#Coriander Grey

[epochinspace]

Y'ALL, band AU got me good!!

I'll post more lore in a separate post, but their band name is EPICSPACE

Current Members:

Maris - (founding member) - Lead Vocals, Rhythm Guitar

Cori - (founding member) - Backing Vocals, Lead Guitar (leftie)

Soren - (founding member) - Drums

Shiloh - joined 20XX-present - Bass Guitar

Former Members:

several bass players unnamed

[abyssopelagic-terror]

cilantro and coriander are the same thing? huh.

[parcai]

my red flag is spelling everything w br*tish english ☹️

[maracujatangerine]

91. A conversation

CW: institutional slavery, pet whump, dehumanisation, box boy universe

“Cory… I think we need to talk.” Lydia’s tone was cautious. Carefully gentle. “What do you think?”

Coriander had been sitting slumped against the wall on his green pillow in the kitchen. When Lydia spoke, he instantly straightened up.

“Y-yes, Miss Lydia. T-this pet needs to talk. It has been thinking.”

“Okay.”

Lydia sat down in her usual chair, facing him. For quite some time now, she had been more relaxed around Coriander. She had felt able to trust their report and that also he would be less vigilant in interpreting any gesture of hers as a sign of displeasure or censure. Now, however, she once again felt herself hyper aware of her own body language. Do not cross your arms, she reminded herself. Shoulders turned towards him, heart open, posture welcoming. She smiled, and nodded.

“I’m listening. We can talk about whatever you want.”

“T-this pet has been thinking about what.. what has happened to it. About why it is here.”

Coriander rose to his feet, perfectly graceful as usual.

“Miss Lydia, This pet did volunteer, it did. It knows it did.” He pulled a shaking hand through his blonde hair. “T-there w-was a signature, on a paper, and… and…” He shook his head. “T-this pet cannot remember. But.” He looked down at Lydia, grey eyes suddenly fierce. “B-but this pet knows that it wouldn’t have volunteered if it knew. If it knew what it was going to be like. Nobody would volunteer for that.”

He started to pace the kitchen, back and forth, his shaking hands drawn tightly into fists.

“The cold, the beatings, the starvation, the experiments, the violence, the abuse, the contempt, the neglect.” His whole body shaking, he stared unseeing out the window. “The way you are never good enough.”

Lydia could feel her whole chest ache in phantom pain as her heart hurt for him. She wanted to reach out to Cory, but she was also afraid to disturb whatever path he was on. This was probably the first time ever he named the things he’d been going through.

When he just stayed silent, breathing hard, staring out the window, she eventually said, as gently as she could.

“Cory. This is terrible, and I am so sorry that it happened to you. I’m really glad that you can start to talk about it, though. I’m here, and I’m listening to everything you want to talk about.” She paused, and when he showed no sign of even having heard her, she added. “I just want to remind you that this is never going to happen to you ever again. You are safe here.”

He whirled on her, then.

“B-but, Miss Lydia. If nobody w-wanted to buy it, this would not have happened to this pet.” He paused and swallowed. “This would not have happened to me!”

Looking down, he continued. “You have been kind to this pet, that is true. But there is a paper in the drawer there…” He pointed, his whole arm an accusing arc. “That says that you own it. Whatever you want to do to this body…” He hesitated and plunged on. “…to this soul, it is your right to do it.”

Coriander shook his head slowly, grey eyes boring into hers. Very slowly and steadily he said. “Miss Lydia, i-if it wasn’t for you - a-and many more people like you - t-this pet wouldn’t be here.”

He hung his head, then. Exhaustion and a spasm of pain flickering over his face for just an instant. Gritting his teeth, he met her eyes again.

“Miss Lydia, t-this pet needs some time alone. May it be excused to go for a walk?”

Lydia nodded quickly, biting her lip.

“Of course, Cory, whatever you need.”

The blonde young man inclined his head respectfully, but the fire in his grey eyes did not die down.

“Thank you, Mistress.”

Lydia held it together while Coriander went out into the hallway, put on his shoes and coat, and walked out the door.

It was only after she heard the sound of the latch clicking closed that she leant down on the smooth, wooden surface of the kitchen table, hid her face in the crook of her arm, and cried.

Tag List Part 1: @cupcakes-and-pain @whump-em @whumpzone @wh-wh-whu @neuro-whump @carnagecardinal @cowboy-anon @whump-me-all-night-long @redwingedwhump @myst-in-the-mirror @haro-whumps @eatyourdamnpears @bloodsweatandpotato @pinkraindropsfell @whumptywhumpdump @theydy-cringeworthy @whump-in-progress @whumpsy-daisy @nicolepascaline @whumpcreations @briars7 @shiningstarofwinter @whumppsychology @alex-ember @miss-kitty-whumptastic @whumpy-writings @in-patient-princess @youtube-fandoms-bands @goblinchildindabog @mazeish @distinctlywhumpthing @inpainandsuffering @canniboylism @icannotweave @incoherent-introspection @kim-poce @broken-typewriter @the-monarch-whumperfly @whumpers-inc @grizzlie70 @lil-whumper @writingbackwards-blog @sunflower1000 @wingedwhump @thecitythatdoesntsleep @thingsthatgo-whump-inthenight @onlybadendings @rabass @wolfeyedwitch @melancholy-in-the-morning

[aoioozora]

Simon.

Part 8

Part 1 - Part 2 - Part 3 - Part 4 - Part 5 - Part 6 - Part 7 - Part 9 - Part 10 - Part 11 - Part 12

Character: Simon Riley / Ghost Content: Biker! Ghost x Fem! Reader, strangers to lovers, fluff, civilian au

Note: I still can't believe that I've written 8 whole chapters for a oneshot that I never planned on making into a series! But I'm glad it's coming along well and that you're enjoying it :) I hope you enjoy this chapter too.

Tags: @cmbghost @gluttonybiscuits @paintlavillered @eatingtheworldsoffanfiction @iimichie

@mxtokko

“Morning, Simon!” 

____ and Lindsey arrived at Simon's door at seven in the morning as planned. His crush was the one who excitedly greeted him, while her friend looked disgruntled and ticked at having to be up so early. 

“Morning,” he greeted them civilly as his hand instinctively ran through his hair, trying not to appear even the slightest disheveled or flustered at the sight of ____’s smiles, and moved away from the door to let the two in. 

“Have a seat. I'll bring you some tea,” he said, promptly moving towards the kitchen. 

The ladies, particularly the author, took in the surroundings of his little flat as they entered and sat down. The entire place as a whole was simple. The walls of the living room were empty and unpainted except for a singular, ancient grandfather clock that hung alone near his curtained balcony, filling the quiet room with its rhythmic ticking. She saw that he was concerned more with pragmatics than aesthetics; if it didn't serve a purpose, then it wasn't needed. 

She saw that he favored dark colors of blue and black, and neutrals, but found that bright colors were speckled throughout the room in his red floor lamp, the gold painted knobs of his brown television stand, and the red and white chevron patterned cushions on his grey couch. The simple state of his room made her wonder if his bedroom was more personalised. 

A hint of green caught her attention and she turned to the balcony. A few potted plants of mint, tomatoes, and coriander, all of which were healthy and green, swayed gently in the morning breeze. She smiled at this. “He’s a gardener,” she thought to herself, not quite expecting it.

The smell of lemon and mint wafted through the air, bringing her thoughts back. Simon brought out a tray of three mismatched teacups and a glass teapot filled with what smelled and looked like lemon tea. 

“Have some tea,” he set down the tray on the coffee table and poured out the tea for them. 

She, wanting to use Simon as a model for her character, Frederick, watched keenly as he poured with a thoughtful, concentrated look on his face. She wondered why he used a glass teapot over porcelain or any other material, but that was probably not important. However, she was not going to let even the smallest things about him and his choices escape her scrutiny. 

“When will Johnny come?” asked Lindsey as soon as she had her sip of tea. 

Simon glanced at the grandfather clock. “At six forty-five, he said he'd be here in ten minutes. He's picking up our other friend, Kyle too. Maybe there's some hold-up,” he answered. He felt a little strange; it was his first time properly speaking to Lindsey, and she seemed to look judgingly at him, as if to find a fault. 

____ was silent, as she was more concentrated on the taste and temperature of her tea. It was lightly sweetened and refreshing thanks to the lemon and mint. A mental note was already taken that Frederick too would be good at brewing tea. 

Simon's ringtone tore the silence and he immediately slid the phone out of his jeans. Thinking it was Johnny, he looked expectantly, but it was his mum. Looking back at the ladies, he excused himself and went out to the balcony to talk. 

“What do you think of him?” ____ asked Lindsey, who took slow sips of her tea as the two watched the man pace around the balcony through the partially drawn translucent curtains. 

“He makes good tea,” she answered, “I think I'll approve of him a bit.” To Lindsey, a man who could brew a good tea was worth marrying, because, according to her, it meant that he cared about the little things, like making tea taste good. As ____ smiled, she paused for a moment before quipping, “He seems nice so far, but I don't trust him just yet.”

____ shook her head, chuckling. Lindsey was always so skeptical of everyone and everything, both a vice and a virtue. 

Simon soon emerged from the balcony into the living room, brows furrowed with concern. He looked straight at ____ and said, “I need to have a word with you, darling,” and then promptly stepped into the kitchen without waiting for an answer, expecting her to follow. 

She instantly set down her teacup and followed Simon into the kitchen. “What's the matter?” she asked as soon as she entered, finding him leaning his back on the kitchen counter, arms crossed. 

He turned to her, almost opening his mouth to speak but cautiously glanced at the open door; he looked back at her, beckoning her to come closer. When she did, he said, “I don't know how you'll react to this but I need you to hear me out, alright, darling?” 

Her curiosity heightened and she nodded.

“Y'see, my mum just called and they're going to have a family reunion soon since my old man's come back home for a holiday from his military service,” he paused, sucking in a sharp breath, unsure about how she would take his next words, but continued anyway, “And my mum asked me if I found a girlfriend yet because she's worried I'm going to die single…” he paused again, “and I may have accidentally told her that you're my girlfriend.” 

“You what?” she stared incredulously at Simon, although she wasn't quite opposed to what he did. 

“Yeah,” he sighed, shaking his head, embarrassed with himself, “I'm really sorry.” 

“Wait, does your mum know about me?” 

“Yeah, I told her a few weeks ago that I recently made friends with this lass,” he paused to sigh again, “And when she asked if I finally found a girlfriend, I accidentally said yes, and when she asked if it was you…” he paused again and shrugged. 

The lady paused. Now that he said it, it couldn't be helped and she had to play along. Not that it bothered her. She chuckled. “Well, it's alright. You take the trouble of pretending to be my boyfriend, so I guess it wouldn't hurt to pretend to be your girlfriend for a bit.” 

Simon looked back at her, visibly relieved. 

“Now, what do you need me to do?” she asked. 

“That's the hard part. We'll have to make up a story of how we met and how we hit it off. And I'll have to bring you home and introduce you to my family. And not just that, you know who else will be there.” He pursed his lips tight. 

She immediately knew. She wiped her clammy hands on her jeans and nodded. “Right, yes.”

He could see the apprehension on her face and in her body as she crossed her arms. Feeling terrible that he dragged her into this, he said, “Darling, you don't have to do this if you don't want to. If going there and meeting him again will make you uncomfortable, then I'm not forcing you to come with me.” 

She drew in a shaky breath and pondered for a moment. Simon watched her, gulping harshly. 

“No,” she finally said, resolute, “I shouldn't be so scared all the time. If I'm going to be there as your girlfriend, I shouldn't be afraid of some ex of mine.”

Simon blinked in surprise at this response. He appreciated her bravery, and felt his admiration for her increase. However, he didn't show it, and kept his facial expressions neutral with a little smile. “I guess, yeah,” he nodded. He paused for a moment, wanting to say something else, but she beat him to it.

“If anything happens, you’ll stick up for me, won’t you?” she asked smilingly, “Since you’re my “boyfriend”.”

He felt his heart leap. That was the exact thing he wanted to assure her of, and it flattered him greatly to know that they had been thinking of the same thing. Even though he knew this was going to be a pretense, it rubbed his male instincts and ego right to be depended on for protection. 

He answered with a wide smile, “Of course, my love.”

“Why d’ye drive a manual?” asked Johnny as soon as he took the shotgun seat, watching ____ take her place in the driver's seat. 

“Tut tut,” she shook her head, bringing out a mini sombrero from her pocket which she placed on the gear stick, “It's Emmanuel.”

The three passengers in the back, from left to right– Simon, Lindsey, and Gaz, watched as Johnny burst out laughing, also making ____ laugh as she got the car started. 

“Ghosty, she's a woman of culture!” Johnny exclaimed, looking back at his best friend. 

Simon made no answer as he was upset that he couldn't sit next to ____. Lindsey felt similarly, but for Johnny. Regardless of that, the drive began with gusto, with Johnny and Gaz filling the time with their singing and jokes, while the other three listened. 

____ drove for the first hour, and Johnny took over for the second and the two switched seats, exchanging jokes and quips with ease, making both Simon and Lindsey at the back miserable and jealous. Simon drove for fifteen minutes in the third hour until he nearly hit a tree, but swerved back to the road right on time to avoid damaging both the car and his crush's esteem. Gaz took over for the remaining forty-five minutes, and Simon was banished to the back seat. 

Thankfully for him, ____ sat next to him to console him, “Don't worry. After all, you did say that if you tried really hard, you wouldn't hit a tree. You did great for fifteen minutes at least!”

Simon chuckled out of embarrassment. It didn't make him feel any better, but he appreciated her effort. 

The camping spot was soon in sight. It was around ten in the morning when Gaz parked the car in the shed of a little cabin. The ladies learnt that the spot belonged to one of Gaz's relatives, who was happy to lend it out to anyone who needed it. And from how the three men scampered around the place relaxedly, it was evident that they were regular visitors. 

The fenced piece of land was right next to a little lake which afforded a view of the distant green hills speckled with heathers and daisies. A lonely little dock hung over the surface of the water, which, as Simon informed the ladies, “made a nice fishing spot”.

The group first decided to begin their hike as planned before unloading the car. England's weather was notorious for being fickle and since the skies were currently clear of all rain clouds, the hike was chosen as the first activity. 

The trail was an easy one, chosen for the benefit of the ladies who were partially accustomed to walking on rocky, uneven terrain. The end of it promised a little waterfall, which Johnny was excited about showing them, as was evident in his constant singing of sea shanties while they hiked. Gaz happily joined him, while the ladies and Simon chose to be their audience like earlier. 

“Johnny sure loves to sing,” observed ____, who trudged between Lindsey and Simon. 

“He's a born singer,” replied Simon with a sigh, sounding both proud of and annoyed with his friend, “And he was a theater kid too. Acted in tons of musicals and plays, mostly musicals. Put him together with Gaz and they'll be singing and dancing all day.”

She chuckled. “How long have you guys known each other?” 

“Johnny's my childhood friend. We've known each other since we were ten years old. As for Gaz, both of us met him in university and we quickly became friends,” he explained, kicking a rock out of the way. 

The two ladies looked at each other. “That's a long time,” remarked Lindsey, “You all must be really close then.” 

“Too close,” Simon said dryly, but there was a hint of affection in his voice. He then turned to the ladies to ask, “And what about you two? How long have you been friends?” 

“Since high school,” ____ answered, smilingly linking her arm with Lindsey's, “She's basically my sister now.” 

Simon smiled. He could tell, for the moment he saw them together, they stuck to each other like glue and didn't leave each other's side for more than a few moments. 

Johnny looked back at the calm trio behind him and Gaz. “Jolene!” He called Lindsey by her nickname. When he had her attention, he beckoned her to join him in singing. 

“I don't know any of the songs you're singing!” she protested. 

“Dinnae ye worry, wee lassie!” he retraced his steps, put an arm around her shoulders, and dragged her ahead with him, making her squeal and stumble. “Gaz and I will teach you!” he promised, and kept his arm around her as they hiked up the hillock. 

While the two men busied themselves in teaching Lindsey to sing ‘Bully in the Alley’, ____ and Simon were left to themselves. The lady smiled at Lindsey's attempts to sing, though she was no singer. 

“Lindsey hates singing,” she whispered to Simon, “It's crazy how she's doing it for Johnny.” A girlish giggle escaped her lips at the thought of a romance blooming between the two. Her authorly brain couldn't help but conjecture all the sweet moments they would have, worthy of a novel of its own. 

“And I'll tell you what, Johnny's never been this fixated on one woman for this long either. He's normally a huge flirt, a ladies��� man, if you will. I'm just as surprised as you are,” answered Simon. 

The mention of Johnny being a flirt worried her. She knew Lindsey to almost easily give her affections to anyone who would look her way, starved for love as she was. But she decided to stay out of the way and watch the two for now. If Johnny ever did anything that would hurt Lindsey, she would not hesitate to confront him. 

The hike was now proving to get a little tiring, and ____ let out a sigh as she paused to catch her breath and drink some water. Simon stopped too, looking down at her from the slightly steep ascent. 

“Are you tired?” he asked. 

“A little, yeah.” 

He bent his knee and lowered himself slightly, holding out his hand. “Come on,” he encouraged, “Just a little more and we'll be at the waterfall.” 

She took his outstretched hand, and no sooner they made contact, a jolt of electricity ran down both their spines. Simon gulped harshly at this reaction, and she felt an additional tingle in her stomach. His larger, more rugged hand held her softer and smaller hand in his, and he pulled her up the ascent with ease. She thanked him as soon as they were next to each other, Simon, eager to be of further assistance, held out his arm to her. 

“You can hold my arm if you want to,” he offered, trying to sound as casual as he could, though his thoughts begged her to give him the honour of accepting him. 

Her hand practically flew to his arm in an instant, wrapping just below his bicep. Simon never felt more depended upon than now as the two began walking together. And she was completely flattered by his kind offer, trying to suppress her smiles and blushes. The two were, without doubt, over the moon. 

The lady was sure to make mental notes about everything Simon did. Frederick would be tall and brooding, but a kind-hearted and observant gentleman with a soft spot for Adelheid.

“This reminds me of the Jane Austen novels where the men would offer their arms to the ladies when they got tired as they walked,” she commented with a bright smile and a certain twinkle in her eye as she moved closer to him, allowing her hand to curl tighter against his arm. 

He noted the expression on her face and the movement and instinctively flexed his bicep so that she could feel it. He smiled in response to her comment and said with a chuckle, his cheeks overspread with a light pink, “So it was a custom back then? Interesting.” He hadn't read a lot of Regency era novels to know of past English social customs, but he seemed intrigued by this one aspect that she mentioned. Wanting to know if she really approved of it, asked, “Do you like it?” 

She loved it, but for the sake of being mild, said, “I think it's nice, especially now when I don't see men doing this sort of thing.”

“So you like gentlemen then?” 

She giggled. “A lot.” 

Simon took note of this immediately. If she liked a gentleman, a gentleman he would be. If men of his day didn't do the things he did, like offering their arm, or pulling out the chair for her at a table, he most certainly would do it, for he didn't want to be like other men. He wanted to be special and singled out by her. 

They began descending down a slightly slippery, gravelly path that led to the waterfall, and Simon took hold of her upper arm this time as he led her down so that she wouldn’t fall in case she slipped over the loose gravel. He was reminded yet again of how much smaller she was compared to him, and it only heightened his desire to keep her safe. 

The gurgle and rush of water from the distant waterfall was soon heard, and a few meters of walking on level ground finally brought them to the waterbody familiar to the men. Johnny cheered like he never saw a waterfall before, loud enough for his voice to echo in the wilderness, and for Lindsey to cover her ears and curse under her breath.

“We're here!”

End of Part 8.

Part 9

Like always, leave a comment if you want to be added to my taglist!

[sodapop-hospice]

So here’s the council 💖

Not depicted are my five (?) Furby buddies, my 2023 furbling, and my forty-ish McDonald’s furbs. I don’t count them when taking family photos because fuck that. Moving nearly 67 furbies is painful as is.

Below is a list of all of their names, pronouns, and model names. Enjoy ❤️🧡💛💚💙💜

———————————————————————

First Row

❤️Zara (she/her) - Dalmatian

🧡Luxury “Lux” (she/her) - Champagne

💛Cruft (he/him) - Silver Millenium

💚Lotus (he/they) - Elephant

💙Hyacinth (she/her) - Elephant

💜Askew (he/they) - Tiger

❤️Wren (they/them) - Dalmatian

———————————————————————

Second Row

🧡Crush (he/him) - Leopard

💛Celsius (he/him) - Husky

💚Fenti (she/her) - Snow Leopard

💙Birch (he/him) - Zebra

💜Jolt (she/they/it) - Koala

❤️Honeydew “Honey” (she/her) - Coffee

———————————————————————

Third Row

🧡Cider (she/her) - Autumn

💛Faygo (she/they) - Ladybug

💚Lottery “Lotty” (they/she) - Kiwi

💙Fanta (she/her) - Rooster

💜Moth (she/her) - Wizard

❤️Sodapop (he/it/they) - Ladybug

🧡Brew (he/him) - Autumn

———————————————————————

Fourth Row

💛Spry (he/him) - Dalmatian

💚Salud (she/they) - Flower Bud Baby

💙Niro (they/them) - Primary Baby

💜Sprocket (he/him) - Spring Baby

❤️Sucrose (he/him) - Confetti Baby

🧡Pluto (he/him) - Minty Baby

💛Gauze 2 (they/he) - Witch’s Cat

———————————————————————

Fifth Row

💚Mayday (she/they) - Skunk

💙Coal (he/him) - Santa

💜Deetz (she/it/they) - Church Mouse

❤️Blitzen “Blitz” (he/him) - Reindeer

🧡Punch (they/he/she) - Flamingo

💛Helvetica (she/her) - Santa

💚Chad (he/him) - Tropical

———————————————————————

Sixth Row

💙Gumshoe (he/him) - Witch’s Cat

💜Threat (he/him) - Pink Baby

❤️Lune (she/star/bun/moon) - Peachy Baby

🧡Bee (he/him) - Blue Baby

💛Gloom (they/them) - Spring Time Baby

💚Osteo (he/him) - Snowball Baby

💙Lovelace “Vel” (she/they/he) - Dalmatian

———————————————————————

Seventh Row

💜”Baabu” (???) - Blue Baby

❤️Sugar (she/her) - Leopard

🧡Vinyl (she/they) - Racer

💛Sweet Tart “Sweetie” (they/she) - Tie-Dye

💚Rico (he/him) - Spring

💙Cream (she/her) - Snowball

💜Bierce (they/them) - Easter

❤️Carrion (he/him) - Snowball Baby

———————————————————————

Eighth Row

🧡Shea (she/her) - Gorilla

💛Sumo/Paradise (she/her) - Skunk

💚Kujo (he/him) - Church Mouse

💙Pepsi “Bepis” (she/her) - Wavy Stripes Baby

💜Ferris (she/they/he) - Dalmatian

❤️Attic (he/him) - Grey Wolf

🧡Ribbit “Ribb” (they/them) - Frog

———————————————————————

Ninth Row

💛Gambit (he/him) - Snowball Baby

💚Faun (he/him) - Bear

💙Bottle (he/they) - Giraffe

💜Micheal (he/him) - Lizard

❤️Lotion (he/him) - Giraffe

🧡Coriander “Cori” (he/him) - Cheetah

💛Fortune (he/him) - Giraffe

💚Cryptid (they/it) - Very Purple Baby

———————————————————————

Not Depicted ( only 1998 mechanical furbies)

💙Spree (she/her) - Gorilla

💜Dusk (he/him) - Church Mouse

❤️Gauze 1 (???) - Witch’s Cat

———————————————————————

And finally, here’s the previous photo I took next to the current one. Clearly I’ve been on my custom grind in the past few months 😅‼️

[olenvasynyt]

Foods from each of ACOTAR's Seasonal Courts:

Okay so I have been obsessed with thinking about what dishes the Pyrthian seasonal Courts would have based on their season ofc because I love worldbuilding and I have pinned so many recipes onto my Pinterest board for this so here we go all recipes will have links :)

Spring:

Strawberry watermelon salad with burrata

Lilac lemonade

Cucumber gazpacho with avocado and greek yogurt

Fava bean, pea, and egg spring tart

Pink radicchio salad

Stir-fried lamb with coriander and Sichuan pepper

Earl grey crème brûlée tart

Beltaine (May Day) spiced honey cake

Rose tiramisu

[tales-from-thornvale]

i am so deep in this rabbithole (send help)

(there's a poll at the end i am just losing so many marbles atm)

hello couriers! i am currently transcribing the tales from thornvale episodes (that is a whole separate post, i can be So Normal about courier's call) and in The Seals And Inks Of The Courier Service, grandpa swiftwell himself tells us that the Seal of Favour is something "only given out to those who have helped the Courier Service in their time of need". He then goes on to say he has seen passengers "come aboard an Audron and make their way to Thornvale at the behest of those that carry a seal of favour",,

i.e. if you do the Courier Service one hell of a solid you can ask for favours like passage on ships.

NOW. You may be familiar with Big Sister Skyjacks and our beloved Uhuru crew, famous for taking aboard orphans, teaching them trades and then dropping them off at other ports. We see this happen in episode 38 in Burza Nyth, when Spit takes Bootstrap to go "talk about friends" in port to find him another trade. Cut to the Captain's choosing ceremony at the start of Courier's Call season one, and lo and behold, Bootstrap has made his way to Thornvale.

How, you may ask? Well, from our Grey Audron Tales we know that the Information Desk in Burza Nyth is one of the Grey Audron's "respected and proven clients", which hints that Burza Nyth is probably on the Grey's route. Bringing me all the way back round to my original point. Because Spit took Bootstrap to find somewhere else to go. And passage can be given to Thornvale upon the presentation of a seal of favour. Thornvale, a town which is famously impossible to find on your own and who's location is presumably a closed guarded secret.

So. Does Spit have a Seal of Favour with the Swiftwell Courier Service. Please send thoughts I am rotating this concept at the speed of sound.

If he does: WHY. HOW. WHY.

I present to you: The Poll

[softdykellie]

ੈ✩‧₊˚ motion sickness part ii | ellie w.

previous part here | next part here soon

PAIRING: modern!ellie x fem!reader

SUMMARY: having grown up together, everyone knew eachother in jackson. when a brooding newcomer owner to a tattoo shop comes along apparently charming her friendly florist neighbor things seem to take a turn.

WARNING: alternative universe! purposefully all lower case. multiple part series. not a very eventful beginning as ellie’s relationship with reader is slow burn but it will start evolving after this one seriously trust me!

WORD COUNT: 632

ellie. you tasted her name on your tongue and melted into the feeling, flushed. dina had certainly manifested her wishes into fruition, you thought. stared at the girl for way too long, getting familiar with her features and vacant gaze towards the alcohol filled shelves against the main bar wall, freckles like starry war paint, eyebrow scar, pale green iris, peach pink lips, auburn hair gently brushing her shoulder at length. breathtaking, you immediately named the feeling, but she looked worn, tossed around. you blamed it on the bruised eye, caught onto sky grey vibes.

a silly game blossomed into your heart years ago, the inspiration for your flower shop really: how everyone you meet could be described by the floral language. dina thought hers too common, but it was your favorite, a daisy, standing for loyal love and “i’ll never tell”. jesse, a white jasmin, sweet love, amiability. even abby, coriander. you did not know the girl at all, but you saw red carnations grow behind her in the way spiritualists would claim to see auras. red carnations; “my heart aches”.

“flower shop girl, yes, that’d be me”

“cute” she mumbled sipping on the beer dina had given her before promptly pretending to be busy elsewhere though noticebly eavesdropping.

“you’ve got a lot of tattoos on you” jesse pointed matter of factly, earning a chuckle “perks of the job?”

“the job” ellie repeated his words in light humor as if minimizing her own career with the sound “yeah, i guess. you want one?”

“fuck, yeah! maybe a dragon up my back or or you know a snake, i don’t know, what do you usually draw?”

“pretty things” she answered before taking you off guard with a head movement that pointed you out amongst them all “like her” she twisted her body around to meet your face “what would you get, flower girl? roses?”

“the sun” you answered “what does that say about me?”

ellie smiled a weak smile, raising the sleeve of her grey t-shirt to expose a beaming sun by her bicep, detailed sad expression in black ink across its center. you took notice of everything. ferns and a moth grew from her hand to the very end of her forearm and covered scars you could only assume to have been self inflicted. a sword pierced through the spare space of skin next to a phoenix and finally angel wings alongside a well hidden initial: J. you wouldn’t ask, but you wanted to.

“trying to figure that out myself”

you hadn’t noticed when abby left, only that she was gone when a couple dollars slipped past you towards the ground from the countertops, extra tips for dina. you wanted her extroverted ways to carry the conversation, ask the newcomer about the altercation, but she seemed to enjoy playing dutiful dedicated owner more. small talk failed you, and ellie was uninterested.

you planned out your next meeting in your head, showing up with cookies as they do in the movies, catching glimpses of her sketches on the wall, giving them backstories to fill the gaps. it wasn’t so strange to be eager as you were taking into consideration how rare these opportunities had presented themselves: you never left jackson, not even on vacation. the world was meant to turn on its axis but you were destined to stay still, an agoraphobia rooted into your veins like movement would burst your chest open, bloody and broken. the flowers had been a therapist’s idea: to take care of something innocent as a purpose, exist outside the shell of a body you painfully cared for in pure obligation. your personal garden arsenal though, had meaning. yellow tulips, that’s what you were. the flower for unrequited love. the one tattooed by ellie’s hipbone you were yet to see.

[epochinspace]

[krscblw]

Ministry Perfume Associations

I’m back yet again with more thoughts about Ghost and perfume! This time it’s fragrances from my own collection that remind me of various places in my headcanon of the Ministry. (Usually these lists are mostly made up of perfumes that I don’t actually have, but this time I can vouch for all of these! I didn’t include any that I thought weren’t good.)

For the sake of organization these are divided into places in the New Wing (the most recent addition to the Ministry), the Old Wing (the original Ministry buildings), and the grounds (gardens, forests, etc). And as always, if you have your own thoughts or want me to do more of this, please let me know! I would love to talk more about Ghost and perfume.

(also: so sorry for the weird formatting, idk how to fix it on mobile but it should be fine on desktop)

New Wing:

Library: old books, wood, dust, paper, ink

The library is part of the New Wing of the Ministry, although it’s not very new anymore. Built in the early 1900s, the New Wing is all soaring ceilings, stained glass windows, and intricate woodworking, done in the Art Nouveau style of the time. The library’s floor-to-ceiling shelves are full of books ranging from ancient esoteric tomes to modern fiction paperbacks, interspersed with desks and secluded reading nooks. The library also houses the Ministry’s private collection of artifacts - some occasionally used for ritual purposes, some purely academic in nature. The library is always very still, with the occasional susurrus of turning pages and quiet voices. It smells like polished wood, faint dust, and the leather and paper of old books. 

Library Ghost - Poesie 

marshmallows, books, ink, polished wood

Myself Invisible - Poesie 

stacked books, spilled ink, black tea, violets

Bibliotheca - Alkemia  

leather-bound books, vintage vinyl records, mahogany, fountain pen ink, black tea, plum brandy

Canoodling in the Library - Nui Cobalt  

old books, mahogany shelves, fallen leaves, ancient stone stairs, amber resin, warm skin musk, vetiver

Miskatonic University - Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab  

irish coffee, dusty tomes, polished oakwood halls

Personal Quarters: carved wood furniture, tea and coffee, soft bedding, books and clutter, spices, vanilla

The personal quarters are also in the New Wing, separated into human quarters and ghoul quarters (for everyone’s comfort and safety). The personal quarters tend to feel very cozy and lived-in, as they are the rooms most frequently used. The furniture is comfortable, often occupied by off-duty siblings or ghouls, and the arch windows overlooking the gardens and forest cast soft beams of light onto the wood floors in the afternoon. The siblings’ quarters tend to smell like the possessions of those who occupy them - books, scented candles, tea and coffee, and faint spices from the small kitchen. The ghouls’ quarters are similar, but with the scents of various elements - smoke, greenery, damp stone, fresh air, resin.

Mysterious Fossils - Poesie  

smoked black tea with creamy vanilla oat milk, a cashmere sweater, tortoiseshell glasses, a cedar chest containing fossils encased in amber, sandstone, and limestone

Whisper Your Bitter Things - Poesie  

pressed coffee beans, dried clove bud and cassia bark, jasmine, neroli, roasted vanilla pods

Grey Cat - Nui Cobalt  

smoked vanilla, marshmallows, fresh blueberries, lavender, earl grey tea

Kensington - Fantome  

earl grey tea, cashmere, vanilla bean, cedar, rose petals, mandarin zest, pink peppercorn, bergamot

Ouija - Possets  

cedar, rosewood, black vanilla, fat vanilla, rose, black silk, coriander

Our Days Bewitched - PULP Fragrance  

walnuts, brandy, roasted cocoa beans, copal, cardamom, labdanum, black vanilla, aged oak barrels

Old Wing:

Chapel: resinous incense, polished wood, wine, smoke

The chapel is part of the Old Wing. The exact dates of its construction could probably be found somewhere in the Ministry’s records, but the gothic architecture suggests it’s been there for at least 500 years. The cold grandeur of the exterior’s intricate stonework and vibrant stained glass windows is matched in the chapel. It is perpetually cold, made fully of elaborately carved stone, and colorful sunlight filters through the enormous stained glass windows onto the altar and the pews. The heavy, still air smells like residual incense smoke, snuffled candles, fragrant wood, and ritual wine.

Holy Terror - Arcana Wildcraft  

burning frankincense, sandalwood, myrrh, dusty beeswax candles

Anastasia the Patrician* - Deconstructing Eden

paper, ink, frankincense, myrrh, benzoin, copal, rose, juniper berries, wine

Leo* - Deconstructing Eden

frankincense, myrrh, benzoin, amber, liatrix, blood cedar, blond tobacco absolute, sweet spices, honey

Parlour - Fantome  

mahogany, rosewood, burning incense, vetiver

*i think these were discontinued? sorry

Crypt: cold damp stone, smoke, dust, ashes

The crypt is the only place in the Ministry that truly reflects its age. It feels like it has been standing, underground, inhabited only by the dead, for hundreds of years. It’s well-maintained, but perpetually freezing cold and slightly damp. The stone walls are minimally decorated, and the candles in their niches do very little to illuminate the cavernous space. The air is weighty, and all sound is muffled. The crypt smells like damp stone, cold air, sweet dust, and smoke.

Gargoyle - Nui Cobalt  

rain, lavender, cathedral incense, beeswax candles, ancient stone

Summoning/Ritual Chambers: cold stone, ritual incense, blood, wine, smoke

The ritual chambers are where summonings and rituals are performed. They are where every new ghoul comes into the world, and, more rarely, where they’re banished from it. The walls and floor are stone, and there are no windows. When in use, the chambers are lit by dozens of flickering candles, some in sconces, some piled onto tables, and years of melted wax have created puddles and formations on the walls and floor. The air is dense, thick with dust, herb smoke, ritual incense, and the scent of dried blood.

Baba Yaga - Fantome  

black and red musk, smoke, cracked bones, cardamom, wood, animal skins, mugwort

Conjure - Solstice Scents  

vanilla, amber, cedar, spices, cauldron smoke

Gothique - Alkemia  

frankincense, styrax benzoin, myrrh, cassia, spikenard, canella, liquidambar orientalis, labdanum, atlas cedar, vetiver

A City on Fire - Imaginary Authors  

cade oil, spikenard, cardamom, clearwood, dark berries, labdanum, a burnt match

Vassago - Fantome  

A silver dagger, red wine, blackberries, cloves, orange peel, blood, a black mirror

Grounds:

Gardens: dirt, greenery, sun, fruit, flowers

The Ministry sits on a huge expanse of land. Most of it is still wild and forested, but there is a good amount of it dedicated to gardens, both decorative and functional. 

Decorative Gardens:

The decorative gardens are lush and heavy with flowers and fresh greenery most of the year, tended to by the Earth ghouls. Some of them are small cloistered gardens, decorated with statues and fountains, and some are larger, intended for gatherings or wandering alone. The decorative gardens tend to smell like fragrant herbs and flowers - sweet jasmine and magnolia, heavy white lilies and heirloom roses. 

Basilica - Milano Fragranze 

thyme, rosemary, incense, milk, labdanum, cedarwood, cypriol oil

Fox in the Flowerbed - Imaginary Authors  

jasmine, tulips, frankincense, wildflower honey, pink peppercorns, silver thistle, alpine air

Isabella - Possets 

rose, light resin, white tea, honey, cream musk, spices

Olwyn - Fantome  

magnolia blossoms, white lilies, jasmine, gardenia, buttery vanilla, myrrh, benzoin, orange blossom

Silver Narcissus - Possets  

silver base, narcissus

Functional Gardens:

The functional gardens supply the flowers for decoration within the Ministry as well as the herbs and most of the produce for the kitchens. The gardens, orchards, and greenhouses are managed by the Earth ghouls, and yield so much produce that, despite the relatively small size of the gardens and the relatively large size of the Ministry, they still end up with extra. That surplus is sold at the local farmers’ market to unsuspecting humans who wonder in open amazement about the size and quality of this mysterious farm’s produce.

Sundrunk - Imaginary Authors  

neroli, rhubarb, honeysuckle, rose water, orange zest

Drider Crossing Guard - Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab  

dry, earthy fig, black pepper, nutmeg, black plum tea

Wilcox’s - Solstice Scents  

dry woods, fresh herbs, dried herbs, warm spices, sweet annie, sage, rosewood 

Lake: water, trees, evergreens, greenery, stone

The Ministry’s lake is very deep, cold, and still. It’s objectively beautiful, with its glassy blue-gray waters and lush vegetation, but something about it feels dangerous. The pebbled shores are visited only by the bravest siblings, and even then only on the hottest and most desperate of summer days. The water ghouls, on the other hand, love it (which is possibly why the siblings tend to stay away). It is located at the border between the new and old forests, and its mossy banks are surrounded by evergreens, ferns, and rushes. It smells green and a little salty.

Villa Diodati - Poesie  

wild rosemary, balsam pine, crystal clear lakewater, dry, dark vanilla

Every Storm a Serenade - Imaginary Authors  

danish spruce, eucalyptus, vetiver, calone, ambergris, baltic sea mist

The Forest: trees, dirt, damp air, greenery, wildflowers, fungi

New Forest:

The new forest is a nickname given to the shallow edges of the forest that are closest to the Ministry. The trees are widely spaced, and the ground is thickly carpeted with grasses and wildflowers. Sunlight filters easily through the sparse leaf canopy and illuminates the fallen logs and patches of moss that make popular spots for siblings and ghouls looking to unwind. The air is light, and the breeze carries with it the scent of fresh greenery, tree sap, and sweet flowers. 

Cape Heartache - Imaginary Authors  

douglas fir, pine resin, western hemlock, vanilla leaf, strawberry, old growth, mountain fog

Dendrophilia - Nui Cobalt  

moss-covered deadfall, birchwood and pine, lingering resins, sunlight through the leaves, a trace of woodsmoke, faint vetiver and cedar

Duende - Fantome  

oakmoss, cedar, fir, labdanum, benzoin, tree sap, wild violets, lilac

Solovey - Fantome 

black amber, violets, black currants, espresso, labdanum, black agarwood, tobacco

Old Forest:

If you go far enough into the new forest, you will eventually get to the old forest. The trees are bigger and closer together, the sunlight struggles to reach the ground, and there are more mushrooms than flowers. The air is damp and cool and smells like fungus, loam, and rotting leaves. The old forest is avoided by siblings both because of the unsettling watched feeling any human who enters feels and the unspoken knowledge that if you don’t come back out no one will go looking for you. 

Gaea - Alkemia  

forest loam, ferns, decaying leaves, lichen, wet stones

Dies Irae - Possets  

black musk, fog, bitter galbanum, hawthorn, rotting leaves, orris, smoky oude, frankincense, black amber

Feuillemort - Alkemia  

dying leaves, smoked autumnal spices, dried grasses and fungi, Tibetan incense, cedarwood, rum soaked agarwood, and borneol

Samhain - Haus of Gloi  

freshly turned earth, wet leaves, cold wind

if you made it this far 1) thank you lol and 2) i hope you enjoyed! if you have your own thoughts i would love to hear them!

[simplyafountainpen]

An Epicurean Feast

Oho? What’s this? It’s seems as though your head Butler is preparing a large feast! Now the only question is…

…Who Will You Invite?~

Hello, and welcome to my first milestone event; One held in the honor of my 100 followers.

This event will be limited to a total of nine slots, so that I won’t over work myself. So please, do not hesitate to send in a request. I assure I will be more than happy to oblige.

Here is our Menu for this Fine Evening

⋆♱✮♱⋆

{𝓓𝓻𝓲𝓷𝓴𝓼} ~ {𝓡𝓮𝓵𝓪𝓽𝓲𝓸𝓷𝓼𝓱𝓲𝓹}

♰ White Tiger’s Milk ~ Romantic

❝This is a rich and indulgent cocktail that delivers a creamy flavor profile through a harmonious blend of Applejack, milk, cream and white sugar with a sprinkle of nutmeg to top.❞

♰ English Milk Punch ~ Platonic

❝This creamy and refreshing Milk Punch is a blend of Brandy, pineapple, cinnamon, Green Tea and lemon, mixed with milk and boiled till curdled, strenuously strained and garnished with nutmeg and a lemon rind.❞

�� Sleeper ~ Familial

❝A stiff and intoxicating mix of Rum, sugar, coriander seeds, and cinnamon, served freshly boiled with a clove buds and a cinnamon stick to garnish.❞

♰ Tip-Top Punch ~ One Sided

❝This light and fruity cocktail is the perfect blend of Champagne, Curaçao, soda water, sliced pineapple and powdered sugar mixed till fully combined and served with a pineapple wedge.❞

♰ Apple Toddy ~ Enemies

❝A warm and aromatic drink made up of Cider Brandy, baked apple and white sugar, mixed with boiled water and topped with powered sugar and a pinch of nutmeg.❞

♰ Earl Grey Cream ~ Friends with Benefits

❝A smooth and rich tea, made by mixing Earl Grey tea leaves with natural bergamot oil and a bit of vanilla.❞

♰ Wild Rosebud Tea ~ Stalker

❝A gentle and floral tea, made simply by steeping dried wild rosebuds of different variety with boiled water with a drizzle of honey.❞

♰ Pearl Tea ~ Yandere

❝A tea of Chinese decent, made by combining Camellia Sinensis Plant with mint tea and boiling it at medium heat, mixed with sugar and a splash of honey.❞

{𝓖𝓪𝓻𝓷𝓲𝓼𝓱𝓮𝓼} ⛧With Lemon ~ Yandere Reader ⛧With Lime ~ Stalker Reader ⛧With Ice ~ Older Reader ⛧With Sugar ~ Younger Reader ⛧With Cream ~ Polyam/Multiple Characters

{𝓐𝓹𝓹𝓮𝓽𝓲𝔃𝓮𝓻𝓼} ~ {𝓢𝓽𝓸𝓻𝔂 𝓓𝓲𝓻𝓮𝓬𝓽𝓲𝓸𝓷}

♰ Mulligatawny Soup ~ M/M

❝Inspired by a curry of Eastern Indian, this is a sweet, spicy and decadent soup, it's made with shredded chicken, onion, carrot, celery, garlic, sweet potato, apple and Indian Spices, all served in a lentil broth.❞

♰ Clear Soup ~ TM/M

❝This dish is made by simmering various vegetables or meats in a broth and removing them later for a flavorful 'clear soup'; ours is made with celery, mushrooms, carrots, beef, cabbage, broccoli and sweet corn, left to simmer over high heat and later served with a dash of salt.❞

♰ Scalloped Brill ~ M/TM

❝Brill is a flat fish that when cooked is sweet in flavor, we pan-sear and baste in a butter sauce with salt, plated with herbs and fresh tomato.❞

♰ Jellied Eels ~ Reader POV

❝Our eels are resourced directly from our river, taken immediately to be chopped into chunks and placed in spiced stock, left to cool for hours, and once jelled we serve them on ice.❞

♰ Fried Soles ~ Character(s) POV

❝Sliced into fillets, we batter with egg and breadcrumbs then fried, parmesan is then shredded over top and garnished with brown sugar, tarragon sauce.❞

♰ Lamb's Sweetbread ~ No One's POV

❝The thymus of a lamb is battered with egg wash, milk and breadcrumbs, fried, dashed with salt and pepper, then served on a bed of fresh lettuce and topped with chives. ❞

{𝓜𝓪𝓲𝓷 𝓒𝓸𝓾𝓻𝓼𝓮} ~ {𝓢𝓕𝓦 𝓣𝓻𝓸𝓹𝓮}

♰ Fricandeau of Veal and Spinach ~ Beach Day

❝We take a leg of veal, lard it with fatty bacon and stew with bacon, potatoes, onions, carrots, bay leaves and spices till boiled, baste it with liquor, bake in the oven and glaze, served over a plate of spinach.❞

♰ Croquets of Fowl with Piquant Sauce ~ Reconnection

❝Our fresh Cochins chicken is shredded, mixed with condensed soup, bread crumbs, celery, and seasoning, and breaded again, fried and served with a piping hot piquant sauce made with a fine dark roux, tomato, onions, green bell peppers, seasonings and chicken.❞

♰ Curried Lobster with Rice ~ Character Death

❝We butterfly a lobster tail, cook it till opaque with curry powder and then steam it with rice, onions, butter, tomatoes and annatto oil, plated with parmesan grated on top.❞

♰ Roast Capon ~ Kidnapping

❝These roosters are hand picked from our fine selection, killed and plucked on site then slow roasted with onion, herbs, lemon the salt and pepper, we then take the drippings and combine them with Sherry for glaze, served with roasted potato.❞

♰ Stuffed Saddle of Mutton ~ Shopping Trip

❝A whole saddle of lamb is taken and deboned, stuffed with sautéed salted spinach, finely chopped garlic, shallots, black olives, and lightly fried lamb kidneys, then baked in the over, served with mint jelly.❞

♰ Lancashire Hot Pot ~ Moonlit Picnic

❝We place chopped mutton and onions in a dish to simmer, adding carrots, onions, stir in flower, stock and bay leaves then place potato slices on top and bake for hours to ensure all flavors are melded together, served with a mint sauce.❞

♰ Roast Goose with Apple Stuffing ~ Masquerade Ball

❝First we stuff a goose with specialty made stuffing, consisting of apples, bread, currants, butter and thyme, cover the goose in spices and slow roast with celery, potatoes and garlic, and covered in a homemade gravy.❞

♰ Collar’d Pig stuffed with Forcemeat ~ Memory Loss

❝The meat is butterflied and washed in butter then stuffed with forcemeat, which is a mixture of apples, bread and chicken broth, finally seasoned with cranberries and thyme, and finally slow roasted for tender, easy to pull apart meat.❞

♰ Cottage Pie ~ Idiots in Love

❝We take farm fresh beef and brown it, combining with fresh onions, garlic, peas, carrots and oregano, add Worcestershire sauce and tomato paste then cover in fluffy garlic mashed potatoes and bake till golden at the top.❞

♰ Devonshire Squab Pie ~ Long Distance

❝In a pie crust we mix spiced lamb, apples, onions, prunes, stock and sugar, bake low and slow then wash with egg, served with a helping of clotted cream.❞

{𝓓𝓮𝓼𝓼𝓮𝓻𝓽} ~ {𝓝𝓢𝓕𝓦 𝓣𝓻𝓸𝓹𝓮}

♰ Meringues ~ Trapped Together

❝A sweet dessert made only with egg whites and sugar that are beaten till stiff peaks are formed, light and airy with a fluffy texture, the perfect way to end any meal.❞

♰ Chocolate Cream ~ One Bed

❝A thick and creamy treat made with whole milk, heavy cream, sugar, egg yolks and chocolate simmered and cooled over a period of time, served with a dollop of whipped cream.❞

♰ Lemon Cream ~ Hole in the Wall

❝Much like our Chocolate Cream, this is a thick and creamy dessert but is instead made by combining water, lemon zest and rind, sugar and egg whites, simmered and cooled and served with raspberries and blackberries.❞

♰ Tipsy Cake ~ Cross Dressing/Cosplaying

❝This is a decadent Savoy cake made with lemon, White Wine and sugar, drenched in an especially sweet Rum and Brandy then glazed with vanilla custard, topped with almonds.❞

♰ Blanc Mange a la Vanille ~ Tied Up

❝This dessert is made by boiling milk, cornstarch and sugar, then adding cinnamon, lemon zest and vanilla, after which it is allowed to cool over an overnight period and served with chocolate shavings on top.❞

♰ Nougat Almond Cake ~ Sadism/Masochism

❝First we caramelize honey, add it to a sugar, water and egg white mixture and allow it to get to a foamy state, add our almonds and vanilla and allow to cool.❞

♰ Trifle ~ Free Use

❝A sponge cake made with custard and vanilla is brushed with Brandy and smothered in jam, layered with fresh picked strawberries, custard, whipped cream and more cake, topped with even more strawberries.❞

♰ Iced Oranges ~ Hateful Intimacy

❝Lemon zest and sugar is heated with water until clear, then oranges are grinded into the mixture, later they are frozen until a sorbet texture is achieved, it's then placed back into an orange peel and decorated with mint leaves.❞

♰ Crystalized Fruits ~ Power Imbalance

❝Fruits of different varieties are drenched in sugar and Liquors of matching flavor and left to set for hours, leaving for a revitalizing and refreshing dessert.❞

♰ Macedoine of Fruits with Jelly ~ Brand New Piercings

❝We take a light, fruit flavored jelly and mold it into marvelous shapes, filling with interior with fruits of every kind.❞

{𝓒𝓱𝓮𝓯'𝓼 𝓘𝓷𝓼𝓲𝓰𝓱𝓽}: ❝It’s customary to have more than one meal at a Feast! You are encouraged to pick up to two meals from every course showed. Don’t bother with drinks however, I wouldn’t want you getting too tipsy, after all.~❞

⋆♱✮♱⋆

❝ Ah! Master. It seems you’ve made selections for this evenings dinner. Might I ask your order? And, of course,

Whom you’d like to invite?~ ❞

In order to have your request received, it would be most natural to relay this order to your most faithful Butler, yes? Here, an example of one such order may look like this:

❝Firstly, I crave a Tip Top Punch - with lemon please, followed by Jellied Eels as my appetizer. For the main course, I desire Roast Capon; and please, send a letter to Sebastian Michaelis? I have a feeling he’d simply adore this feast.~ ❞

I hope you find this meal most satisfactory, Master. Of course, it is this lowly Butlers everything to be able to serve a wonderful person such as you.

𝓑𝓸𝓷 𝓐𝓹𝓹é𝓽𝓲𝓽, 𝓜𝓪𝓼𝓽𝓮𝓻 ~

{𝓨𝓸𝓾 𝓶𝓪𝔂 𝓯𝓲𝓷𝓭 𝓪𝓵𝓵 𝓸𝓻𝓭𝓮𝓻 𝓽𝓲𝓬𝓴𝓮𝓽𝓼 𝓱𝓮𝓻𝓮}

Special thanks to my editor and @sister-lucifer, I know for a fact I wouldn't be here without either, and so, many thanks to each of you.

[maracujatangerine]

89. Leaving

CW: medical, institutional slavery, pet whump, dehumanisation, box boy universe

Coriander was still a bit unsteady when he walked out through the main entrance of the hospital, arm in arm with Lydia and Indira. His long blonde hair intermingling with Lydia’s brown and Indira’s black locks.

The cold air of the overcast winter’s afternoon enveloped them. Lydia took a deep breath in relief.

Leaving the hospital had been undramatic. Indira had changed into her private clothes and wore black jeans with a marine and white knitted woollen jumper. With combined efforts, they had helped Cory change into a dusky orange t-shirt and dark grey joggers. Then, they had just wheeled Coriander to the entrance, left the wheelchair in its designated place, and helped the young man to walk away.

There was no reason for anyone to react. Cory seemed a little bit dizzy, still, but that was hardly out of place at a hospital. His bandaged arm poking out from the sleeve of his black jacket clearly marked him out as a patient, even without the hospital gown. Still, Lydia felt an immense sense of relief as the automatic doors swished closed behind them.

After walking the short distance to Indira’s car, they both helped the pet into the back, behind the driver’s seat. Lydia reached over and buckled Cory’s seat belt for him before closing the door. India sat down in the front and Lydia walked around the car to sit next to Cory in the back.

Both women sighed when they closed the car doors.

“Oh my god.” Lydia laughed. ”That was… something. Good that you are quick at thinking on your feet, Indira!”

Indira nodded, closing her eyes for a second, then smiling at them both.

“It was… a bit more intense than expected. But we got clean x-rays.” She playfully hit the wheel of the car in triumph. “Still a success, I’d say!”

Lydia turned solicitously towards Coriander.

“How are you doing, love? I’m so sorry that it was difficult for you. You were very brave.” She nodded to emphasise her words. “How are you feeling now?”

“T-this pet i-is fine, Miss Lydia.”

Coriander did not look fine. His eyes were still red from crying. He still shivered with long, drawn-out tremors shaking his whole body in an undercurrent of fear. Lydia and Indira had felt him shaking on the way to the car, and the shivers did not seem like they were going to let up any time soon.

“It is all over now. Let’s just go home and take it easy, yeah?” She smiled encouragingly. “I’m very proud of you, and I would like to spoil you for a bit. Maybe we can watch a movie and have a bit of cake, or what do you say?”

“M-maybe t-this pet would like to r-rest for a while.”

“That sounds good. Maybe you can have a little nap?”

Lydia studied Coriander. The lines of pain around his eyes and mouth that had faded over the long time that they had spent together, were once again visible. His face was pale. He looked worn out to the bone. She could see the shivers racking his body, making his hands shake. His hair fell down, covering his eyes. Gently, she reached out to smooth away those tresses, wanting to pet her hand over his hair to calm him.

Coriander jerked away.

Lydia started in surprise.

Grey eyes met hers for a moment, then Cory lowered his gaze.

Very quietly, he spoke.

“P-please, Miss Lydia. T-this p-pet cannot bear to be touched… to be touched right now.”

“Oh.” Lydia slowly let her hand fall. “S-sure.” She said. “That’s totally fine. Whatever feels best for you.”

Indira watched in the rear-view mirror, a sudden, sinking feeling in her stomach.

Coriander sat as far away towards the door as possible. He looked out through the window with a totally impassive face, emotionless and beautiful like a doll.

On the other side of the car, Lydia also looked out the window. She didn’t make a sound, but Indira could see her biting her lower lip hard to keep it from shivering. Her brown eyes wide and blank with tears.

Tag List Part 1: @cupcakes-and-pain @whump-em @whumpzone @wh-wh-whu @neuro-whump @carnagecardinal @cowboy-anon @whump-me-all-night-long @redwingedwhump @myst-in-the-mirror @haro-whumps @eatyourdamnpears @bloodsweatandpotato @pinkraindropsfell @whumptywhumpdump @theydy-cringeworthy @whump-in-progress @whumpsy-daisy @nicolepascaline @whumpcreations @briars7 @shiningstarofwinter @whumppsychology @alex-ember @miss-kitty-whumptastic @whumpy-writings @in-patient-princess @youtube-fandoms-bands @goblinchildindabog @mazeish @distinctlywhumpthing @inpainandsuffering @canniboylism @icannotweave @incoherent-introspection @kim-poce @broken-typewriter @the-monarch-whumperfly @whumpers-inc @grizzlie70 @lil-whumper @writingbackwards-blog @sunflower1000 @wingedwhump @thecitythatdoesntsleep @thingsthatgo-whump-inthenight @onlybadendings @rabass @wolfeyedwitch @melancholy-in-the-morning

[reinvent-and-believe]

Trick or Treat!!!

2 Geralt x Regis

2. ghost

ooooh, you picked one of the halloween-themed prompts! this is situated somewhere vaguely post-books/pre-blood and wine. happy halloween! 👻

—

Wraiths exist. Geralt’s dispensed with enough of them to know that better than most. Noonwraiths and nightwraiths and dozens of other spectral incarnations, all miserable, pitiable, dangerous creatures.

But ghosts? The essence of a person’s spirit, not broken and distorted beyond recognition but simply lingering, clinging to loved ones or providing comfort, signs, communication from beyond the grave? No. Those ghosts exist in only Dandelion’s songs, pretty tales to disguise ugly truth.

No, Geralt doesn’t believe in ghosts. But the autumn breeze in Metinna carries wormwood and sage and coriander and anise as it smooths over his skin like a caress, blows through his hair, surrounds him and fills his lungs.

Geralt doesn’t believe in ghosts, but wandering the streets of Oxenfurt, he hears a wry, pedantic voice in the distance lecturing about ethics and philosophy and history and the properties of wolfsbane. There’s no end to pompous men with wry, pedantic voices in Oxenfurt, but no matter how long he looks, he never finds that voice.

Geralt doesn’t believe in ghosts, but he takes a bite of soup at an inn in Kaedwen, and tastes silver bream and celery and onion, and he closes his eyes, lets the warmth from the soup heat every bit of him except the longing trapped beneath his ribs.

Geralt doesn’t believe in ghosts, but as he’s drifting to sleep in front of a small fire in a forest clearing not far from the Chotla, he feels a gentle pressure like a lover’s hand against his chest, then cold, careful fingers brushing his hair out of his face. When he opens his eyes, he’s alone. He closes them again, hoping against hope to feel it again.

He doesn’t believe in ghosts, but he sees Regis out of the corner of his eye in Metinna, in Oxenfurt, in Kaedwen, near the Chotla. Glimpses him in crowds and alone in the woods, a league away and just beside him, just a fleeting flash of grey hair and sharp black eyes.

Geralt doesn’t believe in ghosts, but he feels him, nonetheless.

[boombox-fuckboy]

Skyjacks - Some Birds

Some lionbirds in Skyjacks might be familiar (I imagine most people know what Lucas looks like) but others maybe less so, depending on where you're from. I like birds, so here's a few noteworthy and cool features:

Red-tailed hawk (Buteo jamaicensis)

Metatron, flown by Gable of The Uhuru

Wildfire, Yellow Audron general bird for the Swiftwell Courier Service

Grey-headed albatross (Thalassarche chrysostoma)

Flea, flown by Jonnit Kessler and Gable of The Uhuru

Red-breasted merganser (Mergus serrator)

Ferdinand, flown by Travis Matagot of The Uhuru

Banner, flown by Coriander Swiftwell of the Swiftwell Courier Service

Harpy Eagle (Harpia harpyja)

Aristocracy, showbird and jousting bird flown by Tiberius Youngblood of the Youngblood Family

Bountiful, Winter Stables warbird of The Swiftwell Courier Service

Saker falcon (Falco cherrug)

Augury, flown by June Hymnall, apprentice aboard the Swiftwell Courier Service's Red Audron

White-bellied go-away-bird (Crinifer leucogaster)

Obstinacy, flown by Fredrick Hawthorne, master all-courier to the Swiftwell Courier Service

Peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus)

Victory, flown by Hidred Gastaur, pro jouster

Ghost, Autumn Stables warbird for the Swiftwell Courier Service

Great Horned Owl (Bubo Virginianus)

Agamemnon, flown by Fthina Vronti, Post Master General of the Swiftwell Courier Service

Choco toucan (Ramphastos brevis)

Royal, Red Audron general bird for the Swiftwell Courier Service

Pied kingfisher (Ceryle rudis)

Squall, flown by Braith Ashworth, all-courier for the Swiftwell Courier Service

[shywhumpauthor]

Landline Part Three

Just Stay Put

Prev. || Masterlist

Cw: noncon touching, noncon drugging, implied noncon stripping (vague), kidnapping, intimate whumper, light abuse, gaslighting

An arm curled under their knees and another around their back, gently hefting them off the ground and against the stranger’s chest. If their wet clothes, the moments of contact soaking through the stranger’s pan bothered them at all, their expression didn’t betray it as their smile remained unwavering.

Coriander tried to speak, but their mouth didn’t even move as the stranger held them close, beginning to walk at a slow, calm pace down the hall.

No, no, no, what the hell was happening?!

The stranger carried them into a bathroom, a small half-bath with yellow lighting and green walls, gently setting them down against the wall. Their muscles seeming to have all gone limp, Coriander slumped, unable to do anything to support themself. For a few moments, they felt as if they were just waiting to pass out, but their consciousness continued to teeter just across that line of aware and not.

The stranger hummed to themself, a quiet, cheerful melody as they reached under the sink’s cabinet to grab a washcloth, dampening it under the tap before crouching by Coriander’s side and beginning to dab at the dirt and dried blood that stained their face, their touch gentle and ghosting.

“You poor thing, you must be so exhausted,” the stranger cooed softly, dragging the washcloth over a shallow scratch just above Coriander’s eyebrow. Unable to move anything but their eyes, Coriander’s gaze remained pinned on the stranger’s face, wide and frantic as they fought for control in a body that was no longer listening to their will. “We can clean the rest of you up tomorrow, but this will have to do for now…”

The stranger shifted their hold on the washcloth, using a fresh corner to swipe at the dirt blotched against Coriander’s cheek.

“You must be so stressed,” they continued, murmuring so quietly it was almost as if they were speaking to themself. “Don’t worry, doll, I’ll have you feeling good as new in no time.”

Coriander wasn’t sure when their mind finally decided it had had enough, their memory had already proven fuzzy enough for them to question the integrity of the true events that had taken place the night before, but next they were aware they were slowly blinking awake, body warm with something soft propped beneath their head.

A light weight pressed beneath their chin, the soft threads of a throw blanket tickling their neck as they shifted, fighting to free a hand from the blanket to press against their face. Their head throbbed with an intense pressure, aching terribly as even the soft light filtering from a nearby lamp was enough to make their eyes burn.

Shit…

With a groan and a tremendous effort, Coriander propped themself up on an elbow, the blanket that was tucked around their shoulders falling to their chest as they waited slowly for their vision to focus enough to make out the scene around them.

They were in a living room, laying on a soft couch in front of a burning hearth. The fireplace was made out of warm white bricks, accented nicely with the dark redwood mantle built above. There was a coffee table in front of the couch, within arms reach, and an end table to the side homing a lit lamp. The curtains were drawn across two large windows on the wall directly across from where Coriander faced, but through a small gap in the lacy fabric they could see the grey tinted forest outside, dark and dully lit.

And just in front of those windows, sitting in an armchair with their legs crossed, a book open in their hand, the stranger. Coriander didn’t think they made any noise, but the stranger’s eyes flicked up at just that moment, their gaze softening the moment it fell on Coriander’s face.

“Hey, sweetheart, I’m glad to see you awake,” the stranger smiled, closing their book without bothering to mark their page and setting it aside as they stood up. “Can I get you anything? Something to drink? Food?”

The bitter taste was back in their mouth, pressing against their tongue, sticking to their throat. The burn of tea, heating their chest with each swallow.

“Whh…” their tongue felt like cotton, stuffed in their mouth with no control. Throat dry and scratchy, words catching and tripping against the grit that seemed to coat their lungs. “Nn’h.. I- I nh’d to… t’ ged h’me..”

The stranger sighed, their smile faltering slightly as they moved to crouch besides the couch, reaching a hand towards Coriander’s face, which they clumsily batted away.

“Doll, you’re much too hurt to go anywhere. The storm hasn’t fully passed, either, it would truly be best if you just stayed and rested-”

“Nn-no,” Coriander repeated, pushing themself a bit further into the cushions as they tried to shrink from the stranger’s touch. “Don- don’t… get ah’wy- wh- whadd’yh do t’ me?!” Their words were grating, nearly incomprehensible with the slur brought on by their stiff, aching muscles.

“Oh dear, you must be so confused. I found you, passed out on my doorstep last night, all I did was bring you in and get you dried off.” The stranger spoke gently, lowering their hand, but Coriander didn’t miss how something hardened behind their eyes.

“No- no,” Coriander stammered, their mind spinning. “You- the tea-”

“Tea? I could get you some tea, if that’s what you’d like,” the stranger placed their hands on their knees, using that to push themself back to stand.

“No!” Coriander gasped, fighting to tug the blankets off of themself, trying to ignore the sickening twist in their gut as they realized that the shirt and sweatpants they now wore were certainly not the ones they had left work wearing the night before. “I- I want t’ go home-“

“Shhh,” the stranger hushed them, placing two hands against Coriander’s shoulders and gently but firmly pushing them back to lay against the couch. “Doll, you’re talking nonsense- you’re hurt, you have to rest.” They spoke insistently, the pressure against Coriander’s shoulders only increasing as they attempted to squirm away.

“Let- let go of me-” Coriander tried to push the arms away, but with their sensation still creeping back to their limbs, they couldn’t manage to muster enough force behind the movements to do anything other than annoy the stranger.

“Cory, stop.” Their voice went firm, grip tightening until they were practically leaning over them, their nails digging into Coriander’s skin through their shirt. Their breath hitched, eyes widening as their heart skipped. “You’re not thinking straight. You’re going to get yourself hurt if you don’t settle down.”

Something lurked behind their voice, like a serpent hiding beneath deep, dark waters, and Whumpee knew enough to go still. Their chest tightened around their lungs, hardening into stone, sealing their breath away.

“Good, good.” The stranger have a small nod, the intensity of their grip fading slightly as their tough turned gentle once more. “Just stay put, alright? I’ll go get you something to drink.”

——————————————

Oops it’s been a while since I’ve updated this. Someone’s gotta remind me like every week istg

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