#just slightly toxic. yum

[wilting-fl0wer]

oooh maybe romantic sol/utopia, or romantic marz/dys? dealer’s choice!

Dealer's choice was Marz/Dys, good stuff

[broodybuck]

Title: Shitty Boyfriend

Pairing: Steve Rogers x Bucky Barnes

Rating: E

Tags: 18+ explicit smut, consensual cheating, kitchen sex, toxic boyfriend Brock, protective Steve, neighbor, top Steve, bottom Bucky

"Brock, come on, let me back in."

Steve hears the sharp whispering from the hallway. He hears the repeated knocking next door.

"Please, come on. Seriously, Brock."

Steve opens his door and down the hallway, a man he doesn't recognize is standing in nothing but boxer briefs. He jumps when he sees Steve and tries to cower closer to the door, shielding himself.

But there's no hiding how good the guy looks. Steve is already admiring the broad expanse of smooth skin, the muscles tensing in his thighs, bulging in his back. Yum, Steve thinks.

"Are you okay?" Steve asks taking a step further into the hallway.

"Yeah, uh—" the man stammers but then the door in front of him opens and Steve's neighbor steps out.

Steve has never cared for Brock but before tonight he's never had a specific reason to pin him to.

"Hey man," Brock casually greets Steve, ignoring the half-naked man who was knocking on his door.

"Is everything alright here?" Steve asks.

"Oh yeah, we're just having some fun," Brock laughs but the brunette in front of him isn't smiling.

"Really?" the stranger hisses.

When the man tries to move inside, Brock blocks his way. Steve has the strong urge to intervene but he holds himself back. This doesn't feel like his place and the attractive man in his underwear is already uncomfortable as it is.

"It's just a game we play," Brock says, all smiles but they look fake. Brock wraps an arm around the other man. "Goodnight, Steve."

Steve watches Brock drag the man inside his apartment. The door closes and he hears heated arguing.

Two days later, Steve's getting on the elevator in his building when he runs into the attractive stranger again.

"Hey, it's you," Steve says.

When the man recognizes Steve, his face goes pink fast.

"Hey, uh..."

"I'm Steve."

"Bucky," the man says.

"Sorry about our awkward meeting the other night," Steve says with a friendly laugh.

"No, I'm sorry about that. Brock can be..." Bucky hesitates and Steve senses he doesn't want to finish that sentence.

"Hey, if you ever get locked out again, knock on my door. I'm usually home," Steve says.

Bucky's eyes widen slightly but then he nods.

"Okay."

To be honest, Steve wasn't expecting Bucky to ever take him up on his offer but he's more than thrilled when he finds Bucky on the other side of his door a week later.

"Hey, uh sorry. I know you said—"

"Come in," Steve interrupts, stepping aside to let Bucky in. He shuts the door behind him. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah."

Steve looks him up and down.

"You're dressed this time."

"Yeah," Bucky chuckles shyly.

"That's a shame," Steve comments as he walks to his kitchen. "Water?"

He turns back to find Bucky wordless from his comment.

"I'll pour you a glass," Steve answers for him.

He walks over with the glass of water and hands it out to him.

"How long have you and Brock been together?" Steve questions.

Bucky chugs a few gulps of water before replying.

"Only a month."

"Very new then. Still going well?" Steve asks, he knows the answer but Bucky looks surprised by the question.

"I... don't know," Bucky says.

"It might not be my place," Steve says, "but if you want my opinion. I think you're too young and pretty to be wasting your time with a guy like that."

Bucky blinks in astonishment. Steve had a feeling it'd throw him a bit.

"Like what?" Bucky asks, even though he knows.

"A guy who doesn't know how to treat you right. I hope he's at least good in bed."

Bucky chokes on his next sip of water. He wipes his mouth quickly, his cheeks turning a deeper shade of pink.

Steve smiles patiently at him.

"He's alright."

Steve's surprised by his honesty, but it only makes him smile wider.

"Well," Steve shrugs, "if you're ever dissatisfied, you can also knock on my door."

Bucky looks positively shocked. He stands for a moment. After a long beat, he manages to place the glass of water down on the kitchen island before he says, "actually, I am."

By the time he has Bucky bent over the counter with his pants around his ankles, they've stopped caring about the repeating knocks at his door. They've completely ignored the sound of Brock's voice demanding them to open the door.

Steve slides inside Bucky and even with how much he opened him up, Bucky's so tight it makes him groan wildly. Loud enough for Brock to hear. He kisses Bucky's back and then draws back to rocket into an easy, fast pace.

The sounds that begin falling out of Bucky are more than enough to tell Brock what's going on although the man already knows. Fuck it, Steve thinks, Bucky's never moaning for that guy again. He fucks Bucky harder.

"Fuck, you're so tight," Steve grits.

"Ahhgn," Bucky babbles.

"Bucky, seriously?" Brock's voice calls out again. He pounds on the door. "Open the door!"

Steve's holding on Bucky's hips, slamming his cock in and out of him as hard as Brock's fist is pounding on the door. Even the sound of their skin slapping is adding to the blend of filthy noises. Brock continues to yell and slam on the door but neither of them answers, they just keep fucking.

The hallway is quiet after they finish. Brock must've given up. They're panting over the kitchen island. Steve's got Bucky pressed against his chest while his come leaks out of him and mixes with Bucky's release on the tile floor.

"Fuck," Bucky huffs, "I might be knocking on your door a lot more often."

Steve laughs breathlessly and kisses Bucky's shoulder.

"That's fine with me, honey. More than fine with me if you never see your shitty boyfriend again."

[0ystercatcher]

finally the other topic thats been on my mind. the food. oohhh the food. enormous post warning. i hope to god the read more works.

ok for starters. its good. i cant complain. variety and spread were pretty great (goes so hard to have diaspora from all over the world in your country you literally can get anything if you know where to look), quality was good, portions are INCREDIBLY generous even considering price most of the time, and price is....fine. i hated it bc again exchange rates fucked me over but i didnt see anything... outrageous anywhere we went to OTHER than the baseball game but that i expected and was prepared for so i didnt like, insta vomit when i saw the menu. i didnt try nearly everything i wanted to but, well, i have limited space in my tummy.

there were... some questionable items. at the store. like, ham with cheese inside it that looked like it had some kind of pox. all sorts of um. wrong looking. gooey cheese products. all very yellow and with a scary toxic look to them. i did eat the cheetos tho they were fine and acceptably orange.

like... im sorry. this isnt ok. this shouldnt exist. this is wrong.

there were also all sorts of what id consider, niche? not very high circulation? products. that looked interesting. also cheeses, this time delicious and amazing (im still so pissed i left the horseradish cheddar i wanted to bring home in ks fridge), great great snacks, treats of all sorts (some good some eh?), all kinds of baking ingredients and cooking ingredients, so many dry spices and powders and seasonings. asian ingredients and mexican ingredients seemed greatly favored which tbh was appreciated bc there was stuff id never seen before that got me very curious + i found my fav mexican candy which i missed. also, chicken is p cheap over there, i was surprised its basically as cheap as it is here, maybe slightly cheaper even. all in all, tbh, you can eat pretty well buying fairly cheap and healthy items with...not many problems. like...a big big bag of kale was like...4 usd. thats so good. chicken and tuna and sardines were cheap. pasta is cheap as hell as it is everywhere. veggies and fruit are kind of hit or miss but i think thats somewhat seasonal as it is everywhere. canned food is cheaper there too?? not bad at all. next time i want to go to a costco and see how it goes to buy stuff in bulk, it looks promising.

idk where im going w this post so now im just gonna list the memorable meals or treats or ingredients i sampled/had over there (inconsistent list bc some are homemade meals made by moi + k but whatever) and rate them. i cant put these on a normal list bc im breaking the character limit so please bear with my horrible formatting.

baseball game hotdog: 7/10 disappointingly small for the...10? 11? usd it cost. nice mustard and onions on top. NO MAYO. ketchup and relish were Fine. at least 2-3 points of the score are just the fact it was a true baseball hotdog and my first one at that. the experience is very important for this one. i cherished that more than most other things in this "meal" so id feel bad rating it lower.

baseball garlicky fries: 8/10. again 3 points for the experience and novelty of it being baseball food. i think they were 9 dollars. ok portion. CRAZY AMNTS OF GARLIC YUM. pretty tasty. NO MAYO THO!!

double cheese burger + fries + onion rings + peanut butter milkshake: 10/10. true american meal. enormous burger. couldnt finish anything other than the milkshake and k helped w that + i was about to genuinely frow up by the time i tried the last spoonful of it. the whole thing i think was about 25-30? usd each? i dont even care. it was delicious, i think the mayo was made by the restaurant itself, it was so good. beef patties were great. vegetables were great. pickles were really good. gooey ass american cheese was great. fries were crazy. onion rings were perfect. just delicious. will go again next time im there.

pho + spring rolls: 5.5/10. not bad at all. but i think pho was greatly overhyped. i ordered it w tendon and tripe which was nice to have in the us bc i know they dont like organ meats at all. it was ok. its one of those soups that i guess gets better kinda by the end when its all gotten mixed up and nicely flavored. ive had better soups though. sorry i fumbled the tip.

sushi: 8/10. nice! didnt try even close to all the options but the eel was DELICIOUS + the maki sushi was good and, honestly, very well portioned. i dont like when the maki sushi is huge esp when im trying to sample many types. and some of the salads and soups....hell yes. good price! comparable to nice sushi places here, i didnt feel it was scandalous. im giving it an 8 bc it was tasty as fuck, but i do have a comment on this. i think the us does the same thing we do which is, they shove a bunch of ingredients into maki sushi to make new ones with a lot of shit in them and im not the biggest fan of that so i didnt order those. i like simple sushi. the ones i ordered were really good tho. 8/10 for those, i dont think ill order the other ones unless i was feeling suuuper experimental. same as it ever was.

deluxe kraft mac and cheese, orig cheddar: 5/10 without adding anything to it, solid 6 with better cheese + bbq sauced hot dog in it. see we had just watched the jerma reviews mac and cheese video and we happened to find this at the store so obviously we had to try it. it was just normal mac and cheese. i think american kraft has a stronger and kinda. nastier. cheese flavor in it. so we added real cheese and other things and it was better. solid dinner.

mcdonalds: mcdonalds/mcdonalds. its mcds. it tastes the same everywhere apparently. it was fine. fresh fries were nice tho.

taco bell chicken quesadilla: 2/10. i dont really like taco bell and i kind of objected to this meal and only had a little bit. flavorful in weirdly wrong ways. not Offensive but, yknow, a strong I Would Prefer Not To. also, made me a little bloated even with lactaid to help me cope.

various food items at family meeting: 7/10. im not rating them individually there were too many, this is an average. the ones that stood out were: crispy crispy bacon for brekky. biscuits and gravy. funeral potatos? thats what they called it i think? the yogurt + fruit + maple syrup granola bowl and the smoked trout. i think this is because it was a family thing, but if not i guess it still applies? homemade american dishes are so fucking rich. im not sure i could stand eating like that every day. i know by the end of the weekend i was like.. i need normal salad. i need some rice. this cant go on forever. still, i enjoyed every dish i tried. tasty stuff!

sweet corn we roasted in a fire: 10/10 brother i love sweet corn and oonnhh hhn the butter on it. yea man. its good.

special coffee drink + bagel w cream cheese: 7/10. very generous bagel for like...under 3 usd. 3rd worlder ass price for the crazy amnt of cheese it had imho and like, i shared it with k and i was still very satisfied with the portion i got. the coffee drink was very nice. i have no idea what that woman put in it other than the 2 large espresso shots and ice i saw she added. tasty tho! and she was nice. sorry i was very bad at understanding your accent. i realized im still not at all used to that.

espresso + chocolate truffle: 9/10 just what i needed after the fish and chips feast. beautifully smooth coffee, good crema, smelled good, tasted good. great texture, good price. 8 usd for...2 espressos and 2 truffles. i think thats more than acceptable, esp in the highly touristy area we were in. the truffle itself i think was a little ordinary but paired so well w the coffee the whole thing was a win. lovely to have it next to the sea w my love after stuffing ourselves full w fish and chips. speaking of which.

fish (cod and calamari and shrimp) and chips + cider: 10/10 my god. my god. this rivals peruvian jalea. i never believed it would be possible. but it is. it was great. fresh out the fryer, pleasantly greasy but not excessively so. great flavor. great fish. nice portion. amazingggg cider and really nice tartar sauce. just what i needed after walking around for a couple hours. just a great fucking meal. will def go again if i can.

glazed? powdered? donuts? we got at the store? i dont remember the brand or name but i was curious so i grabbed a thing and k said they were pretty good: 2/10 meh. they were... whatever. i think i had one w breakfast and then i sort of gave up on them. kind of dry and too dense for a donut. maybe they were cake donuts? i dont know. i shouldnt have strayed from dunkin, im sorry dunkin. ill never let you down again.

salt vinegar chips: 10/10 one of those snacks i just. would compulsively buy if i lived there. like this would be my go to snack. they hurt the roof of my mouth but its worth it also i like the sourness bc it makes me pace myself a little.

normal ruffles: ruffles/ruffles. i like a good wavy potato chip. what can i say. i enjoyed them.

american bacon: 8/10. i understand why the us has crazy rates of cardiovascular disease. i get it. maybe its worth it. it gets one whole point solely bc of the crazy amnt of fat you can render out of it, bacon fat was Not Lacking while we cooked and i thank the bacon for this, because thats a great ingredient to have around imho.

tap water: 10/10. preddy good!

mexican limes: 2/10. im actively racist against these citrus fruits. so much flesh, no juice. they did their job and tasted Fine I Guess but they were still lame. peruvian lime or nothing baby.

fuji apples: 8/10. im fujiapplepilled. theyre nice. crispy. go well with peanut butter. yum! nice that they are grown there.

cheetos: 5/10. i had the puffs and the normal..crispy ones? non spicy bc i dont like the spicy ones. i was satisfied. theyre better than ours. still not the best snack but i was curious. bigger portion than im used to. i think i would simply not let children have them though.

beef hot dogs, from the store. in and without bun: 9/10 broooo americans are just good at these. they put like actual meat in them. theyre dense. theyre large. delicious stuff. versatile enough, reasonably priced. if this isnt their national pride it should be. wish i could have brought a pack home. my fam would love these.

some kind of mexican chorizo thing: 4/10. it was ok. k had this in the fridge when i got there? its like salchicha huachana but less good, less fresh, less colourful and less flavorful. it did what we needed it to do, i didnt dislike it. it was just. fine.

ranier beer: 7/10. yum! pleasant. slightly sweet. a fine drink for a warm sunny day. great with snacks or other treats.

pabst blue ribbon: 6/10. yum also! i liked rainier a little better tho.

the 2 ipas i had: 0/10. the only thing i had that i actively disliked. yuck. just nasty stuff.

wait i forgot

jeppsons malort: -1/10. @worldlytutor why the fuck did you buy that. that shit tasted like rat poison fr. throw that shit away rn if you still have it.

[steele-soulmate]

Tattooed Wings, CHAPTER 600, Peter Steele & OFC, Soulmate AU

SUMMARY: Mary Claire Bradley meets her soulmate- literally- the famous Peter Steele of metal group Type O Negative. But will obstacles including trauma, stalkers, and toxic family members get in the way of their life?

WARNING: mentions of child rape (nothing graphic) PTSD, milk kink, soft smut, grinding, assault, fingering, hand jobs, blow jobs, 69, P in V sex, blood, noncon rape, violence, death, vandalism, graffiti, attempted kidnapping, break-ins, wild animal attacks, terrorist attack (sabotage) consensual impregnation, bareback, impregnation kink, creampies, terrorist attacks (shootings) hit and run pedestrian accident, precipitous labor, neonatal death, abandoned baby, child intoxication, death of a minor character, injured baby, kidnapped child

WORDS: 1103

“Hey Bloomie, do I see your mommy’s car coming up to the house?” I called out as an electric yellow Volkswagen rolled up into the driveway, Peter jogging directly behind the cheerful little car.

“MOMMY!” cheered the delightful little girl, happily bouncing up and down on her feet, waiting until I finished wiping down the kitchen counter to open the door.

Bloomie led the charge of babies out the door, her going right up to her mother and the Ratajczyk babies swarming their daddy. The look on the woman’s face as she silently counted the babies was comical as I stepped out next, leaving the door slightly open and coming down to greet her.

“Hihi, my love,” I greeted him affectionately. “Did you save the day?”

“He really did!” the woman told me with a weary smile on her face. “You have a good father.”

“Oh, Peter’s not my dad, he’s my husband,” I corrected her, lifting up Baby Teddy when he demanded to be held by his mommy.

“Oh.” The woman looked rather flustered for a moment. “May I ask what the age difference between the both of you is, if I’m not being too rude?”

“Peter was born in 1962 and I was born in 1992,” I relayed, giggling as Peter took to his towering height once more with a chestful of babies. “We’re that one in a million couple where our massive age difference works for us!”

“Mommy, I had Goldfish!” Bloomie giggled before clamoring into the backseat and buckling herself into her car seat.

“She got hungry so I gave her string cheese and a bowl of Goldfish,” I explained with a soft giggle, leaning into my husband’s side. “She’s such a sweet child. You’ve done a good job raising her.”

She only smiled before chit chatting with us Ratajczyk family for a few more minutes before saying her goodbyes and leaving. He pulled out of the driveway just as Isabelle pulled up on the road, and the two automobiles commenced in a game of the cha cha slide.

“Hihi Isabelle!” I greeted the family nanny with a happy smile on my face. “How does spaghetti and garlic bread sound for dinner tonight?”

“Yummy yum yum!” yelled Elizabeth, spilling out of the car with Elle and her backpack in hand. “Oh, and Katie hurt her foot today playing soccer at lunch recess.”

“Are you alright, mo stór?” I asked at once, frowning as the tomboyish eleven year old limped out of the car, not really putting any weight onto her foot. “Come now- let’s get you inside and take your shoe off.”

My mommy senses were screaming, telling me to take her to the hospital, but I told myself to calm down. Peter set the babies down before sweeping the clearly injured girl into his arms and rushing her off into the house.

“Take her into the kitchen, my love!” I tittered, following close behind and beginning to fill the sink with water. “Elizabeth, can you please dump the ice basin into the sink for me?” She immediately began to do as I had requested of her, opening the freezer and hauling the ice basin over to the sink. “What happened?”

“Daryll pushed me and I went skidding across the ground and then I hit the side of the building,” she recited, gritting her teeth as I was removing her tennis shoe. “My foot let out a weird sound when I hit the build- OW!” She let out a pained scream when I submerged her foot into the ice water before breaking into messy tears.

I saw red.

“Katie, who is Daryll?” My voice had murder written in it.

“He’s another kid with Down’s Syndrome,” she told me as Peter was texting Ryley, asking if his daughter needed to be brought in for an examination.

“How do you know him?” I didn’t recognize my voice as rage filled my every which veins.

“Lizz Lizz and me share the same lunchtime with him and his class,” she hissed painfully. “He just follows me around making gross kissing noises at me.”

“Katie, why weren’t I and your father called and told about your injury?” I was not able to make head or tale over what she was telling me.

“I asked the school nurse not to call you,” she confessed sheepishly. “I just had Lizz Lizz support me around for the rest of the day.”

PING

Peter checked his cell phone before asking if he could snap a quick picture of Katie’s injured foot. I winced at the colorful bruise that decorated the young girl’s skin, and my mommy senses told me that this was a serious injury.

PING

“Ryley says to bring her in for X-rays,” Peter relayed, frowning at the screen of his cell phone. “It looks like it’s broken.”

“Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!” Katie whined. “Tryouts for the color guard club are next week!”

“Maybe you can get a walking cast!” I suggested as Peter sent Elizabeth upstairs to go grab my backpack. “Ryley said to take Katie to the hospital?”

“Ryley said to take Katie to the hospital,” he confirmed. “I’ll get the babies changed and packed into the car and then I’ll come collect Katie, okay?”

Mo stór, my dear, Irish Gaelic

TAGLISTS ARE OPEN/ ASK BOX IS OPEN/ REQUESTS ARE OPEN/ PLOT BUNNIES ARE WELCOMED

If you liked this, then please consider buying me a coffee HERE it only costs $3!!!

PETER STEELE TAGLIST

@rock-a-noodle

@ch3rry-c01a

[pseudofaux]

You said hc requests/asks were open so here goes! My ask is regarding Ikemen Vampire Vincent and body painting. Would he try it on a SO if they asked? His thoughts? Really I just want to fulfill a gloriously messy and beautiful paint encounter because who wouldn't want to roll around in pretty (non-toxic I hope) paints with a lover? Sweet abs horny, please. Thanks for writing Pseu! Much love. :)

They were, and I’m so happy you came and asked! ♥️♥️ This will be fun!

(I think that “sweet abs horny” was an autocorrect, my phone has done me similarly flirty-dirty, BUT it’s one of the greatest autocorrects of all time because now I am thinking—and I hope everyone else is, too— about Vincent’s sweet abs making his SO horny and... YUM. 🍽 #relatable)

Shady mentioned that “SO” was used on purpose and expressed a preference for a gender neutral character interacting with Vincent here, so that everyone could enjoy reading. What a galaxy-brained sweetheart! I couldn’t think of a way to answer this through headcanons, so it’s just a short one-shot. It turned out soft but definitely intimate and I’ve put it behind a cut.

Would he do it? Short answer: Yes. Of course! He’s a Cybird character.

Long answer...

“Are you sure you wouldn’t mind the mess?” he asks, looking like he wants to follow you on this adventure like so many others, but hesitant for your sake, too. When you tell him you wouldn’t mind at all, and get close enough to whisper to him that you’d really like to try it, actually, he smiles in his sweet way and asks, “Now, then?”

He goes to his cabinet of paints and supplies and brings over one palette and two brushes with thick tips, their deep brown fibers ready for paint. But he sets them down on the worktable beside you without satisfying the brushes just yet and reaches for the buttons of your shirt instead. “Is this alright?” he whispers. After you nod, his fingers touch the first button and work it back out of the buttonhole below your throat. “You smell so nice at this time of day,” he says absently as he works at the other buttons, “I think it’s something about the sunshine...” Vincent tugs the tails of your shirt free and helps you pull your arms free, then folds it up and sets the fabric beside the wide upper curve of the palette on the table.

You ask if you can get his shirt, because you are equals and partners and often mirror each other in this, but he smiles and shakes his head. “Just watch, this time,” he says. “Get to know your canvas.” Then he lowers his eyes and reveals himself to you as his own shirt opens and is removed. You already know that he is beautiful but you rarely have such clear permission to look... so you take it, gladly. Your canvas is worthy of knowing indeed, with very fine hidden hairs of golden cornsilk just above the lower edge formed by his trousers. And there’s a topography to your workspace, dips and valleys you’ve been blessed to touch before, but never with so much freedom and artistic intention.

You ask if it’s alright to touch, voice quiet on purpose but slightly hoarse without you meaning it to be. The words catch in your throat on their way into the air, fearful they may disturb the moment. But Vincent nods even as he’s folding his shirt, and says “Always, of course,” and that’s enough to pull your fingers to him, your north and your dear one, and lay your palm against the muscles of his belly— your canvas, you remind yourself. His body comes toward your hand when he breathes, like you are where his compass points, as well. Your hand slides up and curves to make a circle over his chest and midsection, strong and beautiful. It’s enough to just marvel at him for a moment and fill your eyes with the ways he is lovely, the warmth of him beneath your palm.

What about the paint, you whisper, but you do not look at the paint. You are still very focused on your canvas. “The paint,” he says. “Yes. I... brought cerulean and saffron. I thought... we could...” he trails off and the incomparable blue of his eyes finds yours and looks for reassurance. He seems to find it, because he takes two deep breaths and goes on, his gentle boldness thrilling you as it always does. “When they combine,” he continues, looking at you directly now, telling you something important, “they form beautiful greens. I want to—” he takes another steadying breath—“I want you to paint me, and I want to paint you, too, like you asked. These colors will be so beautiful together. Won’t you mix them with me?”

What are you to say to that earnestness and bravery but yes, of course. And he raises your hand to his mouth to kiss, then guides it to a brush. The swirls and stripes you paint on each other do indeed mix as you press together in the moments that follow, creating a lush, senseless verdancy you are grateful for the chance to know.

(It makes a mess that stains the clothes you left on before you are done, and you cannot get it all off of you with only the supplies in his studio. So you wear the remnants of it underneath your shirts for the rest of the afternoon, a secret spring against your skin.)

[taliaquinn]

Why Me!? Chapter 17

Authors Note:

Hiya guys. Here is Chapter 17. Sorry I posted late it’s just that I've been trying to catch up on all of my assignments. So I had to unfortunately leave my writing to focus on that. Also guess what!!! My Infinity war Au will be receiving an update AND I will post another AU very soon. So look out for that guys.

Standing at the top of the Eiffel Tower, Ladybug was slightly shaking with anxiety. She wasn’t sure if she could go through with what she was planning. Her plan might have to be put on hold though. A certain mangy Chat was missing. Rolling her eyes she decided to jump off and start heading to her parent's bakery.  Cravings were being a complete pain in the a-

From the corner of her eye, she spotted Chloe who was frantically waving from her Fathers hotel rooftop. Chloe had to resort to more primitive methods of summoning ladybug, ever since her Queen Bee spotlight “unfortunately” suffered some irreparable damage. Truly Tragic. She quickly made a detour to the hotel's rooftop. Please don’t be any weird requests.

Chloe quickly ran over. “OhMYGosh LADYBUGGGG” she squealed jumping in joy.

“Listen, I need your help” Yep. It was definitely a weird request. “My bestie Marinette was unfairly forced to leave school, Mostly cause of false accusations. She left the Country and more importantly, she abandoned me” Chloe ranted. “Utterly ridiculous”. Pulling out her tablet she immediately started explaining her plan for vengeance to Ladybug.

On her quest for vengeance she hit a few roadbumps. She needed Ladybugs help. Regardless of the fact that she was the daughter of the Mayor even she had to obey Privacy Laws. Huh. Who would’ve thought? 

“Pretty please with chocolate fondue on top?” Chloe begged with the biggest quiver on her lips. She’s been building her case with Ladybug for what felt like the longest time, even though it's only been 5 minutes before finally explaining her plan.

“Chloe breathe, I’ll see what I can do for your friend” This caused Chloe to immediately squeal and envelope Ladybug in a hug. Ladybug reluctantly hugged back. Marinette would never admit it but she was getting slightly sappy at the fact that Chloe was willing to go so far in order to help her.  

“Excuse me now I got to go now, but I’ll get back to ya” with a hop she made her way towards the bakery unbeknownst to her, piercing green eyes have been witnessing the whole interaction.

“Have a nice night Ms. Cheng” she yelled over her shoulder struggling to hold the box of patries. Yum.

She quickly sat on top of a building and fed Kaalki some of the pastries. Suddenly there was a presence beside her. “You’re late, ridiculously late”

“I still needed some time to cool off” Chat answered with a charming smile spread across his face. He hoped that Ladybug will be back to normal. What a foolish hope.

“Understood” she replied trying to avoid his eyes. This was tougher than she thought.

“So all is forgiven?” He stepped forward and spread his arms out. Utterly ridiculous. He expected a hug. Shaking her head she gently took his outstretched right hand 

Taking a deep breath she started. “Chat you were my best friend, right when we started you were the one who I could show a part of myself I always kept hidden in my civilian life. You supported me when I was at my lowest. You used to support me” taking a pause she tried  to continue in a gentle manner “But lately you’ve started slacking off slowly but surely becoming more immature, more entitled, you’ve acted more like a celebrity than a superhero”

Chat continued to stare at ladybug holding his hand, A sense of dread growing at the pit of his stomach. “I saw Nino Lahiffe breakup with Cesaire, even though he knew the consequences would be uh severe” Ladybug did a quick squeeze of Chats hand before releasing it and staring into his eyes “If a Civilian is brave enough to leave a toxic relationship, why not Me?” she said in a quiet voice. Leaning over and taking Chats hand she yanked off his ring. Both of them were enveloped in a green flash.

When she opened her eyes she was staring into familiar green eyes. Adrien Agreste.

“L-Ladybug why” he lunged to take back his ring. She quickly sidestepped him and placed the ring into her yo-yo.

“Because, I’ve reached the point where I just can't take it anymore” She responded, still struggling to get over her shock. How-HOW did she not see it. Seriously, how blind can she be?  Wait a second then who was “Adrien'' during the Gorrillaz situation? Who was she protecting during the whole Simon Says fiasco? OH MY GOD HER EX-CRUSH WAS HER NOW EX-BESTFRIEND!!!

“P-please give me another chance, Ladybug please” He was nothing without Chat Noir. He couldn't go back to being constantly restricted and constantly confined to the mansion. Chat Noir was his only outlet and Ladybug was going to take it away. “Give me another chance to change, to be better” 

“I’ve already given you enough chances Chat, or should I say Adrien”

“Please Ladybug, you don’t understand” Adrien was desperate. He’ll do anything to get his ring back. “Being a superhero is my only escape”

“You mean was” she reminded “You weren’t much of a superhero these days anyways”

“I'm sorry Adrien. My decision is final” She quickly got her yoyo and was about to jump off the building before hearing a plea “Ladybug, please I'm sorry, please let me say goodbye to plagg”

A part of Marinette wanted to just flat out say no, but she couldn’t deny him the chance to say goodbye to his kwami. She wasn't cruel enough to do so. With a sigh, she turned around and took the Ring from her yoyo Plagg immediately sprung out

Ladybug turned around to give them the semblance of a normal goodbye. However, that didn’t do anything to block out Adrien's watery voice and eventual sobs.

It was far too long before Plagg flew up to her. “Let's go Ladybug” he murmured softly. God, why did Master Fu make her do it? She didn't have the guts for this type of stuff.

With a final look towards a miserable looking Adrien, she picked up the boxed pastries and swung off with Plagg closely following behind her. She finally swung towards a nicely tucked away alley. Dropping her transformation she quickly opened her purse to allow Tikki and Plagg to swoop in while Kaalki flew out.

“Where to?” Kaalki asked in her British tone. 

“My room please but quietly I was gone for a while” Kaalki quickly opened a portal and Marinette took a final glance of her surroundings before jumping through. 

To her surprise, her blanket was taken off exposing the bundle of pillows she using as fake Marinette.

“Hiya Mari, first off where were you? And second off what the fuck was that” a voice asked from the darkness, causing Marinette heart to skip a beat. What the heck? Quickly fumbling for a light switch. Flicking it on her room was lit up revealing a Stunned Jason who was busy staring at the area where the portal was and a shell shocked Dick who was staring at her from where he was laying on her couch. Uh-Oh.

“You guys want a pastry?”

Man I just love leaving my readers on a Cliffhanger :) Don’t you guys love it as well? Cuz I do. 

Also I want to address something. I want to make it clear that I want my stories to be enjoyed by everyone. That I want this to be a safe place for Everyone. As a writer it is my job to make sure my readers feel included and safe regardless of Gender, Sexuality and Race. That is what a Good writer does. So I think it is safe to say that there might not be any Harry Potter AU’s in the foreseeable future, unless something changes.

Stay Safe and Healthy ❤️🧡💛💚💙💜

Taglist:

@silvergold-swirl @k-poplunardreams @pepelachanel @laurcad123 @maribat-is-lifeblood @kass-is-weird @another-fan-of-anotherplan @damianette-is-life @amayakans @parallelparabox @miukiiu @valeks-princess @toodaloo-kangaroo @vixen-uchiha @thezestywalru @dreamykitty25 @pirats-pizzacanninibles @mochinek0 @shamefullove @mochegato @souleateralicestein @thestressmademedoit @throneoffirebreathingbitchqueen @aestheticnpoetic @mysupporthyperfixations @itsmeevie01

[xxgoblin-dumplingxx]

Sick Little Games: Forty- Three

“You’ve got to be kidding me,” you groan.

Clint’s head snapped up from where he was trying to interest Baby Natasha in some cheerios and Banana, but she was more interested in chewing on her hands. “What’s wrong, baby,” he asked.

“This is gonna be the shittiest family reunion,” you answer, taking a deep breath. “Stay here with Nat,” you tell him gently, turning your head to kiss his jaw as he peers out the window over your shoulder. 

Clint nods, watching the black car that rolled to a stop. With the top down, he could see the shape of your mother behind the wheel. He watches you go towards the porch, and through the screen, he can see you standing. Staff in hand on the steps. 

Natasha, sensitive to the moods in the house, fusses, and Clint turns, smiling a little as he picks her up to comfort her. “It’s alright, Little Bit,” he soothes, rubbing her back. “Mommy and Grandma have a complicated relationship,” he explains, “But that’s what happens when you put your kid on a bus to the other side of the country and tell then their evil.”

Natasha looks at him with wide eyes, and Clint kisses her little blonde head, “Don’t you worry your pretty little head, baby girl. Mommy and I aren’t gonna let anything like that happen to you. Mommy would tear heaven and Earth apart if it meant you were safe... I just hope she doesn’t kill Grandma to make it happen. It’s hard to get blood out of wood grain.”

The air outside was tense. Like the coming of a violent storm. Thick and oppressive. Clint can feel it, and he knows, from the trembling in Natasha’s lip, that she can too. Her chubby, rosy cheeks are a little pale, and he hugs her closer. Clint wishes he could go stand next to you, but. You’d talked about it often. About protecting Natasha from their hateful influence. And they can’t influence her if they don’t know she exists. No letters. No calls. No contact.

“Mom,” he hears you say, nodding slightly. 

“Y/N,” she starts, “I-I-I you. You look good.”

“Thank you,” you say politely, “Now what do you want?”

“I-” she looks around anxiously, swallowing hard. “Can I come in?”

“No,” you say flatly, “My closest neighbor is 3 miles away. Unless you plan on screamin’, ain’t no one gonna hear you.”

She looks around again, clearly uncomfortable. Clearly feeling the energy whipping through the air, attracted to you and your staff. You’re a woman with presence, and Clint can, in some small way, sympathize. He had felt the ire that roiled through you. The subtle crackle of energy that came with the darkened eyes and set of your jaw. He didn’t need to see your face to know what you looked like now. Hair wild and twisting into dark loops and elf knots, looking down on her like some vengeful goddess. His vengeful goddess. And he counted his blessings that he was not on the receiving end of your anger, however reasonably controlled.

“Family business-”

“Not,” you say, warningly, “My family.” It was at that moment that Natasha broke into a wail, unable to contain the discomfort anymore, despite the security offered from Clint. Despite his arms clutching her close to his chest. 

Your mother looked at you and then at the door, and you glance back over your shoulder, “Bring her here, Clint?” you ask softly. 

Clint nods and walks across the Kitchen, shouldering the old screen door open to bring you your daughter. He wasn’t sure how, if it were magic or just the fact that you were her mom, but. Natasha would always quiet in your arms. When you hold an arm out to take her, she goes smoothly. Hiding her face in your shoulder for comfort. But not before your mother has time to get a look at her face. The blonde hair and blue eyes from Clint and your jawline and delicate nose and cheekbones. And Clint understands why you had him bring her. To save yourself the frustration of having your mom start accusing you of stealing a baby. 

“My-” your mother starts, but you cut her off.

“No,” you say in the same warning tone, “She’s no grandchild of yours. After today, you will not see her again.”

The older woman blanches, and her head falls forward, “Please,” she said, “You have to help me.”

“I have to do no such thing. I tried. Almost three years ago to save the boys. But you and Stirling chose to play dirty.”

She cringed at the memory, “But-”

“Call me a murderer, and I’ll add matricide to my list of sins,” you say calmly.

“And I’ll personally buy the pig we feed you to,” Clint added helpfully, thankful that Natasha was too small to understand you. 

“I need you to save them they-” The woman broke off and choked back a sob. 

“They’re monsters,” you finish. “Made so by your own actions.”

The woman fell to her knees with a wail, and Clint wants to reach for your hand. He knows your heart. And he knows that this is painful. That you kept yourself apart from and new of Stirling’s church. And the boys. But he knows that you need this woman to see you as an immovable force. As stronger than you see yourself. 

It was something you and Clint had discussed often before you got married. Your need to control this. To keep the toxicity from getting back into your life. And he understood. He wanted you to stay out of it. To let them tear themselves apart as they had watched from a distance while you struggled. Pretending you didn’t exist. You deserved better. Natasha deserved better. So watching you now, gazing dispassionately as your mother knelt in the dirt, he didn’t have to try to decipher the tension in your jaw. You were furious. And hurt. And the only reason you weren’t showing your teeth was the baby that was clinging to your shirt, seeking comfort. 

“There is nothing wrong with them that I have the power to fix,” you tell her. “No spirit, no demon, no curse... They are only men. Ment that have been allowed to live in an echo chamber. Men who were never taught how to live. Men who, even if I could help then would want nothing to do with me.”

Your mother looks up at you and wipes tears away, “You evil bitch,” she spat. 

“Always and forever,” you sigh, unmoved. You remember this from before her time as a God-fearing woman. The turn from pleading to posturing. Banking on a fear of her fists to get her way. And reflexively, your grip tightens on your staff. “And now,” you tell her, “It’s time for you to go.”

“Help them!” She screamed, “Help them or I swear to Christ I’ll see you burn!”

Your staff bangs on the wood of the deck making a sound like a gunshot. A bang that sends forth a shimmer of magic that washes over her. Her face contorted in a rage-filled growl. Until suddenly, she looked around dazed. “Where am I?” she asked, eyes unseeing. 

“I’m not sure,” you answer, “But your car will take you home.”

She turns from you with a vague thank you and climbs into the driver’s seat before making her slow, winding way back up the drive. Clint cannot hear the words you speak, but the power behind them makes the hair on the back of his neck stand on end. “I can’t help the boys. But I can get her out of there.”

“But you sent her home,” Clint said frowning.

“Home. Not back to Stirling,” you clarify.

You kiss your daughter’s head and return her gently to Clint, “I think,” you tell him, “That I’m going to go take a bath. Read for a while.”

He nods and shifts Natasha over, hefting her chubby little body more comfortably against his side, “And Little Bit and I will eat some lunch.”

“Yum,” you chuckle, Kissing his cheek, “Lima beans huh?”

“Absolutely not,” Clint said, “I Only had to have her spit them at me once.”

[lifeofroos]

ToN Spoilers!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Part 1 of another three-part arc in Nico’s therapy journey. 

This Might Be Crazy: Vanilla Milkshake

Don’t you see?

Stop it, there is nothing to see. 

You hurt all of your friends.

Shut up.

Just face the truth. You belong with us more than we do. 

My eyes flew open. I looked up at the ceiling above my bed. At first it was a bit of a blur, but it quickly got clearer. This was not the first time it had happened, so I knew what to do. 

I rolled out of bed and walked to my closet, where I kept a small stash of Demeters’ Divine Orange Juice Boxes. With one in my hand, I walked to the most shadowy place of my cabin. You’ve asked for help way too often. He is fed up with it by now. Shush. I clenched my fist around the juice box and stepped into the shadows. 

I stepped out behind the potted plant that stood in front of Dionysus’ bedroom. ‘Dionysus? I need help,’ I asked, while knocking on the door. The first time I had been here, I had been terrified. Terrified because of the voices in my head that wouldn’t let me sleep and terrified because I was about to bother the god of madness in his sleep. By now, I was used to it. 

I heard Dionysus stumble around behind the door. A few seconds later, he stuck his head out of the room. ‘Do you want to go straight to Denny’s?’

‘Yes, please.’ Denny’s radiated weird energy, even more so around two thirty A.M. Still, I had come to associate the place with therapy sessions. It just worked better there. 

‘Then we’ll go.’ 

A blinding light, and the next moment we were at Denny’s. The usual server, Mary, was standing behind the counter. She looked up from her novel for a moment. ‘Hey.’ She slightly bowed her head to Dionysus, before she disappeared into the kitchen. Dionysus walked over to our regular booth. I quickly followed. 

‘So. I am assuming the voices have been whispering to you in your sleep again.’

Whispering? They screamed. ‘Yes. But that is not really what I want to talk about. You’ve taught me how to silence them, so that I can go back to sleep after they wake me up. Right now I want to talk about what they are saying, because they keep going on about a real fear of mine.’

‘Alright. We’ll do that.’ Even though it is two A.M. and tomorrow I have to take care of a camp full of brats again, his eyes were saying. Yet, he did not say it out loud. ‘What is this fear?’

‘That I hurt the people around me.’ So, the easy, surface-level part was out. Now I needed to gain enough courage to talk about the second part. 

I was quiet for so long that Dionysus felt the need to ask another question: ‘Are you afraid they will walk away because you hurt them?’

I shrugged. ‘I think… that is only a small part of it. A larger part of it is that… I’ll hurt them, but they will still stick around…’ I shrugged for a moment, while trying to find the words that seemed correct, ‘...even though I am a toxic influence on them.’ I looked down at the table. 

‘What makes you think you are a toxic influence on people?’

Before I could answer, Mary came towards us, with a Vanilla milkshake. ‘With extra ice-cream.’ 

I smiled. ‘Thanks, Mary.’ 

‘My experience is that ice-cream helps wtth curing stuff.’ She got a serious expression in her eyes and nodded a couple of times (Mary was a daughter of Aphrodite. I assumed ice-cream had helped with quite a bit of heartbreak). ‘I’ve never seen anybody who didn’t feel better after eating ice-cream,’ I told her.

She smiled and walked back to the counter, to read her novel and be bored again. 

I took a sip of my milkshake. It was cold and sweet and creamy. ‘Well I… Sometimes I lock people out when I am upset, even Will.’

‘Don’t you think that Solace knows that about you, respects your wishes when it happens and loves you regardless?’

I shrugged. ‘I try to tell myself that, but that’s so difficult.’ I shrugged again and took another sip of my milkshake. Yum. 

Dionysus kept looking at me. ‘You have a natural talent for friendship, Nico,’ he said after a bit of thinking. I raised my eyebrows. ‘I have what? I am a son of Hades.’

‘So? I thought you did not judge yourself on who your parent is.’

‘Still!’

‘You managed to make friends with the troglodytes, I heard…’ how did he know that? ‘...That is quite impressive, even to me. I don’t know how you did that…’ he let the sentence linger in the air. I assumed he was thinking about how he would make friends with the troglodytes. ‘...and you managed to make most campers a lot less distrustful of children of Hades. You did not hear it from me, but the same goes for a lot of gods. And for Lester. Even they trust you.’

‘Including Zeus?’

‘We don't go around picking the rotten apples and presenting those as if it is the whole crop.’ I wondered how many extra punishment years as a camp director he gained from saying those words. ‘Well, if you are certain…’

Glass shattered. I heard growling. I jumped out of my chair and turned around. I could see a few shapes by the door. Mary came running from behind the counter, armed with a gun. Dionysus stayed in the background, seemingly debating whether destroying the creatures was against the ancient laws or not. 

And the creatures… What were they? I could not tell. They had big, slimy beaks and bulging eyes. Whatever they were, It did not look like they could be reasoned with. 

Mary aimed her gun at one of them. She fired, and one of the things went down. She fired again, and managed to take down the other one as well. The third one, however, dodged her bullets and got further into the Denny’s at a freakishly high speed. 

Mary took a few steps back while grinding her teeth. I took a step forward, not really sure what to do without a weapon. Just as it was about to bite me, I stuck out my hand - stupid? Yes. Did it work? Also yes, because as soon as I touched the creature its hide and soft tissue began to melt away, until only its bones remained. 

It took a few seconds until the horror dawned on me. By that time, Dionysus had gotten closer to me. ‘Nico…’

‘What…’

‘Nico…’

‘What did I just…’

‘Come, it’s…’

‘I just…’ I sunk to the ground. I heard Mary gasp in the background. My eyes darted over to the bones of the creature. They were still standing, like the creature was still there. I could swear I saw them move. 

Until Dionysus made it disappear, I could not tear my eyes away from the bones. ‘Come, Nico. The monsters are gone.’

The monster is never gone. For you are still here. You turned a living creature into a pile of bones! Isn’t that something only a true monstrosity would do?

I did not have the strength to reason with the voice. They were right. They were so, so right. I was a monster and I was a danger to my friends. Imagine if I… if I would… tear their skin away… 

I couldn’t even breath. From the corner of my eye, I could see Mary coming closer. ‘Nico…’

‘Stay away. Stay far, far away. I might…’ She stopped walking, seemingly unsure of what to do. 

‘Nico di Angelo. You are having a panic attack,’ I heard Dionysus say in a calm voice. ‘Try to breath, deeply…’  I did not. Why would I? ‘Come on.’ You can’t make me. He came closer. ‘Get away.’

‘What are you going to do, kill me?’ 

I might not. But perhaps you will have to live further as nothing but a pile of bones. 

The world will turn to bones around you. 

‘The… the world will…’

‘Nico di Angelo. I am giving you one last chance. Try to take a deep, deep breath. Try to get calmer.’

My entire body was shaking. Dionysus’ face appeared in front of mine. I could only focus on his eyes. Soon, my entire field of vision was a pool of swirling purple. It got darker, little by little, until the world was black.

[theo-loves-broadway]

Of Baby Taters and Milkshakes (Tyrus Fic chapter 2)

This is chapter 2 of “If You Can’t Stand The Heat, Get Out Of The Kitchen

“Cyrus?” TJ said through taters, sipping his milkshake as well, “are you, like, not hungry?” he questioned, pointing at Cyrus’ untouched tater tots.

“Huh? Oh,” Cyrus mumbled, embarrassed to have been caught getting lost in his own mind, “I am . I was just...thinking,” he added, choosing his words carefully as he bit into one of his tater tots. “Yum,�� he said with artificial happiness, taking a small sip at his milkshake.

That’s the preview, since the rest is under the cut! Please, if you like it, a reblog is so much better than a like. Don’t get me wrong, I love likes, but a reblog allows others to see my work. Thanks!

Link to AO3: https://archiveofourown.org/works/15287934/chapters/35529081

5:34 is what the clock read as Cyrus paced around his room, trying to find something to wear. "Just pick something," he scolded himself, "it's just tater tots. With TJ. At the Spoon. Alone. Without Buffy or Andi or Jonah," he reminded himself, throwing on an orange sweater and pairing it with khaki pants. "Damn, I look good," he complimented himself, admiring himself in the mirror as he turned around. Twirled was probably the more accurate term, but he didn't want to admit that. Glancing at the clock again, he saw that it now read 5:39; the way time passed was particularly slow this evening, and Cyrus was not about that life. As much as he liked hanging out with TJ, it always made him nervous, for some reason. Like he was afraid to say something wrong, or accidentally make a certain face. And whenever TJ smiled...he couldn’t shake this weird feeling. Nerves is what Cyrus blamed it on.

He made his way downstairs, and took a quick look around to make sure that everything was in order, and slipped on his parka, along with a pair of gloves, and a hat that his mom knitted for him a few years back. It wasn’t even that cold outside, and the snow had all but stopped, but Cyrus was, as he put it, “a wimp when it comes to weather sub 50 degrees”. He figured he’d be back in time, as in before his parents got home, so he omitted writing them a note. He grabbed his wallet and phone, and headed for the Spoon.

The snow had stopped falling, save for the few that fell from the trees whenever the wind blew, but otherwise it was a relatively serene evening. Cyrus regretted not choosing the wear boots, since the snow was up to his knees and his parents had forgotten to shovel the walkway, so he dragged his legs through the snow, not having the energy to pick up his legs. After what felt like forever, he reached the street that the Spoon and was grateful to see that the sidewalk had been shoveled. As he approached the door, he dusted off his pants and walked inside, the tinkling of the bell being absorbed by the din of plates being stacked, and people chattering.

It’s so much busier than usual, Cyrus noted, taking a seat in one of the booths near the window. He pulled out his phone and checked the time: 5:56. Okay, just a few more minutes, just a few minutes, he kept reminding himself, but he couldn’t shake this feeling of anxiety. He could feel like stomach making knots, tighter and tighter until the bell faintly tinkled above the door, and Cyrus snapped out of his toxic worrying. TJ had just walked in and he was...a few minutes early? Cyrus expected to be waiting at least another ten minutes for him, but as soon as he saw him, all his feelings of anxiety were gone. There was something about TJ that made him feel...relaxed. At peace. Cyrus waved TJ over and he took a seat across from him, the bright reflection from the snow on the ground illuminating TJ’s face.

“Did you order already?” TJ asked, glancing around at the populated establishment, before setting his eyes on Cyrus and fighting to hold back a cascade of laughter.

“No,” Cyrus huffed, “I haven’t been able to  get anyone’s attention around here and--” Cyrus stopped himself, now aware of TJ’s gaze. “What?” he squeaked, not intending his voice to jump up that high.

“You’re wearing a parka. And gloves. And a hat,” he added, pointing to Cyrus as he spoke.

“So?” Cyrus retorted playfully, crossing his arms in mock defense. “It’s winter, and I personally hate the cold,” he admitted, slipping off his gloves and hat, as well as unzipping his jacket, and tying it around his waist. “Better?” he asked, sticking his tongue out.

TJ put his hands up in submission and the corners of his mouth pulled into a small smile, his lips parting ever so slightly. “Snarky today, aren’t we?” he countered, waving over one of the waitresses that was free. He asked for two orders of baby taters, with a chocolate milkshake for Cyrus and a strawberry one for himself. The waitress jotted down their orders and left with a smile, TJ watching as she disappeared behind the swinging door. Cyrus did not ignore this, and he couldn’t help but feel almost jealous. But why? TJ didn’t even know her name and they hadn’t even really formally met!

“She’s cute,” Cyrus commented, the word ‘cute’ leaving a bad taste in his mouth, “You like her?” he asked, for some reason fearing the answer.

TJ was caught off guard by his question, and felt the tips of his ears heat up, rubbing the back of his neck. “What? Oh, uh, I mean, I guess. She’s kinda pretty,” TJ said with a shrug, not thinking it was a big deal.

“O-oh,” Cyrus murmured, deflated. He glanced out the window; the snow had picked up, and the wind was blowing in all directions, so the snow was flying all over the place. He watched as a few people held hands and walked down the street; that made him sick. He wanted so badly to have that himself, but Cyrus didn’t know that anyone that wasn’t straight in his life. He spent a large chunk of his time pining over straight guys, which always led to the same dead end.

“Here come our orders,” TJ notified Cyrus, tapping his arm to get his attention, “your food is here,” he repeated.

“Oh...good, I’m hungry,” he mumbled, registering TJ’s touch. It send a zip of energy through his body, causing the boy to blink a few times. The waitress handed them their taters and milkshakes, flashing a small smile towards TJ, and walked away to tend to another one of her tables. Cyrus, again, noted this and slowly started to build an emotional wall; no more trying to convince himself that this was something when it really wasn’t. No more falling for guys who would only let him down with a gentle “I don’t swing that way”. No more hoping that maybe, just maybe, something could be different. Cyrus had had his fair share of guy crushes, and all of them ended up being straight, turning him down. This was no different. He’s just with you because your pancakes didn’t suck, he mentally reminded himself, otherwise he’d be hanging out with his basketball friends. Stop acting like this could be different. It’s not, he thought to himself, barely touching his taters. TJ, on the other hand, was scarfing down tater after tater, and even dipping some into his milkshake before he ate them.

“Cyrus?” TJ said through taters, sipping his milkshake as well, “are you, like, not hungry?” he questioned, pointing at Cyrus’ untouched tater tots.

“Huh? Oh,” Cyrus mumbled, embarrassed to have been caught getting lost in his own mind, “I am . I was just...thinking,” he added, choosing his words carefully as he bit into one of his tater tots. “Yum,” he said with artificial happiness, taking a small sip at his milkshake.

TJ takes a large gulp of his milkshake and his lips pull into a small frown, glancing at Cyrus. “Something’s up with you, Underdog,” he tells him, Cyrus trying to act like everything is fine.

“Whaaat?” Cyrus mustered with minute enthusiasm, “you’re crazy, Basketball Guy,” he tried to joke, instead going for a few sips of his milkshake.

“Look,” TJ whispered, not trying to attract attention to him and Cyrus, “if you don’t want to talk about it here, I won’t make you,” he assured him, sincerity lacing his deep voice, “but I know you have…’stuff’, I’ll call it,” he reminded him, finishing the last of his taters.

Cyrus nodded, trying to focus on eating his tots, forcing himself to finish them, but barely touching his milkshake, his stomach already in knots. “Do you--do you think we can go to the swings?” Cyrus asked, shrinking into himself. Of course he doesn’t want to go to the swings, you idiot, Cyrus mentally scolded himself, why are you like this?

“Sure,” TJ agreed quickly, waving over the waitress to signal that they were ready to pay. Cyrus started to take out his wallet, but TJ waved him off, paying for both of their meals. A flutter of hope formed in Cyrus’ gut, but was quickly quelled and replaced with frustration and defeat when the waitress wrote her number on a piece of paper for TJ, who put it in his jacket pocket. Cyrus put his jacket back on, stuffing his gloves and hat into the pockets before grabbing his milkshake and rushing through the door, completely disregarding the fact that TJ was behind him, as he briskly started off for the swings, his feet pounding into the snow. TJ saw him walking quickly, so he handed the waitress the rest of the change, grabbed his milkshake, and headed out the door, chasing after Cyrus.

“Hey, wait up!” he called, quickly catching up to Cyrus, whose hands were in his pockets, fiddling with his gloves. Cyrus tried to speed up, but TJ’s long legs allowed him to keep up without effort. “Alright, fine, be like that,” TJ sneered, aware that Cyrus wasn’t in the mood to walk with him, “sorry I’m just so terrible he be around,” he added with a huff, kicking the snow ahead of them. The duo had been speed walking so far that they had reached the swing without knowing. Cyrus raced to sit on one, unzipping his jacket and tossing it to the ground. I’d rather freeze than fall for another straight boy, he thought, the wind harshly biting his skin. TJ slowly walked up to him, tentatively taking a seat on the swing next to him, anger and frustration written all over his face. The boys sat mostly still, save for when the wind blew and Cyrus shivered madly, but pretended like it was all fine.

“If you’re not going to talk to me, why am I even here?” TJ retorted, choosing his words carefully. He didn’t ask why they were here; he asked why he was here, and Cyrus definitely noticed, his anger starting to shift from dry to wet. Cyrus could feel his eyes start to sting from the tears, and he bit his lip to try and hold back his tears.

“Good question, why are you even here?” Cyrus countered, his voice breaking. He could tell he was on the verge of tears, so he kept his gaze on the ground. He didn’t want TJ to think he was any more pathetic than he already was.

Sure, TJ could have given in right then and there, put his arm around Cyrus and all could be better. But he was TJ Kippen; he didn’t want to show weakness or vulnerability.

“Oh, I don’t know,” he growled, hearing Cyrus squeak at his tone, but he pressed on “Maybe because you asked me to come here, and I, thinking that you didn’t hate me, came here with you, because you looked miserable at The Spoon? Have you ever considered that I actually have the capacity to care about things?” he grumbled, his voice growing louder with each word. At this point, Cyrus was openly crying, hot, angry tears streaming down his face. TJ felt a pang of guilt rush through him, but he pushed that aside, kicking at the snowy mulch. Silence settled in, and the only noises were Cyrus’ sniffles, and the sound of the wind rustling through the trees.

“Sure, TJ,” Cyrus croaked, his voice a complete mess, “you care about basketball. You care about winning. You care about how other perceive you, because heaven forbid someone finds out that you actually have emotions, you couldn’t face the world, right?” Cyrus spat, getting up off of the swing and grabbing his coat, slipping it on, his arms frozen and covered in goosebumps, and stormed away.

Scoffing, TJ jumped off of his swing and chased after Cyrus. “Oh, pardon me for not wanting to look like a total dork ,” TJ barked, the word ‘dork’ coming out much harsher than he intended, and he immediately regretted what he said. “Cyrus,” he said softly, but Cyrus just put his hand up, words unable to form.

“Don’t,” he sputtered weakly, his voice almost inaudible, “I get it. I mean, who would want to be f-friends with a d-dork like myself?” he stuttered, running through the snow towards his house, throwing his milkshake to the ground.

TJ felt like his legs were frozen into the ground and not because of the snow. He felt like his world was falling apart, like he was losing all control.

“Cyrus!” he called out, but to no avail. Cyrus had rounded the corner and disappeared. TJ checked his phone; it was getting late and he should be getting home...but this was important. He’d screwed up, bigtime. Braving the cold, TJ ran after Cyrus, hoping that he could still catch him. By the time that he could see Cyrus, he was entering his house and turning on the lights. No cars in the driveway, TJ noted, relieved that his parents weren’t home yet. He shuffled to the door, catching his breath, and prepared to knock, holding his knuckles inches from the door, before deciding to ring the bell. A gentle tune played and came to a stop, but nobody came to the door. Sighing, TJ knocked, hoping that something, anything, would happen. He thought he heard footsteps inside, but again, nobody came to the door.

“Cyrus,” TJ all but shouted, hoping that he could hear him, “Cyrus, please, open the door,” he practically begged, a lump in his throat.

Cyrus was standing inches from the door, his face red and stained with tears. TJ had hurt him, terribly, but a strange part of him was telling him to open the door. After much consideration, Cyrus unlocked the door and cracked it open.

“You’ve reached the house of the world’s loneliest dork. Leave a message after the tone,” he mumbled, trying to shut the door, but TJ put his foot in the way. TJ took one look at Cyrus through the small space that he’d created by propping open the door, and felt like his knees were going to give out. He looked as if his dog had died, and had nobody to come to. Except, this was TJ’s fault.

“Look,” he started, thinking about how to phrase what he wanted to say, “I-I didn’t intend for that to be so harsh,” he admitted, earning a gasp from Cyrus.

“Oh, gee, thanks. That really makes the situation so much better. If only you’d said it in a kinder tone,” Cyrus hissed, the tears forming at the corners of his eyes again.

TJ mentally facepalmed himself, and tried to fix what he’d said. “No, I..I didn’t mean it like that, I just--”

“Just what, TJ?” Cyrus interrupted him, staring at the ground, “no, believe me, I get it. You needed someone to push around so you could brag about how ‘cool’ you are to your real friends,” he growled. Ouch. Cyrus could really rock someone’s core when he was upset. “It’s getting late,” he muttered, “go home, TJ. And forget about the tater deal. The last thing I want is to see you for another week.” And with that, Cyrus kicked TJ’s foot out of the way, and slammed the door, sliding down and dissolving into tears. TJ’s face scrunched up, leaning his forehead against the door. He could hear Cyrus crying inside, and it was eating him alive; he felt like a part of him was being ripped out.

“Cyrus,” TJ pleaded, mentally beating himself up, “look, I get that you’re not going to answer the door, so just listen. I’m...I’m sorry, okay?” TJ admitted, unaware he could actually say those words, “I didn’t mean to hurt you, man. I, uh, I mean, I don’t even know what I did wrong, so, can’t fix that..” he trailed, rubbing the back of his neck, “I’ll be at the Spoon tomorrow at noon. A deal’s a deal, so come if you want. I’ll be there either way,” he paused, realizing he was getting nowhere. “G’night,” he added, before walking away, shaking his head. Only after he had exited Cyrus’ neighborhood did he allow the tears to fall. They were there from when he was at the swings, but he held them back; tears showed weakness. By the time he got home, he was a blubbering mess. Why was he so emotional? Why did making someone, err, Cyrus, so upset make him more emotional than when he made someone else upset? Not willing himself to think about it any longer, he rushed through the door, his parents not back from work yet, kicked off his shoes, and flopped on his bed.

I’m sorry, Cyrus, he thought to himself before fatigue took him over, and he fell asleep.

[crazyflyingspip]

How to clean a BBQ – to keep grime and dirt of your grill all summer long

The sun’s finally out and no doubt you’re craving burgers and bangers, steaks and salmon, cooked to order on the BBQ. Yum. Or maybe not, because the last time you saw your grill it was gathering dust in the shed, still caked in last summer’s last grill out. Sound about right? Then it’s time to bite the bullet, put on a pair of rubber gloves and get scrubbing. This isn’t just a step-by-step guide to how to clean a BBQ – we’ve also added a few hacks to help you keep your grill clean all summer long.

No way that grease and grime is coming off? Then take a look at barbecues – our pick of the best

1. Start with heat   

If there’s still caked-on food left over from last year, light fresh coals in your barbecue and leave them to reach a very high heat. This will burn off a lot of the most stubborn remnants.

2. Clean the BBQ with steam

Allow your barbecue to cool slightly, but while it’s still warm, cover the grill in water-soaked old newspaper. Close the lid for half an hour to steam clean it. 

3. Get scrubbing

Use a grill brush with wire bristles to get rid of remaining food particles. If you have a porcelain-coated rack, it’s best to use a brass-bristled grill brush to avoid damaging it. No grill brush? Screw up aluminium foil into a ball and scrub the grill with it instead. Next, clean the grill with a dishcloth and hot soapy water.

If that doesn’t shift the dirt, you might want to try a household cleaner. However, some can be abrasive and toxic for a barbecue, so make sure you get a cleaner that’s specifically designed for the job, such as Jeyes barbecue cleaner, £3.50 for 750ml, B&Q.

4. Tackle the base

As soon as your barbecue is cool, tip away leftover ash into a bucket – it will collect moisture and be harder to clean later if you leave it. Use damp kitchen roll to pick up the final bits, alternatively an outdoor vacuum is an easy way to collecting any remaining bits. Then give the base a good wash using warm water and washing-up liquid.

5. Wipe the outside

Using fresh warm water and washing-up liquid, wipe the exterior, then buff the metal shell with a dry cloth. If your barbecue is stainless steel, use a specialist polishing spray. It’s also worth giving your BBQ a light coating of mineral or baby oil to protect it from the elements. This is doubly important if you’re planning to keep your barbecue outside all summer long, and will give it a lovely shine.

6. Prevent more grime from building up

Next time you fire up your grill, give it a good coating of sunflower oil before you start cooking to stop food from baking on to the surface. Also, have a brush with a long handle to hand, so you can loosen any stuck-on food while the barbecue is still hot.

7. How to clean a BBQ if time is against you

Try some speedy antibacterial wipes. We like double-sided Barbecue Cleaning Wipes, £4.99, Landmann. 

Alternatively, you can skip the scrubbing and give the BBQ a hose down with a pressure washer. We like the Kärcher K3 home pressure washer.

Buy now: Kärcher K3 pressure washer, £140, Amazon

8. Always cover up

It may seem like a faff, but covering your grill to protect it from the elements will save you loads of hassle in the long run. Covers are available for most brands of barbecue. You’ll usually have to pay extra for them, but they will ward off rust and keep out extra dirt between cook-outs.

9. Keep on top of things

Now that you’ve got your barbecue looking pristine, ensure it remains in tip-top condition by using a barbecue cleaning product after every use. Weber BBQ Grate Cleaner, £8.99 for 500ml, John Lewis, will do the job perfectly.

However there are a few natural cleaners that you can make at home to keep your BBQ sparkling after each use.

DIY BBQ cleaners

Image credit: Ti-Media

White vinegar

A favourite for cleaning inside the home, white vinegar is a great alternative to stainless steel cleaner. Use a left-over spray bottle and fill it with half white vinegar and half water. Spray it over the grill, wait five minutes before wiping it off with a clean, dry cloth.

Oil

This method might sound counter-productive to cleaning, but it will help prevent food sticking and your grill from going rusty. Each time before you use the BBQ give it a good coating in sunflower oil, and rub it down the same way once you’ve finished. Your BBQ will thank you.

Image credit: Emma Lee

Beer

If find yourself with a little beer leftover after a BBQ, pour it over the grill while it’s still warm. Then give it a good scrub with a wire brush to get it sparkling.

Coffee

Get your barbecuing utensils gleaming again by soaking them in coffee for an hour. Any cooked-on food should slide right off.

If reading our ‘how to clean a BBQ tips’ has got you in the mood for sprucing things up, check out our care and cleaning page

Got any BBQ cleaning tips that we’ve missed? Let us know in the comments box.

The post How to clean a BBQ – to keep grime and dirt of your grill all summer long appeared first on Ideal Home.

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[cleopatrainktattoo-blog]

25 Best Fat Burning Foods For Women: Nutritious & Delicious!

Whoever said that eating for weight loss needs to be a bland, boring affair? Fat burning foods are natural, delicious and contain a potent blend protein, fiber, healthy fats and complex carbohydrates. Some even have the power to literally melt fat while you chew!

Below we’ve rounded up 25 of the best to include as part of a healthy, balanced diet. But first, here’s a quick breakdown on the all-important macro-nutrients, showing how fat burning foods for women can help each to burn fat.

Protein-power

Consider this your go-to weapon to fight the fat. Protein is tougher to breakdown than carbohydrates or fat which means your body has to work extra hard to process it. All of this hard work burns energy (calories), which boosts your metabolic rate.

This ‘hard work’ also means protein takes longer to leave the stomach, which keeps you feeling fuller for longer. Getting enough protein is also essential to fuel and repair muscle tissue – another potent fat fighter.

Simple & complex carbohydrates

Carbohydrates are you body’s primary fuel source. There are two types: Simple & complex. The trick to losing weight is to keep your blood-sugar levels stable throughout the day (i.e. minimal peaks and troughs).

Simple carbs, like sweets and pastries, are more readily converted into glucose which raises blood sugar quickly. Complex carbs take longer to be broken down, helping keep blood sugar levels stable, leaving you feeling full, happy and satisfied.

Healthy fats

If you don’t want to be fat, don’t eat it, right? Actually, fat intake plays a very important role in losing it. Without it, we can’t absorb nutrients like Vitamins D, E, K and A. It’s also a key player in giving skin that glow of good health. Plus, good heart-healthy fats (like mono and poly unsaturated and Omega 3 & 6 fatty acids) you find in avocado, and nuts/seeds have been linked to improved brain health and reduced cholesterol levels.

Belly-filling fiber

Essential for healthy digestion, fiber-rich foods can also help you slim down as they tend to be filling and low in fat. There are two types. Soluble fiber, which forms a gel-like substance that slows digestion, promotes nutrient uptake and helps lower cholesterol absorption. Insoluble fiber (‘roughage’) is what’s commonly known to promote regularity.

Bone-building calcium

In addition to helping build strong, healthy bones to prevent the onset of osteoporosis, low-fat dairy foods, like milk, cheese & leafy green veggies can help keep you stay trim by signalling your body to absorb less fat. Plus calcium can also help regulate blood pressure and help with PMS.

Awesome-antioxidants

While not a specific fat-fighting compound, antioxidant’s can help you feel good on the inside. And when you feel good on the inside, it shows on the outside. Antioxidant’s help to neutralize free-radicals created by stress, alcohol and by-products of the body.

These disease fighting factors help make antioxidant’s potent buffer’s against the toxicity of modern day living. Finally, there are the essential vitamins and minerals which we need for everyday health. These include folate, iron, zinc, selenium, niacin, magnesium, riboflavin, potassium, the B-Vitamins group and Vitamins A, C, D and E.

Natural sugars

You might be thinking, how is sugar going to help me burn fat? Well, foods naturally high in sugar are sweet. This means fruit and other natural sweet treats can satisfy your sweet tooth for a fraction of the calories you would normally get from something worse.

Top 25 Fat Burning Foods

To turn your body into a fat burning machine, be sure to regularly include a variety of these foods in your diet. Remember, this isn’t a conclusive list, but it will give you an excellent foundation from which to base your diet and achieve a healthier, happier body.

#1. Fresh/Frozen Berries

Strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, raspberries, Goji berries – the list goes on. With almost nil carbohydrates and calories, grab a handful as a quick snack, add them to low-fat yogurt, desserts, salads or blend them up in a smoothie. Out of season? Look for the frozen variety.

#2. Cinnamon

The active ingredient in cinnamon makes fat cells significantly more responsive to insulin, upping your metabolism by 20 percent. It can also help stabilize blood-sugar levels. Add to smoothies, yogurt, sprinkle on oatmeal or stir into your coffee for added sweetness without the calories.

#3. Oatmeal

Go for the plain, unsweetened variety. ‘Quick-oats’ and steel-cut are great choices. Make yourself a bowl in the morning, add some chopped nuts, strawberries and a sprinkle of cinnamon or nutmeg and you’ve got a waistline-friendly breakfast in under 5 minutes. You can also add oats to smoothies for extra energy and to keep hunger under control.

#4. Cottage Cheese

Just make sure you go for the low-fat variety. Cottage cheese is an excellent source of naturally occurring high-quality protein and is ideal for spreading on rye crackers with salad and lean meats.

#5. Citrus Fruits

Oranges, limes, lemons, grapefruits, kiwi fruits and tangerines are some of the best picks. The high acidity in these fruits slows down the digestion of whatever you eat them with, keeping you fuller for longer. Add to salad dressings, use in meat or seafood marinades, or squeeze into a glass of water to have with dinner. You can also use oranges, grapefruits and kiwi’s for healthy snack/breakfast options. Grapefruits with a small sprinkle of sugar – delicious!

#6. Sweet Potato

Sweet potatoes are bursting with flavor, so you don’t need as much of the toppings, like butter, sour cream, coleslaw or baked beans, that you might with a regular, white potato. The result? You cutback on calories without sacrificing the flavor. Plus they help you stay full, thinks to their high fiber content.

#7. Avocado

If you want to lose fat, don’t eat it, right? Wrong. With it’s high levels of healthy monounsaturated fats, the avocado is more ‘fat’ than fruit which makes it a perfect dietary staple for weight loss. Eating quarter or half an avocado can quell hunger pangs, help you feel more satisfied and even help spot-reduce belly fat, too.

Almost always in season, avocados make great substitutes for cheese and butter. Add to breads and wholegrain rye crackers before adding lean meats, tinned fish and cucumber slices for a quick and easy snack. They’re also perfect additions to salads or equally delicious eaten raw.

#8. Mustard

A mere half teaspoon boosts your calorie burn by 20-25% almost instantly, according to scientists at Oxford Brooke’s University. So order that fillet steak guilt-free – just swap the Bearnaise sauce and chips for mustard.

#9. Eggs

According to research, there’s no better way to start the day than with eggs. Thanks to their high-quality protein, eggs help you stay full for longer compared to other refined breakfast options like bagels. They’re also a fast and inexpensive dinner option. Omelet, frittata’s or a vegetable sandwich topped with hard-boiled egg slices are all great options.

#10. Cayenne Pepper

Scientists have found that cayenne pepper increases the rate at which you metabolize dietary fats by 15-20 percent for three hours after eating. Plus, it lowers your appetite between meals. Hot stuff!

#11. Whole-Grains

Quinoa, barley, buckwheat, brown rice and wholegrain pasta, bread and cereals are nutritional all-stars.

Like protein, whole grains force your body to work hard during the breakdown process, which can burn up to twice as many calories compared to their processed refined counterparts. For a quick and healthy meal, add in some lean protein sources, nuts and vegetables.

#12. Water

OK, it’s technically a food but getting enough H20 every day aids in digestion and can boost your metabolism by up to 30%. Keeping it cold – below 5 degrees – optimizes this effect, as your body burns extra energy warming it up before it can be absorbed. Keep a water bottle with you at all times and drink preemptively to stay topped up.

#13. Watermelon

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is melon5.png

Nothing beats a sweet and succulent piece of watermelon on a hot day. The best part is that they’re virtually calorie-free, with each slice containing 70% water. Plus, they’re loaded with essential vitamins and nutrients.

#14. Beans, Legumes & Lentils

Peas, beans and legumes are full of protein and fiber, which will either fill you up or give you wind – or both – depending on your constitution. Combine them with brown rice, barley, wheat and corn and add them to lasagna, casseroles, soups, salads or mash the up as a dip for extra protein and added nutrients, minus the fat.

#15. Protein Powder

This supplement, which you can pick up online or at your local health food store, is a cheap, easy and effective way to boost your protein intake. There are two types: ‘isolate’ and ‘concentrate’. See which is right for you below.

‘Concentrate’ provides a more complete protein with a slightly higher carbohydrate content (around 5%) which is great for every day use, while isolate is more rapidly absorbed which makes it great to take straight after exercise. Add the powder to smoothies with fruit and ice – yum!

#16. Chicken & Turkey

Both chock-full of fat-fighting protein, these staples make great additions to any rice, pasta or salad dish. To slim down fast, switch wings and drumsticks and opt for leaner breast meat. To save extra calories, be sure to remove the skin – it contains high levels of saturated fat. Keep the meat moist and spicy by marinating it in olive oil, chili, lemon grass and ginger before grilling.

 #17. Ginger

Research has found this flavorsome root contains acids that stimulate gastric enzymes that can boost your metabolism by 20%. Ginger has also been found to lower cholesterol and thin your blood.

#18. Raw Veggies

As far as healthy snacking for weight loss goes, you simply can’t beat the benefits of raw vegetables. With virtually zero calories – thanks largely to their high water content – a few carrot sticks can satisfy your desire to crunch without ruining your waistline.

Celery, broccoli, lettuce, cabbage, cucumber, spinach, kale, carrots and bell peppers are all great choices. If you find them a little bland on their own, whip up your own low-calorie dip! Salsa, hummus or guacamole anyone?

#19. Lean Red Meat

Beef, lamb and pork and kangaroo are the best. Buy the leanest cuts and trim visible fat. Red meat is also an excellent source of iron, essential fatty acids, folate and B12. Don’t overcook red meat to keep amino acids (protein) intact. Keep leftovers in the fridge and use for sandwiches or add with salad for a quick and easy meal.

 #20. Seafood

Salmon, tuna, sardines, herring and mackerel are your best choices when you’re yearning for a fatty meal like fish and chips – just leave out the chips. Because these are all types ‘fatty’ fish, it will scratch that itch while topping up your body with omega-3’s. Enjoy them once or twice a week with vegetables or salad for lunch or dinner. Use the tinned varieties for healthy sandwiches and wholemeal wraps.

#21. Popcorn

A great weight loss snack, but most supermarket bags are loaded with calories, preservatives, sodium and even trans fats. So make your own instead. Add 1/4 of popcorn kernels to a microwavable bag, along with a few teaspoons of olive oil and your favorite herbs & spices (chili/curry powder, thyme, rosemary & oregano all work well). Microwave on high for 2-3 minutes.

#22. Tomatoes

Sweet and delicious! Tomatoes are great way to give quantity to a meal so you feel full and satisfied afterwards. They’re fat free and full of vitamins and antioxidant’s, so pile them on for a hearty pasta, curry or salad. Having a bowl of cherry tomatoes on hand around the house is a great idea when you’re feeling peckish.

#23. Milk, Yogurt & Cheese

When picking these up at the supermarket, go for the fat-free or low-fat options. You’ll get all of the protein and calcium + Vitamin D, with less kilo-joules. Not only have these foods been shown to assist in losing abdominal fat, they help to preserve and build lean muscle mass—essential for keeping your fat-burning metabolism firing on all cylinders.

#24. Nuts

Nuts are fantastic for weight loss. Plus, they’re great for lowering cholesterol when eaten in moderation. Keep a small bowl in the kitchen or living room and grab a handful when you’re feeling peckish between meals. Almonds, Brazil nuts, Cashews, Macadamia nuts, Pecans and Walnuts are the best picks.

#25. Apples & Pears

Thanks again to their high fiber and water content, these are two of the best fruits for weight loss. Stick to the whole-fruit options and don’t be tempted by the dried varieties – they are more nutritionally dense and don’t provide the same visual appeal of satiety. To bump up your protein, add a smearing of natural peanut butter to your apple slices.

[blodreina-noumou]

Sure, and probably both of us feeling the effects of some confirmation bias - we see slightly different parts of fandom, and have come away with different perceptions on who ships who, and why. 

If someone ever dared to undertake some sort of survey, I cannot confidently say what the results would be.

What I posted earlier (in a very tired haze, fwiw) is just my own impression based on what I’ve seen and who I’ve interacted with. It seems like a lot of the people who ship them the most passionately are on a bit on the young side, either in life or in relationships. 

That being said, I’m obviously and absolutely speaking in generalizations - every single member of this fandom is an individual with their own tastes, and own journeys in arriving there. How that happens is anyone’s guess. 

All I can do is speak from my own experience. It’s not my intention to speak down to anyone or dismiss anyone, but I know I do that a lot, even despite my better intentions.

Of course, I’ll always be a bit bemused about what, exactly, motivates the most rabid of B/C shippers, simply because they seem so different from me. But at the end of the day, I’m not trying to yuck anyone’s yum. And I’m sure there are plenty of happily married Blorkeys in long time relationships who are over the moon for the toxicity of B and C, for whatever reason.

Bafflement is a good word for it, I think! 

Saw someone complaining in the tag that Becho have "bro energy" and, I get that it might look like that depending on your own relationship history, but to me they have LTR energy. To be fair, they seem like they've got a decade under their belt and it's been three waking years max, but I can see why Jason considers it a rock solid ship. Because it is.

And it also made me think he's married and has been for a while and their courtship wasnt the sort of high drama that people want from Bellarke but the much more common IRL "you're finally here and we're both inclined to be an us. Excellent!" Those are the relationships he writes over and over again.

So yeah, I did some lazy stalking, found these tweets, and I just don't see Bellarke happening based on the genre they think they're writing (post apocalyptic tragedy per Kim) and how Jason likely sees relationships.