#I'm keeping this because it is such a perfect roast

[ladyniniane]

"Further, and this goes without saying – A Song of Ice and Fire is not real. Not Westeros. Not the Summer Islands. Not the Great Grass Sea, and definitely not the dragons. Now I like the little nods to medieval stuff in the world probably more than the next person. I find it cute and also nice. But the thing is, in a world where magic is real you are making choices. You don’t have to show sexual assault all the time because you are somehow bearing accurate witness to the medieval past. It is simply not necessary. You can choose not to show it just like you choose not to show accurate medieval things like crop rotation, or the discovery of the three-field system. It is a choice.

If what you want is a way explain why you have a bunch of sexual assault in your dragon show I have a fig leaf for you right here – you could just say that it is an accurate reflection of a patriarchal society because well, yeah. Sexual assault is absolutely endemic in our society right now. This show is a part of that society. While it is taking place in an imaginary world, it, like most good art* is reflecting our own world back to us and asking us questions about what that means. This world has sexual assault just like the real world does. It is unfortunate but true.

All of which brings me to my final point – you could just like have some courage and say you put it in because you, too, are steeped up to your eyeballs in patriarchy and just didn’t really interrogate why you did it. You just did, because it is really hard for us to critique the culture that we are in. We are inured to it. Patriarchy and sexual assault is the air we breathe, and if people aren’t very very careful their art will reflect that without critiquing it. I would argue that this is what happened here, and there is a lot of furious back peddling to explain why.

I don’t think all art needs to be comfortable. I am fine with challenges and I also think there is something to be said here about how we specifically get upset about seeing sexual violence in a show that is absolutely rife with physical violence that largely goes unmentioned. What I do think is an issue is using incredibly bad history to make up for your own shortcomings as an artist. Either stand by what you did or don’t. But don’t blame it on medieval people when we are just as bad.

*I am not saying this is good art"

[amuseoffyre]

One of my favourite things about Leverage (I'm onto S3 of the rewatch) is the number of times Eliot, Parker and Hardison say some variant of "like I taught you".

Eliot teaching Parker combat skills, Hardison teaching Eliot tech skills, Parker teaching Hardison lockpicking skills. All three of them building each other into multiple-disciplined crime crew in a way that makes perfect sense for all of the characters.

And the way it escalates in Redemption as well, when Parker has designated Vent Practise for the boys and Hardison gets grumpy about being compared to Eliot for his lack of vent skills 🤣

From S1, there's always been that "what would [character] do?" and they used it to full effect in the S1 finale with Nate and Sophie using the skills of the others to bust them out of Sterling's clutches.

They do the same again with the S1 finale of Redemption as well, when the head of RIZ underestimates them because she doesn't count on the degree of skill shuffle they have at their fingertips.

But it doesn't stop there - it extends to the personal as well. Some of my favourite quiet little moments are

Eliot taking the time to show Parker how to appreciate food because she's never had anyone who did that for her before and lived on cereal and junk food her whole life, because it's something he loves and he wants to help her understand it.

Parker being Hardison's comfort in the buried-alive episode, when she uses her own skills and experience and familiarity with being in small enclosed spaces to talk to him and keep him calm.

Hardison and Parker dancing so she can manage to move the right way for a con - it's so quietly intimate and simple - and then him knowing she's panicking when the thing goes wrong and humming the song so she can recover the steps and pull it off.

This is the heart and soul of the show - these characters supporting and sharing the things they care about with each other. They love each other so much and know each other and trust each other, as much as they poke and roast and tease one another.

[dat1angel]

Danny the tiktok star

DPxDC au

So Danny, as any high school teen would do, makes videos on the latest video sharing social media site. In this case that's tiktok, although if we look at the time that Danny Phantom came out Vine might be more appropriate...

Either way, he makes silly little videos that range from funny jokes, A Day in the Life at Casper High, Space Fact Friday, POV: You live in Amity Park, roasting whatever ghost happens to be attacking that day, ect. He gains a small following of people who like his content but it's nowhere near being able at call himself tiktok famous. Until one post...

"Hello, my name is Danny, and this is my Official Application for Bruce Wayne to adopt me"

He jokes about how he is a young teen male with black hair, blue eyes, and a questionable home life which makes him the perfect candidate for a Bruce Wayne adoptee. The video goes viral so Danny leans into the bit and starts making more of that content. Photoshoping myself into a Wayne family photo, What I would wear to a Wayne gala, Taking a 'Which Wayne Are You' quiz.

When the Wayne kids find his account they think it's hilarious and keep an eye for new posts from him. One day Tim is stuck in a boring WE meeting so when he gets a notification that Danny posted a new video he will gladly take the distraction. He wasn't expect what he would find...

The video opens with the camera facing Danny, but he's not in any of his usual filming locations. It's hard to tell what exactly is happening around him but there's shouting in the distance and the sound of sirens. In fact, it looks as if Danny is leaning against an ambulance. Danny looks unusually pale and has what looks like a shock blanket wrapped around his shoulders. The camera is shakey and when he speaks his voice comes out weak.

"Hey guys... It's Danny. You know how I joke a lot about being adopted by Bruce Wayne?..."

Danny pauses and takes a shakey breath. It seems like he loses his grip on the phone for a moment because the camera fumbles before being held upright again. It's not a great view, but viewers can catch a glimpse of a destroyed building in the background, firefighters still working to get all the flames doused. When Danny starts speaking again he seems to choke on the words.

"W-Well, something happened and.. I'm k-kinda and orphan now? So uh..." Danny gives a small sad sounding chuckle that fades into a light cough, "this is my official application for Bruce Wayne to adopt me. Internet, do your thing..."

The video ends.

[sodavizz]

— Christmas Won't Be The Same Without You.

°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･°❀⋆.ೃ

Pairing: Daisuke x GN! Reader

Warnings: None, just fluff again :3

Wc: 1.3k+

Author's Note: Tadaa!! It's almost Christmas time baby! I'm super duper excited as it is already half of November!! Are you all ready to celebrate it, cause I sure am!

The snow was falling softly outside, coating the world in a blanket of white. The small town where Daisuke had grown up was quiet, the streets lined with festive lights and decorations. Inside his parents' house, however, there was nothing quiet about it. The living room was alive with the hum of Christmas music playing softly in the background, the scent of pine and cinnamon filling the air, and the soft crackle of a fire burning in the hearth. It was the perfect Christmas setting, and you were sharing it with Daisuke.

“Can you believe it?” Daisuke said, his voice full of excitement as he stood beside you in the entryway. His eyes sparkled with that familiar joy you adored. “Christmas at my parents’ house. I'm sure they're just as excited you are to meeting each other!”

You smiled at him, feeling a warmth spread through you as he took your hand, pulling you into the house. “I’m really happy to be here with you, Daisuke. This place feels so… cozy.”

His grin widened. “It’s definitely cozy. And my mom’s cooking is legendary, so get ready for some serious holiday feasting. You might not even have room for dessert by the end of the night.”

You laughed, feeling your stomach growl at the thought of what awaited. You’d heard a lot about Daisuke’s mom’s cooking, but this would be your first time tasting it. You could already smell the roast turkey and baked goods wafting from the kitchen.

The house was warm, full of life, and adorned with decorations that felt like they had been carefully placed with love. Christmas stockings hung from the mantle above the fireplace, each one bearing a name stitched in gold thread, and a grand tree stood in the corner, its branches weighed down with ornaments, tinsel, and fairy lights. The atmosphere was peaceful but bustling, with Daisuke’s parents—his mother in a festive red apron and his father pulling drinks from the fridge—filling the space with energy and laughter.

Daisuke led you to the living room where his family was already gathered. His parents, always warm and welcoming, greeted you with open arms.

“Ah, there you are, so you're the one my son keeps going on and on about!” His mother beamed as he mumbled something to her, seeming embarrassed she would expose him about that. She then stepped forward to give you a hug. “We’ve been waiting for you both. Everything’s ready for dinner, but we can always add more if you’re hungry before the big meal!”

“You must be starving after the drive!” his father added with a grin, holding out a glass of eggnog. “Don’t be shy, help yourself.”

You chuckled and accepted the drink, glancing over at Daisuke, who was practically glowing in his own way, standing close by with a proud smile.

“You must be excited to have us here,” you teased.

He nodded eagerly. “Are you kidding? I’ve been counting down the days to Christmas here with you and my family. I think I’ve spent almost every Christmas here since I was a kid, and this time it’s even better because you’re with me.”

The sincerity in his voice made your heart skip a beat. There was something about being here, in the warmth of his family’s home, surrounded by love, that made everything feel like it was falling into place.

“I’m really happy to be here, too,” you said softly, meeting his gaze. “It feels so... right.”

Daisuke grinned and reached for your hand, giving it a gentle squeeze before turning to his parents. “I think it’s time for us to get the party started! We still need to do the Secret Santa exchange, and I’m pretty sure everyone’s excited for that.”

His mom laughed. “Oh yes, we can’t forget about that! We all got something special this year, so I hope everyone’s ready for a little holiday fun.”

Dinner was a true feast. The table was piled high with everything you could imagine—roast turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, stuffing, roasted vegetables, and an assortment of freshly baked rolls. In the center, a large cranberry sauce dish sat alongside platters of sweet potatoes and baked brussels sprouts. Daisuke’s mom had clearly outdone herself, and as you dug into your meal, you could tell that everyone was savoring each bite.

Between mouthfuls, you shared stories with Daisuke’s family, laughing and chatting about everything from your childhood traditions to more recent adventures. Daisuke’s dad was particularly fond of telling embarrassing stories about Daisuke when he was little, which had everyone in stitches. Daisuke, for his part, seemed unbothered by it all, even joining in with some of his own stories about his mischievous younger days.

But it wasn’t just the food or the laughter that made this night feel special—it was the way Daisuke kept glancing at you with that soft, affectionate look in his eyes, the way his hand would subtly brush against yours under the table, or how he’d pull you close during moments when no one was looking, as if to remind you that this was your time together.

--

After dinner, Daisuke insisted on taking you outside to see the backyard, which, as it turned out, had a stunning view of the town covered in snow. The Christmas lights from nearby houses reflected off the snow, creating a soft, magical glow that made the night feel like something out of a holiday movie.

“Come here,” Daisuke said, wrapping his arm around your shoulders and guiding you to the porch. “This is one of my favorite parts of Christmas—just looking out over the snow. My family used to come out here every Christmas Eve when I was younger and just… enjoy the peace.”

You stood with him, watching the snow fall gently, the cool air brushing against your skin. His presence beside you, his warmth, was enough to make everything feel even more magical.

“I never imagined I’d get to spend Christmas like this,” you murmured, leaning into him. “It’s been perfect.”

Daisuke smiled down at you, his fingers threading through yours as he pulled you a little closer. “I’ve been looking forward to this for so long, just to share it all with you. Christmas is better when you’re with the people you love, and that’s all I want for us.”

You leaned up to kiss him, the moment soft, gentle, and full of meaning. When you pulled away, Daisuke’s face was alight with happiness, his eyes sparkling.

“Merry Christmas, the most beautiful person I've ever seen,” he said softly.

You chuckled at his compliment as you stared deeply into his eyes in an, oh such affectionate way.

“Merry Christmas, Handsome,” you whispered back.

Later, as the evening drew on, everyone gathered around the tree for the Secret Santa exchange. You’d gotten Daisuke’s mom, and after some playful teasing, she opened the gift you’d picked out—a beautiful hand-knitted scarf, which she immediately wrapped around her neck with a delighted laugh. Then, Daisuke gave you your gift, a small box wrapped with care. When you opened it, you found a delicate silver bracelet with a charm that read together, a reminder of how far you’d come and how much you meant to each other.

You blinked back tears as you hugged him, your heart swelling with gratitude. “I love it, Daisuke. Thank you.”

“I’m glad you like it,” he said, his voice full of affection as he kissed your forehead. “This is just the beginning of our holiday together. I want to make this Christmas the best one yet.”

As the evening wound down, the two of you snuck off to a quiet corner of the living room, away from the laughter and chatter, to enjoy each other’s company in peace. With the soft glow of the Christmas tree lights surrounding you, Daisuke wrapped his arms around you, pulling you close.

“This is all I ever wanted,” he whispered, his voice full of love. ��To be with you, here, now.”

And in that moment, surrounded by the warmth of his family, the love between you, and the gentle snowfall outside, you knew he was right. It didn’t matter where you were, as long as you were together.

“Merry Christmas, Daisuke,” you whispered, kissing him again.

“Merry Christmas,” he replied, smiling softly, his heart as full as yours.

[faithfulren]

tent troubles

hi everyonee!! i just wanted to thank you for 50 likes, its a start and it truly means the world to me. i'm so glad you guys like my stuff and i deeply appreciate it, and i hope you guys continue to support me! :) <3

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as the sun dipped below the horizon, casting a golden hue over the forest, class 1-A set up camp. laughter and chatter filled the air as everyone pitched in, erecting tents and preparing for a night under the stars. you were excited, the prospect of camping with your friends bringing a smile to your face. that smile, however, faded when you realized you were paired with katsuki bakugo.

you and bakugo had always had a irregular relationship. his fiery temper and your headstrong nature often clashed, leading to more arguments than you cared to count. but aizawa-sensei, in his infinite wisdom, had decided that this trip was the perfect opportunity for you two to learn to work together.

"just stay out of my way," bakugo grumbled, dropping the tent supplies at your feet. he was already annoyed, and you knew better than to poke the bear.

"sure, bakugo," you replied, trying to keep the peace. you bent down to pick up the tent poles, but he snatched them away before you could grab them.

"i said stay out of my way," he repeated, more forcefully this time. you bit back a retort and stepped back, crossing your arms as you watched him struggle with the poles.

minutes passed in tense silence. bakugo was clearly having trouble setting up the tent, but his pride wouldn’t allow him to ask for help. finally, with a frustrated growl, he threw the poles to the ground.

"do you want help now?" you asked, unable to keep the smugness out of your voice.

"shut up and just… help me," he muttered, glaring at you.

together, you managed to get the tent set up, though not without several more snide comments and glares from bakugo. by the time it was finished, the sky had turned a deep indigo, and the first stars were beginning to appear.

you sat down by the campfire, feeling exhausted but somewhat accomplished. bakugo sat across from you, his scowl softened slightly by the firelight. the others were busy roasting marshmallows and telling ghost stories, the atmosphere light and cheerful.

"here," bakugo said suddenly, holding out a stick with a perfectly roasted marshmallow. you blinked in surprise.

"uh, thanks," you said, taking the marshmallow from him. It was uncharacteristically kind of him, and you couldn't help but wonder what had prompted the gesture.

"don't read too much into it," he snapped, looking away. "i just didn't want to hear you whining about not having one."

"sure, bakugo," you replied, a small smile tugging at your lips.

the night wore on, and eventually, everyone headed back to their tents. you crawled into your sleeping bag, trying to get comfortable on the uneven ground. bakugo was already lying down, his back to you.

for a while, you lay in silence, listening to the sounds of the forest. You were almost asleep when you heard bakugo's voice, quiet and hesitant.

"why don't you hate me?"

you turned to face him, confused. "..what?"

"i said, why don't you hate me?" he repeated, louder this time. "i’m always yelling at you, and you never fight back.. why?"

you thought about it for a moment. "because I know there's more to you than just your temper. you're a good person, bakugo, even if you don't always show it."

he was silent for a long time. then, just as you were beginning to think he wouldn't respond, he spoke again.

"thanks," he said softly, almost too softly for you to hear. "and… sorry.. i guess."

it was a small apology, but coming from Bakugo, it meant a lot. you smiled in the darkness, feeling a warmth in your chest that had nothing to do with the campfire.

"goodnight, bakugo," you whispered, closing your eyes.

"goodnight," he replied, his voice gentler than you'd ever heard it.

and for the first time since you'd started at UA, you fell asleep feeling like maybe, just maybe, you and bakugo could be friends after all.

[tenebrius-excellium]

Thinking about how Hiccup had zero problems with killing the Red Death in the first movie. Reminds me of how surprised I was that every movie and show afterwards chose to characterize him as this sort of 'naive pacifist' guy. Hiccup was NEVER that. At least first movie Hiccup wasn't, so I keep being surprised they went there.

Viggo said at the end of Rtte that Hiccup taught him to respect dragons as equals, I believe? But that means that there are hateful dragons. Revengeful dragons. Harmful dragons. Asshole dragons. Which means that not every dragon should live, if they are that kind of smart and capable of attacking humans again and again.

If they have a personality, they can be like orcas, who sink ships for fun. They can have destructive feuds with each other. They can be like cats knocking glasses off of counters and like roosters having it in for someone in particular. If dragons are equal to humans, then they cannot be trained to do humans' bidding because they are above that. They can only be genuinely befriended. A dragon will choose to lower its innate dragon-ness - the wild and dangerous ability to roast you with a single breath - and act docile for you if it likes you. Sort of like a crow? But a dragon is not a pet, at least that's not how I understood the Httyd dragons. Which means, that if it comes down to it - Hiccup versing a dragon that is standing between him and the humans he loves - a dragon who won't be talked down, who won't be persuaded to be peaceful, a dragon who greedily insists on its power in a situation that endangers Hiccup's loved ones - I think Hiccup totally would still choose to kill that dragon. Somehow, this confrontation was avoided throughout all the rest of Httyd.

Thinking about this specifically in the context of wasps being on my mind. This summer, I decided that I'm not going to be afraid of wasps anymore. And so when watching them as they steal my breakfast from me, I find that they, too, just want to eat because they just discovered a delicious feast. They don't want to sting me, they are only interested in having a bite of my delicious marmalade as well. Now, when trying to handle them, wasps are going to be wasps. So I've simply got to finish my breakfast as long as there is only 1 wasp buddy around. As soon as buddy goes flying off to tell his friends about the party he found, I leave and take my stuff with me. That is how I avoid getting myriades of wasps all over my food. That is how I avoid getting stung out of irritation. That is how no wasps get killed.

By respecting the nature of who wasps are. By assuming that wasps are going to be wasps. Now, I can still say that I shared my breakfast with an animal. Cycle of life. Isn't that wonderful.

But if a wasp starts invading my space too much, selfishly annoying me again and again despite getting its share of the cake, that wasp is going to get GONE. And I believe that dragons of intelligence should be treated with the same courtesy. Og Hiccup did that.

Og Hiccup is just the best. He's very perfect.

[whereforarthur]

Tummy Obsessed Much?

A/n: George said in a tik tok that he loves a girls tummy and I just couldn’t get the idea to write about that out of my head, so here it is

Pairing: George Clarke x reader

Category: Smut and Fluff

Word Count: 3.4k

*****

The human body is the best work of art. -Jess C. Scott

"You know what, George?" She giggled, a hint of mischief in her eyes. "You're obsessed with my stomach."

George looked up from his phone, his other hand absently tracing circles on her belly. He hadn't even noticed he was doing it. "What? No, I'm not," he protested, his cheeks flushing a gentle pink.

Y/n sat up in bed, pushing her messy hair out of her face. "Yes, you are. Every time we're together, you're always touching it." She took his hand in hers, bringing it to her lips for a soft kiss. "It's sweet, really."

George's smile grew sheepish. "I just like how it feels, I guess." He paused, his thumb ghosting over the smooth skin. "It's like...I dunno. It's comforting."

Y/n's eyes searched his, a warmth spreading through her. "You know you can tell me anything, right?"

He nodded, his gaze dropping to their intertwined fingers. "It's just...I've never felt this way about anyone before. It's like your tummy is this perfect little island of us." He took a deep breath, the words tumbling out. "Every time I touch it, it's like I'm grounding myself in you."

Her heart fluttered at his confession, the sincerity in his voice making her feel cherished. She leaned into him, pressing her forehead against his. "I'm happy you feel that way, George. But why just my stomach?"

He chuckled, his eyes twinkling with affection. "Because it's so sexy and revealing when you wear those crop tops." He sat up, placing his hand over hers, his fingers drawing patterns across her bare skin. "Every time you wear one, it's like a secret treasure map leading to this spot."

Y/n rolled her eyes playfully, but couldn't help the blush that spread from her neck to her cheeks. She loved wearing crop tops, especially when they went out. They highlighted the small butterfly tattoos she had gotten on a whim last summer.

As George continued to trace her stomach, she leaned back into the pillows, feeling the coolness of the fabric against her bare skin. The room was bathed in the soft glow of the streetlight outside their window, casting long shadows across the bed. The city sounds of London hummed in the background, a familiar lullaby that soothed them both.

Y/n felt a thrill at his words, a shiver running down her spine. She had always felt confident in her own skin, but knowing that George found her belly so alluring added a new layer to her self-image. It was a simple act, but it spoke volumes about his attraction to her, his love for the way she looked, and the comfort she brought him.

*****

The next time they went out, she picked out a crop top that was particularly revealing, one that made her stomach look toned and inviting. She paired it with high-waisted jeans and her favorite pair of ankle boots. The fabric was soft, almost silky, and hugged her body in all the right places. As they walked down the bustling streets of London, George couldn't keep his eyes off her, his gaze lingering on the sliver of skin peeking out from beneath her shirt.

They decided to grab a bite at a cozy pub they had been meaning to try. The scent of roasting meat and yeasty beer filled the air, making their stomachs growl in unison. They ordered a couple of pints and a plate of nachos to share, their laughter echoing in the warm, dimly lit space. As they talked and laughed, George's hand found its way to her stomach again, his thumb tracing the outline of her belly button.

The conversation flowed easily, the comfortable silence between them filled with gentle touches and soft smiles. Y/n felt a sense of belonging, as if her stomach was indeed a map to a place only they could find together. The way George looked at her, the way his eyes lit up every time he touched her, made her feel like the most beautiful person in the room.

As they sat in the pub, enjoying their food and drinks, she couldn't help but feel a thrill every time his hand touched her skin. It was as if they were sharing a secret, a silent language that no one else could understand. She leaned into his touch, her body responding to his affection with a warmth that radiated outwards.

"You wore this on purpose, didn't you?" George murmured, his eyes never leaving her stomach. His voice was low and teasing, a smirk playing on his lips.

Y/n pretended to look offended, but the glint in her eye gave her away. "What? This old thing?" She plucked at the fabric of her crop top, feigning innocence. "It's just what I grabbed from the wardrobe."

George's smirk grew wider. "Yeah, sure it is." He leaned in closer, his breath tickling her ear. "But I'm not complaining." His hand slid under the hem of her shirt, his fingertips dancing along the waistband of her jeans.

Y/n felt a rush of excitement, the warmth in her cheeks spreading to the rest of her body. She placed her hand over his, giving it a gentle squeeze. "Well, if it's working, then maybe I'll have to make it a habit."

George's eyes darkened, his voice dropping an octave. "Just don't say I didn't warn you." He leaned in closer, his breath hot against her neck. "I might not be able to keep my hands to myself."

Y/n shivered, the anticipation building. She knew that look in his eyes, the one that promised a night of passion and love. But she also knew George well enough to understand that his self-control had its limits, especially when it came to her. She smirked, feeling a thrill at the thought of pushing those boundaries. "I'll take that risk," she whispered, leaning into his touch.

Her hand began to wander up his thigh, her fingertips lightly grazing the fabric of his jeans. George's breath hitched, his grip on her stomach tightening. The pub's atmosphere was forgotten as their eyes locked, the air between them charged with a magnetic pull. The music and chatter of the other patrons faded into the background, replaced by the thud of their racing hearts.

"You're playing with fire, you know," George warned, his voice thick with desire.

Y/n giggled, the sound sending a delicious shiver down his spine. She knew exactly what she was doing and reveled in the power she had over him. "I like the heat," she whispered, her hand sliding up his thigh a little further.

The tension in the air was palpable, the energy between them crackling like a live wire. George swallowed hard, his hand moving to the small of her back, his thumb brushing the bare skin just above her jeans. The touch was electric, sending jolts of desire through her body. She could feel the heat radiating from him, the way his body leaned into hers, seeking more contact.

With a final squeeze of her hand, George leaned back, tossing some bills onto the table. "Come on," he murmured, his voice a gruff whisper that sent a thrill through her. He didn't wait for a response, standing up and pulling her to her feet. Y/n didn't resist, her heart racing with excitement.

*****

They stepped out into the cool London night, the alleyway just a few paces away. It was dimly lit, the flicker of distant street lamps throwing shadows across the cobblestone path. The air was thick with the scent of rain, the promise of a storm hanging just out of reach. George's hand was firm in hers, pulling her into the shadows.

The moment they were out of view, he spun her around, pressing her back against the brick wall. His eyes were dark with desire, his breathing ragged. "You're driving me crazy," he growled, his hand sliding back up to her bare stomach.

Y/n's eyes danced with mischief. "Is that so?" She reached up, looping her arms around his neck, her fingertips grazing the short hairs at the base of his skull. "And what are you going to do about it?"

George's hand slid up her side, his thumb grazing the edge of her crop top. He leaned in, his lips capturing hers in a kiss that was both fiery and tender. His other hand found her hip, pulling her closer, their bodies fitting together like puzzle pieces. The feel of her against him was intoxicating, the softness of her skin a stark contrast to the roughness of the wall behind her.

Y/n moaned softly, her body responding instinctively to his touch. Her own hands roamed his back, her nails digging in as she pulled him closer. The kiss grew deeper, more urgent, as their breaths mingled in the damp air. The anticipation was exquisite, the promise of more making her knees weak.

George's hand slipped under her shirt, his calloused fingers exploring the warm, soft skin of her stomach. His touch was gentle but firm, as if he was worshipping the very essence of her. Y/n arched into him, her body begging for more. The coolness of the wall was a stark contrast to the heat of his body, the chilly air raising goosebumps along her exposed flesh.

But just as their passion threatened to spill over into something more, George pulled away, his breaths coming in short gasps. "No," he murmured, his voice strained. "Not here. Not like this." He rested his forehead against hers, his eyes searching hers in the dim light.

Y/n's own breath hitched, surprised by his sudden restraint. But she could see the conflict in his eyes, the struggle between desire and respect. "Okay," she whispered, her voice shaky with anticipation. She knew he was right; the alley was not the place for this.

They broke apart, their chests heaving. George stepped back, his hand dropping to his side, his eyes still locked on hers. "Let's go home," he said, his voice low and rough. The need in his eyes was unmistakable.

Y/n nodded, her heart racing with excitement. She took his hand once more, and together they hurried down the alley, the cobblestones cool under their feet. The rain had started to fall, light droplets that kissed their skin and melded with their shared heat. The air was charged with the scent of damp earth and the electricity of their desire.

*****

By the time they reached their flat, the rain had picked up, soaking their clothes and plastering their hair to their faces. But neither of them cared. They stumbled through the door, breaking apart only long enough to kick off their wet shoes and shrug off their damp coats. The warmth of the apartment was a stark contrast to the chilly night outside, wrapping around them like a welcoming embrace.

George led her into the living room, his eyes never leaving hers. He leaned down, his hands sliding up her sodden shirt to expose her stomach once again. His fingertips traced the path they had so often followed, his touch feather-light and reverent. Y/n's skin was goose-pimpled with cold and desire, her breath coming in shallow gasps.

He kissed her stomach, his lips lingering on the soft curve. "I love you," he murmured against her skin. "Every inch of you." His words sent a shiver down her spine, the warmth of his breath a stark contrast to the chilly rainwater that clung to her.

Her hands found the hem of his shirt, tugging it over his head. The sight of his bare chest, the muscles defined from his work outs, made her pulse race even faster. They had spent countless hours in this very room, exploring each other's bodies and sharing their deepest secrets. Yet every time felt like the first, a thrilling dance of discovery that never grew old.

George's hand slipped behind her neck, his fingers tangling in her hair as he pulled her in for another kiss. It was deep and hungry, a silent declaration of his love and lust. His other hand trailed down her back, finding the button of her jeans. With a deft twist, he popped it open, the zipper following with a metallic whisper.

Y/n's breath hitched as she felt the coldness of the room dissipate with the warmth of his touch. Her own hands found the buttons of his jeans, her fingers fumbling in their haste. They stumbled towards the bedroom, their kisses growing more urgent with each step. The rain outside grew heavier, the sound of it a soothing backdrop to their passionate reunion.

Once in the bedroom, they shed their remaining clothes with a desperate urgency, the wet fabric sticking to their skin as it fell to the floor. The room was lit only by the occasional flash of lightning, casting a stark, white light across the room before plunging them back into darkness. It was a dance of shadow and light that mirrored their own tumultuous emotions.

The bed was a beacon of warmth and comfort in the stormy night, and George pulled Y/n down onto the soft mattress. She straddled him, her hands exploring his chest, feeling the steady beat of his heart beneath her palms. His eyes never left hers, the love and desire in them as potent as the scent of the rain-drenched city outside their window.

Their kisses grew deeper, more frantic, as they rediscovered each other's bodies. George's hands slid up her thighs, the warmth of his skin a stark contrast to the coolness of hers. He cupped her hips, his thumbs brushing against the damp fabric of her panties. Y/n gasped into his mouth, her hips rocking against his touch.

He slid the wet fabric aside, his fingertips dancing over her sensitive skin. She was already wet for him, her arousal a slick invitation that had him groaning into her neck. His touch grew bolder, one finger slipping inside her, his other hand gently caressing her clit. Her breath hitched, her body tightening around him.

Y/n’s hips began to move, riding his hand in a silent plea for more. Her nails scored his shoulders, leaving half-moons in his skin. George’s eyes fluttered closed, his breath coming in harsh pants. He could feel her building, her muscles clenching around his finger, her breaths coming faster and faster.

With a final, desperate kiss, he positioned himself at her entrance, feeling the slick heat of her arousal. He pushed into her, their bodies fitting together like two pieces of a puzzle that had been separated for too long. Y/n’s eyes widened with pleasure, her back arching as he filled her completely. The storm outside mirrored the tempest within them, the thunder a drumbeat to their passion.

They moved together, their rhythm syncing as if they had been doing this for an eternity. The rain lashed against the windows, a natural symphony that accompanied their intimate melody. George’s hand found her stomach again, the skin now slick with sweat and rainwater. He traced the taut muscles, feeling her body respond to his every touch.

Her breath grew ragged, her eyes never leaving his as she rode the wave of pleasure he created. His thumb circled her belly button, the sensation sending jolts of electricity straight to her core. She felt her orgasm building, a crescendo that was both terrifying and exhilarating. The storm outside grew wilder, the thunder clapping in time with their hearts.

George watched her face, the way her eyes fluttered shut and her mouth fell open in silent cries of ecstasy. He felt her tighten around him, her body a symphony of sensation. His own climax was approaching, the pressure building like a dam ready to burst. He whispered sweet nothings into her ear, his hand moving to her hip, guiding her movements, urging her closer to the edge.

Their bodies were slick with sweat, the sound of their skin slapping together in time with the storm's tempo. The rain pounded against the windows, a cacophony that only served to amplify their passion. Y/n's nails dug into his shoulders, leaving marks that would linger for days. They were both lost in the moment, in the fiery dance of love that had become so familiar yet remained so intoxicating.

Her breath grew shallower, her hips moving faster against him. George could feel the tension in her body, the tightening of her muscles around him. He knew she was close, her stomach muscles quivering under his hand. With a final, deep thrust, he watched as the pleasure overtook her. Her eyes squeezed shut, her mouth forming a silent scream as she climaxed, her body shaking with the force of it.

The sensation of her release was too much for him to bear. He followed her over the edge, his own orgasm ripping through him like a thunderclap. He pulled out just in time, his warm seed spilling onto her stomach. The sight of it, the proof of their union, was incredibly erotic, a visual representation of their love and desire.

Y/n's eyes rolled back in her head as she felt him come, her body still trembling from the aftershocks of her climax. She watched, transfixed, as his hand moved to his cock, his thumb catching the last drops of his essence. He leaned down, pressing his sticky fingers against her skin, painting her belly with the evidence of their passion.

The warmth of his release was a stark contrast to the coolness of her stomach, and she gasped as the sensation sent a new wave of pleasure through her. "George," she breathed, her voice still shaky from her orgasm. He chuckled, his eyes dark with satisfaction as he traced the pattern of his desire across her abdomen.

He leaned in, his mouth capturing hers in a gentle kiss that spoke of love and tenderness. Y/n could taste the faint saltiness of him, and she felt her heart swell with emotion. The storm outside had reached its crescendo, the rain pummeling the windows like a million tiny fists. Yet, in the quiet sanctity of their bedroom, they were the only two people that mattered.

George pulled away, his eyes never leaving hers. He admired her stomach, now adorned with the evidence of their passion. The muscles quivered slightly, a testament to the intensity of their lovemaking. He reached for the bedside tissue box, pulling out a soft wad of paper. With a gentle touch, he began to clean her up, wiping away the sticky remnants of their love.

His eyes were full of adoration as he took care of her, his movements deliberate and tender. Every stroke of the tissue was a silent declaration of his love, a promise to cherish every part of her. Y/n watched him, her chest rising and falling with each heavy breath. The intimacy of the moment was as potent as the storm outside, the quietness of their actions speaking louder than any words could.

When he was done, George couldn't resist leaning in to press a soft kiss to her stomach, his lips lingering on her skin. "You know," he said with a mischievous grin, "you're going to have to start charging me rent for all the time I spend here."

Y/n giggled, her body still humming with pleasure. "Rent, huh?" She trailed her fingers through his hair, feeling the dampness from the rain. "What do you think I should charge?"

George considered it, his expression thoughtful. "A lifetime's worth of snuggles and kisses?"

Y/n's laugh was breathless. "Sounds like a fair trade." She leaned down to kiss him, her hand still resting on his cheek. The warmth of his skin was a stark contrast to the coolness of her belly, and she couldn't help but feel a sense of completion, of home.

They settled into the warm cocoon of the bed, the storm outside growing more distant as their bodies grew closer. George wrapped his arms around her, pulling her tight against his chest. Her head found its familiar resting place on his shoulder, his heartbeat a comforting lullaby. The rain had slowed to a gentle patter, the occasional rumble of thunder a soothing reminder of the world outside their bubble.

It was in these quiet moments that George felt most alive, most connected to her.

*****

Taglist~

@gvf23

A/n: Tiktok inspiration https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZP81S7cEA/

[astaroth1357]

The OM Cast as Househusbands

Inspired by my recent rant about domestic Solomon.

Contents: Pure fluff and unhinged roasts.

~♡♡♡~

Lucifer

A-tier. Generally a solid choice skill-wise.

Cooks decent, cleans well, budgets FANTASTICALLY, has a good list of connections/spells for all home repair, and even has a stern (but caring) parenting-style if so desired.

In short, Lucifer can run a house very well. He practically already does! Hope you like having a big, extended family because the brothers are coming with.

Really, the biggest downside to Lucifer is that you'll be constantly worried that he's bored... Man can run a house and then some. He probably has the daily chores done by noon, and then what?

He just has so much extra potential, is what I'm saying. Very "big, beautiful bird in a cramped cage" energy. But then again, maybe making him chill the fuck out and have a low-maintenance lifestyle for once is better for his blood pressure in the long run. Your call.

Mammon

B-tier. He ain't perfect, but he can learn quick.

If you can give Mammon anything, it's that he's a capable guy when he wants to be. He may not be good at cleaning up, cooking, or anything like that on his own, but with some encouragement...?

Big improvements made practically overnight! Shower him in praise and "thank you's" for every little thing he does and he'll start get greedy for it. Then he'll do even MORE around the house and he gets better each time.

Show him how to cook what you like, and he'll never forget. Remind him to fold up the laundry, and he'll get it done. Praise him for keeping the floors clean, then suddenly he's nagging YOU about tracking dirt on the carpet...

And he'll get so proud about it too... Like, he's your first man and you NEED him now. What would you ever do without him?? Now hand over your shirts because he has some ironing to do, dammit!!

The only downside is you'll have to handle the finances... The words "Mammon" and "budget" go together about as well as "grainery" and "match." He'll blow through it and then some. Earners beware.

Leviathan

Hovers around C-D tier. Levi can play the role of good househusband for a VERY particular kind of partner, otherwise he's a lost cause.

He is a surprisingly decent househusband ONLY when sufficiently motivated and playing out his "domestic slice-of-life" fantasies are that motivation.

He can cook (anime-inspired dishes), he can clean (if you convince him to treat the house like he does his figurine collections), he can even sew/mend (though the majority of what he makes may be cosplay related)!

He won't leave the house to shop, but deliveries are fine. He also can't keep to a budget that doesn't include a MASSIVE chunk carved out to maintain his otaku lifestyle. He'll throw a fit otherwise.

Really, Levi's biggest problem is that once those "domestic fantasies" become mundane, he'll get bored and go back to his shows and games again.

Anyone with him would need to keep feeding into his role with new "quests" or different tropes to try out like a DM running an irl campaign. Could be fun for a little while, but it'll be too much trouble for you both long term. Best give him a skip.

Satan

S-tier. Very good choice, and he's proud of that fact.

Cooks well, very conscientious of your needs, knowledgeable on many topics from recipes to home repair, actually knows how to do laundry in a timely manner... a very good man indeed.

100% the kind of husband who sees that it's going to rain, so he treks out to wherever the hell you are to make sure you have an umbrella. Can't have you getting sick.

Get him a cat and the house will become his own slice of the Celestial Realm. He'll even text cute pics/updates on what your cat is doing like they're your literal child.

Only downside is cleaning. He's a book horder and will argue until he's blue in the face to keep Every. Last. Pamphlet. An in-house library is a MUST and expect to need expansions. Otherwise, perfect man. Much approval to be had.

Asmodeus

B-A tier. Another decent choice, just a little eccentric at times.

Asmo is that partner who will happily play the part of the trophy househusband buuut he absolutely won't do anything too strenuous or dirty.

Cooking? Totally fine! He isn't amazing, but he's not awful either. Laundry? Say no more! Your clothes will never have a wrinkle again. But cleaning...? Like the floors, attic, or ESPECIALLY the bathroom??

Nope. Nuh-huh. His cute-ass hair and his cute-ass nails in his cute-ass clothes will not stand for it! He's going to beg for a maid immediately.

I guess in exchange you'll be hosting some killer dinner parties, though! Asmo has that "suburban wife who flaunts her amazing life" energy. Also keeping his influencer game alive with tutorials galore.

In short, Asmo is willing not just to spoil you, but elevate you as well. You just need to give him a little pampering in return, kay?

Beelzebub

B-tier. Most of his problems are, predictably, food related...

Beel really, REALLY tries but you are probably never going to have a meal on time (if there's somehow any food left at all).

It isn't that he won't cooking, arguably, he spends TOO much time cooking because he'll spend just as much time eating! Or running to the store because he ate the ingredients again...

Surprisingly, though, he's actually very good at cleaning and caring for another person. That's because it's what he does for Belphie. You think the seventhborn is picking up their room AT ALL? Don't kid yourself...

Probably a good time to point out that another downside (or perk??) of husband!Beel is you also get Belphie! But he's just as spoiled as ever so... Hopefully Beel's overwhelming amazingness will make up for that.

If you like Belphie and don't mind an empty cabinet, Beel is a good choice. If not, there are better options available, I promise.

Belphegor

D-tier. Shit househusband. Doesn't even try.

Won't clean, won't cook, won't shop, can't fix, can't budget, and don't even get me STARTED on the state of the sheets!!-

He is a decorative plant of a househusband. Meant only to make the room look nicer by his presence. I've seen dogs more capable and self-motivated to maintain a household than this man will ever be.

Should you somehow get him to exert the effort, he will whine and complain the entire time. And even then, he won't do much more than put some things away and order takeout.

The only upside to Belphie is that since he's always asleep, it's not like he's making the house any dirtier. Vacuuming around his unconscious ass is home life now. At least you probably get Beel too.

Diavolo

C-B tier. What he lacks in experience, he makes up for in enthusiasm.

So... he basically can't do anything but since he's never had to, you can cut him some slack. He loves the idea of TRYING though, so you have an eager student!

He finds cooking to be a fun challenge and he isn't terrible at it. Cleaning is a drag but he likes to see you happy. You'll have to teach anything laundry/clothes related, unfortunately, and sending him to the grocery store without a very detailed list may result in him buying an entire aisle if he doesn't know what to get.

At least he'll genuinely love to hear about your day and have the biggest smile and warmest greeting for you every time you come home. He's like a big'ol puppy, just thrilled with your existence!

(Honestly, if something has him stumped, he'll call for Barbatos to help. He'll try to hide it because he wants to show that he can do things himself, but at the end of the day your happiness wins over his pride. Now let the butler fix your plumbing.)

Barbatos

SS-tier. So good, it's literally not fair.

He's been caring for another person for centuries. He has every possible skill he would need permanently etched into his DNA. He is the Grand Master of Domestic Life that all others should strive for.

Meals are at perfect temperature by the time you sit at the table. The house is so spotless that you could eat off the broom closet. Anything that breaks gets fixed/replaced within the day. He even leaves words of encouragement in the little notes packed up with your lunch. You'll start to wonder if he's an angel who's infiltrated too deep....

Barbs also seems to have a sixth sense for whenever you've had a bad day. You come back dragging from exhaustion? You favorite meal is already cooked, the bath is ready to be drawn, and would you like a shoulder rub on top of that? Feel free to vent, he loves to listen to whatever stories you have to share!

There are only two downsides to Barbatos: the first is that you are absolutely sharing him still with Diavolo and the young master is his top concern. So sorry.

The second is that moment he gets even the hint that there may be a rat in the house, he'll nuke the place with all of your stuff still in it. So keep some traps out and keep'em fresh, yeah? You'll be fine.

Simeon

S-tier. He even comes with pre-installed parenting skills! (If you're into that kind of thing).

Simeon may not have Barbs' "live to serve" mentality, but he is truly an angel to a fault. The man already acts as Den Mother of Purgatory Hall, so what would you expect?

He cooks well enough to own his own business and you can't run a business without being good with your cash. He probably has book royalties too... Plus, he cleans up after Solomon's messy ass in canon, so-

He's gonna be that husband you take to the office party and nobody will leave you alone about him for the next week. People are going to ask if he has a brother or some shit (give them Raph's number, I dare you)

Admittedly, home repair (especially of the electronics he's guaranteed to break) should probably go to someone else. Also, he is a package deal with Luke. That child is your unspoken son now, and you'll just have to deal with that.

Otherwise, he's trophy material. Marry him and carry him over that threshold! He's worth it, truly.

Solomon

I've already ranted about Solomon here. But if you aren't aware, he's D-tier saved only by the fact that he's really trying his best.

800 year-old bachelor be like: "Oh, you're supposed to change those...? They don't smell that bad after a month."

"Of course those dishes are clean! Yes, I can see that there's still food on them, but I washed them with soap. That's what makes them clean."

"What do you mean, 'Don't set the table with beakers on date night?' Isn't this one your favorite??"

"Dinner's almost done, honey! Just let me finish clubbing this octopus!" 😁

Disaster husband. Just leave him to his delusions and get used to takeout...

[pricegouge]

i'm still not fully comfortable writing realdad!price and will likely continue with the stepcest buffer if i ever write for that dynamic again, but here are some things i think work better with your actual father for... reasons

cw (besides the obv): implied grooming, noncon/dubcon voyeurism, tradwife training, piss kink, possessiveness, menstruation

when you're older and price is really starting to test the limits of what he can get you to do for him, how far he can train and mold you into that perfect little housewife roll he'd always hoped for you (greeting him by the door with a happy smile and kiss on the cheek, a roast finishing in the oven, timed perfectly to be ready when you're done removing his shoes for him and massaging the ache from his knee), he rewards you with your favorite pet name from when you were a kid dragging around your cute dollies, said now with a different kind of reverance. 'little mama,' he mutters, and revels in the way it makes you squirm, always happy to know you've been taking care of something just right. he watches as you keep squirming about it late into the night, doesn't even feel bad about it - you've known about the nanny cam in your room for years now, sweetheart. if you don't want him to see, you should save it for the shower

i know i'm a broken record atp, but piss kink 😵‍💫 just imagine how much he'd tease you the first time he makes you squirt. 'thought you were past this phase,' he laughs, balling up your soaked sheets

speaking of kink, i think he definitely treats it the same way loosey goosey parents treat underage drinking. he'd rather you try it at home where he can keep you safe, baby. you want to try something you saw on one of your big girl sites? don't be shy, come to papa. he'll take care of you, show you how to do it properly. make sure you have a good time. he just wants to be sure you're prepared (he has no intention of letting you use the what you've learned with anyone else)

period sex. period care in general, really. he'd be sooooo sweet about it i just know it. (by sweet I mean he'd be bullying your cervix every chance he got because it's right there, all swollen and descended, and it's a safe time of the month for that,right?) would also think his dicks a cure-all for cramps but he's probably right about that so we let it slide

[thegirlwhowatchedeverything]

The Wishbone In S3

Syd's Wishbone Tattoo

Screenshot from @sydcarmyfan

Opening Scene of 3x10 Forever

Chef Keller: And you know as a child, right?

Carmy: Right. Make a wish.

Chef Keller: Roasted chicken. Yeah. We'd take the wishbone out and hang it up and dry it overnight, and then we'd sit with our brothers or our mother or whoever and, uh try to break who was gonna be the lucky person. But now I'm just scraping with the tip of my knife, you see? This knife, you can hear it. You can feel it, right? The vibration on the knife kind of sounds like my dental hygienist cleaning my teeth. You got that?

Carmy: Yes, chef.

Chef Keller: I can start to pull it out. You can see it now, right? Exposed.

Carmy: Yeah. Boom.

Chef Keller: There you go. Your wishbone.

Carmy: Perfect.

Chef Keller: You can save that for tomorrow.

Wishbones And Vibrant Collaboration

Chef Keller: But now I'm just scraping with the tip of my knife, you see? This knife, you can hear it. You can feel it, right? The vibration on the knife kind of sounds like my dental hygienist cleaning my teeth. You got that?

Carmy: Yes, chef.

Chef Keller: I can start to pull it out. You can see it now, right? Exposed.

Carmy: Yeah. Boom.

Chef Keller: There you go. Your wishbone.

Carmy: Perfect.

The wishbone scene is the beginning of 3x10 and the beginning of Carmy's career, literal day 1 at the French Laundry and the tone Chef Keller sets is important. Tone wise, Carmy's first professional moment is one of PEACEFUL vibrant collaboration - he doesn't start in an environment of shutout (Mikey), abuse (Chef David), competition (Carmy to Luca in 3x1 Go faster, chef! Chef, let's fucking go! and Carmy to everyone in 1x8 And when somebody new came into the restaurant to stage, I’d look at them like they were competition, like I’m gonna smoke this motherfucker.), or chaos (Donna in 2x6). In conclusion, pulling out wishbones are peaceful meaning Syd's not Claire is Carmy's peace (2x9).

Also the act of pulling a wishbone requires two people, it's a literal collaboration.

Wishbones and Childhood

Chef Keller: And you know as a child, right?

Carmy: Right. Make a wish.

Chef Keller: Roasted chicken. Yeah. We'd take the wishbone out and hang it up and dry it overnight, and then we'd sit with our brothers or our mother or whoever and, uh try to break who was gonna be the lucky person.

Carmy and Mikey's bond over cooking in childhood: My brother and I, we would cook a lot together, especially when we were kids. You know, that’s when we were closest. Food was always our common ground. We wanted to open a restaurant together. Um, we had a name, we had a vibe, all of it. (1x8)

All of the tattoos we know Syd has so far are on her back which contrasts Carmy's visible ones (literally wearing them on his sleeves). This ofc mirrors their personalities and willingness to open up - Carmy's done this more so far in the series than Syd (but I explain in the last section why I feel like we'll finally get more about her in S4). I feel all Syd's tattoos revolve around her mom in some way and I think it's reinforced by the fact they're on her back - like her inner life in general, she keeps the memories of her mom to herself (no random person could see her tattoos unless she wanted them to - so far her dad, Marcus, and Carmy) but the placement of the tats also show her mom's death is a weight on her back - a burden/trauma from childhood. For the wishbone specifically, it seems like the most straightforward and heartbreaking interpretation is that Syd wishes her mom was alive or that she at least got more time with her because since she died when Syd was only 4 (2x9), she mainly has to rely on her dad's memories of her rather than her own (Marcus: You rely on your dad? He loves it. in 3x5 and Carmy: At least you can rely on him in 2x2).

Wishbones and The Long Lasting Effect of Grief

Chef Keller: We'd take the wishbone out and hang it up and dry it overnight, and then we'd sit with our brothers or our mother or whoever and, uh try to break who was gonna be the lucky person. There you go. Your wishbone.

Carmy: Perfect.

Chef Keller: You can save that for tomorrow.

The fact that "brothers" (Mikey's dead), "mothers" (Syd's mom's dead), or "whoever" (the idea anyone can become found family, Carmy: friends and family's not an exact Science, Sug in 2x9) are highlighted here.

It takes time and distress (aka trauma) before you can pull a wishbone:

Wishbones and The Invisible String of Fate

We start the season where we end the season - Syd and Carmy's invisible string of fate. In 3x1, we see Carmy make Syd's favorite dish (which we knew from 1x8) and we get the extra significance that it was born from what we can assume is Carmy's only act of rebellion at EMP where Carmy makes the dish his way rather than how Chef David's subtracted from Carmy's original idea.

In 3x10, we open on Chef Keller teaching Carmy to remove the wishbone on his first day as a professional chef. We see Carmy's documentation of this formative memory in his notebook in 3x7 when Marcus is flipping through it:

Carmy's drawn step by step illustrations on how to remove the wishbone next to a page that has a magazine cut out of a roast chicken under which Carmy writes "remove wishbone".

On a previous page of the notebook, we see a recipe for some dish, but next to the handwritten ingredients Carmy's placed a piece of green tape that says "bones".

The last page we see in this scene is a picture of several chefs, including Chef Keller.

In 3x1, we see Carmy tying up the chicken after removing the wishbone and placing it very carefully (he uses his hand to gently pat the last chicken after placing it on the rack) next to the other chickens he's prepared. Sidenote for the timing of this flashback - it could have gone anywhere in this episode, but it comes right after Syd hands him the coffee cup in the present thus putting the wishbone memory in the past right next to Syd in the present (however, we don't get the apology until later in the episode).

Later in 3x1 we see another flashback of Carmy tying up the chicken, pulling out the wishbone, and serving the roasted chickens at family including him making a plate of chicken for himself. We see him eat/fix plates for himself several times in the 3x1 flashbacks, but as has been said we rarely see Carmy eat in the present. First notables: Carmy DOESN'T eat Syd's first family meal in 1x1 even after she's offered (and she makes a fennel salad which was the "allergy" Carmy subbed the blood orange for in Syd's hamachi dish at EMP in 3x1). Second notable, he doesn't eat any of the food at Ever's funeral in 3x10 (even though his argument to get Syd to come is it's the last/first time she'll be able to eat Ever's food) because he's so preoccupied with Chef David and he hasn't repurposed his trauma in a dish yet like Luca has with the sweet pea panna cotta in 3x10.

Like Carmy made Syd's favorite meal before knowing her, it's like he also drew her tattoo before knowing her (and something about him not knowing his dish was her favorite/that she ever ate at EMP while he was there and also doesn't know about her wishbone tattoo/any of her tats). This means that in Carmy's career starting, first professional culinary notebook the first thing he draws ties impossibly back to Syd. And shoutout to @sydcarmyfan for pointing out Carmy's touched all of her tats without knowing it in S2.

Wishbones and S4

Even though we end the episode and season on two low notes with Syd's panic attack and what seems to be the negative Tribune review, I think it's interesting that we (almost) end an overall bleak season with a scene of joy for the Bear crew partying at Syd's apartment (minus shell-shucking robot Carm) and even Carm seems lighter after confronting Chef David and seeking advice in Chef Terry. But even if the review is terrible, I have hope for S4 because we end the opening 3x10 scene with a shot of two wishbones - one Chef Keller took out in his demonstration for Carm and the second Carm took out himself.

Ideally, the wishbone splits evenly between Syd and Carmy next season - they both get their wish which is The Bear stays open, is successful, and vibrant collaborations are firing on all fronts between Carmy and Syd, Richie (FOH) and Carmy (BOH), Carmy and Tina, Tina and Marcus, etc. The second wishbone could represent the second chance (rather "second, third and hundredth chances balancing on breaking branches") Syd might give to Carmy by staying at The Bear. Or, it could represent that even if Syd chooses to leave The Bear, there will still be a second chance for reconciliation/friendship/collaboration/marriage in the future between Syd and Carmy.

Syd's outfit in 3x10 is gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous (Syd in 2x2)" AND symbolic that we're going to finally learn more about Syd in S4. Again Carmy's tattoos are visible whereas Syd's are covered, but this outfit is sleeveless so it's the closest we've come to being able to see her wishbone tattoo (and the previously revealed Three of Swords from 2x8). Maybe another indication the review is positive (or at least not all terrible) because they realize they've already been reviewed right after Carmy explains how to take out the wishbone and the pope's nose to Tina in 3x4 which is a positively formative start of his career.

Lastly, you PULL wishbones apart. Speaking of migration/immigration, pull factors are positive things that might attract/draw/pull someone into a new place like better education opportunities or jobs or religious freedom.

Whereas push factors are negative circumstances that might force someone out/to move/leave their home when otherwise they would choose to stay - war, famine, lack of freedom, etc. Carmy's PUSHED (Syd: Why are you doing this? Carmy: So you can push me and I can push you, 3x1) Syd to the brink of leaving him - the question for S4 is if he's pushed her over that ledge or not. I think not if it all comes back to wishbones and invisible strings, pulling vs. pushing, and wishes granted like magic (3x9 opening sequence) and miracles (Carmy: it's a miracle these places [aka people aka Syd] even exist, 3x10).

[abstractnaturaldisaster]

is it over now? (was it over then?)

part three

part four: say the one thing i've been wanting

Steve had been dreading actually talking about this with Robin. He hadn't wanted to put her in a position to feel like she had to come out or stop using him as a plus one to industry parties to fuel rumors. Even as he and Eddie pretty publicly dated Robin's agent and most tabloids still thought Robin and Steve were a couple some even going as far as insinuating Eddie was Steve's side piece or their third.

"Steve, you're kind of scaring me, what's going on?"

"Birdie, I'm only telling you this because I can't not anymore but I want you to know nothing is your fault and I literally don't need you to do anything. I just need to be able to talk to my best friend and in order to do that I kind of have to get through this uncomfortable part," Steve answered.

"Anything, Steve. Whatever you need," Robin said.

"Okay, so Eddie and I kind of broke up because Eddie assumed I was cheating on him with Nance when she came to visit earlier this year. He got really upset and kind of blocked me from any way of contacting him so there was no way to clear anything up after he left but he definitely assumed I was cheating on him and he wrote that fucking song and I just need to talk to you without leaving out this really huge massive reason why Eddie left and why I still feel like total shit," Steve rushed to cover the main points.

"Steve, hun," Nance comforted. She probably guessed something else was going on but had been understanding enough not to press Steve for more.

"Steve, I'm so sorry. This is all my fault," Robin started catastrophizing.

"Can you please stop saying my name. It's kind of freaking me out," Steve joked, "Robs, it's totally not your fault at all. It was a shitty situation I could have handled better and so could Eddie but there's really nothing to do about it know because I can't explain it to him and he clearly doesn't want me to so we are moving on, all right?" Steve attempted to keep the energy light.

"If that's what you want, sure babe," Robin said.

"I just want to stop going down Tik Tok rabbit holes of Eddie's stupid song without being able to complain to you about how fucking tired I am of not being able to do anything," Steve said, "and also I want so much ice cream and a really stupid TV marathon with my best girls and maybe roast Eddie's new song a little bit."

Nancy had already pulled up doordash and they were soon on their way to eating a smorgasbord of snacks and ice cream while watching reality TV and eventually dissolving into a karaoke session initially overdramatically singing along to Eddie's new single and ending with some old school Taylor (her version of course). Steve was feeling better than he had in a long time and started getting out of the fog he'd been in since Eddie had left.

Eventually, Steve started answering his agent's emails again and submitting tape for different roles. He'd gotten a part in a small indie film in Italy and Steve was pretty ready to take it. It was an interesting part, it was literally away from everyone he knew, the director was kind of weird and didn't let his cast use socials while filming and encouraged only phone calls and old school letters to really get into the period mindset. It was honestly kind of a perfect next project and it helped that the script was actually kind of great.

"As long as you aren't going because you're running away, Steve. You know I don't want you to leave and you shouldn't feel like you have to," Robin said as he was starting to pack his bags.

"I really like the project. It's a good script and I get to get out of my own head for a while. Kind of perfect honestly. The shoot is pretty short its only like four weeks so I won't be gone that long and you and Nancy can keep holing up in my apartment without me getting in the way!" Steve answered.

"You're never in the way, dingus," Robin nudged him and then brought him into a hug, "we'll just miss you kiddo."

"I'll miss you too, Bobbie. Now let me go so I can pack." Steve pulled away with a bigger smile than he'd had in weeks.

part five

@lololol-1234 @swimmingbirdrunningrock @zombiethingy (if you wanna be tagged in future parts feel free to comment! happy to add people)

[balkanradfem]

Come to a chestnut roasting adventure with me!

I found all these chestnuts this morning, and realized it would be a good day to go and roast them. My only condition for this is that it didn't rain in the last few days, so I would be able to find dry wood for the fire. Here's the preparation:

I carved in little x's on the chestnuts, if you don't do this, they explode in the fire, I've tried it out! I gathered all my resources: an old pan, some newspapers, matches, some easily flammable sticks, and the chestnuts. I packed it in my backpack and added a bottle of water, which is also important!

Now we can start the adventure, here's where we're going:

We have arrived! Now let's see how our designated fire spot looks like:

It is, in fact, filled with mud. From here on, we are doing chores. The first chore is to find some rocks, and position them so they can hold the fire up, because the fire should not be lit on mud. There's plenty rocks around the river so this wasn't a lot of work!

The next chore is to find fuel for the fire. There's little branches, sticks, pieces of bark and wooden debris everywhere, so this is a matter of foraging. We are going around picking up little sticks and wooden logs!

It's almost like a little cleanup, the place looks nicer afterwards. Now, these need to be broken into smaller pieces, and sorted into categories of 'tiny branches, medium sticks, and big pieces of wood'. There we go:

It is a satisfying task, and a good way to figure out which pieces are truly dry; dry wood will snap easily, if it's bendy and refusing to break, then it's not the best idea to put it in a fire, it's going to cause a lot of smoke and refuse to catch on fire quickly.

Now we can build a fire!

I don't know what the professional way for this is, but I've been lighting fires since I was a kid so I got this. I want the fire to be as far away from mud as possible, and for it to draw oxygen from underneath, so I will first add a few of the biggest sticks, and light the fire on top of them. This will make sure the fire has air! Then I'm scrunching up some newspapers, and adding the driest little sticks on top of them. I'm not trying to make this part airy, I'm trying to surround the newspapers with pieces of wood completely, so the heat cannot escape! The more heat there is trapped under the wood, the easier it will all light up. Heat escaping out would be a waste.

It's all ready, I'm grabbing the matches and lighting the newspapers:

I took a video of how fast this fire started, and it was almost scary, I had to keep backing away to not get burned. This is 10 seconds after I lit the newspapers:

The fire is immediately successful, so much so that I added everything I found on it, and then had to go get more pieces of wood! The fire for roasting chestnuts needs to achieve a certain amount of heat before we can start; we need glowing embers. I let it burn for 15 minutes, and at that point it is so hot I can't even get near anymore, and I could see embers. Now the fire is to be rearranged so it can accommodate the pan!

I moved the wood around so the glowing embers were exposed and put the pan right on top of them; it's being held by other sturdy pieces of wood that are not going to fall apart easily.

While they were roasting, I took some time to make a little origami box out of newspapers, to put the chestnuts in when they're done. After about 20 minutes of roasting they were finished!

I tried one and they're perfect! And at this point if you remember to look up, there's a beautiful sunset going on in the river:

I went on to make a second batch, to share and have some for dinner later. By the time they were done, the sun set completely. Our roasting adventure went successful! Chestnuts were roasted, good times were had, sunsets were enjoyed. I made sure to put the fire out with water before leaving. My fingers still smell like fire!

[sixty-silver-wishes]

Roasting you based on your favorite of these German Expressionist films

(this post is a joke; don't take it too seriously lol)

Metropolis: You've got spicy political opinions and daddy issues. You were doing great in life until you found out how corrupt capitalism is sometime in high school or college, and it's absolutely mind-boggling to you that nobody else is batting an eyelid at all the injustices of the world because they're too busy defending the concept of a 40-hour work week. You're constantly checking your privilege and everyone else's, too. Or you just want to bang a robot. That's probably it.

The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari: Okay, I could make a joke about you being emo, or you liking the most basic film on the list, but that's not really the issue here. Your Hot Topic fashion sense and shitty drugstore eyeliner are nowhere near as concerning as the fact that you have no idea who the hell you are without them. You constantly overthink everything and are great at solving everyone's problems but your own, and you're averaging like 4 hours of sleep on a good night. You can't get your intrusive thoughts to leave you alone and if you relate to literally any character in this film, you need to get help. It's okay; I promise your therapist doesn't secretly hate you.

M: You're a surprisingly sweet and empathetic person for someone whose favorite film on this list is about a child murderer. You care deeply about others and are very much in tune with yourself, but unfortunately, everything you say is so off-putting that most people don't get that vibe about you. If they actually gave you a chance, they'd find that you have a great personality, but they don't, so instead you're stuck at home stalking your ex's vacation photos on social media.

Dr. Mabuse the Gambler: You like the finer things in life. You're high-maintenance, your tastes are classy and expensive, and you actually know how wine tasting works. However, you're way too into conspiracy theories and pyramid schemes for your own good, and your cultured proclivities are deeply undercut by the fact that you probably got into Bitcoin when that was a thing. Your two career paths are either "businessperson" or "cult leader," and it's concerningly difficult to discern which one you're on.

Nosferatu: Your sense of humor relies entirely on recycling memes that are at least a decade old, and the fact that you communicate nearly entirely in pop culture references is your attempt at disguising the fact that you're really bad at socializing. You think you have lots of great ideas that make perfect sense, but most people don't know what the hell you're going on about. However, you've got one or two ride or die friends who love you for who you are, cringe and all. Keep being you, Nosferatu fan. Never change.

The Student of Prague: I'm not sure this one is actually anyone's favorite film, but if this was yours, you were into shipping the Onceler with himself when that was a thing. You're super competitive, but you have a tendency to overwork yourself and burn out quickly, so now you're living off of Top Ramen and protein bars. People love to tell you that you "have potential" and "just need to apply yourself," but what they don't get is that you're stressed 24/7 and won't give yourself a break because you're trying so hard to satisfy your own impossible standards. Please take a nap.

Der Golem: You're great with children, small animals, and potted plants, but that's because literally anyone else you have to deal with fucking pisses you off. The absolute audacity of everyone around you means you're never not two seconds away from throwing hands, but honestly? You're always right and you should say it. You're actually a really nice person, but people keep pushing you to your limit and you're sick of it. On an unrelated note, you probably work in customer service.

Different from the Others: If this is your favorite film and you're a member of the LGBT community, that's perfectly understandable. It was a monumental achievement in LGBT cinema in the early 20th century and, despite being somewhat dated by today's standards due to the time period it was created in, largely holds up as an educational, yet tragic, piece of cinema. That being said, if you're a straight/cis/allo person and this is your favorite film, what is going on with you. I want to study you in a lab. How did you find this film. Come to think of it, how did you even get into German Expressionist cinema to begin with. I just want to know

Der Januskopf: [REDACTED]

Genuine: You're a "Caligari" fan who doesn't want to seem basic like the rest of the "Caligari" fans, so somehow you ended up here. You don't actually like this film aside from the visuals. Nobody actually likes this film. You want so, so badly to like this film, so you lie to yourself, just like you do about everything else.

[lanawinterscigarettes]

Maybe something with love quinn dating a really picky eater? Like EXTREMELY picky. Thqnk you <3

I decided to go with headcanons rather than a fic, I hope that's okay! (I'm autistic and have food sensitivity so this was so relatable haha) hope you like it <3

Love Quinn dating someone who's a really picky eater

Warnings: referenced eating disorders, I think that's it??

Love is a lot more observant than most people give her credit for, so I think she'd recognize your pickiness right away

Making other people food is her love language, so she'd probably invite you over to her place or maybe even Anavrin's kitchen as one of your first dates so she can find out what your favorite meals are and make them accordingly

You know how in the first episode of season two she took Joe to all those different food places in LA so she could make him the perfect roast chicken after? That's how dedicated she is to finding out what you like

She keeps a mental (or maybe even a physical) list of all the things you like and don't like, textures that bother you, what your safe foods are, what you're open to trying, what's completely off limits, ect.

If you're the type of person who always orders the same chicken tenders and fries off the kid's menu at any semi-fancy restaurant you go to, she's more than happy to order it for you if it makes you feel embarrassed (and she's not afraid to chew someone out for making you feel bad about your eating preferences)

She makes it her personal goal to make sure you eat something at least once a day, just to be sure you're getting the proper nutrients that you need. Love knows that some pickiness when it comes to food can stem from some type of eating disorder, so she always gently encourages you to at least eat something small even if you're not very hungry

If you feel better eating with another person, then she'll always take her lunch breaks with you so you guys can eat together. If you'd rather eat alone, she'll check in on you just to make sure you're okay but other than that will leave you be (and of course she makes you lunch everyday, what kind of girlfriend would she be if she didn't?)

Even if you only eat the same five things on rotate, she still keeps the ingredients for said meals stocked up in her house so she can always have something that you'll want to eat (and if you ever fall out of interest with any of those things, no worries because she can just use the leftover products for Anavrin)

If you're ever having a day where nothing seems to strike your fancy, she'll take that as a challenge and makes it her personal mission to find at least one thing that'll spark your interest, even if the serving you eat is super small

No matter what your preferences are or what kind of struggles you may have with food, Love will always be understanding and supportive, doing whatever she can to make sure you always feel comfortable and safe with eating the food that she makes for you

End notes: this is kind of short but I hope you liked it regardless <3

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[three--rings]

Threerings' Dinner Plan

Okay so you've got the average or more than the average amount of stress and limitations to your time and/or ability, but you like to eat good food. And you know you need to both eat healthier and more cheaply (i.e. home cooked food.) What do you do?

Well in the past few months I've kinda perfected a system for low effort cooking of very healthy meals that last for many days of leftovers. None of this is revolutionary or anything or original but IDK it's working really well for me so I'm sharing.

(Also this is for omnivores. Sorry non meat eaters.)

Basically the idea is sheet pan meals. Like I said, not revolutionary. But I've found a system to make it as easy and low-effort as possible.

Step One: Choose your meat and recipe.

So mostly I use chicken for this, because it's cheapest. But if your store is having a great sale on pork or beef, by all means. This last week I did pork tenderloin cause they were super cheap I just searched for a recipe for sheet pan pork tenderloin and adapted it.

But we're gonna assume you're going chicken. So I really only like chicken breasts, but if you like thighs you can use those because it's cheaper. I typically use about 1.75-2lbs of chicken at at time for these recipes.

So what I do is buy the thin sliced chicken breasts from the store. The benefit here is they are already pre-trimmed of all the nasty parts so you're not paying for bits of chicken you don't want and also you don't have to handle and cut the chicken yourself. All I do is open the package and I cut each piece of sliced chicken in half in the middle, horizontally. You don't have to do that, but it makes all the pieces about the same size and it fits better on the tray and then people can take exactly as much meat as they want more easily. (I'm only feeding two adults but it would work well for kids that way.)

Step Two: Veggies

So that's your meat, then you need veggies. I use frozen veggies because they are 1)cheaper and 2)pre-cut. You can pretty much use whatever veggies you like with whatever recipe, but I try to keep it in theme. Like with a Mediterranean dish I did onions and bell peppers and cauliflower. Recently I got a bag of "roasting vegetable blend" that was excellent with brussel sprouts, butternut squash, and onions. Get the higher quality veg like broccoli "florets" cause it's worth a few cents more. You will need/want more veggies than you think, like 20 oz total, you can mix a couple small bags of different ones per tray. And they will shrink a good deal in cooking.

Step Three: Sauce/seasoning.

And then we have seasoning/sauce. This is where I turn to internet recipes for "sheet pan whatever chicken." But I have a few I've used that I've adapted so I'll give them here. Whatever you do, basically you just mix the sauce and pour it over the chicken and/or vegetables and throw it all on a sheet tray and cook it in the oven. (Specifics below.)

Korean Chicken

4  tablespoons dark soy sauce (I've tried both dark works better)

4 tablespoons brown sugar

2 tablespoons neutral oil

1 tablespoon sesame oil

2 teaspoons Sriracha sauce

4 cloves garlic , minced (or ½ teaspoon garlic powder) (I use pre-minced jar garlic for ease)

1 tablespoon gochugaru red pepper flakes (if you don't have these just either use a smaller amount of regular red pepper flakes or just more sriracha. This shouldn't be really HOT, just tangy. )

Do Broccoli and Chicken with this, and mix it all in the sauce. It makes the absolute best broccoli EVER. Like I just want a plate of this broccoli it's so GOOD.

Greek Chicken

2 tbsp olive oil

2 tbsp fresh lemon juice

6 cloves garlic minced

1 tbsp dried oregano

1 tbsp dried parsley

1/2 tsp salt

1/4 tsp black pepper

1/4 cup feta cheese crumbled

(Sub pre-juiced lemon juice and jarred garlic for ease.) Marinate the chicken in the mixture for like 30 minutes first if you have time. Onions, bell peppers and zucchini is good for this. Don't add feta until the last 3 minutes of cooking, sprinkle feta over it and then put it back to get a little melty and browned.

Shawarma Chicken

3 garlic cloves, minced

1 teaspoon ground coriander 

1½ teaspoons paprika (may substitute smoked paprika)

2 teaspoons ground cumin

½ teaspoon ground turmeric

1 teaspoon fine salt

¼ teaspoon black pepper

3 tablespoons neutral or olive oil

Juice of ½ lemon

You can again marinate the chicken for a bit if you want. But you don't have to. I recommend cauliflower for this, with whatever else you like. Grape tomatoes are good too. For this one I sprinkled the veggies with curry powder to make sure they got seasoned because there wasn't that much of the marinade.

So for ALL of these the process is this:

Preheat over to 450

Spread the frozen veggies all over a sheet pan (wrap the pan in aluminum foil first for easy clean up.) You can drizzle them with oil, salt and pepper, or a little of the sauce/marinade and toss to cover. Toss the sheet in the oven while it's still preheating. This will get the veggies started and defrosted before you add the chicken so it will all cook together.

Meanwhile get the chicken ready/wait 10-15 minutes for the oven to heat and the veggies to start cooking. (If you're using smaller/more tender veggies you can cut this time. Skip this entirely if you're using fresh.)

Mix your thin sliced chicken pieces with the marinade/sauce. Remove veggies from the oven and push to the sides to make room for your chicken in the middle. You can also simply lay the chicken pieces over veggies if you don't care about the veggies getting carmelized. Arrange your chicken and dump all the sauce. Return to oven.

Cook for about 20-25 minutes. You can check the temp of the chicken with a thermometer, but it's so thin it should be fine. This is why we start the veggies first so they can get mostly cooked and have time to start browning without overcooking chicken.

Remove from oven.

Serve with rice. I have been going the ultra-lazy route of using frozen microwaveable rice, but some of you may have rice cookers.

Congratulations you have a super healthy meal. If you feel crazy you could make a second tray of veggies at the same time and just have less meat with each meal to stretch your $. You could also add beans to your veggies and same.

My husband and I can get dinners for 4-5 days out of one of these meals. But neither of us eats a lot at a sitting, so ymmv on that.

You can also probably see how to adapt this. Find a sauce/marinade recipe, choose veggies and meat, and go! You will have to figure out the cook time for different kinds of meat though.

[bettsfic]

Writing q: do you/did you ever feel like there's a dichotomy between writing something fun and light and tropey & writing something good/that you're proud of? I'm trying to write a romcom-esque multichap fic that ends happily but I keep running into this mental block that it's not Serious Work so it can't be what i would consider good (which is hilarious because a) its all fanfiction none of it is serious?? and b) i know that's not true!) lmao. Was jw if you have any thots on this

i've got an analogy for you.

before i started writing, i was really into baking. back then i was not only a perfectionist but an extremist. i believed that REAL baking meant using the rawest possible ingredients. the idea of store-bought puff pastry or pie crusts was appalling to me.

and every year i baked a pumpkin pie for thanksgiving. to bake the pumpkin pie, i had to go out at early o'clock in the morning on a saturday to my local farmer's market and pick out the most perfect pumpkins. and i don't know if you've ever baked pumpkin pie with real pumpkins but it takes a long damn time. and it's hard. and so i baked the pumpkins for hours and scraped out the innards and made a puree, and i roasted the seeds for a snack. and amid all that, i made the crust from scratch too.

the pie always turned out! so i kept making it that way. until one year i just wasn't up to the task, and instead swallowed my pride and bought canned pumpkin and a premade crust.

and it tasted exactly the same as the pie that took me an entire day to make. it was also much cheaper, because in our era of industry, the processed stuff has become more affordable than the raw stuff unless you grow it yourself. (and believe me, i wanted to.)

the only difference i could discern was in the texture, because canned pumpkin is pureed more than i could puree real pumpkin. canned pumpkin also has other kinds of gourds in it, but that doesn't really affect the taste. i also felt bad for not supporting my local farmers. but it was worth it to be able to bake a pie from start to finish in 90 minutes.

for so many years i had it in my head that if a process is harder, the result is better. it was that mentality that kept me in a job i hated for a long time. it's hard and i don't like it, therefore it's more serious and respectable. it was unconscionable to me to think that something fun and easy could result in something good.

when you're writing fanfiction or anything where you're relying on the audience's knowledge of something else (like tropes), you can get it in your head that it's inherently easier and therefore worse. and because it's a skill, in order to become better at it, you have to challenge yourself. to challenge yourself, you have to make it harder.

but you're making something. you're putting words on a page in formations that have never existed before. that's hard, period. you don't have to make it harder. your readers will value it regardless of the challenge you give yourself. every thanksgiving, my family just appreciated that i had baked a pie. they didn't care how i'd baked it or what ingredients i used. yes, the longer and more difficult process created a product i was more proud of than the shorter, easier process. but you can't taste pride.

this is something i have to remind myself of all the time, because my instinct is to make everything more difficult than it has to be. you're always going to be your own worst critic, in part because you're the only one who knows your own process and the blood, sweat, and tears you put into it. but ultimately, nobody cares about the pumpkins. all they want is the pie.