#milk cake in the reflection

[stardust-swan]

Everyday Ways I Honour Aphrodite

(NSFW warning)

🌹Roses, roses, roses. Rose soap, rose lip balm, rose hand cream, rose lotion, rose perfume, rose oil on my pillow before falling asleep, rose candles, rose incense, roses in my garden, rosewater toner, rose face mist, rose shower gel, dried roses in the bath... Just roses everywhere you can fit them.

🌹Reading romantic books and poetry, watching romance films

🌹 Reading books and poetry about Aphrodite

🌹Making myself feel beautiful with pretty jewellery and makeup. Even just a swipe of tinted lip balm boosts my confidence (I use French Girl Rose Noir). I try to wear at least a little bit of makeup or jewellery daily, even if it's just a pair of studs or a subtle lipstick

🌹 Even if I'm just staying at home all day I'll spray perfume and put on jewellery and do lipstick just to feel sensual while I'm lounging around playing Animal Crossing (currently wearing a comfy embroidered nightie, small gold hoops, a pretty bracelet and a little bit of YSL Orange Perfecto lipstick as I write this)

🌹 Embracing my sensuality. Swaying my hips, feeling the softness of my body, dancing freely, engaging in self-pleasure, taking nudes, trying to unlearn the shame associated with sexuality from my upbringing. I don't watch porn often as I find most of it unhealthy and misogynistic (I only like this one random Japanese couple's channel and some vintage and Korean softcore), but I enjoy toys (my favourite is the rose), erotic literature, erotic film, audio porn (usually in other languages because I find a lot of dirty talk just makes me cringe but I still get enjoyment out of hearing little moans and silky low voices so I get that and avoid secondhand embarrassment from bad dirty talk by listening to it in languages I don't understand), and erotic fine art.

🌹 I try to get really comfortable when I'm engaged in self love. Lipstick and perfume on, hair styled, lingerie or nightie that makes me feel sexy, a candle lit or rose, ylang ylang and jasmine oil in my diffuser, soft music playing. Then I'll position myself comfortably, and stroke my thighs, tease my nipples, squeeze my breasts, lick my juices off my fingers and use it like a lipstick, painting my lips and nipples or using it to lightly lubricate my clitoris. Running my hands all over my belly, thighs and breasts, experimenting with different types of pressure and stimulation. Just luxuriating in the sensual feelings I can bring to my beautiful female body.

🌹 Wearing jewellery with seashells, pearls, emerald, ruby, bronze, copper, gold, jade, garnet and iridescent beads

🌹 Enjoying apples, honey, figs, pomegranates, strawberries, raspberries, olives, lettuce, rosewater and chocolate. I like buying Guylian chocolates as they're seashell shaped, but any chocolate will do (my favourite chocolate bar to buy is white chocolate with strawberries). I also like foods that you can taste the rosewater in like rose macarons and Turkish delight.

🌹 Making foods with ingredients she likes, like honey cakes, Persian rose love spell cookies, rosewater nougat, Persian love cake, baklava, cornes de gazelle, mhencha, etc... I mostly stick to Mediterranean, North African, Arab and Persian recipes, as they commonly use ingredients like rosewater, honey, pomegranates, and figs.

🌹 Carrying rose quartz in my pocket and keeping rose quartz under my pillow

🌹 I use a rose quartz roller to massage oil into my face

🌹 I keep a mini Venus de Milo statue and a swan trinket box on my bedside table

🌹 Drinking a drink made up of honey, cinnamon, milk and hot water at night to relax

🌹 Wearing pretty lingerie under my clothes, even if it's a basic outfit

🌹 I often fall asleep to the sound of ocean waves

🌹 Gold highlighter swept on my cheeks and body shimmer on my collarbones, reflecting light like sun rays on the ocean

🌹 Doing little offerings, like spritzing her statue with perfume, or offering up a portion of food I'm eating that I think she'd like

🌹 Lighting incense in scents like myrrh, frankincense, rose, vanilla, cinnamon, ginger and jasmine

🌹 Drawing myself relaxing baths with fragrant oils and salts

🌹 Reading hymns, Sappho's poetry, and listening to Athanati Afroditi

🌹 Listening to music that's romantic or sensual (this is my playlist)

🌹 Carrying a hand mirror and admiring myself as I check my makeup

🌹 Adding honey to tea

🌹 Writing letters and poetry about love and beauty

🌹Admiring women I find beautiful without jealousy or resentment, just appreciation

🌹Using these emojis: 🌹🦢🌊🪞🍎❤️💘💗💕💋🕊️🫒💄

🌹 Wearing pink, red, aqua, and seafoam green

🌹 Being consistent in self care. No matter how low my spoons are, unless I'm so dog-tired I end up falling asleep on the couch at 8pm, I force myself to do my evening skincare routine - cleansing, toning, eye cream, moisturiser, oil. And I always feel better for it even if I was exhausted before. Much smaller but I'm also consistent in oiling the ends of my hair daily and spraying perfume before bed. And I keep up with getting my hair done and brows waxed every three months without fail.

🌹 Doing exercises that make me feel sensual. I'm really lazy tbh but I push myself because I know Aphrodite would want me to take care of my body. I pick exercises that make me feel good and desirable, like yoga flow, belly dance, and exercises that target my womanly attributes.

🌹 Giving compliments!

🌹 Doing a big self care day every Friday (the day associated with her). Hot oil hair treatment, foot soak and exfoliation, removing old nail polish and buffing and filing nails, face mask, teeth whitening....

🌹 Going to the pond in winter and admiring the swans

🌹 Going to an art gallery in my city just to look at the painting Venus and Cupid (Day) by Fragonard

🌹 Sleeping on silk sheets as they feel sensual (they're also good for your hair and skin)

🌹 Making my own diffusers and cosmetics from natural, aphrodisiac products. Homemade bath salt with rose petals and pink salt, homemade lip mask with olive oil and rose oil, and adding oil of rose, jasmine, sandalwood, and cinnamon to a diffuser as I find these scents stimulating and sensual.

🌹 And of course, thanking Lady Aphrodite every day.

[lucistarrrrs]

Pairing: Lucifer Morningstar x Raiden Ei!Reader.

Summary: Lucifer met Y/n in the cake shop and she's a powerful overlord feared by sinners and well respect.

Genre: Fluff.

Warning: Bad Grammar

Lucifer was just walking to the pentagram city, but until he saw some sinners trembling in fear and walking quickly to get away, what were they running away from?

He took a closer look, and his eyes sparkled. It's beautiful dark violet hair that became lighter at the ends, and as Y/N turned around to the king of himself,.

Lucifer stared into her purple eyes with light blue pupils. She was tall, just like Lilith's height. Y/N was eating dango and sweets while staring at him.

Y/N has two names, Ei or Shogun. In her district, Raiden Shogun is in charge. Their Raiden Shogun is her puppet that she created her first creation is Kunikuzushi.

Lucifer offered Y/N to have some chitchat, and they talked about something that Lucifer troubling his relationship with Charlie.

"But I'm trying my best to support her dream and be there for her," Lucifer spouted, and his gaze reflected what Lucifer said: that his daughter and the king have some issues.

"Hmm? You seem kind of having issues then, but that's not my problem anyway?" Y/N said directly, not understanding what he said. Lucifer was shocked, pale, and dumbfounded.

Y/N was eating the last piece of the cake. "Did you eat all of the cake?" Lucifer asked her, and Y/N nodded. She left some icing on her lips.

"I do have two kids, but... He thinks that I abandoned him, but I don't wish to take control over him, and I have a daughter who looks like me, but she seems cold and stern." Y/N stated, sipping her tea, and looked at Lucifer. "And I locked myself in the Plane of Euthymia. I left my puppet to take charge, but they two called me mom or mother. I don't know why?" Y/N stated and sipped her tea, looking at Lucifer. She was shocked by the fact that her two kids are in charge of her district and the other one was abandoned by her, but she doesn't want control.

"So you're saying that your kids are puppets?" Lucifer questioned Y/N, and she nodded. "They don't have dick and vagina, Lucifer; they're puppets," Y/n said to Lucifer, sipping her tea again. Lucifer choked on his tea after she said that.

"But it's nice talking to you," Lucifer stuttered, and with a little blush, Y/N giggled. "Hey, try this dango; I just went to the human world." Y/N offered the dango to Lucifer.

Lucifer takes it and eats the dango; it's delicious. As Lucifer finishes eating the dango, Y/N offers some dango milk, and Lucifer drinks it.

 

Time skip 

 

Lucifer was walking to the hotel and humming some sweetly and giddly. Charlie was looking at her father, who was so in love and smitten all of a sudden. 

"Dad, why are you being smitten all of a sudden?" Charlie asked his father. Lucifer didn't listen to what Charlie was saying; he was distracted by Y/N in his mind.

Charlie waved her hands at his face, but he was daydreaming, and she snapped her fingers, but there was no response. Charlie looked at Vaggie, but she shrugged her shoulders. But someone knocks on the door. Vaggie opens the door, and it is revealed that Y/N smiles softly at Vaggie. 

"Hello, is this Hazbin Hotel? I've seen the battle of yours; it's quite entertaining." Y/N chirped and exclaimed as Vaggie shut the door closed. She blinked. She was anxious again. 'Did I say something bad? ' Y/N thought as the door opened. It's Charlie.

"Hello, Ms. Shogun, please come in," Charlie greeted Y/N. "Please call me, Y/n. It's clearly you speaking to my daughter. I'm sorry for her behavior. She's just functioning." Y/n breathed, put her hands together, and smiled.

Lucifer saw Y/N, and he walked towards her. "Welcome to the Hotel Y/N," Lucifer greeted her. "It's a pleasure, Lucifer Morningstar," Y/n said to Lucifer.

Angel looked at Lucifer, and Y/N whispered to Charlie,It's your dad in love with her or something, because I feel the tension between them." Angel whispered to Charlie, and Charlie was confused by it and looked at her dad's gaze at Y/N while talking to her.

Charlie, Vaggie, and Lucifer tour around Y/N to learn about the redemption of rehabilitated sinners.

"Rehabilitated sinners, huh? It can work though," Y/N said, and for a moment, Charlie and Lucifer watched her thinking.

 

"That's a big dream. I hope Heaven won't crush your dream, Charlie," Y/N said, like a mother supporting her dream. She touched her cheeks and smiled, and Charlie's eyes sparkled. It's like her mother is supporting it.

"I should probably go now; my assistant, Sara, is probably worried about me," Y/N said as they came down the stairs as Y/N was about to leave.

 

"Hey, Y/N, how about we go out tomorrow in the restaurant, and I could order all of the desserts?" Lucifer asked with his charming smile. When she turned around, she heard desserts. Her eyes sparkled, and she held his hands.

 

„Desserts! Ohh, my lovely hell, of course I'll go.“ Y/N cheered and wrote her address, giving it to Lucifer.

 

„I'll see you tomorrow then, bye Lucifer.“ Y/N waved goodbye and left a smile on her face.

 

Leaving the hotel crew, what just happened? The powerful overlord was just rizzed by Lucifer. "Oh my stars, did the king of himself charm the powerful overlord?" Alastor, teasing him as Lucifer glared at him, walked towards to Alastor Charlie, stop his dad.

[th3-c0ll3ct3r]

Mildly warm take, Tommy does NOT owe his entire career to Dream

Because, YES the dream smp help propel his career as a content creator, but it does not constitute to everything you've done to make himself and his brand better

Did dream write all the jokes? The vlogs? The books? The MCC wins? The friendship formed before and after? The smp's to follow later? Origins? The comedy? Twitch con?

Because if you say That Dream did all of that for Tommy then I'm going to assume Dream Is Crawling into his skin and piloting his body

Saying dream owns Tommy's as well as other people's careers, is like saying that if I were to bake a cake it wouldn't be my cake it would be the person who made the ingredients. I still baked the cake, put the ingredients together, bought them, got the recipe and just because I didn't grow the wheat or milk the cow it doesn't make it not my cake.

The smp did objectively help his career there is no fault in that and even Tommy acknowledges it, but you can't attribute every single thing that he does now to Dream.

And you can also argue that dream was a bad person, because he was. Regardless of allegations and other people's experiences, dream intentionally seeked out a 14 year old streamer, made him sign a legal contract, took every single bit of credit, got into fights with him on a regular basis, a made him feel so bad you will slamming his head against the desk.

That's not normal. None of that's normal.

And then in an alternative perspective dream didn't do us much for the smp as he claims. The only things he did was bring the content creators together, start the server, and play as his own character.

I do not get me wrong there is credit in that and he did do those things that allow the server to operate, but those with the only things he did.

Wilbur (as much as we hate him) wrote the scripts, and alot of Tommy lore. Will stopped writing the Script after he died canonically, and then later came back because in his own words " lI had to write myself back into the narrative [...] I didn't like where it was going. Not to see dream is a bad writer, but we had different ideas". That's him putting it nicely, the worst bit for the smp realistically was when dream was writing the lore.

And I'm not saying that it was bad but what I am saying is that the majority of people found it bad, so bad in fact that they had to bring Will back.

Dream did not write his own story.

And to the other content creators, on the server they will their own lore. And they acted it out themselves, dream was no part of that yet they still had to sign contracts because it was still on the physical server.

Ranboo and Technoblade in particular had some of the best story writing and telling, and they did it all themselves.

But there's only one thing in common, that makes sense but I think we all missed, dream was in every single person story or had planned to be. And I get it it's his server but on the other hand they could have had amazing stories without his input. Ranboo could have replaced Dream with a mysterious unknown character in his lore, and the outcome and affect would have been the same story-wise. Dream didn't need to be Puffy's son, but he was. Technoblade and Philza could have skip to the side plot of saving dream and instead it needed to return a favour to someone else.

The storytelling within the server is a amazing but if you subtract dream and put someone in his place it's still would have been the same story. It's like he was made to be sandwich in everyone's story. And yes he was a great character in most stories, but in others he was unnecessary.

Put with the overall fact that he had to be in every single story obviously ties back to the server being his, but it's also a reflection of his own ego. He probably still to this day believe that every single person has a career because of him and do not because of who they are now. He definitely helped but it's not all him.

And I would say George, Sapnap and Dream, have the same issue with ego. You see the way dream behaves with over people, he dominated people's careers for many years and had it done by fear.

Sapnap, he would swear and curse every single person, to the point where Scott said he was the most difficult person to put on a team because no one wanted to play with him (I have a different post about MCC). There were many offensive and situations in which the pair of them actually ruin the game for a lot of people. If you were not a person who watched MCC back in the day then I can tell you from now they had to change so many rules, Scott had to start making applications because of the amount of times that they would bail or not communicate with him or simply people didn't want to play with him and wanted to avoid him, and due to their obsessive behaviour in needing to the practice the maps so much that when the game was chosen some people didn't even try because they knew who would win.

They're talented don't get me wrong but there is an extent in which that their Talent crosses with ego and makes the whole game unplayable. This is without mentioning the amount of people who were scared to play with this team or against this team. No one had a fun.

And even in the smp, some people purposely avoided Sapnap, because he didn't know how to manage himself.

And George you could argue also has a large ego because of the people he surrounds himself by and he's a success. He is an objectively/ conventionally attractive male, and there have been many instances including in recent times and in certain develop it situations that he used it to his advantage. He doesn't behave his age and he treats people cruelly.

And most importantly, the fans. Yes YOU. You heavily contributed to the success of the server and to the success of the creators. But the level of obsession people would have regarding these content creators is something that will always baffle me.

And alot of people asked them to speak out, especially Dream. And he didn't. Dream actually encouraged his audience by selling sketchy merchandise and a USB stick with his baby pictures on it. He enables his radical audience because they are what keeps him going. Realistically without the radical side of his audience he would not be as successful and financially well off as he is now.

Additionally those people attack literally anyone that set something bad about him, and at first he tried to downplay it, then he assured people he would manage it and tell them to start, but then along the way he must have realized that these people a Ride or Die for him and that if he drives away these people he drives away a lot of money, free advertisement and a defense system against his brand- and I say this because these people would defend him in any circumstance

So then he doesn't stop them, and now you've got a 19-20s yr old with an unfortunate amount of mental health issues, some people who continue to jab him with needles anytime he's upset.

And it's sad. Is far beyond something that his parents can protect him from, yet he hasn't found the resources to protect himself. He's not happy with himself. He used to be scared to stand with someone successful even though he's successful.

And I'm genuinely proud of how much Tommy has grown. He is and continues to be a dedicated, passionate and nice person regardless of circumstances, he continues to be real with his audience and tries not to waste thier time. And none of that was taught to him by Dream. He taught himself how to be himself. If I see one person saying that he's a clout chaser I'm gonna have to tell you that you're wrong because he's done so much for himself to the point where you can't even count it yet you can count the things dream did for him on a Post-it note.

Tommy did well

[cloudcountry]

auburn's 3k followers bake sale!! (lasts from july 24st to august 6th)

order a baked good, get a complementary drink & fic! menu below!

(thank you all so much for 3k!! ever since getting back into the twst fandom after a six month break, ive been reflecting on my time here a lot. i feel like the twst fandom is one of the few fandoms that i'll actually be able to look back on fondly and feel comfortable doing so. i've been connected to all of these character for about 3 years now and now 2 years with you guys. i know some of you may think i'm scary but i encourage you to take part in this event ^^ it wouldn't the same without you <3 and while im at it, thanks for 3,100 followers too!!)

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[heich0e]

[warning: while f!reader is not described with any specific physical characteristics, the child in this fic is described as having inherited all of Megumi’s attributes and none from reader! please read with that in mind, or pass over this fic if not <3]

"We've got some stuff to talk about."

Megumi watches as Kota's little sock-clad feet swing back and forth while he sits in his chair at the table in the middle of the staff room of the veterinary clinic. He's eating some of the chocolate covered mushroom-shaped cookies the vet keeps tucked away in the back corner of one of the tallest cabinets out of sight, with a glass of milk.

At the counter on the opposite side of the room, Yuuji is slicing him an apple. Megumi stands at his side.

"What do you mean you don't know?" Yuuji asks him under his breath, in response to the answer Megumi had just provided him about who this kid is and why he looks just like him. "He's clearly—"

Yuuji's voice pitches up a little too loudly and both men quickly glance over at the little boy on the other side of the room, who is watching them curiously. Yuuji smiles, though Megumi can see just how strained it is from up close, and then the two men shift away so their backs are to the child once more.

"Fushiguro, that's clearly your kid."

"Not possible," Megumi replies immediately, and he means it. Sure he'd thought the same thing when he first saw the boy, but with every passing moment he's come more firmly to the conclusion that it simply isn't plausible. There's just no way.

Right?

"Hey, Kota-chan?" Yuuji calls over his shoulder, still hacking away at the apple in his hands. "When's your birthday?"

Kota's lips purse, a smudge of chocolate next to his mouth.

"I dunno," the little boy replies.

Both of the men hold back their groans.

"Mama never bought you presents and gave you cake after she sang you a song?" Yuuji tries again.

Kota's eyes light up and he nods. "Yeah!"

Yuuji laughs a little at how the child's expression has changed. "What was the weather like outside that day?"

Kota seems to think very hard about this new information. "There was snow outside. Mama made a snowman with me and then we went inside to eat cake."

Megumi watches as Yuuji does the calculation in his head. It takes a while.

"Kota told me he's four, so who were you seeing in the... late winter or early spring five years ago?" he finally works out the math and asks his friend from the corner of his mouth.

Megumi thinks back, though reluctantly.

"No one," he says finally, upon a moment of reflection.

Yuuji looks like he's about to burst a blood vessel.

"What are you doing, by the way?" Megumi asks, watching Yuuji drag the knife along one of the apple slices, peeling away only a small section of the skin.

"Making bunnies," Yuuji replies, holding one up for Megumi to see.

It does kind of look like a bunny, he has to admit, with two little bits of the peel cut out into points. It's not the most realistic rendition he's ever seen, but it's a close enough approximation. He watches as Yuuji sets the last rabbit-esque slice onto a plate and carries it over to Kota at the table.

"Here you go," he says with a smile, setting the plate down in front of the boy.

Megumi can practically see the sparkles in the child's eyes when he looks at the slices of fruit.

"Bunnies!" he says, beaming up at Yuuji. The pink haired man returns his smile with an equal enthusiasm. The boy picks up a slice immediately, holding it up to his face to appreciate it. "Mama puts bunnies in my lunch sometimes."

Yuuji's smile falters a little. "Hey, Kota-chan, is there anything else you can tell me about your mama? She must be really worried about you, you know."

Kota's lips curl into a sad little frown. He avoids Yuuji's eyes. "Mama was working, and I knew she wouldn't let me help the bunny if I told her because she was really busy, but I had to help him."

Yuuji softens a bit, huffing out a breath. He plops a hand down into Kota's dark hair, ruffling it gently. "You're not in trouble, buddy. And you did help the bunny. But we've gotta try and get you home now, okay?"

Kota nods a little.

"You said your mama works nearby right?" Yuuji asks, and again Kota nods. "And it's a restaurant?" Another nod. "What does mama do there?"

"She brings people their food! And she brings them drinks!" Kota replies.

A server, obviously.

"Okay, good job, Kota. I'm gonna see if I can figure out how to get you home, alright?"

The little boy nods, taking a bite of his apple slice.

Yuuji approaches Megumi, still hovering on the other side of the kitchen. "I'm gonna give Nanamin a call and see if anything's come in about a missing kid at the station, if not I'll jog around the block and check the local restaurants. You stay with Kota and write me down a list of all the women you've—"

Both men look over at Kota, who's watching them raptly with a cheek full of apple.

"—been friends with." Yuuji finishes his sentence strangely, but Megumi gets the message anyway.

The dark haired man feels heat flare in his cheeks, grabbing Yuuji by the front of his shirt before he can step away.

"I've always been very..."—he glances over at the child on the other side of the room—"careful with my friends."

Yuuji understands what he means.

"You can never be careful enough," he remarks pointedly, albeit a bit awkwardly—his cheeks are a little bit pink now too.

Yuuji and Megumi don't ever talk about stuff like this, at least not in such specific detail. This is the kind of conversation Yuuji'd have with his friend Todo, or maybe Nobara, and the kind of conversation Megumi would rather take with him to the grave.

Megumi grits his teeth. "I'm not making a list."

"Fushigu—"

"I don't need one. It doesn't merit the paper." Megumi cuts him off, his cheeks burning so hot he's surprised the room hasn't gotten brighter. Yuuji's eyes widen a little as he processes the admission. Megumi's never really been one to sleep around, and while he's had a few long-term partners, none of them were around the time that Kota would have been born. Plus Megumi's relationships all ended relatively amicably—he'd have known if one of his exes had a baby. "I'm telling you, it doesn't make sense."

Yuuji nods a bit, patting his friend on the shoulder. "Alright, alright," he says. "Let me go call Nanamin and we'll get this figured out."

Megumi watches as his friend steps out through the doorway to the staff kitchen, breathing out a long, weary sigh once he's gone.

"Erm—Doctor Shiguro?"

Megumi freezes, glancing over at the little boy at the table. He'd sort of momentarily forgotten he was even there.

Kota is sitting at the table, rubbing at his eyes with his small fist.

Megumi looks at him expectantly.

"I'm sticky," Kota says, holding up his hands with his fingers splayed.

The man blinks for a moment, and then nods, retrieving a small bit of paper towel and running it under the tap to dampen it. He brings it over to Kota, handing it to the boy, but the child sticks both of his hands out. Megumi hesitates and then takes one of his small hands in his own, sweeping the damp towel across it.

He repeats the motion with the second hand, making sure to get any lingering stickiness off of his smooth skin. His hand is incredibly tiny, Megumi can't help but notice—there are dogs he'd tended to with larger paws than Kota's little hand.

Once Kota's hands are clean, Megumi glances up at his face. His eyelids are drooping, and the man realizes it's quite late for such a young boy to be awake (and eating snacks no less.) That smudge of chocolate is still on Kota's cheek, so Megumi wipes it away with the damp towel too.

"Doctor Shiguro?" Kota mumbles tiredly.

"Fushiguro," Megumi gently corrects him.

"Is my bunny really gonna be okay?" the little boy asks, rubbing at his eyes again.

Megumi thinks back to the way Kota had the little rabbit held against his chest underneath his coat to protect it from the rain; how desperately he'd asked him, a stranger, for his help; how scary it must have been for such a little boy to be out so late, in such a bad storm, all alone.

He nods.

"Yeah, he'll be alright."

[dark-frosted-heart]

Clavis' 4th Birthday Story (Part 1)

As usual, can’t guarantee 100% accuracy on this

Every year, Clavis wanted to celebrate his birthday with all sorts of people.

This year, to live up to the people’s expectations, he had prepared an extra huge surprise for the whole town, but—

Emma: It’s unusual for you to have to do official business on your birthday. You always clear your schedule for it… 

Clavis: …That man is socially inept.

(He looks so depressed)

When he had returned to his room, Clavis slumped down on the sofa and even me stroking his hair didn’t bring his spirits up.

Clavis: I’ll need to leave early in the morning and most likely won’t be coming back to the castle that day.

Emma: You’re going on a trip, huh?

Clavis: You’re going to miss me or don’t want me to go, right?

Emma: I’ll miss you, but since it’s official business, I’ll be cheering you on.

Clavis: …

Emma: Come on, I’ll be waiting for you with a delicious cake and tea! Please have a safe trip

(That said…As the fiancee of someone eccentric like Clavis, I can’t just “do nothing” on his birthday, now can I?)

(It’s a special day that only comes around once a year, so I need to come up with something)

--

Several days later, on the day of Clavis’ birthday—my reflection in the window showed a completely different person.

I wore a maid’s uniform that was different from the ones in the castle, a short-haired wig, and even glasses.

I even changed my makeup so that Clavis wouldn’t recognize me.

(The setup to greet him is perfect)

I took a breath to calm myself and waited at the entrance of the villa that the princes use.

Finally the carriage stopped and I bowed at the two figures that alighted from it.

Emma: We have been expecting you, King Chevalier and King Clavis.

Chevalier: …

Clavis: Oh, a maid. I thought I’d have to take care of Chevalier here.

Villa caretaker: I hired a maid this year. Please understand that I’m getting too old to take care of this place myself.

The one bowing beside me was an elderly woman who had served the royal family for many years and had been entrusted with managing the villa here.

Clavis: Haha, I suppose you’re right. I’m sorry for not being more considerate. Next time I’ll bring some maids along. That will make it easier, won’t it?

Villa caretaker: Thank you, young master Clavis. You have become so reliable…

Clavis: I’d appreciate it if you stopped calling me young master.

Villa caretaker: It’s an old habit of mine…There is still some time before the meeting, so allow me to show you to your rooms.

The elderly woman and I nodded at each other and raised our heads.

Emma: This way please.

I used a different voice and peeked at Clavis, but he didn’t seem to notice.

(Alright…I’ve cleared the first obstacle)

This year was called “Operation I’ve Been by Your Side This Whole Time”.

I couldn’t throw a huge party, but I’m confident Clavis will be delighted.

(I wonder how Clavis will react when I reveal myself after spending the whole day by his side as a maid)

(I can’t wait)

--

As a building owned by the country, most of the interior design matched that of the castle.

Because of that, I was able to understand the layout without a problem, which was a good look for a fake maid…I think.

Emma: We will call for you when the guests arrive, so please relax until then.

Clavis: Of course. Miss maid, I’d like a cup of tea—with milk and sugar piled in.

Emma: Of course. I will prepare tea with and without sugar and milk.

(...I know for a fact that you’re trying to do something to King Chevalier)

Just before I left the room, I caught King Chevalier’s gaze as he sat down.

Chevalier: …

(I have to thank Chevalier this time)

~~ Flashback ~~

Emma: —So, would it be possible for me to accompany you two while on official business without being noticed?

I went to see King Chevalier the day after feeling my heart ache at the sight of a depressed Clavis.

While quietly reading his book as usual, King Chevalier held out his hand.

I placed a rare and valuable book that I had prepared beforehand in his hand and he threw a sack at me in exchange.

Emma: This is…

(...A maid uniform and a map?)

Chevalier: I’ve already spoken to the other party.

Emma: …You had it figured out from the start.

Chevalier: Your foolish thoughts are just like that one’s.

Emma: Hehe, thank you.

(I’m happy to hear that you think Clavis and I are alike)

Chevalier: You’re making such a fuss about that day?

Emma: I am. If it was any other celebration, it can be done on another day…but Clavis’ birthday’s only on that day.

Chevalier: …

Emma: Since you’re there, you can celebrate this year—

Chevalier: I’m not foolish enough to waste time on something useless. 

Emma: It’s useful. I think it’ll make Clavis happy.

Chevalier: Unnecessary.

(...Too bad)

Chevalier scoffed and didn’t speak again.

~~ Flashback end ~~

Clavis: —Did you hear me, miss maid?

Emma: Ack?!

[weird-an]

There is a crossroad just outside Hawkins, where corn grows so high it's hidden from anybody's view.

Blood runs down Billy's temple and his head pounds like Neil didn't stop hitting him. Neil who found his Mandate magazine and went fucking crazy.

Billy can't go back. Billy can't go back or he's going to get fucking killed. By his own father. He had never seen Neil so angry - and Neil has always been angry, but not like that.

He has thought about it for a while. It's just some make belief, some hocus pocus, but Billy needs a miracle. He doesn't wear shoes and pebbles tear his holey socks apart. He just grabbed the box and ran.

It's eerily silent. Almost midnight - he thinks. He doesn't have a watch. He digs through the ground with his bare hands. He buries the blue box he stole from Max in the hole. It's a jewelry box she never uses. He has gotten a bit of dirt from the local graveyard, a cat bone from a school's exhibit and an ugly photo from his last school in California where he had to smile while his back was still aching.

A fat drop of crimson blood drips on his fake smile. He wipes his forehead, before he can remember that his hands are dirty.

He stands up. Nothing happens.

It's a cold night. His breath forms little clouds, floating into the night. The moon is gone, waiting to get reborn. An endless circle of birth and death.

"What a surprise." Steve Harrington stands behind him. Same as usual, wearing a pastel blue and pink polo shirt and his ever perfect hair fluffy and only slicked back a little.

"Billy Hargrove needing help?" he scoffs - and it's almost as if they were on the court and not on a crossroad, about to make a deal. "Wanting to gift me his soul?"

There's a red shine in his eyes, but more in the way that it seems like a reflection.

"You're a... demon?" Billy asks. Maybe that's some stupid prank. Maybe that's an explanation why Harrington is so unearthly pretty. "And you're going to High School?"

And sucking at it, is something he doesn't add, but he knows how many classes Harrington is failing. Tommy won't shut up about it. He would have rather expected Hagan to be a fucking demon and not Harrington who now gives him a goofy grin.

"Oh, well..." Harrington says. "Let's say I made a deal a few years ago and then I unfortunately died early."

There's a headline Neil had read out loud to them before they moved here. About a girl, Barb Holland, being thought dead for three weeks - and then rising from the dead, ringing at her parent's door like she just went out to buy some milk.

"God has blessed this place," Neil had said. Apparently Hawkins is about as cursed as Billy feared it is.

"Enough about me." Harrington tilts his head. "What do you want?"

To live, to be free pops into Billy's mind, bright and colorful like a rainbow.

Billy thought about it a lot. First he thought he wanted his dad dead. So that he can never touch him again, so that he doesn't have to be afraid anymore. But if Neil dies, he doesn't have a father or a mother.

The thought is a dark shadow, making him sick.

"I want him to stop hurting me," he says instead. It won't heal the scars, it won't unbreak his bones, it won't make it forgotten, but maybe more bearable. It's what he wanted when he was five, when he turned ten, what he wants to today and what he always wished for whenever saw other people blowing out the candles on their birthday cakes.

Harrington's eyes flicker to Billy's bloody mullet and his dirty socks.

"You need to tell me his name," he says, a hint of annoyance in his voice. "I'm just a demon, not a mindreader."

"My dad," Billy grits out. "Neil.. Hargrove."

There is pity crossing Harrington's face, something he has always been afraid of, but it's gone within seconds, maybe only been a shadow and gets replaced with a red glow, irises more crimson than hazel now.

"Let's seal the deal." Harrington smiles, teeth shining white. "You know how we do it, right? Your soul for me doing you a favor."

Billy heard the stories. Billy didn't expect to become a part of them. Billy doesn't think he has a soul and if he does, it can hardly be worth anything.

Harrington smells like expensive aftershave and smoke.

Billy presses a kiss on Harrington's soft lips. It's a rush, a relief. He feels something shift, something clicking into space.

Harrington laughs into the kiss. "The deal is already done, Hargrove."

Which means Billy's soul is Harrington's now and Neil won't ever hurt him again. The blood on his temple dries. The cut on his scalp stopped throbbing, there's only a faint sting reminding Billy of its existence. He feels like he just jumped into the ocean on a hot summer's day.

He licks across Harrington's mouth, hungry for more.

"Greed and lust are sins, Billy." It almost sounds like a compliment.

Billy's throat turns dry and he wants to pull away, humiliation burning away the cool calm that has begun to spread inside his chest.

It's just a deal - and that's closed now.

Harrington tugs on his bottom lip, sharp pain joining the sweet sensation.

"If you ever feel like sinning, come and find me," Harrington purrs -

and then he's gone. Billy stands on the road, lips tingling, still smelling Harrington's aftershave on him.

He walks home. It's one of these nights when spring is about to fade, summer's heat lurking around the corner. Still cold, but not that he's shivering.

Cherry Lane is deserted, a few lights flickering when Billy comes home. The door is open. He doesn't hear Neil shouting at the TV.

He washes the blood off his face and goes to bed. He wonders if he can dream without a soul. He wonders if it's working. His lips burn and he still feels Harrington's mouth on his.

[atlaculture]

Building Up: Air Nomad Cuisine - Desserts & Miscellaneous

When conceptualizing Air Nomad cuisine, I took inspiration from dishes of the Himalayas, primarily Tibetan. Since Air Nomads spend much of their lives living in high altitudes, I felt their cuisine should reflect the needs of that lifestyle. It would also take advantage of the dairy that sky bison could likely provide. In short, while all dishes shown will be vegetarian, many will not be vegan. If you’re interested in trying any of these foods, click on the name of each dish for a recipe or product website.

Bhatsa Marku

A cheesy dessert pasta from Tibet. The primary ingredients are gnocchi-like noodles, dried yak cheese, butter, and sugar. As always, I imagine sky bison milk would be responsible for providing the dairy portion of the meal.

Dresil

A sweet rice dish from Tibet. It’s eaten during special occasions and holidays, particularly the first day of Tibetan New Year. Traditionally, it is made with Basmati rice, sugar, yak butter, and droma---which is a sweet, edible root native to Tibet. In areas where the latter two ingredients are not readily available, cow butter, cashews, and raisins are used instead.

Thue

A Tibetan no-bake cheesecake made from dried yak cheese, brown sugar, and unsalted butter. Sadly, the cakes we see in ATLA resemble New York-style cheesecakes more than Tibetan-style ones.

Miscellaneous Goodies

Because both dairy and grain flours are common in Tibet, there are many different kinds of cheeses, yogurts, breads, and pastries in Tibetan cuisine. If you’re interested in further researching Tibet’s food culture, I’d recommend checking out the YouTube channel Palden’s Kitchen and the website Yowangdu.

Overall, I think Air Nomad cuisine would be predominantly Tibetan in inspiration, with some Bhutanese and Nepali influences added in.

Like what I’m doing? Tips always appreciated, never expected. ^_^

https://ko-fi.com/atlaculture

[antointte]

͟ຼ͟ ͟ ͟ㅤ ♫ ⃘ ۫ ♱ Listening to : The Discography of Antoinette

▋ 🍰 SUGARY SWEET, Debut Mini Album (2022) Ice Cream Cake. Love in The Air. So Good!. Sensitive. Like This. / MILK AND HONEY, Full Album (2022). Milk. Honey. Sweet & Easy. Everyday, I Love You. 1-10. Taste / BUTTERCREAM ICING, 2nd Mini Album (2023) Intro. Dream in a Dream. Cherry Top. Frozen. / SUMMER IN VIENNA, 3rd Mini Album (2023) Intro. Superwoman. For the summer. Lucky. Babyface. Alive. / LACE/RIBBON, 1st Single Album (2023) Love Options/Miniskirt. Sting. / PRETTIEST AT THE BALL, 2nd Single Album (2024) 5 More Minutes!. Look At Me! / IN MY KINGDOM, 4th Mini Album (2024) Sunset. Sonatina. Waltz. You and I. Flowers, Flutters. / ROYAL HIGHNESS, 3rd Single Album (2024) Fit for a Queen. LUV. / LONELY & GORGEOUS, Japanese Debut (2024)

✤ Antoinette's discography reflects elegance and the youthful spirit of girlhood. Reminiscent of the 2nd generation of K-pop, many consumers claim that Antoinette's discography is a the embodiment of a pink glittery pen—playful yet refined, with a hint of nostalgia.

Commercially, Antoinette have always been a force to be reckoned with. Sugary Sweet skyrocketed on charts, selling 600,000 copies in its first week. With 9 show wins within two weeks of its release, including programs like Music Bank, Inkigayo, and M Countdown. Antoinette also took home the "Song of the Year" and “Album of the Year” awards for MAMA 2022.

A year later, now known for their distinct style, Antoinette took a slight detour with their 1st single album, Lace/Ribbon. Following a Hyacinth's signature dual song formation, Love Options/Miniskirt was released.

Love Options delivered a bright, retro-inspired sound with flirtatious lyrics, capturing the playful side of romance, but Miniskirt took a mature turn, with seductive, bold concept that showcased a different face of Antoinette and the members stage presence. The dual release allowed the group to push their creative boundaries, while establishing a new mature path down the road. The single album was met with critical acclaim, earning the group awards for "Song of the Year" and "Best Female Group" at MAMA 2023.

After Lace/Ribbon, Antoinette returned to their renowned concept. In 2024, Prettiest At the Ball's title track 5 More Minutes! was originally a b-side for Sugary Sweet, but the members absolutely loved it so they asked to perform it and even created personalized choreography.

In My Kingdom, brung a classical, royal tone to their discography and was the true beginning of the Vienna Family lore as a Antoinette's Youtube channel suddenly released a video named “SONATINA : WHO HAS A CLAIM?" The video contained a guide of the Realms within Vienna and who the citizens have chosen an heir to their respective lands.

In current events, Antoinette has made their Japanese debut with the single Lonely & Gorgeous, continuing solidifying awards and their image as the perfect idols continued. Their discography and accolades not only cemented their position as a commercial powerhouse but also showcased Antoinette's ability to blend nostalgic K-pop elements with a cutesy twist.

[vibke]

Let us begin!  

Shadow Milk cookie had been sealed away by the mystical newfound powers of White Lily cookie, it seemed that the Beast-Yeast had plunged into a long-awaited peace. The hearts of the fairies were filled with sincere faith in their new guardian and the lands were immersed in a long celebration. White Lily cookie could finally live a full-fledged life, she talked warmly with old acquaintances and welcomed new ones. Everyone was laughing and singing, the atmosphere was light and filled with joyful bustle. The pressing bustle. Pure Vanilla used to enjoy watching the peaceful life of cookies, but this time he just needed some time alone. Even as a fresly-baked cookie he was extremelly sensitive to magic. There was no need to use eyes to see, the magical aura emanating from each cookie, cake-monster, and even flower could tell much more about them than sight. He understood it early enough. The aura of the Shadow Milk was the thing that plunged him into thought. They were the same. Cruelty, pretense and deception - that's what everyone else had faced. That was obvious and simple. But Pure Vanilla could feel that they had the same nature. To be honest, he never thought about his magical beginnings. His own aura had always been a part of him, was what he was. But Shadow Milk made him think about his own essence. Will he ever become like this, full of hatred and malice? He refused to believe it. But his thoughts would not let him go. He started spending most of his time in a dwelling on the outskirts of the fairy kingdom going out only at night when no one could disturb him. 

This went on for a while. Was it self-hypnosis or the effects of constant lack of sleep, but left all alone with himself he began to hear a distant whisper that grew louder and louder every day. The others slowly began to shy away from him, as he behaved more and more intensely and secretively towards others. It was him. The whisper was impossible to make out because of his haste, but Pure Vanilla was sure that the voice belonged to Shadow Milk. It was excruciatingly exhausting. It was almost impossible to sleep, and when sleep did come, the image of the Beast peeked through the dark space and came closer and closer, smiling slightly with sharp teeth. As soon as he got close enough to be clearly seen, his face would start to contort into a sinister grin, and Pure Vanilla would wake up breathing fast and anxiously. Such dreams never lasted longer than a few minutes, but it was enough to plunge the ancient hero into chaotic anxiety and discourage the desire to sleep until the body turns itself off. Reality and dream began to gradually mix for him, transforming existence into a terrible mental torture, the faces of the surrounding cookies could begin to melt in his vision and countless eyes began to open on all the surfaces surrounding him, intently watching his every move. But the most terrifying thing was the mirrors. The reflection was never compatible with reality, each time there were different frightening images on the other side. He could stand among the lifeless bodies of cookies that lay helplessly at his feet, could be in a space completely filled with strawberry jam (blood), could tear off the wings of the fairies that screamed in panic, could destroy the silver tree with his own hands, releasing great evil or ruthlessly kill all the other ancient heroes smiling sincerely. Sometimes Shadow Milk was there too, he stood next to him and watched Vanilla with a satisfied look on his face. Each time Vanilla covered the mirrors with a cloth, but as soon as he turned away for a moment the canvas itself fell to the floor, showing an even more terrible scene. All he had the strength to do was sit huddled in the darkest corner of the room, trying not to look at the horror around him.  

He didn't realize how much time had passed, but suddenly he heard a cautious knock on the door. Could this be another game of his weak mind? "Pure Vanilla, are you in there?” - he heard the alarmed voice of the White Lily cookie. How long has it been since he went outside? He was ashamed that he had made her worry. Despite his weakened state, he didn't want to bother anyone. Especially Lily. She had taken on too much, her life was so full of countless regrets and guilt to put even more responsibility on her. It's just his burden, no one else's. It is his fault that he is so weak that he suffers from his own consciousness, it is his fault that he cannot fight back. Using a fraction of his concentration, he got up from the floor and headed for the door. He should look okay, he should seem normal. He tried to clear his head of everything that had happened lately and creaked the door open a little. "Yes, do you need something?"  He tried to smile softly, which had always calmed Lily before, but his body wouldn't obey. The smile looked insincere and rather bothered her even more. “Actually yes, may I come in please? This is extremely important.” - Her voice sounded quite agitated, but pretty firm. He glanced uncertainly at his room. Watching eyes stared at him, and the walls swam in his gaze. But fortunately, he knew that Lily couldn't see it. “Of course, you may come in” - he opened the door completely, gesturing for the guest to enter. Lily quickly slipped into the room, while Vanilla closed the door. She checked the room anxiously, standing in front of the curtained mirror. She looked excitedly from the neglected room to Vanilla. “What is the matter? - He tilted his head slightly, showing uncertainty. Lily walked over to Vanilla and took his hands in hers, pulling them to her chest. His hands were very cold and shaking a bit. "Is everything okay? You don't act like yourself lately - she looked into his eyes with sorrow - you look terrible, have you been drinking or eating anything? Please just tell me, all I want is to help. There is nothing that cannot.......”. Lily's speech became more and more unintelligible when Vanilla noticed that Shadow Milk’s hand was slowly sticking out from under the fabric on the mirror, starting to pull off the canvas. Pure Vanilla’s breathing became erratic, and his eyes began to run around the room trying to ignore what was happening. Lily looked behind her, puzzled, but didn't notice a thing. “Vanilla?” - Lily asked uncertainly as he began to slowly back away. Suddenly, the fabric fell off the mirror and Shadow Milk slowly came out of it passing through the glass. “No - Pure Vanilla whispered when he put his back against the wall – this can’t be”. Shadow milk cut off Lily's head in one motion and threw it on the floor, laughing. Tears started pouring out of Vanilla's eyes. “Oh, what a pleasant meeting! I've been waiting so long for the opportunity to finally have a few words with you, it was SOOOOO exhausting – he chuckled - but to be honest, I would prefer to continue our nice conversation elsewhere!” He lightly touched the star on Vanilla's forehead with his hand, as the ancient hero lost consciousness and collapsed to the floor. “Pure Vanilla cookie!” - Lily screamed in panic when he passed out. 

“Ta-da!” - heard Vanilla and opened his eyes. He was levitating in the void, there was simply no other name for this place. There was nothing around, just small stars twinkling somewhere in the distance. The lack of ground underfoot felt extremely strange, but the Beast seemed to feel quite comfortable. “This is my place, make yourself at home!” - he smiled lively and took a silly pose in the nevisomost. “What is that all for? “ - Vanilla asked suspiciously in a weak voice. “Awwwww, you cookies are all the same! Always suspect something instead of just relaxing! But you're right this time, I had a great offer just for you!” - Vanilla could see the mischievous gleam in his eyes. “How about we become partners? You seem pretty reliable and I don't think you're going to piss me off too much” - he narrowed his eyes. It was unexpected. But Vanilla had no intention of helping anyone wreak havoc around the Earthbread. ”What made you think that I would agree?" - he watched warily as the Beast’s face instantly became more gloomy. “Alright, you have already started pissing me off! I can arrange a much more terrible fate for you than what I'm offering now” - he glared at Vanilla. “It doesn't matter. If my suffering is the price to pay to keep the world safe from you, then I'm ready” - Shadow Milk was getting furious in front of his eyes. “So you are such a martyr, yea? I’m sick from your sugary speeches, AGH! Do you think that your spirit power will overcome me, do you think that YOU can decide something here?” - he was almost growling when suddenly a malicious grin appeared on his face. “So you think you're a good guy, like someone who protects all the weak, right? Let me prove that this is NOT the case - he pointed his hand at vanilla – BANG!” A sharp pain pierced Vanilla's chest, and a terrible burning sensation spread throughout his body. He squeezed his eyes shut, and when he opened them, he was lying in bed at Lily's house in the Fairy kingdom. It was early morning, apparently, and the sun was shining through the wide window. Vanilla breathed a sigh of relief when he realized that the hallucinations were gone. But he felt rather strange. He felt dizzy and.... hungry. Hunger.... Immediately, all his thoughts were filled with only an irresistible desire to restore vitality. He was losing control of his body because of the animal aspiration to search of food. He ran his tongue over his teeth and felt sharp fangs. He began to shake slightly. “What?” - before he knew it, a fairy cookie entered the room, holding several medicines in her hands. His mind was instantly empty. Out of control, Vanilla immediately rushed at the poor cookie, clinging to her throat with his fangs. 

White Lily was talking to the Silverbell cookie when she heard a terrible scream, which then turned into wheezing, from the direction of her house. She and the Silver Tree Knights rushed towards the sound, but then froze in horror. Pure Vanilla was biting off pieces of wings torn off from one of the fairies, who was now lying lifeless on the ground. Her throat was bitten in half. White Lily couldn't believe her eyes, Vanilla would never do such a thing. The very cookie that loved and appreciated any life killed another cookie right in front of her eyes. She wanted to say something, but several knights had already rushed to attack her best friend. But they couldn't get any closer. Their bodies were riddled with thorns created from the magic of the dark side of the moon. Vanilla smiled with satisfaction, there was not a drop of pity in his eyes. In a similar way a predator looks at its prey. Suddenly, Mercurial Knight Cookie appeared behind Vanilla's back, ready to dissect the traitor, but he was immediately captured. Clumps of dark magic firmly fixed his limbs. Vanilla grinned as the clots began to slowly tear off the cookie's limbs. “Pura Vanilla, stop that, please! I beg of you” - He heared the familliar voice, turned at the call and bowed his head questioningly. The dark magic also stopped, giving the knight a little break. “I'm not sure what's going on, but I'm sure it's not you! Vanilla, please, I'm addressing you as my closest friend, drop it and wake up!” - Lily screamed in tears. Vanilla's face looked puzzled for a moment, and the next second he hissed and clutched his head. Tears also began to form in his eyes. He covered his face with his hands and screamed desperately, and then looked up with horrified look. He pulled away from the lying bodies of the cookies in a panic He looked at Lily with fear and sincere regret, and then began to run away from the Fairy kingdom. Once he leaves, he will never be able to find it again. So he kept running until he was completely lost in the forest. He's a monster. He shouldn't be around someone he can hurt. He fell helplessly to his knees. In the resulting silence, he could hear that someone was catching up with him. He wanted to go even further away, when White Lily called out to him. “Stay away from me! - Pure Vanilla shouted - I'm a monster, I don't deserve your kindness or compassion!” “That is not..!” - Lily was interrupted in mid-sentence. “How right you are!” - Shadow Milk appeared right behind Vanilla, opening a portal leading to the void right below him. He bowed theatrically to White Lily before disappearing into the portal after Vanilla. 

(OMG, i have finally finished writing it! XD I enjoyed the process and really love the result, hope you enjoyed reading! If you notice some mistakes, inconsistencies or just strange moments you can text me about it! I will be happy to hear your opinion about my work! Also feel free to ask if you have any questions about the AU :3 That is the start of the universe I imagined, most of the drawings will be about it)

[chocodile]

Now, it's pretty well-known Hyden loathes carrots and loves rare, red meat. However - what might be his favorite dishes or ingredients besides that? And drinks, besides wine? Oh, and speaking of wine! Does he, perhaps, have a favorite sort? And, finally - what way does he usually eat chocolate? Hopefully he loves brownies - Mr. North definitely should bake more and then serve some.

Hyden is a Western Kingdom northerner, and his taste in food reflects his cultural upbringing: he likes rich food. Aside from red meat, he also enjoys other typical northern fare such as creamy chowders and dense dessert breads (Though he prefers softer breads such as pound cake that are easier to chew with his missing teeth rather than the infamously chewy "thickbread"). He has been living in the middle portion of the Western Kingdom for most of his life and has picked up favorite foods from other cultures, but his favorite dinner will always be a big bloody prime rib, a glass of expensive red wine, and a fruit tart for dessert. Other favorite foods include macaroni and cheese and dates with walnuts. He doesn't drink many things that aren't alcoholic but does enjoy sweetened milk drinks every now and then.

Post-unfreezing, he finds many of the foods common in the apocalyptic "post-fall" world unpalatable. It has been a difficult adjustment indeed. He is relieved that macaroni and cheese still exists and that such a luxury food is available in boxed instant meal form, presumably for nobles like him that are a little short on funds and servants these days.

As for chocolate, he likes everything he's tasted since being unfrozen. Theo's chocolate chip cookies are a favorite, but he also likes brownies (the dense, rich texture reminds him of dessert breads back home) and enjoys eating chocolate on its own. Were he to figure out where Theo keeps his chocolate chips (and if he understood that the chips on their own are already sweet with no additional preparation), Theo would have trouble keeping him from eating his baking ingredients.

A fun side note: Something Hyden will never admit and probably doesn't even realize is that his taste is very easily influenced by whatever has an image of luxury attached to it. If it's seen as high class and expensive, he wants it. If it's seen as peasant food, he's too good for it. As a result, he canonically hates lobster, but a modern AU of him would consider it one of his favorite foods.

[sweethoneyrose83]

The Amazing Digital Circus Recipe Ideas

1. Glitch Cupcakes

Ingredients: Vanilla or chocolate cupcakes, bright colored icing (blue, neon pink, green), edible glitter, and candy pixels (made with small square-shaped candies).

Idea: Decorate the cupcakes with digital glitch patterns using bright, pixelated colors and add some metallic or glowing effects to reflect the theme.

2. Circus Popcorn Cones

Ingredients: Freshly popped popcorn, melted chocolate (white, dark, or colored candy melts), sprinkles, edible confetti, and sugar cones.

Idea: Fill the sugar cones with the popcorn and drizzle with colorful chocolate, adding edible confetti and sprinkles to make them pop with color and circus excitement.

3. Neon Pixel Jello Bites

Ingredients: Different flavors/colors of jello, neon food coloring, and small square-shaped molds.

Idea: Make jello bites in various bright neon colors to look like digital pixels. You can layer them in a clear glass bowl to create a glowing, tech-inspired effect that resembles a digital screen.

4. Clown Cake Pops

Ingredients: Cake pop mix, candy melts in bright colors, edible metallic paint, and candy eyes.

Idea: Shape cake pops into mini robots or clown faces. Use candy melts to give them fun, whimsical colors and add metallic touches to give them a digital feel.

5. Augmented Reality Nachos

Ingredients: Tortilla chips, multicolored cheese sauces (cheddar, mozzarella dyed with food coloring), guacamole, salsa, sour cream, and digital-themed toppers (like pixelated cheese or nachos shaped like tech symbols).

Idea: Serve this with a fun twist by arranging the nachos in a digital pattern, or use nacho toppings with wild, unexpected colors that look like they’ve been “augmented” digitally.

6. Glowing Cotton Candy Drinks

Ingredients: Club soda, colorful cotton candy, and edible glow sticks or LED ice cubes.

Idea: Serve a drink with a tuft of cotton candy on top. When stirred in, it dissolves and creates a sweet, colorful drink. The glowing ice cubes or LED sticks add a futuristic, digital effect.

7. Pixelated Fruit Kabobs

Ingredients: Different types of colorful fruits like watermelon, pineapple, strawberries, and cantaloupe cut into cube shapes.

Idea: Arrange these fruit cubes on skewers to resemble pixels. You can even create patterns or images with the cubes to enhance the digital vibe.

8. Virtual Reality Pizza

Ingredients: Basic pizza dough, neon-colored toppings (dyed cheese, bright vegetables like bell peppers), and LED skewers.

Idea: Top your pizza with vibrant, digital-inspired toppings. You can even serve slices on LED-lit plates for an extra futuristic feel!

9. Pixel Pancakes

Make pancakes in different shapes and vibrant colors to represent pixels. You can use food coloring to create different shades. Stack them up and decorate with colorful fruits (blueberries, strawberries, kiwi) and whipped cream.

Ingredients: Pancake mix, food coloring, fruit, whipped cream

Directions: Make the pancake batter, divide it into separate bowls, and add different colors. Pour in pixel shapes using cookie cutters or freehand. Stack and decorate!

10. Circus Swirl Smoothie

A layered smoothie in bright, contrasting colors. Think of it as layers of different flavors stacked like a digital landscape.

Ingredients: Mango, strawberries, blueberries, yogurt, spinach, almond milk

Directions: Blend each fruit separately with a bit of yogurt and almond milk, then layer them carefully in a glass for a striped, rainbow effect.

11.Neon Popcorn

Regular popcorn with an exciting twist! Coat popcorn with neon-colored candy melts or edible glitter for a fun snack that feels like it’s straight out of a digital circus.

Ingredients: Popcorn, candy melts (neon colors), edible glitter

Directions: Melt candy melts, toss popcorn, and coat. Add edible glitter for an extra pop!

12. Digital Circuit Board Cookies

Sugar cookies shaped and decorated to resemble circuit boards or digital screens. Use royal icing to draw out "wires" and "chips."

Ingredients: Sugar cookie dough, royal icing, food coloring, edible silver dust

Directions: Bake the cookies in square or rectangular shapes, then decorate with green icing to mimic a circuit board. Use darker icing to draw connections and sprinkle edible dust for a high-tech look.

13. Binary Byte Brownies

These brownies are divided into tiny squares (like pixels) and decorated with a binary pattern using white and dark chocolate.

Ingredients: Brownie mix, white chocolate, dark chocolate

Directions: Bake a sheet of brownies and once cooled, cut into small squares. Decorate each square with melted white or dark chocolate to represent binary code (1s and 0s).

14. Digital Rainbow Donuts

Idea: Brightly colored donuts with a rainbow glaze, giving them a surreal, otherworldly appearance.

Ingredients: Donut batter, rainbow icing (made with white icing and food coloring), sprinkles.

Decoration: Dip the donuts into colorful glazes, using swirling patterns or separate rainbow layers for an electric circus feel.

[oxyvouge]

⇢ ˗ˏˋ i'd tell you i love you but you're too drunk to remember tomorrow. .ೃ࿐

summary: a night full of drunken gaze, dances and confessions

━━ ✦ pairing(s): sirius black x fem! reader

━━ ✦ warning(s): nothing really

━━ ✦ genre: fluff

━━ ✦ word count: 3.1k

author's note: this is impulsively written so please forgive me for the poor attempted representation of a drunk sirius

SIRIUS HAVE JUST TURNED 17 and the day was proving to be an absolute delight. Well-wishers and presents rained down upon him from all corners, like a cascade of joy. It was as if he had become the focal point of a grand celebration, with people lavishing attention upon him as though he were the glass and they the milk. Meanwhile, the Marauders – except for Sirius himself – had orchestrated a meticulously planned party, inviting a covert mix of students from other houses who agreed to come in secrecy.

Sirius was oblivious to the whole thing as he was busy being an attention whore more than usual, but it's already normal ain't it? It's in his nature after all.

Following dinner, the Gryffindors made a beeline for their common room, giving the attendees from other houses ample time to slip in without arousing suspicion. After all, who would want to face detention while suffering a potential hangover the next day?

From the corner of your eye, you caught sight of Sirius engrossed in conversation with a couple of Ravenclaws. Their hushed tones and sly gestures raised your suspicions, and before you knew it, your protective instincts kicked in.

"Sirius, come on!" You didn't mince words as you yanked him away from the Ravenclaws, brushing off their icy glares that were drilling into your back. Who did they think they were, talking to my best friend like that?

"Oi, wait up, Y/N! I've got a whole heap of presents here," Sirius grumbled, his attention torn between you and the pile of gifts he was carrying. He didn't seem to mind being pulled away from the Ravenclaws, but the promise of presents was enough to make him lament the interruption.

"Argyllshire," you announced, and with the password given, the Fat Lady's portrait swung open, granting them access to the common room. But just as you were about to step through, you halted, prompting Sirius to look back at you with a quizzical expression. Releasing his hand, you moved behind him, causing him to blink in surprise before a smile began to play on his lips, a glimmer of understanding dawning in his eyes.

With Sirius blindfolded by your gentle touch, you guided him further into the room, his trust in you evident as he allowed himself to be led. The anticipation in the air was palpable as you both came to a halt, your hands finally leaving his eyes.

As the blindfold fell away, Sirius blinked, taking in the sight before him. His arms instinctively loosened, causing the gifts he was holding to tumble to the ground in a haphazard heap. His gaze roamed the transformed common room, a wide grin spreading across his face as he spotted his three friends, each wearing expressions of excitement and mischief.

Peter stood before him, a cake adorned with 17 unlit candles held carefully in his hands. Remus and James flanked him, their eyes gleaming with shared joy and camaraderie. The room was adorned with banners, streamers, and twinkling lights, creating an atmosphere of celebration and warmth.

Sirius turned to you, his eyes reflecting a mixture of surprise, gratitude, and affection. "Blimey, so this is what you lot've been cookin' up, eh?" he began, his voice catching slightly as he looked back at his friends before returning his gaze to you, "Honestly, had me shocked when I didn't spot Wormy in the Great Hall earlier."

"Trust me, we went beyond mere persuasion to convince Peter to pass up dinner just for this." Remus started with a soft smile.

He stepped forward, his arms enveloping you in a tight hug. "Thank you," he whispered, his breath warm against your ear. As he pulled back, his gaze met yours, and in that shared moment, you both knew that this was more than just a celebration of his birthday – it was a celebration of the deep bond you all shared, a bond that had carried you through both challenges and triumphs, and had brought you to this very moment of shared joy and connection.

As you stepped back, your attention shifted to James, who was struggling to ignite the cake's candles with a series of unsuccessful matches. Peter held the cake steady, a look of cautious concern on his face.

James struck the match with a determined force, creating a brief flare before attempting to touch the candle's wick. Yet, much to his chagrin, the flame fizzled out, leaving James in a state of mild exasperation. "Merlin's beard, Prongs! Hurry it up! We've got sixteen — well, all the candles left to light!"

"Seriously, mate, who thought it was a brilliant plan to have 17 candles anyway?"

Remus let out a soft sigh before coming to James' rescue, his wand directed at the cake. A quick incantation, "Incendio," and all the candles were ablaze. Remus shot James a knowing look, earning a sheepish grin from him.

Before James could say anything, you interjected with a playful tone. "Alright, everyone, it's time to sing Sirius with his birthday anthem." Your announcement caught Sirius off guard, his eyes widening at the unexpected attention. "You've got two choices, mate – sing along or say goodbye to your cake."

For the next three minutes, the room was filled with your collective voices as you sang the familiar melody of "Happy Birthday." Sirius soaked up the moment, a mix of giddiness and mild apprehension evident on his face as the candle wax started to trickle onto the cake.

"Hurry it up, will you?" Sirius urged, his anticipation growing.

As the final notes of the song were sung, Sirius directed his attention to you and beamed with delight, his lips pursing before a triumphant gust of air extinguished the dancing flames atop the cake. The room erupted in cheers and applause, marking the successful conclusion of the candle-lighting ceremony and the beginning of Sirius' birthday celebration.

"Listen up, all you fourth years and below! If you're not keen on being propelled up the stairs, it's probably wise to retreat to your dorms," you announced, met with a chorus of groans from the younger students who reluctantly complied. "Take foods tho if you're still hungry!"

In your efforts to ensure the safety of everyone and maintain their innocence – at least for as long as possible – you established a strict age limit for the party because you knew how wild the boys would become. Only those who were fifth years and above were allowed to join the festivities. Anyone below that cutoff risked being unceremoniously ushered back towards the dormitories, either the girls' or boys' side, should they dare to venture into the common room.

Sirius was about to make his way over to you, but a flock of girls swooped in, bombarding him with birthday kisses, temporarily obscuring his view of you. You rolled your eyes at the predictable spectacle and turned to Remus. "Be right back, Moony." Remus simply nodded in understanding as you made your way to your shared room with Lily and the others, finding it currently vacant and allowing you a brief respite from the commotion.

You took out your pack of cigarettes and lighter and went to sit next to the window and opened it. You placed the stick in between your lips and lit it up. You puffed out the smoke as you stared up at the night sky feeling relaxed, the cold evening wind brushing against your skin. You spotted the star Sirius was named after, twinkling as it should be.

You let out a chuckle, the tip of the cigarette was currently being bitten by you. Everywhere you go, he's always there. "You're always here." You pointed at the star in the sky making your thoughts go back to the events that happened today. How every girl except for your friends were flirting with him and clinging to him like a leech.

Are you jealous? Of course you are! But who are you to say that out loud? After all, you're just the bestfriend of the infamous flirty prankster of Hogwarts, Sirius Black, with your childish one sided crush on him.

Feeling like an eternity had passed, the door swung open, revealing Mary Macdonald with her gentle smile as her eyes landed on you by the window, cigarette in hand. "Hey there," she greeted warmly, making her way to her bed. You responded with a smile of your own. "What's got you secluded up here? Missing out on the downstairs fun?"

"Could say the same for you."

Mary chuckled softly and shifted her attention to her bedside table. "I'm tired. How about you? Tired of feeling like what you're seeing was a sight for sore eyes?" She laughed at her own wry remark, and you found her laughter contagious, letting out a soft chuckle in response.

Pushing away from the window, you extinguished your cigarette on the ground and crushed it underfoot. "Well I'm off and you take your rest."

Descending into the common room, a whirlwind of revelry greeted your senses. The air pulsed with music that seemed to defy classification, bodies swayed and voices melded in harmonious chaos. Couples found solace in corners, lost in passionate embraces, while the sweet melody of laughter intermingled with the clinking of glasses.

And then, there he was. Sirius Black, swaying and twirling with reckless abandon to the rhythm. A lopsided grin graced your lips as you watched him, a bottle of firewhisky clutched carelessly in one hand.

Your surprise escaped your lips in a gasp as you took in the sight before you. "Merlin's beard, Sirius! I step away for a moment and you're already drunk?" Your voice struggled to compete with the booming music, yet you couldn't help but be amused by his spirited display.

Amidst the lively chaos, your call reached his ears, prompting Sirius to turn towards you, his eyes alight with mischief and inebriation. He continued to dance, his movements more exuberant than ever, as if the music was a siren song he couldn't resist.

He responded with a wild laugh, taking a triumphant swig from the bottle in his hand. "It's my bloody birthday!" he exclaimed, his words carrying a mix of jubilation and defiance.

You couldn't help but roll your eyes, a fond exasperation coursing through you. "Of course it is," you muttered, though a small smile betrayed your teasing facade. His infectious energy was hard to resist, even if it was fueled by copious amounts of firewhisky. You sighed, internally grateful that Remus decided to cast a silencing charm in the common room so people outside the common room wouldn't hear what they're up to and the students up at their dorms wouldn't be bothered.

"Hey, Y/N! Where've you been?" Lily Evans appeared by your side, holding two plastic cups. You nodded appreciatively, taking one as she suggested.

You sipped the drink, a fiery explosion in your mouth leaving you momentarily speechless. "Upstairs," you managed to say, your voice a little louder than intended, competing with the music. Lily nodded, her grin unwavering as she danced energetically.

Glancing around, you realized your friends were nowhere in sight. You turned back to Lily, leaning in closer to be heard over the music. "Where are the others?" Lily leaned closer too, struggling to hear. "Where are the others?'

"Mary's resting in the dorm, Marlene and Dorcas are probably off snogging somewhere," she shouted back. You nodded, downing the rest of your firewhisky-laden cup.

Hours passed, and the clock struck midnight. Most of the partygoers had headed back to their dorms, but Sirius Black and a small group were still going strong, dancing to the new song that had started.

You distributed hangover vials to those preparing to leave, aware that classes were still scheduled for tomorrow knowing it's just Wednesday.

Sirius, fueled by the alcohol, dragged Peter onto the dance floor, the exhausted Peter reluctantly going along with it. Catching your gaze from the couch, Sirius abandoned Peter mid-dance, resulting in a loud thud and Peter groaning in pain as he collapsed.

Sirius swaggered over to you, a lopsided grin on his face. "Hey there, Y/N! How 'bout a little dance?" Ignoring your protests, he seized your hand, his determination evident. With a playful wink and a mischievous gleam in his eyes, he hauled you to your feet, determined to have you join him on the dance floor.

Getting in the swing

You come to look for a king

Amused by his attempts to get you to dance to the music, you chuckled and quipped, "Sirius, you know I'm not much of a dancer!"

Anybody could be that guy

Night is young and the music's high

"Rubbish! Anyone can cut a rug — they just haven't got the knack yet." Sirius exclaimed. You didn't say anything and just looked at him as he tried to lead you to dance along the music with him. "Blimey, listen 'ere! Don't you worry 'bout a thing. Dancing's like, well, easy as pie! Anyone can do it, they're just a bit slow on the uptake," Sirius declared with an exaggerated sway, his grin widening.

He grabbed your hands and pulled you into a clumsy two-step, his movements a mix of enthusiasm and drunken carelessness. "See? Just follow my lead, and you'll be twirlin' like a pro in no time!"

You watched his antics with a bemused expression, trying your best to keep up with his unpredictable dance moves. Sirius caught your gaze, his eyes sparkling with mischief, but he quickly averted his eyes, a nervous chuckle escaping his lips.

He continued to lead you in a rather haphazard dance, his steps occasionally stumbling, but his energy was infectious, and a laugh escaped your lips despite yourself. You noticed him stealing glances in your direction, his cheeks tinted with a rosy hue. It was clear that his liquid courage was giving him the confidence to show a side of himself he might not have revealed otherwise.

As the music swirled around you both, you found yourself getting lost in the absurdity of the moment. Despite his attempts to act nonchalant, there was an undeniable tension in the air, an unspoken acknowledgment of the underlying feelings that both of you were trying to suppress.

Sirius, perhaps sensing the intensity of the situation, abruptly spun you around before pulling you back into a clumsy embrace. "See? I knew you had it in you!" he exclaimed, his words slurred and his grin lopsided.

You couldn't help but chuckle at his antics, the awkward dance moves only adding to the charm of the evening. And while he may have been trying to avoid looking into your eyes for too long, the genuine joy on his face was a clear indicator that his feelings were far from being hidden.

Young and sweet

Only seventeen

Dancing queen

"Happy Birthday, love." you muttered to him that he didn't catched. He leaned in, asking you to say it once more. With a playful grin, you raised your voice, "Happy Birthday!" The sudden exclamation made him wince, clearly not expecting the volume.

Not that, the one that you just called me… "Oi, not so bloody loud!" He hollered in response. You chuckled at him, your mirth dancing in his drunken gaze. "Hiccup... Y'know, you're somethin' special," he slurred, a lopsided grin plastered on his face. You stayed quiet, gracing him with a proper smile, still trying to sway to the tune telling yourself it's nothing as being a flirt had always been his nature. "Nah, scratch that, you're like — Merlin's beard, I like you!"

Thinking you hadn't heard him, he continued to dance as your smile faltered and you stopped dancing just looking at Sirius who's dancing the night away. You decided to retreat to the couch, needing a moment to collect your thoughts. The soft cushion welcomed you as you sat down, your heart still racing from the confession and the dance. It's nothing Y/N he's drunk, he doesn't know what he's saying.

Yet your other side would like to argue, No you bloody wanker! Drunk words are sober thoughts people can't put into words! You watched as Sirius twirled and swayed, his uninhibited dance reflecting the freedom of the night.

Lost in your thoughts, you remembered all the moments leading up to this one – the stolen glances, the inside jokes, the countless hours spent talking about everything and nothing. It was as if the universe had conspired to bring you to this precise moment, where confessions of the heart felt both natural and inevitable.

Sirius, still caught up in the dance, finally noticed your absence and made his way over to where you were seated. With a playful grin, he plopped down beside you, his breath slightly labored from the dancing.

"Why'd you stop, love? The night's still young," he teased, his voice a velvety whisper that sent shivers down your spine. You couldn't help but smile back, his nickname for you sending your heart a flutter.

"It's almost 1 in the morning, Sirius." Sirius didn't reply instead he just laughed, as if what you said was a joke. "Is it true?" Words slipped out from your mouth, which piqued Sirius' interest. The music quiets down for some reason. You felt your pulse quicken, your palms slightly clammy with nervous anticipation. "Is it true — what you said? You like me?"

He once again let out a hearty laugh, "Must be. Blame it on the firewhiskey," he quipped, a mischievous twinkle in his eyes.

It was your turn to laugh, "You know, I'd tell you I love you but you're too drunk to remember tomorrow."

His grin widened mischievously as he feigned ignorance, prompting you to say it once more. "Oi, what did you say?" he quipped in a playful tone, a glint of amusement in his eyes.

You sighed, Sirius might be drunk but he still has his playful demeanor in him. "I said I like you, you bloody wanker!"

As if he heard you more clearly now, he raised his eyebrows at you with a faint smirk playing at the corner of his lips. "Is that so?"

You shrugged, standing up walking towards the stairs. "Yeah."

"Oi, where d'you think you're off to?" Sirius called out, his steps wobbly as he rose from his seat, determined to follow you.

"Upstairs. I'm tired." Reaching the 10th step in the staircase, it suddenly turned into a slide knowing Sirius stepped his foot in it. You slid down, flopping yourself at Sirius back with a groan as you rolled over. "I told you I'm tired…"

Sirius instead, just shot you a grin and took his hand as if he himself wasn't the drunk one. "Sleep with me in the boys bedroom."

you can make a request here where you'll be guided by the guidelines and check out the masterlist.

[tozettastone]

re: naruto oc

I made a sketch of the character!

This is the nameless oc on a regular work day when she's not actively pretending to be anyone.

Some character notes:

She's 166cm (5'5") tall.

As a nod to the standards of the setting (which I have grudgingly accepted) she has puttees, bare toes (thanks, Kishimoto) and fishnet under her cropped shirt. She's got a waterfall hitae-ate because I decided she first learns about Kakuzu when she's growing up in their shared old village.

She will claim this look is entirely free from artifice because she's not using any illusions, but she's around fifty and the list of things she's doing to maintain this look ranges from preserving muscle tone past menopause (by using a mix of medical jutsu and the secretions of butchered animals), to checking her makeup every time she passes a reflective surface. She is also absolutely not a natural redhead, and although those long curls are naturally occurring, she has to catch them at a highly specific point in the greasy-clean cycle to have them look cute, and she has a very active job, so if you touch her hair (do not) it's so loaded with product that it's basically like touching cake frosting. Her array of insanely expensive floral bathing and body products mostly cover the smell of hair stuff. Don't worry, she didn't pay for them.

If you ask ask her about her complexion, she'll say it's bathing in milk and sugar scrubs. It isn't.

Looking how she wants is basically its own part time job, and half the time nobody even sees her because her hobby/job/primary occupation is that she's hiding under an illusion 30 paces away from some incredibly dangerous missing-nin.

She might look like she's unarmed. That's because she's carrying, like, three knives, and one of them is for eating. Basically, if she gets involved in some kind of protracted dramatic set piece fight, she's already fucked up beyond belief. She doesn't need heaps of weapons.

She does need bare hands and unadorned wrists. She has light fingers and she'd hate to make a noise by accident.

As a jounin-level ("level") missing-nin, her strengths are: her genjutsu, chakra control and precision, lying her black little heart out, overhearing fascinating information, never paying for anything, identifying and using useful plant and animal products in the field, slipping things into strangers' drinks, stealing shit and minor medical procedures (she doesn't really have the interest). Her chakra control and genjutsu speciality have some overlap with ninjutsu, so she's above average at that but she doesn't have a huge repository of techniques. She really does know an enormous number of illusory techniques, though, and she invents her own for fun and profit.

Her weaknesses are: her low physical strength (especially her upper body strength), her taijutsu, a comparatively limited chakra supply (no giant beast summons for her :'( ), her people and teamwork skills (she's been a transient missing-nin hiding from observers all alone for 35 years. it shows), she has no patience for any of the sealing stuff, and she suffers from a genuine emotional dependency on the state of her hair.

[hyakinthou-naos]

Hyakíntha Day 3: Feasts and Mysteries - The Mustērion

Descriptions regarding the traditions of the third day of Hyakíntha are sparse, leaving some scholars to believe that it was a day dedicated to Mystery Cults and communal feasts.

To honor the Mystery Cults of old, The Temple will be celebrating this day with a secret ceremony that will not be shared online. We encourage our patrons and visitors to hold their own ceremonies in private, and refrain from describing them or posting about them. This day can be a day of reflection, of truly focusing on your practice and relationship with The Theoi outside of communal judgements or pressures.

Additionally, to incorporate the tradition of communal feasts, we have listed below 4 recipes that aim to mimic Hellenic Greek desserts.

Be advised that The Temple has not yet personally tested the following recipes - so we cannot speak to the consistency or taste of any of the foods listed below.

If any of our patrons or visitors do attempt the recipes listed below, we would love to hear how it went and what the foods tasted like! We hope to attempt these recipes in the near future - but are unable to at this time.

Eirene - peace and farewell,

- The Temple of Hyacinthus

1. Seskoulou Plakous - Sesame-Honey Cakes

Ingredients:

1 cup sesame seeds

1/2 cup honey

Optional: ground nuts (almonds or walnuts) & cinnamon

Instructions:

Toast the Sesame Seeds: In a dry skillet over medium heat, lightly toast the sesame seeds until they are golden and fragrant. Be careful not to burn them.

Mix with Honey: In a bowl, mix the toasted sesame seeds with honey (If desired, add ground nuts and a pinch of cinnamon).

Shape the Cakes: Press the mixture into small cake shapes, about the size of a cookie.

Set: Let the cakes sit at room temperature until they firm up (this could take several hours)

Serve: Serve the cakes as a sweet treat or as an offering.

Historical Context:

This recipe is inspired by Ancient Greek offerings and festival foods - where sesame seeds and honey are thought to be common ingredients in various cakes and sweets used in religious rituals.

2. Melitoutta - Ancient Greek Cheesecake

Ingredients:

1 cup wheat flour

1/2 cup honey (plus extra for drizzling)

1 cup fresh, soft cheese (like ricotta or a soft goat cheese)

Note: you can substitute ricotta /soft goat cheese with cream cheese, but it will change the flavor and texture slightly. If substituting with cream cheese you may need to add milk or water to it to make the consistency similar to ricotta/soft goat cheese.

1 egg for binding (optional)

Instructions:

Make the Dough: Combine the wheat flour with 1/4 cup of honey and, if using, the egg. Mix until a dough forms.

Form the Base: Roll out the dough into a round shape and place it in a baking dish.

Top with Cheese: Spread the fresh cheese evenly over the dough base.

Bake: Bake at 350°F (175°C) for about 20-30 minutes, or until the dough is golden and the cheese is slightly set.

Finish with Honey: Drizzle with the remaining honey and let cool slightly before serving.

Historical Context:

This recipe is adapted from description found in the words of Athenaeum’s and other ancient sources, where simple cheese and honey combinations were a popular dessert.

3. Glykanisous - Anise-Honey Cookies

Ingredients:

1 cup wheat flour

1/2 cup honey

1 tsp anise seeds

1/4 cup olive oil

Water (as needed)

Instructions:

Prepare the Dough: Mix the wheat flour, anise seeds, and olive oil in a bowl. Gradually add honey and water until a dough forms.

Shape the Cookies: Form the dough into small, flat cakes or cookies.

Bake: Place the cookies on a baking sheet and bake at 350°F (175°C) for about 15-20 minutes, or until golden brown.

Cool and Serve: Allow the cookies to cool before serving

Historical Context:

Anise is believed to have been a popular flavoring in Ancient Greece, often used in both sweet and savory dishes. This recipe draws inspiration from descriptions of ancient baked goods flavored with honey and spices.

4. Oxygala with Honey and Figs

Ingredients:

1 cup strained yogurt

2 tbsp honey

Fresh or dried figs

Instructions:

Prepare the “Oxygala”: Take the yogurt and thin it slightly with a bit of milk or water to achieve a more liquid consistency, similar to oxygala.

Add Honey: Stir in the honey, adjusting the amount to taste.

Serve with Figs: Serve in bowls, topped with fresh or dried figs.

Historical Context:

Oxygala was a common fermented dairy product in Ancient Greece, similar to yogurt. It was often sweetened with honey and enjoyed as a simple dessert.

These recipes are reconstructed based on historical accounts, and while the exact measurements and methods may not be precisely as the ancients did, they aim to give a close approximation using available modern ingredients.

[nihonnojihifukainomajonoseiiki]

I made a dark chocolate and blackberry cake to honor Morrigan.

This cake embodies the dark elegance and strength associated with Morrigan, with the bittersweet blackberries and dark chocolate representing the depth of her power and the transition between life and death.

Ingredients

Cake

2 cups all-purpose flour

1 ½ cups sugar

¾ cup black cocoa powder

1 ½ tsp baking powder

1 ½ tsp baking soda

1 tsp salt

2 large eggs

1 cup whole milk

½ cup vegetable oil

2 tsp vanilla extract

1 cup boiling water

1 cup fresh blackberries (for the filling)

Blackberry filling

2 cups fresh blackberries

½ cup sugar

1 tbsp lemon juice

1 tbsp cornstarch mixed with 1 tbsp water

Blackberry buttercream frosting

1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature

4 cups powdered sugar

½ cup blackberry puree (strained for smoothness)

1 tsp vanilla extract

Purple gel food coloring (to intensify the blackberry hue)

Dark chocolate ganache

8 oz dark chocolate, chopped

1 cup heavy cream

Decorations

Black fondant roses

Dark chocolate shards with a swirl of purple luster dust

Instructions

Bake the cake:

Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C.) Grease and line two 8-inch round cake pans.

In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.

Add the eggs, milk, vegetable oil, and vanilla extract. Beat on medium speed until smooth.

Carefully pour in the boiling water and mix until the batter is thin and smooth.

Divide the batter evenly between the pans and bake for 30-35 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.

Allow the cakes to cool in the pans for 10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

2. Prepare the blackberry filling:

In a saucepan, combine blackberries, sugar, and lemon juice. Cook over medium heat until the blackberries break down, about 10 minutes.

Stir in the cornstarch mixture and cook for an additional 2 minutes until the filling thickens.

Remove from heat and let cool completely before using.

3. Make the blackberry buttercream:

In a mixer, beat the butter on medium speed until creamy.

Gradually add powdered sugar, beating until smooth.

Add blackberry puree and vanilla extract. Mix until the color is consistent.

Add a few drops of purple gel food coloring to intensify the color.

Continue beating until the frosting is light and fluffy.

4. Assemble the cake:

Place one cake layer on a serving plate and spread an even layer of blackberry filling on top. Place the second layer on top and press gently.

Frost the cake with the blackberry buttercream, smoothing the sides and top.

5. Prepare the dark chocolate ganache:

Heat the heavy cream in a small saucepan until it begins to simmer.

Pour the hot cream over the chopped dark chocolate in a bowl and let sit for 2-3 minutes.

Stir until smooth and glossy, then let it cool slightly.

Pour the ganache over the top of the cake, letting it drip down the sides for a dramatic effect.

6. Garnish:

Place the dark chocolate shards and black fondant roses on top of the cake. The shards represent Morrigan's fierce, warlike aspect, while the black roses symbolize transformation and mystery.

7. Serve:

To honor Morrigan, consider setting a small piece aside as an offering during a ritual, accompanied by a quiet moment of reflection or a short prayer.