living room.

"Okay, I have work today so ill be out for a little bit, tell Nishinoya I said happy birthday and Kageyama I said hello," she chuckled as she started the machine. You nodded and heard the doorbell ring, causing you to sit up and smile in excitement, placing the play down on the couch. "Thats Shoyo!"

You hop to the front door and immediately unlock the door, greeting the orange haired male with a smile that was matching his. "Hey y/n!" He greets and you let him in, closing the door behind himself. "Hi Shoyo, I made lunch," you say and lead him to the living room. "Wow, your house is really cute," he giggles and sets his bags and blanket in the corner next to the couch.

"Im glad you think so, I think Tanaka is arriving next, but i could be wrong," you say and plot down on the couch, hinata following your movements. "When is Kageyama coming?" He asks and rests his head on your shoulder, head tilted so he can look at you, but you just shrug. "He hasn't answered me since I sent him the invite yesterday," you say before handing him the plate and taking your sandwich.

"What? He answered me this morning," Hinata said and pulled his phone out of his pocket, going to his text messages with Kageyama. "Yeah, he texted me this morning, asked if i was coming to the sleepover," he said and you sae him typing on his screen. You felt hurt, Kageyama always answered you, whether it was one word, or even one letter, he always answered.

"Ah, he might've forgotten, i wont hold it against him," you smiled and decided to shake it off, it was Noyas birthday and you were ready to have fun. You and Hinata watched a bit of Netflix and ate a bit more than just the sandwhiches you made. It had been about more than an hour since the next person appeared, hearing the doorbell ring as you were in the middle of showing Hinata baby pictures of you and Kageyama.

"Ah, I bet its Tsukishima and Tadashi! Or just Tadashi!" Hinata shouts, jumping up, you following after him with a big goofy smile on your face as you both run to the door. "Its definitely Tanaka! Im calling it!" You laugh, barely able to keep up with the small male as he opens the door. As you looked at the male at the door, you and Hinata both shouted at the same time.

"Tadashi!"

"Tanaka!"

"K-kageyama?" You questioned and Hinata sighed, walking back to your room, sulking. "Its just Kageyama," he complaimed and Kageyama glared at him. "Whats that supposed to mean dumbass!" You let him in and close the door behind him as he kicks off his shoes. "Kags, you didnt bring any bags? Like, more than one?" You ask and walk to your room, seeing him hesitate to say respond.

"I'm not staying over. I just wanted to wish Nishinoya a happy birthday, i thought more people would be here by now," he nonchalantly responds, almost irritating you. "Well, you could've answered my text with a yes or no, or tell me that," you say and turn to face him, kicking his ankle softly. "Sorry," he muttered.

You entered your room with Kageyama and saw Hinata checking out your wall of pictures, filled with pictures of you and kageyama as children, you and your mom, and your friends from Nekoma. "Hey, is that Kenma?" He asked, turning his head to look at you and Kageyama with a curious face.

"Oh, yeah it is," you answer and walk over to the spot next to hinata. "Ah, Inuoka! Lev!" He exclaims with a excited expression, carefully scanning the pictures. "Is this the Nekoma volleyball club?" He asked, looking up at you with admiration as you confirm that it is.

"Thats so cool! You know Kuroo?!" He said, looking at another photo, one dear to your heart. It was the last time you saw them, you had a sleepover at Kuroos house, all the boys attending. You were wrapped in Kuroo and Inuokas arms, the 2nd years sitting on the couch in the back with the rest of the members asleep, or running around.

"Yeah, he acts like my brother sometimes. This was from our last sleepover before i came here," you state and he puts it back in his place when he hears the doorbell. "Okay, this time its DEFINITELY Tanaka!" You slap Hinatas arm and you two, once again, race to the front door. "Its gotta be Tadashi!" He once again opens the door to be met with Tanaka, causing you to shout in glory, hinata groaning.

"Uh, hello to you too," he laughs and steps over Hinata who dramatically fell to his knees. "Sorry, we were betting on who would arrive next," you laughed as he put his stuff next to Hinatas and saw Kageyama come out of your room. "Hey Tanaka," he greeted and you all sat on the couch, continuing the movie you and Hinata had started. After about 30 minutes more, there was a knock on the door.

"Thats definently Tsukishima," You say and Hinata nods as you stand up to open the door, greeting the tall blonde, noticing Tadashi and Noya behind him. "Hey Tsukki, Tadashi, and happy birthday Noya!" You greet, patting Tsukishimas arm and hugging the last two. "Everyones here, so lets get started, hmm?"

As everyone gets their stuff situated, you head to your room to get your phone and order some take out and remind your mom to get a cake before heading back out to your friends. "Noya, you ca– Noya?" You giggled softly, seeing him wrapped in a giant fluffy blanket, and he smiles. "Yes?"

"Ah, I was gonna say you can choose a movie, unless you wanna do anything else before the food arrives," you bounce before taking a seat between Tsukishima and Hinata. "Movie please, i dont want to even know what hes thinking right now," Tsukishima said, his expression was serious. You elbow him with a chuckle that follows, "its his birthday, cut him some slack."

You all decided to play a few games with an old movie playing as background noise. Truth or dare, would you rather, never have I ever, and some board games, Tsukishima winning monopoly. He was currently boasting to Kageyama with a smug look on his face as the doorbell rang.

"Food!" You shouted and jumped up to answer the door, quickly paying for the food and closing the door before bringing it to the small coffee table in your living room. "Also my mom should be home in a few minutes so call down with all the cursing Tanaka," you laughed and opened the food boxes before grabbing some plates and utensils for them to serve themselves.

You guys ate and finally put on a movie, moving the coffee table to you, Noya, Tanaka, Tadashi, and Hinata could all huddle up on the floor infront of the tv, leaving Tsukishima and Kageyama on the couch. "Hey, im home honey. Hi boys," your mom called, a big bag in hands as she slipped off her shoes. "Hi y/ns mom!" Noya called and she brought the cake over to you.

"Happy birthday Noya, and hello Kageyama, its been a while since ive seen you, you're so big," your mom patted his shoulder and he nodded. "Hello Mrs. y/l/n," he spoke politely as Tsukishima quietly laughed at him. "Behave okay? Im heading to bed. Oh, and Kageyama, your mother invited us over tomorrow so i can take you home tomorrow, " she flashed a warm smile and your face lit up as you sat up from the cuddle pile.

"I haven't been to your house in years," you exclaim and placed a hand on Kageyamas knee, giggling. He shifted a bit, causing your hand to fall and he hummed, "because Tokyo is far." You roll your eyes and lay down back between Nishinoya and Hinata. "And im not sleeping over, my moms coming in 10 minutes to pick me up."

"Ah, well either way, ill see you tomorrow Tobio," your mom waved and left to her room. It was silent as you guys kept your eyes glued to the screen. Eventually Kageyama left, so Tsukishima joined the cuddle pile until you guys got tired. Hinata and Tadashi took the couch, Tanaka and Nishinoya draped over each other near the couch, Tsukishima laying next to you on the blanket that covered the itchy carpet.

You sat up, on your phone after your friends from Nekoma decided to blow up your phone.

"You still awake?" You jumped at the voice, thinking everyone was asleep, and you turned to the voice to see the salty blonde slipping on his glasses. "Yeah, my friends texted me," you whispered before turning off your phone, the room being engulfed by darkness and you took your spot next to Tsukishima. "So you and Kageyama?" He propped his head up on his hand as he looked at you.

"Yeah, he's weird. He hasn't been talking to me that much the past few weeks." You rest your head on the pillow and pull the blanket up over you. Tsukishima hums lightly before fixing his pillow, "is he always like this? He doesnt seem that way around the team."

"I guess? Hes always been dry and stand offish since we were children, but to other people he was different." You felt tired, and Tsukishima could sense it. "Rest, worry your head tomorrow." He pats your head before taking his glasses back off and lays down, you smile. "Thanks Tsukki."

"Dont call me that."

—

Once it became morning, Tanaka and Nishinoya were the firsts to leave, followed by Tadashi. You had just come out of the shower, finding Hinata folding his blankets and cleaning up the living room, and Tsukishima talking to your mom in the kitchen as he helped wash dishes. "Good morning mom," you yawned and grabbed a key from one of the drawers. "Im gonna stop by the store, wanna come with Tsukki? Hinata?"

Tsukishima looked at your mom and she nodded, telling him it was okay and that she'd finish the dishes on her own. You left the house with the two males, taking the short walk to the store. "You're going to Kageyamas right?" Hinata asked, bouncing to keep warm in the cold air. You nod and swing the keys around your finger, "yeah, in a few hours, oh! Let me text him."

(Sent October 11th at 1:17 pm)

Y/N: [Morning Tobio!]

[I'll see you in a few hours!]

As you waited for his answer, Tsukishima spoke up. "Not to.. seem like im putting you on the spot but.. doesn't he ignore you?" He kept his hands in his pockets and his gaze forward and Hinata gasped, "Tsukki that sounds mean!" He smacked his arm, causing the taller to look down at him. "I'm just saying that its not the best way to treat someone," he rolls his eyes and Hinata scoffs. "As if you can talk."

You sigh and laugh, placing a hand on both the males arms, "calm down you two, geez." They relax in your touch and Tsukishima continues. "Seriously tho, he could be just, y'know.. being a bitch," he he spoke, putting an emphasis on bitch. "Or he could be hiding something!" Hinata gasps and you laugh at them. "Yeah yeah, but its whatever really, this is how ive always seen Tobio, it'd be weird if he was any different. Though id like it alot if he DID be a little less dry."

You remembered the talk you and Tsukishkma had before, he always brought up Kageyama and your relationship with him. Soon you started to think the same was he did. Was Kageyama really just being mean? Isnt that just how he always is? Why does he act different around others? Was it you, or was it him?

—

You kicked off your shoes as you stepped into the warm house with a bright smile, "hello Mrs. Kageyama!" You greeted as she pulled you into a hug. "Hello y/n, my you've grown! Tobio is in his room, can you take him his plate? This one is your" She said and handed you two plates. You smiled and nodded your head like a gibby child and she patted your back as you made youe way to Kageyamas room. You kicked on the door because your arms were occupied.

You heard a bed creak and a few seconds after, the door opened and was almost closed back in your face if it weren't for him catching a glimpse at the plates. "Come in," he mumbled and let you in. You walked over to his bed and put his plate down on his bed and sat on the end as he closed the door. "Wow, your room has changed alot," you smile and look around the room at his posters and pictures on the walls.

"Mhm," he plopped back down on his bed and went on his phone. You noticed this and furrowed your brows, taking a bite of your food. "You know, for someone on their phone alot, you sure do ignore my texts alot," you mainly joked, but you guessed that he didnt catch on when his expression changed and he mumbled an apology. Was that guilt on his face?

You decided to stay silent and just scroll through social media and eat your food. After a few minutes of just silence, Kageyama finished his plate and got up to take it upstairs. "Hey Kags," you called before he left and you held your plate out to him, "can you take this for me?"

"You barely ate any thing," he said and you shook the plate a little bit, causing him to grab it, scared it would fall. "I'll bring you a meatbun," he murmured and left the room. You smiled slightly at the mention of meatbuns, and stood up to stretch your legs.

You grabbed a napkin from Kageyamas bedside dresser and wiped any food off of your mouth. He had a small trash bin in the corner of his room, so you went to throw away your napkin, looking at his posters and pictures on the wall. When you opened the bin, there was a large stack of pictures atop all of the trash.

All being pictures that had you and him in them.

#as i am*series #kageyama x reader #kageyama tobio #kageyama tobio x reader #kageyama tobio au #kageyama tobio fanfic #haikyuu fanfic #hq fanfic

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gravelgirty · 4 years ago

Note

Hi could you talk more about caves what you said on that post is really interesting

Sure thing!

First of all, it was an amazing cave I worked in. You never forget that. I'll pick one of my favorite topics,

the FALLOUT SHELTER AGGRAVATION TAX.

Clears throat.

Limestone caves are literally stone libraries in the geologic record of the world. Twice a year the airflow would change and then you'd smell smoke from decrepit old torches dating as far back as 1812. People made saltpeter in these caves, they were natural mines for things that went boom, and one of those 'requirements' meant airflow so you wouldn't suddenly and embarrassingly, drop dead of too much Underground. This is why the coal miners were eternally bemused and asking us questions like airflow. Sometimes you gotta canary. Sometimes you are the canary. This often led to predictable questions that was these old gents trying to be polite, but what they really wanted to know was,

'why the hell are you being paid $10 a trip plus tips to walk us 1.1 miles underground up to 3 times a day and no one has a mortgage gun aimed at your head?'

To which I would say, 'it wasn't quite that bad. If no one shows up at all we get paid $10.' ...Dear Saint Barbara, Chango, and the Gods of Deep Mystery, the things we tell ourselves. $10 a day. Crap. Thank goodness I had Granny's House, dad was paying the property tax, the water was on a well, and garbage was less that $20 a month. A shame we can't afford a TV, but hey, we can stay busy digging up that quarter-acre garden that will keep us fed plus the road kill Deer in the fall.

But the conditions that created saltpeter (I'll go into depth on that later if people are interested) also convinced some weird-ass people in Washington DC that caves were the perfect place to do a DR STRANGELOVE and people could go hide out in the caves, free of...well, nothing, really, because radiation = straight lines +caves, air, irradiated air and water, and everything goes down into the caves...

Look. It made people feel safe, ok? And it wasn't the worst decision the Pentagon ever made, considering they were telling the scientists working with HOT RADIOACTIVE MATTER to stay safe by sticking the stuff on a long pole so they wouldn't have to touch it.

Everybody knows about the bomb shelter President Kennedy was prepared to run to with his family in case of Cold War. It was in the Greenbrier Resort in White Sulphur Springs (I prefer to think of it as the HIDDEN FIGURES birthplace). FYI everybody who lived here knew where it was. There are only so many power stations one measly little resort that cries that it can't afford to pay for its own water bill can keep.

[insert sniffle boohoo sobbing of the pro-confederates who run that place and while I can't be there for you, try to imagine the joy I am stockpiling for the day when we have another traitorous uprising and this time, the resort doesn't get a GO PASS GO by dangerous romantics and is finally burned to the ground.]

Anyway, the important people like the President, his family, his Secret Service, his staff, cook, maid-in-waiting, bootblack and et al got to go bunker down in the luxurious bomb shelter at the resort, which probably wouldn't be very resort-y after a certain point of Castro going, 'fuck you, you whippersnapper Irish Dog' or Khrushchev throwing a little more than his shoe around. I'm not convinced it was that great of a place to hide, really. I mean...they have lightning rods on the trees over there, and believe it or not, cavers in that country have been hit by lightning while underground. Because. Lightning. If it can bake entire acres of potatoes in the field, two subterranean surveyors with metal measuring tape haven't got a prayer.

I want you to know that I can't at this point go into detail (space restrictions) on the importance of all these caves to Union Sympathizers, slaves on the Underground Railroad, and the Far-Righter MAGAS called Confederates. Trust me when I say, if you didn't know where these caves were, you had absolutely no right to know.

In Appalachia, limestone caves were listed on properties and handed down because of their value. Thomas Jefferson made a point of making sure there were lots of caves to provide nitre for the Gunpowder Committee. I don't know if landowners had to pay taxes for having saltpeter caves (probably), but when the Cold War came around, they definitely and cheerfully sold the access rights to the government because...it was the government. I am not in the least bit joking when I tell you there are people over there who are still pissed off over George Washington's Whiskey Rebellion.

If you really want to get into the psyche of Appalachians, go read up every scene Terry Pratchett ever wrote about Lancre in his Discworld books. Just give them more libraries and a LOT of coffee stations.

Oh, dear. I forgot all about the owling and the Prohibition.

Owling = the practice of moving your herds of cattle from one ridge to the next to avoid a higher payment when the taxman came a-calling.

Prohibition = The Second Oldest Profession.

These days, many of the Fallout Shelter caves are being used for...modern needs. Meth labs, if you're a sensationalist, but if you aren't, bear in mind that hiding out stolen cattle and horses still requires big places out in the middle of nowhere. But when Mr. Gov't Man came around and offered cash for the access rights to grand-daddy's old saltpetre cave? Goodness gracious, we know we aren't supposed to take people's money from them because that's a sin, but...taxes...you know how it is... (most of the mountain folk had no real quarrel with Kennedy despite his heathen dog Catholicism because it wasn't his fault he was brought up Catholic, but when it came to the government...well, it was the principle of the thing).

In short order papers were drawn, and shelters were built and good god, they were ugly. Clapboard shantytowns, I swear. They were stockpiles whacked together with off-brand plank and tenpenny nails for where the selected few could bunker up in the cozy, damp, dripping, chilly, dusty, sneezy, probably-warm-from-stray-radiation environs. I have no idea who the Pentagon hated enough that they would send them to these caves. They had a bottleneck opening for easy defense, yes, but there was no defense against puking yourself to death or accidentally taking off your own skin with your uniform at the end of your shift.

YOU THINK I"M KIDDING?? YOU THINK IT IS A COINCIDENCE THAT CLASSIC DR WHO SHOWS DALEK HISTORY IN AN OLD STONE QUARRY? WELCOME ABOARD!

A fallout shelter's stockpile generally consisted of

*High-quality medical equipment, even though some of that stuff had a shelf life of three minutes.

*Radio Equipment. Which was probably a real belly laugh to the folks running the NARO satellite dishes up in Green Bank, because families in the most rural portion of WV (Pocahontas County) spent their evenings parsing Latin and teaching the young lads and lasses the wonders of shortwave and how to rig up your own crystals in case you needed to jackleg your own.

*Food. God. Awful. Food. It was designed to keep you alive, but you can't say anything more charitable about it. Honestly, I'm surprised nobody tried to corner a government contract on dehydrated water.

*Water. Potable water for drinking, but, I should say, I couldn't find any means with which you could make a potable distillery. Or, how much of this potable water was going to be used to rehydrate the ghastly awfulness of the dehydrated food, or the canned goods that included stuff the military couldn't wait to forget. Go ask your grandparents how much canned horse Circa WWII they ate while they served, m'kay?

*Candy. High energy, easily digestible candy. Flavor optional, at the discretion of the same government that made the WWII Chocolate Bar.

*The containers themselves. Yep, they counted. They were heavy metal barrels and tough buckets or small drums, plus the amazingly dense metal and plastic containers for medical kits, candy, and misc. I'm not sure if they had a requirement other than impervious, waterproof, and on sale. In fact, the smaller drums/buckets were supposed to be lined with the plastic used to wrap the other goods, and convert into a toilet.

Cold War comes and goes. I'm sure what happened next is shocking:

1) medical supplies goes missing in the dead of night.

2) Electronics follows. That probably makes the electricians feel good, because...what good would they have done in the wet, dust-filled atmosphere of the caves?

3) Candy. Candy, did you say? I don't remember seeing any candy..?

4) The gradual disappearance of the food rations is mysteriously in proportion to camping trips multitasking with double-dog-dares. Who needs a frat pledge if Freckles here has never been introduced to the joys of Dehydrated Ketchup?

5) If you think the backyard blacksmiths are making forges with tire rims, do you think metal containers stand a chance?

This leaves the barrels of water, but who would want to drink that stuff? It's been sitting around for how long? Ew. And the boards for those shelters...cripes.

This inadvertently makes up a tiny little side bonus for the hard-working tour guide. Because these shelters are usually ridiculously close to the entrance of the tour caves. You have to take your tour group in stages, see, and once they finish gasping and wheezing their way through the first 300 steps, you have to take their minds off how miserable they are and pause at the shelter with your flashlight, and describe this little chapter of history. By this time the bats are hanging off the boards (your chance to remind them of the exorbitant federal fines for hurting these little mosquito-hunters), the occasional lost salamander, and the beginnings of the Dreaded Cave Cricket (ten minutes with these little monsters and you'll never think pink is an effete color ever again).

And the mold. There are patches of mold the guides have been watching for YEARS. Some of them have even bothered to look them up, because...tourists. They love to stump the guides and use it as an excuse for not tipping you because you haven't taken a Master's in The Encompassing Topic of Karst Everything and are clearly a dumbass, hah-hah I'll spend my money in the overpriced gift shop, peasant.

But no, folks. If you ask them one more damn time if they're sure all the candy and drugs are gone...we're too tired to take your bleeping bleep bleep tip anyway.

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noaltbruh · 4 years ago

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Hi! Sorry I didn’t really a few days later this is my first time asking for a request I was getting nervous if the question would be cringy or sum. But how would the brucci gang react to their s/o having an addiction to spicy food (I have a obsession with hot fries >~<) and do they like spicy stuff?

My first request! Thank you so much, it's not cringe at all :)

GIORNO:

-Giorno isn't particularly fond of spicy food, he's got more of a sweet tooth to be honest. He doesn't dislike spicy stuff and will eat it with no problem if he has to, but he'd rather avoid it if possible.

-With that being said, he doesn't mind your 'obsession' for this kind of food and almost never complains about it.

-However, if he thinks you're eating too much of it, he'll tell you with no hesitation. He doesn't want his sweetheart to feel sick.

-He's honestly quite direct about it, he wants to make it clear to you that eating this kind of food all the time is extremely unhealthy.

-If it makes you happy, he'll try to eat it as well, just to see why you would like it so much.

-He'll look for high class restaurants in the city that serve spicy stuff, doesn't matter how expensive they may be!

Bucciarati:

-Just like Giorno, Bucciarati doesn't exactly like spicy food, he prefers more simple dishes.

-If you've had a bad day at school or work, or you're simply feeling down for no particular reason, you already know that Bucciarati is going to surprise you with some hot fries when you get back home.

-Needles to say, you immediately feel 10 times better after just smelling them, Bruno is the best cook out of the gang!

-At the same time, however, he's particularly worried that all that spicy stuff is going to be bad for you and your stomach. He'll try to tell you to tone it down a little, but in a less direct way compared to Giorno.

-In the most extreme cases, he may even hide your snacks so that you can't eat them! It annoys you a lot, but you know that he's just doing this because he's worried for you.

-"I'm sorry, Y/N, but it's for your own good. I promise I'll give your chips back in a couple of days"

MISTA:

-Oh man, Mista LOVES spicy food! Doesn't matter what kind of food it is, he'd eat his hat too if there was some hot sauce on it.

-What? Worrying about you eating too much of it? Nope, that doesn't exist with Mista.

-He'll always challenge you to see which one of you can eat more spicy stuff, but it ends up in a tie most of the time.

-When you manage to beat him though, you make sure to rub it in his face for at least three days.

-Sometimes your snacks randomly disappear, it doesn't take much for you to realize that it's the pistols' doing. Mista tries to control them, but they don't listen to him most of the time.

-If you're feeling good that day, you might actually give some of your food to them voluntarily, number five is the only one that thanks you for it.

-The rest of the gang is a bit concerned for you, but you don't care: that's just another thing in common!

NARANCIA:

-Sadly, it's stated in the manga that Narancia dislikes spicy food, that's a shame...

-Seeing how much you liked it, he forced himself to try some as well, but it didn't um...exactly turned out as you hoped. (He almost threw up that night, poor child.)

-He was kind of worried that you were going to dislike him because of it, he almost apologized to you for feeling bad!

-Obviously, you told him that it wasn't a problem for you, it's just food after all

-"I thought that if I ate it you would have liked me more...seems like my stomach just likes to make fun of me"

-He wouldn't dare to complain about how much you eat that stuff, he doesn't want you to think that he's "not supporting you"

-You two love eating chips together! He gets different flavored chips from your though.

FUGO:

-While you couldn't tell at first, Fugo really likes spicy food! He mostly just keeps this liking just to himself, for no particular reason whatsoever.

-You're the only one who knows about it, and you're so happy you two have something else in common! Fugo doesn't really understand why you're so excited about this, but if it makes you happy, it makes him happy

-Sometimes you lightly tease him about it, saying stuff like:"You're more of an hothead than this Chili Pepper". Fugo has gotten used to it by now.

-"Uh? Oh yeah...I guess spicy food is pretty good. What's the big deal about it?"

-You tried feeding his stand some chips once, they disappeared from your hand in less than a split second. You were low-key scared that he was going to eat your hand as well.

-Fugo is the one out of all the gang that worries about your eating habits the most, even when you're not actually eating too much of it, he may still tell you that you're exaggerating.

-However, he's also quite reluctant in telling you, he's scared you're going to be mad at him.

-"Um....Y/N, maybe you could...put those chips down? They're not very good for you, you know?"

ABBACCHIO:

-Abbacchio doesn't really like spicy food, he's probably the one of the gang that dislikes it the most after Narancia

-He simply doesn't get the appealing of "Making your tongue burn" and almost looked at Mista with a disgusted expression when he saw him eating it.

-Since his S/O likes it, however, he'll do more of an effort to like it as well. He may even order the same thing as you, after begging him for 3 times of course.

-"Fine, fine I'll eat it l, just stop saying 'please', you're going to give me an headache"

-Despite him making a scene out of something so little, you know he's just trying his best to show that he cares

-Just like Fugo, he gets veeery worried about your eating tendencies, but he's way more direct about it compared to the boy.

-"Seriously Y/N, you're eating too much, do you want to get food poisoning so bad?"

TRISH:

-Trish honestly hasn't any strong feelings when it comes to spicy stuff, similar to Bruno and Giorno.

-But if her sweetheart likes it so much, she'll be more than happy to eat it! She loves your satisfied expression after she's done eating everything in the plate.

-She isn't the biggest cook, but she'll still try to make you some homemade dishes and snacks, mostly just following recipes she found online, but still.

-Rather than being concerned about how much you eat spicy stuff, she's more worried about 'how' you eat it. Let's just say that...you're not exactly very well mannered when your favorite food is involved.

-She won't say anything about it though, the last thing she wants is to make you uncomfortable, but you should be able to tell from her facial expression while you devour 5 pringles in less than 2 seconds.

-With that being said, she still worries about you eating too much of it, and she will actively tell you about it.

-"Hey Y/N, how about you eat something else instead? Too much spicy stuff isn't very good for you"

I'M SO SORRY, I know this took longer than usual, but I've been Jojo-role-playing with my friend for a couple of days and I lost track of time eheh.

#jojo's bizzare adventure x reader #jojo's bizzare adventure #jojo golden wind #jjba vento aureo #jjba x reader #vento aureo #golden wind #giorno x reader #bucciarati x reader #mista x reader #narancia x reader #fugo x reader #abbacchio x reader #trish x reader

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lawrenceop · 5 years ago

Text

Holy Land Retrospective - Day 4

Reminder: clicking on the link for each photo (links are all in red text) will take you to the Flickr page where you can see the photo in larger sizes.

Start with DAY 1, or go back to DAY 2, or DAY 3, or read on!

PHOTO 17: On the fourth day, we boarded our coaches in Jerusalem quite early in the morning for a journey of over three hours (as I recall) to Galilee. As we travelled to the very northern end of Israel, this Eastertide antiphon resounded in my mind: “Jesus said, 'Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to set out for Galilee: there they will see me, alleluia’." (cf Mt 28:10) Yes, we were setting out to Galilee to see him! Incidentally, for many of the pilgrims on this trip, this would be their first chance to see (and hear from) Jim Caviezel who played Jesus in ‘The Passion of the Christ’. When I asked Jim, jokingly, who the crowds on the two boats around ours were looking for, he said wryly: “Fake Jesus”!

But here in Galilee, where Jesus lived and healed and exorcised and proclaimed the inbreaking of God’s Kingdom, we would all have an experience of the real Jesus, not least because we would have Mass later that day on the site of St Peter’s house in Capernaum.

Driving past Magdala (where we would later have our lunch consisting of grilled St Peter’s fish), we headed straight for the shores of the Sea of Galilee, also known as the Sea (or Lake) of Tiberias, or Kinneret. This is a freshwater lake, some 21 km long and 13 km wide. Although it was calm when we boarded our boats, we could see the rain clouds in the distance, and a cool wind whipped up the flags on the boats. One could understand how the disciples could have been out in the middle of this lake, and a storm could quickly engulf them (cf Mt 8:24-27). We were in three boats, with the priests and Jim and group leaders in the middle. And then, in the middle of the Sea of Galilee, surrounded by a landscape largely untouched and unchanged since the days when Jesus and his apostles fished here, we prayed. Here, led in song by John Michael Talbot, we prayed and called upon the Holy Spirit to fill our lives, and the wind, a Biblical sign of the Spirit’s presence, duly picked up around us. And then we just bobbed on the water in silence, with just the natural sounds of the lap of the water against the sides of the wooden boats, and the cry of birds overhead, and the flapping of the flags in the persistent wind. And in the silence we prayed, and God was heard in the silence.

“Getting into one of the boats, which was Simon's, he asked him to put out a little from the land. And he sat down and taught the people from the boat." – Luke 5:3.

This photo was taken on the boat after that time of prayer, and it features an anchor which, like the peacocks and labarum that I shared yesterday is yet another early Christian symbol. The anchor, firstly, resembles a cross, so it was easily adapted as a secret Christian sign when Christians were being persecuted. It was also engraved in the Roman catacombs and on Christian graves as a sign of our Christian hope in the resurrection and eternal life through the Cross of Christ. For Scripture says:

“We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner shrine behind the curtain, where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf". (Heb 6:19-20a)

What I noticed, in taking this photo, was the striking colour of the sea, and of course, I thought of the phrase “fishers of men” (cf Mt 4:19). All of us were here on this sea because we had been fished out of the murky waters of sin, and we had been plunged into the regenerating fresh waters of baptism. All of us were here because we had been enlivened with faith in the Cross of Christ, a faith which anchors our lives and gives us hope of eternity. And all around us, presiding over all this, was the ruah Adonai, the holy Breath of God, the Holy Spirit, who blew over us, and stirred the waters. (cf Jn 5:4)

PHOTO 18: After our lunch of grilled fish in Magdala we paused for reflection and quiet time in Tabhga, an area whose name comes from the Arabic version of the Greek name, Heptapegon, meaning, the place of seven springs. When Egeria visits the area in the 4th-century she mentions that here there “are seven springs each flowing strongly.” There are several holy sites in Tabhga and we visited first the Church of the Beatitudes where we listened to the Gospel (Mt 5:1-11), and had time to explore the grounds and take in the view. Afterwards, we went down from the Mount of Beatitudes to the shoreline, to the Church of the Primacy. The rain clouds had moved on by the time we reached the water’s edge; some plunged into the cool waters, but I merely waded in the shallows, feeling the black basalt-like grains underfoot.

It was here that the Risen Lord had met his disciples, as he had promised, and indeed, it was here that he cooked them a breakfast of grilled fish. Inside the little church, therefore, is a rock under the altar named the ‘Mensa Christi’, the table of Christ. It was also here that St Peter was confirmed as chief shepherd of Christ’s Church on earth. Hence, both Pope St Paul VI and Pope St John Paul II visited this site when they came as pilgrims to the Holy Land.

“Jesus said to them, "Children, have you any fish?" They answered him, "No." He said to them, "Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some." So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in, for the quantity of fish. That disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, "It is the Lord!" When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his clothes, for he was stripped for work, and sprang into the sea. But the other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish, for they were not far from the land, but about a hundred yards off. When they got out on land, they saw a charcoal fire there, with fish lying on it, and bread. Jesus said to them, "Bring some of the fish that you have just caught." So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish, a hundred and fifty-three of them; and although there were so many, the net was not torn. Jesus said to them, "Come and have breakfast." Now none of the disciples dared ask him, "Who are you?" They knew it was the Lord. Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and so with the fish. This was now the third time that Jesus was revealed to the disciples after he was raised from the dead. When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?" He said to him, "Yes, Lord; you know that I love you." He said to him, "Feed my lambs."” – John 21:5-15.

We prayed for the Holy Father here, and also for the Pope Emeritus.

PHOTO 19: The Petrine-Papal theme continued as we went finally to Capernaum, just 10 minutes away. Capernaum was effectively Jesus’s base during his Galilean ministry, and his first disciples, St Andrew and St Peter lived here. The very modern church where had Mass is built right on top of the house of St Peter, and the glass floor in the middle of the church allows one to look down into the octagonal 4th-century church that once stood here (and which Egeria visited), and also to see the remains of St Peter’s house, which is a stone’s throw from the (now ruined) synagogue of Capernaum.

Jesus certainly knew this house well, and there are inscriptions dating to the 1st-century that attest to this site being the place where Jesus had lived and ate, preached and healed, and cast out demons. Here, on this holy site, we had the joy of celebrating the Holy Mass! Here, in St Peter’s house in Capernaum, we encountered the Lord as he promised, and through his Holy Eucharist he healed us and gave us strength to serve him.

“And he went down to Capernaum, a city of Galilee. And he was teaching them on the sabbath... And he arose and left the synagogue, and entered Simon's house. Now Simon's mother-in-law was ill with a high fever, and they besought him for her. And he stood over her and rebuked the fever, and it left her; and immediately she rose and served them. Now when the sun was setting, all those who had any that were sick with various diseases brought them to him; and he laid his hands on every one of them and healed them.” – Luke 4:38-40

As the sun was setting, we had to leave Galilee and the drive back to Jerusalem was long; we arrived only shortly before the Holy Sepulchre closed its doors for the night.

Tomorrow: Christmas in Bethlehem!

#Holy Land #pilgrimage #reflections #retrospective #206 Tours

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talvin-muircastle · 6 years ago

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Repost from LJ: Christmas Lasagna Recipe

This is a post from years back on Livejournal. I am sharing it here, edited only to use the names we use on here and a couple typos.

Use of this recipe is at your own risk.

My lovely wife @diannamuircastle has promised on my behalf that I would write out my recipe for Talvin's Infamous Ten-Cheese-You-Won't-Shit-For-A-Week Lasagna*.

* Unless you are Lactose Intolerant: then you're probably gonna die.

First, a bit of the philosophy and history behind this inimitable entree.

Some years ago, when Dianna and I first got together, I attempted to do Christmas Dinner. I got a small Turkey. I got potatoes, corn, all sorts of things. I cooked and cooked. It...was OK. But our first Christmas in our home together was not all we had hoped for, because I was standing there cooking while she found ways to amuse herself, and then we ate one serving apiece and I had to figure out how to get it into the refrigerator.

So, the next year I tried the buffet option: sandwich makings, deviled eggs, potato salad...Christmas Eve was full of cooking, and work at Big Box Retailer, and we didn't get to do much together. And we couldn't eat it all, either.

"Talvin," she said, "I really like it when you make your lasagna, and it doesn't take so long, and it freezes well. What if we had that?"

That was when it hit me:

1) Lasagna is Good.

2) Leftover Lasagna, all know, is BETTER: the flavors have had all night to meld together in the refrigerator, and you heat it up and it is just heavenly.

3) Rather than making Lasagna, eating it, and then enjoying the leftovers, let's just make the Lasagna and have the WHOLE THING left over on Christmas Day!

4) Since it's for Christmas, I am doing it up large!

Thus began a tradition: nay, a legend in our times, a story told and retold and occasionally edited to make it sound even better than what really happened, but you weren't there, so don't you dare call me a liar. Just shut up and eat your lasagna.

Now to the Recipe, insofar as there may be said to be one.

You will need:

At least two full-size lasagna pans. When I did three one year, Dianna started setting limits.

At least 10 different kinds of cheese. More on this later, but when I hit 14 one year, Dianna started setting limits.

3 jars of pasta sauce. I get the big ones in 3-packs from BJs Wholesale Club. Likely to be some left over.

2 boxes of No-Boil Lasagna Noodles. Now, some masochists will get the kind you have to boil--I did, until I discovered No-Boil. The really sick and demented people make their own lasagna noodles, and I say unto you that those people know not the True Meaning of Christmas.

Ground Beef. One year I snuck in some Ground Sausage to flavor it. Take it or leave it, all the same to me.

Cheeses Is The Reason For The Season. Let us be clear: to use less than ten different kinds of cheese in your Christmas Lasagna is Heresy, and verges on Blasphemy, So Thou Shalt Not Do It. Which ten exactly varies from year to year, however, and is somewhat dependent on market conditions.

These are always included:

Ricotta

Cottage Cheese

Feta Cheese

Mozzarella (usually shredded, but any sort will do)

Grated Parmesan and Romano mix.

As you can see, that is 6 of the 4. I usually grab the Mexican Blend (Cheddar, Asadero, Monterey Jack, and Queso Quesadilla) to round out the ten. I have also included Provolone in times past. The year I found 14 different kinds of cheese to put in this monster? Yeah, we just won't talk about that. The point is, find a variety that works for you.

First, brown the beef, drain it, and put it in a container to chill in the fridge.

If you are smart, you will also grab a big container and mix all the different cheeses together. Cover and put in the fridge for a while.

Chill out for the rest of the afternoon. You can finish it on Christmas Eve morning, or that night, or as I am doing this year, the night before Christmas Eve, because I am not baking Lasagna when The Hobbit is showing at Noon.

Now, assemble your ingredients. Get out the beef and cheese and sauce and pans and no-boil noodles.

This next step is easy, but very important: from each box of noodles, remove three. Do you have any idea how embarrassing it is to assemble another layer of lasagna only to find that you did not reserve some for the top covering of the lasagna? I do, trust me I do. Save out those three, one set for each pan, and then stack the others next to the pans in which they shall be placed.

Spread some sauce in the bottom of each pan. Lay down three noodles on top of the sauce.

Spread out the cheese mixture along each noodle. Be generous: you will not run out of cheese! Indeed, your problems are going to come when you run out of everything BUT cheese. I just eat it.

Now, add a sprinkling of beef along the line of cheese.

Pour a light line of sauce along over the beef and cheese.

Add the next layer of noodles, gently flattening out the layer below. Continue as before.

Out of noodles? RIGHT! That's why I said to save three out of each box. Add them, spread some sauce over the top.

Cover with aluminum foil and bake according to the directions on the noodle boxes.

Clean and reuse or recycle all those cheese containers while it cooks.

Take it out and put it on the bottom shelf of the fridge. You already cleared the entire bottom shelf for the pans, right?

Now you are done. Clean your kitchen, and Merry Christmas. When somebody gets hungry on Christmas Day, just carve out a piece of lasagna and reheat in microwave or oven as you think best.

It freezes tolerably well, so you can stretch this out over a month or more. You can get reports of people crowding around your wife's cubicle at work wondering what on Earth you made her for lunch, it smells great!

#Christmas #Recipe #Lasagna

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maimycooking · 5 years ago

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I have wanted to make a veggie patty for a long time and I’m glad I did it! It’s actually pretty easy to do. First things first, it’s important to get your “mise en place” together. It’s a French word for putting everything you need in place. Get all the vegetables minced and/or diced, etc..

Veggie patties are healthy and delicious, I must say! You can pretty much add in or take out any vegetables to your desired taste. The two ingredients you’d probably want to have in it are Portobello mushrooms and black, or any other types of, beans. It has a good source of plant-based protein for that healthy and tasty burger, if you don’t want an all meat burger, that is!

So, here’s the trick I find while making them: You can’t have the mixture to be too dry nor too wet. If it’s too dry, the cooked veggie patties won’t be moist. And if it’s too wet, the patties will fall apart when you are trying to form into a patty right before cooking, and it will just be a mess. Therefore, it’s important to have it right in between, which is a little bit of both.

For example, Portobello mushrooms actually have a lot of fluid after they have been cooked. And, yes, I recommend that you cook the mushrooms before adding them to the mixture. So, the best way to handle it, after they have been sauteed, is cool it and drain it in a colander. Do not squeeze out any excess fluid from the mushroom, and it will be fine. Also, make sure to rinse and drain the black beans or any other types of beans you used for this dish.

As for the eggs and the breadcrumbs, it’s important to have both of them because they are the main ingredients to bind the other ingredients in place. For example, the Panko or any other breadcrumbs you used for this dish helps to absorb any fluid, while the egg acts like a glue. Also, keep in mind that you may not need all of the eggs all at once. Work with a few and add in more if you feel like it’s not sticking together. However, if you have too much eggs, just add in a little of breadcrumbs, just until everything’s combined.

As far as cooking goes, it’s best to cook them in a large frying pan on the stove top. Drizzle one to two Tbsp of olive oil on medium low heat for 2 minutes. Use a 1/3 measuring cup and use a heaping amount, then place it on your palms and use both hands by, gently pressing it, to form a ball. Place the ball into the heated frying pan and flatten the ball down to form an even patty. (Hint: It helps to have your hands dipped in water before you work with them so that they don’t stick to your hands.) Use a spatula to gently push all the sides to form an even round shape. Depending on the size of your frying pan, you may be able to fit 3 to 4 patties. Lower the heat to low; probably at a 3 or 4. Cover the pan with a fitted lid. Cook each sides for 5 minutes, or until each sides are evenly browned. You can flip it a couple of times and continue to cooking them for at an additional of a minute or two just to achieve an evenly brown color.

To embellish your veggie patty burger is endless! This part is all based on your own creativity and your own judgement of food choices! I ate it alone, then on a brioche bun and it tasted delicious! I made a guacamole sauce, a tomato relish and a horseradish mayo to color, texture and taste. You can pretty much dress it to whatever your heart desires! Have fun making it, if you dare to!

Veggie Patty Burgers

Servings: 10

Ingredients

3 cups Portobello mushrooms, gills removed with a spoon and small dice 2 cups broccoli floret and cauliflower, minced 1 cup red onion, small diced 1/2 cup broccoli floret, small diced 1 can cannellini beans, rinsed and drained 1 can black beans, divided, rinsed and drained; 1/2 mashed 2 cups kale, leaves, finely chopped 2 cups Panko breadcrumbs 7 large eggs 1/4 cup fresh Parmigiano-Reggiano or Parmesan Cheese, grated 2 each shallots, minced 2 Tablespoons flat leaf parsley, finely chopped 4 each garlic cloves, minced 3 Tablespoons Worcestershire sauce 2 Tablespoons soy sauce 1 Tablespoon ground coriander seed 1 Tablespoon sugar Lawry's seasoned salt, to taste freshly ground black pepper, to taste Olive oil, as needed

Directions

1. In a small skillet, heat 2 Tbsp oil on medium low heat. Add the diced mushrooms and saute until softened. Turn off heat and set it aside to cool and drained.

2. In a extra large bowl: combine all the minced and or diced vegetables, garlic, shallots, the drained mushrooms, Panko, grated cheese and seasonings. Add eggs and mix until just combined. If mixture is too wet, add a little more Panko until just combined.

3. In a large frying non-stick pan or a flat griddle, heat 1 Tbsp oil on medium low heat. Use a 1/3 cup, a heaping scoop of mixture. Form into a ball and press it firmly. Place the ball in the hot pan and flatten down a bit to form a patty. Do as many as it needs to fit onto the frying pan or griddle pan. lower the heat to low and cover the pan. Cook for 5 minutes on each sides or until browned. Continue this process until all patties have been cooked.

4. Goes great on a Broiche Bun, lettuce and guacamole sauce.

#veggieburger #eatyourveggies #burger #vegetables

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worldcakecakecake · 8 years ago

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Feliciano and the King of Hearts

Chosen by the gods as the Queen of Hearts from the moment of birth, we follow Feliciano’s story as he grows into royal life, learns to rule, go against age old customs, and his relationship with his husband to be, the King of Hearts.

Chapter 1 I Chapter 2 I Chapter 3 I Chapter 4 I Chapter 5 I Chapter 6I Chapter 7 I Chapter 8 I Chapter 9I Chapter 10 I Chapter 11I Chapter 12 I Chapter 13 I Chapter 14 I Chapter 15 I Chapter 16 I Chapter 17 I Chapter 18 I Chapter 19 I Chapter 20 I Chapter 21 I Chapter 22 I Chapter 23 I Chapter 24 I Chapter 25 I Chapter 26 I Chapter 27 I Chapter 28 I Chapter 29 I Chapter 30 I Chapter 31 I Chapter 32 I Chapter 33 I Chapter 34

Sorry for taking my time, but as always, university and other personal matters. As always, patience, and I hope you enjoy this chapter. It was an odyssey to post, the browser kept lagging.

Chapter 35

Like Francis and Feliciano, Ludwig had decided on remaining in the palace for the day. With this free time, he strolled the gardens, drawn by its beauty like any other, taking sitting in one of the many banks to continue his reading from his book. He had been practicing some small wind spells when he spotted an exercise in the very section in which an arising King and Queen (or just King and Queen) could use to start the combining and mending of their power. It was another wind spell, one both he and even Feliciano had to know well before they could try to do it together.

Yes, he could speak with him about this, they could start to do it.

With how things were looking, it was starting to become a dire need that they started learning well how to use the combination of their power. What if they were attacked again? What if something else went wrong on the journey? What if something happens once they reached the holding field? What if…he had to close the book before his mind could wander off in that aspect. It was getting late, a servant had come to tell him that dinner was served, and he walked eagerly to it hoping it could bring him some mental peace.

He had eaten with only the presence of his cousins, Francis and Feliciano never appearing even for when dessert was served. Once he was done, he settled off to go find them, trying to look calm and ordered, but inside, there was rage, one he was ready to direct to the King of Diamonds.

He was reaching the living quarters, a place he rather not find Feliciano alone with Francis in, but it was his first clue to reaching them. Just as he was ready to knock one of the large doors, Francis instead opened wide, extending, showing off behind him a very large closet (Okay, so apparently this wasn’t his rooms), with suits, coats, pants, shoes, robes, jewelry, armor, seals, sashes, just about everything needed for the outer appearance of a King and space and mirrors to strut and show. Ludwig would have been more impressed…if Francis hadn’t dared shown himself naked once again, with only but that large silk golden robe he had worn the night they had arrived.

“Mon chéri, Ludwig, you have finally found us!” He exalted, with flair and dramatization that had Ludwig rolling and adverting eyes, completely uninterested, much to Francis hurt of pride.

“Where is Feliciano?” Ludwig instantly asked.

“What makes you think he’s here?” He seemed to challenge.

“He’s been with you all day and I’m sure you were both ready to spend the entire night doing nonsense that will make him loose needed sleep. Besides, I can see Pookie.” Ludwig pointed to the little lion resting in one of the many sofas of the room, shinning in comfort and peace, proof enough to Ludwig that they hadn’t done anything illicit.

Francis, instead of being disappointed, grinned, his whole body looking like it was chuckling. “Well, if you insist to know, I only recommend you come inside and see.” He moved aside to present him entrance, but Ludwig was always so hesitant, raising an eyebrow and maintaining his still put place in the hall. “Come in, come in! This is a room of peace, confidence, power, creativity-” he took his arm and pulled him in, to a depth of the room away from any escape. Ludwig thought it was incredible how easily he succumbed to it, letting himself be placed by Francis in a designated spot, away from hangers and shelves, to an open space with even pillars, carpets, flags and views into the city. Francis excelled in even the way he had to show off his wardrobe, the lights of the city outside the window a reminder of the eyes he was trying to look well to. Ludwig couldn’t believe this, he didn’t think a person’s ego could reach such heights of plethora.

“-and romance,” he whispered lastly, too close to Ludwig’s ear, the breaths one he quickly brushed away when Francis settled off to give his attention to some other curtained entrance.

“Feli, my dear, have you finally finished?” He called.

“Mhm, it’s true what you said Francis-” Feliciano pushed open the curtains and revealed himself, heading out with ease and confidence to his wear. “It’s so soft and breezy.” He twirled, showing his own long silk robe, in red, sewn with shinning symbols of the Hearts Kingdom to match with him, to dance along as he span the room proud. He wore a red flower crown on his hair, some dangling red jeweled necklaces along with his own promise cross. Only simplistic details, it was worthless to add more when the robe itself held all that was needed for attention. It was just like Francis’s, as long, as shinning and…as exposing.

“It’s stunning, I’m so glad you had one made for me, I only hope I can make some space in the-” Feliciano stopped the embraces of himself, of trying to reach every length, dropping it all to its usual bareness when his eyes locked with Ludwig. “Oh…Ludwig! What do you think? Francis insisted that I wore it and I’m happy I did, I absolutely love it!” He extended it to show, which in turn had the frontal opening growing, letting the collar and sleeves fall slightly down his shoulders, caressing his skin softly, taunting Ludwig to see the way his body shone in perfection along the robe.

Ludwig was halted in a haze, widened eyes in lost wonder, traveling across every inch of Feliciano’s skin that he hadn’t seen in years. He had grown to the expected splendors, slimmed but with ample softness in areas that made him the more seducing, the more exquisite and alluring. Never did Ludwig feel this need to extend his hands, to touch, kiss, bite and make it all his as it should.

Did Feliciano notice the longing look he gave him? Because he was starting to look back just as transfixed, loving this attention he was receiving from his arising King, hands trailing over his own shoulder, his face, his curls, granting a chance for Ludwig to look and admire as he wanted.

As one last torturous teasing, Feliciano reached down and played with the promise necklace, a reminder to Ludwig of what could be his, of what he could have to proudly love…if only he learned, if only he could be more accepting.

“It’s uh…it’s uh…” Ludwig was speechless, any word he had taken by being lost in the glistening of his brown eyes, on the expectant expression that wanted the finality to those words, the answer to his question. “Nice…yeah um…nice, uh…Francis, you did a good job.”

Feliciano was disappointed but…it was something, only Francis didn’t seem to mind it, since the stubborn German prince actually gave him a compliment, if even simple.

“I just had it commissioned, the true artists were the designers and sewers, and Feliciano here who wears it divinely.” He took his hand and spun him in giggles and vitality. “If anything we can get your sizes right now and have one made for you, Ludwig.” Francis even got the measurement tape ready.

“I rather not, not my style.” Ludwig raised his hand and halted Francis from whatever movement to complete this.

“Nonsense, this kind robe is for all, even if somebody of your robustness and unseemly features.”

It only made Ludwig want to have one less.

“Enough, I came to take Feliciano to have his dinner, it’s becoming late and he should soon be resting.”

“Or you just finally want him for yourself after not having him the whole day.” Neither Francis and Feliciano could tell if the flaring red he took was a blush or strengthening anger. “But you are right, it is getting late, my precious must go to be well fed and have good rest.” Francis cooed to Feliciano, trying to distract from any growing hostility, but he seemed to worsen it with the way he caressed Feliciano’s chin and nuzzled their noses together.

Ludwig gripped his fist and tried hard not to suddenly punch Francis out of this…but he had learned his lesson with Haris and he had to really hold himself if he didn’t want to worsen it.

“I’ll have the dinner served in your room,” Francis proclaimed, with one last spin pushing Feliciano into Ludwig’s protective arms the moment he saw he could trip. The result was not only having a feel of the fabric, but also an arm around free skin, as soft, as rich, and as tempting to wrap himself around it as the silk.

“In-in our room? The dining room should be enough,”

“Nonsense! It’s a beautiful night, something by the balcony is more than enough, and you two should take advantage of it.”

“I already ate,”

“Then eat again! My cooks can serve more than enough. Go on, I’ll give the orders to have everything set in a couple of minutes.”

Feliciano nodded instantly, not minding at all, using the grip he had on Ludwig’s arm to shush him into denying this. “Thank you Francis! I’ll see you tomorrow morning then?”

“Of course, it is the last day! We make our Spheres of Validity and you have your departure that very night, we must make use of whatever little free time we have.”

Before Ludwig could say a word, Feliciano glistened Francis with a big smile and a bow, and with his still strong hold on Ludwig’s arm, he pulled him out of the room, in a hurried dash like they were running from imminent terror. It was hard for Ludwig to keep up, especially with the robe behind Feliciano blinding or making him trip in their hurry.

Like Francis had said, indeed it was a beautiful night, stars shimmering, not a cloud in sight, the view of the city an addition of picturesque that Ludwig had to admit was relaxing and even enchanting. As suggested, they had their dinner by the balcony, presented to them in a cart while they sat in a long comfortable sofa. They had brought Feliciano a smoked trout salad, ham deviled eggs, onion confit, fougasse, and French toast with raspberry jam as a dessert, the only thing Ludwig took from since his earlier dinner had just been enough.

At first, he kept his distance from him, leaving him in his picking and eating, in his eyes taken by the views, by the architecture, even the cooling breeze that played around them. Perhaps they were too tired, perhaps it had just been a long day, perhaps Francis had put something in the fine wine he gave them with the dinner, or there was just some spell in the winds of this kingdom. Slowly, they neared to each other, a centimeter a second, in silence, in leaning, all until Feliciano could place his hands on Ludwig’s thighs and he could rest down on the grown potent of his shoulder. Sure, it had grown, much stronger and bigger than in their childhood, but still it was the same comfort, the same belonging, the same trust, he could rest there with all certitude no matter what might happen in the surroundings. Feliciano let out such a breath of relief, like this simple touch had returned to him any missing peace, like he was transported back in time to the feeling, but giving a chance this time for something new.

“Are you really going to keep wearing that?” Ludwig asked rather sweetly, looking down to notice that Feliciano was still dressed in the robe, his position doing enough to hide, but not the clarity of his chest and the length and softness of his legs.

Feliciano nodded, with a smile he even rubbed against his arm. “It’s so cozy, I think I’m going to wear it to sleep.” He even yawned as if to assure it.

“Won’t you get tangled in it?”

“No, it’s too soft and silky for it,”

“I still better not find you on the floor the next morning.”

Feliciano giggled, “I won’t, besides, you’ll be there to catch me if it happens…won’t you?”

Ludwig starred down to him, not being able to look away, loving the way his lips parted, how his cheeks shone, the ever present shine in his eyes, but still tired and hoping for dream, lost in whatever sudden closeness they got at the moment. He let his hands slowly fall from the back of the sofa, Aces knew how hard he tried to keep it back there, but Feliciano’s skin and body seemed to call and he fell forward to it, letting his hand roam on his arm, comforting and accepting, easing Feliciano more into his hold.

“I haven’t let anything happen to you on this journey, and that’s something I will continue to make sure as it goes along.” He looked away, because he couldn’t give him more of a grasp, this couldn’t grow, he couldn’t settle into the temptation of kissing him, of telling him he loved him, he was already trespassing a line he had set for himself as it was, and to be honest, he was disappointed that he let this happen.

“I…shouldn’t be…doing this with you,” he finally worded, but none of them still stopped their movements. Ludwig’s hand continued to caress on his arm, and now Feliciano’s hands and fingers traced at his chest.

“Why though?” Feliciano questioned, dejection evident, but still settling his head more into his chest and the nape of his neck, hoping it could convince him more, hoping he could say, hoping he could finally know.

Silence only continued, because as always, Ludwig couldn’t say anything, he couldn’t explain, Feliciano wouldn’t understand, he would do something rash, something he had prepared long ago to not happen. He was planning to simply move out of it as he always did, beginning to move his hand away, to sitting straight, stand and make his way back into the room and forget he let this moment of weakness.

“No,” Feliciano stopped, grabbing the hand and placing it back where it was, back into its movements, its gentility and even love. Ludwig let himself be carried into it, caged once again to him, doing as he wished, as he himself longed to do.

“I know you don’t care…I know this will later mean nothing to you…but, please, let me enjoy this for now, let us stay like this, let me rest with you.” He cradled more into his hold, even wrapping his arms around him, and Ludwig did the same, continuing his caresses, both his hands now working on him, relaxing him into coming sleep.

Ludwig sigh, he gave up for the night, yearning to tell him that he had no idea what he would be willing to do for him. He held him tight as he would have liked to do every night, making sure Feliciano was easing over so slowly into sleep, eyes closed, breath slow, composure falling weak knowing he was resting in the shield of Ludwig’s arms. Ludwig leaned to place a gentle kiss on the top of his head, so dim Feliciano could have confused it as a harsh breeze in his sleep.

“You never stopped feeling so nice Ludwig,” Feliciano uttered sleepily, his last trace of consciousness gone in that last breath of his name.

Like this, Ludwig didn’t know how he could go to sleep, when his mind was reacting, denying, fighting, all throughout still maintaining that hold Feliciano had gone to sleep in. This was becoming worst, his plan was failing, but his heart was beating and it had been a while since he had felt this relax, this at peace, like he was ready to spend the rest of his days just like this. He yearned for that, maybe he really shouldn’t stand, maybe he should just give up to sleeping in this air with him like this, but the reminder repeated on his head, the horizon seemed to palpitate with the continuing journey, to where it led, to what he had to do.

With a sigh, he decided that he had given Feliciano enough, he was getting tired himself, any longer and he could relax into the idea of sharing the same bed. No, no, no, he bit his lip every time the desire grew stronger. He picked Feliciano up in his arms, being extra careful that his steps weren’t harsh enough to stir and wake him. He lay him to rest on his bed, taking the flower crown to place in the bedside table along with any other jewelry that seemed uncomfortable. He settled himself to sleep quickly after in his own bed, but not before gazing strongly to the face he adored, the figure of the most he loved, beautiful, captivating, his perseverance to continue and fight on.

He promised himself that these would be his last thoughts of devotion and love. He would settle them more on his mission from the next morning on.

Although they wouldn’t leave until late in the night, their luggage was packed and ready, added with a few new things Francis had gifted them. Dressed in appropriate suits of yellows, whites and creams of the kingdom, after their breakfast, they headed to the throne room, where it was expected that Francis, Lili and Vash would create the Spheres of Validity. When Francis entered, he came appropriately dressed, with a cape, jewels, and even a proud crown. Vash and Lili came as just, with their own regality and flowers, making the three shine together as united rulers that their people could put their trust in. Ludwig and Feliciano bowed to their welcome, and they did just the same, admiring that the yellows of their kingdom looked just as fine on the Heartian arising monarchs.

“We are finally here and what a time! With a king of the Beilschmidt line and a queen of Romulus line,” Francis announced, with high pride, expanded arms that Ludwig was afraid he would use to hug them both and he really did not need that from him.

“I really hope what we can do is enough,” Lili worried.

Vash and her were still new to the usage of their powers, something that had to do mostly with their young age, but it was just how things were done in the Diamond Kingdom and how it coincided with the refreshing energy of this boundary in the Club Kingdom. The siblings had read the spells the night before enough times, and although nervous, they still kept easy breaths to not keep the others concerned.

“You will do fine,” Feliciano told them, with a confident smile and a proud standing.

Yes, yes they would.

“All right, I shall get the orbs then.” Francis went ahead and picked them up from a standing chest, all three empty glasses shinning as the ones Feliciano and Ludwig had to fill back in Berlin.

Francis handed each one, remaining with his own, smiling despite the tension that surrounded. “Vash, why don’t you begin?” He suggested.

Vash stiffed, but ended up nodding, moving ahead, taking place in a tiled design on their floors. It was a starry night…just as the one in Berlin, Feliciano noticed. Sure, the colors were different, the stars shone in different angles and lines, but it was the same concept, the same story, the same night. Feliciano could have wondered more about it if he hadn’t been distracted by Vash beginning the spell.

A strong hold, a twirling movement in his hands, color beginning to alight in the orb, filling, glowing in Vash’s eyes, a slight rising from the floor, and then out of nowhere, gone, he was wobbling back on the floor, trying to keep his standing, Lili offering her help while he tried to rub out the pain in his head. His sphere was a bumblebee yellow, solid, more like a paint ball that was ready to throw in a childhood game.

Francis then decided that it should be his turn, hoping he could control his outward appearance well and not look like some magical hazard, but that was not possible. As quickly as he bonded himself to the orb to begin its magic giving, his hands moved on by themselves, filling in its yellow, in its white, his hair moved everywhere in a mess, he floated, his eyes alighted, halted to the power and what the orb wanted. When it was done, he stumbled down on the floor like the rest, trying to smooth his hair, his clothes, wondering if perhaps he could use some forgetting spell so they wouldn’t remember how messed he turned for this. His own orb shone quite beautifully, in a glittery daffodil with white ribbons that fell in designed curves. Francis was rather proud of it and they all truthfully admired it. Sure, it was nice, but none had been as beautiful and as rare as Feliciano’s.

With it being Lili’s turn now, and being a Queen (if even an arising one), Ludwig hoped to see something similar and that it was just something that all Queens did. She took the longest to prepare, easing breaths, trying to relax and remain with her Queenly aura. The magic that arose from her was more controlled than the other two, one that left her still even as she rose, even as the energy poured into the orb, as her silhouette glowed for her closed eyes, falling just as still as it settled, only then did she open her eyes with pain, rubbing it away just as Vash had done. No…she didn’t go through the same thing Feliciano had done, she hadn’t shone that much, didn’t glow to a blinding, or revealed weird symbols, wings and halos on her body. Her sphere, although beautiful, was a simplistic glittering cream, no gold, no other colors, no rarity, just another Sphere of Validity. Well…there were still two other Queens left that had a chance of showing something different, but for now, all the Spheres were done and presented towards Ludwig. He nodded, moving before him his staff. He took a position, turned and held it just in the places his grandfather had taught him. With a slight of his own magic, he brought it to the staff, and the Spheres disappeared from the hold of the Diamond monarchs, taking their places in the handle with the others from the Heart Kingdom.

Three reds, three yellows, six dark sockets and two kingdoms to go.

“Ah, finally!” Francis clapped, proud of the conclusion.

“I believe, since our purpose here is done, Feliciano and I should be taking our leave,” Ludwig wanted to postpone.

“Oh no, no, no, the carriage is not set to depart till the late hours of the night,” Francis wanted to ease.

“It’s all according to the newly planned route, by your suggestion, we avoided big cities and common roads,” Lili filled in.

“We’re confident that you will have no such meeting with Khaos’s men as you started,” Vash assured.

“Is it still really necessary to wait for this carriage so late?” Ludwig still wanted to hope.

“It is, we avoid common hours they attack, as well as alerting a big city like Paris. In the excitement, crowds could spread the news and unknowingly lead it to the wrong ears,” Vash said.

“So please, enjoy what’s left of the day with us,” Francis settled.

“Then, I want to spend it checking these new routes you planned, I don’t want to be left with any surprises and I need to make sure it’s appropriate for the both of us.”

They had to cede him the chance. They bowed and agreed, ushering to follow them out to the room where they had planned this. Ludwig went on ahead without a glance to Feliciano, simply expecting him to follow behind.

Feliciano sigh…he shouldn’t be surprised about this, it should have been obvious that it was to happen. Although Ludwig still insisted to do things together, he kept his distance this time, barely making eye contact, all a result, all a way of him trying to push it away. Maybe he shouldn’t have done what he did last night, maybe he really should have moved away, maybe Ludwig’s reaction was just pity, a small moment of granting kindness. Pookie nuzzled into his cheek sensing this coming dread, hoping he could replace it with his caring. Feliciano giggled, petting the little St. Mark, distracted in him as he followed behind the rest through the halls.

“It was something at least, hopefully there’s still time in the trip to change this and learn some more,” he whispered with hope, and the little lion seemed to wink in confidence.

#Feliciano and the King of Hearts #fatkoh #gerita #gerita fanfiction #gerita fanfic #gerita fic

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russiansunflower3 · 8 years ago

Note

Iwaoi #10

“I’m so hungry, I could eat a- Stop looking at me like that in public.”

Read on AO3: http://archiveofourown.org/works/10082501

Once a year, the Oikawa family and the Iwaizumi family went out for a meal together.

‘A meal’.

More like a restaurant crawl. They started at one end of the market street, and then zig-zagged across the street to each and every eatery the families agreed on, eating little bits and pieces from each place before moving on.

Currently, they were at the 6th restaurant. Oikawa was demolishing a full plate of Yakitori, and Iwaizumi was ordering another serving. It would be his third. He’d had about three helpings in each place so far, and their parents laughed and blamed it on them being teenagers after an intense practice session.

Little did they know their sons ate this much on a regular basis. Oikawa because he was unfairly able to eat what he wanted and never gain weight, Iwaizumi because he worked off just as much as he gained. He had a little bit more pudge than Oikawa, but nothing too noticeable unless he wore skintight clothes.

Cheekily, Oikawa leans over and pokes that little bit of pudge.

“Iwa-chan, you’re going to have to do laps tomorrow~.” Iwaizumi smacks his hand away, and gestures to the yakitori sticks that have been licked clean.

“I’m dragging you with me.”

“Wha-!? No way! I haven’t eaten nearly as much as you!”

“Not yet, you haven’t, but we still have three restaurants to go and you always go crazy at the last stop.”

“That’s because it’s a dessert restaurant, Iwa-chan! A dessert restaurant!” Iwaizumi snorts with a laugh and subtly leans against Oikawa.

“Yeah, I heard you the first time.”

“I’m going to get the bubblegum sundae. And the smarties cookie. And the strawberry waffles. And-”

“Easy on there! Finish what you’re eating now first!” Oikawa smirks as he looks at Iwaizumi with a suspiciously soft yet sly expression.

“I know you’ll get the sicilian lemon crepe.”

“… I like crepes, okay.” Oikawa bursts out laughing and shakes his head before turning back to the last of his skewers. Iwaizumi’s nose scrunches up with adoration as he notices the sauce spread all up Oikawa’s cheek. Honestly, he’s such a messy eater.

He’s momentarily distracted by his own food arriving, and starts to eat as fast as possible. They’ll be moving to the next restaurant soon, and he really wants to finish this Okonomiyaki. Takeru helps, Iwaizumi letting the child try some and ending up giving him about a quarter because he likes it.

Unbeknownst to Iwaizumi, Oikawa is watching him with the sappiest expression anyone could imagine. Watching Iwaizumi with children is adorable. No, it’s captivating Endearing, attractive, and charming, Iwaizumi caring for children is an experience. Oikawa is glad that this view is exclusive to him, and the girls at school aren’t here to witness.

As much as Oikawa agrees Iwaizumi deserves a fanclub, he knows that constantly being fawned over would make Iwaizumi self-conscious and grumpy. He was surprisingly shy when it came to being admired.

“Alright, let’s get a move on!” Oikawa’s mother leads the group out of the restaurant and onwards, until they reach their final destination.

Dezāto.

A restaurant entirely for desserts. The Holy Grail of their annual food trail.

Oikawa’s mouth waters, and he can see how Iwaizumi flexes his hands impatiently, waiting for one of their parents to give the go-ahead.

“You brats ready?” There’s a challenging glint in Iwaizumi’s mother’s eyes, and all Oikawa can think is “Like mother, like son.”. This is the exact reason why he misses his mother giving the signal to go, Iwaizumi, Takeru, his big sister, and their parents, all racing to be the first one in the door. Oikawa squawks at his missed opportunity and sprints forwards. They all know one of the Iwaizumi’s will be first, but it’s still fun to race.

As the prophecy foretold, Iwaizumi Hajime is the first to reach the doors, throwing Oikawa a cocky smirk as he skids to a halt just before crashing into the wall.

“You had a head start.”

“Did not.”

“You did.”

“Well maybe if you’d been listening for once, you would have heard auntie shout go.” Oikawa scoffs, not wanting to tell Iwaizumi the reason he had missed the signal was because he was too busy thinking about Iwaizumi.

“Let’s just get food. I want one of everything.”

“No.”

“Not actually one of everything! You know what I mean!” Iwaizumi chuckles, a warm and - dare Oikawa say - cute sound that sends heat to the tips of his ears as their hands brush together affectionately.

“I bet I can eat more than you.”

“Oh yeah?”

“Totally.”

“Iwaizumi Hajime, I am going to eat more than you even if it kills me.”

“I’ll miss you, but my eardrums sure won’t~.”

“Uh, rude!” Oikawa sticks his tongue out and Iwaizumi teasingly pinches it. He’s in good humour - relaxed and comfortable. The family is seated at a group table and giving menu’s, not that Oikawa needs one. He has the whole menu memorised.

“I’m going up first, does anyone want me to order drinks with my food?” A cacophony of drink orders follow, but Oikawa picks out every individual one. He slips away from the table and Takeru follows after him, since he always picks out the same one item.

“It’s noisy here, Uncle Tooru.”

“Well, it is a popular place.”

“You’re noisy too.”

“… You’re such a brat when Nee-san isn’t around.” Takeru grins and flashes Oikawa a peace sign, a taste of his own medicine.

“Oi, cheeky, I saw that.” Takeru is picked up from behind and squeals with a giggle as Iwaizumi scoops the kid onto his shoulders. Oikawa laughs, although it softens into a gooey smile as the corners of his eyes crease.

“Iwa-chan, did you decide what to order?”

“Yeah.”

“… Well?”

“Uh..” Iwaizumi blushes slightly, and with the hand that isn’t holding onto Takeru, scratches his cheek sheepishly.

“The birthday platter…”

“The what?!

“The birthday platter…” Oikawa’s eyes widen and he’s taken aback for a moment.

“The birthday platter?! Hajime, that serves 15 people!”

“I- I wasn’t going to eat it on my own! I thought we could share!”

“… Okay, fair enough.” Takeru snickers slyly.

“So you’re gonna both eat enough for seven people with one left over?”

“Well, someone is getting better at maths.”

“Oikawa, don’t sneer. And Takeru, don’t be snarky. We’ll eat as much as we can and let the rest of you take what you want.” Oikawa rolls his eyes, but then it’s his turn to order and he reels off a list of desserts and drinks, at the perfect speed for the staff member to follow. Maybe he’s been here too often.

“- and an American Cream Soda.” He pays via card, stepping aside for Iwaizumi to do the same, although Iwaizumi’s order is… Slightly… Shorter.

“Birthday platter, hot fudge sundae, sicilian lemon crepe, and a strawberry milkshake, please.”

“And a White Choc Waffle, please!” Takeru waves his pocket money in Iwaizumi’s face as the highschooler laughs and nods at the staff as permission to add it on. He doesn’t take the money from Takeru though, so Oikawa will be sure to sneak him repayment later. Once they’ve both paid, they return to their table.

“So they bring it to us?”

“Yup. That’s why we gave them our table number.” Takeru’s eyes sparkle.

“That’s so cool, I wanna come here all the time!” Before he gets too excited, Oikawa’s older sister draws his attention away with a colouring book and some crayons. He might be ‘too old’ for them, but nobody’s going to judge since Oikawa and Iwaizumi take one too. The table falls quiet, until…

“Birthday platter?” Iwaizumi raises his hand to indicate the platter is his, and it’s slid onto the table in front of him. It’s huge, and he definitely feels embarrassed with his family - and Oikawa’s family by extension - looking at him in various levels of amazement and bewilderment.

“… Do you really think you can eat all that?”

“I’m sharing with Oika- with Tooru.” Oikawa’s mother and father nod in unison as if that explains everything, even as more food is brought out to the table. Oikawa, of course, has half his bubblegum sundae around his mouth, but Iwaizumi rubs it off with a handkerchief. Both of them are oblivious to the way their parents look at each other, like they’re already planning a wedding.

Half an hour and 4 squabbles later, every dish is clean. Anything an individual couldn’t finish alone went straight to Oikawa or Iwaizumi, who were eating right up until the very end. Iwaizumi stopped with a groan when Takeru offered the last few mouthfuls of his waffle, full to the brim. Thanks to a certain uncle, however, Takeru didn’t have to worry about leaving anything uneaten.

Nothing was left. Barely a crumb on the table. Nothing short of devoured. Oikawa went as far as to sweep his finger around the edge of his crepe plate, making sure he had all the chocolate sauce. As if that wasn’t enough, he looked longingly at the desserts the table next to them had just received.

“Oikawa, no.” He pouted, but listened to Iwaizumi as their parents discussed going to a bar for drinks whilst they digested. Probably not the best idea, but it was only a once-yearly thing.

Takeru’s mother - Oikawa’s older sister - looked devastated at having to miss another year. She loved her son, yes, but she never got to have a night out anymore. Not being old enough to drink by Japanese law, Iwaizumi interjected with a soft cough.

“We’ll take Takeru home, if you want to go with them Nee-san.”

“Oh Hajime, you’re a blessing!” He blushed at the praise, turning to hide his face bashfully in Oikawa’s shoulder as the adults cooed over his reaction. Oikawa raised his hand to hold Iwaizumi’s head to his shoulder, ruffling his thick, black hair affectionately.

“Come on, Iwa-chan! I want to get home and catch the last of the marathon on TV!”

“What kind of marathon?”

“Cooking shows.” Iwaizumi groaned at the thought of more food, but it was always amusing to watch the failures of top chefs in the country, especially when they were being lectured by THE top chef of the country.

The walk home was brisk, Takeru holding one of each of their hands to keep him from falling behind as he kept yawning. A full belly always made him sleepy. By the time they got to the house, Takeru was rubbing at his eyes to try and stay awake. Oikawa gently steered him towards the stairs.

“Go and take a nap, you can borrow my bed. We’ll wake you up when Nee-san comes home.”

“Promise?”

“Pinky promise.” They hooked their little fingers together and then Takeru crawled up the stairs to go sleep in his uncle’s room. Iwaizumi wore a crooked, warm smile when Oikawa looked back at him.

“…What?”

“You’re gonna be a good dad, one day.” It was Oikawa’s turn to blush, and he nervously chuckled as he came over to Iwaizumi’s side and sat next to him on the sofa, turning the TV on.

“You will too. I’ll be the fun one though! You can be the stern one!” Iwaizumi softly glares at him, dropping his head onto Oikawa’s shoulder as if he was going to headbutt him but decided to be soft instead.

Ten minutes. Ten minutes is all it takes for Oikawa to break the silence, as they watch the chef cook up some Poulet de Provencal.

“Let’s go shopping.”

“Wh-what?”

“Shopping. Let’s go! The little corner shop has everything I need, let’s go!”

“What about-?”

“Takeru’ll be fine, we’re only gonna be 5 minutes, tops!” Iwaizumi sighs and sits up to let Oikawa jump to his feet, dragging Iwaizumi towards the door as he groans in protest, though does nothing really to stop it. Shoes on feet and jacket wrapped around them, they venture out into the sunset.

“So why are we going to the shop?”

“Because I want to buy something.” Iwaizumi sighs, taking that as an excuse and falls into step next to Oikawa, their shoulders brushing. They get to the little corner shop, and Iwaizumi wanders off towards the magazines. He’s browsing through the latest Your Puppy issue when Oikawa approaches him with a basket full of food. He reaches for the sweets on the stand next to the magazines.

“I’m so hungry, I could eat a- Stop looking at me like that in public.” Iwaizumi’s jaw drops low, head tilted downwards so his chin touches his chest, eyes wide and eyebrows almost joining his hairline.

“You- You’re hungry?”

“… Yeah?”

“Hungry?!”

“Yes, Iwa-chan, we have established this.” Iwaizumi stumbles over his words as Oikawa coolly raises an eyebrow as if to question his manner. When Iwaizumi does get his words out, it’s about three octaves too high.

“How?!”

“Well, the digestive system is quite simple. Once the food gets through-”

“No, I mean! How are you still hungry after everything we’ve eaten?! We had a seven portion dessert not even an hour ago! You had more on top of that! And that was only dessert!”

“When you put it that way…” Oikawa think for a moment then shrugs. He grabs another packet of sweets and flits around to the counter, leaving Iwaizumi gaping at his back. He shakes his head, and pinches the bridge of his nose.

“Tapeworms. The idiot has to have tapeworms. How- Just how-?” His rambling continues until Oikawa loops their arms together, shopping bags split between them, and they walk back to watch the rest of the cooking show.

Oikawa, somehow, polishes off a whole can of pineapple.

#iwaoi #Iwaizumi Hajime #oikawa tooru #ask answered #Thanks for asking!#I had fun researching this one

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elfnerdherder · 8 years ago

Text

Dread and Hunger: Ch. 1

I’m going to have a my Hannibal fics accessible on Tumblr as well as Ao3, so you’ll be able to see them on either website. You can find them under my writing tag on the blog!

Summary: AU in which Will receives a secret admirer with a penchant for writing him poetry and slaughtering the innocent in artistic fashions. No one ever told him that courtship was so bloody or appealing -rather, so bloody appealing? He's a part-time bartender that can't catch a break, but at least he has one loyal customer who doesn't seem to mind bouncing from restaurant to bar to restaurant in order to have his favorite drink made by his favorite person.There couldn't be a correlation though; Dr. Lecter is an upstanding psychiatrist that just likes his drinks served a certain way, and the Chesapeake Ripper keeps sending love letters in the hopes of one day eating him. One is, quite frankly, flattering, the other...Will isn't stupid enough to tell anyone that it's also equally flattering, albeit horrifying at the same time. It's up for interpretation.Right?Slow(ish) burn, romance, obsession, gaslighting, old(er) Hannibal (10 year difference), university-aged Will

Chapter 1: Malbec

“So you’re firing me?”

“I really wish I didn’t have to do this, Will, but we promote a fun, friendly atmosphere, and even after our conversation last month I haven’t seen any improvement.”

“I’ve become far more sociable with the customers,” Will protested.

“You’re using full sentences, but I don’t see much of a smile at all when you’re taking orders, I don’t hear people walk out of here feeling like you really made an impression, and when I have you at the bar you don’t make any sort of small talk –as I said before, that’s crucial. You still can’t make eye contact with any of them, and you haven’t looked me in the eye once since walking in my office.”

Will glanced up to his boss’s face, but when their eyes met he found himself decidedly looking over his shoulder.

“Yeah, see? We just…we can’t have that, here. You’re a nice kid, but I think you’re better suited for a job that puts you out of a public, stressful environment.” His boss leaned back in his chair, the squeak of it cutting through the tension. Will glanced to the armrests of the chair, and he nodded, fingers drumming on his pant legs.

“I’m sorry,” he said, like that somehow helped at all.

“Put me down as a reference, and I’ll make sure you can get a job somewhere else. Unfortunately, you’re just not what we’re looking for here.” Will was presented with a paper to sign as a notice of his termination, as well as an envelope housing his final check. His motions were dull, robotic as he signed and accepted the last of his pay, and he saw himself to the door, head ducked morosely.

“And Will?” his boss called out to him. Will turned expectantly, glancing to his neck. “Just…take care of yourself, alright?”

“Right,” he agreed, and he walked out of the office and down the hall where his locker was, quickly changing from the starched white shirt and tie to his normal clothes. He left them in the locker, although he kept the pants since he’d had to pay for those, and he headed towards the bar to grab his cell phone that’d been charging underneath until his boss had pulled him into the office to, in the nicest way possible, fire him.

“You out of here?” Bryan asked. Will glanced at him and nodded, unplugging the phone and tucking it into his jacket pocket.

“Yeah.”

“Was he an ass about it, or did he tell you why?” Bryan, the dad of the staff, had a tinge of defensiveness to his voice at the potential embarrassment of Will’s termination.

“It was pretty professional,” Will said, shrugging. He grabbed a cherry from the small bowl of them and rolled it around in his hand before popping it into his mouth. It’s not like they’d fire him over it.

“That’s super shitty, man. Teresa over there hasn’t checked up on her people in over twenty minutes, but she’s been getting the best tables for over two weeks,” Bryan groused, and Will laughed a little.

“She can have them…I’ll find a new job.”

“Did you hear the cooks talking? They all knew about it before you even got here.”

“It’s fine, I’m just…” Will gestured towards the phone, then glanced around. While the bar of the restaurant Belle Bleu wasn’t overcrowded, there were regular patrons that sat there after a long day of work. He nodded to one such regular, then grabbed the charger from the outlet.

“Do you have an idea of a new job?”

“I’ll figure it out,” Will assured him, and he headed out from around the bar, patting his pocket to make sure he had his wallet.

“Were you let go, Will?” Will glanced to one of the patrons that sat at a small, two-person table in the bar, and he nodded politely, glancing to the knee of the man’s impressively loud plaid trousers.

“Sorry that you had to hear that,” he said awkwardly. Belle Bleu’s reputation was such that no matter the hassle and stress of working as the wait-staff, the customers were to never know. He looked to the man’s face and recognized him as one that visited every evening from Monday through Friday.

“On the contrary, I’m sad to see you go,” he said, and he lifted his glass of wine, taking a small sip of it. “Who will recommend such fine wines or inform me when something new has arrived?”

“Bryan trained me, so he’ll know just as much as I do, if not more, Dr. Lecter,” Will promised. Dr. Lecter had been going to the restaurant for as long as he could remember, always a polite and well-mannered man that it’d become somewhat of a relief when he was the only one in the bar. He didn’t press overmuch for conversation, but when the bar was empty he asked Will often about his studies, his schooling, and his work. He was an odd, reclusive man, always choosing one of the upholstered, velvet seats to take his drink, and he never ordered food with his wine. Dr. Lecter slid his fingers along the delicate stem of the wine glass, and he nodded.

“I will have to rely upon your word of his expertise, then,” he said, and his gaze flickered from toe to head, eyes settling on his face. Will intently studied his careful grip on the glass. “Will you be looking for another job, then? One without the strains of…social obligations?”

“That’s what was recommended,” Will said wryly, and Dr. Lecter laughed.

“I’d imagine it’s difficult for someone going to school to find such a job. The foundation of the customer service industry was forged by students such as yourself, as they’re the only ones to tolerate the sometimes taxing needs of the general population.” Will didn’t find it fitting to tell the doctor that it was because college students were poor and desperate, although he laughed a little and scuffed his shoe.

“We do our best,” he said –a much better reply. If his ex-boss had witnessed it, maybe he’d have given him his job back. Probably not.

“Will you be able to find one soon? You’d mentioned paying for classes out of pocket.” How had he remembered? Will nodded, fingers tapping lazily on the leg of his trousers.

“I’ll be able to manage, Dr. Lecter, don’t you worry about me.”

“Perhaps it is the occupation, but it is in my job description to worry,” Dr. Lecter replied, smiling. It was an odd smile, but it somehow suited him. On another person, it’d seem more like the faintest of twitches of his lip, but Will had served him enough to recognize the expression.

“Well I’m not your patient,” Will replied.

“That’s true,” he agreed, and his smile grew somewhat. “Well, if you attain such a job where you work in a place much like this, do let me know. I am particular about just who pours my drink, and you’ve never disappointed.” It was an innocent enough statement. Will knew diners that only ate what one specific cook made, or drank from one specific place at the bar. When people frequented the many places of fine dining, one saw all types –the heavy tippers, the runners, the drunks and the habitual. When Dr. Lecter said it, though, there was something in the suggestive manner of his tone that made Will look up from the edge of the tablecloth to stare at him. Dr. Lecter had always been a refined man, from his three-piece suit to his wing-tip oxfords, but at the edges of his lips there was a mild twist, something mischievous and not at all innocent.

“Thank you, Dr. Lecter,” he said, his mouth suddenly dry.

“I’m sure if you inform your acquaintance, Bryan, he’ll pass along the message,” Dr. Lecter added. Will didn’t dare ask how it was the doctor knew he only saw Bryan as just that –an acquaintance.

“I’ll…be sure to do that,” he said slowly, and Dr. Lecter nodded.

“Please do.” He turned to his wine and swirled it gently, and Will excused himself, nodding to a few more of his co-workers before he went out the side door into the ally, an odd sensation in his chest. While Dr. Lecter had never outwardly shown that much consideration or interest in him before, he’d always been known to watch people with an intense expression, like he could peel back the layers of their skin and see them. It made sense, since he was a psychiatrist. Will grabbed his bike and undid the chain, sliding it over his shoulder and pedaling towards the road, confused. Maybe he saw the aspects of Will Graham that Will Graham didn’t want to be seen, and he was finally saying something about it because of professional curiosity.

It wasn’t like it mattered, though. He’d just lost his job, and he’d probably never see the good doctor again.

Despite getting fired, his old boss was good to his word. Amidst term papers, homework, lab studies, and class, he managed to find another job as a bartender in an arguably better place, Sangre. Although his Spanish speaking skills were mediocre at best, he was well enough aware that the macabre name for the place was a play on the drinks they offered. The standard uniform was black, white, and a blood red vest and bowtie. The training was simple: serve drinks, appear as dour or aloof as possible while doing it.

Thankfully for Will, it was a pretty easy task to accomplish.

“So does this mean you’re going to start wearing fake fangs to work now?” Beverly asked as they walked along campus. George Washington boasted a gorgeous, sprawling campus, but it did mean you had to walk for a bit in order to get to anywhere.

“It’s not Hot Topic.”

“Or will they make you wear a cloak on Halloween?”

“I hope not,” Will replied. “It just seemed like a lot of businessmen and some new age kids that have an affinity for chamber music.”

“And they’re not going to ask you for the specials on Pipin’ Hot Wings n’ Things?”

“At most, they’ll serve a couple of appetizers like ‘lady fingers’, or cheese and crackers.”

“Lady fingers? What are they, 1800’s England?” Beverly laughed.

“I think they called it ‘steampunk’,” Will said thoughtfully. “It’s not the worst job either one of us has had.”

“Yeah, I don’t think I’ll ever be able to go back to Chikn’Biscuit with my head held high,” Beverly agreed. They rounded a corner, the quad stretched ahead of them. Normally, it was a bustling, busy area on a Thursday, but surprisingly the main area was roped off, police officers milling about as they held back curious, eager onlookers.

“Campus prank?” Beverly asked.

“Campus assault, more like,” Will said, pausing. The police tape roped off the statue at the center, and although it was far away, he could see that there was something strung up in front of it.

“We should get a closer look,” Beverly said, walking down the small incline.

“We shouldn’t,” Will urged, but Beverly didn’t seem to hear him or care, her pace quickening to work through the crowd. Will considered not following, but when he saw a couple of FBI agents, he also worked through the gaggle of students.

“It’s so gross.”

“Can you believe someone would do something like that?”

“I’m going to hurl,”

“If the FBI is here, do you think this has happened before?”

“Oh my god, I knew that lady.”

They got as close to the police tape as they could, and at the sight, Will froze. Officers and agents alike milled in front of the statue, but it wasn’t the statue that mesmerized him. A woman was strung up before the statue, hands clasped around a large, elegant bouquet of flowers. The dress was white and flowing, lace and silk that trailed to the bottom of the statue and rippled across the concrete. It would have been delicate and demure, had she not been dead.

“Oh, shit,” Beverly murmured, and Will nodded in agreement. Blood coated the entire back of the dress, dripping down to the ground with slow, deliberate drops.

“Back, come on, back, back,” a hassled officer groused, motioning some students back. Throughout the crowd, a few reporters lurked, trying to get closer without drawing attention to themselves.

“Is that Mrs. Marney?” someone asked.

“Right now we’re just trying to get things taken care of, and we’d appreciate it if you would give us the space and privacy to do that,” another officer snapped. “Come on, move along.”

“Man, the stuff you’d find in the fibers of that dress would be unreal,” Beverly said, nudging Will. “Wedding dresses with lace and silk tends to grab onto everything.”

“You should do a report on it for your forensics class,” Will suggested quietly. His eyes were glued to the face of the corpse –rather, the veil over it.

“I probably will,” Beverly said, and she tore her eyes away to look at Will. “What’s with that face? Don’t like dead bodies?”

“Normal people don’t like dead bodies,” he muttered.

“Don’t you study stuff like this? We have the same criminology class, as well as the same psychology class.”

“It’s not the body, it’s…” Will shook his head and motioned vaguely. “Those flowers are courtship flowers. Iris, roses, carnations, dianthus, freesia, amaranth, forget-me-not, and verbena.”

“You take a botany class or something?” Beverly asked. Although sarcastic, it was clear that she was impressed.

“The lady next door in middle school had a garden,” Will replied distantly. “If the police weren’t here, I’d say Professor Brown was trying to quiz us.”

“Why?”

“This is not a casual murder,” Will observed. "This was methodical."

“Come on, get to class, come on,” a cop coaxed, and he stood in front of Beverly and Will, blocking the view. “Come on, guys, it’s a crime scene.”

“Sorry,” Will mumbled, and he led Beverly slowly through the grumbling crowd to get away. Out of the folds of too many bodies, he glanced back to the woman strung up, unable to shake the feeling that behind the veil, she was staring at him.

Homework eluded him after that. Every time he opened a textbook, he saw the woman’s body, her hands clasped around a romantic declaration. With the FBI agents there, it couldn’t be a simple case. Granted, Quantico wasn’t exactly too far away, but for them to be on the scene so quickly was an indication of something, and something big. It wasn’t as though it mattered; Beverly wanted to go into the FBI, but he had his sights on something a little easier than the psychology test he’d heard terrified whispers of.

He made a simple meal and flipped through the channels on the TV, desperately seeking a distraction. Of course, at the sight of the woman’s corpse on the local news, Will found himself pausing, hovering on the channel despite his brain demanding he move on.

“Authorities are horrified to find, right on George Washington University’s campus, another body from what is suspected to be another of the Chesapeake Ripper’s victims. The woman was brutalized, and various organs were missing, removed while the woman was presumably still alive. In their normal, archaic fashion, the ripper left behind a form of symbolism, the corpse draped in a wedding dress with a bouquet. While they are leery to label things, one of the agents was willing to explain the situation we are dealing with right now.

“They inform us to stay in groups, try not to go out too late at night, and to be smart about your surroundings. If this is the Chesapeake Ripper, the best way to ensure your safety is to not engage with strangers and to remember the buddy system. They claim that we are as safe as we want to be, but is that necessarily true? I have a psychiatric specialist, Dr. Chilton here with me to weigh in.”

“To be sure, this is a message,” the doctor said, turning from the anchorwoman to the screen. Will studied his hawkish nose and opportunistic eyes, lip curling. “Having worked with the FBI closely in the past, what we know of this particular serial killer is that he is dangerous, cultured, and far too careful to be caught easily.”

“He is sending a message, then?” the anchorwoman pressed.

“Oh, yes. The wedding dress symbolizes a union and longevity, while the flowers emphasize courtship and romance. Whoever the Chesapeake Ripper is, they’re certainly trying to get someone’s attention.”

“Could a serial killer be in love?” She laughed at the idea, and Dr. Chilton’s mouth twitched.

“To be sure, it’s possible. What the concern is, is that whoever they are trying to reach may or may not realize the target that they’ve become. No intelligent psychopath can love and love well. They lack the empathy to try.”

“You see this in a lot of cult cases, don’t you?”

“Certainly, and lonely hearts sending their letters to patients at institutions who feign attachment to gain leeway to the outside world. Why, just with Charles Manson…”

Will grabbed a bottle of whiskey from the freezer and sat it down, pouring himself a drink. The longer they analyzed cult cases and serial killers, the sleepier he became, until his eyes closed involuntarily and he slept, dreams of women in ripped wedding dresses smothering him with bouquets of oleander and wolfsbane.

He woke up for school at approximately 6:30 A.M., and like normal he left the house by 7:00. Will Graham’s routine consisted of a quick shower, a quick breakfast, and a quick glance over of his scruff before he deemed himself worthy of the public. No matter how much Beverly sighed over him, he couldn’t bring himself to care too much about what people saw when they looked at him.

That was probably one of the reasons he’d gotten fired, now that he thought about it.

There was one small blip in his routine, though, as he went to step out of the door. A cream colored letter rested where he normally placed his foot, and he stopped to pick it up, confused. Elegant, curled writing spelled his name out with a flourish, and he leaned his bike against the wall so that he could open it, brows furrowed.

The paper was thick, expensive with an intriguing scent of something entirely masculine and sharp. Cologne? Lotion? He unfolded the paper and automatically reached out to catch the flower petals that slid from the folding, fingers curling over the soft velvet of them instinctively. They were not the wrinkled, crunchy petals of something long dead, but the bruised petals of something recently mishandled and broken. His throat went dry as he stared at fairly familiar colors, and when he looked to the writing on the paper, he had to lean against the wall to catch himself as his knees buckled.

“To William Graham,

It is not often I make the acquaintance of one so interesting as you, but I find myself tarrying far longer in this place as a result. You may not know it, but there is something vastly appealing about a mind that can assume the realities and worlds of another so completely, and I hope to have a face-to-face discussion with you about it sometime in the near future. In the meantime, do take care of yourself. There is a killer about, or so I’m told.

I hope you like your gift,

-C.R.

#Hannibal #Hannibal au #hannibal fanfiction #hannigram #murder husbands #writing #LiaS scribbles

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falafelrecipe · 5 years ago

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Varied Baby Food Recipes 8–12 months, Fast & Easy

How to make fast Baby Food recipes, By now your baby has probably mastered purées and tried a wide variety of nutritious—and delicious—new tastes. It’s time to get more adventurous with his meals by introducing fresh flavors and more complex baby food. This is one of my favorite stages in a baby’s eating career. By nine months Rosa was more comfortable in the high chair, more at ease with utensils, and just more expressive (dare I say even more cute?). Each day was different, and I was curious to see what flavors she would prefer and whether most of the finger foods would end up in her mouth or on the floor (um, often the floor . . . this is also when we invested in a small handheld vacuum).

I prepared most of the dishes in this chapter specifically for Rosa, contin- uing to use the freezer for easy meals during the week. But a few of the recipes (I’m thinking of Baby’s Bolognese, Greek Fish and Tomatoes, and Curried Cauliflower and Chickpeas) were our dinnertime standbys that just happened to make delicious, age-appropriate baby food. And sometimes it works the other way around: After making the Rosemary Roasted Pears just for Rosa, I promptly ate half of it myself.

List of Baby Food Recipes:

Rosemary Roasted Pears

Salmon, Kale, and Sweet Potato Smash

Savory Beef and Broccoli

Curried Cauliflower and Chickpeas

Comforting Chicken Soup

Baby’s Bolognese

Sweet Spiced Chicken Stew

Mighty Green Beans

Beets in Yogurt with Dill

Greek Fish and Tomatoes

Pumpkin-Banana Mash

Fruity Tofu Pudding

Since your baby’s tummy is still so tiny, you want to be sure to feed her themost nutrient- dense foods possible, full of protein, iron, and all the vita-mins and minerals she needs to be healthy and strong. The recipes in thischapter fit the bill perfectly, chock-full of both nutrition and flavor.

As your baby grows and becomes more proficient at chewing and swal-lowing, you’ll want to maintain more texture in her food. Instead of using ablender, transition to pulsing dishes in a food processor, blending them witha handheld immersion blender, or simply employing a knife and fork to dothe job (less dishes!). Don’t be afraid to feed your child chunkier foods onceshe has mastered purées. According to a 2009 study, children who started lumpier foods between six and nine months had more food acceptance atage seven.

During this period you should also offer your baby a wider variety of finger foods. Look for ideas in chapter four.

Continue with a sippy cup of water at each meal. At around eight to ten months it’s time to move on to a cup with a straw, which will allow yourbaby to train another set of muscles and learn new drinking skills. Considerboth sippy and straw cups as transitional tools, rather than permanent waysof drinking. By 12 months, your toddler is ready for an open cup. Start experi-menting with very small amounts of milk or water and have plenty of kitchentowels at hand during the learning period. This upgrade is extremely impor-tant for your child’s oral health and development of feeding skills, so don’tlet the mess deter you (as tempting as that may be).

Serving Sizes

Your baby will likely be able to handle ¼ cup or more ofeach of the meals in this chapter. Most of the recipes makemany times more than that, so there will be plenty to refrig-erate or freeze for future meals.

Wholesome feeding tips

Make sure your baby has transitioned to a regular feeding schedule by now, a structure that includes three set meals a day, plus a midmorning and midafternoon snack. Some babies also need a bedtime snack, so be guided by your little one.

Continue to avoid added salt until your baby is 12 months old, and take this opportunity to attune her palate to foods without a lot of added sugars.

Babies at this stage love to explore. Let your little one touch and squeeze the food. By ten months he may be ready to practice with a fork and spoon.

Don’t be alarmed if your baby chows down at one meal and then hardly eats at the next, or if he rejects a food he liked just yesterday. Babies’ appetites are always in flux, and they are still experimenting with flavors. Trust your baby, and never pressure him to eat.

Your child may make a funny face when he tries a new food, but don’t give up as long as he continues to eat! At this stage most children are open to new foods, so continue to serve a variety and meet your baby’s frowns with smiles.

Rosemary Roasted Pears

Give your baby a head start on sophisticated flavors with this delicious twist on basic applesauce.

4 ripe (but not squishy) Bartlett pears (about 2 lbs)

2 teaspoons olive oil

½ teaspoon finely chopped fresh rosemary

2 tablespoons almond butter

Preheat the oven to 375°F. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.

Peel and core the pears; slice each into 8 wedges. Toss the pears with the olive oil. Spread them out on the baking sheet and roast for 30 minutes or until tender and lightly golden brown. Cool slightly.

Transfer the pears to a medium bowl. Mash the pears with a fork until you get the desired consistency for your baby. Stir in the rosemary and almond butter.

Makes about 2 cups

Age It Up: This pear sauce is scrumptious at any age. Make it part of a cheese plate, or spread it between two slices of toast for a satisfying breakfast or lunch.

Nutrition per serving (¼ cup): 100 calories; 1g protein; 4g fat (0g sat. fat); 18g car-bohydrates; 4g fiber; 11g sugars; 1mg sodium; 24mg calcium; 0mg iron; 165mgpotassium; 5mg Vitamin C; 26IU Vitamin A.

Wholesome Tip: Look for creamy unsweetened and unsalted almond butter.

Salmon, Kale, and Sweet Potato Smash

Superfood alert! Salmon, kale, and sweet potatoes all top the list of nutrient and an- tioxidant-rich foods. Be sure to run your fingers along the salmon to check for small bones. Use regular tweezers or fish tweezers to easily remove them.

1 medium sweet potato, peeled and cut into 1-inch chunks

2½ cups chopped Tuscan kale, thick stems removed

6 oz. salmon fillet, skinned and cut into 4 pieces

1.In a medium saucepan, bring 2 inches of water to a simmer. Place a steamer basket over the water. Add the sweet potato chunks. Cover and steam for 5 minutes.

Add the kale and cook for another 3 minutes. Add the salmon and cook for 5 more minutes or until the vegetables are tender and the salmon is cooked through. Cool slightly.

Transfer the vegetables and salmon to a bowl. Using an immersion blender, a potato masher, or a fork, mash until you get the desired consistency for your baby.

Makes about 2½ cups

Nutrition per serving (¼ cup): 87 calories; 8g protein; 2g fat (0g sat. fat); 8g car- bohydrates; 1g fiber; 1g sugars; 43mg sodium; 57mg calcium; 1mg iron; 404mg potassium; 41mg Vitamin C; 8853IU Vitamin A.

Savory Beef and Broccoli

Give your little one a sneak preview of stir-fries to come with this tasty, protein-rich meal.

¾ cup low-sodium beef broth

½ lb. strip steak or top sirloin, fat trimmed and cut into cubes

3 cups broccoli florets

In a medium saucepan, bring the beef broth to a boil. Add the steak, making sure it is covered by the broth (add a bit more if necessary). Place the florets on top of the steak. They don’t need to be submerged. Cover the pan, reduce the heat to medium-low, and simmer for 15 minutes or until the steak is cooked through and the broccoli is very tender. Cool slightly.

With an immersion blender, food processor, or knife and fork, mash the beef and broccoli until you get the desired consistency for your baby.

Makes about 2 cups

Nutrition per serving (¼ cup): 88 calories; 15g protein; 2g fat (1g sat. fat); 4g car- bohydrates; 2g fiber; 1g sugars; 97mg sodium; 28mg calcium; 1mg iron; 365mg potassium; 38mg Vitamin C; 905IU Vitamin A.

Curried Cauliflower and Chickpeas

Cauliflower, chickpeas, and curry are a classic Indian flavor combination.

½ cup low-sodium chicken broth (or vegetable broth or water)

½ cup water

4 cups cauliflower florets (about half a head)

1 cup canned chickpeas, rinsed and drained

½ teaspoon mild curry powder

In a medium saucepan, bring the chicken broth and water to a boil. Add thecauliflower florets and the chickpeas. They won’t be covered by the liquid.Cover the pan, reduce the heat to medium-low, and simmer for 8 to 10 minutes or until the cauliflower is very tender. Cool slightly.

Sprinkle in the curry powder. With an immersion blender, food processor, orknife and fork, mash the cauliflower and chickpeas until you get the desiredconsistency for your baby.

Makes about 3 cups

Age It Up: For a delicious snack or lunch for kids and grown-ups of all ages, add abeaten egg, ½ teaspoon salt, extra curry powder to taste, and enough panko for theveggies to come together. Form into cakes and sauté in olive oil until goldenbrown.

Nutrition per serving (¼ cup): 63 calories; 3g protein; 1g fat (0g sat. fat); 12g car-bohydrates; 3g fiber; 1g sugars; 140mg sodium; 24mg calcium; 0mg iron; 232mgpotassium; 25mg Vitamin C; 8IU Vitamin A.

Comforting Chicken Soup

Let your baby find out early how satisfying chicken soup can be.

1½ teaspoons unsalted butter

1 leek, white and light green parts only, chopped

½ cup low-sodium chicken broth

½ cup water

1 medium Yukon gold potato, peeled and chopped

2 carrots, peeled and chopped

1 boneless, skinless chicken breast, cut into 1-inch chunks

1 teaspoon lemon juice

Melt the butter in a medium saucepan over medium-low heat. Add the leekand cook until tender, about 5 minutes.

Add the chicken broth, water, potatoes, and carrots to the pan. Bring to aboil. Reduce the heat to low, cover, and simmer for 10 minutes. Add thechicken, cover, and simmer for 8 more minutes or until the chicken iscooked through and the vegetables are tender. Cool slightly.

Add the lemon juice. With an immersion blender, food processor, or knifeand fork, mash the chicken and veggies until you get the desired consistencyfor your baby.

Makes about 2¾ cups

Nutrition per serving (¼ cup): 115 calories; 5g protein; 3g fat (1g sat. fat); 18g car-bohydrates; 2g fiber; 1g sugars; 44mg sodium; 26mg calcium; 1mg iron; 346mgpotassium; 13mg Vitamin C; 2145IU Vitamin A.

Wholesome Tip

When buying canned goods, always look for cans that haven’t been linedwith BPA, a chemical that may have negative effects on developing brains.Or, seek out boxed or pouched versions.

Bolognese baby food

This recipe will keep you in sauce for the foreseeable future, and you’ll be glad once you see how much your little one loves it. Freeze some in small quantities to defrost quickly for your baby’s meals; freeze the rest in larger portions for the whole family to eat over pasta.

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 lb. ground beef

1 cup finely chopped onion

2 medium carrots, peeled and finely chopped

1 clove garlic, finely chopped

½ teaspoon chopped fresh rosemary

1 cup low-sodium chicken broth

One 28-oz. can crushed tomatoes

2 tablespoons ricotta cheese

For serving:

¼ cup cooked whole-wheat orzo

Heat the olive oil in a medium-sized pot. Add the ground beef, onion, carrots, and garlic. Sauté over medium heat until the beef is no longer pink, about 8 to 10 minutes. Drain and return to the pot.

Add the rosemary and stir to combine. Add the chicken broth and tomatoes. Bring the sauce to a boil. Reduce the heat to a simmer and cook, stirring occasionally, for 30 minutes. Remove from the heat and stir in the ricotta cheese.

To serve, mix ¼ cup cooked orzo with 2 tablespoons of sauce. With an immersion blender, food processor, or knife and fork, mash the pasta and sauce until you get the desired consistency for your baby.

Makes about 5 cups sauce

Age It Up: Add 1¼ teaspoons salt and a pinch of sugar to the sauce.

Nutrition per serving: 30 calories; 3g protein; 1g fat (0g sat. fat); 2g carbohydrates; 1g fiber; 1g sugars; 51mg sodium; 12mg calcium; 1mg iron; 115mg potassium; 2mg Vitamin C; 538IU Vitamin A.

Sweet Spiced Chicken Stew

An immersion blender works particularly well when mashing this lightly spiced stew. Don’t be tempted to leave out the prunes. They add a deep and pleasing sweetness, plus they are excellent for your baby’s digestive health.

⅓ cup low-sodium chicken broth

½ cup water

1 boneless, skinless chicken breast, cut into 2-inch chunks

1 medium zucchini, thinly sliced into half moons

4 pitted prunes, chopped

½ teaspoon cinnamon

½ teaspoon ground cumin

In a medium saucepan, bring the chicken broth and water to a boil. Add the chicken. Cover the pan, reduce the heat to medium-low, and simmer for 5 minutes.

Add the zucchini, prunes, cinnamon, and cumin and stir. Cover and simmer for 10 minutes or until the chicken is cooked through and the zucchini is tender. Uncover and cool slightly.

With an immersion blender, food processor, or knife and fork, mash the stew until you get the desired consistency for your baby.

Makes about 2 cups

Nutrition per serving (¼ cup): 53 calories; 8g protein; 1g fat (0g sat. fat); 4g car- bohydrates; 1g fiber; 2g sugars; 20mg sodium; 10mg calcium; 0mg iron; 152mg potassium; 4mg Vitamin C; 90IU Vitamin A.

Mighty Green Beans baby food

Quinoa and almond butter add a punch of protein to this appealing dish.

1 lb. green beans, trimmed

2 teaspoons olive oil

1½ cups cooked quinoa

2 tablespoons almond butter

4 mint leaves, chopped

Preheat the oven to 425°F. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.

Toss the green beans with the olive oil. Spread on the prepared baking sheet and roast until tender, 15 to 20 minutes.

In a large bowl, combine the green beans with the quinoa, almond butter, and mint leaves. Add 2 tablespoons of water. With an immersion blender, food processor, or knife and fork, mash the stew until you get the desired consistency for your baby. Add a tablespoon or more water if needed for smoother blending.

Makes about 2 cups

Nutrition per serving (¼ cup): 98 calories; 4g protein; 4g fat (0g sat. fat); 12g car- bohydrates; 3g fiber; 2g sugars; 4mg sodium; 51mg calcium; 1mg iron; 272mg potassium; 5mg Vitamin C; 2IU Vitamin A.

Beets in Yogurt with Dill

1½ cups chopped, cooked beets (about 10 oz.)

2 tablespoons plain, whole-milk Greek yogurt

⅛ teaspoon chopped dill

Forget the fact that these beets are smooth, creamy, and surprisingly sweet. They are worth making for the bright magenta color alone.

Purée the beets in a blender until smooth.

To serve, stir together 2 tablespoons beet purée with the 2 tablespoons Greek yogurt. Sprinkle with the dill.

Makes about 1½ cups

Nutrition per serving (¼ cup): 40 calories; 3g protein; 2g fat (1g sat. fat); 4g car- bohydrates; 1g fiber; 3g sugars; 37mg sodium; 44mg calcium; 0mg iron; 87mg potassium; 5mg Vitamin C; 438IU Vitamin A.

Greek Fish and Tomatoes

I make a variation of this dish for my (grown-up!) personal chef clients. For a hit of brine I always roast some capers or pitted Kalamata olives along with the tomatoes. Let your older baby explore these flavors as well by serving them on the side.

Olive oil

6 oz. red snapper fillet or other white fish, bones removed

½ cup grape tomatoes, quartered

2 tablespoons pitted Kalamata olives, halved, or 2 teaspoons capers

¼ teaspoon dried oregano

Preheat the oven to 400°F. Rub a small baking pan with olive oil.

Place the snapper on the prepared pan. Drizzle with ¼ teaspoon olive oil, spreading it over the fish with the back of a spoon or your fingers.

In a small bowl, combine the tomatoes, olives or capers, ½ teaspoon olive oil, and oregano. Spoon over the fish. Most  of it will land on the pan; that’s fine. Roast until the fish flakes easily with a fork, about 10 minutes. Cool slightly.

Transfer the fish, tomatoes and any juices to a large bowl, leaving behind the olives or capers and the fish’s skin. With an immersion blender, food processor, or knife and fork, mash the fish and tomatoes until you get the desired consistency for your baby. Serve the olives or capers on the side.

Makes about 1 cup

Age It Up: Before mashing, this is a lovely, easy dinner for the grown-ups and big kids in the household. Just salt and pepper the grown-up’s portions.

Nutrition per serving (¼ cup): 53 calories; 8g protein; 1.8g fat (0g sat. fat); 1g car- bohydrates; 0g fiber; 1g sugars; 55mg sodium; 9mg calcium; 0mg iron; 229mg potassium; 4mg Vitamin C; 204IU Vitamin A.

Pumpkin-Banana Mash

What a treat! Buttery-soft banana is mixed with smooth and creamy pumpkin purée and spiked with cinnamon. Be sure to use a ripe banana for the sweetest flavor.

1 teaspoon unsalted butter

1 medium banana, sliced

¼ cup canned pumpkin purée

⅛ teaspoon cinnamon

Melt the butter in a medium skillet over medium heat. Add the banana slices and sauté until lightly browned, about 5 minutes.

Transfer the banana to a small bowl. Add the pumpkin and cinnamon. With a fork, mash the banana to get the desired consistency for your baby.

Makes about ½ cup

Nutrition per serving (¼ cup): 95 calories; 1g protein; 2g fat (1g sat. fat); 20g car- bohydrates; 3g fiber; 10g sugars; 3mg sodium; 14mg calcium; 1mg iron; 332mg potassium; 8mg Vitamin C; 4877IU Vitamin A.

Fruity Tofu Pudding baby food

Make this creamy concoction a day ahead, and feel free to experiment with different fruits.

8 oz. silken tofu, liquid poured off

1 cup chopped nectarine (about 1)

¼ cup raspberries

1 tablespoon agave nectar

Put all of the ingredients in a food processor and process until smooth, stopping occasionally to scrape down the sides with a rubber spatula.

Transfer the pudding to a storage container and refrigerate for at least 4 hours or overnight.

Makes about 1 cup

Nutrition per serving (¼ cup): 66 calories; 3g protein; 2g fat (0g sat. fat); 10g car- bohydrates; 1g fiber; 8g sugars; 3mg sodium; 21mg calcium; 1mg iron; 185mg potassium; 4mg Vitamin C; 121IU Vitamin A

Wholesome Tip

Tofu is a wonderful addition to the diet of vegetarian and non-vegetarian ba- bies alike. Inexpensive and high in protein, it has a mild flavor that plays well with both sweet and savory ingredients.

The post Varied Baby Food Recipes 8–12 months, Fast & Easy appeared first on Falafel.

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#Recipes #8 month old baby food menu #baby food recipe #baby food recipes 8-12 months #baby food vege

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jokehockey44-blog · 6 years ago

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In the French Kitchen with Kids: Steak Frites

Forget cooking shows and YouTube; kids best learn to cook by getting in the kitchen and doing the actual food prep and cooking.

I feel like I’ve been saying this for years (maybe because I have been saying this for years), as well as stressing the need to teach the younger generation this important life skill.

One person who totally gets this hand-on approach is my friend, Mardi Michels. She’s a food writer and an elementary school teacher, and now she’s written a fantastic cookbook: In the French Kitchen with Kids: Easy, Everyday Dishes for the Whole Family to Make and Enjoy.

It’s a cookbook for children, their parents and, well, people of all ages. I mean, who doesn’t love French food?

An advance copy of Mardi’s beautiful book arrived just as we were sliding into the ease of summer. The kids pounced on the book – once I had a first peek – and begged to make everything from crêpes to croissants. How could I say no? I love a kitchen project as much as they do…and I was dying to learn from Mardi’s expertise in French cuisine (her macarons are internet famous for a reason).

One morning Clara and I baked almond financiers with our homegrown raspberries for a special tea time treat. Another day Mateo and I fried up crispy fish cakes for dinner – and he ate three! I rediscovered my love of a simple omelette and we all swooned over Steak Frites. We rolled out puff pastry for palmier cookies and bookmarked many more recipes for the future. Cream puffs! Croque-Monsieur! Shepherd’s Pie! Oh la la.

Everything we made turned out beautifully and we all liked how this cookbook didn’t feel ‘dumbed down’ for kids. Mardi shows that French food doesn’t have to be complicated to be delicious.

In the French Kitchen with Kids is an elegant book with approachable, straightforward recipes, like today’s Steak Frites. A well-prepared steak with a side of crispy oven fries is classic comfort food for a reason and Mardi’s recipe below shows how easy it is to prepare at home. Dare I say that everyone – kids included – should know how to prepare proper Steak Frites? That I do.

I appreciated the tip to soak the fries in cold water to draw out the starch and then pat them very dry before roasting. The result was perfectly crispy French fries, which when seasoned with flaky salt and a touch of fresh rosemary, were irresistible.

In the French Kitchen with Kids: Easy, Everyday Dishes for the Whole Family to Make and Enjoy is in stores today. Find it where books are sold or online at Indigo and Amazon. The kids and I give it our most hearty endorsement. Bon appetit!

Classic Steak Frites

Total time: 1 hour 35 mins

Excerpted from In the French Kitchen with Kids by Mardi Michels. "Steak frites, though a French classic, might seem like more of an adult meal, but in a country where the concept of a children’s menu isn’t as common as it is in North America, for example, this might be offered as the plat du jour for younger diners. It’s not unusual to see children eating their steak saignant (rare) either, but in this recipe, we cook the steak to medium. The best fries come from a deep fryer, but as that is not a common appliance in most households, I’m opting for oven-baked fries, which are not only less messy, but also easier for kids to cook."

2 lb (900 g) Yukon Gold potatoes

3 tablespoons olive oil

2 teaspoons flaky sea salt

1 teaspoon chili powder (optional)

1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

4 boneless ribeye steaks (7 oz/200 g each, around 1 inch/2.5 cm thick)

1 teaspoon flaky sea salt

1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

1 tablespoon vegetable oil

Flaky sea salt

Freshly ground black pepper

Dijon mustard

Mayonnaise and/or ketchup

Slice the potatoes lengthwise (there’s no need to peel them but do scrub them well) into about 1/2-inch-wide (1 cm) sticks. Don’t worry if some of them are shorter than others. The most important thing is that they are more or less the same width.

Place the potato sticks in a large bowl of cold water for 1 hour, making sure the water completely covers the potatoes. This will remove the starch, prevent them from sticking together and help them crisp up nicely in the oven.

Preheat the oven to 400˚F (200˚C). Line two baking trays with parchment paper.

Drain the potato sticks in a large colander. Place a few sheets of paper towel on a countertop and lay the potato sticks in a single layer. Cover with a few more sheets of paper towel and gently pat them dry. It’s important to dry the potatoes as much as you can, otherwise they won’t crisp up when you bake them.

Place the potato sticks in a large bowl and pour the oil over them, then sprinkle the salt, chili powder (if using) and pepper over top. Using your hands, mix everything well to make sure the potatoes are evenly coated with the oil and spices.

Lay the potato sticks in a single layer on each baking tray. Place one tray on the top rack of the oven and the other on the bottom rack. Bake for 1 hour, switching the trays from the top to the bottom of the oven and rotating them 180 degrees halfway through, as well as flipping the potatoes with a flat spatula so they crisp up and cook evenly. After an hour, the frites should be crispy and golden. If not, leave them in the oven, but check every 5 minutes, until they are done.

While the potatoes are baking, prepare the steak:

Rub the steaks all over with the salt and pepper. Place them on a plate, cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until about 20 minutes before you are going to use them, so about 40 minutes into cooking the potatoes. You can pan-sear, broil or grill your steaks. Here we’re going to pan-

sear them, so you’ll need to heat the pan just before you’re ready to use it. Place a grill pan (preferably a cast-iron skillet with a ribbed base to make “grill” marks) over medium-high heat and add the oil.

Once the oil is hot enough, add your steaks—you should hear an audible “sssssss” when you add the meat if the pan is hot enough— and cook for 3 minutes on each side. The internal temperature as measured with a meat thermometer will be 155˚F (68˚C) when you take it off the heat and 160˚F (71˚C) after it has rested. Remove the steaks from the grill pan and place them on a (preferably pre-warmed) plate and loosely cover with aluminum foil. Allow to rest for 10 minutes.

Serve the steak with mustard on the side and the fries with ketchup and mayonnaise on the side.

This might seem like a lot of potatoes to slice up into such precisely sized sticks, but it’s a great activity for kids.

Tell them why it’s important to slice the sticks consistently, and talk them through the process of soaking them to remove the starch. I find that if kids know why they are doing something, it’s more meaningful and they’re more likely to follow the instructions. Cooking is all about actions and consequences. Maybe they don’t slice the sticks very evenly—leave it be, unless the differences are really marked, and show them once they are cooked how some of the fries are too crispy and some aren’t done enough. Got younger budding chefs? Drying the potato sticks post-soak on paper towels, patting them dry with more paper towels and coating them with the oil and spice mix in a large bowl is a good way to involve younger children who might not be quite ready to work with knives.

Recipe excerpted from In the French Kitchen with Kids by Mardi Michels. Copyright© 2018 Mardi Michels. Photography © Kyla Zanardi. Published by Appetite by Random House®, a division of Penguin Random House Canada Limited. Reproduced by arrangement with the Publisher. All rights reserved. Source: http://www.simplebites.net/in-the-french-kitchen-with-kids-steak-frites/

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