#cactus cocktail

[freshtendril]

Cactus cocktail, with eastern prickly pear fruit. Yum!

[crochetclaire]

[bredforloyalty]

i thought i used up all my luck and joy and whimsy last week because i was almost late today and i had such an awkward time on the train and i didn't do the things i wanted to do yesterday (except wash my hair. an accomplishment in itself considering how much i don't want to wash my hair at any time ever) also assignments piled up for these next few days. i even started listening to music with bad & scary vibes to match the mood but things r turning out nice :) so far

[imfromsixam]

The Hacienda Getaway (CC Pack for The Sims 4)

Welcome to "El Agave" Hacienda Resort!

Hey, Simmers! With the arrival of the "Ciudad Enamorada" world in The Sims 4 Lovestruck, I couldn't resist recreating a beautiful spot I visited last year in Los Cabos, Mexico.

This CC Pack is all about an old hacienda where they produce the finest tequila. Even though I'm not a big drinker, the place was simply magical! Of course, I had to try a couple of Paloma cocktails and some tequila shots – when in Rome, right? 🍹

In this pack, you'll discover a treasure trove of old archways, grand double doors, and windows made of wood, clay, and iron, all available in open versions to bring your spaces to life. Plus, there's a full set of cozy, leather-style living room furniture where your Sims can chat, relax, or get a little romantic. 💕

I had a blast crafting the rustic coffee table and console with carved wood finishes. The iron chandeliers add an authentic old-world charm, and the mud planters with cacti are a perfect touch of the local flair. 🌵

But wait, there's more! I've added new flowers, a traditional-style rug, rustic painting frame, cushions, armchair, cool beams for your ceiling, beautiful terracotta tiles, and of course, a tequila set to make it all complete.

I had a lot of fun creating this set, reminiscing about one of the best vacations I've had. I hope to go back soon, but in the meantime, my Sims can enjoy a bit of that life.

Dive into the fun with this custom content for The Sims 4, and as always, happy simming!

About this CC Pack

Build: Arch, Door, 2 Floors, 2 Windows

Comfort: Armchair with and without pillows, Armchair, Loveseat, Sofa

Decorative: Cushions for sofa, Cushions, Beam, 3 plants (cactus), Paiting, 1 Flower (Dalia), Rug, Tequila Bottle, Tequila Set, Mud Vase

Lighting: Chandelier, Wall Light

Surface: Coffee table, Console Table

GET EARLY ACCESS HERE

[lunchcase]

Bellini

Location: Cactus club cafe

Fuzzy peaches

Frozen Brazilian

It tastes like something specific but unknown.

5.4.2023 11:42pm Casey: These are the only notes I wrote.

[sketchypenface]

Next set of silhouettes to paint on!

[ofallthingsnasty]

Oh... But what if you're a Warlord and Doflamingo is trying oh-so-hard to have some fun with you and Crocodile? He just wants you both, in typical 'the heart wants what it can't get' fashion. Because that's how it is - you're just as annoyed by his antics as Crocodile is and you two seem to find a strange sense of camaraderie in your shared dislike for the bird. It's cruel and tantalizing at the same time when you whisper among each other whenever the marine coops the lot of you up, purposefully ignoring his too-big grins and wandering hands.

minors dni, cucking, gets a little dark at the end

It's like he's air to you - at least until he outright bullies himself into your little tête-à-têtes and receives nothing but rolling eyes and cold acid. Oh, he wants to fuck that attitude right out of you both, he thinks, wants not one but two powerful shichibukai hot-faced and stupid on his cock. Mentally, he sees you two lounging right by his side on Dressrosa, basking in the hot sun, enjoying yourselves while he just gets to take, take, take and maybe watch you fuck each other shamelessly in front of an audience. (But oh, you're both so... stuck up. Palm trees and pools and cocktails and most importantly, swimwear and sex, are in the far, far future because he just knows that you two would rather take a cactus up your asses than be on friendly (and more) terms with him. Such a shame, it is.) But no, he has to watch you get closer and closer while all he can do is act like it doesn’t bother him one bit, when in reality he wants to bite his own tongue off with want sometimes. 

So imagine his surprise when you invite him in, just like that, one day, out of the blue - he’s too careful to call it a victory just yet, but he’s curious as to why little old you, always so cool, composed, almost icy, decides to propose a little tryst. And he’s right to be cautious, because no one other than Crocodile waits for you when you open the door to some non-committal bedroom, looking as bored as ever.

Oh? Are you planning on getting rid of him? It wouldn’t be the worst assassination plot that has happened upon him - but way too clumsy for the caliber of pirate you and the gator are. And he’s right - because before he can even make a single remark about what the hell you think you’re doing, he has to swallow his tongue at the sight of you two getting rather … intimate. Doflamingo is never speechless, but for a hot second even he can only cock a blond eyebrow, brain needing to catch up with his eyes. Reality is truly stranger than fiction, he thinks, shrugs his shoulders and promptly tries to seize the opportunity - only to get rejected decidedly and loudly. The puzzle pieces fall into place, then, and it all makes sense. So that’s how you want to play, hm? You want to discourage him from leering by making a show out of just how close you are. Too bad that he’s made of the very same material you two bastards are. He can be patient, when he wants to, can hold his words behind an unassuming face and just be grateful for what he has been given. He’ll find a way to get out of this on top - even if he only makes you think that this show doesn’t bother him, he tries to tell himself. Doflamingo doesn’t want to admit it, but he’s seething. He would have gladly watched you in any other context, but only to spite him, only to show him what he can’t have? It makes him both indescribably angry and turns him on at the same time. He was right before - someone needs to fuck the attitude out of the two of you, big-headed and self-assured that you are. Deep, deep down he knows he could just force himself between you right now - overpower both of you and teach you the very lesson that is itching beneath his fingertips. But where is the fun in that? Oh, no. You made the grave mistake of mocking him, of thinking yourself superior to him when you’re nothing but ants. And you’ll pay for that.

He sits and grinds his teeth while the two of you seem to have forgotten about his presence entirely, stewing in his anger, mapping out awful scenario after scenario- Only when you gasp, shaking him from his frantic thoughts, he notices just how hard he is against his pants. Rage melts away with every little moan, every grunt that comes from the bed and is replaced by that same white-hot desire that has been stirring within him for months. 

It’s unfair, entirely unfair. He feels like a kid for a moment, the way he wants to pout. He’s painfully straining against too-tight fabric while you two look like you’re having the time of your lives. Oh, he’ll get his revenge, he just knows it. He’ll make you beg for it, will make you stick out your tongue until you go cross-eyed, will make you degrade yourself for even a fraction of the things Crocodile is doing to you. And he’ll make the gator eat the dirt he likes to revel in, will make him swallow it alongside his hideous and uncalled-for pride until he won’t be able to look him in the eyes anymore. He’ll fucking ruin you both, it’s decided in that very moment. Gone are the dreams of fake blue pools and the three of you in cozy reverie, he only wants you beneath him now like the nauseating dogs you are.

Oh, you just made everything so much worse for yourselves, poor things. Because what you don’t know is that what Doflamingo wants - he gets.

[wanderingsimsfinds]

WanderingSims Fave CC - Neon Pt. 2 List

1, 6 - Simdreams - dominationkid neon pt. 3 (Good Night & Hearts)

2-3, 9 - Simdreams - dominationkid neon pt. 8 (Cat Left & Right, What are you afraid of?)

4-5, 10-11 - 10 - Simdreams - dominationkid neon pt. 6 (Tarot Card Reader, Pizza, XOXO, Psychic Moon)

7 - Simdreams - dominationkid neon pt. 7 (Chinese Restaurant)

8, 12-14, 20, 22 - MainlyJustTheSims - 4t3 Syboulette Neon (Cloud, Eyes, Cactus, Flashy Arrow Left & Right, Cocktail)

15, 21 - HydrangeaChainsaw - Patreon Gifts (Flower Bouquet & No Face)*

16 - Martassimsbook - 4t3 novvvas Neon Signs 3 (Bad Habits)

17 - HydrangeaChainsaw - Luna Neon

18 - Martassimsbook - 4t3 novvvas Neon Signs 2 (Let's Cuddle)

19, 25 - HydrangeaChainsaw - Heartpop Set (Saturn Heart & Luv U)*

23 - HydrangeaChainsaw - Kawaii Heart Neon

24 - HydrangeaChainsaw - Sticker Set Extras (Kuromi Neon)

26 - HydrangeaChainsaw - Ajisai Set Baka Neon*

27 - HydrangeaChainsaw - Pride Set (Rainbow Neon)

28 - HydrangeaChainsaw - Neon Ramen Sign

29 - HydrangeaChainsaw - Neon Ramen Sign 2

*These have their Room Category set to Community. Using SP3E or TSRW you will need to unselect Community and choose any other Room Category in order to place them in residential lots.

[ukeshik]

What kind of alcohol would the AOT characters drink?

Eren, Armin, Mikasa, Jean, Connie, Sasha, Reiner, Annie, Bertholdt. (Part 1?)

TW: Alcohol is harmful to your health!

Eren: This fool is definitely insane, because he would drink gin. It doesn't matter in what form, cocktail, tonic, in its pure form. His passion is gin. Its excessive bitterness, coniferous aroma and notes of juniper with spices excite his receptors, which is why he loves this drink. (Fanfact, I hate gin, the nastiest alcohol after absinthe)

Armin: something light, like apple cider, wine or light beer, maybe even alcohol-free. He definitely does not tolerate alcohol well, so guys try not to pour this guy, because he always forgets his measure and gets drunk quickly, which is why he does rash things.

Mikasa: definitely an expensive dry red wine for meat and cheese. She likes to arrange such gatherings with Annie and Sasha, discussing what interesting things have happened these days, and what kind of fools their friends and boyfriends are. Mikasa personally goes to buy cheeses, camembert, brie, Cheddar, parmesan, maasdam, although she and Sasha mostly eat all the cheese.

Jean: Mmmm... everything? Depends on which company he's in. If he’s with guys, he doesn’t want to miss one other can of beer. In a restaurant with his woman? A couple of glasses of wine or a glass of single malt whiskey. In some interesting bar? He will definitely try some interesting unusual cocktail. Did he want to drink alone? He'll sit in the kitchen with the most normal whiskey he could find in the nearest store. But he definitely won't take something cheap.

Connie: Tequila and beer. Or ruff (a mixture of beer and vodka). This guy will definitely become addicted to alcohol as soon as he gets access to it, although he will be very upset when his mother finds him drunk and will be depressed by it herself. After that, he never came home drunk, and tried to stay with someone else. Because he drank well, and not always just for promotion. Vodka before beer sounds good, right?

Sasha: light beer and tinctures that her father taught her to make. Currant, raspberry, melon, cactus, cranberry, apricot, in general, everything that she found delicious, she tried to make tinctures, and they really came out cool and delicious. She brings her schmurdyak to girly gatherings, although in the end she also drinks wine, which she does not like at all.

Rainer: vodka or cognac. Sometimes he gets in the mood when he wants to get drunk, and he does it quickly and does not sit idly by. Even when he's with the guys, and everyone just brings beer, Rainer specially buys something stronger for himself separately (as a result, he has to share with those who ask, because they want something "more interesting and stronger").

Annie: she mostly drinks dry red wine with Mikasa, although she prefers some cocktails more, for example juice with vodka, or something fruity with syrups, like sex on the beach (and she vehemently denies that she loves this cocktail, although she is ready to drink a few if she has the opportunity).

Berthold: he drinks rarely and little, because he believes that it is pointless, because because of his large physique, and therefore his large weight, it is very difficult for him to feel the influence of alcohol, which is why he does not like it. He'll try a can of beer, and that's enough for him to realize that it's not interesting at all. But then he helps Rainer, who can sometimes overdo it.

[carecarry]

suddenly, even swallowing feels like trying to choke down a fucking cactus.

it's funny, you know? like, how just seeing your name pop up on my timeline—just your name, not even a picture—suddenly makes my throat feel like it's stuffed with cotton balls. swallowing? not an option. not when i’m hit with this weird-ass cocktail of feelings.

i mean, how do i even begin to explain it? we were never really together, were we? it was all just pings and pixels, late-night texts and stolen moments behind screens. but damn if it didn't feel real. it felt so real that now, when i see you, it’s like this giant, invisible hand is squeezing my heart just a little too tight. just enough to remind me that i’m still here, still breathing, still missing you.

and god, i hate how much i miss you. i hate that i’ve got this mental replay button that won’t stop flashing all the good shit we had—the stupid memes, the endless convos about literally nothing, and how we made each other laugh like idiots over the dumbest things. it’s like my brain is doing this sick little game of "let's remind them of what they don’t have anymore!"

it’s like when you’re so goddamn thirsty but the only thing left in the fridge is that nasty soda no one drinks, and you’re stuck with this dry-ass throat, craving something that isn’t there anymore. that’s what seeing you feels like—like i’m thirsty for something i can't have. and it fucking sucks.

sometimes i wonder if you remember me, if something random—like a song we used to share or that stupid inside joke we had—hits you out of nowhere and makes your stomach twist the same way mine does. or maybe you’ve moved on, maybe you’re out there living your best life, and i’m just a shadow in your memory—a faint echo of something that almost was but never really got the chance to be.

it’s pathetic, really, but i can’t help it. every time i see you, i think of how we ended things—not with a bang, but with this quiet, awful fizzle. like a sparkler that burns out before you’re ready to let go. and it hurts because, despite everything, a part of me still wonders what could’ve been if we’d just held on a little tighter, a little longer.

but here we are, right? just two people who once meant the world to each other, now reduced to fleeting moments, like passing thoughts in the back of our minds, lingering only for a second before we move on.

fuck, i really need to stop thinking about you. but damn, if that were easy, i wouldn’t be sitting here, typing this shit out like some lovesick idiot. because no matter how hard i try to move on, to forget, there you are—just a scroll away, reminding me of everything we had, and everything we lost.

[indy829]

Just watched Wes Anderson's Asteroid City (2023) and enjoyed all of the sartorial homages to mid-century Hollywood by costume designer Mileno Canonero, especially with Grace Kelly, Elizabeth Taylor, and Marilyn Monroe.

First up, we have the Edith Head-designed crisp white halter top and pistachio green pencil skirt ensemble cinched at the waist with a white belt that Kelly wore in Rear Window (1954). They even have Scarlett Johansson wearing a bracelet on the same wrist that Kelly wore her chunky charm bracelet. Even more bonus points for having Scarlett with a cocktail in-hand while wearing this outfit.

And then there's the floral dress that Johansson is seen wearing that is adorned with hand-painted pink and green cactus flowers. The floral design, along with the sleeveless bodice, quarter buttons that bifurcate said bodice, and jewel neckline encircled by a strand of tight-fitting pearls, really hammers home the Rear Window outfit Canonero wanted to reference. The main difference between the dresses is that while Johanssen has pink and green cactus flowers to match the desert setting of the film, Kelly's flowers are a golden yellow. These dresses are also both worn during the most action-oriented scenes in their respective films.

There are loads of Old Hollywood actresses Asteroid City could have referenced, so why Kelly? Well, Rear Window is largely a tale about the voyeurism displayed by the charcater portrayed by Jimmy Stewart. In Rear Window, the audience becomes complicit in that voyeurism as well. Asteroid City utilizes the lateral camera movements and dollhouse set designs favored by Wes Anderson to convey a sense of voyeurism, especially when the characters portrayed by Johannson and Jason Schwartzman are gazing into each other's (side) windows.

In these scenes, a couple of other mid-century actresses are referenced. While Johannson's outfits are mostly Grace Kelly-inspired, her hair and makeup are more decidedly Elizabeth Taylor, especially with how the latter looks in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (1958).

Could this be a reference to the fact that the playwright charcater portrayed by Edward Norton in AC is heavily-patterned after real-life playwright Tennessee Williams who wrote Cat on a Hot Tin Roof? Is the pressured stream-of-consciousness dialogue that Anderson has been favoring lately imitating that of Tennessee Williams characters who are always bursting at the seams to reveal their hidden truths?

And finally, the last 50s actress I saw a reference to was also a bit of a downer. TW for self-harm/suicide.

Johansson portrays an actress in the film and often runs her scenes and lines with Jason Schwartzman's charcater. In one such scene, she is pantomiming overdosing in her bathtub. The most noticeable prop is a comically large bottle of Chanel No. 5 perfume placed on a stool nearby. Why is this relevant? Chanel No. 5 was the purpoted favorite of Marilyn Monroe (though some reports that her actual favorite was Floris Rose Geranium, but the cultural image we have of her today is tied closely to Chanel).

I'm still trying to wrap my head around this scene. It seems that the film at large is a satire of/homage to 1950s Hollywood. Maybe this scene was a parody of the glamorous tragedy of the era that we as a culture still fetishize. Maybe it's a critique on how cruel the voyeurism of audiences and filmmakers can be especially with films like Blonde (2022).

The character herself, an actress who is considered glamorous but also complicated to work with being brought out to a remote desert locale brings to mind Marilyn Monroe filming The Misfits (1961) in the northern Nevada desert.

All-in-all, I enjoyed this latest outing with Wes Anderson and really admired how much thought and precision was put in by the likes of Mileno Canonero. I know that there are probably a ton of other references and homages I didn't mention here, but these are just a few impressions based off of my initial viewing last night.

[thevioletcaptain]

🌵🤠🙄

Crouched down behind the bar at the back of the room, Dean pushes bottles around until he finds the little box of cactus-shaped cocktail sticks left over from Jack’s “Green Stuff” themed birthday party (Dean’s given up on questioning the kid’s requests) and holds them up triumphantly.

“Got ‘em!”

Sam peers around the back of his recliner and narrows his eyes as Dean makes his way back to the couch and plonks back into his seat, shaking a few out into his hand and sticking them into several cubes of cheese and deli meats on the platter he’d set up earlier.

“What are those, pickles?”

“They’re cactuses, man. They’re thematically relevant to the movie. Y’know, cowboys, deserts, cactuses.”

“Oh my god, I told you we are not watching it again,” Sam groans.

“Well, it’s what’s playing in the Deanplex tonight, and there’s only one screen, so—”

“The Deanplex? Really?”

“You kept whining about me calling it the Dean Cave,” Dean reminds him. “Reap what you sow.”

“Dean. I’m serious. No more Tombstone.”

“It’s a classic!”

“So is Citizen Kane, but we don’t need to watch it six times a year!”

Dean makes a face. Slaps Sam’s hand away when he tries to take one of the cubes of colby jack before he’s had a chance to stick a cactus in it.

“Okay, one? Citizen Kane is boring as fuck and you know it.”

“Not the point,” Sam huffs.

“And B? What are you talking about, six times? Who’s watched it six times?”

Sam stares, then raises his hand to count them off on his fingers.

“We watched it on your birthday,” he starts, raising his index finger.

Dean rolls his eyes.

“Yeah, ‘cause it’s one of my favorite movies. Choosing the movie is a time-honored birthday tradition.”

“So then why did we have to watch it on my birthday?”

“Hey, that’s on you, man. Not my fault you struck out on your date and came home when me and Cas had already hit play.”

“I didn’t strike out, Eileen had to—”

“And anyway, that’s only two times, so—”

Sam raises his second and third finger and cuts him off.

“We watched it again on Valentine’s Day.”

“Again, when you were supposed to be out! I don’t see why I have to suffer just because you can’t seem to manage to get a date with Eileen to continue past 7pm.”

Sam ignores the dig and lifts his fourth finger.

“We watched it on Jack’s birthday.”

“His choice, and as we’ve established: it’s birthday tradition,” Dean reminds him, and shrugs. “Kid inherited my good taste genes, I guess.”

“That’s not — that doesn’t make sense on literally any level.”

“Says you.”

“You’re not even his father!”

“How dare you say that about my son,” Dean says in exaggerated horror, and Sam grits his teeth, visibly making the decision not to push that particular argument, even as Dean can tell how infuriated he is.

He lifts his thumb.

“And then we watched it again two weeks ago, and— fine, yeah, that one I’ll give you, ‘cause it was like. The anniversary of that time we had the hunt in Tombstone when Cas just came back from the dead, so. Fine. But dude. Two weeks ago. It’s only July and we’ve already watched it five times this year. We are not watching it for a sixth.”

“It’s National Day of the Cowboy, Sam! How are we not gonna watch the best cowboy movie of all time on the Day of the Cowboy?”

“You’re still arguing about this?”

Cas’ voice floats over from the doorway, and Dean looks over to see him wearing the denim Western shirt Dean bought him for the occasion. The pearl snaps glint, silvery in the light from the TV screen where Tombstone is loaded and ready to play.

“Yeah, ‘cause Sam’s being unreasonable.”

“I’m not—”

“You realize I left to drop Jack off with his friends almost an hour ago,” Cas points out.

“Remind me again what he’s doing with his friends,” Dean says, and looks at Sam to see his reaction when Cas answers.

“They’re celebrating National Day of the Cowboy by watching the Dollars trilogy in Eliot’s backyard.”

“Sounds like Jack and his friends are getting into the sprit of the holiday,” Dean says pointedly.

“It’s not a holiday!”

“They’ve set up a projector to show the films on the side of the barn,” Cas goes on.

“Okay, so hey— a compromise,” Sam offers. “Why don’t we just watch the Dollars trilogy?”

“…oh, did you think we were only watching Tombstone tonight?” Dean asks, bemused. “Dude, that’s just the appetizer. We’ve got a whole damn buffet to get through.”

“I hate you so much,” Sam tells him, but he’s already given up. He snatches up several pieces of cheese and slouches back in his chair. “Start the damn movie.”

“Hey, man,” Dean says, and settles into the couch, spreading his arm for Cas to settle against before he kicks his cowboy-booted heels up onto the edge of the coffee table and hits play. “You’re the one who keeps crashing date night.”

[written for this prompt game] [find me on ao3 as imogenbynight 💚]

[akwolfgrl]

I'm a great fuck but better lover part 7

Sanji steps out of his pantry after making room for the jars of tomato sauce, only to see his boyfriend dipping his finger into the sauce and sucking it off his finger.

“What are you doing!?” Sanji hurried over to the stove. “Please tell me you at least washed your hands first!” Sanji was panicking who knows what could have gotten into the suace! Maybe it was just sweat, but it could be sword oil!

“Yah I don't have a death wish,” Zoro grumbled, leaning against the counter. “Besides its already ruined its bland shit cook,”

“Well of course it is,” Sanji gave him a weird look as he turned the burner off and took out the hot cans from the large canner pot. “It's tomato sauce. It's a bace product. I add the seasoning to it when I cook,” Sanji didn't have to argue as he began to open the lids to jars. He placed a funnel atop a jar and began to fill.

“Oh…” Sanji continued to work as he glanced over at his boyfriend, who was definitely pouting. The swordsmen would deny fervently, but it was the truth.

“Were you trying to start a fight?” Sanji asked him, he could put him to work.

“Yah. We haven't had a fight since before Loguetown. You haven't been put for your morning stretches, ethior,”

“Ive been busy trying to get some things done, but if you give me some time, who's on the deck…other than Luffy?” He would not trust Luffy to watch his timer. Their captain would lose it.

“The w…Nami,”

“Great, let me make her some tanghulu and a quick cocktail, get the tomato sauce in the canner, set the timer, and ask her to watch my timer, then we can fight till it goes off. What I need from you is to get me, strawberries and grapes from the fridge, a minka from the pantry, the candy thermometer from the third draw, sugar in the middle canister in the cupboard to left of you, a small pot, and little Sophie,”

“Who the fuck is Sophie?” Zoro asked before compling.

“Yah, shit, she's the smallest knife a paring knife, I'll introduce you to my ladies sometime later,” Sanji wiped the rim of all jars with vinegar before seeling them finger tight. He then placed them on the rack and in the pot. When he turned to Zoro, he had managed to gather everything he had asked for. “OK one last thing. Grab a handful of the jerky and give it to Luffy it's his snack time. I'll meet you on the deck when I'm done,”

“You better or i'll drag you out,” Zoro grabbed handful of jerky as he walked out the door.

Sanji got to work, he quickly made the tanghulu and a cosmopolitan for his Nami-swan and headed out the door sliver tray in hand.

Nami was purning her trees when Sanji showed up. His cat was draped across the canvas bag she kept her tools in. She wiped the sweat from her brow and looked up at him. Even with a smuge of dirt on her face and a few straw leaves in her hair, Nami was as stunning as ever, her smile as radiant as the sun reflecting across the water.

“Good timing Sanji! I was just about to take a break,”

“Ah I'm so happy to serve you, my dear…however I am afraid I have a small favor to ask of you. The walking cactus I call a boyfriend is asking for a fight. However, I have cans of tomato suace in the canner that needs to come out at some point. I fear that I won't have time later on to fight him. I am only asking you to watch my timer and let me know when it goes off. Of course, I have a special treat for you as payment. It's tanghulu it's simply furit coated in a sugar glaze that it is clear and crisp, a cosmopolitan to go along with,”

“Sure I can do that,” Nami gave him a smile before nudging his cat off the bag and putting her stuff away before taking the tray from his hands.

Sanji made his way back down to where Zoro was waiting.

[soranihimawari]

Cats & Sweet Starts

Kuroo Tetsurō has been nominated for many things: most likely to succeed, most likely to be chemistry quiz bowl champion, most likely to date a supermodel… but when he stands in front of you at your first JVA-interns reunion, he’s sopping wet from the beer a horrid ex-boyfriend of yours throws at your face. Or at least tried to.

“You always protected ‘em huh Kuroo? Just like helped cover her mistakes when the boss was around,” the jerk scoffs.

“I just did it because you kept putting ‘em down at the board meetings, asshole,” Kuroo says before wiping his face. He turns to you asking if you’re ok, you nods. However, before your old fling at the office leaves, you put your glass down and march right up and sock the idiot who ruined your friend’s suit with your fist.

Kuroo laughs a bit stunned you could hit that hard. Jerk of an ex-fling looks at you and rubs his cheek.

“Pop quiz dickweed,” you square your shoulders in your bar attire. “Before volleyball what was the the one sport I was the captain for?”

The rag doll of a guy who probably has an STD now for being a player looks at you says you probably broke his cheek and you shake your head.

“Does it look like I care? You ruined our reunion. Get out of here,” turns to look at Kuroo with an apologetic smile. “Your suit’s ruined. I really liked that one too….”

An hour or so later, the pub is lively again and you walk together with your current department neighbor at the JVA. He talks about how badass you were after he took the whiskey sour hit on your behalf.

“… but you kicked Kuwabara’s ass. Have you always been that strong?”

You’re at the lobby of Kuroo’s apartment complex about to leave after saying your goodnights.

“Hmm… you didn’t know me in high school, but i guess I still am, haha. Don’t forget I’m paying for your dry cleaning. Just send me in the invoice, ok Kuroo-kun?”

He nods and waves as you head to your home via hailing a cab.

You’re about to be dropped off in your drive way when you piece some things together and tell the driver you’d pay him double to take you back to the apartment complex he picked you up in.

The ride back to Kuroo’s complex was an entertaining one. You tell the driver all about how Kuroo introduced himself in the first day; you were cubicle buddies for the next six to eight months during your internship five years ago; now you’ve officially signed on with him your department and his work on promotional athletes from the national team…

“I’m in merchandise development and he’s in sports contracts,” you say proudly at the light right before the complex.

“And falling in like, happened when?” The driver asks bemused.

“Three years ago when we had to fake a relationship so his family would stop worrying about him too much,” you smile.

“And falling in love…?”

“Two hours ago when my ex splashed a cocktail all over his face…thanks mister.”

You hand the driver some cash and run straight to the elevators.

Meanwhile, Kuroo is on the phone with his team trying to sort out his emotions that are tied to you until one of them turns into all of them saying what he’s known since you bought him that little cactus for his big boy promotion desk. It stares at him everyday and he watered it for a year then on the eve of your friendship anniversary (his idea you went along with), you tell him it’s a fake plant. You and him laughed together over tea time. Kuroo’s friends agree saying he’s just got to for it and see what works.

“I gotta go fellas, thanks,” Kuroo hangs up and though he is in his tank top under shirt and old college sweatpants, his finger hovers over your name on his phone. Sighing he’s about to call you when he hears a knock and goes to open the door after seeing who it was.

“YN?”

You smile brightly apologizing for the late house call after you saw each other not that long ago:

“Excuse me,” you say sternly, standing on your toes to kiss him.

Kuroo’s golden eyes seem matte and warm when you pull away. Your cheek is stroked gently by his curled forefinger and his other hand holds you steady when you return to the ground shoes and all.

“Wh-when?” He lingers near you before you push him inside to close the door behind you. His smile is Cheshire like and cheeks are a soft plum pink under the fluorescent lighting of his living room. He holds your hand and realizes you haven’t answered just yet, but he sees your blush spread.

“Pub,” you laugh and he cups your face to kiss you again. “You?”

“When you reminded me you did judo,” Kuroo laughs too, letting you kiss him for as long as you’re able to. He returns them with as much vitality as he deems worthy.

[marshmallowprotection]

The scene in the secret ending where the doctors are reading off the elixir ingredients is so insane to me. You’re telling me this whole time Saeran was on MUSHROOMS? METHANOL?? PEYOTE CACTUS???

Yeah, and those are only the ingredients that we know about. The elixir is a pure cocktail of drugs. These are the only ingredients that are mentioned to us by name.

I imagine the list of what is being pumped into it is never the same and I know that is true for a damn fact, anon. The formula is never the same because they make it in large batches with whatever they can get their hands on. That is revealed in Another Story by Ray himself. He knows the formula, and not only that, he is able to make something that looks exactly like it and relatively tastes close enough that nobody would say a word about it in a desperate situation.

It wouldn't surprise me in the slightest if they not only develop new batches but they test it on believers that are being cleansed. I mean, there's really only one surefire way to figure out what happens to the people who take it. You have to physically test it on people and nobody's going to be willing to do that. One of the first people to suffer through the elixir is Saeran himself. He wasn't the first person but he was one of the first to be inducted in that way.

Not only is he taking medication that is never in the same concentration all the time, he was a guinea pig for it in the first place. The sad reality in his after ending when he isn't affected by the elixir at all like everybody else is due to his tolerance that he's built up to the sheer overwhelming concentration. Like, we don't even know all of the ingredients in the elixir but what we do know lets us know how harsh it is for your body. Rika knows a lot of information about "herbs". She put it to use in the name of experimentation.

Let's not even try to figure out how she was capable of manipulating people during her time in the RFA to not only gain the financial backing for this process but how she made connections with the right people in the pharmaceutical industry. That would have taken a lot of work because she's not doing that by herself.