#The dessert was expensive too it's a 5$ pastry

[sixsixships]

Ordered takeout for dinner and they snuck in a thank you note and free dessert :)

[theslimeologist]

Opinions on dessert types (like a top ten or something?) (also sorry if u get 2 of these i tried sending one and my browser got stuck loading)

dessert types huh? hm..

(did not expect to actually construct a ranked list of 10 dessert genres but here we go)

1: ice cream - it is versatile, it is sweet, it is cold. too cold for you? thats okay! it turns into quite the delicious goop as well!! iced cream is THE penultimate tasty fucking treat. i dont care what anyone else says, ice cream is the salad of desserts. you crave chocolate you have chocolate chunkin brownie bitchin iced creams. okay? and NEVER write off frozen yogurt either, okay? … OKAY?? (it is tasty and well, yogurt is good for you too!)

2: chocolate - erm. yeah. i can just say chocolate. no it isnt just a flavour. chocolate bars, candies, snacks. portable, munchable… expensive. for the best.

3: cookies - the CRUMBLY KIND!!!!! sorry soft cookie enjoyers but when you dunk a soft cookie into milk and you get the same damn cookie but a little COLDER. those thangs dont absorb the milk. and this isnt just about milk dippers- its back to ICE CREAM. you ever crumble a tasty fucking crunchy cookie into a bowl of good vanilla? like. dont get dairy queen. go make some dry cookies right now and use ANY ICE CREAM with actual vanilla bean (extra triple creamy iced creams are kind of a scam they dont taste different and oh also watch out for anything calling itself a frozen dessert that is not truly iced cream.)

4: drinks. Here- have your dessert through a straw, or brave the frontiers with a spoon. milkshakes, iced coffees, ice cream floats, hot chocolates, milk teas.. regular coffee is a dessert to me i guess with this logic. at least with how im drinking it.

5: PASTRIES! Fluffin fuckin tasty flakey holy shit. fresh pastry. uhuh. cream raspberry filling pleaze- littol glaze please… :) croissants count here which gives pastry a very strong edge against any other foods..

6: cake, i guess. has to be good cake. can not have fucking coco nut shreds upon it. can not have pure sugar icing. favourites of mine are cheesecake, a good chocolate cake, and angel food cake with a whipped pudding icing.

7: okay, pie. it can be pretty damn good, it can be very tasty, but the harmony of pastry and filling can be tricky, at least with my autistic DISTASTE for most whole fruits.

8: jello. i had a dream recently that like. i brought back jello foods. and it was good. cause i did it good. so sure. jello. saves your fuckin LIFE while sick, too.

9: dishonourable mentions: popsicles, sour sweets, stuff with cherries, almonds / bland nuts, coconut, fruit chunks according to Slimeo’s 2024 guide to The Ick, black liquorice, “desert pizzas”and anything that is pure sugar. WHICH IS A LOT.

10: brownies. we dont talk about brownies.

0, (ascendant): cinnamon rolls. truly too good and too pure to rank. above all but too humble to hold the title. WE LOVE YOU CINNAMON ROLL

[wanderingandfound]

Kitchen is not in a condition where I can cook for other people, the oven doesn't even work more often than not. So I needed to swing by a bakery to pick up dessert for my friend's dinner. I don't usually do this so I don't have a list of places in my head, plus I had a doctor's appointment in an area I'm not usually at.

My mom found a few places via Google Maps she wanted to try and we nearly gave up on the first one, between missing the turn and my mom being Doubt.jpg at the location (we missed the turn because it's the parking lot of a convenience/liquor store next to a gas station (not the gas station store)) and there wasn't any good signage. But since she did a bunch of stressful driving instead of parking the car a little ways away and walking, I told her we should go in to the building with the coffee sign and see.

Oh my goodness all the baked goods looked soooooooooo good. I wanted all of it, but settled on three different types of baklava for the party, an apple danish for lunch, and a note to come back for the chocolate hazelnut cake when it's my birthday (even though I'm usually a fruit pie birthday person (...wait wait my name day is in December....... ooooooh)).

Anyways, that apple danish is the best $5 pastry I've had in my life, in both quantity and quality. I hope the baklava is good too. I asked for eight pieces of each type (chocolate, double pistachio, and walnut) but there was some intitial language-barrier confusion and then I got so distracted by longingly looking at other treats.

So we didn't try out any of the other bakeries we had pulled up, but I have no regrets. Like the expensive boba place my brother and I stopped at after emptying my car at the tow yard, I'm glad these places aren't on my normal routes because then I would have nooooooo money.

[robbybirdy]

31. Baking therapy on a budget ft. Genshin Characters: Itto - Blackberry Pie

Hello, every birdy. Today we are making a pie that has been on my list of things to bake for a while now. And the reason why I haven’t made it is very simple, both the price and the quantity we get. But we were blessed with blackberries recently and a lot of them. Enough to make a pie.

Aratiki Itto (Ar-Ra-taki E-toe) the one and oni, is an oni (demon-like) character from Inazuma. He is very loud and slightly childish. His favorite type of food is lollipops. I had thought about making some cake pops or something like that. But, the main thing about this series is the budget part. I didn’t want to buy anything that I would only use once. So I thought long and hard about what recipes I should use for him. I also didn’t want to make my sister made, as he is one of her mains. So I ended up making this pie. And designed the top crust as a lollipop. 

The recipe is from “My Country Table - Homemade Blackberry Pie.” Feel free to check out the link down below. 

I just want to explain something before we get going with this recipe. I understand that some of these recipes wouldn’t be technically “budget friendly” but we are not spending any money on these expensive ingredients. The explanation of this is simple, we have a food pantry in our community two times a month. And we try to make dinner and desserts from the things that we get from the truck. 

People shouldn’t be ashamed of getting things from food pantries. They are there so that nobody goes hungry. Especially during this time of inflation. Trying to feed 7 adults on a budget gets rather tight. So the truck helps. 

I liked this recipe because of how simple it was and honestly when I am looking around on the internet and in cookbooks I am looking for recipes which I have all of the ingredients for.

The first thing you are going to do is prepare your pie crust, fill free to skip if you already have a pie crust.

If you want to make your own pie crust it is very simple. This recipe will be enough for both the top crust and the bottom crust. The link to this recipe will also be down below. 

You will need

Flour 

Salt

Shortening

Ice water

In a large bowl you are going to measure out the flour and the salt. Cut in the shortening with a pastry blender or two forks. Add your ice water 1 tablespoon at a time, until the dough clumps  together and is not too moist. 

Place your dough on a floured surface and divide it equally in half. Wrap one of the halves in plastic wrap and put it in the freezer or fridge until you are ready to use it. 

For the other half, what I did was divided it into 3rds. One of the thirds I didn’t color. The other two I colored with food gel. One of them was orange and the other was purple. I wrap each of those in plastic wrap and put them in the freezer until I was ready. 

Now onto  the pie filling, you will need:

Blackberries

Sugar, divided

Cornstarch

The first thing you want to do is preheat your oven to 350 F. 

In a large pan you are going to mix together  your blackberries and one cup of sugar. 

Let them set for about 15 minutes and if there is any juice, you will want to drain most of it. 

Add in the rest of the sugar and the cornstarch to the blackberries. 

Once the cornstarch is mixed in with the blackberries you are going to place your pan on medium heat and bring it to a boil. Making sure that you stir it constantly. The reason you want to stir constantly is because you do not want to scorch the bottom of your pan. 

Once the mixture is boiling, you will continue to stir for another two minutes. Or until the mixture has slightly thickened. Remove it from the heat, and feel free to taste test it at this point to see if you need to add any more sugar to it. 

Let the mixture cool off of the heat for about 5 minutes, or until you are done with the pie crust. 

Take your pie crusts out of the freezer or the fridge, and roll them out. The bottom crust will be just a basic bottom crust. Nothing too fancy. 

I made my top crust before putting my pie filling in and it seemed like it helped me. 

I rolled out both of the colors to be the same shape. And I shaped it into a lollipop, alternating the colors between orange and purple. Until I didn’t have any more left. I did have more pie crust left, so I used that to make a bow and a stem for the lollipop. 

In order to help your future self, you will want to place your pan on a cookie sheet so that it can capture any spillage. 

You are going to bake your pie for 50 minutes or until it the golden brown is on top. 

Let it cool completely before slicing. 

I was honestly so happy about how this pie turned out. I have never made a blackberry pie before because of the cost and the number of blackberries that we have had in the past. I this was on my list of things that I wanted to make. And I am so happy that I was able to do it. 

I hope that you like these recipes. Feel free to check it out for yourselves. See you in the next recipe. 

Pinterest: Here

Recipe: here

[crookedherringcolorclod]

What does Akemi Think of The Sakamaki Brothers

Shu

•Shu was quite distant when they first met because he didn’t even know that she existed until she stepped foot in the manor. Not to mention the fact that Akemi has multiple resemblances to his late mother, Beatrix.

•When the pair slowly got closer, Akemi somehow became Shu’s lap pillow whenever there are no sacrificial brides from the church.

•Shuu tends to lay his head down on Akemi’s lap because she’s a bit warm for a vampire but still not warm enough to blend in as a human.

•She is not so fond of it, mostly because of Shu’s heavy weight on her legs.

“Shu, my legs feel numb...”

Shu smirked “Call me ‘Shu-onii-chan and I might consider”

“You suck”

“Mmmm.... and I swallow”

“Ugh...”

•Shu finds Akemi’s red cheeks hilarious, and he pinches them from time to time when he’s bored.

•Yet at the same time Akemi found out that she can benefit from this, no one would have the balls to approach her when her Shu is napping on her lap. It was like having a lazy guard dog.

•So, Akemi became more ok with this mutual bond. If she lets Shu sleep on her lap, he can drive a good number of guys away. It was a win-win situation, even if she must deal with Shu’s occasional jokes.

Reiji

•Akemi was quite scared of Reiji. From the day they first saw each other, this man kept looking at her as she came back from the dead. It got better with time but like… that was not a fun first impression.

•It was so bad to the point she doesn’t drink his tea out of fear that there might be a muscle relaxant or poison with no taste or smell.

•She keeps giving him the “bruh” look whenever he insisted that she drinks his obviously still hot tea while he’s still blowing into his cup. Jerk.

Reiji: My, I am being hospitable towards you, and you still don’t drink the tea. How undignified for a young lady like yourself. I’ll whip you into shape by teaching-

Akemi: 😒

•As of now, Reiji is always exasperated with Akemi’s attitude but also worried about her because she needs more blood than a usual vampire. You know, when she uses her blood manipulation, that can take a toll on Akemi if she’s not careful.

•She hurts the family budget and his sanity because he doesn’t intend on accidentally neglecting a new family member’s health but everyone else in the house has their expensive needs… the dilemma.

•Akemi insisted she was fine getting blood from other people, but Reiji insisted she need to eat something higher in quality.

•Reiji had to buy more A5 steaks because he knows that someone’s lethargic ass won’t share.

Ayato

•Ah yes, the tomato.

•Akemi thinks he’s the most normal among his brothers.

•She would listen to his antics and how Ayato calls himself the best, but she just nods without listening to him.

•I mean she tried, but it took 5 minutes for her to finally stop listening altogether.

•They don’t talk to each other much and Ayato would call her to make takoyaki. He also found Akemi’s powers cool and convenient.

•He asked a good number of dumb questions like using her powers to light the stove on or just demanding she reheats the takoyaki that he left in the fridge for safekeeping.

•Akemi just warms it by a bit, only to watch Ayato bite into the cold center of his refrigerated takoyaki. It’s fun to watch seeing Ayato’s smile turn into a frown and spit out his favorite food.

Kanato

•If you put Akemi and Kanato in a room all by themselves, nothing would happen.

•However, if you put dessert in the room… Akemi would just let Kanato eat it because she doesn’t want to deal with the tantrums he makes. Kanato would eat it and whisper to Teddy about how nice Akemi is.

•There have been times when Akemi would leave some sweets on his doorstep. Other than that, they don’t talk much.

•Akemi always buys two pastries whenever she found a famous bakery. One for her and one for Kanato.

Laito

•Avoids him like the plague, Akemi takes Amaya away from him too.

•Laito’s forehead literally screams pervert, of course Akemi would be wary of him. What did you expect??

•It doesn’t matter if he’s just talking to her, she doesn’t want to be in a room alone with him.

•Laito found out that picking on Akemi is so much fun. When he found out she can turn into a blushing mess, Laito wanted to tease her more.

•It was all fun and games until Akemi finally snapped and threatened to burn him or singe his eyebrows off.

•From that day on, Laito would just verbally tease her. Character development. Akemi makes sure he stays at least a foot away from her.

Subaru

•Akemi doesn’t mind spending quiet time with Subaru, and he feels the same as her. She would sometimes play the piano to fill the silence, and no one would say a word.

•Subaru would also help Akemi fend off guys at school, especially the ones that don’t take no for an answer. She’s grateful for having him as her companion of sorts.

•Akemi would also tend to his wounds when he gets into a fight. Their relationship is rather sweet. So sweet in fact that they need a separate post- 👀👀👀

[perhaps-in-anotherdream]

[CN] 4th Anniversary– “Love Around The City” with Victor (Mini Tales)

⌚Warning⌚ This post contains detailed spoilers for contents that are yet to be released in the global server! ♡

🚌 To be read after Part 5 (LFG Headquarters) ♡

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✧ [LFG Headquarters] ✧

The CEO’s overtime hours on the weekends gradually drop. On a Saturday, Goldman comes to the office after a lazy sleep, and finds that there are several parcels for the CEO at the reception desk.

One is flexible like clothes, the other two are boxes, and all of them are private parcels. Only after a moments contemplation, Goldman knows who has bought them.

He brings the parcels to the office, and finds the roses on the windowsill needing a watering change, the Shiba Inu doll on the bookshelf upside down with its head on the surface, and the cute blind box decorations on the table are also strewn about....

Goldman sighs. This CEO’s office.... is indeed becoming less and less CEO-like.

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✧ [Cat Café] ✧

Walk a hundred steps after each meal, and you will live a long life. As he gets older, Grandpa Chuck has been paying more and more attention to maintain good health.

While passing by a café, the little kittens in the shop attracts his gaze.

He recalls that the girl who often comes with Vic to visit him showed him pictures of the same breed they are supposedly rearing at home. What was it called.... ragdoll?

It resembles a cat-doll indeed.

Looking at the furry little animals, Grandpa Chuck thinks that perhaps he’d also like to raise one himself, to make his retirement life warmer and happier.

–

[Note]: Grandpa Chuck calls Victor by his given name here, i.e. “泽言” (Zeyan). Also crying, how close they must be cause in mainland China, you don’t call someone by their given name unless you’re closely acquaintanted. (｡•́︿•̀｡)

–

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✧ [New Light Mall] ✧

The Hanging Garden Restaurant on the top floor of the New Light Mall has always received positive evaluation. Here, one can enjoy both a graceful landscape of the Loveland City as well as desserts from the top pastry chefs at the same time.

Ms. Alice and Ms. Grace also come here to enjoy their sisterly afternoon teatime, sharing their freshly minted gossips.

“I came here for a beauty treatment two days ago, and saw Vic strolling down the street with that little girl. He was also carrying the handbag for the little girl.”

The two women look at each other with smiles on their faces, sharing a tacit understanding.

This love ahh.... indeed, everyone has a weakness.

–

[Note]: It’s an idiom used here, “一物降一物 (yī wù xiáng yī wù)”. It has an interesting wording too– “there is a rock to every scissor, a scissor to every paper, and a paper to every rock.”

[T/N]: Even Victor’s aunts use idioms. HELP. It passed on from the family LOL 😭

–

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✧ [Loveland TV Tower] ✧

As an investor, the TV Tower is a place where Wuguo Qiang often comes and goes. In addition to being able to unearth valuable people here, he can also find interesting stories.

After negotiating a new investment project, he is just about to invite his collaborative partner to dinner when he sees the back view of a somewhat familiar figure passing by.

“That person just now——”

“It’s CEO Victor of LFG and the producer of [MC’s company name]. They have been here together several times recently.”

To one’s surprise, he is coming to the TV station to talk about a project in person. It turns out that the boss of a large conglomerate also has to be very professional in his works.

–

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✧ [Multilevel Parking Garage] ✧

The job of a car park attendant is a relatively easy work, where the vehicles’ entry and exit charges are fully automated, and the security guards only have to take notes of security and maintenance.

A familiar black car pulls into the garage. The security guard knows that this expensive car belongs to a sedate young man, who sometimes carries a young lady as well.

The young lady is here today. Her expression seems to be happier than usual, hopping up and down with each step she walks.

The man follows behind with a helpless look on his face, and on his head.... is that actually a cat ear headband he is wearing?!

It seems that even if you are shaking the whole business world, one still becomes a dummy when they are in love, just like this.

–

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✧ [Expo Center] ✧

The annual Loveland City Comic Con is concluded, and streams of people in all kinds of costumes are gushing out of the exhibition hall. Two girls wearing the traditional Han Chinese dress are lowering their heads while looking down at the back view of a figure in the stolen photo on their phones.

“Ahh that guy in black overcoat just now is so handsome. He is practically like the perfect, nice guy from the fictions!”

“Boo hoo hoo! He’s so handsome, and he still spoils his girlfriend so much. His girlfriend put on a panda ear on him, and he didn’t even mind at all.”

“It’s an absolutely beautiful love indeed, but it’s the story of someone elses’ , huh.”

–

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🚌 Next Station(s):

Pre-event Video Interview

Love Carnival

[thosewickedlovelies]

AND THEY WERE WALLMATES: Pasteles de Gloria (part 3)

Pairing: Javier Peña x F!Reader

Rating: T for mature themes (mentions of sex and violence)

Summary: Javier thanks you...appropriately, this time. Connie and Javier have a chat <3

Tags: Mention of blood. Reader starts to have Thots (same, girl)

Word count: 3,740

A/N: So their POVs in this chapter overlap a little bit...sorry if that throws anyone off, I’m still getting used to writing reader insert fics. The dessert and the Spanish are explained at the end :) Enjoy!

Masterlist

--

You hadn’t seen Javier in over a week. The first few days after that conversation had been a whirlwind of emotions- worry over whether you’d said the right things, hope that he might feel the same (plus fear that he wouldn’t), and eventually anger at his total lack of response. Until Connie told you that he and Steve had been sent on some mission.

“Nothing dangerous, but they’ll be gone for a few days. Javi must not have gotten the chance to say goodbye.” Uttered without a second’s hesitation, like it was unthinkable that Javier wouldn’t have explained himself to you if he could.

Maybe Connie knew something you didn’t.

So another several days had passed, with worry becoming the dominant theme; all your other initial feelings faded into the background as you wondered how ‘not dangerous’ DEA work could really be.

You’re settling in for another restless evening when there’s a rap on the door. Your nerves leap and jangle- you aren’t supposed to being seeing Connie again until tomorrow, so who…?

You peer through the cracked door before wrenching it open the rest of the way, your heart roaring in your ears. Javier Peña stands before you. He holds a bottle in one hand and a paper bag in the other, and looks uncharacteristically nervous. You forget you’re theoretically supposed to be upset with him as you stare at each other, wide-eyed.

He clears his throat. “Hey. Uh, sorry I disappeared on you. Boss sent me and Steve on a mission, I had to leave from work.” So Connie had been right on both accounts. He hadn’t had time to call you, and he would have if he could.

When you wait, he continues. “I thought, since I interrupted your evening the last time I was here, I could make it up to you.” He holds up the bottle, which you’re surprised to recall is indeed the same wine that you had opened the night he came to your place after reopening his wound.

You look at him in wonder, but he’s not finished. “Also, well...I can’t bake for shit, but I know somewhere that can. You ever had a pastel de gloria?”  He lifts the paper bag, cracks a small, still-nervous grin.

“I haven’t,” you confirm, an answering smile growing on your face, touched by the sweetness of his gesture and the implications it holds.

“Well, you can try them tonight, because-” his confidence apparently bolstered by your response, he holds the bottle out to you, brow quirking in request. You take it, bemused at the prospect of there still being more to his plan, and he digs something out of his back pocket with an air of presentation. “-I found the sequel to a certain movie while at a market recently. I was going to bring it to Steve and Connie’s but...now seemed like a better time to watch it.”

You almost laugh out loud as you take in the cover of the tape in his hand. It’s the sequel to that movie night travesty, all right. That Javier would do all of this...you hardly know what to say.

You hope whatever expression is on your face is saying it for you, though, as you look up at him. “Thank you, Javier. This is...amazing.” And it is, much more so than would have been necessary to thank you for helping with his leg, or to make up for his unplanned disappearance after you turned down his proposition.

He chuckles, looking down in embarrassment. “You don’t actually have to watch this shit movie if you don’t want to. That part was just a joke.” You could swear he’s blushing, the faintest tinge of color in his cheeks beneath the white hallway lights. “But you should try these pastries, because they are something else.” He offers you the bag, his body shifting sideways slightly, as if he intends to hand off his gifts and then disappear. As if his wide, guileless, puppy dog eyes and the unconscious pout to his lips weren’t begging otherwise.

Well. “Of course I want to watch this shit movie, Javi. As long as you watch it with me.” You give him a teasing grin. “It was much more fun with a spoilsport.”

Relief spills over his features, washing the tension from his shoulders and the breath from his lungs. Turning away toward the kitchen, you miss the true extent of it, leaving the door open for him as you head back inside. “Bring those to the couch, I’ll get us some plates,” you call over your shoulder.

Javier follows more slowly, collecting himself. By the time you join him in the living room, carrying, plates, wine glasses, and napkins, he’s fiddling with your VCR. You pour the wine while he sets it up, although you find yourself distracted by the shifting valleys of muscle in his back beneath his tight-fitting shirt, the bottle in your hands suspended uselessly above a glass. You curse as you almost spill.

“Everything okay?” Javi joins you on the couch, a careful, hesitant distance away.

“Of course!” You’re quick to assure him. “Now, tell me about these pastries,” you urge, eyes sparkling. He unloads them onto a plate, stacking rounded pastries into a rough pyramid, each one golden brown, sprinkled with sugar, and the size of a small fist. His voice softens as he tells you about the bakery and the older woman who runs it, who insists everyone call her ‘abuela’, even grown men and gringos like him. How he discovered it entirely by accident one day, following his nose.

“The filling is usually pasta de guayaba- guava paste- but they can also have arequipe, or cheese, or all three. She gave me a some extras, so I’m not sure which ones are which here,” he says, suddenly brusque. He gestures for you to take one first, a look on his face you can’t quite identify.

You’re definitely at risk of drooling as you pick up a pastel, Javier watching you intently. Puff pastry flakes over your plate as you take a bite.

And close your eyes in relish. A trio of flavors oozes over your tongue, each complementing the other, all of them ensconced in a sheath of sugary, flakey pastry. The creamy, neutral tang of the cheese mellowing the tart-sweet burst of fruity guava, both flavors coated in the thick, sticky-sweet burnt sugar taste of dulce de leche.

Swallowing, your eyes pop wide to look at Javier again. It’s a near-physical reaction he has to your sudden attention, an almost-flinch away from it as he awaits your verdict.

“Javier.” Your voice is serious. With slow deliberance, you lean toward him intently, reaching out to rest your hand on his forearm. You let the anticipation s t r e t c h.

“You have got to tell me how to make these.”

The breath leaves him in a rush, a huff of relief and and laughter at your dramatics. He’s hyper-aware of your hand on his skin- the casual touch reverberates through him in a way he should probably be more concerned about. It’s the first time you’ve touched him for non-medical reasons, but it heals him all the same; he feels warm, something inside him yielding in your presence.

He clears his throat. “Like I said, I can’t bake for shit. But...I can ask the abuela.” His free hand rubs at his neck, slipping beneath the collar of his shirt. The movement draws your attention, and your gaze continues lower, to the two buttons he seems to perpetually leave undone. The smooth, flushed skin beneath. Was it warm in here?

You stand abruptly. “Is it warm in here? I’ll flip the fan on. You want to press play?” You throw him a quick smile as you cross the room to the wall switch. You flip off the overhead light while you’re there, leaving just the tall floor lamp casting a bright but cozy glow.

Javi obliges, the space dimming briefly as the opening sequence begins. You plop back down on the sofa, deliberately settling slightly closer to him- friends distance away. Handing him a wine glass, you raise yours expectantly. “¡Salud!” you beam.

Despite your cheer, you feel a trickle of nervous anticipation. What shape would your relationship take with only the two of you to guide it? You’d never been alone alone together for the express purpose of just hanging out.

Javier clinks his glass with yours. “Salud,” he murmurs, his eyes crinkling upward slightly.

You order yourself to stop getting in your head. Humming around a mouthful of plum-purple wine, you set down the glass in favor of your plate, loading it with several more pastels. Blissful satisfaction fills you as a second bite confirms their perfection, and you lick sugar off your lips with a happy sigh. Beside you, Javi’s empty fingers twitch. He takes a large gulp of wine.

The movie rapidly proves to be of the same ‘quality’ as its parent. Just as quickly, you realize you didn’t need to worry about getting on with Javier. You end up having great fun at the film’s expense, frequently pausing it so Javi can explain in more detail why this or that would never happen in real life. It’s fascinating hearing him speak with such confidence, observing the minute ripples of his face as it contorts in thought. Despite his superior knowledge, he’s never condescending toward you, listening patiently to your questions and trying to answer in ways you can relate to. He sneers freely at the characters onscreen though, and you can completely picture him sitting at a one of those government conference tables, telling some poor bastard how bad his ideas are with his trademark dismissive, deadpan attitude.

There are other fascinating things about him, too. Like the way his short shirtsleeves to stretch over his arm muscles, subtle but visible, highlighted by the room’s long shadows. Like the tempting cords of his neck when he tips his head back to drink. Like more of his self-conscious glances, when he bites into a pastel and crumbs and sugar cling to his mustache. He hurriedly swipes his palm down the hairs, but you’ve caught him from the corner of your eye. You press your lips together to smother a giggle, but when he glides his tongue over his lip to catch any stray bits, your smile fades as your stomach swoops. You can sense him regarding you again as you fix your gaze on the tv. You wish you knew what was going on in his head.

Too soon the movie ends. The credits roll, but Javier shows no signs of leaving, leisurely taking out a pack of cigarettes and tapping it against his hand. “Do you mind?” he checks.

You wrinkle your nose but allow it. “As long as you do it at the window.” You stand, leaving Javi still seated, and spread your arms in a stretch, attempting to blink away some of the sleepy wine haze. “Be right back,” you tell him, taking the opportunity for a bathroom break.

After, however, before crossing the kitchen to rejoin him, you pause on the threshold of the hall. Your head tilts as you run your gaze over his unguarded stature. Javier leans against the window’s edge, his head and torso turned to exhale smoke out into the night. It doesn’t all escape immediately, gray twisting in the air around his profile, and you lose yourself in the brooding picture he paints. He believes he’s alone, but doesn’t look like he’s enjoying a peaceful smoke break- more like he’s weighed down by his thoughts, his eyes sweeping over the street without taking it in. Doesn’t he have anyone to share his burdens with?

You shuffle your feet loudly before you turn the corner, revealing your presence so he can react accordingly. As you approach, he stubs out his cigarette on the narrow sill and turns to face you, his shoulders relaxing.

“I thought of something else about that last scene,” he greets, and you’re happy to let him go on about the film, savoring the rich timbre of his voice. You talk for a little while longer, lounging by the window. He asks you more about yourself now, and you haltingly tell him about your background, how you came to arrive in Columbia. He drinks in every word, and you get the feeling he’s storing this all away, ready to reference later. As if he intends for there to be a later.

Finally it comes up. Your last interaction. “Look, I’m sorry about last time,” Javier begins. “When I, you know-” he nods jerkily in lieu of saying “tried to seduce you” out loud. “I, uh. I don’t know what I was thinking.” His gaze drops the same way it did when he was withholding how he got the cut on his leg.

You thought you had understood some of his thought process, but maybe there was more to it. “I think you do,” you disagree wryly. One shoulder lifts in a shrug. “But it’s okay, Javier. I just...didn’t want you to sleep with me just because you felt like you owed me.”

It’s a struggle to hold his gaze, yours ranging over his face and chest, searching for a reaction to what you’ve left unspoken. That you may well want him to sleep with you, but only because he actually wants to, wants you, specifically. Javier is smart, and clearly experienced with women- there’s no way he’ll miss the implication.

The longer you hold his gaze, the more clearly you see his thoughts churning, turning over everything that’s occurred between you and what it might mean, with all the analytical precision his career requires. That’s who you’ve been seeing, you realize, every time his provocative persona misses its mark with you- Agent Peña, the man who puts up a shield of derisive disdain so no one gets too close, so no one wants to. Until someone comes along who says fuck that, for whatever reasons of their own- like Steve, who demanded that Javi let him in as much as he could stand to because they’re partners, damn it, for better or for worse. Like Connie, who informed him that your well-being is important to my husband’s, so by god, you’re going to let me care about you. Like you- his neighbor and wallmate who, despite being faced with Agent Peña's rakish side, could see that there was more under the surface than just blood oozing from a knife wound.

As if realizing the window this moment is giving you, Javier shakes himself free of it, pushing off the wall. “Well, I won’t keep you up any longer,” he says gruffly. “Thanks for...this.” He gestures to the coffee table behind the couch you’re leaning on, the silent tv static jittering on the wine and pastries.

You stand too, unhurried. “Thank you, Javier. For the company, as well,” you say with sincerity.

He nods, seeming torn, perpetually caught in some internal struggle around you. Finally, he says a single word in farewell, his voice a low caress: “Vecinita.”

He starts for the door without waiting for a reply. Blinking in surprise, you spin in place. “Buenas noches, Javi,” you call, hoping your understanding reaches him.

You think it does, because he pauses for a second with his hand on the doorknob; before, with a last glance, exiting, leaving the hope kindling in your chest as the only proof it really happened.

--

Javier has a hard time focusing at work the next day. He and Steve have a lot of paperwork to get through, mostly material from their recent mission, but every time he shifts in his shitty desk chair he remembers how comfortable your couch was. How at ease you seemed sitting next to him on it. How badly he wanted to reach out to you, see if you felt as soft as you looked in that setting.

“Fuck,” he swears. The paper in his hand is the same one he’s been staring at for the past ten minutes.

Huffing, he shoves his work aside, snatches up his jacket, and heads home early. But his apartment offers even fewer distractions, so with a growl of frustration, he downs a whiskey and stalks back to the door.

Only to be stopped in his tracks by Connie, standing on his stoop with a coffee pot in hand. She looks startled by his sudden appearance, her fist still raised to knock.

“Hi, Javi. I heard you get back a little while ago, and I haven’t seen you since you and Steve returned. I thought we could catch up.” She speaks tentatively, clearly wary of his black scowl and riled energy.

“Did she send you?” he asks, eyes narrowing, jutting his chin to indicate your door.

Connie frowns in confusion. “No, I won’t be seeing her for a a day or three. She’s got an intensive-care patient at the hospital who needs around-the-clock attention.” Her own eyes narrow. “Should she have sent me? Did you do something?”

“No,” Javier retorts curtly. “Just- didn’t know if this was brought on by some of your gossip, is all.” Resigned to his interrogation, he steps back, opening the door for her.

Connie continues to glare suspiciously as she passes, but heads into his kitchen nonetheless, getting out sugar and mugs in a familiar ritual. She knew better than to bother checking the fridge for milk.

Once seated in the dining room, however, she doesn’t pry any further about you, or what he may have done, only continuing a previous line of conversation from their last chat. It helps, but as she gets caught up telling some work story, Javier’s attention drifts again.

He inhales from the cigarette between his fingers, remembering the taste of the one last night, filtering through the flavors of cherry-dark wine and sugar-encrusted pastry. He had tried to keep some figurative distance between the two of you, but you didn’t seem to want it, closing the gaps with questions, always looking so damn interested when the answers pertained to him or his life. Were you that fascinated by all your ‘friends’?

Javi doesn’t notice that Connie is scrutinizing him again, just like he hadn’t noticed that she’s been silent for the past minute.

“What’s she doing up there?” Connie asks loudly.

Javier chokes mid-drag, and a wicked smirk overtakes her face.

“What,” he croaks, trying desperately not to look guilty.

“Your neighbor,” Connie clarifies. “That’s what you’re thinking about, right?” She looks far too smug with herself.

“Hah,” Javier scoffs, trying to ignore the shivery goosebumps at someone calling you ‘his’. Buying time, he takes another long drag, letting it numb the sting from his cough.

Sometimes he wondered why he let himself get sucked into these coffee chats. They so rarely seemed to go well for him.

“Come on, Javier,” Connie coaxes. “I know there’s something between you two. Do you wanna talk about it?” A genuine offer, not just merciless teasing. She’s managed to wipe most of the mirth from her face, leaving a sympathetic expression behind.

He rubs his thumb along his mustache as he sighs a long stream of smoke from the corner of his mouth. “I don’t know what’s between us,” he finally says. “I’m not- I don’t do relationships.”

He isn’t sure he remembers how to. Nothing about his life here is suited to them- it’s intense, harsh, dangerous. Not to mention his network of CIs, who he pays for sex as well as information.

“Why not?” Connie asks simply.

A glance at her face tells Javier that it’s a serious question. He snorts. Lounging back in his chair, he raises a contemptuous eyebrow at her. “You can’t honestly tell me the DEA lifestyle is helping your marriage.”

Her face tightens, and he feels a pang of guilt. But he resolutely pushes it away- Connie knows who he is, she asked for this conversation- “My marriage isn’t up for discussion here,” she says evenly. “And besides, don’t you think that’s something for her to decide? She knows what you do, she sees you almost every day. She told me she was helping you with something- do you think she’d let herself get close to you if she was scared of your ‘lifestyle’?”

He doesn’t let it show how deeply her word affects him; but like ink dropping into water, he feels a ripple of shock. The change of color as his thoughts cloud, churn with sudden optimism. Because Connie was right, you had helped him- with a fucking secret stab wound, for christ’s sake. You’d already seen the blood and the secrets, understood that his life came with risks- and helped him without further explanation.

Javier brings the cigarette to his lips again without tasting it, unseeing gaze fixed ahead. Possible though it is that you’re not put off by the danger which hounds him, it still doesn’t mean you want to be more than friends. That was what you’d said, right? ‘Friends are a thing people have.’

But there was also what you hadn’t said last night. That- as long as it was for reasons other than feeling like he owed you- he was allowed to want to sleep with you.

Suddenly he slumps forward onto his elbows, sighing. The wrinkles on his forehead ache as he smooths his thumb over them. “I don’t know how close she wants to get,” Javi mumbles. He might be experienced at sex with women, but forming conections based on what was beneath the skin...well, not only was he rusty, but it required a frankly terrifying amount of vulnerability that he wasn’t sure he was up for.

Connie softens. “Listen, Javi, I saw the way she was looking at you during movie night. She’s interested in you, no matter how much you think she does or doesn’t know. Just- see what happens, or…ask her.” With her last words she shrugs matter-of-factly, content to drop the subject now that she’s delivered her thoughts.

His lips twist, the only begrudging acknowledgement he gives as he reflects on this. He picks up his mug and swirls the dregs of the coffee his friend had poured for him- black, like he usually takes it. He takes a sip.

For the first time, he thinks it could use a little sugar.

--

A/N: Get it, because he needs some of READER’S sugar AYOOOO...I’ll leave now lmao.

Spanish note for the less linguistically inclined: ‘Vecinita’ is the word ‘Vecina’ (Neighbor) plus the suffix ‘-ita’, which is attached to words as a way of describing them as ‘small’. So literally translated it says ‘little (feminine) neighbor’, but! This suffix is also used to say things in an affectionate way, so you could put it on the end of someone’s name (ie Pedrito <3), or on the end of another noun to indicate a nickname. (Disclaimer, I only speak Italian, but it has this same concept, so I think I did it right. Someone pls tell me if I did not). It’s used very casually, so it’s not really as deep as it sounded in Reader and Javi’s moment, but it was deep for Javi okay!!!

The dessert this chapter is named after translates to ‘Gloria pastries’, which according to Google, is a popular Columbian pastry. I have not actually ever encountered one of these personally, but I’ve had all the ingredients individually, so I cannot imagine them not being DELICIOUS all together. Here is a recipe I fully intend to try (it uses mozzarella cheese, but other sources say you can use any plain/white/farmer’s cheese). Guava paste is a really yummy, thick puree (think jam, but thick enough to stay in slab form at room temp) of guava fruit (obvs), which I’ve used in recipes before! I found it in a regular Weis market in central Pennsylvania lmao so I would guess it to be a thing you can find across the US. Arequipe is just another name for dulce de leche. I gotta get me and my sweet tooth to Columbia!!

Fic Taglist: @din-damn-djarin, @thirstworldproblemss, @remembertoreadthese

[binsofchaos]

Vanilla Flan Parisien Recette (10 servings)

French Pastries Made Simple: Foolproof Recipes for Éclairs, Tarts, Macarons and More by Molly Wilkinson

Vanilla beans can be very expensive but do make this dessert taste extra-special. You can use one or two, and I add some vanilla extract as well, although Romain suggested it would be good with a little rum in the batter instead. If you're one of those people who buries their used vanilla beans in sugar to make vanilla sugar, this is a good place to use that wonderfully-scented sugar!Note that this dessert should be made the day before serving to give it time to cool and chill thoroughly, which will make it easier to slice, too.

Ingredients

For the crust

1 1/2 cups plus 1 tablespoon flour (210g) flour

2 teaspoons sugar

1/2 teaspoon salt

7 tablespoons (3 1/2 ounces, 100g) unsalted butter, chilled and cubed

1 large egg

2 teaspoons water, plus more if necessary

For the custard

3 cups (750ml) whole milk

1 3/4 cups (430ml) heavy cream

1-2 whole vanilla beans, (see headnote)

pinch of salt

3 large eggs

3 large egg yolks

1 1/4 cups (250g) sugar

3/4 cup (90g) cornstarch

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Directions

To make the crust, mix the flour, sugar, and salt in a bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. (You can also make it in a large bowl with a pastry blender or your hands.) Add the cubes of cold butter and mix on medium speed until the pieces of butter are the size of large corn kernels. Add the egg and water and mix until the dough begins to come together.At this point, even if I'm using my stand mixer, I use my hands to gather and shape the dough into a disk. If necessary, add another teaspoon of water if the dough resists coming together but don't overwork it. Wrap the dough in plastic or your favorite eco-friendly alternative and chill for at least 30 minutes.

On a lightly floured surface, roll the dough into a 15-inch (38cm) circle. Carefully place the dough into a 9-inch (23cm) springform pan so it covers the bottom and goes up the sides of the pan. Use your fingers to gently coax the dough into the corners of the pan (between the bottom and edges) then trim any dough overhanging over the top edges of the pan. Use your hands to patch and smooth any wrinkles or cracks. (The dough is quite forgiving once baked and filled so don't worry if it's not perfect.) Place the dough-lined cake pan in the freezer while you make the filling.

Preheat the oven to 400ºF (200ºC).

Pour the milk and cream into a large, heavy-duty saucepan (or Dutch oven). Split the vanilla bean(s) vertically and scrape the seeds into the milk mixture and also add the vanilla pods and the salt. Warm over medium heat.

In a separate medium-size bowl, whisk together the eggs, egg yolks, and sugar, then whisk in the cornstarch.

When the milk mixture is very warm, working quickly, pour half of the warm milk mixture over the eggs and quickly, and confidently, whisk well until combined. If you have someone in the kitchen to help you, this is a place to ask them to. But if you do this step without hesitation, you should be fine. (If you're unsure, you could ladle in the hot milk while whisking constantly.)

Pour the warmed egg mixture back into the pan of warm milk and stir it leisurely with the whisk until it starts to thicken, which'll take about 5 minutes, but will depend on the heat. As it starts to thicken, things will move a bit more quickly and you'll want to whisk more vigorously to break up any lumps as it cooks. When the mixture comes to a full boil - a large bubble or two will break the surface - turn off the heat and pluck out the vanilla beans with tongs. Stir in the vanilla extract.

Remove the tart shell from the freezer, scrape the pastry cream into the tart shell, smooth the top and place it in the oven. Bake the flan for 10 minutes, then reduce the heat to 350ºF (180ºC) and bake for another 50 minutes. The top may get close to black, which is normal and fine.

Let the flan cool on a wire rack. Once cool, chill in the refrigerator overnight before serving.

Notes/Storage: The tart dough can be made up to two days in advance and chilled. If made in advance, you may need to remove it from the refrigerator for a bit before rolling. The finished flan will keep 3-4 days in the refrigerator.

Follow Molly on Instagram and check out her online French pastry classes.

[pastel-odette]

Tart

Pairing: Shukita

Rating: General Audiences

Summary: Akira tries baking for Yusuke

Notes: I am in the middle of my Persona 5 Royal playthrough (I started writing this before I got the game) so there may be some inaccuracies. This is basically me trying to get back into writing. Not beta read.

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

The plan was simple: surprise Yusuke with a blackberry tart.

He had all the ingredients. Flour, eggs, sugar, heavy cream, butter, blackberries, etc. etc., all sat upon the counter ready to be made into a sweet treat for his boyfriend to enjoy. Morgana was gone too. Futaba had recently splurged on expensive cat supplies since her recent programming project had paid so well, and despite Morgana’s insistence that he was not a cat, and did not need to be treated as such, he still went over to her house at the first opportunity.

It had been a while since Akira had last made a tart. When he still lived with his parents, back when they didn’t see him as a failure delinquent, his mother would bake all the time. Most likely still does. It was her job, and her hobby as well. Little Akira would love to help her around the kitchen and share what they made all around the neighborhood. He had not baked since he came to Tokyo, not even after the Metaverse disappeared and the Phantom Thieves officially disbanded.

Then, a few days ago, while the couple were out shopping, they passed a bakery, Yusuke muttered about wanting to try more sweets. ‘I could probably make something just as good,’ Akira thought to himself. Then he realized that nothing was stopping him. He had recently come to terms with the fact that his parents were terrible people deep down, so why not reclaim a fun activity he used to enjoy so much, and give his boyfriend something nice in the process?

He pressed the crust into the edges of the tin, placing tin foil on top and filling it with rice so that the pastry didn’t puff up too much, and placed it in the oven. Yusuke wouldn’t be home for a while, his work was being displayed at an exhibit and he was asked to attend, so Akira didn’t have to worry about time.

Yusuke had made quite the name for himself in the two years since they had met. His time in the Phantom Thieves had given him enough inspiration to last a lifetime, then his relationship with Akira gave certain pieces the softness and tangible reality of human connection that more people resonated with. Akira led a more civilian life at Leblanc after Sojiro decided to retire, some customers the same as when he first came and new faces he enjoyed getting to know, and he had never felt more whole.

He tossed the ingredients for the filling together and thought about how grateful he was to have all of this.

Once the tart was out of the oven and left on the counter to cool, the telltale jingle of keys sounded at the front door before it swung open.

“I’m home,” Yusuke called as he bent down to remove his shoes. Akira put the last dish in the drying rack before shaking off his hands. “Welcome back.”

“What is that scrumptious smell? Did you cook something?” Yusuke asked before leaning down and planting a kiss on his partner’s lips.

“Baked, actually. It’s a blackberry tart.”

“Oh my! I wasn’t aware you indulged in such a hobby. May I try some?”

The two of them sat down, the tart split between them. Akira watched as Yusuke took a bite, the latter closing his eyes and humming before a soft smile came to his face.

“Simply exquisite. It is the perfect balance of sweet and sour that creates a delightful and stimulating experience. Where did this come from, though? I had thought you incapable of baking since you had taken desserts off the menu at Leblanc.

“Well,” Akira looked down and started to fiddle with his slice, “it’s kinda complicated, you know? I baked with my mom a whole lot, so after my parents kicked me out anything to do with them became sort of like a bad memory. I don’t know. It’s stupid. But if it’s for your sake, then I don’t really mind.”

“I see… I am glad you have recovered enough from your past to do this.”

Akira began to bake a lot more for Yusuke after that. It started slowly, about once every month, until it became once every two weeks, then a few times a week. He changed the menu at Leblanc too, and people became more attracted to the sweet smell. They always ended up becoming regulars because of the curry and coffee, though.

It was a part of his recovery Akira had no idea he needed. Something so small and meaningless that he didn’t really miss all that much became so much more after everything he had gone through. Everyone around him always seemed a little happier while eating his confections, and he was happy to make them. Yusuke was always the first to try a new recipe, and would always help him clean up afterwards. It was because of him that he started up this hobby again, and it was because of his support that he was able to continue doing it. Who knew a simple act of service could amount to so much?

[ireviewuread]

The Durian Bakery, Best Durian Cake in Singapore

The Durian Bakery, Best Durian Cake in Singapore

Durian, the king of fruits, the love of many Asian families and a sin for those that tend to overconsume but do you know that durian is actually good for you? According to studies, durian improves muscle strength, skin health and even relieves anaemia.

That’s why, we should eat more durian, moderately. But what if you’re a dessert lover too? That’s where The Durian Bakery comes in. Listed in Best in Singapore’s, Singapore’s Best Durian Cakes that you should check out in 2021, The Durian Bakery offers many delicious desserts that is guaranteed to make durian lovers drool.

The Durian Bakery

The Durian Bakery only uses premium ingredients and the best recipes to create scrumptious pastries that have you craving for more.

Additionally, they only use no-calorie sugar instead of regular white sugar. These no-calorie sweeteners are able to give the pastries the sweetness they need without increasing the glycemic effects on one’s blood sugar. The best part is, zero-calories. Finally, a pastry line where you can eat and not gain weight!

Unlike most bakeries that only use leftover, un-sellable durians that are not fresh, The Durian Bakery uses fresh durians in their pastries. These durians are delivered straight from the plantation in Pahang Malaysia. 

These durians are used to not only create their delectable pastries but to create their signature SilkyGold Puree as well.

SilkyGold Puree

The Durian Bakery only uses two types of premium durians for their signature SilkyGold Puree, the famous Mao Shan Wang or D24. Although durians purees often come across as chunky, their signature puree is guaranteed to be smooth and sweet. 

Aside from their premium ingredients, The Durian Bakery offers premium delivery as well.

Same Day Express Delivery

If you are a cluttered brain like me that doesn’t seem to remember anyone’s birthday, you would love The Durian Bakery for they offer same-day express delivery as well. You can pre-order the same day, at least 30 minutes in advance and get your pastries within 24 hours. There will be a flat rate of S$15 for such services.

If you are organised and prefers free delivery, just get over S$50 worth of items and you can get yourself free shipping.

Luckily, I was able to remember my father’s birthday before hand and gotten free delivery. But, that’s not the point. The point is we are here for some durian reviews and we will be reviewing two main things today: 

The Signature Pastries Taster Bundle that contains Dark Choco Musang King Mousse, Snowy D24 Durian Cream Puff, and Snowy D24 Durian Mochi

My father’s birthday cake - Dark Chocolate Musang King Durian Mille Crepe Cake

We will start with the bundle.

Dark Choco Musang King Mousse

The Dark Chocolate Musang King Mousse is what one would call the chocolate dome of goodness. Standing at 6cm wide, the dome is made out of 100% dark chocolate which cacao beans were specially imported from Côte d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast). 

Once you dip your spoon into the mousse, you’ll find 2 layers: 

Signature SilkyGold Puree

100% MSW Molten Core

Right at the bottom, you’ll find a layer of hazelnut palette feuilletine supporting the dome. 

What makes this mousse really fancy is the edible 24k gold dust shimmered on the top of the dome. Although gold is known to not have any taste, it is also known to make anything look luxurious, so consider this mousse a luxury.

There are 2 ways to eat this dessert: 

For cooler days: Thaw for 40 to 50 minutes before consumption - you’ll be able to taste the chocolate, signature puree and durian molten core all at once without creating a mess.

For hotter days: Thaw for 20 minutes before consumption - the chocolate shell will still be hard but the molten core will be soft, like ice cream.

Dark Choco Musang King Mousse Review

Upon the first bite, I was able to detect the sweet MSW molten core among the bitterness of the dark chocolate. The creamy SilkyGold Puree melted in my mouth as my taste buds tried to get a sense of the unusual flavours that were dancing in my mouth.

Oddly enough, the bitterness of the dark chocolate, sweet fragrance of the molten core and sweetness of the signature puree complimented each other perfectly.

However, what put this dessert over the top is the crunchy hazelnut palette feuilletine at the bottom, holding it all together. 

This is a dessert that one would normally get at an expensive restaurant at a much higher rate, a dessert that you simply have to indulge in.

Snowy D24 Durian Cream Puff

If you love durian cream puffs, the renowned Snowy D24 Durian Cream Puff is the puff for you. Voted as one of the best durian puffs in Singapore, this cream puff contains no unethical artificial flavourings and it’s made of 100% natural ingredients. Even the puff shell is handmade from scratch.

Comes in a set of 12 cream puff, the 4.5cm pastry contains almost no cream at all. What? A cream puff without cream? That’s right. The “cream” in the puff is made of 95% D24 durian flesh and 5% cream. There is also no sugar in this puff.

Snowy D24 Durian Cream Puff Review

The airy shell of the puff does a great job in bracing your palette for the richness of the durian experience the moment you bite into it. The creamy durian core fills your mouth with its aroma, ensuring every inch of your mouth is covered in its scent. 

The creamy durian core burst through the airy shell of the puff, filling your mouth with a piece of heaven every time you bite into it, that is the kind of cream puff that you should be enjoying all the times.

Snowy D24 Durian Mochi

Inspired by the quality of mochis in Hokkaido, Japan, the Snowy D24 Durian Mochi is one of the most premium durian mochis you’ll ever taste in Singapore. This mochi not only consists of D24 durian flesh which was harvested from specifically cultivated old trees, but it also consists of a sophisticated philosophy.

The chef created this mochi after tasting over 1,000 types of mochi in Japan to understand the complex philosophy behind 100 years of Daifukumochi Craftsmanship. 

To create this exquisite mochi skin, the Mochigome (glutinous rice) goes through various processes that include being steamed, mashed and pounded with a wooden kine. All these processes could be seen the moment you pick the soft, dewy mochi up and nestle it in your mouth. 

Biting into the 3.5cm mochi will reveal a soft core filled with at least 90% D24 durian flesh, just like biting into a durian mochi ice cream. 

Snowy D24 Durian Mochi Review

The Snowy D24 Durian Mochi is the highlight among the Musang King Pastries Bundle. Its bouncy and insanely soft skin caresses your cheeks right before your teeth penetrate them, revealing a buttery, creamy texture. The velvety surprise fills your palettes with a bitter-sweet taste and before you know it, you’re reaching out for more. 

This mochi is not only addictive but it is one of the softest and best mochi’s I’ve tasted in Singapore. 

Dark Chocolate Musang King Durian Mille Crepe Cake

If you’re into crepe cakes, the Dark Chocolate Musang King Durian Mille Crepe Cake is a must-have for your birthday. With 39 layers - 20 layers of crepe skin and 19 layers of signature SilkyGold Puree - this crepe cake have a weigh of 1kg and could be sliced into 8 equal pieces.

This rich and creamy crepe cake is handmade fresh daily with a secrete batter recipe. The thin cocoa crepe skins are fried by hand - just imagine how much work to get 20 same-sized and same thickness crepes.

Aside from their signature SilkyGold Durian Puree, you can also find a pleasant surprise when you cut the cake. A layer of 100% A+ Pure MSW sits right in the middle of the cake. A surprise that’ll make any durian lover smile.

Right at the top is a layer of 100% pure dark cocoa as well.

Dark Chocolate Musang King Durian Mille Crepe Cake Review

The moment my taste buds meets the cake, I was able to taste the sweetness of the signature SilkyGold Puree and the bitterness of the cocoa. Despite having only 1 layer of pure MSW, I was still able to savour the complex flavour fully while it tickles my nostrils. Unlike other crepe cakes, the layers of this cake did not disintegrate the moment you cut or bite into it. 

The unusual combination of rich bitter chocolate and sweet durian taste still makes my jaw drop as I crave more cake. After this exposure, I’ve got to say, this is better than eating the raw fruit.

The Durian Bakery Review

The Durian Bakery provides premium pastries that will knock your socks off if you adore durians. Although I am not a huge fan of the durian fruit, I am a huge fan of the durian pastries from The Durian Bakery. The high-quality durian puree and fresh MSW added in its recipes is enough to make any durian lover ‘add to cart’.

On top of that, their cakes are of exceptional quality as well. If you are celebrating a birthday, there is an option for you to include birthday accessories (happy birthday topper, candle & knife) and even a personalised greeting card which they will handwrite for you.

My favourite is the Snowy D24 Durian Mochi which is not only soft and delectable but is filled with almost 100% of creamy durian flesh as well. 

Do note that since there are no preservatives in these pastries, that means, they’ll have a shorter shelf life. In fact, they are recommended to be consumed within the same day of delivery. However, if that is not possible, here are the recommended shelf life:

Cakes - Thawed (1 Day); Frozen (7 Days)

Pastries - Thawed (2 Days); Frozen (7 Days)

Mochi - Thawed (2 Days); Frozen (30 Days)

Also note, they are also not halal-certified as of now. Hopefully, they’ll be certified soon so everyone can try their scrumptious cakes!

The Durian Bakery

Website | Instagram | Facebook

[pineaberry]

Kaasi Wasp Pie

4 oz Cream Cheese

245g Puff Pastry

1/2 cup chopped walnuts

1/2 cup fig jam

1 tsp Vanilla extract

1/2 tsp Powdered Cinnamon

1/4 tsp Powdered Ginger

6 figs sliced thinly

1 egg

1) Sweeten the Cream Cheese with about 1/4 cup of fig jam. Add vanilla extract. Mix until smooth.

2) Mix the chopped walnuts with cinnamon, ginger, and remaining fig jam until all the pieces are coated.

3) Roll out puff pastry to a 9″x9″ square. Cut into 3″x3″ pieces.

4) Add a dollop of cream cheese to each square. Top with walnuts and fig slices.

5) Arrange in rosettes, mini turnovers, or rolls. Brush the tops with egg wash.

6) Preheat Oven to 400° F. Bake in a parchment lined sheet for 15 minutes or until golden and crispy.

STORY TIME (see SWTOR HCs below the cut):

It’s started. I’m literally baking headcanons!

This started when I stared at an old jar of fig jam I had in the fridge and thought: “Huh. That’s probably something you’d find in a humid tropical planet like Dromund Kaas.” It then morphed into: “I can make something delicious with this.”

Per @sith-shenanigans inside every fig is a dead wasp (although not really). Therefore, these are called: Wasp Pies.

If Mince Meat Pies don’t have to have meat in them, then Wasp Pies don’t have to contain wasps!

Now for the HC:

Wasp Pies are a pastry made of various combinations of fruit preserves and nuts. While every family has their own preferred recipe, it invariably includes some form of spreadable cheese, walnuts, Kaasi figs and puff pastry. Wasp pies are particularly popular in winter around Life Day or the Imperial Holidays. Despite their name, they contain no wasps and come in pie form or a variety of shapes and sizes.

Darth Vowrawn is said to order over five thousand Wasp Pies from Kaasi bakers for his Life Day parties.

While there are an assortment of party foods associated with Imperial Celebrations, Wasp Pies are considered traditional in Dromund Kaas and they are often given as gifts or treats for children.

Defectors in the Republic often find it difficult to replicate the pastry due the lack of Kaasian figs at their disposal. Substitutions abound, utilizing various fruit preserves instead of Kaasi fig jam. While tasty, none of these are considered true Wasp pies but are instead named for different vespiform insects: Bee Pie (Honey), Bumble Pie (various fruit preserves), Killik Pie (dust-corn syrup), Colicoid pie (Sugar syrup).

Expensive purple skinned figs were shipped in from  Ecclessis to any ex-imperial with enough credits to afford them. However, even these were considered too sweet and had to be diluted in order to approximate the delicate flavor of a Kaasian fig. As a result the closest thing to a Wasp Pie available to a Republic citizen was a Hornet Pie made with Ecclessis figs.

Wasp Pie bars are also a popular dessert option in Imperial premium ration packs. Republic rations have something resembling a Fig Newton which they alternatively label as a “Wasp Bar” much to the chagrin of any Kaasian who has the misfortune of encountering one.

Imperials who join the Alliance enjoy trolling Republic soldiers and Jedi by claiming that powdered wasps are essential for the Wasp Pie to have that “crunchy zing”. More than one Padawan has ended up in the infirmary because they attempted to “harvest wasps for pie since the Imperials are so stingy with theirs”.

[for-fucks-sake-h]

As You Held Onto Me - One

*a/n: Hello and welcome to the first chapter of this little universe! I hope you enjoy it. Huge thank you to my babes @sleepyeyedficsnrecs​ @biteharrysthigh​ @bbletsdoitallovragain​ @imethiminthemorning​ for proofing and supporting me and being genuinely beautiful people. Happy reading! x 

CATCH UP ON PREVIOUS PARTS HERE    

Rated: M, mature // Word Count: 8.6k 

Sometimes, love can feel like it’s everything. And sometimes, we hope it can be.

***

- Monday, January 5, 2013 -    

The walk from your car to the back door of the old brick building felt exceedingly long for only being a few minutes. Probably due to the biting cold wind that whipped across your face and threatened to rip your scarf right off your neck.    

It also may have felt like a 5k marathon due to it being your first day at your new job. It wasn’t much, just a few nights a week, but you couldn’t shake the nerves settling in your belly as you clicked your key fob to hear your car lock for the second time.  You were excited for the change, and the new experience. And you thought it would be good for you to hopefully make some new friends while you did your online courses.  

The wind whistled obnoxiously as you pulled the heavy metal door open to stumble into the building, exhaling deeply as your cheeks immediately began to warm at the stark change of temperature.  

You started down a narrow hallway toward the office you knew was situated at the end as you unwrapped your scarf, desperately trying to steady your breathing. A quick glance past a tall cart full of pastry desserts showed a busy kitchen with servers dressed just like you in black dress pants, white button down shirts and bowties. 

A familiar voice spoke your name from behind you. Shannon, your middle aged manager, stood in the doorway of the office with a warm smile when you turned to greet her.  You were quick to walk towards her, extending your hand the way you were taught, gripping hers firmly as you smiled.  

“Perfect timing.”  

“Hi, Shannon. How are you?”  

“Great! Come on in here so we can get you set up,” she spoke with a hand extended towards her office as she welcomed you into the small, plainly decorated space. “Nervous?” She spoke once the door was closed behind you.  

“A little,” you smiled shyly.  

“Well, don’t be. Everyone’s nice. They’ll show you the way, help when you need it. Team effort and all that.”  She waved her hands nonchalantly as she turned her back to you, making her way over to her desk.  “I just have a couple things for you to sign, direct deposit slip and such. Then we’ll set up your clock and ID and go get your badge done with HR.”  

She waved you over to her side, lifting a pen in your direction with one hand as she pointed to the lined paper, indicating where you should sign each document.  You watched her quietly as she stapled the papers together before tucking them away in what you assumed to be your file.  

“You can put your jacket and things over there,” she nodded toward an open coat closet. 

You did as you were told, gingerly wrapping your scarf around the neck of a hanger before adding your coat. Your heart rate seemed to be easing a bit as you got accustomed to the new environment. When you turned back toward Shannon she was typing away on her computer, leaving you to silently wait for your next instruction.  

“Okay, I just let Cindy know we’d be up in a minute. Let’s set this thing up real quick.” She walked towards the door of the office again where a small machine was mounted on the wall. “So this is the clock in machine. You’ll just place your hand on it with the sensors between your fingers. You can clock in seven minutes before your shift. Try not to forget to do it,” she spoke as she pressed a few buttons on the machine. “It’s not a huge deal if you do forget once in a while, just try not to make a habit out of it. Messes with HR,” she giggled. “Here you go, just put your hand in and it’ll prompt you to lift it three times.”  

You did as you were told, watching the screen as it read your palm every time you placed your hand onto the sensor.  

“Don’t forget the sanitizer,” she spoke again once the machine beeped in completion.  “Here’s your apron and bowtie.  We have some extras if you’re in a pinch or forget it one day. Just be sure to put them back if you do borrow one.” She extended the neatly folded apron and bowtie towards you. “Chuck them on and we’ll go see Cindy for your badge and then I’ll introduce you to your trainer.”  

She headed towards the door as she spoke, leaving you to follow meekly as you tucked the apron under your arm to swiftly put your bow tie on. You followed her through the kitchen, taking in the quick atmosphere of the staff as they prepped for dinner. Pots banged as the cooks finished prepping the serving line. You noticed a girl changing inserts of what looked to be a juice machine. Someone else carried a large pot of soup to an opening in the counter that was the perfect width.  

She opened a side door for you once you crossed the busy room, noticing a dish washing station towards the back of the kitchen before going into a narrow stairwell. You threw the necktie of your apron over your head once you were in the elevator, tying the strings behind your back as the door dinged and began to open.  

Cindy was nice enough, seemingly ready to leave for the night and get done with your name badge as quickly as possible. She took a quick photo of your face in front of a blue backdrop and was quiet as she plugged the camera into her computer to print your badge.  

“Thank you,” you spoke as she handed you the laminated plastic once it was attached to a small silver butterfly clip.  

“Thanks Cind, have a good night,” Shannon spoke as she nodded for you to head out of the room first. You heard a mumbled reply of you too come from the office as Shannon followed you out.    

“Don’t mind her,” she spoke quietly with a small chuckle as she pushed the elevator button once more, “she’s like that with everyone. Just clip that badge to the top of your apron.”  

You followed Shannon into the elevator, smoothing down the front of your apron as you took the trip back down a few floors in silence. This time the front doors of the elevator opened, the dining room straight ahead and a lounge/waiting area towards your left.  

You followed Shannon the few steps towards a small oak desk and podium where a boy, maybe a few years older than you, stood smiling and greeting residents as they passed with their walkers and motorized scooters. 

“This is Joe, he’s the host and in charge tonight,” she introduced.  

“Hey,” he greeted you with a smile which you returned softly.  

“Joe!” A small woman with a walker stood behind the podium. “Are you going to make me wait forty-five minutes tonight?” She asked exasperated.   

“Hi Mrs. Kavinsky,” he spoke loud and clear towards the woman. “I already checked you and Mr. Kavinsky in to make up for last night,” he smiled forcefully as the woman shook her head with a roll of her eyes.  

“You’re really getting bad representation tonight,” Shannon laughed as Mrs. Kavinsky walked away. “I promise it’s not always like this. She just met Cindy,” she spoke to Joe, a knowing nod and smile coming from him in acknowledgement. “Who do you have training her tonight?”  

“Harry’s here.” 

“Awesome, call him out.”  

Joe grabbed the phone beside his podium and with a push of a button was talking to someone, telling whoever was on the other line to send your trainer out to the front.  

You stood with your fingers clasped together in front of you, taking in the expanse of the dining room.  For such a deceivingly plain office and kitchen, the dining room was elegantly decorated.  Vaulted ceilings, beautiful art hanging on the walls, expensive tables and chairs with polished table settings.  There was a large chandelier in the center of the room and a fire place situated on the far right wall. To say the least, it was a stark difference from the plain white walls in Shannon’s office.  

“Ah there he is!” Shannon spoke excitedly.  

You turned toward the direction of the kitchen to see a tall boy walking towards you. It was like your brain took in a different aspect of him every second. Dark, chestnut hair curled around his ears. Broad shoulders. Radiant skin despite the freezing temperatures. His apron tied around his narrow waist. 

He gave a small wave as he neared, light green eyes coming into focus as they washed over your features. Your cheeks burned immediately. He was beyond handsome as a sweet, dimpled smile spread across his face.    

“Hey, ya alright?” He spoke in general, but his eyes flicked back to you a few times. His voice was surprisingly deep, making the nerves in your belly erupt all over again.  

Shannon spoke up, introducing you both. You exchanged shy smiles with Harry as he tucked his hands into his pockets, seemingly nervous. “Harry’s our best trainer. He’ll take care of you,” Shannon praised. “I’ll leave you to it.” 

He smiled down to the floor as Shannon passed with a pat on his shoulder. You noticed the top of his ear that peeked through his hair was bright pink when he turned towards the oak desk, grabbing a clipboard and bringing it towards you. 

“So this is the section chart,” he got right to it, showing you the layout of the dining room and which section would be yours for the evening. His cologne lingered once he was close enough, hints of sweet melon and warm vanilla floating off his skin. A small cross tattoo caught your eye as he pointed to your section. Your eyebrow twitched minutely with intrigue.  

“Come on,” he spoke, pulling your attention back to his face, “I’ll show you around.”  

He led you into the kitchen, showing you a bulletin board where various announcements hung from tiny tacks. “Side work is here,” he pointed with the cross tattooed hand. “You do this before dinner and this one after,” referring to the two columned sheets of paper hanging on the bottom left corner of the board. You nodded, quickly following as he started walking again. 

He was thorough as he walked you around the kitchen, showing you where various things could be found and explaining how the service would operate.  

“Always greet the table with bread, it’ll make your life easier,” he explained, his words slow as they rolled off his tongue. After, you’d take drinks and then soup and salad. He showed you how you would call out your meals as you made your way down the serving line. “Always be polite, always check on your tables between courses, always have extra straws in your apron pocket.” He piled the information on in such a short period of time that you couldn’t help feeling a bit overwhelmed.  

“Hey,” he acknowledged the look on your face. “It sounds like a lot but I promise you’ll pick it up quick. Just a matter of doing it.” He was comforting; warm and sweet in the way he attempted to ease your mind.  “Tonight you’ll just kinda watch me, help with things. Tomorrow you can do more on your own. We’ll take it a day at a time. Promise by the end of the week you’ll be an expert.” 

“Thanks,” you smiled, silently admiring the way a tiny double chin formed as he looked down to the floor with a small grin.  

“Come on, Joe’s gonna go over the menu in a minute.” 

You followed him over to the corner of the kitchen where the rest of the staff stood waiting. He leaned his hip against the metal counter, crossing his arms casually. In the limited time you’d spent with Harry, he came across easily cool with minimum effort.  He was nice in a way that seemed natural and not just put on. And there was definitely no way to deny how attractive he was.  

“Alright guys,” Joe clapped as he came into the kitchen.  “First off, let’s welcome our newest server,” he stretched a hand out in your direction, all eyes on you as he introduced you. Your cheeks warmed but smiled as you greeted the group of seven servers you’d be working with alongside Harry. 

He went through the menu quickly, everyone jotting down the soup options and specials for the evening.  “I got it,” Harry leaned in and whispered when you started to pull your pad and pen from your apron. He smiled when you met his gaze before he looked back towards his own pad as he jotted the options down. 

You couldn’t pull your eyes from him for a moment, letting yourself take in the ridiculously straight line of his nose and sharp cut of his jaw.  His skin was smooth, clean shaven without a mark on it aside from a small mole just off the corner of his mouth. His lips seemed to get even more pink as he bit them repeatedly and his eyes flicked up to Joe and then to you. 

You flinched and looked away quickly, warmth spreading across your face at being caught.  

“That’s it! Have a good night guys.” Joe clapped again as everyone headed out into the dining room.  

“So I’ll introduce you to the tables and you can kinda just go through the motions with me,” Harry spoke over his shoulder as he led you towards the back station where drinks and bread were kept.  You watched as he bent over to pull a bread basket from the warmer and grabbed a pair of tongs from the counter. “Think you can handle giving them bread to start?”  

You took the bread basket with a roll of your eyes and a laugh. His smirk was lethal. Dimples etched into his cheeks with a slight smugness that was just shy of being annoying.  Truth was, it wasn’t annoying at all. If you were being really honest with yourself, you wouldn’t have minded seeing the smirk again. And you definitely wouldn’t have minded being the cause of it.  

The night went pretty smoothly. You didn’t drop any glasses and didn’t spill anything on anyone as you helped Harry serve your section. Your conversation was easy but limited as you worked. You did learn that he moved from the UK when he was seventeen when his dad got a promotion. He lived in the next town over and was only a year older than you with his nineteenth birthday in a few weeks. He went to school and worked at the retirement home as often as he could without interfering with school. 

You also learned that he was charming and funny, especially when talking to the residents.  They all seemed to love him; happy, excited banter when they realized he’d be their server. He was kind, checking on them often and making sure they had everything they needed.  

As the night slowed down, Harry showed you how to do your section’s sideworks and how to set the tables for the next day’s breakfast shift.  You were in the kitchen as he demonstrated the intricate way you needed to fold your assigned portion of 50 silverware sets into a neat napkin ring when another server came up to you.  

“Hey, how’d you like your first shift?” She smiled at you as she nudged Harry with her shoulder.  

You remembered her name was Emma, but you still glanced at her name tag to make sure. “It was good! Yeah, I liked it.”  

“Harry’s a great teacher,” she laughed with a wiggle of her eyebrows.  

“Oi get out of here,” he shook his head as he smiled, pushing Emma away from you. 

She barked a loud laugh as she slapped his forearms playfully. “Did you tell her about Three Monkey’s?” She directed her question to you.  

You watched the exchange between them, noticing the way Harry’s eyes fell to the ground as he spoke. “No, no. I - I didn’t have a chance to mention it yet,” he stumbled through his words for the first time since meeting him, the slightest flush rising on his cheeks.  

“We’re going to grab something to eat there once we’re done,” Emma turned back to you, “wanna come?”  

“Oh, um, yeah sure,” you smiled graciously. “Thanks.” 

“Course. You can ride over with me and Heather if you want? The parking is shit there,” she giggled.  

“That’d be great, thanks.”  

“Yeah, don’t mention it! We’ll exchange numbers before we leave.” 

“Em!” Joe called from across the kitchen, “is your side work done?!”  “Oh bite me, Joe!”  

You laughed with them as she stalked towards him and threw a rag in his face on her way.  Harry was quiet and already looking at you when you glanced at him, a small smile playing on his lips. You could feel his eyes still on you as you folded the rest of your silverware. It took everything in you not to look at him again and you hoped the flush you felt on your cheeks wasn’t too obvious.  You followed everyone out once you’d all clocked out, agreeing on meeting at the restaurant in an hour. Emma introduced you to Heather as you exchanged numbers and texted her your address.  

Once you were home, you gave your parents the quickest overview of your first night before going to quickly freshen up. You changed out of your uniform and into some jeans and a cozy sweater. You also let your hair down, brushed your teeth and sprayed a little perfume. Just as you swiped some mascara on, a text from Emma came that they were out front.  

Luckily, the drive was short and the girls were super sweet. Your conversation was steady as you all complained about your college courses.  Heather was taking online classes as well, so it was nice to bond with her over that. It was nice to be making some new friends in general.    

Emma was lucky enough to find a spot near the restaurant, but you still did a huddled power walk to the building to get out of the harsh cold as quickly as possible. They must have been there a lot because the host greeted Emma by name, telling her it’d only be a few minutes for them to get a table together.   The rest of the group joined in the small waiting area of the restaurant moments later, bringing the cold with them as they piled in. You tucked your chin down into your scarf as the cold air brushed your skin once more, looking up to see Harry as the culprit for letting the icy wind burn your face.  

“Fucking freezing,” he mumbled as he pulled the door closed. He brought himself right next to you, the sleeve of his jacket brushing yours as you looked up at him from where you were tucking the entire lower half of your face into the thick material of your scarf. He smiled down at you, small wisps of hair poking out of his red beanie and curling at his temples. When he noticed the way you curled into yourself as you waited for warmth to consume you, he leaned in barely enough to notice. But you noticed.   

“You okay?” 

“Fucking freezing,” you repeated back to him, the fabric muffling your voice.  He must have heard you clear enough because he smiled widely down to you, flicking his eyes in the direction of the back of the restaurant as he spoke. “They usually put us in the back by the fireplace. Follow my lead. I’ll make sure we’re closest to it.”  

You were happy that your scarf concealed the endeared smile that was pulled from your lips at his words. He was so serious, but had a playful glint in his eye that you couldn’t help but admire. His nose was wind burnt and his cheeks were flushed, and his eyes sparkled under the dim overhead lighting.  

Just then the host called Emma’s name, indicating that your table was ready. Harry pushed past you quickly, grabbing your wrist at the last second to pull you with him as he led you down the opposite aisle of tables lined up in the restaurant, effectively cutting off your group and getting the seats directly in front of the fireplace.   

“I’m impressed,” you chuckled as you shrugged your coat and scarf off, handing them to Harry when he opened his palm.  

He mocked offense with a drop of his jaw as he hung your jackets on the nearby rack. “You doubted me?” 

You giggled as you situated yourself in your seat. He was sitting next to you a second later, his cologne invading your senses all over again. It was like the heat of the fire intensified. That or you just recognized it more as it washed over you like it had when you first encountered him.    

He pulled the sleeves of his sweater down over his hands. “Have you been here?” He asked softly.  

“No,” you shook your head with a smile. “Looks good though.”  

You scanned over the menu. It was a step up from a typical bar/restaurant, with every burger concoction you could think of and a very enticing “try our crack fries!” in bold letters across the top of the page.  

“The Mighty Joe Young is the best. If you like pork roll.”    

“Brits eat pork roll?” You teased.  

He laughed with a nod of his head. “They do when they live here.” 

“Alright, I’ll try it.” You closed your menu before adding a cryptic, “hope I’m not disappointed.” 

“Have I steered you wrong yet?”  

You looked over at him, and even though there was a playful smile on his face, his eyes held yours in a way that made you hesitate. The fire cast shadows across the lines of his face, accentuating the deep cut of his cheekbone and jaw. And even though the place was dimly lit, the fire somehow made his eyes bright as he stared back at you.       

You were interrupted as the waitress came to take your orders, tucking some hair behind your ear as you turned away from him. The group quieted down enough for everyone to place their orders. You and Harry ordered identical Mighty Joe Young burgers and crack fries, and he wore the same smirk on his beautiful face as he had at work.  

You got to know your coworkers, engaging in conversation about school and what shows you all were into. It was nice to be included so easily and not feel like an outsider in a group of people who already knew each other so well. You were joking with Heather, who was quick enough to sit on the other side of you to absorb the warmth of the fire, just as your food arrived.  

It was like no one had seen food before, the table going relatively quiet as everyone dug into their first few bites. 

You glanced over to Harry as you took your first bite, finding his eyes already on you, watching you expectantly. You chewed slowly, keeping a straight face. You leaned back in your chair as you finished the bite, his eyes following you the entire time, waiting for your reaction. 

“Ugh, it’s good,” you whined.    

He smiled in victory, looking pleased and smug as he turned back towards his plate to take his own bite. His jaw ticked with every chew. You shouldn’t have found it as attractive as you did. His eyelashes were long, curled and extended away from his eyes as he blinked; like a delicate frame around a vast landscape painting. 

You blinked away before anyone became suspicious of your staring, especially Harry. 

You enjoyed the rest of your dinner, talking between bites and laughing at jokes as you tried to cover your burger filled mouth. 

Once your plates were cleared, you felt Harry turn towards you, casually placing his elbow on the back of your chair. You tilted your face in his direction as he spoke. 

Your lips kinked up in a smile, “I really did like it.” 

“Did ya?” His voice went up an octave. “You’re kinda hard to read. Mysterious and all that,” he joked softly. 

“I’m really not though,” you laughed. 

He leaned in a half an inch closer with a simply murmured, “I beg to differ.” 

You weren’t sure if it was his close proximity or the tone of his voice but he made your skin erupt in goosebumps and your heart unironically skip a beat. He smiled as he leaned away, that ever present twinkle in his eyes shining back at you. 

You were brought back by Joe calling both your names from the other end of the long table. 

“You guys wanna see a movie?”  

Harry answered immediately, “I’m alright man. Gonna head home, gotta be up early.”  

You turned towards Heather and Emma with a nod of your head. “What are you guys doing?” 

“Yeah I could go for a movie,” Emma agreed first, Heather following right behind. 

You hesitated for a moment as you nodded in acknowledgement, debating your options. “Um —” 

“I could drop you off if you don’t wanna go,” Harry interrupted. 

“You sure?” 

“Yeah no problem at all,” he sang happily, leaning his elbows on the table with a smile.   

“Yeah, okay. I’ll pass tonight guys,” you turned back to Joe and the girls, “thanks though.” 

“Next time,” Emma pointed her finger sternly at you. 

“Definitely,” you chuckled. 

Everyone got their things together once the bill was settled, bundling up for the inevitable icy temperature. You hugged Emma and Heather at the door, thanking them for bringing you and telling them to enjoy the movie.   

You started to follow everyone out of the restaurant but were caught by your elbow by Harry’s firm hand. 

“I’m this way,” he nodded in the opposite direction.  

You walked quickly, holding your jacket and scarf as close to you as possible as you followed Harry to his 1999 Mustang.   

“Fuck, I won’t ever get used to that.” He shuddered once you were inside, the heat blaring from his dash. 

“Isn’t it cold in England?” You giggled. 

“I don’t remember it being this bloody cold.”  

“Bloody cold,” you repeated in a faux English accent. 

He shook his head as he laughed, “Wow you’re so posh.”  

“Am I?” 

He turned the gear to pull out of his spot before chuckling with a pained wince, “Oh yeah.” He was quiet for a beat before softly adding, “It’s cute though.”  

And the butterflies ensued.    

“Thanks,” you blushed as you watched the street lights dance across his hood.  You both were quiet for the majority of the ride, stealing glances when you thought the other wasn’t paying attention. You didn’t know that neither of you were never not paying attention to the other.  

“This is a cool car,” you spoke up after a while.  

“Thanks,” he smiled. “I got it a couple months ago. Finally saved up enough.”   “That’s amazing, congrats.”  

He smiled at you before bringing his eyes back to the road. “So, what made you wanna get the job?”  

You thought about it for a moment, contemplating all the reasons you had and deciding what you wanted to share. “I thought it would be good to get my foot out there a bit. I’ve only babysat before.”  

“No I mean, what made you choose the retirement home specifically? Could have gone to McDonalds... think they pay more,” he chuckled.  

“Oh,” you laughed nervously. “Um, I don’t know.” You paused before deciding to continue. “I like the thought of helping people. Maybe being the reason someone might smile. I thought there would be some people there that… maybe didn’t have families nearby and I could be someone they looked forward to seeing.”  

You surprised yourself with how honest your answer was, blushing immediately. 

“I think that’s really cool,” he spoke earnestly. “Are you going to school for something like that? Helping people, I mean.”  

“Oh I don’t know. I don’t really know what I wanna do yet.”  You shook your head as you spoke, not having a clue what you really wanted to do career-wise.  

“Sounds like helping people might be something you should consider. If you feel strongly about it.”  His voice was soft and encouraging.  You could feel his eyes flicking over to you and you were thankful for the darkness that provided a shield to your blushing cheeks.  

“Maybe,” you hummed. “What about you?”  

“I’m going for photography.  Hope I can like, own my own company some day.” 

“That’s really cool,” you nodded. “Do you have a favorite kind or anything?”  

“People for sure, especially people in love.” He spoke surely as he eased the car to stop at a red light before looking over at you. “Like, I’d love to do engagement shoots or just, anything with couples. I like showing people in love through my lense.”  

You smiled at his answer and how open he was. “Sounds like something you’re good at.”  

“Yeah?” 

“Yeah, just, judging by how you speak of it. When people are passionate about something, it shows.” 

He nodded at your words as he held your eyes.  He didn’t add anything or deny what you were saying. He simply looked at you, with that twinkle in his eye and the smallest tug of a smile on his lips. You couldn’t look away from him, his eyes pulling you in and holding you there. You liked to think it was against your will but in reality, you would have sat there in his car and looked at him for as long as he would have let you.  

The car behind you on the other hand, not so much. Judging by their obnoxious horn at least.  

You both startled, pulled from the moment as you noticed the green light. You looked back over to Harry to catch him looking in his rearview mirror with a crease to his brow before he pulled into the intersection to turn down your street.  

It was achingly quiet as he paused at the three stop signs before pulling in front of your house.  

You unclicked your seatbelt as you spoke. “Well, thanks for the ride.” 

“Yeah, yeah, of course.” He paused, seemingly considering what he wanted to say. “It was… nice... talking to you.” His voice lowered minutely in what you could only assume was shyness.  

You smiled as your heart fluttered in your chest. “It was nice talking to you too. I’ll see you tomorrow, right?”  

He nodded.  “Yup, you’ve got me for the week.”  

“Great. Thanks again.” 

“Anytime,” he smiled.  

You returned the smile before climbing out of his car. You quickly walked to your front door, noticing that he didn’t pull away from your house as you fished out your key from your bag and unlocked your door.  

When you looked back, you could see the street lamp shining into his windshield, giving you just enough light to see him looking back at you.  

You gave him a small wave before closing your door, leaning your back against it as your heart banged in your chest.    

*** 

- Sunday, February 24, 2018 -   

You dropped your duffle bag dramatically as soon as you entered the suite.  Twelve hours of traveling sounded just as awful as it felt.  

Articles of clothing fell from you as you made your way further into the room. Cardigan, sneakers, leggings -- all stripped off and thrown haphazardly. It was warm, a stark change from the still freezing temps back home in New York. Your oversized t-shirt hung down to your thighs, opting for comfort over anything else for your day of traveling.  

It was late; the only light being a tall standing lamp tucked away in the corner of the room. It was so quiet you could hear the ocean. A slow, calming peace fell over you as your eyes adjusted to the dim lighting. 

The sliding glass door at the back of the suite was open, a slight breeze coming through the sheer white curtains that hung from the ceiling. A king sized bed was off to the right, tall posts with more sheer drapes hanging from the corners. The pillows looked gigantic and the deep navy duvet looked soft and smooth, even from where you were standing.  

You peeked into the ensuite, a bathroom unnecessarily large with a jetted soaker tub and rainfall shower stall, double sinks and two oversized mirrors.  There was a stash of candles organized on the counter with stemmed roses delicately placed on either end, a box of matches sitting on one of the candle’s lids.  

You stretched your arms up over your head as you heard a click of the key card lock opening, the heavy door of your room swinging open.  

Turning in the bathroom doorway, you saw your suitcase roll in first with a frowning Harry close behind. “That should not have been that difficult,” he spoke as he entered the room, letting the door fall closed behind him. “How did they only have you on the reservation? We have the same name for fuck’s sake.”   

You smiled as you leaned against the door frame, taking in his frustrated state.  

“Yeah we do.” Your tone was suggestive; an attempt to bring him back to the moment, to the real reason why you were even there to begin with.  

It caught his attention, his head snapping in your direction as his eyes took you in. You’d never tire of that. The way he looked at you, like he was trying to peer into your soul and see all the ways he was etched into it. Sometimes, you felt like he could see right through you. Like you were a wide open plain for him to settle his home on and live happily ever after.  

He didn’t move at first, standing perfectly still next to your too heavy, over packed suitcase as his eyes raked over your t-shirt clad body. The left side of his mouth lifted the tiniest bit for the smirk to start to form before he moved toward you. He reached for you once he was close enough, arms slithering around your waist to pull you in. His hands rested perfectly in the curve of your back, his front flush to yours as he looked down at you.  

“We do, Mrs. Styles.”  

His voice was lower both in volume and tone. The words rolled off his tongue as if he had been saying them for decades when in reality it had only been 22 hours.  

He pulled you with him as he took a step back, effectively moving you out of the doorway in favor of walking you back into the wall beside it. He completely invaded your senses. Warm breath cascading across your lips, cologne that had no business even still being on his skin infiltrating your head. 

You smiled slightly just before he pressed his mouth to yours. His lips were soft, yet still tugged your own into his waiting mouth. His tongue teased along your bottom lip in the smoothest way, warmth spreading to the pit of your stomach instantly. His warm tongue eased into your mouth, tasting you slowly before sucking your top lip.  

He pinned your foreheads together, his breath mingling with yours. “Are you tired?”  

You shook your head against his in response as your fingers dug into the pudge of his hips.     

“Good.” He barely got the word out before his mouth was back on yours; heavy and hot.    

One of his hands gripped the side of your neck as he pressed himself even closer to you, pinning you to the wall harshly. His hips pushed into yours, his cock already fattening up in his pants. You whimpered against his insistent mouth, his fingers threading into your hair as his other hand gripped your hip tighter.

“I want you so bad,” he moaned before kissing you again. 

His eager mouth traveled down your jaw and neck, sponging wet kisses to your tingling skin.  You reached up to thread your fingers through his hair, clasping tightly at the roots to elicit a small moan from the back of his throat.  His hips pressed into yours with such a minute roll that you nearly missed it. One of your hands traveled down the crease in the center of his back, the heat of him burning through his thin t-shirt. You squeezed one of his cheeks in the same moment that he bit into the skin of your collar bone, heat spreading throughout your body faster than ever, making your head cloudy and your eyelids heavy.  

“Please, H.” Your whine was breathy and exhaled up to the ceiling as he traveled back up to your mouth.  

He hovered his lips over yours for a moment, catching his breath as he pushed his hard length against you more. There was no denying just how hard he was. The way he begged for you, every move he made making it known.  

“You still want to?” His words were low and spoken directly into your mouth. 

Your eyes fluttered open to meet his, noses brushing softly before he pulled back half an inch. “Yeah,” you breathed. “Do you?”  

“So bad,” he whispered before kissing you again, his mouth slow and full. “Wanna give you a baby.”  

You moaned at his words as your hips involuntarily tipped towards his more.     He shifted his weight towards your side, his front still pressed as closely to you as he could get, his cock brushing against your hip. His hand released the grip it had on the back of your hair to journey down your neck, the center of your chest and across your hip before settling on the lowest part of your tummy.  

“I want your belly,” he spoke into the skin of your jaw as his hand splayed across the expanse of your stomach.  

You knew exactly what he meant; always wanting to be as deep inside you as possible. But he also wanted your belly in the way he never had before. With half of him forming with half of you to produce something so beautiful it would make you ache if you thought about it too much.  

But when you let yourself think about it -- really imagine it -- you knew. You wanted it with him, more than anything.  

His hand moved down and into your underwear, his palm cupping your heat as he kissed your shoulder.  You turned your face towards his in search of any piece of skin to get your lips on, settling on pressing a soft kiss to his temple. He lifted his head with an inhale, pressing his lips to yours once more. He kissed you slowly, savoring your mouth and the taste of your tongue.  His fingers teased between your folds so softly it almost tickled. Your core ached and spasmed every time he got closer to where you needed him. Until he finally gave up the teasing and circled his middle finger over your clit.  

You moaned at the contact, breaking your kiss as he sucked your bottom lip.  “Gonna make you come so hard,” he murmured as he added his first finger with his middle to glide over your swollen sex.  “Heard it helps,” he murmured with a small smile.  

“Oh yeah?” You cut yourself off with a moan as he eased his two middle fingers into you. You laughed softly as your head tilted back against the wall with a thud. “Where’d you hear that?” 

“I have sources,” he spoke lowly into hinge of your jaw before closing a sucking kiss to the spot below it. 

Under any other circumstances, you would have encouraged him to share the so-called sources he had, but your mind was fuzzy and his fingers pumped into you at the slowest, most enticing way that you couldn’t ask if you tried.   

He pumped his fingers at an even pace before introducing his thumb to the top of your clit. You reached up to wrap your arms around his shoulders, one hand pushing up into the back of his hair as the other gripped the shoulder of his t-shirt. He kissed you as he fucked you with his fingers, sucking your lips even when you were too overwhelmed to kiss him back. His teeth were sharp when they tugged, pulling kiss after kiss from your swollen mouth. 

His arms slithered around your waist suddenly, tugging you closer into him before he started walking. He kissed you as you walked blindly towards the bed, his arms tightly holding you to him. His palms spread across the expanse of your back as he guided you with his mouth on yours. You both laughed into the kiss when he stepped on one of your feet, making you stumble off balance and grip each other tighter. 

He cupped your face gently when the duvet brushed the sides of your legs, slipping his tongue over yours briefly. 

“Feel a little overdressed,” he murmured against your mouth, a smile tugging up the corners of his mouth. 

He barked a hard laugh up to the ceiling when you yanked his sweatpants down dramatically.  You pressed a soft kiss to his upturned chin as you pushed his t-shirt up his sides, your fingers dancing along his skin until he lifted his arms so you could pull it over his head.  

He was smiling when he tilted his head back down to look at you. His hair was sticking up messily and the skin around his eyes was indented beautifully. He licked his lips, his expression changing from silly to serious. He pulsed his fingers on the back of your neck as his eyes flicked over your face.  

“I love you so much,” he whispered.  

You smiled softly, “I love you too, baby.” 

“I want this so badly,” he pulled you in to close the small gap between you.

“I know. Me too,” you stroked the backs of your fingers across his soft cheek, smoothing your hand over the hair around his ear. You leaned closer, brushing your lips over his so lightly it tickled. “Give me a baby.” 

He moved quickly, turning to lay you out on the bed. He hovered over you as his restless mouth pressed desperate kisses to your lips. His moan was low as he let his weight encase you, his hips rolling over yours. His hands traveled down your sides, gripping to your hips momentarily before pushing back up the length of your body. His fingers caught the bottom of your shirt on their way, pushing the material up your skin as his mouth moved down your neck. Your moan was breathy when he took your pebbled nipple into his mouth, sucking fervently as his hand squeezed your other breast. 

You gripped your t-shirt from where it was bunched beneath your chin to pull it off, extending your arms above your head to grip to the duvet once you threw the shirt to the floor. Harry’s hands were commanding as they pushed your breasts together, his mouth moving from one to the other. He sucked small marks into your skin that made your hips tilt up to his more and more each time. 

He met every soft roll of your hips with his own, the lace between your thighs doing nothing to conceal how wet you were.  

“You smell good,” he hummed into your ribs, placing sucking kissed to your skin as he traveled down your body. 

“Don’t know how,” you twitched when he bit your hip. “Especially after that last plane ride.”   

He looked up at you with a deep crease between his brows, making you chuckle and push one of your hands through his hair. “Said we’d never speak of that again,” he dramatically reminded you of the conversation you had once you got off the “plane ride from hell” as he liked to call it.  

“Right, sorry,” you laughed before egging him on. “Continue.”

He bit into the top of your thigh in retaliation before kissing over the spot. “As I was saying...” he placed another kiss to the bottom of your belly, right above your mound, “It’s what you always smell like. Sweet... and warm,” he murmured the last part into your mound, making you moan softly.  

He tucked his fingers into the sides of your underwear and pulled them down your thighs, his fingernails gliding down your skin the entire way. Heat licked up your spine when his hot breath met your core, tingling over your clit teasingly.  

“Harry, please…” 

“Just one taste, love.” You could feel his words just as much as you heard them. His nose brushed over your mound as he placed a soft kiss to your lips. “One taste and then I’ll fuck you, okay?”  

He didn’t wait for a response, and you knew it wouldn’t just be a taste.  

His tongue licked over your clit so softly it had your eyes rolling closed and your hips flexing off the bed. His arms slid under your thighs as he rested on his stomach, his hands gripping tightly to your hips to hold you in place. When he licked you fully and his warm tongue glided from your entrance up to your clit, you couldn’t control your hips from bucking into his mouth. One of his hands splayed out over your tummy, pinning you in place as his tongue flicked over you. 

Your hands found their way into his hair, gripping harshly as you moaned for him. You knew his fingertips were leaving indents in your skin; that’s how tight he was holding you. When his tongue dipped inside you, his thick moan vibrated against your sensitive core, making your head snap back as you choked on your own moan.  

He knew exactly what to do to get you there, but every time you were close, he switched tactics. He brought you to the edge without letting you fall so many times that you were on the verge of tears. He’d get you right there, and then pull away to press burning hot kisses to your inner thigh, or crease of your thigh, or hip, or mound. It was torture.  

“Harry,” you moaned pathetically.  

“Can’t yet, love.” He pressed another kiss into your plush inner thigh. “Said I wanna make you come hard, so gotta wait a little longer.”   

You whined at his words, your stomach tingling as he kissed his way back up your body. He brushed your hair back once his face was hovering over yours before cupping your jaw. He kissed you slow, pressing his body down into yours as you tasted yourself on his tongue.  

“Pull me out,” he murmured softly.  

You pushed his boxers down as far as you could and immediately took his length in your hand. You watched his face contort in pleasure as his breath caught in his throat when you pumped him, his resolve crumbing quickly.   

He swallowed thickly.  “Feel how hard you make me?” 

You glided your thumb over his tip, his mouth falling open instantly. “Fuck me.” 

You sucked his plush bottom lip. “Fill me, Harry.”  

“Oh my god,” he moaned as he kicked his boxers off his legs.  

He took hold of himself to brush his tip over your clit repeatedly. Your core spasmed in anticipation. And when he finally eased into you, it was so slow that every inch of his length consumed you.  

He was still once he bottomed out, and your mouth hung open in a silent moan. No matter how many times you’d been with him over the years, his size still somehow surprised you. 

His lips were soft on yours, sucking lightly until you kissed him back. 

“This what you wanted?” He flexed his hips forward, effectively giving you that last half an inch that almost made it too much. “This full enough for you?” 

“Yes,” you moaned as you tried to keep your eyelids from fluttering closed.  

He withdrew slowly and eased back in with a little more power. He found his rhythm quickly, rolling his hips into yours as he attempted to kiss you. His moans were deep, escaping his lips against his will as he fucked into you. His hands were everywhere, traveling over your body and gripping to every plush piece of flesh he could find.  

Your nails dug into the skin of his shoulders, scraping down his back as you pulsed around him. His pelvis teased your clit, grazing the very tip every so often to spread the heat in the pit of your stomach throughout your limbs. Your fingers tingled with it, your core begging him to stay every time he pulled out.   He kissed you fully, his tongue tracing yours as his pace picked up.  “Fuck. It’s so good. You feel… so good.”

“Don’t stop,” you moaned.  

His hand pushed into the back of your hair; fingers tangling harshly as he tugged on your roots to snap your head back. His mouth was hot on your neck, his hips lethal as they sent blow after blow into yours.  

You trailed your hands up his clammy back, gripping his thick hair between your fingers. He moaned roughly when you squeezed your fingers, fisting his hair tightly. He pulled your face to his, meeting your mouth immediately as his strokes became sloppy.  

“You’re gonna make me come,” you murmured into his waiting mouth. Heat licked up your spine as your orgasm bubbled in the pit of your stomach.   He pinned his forehead to yours heavily. “Come on, come on.”  

The hand that wasn’t gripping your hair found its way between you so his fingers could stroke over your clit. His hips kept pace as he flicked his first two fingers until you were moaning roughly with every pump.  

“Fuck, oh my god.”  

“Yes, yes, yes.” His quiet chants accentuated every thrust until you were spasming around him and cursing through your orgasm. Your head rolled back further into the duvet as he fucked you through it, his own moans increasing at the feel.  

You were still on your high when you lifted your head to kiss him. He pushed into you so roughly that it made you pull back to watch his face. He kept his eyes on yours until the last second.  Until his mouth fell open and he stilled deep inside you. 

You watched him blink quickly before letting go. You could feel his cock spasm as rope after rope of cum filled you, and his face dropped to your neck with a moan. He collapsed onto you immediately, breathing harshly into your skin as he twitched in the aftermath.  

You stroked your nails along his back as you sunk further into the bed with him. Your eyelids heavy as sleep threatened to take you.

“Think that was it?” He mumbled into your neck after a while. 

You laughed softly, arching your back as you wrapped your arms around his neck. “Probably not, baby. May take a few times.”  

You smiled when he moaned and pressed a kiss to your jaw. “That’s alright. Got lots of time,” he spoke into your skin.  

He curled up behind you like he always did, pulling you closer with his arm wrapped around your waist and his face tucked into the back of your neck. You hummed contently, ready to start this journey with the love of your life. 

Blissfully unaware that time, would not be your ally. 

***

Thank you so much for reading! If you liked it, please reblog it :)  And I would LOVE to hear your thoughts! 

- PART TWO - 

[toloveawarlord]

Distractions

You can find my masterlist in my bio!

Event: Arthur’s Birthday Bash [Closed]

Characters: Arthur x Theo & Elaine

Requester: @claire-maccarthy​

Tagging: @plumpblueberry​

A/N: You asked from Elaine and I am here to deliver my problem child! Enjoy a little Elaine and her fam!

The squeaking of the bed filled the quiet room, rousing the mystery writer from his sleep. The other side of the bed empty, Theo having mentioned the previous night that he had work to attend to early this very morning. It could only be his beloved daughter leaning over him then. “Peanut, it’s not even 7.”

“I’ve been up since 5 so be happy I have a little self-control. Come on, get up!” Elaine grabbed the covers and tried to tug them away, more playful than an actual task. A frustrated sigh passed her lips. “You can’t spend your birthday sleeping.”

“On the contrary, I should be able to do anything my heart desires on this day,” Arthur countered. He was fully awake now, though he still let out a yawn. He should have been prepared, as she did this every year, without fail.

Elaine released the covers and pushed her shoulders upwards. “If I set the kitchen on fire again, will you get up?” A wicked grin spread across her features. A timeless joke among their small family.

“I suppose I shouldn’t let you take such drastic measures.” The writer sat up, brushing his hand through his messy hair. Only a few days out of the year ever saw either of them at this hour. Both enjoying sleeping past the early morning.

The girl picked up the mug off the bedside table. Steam rose from the contents. “I made you coffee.”

Arthur accepted the peace offering and scooted over, patting the empty space beside him as a silent invitation. The coffee expertly prepared, the perfect thing to wake him up. As she leaned into his side, he softly brushed his fingers through her copper hair. “You have plans for today, I’ll assume.”

“That new cafe opens today so I thought we could go get breakfast there.”

Ah, that’s the reason she is up so early. The newspaper had the advertisement plastered on the front, opening at 8 AM. Rumored to serve specialty coffee and fresh baked pastries, according to the critics who were given early access. It combined their family’s two favorite things: coffee and sweet treats.

“That’s a lovely idea. Then what?”

Elaine sat up, folding her legs under her to face him. “Actually, I didn’t plan very much. I just thought we could spend the day together.” She flashed a timid grin and rubbed the back of her neck.

Was she hiding something?

He’d taught her a little too well, it would seem.

Rather than spoil any fun for later, Arthur simply accepted her words at face value. At least, he would do so until he could prove his hunch that something was amiss. On the small chance he was reading too much into it, Arthur couldn’t bring himself to outright questions her about her intentions.

“Splendid. Without your dear other father, there will be no one to complain about how much shopping we do,” Arthur said with a wink. Theo would surely protest if he were here. Both for how long they took in each shop and for how much they spent, even though it was well within their expenses.

The writer remained suspicious the whole trip out. Elaine completely normal, not a shred of evidence to match his hunch. The cafe delicious, soon to become one of their favorite spots. Shop after shop, trying on clothes and jewelry, watches, and ties. The pair made the whole day fly by.

The moon rising ever higher in the clear night sky. Arthur stopped a carriage after their late dinner, placing all the shopping bags inside before addressing his daughter, who by all accounts look as though she would stay out longer if it were up to her.

“Don’t you think it’s time we returned home?”

Elaine sighed but gave a nod. “If you say so. Though we could sneak some ice cream-” Her offer earned her a pat on the head and a light chuckle from her father.

“Another time. Theo is likely worried about us at this hour.”

As the carriage rolled across the cobblestone street, Arthur couldn’t shake his suspicion that something was going on. Despite the fact that he was the one to instigate their return home, it didn’t feel right. Even as they exited the carriage in front of the quiet manor, she didn’t detour them inside, instead taking the worn path around the back toward their own home.

A chorus of surprise rang out from the gathered residents.

Arthur stopped, casting a glance down at his daughter who grinned up at him. “Hmm, so you were planning something.” He would be lying if he said it didn’t feel good to be thoroughly surprised for once. It had taken a lot of effort on Elaine’s part to keep him occupied without letting on.

“I knew it! You’ve were giving me suspecting glances since this morning!”

Theo approached the pair, a scowl on his features. “What the hell took you so long? What happened to being back here by 10? It’s nearly an hour later.” He did have work to attend to today, but he dipped out early in order to set this little late-night drinking and dessert celebration up with the help of Comte and Sebastian.

“Blame Papa. I couldn’t be the one to suggest we go home, or he’d know.” She was more exhausted than she realized after spending a whole day locked in a battle of bluffs and tells with Arthur. Elaine shrugged her shoulders. “I think you should say I did a good job since we managed to pull it off.”

Arthur patted his hand on her head, chuckling to himself. “I am quite surprised. You did a good job today, and I dare say it was well worth it.” 

“Even if I hadn’t been hiding this, I still agree that today was really fun.” Elaine rose up on the balls of her feet to place a kiss on his cheek. Ducking away from her parents, she called back over her shoulder, “I’m staying with Uncle Vincent tonight.”

The implication clear in her grin.

“Cheeky brat,” Theo mumbled under his breath.

Arthur draped his arm over Theo’s shoulder, flashing him an equally cocky smile. “She learned that from us, you know. I quite adore that about her.”

Glasses were raised in honor of their favorite mystery writer. The party lasting late into the night with everyone filled with joyful smiles and merriment. Arthur cherished the time spent with his daughter and the night alone with his husband.

[hyuckie-bby]

Cup of Coffee ~ Chapter 1|N.JM

Hello! I am back! Sorry about not updating, but I was extremely busy with school ;-; Luckily, I have another 2 weeks off, therefore I will continuing to update more frequently! I hope everyone stays safe!! And thank you all for reading, I hope you enjoy <3

Chapter 1| Preview

Jaemin x Reader - Mostly Fluff, Traces of Angst

A coffee shop is not just about a “cup of coffee”; rather it is a symbol of a thorough experience.

It’s a journey a customer takes from the moment he or she lays eyes on a cafe storefront for the very first time to when they approach it, enter the place, order their coffee and have it over and over for the hundredth time.

Word Count: 1.3K 

The morning sunlight sweeps through my curtains, and my arm drapes over my eyes to shield them from the blinding rays entering through my window. I am not enamoured with the thought of exiting the comfort of my warm blankets, yet nonetheless, I force my half-asleep body into a sitting position against my assortment of pillows. I take a deep breath, filling my lungs with fresh air, watching the world around me come into focus.

I shift around in my comfortable fortress of blankets some more, feeling tempted to fall back asleep for another ten minutes. The urge to feed my stomach is stronger, motivating me to unceremoniously lift my sheets and exit my room, tiredly combing my fingers through my unkempt hair. 

I walk into my kitchen, observing my roommate, Lisa, who is quietly sipping her morning cup of java. I inhale the lingering smell of roasted coffee beans while looking for a clean mug. 

Even when half-asleep, Lisa looked drop-dead gorgeous. Her tall elegant frame was hunched over the island counters in the centre of the room. Her hair was messy, but straight, and jet black. If I stood close enough to her, I would be able to smell the vanilla notes in her shampoo from her shiny hair that was washed yesterday evening. She was still lounging around in her pyjamas, an oversized plain white t-shirt which just slightly exposed her collarbones, and which bunched up around her pair of grey plaid shorts. The area around her nose was littered with soft, faint freckles and her large captivating copper-coloured eyes stared back at me. 

"Hey," Lisa muttered, her voice still laced with sleep. She continues, "You forgot to buy groceries yesterday". I strolled over to the fridge and glanced inside. She was right. There was nothing there except a couple condiment bottles and the leftovers of Chinese take-out out noodles that I had purchased earlier this week. This wasn’t even my first full month of the semester at my University and I still managed to eat like I've been starved for days, every day. What can I say? I looove food.

I still felt bad for not buying the groceries even though it was my week to do so. "Sorry, I'll go out and buy some later today," I replied. Suddenly, the tiredness disappeared from her eyes and she stared me down with a shit-eating grin on her face. "It's okay. Besides, as revenge, I already drank the rest of the coffee". 

"What? Are you kidding?” Spoiler Alert! She wasn’t.

I groaned so loud that I was sure the neighbours could hear me through the paper-thin walls of our apartment. Furiously, I glanced at the time that was being displayed on the empty coffee machine. 

7:15 am

My first class, unfortunately, started at 8:30. As a biotechnology major at university that I attend, I so luckily had organic chemistry at the beginning of the day. (obviously sarcasm) I wish that I could sleep through my class and simply watch the lectures online, but sadly, this course was one of the many that I am taking this semester that does attendance regularly. Consuming my daily intake of coffee was a necessity every morning to keep me awake. Therefore, it was decided that I would have to pay a visit to one of the nearby cafes on campus.

Cafes in all their glory, are the worst. They are crowded places that have the longest lines, sell overpriced drinks and the food is less than desirable. I don't know many pastry desserts and club sandwiches that improve by sitting around all day in a glass container, under artificial lights. But alas, I trudge over in the direction of my room and search for an outfit to wear under my pile of clothes in my closet. 

ʕ •ᴥ•ʔ•ᴥ•ʔ•ᴥ•ʔ•ᴥ•ʔ•ᴥ•ʔ

Moments before I exit the shared apartment, Lisa comes running up to the door, and clumsily searches for a pair of shoes to slip on. My roommate looks stunning, like always, as she adorns a pale blue t-shirt with lace trim accents, neatly tucked into a light beige mini skirt. I can also see the subtle red lip tint that she applied onto her plump lips. 

"I'm going with you, I promised to get breakfast for Mark," she informs me while haphazardly, slipping on her favourite pair of gold sandals. I snicker as I hear the name of Lisa's crush slipping through her lips. She developed feelings for Mark Lee, our mutual friend who shares a class with Lisa later in the day. I nod my head, signaling to her that I understood her words, and opened the door, while she adjusted the delicate gold coin pendant that hung around her neck. 

I'm counting my steps, letting my feet hit the pavement, Lisa trailing slowly behind. Her soothing voice and the honking of cars along the busy streets is the only thing I let myself hear. Soon enough, I look up and see the unfamiliar sight before my eyes. 

The cafe in the blazing sunlight looks more comfortable than I had remembered. I rarely pass by this particular street anyways, as I prefer to take the shortcut that I discovered while once getting lost on my way to the campus. I somehow always leave the house 5 minutes later than I am supposed to, no matter how early I wake up, and therefore, had to find a solution to solve my tardiness.  

Outside the cafe, there is a menu standing on the ground, outlining the daily special. Obliging to Lisa's calls, I step through the large glass doors. The building's concept itself plays on the warmth of natural earthy textures with modern classic colours, giving the café a contemporary and down-to-earth look and feel. This modern and earthy look is achieved through the use of contrasting neutral and bright colour palettes, natural textures, and premium lighting fixtures with rustic accents. There are large windows that allow the sunlight's rays to seep through and cast a glow upon the counters. There are also lively, green plants, and lovely hanging succulents scattered throughout the room. 

"Hey, have you decided what to order yet? You're going to be late for your class if you keep staring like that." Lisa's voice snaps me out of my dazed trance. Truthfully, I have not yet decided what expensive drink I would like to indulge in, being too busy secretly admiring my surroundings and the decoration of the coffee shop. I would never tell Lisa or myself this, my stubbornness making an appearance, and is set on passionately disliking cafes in all their glory. "What are you getting Lisa?" I ask her, addressing the girl who stood beside me by her name.

"A caramel macchiato with extra whipped cream and a watermelon lemonade for Mark", she replies, in a sing-song voice, excited that I seem curious for once about her order. I was planning to buy the same drink but soon realized what a big mistake that was, as I was not interested in consuming a sickly sweet liquid. I also wouldn't have thought that a cafe would sell watermelon-flavoured drinks, but I guess you learn something new every day. 

"That's cool", I respond, "And I'm sure that Mark would like that", ending the conservation as Lisa walks confidently up to the counter to place her order. It was also no secret between any of Mark's friends that he loved watermelon. I'm sure that even the campus knew about his slight obsession since he only takes shots of watermelon-flavoured liquor if they have a bottle of it at frat parties. We always make sure to buy one if the events were being hosted at his shared apartment.

Feeling awkward standing alone next to the entrance door, I mustered all the courage that I had in me at 8 am, and following Lisa's actions, I walked up to the unoccupied counter.

[antiloveenergy]

Obey Me! MC Introduction—Ava.

MC Character Sheet idea — courtesy of @luciferasmr ♡ thank u sm!

i have many depictions of her but i chose this one. courtesy of picrew.

Name: Aveline Mille-Feuille de Poivre et Cornelia

Nickname (if any): Ava (pronounced ah-VA. she’s the type to correct you every time.) 

Age: 19

Height: 5′4

Weight: ~130 lbs

Race: Human 

Gender: Female

Birthday: 1st February

Star Sign: Aquarius

Hair color: Ivory/Light blonde

Eye color: Lilac

Skin tone: Pale white

Which sin are they like?

1. Pride

2. Greed

3. Gluttony

4. Wrath

5. Lust

6. Sloth

7. Envy

Personality Traits: Ava is a mild-mannered and soft-spoken girl. I like to think she is the traditional Aquarian. She prides herself in being intelligent and having the ability to view things objectively. She comes off a little frosty, sporting a bored facial expression and preferring to let her friends do the talking for her. However, she is very friendly and honest to a fault. Ava is also very sensitive, even though she never likes to show her feelings. When she is comfortable with you, you’ll notice how eccentric she actually is. 

Background: Ava was born in Paris, France, in a (fictional) 21st Arrondissement known as Royaume—meaning realm, in French. This district separates magic from non-magic humans. She was born to a family of noble sorcerers, the Mille-Feuille family. (ENG pron. meal-foy) She recently graduated from the Young Sorcerers Academy, a distinguished wizarding school within Paris. Although she is an Honors graduate, she is considered a Rookie Sorcerer and must continue her studies outside of school. This is a firm expectation of her mother, who emphasizes that her magic sophistication is more important than anything else in her life. Ava develops a hidden resentment for her mother because of her lack of freedom. 

Why were they chosen for Devildom?: I like to think her “kidnapping” to the Devildom was for her sake. Not only does she get to experience a world outside the “realm” of the magical district, she also has the opportunity to study demonic dark arts and form alliances with the most powerful demons in the Devildom. Maybe that will shut her doting mother up, no?  

Hobbies: Ava has a keen interest in sewing and embroidery, as well as fashion. Designing, couture, modelling, the whole nine. She’s French, so it’s inevitable that her modish style would be influenced by what she sees in her world every day. She also likes to collect jewelry and stuffed animals. 

Likes: Accessories of Sanrio characters (& other copyrighted animal friends), chemistry, truffles, thigh high boots. 

Dislikes: Being told what to do, people disagreeing with her, the food of the Devildom. 

Appearance

Casual Clothing: Ava’s everyday clothing is usually a white or black fitted turtleneck. This is paired with a denim or black bodycon skirt and thigh high boots. This simple outfit is paired with a pendant, bracelet and a hairpin.  Although she does have plenty of clothes, being in the Devildom limits her selection of wardrobe. 

Top: ♡ , ☾

Bottoms: ♡ , ☾

Shoes: ♡, ☾

Accessories (if any): ♡, ☾, ☆, ♢

Glasses?: She does not need reading glasses

Uniform: So when Ava first received her RAD uniform, she thought it was ugly. It was the typical uniform with trousers and the coat, you know the drill. When she requested to alter her uniform, Lucifer almost objected to it but Lord Diavolo didn’t seem to mind, as long as the adornishments of the blazer weren’t manipulated. 

Any alterations to their uniform? If so, what?: She decided to elongate the coat and put some light padding underneath to emulate a dress. She also cinched it to fit more tight on her waistline. It reached to her mid-thighs, and maintained its proper buttons and things. With the trousers, she cut them by leg and constructed them into knee-high boots. The process was lengthy (and expensive), but it was done. She pairs this fit with a white frilly blouse underneath the blazer-dress.

Family

Mother: Lady Cornelia Savarin (neé Mille-Feuille), a noble sorcerer and the eldest of the 5 Mille-Feuille daughters. Her appearance is icy, with long ash grey hair paired with sharp baby blue eyes. She seems to never smile. Very bourgie and exudes royal energy 24/7. Cornelia loves her daughter dearly, but she wants to mold her into the woman she grew up to be: Powerful, well-respected, etc.

Father: Duke Poivre Savarin. He was born to a neighboring family of sorcerers. Messy blonde hair and lavender eye color—where Ava gets her looks from. These days, he has abandoned his magic and is currently on a 100-acre farm in the South of France. Ava still has no idea as to why he chose to ditch his life in Royaume. Rumor has it that he committed wrongful acts and fled, others speculate that the Mille-Feuille family disowned him as an in-law. Maybe he just wants to raise cows and chickens. Nonetheless, Ava keeps some contact with her father. 

Siblings (if any): None. 

Pets?: Ava owns a chinchilla named Bisou, which she obtained while in the Devildom. Satan was the one who brought her and suggested she get a chinchilla. (Lucifer may not approve of having a pet in the house, while also having a massive three-headed hellhound...)

How many friends does your MC have?: While her stay at RAD, she became friends with three low-ranking demon girls: Cléo (ex-human), Bianca (a succubus) and Lolita (a divination witch). 

Ava and Cléo have met previously when the latter attended the same school as Ava. However, Cléo’s destructive tendencies got her banished into Hell indefinitely. (long story short she committed domestic terrorism by releasing demonic spirits into the city and possessing a shit ton of people.) 

Past relationships: N/A

Has your MC had a relationship before?: As a child she may have had a boyfriend, but that barely counts, right?

Have they been in love?: Nope. Whenever she does though, she will go insane. 

How easy do they gain crushes?: Not very easy, to be honest. She tends to be impersonal to people she is not friends with. In a crush, Ava typically keeps people at a distance, especially if she finds herself ‘feeling different’ when she’s around them. 

Do they believe in love?: She absolutely believes in love, especially monogamous love. She takes it extremely seriously, making any romantic relationship she finds herself in a slow-pacing one. “The strength of your heart compromises the one of your mind, so why would you give your heart so easy?” she would say.

What’s their type? A confident, intelligent person. Someone that can stimulate her mentally and provide her with devotion. Someone adventurous and sporadic, who is willing to show her a different side to them. 

Sexuality: Ava is heterosexual but she came to the conclusion that women provide more emotional comfort. 

Which one of the 7 brothers does your MC like the most? okay this is hard one. it’s a tie between Asmodeus and Satan. 

Why? Asmodeus, because she got along with him first. They have shared values in beauty and fashion, so it was easy for them to find common ground. She can show off her hobbies and have Asmo be receptive to it. Satan, because they’re both Intellectuals™ and can have a good debate with their big juicy brains. She also likes to compete with him to see who receives the better marks in school. 

What traits do they look for in a partner? Dignified, loyal, smart, soft-hearted, sincere, masculine, and protective. 

General

Favorite food: Chocolate covered anything. Berries, nuts, lizards, beetles, anything! She also loves anything with cheese on it. 

Least favorite: Chips. Too salty.

Favorite topic in school: Science and Magic Studies

Least favorite topic: English 

Favorite color: White

Least favorite color: Red

Do they like to be sociable or are they more of a recluse? Ava’s more introverted, but she finds herself to be more sociable in a group.

Favorite movie genre? Fantasy 

Do they read a lot or no? Yes, if you count spellbooks and magazines!

Favorite animal: Rodents (i.e, chinchillas, squirrels and ferrets etc.)

Favorite genre of music: She likes French pop from the 60s. This is her favorite song. ♡ she also likes R&B and some rap, introduced by her friends.

Least favorite genre: Acoustics. She prefers the electric guitar over the wooden ones. 

Do they like sweets? Yes! The namesake of her last name is a popular dessert, so it’s no doubt that she loves anything pastry and sugary. 

Do they like spicy food? Not as much as she likes sweets. She does like red pepper flakes in the inedible Devildom cuisine, if the taste calls for it.

Do they like school? Ava is a dork so she loves school. When she found out she was returning to an academy, she wasn’t that upset about it. This gave her an opportunity to learn more, outperform her peers, and go back to the school atmosphere.

Pet peeves: When people don’t match their clothes, when people question her, anything that she cannot put logical reasoning to, and clutter. 

[kaichan24]

Masterchef AU or Hell's Kitchen Au

I love cooking shows, so I would like to read many AUs that deal with this.

These are my ideas of the twenty best participants.

1.    Yuuri Katsuki: his specialty is  Japanese and American cuisine, but his real passion is desserts, and his dream is to open a chain of bakeries worldwide and create his own brand. He also stands out for his beautiful and creative plating.

2.    Victor Nikiforov: He has great knowledge in Russian and French cuisine, and dreams of opening his own restaurant inspired by these two styles. He is the favorite to be a captain in group challenges, due to his ease in working with others and his excellent organizing skills.

3.    Yuri Plisetsky. he is the youngest competitor, who despite having natural talent, he still lacks many cooking techniques to learn, sometimes he is overcome by his strong temper, so he is not good  working in a group. He helps his grandfather to attend a small bakery they have in Moscow. he dream of opening his own restaurant with musical themes to attract the attention of the young public.

4.    Christophe Giacometti: He  stands out in French and Swiss cuisine, he is considered the king of cheese, wine and chocolate in the kitchen. His  dishes are always luxurious and decadent. His dream is to work as a chef for the most expensive and luxurious restaurants and hotels around the world.

5.    Phichit Chulanont: He is the king of Thai food, shows incredible talent to become a great chief chef in the kitchen, due to his quick adaptation skills and his outgoing and optimistic nature, although sometimes he lacks the more technical skills of cooking, which is a disadvantage against competitors that stand out for their skill and precision. Her dream is to make Thai food known to everyone.

6.    Otabek Altin. the best chef in Kazakhstan an efficient chef who knows something about Russian and European cuisine, his main difficulty is that although his dishes are delicious they lack creativity and are not memorable. He would like to study hospitality. Sometimes he has difficulty communicating with other chefs, due to his introverted nature, because of this he is a weak link in group challenges.

7.    Jean-Jacques Leroy. He is the king of the Canadian kitchen, he has great confidence which can take him far in the business, however he is not good at following instructions and does not listen to opinions. Despite being a good captain in theory, in practice his ego leads him to make great mistakes and not appreciate the skills of other chefs, which is why almost everyone hate him.

8.    Isabella Yang. she specializes in the fermentation of different foods and ingredients

9.    Guang Hong-ji He is well versed in Chinese cuisine, demonstrates a keen mind in the application of spices through Chinese cuisine, although sometimes he is undecided, which does not make him a good team leader and lacks experience.

10. Michele Crispino, Italian cuisine with emphasis on the Mediterranean, a chef who needs to be more independent and creative to stand out from the heap.

11. Lee Seung-gil He specializes in the area of Molecular Gastronomy, a branch of science that investigates the physical and chemical changes that occur during the cooking process,

12. Emil Nekola. He dominates the smoking technique in the kitchen, Its cuisine also specializes in the use of wild game meats. he raises and takes care of numerous wild animals on his farm, including a deer, a goose, a rabbit and a wild boar

13. Georgi Popovich His kitchen is based on vegetables, sometimes he lets himself be controlled by his emotions, easily distracted.

14. Leo de la Iglesia. He is a specialist in Mexican and Latin cuisine, creative and innovative

15. Mila Babicheva  She is an outgoing and lively girl, occasionally interferes without prior invitation. she emphasizes her ability to observe carefully the people who cause her curiosity. She is self-confident and tends to be direct in what she thinks about the people she interacts with. Her specialty is exotic cuisine, she is a specialist in the use of the knife technique, besides that she is a person who has a vast knowledge about all the things that belong to the ingredients, from the technique of carving to the methods of sacrifice and a bottomless curiosity for everything. She has shown to have an excellent analytical eye and can guess the dishes to be prepared just by observing the ingredients chosen by a chef.

16. Sara Crispino. The queen of Italian cuisine. His specialty is pasta, pizza and creams, also handles herbs with ease. one of the favorites to be a captain and work as a team, has good cooking techniques, and would like to open a family restaurant in Rome.

17. Yuko Nishigōri  she decided to specialize in medicinal cuisine, dreams of opening her own healthy restaurant, she is very fun, enthusiastic and motivating. she would be a great head chef.

18. Takesh nishigori. He has demonstrated a high degree of skill in dishes based on various types of meat, whose depth of knowledge is the best. He shows great control and experience in the handling of knives, especially those of butchers that he uses with amazing ability to make the cuts for his dishes, this combined with his wild physical strength allows him to remove very precisely pieces of low quality of the meat. Despite his great abilities he also shows several weaknesses. Such as focusing too much on the meat leaving aside the other ingredients of the dish as well as giving more importance to the presentation of the dish than to its balance.

19. Kenjirou Minami. Japanese cook, dreams of going to cooking school, and focusing on Asian cooking. He has great energy in the kitchen and is eager to learn.

20. Anya Ivanov she focuses on cooking ingredients that come from the sea

Hisashi Morooka. The presenter of the program.

judges

·         Minako Okukawa A famous pastry chef, stands out in the preparation of wedding cakes.

·         Yakov Feltsman Restaurant owner and British TV host. Throughout his gastronomic career he has been awarded 17 Michelin stars, of which he now maintains seven.

·         Lilia Baranovskaya she is an American chef, author, and television personality. She is the chef, founder, and owner of the best bakery in the world.

·         Celestino Cialdini He prospered with the opening of seven Italian restaurants in New York as well as other businesses in Los Angeles and Las Vegas. On the other hand, he expanded to the wine sector with the purchase of wineries in Italy and Argentina.