#painted desert moons: Chris and Beth

[bewitchingbaker]

@brooklynislandgirl said:

~gropes him. Gently. With her teeth~

A scowl is present on that often smiling face, arms folded on his couch. Even with the sleeping Dee on his lap and Quas resting at his feet, he couldn't help but shake the day off of him. Then he felt a familiar sharp sensation against his neck, small hum of appreciation escaping his lips.

"As much as I hate bad days," Chris sighs with a small smile, "If it leads to this, I might be a little more ok with them~"

[bewitchingbaker]

@brooklynislandgirl

cora solmar

[brooklynislandgirl]

@bewitchingbaker {{xx}}

If anyone in the world understood what was going through Chris' soul? It's Beth. Despite all the things he would tell her otherwise, Beth doesn't find herself particularly photogenic nor is she comfortable in her own body when it comes to others. Still, she thinks Chris is beautiful and he'd be viewed through the twin lenses of her affection and talent. The painting would be personal. "Of course I'm sure. Nevah would ask oddahwise." She's quick to reassure him. First she sets down her palette, her tubes of oil, her palette knife, her brushes. If anyone were to take a close look, they'd realise she arrays things the way she would arrange surgical tools. A habit long ingrained into her, one almost mathematically precise. "Besides, it's been years since ya sat proper an' dere's somet'ing charming 'bout oils on canvas. If ya don' believe me, aks Bob Ross." She waggles her eyebrows above that soft little grin of hers. They have a long history of diffusing awkward feelings with gentle humour. "But like where ya head is at. I jus' picked up a new sketch pad and colour pencils, an' pastels." One frail hand lands on his forearm and Beth takes a moment to look up into that deep smokey topaz gaze of his. "You know, yeah, dat you nevah hafta be shy wi' me. I'd nevah do any kine t' make ya unhappy or t' feel wrong." Though Beth might not have the same kind of magick that her brother had once, it seems she knew Chris enough to know exactly what memory he'd slipped into and is replying to that old conversation, that old insecurity in the moment. It's uncanny how often that happens between them. She bats her lashes and her expression turns playful once again when she joins him in the now. "Mmm. A drink an' mebbe you pick da mood music? An' I dunno. You look pretty handsome an' is a nice afternoon."

[jaceyourself]

End of Year Wrap-Up 24/12/2018

Happy Merry to all you readers!

I’ve had a great year but all us music fans have had an even better one! Streaming services mean that now more than ever we can experience the musical output from all corners of the globe (though overwhelmingly the English-speaking parts of it) to understand different points of view, learn of the goings on in other parts of the world and most importantly indulge ourselves in a bit of a boogie. All the moods, genres and feels you could think of are out there, so over the holiday period perhaps try and listen to something new. Who knows it might break the tension with that younger/older relative round the xmas table when you find they also happen to like k-pop/jazz-funk/grindcore or at the very least you can bicker about the tragedy of the current album charts (Greatest Showman: 21 weeks!). To aid you in your quest for knowledge/excitement/small-talk I have spent almost 30 minutes curating a best-of for both albums and singles in the year of 2018. 

(NB even with my album-a-day policy, there’s no way I can get through everything I want to within the 365, so if your fave appears ignored, let it be known that I probably haven’t heard it yet. The full list of everything I’ve listened to this year is at the bottom)

So in no particular order:

Albums 

Jinx Lennon- Grow A Pair!!!

The Beths- Future Me Hates Me

The Pistol Annies- Interstate Gospel

Travis Scott- ASTROWORLD

Mount Eerie- Now Only

Cardi B- Invasion of Privacy

The 1975- A Brief Inquiry Into Online Relationships

The Aces- When My Heart Felt Volcanic

Singles

Confidence Man- Out The Window

Cardi B- I Like It

Janelle Monae ft. Grimes- Pynk

Lori McKenna- People Get Old

SOPHIE- Immaterial

Marie Davidson- Work It

Car Seat Headrest- Stop Smoking (We Love You)

BLACKPINK- AS IF IT’S YOUR LAST

The 1975- It’s Not Living (If It’s Not With You)

https://open.spotify.com/user/jaceyourself/playlist/1kFex3QLVv0l3cCqjVC6dT?si=_GqTJXrOSoSXYaMC9ra_lg

Have a great festive period and I’ll see you in 2019 :D

2018 Albums what I listened to

Floating Points- Reflections – Mojave Desert

James Elkington- Wintres Woma

Miguel- War & Leisure

Ride- Weather Diaries

Sidney Gish- No Dogs Allowed

Emperor X- The Orlando Sentinel, Oversleepers International

Broken Social Scene- Hug of Thunder

MC5- Kick Out The Jams (Live)

Public Service Broadcasting- Every Valley

JJ Doom- Key to the Kuffs

HAIM- Something To Tell You

Camila Cabello- Camila

Sheer Mag- Need To Feel Your Love

Taylor Swift- reputation

Shabazz Palaces- Quazarz vs The Jealous Machines

This Is The Kit- Moonshine Freeze

Japanese Breakfast- Soft Sounds From Another Planet

Tune-Yards- I can feel you creep into my private life

Jupiter & Okwess- Kin Sonic

Various Artists- The Passion Of Charlie Parker

Waxahatchee- Out In The Storm, Great Thunder

Offa Rex- The Queen Of Hearts

Dizzee Rascal- Raskit

Alvvays- Antisocialites

Childhood- Universal High

Marmozets- Knowing What You Know Now

Declan McKenna- What Do You Think About the Car?

Paul Heaton- Crooked Calypso

Lana Del Rey- Lust For Life

Charles Lloyd New Quartet- Passin’ Thru (Live)

Rip Rig & Panic- Circa Rip Rig + Panic

Avey Tare- Eucalyptus

Justin Timberlake- Man Of The Woods

Rio Mira- Marimba del Pacifico

Oddisee- The Iceberg

Aimee Mann- Mental Illness

Katie Von Schleicher- Shitty Hits

Arcade Fire- Everything Now

Girl Ray- Earl Grey

Ezra Furman- Transangelic Exodus

Randy Newman- Dark Matter

Dead Cross- Dead Cross

Chronixx- Chronology

Mondo Cozmo- Plastic Soul

Kesha- Rainbow

Lal & Mike Waterson- Bright Phoebus

Steve Reich- Pulse / Quartet

Orchestra Baobab- Tribute to Ndiouga Dieng

Ratboy- SCUM

Prince- Dirty Mind, Controversy, 1999, Purple Rain, Parade, Sign ‘O’ The Times

Stanley Cowell- No Illusions

Oneohtrix Point Never- Good Time Original Motion Picture Soundtrack

Downtown Boys- Cost Of Living

Screaming Females- All At Once

Rob Luft- Riser

Sibusile Xaba- Open Letter To Adoniah

Jen Cloher- Jen Cloher

Everything Everything- Fever Dream

Grizzly Bear- Painted Ruins

Bob’s Burgers- The Bob’s Burgers Music Album

Superorganism- Superorganism

Maren Morris- HERO

Courtney Marie Andrews- Honest Life, May Your Kindness Remain

Stefflon Don- Real Ting Mixtape

Ghostpoet- Dark Days + Canapés

Young Fathers- White Men Are Black Men Too, Cocoa Sugar

Queens Of The Stone Age- Songs For The Deaf

Thurst- Cut to the Chafe

John Moreland- Big Bad Luv

Aruan Ortiz- Cub(an)ism [Piano Solo]

Mount Eerie- Now Only

The War On Drugs- A Deeper Understanding

Various Artists- Pop Makossa

Liane Carroll- The Right to Love

Fickle Friends- You Are Someone Else

Nadine Shah- Holiday Destination

Various Artists- Howsla

George Ezra- Staying at Tamara’s

The Doors- The Doors

Filthy Friends- Invitation

Susanne Sundfør- Music For People In Trouble

LCD Soundsystem- LCD Soundsystem, Sound of Silver, American Dream

Mogwai- Every Country’s Sun

Kacey Musgraves- Golden Hour

The National- High Violet, Sleep Well Beast

The Klezmatics- Wonder Wheel

Hercules & Love Affair- Omnion

Mount Kimbie- Love What Survives

The Aces- When My Heart Felt Volcanic

Matthew Bourne- Isotach

Finished- Cum Inside Me Bro

Forced Into Femininity- I’m Making Progress

Heron Oblivion- Heron Oblivion

Hamell On Trial- TACKLE BOX

Confidence Man- Confident Music For Confident People

Swet Shop Boys- Cashmere

Princess Nokia- 1992 Deluxe, A Girl Cried Red

Steely Dan- The Royal Scam, Aja

King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard- Nonagon Infinity

Sparks- Hippopotamus

J. Cole- KOD

Fat Tony- Macgregor Park

L’Orange and Jeremiah Jae- The Night Took Us In Like Family

Little Simz- Stillness In Wonderland

Lady Leshurr- Queen’s Speech

RAY BLK- Durt

Brand New- Science Fiction

Janelle Monae- Dirty Computer

Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever- Talk Tight

Fred Thomas- Changer

Myra Davies- Sirens

Laraaji- Sun Gong

The Killers- Wonderful Wonderful

Descendents- Milo Goes To College

Frank Turner- Be More Kind

The Horrors- V

Moses Sumney- Aromanticism

Arctic Monkeys- Whatever People…, AM, Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino

Oxbow- Thin Black Duke

Dee Byrne’s Entropi- Moment Frozen

Mike Stern- Trip

The Vampires- The Vampires Meet Lionel Loueke

Gogol Bordello- Gypsy Punks: Underdog World Strike, Super Taranta!, Seekers And Finders

Umphrey’s McGee- Zonkey

Hard Working Americans- We’re All in This Together

Courtney Barnett- Tell Me How You Really Feel

Jllin- Black Origami

Various Artists- Rough Guide to the Music of West Africa

Wolf Alice- Visions Of A Life

The Young’uns- Strangers

Fever Ray- Fever Ray, Plunge

CHVRCHES- Love Is Dead

Oumou Sangaré- Oumou, Mogoya

Charlotte Gainsbourg- Rest

Daniel Avery- Song For Alpha

Daphni- Joli Mai

Kanye West- ye

Cécile McLorin Salvant- Dreams and Daggers

Trio Da Kali, Kronos Quartet- Ladilikan

Kelela- Take Me Apart

Bob Dylan- The Times.., Another.., Bringing.., Highway.., Blond.., John.., Nashville.., New.., Blood..

Lily Allen- Alright(,) Still, It’s Not Me(,) It’s You, Sheezus, No Shame

Fanfare Ciocarlia- 20

Wolf Parade- Cry Cry Cry

SOPHIE- OIL OF EVERY PEARL’S UN-INSIDES

Zara McFarlane- Arise

St. Vincent- MASSEDUCTION

Margo Price- All American Made

Bebe Rexha- Expectations

Motörhead- Under Cöver

Orchestre Les Mangelepa- Last Band Standing

Drake- Scorpion

Various Artists- Gentle Giants: The Songs Of Don Williams

Noga Erez- Off The Radar

Baxter Dury- Prince of Tears

John Maus- Screen Memories

Lankum- Between the Earth and Sky

Shamir- Revelations

Years & Years- Palo Santo

Converge- The Dusk In Us

Canzoniere Grecanico Salentino- Canzoniere

Fred Hersch- Open Book

A. Savage- Thawing Dawn

Big Thief- Capacity

Kelly Clarkson- Meaning Of Life

Dirty Projectors- Lamp Lit Prose

Robt Sarazin Blake- Recitative

Shed Seven- Instant Pleasures

Spinning Coin- Permo

Call Super- Arpo

Laura Perrudin- Poisons & antidotes

Ellen Andrea Wang- Blank Out

Lori McKenna- The Tree

Wu-Tang Clan- Enter The Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)

Lee Ronaldo- Electric Trim

Deer Tick- Vol. 2

The Paranoid Style- Underworld U.S.A.

Youssou N’Dour- Set, Joko- From Village To Town, Nothing’s In Vain, Seeni Valeurs

Gaika- BASIC VOLUME

Kasai Allstars- Around Felicite

Carly Rae Jepsen- Emotion

Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds- Who Built The Moon?

Anna Ternheim- All the Way to Rio

U2- Songs of Experience

Mônica Vasconcelos- The São Paulo Tapes

Travis Scott- ASTROWORLD

Nabihah Iqbal- Weighing of the Heart

Van Morrison- Versatile

Jim James- Tribute to 2

Criolo- Espiral de Ilusão

Maciej Obara Quartet- Unloved

N.E.R.D- NO ONE EVER REALLY DIES

The Beths- Future Me Hates Me

Maryam Saleh- Lekhfa

Naomi Bedford- Songs My Ruiner Gave to Me

Jens Lekman- Night Over Kortedala

The Spirit of the Beehive- pleasure suck

Tom Rogerson- Finding Shore

Paul Jacobs- Pictures(,) Movies and Apartments

Ariana Grande- sweetener

Rina Sawayama- RINA

Marcel Khalife- Andalusia of Love

Gunter Hampel- Bounce (Live at Theater Gütersloh)

BAYNK- Someone’s EP

Omar Souleyman- To Syria(,) With Love

Blood Orange- Negro Swan

Open Mike Eagle- Brick Body Kids Still Daydream

First Aid Kit- Ruins

Shame- Songs of Praise

Homeboy Sandman- Veins

Playboi Carti- Playboi Carti

Eminem- Kamikaze

Troye Sivan- Blue Neighbourhood, BLOOM

Joey Bada$$- ALL AMERIKKKAN BADA$$

Priests- Nothing Feels Natural

Rhiannon Giddens- Freedom Highway

King Krule- The OOZ

Django Django- Marble Skies

Bon Iver- For Emma(,) Forever Ago

Calexico- The Thread That Keeps Us

Mary Gauthier- Rifles & Rosary Beads

Hookworms- Microshift

Aphex Twin- Collapse EP

Rae Morris- Someone Out There

Field Music- Open Here

Rhye- Blood

Shopping- The Official Body

MGMT- Little Dark Age

Christine and the Queens- Chris

Alela Diane- Cusp

Sonic Youth- Sister

Brigid Mae Power- The Two Worlds

Deafheaven- Sunbather

Various Artists- American Epic: The Collection Disc 1, 2, 3

Rich Krueger- Life Ain’t That Long

Lil Wayne- Tha Carter V

Modern Mal- The Misanthrope Family Album

Rejjie Snow- Dear Annie

U.S. Girls- In a Poem Unlimited

The Orielles- Silver Dollar Moment

Tal National- Tantabara

Marie Davidson- Working Class Woman

Superchunk- What a Time to Be Alive

Brandi Carlile- By The Way(,) I Forgive You

Car Seat Headrest- Twin Fantasy

Loma- Loma

Quavo- QUAVO HUNCHO

Marlon Williams- Make Way For Love

Nipsey Hussle- Victory Lap

Insecure Men- Insecure Men

Kendrick Lamar- Black Panther

Rapsody- Lalia’s Wisdom

Khalid- Suncity

Tracey Thorn- Record

Anna von Hausswolff- Dead Magic

Jinx Lennon- Grow a Pair!!!

Gwenno- Le Kov

Judas Priest- Stained Class, FIREPOWER

Robyn- Robyn, Body Talk, Honey

The Magic Gang- The Magic Gang

Essaie Pas- New Path

Bob Dylan and The Band- The Basement Tapes

The Decemberists- I’ll Be Your Girl

Pistol Annies- Interstate Gospel

BCUC- Emakhosini (Bantu Continua Uhuru Consciousness)

Jack White- Boarding House Reach

Yo La Tengo- There’s A Riot Going On

Sidi Touré- Toubalbero

Lil Peep- Come Over When You’re Sober(,) Pt. 2

The Breeders- All Nerve

The Vaccines- Combat Sports

CZARFACE- Czarface Meets Metal Face

Laurence Pike- Distant Early Warning

Chopteeth Afrofunk Big Band- Bone Reader

Leo Kalyan- The Edge

Hayley Kyoko- Expectations

Tristen- Sneaker Waves

Thelonious Monk- Les Liaisons Dangereuses

Brad Mehldau & Mark Guiliana- Mehliana: Taming The Dragon

Amy Rigby- Til The Wheels Fall Off, Little Fugitive, The Old Guys

BLACKPINK- BLACKPINK IN YOUR AREA

Rose Cousins- Natural Conclusion

Nora Jane Struthers- Champion

Lilly Hiatt- Trinity Lane

The Rolling Stones- The Rolling Stones, The Rolling Stones No. 2, Out of Our Heads, Aftermath

MAST- Thelonious Sphere Monk

The 1975- A Brief Inquiry Into Online Relationships

Jhene Aiko- Trip

Don Bryant- Don’t Give up on Love

EMA- Exile in the Outer Ring

Small Believer- Anna Tivel

Vera Sola- Shades

Cardi B- Invasion of Privacy

Darkthrone- A Blaze in the Northern Sky

Sarah Shook & the Disarmers- Years

Goat Girl- Goat Girl

Vic Mensa- HOOLIGANS

Unknown Mortal Orchestra- Sex & Food

Alasdair Roberts, Amble Scuse & David McGuiness- What News

Kali Uchis- Isolation

Wye Oak- The Louder I Call, the Faster It Runs

Migos- Culture II

Hinds- I Don’t Run

DRINKS- Hippo Lite

Alexis Taylor- Beautiful Thing

Jenny Wilson- EXORCISM

[bewitchingbaker]

🍌 - Who is someone that makes them feel uncomfortable? How do they handle interactions with this person? What is the source of the discomfort? {Chris}

He's doing that thing whenever something Luna related comes up.

"...."

The baker's arms are folded as the floor has become the most interesting thing right now. Words have all of a sudden become alien to him. While the baker most certainly could be a little quiet, it wouldn't take long for him to finally spill what was on his mind. But for reason, this time was different.

Ever since he closed the bakery, the young Luna was a bit more sullen than usual. Did Camillo say something? Maybe Angela's madness became a bit too much to bear. Perhaps Abula Julia dropped another last minute request to her ever so obedient nieto.

But he would always tell Beth if something was wrong. Even when they were kids, she was often the first to know when something was wrong with Chris. It could take a hand on his arm or a worried frown that would break his moodiness.

An offer of ordering out from his favorite pizza place was met with a delayed 'sure...'. Every call of his name prompted a late 'hmm? oh nothing'. Curiously, he was messing with the moon shaped necklace that dangled from his neck for hours. Our young Luna slowly began to open up once night fell. It wasn't until the familiar duo of Lord Quas and Dee were asleep that she feels a hand on hers.

"...Cool if I talk to you in the kitchen," Chris asks, one hand resting on hers. "...It's...alot."

As he guides his love to the medium sized kitchen, Chris prepares them a pot of Chamomile tea. It was quite easy to spot that he wasn't using any of his magic. Strange....

"So..." he begins, hands gingerly pouring both him and Beth a cup. "The Lunas sometimes have visitors...friends. Some good...others not so much."

He takes a seat across from the light of his world.

"Abuela had a visitor today," Chris continues, "He looked like an older guy. Maybe came from money cause his suit was custom looking, kind of purple. But there was something..."

A swallow.

"Off about him."

The baker takes a sip of his coffee, eyes staring out the window for a moment. He had his fair share of encounters with their fellow paranormal citizens and even took down his fair share of denizens of hell before he and Beth came back into each others lives. While he was not far from the later reputation he would earn as a great witch, he still felt some confidence. But this...reminded him of how there was still alot for him to learn.

"Like the second he walked in, it felt like I was in water that was slowly getting higher and higher. There wasn't a leak or anything in the bakery...but it was like I was going to drown the longer he was in there."

His hand rests on his chest as his heart is ready to make a mad dash out of his chest. A deep breath soon follows as he attempts to put the brakes on his speeding heart.

"...Abula and Alice talked to him like any of their other friends. It just felt like they were worried he was going do something. I think he knew something about us. But that can't be..."

Another nervous sip.

"Dude kept asking about me...like he was just too interested in me whenever I came out to refill they're coffee. He had too many questions for me. I don't know...it all just felt off...."

A shaky sigh escapes his lips.

"Even when he left and he put a hand on my shoulder and said something along the lines 'I'll be back for you. Don't worry...'"

Those soft brown hues meet Beths, eyes wide with worry

"I've jut been thinking...What the hell did he mean by that...?"

[ @brooklynislandgirl ]

[bewitchingbaker]

4. How often do they eat out? What kinds of restaurants do they like to go to?

It's a relaxed Friday evening in Sedona. The sun is beginning to set and the desert is finally cooling off just a bit. Luna's Moonlight Delights has closed early for the weekend and the younger Riley has the night off for once and decided to spend her time at Chris's.

A purple dart levitates in the air.

Chris has one eye open, aiming at the the dartboard in his living room. His target held a few sticky notes. Each with a different restaurant name as well as a mood in parenthesis. While Chris had no problem cooking and still had some ingredients to whip up a meal. But then again...that would mean dishes and no amount of magick could make that task enjoyable.

So ordering out was the move for tonight.

'Pisa Liza' (if we don't wanna wait)

'Desert Roots Kitchens' (if we're feeling sandwiches and vegan)

'Little Dragon' (can't go wrong with their spring rolls)

'Ingo's Tasty Food' (they have everything)

Now, Beth's eye is on Chris as she's quick to remind the baker that he's ordered Little Dragon this week. Quas also mentions that he's been craving more fancy pizza this week, backing Beth's wishes to leave this to choice. Although the hellhound wouldn't complain if they got Ingo's as their desserts have become one of his favorites outside the Lunas. Our young Luna couldn't argue with their logic, they were right after all.

With both eyes closed, his fingers throw the levitating dart towards its target.

To everyone's genuine surprise, the sticky note for Pisa Liza held the dart. The baker feels a playful tap against his ribs before feeling her head against his chest.

"I may have left it to chance, but I think I'll let you pick the toppings. You have good taste so I'm down to try anything you suggest~"

[ @brooklynislandgirl ]

[bewitchingbaker]

🥴😳🥴😳

Chris looked at the various colors of nail polish levitating in front of him. Beth's legs rested on those large thighs of his, occasionally getting a light tickle in between his decision-making. A chuckle escapes his lips once he feels her tap his arm playfully.

"Ok, ok," Chris laughs. "I'll pick a color."

Red, green, white, pink...lavender? Decisions, decisions. He remembers her compliments on his eyes whenever he uses magic. Though she often said his eyes were lovely, Beth admittedly loved that hint of purple that came with his powers. So why not a purple fill for her nails.

"Lilac?"

An enthusiastic nod from Beth.

A knowing chuckle from Chris.

Good to know he still has it. Even after so many years, Chris loved painting Beth's toenails whenever they relaxed. The silly sounds of Mean Girls filled the background. Two glasses of wine levitated near them and the window gave them a perfect view of the desert's night sky.

Slowly he begins his work, gently dabbing her toenails. They laugh at the movie, often displaying their best impression of the characters. Discussions on their days at work and plans for next week. As always, Beth had a question that would bring out the blush that would fill those chubby cheeks.

"What gets me going," he echoes with a bashful chuckle. "Outside of the normal stuff?"

The baker ponders over her question for a bit, hands focusing on her ring-toe. Chris thinks of moments between him that left him...desiring her in that way. Of course, her dancing often left him blushing. Just the thought of her hips moving left Chris at a loss for words. Even Beth knew that was an obvious answer.

But he remembers a moment that had him wanting to smooch her right then and there.

Chris didn't often need a ride from work but his ford focus was out of comission due to a certain eldritch familar eating a few of its tires. As much as it pained him, it was much better to ask Beth for a ride as opposed to dealing with the awkwardness of lyfts or driving with Camillo. To his surprise, he spotted a familiar Mustang speeding towards the bakery.

Ever so smoothly, the muscle car crept up to the curve revealing a smiling Beth behind the wheel. Admittedly the first half of the ride was silent, no doubt due to the bright red hue filling the baker's cheeks. While Beth was worried his silence was due to being picked up in a much nicer car, she would soon be surprised by Chris's smooch once she stopped at a red light.

"Remember when you picked me up in Andy's Mustang," Chris asks with a blush. "Well it's kind...hot watching you drive. I don't know the way you whipped that muscle car with ease was kind of hot."

A blush.

"Why do you think we smooched so long once we got home?"

He's onto the next nail and a wink follows.

"I know you think it's boring or lame," he begins. "But I quite enjoy your thoughts on your interests. While I do love seeing you in those swimsuits, your nerdy rambles are much hotter. I could listen to them all day, honestly."

While he was talking, Chris finished one set. Of course, he would always take time to appreciate his work. Plus, there was something relaxing about painting Beth's toes. It felt nice that she trusted him enough to do this.

They both pause to hear their favorite line in the movie.

'That is so fetch!'

A shared laugh.

But now it was time to reveal some not-so-hidden things he does when he's in the mood. Plus, he needed to get started on her left set of toes. The baker takes a sip of his wine with a bashful chuckle.

"I'm surprised you haven't noticed when I get a little handsy," Chris laughs. "Whenever I give your shirt a tug, hold you in my lap, or grab ya hips that means I'm a little in the mood. I try not to go overboard cause I guess I don't know my own strength. Have I ever held you too hard?"

A blush fills his cheeks as he paints her toes, eyes focused to make sure the coat is even.

"As much as I love when you bite me and leave a mark, I like doing the same thing. In the most non-awkward way, it feels nice to leave my own little bite marks on ya. While I do like when you take control, it's kind of fun to...initiate things and take a little control."

[ @brooklynislandgirl ]

[bewitchingbaker]

★ try and mahalo <3

[ @brooklynislandgirl ]

I like you // I love you // You’re one of my best friends // You’re like family // You are family // I dislike you // I hate you // I’d kill you if I got the chance // I want you to like me // I’m scared of you // I would adopt you // I’d date you // I’d sleep with you // I’d marry you // I’m worried about you // You confuse me // You’re annoying // I pity you // I respect you // I trust you // I feel protective of you // I’d invite you with me to parties // I’d lend you my money // I’d borrow your money // You’re good-looking // I’m suspicious of you // I’m hiding something from you // You’re fun // You’re boring // I’m upset with you // You’re nice // You’re mean // I’m envious of you // You’re smart // You’re stupid // I look up to you // I think you’re a better person than me // I think I’m a better person than you // I want to apologize to you // I wish I’d never met you // I never want to forget you // I want to get to know you better

[bewitchingbaker]

Chris' back is pressed against her headboard. She suspects he might be more comfortable if he just moved her a little and slouched down away from the wood and onto the pillows but she doubts he's going to bother. Inwardly he may be mortified but she can feel how much he wants her as she takes up space in his lap. Knees pinning his hips. Small palms braced against the front face of his broad shoulders, and her face buried in his neck. Soft little licks. Teasing grazes of his jugular with the tips of her teeth. The tidal sway of her body that has her modest chest brushing against his own. The tiniest of occasional growls, sounds that remind him that she is not entirely human. Finally, slowly she pulls away only to caress the edge of his ear with her lips. "...'M I hurtin' you..?" Oh and maybe there's the devil in this moment. Embedded in that smokey whisper of hers. "Mebbe mo' beddah I aks you...do you wan me to?"

A soft sigh of pleasure escapes his lips.

Beth's skin felt soft. Not much of a surprise to the baker, as he remembers her detailed skin routine. The scent of her shampoo brings a soft smile to that flushed face of his. While those beautiful teeth grazed his jugular, his own hands trailing down her back. Though his left hand was lost in the art that was her hair.

Chris knows she could hurt him or in Quas's words 'Kill him twice over'. As evidenced by not just those sharp canines but her skill with a knife. Even when they were kids, it didn't take much for Beth to win their game of knights. Some would be driven away by this.

But not Christopher Noe Luna.

"Doesn't hurt all," he smiles. "Quite the opposite honestly, it feels nice~"

This was heaven for him.

Those soft masses he called hands have found a home on her hips.His own rolling softly against hers In a rare show of confidence, the baker pulls her closer without much effort. No doubt already under her spell.

Soon those cheeks fill with that known red hue, already anticipating what Beth had in store for him. His lips press themselves against her shoulder, a soft bite of his own following before he finally whispers. Voice surprisingly husky.

"But I'd love for you to hurt me~'

[ @brooklynislandgirl ]

[brooklynislandgirl]

Advent Day III ~ I'll Be Home For Christmas @bewitchingbaker "A-are you...ah...sure about dis?" They are beyond the point of no return, no refund. The only other people in the lounge area are also waiting preferential boarding for their flight to O'Hare ~one of the perks of flying first class, courtesy of her black AmEx. Since the pair have been able to do everything individually, the only cash he's ever seen her use is the amount she keeps in her wallet to give out to those in need. Everything else gets put on that card, which is in turn connected to her trust fund. Unkind people in their social circle have mentioned that she likely has no idea how to pay bills. It might all be true, but she hasn't thought twice about their tickets. Originally she was only going to purchase one as a gift for Chris, who hasn't seen his family in so long, and unlike the Rileys, the Lunas were close-knit. He rarely can take time off, and when he does, it's because he's got another two different jobs at hand. Then he sweet-talked her into getting a second one, saying he'd really like it better if she went with him. Beth packed carefully, he warned her about how cold it could get. And that meant she had to buy long sleeves and heavier skirts, tights to wear underneath, fleecy socks and thermals. All the sorts of things she'd learned about her first Winter in New York. In the baggage compartment is two suit cases full of gently but thoroughly secured gifts, al professionally wrapped. She also took her medication before leaving the house and while it's had plenty of time to kick in, it doesn't seem to be doing her much good. She's clearly nervous. She presses her cheek into his arm, wraps both hands around his one. She doesn't let him stray too far from her, even when he grabs them some cocoa. Chris could call her clingy. He could tell her that there's nothing to worry about; that the flight will be fine and she's making mountains out of molehills. He could roll his eyes or start a fight but... he does none of those things. Chris runs his fingers through her dark silken strands and leans his lips against her brow. He slips an arm around her and bundles her close. He distracts her with stories about the other first class passengers, and what it will be like when they get to their hotel. He tells her about all the things they'll do around the city. "Don't worry, mi amor," he says especially quiet, while she's watching his mouth. High colour marks his cheeks, that specific red he's worn for her all his life. "They'll love you, because I do. And if they don't? Then we'll spend the next two weeks together, and ring in the new year just by ourselves." He's rewarded with a sweet kiss pressed to his lips. "Okay, Kilika." "I will, however, spoil you with the best food ever. Black bean empanadas, papas rellenas, moqueca..." "I'ma need help wi' da haupia." "You just have to say the word."

[brooklynislandgirl]

@bewitchingbaker {{xx}}

While the frenzy that clouds her vision with a sort of dim red has nothing to do with memories to their years of growing up together and diminishes into a different sort of emotion altogether, Beth would be touched to know that Chris remembers a lot of things, things written about from her own view in the very book that earned him this moment in the first place. Well, it's ancestors anyway. Napping away in the padded window seat, her cat ~who, on general principal, hates literally every other man in her life, including Andy~ doesn't stir. No lift of his head from his paws, not a twitch of his tail. The world, and Chris in particular, is safe for now. One thing Beth herself does not doubt is that Chris can feel the artillery fire of her heartbeat which seems intent on chipping through the bone of her chest so that it can spill red and raw all of the secrets she keeps inside of it. Things she wants but doesn't believe she deserves. Things she feels but can't find the words in any of the languages she knows to make them come out right. Even the fears that if she ever does, they'll come apart at the seams and ruin all the good things she has going. Including Chris. Maybe especially him, who other than Andy, has always been her rock, her steady point in a chaotic and often misunderstanding world. She wouldn't know what to do if anything ever caused things to change, for him to finally decide she isn't worth it. She tries to blink the dampness away that threatens to surge over the embankments of her lower lids and lashes, and remembers to take a breath. One he seems intent to rob from her a moment later when he speaks. She doesn't miss the change in his eyes but doesn't quite know what to make of it other than make a mental note of how lovely it is ~she's always loved purple best of all the colours~ or how relaxed he seems when everything about him should be tense, terrified. She is, after all, a child of monsters though not entirely one on her own. "An' mebbe you're cr-" she never finishes saying what she's thinking, does she? Not when he swallows her up into the depths of his voice again. And then, he's kissing her back. She can taste a touch of sugared berries on his tongue, the sweetness a lingering taste of his own work; Chris never fails to check the quality of one of his baked goods without making sure it's perfect, even if he's made the recipe a thousand times. Something in the back of her mind murmurs that she should take that as a sign, and another part of her stifles the commentary. Sinks into the kiss the way she dives into water; natural and all consuming, as if she has no other life than that moment. Time dissolves into fragments too fine or too large to tangibly quantify. She doesn't know how long it lasts or why she feels her heart breaking when they gasp for air. She hadn't been watching his lips, now a little damp and probably the slightest bit kiss-plump. She's sure her own look the same. Below knitted brows and hazy eyes where the streaks of honey threaten to overtake the green they're embedded in. She also has no idea what he's just said. "Uhm," a stab in the missed words. "Yeah?"

[brooklynislandgirl]

@bewitchingbaker {xx} Her knee swings with an inhuman flexibility that she would claim comes from years of yoga so that she can pluck the glass from its perch. Her own face flushes as she takes a quick sip of what remains in the glass; partially because she is embarrassed at having been caught mid-fail ~the glass wasn't meant to teeter between her toes, nor spill the wine down her calf~ and partly from receiving a compliment she didn't think was deserved. She sets the wine aside and turns in the tub, for all the world looking like a siren clinging to the side rail of a ship, hiding her torso against the tub's side and beneath the bubbles. Her shoulders and hips make lone islands. "Only da one," she murmurs, not quite meeting his face. The other is kapu... taboo to look at {he knows how she tends to hide it away behind a heavy layer of illusion or precisely cut clothing}, to touch even more so {it has accidentally ruined many an evening when he's come close to the scar}, and sometimes to even talk about. "Did...did you need somet'ing, or ...were you interest in joining me?"

[brooklynislandgirl]

Chris and Beth’s high school days (for the playlist meme)

Tunes || Accepting

I. Thriftshop || Macklemore/Ryan Lewis ft. Wanz II. Radioactive || Imagine Dragons III. I Cry || Flo Rida IV. Let Me Love You || Ne-Yo V. Counting Stars || OneRepublic VI. One More Night || Phil Collins VII. Young, Wild, Free || Snoop Dog/Wiz Khalifa ft. Bruno Mars VIII. Moves Like Jagger || Maroon 5 ft. Christina Aguilera IX. No Hands || Waka Flocka X. Just A Kiss || Lady Antebellum

[brooklynislandgirl]

@bewitchingbaker​  {{who liked for a smol starter}}

The last thing Beth remembers is closing her locker on her way out. Her shift had run smoothly for once and she had not once minded that she was asked to cover a couple extra hours. She'd called Chris and bribed him with pizza and co-op Plants vs Zombies if he wouldn't mind picking her up. Sweetheart that he is, he laughed her off and readily agreed. They've known each other a long time and he's never really made fun of her about being afraid of the dark, even now when she's almost thirty years old. She secretly suspects that Andy told Jessica about Beth's night-terrors, about her sleep paralysis. About how from the time she was born how she'd howled and wailed and fought sleep until her parents moved her crib into Andy's room because it was the only way to get her to even try sleeping. Chris understands that there are things in the dark that even a witch cannot fight. When her eyes open they quickly adjust to the dim, flickering light. The metal beneath her is cold, and the sheet above her provides little more than confusion. Sitting up she pushes it off and away and despite the shrieking headache that pulses behind her eyes, she tries to get her bearings. It doesn't take her long to realise she's on an autopsy table, in what looks to be the morgue. But everything is so...off kilter. It isn't the morgue in her hospital. Nothing about it is familiar...and that's when she notices there's four...no...five...other slabs. Five other occupants that seem still as stone. Despite the urge in the back of her mind telling her to run far and fast she knows she can't do that. Not when the table next to hers bears a shape that for once is sickening in its familiarity. One foot reaches the floor. Then the other and Beth finds herself timidly getting to her feet. She doesn’t want to imagine what the fuzzy gaps in her memory are hiding. She doesn’t want to know the truth of how or why or what is happening, especially if her suspicion is correct. It isn’t the chill of the room that prickles her skin with goose-flesh. Her heart is in her throat as she approaches the table, and pulls starts to pull back the sheet. "C-c-chris?"

[brooklynislandgirl]

@bewitchingbaker  {{XX}}

Beth never minded the clean up after an adventure, she always saw it as the price of having fun. Those same elements could be seen whenever Chris used to come over. She'd leave a trail of shoes, bags, clothes, a whole host of things from the door into the house. She said she thrived on organised chaos, an oxymoron of course, but Andy was always there to pick up after her. Then later, she became more conscientious when Andy picking up after her became the house-keeper and her army of maids and cooks. Her personal spaces though still thrive in its colourful clutter while the common areas are as immaculate as museums. She watched as he turned the kitchen into a sort of Disney short, animation of the mundane objects fascinating to her. That they were both witches was not a surprise to her, but that they had such varied abilities was a source of wonder. Her spells were often far more coincidental, could be seen as random chance. Her healing skills were superb but easily hidden by her medical training. Her illusions are often soft and quiet things, more for mood than anything, and it's hard to tell whether she's influencing fate and chance when she plays cards or shoots pool, or if she's counting cards and using her beyond solid graps of geometry and trig. Leaning against the counter, she rests her chin in her cupped palm, her fingers and their perfectly polished nails curling toward her stubborn jaw as she watches him. Her lips twitch almost into a knowing smile that she manages to keep at bay when he uses the Gentleman excuse, but on Chris? It suits him. He really is the most gentlemanly man she knows. She can also hear that little laugh, it really is the most damning of evidence. She nods. The girl she's pretty sure she knew about even if the woman's name escapes her but the second bit was a little more intriguing. "Oh oh... dat one guy... call himself X-avier, wi' like hard X instead of makin' it a Z sound or like Javier?" She makes a little face, her nose scrunching and bringing with it a hint of unimpressed teeth. There's no prejudice as to the fluidity of Chris' sexuality, she could care less if he'd chosen ghosts or demons or anything else so long as he was safe and happy. However, that X guy was just gross as a human being, pretentious and mean and utterly undeserving of a guy like Chris. "You're gonna laugh," she confesses. "But sometimes I worry dat you're... neglectin' ya personal needs... always hangin' out wi' me, ya know? I hate t'inkin' ya missin' out on some kine jus' cause ya feel sorry for me or wha'evah."

[bewitchingbaker]

☔ - go on a rainy day walk {Chris/Beth}

There was always a small part of Chris that missed all four seasons of the midwest. As nice as it was to not always deal with the dreadful 5-8 inches of snow or the sudden chill of fall, he couldn't help but miss the crunching of leaves. Plus, when one worked in the heat of Lunas kitchen for hours just to walk into the hellish temperatures of Arizona, you would take anything that could cool you off.

So whenever there was rain, no one was more excited than Chris.

The harder the rain? The wider his grin and more his excitement grew. Beth learned of this the first time she visited his house with Andy. While the quiet duo were banished to the living room while their siblings were up the usual teen shenanigans. For some time they were glued to the tv screen, enamored by the adventures of 3 superpowered kindergartners fighting crime before bed time.

But then rain struck and before Beth could blink her newfound friend dashed to window in excitement. Those already huge puppy dog eyes were wide with excitement. Next thing she knew, the future nurse would feel the warm feeling of those already large hands on hers pulling them to a gentle tug.

'Dude! It's rain! A break from the heat finally!'

A saying that would repeat through their childhood and well into their adulthood.

Just like so many years ago, the baker would dash into her living room with an estatic declaration of rain. With an umbrella in tow, the living spoonful couple enjoyed a relaxing walk around her neighborhood as the calm splash of rain filled their background.

"Honestly," Chris begins. "I know we've had plenty of walks and fun times in the rain but it'll never get old. I can't wait to have more moments like this even when we're both old and cranky."

A chuckle escapes his lips.

"Even if i'm walker or wheelchair bound, I'm pretty sure I'm still gonna wanna go out on rainy day walks with ya. Who know, I might that old man that just wants to sit next to ya all day and my day is good."

It isn't long before that blush finds its way to his cheeks, one hand rubbing the back of his neck.

"Sorry, I started rambling again....I might be nervous to ask what I'm about to ask you."

He takes a small breath.

"Would you ever want to move in together? It's fine if you don't want to, I was just thinking about it this week."

[ @brooklynislandgirl ]