#Reynold's parchment paper

[lacilashea]

Vegan recipe for garlic non dairy cheddar biscuits. You will need two cups of swans down cake flour, and preheat your oven on 400. 4 table spoons of crisco vegetable shortening, 1 table spoon of country crock plant butter non dairy with olive oil and another tablespoon set aside to brush your biscuits with as they come out of the oven. 3 teaspoons of clabber girl double acting baking powder, and 1/8 teaspoon of salt. You also need 1/2 of an 8 ounce cup of vio life cheddar shreds or follow your heart as both are non dairy and vegan, and you will need 1/2 tea spoon of badia garlic powder. Combine your flour, baking powder, cheddar shreds non dairy, badia garlic powder, and salt and cut in with pastry knives, or by hand your crisco 4 table spoons and the 1 table spoon of country crock plant butter. Once all are cut in measure out one 8 ounce cup of Blue diamond unsweetened almond milk and 1/8 of a cup and you may need a splash more to incorporate but an 1/8 with whole cup should be enough. Mix the unsweetened almond milk with the other ingredients to form your dough. Once your dough is formed use a soup spoon to shape 5 to six biscuits to put on a lightly greased with country crock plant butter baking sheet about 2 teaspoons should be enough to coat the baking sheet you just rub the plant butter all over the baking sheet where you will be placing the biscuits or you roll the biscuits and cut 1.25 inches thick and place on the baking sheet remembering to flour your rolling pin and putting flour lightly on your parchment paper. Once you have to biscuits formed or cut place them onto lightly greased baking sheet and bake for 18-20 minutes on 400. Make sure centers are done using tooth pick. Brush once or twice with the plant butter you melt onto the baked biscuits right as they come out of the oven and you can add 1/10 a tsp of badia garlic powder to melted plant butter to give extra flavor. Enjoy!

If you do not want to use the companies mentioned find those of your choice that have mutual dependence and responsibility with the plants, animals, and environment.

[whencyclopedia]

Reading Practice: The Pursuit of Natural Knowledge from Manuscript to Print

In her book "Reading Practice: The Pursuit of Natural Knowledge from Manuscript to Print," Melissa Reynolds follows a "paper trail" of historical figures in early modern Europe to gain insight into how they understood the natural world. Using books, manuscripts, and other textual artifacts, Reynolds investigates how intellectuals, scientists, and scholars of the time interacted with and made sense of their lives and landscapes.

The key purpose of Melissa Reynolds's first book, Reading Practice: The Pursuit of Natural Knowledge from Manuscript to Print, is to explore how readers interacted with texts and manuscripts related to natural knowledge and how the readers interpreted and applied the knowledge from these works to their daily lives. Reynolds does this helpfully and engagingly that features interdisciplinary connections. Reading Practice provides a detailed analysis of how reading and textual practices influenced the pursuit of natural knowledge during a transformative period in European history.

This book will be a delightful experience for any readers interested or researching bloodletting or the influence of thunder and celestial bodies on humanity and health. A cultural historian of early modern and medieval Europe, Melissa Reynolds has a wide range of interests in fields such as the history of science and medicine, gender studies, and historical texts. Specifically, she is keenly interested in studying the transmission of natural medical and scientific knowledge from noble cultures to the ordinary 'commonfolk' of the past, as well as the subsequent cultural shifts that resulted from this dissemination. She is currently Assistant Professor of Early Modern European History at Texas Christian University.

This book prominently features concepts related to astrology, feminine insights that were frowned upon yet sought after by common men, superstitions, religion, and prognostications. The author extensively analyzed a corpus of 182 manuscripts to inspire the book. These primary sources, which she discovered over a decade of research on multiple continents, build up her argument around "natural knowledge." Natural knowledge is defined as an understanding of the natural world based on observation, study, and experience, including aspects of medicine, science, and the environment.

During the early modern period, common English people created and shared practical knowledge from texts like almanacs, herbals, and medical recipes. This book explores how they used the skillfully crafted and sometimes artistic manuscripts to learn about health, nature, and their place in the universe.

Reynolds examines the transition from Latin manuscripts to Middle English folios, the emergence of printing, the development of critical thinking, and the origins of what would become copyright law. This book is valuable for historians, librarians, academics of early modern science and medicine, and others interested in the evolution of literacy and natural knowledge during this era. The text includes notes on transcriptions and manuscript titles, along with a comprehensive list of all figures and tables featured in the book.

To understand how people in the Middle Ages sought out and viewed information and the world around them, the author highlighted certain portions of the text with illustrations from the manuscripts in her corpus. Created during a time when the printing press was yet to be invented and religious beliefs were often a matter of life or death, the illustrations on the pages of parchment were symbolic in the sense that they were utilized by those who were unable to read or write.

Ancient visual calendars and pictorial tables detailing zodiac signs and how they correspond to human anatomy or visual prognostications of weather patterns are only some of the images within this book. Reynolds guides readers on a historical and scientific journey that harkens back to a simpler era, revealing the circulation and recirculation of ancient texts over time.

The author asserts that the common folk of England were well aware that the divine, who "granted virtues to be in words, in stones, and in herbs," backed up some powerful remedies created by the combination of actions and ingredients (82). This book is highly recommended as it is remarkably unique, especially at a time when the art of creating bold-lettered manuscripts has now been replaced by graphic design and word processing programs. Engaging with this book will enhance a reader's comprehension of exactly how knowledge was passed down throughout history and the significant impact of this transmission on intellectual and cultural development.

Continue reading...

[launch-cronch]

"Throw out your blackened baking pan, that is not seasoning, eww! so careless! it's bad! use plastic coated parchment paper instead. © 2022 Reynolds Consumer Products. Nno! Scrub it. scrub it blank. Use Barkeepers Friend. © 2024 SerVaas Laboratories Inc. Buy nonstick instead! Teflon™ is a trademark of The Chemours Company FC, LLC."

i am going to KILL everyone

[libertysmithmk]

I made a jiggly cheesecake! I’m so proud of myself.

After I make something, if I like it I will write down the recipe. I’ll add notes for learnings.

If you can’t tell my first cake fell while in the pan and completely deflated.

As an Amazon Associate I may earn commissions from qualifying purchases.

[easternbloc1985]

Recipe for Chocolate-Glazed Mochi Doughnuts Take a bite out of Tieghan's sweet fried doughnut with a Japanese influence from Half Baked Harvest. 1 egg, Flaky sea salt for topping, 1/4 cup granulated sugar, Reynolds Parchment Paper, 5 tablespoons warm water or as needed, 1/3 cup coconut milk, 12 ounces dark chocolate chopped, 2 cups powdered sugar, 1 teaspoon vanilla, 3 tablespoons milk, 1.5 teaspoons baking powder, 1/2 cup milk, 2 cups sweet rice flour divided, 6 tablespoons unsalted butter melted, 3 tablespoons unsalted butter melted, 1/3 cup powdered sugar

[victorsoma]

Coconut Shrimp with the Best Dipping Sauce Recipe Golden and crispy, these panko and coconut crusted shrimp with a sweet and hot dipping sauce are easy and delicious. 1.5 cups sweetened shredded coconut, 8 tablespoons light olive oil or any high-heat cooking oil, Reynolds Parchment Paper, 1 pound large shrimp peeled and deveined tails left on, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder, 1/4 cup apricot preserves or apricot fruit spread, 1/4 cup all-purpose flour, 1/2 cup panko bread crumbs, 2 large eggs, 1/4 cup sweet chili sauce

[nejsterioti]

Recipe for Utokia's Ginger Shrimp and Broccoli with Garlic For a tasty and simple-to-cleanup dinner, parchment packets stuffed with shrimp and broccoli florets are baked and seasoned with a ginger sauce with Asian influences. Reynolds Parchment Paper, 4 cups broccoli florets, 1 pound raw shrimp peeled and deveined, 2 cloves garlic crushed, 1/2 tablespoon soy sauce, 1 tablespoon sesame oil, 1/2 tablespoon grated fresh ginger

[cmibloggers]

Global Vegetable Parchment Paper Market Is Estimated To Witness High Growth Owing To Rising Demand for Eco-Friendly Packaging Solutions

The global Vegetable Parchment Paper market is estimated to be valued at US$ 732.2 million in 2022 and is expected to exhibit a CAGR of 901.1% over the forecast period, according to a new report published by Coherent Market Insights.

A) Market Overview:

Vegetable Parchment Paper is a type of paper that is coated with silicone, making it non-stick, heat-resistant, and greaseproof. It is widely used in food packaging, baking, and cooking applications. The advantages of Vegetable Parchment Paper include its ability to withstand high temperatures without burning or sticking, its grease resistance, and its eco-friendly nature as it can be easily recycled. With the increasing focus on sustainable packaging solutions and the growing demand for convenient food packaging, the Vegetable Parchment Paper market is expected to witness significant growth.

B) Market Key Trends:

An important key trend in the Vegetable Parchment Paper market is the increasing demand for eco-friendly packaging solutions. As consumers become more aware of environmental issues, there is a growing preference for sustainable packaging options. Vegetable Parchment Paper offers a viable alternative to plastic-based packaging materials, as it is biodegradable and can be easily recycled. For example, Reynolds Consumer Products Inc., a key player in the market, offers Vegetable Parchment Paper that is chlorine-free and compostable. This trend is expected to drive the growth of the Vegetable Parchment Paper market.

C) PEST Analysis:

- Political: The political factors influencing the Vegetable Parchment Paper market include government regulations and policies related to packaging materials and waste management. For instance, increasing restrictions on single-use plastics and initiatives promoting sustainable packaging can create opportunities for the growth of Vegetable Parchment Paper.

- Economic: The economic factors influencing the market include income levels, consumer spending patterns, and the overall economic growth. As disposable incomes rise and consumer preferences shift towards eco-friendly products, the demand for Vegetable Parchment Paper is expected to increase.

- Social: The social factors influencing the market include changing consumer lifestyles, increasing health consciousness, and growing awareness of environmental issues. Consumers are seeking convenient and sustainable packaging solutions, which is driving the demand for Vegetable Parchment Paper.

- Technological: The technological factors influencing the market include advancements in paper manufacturing processes and the development of innovative coatings and treatments. These advancements enhance the properties of Vegetable Parchment Paper, making it more functional and suitable for various applications.

D) Key Takeaways:

- The global Vegetable Parchment Paper market is expected to witness high growth, exhibiting a CAGR of 901.1% over the forecast period, due to increasing demand for eco-friendly packaging solutions. For example, Tesco, one of the key players in the market, offers a range of Vegetable Parchment Papers that are recyclable and made from sustainable sources.

- Regionally, Europe is expected to be the fastest-growing and dominating region in the Vegetable Parchment Paper market. This can be attributed to strict regulations regarding plastic packaging waste and the growing preference for sustainable packaging options in the region.

- Key players operating in the global Vegetable Parchment Paper market include Reynolds Consumer Products Inc., Paterson Pacific Parchment Company, AMOL Group, JK Paper, Black Label Paper Company, Nordic Paper, and Tesco. These players are focusing on product innovation and sustainability to gain a competitive edge in the market.

In conclusion, the global Vegetable Parchment Paper market is expected to witness significant growth driven by the increasing demand for eco-friendly packaging solutions. With its unique properties and advantages, Vegetable Parchment Paper presents a sustainable alternative to plastic-based packaging materials. The market is anticipated to expand further, with Europe emerging as a prominent region for growth. Key players in the market are focusing on innovation and sustainability to cater to the evolving consumer demands.

[chemicalresearchupdates]

Vegetable Parchment Paper Market Strategic Investment Plans and Business Opportunities

The vegetable parchment paper market refers to the industry involved in the production, distribution, and sale of parchment paper made specifically for culinary purposes. Vegetable parchment paper, also known as baking paper or baking parchment, is a type of paper that has been treated with a silicone coating, making it non-stick, moisture-resistant, and heat-resistant.

Here is some information about the vegetable parchment paper market:

Market Overview: The vegetable parchment paper market has experienced steady growth in recent years. This is primarily due to the increasing demand for convenient and non-stick cooking and baking solutions. Vegetable parchment paper offers numerous benefits such as easy food release, reduced need for oil or butter, and simplified cleanup.

Key Players: Several companies operate in the vegetable parchment paper market, including:

Reynolds Consumer Products: Reynolds is a leading manufacturer and distributor of various household products, including parchment paper.

If You Care: If You Care is a brand known for producing environmentally friendly and sustainable kitchen and household products, including vegetable parchment paper.

Beyond Gourmet: Beyond Gourmet offers a range of eco-friendly cooking and baking essentials, including vegetable parchment paper.

PaperChef: PaperChef specializes in producing high-quality vegetable parchment paper for both household and professional use.

Product Varieties: Vegetable parchment paper comes in various forms and sizes to cater to different cooking and baking needs. Some common product varieties include pre-cut sheets, rolls, and parchment paper rounds for lining cake pans. It is available in different thicknesses and may also be coated with silicone on both sides for enhanced non-stick properties.

Applications: Vegetable parchment paper is widely used in the food industry as well as households. Its primary applications include:

Baking: It is commonly used to line baking sheets and pans, preventing sticking and ensuring even heat distribution.

Roasting: Parchment paper can be used to wrap and cook foods like vegetables, fish, and poultry, helping to retain moisture and flavors.

Steaming: Parchment paper packets are used for steaming various ingredients, locking in flavors while preventing direct contact with water.

Food Wrapping: Parchment paper can be used for wrapping sandwiches, cheese, or other food items to keep them fresh.

Market Trends: The vegetable parchment paper market has witnessed several trends in recent years:

Eco-friendly and sustainable products: There is an increasing demand for vegetable parchment paper made from renewable resources and using environmentally friendly production processes.

Customization and convenience: Manufacturers are introducing pre-cut sheets and specialized shapes to cater to specific baking needs, enhancing convenience for consumers.

Health-conscious consumers: With a growing focus on healthier cooking methods, vegetable parchment paper offers a non-stick option without the need for excessive oil or butter.

Distribution Channels: Vegetable parchment paper is widely available through various distribution channels, including:

Supermarkets and hypermarkets

Convenience stores

Online retailers

Specialty kitchenware stores

Foodservice suppliers

Regional Market: The vegetable parchment paper market is global, with significant demand across various regions. North America and Europe are traditionally strong markets due to the popularity of baking and cooking, while Asia Pacific is also experiencing growth due to changing lifestyles and increasing urbanization.

Factors Driving Market Growth: Several factors contribute to the growth of the vegetable parchment paper market:

Increasing awareness of convenient and healthier cooking methods

Growing demand for non-stick and easy-to-clean cooking solutions

Rise in baking and cooking activities at home

Expansion of the foodservice industry

It's important to note that the information provided here is based on the knowledge available up until September 2021, and the vegetable parchment

[damedarcy]

❤️Patron Stephanie Crawford just sent me pix of her delicious #cupcakes she made from the Galentines day #cakeredvelvet recipe I sent to everybody. In a beautiful dream I would love for all of the Patron Family to get together at one big party and have yummy valentine cupcakes ❤️🧁❤️🧁❤️Love to you all! Darcy Welcome to the Family New Patrons: 🙏🥰😃😀😆🙂😘😍🥹🤣🤗 ⭐️Heather Drain ⭐️Patti Reynolds ⭐️Ari Cohen ⭐️Cookie Dollface ⭐️Who Knew ⭐️Kaya Potter-Hutchins ⭐️Flavia Bellagamba ⭐️Zazz ⭐️Mrs. Betty Live #tarotreadings for you from #yourstruly are for everyone! Just send me a message through Pateron messenger and we can set up a time! https://www.patreon.com/damedarcy 8 oz unsweetened baker's chocolate (melted) •15 oz can beets (drained, can also use steamed beets) •7 large eggs •1 tbsp vanilla •1/4 cup liquid coconut oil (+ 1 tbsp) •1 tbsp white vinegar •1 cup raw honey (divided) •1/2 tsp sea salt •2/3 cup mini Enjoy Life! semi-sweet chips •1 pint heavy whipping cream •2 cups fresh berries •1/4 cup crushed walnuts (or pistachios or marcona almonds) •1 bunch fresh mint (for garnish) INSTRUCTIONS 1Heat oven to 350ºF. 2In a blender, combine 6 oz. melted unsweetened bakers chocolate, beets, eggs, vanilla, coconut oil, vinegar, 2/3 cup honey and salt. Blend until pureed. If adding in chocolate chips, fold into batter. 3Pour into two 8-inch round baking pans, which have been lined with parchment paper. 4Bake for 25-27 minutes, or until the center of each cake springs back when touched lightly. Cool completely. 5Whip heavy cream until stiff peaks form. Fold in 2-3 tbsp of honey, or to taste. 6Spread onto cakes, creating a 2-layer cake with cream between the layers and on top. Decorate with fresh berries, nuts and mint leaves. 7If desired, melt together remaining 2 oz chocolate, 1 tbsp coconut oil and 1/4 cup raw honey, and drizzle over cake for extra chocolate flavor. ❤️#love @damedarcy @stephaniecrawford https://www.instagram.com/p/Co0FOOjuRk-/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[lacilashea]

Vegan Pumpkin Pie Crust

1 cup of Bob's red mill premium Arrow root flour/starch or It's just Arrow root. 1/3 of a 8 ounce cup of Libby's pure pumpkin, 1/2 tbsp of truvia sweet complete brown with hint of molasses, 1 teaspoon of kosher salt coarse, 1/8 cup of crushed pecans, 8-12 tbsp of ice water, glad cling wrap, and reynold's kitchen parchment paper.

In mixing bowl blend arrow root starch/flour, 1/2 tbsp brown truvia sweet complete, 1 tsp kosher salt, crushed pecan halves, and cut in 1/3 of 8 ounce cup of libby's pure pumpkin with pastry knives, dough hooks, or by hand. Then add one tsp at a time of ice water 8-12 tbsp until a pliable not to dry or sticky dough is formed. Wrap ball of dough and refrigerate for 2 hours. Remove dough ball after two hours and place on dusted with arrow root starch parchment and dust rolling pin about a tbsp or 2 of arrow root starch flour should be enough remember to remove glad cling wrap prior to dusting parchment paper and rolling pin. Roll dough to 11-12 inches in diameter to fit 9 inch pie baking dish if using 8x1.5 trim excess. Bake on 400 after preheating for 8-10 minutes. Enjoy! If you do not want to use the companies mentioned use who you trust that has mutual dependence and responsibilities with the animals, plants, and environment.

[herradhighpriestess]

Deliberate Exchange

Summary: Elka Green is at work the morning the Exchange. She is one of the hostages pulled onto the motorcycles and not released. Elka is married to a conservative judge, in a loveless marriage, there's all sorts of drugs, sex and violence and political references/quotes that could offend, I hope you enjoy, xoxo I don't own any of these characters etc.

Chapter One: A Personal Note

Elka Green climbed the steps of the Exchange building, her eighteen hundred-dollar Gucci heels sounded in staccato clicks on the pitted and well traversed steps of the Exchange.

She tossed her hair back and adjusted the silk scarf that was loosely wrapped around her slim neck. Elka’s dark blonde hair fell long past her shoulders.

A sharp breeze blew in her direction, and a single tendril of her macadamia nut oiled hair caught in the loose knot of her scarf. As the wind died down, the single strand of warm blonde hair pulled free of her scalp and settled in the silken valleys of the designer fabric.

Elka paused at the top of the steps when she heard someone call her name.

“Elka, hey Elka!”

She forced her lips into a welcoming smile as Jerry Reynolds jogged over to her.

“Hey Elka, how was your weekend?”

“Good morning Jerry, it was pleasant. Thank you for asking.”

Jerry ran a manicured hand through his seventy-five-dollar haircut. Elka started walking again and kept her matte lipstick smile fixed in place as she headed in the direction of an organic coffee cart.

Jerry kept pace and prattled on about his weekend, completely oblivious to Elka’s disinterest. She struggled to not roll her eyes as Jerry rattled off story after adventure about his wild weekend.

Elka’s smile turned genuine when Albert Phinney pressed a white lid on a recycled paper cup and passed it to her as she walked up. “Good morning Mrs. Green, I hope your weekend was well,” he added as she accepted the hot cup from his hands.

Albert watched her intently as she took a sip of the steaming soy concoction. She smiled warmly when the sweet espresso flooded her mouth and coated her taste buds.

“Today, it’s a soy hazelnut macchiato with a dusting of cinnamon and nutmeg.”

Elka took another sip as Albert whispered that he had added some light agave syrup. Monday through Friday, Albert made Elka a mystery espresso. It was a tradition that had started more than seven years prior and showed no signs of stopping unless one of them ceased to live.

It had been Elka’s first day at the Exchange, she had started on the lowest part of the totem, barely clinging to its wooden splinters. She had been obscenely early for her first day, not many people had been around. Albert had been brewing coffee and unwrapping and arranging sweet pastries and Bavarian cream filled delicacies onto plastic platters.

Elka had straightened the stiff collar of her stark white blouse and pinstriped blazer as she approached Albert’s coffee cart. He had offered her a warm smile and didn’t tell her that he wasn’t quite set up for business yet when he saw her nerves peeking out from behind her statuesque and stoic facade.

Elka stood a little over 5’8 and in her Jimmy’s, she came in just a hair under six feet. Albert’s smile broadened when Elka couldn’t decide on a coffee and held up a wrinkled, liver-spotted hand to pause her indecisive litany.

“Allow me to make you a drink not on the menu,” he had whispered in a low conspiratorial tone and bustled about steaming soy milk and adding an amber colored sweet syrup.

Elka had smiled gratefully and accepted that first drink which started the long-running weekly tradition of Albert creating her morning coffee. She always abstained from one of the tempting and delicious looking buttery pastries. Every great once in a while, Albert would top one of her morning espressos with whipped cream and fat light-brown raw sugar crystals.

Elka put a few dollars in the battered paper tip cup and headed to the large revolving doors of the Exchange with Jerry hot on her highfalutin shiny, leather heels.

Elka breathed a sigh of relief when Jerry said he’d catch up with her later and hopped into an already packed elevator to head to the bustling seventh floor. She casually waved at him and continued in her preferred solitary fashion of the carpeted floor of the Exchange.

She sipped at her macchiato and reveled in the sweet coffee as she readied her mind for the day.

Elka was Mrs. Elka Alsina Green. Married just under four years to Justice Calvin Patrick Green of the Supreme Court.

They had met when Elka had been a key witness in a defense case against a legal firm CEO caught up in a masterful Ponzi Scheme. Judge Green had waited until the verdict had come in and had slammed his gavel down before asking her out for dinner.

In their short marriage, Elka’s bullish behavior and competitive drive led to her being promoted to her current position of an Information Systems Analyst Supervisor. Her intense focus at the Exchange led to people loving or hating her, unfortunately Jerry was head over heels for her, smitten beyond belief, despite Elka’s multiple reminders of her marriage.

She hadn’t wanted to hurt his feelings by adding that she held zero attraction towards him.

Elka swirled the coffee in the dull green paper cup as she stalked through the Exchange and paused to say hello or offer a few passing words to several colleagues. After she finished the coffee, she fished a pack of gum from her burgundy Louis Vuitton bag. Soon the sweet and artificial peppermint coated her tongue and chased away her coffee breath.

Elka adjusted the shiny plastic badge over her heart as a familiar and delightful nervous energy filled her body, leaving a vast tingling in its wake that danced through her limbs as she waited for the opening bell to ring.

As Elka’s heartbeat increased and she snapped her gum faster, Jerry had remained at the Exchange entrance and looked down at the older man running a stiff bristled brush over the tops of his shoes.

Jerry could nearly see his reflection in the buffed surface of his shoes.

“You can’t short the stock because Bruce Wayne goes to a party,” Jerry said loudly to the man sitting next to him. The man whose name Elka couldn’t seem to remember. Dennis.

“Wayne coming back is change. Change is either good or bad. I vote bad.” The man who Jerry was looking down upon in his current sitting position as well as in life was a very loyal man with five grown daughters. Esau pretended to be every part the simple-minded man who was shining the shoes of the pretentious, all in hopes for a few crisp bills and shiny coins to rain down around him.

Esau continued to work the brush over the tops of Jerry’s gleaming shoes, urging a glow to swim to the surface. As Jerry and Dennis continued to discuss Bruce Wayne, Esau let his eyes wander over to his black nondescript backpack which held a loaded automatic weapon.

“On what basis?” Dennis asked.

“I flipped a coin,” Jerry answered casually before adding. “Come on let’s go scalping,” he said as he tossed a fresh five-dollar bill to land next to Esau‘s leg.

Esau watched Jerry adjust and smooth down his royal purple tie that stood out proudly against his bright blue and white striped shirt.

While Elka covered a deep yawn, Scott Carthwright pulled a creased ten dollar bill out of his pocket when the delivery guy from Antonio’s, a stellar delicatessen, walked up with a brown paper bag.

Scott opened the bag and pulled out the parchment wrapped sandwich that was supposed to be a mortadella on wheat with a fat pile of pungent pepperoncini and thick rings of Vidalia onion. He was looking forward to the olive oil and balsamic dressing that would soak the bread and impregnate it with the progeny of sweet, bitter, spicy, and savory. Scott let out a dramatic exasperated sigh and looked at the delivery guy who sported sharp features and a hooked nose. “It says rye, I said no rye man.”

The salt and pepper haired delivery man, Joshua, flicked his eyes over to the clock before his gaze landed on Scott’s plastic badge and ID number, G13689.

While Scott continued to bitch about his sandwich, on the marble landing of the carved staircase, Karl pushed a wooden handled mop along the floor after a pair of traders walked past. His beige monochromatic clothing made him almost disappear in the sea of ostentatious bustling busybodies with their platinum money clips, excessive caffeine consumption and high blood pressure.

Karl glanced down at his sunny yellow mop bucket filled with sudsy water.

Submerged in the soapy water was a matching automatic weapon to Esau’s, which laid in deadly dormancy, waiting to take lives.

Elka glanced up at the large clock and made her way to her glass-walled corner office, which was sprawling and spacious, she smiled at the fresh peonies her secretary Janice had left on the corner of her desk.

No sooner had Elka taken her seat and booted up her computer, when her life changed irreparably by a masked man in a leather jacket.

The metal detectors began to blare their alarms as Bane walked into the lobby of the Exchange, armed guards milled about with their federally issued .40 caliber handguns.

Bane’s broad shoulders were encased in a well-worn and creased leather jacket. DCS Downtown Courier Service, was emblazoned across the back in dull brick red letters.

Bane’s thick and heavily corded muscular neck and body were obscured by the fire engine red helmet that drew the attention of Sandra, a full-time member of the Exchange’s security team.

Sandra approached Bane and began to recite her repetitive litany for newcomers to the Exchange.

Her dark hair was pulled back into a low ponytail and she struggled to not roll her eyes in irritation at yet another person not being able to read the sign that clearly stated to remove all headwear, from hat to motorcycle helmet.

“Hey rookie, lose the helmet. We need faces for camera.”

“Come on,” Sandra managed before the red helmet was off Bane’s head and smashing into her face. The bridge of her nose exploded, and she saw bright blue stars before losing consciousness.

She would awake in a narrow emergency room gurney a while later, a plastic IV line in one arm, keeping the pain down to a dull roar.

In a brutal display of startling power, Bane moved to the right and swung the helmet in an arc, catching another guard in his forward momentum. He dodged left and avoided the next man’s reaching arm and gun. Bane slipped around the man’s extended arm and forced him to discharge his weapon before dropping him to the ground.

Bane looked around at the fallen guards, his veins and arteries swelled and became engorged with lethal toxicity. His body moved with the feral grace of felines stalking in the tall brush of the Serengeti.

“This is a stock exchange, there’s no money you can steal,” Jerry said in a tone that still held the repugnant tone of his obnoxious silver-spooned upbringing.

“Really? Then why are you people here?” Bane rebutted quickly and pulled Jerry roughly by the neck to a nearby desk. Bane slammed Jerry’s soft featured face onto the desk’s paper cluttered surface and ripped the plastic access badge from his chest.

Dennis tried to sink into his seat and disappear off of Bane’s radar, his sweating fingers struggled to not drop Bane’s red motorcycle helmet onto the ground. He felt like he was going to piss his pants, sphincter tightening. His stomach threatened to reject his liquid latte breakfast, acidic bile burned at the back of his throat.

While the metal detectors continued to blare their alarms as the masked group of men stormed the lobby. The masked men were all heavily armed and swarmed the offices and took up post by the elevators.

One of the men sprayed a line of bullets in the ceiling and the abrupt gunfire quieted a lot of screams.

Another anonymous man lifted a bullhorn to his masked mouth and began to speak. His voice reverberated through the lobby and reached Elka’s ears as she crawled under her desk and hugged her knees to her chest, through the glass walls, Elka could see that Janice had taken the same position under her own desk.

“Disobedience will be punished by death,” the masked man began and in a brutal display of startling power, grabbed one of the crying interns who was wailing incessantly and pulled her to her feet. He swung the bullhorn in an arc, catching the crying woman in mid-sob and knocking her unconscious to the floor.

“Cooperation and silence are what will allow you to retain your life.” Elka peeked around the corner of her desk as the masked man looked around at the people shaking in fear, the veins and arteries in his muscular neck swelled and became engorged with lethal toxicity. His body moved with the feral grace of felines stalking their unsuspecting prey in the tall brush.

Elka ducked back under her desk as the man’s gaze took to sweeping across the faces of the scared men and women standing in trembling huddles. They were corralled by their own fear, nearly paralyzed with the thought that the next bullet fired was going to kiss them between their shoulder blades.

Elka took a sharp intake of breath and nearly felt the weight of the masked terrorist’s eyes pass over where she was hidden from view. She flinched when she heard his voice grow in volume as he moved down the hallway, his men had spread out and were dragging people from their offices and impromptu hiding spots.

Elka pressed her lips together and inhaled deeply through her nose, she tried to remember all the jargon her yoga instructor spouted about finding a place of calm and being able to breathe away anxiety. She closed her eyes; her heartbeat was pounding in her ears with a dull roar and she couldn’t shake the image of the masked man. A short film on perpetual repeat, danced behind her eyelids of his predatory stalking around the Exchange floor, his eyes found every weakness among the hostage masses, from their red blood cells to their very warm, wet core.

Elka risked another peek around her desk just as the armed man did another visual sweep. His eyes landed on Elka when her face appeared around the mahogany desk. Elka found herself unable to move, trapped under his warm caramel colored eyes.

As the dangerous man approached her with light footfalls despite his heavy boots, he watched her expression fill with fear. He smiled behind his mask as he closed the distance between them, walking towards her with deliberate and painful slowness.

He stopped in front of her, “stand up,” he ordered and pointed to the floor in front of him. He watched her struggle to stand and found he barely had to drop his eyes to return her wide-eyed stare. His eyes fell to her plastic badge indicating her supervisorial capacity.

The next few moments were a blur for Elka, she was startled back to reality by the feel of his massive hand enclose around her bicep.

From the closeness of his proximity, his voice caused her stomach to clench and her mouth went dry.

“How much longer does the program need?” the intricate metal asked man asked Esau, with his eyes completely trained on Elka and the rapid and rise and fall of her chest.

“Eight minutes but they cut the fiber, cells working,” Esau said as he watched the progress of the computer program weave its way into the monetary network.

She flinched when she heard his voice call again to the man that had until not too long ago, shining shoes.

“Time to go mobile,” sounded the masked man’s musically toned voice as he closed a large hand around her upper arm. From the closeness of his proximity, his voice caused her stomach to clench and her mouth went dry.

The next few moments were a blur for Elka, she was startled back to reality by the feel of his massive hand yank her around by her bicep.

Elka heard the shouting of the masked man’s counterparts and fresh gunfire erupted as she was pulled towards the exit doors of the Exchange.

“Everybody up!” a deep male voice shouted and was followed up by a spray of bullets. Some hit yielding flesh with a meaty smack.

“You two, move.”

Bane paused in front of Dennis and pulled at the red helmet that he was clutching like newborn stock options.

“Thank you,” Bane said in a haunting and melodic tone as he pulled the helmet from Dennis’s sweating hands.

Elka seemed to wake up as the physically imposing man pulled her towards a line of waiting motorcycles.

She began a futile attempt to pull free of his grasp.

He didn’t audibly respond to her feeble attempt at resistance, instead he tightened his grip until he forced a hiss of pain from her lips and yanked her towards the closest bike.

Bane didn’t relinquish his stranglehold on Elka’s arm, even as he swung his leg over the bike and settled on the padded seat. He spared a glance at Elka before he pulled her to perch in front of him.

Her fears were renewed when he started the bike’s engine and began to let it idle as the other men with him gathered the remaining hostages at the exit doors and got on the bikes as they gunned the engines to life.

Outside, SWAT and police milled about and argued about the best approach to the terrorists.

Foley and Blake had their firearms leveled at the Exchange as one of the rooftop snipers squinted and called out. “I’ve got something.”

“Steady….” Foley called.

“Steady.”

The hostages started down the steps of the Exchange and the security chief shouted over the growing Gotham Police Department’s adrenaline buzz.

“Hold your fire, they’ve got hostages.”

In the midst of the shouting, Elka tried to slide out of Bane’s grasp, she almost squealed with victory when the toe of her shoe hit the ground. Her joy was fleeting as Bane wrapped a powerful arm around her and pulled her back until she was flush against his chest. She was forced to shift her body until the smooth, metal gas tank was cool against the inside of her trembling thighs.

As Bane and his men tore through the city on their motorcycles, they dropped their hostages one at a time.

The police force erupted in chaos and officers tried left and right for a clean shot at any and all of the terrorists, while trying desperately to avoid the innocents.

Some of the unlucky guys and gals landed poorly and Gotham’s emergency room had a slew of broken wrists and ankles to grit-filled road rash.

The original objective had been to take temporary hostages in order to ensure a safe escape from the Exchange.

As Bane urged the bike’s speedometer higher, Elka squeezed her eyes shut.

Bane kept his grip on her strong and unyielding, through the razor thin vents of his mask, he could detect the sensual aroma of a high-end parfum, sold only in overpriced blue glass bottles.

The fragrance held the sweet and citrus undertones of rosehips and bergamot.

Bane inhaled a lungful of the subtle fragrance as he continued to maneuver the motorcycle through the city.

As he steered them further from the Exchange, Elka began to fall still under her body’s shock response.

“Where are you taking me?”

Bane was genuinely surprised when Elka’s voice sounded above the wind rushing past them. He responded immediately and without delay as soon as her last spoken syllable had tumbled from her lips.

His single word response caused her vocal cords to temporarily cease to function.

“Home.”

[blindchandelure]

I was reading Good Housekeeping (I just got a free copy of their digital edition) and....wow. This is the most diverse holiday advertisement I’ve ever seen.

We’ve got a Hanukkah dreidel, a Christmas tree, Kwanzaa candles, and even a Diwali diya!

Well done, Reynolds Kitchen Parchment Paper (TM).

[tinysidestrashcaptain]

Burn

A/N: So, guess who was listening to First Burn and got inspired? Have this short semi-song fic. It’s short, but hopefully not too terrible. 

Pairings: Prinxiety, implied Logince that’s never acted on

TW: Infidelity, lies, swearing

Roman’s feet dragged on the floor, feeling like lead as he slowly trudged through the house towards the study. He could still see the furious look on Logan’s face as he threw the Reynold’s Pamphlet in his face, still hear the words echoing in his head. “I love my brother more than anything in this life, and I will choose his happiness over mine every time! I’m here for him, to stand at his side while he endures bitter torment because YOU were foolish enough to respond to schoolyard taunts with...THIS! Whatever we may have had? It’s done. Virgil is all that matters now. I hope you’re happy, you selfish bastard.”

Well, he certainly wasn’t happy! Roman had been so sure when that lying snake had approached him that the only way to preserve his professional reputation was to come clean. To put everything out there so that no one could ever accuse him of fraud or theft. In hindsight, it was beyond stupid, and he regretted every single word he’d penned, but the damage was done. Now the only thing he had left to do was to confront his husband. Roman hesitated outside the door, his hand hovering uncertainly over the knob. This was the study he and Virgil had spent hours in together, the one place in their home he’d never allowed another soul to enter. Not even...him.

He slowly opened the door, and his heart shattered in his chest at the sight of his husband kneeling on the floor in front of a crackling fire, his shoulders shaking with quiet sobs. “...Virgil…?”

Virgil’s shoulders tensed immediately, but he didn’t turn or look at him. He held up a sheaf of parchments, holding them still so that Roman could see them. Letters. Countless letters that he’d written to Virgil during their courtship. Letters that Virgil had kept and treasured, letters he’d often caught his husband re-reading with a soft smile on his face. Virgil didn’t turn at all, just grabbed one out of the stack, bringing it closer to his face. “I keep re-reading these, over and over again, trying to figure out what I missed.”

“Darling--” Roman started, stepping forward.

“DON’T!” Virgil snarled, whirling. His eyes were red from crying, tears on his face, but the fury in them was unmistakable, betrayal and pain nearly making his voice crack. “Don’t take another step closer to me, you son of a bitch.” His glare pinned Roman where he stood, froze him in place.

Virgil held the letter to his face, reading it one last time with a grim expression, then turned and tossed it into the fire. “I’m burning every single one of these, since they clearly mean nothing. You aren’t the man who wrote these. I don’t know who the hell you are anymore, but you’re welcome to stand over there, if you want.”

Roman couldn’t help the wordless sound of protest that was ripped from his throat as he watched the letter go up in flames. Virgil’s eyes shot to his, their normally kind brown depths an inky well of pain in the relative darkness. “You don’t get to protest. You lost that right the minute you published THIS.” The balled up paper hit Roman squarely in the chest. He didn’t have to look at it to know what it was.

“I didn’t mean--”

“Mean to what? To bring a stranger into our home, into our BED?! Praytell, how did it happen, then?” Virgil snapped, another letter going into the flames. “I’d ask if you tripped, but we both know exactly how big a lie that would be. You published every letter he wrote to you, every disgusting detail of what you did together, so the whole world knows just how big a fool you made of me.”

Roman flinched, but stayed silent, his head bowing in shame. Virgil scoffed, tossing two more letters into the fire in rapid succession. “In clearing your name, you’ve ruined our lives, you know that, don’t you? Heaven forbid your enemies whisper that you’re part of some scheme! They whisper a taunt, so you have to scream over them to silence them, and for WHAT?”

“I…” Roman trailed off at the raw misery on Virgil’s face as he looked at him.

“You think I don’t know about whispers? That I don’t see the way you look at my brother whenever he’s around? I’m not stupid, Roman. Then again, I had no idea you were fucking someone else in our own home, blissfully ignorant that I was sleeping in the same place you bedded another man, so maybe I AM stupid.” Tears were streaming down Virgil’s face, his voice cracking with emotion. “I was willing to pretend it was okay that you’re in love with Logan, I really was. I thought if I loved you enough, maybe you could love me back. And for awhile, I thought I’d finally managed it. We have three children, a life and a family. I thought that mattered to you, thought I mattered to you!”

“You do! Virgil, you do!” Roman blurted out, reaching a hand out, but Virgil slapped him away furiously.

“Do I?! Then when the time comes, you can explain to the children the pain and embarrassment you put me through. When are you going to learn that they are your legacy, that we are your legacy? The rest of the world may forget you, but the people who loved you never will.” Virgil nearly shouted it, and Roman recoiled, guilt nearly eating him alive.

“...Loved…?” The past tense made Roman feel like the world was tipping on its axis. Maybe he’d never truly understood how much he had come to depend on Virgil’s limitless love and support until just this moment, when he realized it might all be over.

“...Do you remember when I begged to be part of your narrative? Begged you to let me into your heart, into your life?” Virgil asked quietly, looking down at the remaining stack of letters. Tears dotted the paper, smearing the ink as Roman nodded. “Forget it. I’m erasing myself from the narrative. Let future historians wonder how I reacted when you broke my heart. I don’t give a damn what they think of you, and they have no right to me or my feelings.”

Virgil whirled and threw the entire stack of letters into the fire with a small, heart wrenching sob. “This doesn’t matter. None of it can erase what you’ve done, how little you value me and your family, and there aren’t any words you can ever give me to change it now. I’ll stay, I don’t have a choice, but I’ll sleep in the guest quarters. You won’t be welcome there, not now, not ever. In fact, it would be better if you slept in your office instead, don’t you think?”

Every word landed like a blow, and Roman felt tears streaming down his face as he looked at Virgil, haloed in the glow from the fire. “I...I’m so sorry--”

“So am I.” Virgil cut him off, stalking towards him. For a moment, he was sure his husband was about to slap him, and perhaps he was, but in the end he just stood there, toe to toe with him. “If you ever made the mistake of thinking you were mine? Don’t.”

Roman stared after his husband long after he’d gone, those words echoing in his brain. He didn’t know if he’d ever unhear them, ever unsee the bitter pain in Virgil’s eyes. As he stumbled to his desk, sitting in the chair he’d so often spent hours writing at, he couldn’t help but think that this may be the one thing that he couldn’t write his way out of.

[blog-of-a-multitude-of-fandoms]

Press- Alexander Hamilton

Pairing: Alexander Hamilton x Reader (Platonic)

Characters: Alexander Hamilton

Warnings: N/A

Request: N/A

Word Count: 405

Author: Aaron

“You’re lucky it was me who saw you, I’m probably the only person in this city who isn’t out to end your career.” Alexander sat teary eyed at his desk; letters clutched in his trembling hands begging you for a path out of his predicament.

“I can’t help you; Washington isn’t here to get you out of this either so you’re going to have to dig yourself out of this hole solo.” Papers cascaded onto his desk, some letters from a Mr. James Reynolds and others cheque stubs to the same recipient, all regarding his wife or as of late, Alex’s mistress.

“If this gets out my life is over. Jefferson won’t hesitate to plaster my face over the newspapers without even considering all the information at hand. I’ll be branded a charlatan, kicked out of office and my legacy will turn to nothing but dust.”

“Oh, you’ll have a legacy alright. I can see the students now all learning about Alexander Hamilton, screwed up over thirty years of some of the hardest work this continent has ever seen for someone to sleep with.” He extended from his seat and pressed his finger firmly into your chest.

“It wasn’t like that.”

“You fell into her?”

“She tricked me…”

“Alex, you’ve got kids you know how it works.”

“I don’t have time to argue about this.” He retreated back to his chair and began organising his scattered notes and records.

“It just occurred to me that not once have you mentioned Eliza here… you don’t think this is going to affect her? You’ve got to tell her.”

“She may be wife but she wouldn’t hesitate to run to the press… I tell her I might as well tell the whole nation myself.” You could almost see the idea formulating in his mind as a dripping quill met with a fresh sheet of parchment.

“Whoa whoa, what are you doing?”

“If I go to the press before Eliza, before Jefferson I can explain what really happened, how I was led astray and then exploited by a pair of predatorial lowlifes.”

“Now? Now you decide to listen to me.” You tried to snatch the ink stained paper from him, but he smacked your hand away and furiously wrote as if his entire existence depended on it. A few final strokes of the quill and he stared upon his newest publishing with a warped view of dread and glee.

[sml8180]

Ego Christmas - Day 25 - Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas, everyone! And a happy fourth day of Hanukkah to any Jewish followers who might be reading this! This post was scheduled ahead of time, so that I couldn’t forget to put this up. I hope that everyone is having a great day!

Merry Christmas

Breakfast ran long, it always did on the holidays, but that was fine, nobody had to go anywhere, anyways. After everything was cleaned up, the Egos all moved into the living area, where gifts were all set under the tree as the lights twinkled.

“Alright, everyone gather ‘round!” Wilford called out. “Everyone in a circle, you guys know how this works, by now.”

Everyone worked to arrange the sofas and armchairs into a circle, moving the coffee table out of the way to make more room. As they all settled down, with Dark, Wilford, and the twins closest to the tree, everything began. They started with the stockings, which hung up on the fireplace and on the wall surrounding it. Each one was simple, a red stocking with a white cuff, with the name of an Ego stitched in shimmering red thread. The stockings were filled with different candies, and a handful of small gifts that would likely keep each of their interest as the gifts under the tree were given to the correct Ego.

Dark, Wilford, and the Jims worked well together to get all the gifts out to the others, in a way they had clearly been perfecting over the years. Dark and Wilford would read the names on the gift tags, and each Jim was silently assigned to work with one of them to get the gift to the correct person. The twins clearly enjoyed the little job, each one wearing a red and green elf hat, while Wilford and Dark wore Santa hats - though Dark initially put on a grumpy facade, it didn’t last, and he was soon smiling with the others.

“Before we get too far into things,” Dark spoke up, calling all the Ego’s attention to himself. “We all need to take a moment to celebrate that this is the first of hopefully many Christmases with the newest members of this chaotic family of ours. Eric, Reynolds, Magnum, Yancy, and Illinois; I hope this ends up one of many holidays we all spend together.”

A chorus of agreement met the five Egos, making Eric blush and hide his face in Illinois’ shoulder, as Reynolds laughed a bit, patting the man’s back.

“Alright, well, go ahead, everyone,” Dark urged, chuckling as Wil kissed his cheek. “The gifts won’t open themselves.”

Bim was one of the first to open a gift, the one he’d gotten from King, tearing away the wrapping and opening up the box to reveal a glittery purple suit with black lapels, and a matching tie. He smiled brightly, hugging King tight and drawing a laugh from the man. King, meanwhile, opened his gift from Bim, ripping away the wrapping paper to reveal a somewhat cylindrical bundle. A check of the tag revealed that it was actually a couple’s sleeping bag, perfect to go on the bed in the tree house King had in the woods that surrounded the manor, for a little extra warmth.

Silver opened up his gift next, surprised to have gotten a gift from Ed of all people. The wrapping paper actually contained two items, one being a set of blackout curtains for Silver’s room, which lead to him looking to Ed for an explanation.

“You get home at weird times,” Ed reasoned. “Sometimes it’s only a couple hours until the sun’s up, and I know the light comes in your window pretty early. With any luck, these’ll help you actually get some sleep.”

“That’s, actually really thoughtful, Ed,” Silver replied with a smile. He then proceeded to open up the box that had been with the gift. The box contained some black and white fabric, and at first, the superhero was once again confused, until he started to pull whatever it was out of the box. “No, you didn’t…” he began, trailing off as he pulled out a mask that looked much like the one he wore on a regular basis, though it was clearly a bit nicer and had a cleaner design.

“You’ve had the same costume since you were created. It was time for an upgrade,” Ed told him. “Jackie helped with that one, y’know, with the design and all that, and Eric helped to actually make it, but the original idea was mine. I guess it’s kinda from all three of us.”

“I love it! And if Jackie was behind part of this, I know it’s gonna be good, and Eric, kid, you’ve fixed my suit so many times since you got here, I’ve lost count. You guys are great,” Silver beamed, hugging Eric and then, surprisingly, pulling Ed in for a quick hug.

Magnum opened his gift next, seeing that it came from Reynolds. The wrapping contained a box that had a kit to build a model ship in a bottle. Reynolds hadn’t been sure what the large man would like, but he felt that a model pirate ship to display in his room would be interesting, and he’d noticed how careful he was with smaller things, so it seemed right. The captain smiled brightly, pulling the construction worker into a big bear hug.

Reynolds opened his gift next, his face lighting up as he shifted the box and heard the telltale sound of Lego bricks shifting inside. He tore open the wrapping to reveal a large set that seemed unfamiliar to him, but familiar at the same time, seeing as the box had an image of the manor on it.

“What’s this? It’s not an official set, is it?” the construction worker questioned.

“It-it’s a custom set!” Eric told him. “Dark, Wil, Bing, and I all pitched in and-and had a set made from the manor’s floor plan! You’ve got a lot of great sets, and I remember you saying that the manor would make a fun one, e-especially if it was all different sections that you could put together. So, Dark and Wil found the plans, and Bing drew up the actual stuff and submitted it to one of Dark’s contacts who actually got it made. I did all the box art.”

“That’s so cool! You guys are amazing!” Reynolds exclaimed, hugging those responsible for the gift.

The Host was next to open up his gift. The package didn’t have any wrapping paper on it, but rather, it was in a simple unmarked box with a ribbon tied around it, and a tag written by hand and in Braille, indicating that it came from Dr. Iplier. He undid the ribbon and opened the box, forcing his Sight for a moment to find that the box contained some high quality parchment and a nice calligraphy set with a quill, a few different writing tips that could be put on it, and a few different colors of ink. Meanwhile, Dr. Iplier opened his gift from the Host, smiling and breaking out into a bit of a blush when he found a couple of travel mugs, one which looked like the TARDIS from Doctor Who, and one covered in the print of the exploding TARDIS piece.

Google and Bing opened each others gifts, next. Google lit up when he pulled out a new set of small tools to use for his glasses and other small projects, along with a white suit jacket that would fit him perfectly. Bing practically threw himself at Google when he unwrapped a set of three dot grid notebooks to use for whatever he might need, along with a pack of pens.

Illinois opened his gift up next, finding a new bag to use during his expeditions. Eric explained that he felt that he could use something other than the cross-body satchel he was using, especially since he’d reported that it sometimes got in the way while he was climbing.

Next up was Eric, who was careful with the small gift in his hands. He undid the wrapping, and opened up the hinged box, finding a silk scarf folded inside. Carefully, he pulled the scarf out, marveling at the soft material and the light blue, green, yellow and purple pattern. There was something else, though, something heavier wrapped up in the scarf. Unfolding the thin fabric, he gasped at what he found. There was a necklace inside, with a black cord that wrapped around the smooth heart-shaped stone. The cord was tied into a pair of sliding knots, which would allow Eric to adjust the length of the necklace easily. Eric was rendered speechless.

“I found the stone a while back on an expedition, and thought you’d like to have it,” Illinois explained, somewhat sheepishly. He chuckled as Eric hugged him tight, and pulled him into a kiss.

“It’s perfect,” Eric told him, a bright smile on his face as he pulled the necklace on over his head, fiddling with the stone.

Ed opened up his gift, smiling to find that Silver had given him a set of hooks he could put up on his wall to display his hats and lasso. It would really help with organization, no doubt; those things took up space in his closet, on his bookshelf, and on his dresser. The twins each opened up their gifts at the same time, finding that they had gotten one another updated equipment.

Wilford opened up his gift next, breaking into a bright smile when he found a picture frame with five different windows. Four had photos of Wil and Dark together, at various points of their relationship, with the fifth and largest photo being one from their wedding. The photo had been taken from the isle, getting Wilford, Dark, Bim, Host, and the pastor who oversaw things in the shot, along with the ornate flower arrangement and large tree under which they had wed. It was one of Wilford’s favorite photos from that day, and he hugged his husband tight, kissing him.

Dark was next, tearing away the wrapping paper and opening the box to find a display of the solar system with a small dial and read out on the base. When he opened it, the planets were all lined up, and Dark simply raised an eyebrow in question as he looked to his husband.

“Google helped me with this,” Wil began. “It’s got a few different dates; the day we met, our engagement, and our wedding day, and a few others, all on the dial, and a setting where it’ll just run in real time. The planets all move when you pick a setting, so they’ll be in their proper place for that time. If you pick our wedding day, the planets all go to where they were the day we said “I do”,” he stated.

The demon looked to Google, who nodded in response. He then turned the dial so that the date of their first meeting was on the display, and pressed the dial down until it clicked. His mouth fell open in awe as the little planets rotated under the glass dome, stopping when they reached their proper positions.

“Wil… I don’t know what to say…” he finally breathed, still in awe over the gift.

“You don’t need to say anything,” Wilford stated, kissing his husband once again. “Your reaction says enough.

Dark smiled, looking around for a moment before snapping his fingers, spotting that one Ego hadn’t opened a larger gift like all the others had, and didn’t even have one by him. “I almost forgot, give me a moment,” he stated, handing the gift he had in his lap over to Wilford before standing. The demon tore open the Void and stepped through, returning a moment later with a box wrapped in silver wrapping paper. “This one is yours, Yancy,” he specified, handing off the gift to the former inmate.

Yancy set the box in his lap, running his fingers over the shiny wrapping paper, before giving Dark a quick look. Upon Dark making a silent motion for him to simply go on and open his gift, the former inmate tore away the wrapping and opened the lid of the box. He pulled a black case out of the box, setting the wrapping aside so the case could sit on his lap. The man ran his fingers over the clasps of the case, before he flicked them open with a soft click. With a deep breath, he opened up the lid of the case, and let out a shocked gasp.

“A violin?” he questioned, wanting to confirm the sight through his surprise. “How did youse know that I…?”

“I made a couple of calls and found out. I have my ways,” Dark stated calmly.

Yancy gave a bit of a nod, pulling the instrument out of the case to get a better look. It was clearly old, but well made, with intricate details on the pegs and scroll. He was in silent awe of the gift, and a similar silence had fallen over the entire room. 

“Where did youse get this…? These ones ain’t cheap, and they ain’t easy to find, either.”

“It belonged to an old friend, originally,” Dark stated. “He passed some time ago, and left it to me. I can’t play, but when I learned that you’re musically inclined, I thought it would make a good gift for you. An instrument like that doesn’t deserve to sit and collect dust.” He wasn’t exactly lying, not in full, at least. He physically couldn’t play the violin anymore, thanks to the broken body he inhabited. It hadn’t belonged to a friend, though; the violin had belonged to Damien once upon a time. But, that time was long past.

“It’s amazing,” Yancy stated, carefully setting the violin back into the case. “Thank you, so much.”

“Well, it looks like we’ve gotten through everyone,” Wilford observed, looking over the room. “I think this was a great Christmas.”

“That it has been, Wil,” Dark confirmed, smiling.

Indeed, it had been a very merry Christmas, for everyone in the manor.