#bring it to the beach but thinks sushi

[menagerofmischief]

I rarely indulge in these kinds of things but I love your diner and I have to place my own order!!

Served by Lando Norris

Starter - artichoke dip (thinking Fewtrell reader cause Lando had been WANTING reader)

cold appetizer

Main dish:

Sausage rolls

Sushi

Ceasar Salad

Veggie Burger

Drinks:

Fanta

Apple cider

Vodka soda

Dessert - yes

Fav GP is Singapore or Vegas was fun last year! (Im a whore for a good night race)

Dia's Diner Menu

artichoke dip brother's friend cold appetizer rough sex sausage rolls "I'll make it fit" veggie burger "Feel how hard you make me" sushi "Better quiet down you don't want them to hear us" ceaser salad "Lie to me again and you're not gonna like what happens next" fanta size kink apple cider spitting vodka redbull squirting dessert aftercare + moussaka "You look your best covered in my cum"

Lando Norris x Fewtrell!reader

TW: unprotected sex, fingering, squirting, spitting in mouth

WC: 2.3k

A/N: I kid you not, I screamed when I got this request. I was so happy to write something for you, hope you enjoy it!

❀

“You’re like a fucking dog, Norris!” I say, bringing my hands up to shield by face as Lando shakes his head, droplets of water from his wet hair spraying onto me.

Lando has been best friends with my brother, Max, for practically as long as I can remember. He was always there and he was everywhere. From family dinner to family vacations, you name it, he’s attended it with my brother.

He’s been around for every awkward phase of my life and every especially embarrassing moment. I wasn’t blind, I’ve always thought he was attractive and it would be a lie to say I’ve never had feelings for him. 

But I never dared to say anything. He was Max’s best friend which meant he was off limits or my brother would throw a hissy fit. And I’m sure he had received a speech about how I was off limits from my brother as well.

Not that it ever stopped him from letting his gaze wander over my body, studying every curve and looking way longer than he should have. Or giving me one of his infamous smirks whenever I caught him doing it.

We were currently on a summer vacation with Max and his girlfriend Pietra. It was summer break for Formula 1, so Max insisted on taking a trip with Lando and dragging me along. Summer trips meant warm places with beaches and beaches with Lando meant getting sprayed with water while I was laying on the sunbeds.

Lando laughed, mischief sparkling in his eyes. “Should I bark then as well?” He asked, his lips stretching into a smirk. 

“You try that and I’ll call animal control to pick you up.” I said, rolling my eyes at him. I moved my eyes back to the book I had laying open in my lap, trying my best to focus on the words on the page instead of him.

He was still wet from the water and I couldn’t decide which part of him I wanted to look at more. His chest, with drops of water sliding down and catching along his happy trail. Or his thighs, the way his wet swim trunks hugged his muscular thighs, making them look extra delicious.

Not only that but the outline of his dick was very clear and practically begging me to look at it.

“You like what you see?” Lando asked, the tone of his voice teasing. Slowly I dragged my gaze back up to meet his, feeling my cheeks heat up a little from the embarrassment.

“The only thing bigger than your ego is the iceberg that sank the Titanic.” I told him, quickly returning my attention back to my book. Lando only laughed in response.

✿ ✿ ✿

Later that night, back in the hotel, I was laying in my bed bored out of my mind. I scrolled Instagram enough for a warning to pop up that I spent too much time on the app and then scrolled TikTok until the videos became repetitive.

At first I thought I’d go to Max’s room and annoy him but then decided against it in favor of giving him and his girlfriend some alone time. After another five minutes of fatal boredom I dragged myself out of the bed and set my way towards Lando’s room.

The door swung open after only one knock, leaving my hand still in the air as I faced Lando. He was shirtless, with a pair of shorts low enough on his waist to show just a hint of the waistband of his boxers. His hair was damp and his room just a bit steamed up - he must have showered recently.

“Expecting someone?” I asked, giving him a smirk.

“Yes,” he said, a smile stretching over his lips. “I was expecting you.”

He moved to the side to let me get into his room and closed the door behind me. I hummed, “I’m sure you were.”

“I was actually,” he said, throwing himself onto his bed. He put his hands behind his head, stretching himself and the muscles in his arms flexed.

Lando may not be the tallest guy, but he was taller than me, that’s for sure. And his build, along with all the muscles that his extensive training had formed on his body made him look even more deliciously bigger.

I was staring, my gaze fixated on his movements. This time I didn’t even have the courtesy to look ashamed of doing it.

Lando moved so quickly I barely saw it coming. One of his hands grabbed mine and pulled me onto the bed, making me land right on top of him. I gasped, bracing my hands against the mattress and looking at him with wide eyes.

In this position he was so close, closer than he’s ever been. I stared at him, my mouth slightly open as I breathed, my breath mingling with his. “Lando,” I whispered, not daring to speak at full volume, afraid the moment was just going to disappear.

His gaze went down, his eyes fixated on my lips. I didn’t allow myself any time to overthink, knowing I would end up chickening out - so I leaned down and tentatively brushed my lips against his.

Lando groaned at the contact, his hand grabbing the back on my neck and forcing me towards him even more, crashing my lips against his in a bruising kiss. His tongue stroked mine and I couldn’t help but moan into his mouth, unaware of the fact that I was grinding against him.

We finally broke apart, both of us gasping for air. My cheeks felt like they were burning and there was a hint of redness on Lando’s as well.

“Fuck,” I whispered, the curse rolling off my tongue. “We shouldn’t be doing this. It’s wrong -”

Lando cut me off by thrusting his hips upwards, his bulge rubbing against my clothed core. “Feel that?” Lando asked, his breath hot against my face. “Feel how hard you make me? Feel how good it is to have me rubbing against you?” I nodded breathlessly, unable to form words. “Something that feels this right, definitely can’t be wrong.”

And he’s right. It feels good, it feels right. I like him and for once I stop thinking about what everyone else wants and what they’ll think and focus on myself.

I find myself nodding along, leaning down to kiss him again. It’s desperate, passionate, full with need and longing that it seems both of us have been trying to suppress. 

“Let me take this off, yeah?” Lando asks, pulling away and reaching for the hem of my top. Wordlessly I lift my hands up, making it easier for him to slide it over my head.

I’m not wearing a bra, so the second my top is off my tits are bare for him to see. My nipples harden and I hiss when Lando palms my breasts and teasingly runs his thumb over my nipple before pinching it.

“Prettiest tits I’ve ever seen,” he mumbles, not wasting a second longer before he’s diving down, his lips wrapping around my nipple and rolling the bug with his tongue. A moan slips past my lips and I wrap my fingers around his locks, keeping his head in place.

“Lando, please,” I whine, my voice breathy and desperate. “Want you to fuck me.”

He doesn’ need to hear more than that, suddenly he’s flipping us over, towering over me. He presses a quick kiss to my lips before going down and taking my shorts and panties off with one go.

He blows air on my pussy, making me whine and playfully slap his arm. “Stop teasing, it’s mean.”

He chuckles, his fingers slipping through my arousal and circling my entrance. “Tell me baby,” he whispers against my skin, his lips pressed to my collarbones. “How many times did you touch yourself just like this, imagining it was me instead.”

I shake my head, not wanting to admit the truth. “Didn’t,” I manage to murmur out.

He huffs, and then his fingers pinch my clit, making me buck my hips and moan at the mix of pain and pleasure. “Lie to me again, and you’re not gonna like what happens next.” His voice leaves no room for argument and I know he really means it. “Now, I think I asked you a question.”

“Too many!” I admit, a moan slipping out when his fingers begin to rub my clit in fast, harsh circles. “I don’t know! Don’t keep track of how much I do it.”

“There we go,” Lando hums, the expression on his face looking satisfied. “See how good you can behave.”

He slips two fingers in me, sliding right in with no resistance, thanks to how wet I am. Through the whole process he keeps rubbing my clit, and suddenly the pleasure doubles when he starts to thrust his fingers into me, grazing my G-spot every time.

“Lando, so good,” I moan out. “Fuck, I’m gonna cum!”

As soon as the words are out of my mouth I wish I didn’t say them because the pleasure that was building up is instantly gone as Lando pulls his fingers out and away from my clit. I’m left gasping, looking at him with a glare.

“Fuck sweetheart don’t look at me like that,” he says, his voice is hoarse. “I’ve thought about this so many times. The first time I make you cum I want it to be around my cock.”

He lifts his hand, his fingers covered in my arousal, and pops them into his mouth, sucking them clean and groaning at the taste. “Taste so good, sweetheart, come on open up.”

Instinctively I open my mouth, thinking he’s going to push his fingers into my mouth for me to taste myself. Instead he leans over me and spits into my mouth, and though barely, I can taste myself.

I moan when it hits my tongue, and lock my eyes with his before swallowing. He groans, his fingers grabbing my chin, “God, you’re such a good girl. Perfect little slut - and just for me.”

“Just for you,” I repeat, nodding my head. “Now please fuck me, Lando, it’s too much!”

Lando takes off his shorts and boxers, leaving himself bare in front of me. My eyes are instantly drawn to his cock, standing proud, the tip leaking pre-cum. My eyes widen at the size of it, he’s bigger than anyone I’ve been with before.

He must see it on my face because he cups my cheek with one hand while nestling himself between my thighs. “Don’t worry, sweet girl, I’ll make it fit.”

He pushes in slowly, giving me time to adjust to his size, pushing inch after inch inside of me until his hips are flush against mine. He looks at me for confirmation and I give him a nod to go ahead.

While he was really sweet by starting gentle and going slow until I was ready - now that he’s fucking me, he’s anything but. Lando’s thrusts are rough, pulling almost all the way out and then pushing back, deep inside, his hips hitting mine over and over again.

“Lando, so good, fuck!” I moan out. My voice is high pitches and my moans are becoming louder as I am unable to control them, or think anything much in general.

Lando’s hand presses down against my mouth, instantly muffling the sound of my moans. “Better quiet down,” he growls into my ear. “Max and Pietra are in the room next door. You don’t want them to hear us do you?”

I shake my head no and Lando removes his hand. Without his hand covering my mouth it’s much harder to keep the moans and whines coming out of my lips down. 

“Lan, I’m gonna cum, please!” I plead, feeling the pleasure build up, unlike anything I’ve experienced before.

“Go on,” Lando says with a groan and I feel him twitch inside of me. “Cum for me baby. Cum all over my dick.”

His words topple me over the edge and I come harder than I’ve ever cum before. It’s not until I look down and see Lando’s abdomen and half of the bed wet that I realize I squirted. Lando groans, his fingers rubbing through my fold for a moment before he brings them up to his mouth and sucks them clean.

“That was so hot baby,” he says. He thrusts into me a few more times and then pulls out, cumming all over my stomach and tits.

He looks down at me, trying to catch his breath and his eyes sparkle with a hint of something. “You always look so damn gorgeous,” he says, his fingers rubbing gentle comforting circles into my hip. “But you look your best covered in my cum.”

I stared at the ceiling, still a bit out of breath. “That was the best orgasm of my life,” I said, with a laugh.

“Guess I’ll have to give you many more then,” Lando said.

“I don’t how you’ll survive,” I teased.

“I’ll make do,” Lando replied, leaning down to kiss me sweetly. He reached for his suitcase that was next to the bed and got a what I assumed was a dirty shirt and used it to wipe his cum off my body.

After that he got another T-Shirt, this time a clean one and helped me put it on. He put his underwear back on and then crawled into the bed, next to me. He wrapped one of his arms around my stomach and placed lazy kisses on my cheek and neck.

“Want to watch a movie and order room service?” He asked, rubbing his nose against my neck.

“God, you’re perfect.”

“Thanks, I know!”

“Just play the damn movie, Lando.”

[glittergoblinzz]

Like to think Mer!König is part Orca. I would've said Whale Shark but they're a bit too gentle...and while I do love the whole tentacle stuff König is always associated with in MonsterAUs and other FantasyAUs, I just wanted to do something different so Octopus/Squid was out of the question.

He won't take his hood off for Reader just yet, but he'll lift it slightly to eat the snacks and foods they bring him everyday when they meet at the beach. His sharp teeth startles Reader a bit, but then they quickly remember König is a merfolk, who naturally have sharp teeth to eat fish.

When he tells Reader that he's of Austrian heritage, of course Reader takes it upon themselves to bring him snacks and foods that originated or is common in Austria. König is obviously over the moon to have foods he hasn't had since his mother was alive.

Speaking of his mother, she was completely human while his father was a merfolk just like him, making König a hybrid that can survive on land and in the ocean....but he still have to make sure his tail doesn't dry out. It gets all dry and itchy and just an overall pain in the ass to deal with if he lets his tail dry out.

König brings Reader food that his species eats as well....even if it really is only fish, kelp and other edible animals from the ocean's depths. Like, imagine that scene from HTTYS when Toothless offers the fish to Hiccup. That would literally be König and Reader the first time he brings Reader something to try.

He'd watch Reader curiously as he waits for them to take a bite out of the squid he brought them. If/when Reader hesitates, he visibly tenses up and....was that a growl? Oop, Reader takes a reluctant bite, slowly chewing before giving a pained smile. König is oblivious and thinks Reader thoroughly enjoyed it, so he brings them more. He knows people eat raw fish all the time, as sushi exists....so he doesn't see any problems with this.

[isagispuzzle]

EMMMAAA CONGRATS ON 200!! I love reading the scenarios u post :3. For my req, I think my most fav trope(s) ever are misunderstandings, soul mates or the amnesia one hehehe, u can just pick one ! again congrats 🫶

HEHE THANKYOUU the amnesia trope is so fun to write, idk how i completely forgot it exists HAHAH thank you for reminding me of it!! anyway i'm really hoping you don't mind angst bc this was too irresistible to write

you wake up in a bed that's not your own. you recognise the pristine white walls and the lingering smell of rubbing alcohol in the air, and you know you're in the hospital.

the memories rush back. you were filming your newest action movie, and your wire snapped mid-jump. you remember falling, you remember the fear solidifying in your veins, and you remember thinking about him.

the door opens and sae walks in. his eyes widen the moment he sees you're awake, and the next thing you know, he's leaning over you with a hand carefully pushing your hair out of your face. he quietly asks you how you feel, in a voice so soft and tender, while his eyes turn glassy. he cups your cheek and squeezes your shoulder, the uninjured one, and you freeze.

you know he's the one you thought about right before you hit the ground, you remember every eyelash and every line on his lips, but you know you're forgetting something.

sae, ever so attuned to your every emotion, pulls away. the vulnerability drains from his eyes and he stares down at you from his full height. you look back at him, and you know that he's already read you like a book.

the doctor diagnoses you with selective retrograde amnesia as a result of trauma to your head. while most of your memories are intact, you can't remember much about your relationship with sae. the doctor assures both of you that your memories will return as you recover, and to help, you can revisit important or meaningful places.

sae brings you to your shared apartment after your discharge from the hospital. you remember picking out every piece of decor with sae, you remember assembling the shelf with him, and you remember falling asleep on the couch while waiting for him to come home. he brings you to the sushi bar you two always visit, and the beach where he confessed his feelings to you, and the hotel you're going to have your wedding at. you remember hiding from the paparazzi on your first date, you remember telling sae to wait till after your movie premier to hold the ceremony, and you remember going for cake tasting sessions alone, because sae was in spain and he didn't care what flavour the cake is.

you look up articles about you and sae to jog your memory too. countless tabloids have covered the two of you over the course of your relationship, teasing that you're the only one who can melt itoshi sae's icy heart and speculating that you're engaged after seeing a ring on your hand during a table read. you see comments online praising the picture-perfect relationship between you, an up-and-coming actress, and sae, the pride of japan's football. hell, you even scroll far enough to see fan edits of the two of you in hopes of remembering the rhythm your heart used to pound around him.

months pass and the day of your wedding marches closer. you remember all the details of your relationship with sae, you remember how much sae and everyone around him cares for you, and you remember how much you loved him before the accident.

you look at him across the dinner table and you know that he is your fiance, the man you're promising to spend forever with, the man you're supposed to love. you know and remember all this, but you don't feel it.

sae looks back at you, and you know that once again, despite your perfect line delivery and method acting, he's already read you like a book.

[remtrack]

hiiiiiii eren baby HAPPY 5K AGAIN 💖💖💖💖💖💖 you deserve itttt!!!!!! i was thinking of my ideal date while walking home today TO TELL U UR EVENT HAS BEEN ON MY MIND… anyway, it deffo involves going to a museum because talking about the art works and interpreting them with someone is the most fun and it tells you a lot about how they think.. then, a stroll by the beach while eating ice cream is always nice (and romantic 😁) then sushi!!!! always my fav food, just a really chill date that allows deep convos to flow nicely hehe have funnnn with this!!! i love U congrats again <333

— the cupid's heard your wish, your match is hwang hyunjin .ᐟ

note: hi sahar bae <33 YOU'RE SO SWEET THANK U T_T sending you so much love 💞

playlist...

baby i'm yours by arctic monkeys ・ sweet creature by harry styles ・ my kind of woman by mac demarco ・ i want to hold your hand by the beatles ・ moonlight by ariana grande ・ can't take my eyes off you by frankie valli

trope...

what if. What if. sahar what if i give u. nerd hyune. nerd x popular trope!!! hyunjin's like super surprised that the cool girl he's been admiring from afar likes art just like him and plans the best date ever <3

headcanons...

picture this. nerdy hyune who'd stare at you from afar, blushing everytime your eyes meet in a lecture.

at one point, he stirs up the courage to finally talk to you and he's pleasantly surprised that you like art like him too!!

once you start dating i feel like he'd bring you to see all the exhibitions he wants to see. hyunjin loves the way you'd stare at the artworks with sparks in your eyes, loves discussing about each piece with you.

lots of picnic dates too!!! count on him to bring you your favourite food.

omg trying to make homemade sushi with him would be funny too. ends up failing and y'all will just eat the ingredients.

can and will draw you all the time. a lot of the pages of his sketchbook has little sketches of you. he's an obsessive boyfriend tbh he'll make his entire personality about you.

the kind of boyfriend to bring you up in every conversation. oh my girlfriend taught me this, oh my girlfriend likes that brand, oh my girlfriend showed me this meme. all the time!!!

100% gushes about you to his friends. you'll meet changbin one day and he goes, "oh yeah how was the new cafe you tried out?" like hyunjin will tell his friends abt you so much that it's like his friends are now yours too.

you're forever his muse. whether it be the inspiration to his paintings or his songs, you're on his mind always.

[kentobb]

hiromi higuruma x female secretary (AU).

chapter 22 > chapter 24

chapter 23

Higuruma and Nanami walk into the office, the usual hustle and bustle of the legal world surrounding them. The buzz of phones ringing and papers shuffling fills the room, but there’s an added layer of tension today. Nanami, ever the professional, is already on a roll, detailing the chaos caused by Sukuna’s escape. Higuruma follows him towards their desks, his tired eyes scanning the piles of paperwork that seem to multiply by the minute.

“Honestly, Higuruma,” Nanami says, rubbing his temples, “the press is all over us. Every time I step out of my office, someone’s shoving a mic in my face, asking about Sukuna’s escape. They think we’re supposed to have all the answers, like we’re some kind of magic detectives.”

Higuruma lets out a tired sigh, sitting down and shuffling through some legal documents. “It’s not just the press. The whole federal government is breathing down our necks. And don’t even get me started on the paperwork. The amount of documentation we need to go through just to start an investigation is ridiculous.”

Nanami shoots him a look of quiet understanding. “I thought I was done with the chaos when I left the field. But now… well, now I feel like I’ve just stepped back into it, only with a desk and more forms.”

Higuruma raises an eyebrow, half-smiling despite the stress. “You didn’t think the legal world would be any easier, did you?”

Before Nanami can respond, the door to their office swings open, and in walks Gojo, looking unbothered as ever despite the case on his shoulder. He grins at the sight of his colleagues, clearly in high spirits despite the weight of the situation.

“Well, well,” Gojo says, adjusting his sunglasses dramatically as if he’s walking into a party instead of a law office. “What’s up, gentlemen? You look like you’ve been through a war zone.”

Higuruma shakes his head, cracking a smile at the absurdity of Gojo’s casual attitude. “Sukuna escaped from a federal facility, Gojo. How does it look? We’re buried in paperwork and trying to figure out how to make sense of all this.”

Gojo waves a hand dismissively, taking a seat on the edge of Higuruma’s desk. “Yeah, yeah, I heard. You think he’s playing chess, but really, he’s just making everyone else play checkers. He probably pulled off the most dramatic escape in history just to get some fresh air. I bet he’s at a beach somewhere, sipping on a margarita and laughing at all of us.”

Nanami can’t help but chuckle at Gojo’s nonchalant approach, despite the situation. “That wouldn’t surprise me. But I think we’re going to need more than a good joke to track him down.”

Gojo leans back in his chair, throwing a glance at the TV in the corner of the office. The news is flashing updates about Sukuna’s escape, showing footage of the chaos from the night before—ambulances, reporters, and injured officers. He clicks the remote, turning the volume up.

“See?” Gojo says, watching the report. “They’ve got the story all wrong. They’re making him sound like some mastermind. What’s next, they gonna call him a national treasure? He’s probably hiding out in a hole somewhere, eating snacks and laughing at us all while we scramble to clean up his mess.”

Higuruma shakes his head but can’t hide the smirk tugging at his lips. “Sukuna might be a problem, but you’re not helping.”

“Of course, I’m helping!” Gojo exclaims. “I’m keeping morale high. What do you think the press is saying right now? They think we’ve lost control. But really, we’re all just part of a big, elaborate joke Sukuna’s playing on us. So, where do we think he’s hiding? If I were him, I’d probably be in some high-end sushi joint, having a feast. Or maybe he’s holed up in a secret lair somewhere, planning his next move. Maybe I should go undercover, act like a random guy at a sushi bar, and—”

Nanami cuts him off, clearly entertained by Gojo’s antics but also needing to bring some seriousness to the situation. “Gojo, please. Focus. We’ve got a job to do. Sukuna is dangerous, and we need to find him. We have our own investigation team out there looking for leads.”

Gojo grins, undeterred by the seriousness of Nanami’s tone. “Don’t worry, Nanami. I’ve got this covered. You guys focus on the paperwork—don’t let it swallow you whole. I’ll handle Sukuna. I’m practically a walking solution.”

Higuruma raises an eyebrow, but there’s a warmth in his smile. “What are you going to do? Use my cyber security team to see the cameras from around the city?”

Gojo laugh loudly we he winks “Of course!”

Nanami looks at the two of them, shaking his head but clearly entertained. “I’ll leave you two to your chaos,” he mutters, heading back to his desk to deal with more paperwork.

The cozy café hums with quiet chatter as you sit with Utahime and Geto, sipping on your coffee. The aroma of freshly brewed espresso lingers in the air, blending with the soft clink of mugs and spoons. You feel a warm sense of comfort as you lean back in your chair, surrounded by friends who are as excited as you are about your big news.

“So,” Utahime starts, grinning widely. “You told Higuruma, huh? How did it go?”

You smile softly, your eyes glowing with happiness. “Yeah, I told him. He was shocked at first, but then… he got all serious and started ordering books about being a dad. Like Dad 101 or something.”

Utahime bursts into laughter. “Oh my gosh, Higuruma’s gonna be such a dad. I can already picture it. Him sitting there with a stack of books, reading about baby sleep schedules and diapering techniques like it’s his job.”

Geto chuckles from across the table, shaking his head. “I can’t believe it. Higuruma, of all people, getting so into the dad thing. He’s gonna be the most organized dad ever, I bet.”

You laugh along, imagining Higuruma, usually so professional and collected, surrounded by baby books, frantically flipping through them.

“I mean,” you continue, “he’s already planning out our future nursery. He wants to make sure the colors are ‘calming’ and ‘neutral.’ It’s… adorable, honestly.”

Utahime leans back in her chair, pretending to be deep in thought. “Well, I’ll be the cool aunt. You know, the one who brings all the fun toys and gives the baby way too much sugar.”

Geto raises an eyebrow, smirking. “You? Cool aunt? I’ll be the cool uncle. You know, the one who teaches the kid how to play video games and takes them to concerts.”

Utahime sticks her tongue out at him, teasing. “Oh, please. The baby’s gonna be begging me for candy, not you for some video games.”

You giggle at the banter between them, feeling so at ease with them around. It’s nice to know that your friends are just as excited about your future as you are.

“I have an appointment tomorrow to check on the baby,” you add, looking down at your cup for a moment. “I’m really looking forward to it.”

Utahime beams. “That’s so exciting! Do you have a preference? Boy or girl?”

You think for a second, a soft smile curling on your lips. “I’d love to have a boy. I think it’d be nice to have a little one to teach and watch grow up.”

Utahime nods, thoughtful. “A boy would be cute. But Higuruma—”

You nod, knowing exactly what she’s going to say. “Higuruma wants a girl. He’s convinced that he’d be the perfect girl dad.”

Geto chuckles, looking over at you with a grin. “I can totally see that. Higuruma’s gonna be wrapped around his daughter’s finger, isn’t he?”

You smile warmly, thinking of Higuruma. “Definitely. He’s already saying that he’s going to spoil her and teach her everything he knows about law… and life.”

Utahime laughs, covering her mouth. “Higuruma as a girl dad? That’s going to be adorable. Can you imagine him, all serious, trying to protect her from every little thing?”

“Yeah, he’ll be that dad,” Geto adds, pretending to be dramatic. “The one who inspects every boy who comes to the door and makes them sign a ‘no breaking my daughter’s heart’ agreement.”

You burst into laughter, the image of Higuruma, in his lawyerly way, drafting up a contract for his daughter’s suitors too hilarious to ignore.

“It’s going to be so cute,” you say, your heart full. “But honestly, whether it’s a boy or a girl, I just want them to be healthy. We’re both so excited.”

Utahime reaches across the table, squeezing your hand. “Whatever happens, you’re going to be an amazing mom. And we’ll all be here for you, every step of the way.”

Geto leans back in his chair, a rare, genuine smile on his face. “Yeah, we’ve got you covered. The baby’s gonna have an army of cool relatives…” He looks at Utahime “When I say cool relatives is not you” he sticks his tongue out, which makes Utahime sticks his middle finger at him.

You smile, your heart swelling with gratitude for your friends. “Thanks, guys. I really appreciate it.”

Higuruma, Nanami, and Gojo sit around the desk, eating Chinese takeout in silence, the quiet punctuated only by the occasional clink of chopsticks. The room is tense but comfortable, a rare moment of calm amidst the chaos of their work. After a few moments, Higuruma, unable to hold it in any longer, clears his throat and speaks up.

“I’ve got something to tell you guys,” he says, his voice unusually serious. Nanami and Gojo look up, both pausing mid-bite. Nanami raises an eyebrow, while Gojo just gives him an expectant look, clearly used to Higuruma’s somber moments.

Higuruma takes a deep breath. “I’m going to be a father. Y/N is pregnant.”

There’s a beat of stunned silence.

Nanami, ever the composed one, blinks slowly, processing the information, before pulling out his wallet. “I’ll be damned,” he mutters, then proceeds to pull out a $20 bill, handing it over to Gojo without a second thought.

Gojo, who’s mid-chew, pauses, his eyes going wide. “Wait—what? No way!” He lets his chopsticks drop into the container, forgetting all about his food. “You’re really telling me you’re about to have a baby? Man, that’s wild!”

Nanami sighs, a smirk tugging at the corners of his mouth. “I guess I lost the bet, huh?”

Higuruma looks at them both, his expression a mix of relief and anxiety. “Yeah… it’s real. But, uh, I’m kind of freaking out. This is a big deal, you know?”

Gojo, now fully animated, grins widely. “A baby! Dude, this is awesome. Don’t sweat it—babies are like little hamsters. They eat, sleep, poop. How hard can it be?”

Higuruma stares at Gojo, his face deadpan. “Hamsters?”

“Yeah! Totally,” Gojo says confidently, as though it’s the most sensible thing ever. “Babies are practically the same. Except with more crying. But you’ve got this. I believe in you.”

Nanami rolls his eyes, his voice dry. “Don’t listen to Gojo, Higuruma. He’s obviously never changed a diaper in his life.”

Higuruma chuckles despite himself, appreciating the levity. “I’ll try not to.” He pauses, looking down at his food, then back at his friends. “But seriously… I’m scared. What if I mess this up?”

Nanami, his usual calm demeanor never faltering, leans back in his chair. “You’ll figure it out. You’ve got a good head on your shoulders. Being a dad isn’t about being perfect, it’s about being there. You’ll do fine.”

Gojo nods enthusiastically. “Yeah, yeah! You’ll be fine, buddy. Seriously, don’t worry about it. Just… make sure the baby doesn’t end up like that”—he gestures vaguely, as if the example is somehow obvious—“and you’re golden.”

Higuruma laughs, shaking his head. “I’m glad you guys have so much faith in me.”

Gojo shrugs, still grinning. “Well, I’m just saying, you’re gonna be a pro at it. Now, how’s Y/N doing? You mentioned morning sickness last time. That’s got to be rough.”

Higuruma’s expression softens as he thinks of you. “Yeah… she’s been pretty rough with the morning sickness. She can’t even look at eggs without feeling sick.” He rubs the back of his neck, an expression of concern crossing his face. “I think it’s taking a toll on her.”

Nanami raises an eyebrow. “I’m guessing you’re not loving eggs either, huh?”

Higuruma lets out a small laugh. “I’m staying away from them, too, actually. It’s kind of become a ‘no egg’ house now. I don’t know if she’ll ever look at one the same way again.”

Gojo leans back in his chair, grinning. “Oh, it’s definitely a girl.”

Higuruma looks at him, puzzled. “What?”

Gojo shrugs like it’s the most obvious thing in the world. “Eggs, man. You know it’s a girl when she won’t eat eggs.”

Nanami sighs, pinching the bridge of his nose. “That’s… not a real thing, Gojo.”

Gojo waves him off. “Nah, it’s true. Read it on Reddit once. It’s a sign. You mark my words.”

Higuruma stares at Gojo, incredulous. “You’re telling me that eggs are a sign of a girl?”

“Exactly!” Gojo says, not missing a beat. “It’s a universal truth. I’ve read about it!”

“Gojo, please,” Nanami mutters under his breath, but his lips are twitching into a smile. “Don’t listen to him, Higuruma.”

Higuruma, despite himself, chuckles. “Well, whatever it is, I’m just happy.”

Nanami nods in agreement. “That’s the most important thing. But, hey, if it’s a girl, I bet you’ll be a great dad to her.”

Gojo grins. “I’m just saying, the girl will be cute. And spoiled. And probably have you wrapped around her finger the second she’s born.”

Higuruma laughs, rubbing his face. “I’m already nervous about that. We’ll see.”

There’s a brief silence before Higuruma adds, “We’ve got an appointment tomorrow to check on the baby, see how everything’s going.”

Nanami smiles, his voice steady and reassuring. “That’s good. You’ll get to see how things are progressing. I’m sure it’ll all go smoothly.”

Gojo leans back in his chair, his usual grin spreading. “And if it’s a girl, I’ll buy her the cutest clothes ever. Seriously, Higuruma, start saving up for the fancy dresses.”

Higuruma shakes his head with a smile. “You two are impossible.”

You step into the apartment, the door closing softly behind you. A warm, cozy atmosphere greets you, and you find Higuruma sitting on the couch, glasses perched on his nose, deeply engrossed in a parenting book. You can’t help but smile at the sight of him—he looks so serious and focused, but the book he’s holding is clearly not a legal case file.

Your soft giggles escape you, and the sound immediately catches his attention. Higuruma looks up, his eyes lighting up when he sees you. A smile curves on his lips, and he quickly closes the book, setting it aside before getting up to approach you. His arms open wide as if he’s been waiting all day just for this moment.

“Hey, you,” he says softly, pulling you into a gentle, warm embrace. He kisses you on the lips, slow and tender, his hands resting on your back, as if he never wants to let go. He pulls back just enough to gaze at your face, his thumb lightly grazing your cheek. Without breaking his gaze, he lowers himself, pressing a kiss to your belly, which isn’t showing much yet but is already a symbol of the love you share.

You look down at him with amusement, feeling a giggle bubbling up. “What are you doing?” you tease, your voice light with affection.

Higuruma looks up at you with a mischievous grin, his hand resting against your abdomen as he talks to it in a soft, loving tone. “Hello, princess,” he murmurs. “I already can’t wait to meet you. I hope you’re just as excited to meet your old man as I am.”

You laugh softly at his serious tone, your heart swelling at how much love he already has for the baby. But then the curiosity strikes. You raise an eyebrow, trying to suppress a smile. “How do you know it’s a girl?” you ask, teasing him lightly.

He looks up at you with an even wider grin, his eyes sparkling with that familiar playful energy. “It’s obvious,” he says with complete confidence. “Because you hate eggs,” he adds, as though that’s the most logical explanation in the world.

You blink, completely confused, your head tilting slightly as you try to process his words. “The eggs?” you repeat, incredulity in your voice. “What does that even mean? How does not liking eggs tell us if it’s a boy or a girl?”

Higuruma chuckles, shaking his head as if he’s trying to hold back a full laugh. “Gojo read it on Reddit,” he says, offering an innocent shrug, like that explanation should settle the matter. “It’s a thing. It means it’s a girl.”

You stare at him, unsure whether to laugh or be more confused. “Reddit?” you echo, utterly bewildered. But despite your confusion, you can’t help but laugh, the absurdity of the whole situation making you feel even more in love with him. “Okay, sure.”

He laughs along with you, his eyes softening as he kisses your lips. “I guess I’ll just have to wait and see, huh?” he says, still grinning as he brushes a strand of hair away from your face. “But I’m happy with whatever we get. As long as it’s ours.”

[veilody]

Unexpected Meeting

Characters: Vin Jin & Otsuyu (& Mary Kim)

Genre: Comedy

Word Count: 1138

Timeline Placement: Set at the end / after "One Night Arc" Ch. 263.

Otsuyu was strolling around Seoul, on her way to the Arcade. It recently reopened after the vandalism, much like the Karaoke bar above it. ‘FINALLY!’, she might add.

Well, she hoped she was on the right track, she didn’t remember passing the train station whenever she accompanied Mary and Vin.

‘That’s what you get for never memorising the way, Tsuyu…’ she damned herself and picked her phone from her pocket, ‘Thank advance for GPS-Technology and route planner~’

The girl leaned to the wall and typed her destination into the device, when something red caught her attention.

A red plaid shirt on a tall albeit slumped body, yet she recognized him immediately: Vin Jin.

‘Didn’t he want to go to Cheongliang with Mary today? Enjoy the beach?’ she silently wondered, ‘What got him so down?’

Otsuyu dumped her plans to go to the arcade in that moment and pocketed her phone again, following her classmate until she was right behind him. To get his attention, she jumped and tapped his head.

“Oi, you FUCK-”, The boy turned around swinging his arm above her head to catch the culprit that dared to mess him but only grabbed air. Once he was facing the little Minx, he groaned in annoyance: “Are you shitting me?!”

“Nope~” she answered to his misery and stuck her tongue out, before she rested her hands on her waist: “What’s gotten you so down?”

Vin’s eyebrows twitched, showing her, she read him correctly, but he wasn’t going to share his worries, which got a lot more obvious with his clicking of the tongue, before he growled: “None of your business.”

‘Fair enough.’ She thought with a shrug, not taking offense by him keeping things to himself. That didn’t change the fact, that she disliked seeing him so beat. Whatever happened, he will probably think the entire evening and night about that.

A wide mischievous grin appeared on her face, as she eyed his sunglasses, and tilted her head: “I know~ you’re still beat up about your loss against me the last time we were out, I see, I see~”

This immediately struck Vins competitive nerve, as intended, “Heh- AS IF! You remember that I have won more Rap Battles than you for-”

“TUT-TUT!” she pinched his lips close with her fingers and declared: “This has noooooothing to do with your shitty ass Karaoke-score! I completely RUINED you; Mary can confirm that~ Fu fu~”

He slapped her hand away and a wide, yet annoyed, grin was on his face: “Don’t think anything about it, I just took pity on your for losing…”

“YOU?! TAKING PITY?!” she crossed his words and laughed loudly, while Vin still ended his sentence: “…times!”

The passersby backed away from the loud teenagers, obviously annoyed by their bickering. Otsuyu didn’t care though, she had a mission: LIFT THE MOOD OF THIS ASSHOLE!

“Well then, how about a karaoke-showdown without you taking ‘pity’ on me, hm?” she quote marked with her fingers and gave him her best winning smile.

His competitive spirit matched hers and he lifted his chin to mock her: “Sure thing, as a reward, WHEN I win, you’ll bring me Sushi from your chef EEEVERYDAY.”

“IF you win: One week max.” She immediately bounded, not wanting to get stuck bringing him food for any longer. Then she tilted her head: “In return, when I win, you’ll wear those tinted goggles instead of sunglasses the entire week~”

“You think that bothers me?” he snorted amused, and she shook her head, “Nah, but it’ll amuse me~”

She knew he rolled his eyes behind the sunglasses, “Deal.” He said and snaked his arm around her shoulders. Some might think this is romantic, but Otsuyu knew better: He ensured she won’t run away from this bet. His arm wasn’t lax around her, no, it was ready to headlock her.

Well, at least she’d get to her destination – or at least she hoped. With her terrible sense of direction and his sunglasses blinding him there was a good chance they get lost without Mary.

On their way, Otsuyu turned her head to look up at him and ask: “Hey, since you always lurk at the Arcade… Do you know who thrashed the place?”

“Lurking? You ass, I’m totally a respectable customer.” He returned, scoffing, then he answered the question: “Some loser-ass-gang called God Dog or something.”

“God Dog?” she repeated, audibly and visibly cringing at the name.

“Eyupp. God Dog.”, he said, now with a smile, “They were as lame as their name.”

Otsuyu hummed, “Cats are superior anyways…”, which made Vin shrug, he wasn’t a big fan of animals either way, but Dogs obey shitty owners more than Cats, so he answered: “Maybe, but it was ME who beat their ass.”

This just earned him a light kick to his butt while their walked, “That just means you’re also responsible, you idiot.”

And there was the headlock! The boy ruffled her hair while she squealed and tried to wiggle herself out.

The next day at school, Otsuyu already sat at her table when Mary and Vin entered the classroom. Vin sat down on his seat next to Otsuyus and Mary in front of her, but facing the brunette, seemingly in shock.

Shortly after, their loud bickering started again, while they were on their way to the Karaoke bar.

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

“I can’t believe it!”, the blonde exclaimed, “YOU had a date with HIM?!”

Immediately Otsuyu choked on her own spit, and stared at Vin, “WHAT THE FUCK DID YOU TELL HER?! NO!”

“I always said that it was just a chance-meeting. As if I’d date that shorty.” He groaned and adjusted his goggles before crossing his arms.

“The ‘as if I’d date’ is my line.” She argued and he mimicked her words with a high-pitched tone. Before she could throw anything at his head, Mary guided her attention back to herself: “But it was just you two and he even brought you home?!”

“Duh? She wouldn’t even find her way to school if her mom wouldn’t drive her?” Vin threw in from the side.

Otsuyu shrugged and nodded then, “Aside from the fact that Akemi is my cousin and not my mom, I can’t argue with the logic. Also, as far as I know, Vin Jins handholding currently exclusive to Logan Lee~ fu fu~” she then mocked and that started another bickering between the two.

Mary just watched the spectacle and thought to herself, that they were actually a good match, but she knew for a fact that Vin wasn’t ready for something serious and Otsuyu… Was carrying her own package, something that Mary couldn’t pinpoint yet.

[talesfrommedinastation]

My redneck neighbor Doug watches 'The Bad Batch': 'The Harbinger'

Yup, as we all know, Doug unlocked a HUGE character with Asajj Ventress, who is apparently an embittered ex-Navy wife lurking somewhere in the depths of the Florida Panhandle and not a reborn Jedi goth chick.

CW: You will learn more about this poor ex wife of John then you will ever deem fit. Be warned.

All images taken from here: https://www.cap-that.com/starwars/the-bad-batch/309

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

Episode 9, “John’s-Ex-Wife: The Revenge”

Daddy Warcrimes does what a daddy in need of a mommy will do, and is going to pick up women by the dockside. Wonder if they take cash or not. 

And here’s Julio to remind him to wrap it before he snaps it, ya know? Good bro, when has Julio done anything wrong, love him. Maybe Julio laid his pipe in Space Louisiana last week, who knows if the mantis had a sister who had bills to pay and Terrebonne Parish don’t have a lot of jobs but has a lot of lonely people and, where were we? 

Why is it all foggy here now? We in Maine now? 

Well, Mutant Jimmers is doing work, as the kids say now, tracking down the junkies hiding out in the caves. I can’t blame Mutant Jimmers or the junkies, they gotta do their smack and doing it in the park ain’t good. I wonder who makes the meth on the island? It ain’t Church Lady, she’s too busy working and having fun in the snow with her beau, Sassy-Park-Ranger*.

Awwww shit it’s not space junkies, it’s worse! It’s JOHN’S-EX-WIFE! Of course she’s hiding her Ford pickup in a cave, the other one got booted outside of Pensacola after she banged the neighborhood granddad and he called the cops after she stole his TV. 

(the last shot John saw before he left for the rig that one time)

God damn, she’s wearing the same outfit you wear to work, Meat Muffin! Do you think she writes papers and yells at people on the phone like you do too?

Well John’s-Ex-Wife hasn’t changed, first thing she starts doing is fighting and bitching at everyone for not paying their bills on time. I hated that damn woman but I’ll say this much, she was organized. But that’s how the Devil is. Not organized to not cheat on John with every sailor in Pensacola and the neighborhood granddad but nobody’s perfect I guess. 

Well, she’s going to test Little Orphan Blondie by making her do yoga on the beach while her brothers watch. Doing dumb shit in public to be different, yup, that’s John’s-Ex-Wife for you. Surprised Daddy Warcrimes hasn’t capped her and her bleached hair yet. 

Oh! Now she sent Little Orphan Blondie on an errand leaving the boys behind in a dark room with her. How much do you wanna bet there’s gonna be a train and Thomas the Tank Engine ain’t involved? God, it was a miracle John never ended up with the clap. His ex wife really was the bike of Escambia County. 

And there’s a fight. Woo! John’s-Ex-Wife’s history as a bartender is coming on through! Girlfriend can handle her own–and here’s the lightsaber! WOAH! I don’t want her to kick my boy’s butts but damn girl, git ‘er done! 

Also why don’t they all just pile on her, why are they waiting, this ain’t ballroom dancing boys! Toaster Strudel and Rex would NEVER.  

Where IS TOASTER STRUDEL AND REX?!?!?!

Well, Little Orphan Blondie’s back and seems to like John’s-Ex-Wife for some reason. God damn it, Little Orphan Blondie, you’re a rube and I ain’t happy about it. At least Church Lady got you sushi and hit on your idiot brother who didn’t deserve her. 

Little Orphan Blondie’s no Jedi, whatever. But nothing brings the family together like deep sea fishing, even more then going off into the snow and punching each other in front of the trailer! 

Off John’s-Ex-Wife and Little Orphan Blondie go while the dads do a lil bit of peepin. Except Daddy Warcrimes who knows a thing or two and keeps a gun tailed her. Yeah, Daddy Warcrimes! 

Oh! What’s this? Ain’t this the shit from Aquaman? Are they gonna get jumped by sea aliens until Aquaman throws flashlights at them?** 

Nope! It’s that thing from Pirates of the Caribbean! Where’s Johnny Depp and his dreadlocks?! They’re firing up the HMS Search Warrant to do a rescue and…woah. Woah. What’s Johns-Ex-Wife doing here? The force? She can do all that shit but she can’t keep her marriage, oh Johns-Ex-Wife.  

Look at Daddy Warcrimes being a gentleman and helping the ladies onto their stolen work truck. Most ladies get upset when a creepy old man with a gun hoists them into a windowless van but not Johns-Ex-Wife. Trust me. 

Johns-Ex-Wife warns them and then flings off, as she is wont to do. Why do I feel the next episode is going to be the DEA raiding Space Florida? I bet she’s a snitch for the government, calling it now!

*=Doug will never get off the Phee/Mayday train. I tried. I failed. I’m sorry, internet. 

**=I THINK Doug means the Trench from the movie. The Trench Scene | Aquaman [4k, IMAX] - YouTube

For my Doug fans! @eyecandyeoz @cdblake1565 @sued134 @megmca @skellymom @yeehawgeek @amalthiaph and anyone else!

[skele-bunny]

Yay for anon again! Have any Aether/Rain fluff?

WOOO AETH/RAIN MY FAV

The biggest cuddlers in the pack getting together? INSANE. Just pressed as close as possible, Rain nuzzled under Aether's chin, Aether having a leg over Rain's hips, tails intertwined, purring back and forth. They're so cuddly and lovey it makes Swiss GAG

Aether has a really strong internal link with Rain, and was the first person to ever hear his voice. When he's asked about it, Aether just describes it as "Soothing and quiet, like a romantic walk on the beach" and when he's annoyed he'll just say "Sounds like Jim Carrey, now leave me alone."

When Rain was a newborn, Aether was just so infatuated with him. Watching his mannerisms and just how similar he was to Dew besides that spitfire that'd seep out every now and then. He had such bad Bambi legs that when Mountain wasn't around to carry him, Aether would. Since he was already starting to work in the infirmary, he was more accustomed to helping physical therapy wise. Holding Rain's waist as he uses his walker in the common room, encouraging him every time he steps forwards.

Aether loves the hot springs that's accessible in the ministry for the ghouls, he'll sneak away to just submerge himself and always gets a little startled when Rain peeks his head up. Always end up cuddling and falling asleep in until Aether is all wrinkly wjekdk

I like to think water ghouls are very, very good at dancing when they get used to their feet. Always melodic and gentle (Dew is really fucking amazing at artistic pole dancing, but that's a secret.) so he and Rain will just be going back and forth with little ballet slipped in here and there. It's always so soft and full of love.

Rain was the first to initiate, slowly bumping up and being accidental at first as Aether moved his head too fast. Once they get over their embarrassment and giggles, Aether carefully holds the back of Rain's head and brings him back in. Aether refuses to let Rain live down the fact that he tasted like actual fish during their first kiss bc of how nervous he was and they just finished eating sushi. Insanity

[devildevotee]

I've been feeling drawn to Leviathan lately, so I was wondering if you have any advice or just things you think more people should know about them?

sure thing! i can do my best to help!

general advice:

always be polite and respectful. during your first encounter, try to come with some form of offering for her time.

don't make commands if you have something she can help you with, make requests instead. she will not always fulfill requests, and you need to respect that. just like people, demons are allowed to say no.

don't approach her with expectations, good or bad. having bias will not help you in any form.

if you wish to talk to her, during the beginning of your relationship, don't directly channel. give her a medium to bring messages through, such as a candle flame, divination cards, or even a book or a playlist to randomly go through.

i personally started off our relationship by referring to her as "lord"/"lady" - this is not a must, but it does establish a strong amount of respect for her power.

candles, incense, and prayers never hurt anyone. frankincense is a pretty common worship incense, if you need something general. however, i have found she likes the colour blue or gold (for candles), and dragon's blood (for incense). if you're in a place where you can't burn things, try an LED candle where you can change the colour, or wax melts in the above scents. i tend to do a healthy mixture of both, and i've never been told it's not wanted.

what people should know about leviathan:

she has a very heavy energy to some, and it can take some getting used to. if you haven't contacted her before, you may get a sensation of fear or general overwhelming sensations.

don't be off-put if she's pretty shut off from you at first. it's not that she doesn't care, she's just very guarded. it comes from her being a very emotional being, and my theory is, she does this to keep those who contact her safe.

she enjoys salty foods and (don't think of her weird for this) drinks. offerings of strong black coffee with sea salt in it has never let me down.

she respects gusto! if you have a little audacity, she respects the bravery.

she enjoys spending time close to the sea. other large bodies of water are also appreciated, but she likes the sea the most. if you can take time to visit the beach, she will appreciate it.

she likes things of her likeness, as like most dragons, she carries an element of pride to her. this can be as simple as things that are teal, blue or green, or it can be an expensive dragon statue.

to me she doesn't show herself in human form. however, i don't doubt the other accounts from other users that she can appear as human, if you request it.

offerings i recommend: blue, teal, green or gold candles, dragon's blood incense (or frankincense), scents/herbs/items marked as "protective", smoke, water, gold coins, sea shells, stuff found at the beach, dragon imagery, imagery of large ocean animals such as whales, sharks, and seals, serpent imagery, tears, jewellery, pearls or fake pearls, sea weed or foods with sea weed like sushi, fishy foods (crumbed fish, calamari, crab), salt or salted water, sand, muddy soil, the feeling you get after you wake up from a nightmare, difficult to process emotions in general (offer her to eat your negative emotions, it won't affect her i promise), fridged or ice water, prayers, thanks, compliments and gratitude.

offerings i don't recommend: non-blood body fluids (you may experiment when you're both comfortable with each other, i won't stop you, i just personally don't give body fluids to her nor have i ever done so), dry earth/soil, large fires (candles are okay but other fires she isn't really interested in), irrelevant imagery, any reference to her role in the bible (i get bitter feelings from her), the colour red or brown, blood (you do you here, but to me it's like giving blood to a shark - just be careful).

possible devotional acts: going to therapy, confronting your fears, speaking your emotions, eating salty foods, drinking the required amount of water, enjoying going swimming, educating yourself on aquatic life (especially sharks), dancing in the rain (make sure you do it safely), laughing as hard as you can, playing games that involve monsters (pokemon is a favourite for her), praying to her, giving her requests to help you with, knowing you're fierce and powerful!

i hope this helps! thank you so much for inquiring about her. she's the infernal being i'm closest to, so thus i have the most to say about her! if you have any other questions i'll be happy to listen. :-)

[foxes-that-run]

20 times it was always Haylor

Harry and Taylor often write that the other is irreplaceable, though they are built to fall apart and get back together.

I have limited myself to only 10 songs each which was hard!

Taylor:

Out of the Woods: "We were built to fall apart / Then fall back together / (Back together)"

End Game "I hit you like, "Bang" / We tried to forget it, but we just couldn't" and "And I can't let you go, your handprint's on my soul"

Ready for it: "And he can be my jailer, Burton to this Taylor / Every lover known in comparison is a failure"

Daylight "I don't wanna look at anything else now that I saw you I don't wanna think of anything else now that I thought of you"

Cruel Summer "And I scream, "For whatever it's worth I love you, ain't that the worst thing you ever heard?" He looks up, grinnin' like a devil"

DBATC: " I look through the windows of this love / Even though we boarded them up / Chandelier's still flickering here / 'Cause I can't pretend it's ok when it's not" and "You said it was a great love, one for the ages / But if the story’s over, why am I still writing pages?"

The 1: "And it would've been sweet / If it could've been me / In my defense, I have none/ For digging up the grave another time / But it would've been fun/ If you would've been the one"

Gold Rush: "And the coastal town / We wandered 'round had never / Seen a love as pure as it" and "My mind turns your life into folklore / I can't dare to dream about you anymore"

Question..?:"Cause I don't remember who I was / Before you painted all my nights / A color I've searched for since" and "Does it feel like everything's just like / Second best after that meteor strike?"

Snow on the Beach "Life is emotionally abusive / And time can't stop me quite like you did" and "Weird but fuckin' beautiful / Flying in a dream, stars by the pocketful / You wanting me tonight feels impossible"

Harry:

Stockholm Syndrome: "Who's this whisper telling me that I'm never gonna get away?" and " All my life, I've been on my own (Oh-oh-oh) I used the light to guide me home (Oh-oh-oh) / But now together we're alone /And there's no other place I'd ever wanna go”

I love you: Harry wrote for Alex and Sierra: "Cause I love you, more than you think I do / And I love you, now you don't want me to" and "Every time I try to fight it, everything just turns out wrong /Maybe if I got my timing right, I wouldn't end up alone"

Trouble: If I could havе a hundred things, Not one of them could compare to you And we could take this anywhere, Cause where we’re going

We don’t need no shoesMeet me in the Hallway: "We don't talk about it / It's something we don't do / Cause once you go without it / Nothing else will do"

Sweet Creature: "Wherever I go, you bring me home / Sweet creature, sweet creature / When I run out of road, you bring me home"

Fine Line: "You've got my devotion But man, I can hate you sometimes" and "You sunshine, you temptress / My hand's at risk, I fold / Crisp trepidation I'll try to shake this soon"

Golden "I know you were way too bright for me I'm hopeless, broken, so you wait for me in the sky" and "I can feel you take control (I can feel you take control) / Of who I am, and all I've ever known Lovin' you's the antidote / Golden"

Adore you: "I'd walk through fire for you / Just let me adore you/ Like it's the only thing I'll ever do"

As it was: "Seems you cannot be replaced / And I'm the one who will stay, oh" / In this world, it's just us / You know it's not the same as it was"

Music for a Sushi Restaurant: "I don't want you to get lost I don't want you to go broke / I want you / It's 'cause I love you, babe / In every kind of way / Just a little taste / Know I love you, babe"

[lostinatrainofthoughts]

im going on a date today but my heart is not 100% in it.... how do i tell him after the date that its not going to workout

he set the day of the date bc hes the one who wants to bring me out but he has no idea where to go!!! like what even. a few days back, i said i'll choose the coffee place and and he can choose where to eat since he said he prefers sushi or burgers. and now hes insistent on making me choose 😩 he was like i'll go wherever you want. and im like...... but i dont know where. should we try botany? no, he said. then frantically i said lets try that new pancake place. "pancakes for lunch?" yeah. he didnt sound convinced at first.

obviously i havent been to many dates, but prolonged interaction makes me tired, no matter who im with. so i told him we'll just have lunch and a coffee and go home. and he was surprised by this. he said hes never had a date this fast and he always spends THE WHOLE DAY with them. im like fast?? spending the whole afternoon is too short??? 4 hours ++? i want to go home by evening... 🥹 i told him honestly im an introvert it would be too tiring for me. he tried to compromise and say 7pm then. ughhhhh thats already lateee. im nervous that we wont have anything to even say, given the almost everyday phone calls. but since he talks alot, i guess i can let him do all the talking. realistically i dont think its possible to sit long hours at a full coffee shop. so i think hes aware of this so he said lets go to the beach. he said this multiple times before. and i told him i'll think about it, but i dont think i would want to go. THE BEACH at a 44°C weather. i know he loves the beach so much, its healing for him. i feel bad. but the beach is not for me. its really hot, it aggravates my skin and makes me all sweaty and itchy. and the bugs!! i still got the scar from a sandfly bite during new years!!

im the one driving too because he cant drive (hes barred from getting his license bc he drunk drove his friend's car at 16??). he said hes embarassed by this and he feels bad so he said he'll pay for today and the fuel so i cant really say much.

[aonoexpat]

10-01-2024

Happy new year everybody! And as the previous submissions highlighted (thankss friends ❤️), yes, it's been a while, and I do apologise for the radio silence. My mental health has been a bit of a rollercoaster the past month and a half, and I've had to prioritise other things. But I'm not about to let the daunting task of summarising 6 weeks in 1 post discourage me! Let's go.

The talks of politics and philosophy at home have continued, occasionally with extra participants. They sent me down a pretty depressing and nihilistic spiral for a little while, but I feel like I've really managed to climb my way out of that again. I was finally brought to a bit of an epiphany that's made me able to at least pick myself up by my bootstraps, and though I'm currently not very comfortable in any hard political or philosophical positions, I seem to have a bit more grip on a general framework again. And that helped me stop moping around and start enjoying my time here more again. Though I'm still quite fragile mentally and quickly overwhelmed, sometimes to extremes that I haven't experienced in years, all in all I feel like this has been an incredibly humbling experience that has helped me grow tremendously. Who knew the last leg of my journey would be one of this kind? I spent four months exploring the South island, and now I've spent the next two exploring my own mind. Though I think that's a journey that will never truly be over, which is both exciting and terrifying.

I have been extremely lucky to be able to live this last bit of my journey rent-free, thanks to my wonderful housemates (and their adorable little dog):

Which meant that I could get away with only working part time. I still thoroughly enjoy my job and my coworkers (we love singing along at the top of our lungs to broadway songs as we clean up after close), but it's great to have a lot of free time around work to meet up with old friends and eat sushi or go to the beach...

...Play board games...

...Celebrate Sinterklaas...

...Organise all my marked road maps, give myself manicures and haircuts, and, with deep deep pain in my heart: sell Elrond 💔 I will say I was extremely lucky to be able to sell him for DOUBLE what I paid for him back in May 😱 I definitely did improve upon him, with the brand new solar panel, newly constructed bed and shiny new rear brakes. Still, I hadn't expected to get my asking price for him, but I got lucky having two interested buyers who wanted to compete. I can barely believe it, but this means I have almost fully earned back my entire South island trip, car costs and fuel costs combined! And now I don't have to worry about the scenario in which I wouldn't manage to sell him, and would have to leave him with friends. All that was definitely the silver lining I forced myself to focus on as I gave him one last deep clean, both to be able to present him properly to his new owners, and as a sort of closure ritual for myself. I cleaned out all the dead sandflies, dusted all the surfaces, vacuumed the floor mats, and gave the kitchen a thorough wash. Saying goodbye is never easy, and I definitely had to fight back some tears when his new owners came to pick him up and take him away. But they are absolute sweethearts (they already sent me a photo from their adventure with him), so I can rest assured that he is in good hands! Farewell my darling, you were the best first car I could have wished for, and you will not be forgotten ❤️

Aside from all that, I was also very glad to have the chance to go on two more spectacular hikes in this area!

Patuna Chasm

This GORGEous ~3-hour hike definitely justified my bringing my Teva active sandals with me from home, as almost three quarters of the walk was through knee-deep river water. It was a cold and windy morning as we got driven to the start of the track in a 4WD car by the owners of the land, and were told to be back at the drop-off point in three hours to be brought back to our own car. If we were to miss that car, we'd have to wait a full hour for the next ride. So with our route map in hand, we set off on the first leg of the hike, which took us up the hills and back down to the chasm. The views were stunning, with spectacular rock formations and the grass on the hill faces waving in the wind like a green ocean:

Down at the river, we got our clothes and bags ready to get wet, and stepped into the water. As we followed the river, first upstream towards some serene waterfalls (where I may have given myself a brain freeze and mild hypothermia by deciding to stand under them):

And then downstream to start making our way back to the car, it started to slowly rain, but that didn't stop us. We saw eels:

We clambered up muddy hills and over huge boulders, down ladders, through deep and shallow sections of the river, explored caves:

And when we finally got back to the section of the track that would take us to our starting point, two of my friends were kind enough to carry mine and our fourth friend's backpack, so we could go down the alternate route: the last stretch of the river, which required us to swim through neck-deep water. I couldn't feel my feet or forearms by the end, but the adrenaline drowned that out as we sprinted up the riverbank to make it back to the 4WD car, only to catch it right as it was about to leave without us! It was absolutely exhausting, but so much good old childish adventurous fun, and one of the most spectacular hikes I've done in the country! (Photo credits to Liv :) )

Escarpment Track

This was the last hike my friend and I did together, which was a sad fact I tried not to think about too much as we walked. The track took us about 10km along the East coast, and it was quite the climb. The view was stunning though, the path itself was very well laid out, with stairs and ropes to hold onto, and benches along the way, which we happily used to take a lunch break about halfway through.

We were very happy to have some cloud coverage that day so we weren't constantly exposed to the sun. My favourite parts were the two rope bridges that were bouncing wildly in the wind. Standing on them felt a little like flying!

And for most of the track we were flanked by immense amounts of fennel, which gave the whole walk a wonderful background aroma:

I was so amazed by the thought that this hike was literally 15 minutes from my friend's home. That type of easy access to incredible nature is definitely something I'm going to miss when I go home. But that made me all the more grateful I got to do this while I still could! (Photo credits to Liv :) )

Soon enough my birthday rolled around, which was an incredibly emotional day for me. I had to say goodbye to my dear friends, one of whom I won't see again before I leave the country. I gifted her a little hand made photo album of our adventures together, which had taken me a lot longer to make than I had anticipated, but luckily I had managed to finish it the night before:

She told me this wasn't a 'goodbye', but a 'see you next time', and though I'd happily believe that, the next time will be at least a long time from now. She has meant the world to me during this trip, has helped and supported me more than I could thank her for, so I had to bite back tears as I watched her walk away. After that I had drinks at work, where my super kind coworkers surprised me with vegan chocolate and doughnuts, making me struggle not to cry for the second time that day. In the evening I had a video call with home, during which I remotely participated in their game of Memory, and still WON 💪😤

After my birthday my housemates and I went straight into Christmas mode, running around decorating the house and cooking all sorts of dishes! It was very odd to have Christmas without the associated weather/season, and without getting to see my family. My housemate introduced me to Tim Minchin's song White Wine in the Sun, which makes me cry like a baby every time I listen to it. So I took a photo of myself and my housemates, drinking non-alcoholic sparkling white grape juice in the sun, and sent it home along with a link to the song to make my parents cry as well 😈 We spent our days here enjoying all the wonderful food and the company of the neighbour and his family, and I even got to sing some songs which I hadn't done in a long while. I also got to give Christmas presents to my housemates, which I worked quite hard on: matching cowl scarves for the two of them and the dog 😊

Of course next on the calendar was New Year's Eve. In honour of my family traditions, I got some non-alcoholic sparkling rose and cocktail fruit from the supermarket, and a couple of minutes before midnight a musician friend and I combined them into portable cups, so we could cheers to 2024 at the waterfront as the fireworks lit up the sky!

I had a wonderful night of music, dancing, playing on the beach, walking in the woods, and eventually sheltering from the rain, and didn't fall asleep until 6 in the morning. My sleeping rhythm still hasn't recovered! The next morning I woke up from my alarm at 11:55, and quickly got up so I could listen to the last minutes of the Top2000 and wish all my Dutch people a happy new year at noon. It felt so odd to do this in the sun in the middle of the day, but in a way that felt more real than the midnight before!

The next days I spent some time looking back at my highlights and achievements from 2023, and I created my own makeshift "Spotify wrapped" by analysing some statistics from my offline music player app. It turns out that (besides Asha, which is the music I play to fall asleep nearly every night) Ghost was my top artist of the year 🎧 Oh and I caught a big spider in my room!

For Sinterklaas, my parents had gifted me a metaphorical voucher to spend where I wanted to, so I got myself a ticket to a tour at Wēta Workshop, the SFX and other movie magic studio behind the Lord of the Rings trilogy, the Avatar movies, and many more. I dragged one of my housemates and a mutual friend along, and I'm really happy we got to go! We were shown around the different stages in the SFX process, we got to hold some movie prop swords, and got to see the original weapons and armour used on-screen in a plethora of different movies. Unfortunately for copyright reasons we weren't allowed to take photos inside the studios and work stations, but I snapped some photos outside!

And while I'd much prefer not to face it... By now I have had to start focusing on my upcoming homebound trip. Slowly plans for when I get back home are trickling in, which feels very surreal. I can't believe it's actually only two weeks until I go home, a fact that I like to hide from as much as I can. It's not that I don't want to go home, I've been looking forward to seeing my family again, eating all my familiar foods, seeing my neighbourhood and getting to hug my friends again for so long now. And I am genuinely excited for that. Part of the reason I enjoy traveling is that it reminds me of what I love about home, and allows me to miss it, and return to it more grateful than before. But it also feels like returning to 'normal life'. I'm afraid of going from a time of adventure to a time of stagnation, even though I know that's not a fair or reasonable thought. I suppose something I was afraid of is happening, which is that I feel at home here now, and happy, and have found the right people, and am enjoying the summer, and so going home (to winter 🥶) actually doesn't sound very attractive at all at times, at least not the way it did when I was living in Elrond. Back then I was struggling a lot more, I felt alone and lost, and so the thought of going home felt like such a relief. Now that I've grown accustomed to the luxury of living in a house again, and being surrounded by a social network I feel safe and appreciated in... the contrast is a lot smaller. And it almost feels like I'm going to feel homesick towards here when I go home. Like this upcoming flight is my departure, not my return.

This thought was solidified even more when my housemate asked if I'd be willing to wear a sweater that I'm not going to take with me as much as I can for the last two days or so, so that it will smell like me and I can leave it for the dog 😭💔 I really struggle not to cry at that thought, and I'm wondering if maybe (i.e. am pretty sure actually that) I'm even procrastinating with booking the trip between here and Tāmakimakaurau out of pure denial. I don't want to leave. I don't want to say goodbye, and never come back. Much more than I ever felt with Australia, I want to return here. I don't care when, maybe that will be when I'm old and retired and have no family left in Europe to miss, or when the most important people to me come with me, or if I find out I have been irrevocably changed and flee back here in a year or two. But I want to come back.

I have procured a second suitcase, and am slowly working on getting all my possessions sorted. I've sold my busking amp and microphones to a good musician friend after we'd used it for a last busking hurrah at the harbourside veggie markets last Sunday. It was a fantastic end to this busking season for me, as we connected with the crowd, the weather was wonderful, and I got to sing all the songs that were important to me. I can't bring my guitar with me, so I'll bring it to my friends' house for safekeeping, and maybe they can get it back to me some day. And the big pink bear who was riding shotgun with me in Elrond? It would break my heart to leave him behind, so I stuffed him into one of those vacuum seal bags:

And I'm going to break my back trying to fit him into the new suitcase! He means too much to me, even if I only paid $10 for him.

My to do list is shrinking slowly but steadily, and I really have to plan well to fit everything that's left into the little time I still have here. I am going to make the most of it, spend time with the people here that have meant the most to me, immortalise the memories and when the time comes, I will get on that plane with a fond smile ❤️

[volcanicmertle]

𝕞𝕖𝕣𝕥𝕝𝕖 𝕖𝕕𝕞𝕠𝕟𝕕𝕤

mertle edmonds is based on mertle from lilo & stitch. she is a 23 year old human, mall employee, and uses she/her pronouns. she has no powers.

penned by HARPER

reflection

face claim: luca hollestelle sexuality: heterosexual height: 5’5 eye color: brown hair color: ginger piercings: ear lobes tattoos: n/a

attitude

positive traits: passionate, charming, a flirt, fiercely independent, honest, confident negative traits: temperamental, stubborn, selfish, unwilling to accept that people can be different, brash likes: brownies, hula dancing, bikinis, her curling iron, lip stain, chanel 09, the bachelor/bachelorette, listening to music with headphones, pilates, sushi dislikes: being wrong, the color purple, cold weather, turtlenecks, big dogs, tall buildings, getting dirty, not having her nails done, wearing her glasses phobias: acrophobia (fear of heights) hobbies: spending all her money on clothes, dancing at the club, going on runs, listening to the 'call her daddy' podcast, making fun of people, watching corny reality TV late at night, making extravagant overnight oats recipes aesthetic: an shaken oat milk latte made with extra dashes of cinnamon, finding constellations in the freckles on someone's skin, the smell of ember as a flame begins to burn out, the deep rumble of a volcano that could erupt at any moment, the sound of glass shattering, the warmth of a tequila shot in your chest

relations

mother: delaney edmonds father:  karl edmonds aunt(s): stacy edmonds sibling(s): n/a pet(s): gigi ( a "dog" )

headcanons

🌪 mertle absolutely loathes sweet candies and finds it odd when people prefer sweet ones to sour ones. 🌪 in mertle’s eyes, bullying is okay, it builds character…. and it in turn, it stops people from being so WEIRD all the god damn time.  🌪 she claims she doesn’t care that her father stopped coming around… but it has really heavily impacted her. on the rare occasion he calls or reaches out, it sends mertle into a spiral. in turn, she has ridiculously bad trust & abandonment issues. 🌪 girl friends are more like…. pawns. the individuals she chooses to keep 'close' have to benefit her or her status in some way. she keeps her more powerful friends at an arms length, as she finds it easier to surround herself with people she can bully and manipulate into seeing her as their superior. 🌪 the primarily fuel for her hatred towards lilo is that she is envious of her lack of regard for what other people think about her… how can one NOT care?? 🌪 hawaii is in her blood, and whilst she dismisses many of the values her culture holds through her selfish and insecure need to be on top, her heart still misses her island and the warm sun and the never-ending beaches.  🌪 mertle is the sound of a volcano rumbling in the distance, building up tension and smoke and heat as it festers- the contents so hot and fueled with the desire to explode and bring awareness of its presence to everyone around.  🌪 hula is something she still practices daily, it’s a great core workout and it makes her feel connected to the parts of home she actually liked. she’s even started learning other types of dance because movement allows her mind to go quiet for once.  🌪 mertle will have the occasional drink or shot, but she knows her limits. when you're sloppy, you have the opportunity to say and do things that people may judge you for…and being judged or looked at funny is not something mertle is okay with. AT. ALL. 🌪 mertle suffers from dyslexia and was a terrible student because of it, not being able to receive the assistance she needed ( not that she asked for it because she refused to admit anything was wrong with her ). it's something she's really embarrassed about.

[baja4nia]

last post i think but since moving down here i stopped cooking because i couldnt bring all of my cookware down here/my kitchen is always 90 degrees. i haven't reallyyyy missed it i mean i do but i also love the eating habits i've picked up down here. authentic tacos from tijuana, always making smoothies and eating poke from my fav hawaiian restaurant every weekend has been the best. i love convoy and mitsuwa and h mart. i love the vibe of my meighborhood in n out. the sushi chefs in pacific beach love me. i'm friends with the grillers at my fav taco spot in tj. making guests a smoothie with fresh pineapple frozen bananas collagen powder and hemp heart seeds is my favorite.

[anonymous-whiteguy]

Imagine being JUST A merperson in this world. It's not like in the movies with a cute lil underwater city. You would be dodging BP oil spills, military missile tests, radioactive waste dumping, fisherman coming for your ass, because not specifically human probably means no civil rights, scientists paying the fisherman to get your ass, as well as trying to survive the ocean. killer whales, sharks that probably think you taste good now, territorial animals etc.... But being able to change back an forth just means I get to have a really good time swimming at the beach before coming home to my nice warm bed with Netflix and Doordarsh bringing me sushi cuz I mean it's sushi and as a merman it'll probably be a realistic diet .

Fun different sort of poll post for you all!

[tasteandsmellday]

Beyond Sight and Sound: The Rise of Taste-Enabled Virtual Reality

By Mindy Yang

Close your eyes. Picture this: A steaming espresso, its crema glistening as it clings to the sides of a porcelain cup. The delicate bitterness, the deep caramel undertones, the whisper of citrus that lingers just long enough to make you crave another sip. The experience is so vivid you could swear you’re in a sun-drenched café in Rome.

Now open your eyes. There’s no espresso. No cup. Just a VR headset and a flickering digital world.

This isn’t science fiction. It’s the next frontier in virtual reality—one that doesn’t just trick your eyes and ears, but your tongue, your nose, your entire sense of presence. And yet, in our race to digitize everything, are we thinking deeply enough about what it truly means to taste?

Virtual Flavor: The Promise & The Hype

For years, virtual reality has been a mostly visual affair—a world of hyperrealistic landscapes, immersive gaming, and metaverse meetups that promise to feel real. But taste, touch, and smell have remained elusive.

That’s beginning to change. At Japan’s Meiji University, researchers have developed a device called the Norimaki Synthesizer 2.0, an electrode-based interface that stimulates taste receptors to create the illusion of flavor. Want something salty? A zap of targeted electrical stimulation. Craving something sweet? The same principle applies. Theoretically, this means you could sip a digital cocktail or bite into a pixelated piece of cake and taste it—without a single calorie or crumb.

Other innovators are pushing even further. Project Nourished is experimenting with multisensory dining, pairing AR/VR visuals with scent diffusers, haptic utensils, and textured food substitutes to create a gastronomic illusion. Meanwhile, OVR Technology is bringing olfaction into VR, developing scent diffusion systems that sync with virtual environments.

The possibilities are tantalizing:

• Gastronomic tourism without a plane ticket—sample sushi in Tokyo, gelato in Florence, or mole in Oaxaca, all from your home.

• Training chefs, baristas, and sommeliers—a sensory sandbox for mastering complex flavors.

• Rethinking diet and nutrition—could a VR cheeseburger satisfy cravings for the real thing?

• Immersive storytelling—imagine watching a film and tasting the wine the characters are drinking.

The dream is big. The science is promising. But are we truly ready for a world where taste can be digitized?

The Human Factor: Why We’re Not There Yet

The problem with most of these developments isn’t the technology—it’s the approach. Sensory experience isn’t just about isolated taste receptors or olfactory molecules. Flavor is a symphony, a full-body phenomenon shaped by psychology, memory, culture, and even emotion.

The way we experience taste is deeply human, deeply contextual. A glass of wine on a beach at sunset isn’t the same as that same wine under fluorescent office lighting. Coffee tastes different when it’s made by the hands of someone you love. The crunch of perfectly toasted bread isn’t just about the flavor—it’s about texture, sound, and expectation.

These nuances are what make taste feel real. And yet, most current VR flavor experiments focus on technical stimulation rather than emotional connection.

This is where experts—chefs, perfumers, neuroscientists, philosophers, experience designers—must step in. If we don’t approach this revolution in an interdisciplinary way, we risk reducing one of the most primal and meaningful human experiences into nothing more than a digital parlor trick.

What’s at Stake?

Beyond the immediate thrill of tasting in VR, we have to ask ourselves: What happens when digital taste becomes indistinguishable from reality?

Could we become addicted to synthetic flavors that are more perfect than real food? Will corporate interests manipulate these experiences for profit, tuning taste to maximize consumption rather than pleasure? Will we lose our connection to traditional craftsmanship, regional terroir, the subtle imperfections that make a meal truly special?

Or could this technology do the opposite—help us rediscover the art of savoring, of being more mindful eaters, of unlocking new sensory dimensions we never knew existed?

The Call for a Human-Centric Approach

This is the moment where we decide what kind of future we want. The race to digitize taste isn’t just about innovation—it’s about intention.

If done right, VR taste could expand human experience, making food more accessible, more immersive, more exploratory. Imagine giving someone with anosmia (the loss of smell) a way to taste again. Imagine reviving ancient flavors from lost civilizations. Imagine storytelling where you don’t just see a world—you taste it.

But if done carelessly, it could become just another way for tech to hijack human senses for profit, reducing one of life’s greatest pleasures into an optimized algorithm.

That’s why we need an interdisciplinary approach. This isn’t just a problem for engineers and programmers. We need chefs, sensory scientists, perfumers, psychologists, artists, philosophers, even ethicists to weigh in. We need to ensure that digital taste doesn’t just mimic reality—it respects it.

Because taste isn’t just about what’s on the tongue. It’s about memory, place, connection. It’s about being human.

And that’s something no headset should ever replace.