#I don't like seafood that much

[rabbitcruiser]

National Shrimp Day 

Celebrate the taste of the sea! Indulge in delicious shrimp dishes, discover new recipes, and gather with friends and family.

Without a doubt, shrimp is America’s favorite food that is harvested from the sea. Whether talking about salmon or lobster, tuna or clams, shrimp is the shellfish that tops them all!

In fact, shrimp is so popular that, on average, each person living in the US eats more than 4 pounds of shrimp each year. This means that the country consumes around 1.4 billion pounds of shrimp annually. Throughout the world, at least 9 billion pounds of shrimp are consumed each year.

Certainly this makes National Shrimp Day just the right time to celebrate this most popular of delicious seafoods. Fans of this delightful ‘fruit of the sea’ can take time to learn about and pay attention to something so simple and yet so amazing: shrimp!

History of National Shrimp Day

Shrimp has been making its way to the dinner plates of fishermen, their families, and their local communities for thousands of years! Since ancient times when Greeks and Romans would enjoy this shellfish immensely, to modern times when shrimp is caught and shipped all over the world, this little crustacean has made a huge statement, especially for those cultures that are situated on the sea.

Today, the highest consumer of shrimp per capita is Japan, with the United States coming in second. With more than 2000 different species that exist throughout the globe, shrimp can range from small to large and also range in color. The most common species of shrimp, however, are Rock Shrimp, Pink Shrimp, Tiger Shrimp and White Shrimp.

It’s unclear at exactly what point shrimp made its way to tables in the American territories. Some historians say that the French explorers in the Louisiana marshes came across the practice of shrimping in the 1700s. By the mid-1700s, the city of Mobile, Alabama had established itself as a premier location for seafood, including shrimp while Mississippi became important in the seafood industry in the late 1800s. The southern cooking tradition of the shrimp boil likely developed around this time as well.

Further west, in the late 19th century, it seems that some Italian settlers in California started to fish for shrimp in the San Francisco Bay. Other states with access to the sea had their own timelines for developing ways of catching and cooking shrimp. And as better methods for harvesting and shipping shrimp became possible, the dish became popular all over the country in the early 1900s.

Today, shrimp has become an incredibly popular and beloved seafood that people all over the world can appreciate and enjoy – and that’s the reason National Shrimp Day is here!

National Shrimp Day Timeline

1280 Marco Polo writes about shrimp

On his exploration to the Far East, Marco Polo notes the prevalence of seafood in the markets and people’s diets.

14th century Shrimp scampi is invented

This beloved buttery shrimp dish is developed in the city of Genoa, Italy.

1740 The Shrimp Girl is painted

This famous painting by William Hogarth depicts a girl carrying shrimp and mussels to market on her head in London. 

Early 20th century Shrimp cocktail gets its start

Following in the footsteps of its cousin, oyster cocktail, shrimp cocktail becomes extremely popular in the mid-20th century.

1996 Bubba Gump Shrimp Company opens

Named after the character in Forrest Gump, this shrimp restaurant starts in California. 

How to Celebrate National Shrimp Day

Fried or boiled, scampi or cocktail, grab up a dish full of this delightful little shellfish in honor of National Shrimp Day. Get started celebrating with some of these ideas:

Head Out to a Seafood Restaurant for Shrimp

The perfect way to honor National Shrimp Day would, of course, be to enjoy eating some that has been deliciously prepared in a gourmet kitchen. Those who live by the coast probably have more options than those who are inland, but just about anyone can probably find access to some yummy shrimp dishes and seafood platters in celebration of the day.

Don’t forget to mention to the restaurant staff that this is National Shrimp Day! They might have some special offers or discounts on various shrimp meals. Choose from one of these favorite ways that shrimp is prepared:

Shrimp Scampi. Offering a buttery garlic sauce, this simple but delicious dish uses olive oil and lemon juice to bring out the flavor of the shrimp.

Shrimp Cocktail. A popular appetizer or served during the cocktail hour (thus, the name), these pre-cooked shrimp are served cold with a special red cocktail sauce.

Shrimp Monterey. This type of shrimp is made with Monterey Jack cheese and served over a bed of angel hair pasta.

Shrimp Chowder. A slight change on the traditional clam chowder, a cup of this deliciously thick soup is perfect as an appetizer or fill up a bowl for a hearty meal.

Learn Some Fun Facts About Shrimp

Show some respect to this little shellfish that makes a big impact by learning some interesting bits of trivia. And increase awareness and excitement for the day by sharing some of these facts with friends, coworkers and family members in honor of National Shrimp Day:

Shrimp are amazing at “swimming” through the water, though they are typically moving backwards.

Shrimp are very unique in that every single shrimp is born as a male and then becomes a female over their lifetime.

There are more than 2000 different species of shrimp that can be found in bodies of water all over the globe.

While Americans use the word “shrimp” and British folks will use the word “prawns” interchangeably, these are actually two different species of crustacean, mostly to do with the fact that shrimp are smaller and prawns dwell in freshwater not seawater.

Learn About Shrimp Allergies

While the celebration of National Shrimp Day usually means eating shrimp, it also might be an important time to learn about those folks who have an allergy to shrimp. Of all of the seafood allergies, shrimp is the most common in both children and adults.

When a person who is allergic to shrimp is exposed to this allergen, the reactions can range from mild to severe, or even life threatening. A stuffy nose, hives, swelling and difficulty breathing can be some of the symptoms. Friends and family members of people with a shrimp allergy, may find it important to be aware of an emergency treatment plan. For many people, the right course of action for whole body anaphylaxis is a dose from an epinephrine pen.

National Shrimp Day FAQs

Is shrimp good for you?

Shrimp is a food that works well as part of a healthy diet, as it is low in calories but rich in nutrients. 

How long to cook shrimp?

Shrimp is a quick cooking food, only needing to be boiled for just 1-3 minutes. 

How do you make shrimp scampi?

Sauté garlic in butter and oil, add shrimp to sauté. Add broth and simmer for 1-2 minutes. Easy!

Can pregnant women eat shrimp?

Sure. Most doctors will agree that its safe for a pregnant woman to eat safely caught and cooked seafood. 

Is shrimp high in mercury?

According to studies, most shrimp has relatively low levels of mercury, but it can change based on brands.

Source

[blind0raven]

Man I would miss meat being here... and yeah I went with that option

Me and Ace sharing a braincell here

GIVE ME SOME BEEF OR PORK GODDAMMIT!!!

[shalom-iamcominghome]

So, on the topic of kosher video game runs, I have just remembered that I'm challenging myself to do a kosher stardew run. And it's working out about as well as it's been working irl (there was a shrimp cocktail in my fridge and I was so scared 😭)

[clobbiteas]

I have dragon food insecurity so I stockpile it like this

[theheadlessgroom]

@beatingheart-bride

Kiss me? She wants to kiss me?

This took Randall by surprise-which, in hindsight, it shouldn't have, since Emily seemed unabashedly smitten with him, in a way he'd never known any woman to be with him. Most women wouldn't look twice at him, he wasn't exactly New Orleans' most eligible bachelor...but that just didn't seem to matter to Emily. She was head over heels for him, it seemed-and the feeling was mutual.

And even though this was only their first date, he felt comfortable with this request-were it anyone else, any other girl he was going out with, he'd think this was all the set-up for some great big prank, some sort of practical joke cooked up by his co-workers...but this was Emily asking him this, and he knew she would never be so cruel. He couldn't explain how, he just knew, in his heart of hearts, that he could trust her.

And so, it was with trembling lips and a pounding heart that he gave his answer, trying his hardest not to stutter as he gave his breathless answer:

"Y-Yes."

[drbtinglecannon]

Why did my cat have to be allergic to the most common ingredient in all cat food (chicken) and why did it also have to be his most favorite thing in the world

He doesn't understand that not giving him his favorite numnum is for his own good, and he also doesn't understand that when he manages to steal some of his brother's food (who REFUSES to change food to something they can both eat to avoid this goddamn issue because fuck me) and he gets itchy and has catbox issues that it's a direct correlation to eating his favorite numnum (chicken) (which he is allergic to)

[wachi-delectrico]

Me, the three weeks I was home alone: Wow I'm eating on a much better schedule with a greater variety of meals and feel physically and mentally great, I haven't binged in forever and I'm able to hold back when I feel the urge to - why don't I do this when my family is around?

My family: *buys too much red meat, which I don't like much* *doesn't buy many vegetables and when they do they run out super quickly* *buys too much frozen and sugary food, which I don't like* *either nobody washes the dishes or they do but they keep stacking clean dishes on the countertop instead of putting them away, making the kitchen look super cluttered and hard to navigate* *they're downstairs all the time working and talking and yelling and doing a lot of noise and moving all over*

Me, starting to skip meals again due to the stress and lack of foods I enjoy: Ah,

[strohller27]

.

[rabbitcruiser]

National Clam Chowder Day

Love clams and chowder? Everyone’s heard of clam chowder, but did you know that it’s also has a holiday? National Clam Chowder Day is a day all about celebrating the history of this beloved fish stew, historical in its origins to the New England area and helped ultimately inspire creations such as the Manhatten clam chowder, Rhode Island clam chowder, and Long Island clam chowder.

History of National Clam Chowder Day

Chowder dates back as early as 1795 when chowder was originally made as water-based fish soup and various thickness featuring onions, potatoes, and carrots.

The origins of this kind of stew are said to have begun with the French, Nova Scotian, and British as it was a commoner’s dish during the 1700s. Crackers and croutons are usually added as a thickener, and it was just around that time when clam chowder started popping up as a popular version within the Boston area.

By 1836, clam chowder became a staple for sailors, as it was another way to make a constant diet of fish palatable. Most were then a creamy white soup, as a diary, later on, became a more popular addition to the soup in cooler regions where milk animals flourished.

Here’s a fun fact; In 1939, a bill was introduced into the in the Maine state legislature that almost made the use of tomatoes in clam chowder against the law. That’s how much they love their clam chowder!

Today, clam chowder has become a staple for many restaurants all over the United States and has also become more accessible for people when companies such as Campbell’s and Progresso introduced clam chowder in a soup can.

On this day, people either go out to their favorite places to eat clam chowder, buy a can of soup for dinner, or attempt to make their own clam chowder for dinner that day.

How to Celebrate National Clam Chowder Day

People all over celebrate National Clam Chowder Day, so why not take a crack at it by looking up a popular recipe for clam chowder and make it yourself! Season it the way you like it, make it milk-free if needed, and see how well you make clam chowder.

If you’re not up for cooking, head on over to a  restaurant you know that’s excellent at making clam chowder; one of the most famous places in the United States for its clam chowder is the Ye Olde Union Oyster House, one of the oldest standing restaurants in New England since 1836. Share this holiday with your friends and enjoy a delicious meal with each other.

Source

[genderqueerdykes]

i want to take the time to talk about a series of disabilities that no one takes seriously or even recognizes as a disability, which is food intolerances, and allergies. if a person can get sick if they eat the wrong foods, they are disabled, as this illness will make them unable to function all because they ate the wrong food. it's not okay to guilt someone for seeking foods that won't injure them.

in 2022, i began to lose my ability to digest land meats (pork, chicken, cow, etc.), animal milks, and eggs. it started slowly but quickly progressed to every type of land meat. i am only able to digest seafood, plants, nuts, seeds safely without becoming horribly sick. i tried to buy cow's milk because it is cheaper recently and became so ill it was genuinely traumatic. i have never been that sick in my life before. i cannot safely ingest cow's milk, the cheaper option, because it will injure me for several days or even weeks at a time. this happens to me with all land meats as well.

i cannot eat eggs. i cannot fried rice that has egg, i cannot eat most sauces like mayo or ranch dressing because of their high egg content. i cannot eat anything dressed in mayo as a sauce. anything that is baked or brushed or washed with egg is a risk. my digestive system really hates eggs in particular and they are inescapable.

people who can't digest or process lactose, gluten, meats, seafood, eggs, nuts, seeds, beans, fiber, certain fats, proteins or sugars don't have their needs considered very often, nor taken seriously, especially when that person is poor. people with digestive issues need to be able to eat foods that don't hurt us- it's not our faults that alternative milks, breads, pizzas, snacks, sauces, dips, spreads, meats and more are significantly more expensive. we still need to be able to eat foods that don't harm us regardless of how much money we make.

[blackcatanna]

PSA: fresh spinach is really good!

I don't know why it's taken me so long to figure this out but maybe is because I only ever had it mixed with other leaves when fresh and then cooked or from frozen as an ingredient in other things... But yeah I got two bags of it during my last grocery order (it was on sale and I wanted to make green smoothies with my new blender) and am just adding it to everything! It doesn't have much flavour but it just feels FRESH and CRUNCHY but in a more delicate way than lettuce... You know?

[fabdante]

oh, here is an assortment of my favorite genius comments on mexican seafoods lyrics by the way

he is never getting back that sweater, i am so sorry miles

transcript and brief descriptions under the cut!

Page 1: Gwen pulls out a Nirvana sweater that belongs to Miles and shows it to him. He tries to play it cool.

Gwen: Oh! I love this album! I didn't know you knew it.

Miles, thoughts: Literally never listened to the album. Genuinely did not know it was an album. Just thought it looked cool (also wanted to impress Gwen). Nirvana made more then two albums? (only knows Nevermind and In Utero, has not listened to them) Did not expect her to comment.

M: Yeah I totally love that album. It's one of my faves.

Page 2: Gwen infodumps, Miles pretends he's listened to this album, Gwen...does not believe him.

G (leans in towards Miles): I LOVE this album!

Gwens infodump: I love Aneurysm but Big Long Now is up there - No one talks about Incesticide - It's such a - The album arts so cool to- Did you know Kurt painted the cover? - There's so many different drummers on it to it's so interesting how they - Like he did the art to it's crazy - Maybe Big Long Now is my favorite - I love how raw it is - Which song is your favorite? - It's so cool-

G: So...what do you think of Mexican Seafood?

Miles, thoughts: Assumes that's a song (correct)

M: It's...um. It's a really beautiful piece.

M: Like, lyrically. Really beautiful.

G: ...

G: Mind if I play it then?

Sponge Bob Time Card That Reads 'One listen to Mexican Seafood later'

Page 3: Miles copes with listening to this song. Gwen brings the sweater back into this.

Miles, thoughts: Regret. Regret. Regret. Regret.

G: So, you like it?

M: No. I did not like it.

G: (snort)

G: Ok, so, since you haven't listened to Incesticide...can I have this?

M: Hey! No! I bought that!

Page 4: A sweater bargain is made

M: You don't know. I might like the rest of the album

Gwen gives Miles big old puppy dog eyes.

M: Ok, you can borrow it.

M: Just...give it back. Sometime.

G (flops onto Mile's shoulder): Thanks, Miles.

M: No problem.

[heartfullofleeches]

Wish Granter Yan who has their snobby heart that despises humans for their greed stolen by a lower income Darling who still feels bad about taking things from others after all the hand outs they've been given over the years-

This is very on brand for Beau, my asshole-ish Unicorn Yan.

-

"Human...What is your first wish?"

Darling: u-um....Well, the light in my rice cooker went out the other night..It's kinda hard to tell when my rice is done because of that.... Could you fix it?

"A light? You aren't even going to wish for a new one? With my powers you could have endless fills of rice for the rest of your days."

Darling: Haha... That's way too much rice for me... Maybe my neighbors need some...

-

"Human- What would you like for dinner?"

Darling: Ah- Don't worry about me... I've still got some ramen in the pantry. I've still got some eggs in the fridge for protein!

"Instant noodles again? Would you prefer a nice steak? Seafood? Anything? A simple burger?"

Darling, visibly stressed: You don't have to do all that for me... S-some ham to go with my ramen, maybe?"

-

"This human....Is there something wrong with them? Why are they allowing me to live freely in their home without me having granting any of their desires? Why do I dread returning to my own home?...."

Darling: I-it's been really nice to have a guest over. It's given me a chance to try out this air mattress I got at a yard sale last week.... Is my bed comfortable enough for you?'

"You won't fool me with your tricks, human-"

-

Darling: What should I have for dinner tonight.... Wha- Hey!

[The unicorn picks Reader up and places them outside of the kitchen - tying an apron around their waist as they march over to the stove]

"If you will not use my magic, then I must take your nutrition into my own hands. Even I know humans cannot survive alone on starches and junk food."

[irisintheafterglow]

touya todoroki completes community service hours at an aquarium.

your supervisors, understandably, were adamantly against having the convicted criminal anywhere near the facility, its staff, and its animals. however, after being reassured time and time again that he wouldn't be working in public areas, you were assigned to be his unofficial parole officer (or off-fish-er you called it) because of your hydrokinetic quirk. not only were you responsible for watching a criminal, you were also the first line of defense in case he decided to make the facility into a seafood boil.

you'd better be getting a stellar letter of recommendation after all this.

as luck would have it, word spread quickly among aquarium staff about the new volunteer and his...messy...history. you received many texts wishing you good luck and stating that you're in many people's prayers as if working with him would be a death sentence. but, to your surprise, your first day with touya is actually...not terrible.

"you're doing a nice job. you can cut them into larger chunks if you want," you recommend kindly as he slices pieces of shrimp and fish for the penguins and drops them into the gray bucket.

"don't want them to choke," he mumbles almost imperceptibly. from what you've heard about him, touya was physically incapable of shutting up and always had some snarky insult to mutter under his breath. the man you were working with, however, kept his thoughts to himself and only engaged you with curt acknowledgments of tasks. "these got bones in 'em still?"

"digestible ones, yeah," you confirm, a little confused about why he's so curious. he struck you as the type of guy to just work and finish his assignments with as little energy exertion as possible. but here he was, concerned for the animals' safety even when he hadn't even seen them yet. "we just need to cut them up because some of them try to swallow the big ones whole, and we don't need them blocking their throats."

"how many are there?"

"the penguins?" he hums in assent, never taking his eyes off the precise cuts on the food. "i think our colony is a few dozen, maybe twenty-two?"

"do they get along well?"

"some of them are a little feistier than others," you admit with a fond smile. "but the majority of them are really sweet. you'll see when you meet them."

"meet them?"

"you're not walking out with me, of course," you quickly correct. "my shift lead's gonna have my head on a stake if you so much as show a finger to the public." he nods, an odd sort of quiet falling between you two that was more awkward than the previous silence. if you knew any better, you would interpret his expression for disappointment. "there's one recovering from an illness backstage named peach. she gets fed on her own, but if there's some left over i can take you over there to feed her."

"it's fine. don't wanna bother your routine," he mutters with a shrug, but you catch the renewed glint in his eyes at the prospect of meeting one of the animals personally. after feeding the main colony and not-so-accidentally leaving a few treats at the bottom of the bucket, touya follows you through the back halls of the vet center to peach's holding area.

"be warned, she's one of the feisty ones," you caution him, carefully stepping into the plexiglass-enclosed space. he copies your motions exactly and you're surprised, again, from the great care he seems to take when interacting with the small penguin. "so, all you need to do is hand out the fish to her and let her take it in her beak."

"does she dislike new people?" he asks as peach aggressively inspects his shins, prodding them with her beak when touya tries to step away. "i don't think she likes me."

"it's the opposite, believe it or not; you're making her angry when you try to give her space like that," you reply with a stifled laugh.

"oh. i see." peach continues to slap touya with her fins and poke him until he gives her what she wants, a large chunk of fish straight from his hand. you kneel down next to him when he has a seat on the floor, his eyes curiously observing the spunky bird. "she always this sassy with you?"

"only when she gets jealous," you smile, running your hand over the top of her head. her eyes close in contentment before returning to touya's outstretched food offering. "what do you think?"

"about what?"

"do you think this arrangement is gonna be a nightmare for you?" he pauses and, for the millionth time that day, surprises you with how much thought he put into his actions.

"if everyone i meet is as easy as you and her," he says, gesturing to peach but speaking soft enough to make your cheeks heat, "i think i'll get by."

---

"peach duty today?"

"schedule got mixed around, so we'll be giving her dinner instead of lunch today," you reply and touya hums at your side, an answer that could be considered rude if you didn't already know he was a man of few words.

few words, that is, if he was speaking to anyone other than the animals. after a month of touya shadowing you, you could pick up on the little conversations he had with the different animals he took care of: asking the cownose rays to calm down during feeding time, warning the reef sharks that they might need braces if they keep losing so many teeth (he kept forgetting it was normal for them to lose that many teeth), quietly cheering on the day octopus as he breaks into a jar full of crabs.

"who've we got today?"

"took a hell of a lotta convincing, but my boss is letting you meet my best friend today," you inform him. touya walks in step beside you like he'd memorized the fishy-smelling back halls of the aquarium, barely sparing passing wary staff so much as a glance. you'd be intimidated, too, if he wasn't your partner; he was formidable in his favorite blue windbreaker with his hands stuffed casually in its pockets that subtly accented the lean muscle in his arms. not that you were paying much attention to his body, anyway.

"and who would that be?"

"her name is donna, but i call her mama donna." he follows you down a corridor he'd never taken before, toward the very back of the medical wing. "take that hall on the right and change into a wetsuit; i'll meet you back over here, okay?"

"why do i need to change?"

"well, because you're getting in the water with me."

shit.

it's the first time touya hesitates in a long time when you beckon him to join you in the shallow pool. you'd already summoned donna, who was much larger of an animal than he expected. you said she was an adult zebra shark, but all he could register is the tiny tank of brown sacks the size of his hand just outside the walls of the pool.

"i don't think it's the best--"

"get in the water, touya, or i'm gonna report you for insubordination," you interrupt, waist-deep in the water. you don't mean it, of course, but you did need a hand with donna if you were going to check on the status of her eggs.

"i shouldn't be in the water with her, 'specially if she's a mother."

"what, you got something against moms?" he flinches and you suddenly regret speaking so brashly, something about his reaction indicating that you'd hit a nerve. "sorry, that was insensitive--"

"i don't wanna hurt her if i..." his voice trails off and he looks down at his scarred hands, the tissue dark enough to almost match the color of his wetsuit. "it's better for everyone if i don't get close to her if she's vulnerable." you wait for him to look you dead in the eyes before answering.

"i wouldn't bring you to meet her if i didn't think you were ready, touya," you begin gently. "i don't think of you the same way as the rest of the staff because you've proven that you're different from the gossip."

"but what if i--"

"did you forget why i'm paired with you in the first place?" donna swims around you impatiently, nudging you with her nose while you continue to convince touya to get in the water. "i'm the only one on staff that can neutralize you, but i know i won't need to."

"how are you so sure?"

"because i hear you talk to them," you state simply, rubbing your hand on donna's nose as her tail splashes your upper body. "your little conversations tell me you care, even if i'm not allowed to be a part of them." you shoot him a wry smile and he finally scoffs, partly a chuckle and partly an exhale; he didn't realize he'd been holding his breath. "i'll drown you if you heat this water by even half a degree, so help me with donna and then we can go visit peach, yeah?"

---

you'd fallen into an unexpectedly fond partnership over the course of your six months of touya-duty. he was a pretty damn good listener, letting you boss him this way and that and only retaliating with a lighthearted eyeroll. on certain occasions, he would open up about his history, and you followed along intently. he insisted on doing the heavy lifting and opening every door for you, even if you weren't carrying anything. he remembered every animal by name and could tell apart the most similar looking creatures, pointing out their differences with an expression that screamed 'is it not obvious?' towards the end of his assignment, you both faced an unexpected surprise.

his family came to visit.

well, not all of his family, only the ones touya maintained somewhat of a relationship with. in the times he'd opened up, he briefly mentioned his now-graduated little brother, shoto, and the work he'd done to mend the tears between him, his mother, and his other siblings. you consider it a blessing that only his mother and siblings appear when you round the corner to the 'vip only' waiting area (from your talks, you'd also learned it'd be on sight if touya's retired father stepped on the property). he freezes when he sees his family as the guests who would be shadowing him, becoming uncharacteristically stiff as petrified wood.

"welcome, todoroki family. i'm so glad you could join us today," you greet with a polite smile. only when your hand gently settles on touya's shoulder, the reminder of your presence melting the chill in his veins, does the tension in his body dissipate. "touya? d'you wanna introduce me to your family?" he glances at you, your unwavering trust in him, and his eyes soften as he nods.

"yeah," he affirms quietly. "yeah, i can do that."

"doing great, partner," you whisper once you're acquainted with the family and on the move, heading toward the back halls of the tropical gallery. "i'll only talk if you need me to, today, because i want this to be about you and them."

"but you're not gonna leave me, right?"

"wouldn't dream of it," you reassure him, something in your heart stumbling when he gives you an easy smile. as the day goes on and touya guides his family through the back corridors of the facility, he's able to ramble about all the knowledge he'd acquired while working with you. at each exhibit, he points out every species with total accuracy and shares his favorite quirks about certain animals. you have a front-row seat for the way his eyes, usually so molten and intense, have a star-like quality to them when he talks about his new friends, the abalone and the otters and the sea bass. his family observes him in awe, and you catch his mother watching you watch him several times. touya ends the day by introducing peach, his self-proclaimed 'number one girl,' and helping his family with her nightly feeding. though all the todoroki siblings struck you as reserved when you first met them, their conversations were full of life as they walked ahead and you trailed behind with his mother.

"this suits him," rei states with a thoughtful smile.

"i'm biased, but i agree," you reply. she fixes you again with that curious stare, analyzing you. "do i have fish scales on my face?" she laughs and shakes her head.

"no, i'm just indebted to you for getting through to him." you blink, taken aback by her genuine response. "being with you makes him happy. i haven't seen him like this in a long while." she turns back to her children, walking in one raucous group and making plans to get dinner after his shift. "he doesn't talk with them like this often."

"i imagine it's all a mother would want after everything they've been through, if i may," you add and she hums in agreement.

"it is. it's also why, i hope you wouldn't mind," she trails off and her eyebrows pinch slightly, like she's thinking of something worrisome. "if he could stay here."

"of course. i've noticed that he has a knack for husbandry, so--"

"he wants to stay with you," she cuts in, her voice soft as powdered snow. "and i'd like him to stay with you, if it means we can see him more like--"

"this," you finish for her, gesturing to the pile of adult men wrestling each other just ahead, their sister shaking her head from afar. rei sighs, her smile turning sad.

"exactly." before you can give her your reply, touya has escaped his brothers and approached to steal you from his mother.

"if you take those double doors and turn left, you'll end up in the gift shop. wait there and we can get dinner once i'm off," he tells rei, taking her hand and squeezing it once. "i won't be long." she nods and joins her other children, leaving you alone with touya in front of the staff-only window of the sea lion pool. the fading afternoon light catches in the water's rippling and sends a soft beam of light across the cavern. the largest of the lions, boris, floats from below to observe you and touya standing in front of his tank.

"he moves like a slinky," touya states and you can't help but laugh.

"he does move like a slinky, you're right." you turn to him and find he's already looking back at you, not boris. "i loved meeting your family today," you offer in the silence that makes the heartbeat in your ears sound so much louder. "they're very sweet, especially your mother."

"what were you two talking about while we were away?"

"she wanted to show me baby photos," you tease and he gives his signature eyeroll. "but really," you inhale and steady yourself, "she was saying how much this suits you."

"i'd have to agree," he murmurs, his eyes glowing like dying embers. you're close enough to smell him, smoky and rich and only the slightest bit like fish. the proximity feels comforting, like home. "if...if you'd let me--"

"stay with me," you blurt. he blinks at you, the rosy color on the tips of his ears standing out against the bright white. "i-i want you to stay with me." you wait and the quiet stews, nothing moving except slinky-like boris in the water beside you. touya's reply is barely above a whisper.

"i want to stay with you." you release a shaky exhale and let your head fall forward against his chest, steadied by his arms securing themselves around your waist. your hands slide over his shoulders and rest at the nape of his neck, fiddling with the tuft of hair at its base. "please let me stay with you," he breathes in your ear. his arms flex as his grip tightens, like you'd turn to water if he held you too loosely. touya feels like his heart is rattling in his ribcage, bouncing around uncontrollably the longer he has you in his arms. he hasn't felt his chest ache like this before.

"yes, i want you to stay with me," you confirm and he melts into you, breathing you in like fresh oxygen.

"for how long?"

"as long as you'd let me," you answer honestly. the corner of his mouth turns upward in a teasing smirk.

"and if i said forever?"

"then i guess i'd have to oblige," you beam. your hands cup his face, tracing the seam of his scars, and your eyes flutter shut as his lips meet yours. it's careful, the first time he kisses you, and he's terrified you'd slip from his fingers. but you don't disappear, so he lets himself lace your fingers with his and drag you out to the rest of his loved ones, hand-in-hand and finally feeling like he can do something good.

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[luveline]

Hi Jade! I’ve been on my criminal minds rerun and it made me come up with this Spencer request if you’re taking them right now! Something along the lines of the reader and Spencer being together and she becomes pregnant but he pieces it together before she does!

tysm for requesting! hope this is ok♡ 1k

cw fem!reader has a positive attitude towards her pregnancy. vaguely adult theme

"I really don't think I can go," you say, flopping down on the bed. 

Spencer laughs and shakes out the shirt in his hands, hoping the creases from the dryer will iron themselves before dinner tonight. "You always say that."

"I really mean it this time. I miss Hotch, I do, and I'm glad he's out of WITSEC, but thinking about the restaurant is making me queasy." 

"Really? I looked it up, it's a nice place. They have their Grade A, it should be spotless in there. I'm pretty sure they almost got a Michelin star." 

You groan, turning onto your side. "I looked too. The entire menu is seafood," you whine. 

"What's wrong with that?" Spencer asks, giving you a quizzical look. 

"The smell." You rub your nose against his pillow and sigh. "I don't feel good. Didn't rough me up in my sleep, did you?" 

"I would never do that," he says, putting the last of the laundry aside to sit by your hip. His hand rests naturally against the slight curve of your side, fingertips pushing the hem of your shirt up enough to steal a glance at your back. 

He wouldn't say this aloud and it doesn't matter, but you've gained a little weight recently. Actually, it does matter in that he thinks it's adorable, but he knows that telling your partner they've gained weight is a faux pas. He likes it, anyhow. It's happy weight. 

Things are so serious now but they don't feel serious. There's no solemness in your relationship, just comfort. He's putting on weight in tandem. 

"You really don't want to go?" Spencer asks. The earlier he lets Hotch know the better. 

You wrap an arm around your stomach. "Sorry, Spence. I'm so sorry, I've felt sick all day and I think it'll just be a repeat of yesterday morning." You puked before breakfast, the smell of eggs too much to bear.

Spencer feels it click into place then and there. The weight, the puking, your changing taste. Your sore chest and lower back, your sensitivity. 

He pushes you gently, a hand on your hip to encourage you down. Careful, he lays down next to you, propping his head on the pillow as he brings hand up to hold you. He can't know for sure… but if you're pregnant as he suspects, it fits. And more than that, it's insane. He doesn't know how to handle this besides wrapping you up in his arms. He'll keep you forever, if he can. 

"Don't be sorry," he says, his voice faraway. You relax completely in his arms, sliding your leg over his to lock him in. "Does your back still hurt?" 

"My chest, Spence," you lament, "it feels like I'm winded. I think I'm coming down with something. Maybe you shouldn't be near me." 

"In that case, I'm staying right here." 

You laugh softly, the warmth of it a circle on his shoulder. "I can call Hotch myself and say sorry. I'll feel better in a few days, and we'll reschedule, and I'll pay even if he tries to." 

Spencer draws a line up your back. Now or never. 

He steels his nerves, the beginning of a hypothesis hesitating on his tongue. Your symptoms in addition to your irregular period and your regular sex lives points toward pregnancy. How does he say that? How should he say it? Should he even bring it up? Perhaps he should wait until you discover it yourself. And you aren't definitely pregnant, it's just a possibility. Maybe you're simply sick—

"Hey, earth to handsome," you whisper, cupping his cheek in your soft palm. You smile as he snaps out of his thoughts. "Hey. I lost you for a few seconds, where'd you go?" 

"Nowhere. I'm here." 

Your smile gets impossibly fond. It's not dissimilar to how you usually look at him. "Are you okay?" 

"Fine. I love you." 

"I love you," you say. 

There's something about you now, this gaussian blur to you. Sunlight seeps in lazily through the blinds thick as honey, a golden kiss to your skin where you lay face to face with him, and your I love you makes him want to cry. This is all ridiculous and amazing and he doesn't know what to do, doesn't know how to make his mouth move into the right words. 

"What is it?" you ask. You know him better than anyone. 

"I think you're pregnant." Spencer winces, though he can't beat his smile into submission. "I mean. You could be pregnant." 

"Why do you think that?" you ask, visibly startled. 

"Your sensitivity to strong smells, your soreness, your late period, to name the more obvious. That's not factoring in your worsening low iron lately, and your headaches." You make a strange sound he doesn't like. "What?" he asks worriedly.  

"I'm late," you say into yourself, looking past him as you puzzle it over. 

"It's a good thing, if you are. I mean, it's an amazing thing if you want it to be. I'm saying everything wrong. It's only amazing if you want it to be, I want it to be. But I'm on your side no matter what." He grimaces into his hands, rubbing his face with both palms. 

You sit as he panics. He clicks his neck looking up, racing to follow you, alarmed as you shimmy down the bed toward the ensuite bathroom. 

"What are you–" 

"I'm gonna take a test." 

"Wait a second." Spencer catches your hands before you can get too far, pulling you back to the end of the bed to sit down. "Wait. Is it– is it bad? If you are?" 

You look down at your stomach briefly. Anyone else might miss it, but Spencer can't not follow your behaviour, and the way you're acting now makes him think he got it wrong. That you won't be happy. 

You grab Spencer's hand. "You know, it's not funny. All our friends are gonna ask how I found out, and I'm gonna have to admit that you noticed it first." Your eyes track up his face almost shyly, and soon your smile is as blistering as his. 

Spencer bends under your weight as you jump up, throwing your arms behind his neck, your lips smashed to his ear. "I love you," you whisper urgently, "so much. This is good, right? This is really good." 

"Are you kidding?" he asks incredulously. 

Spencer takes your face into two hands and kisses you as hard as he ever has. He realises a second in that he'd much rather be squeezing you, caging you into the circle of his arms unrepentant. 

"We have a really good excuse to miss dinner," Spencer says.

He sounds close to tears. You're worse, laughing wetly as you pull him into the bathroom to take your test. 

[sunahsvt]

—DON'T BELIEVE THE SIGNS

miya atsumu x fem!reader

+ angst (no comfort what y'all expect), lovers to exes

other tags: microcheating, LAZY WRITING, babe/baby nicknames, small cases

wc: 833

note: not proud of this one but i was itching to start and finish this tonight. so :-) not proofread yet again. also if yall read this note pls drop some hq angst series in my ask box plsplspls

DO NOT COPY, TRANSLATE, OR POST ANYWHERE IN OTHER PLATFORMS

atsumu loves you. he definitely does.

a year into the relationship— and six months of courting— he can say he's contented with you, and he shows it through his words and actions.

there was a time when atsumu drove past the hotel where his ex— who he once thought of was his greatest love— booked their first anniversary to.

you were on the passenger seat, your hand on his where it rests on your lap, fully unaware what was going through his mind. both his hand twitched. you, who didn't let things go unnoticed, giggled at him, brushing your thumbs on the back of his hand.

in his eyes, of course, you're his greatest love.

atsumu walks through the aisle, cart in tow. his eyes saw a chocolate bar he hasn't seen in a while— the exact chocolate bar that his ex had given him for valentine's one time.

he shook his head, asking to himself why he was still reminded of her.

he didn't think much of it the first and second time, but as time went by and more things reminded him of his past lover, he was almost convinced the universe was giving him signs that maybe he hasn't really moved on— that maybe you two weren't really meant for forever. he was almost convinced.

and because he wasn't fully convinced, he didn't do anything about it, but you were beginning to notice something was off.

"baby, did you get my chocolates?"

"yeah, it should still be inside one of the paper bags."

you jumped off of your seat, eyes tired from looking at your laptop screen due to your work from home job.

you croached down to look for the 3 musketeers chocolate you dearly love, but there was only maltesers and twix bars. you frowned.

"i don't see any muskeeters in here, babe," you whined.

his eyes furrowed, "huh? i bought maltesers. aren't those your fave?"

you shook your head, your lips forming a thin line.

atsumu's eyes widen slightly in realization, you almost didn't catch it.

the silence passed for a minute, both of you staring at each other. you weren't sure if you should confirm it, but in your mind, he didn't need to.

he mistakened her favorite chocolate as your's.

he apologized, but that doesn't mean it didn't get worse. that doesn't mean signs about his ex didn't stop showing up, and that doesn't mean it didn't gradually made him uncomfortable.

y/n: can you take out paella for dinner? cant cook tonight :-(

tsumtsum: ocake

y/n: ty! i love you!

tsumtsum: i love u

when atsumu got home that night, he had bought paella for take out good for two. being a considerate boyfriend, he made sure it wasn't seafood since you're apparently allergic to shellfish.

but when you padded your feet to the dinning room and saw the chicken and chorizo paella, your eyebrows knit together. you weren't a pick eater but seafood, especially shrimp, was your absolute favorite. you were looking forward to having seafood for dinner.

but why isn't it seafood paella?

you gulped the hurt that you were feeling rising up your throat from your chest. atsumu was too busy looking for something to drink in the fridge.

"was there no seafood available?"

he glanced over his shoulder to look at you, "what do you mean? you're allergic."

"babe."

"what?"

"i love seafood."

this time his eyes slowly closed, realizing another mistake. another thing he forgot about you.

"what are you not telling me?"

he couldn't tell you. not when he wasn't sure, so he shook his head, apologized and made up an excuse.

from there on, he kept trying to make up to you. but it just didn't feel the same anymore because it either felt like out of obligation or he was trying to cover up the other things he hurt you for. each time he does, he doesn't realize his temper was thinning.

you tried to communicate with him over and over again whenever something felt off.

but your patience, your empathy, your love can only go so far.

what he doesn't notice is he wipes his lips or cheek whenever you kiss him.

what he doesn't notice is he glowered whenever you talked.

what he doesn't notice is he stopped exerting effort.

he doesn't notice he's showing all the signs that he's gradually falling out of love.

he doesn't notice that he's losing you.

but you do.

you, the silly lover girl who didn't let things go unnoticed.

you tried one last time to communicate to him your feelings. irritated, he only said, "i'm tired of this."

so after you waited him to go to sleep, you decided to leave.

you place a hand on his forehead and kiss the back of your hand as goodbye, fearing that even in his sleep he'd find annoyance in it— that it'd wake him up or he'd wipe the kiss away even in his sleep.

that was the last time atsumu has seen you.

and he noticed now that he shouldn't have believed in the signs.

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