#favorite savory pancakes

[twiceastasty]

Gluten-Free Scallion Pancakes

Savory pancakes can be eaten any time of day and make a delicious light summer meal that features seasonal veggies—in and on them. Learn to make Gluten-Free Scallion Pancakes.

If you think of pancakes as sweet breakfast treats, think again. Savory pancakes can be eaten any time of day and make a delicious light summer meal that features seasonal veggies—in and on them. This week, in my Twice as Tasty column for the Flathead Beacon, I share one of the first variations I make each summer. It’s easy to make, delicious, and—bonus—gluten-free, dairy-free, and vegan. You can…

[icewindandboringhorror]

What would you choose? :0c

(note: original image is from HERE (link) - but I edited it to add a wider variety of options.. also added $3 extra to the total, even though I know that makes it more uneven lol, I thought if you're adding 10 whole extra items, the money to spend should at least be increased slightly, if that makes sense..)

[zhongrin]

wish i had actual potatoes so i can make baked potatoes instead but eh 🤷🏻‍♀️ anyway GO EAT YOUR BREAKFAST/LUNCH/DINNER/SNACK! don't forget to hydrate and stretch too!! you are precious and i hope you take care of yourself ᰔᩚ

[cloudwisp]

✮ sylus x fem!reader

contents: fluff and sweetness. pre-relationship. more than friends but less than lovers trope. many shared little moments with sylus that make it special 🤍

⭒ It becomes second nature for Sylus to carry your purse on his shoulder when you both have an outing and he follows you around like an obedient puppy as you shop from one clothing rack to another. Sometimes he gets distracted on his phone whilst glancing up at you every now and then that he doesn’t realize you both are in the men’s section. A rather adorable pondering expression on your face as you hold a shirt up to his chest. “I think this would suit you nicely.” No second opinion is needed and he collects the item from you for purchasing because if you say so then he believes it.

⭒ When Sylus somehow finds himself a passenger because maybe you wanted to test drive his car that easily has 1600hp—he’s thoroughly amused as you feel out the dynamics of the vehicle. More so when you accidentally step on the brakes a little too hard, as you are unfamiliar with the sensitivity of the pedals. In a show of panic, you throw your arm across his chest to brace for the sudden jolt which earns you a teasing remark followed by a playful quip back at him. However, there’s a subtle smile on his lips as you continue down the road because your first instinct is to save him.

⭒ You and Sylus have a casual routine with Friday nights being reserved for the both of you. When you’d normally grab takeout during the busy working week, you opt for a simple home-cooked meal to unwind and enjoy a leisurely evening. Before you can even register the force of habit, you’re pulling out two plates to set the table and like clockwork Sylus appears at your apartment door. A little bag of your favorite pastries to finish off the meal with something sweet because he learned you couldn’t go without it. Funny how he knows these things about you, and how you knew to grab his favorite cheese pancakes on the way home for appetizers.

⭒ The crow twins deliver you something on behalf of Sylus and he receives a little treat from you every other time this happens. You’d pack a small box of savory/sweet baked goods that you made earlier in the day to return his thoughtful gesture. However, at your words Luke and Kieran assumed a surprise wouldn’t be missed if their boss doesn’t know about it. Fast forward to those two apologetic boys surrounded by a swirling red and kneeling before their boss under his menacing stare because those cream puffs should've been handed to him directly. After hearing about this, you made certain to pack enough for the three of them next time.

⭒ Napping at someone else’s home other than your own feels like uncharted territory because sleeping anywhere but your warm and familiar bed places you in a vulnerable position. Even though Sylus has given you permission to make yourself comfortable at his estate several times, the safest place you feel is beside him with your head lulling against his shoulder when you’re running on a few hours of sleep. He’s the picture of comfort with a fleeting kiss to your head and draping his coat over you, and he may even find his cheek pressed against you to catch some shut-eye himself.

⭒ There’s something to be said about Sylus being led by you—he secretly loves surrendering himself to your every whim and that includes you tugging him by the hand and steering him toward the direction of cute ducklings paddle their way into the waters with a splash. Your elated reaction and innocent sparkle is all very endearing to him and he takes a moment to savor it before shifting his gaze to the small animals. “Now, aren’t you glad we decided to have this stroll after all?” You offer him your response and his heart warms when he realizes that you still haven’t let go of his hand.

[forsworned]

I just got a great idea. Imagine the teenage dirt bag trend with 141, where reader is chill and laid back, and as 141 and reader are in the break room, gaz or soap ask reader about her life before the military and she just goes to her office to get some photos of her and her friends in their teens, smoking weed and in some she has some sick piercings and a skater, or maybe even a motorcycle. I don't even know. I'm just rambling. You can write it if you want but if you don't want to then feel free to ignore me 🫶🏼🙆🏻‍♀️

author's note: and a great idea you have indeed :) i gotchuuu and im so sorry this took me forever to get to

tags: poly 141 antics, cheeky banter, and a lil flirting with the boys ;)

Breakfast is a fan favorite amongst the 141, especially when it involves the sweet and savory aroma of coffee, pancakes, eggs, and your famous potato hash—a dish that's practically a cult fave within the team. As you settle in your seat between Johnny and Kyle with your coffee mug in your hand, the group is chatting about their former glory days before they joined the military.

Johnny nudges you with a playful smirk, still noshing on a piece of toast. "So, hen, ye look like ye had a bit of a wild streak back in the day, aye? Bet ye were a right wee devil." His tone is teasing, laced with curiosity as his cerulean gaze lingers on you.

You roll your eyes at him, but before you can respond, Kyle chimes in, his tone equally teasing, "Yeah, you look like the type who got up to all sorts of dodgy stuff. Proper troublemaker, I reckon. C'mon love, spill the beans." He nudges with a grin.

Price looks over his newspaper at double trouble across the table, before turning the page, causing you to chuckle. "Well," you fish out your phone from your pocket and everyone leans forward in their seats as you scroll through your camera roll. You stop at an album and tap on it before rotating the screen to face them and they can't help the excited noises that leave their mouths.

"No way!" Johnny exclaims, his grin widens as he spots a photo of you leaning against a cherry red muscle car. "Is that a 1967 Chevrolet Camaro!?" Kyle chirps, taking your phone from you and you laugh at their reactions. That gets Price's attention and he leans over to get a gander of the rebellious glint in your eye and the streaks of red fashioned into your hair.

"Christ," He beams down at the photo and then up at you. "looks like you were quite the rebel, eh? No wonder these two pillocks won't stop botherin' ya."

Kyle lets out a whistle as he swipes to the next photo, showcasing you with a cigarette hanging between your lips, clad in a skimpy bikini, leaning against your palms on a beach on a sunlit beach with the sunset casting a tangerine glow. "Cheeky."

Johnny's eyes ream at the photo, taking you in your exposed form. "Aye, look at ye!" His cheeks flush as he tilts his head, peeking up at you. "I gotta give it ya, lassie, yer quite the stunner."

"And still are." Price adds, raising his eyebrows at you. You fluster at his kind words, tucking a strand of hair behind your ear.

"Thank you,"

"Oi! Look at this one!" Johnny points to the screen again, having a good laugh. You lean into Kyle and giggle at the photo. Grin as wide as your face with an alligator's jaw clamped shut between your hands. "That cannot be real!"

"It's really not as wild as it looks. I was on vacation in Florida, and a local wildlife park had this little show where they let you hold and pose with a baby alligator. They made sure everything was safe and supervised. Super fun."

Price cocks an amused brow at you, sipping his coffee. "Baby alligator, eh? You're quite the thrill seeker."

"Yeahhh, not much has changed." Kyle ribs and the others laugh. It's true though. You were actively pursuing that adrenaline rush, so it didn't come as much of a surprise to them, especially not Simon.

As the laughter dies down, Simon, who was quietly enjoying his tea and observing the situation unfold finally speaks up, "You lot are gettin' too chuffed over this, but I gotta admit..." He leans back, his dark eyes fixate on you and you can't help but take notice of how his mask is scrunched up under his nose, revealing the pale pink of his lips. "Never quite pegged you for a lil rascal. Bet you gave your folks a right headache."

He prods the phone out of Johnny's hand and takes a look at the other photos they were scrolling through and softly snorting at what looks like an image of you on stage, strumming at a guitar and singing your heart out. "But I reckon that's what makes you fit in so will with these bunch of nutters." His lips quirk into a faint smile as he hands you back your phone and goes back to munching on his eggs. "Ain't it always the quiet ones you gotta watch out for?"

Your cheeks blossom with warmth at his comment and the cute little smile that adorns his handsome face. "Well, I didn't think I was all that quiet." You poke your tongue in your cheek, gently prying the phone out of his hands.

His finger seems to biff at your screen as it clatters out of your grasp because his onyx eyes widen at the photo. Skin exposed, revealing the ink that embellishes your lower left hip in delicate, intricate patterns as you're posing sexy for the camera. Your heart plunges to your ass at the realization of it not being in your hidden album.

"Oh—that's, uhhh" You stammer swiftly, locking your phone and shoving it back into your pocket. Your tongue swipes at your lips as you avert your gaze, but Simon takes note of how you nervously twiddle with the spoon as it clatters against the walls of your mug.

Simon's eyes linger on you for a moment longer before he returns to his tea, "well, well, well..."

The rest of the team is still buzzing with the excitement of your heydays as they detect the slight change in atmosphere.

"Oi, what's all of this about, then?" Johnny asks with a mouth full of food. "Give us the scoop!"

But the Scotsman is getting scolded by Price and Kyle for not keeping his mouth shut while he eats. A sheepish smile adorns his lips, rubbing the back of his neck as he apologizes. Simon chuckles, and shakes his head, "Nothin' worth spillin', Johnny. Just a bit of a laugh."

Of course that earns some groans from them, but you can't help but bite your bottom lip and grin when Simon gives you a knowing look. Some secrets are best kept between friends.

masterlist

[4suke]

hopeless.

kuroo tetsurou x reader oneshot, fluff, friends to lovers. crossposted on ao3 as higashikatas.

You’ve always said Kuroo Tetsurou has the look of a man who’d be hopeless in the kitchen and it’s always been a hit when you say so. 

The first time, sandwiched between Akaashi and Kenma in the booth of the new okonomiyaki restaurant, as you watched Yaku yell at Tetsurou over having burnt the savory pancake again. Akaashi had burst into silent, shaking laughter, and Kenma had snorted loudly into the back of his hand. Bokuto, after noticing the amusement on the other side of the table, had demanded to be let in on the fun; you’d repeated yourself, and he had agreed as well, loudly hooting with amusement. Tetsurou had sighed and rolled his eyes, before telling you you’d eat those words one day. You remember raising an eyebrow at that and dissolving into laughter after Kenma murmured that words might still be the only Kuroo could ever make someone eat. 

The next time you say so is when you see the homemade chocolate-covered strawberries Tetsurou brings you the first time he asks you out. 

They’re objectively the ugliest-looking ones you’ve ever seen. The chocolate is lumpy, and there are bald patches all over where it apparently did not stick to the fruit. In addition, they’ve also somehow frozen unevenly; half the fruit is mushy to the touch and the other half is rock solid. Your heart still fills with warmth at the sight and you throw your arms around his neck, giddy with joy that your first love feels the same way as you. And as off-putting as the strawberries do look, they taste perfect. You eat every single one (despite your little brothers’ best efforts to swipe a couple) and you swear no fruit has ever tasted better.

Two years later, you and Tetsurou are baking a cake to celebrate your favorite teacher’s retirement. He’s excited, bouncing up and down on the balls of his feet, all dressed up in one of your mother’s pink aprons. You’re wearing a matching green one and carefully line up the wet and dry ingredients in two neat rows. Sift the flour and cocoa powder, you instruct, and devote your concentration to breaking the eggs and beating in the melted butter and vanilla essence. 

A clang. The empty metal mixing bowl rolls doleful circles on the kitchen floor and your boyfriend gives you a sheepish smile. 

You almost lose your balance with laughter, before giving him a damp rag to wipe the cocoa-powder-flour-mixture off his face and arms. Hopeless in the kitchen indeed, you tease, and he throws the rag at you. 

Fast-forward a year and a half later, to after high school graduation. You, Kuroo, Yaku and Kai are back in your usual booth at the same okonomiyaki restaurant, which had quickly risen to the Nekoma team’s top three after-practice dinner spot. Four diplomas are piled haphazardly on Yaku and Kai’s side of the booth and everyone agrees not to let Tetsurou touch the hot plate. None of you want to spring for another, even with all the money you’ve each gotten for graduation presents. Tetsurou pretends to sulk for a few minutes, but gives in after you laugh and force the corners of his mouth upward to form a smile with your fingers. He even laughs when Yaku asks if there was any flame other than a Bunsen burner Kuroo had ever not caused chaos over. 

Two years later, you and Tetsurou are poring over the tiny newspaper print, looking for affordable studio apartments. He’s halfway through his dual-major course of study (sports science and marketing) and you are about to begin the specialized half of your medical degree. He complains that everything with a kitchen is ten times more expensive than everything without, and you remind your boyfriend that humans require food to survive. You’re both too busy to be cooking all three meals, Tetsurou argues back. You’re both too broke to do anything otherwise, you rebut, and he caves. He does crack a joke about how he might blow the building up if he spends too long around the stove, though, when you two finally sign a lease. 

The fifth year of medical school marks the beginning of a string of long, unpaid intern hours. You stagger into the apartment every night too tired to even think about spending another extra hour standing in the kitchen. Tetsurou spends each night massaging your feet as you chew through lunch leftovers. The both of you daydream of the comforts of home-cooked food and vow to never take your mother and grandmother respectively for granted again. 

Tetsurou lands his job at the Japan Volleyball Association almost immediately after his graduation. You’re so proud of him you could burst, you tell him as you pepper kisses all over his face, and scream as he grins and tells you that his hiring bonus is just large enough to pay for three months’ worth of rent at a two-bedroom apartment in a significantly prettier part of Tokyo.

You’ll miss your little studio and the memories crammed into every inch as tightly as the furniture, but your heart swells against your ribs as Tetsurou pulls you through the new apartment. The new apartment is everything you could’ve dreamed of sharing with him, you say, and he kisses the top of your head. 

Now that Tetsurou is a self-declared corporate man, his hours end before yours every night- not that that means he isn’t being run ragged as well, but just that he can report unfair work conditions and you cannot. The two of you begin new traditions; he greets you with a warm bath every night and washes your back while you close your eyes and mumble the ways you wish you could make your supervisor suffer. He dutifully helps you plot revenge, wraps you in a fuzzy bathrobe, and feeds you dinner on the couch, while hushing your apologies about not having contributed anything to the household that day. You do your best to swallow the feeling of guilt and let yourself be taken care of. 

The first time Tetsurou greets you with a fresh non-takeout-meal is after a particularly horrid practical exam. You barely make it home, vision blurred with unshed tears and your supervisor’s shouted criticism still ringing in your ears five hours later. You sit quietly through the bath and if Tetsurou senses that something is wrong, he says nothing and kisses your shoulder extra tenderly. When you are finally propped up on the couch in all your fluffy glory, he tells you that he’s done something slightly different for dinner today. It’s something he’s never done before, he says nervously, and asks you not to hold back any criticism. 

You sit up a little straighter after the first spoon of soup hits your tongue. Tetsurou swallows, asking if it seems alright. You nod slowly, asking him where he bought it from. It’s some of the best soup you’ve had in years; flavors unfamiliar but still achingly comforting. When he shyly tells you that he’d actually made the soup himself, the tears finally spill. 

Unlike five hours ago, they are happy ones. 

Emboldened from the soup success, Tetsurou’s homemade dinners slowly become a new tradition in the apartment. Attempting to guess what the experiment of the day will be purely from the smell greeting you turns into your new favorite game. On free weekends, you meal prep for the rest of the week with him, settling into a blissful kitchen harmony. Sometimes, he even has a thing or two to teach you.

You graduate with your medical degree a year and a half later. Tetsurou cries as you step into your white coat on the stage and shake hands with your dean, and firmly denies it later. One of your brothers has it on camera, though, and you secretly text him to send it to you later. 

After the noisy celebratory dinner with the rest of your family, the apartment is just the perfect level of peaceful. You perch on a kitchen stool, chattering lightly about how relieved you feel about finally being out from under your supervisor’s traumatizing thumb, while Tetsurou plates two small slices of chocolate cake. This, he explains while pushing a fork to you, is the closest he’s ever come to an original recipe. 

As with all of Tetsurou’s cooking, the flavors are simple and strong. They remind you much of the man himself, you think, and tell him that it really is the best chocolate cake you’ve ever had. He beams at you, having already inhaled his own portion. 

Then your fork strikes against something buried in the slice. 

Your heart swells against your ribs again when you manage to carefully dig up the ring. It’s beautiful, you tell Tetsurou, who is already knelt in position. You see the tears from the graduation ceremony reappearing at the corners of his eyes, and you feel like you might reciprocate that in a few minutes.

Your high school self was still half correct about Tetsurou all those years ago. Hopeless in the kitchen? More like a hopeless romantic. 

[chris-prank]

I usually never write asks but I NEED more of esteban. I just binged all of your posts about him and I am obsessed.

Knowing that you took the time to write an ask because you like Esteban this much make me feel so honored 😭 ❤️

I am sorry that it took me so much time to answer 🙏🏻 it’s harder for me to come up with stuff without a prompt (and all the things about Esteban in my drafts are not completed 😔)

Yandere CEO x GN reader

･*:.｡..｡.:*･*:.｡..｡.:*･

You walked into the kitchen while rubbing your eyes, having been drawn by tasty smells. The first thing that caught your attention was Esteban diligently washing the dishes, his apron discarded on the counter. Hearing your little “Good morning”, he turned to you with a radiant smile.

“Good morning! I didn’t know what you preferred, so I made a bit of everything!”

That’s when your gaze finally fell onto the table. It was in fact covered with every possible breakfast staple; scrambled eggs, pancakes, crepes, sausages, fruits, rice, etc. Esteban looked at you intently, clearly waiting for you to sit down and take a bite.

“It’s really nice of you Esteban, like I really appreciate all the effort you put into this… but don’t you think it’s a bit too much food?”

“Oh! Don’t worry, I won’t throw away what you don’t eat. I’ll eat it or freeze it for later.”

That was… a weirdly normal and logical thing for him to say, was your immediate thought. You didn’t want to question him further, hearing your stomach growl, so you sat down and so did he. Resting his chin on both of his fists, he gave you a loving grin. You picked out your favorite dish out of all of them and took a bite. Your eyes dilated and you quickly plunged your ustensiles back into the food, it was so savory! You were convinced it could even be worthy of a five star restaurant. Esteban’s smile widened more as he witnessed your, not so subtle, reaction.

“You seem to like it.~”

“Like it?! I looooove it!” You answered, your mouth filled to the brim.

“Then don’t ever eat anyone else’s cooking, just mine from now on, ok?” He extended his hand to caress yours, his tone sickeningly sweet despite the deranged words he just said.

Anyone else would just pass this as a joke, but knowing him and seeing the flash across his eyes you knew he was dead serious.

･*:.｡..｡.:*･*:.｡..｡.:*･

The more you spend time with Esteban the more he will feel too comfortable showing his unhinged side. 💀

[dragonanon]

You can escape the pile by explaining to the larvae that you can’t make waffles for them if you’re stuck in bed.

This is absolutely unacceptable to the larvae. Inka is now hissing and biting Emmet while Emma demands they both get up because she wants waffles. Erin is crying mostly because his sisters are upset, but he wants waffles too.

Trying to remove yourself from the Slither Wing pile results in much whining and clinging until you just give in and sleep some more. Imgo chirps happily while Emmet presses you into his fluff with a coo.

[raven-at-the-writing-desk]

twst food culture part ii

This is a supplementary post to continue off of this larger TWST food culture compilation post (as that one is getting super long as is).

Shaftlands

Macarons are one of the Shaftlands' signature sweets. Cream and raspberry, as well as lychee, are the popular flavors at the moment.

Macarons can be frozen so recipients can eat them fresh.

There are people who collect the stylish boxes that macarons come in.

According to Vil, mixing flavored syrups with carbonated liquids is common in the Shaftlands.

Stewed foods are the Shaftlands' specialty. This is because there are many stories about the Fairest Queen preparing many foods in a pot.

Apples are the most popular fruit in the Shaftlands. They are used for drinks, desserts, jams, and even savory meal items.

The Shaftlands favor flavored teas

Fairest City

There are few food stands in Fairest City. This is because eating on the streets is seen as bad manners.

There is a strong cafe culture.

Fairest City is famous for its cuisine and sweets. Their sweets in particular are well developed due to the city's cafe culture.

Sweets with a pleasant appearance are popular. The most famous of patisseries make sweets which are like pieces of art.

Some sweets featured in famous patisseries include tarts, chocolate, mousse, macarons, brioche, roll cakes, financiers, mille-feuilles, and cakes shaped like apples with apple sauce inside, caramel apples, etc.

A specialty of Fairest City is "cream puff rings", which are cream puffs in ring shapes. They are meant to resemble wheels on rail cars, since Fairest City is located near mines. It is said that the cream puff rings (which is filled with a thick, high-calorie cream) were originally given to hard-working miners to restore their energy.

Luxury stores may offer amenities in addition to providing their services or helping customers shop. For example, staff may offer VIP clients drinks or chocolates.

Fairest City’s hotels have swanky restaurants built into them for guests to dine in. The fanciest of eating establishments are five star restaurants that have full sets of cutlery and napkins which you unfold and place in your lap.

Fancy dining establishments offer food à la carte (ordered by the plate) and prix fixe style (picking your courses from a predetermined selection).

There is a drink called “Diabolo Menthe” served in Fairest City. It is a spearmint flavored syrup mixed with a slightly carbonated liquid. Very refreshing! (This is most likely a reference to the potion that the Evil Queen drinks to transform into an old woman.)

Eric Venue, Vil’s famous movie star father, uses a five-star restaurant to cater buffets for his movie shoots for every 6 hours of work. They also have snacks and drinks on demand (“craft services”), which includes coffee, milk, tea, juice, chocolate, fruits, and pancakes and waffles. Lots of light foods!

Many dishes at high-class eateries are French. For example, hors d’oeuvres might include escargot (snails), foie gras de canard (duck foie gras), and terrine a la campagne (country-style terrine). Courses are also named in French (viande and poisson courses, etc.).

Some dishes served include boeuf bourguignon (a beef and red wine stew) filet mignon de porc aux pruneaux (a pork filet with dried plum; it is made with pig heart, bouillon, and sauce), and flounder poêlé (flounder with an herb sauce). The beef bourguignon is a favorite dish in the five-star hotel restaurant that caters for Eric Venue.

Pork, especially the heart, is prized meat in Fairest City. Many of its dishes are pork-based. There is a story about how the Fairest Queen needed a heart for one of her potions and had her huntsman hunt as a tribute to her; the filet mignon de porc aux pruneaux dish was born from this legend.

The restaurant that caters for Eric Venue has a specialty dessert called tart fine pomme. It is a thin tart with slices apples. The restaurant uses the highest quality of apples (from Harveston), which are grown in a special soil, for their dishes and drinks.

Sage's Island

Night Raven College

The Mystery Shop sells certain limited breads.

The school cafeteria serves pies so delicious that they impress even students that hail from the Queendom of Roses. This is because one of the ghost chefs studied abroad in the Queendom.

Heartslabyul (cont. from part i)

Unbirthday parties can include meat pies, egg tarts, tarts, icing cookies, washed down with milk tea.

They also serve a drink that seems to be a reference to the Drink Me beverage in Alice in Wonderland. It changes flavor with every sip!

It is tradition to eat scones with lots of butter and jam.

Black tea is traditional in the Queendom.

Queendom of Roses (cont. from part i)

The Queendom is known for its pies.

Scalding Sands (cont. from part i)

Spiced teas are what’s popular.

[danikamariewrites]

Can I request a headcannon where the reader is mated to Cassian, Azriel and nesta. And she's a total cutie somehow she always has some sorts of snacks on her hands like literally all the time ( giant sweet tooth) and they are wondering where she gets them from.

Like Cassian loses his mind because she just one moment doesn't have a cookie in her hand and the next she's eating one.

Also she's a total cat, she disappears in the middle of the day and they can only bring her out when they leave a plate of cookies in the kitchen. ( she can smell it ) she's always sleeping and likes to cuddle whenever one of them is sitting or working.

Mated to Az, Cass, and Nesta headcanon

A/n: I would give anything to be with all three of them tbh like this would be such a slay

Warnings: none just fluffy ☺️

When you felt the bond between all 4 of you, you guys didn’t know what to do at first

You were confused bc you thought the pull you felt to always be around Nesta, Cassian, and Azriel was just your friendship

You’d also be lying if you said you weren’t in love with them

The three of them love you so much

Not much has changed except that you move into the house of wind permanently

You have your own room but you spend most nights with Azriel, he’s your favorite to snuggle with

But there were nights when you wanted to cuddle between Nesta and Cassian

Nesta found she was very possessive and protective of you

And Cassian treats you like a princess

You were a big napper

You can fall asleep anywhere whether it’s on the couch, leaning against Cassian, or even at the table

The boys have found you and Nesta lightly snuggled on the floor of your at home library surrounded by books

One of your favorite nap spots was the couch. Especially when Nesta would read to you and run her fingers through your hair while resting your head on her lap

Something that always drove your three mates crazy were your snack habits

How did you always have one in your hand? How was it always candy? Where did you hide them?

At first you were really good at hiding snacks around the house

A small bag of chips under a throw pillow here

A bag of chocolate covered popcorn in the back of the cabinet

But then the House started helping you by making small compartments in the wall for snacks

If you were in the sitting room but wanted the snack you hid there in the upstairs library the house would bring it to you

“Ok, I know you don’t have those because they weren’t in the snack cabinet. Where did you get the snack?” You just giggle and shrug at Cassian’s question

Nesta would always give you a questioning look and then demand you share

Your dresses and skirts always had pockets not just so you could hold your things but for snacks, the important stuff

Cassian would always beg you for one healthy snack, “Just some fruit that’s all I’m asking.”

“Cass you make sure we eat healthy meals. Occasional junk food won’t kill me baby.” He’d just huff and cross his arms while Azriel laughed and stole a bit of whatever you were munching on

One time it was dead silent in a meeting, except for Rhys bc he was talking about important court stuff

You sneakily pulled a cookie from your pocket, you swiped it from the batch Elain just baked, and took a bite. What you didn’t know was that the cookie would betray you and make a loud crunch sound

Everyone looked at you and Cassian took it from you and gave it back once the meeting was over, “What did we talk about? No disruptive snacks.”

You also value sleeping in

If you didn’t get enough sleep the night before thanks to some ppl 👀…or just from not being able to sleep you liked a few extra hours of peace

Cassian and Azriel, being early risers, never got that about you

You could only be bribed with food

Breakfast is your favorite meal so they use that to their advantage

Always taunting you with the smell of sweet savory bacon, pancakes and maple syrup, eggs, muffins, anything they could cook they would make it for you

You would creep into the kitchen and swipe pieces of bacon before everything was ready

The boys would pretend to be annoyed but secretly love it

Sometimes during the day they could never find you

It was a true mystery where you went or what you did with your time

Nesta would leave your favorite treat out on the counter hoping you’d sense it was there

Azriel would totally have his shadows carry the scent of it to where ever you are

Sometimes they’d miss you and come back to half the plate gone and no you

Other times you’d be perched on the counter chewing happily on your treat

[ginxyy]

Love and Jealousy

A surprise visit to Seungcheol’s dance practice turns into an unforgettable moment of love, jealousy, and heartfelt confessions.

As I stepped into the practice room, the unmistakable rhythm of music vibrated through the air, and I felt an overwhelming sense of excitement knitting itself within my chest. It had been a few months since Seungcheol and I had begun this beautiful journey together, filled with stolen kisses, shy smiles, and quiet moments that whispered promises of forever. I had visited him countless times, always eager to see him in action, but each time was a fresh thrill, a new experience that made my heart race with a delightful mixture of love and admiration.

Today, I had decided to surprise him with his favorite snacks those delicious, crispy pancakes that we had shared during our first late-night outing. I wanted him to know just how much I cherished him, to infuse our cherished moments with the comforting warmth of food. I could almost picture the way his eyes would light up at the sight of the little containers, his boyish delight melting my heart further with each glimpse.

The moment I entered the room, I caught sight of him: Seungcheol, his hair slightly damp from practice, moving fluidly with the other dancers. He was engrossed in their movements, a natural leader and a beacon of energy that captivated everyone around him. For a moment, I just stood there, entranced, holding the bags close to my chest as if they were a treasure. When he finally turned around, our eyes locked, and my breath caught in my throat. His face broke into that charming smile, the one that made everything in the world feel just right.

“Hey! You’re here!” he exclaimed, crossing the distance between us in just a few strides. The warmth of his body radiated towards me as he leaned down to place a soft kiss on my lips, deliciously lingering.

“I brought these for you!” I replied, holding up the bags with a flourish, filled with the sweet, savory delights.

He laughed, eyes sparkling. “You spoil me, you know that?” Seungcheol rummaged through the bags, grinning from ear to ear like a child on Christmas morning. As he savored the first bite, I felt a rush of happiness fill the room, a shared moment of uncomplicated joy.

Before I knew it, he was whisked away, needing to grab something from the other room. I took a seat on the edge of a nearby bench, enjoying the vibrant energy of the practice quietly. It was a cozy little corner of the world, the echoes of the music swaying within my heart, and my thoughts drifted happily to the moments we’d shared the laughter, the gentle teasing, and the growing warmth between us.

It was then that I felt a presence near me, a backup dancer who had approached, their friendly demeanor masking a flirty undertone. “You must be Seungcheol’s girl,” they said, their voice smooth as silk. I felt flattered, a blush creeping up my cheeks as they continued to talk, showering compliments that I initially took at face value.

I was so enraptured in the lighthearted banter that I didn’t even notice Seungcheol walking back in until I caught the shift in the atmosphere, a sudden change in the music the tune bustling with energy, but my heart began to drop.

I turned to see him standing there, eyes narrowed, tension visible in the set of his jaw. The realization of what was happening knitted a blanket of confusion and a small twinge of guilt around my heart. I rushed to assure the dancer that I was content, blissfully oblivious to the way Seungcheol's protective instincts flared.

“Seungcheol! I—” I started, but he moved quickly, stepping between us, a determined look in his eyes that lectured the dancer away without a word. He pulled me gently away from that charming distraction, wrapping his arm possessively around my waist, his warmth enveloping me in a protective cocoon.

“What was that about?” he asked, his voice low and tinged with jealousy that made my heart race.

I looked up at him, battle lines drawn in the air, confusion swirling like a playful wisp between us. “He was just being nice,” I tried to explain, though I could see the sulk creeping into his expression, something endearing amidst the seriousness he wore.

His brows knitted together; the playful glint in his eyes had dimmed, replaced by a stubborn pout that made it hard to stifle a giggle. I shifted closer, wrapping my arms around his waist, feeling my heart beat wildly. “You’re not mad, are you?” I asked softly, tilting my head up to meet his gaze.

There was a beat of silence before I leaned in closer, brushing my lips against his. “I only have eyes for you, Seungcheol. I love you.” The confession slipped out before I could even think of the weight of those words, yet they felt so exhilarating, liberating.

His eyes widened, surprise dancing across his features. A moment of hesitation flickered between us before an overwhelming wave of joy washed over his face. “You love me?” he asked, gently as if afraid it might be a dream.

“Yes,” I whispered, my heart dancing with each syllable. “I’ve loved you for a while now.”

His lips spread into the most radiant smile, a light that could outshine the sun, and he pulled me into him, claiming my lips passionately, as if sealing our declaration. I felt his happiness resonate deep within me as he kissed me, again and again, the world melting away with each touch, the sweet taste of victory lingering on our lips.

In that moment, time stood still, and all that existed was Seungcheol and I wrapped up in a beautiful, blissful embrace, the dance we had only just begun now perfectly in rhythm. The music of our hearts played on, a melody we'd craft together for all the moments to come.

[rebelliousstories]

Dating Quentin Beck/ Mysterio…

Relationship: Quentin Beck (Mysterio) x Reader

Fandom: Spider-Man: Far From Home

Request: Yes by Anon

Warnings: Fluff, Light Angst

Word Count: 393

Main Masterlist: Here

Jake Gyllenhaal & Co. Masterlist: Here

Summary: Some headcanons of mine about dating Quentin Beck

* Quentin doesn’t trust a lot of people. That’s a given.

* But I could see him having his person that all of his self imposed rules go out the door for

* Just one person, his s/o, that he could spill all of his secrets too, brag about inventions, get input on whatever

* You may not have to hate Tony Stark as much as him, but you can’t like him at all either

* I feel like when he gets in after a long night of planning, and it’s already almost 5:00 A.M., he preps stuff to make for breakfast and then goes to bed

* He’s up anyways

* Why should you have to make him food from scratch?

* Tell me why, on that note, he looks like a sweet breakfast man?

* Quentin looks like he might have a side of sausage, bacon, or eggs, but he’s filling up with some pancakes or French toast

* He has two other meals if he remembers to eat in the the day that he can eat savory and heavy protein

* Mornings are for pancakes, coffee, and sitting in his lap to let him feed you

* His love language is definitely acts of service

* Computer won’t work? He’s not only fixed it, but he’s made it run better than before.

* Running late? He warms up the shower so that you can spend that time getting your outfit laid out.

* Quentin needs you to give him praise

* Any comment you make, he will remember throughout the day to keep him from getting physically violent with his team

* Also, if you leave any sticky notes or just notes in general around for him, he cherishes them like they’re made of gold.

* Quentin keeps a box of momentos in a shoe box underneath his bed that had ticket stubs, Polaroids, those aforementioned notes, etc. etc.

* A particular favorite photo of you two from a date to the carnival that was in town is kept in his Mysterio suit

* Fully uses it and a ring to convince everyone that your his wife

* Although if you two are actually married, he just uses a picture from your wedding day and he doesn’t even have to make the paper look old and worn because he traces your face so much and handles it so much that he doesn’t need to do anything extra

* Anyways…

[flusteredfools]

Whats the fairy boy favorite treats individually that the artisan makes?

Moon

tends to favor treats that are sweet and savory, the top two being Blueberry pancakes (topped with syrup, butter and honey) and Blueberry Muffins (also topped with butter and honey); the stickier and messier the better as he loves to teasingly lick up any messes.

Sun

tends to prefer treats that are sweet and tart, with Strawberry cheesecake and Strawberry Lemon Bread his favorites. He loves to eat the bread straight out of the oven while it's still hot paired with ice cold lemonade.

But the two's most favorite treat (if you don't count their Artisan's kisses) and the one Artisan Y/N makes the most for them is their Gingersnaps. It's the treat that they first ever offered to them as well as the one they first had when they reunited, so it holds a very special place in their heart.

[fuckoffwade]

Some of Wade's Favorite Home Cooked Meals

❤️ Chimchanga Pancakes

A ridiculous fusion of chimichangas and pancakes. Wade insists it's the perfect blend of sweet and savory, fueling their mutant healing factors for maximum regeneration. Logan just rolls his eyes but secretly enjoys the absurdity of it.

💛 Wolverine Wellington

A classic beef wellington, but with an extra layer of bacon weaved into the pastry. Wade claims it's a tribute to Logan's animalistic side, while Logan appreciates the hearty meal after a long day of fighting.

💙 Berzerker Burgers

Gourmet burgers piled high with toppings, each representing a different aspect of Logan's berserker rage. Wade enjoys explaining the symbolism while Logan just focuses on devouring the delicious mess. The toppings change every time.

🖤 Mutant Mac and Cheese

A classic comfort food, but with a Deadpool twist - hot sauce swirls and a sprinkle of taco seasoning. Wade sees it as a culinary metaphor for their unlikely friendship, while Logan appreciates the familiar flavors with a hint of spice.

🤍 Weapon X Waffles

Waffles shaped like the Weapon X logo, served with a variety of toppings. Wade views it as a playful nod to Logan's past, while Logan begrudgingly admits the waffles are surprisingly good.

[rachellaurengray]

Happy Monday! Kickstart your day with nothing but delicious nutrition. Welcome to your COMPLETE LIST of 30 quick and easy options—all under 250 calories—that'll leave you feeling energized and satisfied. (Make sure your save this post!)

- Greek Yogurt with Berries and Honey (200 calories): Creamy yogurt, sweet berries, and a drizzle of honey—yum!

- Avocado Toast on Whole Grain Bread (240 calories): Creamy avocado on crunchy toast—simple yet so satisfying!

- Smoothie with Spinach, Banana, and Almond Milk (220 calories): A refreshing green smoothie to start your day on a healthy note.

- Chia Seed Pudding with Almond Milk and Berries (230 calories): Creamy chia pudding topped with juicy berries—a breakfast treat!

- Oatmeal with Sliced Banana and a Drizzle of Honey (210 calories): Warm and comforting oatmeal with a touch of sweetness.

- Cottage Cheese with Pineapple Chunks (190 calories): Creamy cottage cheese paired with tropical pineapple—refreshing and filling!

- Scrambled Eggs with Spinach and Tomatoes (180 calories): Fluffy eggs loaded with veggies—perfect for a hearty breakfast.

- Whole Grain English Muffin with Peanut Butter (230 calories): Nutty peanut butter spread on a toasty English muffin—simple and satisfying.

- Apple Slices with Almond Butter (210 calories): Crunchy apples paired with creamy almond butter—a delicious combo!

- Overnight Oats with Blueberries and Almond Milk (220 calories): Prep ahead for a fuss-free breakfast—creamy oats with sweet blueberries.

- Hard-Boiled Eggs with a Piece of Fruit (200 calories): Protein-packed eggs paired with your favorite fruit—easy and nutritious!

- Smoothie Bowl with Mixed Berries and Granola (240 calories): A colorful and satisfying bowl packed with flavor and texture.

- Whole Grain Toast with Hummus and Cucumber Slices (200 calories): A savory twist on toast—creamy hummus topped with fresh cucumbers.

- Low-Fat Greek Yogurt with Honey and Almonds (210 calories): Creamy yogurt topped with honey and crunchy almonds—a delightful treat!

- Banana Pancakes Made with Oats and Eggs (230 calories): Fluffy pancakes with the goodness of bananas and oats—perfect for a weekend brunch.

- Fresh Fruit Salad with a Dollop of Yogurt (190 calories): A refreshing fruit salad drizzled with creamy yogurt—simple yet satisfying.

- Protein Shake with Almond Milk and Banana (230 calories): A protein-packed shake to fuel your morning—creamy and delicious!

- Rice Cake with Avocado and Tomato Slices (200 calories): Crispy rice cake topped with creamy avocado and juicy tomatoes—yum!

- Low-Fat Cottage Cheese with Sliced Peaches (180 calories): Creamy cottage cheese paired with sweet peaches—a delightful combination.

- Whole Grain Waffles with Fresh Strawberries (240 calories): Fluffy waffles topped with juicy strawberries—a breakfast delight!

- Berry and Spinach Smoothie with Almond Milk (220 calories): A vibrant and nutritious smoothie to start your day on a healthy note.

- Turkey Sausage Links with a Piece of Fruit (230 calories): Flavorful turkey sausage paired with your favorite fruit—easy and satisfying.

- Egg White Omelette with Vegetables (190 calories): Light and fluffy egg whites loaded with colorful veggies—perfect for a healthy start.

- Almond Butter and Banana on Whole Grain Toast (240 calories): Creamy almond butter and sliced bananas on crunchy toast—a delicious combo!

- Quinoa Porridge with Berries and Almonds (210 calories): Creamy quinoa porridge topped with sweet berries and crunchy almonds—a breakfast treat!

- Low-Fat Greek Yogurt Parfait with Granola (240 calories): Creamy yogurt layered with crunchy granola—a parfait made in heaven!

- Sliced Apple with a Handful of Walnuts (200 calories): Crunchy apples paired with creamy walnuts—a simple and satisfying snack.

- Veggie Breakfast Burrito with Salsa (230 calories): A hearty breakfast burrito loaded with veggies and topped with zesty salsa—yum!

- Chia Seed Pudding with Mango and Coconut Milk (230 calories): Creamy chia pudding topped with tropical mango and coconut milk—a taste of paradise!

- Whole Grain Cereal with Almond Milk and Berries (240 calories): Crunchy cereal paired with creamy almond milk and sweet berries—a classic breakfast combo!

Try these breakfast ideas & start your day on a delicious note!

[miserymerci]

<- Day 8: Smile Day 10: Care ->

Fluffy February Day 9: Storm - The Gaiwan

Fandom: Lego Monkie Kid

Characters: MK and Sun Wukong (Sunburst duo)

(Mentor-Student, some sick MK, allusions to Wukong’s trauma in Heaven)

No Season 5 spoilers

Summary: Set before S1 E10 (The End is Here!), and then after "Day 7: Some Assembly Required" after the timeskip. MK's hiccups caused earthquakes, his sneezes caused strong gusts of wind, and if he aimed a cough incorrectly into the nook of his elbow, the nearest tree would burn up to a crisp. The turmoil he could see was easy to pinpoint, but the truest tempests manifested deep in the heart and mind. MK wished that he could see into his mentor's storm.

“…and then the cast iron shot through the window, and I think the power circuits must’ve fried because the time on the stove went back a minute– aH –!” Monkey King lifted the small table by its legs and held it up like a shield, “– CHHOOO! Huuhg…”

Monkey King tossed away the newly-split-in-half table.

“That sounds like quite a morning,” he said to his successor, smiling. “From the way you were talking, it sounded like you were shooed off until everything’s fixed.”

MK blinked, considering that.

“No, you’re right. I’m never allowed to help with spring cleaning– I just thought I could’ve helped this once,” he said. He tried to clear his throat casually, but a tiny, traitorous cough rattled the phlegm building in his throat. “But it’ll be fine. I mean, I’ve torn down a wall before. This wasn’t so bad.”

“I’m sure,” said Monkey King.

Monkey King set the broken table aside and took one look at a close-by hoard before his tail freed another table from the pile. The deep red-brown of the wood was hidden by a thick layer of dust (and possibly a small ecosystem of mites). He snapped his tail against the air like a whip, and all of the dust shot off like a shockwave.

“ah–AUG–!” cried MK.

“FACE AWAY FROM THE–!”

MK cupped his nose.

In the next second, Monkey King’s ears popped, went deaf, and then rang back to life.

“I– hugh,” said Monkey King, blinking away the stun. He shook his head. “Wow, okay . You alright, bud?”

MK’s hands slid carefully from his mouth, drawing up to press the heels of his palms into his eyes. He whined pitifully.

Monkey King placed the table down in front of him and settled down onto his knees. “MK?” he tried again.

“I’m not feeling great,” said MK. He rubbed down onto his eyes and then blinked heavily. They squinted, shut, squinted, and then turned to Monkey King again. “What’s that?”

“Tea. It’s supposed to help with all sorts of human pains.”

“How did you get that all so fast?”

Monkey King snorted, but took pity on his protégé, “I got up. I told you I’d be right back.”

Hm. Well, MK didn’t remember that . He winced and rubbed at his temple, but he didn’t accomplish anything more than a worse ache.

MK was more prone to hiccups than anything else. He ate too fast, laughed too hard, and choked on peppers more often than Pigsy would approve (he was always about proper noodle-eating etiquette; not to be confused with fancy Dragon Clan family etiquette). Ultimately, the most dangerous enemy to MK’s immune system was himself. And spring.

“Even cramps?”

Monkey King’s eyes flitted up from the jar of tea leaves, but didn’t do much else.

“Likely, if you want,” he said.

“Oh…”

“Have you eaten?” continued Monkey King, placing a set of cups and a pitcher (that could easily shatter from another one of MK’s sneezes) onto the low table. The leaves in the jar wafted delicate, floral scents over to MK, who decided that the smell was stirring uncomfortable sensations in his head.

“Yeah. Some pancakes,” he said, “but I’m still hungry, I think.”

The truth was that his stomach grumbled at the thought of food. MK wasn’t sure if it was a hungry grumble, a protesting one, or a grumble for the sake of grumbling. (Pancakes were one of MK’s favorite snacks. They were flaky and savory and always had a spicy kick in the ones Pigsy made. The thought made MK’s stomach growl again– maybe he was hungry. But more pancakes didn’t sound very good right now. Maybe something sweet to balance the savory. Like a cake or something– but without any frosting, just the cakey bits– did that sound good?) MK’s stomach rumbled again.

He watched his mentor pour water into the cups, swirl it, and then let it all spill onto the ground. The water lay there uselessly; its every attempt to seep into the mud thwarted by a push and pull that MK couldn’t see. The day was warm.

It had just rained yesterday; heavy, like a true force of nature; so the precipitation had become trapped in the crevices of the cliff. MK had spent most of that day hunched over the serving counter, stalking the clock as far and few customers came in. He had gone straight to bed that night.

So why in the world did he still feel tired?

“Why did you do that?” asked MK.

Monkey King simply raised a brow.

“I mean… with the water. You poured it onto the ground.”

“Err… well, I was just rinsing it out. All water comes back to the ground anyways. I was just speeding up the process,” Monkey King said. He put the leaves into the gaiwan, poured the water into it, and placed the lid on top. “I’m not much of a tea-maker, but I know how to do it. It was one of Master Subodhi’s lessons on the soul.”

“Your first master?” asked MK, perking up.

Monkey King gave him an unimpressed smile and a quirk of his eyebrow.

“Ah– I mean, that’s cool. That’s cool.”

MK turned to look at the gaiwan. It was a pretty, white porcelain rimmed with cyan; some of that bright paint rubbed away by time. Lotus flowers decorated one side of the bowl, but was left blank on the other. Monkey King shifted the lid back, one careful finger pressed into the dip of the lid, and poured the water onto the ground.

“Rinsing again,” he said at MK’s darting pupils, “the leaves this time. That’s how you do it.”

“That’s a lot of rules,” said MK.

“Mmhm,” hummed Monkey King, looking distastefully at the gaiwan as he poured in more water. He fixed the lid and then looked back up at MK. “I’ll go order something. Could you pour the tea into the cups in uhhh… twenty-ish seconds?”

“Uh–”

“Thanks bud.”

And then, with a swish of his cheeky tail, the Monkey King vanished into the house just a few steps from the training grounds (likely for his computer. MK had never seen him with a phone before. Did he have a phone? Like some retro one with the curly wires and the spinny numbers? Or would the legendary Monkey King have a flip phone? Like a Nokia or something. Were Nokias flip phones? MK’s first phone was a flip phone he inherited from Pigsy. Maybe he could dig it up somewhere in his room, and it would be a Nokia. Once, when Mei’s parents had gone through an enterprise phase, they had tried to develop mobile phones. Mei was their beta-tester, and after the phone had overheated on an unbearable summer day and mistaken MK as a burglar, that was the end of that . Maybe lasers weren’t the best self-defense tool on a phone).

…

MK blinked and looked down at the gaiwan.

“…Oh crap!”

MK picked up the lid, watched it slip from his fingers, and went for a mad dive onto the dirt after it, his hip shoving the innocent table as he did.

Everything tumbled to the ground.

‘…CrrsnAP’ went the table leg after it was all over.

“Shut up,” groaned MK.

“Uhh, yeah, you know what? Make it a to-go. Just leave it where it begins to go a little off-road. I���ll know where to find it,” said a voice above MK.

He peeled his face off of his shameful grave and glanced up to where Monkey King was looking down at him, phone snug against his ear.

“You do use a Nokia,” said MK faintly.

Monkey King’s face pinched.

“Yup. Thanks. Bye,” ‘ beep’ .

MK sighed, eyes drifting down as his cheek pressed against the humid ground. Now that he was there, it was beginning to get comfortable. His abdomen, securely pressed onto the warmth of the sun-bathing mud, didn’t even hurt as badly anymore.

After a moment, Monkey King began to move. His footsteps were soft and careful as they went around MK and stopped to assess the damage from the other side. Then, either with his tail or hands, he righted the table (albeit missing a leg), which croaked along. MK finally lifted his head up at the sound of tinkling ceramic.

“Is it broken?”

“Not anymore,” said Monkey King.

The quaint little gaiwan clinked pleasantly against the table as Monkey King set it down. Not a single crack, scratch, or blemish remained– not even the smudging of the paint that hadn’t even been MK’s fault. The cyan paint streaked along the edges like an endless sky; a sky that, in MK’s opinion, felt unnervingly fake.

“I didn’t mean to break it,” said MK. He carefully got up to his knees, the mud coming with him as he went. The comfort MK had before in his defeat had worn off. Now, the mud was only a grimy shell on his skin.

“It’s okay to have an off-day,” said Monkey King, distantly. His somber expression, though something MK had drawn countless times in his sketchbook, looked wrong on the real thing. He sighed and then smiled, “It’s why we’re sitting here having tea.”

MK winced and looked at the puddle of tea being consumed up by the mud. Monkey King quickly knelt down at the table to distract him.

“That’s okay, bud. We’ll just make more, okay? No shortage of tea leaves any time soon.”

So Monkey King, eyeing the gaiwan more than he was looking at MK, eventually succeeded in brewing a cup of tea. MK had the first sip (he learned that it was oolong tea. It was fresh and slightly sweet in the way roses are to the nose, going down MK’s throat like the purest of water) and then he watched his mentor take a sip with not nearly as much vigor.

The cyan of the gaiwan, in the corner of MK’s eye, phased into teal to cerulean to turquoise as the afternoon went on. His headache could have been making him see things, but he dared not to mention it anyways.

On that day, the gaiwan was in one perfect piece; not quite a balance, but some strange mix between duty and acceptance.

MK was by no means the norm.

He wouldn’t call himself a completely law-abiding citizen (he got into fights often (with demons) and sometimes drove airships without a license (not like that mattered, but there was probably a law for that somewhere)), but the complications that came with it wasn’t something MK could explain.

Teas that are brewed differently taste differently, even if they share the same leaves.

The gaiwan was never something Pigsy had taught him how to use. Pigsy never brewed tea often, and defaulted to an open cup when the situation arised. MK drank oolong tea a number of times in his life.

The taste of oolong was clear, but never airy; sweet, but like how cane sugar is to coffee. Sometimes it was fruity. Sometimes it wasn’t.

“You okay, bud?” asked Wukong.

MK blinked and looked up at Wukong, who was loitering around the mouth of the waterfall, favoring one foot over the other, but looking otherwise better than he’s looked in the past few weeks. The water rumbled on and on. It sprayed him and his mentor and left specks of rainbows in its wake.

“Yeah,” said MK, “just trying to figure out how to use this.”

The gaiwan looked as perfect as the day Monkey King fixed it. MK, in his curiosity, had taken the time during Wukong’s recovery to return to the training grounds in search of it; the nostalgic, little place just on the side of Flower Fruit Mountain. The house, half-crumbled from the battle, had taken him all day to sift through. The gaiwan trapped underneath it shone and winked in the setting sun like it had found the whole thing amusing.

Maybe it had been broken, but MK hadn’t been there to see it. Maybe some kind of friendship magic brought it back together. Maybe it was something completely out of their control, unexplainable and unblameable. Whatever the case, MK tucked tea leaves into the bowl now and experimentally put the lid on for it to brew.

Wukong neared, spooked-like but curious, his tail twitching as he eyed what MK was doing. Maybe he had missed a step or used the wrong technique or something, but Wukong didn’t say anything.

MK’s muscles felt worn; like they hadn’t completely woven back together. Now that he wasn’t worried out of his mind about his lack of company after Azure’s defeat, his body was quick to remind him of its current state: completely and utterly sore and unrested (The monkeys of Flower Fruit had been very cross with him. That was how he ended up in a dead sleep for almost half the day).

“You said some time ago that Master Subodhi brewed tea as a lesson for the soul,” said MK.

“It was more complicated than that.”

Wukong unstuck himself from his spot and crossed his arms, looking down at MK’s little setup. It seemed for a moment that he wouldn’t continue, but then he took a breath, and MK easily recognized it as one preparing to carry heavy words.

“It was more about the gaiwan than the tea; and not really about the soul, but about… well, where oneself stands, I guess. I thought it was a boring lesson– I mean, it wasn’t any of the cool stuff that I had wanted to learn at the time– but I remember it was brought up again when I was a stableboy in Heaven. Some fancy shtick, maybe a party, was going on, and they favored the gaiwan for their tea making,” Wukong sucked air between his teeth as he thought over his words, “It was– hm . Well, I was just about done with lessons. I mean, I spent all that time with Master Subodhi and then blam I’m in Heaven and I still feel like I’m in school? Yeah, okay.”

The waterfall casted a cooling mist around its base that MK suddenly found it difficult to breathe in. He swallowed at his mentor’s downcast expression and sent his tail to snap the building mist into the other direction.

Wukong looked up at him. He leaned one way to catch a glimpse of MK’s surprise appendage, but it had already gone away.

“That’s new,” said Wukong, gently, “where’d you learn that?”

MK pursed his lips, poured the tea into his cup, and then said, “Myself. Was an accident, actually. Couldn’t get it to go away and wrecked my room before I figured it out. Um… what did you do?”

“What?”

“In the story? During the party. Did you… do something to the gaiwan?”

Wukong scoffed lightly and shook his head.

“No, nothing like that. It's just… Something about it, like it couldn’t help but exist, I guess? ‘Hold the gaiwan like this, Wukong. Handle the lid with care, Wukong. You haven’t covered it properly, Wukong.’ There was always something that bothered me, thinking about it– but I’ve never broken a gaiwan before.”

“Because you’ve always cared about it?” asked MK.

“…No,” drawled Wukong.

MK stared down at the oolong swirling in his cup. It was a warm, sweet orange: like caramel glazed over flan. He ran one finger on its rim, found that it was chipped somewhere, and raised the cup to his lips.

Wukong sniffled the same time MK’s face pinched painfully.

The oolong was watered-down and acrid in his mouth, attacking his taste buds there and then moving its unpleasant attack down his throat. It was like the tingle of cough medicine– lacking its syrupy texture, but intrusive all the same.

“Did you know I was gonna do that?” gagged MK, shaking his head at the bitter, watery mess stinging his tongue. When his mentor didn’t reply, he tilted to look more closely at him, “Monkey King? Did I do something wrong?”

“ No ,” said Wukong, almost immediately.

MK flinched. His hold on his cup, lax and careful at first, tensed until it was pressed into his chest. He looked up at his mentor and then back down to his failed brew.

Wukong, who had found himself standing over the table defensively, slipped down to his knees.

“Oh– sorry… about that,” he cleared his throat and leaned back onto his hands. “I meant that you didn’t do it properly, so… yes . The first brew is just a rinse, remember? It won’t taste as good. Let’s try again.”

MK nodded, taking the gaiwan and emptying the water into a spare bowl he had dug up from Pigsy’s cupboard. He shook it for good measure (he got a slightly worried look at that) and then plopped off the lid to replace the water.

Wukong was beginning to relax now. He dared to rest his head on his palm, following MK’s movements so intensely that he was beginning to get stage fright. Then, before MK could crumble under the pressure, Wukong said, “Brewing tea is a skill. It doesn’t matter if you don’t get it right. Sometimes, getting it wrong is better.”

With an innocent blink, Mk replied, “Do you really think that?”

The monkeys of Flower Fruit ruffled the leaves of trees around them. If MK listened close enough, he could hear every chirp and coo and squeak between the residents. Monkeys loved to be mischievous– not through any ill-being, but because they were clever enough to recognize things that even he took some time figuring out.

MK was mischievous. MK cared about Wukong.

Carefully, he picked up the gaiwan and pressed his finger improperly onto the dip in the lid as he poured. The lid trembled. Maybe, if it had a mouth, it wouldn’t use it for speaking; maybe, if it did, it would only use it to snarl and sneer and smile with all its teeth. Maybe MK would have bowed down to its authority and taken everything to heart as if it were a world and not just a step on a staircase. MK tripped on air often; not by his own fault, but only to bend to the unpredictability of ground and man.

The tea spilled into Wukong’s cup. The lid, in his recklessness, tumbled behind it. Wukong leaned out to catch it. It bounced, twisted, and spun in his hands, like a little cloud that split despite all efforts. Helpfully, MK sprang up to help him.

MK caught the lid on one side the moment Wukong caught the other.

“Well, would you look at that?” laughed MK, about to say something about his impeccable reflexes– and then the lid cracked and split through the middle.

“Ah…?”

“Ooh...”

“What even…?”

“ Snrk ,” Wukong’s head snapped up in surprise, watching MK break into a fit of laughter, “PHhh– ahahah ! I didn’t even know that could happen ! Pigsy calls me clumsy, but I think this might have been the weirdest one by far. Um… maybe it was already beginning to crack?”

“I…” stammered Wukong. “I… don’t think…?”

MK pulled close his half of the lid. He tossed and turned it in his hand and peeked sheepishly at his mentor.

“I think we might be able to fix it,” he said, puzzling back his piece to Wukong’s, who had left his hand out hovering in what was probably shock. “With tape, maybe? Glue?” he tilted his head with a smile, “magic?”

Wukong’s face suddenly felt warm in embarrassment, as if something was going on that he wasn’t quite aware of, and he had just-so-happened to be the main attraction of the whole thing. He blinked once, then twice, and then brought his hand down to really look at the lid.

It was strange to hold it like this. The ceramic where it had cracked was crumbly as he ran his thumb over it. The open wound did not bleed; there was no crying or great summoning of mountains or curses or golden fillets. Wukong blew lightly and watched a puff of dusty white gaiwan pieces get lost in the waterfall’s light mist.

“No, it’s okay,” said Wukong, putting it down on the table and cradling his full cup with both hands. He looked down at the warm tea and took a tentative sip. Something like honey swished in his mouth, punchy and passionate like the first fruits of the summer season. He swallowed, smacked his lips, and then passed it over to MK to share with a smile. “It’s a little unnecessary anyway.”