#even with milk and ice and a hint of flavouring it is bad :(

[isbergillustration]

1.5 min wip to reiterate how deeply open for commissions I am, how very much all my originals are for sale, etc

[spooniechef]

Smoothies (1 spoon)

Smoothies have on occasion bewildered and intimidated me. That’s probably mostly because I’ve only seen the offerings at speciality smoothie bars and ordering from those feels like Starbucks on acid. But with the combined issues of vitamin D deficiency and needing something resembling breakfast with minimal effort, I decided to give it a shot. And yes, most of the individual recipes for smoothie flavours aren’t bad, but it didn’t give a whole lot of feel for how to personalise it to something that, say, I specifically might want on any given day. I wanted something that broke smoothies down to their essential components so I could put them together in the ways that I saw fit.

I finally found that on The Spruce Eats - just a simple How To Make A Smoothie guide. Of course, like most other things out there, it lacks the notes on how to make it a little easier for someone who might struggle with some things, so after a few days of getting the hang of the whole deal, here’s the breakdown, and some added hints and tricks. Also I halved the original recipe because I don’t tend to need two servings of smoothie at a go, and that’s what their recipe gave.

Here’s what you’ll need:

1 cup fruit / fruits of your choice (fresh or frozen)

1/2 to 1 cup ice (if using fresh fruit)

1/2 cup liquid (juice or milk)

1/4 cup yoghurt (optional)

Sugar or honey to taste

Yep, really that simple. Honestly, using frozen fruit is the best option here because you can bag them individually and just dump them out of a freezer bag into your blender or container as necessary, plus it means not dicking around with ice cubes. Frozen things can be an issue if using a hand mixer (more on that later) so anything to make it easier is good.

Here’s what you do:

Combine ingredients in blender

Blend

Serve

Yeah, that was kind of pointless, wasn’t it? I guess it just demonstrates how easy this actually is. However, especially if you’re using a hand mixer, it can be trickier than it necessarily needs to be. So here’s the notes I’ve figured out to make things easier when using a hand mixer and frozen fruit (I haven’t tried it with fresh because I don’t have an ice tray), and also generally more tasty.

Blending anything frozen is going to make a lot of noise and an equal amount of vibration. If you’re using a hand mixer, that’s going to cause some pain if you’ve got chronic pain issues, RSI, anything like that. To make it easier, put in the frozen fruit first, then add the liquid and sugar (and yoghurt if using it) and then let it sit for a minute or two. It’ll soften the fruit a little bit - not much, but enough to make a difference.

Yoghurt is actually a great addition to this. I’ve been using dairy free vanilla yoghurt and the vanilla comes through as a nice little added flavour touch, so experimenting with different flavours of yoghurt is probably worthwhile.

Honey tends to mix better than sugar, and I put ‘to taste’ because the half-teapoon or so they recommend didn’t make much difference when I was doing specific measurements. Then again, I was using fruit that’s known for being a bit tart (strawberry and mango, respectively - I should try them combined sometime) so your mileage may vary.

Seriously, even if you’re buying your frozen fruit, package it up into 1 cup servings. That way you’ll know how much you have left before you run out, so there’s no surprises of the “I only have enough fruit for half a smoothie” variety.

So there you have it: the smoothies that have been keeping me going on my first week with increased hours. Yep; I’ve been managing well enough on working from home to add five hours to my work week! A little strenuous, but the way things are going right now, if i want to eat properly, extra hours help. Lactose- and gluten-free foods aren’t cheap.

[lunchcase]

Matcha Latte

Location: Good catch cafe

Price: $4.5? For hot.

Don’t you love when a drink bubbles with potential? Like it can’t contain its own splendour, beauty, delectable flavour.

Side note: the french toast - have you ever have a knife sink into bread with nary a force? The slice is downright magical. It’s a little different than the traditional Hong Kong 西多士 that I prefer, but the peanut flavour mixed with infused condensed milk is a lovely combo. It’s also got fried bits instead of the whole thing being fried and that’s different but not bad too.

Side side note: the person at the table next to ours just said, “I rather starve than eat cup noodles” and even more surprising, the person she said that to asked, “what’s a cup noodle?” My rapid succession of thoughts proceeded as such, within the span of 2 seconds: 1. Then starve 2. How dare you insult the food of my people 3. That’s a terribly cringe thing to say I take it back 4. I don’t actually care about this 5. but god unrelatable out of touch rich person shit right there

Side side side note: a kid the table across is resignedly + bored-ly watching her mom take photos of their food before she’s allowed to eat it. I just think that’s funny. Hang in there kid.

Side note x4: the iced tea has a very familiar 茶餐廳 flavour and I appreciate it. Strong notes of tea. Needs more milkiness. The beauty of the old establishments is that they give you a milk/cream pitcher and one for syrup and you just go wild.

Anyway, I still haven’t had a sip of the matcha yet. I want to finish the toast first so the sweetnesses don’t clash.

I have reset my tongue with water. Smell: ah yes. There’s the matcha. Taste: … definitely matcha. Obviously. Strong hints of it. Not watered down much, and still retains a milky texture. Could it be sweeter? Yes, personally. Is it comforting anyway? Yes. Especially when it was freshly hot. It feels vaguely like a cloud coating your tongue, and I love clouds and coats because they both have warm hug vibes (disregard how clouds are cold water). And there are earthy tones to it, real grassy stuff! Love it.

I am reading the tea leaves. The tea leaves are telling me - my dog…. Surrounded by toys…. Having fun….. even in the midst of calamity… the world is ending but her world doesn’t end until I do…. Together we are in the eye of the storm…. And there are giant bunnies involved…. It’s karma…..

[cheri-translates]

Headcanon - Their adorable moments

This work, 他们可爱的小瞬间, was originally written by 君兮耶君兮 on Weibo, and she has given me permission to translate it 🌸

[ VICTOR ]

Dislikes the dinosaur onesie you bought for him, but still wears it when you’re being coquettish

Occasionally finds Pudding a hindrance because you cuddle it before giving him a hug whenever you return home

Enjoys watching your cheeks puff up after he feeds you because it gives him a warm contentedness

Will get sulky if you don’t give him a goodbye kiss before leaving

If you're in a bad mood and don't feel like eating, he’d worry that his culinary skills declined

After marriage, he has never once taken off the ring on his fourth finger

Even though he claims that Shiba Inus are childish, he’s been using the cup and blanket you gave him

When he sees the doodles of things related to him on your draft proposals, he will be in a great mood

Before marriage, he welcomed it when the entire company called you “Lady Boss”

Likes calling you “Dummy” because it sounds special

“Victor, why did you sneak a kiss?!”

“I did it openly.”

[ GAVIN ]

Really wants to take a stroll underneath the ginkgo trees of Loveland High with you

Spent a very long time learning the bass so he could accompany your piano playing

When he doesn’t dare to tell you that he’s injured, it isn't because he’s afraid you’d be angry. He’s afraid you’d be sad.

He prefers eating spicy food, but he says he loves all of your dishes

Before marriage, his face would blush whenever someone addressed you as “Sis-in-law”. He never denied it.

As the saying goes, “Even heroes have a weakness for the charms of a beautiful woman.” Gavin reflects this saying well - to him, your tears are deadly weapons 

He remembers the milk tea you like, along with your preferred sugar level and toppings

If you make him a bento, he will definitely open it in front of everyone

Enjoys bringing you flying to see the stars in clear weather

He doesn’t like it when Flyer licks you

“Gavin, are you feeling around because you want to hold hands?”

“Yes.”

-

[ LUCIEN ]

When he sees the things his Snail Girl has left for him in the laboratory, his mood is great for the entire day

Before sleeping, he remembers to place your phone further away to reduce radiation

When sharing an umbrella, it will always lean towards you

A picture of the two of you is on his desk

He always gives you the first bite of the white tea flavoured ice-cream

There are plasters in his pocket just in case your shoes chafe your feet

He waits for you at the office after work, and the receptionists recognise him

As your program advisor, he asks for compensation in the form of kisses and hugs

He likes watching black-and-white movies with you because when he sees the story being played while holding your hand, it feels as though he’s living through it

When he sleeps, he will subconsciously draw you into his arms and hug you really tightly, never letting you go in this lifetime

“Lucien, that’s my cup.”

“I know. I hope the Little Butterfly can see that I’m hinting for a kiss.”

- 

[ KIRO ]

80% - 90% of the time Kiro talks back to Savin, hides snacks and eats sumptuous meals is because of you

When he sees delicacies, the first person he thinks of is always Miss Chips

He enjoys playing games with you at home. Even if you're a noob and end up dragging him down, he won’t leave you in the lurch

He really likes bears and bunnies, and they feature on both of your matching pyjamas

He loves buying couple items. At one glance, one can tell that they come in a set. Just like the both of you.

Whenever he returns home, the first thing he says is: Miss Chips, I really missed you.

When he’s jealous, he resembles a pufferfish

Enjoys flaunting your relationship on Weibo. If he makes you angry, he’d get advice from his wide fanbase

When eating hotpot, he insists on mandarin duck hotpot. It’s not because he can’t eat spicy food, but because it symbolises a happily married couple

When performing, he will reserve the best seat for you. After performing a song, he’d show you a tiny, secret code that only the two of you know about

“Miss Chips, I left the center of the watermelon for you~ Is it sweet?”

“It’s just like you - extraordinarily sweet!!”

-

[ SHAW ]

When he says “bye” before the leaving the house, he definitely needs a reply. Otherwise, he’d come back and say it again in a louder voice

He only drinks mixed Cola in Live House. He doesn’t drink alcohol, nor does he allow you to

Even when he says he'd let you starve to death, a deliveryman will come knocking at your door the next second, bringing you all of your favourite food

Loves to play pranks on you like causing thunder to roar. When you’re afraid and burrow into his arms, he chuckles happily

He rarely blushes. But if you take the initiative to kiss him, he takes revenge

He doesn’t like looking at the weather forecast because he finds it inaccurate

Loves seeing you flustered and exaggerated. Deliberately makes you angry so you’d pay more attention to him

When he’s hugging you, he removes his jacket so you don’t get jabbed by the rivets

He’s a student who often skips classes yet his grades are good. It really makes one want to give him a punch.

He only sleeps well when his arms and legs are wrapped around you, caging you in his arms

“Shaw!! The potatoes I planted are gone!?”

“I’ve told you so many times - my field of study isn’t digging!”

–

More translated and original works: here

–

[ Permission to translate ]

君兮耶君兮: You can - just note the source of the author

[certifiedceliac]

Gluten Free Review Bonanza From Mod Lis

It was Mod Lauras birthday last Saturday so to celebrate (and get used to eating gf) I got only gf and df products to snack on and made a gf birthday cake!

All of these products were bought from Sainsbury's in the UK.

We're long distance for the moment so we each made a cake lol.

[Image: A photo of a hand holding a white packet with a picture of a sponge cake with jam in the middle and writing describing the product on the of the front it. End of description]

This cake mix by Doves Farm FREEE range was £1.65. Its free from gluten, milk and peanuts. It comes with instructions and either makes 12 cupcakes or 1 layer cake. It was really easy to make and just needed three eggs and any oil (I used olive) to make it.

[Image: There are two photos. One of a cake on a table with a red cloth. The cake is completely covered in pink frosting and topped with sliced strawberries arranged in the shape of a flower, gold shimmer sugar sprinkles and seven gold candles. The second is a slice of the same cake on a white plate. It has white frosting and jam in the middle. End description]

I frosted it with a standard vegetable shortening cream icing and decorated with strawberries and some sugar I sprayed with edible shimmer (gf sprinkles are notoriously hard to find).

The bake was really good on the cake if a teeny bit dry (typical of gf bakes) but with the icing it was perfect! 10/10

[Image: A photo of a hand holding a bag of tortilla crisps. The bag is yellow and has a photo of some chips surrounding a bowl of guacamole and text describing the product on the front.End Description]

These nacho cheese flavour tortilla chips are dairy and gluten and are from Sainsbury's own free from range and so far I haven't been able to fault any of their products. These tasted exactly like Doritos, I couldn't believe it was dairy free! They were also only £1.00 which is incredibly cheap compared to other branded gf/df chips. 10/10

[Image ID: a photo of a hand holding a green round packet. There is a picture of a woman in a clinging, flowing gown, holding up a pea pod and writing on the front describing the product. End description]

I adore Leons dips but they can be a little pricey (this was £2.00 though so not bad). This was called Pealentiful and is dairy and gluten free but does contain sesame. I hadn't had it before but is basically a hummus made with peas, lentils and sun dried tomatoes. It was absolutely delicious. Just a hint of mint  in with the peas made it really bright and tangy! 10/10

[Image ID: A photo of a hand holding a small bar of chocolate. The wrapper is blue and dark brown with white writing describing the product. End description]

NOMO chocolate bars are free from dairy, eggs, gluten and nuts.

This was on sale at 70p instead £1.84 (quite pricey for a small chocolate bar imo). I've had Nomo before and I love their caramel bar but this was lacking in the supposed salted caramel flavour, still tasty though and great if you're really missing milk chocolate. 8/10

[Image: There are two photos. The first is a photo of a hand holding a four pack of pudding pots. It's light brown with bananas and spoons on the package and has white writing describing the product on the front. The second photo is of a hand holding a small pudding pot, its clear and has a white foil lid with light brown pudding visible inside.End description]

Mod Laura and I have had The Coconut Collaborative's chocolate pots before (and we loved them) and its a good thing they're small because even this banoffee flavour was really rich! This was £2.00 but its usually £2.50 for a four pot pack. All of their products  are gluten and dairy free! 10/10

It just goes to show free from foods don't have to be dull and even if you aren't celiac or gluten or dairy intolerant you really aren't missing out!

[satonthelotuspier]

🐰 Untamed Spring Fest 2020 🐰

Day 20 & Day 21- Fond & Charm - 1.5k

This is a joint Spring Fest/Wangxian Week (a little late) piece - the Wangxian Day 8 was a free day.

A-Yuan forms a friendship with a bunny-loving tall-gege at the petshop, and Wei Wuxian is enchanted.

Its fluff, just tooth rotting fluff. Have fluff.

Bunnies Build Friendships

It was a Friday evening, and after picking A-Yuan up from school that day they had called to the barbers as A-Yuan needed a trim.

The process was unpleasant for them both, A-Yuan, like most young children, detested having his hair cut, which made for a stressful half hour while Wei Wuxian and some of the other patrons and hairstylists tried to distract A-Yuan enough to allow the barber to work. Eventually, thankfully, the task was completed and A-Yuan looked out from under a  freshly neatened fringe of hair.

They walked down the high street, and Wei Wuxian considered what they could do to reward A-Yuan for being mostly well-behaved during the haircutting process.

The obvious answer was ice-cream, of course, but Jiang Cheng had messaged him earlier telling Wei Wuxian he was home and would cook dinner that evening; and if they went home and A-Yuan didn’t eat it, Jiang Cheng would give him that look.

Despite his general grumpiness Wei Wuxian and A-Yuan were lucky Jiang Cheng had allowed Wei Wuxian to move in with him when, through tragedy, he had been left with the small boy to raise.

Pre-A-Yuan, Wei Wuxian was barely able to look after himself, but his brother had been immensely supportive, and with Jiang Cheng’s and Jiang Yanli’s help he was getting to grips with raising a child, and they were muddling through.

If it wasn’t for Jiang Cheng though, they would never eat a home cooked meal; Wei Wuxian wasn’t allowed near the kitchen, even the three sibling’s spice-resistant palates were tested when Wei Wuxian was let loose in charge of food.

So yes, that was definitely ice cream and sweets that were out of the question.

As he was considering the situation they walked past a pet supplies store. Inspiration struck him.

“A-Yuan, before we go home to dinner with shushu, do you want to go in and take a look at the animals?”

Five year old A-Yuan agreed readily.

They spent a little time looking at the fishes in the tanks along one wall, but A-Yuan was most enchanted by the small rodents.

He cooed over the mice and the gerbils and hamsters.

But he lost his heart at the large rabbit enclosure.

“Bunnies, baba” A-Yuan informed him with excitement in his voice.

He pressed his hands and face against the glass of the enclosure, steaming the glass up a little with his breath.

“Not quite so close, baby” Wei Wuxian said gently. He lowered to his haunches next to A-Yuan and they watched for a while.

“Look at the bunny hopping” A-Yuan pointed at a white rabbit who hopped over to one of the food bowls to begin nibbling on his dinner. “Can we have one, baba?”

“No, A-Yuan, we don’t have a garden for a hutch, and there isn’t enough room in the apartment”

“But the white one is really cute” he looked up at the very tall man who stood just to the side of them.

Wei Wuxian looked up too, and nearly fell backwards, right onto his behind. People shouldn’t be allowed to just be standing next to unsuspecting people when they looked that good, with their handsome faces carved out of jade, and their unusually pale amber eyes.

“The white one is especially good” he agreed with A-Yuan, then glanced at Wei Wuxian, he didn’t have the same soft look in his eyes as when he’d been looking at the rabbit or at A-Yuan though. “Your baba is right. You shouldn’t get a rabbit if you have no space for one. It would be unfair”

There was a slight pushing out of a lower lip in a pout, which the man didn’t seem to know how to deal with. He looked at Wei Wuxian again, nonplussed.

But A-Yuan wasn’t a child given to much sulking or bad temper, and he was soon watching the rabbit again, all smiles.

He threw another look at the man. “Tall-gege, can you see all the rabbits from up there?”

The man with the light coloured eyes agreed that yes, he could. He was entirely unprepared for when A-Yuan held his arms up to him though.

“Show me please?”

Another helpless glance at Wei Wuxian.

“A-Yuan, I’m very tall too, you know” Wei Wuxian was too surprised at being found wanting in the height department that he had to defend his own honour.

“You’re not very tall. Not like tall-gege” he said with the deadly logic of a child, they only knew what they saw, and said what they thought.

Something Wei Wuxian could appreciate in an abstract way, but not when his height’s honour was questioned.

The tall-gege seemed to make a decision, then bent a little to pick A-Yuan up, forming a ledge with his arm for the other to sit on.

“Thank you” A-Yuan patted the other on the cheek, then focussed on the rabbits he had a perfect bird’s eye view of now.

Damn, when his son had more magnetism than he did. A-Yuan could charm the birds out of the trees if he wanted.

Wei Wuxian didn’t quite know how to deal with the situation. He was aware it was a little rude of A-Yuan, but honestly, he was that kind of open, forward personality himself so he didn’t really feel he was justified in telling him off too much. Still.

“Is he heavy? A-Yuan you shouldn’t ask strangers to pick you up. And absolutely not at all unless you’re with me or your shushu, OK?” he asked A-Yuan.

A-Yuan nodded, “Yes, baba”

“Lan Wangji” the other said.

“Hmm?”

“My name is Lan Wangji” meaning they were no longer strangers. It was the kind of simple, sensible logic that appealed to A-Yuan, who nodded, and introduced himself in return.

They eventually had to leave the rabbits and their new friend behind, or risk the wrath of Jiang Cheng.

***

Over the next few months the Friday trip to the pet store became a staple, more often than not Lan Wangji was there, looking at the rabbits, and A-Yuan would always run over to make himself known with calls of “Wangji-gege”.

Wei Wuxian was eventually able to convince the other to extend their meetings to a trip to the coffee shop afterwards, and so it continued.

He knew Lan Wangji was fond of A-Yuan, A-Yuan had the talent of breaking through walls without evening realising he had done so, but Wei Wuxian thought...or was that hoped?...that Lan Wangji was starting to soften to him too over time. Even with his more strident personaility.

Lan Wangji was reserved, and stoic, but he had been so naturally kind to A-Yuan it was easy to see there was a softer heart under all that frost.

And Wei Wuxian had always enjoyed a challenge.

Despite his subtle hints that he was receptive to more, if Lan Wangji was, he wasn’t asked out on a date.

So their relationship continued on as it had; they met in the pet shop on Friday afternoons, followed by a trip to the coffee shop when neither had prior commitments.

It continued like that for months.

Eventually Wei Wuxian decided subtle wasn’t working, and he’d have to take matters into his own hands and ask the other, and take the risk he was misreading the situation. It was possible, the other wasn’t very demonstrative and it was difficult to know what he was thinking.

But Wei Wuxian had two choices, ask him out himself, or wait longer on the off chance that Lan Wangji might actually eventually ask him.

The first came with its own risks of course; but he thought it was a risk he should take.

Lan Wangji wasn't at the pet shop that first Friday after he’d made his decision, so he had to wait until the week after. He had intended to wait until A-Yuan was distracted by his flavoured milk or colouring book, but he seemed unusually focussed this afternoon.

“Wangji-gege” he said eventually, seriously.

“A-Yuan” the other acknowledged.

A-Yuan placed his folded hands on the table, looking for all the world like a businessman mid-negotiation; Wei Wuxian genuinely had to stifle a laugh.

“I would like it very much if you let my baba take you out on a date. Are you free next Saturday?”

“A-Yuan!” Wei Wuxian nearly fell off his chair in surprise. Where had this child picked up such an idea?!

“I’m free, A-Yuan” Lan Wangji agreed, his tone as serious as A-Yuan’s was. Honestly, he was so soft with A-Yuan it made Wei Wuxian feral, even though he was extremely embarrassed. He was meant to be the shameless one, not his son!

Asking people out on dates for his elders!

Lan Wangji had said yes, but was that because A-Yuan had asked on Wei Wuxian’s behalf and he didn’t feel like he could turn him down?

“You don’t have to-” Wei Wuxian tried to release him from his commitment.

“I want to” Lan Wangji assured simply.

[tenroseforeverandever]

The Perfect Blend Chapter 1

Characters: Tenth Doctor (aka James Noble); Rose Tyler; Clara Oswald; Amy Pond; Jeanne Poisson; Donna Noble; Sylvia Noble; Wilfred Mott

Tags: Human AU; fake relationship AU; coffee shop AU; stalkerish!Reinette; hurt/comfort; angst; romance; fluff; Christmas; New Year; New Year’s kiss

Story Summary:

Trying to escape from an predatory ex-girlfriend who will not accept their break-up, James Noble (aka The Doctor) finds himself in a coffee shop where he meets a barista (aka Rose Tyler) who makes him the perfect cup of tea and lends a sympathetic ear to his tale of woe.

Notes:

A gift for my fellow Fangirl and Secret Santa recipient, @lizann5869.

I hope you like it, hon. You offered me loads of brilliant suggestions and prompts to work from, and I produced quite a bit for several of them, but none that felt quite right. Then I looked over your prompt list again, under the category “Tropes I Like” and fake dating was right there! I added a dash of coffee shop AU and this was born.

Merry Christmas!

Many thanks, as always, to my wonderful betas, @rose--nebula  and mrsbertucci. You make me so much better. mrsbertucci is the Empress of Title-Creation: she came to my rescue once again with both the title for this fic and the name of Rose’s coffee shop.

Read also at: AO3; Teaspoon; FF

--------

James Noble peered furtively past the swags of garland, fairy lights, and tinsel to the damp, snowy London evening beyond the coffee shop window.

Nothing. No one there.

He blew a shaky breath past his lips. It had been a narrow escape. He was safe for now, but really, it was only a matter of time before she found him.

He was doomed.

Running a hand through his wild, brown hair, he stepped into line and turned his attention to the menu above the counter, skimming over the bewildering selection of beverages with long, complicated titles and eccentric, festive flavours, piled high with whipped creams and syrups. Any other day he would have relished one of the sweet, creamy concoctions.

But today was different.

Today, he wanted to get back to basics.

Today he wanted to get away from drinks for overbearing people with expensive tastes and the need to impress. Today he wanted to take a break from extravagance and pretensions.

He snapped his glasses into place and scanned the menu board, searching in vain for a simple, uncomplicated coffee. It was a bloody coffee shop, for pity’s sake! Pete’s Coffee Dimension. Surely, they served regular coffee.

“Sir?”

He was dragged from his musings by the query and found himself goggling absently at the cashier in front of him. Somehow, while he hadn’t been paying attention, he had ended up at the front of the line.

“I asked you what you would like to order…” She was watching him with slightly narrowed eyes, one dark brow tilted in an impatient arch. Even the tip of her blonde ponytail seemed to twitch impatiently. “If you need a little more time–” She glanced over his shoulder at the line of people behind him.

“No! No, no, no, no! That’s fine. I’d like, erm…” His hand ruffled his hair again and his left foot jittered against the floor, as he glanced over his shoulder, out the shop window again and then back up at the menu board.

“Blimey, you all right there, mate?” The hint of a bemused smile curved the cashier’s full lips. “You don’t look like you should really have any more coffee…”

“No, quite right… Nor sugar.” He snorted a strangled laugh and shook his head. “I erm… I just want–”

“A cuppa?”

His eyes widened in surprise. “Is that possible? I mean…” He gestured vaguely at the menu.

“Course! How about something light and simple. Darjeeling, perhaps?”

He felt the tension within him ease a little at the thought of a hot cup of tea. “Erm… yeah. Brilliant… With a splash of milk, if you don’t mind.”

“Sure thing. China or paper?”

“Erm…”

“Never mind. China it is. And your name for the order, please.”

“Erm… The Doctor.”

“The Doctor, hmmm? Interesting…” She quirked her brow again, but this time her brown eyes sparkled warmly at him. “Go on, then, Doctor. You take a seat over there,” she nodded to a small, free table by the window, “and I’ll bring your tea over once it’s steeped, yeah?”

“How much do I owe you?”

“It’s on me, mate,” she offered with a dismissive wave of her hand.

“Really? Oh... weeell, thank-you.” Before heading to his table, he dug in the pocket of his coat and pulled out a large assortment of coins which he stuffed into the tip jar sitting by the cash register.

 “Clara? Could you take over here for a bit, please,” Rose Tyler asked her friend. “I need to take some tea to a customer.”

The petite brunette smirked, her eyes glinting with mischief. “The Doctor, hmmm? He’s quite good looking… for a bloke. Not your usual type, though.”

“Shut up,” Rose stuck her tongue out at Clara. “He’s just a customer. He seems a little out of sorts, so I’m doing something nice for him. That all right? And besides, I don’t have a type…”

“Whatever you say…” Clara shook her head and turned to take over at the cash register. “You go take your break.”

“Thanks.” Rose picked up the little teapot and cup, set them on a tray, and examined them with a critical eye. “Clara? Are the gingerbread biscuits ready to be served? You were icing them earlier, yeah?”

“Oh, now he’s getting a biscuit, too. Oh, Rose, you have it bad.”

“I don’t even know him! ‘Sides, can’t have a cuppa without a biscuit, can you?”

“Well, he’s out of luck. They’re not quite ready yet. The icing hasn’t had time to set properly. They’re supposed to be for tomorrow.” Something in Rose’s expression must have affected her, because the next thing Rose knew, Clara had changed her tune: “Oh, go on, then. Take one. One, mind.”

“Thanks, Clara,” Rose grinned, rushing to the kitchen to snag one of the pretty gingerbread stars. She laughed. Sometimes it was hard to tell that Rose was the one who owned Pete’s Coffee Dimension and Clara was the employee. But the two girls had known each other from Powell Estate for years and had discovered they worked together exceptionally well.

Plating the biscuit, she added it to the tray and carried the lot over to where The Doctor was seated. He was leaning on his elbows, his face in his hands, a picture of misery. “Hey there.” Rose spoke softly, not wanting to startle him.

The Doctor lifted his head and offered her a strained but genuine smile. Rose felt her insides turn to jelly as his sad, chocolate eyes met hers.

“Here you go, then.” She placed the teapot and cup on the table. Setting the biscuit next to them, she added, “And you can’t have a cuppa without one of these. Clara just made them fresh and her gingerbread is second to none!”

“Thank-you! It looks delicious, but you shouldn’t have.”

“Oi! No arguments. You put enough change in the tip jar to pay for the next three customers, never mind a single biscuit. Besides, you looked like you could use one.”

“You aren’t wrong…” The Doctor picked up the teapot and poured out a cup of tea.

Rose stood beside the table, biting her lower lip in eager anticipation as he took his first sip. She had learned from her mum how to make the very best cuppa and hoped this particular pot was somehow imbued with Jackie Tyler’s tea-making magic. She wasn’t disappointed.

“Blimey, that’s good!” the Doctor closed his eyes as he swallowed the first small mouthful. “Tea! That's just what I needed!” he enthused. “A good cup of tea! Nothing quite like that super-heated infusion of free-radicals and tannin.”

Rose simply stared at him for a moment, nonplussed. “Well, that’s a first.” She chuckled. “Never heard tea described exactly that way before! I take it that’s a good thing?”

“Oh, yes! The perfect blend!” He then snapped one of the biscuit-star’s arms off with his teeth. “Not to mention,” he added, crumbs spraying from his lips, “the numerous health-benefits of ginger!”

Rose smiled, warmed through by his enthusiastic, if eccentric, response. “Well… enjoy.” She turned to go back to work at the service counter when he spoke again.

“Best thing to happen to me all day, and that’s no lie!”

“You did seem a little out of sorts…” she ventured, turning back to him.

He grumbled with a shake of his head. “It’s my ex, Jeanne Poisson.”

“I’m sorry. Break-ups are always sticky, aren’t they?”

He nodded. “Sticky doesn’t cover it! She’s more than sticky. She’s like Super Glue. She just won’t take no for an answer and it’s been over a year since I’ve properly seen her! And today, on the last day of classes before the holidays, she shows up at my office at the Uni.” He gestured with his thumb in the direction of campus. “I thought I was done for! I just barely escaped without her seeing me. Fortunately, I know all the service hallways like the back of my hand. (I never would have made it by the conventional routes.) Even so, I swear I could hear her heels clicking on the pavement behind me. So, I ducked into your lovely establishment and found refuge… and the best cuppa in London!”

With these last words, he beamed at Rose, who settled into the chair opposite him, continuing to worry her lower lip between her teeth. “Is she really that bad?” she asked, her eyes wide and fixed on him, dying to hear the rest of his story.

“Oh, yes! Though, not if you ask Aunt Sylvia.” He rolled his eyes, dramatically. “She loves her. She’s just dying to have her (and her considerable fortune) become a part of our family. Mind you, she’s the only one. Gramps and my cousin, Donna, agree she’s toxic.”

“If she’s so toxic, I’m surprised you were ever attracted to her at all,” Rose blurted. She backtracked quickly. “Sorry… that wasn’t very polite…”

“Nah, don’t worry. I was an idiot, not thinking entirely with my head. She was beautiful and exciting, and I was in the final months of my previous Ph.D. She was finishing up law school.”

“Wait! Your previous Ph.D.? You’re so young!” He looked to be in his late twenties, only a few years older than her, Rose thought. “How many Ph.D.’s do you have?”

“Oh, I’m working on my third, right now. Genius me! Hence the name, The Doctor. It’s what my friends call me. Started off as a joke, but it stuck.”

“You think you’re so impressive,” Rose chided good-naturedly.

“Weeell, I am so impressive.” Rose should have been put off by his claim, but he spoke as though he was simply stating a truth, not boastful at all. “I really am classified as a genius. I have a permanent faculty and research position at the Uni, as well as being a sort-of student.”

“Oh…” Rose suddenly felt small next to him. She hadn’t even completed her A-levels, and here she was ostensibly flirting with a university professor (and multiple-time doctorate genius.) As if she would ever stand a chance. Still, he was rather nice to look at: tall and slim, the tan coat and brown pin-stripe suit enhancing his large, dark eyes and soft, haphazard peaks of brown hair. He had some really great hair…

She was brought out of her musings by the sound of his voice: “I’ve always been very clever. Just not about choosing girlfriends,” he muttered around another bite of gingerbread and a gulp of tea. “I’m a bit stupid around girls!”

“Don’t say that!” Rose hurt for him.

“It’s the truth. I don’t have a great track record… not that the track is particularly long.” He tugged on his ear and his cheeks flushed pink.

Rose instinctively reached across the table to cover his hand with hers. A sudden tension flared between them as Rose realized how forward she’d been, and she hesitantly retracted her hand from his, moving it away in fits and starts, clinging to some ridiculous delusion that she was being stealthy and he might not notice that she’d touched him in the first place.

“So, right, erm…” He glanced down at the teapot, picking it up to refill his cup. There was an awkward few moments of silence before he spoke again. With a sigh, he lifted his eyes to Rose’s. “It was like she had me under some kind of spell. It felt like she could read into my soul and see how lonely I was, and then… weeell, then she kissed me, and it was brilliant. Blimey! All I could think was Jeanne Poisson, this posh, popular girl had kissed sad, geeky, old me.”

“Gosh, I know how that feels,” Rose commiserated, thinking of her dangerous obsession with wannabe Estate-born rock star, Jimmy Stone. She’d quit school and broken her mum’s heart for him, leaving home to move in with the wanker. But for a short time, before reality had set in, it had felt like she’d been on top of the world.

“At first, we had so much fun,” the Doctor’s words mirrored Rose’s thoughts, “but it didn’t take long for me to realize she wasn’t right for me. She was demanding, wanting expensive gifts, and always dragging me to exclusive clubs. Not my thing. Not even a little bit. And she was always wanting to know exactly what I was doing when she wasn’t around. She was very controlling. I was miserable.”

“Didn’t you try to break it off?”

“Multiple times. I still am! She just will not accept the fact that I’m not interested and certainly not the right man for her. I’d thought when she went back to France to work in her mum’s law firm, that would be it. I figured we were going our separate ways. But she kept texting me and trying to video-chat. I kept telling her it was over, and eventually had to change my mobile number.”

“And did that help?”

“For a while. But she ferreted out my new one. I suspect Aunt Sylvia gave it to her,” his fist clenched, “but, I suppose it could have been anyone at work, acting innocently enough.”

“And now she’s back…”

“And now she’s back. Last text I got was that she wanted to surprise me. Well, count me surprised!”

“I’m sorry you had to go through that.” Rose’s hand fluttered in the direction of his again, and she had to restrain herself from touching him.

“I am too.” He tossed back his last mouthful of tea and crammed the remains of the biscuit into his mouth. “Well, I’ve bored you long enough. Thanks so much for listening to me moan. You’ve been brilliant! But I best be off. I think the coast is clear for now. Besides, it looks as though you’re needed at the counter.” He nodded toward the ever-growing line of people dropping in for a post-work coffee before venturing out to shop for the holidays.

“Oh, shit, I nearly forgot!” She giggled. “Some barista, I am, yeah? Listen, I gotta run. Hope you’ll come back. I’d love to chat again… Doctor!” Rose flushed as the flirty words erupted from her mouth.

“Oh, for a cup of tea like that, you’ll never be able to keep me away!” He offered her a broad smile and called out, “And Happy Christmas!” before slipping out the front door of the shop.

“Happy Christmas!” Rose waved after him, returning to work with a skip in her step and doing her best to ignore Clara’s pointed looks and cheeky, knowing grin.

[scarlettswxtch]

You Feel Like Home | 1/2

Pairing: Bucky x Reader

Description: You’re a therapist with a tragic past and Bucky’s your new bedmate. You try to deny your feelings for him but he keeps working himself into your heart...and your bed. Will you fall for his charms or keep him at bay?

Words: 3.1k

Warnings: Little bit of angst. All my fics are intended for 18+ readers: this mini series will contain + death.

A/N: I wrote this in a plane, on my way home from Easter holidays so I’m v sorry for any spelling mistakes! :) This was written for an anon - I kinda slightly changed your request up a bit, hope that’s okay ! hope this is (kinda) what you were looking for x Also Jesus Christ I can’t do one shots I just write a fuck ton. Lol. I’m posting part 2 tomorrow!! :)

MASTERLIST

You were in a grocery store when you first realised you were in love with him. He wanted ice cream even though it was cold outside - the wind was biting, chilling and New York was covered in perfect snow. He couldn’t decide what flavour of ice cream he wanted and you teased him about his indecision. “Why don’t we buy every flavour?”

He laughed - soft, innocent laughter in the air like glitter. The kind of laugh you could listen to forever. “You’re silly,” he said, green eyes sparkling with adoration and he kissed you.

You’ll never forget that kiss. Breath pale against the numbing air, you blinked thoughtfully as the frost patiently kissed his face and you were captivated by the soft, dusty illusions of light that sat heavy on his eyelashes. In that moment, you knew you loved him more than anyone, a once in a lifetime.

***

2 years later

“Talk to me,” you whispered to no one, sitting alone in the very early morning of crisp November. It was cold outside but, you didn’t care. It was snowing again, thick and deep and freezing cold. There were a few clouds but the moon shone bright and gilded you in silver but, you didn’t notice it. You saw nothing and heard nothing.

You’d been up here countless times before their deaths. His death - etched in your memory like it was yesterday.

It happened so fast. You were wrapped in his arms; laughing, kissing, telling each other sweet nothings. His lips tipped up and he looked at you like you were sunshine. You’ll never forget that look - how moments later it filled with horror and panic.

A figure appeared out of a bright, blinding red light; an ominous warning of what would come. It was a woman - beautiful, slender, with eyes uncanny to his; round, green as new-born leaves. She had his eyes but she didn’t look at you with adoration. No. Her eyes slithered on your form like it was insulting, gaze almost red with resentment. When she spoke it was melodic yet she spat her words with hot-red fury. “I have to kill you,” she said and when you asked her why your heart wanted to leap out of its chest. Your daughter. His daughter. Our daughter. “HYDRA’s orders,” she spat and he pulled you behind him without a second thought, sacrificing his life for yours, blood marring the dirt as his form became nothing but a corpse.

You stared at the ground - snow once blood stained long washed away or mingled with dirt. You didn’t know why you kept coming here. You wanted to hear his voice, see his face, replace that final look of fear and tell him everything would be ok. Instead, you sat there, dominated by a profound sadness, fatigue engraved on your worn face. No longer could you see see that inquisitiveness, that desire, that fire in your eyes. All that remained was the deceiving hollow soul. You were just a shell of a person.

***

3 months later

“Would it kill you to come to dinner?,”

You drew absentminded doodles on the piece of paper in front of you as your lips pursed in discomfort. Yes, yes it would kill you to go to dinner at Jane’s house.

“Jane,” you said into the phone “like I told you, I’m really busy,”

“But I thought you said you’d have some free time coming up?,”

Your eyes closed over in exasperation. Jane was your dead boyfriend’s sister and there truly was nothing worse than being around his family. “I was but things got busy. Very busy. I can’t make dinner this week,”

“How about next week?,” she pushed.

“Janey...”

“I’m worried about you, I haven’t seen you in months! I mean, who’s taking care of you?,”

“Jane honey, I’m a grown woman.”

“But I worry about you. Ever since you took that job I haven’t seen you,” she whispered, this time sad and concerned and, because you loved her, it killed you. You knew she was worried. You and Jane had been the best of friends before his passing, attached to the hip like sisters. When he died, you couldn’t bare her presence - she looked so much like him it physically hurt you. Jane was flighty, sensitive and nervous by nature. Therefore, she constantly checked up on you despite your excuses to avoid her. That, and, you now lived in New York with hero’s that needed your constant attention.

“Don’t worry,” you assure her quietly “I’m fine. Just busy.”

“Pardon me, Miss, but Mr.Barnes is requesting your presence,” F.R.I.D.A.Y says from above you and your pen comes to a halt.

“Jane I gotta go,” you say quickly.

“But-“ she began.

“Somethings just came up, honey. Really, gotta go. I’ll call you back later,” that was a lie.

You heard her sigh then, “Okay, I’ll be waiting for that call.”

“Love you Jane, bye.” you hear her say goodbye but vaguely.

“Send him in,” you say to F.R.I.D.A.Y, fingers now tapping nervously on your mahogany desk. Being a therapist for the Avengers has its perks and downsides - on one hand, you were generously paid (courtesy of Stark himself, of course) but on the other, you were on call 24/7. Not that that was an issue for you, no - not at all. Helping other people with their problems had helped your own inner conflict and you did it rather readily.

The problem was Bucky Barnes. He's not usually the kind of guy you fantasise about. For starters, he's brunette and you’ve always liked blondes. Dreamy men with bright blue eyes who were emotionally stable, preferably. Until you met Bucky. He’s someone with his own issues, issues that made your own seem totally minuscule. Life taken by Hydra, experimented on endlessly. He‘s emotionally volatile, prone to aggression and...drop dead beautiful in every way.

There was also the fact that you were sleeping with him. Non-stop. Like two damn bunny rabbits. It was insane. He’s the only healthy drug there is, the one that puts your mind into a frenzy of sparks. Makes you...forget. When you’re with him, your past life seems like a dream - something that never happened. The simple touch of his hand leads you into moving in ways you never learnt but know so well. In those moments, you are only alive in the present, all thoughts of past and future melted away. You weren’t sure if that was good or bad but, the guilt you felt over it was overwhelming.

The elevator opens directly into your office and you watch him step in, phone to ear, he hasn't looked at you yet so you gaze freely. “Yeah yeah, Steve I got it,” he says into the phone. There's something about him, a slight confidence and inflated ego, that has you muddling your words and blushing uncontrollably whenever he's around. He looks up at you and smiles a dazzling smile, making his way to your desk. “I’ll see you later punk, I got a woman that needs my attention.” he says, eyes still on you and you can hear Steve’s hearty laugh through the phone before he hangs up.

“Hey darlin’,” his voice is smooth as silk as he leans over, placing a kiss on your warm cheek. He’s holding a coffee cup that he places in front of you and he sits down on the velvet green chair opposite your desk - looking all handsome and comfortable. You suddenly felt small in your own office - his energy completely enveloped the room. It was always like this with Bucky. He was an intense guy who commanded everyone’s attention - it was completely impossible for him to walk into a room unnoticed.

You eyed the coffee cup, smiling “That for me?”

“Got your name on it, doll,” He said lazily, head bent as he tapped away on his phone. You took it giddily, bringing it up to your face and smelling the hint of hazelnut. You smiled to yourself - you only ever ordered coffee with him once and ever since, he’s remembered exactly how you like it: a little milk, 2 pumps of hazelnut syrup and no sugar. It was a small thoughtful thing but, so very heartwarming.

“Hmm, what’s the occasion?”

“Consider that a gift,” he said, sliding his phone back in his pocket.

You raised a brow, scanning your memory for anything you’d done to solicit a gift and you came up blank “What for?” you were frowning now as you sip your coffee.

He kept a straight face, he was looking at you with those gorgeous, irresistible icy blue eyes that could make the whole of the Arctic melt in seconds. “For you coming to Tony’s event with me.” That almost made you choke. Bucky and you were many things but explicitly public was not one of them.

Your eyes turn round as you abruptly placed the coffee cup on the table, a little warm droplet spilled on your hand and you unconsciously wiped it on your skirt. Well, say hello to a stain now, idiot. “What?”

“You and me, Tony’s charity gala,” he said simply, completely un-phased.

“What? Bucky I never agreed to that”

“Don’t need you to agree doll, I’m telling you,”

You stared at him speechlessly. Bucky was a dominant guy - you knew that the second he first walked into your room and sat his ass down on your chair like he owned the place. The only vulnerability he ever showed was during your therapy sessions, when you’d both speak about Hydra and his past with Steve. Other than that, you could be damn well sure Bucky Barnes would dominate you in every way possible and damn if it wasn’t hot. Sometimes, only sometimes, you felt like you could see some of that softness when he was in your bed but, he never let you see it for long enough. You didn’t blame him - you pushed him away a lot.

He raised a brow at your quietness and you realised you hadn’t said anything for about a full minute now. “Uhh,” you began, damn him and his tongue-tying effects! “Bucky I’m not so sure that is professional considering I’m your therapist-,”

“Darlin’ I think we’re way past professionalism,” he interrupted, leaning closer to you - he was looking at you with heat in his eyes as his gaze lazily flickered from your desk to your eyes “Whole of New York heard you scream my name when I took you on that desk,” he muttered, loud enough for you to hear.

You swallowed, heat flushing your face as a sudden tingling sensation took over your stomach. “Bucky I cant - I...it’s different for the public to know. You’re not exactly lowkey.” It’s true. He isn’t. The Avengers are all high profile people constantly all over the news - from dating to getting a coffee cup across the street, you could be sure their faces would be somewhere on the front page. You experienced that first hand when you were spotted out with Steve. Headlines covered both newspapers and magazines in bold red letters: AMERICA’S SWEETHEART? They read - totally ridiculous considering you were only getting coffee but apparently, the public obsessed over Steve’s love life. Jane had called you asking if you were dating and you panicked so much you vowed to never step foot outside with any of them again. Except for Tony and Barton who were happily married.

Bucky stood up, face flashing with something that faded too quick for you to spot “Doll seriously, I’m tired of you denying that we have something here. It started off as just sex,” he leaned into the desk, face dangerously close to yours “we both know it’s a lot more,” he whispered and your heart started beating irregularly fast. He wasn’t wrong. It was...more. He made you feel good in ways no one else ever has - not even him. Bucky made you forget him. That made you feel incredibly guilty because he was supposed to be your soulmate - he still is in some ways. Yet Bucky got this response from you, a different kind of response - like necessity - as if your soul yearned to knit itself to his and it killed you. So much so it hurt to ignore it.

“I-I I can’t,”

“Why?”

“I have...I just can’t do that to him, Bucky,” your eyes lowered as you looked away from him “I still love him,” you said, jaw tight “please, let it go.”

You were met with silence and you peered up at him. He was staring at you with that hardness in his eyes - the same hardness you saw each night when you asked him to leave your room. His jaw twitched in what you could only guess was impatience, frustration, annoyance...perhaps all three?

“The more you hold onto the past the more it haunts you,” he mutters and his eyes search your face - voice lowering, almost soft. “Don’t think I don’t see the way you look at me across the room, sugar” his hand curls around your neck, squeezing it and your body shivers at the contact. “I know that look,” he whispers - gaze so raw you could only squirm beneath it. “I’m here right now, in the present. I won’t wait for you forever.”

You swallowed as your heart clenched “Bucky let go,” you said, so quietly that if he hadn’t been so close to you it would’ve been inaudible.

But Bucky Barnes was not done. You’d know this when he was not across the table but in your space. So far in your space, you were now standing and your soft body was pressed against the length of his, his hand curled around the back of your neck, demanding, putting pressure to bend your neck up as your lips connected. You put your hands to his shoulders to push him away, your mind filled with how you could do that as gently as possible when his tongue came out and the tip touched your lips. And at that, your body and mouth made another decision before your mind could catch up. This being your arms closing around him tight, his mouth opening yours, his tongue spiking out, pushing yours back into your mouth and then he kissed you, very hard, very wet and very, very deep. He tasted like mint - sweet and fresh and fucking fantastic.

You kept one of your hands locked tight around his bicep while you slid the other hand up his spine, his neck and into his hair. He bent forward slightly, arching over his arm, forcing your body deeper into his and you moaned a sweet, soft moan against his tongue. It was the best thing you’d ever tasted in your life until he pulled away.

You looked up at him, breathless and outraged at the same time - smugness was written across his features as he stepped away from you. He was smirking now as if you’d just told him what he needed to know “I’ll wait for that RSVP,” he said and finally strolled out of your office.

***

3 hours later

Nat was looking at you from across the table, face totally impassive. You told her everything to the minutest detail that happened between Bucky and you. And it was fair to say you remembered the minutest detail.

Through this, she listened.

When you were done, you asked quietly, “Well?”

She simply stared at you, eyebrow raised and book in hand, “Was there a question?”

You looked at her incredulously “Yes! What do you think I should do?” You slumped back into your chair, hand covering your face as you grumbled: “God Nat I’m so torn, he makes me feel good but-“

“All I’m hearing is excuses,” she interrupted suddenly and you peeked at her from behind your fingers. She was looking at you with her judge-y jade green eyes.

“Nat he freaks me out!” You exclaimed and she suddenly took your hand in hers. She was staring at you with an unusual softness and you felt incredibly lucky at that moment. You knew this caring side was something Natasha rarely showed to people - it was something she had only gifted you twice in your time of knowing each other and each time, you took that look of hers and locked it away in your heart to keep forever.

“I get that,” she says softly “I also get why. You’re scared of moving on, feeling guilty because of what happened. I’ll tell you this though, nothing good comes of dwelling on the past,” she echoed Bucky’s earlier words and your heart clenched because you knew she was right. “You should know that - you’re the therapist here. Follow your own advice. Besides, from what you told me, who you were with was not a selfish person. He would’ve wanted you to be happy - not be a nun and never find love again. I think we both know that...you’re just having trouble accepting it.” She let go of your hand and leaned back in her chair, face turned up to the February sun.

“God I hate it when you’re right,” you grumbled, fingers massaging your temples in contemplation.

“I’m always right,” she says without looking at you. “You already know Barnes. He’s got a lot of demons, but he’s good around you - we all see that he’s been better ever since you.”

You closed your eyes “Oh God-“

“What we gossiping about here?” A voice said from the kitchen door and you squealed at the unexpected interruption. It was Tony.

Nat was about to say something before you quickly interrupted her with wide eyes. “Nothing!,” you said, and Tony’s eyes assess you in thought but (thankfully) chose to say nothing of what he was thinking.

“Right...” he drawled before he distractedly began pressing at the advanced looking gadget on his hand.

“Need you in the office, sweet cheeks, ASAP.” He said, waving at you to follow him and you promptly got up from your chair.

“Right away boss,” you said and followed him. You turned around quickly to face Nat “Thank you,” you mouthed to her. She only nodded in response and went back to reading her book.

As you followed Tony, something told you you’d have a very, very difficult time trying to get Bucky Barnes out of your head and the truth is...you weren’t even sure you wanted to.

[merryfortune]

Salted Soymilk Star Doughnuts

Fandom: Star Twinkle PreCure

Ship: Hikaru/Yuni

Word Count: 2,257

Tags: Pining, Interspecies Relationships

Author’s Note: Enjoy my writing? consider supporting my original poetry zine, information here

 Singing to herself, or perhaps more accurately: humming to herself, Hikaru made herself known long before she even opened the door to the Rocket. Yuni had a set of sensitive ears and unlike many of Hikaru’s companions and peers, the girl was very distinctive in the racket that she either knowingly or unknowingly kicked up. Some people were unappreciative of this trait of Hikaru’s and it could be surprising to learn that Yuni was not one such person. She very much appreciated it because it gave her time to mentally prepare the patience which she would need to deal with such a blissfully bombastic person.

 “Hey Yuni,” Hikaru said, immediately upon slamming open the Rocket’s doors, “I brought doughnuts, for me and You-ni.” She giggled to herself as she kicked off her shoes.

 Yuni’s ears flicked. “Where’re the other girls today, meow?” she asked.

 “Lala’s studying with Sakurako. They’ve been getting along ever since, well, the cat got out of the bag.” Hikaru said as she sat down. “As for Elena and Madoka, they’ve got their final exams. Fingers crossed that goes twin-cool for them. I have no doubt that they’ll outshine all their classmates.”

 “I see, meow.” Yuni replied.

 “So. Just you and me today.” Hikaru said.

 Yuni relaxed to into her hand which was propped up on the table in the centre of the rocket ship. She sighed. “Why not spend some time at home then, meow? Feed your dog and family your doughnuts, meow?”

 “Because I was worried you were lonely, duh.” Hikaru said.

 Hikaru set down the doughnuts on the table. She had brought less than usual. Just enough for herself, the glutton, for Yuni, who ate less than everyone, and then some for Prunce and Fuwa. Hikaru glanced around. It seemed that she had noticed something was slightly amiss. It was just herself and Yuni.

 “Where’s Prunce and Fuwa?” she asked.

 “Fuwa’s having a nap, for once in her life, and as for Prunce, he’s taking the moment to relax as well, catch up on the latest intergalactic dramas, meow. Though, I’m sure once he smells doughnuts, he’ll come running, meow.” Yuni informed her.

 “I see. I hope so. A big crowd’s better than two.” Hikaru replied.

 Yuni was terse. She disagreed but she was happy to indulge Hikaru with noncommittal silence in this situation. After all, her opinion was beginning to change. Like a pendulum’s swing, Yuni had once loved big crowds as well, even if she was something of a wallflower, but since becoming a thief and the sole survivor of her species, she had come to loathe them. But, through meeting Hikaru and these girls, that opinion had begun to shift again. Just a little and rather painfully.

 Hikaru unwrapped the doughnuts. She had brought two boxes and she smiled to herself. Yuni’s nose twitched and her curiosity betrayed her. They didn’t look – or smell – like the usual doughnuts which Hikaru bought to share using her allowances. Not all of them, anyway. Some were the usual plain glaze and cinnamon, but that second box was not so common.

  “You noticed?” Hikaru asked, an impish smile on her face.

 “A new flavour, meow?” Yuni inquired, eyes sparkling.

 “A-yup. I bought it ‘cause I thought you’d like it.” Hikaru said.

 There was a curt waver in her voice which Yuni picked up on. She blinked. Hikaru, who adored to gobble all manner of doughnuts down, seemed vaguely uncertain of her choice. For just a moment, her usual manner deflated and Yuni had caught it no differently to catching an eyelash in her eye.

 “Are you worried you’ll dislike this new flavour?” Yuni asked.

 “A little bit.” Hikaru said before putting her hand on her the back of her hand and laughing boisterously at her own self-perceived silliness. “What if it has a bad texture or something? But I’m sure it’ll be delicious, it reminded me of you.”

 “It did, meow?” Yuni blinked curiously.

 She licked her jowls. Hikaru thought it was rather cute. Yuni, blushed, for she realised that Hikaru was staring at her mannerisms and it embarrassed her, so her tail twitched and kinked for a moment as her eyes wandered back to the doughnuts. They, of course, had the usual star shape to their centre per the style of the baker who makes them down in the town centre, but they were pasted quite thickly with white icing.

 Whilst they weren’t plain like plain doughnuts were, they weren’t decorated enough to give Yuni a hint. Smelling the air, they just smelt like regular vanilla iced doughnuts to her. It was almost petty or pouty but Yuni would have thought that she had more of a unique prescence on Hikaru’s minds, especially if her inability to resist cat puns around her were any metric to use. Yuni crossed her arms.

 “I’m sure they’re fine.” Yuni said.

 Hikaru laughed. “The icing is salted soymilk flavoured. And, well, I thought cats liked milk, so they reminded me of you.”

 “I see, meow.” Yuni said and she shrugged. “I’ll try one first for you, meow.”

 “Thanks, Yuni.” Hikaru smiled.

 Yuni reached across the table and she suddenly became aware of the fact that they she and Hikaru were sitting in their ‘usual’ spots. It felt odd since normally there was someone between them. Instead, there was three empty seats. Perhaps, she ought to move closer but Yuni was hesitant to. She didn’t know why but getting closer to Hikaru scared her.

 Yuni picked out the second doughnut from the front. She didn’t know why, the first doughnut was perfectly fine, she just did so anyway. With little hesitation or cautiousness, Yuni took an unceremonious chomp out of the doughnut. She sank her fangs in and she had to admit. It was one of the nicer doughnuts that she had ever had. The icing was definitely what was selling her on it. She quickly devoured the rest of it and licked her fingers clean.

 Hikaru smiled. “You liked it?” she asked.

 “It was okay, meow.” Yuni replied, snootier in her reply than she meant.

 “Well, don’t mind if I do.” Hikaru chirruped.

 She was then quick to devour the first doughnut which had slumped onto the third doughnut as Yuni had eaten the second one. Hikaru very happily bit through her doughnut and she found the saltiness a pleasant contrast against the sweet greasiness of the doughnut. As it was iced, not glazed, the grease didn’t weigh as heavy on her tongue but was still delightfully dulcet. Not to mention, that ever-present star motif in the middle of it made her happy as well.

 Watching Hikaru eat made Yuni happy as well. She gazed fondly towards Hikaru as she ate.

 “Yep, that was a super-duper yummy doughnut.” Hikaru gushed upon finishing eating it.

 Yuni continued to feel some lukewarm elation upon seeing Hikaru happy. But rather than reach for yet another doughnut, Hikaru got up. She toyed with her school uniform and then she sat down. This time in the next seat over. Yuni’s heart pounded unexpectedly as Hikaru was now sitting next to her. She had taken the initiative. And Yuni wasn’t sure why but then again, she wasn’t sure why Hikaru did a lot of things for her, but she found it sweet, nonetheless.

 “Ne, Yuni,” Hikaru said as she finally picked out another doughnut, salted soymilk, of course, “can I ask you something?”

 “What would mew like to ask?” Yuni asked.

 She kept herself guarded and she kept Hikaru as far away as she possibly could. Which was becoming increasingly difficult because the girl was so darn affable. Not to mention, Yuni had traversed entire universes looking for her star; it made no sense to turn back down when here she was.

 “Why don’t you ever just... chill? Not like emotionally, but, like, physically. In your...” Hikaru fumbled with her words.

 “In my ‘true’ form, you mean, meow?” Yuni asked.

 “A-yup.” nodded Hikaru.

 Yuni sighed but it turned into a hum. She slumped sideways slightly and drummed her fingers on the table. Hikaru seemed happy to wait for an answer whilst Yuni mulled over an answer for her. One which they would both find palatable.

 “Because accidents happen, I suppose, meow.” Yuni murmured. “I mean, we’ll always be skirting around secrets and you said it before, meow. The cat’s out of the bag, meow. But... this cat isn’t ready to be out of the supposed bag, meow.”

 “I see...” Hikaru murmured. “Well,” she said, brightening up, “when you’re ready to, I look forward to it.”

 Yuni laughed. “You are a strange one, Cure Star, meow.”

 “I get that a lot.” Hikaru blithely replied. Her eyes snapped open though. “Do you think you’ll ever transform into Cure Cosmo whilst being your true alien form?”

 Yuni hissed and quirked an eyebrow.

 “Did I say something wrong?” Hikaru asked.

 “No, I guess not; I was just being defensive, meow.” Yuni said and her hackles settled.

 “Are you sure?” Hikaru asked. “I think I did say something wrong. All I want is to be my authentic self and I become that person when I become Cure Star. I think it’s the same for the other girls so why not mew too? I mean, you are the star of all that remains of Rainbow, for now, so I can’t help but think that your Rainbownian self is you when you’re a hundred percent mew.”

 Hikaru... had a point.

 Yuni didn’t want to admit it but Hikaru was right, or at the very least onto something. And Yuni very much wished that she wasn’t. So, she asked a question back, spitting it out like venom.

 “Do you think there will come a day where you transform into Cure Star, you’ll become an alien, meow? A completely nonhuman entity, meow?”

 Hikaru hummed and tapped her chin with her index finger, tempted to nibble on her nails as she was sometimes in that sort of habit. “Well, no. But if I could, that’d be so twin-cool! Thinking about myself, in that unlimited form and style makes my heart pound super duper fast. If such a thing was possible, I would want to try as many forms as possible to see who I truly am and who from such persons I can assimilate into my true self. I think that’s called transhumanism.” She stuck her tongue out at Yuni.

 Yuni sighed. She supposed that was a Hikaru answer through and through. She was the girl who found it fantastic and fascinating that Rainbownians had the power to shape shift, naturally and with an aide, rather than cause for suspicion of them. It was remarkably optimistic but natural too.

 With a slight smile on her lips, curt but charmed, Yuni said: “For just a moment, I suppose, meow. But I can’t go wasting my Rainbow Perfume on such frivolous things, meow.”

 She surrendered to Hikaru’s endearingly persistent gaze which was positively starry. With a flick of her wrist, Yuni produced her Rainbow Perfume and with a squeeze and a squirt of it, she reverted to her supposedly authentic form.

  Her whole body exploded into thick and fluffy, beige fur. Whiskers protruded from her cheeks as her snout took hold of her button nose. Her hands turned to paws but Yuni didn’t mind. It always felt good to let the cat out of the bag once in a while, even if it meant that Hikaru had to stare and stare something awful. Doubly so as they were sitting next to each other.

 “May I touch you?” Hikaru asked. “You’re just too cute to compute, I wanna give you a pat or a scratch. Are you soft? I bet you’re soft. Oh, you’re just too twin-cool!”

 Yuni smiled a fond smile but on her face, it seemed more bemused than anything else. Hikaru didn’t seem to mind or maybe she just didn’t notice.

 “Fine, meow. Just this one, meow.” Yuni said.

 “Thank mew very, very much.” Hikaru gushed.

 Yuni squirmed slightly as Hikaru bumbled in closer. She lifted her hand to Yuni’s face and with just her finger, she started at the base of Yuni’s chin. A growl got stuck in her throat, but it thinned out as Hikaru scratched her. Her finger was very pokey and bendy but once yuni got into the rhythm of it, she began to purr. Her purr was rusty and tickled Hikaru’s ears, but it absolutely encouraged her, so she used more fingers.

 Hikaru got really into it. Soon, she had both hands clamped either side of Yuni’s face, smushing it up and running her fingers through Yuni’s fur. It was extraordinarily thick and fluffy; Hikaru utterly marvelled over it. She grinned from ear to ear as she listened to how Yuni purred at her touch.

 It felt nice. Nice enough for Yuni to tentatively closer her eyes and revel in how her voice box reverberated in her throat. It had been a long time since Yuni had let someone touch her so affectionately and let alone to the point where she purred. Her spine tingled and she indulged the moment, mulling over to herself, with a steady heartbeat and steadier breaths, how thankful she was that her star was not only a person but Hikaru.

 Yuni was fairly certain that she would never tell Hikaru her feelings, but they were there. They were real. They were important to Yuni and something like gratitude. A thankfulness for being her light in the dark abyss of the cosmos.  

[thedrowsydoormouse]

@anangelamuse-castiel-spnfam asked and I shall deliver!

1. Who was the last person you held hands with?

My boyfriend. He took me to the mall for dinner and shopping after my therapy!

2. Are you outgoing or shy?

Very shy but once you get to know me I’m a ball of chaotic energy!

3. Who are you looking forward to seeing?

Right now no one.

4. Are you easy to get along with?

I like to think I am.

5. If you were drunk would the person you like take care of you?

I would say my friend, Penny, but she’d probably be even more drunk than I am! So I think my friend, Daisy, or my boyfriend because they both have a background in medicine and would know what to do!

6. What kind of people are you attracted to? 

Cool people. And people who are unafraid to be nerdy about things they love!

7. Do you think you’ll be in a relationship two months from now?

I should hope so! Or else something went seriously wrong!

8. Who from the opposite gender is on your mind?

I keep mentioning my boyfriend but that’s only because he’s sitting right next to me and just stole a slice of pizza off my plate!

9. Does talking about sex make you uncomfortable?

Usually no! I’m very pro sex and pro discussing sex so it hopefully becomes less taboo and we can get some proper sex education.

10. Who was the last person you had a deep conversation with?

My therapist. And I immediately broke the tension with a joke that made her laugh so hard she cried!

11. What does the most recent text that you sent say?

 “I’m done.” I was waiting for my ride to pick me up from the hair salon!

12. What are your 5 favorite songs right now?

Monster by dodie, My Kinda Lover by Billy Squire, Hallelujah by Pentatonix, Rolling in the Deep by Gretta Van Fleet, Bottom of the River by Delta Rae

13. Do you like it when people play with your hair?

It depends on the person.

14. Do you believe in luck and miracles?

Luck yes. Miracles no.

15. What good thing happened this summer?

Technically it happened during summer (even though it happened in September but it was still Summer so it counts) but I met my boyfriend!

16. Would you kiss the last person you kissed again?

100% yes! 

17. Do you think there is life on other planets?

There has to be. It’d be weird if there wasn’t. It may not be life like we know it but there is some form of life out there.

18. Do you still talk to your first crush?

No.

19. Do you like bubble baths?

I only take bubble baths!

20. Do you like your neighbors?

I hardly know enough about them to form an opinion.

21. What are you bad habits?

How much time we got?

22. Where would you like to travel?

I would love to go back to New York and to the Japanese Disney parks!

23. Do you have trust issues?

Yes.

24. Favorite part of your daily routine?

Food. Beautiful amazing food!

25. What part of your body are you most uncomfortable with?

My back. I have two weird scar type things on it that look nasty and I try to hide.

26. What do you do when you wake up?

Check the time an see if I can go back to sleep.

27. Do you wish your skin was lighter or darker?

Any lighter and I would literally glow and any darker and I wouldn’t be able to pull off the goth look so effortlessly so I’d say I’m pretty happy with my skin!

28. Who are you most comfortable around?

My close friends.

29. Have any of your ex’s told you they regret breaking up?

Several of them have tried getting back together after we broke up only to find I had already moved on.

30. Do you ever want to get married?

I am married.

31. If your hair long enough for a pony tail?

It’s down to about my waist so it’s be weird if I couldn’t pull it into a pony tail! The comfort of it, though, is a whole other issue!

32. Which celebrities would you have a threesome with?

Margot Robbie and Brian Dietzen.

33. Spell your name with your chin.

No.

34. Do you play sports? What sports?

*laughs until I’m crying*

35. Would you rather live without TV or music?

TV. I need music to survive!

36. Have you ever liked someone and never told them?

All the time.

37. What do you say during awkward silences?

I usually crack a joke.

38. Describe your dream girl/guy?

Smart, funny, amazing in bed!

39. What are your favorite stores to shop in?

They’re pretty much all online!

40. What do you want to do after high school?

I’m already out of high school.

41. Do you believe everyone deserves a second chance?

Not everyone.

42. If your being extremely quiet what does it mean?

I’m distracted, people keep talking over me, or somethings seriously wrong.

43. Do you smile at strangers?

If it’s a kid or an old woman, yes. But never men.

44. Trip to outer space or bottom of the ocean?

Space. The ocean is terrifying.

45. What makes you get out of bed in the morning?

Food. Or having to pee.

46. What are you paranoid about?

A lot of shit! I’m a nervous, panic-y mother fucker!

47. Have you ever been high?

Yes.

48. Have you ever been drunk?

Yes.

49. Have you done anything recently that you hope nobody finds out about?

Yes.

50. What was the colour of the last hoodie you wore?

Black.

51. Ever wished you were someone else?

Nope! I love myself way too much!

52. One thing you wish you could change about yourself?

Nothing!

53. Favourite makeup brand?

I’ve been wearing a lot of Blackmoon, Milk, and Lime Crime lately.

54. Favourite store?

Total Wines.

55. Favourite blog?

Mine!

56. Favourite colour?

Deep red.

57. Favourite food?

Sushi!

58. Last thing you ate?

I’m currently eating pizza! That is if my boyfriend stops stealing my slices!

59. First thing you ate this morning? 

I actually didn’t get a chace to eat until dinner when I had a BBQ chicken salad.

60. Ever won a competition? For what?

Nope.

61. Been suspended/expelled? For what?

I was suspended in middle school for writing a burn book.

62. Been arrested? For what?

Nope!

63. Ever been in love?

Yes! 

64. Tell us the story of your first kiss?

I was a junior in high school and I was talking with one of my friends during Winter Formal and neither of us had ever been kissed so I just said “then kiss me” so she did and we spent the rest of the night making out.

65. Are you hungry right now?

I’m eating right now.

66. Do you like your tumblr friends more than your real friends?

Yes.

67. Facebook or Twitter?

Neither.

68. Twitter or Tumblr?

Tumblr.

69. Are you watching tv right now?

I’m listening to music.

70. Names of your bestfriends?

I have too many to list. I’d literally be here all night.

71. Craving something? What?

Pumpkin spice.

72. What colour are your towels?

I have a ton of towels and none of them match because I’m a human dumpster fire.

72. How many pillows do you sleep with?

As many as possible.

73. Do you sleep with stuffed animals?

Yes.

74. How many stuffed animals do you think you have?

I have no clue.

75. Favourite animal?

Cats.

76. What colour is your underwear?

Black.

77. Chocolate or Vanilla?

Chocolate.

78. Favourite ice cream flavour?

Dublin Mudslide from Ben & Jerry’s.

79. What colour shirt are you wearing?

Hot Pink.

80. What colour pants?

Teal.

81. Favourite tv show?

I can’t pick just one!

82. Favourite movie?

See above!

83. Mean Girls or Mean Girls 2?

The first one!

84. Mean Girls or 21 Jump Street?

Mean Girls!

85. Favourite character from Mean Girls?

Janice Ian!

86. Favourite character from Finding Nemo?

Bruce!

87. First person you talked to today?

My mom.

88. Last person you talked to today?

Not sure yet.

89. Name a person you hate?

Trump.

90. Name a person you love?

My boyfriend.

91. Is there anyone you want to punch in the face right now?

See #89. 92. In a fight with someone?

Usually.

93. How many sweatpants do you have?

I lost count.

94. How many sweaters/hoodies do you have?

I love being comfy.

95. Last movie you watched?

Spaceballs.

96. Favourite actress?

Margot Robbie.

97. Favourite actor?

Does John Mullaney count.

98. Do you tan a lot?

Never.

99. Have any pets?

A chubby puppy named Zorro!

100. How are you feeling?

Pretty good!

101. Do you type fast?

Sometimes, depending on how long my nails are.

102. Do you regret anything from your past?

Yes and no.

103. Can you spell well?

Sort of.

104. Do you miss anyone from your past?

Not really.

105. Ever been to a bonfire party?

No.

106. Ever broken someone’s heart?

Yes.

107. Have you ever been on a horse?

Yes.

108. What should you be doing?

Nothing.

109. Is something irritating you right now?How long this is taking.

110. Have you ever liked someone so much it hurt?

Yes.

111. Do you have trust issues?

You’ve already asked this.

112. Who was the last person you cried in front of?

My friend, Sabrina.

113. What was your childhood nickname?

I hate them so I’m not putting them.

114. Have you ever been out of your province/state?

Yes.

115. Do you play the Wii?

Not anymore.

116. Are you listening to music right now?

Yes.

117. Do you like chicken noodle soup?

Yes.

118. Do you like Chinese food?

Yes.

119. Favourite book?

I don’t really read that much anymore.

120. Are you afraid of the dark?

No.

121. Are you mean?

I can be.

122. Is cheating ever okay?

Only if you really didn’t have time to study and you don’t get caught. (Hint: hide the cheat sheet between you’re thighs or up your skirt so that way if you do get caught you can pin it on the teacher being a perv.)

123. Can you keep white shoes clean?

I’ve never owned any so I have no clue.

124. Do you believe in love at first sight?

Yes.

125. Do you believe in true love?

Yes.

126. Are you currently bored?

Yes.

127. What makes you happy?

Food.

128. Would you change your name?

Yes.

129. What your zodiac sign?

Sagittarius.

130. Do you like subway?

No.

131. Your bestfriend of the opposite sex likes you, what do you do?

I mean i hope they like me or else my marriage is about to get very awkward!

132. Who’s the last person you had a deep conversation with?

You asked this one already.

133. Favourite lyrics right now?

Tell me again about how it hurts Being awfully loud for an introvert 

  134. Can you count to one million?

I’ve never tried nor had the time to try.

135. Dumbest lie you ever told?

It’s my dad’s signature.

136. Do you sleep with your doors open or closed?

Open just a crack.

137. How tall are you?

6′

138. Curly or Straight hair?

Mine is curly and I prefer curls.

139. Brunette or Blonde?

It depends on the person.

140. Summer or Winter?

Winter.

141. Night or Day?

Night.

142. Favourite month?

October.

143. Are you a vegetarian?

No but almost.

144. Dark, milk or white chocolate?

Milk.

145. Tea or Coffee?

Tea.

146. Was today a good day?

Yes.

147. Mars or Snickers?

Neither.

148. What’s your favourite quote?

“Fuck it.” - Me 149. Do you believe in ghosts?

This is the 3rd repeat question.

150. Get the closest book next to you, open it to page 42, what’s the first line on that page?

The only book I have near me is super tiny and doesn’t have 42 pages.

[quieteating]

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Clove Club, The

There is a major problem with expectation and hope.  It brings along sometime weighty baggage and makes things harder to achieve.  For example, just look across the pond at attempts to “make America great again”.  I wish them all well but if it was me, the pressure would not be helpful.  Although, wilful blindness may be an essential asset in such case.  Lucky US.

In a much less exciting manner, this is how I arrived at the Clove Club, burdened with expectation.  I had even visited its little brother, Luca, just the night before to get in the mood.  That was a good meal setting up for a suitable encore.  The Clove Club is a particularly storied entrant to the London food scene, featuring in many of the world’s best food guides.  So no pressure there…

Ogleshield Gougére.  A lonely cheese puff to start.  I soon found out why it was alone.  It was so good that if it had siblings, I would have gobbled them all and spoilt my dinner.  Firm pastry, cheesy inside, savoury, soft and firm all together.  Something to build expectations for the future.

Melon Gazpacho Granita.  An interesting light touch.  Reminded me of Thai vegetable spring rolls.  A lighter cleaner taste.

Brown Crab Tart & Devilled Spices.  Mounted on this particularly sharp shell, there could be no mistaking this for pieces of crustacean.  Full and creamy with delightful spice, something to have again if I returned.

Green Bean, Ewe’s Milk & Hazelnut Tart.  A demonstration of why you can be vegetarian and still love food.  Delightful cream, crispy clean bean, it all went well together.

Buttermilk Fried Chicken & Pine Salt.  Yet it was the last amuse bouche which will forever have a place in my heart.  You would think that with my obsession with things cooked with copious amounts of oil, I would have found deep fried nirvana by now.  This showed me although I had previously thought I had arrived, I was sadly mistaken.

This is what fried chicken dreams of being.

With the amuse bouches done, it was on to the real food.

Warm Penjar Tomato, Ginger Dressing, Ham & Aromatic Herbs.  Light and interesting.  The tomato itself was intensively flavourful, worlds apart from the salad tomatoes that I have usually tried.

Theatrics is half the game.  Well, that’s what they say in show biz.  That’s kind of what I felt like the Clove Club was at times.

Gently Cooked Orkney Scallop, Celtic Mustard & Kelp Broth.  Succulent, flavourful and with an inspired mustard kick.

Cornish Sardine Sashimi.  This was a surprise.  It has been a while since I have had such decadently delicious fish.  This sardine sashimi is up there with some of the best sashimi I have had.  A hint of minced ginger, a crispy cracker base and delicately lacerated flesh.  Sublime.

Worcestershire, Smoked Sardine & Whisky Broth.  The sardine came with something else sublime.  Creamy, light and meaty soup, I could have easily drowned myself in this if there was more.

Butter on a chipped plate.  Perhaps this was a sign.  A chip off a otherwise rather beautiful place.  A harbinger that things were not as they seemed.

Bread.  Ok but not awe inspiring.  It tasted a little too bitter for me, like it had been slightly too long in the oven.  Yet perhaps I am being picky as usual and instead this is just bread done differently.

Cornish Turbot, Garden Vegetables, Oyster & Caviar Sauce.  If there was a rich man’s dish, this is probably close to the stereotype.  If it was foie gras loaded with caviar, the expenses would be even greater.  The fish was delicate and cooked just right, the cream and caviar heightened the taste of the fish and the leek provided an earthy counterpoint.  Delightful.

Native Lobster cooked to order, Courgette & Indian Spices.  Not bad although not particularly inspiring in this day of age of cheap lobster for the masses.  Translation – it was good but nothing mind-blowing.

  A baleful gaze.  This is what I felt like doing once the meat courses started.  

Thigh.  Not bad, although a little small.  My hopes had been built up as they left Mr Chicken on my table with explicit instructions not to peek inside.  I dreamed that there was real treasures inside.  Instead, there was just this skewer.  Kind of anticlimactic.  It was ok but nothing amazing.

Slow Roast Lincolnshire Chicken breast, Manjimup Truffle, Broad Beans & Girolles.  Sadly underwhelming.  Lacking depth of flavour, it just didn’t do it for me.  The truffle was good but not enough to lift up the plain breast.

Sirloin of Aberdeen Angus Beef, Jersey Royal & Hay Hollandaise.  Suffered from the same issue as the chicken above.  Yet, perhaps it is because I have been spoilt by beef of a Japanese kind.  This English breed just seemed rather insipid as it didn’t taste of that much.  It was, strangely enough, the hollandaise that was the star here.  

Loquat Sorbet, Loquat Kernel Cream & Puffed Amaranth.  As I broke the Amaranth, I was treated to a show of small balls bouncing up and down as I methodically broke the disc.  With such a show I had high hopes.  I was to find that the taste was pleasant if not particularly awe inspiring.

Warm Potato Mousse, Coffee & Caramel Ice Cream.  This was probably the most weird dish of the day.  Ice cream with potato mouse set off question marks all over my head.  A strange event.  Not unpleasant but just strange.

Homemade Chocolate.  Nothing to write home about as it was rather ordinary.

Dr Henderson’s Bon Bon.  I can’t really judge these as I haven’t had many before.  I guess it was ok.

Peated Barley Cake & Dundee Marmalade Cream.  This though I will mention.  Delightfully sweet (but not too sweet) with barley and orange hints, this was inspired.  A delicious end.

Like many things in my life, things started off so well.  Unfortunately, as time went on, perhaps understandably, the restaurant staff seemed to begin to lose interest in me as the pace of the meal tended to tail off.  That is somewhat excusable as sometimes I get bored by myself too.  As the service seemed to abate, so too did the delight of the food.  It held so much promise at the start but devolved to something just good but not exceptional.  As I say of some of my friends, they started off so well but in the end, things kind of fell apart.

As I left at the end of 4 hours, I thought it would just have been nice if it hadn’t been so expensive a lesson to learn.  Yet, as they say, you live and learn.

  A quiet eating 7.5/10.

Dinner (all of the above) was GBP130 excluding drinks and service.

  The Clove Club

Shoreditch Town Hall, 380 Old St, London EC1V 9LT

[lunchcase]

Matcha Mix Boba and Raisins Milk Tea

23.11.2020 8:05pm

Location: Foody Mart

Price: $3 for 2 (they were doing a promotion for them because the lot were close to expiring. The second time I went, it was down to $0.99 for one. And now that I’ve had it, I understand why)

I had to literally unearth the instructions of how to make it. I know it’s straightforward in theory; just put everything, add hot water, and stir, but mom said maybe the raisins go on top, and she was wrong, which goes to show maybe don’t put your supermarket foreign import promotion sticker on top of the instructions. In the end, I was right, and you just pour everything in with hot water and stir. At first I was tempted to leave the raisins out because I can’t imagine how it’ll mix well, but in the end I put it in for that exact reason. Adventurous drinker, me, even if this blog is literal evidence to the contrary and I end up drinking the same things all the time. 

Immediately after opening the matcha packet, a waft of green tea sweetness careened towards me, which was unexpected. Not that the existence of a smell itself is surprising, but how it smelled. It’s so sweet. None of that matcha hint of bitterness, and it makes me think it was processed a lot with, if I had to guess (I’m not reading the ingredients), sugar and milk powder. The tapioca came out in a huge gloop stuck together, which y’know. Figures. And the raisins smelled clearly of raisins. I’m excited to know how it’ll taste in matcha milk tea.

I also immediately broke the straw, I think, upon opening, because if this isn’t broken then it requires some high level reconstructive surgery little baby unskilled Casey is not qualified for. Thankfully, I had a bubble tea straw left over from yesterday’s drinks, and there’s even a green one to match! It’s the little things.

There’s a cold option, an iced option to drink this that is just. Add ice after you stir, but given that I take hours to drink anything anyway (I tend to savour) I think temperature will not be an issue for me. Also I don’t want to dilute it. Yeah. That’s the reason. I’m a tea purist. Oh! And there’s a flap on the side of the cup that reveals a QR code for a prize. But this seems to be a china drink and I’m not in the china right now, so. I don’t know who that guy on the cup is. He looks like every other boy idol.

It smells. I guess pretty good? I get that it’s matcha. But like. Really. Uh. I guess it’s clear it came from something processed? Mixed with the strong scent of dried raisins. I poured a little evaporated milk in it, as a firm believer that most drinks would benefit from a little bit of evap milky.

I’m going to forego the straw for this first sip to just get a sense of the matcha tea itself, and also not to scald my tongue. Oh god, it’s sweet. And for all the green you see, the matcha taste itself is surprisingly lacking. It’s just. Sweet milk with a tinge of residue matcha flavour. Nowhere is the bittersweet, earthy scent of matcha. Maybe it’ll work with the tapioca and raisins? Nope. Not really. It feels less harmonic convergence (ha) and more I plopped some raisins into a drink and sometimes it comes up and I have to bite and chew it and by the time I’m done the drink is gone. It’s not the soft, mochi consistency of tapioca either, which works with bubble tea because it is itself sweet, and chewy, the texture smooth and seamless with tea. This is clearly just two distinct properties refusing to mix. I guess if you like the individual taste of matcha tea and raisin, and want to eat them together without sacrificing either taste or texture of both, this is it? For some reason the tapiocas aren’t coming up the straw, or maybe it is and they just also taste like raisins now. I haven’t been this confused over a drink since I had London Fog for the first time (Side note: mom just yelled at my brother for disturbing her, causing her to lose the fish she was catching on animal crossing new horizons). I’m almost done with the drink at this point and still can’t tell if I had tapiocas yet. Oh! I’ve realised why! The tapiocas are still in one giant conglomerate mass at the bottom of the cup, resisting the hot water’s attempt to separate! That’s not going to go well now that I’ve finished most of the drink! How fun! Okay, I poked at chunks of it with my straw, but it’s being evasive, so I fished out a chunk and just popped it in my mouth. It tastes... bad. Largely plain, with the raisin flavour contaminating it, I think - I hope - making it also a bit sour, and not that it was always sour. Not chewy enough. Reminiscent of wet cardboard. It’s blandly sour, texture very average, overall disappointing mouthfeel and taste. I’m no tapioca expert, but from experience, tapioca is supposed to be sweet, and chewy, and enjoyable. This is sad. I’m sad. One upside though: drinking the tea after that debacle is a whole palette cleanser. The pearls are so defected (ha) it’s making the sub par drink desirable. Maybe next time (I have one left, not me going out during a pandemic to buy another one of these) I’ll skip out on the raisins. Perhaps the plan was that, the sourness of the raisins would heighten the sweetness of the drink? But the drink is so sweet already (it does, however, mellow out at the bottom) it just feels like a clash of titans. Where’s the compromise? Why we gotta fight all the time?

By physically scooping it in my mouth, I managed to taste all three elements at once, as I suspect it’s supposed to be drunk. It’s... not good. Hahahaha

Is this why they offer a prize for drinking this? Consolation?

I’m going to give up on the toppings. I’m not going to try to eat them. I don’t know what’s happening

I’ve been periodically staring into the void processing these flavours. I don’t know what’s happening

I am actively barring the raisins and tapioca from entering the straw. They are banned. No mercy, only justice.

The delicate art of incorporating raisins into drinks well still eludes us. I do not know when the day will come, or if the day will even be welcome. But I do know one thing: when we finally work out how to mix raisins well in bubble tea, humanity will be closer to the stars, if not among them. The enlightenment will be at hand.

Matcha Mix Boba and Raisins Round 2 - Raisin The Bar

25.11.2020 2.07pm

I’m not putting the raisins in this time. Also, after more carefully excavating the straw out of its plastic embalmment, I can now confirm that I had broke it last time by ripping it out too hard and detached the two parts. I think this time the tapioca should be more dissolved.

It is so much better. Uninterrupted sweetness.

Kathy: You can put fruits in milk tea, but I think what’s weird, is that raisins are dehydrated, and now you’re putting them back in liquid

[bkpkinyourarea]

Competition | highschool!au

Jennie x Reader (fem)

Genre: Fluff/Angst

Summary: ‘Jealousy does not become you, Jennie Kim.’

Requested by @jeonmyg

A/N: I apologise in advance because this is all over the place. :/ Hope you guys still enjoy it, though. 

Part I | Part II | Part III

Word Count: 6,052

Warnings: Nothing much, a couple of swear words.

“I like you.”

      You’re not actually quite sure what you had expected, but you’re pretty sure it wasn’t this. Jennie looks as if she’d just looked into Medusa’s eyes and subsequently, been turned into stone. Her expression is still, too still; her eyes are wide and she is utterly silent.

     You fidget, fingers intertwining and you bite your lip, a wave of anxiety rushing over you like a waterfall.

     That day, after school had ended, you’d decided that you wanted to take a walk in the park before you went home and Jennie, being your best friend, had decided to accompany you in case you ‘got bored without her’. You’d rolled your eyes but allowed her to come anyways, knowing it was her indirect way of saying she wanted to be in your company a little longer.

     The two of you had found a park bench and sat down and after a few minutes of comfortable silence, Jennie began to tell you about something weird that Jisoo and Lisa had done today. You had smiled at her, watching as her eyes lit up and her hands moved and gestured, and her lips drew slowly up into the prettiest smile you’d ever seen.

     You had always thought it was cheesy and well, frankly, idiotic, the way people would say that their girlfriend, or their boyfriend, had a smile like flowers and the sun. Jennie proved you wrong. You loved the way her eyes curved into little crescent moons and the way her face performed a little scrunch when she laughed a little too hard. God, her smile could make flowers grow, and no, you’re not being cheesy.

     Every time she laughed or smiled, you fell a little bit more in love.

     Maybe, that’s why when Jennie talked about the particularly ridiculous thing that Jisoo had forced Lisa to do today and she scrunched up her face in a laugh, you couldn’t help yourself. The words slipped out of your lips, unbidden and finally free.

     “I like you.”

     You watch, hesitant and suddenly scared as the smile fades slowly from your best friend’s lips and she swallows, brushing a nonexistent strand of hair away from her face.

     “What?”

     You’re suddenly overwhelmed with the urge to run away, fall into a hole and never come back.

     “I like you,” you repeat, your voice a little stronger, a little braver. “I like you- I’d like to date you.” You watch her face carefully, seeing a myriad of emotions flicker across her face at the speed of light, and cautiously, when you don’t see rejection, you add, “Will you be my girlfriend?”

     Jennie doesn’t really say anything as all forms of emotions vanish entirely from her face. You recognise it as her retreating into her shell but you refrain from doing anything and instead, wait silently. She closes her eyes, breathes, then opens them again and licks her lips. “How long?”

     You eye her curiously even as anxiety rushes through you and you feel as if you’re about to throw up from the snakes crawling in the pit of your stomach. “Three years,” you reply, thankful that your voice holds steady even in the midst of your emotions.

     She stares at you for a long moment, then looks away and you notice that she’s begun to fiddle with her fingers.

     “I can’t,” she says finally, her voice small.

     “You can’t what?”

     “I can’t give you an answer.”

     You frown, your brows knitting together as confusion flickers across your face. “What do you mean? You can’t answer?”

     “Yeah,” she says, still avoiding your gaze. “I can’t give you an answer yet. I just...don’t know.”

     You’re still very confused but you can tell from the look on her face that unless you wanted to have her retreat even further into her shell, it was best not ask her to elaborate on her incredibly vague answer.

     So, what does this mean? Does this mean she likes you? She hasn’t rejected you, right? But she didn’t agree to date you either? Does that mean she’s trying to let you down lightly?

     You sigh, your shoulders slumping and your fingers tighten sharply around the strap of your bag.

     “Okay. That’s cool. That’s fine.” You try to keep the dejection from your voice, but it appears you’re not doing as well as you think because you see a spark of concern dancing through your best friend’s eyes.

     Jennie watches you out of the corner of her eye and her heart clenches at the look on your face. It hurts to see you hurt, she realises, and when you turn to look at her, mustering a bright smile, she realises it hurts even more to see you pretend you weren’t in pain.

     “Y/N,” Jennie begins, but you cut her off.

     “It’s fine.” You muster a smile, and it feels real. “I’m fine. Don’t worry.”

     “Y/N,” Jennie looks at you warningly when she sees you open your mouth. “Just, give me some time, okay? I’ll give you an answer if you give me time. I..I just need time.” She scans your face and you detect a hesitance in her that you’ve never quite seen before. “We’re still friends right?”

     “Of course,” you laugh, and thankfully, you think to yourself, this laugh sounds real, it’s very much real. Why wouldn’t it be? It is real. You grin at her, and the corner of her lips quirk upwards as well.

     So, she’s not rejecting you outright. That’s got to something, right? If she needs time, then you’ll give her time. There are some benefits with time too, you think, because now you have time to win her over slowly.

     You direct the conversation back to whatever Jisoo did in school that day and although Jennie appears hesitant at first, she swings back into the flow of the things and the air feels at ease for a while.

     It’s beginning to get late and the bright colours of the afternoon sky are fading away into darker, muted tones of orange and red as the sun descends downwards into the distant horizon.

     “I need to go. Gotta check on Kuma and Kai. Make sure they’re not eating too much.” Jennie smiles teasingly as she stretches and yawns and you force a lopsided grin onto your mouth, trying to ignore the feeling in your chest.  

      She gets up from the park bench, slinging her bag over her leather clad shoulder. “I’ll see you tomorrow, yeah?”

     You nod and manage a smile and you watch as she walks away. Then, you lean back against the bench and sigh, watching as your breath turns into smoky white mist in the cold winter air.

     The next day, and the day after that, and the day after that, you greet Jennie by her locker with coffee from her favourite shop in hand and insist on carrying her books whilst you walk her to class. You buy her that ridiculous milk-flavoured ice cream that she loves when she grumbles about it during lunch and you stay after school whenever she has practice to walk her home afterwards, or wherever she wants to go.

     This begins to become somewhat like a routine for you, and you even feel at ease with doing all the things you’re doing - girlfriend things, to a girl who you’re not even dating. In fact, it gives you confidence, the kind of confidence that you haven’t had in awhile, especially not when you’re talking to Jennie Kim - your best friend, dog lover, person who hasn’t replied to you asking her out and subsequently turning you into a questioning, unsure little shit. 

      Also, she has a killer bad girl smile. That smile can turn anyone’s insides into a puddle of mush.

     God. That smile could kill you.

     You know, deep in your heart, that you would do whatever it takes to get Jennie to give you an answer to your question. And you don’t tire, not even when a month passed without her even bringing up the topic of your confession, much less give you an answer.

     “Y/N,” Jennie sounds exasperated when you hand her the coffee. You’re lounging languidly against the row of lockers with your hands in your pockets and a lazy smile on your lips. You tilt your head when she says your name and narrow your eyes curiously.

     “Morning, Jen,” you say. It’d been a month and a half since you confessed, and still there was no answer. Not even a hint.

     “You need to stop,” Jennie ignores your outstretched hand and opens her locker.

     “Stop what?” You tilt your head, somewhat amused and exhale softly.

     “You know what I’m talking about,” the brunette slams the locker door shut and turns at you, eyes dark, wide and utterly serious. “This. This needs to stop.”

     “I have no idea what you’re talking about,” you drawl and push the coffee into her free hand. “Drink up, baby girl. Or else you’re going to fall asleep in class and get left behind. You don’t want that.”

     You grab her books with an ease that comes with time and slip your arm through hers. She shrugs you off and glares at you. “Don’t call me that,” she hisses, expression darkening.

     You raise your arms in a gesture of surrender, still carrying her books and flash her a small smile. “Okay. That’s cool. But I know you haven’t gotten your daily dose of caffeine yet, so drink up. And do it quickly because class is in two minutes.”

     Jennie glowers at you but drinks the coffee anyways and allows you to accompany her to class without another word. You set her books down on her desk and high five Jisoo whilst simultaneously doing your handshake with Lisa.

     “‘Sup guys,” you grin, hoisting yourself onto Jisoo’s desk. She hits your arm with a water bottle.

     “Ow!” You turn to see her stick her tongue out at you, and you flip her off whilst rolling your eyes. Jisoo just smirks at you.

     “So, how was your day, Y/N? Jendeuk give you any trouble?”

     “No more than usual,” you answer, glancing at the brunette out of the corner of your eye. She’s ignoring you studiously, head buried in her notes and you let out a sigh. Jennie always does this: she’ll ignore you for now, then when you appear to walk her to her next class, she’s chattering and smiling at you like nothing had ever happened. You two were still best friends, even if you also acted like her one-sided girlfriend.

     “I see,” Lisa nods and the two of them gives you sympathetic glances. You lift your shoulder in a shrug. Jennie will come around sooner or later, but you’re beginning to think, with each passing day, that it’s going to be the latter. 

      Just as that thought crosses your mind, the bell rings, startling you so much that you leap off the desk, nearly stumbling.

     “Ah, fuck, I’m gonna be late. See you guys later!” You grab your stuff, wave at your friends as they bid you farewell and a lot of other things that you’d prefer not to mention and you ruffle Jennie’s hair as you rush past, ignoring her threats and protests.

     Jennie lets out a sigh as Y/N rushes out of the classroom and she turns to Jisoo and Lisa. “Guys, help me out. She won’t listen. It’s getting annoying.”

     “Personally, I think it’s cute,” Lisa comments, grabbing her pen. “You don’t find someone like that just anywhere, Jen.”

     Jisoo nods in agreement. “It’s really sweet. I mean, you get free coffee, free ice cream, free ‘person who protects you and walks you everywhere and keeps you company’ and the prettiest, cleverest girl in school. What more do you want?”

     “For her to stop?” Jennie runs a hand through her hair and groans, leaning backwards on her chair. “I don’t like this. It’s just...weird.”

     The two of them lean forward, eyes wide. “What weird? Weird what? That it’s a girl who likes you?”

     “I didn’t mark you as that kind of girl, deuk,” Jisoo says, almost disappointed.

     “No, no, no, who do you think I am?” Jennie glares at the two of them. “I knew she liked girls long before this, that’s totally fine, but it’s just-”

     “Just what?” The teacher’s voice rings sharply across the classroom, and the three girls look away almost instantaneously.

     “Nothing.”

     The teacher grumbles something incoherent, shoots them a suspicious glare and turns away, reaching to write something on the board. 

      Jennie mutters under her breath and turns to a new page in her notebook. She’ll think about what to do with Y/N later. After class. 

      A moment later, Lisa glances around and when the teacher’s back is turned, leans over and whispers, “but, you know,  for the record, if you don’t want to date Y/N, I would personally love to. So, just tell me, yeah?”

     Jennie doesn’t know why she immediately turns to glower at Lisa, nor does she understand the sudden rush of fury, or the urge to slam her friend’s face into the desk multiple times until her face is no longer recognisable. She doesn’t understand the knowing look that flickers across Lisa’s face, or why Jisoo mouths ‘I knew it’ to Lisa, the two of them smirking in that way, that triumphant way that Jennie hates the most. Like they know something she doesn’t.

     Jennie loathes not knowing things and she grits her teeth, resisting the urge to flip them off if only because the teacher is now shooting her murderous glances. As if this is all her fault.

      Three months after the confession, Jennie had yet to give Y/N an answer.

     You’re growing more and more anxious and, frankly, annoyed with each passing day but you keep up with the routine even when the brunette pushes and shoves you away, insisting that she doesn’t need it. You keep it at it with a dogged sort of determination, but it appears that Jen has no intention on answering your question.

     One day, you decide that you had enough. You were just tired. Maybe it was time to acknowledge that Jen wasn’t ever going to answer you. That she was just trying to reject you nicely.

    You drop her off at her house the night before with a smile and a milk-flavoured ice cream. You two had been talking for hours and neither of you wanted to leave the other’s company, but the sky was darkening rapidly and both of you needed to get home. 

    She’s still your best friend, and she still acts like your best friend even with your ‘irritating routine’ and you know, with a sudden clench of your heart, that you’re going to miss her like crazy.

     The next morning, you don’t buy her coffee, don’t wait for her by her locker, don’t carry her books and you only stop briefly by her class to talk. You act as if nothing has changed even though Jisoo and Lisa clearly know that you haven’t done your usual routine today. Jennie talks to you like nothing’s different, and you do the same, but your answers are shorter, your expression distant and your gestures absent of their usual affection. You suppose that you could just act like you were her best friend, the best friend you were before all the confessing but you knew that you would never get over her that way. You had to detach yourself. This was the only way.

     Jennie doesn’t really know how she feels about this. You didn’t tell her what you were going to do, but she knew. She could see. She could infer.

     You don’t ruffle Jennie’s hair when the bell rings and you run out of the classroom, hair in a mess. In fact, you barely acknowledge her. You’re tired, you realise suddenly and you need a break. You need to get over her before you can be on best friend terms again.

     You don’t walk her to her classes, or meet her for lunch. In fact, whenever she sees you and waves at you, you appear not to have seen her and turn away, talking to someone else. It hurts you but you ignore the pain in your chest. It’s time to get over her, and you know it. It just took three months for you to realise and take action.

     That day, Jennie had practice, but you didn’t stay. You leave immediately when school ends, hood over your head, hands in your pockets.

      Late in the afternoon, Jennie walks out of the school gates and glances around, almost as if she’s looking for someone. She doesn’t find anyone, however, and unknowingly her shoulders slump.

      Jen sucks in a deep breath before slinging her bags over her shoulders - how long had it been since she had to hold all of her bags by herself? - and trudges forward, beginning the long, silent and surprisingly lonely walk back home.

     The next day, the same thing happens. You don’t appear by Jennie’s locker, you don’t walk her to class and when she talks to you, you answer in a somewhat distant and detached manner. She sees much less of you around.

      At first, Jennie tells herself that she’s supposed to be happy. You’re finally leaving her alone and giving her what she wants. She should rejoice in this fact and enjoy it - this newfound freedom - but instead she finds herself suddenly silent. It feels as if something’s something missing. 

      Jisoo and Lisa shoot her knowing glances.

     On the third day, Jennie buys her own coffee and walks over to her locker, half expecting to see you in your usual attire of t-shirt and jeans, holding a cup of coffee while that familiar and endearing smile adorns your face. You weren’t there, of course, and Jennie tries to ignore the sinking feeling in her chest.

     It’s okay, she tells herself. This is what she wants, this is what you need, what you both need. This is good.

     But it doesn’t feel good. It feels like she’d just lost something inherently important to her.   

     Jennie shakes her head impatiently, grabs her books and slams the locker door shut.

     When she arrives at the classroom and dumps the books on her desk, you meet her gaze. You had been sitting on Lisa’s desk, - you tend to switch between Jisoo and Lisa, you didn’t sit on hers anymore, she realises - quietly chatting with them. 

      When she’d walks in, the chatter between the three of you quietens and you glance at her, if only briefly. You look tired, Jennie observes, your eyes, usually filled with impish mischievousness and sarcastic delight are guarded and wary and the smile you offer her is not the usual languid, lazy, crooked one that she loves, no, was familiar with, but a rather, tight-lipped, exceptionally brief thing that barely even resembles a smile.

     “Y/N,” Jennie greets, giving you a hesitant smile. “Hi.”

     You look at her, a flicker of surprise passing through your eyes and you nod slightly. “Hi, Jennie.”

     Jennie swallows. Jennie is her name, but it doesn’t really feel as right as it did when you call her Jendeukie, or deuk, or Jen, or even, god forbid, onion girl. She likes it better when you grin and ruffle her hair and say ‘hey, deukie,’ and smile that smile of yours, rather than, well, whatever this is.

     But Jennie doesn’t say any of this. Instead, she sits down silently and takes out her notebook.

     “I gotta go, or I’ll be late. I’ll see you guys later.” You leap of the desk, collect your things and leave after a quick wave of goodbye. It’ll be another five minutes before the bell rings. You leave five minutes too early.

     Jennie’s gaze follows you and the moment you’re out of the door, Jisoo taps her on the shoulder.

      “What?” Jennie is in no mood for Jisoo’s jokes, but her friend looks serious and she inclines her head towards the door you’d just walked out of.

     “Just tell her, Jennie,” Jisoo says.

     “Tell her what?”

     Lisa looks at her in that ‘please, drop that act’ manner. “That you miss her. That you like it when she does things like wait for you by her locker and get you coffee. That, god forbid, you like her.”

     “I don’t, though.”

     They shake their heads, roll their eyes and drop the topic. Jennie looks away, her chin resting on her arms. She misses you, she realises suddenly but that thought scares her so much she pushes it away almost instantly.

     Jennie is in the same class as you’re in for Chemistry. Usually, you sit alone in the back near the window and the seat beside you is empty, and usually, Jennie sits next to you when you need to partner up. Otherwise, the seat is empty. You told her in the beginning of term that you liked having two seats to yourself, and that it’s totally fine for Jennie to sit somewhere else. It was true, to be honest. Two seats meant more place for your stuff, and less idiotic chatter.

     It’s the first Chemistry class since you stopped your usual routine and Jen still isn’t completely sure what she’s going to do. She doesn’t have to make the choice, however, because there’s someone sitting next to you in that sacred seat of yours, and you’re smiling your smile at her - the lopsided, lazy smile - and that girl is smiling at you, and she’s touching your arm and you’re laughing and suddenly Jennie’s overwhelmed with some strange emotion. She wants to jerk that girl away from you and beat her into a pulp.

     “Heyy, Jen, you okay?” Jungkook glances at her from his seat, his eyes concerned and she jerks her gaze away from you, offering him a nod. She senses that her muscles are tense and coiled up beneath her skin, as if her body is readying itself up to pounce and kill.

     Jennie looks away, rolls her shoulder and stretches. “Hey, do you mind if I sit here?”

     Jungkook stares at her for a moment, somewhat surprised, then he shrugs. “Sure, why not? Taehyung dropped Chemistry, anyway, so this seat’s empty.”

     Jennie drops her bag and sits down, but her gaze can’t help but wander back to where you are. The girl’s hand is on top of yours now, and you two are too close for her liking. You’re also laughing too much, and, oh my god, the girl’s fingers are slipping through yours and all you’re doing is laughing.

     Jungkook follows her gaze and smiles knowingly. “Trouble in paradise?”

     “No,” Jennie answers much too quickly, and Jungkook’s knowing smile only widens. “We’re not-she’s not my girlfriend. We’re not dating. Get your mind out of the fucking gutter, Kook.”

     Jungkook just shakes his head. “Yeah, sure.”

     Jennie doesn’t bother saying anything else. There’s no point arguing. Instead, she looks back at the two of you. Your fingers are still intertwined and damn, that smile. Who the hell is that girl anyways?

     “She’s the new transfer student,” Jungkook says as if he’d just read Jennie’s mind. “Her name is Rosé.”

     “Rosé...” Jennie tries to sneer but she can’t, not really, because Rosé is a pretty name. Much prettier than Jennie.

     Jungkook shrugs. “It’s a pretty name.”

     “No, it’s not.” Jennie turns away sharply as you look up, your attention leaving Rosé’s for a second as it wanders over to her.

     Jungkook looks up to meet your eyes and he grins widely. “Definitely trouble in paradise.” 

     Jennie doesn’t bother answering. She doesn’t even bother looking as her fist connects with Jungkook’s shoulder and a grunt of pain slips from between his lips. If he wants to keep living, he better keep his mouth shut.

      It doesn’t help that during the whole Chemistry class, the two of you seem to be enjoying yourself way too much. You’re laughing and smiling and the girl’s touching, and god, Jennie really wants to march over and tear you two apart.

      She barely manages to resist the urge.

      When class ended, she slings her bag over her shoulder and approaches the two of you, forcing a smile onto her face. “Hi, I’ve never seen you around before.” Jennie sticks out her hand, ignoring the flicker of surprise that flits briefly across your countenance.

     Rosé looks at the outstretched hand and shakes it, a sweet smile adorning her lips. “I just transferred over,” she says. “I’m Rosé. Nice to meet you….?”

     You jerk yourself out of your stupor and step forward. “This is Jennie,” you introduce, patting Jen’s shoulder lightly. It’s the first time you’ve touched her since you stopped with the routine and Jen realises, god, she misses your touch. “She’s a good friend of mine.”

     Good friend? Good friend?

     Jennie accepts that title anyhow and nods. “Yeah, we’ve known each other for ages.”

     You lift a shoulder in a shrug, but say nothing. Rosé glances between you two, then smiles softly, almost knowingly. “Y/N has been a great help to me today. She’s really sweet. You’re lucky to have known her for so long.”

     Jennie grits her teeth as you grin at Rosé with that smile that she’d once thought was reserved only for her. “Aw,” you say in that way of yours. “You are so whipped, and we’ve literally just met.”

     You’re joking, but Jennie’s skin prickles and she eyes the two of you sharply.

     Wait. Does Rosé like girls?

     Rosé lets out a little laugh. “Hey, you’re a pretty girl so I think it’s alright.”

     Wait. What. The. Fuck.

     “Hey, so, um, Jennie, wanna join us for food at the coffee shop?” Rosé glances at her and smiles invitingly, “I’ll treat.” But all Jennie can think about is smashing her fucking pretty face against the wall and Jennie is not one to have violent thoughts about strangers. 

      Instead, she forces on a smile and shakes her head. “No, it’s fine.” It is not fine. You two were going to go to the coffee shop that only you and Jennie go to. It is most definitely not fine.

     “I have some stuff to do. You two enjoy yourself.”

     You look at her too, and this time, there’s something different because you wink and grin. “You enjoy yourself too, Jen,” you say with a knowing laugh. “Jungkook’s cute.”

     Jennie blinks and stares at you but you’ve looked away by then and you don’t see the look blank disbelief written all over her face.

     “Jungkook?” Rosé looks confused.

     You smile at her, placing an arm around her shoulder. “He’s a cute boy in our class. I’ll show you later. I’ll see you around, Jen.”

      Jennie suddenly wants to throw up. She also wants to punch things. Instead, all she does is nod, pull her cap down over her face, turn around and leave.

      She hurries home where she rushes up to her room and falls on her bed,and stares at the ceiling blankly.

     I can’t like her. I’m sure I don’t.

     But what’s this then?

     I don’t fucking know.

     You do. Just admit it, already. You’ve known for ages.

      Oh, god. 

      I like her.

     And god, Jennie doesn’t know what to do anymore, because there is no way you’ll take her back now, and she doesn’t know how to confess because you have someone else. Someone, she thinks with a bitter sigh, who’s probably better than her.

     The next day you weren’t by her locker, but she’d expected that. However, you weren’t even with Lisa and Jisoo in homeroom. That’s a first.

     Jennie glances around, obviously searching for someone. “Where is she?” she asks Lisa and Jisoo, her coffee abandoned on her desk.

     The two share a knowing look.

     “She talked to us by the lockers but she never came by,” Jisoo says, lifting a shoulder in a shrug.

     “What?” Jennie runs a hand through her hair. “But she always comes.”

      Lisa shakes her head. “Not today.”

     “It’s in the past, deuk,” Jisoo adds. Then, because she knows Jennie inside out, she smirks and says, “Rosé is a pretty nice girl, isn’t she?”

     Jennie scowls almost immediately, wordlessly sliding into her seat. That’s it. She was not talking to the two of them for the entirety of today.

     The day passes by too slowly for Jennie’s liking, especially double Chemistry.

      Throwing her bag down, she sits beside Jungkook. You and Rosé are already there, flirting your arses off.

     “Careful, Jen,” Jungkook is smiling again. “You’re beginning to look a little jealous.”

     “Shut it, Jeon,” Jennie throws him a warning glance and Jungkook looks away, clearly remembering her punch. He’s still smiling though.

     “Maybe I should go sit by Jin, he won’t annoy me,” Jennie mutters, looking around for free spaces. Jungkook’s words are getting on her nerves, if only because they’re true. 

     “I would advise against it,” Jungkook says, somewhat amused as he tosses his head. “He has horrible dad jokes. And by horrible, I mean great.”

     Jennie eyes him, unimpressed. “You know that makes no sense, right?”

     He lifts a shoulder in a shrug.

     Jennie is too busy shoving him to notice you glancing over at her, a dark look crossing your countenance when you see her laughing with Jungkook. You grit your teeth and look away, and you just miss the way Jennie glances at you out of the corner of her eye, chewing on her bottom lip anxiously.

     Rosé notices, however and when she looks at the two of you again, there is a spark of curiosity dancing in the pits of her eyes.

     “What should I do?”

     Jennie closes her eyes and exhales sharply. Jisoo and Lisa are with her in the ice cream store and the three of them are seated in the corner booth, nicely secluded and hidden from the entrance. Jisoo and Lisa are both enjoying their dessert, both shovelling spoonfuls down their mouths at record speed but Jennie’s beloved milk-flavoured one lies abandoned near the edge of the table, sweating and melting.

    “Go talk to her or something,” Lisa says, too absorbed in her ice cream to really comment on Jennie’s crisis at the the moment.

    “Wow,” Jennie deadpans. “Great advice, Lisa. Thanks, really.”

    “You’re welcome,” the maknae says absentmindedly.

     Jen rolls her eyes. “Jisoo?”

     Jisoo has a water bottle on her shoulder and Jennie rolls her eyes, reaching over to grab it.

     “Hey!”

     “Can we concentrate on my situation here?” Jennie sighs, but an exasperated smile touches her lips. “And anyways, that bottle was going to fall, Jisoo.”

     “It so wasn’t,” Jisoo mutters and takes a sip of her smoothie. “But talking to her sounds good. Just be yourself, and be genuine. Tell her upfront about your feelings, then beg for her to take you back.”

     “Beg? I don’t beg.”

     Lisa raises an eyebrow. “Then just go out with Jungkook.”

     “What? No!”

     Lisa sighs. “Look, that girl chased after you for three months and you did nothing. She gave you time, and you didn’t give her an answer. You even rejected her advances-”

     “I did not.”

     “Let me finish,” Lisa shakes her head. “You said what she was doing was annoying and wanted her to stop. Three months later, she stopped, and now you miss her. What does it look like? That you only want her around for her to keep you company? You need to beg her to take you back if you really want to go out with her. Or show her that you want more than just her free food and her acting like your personal one-sided girlfriend.”

    “Trouble in paradise?”

     The voice is eerily familiar and when Jennie looks up, she sees Jungkook and Taehyung, both sporting identical smirks with identical ice cream cones clutched tightly in their hands.

     “Oh, fuck off,” Jennie shoots them a threatening glare and her mouth opens, ready to take them both down a notch when-

     “Language, Jendeuk,” your voice rings out so suddenly that Jennie starts in her seat, nearly tipping her ice cream off the table. You catch it just in time however, and gently push it safely back onto the table. “Careful. You don’t want to drop your precious milk-flavoured ice cream, do you?”

     You smile at her and only then, does Jennie realise one, you said her nickname and secondly, Rosé is with you.

     Does that mean you no longer like her? That you’re over her?

     “You like milk-flavoured ice cream?”

     Jennie’s gaze lands Rosé and almost instantly, her face begins to morph into a sneer when you interrupt, a hand resting on Jennie’s shoulder. “Yeah,” you look at her and Jennie thinks she sees something like fondness in your eyes. You still look tired; there are eye bags under your eyes but you look better than you had a few days ago and Jennie, almost bitterly, wonders why. “It’s kind of cute,” you finish and your hand slips off her shoulder.

     You’re gone just like that and Jennie is left utterly confused. Lisa and Jisoo just sigh.

     “This was our place,” Jennie hisses lowly at Lisa and Jisoo when you and Rosé, smoothies in hand, finally step out of the store.

     “Was,” Jisoo says, back to balancing the bottle on her shoulder. “Now it’s theirs.”

     Lisa, almost knowingly, adds, “but they make a cute couple, don’t they?”

     “Yeah, right,” Jennie shoves a spoonful of ice cream violently into her mouth.

     The next day, you’re not in their homeroom again and when Jennie asks, Lisa and Jisoo just shrug and say you didn’t come.

    Jennie sees you in Chemistry with Rosé again and this time, when she sits down, Jungkook looks over at her immediately and leans closer to whisper almost conspiringly into her ear, “Okay, so to win your girlfriend back, here’s what you need to do-”

    Jennie shoves him away. “Don’t presume to tell me how to win a girl over,” she says, her face completely blank, utterly indifferent. “I’m pretty sure you haven’t even had a girlfriend yet. Or a boyfriend, for that matter.”

      “Ah, you wound me, Jennie Kim,” Jungkook shakes his head, hiding a smirk.

     “Good.” Jennie rolls her eyes and turns away, trying to block out your laughter.

    In fact, she tries to ignore you throughout the entire Chemistry lesson. She can’t ignore it anymore, however, when Chemistry is over and lunch break is starting. She shoves her books into her bag and hurries out of the classroom, trying not to look at Rosé’s arm around your shoulder. Keep going, keep going.

     The corridor is full of people, all surging out of individual classrooms, pushing and shoving as they each try to reach their destination as soon as possible.

    Jennie swears under her breath and flattens herself against the wall as a group of jocks surge past. God, how she hates-

     What.

     Rosé is smiling at you, your noses almost touching. You’re saying something, your lips curving upwards into that familiar lopsided smirk that Jennie loves so much and something inside her snaps.

     One minute Rosé’s in front of you, the next, she’s gone and in her place is Jennie, her expression burning with an emotion that you can’t quite recognise. There’s a fierceness in her eyes, however, that catches you off guard and your brows knit into a frown.

    “Wait, Jen-” you start.

     But Jennie doesn’t let you finish. Her hands are gripping your shoulder and all of a sudden, she’s shoving you hard against the row of lockers. A grunt slips from your lips as your back connects harshly with the wall, and a scowl is beginning to work its way onto your face. It freezes, however, when Jennie crashes onto you, searing your lips with an assaulting kiss - it’s fiery and quick, possessive and burning and your eyes slip shut, your mouth moving unbidden against hers. Just before you can deepen the kiss, however, Jennie jerks away.

     Your eyes flicker open, catching the satisfied smile on her face just before she turns away to face the gathered crowd.

     “Hello everyone,” Jennie drawls, slinging a possessive arm around your shoulder to pull you closer. You’re too stunned to protest and your body slides against her. “I’d like you to meet my girlfriend, Y/N.”

[valleyofthefae]

MAC MAC MAC ,,, answer all the number ask questions .... I dare ya 👀

i accept ur dare 👀👀😎

1. Who was the last person you held hands with?my little sister probs ? 
2. Are you outgoing or shy?Shy af !!!
3. Who are you looking forward to seeing?my nana tomorrow !
4. Are you easy to get along with?ummm,,,, i feel like im not but idk how others feel about that
5. If you were drunk would the person you like take care of you?hmm,, idk ? 🤔
6. What kind of people are you attracted to?ppl who look like they dont sleep very often (dane dehaan for example), ppl w/ pretty eyes, or interesting personalities tbh (idk what i mean by that, im thinking about Grimes & Billie tbh) 
7. Do you think you’ll be in a relationship two months from now?heck nah 
8. Who from the opposite gender is on your mind?Dane since i mentioned him up there ^
9. Does talking about sex make you uncomfortable?yup
10. Who was the last person you had a deep conversation with?You probably !! 💕
11. What does the most recent text that you sent say?“haha, okayyy 💓💓!!!” to u 👀
12. What are your 5 favorite songs right now?Bellyache by Billie Eilish, Grrrls by AViVa, Pretty Head by Transviolet, The Gunner by MGK, & party favor by billie eilish :) 
13. Do you like it when people play with your hair?mhmm!!
14. Do you believe in luck and miracles?Eh, kinda??? I believe in miracles, luck not so much
15. What good thing happened this summer?idk,, that was 5ever ago 
16. Would you kiss the last person you kissed again?hell no
17. Do you think there is life on other planets?yes !!!
18. Do you still talk to your first crush?nope :) i was too scared to talk to them in general tbh 
19. Do you like bubble baths?i used to !
20. Do you like your neighbors?yeah!! some of them, i live by a lotta old people & theyre really nice !!
21. What are you bad habits?ummm, biting my lips/insides of my cheeks && some other things 
22. Where would you like to travel?Canada, Europe, some places in Asia, & other states !!
23. Do you have trust issues?yeah :/
24. Favorite part of your daily routine?makin tea 
25. What part of your body are you most uncomfortable with?all of them
26. What do you do when you wake up?i look at what time it is 
27. Do you wish your skin was lighter or darker?im actually okay with my skin color now, i used to wish i had lighter skin though 
28. Who are you most comfortable around?you !!
29. Have any of your ex’s told you they regret breaking up?nah
30. Do you ever want to get married?nah
31. If your hair long enough for a pony tail?yup!! :)
32. Which celebrities would you have a threesome with?🙅🏽‍♀️
33. Spell your name with your chin.um,, maheczwi tried :)

34. Do you play sports? What sports?no, i played softball like 6 years ago tho (i hated it)
35. Would you rather live without TV or music?tv !
36. Have you ever liked someone and never told them?yeah!
37. What do you say during awkward silences?i dont know if i say anything ? 
38. Describe your dream girl/guy?someone who isnt a terrible person
39. What are your favorite stores to shop in?Claire’s, FYE, antique places, goodwill
40. What do you want to do after high school?i have no ideaaa
41. Do you believe everyone deserves a second chance?Depends on what they did
42. If your being extremely quiet what does it mean?idk, it can mean a lotta thingsbut tbh, im always quiet so who knowsss 
43. Do you smile at strangers?if they smile at me i do :)
44. Trip to outer space or bottom of the ocean?dang man, idk !!!! is both an option 👀👀
45. What makes you get out of bed in the morning?on school days, my alarm bc i have to climb down a ladderon weekends, having to go to the bathroom does
46. What are you paranoid about?my friends secretly hating me,, and probs other stuff 
47. Have you ever been high?nope :)
48. Have you ever been drunk?nope :)
49. Have you done anything recently that you hope nobody finds out about?no :) 
50. What was the colour of the last hoodie you wore?Black 
51. Ever wished you were someone else?25/9
52. One thing you wish you could change about yourself?The way my brain is wired
53. Favourite makeup brand?Hard candy probs 
54. Favourite store?claire’s
55. Favourite blog?hmmmm, idk i follow a lot !
56. Favourite colour?pastel pink, blue, purple, gray, & white
57. Favourite food? apples
58. Last thing you ate? some chicken marsala thing 
59. First thing you ate this morning?oatmeal
60. Ever won a competition? For what?I dont think so ? 🤔
61. Been suspended/expelled? For what?nope !
62. Been arrested? For what?nope !
63. Ever been in love? nah! 
64. Tell us the story of your first kiss?it was w/ one of my childhood friends & tbh, that’s all i remember 
65. Are you hungry right now?,,
66. Do you like your tumblr friends more than your real friends?i dont have tumblr friends tbh
67. Facebook or Twitter?ummmm, i dont like either 
68. Twitter or Tumblr?tumblr
69. Are you watching tv right now?yup! im watching tom & jerry 😎
70. Names of your bestfriends? youuuu ! 
71. Craving something? What?strawberries tbh 
72. What colour are your towels?umm we got some gray ones & some purple ones !
72. How many pillows do you sleep with?one or none tbh 
73. Do you sleep with stuffed animals?mhmm!!! theyre at the end of my bed (they make there way up to where i am tho) 
74. How many stuffed animals do you think you have?👀👀👀👀👀 15-25 is a good guess,, for the ones on my bedi have a lotta stuffed animals 
75. Favourite animal?fox, bunny, soo many othersss !!!
76. What colour is your underwear?purple
77. Chocolate or Vanilla?vanilla, tbh
78. Favourite ice cream flavour?vanilla
79. What colour shirt are you wearing?a pink & black one :)
80. What colour pants?black 
81. Favourite tv show?Looney Tunes
82. Favourite movie?hmmmm,,,,, idk honestlymy fav recent movie is wonder woman 
83. Mean Girls or Mean Girls 2?ehh, not really a fan of either one !
84. Mean Girls or 21 Jump Street?ive never seen 21 jump street soo idk 
85. Favourite character from Mean Girls?Karen (??? idk, the one played by Amanda Seyfried) 
86. Favourite character from Finding Nemo?the octopus (idk her name), & Gil
87. First person you talked to today?my sister maybe ?? i honestly have no idea
88. Last person you talked to today?my sister 
89. Name a person you hate?😉 we all know who i hate w/ a passion (hint: the name starts with a “n”) 
90. Name a person you love?Alyssa, Billie Eilish (it only calls for one, but i love billie) 
91. Is there anyone you want to punch in the face right now?myself 
92. In a fight with someone?nah
93. How many sweatpants do you have?likeeeee 2 pairs i think 
94. How many sweaters/hoodies do you have?dang idk tbh,, i have a lotta hoodies && at least 5-7 sweaters 
95. Last movie you watched?Bolt 
96. Favourite actress?ahhhh !! i have too many, soooDove Cameron, Angelina Jolie, Elle Fanning, Emily Browning, Gal Gadot, Ástrid Bergés-Frisbey, Hannah Murray, Christina Ricci, Lily-Rose Depp, etc !! 
97. Favourite actor?Dane Dehaan, Cole Sprouse, J D*pp, Freddie Highmore, etc
98. Do you tan a lot?no ?
99. Have any pets?i have a dog named layla && some fish !
100. How are you feeling?not too swell :/
101. Do you type fast?heck yeah man !
102. Do you regret anything from your past?so many things 
103. Can you spell well?i’d like to think so, im not too bad at it :)
104. Do you miss anyone from your past?mhm 
105. Ever been to a bonfire party?nope !
106. Ever broken someone’s heart?idk, honestly
107. Have you ever been on a horse?ive been on a pony, does that count? 
108. What should you be doing?nothing atm !
109. Is something irritating you right now?yeah,, but it’s all good !
110. Have you ever liked someone so much it hurt?no
111. Do you have trust issues?aye (this is up there somewhere too) 
112. Who was the last person you cried in front of?idk honestly
113. What was your childhood nickname?Kenz
114. Have you ever been out of your province/state?mhm!!! ive been to texas, other states going to texas, Washington DC, Mexico (i was hella young), other places bc of my sisters meets, && yeah :) 
115. Do you play the Wii?not anymore 
116. Are you listening to music right now?no, i might tho 
117. Do you like chicken noodle soup?yeah
118. Do you like Chinese food?yeh, some of it 
119. Favourite book?hmmmmmmmmmm, idk !! 
120. Are you afraid of the dark?yes 
121. Are you mean?i can be 
122. Is cheating ever okay?nope
123. Can you keep white shoes clean?ive never owned white shoes !
124. Do you believe in love at first sight?no
125. Do you believe in true love?no
126. Are you currently bored?kinda
127. What makes you happy?um,, seein my bestest buddy, talkin’ to my bestest buddy, seeing cute animals, and listening to music 
128. Would you change your name?yeah, tbh
129. What your zodiac sign?Aquarius :)
130. Do you like subway?no
131. Your bestfriend of the opposite sex likes you, what do you do?Idk,, i wouldnt like em back tho
132. Who’s the last person you had a deep conversation with?this ones up there too !
133. Favourite lyrics right now?“Call me calloused, call me coldYou’re italic, I’m in boldCall me cocky, watch your toneYou better love me, ‘cause you’re just a clone” - COPYCAT by billie 
134. Can you count to one million?gosh i hope so
135. Dumbest lie you ever told?hmm, idk ive told a lotta dumb lies 
136. Do you sleep with your doors open or closed?closed !!!! always!! 
137. How tall are you?5’3”
138. Curly or Straight hair?curly/wavy
139. Brunette or Blonde?brunette 
140. Summer or Winter?winter (even tho i hate winter)
141. Night or Day?Night
142. Favourite month?october
143. Are you a vegetarian?i wish
144. Dark, milk or white chocolate?none,, tbh 
145. Tea or Coffee?tea
146. Was today a good day?nah
147. Mars or Snickers?neither
148. What’s your favourite quote?hmm, idk atm
149. Do you believe in ghosts?yes
150. Get the closest book next to you, open it to page 42, what’s the first line on that page? “Selling their bog recipes and crone aphorisms and schoolboy spells! It makes me sick.”from the Wicked book

[the-pirate-ninja]

ALL THE NUMBERS OuO

— 1. Who was the last person you held hands with?My fiance2. Are you outgoing or shy?Shy by far. Unless my job depends on it 3. Who are you looking forward to seeing?My best friend who has been out of town for a few weeks 4. Are you easy to get along with?I can be 5. If you were drunk would the person you like take care of you? Absolutely6. What kind of people are you attracted to?Many a people, mostly just those who share my interests7. Do you think you’ll be in a relationship two months from now?Yes I do8. Who from the opposite gender is on your mind?My best friend9. Does talking about sex make you uncomfortable?No not in the slightest10. Who was the last person you had a deep conversation with?My fiance11. What does the most recent text that you sent say?"Just did"12. What are your 5 favorite songs right now?Handclap by Fitz and the TantrumsCold by Maroon 5Other than that I just listen to music13. Do you like it when people play with your hair?Y E S 14. Do you believe in luck and miracles?I do yes15. What good thing happened this summer?I got engaged16. Would you kiss the last person you kissed again?Of course 17. Do you think there is life on other planets?What proof do we have against it? 18. Do you still talk to your first crush?No I don't19. Do you like bubble baths?Those are my shit20. Do you like your neighbors?Don't even know any of them. But the one I know I like21. What are you bad habits?Fingernail biting and lip biting22. Where would you like to travel?Japan and some parts of Europe23. Do you have trust issues?Yes I do. But who doesn't24. Favorite part of your daily routine?Waking up to my fiance every morning25. What part of your body are you most uncomfortable with?Funny joke, the answer is all of it26. What do you do when you wake up?Look to my right smile27. Do you wish your skin was lighter or darker?Darker tbh28. Who are you most comfortable around?My closest friends. 29. Have any of your ex’s told you they regret breaking up?Nope not as of yet 30. Do you ever want to get married?Yes, I am engaged after all31. If your hair long enough for a pony tail?Yes it is 32. Which celebrities would you have a threesome with?Anyone that Ryan Reynolds or Adam Levine told me to33. Spell your name with your chin.Fibutbkn (Robyn)34. Do you play sports? What sports?Nope, unless gaming is one35. Would you rather live without TV or music?TV 36. Have you ever liked someone and never told them?I have yes37. What do you say during awkward silences?Nothing. I don't break that shit38. Describe your dream girl/guy?My fiance. Nothing more or less 39. What are your favorite stores to shop in?Macy's and GameStop 40. What do you want to do after high school?Get a perfect job out of the gate41. Do you believe everyone deserves a second chance?I do42. If your being extremely quiet what does it mean?I am thinking about everything43. Do you smile at strangers?I do, since I'm awkward 44. Trip to outer space or bottom of the ocean?Bottom of the ocean45. What makes you get out of bed in the morning?The 4 cats we live with for breakfast46. What are you paranoid about?Everything47. Have you ever been high?Many a time48. Have you ever been drunk?Many a time before49. Have you done anything recently that you hope nobody finds out about?Not really. Most things I'm open with it people ask50. What was the colour of the last hoodie you wore? Black51. Ever wished you were someone else?All the time52. One thing you wish you could change about yourself?My physical gender53. Favourite makeup brand?Elf54. Favourite store?Old game stores55. Favourite blog?Mine obvs56. Favourite colour?Pink 57. Favourite food? Sushi58. Last thing you ate?Bagel59. First thing you ate this morning?Bagel60. Ever won a competition? For what?Yes, a sm4sh tournament 61. Been suspended/expelled? For what?Nope62. Been arrested? For what?Nope63. Ever been in love?Am currently64. Tell us the story of your first kiss?Kinda spur of the moment thing. Nothing to special65. Are you hungry right now?Always and yet never66. Do you like your tumblr friends more than your real friends?Some yes67. Facebook or Twitter?Facebook68. Twitter or Tumblr?Tumblr69. Are you watching tv right now?Nope70. Names of your bestfriends? Logan and Lily71. Craving something? What?Yes, mineral 😆72. What colour are your towels?Various72. How many pillows do you sleep with?I sleep with one but there are 4 on our bed73. Do you sleep with stuffed animals?Of course74. How many stuffed animals do you think you have?Way too many to count75. Favourite animal?Tarantula 76. What colour is your underwear?Black77. Chocolate or Vanilla?Vanilla78. Favourite ice cream flavour?Caramel anything79. What colour shirt are you wearing?Red and grey 80. What colour pants?Dark blue 81. Favourite tv show?Rick and Morty right now82. Favourite movie?Pacific Rim83. Mean Girls or Mean Girls 2?Mean Girls84. Mean Girls or 21 Jump Street?Mean Girls85. Favourite character from Mean Girls?Mrs. George86. Favourite character from Finding Nemo?Dory87. First person you talked to today?My fiance88. Last person you talked to today? Their younger sister89. Name a person you hateMy ex, Holli90. Name a person you love?My mother91. Is there anyone you want to punch in the face right now?My ex, Holli92. In a fight with someone?Nope93. How many sweatpants do you have?1 pair unless you count leggings, then 294. How many sweaters/hoodies do you have?So many 95. Last movie you watched?Alien: Resurrection96. Favourite actress?Rinko Kikuchi97. Favourite actor?Ryan Reynolds98. Do you tan a lot?Not really. I'm either mayonnaise white or lobster red99. Have any pets?Yes 4 cats 100. How are you feeling?Meh101. Do you type fast?Ridiculously for only using 2 or 4 fingers102. Do you regret anything from your past?Oh God yes103. Can you spell well?N u I D u n k n o w a t u t a k b o u t104. Do you miss anyone from your past?A few people105. Ever been to a bonfire party?Yep106. Ever broken someone’s heart?Not that I know of107. Have you ever been on a horse?Yes108. What should you be doing?Not sure109. Is something irritating you right now?Not really110. Have you ever liked someone so much it hurt?Yeah111. Do you have trust issues?I do yes112. Who was the last person you cried in front of?My fiance113. What was your childhood nickname?Jibbles and now Bug114. Have you ever been out of your province/state?Yep115. Do you play the Wii?A shit ton116. Are you listening to music right now?Nope117. Do you like chicken noodle soup?Yes118. Do you like Chinese food?Yes119. Favourite book?Lost World120. Are you afraid of the dark?Kinda121. Are you mean?Can be122. Is cheating ever okay?Not on your partner123. Can you keep white shoes clean?Yes124. Do you believe in love at first sight?Yes125. Do you believe in true love?Yes126. Are you currently bored?Nope127. What makes you happy?Waking up with my fiance and giving them shit because they don't know they're gifts that I gives hints to. 128. Would you change your name?From my legal name yes129. What your zodiac sign?Capricorn130. Do you like subway?I do yes131. Your bestfriend of the opposite sex likes you, what do you do?Ask why132. Who’s the last person you had a deep conversation with?My fiance133. Favourite lyrics right now?Don't ever let life kill your spark134. Can you count to one million?Yes, but it will take me a while135. Dumbest lie you ever told?I didn't dent the wall136. Do you sleep with your doors open or closed?Open. Cats like to wander137. How tall are you?6'4"138. Curly or Straight hair?For me straight139. Brunette or Blonde?Blonde140. Summer or Winter?Winter141. Night or Day?Night142. Favourite month?January143. Are you a vegetarian?Hell no144. Dark, milk or white chocolate?White chocolate145. Tea or Coffee?Both honestly146. Was today a good day?So far yep147. Mars or Snickers?Snickers148. What’s your favourite quote?Fall down 7 times, get up 8149. Do you believe in ghosts?I do150. Get the closest book next to you, open it to page 42, what’s the first line on that page? "...be accompanied by our trained local staff in a fully air conditioned coach. It's a very well-organized trip." It's from Cosmic by Frank Cottrell Boyce

[toretandtasse]

Magosteen and Quince.

As a girl who grew up in a tropical country, there are many kinds of fruits that just grow up in the backyard of our house. That's why this blog is somewhat difficult for me because the fruits that are considered rare and can only find from other country are the fruits that usually grows in the Philippines or fruits that I already ate.

Identify the market you explored, and the reasons why you went there.

- I went to a Chinese store, hoping to find a fruit that I haven’t eaten before but came home disappointed, the Chinese store offer fruits that I already ate and some fruits that are available here in Canada such as apple, banana and oranges. The next place that I visited is Fortinos, where my family usually buy our groceries, I was thinking that maybe I can find fruits that grew here in Canada that I haven’t tried before or fruits that came from other countries, and there I found 2 fruits that I haven’t tried before, Mangosteen and Quince.

(This picture was taken way back 2018. The reason, I Didn't I realize I need to take a picture of the market where I bought the fruits.)

Explain your choice, why you made it and how you went about selecting your fruit.

Looking at the fruit selection, you can see that the section have tons of apple, grapes and different kind of citrus fruits. As I keep looking, I found the Quince first and almost taught it was a pear until I read the name which I am not familiar with. I also saw the mangosteen at the far corner. The reason why I bought mangosteen is, there are many stores in the Philippines where they sell Mangosteen but because it is really expensive, I never tried it before. So I am really curious, is the price really worth it? 

A brief summary of the history, geographical location(s), botanical family, market pricing and seasonality.

Mangosteen is known as the “queen of fruits” is a tropical evergreen tree, they are common in the rainforest areas of Malaysia, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, and Indonesia. The ideal temperature range for growing and producing fruits is 25–35 °C (77–95 °F)[13] with a relative humidity over 80%. Mangosteen’s tree can take a decade to start fruiting, the fruit can’t withstand any cold temperatures, and even then, its yield is uncertain. Mangosteens are non-climacteric ripeners, meaning that after they’re picked, they never ripen further. That leaves the easily bruised fruit beginning to degrade the moment it leaves the field. European explorers found the fragile mangosteen plant to be difficult to transport. While determined traders were able to present them to England in 1789, they weren’t successfully cultivated for another 50 years.

Quince, (Cydonia oblonga), a small tree or shrub of the rose family (Rosaceae), grown for its edible fruit. Quince is the only member of the genus Cydonia and is native to Iran, Turkey, and possibly Greece and the Crimean Peninsula. The cultivation of quince started 4.000 years ago in Asia and Mediterranean region. Quince thrives both in temperate and semi-tropical areas, but it produces the fruit of best quality in warmer areas. The fruit has a strong aroma and is astringent in the raw state but makes an excellent preserve and is often used to give flavour and sharpness to stewed or baked apples. The flesh takes on a pink colour when cooked, giving an attractive colour to jellies and conserves.

Perform a sensory evaluation (SEE WEEK 3)

Mangosteen has a very pleasing color a very dark purple that resembles star apple or what we call “Caimito” in the Philippines. It was a fruit that we usually eat when we were still young. When looking at the bottom part, there is a flower like thing which I am love because it looks cute. While opening it with my knife, I notice that it has a very thick skin and rubbery. Inside, there are white cotton segments that are very similar to cotton fruit.

- It has a very sweet taste, juicy and soft. I really like how it just melts on your mouth and the sweet taste will spread on every corner of your mouth. The texture is really soft and you don’t even need to bite it. The taste of mangosteen resembles a ripe cotton fruit which I feel very happy because I also miss eating cotton fruit.

Quince have a greenish-yellow color. The shape looks like a pear or guava. When I peel the fruit, I notice that It have a very bad odour, similar to a boiled egg or the smell of a fart. When I tried cutting it in half, It was really hard and feels like there is a big seed inside, but turned out it doesn’t have. The texture resembles a pear or guava, slightly rough to the touch, and when I left it for a couple of minutes, the fruit turned brown just like an apple.

- Because of the smell, I am not really excited to eat the fruit. The fruit doesn’t have a lingering taste of how the quince smell. It tastes like a sour apple with a hint of slight sweetness. The texture is like guava or a very old apple, it is chewy and it made my mouth feel dry.

Discuss: if you were to cook this fruit, what cooking method would you use? Support your answer and provide a recipe.

- If I ever choose between the two, which I really wanted to cook, it will be the mangosteen. I feel like, you can make a jam with both fruits, but I wanted to try making Ice cream with mangosteen.

Recipe

1/2 Kilo of Mangosteen

1/4 cup coconut milk

1 L Whipping cream

1/4 cup honey

2 pcs lemon zest

Method

Cut open the mangosteen and scrap the flesh out of the seeds.

Boil coconut milk, mangosteen and honey together. Set aside to cool.

Blend the mixture on a blender for a smooth consistency.

Mix the mangosteen mixture with the whipping cream and lemon zest and mix it using a stand mixer.

When smooth, place on a container and freeze for 3 hours.

Reflect on what you learned from this experience.

Reflect on what you learned from this experience.

- Whether it is buying food, vegetable or fruit, I always pick foods that are very similar to my comfort food or food that I am already familiar with. I always tend to ignore others which I never tried before.

As a student who is dreaming to become a successful chef someday, foods plays the biggest role on my job. My mother always tell me that as a culinary student, I need to try new things so that in the future, I know what a certain food taste like.

Doing this blog, I came to realize that there are a lot more food that I haven’t tried before and because Im still young, I still have the chance to try it and expand my knowledge about the wonders of different cuisine and fruit that every country may offer.

Reference

Wikipedia. Mangosteen. Retrieve from https://en.wikipedia.org

Food Facts. October 28, 2016. What Are Mangosteens Good For? Retrieve from https://foodfacts.mercola.com/

Softchools.com. Quince Facts. Retrieve from http://www.softschools.com/

Melissa Petruzzello, Assistant Editor. Quince. Retrieve from https://www.britannica.com/