#i shall be stocking carrots from now on

[greenteacology]

why are carrots somehow the best remedy for acid reflux that i've discovered so far 😭

my stomach is just like:

tums? 🙅🏻‍♂️❌😓👎

pepsid? 🙅🏻‍♂️😭😓❌

chewing gum? 🤷🏻‍♀️🫥🤔👀

fucking munching on carrots? 👍✅✅🥰🙌😤

[ichinisankaku]

Backstage Translation - Sharing Out Cuteness (Part 1)

Sakuya: These chocolates are delicious, Muku!

Muku: Yay, I'm glad! When I heard these yogurt and strawberry chocolates were only being sold this Spring, I figured it'd be nice to bring them to today's tea party.

Homare: Quite right. They've a truly lovely taste. Not being too rich, you find yourself reaching for another one.

Sakuya: And they go perfectly with the tea Homare-san prepared!

Muku: Yeah! Alice-san's tea is really tasty, I love it.

Homare: That's wonderful. I purchased this blend recently from a specialty store, if you two are fond of it I'll endeavour to buy from there again.

Muku: Wow, are you sure?

Sakuya: Thank you so much!

Muku: By the way, you're helping out at that café too, right Alice-san? I definitely want to go and check it out!

Sakuya: I'm excited too. Homare-san's really good at brewing tea, so I'm sure he'll be a big help!

Homare: Thank you. It's a rabbit-themed café, so I'm looking forward to seeing what poems will sprout from it.

Sakuya: Speaking of rabbits, I saw some adorable tea bags the other day. Should be on my phone…

Ah, here!

Homare: What's this now…

Muku: Wow, they're so cute!

Homare: There's a rabbit clinging to the rim of the tea cup, as if soaking in a bathtub.

Sakuya: Looks like there's dogs and cats too, and even unusual animals like otters.

Muku: It seems easy to drink, and would probably make a good gift. Choosing the perfect animal for who you give it to sounds fun as well.

Homare: I see… I myself would never have imagined tea bags such as this exist.

Homare: (When I went to stock up on those tea leaves Sakuya-kun and Muku-kun like, I ended up taking the opportunity to buy a whole variety of things. I'll try to use them at the next tea party.)

Izumi: -Ah, Homare-san!

Homare: Oh my, are you also out to buy something, Director-kun?

Izumi: I'm on my way back from a meeting. Are you buying something?

Homare: Indeed I was. I'm heading home having just finished my business. If you're also returning, shall we go together?

Izumi: I… want to say yes, but I'm thinking maybe I will go shopping.

Homare: Allow me to accompany you, then.

Izumi: You sure? Thanks a lot!

Izumi: Fufu. Having Homare-san push the cart really is refreshing.

Homare: Is that so? You must have seen this many times already.

Izumi: Yeah, but that's not the poi- ah, onions and carrots! And minced meat, too!

Homare: What a fluid way of tossing the ingredients in. Perfect! I feel a poem coming up!

A silver runway for a vegetable and meat harmony, clad in spicy finery!

Izumi: Ahaha. That poem's really put me in the mood for curry. Though, today I was thinking of using eggs for-

Wait, I forgot the ketchup! I'll go get it now, wait here for me please.

Homare: Understood.

*footsteps*

Homare: …I was certain she was going for keema curry, but I suppose it was omurice.

…Oh? Oh me oh my?

Part 2

[thebadgerclan]

Hear You Sing

Pairing: Matthias Helvar x reader

Requested by Purple Heart Anon

Summary: Your husband wants to hear you sing...

A/N: This is one of the prompts  made for a different character bc i was rereading Six of Crows/Crooked Kingdom and I was DEEP in a Matthias phase, and this just fit him TOO well 😂

You sang softly to yourself as you chopped vegetables for the evening’s dinner, the knife making quick work of the carrots and celery.  The song you’d picked was one you’d known since childhood when your mother sang it to you, and her mother sang it to her, and so on.  It was about a princess whose lover was sent off to war to be kept away from her.  But the lover had fought with every ounce of his strength and survived a battle that was certain death.  The king had knighted the lover which had raised his status, allowing him to marry the princess.”

Some of the notes were too high for you to hit, but Matthias was out, so who was there to judge?  You scooped the vegetables into the stock pot, moving on to carve the chicken you’d plucked just this morning.  You were so immersed in your work, the song you were singing occupying much of your mind, you didn’t hear the door open and shut, you didn’t hear Trassel’s excited whimpers, you didn’t hear your husband slowly entering the kitchen.

He lingered in the doorway, watching you work and listening to you sing.  Matthias knew mostly everything about you, but this detail had escaped him.  Though you were singing quietly, your voice was beautiful, and your husband could have listened to it forever.  He stayed in the door until he could no longer resist the pull you had over him, and he stepped behind you, pressing a kiss to your cheek.

The sudden press of Matthias’ lips against your cheek startled you, and you jumped, the chicken leg in your hand falling to the floor.”  “Sweet Djel, Matthias!” you yelped, and your husband laughed, turning you in his arms.  “Am I interrupting something, dearest?”  You let out a shaly laugh, wiping your hands on the apron tied over your skirt.  “Yes!  Your dinner!  Oh, Tras!”  Matthias followed your gaze to see his isenulf, the dropped chicken leg in his mouth, his tail wagging a mile a minute.

Matthias laughed, kissing your forehead.  “I didn’t know you could sing, Y/N.”  Your face heated up and your eyes went wide.  “Oh Djel, you weren’t supposed to hear that!”  It was clear you were embarrassed, but Matthias planted his hands on your shoulders.  “Will you keep going?”  You turned from his embrace, facing the stove.  “No.”  “But I want to hear you sing.”

You turned again, looking at Matthias.  “You’ll make fun of me.”  Your husband shook his head.  “Of course I won’t, my love.  From what I heard, you have a beautiful voice, and I want to hear you sing.”  You sighed, wringing your hands.  “Promise you won’t make fun of me?”  “I swear it on my honor and my life.”  You let out a soft laugh and cleared your throat, pushing off the counter to stand up straight.

When you began to sing, Matthias’ jaw hit the floor.  He’d thought your voice was beautiful when you were singing softly to yourself, but now, when your voice was at its peak, when you had full control over the pitch and notes, you were…indescribable.  Matthias knew the song, his mother had sung it to him as a child, but hearing the words from your mouth was something entirely new.

You finished the song and folded your hands before you, smiling shyly.  “Well?”  Matthias surged forward and kissed you, drawing you into his arms.  “That was beautiful, you are beautiful, my love.  Wonderful.”  He kissed you again, and again, and again, until you were giggling and pushing him away.  “I love you, Matthias, but if you want dinner, you need to stop kissing me so I can cook.”

“Um…”  “What?”  Matthias pointed to the corner, where Trassel had somehow gotten ahold of the entire raw chicken and was gnawing on it happily.  “Oh Djel,” you swore, pinching your brow.  “Maybe we go into town for dinner?”  Matthias laughed, kissing you once more.  “I suppose we shall.”  

[brionbroadway]

This is for the RWRB Winterfest 2020. The prompt is "snowman" and it's set between Christmas and New Year's in 2019. Enjoy! @rwrb-fests

---

Alex is staring at the worst crime the British monarchy has ever committed. Genocide notwithstanding.

He calls Henry before he quite realizes what he’s doing because someone has to answer for this, and well, he doesn’t have a direct line to the queen. Besides, he likes to challenge Henry, likes to be surprised and kind of thrilled by the wit in his responses. Most people get exhausted by Alex, as June so kindly put it once, and while Henry has mastered the longsuffering sigh, he keeps up with him, beat for beat—

“Alex,” Henry answers, voice gentle in a way that throws Alex off. “Is everything alright?”

Alex blushes, remembering their last conversation on Christmas where he oh-so-casually dumped all his childhood baggage on Henry then said, “Well, goodnight!” He hoped Henry would move past it, but it’s—it’s kind that he hasn’t. June aside, as long as he’s still producing and performing as Alex Claremont-Diaz, the golden boy of all golden boys, number fucking one in the approval ratings, people assume he’s alright because it fits that narrative.

“Alex?”

Alex snaps out of it. Henry’s question may be kind, but Alex does not survive by dwelling on his thoughts.

“No, everything is absolutely not alright,” Alex answers. “You have an exorbitant amount of wealth. ‘Blood money,’ I believe you called it. And yet, you make a snowman that looks like the first stock image in a Google search for ‘basic ass snowman.’”

“You certainly know that I didn’t search for ‘basic ass snowman’—”

“Well, this will be the first result now!” Alex continues to study the photo of Henry, Philip, and Bea in front of three lumps of snow with button eyes and a smile, branches for arms, and a black scarf draped around its neck. Not even a carrot nose in sight! “All that money and you couldn’t spring for an ice sculpture?”

“It was supposed to remind people that we’re just a normal family.”

Alex snorts.

“And I thought you were against the gross misuse of government funds?” Henry continues. “I seem to recall the Great Turkey Incident of 2019—”

“Irrelevant. Where’s the creativity, Henry? Where’s the drama?”

“I would like to see you do better.”

And that is how Alex ends up outside, June in tow, building a fucking snowman. She has some questions, mainly: “Why are we building a snowman in the likeness of the Prince of England?”

“To prove a point.”

“That point being?”

“You journalists are too inquisitive.”

June lets it go, but not without a look Alex does not have time to decipher because he is proving a point.

Truthfully, their snowman is not much different than Henry’s. It’s hard to deviate from the three lumps of snows formula, and the button eyes and smile are a classic. (He is, however, dismayed to learn there are no carrots at home. Why even move into the White House if every form of vegetation isn’t available at his fingertips?).

But he switches the black scarf for a grey tie, and in addition to the branches he uses for the arms, he sticks a branch up the snowman’s ass. He quickly snaps a picture, then removes the branch before Zahra discovers it and yells at him.

Alex texts the picture to Henry and says: This is you.

Henry’s reply is quick: I got that. Truly astounding creativity. You were right to shame me and I shall live in embarrassment for the rest of my days.

A noble response! You are a true prince!

Looking up from his phone, Alex realizes June has added buttons to the smile, making it so big and wide that it looks slightly deranged.

“That is definitely not Henry,” Alex says. “I don’t think he’s allowed to show that much emotion. Like, contractually.”

“It’s you, dumbass,” she says, removing the grey tie. “It’s nice, right?”

It’s weird how it makes Alex aware of his own smile. He smiles often, and genuinely, but this one feels different, like someone tacked extra buttons to the end of his own lips. Like he’s just a bit happier than he knew he could be.

He’s tempted to text Henry again to say: hey, I’m alright. Thanks for asking. But that would bring him back to that place, back to those thoughts he can’t dwell on, and he prefers it here.

Smiling a little wider and pretending he doesn’t know why.

[bondsmagii]

hey Miceál! if you are in the mood, i'd like to ask you for a great favor. could you share some irish recipes with me? even just one would mean a lot to me. i am half irish, but i am an orphan and i grew up in another part of europe, so i have very little connection to that side of me, and i believe it is very intimate to share something that my ancestors also shared, in order to commune and get to know them through my body in whatever way i can. thank you in advance fellow fenian!

hello, fellow Irish orphan! there are lots of wonderful Irish recipes out there, but I’ll share a couple that have special meaning to me and that I have fond memories of. it’s a classic: Irish stew and soda bread! this is a classic for a reason. there’s nothing more comforting on a cold and rainy day than a steaming bowl of Irish stew, and soda bread is probably the easiest kind of bread to make. it requires no waiting around for the dough to rise; you just make that dough and get that bread.

soda bread

first, the soda bread. it’s a great accompaniment, but it can also be made on its own and eaten whenever you need a good wholesome snack. slather a bit of butter on that badboy and indulge.

soda bread ingredients:

250g plain white flour (not self-raising, just plain)

250g plain wholemeal flour

100g porridge oats (I have made it without these before but if you want that authentic experience you’ll probably want the oats)

1 tsp bicarbonate of soda

1 tsp salt

25g butter, cut into small cubes

500ml buttermilk (if you have no buttermilk, I find adding 1 tablespoon of lemon juice to a cup of milk and stirring for a few minutes works fine)

soda bread creation time:

preheat oven to [takes a deep breath] regular oven 200C, fan oven 180C, or if you work with Fahrenheit (holy shit I spelled that right first time??) that’s around 390F and 355F respectively.

mix together all the dry ingredients, so your two flours, your oats, your bicarbonate of soda, and your salt.

rub in the butter so it’s all good and mixed in. remember to go easy on the dough, it has to be treated very gently. 

add the buttermilk and stir the mixture carefully but quickly with a kitchen knife. you don’t want to be doing anything remotely near kneading, so you get to stir with a knife because apparently that’s somehow more gentle.

once everything is mixed, shape the dough into a round, flat-ish lump. just like the round loaves you see.

use the knife to score a nice good cross over the top of the dough. according to tradition, this is to allow the fairies to escape, but it’s also really good for allowing the bread to cook through properly.

put on a baking sheet and bake until it sounds hollow when you knock on it. this takes between 30-45 minutes in my experience, but after the 30-minute mark check regularly because it can be any time.

if for whatever reason it’s not ready yet, just flip ‘er upside-down for a few minutes.

leave to cool on a wire rack (to prevent the bottom from getting soggy) and covered with a tea towel (to keep the crust crusty).

from my experience this bread can sometimes be very dense, but experimenting with cooking times and flour ratios will shift it. I’ve found wholemeal to be slightly denser than plain flour, so once you get the hang of it tweak the recipe until it’s to your liking!

Irish stew

now times have changed you can make this in a slow cooker if you like, but I’ve never done that (yet -- I shall this winter and report back). this is how I used to eat it: sitting at the old wooden table in my friend’s kitchen, while her mam ladled it out of the massive saucepan that could drain a small lough.

(I have since become vegetarian, but this recipe would be just as nice as a hearty vegetable stew. if you’re vegetarian or there are any vegetarians out there who’d like to try it, hit me up for a recipe as I’d change this one pretty significantly in terms of technique if there was no meat.)

there’s a little controversy, as there always is with classic recipes: traditionally Irish stew is made with mutton, but mostly everyone just uses lamb. there’s also a debate raging about whether or not it should just have potatoes and onions in it, but honestly go ham. so long as there’s some nice tasty root veggies in there it’s grand, but of course potatoes are a must.

Irish stew ingredients

2 tablespoons vegetable oil 

lamb chunks (I just get them already cut from the supermarket)

potatoes 

roughly chopped onion

finely sliced leeks

roughly chopped carrots

2 tablespoons plain flour

1 1/2 pints beef stock (I just use a stock cube or two)

note how the vegetables have no measurements. this is just because I tend to make whatever looks right for the amount of people I’m cooking for.

Irish stew creation time:

heat the oven to 180C (or 355F)

take half of your vegetable oil and heat it up until it’s warm but not going crazy, and then add half your lamb and brown it.

take the lamb out and put it into a big casserole dish (or any large dish that has a lid and can go in the oven).

cover the lamb with half the potatoes, carrots, onions, and leeks.

add the rest of the oil to your frying pan and brown the rest of the lamb, and then add that into your casserole dish (or equivalent) over the veggies.

cover with the rest of the veggies so you have a weird veggie-meat lasagne.

add the flour to the frying pan and stir it around to soak up all the juices, then heat for a couple of minutes. add the stock a little at a time until everything turns to a nice, thick sauce with no lumps. it’ll kind of look like thick soup or brown gravy.

pour this sauce into your dish with all the meat and veggies.

if you have any stock left over, throw that in too. put the lid on and cook it in the oven for about an hour.

after an hour check to make sure there’s still plenty of sauce. if there isn’t, add some boiling water. the meat and veggies must always be covered with liquid, or they’ll dry out. once this is done (or if everything is fine!) bake for another hour, checking a little more regularly to make sure it’s nice and saucy.

if there’s too much sauce at the end, bake for a little longer with the lid off.

once the hour is up, it’s done! add salt and pepper if you like. best served piping hot with a hunk of thick crusty bread, while the wind and rain howls outside.

I hope these work out well for you and I hope they succeed in making you feel a little closer to your family. as part of your wider Irish family and the slightly narrower Irish orphan family, I hope these recipes bring you warmth and comfort as the days get colder.

[pizzagrlmeetsboy1980]

So many people have given me feed back on the Alan and Sarah have 4 evil children AU so I made some more vignettes!

How Alan responded each time to Sarah telling him she was pregnant.

Oliver: Was absolutely elated. It meant he would appear as a family man and would be more likely to get re-elected.

Marie: Was overjoyed. Didn’t know he was going to be ousted though. Was in awe that he had a girl and liked that she looked like Sarah from day 1

Constance: Was happy, told Sarah that this was it. No more children. Was hoping that this would be another boy, but was happy none the less.

Grace: A surprise! He was furious. How could Sarah be so forgetful?! How hard is it to take a damn pill?! Another child, it threw his plans completely out of whack and that new yacht he was wanting would have to wait. However the moment he first held Grace he knew she was going to be special. But no more. Sarah’s getting her tubes tied.

...

Connie: Honestly, what kind of night vision goggles are these?! I can’t see a thing!!

Gervais: *takes them and looks at them* These are regular binoculars..

Connie: Then why is Dad always using them at night?..

-Awkward silence from all of them-

Connie:...Oh.

...

Oliver: *dangling keys at Marie* Do you need a ride home or is your trust-fund prince taking you to the local stupor?

Marie: I never should have pulled you out of the pool that one time..

...

Leslie( Pier’s and Clarissa’s middle child. 14): I worked all summer for these arms! Why won’t Constance notice them?

Oliver: You shouldn’t have stopped. You look like a potted plant that’s barren.. also you’re never going to get my parents permission to date my most problematic sister. *lights a cigarette*

Leslie: Why not?!

Oliver: *takes a drag* Because my father hates The Gentry. Sir Leslie. He hates it when blokes just get handed things without working for them.

Girl: Oliver!...Here. I did your biology homework.

Oliver: Aww..thank you, Darling. Shall I see you at lunch?

Girl: Sure..*giggles and walks on*

Leslie: Who was that?

Oliver: Hell if I know.

...

-A girl has threatened to beat up Connie for running her mouth. Leslie is trying to save her but it does not go as planned-

Leslie: ...Honestly why must we fight, ladies? We are the children of the most powerful people in Great Britain. What on earth could we possibly want for? After all Neville Chamberlain once said : “I am myself a man of peace to the depths of my soul. Armed conflict between nations is a nightmare to me; but if I were convinced that any nation had made up its mind to dominate the world by fear of its force, I should feel that it must be resisted...”

-Girl punches him in the gut and falls to the ground-

-Oliver steps over him-

Oliver: Yes, but Winston Churchill said: “Those who can win a war well can rarely make a good peace, and those who could make a good peace would never have won the war."...You have a mean right hook. I like that. Oliver B’Stard. Future MP, current president of the Senior Cla-

-Girl knees him in the groin, he’s now on the floor with Leslie. Both groaning-

The girl’s father has requested to speak with Alan and Sarah.

Alan: “There is no need to fuss. We will have a civilized discussion..Pay attention, Oliver this is how -adults- handle things.”

Oliver: “If her parents are anything like her you might want to keep a reasonable distance. I’m still recovering...oh..here Mum..”

-Oliver reaches into his pants and pulls out a bag of frozen peas-

Sarah: Here. Thaw out these carrots while you’re at it. -hands him the bag and he slides them under his belt making a tiny noise of relief-

-Sometime later-

Girl’s father: As a doctor I can tell you it would be in your incredibly unstable child’s best interest if she were immediately sedated sent to a personal care home.

Oliver: -Watching from the stairs with his siblings. chuckles. Knowing how this will end now. Accepts the bag of popcorn Connie gives him-

Alan: Oh really? It’s my understanding that your child is jealous of mine. I mean...look at my wife...look at me..she comes from incredible stock. She’s going to be naturally beautiful and popular..if ..a bit of a late bloomer..

Constance: -offended gasp-

Girl’s Father: You know what? All of your children are spoiled, problematic derelicts and they’ve done nothing but bring the academy into a further social decline since they arrived!

Sarah: -stands up- ...I would tread lightly, Doctor..you’re standing in a mansion full of guns, explosive devices and illegal immigrant ex-assassins from Russia working as our house staff...

Marie: I thought there was something off about Mrs.Gorbachev..

Girl’s Father: I knew you B’Stard’s were evil but raising children to be evil?...I‘lol report you all to the school board...

Alan:...Now now..let’s not get hasty...-Alan reaches into his jacket-

Connie: Aw here it comes. I bet it’ll be 12,000

Marie: No more than 10

Oliver: He’s made Dad pretty mad. I say 3

Grace: I think it’s a gun. -points at Alan having a gun-

Oliver:..Well. That’s certainly new.

..

Sarah is watching Grace play with William, Pier’s youngest son who is one year older than Grace.

Sarah: Alan...come here. Look at Grace playing with William Fletcher-Dervish.

Alan: Another one? They just keep spawning like Sea lamprey..

Sarah: Watch her. She’s being incredibly demanding and bossy. I don’t like that one bit..

Alan: Oh dear, I wonder who she inherited -that- from.

-She glares at him-

Alan: But I can see your point...She won’t attract a husband with that attitude.

Sarah: She’s seven years old!

Alan: And that’s my point, we’ve got to get on this NOW, Sarah. I mean by the time she turns 21 who knows what society will look like. We have to have submissive conservative women or the Tories will die out!

....

One of their children is in trouble

Alan:...Alright Sarah. Which one is it?

Sarah: It’s Oliver.

Alan: Oliver?! He’s the good one! I mean..Marie will probably get pregnant before she’s 21, Connie will marry the first bloke that gives her attention and Grace will probably be in prison before she’s 13 for money laundering or leading an organized crime syndicate. He’s the only one that has a future!

Sarah: Alan! Surely you have more faith in your daughters than that.

Alan:...I would if it were legal to keep them at home until I find suitable husbands for them. That was the plan when I was Protector..BUT NoOoOoooo. This is the 20th century women are “liberated”. They get to pick their -own- husbands.

Sarah: Do you know who you sound like?....My father. You forget..I got to pick you...*rubs noses with him*

Alan: *pushes her away* I’ve had a bitch of a day, Sarah. Don’t tell me things like that....and our marriage was a strategic masterpiece, Darling. I only hope Oliver finds -his- Sarah one day...hopefully one that doesn’t try to kill him all the time. I’d like my name to live on.

Sarah: I’m only stating the truth, Darling. Just admit it. You’re protective over them. It’s okay to love them. I love them...sometimes.

Alan:...*sighs...running a hand over his face* ....What did he do?...

Sarah: He was caught in the girl’s locker room. Showering with the girl’s field hockey team.

*Alan grins and nods approvingly*

*Sarah crosses her arms and rolls her eyes*

Alan: Oh, that’s just a healthy growing boy’s habit, Darling. I was doing the same thing at his age. Except I showered with the future homemakers club. A conservative boy’s fantasy come true...

Sarah: You were showering with them because they couldn’t tell you were a BOY.

Alan: Your point? I still got to see 12 naked girls all at once.

...

Sarah: Marie...that Diamond bracelet is lovely where did you get it?

Marie: Oh. I bought it with the money Daddy gave me to breakup with Brian.

Sarah: Aah. I see. Seems it wasn’t serious as you thought?

Marie: Oh no. I really just wanted this bracelet and I knew you and Daddy would never give me the money to get it so I fake-dated Brian Crippen and poof!...Bribe money. Bracelet. Pity though I don’t think I’ll be able pull it off twice

Sarah:...Marie...That’s ..brilliant. I’m so proud.

[hiisohomas]

a short story for hisohoma on valentine's <3

Homare wanted to buy special limited edition marshmallows for Hisoka for valentine's.

He goes to buy at a fairly famous sweet shop that has been touched with the valentine flair. Beautiful shades of reds and pink, he could recite a poem right there! Homare takes a look around the shop, but alas, he couldn't find any marshmallows.

He went up to the cash register to ask them if they had any marshmallows because maybe they did have some and he just couldn't find it?

Where is the cashier anyway? He's been waiting for the past 3 minutes. He looked around the shop, only seeing customers and no staff.

"Sir." The voice came from the cash register. Finally. Homare turned around.

"Oh Arisu."

"Hisoka-kun?!"

"Shh you're gonna scare the customers"

"I didn't know you were working here.."

"What do you need?" Hisoka asked.

How is Homare going to ask Hisoka for the marshmallows, his own gift. It's incredibly embarrassing and will ruin the surprise aspect.

"Arisu there's people behind you. hurry."

Ah. He should just say it, he wouldn't want yo burden the other customers. his face turning a shade of light pink, he said, "I was going to ask if the shop have any special marshmallows in stock?"

Hisoka frowned. "No.."

"Hmm.. i suppose it would make sense because you would just snack on them all!" Homare chuckled while Hisoka glared at him.

"I wouldn't want to get in the way of your work now, would I? very well, I shall get some treats for the other dorm occupants!" Homare left Hisoka and went to browse the shelves once more.

_

15 minutes had passed and Homare was done with selecting the treats, he just had to actually buy them. He glanced over at the cashier and met Hisoka's gaze.

"Were you watching me Hisoka-kun~?" He cheekily remarked.

"No. Give me your basket." Hisoka started scanning the items one by one. What a bummer though Homare couldn't get the man he was supposed to buy for anything.

"Arisu."

"Yes?"

Hisoka averted his gaze away from the other. "Tsumugi told me a new cafe near here just opened up with really good marshmallow drinks and my shift is going to end so.." Hisoka tried to hide his face even more to hide the blush forming. Homare saw it though, just what do you think all those carrots he eats do to him.

Cute. Hisoka's so fucking cute.

"Are you asking me out on a date Hisoka-kun? I never took you as the bold type."

"Shut up or i'm throwing this bag in your face." Hisoka forcefully (he didn't hurt homare dw) handed him the bag of treats he just finished scanning.

"What time does yor shift end?"

"In 10 minutes"

"I'll be waiting for you outside then!" homare said as he cheerfully skipped outside murmuring poetry or something.

Once he was out of sight, hisoka clasped his chest, feeling his running heartbeat. He didn't think homare would accept.

Homare sat down at an umbrella shielded tabel right outside. He held his face and lovingly stared at hisoka as he continued working.

"I can't wait..!"

[muwi-translates]

灰鷹のサイケデリカ ソフマップ特典ドラマCD 「ぷちサイケデリカ～暇つぶし編～」

“Something that may have happened during the main story. What will the two brothers do with the spare time they have from being trapped inside due to a snowstorm?”

Another big thank you to @jokertrap-ran​ for accepting another commission of mine!

Levi: Haa... I’m... hungry... Don’t you have anything else in there? What we ate earlier wasn’t enough at all. We can’t do anything while cooped in like this, so going out to buy things is out of the question. Plus, mom isn’t in either so it’s not like we could ask her to make something for us. Well, I wouldn’t mind going out to buy stuff myself, really. But this amount of snowfall’s something I’ve really never seen before… Hey... Hey I said! Why aren’t you saying anything!?

Lavan: I’ll get hungry if I talk.

Levi: That’s the reason why…? So, you’re hungry too, aren’t you!?

Lavan: I suppose. I thought that this hunger would come to pass if I simply sat still and did nothing, but…

Levi: The snow doesn’t look like it’s going to be letting up anytime soon either. We’ll probably be stuck inside here till tomorrow morning at least, don’t you think? The only good thing out of being snowed in is that I can take a break from work.

Lavan: The real problem here’s the food stock we have. It’s not like we can ask mother to cook anything either.

Levi: Ehh... That’s not even worth joking about; we’ll become victims ourselves if that comes to pass…

Lavan: We’ll be rendered unable to move from a totally different reason…

Levi: Okay! Let’s go search the place and see if we’ve got any food lying around! I think we might have bread crusts or something still in here.

Lavan: You’re going to start looking right now?

Levi: Yeah. I mean, we’re free, aren’t we?

Lavan: Mother will get mad if we turn the pantry upside down.

Levi: But it’s not like we can do anything now that we’re hungry, right? Come on, brother; you should search too! Potatoes over here and carrots in here. This one’s salt... And this one’s some unidentified seasoning. Damn it, there’s absolutely nothing edible here.

Lavan: So I was involved in a waste of effort…?

Levi: Well, you were hungry too, weren’t you? But I can’t find anything that’s pre-made and edible in here... We have some dried meat though, if that counts.

Lavan: I’ll do with that.

Levi: Ah- Hold up!

Lavan: Hm? What, you want a piece of it too?

Levi: No, there’s just something written down over here. “In the middle of aging - Francisca” It says.

Lavan: ...Should we put it back?

Levi: I’m kinda interested to see how you’ll react to eating it, so feel free to dig in! I’ll watch over you!

Lavan: I don’t think even I want to sacrifice myself to something of mother’s creation so this is a much better option... We have wine!

Levi: That’s not even food! I don’t think it’ll be any bette- Hey…?

Lavan: It looks pretty good. I think this wasn’t so bad of an idea after all. Smells great.

Levi: Damn, it’s actually good.

Lavan: You don’t have work today, right? We’ve got plenty of wine to go around so we can just drink as much as we like.

Levi: Damn it!

Lavan: You’re drinking quite a bit for someone who was totally against this just now.

Levi: I’m just accompanying you! It’s boring to drink alone, right? Still, it would be much better if we’ve got some snacks to go along with it…

Lavan: How about that meat that you were so intent on making me eat earlier?

Levi: I don’t eat meat. Whoa, this is really good. It isn’t too heavy either; I think I can down lots of this, actually.

Lavan: Don’t go too far with it; you’ve still got work lined up tomorrow.

Levi: If the snow doesn’t stop, then tomorrow’s going to be a day off from work too.

Lavan: You can’t just skip out on work because you’ve been snowed in for days on end. Besides, I think I’ll need your help when we go out to buy things too any way.

Levi: You don’t have to be such a prick when we’re relaxing, loosen up. Hmm, I’ve pretty much read all the books we have in here... I’m so bored…

Lavan: You’ve finally got a break, so don’t go wasting all that free time you’ve finally got.

Levi: Hm…

Lavan: What are you doing?

Levi: I’m arranging the books based on their shape and size...Okay, now they’re perfectly lined up! And now, to knock it all down!! Yes! They’ve all fallen!

Lavan: Haa...Really, what are you doing? You’re not a kid either, so what’s all that interesting, looking at books falling down like dominos?

Levi: Not really. But it’s fine isn’t it? Since we’re bored and all that. I bet it would be real cool if we lined up more tomes and knocked them all down! Just knocking one down will send the rest toppling too! Maybe I should try increasing the amount of books…

Lavan: You’ll fill the table before you get there.

Levi: Ah, you have a point. Isn’t there anywhere else I can line them up?

Lavan: You can just bring that table over there and connect it with this one.

Levi: Oh! What, you’re actually going along with it!

Lavan: I’m bored, that’s why.

Levi: We’ll line them all up like this and use this box here too while we’re at it…This one’s being used, so this one will do.

Lavan: If you line that up along with the rest of the things, it’ll fall over and cause a mess. Maybe you should take a couple out and leave them at the sides.

Levi: Yeah, that’s true. But then, how many bottles should I use?

Lavan: Use this. Hm, we’ve run out of alcohol? I’ll go bring more over.

Levi: Hmm, it’s great when it’s all lined up like this. But I think I want something with more punch. Using a chair to make height sounds interesting!

Go for it then. I would suggest using something heavier up there though.

Levi: That’s a great idea! And then we can line some in a downward motion and change the way it’s lined up on the ground into different patterns. I’ll do this like this…

Lavan: Hey, it’s fallen. You’re still in the middle of the set-up so there’s no meaning to it if you just make it collapse halfway, right?

Levi: Ahaha, sorry, sorry. I just felt like it was a good time to do that.

Lavan: Honestly. It looks good now,  but you’ve still got to build it up a little more or it won’t fall nicely.

Levi: Heh. Aren’t you drunk too, brother? The bottom’s not done yet; I haven’t gotten to it.

Lavan: I don’t think I’ve drunk all that much though. What are you going to do about the goal?

Levi: The goal? The rooms are off-limits so...how about using this cork here?

Lavan: So if you manage to hit the cork into the goal, that’s a win? Okay, let’s go with that.

Levi: Hmm, this is reaaaaal bad. I think this is one of my greatest creations yet!

Lavan: We should pull off a big one if we’re already doing it. Hey, you’re wavering over on your end. You’ve gotta pay more attention to it and be careful.

Levi: I think I’ve been doing just that though...But let’s line it up so that it can collapse from the weight coming from above.

Lavan: That’s good, but what comes after? It won’t collapse if we do just that.

Levi: Huh? No way in hell. It will collapse. I bet you it will.

Lavan: Then how about you try it? I’m sure there will be a problem halfway through.

Levi: Why can’t you understand?

Lavan: I don’t understand why you’re trying to talk your way out of it.

Levi: You’re always like this!

Lavan: And you’re always doing things in such a manner, that’s why-

Levi: Oh! Ugh...No. This isn’t the time to be fighting!

Lavan: Yeah, you’re right...This isn’t the time for it...We have to work together, or this will never be complete.

Levi: Right. We have to be serious about this! Otherwise they’ll only be like clutter on the ground, falling, tumbling…I will...We have to save them!!

Lavan: That’s right. We have to do it seriously! We shall make them all collapse!!

Levi: Okay! Let’s do this, brother!!

Lavan: You don’t have to tell me!

Levi: Damn, my eyes are…

Lavan: Not enough alcohol, I bet. Fill up. 

Levi: There’s more empty bottles now, so how about we use it? How about we make a tower with all these increasing bottles?

Lavan: What do you intend to do with that? Hahaha!

Levi: Oh no...I’m sleepy…

Lavan: It’s not complete yet. We have the large set-up needed to launch the cork left. Bear with it! Endure!!

Levi: I know...but... I’ve been feeling sleepy since earlier and he appears whenever i close my eyes... that guy, having fun in the snow…

Lavan: Not enough alcohol, I bet.

Levi: Brother...Aren’t you trying to make me drunk on purpose?

Lavan: Of course not! Didn’t I just say that we both have to be working on this together to see it to completion? Don’t give up, don’t run! We will see this through!

Levi: That’s true... I was wrong! Okay!! Let’s do this!!

Lavan: That’s the spirit!

***

Levi: We’re...done…!

Lavan: It’s...done…?

Levi: Amazing! It’s beautifully lined up now! The whole room!

Lavan: Yes. And now, with the fall of this one book, the rest will follow in line. Just imagining it...no, I can’t.

Levi: Brother, I’ll leave it to you.

Lavan: Really? But you looked like you wanted to be the one to push it so badly…

Levi: It’s alright. I can’t do this alone after all. Without you, I wouldn’t have completed this.

Lavan: Me too. We did this together, didn’t we?

Levi: Brother…

Lavan: Okay, then let’s push it together. That will be the start.

Levi: Yeah, let’s do that. But first, a cup to our greatest work yet!

Lavan: A cup! Cheers!

***

Lavan: Mmngh... Ah! Hey, wake up!!

Levi: What…? Don’t be so loud... my head’s pounding…

Lavan: You- Do you remember anything from last night!?

Levi: Huh…? Of course I… Ahh! Why’s it all collapsed!? I don’t remember anything!

Lavan: I knew it… So we fell asleep after that cup last night and hit it by accident while asleep, maybe?

Levi: Ain’t that the worst... we worked so hard for it too... To think that it’s all gone now…

Lavan: Actually, why were we so desperate to finish something like this?

Levi: No idea at all. I don’t know and if mother sees this super cluttered room... Argh!! Gotta go--

Lavan: Hey! Don’t run away!!

Levi: But I really feel ill... Please brother! Clean it up!?

Lavan: Even I feel like puking! We should be working with each other at times like this!

Levi: I know, but- I feel sick…

Lavan: Ugh... we’ve all drunk too much. What the hell were we doing yesterday…?

Levi: It’s a little too late for regrets right now... Absolutely...

[illshowyourhurricanes]

Congrats on your milestone my lovely!!! 🎉 Can I request photo number four for Benjamin please?? So excited to read these!!

Thank you so much for your kind words and your request, lady! I had so much fun writing it. I hope you enjoy!

Masterpiece

Image prompt 4: Benjamin Greene x reader

Rating: PG

Word count: 1115 (I’m incapable of drabbles. Completely incapable.)

Tag list: @dylanobrusso @obscurilicious @the-blind-assassin-12 @something-tofightfor @ms-delos @lexxierave @madamrogers @yannii04 @gollyderek @carlaangel86 @bicevans @maydayfigment @thisisparadisemylove @ladyofnaps @malionnes @thesandbeneathmytoes @crushed-pink-petals-writes

Follower event tag list: @luminex3 @fireeyes-on-teller-dixon-grimes @witchygagirl @breanime

If you’d like to be added to removed from my tag list, please just send me an ask!

This drabble is related to Hopeless, which can be found in my masterlist. 

You were standing beside the stove, methodically chopping carrots . Humming softly, you peered over into the pot of vegetable stock coming to a soft boil and smiled. First garlic, then onions, and finally…

“Benjamin!” You’d heard his footsteps over the floor, but hadn’t realized that sometime within the past minute he’d swiped a heap of carrots and was snacking casually. 

He grinned at you, leaning against the counter and popping another raw carrot slice into his mouth. He reached up to push his glasses up and held out a cupped hand. “Carrot?”

Laughing, you turned back to add what was left of the chopped carrots into the start of the bean and vegetable soup coming together, followed by canned white beans. With a few stirs to the ingredients so far, you set the lid of the pot in place and turned down the heat to a low simmer. 

“I found something curious,” Benjamin spoke up, and you raised your brows in intrigue, turning toward him. He leaned in to kiss each eye, the tip of your nose, then your mouth, popping the last carrot piece into your mouth afterward. “That’s love.” 

You crunches on the carrot, nodding in agreement. “Is that the something curious you found? I thought love had been hanging around for awhile now…”

“The love, my love, is a constant.” He offered his hand again, this time for you to take, and led you into the room he used for a study. It was a disaster. You mouth hung ajar 

“Benjamin Greene.” You stepped inside the room carefully, the sunlight streaming through the picture window and drenching the complete catastrophe of every single record they owned in deceitfully warm light. The shelves they were usually stacked on were completely bare, except for one record, lying there without a sleeve. 

Taking careful, measured steps, Benjamin made his way through the absolute hellfire of a room— between the two of them, they had quite the collection of vinyl— and plucked the record from the shelf. 

“This,” his voice strained as he reached out to the shelf ,“Is the curious thing.” He presented to you a record and you squealed. 

Benjamin’s eyes widened, and he barked out a laugh. “I’ve never seen you so delighted.” 

Another squeal was followed by a little twirl of excitement. “Do you know what this is?!” You took the record from Benjamin, turning it over twice, admiring it with a special sort of nostalgic fondness. 

“Oddly enough, darling, I’ve no idea.” His eyes dropped to the label of the record, which had been painted over with a striking shade of lime paint. Outward, extending directly around the perimeter of green was a thicker, vibrant circle of cherry red. The B-side was identical. 

“This,” you sighed, holding it at arms’ length, “is… was?… an art project.” Benjamin, whose eyes had been shining with a bit of curiosity, was now completely invested. His dark eyes were wide behind the lenses of his glasses, and you smiled brightly. 

He always paid strict attention when you talked, but especially about your work. Even if he had absolutely no idea of what was different at all between willow and vine charcoal and compressed charcoal, it didn’t matter. It didn’t matter to him that he wasn’t well-versed enough in the superiority of charcoal over pencil even if you’d explained it to him a dozen times, because you could draw with a dulled or broken crayon and he’d declare the end product a masterpiece. 

“It was for my basic painting class, and it was the first day of class,” you began to explain, stepping carefully around a pile of records that had fallen into a tragic sort of heap. “We jumped straight into it, taking notes about different types of paint, what they were used for, and by the end, I was completely dejected. An entire hour and a half class, even an intro class, shouldn’t be based on definition. You can’t just solely lecture on art. Just as everyone was set to leave, the professor spoke above all the rustling of paper and clatter of closing binders that for the next class meeting, we were to bring a normal household object made remarkable with the use of acrylic paint.” 

Benjamin was looking at you like you’d hung the moon. “I ran out and bought a basic 18-colour set for under £1 per tube—shit paint, but it works fantastically for smaller things—and this is my normal household object made unremarkable.”

You scrunched your nose and Benjamin wanted to scoop you up into his arms and hold you there forever. “I got a C. Not my favourite mark.”

“That professor was an idiot. A buffoon!” He dances around the mess again, weaving between stacks he’d made, and made it across the room to where you stood. He gently took the record, placed it on the turntable beside you, and pulled you to his chest. You breathed in deeply, wanting nothing more than to immerse yourself entirely in his scent.

“The soup!” You’d completely forgotten about what was on the stove and you bolted for the kitchen. Benjamin followed, completely love struck over an almost decade-old art project. By the time he made it into the kitchen, you were silently praying to a wooden spoon immersed in hot liquid that you hadn’t ruined dinner. 

“Does it play? Your masterpiece?” 

You grinned into your soup, which magically still appeared to be edible. Turning off the burner, you nodded, then shook your head. “The unpainted part but you’d rather not.” 

Opening his mouth in indignance, you spoke up again. “It’s Spice Girls.”

“The girls of spice? Salt n Peppa?” Benjamin’s jokes were sometimes terrible at best, but you loved him for it.

In response, you lifted the lid off the soup pot and dipped the bit wooden spoon in, holding it up to cool as he crooked your finger to beckon Benjamin over for a taste. “If you wanna be my lover…” you sang, looking him in the eye. 

He raised his brows in interest and took the spoon, slurping up the liquid. “It’s horrible,” he teased. “Tasteless. Needs some more time to marry.” He tossed the spoon into the sink and scooped you up like he’d been wanting to, the way a groom would carry his wife over the threshold. “Makes for a good love potion though.” Gazing down at you, Benjamin winked. His glasses slipped down his nose a bit and he left them there; he saw nothing but you. 

“Now, let’s explore what your stipulations are for that ‘if’, shall we?” Peppering your face with kisses, he nuzzled into your neck playfully, his beard scratching against your skin.

[justanothercookery]

Gravy

Roast goose with chestnut stuffing, roast potatoes, braised red cabbage, lemony leeks, roast onions and apples, and gravy, followed by tiramisù on Thursday 17 December 2020

We wouldn’t usually celebrate the end of Chanukah with a goose, but in the year 2020 it seemed like the right thing to do. I stuck with my trusted goose and stuffing recipe. I followed this with tiramisù, which I suppose makes it a roast dinner with trifle for dessert affair. But we’re here for the gravy recipe right now.

Serves 4-6, depending on how much gravy people want and need

Stock

Giblets from the bird (goose in this case, thus less the liver that I shall pâté)

1 onion, peeled and cut into eighths

1 carrot, cut into large chunks

1 rib celery, cut into chunks

1 bay leaf

6 peppercorns

1 sprig thyme

1 spring parsley

1 litre water

Gravy

Stock from the giblets

1 onion, thinly sliced

2 tablespoons fat from the goose

1 tablespoon plain flour

Slug port (sherry, Madeira, or Marsala all work here, too)

Pan juices

Start with the stock. Put all of the giblets (less the liver, if like me you intend to make chopped liver or pâté) into a large pan together with the vegetables, aromatics, and water. Bring it to the boil, and then turn down the flame to a gentle simmer. Let it cook with the lid on for at least two-and-half hours. You might need to skim off the scum, but that’s your stock. Strain it and keep it warm for your gravy. (Or refrigerate it if you’re making it in advance.)

Heat the goose fat (or render it) in a heavy-based saucepan and fan the onion gently until it is deep gold. This will take close to 20 minutes. Sprinkle it with salt, and then add the spoon of flour and stir very well. Slowly add in the port and mix thoroughly in an attempt to limit the lumps.

A little at a time, stir in the goose stock, mixing hard to prevent lumps. When all of the stock has been incorporated leave it to cook slowly for at least 20 minutes. I usually make this well in advance and let it sit until I need to reheat it for serving, at which point I add in the pan juices from the rested and carved bird (or joint - it works for one of those, too). It’s the gravy you need.

[katherinewilliams221b]

A very Walsh Christmas

Summary: Charlie and Kate spend the day before Christmas at Kate’s grandfather’s house. Set in 1995 but I apologise if there’s some inaccuracies (Don’t think so but…)

Pairing: Charlie Weasley x ofc

A/N: Long ass fic. I’m sick and in bed and in the mood to write. I wanted to do a holidays special. OH and ALSO brace yourselves for a Charlie Weasley POV.

I wish you all happy holidays. Raise a glass to all your loved ones.

“Are you sure you want to do this?”

“Why are you asking that just in front of your grandfather’s house, we can’t go back now!”

For weeks I had been trying to convince Kate that spending the holidays with her family was a good idea. We had, in fact, spent one Christmas alone in Romania and although it was a nice rest from the chaotic atmosphere of the Burrow, it ended with both of us secretly miserable.

Now standing in front of Kate’s grandfather’s house, in the village of Stanton, staring at the Christmas decorations on the door, I found myself more nervous than when I first went to Romania.

I couldn’t help but shift in my place and I looked down at the bottle I was carrying; a fine firewhiskey if I dare say myself, and it better be, because I spent an entire week choosing one.

“Alright, I’m positively freezing, I’m going to ring.” I heard her say. Before she did, a deep voice near us startled me.

“If you are not going in, leave the presents at the door and leave.” A man with red cheeks and a smirk on his face was leaning on the nearest window to the door, from inside the house.

“Grandpa!” Kate’s eyes lit under the streetlights and that was the only thing that made all my insecurities go away.

“The door’s open, what are you waiting for? Snow? Can make it snow in a second, look.” Kate squealed when a snowball appeared out of nowhere and hit her full on the head. She rapidly opened the door and shook her hair out of the snow. I followed her closing the door behind me.

“Grandpa! You have to improve your snowflakes…”

“Ah, a stór, fashionably late, I see. You happen to have snow on your hair.” Kate shook her head and smiled, a sight so rare these days I couldn’t help but stare.

They hugged, tight and long, and I couldn’t decide if I wanted to watch or look away. Giving them space, I focused on the entrance of the house. I could hear the crackling of fire at my right and also a set of voices accompanying it. A clock on the wall marked 7:32 in the evening, we were fashionably late indeed, and to the left I imagined there was the table set with dinner.

“And you must be the famous Charles Weasley.” He comically bowed and I shook the hand he offered. I was strangely relieved by the look in his eyes and managed to relax slightly. I looked up at Kate, questioning about my popularity status but she avoided my gaze, a lovely shade of pink appearing on her cheeks.

“Yes, Sir. You can call me Charlie.”

“And you can call me Bernard!” He added so cheerfully that I had to smile. Suddenly I remembered my gift.

“Here, this is for you.” I handed him the whiskey and he inspected it with such a scrutiny that I felt the need to apparate to Romania just in one jump.

“Ah, but this is just perfect, we will have it with dessert. Excuse me for a moment.” Bernard left the entrance hall, leaving me alone with Kate. She had changed her shoes into a pair of fluffy slippers.

“I got you a pair, too, you’ll be more comfortable.” She grabbed the bags I was carrying and my coat and scarf and left for a moment as well. I had changed into the slippers when she came back.

“This is going to be madness.” She said putting her hands around my neck. I had a brief second to appreciate her dark green dress and black stockings, she does look good in green.

“You’ve been in my house, you know what that’s like.” I replied hugging her waist.

“Yes, but my family…”

“Is family.” End of discussion. Let’s do this, dear Godric I think I’m going to pass out. “Shall we?”

She guided me to the living room where a tree was set with multiple presents under it. Kate’s family stopped talking as soon as we entered.

“Katie!” A woman with chestnut hair stood up abruptly and hugged Kate tight to her chest. I recognized her to be her mother.

“Nat, you are going to suffocate our daughter.” Joseph Williams set his glass of bubbling liquid on the table and went to hug her as well.

“I don’t think, we’ve actually met, I’m Natalia, Katie’s mom, she offered a hand and I shook it. “Charlie, Charlie Weasley.” I couldn’t help comparing her to Mom, and how she would have crushed in a hug whoever I introduced her to. Very much the way she did with Kate when they first met.

“Of course, Kate told us a lot about you in her letters, I received the last one while I was in Bangkok, ah, I remember that time well.”

Kate’s father offered me a hand as well, a very firm and strong hand, and nodded once. “Mr. Williams.” I tried to smile but the man was certainly intimidating.

A blonde woman got up from the couch, she looked a lot like Kate’s mom.

“Ugh, come on, Nat, you can’t help but slip into minimal conversation one of your trips. Cornelia Walsh, enchantée.” I awkwardly grabbed her hand, but I wasn’t sure if she wanted me to kiss it or shake it. Luckily for me, I felt a familiar hand pressed against my lower back and it was like Kate was absorbing all of the tension.

“Charlie, this is my aunt, Cornelia, and her husband, Secondo.”

“I am actually the third of all my siblings, so I don’t really understand the joke there.” The man shook my hand and I saw from the corner of my eye how Kate’s aunt rolled her eyes.

“Are you going to say that every time we meet someone?”

To my disappointment, Joseph dragged Kate away from me and put an arm around her shoulders guiding her to the dining room and everybody followed. “So, tell me, what does Dumbledore have to say about the conference with the Albanian government?”

Dinner went by with minimal problems, Kate’s grandfather had put some background music in a machine that Dad would certainly adore. He also made sure I was comfortable and was the only one to conversate with me.

It wasn’t once that Katie put a hand on my knee and caressed there absentmindedly, and it was a test to my auto control not to play with her hair or caress her neck in return.

I was excitedly sharing with Bernard some of the details about my dissertation about the Ukrainian Ironbelly when I heard Katie’s brother’s name in the conversation near me. It was clear that it was heading into an argument and my suspicions were rapidly confirmed.

“Oh, don’t tell me you wouldn’t have done the same!” Kate put the fork down with too much force and the cutlery on the table shook.

“It doesn’t matter what I would have done or not, you put your life in danger and others around you!” shouted her father.

“Oh, well at least I was doing something about it!”

“How dare you!” Kate’s mother rose abruptly and threw her napkin on the table, leaving the room.

“How can you say that, Katherine, it was my son you are talking about, don’t you think for one second that I didn’t try to get him back.” He didn’t shout, and that was more telling than anything he could have done. The hurt in his voice was clear to anyone with ears, and my heart broke for all the parents who’ve lost a child. He rose too and left the room presumably to comfort his wife. I watched how Katie’s jaw tensed and then how she closed her eyes briefly before going after him.

A tense silence surrounded us, and Cornelia’s voice seemed ten times louder when she talked.

“It’s never easy for them, you know, especially on holidays.” I nodded, not knowing how to reply. I had been there for her at Hogwarts and I will always be, I had cried Jacob’s death like it was my own brother.

Bernard sighed and proceeded to clean the table. I stood up and helped take the empty plates to the kitchen.

The second course was served, and Bernard insisted it was no use waiting for the rest to join us. Cornelia was in the middle of a very amusing story about a certain apparition test she had to examine.

“You know, as an apparition examiner, I’ve seen a lot of things, horrible things as well splinchings are serious business, but when that kid appeared tangled in the chandelier, I just couldn’t help but burst out laughing in the middle of the court.” I chuckled despite myself and made my best efforts to not give away my apparition abilities.

“Charlie had to take the test twice.” Kate’s voice invaded the small place when she appeared from the hall. Bloody hell, woman, you never give me a rest. She clearly had been crying but when I looked at her, she just smiled at me and I almost forgave her for humiliating me more. “Appeared on top of a poor muggle lady doing her shopping.”

“Really? Well, darling, don’t worry about that, I’ve seen worse.” Kate’s aunt wanted to make me feel better, I knew that, but I also knew that my face was probably matching my hair.

“Well at least I don’t have to sit down for fifteen minutes every time I make a jump…” I replied to Kate. She was left with her mouth open but smiling while the rest chuckled and her grandfather laughed before taking a sip from his wine.

“Alright, mister…” she chuckled and playfully tugged at the short ponytail low in my neck. When Mr and Mrs Williams came back, the mood was light again and I got the chance to relax and talk with everyone at the table.

Dessert came around and I was surprised with the outburst from Kate’s aunt.

“I can’t believe you tried to buy a crushing cabinet!” Cornelia stormed out of the room and her husband followed suit. “My love, it was on sale and I…” I consider myself a perceptive man, but I honestly didn’t see that the conversation was going to take that turn.

“This carrot cake is really good, grandpa, is it grandma’s recipe?” Bernard cleaned the corner of his mouth with his napkin. “It is, indeed, a stór. Your grandmother had the best cooking skills I have ever seen. When we were starting dating, as you would say, back in Ireland, I remember one summer when my Julie came home, a bunch we were, yes, all squeezed around a table that was as well the kitchen. And she came home with a radiant smile and some onions and can you believe she cooked for everyone! Everyone in the house gained at least five pounds that day, even young Sean who was all flesh and bones. Here let me…”

He rounded the table and opened a cabinet. “…grab the pictures…” This was obviously a frequent activity because Kate and her parents started to complain.

“Come on, Dad, we’ve seen those pictures a thousand times already!” said Natalia. Her father ignored her completely and shoved a leather album into my hands. “Look, lad, that’s what a full house looks like.” I opened the album to reveal several pictures scattered through the pages and I smiled. “Oh, I know how it feels, I have five brothers and a sister.”

“Five brothers and a sister! Ha!” He chuckled low and deep “That’s half a family, son. Look, look at it.” He tapped the pictures with his finger before clearing away the plates on the table again.

Kate felt the need to come to my rescue because she moved her chair and pressed herself against my shoulder. “I’m sorry.” She whispered in my ear, but I could hear the amusement in her voice. I shook my head and turned a page, there was something odd in the images.

“Wait. They’re not moving?” Bernard returned from the kitchen wearing pink rubber gloves. “Of course not! Who would have paid for that?” He wiggled his fingers and returned to the kitchen. “My Julie always said, Berny, I don’t care you can do magic! Don’t be a lazy bastard and wash the dishes! Been doing it the muggle way for years now.” He said from the kitchen. “Nat, dear, help me with this would ye.”

“Yes, Da.” Kate’s mother stood up and disappeared to the kitchen as well.

“Well, why don’t we go to the living room, we will be more comfortable.” Offered Joseph.

“I agree!” Kate rushed to secure all the albums into the cabinet again and took my arm guiding me through the entrance hall again and into the living room. “What do you not want me to see?” I whispered. She hesitated but answered me anyway. “Baby pictures.” My eyes widened and I turned to the room we’ve just left but she gripped my arm more securely and held me in place. “Oh, I want to see those!”

“Absolutely not.” She laughed and sat down on the couch in front of the fire.

“I believe you brought some firewhiskey, Charles?” I interpreted his tone as a good signal, maybe we had broken the ice. “Yes, yes, I don’t know where Mr Walsh put it…”

“I have it right here.” He pushed a trolley with some drinks and glasses and served a small cup for everyone. He handed us the drinks and sat down next to Kate, leaving me the armchair next to the couch for me alone. I know perfectly well that Katie drinks out of obligation, so I watched closely as her face contorted in displeasure when she took a sip.

I smiled into my glass before taking a sip myself just before Cornelia and Secondo entered the room.

“So, what were you talking about?” Cornelia demanded. “Oh! Look, honey, it’s your favourite!” She grabbed the glasses of firewhiskey and sat on a loveseat near the window.

“Grandpa took out the photographs.” Said Kate

“Ugh, every time, every time.” Cornelia tsked and then chuckled “That man. Now tell me: how long you’ve been together?” The question took me by surprise and I almost choked on my drink. I met Kate’s gaze and we both shrugged trying to do the math.

“I think…four, five years?” She offered and I nodded “More or less, yes.”

“Oh, that’s a long time! I can’t imagine being with someone for that long. How did you meet?” I resisted the urge to laugh at her husband’s expression and sipped from my glass again. I looked at Kate and we silently agreed that she would answer the interrogation.

“At Hogwarts, in fourth year, I believe. How did you two meet?” Ah, my Katie, queen of never giving too much details about her life. I’ve never been a man of many words and I admit I become slightly nervous when asked about other than my job. And although I prefer to keep our private lives private, I sometimes find the urge to explain every detail of Kate’s life with me and, why not, brag about it as much as I can.

“A toast!” I heard the deep voice of Kate’s grandfather announce. Immersed in my own thoughts I didn’t notice we were reunited all again. “To family, blood or not. To the ones we love and love us back, to the ones we lost but will always be in our hearts. And to the holidays, that give us the opportunity to be together once again.”

“Cheers!” After a round of clinking our glasses, I let myself shrunk in my seat and I stared at the fire. It was peaceful for a moment, the soft music, the lights, the fire.

I looked at Kate, and to my surprise she was looking back at me. She gave me a beautiful smile and I tried to take a mental picture of it. If I were more comfortable, I would have grabbed her hand and dragged her to sit with me and maybe try to steal a kiss or two. At the Burrow I would have done that without thinking.

“Hey!” Cornelia’s voice startled me “It’s Christmas already!” On cue, the clock in the hallway gave twelve o'clock and I stood up to greet everyone. Katie approached me and put a hand on my shoulder before pressing her lips against mine in a short but sweet kiss.

“Merry Christmas” she murmured. I put a strand of hair that had loosened from her clip behind her ear, the only gesture I was allowing myself to indulge. “Merry Christmas, Katie.”

“Let’s open some presents!” Said Bernard joyfully.

“Wait! I got ours in the closet!” Kate rushed to the hallway where she had put our belongings.

I watched how everyone talked and opened their presents, I am very proud of our selection of the watch we got to Kate’s father, he seemed quite taken with it. I had no clue that new omnioculars could make someone so happy, but Natalia was happily explaining some story about them in Egypt.

I wanted to participate in that conversation, having been in Egypt myself with my family, but someone put a hand on my shoulder distracting me. Bernard appeared from behind and gave me a meticulously wrapped present. Oh, I wasn’t expecting that.

“Here, lad. As soon as my Katie told me you were coming, I got this for ye.” In a million years I would have expected any member of her family would give me a gift and I was so touched by the gesture I ended up staring at the present instead of opening it. “Come on, son, I’m going to get old waiting.”

I did as he said, and I was even more impressed when I found what was inside: a copy of From Egg to Inferno: a Dragon’s keeper’s guide. I smiled and caressed the cover. I have read this book over thirteen times, but the fact that he bothered to look for something I might enjoy filled me with warmth.

“Thank you so much, sir. I’m touched.” He smiled and I saw the exact same expression that Kate has, just for a moment.

“You are welcome, son.” He hugged me and clapped my back twice.

“I have something for you, too.” Said a sweet voice behind me. Kate stood with her arms on her back and a smirk on her face. She handed me an envelope with my name on it. It was a letter. I turned it but there was no remittent, so I looked up at her.

“I had to erase it so it wouldn’t ruin anything.” She chuckled nervously, “Come on, open it.”

I did as she said and started reading.

Dear Charles Weasley,

I was told very insistently that I wrote a letter back to you instead of the original remittent.

Due to the multiple letters that arrived to me I decided to address the first one, which had attached parts of a manuscript draft that I believe you are the author of.

I read it thoroughly and I was very pleased with the contents of it, I certainly require a copy of the book when finished, I intend to buy it legitimately, of course.

I am particularly interested in your campaign to set free the Ukrainian Ironbelly that it’s been held captive inside the bank of Gringotts, and I support the cause wholeheartedly. Whenever you feel it’s appropriate, I am at your disposal to discuss the details. 

Best regards,

Newt Scamander

P.S I kept the draft to read it one more time, but I will not mind sending it back to its legitimate owner, if you happen to want it back, please indicate so in a letter.

I don’t remember how many times I read the letter, probably too many, because my lack of response was making Kate shift in her place in front of me.

“Are you angry that I sent him your draft without your permission?” She said softly. I looked up at her and I could see she was afraid of my answer. How could I be? I hadn’t even considered sending it to Newt Scamander, THE Newt Scamander, believing he wouldn’t bother reading it. And she, on her line of making possible the impossible, made my dreams come true.

“I just…you gave it to me to read it, and I thought it was brilliant, I did have to use a couple of books to understand some parts of it but…” she chuckled nervously again and that threw me out of my trance.

I grabbed the letter and the book in one hand and hugged her as tight as I could. She lost her balance and laughed, but I wouldn’t let her fall. She hugged me back and I forgot where we were or that probably we were being watched by her family. That didn’t matter at the moment.

Sounds of an argument caught our attention and we separated.

“When were ye gonna tell me ye were not goin’ to be ‘ere for Christmas?” Bernard’s anger accentuated his accent. “Ye said ye were goin’ to stay!”

“Da, please, you know how it is, I must be in South Africa tomorrow morning.”

“And what in the bloody hell you lost in South Africa that’s more important than your family, Natalia!”

Kate sighed beside me and said, “Would you help me pick up all the wrapping paper?” I nodded knowing what she meant and grabbed the few papers scattered on the floor. She quietly exited the room and I followed, leaving the argument behind us.

I watched move her wrist and the wrapping paper elevated in the air floating towards the kitchen. She grabbed my hand and pulled me towards a room behind the stairs. “Wait! Wait! I got you a present as well!” I rushed towards the hall and picked up the box I brought “It’s not going to be as special as your gift, but…here.”

The room was clearly a studio, with big bookshelves covering the walls, a wooden desk with multiple drawers on it and some artefacts I couldn’t identify.

She had that particular look in her eyes when she knows something that I don’t, bloody hell it’s impossible to surprise her. I watched how she curiously opened the box and I was pleased when she seemed genuinely surprised. She gasped and a wave of pride washed over me.

She is not a girl that waits for you to give her a present, if she wants something, she gets it. Auto Gifts she calls them, but I wanted to do something nice for her and I anticipated. We were indulging in some ‘us time’ in Bucharest, away from the chaos of the magic world, the problems, the thought of a war, just a couple taking a walk under the city lights. It was a moment, just a split of second, in mid-conversation she had stolen a look to a hat shop’s showcase. I didn’t give it much thought until I found an opened Witch Weekly Magazine in her workplace back at home. She hadn’t told me about it, so I figured that she hadn’t decided yet.

“Oh, Charlie, this is…too much.” She took out the witch hat I got her: black with dark blue velvet inside and golden threads on the top. “Love, this is too expensive, I… I’m not working at the moment and…”

“You like it?” I knew she did because she hadn’t taken her eyes away from it.

“This is not practical, I…”

“It’s not supposed to be practical, it’s a gift, but do you like it?”

“I… I do! Oh, Merlin, this is perfect, how…?”

“Because I know you.” She put it on and posed for me.

“How do I look?”

“Positively beautiful.” She smiled and ran to a mirror on the wall where she looked at her reflection and squealed.

“It came with these…uh, things,” I took out a small bag with some star and moon pendants inside of it. “You can hang them on it, if you want, that is.”

“Thanks.” She walked up to me and grabbed my cheeks, probably burning by now, and leaned to kiss me. The hat had other thoughts, and my forehead collided with its wing. We both started laughing and I threw my head back.

“Hey, look, it matches with the ceiling.” I hadn’t noticed before, but the entirety of the ceiling was painted as a dark sky, a deep dark blue with stars all over it. She looked up as well and we stood there, what a sight to see! Both hugging and looking up at nowhere.

“Your grandmother painted it.” Said a voice from the door. Kate’s grandfather stood leaning on the doorframe. “I apologise for the scene” he said “My, my, there’s a witch in my house!” He joked and we both laughed, but I noticed the sadness of his eyes.

“I assume you won’t be here tomorrow either.”

Kate sighed and drew away from me, guilt all over her face.

“We thought we could spend today here and tomorrow with his family; his father’s been badly injured, and we were planning on visiting him at the hospital.” This was not right. Mom always said that no one should spend the holidays alone, that it misses the point completely.

“Mr Walsh,” I began

“Bernard, please,” he corrected

“Bernard, I invite you to spend Christmas day with my family.” Kate looked at me and I saw from the corner of my eye that she smiled.

“Oh, no, no, no, son…”

“I insist, “I interrupted “Mom cooks for a whole army anyway and they won’t mind another guest. I know it’s going to look like just half a family for you but, they always make everyone feel at home.”

“Perhaps, it would be nice…”

“It will.” Said Kate putting and arm around my waist.

“That’s settled, then.” I said. Kate turned around to grab the box and gasped. “Look! It’s snowing!” She rushed to the window behind the desk and the other members of the family came to investigate what was the commotion about.

We ended up all gathered together, pressed against the window watching the snow cover the street.

“My Julie said there was something magical in watching snow fall.” Bernard commented, and he was right, even though in Romania we have our fair share of snow every year, Kate and I always find ourselves staring out of the window for a few peaceful moments.

She rested her head on my shoulder, trying not to poke my face with the hat, and I hugged her waist.

“But that’s just because you always conjured snow just to fall in front of her!” Accused Cornelia with an amused tone.

“Certainly not!” He tried to cover the lie but ended up laughing anyway spreading it to the rest of us. I squeezed Kate’s hip and she turned to look at me.

“Ready for round two tomorrow?” Her eyes widened at the thought of a Weasley Christmas and we ended up chuckling together.

Despite all the mess that our lives were at the moment it was a nice rest, and it was certainly a holiday that I wouldn’t forget.

-

(Part 2/3)

[franklyshipping]

Day 3 ~ Christmas 2019 Ego Fanfics

Day 3 here we frickin come people! I hope you're al hungry because now it is time for the all important...Christmas food shopping! LET'S DO IT!

TAGGING: @goog-ler-iplier

Food, glorious food…writing this part is going to make me hungry, I know it. Just thinking about documenting people buying turkey, chicken, bacon, sausages, pigs-in-blankets, beef, eggs, cubes, mince and steaks of meat substitute, potato starch based egg substitute, roasting and baking potatoes, carrots, parsnips, garlic, onions, sprouts, leeks, celery, spinach, spring onions, bell peppers, tomatoes, heavy cream, semi-skimmed and full fat milks, lacto-free milks, almond milk, soya milk, butter, vegan butter, regular and gluten free loaves, baguettes, wraps and flat breads, chicken and beef stocks, sage, thyme, basil, lemons, limes, satsumas, grapes, walnuts, fennel seeds, cumin, vinegar, star anise, salt, black pepper, oils, black and glace cherries, raisins, dates, apples, cranberries, gooseberries, blackberries, redcurrants, figs, cinnamon powder and sticks, nutmeg, ginger, a multitude of flours and sugars, baking powder and soda, inhuman amounts of chocolate and sweets, whipped cream, savoury snacks like crisps, peanuts, cashews, pretzels, crackers, breadsticks, cheeses and pickles, popcorn, candy floss…and then huge amounts of ice cream….is gonna make me hungry.

Then there’s the whole beverage side of things. There are bottles and cans of fizzy sodas, lemonade, ginger ale, ginger beer, tonic water, elderflower presse, apple juice, orange juice, cranberry juice, instant coffee, coffee machine capsules, earl grey tea, peppermint tea, loose leaf tea, generally festive tea, hot chocolate mixes, egg nog, white wine, red wine, rose wine, port, champagne, whiskey, gin, rum, cream liqueur, cans and bottles of beer, vodka….and sparkling water. Damn…it’s a lot. Undoubtedly you’d need somebody with something like a computer for a memory to memorise all of that, purchase it and bring it home in an efficient manner; thank heck for Googleplier. He was on the mission for consumables, along with his VERY excited boyfriend Blankgameplays.

Now, when it came to public places Blank could often get very anxious and uncomfortable…but not this time. On this occasion, not only did he have his sweet blue Google with him, but he also had a task to undertake, a task he’d been looking forward to ever since he’d volunteered to help Google with it. Blank loved shopping, and he also loved Google, so really this was his idea of the perfect morning. He, of course, was in charge of the steadily filling trolley…and was being a tad cheeky with it.

‘Blank! Get back here! You’ll crash the darned thing!’

Google whisper-shouted as he speed-walked down the aisle after his boyfriend, who was giggling as he half-rode the trolley down the aisle, giddily taunting.

‘Cahan’t catch meee can’t catch meheee!’

Google let out a growl under his breath as he sped up into a jog, and Blank’s eyes widened as he let out a surprised squeak when he found that Google had wrapped his arms around him from behind and brought him to a halt.

‘Are you deliberately trying to embarrass me?’

Blank giggled and nibbled his bottom lip at the sound of his boyfriend’s low growl in his ear. Blank turned around so he could face Google, and stood on his tip-toes so he could deliver a kiss to his nose.

‘Maaaaybe.’

Google pursed his lips as he looked down at Blank…damn him with his twinkling eyes and beautiful smile, always making Google unable to truly chastise him for his cheekiness. They returned to their task, collecting more essential items and crossing them off their list….but it didn’t take long for Blank’s mischief to rear its adorable head once more. This time, he was putting things in the trolley that they didn’t require.

‘My love…we do not need paper plates with pink pigs on them.’

‘Awwww c’mooon! Look at them they’re so cute!’

Blank stuck out his bottom lip dramatically, whining when Google put them back on their respective shelf. Google got close to Blank, whispering with a light, playful glare in place.

‘If you put anything else in the trolley that is not on our set list then I shall, with immediate effect, take away your trolley pushing privileges.’

Blank stuck his lip out even more and tried to engage in his puppy eyes, but Google’s glare merely hardened, so Blank submitted….for a little while at least. The rest of the shopping went remarkably smoothly, Blank was giddy of course but he didn’t try to playfully disrupt the task…so Google was under the impression that he was no longer going to be cheeky amidst the shopping. Oh how he was wrong. Blank was merely biding his time, lulling Google into a false sense of security…until they reached the check-out. Then, Blank did the one thing he knew would embarrass Google immensely WITHOUT making him uncomfortable; namely, a great amount of PDA.

‘Baaaabe, can we snuggle lateeer?’

Google’s eyes widened when, just as he’d finished loading their purchasers onto the conveyer, Blank starting hanging off his arm and softly nuzzling his cheek. His face started to turn turquoise as he perceived other customers staring with grins on their faces. Google stammered, wanting to reprimand Blank, but he was getting embarrassed.

‘L-Love….n-not here….’

Blank grinned and giggled, placing a trail of soft, innocent kisses under his jaw, knowing damn well what he was doing to his adorable android. Google’s blush reached his ears as Blank cooed deftly.

‘Whaaat? I’m just showing the world how much I looove you and wanna snuggle yooou!’

Google tried to look down at Blank with a warning in his eyes, but that only made Blank grin wider, god how he loved teasing Google. Google always maintained stoicism, professionalism and perfect composure in every public situation….but Blank lived for when he was blushing and smiling and had no idea what to do with himself because of his developing emotions.

‘Sh-shhh….p-p-people a-are l-looking….’

Google tried to bow his head as he started to smile nervously, whilst Blank merely giggled fondly at him. He was caught between the embarrassment of people watching them and undoubtedly cooing about them, and the sweet enticing nature of his boyfriend’s loving affection. Google could only reason that emotions were….weird. Google gritted his teeth when Blank winked at him though, and despite how flustered he was…Google knew that he wasn’t going to let Blank get away with this. So when it came to checking out, Google packed everything without even bothering to stick to a human pace, whilst Blank continued to smugly stay close to him and relish in what he’d reduced his boyfriend to.

‘You sweeties enjoy the holidays!’

The cashier called after them with a giggle, which made Blank smirk as Google growled. As they left the store with everything bagged in the trolley, Google could feel his embarrassment diminishing…and his need to have vengeance rising. He was similarly inhuman with his speed of loading all their purchases into the car and returning the trolley, and as Blank made to go around to sit in the front passenger seat….Google gripped his forearm.

‘Get into the seat behind mine. Now.’

Blank’s overwhelming smugness….wavered, just a tad, as Blank saw the danger in his Google’s smile. Blank knew he’d been a teasy shit, and on the inside he’d known there were going to be consequences, which was kinda why he’d done it. Google’s consequences were often rather enjoyable. So, Blank decided to maintain his cheeky, boyish grin as he slipped into the back seat behind Google’s driver seat. Then, Google too got into the car, locked it….and proceeded to tint each and every window, and the front and back windscreens so that anyone walking past wouldn’t be able to see in. Blank was analysing Google’s actions with a giddy, yet nervous curiosity…he knew he was in for some kind of punishment, but as of yet he wasn’t sure of what it would entail; so of course, he asked cheekily.

‘Tinting the windows huh? Are gonna make out a little before we head home?’

Google let out a soft laugh through his nose, before cocking his head at Blank and purring.

‘As enjoyable as that sounds, you and I both know that is not what you deserve in this moment. What is going to happen now, is you are going to remove your shoes and socks, and give them to me.’

Blank’s eyes widened. This could only mean one thing, one consequence. His hands and fingers were shaking as he started to blush, not hesitating to comply with his boyfriend’s command. He wordlessly handed his sneakers and black socks over, making Google smile as he took them and set them aside.

‘Good boy, now….’

Blank watched with nervous, curious eyes as Google lifted the head rest up and off of the driver’s seat. His toes curled as Google purred, his azure eyes gleaming behind his spectacles.

‘Feet up.’

Blank complied once more, settling in the back seat as he rested his feet on the top of Google’s seat. He squeaked when Google gripped his ankles and yanked his feet forwards, and Blank hid in his hoodie when he heard Google chuckle…before putting the head rest back onto the seat. The head rest slipped back into place snugly, trapping Blank’s ankles, and leaving his bare feet vulnerable and exposed for whatever Google desired. Google hummed as he observed his boyfriend’s pale, scrunched soles fondly.

‘Do you know what I’m going to do to you?’

Blank nibbled his bottom lip, shivering as he tentatively looked to Google; he whispered meekly.

‘….t-….uh…p-punish me?’

‘Hmm….you are correct, but what is it I am punishing you for?’

Blank was about to open his mouth to answer, when he let out a surprised squeak. Google had begun tracing his soles with all his fingertips, with his eyebrow raised expectantly. Blank understood that Google was still expecting him to answer him, no matter what else was happening. Blank clapped a hand over his mouth as giggles spilled from his lips….oh this was going to be diabolical.

‘I-Ihihit’s b-behecause-ohomygohod….i-ihihit’s….’

Blank let out a light whine, he couldn’t get his words out through his goddamn giggles! Google meanwhile just kept on tracing all over his feet, relishing in the gasps and giggles that he adored so much. Blank’s mirth was utter perfection in Google’s eyes, and he took any and every opportunity to coax it out.

‘Yes dear?’

Blank squeaked and spluttered when Google lightly skittered over the balls of his feet, making Blank scrunch and tug weakly at his trapped feet.

‘P-P-Pleheheeease I-I c-cahan’t t-tahalk lihike thihihis!’

Google cocked his head at Blank softly, smiling with innocent nonchalance as he replied.

‘And yet you still are perfectly coherent. Don’t worry, you can take your time, it’s not like you’re going anywhere.’

Blank threw his head back with his loud giggles as he tugged at his feet more and more, the incessant tickling at the balls of his feet was really affecting the poor guy. Blank knew he had to do everything he could to answer Google’s questions though, it was Google’s thing whenever he tickled, he asked question after question after question like he was doing an experiment.

'Ohohogohod ohohokahay I-I wahas cheheeky!’

Blank squealed out his words as Google lightly raked his nails up and down Blank’s taut, ticklish inner arches. The android smirked, letting out a satisfied hum at his boyfriend’s adorable compliance.

‘That’s right my dear, you were cheeky….very, very cheeky…’

Blank got chills down his spine at Google’s cool, deep tone of voice, and whimpered when Google made his inner-arch tickling devilishly light.

‘Why don’t you list all of the cheeky things you did?’

Blank hit his car seat, the light sensations making him want to curl up and hide away forever as electricity coursed through his body. It took him about a minute of whimpery giggling before he managed to even think about answering, all throughout which Google observed, lovingly. Google adored how ticklish Blank was to even the lightest of touches, it was endearing, and marvellously enjoyable to exploit during moments like this.

‘I-Ihihi r-rahahan wihith the t-trohoholley!’

Google hummed, tracing the wrinkles in the centres of Blank’s scrunched soles.

‘Yes, and?’

Blank softly squealed and hid his face in his hands, his giggling becoming intermingled with soft squeaks and hiccups now; his replies were getting faster too.

‘I-I-Ihihi p-puhut stuhuhuff ihin the troholley wehe d-d-dihidn’t nehEED!’

Blank jumped and yelped when Google sneakily scratched the pad of one of his big toes, which spurred Google to softly trace over both his big toes as he purred evilly.

‘Mmmm, that was particularly cheeky of you….but what was the naughtiest thing you did, hmm?’

Blank’s face was screwed up and his eyes were squeezed shut as colour bloomed on his normally pale face, and his lips spread into a wide, embarrassed grin; the tickling was one thing, but making him talk amidst it all? That’s what made it true tickle torture for Blank.

‘IHI EHEMBARRASSED YOHOHOU!’

Blank was squealing and laughing his head off as Google took time and pleasure over scratching every single pad of every single one of Blank’s little, pale toes. This was the pinnacle of the punishment and Google was going to make sure the punishment wasn’t forgotten in a hurry.

‘Yes, you did. Despite knowing how much public displays of affection cause the human flustered emotion to rise within me, you partook in them with me anyway, for your own naughty amusement….’

Blank let out a shrill wail, tugging at his poor feet desperately as he became more and more teary eyed with every passing second.

‘IHIHI’M SAHARRY!’

Google hummed, casting his gaze over his precious, writhing boyfriend with tender amusement dancing in his eyes. He kept tickling his toes deftly as he leant towards him a tad, purring.

‘Sorry for what exactly?’

Google raised a brow amidst his query, and that teasiness on top of the tickling just brought Blank to his adorable limit.

‘EHEHEVERYTHIHING! AHAHALL OHOF IHIIIT!’

At Blank’s high-pitched wail, Google reasoned that Blank had received an adequate amount of punishment in relation to his cheekiness during their extended errand, so he had mercy. He efficiently released his boyfriend’s feet, and chuckled amusedly when Blank immediately set about bringing his legs close to his chest. Blank was giggling residually and embarrassedly into his knees, but peeked form his hiding spot when he felt a warmth settle on one of his hands.

‘Are you alright?’

Blank melted at the softness of Google’s voice, and looked to see that Google had placed one of his hands on one of his and was rubbing his knuckles tenderly. Blank wordlessly nodded with a bashful smile, and leant forward so he could kiss the android’s hand. Google chuckled fondly, and was about to suggest that make-out session that Blank had previously brought up….when they both suddenly heard a disgruntled gurgle come from the car’s cup-holders. They both looked, and Blank giggled when he saw Gooper lightly squirming.

‘Ohoops, dihidn’t see ya there bud…’

Blank giggled whilst Gooper gurgled once more, this time for a tad longer. Google hummed as he listened to the slightly drowsy creature, before smiling to his boyfriend in amusement.

‘It seems he is displeased at being so roughly awoken from his naptime, but he is happy to take your socks as compensation. He wants to snuggle them.’

Blank spluttered and let out a snort, before picking up his socks and softly tucking them into the cup-holders with Gooper, who purred in thanks before settling down in the new warmth to resume his nap. Meanwhile, the make-out session was put on hold….for the half an hour it took for them to get back home, deposit their purchases, and for Google to carry his cute, barefoot human to their privacy.

WOOOO DAY NUMBER 3 COMPLETE, LEMME KNOW IF YOU GUYS ENJOYED IT WOOO LYV YOUS XX

[miumiu-chan]

Miyase Go STORY 1 Chapter 4-4

Subbed video: STORY-1 4-4

-Investigation Planning Division-

[AOYAMA]: “Spontaneous pneumothorax?”

[REI]: “Yes. From what I saw today, I suspect that is Kujo Soma’s illness.”

[REI]: “Of course I’m not a doctor, so I’m not sure.”

[SEKI]: “I see......”

[NATSUME]: “Pneumothorax is the one called “Ikemen’s disease”*, isn’t it.” (T/N: Like how it’s a disease seen often among handsome men. Often develops among lean and tall young men, and among more men than women.)

[AOYAMA]: “The cause of the onset does seem to be unknown, and it recurs many times?”

[REI]: “Yes......”

[NATSUME]: “If you drop such a bomb, at least it’s unlikely that Kujo Soma will be crazy with drugs.”

[SEKI]: “What is Izumi’s opinion in that area?”

[REI]: “I’ve been observing every day, but I think it’s not possible he’s involved in the use of dangerous drugs.”

[REI]: “That applies to all the members who go in and out of that house.”

[AOYAMA]: “What other information did you get?”

[REI]: “......I checked Miyase Go’s mobile phone.”

[NATSUME]: “Eh, that’s amazing.”

[REI]: “......No. I didn’t get anything.”

[AOYAMA]: “Does that mean there’s zero harvest?”

[REI]: “There was no address book, no incoming calls history, no outgoing calls history.”

[REI]: “No internet browsing history or messaging apps.”

[NATSUME]: “Did he erase it all before lending it to Rei-chan?”

[REI]: “I don’t think he could’ve afforded to do that in that situation......”

[AOYAMA]: “How did you call the doctor?”

[REI]: “Miyase-san handed it to me after making the call......”

[SEKI]: “It could be that they try not to leave any information on the terminal on a daily basis.”

[AOYAMA]: “Or does he have another personal mobile phone?”

[NATSUME]: “Either way, it’s a mystery~. The Kujo Family’s servant.”

[REI]: “......I’m sorry.”

[REI]: “I haven’t gotten any useful information for the investigation.”

[AOYAMA]: “It’s understandable, so don’t feel down.”

[AOYAMA]: “You’re doing a good job.”

[SEKI]: “Yeah. A lot of things happened today so you must be tired.”

[SEKI]: “Go on home and take a good rest.”

[REI]: “......Okay. Thank you. Thank you for your hard work.”

-Temporary Apartment-

[REI]: (......I can’t sleep.)

So many thoughts were circling around in my head.

[REI]: (Around this time, I wonder if Miyase-san is taking care of Kujo Soma......)

[REI]: (......Is Kujo Soma really involved with the flower drugs?)

If, he happened to be innocent.

If I could hurry and prove it————

[REI]: (............Then, I could build a more sincere relationship with Miyase-san.)

[REI]: “............Huh?”

I suddenly sat up in the bed.

[REI]: (I, what did I think just now......?)

[REI]: (Even though I’m a DCD agent who infiltrated the Kujo Family.)

[REI]: (Somehow, wasn’t my thinking deviating in a bad direction?)

[REI]: “......Get it together, me. Because it’s all work.”

-Kujo House / Garden-

[REI]: (I couldn’t sleep at all......)

[MIYASE]: “Rei-san, have you finished watering the designated area?”

[REI]: “Yes. I just put away the hose.”

[MIYASE]: “Thank you.”

[MIYASE]: “As expected, you’ve really helped the work go faster.”

[REI]: (Miyase-san is the same as usual.)

[REI]: (Kujo-san doesn’t seem to be up yet......)

[MIYASE]: “Then, is it alright if you help me prepare the lunch next?”

[REI]: (......Huh?)

[MIYASE]: “......Rei-san?”

[REI]: (——No. He’s not the same......as usual?)

[REI]: “Isn’t Miyase-san kind of different from usual?”

[MIYASE]: “Eh? Do I have bed hair?”

[REI]: “That’s not it......”

[REI]: “............”

[MIYASE]: “......If you stare at me too much, I’ll feel shy.”

[REI]: “Ah, sorry......”

[REI]: “Um, this might be intrusive of me, but......”

[REI]: “I wonder if your complexion is not so good......”

[MIYASE]: “Aa. Maybe it is because of lack of sleep.”

[REI]: “Did you take care of Kujo-san without going to sleep until morning?”

[MIYASE]: “Since it is the servant’s job, that is natural.”

[REI]: “Um......If it’s tough, you can just give me instructions and I’ll cook lunch.”

[REI]: “Miyase-san, please go ahead and rest.”

[MIYASE]: “No, I cannot put that much of a burden on Rei-san.”

[REI]: (Even though Miyase-san......right now, is looking really burdened?)

[MIYASE]: “I am the type of person who is relatively okay without much sleep, so I am fine.”

[MIYASE]: “Now, let’s go to the kitchen.”

My gaze dropped down, catching a glimpse of Miyase-san’s right arm as he walked away.

......The color of the bruise that had no traces of treatment, I felt it was a little darker than yesterday.

-Kujo House / Kitchen-

[MIYASE]: “——Ah. Oops.”

[REI]: “What happened……?”

[MIYASE]: “I was thinking of boiling the nanohana today to make it into a soup……”

[MIYASE]: “But I took the miso by mistake.”

[REI]: (That’s unusual……)

[REI]: (He usually doesn’t make a mistake like that.)

[REI]: “Even with miso soup, it’ll be delicious.”

[MIYASE]: “……You’re right.”

[MIYASE]: “But, this is an embarrassing blunder. Please keep it a secret, okay?”

[REI]: (As I thought, his smile looks like he’s tired.)

[MIYASE]: “——Huh? Rei-san, those carrots are……”

[REI]: “?”

[REI]: “Miyase-san gave them to me to peel earlier……”

[MIYASE]: “……I had intended to give you the cabbage.”

[REI]: “Eh.”

[REI]: (What do cabbages and carrots have in common…………Vegetables.)

[MIYASE]: “Haha. Sorry.”

[MIYASE]: “This too, please keep it a secret from everyone.”

[REI]: (Is this okay……)

-Kujo House / Dining Table

[KIRISHIMA]: “Oh, this miso soup is super tasty.”

[SHINDO]: “Yeah. It has good dashi* in it.” (T/N: Dashi is a Japanese soup stock.)

[MIYASE]: “I am glad it suits your tastes.”

[REI]: (It really is delicious.)

[REI]: (No matter what Miyase-san cooks, all of them have a gentle taste.)

[KIRISHIMA]: “By the way, how’s Kujo-san doing?”

[KIRISHIMA]: “He still can’t get up yet?”

[SHINDO]: “The pain seems to have lessened a lot.”

[SHINDO]: “If he rests for a few more days, he’ll be fine.”

[KIRISHIMA]: “I see. That’s great.”

[REI]: (Does Kirishima-san know in detail about Kujo-san’s illness……?)

[MIYASE]: “…………”

[REI]: (Hm? Miyase-san hasn’t eaten at all……)

[REI]: “Um, what’s the matter?”

[MIYASE]: “——Eh?”

[REI]: “You haven’t made a dent in your food……”

[MIYASE]: “Aa, I am fine.”

[MIYASE]: “I was just thinking a bit.”

[SHINDO]: “What, is Miyase perhaps in poor health as well?”

[KIRISHIMA]: “Seriously? He looks the same as always, though.”

[MIYASE]: “I was just wondering what to do for the dinner menu.”

[SHINDO]: “……You’re already thinking about the night while having lunch.”

[KIRISHIMA]: “I want to eat meat!”

[KIRISHIMA]: “Cow! Pig! And bird!”

[MIYASE]: “Meat sounds good.”

[REI]: “…………”

——After work.

-Kujo House / Living Room-

[MIYASE]: “Well then Rei-san, shall we go?”

[REI]: “Sorry……”

[REI]: “Even though Miyase-san is tired, you’re sending me home again today.”

[MIYASE]: “It is fine, really.”

[MIYASE]: “The night walks with Rei-san are a healing time for me.”

[REI]: (Healing……?)

Choices:

Sorry to bother you.

I’m happy. (♡)

He is considerate…...

[REI]: “That kind of……makes me happy.”

[REI]: “Of course, I know that you’re just being considerate of me.”

[MIYASE]: “Eh……Those are my true feelings, though?”

[REI]: “It’s okay, you don’t have to flatter me.”

[REI]: “Even though I was told that it was healing being with me for the first time,”

[REI]: “But, I think I’m quick to speak and pretty continuously interrupt conversations, so I realize I am not cute.”

[REI]: “So I feel like I’m far from the word “healing”. Ahaha.”

[MIYASE]: “For me, Rei-san is healing.”

[MIYASE]: “When we’re together, I can relax.”

[REI]: “Relax……”

[MIYASE]: “This kind of thing, I believe they say that the wavelengths match.”

[MIYASE]: “Watching the cat and the birds in the garden, quizzing on the name of flowers, cooking in the kitchen side-by-side.”

[MIYASE]: “In those moments, I realize that I am laughing naturally.”

[MIYASE]: “Rei-san’s atmosphere to me, I think matches very well.”

That……I also thought the same.

[REI]: (When I’m with Miyase-san, the tension in my heart releases, and I get a soft feeling.)

……That was why it was getting harder and harder to lie.

[REI]: “……Thank you.”

[MIYASE]: “Thank you as well.”

[MIYASE]: “Let’s leisurely enjoy the brief time of healing.”

Miyase-san’s body, who tried to walk, aimlessly tilted over.

[REI]: “!”

[grumpkinvicky]

Papyrus

An attempt to write something different that just veered back to what I usually write. ;)

“What are you doing?” Harry did not want to share what he was doing to the very nosy Ron, no Harry was very happy keeping what he was doing a secret, thank Ron very much.

“Nothing.”  He was not doing nothing at all, in fact, what he was doing was very important, but still, Ron didn’t need to know at all.

“You are doing something, you are always so secretive now, you would have thought that being married to my sister, you’d have learnt to share a bit more mate,” Ron said rudely.  

“No,  I’m not doing anything, why are you even here? Hermione kicked you out again? Wouldn’t blame her if she had,” the last part Harry was reasonably sure he’d muttered.

“Oi, no, not at all. Just she wanted the house to be quiet and said you might want some company while Ginny was out of town with the kids, can see that she was wrong. Apparently you’ve taken after your new hero and turned into a complete berk!” This was the problem, as soon as Harry didn’t want to talk about something, it turned into a fight with Ron about how Snape was all Harry talked about. Which wasn’t true in the slightest, it was just something he’d used as a convenient get out of a conversation fast technique, that he’d overused, a lot, after the whole coming back from the dead. There were days and weeks now that went by where he forgot all about the old bastard.

“Look, Ron, it’s something to see you, but could you find something else to do? Charlie was supposed to be visiting your mum, why don’t you go bother him?” Harry had about an hour to get this done; otherwise he’d have to wait a whole bloody year, and Ron was ruining it for him.

“I can’t believe I was even your best man, you are a complete and utter berk, you know that right. And she’s your mum too, right well, see you never!” Finally, the prat had departed, and Harry was able to pull out the letter again.

Dear Father Christmas,

I know I am a bit old for all this now, but I have been a very good boy/man for years now. As you are aware, me and Ginny are on the outs, and well, we both agreed that if we both found our true soulmates, we could stop living a lie. As you know, from watching us all the time, please don’t watch me in the bathroom, Ginny has found hers and now is nagging me all the time to find mine.

We both know who it is, so… Yeah, please can you fix it for me that I get mine back now? Otherwise I am never going to hear the end of it?

Best wishes to the family,

Harry Potter aka the boy who didn’t learn to die

P.s. could you not watch me in the bedroom when I’m alone either, it’s a bit rude.

There, and not a moment too soon. The special “owl” which was more like a miniature reindeer accepted the carrot and a pet, before whisking the letter off. All he needed to do now was wait a couple of months, remember to put plenty of mince pies and alcohol out, not brandy because everyone left brandy. Then they could finally move on with their lives. He couldn’t wait.

“Oliver’s coming in the morning,” Ginny called into his bedroom.

“Great,” Harry had lost track of the days.

“We promised to introduce the kids tomorrow, you haven’t forgotten, have you?” She stuck her head through the door and was glaring.

“No, tomorrow, yes, Wood’s coming over,” Harry was busy trying to finish off the reports that had suddenly appeared as he was trying to leave for the day. He’d refused to spend all night in the office, so had chosen to bring the home, tackling them as soon as the kids had eaten.

“You promised to have your paramour, although you could at least let me have some idea who they are?” Ginny had turned the tone to wheedling from nagging.

“What?”

“Harry, whoever it is you’ve found to replace me, so I don’t look like the villain.”

“Oh, yes, definitely - what time?” Harry had forgotten entirely.

“After breakfast but before presents, so we can distract them with shinies, little goblins that they are,” Ginny said with an affectionate grin. They weren’t that bad, but put the right thing down, and they were pretty oblivious.

“Definitely, completely and utterly.”

“I’ll skin you alive if you fail,” she warned.

“Mhmm,” he vaguely agreed.

“You did get more mince pies, right? Ron ate the last lot we had in, I did send you a message about it.” Harry vaguely remembered receiving it. He’d picked up enough mince pies to feed the entire clan for the whole holiday period, not precisely because Ron had decided to eat everything put in sight as a pregnancy eating, when it wasn’t even Hermione who was pregnant.

“Yes, dear,” he nodded, returning his attention to the papers. He’d finish the pile off, put out the pies and rum that promised to put hairs on hairs, then crawl into bed. The Night Before Christmas tradition, and stockings stuffed was already done.  All he’d need to do was to fall asleep and hope he’d been good enough; otherwise, he wouldn’t see past breakfast.

“Potter, you better explain what in Merlin’s crinkly ballsack I’m doing here,” he was woken to a snarling female, smacking him on the chest. Shit, he’d been convinced he was secretly gay and harbouring a crush on Snape, or even Lupin.

“Uh, hi?” He didn’t even remember what she was called. This was embarrassing.

“Morgana Le Fay, you don’t even know who I am, do you? Blasted Saint Potter, there weren’t many of us in our year, and you, you prize prick were one of the few who actually survived.” She was tall and looked a bit like Morgana Le Fay. It didn’t help at all. She wasn’t a Gryf that much he was certain, if only because he saw them the most.

“No?” She was scowling at him now.

“I should let you squirm, I really should.” Slytherin, a Huff would have told him, and so would a Claw, but Slytherin would let him squirm to see how far they could push him.

“Pansy?” Wrong guess, as he was hit by a book.

“Greengrass?” Yeah, he couldn’t afford to be wrong again, only his natural seeker instincts saved him from being smashed in the head by an ugly vase his aunt had gifted him after they’d reunited thanks to Hermione interfering.

“You are a total self-absorbed bastard of the nth degree, you know that.” She’d stopped throwing things, and had her wand out. He was either dead, or she was going to leave. Either way, he was screwed.

“No - you need to stay!” She didn’t seem to care, and was busy straightening out her very well-fitting robes. Very well-fitting, maybe it wasn’t that he was secretly gay, perhaps he just was secretly into giants. It would explain how Hagrid came to be… he was desperately trying not to think of what she might look like under the robes, because he wanted to get out of the bed with his dignity in tact.

“I need to do no such thing, Potter.” She spat his name like a curse, although he had just guessed her name wrong twice. And come to think about it wasn’t Malfoy married to a Greengrass?

“I’ll beg?” If in doubt try begging with Slytherin, he’d learnt early on that it usually eased the issue.

“No,” huh, begging had worked for getting Malfoy to actually sign documentation. It’d worked on Zabini as well when they’d had the whole misunderstanding that had the best sweet talker trying to leave the department, a round of begging had Zabini reconsidering.

“Anything, I will do anything,” he offered, and he was blaming the fact that Ginny would skin him alive in front of his children if he failed to produce a paramour. The gleam in his mystery, love’s eyes didn’t even put him off, because as Snape would say, he never did think before he spoke.

“Anything at all, alright. Shake on it, and then we shall see.” Her hand did what her body promised it could do, drowned his. Not gay, not gay at all. Very much interested, and she looked amused by it.

“If I grovel, will you tell me your name?” Preferably before Ginny waltzed in and demanded he get dressed and an introduction.

There was an awkward pause, where she looked at him as if she was considering making him grovel too.  “Millicent Bulstrode,” she said plainly. Fuck. “I hit my inheritance while you were off playing hero,” inheritance?

There was a knock at the door, and then the sound of small feet pounding down the landing followed by squeals.

“Uh - look, can you just play along, and I will explain everything later?” Because a Slytherin could play along, they were experts at it. Thank Merlin.

“Harry, kids, are awake, you need to be down in two,” Ginny didn’t open the door, which was a small mercy as Millicent watched him.

“Coming,” he could feel himself flushing as she smirked.

“Only if you’re good,” she purred, and boy did he react. Yeah, very interested in Millicent.

Wood wasn’t there yet, the stockings were opened with Millicent staying out of the way in his room, no doubt reading through all the reports. There wasn’t anything confidential or not terribly. Or worse, she’d be going through his clothes, and find the stash of dubious literature he’d been collecting in the event of meeting his soulmate and learning a whole new way of thinking. Still, he was probably always going to be the bottom regardless, and he didn’t mind one bit.

“Wood’s on his way over, you better have yours coming too,” Ginny pulled him aside to hiss in his ear. The kids were paying as much attention to them as they usually did.

“She’s upstairs, didn’t want to interfere.” Ginny hugged him, which was as close as they’d been for months. “Should have said, sorry,” he wanted to apologise. Because he knew how worried Gin had been over the whole ordeal. After they’d decided that it wasn’t working, when she found someone it did work with, she’d gotten funny with him, as if it was his fault he hadn’t. Which maybe it had been, he’d not bothered to go and look anywhere, because they were out of reach.

The floo flashed, and Wood stepped out, looking nervous. Harry held his hand up in greeting, which only made the man tenser.

“I’m going to go get Millicent,” he said, quickly leaving as Ginny went to calm her future husband down. A Millicent who was stood with his toys lain out on the bed, muttering at a mirror, shit, oh well, he’d opened himself up for this.

“Harry, I was just talking to my guardian about you,” Millicent had a cat got the cream look about her, and his knees trembled.

“Uh, Oliver’s arrived, Ginny wants to introduce him when I introduce you,” he said, not looking at the mirror with a face in it.

“Don’t you want to say Happy Yule to my guardian?” It was a trap, One that he would have to spring, because there was no way out.

“Hello?” He couldn’t make out if they were male, female or neither.

“Potter…” that sound, Merlin and Dumbledore fucking in a whomping willow, he’d not heard that sound in…

“Snape?” He darted forward to peer into the mirror, while Millicent laughed at him.

“You can do better,” Snape drawled.

“Perhaps, but he offered to grovel and then promised me anything, I could hardly refuse.” There was a moment when Harry saw a look of concern pass across the supposedly dead Professors face, a look of concern for him.

“Don’t tell me, the dunderhead vowed it?”

“He shook on it, it took though,” Millicent purred, and Harry couldn’t help but feel the tendrils of fear creep down his spine.

“Potter, you never cease to amaze me to the depths your idiocy will take you to, well the fate is sealed. I expect a fast bonding, once you’ve shaken off the former Mrs Potter that is. No later than Ostara, it will be quiet, none of the fanfare of the first, and it will stick to the old traditions.”

“Yes, Sir,” Harry heard himself say. Bollocks. He’d been so concerned about Ginny not being the villain, that he hadn’t considered for a moment that it would appear to be him.

“I’ll be in touch with your guardian regarding dowry,” Snape continued, as Millicent traced a symbol on Harry’s back.

“My guardian?” He sounded like an idiot. How, after all this time,  had he fallen back into being the unsure schoolboy?

“The wolf,” Snape was dismissive.

“Uh, Sir, he’s dead.” Or so everyone was supposed to believe.

“So am I,” Snape drawled, with the faintest hint of a smirk. “I shall speak to him later, he is far more sensible than the mutt after all.”

“I’ll be by later, leave me some food?” Millicent leant over Harry’s shoulder, and Snape’s face softened.

“Always.”

He didn’t want to have to go through another five hours like the last. Wood had been nervous and awkward, while Millicent had been amused and at ease. It’d caused issues between Harry and Ginny, as Ginny had taken it as an attack on her and Lions, and another tick in the Harry was always a Snake at heart box. He should never have opened his mouth about the blasted hat.

The kids had enjoyed the attention, if nothing else. They weren’t surprised by the news that there would be some reshuffling. Apparently, other children’s parents slept in the same room and kissed each other. Out of the mouth of babes. Neither were any of the Weasley’s when they’d turned up for the rounds. Harry had gotten the “you will always be our child,” speech. He didn’t doubt it, but it hadn’t made matters any easier. Nor had the feud between Ron and Wood over a long-dead rivalry.

Millicent had been received like a dangerous bomb, that no one was prepared to touch in case it blew up in their faces. Longbottom had greeted her by name, after recovering from fright. Charlie had leered, in the subtle way he did to all attractive women when Molly wasn’t watching. But it had been Percy who he was the most concerned over. They’d known each other, in a way that spoke to friendship, or something more. There was nothing… inappropriate about it, but it felt similar to the manner that Ron and Hermione had been once, before they’d coupled up.

“So… you and Percy?” He’d waited long enough for the kids to be kidnapped to see all of the cousins before the big family meal in the evening.

“We dated.” She was lounging on his bed, he’d need to get a bigger bed. A much bigger bed.

“Oh?” He was picking up his dirty socks, and nothing more. He was not kneeling next to the bed as she lay there at all, oh no.

“For a while, we decided that there were too many secrets between us to make it work,” she wasn’t even looking at him. Instead, she was busy flicking through some letters he had by his bed to respond to when he had time. Including one to Luna about the lesser spotted Rotvicy that was currently attacking her Wrackspurts.

“Oh,” his hands felt clammy all of a sudden, and wiping them on his trousers did nothing.

“It was quite amicable, but we did manage to avoid falling back into bed, after the third month,” she sounded so relaxed, and he wanted to look at her but couldn’t bring himself to. He was too… too ashamed. She’d been out there all this time, and he’d had to write to Father Christmas to meet her.

“When did you?”  

“Years ago, we kept in touch, hard not to really.” Which wasn’t reassuring in the slightest.

“Oh?” He was on fire with the conversation, she’d never want to leave him.

“You’ll find out soon enough. So tell me, Harry, how come a prize catch like you has to kidnap almost complete strangers to find a new partner?” She’d rolled onto her stomach, having dropped the letters back where they were.

“Uh, I thought I was gay?” Did he really just say that? “I mean, I’ve been busy with work, and thought that it might work?” He could practically hear Malfoy jeering at him for that resounding success of an answer.

[toreii]

I'll take a chance at making it early. If you would I would love a Yoshimoto story. He's very intriguing. Nothing huge. But perhaps just a meal with his princess. I live for domestic fluff.

Thank you for being my first request! And, I loved that you requested Yoshimoto.💕 Thank you for giving me the opportunity to write for him. I hope I didn’t disappoint!

—toreii

The busy market road flourished with merchants and customers. It was another sunny and vibrant afternoon in Azuchi’s castle town. Mai stepped out onto the road, her arms full of new rolls of fabric and materials, and glanced over her shoulder shooting the shop owner a bright smile.

"Thank you again!"

The shop owner shook his head. "No. No. The pleasure is all mine, princess. I can't wait to see what you come up with next."

"I have a feeling it’ll be my best work yet,” she replied.

The shop owner laughed. “If there’s anything else I can get for you, do let me know.”

Mai giggled. “Thanks!”

Bidding the proprietor a farewell, she set off down the road with her purchases. Mai had become good friends with the aging man. Having someone to talk about fabrics, textures, and colors was a relief from the usual political jargon going on in Nobunaga’s war councils. Sure, she was learning how to survive each day in the Sengoku era. Still, she wanted to continue to surround herself with her passion of fashion design.

Humming a tune, Mai walked back along her path to return to the castle. Suddenly, she heard a high pitched laughter coming from several women up ahead. Mai glanced over to what looked like a tea house. Outside, a group of women crowded over someone who was sitting on a bench right outside the shop. Mai briefly wondered who it could be that the women surrounded. She continued on as she passed the noisy group pushing the thought to the back of her head.

“Wait!”

Mai halted just as the women exclaimed in surprise. As Mai glanced back, her eyes widened upon seeing a man emerge from the group. Her eyes darted left and right trying to find a sign of her time traveling best friend or his usual companion—the cute, rude boy she met at the cliff her first night in the past. There was no sign of either of them, nor of any of her Azuchi friends.

“Yo-Yoshimoto-san...right?” [Name] answered.

His ornate eyes lit up upon hearing her speak his name. His smile widened as he approached the Azuchi princess. They had met previously aside from Mai’s first night. Mai knew if Yoshimoto was in Azuchi, it was usually because of the artistic crafts the castle town provided. He also accompanied Sasuke on recon missions, but Yoshimoto was usually drawn to everything Azuchi had to provide. He was a connoisseur of the arts, after all.

“Fancy seeing you here. I see you’re stocking up on materials.”

“Um, yeah. I got this new fabric that just came in, and there are some new patterns I’d also like to try out,” [Name] explained.

Yoshimoto reached out taking hold of Mai’s arm. “Why don’t you tell me all about it. Could I invite you out to eat?”

“Well, I don’t mind, but what about your friends back there?” Mai inquired.

When she glanced at the women, she just wanted to disappear from their deadly gazes. Mai shrunk back shielding herself behind Yoshimoto to escape their heated glares. Yoshimoto merely smiled—although deceivingly—as he waved at the women.

“If you’ll excuse me, I have business to attend to with Mai,” he said.

“Um, Yoshimoto-san, I’m sure we can do this another day,” Mai interjected.

He glanced down at her. “Nonsense. Now, let’s go.”

Mai had no choice but to start walking with him as he led her down the busy street. “Ah, right…”

They ended up at a newly opened restaurant in Azuchi. Mai had heard some reviews from seamstresses and vassals in the castle in regards to the restaurant. They recommended the food, and Mai had put it on her list of potential eateries. She had been working to save up for a meal. However, she had just spent a good portion of her savings on her new fabrics a while ago.

“Order whatever you’d like, Mai. It’s my treat,” Yoshimoto said.

Mai shook her head. “Oh no, I couldn’t impose.”

Yoshimoto placed a hand on her arm. “Allow me. In exchange, tell me all about your new kimono.”

Mai smiled shyly. “Well, if you insist.”

They placed their orders and while they waited, Mai took a roll of fabric showing the intricate patterns and dyes used. She matched each fabric with each other hoping to convey the image of the kimono she envisioned at the fabric shop.

“We are getting into the colder seasons, so I thought about using blues but that seems so typical. So, I went with other cool colors like this verdant green. And, if I match it with this golden, yellow…” Mai paused and glanced at him. “I’m not boring you, am I?”

Yoshimoto laughed. “Not at all. I enjoy seeing you talk so passionately about your work. You truly have an eye for fabrics.”

“Well, it is part of my work. I know I talk about all this, but at the end of it all, what truly makes me happy is seeing someone wear something I made. Their joy and happiness is all I need to keep on going. I’d be beside myself if one of my kimonos didn’t turn out right,” she explained.

Yoshimoto nodded. “You have a discerning eye for detail. I’m impressed you haven’t been taught previously by anyone. I’m amazed by your innate talent, Mai.”

She waved him off. “You compliment me too much, Yoshimoto-san. I… I do my best, is all.”

“I have no doubt you have unlimitless boundaries. Have you ever thought of assembling your own collection, Mai?” Yoshimoto inquired.

“My own collection?” She queried, with a tilt of her head.

Before another word could be uttered, their meals had arrived. Mai glanced down at her numerous portions each displayed delectably on their dishes. The thought had never crossed her mind. Mai simply wanted to create her own designs, and make them come to life. As long as someone wore her clothes, that was more than enough.

“Mai, is something wrong?” Yoshimoto asked.

She shook her head as a small smile graced her lips. “I never thought about my work that way. To simply make a collection and show it off. I mean, the same could be said about my meal.”

“How so?” Yoshimoto inquired.

“Clearly, work went in to prepare it and display it as so,” Mai gestured to the dishes. “However, I can tell the cook would much appreciate it if it was tasted and eaten. That’s how I feel about my work. I rather have people wear my clothes than just show them off.”

Yoshimoto smiled again. “I see. That suits you a lot more.”

“Shall we enjoy this meal, then?” Mai asked, with a big smile in return.

“There is a way to savor this work of art, as well,” he continued, taking a piece of simmered carrots. “Close your eyes and taste every flavor you can distinguish with your tongue.”

Mai followed his example taking a piece of her grilled fish into her mouth. It was more than the charbroiled taste. The texture, the flavors that had been infused, and the softness of the meat all melted in her mouth. Mai’s eyes immediately snapped open, and she gazed at Yoshimoto with astonishment.

“It’s delicious!”

“I came to Azuchi just for this restaurant. I’m glad to have ran into you, Mai. Enjoying this moment with you is all that I could ask for,” Yoshimoto said.

Mai giggled. “Surely you jest, Yoshimoto-san.”

He leaned in closing the gap between them. Snapping his fan open, Yoshimoto shielded them both from prying stares. Mai could feel her cheeks flush as she stared right into his half-lidded gaze.

“Yoshimoto-san?”

“Thank you, Mai.”

In their own private space, Yoshimoto brushed his lips across Mai’s cheek before placing a chaste kiss upon the corner of her mouth. He withdrew back soon after snapping his fan shut. Mai simply stared back; her mouth agape. Yoshimoto returned to his meal, his smile never faltering, as a new craving took place. Even in her dumbfounded expression, Yoshimoto marveled at the work of art that Mai was. One day, he hoped to truly uncover all of her beauty.

[mividadelicioso]

El Ano de Treinta

First post here...in a long time anyways. If I were being honest, my last Tumblr of decades ago turned into this soft porn type feed. It’s easier to get to that place then you think lol. First it starts with beautiful things as something to choose for your feed, or clothes, and at some muddled point down the line, there are half naked peeps (amongst other things) just popping up on your feed. In any case, that’s not why I ghosted. I ghosted, because like many things, but especially my writing, I just lost the juice of any kind to use my words via ink or typing, (rather). 

So you may be wondering to yourself, or...more realistically, not be giving a shit at all, as to why I am back in this wordy black hole. Well, really, a conglomeration of things that I’ll slowly vomit out onto this virtual paper, but to nutshell it, I’m losing my mind during this quarantine...losing my fucking sanity, as I would assume, everyone else is. However, for me, it’s more than just this quarantine situation (which, by the way, is incredibly insane to think about, but I digress atm), somehow, someway, (of course in my life), all these events just happen to coincide in a very important year of my life, hence the name. I basically spoiler-ed this post for you (you’re welcome for those of you that have no patience to wait until the end). 

I never thought that the ripe old? young? age of 30 would be a big deal to me; I mean, sure, everyone makes lofty goals for that age, that I would almost dare to say, 90% of the population never accomplish, but it just never worried me that the inevitable would come. It WOULD come, like every birthday, and then it would pass, like every birthday, without cause or concern. So what happened? (You might be asking yourself, OR you MIGHT not be caring at all. I mean, who really cares about a strangers’ musings? AMIRITE?). I don’t know, dude...or dudette. The truth is, this quarantine has forced me to sit in my apartment, shut off from distraction, and has forced an OVERTHINKER and an OVERANALYZER to overthink and overanalyze. It has, shall we say, created the perfect storm for this. Of course, the usual shit bothers me about this birthday; like, I had put together a meager list of goals a long time ago, if you could call them such, and as is the purpose of a list of goals, none were accomplished. Typical? Yes. Normal? Yes. A reason to have mental moments (I will always refer to breakdowns of any kind, as ‘mental moments’)? No. And yet, here I am, friends of Tumblr, have now had a mental moment over this  seemingly significant double digit. You’re probably wondering what that list was; yes, I thought about this myself, because truth be told, this last hasn’t actually been present in my mind at all, recently (PROBABLY why nothing has really been accomplished). 

**LIST OF GOALS: 30th Birthday**

-Go to Ireland (always been a dream of mine to visit)

-Be far along in my career (this is about as fucking unspecific as it gets lol)

-Be financially stable (i.e. have savings and shit)

-Pay something towards student loan, bc them government fuckers will find you

TADA! This was my list, ladies and gents. SHOCKING, I know. The length of it...just straight obnoxious. And TBH, none have been accomplished. TECHNICALLY, the second point does not count, because I switched jobs about 4 months ago...made moves as they say. Now, were those moves, MONEY moves? No...(had to make a rap song reference, don’t hate). Please, judge, and then judge away some more. I mean, listen, I have a 401K collecting moneys SOMEWHERE, and I can always still go to Ireland later this year. The irony of THAT particular point is, that I’m on furlough with my job, and the flights have never been fucking cheaper...but I am at a point, where I am FORCED to not spend frivolously. Although I am blessed with a boyfriend, who will be mentioned in a later post, that handles most of the major finances. Not because I’ve asked, (believe me, I have fought him on this...independence and such), but he thinks it’s his duty as the dude, I guess. But still, can’t be spending money that I may need down the line, should this godawful virus continue to ravage the U.S. (STAY HOME PEOPLES. FUCKING MAKE A BLOG...like me). 

In any case, coming face to face with an un-checkmarked list is quite possibly one of the most depressing things ever. So on top of me going out of my mind, and worrying about the health of my friends and family and significant other, I am also confronting the daunting age of 30, as well as, an unrealized list of goals.

Boohoo, boohoo, right? I resonate with your unsympathetic sentiments as well, but isn’t one of the benefits of blogging on the internet, that you can throw yourself as many endless pity parties as you want and no one can say a goddamn thing. That was definitely a rhetorical question, said in the most un-grammatically correct way ever. God, I love the internet. 

I will continue to rant about this further later on, but for now, I will say, that the only resolution I have come up with for this ‘mental moment’ I had about my list of un-accomplishments, is to create...and dare I say it...A VISION BOARD. Yes. 

God. I. Said. It. A FUCKING vision board, people. I’m about to get DIY up in this bitch...cause...not like I have anything else to do, right? 

Ending this post with some photos of tonights’ dinner. My spin on fried rice w/ asparagus, carrots, and corn as the veg component and some general tso’s chicken I baked in the oven. Despite the potential health hazards food can pose, when consumed in large proportions, I do believe in food therapy, people. BELIEVEEEEE IT.  Hashtag it folks, FOODTHERAPY...unless someone created that hash already, in which I can further add that to my list of failings for my grand ano de TREINTA. 

-Foodie OUT-

P.S. Don’t go all Sherlock Holmes and stock a hoe through my food photos. KTHX.