#nothing beats a good tomato soup

[superbsupper]

Babysitters Club— Sukuna never thought he could use baby sitting as a way of picking up girls, but that was proved possible when he met you.

Modern AU! Sukuna x reader || Genre: Fluff || Warnings: none || WC: 872

Yuuji, Sukunas nephew, was in need of a babysitter. Sukuna, after being bribed, took his brothers bratty kid so he could go on a date.

Sukuna had to take care of Yuuji for the next couple of hours. Which led him to putting Yuuji on the couch, turning a show on, and then watching his phone. The TV keeps Yuuji distracted— for about 30 minutes.

“Why are you crying? You’re just sitting there.” Frustration was what was coming from Sukuna, his brows furrowed as he tried to figure out how to get Yuuji to stop crying. “Hey! Cmon— oh Jesus.. what? Are you hungry or something? Need like… your diaper changed?”

He tried everything. Food? Yuuji smacked it away. Changing? Yuuji kicked around. A nap? Yuuji wouldn’t even lay down. Not until Sukuna groaned and looked up some stuff on google did he realize that ‘well maybe he wants to play’.

Yuuji walked clumsily in his big winter clothes with Sukuna, holding his hand with a grumpy expression as they walked through the snow. Sukuna sighs loudly again for the umpteenth time, before he lets Yuuji run off to the snow covered playground.

A while of Yuuji playing in the cold and sukuna grumbling to himself, they both head to the store to pick up something to eat. Although Sukuna knew Yuuji wouldn’t be able to have anything other than the food brought by his brother, he still wanted something for himself.

“Want something spicy, brat?” Sukuna asked gruffly, more talking to himself than the so called brat in his arms, the one who was slapping his face gently and babbling. A little giggle is heard from beside Sukuna, his brows furrowing as he looks to the side.

You.

You were standing there giggling, your face warming when Sukuna perks at your giggle, making you look away quickly and shut up from his narrowed gaze.

He stares long and hard before raising a brow. He huffs and goes back to shopping, putting Yuuji down so he could look at some cans of soup. Cream of chicken? Gross. Chicken noodle? Also gross. Tomato soup..? Better, but boring.

Sukuna turns to where he assumed Yuuji was— only to be met with a little winter jacket on the ground. His heart drops to his ass and he freezes for a second. He starts to panic silently, looking around for a moment before realizing—

He lost Yuuji.

He grabs the jacket and looks around with urgency, his heart beating so hard it felt like it would burst. His panic gets worse when he hears crying. Was that Yuuji? Is he hurt? Should he be relived that Yuuji’s still in the store???

When he comes around the corner, little jacket in hand, chest heaving with worry he’s met with the sound of a soft voice. “Shhh… it’s okay… uhm.. where’s your daddy..?”

You.

You were holding Yuuji, worriedly trying to calm him down, hushing quietly while Yuuji squirmed in your arms with little hiccups and sniffles coming from his shivering body. “Shhhh.. it’s okay..”

Sukuna had never felt more relief in his life. Though his heart was still racing it would start to calm down. He started to walk towards you, Yuuji sniffling and hitting you, making you turn to Sukuna.

“Little shit…” Your brows knit up and you tilt your head, a little smile on your face when handing back Yuuji with a little smile. “What?”

“Nothing.” His voice is gruff and annoyed, putting the jacket back on Yuuji and holding him in his arms, to guarantee that Yuuji wouldn’t venture off.

“Uhm..” the look on your face was cute. Your face was a bit red.. and now that Sukuna had a good look at you he realized how soft you looked. “Your son’s cute..”

It takes a long moment of staring before there’s a small scoff and Sukuna looks away, grumbling something. “He ain’t my kid…” He realizes how it might sound, looking over and sighing loudly. “He’s my nephew.”

A little ‘ooohhh…’ comes from you, a smile on your sweet face while you looked at Yuuji. “Well.. he’s adorable.. really...”

For the first time in a long time sukuna felt something weird. His stomach felt tangled and his heart was beating a bit harder than usual. “Thanks for finding the brat, my brother would have killed me if I lost him.”

The way you give a polite little nod and smile makes his heart beat a bit harder, his gruff demeanor a bit relaxed before he clears his throat. “…His name’s Yuuji.”

The information makes you give a hum, nodding as you smile. “Well.. hi there Yuuji…” You introduce yourself, glancing up to the man holding Yuuji as if introducing yourself to him as well. “Does your uncle have a name, little guy..?”

“Sukuna.” He answers you, looking down at your soft form and turning Yuuji a bit closer to you. “…Nice to meet you.”

You end up making conversation, exchange numbers, sadly eventually parting ways once you both collect your groceries. On Sukunas walk home he looks down to Yuuji. If it wasn’t for him running off, Sukuna wouldn’t have talked you. Hell— he probably wouldn’t have even noticed you.

“…Good job, brat.”

(AN: This feels so weird. I’ve never shared my writing so I’m sorry if it’s really amateur. I’m open to any criticisms just please don’t like.. destroy me 😭.)

[damascus-crowned-king]

Foolish love, but damn if it isn't true

Fool!Guy and Fool!Honey

It's really fucking bad yall

They were bored.

They were the only one awake at 6:30 AM, and they hated it. Years of waking up early out of fear that they would be late for some sort of event or that if they didn't wake up early enough, they wouldn't be as productive was biting them in the ass.

So they decided to bother their adorable, grumpy, currently asleep boyfriend.

"Guy."

"Baby."

"Darling."

"Sugar."

"Flour. Egg. Butter. Vanilla extract. Baking soda. "Salt. If you don't answer me, the pet names are just gonna get weirder, Guy."

"Nothing? Alright."

...

Radio silence.

"My oatmeal cream pie. My tomato soup."

"My honey-"

It only took a second for Guy to grab the back of their head and shove their face into a pillow and lay on top of them. Rendering them immobile.

"Oomph!"

"First of all. I call you honey, not the other way around. Second of all, It's too early and you should go back to bed. Third of all, why were almost all of those "pet names" food related?"

"I'm bored... and I can't go back to sleep, and also, I'm hungry, and who said that you trademarked the nickname 'honey'?!"

He replied dryly. "I did."

They squirmed for a minute before giving up under him. "Can you get off of me now?"

He questioned them slightly, still mildly crushing them under his weight. "Are you gonna chill out?"

"Maybe..."

"..."

"....Okay I'll calm down... lame-ass..."

"Did you say something?"

"Nothing, sweetheart~"

"That's what I thought." He got off top of them and laid on his side while Honey wrapped their arms around him so he could nuzzle his face in their chest.

They eventually started scratching his scalp, and they made a small smile at him leaning into their touch. "Your roots are kinda showing. Do you want me to touch 'em up for you?"

Guy scrunched his face in confusion and slight judgment at their behavior, still mumbling into their neck. "Honey. Did you just sniff my hair?"

Guy buried his face in the crook of their neck and wrapped his arms around them even tighter, mumbling a tired response. "Yeah... Tomorrow."

Honey slightly shivers at Guy's warm breath on their neck, smirking at his clinginess. "Okay." Letting out a soft confirmation before burying their face in his hair, taking a deep whiff of his natural scent mixed with his coconut and mango shampoo.

Honey smirked at Guy's convicting tone. "What? You smell good."

Guy scoffed at honey, finding their fascination for his smell odd. "You're such a weirdo..."

"What? You want me to say you smell bad? 'Cus I could."

"I mean, you could, but then you'd just look like a liar..."

"Do you want me to appreciate your smell or say you smell gross?"

"You could just... not smell me. That's an option." He says, throwing out the proposition, knowing full well it won't be taken into consideration.

Honey, fake-considers his suggestion, very obviously not actually thinking about not smelling him. "Mmmmm nah I'll pass."

Guy rolls his eyes and holds Honey tighter, wrapping his legs around them like a koala. Squeezing them tightly while they play with his hair.

This was the life to Guy. Silence and cuddles, Honey's fingers tangling into his hair and Guy secretly taking in their scent. (Hypocrite) Who wouldn't love this serene, still moment...

"Has anyone told you you're absolutely perfect?"

Guy was stunned to say the least. For Honey to say something so out of the blue and something so sappy had his heart skipping a beat.

"Um... no? What's up with you?" Guy was confused. Confused but not that surprised. His Honey was always one to speak their mind, but sometimes they said things that had him flustered. And he wasn't exactly the best at preparing for their unaware sweet words.

"Just sayin'. You're adorable, you're sweet, you smell amazing all the time, and you feed me. That seems like perfect boy behavior to me."

Whoooo boy. Yep. This is how he dies. Four years of being together, and he still turned into a bashful mess whenever Honey was all mushy with him... which was most of the time.

"God you are so..."

"Sooo...? What?"

Guy lets out a soft, resigned sigh and leans into them. "Charming."

Honey snorts at Guy somewhat dropping the tough-guy act and admitting he finds them charming, their ego rising at his simple word of affirmation.

"And that's all the sappy shit you're getting out of me today. No more."

"Ahhh I knew it... you're no fun..."

"Not my problem."

"But you know what is your problem?"

Guy groaned, clearly not excited for whatever was about to come out of his Honey's mouth. "What?"

Honey spoke up with a smirk in their voice. "Breakfast~"

"Ughhhh...."

"Soooo. What should we have for breakfast? We could have waffles, hashbrowns, Omelettes, grits? Ooh! We could have French toast and sausage?"

Guy rolled his eyes as they rambled about various breakfast foods, but deep down he knew he'd make a four course breakfast meal for his Honey. Because they deserved it. They deserved the world after dealing with his sass and sarcasm and monotone, lackluster personality, and his absence of... everything for years and even deciding to date him after putting up with all of it.

So he'll gladly make them breakfast.

And gladly give them the whole world if they asked.

Anything for his Honey.

[romanarose]

Flannel

Jackson!Joel Miller x gn!reader

Masterlist : Taglist

Summary: Joel comes back from patrol with some clothes for you, but doesn't understand the sentimentality of your old one.

Warnings: Uh nothing?

Immersability: Reader is gender neutral bc I saw no reason to have a gender, however, i generally write fem!reader so if I slip up and used a pronoun or something fem presenting, let me know!

**************

"Honey?" You call to your husband downstairs. Joel was cooking dinner. It was getting chilly, even with the generated heat in Jackson, and you wanted to wrap up in your favorite flannel. It was a worn thing, dirty and stained and more than a few patches but it was a comfort to you.

"Hm?" Joel couldn't hear you. His hearing in his bad ear had only gotten worse as he aged, so you hopped your way down the stairs to see him. God he looked good with an apron on.

"Joel, baby, have you seen my flannel?"

He turned to you as he stirred the soup. It smelled amazing. "The one I just brought back? It's on the bed, last time I saw."

Joel had found a box of old winter clothes while looking through houses on an overnight search, and stole a flannel aside just for you earlier this week. It was a great flannel, thick and warm and durable, and you were so, so grateful, but not the one you were looking for.

You shook your head. "No, not that one." Taking out spoon, you sneak a sip of the tomato soup he had been brewing; garlic bread was in the oven.

"Hey." Joel playfully smacked your hand away. "I promised Ellie taste tasting."

"Damn right you did!" Ellie sauntered in, snatching the spoon away as Joel obligatory reminded her of her manners. "Delicous, when's dinner?"

Peeking in the oven, Joel decided the toast was toasty enough and grabbed a oven mitt. "I think right about now." Ellie woops and Joel turns to you. "Sorry darl'n, what was it you were look'n for?"

"My old flannel." You clarify. "I was hanging up last I rememeber."

Joel instructed Ellie to set the table, please and thank you. "Oh that old old thing? I donate it last week after I brought you a new one."

"Donated it? To who? I was falling apart." You begin to panic, heart beating at the thought of your comfort item being gone. Why would Joel do that? You had to get it back.

Looking confused, he set up dinner, even platting up yours and Ellie's soup and bread and a simple salad. "To scraps. You said it yourself, it was falling apart."

"But Joel, why? It was mine."

"Technically, it was mine." Joel tried to joke, but when Ellie cough, he looked to her and she made a face at him. Joel turned to you and saw your forlorn expression, he realized this wasn't a joke. "I'm sorry, baby. I thought you wouldn't need it since I got you a knew one."

"Joel, you can't just give away things that are mine…"

He nodded, setting down the food to give you his full attention. "You're right, darl'n." Joel took you in his arms, kissing your forehead. "I really am sorry, do you forgive me?"

You did, and you told him as much, then tried to sit down for a meal with your family. Joel clocked right away something was wrong, but opted to wait until family dinner was over. When he found you crying in the bedroom, he knew he fucked up, he just didn't understand why. It was just a flannel, a flannel that was useless. In fact, he specifically got the new one for you so that you could get rid of it. Joel thought you deserved the best, and he'd give you the best he could provide.

"Darl'n?" He asked carful as he approached. "What's wrong?"

You sniffle, wiping your eyes. "I'm sorry, I was trying to get it together."

"Is this about the shirt?"

"Yeah."

"But... Why? I'm sorry baby, I know you wanted to keep it... but I don't understand wasting your tears on it?" He cleared his throat. "Not that it's not important, it obvious is, I just don't understand... why?"

You smile at him, knowing he's trying him best. It was sweet, how much effort he put into being a good husband for you and a good dad for Ellie. "Do you remember the day you found me?"

"Clear as day."

It wasn't a fond memory to Joel. He was out on patrol when you came across you, starving and cold and stumbling; he wrapped you up in his flannel and took you on his horse to Jackson, and you never gave it back. To you, the flannel smelled like safety, like home. Wrapped up in its warmth that day, it smelled like Joel and in his arms you knew you were safe.

"That flannel makes me feel safe because it reminds me of you, it reminds me of the day you saved me, it makes me feel safe..."

Joel started carefully. "Darl'n, do you not feel safe?"

You shook your head vehemently, shaking off with it such a notion. "I feel safe, especially with you." Resting your head on his shoulders, you take his scent that comforted you so much. "It's just... I dunno, like a kid with a blanket or teddy, I guess."

Joel nodded. "I'm really sorry, darl'n. Really. I'll check by first thing tomorrow, see if they havn't cut it up and repurposed it yet, okay?"

"Yeah, okay." You sniffle, rubbing your face on his shirt but he didn't seem to mind. "And it's okay, you didn't mean anything by it."

*

It was already cut up, to late and too tattered to save in any meaningful way. He let you know, but you didn't seem so upset anymore; Joel had let you pick out a shirt of his to steal from now on, and you had already assumed it was gone.

What you didn't know is Joel had saved the scraps, taking them over to Maria and asking for help. He wasn't a creative by any means, but he did know how to sew a little. Being a single dad on a tight budget he had gotten hang of fixing up holes.

What he didn't know was what to do with the fabric; the final project was Maria's idea. She cut out the pattern for him and gave him the stuffing as well as a place to work away from your eye. When it was done, Joel held it up to her, rather proud. It turned out pretty nice.

*

"Darl'n?! You home?" Joel called a few days later.

"Upstairs, Joel!"

Joel approaches you doing the laundry, wearing the new flannel no less. His hands were behind his back. "I got a surprise you for you."

The broad smile on his face piqued your interest. "Oh?"

With pride, Joel reveals to you a plaid, stuffed, teddy bear.

"Joel..." You speak softly, taking the toy in your hands "Is that...?"

"My shirt? Yes ma'am." He was beaming. "They had already cut it up by the time I got to up, but I was able to save the scraps. Maria helped me with a pattern and we got this put together."

Tears welled up in your eyes, spilling over quickly. "Oh honey..."

His face flattered. "Oh, was I not supposed to-" You cut him off with a hug, burying you head in the warmth of his chest that had softened in age. "This is the sweetest thing anyone has done for me..."

You slept with the teddy bear in your arms, Joel's arm around you that night. This was even better than a flannel. The flannel would continue to wear and tear, needing to be patched up and cleaned the stains out of. A teddy bear would be there forever.

Just like Joel

*******************

Sweet baby Joel, trying his best <3

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[zlebooks]

𓂃 alhaitham + pineapples on pizza .

alhaitham’s love language is giving you the pineapples on his pizza and him eating what’s leftover.

alhaitham doesn’t like pineapples on his pizza— you noticed.

whenever you call for a thirty minute break from the study group you invited him to (read: you and the scholar are the only members of the said “study group”), he’d always order a pizza.

he claims that it’s easy to eat, and it’s what doordash is for— plus as college students, it was sometimes the cheapest thing on the menu.

every time you’re seated on the ground, facing his coffee table, you never fail to notice how he picks at the pineapples on his pizza. this occurrence then leads to him eating a literal triangular bread with tomato sauce because all the toppings came off along with the pineapples. he eats it nonchalantly, not bothered by the pitiful state of his slice of pizza— if you can even call it that— as he highlights the text he’s reading.

“why do you keep ordering hawaiian for us when you don’t even like it?”

“because you prefer it.” the other responds in a straightforward manner, not even looking up from his textbook.

it’s during moments like this did you wish that alhaitham is aware of your trickery and why it’s only him that shows up during the study group sessions you arrange. you hope that the reason why he’s putting up with your obvious deceit is because he might be just as equally as interested as you.

“but what about what you like?” you ask once again, and this time, alhaitham finally takes a glance at you.

he focuses his gaze on the slice your holding, raising an eyebrow at it before looking back at you. “it’s not like you get to think about what i like when you’re obviously enjoying the abundance of toppings on yours.”

you feel heat creeping up your cheeks, ah right— whenever alhaitham takes off the toppings on his pizza, he directly puts them on yours. you don’t give it any meaning though! you were sure alhaitham is the type of guy that hates seeing food go to waste.

“i can eat other pizza flavors too you know…” grumbling, you turn the page of your book, “i can eat cheese or pepperoni.”

“you don’t like those flavors because you think they taste salty.”

your heart does a somersault— he remembers.

“of course i do. you turned it into your whole personality.” he grunts.

you’re positive that your temperature has gone over the roof and you look exactly like the tomato soup the pizzeria uses.

“h-hey! in my defense… they’re really salty to the point i’m going to get kidney stones just from eating them.” you manage to stammer out and your study buddy snorts at your exaggeration.

“well, it’s a good thing that i keep ordering hawaiian— need to keep the kidney healthy,” he pauses, putting his cheek on his palm as he smirks. “we have you to thank.”

“i can’t help but to notice��� are you teasing me?”

the other can’t help but to chuckle directly in his fist, and if he managed to catch your frown, he failed to comment on it. shrugging, he replies, “am i now?” alhaitham buries his head into his book once again, “i can’t help but to notice that you aren’t doing any studying in our… study group.” heavy emphasis on the last words, your heart beats loudly against your chest as the thought of him knowing your shameful secret runs through your head.

the scholar notices this of course— nothing gets past from his watchful gaze. he wants to watch you further squirm in your current position, oh how cute were you to joke around with. it almost compensates for the moments he had to fill his stomach with nothing but topless pizzas.

“next time, maybe don’t bother inviting me to your study group. after all, you never ask anyone else but me.” alhaitham hums acting as if he were deep in his thoughts, “oh i know, ask me on a date instead.”

[heliosthegriffin]

"So, who's the most dangerous member of team JNPR?" Yang asked the table unprompted, the rest of her team looking up from their food.

"Hmm, Pyrrha." Weiss said with little thought. "Perfect form, incredible strength and reflexes, she is definitely their ace in the hole."

"Really?" Yang held her stomach. "Nora's stronger, and her energy she brings to a fight is something else,"

Blake was silent in thought for a moment. "The question isn't who's strongest, or skilled, though. Pyrrha is their best fighter, but Nora is the physically strongest, but remember, the element of surprise and intelligence are just as deciding a factor in a fight. Ren's not as good a fighter, or as strong, but his mobility and aura control mixed with his ruthlessness, I think make him more dangerous."

"Elaborate." Weiss stated.

"Well, Nora is strong and energetic, but she's always going to come at you head on, so it's easy to counter her, if you don't fight her on her terms. Pyrrha better about that, but she's very civil, so she's not going to fight you outside of arena, unless you start it. Ren though? I can see him slitting someone's throat."

The rest of the table stared at her blankly.

"Nah, it's Jaune." Ruby said after a beat, drinking some milk.

"What?" Weiss said flatly. "You must be kidding. He's by far the least skilled, weakest, and most disgra-"

"Ok that's enough, princess." Yang cut her off. "But, she's got a point, Ruby."

Ruby shrugged. "Yeah, that's true, but-" She took a drink of milk. "What's Jaune's fighting style?"

Weiss huffed. "Simple, it's nothing, he doesn't have one."

"Yeah, it's kind of random style."

Blake thought for a moment, seeing a flash of triumph in Ruby's eyes. "Oh, that's your point."

Ruby gave finger guns at the cat-girl. "Exactly! You asked who's the most dangerous! It's Jaune, because, how you going to fight someone who doesn't know what he's going to do next?"

"What?" Yang and Weiss asked simultaneously.

Blake nodded along. "She's got a point, how are you going to react to someone who doesn't know what even he's going to do next?"

"Plus, have you ever been hit by him?" Ruby added, with no one stepping up to the plate. "His skill and style might not be great, but his strength is incredible, and his durability, endurance, and staying power are unmatched if you ask me."

"She's right, you know." A new voice interjected, all of team RWBY turning to face the sudden newcomer.

"Ren? Since when did you get here?" Yang asked.

"Since the beginning," He said simply, sipping from a juice box. "But, it's definitely, Jaune." His eyes became distant and foggy. "Always has been."

"Uh, you ok, buddy?" Yang putting a hand on his shoulder.

Ren went back to normal. "Yeah, why wouldn't I be?"

"Well, the look of trauma on your face, just kind of,-"

"Don't ever get locked in a food-pantry with Jaune, there's no telling what he'll do, because even he doesn't know."

"How did that even occur?" Weiss asked. "Why were you two even-"

"Nora."

"Oh."

"Well, it's not like we ever have to worry about that."

====

"Jaune Arc, you're under arrest for suspicion of forgery to enter Beacon !" Harriet Bree stormed over to the blonde as he was stocking a shelf inside one of Beacons's storage closets. With a sound of confusion and a hand of tomato soup, he turned and let go, screaming.

Harriet, moving at full speed, had no chance to stop, as she knocked away the can of soup, only for another to fall at her feet, as Jaune dropped armfuls of soup to the ground. Harriet, going at full momentum, crushed the metal can underfoot, spraying it all over herself.

"Ah! Gross!" She wailed, still charging forward, only to step on another can and slip, flying up into the air and knock Jaune over. Jaune groaned as she knocked into him, recovering quick she mounted his chest, ready to knock him out.

Jaune reaching wildly, grabbed a shaker of pepper, slamming it into her face. Harriet felt her eyes water and nose sting, as she recoiled back, letting Jaune push her off of him, running for the door, Harriet behind him.

Flailing wildly, Jaune grabbed a broom, swinging it wildly around with knocking rows of preserved goods off the shelves and onto the floor, Harriet taking a wrong step trying to dodge the flailing, stepping into a puddle of oil from a broken bottle, sliding forward, right into Jaune's wild strikes.

Harriet felt her head ring and vision swim, then another swing connected, knocking her back and into a row of shelves. She went straight through it, and the shelves falling straight onto her with a groan, the sound of clanging metal and falling supplies consuming the room, as Jaune fled out the door, turning off the lights and locking the door behind him.

---

AN: Felt like writing some goofiness.

[tastesoftamriel]

I hate hot food. For many reasons. I know a lot of Argonian meals are served cool/cold, but do the other races have meals intended to be the same way?

While not particularly common in some Provinces, chilled dishes can be found across Tamriel and are the perfect refreshment when hot food feels a little too weighty.

Altmer

Probably the Tamrielic masters of cold dishes, the High Elves are probably best known for their cold raw seafood dishes. Fresh fish, prawns, squid, octopus, sea urchin, and much more are sliced with a deft hand and served with wasabi and saltrice sauce. Sometimes, the seafood is placed atop rice and wrapped with a thin slice of nori to hold it together. While the idea of eating cold raw fish may not appeal to many, it's one of my favourite foods in Tamriel.

Argonians

Keeping clay or metal vessels submerged in water is an age-old Argonian technique of keeping their food cool, which is an absolute must in the hot and muggy climate of Black Marsh. Cold swamp jelly and seafood salad topped with grilled prawns and chilled marinated snails is a customary dish offered to visitors, and it's delightfully refreshing! The swamp jelly doesn't taste of much, but its soft, jelly-like texture complements the crunch of the seaweed.

Bosmer

Cold food isn't much of a thing for the Wood Elves, but one exception jumps to mind: the humble cottage cheese dip. Cottage cheese made from timber mammoth milk is aged in caves for two days, seasoned, and kept chilled. The dip is served cold with dried cured meats to dip with. It's not terribly exciting, but there's nothing quite as satisfying as eating meat and cheese in one bite!

Bretons

Chilled soufflés are all the rage in High Rock, and require lots of patience (and swearing) to master. Both sweet and savoury soufflés are served in this manner, from orange liqueur to parmesan and rosemary. My personal favourite is the chilled chili chocolate soufflé from the Rosy Lion in Daggerfall, part of their seasonal menu. The combination of rich dark cocoa with a touch of Alik'r spices is out of Nirn!

Dunmer

Chilled foods aren't an integral part of Dunmeri gastronomic culture, but certain Houses, namely the Telvanni, Hlaalu, and Redorans, do enjoy them. A Telvanni specialty is a cold chicken salad, where the chicken is marinated overnight in a blend of matcha, fire fern, saltrice sauce, and secret spices. It grilled and shredded, and served cold with hackle-lo leaves and gold kanet seeds atop steamed saltrice. However, don't let appearances fool you; any Telvanni with cold chicken salad leftovers can probably be found gobbling it at midnight straight from the cold cellar.

Imperials

The Gold Coast is famous for its chilled seafood soup, made with a creamy tomato and fish stock base, and loaded with all manner of fish and shellfish. While the hot variant from Bruma is more popular in colder climes, the cold seafood soup is a delightfully refreshing meal when beating the summer heat, especially when served with a mojito on the side.

Khajiit

If there's an excuse to make a food cold, the Khajiit will find it, and for good reason: the Deadlands-like heat of Elsweyr. Cold vegetable curries are a notable mention. Three or four small bowls of different curries, from mild okra to spicy potato, are served with moon sugar, saffron rice or tandoor flatbreads, and are meant to be eaten with your hands. I must say, though, that there's a rather jarring contrast between the cold curry and the searing heat you get from biting into a bird's eye chili.

Nords

Unlike the Khajiit, Nords look for any excuse to make food hot, with a couple of exceptions. Cold smoked salmon, mudcrab, or trout with dark rye bread is one of them. This rustic lunch dish is served with chilled horseradish cream, goat cheese, and fish roe topping, and is the perfect meal for when you want something filling that won't send you straight to sleep.

Orcs

Glass noodle salad is an Orcish delicacy said to have originated in Wrothgar in the early Second Era. The noodles, made from sweet potato starch, are thick and chewy, and are served chilled. To turn it into a salad, simply throw in some cold shredded daikon radish and carrots, sweet frost mirriam vinegar, peas, cold rare beef tongue slices, and fried chorizo. Easy and delicious, while packing lots of flavour!

Redguards

Cold foods are a welcome treat in Hammerfell, where the searing heat can be just as unbearable as Elsweyr's. Cold, pulled goat in a chilled tomato and harissa-based stew is eaten as a soup, and is a filling meal when mixed with bulgur or cous-cous. While it may sound and look a little like last night's disappointing leftovers, one bite of this on a Midyear day in the Alik'r will have you moaning with delight.

[lou-struck]

Cheesin and Grillin

Kotaro Bokuto x reader

Prompt: 🎶+ kitchen

~After a productive afternoon, you are happy to make up some grilled cheese for two 

W.C: 2k+

A/n: this is a prompt from an old event I wanted to finish so I hope you guys enjoy!

You're not sure how it happened, but today has transformed from a leisurely day off into a hard-core cleaning day. Maybe the urge to clean everything in sight came in with the breeze that danced through your open windows, Or maybe you just felt like it because, for the first time in weeks, you have had nothing to do and a decent chunk of alone time.

It's not that your apartment is messy, but you and Bokuto have busy lives and many responsibilities. Responsibilities that take precedence over wiping down the shelves of your refrigerator and all those extra deep cleaning tasks that you aren't able to get to on an everyday basis.

A citrus-scented candle flickers in the corner of the room as you listen to your playlist over a little speaker. The flames seem to dance to the beat of your favorite songs. These songs may not be the most popular, but they are your favorite to listen to in the judgment-free moments that solitude can bring. 

Your music is rudely interrupted by the pinging of your phone over the speaker. It pings again and again and again as you are bombarded by eager, loving text messages from your boyfriend, who must be done with his volleyball practice. You weren't expecting to hear from him so soon, when he left earlier this morning, he told you that his team was having a photo shoot for their new merchandise and he wouldn't be back until later.

Hey, hey, hey!!!

Guess what babeeeee??

Photo dude bailed and now I am freeeee

Coming home now!

Let's eat lunch together!!!

You snort as you read his string of messages. If they were sent by anyone else, you're sure that all of that information would be in one text. But not Bokuto. He wears his heart on his sleeve and sends his texts as soon as they enter his head. It's great that the two of you get to have a spontaneous lunch, but you can't help but feel a bit worried. Your boyfriend has an incredible appetite and will definitely need to eat something filling to fuel him after his intense practice session.

Making a meal for one is one thing; when you're cooking by yourself, it's easy to just get by taking handfuls of whatever sounds good. But lunch for two people requires cooking; it requires ingredients.

Ingredients that you might not have. These past few weeks have been so busy that neither of you has been able to go to the grocery store.

The linoleum floors of your kitchen have never looked shinier as you leap over the remaining streaks of water the mop has left behind to get to the now sparkling refrigerator.

Flinging open the door, you admire your handiwork. There is not a streak of stray condiments or puddles from a leaky takeout box in sight. Save for a few groceries, it looks almost completely empty. 

Just as your stomach begins to rumble…

I guess Kotaro isn't the only one who's hungry.

You stare blankly into the fridge, enjoying the sensation of cold, lemon-scented air on your warm skin. Aside from a few condiments, there isn't much food to choose from, but what catches your eye is a block of cheese and the last half of the sourdough loaf your coworker made for you. 

"Grilled cheese?" you say aloud, reaching for the two components. The idea makes you suddenly remember that you have a can of tomato soup in the pantry that you can heat up to make the meal more satisfying. 

The bread is beautiful; its crust is a rich golden brown, and the inside looks like lace. You have no idea what your friend did to make such a perfect loaf of bread, but you know how heavenly it will taste once you toss it in a pan with some cheese.

With your fav on the way home, there is no time to lose. You remove a cutting board and pan from the drying rack and get to work. You set the pan on the stove and crank the burner to low as you begin slicing up your bread and cheese, making sure to nibble on a few of the not-so-perfect slices of cheddar goodness as a reward for all your hard work.

As the pan's temperature slowly climbs, you smear one side of the freshly sliced bread with some overpriced artisanal garlic butter that Kotaro bought last week for its cool packaging.

As soon as you assemble your sandwich ingredients and place them on the pan with a light sizzle, Your boyfriend bursts through the door like a happy hurricane. 

"Something smells good in here, and it sure isn't me," he exclaims, smelling the masterpiece you have been creating.

His wild golden gaze scans you as he haphazardly tosses his gym bag on the floor. When he sees you, His smile is instant as he runs towards you and scoops you up with ease, peppering your face with kisses. "Ahhhh y/n! I missed you so much." He cries dramatically, his voice slightly panting from his barrage of kisses. "I feel like I haven't gotten to talk to you in forever."

"I missed you too, Bo," you say, leaning in and giving him a light kiss of your own. "But I'm glad you were able to come home early today."

"Right? Me too. The minute they told us we could go, I was out the door." His eyes are fixated on the pan as he picks off a piece of frying cheese with his fingers as he continues, "I almost ran over Omi with my car when I was pulling out of the parking lot because I was so excited, we never get to have lunch together like this so I am super excited."

"And was he mad?" you ask, watching him unbothered toss the fried cheese into his mouth with his usual unfaltering smile.

"I don't know, I was too excited to see you." if this man had a tail, it would be wagging up a storm right now. Suddenly, you both notice that a new song is playing through the speaker. 

"Hey hey hey! this is that song you like, right ?" He asks with a grin. He sets you back on your own two feet and reaches a muscular arm over to the window ledge to crank up the speaker's volume as loud as it can go. 

Grabs both of your hands. "Come on, babe, let's go crazy."

His energy is infectious, and you find yourself dancing along with him and belting out the words. You're not surprised that he took the time to learn every word to your favorite song, that's just the kind of man he is. He knows that when you care about something, He wants to care about it, too.

He spends on the beat, grabs a spatula off the counter, and starts singing into it like it's a microphone. When you're with him, it's easy to get swept up in his carefree silliness, and soon, the two of you are screaming along to the music like the fools in love you are.

Everything is perfect.

Until…

The chalky scent of smoke floats under your nose. And the spell is broken, your microphone is once again a spatula and the grilled cheeses you were making are smoking. Your eyes shoot open in a panic as you look across the kitchen at the pan you had left unattended. You rush over to the sandwich halves and flip them over in hopes of salvaging something edible.

But your efforts are in vain, the grilled cheeses are absolutely charred, inedible. Not even Bokuto would eat this mouthful of ash.

The smoke alarm, just your boyfriend's spiky black and white head, blares loudly/a painful noise, causing him to cry out in pain as he raises his large palms to his ears. 

Damn it. All you wanted to do was make some grilled cheese, and now your kitchen is hazy with smoke, and the alarm is so loud you cannot hear yourself think. 

"Don't worry, babe, I got it." He yells, sensing your distress. The athlete rushes around your apartment opening windows and turning on fans to try and clear out the smoke. But when the alarm continues to go off, he grabs the bottom of his shirt and pulls it over his head.

He swings the garment rapidly above his head like a helicopter, and you can't help but admire his well-built physique; he's not just strong; all those hours in the gym have him looking like he was just carved out of marble. Although you have seen him shirtless countless times, the beautiful sight never fails to bring a flustered heat to your skin.

You are so focused on the extroverted artwork in front of you that you don't even realize that the smoke alarm has long since quieted. 

"Hey hey hey, it looks like someone likes what they see." he laughs, suggestively wiggling his thick eyebrows at you. He flexes just a tad more just to tease you before putting his shirt back on.

With that wonderful distraction taken care of, you returned to your task at hand. Disposing of the lumps of charcoal that were supposed to be grilled cheese sandwiches. Your face falls as you look at your ruined lunch, unable to look at the monstrosity any longer; you pick up the still steaming pan and walk it over to the disposal, a heartbroken expression on your face as you mourn the loss of the bread. Maybe one day, your pal will make you another loaf, but at this point, do you deserve it? 

"Wait," Kotaro says, suddenly holding out his hands. He is looking at you with the same expression he makes when his team manager pulls him away from signing autographs for starry-eyed children. "Don't look so sad y/n, I don't want your hard work to go to waste. I'll still eat it." 

He reaches his hand to the skillet, ready to pretty much eat ash to make you happy, but you laugh and dispose of the 'sandwiches' before he attempts to poison himself.

"You're so sweet, Kou, but these sandwiches are ruined, and there's not much else in the fridge." you frown as you try to think of a backup plan. There's an overpriced market on the corner, you could run down there and just grab something for you two to eat and then go to your usual grocery store after?

But there is something so disheartening about going to the store twice in one day, it seems like a waste of a trip.

Although he may not be the sharpest tool in the shed, your boyfriend's eyes light up. "I have an Idea, come with me." He bounds over to you eagerly and tosses you over his shoulder. ""I'm gonna take you out on a lunch date and then we can spend the rest of the day doing whatever you want." He is so excited about getting to spend the day with you he starts toward the door without keys, wallet, phone, shoes, or anything else that you need to leave the house.

"Wait, Kotaro. Let me down for a second," you squeal, a gleeful smile on your face. "I need to put on my shoes first if we are gonna go anywhere."

"Oh, right." he chuckles, setting you down gently. "Sorry, I guess I was getting ahead of myself again; it's easy to get carried away when I am carrying you."

You chuckle at his cheesy declaration as you lace up your shoes. Today's errand date will probably be anything but ordinary, but with Bokuto, you find yourself embracing the good-natured chaos that seems to follow him everywhere with the same love that you have for the rest of him.

Tagging: @sleepyyshroom, @isaacdaknight

[ragsy]

Ok uh let me think I am so bad at knowing good questions to ask without a list let me think.

Ok

For all of your OCs that are from MOTW settings:

5 things they always have on them

4 things they are good at

3 things they could never live without

2 things they like to eat

1 thing they would wish for If they had a genie wish

HOUUHH THAT'S A LOT OF GUYS, OKAY

5 things they always have on them:

Dogmark: Glasses, wristwatch, hip flask, hiking boots, trinket from Tuck that he will never ever let anyone else see ever

Emily: Dangly earrings shaped like something cute, pocket calendar, phone in a brightly colored case with an equally brightly colored pop socket, ibuprofen, extremely large and heavy water bottle

Everett: Cutting edge smartphone, expensive sunglasses, expensive shoes, expensive jacket, business cards

Fishwoman: nothing, she doesn't wear clothes and she doesn't carry anything in her hands

Kenny: Walking cane, Franklin, cursed tape recorder, pocket notebook, dental floss

Sloane: Revolver, beat up old cell phone, arm brace/prothesis, hair ties, brass knuckles

4 things they are good at:

Dogmark: he just wants to be a good dog, isn't that enough?

Emily: trivia games, organization, conversation, missing the forest for the trees

Everett: lying, perjury, deception, looking good in sunglasses

Fishwoman: pickpocketing, fucking with fishermen, mindblowing weird fish sex, keeping a straight face in any situation

Kenny: breaking the ice, dental hygiene, bringing levity, missing the point

Sloane: arm wrestling (with her good arm at least), bestowing nicknames, shooting, grilling

3 things they could never live without:

Dogmark: the clothes on his back, the kindness of strangers, his sharpened teeth

Emily: the power of denial, her own independence, the shoulders of loved ones

Everett: a pretty face, the desperation of others, a charming voice

Fishwoman: not giving a fuck, hedonistic pleasures, sloane

Kenny: human connection, memories committed to paper, a familiar landing place

Sloane: a reliable weapon, an escape route, a confidant

2 things they like to eat:

Dogmark: raw beef, and he can't eat it anymore but he misses tomato soup so so so bad

Emily: apples, fresh baked bread

Everett: he doesn't eat, but he's always carrying around a cup of coffee to keep up appearances

Fishwoman: fresh caught catfish (still wriggling), shrimp chips

Kenny: hot cider, toast with jam

Sloane: steak, grilled veggies

1 thing they would wish for if they had a genie wish:

Dogmark: a cure for his curse

Emily: for magic to be real

Everett: to become the specialiest most beloved guy in the whole wide world

Fishwoman: someone like her

Kenny: a fresh start

Sloane: to know how it all ends

[painsandconfusion]

yoo can u write more yandere whumper? i love the way u write

dang, you guys liked that one huh? sure kids, here ya go

Fix You

[Part One Here]

(tw: forced feeding, yandere, stalking, kidnapping, manhandling, intimate whumper, burning, unhealthy fasting)

“I’m not eating until you do.”

Whumpee eyes Whumper warily, dull, silicone spoon resting heavy in their trembling hands. They let their eyes slide back down to the soup in front of them. Tomato. Grilled cheese next to it. Their favorite artisanal bread. Never before has the worlds simplest meal looked so fucking fancy.

“Not hungry,” they deadpan.

Whumper sighs, leaning back in their chair. “You haven’t eaten in over a day. You need sustenance.”

Whumpee’s eyes flick back up - harder now. “I said I’m not hungry - would you just back off??”

Whumper doesn’t flicker. Doesn’t move in the slightest. They just sit in still silence, same gentle eyes roaming over Whumpee. “I can’t do that, Whumpee.”

Whumpee’s jaw sets. They look away. 

“Come on - I made your favorite.

“It’s not my favorite.”

“It is,” they posit gently. “You were just forced to choose a more refined answer to that question for so long. When you’re unhappy - this is what you want.”

Tears are burning at the backs of their eyes again as they shift their gaze further away - down and to the side. Hardwood floor. If their feet weren’t shackled down, they could make a break for it…

“Please, Whumpee. Do it for me?”

Their hand is scalding before they even register it moving. Soup splattering through the air and slopping onto the ground. Red stains the table and up their arm. “I SAID NO!”

Whumpee immediately snaps their jaw shut, melting back into their chair. Small. Regret washes through them, tailed loosely by cool, curling fear. 

What Whumper might do for them lashing out. The scolding they’d get even from their parents for something like that - let alone a kidnapper. 

But Whumper doesn’t flinch - barely even blinks. Even as the burnt orange splatters up their shirt. “..Whumpee, I-” Their eyes lock onto the soup on Whumpee’s hand. “Oh no- are you okay - is that burning you-?” before their sentence is finished, they’re already up and bounding across the kitchen. In moments, they’re kneeling at Whumpee’s side, not seeming to care about the soup that’s soaking into their jeans.

Whumpee rips their arm out of the way as Whumper reaches for it. “What are y- don’t - don’t TOUCH me-”

Whumper winces, shrinking a little. “I’m just trying to h-”

“WELL STOP HELPING.” Their voice cracks, the tears choking it down to nothing.

There’s a beat of silence, then Whumper rises smoothly. Something in their face hardens. “I’m not going to do that - I’ll never stop helping you.” They snatch Whumpee’s wrist, wrenching it toward them. They blot the cold towel over the light burn.

Whumpee bares their teeth, struggling in Whumper’s grip. “Ss-stop! Lemme go! Lemmego!”

Whumper’s jaw’s set as they scrub away the soup, gentleness starting to wear away with each pass of the towel. “Know what I think?” They step behind Whumpee’s chair, grabbing their other arm too.

Whumpee struggles against them, thrashing in the grip and against the metal around their ankles until it bruises deep against bone. “S-stop! Stop let GO-”

“I think,” Whumper continues, twisting both arms back behind the chair. “That you just aren’t used to this - you’re not used to someone actually caring.”

They wrist and writhe, but can’t break Whumper’s grip. “Wh-what are you talking about???”

The towel shreds in half.

“I think that everyone in your life is so shitty to you that you see something genuinely good as a threat - because that’s the mask they wear to hurt you.”

The towel starts wrapping around their wrists, biting in tight.

“Wh-nngh- stopthathurts-”

Whumper ignores them, tying rough, tight knots. “I think that you need a stronger hand to show you what’s right and wrong.” With one more tug of a knot, Whumpee’s stuck writhing against fabric alone. Whumper’s hands slither up over their shoulders, kneading in.

Lips at their ear have them twitching away, but there’s nowhere to go.

“So you’re going to eat. You’re going to be nice. You’re going to get to know me - and I’ll fix you.” Thumbs grind in - enough to drag a keeing whine from Whumpee’s throat. “Sound good, love?”

Whumpee squirms down, trying to escape the touch that follows them every inch. “Sst-top stop jus-justletme go-”

“No,” Whumper murmurs a kiss to the top of their head and pulls away. They don’t bother cleaning up the mess, they just get a different bowl from the cupboard and ladle a fresh few scoops into it. They prowl back to Whumpee, setting the steaming bowl neatly in front of them. “You need to eat.”

Whumpee glares at the soup, even as a tear trickles off their chin and splatters onto the mess of a table. “..n-no..”

Their scalp burns as Whumper’s fingers twist into it. Their shoulders strain against the sudden angle as their nose crunches against the bottom of the bowl.

Agony explodes around their eyes, fire licking up their cheeks and dripping down their neck. They sputter, thick, splattering air bubbles slopping through the soup as they thrash against Whumper’s hand - desperate to escape the burning. 

“Drink.” Whumper grinds them further down against the ceramic. “You can breathe when it’s gone.”

Whumpee sucks in a desperate mouthful, shoving the fire down their throat out of reflex as much as anything - half of it comes sputtering back up the wrong tube. Curling, grinding fear works up their lungs, following the burn as the acid and blood and tears dance across their throat. 

“Don’t worry, sweetheart.” There’s another hand in their hair. Soft, gentle fingers contrasting the rough grip of the other. Stroking softly. Dancing through their curls and massaging lightly at the scalp. “I’m gonna fix you.”

(tags: @prisonerwhump @whumpawink @mabledonut @happy-little-sadist @paleassprince @distinctlywhumpthing @wibbly-wobbly-whump @batfacedliar-yetagain @suspicious-whumping-egg @wormwriting @meowsikbox @villainsvictim @throwawaywhumper @wild-selenite-caffine @whumpasaurus101 @thecitythatdoesntsleep @whumpworld @michaeltalks @pinkieglitterheart @whumpberry-cookie @rainbows-and-whumperflies @astralrunic @cursedscribbles @shywhumpauthor @cyberneticwhump @bumpwhump @hold-back-on-the-comfort @veyroswin @whumping-seven-days-a-week @whumpingisfun)

As always, lmk if you want to be added or removed from any tag lists!

[purplecatghostposts]

Maybe some hurt comfort with Jay and Tim? (romantic or platonic, both are good :3)

Possibly sickfic? Or comfort from nightmares? Those are my personal favourites, but honestly, whatever you wanna write I'll eat right up lol, just a big hurt comfort fan lol

(your writing is amazing btw!!)

Oooo, I have not written a lot of Jam and that is a CRIME. These bitches gay, here’s my mini sick fic essay on it.

Content Warnings and Tags: Sickness, Flu, Hurt/Comfort, Honestly could be seen as either but I think they’re gay, Minor Angst With A Happy Ending, Implied/Referenced Self Esteem Issues

Word Count: 900 words

— —

Admittedly it takes Tim a little while to realize he’s sick. Coughing isn’t unusual for him, even before he started smoking, so he doesn’t think much of it when that starts up.

It’s not until he realizes his nose is so stuffed up that he can’t breathe through it and that every joint he has is aching that Tim processes the fact that he’s actually sick. A cold— or a mild flu? It’s one of the two. Nothing major but enough to make him a little more miserable than usual.

But it’s not his first rodeo. Tim does what he always does and buys the strongest sleepy cold medicine that doesn’t mess with his medicine that he can gets his hands on, takes some, and promptly passes out. Jay does ask a few questions but Tim waves him off and tells him he’ll be fine in the morning, because he always is.

Except he wakes up and he really doesn’t feel better. If anything, he feels worse— he’s sweating and kicking the blankets off doesn’t do anything to help. Blindly, he fumbles for more cold medicine but ends up accidentally batting it off the nightstand instead. A groan escapes him— just his luck.

A shadow looms over him. Tim looks over and sees Jay there, eyebrows knitting together.

“No offense but you kinda look terrible.”

Tim huffs, rubbing his face in an attempt to get rid of some of the sweat. “I feel terrible.” He admits, half mumbling. “Usually that works.”

“Well, what do you need?” Tim thinks for a second, then motions to the cold medicine on the floor. Jay gives him a look. “I… Don’t think that’s a good idea. You should probably like, eat and drink first? Hold on.”

Jay leaves and returns with a water bottle in hand, pushing it towards Tim. He fumbles to open it but Jay stops him before he can. “Hold on— sit up first.”

Tim groans again but shifts until he’s sitting up against the bed frame. Only then does Jay hand the bottle back, cap now unscrewed, and Tim takes a few sips before realizing how thirsty he is and sucks down the rest in no time. Jay’s eyes go wide.

“Guess you needed it.”

“Guess I did.” Tim admits. “I don’t think I can keep down anything we have though so maybe I should just stick with water.”

“I was thinking of buying soup. Any kind you like?”

“You— you don’t need to do that, Jay. I’m fine, it’ll pass. Don’t waste your money.”

Jay gives him an odd look. “‘Waste my money’?” He repeats, eyebrows scrunching together. “Buying you some soup when you’re sick isn’t wasting money, Tim. Just— what soup? I’m defaulting to chicken noodle otherwise.”

Tim hesitates but Jay doesn’t seem to be backing down. He sighs. “I like tomato soup. It’s good with toast.”

“I’ll grab some bread too then.”

“Jay.”

“Stop acting like I’m pulling teeth, Tim.” Jay huffs, shaking his head. “It’s just soup. It’s not a big deal.”

Tim’s mouth opens before it closes again. Jay’s eyebrows furrow. “What?”

“I just.” Tim struggles for the right words. “It’s been a while.” He settles on.

“Been a while since what?”

“Since… Anyone took care of me while I was sick.”

“…Oh.” Jay says after a beat. “That… Oh.”

There’s a long silence between them. Then abruptly, Jay grabs his keys and his wallet and points at Tim.

“Twenty minutes.” He says. “Don’t move. Unless you need to go to the bathroom or something.”

Then he’s out the door, moving like he’s on an actual time limit.

—

“What,” Tim says slowly, staring at the bag Jay just dumped on the bed, “The fuck.”

“So I got a few other things besides soup and bread.” Jay tells him, as if it wasn’t already obvious enough. “This cold pack is amazing, trust me, I used to have one just like it. It’s reusable so it’s an investment really. I got some orange juice because— honestly I forget what it’s good for but my mom always made me drink it when I was sick so it’s probably good for something. The Tylenol is good for fevers, saltines are always a good snack and especially with soup, and the chocolate… That’s just for fun honestly. You could probably use a treat.”

“Jay…” Tim doesn’t know what to say. The best he manages is, “Why?”

“Well— you said nobody had taken care of you while you were sick in a while so I figured you might need like, the full experience.” Jay rubs the back of his neck, almost sheepish. “It’s kinda been a while since I took care of anyone though so uh, I don’t really know what I’m doing so we can just figure it out together. I was thinking we could watch TV while you ate or something? Good of a start as— oh shit, are you crying?”

Tim rapidly blinks, wiping his face. “Maybe.” He chokes. “Fuck, Jay. Thank you.”

“It’s really not a big deal.” Jay insists.

“It kinda is to me though.” Tim laughs, swallowing thickly as he meets his gaze. “Seriously. Thank you.”

Jay smiles at him. “Of course.” He says, and Tim feels his heart flutter.

He doesn’t usually have people taking care of him like this, but he thinks it would be nice to get used to it.

— —

Anddd that’s my short lil sick fic. I feel like Tim needs to be pampered a little. He deserves it. Jay is gonna give that to him.

Thank you for the request, feel free to send another, and I hope you liked it!!

[lucie-newman]

MERROCK TASK #1 ALL ABOUT AUTUMN & HALLOWEEN

What’s your character’s fall aesthetic like, are they more into the spooky season, or do they like the cozy feeling of fall?

Lucie's a decent mix of both. She enjoys the witchy vibes of Halloween and the spirit of the holiday, but absolutely adores fall foliage and getting cozy under a blanket in the cold weather.

How does your character feel about the Halloween holiday?

Favorite time of year. Hands down.

When it comes to Halloween weekend, are they more likely to go to a Halloween party, or stay at home handing out candy?

Last year she would have gone out. She would have gotten dressed up, done some Jello shots and woken up with zero regrets. This year she will be staying at home and, from her balcony, will be pelting passing trick o' treaters with candy.

If your character had to be any mythical creature, what would they be, and why?

A Harpy. (She'd love to be able to fly around, torment some people, and then steal their food. Sounds like a thing or two she might have done on the road.)

What is your character’s favorite go-to Halloween movie?

Rocky Horror Picture Show

What is your character’s favorite kind of Halloween candy?

Snickers. (NOT fun-sized)

What was your character’s favorite Halloween costume that they’ve ever worn?

Freddie Mercury. Yellow jacket Era.

When it does come to costumes, in general, does your character go the do-it-yourself route, or are they more into buying something?

Less is more with her costumes. It's the I tried only a little. (When she tried very hard)

On the spooky side, does your character believe in ghosts?

No.

What animal screams ‘Halloween season’ to your character? Or makes them think of autumn?

Bats

What hot beverage does your character reach for on a chilly day when they just want to warm up a little bit?

A steaming, well-brewed cup of coffee with a dash of sugar and cream

And what about food? Is there a certain treat that they have to have in the fall?

Tomato soup and grilled cheese. Nothing beats it after you've been chilled to the bones.

Pumpkin spice everything – yay or nay?

Meh.

Pick the weather – is it a windy fall afternoon, or a rainy autumn evening?

Windy fall afternoon with the crunchy leaves kicking up about her feet.

What is your character’s favorite fall scent? Something that really sets the mood?

Pecans and Cinnamon

When it comes to fall and Halloween, does your character go all out with decorations, or do they prefer to keep it simple? Or don’t decorate at all?

Simple mostly. A single pumpkin on her dining room table and a few orange string lights on the balcony.

Favorite autumn related activity to do during the season?

Apple picking. She went recently to celebrate the end of her maternity leave and strapped Archer to her chest. It's something she's planning to make a tradition.

There’s a pumpkin in front of your character… what are they going to do? Paint it? Carve it? What will they make it look like?

Use it as a prop for another baby photoshoot.

Is there a certain song that your character hears that just screams 'Halloween’?

Definitely monster mash

The leaves are falling. Is your character more likely to rake them, or let them lay in the yard?

Only reason to rake them is to jump into them, right?

When it comes to fall fashion, is your character more into sweatshirts and sweatpants, or skinny jeans and warm sweaters?

Depends on her mood. She's definitely more casual and comfortable in the colder months.

What about color palette, is there a certain color that your character reaches for in the closet when fall rolls around?

Not particularly. She has a good collection of black in her closet for year-round supply. She has maybe one or two Halloween sweaters.

Does your character get scared easily? Do they feel more on edge this time of year?

Definitely not. You're not a young, single woman living on the road if you get scared easily.

Let’s light the fire – where is it? Are we talking indoor fireplace, or outdoor campfire?

Outdoor campfire with some s'mores and warm blankets to toss over your shoulders.

Probably the toughest question that they could be asked… is your character more of an apple or pumpkin pie person

Apple pie with vanilla ice cream.

[zmediaoutlet]

happy wincest wednesday!! deanna ask<33. do you think anything about s6 happens differently in the het version? or maybe s9/10?

yayyyy happy wincest wednesday, a day Deanna gets to shine <3

I mean the first thing that I think is true is that Deanna is staying with uhh Mark, the hot dude she hooked up with way back when Sam was at Stanford, and Mark's got a kid from a failed relationship with a past woman and Deanna learns to make pretty good meatballs and stir fry and tomato rice soup from scratch when little Ben is sick, and it's actually a lot harder for her to leave than it was for Dean.

But Sam's back and she has to go -- has to, even if she tells Mark that it's just a quick hunt to help and she'll be back for Ben's soccer game on Saturday -- and the break-up with Mark happens a lot faster and is a LOT more painful than the one with Lisa because Sam talks his way into her panties on that very first solo hunt together, when they're alone after the Campbells go their own way, and in her life Deanna has never ever thought of herself as a cheater but it's -- Sam, and his mouth tastes the same and his hands are finally the right size on her jaw when he drags her in close and he's the right weight between her thighs, lying heavy on her hips, at last, after the last year (and more) of missing him. He rolls off the bed quick after but she hardly notices at first that something's off because the sheer relief is too much for her to notice anything else at all, and it's not until she's showering, after, that the random thought pops into her head that she was going to pick up a 24-pack of Gatorade for the kids before the game, and then she realizes that she's got to tell Mark. She's got to. It's not fair, otherwise.

When Cas finally reveals that Sam's soulless she doesn't beat him up -- physically can't, for one thing, especially not now that he's gone all greek god -- but she walks out of the room and gets into the car and knows that from Calumet City to Battle Creek where Mark and Ben are living now is two and a half hours, and two hours if she ignores traffic laws, and she thinks about it -- she thinks about walking in and hugging Ben and taking Mark into the bedroom that she'd barely started to unpack before the breakup and going to her knees and saying how sorry she was, and how she'd never meant to be this way, and could she come back, please, could she crawl back into their bed and have the good boring sex they had and could she try again to make his mom's recipe for cinnamon rolls and could she teach Ben how to repair a carburetor, and get it right this time, and raise a kid who wouldn't crack her heart in half, wouldn't make her want to lay down and never get up again for the sheer enormity of what loving him did to her. How impossible it was to exist under the weight of it.

Then she gets back out of the car and goes back up to where Cas is finishing up his examination of Sam and she tells Cas to leave the room and she tells Sam that they're done, until he gets fixed. "I feel fine," Sam says. "Nothing about this is fine," Deanna says, and his eyes skip from her eyes to her mouth to her tits and then he shrugs, turns away and puts his belt back on, like so what. Like, fine, he'd get it somewhere else and it didn't matter. Deanna goes outside to where Cas is awkwardly waiting and thinks that whoever did this, whoever bifurcated her brother and removed all the best parts of him, she will find that person and destroy them to the last atom, if it's the last thing she does. (Cas looks from her face to the door beyond which Sam's waiting, and disappears.)

[spinchip]

NEVER THE DARK

Chapter 4

read on Ao3

Prologue - Chapter 1 - Chapter 2 - Chapter 3

Warnings: the beginning of the body horror portion of the fic, every realm of Madness inhabitant is going to have a body mutation

WHEN LOVE BECOMES A STRANGER// DO YOU THINK THERE IS GRIEF BORN// IN ANY GOD'S HEART?

Tumbling headfirst into another Realm is never a graceful thing. Head over heels from asphalt to open air, cartwheeling out of a brilliant purple-edged portal to land in a heap on muck and uneven earth. Kai hits the ground first and Cole thuds on top of him, then Lloyd, Nya, and Jay top off the impromptu doggy-pile until there's a thoroughly kai-shaped imprint in the mud. Cole hurries off of him, toppling the other three off and into the mud as well. Above them, the blinding brilliance of the portal snaps shut- and Ninjago vanishes with it.

Nya leaps to her feet, spinning around and swinging her fist at nothing, "Get back here!" She snarls, eyes blazing as she looks for the woman, it not yet sinking in what exactly happened.

Groaning, the other ninja gather themselves up from the ground, brushing off questionable gunk. Kai shrieks when he realizes it's in his hair, frantically combing out top soil. Jay stumbles to his feet, making a face as his foot sinks into peat-soft earth. Shaking his leg out as he hops away from the soft ground, he finally gets a good look around- and his heart skips a beat.

“Uh, Toto? I have a feeling we’re not in Kansas anymore.” He says with a half-hysterical laugh.

The world is black and purple lumps, shapeless masses of wet earth stretching up into a sky so red it seeps like blood across the horizon. Purple clouds swirl in a shifting, undulating mass above their heads, almost alive in the way they seem to breath and flex. Like the grotesque twisted bodies of massive, bloated creatures lumped together in a tomato soup sky. Broad, flat stones break up the mud sporadically, and where there’s mud there's tall hooded black plants with hanging serrated leaves- sharp enough to cut and bleed, with big bioluminescent pitcher plants grown up from the roots waiting to catch the gore of whatever unfortunate animal strays too close. Curling and thick mist pools on the floor, floating and twisting around their ankles as they move closer to one another, huddling against the humidity and smell of rot and swamp-water.

If there is a sun, the atmosphere is too thick for them to see it. Light bleeds through red and purple, shifting and dappled as the sky above them changes. The ninja feel a wave of dizziness overtake them, as if the floor beneath them was unstable despite how they did not waver on their feet.

“What is this place?” Nya asks, raising a hand to her forehead to try and steady herself. “We’re clearly not in Ninjago. I’ve never seen anything like this.”

Lloyd looks around grimly, his mouth set in an unhappy line. His furrowed brow smooths with shocked realization and he turns a shade paler than he was a moment ago, looking around again as if to confirm his suspicions, “Guys, I think… this is the Realm of Madness.”

“The Rea-'' Cole does a double take, “The Realm of madness!?” He demands, looking around wildly, “But Wu said this place is bad news!”

“A place where evil flourishes.” Kai agrees, recalling lessons taught about the dark realm.

“This does look pretty evil.” Jay taps one of the black plants and jerks his hand back, sticking his now bleeding finger in his mouth with a yelp.

“Don’t touch anything!” Lloyd orders immediately, “Let's not lose our heads, guys, we have to get back to Ninjago before that woman does… whatever it is she’s planning on doing with that gauntlet. Think! Wu said most of the Realms are connected in some way. We can get out of here and back home through that connection.” he taps his chin, trying to recall exactly where Wu had told him the portal home was, “When Uncle Wu came here to get my father, they traveled back to Ninjago using a portal in the Mountain of Madness.”

“So all we have to do is find that portal and jump through?” Jay clarifies.

Nodding, Nya slaps her fist into her open palm, “Yeah! That’s right, I remember Master Wu telling us about that trip.”

“Great!” Cole cheers, “Now, which way?” He spins around and waits for direction with his arms akimbo.

There’s a long, healthy pause. So long in fact, that it loops full circle into being unhealthy again.

“Uh, Lloyd? Which way?” Kai prods.

Lloyd adjusts one of the clips in his hair awkwardly, “uh. I don’t… know?”

A heartbeat passes.

“You don’t know?” Jay parrots in disbelief.

“It’s not like Wu gave me a map! Or that there are any particular landmarks around here to follow!” He says defensively, gesturing at the formless lumps around them.

“Well, what are we supposed to do?” Jay throws his arms out looking panicked, “Pick a direction and start walking!? Ask a mud monster for directions!? Sorry we took so long to get back, Pixal, my Latin is rusty!”

“Why would mud monsters speak Latin?”

Jay whips around to pin Kai with a slightly manic look, “Is that really the part you’re stuck on?” He demands.

On the bulge of earth to their left there’s the sound of boots squelching on wet earth. The Ninja are in formation seamlessly, any residual panic packed up and put away in order to present a united front, backing into each other to face whatever creeped up on them together- though it's no monster that pokes its head over the ridge. It’s… human. With cheeks still round with what his mother would call baby fat, a man with a face like an apple with the rosy cheeks to match peers down at them. His hair is pitch black and slicked down against his skull, his pencil mustache quirking up with his smile as he takes them in. His eyes flash with an excited gleam.

“Hullo, new faces! May I offer my assistance?” He crows down kindly at them.

“There are humans here?” Cole asks dumbly, relaxing.

His guard slams back up when two large, spindly, hairy appendages slam into the mud beside the stranger's head. With a smile on his face, the humanoid raises himself up- more legs scuttling up the muddy hill until he’s floating on top of the hill, suspended entirely by the mass of arachnid-like legs protruding through his clothes, growing out of his body in unnatural, painful looking tangles. “Mostly!” He says with a playful wink. He sees the look on their faces and gives them a sly smile, “Didn’t your mama teach you not to stare?” He laughs then, crossing his dangling human feet primly at the ankle, “I ain’t that ugly.”

“W-what are those?” Jay demands, pale as a sheet.

The man frowns, lowering himself to stand on his own two feet, allowing the additional legs to curl up around him like a bird's nest, “We haven't had anyone as wet behind the ears as y’all in years, now.” He looks around and Cole jumps when the pair of black slits above his eyebrows open to reveal a set of red, beady eyes, “It ain’t safe to talk here, anyone coulda seen your portal. C’mon, follow me back to my camp, I’ll explain everything on the way.” His voice takes on a note of urgency as he scans the horizon.

He pins Lloyd with an earnest look, “Not everyone is as friendly as I am.”

Lloyd glances at the others and then looks around the clearing. They were in a bad spot- no cover, and if the man's words were true, they’d announced their presence to everything- and, apparently, everyone in the realm. The others look to him, awaiting his choice.

“Lead the way.” He says firmly, and the man motions to follow before scuttling off on several sets of legs.

Only once the ninja have scrambled up the muddy hills after him and caught up with his pace does he speak again, “The name’s Maurice.” He tells them over his shoulder, smiling, before pressing a quick finger to his lips to signal that- for now- they needed to stay silent. He doesn’t ask their names and doesn’t seem bothered to know them. Up close, Lloyd can just make out faint pink lines along the corners of his mouth and another set of eyelids hidden in his eye brows. He’s dressed in an old, threadbare trench coat and dark pants and boots.

He doesn’t speak again, leading them quietly for what feels like hours while hyper vigilant of their surroundings. He looks around often, double checking to make sure they weren’t being followed. Despite their burning questions, the ninja follow his lead and keep quiet, keeping their eyes and ears open just in case. Maurice looks back at them occasionally, checking to see how they were faring endurance-wise with their long trek and extremely fast pace. He’s lucky they’re highly trained ninja, or they would have been so exhausted they could barely move by this point.

“What’s with the legs?” Kai asks point blank once Maurice begins to walk with a bit less urgency, even if the ninja were still jogging to keep up.

Maurice shoots him an affronted look, “It’s impolite to ask about someone's mutations.” Despite his words he continues, “You’re in the Realm of Madness now- soon enough you’ll be growing extra limbs or sprouting horns too.” They’d covered enough ground that the mud was beginning to turn solid and rough. Clumps of strange colored sand and loose gritty stones begin to pull at their feet as they leave the bog behind.

“Mutations-?” Nya falters, “What do you mean?”

“It’s the nature of this place. Us veterans, we call it entropy. The air, the food, the water; it all changes you in random, disorganized ways. I’ve been here a while. That’s why my case is as severe as it is- still, I'm thankful. I’m one of the lucky ones, they say!”

“Thankful!?” Jay squeaks out, “You’re thankful for those!?” he gestures wildly at the spider legs.

Maurice looks nearly amused, a gleeful look glittering in his eye that seems unrelated to their conversation, “This is a realm of chaos. Out of all the infinite possibilities, of all the ways this place could have screwed me up, I think an extra set of limbs ain’t too bad a hand to be dealt.”

The fog thins as they begin to trek across a barren flatland. Massive, spindly looking plants reach up from the pink sandy ground, straight and thin and piercing the sky, opening up above them into a flat canopy of dry and wilted looking flower petals. The petals refuse to touch each other, crown shyness forming pathways of light between each plant and offering sporadic cover from the overcast sunlight. Potholes and craters litter the ground, seemingly dug out by some sort of animal- not one the ninja were interested in meeting. The sky turns a deep red and the world grows a bit brighter through their walk. Maurice humms, tipping his head up to enjoy the warming light. The mud and darkness from the poison bog has changed completely into a desert made up of pinks, red, and purples.

In between the flower trees, masses of stone and rock grow sharp and jagged up from the ground, creating several spots of shelter from the light and casting long shadows. The ninja keep their guard up when they pass the dark spots, wary of what surprises the realm has to offer.

“Is this… still the Realm of Madness?” Cole asks, looking around. He glances behind them, but the fog prevents him from seeing too far back, and strangely enough their footprints seems to be disappearing despite the lack of wind. Cole blinks, the realization coming to him randomly- there’s movement beneath them, he can just barely feel it through the connection with his element. It’s shifting the sands and hiding their tracks- not the purpose, but a byproduct of the change. The fog that seemed to roll randomly, thick one moment and thin the next, was moving in conjunction with the ground beneath them. The air around him is heavy and thick, but it doesn’t move.

“Of course, why?” Maurice asks, tipping himself back on his legs to look at the ninja upside down.

“I honestly thought this place was just… the poison bog.” Lloyd admits, looking around in wonder. It’s not pretty, no, the colors are ugly and raw and muddy, but it’s so starkly different from what he’d been expecting.

“Poison bog…?” His face crunches with confusion before he gets it, snapping his fingers in realization, “Oh, you mean the Wastelands? That’s just a small part of the realm. Where you come from, does every place look the same?”

Nya inclines her head, conceding his point, “Well, no, it doesn't.”

“How’d you end up here, anyway?” That’s Kai's voice again, “As far as we knew, the Realm of Madness was uninhabited.”

Maurice flips himself back upright, stepping over a particularly large pothole with ease as the others are forced to skirt around it. Cryptically, he says, “I was sent here.” and he doesn’t elaborate.

The ninja share a questioning look amongst themselves, their hackles starting to raise. “What’s that supposed to mean?” Jay prods.

The spider mutant shrugs, “It means what it means. No one comes here willingly, we’ve all been sent.” He glances back at them, “How’d you end up here?”

A long pause before Lloyd grudgingly says, “We were sent here.”

Maurice’s lips curl into a smile, another point made. He looks forward again and makes a chittering, purr like noise. Pointing to a lump of rock jutting out from the ground he announces, “Here’s home! The entrance is right around this rock!”

Lloyd feels a rush of relief, once they get to his camp they can ask for directions and then head out. The guy was starting to set off warning bells in his head and Lloyd didn’t trust him, he wanted to head their separate ways as soon as possible. He slows down to walk beside Nya, conferring with her quietly, “Does this guy give you a bad vibe?” He asks under his breath.

Squinting, Nya takes a moment to analyze him, “Well, the spider stuff certainly doesn’t help his case… but honestly? He seems like he’s actually trying to help us.”

Humming, Lloyd hurries along after him. They round the rock to see it’s another of those cave-like overhangs. There’s a fire pit glowing orange with a freshly lit fire, a gathering of ratty looking blankets formed into a well-loved nest, and a few other odds and ends like hand-made pots and pans, a bucket full of water, and a stack of books that make the place seem more homely. Everything's bar the fire pit is laid out on top of a thick layer of dried and discarded petals from the flowers outside, the leaves spread out as insulation from the cold ground.

Maurice stops cold, entire form going still before he very slowly lowers himself to the ground to stand on his own two feet. He’s tense, surprised.

In the middle of his camp, sitting at the fire with a bag slung to the ground next to him, is a man with his back turned to them.

“O- oh.” Maurice squeaks out, startled, “Birdy. Hi.” He wrings his hands nervously, glancing back at the group behind him with a panicked look in his eyes, “I wasn’t- um, expecting you for another few days.”

The man leans away from the fire, turning to face them with a smooth masked face- he goes dangerously still when he lays eyes on the party before him. This only serves to make Maurice more anxious, “They- we- I saw them come through a portal, I just thought i’d… help… them?” He shrinks in on himself, shuffling uncomfortably.

The ninja bristle at the sight of the stranger, and Maurices attitude towards the mystery man make their hackles rise dramatically. Maurice was scared of this guy. Lloyd takes a step forward and the ninja follow his silent guide, fanning out around Maurice, “Is this guy trouble?” Lloyd asks firmly, glaring at the man.

As if Lloyds voice had snapped him out of whatever possibly nefarious thought’s he’d been having, the man stands up from the log he’d been sitting on immediately. The bag stays at his boots, but as he gets to his feet he brandishes his weapon- a long naginata with a wicked curved blade on the end and worn leather straps along the staff-like portion of the handle. He rises to his full height, easily towering over most of the ninja, even possibly having an inch or two on Cole. His shoulders are made broader with a spiked pauldron on one shoulder and a massive feathered cape hanging off the other, dressed in dark grays, white, and blue his outfit all leads into his masked face. It’s a flat piece of sun-bleached white bone, lines carved along the cheeks and forehead down the bridge of the nose with detail marks along where a hairline might be. The eyes are carved out and filled with blue glass.

Maurice had called him Birdy, and the name was fitting. Each carved line of the mask lended itself into the brow of some bird of prey, the design leading gracefully into the suggestion of a beak and feathers.

Standing in front of the fire like he was, he blotted out the warmth of the flames. His silhouette swallowed up the light and outlined him in flickering orange and red, in reflection the blade of his weapon turned the color of blood. Huge, formidable, and threatening. Maurice cowered away from him and Lloyd reaches for the hilt of his sword, preparing to fight.

Maurice hesitates, “He’s not any trouble.” He admits with an uncomfortable shuffle, Birdys presence is enough to make his facade crumble as his mousy voice turns forlorn. His tone is that of a kid caught with his hand in the cookie jar.

“Then why are you shaking?” Kai demands, not taking his eyes off the silent shadow of a man. Cole was beginning to doubt the man could talk at all.

“I will not allow Maurice to harm you,” The man's voice is deep and rough, cutting across the distance between them like a hot knife, “And he knows I will stop him with force if necessary.”

“And also,” Birdy adds as Maurices shoulders stoop and he bows his head, “Because he has disappointed me.” His voice isn’t menacing or cruel, but genuinely sad like a teacher and his student.

“I’m sorry!” Maurice cries, clasping his hands in front of him to show his heartfelt remorse, “I tried to resist! You know how bad my cravings get! I was going to be nice, too, I promise- I would have only lured in one!”

“Lured in- what!?” Nya demands, backpedaling away from the short man.

At the campfire, Birdy raises his staff and sweeps away the leaves in front of the fire to reveal a large dug-out hole covered in a net of spider-silk. A pitfall trap. He doesn’t say a word, just grabs the bag at his feet and launches himself over the pit in one smooth jump. It would have impressed the ninja if they weren’t currently distracted by their guide's sudden betrayal.

“The fact that he never asked our names makes a lot more sense now.” Jay comments.

Lloyd joins the others as they back away from the spider hybrid, pulling out his weapon in preparation for an attack. Maurice bristles at the site of swords and hammers, the pale pink line along his mouth splitting open to reveal a set of ugly black mandibles that drip with black poison. He hisses, standing himself up on his arachnid legs and raising himself up above their heads menacingly. He opens his two other sets of eyes, looking around at the group wildly, on edge and afraid. In an instant he seems to transform into a terrifying monster, the polite would-be-murderer revealing his true nature.

Birdy says, “That’s enough.” His voice like steel, stepping between both parties. He’s attempting to look completely at ease, but his shoulders are tense and he’s holding his staff tightly. He looks at the ninja for a moment before turning to stare down Maurice, who backs down at his firm tone. He takes the bag and holds it towards the short man, “Here.” He says sharply, “Blood potatoes. It’ll help.”

Maurice takes the bag gratefully, his mandibles sliding back inside his mouth and his eyes closing as he lowers himself once more to his feet, “Thank you.” He says sincerely, inclining his head and holding the bag to his chest, “I owe you.” He says it like a promise.

“You owe me nothing.”

“I owe you!” Maurice sing-songs and, with one wary glance over his shoulder towards the ninja, he slinks away. He uses his spider legs to easily cross the web and cozies himself at the fire, digging into the contents of the bag eagerly and immediately dismissing the scorned ninja from his presence.

Kai huffs out a harsh breath, “He’s gonna try and kill us and then act like nothing happened!?” He demands, rocketing forward to give the mutant a piece of his mind.

Immediately a hand lands on his chest, Birdy strong arming him back towards his friends, “Please calm down.” He requests politely, “You are in the Dark Realm,” He reminds him evenly, “This is a place where the unforgivable are banished. You cannot be upset with everyone who considers raising a hand against you.”

Kai pushes the hand off his chest sharply but before he can reply, Birdy adds quietly and only to them, “You cannot win in a fight against him, Kai.”

“Uh, I think we could have handled him just fine.” Kai says crossly, hands on his hips.

“That is not the only trap he has prepared around his camp. All that he requires to come out victorious is trip you up long enough to bite you. There is no antidote- if he even grazes you with his fangs, you die.” Birdy explains bluntly, “You will not win, not without casualties.”

Jay and Nya go very quiet, losing their fighting spirit at the sound of spider venom.

“You two seem awful buddy buddy,” Cole says hesitantly, gripping his hammer tighter.

Shaking his head, Birdy passes his staff between his hands a few times, “I… understand him. This place changes you, makes you not yourself, and can even make you do things you would not do under normal circumstances. I bring him blood potatoes from the redwoods. True to their name, once you boil them down they taste like blood- it reduces cannibalistic cravings in people with predatory mutations. His hunger drives him to do terrible things.” He looks at Cole evenly, “I am helping him, but we are not friends.”

“That’s true,” Maurice chimes in, raising his voice to be heard across the sand, “I tried to eat him when we first met. The funny thing about Birdy, though, is he’s the type who makes you want to be better- even if you don’t deserve it.”

Birdy looks over at Maurice, “You are not a lost cause.” He says firmly.

Maurice waves him and the other away, “Leave me alone.” He’s focused on fixing his dinner, “And just so you know, i definitely would have eaten you if my fangs could get through your skin.” He says pointedly, as if to prove Birdy's faith unfounded, before tuning out of the conversation completely.

“Is that your mutation?” Nya jumps on that tidbit of information instantly.

“It’s impolite to ask about someone's mutations.” He parrots Maurice earlier, but doesn’t elaborate.

Jay puts an overwhelmed hand to his head, “I think I need to sit down.”

The man holds out his hand politely, “I’m Birdy,” He introduces, waiting for Lloyd to reciprocate the hand shake. Birdy glances at Jay and then turns back to Lloyd, “I can take you to a safe place to rest, if you’ll allow it.'' His facial expression is unreadable behind his mask, but Lloyd can tell he's making a conscious effort to appear non-threatening. Unlike Maurice, Birdy doesn’t set off any alarm bells in Lloyds head- he’s had enough experience with betrayal to be able to pick up on this stuff. That's what Lloyd likes to think, anyway.

Affronted, Kai scoffs, “After what happened with him, you think we’re gonna just follow you? Thanks, but we can take care of ourselves.”

“Why would I have saved you just to turn around and kill you?” Birdy shoots back immediately, and despite the fact he should have been on the defensive, his voice holds a note of amusement. Kai does not like that, eyes flashing as he takes the tone as mocking.

Lloyd cuts in before the conversation can devolve more, “He’s got a point.” He says, then takes a long moment to study the man. “...He saved us from becoming spider food.”

Lloyd looks to his team, gauging their reactions to see what they’re thinking. Nya and Jay look unsure. Expression slightly thoughtful, Cole is simply studying Birdy as if trying to figure himself out. He seems more open to the stranger than the others, something about the man's words or actions having convinced him he’s trustworthy. Lloyd notes to try and talk to him later and see what he’s thinking.

Kai crosses his arms and squints at the man for a long moment, before pointedly turning away.

But Lloyd is the leader, and this is his job. He made the hard decisions- it was his responsibility and his alone.

“I’m Lloyd,” He tells the man, stepping forward and gesturing to each of his team in turn, “And these are my friends Kai, Nya, Cole and Jay. We’ll come with you.”

Nodding respectfully, Birdy chokes up on his staff until he’s holding it down low, resting the blade on the sand and petals to scout out any potential pitfalls he’s unaware of. Feeling a bit foolish, the ninja follow him in a neat little row like a group of ducklings, waddling slowly behind him until Maurices carefully scattered flower petals thin back into the pink of the desert. Birdy holds his staff like a walking stick now, the heavy weapon sinking into the sand with every step.

Not quite sure what to say, Lloyd walks in silence.

[dracothedeatheatingcupcake-ao3]

do you like chicken noodle or tomato soup better?

(There is a correct answer/j)

Personally, I’ve always been a fan of chicken noodle. It’s a classic and it’s hard to truly mess it up.

Tomato soup is a toss up for me. Sometimes it’s really good, but sometimes it’s gross and weird. Also, some places make it spicy, and I’m allergic to most kinds of pepper, so it’s often unpleasant for me.

Thus, I’d have to say chicken noodle is my preferred soup of the two. That being said, nothing beats matzo ball soup from the local deli in my home city. It’s the best and I will die on this hill. Either that or the onion soup from the chain restaurant Mimi’s Cafe.

Hope I passed the test!! And if not… my honor will never recover. 😔

[angst-and-fajitas]

Top 5 Soups?

Ok this is a HARD ONE.... They're all so GOOD, plus I haven't had the chance to try every soup ever (someday, tho...)

1) homemade tomato basil (NOTHING beats this and a grilled cheese... Ooooghghj)

2) Pho

3) tonkatsu ramen

4) French onion

5) cheesy potato broccoli

[talietikasero]

Tagged by @nottoxicfr

This is a little long so I'm putting a readmore

Relationship status: Single

Last thing I listened to: “Light the City Up” by Cut the Lights (plays during the big chase scene in AtSV)

Song stuck in my head: oh I have so many lmao. Three of them are "REALiZE" by LiSA, “Night SURFING” by (K)NoW_NAME, and “All Over the World” (the SF6 world map song)

Last thing I googled: local weather because it took until now for it to reach 90+ degrees ☠

Favorite food: noodles! I've been making bowls at home (using A-Sha brand now because I have a box of the Hello Kitty collab lmao) and usually make other stuff to eat with it (korean and taiwanese scallion pancakes, veggie gyoza, and/or rolled omelets)

Runner up: nothing beats a good grilled cheese as a backup plan. paired with a side of tomato soup or some tots (usually what i get on my last work break haha). Another are these pepper and cream cheese rolls my friend Jose makes! (He's an excellent chef and usually has me try his vegetarian/vegan creations. He recently made onigiri with vegan tuna and my god it was great!)

Anything I want rn: another box of these yubari melon big pocky i found when i recently went to l.a.'s koreatown

Mutuals I'm tagging (it's up to you if you'd like to) : @eattheentirehell @oldgamecube @starocide