#Mountain View Food Experience

[inboundremblog]

Savor the Flavors of Mountain View, CA, Restaurants You Can't Miss!

Credit: Image by ELEVATE | Pexels

Experience Authentic Cuisine from Around the World with Mountain View, CA Restaurants

Mountain View, situated in the central hub of the iconic Silicon Valley in California, is known to enjoy the modern side of living and its diverse culture. Establishing a rich culinary landscape that celebrates the diversity of Mountain View CA restaurants will give residents and tourists plenty of dining options to satisfy their hunger and indulge in a wide array of dishes they crave!

The increasing diversity of hip joints, simple grills, and sophisticated places in the capital is a clear example of the increased number of restaurant services. Let’s discuss this more in the succeeding sections.

Where To Go in Mountain View, CA

Like many other states in the United States, Mountain View, California, has various restaurants that serve food from all over the world.

Cascal Restaurant specializes in Spanish and Latin American food, including some culinary specialties that should not be missed, such as seafood paella or empanadas.

Alexander’s Patisserie lures with delicious French-inspired baked goods, including macaroons and croissants.

Oren’s Hummus Shop offers Middle Eastern cuisine, including sabich, falafel, hummus, and other tasty options.

For pizzas, Doppio Zero brings pizza in Neapolitan style with the use of Italian ingredients in preparing the pizzas.

The trendy Xanh Restaurant serves Vietnamese food with a touch of elegance, while The Steins Beer Garden & Restaurant offers traditional American cuisine and beer.

Hangen Szechuan Restaurant is known for its spicy food, including Kung Pao Chicken and Mapo Tofu. At Amber India Restaurant, you can savor Indian food options such as Butter Chicken and Lamb Biryani.

Residents of Mountain View and lovers of good food, in particular, may continue gorging themselves in an unending list of restaurants and eateries in the city. Be it Spanish, French, Middle Eastern, or hot Szechuan taste, you will get an assuage of what you crave in this lively city.

A Foodie's Guide to Culinary Delights

Here are some suggested dos and don’ts to follow if you are a first-time visitor to Mountain View or a local who wants to discover new restaurants.

Explore Castro Street Regarding dining, Castro Street is considered in the center of Mountain View. Bordering on restaurants, cafes, and eating joints, this business street has much to choose from.

Go out for a walk and spend some time window-shopping and reading through the billboards of different restaurants to choose a place to try.

Try Global Cuisine Dining in Mountain View offers an added advantage since everyone will be privileged to taste the diverse global delicacies.

From ramen shops based on Japanese culture to curry houses with an Indian flavor, Mexican tacos, Italian pasta, etc., the city offers many cuisine types.

Do not be afraid of experimenting. Go for dishes that are entirely new to you—you never know what you will like!

Farm-to-Table Freshness Mountain View has fresh produce since it is situated in the middle of California’s agricultural land and can source most of its food from within the region all year round.

Due to the climatic conditions of this region, most of the restaurants here leverage fresh produce and have adopted the farm-to-table style of meal preparation that best characterizes the harvest season.

Choose the restaurants that work with local farmers to provide you with fresh and eco-friendly products.

Don't Forget Brunch Every day of the week is full of opportunities to eat in Mountain View, but the weekend is charming for brunches. Remember to do this early enough since several restaurants serving their brunches attract many customers.

Embrace Food Trucks Apart from typical restaurants, many mobile restaurants are commonly known as food trucks in Mountain View. These are mobile food outlets selling everything from great burgers to quality tacos and other foods on the move, making it convenient for those who want good food anytime.

Some food trucks might share their locations on social media accounts or announce special events.

Save Room for Dessert Each meal should be complete with a course of sweets, and the restaurant that bears the name of the city of Mountain View has some extra servings of desserts for you.

Indulge in sweet and yummy cakes, tempting ice cream, or creamy chocolates in any of the delicious shops in the city.

Consider Dietary Restrictions Whether you are a vegetarian or a vegan, have gluten intolerance, or have any other food issues, you won’t have any problems finding what to eat in Mountain View. You are free to request suggestions from your server or to make changes to any of the foods being served.

Make Reservations Many residents and repeat visitors consider Mountain View one of the best dining destinations, and some restaurants can reach total capacity on weekends.

It is better to make a table booking to increase the chances of getting a table at this or that place, especially if you are ordering more than four plates or table tending.

Support Local Breweries and Wineries In addition to food, Mountain View has a brewery and urban winery on its streets. If you ever find yourself in breweries, vineyards, or even restaurants where meals are accompanied by different beers and wines, do not hesitate to take the opportunity.

Ask the Locals Last but not least, do not hesitate to consult the locals for suggestions on where to go. Your hotel bellhop, the Uber driver, or even a stranger on the street may be able to recommend the best restaurants in Mountain View.

Ask the locals since they will most likely know of good spots and lesser-known restaurants you cannot find in guidebooks.

Conclusion

To sum it up, eating out in Mountain View, CA, is an incredible gastronomic experience that awaits you and your taste buds.

Stretching from exotic food from different parts of the world to freshly produced harvests from the local produce, it is a city that offers every type of food and drinks one may fancy.

By adopting these principles and remaining flexible when it comes to gastronomic delights, you will indeed have a great meal in this culinary heaven.

Visit https://tracyhomesales.com/mountain-view-ca-best-restaurants/ to find out more exciting information.

[theastrical]

Honeymoon with genshin men

honeymoon with genshin men! (their choices of destination, where do you guys stay at, and their action to showcase their love for you)

kaeya, diluc, zhongli, childe, alhaitham x reader

Kaeya’s Nobel Honeymoon

His plan is to make you feel like a royalty, as if you guys are indeed a heir to the crown or maybe the one holding the highest rank in the country. Well you two can only imagine right?

He bought a whole suite for you guys to stay in Airelles (Château De Versailles), France. The suite is called Suite Necker, It’s a beautiful suite, a magnificent one. The view is also wonderful, especially in spring.

He bought the suite for 4 nights, while he also makes sure both of you can have some fun times by participating in the palace tour or the dance in the royal ball.

Helps you whenever you need to fix your clothes, he also manage to fix any clothes malfunction, just incase it would embarrass you, he would fix it without you knowing; act of service is his passion.

Will take you out to some local choices restaurants, he pick the best one, not the one that are meant for tourist. He wants you to have the best food without thinking about the money you both spend over some tourist trap. (While eating, he would always prepare you and your food first, his? Later would be alright. He doesn’t eat his food when you haven’t start eating it)

Would photographed you across the city, the suites, the palace and everywhere you go. His excuse? “I just need to commemorate some beautiful things in here..”

Will buy some souvenirs you’re looking at, especially when you decide not to buy it. He would buy 3 kinds of it and pretend to also like it. Shows it to you (as a surprise) after you both get home from the honeymoon.

Diluc’s cottage dream

He rent a luxurious chalet, the name is chalet melilot. It’s Specifically placed near the mountainside of switzerland so you both can have morning stroll everyday in your honeymoon. Wants to be intact with mother nature since he thought it’ll be more private and sensational.

Thought it’ll be great if you guys also do some surveys around the country for housing if you both enjoyed the country environment.

He would hire a local chef to make you both three course meal for lunch and dinner, it’s all Switzerland’s traditional specialties. Specifically made using organic products and original recipe. He wants you to taste the best healthy and tasty meal, while savouring every each bite.

Every day when you guys walk around the mountain and feel even the slightest bit of cold, he would let you use his jacket, the scent is like firewood, so much like diluc.

At night, he would take you out to the city and even take shots of you using his polaroid. Every pictures he take is meant to be inside his small album of you and him (which he would present it, at the end of the joirney), he would pick the best pictures for his wallet. He seem to have everything in remembrance of you.

At the end of the honeymoon, he surprised you with a dog…a samoyed. It’s a cute thought, also an attentive one. “i know i wouldn’t always be at home and i’m sorry, this honeymoon make me realise that giving you my best is my priority and i will do so by giving you an accompany…this samoyed of our will be our forever accompany in this marriage okay…?”

Childe’s new home

Ajax didn’t like those romantic and sensational types diluc is into, he’s certainly into kaeya’s idea, but he wouldn’t want that either, it’s too cliché. He wants something traditional and refreshing to you. Something that he wants you to experience only with him, not exactly traditional, not exactly romantic, but certainly fresh. It’s not exactly the typical “honeymoon”, since his purpose is to make this trip unforgettable for both of you, and to learn everything about you both.

And that’s to travel around the world to search for a new home, he thought it’ll be better to stay in his hometown but for the sake of you, he wants to make a fresh new start. At your first stop, you guys explore Europe, especially around Sweden and Greece. The second stop is to explore around Asia, which is Mongolia and Vietnam. it’s such a fascinating trip for you both. The third stop is New Zealand, your once go-to-list. To live under these countries culture and to feel as one. You guys kept on trying to adapt to the new environment and it makes you both know each other’s habit easily.

You guys have stayed in numerous hotels and apartments. It’s not exactly romantic nor is it special, it’s both of your purpose to make this trip a whole get-away for newlyweds pressure and such. but makes it endearing is how you both eventually just fall asleep within each other embrace, just resting peacefully in ajax’s chest, while his arm delicately circled your waist. He’s a warm blanket and you’re his beloved plushies.

He would tie your shoes, help you with your bags or laundry, and over all, he’s the one helping you in any chores and in any given chance. He wants you to enjoy this trip without having the burden to do this and that. He just wants you to lay back and have your whole attention to him. Ajax only purpose is to see your smile at the end of the road.

When you both are just too exhausted to explore, you guys would order local take outs and eat it like a hungry fish would. He would laugh and you would teased him. It’s just a moment of laughter and satisfaction. No such a thing as workloads. Just you both having the time of your life together.

Zhongli’s relaxing party

This man’s honeymoon idea is exactly like how you imagine it. Boring but addictive at some way. you both would explore pretty gardens, lovely mountainsides, tea parties, and museum, at taiwan. It’s such a boring idea, but whatever make zhongli smile and whatever make you feel like at an old grandpa house is exactly what you called “the zhongli zone”. It’s comforting, being with zhongli, already feels like you’re being snuggled by a huge polar bear.

He’s such a sweetheart for always making the trip as…relaxing as possible, not wanting to pressure you with the family’s perspective of how newlyweds should act.

It’s not like you’re the one who’s pampering zhongli, he is also trying his best to be suitable enough as the one who court you first. He dips himself inside the hot spring while snuggling with you, he shops some random goods with you, and he also do tea testing by sharing the same cup as you. So relaxing…it makes you forget that you will continue to work again soon sigh.

“do you like this tea? I made this out of boredom and i saw you getting exhausted just by running through stores at the local shops…the goods are okay but i suggest you to keep your health the same, okay?”, this translates to “i’m worried about you, please don’t tire yourself. I want you to be as careful as you are with me when you take care of yourself.” Nonetheless, serves you the tea and even gives you a heartwarming kith on your cheeks.

he would buy you some keychains, handmade ones since he believes it’s more practical for it’s creativity and thoughts in it…also because he appreciates people’s handcraft. He still keeps your handmade bracelets even at your wedding day. he also picks you small pretty flowers when you both were strolling around the floral garden. Fresh and beautiful, just like you (he initially want to say this but he tries not to make it cheesy).

Silently serves you like a dutiful servant would. Makes you tea, cooks you meal, and makes sure you’re well rested. He always wants to pay back the things you did for him, he knows it’s not 100% the same, but he wants you to know that…this honeymoon is made especially for you. After covering you with the blanket and puts on some scented candles. He whispers at night when you were already asleep, “sorry i can’t be the best, but i’ll always be here when you need me. I love you.“

Alhaitham’s wonder of the world

You present him a ticket to travel Papua especially Raja Ampat for your honeymoon and he was so excited, he holds your hand with glimmering eyes…with a calm devoted look. He’s always been this way, hard to show his emotion, even when he’s screaming internally.

When you both arrived, he prepared everything for both of you so you don’t have to stressed out. He loves being the one in charge of itinerary, he loves to work on the schedules. You would see him humming with a straight face in his work office while he’s typing down the things you would do together as husband and wife.

he sets you both up to a diving session. He’s so excited he talks about it all night along. You can hear his yap even at the first day you got there. He loves nature, the sea, and everything inside that deep ocean. You were kind of scared of the ocean, you confessed that at first, and he looks at you with confusion before he say such a reassurance that makes you rethink if this is THE Alhaitham you’re thinking of. “if you’re scared, hold my hand and close your eyes..i promise, i’ll be there, beside you.”

That words he make instantly scarred your heart with love. You don’t even know how it makes you fall harder for him. But you did, you trusted him with your whole life, you hold his hands and he dive you into the sea-worlds. He giggles when he sees you all scared…he hugged you while you both dive so you won’t be scared or sink when you’re not in his watch. “don’t be coy now…trust me, i won’t let you out of my sight.”

When you got back home…you don’t even know how he made you so in love. Sigh…alhaitham, the man you are..

Taglist; @esthelily @indarius @n0tamused @sangoqueenkoko @voidlesslove @lyralibra @eroxotckv @rikasurl @dailypenpen @daydreaming-paradies

[ryanmarshallryan]

Yes Man

Once upon a time, there was a boy named Allen, who was a very picky eater. Once, while his family was hosting a barbeque for their neighbors, Allen turned his nose up at a casserole a local witch had provided for the potluck. The witch decided to give him an enchantment, which forced him to say "yes" whenever offered food of any kind. She warned that the spell could only be broken once he truly appreciated the food given by others.

As Allen grew to adulthood he tried dish after dish, often against his own desires, but nonetheless has a palette of varied experience. Remarkably, he didn’t show too many signs of one who always seems to be eating, as his metabolism was swifter than most.

But all that changed. Reaching his 30th birthday, Allen’s metabolism had slowed considerably since his youth, to the point that he had doubled his weight in only a few years. He had not kept up with acquiring new clothing, and the sight of his fat gut protruding out of shirts too tight to fit became the norm.

It was this view that attracted a feeder named Castien to make Allen’s acquaintance. Castien stumbled upon a bar that Allen frequented. Castien noticed Allen said “yes” whenever the barman asked him if he wanted any more food. He watched as Allen ate plate after plate, trying each of the day’s specials in turn. Allen’s stomach pushed up against the bar, and he showed noticeable discomfort being so full. The barman suggested he might need to be cut off for the night.

“But, come back again soon!” the barman shouted after Allen.

“Yes,” Allen said with a sigh, waddling towards the door.

“My best customer, that one is. Never seen anyone down so much food in one sitting before,” the barman said, noticing Castien watching Allen go.

Castien got down from the bar and cautiously approached the burgeoning man, who politely nodded to him.

“Hey, would you ever want to get food sometime?” Castien said hopefully.

Allen looked mildly surprised at the forward encounter, but shrugged and said “Yes!”

Over the next few months, they met up occasionally, Castien offering more food, and Allen downing it all. Castien noticed that sometimes Allen would look like he didn’t really want to eat more even though he said he did. Castien assumed that perhaps he was just being polite, but wanted to make sure the next meal was something Allen loved.

“I don’t want you to just eat for the sake of it, food should be enjoyed! What’s your absolute favorite?” Castien prompted.

Allen thought for a moment and decided to respond in veiled sarcasm, “Casserole.”

So Castien made one homemade. Well, three casseroles to be exact, as he didn’t expect Allen to stop after one serving. And he was right, as the evening progressed Allen ate not one serving, but an entire dish of one… then another… then most of the other (besides that which Castien had enjoyed himself).

Castien laid his head upon Allen's gargantuan belly as they digested their meal. He contemplatively listened to gurgles and pops of air traveling through Allen's guts.

"How did you get so big?" Castien asked, turning and caressing his hand over the mountain of flesh, watching its rise and fall with breath, slightly quivering under his ticklish palm.

"When people ask if you want to keep eating, just say 'yes' and the rest is history." Allen stated. Allen relaxed into his seat, and watched Castien, who was hypnotically watching Allen’s gut digest. Allen told Castien how he used to be much skinnier, "Back when in my early 20s I barely pushed 140... but now I'm going on 390 lbs and it doesn't seem to be slowing."

"I'm barely 120 lbs, so that means your belly alone probably weighs even more than my whole body!" Castien mentioned.

"Oh, for sure," Allen replied.

Castien continued his musing on Allen's appetite and belly, "I wonder if I would actually fit in there"

"What do ya mean?

"Oh nothing, just thinking - your gut is literally larger than all of me - so I wonder what it would be like to be curled up inside it," Castien put his ear back onto Allen’s belly and listened to the excited gurgles within.

"Oh, you'd be nestled in snuggly for sure, but even then you'd probably have room to stretch."

"You think so?"

Allen looked into Castien’s eyes to try to hint at the magic of it all, “I could literally eat anything, if someone asked me to.”

"Hmm… So if you could, would you eat me?"

Allen thought for a moment. He had never considered whether this would be an option, only joked at the prospect, but he knew the words that were coming out of his mouth before he could stop them, "Yes."

Castien looked up at Allen's eyes and smiled, "Well maybe we'll have to change up the menu one of these days..."

"A menu like that might be a pretty big commitment, ya know."

"A chef may have commitment to his food, but you don't hear anyone complaining. So it all depends, will you be dining on me tonight?"

Allen raised his eyebrows in surprise. The theoretical meal of eating Castien had suddenly become a reality to be done, and in no less time than over the course of the evening, "Yes!"

"Someone's eager for a taste of something new! I'm impressed. I feel like most people would be too picky of eaters to understand such fine delicatessen" Castien joked, gesturing to his body.

Allen had a funny feeling in his gut. Even though he had just downed enough food for a large family gathering, his gut suddenly felt empty, like it was harboring a big mass of air, waiting to be replaced with a large, very Castien-esque meal. His gut started loudly gurgling, catching the attention once again of Castien, who rubbed his palms across it back and forth. Castien looked quizzically into Allen’s eyes.

Allen knew that his mouth would open and his throat would relax without his meaning to, but this time he didn’t try to stop it from happening. He was curious as to whether this meal could indeed occur.

Castien stood up and considered Allen, peering into his throat, which was now inviting him down inside. Castien leaned forward, looking deeper into the abyssal maw until his head made contact with the back of Allen’s throat. Allen gently closed his lips over Castien’s head and swallowed hard.

Castien shivered for a moment, his body reflexively surprised by the sudden jolt in motion, as his shoulders, arms and torso were sucked down into Allen’s esophagus. Allen leaned back in surprise, looking down at the lower back of Castien, surprised that so much fit so easily into his maw already. He could feel his stomach stretching before him, anticipating the large meal on its way down.

Castien wiggled his body and lifted his legs up into the air, as Allen began to swallow them up. In mere moments, Castien’s toes had zoomed past Allen’s tongue and landed deep into Allen’s gargantuan belly. Allen felt Castien writhe inside him and wondered whether he would regret asking to be eaten.

“Wow! You were right, I can still stretch a little bit, your stomach is like a balloon!” Castien shouted.

Allen appreciated how willingly Castien just offered himself up as food, and was bewildered at his excitement about it.

“So how are you feeling, big guy? Big enough meal for you, or do you wanna eat some more?" Castien jested.

"Nah, I'm fuller than I ever have been, bud," Allen said casually. Then he realized he had said ‘no’ for the first time since the enchantment. The spell had been broken. He finally was fed a meal he couldn't help but fully appreciate the risk it took to create it. "You know what, Castien, I think I will eat a bit more. Just for you."

Allen got up, not without great difficulty, and waddled to the kitchen and started sending snack after snack into his awaiting maw, to the delight of Castien who squirmed around in the gluttonous rain of his favorite belly.

[cyberclouddream]

Travel Preferences & the 9th House

Aries in the 9th House (Leo Rising)

You’re always itching for a new adventure and love travel that feels exhilarating and bold. Or maybe you see every trip as a chance to prove something to yourself, craving that rush of excitement. You’re likely to be the one who spontaneously decides to book a flight just to try something new. For example, you might wake up one day and decide to take a road trip to the mountains because it sounds fun. You may be prone to random obstacles like last-minute changes to your itinerary or unexpected traffic jams that can make things a bit chaotic.

Taurus in the 9th House (Virgo Rising)

You prefer your travel experiences to be indulgent and luxurious, where comfort is key. Or perhaps you view travel as an opportunity to treat yourself to the finer things in life. You tend to gravitate toward places where you can savor good food and unwind in beautiful settings. For instance, you might enjoy a weekend getaway at a cozy cabin or a spa retreat where you can relax and rejuvenate. You may be prone to inconveniences like delays or weather issues that can mess with your laid-back plans.

Gemini in the 9th House (Libra Rising)

You thrive on mental stimulation and love to explore places that inspire curiosity and conversation. Or you might think of travel as a chance to gather stories and new ideas from different cultures. You’re all about those trips where you can connect with people and learn something new every day. For example, you might take a trip to a vibrant city and spend your days visiting museums and chatting with locals at cafes. You may be prone to things like miscommunication or unexpected encounters that lead to memorable adventures.

Cancer in the 9th House (Scorpio Rising)

Your travels often center around emotional connections and places that resonate with your personal history. Or maybe you feel a pull toward locations that evoke nostalgia or family ties. You tend to choose destinations that allow you to reconnect with loved ones or reflect on your roots. For instance, you might visit a family member in another state or take a trip to a place that holds childhood memories. You may be prone to sudden family matters or emotional surprises that could impact your plans unexpectedly.

Leo in the 9th House (Sagittarius Rising)

You love travel that feels grand and allows you to express yourself in a big way. Or you might see each journey as a chance to live life to the fullest and create unforgettable moments. You’re drawn to vibrant locations where you can soak in the local culture and show off your adventurous spirit. For example, you might plan a trip to a carnival or a cultural festival where you can participate and make a splash. You may be prone to unexpected changes in the schedule or oversights that lead to spontaneous detours.

Virgo in the 9th House (Capricorn Rising)

You approach travel with a meticulous mindset, always looking to maximize your time and experiences. Or perhaps you view each trip as a project that needs careful planning and execution. You tend to appreciate educational opportunities and experiences that enrich your understanding of the world. For instance, you might embark on a study abroad program or attend workshops while traveling. You may be prone to issues like over-scheduling or unexpected complications that throw off your well-organized plans.

Libra in the 9th House (Aquarius Rising)

You’re all about finding balance and beauty in your travel experiences, often seeking destinations that inspire peace and harmony. Or maybe you think of travel as an opportunity to cultivate meaningful connections with others. You enjoy visiting places that are aesthetically pleasing and culturally rich. For example, you might plan a trip to an art exhibition or a scenic coastal town with friends. You may be prone to unexpected social dynamics, like last-minute changes in plans that can create tension among travel companions.

Scorpio in the 9th House (Pisces Rising)

Your travel experiences are often intense and transformative, pushing you to explore deep emotional landscapes. Or you might see travel as a way to uncover hidden truths about yourself and the world. You’re drawn to destinations with rich histories or spiritual significance that challenge your perceptions. For example, you might choose to visit ancient ruins or attend a retreat that encourages self-discovery. You may be prone to unexpected emotional revelations or challenges that test your limits during your travels.

Sagittarius in the 9th House (Aries Rising)

You have a natural wanderlust and love exploring new places that expand your horizons. Or you might view every journey as an opportunity to learn and grow, seeing travel as an essential part of your life. You thrive on spontaneity and the thrill of discovering unfamiliar cultures. For instance, you might take a backpacking trip through various countries, immersing yourself in local traditions. You may be prone to unpredictability, like sudden detours or missed connections that lead to unique experiences.

Capricorn in the 9th House (Taurus Rising)

You approach travel with a goal-oriented mindset, often seeking experiences that align with your long-term ambitions. Or perhaps you think of travel as a means to achieve personal and professional growth. You prefer organized trips that allow you to explore while still maintaining a sense of control. For example, you might attend a conference in a different city and carve out time to explore the area afterward. You may be prone to work-related distractions or unforeseen commitments that interfere with your travel plans.

Aquarius in the 9th House (Gemini Rising)

You have a unique perspective on travel, often seeking out experiences that are unconventional or ahead of the curve. Or you might view each trip as an adventure to discover new ideas and innovative cultures. You love exploring places that feel different and challenge societal norms. For instance, you might attend a cutting-edge tech expo or travel to a city known for its creativity. You may be prone to unexpected changes in plans, like last-minute shifts that lead you to explore something new and exciting.

Pisces in the 9th House (Cancer Rising)

You’re drawn to travel experiences that are dreamy and inspiring, often seeking a deeper connection with the world around you. Or you might see each journey as a way to explore your imagination and creativity. You love visiting places that allow for reflection and artistic expression. For instance, you might choose to attend a retreat focused on art or spirituality in a picturesque location. You may be prone to surprises like schedule changes or emotional ups and downs that could shift your travel experience unexpectedly.0

[daydreaming-nerd]

Young Love and Old Money (Cassian x Female! Reader) Part 8

Young Love and Old Money Masterlist

AN: Hey guys I have a feeling no one really liked part 7 so I cut out a couple scenes for this. This chapter might feel like we’re jumping around a lot but I wanted to get you guys to the good stuff that you want in the next couple parts. I do want to take this time to tell you that things are going to get more angsty before they get more fluffy. At least the next two will have ANGST… but please hang in here with me and let me cook I promise you’ll love it in the end. I hope you all stick around. Sending you all love 🥺🖤

Summary: She was the most beautiful woman in Prythian, sister to the High Lord of Night, and now she is the soon-to-be wife of Eris Vanserra. Despite her many titles and her aura of unattainability, Cassian can't help but fall deeply in love with the princess of the Night Court. But will it be enough to stop her impending wedding to a man who is sure to destroy her from the inside out?

Warnings: Sexism, flashback to under the mountain, ANGST

Word Count: 5,609

The smell of sulfur and sweat filled my senses. During the day it was always burning hot and at night the temperature dropped significantly. The hour that it took for my body to adjust to the change in climate everyday was always grueling. When my brother and I first arrived he was able to keep me hidden, offering me his coat or an arm to slink under,  but the second Amarantha set eyes on him he was ripped away from me. I hadn’t been allowed to speak to him since.  

For the most part I had kept my head down, desperately trying to blend into the crowd of fae. It was  all I could do to survive, yet the whispers still followed me. 

“The Jewel”

“Rhysand’s sister” 

I knew they were all plotting against me, weighing whether or not my brother would have leave to reprimand anyone who dared hurt me. It was only a matter of time until someone decided to test the waters. 

I stood among the crowd of fae looking up at the dias before us. The King Of Hybern had come to see how his little experiment had been going and Amarantha had made a point of making a show out of it. She had the most noble subjects lined up first, Kallias, Helion and myself included among the ranks. The rest fell into place behind us.

I looked up to the dias where the High Queen sat, my brother standing dutifully by her side. To my knowledge he had not yet given in to her wishes, but by the bags under his eyes and the paleness of his skin I wondered how much more of her torture he could take. 

“As you can see my king, they have bent the knee without much fuss,” Amarantha gestured to those of us kneeling before her. The rocks under my knees cutting my skin. “We have all the High Lord’s but one present with us.” 

“Very good,” the king smiled, making his way down the line to survey every High Lord that Amarantha had lured into her domain. 

I kept my head down, staring only at the ground before me. The sound of his heavy boots crunching against the gravel was my only  indication that he was getting closer to where I was kneeling. The toe of his leather boots came into view before me and then stopped. My heart started to race and my palms became clammy behind my back. A cold hand lifted my chin and my eyes were met with a pair of black soulless ones.

“What about this one?” the king asked, never once taking his eyes off me. By the look on his face I could tell that he ate up every ounce of fear I projected, practically thrived off it.

“That is y/n, sister of Rhysand, High Lord of Night.” Amarantha purred, clearly proud of herself for getting me here. 

“I’d like to have her,” he said, pulling me up roughly by my arm. “It’s time I take a wife so that I might have an heir to this mighty kingdom I’ve built.” 

Fear courses through my veins as I feel tears start to prick my eyes. The king spoke so casually, like he was picking out a new tapestry. If I had eaten any food the last two days I would’ve hurled onto the stone floor below me. This would be my fate, and there was no one coming to save me. 

“She is yours then,” Amarantha said, sipping her wine. “She’s of no use to me. Make an example of her for all I care. Some of her companions have been especially restless these past few evenings.” she uttered, referring to how Helion punched a lesser fae for trying to touch me last night. 

“With pleasure,”the king growled, tossing me onto the ground. 

The stone and rock sliced open my palms, the pain quick and biting. I had barely any time to think before I felt the king kneeling behind me, his hands beginning to lift my dress. 

“NO NO NO!” my screams echoed off the walls falling upon deaf ears. 

I tried to crawl away but I was hauled back by a pair of hands, one wrapping around my neck forcing me up. 

“WAIT!” 

My brother's voice boomed through the room, ricocheting off the walls like glorious night earning gasps from the lesser fae behind us. Thankfully the disruption was enough to stop Hybern in his tracks. 

“If you don’t give my sister to him and you promise me her safety I will go to bed with you willingly,” Rhys pleaded and my heart dropped. 

My eyes flitted up to find my brother, the High Lord of the Night Court, and the most honorable man I ever knew, kneeling. His hands grasped one of Amarantha’s as she looked down at him with a light in her eyes. 

‘No, no, no, no’ was all I could think.

“Without any fuss?”she asked him. 

“Yes,” he agreed. 

“Rhys no!” I called but Hybern’s grip on my throat tightened. 

“For as long as I wish?” she clarified. 

“Yes.” 

“Consider it done,” she purred. 

My eyes flew open, my breath racing so fast I couldn’t keep up with it. A sheen of sweat coated my skin and it took me a moment to recognize where I was. 

Home. 

Cassian’s breaths rose and fell behind me, his arms around me an impenetrable wall to anyone who might try to take me from him. But it was all too much, and I needed to feel the fresh air. The fresh air I didn’t get to feel for 50 years. 

So I wiggled out of his grasp with great difficulty and padded down the hallway to the balcony where he and I normally would take off. 

The second the freezing night air hit my bare skin I felt like I could finally breathe again. My  nightgown did nothing to keep me warm but I was more than happy to feel the breeze. I looked down upon the sparking lights of Velaris and took it all in. There was a time I thought I would never see my home again, yet here I was. But at what cost? 

Images of Rhysand’s health deteriorating under the mountain flashed through my mind. What he had done with Amarantha, so completely unspeakable. The only time I ever saw him perk up was when the Cursebreaker showed up. The one who had saved us all, the one I would later find to be my brother’s mate. I had never met the woman, but I longed to thank her for what she did. 

These past few weeks I had been able to escape the nightmares of my time under the mountain. I supposed Cassian chased those monsters away. But as I stood here now I realized that it didn’t matter how far I ran, I could never be free of that stench of sulfur, and I could never outrun my guilt. 

“You’re going to catch a cold,” Cassian murmured from the doorway. I didn’t turn back to meet his stare, unwilling to show him the tears in my eyes. 

“It’s not that bad,” I laugh subtly wiping away a tear.

His arms wrap around me and I can’t help but lean into his warm chest, as his wings cocoon around me to block out the wind. He’s so warm, how is he always so warm? 

“Are you okay?” he asks softly, words rumbling through his chest. 

“I just had a nightmare that’s all,” I sigh, resting my hands to where his arms are clasped over my chest. “I thought that I was done having dreams about what happened under the mountain but I guess not. The things I saw? What Rhys did for me?” I pause, taking a deep breath. “Sometimes I think I’ll never really escape that place.”

Cassian turns me slowly in his arms and though I know he wants me to look at him, I can’t stop myself from wrapping my arms around him and burying my face in his bare chest. He holds me even tighter as his wings wrap around me, keeping in the warmth. 

“Never again y/n,” he coos, running a hand over my hair. “For as long as I live you will never have  to go back there again.”

I can’t help as a tear trickles down my eye at his words. My face burying further into his warm chest, the one place I truly never want to leave. Not when I longed for it for so long. I breathed Cassian in deeply, trying to remind myself I was here, I was home. Rhys was at the townhouse, we were both safe. 

“What can I do? How can I help?” Cassian asked me, pressing a kiss to my forehead. 

“Just hold me,” I say with a shaky breath letting my hands wander up and down the bare skin of his back.

I felt his chest rumble through my cheek as he let out a small laugh, “I remember when I would’ve done anything to hear you say those words.” he says wings coming in tighter around me. 

“You can hold me whenever you want general,” I smile, continuing to rub circles on his lower back.

“Almost whenever I want,” he corrects me quietly.

Reality came back to me in an instant. I knew what he meant. The complexities of marriages, and armies and alliances keeping us from being transparent.

But we would get there soon… Together we would get there.  

The next few days my dream follows me. 

Every night I dream of my brother on his knees before Amarantha, every night I wake in a cold sweat, every night Cassian soothes me until I fall asleep again. 

As I stare at myself in the mirror the bags under my eyes are a reminder that last night the nightmare had found me again. The ladies maids behind me pull my corset tighter, taking away my ability to breathe.

The only saving grace about today is that Eris isn’t here. Apparently he was out on a hunt with his brothers on a hunt and had been gone for three days. I knew it was really a bachelor party, no doubt spent in a seedy brothel, but I didn’t care to correct the autumn court women. How could I when they had the garment so tight I could hardly speak.

Today had been all about fitting me for my wedding dress, one I had yet to see. It was a long process of measuring my arms, legs, and bust. Picking out shades of white that would look best with my  complexion, (the debate between ivory and white lasted an hour and was utterly ridiculous). With Eris gone Cassain had spent the day lounging on a sofa, letting his guard down, that is until the corsets came out.

“Prince Eris says he wants her a size smaller for the wedding, keep pulling!” Ordered the older of the two, her gray hair falling from its updo. Gods they had already taken me in a full size.

My hands braced on either side of the mirror as the women yanked with all their strength one last time. It took everything in me not to scream out in pain once more as the fabric constricted around me again. I swore on my life I heard a rib crack.

“That should do it, measure her,” the older one snapped again. I wasn’t sure who this woman was but I didn’t dare argue with her. 

A tape measure was slipped around my waist for the millionth time as they checked to see if the dress would fit. I watched in the mirror as the young one held up the measurement, my eyes flitting to Cassian’s worried gaze in the back of the room.  

“Perfect, the dress will fit nicely after the alterations on the arms are done,” the older woman reported, putting her tools away. “You are free to go.”

“Can you help me get this off?” I ask trying to reach around trying to find the ribbons but the damned thing is tied so tight I can’t even reach. 

“Absolutely not!” the woman cried like I had asked her to murder her first child. “You will need to leave that on till at least the end of the day to train your waist.” 

I don’t argue, too scared to hear the woman squawk at me again like she just did. Thankfully the younger one, who I assume is her apprentice, helps me put on my old dress. The rusty colored fabric is looser in the middle now but all I can think about is going home. The sooner I’m home the sooner I can take this damned thing off. 

“Ready?” Cassian asks, standing from his spot on the couch. 

“More than you know,” I laugh waddling over to him. 

He leads me out of the palace and neither of us say a word or even dare to brush hands as we walk down the too quiet hallways. Even when this place is empty it feels like it has eyes everywhere. I swear if I looked up right now there would be a dozen people staring down at me. Normally the second that I step outside I feel like I can breathe, but today that’s not the case. I’m thankful that Cassian feels my urgency to get home shooting us both into the sky as soon as possible. 

I knew it was dumb but I never got tired of this part of our day. There was a certain sense of joy in getting to spend these peaceful moments with Cassian. Just him and I, the world soaring by around us with the knowledge that I would be home soon and life could resume as normal. 

The second we touch down on the House of Wind balcony I’m rushing to Cassian’s room, well I supposed it was our room now, considering I hadn’t slept in my own in over a week. I hear Cass close the door behind me as I fumble for the ties on my dress desperately wanting to take a full, deep breath. 

“Here let me help you,”  he pleaded, moving my hands out of his way. 

“Thanks,” I breathed as I felt my dress fall to the ground, the impending freedom starting to make my heart race. Cassian’s hands fumbled with the knot at the base of the corset. 

“They tied it so tight I can’t break the knot apart,” he said, starting to panic a bit as my breathing quickened. 

“Cut it off me Cassian, I can’t breathe,” I rasp trying to pull the top of the corset off my skin a bit to allow my chest to rise and fall normally but it’s useless.  

“Shit baby hold on,” he assures me. I hear him draw a dagger from its sheath on his thigh, carefully dragging the tip down the back. 

With every single snap of the ribbons I feel my lungs expanding again and the second the torturous garment is on the floor I nearly double over, taking my first full breath. 

“Oh my gods,” Cassian curses, his fingertips running down my spine gently, like he might hurt me.

“What? What is it?” I ask looking into the floor length mirror in the corner of the room. In it I can see Cassian looking over my back with furrowed brows. 

“They bruised you,” he said, eyes meeting mine in the mirror.

I turn around so I can see myself in the mirror from afar and sure enough a bruise lines my vertebrae where the corset was. No wonder I felt like I heard bones cracking.

“It’s fine, you’ve experienced worse,” I sigh, picking up a discarded robe on the floor and slipping it over my shoulders. 

“I’d rather fight a battle than wear a corset,” Cassian snickered and honestly I didn’t blame him. 

“At least I’ll never have to wear it again,” I say, tossing the corset aside, taking my anger out on it.

“Does that mean you’ve figured out how you’re gonna handle this?” he asks me tentatively, like he was terrified to either ask or hear my answer.  

I turn to meet his eyes, and for a moment I think about taking the easy way out, telling him something that might give him hope. But we had spent so long lying about our feelings for one another, wasting so much time. I wouldn’t lie about this. 

“I thought I did, but the last two times I brought up calling off the wedding he-”

“If he touches you again I don’t think I-” he trails off, looking to the side as if he’s trying to compose himself. “Last time it felt like my blood was on fire.” 

His admittance nearly brought me to my knees. The anger in his eyes veiled with sadness had me reaching up to cup his face, just needing to feel him. 

“I know Cass and I’m so sorry. I know this is hard for you and gods I’m a fucking monster-” 

“Fuck y/n,” he shakes his head taking my hands in his. “Don’t you dare apologize. You are trying to save your people and help your court. I’m being a selfish prick.” he says, casting his head down in embarrassment.

My blood boils at the thought that he felt selfish in any sort of way. Even more so that I was the reason.

“No, don't say that,” I order him, squeezing his hands to bring his gaze to mine. “You are the most selfless male I’ve ever known. I love you Cass, and I promise I’m going to figure this out. Because I honestly don’t think I can live without you now. You are everything to me, and so much more. I know I can do this,” I assure him, but really I feel like I’m assuring myself more.  

His gaze softens, and a twinge of light flickers in his eyes, one that looks like hope, “I know you can too, My smart, ambitious, caring and beautiful woman,” he praises, pressing a kiss to my forehead. “I am beyond honored to call you my princess.” 

“And I’m thankful to call you my general,” I smile, craning my head to read his face. “But mostly I’m just thankful to call you mine.” 

“I’ll be yours until my heart stops beating, and maybe even after that if there’s a place we go when our time in this world is through,” he coos, brushing a hair from my face. 

“Wherever that place is,” I sigh, pressing my head to his chest and pulling him closer to me. “I’ll follow you there too.” 

The days that followed were generally boring. Cassian would fly up to the Illyrian Mountains with Azriel to further prepare the troops for the impending war.  Apparently Windhaven had become the main stronghold for all the camps, and of course having hundreds of Illyrians in the same camp was more than rowdy. Cass and Az were constantly breaking up fights and coming home worse for wear. One night Cassian had come home caked in mud and blood, which he assured me wasn’t his own.

That night I demanded that he let me get him cleaned up and after hearing a million phrases along the lines of…

“You’re a princess, you shouldn’t be having to clean me up.” 

And 

“I don’t want to get you dirty.” 

I finally convinced the stubborn general to let me take care of him. I took my time rubbing out the knots in his shoulders, his muscles so hard I could barely feel my hands afterwards. The sounds that fell from his lips were enough motivation to keep going though. He even let me wash his wings, something I knew Illyrians didn’t normally tolerate. 

I remembered a day when I was just 10 years old and Rhys was 12. I had instinctively reached out to touch Rhys’ wing and he just about had my head. After that I was terrified to go anywhere near them. I could tell he felt bad about the encounter. One day when I was crying over something our father had yelled at me about he hugged me, and used his wings to cocoon me in.  It was enough to bring a smile to my face and ever since then it had become a silly thing he had done whenever I was upset. Gods we hadn’t had a moment like that in years.  

Nevertheless, my heart soared when Cassian asked me to wash his wings. I took my time to be extra careful. Grazing over sensitive areas when necessary. But appreciating every breathtaking inch of them.  I didn’t miss the way one of his large wings curled over my frame that night while we lay in bed, almost as if it was its own sentient being thanking me. 

“So last family dinner huh?” Azriel said as Cassian and I walked into the living room of the townhouse. 

The words rolling off the Shadowsinger's tongue was enough to make my stomach hurt again.  Rhysand had asked for us all to come together one last time for dinner as a family before I married Eris and moved to the Autumn Court. 

Cassian hadn’t asked for updates surrounding the nuptials that would be taking place in two days time, which I was thankful for, considering I had none to give. I knew that tonight he would ask for answers, I could tell by the quiet demeanor he had all day. But I would cross that bridge when I came to it. 

“Yeah I guess so,” I replied to Az as the three of us made our way to the long dining room table.

I took my usual place at the end of the table next to Azriel, Cassian sat across from me, Mor next to him and then Amren.  Rhys, who always sat at the head of the table, arrived late adjusting the lapels of his jacket.

“Forgive me for being late,” he apologized, taking his seat. “I was just reading the latest reports and well-” he trailed off, not wanting to bring it up. 

“What is it?” Amren demanded, leaving no room for him to avoid the question. 

“Hybern’s forces are growing and there are rumors that the spring court will stand with him,” Rhys admits and my stomach plummets. 

My eyes lift to Cassian’s and find him already looking at me. Worry passes between us. If the spring court has chosen to side with Hybern then we are truly outnumbered, especially if Tarquin refuses to fight. His foot brushes against mine under the table, the only comfort he’s able to offer me at the moment. 

“Why would Tamlin do that?” I ask, breaking the silence. 

“His father was one of Hybern’s biggest allies in the first war. My guess is that he’s trying to follow in his fathers footsteps,” Rhys turns to me. 

“Wouldn’t surprise me,” Mor scoffed, sipping her wine. 

The topic of conversation was dropped and dinner continued as usual. The boys swapped fond memories and fought over who was the true winner of last year's snowball fight. All the while I couldn’t shake what my brother had said, if the rumors are true and Tamlin joins Hybern what does that mean for the rest of us? For Cassian, who would no doubt be on the front lines. 

I lift my eyes to see him and just like always I nearly have my breath taken away. He had one arm thrown over the back of his chair, the other holding a glass of wine while he laughed at something my brother had said. Cassian was so handsome when he was like this, at ease, laughing with his family. I had yet to see him in battle, but I knew that seeing him that way would be just as knee wobbling. If he was gone then what? 

I looked at my family around me, the home my brother had built and fought so hard to protect. The warmth that lived here, it was something that couldn’t be put into words. It could all be gone in seconds, and then everything my brother sacrificed under the mountain? It would’ve been for nothing.

“Well I have to get back and finish some paperwork,” Rhys said, tossing his napkin on the table. 

“I have some mission reports to wrap up,” Azriel said, also throwing in the metaphorical towel.

We all stood, our chairs sliding across the wooden floor with a squeak, my eyes found Cassian and I could sense that he wanted to speak to me. 

“And you dear sister need to get some beauty sleep for the big day,” Rhysand said, placing a kiss to the top of my head. 

I embraced him warmly, taking in every part of him. I knew it wouldn’t be the last time I saw him, or the last time I saw any of them. But with the wedding and war, everything seemed so much more precious now. 

We all moseyed over to the front door where I said goodbye to Mor and Amren, as they wouldn’t be attending the wedding. I gave the townhouse one last look, taking in the warm fae lights, the plush carpets and the love that the place offered. I hoped it would be a bright light for me to remember when I would no longer be able to visit. The door closed and I swear a part of me was locked behind it. 

“I’ll see you two at home,” Azriel said, he didn’t even give us a chance to say goodbye before shooting off into the sky. 

“Walk with me?” I asked Cassian, cocking an eyebrow at him. 

“Look at that you’re taking me for walks now, what a responsible dog owner,” Cassian smirks referring to the dog comment made nearly a month ago. 

“You’re never going to let me live that down are you?” I laugh bumping into his arm as he holds open the front gate for me.

“Never baby, never,” he laughs

 Velrais was beautiful no matter what time of day or what season it was. But summer nights in Velaris had to be my favorite. While growing up I hardly ever got to leave the house, if I did it was when Rhys would sneak me out on night time flights. Often going into the city for sweets or ice cream. 

Tonight was perfect. The temperature was just warm enough to merit the lilac satin I was wearing, while the breeze coming off the Sidra kept us both cool. It seemed that the whole town thought it was a perfect night. Many people opted to take their dinner and drinks on outdoor patios, a small band had brought their instruments out for children and couples to dance to, and there was a general scene of merriment everywhere. This was home. 

  As we got closer to the river and further from the music the breeze picked up and Cassian’s wing shot out to create a shield for me. My mouth was halfway open poised to say something when a small cry came out from behind me. Cassian whipped around to assess the danger even faster than I could, but as we both turned around all we found was a little girl, about 5 years old, running toward me, doll in hand. 

“Princess! Princess!” she squealed in excitement as she came to a halt at my feet, tugging on my dress. 

“Celia!” shouted a woman running towards us. By the matching black hair and blue eyes I could tell it was her mother. “Get back here this instant!”

“Don’t worry she’s alright,” I smiled towards the mother trying to offer her some reassurance. 

The woman quickly halted in her tracks upon seeing my face and bent at the waist, “Your highness please forgive me,” she said quickly. 

“Please, please, no bowing,” I laughed, placing my hand on her shoulder. 

“You’ll have to forgive this one, she’s much faster than me,” the woman laughed nervously. 

I looked down to see the little girl looking up at me with stars in her blue eyes, I bent over to pick her up using all my strength to do so.

 “Sounds like she’s going to be a little warrior then,” I laugh. “You should meet my friend Cassian, he’s the general.” I say to Celia hiking her up on my hip to see Cass. 

He tucked his wings in tight and wiggled his fingers at the little girl, trying to seem less intimidating. She hesitantly waved back unsure of him and then turned her gaze to me. 

“You’re pretty,” she smiled, one of her tiny hands grazing my nose for emphasis.

“Why thank you. I think you’re very pretty as well Celia,” I smile at her cherub cheeks. “Tell me about your dolly,” I say looking at the porcelain doll in her arms.  

“Her name's Poppy, she’s a princess too,” Celia stated proudly holding the doll up so I could see her more clearly. 

“Well it’s lovely to meet you princess Poppy,” I nodded, shaking the doll's dainty hand. 

“Come on Celia it’s time for bed darling,” her mother laughed.

I placed the girl down on the ground and watched her run to grab onto her mothers legs. 

“Thank you princess,” she nodded to me. “General,” she nodded to Cassian. 

“Of course,” I said, waving goodbye.

As I watched the two walk away hand in hand I couldn’t help but notice the warmth there and the love. At that moment I found myself missing my own mother.  I looked out over the river, the calm black water drifting by as the stars sparkled over Ramiel. The distant sounds of children laughing, adults singing, music playing. 

I couldn’t leave this place to chance. This beautiful home that Rhys had built, the shops and restaurants. The people who lived here peacefully and without worry. 

I wouldn’t let people like Celia and her mother suffer from my selfishness. 

I turned to find Cassian already staring at me expectantly, as is if he was on edge waiting for me to say something. There was a wariness to his stare that told me he knew what came next.  

“Cass we need to talk,” I sigh.

I see his metaphorical hackles raise as he speaks, “No y/n, absolutely not. I won’t lose you.” he declared the heat of the argument already rising. 

“There isn’t a way out Cassian. I won’t put my people at risk like that. Think of the little girls like Celia. I can’t just sit by and watch her go to the slaughter because I didn’t want to marry someone.” I argue, gesturing to the city behind him. “And what about you? Huh? You heard what Rhys said. If Tamlin is involved and we still don’t have Tarquin’s support, then where does that leave you? On the frontlines. If something were to happen to you and I had to live with the thought that I could’ve done something to stop it but didn’t, I couldn’t live with myself.”

Cassian’s fists clenched at his sides, “I would rather live with you for however long I have left then be without you y/n.” he pleaded. 

His words hit like a blow as I felt tears pricking my eyes. This was the end. This beautiful, wonderful thing I had found that made me feel so alive, so loved. It was ending, and it was dying like a star. Burning bright and exploding, taking everything in its path. 

“And what about them?” I gestured to the city in the distance as a cheer sounded from one of the taverns. “If I don’t marry Eris that means I’m okay with their blood on my hands Cassian. What does that make me? A monster.” 

His jaw ticked,  “So I’m just supposed to sit here and watch you marry him? Watch him put his hands all over you? Watch you have his fucking children!” he roared, eyes only softening when I flinched away from him. 

“I’m sorry Cass, but I don’t know what to do anymore. All I know is that I want to save my people, and this is the only way I know how. The safest.” I say calmly. 

Cassian steps back and looks over the water, like he can’t even face me and I don’t blame him. He takes a deep breath, seemingly collecting his thoughts and then he speaks for the last time.

“He is going to kill you from the inside out y/n. You’re going to become just like that dog in his kennels,” he grits, unable to meet my gaze. “And I won’t stick around to watch.” 

He walks past me, wings nearly knocking me over. 

“Cassian please,” I cry trying to reach out for him, but he’s airborne and flying gods know where before my fingers can graze his leathers. 

I stand there watching him disappear into the night sky. Once he’s out of sight I swear I hear a roar so loud it rattles Ramiel. I’m left there on the edge of the river with no one but myself to wipe my tears. And I suppose I deserve that, I should’ve never kissed Cassian that night after the ball, should’ve never gone to bed with him. Should’ve never fallen in love with him. 

Turns out it didn’t matter what I did, I was a monster either way. 

And I sat and thought about that for a long time.

Part 9

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[meet-the-coffee]

Tf2 McDonalds Headcanons: Coffee edition...

So, somebody posted a template thingy and I replied to that post. Here's my full thing with my own template made lmao,,

Link to inspiriational and original post here

So, my headcanons are like this:

Heavy:

I view Heavy as a pretty serious guy so I think he can go a little further up with Medic, yet not all the way still. He can once in a while "oke oke. Heavy could go for burger. Let's eat burger." And then chuckle. But he's very much born and raised with responsibility with his mom and sisters. He's responsible and nurturing. That is his nature behind that solid mountain of a man. (Read: official comics) This man starts ordering and he doesn't stop ordering /hj,, no but fr I think like, he, alone, orders for 3 people to eat for himself. The rest stares in horror and/or awe.

Medic:

Medic is peak "ve havf food at home. Quiet down nowv, QUIEEET."

Engie:

Engie should be middle between "we have food at home" and the chanting. I think he's the mom of the group a lot of the times (cooks and bakes for the team in my hc) but I think he would very much also like to bring the "kids" to mcdonalds sometimes because why not!! So mid right it is. Probably orders some burger and a coffee. Sometimes a water or sooometimes some soda.

Demoman:

Demoman is a drunk. Drunks love fat food. Him and Soldier are dumbasses and I view them as being quite child-like like this. Demo and Soldier are absolutely chanting for burgers. But also, I think Demo is just a sliiight bit more responsible (he's mama's boy!!) Demo orders a wholeass meal ok. Something with lots of meat and bacon and cheese. Drink? Bro drinks beer. He tries to order a beer. He does not get a beer. He shrugs and chugs the beer in his hand.

Soldier:

On that note, I see Soldier as a sliiight bit more possible to go HELL YEA BURGERS, drive the fking bus in via drive-through and go "FIVE CHEESEBURGERS AND A COKE. A REEAAL AMERICAN COKE... YEAHAH." And then eat all of the burgers for himself. He's not rude he's just oblivious lmao,, not many braincells scrambling around in there.

Pyro:

Scout and Pyro are absolutely screaming for mcDonk. Pyro wants happy meal. He fucking loves the toys. He collects them, even. Keeps him occupied in the car lmao... he always orders a milkshake. Maybe strawberry flavour.

Scout:

Scout orders a 20-box of chicken nuggets (like me!!) Or the big McShare-box with different stuff like chili cheese tops, nuggets and chicken clubs, (also like me. We both audhd as hell ok) and always a coke and/or a milkshake. (Sometimes he wants both!!)

Spy:

Spy doesn't give a fuck, he gets a coffee. He just needs a coffee to be able to withstand the drive home with the bunch of toddlers in the backseat. Only chance they get to order something is if Scout bounces in (after experience from first or second time) to go "AAAND AY UHHHHHH--". Spy scoffs in annoyance and tells him to sit down and shut up. Scout does neither. He wants chicken nuggets. But first few times, Spy really just sighs at the chanting, throws his finished cig out of the crack in the window, and exits the highway for mcdonalds. And then he just goes "one black coffee please." And they go "anything else?" And he just goes "Mercí, that'll be all." And start driving for the next window before they even tell him to (more to do so before anyone interrupts and protests).

Sniper:

Sniper is below middle on the left line - between . On occasion he's like "fk sake." And goes for a coffee and probably elbows Scout in his possessions before he can do what he does to Spy. And then after paying and driving off with his coffee, he just coldly goes "Like I said. We have food at home." Like Spy, he just needs a coffee to survive the drive home. And not get an impulse to drive straight off the road into the cliffside.

[Bows bows]

Thankuthanku, that'll be all !!

[fragmented-king]

-_Vay-Cay_-

Stolas

Naturally, Stolas was the one who came to you with the idea.

He was going through your belongings one day, totally not trying to find and steal one of your soft nice smelling hoodies.

While looking around he found an old letter depicting a snowy mountain, humans skiing down its white slopes with "Winter 2002" written in the corner.

He flipped it around to find a note written by non other then, you.

"I just went skiing with some friends. It was nice, until someone messed up and slammed into me... Now my ankle is sprained... WORTH IT! I got to drink some bomb ass hot cocoa."

Stolas knew about snow, of course. But he never had the chance to experience it for himself, and he wouldn’t let this opportunity slip by.

He carefully puts it back in the envelope before continuing to look around. Next time he sees you he'll have to bring it up.

He finally finds what he came for a few seconds later. Quickly grabbing the hoodie from your bed then sprints out of your room making sure to clear any evidence he was ever there as he leaves.

Later that day he started planning a vacation for you two. Somewhere quiet, somewhere cold, somewhere snowy.

~~~~~

You're sitting on one of the many fancy couches in the palace when Stolas walks in a slight sense of worry emanating from him.

"Ahh there you are. I looked everywhere, I started to get worried after I searched your room and didn't find you or a text... I need to speak with you about something, may I sit?"

You nod and gesture to the spot next to you. He happily takes said spot and gets comfy before turning back to you.

"Dear, I've been wondering. Would you... Like to go on a vacation... With me? Everything is already planned. Transportation, protection, and food of course. All I need from you is a simple yes or no."

You sit there in silence thinking it over while he waits for your answer, he's staring a little bit.

After a moment going over it in you're head you agree, a vacation sounds nice. Even if all you do all day is laze about and receive love from a certain owl it wouldn't hurt.

~~~~~

You step through the portal, the chilly frost bitten air wasting no time trying to freeze you to your core, it fails however because of the twenty something layers Stolas made you wear.

You'll admit it's keeping you warm, but it also makes it hard to see... And walk...

You clumsily follow the owl through the snow covered mountainside eventually coming up to a grand looking cabin.

You turn to Stolas wondering if this is the place only to find him beaming at you, guess it is.

Once inside you take your time getting all the layers off while Stolas brews some hot cocoa.

By the time you're comfortable the sun starts going down. You're about to head to bed before Stolas stops you, asking you to join him for a bit.

You sit down with Stolas on two surprisingly comfortable wooden chairs, sipping hot cocoa and watching the sunset through a large wooden framed window, the high altitude of the mountain making the view more special.

It's cold and blue outside, but warm and orange inside. This really is a nice vacation. You should thank him when you're back home.

~~~~~

Stella

Convincing this avian royal to think of, non the less talk about the possibility of a ‘vacation’, is not an easy task.

It took you weeks of prying, prodding, and sometimes even begging to get Stella to consider it.

As right as it feels to congratulate yourself for getting her to consider it, only half your work is done. You still need to get her to go.

Once you finally convince her though, she goes from acting like she would never enjoy a vacation in a million years to acting like she waited forever for this.

The whiplash from her attitude's complete 180 might as well have broke your neck.

Sunscreen! Stella cannot emphasize this enough.

Your puny, spongy, soft human body will not be tainted by Earth's sun rays. And it's definitely is not just her trying to justify her rubbing your bare back, or down your sides.

She's 100% doesn't have ulterior motives, at all, why would you even say that?!

Though… If you did get sunburned, then she’d still get to rub that Aloe Vera all over you… Hmm…..

No! Your skin is far too pristine to be burned and roasted like that, no matter how tempting it is.

~~~~~

You arrive at the door to Stella's room, barely even knocking on it before it was swung open an ecstatic Stella greeting you from her well furbished room.

"There you are! I've been waiting for ages!"

She had a light blue sundress on. It hugged her curves well and you'd be lying to said you didn't stare a bit. All of that topped off with the largest wide brimmed sunhat you’ve ever seen.

You open your mouth to complement her appearance but are cut off by her dumping three giant, incredibly heavy bags in your arms.

"Let's get going, you wouldn't want to be late for our hotel reservation, now would you? And I've heard wonderful things about their wine."

Before you could so much as get a word in edgewise she starts dragging you off towards portal, all while you're struggling to get used to the weight of the bags.

While you walk she starts talking your ear off listing off all the activities she's planned for you two.

You nearly scoff at that. She's talking like she's the one who organized all of this. It's not like you spent multiple weeks planning and convincing her.

After a moment more struggling with the bags you catch up and step through the portal after her.

You're instantly hit in the face with a waft of heat, sun, and fresh ocean air. Despite the initial shock it's a nice change from the palace that you're oh so used to.

She gestures for you to follow then speed walks off towards the hotel leaving you with her bags, again. You're already tired, and you haven’t even gone to the beach yet.

~~~~~

After the workout that was getting Stella's luggage up to the room you and her finally relax on the beach together.

Not a single other person in sight. You turn to her calm but still a little confused.

"Where is everyone, an island like this should have tons of staff... Wait... Did you rent out this entire island?!"

She, not surprisingly laughed at that.

"Of course I did. I may be the prettiest girl you'll ever see but I'm still a demon. And, I thought that some alone time would be nice. No guards or servants. Just you, and me."

Mid sentence she interlocked her hand with yours while progressively getting closer. You lean forward for a kiss but feel a finger on your lips instead.

"You should know by now that you have to earn that darling. This is our first day here and you expect me to just give you whatever you want right off the bat. This may be a vacation, but that does not mean you get whatever you want instantly."

You frown and look away, it was such a romantic moment before she went and said all that. But, you're willing to work for it. You wouldn't be here sitting with her if you weren't.

~~~~~

Octavia

Good luck getting her to relax. She definitely needs it though, as this owl is stressed. I mean, she's got a lot of worries and she's a teenager, so you've got your work cut out for you.

That being said however, she's easily tricked into relaxing if you say the vacation is for you not her, and it wouldn't be the same without her there. That'll make her change her mind real quick.

Then once there, when she least expects it, you strike. Then before she knows it, she's feeling relaxed. Or at the very least a little better then before.

My professional opinion is to take her somewhere that is completely new to her, like nothing she's seen before if possible.

It'll help her forget her troubles easier. I recommend somewhere quiet with tons of greenery. And animals,

And stick around her, she wants consistency, and reliability. That mixed in with tons of quality time.

Just keep close to her if you can, try to make her have a good time, and most of all try and make it new to her.

Time away from the normal and melancholy is what she needs most.

~~~~~

You walk up to Octavia's door and knock. Nothing. You knock again. Also nothing.

You invite yourself in and see her laying on her bed staring at the ceiling, never a good sign.

You walk over and sit on the bed watching her snap out of it when the bed dips. She turns to look at you not moving much.

"Hey, you doing ok?"

She half sighs half groans then flips over to face you better.

"I'm fine."

You frown at that, 'I'm fine' is not a 'I'm actually ok' kind of answer.

"Rough day?"

"Just my parents, again... UGH WHY CAN'T THEY JUST BE NORMAL! Or at least not make their problems mine."

She flops back onto her back, going back to staring at the ceiling her expression shifting constantly as her mind works through her inner turmoil.

"Alright well. Were going on a vacation tomorrow so please remember to pack."

She groans again and flips over this time facing away from you.

"Do I have to... I mean I've told you a hundred times, I don't need a vacation... I just wanna stay home..."

You frown, again. You just gotta convince her to go. You can do that...

"It isn't for you. I want a vacation. And I want you to come, cause it wouldn't be the same without you."

You two sit in silence for a few moments before she groans extra loud. You're about to ask if she's alright before she suddenly gets up and walks into her closet.

You hear things being moved around and assume she's packing. So you'll leave her be, you've have to pack too anyways.

Before you leave you walk up to the doorframe of the closet, peak your head in just so she can see it.

"I love you."

You hear her mumble something along the lines of 'luv you too' before you turn to leave.

~~~~~

You quickly step out of the limo going around to Octavia's side to open the door for her. She quickly gets out before you can.

You know she doesn't like you doing that, but you're just trying to be courteous. Like usual.

Non the less you walk over and take her hand leading her into the medium to large house with a giant glass dome connected to one end.

"I thought you'd enjoy this place. It's a house built in the early 1900's. It has a giant greenhouse with hundreds if not thousands of plant types in it. Perfect place for a week away from home, I think."

You two go inside while some servants unload your things. You start showing her around, just little interesting things you learned from the homes owner.

You walk around for a while most stuff she doesn't react to, but have one more trick left. You pull out a small, old, metal whistle and blow into it. A moment later the dog of the house come padding in.

He's a large old golden retriever named Spike, who's lived here for years. You met him a few days ago to make sure he was friendly. He was, and you know Octavia's going to love him.

You watch her expression change from overall boredom to confusion then finally to a small smile when Spike walks up to her and rests his head against her side.

She look at him for a moment, then up to you clearly a little confused. You smile at her then walk over and start scratching behind his ear.

"His favorites spots are behind the ears, base of his tail, and his toe beans. Just be careful not to tickle him, he doesn't like that."

She cautiously crouches down and starts lightly scratching him behind an ear. You make sure nothing goes wrong then take a step back letting her enjoy some doggo time.

Yeah. She definitely needed this.

~~~~~

Started by Erratic-Sanguine, Finished by @jester089

Cheers Luv, we both appreciate it.

[dullgecko]

Another goblin headcanon is that goblin hoards have a reputation for a lot of in fighting and strict hierarchy, which is just completely untrue.

While they do have leaders this is normally just the oldest/most experienced in whatever area they’re in charge of and hoards are actually normally very close knit and protective of each other.

One reason for this stereotype is that goblin as a language has a lot of clicks, hisses and growls that to someone who’s not used to it would think that anything said sounds aggressive and threatening.

They also wouldn’t be able to tell the nuisance in goblin body langue e.g angry tail thrashing vs excited happy tail thrashing, big toothy smile vs showing off teeth and ears going back relaxed not really concentrating on anything in particular vs ears going back I’m annoyed and about to attack.

Goblins also tend to use a lot of touch to communicate; gentle biting of friends, whining up to someone when they want something they have (especially younger goblins to older ones), playfully pushing each other and cuddling that honestly looks more like grappling and all this from a uneducated point of view could be seen as fighting.

Add this to people already having a low opinion of goblins and a lot of the ‘studies’ and ‘research’ done on goblins is at best extremely biased and inaccurate and at worst just plain racist, and goblins developed the reputation as savages that will attack even those in their hoard.

I’m also imagining a scene where riz and the bad kids go to the mountains of chaos and either run into or get captured by a goblin hoard. And after a few misunderstandings (they did plan on eating them, apart from riz) they’re happily welcomed and shown all around their section of caves, given food, a place to stay the night if they want etc.

It’s definitely weird for riz to suddenly be surrounded by other goblins after spending his whole life with the only other goblins he really interacted with being his mom and his dad and he does get pretty overwhelmed and emotional at points. But it’s also nice to experience for himself that no matter what people say goblins aren’t just these naturally evil stupid creatures.

Also the rest of the bad kids get climbed on, a lot.

These Goblins don’t often get a chance to interact with other races so are naturally very curious about the bad kids and to them getting up and close to new friends is perfectly fine, plus they’re all so much bigger than them so it makes perfect sense to scale up them to say check out gorgugs goggles or check out the colour of Kristen’s hair etc. xx

Honestly, i love this so much that i want to print it out and eat it. Thankyou.

---------------------------------------------------

They only even got attacked in the first place because a group of older goblins out for a hunt came across a pack of tall-men carrying what is clearly a CHILD and stepped in to 'save' them.

Noone actually got hurt, despite a lot of weapon brandishing and hissing, mostly because all the bad kids by this point are EXPERTS at reading Riz's body language and it translated perfectly over to the dozen or so goblin adults surrounding them and were smart enough to firstly drop Riz (who had been play-fighting Fig earlier and was at the time being carried around like a sack of potatos under Gorgugs arm until he calmed down because he had entered the silly and biting zone) and secondly put their hands up and drop their weapons.

It had taken Riz a while to talk them down, mostly because (as he explained to his party later) his mum and dad were from the opposite end of the range and had a WILDLY different accent and he had to wrap his head around that first. Think a New Zealander trying to talk to someone from Rural Texas. They can understand eachother, it just takes a bit for you to get used to the accent.

Once Riz explained to them that they were from Elmsville, and that this was his horde, the goblins attitudes changed drastically from 'intimidating and pissed off' to 'friendly and curious'. There wasnt much of a change in their body language, but all the bad kids relaxed immediatly when they clocked the shift (which only added weight to Riz's claim that these were his horde). Especially since Fig could hiss out a passable 'nice to meet you', even if her accent was terrible.

Some of them even put down their weapons to get closer and examine the rest of the bad kids, several of them grabbing and poking at Fig and Fabians forearms when they noticed the bite marks from the earlier play-fighting and Riz showed off his own bite-marks from Fig.

They get the invite to spend the night in the caves, since its already getting dark by this point and a bit too late to set up camp, and they happily accept. Kristen and Adaine have an absoloute ball playing with the goblin kids who come to investigate (they're so SMALL AND CUTE) while Fig and Gorgug get climbed all over by children and teens in equal parts. All of them kept getting offered food that they knew from experiance they proooobably couldnt eat without getting food poisoning, but they had plenty of rations to offer back and Adaine kept pulling candy out of her jacket to the delight of both the kids AND adults.

Fabian gets spared the brunt of the grabbing and poking, but mostly because Riz has taken refuge on his shoulders after a couple hours and was flicking his tail in mild annoyance anytime someone got TOO grabby. He'd fled up onto his favorite perch when, intrigued by the novelty of a NEW and STRANGELY DRESSED goblin teenager, more than one of the hordes teens had flirted a little too aggressivly with Riz for his liking (a boy around Riz's age had grabbed his tail and done SOMETHING Fabian hadnt quite seen, but the next second Riz was scrambling up his back and hissing so he didnt ask).

[travelingare]

📍 Basque Autonomous Community‎‎,Spain!!

The Basque Country of Spain is a place like no other, with a blend of dramatic landscapes, rich history, and unique culture.

Here’s why it should be a must-visit:

🌊Stunning Coastline: The rugged Atlantic coast, dotted with fishing villages like Getaria and cities like San Sebastián, offers pristine beaches and scenic views. The famous surfing waves of Mundaka and the tranquil beauty of the Flysch cliffs make the coastline unforgettable.

🍽Gastronomic Heaven: The Basque Country is home to more Michelin- starred restaurants per capita than almost anywhere else in the world. From pintxos (Basque tapas) in the vibrant old town of San Sebastián to traditional dishes in remote mountain villages, the culinary scene is second to none.

🇪🇸Unique Culture and Language: Basque culture is distinct from the rest of Spain. The ancient Basque language (Euskara) is still spoken, and the region’s festivals, music, and dance offer a window into a culture with roots stretching back thousands of years.

🌅Natural Beauty: From the green rolling hills of the countryside to the towering Pyrenees mountains, the Basque Country offers some of the most breathtaking natural landscapes in Europe. Hike through the Urdaibai Biosphere Reserve, or explore the stunning Picos de Europa.

🖼Art and Architecture: The Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, a masterpiece of contemporary architecture, draws art lovers from all over the world. Bilbao itself is a testament to modern urban revitalization, blending old-world charm with avant-garde design.

🏛Rich History and Traditions: The Basque people have preserved their traditions and autonomy throughout centuries of foreign rule. Visiting towns like Guernica, which is steeped in historical significance, helps you understand the resilience of the Basque identity.

The Basque Country isn’t just a destination-it’s an experience, full of contrasts, where nature, food, and culture collide in ways that will stay with you long after you’ve left.

Have you been to the Basque Country before?

If not is it now on your list?

@vineyardsandvoyages

#visiteuskadi #sansebastian #spain #travel #travelingare #dronephotography

[nobedofroses]

October 7th

pairing: Din Djarin x fem!reader

warnings: total fluff

words: 710

a/n: Prompt for today is "take a walk in the woods to look at the leaves" from this list by @rubymemes. This one is v happy :^)

Directory, Day 6

🎃🎃🎃

The latest bounty hunt had brought Din, Grogu, and you to a planet that seemed absolutely covered in vegetation, at least compared to Tatooine. It wasn’t humid and warm like some of the planets you had been on with jungles and swamps. It was a forest full of trees with broad, veined leaves and thick, rough bark on their trunks. The three of you decided to stay there for a while after the bounty to recover because it had been a long chase with all of the cover for the bounty to hide in and it wasn’t like the bounty or reward were going anywhere.

You and Grogu spent your days exploring the area around the ship, walking to the market in the nearest town and doing some school lessons. Din mainly tinkered around on the ship but did like to join in for the lessons when he could to see how Grogu was learning. 

As you explored the area, you noticed that on some trees the leaves were bright green all over but some other ones had some yellow and even some others had red leaves. You wondered if it had something to do with the climate of the planet and ended up asking someone at the market the next day. They explained to you that the trees slept through the cold season to conserve energy and dropped their leaves so they could conserve energy. They turn colors because the food they make is green and is no longer present in the leaf, allowing the other colors to shine through. 

You were fascinated and tried your best to explain it to Din and Grogu when you got back. They had stayed behind to make dinner together and did a very good job of it. Once you had told them about it, you said how the person had told you that in a week or so, entire swathes of the countryside would be covered in green and yellow and orange and red and brown and that it was a tradition to go flying or hiking to experience the view. After that, it wasn’t long until your and Grogu’s excitement to see it convinced Din that you all should stay for another week at least. 

In a week, you and Grogu were packing up a picnic as Din got the speeder you would ride to the mountains a short distance away from the rental place. You were planning a full day excursion with lots of time for hikes, lunch, Grogu’s nap after lunch, and a short lesson before you came back for dinner. 

It was a very nice ride with Din in behind you to block out most of the wind and Grogu nestled against your chest in a carrier had for him, acting as a tiny personal heater for you. Both you and Grogu watched the views that came in and out of sight on the mountain trail you were on and you felt so happy that you couldn’t believe this was your life. 

When you arrived at the beginning of the hiking trail, Din pulled over and set the security on the speeder. Then you were off, hurrying to catch up to Grogu’s surprisingly fast gait as he wondered at the rainbow of foliage all around you. 

A few hours later, after hiking for a while and your picnic lunch, Grogu was napping on your folded up jacket and you were sitting inside Din’s stretched out legs on the blanket you had brought. You leaned back into him, not minding his beskar because around it was his warm body. 

“This place is gorgeous,” you commented and Din hummed in thought. 

“More dangerous than Tatooine. More places for people to lie in wait,” he commented and you laughed lightly. 

“That’s true. Good thing we’re just visiting then,” you said. A minute of comfortable silence later, you asked, “Have you enjoyed our time here?” 

This time, Din didn’t have to think about it, “Yeah. I like when you and him are happy. And you’re right, it is beautiful.” 

You smiled at that and turned to give the jawline of his helmet a quick kiss, “I love you, you know?” 

“I do. I love you,” his words were soft, just for you.

🎃🎃🎃

[lagncx]

Don’t be afraid of the lightning, it cannot get through me to get to you.

Inspired by Ethel Cain.!!! Karl x reader

Gn reader if it says a gender word my bad.

For @nonchalantgat0 ^^

—-

He was free so why the fuck did he feel so trapped?

You and Heisenberg met when you fell at his feet after running from lycans. Your front tooth chipped on the edge of his boots you could have sworn.

“The hell you come from?” You looked up at him, your jaw vibrating from the initial bump and you smiled. He was jaw-dropping in a…weird way. You ended up telling him who you were and that you were from outside the area pointing at your shoes while crying.

—---

You cried as you pointed at your own boots now completely fucked. “You wouldnt believe this i fucking fell look at my timbs! You know how much these cost?” You sighed “I got chased by some crazy mountain man growling and barking behind me and I lost my damn footing.” the man just chuckled “Sounds like a day.” He smirked at you his glasses hiding his eyes his head dropped to its side head looking up and down at you. You smiled at him, the small chip in your tooth making the air you breathed in whistle in a cute dorky way. You were a dork. So you looked smitten “Uh yea…it was a long day babe- uh today today.”

——

After that you were stuck like glue but he got out of the village with help from Ethan and Chris ... .even the duke though Karl wouldn’t admit it. Things have changed. Everything is…different from the town so you stayed home with him for weeks before taking him out.

——-

The ride to the new home is far from the village thank god. It was long before you had to explain everything about a vehicle to him. The packing was short, not many things filled the trunk except scrap…lots of it.

Need to keep my hands busy…please.

You cursed at yourself falling for his silver puppy eyes and his manly toolkit that you put a sticker on from an old concert you went to. He was busy bending something before putting it on the dashboard.

You sighed, banging your head on the wheel for a second while driving in the dark, making sure to follow the road and fence while surrounded in darkness. “Okay guess.” He said “Karl-“ he shushed you and pointed at it “guess.” You sighed and looked at it squinting and flicking your view to the road and back. “Is it….a bear?” He shook his head “Nope.” You sighed “Is it a…badger?” Picking it up with one hand on the wheel. “That’s two guesses..one more you're out.” He hummed holding the animal magazine close to his chest “Uhm-…It’s a panda!” You smiled knowing you were right “Boom 3 to me. 1.5 to Karl!” He laughed and shook his head “Nope. It’s a red panda” Your mouth dropped open looking at him then the road “The hell?! What’s the fucking difference?” You only sighed in defeat when he showed you the page with the red panda page. “Okay, I’m done with this damn game.” He only laughed and threw the magazine behind him before messing with the passenger window, rolling it down and up “Karl…” down, the sound of the window was becoming a little irritating. He stopped. “What if I can’t adapt to this…modern world?”

——-

That question he asked you laughed at dismissing it as just jitters but he couldn’t get the hang of life here. Away from the village not able to use his powers it almost was like an itch the way he couldn’t really…use them like it was wrong but being with you in that little starter house it was. Everything but nothing felt good except you. You were safe and made him feel safe. Hugged him even when he fought it, kissed away his tears through the rough nights. Settling in was hard. You kept him in the house for three weeks like when a new cat hides under the bed when put into a new environment.

First experience was shopping for clothes and food. He stuck close to you looking at all of the other men dressed in either graphic tees or plain sweaters. He cleared his throat. Obviously feeling self-conscious. The loud noises and the sound of carts pushing were a bit overwhelming being around so many different people…so many people, normal something he’ll never be again. His fist clenched the tip of his gloved fingers brushing against the seam on the side of the palm.

You didn’t realize how bad it actually fucking was.

There was a sound of a baby crying two rows down? What really got him was the banging the baby did on the shopping cart like it vibrated his bones he felt the checkouts being used every beep every electric current. He had leaned against you making you grunt from his weight “Karl? What’s up?” You asked. He whispered “Can we go?” You sighed “Karl we need food and clothes for you.” You continued down the aisle.

The Music playing on the grocery store's speakers suddenly slowed and went down in pitch, the buzzing of the freezer lights became louder like a swarm of bees. You looked around and then looked at Heisenberg “Karl, stop.” He wasn’t looking at you he was looking down at the floor which started to shake. You looked behind him eyes widening in fear at the large metal shelf frames that held the heavy stuff, sand, fire wood, beer.

Everything. Now You knew it was serious, he wasn’t supposed to use his powers, Chris threatened you both. “Help.” The faintest whisper came from your lover, he was overstimulated, and anxious. You immediately pulled him out and to the car the emergency alarms buzzing through the parking lot.

Getting into the car you both sat in the back lucky for you, you got tints. You took off his jacket, his breathing was erratic, uneven. You took off his hat and glasses. His eyes were watery but he couldn’t look at you, he was embarrassed of himself. “Karl, my love. You’re okay.” You whispered and you grabbed his arm putting his hand on the back of your hair feeling his fingers tangle into it “There we go, what’s wrong baby?” You whispered leaning close.

Karl swallowed “It’s her fault.” He said “She turned me into this, now I’ll never be normal, or happy.” He sobbed, hiding his tears from you leaning into your chest. You took a deep breath, Karl had electrified organs, stopped him from having kids too. But you weren’t gonna let something stop him.

You hummed softly over the noise. The engines that he could feel through the stores the machines the landlines the phone towers, fuck the noise. The car alarms blaring were no match to your voice. You sang to him his breathing slowed and he felt himself being pulled back. Back before Miranda. Before you.

—-

Karl crawled into his moms lap, tears streaming down his face he pointed to a scar on his arm and his mom comforted him kissing his face and his arm she smiled and showed him one of her scars and in German she whispered to him “Scars make you strong Karl, everyone is a journey and lesson. They hurt but don’t worry I’ll always be here to kiss away the pain.” She laughed nuzzling him.

——

Karl breathing hitched as he smiled thinking about his mother, though she wasn’t here. She kept her promise. Someone was here to kiss the pain away. He knew she’d approve.

You both stayed like this for hours, the alarms stopping.

You made the call to move to the countryside less stimulating. Heisenberg sat in the passenger seat reading a book about world history.

The radio cut “Hello to everyone! Thanks for tuning in on 98.6 for you we have Ethel Cain- Family Tree! Enjoy your cruising stay safe and weird.” Heisenberg looked down at the radio using his powers to turn up the volume slightly. “Who’s this?” He asked looking at you as you chewed on one of his cigars to keep yourself busy while you fixed your tank top “Ethel Cain, sorta a southern gothic type.” You hummed “Don’t listen to her much.” You shrugged, he nodded, he looked around a smell hitting him “What. The. Fuck. Is that fucking shitty ass fuck smell.” You laughed rolling down the windows making it stronger “Probably fertilizer or a cow herd nearby.”

And sure enough Karl looked over seeing the cows spread around the mountain clearing grazing. Watching a baby calf run across the golden brown grass field. He smiled. This was better than the city. “Sorry we have to live over here.” He frowned. “Oh please, my parents are from this side, they’ll let us live in one of their houses.” He blinked “are they rich?” You shook your head “Nah, just…they always wanted me out of the city.” You shrugged the climax of Family tree hit and Heisenberg liked it more than he would’ve thought “Can we see her live?” You laughed “Yea Karl, next time she goes on tour I promise.” You had promised to take him to every concert ever. You promised him the world and you were gonna give it to him.

You pushed something in your pockets down, two thick silver rings. For later…way later. You looked to your left, slowing down “Karl…Heisenberg.” You said making him whip his head to glare at you “Don’t call me th-“ you jerked your thumb to the running majestic animal. You laughed and said “horse.”

The animal's hair whipped like the long grass in the wind. that made him crawl over the middle console to your window making the car swerve slightly.

Heisenberg knew he’d love it even more. This was good, better. Mom always said things will always get better even when it’s low.

——

This is to suffice for like idk. The unfinished stuff.

[your-local-crypt1d]

@urfavcrime hope it was okay to tag but I've been itching for an excuse to talk about Gem and Tommy!! Forgive me if this is a bit ooc I've only watched a few of Gems videos-

Gem takes her role as Auntie very seriously. 

At first, she was a bit miffed about the whole situation. fWhip had no intention to tell her—his sister—about this, and she would have gone on unaware of Tommy even longer if fWhip wasn't terrible at hiding him. Doesn't fWhip trust her?

After fWhip explains the whole situation (Tommy has come from some kind of abusive situation; fWhip doesn't know the details, just that Tommy pleaded to be kept hidden so "he" never finds him), Gem eases up about the whole affair. 

Seeing the fondness fWhip has for Tommy, the way he effortlessly laughs at his jokes and gently scolds him for his bad language, is enough to convince Gem that everything is okay and that her brother hasn't made some huge mistake she'll need to fix. 

Gem's actually quite proud of fWhip for taking on such a big responsibility. I don't think she'd view him as parent material until she sees the way he interacts with Tommy.

Gem acts sort of like an old grandma when Tommy visits, always checking if he's hungry, and even if he says no, she's shoving plates of food towards him. complaining about how fWhip doesn't feed him enough, and he's all skin and bones (which, when you live in the snowy mountains, body fat is very important). 

She lets Tommy borrow a few simple spell books after he whined and pleaded to be taught magic (not enchantment table magic that's cringe and lame, real poggers magic like hers!). If she had any doubts about Tommy being fWhips' kid before, she certainly has none after Tommy nearly blows up half of the Eastvale Manor with magic. He is promptly banned from performing magic at home unsupervised. 

The Crystal Cliffs are a nice getaway from the Grimlands when Tommy needs it. Gems' tower doesn't have the regular echo of explosions and fireworks. Tommy has slowly grown to learn that he's safe in Eastvale and that fWhips' experiments won't ever be used to hurt him. But even if you consciously know something isn't dangerous, that doesn't necessarily translate over to your subconscious, and it certainly doesn't for Tommys' C-PTSD. So on occasion, he goes to stay with Gem when it's all too loud and stressful at home.

The only problem with it is that Tommy has a habit of running off and not telling anyone where he's going. Tommy does it a lot more than he'd admit—a flight response to his fear of abandonment, I suppose. Tommy could get away with it when no one was worried about where he'd be going, but now he has people who care for his safety (fWhip) and would burn down empires to find him. He's raising his whole familys' blood pressure; Papa fWhip is no exception. 

Luckily, Gem knows this and will send a message to fWhip every time Tommy comes to see her, regardless of whether he says fWhip is aware or not. Gem is good at remembering the little things that are important with Tommy: the areas he doesn't like being touched but won't say, the way he likes his tea, the kinds of sounds that upset him, etc. 

Gem, as usual, tries to be the voice of reason in her chaotic family, so she's usually the one who has to stop Tommy from causing problems on purpose (fWhip is an instigator, and Sausage always wants to join in). Think of Gem picking him up by the scruff of his clothes so Tommy doesn't bite someone who mildly inconvenienced him. She can and will invent a whole new spell that's just an up-sized child leash if she has to, young man, do not test her. or she just lightly bonks him on the head with her staff; that works when he steals her hat. 

All that being said, Gem is a lot more forgiving of Tommy if he does something genuinely wrong. I imagine she'd view him in a similar light to the way she views her Pillager students, "good people from bad homes," and all. She's patient when Tommy doesn't understand why something he did is wrong and never expresses anger towards him, just understanding and kindness. It works surprisingly well, especially with some sort of physical touch (handholding, hugs) to help ground Tommy in the present and remind him that he's not going to be exiled or hurt for 'fucking up' again. 

It's confusing for Tommy why fWhip and Gem are both so nice to him when he clearly doesn't deserve it for inconveniencing them all the time. But he's also desperate for the love and attention they give him, so as much as he hates it and feels weak leaning into it, he happily calls her Auntie Gem, and out of earshot, he refers to fWhip as 'dad'. 

Gem is the #1 supporter of fWhip officially adopting Tommy, and she's not subtle about it whatsoever. fWhip hasn't signed the papers yet because he doesn't want to lock Tommy into something he doesn't want, and Tommy hasn't brought it up because he doesn't want to annoy fWhip, and it is so frustrating to watch. More frustrating than Gem watching Scott and Jimmy not realising their crushes on each other are mutual. 

That's all I've got so far with her. Sorry, it's not a whole lot 🖤

[mayullla]

Oh ofc

The limit increased? Alright can i get a romantic yandere dainsleif with 🦋🌻?

Title: Fated Meetings

Character(s): Dainsleif (Genshin Impact) Summary: You meet him at Liyue, then at Mondstadt, and you were with him for a while at Inazuma but you shouldn't meet him at Sumeru. Warnings/tags: Yandere themes, fem!reader, reader is mentioned/implied to be heartbroken before meeting Dainsleif (but moving on)

[ - A little present~! Event - Closed - ]

You have met Dainsleif on your travels high up in the mountains of Liyue where you thought were alone. After climbing the high mountain for so long you saw him there and was resting. After a short greeting, the two of you started to talk a little finally finding another person to have a conversation with after such a long time traveling alone. It was nice.

It was nothing personal, they were light and something to cover up the silence with. He wasn't much of a talker but you were patient with him, things like how the weather was nice, or how the view so high up was amazing if not beautiful. Why was he here you didn't ask, nor after giving short answers to your questions did he ask yours. It was obvious that both of you had something to hide, or just didn't feel the need to say it.

You asked him to enjoy lunch with you, as you have made something for yourself and he was about to decline but you somehow nagged him to eat with you as you have made so much. It was a silent lunch no words were exchanged as you and he enjoyed the meal and after a short break, the two of you went on separate ways.

The second time you meet him was at Mondstadt. A high cliff side that had a magnificent view, where you found him again just arriving at the place. Greeting each other you two silently agreed to rest here after your travels. The endless sea you gazed at and wondered what was on the other side but he just grunted. It was today that you found out that his name was Dainsleif, definitely a unique name you thought but didn't mention it.

You enjoyed a small meal too this time dinner, but you didn't separate immediately after instead set up a tent for yourself as he offered to protect you in repayment for the food. You told him he was too much a gentleman, stating that you could take turns but he was stubborn.

In the morning after breakfast, the two of you separated ways.

Next was funny enough Inazuma, what was once a closed-off place now open for others to come and go freely. After some thinking, you decided to go there, wanting to see and experience what life was like there. You meet many people there weren't a lot of places that they recommend you to travel to as they were dangerous to go alone.

Well till you meet a certain someone there again, that lone man who was talking to a sailor wanting to travel to another island. With blonde hair and blue eyes with that unique outfit, it was easy for you to approach him and greet him.

The two of you talked a little, a small catching up. He was a little more talkative than he was in the past. He asked you if you were going anywhere and you told him that you want to see the other islands. His face was stiff for a moment, most likely thinking before he calmly asked you if you would like to join him.

While he can't guarantee your safety at all times, there might be a chance when he suddenly disappears he promised to protect you as much as he could.

You weren't surprised by his words from the little conversations you had with him, you knew he was searching for something that he almost seemed lost sometimes in your eyes. So when he offered this to you, you were almost touched as you accepted his offer with a smile on your face.

Was it here when it started? You weren't sure, Dansleif would sometimes leave while you stayed in the safer parts of the islands while he ventures off to the more dangerous sides. Sometimes he would come back after one or two hours sometimes he would be gone for a little more. There was one time he took a longer time, as you stayed at camp for two days planning to leave on the third did he finally come back.

You asked him where he went and what did he do but just as he answered vaguely you didn't try to push it anymore only asking him if he wanted to stay at camp for a little while longer or if he wanted to move now and if so help you get everything ready.

Just as much as you started to rely on him for safety, he started to slowly open up to you bit by bit. He relied on you for cooked food a lot of the time. While he caught most of the food you were the one to cook them. Small conversations would start to grow longer and longer as you vaguely talked about your past. He told you he was searching for something, and you told him that you were traveling to move on.

In his eyes, you could see the flicker of curiosity in them as you told him you were heartbroken and unable to stay at that place for so long as it reminded you of too many memories. Maybe you were running away, or maybe you choose this time that you spent as a self-improvement or healing process you didn't think too much about the details what matters in the end was that you were traveling seeing places and people, and creating more different memories.

After that day you and he started to grow a little closer. In a way it felt like carrying each other's burden even for a moment or that you could count on each other. Dainsleif was kinder you realized, more patient.

You didn't realize when he started to become more observant of you. No... you knew he was always a watchful man. You understood his personality and that he was always cautious about who you were if you were someone he could trust or not. Yet those eyes that followed you, examining your every move were now different. They followed you, when you were doing minor chores, walking, or when he thinks you were not looking. You wondered what those eyes mean as you felt a shiver from your back. He was staring straight at you, those blue eyes that you found actually beautiful had a hidden madness.

It was a slow thing really, Dainsleif also never thought that this could ever happen yet it did... he thought of you as a mere acquaintance yet now changed into something more yearning. He thought that you and he matched each other rather well, he appreciated all your kind gestures and your patience. However he held himself back, unsure and hesitant, yet that day broke all mental walls that he had created in his mind to keep you away.

It was hard for him to sleep that night as he stayed on the lookout, protecting the camp as his thoughts always strayed to you. He should contain these thoughts. He could not help but wonder what it would be like if just once... just once he could be together with you. Yet thoughts of you fleeting in his eyes compared to his immortality drove him insane.

Maybe that separation in Inazuma between you and him was your last chance. When you thought it would be an ideal time to head to Sumeru after the Dendro archon took her rightful place. You meet Dainslief again, for the fourth time. And you could not help but wonder what he meant by his words, "I can be with you."

[slippinmickeys]

POL Prompt for you: would love to know more about Mulder’s experiences embedded with the army, and I bet Scully would too…

No beta. Just vibes. Thanks for the ask!

He presses his lips to the tight drum of her stomach, breathes in through his nose. The air is thick with the sour smell of human bodies in a warm, enclosed space, under which hovers the smell of sex and somehow, the linen and eucalyptus scent of Scully herself.  

He’d like to make love to her again, but they’re both lightheaded with hunger, so he rolls over instead, leaning his forehead and nose against the arching slats of her ribs. He reaches down and puts his hand around her knee. Her body hair has grown out, and while the copper hair on her legs is wiry and stiff, the growth on her knee is wispy and blonde. He strokes it, like he’s calming a skittish filly.

Outside the hotel they can hear bullets ripping through air nearby. The fighting is close and the sounds unnerving. 

“Tell me about your embed,” Scully says in a rough voice. He flicks his eyes to hers; they’re round and wet, blue as the Sargasso. 

“Which one?” 

“Any of them,” she says with a shaky breath. “Can you talk to me? I want to listen to you and not the sounds outside.”

“I hate to tell you this, but my embeds involved scenes pretty similar to what’s happening outside.” 

“Talk to me, Mulder,” she says. “I just want to hear your voice. Please.”

He runs his nose up the soft skin of her side, pulls her in close to his body.

“We were in the mountains,” he mumbles into her. “And it was cold.” 

Under his lips, her skin pebbles in sympathy. 

***

He’d had to leap out of a Black Hawk hovering above a rugged mountainside, hugging his camera bag to his chest in an effort to protect his camera and equipment. It had seemed to work, to the detriment of his left shoulder. The ground under the chopper was a chaotic mess of disheveled humans and gear, the rotor wash whipping dust and debris into everyone’s eyes. 

Mulder was the photographer half of a two-man team, working an article for the Times, but in the chaos and roar of their ingress, he couldn’t see Gary, the journalist who’d be doing the writing. He only hoped he’d fallen successfully, a metric applied in the loosest sense of the word – Gary was over forty and overweight – so long as he didn’t need a medic immediately and was on the ground, Captain Franklin would be happy.

The moment the last trooper hit the earth, the Black Hawk tipped backward and roared away into the night. The soldiers around him were up and on their feet immediately, Franklin barking quiet orders to hustle the men along – the chopper had given away their location. 

Operation Saber Tooth was a battalion-wide mission to root out senior rebel fighters that were hiding in and around the mountains. Franklin would hang back from the fighting with what was called the overwatch team, but First and Second Platoons would be on the front line, entering villages and searching homes, going on the offensive if attacked. 

Franklin had given Mulder and Gary the option of staying back with him and the overwatch team– who would position themselves behind the platoons’ fighting in order to monitor and command the operation–or accompanying one of the two Platoons. Mulder thought they’d get a better story and certainly better pictures if they went with the fighting forces, but it would also mean walking through the mountains at night carrying all of their gear; food, water, clothing, work equipment and sleeping bags. Each patrol would be gone for a week, patrolling, camping and trekking in the mountains. Mulder wanted to go with First Platoon, but one look at Gary’s face and he told Franklin they’d hang back with overwatch. 

Mulder had no idea what they were supposed to do next, so he followed the line of troops up a ridge and onto a small flat crest of rock thousands of feet up that abutted the mountain on one side and had a clear view of the valley on the other. The area would serve as the Tactical Operation Center for the mission. There were no tents, walls or roofs – just bare patches of rock and a few gnarled trees. As Mulder watched, the overwatch team unpacked cumbersome machines that looked like they had been airlifted from Vietnam. 

Gary came shuffling over the ridge and to Mulder’s side, breathing hard. 

“We should get some sleep,” Mulder said, unrolling his sleeping bag while Franklin and the JTACs communicated with airpower. 

A small group of rebel fighters had been spotted by the retreating Black Hawks moving towards their position, and Mulder and Gary fumbled with their equipment and tried to stay out of the way while an air attack wiped out the small force. 

When Mulder woke in the morning, First and Second Platoons were gone, but the overwatch team were still working, hunched over a speaker that was spitting out insurgent chatter from a radio intercept. 

“Bring the Dushka,” the interpreter said, repeating what he was hearing in a language no one else understood. “We can see them on the mountainside.”

The overwatch team was tense. The nearby rebels knew where they were, but not the location of either First or Second Platoon. A Dushka, Franklin explained, was a giant Russian machine gun that spit out .50 caliber bullets that could effortlessly slice through a brick wall. If the two platoons didn’t find the rebels before the rebels got the gun into position, Mulder and the men around him would be rendered to pulp and Operation Saber Tooth would be over before it began.

“Didn’t Franklin say overwatch would be the safer option?” Gary said, hunched up in his sleeping bag and looking miserable.

Mulder reached into the brown plastic of the MRE one of the soldiers had handed him and pulled out a small pack of M&Ms. 

“I think he just said there’d be less walking,” Mulder replied, popping a handful of candy into his mouth and pulling the black knit cap he was wearing lower over his ears. 

Gary began taking notes and speaking with some of the overwatch soldiers, getting down interviews, but Mulder could do nothing but take a few photos of the team against the backdrop of rock and dirt; mostly guys blowing hot air into their fists and hunching around the radio speaker.  

As dawn gave way to full daylight, Mulder’s attention strayed from the chatter of the TOC detailing the progress of the First and Second Platoons to the increasingly pressing needs of his own body; he really had to pee. 

Most of the soldiers had been relieving themselves at a rocky outcropping at the edge of the ridge upon which their small camp sat, but a gusty wind had picked up from along the valley and was now blowing up the crest of the hillside. If he peed off the side as the other soldiers had done, he would probably end up covered in his own piss courtesy of the wind. 

He decided to amble a little further off, down a short slope upon which laid the remains of a fallen tree. The area was probably too far from what Franklin had said were the boundaries of where he felt comfortable letting them go, but it was sheltered from the wind and it would only take Mulder 30 seconds to relieve himself. 

He was just zipping up when he caught a flash of movement from 40 yards away across the small valley between the mountain they were perched on and the next. When he looked up he connected eyes with a man peeking out behind a boulder, Kalashnikovs bristling up around the rock like needles in a pincushion. A group of rebel fighters. And they had seen him. 

He dove behind the single fallen tree on the slippery bit of scree behind him as the rebels opened fire. Bullets whizzed past the tree and thunked into it, spraying the air around him with bits of desiccated wood, and he could hear the shouting from the TOC and the garbled sound of the rebels yelling at each other and into their own radios. It took only moments for the Americans to begin returning fire and Mulder was absolutely pinned down, unable to do so much as move his arms up to protect his face, so close were the bullets in the air above him. And he had left his flak jacket and helmet next to his sleeping bag. 

He laid prone, eyes squeezed close as the guttural sound of combat erupted from everywhere  around him. An AC-130 circled overhead and he could hear the roar of a fighter jet scream low over the mountain. But the air support would not be able to help them, he knew; the rebels were too close to their own position and an attack on them would likely be deadly to Mulder and the rest of the overwatch team. 

Suddenly, the sounds of gunfire from the TOC position went into overdrive, and a moment later two soldiers slid onto the ground on either side of him, their comrades above laying down cover fire. 

“Let’s go, bud!” said a soldier named Martinez, who plunked a too-large army helmet onto Mulder’s head and grabbed him by the arm. 

On his other side, a private named Smyth said “We’re running in three-two-GO GO GO!” And the two soldiers hauled him up and all three of them ran all out, scrambling back up and over the ridge to the meager protection of the TOC. 

***

“Not three minutes later,” Mulder mumbles, “the rock above our heads started exploding.” 

Her fingers brush through the hair growing long down his neck. “The Dushka?” she asks.

He nods. “The Dushka. Luckily Second Platoon was almost on top of them by the time they were in position to fire and took them out before any person or any equipment was hurt. Five minutes later it was dead silence and we spent the rest of the afternoon using baby wipes to get the dust off our skin and equipment. My Canon Mark IV was never the same.”

On the street outside the hotel, the gunfire similarly halts. 

Scully inhales expansively and turns so she’s facing him. “How was Gary?” she asks. 

“A true professional,” he says, leaning forward to kiss the skin above her breast. “He grabbed my camera and took some damn fine pictures.”

“I’d like to see them someday.” Her voice is fading, sleepy. “If we ever get out of here.”

Mulder pulls the tatty sheet up and over them both. 

“You will,” he says. He’s gotten out of worse. 

[blues824]

Jade leetch with the female tighnari.

🍄They are both animal hybrids that love mushrooms and love nature they are perfect together.

🍄Jade taking care of her because of a mushroom she ate but can't get mad at her mushrooms are delicious.

🍄Floyd not liking his brother talking even more about mushrooms especially whith his equally mushrooms loving s/o.

🍄Them going on hike dates and and one day during a windy day her comppaing about her ears and how she dislikes it My ears... My ears... They're going to be blown inside out! .

(Feel free to add anything you want)

🍄This may sound strange, but although the blood of a carnivore runs through my veins, mushrooms are the one food that I can't give up. There are many species of edible mushrooms. Whether fresh or dried, they all give off a unique scent. Even when stewed with meat, it's the mushrooms' aroma that comes out on top~tighnari

Jade Leech

Like you said, you are absolutely perfect together. But, you come from different backgrounds entirely. Either way, you both were fascinated with nature. You both knew a lot about mushrooms, and you even joined the Mountain Lover Club so that you could experience more nature with the one you love the most.

Floyd was happy that his brother was happy, but not happy about constantly hearing about mushrooms whenever he needed something from Jade. To the wilder tweel, you were a match made in Hell, put together just to torture him. He wishes everyday that the two of you would find another hobby, only to be disappointed… constantly.

As much as you love him, he loves to tease you even more. This could be calling you ‘foxy’, or teasing touches on your ears every once in a while. He just loved seeing them twitch a bit, as the sensation tickled you. You weren’t exactly appreciative of it, but he makes up for it in the views he shows you on the mountains you both like to hike. He wouldn’t mind giving you a piggyback ride on the way down, either.

On one of these adventures, however, you had ingested a mystery mushroom, and it ended up getting you sick. Grim was panicking, but he picked up your phone and called Jade, who ran over to Ramshackle to see you sleeping in your bed. He brought the back of his hand to rest upon your forehead before realizing that you had a very high fever. 

The eel took it upon himself to nurse you back to help, much to your dismay. You were very nitpicky about whatever he did. But, he knew what he was doing. The food he fed you was void of mushrooms, which you were not a fan of. However, once you show signs of recovery, Jade does carry you outside and set you down gently on a moss-covered rock so that you could get some fresh air.

But, there was a sudden whoosh of wind that sent a chill down the Vice Housewarden’s spine. He turned to look at you to see if you were cold, but you were instead trying to cover your ears. Through a runny nose, you were saying that your ears hurt because of the wind, and so he promptly took you back inside of Ramshackle.

To try and help with the aching, he would gently massage your ears. He loved how the feeling made you melt, and you pulled him into bed next to you and laid your head on his chest. Jade let out a soft chuckle at how clingy you were being, as it was a side of you that you did not like to show outside of closed doors.

[quitealotofsodapop]

Was thinking of FFM, specifically the bit about the island being effectively isolated from the outside world. That means it's entirely possible for different strands of plant life that otherwise went extinct or had evolved different characteristics remain in suspension, only affected by the things Wukong himself brings onto the island.

Pigsy is a food connoisseur. He only uses the freshest ingredients. In Century Egg Au and Slow Boiled, he effectively becomes a parental figure to Wukong. One, who would very much likely make many a trip to FFM to check up on Wukong. Same for TMKATI except Wukong doesn't live in the mountain in that one and therefore there's less reason to visit. Imagine how he'll react when he realizes the mythical island not only has the freshest ingredients but the rarest as well!

Pigsy seeing an isolated island with some very tasty looking rare tree fruits from the view of Sandy's ship, only to learn that it has a impassable magical barrier:

He's ok to let the matter slide... for now. He reasons with himself that whatever is on that island is better off without his mitts on it.

Until he's shaken awake by a very excitable Tang, holding a book on island isolation and evolution, rambling at a mile a minute about how the plant and animal life on the sheltered island has likely evolved completely separate from the outside world, and if this island is part of the fabled lost country of Alolai - then it likely is teeming with wildlife that evolved after the mythical Floods and Burning.

Pigsy, groggy: "Tang... how'd you get in my room???" Tang, highly-caffienated: "I haven't slept in two days!" Sandy, texting: "Is he at your place now?"

Eventually after forcing the scholar to calm down and take a rest before his heart gives out, Pigsy is told something that really tickles his inner connoisseur.

Tang: "Before it was introduced and selectively bred, potatoes could only be encountered in remote areas of the Andes mountains." Pigsy: "And?" Tang: "Imagine if you discovered the next potato." Pigsy: *squeal of intrigue!*

Needless to say, Pigsy has his own Nerd Moment™ the first time he actually touches down on the island and recognises a bunch of rare species.

Pigsy, side-tracked by a tree: "Sweet Chang'e! This is looks like a button mangosteen! I've never heard of them growing this far north! The skin is more red-orange though, maybe it's a branched variety back when the islands were connected to the mainland? Button Mangosteens taste closer to tangerines than their purple cousins, I wonder if that intesifies based on colouration." Sandy, delighted for his friend: "You seem to be having lots of fun!" Pigsy: *nodding happily*

He's equally delighted in the TMKATI au to have "Such a resourceful employee!" when Wukong comes back from his visits to the island bearing gifts. It caught him off guard the first time though.

Wukong: "Hey boss, I got you something." Pigsy, opening a box: "Wu... are these fresh truffles?!" Wukong, wondering if he did something wrong: "Yeah, why? Did I mess up? I overheard you talking about wanting to have enough to experiment with and-" Pigsy: "No no! I'm... I'm so grateful, I don't even know what to say... How did you even afford these?" Wukong, genuine confusion: "Afford? I just gathered a bunch from the lime orchard at home. There's hundreds of these things - I don't like 'em personally cus they taste like dirt to me. I normally just toss them in the hotpot when I run out of the chicken-tasting ones." Pigsy: "Excuse me."

I hc that in the direct aftermath in returning to FFM during the White Bone Spirit chapter of JTTW; Sun Wukong did a lot of gardening and farming in order to ensure that his people would have a sustainable source of food. Probably convinced Zhu Bajie to "show off his super-cool 9-Toothed Rake" to start the farmers off.

He also plants a bunch of super-rare and super-divine plants on the island that he picks up in his travels.

Wukong, chilling on a tree clearly not native to the island: "What? I like using the leaves as nesting material."

And lets not mention the super rare species of animals that managed to survive/escape the Burning.

FFM probably has an undiscovered wild cat or two that Sandy accidentally befriends.