#i think this is an actual recipe you put over rice but this post made me laugh out loud

[spurgie-cousin]

[spooniechef]

Gluten-Free Pasta Tips (coeliac & gluten intolerance)

First of all, hi to the new followers. I hope you’ve all found this blog useful so far, and I will try to keep content coming at a reasonable pace (spoons permitting). Today I’m going to recycle a post from my personal Tumblr regarding gluten-free pasta - what to look for in a good one, and how to treat it. After all, my last post was a pasta recipe and I have a few more to share over the next little while, so it seems fair to make those taste better for those of us with gluten issues.

(Side note: I’m actually getting tested for coeliac properly. I mean, I have issues with gluten either way, and I know that, but it’s probably important to know whether it’s coeliac or not. Wish me luck!)

There are some issues with eating gluten-free, especially when it involves things that are generally made with wheat flour, like pasta. Since pasta is one of those easy dishes for those of us with any kind of spoon deficiency, having a good gluten-free pasta is really useful for those of us whose issues involve gluten intolerance of any kind. I’d been picking gluten-free pasta the hit and miss way for years until my brain actually started working and I realised that, if I wanted to know what gluten-free pastas were good and which were bad, I should check the ingredients list, since the types of non-wheat flours used probably made a difference. I currently have three brands of gluten-free pasta in my house, from three different supermarkets. One is good enough. The other two are … much, much less good. (I keep them in case of emergencies.) After having compared the ingredients lists of all three pastas, I think I see where the issues are, so I’m passing along that information.

The worst of the lot is basically plain rice flour and about three different kinds of corn flour. There’s no ‘done’ index on this stuff - you maybe have a half-second of hot water between “al dente and a really weird texture” and “overcooked and falling apart”, and it tastes like cardboard. So if you’re only looking at rice and corn flour in the ingredients list? You’re probably not going to enjoy the pasta that results.

The almost palatable pasta is actually mostly corn flour, with some rice flour. Again, the index of ‘done’ is narrow as hell, but it might be palatable in a pasta bake, so long as you take a really generous view of what you consider ‘al dente’ when you’re putting half-cooked pasta into your pasta bake. It’s just kind of crap on its own, texture going from ‘soggy cardboard’ to just plain slimy in a very short time.

The one I more or less like is rice flour, whole wheat rice flour, a little bit of corn flour, and a little bit of quinoa flour. This stuff stands up well in a pasta bake (or lasagne, since that supermarket - Sainsbury’s, for you Brits - uses the same basic mix throughout its gluten-free range) but also stands on its own topped with pesto or in the tuna broccoli lemon pasta from the last post. It’s got a really narrow index of ‘done’, but most gluten-free pasta’s like that, and this blend’s not as bad as the other two for that.

So basically for gluten-free pasta that’s reasonably close to your standard wheat pasta, you’re looking for a mix that’s a fair bit of rice flour but with brown as well as white rice flour, some corn flour but not too much, and some quinoa flour. Or at least that’s what my experiments have unearthed. Also, those of you who do cook with gluten-free pasta might have noticed that it gets incredibly starchy. The trick to dealing with that is use more water - and more salt - than you generally need, and try not to let it get to a full boil. That way your overly starchy water won’t boil over and make a burnt-starch mess of your stovetop, plus it pulls more of the ‘too starchy’ out of the pasta itself, helping the texture a bit. Also, take the pot off the stove a bit before it’s done and let it sit for a minute or two, then rinse in hot water. The water in the pot will cook the pasta that last little bit while off the boil, making it easier to differentiate between that weird texture al dente gluten-free pasta gets without overcooking, and the hot water you rinse it with will not only finish the job, but also wash off some of the excess starch.

It’s still not quite the same as a good pasta with plain old wheat flour, but if gluten gives you problems, that’s the trick - anything that’s not just plain rice flour and corn flour, in a bigger pot with more water than you might consider you need, don’t let it get to a full-on roiling boil, and rinse with hot water before serving. It helps.

Next up: another recipe, either for chicken broccoli pasta bake, stovetop sausage hotpot, or low-spoon chocolate fudge - I haven’t decided which yet. Suggestions gratefully received (though all three will show up eventually).

[thessalian]

Thess vs Gluten-Free Pasta

It occurred to me all of a sudden, partly while planning a side blog I intend to call Cooking With Spoons (a bunch of food-related posts for spoonies - read: those who suffer from chronic illness), that if I wanted to know what gluten-free pastas were good and which were bad, the types of non-wheat flours used probably made a difference. I currently have three brands of gluten-free pasta in my house, from three different supermarkets. One is good enough. The other two are ... much, much less good. (I keep them in case of emergencies.) So I decided to look at the ingredients list see what the differences were. I think I see where the issues are, so I’m passing along that information.

The worst of the lot is basically plain rice flour and about three different kinds of corn flour. There’s no ‘done’ index on this stuff - you maybe have a half-second of hot water between “aldente and a really weird texture” and “overcooked and falling apart”, and it tastes like cardboard. So if you’re only looking at rice and corn flour? You’re probably not going to enjoy the pasta that results.

The almost palatable pasta is actually mostly corn flour, with some rice flour. Again, the index of ‘done’ is narrow as hell, but it might be palatable in a pasta bake, so long as you take a really generous view of what you consider ‘aldente’ when you’re putting half-cooked pasta into your pasta bake. It’s just kind of crap on its own, texture going from ‘soggy cardboard’ to just plain slimy in a very short time.

The one I more or less like is rice flour, whole wheat rice flour, a little bit of corn flour, and a little bit of quinoa flour. This stuff stands up well in a pasta bake but also stands on its own topped with pesto or in my tuna broccoli lemon pasta. . It’s got a really narrow index of ‘done’, but most gluten-free pasta’s like that, and this blend’s not as bad as the other two for that.

So basically for gluten-free pasta, you’re looking for a mix that’s a fair bit of rice flour but with brown as well as white rice flour, some corn flour but not too much, and some quinoa flour. Or at least that’s what my experiments have unearthed. Also, those of you who do cook with gluten-free pasta might have noticed that it gets incredibly starchy. The trick to dealing with that is use more water - and more salt - than you generally need, and try not to let it get to a full boil. That way your overly starchy water won’t boil over and make a burnt-starch mess of your stovetop, plus it pulls more of the ‘too starchy’ out of the pasta itself, helping the texture a bit. Also, take the pot off the stove a bit before it’s done and let it sit for a minute or two, then rinse in hot water. The water in the pot will cook the pasta that last little bit while off the boil, making it easier to differentiate between that weird texture aldente gluten-free pasta gets without overcooking, and the hot water you rinse it with will not only finish the job, but also wash off some of the excess starch.

It’s still not quite the same as a good pasta with plain old wheat flour, but if gluten gives you problems, that’s the trick - anything that’s not just plain rice flour and corn flour, in a bigger pot with more water than you might consider you need, don’t let it get to a full-on roiling boil, and rinse with hot water before serving. It helps.

So, yeah, this is the kind of thing I want to put in Cooking With Spoons, along with recipes, kitchen items that are great investments for any spoonie, tips and tricks to make some of the more complicated stuff easier... I know I’ll just dive in and do it eventually but for now I’m just whispering tips for coeliac sufferers into the void.

[lazyqueengoatee]

What kind of oil do Chinese restaurants use for fried rice

In this write-up, we will be talking about fried rice, which is a normal recipe in China and also many various other Eastern nations. The recipe is really simple and the ingredients are easy to find. We will be making use of the Sichuan pepper oil in the recipe, which gives it a nice flavor

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This write-up discusses the difference in between edible oil as well as food preparation oil in China. You'll also figure out what oil Chinese dining establishments make use of for fried rice

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What kind of oil does Chinese dining establishments use for their fried rice? This is a common question asked by lots of people and also I constantly think the answer is extremely basic as well as I am sure everyone understands the response yet I have actually never ever seen a short article concerning it prior to so I made a decision to compose one

.

So, allow's start. What is the difference between edible oil and also food preparation oil? The major distinction in between edible oil and also food preparation oil is that edible oil is for consuming, while cooking oil is made use of for food preparation. Edible oil is primarily utilized for salad clothing, frying food, or as a base for mayonnaise. It can also be used for massage and also appeal therapies. On the other hand, food preparation oil has a much more powerful flavor than edible oil. It is utilized for deep-frying or sauteing. Some cooking oils are recommended for details foods.

This is a concern that I obtain frequently from friends when they come by for dinner or lunch or even on weekends when we opt for dim sum. I assumed it was time to make a post from it since I want to share this details with you all. So, right here are some responses: -The very best kind of oil to utilize in fried rice is Sichuan pepper oil. -Sichuan pepper oil has a solid fragrance which goes quite possibly with fried rice. -You can find Sichuan pepper oil in the majority of grocery stores and various other stores.

- It is not suggested to use olive oil for frying food as it will release a bitter aftertaste. -You can make use of grease or peanut oil instead. -If you have leftover hen meat, then you can add it to the fried rice. -Soy sauce is additionally a good addition to fried rice. -When you utilize cooking oil in fried rice, do not put the oil in too hot a pan. This is because the oil is very conscious temperature modifications.

It normally sets you back around $30. -It is not required to include any other flavoring to the fried rice if you are using Sichuan pepper oil. -If you are going to make use of olive oil, you need to period the fried rice with salt and pepper. -Olive oil is an excellent option for salad dressing. -To make mayo, you need to make use of an additional virgin olive oil. It is a very healthy and balanced option because it contains even more polyphenol and also anti-oxidants than other oils. -Olive oil is not ideal for sauteing.

Soy sauce fast food delivery service is also a good enhancement to fried rice. When you make use of cooking oil in fried rice, do not put the oil in also hot a pan. This is since the oil is very conscious temperature changes. The most effective sort of oil to make use of in fried rice is Sichuan pepper oil. This is a question that I get on a regular basis from good friends when they come over for dinner or lunch and even on weekends when we go with dark amount.

- When you fry veggies, you require to period the veggies with salt, pepper

[thedomestickitchen]

san fransisco rice and other hot messes

San Fransisco rice Hello there, carby, starchy side dish. Who ever thought of combining pasta and rice? It's kind of like combining soup and stew. But; manohman it sure is tasty. I made this the other week when we were "rowing" our Five In A Row book of Grandfather's Journey. In the book, the chronicles of an old Japanese man are recorded as he spends lots of time in San Fransisco and Japan.  The unit study also has a cookbook to go along with each book, so I decided to make the "San Fransisco Rice" recipe. Yes, it's like Rice-A-Roni™, aka "The San Fransisco Treat"... but: Sans the flavor packet and sodium. And, I have to say: I like this one better, and it makes a ton. Yum. But: back to the book- it's a beautiful story, with watercolor illustrations, and it's very "real" not your typical children's book. The same author wrote another book, "Tea with Milk" which actually has a love story intertwined in it about how his parents met. It's refreshing, and sweet. I highly recommend them both. Anyway... remember my post about "Enlarging Our Tent"? We did it again. We have taken in another newborn, this time a preemie. Of course, I didn't know anything except that there was a 10 day old that was being discharged ... and: we said "yes"-and: hours later a social services worker is at our house with the tinyiest baby, and ... once more we are in newborn baby land. Ahh the snuggles, smells and tummy time. So, this is our fifth placement. #1 is still with us, #2 went to live with grandmother, #3 went to a more specialized home, #4 went to live with dad... and here we are number 5. Of course this doesn't include all the temprary respites, I think we are over ten including those. Wow. If someone would have told me two years ago what my life would looks like now- I would have laughed and said "no way!" And, now: here we are- and I wouldn't change a thing. Even admist the terrible toddler tantrums, the biting, the running, the screaming... even in the hot mess fostering can sometimes be, all is well with my soul. There is a peace that comes from God that gets you through the tatrums, sleepless nights, thrown food, uncertainty and anxiety,poopy diaper explosions,  homevisits, therapy visits, parent visits, doctor visits....you just do it. It's a roller coaster, but there is no other ride I'd want to be on. And, here I am on the baby train. I wish I could show photos, but I cannot. Consider this a novel and paint your own image of a blissful hot mess. :) I'm happy. It's been a long time. After the loss of my father, I was struggling. Sure, I have had tons of happy moments, adventures, and fun days... but there was always a hollow longing in my soul that I wasn't doing something. I knew I wanted to impact kids, guide them, and help lead them in the right path. I was a group leader for pre teens for a year at church, later I became director of Children's Ministry at a small church, I was an assistant at a local school... but there was a calling for more. The idea of fostering never really crossed my mind until it was showing up everywhere I turned. I began to ask questions, my daughter began to talk about it, we went to an informational meeting, signed up for classes, got background checked, home visits, and then.... Here we are. Embracing the hectic, happy, hot mess of fostering. So: what's your hot mess? I don't think of the term "hot mess" as a negative thing. Most of the time hot messes comeout of good intentions, and are things we learn from, and can laugh at. Take this San Fransisco rice, for example. The recipe calls for vermicelli pasta broken into 2" segments. Well, I did that part. Then I forgot my broken pasta was in a small bowl on the counter. I grabbed it hastily to put it away, forgettting about the small haystack of  dry pasta it held. Dry pasta all over the floor. That's a mess, and luckily it wasn't hot. So, I call my dogs... to get all four to come without shouting each individual name, I simply say: ""uh-oh!" which, in dog talk means: "Something edible has fallen on the floor" They come, scampering in, excited to find a tasty morsel or two. They found the haystack of dry pasta and, clearly were not interested. At all. So, I grab my cordless sweeper vac.... it proceeds to spin and spit the pasta peices even further. Meanwhile, a baby is crying and my dogs are underfoot, clearly disapointed in the results of the said "uh-oh". Out had to come the broom and dustpan, and thank goodness for those old timey house cleaning aids.... I really loved my broom and dustpan during the hurricane. It was all I could do to keep the house somewhat normal with spaghetti model extension cords running all over the floor. So, it turns out I don't have mush of a hot mess story to go along with the recipe, but I have my life...my hot mess of a happy life. Go embrace your hot mess.

san fransisco rice and other hot messes

- 4 oz uncooked long grain rice - 4 oz uncooked vermicelli pasta (broken into 2" pieces) - 3 TBS butter - 4 TBS sesame seeds - 2 TBS chopped green onion (scallion) - 1 1/2 cup chicken stock - 1 TBS soy sauce - Heat butter in a large frying pan over med-high heat and toast the rice and pasta, and sesame seeds , stirring often until golden. - Add the chicken stock and bring to a boil, cover and cook on medium low for 20-25 minutes , or until rice and pasta are tender. - Toss with soy sauce, and green onions. - Serves 4-6

        Read the full article

[dancing-with-the-madmen]

Now that I'm allowed to post my GISH stuff, I hope you, oh my v. dears, will forgive some self-indulgent OFMD-adjacent picspam.

Prompt #77: Dressed as a pirate, eat a scurvy-preventing "40 orange cake" on a real tall ship (sailing vessel)... and use the snail fork. Save the orange peels! You'll need them for Item #3. Post your image to social media and tag #GISH, @sambaschutte and @OurFlagHBOMax.

Note the proper snail fork. I really hate the ones where you have to tag people on social media; it just feels so "notice me, sempai!"(derogatory). But I REALLY wanted to do this one. Samba was kind enough to heart it (I'm not on twitter at all except for GISH purposes, so forgiveness, please, if I'm mangling the terminology), but I'm going to show off the details he couldn't see here. So I set out to make this as close to an actually 40 oranges cake as possible. I doubled the cake to make 4 layers and the syrup from his recipe, and my oranges were a bit small, so that upped the orange count to around 12 for just the recipe as put out by Samba. Then, I made homemade marmalade (8 oranges) and homemade orange curd (2 oranges) and put them between the layers.

Incidentally, this recipe has the best buttercream icing I've ever tasted.

I candied another dozen oranges for decoration, and I made orange cardamom cookies with orange-rosewater glaze for decorations (another 2 oranges). So it's not EXACTLY 40 oranges worth of cake, but it's not for lack of trying.

In addition to the candied oranges and cookies decorated to look like orange wedges, I made a tryptic of the three canonical kisses by drawing on fondant with edible markers and paints. Alas, my artistic skills are kind of meh, I think it comes across who it's meant to be well enough. I made little cookie frames with edible pearls to go around them. I wish I could say the crack in Ed/Stede's frame was thematic, but it's really just that it was the first one I tried to mount, and I pressed too hard.

The topper was going to be a rice-crispie model of the Revenge perched atop a rice-crispie modeled orange with the Jiminez dagger through it, but my orange fondant went too red. I tried to correct by painting over it with the yellow glaze from my picture frames, which kind of worked, and also kind of made it look like the planet Jupiter. But then, when I tried to mount the Revenge on top, the ship started buckling under its own weight. So I nixed the orange and dagger. The ship, however, has tiny cookie versions of the crew (sadly, sans Ivan, I got to the end of my dough, and only had enough to make the little seagull blob, so I made an executive decision of whom to exclude, since Guz won't be coming back for season 2).

When I was decorating Ed, my son peeked over my shoulder and asked "Who's the Chad?" What can I say? He has excellent taste in men. Also, I accidentally dropped Roach on the table while I was decorating him, and his little arm broke off - the same one that he had to sew back on per the show. I just stuck it back on with some glaze.

So, not exactly how I envisioned it, but I'm pretty pleased with the final product. Also, it was hella tasty.

[ficsnooneaskedfor]

#StarWarsCultureWeek

Day 2- Food

This is a one-shot that takes place within my "Call the Twi'lek Midwife" fic (x) but you do not need to have read my fic to read this (for those who have read it, this takes place a few weeks after Echo and Citali meet, so they are still in the process of getting to know each other and not officially a couple yet). There are recipes and some history at the end of the fic.

Summary: Citali (my OC) is preparing a special meal in celebration of the summer solstice for her childhood friend and her new friends. Echo assists her in the kitchen and she teaches him how to make bah'nok while she shares more of her culture and stories of her family. Echo learns he rather enjoys cooking (especially if it means times alone with the beautiful Twi'lek he is infatuated with).

(Irl "bah'nok" is called bannock, a type of flatbread that is a staple food of the Métis, Cree, and other Indigenous peoples of the northern US and Canada. The other foods I mention in this one-shot are real foods consumed by Métis and other Indigenous groups. Wanted to post this yesterday but time got away from me.)

Fic word count: 1.8k

After a lifetime of eating rations bars and whatever was available in the mess hall on Kamino, Echo knew very little about how to actually cook himself. Citali had invited him and his squad over for dinner a few times now and though he wanted to help her prepare the meal, he worried he would do something wrong and ruin it. So while the others were outside in the garden, Echo kept Citali company in the kitchen and helped her in whatever way he was comfortable.

Today was the summer solstice, an important holiday for Citali's people so she had prepared a number of dishes from her culture that she was looking forward to sharing with her new friends. As she prepared them she told Echo about the different foods. There was pemmican (a dish made of dried, ground meat, animal fat, and dried berries), fish, wild rice, sauteed mushrooms she had gathered that morning, some other vegetables that Echo did not recognize, and fresh berries picked from her garden. Echo had chopped some herbs and vegetables for the boulettes, a nourishing meatball soup that Citali had made for him before, walking over to her as she was hovering over the stove. She looked beautiful as always with beaded jewelry on her lekku, a black vest and matching long skirt with colorful beaded and embroidered flowers that looked lovely against her yellow skin. He was enjoying helping her not only so she wasn't doing all the work herself but so they could spend a little time alone together. Citali really liked it too. By now they both realized that their infatuation was reciprocated by the other but they enjoyed taking things slow and just getting to know each other. Citali told him stories of her family and solstice celebrations from her past, and Echo told her stories of his own of sharing meals and happy times with his brothers. Particularly of Rex and Fives. What he wouldn't give for them to meet this amazing, beautiful, kind midwife who had stolen his heart.

"Are the vegetables the right size, ma'am?" he asked, holding the cutting board out for her before realizing he had done it again. "I mean Citali. Sorry, force of habit." Citali smiled kindly at him. She didn't mind him calling her "ma'am". If she was honest, she found it rather sweet that he was so respectful to her and she had to fight the blush that was trying to creep onto her cheeks.

"Looks perfect," she said sweetly, taking the cutting board, putting the herbs and vegetables into the stockpot. "Thank you so much, Echo."

"Happy to help," he said, smiling shyly.

"Well, I think that's it. Now we just have to wait for everything to finish cooking. But I can't help feeling like I'm forgetting something important..." she said as she looked at the kitchen table, then the stove. What am I forgetting? she thought then it hit her. "Oh! How in the universe did I forget about the bah'nok?!" Echo wasn't familiar with that word.

"What is that?" he asked.

"It's a type of flatbread," she said. "My people eat it with almost every meal, I can't believe I almost forgot. Would you like to help me make it?" she said, knowing Echo was a little unsure in the kitchen.

"I don't know," Echo said uncertainly. "What if I mess it up?" Citali couldn't help but giggle.

"Trust me, you won't. My mom and grandparents taught me how to make it when I was a very little girl. It's super easy and it's pretty fast to prepare. It's a great beginner bread recipe, especially because there's no yeast in the dough. And I'm here to help you. You can do it."

Echo chuckled and nodded his head. "Okay." Citali smiled excitedly and got all the ingredients together, putting them on the kitchen table along with a bowl, a fork, and a spoon while Echo washed his hand. They stood next to each other over the kitchen table, both feeling their hearts race being so close to each other. "Do you uh...want me to get the measuring cups and spoons?" he asked and Citali couldn't help laughing. He didn't really understand why she was giggling but it didn't particularly matter to him. Hearing her laugh always made him happy.

"Sorry for laughing. It's just this is the one baking recipe I don't really measure out. My mom and grandparents kinda eye-balled it whenever they made it, so that's how I make it too. Let's start with the flour," she said, opening a large glass jar and handing it to him. "Just pour it out slowly and I'll tell you when to stop."

Echo held the jar over a large bowl and did just that. Then he added a heaping spoonful of baking powder, a spoonful of sugar, and half a spoonful of salt. "Now what?" he asked.

"Take the fork and give it a good mix," she said. "Pretty much anytime you bake something, mix the dry ingredients together before adding other stuff," she added.

"Good to know," he said, mixing it together while she cut up some butter into small pieces.

"Now mix the butter into the flour," she said as put the cut up cold butter into the bowl. "You can use your hand or the fork but I personally find it easier to do it with my fingers." Echo decided to use his fingers since he had just washed his hand. The flour mixture took on a grainy appearance and he wasn't sure if this was correct but Citali looked happy. "Not everyone makes bah'nok with butter. My mom and grandfather said they didn't think it was necessary but my grandmother insisted it is. There are a lot of ways to make it and every family seems to have their own recipe. Some put dried berries in it, others prefer it plain. Some use water instead of milk. It can also be baked or fried."

"Are we going to bake or fry it?" Echo asked.

"This recipe is meant to be baked. If you want to make it again sometime we can try frying and see which way you like better," she said, taking a peek into the bowl. "That looks great Echo. I think the butter is incorporated enough. Let's add the milk now. Like I said, some people make it with water but I think milk gives it a nicer taste and texture. Put a little bit in at a time and mix it with your hand. Add just enough so that the dough is soft but not sticky."

Echo added the milk little by little until the dough was soft. While he kneaded the dough a bit (finding the process oddly relaxing), Citali got a baking sheet and put it on the table. "Is that enough kneading?" Echo asked.

"That's perfect," Citali said. "Now we just put it on the baking sheet and spread it out until it's about an inch thick. Sometimes I divide the dough to make individual servings but this is a lot easier." Echo spread the dough out on the tray then poked some holes into it using the fork as Citali instructed. "Now we put it in the oven for about 25-30 minutes," she said taking the tray and putting it into the hot oven while Echo began cleaning up. "So...was that as hard as you expected?" Citali asked, genuinely curious.

"It wasn't," Echo said smiling. "It was pretty easy, like you said it would be."

"Good," Citali said happily. While they waited for all the foods to finish cooking, Citali told him the history of bah'nok to Echo and how it made its way from Ryloth to Ord Mantell. She told him stories of making bah'nok with her family over the years. How it was barely out of the oven before everyone started digging in, sometimes not lasting long enough to even make it to the dinner table. How everyone in her family seemed to like it a different way. Her grandmother preferred it baked and topped with honey. Her grandfather liked his made with dried berries and fried, the way his mother made it when he was a little boy. Her mother liked it fried as well but topped hers with berry jam. Her father liked it baked or fried, as long as it came with a big bowl of hot soup. Citali loved it whatever way it was made but most of all, she loved all the memories of making it with her family. And now she had a new memory of teaching Echo how to make it. A memory Echo would now cherish as well.

After about 25 minutes, Citali pulled it out of the oven and brought it to the table to Echo. "You made this!" she exclaimed proudly, giving him a side hug, and Echo chuckled.

"With a lot of help from you," he said.

"But you still made it yourself," she said and Echo couldn't help feeling a little proud. It made him happy to create something that (hopefully) Citali and their friends would enjoy. He had been so nervous about cooking before but now he found that he really enjoyed the process, and not just because he was spending time alone with Citali. "Want to try some? It's really good when it's just come out of the oven."

They both ripped a piece off, eating it plain, and Echo loved it from the first bite. Citali then went to her pantry and got some honey, jam, powdered sugar, and other toppings so Echo could see which way he liked best. They sat down at the table next to each other and she drizzled some honey on a piece and held it up to Echo's mouth to take a bite. It felt strangely intimate to be eating from her hand like this but he couldn't deny he found the gesture kind and sweet, just like Citali. After trying the bah'nok with all the sweetened toppings, they both ripped off another piece and dipped them in the broth of the boulettes, then topped with some fish. It was such a simple food but was delicious and Echo could see why Citali's people ate it with most of their meals.

"So, which way do you like better?" Citali asked.

"I'm not sure," Echo said honestly. "They are all so good. I think I'm slightly partial to it topped with honey though. Like your grandmother." Citali smiled.

"She would have been ecstatic to hear you say that," she said giggling. They both looked at the baking sheet on the table and realized they had eaten half of the bah'nok themselves and now Echo was laughing. Like Echo, Citali adored hearing his laugh and she felt butterflies in her stomach as she listened to it.

"I see what you meant about it not lasting till dinner when you were growing up."

"It's funny," Citali said. "Bah'nok, in theory, stays fresh for quite a while but when I was growing up we were lucky if there was any leftover the next day."

"I suppose we should make some more?" Echo asked. There wasn't much left for the others and he was perhaps being just a tiny bit selfish, wanting a little more time with Citali all to himself. Little did he know, Citali was thinking the same thing.

"Want to try frying some this time?"

History of "Bannock"

Bannock was originally brought to North America by Scottish explorers and fur traders. Indigenous people like the Cree and Métis (people of Indigenous and European heritage. My family is Cree-French Métis, among many other things) adopted bannock in their cuisine in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. It is still often eaten today by many Métis and various Indigenous groups.

With very few ingredients and easy to make, bannock is a common accompaniment with any meal. It is often made when camping and it has been used as a staple food for wilderness explorers, trappers, and prospectors for centuries. It can be baked or fried (when fried it is similar to fry bread. Some Indigenous groups use the words "fry bread" and "bannock" interchangeably.). There are many ways to make it including plain or with dried/fresh fruit, on a baking sheet or cast-iron skillet, there are so many ways to prepare it.

My Little Grandma's Bannock Recipe

Like my OC, making bannock with my great-grandmother (we called her "Little Grandma") and my maternal grandmother (we called her "Big Grandma") is one of my first memories of cooking. It is a very easy beginner recipe and can be eaten with sweet or savory foods.

Ingredients:

3 cups all-purpose flour (or whole wheat flour)

2 tablespoons of baking powder

1 tablespoon of sugar

1/2 teaspoon of salt

1/2 cup of margarine (Shortening or lard was also something Little Grandma used. I usually make it with butter but my grandmas were old-school. If you use salted butter, omit the salt in the recipe)

3/4 to 1 cup of milk (or water). I've never used a milk alternative for this recipe but oat milk would probably be the best substitute.

1 and 1/2 cups of dried cranberries or raisins (optional). Also very good with dried currants if they are available where you live or any other dried fruit.

Instructions:

Preheat oven for 425 degrees F (220 degrees C)

Add flour, baking powder, sugar, and salt to a mixing bowl and whisk together.

Work the margarine (or whatever substitute you are using) into the flour mixture. Hands usually work best but a fork or food processor can be used as well.

Add the dried fruit (optional).

Gradually mix in the milk until the dough is soft but not sticky. If the dough becomes sticky, add a teaspoon of flour at a time until it is not sticky anymore.

Lightly knead the dough until everything comes together. Do not overwork the dough.

Shape the dough into a ball and transfer it to a greased baking sheet and spread the dough out until it is about an inch thick. Doesn't have to look perfect (I prefer it to look a little "rustic" so people know it's homemade).

Using a fork, poke holes into the top of the dough (this allows the bannock to cook more evenly)

Bake in the oven for 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick or fork comes out cleanly.

Eat the bannock! It is delicious with soup, topped with honey or jam, making sandwiches, or plain. When baked this bread is similar in taste and texture to a scone. Store in a bag or airtight container for 2 to 3 days at room temp or 5-7 days in the fridge.

Here are some other variations:

Because I am also Apache on my father's side, I'm including this recipe for Apache fry bread (which is also amazing). Though somewhat similar to fried bannock, you can see that it is a little different and more like the fry breads that are well known for many Indigenous groups in the US.

Though bannock and fry bread were not foods eaten by Indigenous peoples prior to colonization (there is some controversy among Indigenous people about consuming it today), it was and still is a vital part of our diet for many. Though it is not something I consume every day it is very much a comfort food and I love sharing the recipes and teaching others how to make it. I legit cried when a child I used to nanny texted me pictures of bannock she made, it was something she and I did together when she was young.

If anyone who reads this post decides to give it a try, I would love to see pictures and know how you liked it!

[draechaeli]

Lotus Root and Pork Rib Soup 莲藕排骨汤 Recipe

The recipe that many people who have read MDZS or watched the donghua or CQL have wanted to try!

This is being posted as another companion to for my MDZS Reverse Big Bang WangXian fic A Date at Lotus Pier So, you can enjoy great fic over delicious soup, just like Shijie always made! Wondering why LWJ would need this recipe when he is on a date? You’ll have to read and find out.

If you keep scrolling you’ll see a picture of WWX personal flair on the soup.

There is also a Recipe Keeper link at the end

Here is the original Chinese recipe I have translated.

I first made the soup for Gish 2020, and I had originally planed to make something else but couldn't get all the ingredients, and I ended up looking through Lotus Root and Pork Rib Soup recipes at the grocery store. So, any reference to other recipes I did not save at the time and that is why there are no links.

When I make soups I usually do it in my 4L rice cooker with 500g of whatever meat is going into the soup. When I make Lotus Root and Pork Rib Soup I adjust the recipe for 500g pork ribs. So, all the notes are based on this adjustment and my pot size. the pictures are from my first try which had been made with no adjustments unless stated.

Ingredients:

姜片 Ginger ��                                              6g 克

莲藕 Lotus Root                                        300g 克切片 cut into pieces

将排骨 Pork Ribs                                      400g 克

小葱一根 A Small piece spring onion

红枣 jujube                                                 3个 (50g)

枸杞 Wolfberries                                      2g克

水Water                                                      500ml

盐 Salt                                                           2g克

Directions:

将排骨，小葱一根，姜片，红枣，枸杞，水500ml放入锅中，放入锅中 大火煮沸 Put pork ribs, spring onion, ginger, jujubes, wolfberries, and water into a pot and bring to a boil let cook for 3 hour

撇去浮沫 skim off the foam

之后小火炖半小时 let simmer for 30 minutes

倒入莲藕，小火炖半小时 add Lotus Root and let simmer for another 30 minutes

放入2克盐，即可出锅 add 2g salt and serve

Notes:

Lotus roots oxidise like potatoes when cut. Chop them right before putting them in the pot. One site I looked at said to cut them with a ceramic knife. Or you can just put them in a bowl of water until they are needed.

Traditionally the soup is made in a ceramic pot (since I usually make 4L soups I bought a 4L one (top right picture))

The first time I made this soup I matched the actual water amount and it boiled away too quickly, so I add extra water (I did not see a pot size in the original recipe but if you look at the bottom left picture the pot is smaller than mine). As the soup seen in CQL has a lot of broth I think it makes sense

Jujube, wolfberries, spring onions, and ginger can be skipped, some recipes didn’t have them, and they appear to be missing in Jiang YanLi’s recipe (top left picture). You don’t want to eat the Jujube, wolfberries, or ginger. I think the broth colour come mainly from the jujubes (though my first soup (see picture above) had the darkest broth and this was the time that the water had boiled away). The ginger gives it a bit of spice, and the spring onions taste nice I think I add too many.

Chinese soups tend to have thin broth. One other recipe I looked at added in chicken bouillon. I tasted the broth after skimming the foam and then added in pork bouillon. I added in 2 32g bouillon gelatinous cube packets which the recipes on the box say 1 packet for 600-1500 mL of water (it says for example 2.5小碗水(600g) according to this site a small bowl (小碗) is about 100 ml. but 100 g of water equals about 100 ml so there is that).

One time I had to buy three times the amount of ribs and I ended up boiling all of the ribs to make broth and so the ones I didn’t use initially in the soup wouldn’t go bad. The broth when cooled became gelatinous. But didn’t have a lot of flavour so I still added the bouillon.  

I always skip the salt as with the addition of bouillon I don’t think it is needed

I’ve also made it without pork ribs and just with cubed pork instead and it tastes the same, if you can’t get ribs or don’t want to pick bones out of your soup.

Timing:

If you don’t want crunchy lotus roots, skim earlier and add the lotus roots earlier or put them in at the beginning.

The spring onions will practically disintegrate when put it at the beginning. I add them about halfway through.

I’ve made this in my rice cooker that has a 2-hour soup setting, I added the spring onion at the hour mark and the lotus roots 30 minutes before the rice cooker had finished. The broth did not come out as dark as the usual but tastes the same.

Personal additions I have tried:

Add chili oil, to add a touch of WWX to your soup (picture is of when I accidentally spilled the jar into the soup)

Add a clove or two of minced garlic. If you like garlic this is a nice complementary flavour to the soup.

Carrots; I had too many and if it didn’t finish them they would have gone bad, they were very good in the soup.

I tend to thicken soups with puréed cauliflower, eggplant, or zucchini. I added the cauliflower purée once, it gives off a strange smell, but doesn’t taste bad. But also something I haven’t done again.

Recipe Keeper link

[elysiadjarin]

Kill the Lights

Part 2: https://elysiadjarin.tumblr.com/post/647758084188602368/kill-the-lights

Warnings: implied discussion of threesome? I mean, it’s a symbiotic relationship, literally. Poly at the most, but we all know that’s what we’re here for.

3: Furthering Feelings

Eddie started as he heard a knock on the door. A little puzzled, he went to open it. His eyes widened as he saw her standing on the doorstep, a shy smile on her face.

“Hi there,” she greeted. “I hope it isn’t a bad time...”

“Oh, no, no, come on in,” he managed, swinging the door open and shuffling aside.

She stepped in, and he could practically feel Venom drooling in the back of his mind. He could smell the soft, sweet smell of her natural scent and her perfume, and it washed over him like it always did.

She turned back to him, holding a paper bag. “I wanted to come visit you both, but I also wanted to bring you this...” She handed him the bag. “I tried out a new recipe and remembered that Venom loves chocolate, so I figured he could give me an opinion on it?”

He peeked into the bag. “Wait, you made these?” He looked up at her.

She flushed. “Well, yeah,” she laughed. “I am a chef. I like to experiment once in a while.”

Give me.

Eddie hastily pulled it out, opening the neatly wrapped box. “Sorry, he’s- Uh- impatient.”

She tilted her head, smiling. “I’ll take that as a good sign.”

Venom’s head appeared over Eddie’s shoulder, and he opened his mouth to let his tongue flick out and grab a piece of the chocolate. Eddie grabbed one for himself. His eyes closed as he groaned, the taste of the sweet chocolate bursting on his tongue.

“This is... this is amazing,” he said, looking at her.

Her eyes lit up. “Really?” She clapped her hands.

It’s good. Venom gobbled another piece.

She laughed delightedly. “Success!” she cheered. “I’m so relieved you like it, both of you. I was worried the flavors were too strong.”

Venom extended his head toward her, getting close.

“Whoa- whoa Venom-“ Eddie reached out.

But as always, Rosemary didn’t even flinch, instead smiling brightly. “Hi Venom.” She reached out and gently placed the tips of her fingers on his cheek.

He growled, pushing his head further into her hand.

She laughed. “I’m so relieved you like it.”

Like you.

“I like you too, Venom.” She smiled at him.

Venom turned his head to Eddie. Eddie, tell her.

“Whoa, no, we talked about this,” Eddie hissed back, eyes flicking between Rosemary’s face and Venom’s.

“Tell me what?” Her head tilted.

Fine then. I will.

Before he could protest, Venom took over.

~

I stared up at Venom, his face a good few feet above me. Venom didn’t frighten me. He’d never hurt me, never seemed to want to. And something about him always made me wonder what it would feel like to just... sink into his organic matter. I swallowed back my feelings.

“Did you want to tell me something, Venom?” I asked, a little confused.

Venom stepped forward, his tongue flicking and head tilted. His large, milky eyes stared at me. Eddie’s a coward. He doesn’t want us to tell you.

“Tell me what?”

He took another step forward, but I didn’t flinch. We like you.

I blinked. “Um... thank you-? I like you too?” I responded. Though I’d always wished he meant a different way, I’d found out that Venom was always blunt about his likes and dislikes.

No. Venom closed the distance, reaching out.

My heart leaped into my mouth as his giant hands gently encased my waist. But I didn’t move, just letting the large alien do whatever he wanted.

His face loomed closer, until his forehead rested against mine. My hands found their way onto his forearms. His body seemed to almost suck me in, tendrils curling around my fingers. My breath hitched at the feeling.

Want you. If possible, his voice had deepened into a growl that echoed through my body. Love you. We want you to be ours.

I gasped. Head jerking up, I looked up at him, hope warring with fear. Did he... mean it?

“You... you like me?” I whispered.

Yes. Me and Eddie. Want you.

I closed my eyes and let the hope bloom. “Me? But I’m just... I’m just...”

Ours.

My fingers clenched. Venom’s organic matter started to curl around my waist, snake up my back, pulling me closer. My eyes fluttered closed as his mouth covered mine, moving across my lips. It felt strangely both warm yet cool, sending sparks skittering down my spine. His tongue flickered at the seam of my lips.

My lips parted almost automatically, and I muffled a gasp as his tongue slipped between my lips. My mind fuzzed, giddy. Everything about Venom felt so... safe. The way he was so much bigger than me yet molded around me, embraced me so fully. Even the kiss felt so different, so much more... intense.

I tugged away for air, chest heaving as I caught my breath. “Venom,” I breathed.

You like us? His eyes searched mine.

I managed to laugh a little. “Yes. Yes, Venom, I do. I like both you and Eddie,” I said shyly, smiling up at him.

Venom melted back enough to reveal Eddie’s head and torso, though his black matter still anchored us together by the legs and waist. Eddie stared at me.

“You do?” He sounded bewildered.

I tentatively reached up and touched his cheek. “I know it’s a little weird of me, but... I do. I’ve liked you for a while, Eddie. And Venom, too.”

“Then, you’ll... be our girlfriend?” he seemed to blurt. “Venom- I- we- have been c-crushing on you since the day we met. He won’t stop telling me to kiss you.”

I couldn’t help but laugh, imagining it. “I would really like to be your girlfriend, Eddie, Venom,” I addressed both of them, smiling. “If you’re okay with me...”

Eddie bent. His mouth slid against mine, burning hot compared to Venom. Still, he felt just as safe, just as solid. His kiss was different, less possessive, more... hesitant. But as I shyly responded, the hesitancy seemed to slowly melt away.

It felt like a dream.

~

His mind fuzzed as he pulled away reluctantly. Her breath tasted so good.

“You’re beautiful,” he blurted, staring down at her. “I... I can’t believe you’d date us.”

He’d long since accepted that Anne had moved on. He liked Dan well enough, and the man made Anne happy. His feelings for her had faded into memory.

But Rosemary... Rosemary was different.

She shook her head, cheeks flushed. “I’m not anyone special. I... I didn’t think you or Venom would ever think of me that way.”

“Why not?” he asked, genuinely baffled. “You’re- you’re gorgeous. And you’re smart, and your cooking is incredible. You accepted both of us, chose to be our friend. I mean, I’m just a journalist with a-“

A what? Venom growled.

He corrected. “A symbiote. A weird one. Two losers.”

Rosemary reached up and kissed his cheek. “Then we’ll be three losers together,” she said. “Besides, you helped save me that night. And both of you have protected me ever since then. You’ve helped me feel safe again.”

Eddie swallowed thickly. “We’re lucky.”

Rosemary blushed. “And I’m lucky too,” she murmured.

Eddie lost himself in her kiss.

~

I pulled away from Eddie, then smiled up at him. “I love both of you, but that chocolate needs to go in the fridge before it melts.” I gently patted his chest, then skimmed my fingers across Venom.

No. I’ll eat it.

I shrugged. “Sure, Ven. But I thought I’d... well, if you don’t mind, I figured I’d stay and make dinner-?”

Eddie buried his face in my shoulder. “Please stay,” he mumbled.

I reached up and buried my fingers in his hair. It didn’t feel half as rough as I thought it would, and I could feel him shudder a little.

“For dinner, or just stay?” I half-laughed.

His hands tightened. “Yes.”

“Alright. I’ll stay.” I kissed his forehead. “But if you want dinner, you might have to let me go so I can actually make it.”

He groaned in protest.

“Okay, okay, deal.” I patted his hair. “Let me make dinner, and after that I’ll get on the couch.”

Deal. Venom decided to make the decision.

I laughed at Eddie’s disgruntled face, then went to the kitchen. Draping my scarf over the back of a chair, I set up my phone and hummed, going to the fridge. Finding some ingredients, I hummed to the music I put on and familiarized myself with his kitchen.

“You know, Anne told me to date you. Both of you.”

Eddie grunted and dropped something. “What?”

“She’s the one who encouraged me, actually,” I admitted, cracking eggs into a bowl. “She... guessed I had a crush on you both.”

“I- I guess that’s... good?”

I nodded absently. “I’m just a bit surprised she figured out that I was crushing hard on Ven,” I said thoughtfully, tapping the wooden spoon against my lip as I turned on the burner. I turned to him, holding the pan. “I mean, you’d think it’d be unusual. No offense, Ven, but I’m pretty sure I’m one of the very few people in the world that would crush equally on you both.”

Eddie quirked a smile. “He says he doesn’t care.”

“I figured.” I turned back to the stove.

“I worried about it. That’s why I didn’t want to tell you.” Eddie set something on the table. When I glanced back at him, he was staring at my scarf, fingers twisting nervously. “I mean, with Venom... it’s not like any relationship can just ignore him.”

“I guess I’m lucky, then.” I smiled. “I don’t have to choose, I can have both.”

“Venom, stop,” Eddie hissed behind me.

The eggs sizzled as I poured them into the pan, and I reached over to grab two plates. “Can you get the tots from the fridge, please, Eddie?”

He handed them over. “What are you making?” He peeked over my shoulder.

“Oh, you had the ingredients for omelette rice and bacon wrapped tots so I figured I’d just go with that.” I looked up at him. “Did you want something else?”

His eyes widened, but before he could say anything, Venom’s head darted out from his shoulder. I squirmed and giggled as his tongue licked across my cheek.

“Ven, that tickles! I take it you like that idea then-“

Yesssss. He hissed.

I kissed his head. “Sounds good, now let me actually not burn the eggs.”

Half an hour later I finished setting it all on the table. Eddie brought me a drink from the fridge, and we both sat down. Venom immediately launched off of Eddie’s shoulder to gobble down his plate of tots, while I smiled and took a bite of the omelette rice.

“This is so good,” Eddie said around a mouthful, tucking into the food as eagerly as Venom.

“I’m so glad.” I contentedly ate. After all, the greatest compliment a chef could receive was seeing people devour their food. I was no different.

Eddie loaded the dishwasher once we were done, and I went to go curl up on the couch. From what little Anne had said, Eddie had really taken an up in his life after settling into Venom’s presence and renewing friendship with her and Dan.

I sighed and grabbed a throw, pulling it over my legs and shivering slightly. Eddie came into the living room and shuffled over to the couch.

“Are you alright?”

I nodded. “I run cold,” I explained sheepishly.

He hesitated, glancing at me.

“Does Venom like... to cuddle?” I asked, curious.

He blinked. His eyes unfocused a little, listening to Venom. “No, it’s- it’s like hugging.”

I tilted my head. “I can show him.” I reached out my arms. “I’m a cuddler my friends always told me.”

Venom took over, and he hunched over me.

I laughed a little. “Okay, just... sit down, Ven.” I crawled into his lap, settling myself sideways and leaning into his chest. I pulled the blanket over our laps, then wrapped his arms around me. I snuggled into his chest, feeling his organic material begin to wrap around me in tendrils, making me sink into him a little.

This is... cuddling?

“Mmhm.” I nodded, then took his hand in my lap. His talons were long and pointed at the ends, and I laced them with mine. “I’m so tiny compared to you,” I laughed.

His fingers shrank a little, creating more of a glove around Eddie’s hand. Our fingers tangled together, and I hummed.

We like this. Venom’s head bent, his face barely brushing my hair.

I tilted my head up, leaning back against his huge arm. My nose bumped his face, and I smiled. His tongue flickered, his fangs bared. His breath washed over me, but I just closed my eyes and didn’t say anything as his tongue grazed my collar and flicked up my neck.

My noise of surprise was lost in his mouth as he abruptly kissed me, but I didn’t protest. Eddie’s fingers were clenching around mine, and I let my eyelashes flutter as Venom dragged his tongue across my lips.

I reached up with my other hand and cupped Venom’s cheek. His growl vibrated against my mouth and chest. I pulled away from the kiss, catching my breath.

“Ven, I do need to breathe, love,” I murmured.

He nuzzled me, a sort of purr rumbling through his chest. I melted at the sound, smiling.

“I’ve never heard you do that before,” I remarked, delighted.

He pulled back, head tilting a little.

“Don’t stop, I really liked it,” I pleaded.

His purr accompanied his eyes half-closing. I ran my fingers across his chest, feeling the odd texture. It felt more rubbery than slimy, but it had a sort of... pulse to it that made it so much more alive.

Ours. We will protect you.

“Thank you,” I whispered.

Venom’s head darted down. I gasped but didn’t flinch when I felt his fangs prick at my neck. My head rolled to the side out of pure instinct, and I could feel him clearly needling a mark onto my shoulder. He let go, his tongue swiping over it as he purred.

Biting my lip, I pushed back the little prickle of pain. I supposed it made sense with him being a possessive being that he’d want to... mark me?

With one last nuzzle, Venom retreated his head to let Eddie have control of the talking, though his body still remained.

“Are you okay, Rose?” Eddie asked, eyes concerned.

“I’m fine, Eddie,” I reassured, smiling. “It’s just Venom.”

He blinked at the mark on my neck. “He did a number on you.” Reaching up, he brushed his fingers across it gently. “Does it hurt?”

I shook my head. “It just stung a little but it doesn’t hurt anymore. Really, it doesn’t bother me, Eddie, I promise.” I leaned into him comfortably.

“Ok. Ok, that’s... that’s good. Sorry about him.”

“Don’t be.” I ran my hand over his arm soothingly. Curiously, I looked up at him. “You know, it doesn’t bother me if you talk about Anne.”

He looked startled. “Wha-?”

“I noticed earlier, you looked uncomfortable. I didn’t mean to make it awkward, she’s a good friend.”

He sighed, leaning his forehead against mine. “You’re so perfect,” he muttered.

“Not perfect,” I protested. “I just know that both of you have moved on. I’m glad you’re both friends. I’d be sad if I weren’t friends with Anne and Dan.”

He leaned forward to gently brush a kiss to my lips. “I promise I only think about you. I’ve... thought about no one else for months.”

I could feel the blush rising. “I can’t say I’m not happy.”

~

Eddie stared down at her, just... drinking her in. How did he get so lucky? She liked both him and Venom equally, made them food, comforted them, even didn’t mind their being friends with Anne. And with Venom’s teeth marks on her shoulder...

Venom felt all too pleased about that in the back of his mind.

His breath shuddered a little at the feeling of her delicate fingers laced in his, her other hand pressed against their chest. She just felt so warm and fit perfectly in their arms. She hadn’t been wrong when she said she was tiny in comparison.

“I love you,” he blurted.

She blushed, but her smile lit up her eyes. “Love you too, Eddie. And Ven.”

Love her.

“He says he loves you too.” He pulled her a little closer.

She snuggled into him with a contented hum.

“Rose, does it...” He sighed, unable to push the thought from his mind. “Does my job bother you?”

She looked up at him with a confused blink. “Which one?”

It was his turn to be confused.

“Vigilante or Reporter.”

He had to snort a little, shaking his head. “Both, I guess.”

“No.” Her head tilted. “Should it?”

He glanced away guiltily. “I mean, I do tend to get wrapped up in work and obsess over things sometimes. I am a journalist.”

She laughed. “Sometimes I work a lot more too just because I enjoy it, Eddie. Besides, if you start to make me too lonely, Venom will bring you back to me. Right, Ven?”

She’s right.

He sighed. “He agrees.”

She smiled triumphantly. “Told you. But really, I’m proud of you for sticking up for what’s right. It’s how you met Venom. And how both of you saved me. It’s important to you.”

He wondered if she could get any more perfect.

She sighed wistfully, then. “Being selfish is one of my weaknesses,” she admitted. “I always want to just... I always think of my friends as being just my friends and no one else’s. I start to get possessive of their time with me, even though I know they have a life besides me.”

She wrinkled her nose. “And I wish I weren’t so worried about my job. I always get so stressed worrying that things need to be absolutely perfect.”

“But that’s just the way you are.” Eddie furrowed his eyebrows. “Pretty natural.”

She smiled. “Well, it’s something to work on.”

He and Venom agreed that they’d follow her on the journey. As long as they could be beside her.

[sweetberrysmooch]

HC: Call This The ‘Can This Man Cook’ Section

(….. I don’t think these men can cook 😔)

First post pog :D I wrote a majority of these super late at night, so please forgive and let me know of any mistakes you find <3 Also, it’s a little long lol

Characters: Dream, George, SapNap, Badboyhalo, Wilbur, Technoblade, Philza, Quackity, Fundy, Schlatt.

Warnings: None, except for a kinda risqué comment in Philza’s. Oh and I guess there’s mentions of eating meat in case someone wants the warning :3

Song Recommendation: I Love You So- The Walters

Hella fluffy! Hope you enjoy <3

From best to worst:

#1: BadBoyHalo-

Bad is the best at cooking on the server. He is the creme of the crop, absolute top one percent, king shit at cooking.

He can cook, bake, and temper chocolate perfectly, what more could you want?

His favorite to-go recipes are cheesy garlic bread and a special spicy chicken and rice recipe which he typically makes when the boys are over at his house for the night. When he’s with you he goes for something a little smoother, some mulled sweet berry cider with a smoked cod fillet, eaten under the light of candles while you quietly chat about life and your fellow friends. It’s always one of Bad’s most anticipated hangouts, and he’s very careful about planning when it comes to those days.

While he appreciates being complimented on his food or his skills, deep down he wants to have someone to cook and share his knowledge with so the cooking process becomes much richer. He’s cooked for so long and learned so much, but it means nothing if he can’t share it with another person. The moment you come to him and ask him for help on any kind of recipe, he’ll drop almost everything to help you.

Side note; he absolutely carried lunch and dinner for his fellow DTeam members. While Sapnap would mostly take over breakfast, Bad would be hounded by begging puppy looks from these adult men who couldn’t cook and kind of just sigh and get the ‘kiss the cook’ apron ready. It’s not like he hates it or anything, but the endearing factor kinda slips off after a few years of adult men groveling.

(Bad’s hands rest over yours, dwarfing them entirely as he helps you cut the pasta sheet straightly. “There you go!” He encourages, squeezing your hand gently and stepping away, moving back to dice the vegetables on the cutting board next to you. A comfortable silence falls, and with it comes something in Bad’s heart softening. The worries and exhaustion in his mind ease, and he slips into a contented routine of finely chopping and slicing. It’s been a while since he’s felt so calm. There’s nothing that can ruin this- 

The front door slams open. Footsteps walk in and approach the kitchen and you both hear it, 

“Baaaaaaaaad.” Bad cringes, taking a step back.

“Baaaaaaaaaaad, we’re hungry.” Sapnap. 

“Yeah Bad, feeeeeeeed uuuuuuus.” George. 

And then, from around the door frame, a white mask peeks in. Nobody says a word, but you can feel Bad deflate next to you like let go balloon. 

“It’s alright, big guy.” You laugh, grabbing his forearm and leaning up against him. His sad puppy eyes make you smile a little, and you try to reassure him. “We can hang out alone another time. Let’s keep working on the pasta.” He sighs, but still returns your smile. “Yeah, another time.”)

#2: Philza 

Sigh…. he can cook. Not quite as good as Bad can, but better than Quackity. A solid second place. It stems mainly from being so knowledgeable that he just knows and has tried so many different foods, but since he doesn't actually do much cooking, I'm making him a flaky second place.

Doesn’t mind cooking, but doesn’t love doing it either. He’s always focused on so many different things that he’ll forgo eating to keep working on what he’s doing. He mostly cooks for Techno and Ranboo or the few guests (you) they seem to receive. Makes great stew, and even better roasted chicken, is absolutely immaculate when it comes to cooking bird.

He didn’t teach Wilbur or Techno shit! I wish I could say it’s because he wanted to but just couldn’t, but he was literally like “hmm. Im a little busy now, maybe next year” every year!! But, this being said, if you ask him to make something with you or teach you how to cook a particular dish, he will agree to help you. Old age has really mellowed him out, and after certain events, he realizes he needs to stay a bit closer to those he cares about from now on.

He likes sweets well enough, and will always thank you for any gifts you make for him. Along with growing older, he’s had time to lose his pickiness he had in his youth. If he does end up cooking with you, he’ll prefer doing the harder recipes over easy ones. He will lose it laughing if it turns out bad, so don’t worry about any disappointment (his children make up enough of that ^^).

(“Now,” Phil starts, washing his hands quickly as you wait for him next to the cutting board. “Pufferfish needs to be prepared perfectly, or we will die when we eat it. But I don’t need to explain to you how a pufferfish works, now do I?” 

When you shake your head no, he comes up behind you, tarnished wings bound and hair pulled up in a pony tail. 

“The meat of a pufferfish is very delectable, and much better with a glass of wine.” He grins cheekily, “ If this works out well, which I’m sure it will, dinner will be delicious.” 

It falls quiet for a second, and as your hesitantly looking over the fish that may be your last, you gasp when you feel him press up against you back and rest his chin on your shoulder. “Maybe there’ll be other delicious things to eat as well,” He murmurs into you ear, before leaning back and busting out laughing. Your face feels stupidly hot. Dilfza quest activated.)

#3: Quackity-

Quackity:

Quackity can cook. I know!! I’d say he’s like the third best cooker on the list. And he’s not half bad at baking either.

He likes making up stupid bad recipes and trying them out with you, even if at the end of it the one of you up chucks your damned creations the hour after. Despite his reigning need for chaos though, he knows how to make a decent amount of recipes and strives for praise when he’s actually putting forward effort. He’ll arrange little dinner dates (“A handsome man and his very pretty friend, good food made by yours truly, and La Chona, what do you say, baby?”) and will sit there with a 🥺 look on his face until you tell him if you liked it or not.

He tries to act like he’s unaffected by your words, but even a small, “That was really good.” will make him turn red and giggle like a schoolgirl. He tries to play it off, but it’s easy to tell he loves the complements. Will also never tell you anything you make is bad. You are a deity descended upon  minecraft Earth and he is but your prettiest disciple who will uphold your honor and treat you like you should be treated!!!! But he’ll then promptly choose to help you with and guide you into cooking/baking better ^^; He loves you!

As for baking, he really likes making cakes because of how simple they can be. It helps calm him down when he can just slip into bake mode and follow a recipe and make something nice at the end of it. Speaking of, he also has a sweet tooth, but not quite as bad as Techno does. Any sweets or food you make for him is always eaten, and always held in high regard. Will try to entice you into feeding him 👀👀 so watch out.

(He’s doing it again. You try to avoid looking directly at the dopey lovesick smile Quackity has on his face at the moment, but as you lift the fork up, you get a better idea. 

You look at him (to which he seems to melt a little under your gaze), look at the fork, and then back to him, raising the piece of cake up to his lips. His expression turns flabbergasted and his blush deepens. 

He doesn’t seem to believe you for a second, until you nudge the cake close and flash him a smile. Then it’s like a switch has been flicked; he giggles, blushing, and eats the cake right off the fork. He’s gone back to smiling that silly smile again, this time even brighter, but it’s okay. You try to ignore the way your heart speeds up in your chest when he begs you for another piece.)

#4: Schlatt-

Another cooker~! He specializes with formal dinners more than anything else, and adores a good steak.

During his presidency, he didn’t cook very often. Quackity and you had to keep him fed through most of it, and the memory of watching you cook in his kitchen while he looked over work papers at his dining table leaves a mark on him, sealing a new crave for domesticity that he hadn’t ever wanted before.

Sometimes he would cook though. You, Quackity, and Tubbo would all gather around and eat together every once in a blue moon, when Schlatt was sober and calm. It feels tense at the table but also not in a way? Schlatt always seems to be chillest during dinner, a mix of the alcohol wearing off and the emphatic family feel that comes with Tubbo, Quackity, and you surrounding him.

He loves cake! It’s one of the few desserts he’ll eat, but you have to watch him closely or he’ll gorge himself of the treat. Indulge him and invite him to make a cake with you, and it will be one of the most interesting bakes of your life. How Schlatt got three eggs to stick to the ceiling is beyond you, but the look in his eyes tells you he’s completely fucking sober and hamming up his own cluelessness. You probably wouldn’t have even noticed if it weren’t for him hiding all the other eggs around your kitchen as well. How did he get one on the top of your door without it falling when you opened it? That’s between him and god.

Overall, a good 4th place on the list.

(“I have no idea what you’re talking about.” Schlatt says, deadpanned, looking you right in the fucking eyes with an undisturbed egg sitting perfectly straight on his head. 

“Where are the eggs, Schlatt.” 

“I have no idea what you’re talking about.” 

“Schlatt.” 

“Yes.” 

The container you kept them in is completely empty on your kitchen counter, once full of eggs but now reduced to a desolate husk of its former glory. Speaking of former glories, your president turns around, arms crossed and stands there silently. 

You look around. Theres one in the door handle of in the pantry, another wedged between two slices of bread in your bread box, and- oh god. On the fucking ceiling. Three, stuck to the ceiling, unmovable. After a full minute of dead silence you manage a “What the fuck have you done?”, and Schlatt turns to look. 

“Oh hey. There they are.” Your mind turns into a rock, shatters, and crumbles into dust.)

#5: Dream-

Honestly if you’re looking for edible food that tastes range from ok to good Dream is your man. 5th place.

He knows a lot of ‘depression era’ type recipes just because he’s pretty homeless and his man hunts don’t allow him much time to hone his skills. Stuff like bread or mushroom stew comes easy to him after so many times of having to do it on the run. Bread is the only baking he won’t screw up.

Can cook meat well enough too, but doesn’t really do anything special to it (besides his sauces).

To elaborate: Over the unknown span of his life, he’s acquired these recipes for forgotten and questionable sauces that he’ll store in little jars and leave at your house for you to use. They’re odd, and the ingredients aren’t ever what you think might be edible, but they’re surprisingly tasty none the less. He likes to show you a new one every month or so to keep things fresh.

Pretty general about sweets, but has a severe love for chocolate, especially dark chocolate. Has never had one, but dreams about chocolate cake. It’s high on his bucket list and written another four times over.

One of his favorite things to do with you is bake, mainly because of how ruinous it always turns out. No matter your skill, Dream’s vibes decimates any luck the two of you will have while baking. It’s scientifically proven. You left the cupcakes in for a minute-JUST a minute over what they should’ve been and they came out rock solid. Dream tried to eat one anyway. Best part was watching him try to bite through the shell.)

(He thinks he’s over selling it, half-gnawing on the brown cupcake (it was supposed to be vanilla, he thought) and making stupid growls when his teeth barely break through the surface, but the feeling he gets when you start laughing hysterically next to him wipes away any negative thought he had and fills him with utter joy. 

It's very late into the night, and you’re both a little loopy, but all the while you still lean against him as you giggle, the spot tingling where your hand rests on his arm. 

His heart thumps crazily, before sinking. Oh god. He’s in love with you.)

#6: Technoblade-

Knows a lot, but very little. He can cook the meat perfectly fine, but there’s a difference between being cooked and tasting good. He doesn’t know how to season them. Salt is the bare minimum you get.

6th place ^^; sorry king.

He’s good with potatoes though. I like to think that the countless hours spent potato farming had to account for something. He likes having cheese and butter on them every once in a while, but for the most part just eats them salted like an animal. It’s practically a show to watch him eat a cooked potato in three bites without anything but salt on it.

Big man loves food though, even if he doesn’t eat like it. Steak and cooked fish are high on his list of foods, but only if it’s cooked by Philza. And eventually you fall into his “I trust to eat this from you” category as well, but he has a special place in his heart for Phil’s cooking. Rabbit stew is at the very top.

He also eats a lot, being 6’10 and 200 something pounds of muscle, gotta consume quite a bit to keep him moving.

As for the sweeter variety of food, he’s got a massive sweet tooth. The moment you make him an apple pie or honey candy or anything of the like, he’s immediately enamored with you. Sweet things are hard to come by on the smp, especially with how far out he lives, but it’s a secret weakness of his that is very easily exploitable.

(You’ll be the death of him, he thinks, watching you closely as you trudge your way through the freshly fallen snow towards his house. Your normal pack is lighter than it usually looks, and he worries that you may slip and hurt yourself on the ice before you make it to the door. But still, you keep walking until you're standing at his doorstep, fist raised to knock when he opens it for you. 

You look surprised for a second, and then a grin splits your face and his heart races. 

“I can’t stay for long,” you say, having spent at least 30 minutes to get there. “But I wanted to drop this off for you before you went out to hunt again.” 

Out of the bag, you pull another smaller leather bag and hand it to him gently. It rests heavy in his palm, and for a moment he’s sure it’s ender pearls that you’ve brought him. But still he opens it, and he’s immediately taken aback by the smooth golden candies you brought him. 

“They’re honey candies.” At this point you’re practically grinning. “I thought you might like some while I was making them last night.” 

He doesn’t have to see his own face to feel the deep blush setting in on his cheeks and ears. You…. you’re so…… sweet. You are very…. sweet, he admits to himself, and he is very not attached to you. Not at all.)

#7: Fundy and Sapnap tie.

Fundy- 

Has his old man's cluelessness but is a fast learner. He doesn’t have much time to expand his food repertoire so it’s pretty much the basic stuff that he’s eaten during the war or before that when he was younger.

He really likes cooking though, and will invite you to come cook with him for dinner or lunch if he wants to hang out. When they were together, Dream had given him an old dusty cookbook that had several recipes he hadn’t ever heard of before, so that’s where most of what he tries to make comes from. His favorite to date was a special mutton dish that he asked you to try with him on his last birthday. It was just the two of you, but he had never had so much fun before.

Doesn’t like eating fish however, there’s just some bad vibe he gets when he thinks about cooking one or catching one. (Desperately ignores the fish fucker. Desperately ignores the fish fucker. Despera-)

Loves sweet berries as treats, seeing as that’s the only sweet thing he grew up with. Not too big on other sweet flavors. Likes honey in his tea though.

7th place cooker, will get higher as he learns more dishes.

(He raises his wine high with a laugh, clinking your glass with it as you both giggle drunkenly. 

The lamb you had cooked together turned out amazing, juicy and tender and flavored with crimson fungus juice. The recipe was from an old cookbook he had, he faintly remembers telling you, hiding the fact that it was Dream’s cookbook that he was given after a particularly nasty argument. 

He doesn’t want to think about him, especially not while he’s with you. Especially not when it’s his birthday. 

So instead he ponders the trip through the nether he took with you to harvest some of the fungi, how the juice was tangy and slightly bitter, but how it had done wonders when basted onto the meat while frying. 

You had looked so happy when you two plated the dish, so proud of him, all in a way that Dream never was. 

Even now, as you tiredly smile at him from across the table, cheeks pink and eyes focused solely on the moment you were sharing, he feels at peace for once. This is what contentment felt like. Oh, how he loves you so.)

Sapnap-

Shame the shit cooker. Ok ok, he’s not as bad as some of the others on this list, but that’s just because he can make a half decent breakfast. It’s not much competition.

Bad has desperately tried to teach this boy some cooking besides eggs and toast, but the only things that seem to have stuck are mashed potatoes and grilled pork chops. Neither of which he even likes enough to make often.

He prefers fish to meat, and would eat any kind of cod you offered to him. Likes smoked salmon a lot, it’s something Bad made for him a lot when he was younger. He tries to recreate the dish, but comes up short and feels disheartened when it isn’t like Bad’s. He’d appreciate any time you took with him to learn how to make the dish, and it wholly sticks to his mind afterwards. He never forgets the experience, and treasures it very closely.

Likes not-sweet sweets. Not bitter per say, but just not very sweet. He likes chewy taffy in particular, but the old lady kind that lasts 60 years but gets hard in 6 minutes after being exposed to open air. Gotta be polite about it too, or he’ll end up embarrassed and pout for an hour.

(He’s eaten 6 of those fucking taffies since you sat down on the couch, completely straight-faced as the two of you of you listen to Dream and George talking. 

At this point you’re completely checked out of their conversation, solely focused on the taffy Sapnap keeps eating. Where does he even get those? How many does he have?? You’ve been friends with him long enough to have seen him pop a taffy every other second of the day. He seems to have a stash on him at all times tucked away, filled with paper-wrapped pastel covered sweets. 

“Want one?” Sapnap asks, holding out a light blue taffy with a little star drawn in yellow dye on the wrapper. 

“What?” Startled, you lean back a bit and realize you had been staring him down as he ate, and flush with how rude that probably seemed. 

“Want a taffy? I don’t mind sharing with you, cutie.” He winks and offers the taffy again. “....” You gaze at the taffy curiously. You’ve never seen him offer another person one of his precious taffies before. Hmm. “...Yes, thanks.” 

You take it delicately, unwrapping the wrapper and taking a bite of it experimentally. It’s very lightly sweet, soft and chewy and surprisingly pleasant. 

Sapnap watches you from the corner of his eye, softly smiling when he sees you eat the rest of it. Glad to see someone else has good tastes around here.)

#8. George-

Meager man makes a meager meal. I said what I said!!! This flatbread boy knows diddly squat, and the only things he can cook successfully are bread and mushroom soup. Which he will make. And that’s all he’ll make. Any food that isn’t that is cooked by either Bad or Dream, and he’s still picky about it.

He’ll make you the soup and bread ladies and gents. I’m not saying they’ll taste great together, but he will definitely make them for you. Anything else he’s pretty critical about, and he doesn’t care much for treats or dessert. He does occasionally like dark chocolate though, which he and Dream will beg Bad to make for them. Soon he begs you to make it for him, and then you have to go ask Bad how he makes it so George won’t complain about how it tastes different from Bads. It’s a weird situation. You make a lot of chocolate. Dream and George linger at your house for weeks on end until you get fed up and shoo them away with a broom.

To his credit, even though he can’t cook much, he’s really proud of his mushroom stew. Any time you let him cook, his go-to is his mushroom stew. He likes to feed you and know that you’re not hungry somewhere, and to top it off he gets to show you his prized dish; not Bad’s or Dream’s stew, but his. He’s cute or whateva…

(George places the bowl down in front you, stepping back and turning to grab his own, before sitting down next to you. He immediately begins to eat, and you give him a half glance as you bring the soup up to smell it. 

It… doesn’t smell that bad, actually. Not burnt, at least. You spoon some of the soup into your mouth. 

Despite all you’ve seen of George’s cooking, this is pretty well made. It’s nice and warm, and the flavors are rich and the mushrooms soft. You choose to ignore the small smile of his face next to you, and keep eating your soup quietly together.)

#9: Wilbur

Wilbur can’t cook for shit. Literally nothing. This man knows apples grow from trees and that animals are made of meat and that’s it.

You think Wilbur made any of his food when he was president or exiled or ever? Not a chance. He ate anything given to him, Tubbo and Tommy absolutely brought this man all the food they could find so he wouldn’t get eat straight trash or starve throughout the presidency. Techno slid him bare cooked potatoes in Pogtopia and he thought “oh this slaps….. this is the pinnacle of food”

Which I know, not really sexy. But! This means that the moment you feed him something a step up from a bare cooked potato he is in food heaven. He especially loves saucier kinds of foods with lots of flavor and spice to them, it’s just so fucking good. Food becomes his kryptonite after you feed this silly man.

With sweets, however, he isn’t that much of a fan. He does like those small lemon creme crackers, and you and da boys are the only ppl he’ll share them with.

(You hear him before you see him. The familiar clambering at your window draws your attention away from the pork you were dicing, and one look over your shoulder shows a disheveled but grinning Wilbur. 

“I hope I’m not too late for dinner.” He jokes, brushing off his pants before approaching you to press a kiss to your temple. Soon after that you hear another set of clambering, and two pairs of stomps reveals one Tommy and one Tubbo respectively. 

“What’s for dinner tonight, mate?” 

“Hope you don’t mind if we join in!” 

You sigh, turning back to hide your smile before they can see it.)

// Hope you enjoyed! I might write a pt2 of this later with some other ppl in it lol we’ll see :3

[1plus1kiyoomi]

Chapter 8: Actions Speak Louder Than Words

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“Are you sure your grandma won’t mind taking care of Rice today?” You ask Kita as you two go back to your car. He humms, starting the engine of the car. “She’s really nice and down to earth. No wonder why you’re such a good boy.”

“You call me good boy as if I’m Rice,” Kita sighs, and follows the map on the monitor.

“Well, like father like son,” you chuckle and you hear him click his tongue in annoyance.

“Where are we going anyways?” Kita changes the topic, eyes on the road.

“You’ll see when we get there,” you say excitedly.

Kita continues to drive for about 10 more minutes until the navigation devive announces that you two have arrived at your destination. You hop out of the car and Kita follows behind you. You skip going to the elevator of the building, thrilled about the date you planned.

You two arrived in front of the entrance of the store and Kita reads one of the posters posted outside in confusion. “Learn how to bake treats for you and your furry friend...”

“If you wanted to bake, we could have just done it at home,” he tells you as you enter the store.

You sushed him and proceeded to the counter. “I don’t want to do the dishes.”

“Lazy ass,” he mumbles, but you hear, making you kick his calf weakly. You continue to speak with the lady behind the counter to confirm and pay for your reservation.

You have rented the whole place for a time period for the two of you. Since you’ve posted that video with him, fans have been speculated on who he is and are making theories. Being seen in public and risking his privacy are two of the things you least want on your date right now.

“You’ve reserved the whole place this morning, Miss (L/N). And you wanted to make dog treats, and cookies?” The staff confirms with you and you just nod and hand her your card. Kita sighs in disbelief. He didn’t want you to spend so much on your date. “Please come this way.”

She leads you to the kitchen where all baking needs are arranged. It was like the Sugar Rush kitchen but in brighter colors. “You requested for the recipe only tutorial so here is the tablet where you can find all the recipes you’ve requested. Your aprons are here. If you need anything, just press this button and we will assist you.” The staff instructs before leaving you and Kita alone in the kitchen.

Once she’s out of sigh, Kita turns to you. “Isn’t someone supposed to teach us or something?”

You look away, your lips pressed into a pout. “I wanted to spend this time alone with you so I kind of reserved a different type of class,” you explain to him.

He chuckles and messes your hair. “Let’s start baking then. Since you wanted to make a lot today.” He goes at the counter where your aprons are located.

“Can I set up my camera here? Just for documentation. I won’t post it,” you tell him and he nods. You set up the camera and go to the counter as well.

The pink aprons had your names embroidered on it as it’s included in your package. He puts it on without hesitance and hands you yours. While you are trying to tie the back of your apron, Kita approaches you and ties it from in front of you. Basically, he’s hugging you.

He notices your red face and asks you about it. “What’s wrong with you?” You don’t answer him and hold up the tablet to your face. You aggressively look for the first recipe, not able to look at him in embarrassment.

“First, we’re gonna make the sweet potato biscuits. Baby, can you get these ingredients for me? 1/2 cup peanut butter, then sweet potato puree in the same measurement. 4 eggs. 6 cups of whole wheat flour,” you narrate and Kita goes to the shelves to get them for you. You start preparing the ingredients while Kita preheats the oven and cleans the baking trays.

“These are a lot. I don’t think Rice can finish all of these,” Kita states, scrolling through the tablet to check the next recipes you will be following.

“It’s not all for Rice. It’s for the dogs I’m going to adopt.” You start and Kita has his eyebrows raised already from the word dogs. “I’m actually planning to start a foundation on stray and unwanted dogs. I plan to adopt all the dogs in the city compound and provide them a safer and friendlier shelter before they find a home. I found this abandoned land near our place and bought it last week. I’m still looking for someone who can feed and look after the dogs full-time since I’m busy with school.”

You mix the puree, peanut butter, and eggs first. Then, add the flour last. Kita just watches you, admiring you from the side. You sounded so proud and passionate about your plan. His heart beats faster just from the thought of it. He knows how busy you are with school and your work, but you still manage to spare some time in helping these dogs.

“Don’t just look at me, babe. Help me shape these treats,” you complain and he stands next to you. The new pet name causing him to smile for a bit. He starts rolling the dough in silence and you wait for him to finish, the cutter shaped in a dog bone in your hand.

You put the treats in the oven to bake for 13 minutes. While you two wait, you start making the frozen. Your eyes are stuck on the screen, looking for the perfect flavor for Rice. “I think he’ll like the peanut butter and banana more.”

“Nope. Strawberry and mangoes.” Kita disagrees with you.

“I know our son better than you. We’re making the banana and peanut butter,” you argue but he doesn’t give any reactions. “Fine. Let’s make both and see which he likes more later.”

You both start making the dog-friendly frozen yogurt. Your recipe only needed a cup of yogurt, 1/4 cup peanut butter and one mashed banana. ‘It seems edible,’ you think before taking a spoonful and eating it. ‘Weird but not bad.’ Kita catches you on act and he grimaces at what you just did. “It’s human food!”

“We’re making this for a dog,” he rebuts. You take a look at his yogurt mixture, and stretch your arm to his mixing bowl. He moves it away from you but you go after it. He stretches his arm up, holding his bowl in the air. “No. This is for Rice.”

“It’s just yogurt with mangoes and strawberries!” You fold your arms together, glaring at him.

“Are you Rice?” He deadpans so you turn and go back to your area. Kita puts the bowl back on the counter top, looking at you from time to time to make sure you won’t eat from it. He looks at the mixture he made and pokes his spoon in it. He licks the back of the spoon and you see it.

“See! You’re doing it!” You point and try to take a spoon from his bowl again, but he quickly hides it from you. “You’re a meanie!” You stick your tongue out at home and he mirrors your action, annoying you. “It doesn’t matter. Rice will like my frozen yogurt better.”

You hear the oven’s alarm go off so you forget about your little banter and run to the oven. You open it and quickly touch the steel tray, forgetting that it’s hot. You wince in pain and Kita clicks his tongue before going over with oven mitts. He takes the trays out and puts it on the counter to cool.

“Let me see your hand,” he orders you, removing the mitts from his hand and placing it beside the trays.

“It’s fine. It was a quick touch anyways,” you put your hand behind your back but Kita gently grabs your wrist to expose your burnt fingers. He slowly pushes your head back with his finger on your forehead, causing you to giggle because you know what’s about to come. Before he can start to scold you, you beat him to it. “I’m so clumsy and excited. I should be more careful next time.”

He narrows his eyes at you before giving the treats his full attention. Yours is also back on the treats, not minding the uncomfortable burn on your fingers. You don’t want to ruin your date just because you got hurt from your very own actions.

“Try it.” Kita takes one piece and hands it to you. Shaking your head, you for an x using your arms. “Why not? We made this with human food.” He tries to convince you using your own words. Hesitantly, you take the treat from his hand and take a small bite. You spit it out immediately and he starts laughing.

“It tastes awful! It’s like dirt!” You complain, running to the water dispenser at the corner of the room. “I hate you!” You stay away from him, upset.

“Come back here,” he tells you but you shake your head. “I’ll take a bite, too. Just come back here.” You slowly take small steps towards him, a cup of water ready for him. He takes a small bite from the treat and then another one. You gasp in disgust, moving away from him again. “You’re over reacting. It does not taste that bad. It’s actually pretty good.”

You gag from his words and he pulls you back by your wrist. You offer him the cup of water and takes it. “No wonder why Rice likes eating dirt.”

“How do you know what dirt tastes like?” Kita asks you, turning the tables. You chuckle sarcastically before looking at him.

“Oh, you’re changing the topic now, baby?” You give him a sly look and he just shrugs. You leave the treats alone to cool and you two proceed to making the cookies.

The Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe

Ingredients

227 g unsalted butter, room temperature

1 cup brown sugar

3/4 cup caster sugar (or white sugar)

1 large egg

2 Tbsp water

1 and 1/2 tsp vanilla extract

2 cups flour, sifted

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp kosher salt

chocolate chips

“Okay so first you cut the butter into smaller pieces and cream it with both of the sugar,” you read the instructions on the tablet. Kita takes a whisk and starts creaming it manually. “You’re not going to use the electric mixer babe?” You look at his arm and his sleeve is tightening on his bicep from whisking. “You know what, stick to what you’re doing. You’ve already started it.” You lean your elbows on the counter, and goggle on his arm muscles. ‘To be held by those arms and chok-.’

“Done. What’s next?” His voice snaps you out of your thoughts. You hurriedly look for the tablet, obviously distracted. ‘She really was just staring at my arms the whole time.’

“Next is to add an egg, water, and the vanilla extract,” you instruct and he follows. You on the other hand, prepare the dry ingredients. You sift the flour, salt and baking soda, creating a fog made of the powders.

“(Y/N),” Kita calls you sternly so you carefully do it this time. Scared, you clean up the dusts of flour on the counter. You give the dry ingredients to Kita and he mixes it together. It’s time to choose to the chocolate chips.

“Milk chocolate.”

“Dark chocolate.”

You competitively stare at each other before Kita grabs both. He puts 1/4 cup of each, but you’re unsatisfied. “More.”

“If I add more this will just become a chocolate chip with cookie,” Kita tells you. You take the jars of chocolate chips and pour more. Kita takes a deep breath in, extending his patience. He mixes the chips with the dough then puts it in the fridge so you’ll stop adding more chocolate to it.

The dog treats have dried so you look for a packaging. You find a cute little paper pouch and decide to use it. You grab a random tape and pen from the stationary station. You sit on one of the stools and put your phone on the counter.

“Baby help me name the dogs.” You request to Kita and he obliges. He sits beside you, very much interested in naming the dogs with you. “So luckily, there are only 20 dogs at the pound. So we need to put three pieces of treats per bag. You put the treats in and I’ll write their names on the bag.”

“Okay,” Kita complies and you scroll through your phone to find the photo album of the dogs. This is one of the times he finds you serious and loves the look on you. He likes you being playful and childish, but he digs this relaxed and composed personality as well.

You show him a picture of a dog, a smile growing on your face. Your smile is infecting him, he can’t hold his in. “She’s cute right? Should we name her Carrot? She has a brother who we should name Pumpkin.”

“You’re naming the dogs after crops?” Kita raises an eyebrow and you nod eagerly. “It’s because of Rice’s name, isn’t it?”

“They’re Rice’s siblings, babe. It’s normal to name them after crops.” You explain, writing the name Carrot on the paper bag. He scoffs, his smile growing even wider. He leans his elbow on the counter, the side of his head on his palm. A strand of hair drapes on your face, so his free hand tucks it on the back of your hair. You eye from the side, his stare and action causing you to turn red.

“We should name the dog Tomato,” he suggests, obviously making fun of your blushing face. “To give tribute to your face right now.”

After baking the cookies and putting them in packages, the two of you head to Osamu’s store for takeout and give him your baked goodies. You then head to his grandmother’s house to pick Rice up.

“Oh, it really is not Ayako,” his grandmother, says and Kita stiffens. “I was wondering why she was acting like a stranger this morning. What’s your name dear?”

“(Y/N),” you say politely, suspicious of Kita’s sudden change in behavior.

“Are you my Shinsuke’s girlfriend?” She asks you and you look at Kita. This will determine your relationship.

“She’s a friend,” Kita answers, breaking your heart. And you thought you were something after that kiss and your date today. “We’re heading out now. I’ll visit you soon. Don’t forget about your checkups, okay?”

Your can’t even think of anything. Kita’s words are repeating in your head like a broken record.

‘She’s a friend.’

‘She’s only a friend.’

‘She’s only my friend.’

‘I’m a friend.’

‘I’m only friend.’

‘I’m only his friend.’

“(Y/N), let’s go,” Kita calls you, Rice already in his arms. You politely bow to his grandmother before following after him. You go back to your car, more quiet than usual. Rice is sleeping on your lap, probably tired from playing with Kita’s grandmother the whole morning. “You’re quiet. What’s wrong?”

“Do you really see me just a friend?” You finally ask, looking out of the window. He puts the gear on parking mode, and his hand goes reaches out to squeeze your cheeks before he makes you face him.

“I only said that because my grandmother watches your videos. If I say yes, she’ll most likely share it to her friends, the nurses and doctors at the hospital, and pretty much anyone she knows,” Kita explains, letting go of your cheeks.

‘You didn’t even answer my question.’ You give up from fighting any further, already tired from baking. You close your eyes and force yourself to sleep so you won’t think about his words. Sleeping the whole ride, you are shock too see that you’re already back to your house.

The three of you enter the house, and head straight to the dining room to eat. After eating, Kita hands you the frozen yogurt he made at the baking studio. “I made another one for you. It’s with your favorite fruits.”

You are still sulking from his words, but you are weak for his actions. You take a clean spoon and start munching on the frozen yogurt. He takes your burnt hand, so you stop eating. He puts your fingers near his lips and he kisses them. You choke on the yogurt, surprised by his move.

“I wanted to do that since a while ago but we were in public,” he tells you, then shifts his body closer to yours. He cups your cheeks and pulls your face close to his. “This, too.” He plants a short kiss on your lips then moves away from. “Get some sleep. You look tired.”

‘Actions speak louder than words, (Y/N). Actions speak louder than words.’

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Facts:

It's important to mix your dry ingredients in the right order, because all of your ingredients are fighting for water.

The absence of sugar in a confection allows flour proteins to create gluten, which is why gluten-free foods contain high amounts of sugar.

Egg yolks contain something called lipids, a special kind of fat that adds color and flavor to cookies.

Cheesecakes date back to Roman times, when mild, milky cheeses got a jolt of sweetness from honey.

[prev] [next]

Note: I was supposed to post this chapter 3 hours ago, but I fell asleep watching this ASMR baking video HAHAHAHAHA

Taglist: @vicassa  @ptv-hades @steggy4ever  @booklover240  @toripersonalacc @mkazuyuh  @smoltiddygf  @adrasteiaxandromedaa @leinnah  @a-applepi @kellesvt @xxlightsaberxx  @youpieceofwasabi @bandolls @wheelzzzies @apollochjld @sakusa-simp @neomuxuxi @aquzairus @ynjimenez @sempiternal-amour  @tnu-ree @mindofess @alittlebitofrain @agaashesmilktea​  @ynjimenez @sempiternal-amour @diyosku @dinablossom @atomicpie1115 @lililiynx @onlyshinji @melodiamore @bunnybitesthedust @angrylittleriri @rogueofbullshit @8zmingi @aam1na @yuueisteria @4kaashl  @ohhoneyvee @amberisnotcrazy @kouffee-ink

[girlgrouptrash101]

Cooking with Loona

Request: "i know requests are closed and i’m reallyyy sorryyyy 🥺 i’ve been going through a lot and i just didn’t have time and didn’t feel right enough to ask this: maybe cooking with loona??"

A/N: to the anonnie that requested this, i hope you're feeling better and ily ❤️❤️

(had to put a keep reading tab cuz the post was too damn long f)

- C

Heejin:

we’ve all seen the cement brownie she tried to give to chuu on her birthday vlive..... yeah....

she always skips like half the steps when she’s following recipes and then gets confused when her food doesn’t turn out the same like,, Heejins sweetie pleASE-

lowkey can’t cook but she thinks she can because you hype her up too much

like she will serve you a dish that will somehow be both burnt and cold at the same time and you still tell her she did amazing because it makes her so happy and that’s all that matters

your guys’ favourite thing to make together is probably cupcakes or cakes

because you get to bake them and Heejin gets to decorate them, and they always end up looking and tasting immaculate

everything in your guys’ relationship works better when you’re together, you two simply complete each other :’)

Hyunjin:

not only does she make the most kickass bread but girlie really is a chef of all cuisines too

you still don’t know how or where she even learned to cook so well but you aren’t complaining at all

whatever you feel like eating, Hyunjin knows how to cook it to absolute perfection and she always offers to teach you how to make your favourite dishes

you two also have matching yellow cat aprons uwu

the kind of girl to either kick you out of her kitchen for distracting her while she’s making a meal or else back hug you and help you stir a bowl with her hand over yours all romantically

it literally just depends what mood she’s in at that very moment

highkey loves loves loves cooking for you and surprising you with dinner after a long day, because her favourite thing to do is put a smile on your face :D

Haseul:

starts off really strong and sticks to the recipe... but then her mind wanders and she's like,,, well,,, what if i add this????

and you're like haseul,,,, please don't put chilli peppers in Kim lips birthday cake, i promise she can do without them,,,,,

she finds cooking in the dorms a bit stressful, doing her best to feed the hungry members after a long day of practice

so cooking with you tends to be a much more therapeutic experience, just you two, a bit of music and some tasty treats

but she of course brings back plenty of wonderful bakes for her members to enjoy too, they're literally her babies she is can't just let them STARVE 😔🙄😢

lowkey pretends she's having trouble stirring so you'll reach from the back and help her with the spoon all romantically

miss haseul you are not slick we SEE YOU

Yeojin:

yes she did in fact bejewel her cookery book

"yeojin... I can't even read the recipes, there's too much glitter!!"

"Well Y/N, sometimes, sacrifices have to be made in the name of beauty."

said sacrifices are usually cupcakes and cakes that don't rise, burnt food or just complete mush that doesn't even look like food

however, when yeojin is fully dedicated she can pack a mean lunch, sometimes she makes them for you when you're going off to school/work, and she always makes sure presentation is A+

prefers to just go out to cafes/restaurants on dates rather than cook

but that doesn't mean there haven't been times where you and her have been in the kitchen at 2am, trying to make a gigantic cake for you and all her members to share 😌

Vivi:

has the most peaceful, lofi cooking playlist ever

you two work in harmony, always helping one another but never tripping over the other in the kitchen

it's so harmonious it's like.... y'all were meant to be or sumn idk 😳😳😳

however if u try to eat any batter she will smack ur hand and be like no ⛔ that is for LATER hfhdhd

her hair always gets tied up in the cutest little bun when she's baking, and that along with her fairy apron makes her look like an actual princess

she also LOVES cooking/teaching you how to make her favourite foods from Hong Kong that she'd always make with her mom

those meals always help her when she's homesick, and with you by her side make her feel like she's not alone 🥺

Kim Lip:

CEO of pretending she has everything under control when in reality she has absolutely no idea what’s going on

“Uhhh Jungeun, is something burning?” “NOPE NOPE IDK WHAT YOU’RE TALKING ABOUT HA HA HA........”

wants to put your apron on you every time but she’s always way too shy to ask so she just resorts to back-hugging you until you get the hint and let her tie a cute little bow behind your back with the apron string hehe

makes pretty decent food when she’s not flailing around and panicking over a single grain of rice that escaped from the pot or something

however she refuses to admit when she messes up in the kitchen

like she could burn something to a crisp or use completely the wrong ingredients but she’d still eat every bite just to prove she’s the best cook in the house

if your food sucks she will tell you to your face, followed by a kiss so you forget about the fact she just roasted your cooking skills lol

Jinsoul:

Jinsoul gives off Hawaiian shirt drunk uncle at the family barbecue vibes who won't let anyone near the steaks

and you're like,, Jinsoul do you even know what you're doing????????? to which she responds - "food, heat, it's cooking. isn't that all i need to know?"

chaotic but refuses to acknowledge the chaos she causes in the kitchen

so when you have baking dates u have to keep such a close eye on her to make sure she isn't going to poison anyone with her creations

once she gets into it tho, she's grooving around the kitchen in her little robot apron, dancing to Christmas songs when it's not even Christmas and just 10/10 having a blast

not really the biggest fan of cooking but she knows you are, and since you help her build her gundams she does like to try and help our properly in the kitchen when she can

perhaps Jinsoul best girl???? perhaps??????

Choerry:

hello this sunshine absolutely LOVES baking, especially for others because putting a smile on someone's face is her main goal in life

she loves decorating with icing too, her go to patterns are smiley faces, flowers and the sun!

her playlists are always so upbeat, the two of you end up bouncing around the kitchen singing at the top of your lungs as you work

LOVES LOVES LOOOOOVES backhugs, especially recieving them,,, it makes her feel all worm and mushy inside hehe

also likes to kiss face icing off of your face, just to have an excuse to give you as many little pecks as she so desires

choerry always makes you a birthday cake every year, and she puts so much work into it, it absolutely melts your heart

plus it makes her happy to see you eating well and having a good time, she truly just is the biggest sweetheart :']

Yves:

she always says yes whenever you ask her to cook with you, but only because she just wants to flirt with you for an hour

"why do we need to make all this food, when the real snack is right in front of me? 😏"

cooking with you actually really does make her happy though, she loves that she can be so domestic with you, it's such an amazing break from her hectic life

also lowkey makes her feel like you're a married couple... and you best believe Yves can't wait to wife you up

she doesn't suck at cooking, but has often times gotten,,, ahem,,,, somewhat distracted and has prioritized making out with you against the kitchen counter rather than how long the food has been cooking, which ends up in a lot of burnt meals

baking with her is really a time, and has more than once ended in a very messy food fight because Yves wouldn't stop smearing icing all over your face 💔

her specialty is dialing the local takeaway and ordering food instead ✨ okay Yves Ramsey go off ✨

Chuu:

this baby girl is just torn between actually wanting to cook or just asking you to cook with her so she can get affection from you (as if she doesn't get that anyway smh)

backhugs except she won't let go

whenever she's making something she calls you over and she's like "Y/N is this okay?" and always asks for kisses as a reward for doing good

will feed you every single ingredient no questions asked

she loves surprising you with meals on very random occasions though, for example that one time she cooked your favourite food because it was the anniversary of the first time she got sick while dating you

she's actually a pretty good cook when she puts her mind to it though, she loves making good food that'll cheer people up when they really need it

btw you will be forced to wear matching aprons and they will be the pinkest, loudest and sparkliest ones that she can get her hands on ✨

Go Won:

have the fire service on speed dial before you even think about cooking with gowon omg

you literally also need to have indestructible tastebuds because she WILL destroy them

her speciality is starting fires and combining foods that were NEVER. EVER. E V E R. meant to be combined 😭😭

"babe come try this dish!! it's ramen mixed with coca cola, jelly and vegetable soup!!! it tastes GREAT trust me"

at the end of the day you just leave her be in the kitchen because at least she's having fun LMAO

(just always have a fire hydrant by your side okay??? she set the loona dorm on fire making chicken nuggets once...)

despite all her chaos, she somehow always produces something edible at the end and.... sometimes it actually tastes good too???

Olivia Hye:

lets you do all the work cuz she's worried she "might mess it up" when in reality she just wants to order takeout and cuddle instead smhhh

will probably follow you around the kitchen or rest her head on your shoulder while you do all the cooking, because this tsundere is secretly the biggest softie for you

she's actually a decent chef when she's motivated to help though

like she even put together a cooking playlist for you guys - which she very shyly revealed to you one time, a slight blush on her cheeks as she played the songs for you

cuz miss olhye is very much a romantic, she just doesn't have the confidence to show you all that yet hehe

her favourite is making desserts because well,,,, she gets to eat the batter and also gets tasty treats at the end

10/10 cooking backhugs also 🖐️😌

[agirlneedsgoals]

I'm in a weird place today. I'll cut this to spare you (there is brokenness, coveting, complaining, talk of writing, dinner menus, and babble about current and past tv shows).

Last night, I suddenly had skin crawlies. I haven't had it like that without some kind of obvious trigger in YEARS. Maybe a decade, even. It felt like things were crawling on my arms, my face, my hair, my neck, and my shoulders. I knew nothing was there, I couldn't help touching to try and brush it off but I knew better than to scratch like I used to. Yay for self-control! I had to take Xanax to be able to sleep.

I woke up this morning hurting from the top of my head down to my toes. I think it's how I slept but I didn't feel this way once at @clockwrkheart's when I was there this last weekend. I think it's their bed and her pillow. I covet.

I'm writing! In tiny drips and drabs but I am writing. It's not my own stuff. It's fanfic, which I've never been particularly good at but this seems to be...coming together? Idk. I currently have about 4000k on the one that's working for me now. I'm just doing what I can, I'll check it for pacing and character later. I inflict it on one of my bffs constantly, but she has to say it's good because it's in her contract.

Enh, nobody'll see it even if I post it cause it won't be here. 😁

I have our meal calendar filled for over a week! Proud of myself but I'm not the one to make it most of the time, either because I'm exhausted or I'm just...not up for it. *is broken* But I want to. Does that count? Here's my dinner menu:

Tonight: lemon-turmeric soup and sandwiches (why sandwiches? because we didn't get any good bread to dip in it because I was gf when I put it on the menu and soup alone can't keep my sugar up overnight)

Thursday: chicken apple sausage, mashed root veggies, miso orange green beans

Friday: tuna noodle casserole w/Caesar salad (the only quintessentially 50's recipe I eat; mostly because my Oma made it when I was little)

Saturday: shrimp scampi (okay sometimes idk what will be going with the main)

Sunday: spaghetti and meatballs w/roast cauliflower (frozen meatballs and dressed up jar sauce because fuck you that's why)

Next Monday: tostadas

Next Tuesday: garlic butter baked tilapia, sweet potatoes, roast squash, broccoli

Next Wednesday: chicken fricassee, mashed potatoes, spring mix w/lemon vinaigrette

Next Thursday: honey mustard salmon, golden carrots, broccoli, green rice

Next Friday: gnocchi alla vodka (I'mma make both from scratch, actually), cloud eggs, Caesar salad

Next Saturday: Italian shakshuka, garlic bread

Next Sunday: curried chicken salad w/good bread (that just means I want crusty Italian or French bread)

Nobody cares about that except me, but there it is. 😋

They mark the doors of elves in The Witcher, to mark them either as homes they need to raid or homes they have raided, when they're putting all the elves in chains. But they draw a little elven piggy and I shouldn't but I find it ADORABLE.

I got 2 lbs. of strawberries from Sam's Club. I'mma eat them all dipped in sugar. You can't stop me, I'm an ADULT.

I only watched like 3 or 4 seasons of The Vampire Diaries and I never watched The Originals. It's on my list, I just never got to it. But YouTube has been suggesting a ton of vids from them and some of it is SO WELL EDITED. Like these people should edit movie trailers because it makes stuff that I KNOW was blisteringly stupid, look good.

Oh, my God, the love story between Klaus and Elijah. Not in the incesty way, just in the true love brother way. Those two could break curses on each other, s2g. I adore it. And there's a Caroline vid that made me actually cry. AND WHY DID NOBODY TELL ME DAMON AND BONNIE BECAME BESTIES??? If I can't have them as a couple (I shipped them in the books, tbh), I want them as bros. 💕💖💕💖💕💖

Okay, I'm gonna stop this now. If you read this far, I owe you cookies.

[dialovers-translations]

Diabolik Twitter ー Ruki Mukami [2020 Compilation]

–> This post includes all tweets posted on the official Rejet Twitter account for Ruki Mukami (@DialoverRukiM) in 2020.

Shuu l Reiji l Ayato l Kanato l Laito l Subaru l Kou l Yuma l Azusa l Carla l Shin l Kino

February 14, 2020 (Valentine’s Day)

> This year Azusa will make chocolates by himself it seems.

> To think he’d want to make sweets by himself without relying on my help. He has come a long way.

> There’s this suspiciously spicy smell in the air…

March 14, 2020 (White Day)

> Do not ever forget about the feelings you put in to the chocolates you gave to me. If you wish to remain by my side, then you must learn to behave in a certain way as livestock.

> …However, you are a precious woman to me. I want to protect you. Don’t forget that either.

April 1, 2020 (April Fools)

> Our family-run cafe called ‘Mukami Dining’ is opening its doors today. A menu featuring home-grown vegetables is our main focus. I shall not ask for the impossible, but I highly recommend checking it out. I promise you shall not regret it. Detailed information can be found through the link below. #MukamiDining #AprilFools

April 24, 2020 (His birthday)

> What are you doing, Livestock? I thought that you had made elaborate preparations far ahead, but if you want to please me, there is still something left to do, no? Exactly. Come here. I shall not let this day end without holding you in my arms. My birthday may come to a close, but let us enjoy this comfortable night just a little longer.

May 4, 2020

> Some free time has opened up.

> I should use this as an opportunity to make a more time-consuming dish.

Juy 7, 2020 (Tanabata)

> The restoration of page number 37 from the recipe book Yuma ripped to shreds. #TanabataWishes

August 17, 2020

> When I buy clothes without trying them on, it happens that the fit around the chest and the circumference of the sleeves does not match.

October 21, 2020 (DL x Mayla Classic)

> There is something I’d like to discuss. Come to the kitchen.

–> Move to the kitchen

> Actually, after talking it over with my brothers, we decided that we should give you a little reward every now and then.

> While I was out doing groceries, I prepared an accessory which I thought might suit you but…This is strange, I could have sworn I put it here, but now it is gone.

> There’s no other option than to search for it. I have to get started on preparations for dinner, so you go look on your own. Yuma should be in the garden, so go ahead and ask him.

> It’s a gift from us. You must find it all costs.

> You have until dinner time to look for it. We’re having fried shrimp tonight. If you manage to find it, I’ll let you have some as well.

> Well then, get going.

October 24, 2020

> I think I shall make some takikomi-gohan today per Kou’s request.

--> 炊き込み御飯 or ‘takikomi-gohan’ is a traditional Japanese dish made rice, vegetables and fish or meat which all cooked together and then seasoned with dashi, etc.

> I am looking forward to using these seasonal shiitake. This rich fragrance and smooth texture...I was surprised to discover that store was carrying such high quality products.

> Speaking of which, Yuma should be growing pumpkins in the garden as well.

> I suppose I could make some simmered pumpkin as well.

October 29, 2020

> You truly are bothersome Livestock, making your Master accompany you till this late at night.

> I bet you will let your voice slip halfway through, then end up relying on me.

> You sure have some nerve, casually showing off your foolish sleeping face.

October 31, 2020 (Halloween)

> Homemade sweets, huh? You believe that I would be satisfied with some sugary treat? What foolish livestock you are. Think deeply about what you should truly give your Master. That being said, let me get straight to the point. Trick or treat?

November 9, 2020

> I find this season to be rather pleasant. It is the perfect weather to enjoy a good book.

> Speaking of which, I bought a magazine in which Kou is featured yesterday. I have to flip through it as well.

> Okay. You’ll be able to find it on the usual spot after I’ve finished reading it. (@Azusa)

November 19, 2020

> You should be in class right now though. (@Shuu)

> Don’t sleep.

November 25, 2020

> Letting your voice out already?

> I suppose that gradually becoming undone through my sweet actions, as you slowly sink into an abyss of pleasure is actually making you suffer instead. With that shameless body of yours which remembers the pain, you should even be left dissatisfied. Am I wrong?

> In that case, I shall give you a punishment next.

--> He literally says he will give her the ‘whip’. However, this most likely refers to the ‘carrot and stick’ technique which is called ‘ame to muchi’ or ‘candy and whip’ in Japanese. Therefore, ‘muchi’ is often used as a synonym for all punishments, not just whipping.

> I wonder what kind of reaction you will give me, if I were to thrust my fangs deep inside your body still bathing in bliss? I can picture your body twitching as you cry out loudly, like a pig being smacked by a whip.

> Go ahead and make some cute noises so you can satisfy your Master.

December 18, 2020

> Your fingertips are chapped. It can’t be helped, I shall put on some cream for you. ...What? I’m kind, you say? It seems like there’s somewhat of a misunderstanding here. Your body belongs to me, down to the tips of your fingers. Therefore, I simply won’t allow for it to be harmed.

December 19, 2020

> What’s wrong? You’re the one who offered we would rest up at a cafe. So don’t just look my way, but pick your drink already. For example, how about this jet black drink? A solitary black, refusing to be dyed any other color. Making a toast with these before getting drunk off the flavor of the deep abyss does not sound half bad.

December 24, 2020 (Christmas)

> The Christmas lights, huh? Not bad. I can only assume my past self would have lacked the ability to appreciate them, but things have changed. Just by having you by my side, they look this stunning.

[secretpeachtea]

Onigiri Miya Tidbits Ch 6

Title: the eagle, the seagull, the crow, and the Brazilians

Genre: gen fic, reader insert

Word Count: 5.3k (whoops)

Summary: Onigiri Miya is now hiring and you just happen to be the right person for the job. The business has been gaining popularity since its grand opening, and many customers travel from different cities just to have a bite of Miya Osamu’s delicious recipes. You did expect some craziness from working in food services, but what you didn’t expect was to be bombarded with frequent tomfoolery from a bunch of attractive volleyball players during your shifts.

disclaimer: manga spoilers

A/N: this one’s a bit of a slow burn (more so than the usual hehe), but I promise it gets better near the 2nd half! There’s not much drama in this chapter, but I think y/n deserves a bit of a break ya feel? Enjoy, my dudes

Previous///Next

Tonight is a special night because it’s ‘Create Your Own Onigiri’ night! Your boss decided to hold this small event to try something new and allow his customers to have some fun in the process. There are laminated onigiri instruction sheets on each of the tables as well as a small customized menu created for this event specifically. You helped him post a couple announcements on social media about the event a week prior to inform the public, and so far, things have been going smoothly.

Osamu is mainly in the kitchen prepping any ingredients for the customers and you’ve been standing at the register as usual. You are pleasantly surprised at how much everyone was enjoying making their own onigiris, and it seems like people of all ages were having fun.

“Welcome to Onigiri Miya!” You greet automatically with a bright smile as the front entrance slides open. A group of very physically fit men walk into the shop with large sports duffel bags slung across their shoulders. Despite the slightly intimidating aura the group gave off, one of the males walked inside with a young child hugging his arm. You scan over all of them briefly and your eyes widen as you make eye contact with Ushijima whom you just met a little over a week ago when the Shiratorizawa alumni visited.

You gave the tall volleyball player a small smile. “Hey, Ushijima-san! What brings you back so soon?”

“You assured me that I should bring my team, and we all wanted to participate in the event today,” Ushijima responded back. “My teammate, Romero-san, is not from Japan, so we wanted to find a restaurant with traditional food.”

“R-right…” You didn’t expect him to actually bring his team any time soon, but you’re still amused at how seriously he took your words from before. You can assume that the only foreigner in the group is the ‘Romero-san’ that Ushijima spoke of. There are probably hundreds of other restaurants the group could’ve gone to for a more cultural experience, so you’re a little giddy that he chose to come here. “Well, it’s good to see you again! I’d be more than happy to help your team have a good time here.”

To Ushijima’s left, another tall figure stood with a resting scowl. His gaze made its way to the kitchen where Osamu was and immediately lit up in recognition. Although, there might’ve been some confusion. “Miya-san, I didn’t know you worked here. Don’t you have practice right now?”

Your boss lets out a short laugh as he looks over his shoulder to look directly at the boy who spoke to him. “Wrong twin, Kageyama-san.”

“Ah.”

Kageyama looks down and glares at the floor mildly distressed at his mistake. There’s a part of you that wants to laugh at his reaction, so you do so internally. Suddenly, you feel someone staring at you, so your eyes shift over in that direction to a male with white hair and round eyes. His stature and overall mannerisms reminded you of a certain orange haired ball of sunshine, so you couldn’t help but stare back a bit longer than you intended. There was a sudden shift in his demeanor and his eyes narrowed at you.

“Why you staring? Is it ‘cause you’ve never seen a volleyball player my height? You’re impressed by the Hoshiumi Korai, right?” The boyish male lifted up his hands as if trying to intimidate you, but in your eyes, he seemed completely harmless.

With a sweet smile, you calmly reply back to his accusations. “Sorry about that. You just remind me of a good friend of mine. He also plays volleyball, and you’re both around the same height. I haven’t seen you play before, but I’m sure you’ve worked hard to get to where you are now regardless of your height, Hoshiumi-san.”

You know you’ve startled him with your kind and composed response when he freezes in place for a couple seconds before dropping his arms back to his sides abruptly and looking away to hide a small grin.

The last two people in the group, whom you assume are father and son, seem to be in their own worlds as they converse quietly. Now seems like a good time to let everyone get settled in, so you step away from the register and gesture for them to follow you. “ My name is (Surname) (Name). You guys can follow me! There’s a table over there that can fit all five of you. Then, I can explain how things are gonna work for today.”

Once the guys all settle in, you stand at the end of the table and point at one of the instruction sheets as well as the menu. “You can pick 2-3 ingredients for your onigiri! One of the ingredients will include meat or seafood and anything else can be a vegetable, seasoning, or both. All of the prices are written down on the menu and there are written instructions on how to make your own onigiri with pictures as guides. Feel free to call me over if you need clarifications. Any questions?”

Multiple heads shake at the same time. You pull out a tiny notepad and pen from your pocket and prepare to take orders. “Great! Then, what can I get for you guys?”

Romero lifts one of his arms to get everyone’s attention and begins to speak somewhat broken Japanese, “Order whatever! I will pay!”

After that declaration, you jot down all of the ingredients that the group orders including some refreshments. “Alrighty! We’ll set up all your ingredients soon on the counter. Once everything’s ready, there’ll be trays for you to take back to your table.”

You bow your head and stroll back behind the counter to relay the order to Osamu. As you’re helping set up some ingredients that don’t require any cooking, you notice that your boss frequently steals glances at the volleyball team with starstruck eyes and curiosity pokes at your mind. “What’s got you looking excited like a kid on Christmas?”

Osamu quickly turns around to face you while holding a spatula in one hand and tongs in the other. Leaning down to keep the conversation between the two of you, he unconsciously lifts both kitchen utensils up in the air with enthusiasm and flashes a childlike grin. “That’s Nicolas Romero! He’s a really famous world class volleyball player from Brazil. My brother and I used to watch him on TV all the time when we were younger, so it’s kind of crazy to see him in person!”

There’s a slight leap in your heart as you watch Osamu’s eyes brighten in joy but choose to ignore that strange feeling for the time being. “Now that you mention it, I think I saw a couple posters and billboards with his face on them when I was in Brazil.”

“I was really surprised when ‘Tsumu told me he was coming to Japan to play for the Schweiden Adlers. I never thought he’d come to my restaurant though!” Your boss is quite awestruck at the idea that such an important figure from his childhood was about to eat food that he cooks himself and it’s enough to elicit a giggle from you.

It’s not long before all the ingredients are set up on four large trays along with a couple beverages. You face the group of males and raise a hand next to your mouth. “Order’s ready for Romero-san!”

Romero stands up from his seat and pats his son on the head to stay put before gesturing at Kageyama to follow him. “Tobio, help me bring the food?”

“Of course, Romero-san!” The setter shoots up from his spot with a zealous expression and immediately follows behind his teammate like a baby duckling. When the two arrive in front of the counter, they give you a short thanks and take their trays back to their table. Osamu subtly glimpses at his childhood idol but quickly looks back down with a flustered expression when he notices you sending him a smirk of your own.

With everyone pretty much settled in, you decide to walk around to the other tables to see if anyone needs any assistance or if they have any questions. You return back to the register after a couple of minutes ready to sit down and take a quick break, but you notice a couple drinks sitting on the counter. The volleyball team must have forgotten to take them when they took their food. Since you didn’t have much to do at the moment, you decide to take the drinks to their table yourself.

With arms full of beverages, you walk up to the Adlers. “Hello, sorry to interrupt, but you left your drinks on the counter. I just thought I’d bring them for you.”

Romero takes the drinks from you and then distributes all of them to each person after sporting a grateful smile. “Ah, thank you!”

You’re about to walk away, but the sight before is almost too ridiculous for you to look elsewhere. All of the men are in the process of creating their onigiris, but each creation looks quite...interesting.

Ushijima’s onigiri is one very large globular rice ball, which distinctively resembles a volleyball, with a few sesame seeds sprinkled at the top. Hoshiumi’s onigiri almost looks like it’s about to explode with how much meat was piled inside the rice and probably would’ve fallen apart if he didn’t have it enclosed around both of his hands. Kageyama’s onigiri is of a decent size, but he must’ve put too much pressure when shaping the rice because it just looks like mush with obvious handprints. Romero is the only person at the table who was able to make a normal onigiri, but everyone seems to be enjoying their time so you don’t think Osamu needs to come over and help.

You finally look at the young child sitting next to his father and tilt your head in confusion when you notice that he’s not participating or eating anything his father made for him. With slight concern, you turn towards Romero. “I hope you don’t mind me asking, but is your son not fond of the food? I could offer some other ingredient options?”

“Oh, that’s okay. Everything is perfect!” Romero replies with a knowing look. “Rubens is just a little grumpy since he misses his mother. She met new friends at an onsen and they invited her out to go shopping today. Thank you for asking, though.”

After living in Brazil for a couple months, you were able to pick up on some Portuguese. You’re not in any way fluent yet, so when the older man briefly speaks to his son, you can only make out Romero asking Rubens if he wanted a different onigiri and that he needed to eat to be healthy. The boy’s pout deepens and just simply states that he was bored. Romero sends you an apologetic smile, and you just wave your hand to let him know that you understood.

A sudden idea pops into your head. “Romero-san, is your son allergic to anything? I have an idea to help Rubens enjoy himself more. Would you mind if I try to make your son something?”

“Go for it! My son does not have any allergies, but he does love pork!” Romero nods his head in approval.

You quickly make your way back behind the counter and peek over Osamu’s shoulder as he stands in front of the stove. “Hey boss, do you mind if I try to make something for Romero’s son?”

“Sure. I don’t think anyone needs any help or anything at the moment, so you’re free to do whatever you’d like,” Osamu replies nonchalantly and you tap his arm gratefully.

Situating yourself in front of the counter surrounded by ingredients, you momentarily think about what you want to do. You make the final decision to create two designs for the onigiris that you think Rubens might like. After washing your hands, you gather up all the ingredients you need and even snatch some extra pork from Osamu’s pan. After a couple minutes of putting together the onigiris, you place them on a plate and examine your creations.

The first onigiri resembles a simplified stegosaurus with meat substituting the spines of the dinosaur and some sesame seeds throughout the body for texture. The second onigiri is just a regular rice ball with pork and vegetables, but a couple irregularly shaped pieces of nori are scattered across the surface to resemble a dinosaur egg. Both onigiris lie on top of a small pile of bonito flakes to act as a nest.

You take the plate of food to where Rubens is sitting, a bit nervous since you aren’t sure how he’s going to react. Everyone else at the table just watches curiously as you place the onigiris in front of the young child and his eyes widen. He’s practically mesmerized by his dinosaur themed meal and even some of the other guys are impressed.

Rubens quickly turns towards his father and whispers into his ear. Romero chuckles and pats his son’s head lovingly before facing you. “My son wants to know how you did that. He absolutely loves it.”

A sigh of relief leaves your lips at your successful attempt at making the child happy. The only problem was that you were still in the middle of work, so you didn’t know if you could spend any more time here. Coincidentally, Osamu seemed to have overheard everything for the last couple minutes from his spot in the kitchen. “Hey, (Name)-san. If you wanna take a quick break and spend some time with the kid, I don’t think there would be any problem with it.”

You’re really grateful for Osamu’s leniency, but a part of you still feels bad as you turn to look at him. “Are you sure? I don’t want to skip out on my job so suddenly.”

“Don’t worry about it. The boss said it’s all good.” Osamu gives you a reassuring smile and you take it as your cue to grab an extra chair off to the side and sit beside Rubens. You’re about to grab some rice to begin teaching the boy, but a slight tug on your sleeve makes you freeze in place. As you look to your side, you see Kageyama’s hand near your shoulder and there’s an intense look in his eyes.

“K-Kageyama-san, would you like to learn too?” You ask a bit surprised. Your bewilderment is replaced with amusement when he nods at you furiously and you almost laugh out loud at his excitement.

“Oh! Me too! Me too!” Hoshiumi intervenes enthusiastically and even Ushijima seems to be interested. These guys sure were something else.

In the end, everyone in the group was watching as you demonstrated how to make different designs with the onigiri rice. Rubens finally succumbed to his hunger and began to eat his dinosaur meal, so you were left to attend to the grown up men who listened to you eagerly like school children, aside from Romero who needed to step outside to answer a call from his wife.

“Alright! Now that you have some of the basics down, why don’t you each try to make your own? Just to keep it simple, we’ll all choose a single design. Any ideas as to what you guys want to make?” There’s a brief silence as everyone tries to think of something doable. Suddenly, Ushijima lifts up his phone and an image of what you recognize to be Japan’s adorable volleyball mascot* is shown. You sweatdrop as Hoshiumi and Kageyama clap in agreement at the volleyball player’s obvious, yet adorable selection.

Other than having to give a few pointers to Hoshiumi and Ushijima, it seems like they were doing a pretty decent job at making the character. The one who was truly struggling was Kageyama. He was still putting too much pressure when molding the rice. As he continues to squeeze the rice excessively, you gently place your hands on top of his slender fingers.

“You’re putting too much force in your hands, Kageyama-san. Here, loosen your grip a bit and I can show you.” With that said, Kageyama lets go of his vice grip and allows you to guide his hands over the rice. The two of you stay like that for a couple more seconds until you successfully make a circular rice ball. As the male opens his palms upward with your hands still wrapped around his, his eyes sparkle in amazement.

Kageyama bows his head gratefully and when he looks back up at you, you’re taken aback by the amount of admiration flooding his expression. Your body stiffens when he quickly puts down the onigiri and clasps your hands between his. “Thank you, (Surname)-san!”

“N-No problem.” You feel a bit of heat creep up your cheeks with the way Kageyama was holding your hands so delicately.

The moment doesn’t last long, however, when you suddenly feel someone’s fingers graze the side of your face and a sticky feeling is left on your skin. When you look to see who the culprit is, your eyes fall on the youngest person at the table with one of the most terrified expressions you’ve ever witnessed. Almost immediately, Rubens starts apologizing in broken Japanese similar to the way his father has been speaking, “S-sorry! Sorry! Sorry!”

While you were busy working with Kageyama, Rubens had finished eating and wanted to make his own onigiri since he was still a bit hungry. He wanted to grab more rice from the bowl next to you but misjudged his movements and accidently touched your cheek with his sauce covered fingers. The child felt absolutely horrified and was afraid that you’d hate him for this.

Using a napkin, you wipe off as much as you can from your cheek and then proceed to lower yourself onto the ground to get to the child’s eye level. Mustering up your brightest smile, you try your best to reassure Rubens who looks like he’s about to cry. “Hey, hey! It’s okay, Rubens! I’m not mad.”

You spend the next couple minutes cooing at the sniffling young boy, and once you’re sure that Rubens is no longer going to cry, you sit back down on your chair. You lift up a ball of rice to gesture that you want to help him make an onigiri and he nods his head. You make a traditional triangular onigiri but place two rolled up bonito flakes for eyes and a piece of curved rice on top of the nori to make it look like a bearded face. There’s an almost immediate shift in the child’s mood when you point at the design and then to the empty chair next to him because you had made an onigiri that resembled his father.

Both of your laughs fill the air and the whole situation resembles a heartwarming scene from an anime. You were too distracted to notice the multiple pairs of eyes watching the scene in captivation. Once Rubens starts to eat again, you look up to see some lingering stares. “Is everything alright?”

Two stoic faces avoid your eyes by looking down, while Hoshiumi snaps out of his trance. The white haired male sits up a little straighter before addressing you. “Hey, you’re pretty good with kids, (Surname)-san!”

“I’ve had a couple babysitting jobs in the past. I’m not perfect with kids, but I did pick up a few things here and there,” you respond back shyly.

At this moment, Romero walks back into the shop while pocketing his phone. “Sorry to cut our time short, but I think my wife is coming back home soon. I should start heading out with Rubens. You guys can stay longer if you’d like.”

“That’s okay, Romero-san. I think we’re all ready to leave as well.” Kageyama lifted up his tray which spurred the rest of the other guys to do the same. As everyone helps out in cleaning up their area, you head back to the register to receive the payments for the meal from Romero.

The guys were now all ready to leave, but your boss quickly grabs their attention after taking a glance at a certain framed object on the shop’s wall. “Do you guys mind signing some autographs to put up in the shop?”

“Of course!” Romero exclaims. The rest of the team complies as well and they each sign a piece of paper that will most likely be displayed by tomorrow. Once that’s done, the team stands in front of the exit with their belongings. Rubens tugs at his father’s arms to get his attention and Romero bends down to listen to what the boy wants to say.

“What’s up?....Name?....Onigiri Miya…”

You can’t make out anything other than a few words, so you’re thrown completely off guard when Rubens suddenly jumps up from his spot and waves his arms wildly at you. “Bye-bye, Mrs. Miya!”

You don’t even hear any of the other males voice their goodbyes and leave the shop as blood rushes through your ears and your face flushes into deep crimson color. It seems like Osamu wasn’t spared either as his cheeks explode with heat at the implication. Both of you stand in awkward silence for a few seconds to calm your hearts until Osamu musters up the courage to glance at you first.

His expression shifts a little as he stares at your face. Osamu then points at your cheek. “Oh, (Name)-san. You still got a little something on your face.”

Momentarily forgetting about feeling flustered, you realize that you might not have gotten rid of all the sauce from when Ruben accidentally touched your cheek. “What? I thought I got it all off. Why didn’t anyone say anything?”

You attempt to wipe off the sauce remnants, but fail to do so each time because you don’t know where it is exactly. Osamu grabs a clean towel from the top shelf and slightly dampens it under the sink before standing in front of you again. “I got you.”

Osamu lifts up the towel and starts to wipe at your cheek softly. When your head starts moving too much, he brings up his other hand and places it gently on your neck to support it. There must have been a lot more sauce left than you expected because Osamu continues to hold you in place for a couple more seconds, his eyes never leaving your face. Unconsciously, your own eyes drift around his features and you can’t help but admit how handsome he looked at the moment.

“Oh, young love~”

Both you and Osamu flinch back when you hear one of the customers that are still in the room say their thoughts. When you glance at the table where the voice came from, you see an elderly couple smiling at you while holding hands with one another in a loving manner. The previous blush you had comes back in full force as you remember that the two of you were not alone and in a somewhat intimate position together.

“T-t-thanks, Osamu-san!” You stutter and almost trip over your own feet as you start walking towards the bathroom with hurried steps. “I’m j-just gonna...um...go to the bathroom really quick!”

As you rush away from Osamu, he just watches your back disappear behind the bathroom door. He stands in place quietly as he processes what had just happened and there’s a foreign feeling in his stomach that he can’t explain. He simply turns his back to the bathroom and rubs a hand to his cheek to hide the smile that threatens to creep onto his lips.

Leftovers

You’re currently laying on your couch comfortably surrounded by pillows and blankets while watching a movie on your laptop. Today was your day off from work, so you planned to stay in for the whole day and catch up on some alone time. As much as you want to focus on your movie, your mind starts to wander off.

About two days have passed since you met the Schweiden Adlers volleyball team at Onigiri Miya, but they were still on your mind. Based on the tidbits of information you’ve gathered from Osamu, Adlers and MSBY were rival teams. It almost makes you want to laugh at how different the two teams were in terms of their dynamics and personalities, so you hope to see them play against each other one day.

Suddenly, the ringing of your doorbell interrupts your thoughts and you pause your movie. You stand up and walk towards your door in confusion. You weren’t expecting anyone to visit, so you’re a bit weary as you look through the peephole.

As if the universe knew what you were thinking about before, you’re surprised to see Sakusa standing outside your door with his usual face mask. Swiftly unlocking the door, you pull it open and greet your curly haired acquaintance.

“Hey, Sakusa-san! What’s-” You stop speaking abruptly when you notice two large bags in the volleyball players arms and they look fairly heavy too. “Oh, wow. Are those...for me?”

Sakusa just nods his head and you quickly open your door wider to let him inside to place the bags down. You’re extremely curious as to what the contents were since both bags were covered by tissue paper, even more so because Sakusa was the one to bring them to you. He places both bags onto your coffee table and you’re about to ask what they were for, but he beats you to it.

“Congrats,” Sakusa states with his usual impassive expression but there’s a hint of softness to his tone.

At this time, you’re completely perplexed. “Congrats for what?”

“For graduating.” Sakusa’s reply causes your eyebrows to shoot up. “This is from the team.”

“Oh...” You’re left speechless for a moment as you try to understand the situation and once everything finally clicks, a warm feeling encompasses your heart. “Um...thank you.”

You gaze at the gifts bags for a bit longer with various emotions swirling through your eyes before talking again. “...did the team send you because we live in the same apartment building?”

“Yeah.” Sakusa let out a sigh which made you laugh a bit, but it didn’t sound like he was necessarily bothered by the task.

The male briefly checks his phone and gestures that he needs to leave soon. As Sakusa starts to make his way back to the front door, you follow with light steps to see him out. “Let everyone know that I really appreciate this when you see them again for practice!”

He nods in acknowledgement and the two of you exchange goodbyes before you finally lock the door as he walks away. Without a moment to lose, you rush over to the large bags sitting on your coffee table with anticipation. Just from the first glance, you can tell that there are multiple things piled up, so you’ll just have to take things out one by one.

After removing the tissue paper from the bag on the left first, you pull out something large and fluffy. In your hands is a huge teddy bear that’s wearing an MSBY jersey while holding a small note card that says “Congratulations on Graduation!”. You immediately know who it’s from because the bear’s multicolored fur resembles the colors of Bokuto’s hair. You give the bear a tight hug before placing it next to you on the couch.

The next thing you take out is a miniature set of hand lotions with a small bottle of pepper spray taped onto it. There’s a small note on the bottle that says “It’s dangerous walking home alone at night”. There’s no indication of who the gift giver is, but you know that Sakusa would be the only one to pick out these specific gifts. As you move the package to the side, another small piece of paper falls to the ground. It must have been stuck to the bottom of the hand lotion set. When you pick it up, there’s another note that says “Thanks for the soup”. Your smile widens. It seems like you had guessed correctly.

The last gift from the first bag is a beautiful mug with a sunrise design printed onto it. There’s a Brazilian flag sticking out of the mug, which makes it even more obvious that the gift was from your dear friend Hinata. When you push aside the flag, there’s a limited edition Bouncing Ball keychain inside the mug as well with a cute handwritten card that says “Congratulations, (Name)-san! We should hang out one day to play some beach volleyball like we did in Brazil!”. Your cheeks were starting to ache at how much you were smiling as you reread the note several more times.

You reach out to the remaining bag and pull away the tissue paper. Your nose is immediately assaulted by a pleasing floral fragrance and when you look inside, a large bouquet of flowers comes into your vision. Once the flowers are in your arms, you notice the note sticking out between the petals. Placing the flowers on your lap, you open the small folded piece of paper which says “Hey there, sweetheart. You should’ve let me know you were having such a big moment in your life! I would’ve done so much more, but for now, enjoy these flowers. The irises mean accomplishment and admiration. The peonies mean good luck. The daffodils mean new beginnings. Congrats on your win against school!” You’re quite touched by the amount of thought that went into this gift and based on the nickname, you can safely assume that this is Atsumu’s gift. You didn’t take him as a flower type of guy, but he’s always full of surprises. Nonetheless, you mentally note that you need to buy a nice vase to place these wonderful beauties in.

You thought that would be the last gift since you’ve already opened everything from the four MSBY players, but when you glance into the bag one more time, there are still two remaining boxes. They have the same wrapping, so you assume that they are from the same person. Taking both of them out carefully, you notice that the larger of the two boxes has a note that reads “I know you said you don’t normally eat sweets, so I tried my best not to add too much sugar”. Wondering what the card meant about sweets, you slowly open the lid and see two small cakes positioned next to each other with icing that spells out ‘Tiramisu’ and ‘Dark Chocolate’ on the respective cakes. Your mouth waters at the sight of the homemade desserts, but you restrain yourself because you were even more curious as to what might be in the other mystery box.

When you finally open the last remaining gift, there’s another note inside that says “It’s never too late to celebrate. Congrats, (Name)-san”. When you look underneath the note, your jaw drops as you let out a gasp. Inside was a gorgeous silver charm bracelet that was minimalistic enough for you to wear wherever you went. If the note wasn’t a big giveaway, the tiny onigiri charm attached to the bracelet convinced you that Osamu was the one who had given you these gifts.

The next couple of hours are spent finishing your movie with all of your gifts surrounding you. The inside of your room now smells like a mix of flowers and peachy lotion. The MSBY teddy bear is secured between your arms as you drink warm tea from your new mug while taking a bite out of each cake.

You’re not sure whether or not you want to jump up in happiness or simply cry from the overwhelming emotions, but either way, you’re glad to have met such amazing people the past couple months.

You couldn’t wait to get back to work.

Japan’s volleyball mascot: y’all know that volleyball mascot right? The one Ushijima loves to draw and the one that Hinata has shirt of

A/N: oof you made it! Can we all just give a moment of silence for Rubens for being the best boi? also another moment for the nice old lady at the end ;)

taglist: @kiyoo-omi​​

[princesslocket]

🥣 Made With Love 🥣

Hi hi! Before we get to the fanfic, I'd just like to say a big thank you to @ina11writingexchange for hosting this awesome writers exchange! I'm so glad to have been able to participate for this round as well as being given the opportunity to gift @hachuna yet another gift this year!

With that being said, I hope you enjoy this Hachuna! It was a lot of fun to write ((Btw this fic is also cross-posted on AO3 if anyone is interested in reading it there too! The link is in the title))

If anyone were to ask Endou Natsumi what her favorite pass time activity was, she’d automatically answer with “cooking!” and then excitedly list off all the dishes she had made within the past week. It always amazed her friends just how passionate she was about preparing food in the kitchen.

However, she hadn’t always been a fan of cooking.

Natsumi’s love for cooking had originated during her time spent managing the Raimon soccer team in her middle school years. In the beginning she had been quiet hesitant to even try making a rice ball but after she mastered the art of the rice ball, her love for cooking sparked almost instantaneously. It only took preparing a couple more meals before Natsumi was fully onboard with the idea of preparing food in general. It filled her with a sense of pride whenever she was able to witness the team enjoying the meals she, Haruna, and Aki made for them. The compliments they dished out were a great source of ego boosting as well, but she always made it point to stay humble. And even after the team graduated, leaving her with no one else to cook for, Natsumi continued to search up new recipes to try making for herself in the comfort of her own home.

Over the years her cooking had improved, albeit not as significantly as everyone had hoped for, but just enough to where she no longer mixed up the salt and sugars when she tried baking the occasional birthday cake. It was a subtle yet profound type of improvement that left Endou that much more hopeful for their future meals seeing as he had married her not too long after her cooking had started to improve.

One thing that really helped Natsumi improve in her cooking was through the aid of an old looking cook book she just so happened to borrow from Endou! She’d seen the book several times laying in various places throughout their house but had never bothered to look through it until one day when her curiosity got the better of her and she found herself rejoicing at all the cool looking recipes inside. Oh the joy she felt while flipping through the pages was almost too good. How had she not opened the book sooner?

Following the days upon opening the cook book, Natsumi happily followed the messily written instructions provided by the cook book to prepare dishes that she could only assume had been passed down from Endou’s family. She would later find out from Endou himself that the cook book she had been using was actually Endou Daisuke’s hissatsu manual. The discovery came as quiet a shook to Natsumi seeing as she had been following the instructions of the book for several weeks, even going as far to serving a boy named Matsukaze Tenma some of said dishes as well. But all Endou could do was laugh at the situation they found themselves in.

“You mean to tell me that this really isn’t the kanji for egg?”

“I’m positive, Natsumi. These are the instructions for God Hand- Wait a second! How were even able to mistake this for a cook book? I thought you knew what Daisuke’s hissatsu manual looked like?”

“It’s been a while since I last saw it okay!”

Even after the discovery of the ‘cook book’s’ true nature was revealed Natsumi continued to use it. Admittedly, the food Natsumi made following the hissatsu manual never inherently tasted terribly bad. So what harm was there in letting her continue to use it? As long as Endou was there to assist her with some of the misinterpreted kanji of the book, everything was fine.

Unfortunately, not all good things lasted forever. On one particular day an unforeseen disaster appeared out of nowhere…

Natsumi had been preparing dinner in the kitchen when it happened. She hadn’t thought anything of it at first. Ever since Endou took over as Raimon’s coach, he would occasionally return home late, so why would this time be any different? As the minutes ticked by Natsumi continued to prepare dinner. While she maneuvered around the kitchen she kept herself entertained with the quiet sound of the T.V. playing in the background.

Although she usually paid no mind to what the news anchors were saying, something about that night in particular urged her to listen carefully. She had been cutting away at a bundle of carrots when a certain news report caught her attention. Although they weren’t showing video footage of the incident taking place, the news anchors reported a massive car crash near Raimon.

Upon hearing the name of the school, Natsumi put all food to the side and quickly ran to her phone, dialing up Endou to ask if he was still at the school. Knowing her husband, he would most likely be assisting whoever had been unfortunate enough to get hurt outside of their old school. But when he didn’t answer her first, second, or third call, Natsumi began to worry. The news anchors wouldn’t disclose the names of the people involved in the accident, nor would they show the faces of anyone other than the reporter on duty. They did, however, announce the arrival of special dispatched services on the scene as well as the name of the hospital the heavily injured were being taken to.

After a while Natsumi’s phone began to ring, which she immediately answered. Letting out a sigh of relief, Natsumi pressed the phone to her ear, ready to hear Endou’s cheerful voice. With everything appearing to be taken care of on screen, Endou was surely going to fill her in on everything that had happed. It was a good thing she had prepared so much food for the night!

“Natsumi, it’s Kidou, we don’t have much time- It’s Endou… He got into a car crash and- You need to hurry. An ambulance is already taking him to the hospital but… I’ll fill you in on everything once you get here-“

“I’m on the way.”

Within seconds Natsumi was already racing out of the house, dinner abandoned in the kitchen and T.V still playing quietly in the background. She did everything in her power to get to the hospital as fast as she could but it was too late. By the time she came rushing in through the hospital doors, Endou had been pronounced dead.

Time flashed by in a blur following Endou’s death. His funeral came and went, the days following blended together a little too seamlessly and Natsumi’s love for cooking diminished along with her once cheery life. Without Endou around, she no longer held the motivation to prepare any kind of meal in or out of the kitchen. Even when Haruna, Aki, and Fuyuka tried to rekindle their little cooking arties, Natsumi couldn’t bring herself to make anything. Everything she had ever made was out of her love for Endou.

As time went by, Natsumi slowly began to store her cooking utensils away. If she wasn’t going to be cooking anymore, than why bother keep them out in the open to collect dust?

She was in the middle of labeling a soon to be packed away box of kitchen ladles one day when the sound of knocking stopped her. Setting her marker to the side, Natsumi walked to the front door. Her knees nearly buckled when she gazed out the peep hole to see who was outside.

Standing just outside the door was Endou… But it couldn’t be him, right? He had passed away months ago. She had gone to his funeral and everything! There was no way her could possibly be standing outside. As she was thinking these thoughts an almost indescribable feeling washed over her. Suddenly she couldn’t remember attending a funeral nor could she remember why she had started packing away all her cooking supplies. It was as if she was just now waking up from some type of horrible nightmare, a nightmare had clouded over her real life for the past several months.

Whatever nightmare she been under was finally over. Any trace of sadness and despair melted away the longer she stared at Endou. Instead, the feelings were replaced with joy and relief. Although the sudden change in feelings were a little unexpected, they weren’t unwelcomed. In fact she was all the happier to embrace them!

Not wanting to keep Endou waiting any longer, Natsumi decidedly threw the door open, startling Endou as it swung to the side, and proceeded to jumping into the arms of the man in front of her.

“Mamoru!” Tears were streaming down her cheeks as she pressed herself as tightly as she could to her husband. “I can’t explain it but it feels like I haven’t seen you in forever! Where have you been all day?”

“Woah! I missed you too! Oh man, Natsumi, you wouldn’t believe all the crazy things that happened to me ‘today.’ I’ve got so much to tell you but, uh, I think it’d be best if we went inside first.” Contradictory to his own words, Endou hugged Natsumi even closer to himself, thus rendering any attempt to head into the house useless.

For several long minutes the two stood outside their house, hugging each other, and exchanging a few words before wither one of them made any real attempts to pull away. But when they did, it was Natsumi who moved away. She waisted no time in dragging Endou inside and towards their dining room table, pulling out a chair for him to sit in and then rushing off towards their refrigerator in search of something for them to eat.

Strangely enough, the refrigerator was once again filled with an abundance of food Natsumi had almost no recollection of buying. She glanced a look to Endou, who at first made no comment, but as soon as she turned her back had heard the faintest of words from him.

“I guess time really did reset itself.”

From that day on life returned to normal, or as normal as it could be with Natsumi knowing her ‘nightmare’ had in fact been real but was now a part of a separate timeline of sorts. But seeing as their current timeline was restored, Natsumi decidedly let her supposed bad months drift away.

She started cooking again, only this time she followed tutorials online through YouTube and an odd app called TikTok. When Endou asked why she was following so many different cooking videos, Natsumi would claim that “the hissatsu manual could only offer so much.”

Despite her best efforts her cooking still left much to be desired from. But Endou never truly cared about the overall outcome of the food he’d be offered.

“It’s the thought counts.” He’d tell himself whenever a dish was placed in front of him. “If it’s for Natsumi, I’d gladly eat a thousand more meals of her cooking- I’d do anything to make her happy.”