#Fresh Made Japan Bake!!

[obscureanimeoftheday]

Obscure Anime of The Day:

Yakitate!! Japan

Aired: 2004-2006

Genres: Action, Comedy, Drama, Fantasy, Shounen, Slice of Life

[akazzzaa]

concept: if all the demons, lower & upper moon and muzan were able to cook, what would they make & bring for thanksgiving, if they celebrated with their s/o?

Sorry for being late! I'm unfamiliar with Thanksgiving day so I tried to do some research to make it accurate, Not a lot of American style food will be included cause they are from japan, but they try

A/N- I'm no chef, I had to look for a lot of recipes that would be 'demonic' and thanksgiving too ?

Characters- Muzan, Kokushibo, Douma, Akaza, Tamayo, Emnu

Summary- What they would cook for you on Thanksgiving

Genre- Fluff

Warnings- None really just a mention on blood once

Muzan

Muzan knows languages and understands a lot of cultures from around the world. He is interested in how different counties have such different taste in food. All human food is gross to him but he is the only demon who can actually eat human food without throwing up. He only eats human food to blend in. A very good cook otherwise.

I think Muzan would likely choose a high-quality turkey and he might incorporate a deep red cranberry sauce that reflects his demonic side while still being suitable for a Thanksgiving table. Carrots glazed with a blood orange reduction could be a visually striking and flavourful side dish. For dessert, a dark chocolate pecan pie could be Muzan's choice for you, combining sweetness with a hint of darkness. For a drink, Muzan would craft a special cocktail with dark fruits, red wine, and a touch of something more sinister. blood

Kokushibo

Given that Kokushibo lived during the Taisho era in Japan, he might appreciate traditional Japanese cuisine. If he were to celebrate Thanksgiving with his significant other, he might choose to prepare a special Japanese meal with a touch of elegance. He knows nothing about American cuisine and doesn't care to learn about it. He's the one cooking. You are the one eating. If you don't like it, make it yourself. He didn't cook a lot as a human but he knows his way around a kitchen.

He would cook sushi rolls with fresh fish, vegetables, and perhaps some unique ingredients to showcase his culinary skills. Light and crispy tempura made with seasonal vegetables and shrimp, served with a flavourful dipping sauce. A delicate Chawanmushi (Steamed Egg Custard)with ingredients like chicken, shrimp, and ginkgo nuts, steamed to perfection. Skewers of grilled chicken, perhaps with a teriyaki glaze, showcasing a balance of sweet and savoury flavours. For desert, a unique dessert that combines the rich flavours of matcha green tea with the creamy goodness of cheesecake.

Douma

Douma is an amazing cook, just under Muzan, he has chefs that cook for the followers but he has cooked many dishes for people during his lifetime. He's unfamiliar with American food but he will try for you.

Douma might appreciate a unique twist on the traditional Thanksgiving turkey. The glaze could be made with blood orange juice, honey, and spices, giving it a rich and flavourful coating with Truffle Mashed Potatoes. Then Douma may choose a red wine reduction sauce to enhance the flavour of the meal and tie the meal together. Douma is better at baking but doesn't think humans should eat to much sweets. But today is a one off for you both, he would create a visually striking dessert, perhaps with dark chocolate and exotic fruits.

Akaza

Not a bad cook, has never cooked until he met you and he's gotten better at it. He respects you and your culture so he will want to cook a Japanese-American dish for you.

Akaza could marinate the turkey in a special teriyaki sauce infused with cherry blossom flavours, giving it a unique and sophisticated twist. Instead of traditional sweet potato dishes, Akaza might opt for sweet potatoes glazed with a miso-based sauce, adding a savoury and umami-rich element to the dish. Fresh green beans cooked to perfection and tossed with a sesame dressing, providing a crunchy and nutty complement to the meal. For dessert, Akaza might choose to make a matcha-flavored tiramisu, combining the traditional Italian dessert with a Japanese green tea twist. To accompany the meal, Akaza might select a high-quality sake, demonstrating his refined taste and appreciation for Japanese beverages.

Tamayo

Given her background and the fact that she is knowledgeable about herbs and medicines, she might prepare a unique and exotic dish that incorporates flavors inspired by her extensive knowledge. Perhaps she would create a dish with rare herbs and spices, combining them in a way that showcases her expertise.

Tamayo might infuse traditional Thanksgiving turkey with a Japanese twist by using a miso glaze. Miso adds a rich, savoury flavour that complements the turkey. A stuffing made with Japanese mushrooms like shiitake and maitake, along with chestnuts, could be a flavourful side dish reflecting Tamayo's expertise with herbs and ingredients. A selection of pickled vegetables, such as daikon radish and carrots, could serve as a refreshing palate cleanser between bites of the richer dishes. For dessert, a matcha-flavored treat like matcha cheesecake or matcha-flavored mochi could be a delight to the Thanksgiving feast. She has modified her body to drink human tea, so she will watch you eat all the food she cooked but the only thing you two can enjoy together is a cup of tea. And she makes a good cup of tea.

Enmu

Will give you food poisoning. Do not eat his food

[ofmermaidstories]

I'm rereading surrender again (bc it's just so gosh darn amazing and i love it!!!), and the brief mention of melon bread in chapter 2 made me go "hang on, what exactly *is* melon bread??"

So since, as of two weeks ago, i'm now living in Japan, i went to my local grocery store, and happily walked out with a bag of plain and choco chip melon pan. And it was so good?? So i hope Haru enjoyed his melon bread as much as i did (if Weeds actually remembered to give it to him haha), and also thank you for opening my eyes to this scrumptious pastry through your work!!

Wishing you a wonderful day filled with a hundred little joys💜✨

melon bread. 🥹 i remember being a kid and encountering it in anime for the first time and just assuming for years it was melon-flavoured lmao. which to be fair, probably isn’t that far-fetched of an assumption given the prevalence of melon-flavoured things over there? 🧐 but anyways—aw anon. you’re kind to say. 🥺 congrats on the move!!! that’s incredible—and a big thing to do. 🥺 so may it feel like home quickly. 😌🏠🌷 and may you always be a short distance from melon pan. 😈🍈🍞

this is one of the melon breadsss i got last time i was in japan!! they were baking them fresh so the whole area smelt like sugary bread. 😩🙏🏽

[dr-spectre]

I have a friend from Highschool and she's gonna graduate next year, I became great friends with her in my senior year of highschool in late 2022 because she also loves Splatoon as much as I do (It's very hard to find Splatoon fans in West Virginia, me and her are rare), and she's the main reason I have Tumblr. Unfortunately I haven't seen her after I graduated (I haven't seen any of my friends again after my graduation ceremony), she did sign my Grad dog before the last day of school though (She also putted "Stay Fresh!" on it too) I'm thinking of getting some splatoon gifts along with my Tumblr account and Discord account on a piece of paper so I can talk to her again. What kind of Splatoon gifts should I give her?

Oh wow... hmmm... well I got some ideas on some splatoon related gifts.

I think the most obvious gift for a splatoon fan is a plushie, if you can remember her favourite Idol then give her a plushie of that Idol. Or just get any splatoon plushie that you can afford and get on time.

These plushies will probably be the easiest and cheapest to find.

Another gift idea is an amiibo. Or maybe you can get one of those two pack or three pack amiibos for your friend. I'm sure they'll really love and appreciate that gift.

You can also do a hand made gift if you're into arts and crafts. Maybe make a card by printing off some pics of Splatoon characters you both like and sticking them in one of those birthday cards? But if the card has themeing on the front then cover it up with splatoon stuff! If your friend likes Callie for example, then make a Callie card!

If you're into baking then maybe try and make some splatoon themed goods? Like some cookies or muffins and put them in a container and put your tumblr and discord account onto the lid. I'm sure there's ways online to make your own cookie stencils or squid themed ones online. And make sure to decorate it with colours like orange, blue, pink, green, etc. You don't have to make a ton of cookies or muffins tho lmao, just a small bunch would be more than enough.

Also take a look at Play Asia to get some imported goods from Japan! They have splatoon stuff and that's how I got my Shiver plushie. They got stickers, official soundtrack cds, mini secret figures, amiibo diorama kits! All the good stuff other countries don't get!

Anyways, hope that gave you some ideas, good luck! Hope everything goes well for you!!!

[petitelepus]

FOX’S WEDDING, PART 4

KITSUNE!RENGUKO KYOJURO X FEM!READER

Summary: You make breakfast for the brothers, handle the laundry, buy them phones and computers and then teach then how to use them.

Warnings: None

A/N: Female Reader, Kitsune Kyojuro, Kitsune Senjuro, Kitsune Rengoku, Monster Musume!AU

PART 1 II PART 2 II PART 3 II PART 4 II PART 5 II PART 6 II PART 7 II PART 8 II PART 9 II PART 10 II PART 11 II PART 12 II PART 13 II PART 14 II PART 15 II PART 16 II PART 17 II PART 18 II PART 19

You groaned as you reached for your phone on the nightstand next to your new and generously big bed. 6 am. You glared at your little device, but you couldn't deny that you weren't sleepy anymore. Tired, but not sleepy enough to turn your side and go back to sleep.

"Screw this..." You cursed as you threw your blanket off and got up, ready to face the new day. You took a fresh set of underwear, jeans, and a T-shirt and carefully sneaked out of your room.

You were trying to be sneaky and quiet so you wouldn't wake up your new Yokai housemates. After the last day and night they had, they deserved some sleep. The same went for you, but you never really followed others' example.

You made your way downstairs and sat on the couch where you had left your sewing kit and the fox brother's clothes that you were fixing to fit their tails properly. You still had a couple of pants that needed to be fixed, but it didn't take that long with a handy woman like you.

Once you were done with them, you grabbed as much of the clothes that you could fit in your arms and carried them to the utility room that you had briefly seen when you and the brothers had inspected your new house. You made it to the room and you were in awe when you saw the machinery you were working with.

You had there the best washing machine and tumble dryer out in the market. You checked the machines and you were awed by how much laundry you could fit inside them. Doing the laundry never felt as fun as it did now. Good thing there was some laundry detergent.

While the laundry was washing, you went to grab your sewing kit and put it away. Then you started to wonder what to make for breakfast. These two housemates of yours came from very traditional Japanese household. What did they eat in Japan for breakfast?

You grabbed the phone of yours that you had left on the coffee table and googled 'Japanese breakfast'. The first thing that came was some indie pop band, but then there were examples of the traditional Japanese breakfast.

Shit, you didn't know how to prepare any of those things. You could make some rice, but you doubt you would make it right for their taste. You put your phone down and went to check the fridge you had just filled last night with Kyojuro.

Bacon, eggs, juice, you got some good ingredients there... For a Western breakfast. You hoped that the fox brothers wouldn't mind it, but if Kyojuro's appetite was anything to go by, you doubted that he would mind.

Seeing that the clock was a little over 7 am, you moved to the kitchen and started to get the breakfast ready. You put the oven on and laid a whole packet of bacon on a baking tray before sticking it in the slowly heating oven. A little trick to evenly cook the bacon that you had learned from your grandma.

You grabbed a skillet, put it on the stove, huh electric, and while it was heating, you cracked some eggs into the bowl, gave them a good swirl, and seasoned them with salt and pepper. Once the skillet was hot, you added oil and the egg mixture. You may not have known how to make miso soup, but you could fry some eggs.

While you were cooking, you were mentally going over things you would need to buy or otherwise get to make living as comfortable for the brothers as possible. Despite knowing them for only one day, you wanted to make them feel welcomed. Make them happy.

...What the heck was wrong with you? Never in your earlier relationships had you thought about your partner as you thought about Kyojuro. But he was different, he came from the country you loved, and he wasn't a normal human. Could it have been because of that he wasn't like other men?

"It smells amazing in here!"

"HOLY-!" You nearly jumped out of your skin. You turned and saw Kyojuro standing by the doorway, wearing only those white Japanese underwear of his.

"Good morning, my precious Hime!" The older Kitsune greeted you and you blinked in shock. You wanted to tell him to dress up, but you noticed Senjuro shyly peeking from behind his brother, and he was also only wearing similar white underwear as his big brother.

"Good morning big sis..." He murmured shyly and you bit your lip so you wouldn't call him cute and risk embarrassing him.

"Good morning boys," You replied as you looked aside, focusing on eggs on the skillet, "Breakfast is done soon, so go dress up and I'll set the table."

"What would you like us to wear?" Kyojuro asked and you glanced at him from the corner of your eye, "Your new clothes are in the washing machine so it will take a moment until you can wear them. Until then, you can wear the same clothes as you were wearing yesterday."

"As my beautiful bride says!" The older brother nodded happily and he and Senjuro went back upstairs to get dressed. While they were there you finished the eggs and put the skillet aside so the food wouldn't burn. You got bacon out and set it aside to cool before going to the fridge and grabbing cereals, milk, orange- and apple juices.

You set the table for three, getting plates, bowls, utensils, and glasses. You set the bacon and eggs on their own plates and just in time as the brothers came back, wearing their kimonos from the last day.

"There you are, please sit and eat as much as you want." You said as you sat down and the foxes followed your example as they sat opposite each other.

"Itadakimasu!" The brothers said in perfect unison and grabbed some bacon and eggs. You didn't want to admit it but you were a little nervous about how they would like them.

You watched them take a bite and saw how their pretty eyes widened before they smiled, "TASTY! Just as expected from my bride!"

"These are really good, big sis!"

They took more food and with each bite, Kyojuro shouted tasty and Senjuro moaned around his mouthful of eggs and bacon. You were honestly happy seeing someone enjoy the food you made so much. But you did have a question in your mind.

"So, can you both turn into foxes?"

The brothers stopped eating for a moment and nodded, "Yes, it's not hard for us."

"I have to admit, I was a little startled when you were turned into a fox last night, Senjuro." You laughed a little, feeling silly that you had gotten startled by something like that.

"I apologize for not telling you this earlier, my beloved!" Kyojuro said, but you just smiled and waved your hand, "No worries, how should you have known that I wouldn't know?"

They both nodded and you continued eating, when you remembered the cereals.

"Would you like some cereal also?" You asked as you grabbed the cereal box and ripped it open. The brothers glanced at each other and curiously watched you fill your bowl full of Cheerios and pour milk on top. You ate a spoonful and you couldn't help but notice how their ears pointed upwards as the cereals crunched in your mouth.

"Can I try some?" Senjuro asked and you nodded around your mouthful and handed him the box. The young fox copied you perfectly and once he took his first bite, you watched in amusement how he smiled, "These are tasty also!"

"Eat as much as you want!" You smiled and all three of you enjoyed the breakfast happily. Everything was eaten and once they were done, they both said, "Gochisousamadeshita", thanking for the wonderful meal. You smiled, proud that you knew enough Japanese to understand them.

As you cleaned the table, you heard peeping coming from the utility room. The laundry must have been done! As soon as you got the plates, bowls, and such to the dishwasher, you rushed to get the clothes out and put them in the tumble dryer.

You nodded as the machine whirred to life and started to dry the laundry. You turned to leave the room, but as soon as you turned, you screamed, startled by the Rengoku brothers looking at you curiously.

"Pardon us, my Hime, but we are curious! What are these machines?" Kyojuro asked and you blinked as you registered his words.

"Ah, of course." You nodded as you stepped aside and explained to them how one machine washed the laundry and the other one dried them. Kyojuro smiled as he nodded, "Hm! Technology these days sure is amazing!"

"Can you teach me how to use them?" Senjuro asked and you blinked, surprised by his question, but you smiled and nodded, "Yes, it's not honestly that hard."

"Thank you," The younger brother smiled and you wanted to say out loud how cute he was, but you held your tongue.

"Hey, while the laundry is drying, we could check some phones for you guys." You said and the brothers nodded eagerly. You told them to wait for you in the living room while you fetched something from your room. You knew exactly where it was, your precious computer.

You grabbed the device, and its charger and headed downstairs where the brothers were. As you made your way to them, they made room for you on the couch so you could sit between them, which you did. Senjuro noticed your computer under your arm and looked at you curiously, "What is that?"

"It's a computer. You can search anything with it, do work, write, chat, play games, almost anything really." You explained briefly as you made yourself comfortable between the foxes and started your computer. The brothers watched curiously how you opened interned and went to browse different phones and such.

"Okay, so, since you guys don't know much about phones, how about we get you some basic smartphones?" You asked and the brothers glanced at each other before Kyojuro laughed, "Yes, a smart phone would be better than a stupid phone!"

Okay, you couldn't help yourself, you snorted at his words and smiled as you tried not to laugh out loud. You saw from the corner of your eye how the older Kitsune's smile got bigger when he saw you smile at his words. You collected yourself quickly, but you couldn't help your smile.

As you browsed phones, you came across pretty good looking ones that had a good memory, internet, camera, and GPS in case they had to find their way around the city and you couldn't be there with them.

While you browsed the phones you noticed that they had some good computers, or laptops like yours, on sale. Honestly, the prices were a joke, you should definitely get them some and then teach them how to use them.

You looked at the brothers and grinned, "While the laundry is drying, how about I show you some funny videos?"

The fox brothers shared confused glances before focusing on you again, "You can watch videos with this machine?" Senjuro asked and you nodded as you opened Youtube and showed them a couple of funny animal videos, and you were filled with happiness as you listened to them laugh or chuckle at the cute creatures.

You were having so much fun that you didn't notice time flying by. Finally, you heard peeping and you grinned as you put your laptop on the coffee table and went to collect Kyojuro's and Senjuro's clothes. The brothers waited for you by the cough as you approached them with your hands full of clothes and you dropped them all on the couch.

"Pick something you like to wear and we will go and buy you phones!" You said with a smile and the brothers nodded as they got up to choose their clothes, but the moment their hands touched the fresh laundry they gasped.

"These are so warm!" Kyojuro exclaimed and Senjuro smiled, "And so soft!"

"Miracles of modern technology." You chuckled as you picked boxers and threw them at the brothers who caught them with ease. "You can start by putting on some more comfortable underwear. I'll go get my shoulder bag and then we can leave."

The brothers nodded and you rushed to pick up your bag and made sure you had everything needed, such as your phone, wallet, and keys to the house. You nodded, pleased with yourself, and while you were waiting for the fox brothers by the entrance you checked from your phone when the electronics stores would open.

"We are ready, my Hime!"

You lifted your gaze from your phone and smiled at the sight of the brothers. They looked really good in their new jeans and T-shirts... Though, you couldn't help but admire a little how Kyojuro's shirt hugged his upper body.

Bad you, shoo dirty thoughts, shoo!

Instead of thinking anything naughty, you put your phone in your bag and moved closer to inspect their pants from behind to see if the holes you made for the tails were big enough.

"How do the pants feel?" You asked and they both smiled, "Wonderful! Thank you for fixing them for us!"

"You're welcome. I'm happy that you are more comfortable now," You nodded, "Let's get going then!"

The three of you put your shoes on and once you made sure that the door was locked, you all walked to the same shopping mall from last day. You could still feel people looking at the brothers, but not as much as on the last day when they had their kimonos on. Now they blended in with regular people more.

You made your way to the electrics store and the brothers were in awe by all the televisions on one wall and all the electronics on display. While they admired the high-resolution televisions you fetched a saleswoman and asked about phones you had looked up earlier at your new home.

The woman happily helped you pick up the stuff you wanted so you bought the brothers their own smartphones and laptops. The bill you got would have cost you over two months' salary, but thank God for Mister Smith and the debit card he bestowed on you.

"Boys! I got the stuff, we can leave now!" You called after them, and the Kitsune's ears perked up when they heard you. You waited for them to come to you and once they made it, you pointed at the two large medium boxes that contained their computers.

"Can you carry these?" You asked. You knew they weren't that heavy, but you liked to have your hands free in case you would need them. The brothers nodded as they picked their own boxes and you made sure to thank the saleswoman as you left the store.

While you were there, you thought that you might as well do some grocery shopping since you doubted that you had anything proper to death for lunch or dinner. Also, you needed some everyday things.

"Hey, do you think you have the energy to visit the grocery store?" You asked as you glanced at the foxes and they both nodded, "We go wherever you go!"

You smiled, "Great, then let's get some basic things and something to eat today other than junk food."

You grabbed a shopping cart as you entered the store and slowly but surely it got fuller and fuller. Not only did you get food, but also those little things such as deodorant, shampoo, and body soap, and this time you made sure to remember the damn toothbrushes alongside the toothpaste.

By the time you were ready and you had paid for everything, the three of you had 4 bags full of food and groceries. Thank God that you had two strong Kitsunes helping you. Kyojuro automatically grasped the two heaviest bags, giving his computer for you to carry, but when Senjuro reached for two bags also, you only gave him one and took the other one yourself.

"I can carry more," The younger Rengoku said, but you shook your head and smiled, "Nope, You can have one, but I insist that I carry the other one."

"But-!"

"Nope!" You left no room for arguments so Senjuro gave in and took one bag and carried his computer in another. While you were focused on the younger brother, Kyojuro smiled at the sight of you caring for his brother.

The three of you left the mall, but you quickly found out that the summer heat was almost brutal on you three and not only that, but your grocery bags were so heavy that their straps really dug into the skin on your palms.

"Ugh, this wouldn't be so hard if we had a car..." You grumbled as you lifted the hand holding Kyojuro's computer and used the back of the said hand to wipe your forehead. The older Kitsune was all smiles as he looked at you, "Would you like for me to take your bag?"

"Touch my bag and I'll bite you." You groaned back, not going to let your fiance carry anymore since he was already carrying most of the groceries.

"My bride is so stubborn!" Kyojuro laughed out loud with a huge smile, "She is honestly too cute!"

"I'm not, shut up," You blushed, but you were so hot that he could probably not tell. Secretly, he could tell.

"I'm sorry..." Senjuro said as he frowned sadly, but you looked at him and smiled, "It's okay, you have no reason to be sorry Senjuro."

"But I-!"

"You are already a huge help, so don't feel bad." You nodded, "I'm happy to have you here."

The younger brother looked at you like he was trying to detect any lies, but he could tell that you were being honest. So he nodded shyly and smiled. You nodded, happy that he was feeling better, and secretly Kyojuro was admiring your kindness towards his brother.

When you made it back to your new home, you started to unload your groceries with the brothers, making sure to quickly put the stuff that needed to be stored in cold into the fridge and put other stuff like bread, toothpaste, soap, and such on the kitchen counter.

When you were done with those, you and the brothers made yourselves comfortable on the couch as you opened their brand-new computers and put them to recharge, alongside their new phones. You had to activate their new telephone subscription from your computer, but it wasn't hard for a modern gal like you.

Once the devices had recharged enough to be used, Kyojuro and Senjuro watched in awe how you set their phones and computers so they could use them at once. That was the easy part. Now you had to teach them how to use their new devices.

You made sure to write down your phone number on their phones and the other way around so you could be in contact with each other no matter where you were. Then you had to show them GPS, camera, and text messages, amongst other things. Computers also, you had to teach them how to use something as simple as Google or how to close a website or add another tab.

Kyojuro listened to you carefully as he tried his best, but surprisingly Senjuro was picking up things quicker than his older brother was. What did your mother say to you when you were small? The younger learn things easier than the older?

"So, if I do this, I can share a picture from my phone to my computer?" He asked and you nodded with a huge smile, "Exactly! You learn very quickly Senjuro!"

"Just as expected from you Senjuro," Kyojuro smiled at his younger brother and gently petted his head, minding his tall ears, "I knew you could do it!"

"S- so can you brother," The young fox said and the older one laughed, "Maybe, but not as quickly as you!"

"You are both learning quickly," You said, "In fact, I think you have earned yourself a reward!"

Hearing this, both brothers' ears perked up and you tried your hardest not to say how cute they were. No, instead you got up and walked to the kitchen where you had hidden something you had bought when they hadn't been looking.

Chocolate. It was honestly nothing serious, just some basic milk chocolate, but you had a hunch that they hadn't tried any before. So you made your way back to the couch and started to unwrap the chocolate tablet. Once you got it open, you gave a piece to both Kyojuro and Senjuro, who curiously sniffed the pieces.

"Put them in your mouths quickly or they melt on your fingers." You said and they nodded, dropping the chocolate into their mouths and-!

"SO TASTY!" Kyojuro shouted and you knew he was about to shout, but you hadn't been prepared for how loud he would shout it. Senjuro smiled and moaned happily as he enjoyed his piece, "It's very tasty!"

"I'm happy you like it!" You were all smiles and the brothers turned to look at you excitedly, "May I get another piece?"

"I- I would like some also if possible?"

Honestly, they were being just too cute, how could you say no to them?

[bubblespalace]

The Accords (Original Version)

Chapter II

Bella trudged over the dirt covered ground, a scowl on her face. She was screwed over by The Clave once again, they gave her one last mission to do in Japan before she left. All that ran through her mind was home, and she was getting really sick of being treated this way. At least it was an easier mission, killing a Bakemono. However, these demons where good at hiding and running.

She would have to pay close attention when fighting.She had used the medical supplies to bandage her puncture wound from the demon she had faced about two hours ago, but it stung to high hell. It would be a pain to fight with, that's for sure. The small snack she had purchased hadn’t made her any less starved, in fact, it only made her more aware of her weakness due to malnourishment. When Bella finally arrived in Milan, she would eat as much pasta as she wished. She craved to taste Conchiglie again, and fresh baked bread with spinach salad…

Bella shook off the want for food and rest, she didn’t have that time, she would instead allow it when she stepped foot on the stone-paved sidewalks of her home. The trained woman marched forward, her back straight and a warrior-worthy expression on her face. She looked around the dark forest, checking for any sign the monster had passed through these woods. She saw the scratches left behind by claw marks on the trees, and the dripping of demon blood that left burning holes in the leaves scattered across the ground.

Seeing this, Bella picked up her pace, determined to find the demon and slay it. The Shadowhunter warrior ran fast, feeling the cold air fill her lungs as the night wind nipped her face, she slammed her boots into the ground with such fury until she approached a gate.

This gate was made of rot iron, and a glorious mansion was set behind it. Bella wrapped her hand around one of the bars, cursing herself for being so dumb. Of course the demon sought out a place where it could hide in small nooks and crannies, it would be much harder to find now. The woman looked up, checking to see if she could jump over the gate from it’s lowest point, but these were rich people, after all, they wouldn’t want anyone breaking in. However, Bella would have to trespass on this property to execute this demon.

She quickly sheathed her angel blade and grasped onto the iron, pulling herself up the gate. The action took her stamina quickly, she had to gasp for breath when she finally dropped to the ground on the other side. Bella felt so weak, she was beaten up pretty badly. She said a silent prayer to the angels, worried the little strength she had left wasn’t going to be enough to slay a demon.

Her boots were louder than they should have been for a stealth mission, the Soundless runes she had carved into the soles when she had a stele were finally wearing off. It would make it very hard to sneak up on the monster. They clanged against the pavement as she walked down the pathway, on either side, beautiful white roses grew in the bushes. Bella stopped for a moment to admire them and catch her breath better, brushing her hand against the soft petals and capturing the watery dew that rested on them. Someone here took very good care of them.

She heard a noise behind her, it however, wasn’t the sound of a demon. It sounded like a boy. Bella glanced behind her, catching the eye of the source of the noise.

He was shorter than her, but not by too much, maybe six inches-she was wearing two inch heels though. Although he had a child-like look to him, he seemed about her age. Nineteen, or maybe younger. He had soft purple hair that could put the shame the hue of lavender and matching amethyst eyes that looked almost like a sea of chaos, ever changing. Under those gorgeous eyes, were bags that were very dark, like he hadn’t slept in weeks, just like her. He was dressed nicely, in a school outfit that was well put together, unlike the man who she encountered at the gas station. He was grasping onto a stuffed bear with an eyepatch. This boy had a neutral expression on his face, but she could see something else there that she couldn’t quite read.

He spoke in Japanese at first, but when he saw the confused expression on her face, he switched to English.

“You smell quite good.” He muttered, his eyes boring into her almost like how Ayato's eyes did to her before. His accent was still thick when he spoke in English, just like Ayato. However, this boy gave Bella a slightly different energy. He looked down at the teddy bear in his arms. “Right Teddy? She’s pretty too, prettier than Yui-chan. She looks like a doll.”

Bella was caught of guard for a quick moment, she had been called hot before, mostly by suitors she used to ignore in Idris when she was going through her training. Shadowhunter were courted fairly young, since most only lived to thirty due to how dangerous their lives were. She had never in her nineteen years of life had been called beautiful though. It made her feel more feminine, which she liked. But she felt something was off about this boy, the same feeling she had when she encountered Ayato.

He paced closer to her, very close, almost too close for her comfort, he held onto Teddy with one hand as he brushed her messy, curly hair out of her face. “You’ll be a wonderful doll. What’s your name, my doll?”

Somehow, all thoughts of her mission left her head. “Bella. And yours?” She answered. The short man’s eyes sparked something.

“Your accent makes your voice very beautiful. Fufu~ I want to keep listening to it.” He told her. She smiled, a small blush dusting her cheeks. “My name is Kanato-kun.”

That name rang a subtle bell in Bella’s mind, but she couldn’t put her finger on it. Maybe she had met a Kanato in the past? She rubbed elbows with lots of different people, due to her basically being an assassin for The Clave. “Nice to meet you, Kanato.”

“A pleasure.” This boy spoke very elegantly, Bella couldn’t help but be interested, but she quickly remembered what she was here to do.

She blinked, looking around the outside to see if she could catch a shadow of a demon moving to another hiding place. “Uh, I have to go, kid. I’m hunting something.”

Suddenly, his entire demeanor changed. His soft eyes became hard in a blink of an eye, and his mouth twisted into a scowl. Bella flinched, seeing the sudden change shocked her. “You will not be leaving, doll. You are mine now.” Kanato grasped onto her wrist tightly, with apparent rage, catching a glance at the back of her palm, where she had a Protection rune, one she’s had since birth. His features twisted once again, this time into a sadistic smile. “Now I understand why your blood smells as good as it does, you’re a Nephilim. Fufu~ I’ve always wanted to taste Nephilim blood, angels must taste so very sweet. One puncture scar on your skin won’t be as bad, right Teddy?”

Kanato bared his fangs, they gleamed menacingly under the moonlight. Bella gasped in surprise and horror, realizing he was a vampire. She yanked her wrist out of his grasp, taking steps back defensively. “Back off, bloodsucker.” She threatened as she pulled her angel blade out of it’s sheath and pointed it at his throat.

Kanato glared at her, she felt the intensity coming from his stare. “Don’t call me that! You are weaker than vampires so you must treat me with respect!” Kanato yelled. Bella had to stifle a laugh, he looked so much like a child in that moment. The purple-haired boy noticed and gave her another deadly look. “I wouldn’t laugh, Shadowhunter.”

Bella pressed the tip of her blade against his throat. “You may be a vampire, but I’ve killed many of you bloodsuckers in the past. I can easily slit your throat.” The Shadowhunter pressed the tip against his Adams apple, but Kanato was unfazed.

“I'll drain your blood until your skin is white, have you watch me drink it, then sew that mouth of yours shut, doll.”

Suddenly, he sprang at her, his fangs out and ready to pierce her skin. Bella yelped and dodged him quickly, and while doing that, she tripped him over. Kanato fell flat on his face, the stuffed bear shielding his ribs from the concrete. He growled and started to push himself up with one arm, but Bella kicked him hard in the ribs. The lavender-eyed man gasped and crashed against the ground again. Bella kept him down with her high-heeled boot, pressing it firmly against his back.

“Don’t get up, kid.” She said, putting away her blade.Kanato turned his head, looking furious, but he wasn't looking at her. He said something in Japanese through grit teeth. The Shadowhunter scrunched up her face, confused as to who he directed that to, but as she turned her head, she saw a man.

He was also insanely attractive. With hair as white as a Shadowhunter Mourning outfit and striking red eyes that seemed to be home to violence itself. He was an inch or two shorter than her, but she was wearing heels, but he was probably taller than her by an inch while she was barefoot.

She didn't have very much time to look at him, because as soon as she turned, Bella was punched in the face. Her eyes fluttered closed and she dropped to the ground.

Read: https://www.tumblr.com/bubblesacc/740964840708980736/the-accords-reader-insert-ver?source=share

For reader-insert version :)

[jointhearumanati]

HETALIA HEADCANNONS

🇺🇲 Alfred is a not the best in the kitchen but on the Grill he makes the best BBQ I'm talking southern style meat smoked for 12 hours, Brisket, bacon, ribs, steak, burgers, hot dogs, chicken, pork, his cookout parties are the best he can bake casserole in the oven though

🇮🇹 🇩🇪Romano and Germany are best friends when black out drunk much to Romano's horror once he sobers up

🇨🇳 China cross dresses in secret the only one who knows is Poland and are secret besties

🇫🇷 France is the best cosmetologist around you need your hair or nails done he's your guy some nations even pay him and make appointments on the regular

🇬🇧 🇨🇳England and China dated once upon a time it didn't end well but England still has a small crush on him though he won't admit it China moved on

🇵🇹 🇨🇳Portugal and China had a one night stand once

🇷🇺 🇨🇳Russia has had a crush on China since he was a kid under Mongolian rule he was the only one who was kind to him he thought he was a woman even when he found out he was a man it didn't change his opinion of him

🇻🇦🇨🇳 Rome and China were in a romantic long distance relationship once upon a time it took so long to visit but Rome always made the journey when he had time China didn't find out about his death until years after he died

🇬🇧 England can play the electric guitar 🎸 and writes music notes and songs it helps him relax he lies on the floor of his room and plays for hours

🇷🇺 Russia went to therapy and came out a lot more stable he even went on a apology tour to apologize to those he wronged if he unnerves anyone it's just teasing now

🇩🇪🇧🇪🇨🇭🇱🇮 Germany, Belgium, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein are the best bakers around they make the best sweets

🇮🇹 Italy and Romano have an Vegetable and Herb garden so they always have the freshes ingredients

🌍🌎🌏All Nations have a big food party after world meeting everyone brings food from around the globe so everyone can try any food they want

🇨🇳 China is actually the best in bed he knows ancient tricks that leave his partners staring at the ceiling contemplating their existence

🇬🇷 Greece is second best in bed it's like he puts every bit of energy into pleasing his partners he falls asleep immediately after

🇬🇷 Greece is the best at giving advice though few nations actually know that

🇪🇸🇮🇹🇺🇲🇱🇹🇰🇷🇰🇵🇭🇰🇷🇺🇬🇷🇹🇷S pain, Romano, America, Lithuania, the Korea twins, Russia, Greece, and Turkey are the best dancers around Spain and Romano are good at Salsa, Flamenco, Tango, Argentine tango, and Tarantella. America and Lithuania are the best at Swing. The Korea twins are good at more modern dancing freestyle even throwing some break dancing and acrobatics into their routine. Hong Kong is the best break dancer even throws acrobatics into his routine often dances with the twins. Russia is the best ballet dancer and does traditional Russian dances it's impressive with his size. Greece and Turkey are the best belly dancers.

🇰🇷🇰🇵 The Korea twins meet once a year at China's place they make up for lost time with a bit of bickering, speaking at the same time, and finishing each other's sentences

🇭🇰 Hong Kong is the best clothing and jewelry designer you'll ever meet he makes all his clothes and even has his siblings model his designs he even has either Japan or Taiwan take pictures for him with lights props and everything and puts it on Instagram he sometimes gets commissions from other nations they pay him and make appointments sometimes even modeling his designs he even teams up with France for hair nails and makeup he has a whole studio he's also a great DJ

🇨🇳 China is the best babysitter around he gets payed by the hour and China adores children he missed the pitter patter of tiny feet on his floor the kids always come back full of good food and toys and presents to take home they aren't his kids so he can spoil them rotten even snacks for the road because growing children need to eat

🇨🇳 China always brings tons of snacks to world meetings he even gives America and Germany extra because they are the youngest

[rainisawriter]

Lassie 🎃⚔️ Pumpkin Spice

Genre: Fluff, comedy, romance, halloween

Word Count: 4,264

Pairing: Reader x Lassie

Group: White Rascals

World: High&Low

A/N: This was written for my Highloween set back in October of 2022.

━━━━━━༻🎃⚔️༺━━━━━━

Autumn has always been your favorite time of year and you often wonder how anyone could hate it. It’s not cold like winter or hot like summer and everyone is getting ready for the spooky season. Pumpkins are literally everywhere, the leaves change into beautiful shades of orange and red, and everything just feels less serious and stressful. During Autumn, it was quite difficult to put you in a bad mood because of how much you enjoyed the season and everything that came with it. More than anything, though, you loved the taste of pumpkin spice. There was nothing more enjoyable than a fresh batch of pumpkin spice cookies with chocolate chips!

When you first moved to Japan, you had to adjust to a lot of things because of how different it was from your home country, but the thing you missed most was the overabundance of pumpkin spice during the spooky season. It’s true that you could find a handful of products with said spice, but it was nothing compared to back home where nearly everything had a pumpkin spice variant. People go nuts for it and, honestly, they put it into things that it really has no business being part of. No matter how much you love it, you simply can’t support those weirdos that think pumpkin spice belongs on pizza!

It’s even become a meme online with thousands of images cropping up each year. As with anything, once something becomes overhyped and popular, it starts to gain a bad reputation but that didn’t really bother you. The spice spoke for itself, in your opinion.

You hummed softly as you relaxed on the couch sitting atop Oya Koukou’s roof, scrolling through your phone as you looked for the perfect recipe. The problem is that there are hundreds of recipes, each with only slight variations to them. How are you supposed to know which one is the best? It’s not like you can try them all.

“You seem to be in high spirits today.”

You glanced over at Tsukasa who sat at the other end of the couch. “I am because my package finally arrived this morning, right as I was leaving the apartment. I was starting to get worried that it wouldn’t even arrive until after Halloween… damn customs.”

Fujio glanced up from where he sat atop several wooden pallets, his hand holding several playing cards. “What’s in it?”

Jamuo sat across from him, gaze focused on his own cards as he tried to figure out which one to set down. “It must be important to have worked you up so much.”

“My friend back home sent me a bunch of pumpkin spice.”

“Oh.” Fujio’s brow furrowed as if he were disappointed, but he was actually just concentrating on his next move. “Is it true that people are really obsessed with that stuff where you’re from?”

“Hm, I wouldn’t say obsessed, really,” you mused, tilting your head back to look at the baby blue sky above. “It’s become part of meme culture, so it’s easy to think that and we really do push the limits of what we can add it to. It’s usually only around during Autumn, though. No one really mentions it or uses it any other time of the year.”

“What are you gonna make with it?” Jamuo wondered, setting down the last card in his hand before jumping up, his arms in the air. “I win!”

“What? How?” Fujio scowled, glancing from his hand to the table and back again. “I was so close… ugh!”

You chuckled as you watched the pair, shifting on the couch. “Pumpkin spice cookies with chocolate chips. It’s my favorite Autumn snack so I wanted to make some for Lassie. I’m a bit nervous, though… I’ve never made them from scratch before. They usually come pre-made or ready to bake.”

“Are you worried that you’ll mess them up?” Tsukasa wondered, quirking a brow at you. “Or are you worried that he won’t like them?”

“Both. The first time you try a new food can really impact how you view that food in the future. I don’t want to be the reason he comes to hate pumpkin spice when he might actually like it if it’s made correctly…” You frowned, picking at a loose thread on your clothes.

“And?” he prompted, making you sigh.

“You read me too well, Tsukasa. It’s annoying.”

“Right?” Fujio scowled at the blonde.

Jamuo sat back down, turning on the empty oil drum he sat on top of so he could face you. “What else is bothering you, Y/N-chan?”

“Well…” you hesitated, biting your lip. “How do I say this… Lassie is from the White Rascals and you know how they are. They’re obsessed with never hurting women. More than him not liking it, I’m worried that he’ll lie to me and say he loves it just to spare my feelings. That’s way worse than not liking it, in my opinion.”

Fujio hummed, folding his arms over his chest. “Most people would be happy with that, right? It means he loves you enough to lie.”

“But lies can hurt more than the truth,” Jamuo added with a frown. “It’s like they’re saying you’re too weak for the truth.”

“Exactly, Jamjam,” you sighed. “He always treats me like I’m some fragile creature that will break at the slightest jolt. He never tells me the truth if he thinks it might hurt my feelings, it’s so frustrating!”

“Have you told him this?” Tsukasa inquired, sending you a look. Your silence was the only answer he needed. “How is he supposed to know how you feel if you don’t tell him?”

“I… may be a bit insecure. Lassie is the type that wants to take care of his partner completely. If I challenge that… he might move on to someone who won’t.”

“Then it’s his loss!” Fujio smacked his hand on the table, sending cards scattering across the rooftop. “Who breaks up with someone over something like that anyway? You’re worrying for nothing, Y/N!”

“Maybe.”

Tsukasa scooted closer, putting his arm around you. “No matter what happens, you’ll always have us.”

You glanced around at the smiling faces of your three best friends and chuckled. “What a terrible fate that is.”

“Oi!”

“That’s mean, Y/N-chan!”

“Yeah, you’re right.”

“Don’t agree with her!” The two boys chorused, glaring at the blonde who only chuckled in reply.

━━━━━━༻🎃⚔️༺━━━━━━

You fell onto the kitchen chair with a tired sigh, closing your eyes as the smell of pumpkin spice cookies filled the room. You had spent the past four hours trying out as many recipes as you could, hoping to make the perfect cookies to share with your boyfriend. There were many failures and the kitchen had been reduced to a baking warzone. Flour coated the counter and the wall, there was cinnamon stuck to your hair, sugar had made itself comfortable on the ceiling and your precious pumpkin spice had been knocked over, forming a small pile on the ground.

Several plates of cookies had been set out on the table and, while they looked almost identical, they varied in taste. Who knew a minor change in ingredients could change the flavor so drastically?

“Woah, what happened in here?”

You glanced to the side, seeing Fujio standing in the doorway with wide eyes. You grinned, giving him a thumbs up. “I won the war, Fuji.”

“You say that, but don’t you have to clean up the mess? Sounds like you lost to me.”

Your smile fell as you realized he was right. “Damn.”

He stepped farther into the kitchen, carefully stepping over an egg you had dropped. “You want me to taste them, right?”

“Only one from each plate.” You sent him a look, pointing your finger at him before approaching the oven to check on the last batch. “I want to choose the best tasting ones for Lassie. You can take the rest to Tsukasa and Jamjam.”

“I’ve never tried pumpkin spice before,” he hummed, picking up a cookie from plate one.

“Make sure you remember which cookie you’re eating!”

“Hai~” He took a large bite, chewing thoughtfully for a moment before his eyes suddenly widened. “So good!”

“Which one?”

“The first one!” He tossed the rest of the cookie into his mouth, dropping crumbs onto the dirty floor.

“Oi, don’t make the mess worse.” You scowled, setting the sixth and final plate onto the table before falling back onto the chair, stretching your body out. You rested your chin in your palm, watching as the black-haired male scarfed down cookie after cookie. You wondered if he was even able to taste them. Once all cookies had been tried, he sat down at the other end of the table, eyes closed and arms crossed over his chest.

Several minutes passed by and you were just about to question him when his eyes finally opened.

“I’ve made my decision,” he told you, expression deadly serious.

You nodded, leaning forward. “Which one is it, Fujio? Tell me.”

He shot up, hands slamming on the table. “Number five…!”

Your gaze fell to plate number five before you reached out for it.

“Is the worst.”

“Eh~?” Your hand dropped to the table. “Oi, I told you to choose the best, not the worst!”

“You can’t have the best without the worst, Y/N-chan.” He wagged his finger at you with a grin. “That’s how they do it on those cooking competitions that my mom always watches.”

“I don’t care. Just tell me which one tastes the best before I kill you.”

“Fine, fine.” Fujio pointed at plate number three. “These taste the best, in my opinion, but all of them are really good.”

Your shoulders relaxed at the compliment and you smiled. “Thank you. I can always count on you.”

“Of course! That’s what friends are for, ne?” He grinned, grabbing a cookie from plate number six.

“I thought six is the worst.”

“It is.” He took a large bite, chewing thoughtfully before grinning again. “But that doesn’t mean it’s not good.”

“You’re so weird,” you chuckled, shaking your head at him as you got up to grab a plastic container for your boyfriend’s cookies. “Here, catch.” You tossed a plastic container at him and he caught it with ease. “Box up everything but plate three.”

“Hai~”

“And you better save some for Tsukasa and Jamjam or I’ll kill you!”

━━━━━━༻🎃⚔️༺━━━━━━

You gripped the strap of your messenger bag tightly as you descended the stairs into club Heaven. You had never felt very comfortable because the club scene just wasn’t for you. You didn’t like the large crowd of sweaty bodies hitting against each other as they danced and you didn’t like the flashing lights that threatened to blind you. If you had your way, you’d never come here but this is where your boyfriend spent most of his time. It was basically his home.

Your eyes scanned the sea of people, searching for your brown-haired boyfriend. And there he was, sitting at the back of the room with two girls sitting on each side of him. He smiled at them politely as they showered him with compliments and praise, their hands touching any part of him that they could reach.

You frowned, turning around so you could sit at the bar and not have to look at such a scene. You knew deep down that those girls meant nothing to him on a personal level, he was just doing his job and trying to make some lonely women happy. Even so, how could it not bother you at least a little? You didn’t want to be the kind of partner that got all jealous and demanded that he not be with any other woman. Besides, you knew what you were in for when you started dating a White Rascal. You had no right to complain now.

“Good evening, Y/N-san.”

You glanced up at the bartender and smiled. His name is Naoki and he had a mess of hair that stuck up in all directions, defying gravity. It was split down the middle, the left side the color of a raven’s feather and the right side the color of fresh cream. Black eyeliner was thick around his eyes and he had various piercings in his ears and several tattoos that couldn’t be hidden from his open vest. Despite his appearance, he was one of the sweetest of the Rascals and seemed to always know when someone was feeling down.

“Hello, Naoki-san. How is work today?”

He hummed as he grabbed your favorite non-alcoholic beverage, setting it down in front of you. “Today seems to be dragging on for ages. I’m glad it’s almost over.”

“Don’t let Rocky hear you say that,” you chuckled, accepting the drink with a small thank you.

“Of course. I’m not a masochist, you know,” he grinned, leaning his arms across the counter. His eyes flickered over your shoulder to your boyfriend who had yet to notice your presence. “What brings you into the club today? Lassie didn’t say you were stopping by.”

“I didn’t tell him, though maybe I should have…” You frowned, rubbing the back of your neck. Usually, when he knows you’re stopping by, he does his best to avoid being surrounded by women though they always find him even when he avoids them. He’s one of the most popular males among the Rascals, second only to Rocky himself, so it made sense that there would always be women looking for him.

“Maybe so,” he replied softly before tapping the counter and straightening his back. “Ne, why don’t I escort you into the back? You can wait for him there. I know you don’t really like it out here.”

You nodded, giving him a grateful smile as you stood up. “Can I bring my drink?”

“Of course, Y/N-san.” He bowed, one arm across his chest and the other behind his back. With a smile, you picked up the glass, supporting it with your palm so you didn’t drop it as he led you through the crowd and into the back of the club. No one was supposed to be allowed back there except for the Rascals but you had become a bit of an exception. If Rocky or Koo found you, they would lightly scold you, telling you not to let it happen again, but they never made you leave or enforced it. For that, you were thankful.

Naoki led you to a small break room. “I’ll let Lassie know you’re here -“

“Don’t.”

“Hm?”

“I don’t want to bother him,” you smiled sheepishly. “Or take him away from his patrons… I’ll wait, I don’t mind.”

“Are you sure?” he questioned softly with a frown.

“Positive!” You forced a smile to put him at ease and he nodded.

“Very well, then. I’ll come check on you in a bit.”

“Sure.” You listened to the sound of his footsteps fading down the hall before you shut the door, glancing around the room.

Against the right wall was a comfortable, purple sofa that felt more like a cloud than a piece of furniture and there was an oak coffee table in front of it. Against the left wall and the wall beside the door was a line of vanity tables covered in makeup and hair products. The lights surrounding the mirrors were off since they weren’t being used and you could see your reflection in the glass. In the corner between the left and back wall was a TV sitting on a stand.

You carefully set your messenger bag on the coffee table, knowing that the container of cookies was inside before you settled down on the couch. You considered turning on the TV but decided against it, lying down on your back and tugging your phone from your pocket. You replied to unread messages from the trio, letting them know that you hadn’t given them to him yet but sparing the details as to why. Then you pulled up YouTube, watching videos to pass the time.

━━━━━━༻🎃⚔️༺━━━━━━

You felt fingers brushing against your cheek and your eyes fluttered open, blinking away sleep. It took you a minute for your brain to recall that you were still at the club.

“Did you sleep well?”

You glanced over, seeing Lassie kneeling beside the couch, his fingers resting softly against your cheek. “I fell asleep,” you muttered, pushing yourself up and rubbing at your eyes. “I’m sorry.”

“No need to apologize.” He pulled himself up so he could sit on the side of the couch, smiling warmly at you. “You’re so cute when you’re sleeping. You even mumbled my name~”

You sent him an embarrassed look. “Liar.”

“Am not! I’ll just have to film it next time~”

“Don’t you dare!” I scowled at him, making him chuckle. “What time is it?”

“It’s morning. The club closed about twenty minutes ago.”

You frowned. “I slept so long…”

He nodded, going quiet for a moment. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

“Eh?”

Lassie frowned at you, eyes meeting yours. “You always tell me when you’re coming to the club. Why didn’t you call me? And then you got here and still didn’t tell me. You sat back here alone for so long.”

“I wanted to surprise you and then I got here and saw you with…” You cleared your throat, glancing at your messenger bag. “I didn’t want to bother you while you were walking.”

“You could never bother me.” His hands gently cupped your face, bringing his forehead to rest against your own. “You’re the love of my life, Y/N. You are far more important than my job.”

“Rocky might kill you if he hears that,” you joked softly, unable to hold back your smile.

“Then I’ll die a happy man because I have you.”

“Idiot~” You smacked his shoulder. “You’re not allowed to die without me.”

“As you wish, my love.” Lassie pecked your lips but when he pulled away, you followed, tugging him closer by the front of his shirt. He obliged your silent request, pushing against your lips in a slow, sensual manner that had you feeling breathless.

“Lassie?” you whispered softly, lips brushing against his when you spoke.

“Yes?”

You glanced at your bag, biting your lip. Now that you were here in front of him, you weren’t sure you wanted to offer him the cookies. ‘No, I worked hard on them. I have to give them to him,’ you told yourself, shifting on the couch so that you could reach your bag. Lassie watched you curiously as you pulled a small plastic container from the bag, gripping it tightly.

“Will you promise me something?”

“Of course.”

You took a deep breath, turning to meet his gaze. “Promise me that when you try these cookies, you’ll be honest with me even if you hate them.”

His eyes widened at the request, gaze flickering to the container. “Is that what you want?”

“Yes. It hurts when you pretend to like something just to avoid upsetting me. I just want you to be honest.”

“Then I will be. From now on, I’ll be honest with you,” he smiled softly, resting his hand on your thigh.

“Good.” You nodded your head, holding the container out to him. “It’s my first time making these from scratch but I did my best.”

“You made these?” He took the container carefully, tugging the lid from it. The smell of cinnamon, sugar, and pumpkin spice filled the room, making his mouth water. “It smells amazing. Are these sugar cookies?”

“No. They’re pumpkin spice.”

“Pumpkin spice?” Lassie blinked, picking up one of the cookies to inspect it.

“I know you’ve never tried it before and it’s okay if you don’t like it. It’s my favorite Autumn treat, so I wanted to share it with you.”

“Itadakimasu,” he said softly before taking a bite of the cookie, holding his other hand beneath it to catch the crumbs. You watched his face closely as he chewed, taking note of his furrowed brow as he considered the flavor. He swallowed, paused a moment, then took another bite, humming thoughtfully.

“Be honest,” you reminded him and he nodded, leaning back against the couch with one leg crossed over the other.

“Honestly speaking, I don’t hate it. It’s a strange taste,” he mused, eating the last of the cookie. “An acquired taste, perhaps.”

“Maybe.”

“I guess I’ll just have to eat the whole container.”

“Eh?” You blinked at him as he picked up another. “You’re not even gonna share with me?”

“You made them for me,” he pouted but it quickly bloomed into a smile as he held the cookie out to you. “Well, you did put in a lot of work. You’ve earned one.”

“Just one?” you chuckled, accepting the cookie. It was like pure bliss from the first bite and you found yourself sighing in contentment, unaware of the loving look your boyfriend was giving you as he watched you. “I guess I can live with that.”

“Thank you, Y/N.” Lassie softly kissed your cheek, sliding his hand into yours. “I’m so lucky to have you.”

“That’s my line.”

“Now you have to promise me something.”

You looked at him curiously, meeting those beautiful brown eyes that you had come to love so much. “What’s that?”

“The next time you come to the club, let me know. Even if I’m with other guests. Promise?”

“I promise.”

Lassie leaned in to kiss you but paused when your phone started to ring from the table. He grabbed it for you, glancing at the caller ID. “It’s your dad.”

“He must’ve just gotten home.” You exchanged the cookie for your phone, pressing it to your ear. “Hello -“

“I’m going to kill you, brat! This kitchen is a mess! Did you have a fight, huh? Were you raised in a barn? I work all night and come home to an absolute mess! How dare you leave the kitchen in this state! No child of mine would be so irresponsible, so stupid! Ah, I know! Someone must have broken in and trashed the kitchen, ne? The trash bandits, ne? Ne, brat?!“

You swallowed hard as you slowly lowered your hand, the sound of your father ranting and raving filling the room. You had completely forgotten about the kitchen because you wanted to get the cookies to Lassie as soon as possible. You hadn’t planned on falling asleep, you had planned to get home before he did and clean up the mess.

“He sounds really angry,” Lassie spoke quietly so your dad wouldn’t hear, a frown on his lips. “Is everything okay?”

“It’s fine,” you replied, your voice an octave higher. “I, uh… I might die today, though.”

“Hah? As if I’d let you. Here, let me talk to him.” Before you could react, he plucked the phone from your hand, pressing it to his ear. “Good morning, otou-san. Forgive me for interrupting, but may I ask what has you in such a foul mood?”

You leaned closer to try and hear what was being said, but your dad had started to speak at a normal volume as he often did when talking to anyone other than you so it was hard to make out the words.

“I see.” Lassie sent you a disappointed look. “I can explain, if you’ll allow me to. Y/N wanted to make cookies to thank you for working so hard, but the task proved to be a bit much. Such a mess would be hard to tackle alone, don’t you agree? I’m ashamed to say that I didn’t pick up my phone when Y/N called, so they came down to ask me for help. We were just about to return and clean up the mess when you called… hai, that’s right… We’ll be home soon, otou-san. The mess will be gone by the time you wake up, I assure you… hai. Sleep well.”

You blinked dumbly at your boyfriend as he hung up the phone, handing it back to you.

“Honestly, what were you thinking, leaving such a mess behind?”

“I wanted your cookies to be fresh,” you mumbled, staring at your phone. Your dad was often compared to an angry bear by Fujio, the only other person who had witnessed his true nature. He wasn’t quick to anger unless he was tired and his rage was hard to ease, so how the hell had your boyfriend talked his way out of disaster? It made no sense to you.

“Aw. You knew he would kill you but you still put me first!” He set the container on the table so he could turn toward you, cupping your face and bringing you into a passionate kiss. “What would I do without you?”

“Die, probably,” you joked, making him click his tongue.

“I’m pretty sure you just described yourself. Now, let’s get back to your apartment. We have a lot of cleaning to do.” He stood up and you jumped up after him, grabbing his hand.

“You don’t have to help, Lassie. It’s my mess and you worked all night at the club. I’m sure you’re exhausted.”

“I’m never too tired to help you. That’s what being in a relationship means, right?”

You slid your hand into his with a smile. “Yeah, you’re right.”

“I always am~” He winked playfully, giving your hand a squeeze.

“Don’t get ahead of yourself, Lassie. I might have to hit you.”

“You wouldn’t dare~”

He was right, of course, but he didn’t need to know that.

━━━━━━༻🎃⚔️༺━━━━━━

-> High&Low/Rampage Taglist: @kiraaaeon, @simpforchuchu, @star2fishmeg, @thatpoindexterpixy @manhwabtch

-> General Taglist: @asterhaze, @mrskenpachizaraki

[nonobadcat]

Afo on valentine with pregnant reader maybe if your ok with requests 🥺

Whoot! Finally had time to sit down and work on this! ❤️

I think the answer of how AFO would be with a pregnant lover depends on which country's Valentines Day we're talking about. In western style countries I'm sure there would be wining and dining but, since BNHA is set in Japan, I decided to go with a Japanese style holiday.

In Japan, women are expected to be the predominate provided of the holiday. This turns around on White Day in March when the men return the favor with gifts. There are several types of chocolate for Valentine's day: Giri (obligation), Honmei (true love: sounds suspiciously like homemade), Tomo (friends), Jibun (I bought for myself), and Fami (family). There are also reports of Gyaku (man to woman gifted) chocolate, but I get the impression most guys just wait for White Day.

All For One x Pregnant Reader Valentine's Day

Puffy coat lapels clutched tight to your neck, you dodged past yet another line snaking out from the tidy, pink and red mottled store fronts of the Roppongi Hills shopping center. Banners and LED adverts flashed limited edition everything from gold foiled chocolate truffles to "lovey dovey" rice crackers. Even Kitty Diamond, the slick, luxury pet shop, had swapped their usual clean, white window display for a flood pastels hearts. The mournful amber eyes of the plush Persian kittens for sale looked like a glowing sunset against their coral colored collars.

Squinting against the ferocious February wind, you stuffed the straps of your canvas bag into your armpit and braced the package tight against your chest. Out past the rose garden, you trudged down the sloping sidewalks towards the south entrance of Roppongi Station. As you passed L'Atelier du Pain, the French bakery, the odor of buttery baked goods made your bulging belly flutter. You groaned and patted your stomach.

"I told you at the first store, it's no good. I'm pretty sure that anything that smells that nice isn't on that troll doctor's 'recommended diet' list." You rolled your eyes. "Though I think his obsessing over my nutrient balance is going to give me higher blood pressure than any amount of potato chips."

When you reached the sparkling glass and rosy brass front of the luxury high rise, the doorman nearly tripped over himself to greet you. A nervously mumbled "welcome back" accompanied by averted eyes left you scowling. Clearly, someone had gotten short with the staff for "looking too long", again.

Honestly. You assumed, at first, that being visibly pregnant with his child would make the ever possessive Shigaraki feel more secure. However, even since seeing those two pink lines, your husband seemed more territorial than ever. Seeing the security guard's face almost made you want to extend your outing just to get away from the stifling apartment a little while longer. However, the throb of your swollen feet reminded you what a stupid idea that was.

Knowing that any further contact would make things worse, you strolled past the man and headed straight to the elevator. The sound of your annoyed toe tapping on the glossy, granite was your only companion. The glowing numbers crawled up floor by floor until they halted at the penthouse suite. With the tinny ding, you waddled off the lift and leaned against the creamy canvas wallpaper just beside your sumptuous, high rise flat.

Setting your purchase on polished, glittering tiles, you finished deep into your purse for your key. Your bag caught the edge the limited release vase on the hall table. You gasped. Lunging forward, your grabbed its lip before it could tumble to the floor. Heart pounding, you straightened the fresh flowers. Looking at the hasty arrangement made you purse your lips. No good. Compared to the perfectly crafted ikebana that usually sat outside the door, your efforts were a mess.

"Oh well," you sighed, turning back to the task at hand. "Not like it matters."

After all, one of his followers put a fresh arrangement in it every day.

You pressed your finger to the biometric scanner before turning the tumblers. The door slipped open on smooth hinges. As you balanced the load against your hip, a pink and white tag, decorated with a rolly polly infant, danged from your purse. Just as you leaned for the other bag, a large hand grasped your shoulder.

"I'll get that."

Without looking up, you shook your head at the owner of the smooth baritone and groped for your purchase "You're fussing again."

Shigaraki's pale fingers plucked the bag from the floor, hoisting it high over your head with a grin one tooth too wide to be kind. "You enjoy a little fussing," he teased, letting the goods swing from his pointer.

You reached out, snatching at your purchase. He sneered before raising it five centimeters beyond your finger tips. As you rocked onto the balls of your feet, straining for the handles, he leaned back, letting the bag bounce off his massive shoulder.

"Give it back!"

He chuckled, rocking it back and forth in the hanging air. "Why? It's for me isn't it?"

"For tonight! Not now!" Carefully shuffling sore breasts aside, you crossed your arms and grumbled. "Patience is not your virtue, is it?"

A massive palm engulfed your head, patting it twice before rubbing small circles at the edge of your scalp. "And following instructions is not yours." He nodded to the window at the end of the hall. A gust of wind rattled the pane. "I distinctly recall The Doctor telling you not to strain yourself this late in the pregnancy."

You pried his hand off your head and huffed. "A few block walk is hardly straining myself."

"In the cold and up hill?"

"It's 10C and I'm wearing a down jacket."

Red eyes narrowed. "With the zipper open."

You rolled your eyes. "...and who's fault is it that I've gained 10kgs?"

As a thick tongue darted out to wet his lips, your husband rested his hand on the shelf of your stomach. "It looks good on you."

Embarrassed heat flushed your cheeks. "Pervert," you spat, shouldering past him.

Planting your purse on the wall hook, you peeled off your coat and dropped it along side your bag. Braced one arm against the wall, you curled your finger inside your heel before tugged off your shoes. As you stepped from the gekkan onto the main floor, thick arms shoved themselves under your knees. Wide eyes looked up into a blinding, fanged grin.

"What sweets did my darling Valentine bring me?"

You gulped. "M-malted chocolate whiskey cake."

"Whiskey?" Crimson delight danced below long white lashes as he kicked the front door shut. "Not planning to share with me then?"

You raised an eye brow. "The All For One? Sharing with others?" With a shrug, you laid your head upon his shoulder and prodded his chest. "Seems a bit out of character for you."

Warm breath fanned across your neck. "Then what were you hoping for, my dear?" the devil whispered in your ear.

You faked a pout, but it was tainted by the coy grin tugging at your cheeks. Sultry promise coiling into every word, you loosened the next button from his open oxford. Chiseled pecs drifted into view as your stroked one finger down his sternum. His skin burned like hellfire.

"Have your cake and eat it too?"

Your heart fluttered as a low chuckle reverberated in his chest. You yelped at naughty nip at your ear lobe as his hands slide slowly up your thighs. Long fingers found the hem of your pants, tugging at the button.

"Oh," he groaned, nuzzling your scalp with his tall nose. "I think I can manage that."

Fun fact: That cake did exist Valentine's day 2023: Bricolage Bread & Co - ¥5,200

[lovelyprincessn64]

🎄Jingle Bells Jingle Bells all I want for Christmas is you. 🎁 it is the special time of the year December a month of Christmas joy and happiness and this year I'm giving it to everyone special for everyone to enjoy🎁

Don't be shy and have a happy holidays of a lifetime:

1. 12 days of Christmas

2. Jingle the reindeer

3. Toy day

4. Hot cocoa hot tub

5. Christmas from Japan

6. Sexy Santa fan service

7. Too much eggnog

8. Any type of Christmas theme

9. Hot cocoa nights

10. Secret Santa

11. some cheese with that whine

12. Do You Want to Build a Snowman?

13. Horrific Xmas Tales

14. Icy nights

15. Snowball at Met Gala

16. Your ocs (Christmas theme)

17. Under the mistletoe

18. Home Alone

19. Cute elf

20. Kiss at the fireplace

21. Mean one Grinch

22. Christmas with Disney

23. Jingle Bells

24. Eating at grillby's

25. Don't tell on me

26. Ice Zone

27. Mythical wishes

28. Sugar plum Clefairy

29. Handsome nutcrackers

30. Dark times in Midwinter

31. Ugly sweaters

32. Drunk like crazy

33. Minty fresh

34. Shopping like crazy

35. Troublesome toys

36. Psycho Happy Fella

37. White elephant gift Exchange

38. Grumpy bah humbug

39. Candle of Hope

40. Hanukkah

41. Zombie Santa (he's from Eddsworld zanta)

42. KFC rather than turkey

43. All I Want For Christmas

44. Naughty or nice

45. Winter vacation

46. Ice skating

47. Sugar coma

48. Bayonetta's birthday

49. Delicious cake rather than fruit cake

50. Christmas prompts

51. Time of the 90s

52. Isabel's birthday

53. Retro from the past

53. Holiday High Jinks

54. Pizza dinner

55. Kiss me at midnight

56. Time for a new year

57. South Park like crazy

58. Russia's too cold for me

59. Tea party at France

60. Joyful spirit

61. Wishing for a snow day

62. Fruit cakes

63. Ready for the new year

64. Yandere surprises

65. Overwatch winter event

66. Nightmare Before Christmas

67. Gothic styles

68. Christmas with NiGHTS

69. National cookie day

70. Beauty of a snow angel

71. Just a dream

72. Special Starbucks month

73. Dangerous frostbites

74. Nintendo prizes

75. Cabin Fever

76. Cutest gingerbread

77. Happy gift big smile

78. Jolly Sora

79. Christmas with Charlie Brown

80. Horror tales Christmas

81. Winter Legends

82. Milk and cookies

83. Whipping up with cream

84. Sonic Channel arts

85. Ben 10 anniversary

86. Snowball fights

87. Lovely Vintages

88. Winter Aesthetics or Christmas Aesthetics

89. Ed Edd and Eddy

90. Once Upon a December

91. Miracles in a best way

92. Baby don't go outside

93. Christmas wedding days

94. Baking cookies

95. Redraws gifts

96. Colors of Poinsettias

97. Frosty the Snowman

98. McDonald's special

99. Aurora lights

100. Made with love

101. Wishing on a shooting star

102. Together stargazing

103. Satire of gifts

104. Ice cream dreams

105. Run Over by a Reindeer

106. Licorice taste

107. Hanging by a candy cane

108. You don't seem marry

109. Frostbite heart attack

110. Smashmas

112. My lips turn blue when I'm with you

113. Holidays with Eddsworld

114. He enjoys the feast

115. A hole in my heart a rip in the face

116. You better watch out

117. Sing along

118. Desires of a heart

119. Stealing crayons

200. Evil Candy Bar

201. Dashing through the snow

203. If I was your vampire

204. Golden hours

205. Sneaking through the fridge

206. Choices of flavors

207. Chandelier woman

208. Present from Mario

209. Playing with Game Boy

210. Decoration fun time

211. Toy store Mayhem

212. Countdown to end

213. Exotic joys

214. Dead on silver platter

215. Bacon for breakfast

216. Frozen

217. Served cold

218. Lilith and snowy

219. Coca-Cola season

220. Ornament creations

221. Animal Crossing

222. DIY times

223. Cartoon times

224. Thinking fruity

225. Wine and dine

226. Horror mix

227. Cheap chills

228. Party at Club Penguin

229. December birthdays

230. Nostalgia from the past

230. Gaming through the 90s

231. Time with coffee house

232. Makeup for a lame Christmas

233. Last Christmas

234. This year I'm giving it someone special

235. Daily activities

236. Holidays with Pokémon

237. True love gave to me

238. Making Reindeer nip

239. Got bloody

240. Dead by Christmas

241. Christmas or Halloween

242. Drink of ice coffee

243. Cookies on the Run

244. Mickey's Christmas Carol

245. Sing me a story

246. kurisumasu ni wa kentakkii

247. Woman you are a lump of coal

248. Boy to the world

249. Building gingerbreads

250. Waking within morning

251. Wonders of life

252. Fruit cakes

253. Lollipop crazy

254. Don't hike in snow

255. Frostbites

256. Sing of carols

257. Isabel's birthday

258. Holiday Bashs

259. Revenge of the snow plow

300. Colors of snow cones

301. Coffee & Mints

302. SpongeBob Christmas specials

303. Nezuko's birthday

304. For my Nezuko

303. Villain Hawks

304. Hawks's birthday

305. My favorite food is chicken

306. Hawks wearing US military uniform

Note: please read the rules before requesting also if you prefer Halloween or Thanksgiving feel free to go these events also have a merry Christmas

[carcharsaur]

ok I finished jack jeanne for real (all cgs unlocked) time to blog about it. I think it's just straight up the best otome on the market you can play right now. albeitttt I don't play many indies but this game was just a powerhouse of heartfelt warmth and character growth god DAMN!!!! also the art is just so beautiful yay sui ishida

I don't wanna spoil much about the game even though I also want to gush about it but I'll put this under a cut cause I dunno how long I'll ramble

I can't even really think of any huge complaints. there's a couple small things still, nothing's perfect, but compared to literally any other otome I've played the lack of things I need to overlook is also a breath of fresh air!!! the one thing that's like, this genuinely might made it hard to recommend is that my final play time was 140 hours... and that was with a lot of fast-forwarding through repeated content and not much idling (unlike I usually do LOL) but MY GOD IT'S SO FUCKING WORTH IT.... PLEASE.... you can even play it as a strictly platonic game (which would cut down the hours by like at least half) and even then I think that would be worth buying it...

ALSO: VOICED HEROINE!! my fucking favorite. also she's amazing. my new fav otoge MC... I need her to be happy and successful forever or I will drown myself in tears ok

every LI genuinely tugged at my heart strings, I cried happy tears at the ending every time... it's like eating freshly baked cookies... just overwhelming warmth...

it also did the impossible by making me MISS high school, because I was in band and choir etc and it made me so damn nostalgic for the power of putting on a performance even if I was almost never center stage TvT this game is so earnest in it's efforts and care, I literally could feel the love in it... ahg

my favorite character though was Kai... I was expecting it but he still hit me harder than expected IN MULTIPLE WAYS REAL AS HELLLLLLLLLL BTWWWW v

also I wasn't expecting this game to handle social and gender norms in a like... way I'd actually identify with? because japan has a different history with all that especiallyy within the world of theater and a lot of modern japanese media has weird ways of. um. un-lgbt'ing their cast I'll say lmao. but this game pulled some shit off I wasn't expecting. I really really really enjoyed it (and I already enjoy the awkward or clumsy "heroine hides her gender" stories so maybe I'm biased here LOL) I know this game probably took soo much fucking money to make and who knows how many years but. god I want a sequel so bad THE SIDE CHARACTERS WERE SO GOOD. it's heart warming and filling but also so so charming I can't help but hope they make more. there's light novels and stuff but I doubt those will ever be officially translated T___T ah well

also the OST, especially the performance tracks sung by the cast ARE SO INSANELY GOOD !!!! 10/10 BABEY

anyway. kai clip to say goodbye

[fatexbound]

@epitomees said: It wasn't much, but then again it's probably best. Shinjiro never liked too much attention, not drawn to him or anything he did. Or his mere existence. Something small and simple was the best way to approach this. Thanks to Mitsuru-senpai's assistance, she learned about...a few things the older boy could appreciate. Not a lot, but Kotone worked with what she got. It started out when the two found themselves alone, out of sight and away from their dormmates. "...hey, mind if I can have your attention for a sec?" Though cautious, the red-head never tried suppressing her friendly demeanor towards the broody brunette. An eager smile, popped hip, and...a chocolate cupcake cradled in both hands; that's his first gift. "It's got chocolate chips in it too. And don't worry, this is nothing like Fuuka's previous cupcake attempts." Bless that girl's heart, she tried her damn best every time. Stoves and ovens never worked for her like computers and motherboards, though. The second gift appeared after Shinji took his baked treat in hand. It was wrapped safely in tissue paper, taped on top and on the bottom to preserve the precious contents hidden beneath it. "Soooo...you know that weird antique shop by the mall? Where the weird lady hangs around outside who owns the place?" No one could forget her. Once open, it revealed a small, ceramic statue of a dog sitting on a perch. "It's Hachiko! I think having the most loyal dog of Japan by your side would make for a great birthday gift~!"

Shinjiro's birthday | Accepting

It's a normal day. Nothing important should happen. Except that his plans of having some quiet time were interrupted by a certain redheaded leader after washing the dishes from tonight's dinner. He yelled at everyone beforehand for eating like animals, but... there's a certain nostalgia to it. He used to be the 'head chef' at the orphanage because he was the oldest and knew some things. Now that brought him back to reality with... a chocolate cupcake that landed in his hands.

"...You shouldn't have." Really, she shouldn't have. Why did she bother with someone like him? Nonetheless, it was better than whatever Yamagishi made in the kitchen. That girl was due for a lot of cooking lessons. Tempted by the fresh smell, he took a bite and was in heaven in minutes. This was delicious, but he'd never admit that out loud.

That was only one out of two gifts. Nodding subtly at her queries, he recalled seeing that woman once in a blue moon. She never left her shop. Shrugging, he put the cupcake down to open it up and what he saw shocked him to his core. Naturally, there wasn't a person in Japan who didn't know about the story of Hachiko, including him. It always made him tear up every time he watched it.

"That statue... it's nice. Almost too nice." It's probably because he took good care of Koromaru every day, and even cooked him meals. "...I guess I should thank you for all the trouble. You didn't have to that shit for me, though. It's no big deal."

[missallanea-archive]

a not-so-brief, utterly useless guide to the muses on this blog:

UPDATED VERSION ( 08/10/23 )

AGNES DRACHINA REUBEN. first born daughter of the royal house of drachium. powerful sorceress who made a name for herself during the dragon campaign. a mischevious young woman with a penchant for drinking and getting into trouble.

BABYDOLL. institutionalized against her will. sweet girl but will not hesitate to end you if you're a creep. sincerely wishes to empower the other women around her. slowly losing herself to fantasy in order to escape from her unpleasant reality.

CARRIE WHITE. patron saint of the bullied. powerful telekinetic with religious trauma. generally a sweet kid, if not extremely shy and socially awkward. she honestly just needs a hug and a cheese sandwich.

CATIANA FREESPARK. swashbuckler rogue turned storm cleric. she's confused about how that happened too. died fairly recently, but she got better. will steal your shit. highkey feels like the divorce baby between procan and umberlee. 

CHROME DOKURO. a powerful illusionist currently in the employ of the vongola mafia family. occasionally shares her body with the criminal mukuro rokudo. learning to stand on her own two feet. a bit of a strange girl, but sweet and undyingly loyal.

FREYA. the once queen of asgard and leader of the valkyries. reclaimed her warrior spirit and found her wings. seeking to reunite and repair the realms following ragnarök. not a woman to scorn, or she will burn you to the ground and salt the earth behind her.

KAGAMI TSURUGI. a recent transplant to paris from japan. loves fencing and being right. she can be a bit cold upon first meeting but she's actually just very bad at making friends. if you take the time to get to know her, she is fiercely loyal and dedicated and will fight for you.

LIAN NICHANG. the white haired demoness. lives alone on a mountain. really only comes down to get rid of people who are harassing the village at the base of the mountain that leaves her the fuck alone. master swordsman. not actually a witch or a demon, no matter what people call her. 

LUNA. magical moon cat. has a crescent moon bald spot on her forehead. trying to keep the protectors of the universe on track but they're just teenage girls so it goes about as well as you would expect. really tired of being the voice of reason but this is what she signed up for. 

LUNASOL GALANODEL. honestly, the worst. burned down her abusive childhood home with her twin brother. basically sold her soul to the queen of air and darkness. pretends to be sweet but she is cruel and cold. typical elvish attitude toward other races, too. really, really likes flowers.

MARINETTE DUPAIN-CHENG. my god she is doing her best. normal girl turned superhero turned guardian of magical artifacts. just needs one day of peace ffs. currently going through a crisis due to teenage romance and also ptsd. always smells like fresh baked bread which is a plus. 

MAXIMILIAN CALYPSE. a small, stuttering lady of noble birth. married off to keep her father from having to go to war against dragons. considers herself to be useless and has a good deal of anxiety, but is generally one of the sweetest nobles you will ever have the pleasure of meeting. currently learning to use healing magic.

MIYU. vampire who tried to run from her destiny and made it worse. has to hunt down god-demons called shinma that she accidentally let escape. literally cannot die until she finishes her job, and she would very much like it to be over now. usually accompanied by her mask wearing servant, larva. she's cute and cruel in equal parts.

NATHALIE SANCOEUR. for fuck's sake she needs a vacation. and a raise. personal assistant to a supervillain. seriously questioning that relationship at this point. literally dying. trying to beat the current record holder for most akumatizations. she's pretty and could kick my ass. 

PERSEPHONE. our lady of the underground. literal goddess. known for bringing springtime and overseeing torture in the deepest depths of tartarus. the mom friend, she probably already loves you. does not put up with her husband’s bullshit. really loves her weird dog.

PIKE TRICKFOOT. gnome cleric of the everlight. she may be a holy woman but she has the spirit of a barbarian. will definitely try to drink you under the table. overestimates her own strength, but loves to surprise others when they doubt her. precious angel baby.

REINA "GLITCH" CROWNE. student at a prestigious art school with a focus on fashion design. acts like she's tough and untouchable, but she's actually just soft and trying to figure out who she is. loves meshing traditional fashion with digital media. known to the other students as "glitch" due to her first year freeze up.

RIZA HAWKEYE. military sharpshooter and right-hand-woman of the guy who wants to take over the military. likes like two people and her dog. usually smells like gun oil but it's not unpleasant. has no sense of self-preservation and will definitely die for the people she cares about. does not get paid enough. 

ROGUE. the poster child for "look don't touch." mutant and working on the proud part. literally too powerful for her own good. comes with the added bonus of her cajun husband who makes things explode by touching them. the og power couple. 

RYOKO HAKUBI. half alien, half goddess, all trouble. a literal science experiment. crash landed on earth 700-or-so years ago after a space battle with the guy she tried to steal a tree from. recently resurrected and free from the mind control that made her destroy 28 planets. she's doing her best okay? 

RYUKO MATOI. teenage girl who wants to fight. has a magical schoolgirl uniform powered by her blood. wields a giant scissor. could kick your ass, could kick my ass, could kick her own ass. secretly a softie. 

SADAKO YAMAMURA. a very, very angry ghost with the telepathic ability to project her thoughts onto physical media. the switch to the digital era has not slowed down her curse whatsoever but she misses VHS tapes. very wet. is honestly just a scared young woman who doesn't understand why bad things happened to her. will fucking kill you if given the chance. 

SIF. the unwaveringly loyal wife of thor, mother to magni, móði, and thrúd. trying desperately to hold what remains of her family together. can come across as somewhat cold. while not a warrior by any means, she will do anything to protect her children.

TABITHA DELAINE. monster hunter and general know-it-all. was part of a cult at one point but she doesn't want to talk about it. lowkey a witch but tries to use her magic sparingly. the biggest lesbian you will ever meet, next to her girlfriend van. lives in van's van. 

TIKKI. kwami of the miraculous of creation. has existed for as long as the universe has. sincerely loves humans and how wonderful they can be. helps to turn her current owner into the superhero known as ladybug.

VEX'AHLIA. ranger and rogue. sneaky and shooty. just trying not to die again, thank you very much. once stabbed a tree because it made moves on her. the champion of a god. will probably call you darling and wink at you. also, she has a bear named trinket and a husband with too many names for me to bother listing here.

[kaleuh]

I got a free cheesecake today.

So I go to this little deli all the time, run by this sweet woman who's always there. She has an entire section of cute Japanese snacks that she imports in, but they also have this dessert case above the deli meats where there's all these cute little Japanese cakes. One day, I thought, "You know what? I'm trying one of these. I don't know if anyone ever gets these, and they look absolutely delicious, so I'm getting one." So, one day, I order this vanilla Swiss roll that's sitting behind the glass. And the lady told me that she personally loves those, so I made sure to let her know that I was excited to try it!

Boy, let me tell you, that was the best packaged cake I've ever had.

It was like someone made freshly baked Angel Food Cake. It was soft and light and creamy, and not so sugary that it could outshine the vanilla flavor. Not processed, not stale, not oily. It's the perfect cake.

So every week I go back in to get that same cake with whatever bacon-egg-and-cheese, BLT-thing I decide to have for lunch that day. Last week, there was a plot twist: there was now a STRAWBERRY version of the cake I've been getting! She even pointed it out, as if I didn't already have my debit card ready. Obviously, it was perfection. I thought, "Holy shit, does anybody know? That this little lady at the deli has the best cakes in town? Imported all the way from Japan, yet somehow still perfectly fresh?" It's madness to think about.

So I go in today. Funny enough, I was actually just stopping in to get chips for some guacamole I made. While she's ringing me up, I thought, "Oh! I've got to let her know how the strawberry Swiss roll was!" So I do.

"Oh, I loved that strawberry cake, by the way!" "Ah, I'm so glad you liked it!" "It was so good!" "Well you know what? Here!" And she gives me a miniature cheesecake that I don't even think she had for sale in the dessert case yet. And I couldn't believe it, and I was like, "For free??" And she laughed and nodded and I told her that I always tell people this is the best deli in town, and she said something so sweet.

"I love how you're always trying new things!"

I smiled and let her know that I'm a big dessert fan, and thanked her VERY much (and as always, would let her know how I liked it, as such exchanges have gone.)

And as I left the deli to go back home, I should have been thinking about how reminiscent that scene was of Belle in the bookshop with the nice librarian at the beginning of Beauty and the Beast. But I knew that, with all the goodness it brought, that that three-ounce cheesecake was going to become an all-consuming weight on my mind for the rest of the day.

I wish I could be normal about these things. She probably didn't know that during that entire counter interaction I was screaming AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA, AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA, in my head. Every time something like this happens, there's a sense of - and it can be small and fleeting or big and timeless - dread.

I used to work at a diner, where I was supposed to be a waitress, but I was so bad at it that they should have fired me. Instead, they kept me as a busgirl. For years. I was told, "Hey, the waitressing thing isn't really working, but we all really like you and nobody wants to see you go, so do you wanna just bus instead?" And that's how it happened. I was hired because I was liked, not because I was good at anything. So, I made sure to always try to stay liked. I wasn't trying to be liked when I first got there, I was just trying to do a job. But now there was a precedent: you're here because you're liked. It felt like I had to work within that frame, so I smiled as much as I could, made as much conversation as possible, and tried to do everyone's side-work. It felt like my actual bussing services weren't needed as much as my emotional services were. But within that frame, I was wondering, "What did they see in me when I first got here? I don't think I was trying to be liked more than any other regular person on the planet tries to be liked, so what was it? Would they have done this with any other trainee? Am I giving off some kind of aura that tricks people into thinking they like me?" My dad told me once that I have a "face that makes people feel sorry for me" so maybe it was that? But there's a bigger fear, beyond all of this, and it eats away at me, when something like this little cheesecake happens.

I start freaking out about things like this, because of one very specific thought. "Was that nice lady stocking new desserts specifically because of me? I couldn't have made that big of an impression, right? All I do is buy a BLT and an Arizona Iced tea, every few days. Sure, I make small talk, but doesn't everyone? Everyone smiles and says thank you, I'm not special. There's not a shot in hell that anything I do is that big of a deal. I go there, get something to eat, compliment the food, and then come back another day and do the same thing. Doesn't everyone do that? And doesn't everyone try new things? Unless, oh god, no they don't. Is the world such a cruel place after all? That no one will make small talk with the counter lady? Oh god, oh my god, no, please don't let it be true, it can't be that mean. The world can't be that bad, that no one else compliments the food she makes, that no one else asks the waitresses how their days are going, it can't be. Is that why? Is that why they kept me at the diner? Is that why I got a free cheesecake? It can't be that the bare minimum is special. It can't be that there's proof of a cold world."

I don't try to be remembered. Do people just project what they want to see onto me? Am I just extra-projectionable? An extra-projectionable face? I think about all the times something like this has happened, and I wonder how many people see my true face, and how many of them are projecting what they might want me to be? It always feels like I'm conning people - if only they knew how messy I really am. Or that I've got to work to live up to be the kind of person worthy of that free cheesecake.

But then, who is that person?

*This post is sponsored by Koriyama's Deliciously Light Cheese Cake: 'Fabulous cake that melts in your mouth'

[pudding-parade]

Sorry for making this a post @thebleedingwoodland, but this was just too long for comments.

So, as part of a conversation about this post regarding the problematic nature of, specifically, Shang Simla, there was this reply:

And my response, cut in order to spare your dash:

See, that's the thing! As a USian, I wouldn't be at all insulted by a "Simerica" world being represented by an Eiffel Tower icon. I would go "WTF?" and then think it hilarious and just play the world. But that isn't the same as a supposedly Chinese world being represented by a torii icon, because Japan and China are historical enemies, whereas the US and France have been allies since before the US was a country and before France was a republic. A closer equivalent in insult, I think, would be a "Simerica" world represented by a hammer and sickle or something recognizably Russian, like a silhouette of St. Basil's Cathedral in Moscow or something like that. That might anger some USians because the US and Russia are historical enemies. (I, personally, would think it weird but still wouldn't be insulted, but I might be in the minority there.)

The others…I certainly wouldn't be insulted by a burger and spaghetti served on the same plate. In fact, as I type this, I'm eating tamales (a traditional Mexican food that my Mexican mother-in-law made for me) and a bowl of Chinese-style fried rice for dinner, and later I'm going to have a slice of fresh-baked apple pie and some ice cream for dessert. I'm pretty sure I've seen a combo meal of burgers and spaghetti on the menu in a few US diners. I'm not sure how Italians would feel about that, but I don't think any American would give it a second thought. Give me all the stereotypical cowboy gun duels, please (because in a fictional setting they're cool, and I live in what was the "Old West"), and, indeed, a significant portion of US citizens are overweight/obese (though I have the opposite problem, due to a chronic condition), so portraying them that way would just be accurate. Make them all have a "rude" or "loud" trait, and we're in business. (And I'd be LMAO.)

I think the overall issue here is that American corporations cater to Americans, and the US in general sucks at cultural sensitivity. Mix that with American exceptionalism and you have a recipe for disaster. I could be wrong, but I think this is partly because the US is populated mostly by immigrants combined with the fact that US culture varies greatly from region to region, precisely because US citizens have all sorts of backgrounds on top of the usual differences between urban and rural people. As such, there is no unifying American culture, nor is there any major aspect of it that is particularly unique to here and that would be considered insulting if not portrayed properly. Instead, it's a "culture" stitched together from pieces of many others. I'm going to guess that this is why many Americans don't fully grasp why culture is so important to people in other countries or even among certain marginalized groups here in the US. In turn, I would imagine that people from other countries/cultures, particularly countries that are fairly monocultural for whatever reason, often don't understand how Americans are or can be OK with the cultural "melting pot" that America is ideally supposed to be.

In the end, I think the goal with the WA worlds was not accuracy -- which would, indeed, require research -- but rather simply creating an easily recognizable backdrop for the quests. Unfortunately, that only requires, in Shang Simla's case, including anything that "looks Chinese," and that was as far as EA's "thinking" went. So you have the Great Wall and Japanese torii and, of all things, completely American "Chinese" things like fortune cookies and egg rolls. I'm not saying that this is a good thing. It isn't. At all. I think it's terrible (though unfortunately not surprising) that the average USian can't tell the difference between things that are Chinese and things that are Japanese. Worse, it's terrible that many also don't understand why mashing together things from those cultures is insulting to both of them. I'm just saying that that's what it is. EA should have done better, but they didn't. USians in general should do better, just as people in other countries should do better than believe that people not from their own country/culture are all one way or another. But, this is the world we live in, at least for now.

[girls-and-honey]

For the watercolor game: cadmium orange, violet rose, green

cadmium orange: what do you like to do on your days off?

On days off I like to do whatever I feel like doing in the moment, and it feels like I'm not answering the question but that's really what I enjoy most. I used to try to plan to either work on specific projects or play a certain game but I realized I was starting to enjoy them less when I was doing them just because I planned to and not because I wanted to in the moment if that makes sense? the list of what I may feel like doing is long but includes things like baking or cooking (especially something I haven't made before), working on sewing or crochet projects, playing my harp, playing a video game, sitting out on the balcony and/or reading, and (re)watching a tv show

violet rose: what does your dream house look like?

hmm okay off the top of my head bc I haven't thought toooo much about this: first of all ledges and shelves for plants everywhere, outdoor space for a garden and maybe a greenhouse too, plus somewhere shaded to sit outside because I love the fresh air but hate the sun (sorry sun). also a kitchen with plenty of space for making a mess ooh and a music room / library an entire wall of shelves and room for a few instruments and a comfy chair for reading. also there will be lots of natural light oh and fun colors of course

green: name three countries you want to visit; do you have any actual plans in place to visit any of them?

the only country I have loose plans to visit is korea with my best friend, we want to go after she graduates and hopefully her sister can come too! no other major travel plans but I'd also love to visit the netherlands since I have some family (and some coworkers lol) there, and third choice would just be somewhere known for really good food so maybe italy or japan or france? I'm not much of a traveler so even going to 1-2 other countries would be plenty for me

watercolor asks!