#its straight from the basil fight HELP

[masadd]

is this an omori AND a chonny jash referenc e ??)!!

[gun warning beneath the cut]

[bookish-bogwitch]

Hello! Thanks for the tag @ivelovedhimthroughworse. I am so so excited for your monstrous spawn to wreak devastation across our screens. And thank you to everyone else who's been tagging me the past month or so while I tumbled inconsistently. I appreciate you.

Here are eight sentences from chapter 7 of Basil Pitch's Diary, which I'll post next Saturday.

Accidental outing not disaster, but opportunity. Father can hardly pretend I’m straight once Snow has alerted entire World of Mages otherwise. Will set proud example as first out member of an Old Family. (Dev doesn’t count.) Will usher in queer golden age.  But if I return to school still single and virginal, even Snow might do the math. Two weeks’ bunny snuggles plus zero other love interests equals one big fat crush on roommate. Very idea makes me want to puke blood of woodland creatures onto duvet.

What will our hero do in the face of this dilemma? Whatever it is, I'm sure it's a really good idea.

More thanks and tags below the cut.

As I wrote before, I skipped an update on this fic because I needed more time to lay track for the ending. Thank you @facewithoutheart and @thewholelemon for your patient help figuring how I'm going to get Baz from points A, B, and C to E. You talked me off the ledge and were so insightful. I'm now confident that I won't stall out writing this thing right after its angstiest chapter, which was a danger. 😂

No-pressure tagging / a friendly hello to @blackberrysummerblog, @alleycat0306, @alexalexinii, @artsyunderstudy , @aristocratic-otter ,

@angelsfalling16 @brilla-brilla-estrellita @carryonsimoncarryonbaz @dragoneggos , @erzbethluna, @emeryhall ,

@fight-surrender @gekkoinapeartree , @ic3-que3n , @ileadacharmedlife , @ionlydrinkhotwater ,

@j-nipper-95 , @larkral , @nausikaaa , @nightimedreamersworld , @martsonmars ,

@messofthejess , @onepintobean , @otherpeoplesheartachept-2 , @pipsqueakparker , @penpanoply ,

@rimeswithpurple , @letraspal , @twokisses , @urban-sith , @valeffelees ,

@wellbelesbian , @whogaveyoupermission , @shrekgogurt @whatevertheweather , @xi-vz ,

@yellobb-old , @you-remind-me-of-the-babe , @comesitintheclover , @iamamythologicalcreature , @imagineacoolusername

@skeedelvee, @youarenevertooold, @paper-beats-writers-block, @stitchyqueer,

[some-mari-thoughts]

im ootl, whats up with the manga? i havent been reading

Nice! Probably its best u dont

From ok to bad:

Events have been rearranged to unknown extent to adapt to faster pace.

We start with the christmas memory dream instead of headspace, and we are introduced to everyone that way. The dream is very very short.

We then go to start 3 days left skipping the phobia fight for its unneeded at this point, and see kel, basil and aubrey (no mention of their friend groups)

Sunny freaks out and leaves to white space right upon ending Aubrey fight (after seeing a photo of Mari) and thats where we meet mari properly

That said, Mari. In the dream/memory she is introduced via visual horror, stress rising as soon as she comes into frame and when we see her face it is already kinda terrifying! Her name and sight alone continues to scare sunny into panic for the entirety of chapter. Almost as if he is scared of her rather than anything else

We dont feel any easier as we meet Dream Mari either because she sneakily guilt trips us about taking too long and making her wait

Sunny is treated a bit better but he is freaking out almost the entire time we see him and his reactions seem a bit misplaced. I am also pretty sure he doesn't even get to throw up the steak. He does get several gay tension moments which shippers are extatic about but for me doesnt make it literally any at all better or easier. Just raises my brow higher. Seems like its the only place where manga will have any success. The sunburn lovers are also happy bc in the dreamworld omori gets to help aubrey out instead of kel

Other events have been slightly changed. We start with not seeing any of the hooligans which leaves us with aubrey alone. So she alone is doing a lot more bullying than she originally was doing. Then she also focuses on bullying sunny alone and verbally hitting where it'll hurt, also reminding him that mari is dead here instead of church (which causes him to collapse and then slice her with the knife)

What does not help is the artist consistently fails to make a good line of motion or guide the viewers eye where it needs to go, so 90% of people will first miss that 1 - aubrey doesnt hit basil in the head with her bat, but trips him instead; 2 - she then seemingly misses at kel and aims to hit sunny straight across with the bat; 3 - Easily missable detail that sunny stops freaking out as he handles the knife, either bc of smth abt him or bc of omori (unclear, sunny is the one drawn there), 4 - Sunny looks like he is trying to kill Aubrey; 5 - Unclear who is panicking and thinking "no" as Sunny readies the knife

The manga is not at all beginner friendly and in theory can only be enjoyed by a member of the fandom. Well. It fails at that too bc only very specific ppl will be actually happy abt this retelling. (Shippers. And another subset of ppl who are there for different reasons)

The artstyle is making anyone with good internet background tense and for good reason too (shotacon/CP classic artstyle) People have spoken out about more evidence to the manga's artist drawing messed up things (including for OMORI fandom) not too long ago. Omocat's rep is once again in shambles and i cant and wont defend her til we get a goddamn good explanation

[br0-k3n-sch00lb01]

Faraway Town had been… strangely uneventful lately. Basil had killed himself, and Sunny had been sent to an asylum. Hero, Aubrey, and Kel were all in Hero’s car as he drove them 3 hours away from town to visit Sunny. The car was silent at the moment. Aubrey finally spoke. “Am I the only one that’s… like… really scared to see Sunny..?”

Both Kel and Hero looked to Aubrey silently for a moment before Hero spoke.

“..No. I’m nervous too. I’ve been calling every week since he got sent there, and even the doctors there said he’s.. a little.. difficult..”

Kel glanced out the window in silence, his arms crossed silently in his lap. Aubrey let out a breath through her nose.

“I’m not surprised. I had been wondering when he’d finally snap. He’s always been a bit… messed up.”

Hero winced at her words and took a shaky breath, the man not saying anything in response.

Kel suddenly spoke up with a rather cold tone.

“Hey, don’t talk about him like that. No one can go through that and come out okay.”

Aubrey snorted.

“We all went through it and didn’t completely fucking LOSE IT. Don’t be an idiot. He was already fucked up.”

Kel looked to her with an almost offended expression, frowning in response.

“You think that I don’t feel messed? You think that this has just been some sort of walk in the park? We all went through it, but none of us had our boyfriend blow his brains out in front of us. That was different. He’s messed up because he’s been through trauma, don’t go calling him crazy.”

Aubrey shot him an exasperated look. “Well, if he’s not crazy, why’s he in the place where CRAZY PEOPLE go?!”

Kel looked like he was actually pissed off now, turning in his seat and snapping back in response.

“He’s in there because he’S TRAUMATIZED! Stop being such an ass!”

“WE’RE ALL TRAUMATIZED!! IF HE’S NOT CRAZY, THEN WHY IS HE THE ONLY ONE THAT ENDED UP THERE, HUH?! TELL ME THAT, SINCE YOU KNOW EVERYTHING!” Aubrey yelled at him.

Kel looked angry now, his fists clenching.

“MAYBE ITS BECAUSE HE’S THE ONLY ONE THAT LOST A LOVER? MAYBE ITS BECAUSE HE’S THE ONLY ONE THAT WITNESSED THE SUICIDE OF HIS BOYFRIEND?!”

Aubrey pointed to Hero.

“HE SAW MARI KILL HERSELF AND HE’S TURNED OUT JUST FINE! KEL, YOU’RE BEING AN IDIOT AND A DICK!!”

Those words seemed to piss Kel off to the point of exploding, causing him to yell back at her.

“THATS- THATS DIFFERENT. YOU CAN’T COMPARE WHAT HAPPENED TO MARI TO BASIL AND SUNNY’S SITUATION!”

Aubrey’s eyes were welling up.

“YES I FUCKING CAN!! They were the ones who fucking did it to her, weren’t they? Don’t act like they never told us that. Just because you play the ‘happy friend’ doesn’t mean you also have to be stupid, Kelsey.”

“Oh, I’m the stupid one here? I’m not the one who’s sitting here going on about how Sunny is crazy!”

Kel’s voice was almost borderline venomous and he was clenching his fists tightly. He looked furious, and almost looked as if he’d lunge over and smack her.

“WELL, I’M ONLY SAYING HE’S CRAZY BECAUSE HE IS CRAZY! THAT MUCH IS CLEAR! He killed his sister, then his boyfriend blew his fucking brains out, and LOOK WHERE HE ENDED UP! Do you remember how he just LAUGHED for over an hour straight on that day?! How can someone do that, and be called SANE?!”

“HE LAUGHED BECAUSE HE FINALLY SNAPPED. HE’S NOT CRAZY, HE’S JUST- JUST TRAUMATIZED AND HE LOST SOMEONE HE LOVED, SO OBVIOUSLY, HE’S NOT GOING TO BE DOING OKAY RIGHT NOW! HE DIDN’T ‘KILL’ MARI, THAT WAS AN ACCIDENT AND HE WOULD NEVER HAVE DONE THAT ON PURPOSE. STOP ACTING LIKE SUNNY CAN JUST ‘GET OVER’ THE SUICIDE OF HIS BOYFRIEND WHEN THAT’S ALL HE CAN PROBABLY THINK ABOUT!”

“OH, YOU PIECE OF SHI-“

Aubrey was cut off by Hero speaking.

“That is ENOUGH. Both of you, STOP.”

Hero firmly snapped at the both of them, his voice almost commanding and harsh. Both of the other teens went silent, both of them staring at the ground.

“You two arguing and fighting is NOT going to help anything. I can’t believe the two of you are acting like this. You’re both smart enough to know better. Stop it. Now.”

[grimvestige]

For the OC Relationships asks! Self for Tiarnan and Family for Draper :3

Shooting straight for the complicated ones for each of my favorites I see! XD

Self: How is your OC's relationship with themself? Does your OC like who they are? Is there anything about themself that they would change?

In Tiarnan's mind, there's a huge gap between who Tiarnan is, and who he wants to be. He wants to be able to help his friends, but he's a coward and too soft-hearted to fight monsters. He wants to keep everyone from being hurt, but he can't bear to hurt anyone else without regretting it himself.

So, in short, his relationship with himself is...complicated? He's largely defined himself by what he can do for others, while completely ignoring what he can do for himself.

As for things Tiarnan wants to change about himself: he wants to be less afraid of corruption, and less afraid of danger in general so his friends don't feel like they need to worry about him or soften things just for him. Is that healthy? Probably not! As his player, I want to see him come to value himself and feel like he's good enough for the people he cherishes. ❤️

Family: What's your OC's family like? Is it a family of blood, choice, or something else? How does your OC feel about their blood relations? If they have a family of choice, how did they come together?

Draper's family is a big ol' mix of misfits all trying to figure things out together. She lost her birth parents as a child, and she remembers being close with them, but most of her upbringing was with her adoptive family of local alchemists, Lynn (sister) and Basil (father).

Draper is still very close with Lynn, and the two are happy to support each other whenever its needed - Lynn's probably also one of two people who can actually read her alchemy notes, the other one being Basil.

For a period of Draper's life, she actually resented Basil because he wasn't willing to try a risky medical procedure to save her birth mother - though after later fucking up the procedure herself as an adult, she did figure it out and forgive him. Nowadays, she comes over to hang out with Basil whenever she has the free time, and the two are on good terms.

That's her blood family...and then there's her husband and kiddo! (And family-in-law by extension)

Keane is her husband, a big ol loveable drakenar & former soldier whose wrangling with having his own independence and living in peacetime. He used to have a temper himself, but nowadays he's the one urging Draper to be patient and kind. It does not always work, but he does his best. The two both have a craving for adventure, so they do their best to look out for each other before one of them dives off a cliff or something.

Lastly is their adopted kiddo, Harper! Draper loves Harper dearly, and she's caused Draper to grow as a person in ways being an adventurer certainly didn't. Because of Harper accidentally befriending a family of nighthaunts, Draper's had to get over her hatred of them. And while it's a struggle, Draper's also had to figure out how to be gentle when necessary.

As far as family-in-law goes, she's pretty good friends with Keane's brother, Calahan! Though she absolutely hates their silver dragon mother, Lady Stormblood, and for good reason. She uh. She was a pretty tyrannical ruler and an all-around shit mother to both of them. If Draper had the skills to go slay her, she'd march right up to the realm of dragons and do it.

---

That was SUPER long aaa! I hope that sated your curiosity though! (Technically Draper has more family but that might run into spoiler territory for the current batch of players in Valeron).

OC relationships ask prompts

[puritytells]

Basil Essential Oil Benefits: A Natural Wellness Powerhouse

Discover the amazing basil essential oil benefits—from stress relief to better digestion. Learn how this natural remedy can boost your health effortlessly.

ACTIZEET Basil Essential Oil Benefits - Your Natural Wellness Ally

Picture this: It’s been one of those days. Your to-do list is longer than a CVS receipt, your shoulders feel like they’re carrying the weight of the world, and your stomach is staging a full-blown rebellion after that questionable takeout. You need a reset—fast.

Enter basil essential oil.

This little green bottle of magic has been my go-to for everything from stress relief to digestion support. And today, I’m sharing why ACTIZEET Basil Essential Oil deserves a prime spot in your wellness toolkit.

Why Basil Essential Oil? A Quick Intro

Basil (Ocimum basilicum) isn’t just for pesto. For centuries, it’s been revered in Ayurveda and traditional medicine for its healing properties. When distilled into an essential oil, its benefits become even more potent.

But let’s skip the jargon and get straight to the good stuff—how it can actually help you.

1. Stress & Anxiety Relief (Bye-Bye, Tension!)

Ever feel like your brain is a browser with 50 tabs open? Basil oil might be the natural "close tab" button you need.

Science Simplified: Basil contains linalool, a compound that helps calm the nervous system. A 2017 study in Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience found that linalool reduces anxiety-like behaviors in mice (and hey, if it works for them, it’s worth a shot for us!).

How to Use It:

Diffuse 3–5 drops in your bedroom before sleep.

Mix with a carrier oil (like coconut) and massage onto temples.

Pro Tip: Keep a rollerball in your bag for on-the-go stress relief.

2. Digestive Support (No More Tummy Troubles)

That post-lunch bloat? Basil oil to the rescue.

Why It Works: It stimulates digestion by increasing bile production (your body’s natural digestive juice). A 2014 study in The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine highlighted its effectiveness in easing indigestion.

How to Use It:

Rub diluted basil oil clockwise on your belly.

Add 1 drop (mixed with honey) to herbal tea (only if the oil is food-grade!).

3. Natural Energy Boost (Ditch the 3 PM Crash)

Forget expensive energy drinks—basil oil is nature’s pick-me-up.

The Science: Its menthol-like aroma stimulates the senses, improving alertness without the caffeine jitters.

How to Use It:

Inhale directly from the bottle for a quick refresh.

Add to a diffuser during work hours.

4. Immune System Support (Your Body’s Bouncer)

Basil oil has antimicrobial properties, meaning it helps fight off unwanted germs.

Research Backing: A 2013 study in Microbial Ecology in Health and Disease found basil oil effective against bacteria like E. coli and Staphylococcus.

How to Use It:

Diffuse during flu season.

Add to DIY cleaning sprays (mix with water + vinegar).

5. Headache Relief (Peace Out, Tension Headaches)

Next time a headache strikes, skip the pills and try this instead.

Why It Works: Basil oil acts as a muscle relaxant, easing tension that causes headaches.

How to Use It:

Massage diluted oil onto neck and shoulders.

Inhale deeply from palms (1 drop rubbed between hands).

How to Choose a Quality Basil Essential Oil

Not all oils are created equal! Here’s what to look for:

✔ 100% Pure (no synthetic fillers) ✔ Botanical Name (Ocimum basilicum on the label) ✔ Dark Glass Bottle (protects from light degradation) ✔ Reputable Brand (ACTIZEET is a great choice!)

A Few Safety Tips

Always dilute (1–2 drops per teaspoon of carrier oil).

Patch test first (some people have sensitive skin).

Avoid during pregnancy unless approved by a doctor.

Final Thoughts - Why I Keep Coming Back to Basil Oil

From hectic workdays to post-dinner discomfort, this oil has been my little bottle of calm and relief. And the best part? It’s natural, affordable, and versatile.

So, if you’re looking for a simple way to boost your wellness game, give ACTIZEET Basil Essential Oil a try. Your mind (and tummy) will thank you!

[gohealthypro]

Why Gond Katira Deserves a Spot in Your Diet: The Natural Wonder Your Body Craves

Ever come across an old family remedy, something your grandma always used, that seemed to do it all—soothe, invigorate, and bring back that feeling of vitality? In our hustle and bustle, we've pushed a lot of these natural marvels aside. But let's shine a light on one that deserves another look: Gond Katira. This age-old, straight-from-nature gem has been a quiet lifeline for ages, boosting health in amazing ways. Gond Katira isn't just a flash in the pan—it's a powerful echo of nature's healing power. While our stores are packed with man-made pills and trendy superfoods, Gond Katira is different, with its basic goodness, pureness, and that special something that truly feeds your body from the inside out. Here at GoHealthy Pro, we're all about uncovering nature's hidden treasures—and Gond Katira is a real shining star that you've got to rediscover.

🌿 What is Gond Katira?

Katira, or Tragacanth Gum as it's sometimes called, is a natural resin that comes from the sap of certain plants in the Middle East and India, mainly from the Astragalus family. When you soak these little, crunchy crystals in water, they puff up into a jelly-like consistency, transforming into a comforting, nutrient-packed supplement that's also really good at cooling the body down.

People have been using this amazing stuff for ages in Ayurvedic, Unani, and traditional Indian medicine because it's so good at cooling you off, helping you recover, and giving you a boost. When the weather's scorching or it's the dry season, Gond Katira is fantastic for providing much-needed relief and keeping you hydrated.

💪 Why Gond Katira Deserves a Spot in Your Diet

Let’s explore the many reasons why this unassuming natural gum deserves a permanent place in your kitchen—and in your life.

1. ❄️ Nature’s Coolant – Beat the Summer Heat

As temperatures climb and heat-related illnesses like heatstroke, dehydration, and exhaustion become more common, keeping cool is essential, not just a comfort. Gond Katira serves as an internal cooling agent, aiding in body temperature regulation and hydration replenishment. Here's how it helps: Its impressive ability to absorb water allows it to retain moisture, thus helping to maintain a stable body temperature. This makes it particularly advantageous for people living in hot and humid environments.

✅ Here's a suggestion: Combine soaked Gond Katira with rose syrup, chilled milk, and basil seeds to create a classic, revitalizing falooda—a refreshing summer treat that your body will appreciate.

2. 🛡️ Immunity Booster You Didn’t Know You Needed

Each day, your body battles against toxins, bacteria, and the pressures of the environment. Gond Katira lends a hand to your immune system, thanks to its natural antioxidants, its ability to fight off microbes, and its gentle way of providing nourishment.

Here's the secret to its success: The compounds in Gond Katira that regulate your immune system help to lessen inflammation, assist in mending cells, and bring balance to your body's reaction to both stress and sickness.

✅ Tip for your morning routine: Give your body a morning boost with a warm concoction of soaked Gond Katira, a touch of honey, and some lukewarm water. This simple drink kickstarts your system, fortifies your gut, and steadily enhances your resilience.

3. 🌀 Soothes Digestive Troubles Naturally

Dealing with acidity, bloating, or digestion issues? Gond Katira, with its jelly-like texture, softly covers the stomach lining, helping it heal and feel better.

Here's how it helps your gut:

 It gently helps with constipation by acting as a laxative.

It calms down acidity and ulcers.

It helps keep your gut bacteria healthy.

It helps your body absorb nutrients better.

✅ To help with digestion, try mixing soaked Gond Katira into things like yogurt, buttermilk, or warm soups. It doesn't have much taste, so it mixes in easily, adding a soothing touch to your food.

4. 🤱 Postpartum & Women’s Wellness Wonder

Gond Katira has long been a go-to remedy for helping women recover after giving birth. But its benefits extend far beyond the postpartum period, supporting women's well-being throughout their lives, whether they're dealing with their monthly period, navigating the journey of motherhood, or going through menopause.

Here's how it specifically helps women:

Post-childbirth vitality:** Gond Katira helps women regain their strength and energy after having a baby.

Better breastfeeding:** It's known to encourage healthy milk production for nursing mothers.

Hormonal harmony:**  It can aid in maintaining a balanced hormonal system.

Menstrual relief:**  Women often find that it eases the discomfort associated with their menstrual cycle.

Stronger bones:**  It naturally helps increase bone density.

✅ A tasty, traditional treat: Try Gond Katira ladoos made with ghee, nuts, and dried fruits. These ladoos are not just a delicious treat but also a nutritional goldmine, promoting both health and healing.

5. ✨ Skin Health & Beauty Benefits

Having healthy skin isn't just a matter of using serums and creams; it truly begins from the inside. Gond Katira helps to detoxify, hydrate, and purify your body, resulting in skin that's radiant and strong.

Here are some beauty perks:

- Helps to eliminate toxins through hydration

- Lessens acne, rashes, and swelling

- Slows the appearance of aging

- Enhances skin's elasticity and radiance

✅ Skin elixir: Blend pre-soaked Gond Katira with lemon water, chia seeds, and a drizzle of honey. Enjoy this daily for a skin-revitalizing beverage that's like a spa experience in a glass.

6. ⚖️ Supports Weight Management

Here's a more conversational take on managing your weight with Gond Katira:

You know, dropping those extra pounds doesn't have to mean crazy diets or a cabinet full of supplements. Gond Katira can be a natural helper, thanks to all its fiber keeping you feeling satisfied and steering clear of those snack attacks.

Here's how it can lend a hand:

It expands in your stomach, so you feel full longer

It takes those hunger pains

It's practically calorie-free

It helps keep your metabolism in tip-top shape

✅ Pro-tip: Before you sit down to eat, try sipping on a glass of Gond Katira mixed with a little lemon juice and mint. It's a great way to feel full and energized, so you don't end up overindulging.

🌱 Gond Katira: A Natural Health Booster for All Ages

No matter who you are, Gond Katira can help. Are you a young adult dealing with everyday stress? A senior wanting to build strength? Maybe you're a new mom recovering after giving birth, or perhaps you're just looking to live a more balanced, holistic life?  Gond Katira offers something for everyone.

Here's how versatile it is:

Give your smoothies and milkshakes a boost.

Stir it into classic Indian desserts like kheer or halwa.

Mix it into refreshing beverages like sherbet or rooh afza falooda.

Use it to level up your homemade protein bars or energy bites.

🔍 How to Use Gond Katira Safely

Okay, here's a more human-like way to say the same things, keeping the same language as the original:

Always soak overnight – It swells up a lot when it takes in water.

Dosage – Take 1–2 teaspoons of the soaked Gond Katira each day.

Best time to consume– Either in the morning before you eat or in the afternoon when it's really hot out.

Avoid overuse – Begin with a small amount to see how your body reacts.

Storage tip – Store it in a cool, dry spot, and only soak what you need when you need it.

❤️ Real Stories, Real Healing

Over at GoHealthy Pro, we've watched a multitude of readers become completely smitten with Gond Katira—and it's not just because of its flavor, but also due to the positive effects it has on their well-being.

"I began incorporating Gond Katira into my routine last summer, and I haven't experienced a single problem related to the heat since! It's now a must-have in my family's daily meals." — Aarti, Delhi

"As a mother who recently gave birth, the Gond Katira laddoos really helped me regain my strength in a natural way. I'm incredibly thankful for this often-overlooked gem." — Priya, Bangalore

"I mix Gond Katira with lemon and basil seeds each morning. It keeps me feeling light yet satisfied, and my skin has never had such a healthy glow!" — Rahul, Pune

✨ Final Thoughts: Let Nature Be Your Healer

Indulge in Gond Katira to rejuvenate your spirit, soothe your warmth, and enhance your well-being, one delightful sip, spoonful, or ladoo after another.

👉 Amidst a sea of artificial supplements, synthetic beverages, and processed powders, Gond Katira emerges as a beacon of nature's ingenuity. It transcends being merely a cooling agent; it's a tried-and-true remedy for genuine, enduring health.

So, what's holding you back?

Rediscover the power of simplicity for your body.

Allow Gond Katira to revitalize your energy, ease your warmth, and foster your wellness, one enjoyable sip, spoonful, or ladoo at a time.

👉 Delve into a treasure trove of Gond Katira-infused recipes, expert insights, and health-enhancing suggestions—exclusively at GoHealthy Pro.

Because your body truly deserves the finest. Naturally.

[teanourish-tea]

Ginger Tulsi Green Tea: A Refreshing Blend for a Healthy You

Are you looking for a delicious and nutritious drink to boost your overall well-being? Look no further than our Ginger Tulsi Green Tea, a unique blend of anti-inflammatory ginger, the "queen of herbs" tulsi, and soothing green tea. This refreshing beverage is perfect for any time of day, offering a zesty taste that will leave you craving more.

What Makes Our Ginger Tulsi Green Tea Special?

Digestive Health: The combination of ginger and tulsi helps to improve digestion and alleviate any discomfort.

Immune System Support: Tulsi, known for its antimicrobial properties, helps to fight infections and keep your immune system strong.

Antioxidant-Rich: Green tea is packed with antioxidants, which help to protect your body from free radicals and promote overall health.

How to Enjoy Your Ginger Tulsi Green Tea

Hot Tea

Step 1: Use 1 teaspoon (2 gms) of our Ginger Tulsi Green Tea.

Step 2: Pour 150 ml (5.07 oz) of hot water over the tea leaves.

Step 3: Allow the tea to steep for 3-5 minutes.

Step 4: Strain and serve to enjoy a nourishing and invigorating hot tea.

Iced Tea

Step 1: Follow steps 1-3 above.

Step 2: Strain and refrigerate for 4-5 hours.

Step 3: Serve over ice cubes and enjoy a refreshing and revitalizing iced tea.

Ingredients

Ginger: Known for its anti-inflammatory properties, ginger adds a zesty flavor to our tea.

Tulsi: Also known as holy basil, tulsi is revered for its antimicrobial and digestive benefits.

Peppermint: Adds a soothing and refreshing touch to the blend.

Green Tea: Rich in antioxidants, green tea provides a healthy and invigorating base for the tea.

Lemon Grass: Adds a subtle citrus flavor and aroma.

Licorice: Provides a sweet and soothing taste.

Condiments: Optional, but can enhance the flavor of your tea.

Order Now and Experience the Benefits of Our Ginger Tulsi Green Tea

Indulge in the health benefits and refreshing taste of our Ginger Tulsi Green Tea. Order now and enjoy a delicious and nourishing drink that will keep you coming back for more.

[bovine-providence]

Make Me Yours, Part 2

[CWs: PIV sex, a/b/o heat/rut, biting/marking, reader isn’t thinking completely straight]

——— nuzzled against Morel as he brought her back to her room and placed her on the bed. She couldn’t get enough of his delicious scent as he soothed her, rubbing her sides gently as he gazed down at her in concern.

“Are you sure about this?” He checked. ——— nodded.

“Yes, Mor, I swear I’m sure,” she insisted, before pulling her sleep shirt off, baring her chest to him.

If she was in her right state of mind, she would’ve wanted her first time with her long-time crush to be more romantic. But as it stood, she barely noticed how she rushed in removing the offending articles of clothing that prevented her from getting to him.

Morel was more deliberate, but only barely. He tossed both his and her clothing into the corner, before turning back to the omega that looked at him with a sweet mix of desire and vulnerability.

If he was being honest with himself, this would have been a dream come true to finally have his pretty little omega naked before him, but the situation had made it feel strange. He still didn’t know if he should be doing this, but as she winced and clutched her belly, he firmed his resolve. Hovering over ———, the large man chuckled lightly as the omega bucked her hips, unsuccessfully attempting to catch his thick girth.

“Easy, pretty girl,” he murmured, tilting her head to kiss him. She melted against his lips, the physical contact helping to briefly alleviate the pain of her heat.

“I want you, Mor,” she murmured softly. It was all he needed to begin gently pressing his cock inside her soaked heat.

——— whimpered in relief as Morel carefully slid his cock into her, clutching at his shoulders. He was careful to watch her expression for any discomfort, aware that his size could hurt. But she was so wet from her heat that it posed no issue.

“Feels so good,” she breathed as he hilted into her. Looking up at him, she gave him a bashful smile.

Morel had to fight not to lose himself to her tight heat, her addicting scent. Her heat had pushed him into a rut, and he himself was unused to feeling its full effects after using his own suppressants.

He gave her an experimental buck of his hips, and was pleased to hear her excited gasp.

“I’m gonna start,” he warned. As she nodded, he began to thrust into her.

——— had dreamed of this moment for so long, and even in her heat-clouded mind she found the reality greatly exceeded those fantasies. His thick girth stretched her wonderfully as his scent surrounded her, encouraging her to be a good omega and please her alpha. Mmm… her alpha. She wrapped her arms around him, pulling him closer. She nuzzled against Morel’s neck, encouraging the scent glands just beneath to release more of his basil and ocean scent.

Morel growled at her actions, finding them incredibly arousing as he continued to thrust into her. He wanted to keep it slow, be mindful of her needs on top of his own. This was their first time together, and though it had an unorthodox start to coupling, he wanted it to still be a proper lovemaking session. He nipped lightly at her neck, grinning as she keened and held herself against him.

“I want more,” she begged.

That was enough for Morel to press into her harder, and attack her neck with gusto, practically tasting her orange and honey scent as he nibbled at the source. He was playing a dangerous game, practically biting where he could leave a permanent mark and single her out as his. But god, was it so good to have an opportunity to finally have her under him like this. It was a chance he wouldn’t waste.

They continued like this, holding each other close as their minds blurred from their respective heat and rut, not wanting it to end.

“Morel, I’m close,” ——— whimpered, lowering her hand to help bring herself to the final push she needed.

“So am I, princess,” he muttered, feeling his knot beginning to grow. Fuck, it all felt so good.

“Wanna finish together, please? Wanna feel you finish with me,” she begged, wrapping her legs around him.

The words made something inside him snap. Sure, he was a Hunter, he was known for his self-control, but he was still a man. With a growl, he sped up, returning his mouth to her neck.

That was all she needed to finish. ——— cried out, pressing herself against him as her orgasm hit full-force. As her heat throbbed around his member, Morel found his knot holding him in place as he finished deep inside her, and his jaw clenched down, biting down into her shoulder.

Panting filled the room as the two came down from their highs. ——— felt exhausted, the sharp pain in her shoulder indicating a successful mating as Morel’s knot filled her clenching pussy. She could hardly think about that though, when the pain from her heat had cleared for the time being and she felt so sleepy. Leaning up, she gave Morel a gentle kiss, one he reciprocated tiredly, before quickly falling asleep beneath him.

[justsomeno1s]

BasilKel Swap Prologue Part 4

VAST FOREST- PATH TO FORT

After stopping by Mari’s picnic again, the party made their way south of the playground, then further past the crossroads, until they came across the familiar tunnel entrance that led to the brother’s house.

It was a wide tunnel, even at its entrances, and it cleaved straight through the forest dirt, surrounded by tree roots along the walls and ceiling, and glowing gems of all colors inlaid in and poking out of the floor. The biggest gems stood up out of the dirt, shining in the middle of the pathway and leaving the entire path lit up. In Omori's opinion, This-Way-Stones were the best way to see in dark caves.

Kel grinned at them as they made their way further down. “Y’know, everytime I’m down here, I remember just how cool this place is! Y’know, I actually helped dig this tunnel! Me and Hector!”

“Hector?” Basil asked. “Who’s that? I don’t remember meeting anyone who could dig this whole tunnel by themself.”

Kel huffed, sticking out his tongue. “It wasn’t on his own! I told you, I helped! And anyway, Hector’s a Pet Rock I found a while back! He came from Otherworld, and he’s super cool! I wanted to show you guys today, but I… couldn’t find him.” Kel ducked his head away as he stepped around a tall blue gem. Hero looked over at Aubrey, and she looked away, sweating. “I swear, I know where I put him, but he wasn’t there at all! I hope he didn’t run off without saying goodbye…”

“Well, I think Aubrey might-”

Aubrey yelled suddenly, interrupting Hero. “LOOK AT THAT!!” She pointed at a Lost Sprout Mole kicking one of the brighter gems. The deep blue crystal made a quiet clunk and seemed to get darker with each kick. “What’s that Sprout Mole doing?”

Kel looked, and jumped into action. “Huh? Hey! Stop that!” he yelled. “If you break that, we won’t be able to see where we’re going!”

The Sprout Mole stared at him for a second, then gave it another hard kick.

“Wha-! You!”

‘Kel engaged the Lost Sprout Mole!’

‘What will Kel do?’

‘Kel attacks Lost Sprout Mole! Lost Sprout Mole takes 10 damage.’

He threw his ball at the mole, knocking it over and letting it flail on the ground for a second. Then he seemed to get an idea.

‘Lost Sprout Mole is rolling around.’

“Hey, Basil! C’mere!” Kel turned and waved him over. Basil blanched at him, but approached anyway.

“What’s- What’s going on?”

Kel clapped a hand on his shoulder, grinning. “I’m gonna teach you how to fight! Then, you can go anywhere! Doesn’t that sound awesome?!”

Basil scrunched in on himself, flustering. “Is it really necessary? I mean, I,” he gestured out weakly. “I’ve got you guys to help me!”

“Yeah, but what if you don’t? Like, you get lost or something? Trust me, I know what I’m talking about!”

Aubrey snorted from where she was watching them. “Yeah, he does.”

“Thank you, Aub-”

“Kel gets lost all the time, remember?”

Kel sulked, suddenly blue, and Basil giggled.

“Well, alright. I guess I can give it a shot?”

‘Basil joined Kel’s party!’

“Okay, so, your skills right now are Wallflower, Guard, and… Tend!” Kel summarized cheerfully. "Guard, anyone can do that. It makes you take less damage! Stuff hurts less when you expect it! Like this!"

He crossed his arms over his face, adjusting his stance to take a hit.

'Kel guards.'

Basil nodded. "That makes sense, I think." Kel grinned, and continued.

"Alright! Wallflower's pretty cool! You ask someone on your side for help keeping you safe!" He pointed his thumb at his own chest. "You hide behind them, and any attacks that would hit you hit your friend instead!"

The green haired boy's face fell. "But, I don't want my friends to get hurt!" He whined, and Kel reached up and patted his head.

"Don't worry! Really!" When he didn't look convinced, the other laughed. "You don't have a lot of endurance, just like me, right? So if you get hurt, it'll hurt you worse than, like, Omori or Hero! It's, uh… What’s the word again, Hero?"

He turned to his brother, ignoring the fuming Sprout Mole, and Hero thought it over.

"Relative?"

"YEAH, THANK YOU!!" Kel cheered, and turned back to Basil. "If you take 10 damage, that's relatively more damage than if Hero takes 10! 'Cause, you're more soft and squishy and cute! It’d be bad if you got hurt!"

"C-cute? What-"

"Anyway!" Kel barged forward, ignoring Basil’s stuttering. "Try using Wallflower, and hide behind me!"

‘Basil hides behind Kel! Kel gets ready to counter!’

The Sprout Mole charged forward, smacking into Kel’s leg, and Kel kicked out, launching it.

‘Lost Sprout Mole bumps into Kel! Kel takes 2 damage! Kel counters! Lost Sprout Mole takes 10 damage!’

“Yeah, just like that!” The caped-boy cheered.

Basil watched the Sprout Mole stomp itself upright uneasily, then tugged on Kel’s cape. “Hey, Kel? Just a little question, but why is the Sprout Mole… glowing?”

“Heh! It's because the Sprout Mole is ANGRY, see Basil?” Kel pointed as the plant creature shook its head back and forth. Basil nodded, looking confused. “Enemies feel EMOTIONS, too, you know! Not just normal ones! And in battle, they change how you fight! So, you gotta remember what EMOTION does what!”

“Oh, uh, right. I’ve never seen them in a fight before. ANGRY makes you… hit harder, right?”

Kel cheered. “Yeah! ANGRY brings your ATTACK up! But you’re not being careful, so your DEFENSE goes down. Got it?”

He hummed, nodding slowly. “Defense down, attack up… So, now would be a good time to use Wallflower, so that I don’t get hurt, and the opponent takes damage?”

“Perfect!” Kel held up his hand for a high five, and Basil nervously clapped his hand.

‘Kel cheers Basil on! Basil feels HAPPY! Basil HIT RATE rose!’

‘Kel’s party was victorious! Gained 22 exp! Gained 3 clams!’

Sprout mole defeated, Kel stepped forward to check on the glowing crystal. He knocked on it and when it made a bell-like chime, turned back with a cheerful smile.

“Looks like the This-Way-Stone is A-Okay!” He said, giving a thumbs up. “You’re pretty good at this Basil!”

“Huh? R-Really? Heh heh,” Basil blushed as he looked away, Aubrey snickering into her hand. “I was just listening to what you said, Kel... But um, thanks anyway.”

“Hey, Kel? Don’t we have a book of enemies we’ve fought before?” Hero asked, and Kel jumped in place, eyes wide.

“Oh yeah, we totally did!” 

“Did?” Hero gave Kel an unimpressed look, and the younger brother looked sheepish.

“I, uh, may have lost it?”

Hero sighed, looking tired, but Kel rushed to speak before he could get a word in.

“BUT IT'S OKAY! Beeecause of this! TA-DA!” Kel held out his camcorder, and shoved it into Omori’s hands. “My camera will be super useful for keeping track of stuff you come across! Weird enemies, confusing places, cool events, even battle techniques- You can take notes on everything! So, while it’s not /as/ cool as Hero’s Foe Facts! or Self Help books, you can use it for both! And, to review what you were doing last. Go wild!”

Omori looked over the camcorder, turning it this way and that, before finally pocketing it.

‘Kel gave you Kel’s Camera.’

Hero huffed, shaking his head. “Kel, what did I tell you about messing with my stuff?”

Kel went silent, glancing around, before his eyes caught on something down the tunnel. “Woah, what’s going on over there?!” 

“Kelsey,” the older brother began, but Kel was already off like a bullet. Aubrey snickered behind her hand again as Basil giggled, and Hero just stared at the tunnel’s ceiling and sighed.

Kel and Basil faced down another Lost Sprout Mole- this one skipping and dancing so gleefully, that it had covered the nearby red glowing gems with dirt and hidden the path forward. Kel had eagerly jumped into battle, Basil dragged behind him, as Hero tried to clean enough of the gems to proceed.

‘What will Kel and Basil do?’

“Okay! Kel tutorial number two! Make sure to record this, Omori!” Kel cheered, pointing at the Sprout Mole. “This one’s HAPPY, see? Higher speed, and a higher chance to hit weak spots.”

Basil looked it over. “But if you’re skipping and playing like that, won’t you miss your attacks?”

“EX-actly! You're doing great, Basil!” Kel cheered.

‘Kel encourages Basil! Basil’s ATTACK rose! Basil’s DEFENSE rose!’

The Sprout Mole did a spin, and bumped into Basil’s leg. He jumped up, eyes wide.

‘The Lost Sprout Mole bumps into Basil! IT HIT RIGHT IN THE HEART! Basil takes 1 damage!’

Kel clapped his hands together, looking like he was fighting back a laugh. “Alright! It’s your turn to attack now!”

Basil looked up in horror, eyes wide. “Huh? Me? Are you sure?”

“Mm hmm! You should give it a shot! Then, you can handle yourself against other monsters!”

His face scrunched up in hesitancy. He glanced over to where the others were, Aubrey bouncing in place, Omori sitting on the tunnel floor, and Hero brushing spare dirt off his pajamas, having finished tidying the crystals. Omori handed Hero the camcorder, who sighed as he continued recording.

“Come on Basil!” Aubrey called, throwing her hands into the air. “You can do it!”

Basil tensed, then pulled his Jump Rope from his waist. Glanced up again, then squeezed his eyes shut and snapped the toy out at the Mole.

‘Basil attacks the Lost Sprout Mole! Lost Sprout Mole takes 12 damage!’

He peeked an eye open, flicking about over the battle, then relaxed when he saw the Sprout Mole skipping away from him.

“Nice hit Basil!” the caped boy tugged on his arm, eyes gleaming. “I think that's about all of the stuff this battle can teach you, soo… Let's finish this!”

Basil watched him for a moment, then stepped up next to him. “O-okay!”

‘Kel’s party was victorious! Gained 18 exp! Gained 4 clams!’

Hero hummed as Basil dusted himself off. “That’s the second ENEMY with EMOTION we’ve come across. That’s pretty odd, isn’t it?”

The green haired boy looked up, head tilting. “Is it? But, didn’t Kel say it was normal?”

Aubrey hummed, mouth a thin line. “It’s normal, but normally we’ll meet like, one or two in any area! They’re not super common. Right, Omori?” He looked her over, then gave a thumbs up. “Yeah, see! So two of them, so close together… It almost seems kinda important.”

“OHH!” Kel jumped up, glowing such a vibrant yellow that it hurt to look at. Omori squinted at him. “Just like a hero story, right?! Like, maybe a meteor’ll come from the sky! Or maybe-”

He gasped, and glowed brighter. A swirl of pink spun through the glow. Already? “MAYBE WE’RE GONNA GET /SUPERPOWERS/!!” He jumped in place for a moment, then rushed past them, running full speed around the room.

“Kel,” Hero began, and the younger brother skidded to a stop in front of him.

“HERO!! COME ON, THAT’LL BE SO COOL!” Kel flapped his hands, bouncing in place. “WE COULD BE SUPERHEROES!!”

Hero grabbed his shoulders, cutting him off, “Kel, hey. Let’s calm down a little, okay?”

“Huh? Aw man, do I have to?” Kel whined, but even as he did, the yellow faded away into nothing.

“Sorry, Kel. Maybe later,” Hero ruffled his hair, and turned towards the revealed path. “Let’s keep going, alright?”

“Outside ahoy!” Kel cheered, rushing through the end of the tunnel. Aubrey was only a second behind him, the other three content to just walk. “Ow! What the heck, Aubrey?”

Aubrey had whacked his arm with her plushy none too gently. “That doesn’t even make any sense!”

“You don’t need to hit me over it! Really!?” he argued back, and Hero sighed.

“Okay, that’s enough, you two. Look, right there, Mari’s just ahead at her picnic. Can we play nice for now?” He offered, and they glanced at each other before looking pointedly away. He sighed again.

Basil patted his arm in quiet sympathy.

Omori started walking up towards the others, then paused. A glint of blue caught his eye, and he turned his head, watching carefully.

“Omori?” Basil noticed his stillness. “Is… something wrong?” He glanced at the others, was given a confused shrug. Kel walked closer and followed his eyes into the thinner parts of the forest.

 Right on the edge of the treeline, there it was.

‘Hidden in plain sight, you find a SAD Lost Sprout Mole.’

“Oh, it’s just a Sprout Mole. I didn’t even notice, heh heh!”

“Wow, really?” Aubrey bounced up next to Omori’s other side, then grinned. “There is! You’ve got good eyes, Omori!”

‘Oh. Well, that’s boring.’

Kel’s eyes went wide, “Oh, wait a sec! Basil, come on! It’s your time to shine!”

“Another fight? All on my own?” He stuttered, and Hero smiled softly.

“Hey, you were great before, and we’ll be right behind you in case anything happens.” The eldest reassured. Basil stared at him, then at the rest of the group.

“... Okay. I’ll… I’ll give it a shot!”

The friends cheered as Basil stepped forward into his first solo battle.

[A boy is standing at the school bus stop, face buried in a book. The cover was blurred, as was the background, and other people.

He suddenly jumped and looked up, smiling at the camera. He began to speak, but the words stayed silent.

A figure with long black hair snuck up behind him, and grabbed his shoulders. He jumped, mouth open in a shocked, silent scream, and the figure laughed, walking in front of him as they pulled their hair back, revealing-]

[The screen breaks. Someone is laughing.]

[johnlocsin-johnyakuza]

Part 2 of the Omori x Deltarune

Sunny and Kel leave the house and go to explore the town like in the main game, see the hooligans go by, talk with people at the park, do some side quests, and look for Hero’s gift. This eventually leads to the confrontation with Aubrey and Basil, their fight, and tracking down Aubrey to get the album. This is where the changes to this day happens, as I’m gonna have it that for one reason or another the church had to put its sermon on hold so the place is empty, but Aubrey decides to go in (either the door is unlocked or she broke in somehow) When she closes her eyes to calm down she hears someone, turns around and all the lights go out before seeing a flash of black and white. A dark fountain was formed, creating this chapter’s dark world “Plains of Peace”. Kel and Sunny go to find her at the church, but when they open the door they notice the same dark glow from before, which leads them to entering it. The villain of this chapter is a new character who is a charismatic figure named Sir Mon, he has the power to mess with memories but currently with his one dark fountain he can only alter the memories of willing people, if he gets it bigger he knows he can make lightners happy by making them forget their pains and the pains of others to make them all happy and friends. The plot is a bit straight forward, there are darkners both against and for Sir Mon, including some familiar characters like Boss, who wants to help him so all the others can forget how much of a jerk he has been and he can become better by forgetting as well. Along the way some darkners warn of a incredibly powerful lightner that Sir Mon is desperate to get to join him, which is of course Aubrey. Eventually Aubrey is found (her new dark world form is very “tough biker” with spiked wristbands, big boots, leather jacket, and her weapon is her bat now made from metal and glowing pink fire around it). They have to reluctantly work together near the end but it’s not under good terms, Aubrey does end up opening up very slightly when Sunny and her are separated from the group about how every one wants just pretend that all the time that passed doesn’t matter, that they abandoned her, that they all think she’s a bad bully when she’s became tough to deal with it. Sir Mon is defeated but Aubrey doesn’t forgive Kel nor Sunny, she is however grateful that they helped her survive and made her more pacifistic against their enemies. When they wake up Aubrey is already gone but she left the photo album. Kel and Sunny head back to their homes, Stranger had already gone back in the pure dark fountain.

This is amazing, I’m looking forward to what Hero and Basil would look like

[ratsoh-writes]

Oh man I got another one- say everyone is monster hunting (like Bigfoot or mothman- whatever you like) who’s the one who hears a sound and just books it? Anyone have a fight reaction and start swinging? AKSKJFJAJDH WHOS THE ONE TO TRY TO RUN AFTER IT WITH THE CAMERA ALL UP IN ITS BUISNESS AKSKJDJSJS

I don’t know how you want to format this- so if you just want to put them under categories- superb; longer version? Dealer’s choice

Here’s how everyone reacts/roles during monster hunting:

Sans: in a monster hunt, he’s the guy who stays in the van to “keep watch” on all the electronics. Instead sans falls asleep of course and misses all the action. His team could straight up see a ghost and he won’t believe them lol

Papyrus: he’s more likely to go Bigfoot hunting then ghost hunting. And for some reason papyrus brought a metal detector like that’ll help? It doesn’t but he also found two dollars in lost coins so he counts it as a win.

Star: he uses superglue to line a butterfly net with salt to catch the demons in. It doubles as a blunt weapon if they fight back.

Honey: he’ll break off from the group and wind up getting lost in the woods. He’s the guy who actually meets moth man and gets directions back to the campsite from him. It’s not till days later that honey realizes that moth man wasn’t actually another monster from the underground

Red: he also stays in the van, except red is watching those radios like a hawk. He’ll be extremely disappointed and relieved if nothing happens.

Edge: he calls everyone else an idiot for going monster hunting, but winds up leading the group instead because no one else is qualified enough for it. Every sound edge hears is just a raccoon. There’s no other explanation and you can’t convince him otherwise.

Mal: he decided to wear all silver jewelry today just in case! No vampire is taking a chunk out of mal! Plus this is his sharp set of rings so it doubles as a shank.

Cash: he’s the one who breaks from the group and then terrorizes them with mysterious noises and throwing pinecones. Until something grabs cash’s shoulder, and when he turns, there’s no one there. Now he’s sprinting home.

Oak: out of everyone he’s the most likely to get possessed. Oak will freeze, loose the red eye-light, and utter some creepy-a*s prophecy before coming to. Then he just keeps walking. He didn’t even notice lol

Willow: he’s not taking this seriously and will be enjoying his nature walk until his brother gets possessed. Now willow is taking it very seriously. And they’re leaving Right. Now. Heaven help the ghost if they try that crap again. Willow will exorcise them.

Charm: he really really really hopes they find a vampire. A vampire hickey would be the ultimate trophy!! But if the vampire is a jerk, charm can always throw the garlic salt he bought at Walmart at them.

Sugar: he genuinely does not want to be here, but someone’s gotta keep charm alive. Besides, call him racist, but sugar isn’t comfortable with a vampire getting cosy with his brother. A werewolf is fine though.

Lord: he genuinely does not want to be here, but once again wine and mal have dragged lord into the strangest kind of trouble. Sneaking into a government building is more expected by him than monster hunting. Oh well, at least he knows wine is the monster guru. If they ever find one he’ll know what to do.

Mutt: he came into the forest with friends to find Bigfoot, but left with four baby raccoons. Mutt is praying to the stars that lord will let him keep them.

Wine: HE IS READY. Wine was made for this day!!! He already has survival kits, flashlights, a bible and silver cross, extra batteries in case the flashlights go out, and like 30 disposable cameras. If anyone is going to find a cryptid it’ll be him!

Coffee: he was the one to scare cash. Cash was bugging the old lady squad, and coffee didn’t want his brother to get mad at his friend. Plus it’s always fun to get one on the other prankster.

Pop: he takes to the trees. But unlike in movies, the tree branches move a lot each time pop jumps on one. With all the racket he’s making, no wonder he never gets to meet mothman.

Rhythm: it only takes one loud noise for rhythm to run all the way back home. He’s too easily spooked. You might want to pick someone else for this.

Pluto: he doesn’t believe in the supernatural at all, but pluto does believe in science! He brings a pocket guide on local rocks and plants and will turn the monster hunt into a lovely treasure hunt. He finds a pretty quarts right add to his collection

Jupiter: he’ll take to the sky as his buddies walk. If there’s anyone Jupiter is the most likely to go monster hunting with, it’s Star. Both of them have almost endless energy which can be a problem. They end up exploring too far and will be exhausted by the time they circle back.

Peaches: he’s very superstitious and definitely believes in ghosts and such. And ghosts terrify peaches. He’ll be hanging off of ranchers arm all evening. If anything pops out of the bushes, peaches will shout and start running.

Rancher: he’s ready. Rancher is equipped with a metal rod, his shotgun, his most aggressive pig, and some salt and garlic to make peaches feel better. Rancher is gonna find that thieving coyote if it’s the last thing he does.

G: he likes to tell people that he’s met ghosts during his late night drives. In reality, they were the drunk college kids who party in the woods, but ghosts make a cooler story. G is unphasable and will have a grand time telling scary stories during the hunt to rile up his teammates.

Green: he’ll absolutely refuse to go cryptid hinting in the woods. Not because of ghosts or Bigfoot. No, green isn’t scared of those at all. You see, it’s the spiders. If he walks into a spider web he’ll literally die. Green is a total arachnophobe

Snipe: occasionally Don will kick snipe out to go on a manhunt so he can get some fresh air. He usually takes butch with him on these because ace is a jerk who likes playing mind games. He’ll always convince snipe that there’s a ghost about. Anyways snipe doesn’t like ghosts

Bruiser: he’s super down to go cryptid hunting until he hears it’s in the forest. You see, bruise knows the city like the back of his hand, but the forest is uncharted territory. Bruiser will be super clumsy and steadily more and more frustrated as the night goes on. If he actually meets a cryptid, he’s real likely to fist fight it right now

Ace: he loves ghost stories and the supernatural. I’f ace was invited on a ghost hunt, he wouldn’t be able to keep himself from scaring everyone else with his creepy stories lol.

Slim: as the only papyrus who can shortcut, slim loves to use and abuse that privilege. And use it he does. The second he hears a suspicious noice, slim is grabbing his favorite group member and blipping away. This is a good way to tell if you’re the favorite friend. If it was between his brothers, he would save boss

Butch: he ain’t afraid of no ghost!! Ghosts are just floating souls right? Then all he has to do is grab them with blue magic and yeet them right back into the afterlife. Butch is disappointed in everyone who hasn’t thought of this yet.

Boss: oh hell naw. Boss absolutely is terrified cannot stand all this talk about things that don’t exist! He’ll be staying right here until you guys start to come crawling back.

.........

Maybe on second thought he better come with. You guys might get mugged or something. As a leader he has to protect his friends of course!

Rust: and chance some creepy pedo ghost trying to haunt his daycare. No thank you!

Noir: rust never pulls the big brother card, but if noir started messing with the supernatural, you bet he would. Besides noir is more then happy to play the “my legs hurt” card that get out of it. Monster hunting isn’t really his thing.

Lilac: he so very wants to keep up with Star and Jupiter, but there are some things lilac can’t do with his prosthetic leg. It would be too dangerous. Instead he mans the campsite, keeping watch for any suspicious activity and the cops.

Basil: the supernatural is one thing that basil has zero fear of or belief in. He’ll come, and just to be annoying he brings backups of everything. Flashlight keeps going out? He’s got two more and extra packs of batteries. Strange animal noises? Let’s see them make that after his dog whistle. Getting colder? Basil is ready for extra scarves for everyone

[doctorgerth]

My request is Part II of Make Me, please!!!! THANK YOU!!!

It’s FINALLY here! This was surely a beast to tackle and Hawkins is a bitch to write for, but I hope I wrote this to your liking. I can’t apologize enough for you having to wait so long, all I can hope is that it was worth the wait! Thanks for requesting a part 2. It was my first time continuing something I’ve already written and though I might have beaten my head against the wall a few times, I really did enjoy it. ☺️

description: The tension between Hawkins and a certain kunoichi breaks. They fuck. That’s the plot. (female reader)

warnings: 18+ content / spoilers (kinda?) / explicit sexual content / explicit language / switch!Hawkins / restraints / choking / glove kink (if you squint) / foreplay / unprotected sex / rough sex / possibly ooc Hawkins

Part One 

Make Me pt. II (Basil Hawkins)

(look at Eru’s amazing gif!!!!! Ahh, I love it so much!)

Word Count: 3.7k

“Tell me your plans, or else.”

Even amidst the suffocating suspense, she wouldn’t dare let him take control just yet. With a roll of her hips, she ground her sex against his, eliciting a delicious moan from deep within him. If she played her cards right, she’d have him writhing underneath her in no time, forgetting all about this petty interrogation and even his own name.

“Do your worst.”

   Hawkins didn’t need the cards to tell him that he was going to fuck her right there in the interrogation room.

   Truthfully, he had consulted the cards earlier that morning for his daily reading, and when The Lovers card revealed itself, he had wondered if maybe he had gotten rusty in his tarot reading since arriving at Wano. Hawkins had been far too occupied with headliner duties, after all. That paired with his naturally withdrawn nature, he avoided any kind of romantic interactions (or rather, all interactions that didn’t involve work) with any denizen of Wano. That certainly included the countless courtesans Orochi had insisted on offering to both Hawkins and Drake as new headliners. Knowing these things, he simply disregarded the card entirely.

   Perhaps taking up such offers from any of those courtesans would have actually proved beneficial in the long run. Because in this moment, even if the probability of (Name) escaping freely afterwards was unmistakably high, he was utterly bewitched by her. All that occupied Hawkins’ thoughts were the temptations of her clothed cunt rubbing lecherously against him. Never had he felt more pathetic, giving in to such trivial desires he had otherwise easily suppressed in the past. Yet, he didn’t dare fight it. He couldn’t. Not when it was her.

   “You’re so hard for me already, Basil.” She cooed in confidence, eyes closed blissfully as she focused on grinding against his growing bulge.

   “Don’t talk.” He hissed through gritted teeth as his fingers dug helplessly into the meat of her thighs, moving her manually. He leaned back against the chair, mind hazy with a ravenous desire he hadn’t felt in quite some time; if ever. Maybe a quick release would help get his head back on straight and he’d finally get some valuable information out of her. If he’d have any ounce of willpower after this exchange, that is.

   She hummed in delight and could feel her panties begin to dampen the more he controlled her movements with newfound desperation. His breathing became ragged as he basked in her intoxicating heat. Low groans escaped from the back of his throat into the open air as she met his movements with a teasingly slow roll of her hips, greedy for more of his erotic gasps.

   They continued like this for some time, exchanging breathy pants of pleasure as they moved in time, simply grinding their bodies against one another. The two were conscious of their delirious repressions. Stress, frustration, the looming danger that was polluting the Wano atmosphere; all of it could be felt in the way they moved against each other. Desperate for each other’s touch. Yearning for release.

   “Your subordinates could come in any minute-”

   His hand flew to the back of her neck, pulling her down until their foreheads collided with a soft thud, noses touching, “I said, don’t talk.” He growled as he drew her in, at last claiming the lips he had dreamed of all these years.

   Their lips moved together in haste, attracting each other like magnets. It didn’t take long before they had to pull away for air, only to return with increased fervor, the kiss intensifying with each passing second. His lips felt so soft, just like she had remembered. Soft and supple, with a hint of maple. An effect of his straw abilities, she had assumed. Either way, it was deliciously tantalizing and she knew she’d end the night drunk off his taste. A warm and inviting buzz was already numbing her to the core.

   His back found its way against the chair as she pushed against him, trapping him between the chair and herself. She pulled away, her lips red and puffy from the sweet abuse.

   (Name) smirked down at him, “I can’t exactly strip with my hands bound like this, ya know.”

   He inhaled deeply through his nose, and slowly exhaled through his mouth, as if attempting to regain his composure. She rather enjoyed, perhaps more than she’d care to admit, witnessing the enigmatic blonde in such a disheveled state. It was gratifying to know that she had such a titillating effect on him.

   “I suppose I could help you. Give me any trouble and you’ll be sure to face the consequences.”

   “Though I do like the sound of that... I’ll be a good girl, I swear.” She leaned down to his ear, “Unless you want me to be bad?”

   “As if I’d let you.” A sudden ripping sound brought her attention downwards and she gasped as she observed his straw powers tearing away at her clothes, discarding them haphazardly into piles on the floor. The feeling of the straw on her skin once again was strangely arousing, especially as it crept along her more private areas in teasing manners.

   He sighed in, what sounded to (Name) like, disappointment, thus bringing her attention back to him. Stiffening underneath her, his eyes flickered from her to the deep purple lingerie that she sported. He looked almost dejected, but she could never be sure with him.

   “Is this for someone else?”

   She stifled a laugh, amused by his chagrin, “Just laundry day. Don’t worry, it’s all for you to enjoy.”

   She noticed the tiniest hint of a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips and as she tried to savor it, just as she blinked, it quickly faded to his default bored, pouty lip. Hawkins seemed to be in deep thought as his hands reached up hesitantly to observe the fabric. It looked incredibly soft and intricate, he was actually impressed by the design, but more so overwhelmed by how stunning she looked in it. Hawkins was always an enthusiast of lingerie aesthetics, it truly felt as if fate was mocking him.

   “May I?”

   She yanked at his hands and settled them along her chest with urgency. He held back a contented sigh as he gently felt along the fabric, squeezing and grasping at her breasts, appreciating the look and feel of them in the seductive attire. Light mewls escaped her lips as his hands felt electrifying against her skin. Such simple touches left her frenzied with desire, and she failed to recall a time she was ever left so sensitive to anyone’s touch.

   The bra was low cut, just barely covering her pert nipples that were already peeking above the lace, begging to be released of their confines. He pulled the fabric down to just below her breasts, letting them spill out. He took his gloved hand to her nipple, intrigued to observe her reactions. Two fingers pinched at the hardened bud, rolling it between his gloved fingertips. She inhaled sharply, head lolling backwards as she encouraged him on. His hold on her nipple tightened and he pinched harder, twisting and tweaking at it with ardor.

   Captivated by the smooth skin of her stretched neck, Hawkins leaned forward to trail sharp kisses along it, undoubtedly leaving bruises in their wake. He trailed down her throat, clavicle, and finally made home at her breast as he latched on, taking the bud softly between his teeth. A loud moan escaped her now and he eyed up at her, observing how her mouth hung open and she continued to lean backwards, a silent request for him to continue his ministrations. His free hand flew to her back, supporting her and holding her in place as she opened her chest up to him.

   “Basil…” She whispered pleasurably into the air.

   He hummed in response, enamored with the way his name dripped off her lips like nectar. Hawkins wanted to keep her like this forever; her body fitting wonderfully in his arms, her skin littered in goosebumps, her siren call of his name. He took his time, making sure to capture each look she offered, each sound she made in order to store these memories into the depths of his mind.

   “Please, more.” She cried out, lifting her head up and staring at him below her. With long lashes peeking from behind blonde curtains, he looked absolutely stunning as he held her, both in his arms and between his teeth. Her cunt fluttered at the sight.

   He studied her face, the way her eyes stared down at him with pure lust. Giving her breast one last squeeze, he trailed his gloved hand down the lacey fabric, reaching behind and curving along the swell of her ass until his fingers reached her dripping core. He rubbed at her eagerly, trailing and prodding two fingers along the damp cloth. Her hips bucked, another silent plea for more. Easily sliding her panties to the side, he traced around her warm entrance before slipping a slender digit inside, taking his time in entering her knuckle-deep.

   “Mm!” She whined as her body jolted at his entry. His long finger explored her cavern as it slipped between her walls, curling ever so slightly with its exit.

   “So tight…” He whispered dreamily to himself against her skin. Resting his forehead against her chest, he slid in and out of her at an agonizing pace, simply enjoying the way she squeezed around his finger with each entry.

   “I’m tired of you hiding from me, Basil.” Her voice grew shaky as he did not hesitate to add another digit inside, “It’s no fun being naked alone.”

   It was a bit tasking as her hands were still bound, but she managed to rip his shirt in similar fashion to his ripping of hers earlier. The tattered shirt hung loosely on him, revealing smooth, pale skin that she was more than excited to get her claws on. He looked up at her, a hint of anger in those crimson eyes that only made her clamp around those fingers in wanton.

   Reaching down to his pants now, she struggled with removing the sash until Hawkins grabbed her hands roughly, “Stand up.” 

   She was surprisingly quick to comply as she rose to her feet, watching him remove his shirt swiftly, and taking mental snapshots of the dents and divots of his beautifully sculpted torso. His skin looked like marble. Hawkins was smooth and lean, yet there was still an undeniable strength evident in the curves of his muscles. He could have easily passed as a statue before her, and she marveled at him as such.

   “Turn around.” This time, she was a bit hesitant to follow orders as she wanted to spectate his removing of his pants, but she knew it’d be best to listen to him if she wanted to get her way.

   The sound of various clothing falling to the floor made her ears perk up and it took everything within her not to turn around to catch a peek. She remained obedient, however, waiting for his next orders. When the binds around her wrists disappeared, her interest piqued.

   “Turn around and remove the rest. Slowly.”

   As she obeyed, a warm heat danced in her body as she admired how nearly god-like he looked sitting in the chair, stark naked. She licked her lips at his hardened cock making itself known between his thighs. He was thicker than she’d expect for such a lean man, and the length was definitely something to boast about. Not that a man like Hawkins ever would, which, in turn, only made him all the more desirable. As if reading her thoughts, he smirked, “Don’t make me wait any longer.”

   Gathering herself, she did as he commanded and made a point to take her time in stripping for him. Unclasping the bra in the back, she allowed the straps to fall down her shoulders before swiftly discarding it to the floor. It was hard to not be distracted by the way he touched himself, intently watching her every move and giving his dick a few slow pumps. Nevertheless, her fingers hooked underneath the band of her panties and she maintained eye contact as she pulled them agonizingly slow down her thighs, then kicked them off with her feet.

   He was amused at her brazen nature. How she never shied away from him, especially now as she stood entirely bare in front of him. Instead, she allowed him to ogle her body, towering confidently as his eyes meticulously traced her every curve. Hawkins had half a mind to continue the show, observe her as he ordered her to touch herself. Though at this point, he was far too eager to do it himself.

   “Sit.”

   “My, you move fast, Basil. I don’t think I’m ready.” She had hoped he didn’t hear the nervous quake in her voice.

   “Don’t worry, I’ll make sure you are well prepared.” As she approached, he swiftly flipped her around and settled her bare ass in his lap, just in front of his twitching cock. She could feel it throbbing against her backside and her entire body burned red hot in consequence.

   Gently, he grabbed her arms to lock them behind his head. He nuzzled his face into her neck, taking in her sweet scent and placing a tender kiss along a mark that had just begun to bloom from his ministrations earlier, “You feel amazing. I think I’ll keep you just like this.”

   He promptly used his powers to bound her wrists once more, locking her arms in place. (Name) gasped as the stretch was a bit uncomfortable, but she came to enjoy the warm fire that burned in her belly. He then hooked her legs over his knees, driving them outwards in order to spread her open completely. He took advantage of his abilities yet again in order to secure her ankles around his calves, ultimately granting him easy access to explore every inch of her body. His gloved fingers immediately traveled south to toy with her sensitive button, while his right hand crept up to fondle her breasts.

   High-pitched whines escaped her as she struggled against the restraints. With her hands bound behind her and Hawkins keeping her legs spread widely apart, she felt utterly vulnerable to his affections and on the verge of overstimulation. She didn’t, couldn’t keep back her cries of his name while he rubbed vigorous circles onto her clit. Her pussy throbbed, clamping down onto nothing over and over as his hand crept further up to caress her throat, squeezing just tight enough to strangle her cries yet grant her enough air to breathe.

   His damp forehead fell against her cheek and she shivered as she felt his incredibly warm breath on her skin. He plunged two fingers inside her, while using his thumb to keep special attention on her clit, “Fuck! Basil, I-I’m gonna-”  

   He squeezed tighter around her throat, restricting her airflow for only a second or two, all the while increasing the intensity of her impending orgasm, “Let go.”

   As if releasing her from a spell, she did exactly that. Coming undone on his fingers with what would have been a loud cry if he hadn’t held such a firm grip. As he loosened his hold, she focused on her breathing, whining as his fingers exited from her abused and soaked cunt. He freed her from her restraints for the second time, but she hardly had the strength to move as she fell slack against his body, still working on catching her breath.

   He couldn’t help but chuckle, “Don’t tell me you’ve given up? I’m hardly done with you.”

   After a moment, she smirked and stretched her body, turning to face him, “I say it’s time to get you prepared.”

   He peered up at her, intrigued by her statement. She licked her lips, wasting no time in taking his dick in her hands to give it a few encouraging pumps. He hissed loudly at the contact, an electric wave of pleasure shocking his entire body. She dropped to her knees, leaning down to take his cock into her mouth.

   “You don’t have to-” He choked on his words as she abruptly took him inside her mouth, enthusiastically coating his dick with her saliva. She took him in as much as possible and he gripped at her hair as he focused on not coming on the spot. Damn, how long had it been since his last release?

   She could probably tell he was close already since she only sucked him off for a few seconds more. As she arose, she made quick movements to settle herself on top of him, grabbing at his soaked cock to place it at her entrance. His gaze followed her, challenging her. It was far too late to turn back, they both were well aware. There was a brief moment of hesitancy, but as his cock twitched shamelessly in her hand, they knew they were far from throwing in the towel.

   (Name) slid down onto his member, the both of them moaning out in unified bliss at the feeling of at last being connected. They remained still as they gathered their breaths, taking a moment to adjust, and reveled in the intimate feeling of each other. She was inconceivably warm and tight. Hawkins had to mentally remind himself to breathe.

   As she regained her composure, she began a steady rhythm of bouncing in his lap, eliciting the most delicious moans she’d heard from him yet. His eyes closed tight in intense pleasure and she was confident she now had him fully under her control.

   “Still worried about my, mmm, affiliation with the Straw Hats?” She panted with a smirk, “Who knew you had a thing for sleeping with the enemy~”

   He scoffed breathlessly, securing his strong arms around her to pull her in close. (Name) couldn’t help but gasp as his soft lips ghosted over her own, seeking her out in the midst of their tangled passions. He traveled along her skin with gentle strokes of his lips and tongue, “Only you.”

   A violent shiver coursed through her as those two words echoed loudly in her brain. Had she heard him right? Just what did that mean? Her mind was now a dizzying storm of questions. Her movements had slacked in consequence, and as she realized, she forced him back against the chair in order to pick up the pace.

   Slender fingers wrapped around his throat and squeezed gently. She shivered once more as his ruby eyes offered her sweet submission and his lips curved upward into a teasing grin, “Tighter.”

   She bit her lip to suppress her whimper, all the while she gripped his throat tighter as per his request until his eyes fluttered close; a look of utmost bliss painted along his face. (Name) rode him with intensity, her lips spilling out shameless praises and calls of his name as she angled herself in order for him to hit all the right spots. Her grip remained firm, and the vibrations of his strangled moans drove her closer to the precipice.

   His grip around her suddenly tightened and his breathing became staccato, a sure sign that he was close as well. Her legs were aching, and just as they were about to give in, Hawkins adjusted his hips so he could thrust up and into her from below. The pair moaned loudly, nearly in sync as he fucked her relentlessly. She was first to fall over the edge, Hawkins made sure of that. As her tight cunt squeezed around his cock, he followed suit merely seconds afterward, pulling out to paint her abdomen white.

   (Name) fell against his chest in utter exhaustion and Hawkins held her against him. Her fingers mindlessly threaded through his hair as the pair basked in the afterglow. His thumb brushed over her lip, pulling her up to him for one last searing kiss. She smiled against his lips, savoring one last drop of him for the night. She was inebriated beyond comprehension; a little unsure if she could walk home properly. His demeanor returned to neutrality and looking at him, it was almost hard to believe she had him a moaning mess just moments before.

   “Am I free to go, Mr. Headliner?”

   He sighed, deep in concentration. Keeping her still in his lap, he reached over to gather his loose articles, or rather, what was left of them. Not much remained of her worn clothing and though his own left little to be desired, it’d be enough to cover her until she could retrieve new clothes.

   “That depends. Do you plan to return these most treasured clothes of mine? I could have you thrown in jail for collusion and thievery.” His eyes gleamed with mischief as he cleaned her off and helped her get dressed, trying his absolute hardest not to ravish her all over again from the alluring sight of her draped in his clothing. She’d surely be the death of him.

   (Name) scoffed with an amused smile, “Think you could possibly capture me again, Basil?”

   He guided her towards the exit, “I believe the probability that I’d let you escape me twice is lower than you think.”

She leaned in, tracing along the prominent red lines she had etched onto his chest. In a low, sultry voice, she whispered, “And what’s the probability that you’ll interrogate me again?”

Hawkins went ramrod stiff. His eyes were easily drawn to her lips and any second longer in that heated tension, he would have taken her right there, all over again. Thankfully, her sweet laughter suppressed the carnal desire that was threatening to consume him once more. She was somehow life and death, simultaneously.

   “Well, let’s leave all the probabilities for your cards to decide. You might like what they have to show you.” She winked before swiftly escaping through the window.

   After her departure, Hawkins closed the window quickly, placing his forehead against the cool glass. He stood like that for some time, replaying every detail of their session over and over until he became overwhelmed. How Hawkins, a dignified man dedicated to his duties, could let such a paramount criminal escape so easily was baffling. Even still, despite all consequences of his careless actions, all he could think about was seeing her again. She lingered on his skin. The touch, smell, and taste of her would not be so easily washed away. Not that he wished her to be.

   He retrieved his discarded cloak to wrap around his bare body, and as he opened the door to some rather bashful subordinates who could hardly look him in the eye, he paid no mind, barking out orders to cut through the awkward tension.

   “Fetch me some new clothes and my deck of cards. I wish to be alone for the rest of the evening.”

[originalwinnercheesecake]

My One theory about Chain of Thorns (Spoilers)

So I am largely unimpressed with what I have seen of Chain of Iron. CC hyped it up as this big Mystery/suspense story with dashes of Romance spread out, not a filler romance story with only dashes of plot hear and there.But then it comes out and we find out mysteries she hyped were either dropped in editing or, made unimportant, or just fell flat. Also personally to me a big weakness of Cassandra Clare’s writing in the past was claiming that a character had all these important faces/relationships, then narrows then down to only showing their romantic story to the point where they never even spoke to anyone who they didn’t at least have a one sided ship with. I thought she had since learned better, but this book is a bit of a step back.

Let’s talk about one of the only parts/dynamics of the book to concern more than just two characters: The Grace/James/Cordelia/Matthew love rhombus. The Gracelet is gone, James finally knows the truth about his feelings for Cordelia. He also is starting to wake up to how depressed Matthew has been for the last two years (how did the Gracelet filter that out, friendship isn’t part of its intended purpose, was it because Matthew was always against James liking Grace, or did James actually ignore Matthews feelings and is looking for an alleviation from the guilt). Anyway James now knows how he truly feels and he wants to make things right with them. But Cordelia and Matthew do not know how James truly feels. They believe that he is forever swept up in loving Grace Blackthorn, and is in pain at having to “Play husband and wife” with Cordelia. Matthew and Cordelia are also in pain over a million other things (Matthews depression, Cordelia’s situation with Cortona/Lilith, etc) and reaching there braking point have left London on an impromptu Vacation. The vacation is just as friends, another thing James doesn’t know, given that before leaving Matthew wrote James a note confessing his feelings for Cordelia. James tries to go after Matthew and Cordelia, tries to beg them to stay, but he misses the train, and is unable to hope on the next one to follow them.

First theory we know that Cordelia and Matthew plan to go to.... Idris I believe, in two weeks to attend Elias’s funeral. James has to know that Cordelia wants to attend her fathers funeral so he will go hoping to see her. I do not think that Cordelia and Matthew will make it to that funeral, they will still be in Paris. After not seeing either one James will break down and decide he has to go after them (Will may help him with that decision). James will portal to Paris, head straight for that hotel Matthew supposedly always talks about wanting to stay in, get the number for Matthew and Cordelia’s rooms, walk right up to the first one... then see Matthew and Cordelia laying side by side n the “probably” single bed in the room, think of all the times he and Cordelia were together like that and he was unable to fully enjoy it, and be heart broken.

Important: Matthew and Cordelia will not be “laying together” in a romantic sense. What I think will probably be happening, why they missed the funeral, is that Matthew is trying to go through detox and Cordelia is trying to help him through the pain of withdrawl. Matthew told Cordelia he wouldn’t drink, and he may try very hard to at least cut down on it, but he won’t be able to just stop. Eventually Cordelia will catch him with a bottle, they will get into a fight, then discuss him (finally) trying to get sober. Matthew will not want to go to Basils, and after Elias came back still addicted Cordelia will have lost faith in that place, so they will decide to just try and do detox there in the hotel.

Now what I would like to happen when James see’s them is either Cordelia will look up, run to him all flustered and scared and tell him what they are doing; or that he will see Matthew suddenly start spasming on the bed and James will run into the room himself demanding to know whats wrong with his parabatai. This will end with James promising to stay and help “we can sit with him in turns”, James can apologize and tell Cordelia about the Gracelet, and they can all figure out their whole deal at home in 4-5 days once Matthew feeling up to it (and after Matthew and James make up too).

What I believe will happen when James see’s them is that James will assume Cordelia and Matthew are a couple now, leave immediately without either of them ever knowing he was there, decide not to tell them about the gracelet, and once they come back avoid them both until the end of Chain of Thorns.

What I am slightly afraid will happen: James will learn that they are trying to go through detox, he will promise to stay and help, Matthew will wither take a bad turn during detox or they will be attacked in the room while Matthew is unable to defend himself and he will be hurt. James will feel Matthew start to slip and go into a panic, turn into a shadow, and (in a desperate effort to not lose his parabatai forever) track down a vampire and make them turn Matthew into one of them.

[abiteofnat]

If you’re reading this, I’m coming back to Chicago, beetch

The non-existent rumors are true. After a brief 10-month exit from the city to soak up the fresh air and social distance-friendly suburbs, I am now returning to Chicago as a single, slightly more anxious version of myself. While I’m still trying to kick some of the anxiety and OCD that COVID-19 pushed from “lifelong tagalongs” to “all-controlling demons”, I feel 97% ready to be back where I feel most myself, and cannot wait to welcome that change. While that 3% still makes me a little uncomfy and hesitant, I’m a believer in pushing your boundaries to allow yourself to grow, and also, I am really sick of suburbs food. 

Ha! I joke. I wouldn’t move downtown simply for access to more diverse & higher quality food... or would I? All I know is while there are plenty of gems in the North Shore, I’ve eaten take out from all of them ten times over, and I did not foster my dislike of cooking out of nowhere. My parents do not enjoy cooking, my sister pretends to enjoy cooking, and I will cook if it is 5 ingredients or less. My latest speciality is a toasted bagel with butter, hummus, and EBTB seasoning. Voila. So when it comes to dinner, we are living off of a carousel of suburban favorites, and are losing steam as we are still not comfortable with dining inside (or dining inside in the city, where the fun food is). 

All of this to say, it’s exciting to imagine what life is going to be like in a few short weeks. While I’m still extra precautionary, I can’t wait to have my own space downtown, where I can enjoy coffee on my little balcony (!!!) and dream of the days friends can come squeeze into my studio safely while I lay out an entire table of sharable spreads and snacks from Ema (Charred Eggplant Spread is the best one, don’t fight me). 

So you may ask, how did you come to this decision to move to the heart of downtown out of seemingly nowhere, you hermit? 

It starts with my mom and I having a brief, simultaneous breakdown and coming to the conclusion that we would both feel comfortable doing a staycation downtown, as long as we wore masks, sanitized always, and braved the cold to eat outside. This was big for me! As a person with real OCD, not cute TV show “I have to keep my pens straight” OCD, this would be the most exposure I’d had to a lot of uncontrollable variables since the pandemic started. If you’re thinking, “you get to spend a weekend downtown in a hotel with your mom, shut up”, know that I hear you. I am unbelievably grateful that I’ve gotten this time with my parents, and that we can do a staycation. However, having anxiety comes at a cost, and that cost is blowing everything way the fuck out of proportion instead of being able to rationalize it sometimes. Let’s! Normalize! Having! This! Discussion!

So, we went downtown in early March for a two-night stay, and oh my goodness. The realization that we got to be in a different space, and do different things, and eat different food for a weekend made it feel like a legit vacation, and not like we drove 30 minutes to get there. The view from our room was of Michigan Ave, and hearing the traffic and seeing the people out and about instantly made me feel a sense of peace I wasn’t expecting. I’ve lived downtown for 6 years, but it always shocks me how much the city feels like an extension of me once I’m in it after being away. My mom and I went out for a walk (gentle yet forceful reminder to please wear a mask), then decided to grab dinner while we were out. The plan was to bring it back to the room, but there was a warm spell, and there just happened to be a table for two at Topolobampo on Clark, and suddenly we were sitting on the patio under the lights eating masa quesadillas dipped in a spicy salsa verde. It just happened!!! 

Before getting downtown, I was tentatively looking at apartments for the spring. I was looking at Lincoln Park, Old Town, maybe Lakeview, and came across a listing in the Gold Cost that caught my eye. That one was swiped out from under me within days, but I couldn’t stop thinking about the area. Then I discovered another unit that was available, and couldn’t shake it from my mind. Over mushroom tacos I discussed it with my mom, and we decided to go see it. Totally not what I had been planning for in terms of location, but why not? 

Once we polished off breakfast the next morning (Eggs Benedict with fried eggs, extra hollandaise) we headed out to see the place. Let me say I have never seen my mom fall in love with a single apartment I’ve lived in, and she was ALL. FOR. IT. Unreal reaction on her part. Once I saw the west-facing views and the incredible natural lighting, I was 100% in as well.

We spent the rest of the weekend wandering the downtown area, enjoying another dinner outside at The Gwen and my mom’s first visit to the Starbucks Reserve Roastery, which was 95% more empty than I’ve ever seen it given we went in a pandemic at 8:30PM. Shit on Starbucks all you want, but that Roastery is an incredible use of space (in non-pandemic times) and the coffee & Princi pastries are really, really good. 

When we got back home feeling refreshed and like we had actually gone on a vacation, I jumped into apartment shark mode real fast and signed as many documents as the very kind realtor could send over. One week later, whabaam, I was a Gold Coast girl. Ahem, *lady*. What better way to celebrate than going to Somerset and having the Rapini & Roasted Garlic Flatbread and Wild Mushroom Risotto? No clue. As I sat outside, yet again with my mom, I felt a wave of excitement come over me and realized, this is it. This is the sign and feeling I’ve been waiting for, telling me it’s time to move back to the city and start over. The creamy, herbacious risotto also helped solidify that. 

SO. After all of that, the news is I’m moving, and you’re probably wondering why I shared all of this on a blog about food. I meant for this post to be about everywhere I ate during my staycation, but realized quickly we ate at some very basic places - DELICIOUS, but still basic. Oops. Below are all the dishes I had and a rundown of the flavors, textures, etc., however don’t expect to find any new, revolutionary restaurants. Sorry! 

1. Topolobampo 

This Rick Bayless restaurant has been around forever, and unfortunately, you can tell by the interior. We’ve eaten here as a family a couple of times before, but never had a noteworthy experience. I can confirm that in a pinch, the patio covered in fun lights & mini piñatas, and the sharable, filling bites will do just fine. This was my first time going to a Mexican restaurant as a non-alcohol drinker, and instead of my typical mezcal margarita, I opted for a Fresh Limeaide which was refreshing and flavorful. We split the Guacamole and Chips, which if you’ve ever stopped at the Frontera in O’Hare, you know is good as fuck. It’s smooth, creamy, tangy, and topped with chopped onions and cilantro for a little crunch. It’s not the most life-changing, but it is consistently satisfying. Next, we got the Mushroom Tacos and Masa Quesadillas. The Masa Quesadillas were a fun surprise, as instead of a tortilla, the masa is what makes up the outside. They are almost like empanadas and stuffed with gooey, melty cheese, and come with a spicy salsa verde on the side. I would come back for these alone - they’re rich yet light, warm, and comforting, all the things you would want when dining outside when it’s still a little chilly. The Mushroom Tacos were quite frankly unreal, because whatever they seasoned the mushroom slices with and grilled them on made them taste unlike any mushroom I’ve had before. There was definitely some meat crossover on the grill, so don’t order those if you’re vegan, or ask them to prepare the mushroom separately. I however was LOSING MY MIND. Over mushrooms. The joys of being vegetarian! 

2. The Gwen

On a happening Saturday night in Chicago, Upstairs at The Gwen is sure to be a packed scene. Located in River North, this hotel bar/restaurant offers a somehow cozy rooftop filled with loungey couches, fire pits, and ambient lighting, even though you’re surrounded by apartments and skyscrapers and there is nothing “cozy” about River North. Every table was filled, yet since you’re outside and it’s fairy spread apart, it still felt safe. I got my new classic, a Lemonade, and we got the Burrata to start. With sourdough, roasted beets, squash, pomegranate, pistachio, & arugula, this plate was nothing short of mouth-watering. It has textures! It has flavors! It has pomegranate seeds, the TikTok must have of the moment! The bread was 10/10, the burrata was 8/10, and all of the toppings made for a very find bite of salad on their own. For my main I got the Lobster Fettucine, a beautiful bowl of “charcoal fettuccine with saffron-tomato sauce, lobster, calabrian chili butter, and basil-brioche crumbs” as listed on their website. Take any of those ingredients and it’s going to be delicious, but all of them TOGETHER? INCREDIBLE. The chunks of lobster were huge, absolutely making the dish worth its price tag, and the sauce was flavorful, unique, and unlike any sauce I’ve tasted in the last few years. It’s typical to do a squid ink pasta with seafood and tomato sauce, but the saffron added a new element I very much appreciated. 

3. The Starbucks Roastery 

I KNOW. THIS IS A TOURIST DESTINATION. All I am saying is if there’s no line, go get an iced latte with two packets of sugar in the raw. That’s all. It’s really good after something like, I don’t know, Lobster Fettucine. 

4. The Penninsula 

You cannot go wrong with hitting up The Penninsula for breakfast or brunch, especially if you are staying there and have the option to do room service. Typically we would go to Pierrot Gourmet, the cafe in the ground floor of The Penninsula, however it has been closed temporarily. If there’s one thing to order with your breakfast, it’s the smashed fingerling potatoes. Delish. 

5. Somerset 

Somerset is becoming a quick go-to of mine for an impromptu dinner downtown, given it’s in the heart of Gold Coast and is cute if you’re sitting indoors or outdoors. The food is nothing too innovative, but it is done well, which is the most important part with “cuter” restaurants that may focus on the Instagram appeal over the food sometimes. Each time I’ve gone I’ve gotten the seasonal flatbread and a pasta or risotto, usually something with mushrooms, and it’s always been plate-licking good. To drink, I got -you guessed it- a Lemonade! For dinner I went with the Wild Mushroom Risotto which was everything you could hope for in a risotto, topped with olive oil, herbs, and local parmesan. We split the Rapini & Roasted Garlic Flatbread which was as it sounds, flatbread covered in rapini, garlic, and ricotta, which added a nice crunch and had enough rapini to feel like it was replacing a boring vegetable side dish or salad. The patio vibes were wonderful, the judgemental girls in the greenhouses looked like they were having a good time, and our waiter couldn’t have been sweeter. I will be going back to try the Fontina Arancini, which I just noticed on the menu. FRICK. 

So there you have it, a very long-winded explanation of the last few weeks of my life and where you can find me on a staycation in Chicago. Hopefully once I move back to the city I’ll have endless new spots to try and won’t be basic anymore! 

Until next time, Happy Eating!

-Natalie 

[cienie-isengardu]

The Development of Law and Zoro relationship: Wano, Luffy & Zoro Means Troubles…

<Part I: Before Meeting>> <<Part II: Sabaody Archipelago, The First Meeting>> <<Part III: Punk Hazard: The Alliance (A)__(B)>>  <<Part IV: Dressrosa, The Breaking Point (The Plan Failed)__ (Saving Law)__(Protecting Law)__ (Birdcage, Pica and Doflamingo)__ (Aftermath)>> <<Part V: Zou, The Kindred Spirits (Traveling Together)__(Searching for Nakama)__ (Reunion)__ (Ninja-Pirate-Mink-Samurai Alliance)__(The Last Moments before War)>>  Part VI: Wano, Against Emperors (The Untold Journey)__(Luffy & Zoro Means Troubles…)__(...and Law Is Not Happy About That) 

Somehow the alliance got into Wano without enemy notice. There, Kinemon separated his allies into smaller teams, all with their own task at hand. Surprising, during the little flashback of that moment (chapter 909), Law was not seen when the samurai explained situation to Straw Hats:

Kinemon warned Straw Hats they “must pass yourselves off as locals and quietly, quietly go about your duties”. He gave pirates an individual roles:

➣ Zoro, as ronin, Usopp as street salesman and Robin, as geisha, were supposed to infiltrate capital and gather either informations or allies there

➣ Franky, as an apprentice, worked under carpenter who built Kaido’s mansion, in hopes to gain plans of enemy fortress, so the alliance could learn its arrangement before the raid.

➣ Law and Heart Pirates (as far as we were shown at that moment) stayed with samurais in the ruins of the Oden Castle in Kuri region and were stealing food and water from the enemy.

Chapter 918 notes Law was aware about Zoro’s role, however when and how he was informed is not clear. The lack of one of alliance leaders during the meeting between Kinemon and Straw Hats raises questions such as why Trafalgar wasn’t present and did samurai decide to keep knowledge about Zoro, Robin, Franky and Usopp and their tasks to themselves? On one hand, it makes sense. Secrecy was important to secure their plan as best as possible - a matter that will play a bigger role in the upcoming chapters; the less people knew what Straw Hats would be doing, the better chance to avoid information leak. But at the same time, if Law was informed about at least Zoro’s job, why not let him take part in the meeting? Unless he did learn about Zoro’s task after Pirate Hunter became an infamous wanted man, but about that more in a moment.

We may only wonder why Kinemon decided to keep Heart Pirates with himself, instead of sending them straight away undercover like Straw Hats. There are few reasons that could have influenced his decision:

➣ Law’s powers were useful for stealth and stealing. 

➣ The two Supernovas serving Kaido - Hawkins Basil and X-Drake - actually came from North Blue, the same as Trafalgar. How well they knew each other is up to debate, but since all three went to the Grand Line at the same time, it makes sense they at least had some basic knowledge about each other. Which may be a reason why Law stayed with Kinemon instead of playing a similar role to Zoro. 

➣ Another possibility is that Straw Hats could be simply better at pretending to be locals and/or had needed skills. In case of Zoro, the little details presented in manga and SBS suggest he grew up influenced by samurai culture due to his (still not explored) connection to the Shimetsuki clan.

Unfortunately, Zoro - working under the name of Zorojuurou - couldn’t continue his mission, because he killed a corrupt magistrate and most likely other samurais present at that time, thus became an outlaw. Since the knowledge about “murderous ronin” was spread in the whole country, it may explain why (how) Law learned about Zoro’s secret mission. 

Wandering through the wasteland, Zoro met Luffy who finally arrived in Wano.

Luffy barely got to Kaido’s country and he already befriended a local little girl, Tama, who due to poisoned water, fell ill. Straw Hat decided to take her to the nearest village, to seek help. On his way, he met Zoro who at the same time just saved Tsuru (another native person) from bad guys. Soon after that both got into a fight with Basil Hawkins and the Beast Pirates.

Once they managed to run away from pursuit and got into the relatively safe Okobore Town, Straw Hats were noticed by Bepo, Sachi and Penguin, who observed the area from a nearby mountain on which Oden Castle was built.The mentioned Heart Pirates were worried that Straw Hats could start some troubles (chapter 913).

In the end, Heart Pirates decided to not interfere… at least until they saw that Zoro and Luffy were heading into Bakura Town controlled by Kaido’s men and immediately notified Law (chapter 914).

↪ Law was chilling out lying on the ground. It seems he likes resting (or maybe napping?) in his free time, what was already seen before time-skip, when Trafalgar lied on Polar Tang’s deck, using Bepo as a pillow. Maybe Law has problems with irregular sleep (or lack therefore) and/or using Ope Ope no Mi exhausted him so much that, like Zoro, he needs to regenerate his energy by napping/lying down? 

↪ The same as Zoro, Law was surprised by Luffy’s presence in Wano but the similarity ends there. Zoro was delighted when he met Luffy and although he passed on the Kinemon’s warning, he wasn’t much bothered by how they together caused new trouble for the alliance. In contrast, Law wasn’t happy at all. He literally switched from chilling out into full stress/angry mode in less than a few seconds. 

↪ Law immediately and correctly assumed Luffy was going to wreck the havoc. It seems the previous experiences gained in Dressrosa have already borne fruit: Luffy and Zoro together, in enemy land, were bad news. 

↪ The most surprising thing about Law’s reaction is how he called both Luffy and Zoro as “those idiots”. Mainly because at first he was solely angry at Luffy and the prospect of him ruining the plan and then included Zoro as the potential danger. Which in perspective wasn't an irrational reaction and again, Dressrosa proved these two can’t be trusted with following any plan or common sense. Yet at the same time this sharp reaction gives the vibe that Law was for some reason angry at Roronoa (about that more soon). What contrasts with the good relationship they had during the previous arc. 

Law wanted to minimize potential damage done by Luffy and Zoro but was delayed by Bepo, who suddenly felt sick due to eating fish from a poisoned river (chapter 916).

↪ Law here was fully aware of poisoned food and water, he even warned his crew about it. Surprising, Zoro didn’t have any idea about the ecological situation of Wano and both men spent the same amount of time in this country. Either Zoro did not listen to the warning of others OR that matter comes after he left Kinemon’s hideout. In case of latter, it may suggest there was little to no contact between Zoro and other members of the alliance once he became a wanted man. To be fair, Kinemon himself got sick after eating poisoned food, so the revelation about poison could not be known before Straw Hats went undercover.

↪ Another little detail, Bepo felt sick after eating poisoned fish. Zoro, who ate poisoned meat most likely for days, got only some stomach ache, but nothing to stop him from fighting. Law’s tolerance for such poison is unknown, mainly because Ope Ope no Mi would help him remove the toxin from body and, in contrast to Zoro and Bepo, he has knowledge and common sense to not eat poisoned things.

↪ Also, apparently Law has a soft spot for Bepo, the only animal crewmember - another trait he shares with Zoro who himself has a soft spot for Chopper. Trafalgar let Bepo’s sickness delay him when the situation was dire, knowing full well leaving Luffy and Zoro unsupervised for too long was asking for big trouble.

Once his crew member noted that Basil Hawkins was heading to Bakura Town and there already was a fire, Law was pretty shocked by the disturbing change of events.

Despite the pledging of Bepo(?) to not leave him behind, Law finally rushed into town. He didn’t have a clue what was really happening there but attacked the just arrived Hawkins in order to eliminate the threat. As in, eliminate anyone who could recognize him or Straw Hats (chapter 917).

➽ Law actually tried to be sneaky and covered his head with special headgear/straw hat to hide his identity. What suggests he was aware that Basil may recognize him and Straw Hat Supernovas. At the same time, Law is, well, really bad at playing undercover. On Dressrosa he wore jacked with CORAZON on his back alluding to late Donquixote Rosinante but that fight was personal matter and most likely wanted Doffy to know what the fight was all about.  In Wano, he didn’t have that excuse; the fight with Kaido wasn’t his personal quest for vendetta. And yet Law’s idea of hiding his own identity was wearing a kimono with his Jolly Roger on it. Very smart. What may support the theory why Kinemon kept him with himself rather than sending undercover. Law is just bad at this gig and thinking more about it, I don’t remember any time when Trafalgar even bothered to try speak like people of Wano - something that Zoro and Luffy actually have adopted to some extent.  

To take down another Supernova, Law needed using Ope Ope no Mi. The characteristic power and tattoos very soon betrayed his true identity. Law planned to take down Basil, so the man couldn’t report to Kaido about the Heart-Straw Hat pirate alliance. At the same time, Law put faith in Roronoa who knew the plan that he “wouldn’t be stupid enough to let Holdem get crushed” (chapter 918). What implies that despite referring to Zoro as the “idiot” and general pessimistic attitude, Law still assumed Zoro’s presence would be enough to stop Luffy before the worst could happen.

➽ Once again, Law was addressing Zoro as “Roronoa”,instead by his name. Which departs from information published in SBS vol. 72 explaining what Law calls the various members of Straw Hat crew. Back then, Zoro and Nami were the only two allies he called by first name instead of surname or nickname:

In the case of Nami (whose surname was never revealed), it makes sense to use her given name yet Zoro was the only one male ally Law addressed in such a way. Even Luffy, who from a narrative standpoint is the closest person to Trafalgar, is constantly called Straw Hat-ya. Why the special approach to Zoro and why change it right now? The most likely reason for the switch of speaking pattern was Law’s anger (but about that more in next chapter). Anyway, an interesting detail, how Law’s way to call Zoro is related to his mood and/or stress level.

➽ Law proved to be good tactician, but at the same it seems he always assume the worst scenario to happen. Which I guess is one of the main reasons Trafalgar is always so stressed? In contrast, Zoro usually takes bad news calmly - he doesn’t like them, but he has a habit of leaving things to luck/fate instead of overthinking all possible solutions and outcomes. The difference in planning (or lack therefore) could make Zoro and Law clash with each other albeit so far, we saw little to nothing in that regard.

Sadly for Law, Zoro did not stop Luffy from beating Holdem. He wasn’t happy that Luffy did it, but didn’t regret it either. Law, on other hand, was angry and/or stressed by the situation, especially when Basil admitted he already met Straw Hats.

➽ Again, Law thought about Luffy and Zoro as “those idiots”. To be fair, he had a good reason to be angry because of course, Straw Hats wrecked havoc that was reported to Jack - the Beast Pirate responsible for poisoning Mink on Zou - and in result, exposed alliance presence in Wano.

The fight between Law and Basil was then unexpectedly stopped by a speeding cart of stolen food. Stolen by no one other than Zoro and befriended samurai Kiku. Roronoa was nice enough to call the fighting men to get out of their way… once again, Law was shocked by the turn of events. 

The fight between Law and Hawkins was stopped; Law didn’t manage to eliminate the enemy nor prevent information leakage about alliance presence in Wano. He almost was run over by a speeding cart with stolen food (another “crime” against Orochi & Kaido, which Straw Hats committed in his absence). No wonder why Law was so pissed of at Zoro.

About that more in next chapter: ...and Law Is Not Happy About That