#How to make marzipan without eggs
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Homemade Marzipan with Honey and Orange
Homemade marzipan! This almond-based confectionary treat is gluten-free and can easily be made vegan. Marzipan can be sliced and eaten, baked into Christmas stollen, or pressed into molds to make fun shapes. It’s the perfect no-bake treat to share with family and friends for winter holidays, birthdays, Christmas, Easter, or New Year’s Eve. This no-bake dessert recipe for marzipan is simple make…
#Best marzipan recipe#Easy homemade marzipan with orange juice#homemade almond paste#homemade marzipan with honey#How to make marzipan without eggs#Marzipan ingredients#No cook marzipan recipe#Orange marzipan recipe#Traditional marzipan recipe
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Cheesage Exocolonist Age 11: Ruin Valentine's Day as soon as it is invented by blorboing so hard that it becomes existentially horrifying
In which Sol tells Tangent about her other lives for free candy and uses fashion to save people's lives before they are in danger.
Age 11 is kicked off by Marz inventing Valentine's day for free candy - you have to pick your Best Friend. Normally, I would do something sensible, like weigh all the different options to see how to maximize Friendship points and choose the Best Friend most optimal for my run. Unfortunately, Tangent is my blorbo and my shameless favouritism cannot be suppressed.
This is the first time I've picked Tangent after completing a run, so I only just now discovered this rather unsettling wormhole dialogue: when she asks for a reason you should be friends (Tangent being one of the harder characters to befriend, you do need a reason!), Sol can tell Tangent about the timeline where they were married.
Obviously this ruins your friendship completely, and...wait, she thinks it's cool? She gives friendship points?
"Grow old together" is a bit of a stretch - in the timeline Sol is referring to, my first playthrough, the marriage dissolved quickly because Tangent can never keep a relationship going with anyone, and also because Tangent lost her brother, had a supervillain phase and burnt out in like her twenties. (God forbid trans women do anything). Canonically, future memories aren't 100% reliable, but this still feels like burying the lede.
Despite this being one of the weirdest dialogues in the game, which is a very high bar, this is one of very few options where you can be completely honest about your other lives without being diagnosed as Delusional. (The twins are both very open-minded).
I really like the wormhole dialogues, because they start out awesome but the more of them you pick, the more you realize just how horrifying this whole situation is. This poor kid just trying to deal with having numerous other lives and no idea what to do with them with PTSD from stuff that hasn't even happened yet. They just get more and more detached from the world around them the more they loop. And they keep looping forever.
Marzipan gives me -2 Friendship for picking Tangent instead of her. But I like to think the penalty is really for ruining Valentine's Day by being 11 and reminiscing about married life/the only life Sol ever lived organically. I mean, she doesn't mention that. But would you? Really, this was a suboptimal choice, but I want to share some neat Easter eggs along the way.
Most of the year proceeds as usual, by which I mean neglecting my studies in favour of deckbuilding. I get Marz's friendship high enough for her to give me her jacket. Unfortunately, because she's my coworker, she knows how much money I have and, seeing I have more than 50 kudos in the bank, she will instead sell me the jacket. I take the L; it's fair for ruining Valentine's Day.
Besides that, the jacket is crucial. Tammy's dad Tonin is living on borrowed time - late this year, he will be killed in a manticore attack. I could go out and save him just in the nick of time. But that would be traumatic for him and poor Tammy. More importantly, it would give me more cards [bad]. Another route is persuading him to stay home, but, having neglected my education, my persuasion is at 0. Fortunately, I have Marz's jacket, which makes me cool enough to persuade him to babysit instead. Tonin joins his daughter in being saved without any idea of the danger they were in.
A couple months later, I save Hal. This is the first time I've saved someone and gotten recognition for it. This is a sign that these mortals will eventually bow to me as their ruler.
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The Quest for the Best Easter Nugget: A Delightful Journey of Flavour
Easter, a joyous celebration marked by colorful eggs and delicious treats, wouldn't be complete without the delectable Easter nugget. These bite-sized delights have become a beloved tradition, adored by children and adults alike. But with so many options available, how do you choose the best Easter nugget? Join us on a flavorful journey as we explore the top contenders in the quest for the ultimate Easter nugget.
The Classic Chocolate Egg Nugget
When it comes to Easter, chocolate reigns supreme, and the classic chocolate egg nugget is a testament to this. These nuggets are usually made from high-quality milk or dark chocolate, molded into the shape of Easter eggs, and filled with various surprises. Whether it's caramel, peanut butter, or nougat, these classics offer a delightful blend of smooth chocolate and rich fillings that define Easter sweetness.
Pros:
Time-tested tradition
Variety of fillings to choose from
Smooth, melt-in-your-mouth chocolate
Cons:
Limited to chocolate lovers
Can be high in calories
The Gourmet Marzipan Nugget
For those looking for a more sophisticated Easter treat, gourmet marzipan nuggets are a top choice. Marzipan, made from almonds and sugar, is crafted into intricate shapes and hand-painted to resemble vibrant Easter eggs. These nuggets offer a delicate balance of sweetness and nuttiness, making them a unique and decadent option.
Pros:
Artistic and visually appealing
Unique flavor profile
Suitable for those with nut allergies (almond-free versions available)
Cons:
May not be suitable for those who dislike almond flavor
Can be pricier than traditional chocolate options
The Fruity Jelly Bean Nugget
Easter is synonymous with springtime, and what better way to celebrate the season than with fruity jelly bean nuggets? These colorful, chewy treats are packed with vibrant fruit flavors that burst in your mouth. They often come in egg-shaped assortments, making them a popular choice for Easter baskets and hunts.
Pros:
Bursting with fruity flavors
Kid-friendly and visually appealing
Vegan and gluten-free options available
Cons:
Not ideal for those who prefer chocolate-based treats
May be too sweet for some palates
The Nostalgic Marshmallow Nugget
Easter wouldn't be complete without marshmallow chicks and bunnies, and marshmallow nuggets bring that nostalgia into bite-sized portions. These soft, pillowy treats are often coated in sugar or chocolate and can be shaped like eggs or other Easter-themed figures. Their melt-in-your-mouth texture and sugary sweetness make them a hit with both young and old Easter enthusiasts.
Pros:
Nostalgic appeal
Soft and satisfying texture
Versatile shapes and flavors
Cons:
Can be overly sweet for some
Limited to marshmallow lovers
The Exotic Truffle Nugget
Elevate your Easter indulgence with exotic truffle nuggets. These gourmet delights combine rich chocolate ganache with intriguing flavor infusions like lavender, sea salt, or chili. The result is a sophisticated and intensely flavorful Easter treat that caters to discerning palates.
Pros:
Unique and sophisticated flavors
Rich and indulgent texture
Perfect for chocolate connoisseurs
Cons:
May not appeal to traditionalists
Higher price point
Conclusion
In the quest for the best Easter nugget, there is no one-size-fits-all answer. Your choice depends on your personal preferences and the flavor experience you seek. Whether you opt for the classic chocolate egg nugget, the gourmet marzipan creation, the fruity jelly bean delight, the nostalgic marshmallow treat, or the exotic truffle indulgence, each has its own unique charm.
This Easter, consider experimenting with a variety of nuggets to create a diverse and exciting Easter basket. Mix and match flavors and textures to cater to the tastes of your loved ones. After all, Easter is a time of celebration and sharing, and what better way to do so than with a delightful assortment of Easter nuggets that bring joy to all who partake in this sweet tradition?
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Can You Use A Cupcake Recipe To Make A Cake
Making a cake from scratch can seem intimidating, but it doesn't have to be! Believe it or not, you can use a cupcake recipe to make a delicious cake. That's right - no special ingredients or techniques required. In this article, I'll explain how easy it is to turn that cupcake recipe into an impressive layer cake with just a few simple steps. So if you've ever wanted to try your hand at making a homemade cake without all the fuss and bother of traditional recipes, then read on! You'll learn exactly how to take that tried-and-true cupcake recipe and transform it into something truly special for any occasion. Maybe You Also Like: - Can You Substitute Sherry For Vermouth In A Recipe - Can You Use Any Recipe In A Bread Machine - Can You Use A Pancake Recipe For Waffles Converting Cupcake Quantities Yes, you can use a cupcake recipe to make a cake. I've done it many times and the results are always delicious! The key is to pay attention to the quantities of ingredients in your cupcake recipe and adjust accordingly for a cake. The most important factor when making this conversion is adding flour. A typical cupcake recipe calls for 1-2 cups of all purpose flour while a cake will require at least 2-3 cups. Be sure to double or even triple the amount of flour depending on how large of a cake you're baking. Another major adjustment that needs to be made when converting from cupcakes to cakes is doubling other ingredients such as sugar, butter, eggs, etc. Depending on what type of cake you’re planning on making, your ingredient list could vary slightly but the overall concept remains true - increase the quantity of each item listed in order for your final product to become a full sized cake rather than just cupcakes. By taking these steps and paying close attention to measurements, you'll have no problem creating an amazing cake using any standard cupcake recipe! Choosing The Right Cake Pan I'm sure you've heard the phrase, "the bigger the better". That certainly applies to baking a cake. To make your cake look like it came from a bakery, choosing the right size and shape of pan is key. You'll need one that's large enough for your cupcake recipe so all the batter fits in properly. The icing techniques will also vary depending on what type of cake you're creating. If you want to decorate with fondant or marzipan, then an 8-inch round tin should do the trick. For more intricate designs, opt for a rectangular tin instead – this allows for greater flexibility when it comes to decoration. And don't forget about temperature: cakes usually bake at 350°F (177°C), but if your recipe calls for something different, be sure to follow those instructions as closely as possible. Once you’ve got the perfect pan picked out, it’s time to get creative and let your homebaked masterpiece shine! With just a few simple tips, anyone can create a stunning showstopper that looks almost too good to eat! Adjusting The Baking Time Yes, you can use a cupcake recipe to make a cake. The main difference between the two is that cakes usually require larger baking pans or have more layers than cupcakes. You might also need to adjust some of the ingredients and baking time when making a cake from a cupcake recipe. When adjusting your baking time, it’s important to keep in mind the size of your pan and the amount of batter being used. Generally speaking, if you are using less batter and/or a smaller pan than what was originally called for in the recipe, then reduce your baking temperature by 25°F (14°C) and increase your baking time accordingly. On the other hand, if you are using more batter and/or a bigger pan than what was specified in the original recipe, then increase your oven temperature by 25°F (14°C). Furthermore, many recipes allow for alternative ingredients such as different types of oil or gluten-free flour which may affect how long it takes for your cake to bake through. Always double check with an inserted toothpick after about 3 quarters of cooking time has passed - this will help ensure that no matter what kind of changes you made to the original recipe, all elements will be cooked properly before taking out from heat source. If necessary, add extra minutes until the pick comes out clean! Decorating The Cake Once you’ve adjusted the baking time and cooked your cake to perfection, it’s time to decorate. There are a variety of icing techniques that can be used to give your cake an extra special touch. From buttercream frosting to ganache glazes, there's something for everyone. If you're really feeling adventurous, why not try some fondant options? Fondant is a soft dough-like substance made from sugar which can be shaped and molded into various shapes and designs - perfect for creating beautiful cakes! If you don't feel like making your own fondant at home, then there are plenty of store bought options available too. Simply knead the fondant until it's nice and pliable and roll out on top of your cake to create a smooth finish. Then add any decorations or cutouts with cookie cutters or use food coloring markers to draw intricate patterns onto the surface of the fondant. With this method, you'll have a stunningly decorated cake in no time! So now that you know how to adjust the baking time and decorate your cake with ease, all that’s left is getting creative in the kitchen! Have fun experimenting with different flavors combinations and decorative ideas so that each batch turns out unique - just like every cupcake recipe! Creative Variations Yes, you can use a cupcake recipe to make a cake! It may require some adjustment but the basic steps and ingredients should remain fairly similar. One of the main differences will be in piping techniques used for decorating – think beyond just frosting and explore various flavor combinations that are unique to cakes. From swirls of meringue to layers of creamy ganache, there's so much potential when it comes to creating something special with your fondant or buttercream icing. Plus, experimenting with different flavors like lemon curd and raspberry jam is sure to give your cake an extra delicious boost! With these tools at hand, the possibilities are truly endless and even the most inexperienced baker can get creative with their baking skills. So don't be afraid to try something new – who knows what kind of tasty treats you'll come up with? Frequently Asked Questions What Type Of Frosting Should I Use On My Cake? When it comes to frosting your cake, there are many options available. Depending on the occasion, you can choose a simple buttercream icing or get creative with different techniques and decorations. If you’re looking for something special that stands out, consider using piping techniques to make intricate designs or adding fondant accents like flowers or ribbons around the edges of your cake. When in doubt, talk to a professional baker who can help guide you through various icing techniques and provide ideas for cake decorations. How Many Cups Of Sugar Are Needed For A Standard Cake Recipe? When baking a cake, the amount of sugar needed varies depending on your recipe and what type of cake you're making. Generally speaking, most standard cake recipes call for 2 to 3 cups of sugar. However, if you're adding icings or different flavors to your cake, you may need to adjust these ratios accordingly. It's always best to follow the instructions in your recipe closely so that you achieve the desired flavor and texture with each batch of cakes! What Is The Best Way To Store A Cake To Keep It Fresh? Storing a cake to keep it fresh can be tricky, but there are some tips you should follow. First, make sure the cake has cooled completely before wrapping it in plastic wrap or foil. You want to seal out any air that could cause it to dry out over time. If you're planning on icing your cake, don't use butter-based icings until just before serving so they don't soften and run off the sides of the cake. Cake fillings also need special attention; cream cheese-filled cakes should be stored in the fridge and other types of filling should be used within two days for best results. Flavoring extracts like vanilla, almond and mint will evaporate over time if left uncovered so store those cakes with their frosting intact! With these simple tips, you'll have a delicious cake that stays moist and flavorful even after baking time is up! How Can I Make A Cake Without Eggs? If you're looking to make a cake without eggs, there are plenty of egg free substitutes that can get the job done. Depending on what type of cake you're making, vegan baking is a great way to go about it. There's no need for animal products such as milk and butter either - just by substituting some ingredients with others, like replacing regular milk with almond or coconut milk in combination with vegetable oil instead of butter, you'll have an egg-free cake batter ready to be baked into your very own delicious masterpiece! How Long Will A Cake Last Once It Has Been Baked? Once you've baked your cake, it will last for a few days at room temperature - the length of time depends on how the cake is stored and how much icing there is. For best results, store your cake in an airtight container to keep its texture fresh and help maintain the stability of the icing. If possible, wrap it in plastic or parchment paper first before storing it as this can help ensure maximum moisture retention and preserve its flavor. Conclusion Yes, you can use a cupcake recipe to make a cake. It is important to note that the amount of sugar and other ingredients may need to be adjusted slightly. Additionally, when making cakes without eggs, it is important to add an extra moisture source such as applesauce or yogurt in order for the cake batter to come together properly. Lastly, once your cake has been baked and cooled off completely, it should last several days if stored correctly. To keep your cake fresh longer I recommend wrapping it tightly with plastic wrap and storing in an airtight container at room temperature away from direct sunlight. With these tips in mind, you're sure to have delicious results every time! If you're looking for more delicious recipes to try, be sure to check out The Disney Chef's recipe categories! Whether you're in the mood for something sweet like a cake recipe, something savory like a chicken or pork recipe, or something fresh like a vegetable or seafood recipe, there's something for everyone. And if you're a meat-lover, don't forget to check out the beef recipes category for hearty and satisfying meals. With so many options to choose from, you're sure to find a new favorite recipe to add to your collection. Read the full article
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Unicorn Sugar Cookies Recipe: Add a Magical Touch to Your Baking
Unicorns have captured our imagination for centuries with their mystical allure and ethereal beauty. Now, you can bring a slice of that magic into your kitchen with Unicorn Sugar Cookies. These delightful treats combine the sweet and buttery flavors of traditional sugar cookies with vibrant colors and whimsical designs.
Whether you're hosting a unicorn-themed birthday party or simply looking to add some sparkle to your day, these cookies are the perfect choice.
Ingredients
Before diving into the magical process of baking Unicorn Sugar Cookies, make sure you have the following ingredients on hand:
2 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon baking powder
1 cup unsalted butter, softened
1 ½ cups granulated sugar
1 large egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Food coloring (assorted colors)
Edible glitter or sprinkles
Preparation
To start the magical journey of creating Unicorn Sugar Cookies, follow these simple steps:
In a bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and baking powder. Set aside.
In a separate large mixing bowl, cream together the softened butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy.
Add the egg and vanilla extract to the butter mixture, and continue mixing until well combined.
Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until a soft dough forms.
Divide the dough into separate bowls, depending on the number of colors you wish to use.
Add a few drops of food coloring to each bowl and mix until the desired color is achieved.
Wrap each colored dough in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour to firm up.
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
Remove the dough from the refrigerator and shape it into small balls or roll it out to about ¼ inch thick.
Place the cookies on the prepared baking sheet, leaving some space between each one.
Bake for 8-10 minutes or until the edges are slightly golden.
Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
Decorating
No unicorn cookie is complete without a touch of magic and sparkle. Here are some decorating ideas to make your Unicorn Sugar Cookies truly enchanting:
Sprinkle edible glitter or colorful sprinkles over the cookies while they are still warm from the oven to create a shimmering effect.
Use royal icing to pipe intricate designs, such as stars, hearts, or unicorn shapes, onto the cooled cookies.
Add a small horn to each unicorn by shaping a piece of fondant or marzipan into a cone and attaching it to the cookie with a dab of icing.
Get creative with different colors and patterns to make each cookie unique and eye-catching.
Tips and Tricks
Here are some handy tips and tricks to ensure your Unicorn Sugar Cookies turn out perfectly:
Chill the dough before baking to prevent the cookies from spreading too much in the oven.
Use gel food coloring for more vibrant and intense colors. Remember that a little goes a long way, so add the coloring gradually.
If you don't have edible glitter or sprinkles, you can use colored sugar or sanding sugar as an alternative for a sparkling effect.
Experiment with different shapes and sizes to create a whole herd of magical unicorns.
Have fun and let your creativity shine!
FAQs
Q: Can I use margarine instead of butter for this recipe?
A: While butter is recommended for its rich flavor and creamy texture, you can use margarine as a substitute. Keep in mind that the taste and texture of the cookies may vary slightly.
Q: How long do Unicorn Sugar Cookies stay fresh?
A: When stored in an airtight container at room temperature, these cookies can stay fresh for up to one week.
Q: Can I freeze the cookie dough for later use?
A: Absolutely! If you'd like to make the dough in advance, simply wrap it tightly in plastic wrap and store it in the freezer for up to three months. Thaw the dough in the refrigerator overnight before proceeding with the recipe.
Q: Can I use natural food coloring instead of the artificial one?
A: Yes, natural food coloring can be used to achieve vibrant colors in your Unicorn Sugar Cookies. Look for brands that use plant-based ingredients to create their colors.
Q: How can I involve my kids in making these cookies?
A: Unicorn Sugar Cookies are a wonderful project to enjoy with your little ones. Let them help with shaping the dough, choosing colors, and decorating the cookies. It's a great opportunity to unleash their creativity and create lasting memories in the kitchen.
Q: Can I use this recipe to make other shapes besides unicorns?
A: Absolutely! While this recipe is specifically tailored for unicorn-shaped cookies, you can use the same dough and techniques to create other shapes and designs. Let your imagination run wild!
Conclusion
Unicorn Sugar Cookies are a delightful and magical addition to any baking repertoire. These whimsical treats bring joy to both young and old, with their vibrant colors and charming designs. By following our simple recipe and using your creativity, you can create a batch of these enchanting cookies that will surely impress everyone.
So, gather your ingredients, preheat your oven, and let the magic unfold in your kitchen as you embark on the journey of baking Unicorn Sugar Cookies. Get ready to indulge in a truly delightful and whimsical treat!
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What is your version of jewels beetle limit? (what beetle traits do you HC her having)?
Okay, let's see...
And I'm looking at beetle traits as a whole here. I know she's technically a jeweled beetle, but I don't want to limit myself down that hard.
And I included Patience and Marzipan (the BugBear babies) when applicable.
-Beetles are omnivores. (Some beetles eat plant life/fungi AND other bugs/small animals of prey when they can get them. And no, I'm not saying she'd eat other Mobians. I like to think Mobius has bugs [like we have on Earth] and Bugs [like Jewel], similar to the animals and Animals in Wicked... if that makes sense) Patience and Marzipan both lean a bit closer to carnivore like their dad, but eating veggies wouldn't kill them. 😂
-Beetles aren't picky about where they live, they'll go anywhere they can manage being in. So, North Island's out because of how extreme that place can get, but Jewel would be fine just about anywhere. I hc Spiral Hill to be temperate anyway, with four distinct seasons and all that. Patience and Marzipan match this exactly.
-Chalk it up to me accidentally nailing mating habits without realizing it, but Beetles will sometimes anoint themselves with scents (Jewel's rose perfume, anyone?) To attract a mate. Also the males will hold and stroke the females sometimes, so oops Bark and Jewel's very cuddly nature also completely checks out.
-I've thrown out a lot about their actual reproduction/life cycle, but here's what survived: Beetles typically lay one to three (I threw out 60 being the top number, because holy shit that'd be a nightmare in this world @_@) eggs. The eggs have hard shells. NORMALLY the eggs hatch fairly quickly after being laid, but the BugBear combo made things weird (Patience and Marzipan both took almost a year to hatch.) Larvae and Pupae stages have also been tossed out.
-Beetles are very strong fliers. They can fly for very long periods of time, and can change direction very easily. Interestingly, Patience is a far weaker flier, who can only hover for periods of time and is really bad at changing direction, but Marzipan's on par with full beetles with his flying.
-I did accidentally nerf Jewel's strength without realizing it (RIP...) But it's fairly common for beetles to be able to casually lift more than their own body weight. Patience and Marzipan are both strong as hell thanks to both parents, but lean more toward what Bark can do.
#beetle headcanons#jewel the beetle#lea's ocs#patience the bugbear#other people's ocs#marzipan the bugbear
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Birthday cake
Day three of @ohshc-week : kitchen/baking or self-discovery
"He doesn't like sweets! We can't use icing!"
"We're making a cake boss! It's gonna be sweet either way!"
Haruhi sighed, they were supposed to be making a birthday cake for Kyoya… but it was dissolved into messes and fighting. Honey and Mori were working on making little purple roses out of icing, well Honey was, Mori was more focused on stopping Honey from eating any of the ingredients.
The twins were fighting with Tamaki over how to decorate the cake, meanwhile poor Haruhi was the only one actually making the cake. Dark chocolate, with some cherries in, Haruhi couldn't help to notice how it was practically a black forest gateau but with some alterations to make it more enjoyable to the shadow king. She found it rather funny how Kyoya preferred a sharper taste to something sweet, it fit him so well, she was happy to use some tricks her mother had taught her; such as adding a pinch of salt with the sugar to keep the taste less sweet, or melting the butter a little before adding it so it's easier to mix. The hosts would probably be very confused by it, if they were paying attention to the actual cake instead of the decorations of it.
The twins were still arguing with Tamaki, they had been for around twenty minutes now. Haruhi sighed and walked over, arms crossed. "Are you three finished with your arguing yet? I need the cake bases now."
They glanced at her, and Tamaki practically melted into whining, "Haaarruuuuhuiii! Tell them we can't use icing! Kyoya doesn't like sweet things!!" He clung to her, pouting and just doing those horrid puppy eyes.
Haruhi just rolled her eyes, crossing her arms, "not liking sweet things doesn't mean we should leave the cake plain, we can just use a drizzle… how about a caramel sauce?"
The trio watched closely as Haruhi mixed the cream with the sugar and caramel, adding salt in spite of the concern that the hosts had. "Have you boys never cooked before? Of course you put salt in, otherwise it'd be too sweet," she didn't know why she'd even asked that, of course this gaggle of spoiled brats had never cooked before, they all had gourmet chefs working for them. She let the twins put the cake in the oven, barely glancing to make sure they got the settings right, as she was preoccupied with the huge bowl of caramel sauce. Tamaki however, was just sat there doing nothing, so Haruhi sighed, turning to him, "senpai, can't you think of something to do?"
The king pouted, resting his head on the counter, "noo… I'm bored…" he glanced up at Haruhi, big puppy eyes on full blast.
She sighed, rolling her eyes at him, "why don't you just make some little marzipan balls for decoration? That should keep you busy." She slid the tray of marzipan towards him, smiling softly when he instantly got to work, rolling little orbs of white and black.
After the decorations were all ready, sitting on their trays, ready for the cake to finish baking. Tamaki perked up slightly, "do you think Kyoya's back from spending time with his brothers yet? I wanna give him his cards and gifts!"
The twins shrugged, "we don't know, we asked him to text us but he hasn't yet."
Honey giggled, "his brothers probably don't want to stop hanging out with him! I know I wouldn't want to stop spending time with Chika." Oh yeah, Honey definitely had a unique perspective on this situation, having a younger sibling of his own, Mori, having one too, nods in agreement.
Haruhi sighs, finally relaxing, "we've only got an hour to wait until the cake's done, then we wait half an hour before we decorate it, so we wouldn't even be able to spend that much time with him without leaving again."
At these words, the hosts all collectively pouted, it was Kyoya's birthday after all, and all they wanted was to spend time with their beloved shadow king. They sat and waited in silence after that, staring at the oven as the cakes were baking. As much as they joked that Kyoya was heartless and cruel, he was mommy for a reason; he went out of his way to make sure everyone was doing the best they could, he took care of 80% of the duties that were really supposed to be Tamaki's job, he always had a bag or two of sweets in his bag- even though he wasn't that big of a fan of sweet things, really he was the mother of the group, no matter how much he tried to deny it. They all loved him with all their hearts, and wanted The best for him, unfortunately Kyoya isn't very open to love and affection, so the hosts have to be sneaky when showing their care with him.
The more Haruhi thought about it, the more Kyoya was like a particularly feral cat- one that was suddenly been shown affection and warmth; he was entirely self-sufficient, he treated literally everyone as if they were incapable and needed him to keep them going, was disgusted by the idea of affections, but silently craved being seen in a positive light, he was loving and caring but denied ever being such things, hiding it behind a rough and cruel exterior. The thought made her smile fondly, though she did wish they could just tell him how much they cared, instead of having to dance it around and hope he understands.
She knew what almost everyone had bought Kyoya, they'd all shown off happily. She felt a little bad about her measly little scarf she'd made him, but he always seemed too cold, hands shaking almost every time she saw them, he did so much for everyone- Haruhi just wanted to do something considerate back. The boys, as is typical of rich people, used gift being as an unwitting display of wealth; each gift more ornate and expensive then the next.
The twins had gotten him a four piece suit, complete with a male corset and rather impressive shoes. It was black and purple, with silver details, they'd even bought practically a bucketful of accessories, stating that Kyoya's outfits were always so plain. The accessories were quite tasteful, although some may be too feminine for Kyoya's tastes.
Honey of course, had gotten Kyoya many different squishies and stress balls and other fidgety, stimulating toys. Haruhi thought this was a great idea, even if some of them are a tad cutesy, Kyoya's always so angry, he's definitely going to appreciate them! Then she saw him pull out a fidget toy with opals on it, sure it was pretty, but do they have to flaunt wealth at every point? At least Honey had a good reason, stating that black opal was Kyoya's favourite gemstone. Another good thing about these toys, is that honey had them custom made, and claimed that they were made to be practically indestructible, which was rather impressive- and needed too, Haruhi had seen Kyoya dent an armoured car in a fit of rage, any toys he had would have to be able to put up with that level of violence.
Mori had bought a couple of books he thought Kyoya might find interesting, as well as a new usb with pdf copies of each book, Haruhi honestly thought that was one of the best gifts, thoughtful and subtle, then Mori showed them the books and they were all first edition copies. Haruhi had sat there, cursing the frivolous spending of these boys, was this a competition to them?
Tamaki had happily shown off the gift he'd gotten for Kyoya, pens, lots and lots of pens, a whole briefcase of them; fountain pens, gel pens, erasable pens, gold, diamonds, opals- just the most decadent set of pens you've ever seen, the fountain pens had refilled in every known colour, and the briefcase itself had gold embellishments. Haruhi was, in all honesty, blown away even imagining how much that had coated, did he have to spend so much money on pens? Although she knew Kyoya would appreciate pens, he broke one practically every week, and wrote like nobody's business. He was the only person haruhi had even known to actually run out of ink in a pen.
So it was clear the hosts were vying for the most expensive gift, and Haruhi couldn't help but feel slightly inferior for the little purple and green scarf she'd made Kyoya, it was rather nice looking in her opinion, and it has taken her quite a while… she really hoped Kyoya would appreciate it.
By now, the cakes had not only finished baking, but they'd cooled as well, so the twins placed the first layer, about the size of a wheel, on the plate. Honey added the whipped cream before Mori put the second layer on top, there were four layers in total, stacking up nice and high. Haruhi had got a chair to stand on and poured the caramel sauce over the cake, making sure it was entirely coated, with a nice pool at the bottom. She'd then stepped back, letting Tamaki and the twins place the marzipan balls that Tamaki had made whilst Mori and Honey placed the little purple roses made out of icing, life size and miniature too.
When they were finished, the cake looked beautiful, they were all so proud of it. Proud… and covered in the ingredients, they really looked a mess, they should probably clean up before leaving the kitchen. Haruhi was the least covered in eggs and flour, she only had some caramel on her sleeve. So she was the one to add the candles, purple and white striped ones, all 18 of them. God, this was a big birthday huh, he was an adult now. No wonder his family finally wanted to spend time with him.
Kyoya had returned, rolling his eyes at how excited Tamaki was, the blonde hanging off his arm. He glanced around the room, clearly taking in the sigh of all the gifts and cards gotten for him, there was a table full of things from the guests, and each host was holding the gift they'd gotten for him. He just sighed, adjusting his jumper, it was big, grey and oversized, not the kind of thing he'd normally wear. He put his shopping bags down, glancing over at the hosts, "why are we making a fuss about this? It's just getting a little older."
"But Kyoya! Don't think of it like aging! Think of it more like… surviving yet another year? Isn't that something worth celebrating?" Tamaki smiles, hugging Kyoya's arm.
Kyoya visibly pauses, thinking over what Tamaki had said, almost looking sad, just for a moment, then he smiled slightly, nodding, "ok, sure… You know Tamaki, you sound just like Fiyumi sometimes, she says that, every year…" Tamaki stops for a moment, turning and looking at Kyoya in silence, he then rushed over, hugging Kyoya.
"Hey come on! Let's not focus on the idea of the other end of things! Let's celebrate! We all got you something!" He beamed, stepping back and gesturing to the other hosts, "come see what we got you!"
They had Kyoya sit down in Tamaki's big chair, handing him gift after gift after gift. They had opened the ones from the guests first, all sorts of cute and shiny nonsense, too many chocolate boxes to count- for the last requested host, Kyoya sure had a lot of fans. Then they came to the gifts gotten by each host, the gift the twins had gotten Kyoya made him smile, he'd rolled his eyes, "god, Yuuichi tells me that every day, he says I dress strangely, he got me this jumper, he says I look better when I dress cutely." They'd laughed at that, and Honey had handed him the gift he'd gotten.
That gift had made Kyoya pause for a bit, picking some up and looking at them, before fiddling with one of the fidget toys, and getting entirely engrossed in it, until Tamaki shakes him gently. Kyoya sighed then turned to Honey, nodding gently, "thank you." Honey had beamed at that, happily pointing out that it was indestructible, because he'd seen how destructive Kyoya can be without even realising. Kyoya had frozen at that, looking down at the toy in his hands, something seemingly coming to mind, something he very openly didn't like, dropping the toy back into the box. It seemed Mori had noticed that, nudging the box aside with his foot and placing the gift he had gotten, onto Kyoya's lap, a little hum of assurance.
Kyoya opened the gift, looking at it for a moment before picking one up, running a finger along the spine before reading the blurb on the back of the book, then another, then another. Slowly, Kyoya read the blurbs of each of the books, before carefully placing them all back into their box, he turned to Mori, nodding, "these all seem like very interesting books, Thank you." Mori hums again, placing a gentle hand on the top of Kyoya's head, a gesture that did not go unnoticed. Kyoya sighed softly, closing his eyes for a second, the closest any of the hosts had ever seen to him reciprocating affection, and Tamaki's eyes lit up, if just for a moment. But the king stepped aside, and let Haruhi hand Kyoya her gift first.
The shadow king looked down at the brown paper wrapping, nothing he was at all used to, he used his nails, surprisingly sharp as they were, to tear into it, playing around with the texture for a moment or two, before tearing into the paper. He looked almost surprised at the soft wooden scarf that lay across his lap now, the greens and the purple sitting in unison, he picked it up, testing the feel of it in his fingers… he smiled. He slowly wrapped the scarf around his neck, clearly pleased by how soft it was, he glanced at Haruhi, curiosity clear in his eyes, "did you make this?" Haruhi had nodded, telling him how it took her over a month, he glanced back down at the scarf, rubbing the wool between his fingers, "hm, it's very good quality, welldone Haruhi, and thank you." These words sent Tamaki into a frenzy, going on about how Mommy and darling daughter were getting along so well, and Haruhi noticed how Kyoya just smiled softly at that, watching the king flounder about with adoring eyes.
Haruhi had paused, she'd glanced across at the twins, then to Honey, then Mori, then finally to Tamaki, she was beginning to notice how much all of them loved each other, how much she loved all of them. She wondered if they were aware of how much they loved each other, or was that just a Tamaki thing… she wasn't even sure Tamaki was all too aware.
When Kyoya saw the pens Tamaki had bought him, he was near tears- of course that was an exaggeration, an Ootori never cried, they were infamous for such, but Kyoya's eyes were certainly wet as he stared down at all those shimmering beauties, his hand twitched, clearly wanting to hold them, but he glanced up at Tamaki instead, "I can't take these, I break pens so easily, I'd just ruin them…" his voice, it was shaking, if Haruhi didn't know any better, she'd say Kyoya sounded scared of breaking the pens.
Tamaki had smiled softly, putting a gentle hand over Kyoya's shaking one, "don't worry Kyoya! I don't mind if you break them, as long as you enjoy writing with them. Not everything is meant to stay forever, no matter how beautiful!" Kyoya clearly didn't believe him, so Tamaki sighed, continuing, "and even if they do break, they'll still be beautiful, I know beautiful things that break and break and break and they're still as beautiful as the day I saw them first, even if they can't be used for their original purpose, besides, you can always fix them can't you?"
She'd been suspicious of something for a while now, since that night near the beach, with that thunderstorm… and Kyoya, being just as much of a feel as the other boy's… she'd thought about her theory as he'd told her how the club was formed, when Kyoya's father had slapped him, as she watched him watch Tamaki's car leave during the festival, when they stood together under the fireworks and Kyoya had kept a couple of steps distance, and right now… She hoped to god Tamaki didn't mean what she thought he did, standing next to Kyoya, her hand went to his forearm, smiling at him as he looked at her, "those are pretty pens senpai, I'd be a shame if you didn't write with them. If you break them then that's not your fault, pens aren't anything like people, so you shouldn't feel too bad if you break it."
Kyoya had paused for a moment, ruminating on something, before he nodded, "you're right, both of you, I'd love to write with these pens, thank you Tamaki- it's a wonderful gift." There was silence, just a comfortable, soft silence, everyone was smiling, everyone was happy.
Then Honey piped up, jumping up and down, "cake time! Cake time!"
Kyoya had glanced back at him in alarm, "cake? But I-"
The twins shrugged at that, speaking in unison, "well you have to have a cake, it's your birthday." Kyoya didn't seem to want to argue with that, so he just let Haruhi turn the lights off, and take out a camera as Mori brought the cake in, with Honey hopping around behind him.
They sang happy birthday, though Tamaki had decided to make his way to the piano, playing them a melody to sing to, he himself was singing the words in french, that blended into the Japanese to create a strange sound, one that felt comforting to them all, they didn't understand the words Tamaki sang, but they knew their meaning. Mori brought the cake over and placed it on a table in front of Kyoya, who looked at it, in… what had to be awe. Everyone knew Kyoya wasn't one for sweets, but the way he stared at that cake, Haruhi had to wonder if it wasn't so much a dislike, as it was a show, a character he was building.
He stood up to blow the candles out, rolling his eyes as everyone clapped, but when they had finished he did have one question, "did you make this?" Everyone nodded, happily explaining the things they had done, and the steps taken to make sure that Kyoya enjoys it. With every word spoken, it's clear that Kyoya becomes more and more touched by the notion, then when he would argue the need for a cake not five minutes ago.
They each got a slice, though Kyoya got the biggest- Honey had talked his way into getting the second biggest of course, the cake was actually delicious, not as sweet as they'd expected, though they never saw Haruhi add the salt, she was rather proud of her baking personally, though she had to admit the things the others did were indeed vital for the cakes success. She had glanced over to Kyoya, noticing how slowly he was eating his cake, other than Tamaki and the twins rambling on about something or other, it was quiet, and Haruhi just watched Kyoya eat. It was strange, she genuinely couldn't tell if he was happy or not, he'd seemed happy throughout the gift giving, but now his expression was blank. She wondered if his so-called hatred for sweet things outlived his love for his friends, or maybe he just didn't know how to deal with enjoying something. The last time Haruhi had watched him eat like she was right now, they'd been in a mcdonald's, and he had shown terrible table manners, but right now, he was moving as perfectly polite and daintily as a human possibly could, especially for a human that breaks things on a daily basis, Haruhi was forced to come to the conclusion that… maybe Kyoya was monitoring his own behaviour, he must be enjoying the cake the same way he enjoyed everything, with massive amounts of guilt.
#ohshcweek#kyoya ootori#ouran high school host club#implied polyhosts#polyhosts#haruhi fujioka#tamaki suoh#kaoru hitachiin#hikaru hitachiin#hikaru and kaoru#mori#takashi morinozuka#honey#mitsukuni haninozuka#ootori siblings#(mentioned)
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Marzipan Muffins
I got the recipe from the lovely @evaelisaa <3 but I am sorry to say that I changed it a lot 😅 mainly bc I wanted to add the marzipan to the dough and 8 muffins didn’t seem enough XD
The original recipe (for 8 muffins, without eggs):
125g / 1/2 cup soft butter
30g / 2 tablespoons sugar
1/2 teaspoon almond aroma
125g / 1 cup flour
40g / marzipan
4 teaspoons apricot jam
My variation (for 12 muffins, with eggs):
125g / 1/2 cup soft butter
80g / 1/2 cup brown sugar
3 eggs
175g / 1 1/2 cups flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
200g / 7oz marzipan
a bit of milk
4 teaspoons apricot jam
How to make it (or rather, how I made it):
Melt the butter, mix it with sugar (and eggs) Add the flour (and baking powder) (grate 100g of the marzipan into the dough) Take (the rest of) the marzipan and cut it into 8 (12) cubes fill the dough into muffin cups and place a little marzipan cube on top of each muffin Bake for ~20min (~30 min, that’s how long mine took) at 190°C / 374°F After the muffins have cooled, melt the apricot jam and glace the muffins with it
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Christmas Food times
The Eve and the Day included an all-day snacking board. The Day also had a dinner meal proper, as the belly was too full on the Eve after the board.
Desserts:
- Stollen (https://www.daringgourmet.com/stollen-german-christmas-bread/; no marzipan because it could not be found locally; calvados-soaked fruits and peels for lack of rum)
- Lebkuchen (https://www.daringgourmet.com/traditional-nuernberger-elisenlebkuchen-german-lebkuchen/; only almond meal used because of hazlenut allergy)
- Tiramisu (https://www.williams-sonoma.com/recipe/tiramisu.html; cognac instead of rum, homemade ladyfingers (https://www.biggerbolderbaking.com/homemade-ladyfingers/; made in one large sheet and cut to size). Cutting the Tiramisu recipe by half (using 3 full eggs, separated) was perfect for a single batch of the ladyfingers, and everything fit perfectly into a tall 8 cup rectangular container)
- Candied orange/lemon/grapefruit peels (leftover from the stollen/lebkuchen; https://www.daringgourmet.com/how-to-make-candied-orange-and-lemon-peel/; made them in 3 separate pots to retrieve 3 citrus simple syrups; lemon and orange peels dried on counter for 2 days and grapefruit for 3)
Snacking board:
- Sourdough bread (good amount of rye and whole wheat, a lazy bread so not much rising; used a long-refrigerated unfed starter and let rise over a day and a half; no fridge retardation due to lack of space; baked in dutch oven)
- Roasted turkey (from TJ’s)
- Prosciutto, capocolo, salami (Italian meat sampler packet from TJ’s)
- Chicken pate (TJ’s)
- Georgian spinach nut phkali (https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2008-feb-20-la-fo-zakuskarec20bfeb20-story.html; called for walnuts, but for lack of, used toasted almonds and pecans)
- Mushroom brie (new product at TJ’s; NOT BAKEABLE WITHOUT FAT SEPARATION)
- Gruyere (TJ’s)
Chickpea nuggets (https://www.thekitchn.com/recipe-chickpea-nuggets-235880; using a mortar and pestle, ground rolled and steel cut oats and flax seed into a rough flour)
- Baked polenta squares (Bob’s Red Mill Polenta, cooked for 5-10m and set in fridge overnight, then baked at 350 for 20m or so)
- Toasted pecans and almonds (leftovers from the phkali)
- Dijon mustard (TJ’s)
- Green salsa (leftovers from the summer green tomato harvest)
- Marinated red onions (apple cider vinegar, red chili flakes, salt and sugar)
- Rainbow carrots, celery, water crackers (TJ’s)
- Red enchilada sauce (leftovers from summer green tomato harvest with counter ripening tomatoes after a month)
- Hummus trio (single lemon pepper hummus base, colored with spinach powder and beet powder; homemade tahini and freshly mashed chickpeas)
Fancy Dinner
- Carrot-fennel soup (roasted carrot, fennel, an onion, some garlic; move to stovetop, cook with kombu/shiitake stock, puree everything, mix in rosemary olive oil and whatever other various spices)
- Baked salmon in parchment (inspired by https://www.foodandwine.com/recipes/coulibiac-salmon-with-pickled-beets-and-kale; Rice tossed with lemon juice. Salmon slathered in TJ’s dijon mustard. Kale tossed with lemon juice, olive oil, and chili flakes. Mushrooms quick sauteed with butter. Marinated red onions from the snacking board. Enclose in parchment paper, baked at 400 for 20m (slightly overcooked oops). Too bad the parchment paper wasn’t phyllo...would have been nice to eat.)
Wine: https://www.reversewinesnob.com/satis-dei-syrah-garnacha; purchased for the bottle...drinkable in general, but absolutely disgusting with the pate/meat/cheese on the snacking board.
Stollen.
Lebkuchen, stollen, candied citrus peels.
Snacking board, pomegranate seeds sprinkled over. Balsamic vinegar drizzled in the failed baked brie in attempt to make it look less unappetizing.
Christmas day cozy snacking plate. No shiny trio of hummus, etc. Upped the vegetables and lowered the meat and carbs.
Salmon before baking
The enclosed salmon.
Carrot-fennel soup with pomegranate seeds at left. Leftover sauteed butter mushrooms mixed in (unpictured).
The tiramisu container is too tall to extract from beautifully. A three-layer dessert,, and the creamy filling was lighter than air.
#christmas#christmas eve#fancy food#stollen#tiramisu#lebkuchen#daringgourmet#charcuterie#foodandwine#salmon
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GBBO 2020 reactions episode 1 because I guess I’m just Like That.
Actual humor from a Prue & Paul GBBO? Fascinating
I can’t believe they had them live in a fucking GBBO village. I suppose it makes sense if I think about it but it’s also s o much for a tv show. Oh well, I guess we’re benefiting from it.
Initial mood is to stan the man who decides he can be called Hamish like his dog.
high...quality...back...garden...badminton. I appreciate the GF representation...but...high quality back garden badminton...
I want Sura to do well, but given her preview shots I’m scared for her.
Show editors stop poking at Loriea (side note, beautiful name) for using bubblegum and cream soda! let her do what she wants! I don’t particularly care for it but I’m sure there are people who like it!
AND LOOK A LOT OF OTHER PEOPLE ARE USING ARTIFICIAL COLOR IN THEIR MARZIPAN SO WHY’D YOU SHIT ON LORIEA FOR DOING IT IN HER CAKE
Rowan is an excellent name to have. He’s pretty hardcore classic-oriented between the mozart + the grecian temple battenberg, huh.
I appreciate Mak and his pistachios it’s so! fucking! desi! Did he name is battenberg or did the production team decide to call it the East Indian Battenberg?
Egg replacement let’s GO! Hermine!!!!
Rowan is honestly representing with the CD case cutting guide. I feel that energy. That’s my crafting energy.
OH GOD THE RAW CAKES ROWAN WITH THE MICROWAVE (confirmed he and I share chaotic crafting and baking energy) but he also terrifies me
Lottie with the stripes! honestly! Stan! Also if Noel could stop distracting her that would be great.
How the fuck did Rowan make that cake with that little time left???????
Ah fuck now I have to hear Prue and Paul talk
I’m gonna fuck paul up what is complicated about ginger orange and pistachio if you can handle an almond marzipan you can handle a pista one too once again paul and prue’s bland ass tastebuds let us down.
??? The ambulance is so cute! what do they mean lacking identity???
I like the diffusion there, still feel like they did Loriea dirty with the editing.
As a proud maximalist aesthetic girl, I think Hamish’s battenberg looks fine!
why is paul always so rough????? it’s a cake not dirt to be shoveled???
LMAO DECONSTRUCTED TEMPLE
I’m HERE for Sura’s neat battenberg! Also iconic with the half of the battenberg being at the bottom of the oven.
Lottie reminds me of Emma Stone in some shots. Also middle-of-the-road...iconic.
When are they not testing timings and consistency on the technical??? Shut up Paul.
Stop roasting Loriea NOEL LET HER LIVE! (side note her makeup is impressive)
Linda please read omg
Lottie with the tear it with your hands traybake idea is a mood. Feral energy, I like it.
Hamish :’( please butter your tins :’(
I’m living for the turning out and all the pineapple surgery.
Linda :’( well at least she’s staying calm
Sura???? is iconic
Ok time for the preview moment thanks I’m braced I’m gonna hate this. Poor Sura... :’(
Thank you Matt for cracking her up, we all needed the laugh, that was a good moment. I’m glad the other contestant understood...it wasn’t Sura’s fault at all.
Oh dear the cream’s really coming off of most of them huh. Fair tbh.
Badminton boy is surprisingly reliable. As is Sura <3 Also, as always, shut up Paul! I knew Sura was gonna get first, she’s a sweetheart, I’m sorry she couldn’t celebrate it.
Glad Linda took that well...I feel bad for her and Hamish. Pretty positive on this bunch tbh? I feel like I haven’t seen much of other Mark.
A...3D...cake bust??????? wtf???? weird-ass-challenge. Can Paul and Prue please do this alongside the bakers? Just so they can have some compassion for this? (as always, shut up Paul)
Loreia’s choice...excellent...the quality...also if Paul and Prue comment on the spices I’m gonna...I’m gonna.
Marmosets are coming for Sura~~~~
Rowan...rowan please...rowan...why must you go super complicated always...Rowan you are completely bonkers like you said.
I’m watching between Peter and Loriea who gets criticized. Loriea’s will taste like something for sure, but will Paul and Prue go for basic-ass English flavors?
I...hate fondant. I feel bad for all of these people.
Lupita! And excellent choice Hermine!!!!!!!! <3 also those eyes sound...terrifying but I’ll stand by you Hermine!!!!!
Mak is a bit strange for me watch because he has a ton of desi uncle mannerisms without a desi accent. All the uncle’s I know are first gen immigrants so it’s a bit of...cognitive dissonance.
This challenge is a nightmare...these poor bakers. Also Linda and Lottie LMAO. Time flies when you’re having fun WHO SAID THEY’RE HAVING FUN!
MAKING BOOBS ON NATIONAL TV HERMINE I LOVE YOU
Sura helping Laura like an actual sweetheart and Peter offering to help Rowan this is the wholesomeness I’m here for. And everyone cheering Sura on when hers fell, honestly live for it. I suppose when you’re all being made to do a fucking cake bust that’s the an experience where you can bond over how hard and ridiculous an ask it is.
Peter’s is...so simplistic and he’s being...complimented for it...when other people got criticized for doing other more lifelike/ambitious designs. hm.
Oh fuck you paul, I’m willing to bet that the chili is FINE and that the ginger is also FINE. Loriea I appreciate you and your strong tastes <3. And the fucking editors cutting to Loriea when an earlier contestant was complimented for “not going overboard with spices” ugh.
How...did Peter get star baker...over Sura and Hermine...I appreciate the GF challenge but also like...how...
>:( They sent Loreia home round one for overflavoring. I am angery.
#the great british bake off#shut up rima#my post#i guess this is a livestream#nowhere else to put my thoughts so here they go
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Quick Fire Facts about the muses!
(Editor Beezie here aka the mun: I will be doing small quick fires of the muses of this blog. This will include upcoming ones too. Just a few four headcanon facts about the guys.These are the official headcanon of the fantrolls in this blog. There is more facts about the trolls but these are the only facts I can tell you without spoiling their whole backstories. If you wish to know more about the mueses please send in a ask and find out. )
Calice Wahron
.Calice makes her own paints at home by mixing flowers,precious stones and clay hence the name dirt paintings or rivercolors.
Calice is highly allergic to salt water, because of her genetic mutation of an olive with sea dweller gills and fins.
Her horns are based off the clovers of the bermuda buttercup or the buttercup oxalis that grow in winter months in the state I’m in and they’re my favorite flower. While her design is slightly based on the book Winds in the willow.
Calice’s sign is the mun’s homestuck zodiac sign.
Eponia Hompis
Eponia was originally a ship baby between two canon characters that the mun no longer ships. But still show a little bit of the ship what she was formally was once in a while whenever interacting with others or in rps.
Yes the mun is fully aware she’s been writing Eponia’s name like this ‘Epoina’ she’s just too lazy to fix it now.
Eponia’s current design was originally adopt for a flower theme of trolls. Her flower being irises. But I fell in love with her design and kept her.
Eponia can make extremely fluffy jiggly grubcakes aka pancakes which she often sees as a failure.
Kimaoi Midria
Like Eponia Kimaoi was going to be a grubling adoption, her design was a bronze grub with vitiligo and rabbit tail. But I decided to scrap the bunny tail and keep Kimaoi for myself.
Kimaoi’s name is the combination of kimo kawaii meaning and please correct me if I am wrong in the comments. It looks a little creepy but cute.
If you guys hadn’t noticed Kimaoi had a few scars on her legs, meaning she had self harmed herself in the past, due to having dealt with depression and had trauma with abuse. And still recovering at her own pace to self love again.
Like the words for her name, Kimaoi loves everything spooky and scary. Basically halloween is her Christmas. She loves it and finds what we see as big scary monsters to Kimi she sees puppy. ( The mun is no better if facing monsters or dinosaurs and willing to call them puppies)
Kotton Poplus
Kotton is at this moment is one of two out of the ask group that has their pale quadrant filled.
Kotton was suppose to be a ship baby from two canon characters but got scrapped and the mun doesn’t ship anymore. But like Epoina, it's hinted who they were who turned Kotton into a clown loving puffball who doesn’t know too much of the rules between limes and purples.
Kotton’s name is the combination of Kitten and Cotton Candy, Hence why she appears to be extremely hyper and overly positive to some situations.
Kotton and her morial are the youngest of the adults trolls, both being 8.77 aka 19 years old. And yes she is the party girl of the cast.
Mariot Lotora
Mariot is the only one out of the group at this moment who has their red quadrant filled and is the mama of Macleo.
Mariot’s name is the combination of two Agatha Christie's characters miss Marple and Hercules Poirot.
Mariot had gone through probably the most design changes out of the group currently.
Is the main mom friend of the group to make sure the younger jades in the caverns are not sneaking off or bringing something back to the caverns. This goes double with the ask cast too.
Mairuz Panais
Mairzu is one of my oldest oc characters, not by age but who came first in the large group when being created. he, Nefiri and Rafina were the big ogs before everyone else was created. And went through a massive design and character change before making his appearance on the blog.
Mairzu’s name is a play on words of the italian almond candy marzipan.
Whenever Mairzu becomes scared or excited he would start to smell like someone’s favorite candy for the whole day. This is from an inside joke me and a friend have about Mairzu due to his namesake.
Whenever Mairzu becomes flustered or has a crush on someone will do the goofy’s very loudly hyuck. He is very embarrassed about it.
Nefiri Bastia
Nefiri is from a very long line of huntresses/tribe leaders. Where her traditions is where both eggs from blackrom and redrom are at risk from the other mate in the chief's black and red quadrant. Nefiri’s egg is the only known recorded redrom egg in the bloodline.
Nefiri is the old lost friend of @ask-swagger-dagger-trolls’s oc Jamari, she is not part of his quadrant. She did had two of her quadrants filled before losing them to a rival tribe forcing her into exile. Making her quadrants empty.
If she really likes you, Nefiri will lick your cheek or rub her head against you much like how a big cat greets their keeper. Or full on big cat hug which she tends to forget how strong she is at times. And if Nef has red feelings to someone she will bring dead animals and extremely affectionate to them.
Nefiri does not know how modern society works at all. If you put her in a city setting, she will become extremely tense and nervous about it. Hell she is kinda the reason if someone has some sort of new tech and its someone she’s close to. Yeah.. She’ll see it as a threat and will destroy it.
Nixiie Apilon
Nixiie has a babyface, meaning she is easily mistaken to be younger than her actual age. She is 10.62 aka 23 in human years at this moment since her wiggling day is in the spring.
To Nixiie she sees any jade in caverns she’s in as family/teachers. For example @princeofdoomrps Viktor, Nixiie calls him a teacher if she knows he is not part of her cavern while with @faithlines ‘s Lacuna she is not sure in that department so big sister teacher. And feels extremely guilty if a higher authority jade sees her and she thinks she’s in trouble like anyone of us would towards our own family,teachers or bosses fearing we will be punished or be a disappointment to them.
Nixiie’s name is the combination of Pixie and Nymph two magical creatures of folklore and her horns and wings are based off of the lunar moth. But went through a lot of design changes before taking in another grub adopt and turn it into Nixiie today. And like a moth to a flame if Nixiie sees something new or is extremely excited she will go after it.
Nixiie doesn't eat meat, she will drink troll blood but will not touch anything that is made from an animal. She’s pretty much the vegan girl of the group.
Pohkin Boines
Pohkin wears a corset under her clothes and will deny it if someone asks if she does wear it. This goes double for the weave. And bust size.
Pohkin was held to a high standard by her lusus when being raised to become a regel and lady of high blood society and look down at her fellow low caste even in her own.
Pohkin carries around a very sharp and large syringe and will use it on anyone she either deems as a riff raff or a threat. However she’s not that strong. Cunning yes, but has no muscles.
Pohkin is at this moment tends to scare the mun and bullies me often whenever something silly comes her way. For example being put in an outfit like idk a chicken suit or something that shows way too much skin.
Rafina Uymumi
Rafina is a run away troll, to get away from her overly controlling lusus. She ran away and joined the circus sort of speak.
She is extremely flexible, able to bend and walk on her hands with ease and stay that way for a while before standing on her feet again.
Originally Rafina was going to be a shut in underwater writer for her blog for fantasy stories, but I didn’t think that would be a good fit for her. I wanted to give her the little mermaid story where Ariel wanted to go to the human world for her own means and not for a prince. But, still writes just for herself and refuse to show it to anyone.
Rafina’s performances either contains acrobatics gymnastics,belly dances or pole dances. Depending what’s on the line up or who’s the audience for the evening.
#Rafina Uymumi#Pohkin Boines#Nixiie Apilon#Nefiri Bastia#Mariot Lotora#Mairzu Panais#Kotton Poplus#Kimaoi Midria#Eponia Hompis#Calice Wahron#quick facts#fantroll#fantroll ask blog#Fantroll community#fantrolls#troll oc ask#long post#info#ask blog promo
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Ash Fletcher
Theme song / Theme song / Moodboard Divinity: Aschere, The Prince of Blades, Star of Omens (judgement, destiny and ill omens, divine vision, truth, stars, destruction)
BASIC INFORMATION
Full name: Ashley Renn Fletcher Gender: Male Age: 24 Birthday: 14th April
Myers-Briggs: INFJ Zodiac: Aries Tarot card: Ten of Swords
Nationality: American Birthplace: Holyhead, Clallam County, Washington
Sexuality: Biromantic asexual Relationship status: Single
Occupation: Stage technician (previously studied at MIT)
APPEARANCE
Height: 5’3” Weight: 120lbs
Hair: Fluffy, unruly mixed curls and waves, kept in a pixie cut. Eye colour: White-blue
Physical characteristics: Petite in stature, slender in build. He has thin arms and wrists with long, dainty fingers. He’s baby-faced, with heart-shaped features, wide eyes and a button nose, and looks much younger than he really is. Other traits: Faint freckles on his cheeks and the bridge of his nose. He has a collection of scars from his traumatic experiences in Holyhead. Tattoos: None
Clothes: Typically an open shirt and a light jacket over a T-shirt and slim jeans. Prefers muted colours, often green, navy and khaki. He may dispense with the jacket on hot days but always keeps the shirt, as he burns easily. He likes scarves in cooler weather.
TRAITS
Personality: Ash is shy and introverted. A pacifist, he dislikes conflict and avoids it where possible, to the point that he’d rather let people walk all over him than escalate the situation. He’s genuinely warm and caring and hates seeing people hurt. He can, however, be remarkably stubborn when he has to be. He’s intelligent, methodical, and hates leaving a job half done or to a poor standard, often his own worst critic. Despite his sensitive nature, he does have serious anger issues simmering beneath the surface and has a very bad habit of bottling up all of his feelings.
Motives: After his horrifying experiences, Ash feels trapped in limbo, unsure what to do. Finishing his doctorate and going back to a ‘normal’ life feels impossible now, so he drifts aimlessly around Holyhead, helping Mike to steer curious visitors away from the dark places where horrors dwell. His main driving motive is to protect others—from himself.
Values: Ash places high value on the lives and safety of others, putting their feelings above his own. He will tell a white lie to protect people if he thinks that the truth will hurt them. Despite his sweet nature, he is not optimistic, and often finds himself questioning whether anything he does really matters in the end. He feels that his life is no longer his to control, and can only make choices as long as outside forces allow it.
Fears: Claustrophobic, hates small, enclosed spaces, especially ones without windows, and has abandonment issues. His greatest fear is his own uncontrollable power, and what happens when he loses himself to it. The thought of hurting people again makes him sick to his core—in his eyes, he’s a monster.
Weaknesses: Ash often refuses help, feeling like his problems are his own to deal with, even from those he trusts. He’s too scared of conflict to stand up for himself in most cases, until he’s pushed too far and snaps. Explosively.
Quirks: Bites his lip or knuckles when nervous, his hands and arms when scared. Likes to chew pencils. Hates being touched without permission except by those he deeply trusts and will reflexively jerk away from unwanted contact. With those he cares about, however, he’s a snugglebug and loves to be close to them. He’s a bit of a magpie and likes shiny things.
STRENGTHS AND SKILLS
Skills: Skilled with computers and engineering, codes in several languages and can hack his way through business level security. Able to assemble functional robots from very little, often scrap parts and random household objects. Resourceful, creative problem solver, good at reading people. Also a good climber.
Hobbies: He’s good at drawing and likes to use pen, ink and markers, as well as shiny, sparkly things like foil, glitter and metallic inks. Likes to make up his own robots and mecha and come up with blueprints for them, but also enjoys drawing birds and animals. He also likes watching anime, playing video games, and going for walks in nature.
Powers: — Gifted with psychic vision, able to see eldritch presences, read memories left behind in places and on objects, and knows when he is being lied to. He experiences terrifying visions of the future. — Knows when things are broken, including people, and has an innate understanding of how their pieces fit back together. He can reassemble an engine from loose parts in a fraction of the time it should take. — Power over light, perception, reflections and fate: revealing light that lets others see what he sees, blinding aura, able to bless or curse people by setting in stone what he sees in their future, or by revealing them for what they truly are. — Reality warping, able to teleport short and long distances by passing through fractures in reality, make strong objects brittle with just a touch, shift himself and others between planes. — Eldritch nature, he manifests countless wings which fill the space around him, normally on planes other than the visible. If they clip into the physical plane, they shatter or cut through what they come into contact with. He burns with an unnatural starfire when enraged and withers everything nearby into glass.
OTHER FACTS
Favourite music: Lindsey Stirling, Within Temptation, Delain, Wind Rose. Favourite films: Jurassic Park, The Martian, Gravity, Pacific Rim, Star Wars, Sunshine. Favourite food: Blueberries, pumpkin pie, almond-flavoured anything but especially marzipan, chocolate, home baking, pizza. Favourite animals: Small songbirds and garden birds. Sparrows are his favourite. Favourite colour: Sky blue. Also partial to mint and turquoise. Likes: Sci-fi movies, quiet spaces, being surrounded by trees, hugging people he trusts, mecha, books of constellations and space photography, SPACE. Dislikes: Loud noises, the smell of meat, people with sweaty hands, being treated like a child, feeling left out or abandoned, people who are cruel to animals.
Misc. info: Ash is a semi-strict vegan and refuses to eat meat or gelatine, and avoids eggs and dairy where possible. He can speak English and French fluently and is learning Japanese (he can also speak some sparrow, but that’s not exactly something he can put on his CV.)
ALTERNATE VERSES
Superhuman: Incredible power is a blessing and a curse. Ash has the ability to shatter reality, but must remain blindfolded at all times to prevent him from unleashing hell on the world. Victorian Gothic: Some call him one of the fair folk, some call him a god. What Ash truly is defies all description. He lives with his father in a world not our own, occasionally helping those who stumble into their realm. Dead in the Water: Ash escaped the wreck on which his father died, but, like others on that fateful ship on that fateful day, was stricken with a terrible curse; he knows the fates of all men, but cannot save them. Swords and Sorcery: Born with dreadful magic, Ash grew up within the walls of a cathedral. But when his untamed power razes it to the ground, he flees into the wilderness in search of solitude and answers. Gotta Catch Em All: Even in the world of Pokemon, not all people are good. Ash rehabilitates those Pokemon who have been so badly abused by their previous owners that Nurse Joy alone can’t help them. Blood and Wine: It is said that Ash can see the future. The mob boss who purchased him and his father used this to his advantage, but beat him when the visions were not to his liking. Despite his newfound freedom, Ash refuses to speak, believing that nothing he can say will lead to good. Behind the Lines: Ash promised his father he wouldn’t follow him into the war… but he was never any good at keeping promises. When his B-17 goes down in flames over the battlefields of France, he is the only survivor. He’s forced to team up with a ragtag group of jaded soldiers and members of the French resistance to make it to Switzerland alive. Apocalypse Now: Ash and his father live in a tower deep in the wilderness, with only their collection of old world oddities for company. Ash is forbidden from leaving the castle grounds, but sneaks out on many nights to explore alone. Everything changes when he meets a strange man who claims to be from the old world.
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Can You Use A Cupcake Recipe To Make A Cake
Making a cake from scratch can seem intimidating, but it doesn't have to be! Believe it or not, you can use a cupcake recipe to make a delicious cake. That's right - no special ingredients or techniques required. In this article, I'll explain how easy it is to turn that cupcake recipe into an impressive layer cake with just a few simple steps. So if you've ever wanted to try your hand at making a homemade cake without all the fuss and bother of traditional recipes, then read on! You'll learn exactly how to take that tried-and-true cupcake recipe and transform it into something truly special for any occasion. Maybe You Also Like: - Can You Substitute Sherry For Vermouth In A Recipe - Can You Use Any Recipe In A Bread Machine - Can You Use A Pancake Recipe For Waffles Converting Cupcake Quantities Yes, you can use a cupcake recipe to make a cake. I've done it many times and the results are always delicious! The key is to pay attention to the quantities of ingredients in your cupcake recipe and adjust accordingly for a cake. The most important factor when making this conversion is adding flour. A typical cupcake recipe calls for 1-2 cups of all purpose flour while a cake will require at least 2-3 cups. Be sure to double or even triple the amount of flour depending on how large of a cake you're baking. Another major adjustment that needs to be made when converting from cupcakes to cakes is doubling other ingredients such as sugar, butter, eggs, etc. Depending on what type of cake you’re planning on making, your ingredient list could vary slightly but the overall concept remains true - increase the quantity of each item listed in order for your final product to become a full sized cake rather than just cupcakes. By taking these steps and paying close attention to measurements, you'll have no problem creating an amazing cake using any standard cupcake recipe! Choosing The Right Cake Pan I'm sure you've heard the phrase, "the bigger the better". That certainly applies to baking a cake. To make your cake look like it came from a bakery, choosing the right size and shape of pan is key. You'll need one that's large enough for your cupcake recipe so all the batter fits in properly. The icing techniques will also vary depending on what type of cake you're creating. If you want to decorate with fondant or marzipan, then an 8-inch round tin should do the trick. For more intricate designs, opt for a rectangular tin instead – this allows for greater flexibility when it comes to decoration. And don't forget about temperature: cakes usually bake at 350°F (177°C), but if your recipe calls for something different, be sure to follow those instructions as closely as possible. Once you’ve got the perfect pan picked out, it’s time to get creative and let your homebaked masterpiece shine! With just a few simple tips, anyone can create a stunning showstopper that looks almost too good to eat! Adjusting The Baking Time Yes, you can use a cupcake recipe to make a cake. The main difference between the two is that cakes usually require larger baking pans or have more layers than cupcakes. You might also need to adjust some of the ingredients and baking time when making a cake from a cupcake recipe. When adjusting your baking time, it’s important to keep in mind the size of your pan and the amount of batter being used. Generally speaking, if you are using less batter and/or a smaller pan than what was originally called for in the recipe, then reduce your baking temperature by 25°F (14°C) and increase your baking time accordingly. On the other hand, if you are using more batter and/or a bigger pan than what was specified in the original recipe, then increase your oven temperature by 25°F (14°C). Furthermore, many recipes allow for alternative ingredients such as different types of oil or gluten-free flour which may affect how long it takes for your cake to bake through. Always double check with an inserted toothpick after about 3 quarters of cooking time has passed - this will help ensure that no matter what kind of changes you made to the original recipe, all elements will be cooked properly before taking out from heat source. If necessary, add extra minutes until the pick comes out clean! Decorating The Cake Once you’ve adjusted the baking time and cooked your cake to perfection, it’s time to decorate. There are a variety of icing techniques that can be used to give your cake an extra special touch. From buttercream frosting to ganache glazes, there's something for everyone. If you're really feeling adventurous, why not try some fondant options? Fondant is a soft dough-like substance made from sugar which can be shaped and molded into various shapes and designs - perfect for creating beautiful cakes! If you don't feel like making your own fondant at home, then there are plenty of store bought options available too. Simply knead the fondant until it's nice and pliable and roll out on top of your cake to create a smooth finish. Then add any decorations or cutouts with cookie cutters or use food coloring markers to draw intricate patterns onto the surface of the fondant. With this method, you'll have a stunningly decorated cake in no time! So now that you know how to adjust the baking time and decorate your cake with ease, all that’s left is getting creative in the kitchen! Have fun experimenting with different flavors combinations and decorative ideas so that each batch turns out unique - just like every cupcake recipe! Creative Variations Yes, you can use a cupcake recipe to make a cake! It may require some adjustment but the basic steps and ingredients should remain fairly similar. One of the main differences will be in piping techniques used for decorating – think beyond just frosting and explore various flavor combinations that are unique to cakes. From swirls of meringue to layers of creamy ganache, there's so much potential when it comes to creating something special with your fondant or buttercream icing. Plus, experimenting with different flavors like lemon curd and raspberry jam is sure to give your cake an extra delicious boost! With these tools at hand, the possibilities are truly endless and even the most inexperienced baker can get creative with their baking skills. So don't be afraid to try something new – who knows what kind of tasty treats you'll come up with? Frequently Asked Questions What Type Of Frosting Should I Use On My Cake? When it comes to frosting your cake, there are many options available. Depending on the occasion, you can choose a simple buttercream icing or get creative with different techniques and decorations. If you’re looking for something special that stands out, consider using piping techniques to make intricate designs or adding fondant accents like flowers or ribbons around the edges of your cake. When in doubt, talk to a professional baker who can help guide you through various icing techniques and provide ideas for cake decorations. How Many Cups Of Sugar Are Needed For A Standard Cake Recipe? When baking a cake, the amount of sugar needed varies depending on your recipe and what type of cake you're making. Generally speaking, most standard cake recipes call for 2 to 3 cups of sugar. However, if you're adding icings or different flavors to your cake, you may need to adjust these ratios accordingly. It's always best to follow the instructions in your recipe closely so that you achieve the desired flavor and texture with each batch of cakes! What Is The Best Way To Store A Cake To Keep It Fresh? Storing a cake to keep it fresh can be tricky, but there are some tips you should follow. First, make sure the cake has cooled completely before wrapping it in plastic wrap or foil. You want to seal out any air that could cause it to dry out over time. If you're planning on icing your cake, don't use butter-based icings until just before serving so they don't soften and run off the sides of the cake. Cake fillings also need special attention; cream cheese-filled cakes should be stored in the fridge and other types of filling should be used within two days for best results. Flavoring extracts like vanilla, almond and mint will evaporate over time if left uncovered so store those cakes with their frosting intact! With these simple tips, you'll have a delicious cake that stays moist and flavorful even after baking time is up! How Can I Make A Cake Without Eggs? If you're looking to make a cake without eggs, there are plenty of egg free substitutes that can get the job done. Depending on what type of cake you're making, vegan baking is a great way to go about it. There's no need for animal products such as milk and butter either - just by substituting some ingredients with others, like replacing regular milk with almond or coconut milk in combination with vegetable oil instead of butter, you'll have an egg-free cake batter ready to be baked into your very own delicious masterpiece! How Long Will A Cake Last Once It Has Been Baked? Once you've baked your cake, it will last for a few days at room temperature - the length of time depends on how the cake is stored and how much icing there is. For best results, store your cake in an airtight container to keep its texture fresh and help maintain the stability of the icing. If possible, wrap it in plastic or parchment paper first before storing it as this can help ensure maximum moisture retention and preserve its flavor. Conclusion Yes, you can use a cupcake recipe to make a cake. It is important to note that the amount of sugar and other ingredients may need to be adjusted slightly. Additionally, when making cakes without eggs, it is important to add an extra moisture source such as applesauce or yogurt in order for the cake batter to come together properly. Lastly, once your cake has been baked and cooled off completely, it should last several days if stored correctly. To keep your cake fresh longer I recommend wrapping it tightly with plastic wrap and storing in an airtight container at room temperature away from direct sunlight. With these tips in mind, you're sure to have delicious results every time! If you're looking for more delicious recipes to try, be sure to check out The Disney Chef's recipe categories! Whether you're in the mood for something sweet like a cake recipe, something savory like a chicken or pork recipe, or something fresh like a vegetable or seafood recipe, there's something for everyone. And if you're a meat-lover, don't forget to check out the beef recipes category for hearty and satisfying meals. With so many options to choose from, you're sure to find a new favorite recipe to add to your collection. Read the full article
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His Name on Her Lips
Written by: @appleblossomgirl0305
Prompt 98: Peeta is pining for Katniss, but is about to give up because he can’t figure out a way to get her to notice him and he is being pestered to marry a merchant. He also thinks Katniss is already with Gale. Somehow, he ends up following her or he is already in the woods when Katniss shows up. Katniss, believing she is alone, pleasures herself. When she is finished, she says Peeta’s name. Of course he realizes that he needs to pursue her. [submitted by Anonymous]
Rated: M for sexual situations. In-Panem, canon divergent, takes place prior to the 74th Hunger Games reaping. Possible trigger warnings are allusions to abuse, and while his intentions are pure-ish, Peeta’s actions veer a bit into Peeping Tom territory (I assume the prompt may have made that apparent).
Incredible gratitude to @javistg and @xerxia31 for hosting this event, and a heaping extra scoop of thanks to @xerxia31 for the betaing and free therapy. Writing hasn’t been easy for me lately and fandom events like this are inspiring. Thank you, lovely ladies.
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The first time Peeta ever came while he was awake, he was fifteen and sitting in history class.
When he was ten, his mother had gathered him and his two teenage brothers into the laundry room to stare at a sheet with a patchwork of yellow stains. She had yelled and pointed and accused them of being filthy animals. His brothers snuck looks of barely concealed hilarity at each other, but Peeta had no idea what was going on and was slightly terrified. At the end of the tirade she screamed at them to get out of her sight. As her youngest turned to leave the small room to trail after his brothers, she grabbed his arm and spun him to face her.
“Promise me you’ll never do that. Promise me you’ll have some self control,” she demanded, loose wisps of her straw-colored hair escaping her severe bun in her fury.
“Do what?” he asked, afraid to know, but also hoping he could muster whatever this request required.
“Touch yourself like an animal.” She breathed in sharply through her nose and clamped her jaw so he could hear her back teeth grind together.
That seemed easy enough, he happily agreed. He was rewarded with a tight lipped smile and ruffle of his curls as he passed through the doorway.
A few years later, he learned what a horrible mistake he had made. His body had awakened in ways he could never have anticipated. Most notably of which was his dick’s frequent hardening at the slightest provocation and its need to be touched. His mother was right, he was a filthy animal, driven to rut and rub against anything that would relieve some of this constant, dizzying yearning.
But a promise was a promise, so he did his best to deny the urges, the demands of his own flesh. And while there were a few wet dreams, that nocturnal euphoria left him pulsing in confused release and terrified of his mother’s ire. It took all of his willpower, but he didn’t touch himself.
This became a more Herculean task when he was fifteen and Katniss Everdeen was seated in front of him in History class. For an entire hour at the end of every school day, he could stare at her, sometimes even catch the sharp scent of the mint leaves she often chewed.
Peeta had spent untold hours staring at the ragged end of her braid as it snaked down her slight back. But this particular day, which was unseasonably warm and stuffy, they were watching a film on the ancient projector. He and Katniss sat in the row against the wall, closest to the window, so the natural light was filtering through the multitude of small tears in the curtains. Her body was angled towards the window, giving him of a view of her profile.
The heat and the incessant ticking of the projector as a spooled the film from reel to reel, the drone of the Capitol narrator cast a dream-state over the room.
He was already half hard as he traced the column of her neck with his ravenous eyes. Her skin was dark, flushed and dewy with a light sheen of sweat. He wanted to lick the length of her neck, burrow his nose into the hollow of her throat. By the time he got to her braid, he was so hard, his cock was pushing against the fly of his pants. He shifted in his seat, trying to find a position that made him feel less cramped, but didn’t require him to move any farther from her.
His greedy eyes traveled down the length of her braid. His fingers itched to run it between his fingers, to feel the smooth woven rope give way to the roughness of the fringe at the end. He wanted to make a paint brush out of it and watch the paint trail its mark across the paper as indelibly as she was marked across his heart. He wanted to feel the whisper of it against his overheated skin, his lips, his chest. In his imagination, he ran it up the sensitive underside of his rigid cock. The pleasure shot up the length of his dick, causing him to gasp and double over onto his desk.
Katniss twisted around her seat to investigate the sound and ended up only inches from his face. He fell headlong into the silver of her eyes as he pulsed and came and shook. He gripped the edge of the desk until he could sit up.
“You okay?” she whispered. That was the first time she had ever addressed him directly. Even through the post-orgasmic fog and creeping terror, he longed to hear his name from her lips.
He nodded rapidly, terrified that she could see exactly what had just happened to his body all over his flushed face. She turned back around slowly and he glanced down to see the wet spot blooming across the front of his pants. Holy shit, he didn’t even know such a thing was possible. What he did know was that he had to get out of there before the bell rang and everyone else figured out what had happened.
Shoving his pencil behind his ear, he slid his notebook off the desk and held it strategically in front of his crotch. Walking stiffly, he shuffled to where the teacher was sitting in the back of the room and said he felt ill. The teacher, obviously as undone by the heat as the rest of them, barely glanced at Peeta as he waved him away.
As he turned to quietly ease the door closed, he caught the flash of her quicksilver eyes, felt her stare like the slash of a knife.
Rather than trying to clean up in the school bathroom, he hurried home. Once he’d made it upstairs, he changed his clothes and did his best to rinse his shorts and pants, the memory of those yellow stains on the sheet from years before making his hands shake. What would his mother think of him if she knew he’d soiled himself at school? He suspected this would be an even worse offense than the sheets had been. Would she consider it a broken promise? What would she break in return?
He lay the damp clothes out under his bed and hoped she wouldn’t notice.
As he returned downstairs to the bakery to start his shift, he couldn’t seem to keep his mind off of Katniss. He seemed incapable of being so close to her and not physically reacting. Why did she have that effect on him? He wanted to hold her and keep her safe, dote on and worship her, defile her with his unquenchable lust for her all at the same time. It made him feel deranged to want all of these things at once; to want her so badly. And he was nice. Ask anyone! He was pretty sure that no one in the entire district would call him a sex fiend.
To settle himself, he forced his mind out of the gutter and it landed on one of his favorite fantasies, lovingly imagined so many times it had worn a deep, smooth groove in his mind. He and Katniss, married for a year or two (long enough for them to be in the same room without voraciously ripping each other’s clothes off, that was another fantasy altogether, but not his very favorite), working side by side at their own kitchen counter. She was humming absentmindedly as she prepared two cups of mint tea. He watched her contentedly as he kneaded dough for their dinner, glancing over her shoulder at the last rays of afternoon sun drenching their small garden. He closed his eyes as that intoxicating wave of warmth washed over him, what it would feel like to know she was his.
The truth was that none of it mattered. His stomach bottomed out as he reminded himself that Katniss Everdeen didn’t know, or care, that he was alive. But the memory of her eyes watching him leave the classroom just hours before made him wonder if just maybe, she wasn’t as oblivious to him as he’d always thought.
His father was standing in front of the pantry, rubbing the back of his neck when Peeta came downstairs the following morning. Peeta joined him, standing side by side staring at the cold cellar, and looked over at his father questioningly. They were nearly the same height now. Mellark men weren’t particularly tall, and Peeta seemed to be following suit, starting to fill out horizontally through his chest and shoulders rather than gaining any more height.
His father glanced over at Peeta and whispered, “I really want some bacon for breakfast.”
Peeta nodded sympathetically as his stomach growled. Bacon sounded incredible, but Mrs. Mellark only allowed them to eat the rashers on Sunday mornings, so there was no point it dwelling on what couldn’t be.
Peeta and his father both started when Mrs. Mellark asked loudly what they were doing staring into the pantry and why they hadn’t gotten started on breakfast. Mr. Mellark apologized to his wife and looked pensive as he glanced over his shoulder at her.
“I was thinking of making one of those marzipan cakes that Mrs. Sprucewood enjoys so much,” he mused.
Her sharp blue eyes shot up to his father’s face and she asked, “Do we have enough butter?”
“That’s what I was just trying to work out.”
She licked her lips, already tasting the extra income Mrs. Sprucewood could provide. “What if you used our family’s butter ration too?”
“That could work,” Mr. Mellark mused, “‘but what about our breakfast? How will I fry the eggs?” He looked so perplexed, Peeta wanted to kick him for overselling it.
Mrs. Mellark moved in front of him, taking a mental inventory of the cellar. “What if you fried up a rasher or two of the bacon and used the grease?” she asked as if it was her idea.
“That could work,” Mr. Mellark mused, “but what about Sunday?”
“Well,” his mother said, a small smirk playing on her lips, “if you do your job right with the marzipan cake, we’ll have a little extra for some more bacon.”
Peeta watched incredulously as his father bopped his mother’s nose playfully, “You’re so damned clever, I knew there was a reason I married you.”
Mrs. Mellark pursed her lips and narrowed her eyes slightly at the compliment, but instructed her husband to get started on breakfast all the same. Mr. Mellark shot Peeta a sly wink as he grabbed the bacon and danced to the stove.
Shaking his head, Peeta got started with the morning chores as the sizzle and pop of cooking bacon filled the kitchen. His father might be an evil genius.
“Oh, and have Peeta deliver the cake to the Sprucewood’s. The daughter is a year behind him in school and could make an advantageous match,” his mother called over her shoulder.
Peeta suppressed the small thrill of fear that made his scalp prickle at his mother’s words. He’d figure out a way to explain that he was actually going to marry Katniss Everdeen as soon as figured out how to say two words to Katniss without spontaneously orgasming.
He sat at the lunch table picking at the stale roll he’d brought for lunch. As usual, Katniss sat in the corner with Madge Undersee. Without meaning to, his eyes were drawn to her like relentless magnets. It felt like a sickness, this pointless need for her. Like his brain was impervious to the continual feedback that she didn’t want him back, didn’t want anything to do with him. Madness, he thought. The very definition of madness. But he stared at her anyway. He sat up straighter, reveling in the strength of her body even from across the room. He wanted to internalize that defiance, to take her into his own body so her rigid spine would support him. Fuck, he wanted her so badly, in so many ways.
He must be defective. He’s always suspected. His mother’s disdain, his brothers’ indifference, his father’s feeble love that offered no protection. But that he could love Katniss so completely and she didn’t even notice, he must be worthless. And he tried to hate her. He really, truly did. But instead he burned for her. And after awhile, he stopped fighting his devotion. It was pointless not to love her.
By the time he turned sixteen, Peeta had given up trying to keep his promise to his mother. It was clear that she hated him regardless of whether he tortured himself by denying his base urges. He might as well take what little pleasure he could find. Though he was careful to always hide the evidence in a colored rag.
Besides, it would have been impossible to deny the riot of need that Katniss continued to inspire in him. That year, Katniss’ body had changed in ways that were impossible to ignore. Her slight frame had gently curved and swelled to perfection. And while the boys in his class couldn’t stop talking about Delly Cartwright’s colossal tits that swayed and bounced hypnotically, Peeta considered Katniss’ smaller, but shapelier breasts the absolute ideal.
Everything about her was tantalizing, she was mouthwatering. Literally, his mouth would water when she was anywhere near him. It was a strange response, he realized. But then he started to imagine all the ways he could taste her. What would those dark red lips taste like? They were always a little chapped. Would they taste of mint? Or the skin on her neck? And he tried not to even let the thought enter his mind until he was alone or even better, in the shower, but what about her nipples? He had seen the hard points poking through her thin shirt on cold days when her sweater with its missing buttons refused to stay closed. He had to pull his own sweater down low to hide the instantaneous reaction that had sprung forth at the sight of those tight buds. What color were they? Would they taste sweet (he imagined strawberries) when he ran his tongue around the peak or sucked one into his mouth. That image was enough to send him over the edge after a stroke or two of his hand.
One afternoon as he worked with his brothers to unload the flour sacks into the storeroom, his oldest brother made an off-handed comment about what pussies Peeta and Rye were. Rye responded with that gesture, the one where he made a V with his fingers, his tongue waggling at the juncture and for the first time Peeta realized what that vulgar symbol stood for. And because he was a depraved teenage boy, and the two things he craved most in life were food and sex, he became obsessed with the need to taste Katniss Everdeen’s pussy.
Once the idea had taken root, it was all he could think about. He spent his days adjusting himself to try to hide his perpetual hard on. He had seen pictures of naked women, but girls’ bodies were so secretive. What wonders lay between those lower lips?
He pretended to be sick one day at lunch, hunching slightly and holding his stomach as he shuffled away from his friends towards the office. But veering down the hallway, he ducked into the library instead. He found the book they had used for Health Class in 6th grade and shoved it into his bag unnoticed.
That night, as he poured over the rudimentary sketches of the female anatomy that seemed drawn for the sole purpose of confusing him and making sex unarousing, he tried to understand what fathomable wonders could lie in Katniss’ underwear.
Quickly, he lost patience with the confounding books and began to draw.
Over the next several months he drew Katniss Everdeen incessantly. Admittedly, it started with some exceptionally risque imaginings of her naked, beckoning, pleading from the page for him to defile her in all the ways he had spent years imagining. But when he closed his eyes at night, he always saw the same image, the view of her from his seat in history class. He became an expert in the graceful curve of her neck extending up from the frayed collar of her sweater, thick braid snaking over her delicate shoulder, her daydreamy profile, chin rested on fist as her luminous gray eyes stared at the world beyond the glass, like a tethered hawk.
It was amazing how close to her he began to feel. While only a small handful of words were exchanged between them, his time spent drawing every real and imagined detail of her face, her posture, the defiant set of her shoulders made him love her more.
On a Saturday in late spring, he was just finishing the intricate piping along the edge of a cake for Rooba the butcher when he heard the two quick knocks that signaled Gale Hawthorne was at the garden door. Gale had a way of making even a knock sound like aggressive, like he was just barely restraining himself from putting his knuckles through the door. Peeta’s older brother was in the same class as Gale, and despised him. But Peeta suspected that had more to do with the fact that Rye had sullenly reported that he’d recently seen Gale and Elsa Fairborne enjoying the slag heap.
Peeta knew that Gale had lost his father in the same mine accident that had claimed Katniss’s dad. He had watched Gale arrive at school trailed by his eerily identical younger brothers and with his tiny sister perched on his shoulders. He knew it couldn’t be easy to have to help to feed all those mouths without a business, or a legal one anyway. Despite this, Peeta could never fathom how Gale could look so chronically pissed. If Peeta got to spend his days with Katniss Everdeen, got to see the veil of wary distrust clear from her eyes when she looked at him like it did when Katniss glanced up at Gale, Peeta wouldn’t be able to force the euphoric grin off his face for anything in the world.
Peeta’s father slid the hot tray onto the countertop and, glancing behind him to make sure that the door to the front of the bakery was closed, opened the back door. Peeta adjusted the pastry bag, squishing the icing to toward the tip, knowing he wouldn’t be able to pipe without his hands shaking when Katniss was so close. Even the sight of her left shoulder tapering down to her small hand resting against the door frame made his heart flutter.
As usual, Gale did all of the talking during the trade, but as Peeta’s father shifted to exchange the bread for the squirrel, Peeta glanced up and caught Katniss staring right at him. He felt his pulse ratchet up to a post-sprint gallop as she held his gaze. When she looked away, he watched her cheeks darken with what must have been a blush under her olive skin. And then she and Gale were gone.
Peeta grabbed the garbage, making an excuse of needing to dump it in the bins in the back garden, though he needn’t have bothered, no one was paying attention to him anyway. He dropped the garbage bag and placed his hand directly over the spot where Katniss’s had been a moment ago, feeling for any vestiges of her warmth, certain that her touch must be seared into the wood. As he reached for the trash bag, his breath caught as he saw that one of Katniss’s gloves had fallen out of her hunting bag and was nearly hidden in the shadow of the stair.
He grabbed it, hurrying into the garden with his treasure. Standing with his back against the smooth bark of the apple tree, he examined the glove. There was a hole in the tip of of the index finger and he ran the rough wool along his lips, a thrill running through him as he imagined her soft fingers ghosting over his lips. His father’s call to hurry in to finish the cake startled Peeta into shoving the glove down the front of his pants. Needless to say, he frosted the remainder of Rooba’s son’s birthday cake with his raging hard on pressed between the workbench and the ghost of Katniss’s hand.
He slept with the glove under his pillow, waking frequently to grope for it and reassure himself that it was still there. Grateful that he had the following morning off, he planned to sleep in a bit. But before the sun had even considered rising, the sky barely shifting to a slightly lighter shade of darkness, it occurred to him that Katniss might need this glove. That even thought it was nearly summer, the wool might serve another protective purpose against something other than the cold. Without allowing himself to reconsider, he dressed as quickly and quietly as he could before creeping down the stairs and out the garden door.
While Peeta was intimately familiar with all manner of pre-dawn bakery endeavors, he had seldom been outside in the dark. And while he knew where the Seam was located, he’d never actually been to Katniss’s house. He knew that Katniss’s little sister had a goat and hoped that information would be enough to go on. He kept to side streets and shadows as he edged his way through town until the cobblestones gave way to the rutted dirt roads of the Seam. There was just enough moonlight for him to make out houses and he kept the impenetrably dark mass of the forest looming up to the west. Winding his way through the unfamiliar narrow pathways of the Seam, he stopped every 50 feet or so and listened. But it was actually the smell, a warm scent of bedstraw and livestock wafting over the acrid smell of coal smoke that permeated the early morning air. He followed his nose.
Once he’d found her house, he planned to leave the glove hanging over the porch railing where she would be sure to see it. But as he approached the porch, a candle flared to life just inside. Peeta stepped back into the shadows of an adjacent house when he saw her through the window. He’d imagined this scene a million times and couldn’t believe he had been given the gift of seeing her, illuminated by candlelight, moving about her home.
He watched her. Like he always had. But not like others did, or at least not for the same reason. They wanted something from her, wanted to possess a piece of her, consume her beauty like a decadent cake gobbled up in huge, messy bites. He just wanted to be beside her.
For as long as he could remember, his deepest wish had been to be on the same side of the door as her. Not for lecherous reasons, though he wasn’t immune to the lust she inspired, but sexual desire was not his chief motivation. It just boiled down to an overwhelming feeling that he belonged in there. With her.
Sometimes he actually felt resentful that she was so stunning, because that one fact, the geometry of her delicate features in such a pleasing arrangement, reduced his certainty that they belonged together to something common. But in his heart, he knew this was something more, something greater. Something true.
Seeing her like that stirred something in him. Stirred. Like a tsunami in a snow globe. More like it had twisted his soul into a new shape. This is where language failed him. He didn’t know words strong enough to accurately represent this certainty that they were meant to be together. Even more perplexing, it appeared that she did not understand this, did not know it in the same sure way he did. But acknowledging that this sentiment could be one sided sent this entire enterprise into stalker territory and it was too pure and magical for anything as coarse and mundane as stalking.
Realizing that the fact that he was pressed against her neighbor’s house watching her through the window was difficult to construe as anything other than stalking, he took a step forward to return her glove as he had intended. But just then, the candle winked out and Katniss appeared seconds later in the doorway. His breath caught as watched her move silently and swiftly across the road and into the meadow.
He looked up into sky, which moments ago had been a dark bowl flecked with stars, but had since lightened enough for him to see Katniss’s movement through the grass. He took a deep breath and plunged into the meadow in her wake.
By the time he saw her silhouette slip under the fence, he felt powerless against following her. He struggled under the fence and crawled about fifteen feet to a patch of thick underbrush. He was outside the fence. He was sweating profusely and his heart felt like it was trying to jackhammer it’s way out of his chest. Glancing around wildly, he realized with a blinding flash of panic that he had lost Katniss. He could see the fence in the early dawn light and was just about to crawl back to it when he heard a small scraping noise up to the left.
He had seconds to decide whether to retreat home like the coward he was or find the courage to follow her into the unknown. He knew Katniss could never be with a man who didn’t possess the bravery necessary to face the forest. He swallowed down the fear and hurtled himself into the world of nightmares.
He spent the next few hours with his blood fizzing with barely contained terror as he repeatedly lost her in the forest. He had thought that the sun rising would be his salvation, that once he could see the threats that surrounded him that he’d feel less frightened. But he quickly discovered that it never got light in the forest, just less dark with more shadows. When the fear of being lost and seconds away from being devoured by some rabid creature overwhelmed him, he’d hear a distant explosion of frantic wing beats or a dull thud of what he could only imagine was an arrow hitting wood and he’d stagger blindly towards it.
Despite that he’d never been so petrified in his life, he couldn’t deny that the world beyond the fence was magical. The enormity of the trees, the morning sun illuminating the leaves like stained glass, the air so crisp and clean that his lungs ached. The green was so vibrant he could smell it, some sort of ancient fragrance that simultaneously soothed and frightened him.
It had been ages since he last heard Katniss when he noticed he was shaking and there were little arcs of light obscuring the edges of his vision. He honestly had no idea how long he’d been in the forest, it was eerily timeless. He forced his mind to focus on the rays of light slanting through the trees at a steep angle and wildly guessed it must be just before or after noon. He hadn’t eaten or had anything to drink since dinner the night before. He was starving and queasy at the same time.
Closing his eyes and taking deep breaths, he forced himself to listen. He didn’t hear anything and was starting to panic in earnest again, when his addled brain deciphered a familiar sound, running water. His swollen tongue throbbed at the promise of something to drink and he followed the sound and gratefully noticed the transition of pine needles to mud under his feet as he stumbled towards it.
When the underbrush opened into a small pond fed by a trickling forest stream, he fell to his knees in relief. Cupping his shaking hands he gulped down about a gallon of water until his thirst abated. He rolled over into a patch of moss and scooched under an overhang of berry brambles. Despite the fact that he needed to be back at the bakery any minute and that he’d likely die out here, he gave into the security of the mossy den, cooler and softer than his sweetest dream of a bed, and drifted off.
When he awoke what felt like seconds later, he was on high alert, instinct forcing him into complete stillness while his senses took inventory. There was a small splash to his right and he rolled carefully onto his stomach and scanned the pond. And there she was, floating on her back in the pond like a wood nymph. He dug his fingers into the ground and he blinked several times to clear his vision in a bid to convince himself this was real. He was just about to call out to her when she flipped over and dove under water, the long expanse of her bare legs trailing behind her. He swallowed hard and glanced over to see her pants and the leather jacket she always wore hanging over a nearby rock.
He watched in helpless indecision as she emerged from under the water surface and pulled herself up on the mossy bank. She was wearing a sodden undershirt and dripping pair of underwear that, despite their drab color, stood out starkly against her olive skin and left little to his rampant imagination. He couldn’t help noticing the dark ring of her areola through the translucent fabric.
His eyes traced the column of her slender leg up to the slight swell of her ass, he watched in awe as she leaned down and slid the wet fabric off over her left, then right foot before standing and whipping the wet undershirt over her head. He swallowed thickly as he watched a naked Katniss Everdeen squeeze out and lay her underwear over the same boulder that held her pants.
She wrung out her dripping mass of dark hair before walking over to a patch of moss illuminated by an ethereal sunbeam breaking through the canopy. She laid down no more than fifteen feet from his warren, a mosaic of leaf shade dappled with sunlight shimmered across her body.
He felt lightheaded as he took in the dangerously erotic sight of the expanse of her gorgeous body glittering with water droplets like diamond facets in the sun. He tried to break her into sections to dull the impact of his wildest fantasy appearing like a gift before him. He took in the small swells of her breasts tipped with dark rose-colored peaks. He watched the droplets run down the gentle slope of her stomach to pool in her navel.
He knew he should be ashamed, that watching her like this was a violation. But she looked so natural, so perfectly right laying naked and glowing in the forest like the woodland faeries he’d read about as a child. Maybe it was just the all-encompassing awe in the face of her beauty, but he couldn’t seem to muster any shame. She was a living piece of art.
Just when he began to suspect she’d fallen asleep, she reached up and scratched her neck. He was transfixed by the way the movement of her arm caused a slight bounce of her breasts. He watched in dry-mouthed astonishment as she ran her finger tips down over the gentle swell, bringing her other hand up to palm her other breast.
She ran her fingers around her nipples until they were as stiff as raspberry gumdrops and just as mouthwatering. Swallowing hard, he followed her left hand as slid down her slightly concave stomach to push between her legs, one knee falling to the side to make room for the circular movement of her fingertips.
With a mix of trepidation and wonderment, he realized what was happening. His cock, already rock hard, had apparently figured it out before his brain. One of his wildest fantasies was playing out before his eyes. As if his desire had been so fervent, so potent, he had brought this magical dream into reality. Or maybe he was still dreaming and he’d wake up with a wet spot decorating the front of his pants. He decided not to care, refocusing his attention on the exquisite impossibility of seeing Katniss pleasure herself.
Her breathing had accelerated, her lips were slightly parted as the speed of her fingers increased. He’d never been so aroused in his life, which given his lush inner landscape, was saying something. When Katniss pulled her other leg up allowing her knees to butterfly out to the sides and her back to arch off the ground, he couldn’t stop his body from rocking forward. The give of the groundcover and soft soil allowed the tip of his dick to slide out of the waistband of his pants. He bit down hard on his lip to keep from groaning at the sensation of the soft, cool moss replacing the feel of rough fabric on his aching cock. He could already feel his body straining to come, but he refused to allow his own need to cause him to miss even a second of this. So he gritted his teeth and closed his eyes to center himself.
The breeze shifted and he caught the scent of her. His eyes shot open and for one dizzying second every muscle in this body clenched in an animalistic need to possess her, to bury himself in the body of the girl he wanted more than anything. He wanted nothing more than to find a home in the cradle of her strong thighs, his head pillowed on her sporadically clenching stomach. To close his eyes and rest there forever against the warmth of her skin.
He pressed his flaming face in the fallen leaves and took slow deep breaths of the damp earth to steady himself. As desperate as he was for this to never end, his heart was beating so frantically that feared it might give out. She was driving him to the brink of sanity.
The small sound of Katniss’s gasp whipped his head up. Blinking away the tears swimming in his eyes, he watched her legs tremble, her feet planted and her stomach clenching hard, the gentle circling of her fingers having given way to frantic rubbing.
He fixed every detail in his mind, her long toes digging into the soft ground, the mole just below her right breast, the ropy strands of her midnight hair fanned out around her head, the dark flush of her chest and the graceful arch of her neck. It was the most staggeringly beautiful thing he’d ever seen.
When her pleasure peaked, he was staring at her mouth, the glistening red of her parted lips. His body was strung tighter than a bow string, and her couldn’t take his eyes off of her. If he hadn’t seen it in addition to hearing it, he never would have believed it. As she came, she gasped one magical word: “Peeta.” The hoarse, whispered cry sent him careening over the edge, like his name on her lips commanded his body’s pleasure. He surged forward, digging his fingers into the soil as he rocked with the force of his orgasm. His chest heaved with the effort to stay silent, his entire body quaking with bliss.
As he came back to himself, he watched Katniss collapse in a boneless puddle, her delicate nostrils flaring with her ragged breaths. In that moment, he wanted her more than he thought possible. His chest cracked opened with the need to lose himself in her endless gray eyes, to gently caress her face, to lace his fingers through hers. He’d never wanted anything more than he wanted to belong to her in that moment.
But as usual, she didn’t even know he was there.
Katniss got up and crouched by the pond. She rinsed her hands and splashed a handful of water to rinse between her legs. For a second, Peeta swore she looked right at him, his heart leapt to his throat. Instead she stood abruptly, glanced over her shoulder and strode quickly to the rock and began to dress in her damp clothes. Each piece of fabric that stole a piece of skin from his vision was a travesty (a knife in his heart). He was losing her piece by piece.
Turning to pick up her hunting bag and bow which had been tucked behind the far side of the rock out of his line of sight, Katniss took one last look around the clearing before cinching her satchel over her shoulder and silently disappearing into the forest.
Peeta tentatively placed his palm on the softly undulating surface of the pond, trying to feel the ghost of a connection through the waves that she had set in motion. Even though a voice in his head was screaming at him to follow Katniss out of forest, he knew that if she discovered him, she would consider his voyeurism, however accidental, a violation. He’d sooner be eaten by bears than inspire any semblance of shame or embarrassment in her mercury eyes.
He stood, swaying slightly from lightheadedness, unsure if it was from hunger or emotional exhaustion. He tucked himself back into his pants and rinsed the soiled hem of his shirt before setting off for home. Somehow, he found his way back to the fence line in what seemed like about half the time.
Walking across the meadow, Peeta felt like a different person. The gnawing hunger and shimmery exhaustion couldn’t touch him. Even the promise of his mother’s fury at him for arriving so late for his afternoon shift rolled off his mind like rain from an oil cloth. With those two breathy syllables, Katniss had reordered Peeta’s world. If she had thought of him in a moment like that, even by accident, there was hope for the future he’d always dreamt of.
Pulling her glove from deep within his pocket, he couldn’t believe it had only been a handful of hours since he’d left his bed to return it to her. For one brief moment, he held her glove like he was holding her hand, then he placed it on the top step of her porch and turned towards the bakery.
Peeta could feel his certainty retreating with every step he took toward town. He summoned the echo of her soft cry of his name like a revelation. He knew that whatever came next he would follow Katniss Everdeen anywhere, no matter where fate led them, they would go there together if she would allow it.
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Cake for every occasion; what is the importance of cake for the special events.
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Juleka’s Birthday (Day 1: Music)
https://www.fanfiction.net/s/13060490/1/Juleka-s-Birthday
https://archiveofourown.org/works/15940889/chapters/37171418
Rose sat in the art classroom 33 together with other students working by themselves on a project, they wanted to do, while the teacher was present to lean them a hand, whenever they needed it.
“Juleka will love the self-made picture frame I made,” Rose said as she was coloring on a big, octagonal frame the upper part of the frame.
On another table, Nathaniel Kurtzberg sat in front of his table coloring a drawing of their friend Juleka together with her friends sitting on a picnic chatting and having fun with each others company.
“How can it be, that I’m the only boy at Juleka’s party?” Asked Nathaniel looking back at the blonde.
“You’re not the only boy, there’s also Luka,” Mentioned Rose.
“Come on Nate, there won’t be any tea parties or fashion show, where you gotta wear a dress,” Alix said passing by his table grabbing an orange spray can.
“That would be funny to see,” Said a brunette, that sat on a beanbag together with a blue haired girl, which sat next to her studying from a chemistry book, while the brunette held a black novel book on her hands.
“Hahaha,” Nathaniel said ironic, then observed her getting up to look at Rose’s frame.
“How many pictures can you put in there?” Asked Lila gazing at the frame, the blonde was coloring.
“I’ve counted ten before,” Nathaniel said walking up at Rose’s table to see the wood made a picture frame and Marinette got up from her chair too along with Alix, which had just finished her graffiti work on a canvas.
“It looks amazing Rose” Complimented the half Chinese girl.
“Yeah it does”
“Are you also going to use the red ink?” Asked Nathaniel looking at Rose, then the brunette dipped her thumb inside the color and nudged Nathaniel on the nose with it. “Are you for real?” Nathaniel asked annoyed, making the brunette laugh.
“Just kidding,” Lila said passing with a wet napkin Rose had on the table on Nathaniel’s nose. Rose looked at the girlfriend passing on the boy’s nose, then she widens her eyes as she had another idea for her artwork.
“Hey guys I’ve got a great idea,” Rose said dipping her finger on the purple color from the box with the various color pigments and pressed her thumb on the edge of the frame making a fingerprint. She did a few more and in the end, the fingerprints she made had formed a flower with petals.
“Hey that looks good,” Marinette said looking at the edge, Rose had made the flower.
“Why don’t we all do there our fingerprints?” The blonde suggested her friends.
“That’s a great idea,” Said Nathaniel dipping his finger in orange color.
“Kagami come get up and add your mark here too,” Lila said dipping her finger in red color then added it on the side of the frame making a heart. Kagami got up from the beanbag and stood between Marinette and Lila observing the others around Rose’s frame decorating the frame by dabbing on the wood.
On the Couffaine’s houseboat, all the girls of Miss Bustier’s class including Nathaniel sat in the living room of the boat on a couch all together. Next to the entrance of the living room the Couffaine’s had a small kitchen with a long counter similar to one of a bar with four bar stools one in each color.
Inside the kitchen, Mrs. Couffaine opened the box of a cake Marinette had brought from the bakery to Juleka’s birthday.
“That’s what I call a calorie bomb” Said Anarka looking at the rectangle formed cake decorated with a chocolate couverture, with small chocolate bars spread on the edges of the whole cake, the upper part of the cake had a portrait picture of Juleka made of Marzipan, under the raven-haired girl’s portrait, a third of the cake is filled with various colored chocolate drops with its brand’s symbol on it forming a straight line from the left to the right side. Under the different colored buttons, twelve half white and black chocolate eggs lied on their back up with a small bonbon of the same flavor lying inside the hole of the half egg.
“Whoa that’s the cake of my dreams and the one my mom would never buy me for my birthday,” Nathaniel said standing behind the counter gazing amazed at the chocolate cake.
“Your mom doesn’t, cause she knows you’re already too sweet to handle,” Lila said making him blush and roll his eyes down abashedly.
“When will Juleka come home?” Asked Mylène sitting on the couch along with Alya, Alix and Kagami.
“Rose said she was going with her to the shopping center to give us time to prepare everything for her party,” The daughter of the baker of the cake said to the short girl.
“Is there anything more we need to do for the party?” Asked Alix. “Luka said it was almost done, he just needed to plug in some wires”
“It’s fine girls, I only got a few apéro plates to bring up, but I can take care of that”
“We can take care of that Mrs Couffaine” The Martinic girl suggested the gray-haired woman, which nodded and opened the fridge and gave Alya a plate, which she passed on to Alix, who handed it over to Kagami, who then walked the stairs up at the deck with the plate, followed by Mylène carrying the plates for the apéro.
Luka stood in the conversatory, (At least I think it’s what that window covered place on the boat is) testing the music boxes he had placed in the room and the three girls appeared with the plates.
“Shall we put the plates on the table?” Asked Mylène walking at the raven-haired boy.
“Yes please” Responded Luka. “You place it in the middle”
“Thank you”
“Alya you can put the ham croissants up there and you with the mini pizzas...I don’t know your name” The older guy said feeling awkward looking at the Japanese girl.
“Kagami,” The blue haired girl said.
“Beautiful name,” Luka said with a smirk, while Kagami just stared neutrally at the punk boy.
“Shall I place this on the other side of the table, where the croissants are?” Asked Kagami.
“I…..of course” Replied Luka and Kagami walked away at the table, leaving Luka back disappointed.
“Yo Luka, what are you going to give your sister for her birthday?” Asked Alix carrying a plate with canapès.
“I tried to write her a song, I just hope she will like it,” The boy with the turquoise eyes said glancing at the short girl.
“She sure will believe me”
Marinette appeared along with Anarka and the mother of Luka gave Marinette a telescope.
“Here Marinette, you stay here in watch and see if Juleka and Rose are approaching the Liberty” Ordered Mrs. Couffaine handing the double citizen girl the glass, then Marinette saluted at the woman and placed the wrong side of the telescope on her eye to watch the location.
“I can see them already, but they’re far away from here,” Marinette told the others.
“Wait Marinette, you’re doing it wrong” Mentioned Alya walking to her best friend picking the glass up, turning it around to the correct side.
“Ops….thank you” Thanked the blue-haired girl to her best friend and placed the shorter part of the glass on her eyes, then shrieked as Juleka Couffaine and her best friend were arriving near the tail of the boathouse. “They’re coming!” Announced Marinette.
“Alright sailors, hide somewhere around here and when Juleka and Rose appear we jump out and sing to her happy birthday,” Said the mother of the birthday girl and all hid behind the table, then waited for the arrival of the two best friends.
“Warm, it’s getting warmer, hot, hot, hotter!” Rose said from down the deck, making Marinette chuckle by Rose playing with her friend. “Burning hot, you’re almost reaching the sun….tada!” Said Rose then Marinette and the others could see from under the table the legs of the two girls, afterward they jumped up on the air yelling.
“Surprise!” Shouted all at Juleka. “Happy Birthday to you, happy birthday to you, happy birthday dear Juleka. Happy birthday to you!”
“Did you do this all just for me Rose?” Asked Juleka looking with excitement down at her short friend.
“I, Luka and your mom planned this last month” The little girl in the pink dress explained and Anarka walked up to her daughter with a present.
“Also without the help of the rest of your friends, we wouldn’t have finished everything here”
“Just imagine Luka had to blow up all the balloons by himself” Added Rose.
“The bicycle pump did the job” Corrected Nathaniel. “I just held the balloon, while Luka pumped air into the balloons” Nathaniel explained then saw Luka holding a full balloon on his lips, then took it away from him.
“Happy Birthday to you” Luka sang with a helium voice, making the others laugh.
“Ah, I love the way your helium voice sounds like,” Alix said.
“Sailors, we’ve got enough time to talk about this later, let’s first eat some snacks, after that Juleka can find herself looking at all the stolen….I mean given treasures by every one of you” Anarka said with a pirate-like voice and all the teens sat down on the table grabbing food from the plates.
A while later Juleka had opened the presents of the most of her friends and currently she had opened a square formed present, which was wrapped in red paper and she found inside a purple and pink colored makeup box.
“Wow Lila, that must have been expensive” Juleka said looking at the brunette, which was playing with her left bang of her hair.
“I didn’t find it expensive” Lila said. “I didn’t want to waste only 50 Euros on something cheap and quick broken after a month or two”
“Thank you, Lila” Said Juleka placing her box down next to Marinette’s self-made makeup bag.
“Great now you can put some new utensils in the makeup bag I made,” Marinette said with a smile getting to see Juleka nod at her suggestion.
“And from who’s this small box?” Asked Juleka taking it up, then saw it was from Kagami.
“I don’t know you so long, but I hope you like it,” Said Kagami earning a smirk from the brunette.
“What did you buy her a fencing suit?” Asked Lila getting pushed by Kagami by annoyment, but meaning it as a joke.
“Aww a necklace with the yin-yang symbol,” Said Rose looking at the necklace Juleka took out from the box.
“Come I put it on on you” The Italian girl offered, as she was the second girl to be sitting close to the birthday girl. Lila lifted up the dyed hair of the girl, so the French blonde could put on the necklace Kagami gifted her on the birthday.
“Those were really great presents you received there from some really great friends my girl,” Anarka said to her daughter, that smiled at her.
“Hey what about Luka?” Asked Alya. “What is his present?”
From the outside of the boat they heard strings of a bass guitar being strum, then all looked out to see Luka standing there with his bass connected to the bass speaker, he had brought from the living room up on deck.
“Come let’s check it out” Said Anarka walking out of the conversatory together with the girls and Nathaniel to see Luka playing on his guitar.
“Your brother didn’t buy you anything special for your birthday, but he wrote you a song,” Anarka said at her daughter, which observed Luka along with the others playing the guitar.
“Hey little sister, it’s the most important day today. Hey little sister, it’s September the ninth and you’re turning sixteen today, today, today….ay”
Juleka smiled excitedly at Luka’s performance, while all other applauded at him singing.
“Hey little sister, I’m glad, that you’re my sister. I couldn’t see anyone else as my sister.”
All clapped intact as Luka sang for the raven-haired girl keeping the eyes glued on the punk boy.
“I remember, when I was young you were born on a stormy night. Many thunders and flashing lights, illuminating the cloudy sky. My days were over as a lonely child, mom has brought me a new joy to life. That’s my little sister”
“Does he play in a band?” Asked Kagami looking at Rose, which was focused on Luka and didn’t pay attention to the Japanese girl’s question.
“He does with Ivan” Responded Mylène to the blue-haired girl, that smiled at knowing the answer.
“Little sister, remember that night, when I was done believing in me, you gave me hope and gave me trust to start in believe in myself again. Before I was just a small, little boy with broken dreams and now I’m here right in front of you raising up like a star” Luka sang falling down on his back towards the girls, which looked down at him, while he looked up at them pulling the cords on the guitar. “Little sister, God blessed me with such a great friend, I hope this bound lasts forever and ever and ever and ever...” Luka sang then finished the song, by stopping to play on the guitar and earn an applause from the audience.
“That was amazing Luka!” Rose shouted clapping loudly while Luka sat up smiling at the happy audience.
“This was the best present you could ever give me Luka. Thank you” Said Juleka sharing a hug with her older brother.
“You’re my sister and my best friend, you deserved the best….even if this didn’t sound like one of the best songs I wrote, but...”
“It was great Luka, really” Complimented Alix.
“Yeah” Agreed Nathaniel.
“Thank you guys” The raven-haired boy thanked the audience smiling relieved about his success. “I’ll write this song to end someday and I’ll give it back to Juleka,” Luka said getting up from the ground while helping the sister.
“That’s the kind of brother-sister relationship I need in my life,” Alix said at the thought of the Couffaine siblings. “I and Jalil are fine, but it would be nice”
“You got Nathaniel on the role as your brother, while Jalil is busy” Marinette added to the pink haired girl’s conversation.
“You’re right”
“So me mates, it’s time for us to share some of this delicious cake” Offered Mrs. Couffaine gazing at all the friends of Juleka’s class.
“I might just eat a little bit. Sugar drives me crazy” Kagami said neutrally.
“You’ve got diabetes?” Asked Alya looking surprised at the Japanese girl.
“No, I just get really, really hyper when I eat sweets”
“You can always share one piece of cake with somebody” Offered Luka. “I’ve already ate a lot from the buffet and won’t really eat a big slice”
“Alright”
“Come on guys, let’s eat the chocolate cake!” Exclaimed Rose excited entering back into the conservatory along with the others to eat later the birthday cake of Juleka Anarka was cutting for the students.
The End
#juleka couffaine#rose lavillant#birthday#juleka appreciation week#luka couffaine#anarka couffaine#lila rossi#nathaniel kurtzberg#Kagami Tsurugi#marinette dupain cheng#mylene haprele#alix kubdel#kinder chocolate cake#self written song#anarka with accent
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