#And then adding lemon made it at least something I would somewhat enjoy drinking

[themidnightcircusshow]

Trying to make apple cider when you have never seen, smelled, or tasted apple cider is a very frustrating exercise

[waokevale]

@the-valiant-valkyrie 's DST teas review (VERY LATE)

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WX-78 Blend

By itself, it smells very herbal, the lemon aroma is very distinguishable and pleasant. I added about a teaspoon or so, and brewed it for the recommended time on the page. At first it tastes somewhat like chamomile, then, I added sugar and lemon juice and it started taking on a more homey vibe. The lemon certainly brought out the distinct black tea flavor + strengthened the natural lemon flavoring.

Update: made it a second time, this time added two and a half teaspoons of sugar, 2 slices of lemon and a touch of lemon zest (for about 3/4 of the 400ml mug filled.) It was AMAZING, very pleasant flavor, lightly sour and sweet, brings back memories, legit became one of my favorite teas, I'd definitely buy a bigger bag at some point in the future if it'd still be available.

All in all I would highly recommend it, If you're fond of relaxing teas such as this one.

First impression: 6/10

Current impression: 8.5/10

(forgive my shitty phone lighting)

Walani Blend

Upon first smelling it, it's very fruity and exotic, that smells only intensifies upon brewing.

Quite sour by itself, adding a tad of sugar (about 2 and a half teaspoons per half a 400ml mug for me, again) then it's just a right mix of sweet and sour, the flavor somewhat reminds me of raspberry. You can pick out the orange and mango if you feel for it, but they're not that intense. The coconut and apple are the most pronounced in the aftertaste.

(Overall, very enjoyable, especially on mornings and late nights 6.5/10)

Lunar Blend

The coconut gives it a very nutty feel, with the added scent of flowers.

When brewed, dull and slightly bitter without any add-ons, although the coconut and chocolate chips are especially prominent. When added some cream and sweetener, it becomes more light, it doesn't have an especially compelling flavor, but it's not bad either.

(Then again I'm not an expert on tea, 98% of the time I just drink black tea)

For me personally, it's a 5/10

Willow blend

When first smelling it, the dark chocolate and strawberry are the most distinguishable, cinnamon is only there if you really smell for it. After brewing, both of the formerly mentioned scents mixed further.

By itself it's very bitter obviously, but after adding some cream and sugar, it tastes more like coffee with a note of strawberry and cinnamon.

There's also a herbal after taste.

Overall pleasant , though people who like their tea with milk/cream would enjoy it the most.

First impression: 5.5/10

Second impression 6/10

Wormwood Blend

Straight out of the box it has a wild berry feel to it with a flowery scent.

After brewing it, momentarily the mint leaves make themselves known, but after tasting, they're only present in the after taste.

The chamomile becomes very distinct, with the flowers on the side. I can taste some hibiscus, orange and the apples, but they're not that present.

I added a bit of lemon and sugar and the taste immediately changed into a more comforting sweet tea.

Overall 7.5/10 for me

Woodie and Lucy Blend

When fiest opened, it smells very nutty and sweet. The apple and the safflower are barely noticable, you'd have to seriously smell it, in order to feel them.

Upon brewing, the fruity scent catches up to the nutty one, and it becomes sort of a mix of the two.

At first I added some almond milk and maple syrup, but it just didn't stick with me. It was alright, but there was just something missing.

The second time I added some UHT cream and condensed milk and JACKPOT, this was it (at least for me) the cream softened up the flavor and the condensed milk made it sweeter, more cozy, it adapted perfectly for my taste.

First impression: 5/10

Second impression 7.5/10

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All in all, very nice teas! I recommend y'all try them!

[dainty-fingertips]

a date, i guess! ||koichi zenigata x fem!reader

This is my first post on this account! Hope you enjoy my little oneshot of zen :)

word count: 1855

summary: you are the newest member of the lupin gang. lupin says that you guys are meeting up at a french restaurant to discuss plans for a heist, but it seems they all had other plans; plans to set you up on a date with zenigata, to be exact.

trigger warnings:  none :)

||

      Lupin beamed upon seeing where her gaze had landed. That quirky grin smeared itself onto his lips and he placed his head in his hands, creasing his maroon overcoat as he stared at her. She had always been his source of vague amusement, but this? This was gold. The group of five, including Jigen, Goemon, and Fujiko, were at a French hotel-restaurant, supposedly planning out the big heist for the next night; and apparently a certain inspector had figured out where they were meeting.

      The thief had suspected Yn had feelings for Zenigata, but had no real evidence to base it off of. This, however, with her cheeks red and her eyes looking over to the poorly disguised inspector every few seconds? How much more obvious can you get? She had helped Lupin, too, by noticing where he was. He was wearing a tacky purple and gold striped button up and black denim pants, and she had no idea why. She frowned slightly, somewhat shamefully wishing he had his usual frumpy trench coat she liked so much. He wasn’t wearing his hat either, allowing his short charcoal locks to get some light. Fujiko nudged her. “You’ve been in space this entire time. What’s on your mind?” She questioned off-handedly. Goemon moved his attention over to her, his dark brown eyes filled with an apathetic sort of curiosity. “I’ve noticed too. You of aren’t much use if you aren’t even here.” Yn quickly snapped her eyes back over in front of her, clearly flustered from being caught in her Zenigata-induced daze. “Oh, sorry.” She chuckled bashfully. She was worried they were beginning to not like her. 

      Lupin put his hands on the table, his playful brown eyes glimmering as they normally did. “It’s fine! Besides, if I saw a peacock in a petting zoo, I’d be staring too.” She stared at him blankly. “I mean… he’s right there.” She shrugged, glancing back to him. He nodded his head, that stupid grin still present. “I figured you’d be the first to notice.” She furrowed her eyebrows a bit and pursed her lips. “What…” Lupin straightened up and snickered. “‘What are you talking about?’ That’s what you were gonna ask, right?” The group stayed silent except for Jigen, who asked Lupin what he was going on about. Fujiko’s slim eyebrows knotted together, signaling to Yn that at least Fujiko was just as lost as she is. Jigen showed no expression, but that was to be expected.       “Well, you see, I may have given Pops a little anonymous tip.”

      “Arsene Lupin.” She said, her expression growing grim.

      “-The third.” He shot back cockily.

      She huffed through clenched teeth. The thief snickered again, happily shutting his eyes as he did so. “I know, right? Figured it would be a good way for the two of you to get introduced.” Goemon glared at Lupin, a disappointed look on his pale face. “You know,” He began, sighing and folding his hands in front of him. He closed his eyes in annoyance. “I feel everyone is entitled to be stupid every now and again, but you abuse that privilege.” Lupin shrugged and looked up. “We’ve all had our special little rendezvous’ with Pops, haven’t we?” Jigen, Fujiko, and Goemon all sat in knowing silence. They all had, in fact. Lupin nodded with a smile. “Well, you see, she hasn’t gotten that privilege yet. What better than a candlelit dinner?” She looked nervously at the man; an expression that really wasn’t so much in fear, but simply in awe at his audacity. “What— I have to go sit down and eat with him?” She mumbled, growing anxious. Lupin winked. “Bingo! Since you seem to already have an eye out for him, it should be no problem, right?” 

      She felt like she was trapped in limbo. “I wonder how much better the world would be if you had gotten enough oxygen at birth.” She grumbled lowly. Fujiko aired an amused ‘hm.’ and looked over at Lupin. “Agreed.” He scoffed, putting the back of his hand to his forehead in a fake swoon. “The audacity. The betrayal!” He soon began to laugh and nudged Jigen. Jigen eyed him before he stood up out of the booth and walked around the table, grabbing Yn’s arm. “You were in on this too?” She snapped at him. Jigen snickered and yanked her up and out of the seat. She quickly caught her balance and swerved around to face him. He then shoved her away from the table and stood in front of the seats, ready to block her from returning to her seat.

      Jigen had a surprising amount of upper body strength for a gunslinger, but she knew she could probably land a few hits. However, they were in a very public restaurant in a very public area. It wasn’t worth the repercussion of getting thrown out. She scowled angrily at both him and Lupin before hesitantly turning around. There he was, in his funky outfit, hands clasped together and eyes looking out for any sight of Lupin’s gang. He had an iced water in front of him. Luckily they were in the very back, so he didn’t seem to notice them. He was facing to her left behind a waist high divider with a small slit near the top.

      She walked in the opposite direction he was facing, to the right. She figured it might be a bit safer if she approached him from behind. She rounded the corner and saw him near the front of the row, his back facing her. He ran a hand through his soot black hair and ruffled it a bit. She carefully approached him, slowly beginning to think that ugly shirt was more form-fitting than she’d anticipated. She passed the table directly behind him and slowed down her pace to the point she nearly stopped. This was terrible, and she’d never forgive Lupin for doing this to her.

      “Ins-Inspector?” She called, fumbling her words immediately. This truly was the worst. Zenigata quickly whipped his head around. “Wh- YN?” He yelled in response, disrupting the people behind him. She quickly put her finger to her lips. “Y-Yes, be quiet!” He carefully shrunk back in his chair and looked at her suspiciously. “That letter taped to my door said I’d be meeting someone to discuss something important. Are you the person?” He quizzed. Having no knowledge of what the letter read, she assumed Lupin had planned this exact scenario. She huffed in blatant annoyance. “Yes, sir.” He let out a small ‘hmph.’ And motioned for her to sit down, but he too seemed a bit nervous. 

She bit her cheek and took a seat across from him. “So,” he began, looking down at his water. “Why did one of Lupin’s thugs wanna meet me here, huh?” Thug? Is… is that what he thought of her? Technically, she was a part of a gang, but she didn’t hold herself like that. “With all due respect, inspector, I don’t know what makes you think that about me.” She frowned slightly. Zenigata looked up, slightly more wide-eyed than before. “Wait! T-That’s not what I— urgh.” He rubbed his temples. “I don’t think that about you, per se.” he mumbled in a slightly softer tone of voice. “You were just the last person I expected. I figured it’d be Jigen if anyone.” Did… he have a script he was following? The thought made her mouth curl into a soft grin. 

“Did the letter say it would be someone of Lupin’s?” She questioned, folding her arms in her lap. He groaned aggravatedly and pinched his nose. “Of course he’d do this. Did you even know about this?” He sighed, seeing her shake her head. “I thought I was supposed to meet them here to discuss something, but apparently that was not the deal.” She laughed dryly. Zenigata shot up. “They’re here?” He called, scanning the room.

She eyed where they were when she was forcefully pulled out of her seat, and it seemed they had all left right after she did. The booth was empty. Some friends, eh? She sighed through her nose. “No, sir.” He frowned and sat back down. “Oh.” He said softly. The disappointment in his voice was clear as day, which made her slightly sad. “Sorry, Zenigata.” He shook his head. “Why are you apologizing? Those weasels left you here by yourself with no clue what to do!” He quickly pulled the folded note out of his pants pocket. “Here, read the note.” She nodded and took it from his hand, and just like in every romance: their fingers brushed. She bit her cheek again and pulled her arm away a bit quicker, and he did the same. She didn’t catch it, but his cheeks grew slightly redder than they were before 

She opened the note with curiosity and immediately clicked her tongue in distaste. 

Dear Zenigata,

      I have oh-so important news to share with you. Something terrible has happened and you’re the only one who can help! ...Just kidding. It’s Lupin! Someone special is going to be meeting you tonight, 10pm, at the Hôtel d’Maigot, the French hotel/restaurant. If you want some very special info from a very special friend of mine, I recommend you head down there. Toodles!

P.S. Jigen says hi.

P.P.S So does Fujiko. I wish they would have said something when I was writing, but what can you do. Goemon and Yn aren’t here or I’m sure they would have said hi, too.

She sighed and folded the letter again, handing it back to Zenigata. “Yep. I was told nothing.” He scoffed. “That’s incredibly rude.” He murmured. He sipped his water, and the waitress approached. “Evening. Can I get you a drink?” She asked, tucking a strand of red hair behind her ear. Yn nodded her head. “Water with lemon, please.” The woman smiled softly and sent her a thumbs-up. “Right on it.” She spun around on her heel and walked away. Yn turned back to Zenigata and placed her head in her hands. “Inspector, it’s clear that they are just trying to set us up on some blind date or something.” She mumbled shyly.

“I’m not complaining, but please don’t feel forced to stay if you are busy.” She added with a sort of frown.

“Not— hey, what do you mean?”

Her face began heating up and she put her hands back in her lap. “I mean, ah, I’d enjoy a dinner with you if you’d have me.” She murmured quieter than before. Her cheeks were clearly red, but hopefully he wouldn’t notice in the dim light. “You… want this to be a… a date?” It seemed Zenigata was getting flustered too. She bit the inside of her lip and shrunk back in her chair. “Only if you want.” 

Zenigata cleared his throat and tried to brush off his burning cheeks. “Well, if you insist! You’ll probably tell me something I need to know about Lupin, anyway.” He called, feigning confidence. A small grin cracked onto the corners of her lips. “A date it shall be, then.”

[atths--twice]

Picture Perfect Moments

Mulder and Scully attend a small party at Mrs. Scully’s house. (An idea born from an old photo of DD and GA.)

They were not working out of town, or even working on an active case, but in the office catching up on paperwork. Scully mentioned in passing that her mother was having a party and had asked if she would be able to stop by.

“You could head over now. I can finish this up.” She gave him a look and he smiled. “I am capable of filing paperwork on my own, you know.”

“Mmm-hmm,” she answered with a smile of her own, finishing the page she was writing on, and signing the bottom.

“Seriously, I can do this, Scully. You go ahead.” He stared at her and she nodded as she set the pen down and stood up.

“Why don’t you come with me?” she asked, a look of surprise on her face that he was sure mirrored his own.

“Oh no, that’s okay. You go on.”

“Mulder,” she said, putting on her coat. “That paperwork can wait, and my mother has asked after you.” She rolled her eyes as she adjusted her collar, and then stood with her eyebrows raised. “Many times, in fact.”

“Scully…”

“Mulder, finish that one I handed you, and let’s go.” She crossed her arms and he sighed.

“Fine. Far be it from me to say no, to not just one, but two Scully women.”

“Smart man,” she smirked and he smiled. Adding his signature to the paper, he set it down and stood up, reaching for his coat.

“What kind of party is it? Will there be cake?” he asked, sliding on his coat, and she snorted.

“Knowing my mother and her friends, there will be many different kinds of desserts.”

“And you didn’t think to lead with that? Come on, let’s go.” He put his hand on the small of her back as he led her out the door, her laughter ringing in his ears.

His plate laden with many delicious treats, he sat on the garden wall, away from the large group of women who were gathered in the backyard. It was cool out, but they did not seem to mind, their cheeks pink from the weather and the many bottles of wine on the table.

He heard Scully laughing and he watched her speaking to her mother and a few of the other women. He smiled as he picked up a frosted brownie and took a large bite, his eyes closing at the rich chocolate flavor.

“They’re all quite taken with you.” He heard Scully say and he opened his eyes, finding her standing in front of him with a smile on her face. “Of course, once I told them you have a nasty habit of ditching me, you leave sunflower seeds everywhere, and you believe in little green men from outer space, well…” She took a small piece of his brownie and chewed it as she smiled.

“Gr…” he tried to say, his mouth full. She laughed and rolled her eyes.

“Grey. I know, I know. But Mulder, these are Catholic, church going women, do you want to explain that to them? Really?” She looked over at the women and he followed her gaze.

They were all laughing and drinking their wine. Memories of country club parties from his youth suddenly resurfaced, of rich women and their killer cheek pinching fingers. He shuddered and shook his head, swallowing down the bite of brownie.

“That’s what I thought,” she chuckled as she sat next to him and took another little piece of brownie. “I think I’ve bought us a few minutes at least, except I saw my mother carrying around her new camera, which she never has quite gotten the hang of, so… be on the lookout. Oh… also.” She reached into her pocket and pulled out a small bottle of whiskey. Taking off the cap, she took a drink, and handed it to him. He stared at her and she smiled.

“Why do I get the feeling this isn’t the first time you’ve snuck a bottle of booze from your parents stash?” he asked, as he took a drink and coughed, the liquid burning the back of his throat, and causing his eyes to water.

“Because it’s not,” she said with a laugh and took the bottle back, taking another drink. “Missy and I got very drunk once when I was about sixteen and we were on the roof up there.” She pointed to a flat part of the roof and took another drink. “That’s my old room. We used to sneak out at night and drink and smoke-”

“Smoke?!” he asked incredulously, and she looked at him with a smile, nodding her head. “Does your mother know about this?”

“What are you gonna do? Tell on me?” Another drink and she stared at him, challenging him with her eyes, though the smile on her lips betrayed her tough expression.

“Maybe. What else did you do?” He took the bottle from her and took a drink, coughing again and she giggled, actually giggled.

“I can’t tell you all my secrets, Mulder. Not in one day,” she said softly, and he knew they had crossed into somewhat dangerous territory. He cleared his throat and was about to say something when he saw her mother coming toward them.

“Fox, I hope you’re enjoying the food,” she said, with a twinkle in her eyes, and he nodded. Setting the large plate of food down, he stood up and brushed his hands off, before reaching to clasp her hand.

“Thank you. It’s all delicious,” he said and she smiled.

“Of course. Oh, since you’re both here, let me get a picture of you two,” she said, and went to get her camera. Scully sighed as she stood up and slipped the whiskey bottle into her pocket.

“Here we are,” Mrs. Scully said with a smile. “I don’t get a chance to take pictures often, so… Okay, closer together. Yeah, like that. I’m going to take a couple just in case. I haven’t gotten the hang of all the bells and whistles yet. Okay, I think that’s good. Have fun you two.” With that, she walked away and they sat back down, Scully taking the whiskey from her pocket and opening the cap.

“And she never suspected a thing,” Scully said with a wink as she took another drink. He laughed and offered her half of the remaining brownie. She took it and smiled at him, but he waved off the whiskey she offered in return. One of them needed to be able to drive back and judging by the pinking of her cheeks, he knew it wouldn’t be her.

“So tell me more about this sneaking out,” he said, taking a bite of a lemon bar. “Pretty ballsy with your father.” She laughed and pretended to zip her lips, her eyes dancing. He smiled, as she took one more drink and put the bottle back in her pocket and sighed. She looked at him and smiled.

“Thanks for coming with me,” she said softly as just then, the wind blew her hair across her face. Without thinking, he tucked it behind her ear, his thumb stroking her cheek. Her eyes searched his and then dropped to his lips, before coming back to his eyes.

Moving his hand, he sat back and cleared his throat. “Well, someone needs to make sure you get home safely.” She looked down and smiled, then looked at him again. He nodded with a smile of his own, the moment between them pulled away with the wind.

_________

A month later, he was at her apartment going over a case. She asked him to grab a blanket from the closet in her room, the evening becoming chilly. He generally stayed out of her bedroom, it feeling like her private domain, but he did as she asked.

As he was walking out, something caught his eye. In a small frame, he saw a picture of them he had never seen before. They did not have many, if any really, and he was drawn to it like a moth to a flame. Picking it up, he grinned as he realized it was the one Mrs. Scully had taken.

It was a great picture. He was wearing his suit from that day, and had his arm around her shoulders. She had an almost secretive smile on her face, no doubt thinking of the whiskey in her pocket, sneaking out with Missy, or laughing at her mother’s lack of technological knowledge. Whatever the reason, it amplified her already beautiful smile. He stared at it, then set it down, grabbing the blanket and leaving the room.

No doubt her mother gave it to her framed, and yet, she kept it so, and left it out where she could see it. He smiled at the thought and handed her the blanket, saying nothing about it as they continued to discuss the case.

__________

Scully shut the door with a sigh and locked it. They wrapped up the case and Mulder took the files with him. Intent on taking a bath and going to bed, she shut off the lights and made her way to the bathroom. The temperature just right, she let the tub fill and went to her room to undress.

As she did, her eyes landed on the picture her mother had brought over, her sly smile saying more than words could. It was not until her mother left though, that Scully found the other two pictures wrapped in tissue. She understood why her mother would not have framed them, but wanted her to have them nonetheless.

They were from the same day, but when neither of them were looking or knew she was taking pictures. In one, they were simply looking at one another, but Scully felt her pulse race as she looked at it. It was innocent, but she felt it to her toes.

The other… she had taken a picture at the exact moment he pushed her hair behind her ear. If the first one made her pulse race, this one made it stop. It was such a Mulder thing to do and yet it was completely unexpected. He was a very touchy person and she had become accustomed to it, but seeing it was another thing in itself.

Her mother could not have captured a better moment, and yet she did not see everything. She did not see how the whiskey made Scully feel bolder, the desire to taste his lips so strong, she nearly fell in, not caring who saw them or where they were. But Mulder saw and he had pulled back, as he had cleared his throat and changed the feel of the moment.

Scully opened a dresser drawer and moved aside her sweaters, taking out the pictures, needing to see them again. She smiled as she held them, seeing the care they had for one another, frozen in two perfect pictures. She sighed as she put them back and closed the drawer.

Maybe one day she would put them out, but for now they would stay hidden. Like many other things, it was safer that way.

For now.

[cgleome]

Fun and Games (Valerius/Fem Apprentice)

Valerius has developed an interest in the local witch. Things come to a head during a game of chess and they decide to have some naughty fun. WARNINGS: LEMON, FEM DOM, S&M, D/S, SPANKING, SLAPPING, SCRATCHING, BONDAGE, HUMILIATION, HAIR PULLING, ... probably more.

Valerius spun his wine glass in his hand, holding it up to the light to admire the way the sun reflected through it. He had been waiting for the witch for some time. It wasn’t that she was late, but he found himself eager to see her and so had been sitting by the chess board for at least an hour, hoping she might arrive early. 

Suddenly, he heard footsteps approaching and pulled out a small mirror, taking a moment to make sure his hair and clothes were arranged properly before she entered the room.

“Ah!” Valerius exclaimed when she approached, removing her hat and cloak. “Good afternoon, Pearl. I’m glad to see you’re on time. You know I don’t like to be kept waiting.”

“And I don’t like to keep others waiting, if I can help it,” Pearl replied with a smile as she accepted the glass of wine Valerius offered her.

“A most respectable attitude to take,” Valerius spoke as he gestured towards the seat across from him.

They played quietly for a while. They had added their own rules to their regular games: they took turns meeting at one another’s homes and whoever hosted also provided the wine. They also had a rule that whenever one player took another’s piece, the player who took the piece got to ask the other a question which the player losing the piece had to answer. It was through their games that Valerius had come to find the witch… interesting. Not only was she a clever conversation partner in her own right, but there was a level of trust that had been built up between them. Trust was something the Consul was not accustomed to, though he was beginning to find it far more pleasant that he would like to admit.

Pearl took the first piece and smiled up at Valerius.

“Valerius, when was the last time you took a lover?”

The consul nearly choked on his wine. The question had taken him by surprise and he had to stop and think.

“I suppose it has been over 3 years ago now,” he mused after attempting to do the math in his head.

“Why so long?” Pearl asked as they returned to their game. It was not unusual for the questions to lead to further conversation and while the rules did not require either player to answer more than one question, they would often offer more details, provided it was information they didn’t mind giving.

“I suppose I found most of my lovers rather disappointing,” Valerius continued. “And I’m not the sort of person who will bed just anyone.”

Valerius then took Pearl’s pawn and smiled at her, taking a sip of his wine.

“So, Witch, same question. When did you last take a lover?”

“Last night,” Pearl answered without batting an eye.

Valerius spit out his wine in a most inelegant spray. Whatever answer he was expecting, it was NOT that and a wave of emotions washed over him. Anger and jealousy soon rose to the top.

“Forgive me,” he spoke, pulling out a handkerchief in an effort to clean up the mess he’d made, relieved to see that Pearl seemed to have stayed out of the line of fire. “I was not aware that you had a partner.”

Sadness was taking over for the other emotions. Valerius’s heart sunk, though he silently berated himself for being foolish enough to have come to care for Pearl enough to be hurt by this news.

“I don’t,” she assured him. “He was simply a man I met at the tavern. I’m not even sure how to contact him again. It was purely physical. Nothing more.”

Valerius looked at her, trying very hard not to imagine the things she had done with a stranger less than 24 hours before. He didn’t realize he was staring as he weighed his options. He wanted to tell her that she could come to him, if ever she felt the need for THAT kind of companionship, but he was also unsure if he really felt safe enough to volunteer that information. What if she rejected him? What if she never came? It was bad enough knowing she had slept with a stranger when the consul had no reason to be jealous. Knowing she might still prefer a stranger when he had already volunteered his services would be positively unbearable.

Pearl fought the urge to laugh and barely hid her smile. She had not expected this kind of a reaction from Valerius at all. It was intriguing.

“I didn’t mean to shock you,” she added, taking a sip of wine to hide her grin. “I didn’t realize you were so… modest.” She hesitated, finally settling on “modest” after ruling out “prudish” and “old-fashioned.” Valerius was certainly entitled to his beliefs and preferences, even if Pearl didn’t share them. 

“It’s not a question of modesty,” Valerius spoke as he turned his attention back to their game.“ As I said before, I too have taken lovers in the past. I merely abandoned such endeavors in recent years after a long series of disappointments. But what about you, Witch, was this man that you met in the bar worth the effort for you?”

As he spoke, Valerius held up one of Pearl’s pieces that he had just taken, indicating that this was the question she was now required to answer.

Pear shrugged, taking a sip of wine while she considered the question.

“Yes and no, I suppose,” she replied at last. “I did enjoy it; however, it was not particularly memorable…. The anticipation, and imagining how it might be was fun though the act itself was perhaps no better than what I could have achieved on my own. So, in that regard, I can see where you’re coming from.”

Valerius found he could not make eye contact now and he took a particularly long drink of wine and them buying himself more time as he refilled his glass. The consul was doing his best to hide the blush that now covered his face. He now had the image of Pearl pleasuring herself in his mind. He would DEFINITELY be returning to that image later. Still, right now with her sitting across from him, he found it incredibly inconvenient.

“I believe it is not only that,” Valerius spoke now, more to fill the silence than anything. “I have always been rather particular about my partners. I find that sex leaves me entirely too vulnerable to wish to engage in it with just anyone.”

“So, you like the intimacy then?”

“It’s not intimacy, per se. I’m hardly the romantic sort, when it comes to sex.”

“Then what sorts of sexual things do you like, Consul?” Pearl asked, as she tapped the chess piece she had just claimed against her cheek.

Valerius now found himself at a bit of a loss. He knew perfectly well what he enjoyed but, he was reluctant to tell Pearl. Really, he was far too interested in her. He didn’t wish to say anything that might put her off. He wished he’d thought to ask her first so that he could simply recite her own desires back to her. Despite refusing to take a lover for so long do to his repeated disappointments, if he had stopped to think about it, he would realize that he could not imagine any sexual scenario with Pearl that would leave him wanting.

“It depends somewhat on my partner,” he spoke at last. “With the right partner, I am will to try almost anything. Though I do like a bit of excitement… If I’m going to go to the trouble of fixing my hair, putting on my best boa and stockings, the very least I expect would be someone to ruin my hair and ensure those stockings will not survive to see another banquet. I guess you could say that I like it rough. I enjoy a lover who won’t treat me like I’m made of glass. I guess one could say that I’m the submissive sort. I enjoy being hurt and humiliated. I suppose that’s where trusting my partner comes into play. I have no desire to do those things with a partner I don’t trust.”

It was Pearl’s turn to stare at her gaming partner in disbelief. She always considered Valerius to be an attractive man but the image of the proud haughty consul begging to be completely disheveled and disgraced did things to her she had not realized she wanted. The witch bit her lip as she looked him over lustfully. Valerius saw the ways she was staring at him and decided to make his move. She was clearly interested and liked what she heard. Now it just remained to be seen if she was willing to go further.

The consul held up his wine glass, pouring the wine over the front of his clothing. 

“Oh, how clumsy of me,” he spoke in a tone that showed no hint of remorse.

Valerius rose and began to remove his soiled wrap and overcoat.

“I seem to require some time to make myself presentable,“ he spoke as he undressed. “Please help yourself to more wine and if you happen to see anything else that you like, don’t hesitate to use it as you will.”

The invitation was not lost on Pearl who looked down at their game to confirm what she already knew. 

“Checkmate,” she spoke moving her piece to take Valerius’s queen, leaving him with nowhere to move that would protect him from her further advances. She stood, taking the captured queen with her.

“Allow me,” she spoke, reaching to replace Valerius’s hands with her own as he skillfully untied the laces on his overcoat. 

“If you have a safe word, you’d better tell me now,” she stated, keeping eye contact with the consul as she slowly began to remove his clothing.

“I have no need for such things,” Valerius sneered. “If you displease me, I will ask you to stop in plain English.”

“Indulge me,” Pearl cooed in a way that caused the consul to go weak in the knees. “Scratching, biting, hair pulling, name calling, slapping, hitting, spanking, bondage, butt play, oral sex. Do any of these appeal to you? And how fond are you of this chess set and that outfit?”

Valerius bit his lip now, convinced he would faint if they didn’t move things along more quickly.

“All of them appeal to me a great deal. Though I trust you’re not all talk and no action. I don’t mind replacing the set or my clothes, if you make it worth it to me to do so. I don’t mind a bit of blood and bruises but I don’t wish to be maimed. I also don’t desire to be put on display, though I do like a little embarrassment in front of the right person.”

He grinned as he spoke and Pearl grinned back. They were so busy looking at one another that Valerius didn’t notice how she had wrapped his braid around her hand. She gave a firm tug, surprising the consul and exposing a generous portion of his neck, which Pearl promptly bit down hard on.

Valerius gave a deep sensual moan. GODS YES! How long had he wanted this? His body came to life at once in response to her. Already, she was proving to be more than he’d hoped for and they’d barely even started yet. It was as though he’d been dying to drink for four years and she was finally quenching his thirst.

Reaching down, Pearl grabbed the front of his tunic with both hands and ripped, exposing a generous portion of her lover’s chest.

Valerius threw his head back with a loud moan. He loved this! His servants would have to bring him some new clothes and the thought only excited him further. He loved the feeling of being exposed and vulnerable by having his clothing torn off. 

Pearl growled as she continued to tear at his clothing, leaving the consul in only his underwear.

Valerius’s body began to shiver and he threw himself down on the couch with his hands above his head. Loose strands of hair were falling out of his braid, his face was flushed, and he was starting to pant.

“Do your worst, witch!” He challenged her and Pearl looked him over with a smirk. 

“You’re such a delicious slut, Consul. This look suits you. You try to act so respectable, but now your true colors are starting to show.”

“Don’t call me a slut until you’ve fucked me,” Valerius sneered, although he was deeply enjoying everything about this interaction. 

“Oh?” Pearl smirked in a way Valerius would not have thought her capable of. She was generally so kind but, at that moment, she looked positively wicked. “Is that what you want, Consul? Would you like to be fucked?” 

As she spoke, Pearl crawled on top of him, she avoided touching him but kept herself dangerously close. She moved her face to his, smelling the wine on his breath. The hopeless lost look on his face was mesmerizing and so at odds with his usual haughty persona.

“Yes,” he answered breathlessly, unable to act proud now that she was so close and offering him exactly what he wanted.

If it were possible, Pearl’s smile grew even crueler.

“Beg me,” she commanded, grabbing his wrists and holding them above his head.

Valerius’s expression changed after she spoke. He was annoyed by how confident she was. Although, he desperately wanted her, he was not so far gone that he could beg without feeling self-conscious about it.

“Make me,” he demanded, the challenge shining in his eyes.

Pearl’s eyes darkened and Valerius barely had time to register that she had released his wrists before he felt the slap across his face.

It was rough, hard enough it might leave a mark and sent a jolt of pleasure down to his groin.

Without missing a beat, Pearl reached down Valerius’s underwear and grabbed his cock, stroking him hard and fast. 

Valerius cried out, and his body jolted forward. He was gasping for breath and getting close to completion when they had barely started. Not only had Valerius not taken a lover in many years, he had not been keeping up well enough with his own needs and it would not take very much to send him over the edge.

As quickly as it started, Pearl stopped, releasing him and causing Valerius to cry out again, only this time in frustration. His over-heated body begging for release and he bit his lip, barely able to resist the urge to grab his own length and finish himself off.

“BEG!” Pearl ordered once more and this time, Valerius didn’t hesitate.

“GODS PLEASE! DON’T STOP! PLEASE! I’LL DO ANYTHING YOU WISH!” 

Valerius meant it too. It wasn’t just that he wanted to be finished, but he wanted to know what else she had in store for him. His body ached and he was ready for whatever she commanded him to do.

Pearl slapped him again and then reached up to grab his neck. Valerius moaned and bit his lip, the slap nearly as arousing as her touch had been.

“You dare ask for something after you refused me once?” She asked, cruelty dripping from every word, causing Valerius to tremble uncontrollably. “You should be begging for forgiveness.”

“I will beg your forgiveness,” Valerius promised breathlessly, meeting her gaze to show just how serious he was.

“Strip and get on your knees,” Pearl commanded, moving away so Valerius could oblige.

The consul quickly pulled away his underwear, casting them aside before he fell to his knees. Valerius put both hands down before him and lowered his head while facing her. He didn’t need to act, since now he was truly contrite and desperately wanted to apologize so that Pearl would finish what she had begun.

“I beg your forgiveness,” he spoke softly to the ground. “It was wrong and foolish of me. I will do whatever you ask, if I can be forgiven.”

Normally, Valerius would never dream of speaking like this. He would be mortified by the very thought of it, but the humiliation only made it all the more appealing to him now. 

“Sit up,” Pearl spoke, giving no indication of whether or not his words had reached her.

Valerius did as he was told, still on his knees, Valerius sat up and faced her. Pearl was sitting on the sofa, so she was still slightly above him.

“Hands behind your back,” Pearl commanded, and Valerius quickly complied, giving Pearl a clear view of his nude body and fully erect cock. 

“Aren’t you ashamed?” Pearl mocked. “Aren’t you embarrassed to be naked begging to be fucked by me?”

“I would endure any humiliation if it meant you would fuck me,” Valerius replied, looking into her eyes without blinking. At that moment, he meant it. 

Pearl tried and failed to hide the smirk that tugged at her lips with how pleased these words made her.

“Lay yourself across my lap ass up,” she commanded. “If it’s humiliation you want, I will humiliate you further.” 

Valerius nodded and did as he was told, draping himself across her lap. He wasn’t sure what Pearl had in mind, though he should not have been as surprised as he was when he felt her hand firmly slap against his ass.

Valerius gasped and barely had time to recover before another slap came. And another. And another. He bit his lip, doing his best not to cry out with each slap. His cock pressed against Pearl, and he knew that she could feel just how much he enjoyed this.

Once his ass was the perfect shade of red, Pearl reached down to grab a fistful of her lover’s hair, pulling his head firmly back and causing him to cry out. 

“Such a perverted consul,” Pearl taunted. “You enjoy this, don’t you? It’s making your cock hard. Tell me what you want. Beg me for it!”

“Fuck me!” Valerius cried out, the desperation clear in his voice. “Please fuck me! Your abuse is making my perverted cock hard and I want to cum!”

Pearl smiled at him, although her lover couldn’t see it. This was convenient since she didn’t want to let him know just how pleased she was with his behavior. 

“Spread your ass for me,” She ordered. “Spread your ass and then tell me what you want me to do to you.”

The consul reached back with both hands, spreading himself as she had requested.

“Please fuck me!” He begged once more. “Use me however you wish. My body is yours to play with. Please use me and fuck me as you like.” 

Pearl smiled once more as she reached for the queen she had set aside earlier, the piece she had taken that won her their game.

“This look suits you very well,” she mused, moving the piece to Valerius’s lips. “SUCK!” She commanded, slipping the piece into his mouth.

Valerius obeyed at once, even moaning around it. He wanted so much more than this, but hoped, if he did well, he would be rewarded. 

Without a word, Pearl moved the piece away and the consul gasped when he felt something hard press against the hole that he was still offering to her.

Pearl smirked wickedly as she shoved the piece in, leaving the base out to make it easy to remove when the time came.

Valerius moaned, body clenching around the new invasion. He wasn’t sure if it was the sensation of having something so hard shoved into his ass or the embarrassment of it that excited him so much, but he moved his hips without meaning to, moaning and savoring the feel of it.

Pearl laughed openly at him now.

“On your back,” she demanded with a final slap to his ass. “If you want to fuck me, you have to earn it.”

Valerius nodded, though the gesture was lost as he quickly got up and lay on the floor, offering himself to his lover.

Pearl made show of walking around him, surveying her lover from above. She then walked over to take a sip of her forgotten wine glass.

Valerius bit his lip, fighting the urge to beg for some attention, but he feared the punishment that would come if he upset her again. 

Pearl then surveyed the consul’s damaged clothing. She lifted his torn tunic and began to tear it some more, tearing strips of cloth from it.

Valerius was so aroused that even the noise of fabric tearing turned him on. 

Pearl then walked over to him. She tied one hand to the foot of the soft and the other to the leg of a nearby recliner.

Pearl looked down at him again, his eyes were wide and pleading. His face was flushed and his lips slightly parted as though he was fighting with himself not to beg her again. His hair had come loose from his braid and lay around him in messy waves. 

“This look definitely suits you,” Pearl mused again as she began to unfasten the sash around her pants. 

Valerius gasped and pulled slightly on his restraints without meaning to. He caught himself and quickly stopped, doing his best to lay still.

“So eager,” Pearl teased. “you don’t even know what I have planned for you.” 

“I believe there is nothing you could do to me that I would not enjoy,” Valerius spoke, the truth of his words hanging heavy in the air.

Pearl smirked as she pulled away her pants and underwear, tossing them aside.

“If you want me,” she told him, straddling his body but bending down so that she could look into his eyes, “you have to earn it.” Saying this, she moved to straddle his head.  “Pleasure me!”

“Yes…” her lover gasped reverently as she lowered her body over his head.

Consul Valerius was very good at this. Pearl had not expected this. He had not taken a lover in so long, she had anticipated that he would not be particularly skillful but she was terribly mistaken. It crossed her mind that the consul was right to hold his lovers to such high standards when he himself was this good. 

“Oh yes!” She cried, unafraid of letting him know that he was doing well. She reached down and grabbed his hair, using her grip to guide his actions. “It seems you do have your uses, Consul,” she teased.

Just for fun, Pearl pulled away, watching as her lover’s head crane as he attempted to reach her. She slapped him as she had done before.

“BEG!” She commanded. “Beg me to let you pleasure me!”

“Fuck!” He cried in desperation. “Please let me lick you! Let me pleasure you. You’ve found a use for me, so use me… please.”

Pearl smiled as she positioned herself over him once more, guiding him by the hair as she fucked his face. She reached down, running her nails from his abdomen up to his chest, and making him moan. When she saw that he liked this, she did it again and again. Finally, when she came, she dug deep enough to leave red marks across his body.

Once she had ridden out her orgasm, Pearl moved away from him. She smiled down at him and reached down, gently running her fingertips up and down the length of his cock. It was enough to tease and caused her lover to tremble beneath her.

“Be proud of those marks, Valerius,” she teased. 

Hearing his name on her lips made the man’s eyes flutter shut. “They mean you were able to make me cum.” 

“Yes…” he sighed and began to gasp at the way she was teasing his cock. “Please…” he added softly. “Please… I want more…”

“Mmm…” the woman purred. “Naughty…”

Pearl moved down and rubbed against him replacing the hand on her lover’s cock with her body. 

Valerius’s eyes rolled back and he cried out as Pearl reached up to pinch his nipples, twisting them roughly.

Valerius’s back arched and he cried out.

“Buck or try to enter me and I’ll stop,” Pearl threatened. 

Valerius looked at her and his mouth opened. He was about to protest. This was too cruel. However, Pearl stopped her movements and gave him a threatening look. He knew with every fiber of his being that she meant it.

“I’ll be good,” he promised softly. “Please use me as you will... Please…” 

“Good boy,” Pearl cooed as she started to move again.

“Tell me,” she spoke after Valerius’s eyes had closed again, forcing him to look at her. “What is your fantasy, Valerius? Tell me what you desire in your most private moments.”

Pearl was not prepared for his answer.

“You,” her lover replied, looking up at her with pure reverence in his face. “I have wanted you longer and more fondly than I care to admit. And not just today. I want you always.”

Valerius’s face had grown even more flushed and there were tears in his eyes now. He had not dared to admit this, even to himself. As Pearl looked at him, one of the tears that had threatened to spill from his eyes rolled down his cheek.

Despite herself, Pearl was lost. She leaned down, capturing her lover’s lips as she adjusted her position so that she could take him fully. 

They both made loud noises of pleasure but did not break their kiss. 

Finally, Pearl moved away, sitting up to ride him properly.

The image of her pleasuring herself on his body, face flushed, panting… it was too much and Valerius began to thrust despite himself. 

Pearl slapped him across the face for breaking a rule but could not bring herself to stop riding him. She was far too close now.

Valerius cried out in pleasure at the slap and it sent him over the edge. Despite herself, Pearl followed him, loving the thrill of hitting her lover and how much he enjoyed the pain. She moved erratically as they both rode out their orgasms. Pearl took a few moments for them both to catch their breath before reaching to untie her lover.

Valerius’s mind had begun to clear from its lust-filled haze and he was feeling incredibly self-conscious.

“Thank you,” he mumbled once he was untied. He rubbed his wrists and looked away, unable to face Pearl after what they had done.

Pearl put a hand on his shoulder and then reached up to move some of his hair out of his face and behind his ear.

“Did I do anything that was too much or you didn’t like?” She asked. Her tone was soft and serious now, not at all like she had spoken to him earlier.

“I enjoyed it all very much,” Valerius replied, still looking away from her. “You did not do anything out of line.”

The consul ran his fingers through his hair, making an attempt to straighten it. He was suddenly very much aware of his own nakedness and feeling rather self-conscious. He shifted and felt the chess piece still wedged in his ass. 

“May I remove this now?” he asked, unsure if it was necessary to ask permission at this point.

“Of course,” Pearl replied, looking around and finding her lover’s cloak, which she wrapped around him to give him some coverage until he could fetch him proper clothing. 

“I’ll be right back,” she assured him as she quickly dressed and headed out the door. 

Valerius was unsure of what to do once she was gone, not that he had had truly known how to act when she was there. He removed the chess piece from his ass and fiddled with the edge of the cloak. He was trying hard not to think of anything in particular, fearing that if he did so, he would crack. He felt vulnerable, exposed, and wanted comfort. However, he was too ashamed to ask for it. He wanted Pearl to stay with him, but feared her rejection too much to ask it of her. She had pulled the confession of his feelings from him but Pearl had no way of knowing if his feelings were genuine or if they were simply spoken in the heat of the moment. He had no reason to think that this meant anything to her. It was clear from her fling the night before that sex meant nothing to her and the thought was too painful for Valerius in his vulnerable state.

Pearl returned quickly with two towels, a robe, some water, and a brush.

“I told the servants that you spilled wine on clothing and asked them to draw you a bath,” she explained.

She lay the robe down near him and then took a towel, which Valerius realized was damp and warm, and began to gently rub his face with it.

It felt nice. Too nice and Valerius refused to let himself sink into the comfort of it. Doing so might break him.

“That’s not necessary,” he spoke, quickly pushing her and the towel away. 

His face was still turned and Pearl was easily able to tell something was wrong. 

“Valerius,” she spoke softly, putting fingers under his chin to force him to look at her. She searched his face for a moment, taking in his lost expression before silently pulling him into an embrace, resting his head against her chest.

“I don’t need this,” the consul spoke coldly, though he made no effort to pull away from her. 

“I do,” she replied, gently running her fingers through his hair and resting a cheek on his head. “Humor me.”

“If you insist,” Valerius sighed though his body remained stiff against her.

After a few moments, Pearl realized he wasn’t going to relax and she sighed, pulling away from him. 

Unsure of what else to do, she rose from their awkward embrace and finished her wine in a large gulp.

“You don’t have to act so cold all the time,” she said, the first signs of genuine frustration she’d expressed all day creeping into her voice. She straightened her clothes and reached for her hat and cloak. Valerius realized she was preparing to leave.

She walked over to him and caressed his cheek, the one that was not sore from her previous abuse.

“If you ever decide you want some warmth and tenderness… I’m good for that too.” She informed him and although her voice was cold, it cracked slightly at the end and Valerius caught a glimpse of the pain behind her words. 

Pearl moved away from him and started to leave. It was her turn to attempt to hide her face from her lover but Valerius grabbed her waist, pulling her back towards him and holding her body against his.

“I want that…” his voice shook and his body trembled as he held her close. Although he still could not look at her, he allowed himself to surrender to the warmth of the embrace. Pearl relaxed too, settling against him once more. Perhaps she would not stay with him forever, but she was here now and for the moment, that was enough.

[featherypromises]

Rp transcription part 3: Ice Cream

Jungkook felt heat coming off of the older man and frowned slightly, was he warmer now? He felt the man shiver and keeping tae propped up against his chest he popped two tablets into Taehyung's mouth and brought the juice glass to the older man's lips.

***********************************************

Taehyung swallowed the pills with some difficulty. He grimaced and started to cough instantly after.

***********************************************

Jungkook rubbed soft circles into Taehyung's back with his hand. He smiled in spite of himself, at least he was here. And he was able to help Taehyung, even if it was just a little. He didn't want to be anywhere else than by the older man's side. 

"Do want want me to get you tea or something to help your throat? " he asked, still half cradling the older against him.

***********************************************

Taehyung nodded. "Y-Yes please..." He croaked out, sounding so small and raspy, similarly to how he was back at the shooting sight. 

He managed to comfort himself with the thought that he wasn't alone, and that Jungkook was with him and caring for him.

************************************************

Jungkook gave Taehyung a comforting squeeze around his shoulder before helping the older man to lay down and slipping his arm out from underneath the sick man. He tenderly smoothed the other's hair out of his eyes, (subtly testing the fever with his hand) before pulling the comforter up to the older man's chest. He looked at Taehyung as he stood, feeling like he still wasn't doing enough for him, he leaned down and cupped Taehyung's cheek and said soothingly,

"I'll be right back, okay?... Try to stay warm."

************************************************

Taehyung nodded, too exhausted to feel shy about Jungkook's care, or touches. But that didn't mean he wasn't incredibly grateful for all the younger was doing for him. 

"T-Thank you for taking care of me, Kookie.." He rasped out, his words slurring somewhat.

************************************************

Jungkook hurried out of the room and began to make the tea. He chose a flavorful, but not aromatic non caffeinated black tea. He added a squeeze of lemon and an extra spoonful of honey. It was more than he liked in his tea, but Taehyung liked sweet things and it would help him to sleep and help his throat. He grabbed a bowl and filled it with cool water just in case it was needed and snagged a washcloth off of the rack in the bathroom with his pinky on his way past. He eased the door open, hoping Taehyung would still be awake.

*************************************************

Taehyung was indeed still awake, but was slowly starting to drift off. He forced himself to stay awake, however, since he didn't want Jungkook to feel guilty again. 

He heard the door creak open and slowly sat up, using his elbows to help. He smiled at Jungkook gratefully and whispered a small, "Thank you," since his voice was practically gone.

***********************************************

Jungkook's chest gave a small twinge of sympathy as he heard the sick man's fading voice. That beautiful, deep voice that practically made him forget how to think… That voice sounded like this now. This sickness was taking so much out of the older man. 

Jungkook set down the cloth and bowl on his side on the bed on the desk and waited until Tae was settled before handing him the tea. He hoped between tea and meds and blankets that he would be able to help Taehyung to beat this nasty virus.

"You are welcome, Hyung. If you need anything else just ask."

*************************************************

Taehyung nodded and took a small, tentative sip of tea. He hummed happily when the warm liquid soothed his aching, burning throat. "Thank you," he whispered again.

**********************************************

Jungkook nodded and slowly sat down on the bed, trying not to jostle the bed and upset the tea. He watched Taehyung and quickly looked away, playing with a hanging thread on his sleeve as a distraction. He felt his shyness creeping up again. 

He grabbed his juice off the desk and finished it in seconds, he didn't realize that he had even been thirsty, but the juice wet his throat pleasantly. He smiled and looked at Taehyung again, enjoying the small comfort that the man got from the beverage.

**********************************************

Taehyung rested his head on Jungkook's shoulder as he sipped on the warm tea. His nose started to run, so he pressed the underside of his wrist to the offending organ and took a tentative sniffle. He didn't want to aggravate his sinuses and cause another fit of sneezes. 

He let out a breath he didn't know he was holding when nothing of the sort happened and continued on, happily drinking his tea.

***********************************************

Jungkook wrapped an arm around Taehyung's shoulders as the smaller man leaned into his shoulder. He was blushing slightly again, thinking about how comfortably Tae fit against him. This was nice. 

Jungkook had a few errant thoughts about going shopping together when Taehyung was better, or maybe getting an ice cream together. Maybe... kind of like a... date?... 

Jungkook dismissed that train of thought as fast as he could. 

Even though he had come to realize that he liked Taehyung, and more than just a friendship type of "like"... Taehyung was beautiful and talented, he could take his pick of people to date. He deserved the best. 

So why did that feeling of butterflies still linger...?

***********************************************

Taehyung noticed that Jungkook seemed to be lost in his thoughts and smiled. The younger looked so... perfect that way. And the light from the window hit him in a way that made it seem like Jungkook was posing for some kind of photoshoot. The thought made Taehyung blush.

In an attempt to get rid of his whirling thoughts, he poked Jungkook's cheek to get the younger's attention. "What're you thinking about?" He asked, his voice not as croaky or raspy as before.

***********************************************

Jungkook startled and felt his face go red.

"N-nothing much..." he stammered in a paper-thin lie, he amended the statement with a grain of truth, " I was thinking that we should do something fun when you are all better... before we get busy again."

Jungkook needed to calm down, so he didn't look at Taehyung's face as he spoke. Why was this getting harder?

***********************************************

Taehyung blushed slightly at the idea and smiled brightly. "That sounds nice! We could go get ice cream or something."

***********************************************

Jungkook froze and although his brain was yelling at him not to tempt himself, he slowly lifted his big dark eyes and looked at Taehyung's smiling face.

Taehyung wanted to...

His brain slammed that door shut. Taehyung was probably just speaking as two friends getting food together. That was fine… Yup. Completely normal… And fine… He already thought that. Crap!

He shook himself out of that pattern of thinking and gave a soft smile back. 

"I'd really like that..." he finally said, trying to remember to breathe.

********************************************

Taehyung smiled shyly and blushed even further. Would it be a... a date? Wait, no, of course it's not a date. It's just an outing as friends. Just friends. No weird feelings. Get your head together, Taehyung!

He took a deep breath. "I guess I'll just have to get better quickly then!" He said, reminding himself not to get too excited. This was just a friendly get together. Nothing more.

**********************************************

Jungkook smiled more earnestly at the older man's enthusiasm. 

"Exactly, and in order to get better fast, you have to sleep." 

He looked at Taehyung and he knew that even if nothing came of this whole affair, he was happy to have Taehyung in his life. Their lives felt connected now.

**********************************************

Taehyung laughed softly and set the tea to the side. He got under the covers properly and shivered a bit, sniffling. He really hoped the medicine would kick in soon and he would make a fast recovery.

He stirred slightly as he tried to drift off, his fever making him uncomfortable. He huffed out a breath.

***********************************************

Jungkook hesitated as he watched the older man try to settle in for the night. The impulse to try to help, tipped the scales and he lifted the covers off of his side of the bed and inserted himself right beside Taehyung.

 He snuggled into the pillow and covered himself with the comforter up to his nose, hiding his scarlet cheeks from the sight of the other man, he hoped.

***********************************************

Taehyung felt his presence and smiled softly. He continued to try and fall asleep, but still to no avail.

He sighed and sat up, rubbed his eyes as he shivered and coughed. Now that the high of being "asked out" was gone, his fever was starting to, once again, play a major role in how he was feeling. He bitterly thought about how badly the medicine was working.

***********************************************

Jungkook sat up as well, 

"Do you want a cool cloth for your head, hyung? If that's not comfortable I can find one of those fever patches that Yoongi-hyung uses?"

************************************************

Taehyung sighed. "The cloth sounds nice..." He muttered, laying back down. "C-Could you check my temperature, though?" He asked shyly.

**********************************************

He wasn't really sure what else to do for his hyung. It worried Jungkook that the medicine only seemed to be taking care of the nasal part of the cold. 

He wet the cloth and wrung it out well so it wouldn't drip. Carefully he moved Taehyung's bangs and laid the small cloth slowly onto the sick man's forehead. He grabbed the thermometer and reset it.

He held it out so that Taehyung could slip the awkward device under his tongue.

***********************************************

Taehyung hummed contently when the cloth made contact with his burning skin and placed the thermometer under his tongue. 

What seemed like an eternity later, the device beeped and Taehyung checked it. He let out a long sigh; like he suspected, his fever had gotten higher. 38.4° Celsius.

*************************************************

Jungkook let out a muttered curse. He took the thermometer and turned it off dropping it back onto the desk.

He grabbed the cold medicine and reread the instructions and the list of symptoms it treated. It was normal cold and flu medicine by all appearances. His frustration at being so powerless to help Taehyung manifested as a shaky exhale. He rubbed his face with his hand and tried to think of what else to do. 

If the fever went up much further, Jungkook might have to call their manager or at least RM to get the sick man to a clinic.

*********************************************

Taehyung noticed Jungkook's frustration and placed a gentle hand on top of the younger's. "Kook, I'll be fine, don't worry." He assured. "It's just a nasty cold, and since you've been taking care of me so well, I'm sure I'll get better faster." He blushed slightly at his words and offered a shy smile.

**********************************************

Jungkook tried to smile at him but his face couldn't quite manage it. Now Tae was worrying about him instead of himself.  

"Sorry..." he tried again to smile and managed better this time, "I just hate seeing you sick like this,... it makes me... I dunno..." he blushed. 

He scrambled to put something into words: it makes me feel things, I've never felt... I'm anxious about you... I'm scared that I will wreck this friendship. 

"I feel protective of you when you don't feel well." Was the answer he finished with.

Not totally lame, but not even close to how he felt about Taehyung. But he would probably never get up the nerve to say it.

*********************************************

Taehyung's stupid mind thought of his words as much more, and he blushed profusely. A bright smile crept up on his face, despite him not wanting to look so hopeful and happy over his words. 

"You don't have to be, Kookie. But thank you. I appreciate it a lot..."

********************************************

"It's just how I am with you, I guess. You bring out the best in me." Jungkook almost swallowed his tongue in shock at the honesty he was unintentionally providing. 'Okay, just breathe, it wasn't that weird right?' 

The next sentence came out in a rush,  preceded by a nervous chuckle:

"You just try to rest, do you want any extra pillows or blankets? I can go get... something?"

*********************************************

"No, no, it's fine... B-But..." He swallowed. "Can you stay with me?" He requested quietly, a blush creeping up onto his already fever-flushed cheeks.

*********************************************

Jungkook smiled, his eyes shining, " Of course! He crawled back under the covers next to Taehyung and laid back with one hand behind his head. He grinned at the ceiling happily for a moment before extending the arm closest to the older man invitingly.

***********************************************

Taehyung smiled from ear to ear and scooted closer to Jungkook. Admittedly, his heart was pounding in his chest, but he didn't worry about that.

********************************************

Taehyung was smiling so broadly, and Jungkook's heart gave a little squeeze that he subconsciously began to associate with the older man. 

He wrapped on arm around Taehyung and pulled him even closer to him. He could feel the smaller man's too warm body against his and willed his body to somehow bring the fever down by proximity... or good example..  or anything... 'just fix him' he mentally ordered his body and the universe. He relaxed and closed his eyes, knowing that he wouldn't be able to sleep until he was sure Taehyung was sleeping soundly in his arms.

*************************************************

Taehyung rested his head in the crook of Jungkook's neck and closed his eyes. Comforted by the younger's presence, he managed to fall asleep relatively quickly.

*************************************************

Jungkook felt Taehyung's breathing even out and peeked down at him. Sure enough, he was out like a light. He grinned happily, now at least he could guarantee that Taehyung got enough rest to heal and recover. 

He paused, as a thought came to him. He shouldn't but he would probably never have a chance like this again. Ducking his head slightly, before he could lose his nerve, he planted a feather-light kiss on the top of Taehyung's head. Electric waves of joy and a feeling of, what can only be described as, "rightness" washed over him.  He put his head back onto the pillow and stared at the ceiling thinking about everything that had happened and everything he had felt.

About a half hour later, Jungkook was still awake when he heard faint voices in another part of the house. The others must be back. Shortly after they quieted, Namjoon's head poked through the open doorway to Taehyung's room. He saw Jungkook "trapped" beneath Taehyung's head and rolled his eyes. He pulled out his phone and tapped out a quick text. Jungkook's phone buzzed.

With his free arm, Jungkook fished his phone out of his pocket.

[RM: I told u 2 take care of him but isn't this a bit much???:(

JK:  He couldn't sleep and was really sick. I gave meds and soup earlier.

JK: He only fell asleep 30min ago.

RM: Fever? He looked bad earlier.

JK: He got up 2 38.4 before bed. I think it was higher at the shoot.

RM: !!!X(

RM: U know u r probably going 2 get sick 2 right? 

JK: I know, but he never would have said anything until he collapsed. U know how he is.

RM: I thought as much. Thx JK. I got the shoot 4 the group postponed till Wednesday night after recordings. 3 days isn't much, but it should help. The others and I have 2 still do that radio interview tomorrow early, then we r working on the new songs with Yoongi-hyung. R u going 2 b ok here?

JK: We will b alright, he needs rest but he will probably feel bad about it. Can you text him in the morning to let him know he's good and that no 1 is mad @ him? I can handle the rest, but he will believe u about that more than me.

RM: Will do. I'm proud of u, our JK has grown up well. ]

Jungkook smiled and stifled a laugh. He gave the leader a thumbs up and the older man left. 

Jungkook put his phone down before pulling the covers more snugly around Tae and finally going to sleep himself.

The next morning, he woke feeling groggy. Why did the room look weird? His arm was under something heavy. Then he remembered yesterday's events. He was in Taehyung's bed with Taehyung in it... that still amazed him.

He looked down at the still sleeping Taehyung with contentment. If only every morning he could wake up to that... he pushed that thought back. He would never forget yesterday as long as he lived though.

*******************************************

[monausher]

Comfort food is needed in uncomfortable times.  Being confined to my house during the pandemic returned me to the teenager I once was when war made stepping outside too dangerous.  Now – just as then – I took refuge in sweet, simple food – recipes that puzzled me even as the best way to enjoy them was just to go to the shops and buy them readymade.  I am talking about basics – bread, hummus, za’atar, syrupy sweets and even Turkish delight.  These are all the very essence of Beirut – its scents, its sounds, its true identity.  But with untold hours on my hands here in London, I set about trying to deconstruct and then create my versions of these everyday treats that you would normally buy at a market or a patisserie – even in the worst times in Beirut.  That’s how I first began to cook anyway – experimenting without a second thought. Then my guinea pig was my younger sister, now it’s my husband.  So it was hardly a voyage of discovery, more a rummaging around in the attic of memory and tradition, trying on random leftovers from another time and place. 

 And you can’t get any more basic in Beirut than Ka’ak – sold from bicycles and stands on the Corniche for those who don’t have the patience to make it to the next cafe.  My husband was surprised at how soft the version I made was – I told him that’s because it goes stale as it’s left all day in bunches before it’s sold.  But when you have it fresh from the bakery in the morning, it is something else – far more inviting.

The obvious next step was to make Lebanese flat bread.  This was harder than I thought.  I struggled to get it to lift and to have the right consistency inside.  But I persevered – and finally cracked it. 

After a few days, I had to stop as I just couldn’t resist eating my home made bread with everything.  But not before I had finally been persuaded by my husband to make hummus the proper way – by taking the skin off the chickpeas first.  I let him do it as a punishment – in any case hummus has never been one of my favourites. But the smoother, creamier consistency was an instant success with my daughter, who is an aficionado and will eat if from pretty much anywhere.

All of this I was concentrating on as the world appeared to be falling down around us – but with such unreality that it was hard to comprehend.  The gorgeous weather made every day the perfect time to have a late breakfast in the garden – gathering what I had just been working on in the kitchen.   One day it would be shakshoukeh – which we Lebanese really need to reclaim – the next a bowl of za’atar in which to dip my heavenly home made bread.

And the indulgence didn’t stop there.  I’ve always had a sweet tooth, but I’ve never been particularly adept at making cakes or puddings.  So I switched my attention to some of the most luscious concoctions that ooze syrup and indulgence in equal quantities.  First up I tried my hand at kneifeh – but my first attempts veered towards creme brulee before I got the consistency right.  Once again, my greatest talent as a cook is that I keep going through failure after failure, blindly following my instinct rather than measurements or science, until I get there.  That’s actually the biggest pleasure I get from cooking – it’s a million miles from fine dining or tv chef territory, but it’s the only way that rings true for me.

Then I went for what has always seemed to me the somewhat disconsolate orphan of the selection of baklawa that you get from shops – the round hard pastry called bormeh, which usually is left till last like the toffee in a box of chocolates.  Again – thanks to the long featureless days – I spent hours on this.  Sometimes the taste was right, but the consistency was wrong or vice versa.  But what I ended up with was truly delicious – helped I think by the fact that it was softer and less crunchy than the kind you get in shops.

With the warm early summer days and the elderflower still on the trees where I live, I decided to make a refreshing drink combining east and west – by mixing elderflower and pomegranates into a cordial.   It wasn’t my greatest success, but it looked beautiful – and when you’re sitting in the sun at 11 in the morning with nothing but the sky and the nearby river to direct the rest of your day, who really cares.

This is by no means an exhaustive list of all the little challenges I set myself to recreate a menu of utterly everyday tastes and dishes from Lebanon.  But I’ll end with two of the most quixotic and oddly successful.  Like bormeh, another traditional sweet that I find you usually leave until there’s nothing left in the house – and then briefly it’s the best taste in the world – is halwa.  Crazy really to make it at home when it’s the kind of thing you get given whether you like it or not.  But weeks of unhurried seclusion somehow put me in the mood.  Again, I think I must have spent a whole day swearing at my efforts in the kitchen until I got somewhere close to it.  I can’t say that it was the most authentic seeming halwa I’d ever seen, but sometimes it’s the imperfections that make a thing more interesting – and in this case the texture and taste ended up better than I had anticipated in the two versions I finally came up with.

And so we come to Turkish delight – or raha as we call it in Lebanon – not that it’s a particular favourite of mine, but it struck me as perhaps the most pointless and therefore most perfect thing to make in such a time of disorientation.  And it contains some of my favourite flavours – pistachio, rosewater and pomegranate.   My first efforts were more like jelly and I never quite achieved that trick of making it both solid and yielding at the same time.  But I think I made a decent go of it – especially once it was sprinkled with sugar and flowers.

And I surprised my husband with the way we eat it in Lebanon – between two biscuits.  He said I’d just reinvented the jammy dodger.  Well, there are worse ways to spend lockdown, I guess…

Turkish Delight – or Raha – recipe (my way)

400g of granulated sugar

300ml of fresh water

2 teaspoons of lemon juice

1/2 teaspoon of citric acid or lemon crystals

170g of cornstarch

1 teaspoon cream of tartar

200ml of fresh water

2 teaspoons of rosewater

4 tablespoons of pomegranate syrup

Ground or coarsely chopped unsalted pistachio nuts

200g of icing sugar for dusting

50g of cornstarch for dusting

1/2 teaspoon of vegetable oil for your chosen plastic box

Put the granulated sugar and fresh water in a large non-stick pan and stir well until the sugar dissolves.  Put on the hob at medium heat and stir well, once the syrup starts to boil, add the lemon juice and citric acid and mix, reduce temperature to the minimum and leave to simmer for about 20 minutes or until the mixture starts to thicken.  This will take around 25 to 30 minutes.  You can use a candy thermometer and when the temperature reaches 240 degrees you remove the pan from the hob.  The syrup needs to be hot when it is mixed slowly with the cornstarch.

  In another large non-stick pot, sift the cornstarch, cream of tartar – then add water and stir well.  Put the pot on medium heat and keep stirring in one direction the whole time.  Once you see the colour of the starch starting to change, reduce temperature to minimum and keep stirring.  This will take around 5 minutes and you should get a thick paste.

  Now here it gets a bit tricky – you need to be careful handling the hot syrup.  You need to pour the syrup little by little into the cornstarch mixture while you are stirring quickly and constantly.  Get someone to help you here if possible.  Keep adding the syrup to the cornstarch slowly, stirring constantly until you finish the entire amount.  Now reduce temperature to the minimum – to just a very faint flame and keep stirring the turkish delight or raha.  This will take around one hour.  The original recipe is three hours.  Make sure the paste doesn’t burn.  You can leave it simmering and stir every five minutes or so.

  Prepare you plastic box to pour the hot mixture into and use it as a mould to determine the thickness of the raha or turkish delight.  I use a plastic box – 20 cm x 13 cm.  Put a little vegetable oil into it and cover the entire inside of the box.

  After an hour or maybe two if you prefer, remove the pot from the heat and add the rosewater and any flavour you like.  I add pomegranate syrup and some pistachio nuts.  Stir well and pour in the already prepared plastic box. Smooth the surface of the raha and leave to chill for four hours.

  Dust the top with icing sugar and remove the raha or turkish delight from the box.  Cut into pieces and dust again with a mixture of icing sugar and cornstarch.

  Best eaten – if you’re Lebanese at least – between plain biscuits and with Turkish coffee.

                    Lockdown Lebanese Essential Indulgence Comfort food is needed in uncomfortable times.  Being confined to my house during the pandemic returned me to the teenager I once was when war made stepping outside too dangerous. 

[thisurlisasideeffectofdying-blog]

10 Easy to take after Tips to help YOU Lose Weight

Eating less carbs is difficult. In the event that it were, we would most likely all be thin. Since we are not, here are a few tips that fruitful individuals use to shed pounds with the goal that others can profit, as well.

Achievement TIP NO. 1: DRINK 8-10 GLASSES OF WATER EACH DAY

Approve, for some individuals this is a major issue. Water doesn't taste all that extraordinary for the most part since water doesn't generally "taste" like anything. Drinking water 8 to 10 times every day gets less demanding the more you really do it. It is just an issue of molding your taste buds, and yourself, so it gets to be distinctly less demanding to do. When you begin, you will start to long for water. In any case, you ought to drink a glass of water in the morning first thing, before you eat. 

This is presumably the most straightforward glass you will drink throughout the day and it will help you recollect to drink water throughout the day. Even better, why not drink two glasses?  On the off chance that you truly can't tolerate the essence of water, take a stab at utilizing a water decontaminating pitcher or channel. You can likewise include a couple drops of lemon or lime to your water – yet no sugar or sweetener! Ice likewise makes a difference.

Look at enhanced waters available, as well. Simply watch out for added substances.

Achievement TIP NO. 2: EAT BREAKFAST

Try not to skip breakfast. On the off chance that you have to go to bed somewhat prior with the goal that you can get up 20 minutes prior every morning – do it! Breakfast is so essential to your great wellbeing and to weight control. As per Dr. Barbara Rolls an educator of sustenance at Penn State University, "Your digestion system moderates while you rest, and it doesn't rev go down until you eat once more."

Having breakfast is not just useful for general weight reduction, it will help you remain on track with your eating routine whatever is left of the day. You will probably orgy on something sweet and in the "bread" assemble in the event that you skip breakfast. You can simply keep a few hard-bubbled eggs in the ice chest or some high-fiber, low starch organic product around. On the off chance that you plan to eat organic product at all amid the day, breakfast is the ideal time to do i

Achievement TIP NO. 3: EAT AT LEAST 3 MEALS AND 2 SNACKS EACH DAY

This can be one of the hardest changes in accordance with make. All things considered, you are occupied! You as of now have a "full-plate". At the point when do you have sufficient energy to stress over filling your plate with more continuous suppers? Much the same as having breakfast will expand your digestion system, so will eating all the more regularly. This will likewise help you control your awful carb allow by ensuring that your snacks are arranged and happen routinely for the duration of the day.

Truly, it will simply take a negligible speculation of arranging time at the supermarket and at home every morning before you take off for the day to settle on some solid nourishment decisions and set up a couple of sound snacks and suppers. For proposals, simply observe the convenient rundown of snacks and tidbits recorded later.

Achievement TIP NO. 4: AVOID WHITE FOODS

This is one simple approach to recollect what not to eat. In the event that it is produced using sugar, flour, potatoes, rice or corn - simply say no. Recollecting this dependable guideline will make it less demanding to perceive those rice cakes as an undesirable high-carb nibble.Continuously search for vivid leafy foods to substitute for the white ones. Purchase broccoli, lettuce, ringer peppers, green beans and peas, cocoa rice with some restraint, verdant greens like  kale and spinach, apples, melons, oranges and grapes.

These sustenances are not just vivid they are likewise high in fiber, supplements and imperative cancer prevention agents. Eating brilliant foods grown from the ground will give your eating regimen assortment and in addition give you included medical advantages.

Achievement TIP NO. 5: EAT YOUR VEGGIES

It is so natural to utilize a low-carb eat less carbs as a reason for poor sustenance. Oppose this enticement. In the event that the main vegetable you have eaten in the most recent 5 years has been the potato, now is a decent time to start trying different things with different vegetables. This is imperative for your general wellbeing and to maintain a strategic distance from some awful symptoms of not getting enough fiber in your eating regimen.

In the event that you invest sufficient effort, you will discover vegetables that you appreciate eating. Explore different avenues regarding barbecuing veggies and cooking with genuine margarine to include enhance. You can likewise scan for new formulas on the Internet or in cookbooks. Keep in mind, in the event that you are just eating 40 grams of carb a day or less, two measures of plain plate of mixed greens contain just around 5 grams of starch. You have no reason not to eat your veggies. For more information about tattoo care click here.

Achievement TIP NO. 6: PREPARE YOUR OWN FOOD AS M UCH AS POSSIBLE

While an ever increasing number of eateries are putting forth low-carb benevolent menu things, a large number of them are still not perfect low-carb passage. There are numerous formulas for snappy and simple suppers that you can set yourself up at home. Attempt to do this as regularly as would be prudent.On the off chance that you cook your own nourishments, you know precisely what the substance are and you will have the capacity to better control for concealed sugar and generally prepared sustenances.

Another advantage is the cost investment funds as time goes on. Regardless of the possibility that you should go to the supermarket all the more regularly, you will spare a critical sum for every supper instead of eating at eateries and fast food foundations. It will likewise be less demanding to keep up your eating routine with your own particular most loved crisp nourishment choices available.

Achievement TIP NO. 7: INVEST IN A GOOD SET OF FOOD STORAGE CONTAINERS

Having sustenance stockpiling compartments of different sizes available will make it such a great amount of simpler for you to arrange your dinners and snacks. When you purchase nuts, foods grown from the ground in mass you can just get ready, particular and store them for simple utilize later.

For example, you can pre-cut your apples and nibble on them more than a few days. Essentially cut them, flush them in pineapple or lemon squeeze and store. This will make a snappy and simple nibble for some other time. Settle your lunch and bring it with you to work. Even better, settle your lunch and 2 snacks for work.

Achievement TIP NO. 8: EAT SOME PROTIEN AT EACH MEAL and AS A SNACK

Notwithstanding everything that has been examined some time recently, eating protein helps you smolder more calories. Jeff Hample, Ph.D., R.D., a representative for the American Dietetic Association says that, "Protein is made up for the most part of amino acids, which are harder for your body to breakdown, so you blaze more calories disposing of them."

Simply think – eating a protein rich nibble can help you shed pounds. What about a couple cuts of turkey or ham or some string cheddar? Eating protein will likewise help you feel full with the goal that you are less inclined to want unfortunate snacks.

Achievement TIP NO. 9: DRINK A GLASS OF WATER AFTER EACH SNACK

This will help you get in your 8 to 10 glasses of water every day except it can likewise have different advantages. Ever feel hungry in the wake of eating a modest bunch or standard serving of nuts? Have a go at drinking water a short time later. The water will help you feel full and counteract overindulgence. Drinking water after a nibble will likewise help expel the persistent flavor from your mouth and can help check your craving for additional.

Achievement TIP NO. 10: EAT SLOWLY and ENJOY YOUR FOOD

You will feel full and more fulfilled in the event that you set aside the opportunity to appreciate your nourishment and bite it slower. Try not to get in the propensity for eating while standing or eating rapidly. Take a seat and bite. Eating slower will help you make the most of your sustenance more, focus on what it is you are really eating and improve feeling of when you are quite.

[atths--twice]

Picture Perfect Moments

Mulder and Scully attend a small party at Mrs. Scully’s house. (An idea born from a prompt and this old photo of DD and GA.)

They were not working out of town, or even working on an active case, but in the office catching up on paperwork. Scully mentioned in passing that her mother was having a party and had asked if she would be able to stop by.

“You could head over now. I can finish this up.” She gave him a look and he smiled. “I am capable of filing paperwork on my own, you know.”

“Mmm-hmm,” she answered with a smile of her own, finishing the page she was writing on, and signing the bottom.

“Seriously, I can do this, Scully. You go ahead.” He stared at her and she nodded as she set the pen down and stood up.

“Why don’t you come with me?” she asked, a look of surprise on her face that he was sure mirrored his own.

“Oh no, that’s okay. You go on.”

“Mulder,” she said, putting on her coat. “That paperwork can wait, and my mother has asked after you.” She rolled her eyes as she adjusted her collar, and then stood with her eyebrows raised. “Many times, in fact.”

“Scully…”

“Mulder, finish that one I handed you, and let’s go.” She crossed her arms and he sighed.

“Fine. Far be it from me to say no, to not just one, but two Scully women.”

“Smart man,” she smirked and he smiled. Adding his signature to the paper, he set it down and stood up, reaching for his coat.

“What kind of party is it? Will there be cake?” he asked, sliding on his coat, and she snorted.

“Knowing my mother and her friends, there will be many different kinds of desserts.”

“And you didn’t think to lead with that? Come on, let’s go.” He put his hand on the small of her back as he led her out the door, her laughter ringing in his ears.

_____

His plate laden with many delicious treats, he sat on the garden wall, away from the large group of women who were gathered in the backyard. It was cool out, but they did not seem to mind, their cheeks pink from weather and the many bottles of wine on the table.

He heard Scully laughing and he watched her speaking to her mother and a few of the other women. He smiled as he picked up a frosted brownie and took a large bite, his eyes closing at the rich chocolate flavor.

“They’re all quite taken with you.” He heard Scully say and he opened his eyes, finding her standing in front of him with a smile on her face. “Of course, once I told them you have a nasty habit of ditching me, you leave sunflower seeds everywhere, and you believe in little green men from outer space, well…” She took a small piece of his brownie and chewed it as she smiled.

“Gr…” he tried to say, his mouth full. She laughed and rolled her eyes.

“Grey. I know, I know. But Mulder, these are Catholic, church going women, do you want to explain that to them? Really?” She looked over at the women and he followed her gaze.

They were all laughing and drinking their wine. Memories of country club parties from his youth suddenly resurfaced, of rich women and their killer cheek pinching fingers. He shuddered and shook his head, swallowing down the bite of brownie.

“That’s what I thought,” she chuckled as she sat next to him and took another little piece of brownie. “I think I’ve bought us a few minutes at least, except I saw my mother carrying around her new camera, which she never has quite gotten the hang of, so… be on the lookout. Oh… also.” She reached into her pocket and pulled out a small bottle of whiskey. Taking off the cap, she took a drink, and handed it to him. He stared at her and she smiled.

“Why do I get the feeling this isn’t the first time you’ve snuck a bottle of booze from your parents stash?” he asked, as he took a drink and coughed, the liquid burning the back of his throat, and causing his eyes to water.

“Because it’s not,” she said with a laugh and took the bottle back, taking another drink. “Missy and I got very drunk once when I was about sixteen and we were on the roof up there.” She pointed to a flat part of the roof and took another drink. “That’s my old room. We used to sneak out at night and drink and smoke-”

“Smoke?!” he asked incredulously, and she looked at him with a smile, nodding her head. “Does your mother know about this?”

“What are you gonna do? Tell on me?” Another drink and she stared at him, challenging him with her eyes, though the smile on her lips betrayed her tough expression.

“Maybe. What else did you do?” He took the bottle from her and took a drink, coughing again and she giggled, actually giggled.

“I can’t tell you all my secrets, Mulder. Not in one day,” she said softly, and he knew they had crossed into somewhat dangerous territory. He cleared his throat and was about to say something when he saw her mother coming toward them.

“Fox, I hope you’re enjoying the food,” she said. with a twinkle in her eyes, and he nodded. Setting the large plate of food down, he stood up and brushed his hands off, before reaching to clasp her hand.

“Thank you. It’s all delicious,” he said and she smiled.

“Of course. Oh, since you’re both here, let me get a picture of you two,” she said, and went to get her camera. Scully sighed as she stood up and slipped the whiskey bottle in her pocket.

“Here we are,” Mrs. Scully said with a smile. “I don’t get a chance to take pictures often, so… Okay, closer together. Yeah, like that. I’m going to take a couple just in case. I haven’t gotten the hang of all the bells and whistles yet. Okay, I think that’s good. Have fun you two.” With that, she walked away and they sat back down, Scully taking the whiskey from her pocket and opening the cap.

“And she never suspected a thing,” Scully said with a wink, as she took another drink. He laughed and offered her half of the remaining brownie. She took it and smiled at him, but he waved off the whiskey she offered in return. One of them needed to be able to drive back and judging by the pinking of her cheeks, he knew it wouldn’t be her.

“So tell me more about this sneaking out,” he said, taking a bite of a lemon bar. “Pretty ballsy with your father.” She laughed and pretended to zip her lips, her eyes dancing. He smiled, as she took one more drink and put the bottle back in her pocket and sighed. She looked at him and smiled.

“Thanks for coming with me,” she said softly as just then, the wind blew her hair across her face. Without thinking, he tucked it behind her ear, his thumb stroking her cheek. Her eyes searched his and then dropped to his lips, before coming back to his eyes.

Moving his hand, he sat back and cleared his throat. “Well, someone needs to make sure you get home safely.” She looked down and smiled, then looked at him again. He nodded with a smile of his own, the moment between them pulled away with the wind.

_________

A month later, he was at her apartment, going over a case. She asked him to grab a blanket from the closet in her room, the evening becoming chilly. He generally stayed out of her bedroom, it feeling like her private domain, but he did as she asked.

As he was walking out, something caught his eye. In a small frame, he saw a picture of them he had never seen before. They did not have many, if any really, and he was drawn to it like a moth to a flame. Picking it up, he grinned as he realized it was the one Mrs. Scully had taken.

It was a great picture. He was wearing his suit from that day, and had his arm around her shoulders. She had an almost secretive smile on her face, no doubt thinking of the whiskey in her pocket, sneaking out with Missy, or laughing at her mother’s lack of technological knowledge. Whatever the reason, it amplified her already beautiful smile. He stared at it, then set it down, grabbing the blanket and leaving the room.

No doubt her mother gave it to her framed, and yet, she kept it so, and left it out where she could see it. He smiled at the thought and handed her the blanket, saying nothing about it as they continued to discuss the case.

__________

Scully shut the door with a sigh. They wrapped up the case and Mulder took the files with him. Intent on taking a bath and going to bed, she shut off the lights and made her way to the bathroom. The temperature just right, she let the tub fill and went to her room to undress.

As she did, her eyes landed on the picture her mother had brought over, her sly smile saying more than words could. It was not until her mother left though, that Scully found the other two pictures wrapped in tissue. She understood why her mother would not have framed them, but wanted her to have them nonetheless.

They were from the same day, but when neither of them were looking or knew she was taking pictures. In one, they were simply looking at one another, but Scully felt her pulse race as she looked at it. It was innocent, but she felt it to her toes.

The other… she had taken a picture at the exact moment he pushed her hair behind her ear. If the first one made her pulse race, this one made it stop. It was such a Mulder thing to do and yet it was completely unexpected. He was a very touchy person and she had become accustomed to it, but seeing it was another thing in itself.

Her mother could not have captured a better moment, and yet she did not see everything. She did not see how the whiskey made Scully feel bolder, the desire to taste his lips so strong, she nearly fell in, not caring who saw them or where they were. But Mulder saw and he had pulled back, as he cleared his throat and changed the feel of the moment.

Scully opened a dresser drawer and moved aside her sweaters, taking out the pictures, needing to see them again. She smiled as she held them, seeing the care they had for one another, frozen in two perfect pictures. She sighed as she put them back and closed the drawer.

Maybe one day she would put them out, but for now they would stay hidden. Like many other things, it was safer that way.

For now.