#and ivan is a sweet potato

[till-the-end-official]

Ivan paces around his room as his sister stares at him in lesbian judgement. He really doesn't want to hear it from her, but she speaks anyway.

"Ivan. Till is not going to care what you wear on this date. Till already dresses like Adam Sandler on a regular basis. His idea of 'dressing nice' is probably being fully punked out. I think you'll be fine."

Ivan groans into his hands. His sister was right, but he'll never say that out loud. He sighs and goes back into the closet (lmao) and just picks his favorite outfit. He even got a matching cap and sunglasses for the outfit to hide himself in public.

"Noona, do you think he'd kill me if I took him somewhere too nice?"

"Yes."

Her speaking without hesitation definitely meant that she was 100% sure and also correct.

Ivan pouts and grumbles under his breath. He then gets a brilliant idea and gasps out loud.

"Oh my god, karaoke! It's literally that easy. Both of us are good at it... or well good at singing- and we can also order drinks and book a private room."

Sua regards him with vague amusement. She huffs fondly before standing up, making her way out of the house.

"Yeah. That works, just don't start making out in the booth. Unfortunately, there are cameras. Me and Mizi found out the hard way."

Ivan's face lights up in flames at the idea of making out with Till before the rest of the comment registers in his head.

"Wait you and Mizi-?!?"

Sua's already booked it out his apartment. Ivan has half the mind to chase her, but he has a date to get ready for.

Till, on the other hand, was freaking out. He was on call with Mizi, practically hyperventilating, as he dismantled his entire closet.

"Till, calm down. You're overthinking this. Ivan finds you so attractive as is- he would find you attractive in a potato sack. Calm down."

These words did not assure Till at all, his mind was set into panic mode. He threw outfit after outfit onto his bed, making his bedroom seem like a clothing store was blown up. He had NEVER put this much effort into how he looks, and it was reminding him just how simple his outfits were. He wasn't one to care about what he wore on dates, he usually just threw on whatever he felt like, but this time it was different. Everything about this date felt different.

"I-I still want to look somewhat presentable! Just because he may like whatever I wear doesn't mean I shouldn't put any effort into it!"

Till has never sounded more distressed in his life, and Mizi only ended up giggling as she watched her senior freak out over what to wear. She knew that deep down, whatever Till chose Ivan would drool over him in, but it was very sweet seeing Till put this much thought into his outfit.

"How about the outfit you wore to the Beat Rider event? The one with your black ripped jeans and leather jacket?"

Till had no energy to think of anything different, so he decided to go with that. While he was grabbing his clothes, he also grabbed some silver rings and earrings to go along with it. He threw on a simple blue crewneck, quickly putting a silver chain and another necklace with a lock around his neck before throwing on his hooded leather jacket. He put on his pair of black ripped jeans before quickly lacing up his Doc Martins.

"Do you think this looks good?"

Till asked, turning his camera on and showing Mizi the outfit. Mizi gasped, despite it being the outfit she suggested, and nodded excitedly.

"You look great! I'm sure Ivan is going to love it."

Right as the pink-hair actress said that, the sound of Till's doorbell going off could be heard.

"Speak of the devil... Thank you, Mizi."

"No problem at all! Just remember to be safe!"

Before Till could ask what she meant by that, Mizi hung up. He groaned quietly to himself before quickly grabbing a facemask and a pair of sunglasses just incase he needed them. He quickly ran out of his room, shoving his phone in his pocket before opening the door.

As soon as Till registered Ivan, he slammed the door on his face, his cheeks flushing up as he had a mini gay panic.

'Oh my god- we're going out and he looks like THAT?! I might have to wear my mask the entire time oh my god. He can't just SURPRISE me like that- I knew he was attractive but like I've never slammed the door before- wait! Oh shit!'

Till hurriedly opened the door again, cursing under his breath as he looked at Ivan. His face was even hotter than before he slammed the door, so he must look like a fucking apple right now. God... he felt so embarrassed. He would be surprised if Ivan didn't mistake him for a sundried tomato right now.

[sheawritesstuff]

Redacted Characters as Midwestern / Southern Food I Think They'd Like

✩ Sam - Gooey Butter Cake

✩ Porter - Coleslaw

✩ Vincent - Toasted Ravioli

✩ David - Chili with Cinnamon Rolls

✩ Milo - Buckeyes

✩ Asher - Chicago Mix Popcorn

✩ Huxley - Tater Tot Hotdish

✩ Damien - Chili Mac

✩ Lasko - Scotcheroos

✩ Gavin - Sweet Cream Corn

✩ Camelopardalis - Sugar Cream Pie

✩ Vega - Morel Mushrooms

✩ Hush - Chocolate Potato Chips

✩ Avior - Deep Dish Pizza

✩ Regulus - Frog Legs

✩ Caelum - Puppy Chow

✩ Guy - Fried Cheese Curds

✩ Geordi - Cornbread

✩ Ollie - Biscuits and Gravy

✩ Ivan - Fried Okra

✩ Aaron - Burnt Ends

✩ Elliott - Hashbrown Casserole

✩ Blake - Apple Pie with Cheddar Cheese

✩ Brachium - Frozen Custard

✩ Kody - Meatloaf with Ketchup

✩ Anton - Cheeseburger Pie

✩ James - Watergate Salad

✩ Marcus - Fried Green Tomatoes

✩ Morgan - Beer Brats

[headingalaxys-spicy]

I was wondering if we could get a scenario with Canada, Japan and Russia where their darling is freakishly strong, like maybe they’re short in height but aren’t petite and love lifting and stuff. maybe they sneak up behind them and they managed to throw them over making them stunned. thank you !!! <33333

Oooooooh, late-night posting to keep the sadness away haha.

Canada 

While being wrapped in his little world, thinking about what he wants to make for dinner, what chores he has to do….

Matthew failed to notice your footsteps quickly approaching him. You pounced on his shoulders as if they were a balancing beam before completing a flip and landing in front of him. 

“Ta-Da! Hey, Mattie~” The glee in your eyes that you got to showcase your talents. The shimmer in Matthews made all of your training worth it. 

“Hey, Y/N. How are you, eh?” 

“Great, just came from my gymnastics class ready to go home and then maybe ….(insert another hobby you have). Then pass out. But I’m still kinda pumped up & still have a lot of energy to burn so I might just walk around the town then go home.” 

“Maybe I should accompany you. It will be dark soon & you shouldn’t be by yourself.” 

“That sounds like a great idea! Come on, Matthew! It’s the golden hour right now, and I just thought of this awesome sightseeing spot you’d want to check out. It’s on top of this massive hill!” 

You sweep him off his feet and sonic speed yourself to the spot that you are ecstatic to show him. 

“Whoa! Y/N YOU’RE REALLY STRONG! But PLEASE SLOW DOWN EH!!!” 

‘But also, how in the world did she get strong like my brother but much smaller?!?!?’ He’ll wonder what kind of gymnastic classes turn humans into muscular beasts. 

Japan

While gathering his latest manga, sweets, & bottled teas he wanted to devour for the night, Kiku felt a strange disturbance in the distance. He could feel it in the pit of his stomach. 

‘Or am I just hungry ? After all, I haven’t eaten since this morning. Work has prevented me from getting in any delicious meals. Packaged ramen isn’t cutting it like it used to.’ Kiku readied his Yen as he placed his items on the counter so he could check out. Once he left the convenience store, he could hear his stomach let out a loud growl along with a light shock that-

Kiku suddenly felt his body be tossed into the cool evening air. ‘Ah, so my instincts were right. I’m going to die tonight.’ That thought dissipated in the chilly breeze when he landed in your arms. You gently set him down as you expertly caught his manga in one hand and his packaged dango and pocky in the other. Lastly, you caught all three bottles of his unsweetened oolong tea on top of your head, all of which were neatly stacked on one another. 

“Y/N what in ze world are you doring? And rike when the hell did you become that strong??? What, are you a super strong anime girl or something?” 

You laugh at his shock as you place all his things back in his bag. 

“No, I just miss you. It’s been forever since we last hung out. Wanna go grab some soba, sushi, or something? My treat! Also I’ll carry you on my back because you totally look like you’re going to pass out.” 

“Yeah, Y/N that doesn’t sound rike a bad idea.” His stomach growled in agreement. 

Russia 

The rough breeze of the coming winter storm blew in his face roughly and bristled his beige-blonde hair. He was used to the cold that bit into his bones. His violet eyes took in the chambray-colored sky, quickly transitioning to a darkened grey sky. The clouds were thick like mashed potatoes as they encroached on the sky, ready to bring in the first snow of winter. 

As he continued to wander throughout the city aimlessly….

Until you surprise bear-hugged him from behind. The sudden shot of warmth heating up his chilled bones. He also took note of your extremely tight grip. 

“Ah, Hello Y/N nice to see you this afternoon.” 

“Hey, Ivan how are you doing?” 

“Fine, I’m just roaming around before winter sets in and I won’t be able to be outside as much.” 

“Well want to see a few tricks I can do before the ground is completely covered in snow?” 

“Of course.” He adored the many ways you liked to try and entertain him so he wasn’t always so consumed by his soul-crushing job, which isolated him most of the time. 

You started your little routine by backing away and doing a cartwheel. Then, you suddenly paused in your tracks to hold up a ten-second handstand. From there, you transitioned into a forearm balance before flipping over and landing into the perfect splits. Ivan simply watched your little routine in awe. You were flexible and strong. 

“And for my finishing move!” You sprinted back to him and bear-hugged him once more. 

“Do you trust me, Ivan?” You say with a wide smile. 

“Yes?” Unsure of what you were about to do. You picked him up with ease and tossed him five feet into the air. 

“Ah! Y/N!?” You surprised someone as small as you had this type of strength. 

He plopped back down into your strong arms & almost immediately let his huge arms around your neck. 

“Okay. Y/N I was not expecting that.” He was shaky from your surprise. 

“I know.” You giggle. “Let's go get some vodka to calm your nerves.” You skip off with him as Ivan's much larger body is firmly in your smaller one.

[lilaroxa]

RF1: Year 1 - Spring 27 [Big Cook-Off]

Ah, yet another event Raguna can't participate in in Year 1. Well, not without much careful planning, at least.

At this point, Raguna doesn't even have a kitchen because I thought you needed to upgrade your house to buy a kitchen from Ivan. Turns out, you can buy a small one!

So IF you buy a small kitchen on Spring 1 (which I think is impossible because you can't sell anything on Holidays with 0 FP) AND its utensils on Spring 19, you still need to make sure you have the right ingredients (and skill points) to make one of the potential dishes he would ask for (Orange Juice, French Fries, Hot Chocolate, Pump. Pudding, Pike Sashimi or Baked Potato).

In my case, he asked for a Baked Potato. So, even though Raguna had grown plenty of Sweet Potatoes in Toros Cave, he still couldn't participate! You need an oven (which is a Large Kitchen utensil) to make a Baked Potato!

-----

Anyway, Mei makes a good point. Kardia does have a lot of food festivals (probably thanks to Jasper, of course).

But this got me wondering, what kind of festivals await us in Azuma?

I know that Mei may not be from the same region we will see in Guardians of Azuma, but I would love to see some creative traditionally "Eastern" festivals to contrast with the mainline Rune Factory series!

I can't even begin to imagine what Azuma has in store for us. All I can hope is that they do Mei (and all the other East representatives) justice by showing us just how different Azuma is from Norad!

LILA'S RUNE FACTORY TEMPERATURE BLANKET

I had a sinking feeling that I should have maybe done two rows per "day". Looking back at the double Melody row, I think an entire blanket with thicker lines like that would look amazing.

I just knew that realistically, I wouldn't be able to handle double the work. Although I do feel tempted to take this blanket a bit slower for a result I'll be more proud of...

To any fellow crocheters out there, should I pause the project to fix this?

[voraciousvore]

Giganterra (Chapter 31)

Prologue/ TOC | Previous (30) | Next (32)

Content Warning: soft, safe, unwilling vore

Word Count: 2.4k

------ Chapter 31: A Tiny Assassin ------

Ronny tried to sneak away from his father as he was paraded through the halls of the castle, but Hardon wouldn’t let him leave. The king kept slapping his hand on his shoulder or his back as he rambled, making his son hiss in pain with his existing wounds. He was sure the sadistic man was doing it on purpose, to make him suffer more, so he gritted his teeth and didn’t complain. 

All the while, Tanya continued to slosh around in his stomach. Ronny idly squeezed and massaged his grumbling belly with his hand, aware of how uncomfortable she must be as she was jumbled up with his every stride. Guilt sank in as he recognized how scared and betrayed she must feel. This was likely her first time being eaten too, since she had been in his care the entire time. His stomach was gurgling audibly, working to churn up and digest its contents. He winced and gently rubbed his midsection with small circles. 

“Ronny, what’s wrong? You have a stomachache?” Hardon questioned sharply. “You haven’t been listening.” 

“Oh, no. Sorry. I think I just overate,” Ronny mumbled, hanging his head. The king stared at him a moment, with those piercing pale eyes of his, before resuming. He led Ronny into the throne room. He was lecturing Ronny, something about kings and ancestors and foreign kingdoms, but Ronny hadn’t been paying attention to most of the conversation. 

“Just don’t embarrass me in front of King Ivan or his son. This alliance is important,” Hardon concluded, his voice swelling with harsh authority. 

“Sure thing,” Ronny agreed. He couldn’t care less if he tried. 

“Let’s go to dinner now.” He grabbed his son’s shoulder and herded him forward. Ronny groaned internally. He wanted to retreat to the privacy of his bedroom, let Tanya out, and apologize to her, but his father was insistent. They marched into the dining room and sat down. Bianca was already present, fiddling with her fork as she waited. She gave Ronny a dismissive look, refusing to speak to him. 

Ronny slumped in his chair drearily, staring down at the silverware in morose contemplation. The king reached into his shirt and pulled out his necklace, with Candy squealing on the end. He unclasped her from the necklace and toyed with her in his fingers, rolling her and dropping her from hand to hand to scare her more. He delighted in every squeak of terror, grinning maliciously from ear to ear. Ronny tried to block out her cries. 

King Richard motioned for a servant. “Tell the kitchen they don’t need to serve me any humans tonight. I want this special little lady right here. And I’ll have my precious girl Millie for dessert.” He sniggered as Candy whined like a beaten animal. Bianca watched with apparent indifference. 

Ronny’s heart started to pound harder as an irrational anxiety gripped him by the throat. For some reason, he pictured being small himself, replacing Candy as the unfortunate victim in his father’s hands. He didn’t want to be here another second, in the oppressive atmosphere of the dining room. The excruciating feeling magnified, morphing into nausea and settling in his intestines. He wanted to expel Tanya into his hand and sprint away, but he felt stuck in his chair, like he was sitting in a big glob of glue. 

The panicky feeling only worsened when the servants brought out the dinner entrees. Ronny imagined that he was being pricked all over with needles, so intense was his discomfort. He was sweating profusely, yet his body felt as cold as ice. His plate was set in front of him and he visibly shuddered. By some ghastly stroke of fate, the poor girl he was slated to eat was none other than the same human that had been floundering in his lemonade earlier that day. She glared up at him, partially submerged in a mushy mess of sweet potato. 

Ronny stared back at her, blinking sweat out of his eyes. She didn’t display any resistance like she had before, when he ate her with the lobster. Had he completely broken her spirit, with his barbarism? A deluge of guilt flooded his core. He recalled Joey, giving his all to save her in a pathetic demonstration of futility, and experienced a stabbing cramp in his chest. He labored to breathe, only managing a ragged wheeze. 

What was wrong with him? He’d eaten plenty of humans before, without a second thought: Hell, he had one in his stomach right now! He’d been conditioned to see humans as food or property, not as people. A thick lump formed in his throat, like a dry mouthful of gravel: He doubted he could swallow anything even if he tried. He wiped his soggy forehead off with his sleeve. He was losing his mind, and if the squirming and gurgling in his viscera was any indication, he might be losing his lunch soon too. 

Eren monitored Ronny’s meltdown with confusion. At first, she’d been ecstatic to be placed in front of the heartless giant prince. She hated him, after he threatened to break her bones, ate her, and nearly drank her up. She couldn’t wait to slit his throat or belly open from the inside. While she discerned he was having some sort of inner crisis, she didn’t care. She wanted his blood on her hands. 

However, as she surveyed the vast expanse of the dining room table, alarm began to claw at her bowels. Chester. She hadn’t factored in Chester. The royal food tester was checking each plate for poison with his sensitive nose and palate. He examined the meals with meticulous detail, taking a small sample of each to ensure the food was bereft of harmful contamination. Eren had to wonder if he would be capable of detecting her hidden weapon. When she first met him, he’d successfully sniffed out the poisons concealed in her bodice and skirt, including the dagger steeped in venom. Would he sense the needle, even if it didn’t have any toxins on it? Would the smell of metal arouse his suspicions? She had no way of knowing. 

Bianca was sitting across the table from her brother, at least the distance of a football field to Eren, where Jackie was barely discernible alongside the roast duck. Eren wriggled with impatience as the dangerous giant moved at a leisurely pace, his back bent and his hands and face close to the plate. He seemed to be taking special care to investigate Jackie, which freaked out Eren even more. If he scrutinized her that closely, he was sure to discover the needle, even if his nose couldn’t catch it. 

The suspense was agonizing. Eren shifted and sweated under the strain, breathing fast and hard. She didn’t want to find out what would happen to her if she were caught. Attempting the assassination of a prince was no small crime: She’d lose her life, no doubt, and the loss would be pointless and devastating if she failed. Being confronted with the horror of her own mortality was paralyzing. She was tempted, briefly, to abandon her quest, and throw away the needle before anyone noticed. Prince Ronny was so preoccupied with his own problems, whatever they were, that she doubted he’d pay any heed to her treachery. 

However, Eren was no coward. She hadn’t come this far, and sacrificed her freedom and comfort, just to chicken out at the last minute when she finally had a chance at success, to strike back against the oppressive weight holding her down. She’d been given a chance to turn around already, and she had refused it. This moment was her time to shine and make a difference: to make the giants fear humans for once. She gripped her arm with determination, to quell her shaking and her racing pulse. It was now or never. She needed to stay the course. 

After what felt like an eternity, Chester moved on to King Richard’s plate. He spent less time on his meal, moving quickly and efficiently. Eren’s heart galloped harder, causing pain in her ribcage and lightheadedness. She could hardly bear the tension. She might have a heart attack long before she ever had a chance to kill anyone. Ronny wheezed above her while she struggled to breathe herself, as if they both were in an isolated chamber with insufficient air. 

Eren’s heart jumped into her throat as Chester approached, towering over her with menace. The massive man leaned down, bringing his face in close. His nose twitched and he stopped, giving Eren a look of realization as he scanned her form with his huge green eyes. Eren gasped. He knew. Her worst fears were confirmed. His lips parted as he prepared to expose her. 

“I’m not feeling well,” Ronny blurted out loudly. “I’m—I’m sick. I can’t eat this!” He clumsily leapt out of his chair, grabbing his plate, shoved it into the hands of the nearest servant, and catapulted out of the room. 

“Pity,” King Richard uttered with nonchalance. He leered down at Candy and pressed her into his pile of glazed carrots. He stirred the carrots with his fork, burying her underneath them and chuckling as she struggled to resurface. “We were going to have so much fun.” She released a pained whine in response, dreading her future torment. 

Eren lurched with Ronny’s rapid jerking movements, momentarily discombobulated as she collapsed into the orange mush. She pulled herself out, layered in sweet potato, as the giant now holding the plate walked out of the dining room to return the meal to the kitchen. Her eyes met Chester’s in the briefest of glimpses. The giant was staring after her with an unfaltering intensity. His mouth remained closed, containing her secret, but he knew. Eren recognized she had no chance of success from the beginning. She’d only been saved from a pointless death through an extraordinary stroke of luck. She hugged her knees, trembling, as the meaning behind the abrupt turn of events slowly sank in. 

While Eren was shuttled to the kitchen, Ronny sprinted back to the privacy of his own quarters. His legs bent like rubber beneath him as he ran. He barely made it up the stairs before he retched and vomited, unloading the contents of his stomach onto the stone floor outside his chambers. He rasped for breath, quivering as if ill, pouring sweat and deathly pale. 

Tanya looked even worse. She was huddled up in a tight circle, knees to her chest, sobbing and gasping. Ronny swallowed and gingerly scooped her up in his palms. He felt better, to see her and have her outside of his body again, but his heart sank at her pitiful appearance. She was filthy, naked, tinged red from the heat of his insides, and soaked from head to toe in rancid puke. 

“Prince Ronny!” his personal servant exclaimed in shock, hurrying his way. 

“Servant! Clean this up!” Ronny snarled, clutching Tanya protectively to his chest. He hastened to his feet, staggering into his room and shutting the door behind him. 

“Tanya… Tanya, are you okay?” he asked gently, holding her close to his face to get a good look at her. She was too distressed to reply as she cried violently. Ronny entered his adjacent bathroom, where his servants had dutifully left clean water and soap. The water wasn’t heated, but Ronny wasn’t concerned with that. He didn’t care anymore about his dignity, or his princely duties, or his own regal appearance. At that moment, Tanya was his world. He dipped her frail body in the cool water and carefully washed her. His heart was tearing at the seams with regret over his own cowardice, and his inability to stand up to his monstrous father. 

He set her down on a soft towel to quickly splash water on his own face and rinse the sour filth out of his mouth. He swept his hair back on his head in agitation with a wet hand as he regarded Tanya. She was turned away from him, still crunched into a fetal position. She flinched at his touch as he picked her up again, cradling her in his palm. 

“Tanya, I’m sorry. I’m so, so sorry for what I’ve done,” Ronny gushed in a messy fountain of remorse. “I didn’t mean to cause you any harm, honestly! If I saw another way out I would’ve taken it, but my father…” He trailed off, gnawing on his lip. Tanya gave no indication that she was listening as she sniffled and hiccupped. Ronny, not sure what else to do, petted her with his finger, massaging her back in small circles. He stayed kneeled on the bathroom floor for a while, continuing to stroke her in a way he hoped was comforting, until her breathing became more steady. Even so, she hid her face in her arms. She didn’t stretch out or look at Ronny once. 

With a sigh heavy enough to crush boulders into dust, Ronny finally stood up, as his legs were losing blood flow from his uncomfortable position on the floor. He trudged over to Tanya’s little house and tucked her into the doll-sized bed sadly. He had failed her. He had completely failed her. He undressed himself without the help of his servant, preferring solitude over comfort, and flopped into bed himself.  

He stared mindlessly at the ceiling. He was tired, in body and soul. Ronny had eaten many humans in the past, with no consideration for their feelings. He’d kept them stewing in his digestive tract for hours, extracted them numb or sobbing, and cast them aside like refuse. His servants usually disposed of them for him, spiriting them away to the kitchen, where they disappeared from his thoughts until they reappeared on his plate another day. 

This was the first time he’d been forced to clean one off himself, to soil his own unblemished hands. This was the first time he’d ever gotten to know one, to view her as an actual person and not an object. This was the first time he’d confided his deepest fears and feelings to one—to anyone, really. And this was the first time he had to suffer laying in bed, listening to a small maiden he’d hurt shed tears without respite, all night long. 

Chapter 32

Tag List: @yummynomms @tinycoded360

[petoskeystones]

people i'd like to get to know better, tagged by @eriecanal mwah ily ivan

last song: vienna by billy joel.

last book: the last book i finished was moby-dick and the book i'm currently reading is ahab's wife

last movie: i did not finish the last movie i watched which was "woodlands dark and days bewitched: a history of folk horror". the last movie i finished was "an american werewolf in london"

last tv show: joe pera talks with you <3

sweet/spicy/savory: i AGREE you can't make me choose. they are all living in harmony. i *am* eating peanut butter cups right now though

relationship status: gesturing vaguely

last thing i googled: wikipedia page for "the captain goes down with the ship" I KNOW... I HAVE AN ANNOYING BRAND...

current obsession: aside from the obvious. elbows deep in video/film editing again... lgbt history... embroidery... making sweet potatoes in the microwave with butter and brown sugar.

looking forward to: going HOME next week. and then my next semester of classes. this morning i signed up for scuba training class. let me in the shipwrecks pleasepleasepleasepleaseple-[they cut off my oxygen]

tagging (no pressure) @alienmythologist @bludcrust @sadmoooose @2manytabsopen

[council-of-beetroot]

I recently saw the post you reblogged about Gilbert being a vegetarian and that made me really curious. Do you have any other sort of dietary headcanons about any of the hetalia characters?

I do!

Read more is there since this is a long one

Feliks

Feliks pretty much eats anything. He doesn't have the most healthiest of diets but it's not like he is an unhealthy person. There are the rare few foods he can't stand but that's about it. He eats a lot and he also makes sure anyone else who comes to visit has lots to eat and loads of leftovers to take home. (Like dinner at your Ciocia's house.)

He definitely likes to pickle things.

He definitely has a habit of buying too much of stuff when it's on sale not realizing that it's always on sale or it's not going to run out. Basing this off of experience with people like my mom for example who grew up with food insecurity.

Has a particular love for phở. He enjoys soups and dumplings of all kinds in general.

Enjoys both coffee and tea.

Tolys

Tolys definitely has a house outside of the city where he has a garden. And even in his apartment in Vilnius he definitely has pots of herbs growing on the window sill in his kitchen.

He's definitely a more meat and potatoes kind of guy.

He and Feliks both enjoy foraging for mushrooms during mushroom picking season.

Liet stress bakes. Like you know he's irritated with someone when there's a surprise batch of four dozen cookies.

Definitely a coffee addict.

Gil

I made him vegan, it fits him. Go read this fic here for vegan Gil link here

He definitely is a fantastic baker and is like my coworker who somehow makes gluten free vegan cake taste better than regular cake. He definitely taught Ludwig how to bake and that's where Ludwig learned from.

Ivan

Ivan is definitely on the pickier side of things. He has his comfort foods and he sticks to them. He is very particular about how he likes his food and it has to be a certain way. He also has a major sweet tooth enjoying tea biscuits and cakes, kompot and and other sweets. He definitely bonds with Alfred over their extremely sugary tea that would make Arthur schvitz.

He has a large collection of tea sets that he has collected over the years

[msith]

MIRACULOUS LADYBUG WIKI

MIRACULOUS LADYBUG WIKI

Adrien Agreste

EDIT

         

PRODUCTION INFORMATIONFIRST APPEARANCE:LATEST APPEARANCE:"Stormy Weather""Miraculous Paris"VOICED BY:

ExpandBryce Papenbrook (English)

Click "expand" for full list

CHARACTER INFORMATION

OFFICIAL PRONOUN:

Male, he/him

FULL NAME:

Adrien Émile Gabriel Donatien Athanase Agreste[7]

OTHER NAMES:

Adrikins[8]

Cat[9]

Kitty[10]

Sneaky Kitty[11]

Tomcat and Cat popsicle[12]

Mr. Front-of-the-cover-Teen-Model-weekly[13]

Pussy Cat[14]

Pretty Kitty[15]

Kitty Cat[16]

Naughty Kitty[17]

Silly Kitty[18]

Adricat[19]

Little Kitty[20]

Cellphone Boy, Mr. Whiskers and Kitten[21]

Agreste Junior and Sleeping Beauty[22]

Buttercup[23]

Cockroach[24]

Aqua Noir[25]

Ice Cat[26]

Astro Cat[27]

Santa Cat[28]

My Kitty[29]

Kitty Noir[30]

Mister Bug and Bugaboy[31]

Bug Boy[32]

Banana Cat[33]

Bananoir[34]

Mr. Cat[35]

My Prince and My Poor Kitty[36]

Professor Reckless[37]

Mr. Bat[38]

Mr. Noir[39]

Adri-nothing and Alley Cat[40]

Prince Charmeowing[41]

My Sweet Kitty[42]

Mister Perfect Kitty, Mister Hanging On To His Secret, and Mister Number One Partner[43]

Traitor[44]

Little prince[45]

Adri-traitor[46]

Daddy's Nice Little Puppet[47]

Little miracle[48]

SPECIES:

Sentimonster

Human

AGE:

13 (Origins Story)

14 (Seasons 1-5)[49]

HEIGHT:

150 cm[50] (Almost 5 feet)

OCCUPATION:

Student at Collège Françoise Dupont (formerly)

Superhero

Second-in-command of the French Miraculous superhero team

Fashion model (formerly)

Voice actor

LIKES:

Hanging out with his superhero allies (especially with Ladybug after patrols)

Video games

Playing with cars

Anime[51]

Hamsters

Music (from Jagged Stone)

Reading classic novels

Christmas (currently)

Passion Fruit[52]

Croissants[53]

Chouquettes[54]

Listening to classical music when studying[55]

Dogs[56]

His family and friends

His costume as Cat Noir and when he and Ladybug switched costumes as Mister Bug

Freedom

Marinette Dupain-Cheng

Opening gifts early

Architecture[57]

Being a superhero

Sausages with mashed potatoes[58]

Physics[59]

DISLIKES:

Loved ones being harmed

Being alone or locked up (his nightmare)

Being excluded

Liars

Secrets

Not being helpful

Failing

Ladybug rejecting his affections (formerly)

Christmas (formerly)

Thunder (formerly)

Feathers (his allergy)

Camembert

Chloé's excessive affection over him

Signing autographs

Being sick[60]

Harming others with his powers

Disappointing anyone

Lila's lies

Lila bullying Marinette

Being mistaken for a wingless bat (as Cat Noir)

Not being accepted for his true personality

Ladybug putting herself down

Rudeness

Nino's guilt for not being able to help him stand up to his father

Cauliflower with Bechamel sauce

When the Miraculous superpowers are being used by villains

Pancakes with banana[61]

Gabriel's pancakes[62]

Sausages (except with mashed potatoes)[63]

SOCIAL INFORMATION

AFFILIATIONS:

Gabriel (formerly)

Miraculous holders

French Miraculous superhero team (Second-in-command)

Kitty Section (occasionally)

The Resistance

RESIDENCE:

Agreste mansion in Paris, France

London apartments in London, England (temporarily, from Representation to Re-creation)

RELATIVES:

Emilie Agreste (mother) †

Gabriel Agreste (father) †

Amelie Graham de Vanily (aunt)

Colt Fathom (uncle) †

Félix Fathom (cousin)

Unnamed maternal grandparents

FRIENDS:

Plagg

Nino Lahiffe/Carapace (best friend)

Marinette Dupain-Cheng/Multimouse

Ladybug

Kagami Tsurugi/Ryuko

Wang Fu (before memory loss)

Tikki

Sass

Kaalki

Fluff

Alya Césaire/Rena Rouge/Rena Furtive

Scarabella

Alix Kubdel/Bunnyx

Luka Couffaine/Viperion

Max Kanté/Pegasus

Lê Chiến Kim

King Monkey

Wayhem

Ivan Bruel

Minotaurox

Rose Lavillant/Pigella

Juleka Couffaine

Purple Tigress

Mylène Haprèle

Polymouse

Sabrina Raincomprix

Miss Hound

Nathaniel Kurtzberg

Caprikid

Marc Anciel

Rooster Bold

Manon Chamack

André

Clara Nightingale

Santa Claus

Wang Cheng

Jessica Keynes/

Sparrow/Eagle

Aeon/Uncanny Valley

Majestia

Barbara Keynes/Knightowl

Dean Gate/Doorman

Fei Wu/Ladydragon

Mei Shi

Lian

Kang

Jiao

Zoé Lee

Vesperia

Harry Clown

Didier Roustan

Félix Fathom/Argos

LadyLion (future)

Fury (future)

Myst (future)

Krush (future)

LadyBlue (future)

Betterfly/Guardian Angel

Ladybug

Adrien Agreste/Claw Noir

ENEMIES:

Hawk Moth/Shadow Moth/Monarch/Monarch Bug †

Akumatized villains

Mayura (formerly)

Amokized Sentimonsters (formerly)

Ladybug (formerly; alternative timeline)

Lila Rossi/Cerise

(Since Transmission)

Chloé Bourgeois

(since Queen Banana & Dersion and she is exiled)

Adam (formerly)

Shadybug (formerly)

Claw Noir (formerly)

LOVE

INTERESTS:

Marinette Dupain-Cheng (girlfriend)

Ladybug (formerly)

Kagami Tsurugi (ex-girlfriend)

CREATED BY:

Emilie Agreste

MIRACULOUS INFORMATION

PRIMARY WIELDED

MIRACULOUS:

Cat Miraculous

SECONDARY OR TEMPORARY MIRACULOUS:

Ladybug Miraculous (occasionally)

Snake Miraculous (occasionally)

Rabbit Miraculous (temporarily)

KEPT

MIRACULOUS:

Rabbit Miraculous (temporarily)

Bee Miraculous (temporarily)

POWER

SOURCE:

Plagg

Tikki (occasionally)

Sass (occasionally)

Fluff (temporarily)

SUPERHERO IDENTITY:

Cat Noir

Mister Bug (occasionally)

Aspik (temporarily)

Snake Noir (temporarily)

Cat Walker (temporarily)

Rabbit Noir (temporarily)

AKUMATIZED IDENTITY:

Cat Blanc

Ephemeral (all temporarily; alternate timeline)

Anticat (Adrien's nightmares only, in "Representation" and "Conformation")

KAMIKOTIZED IDENTITY:

Celesticat (kamikotized hero identity)

POWERS AND ABILITIES:

Modelling

Speaking Chinese and Japanese

Understanding Morse code

Gaming

Piano playing

Dancing

Fencing

Hand-to-Hand Combat

Cat Noir's/Snake Noir/Rabbit Noir's Cataclysm and Night Vision

Mister Bug's Lucky Charm, De-evilization and Miraculous Mister Bug (occasionally)

Aspik/Snake Noir's Second Chance (occasionally)

Cat Blanc's Mega Cataclysm (temporarily)

Time acceleration (as Ephemeral; temporarily)

Levitation (briefly)

Rabbit Noir's Burrow (temporarily)

Flight (briefly as a kamikotized hero)

WEAPONS:

Cat Noir/Snake Noir/Rabbit Noir's staff

Mister Bug's yo-yo (occasionally)

Aspik/Snake Noir's lyre (occasionally)

Rabbit Noir's umbrella (temporarily)

AMOKIZED OBJECT:

Graham de Vanily Twin Rings

ALIGNMENT(S):

Good

LESS 

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Miraculous Paris

Main series universe information

This article is about Adrien Agreste from the TV series and any information in it exclusively follows the main series' continuity.

For information from the Movie continuity, please visit this page.

This article is about the secondary protagonist, who is the current Cat Miraculous holder. You may be looking for the Ladybug PV version of Cat Noir, his cousin, another Cat, or his parallel self.

There's no way I can wear this!... Everyone's gonna realize that I'm the real Cat Noir!ADRIEN

Adrien Agreste is one of the two titular main protagonists (alongside Marinette Dupain-Cheng) of Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug & Cat Noir and a major character of Miraculous World. He is a human-sentimonster created by his late mother Emilie Agreste from her emotions of love. He is a former student in Miss Bustier's class at Collège Françoise Dupont in Paris, France. He is also a former fashion model for his late father's brand.

With the Cat Miraculous, when inhabited by Plagg, Adrien transforms into the black cat-themed superhero Cat Noir ("Chat Noir" in the French version), gaining the power of destruction to stop Hawk Moth/Shadow Moth/Monarch and his akumatized villains. He is the second-in-command of the French Miraculous superhero team.

In "Syren", after Master Wang Fu translates the Grimoire in order to find a way to give Ladybug and Cat Noir the ability to transform into different powered up forms, he is able to make the potion that grants the aqua form. Adrien is able to use it to become Aqua Noir, which gives him a specially modified aqua suit with fins on his feet, granting him the enhanced swimming capabilities, as well as allowing him to breathe and speak underwater.

In "Frozer" when the titular akumatized supervillain freezes over Paris to turn the city into his domain, Adrien uses Master Fu's Magic camembert to transform into Ice Cat, which gives him a specially modified ice suit with skates on his feet, granting him enhanced skating capabilities as well as allowing him to stand subzero temperatures.

In "Reflekdoll", Adrien temporarily obtained the Ladybug Miraculous, which, when inhabited by Tikki, would be able to transform him into a ladybug-themed superhero Mister Bug,[64] gaining the power of creation.[65]

In "Desperada", Adrien temporarily obtained the Snake Miraculous, which, when inhabited by Sass, would be able to transform him into a snake-themed superhero Aspik[66], gaining the ability to go back in time for a Second Chance. Later, he returned the Miraculous after failing for the 25,913th time to save Ladybug from a particular villain.[65]

In "Cat Blanc", in an alternative future, Cat Noir, conflicted between his loyalty towards his father and the girl he loved, was akumatized by Hawk Moth into Cat Blanc, a white cat-themed supervillain with the power of infinite destruction. Later, due to Ladybug fixing her mistake, the alternative future was erased, including Cat Noir's akumatization.

In "Miracle Queen," after removing the Snake Miraculous from a brainwashed Viperion, Adrien unified the Snake Miraculous with the Cat Miraculous to become Snake Noir[65] ("Serpent Noir" in the French version).

In "Miraculous World: New York - United Heroez", after Mr. Ramier had been reakumatized into Mr. Pigeon for the 51st time, Cat Noir became Astro Cat to stop Mr. Pigeon from taking over the moon for him and his pigeons. Astrocat has the power to travel long distances swiftly via flight, including in space.

In "Ephemeral", after finding out the truth about his parents, Adrien, affected by an akuma, gave the Cat Miraculous to Shadow Moth/Shadow Noir and was akumatized into Ephemeral, a supervillain who made time faster or sped up the time it took for a Miraculous holder to detransform. Later, after Sass used Second Chance, Ephemeral was erased from the reality.

In "Kuro Neko", after giving up on being Cat Noir due to feeling unappreciated by Ladybug, Adrien was convinced by Plagg to create a brand new identity as a holder of the Cat Miraculous, becoming Cat Walker ("Patte De Velours" in the French version), even donning a brand new suit. He later returned to his original hero persona.

In "Evolution", after future Bunnyx was paralyzed during a fight against Monarch, Cat Noir took her Rabbit Miraculous and combined it with the Cat Miraculous to become Rabbit Noir so he and Ladybug could keep on fighting the supervillain and prevent him from changing the past or discovering their true identities.

In "Miraculous Paris", he was kamikotized by Betterfly into Celesticat, an angelic-cat-themed superhero to help Ladybug and Betterfly escape from Shadybug and Claw Noir.

In "Passion", to avoid Safari's venom bolts, Adrien temporarily used the Ladybug Miraculous and once again becomes Mister Bug.

In "Revolution", after seeing all the Parisians willingly stand up and fight injustice with their own hands and refuse to turn their backs on Ladybug and Cat Noir, Adrien evolves his powers, and now, he doesn't detransform after using his powers, and is able to cast as many Cataclysms as he pleases without the need to recharge. Then, he was sent to London by his father, and yet, shared a kiss with Marinette before leaving.

In "Representation", after being sent to London, Adrien returns to Paris as Astrocat hoping to find Marinette so he could tell her his identity and stay together but after being struck with Nightormentor's dust and the fear of putting her in danger, he backs off the idea and returns to London.

In "Conformation", when Monarch commenced his global plan against the French Duo, due to him knowing he wasn't in the right state of mind to wield the power of Destruction safely and the fears of his nightmares, Adrien sent Plagg back to Paris with the ring to help Ladybug.

In "Re-creation", after Monarch's defeat and wish, Adrien reclaims his Miraculous and rejoins Ladybug and their whole team in Paris.

I AIN'T READING ALL THAT!!!!!!!!

[moderncommentary]

Finding Comfort

A collaborative feature story on comfort foods written for Flux Magazine

How do college students find solace during the most stressful years of their lives? Some turn to meals that remind them of home and simpler times.

College, while it may be some of the best years of someone’s life, can also be the most stressful. Different students find different ways to feel closer to home and find peace. Ivan Moncure, Zoe Brown and Kaitlyn Wood are three University of Oregon students who have different meals that they turn to when feeling overwhelmed or upset. Their stories (and favorite meals) are all different — though not as different as you might think.

IVAN MONCURE KEEPS THINGS BASIC

Excerpt written by CHLOE STRICKLAND

Hailing from Long Beach, California, Ivan Moncure comes from a foodie family that has taught him how to cook many hearty meals. When cooking his comfort food, Moncure likes to keep things simple.

Moncure’s comfort food consists only of Italian sausage, russet potatoes and sweet onion topped with salt and pepper. “[The meal] is a classic staple,” Moncure said. “It’s really cheap, nutritious, warm, savory and spicy.”

The ingredients are chopped up in bite-sized chunks and put in the oven at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for three hours. The spices and grease from the sausage crisp the potatoes and onions and spread flavor throughout.

Moncure says this dish is his comfort food because it’s something simple that he doesn’t have to put much thought into. Because of the basic recipe, the dish can be curated to last a long time, leaving Moncure to focus on his responsibilities without worrying about what he’s going to have for dinner.

“When I’m stressed out by life, and I want to get my life organized, I can make this and I won’t have to cook again for a week or two,” Moncure said. “And when I’m stressed, I find I crave saltier, fried foods, and this kind of hits the ‘French fries’ kind of itch, but it’s not so awful for you.”

Moncure’s memories of this dish from back home aren’t so much of the cooking process, but the gathering of the ingredients. He recalls going to the deli shop near his house with his dad to pick up high-quality sausage. They would also get lunch from the deli and spend time talking in the parking lot.

This comfort meal is hearty and fulfilling, but it is also one of the many roots that connect Moncure back to his home and his family. “It’s just a warm and comforting meal,” Moncure said. “It just simplifies my life, and it tastes like home.”

[blackbutlerfandomnerddomain]

Name: Lionel Kovu Ejiofor

Nicknames: Lio, Kovu, Cub, Kitty, Grumpy Cat, Li (friends, classmates, and Aya)

Age: 15

Birthday: July 27th

Height: 5'6

Gender: Male

Appearance: He takes after his father a lot from his emerald green eyes, thick wavey dark brown hair, and forever scowl on his handsome face. He's tall with a semi athletic build much like other teens his age with a scar across the right side of his face that goes over his eye and eyebrow just under his birthmark a few inches wide from his right temple to the scalp.

Clothes: He often dress in very easy moving casual close like high waisted baggie jeans or cargo pants and a baggy shirt and high top sneakers

Personality: Lionel is very aloof and disinterested in the world around him, rather wanting to sleep all day than actually do anything. When he isn't tired beyond life he's pretty sarcastic and loyal especially towards Aya and their father and is very strong in both brain and physical strength and smarts.

Schooling: 2nd year in high school

Likes: Aya, afternoons, honey, bobba tea, potato chips, meat, track and field, his dad, his cousin Leon (though he doesn't admit this), summer, the smell of roses and sage, naps, freshly cleaned clothes and bed sheets, lo-fi, rock, country, art, history, fish, writing, chilling with his friends, lava lamps, black nail polish, Hot Topic, oranges, citrus, bubble baths, video games

Dislikes: Sugary sweet things, being bothered or annoyed, his annoying classmates, when someone ask about his family too much, someone making Aya cry, Ivan, his uncle, being called spoiled or rich, loud busy places, when someone uses his hair products, racists, sexists, Karens

Abilities: Very smart, very fast, strong, okay with kids, good with words

Name Meaning: Lionel - Latin for "little lion" Kovu - Swahili for "scar" Ejiofor - Nigerian for "I am bestowed with righteousness and virtue"

Trivia: - Was born some time before Aya was adopted by Taka, only ever knew them as his family - Doesn't trust Ivan since he's protective to Aya and Ivan is lowkey scared of the boy - Despite his laziness he hasn't failed a single class test which is impressive and annoying to teachers who want to "teach him a lesson" - Doesn't tell people the story behind his scar

So I made Leona in this AU-

[thehungrykat1]

Brotzeit Philippines Celebrates Oktoberfest 2024 With Three Party Days

Oktoberfest 2024 is right around the corner so Brotzeit Philippines is getting ready to celebrate this annual German beer event once again. They just launched their special Oktoberfest Menu and have announced their Signature Party Days where guests can experience German music and entertainment combined with authentic food and drinks.

The Hungry Kat was invited last week at Brotzeit's Bonifacio Global City branch to sample their Oktoberfest Menu which is available from September 1 up to November 10, 2024. It had been a while since my last visit but I always make sure to join their Oktoberfest parties. Brotzeit proudly celebrates Oktoberfest 2024 at its two branches in Alabang West Parade and at Shangri-La at the Fort this September to November.

Brotzeit was conceived in Singapore in 2006 and now operates across the Asia Pacific region. It aims to introduce authentic Bavarian cuisine accompanied by world famous quality German beer in a chic and contemporary setting, so Oktoberfest is always one of its biggest events of the year. Now on their 11th year in the Philippines, there’s no better place to enjoy this annual German tradition than at the country’s most popular German bier bar and restaurant.

Oktoberfest is an annual festival held in Munich, Bavaria in Germany from mid-September to the first Sunday in October. This year, it will be held from September 21 to October 6, 2024, but you don’t have to travel to Germany because Brotzeit is bringing the party right here in Manila.

Brotzeit is very proud of its German beers and these are taken very seriously from sourcing, using proper glassware, and even pouring techniques. All beers at Brotzeit are brewed according to the Germany purity law, so you are assured of an authentic German experience.

Brozeit will be offering an exclusive Oktberfest beer for this year's celebrations. The Weihenstephaner Festbier (P480 - 0.5L) is a full rich bodied seasonal lager specially brewed for the Festbier season. This beer represents the Bavarian way of celebrating with its deep gold color, great mouthfeel, and lots of flavor. What I really enjoyed was the Bayrischer Longdrink (P380 - 0.5L) which is one of their Bier Cocktails. This half liter mug comes with lager mixed with calamansi and vodka.

Another cocktail beer that we enjoyed was the Mango Bier (P380 - 0.5L) which has wheat beer mixed with mango juice. Brotzeit offers so many different beers and you are sure to find your own favorite.

I also love their Hot Chocolate so I order this every time I visit. This hot cocoa drink comes topped with cinnamon cream.

Now let’s try some of the special Oktoberfest dishes. Brotzeit has created a new Oktoberfest Menu that perfectly represents the season and goes very well with the featured beers for this celebration. 

The Anchovy Fladen (P490) is a flatbread topped with cheese, anchovies, artichokes, capers, and sweet red onions. This is a good starter that can be shared by the entire table.

Brotzeit Philippines Executive Chef Ivan Maminta then shows us some of the other items on the Oktoberfest Menu.

The Weisswurst (P390) is a traditional Bavarian Pork and veal sausage served with pretzel. The sausage is quite flavorful and you can choose to remove the casing or not. You can also get the Pretzel (P300) as an additional order by themselves.

If you really want to celebrate Oktoberfest, go and order the Oktoberfest 2024 Platter (P4600). This huge meaty platter will surely be the highlight of your Oktoberfest celebrations with its combination of Oktoberfest specials and Brotzeit favorites.

First up, this full platter comes with a Regensberger, a Nurnberger, and a Thuringer Sausage with Sauerkraut and potato salad. These three sausages will definitely satisfy your cravings with its different textures and flavors.

Then there's the Grilled Pork Chop and Roast Beef to satisfy the big meatlovers. These big and juicy slices should go well with some pretzels.

The main highlight of the Oktoberfest Platter is the Signature Pork Knuckle. This an all-time Brotzeit favorite and is the quintessential German dish. The pork knuckle is cooked until the meat is tender then oven roasted for the perfect crackling skin. The meat is actually infused with beer to give it that special taste.

The pork knuckle is so tender that you don't even need a knife to break it open. The Oktoberfest 2024 Platter is definitely packed with all the meat you can handle.

Our Oktoberfest gathering even had some very special guests. My husband Dexter was so surprised to see Marvel Comics Editor-in-Chief C.B. Cebulski join us at our table. He is in town for the much awaited SuperManila 2024 Comic Convention happening on the weekend.

Who would have thought that Dexter would be having beer with one of the comic book industry's top executives? He actually has tickets to SuperManila already so this was a very happy surprise.

Brotzeit’s Oktoberfest 2024 celebrations culminate with their Signature Party Days on September 27 to 29, 2024. This huge 3-day Oktoberfest party will be similar to how they do it in Germany. Special guests will be the AnTon Showband which is a popular German group that performs traditional German folk tunes to modern hits. They will be playing at Shangri-La at the Fort on September 27 and 29 then at Brotzeit Alabang West Parade on September 28. You can book your tables early and join this unforgettable musical journey at (https://brotzeit.ph/reservation). We would like to thank Brotzeit owner Malvin Ang for hosting our advance Oktoberfest party. Prost!

Brotzeit Philippines

GF6 Retail Arcade, Shangri-La at the Fort, 5th Ave. Bonifacio Global City, Taguig

(0949) 881-0360

www.brotzeit.ph

www.brotzeitdelivers.com

www.facebook.com/brotzeitph

[gucciyae]

From the Crimean War to Crunchy Delight: A Taste of Russian History

The Emancipation of the Serfs and Russia’s victory in the Russo-Turkish War might be considered Russia’s greatest achievements during the mid-19th century. However, a closer look at her gastronomic history reveals a most grand prize on the Russian culinary stage– the Russian Salad.

It was Easter lunch when I had my first morsel of Mama’s signature salad. We’re sat at the dining table; fine plates and cutlery brought out to feast upon the delicacies placed in front of us. Mama serves me a spoonful of the pungent pork sorpotel, a fluffy steamed sanna, and finally, a healthy serving of vegetables dressed in a thick and creamy sauce.

Being the picky 6-year-old I was, it should come as no surprise to you that my face immediately fell into a frown. I had made up my mind. I was going to be a big girl that day and stand for my freedom in the D’Souza household.

Getting up from the wooden chair, I balled my fists at my side, and sharply inhaled to prepare my defense against the atrocious crime of serving vegetables on a festival day. Somehow always two steps ahead of me, Mama announced, “It’s called a Russian salad,” as a knowing smirk danced on her lips.

I paused.

Russian… salad?

There’s an intriguing mix of scents that hits my nostrils, a faint whiff of mayonnaise, a touch of earthiness from the potatoes, and a sharp acidity that cuts through the mellow aromas– pineapple, probably.

Born on a brightly lit counter in chef Lucien Olivier’s private kitchen, the Salade Olivier, reputedly became the signature dish of the Heritage Restaurant, Moscow. And, I have good reason to believe that my mother is an incarnation of Ivan Ivanov, the very sous-chef who stole the original Olivier’s secret recipe.

I picked my fork back up with a foreign sense of motivation, and began shoveling the salad onto it. Russian salad, doesn’t really sound like the dish that keeps you up all night, does it? However, with my first bite, it quickly turned into a dish that defied all expectations.

A light and tangy sauce first coats my mouth, hints of dairy and mayonnaise make themselves known to me. It seems Russian gastronomy takes inspiration from the craftsmen’s Matryoshka dolls. The french beans split as I bite into them, releasing sweet starches that first rivals the burst of freshness from the green peas, which is then subdued as a bite of potato cleanses my palate. Each layer of flavour is mildly discernable from the previous, yet somehow unveils a more complex surprise underneath. The culinary nesting doll.

It’s a harmonious dance of contrasting flavours, a time capsule of Russia’s rich history. A bit mysterious, somewhat complex, and undeniably hearty. 

The Treaty of Tilsit began an alliance between Imperial Russia and the French Empire, and perhaps Olivier’s recipe of the Russian Salad further strengthened relations between the Frenchman and his Muscovite diners.

I cleaned off every single vegetable on my plate that afternoon, not a single drop of the salad dressing was left behind. Mama chastised, “Stop eating like you’ve never seen food before!”

But I simply couldn’t care for dining etiquette, or the uncles and aunties who smiled to themselves while complimenting Mama’s salad and the Easter lunch.

So, if you ever find yourself in Russia, or a Russian restaurant, don’t pass on the Russian Salad. Savour it. It may not be the star of the show, but it’s a dish that speaks volumes about this enigmatic nation’s culture and history.

[oddsconvert]

JACKY P! NOOO!!! 😭💔 IVE MISSED HIM BUT NOT LIKE THIS! LEAVE MY POOR BOY ALONE YOU FOUL CREATURES! 🤺 IM GONNA BURST INTO THAT BASEMENT WITH A FLAMETHROWER, I SWEAR ON JACKET POTATO AND SLOPPY JOES LIFE!

Seligman is just as absolutely vile as Ivan 😭 and Ivan is somehow getting even worse the more we see him! More sweet and affectionate with Jack. I do love that Jack is allowed little mercies, like less restraints, in a bed, stretching out in his little box in the bedroom- but he's still hurting so damn much and he's still confused 😭 the way he's doing all this for Joe and wanting to be good for Joe just breaks me.

behavior modification, part twenty-one

masterlist here.

content warnings for: EXPLICIT noncon/dubcon, noncon drugging, forced nudity, cages, conditioned whumpee, multiple whumpers, intimate whumpers, bbu/bbu-adjacent, psychological whump

part twenty-one, easier

It gets easier. 

Jack doesn’t know how, but he does know why. It has to get easier, or there will never be any relief. It was the same with Bill, with all the others; the more he fought, the worse everything hurt. And this, this “arrangement” with Ivan is never going to end. He may still have his name, he may not have been obliterated by the Drip, but Jack is property of WRU now. Just as he was always meant to be. 

He is good. Sweet. Compliant. He is an instrument of pleasure, and he serves his master well. 

And so, it gets easier because it has to. It’s the only way he can face his future, such as it is. 

Ivan is a good master. Even if the first time he took Jack was painful, it was for Jack’s own good. So that he would know better than to resist again. And he does know better now. He won’t resist. He can’t. This is what he wants. It is the only thing he can want. 

In the morning, he swallows Ivan down with his breakfast. Then, if Ivan doesn’t have any clients, he is allowed to go upstairs. He crawls on all fours like the pet that he is, but Ivan doesn’t muzzle him. There’s no need. Jack slips under Ivan’s desk, and he waits for the tap on his cheek that lets him know he is needed. Sometimes, Ivan rests in Jack’s mouth for hours, but Jack doesn’t complain. He’s used to it now. 

If Ivan has clients, Jack is left in his cage, the beads thrumming inside of him and Joe’s hoodie puddled beneath his head. He doesn’t fight the beads anymore. Instead, he chases the sensation, letting his sweat bathe his bare body. He doesn’t come, though. He knows better; his body knows better. He rises, and he waits. Ivan likes to watch when he returns, likes to listen to Jack’s wanton moans. Sometimes, Ivan watches for a very long time. He likes to watch Jack go blind with want. But Jack knows: he is allowed to want, but not to have. Ivan only gives him release every so often–just to keep things in working order, he says. 

In the evening, Jack drinks his water from a bowl at Ivan’s feet. It is cloudy and bitter, and he knows it is drugged, but it doesn’t matter; it’s better than the hood or the leather sack. When the pall of the drug settles around him, when he is warm and pliant and fuzzy and faraway, Ivan carries him upstairs. It wasn’t that way at first. At first, he was restrained or bent over the steel table or forced into position ten–his hands and knees–on the concrete floor. But now, he is such a good boy that he is allowed in the bed. Ivan doesn’t even need to chain him to the headboard anymore. 

Sometimes, Ivan keeps him in the bedroom overnight. Not in the bed, because pets do not sleep in beds. But he has a special cage beneath the box frame just for Jack; the latest accessory from WRU’s new line, Ivan says. There is a pillow and a blanket, because Jack is such a spoiled boy. On those nights, Jack sleeps like a baby. He can stretch out, at least; it is better than his basement cage, better than the soiled hoodie. The hoodie doesn’t smell like Joe anymore anyway. 

Joe is going to be so proud of him. That’s what Ivan says. Jack hopes it is true. 

It is evening again. Jack knows because his bowl is waiting, Ivan’s wingtips shining beside it. He doesn’t look at Ivan’s face; pets show deference to their masters, and Jack is a good pet. But he hears the brisk pop of Ivan’s snap, and he lurches forward on his bruised knees to drink. 

“That’s a good boy, Jackie,” Ivan murmurs, scratching his fingers through Jack’s tangled hair. The pressure feels good on his scalp, but Jack knows better than to stop drinking. He has to keep going until every last drop is gone. Until he’s gone with it. Good boys let themselves go. 

“You know,” Ivan goes on, “you’ve done such a marvelous job lately. I can see that you’ve really adapted to the training protocol, that you understand your role. And you’re flourishing.” 

Jack keeps lapping at the water, but his cheeks color with something that might be pleasure. He’s done a good job. He is who he was always meant to be. 

Maybe he will be able to go home soon. He can show Joe everything that he’s learned. Start their new lives together. He knows his place now. He will make Joe so happy. And that will make him happy. He knows it will. There is no happiness but pleasing his master–his owner. 

“There are a few hurdles for you to clear before you’re done with training, my boy,” Ivan says. “But I know you’ll handle them with gusto. Won’t you?” 

The bowl is empty. Jack’s bare ass slides back to his knees, and he nods without looking up. “Yes, sir.” 

Ivan laughs. “Good to hear. Now, tonight, we’ll stay down here in the basement.” 

To his credit, Jack’s heart no longer plummets. It doesn’t matter where he is, so long as he is giving Ivan what he wants. That’s all that matters. 

“Have I done something wrong, sir?” Jack asks. His voice wavers, just like it is supposed to. 

“Not at all, sweet boy, not at all. I just have a very special surprise for you. A challenge. Do you think you’re up to the task, my darling?” 

“Yes, sir.” Jack folds over his knees, pressing his forehead to the floor. 

Ivan’s toe flicks against Jack’s ass crack, and Jack spreads his knees accordingly. 

“I can see that you are,” Ivan laughs. “That’s good. Now, Jackie, I want you to assume position ten.” 

Jack shifts to his hands and knees without a second thought. 

“Excellent, my boy. Now, you stay–” Ivan holds his hand flat in front of Jack’s face, “And I’ll be right back with your surprise, hmm?”  

Ivan sweeps out of the room, leaving the basement door open, and it doesn’t occur to Jack that there might have been a time when he would have tried to follow. To fight. But nothing occurs to Jack at all. He waits, because that’s what he’s been instructed to do. His head is empty. 

Ivan isn’t gone for long; only a few minutes have passed when Jack hears the patter of footsteps on the basement stairs. 

“You’re not going to believe how far he’s come,” Ivan says. He isn’t speaking to Jack.  

“Oh, I’m sure I can believe it,” another voice answers. 

The voice is familiar, but Jack can’t quite place it. Whatever Ivan laces the water with is starting to take effect; his ears rush warm and his joints feel like wax. His head lolls on his neck, but he stays on his hands and knees. He will not break position. Cannot.

“Well, Mr. Kenyon! Look at you!”

Mr. Kenyon. The name swims in Jack’s brain. No one’s called him that in so long. It doesn’t even feel like his name anymore. 

There’s a gentle nudge at Jack’s backside. “It’s alright, Jackie. You can look up. Show our guest your pretty face.” 

Jack looks up, blinking against the overhead light. The man’s face is shadowed, but even so, Jack recognizes him. The sharp chin, the beady eyes, the whispy mouse brown hairline. Immediately, Jack’s balance falters, and he sinks back over his feet. 

“Aw, now, Jackie. Don’t be scared. You remember Dr. Seligman, don’t you?” Ivan kneels beside Jack and runs a careful finger over the ridges of Jack’s spine. “He’s the one who helped bring you here to me.” 

Jack squeezes his eyes shut, even though he isn’t supposed to. He remembers, just barely. Carl’s low snarl, the smoke detector, the drinks–drinks that Seligman mixed. Snatches of foggy time. Being shunted down stairs. His clothes being cut from his body. Hands, shifting, groping, pulling. Waking up, bound in a straitjacket, in this basement. 

Because Jack was taken. Because this is never what he wanted at all. But now, he doesn’t know how to want anything else. 

“Open your eyes, sweet boy,” Ivan coos, but his hand rests heavy on the back of Jack’s neck. A warning. 

Jack complies. Seligman’s horsey face is just inches from his own.

“Dr. Peters was right about you, wasn’t he?” Seligman’s lips creep into a wet smile. “You’re just perfect.”

And Jack is perfect. When Seligman caresses his cheek with papery fingers, Jack lets his mouth fall open. When Seligman teases his soft palate with a jagged fingernail, Jack does not gag. 

“No alarm reaction at all,” Seligman says in wonder. He wipes his wet fingers on Jack’s cheek and swats at Jack’s chin, a silent command for Jack to close his mouth; Jack does. “This is extraordinary, Ivan.”

“Well, I appreciate that.” Ivan’s nails twine with the hair at the nape of Jack’s neck. “He’s almost ready, I think. But I’m still dosing him with a sedative on occasion. That’s part of the reason I asked you to come.”

Seligman stands, still studying Jack from above. “What do you mean?”

“I thought we’d run an experiment,” Ivan says. His touch withdraws, and Jack whines. Ivan only chuckles. “Good boy, Jackie. You just be patient while we discuss. Position five.”

Jack folds in half, a penitent at worship. He listens, but he doesn’t really hear. He is boneless and warm, any real understanding lost in the fog that gets thicker with every slow breath.

“What’s your proposal, Ivan?”

“He’s already been dosed tonight. I say we do what we discussed now, with his typical drugs, and then repeat the exercise tomorrow, without sedating him.”

Seligman sucks his teeth. “So you’ll know if his compliance is drug dependent or not.”

“Precisely.”

Seligman half-laughs. “I suppose I could be talked into it.”

“All for the sake of science, of course.”

“Oh, of course.”

Faraway as Jack is, his stomach still jolts. He knows he’ll do what’s asked of him—there is no asking, not really—but there is an unfamiliar pinprick of fear worrying his belly; he hasn’t been scared in a long time. Still, he stays where he is and waits for instruction.

“You’ll take his mouth,” Ivan says, his voice cool and matter-of-fact, “and I’ll take him from behind.”

No. They can’t do this. Jack can’t do this. He’s never done it before. He is so good, so good at everything else. He can show them, if only they’ll let him. He wants to raise his head, to protest, but he is too fuzzy, too well-trained. He doesn’t move.

“If you insist,” Seligman replies.

“He’s quite adept at oral stimulation. I’ve made note of it in his file.”

Jack closes his eyes again. Yes, he is good at that. He’s always been good at that. Even Bill thought so. But now, he is practiced. A professional. 

“I’m sure the agency will be pleased.”

Ivan laughs. “And so will you.” He claps his hands. “Up, Jackie. Ten.” 

Jack raises himself to hands and knees, and he keeps his eyes on the slate gray floor. Seligman’s feet move away, but Jack hears the gentle drop of a zipper. Ivan squats down in front of him, tucking his fingers beneath Jack’s chin. 

“Now, my good boy, you’re going to show off all of your training. You are so close to being ready for your next step, but we still need to assess, don’t we?”

“Yes, sir,” Jack whispers. 

“Good. Now, when Dr. Seligman is ready, you’re going to take him in your mouth, and you are going to make him come. You can do that, can’t you, Jackie?” 

Jack nods. He can do that. It doesn’t matter if he wants to. Of course he wants to. Of course he can do this. It’s what he was made for, isn’t it? What he’s been training for?

Ivan grips the sides of Jack’s jaw with punishing strength. “What’s that, sweet boy?” 

“Yes, sir.” 

Ivan’s fingers relax. “Right. While you’re doing that, I’m going to fuck you. Doesn’t that sound nice?” 

The pinprick of fear tears into Jack’s gut, widening, burning. But he nods again, the world blurry in front of his eyes. “Yes, sir. Thank you.”

“You’re very welcome, my darling,” Ivan says. He presses a kiss to Jack’s forehead. “Isn’t this nice, Jackie? Letting others do for you. No choices to make. Just the simple kind of life you were always meant for.” 

“He’s a very lucky boy.” Seligman’s naked, downy-haired legs appear just beyond Ivan’s shoulder. 

“He is. And his Joe will be so proud.” 

Seligman laughs. “Prescott? Oh, Jesus. I’d forgotten.” 

Jack whimpers before he can stop himself. They shouldn’t make fun of Joe. Once Jack gets home, he’ll prove what a big man Joe is. He’ll let Joe do whatever he wants, the way he always should have. 

“Yes, Jackie works very hard for his Joe.” 

“Does Prescott even know–” 

Ivan pops to his feet. “Enough talk, I think. Jack knows what to do. Let him show you.”

“It would be my pleasure,” Seligman says. 

“Alright, Jackie.” Ivan’s voice drifts behind. “Position one. Let Dr. Seligman guide you.” 

“Yes, sir.” 

Jack pushes himself to his feet, but before he can rise to standing, Seligman’s dry hands wrap around his shoulders, holding Jack’s trunk parallel to the floor. Jack hates the feeling of the man’s skin on his, but it doesn’t matter; what he feels is unimportant, and he knows it. Still, he shivers, and Seligman squeezes his shoulders. 

“Open that beautiful mouth, Mr. Kenyon,” Seligman says. 

Jack follows orders, and when Seligman slips himself–limp, pink, cold–between Jack’s lips, Jack immediately does what’s expected of him. He flattens his tongue, pushes himself down, lets Seligman guide him back and forth, back and forth. 

“My goodness,” Seligman breathes. “My goodness.” 

Jack doesn’t have any goodness of his own. He is almost grateful when he feels the familiar warmth of Ivan’s hands on his hips.

“That’s it, sweet boy, keep going. Don’t let me distract you,” Ivan murmurs. He kneads his thumbs against Jack’s tailbone, using his knuckles to tease at the cleft between Jack’s buttocks. 

Jack isn’t distracted. His cheeks hollow, and when Seligman’s grip grinds against the hinges of his jaw, Jack moans. The sound is protracted, muffled by the weight of Seligman against his tongue, but it doesn’t matter; Seligman laughs and pats his cheek. He’s hard now, and his hips thrust forward against Jack’s waiting face. 

“That’s right, Mr. Kenyon. You are the star pupil, aren’t you?” 

Jack knows the words are wrong, but just now, he can’t explain why. There is nothing but sensation, nothing but a body that floats in space, ready to be used however his betters see fit. He lets Seligman’s pubis press against his nose; he will breathe when he can. There’s no reason to fight. 

“He is quite teachable,” Ivan agrees. 

He slaps Jack’s ass, sending Jack’s body forward until Seligman is teasing his throat. Jack’s buttocks are cleaved apart, stretched so far open that he almost feels like he’s being ripped in two. But it’s alright. Ivan is only getting ready to prepare him; Jack is lucky. 

There’s a soft hocking sound, and then something warm and slippery drops between Jack’s ass cheeks. Ivan’s thumb slips between the mounds of skin and muscle, and then he circles Jack’s hole. 

“Hold him still for a moment,” Ivan says over Jack’s head, and Seligman slows his rhythm, smashing Jack’s face between his sandpaper palms. 

“Christ, Ivan. You’ve done a wonderful job.” 

One of Ivan’s hands finds purchase on Jack’s hip again; his grip pulses around the bone. “We’ll see, won’t we?” 

Ivan guides himself down, and then, with one sticky thrust, he is inside of Jack. He ruts forward, gently, just once. A kindness. Seligman eases himself forward too, laughing a little. But Jack isn’t afraid. He is just a good boy. The warmth spreads inside his head, and his throat flutters as Seligman pushes into it.

Ivan rocks against him. “Now, sweet boy, now, we’re going to see what you’re really made of.”

taglist: @oddsconvert, @darkthingshappen, @whump-for-all-and-all-for-whump, @sparrowsage, @aut0psy1, @mylifeisonthebookshelf, @termsnconditions-apply, @darlingwhump, @squishablesunbeam, @dont-be-gentle-please, @deltaxxk, @irishwhiskeygrl, @keeper-of-all-the-random-things, @hold-him-down, @peachy-anime-blog-blog, @whumpyblogthing, @sowhumpful, @considerablecolors, @ramadiiiisme, @sunnie, @sadboysanonymous, @panic-whump

[rabdoidal]

Hey, I’m here to scream about OFMD (Spoilers). Aside from everything that everyone has already said, the goddamn acting in that show is fucking phenomenal. From everyone in their own very character specific ways but especially from Rhys Darby and Taika Waititi. There are moments that still make my chest hurt to think about. Like just before Ed calls for an Act of Grace, goddamn the absolute panic and desperation, incredible. And the complete adoration Stede and Ed have when they look at each other? Fantastic. My housemate and I haven’t stopped shouting about it for a week. Hope things are going well!

truly everyone feels like such a unique, rounded character! all of them are intensely gifted comedic and dramatic actors, and every scene with a different dynamic between 2 characters is a blessing - Oluwande and Frenchie tricking racists into falling for a pyramid scheme? Buttons being completely unhinged but Stede trusting him implicitly? Jim and Oluwande as cheeky best friends sharing a secret while also secretly pining for each other? Lucius and Izzy being cantankerous fucks towards each other with a thin underlying layer of sexual tension? Lucius and Black Pete being sweet supportive boyfriends in an open relationship trying to figure out how romance works? Ivan and Fang being goons with their own feelings and wants, including the desire to belong to the bigger crew? Wee John Feeney and Roach trying to figure out how to relax so they start beating the shit out of each other? Jim kidnapping and trying to kill Lucius? I could watch that crew do nothing but shoot the shit and peel potatoes for 5 hours and id be glued to my seat

[thebadgerclan]

The Dark Prince: Chapter 11

Chapter Summary: The reception...

Last chapter!  Thanks for reading!

“Their Most Royal Highnesses, Princess Y/N Lantsov and Prince Aleksander Kirigan!”  Your husband grasped your hand as you entered the ballroom, his smile growing at the cheers of your guests.  Aleksander led you to the banquet table, pulling your seat out for you before taking his own.  He lifted your joined hands to your lips and kissed your knuckles, looking at you as he did.

“My beautiful bride,” he whispered, making you smile.  “I love you so much.”  “I love you too, Aleksander.”  Once more following Ravkan tradition, Aleksander’s mother rose from her seat on his other side, clearing her throat.  “When my son told me that he was courting the Princess, I laughed in his face.  I thought he was joking.  But then I saw how happy she was making him, what he was willing to do for her, and I was convinced.  I did not love my son’s father, but I can see how deeply he loves his wife.”

Baghra lifted her glass in a toast, and the rest of the guests followed.  “My son, I pray that your life is full of nothing but happiness.  And to my new daughter, if he ever gives you trouble, I’ll beat him with my cane.”  You, along with the rest of the ballroom, laughed, raising your glasses in a toast.  Your mother rose next, and the room fell silent.  “My darling girl, I am so very happy for you.  To be a wife is a joy like no other, and I can see that your joy will surpass mine in every way.

“My advice to you is this, love each other and keep no secrets.  Your love will sustain you when nothing else will.”  You smiled, once more toasting your glass.  Aleksander, his hand still in yours, leaned over to kiss you, and you let him, tipping your head back and cupping his cheek.  It was your wedding day, for Saint’s sake, you’d kiss your husband if you wanted to.  When the Queen was seated, the servants brought out your wedding feast.

Roasted lamb, pork loins, potatoes in a cream sauce, fresh vegetables, bread and butter, blini, smoked cod, a variety of soups, kvas, wine, ale, and much more.  You knew that there was more than enough food, and at your request, the leftovers would be packaged and sent to the lower town, distributed to some of the less fortunate families.

Throughout the meal, Aleksander seldom took his eyes off of you; letting his hand brush against yours as he reached for his wine, admiring and complementing your beauty, whispering sweet nothings in your ear, hanging on your every movement.  You felt similarly, not wanting to look away from your husband, never wanting to leave his side.  When the meal was eaten and the dishes were cleared, Ivan and Alya made speeches, both boasting about being your friends, your leadership, your kindness, respectively, and the love you shared for each other.

When the best man and maid of honor speeches were finished, Aleksander rose, reluctantly dropping your hand.  “Thank you all for coming,” he said.  “You can say you’re here for us, but we both know you’re all here for Y/N.  And I don’t blame you.  Fortune has certainly been on my side as of late: Y/N allowed me to court her, I was given His Majesty’s blessing, and now, I am Princess Y/N’s husband.

“I have never known happiness like I do now, I have never known love like this.  And my beautiful, sweet, perfect Y/N, I will love you for the rest of our lives.  I will cherish and adore you every single day, my darling.  I love you, Y/N, and I will love you until the day I die.”  You wiped away a few tears and rose, wrapping your arms around Aleksander’s neck, pulling him down for a deep, sensual kiss.

“I love you so much,” you whispered, and your husband smiled, resting his hands on your waist.  “As I love you.”  Aleksander led you from the table as the musicians began playing, and your guests watched with rapt attention as you began your first dance.  You wound your arms around Aleksander’s neck once more, and he wrapped his arms around your waist, the two of you swaying gently back and forth to the music, eyes locked on one another.

“I didn’t think I could be as happy as I am right now,” your husband said.  Your veil had been removed so you didn’t tread on it, and Aleksander longed to run his hands through your hair, were it not so meticulously pinned in place.  “I know,” you replied.  “Were you nervous?”  Aleksander laughed.  “A bit.  I thought you might not show up.”  You smiled and shook your head.  “Father practically had to keep me from running down the aisle to you.”

He smiled, pressing a gentle, lingering kiss to your forehead.  “You are so beautiful, milaya,” Aleksander whispered against your skin.  “Radiant, ethereal, perfect.  I am so lucky.”  “So am I, Sasha.”  He released one arm from around your waist and cupped your cheek, kissing you deeply as you swayed back and forth.  “You are all I have ever wanted,” your husband said.  “All I have ever needed, my love.  You have completed me.”

You felt more tears springing to your eyes, and Aleksander kissed you again.  “Aleksander,” you said, his name conveying a thousand unspoken words.  “I love you.”  He only nodded, knowing he did not need to repeat the sentiment to know he felt it.  The song came to a close, and the guests clapped as they flocked to the dance floor.  Aleksander danced with your mother, and as his father was long dead, you danced with Baghra, the older woman only stepping on your toes four times.

Your father danced with you as well, telling you how proud of you he was and how happy he was for you.  “Be happy, my darling,” he said, kissing your cheek.  “Be happy with each other.  If you have that, nothing else matters.”  You knew your parents’ marriage wasn’t one born of love, but you also knew that over the years, they’d come to love each other in a sense.  It was partnership, respect, confidence.  But yours was true, undying, passionate love, and you would thank the Saints for that every single day.  

The evening was filled with dancing, drinking, and more kisses than you could count.  You danced to traditional folk songs, old Ravkan court dances, group dances, and a fair amount of simply swaying back and forth in your husband’s arms.  The reception lasted well into the night, and when ten bells struck, the guests were making their way back to their suites for the night.

Aleksander pulled you into a lingering kiss, and you smiled against his lips.  It had been a long day, and while part of you wanted nothing more than to fall into bed, the other part of you never wanted this day to end.  “Shall we retire, my lovely wife?”  You were leaving tomorrow for your honeymoon; a three week vacation to the Southern Colonies.  They boasted tropical beaches and world class cuisine, something you and Aleksander were eager to take advantage of.  When you returned to Ravka, you’d be taking a tour of the country, as was tradition for the royal family after a wedding.

“I suppose we shall, husband dearest.”  Aleksander offered his arm, which you took with a smile, and led you from the Grand Palace.  It would take a while to truly consider the Little Palace “home”, but you grinned to think of it as such.  Your things had all been moved, and while most of them had yet to be unpacked and arranged, they were in Aleksander’s rooms, and that thought made you smile wider.

“What are you thinking about, my love?” your husband asked, and you laughed.  “It’s silly.”  “Oh, do tell.”  “I was thinking about my things in your rooms.  That we’re really married now.”  Aleksander laughed, kissing your temple as you walked.  “We are, aren’t we?  That means you’re stuck with me forever.  No backing out now.”  You let out a laugh, your face tipping back to face the stars.

“I wouldn’t back out even if I wanted to, Aleksander.”  Your husband stopped in his tracks, about halfway between the Grand and Little Palaces.  He pulled you into his arms and kissed you, his lips soft against yours, his hands warm against your back.  “My Y/N, my wife,” Aleksander whispered.  “I love you so much.”  The stories all end with “and they lived happily ever after”, but your happily ever after was just beginning.  

[shanemulcahy]

ichigo ichie, a kaiseki restaurant in Cork, Ireland - absolute heavenly food and dining! Took me a while to post these but here are some photos from a meal (menu below) friends and I had back in February 2020, although I forgot to take a photo of dish 7. MENU: Kisaragi 01. Sakizuke/先附 [Amuse-bouche] - (PHOTO 2) Kisetsu no sakana 02. Oshinogi/御凌ぎ [Amuse-bouche] - (PHOTO 3) On soba (Ume plum, wakame, soba, katsuobushi and chive in shiitake dashi) 03. Hassun/八寸 [starters] - (PHOTO 4) A. Pistachio tofu (Pistachio, beetroot miso, apple blossom and gold leaf) B. Uni, yaki shirako wan (Connemara sea urchin, cod milt, wasabi and akazu rice) C. Yo-nashi sansho wine zuke (Pear, sansho in Rosé wine with shiso fluff) D. Awabi jagaimo arare manju gin an (Connemara abalone, Kilbrack organic vitabella potato, roasted rice and gin-an dashi) E. Tori yawata maki (Manor farm chicken, burdock, Kilbrack organic carrot and French bean) 04. Wanmono/椀物 [dashi broth] - (PHOTO 5) Dobin mushi ; unagi and maitake (Lough Neagh eel, maitake, taro potato, sudachi lime and Leamlara Ivan's mitsuba) 05. Mukouzuke/向付 [Selection of sashimi] - (PHOTO 6) Kisetsu no osashimi 06. Nimono/煮物 [stew] - (PHOTO 7) Mekajiki misoni (Sword fish, aubergine, padrón pepper, leek, chilli and yuzu miso) 07. Yakimono/焼き物 [shichirin grill] Kamo aburiyaki yagi cheese (Thornhill duck, St Tola goats cheese, bamboo ash, brassica mustard and sakura smoked hazelnut tuile) 08. Mushimono/蒸物 [steamed] - (PHOTO 8) Chawanmushi (Egg dashi pot, foie gras, plum wine winter black truffle, edamame and apple foam) 09. Sunomono/酢物 [pickled] - (PHOTO 9) Iwashizu (Sardine, spaghetti squash, wakame, pepper dulse and shiso tosazu) 10. Gohanmono/飯物 [rice] - (PHOTO 9) Maguro ikura zuke don (Balfego blue fin tuna, ikura and zuke yolk soy sauce) 11. Tomewan/留椀 [soup] - (PHOTO 9) Akadashi (Red miso, tofu, chive and dashi) 12. Kanmi/甘味 [sweets] - (PHOTO 10) Kuzumochi zenzai (Adzuki beans, kuzu and tea leaves)