#pepper merchant

[orgonongurlz]

its been five years since the episode supermarket scandal aired on disney channel which means…

ITS BEEN 5 YEARS THAT CHIP HAS EXISTED!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO THE FLOML!!!

to celebrate i redrew all of his promo art AND even made pieces for the episodes that didnt have one! i planned this out for a month and got all of the artwork done in around a week and a half!!

[original pieces credits:

feud fight: jonathon wallach

coffee quest: chris pianka

reckoning ball and chipocalypse now: ariel vh]

[tako-owowo]

If I had a nickel for every DM that’s portrayed a pepper I’d have two nickels which is not a lot but it’s weird it happened twice

[novalagomorphinterstellardust]

my favorite odd lil gremlin pepper man

[thatshadowgastwhore]

if you ever need to royally screw someone over, stand in a theater and recite this curse

Oh may you be usurped as Prospero, your title and you joy untimely ripped as fair Macduff was from his mother’s womb. And with your values like Antonio, your actions there within will not be his. Instead, feel misery as Shylock did endure and suffer at vile Anton’s hands. One day I’ll hear you shout, “Oh lord, why me? Hell is empty and all the devils’re here!” What god will answer to a liar and a thief? You egg, now suffer like the oth’rs. You are a plague upon the earth, so now disease rid’n be! Vile worm! The Wives of Winds’r take up the cry as well. From Rome, they shout: “Villain, I have done they mother.” and then,  “You worse than senseless things!” Bloody, baudy villain! Remorseless, you  treacherous lecherous kindless villain! We curse, we spit, we scoff at thee! Vipers are your brains and values. You insult our  brother. Trag’dy, com’dy, hist’ry, we tell our tales alone, but stand together now when one of us be injured, our wrath we will proclaim. Gird they loins, you dem’n scum. We grant you bloody, luxurious, avaricious, false, deceitful, sudden, malicious, smacking of ev’ry sin with name.  Nevermore be in good health for canon speaks the curse: Macbeth

[muddyorbsblr]

gestures & rain checks

See my full list of works here!

pre-story author's note: Yes I am very aware that it's been a solid month since Valentine's Day. Yes I am still posting this 🫡

Summary: It feels like your friends are getting plucked away from you one by one as their respective (or in Nat's case prospective) partners make grand gestures to ask them to be their Valentine.

Pairing: Loki x Reader

Word Count: 4.8k

Warning/s: language (nope still not sorry, Rogers); mentions of alcohol; tooth-rotting fluff; gun use [let me know if I missed anything!]

Things to be aware of: Morgan being a precious beb; himbo!Thor hours; lowkey sad Reader hours; chaotic group chat vibes in the end

You always had a distaste for this day. Valentine's Day. To you, it was the one day a year that you would do everything in your power not to step outside because it reeked of flowers and chocolate marked up to the heavens for merchants to take advantage of last minute gift shoppers hoping to make a gesture big enough that their crush would let them score at the end of the night. Or guys buying extravagant and ridiculously large arrangements to make amends for wronging their partner as if a 10-foot tall teddy bear was gonna magically press some Undo button of him going on Hinge or Tinder and talking up a dozen other girls on the side.

There was one year that you let slip around Nat and Wanda that this day "smelled like a cemetery" with all the bouquets that bombarded you the second you exited the perimeter of the Compound. Hell, the second you left the main section that housed you and the rest of the Avengers. And you stood by that opinion stubbornly, mostly because you'd only ever witnessed flowers being given when someone was desperately trying to glue back together the pieces of a severely damaged relationship.

And also because no one had ever given you flowers in your entire life. Or chocolates. Or a teddy bear. All your past relationships were with men who were still mentally and emotionally boys that believed emojis and gifs sufficed and were as good as the real thing. Nary a single soul had ever actually spent a lick of time or effort to give you something that told you they deserved your time and effort in turn.

And after so many years of being barely an afterthought, the day just felt like this entity that you resented to an irrational degree, where all you wanted was to lay in bed and wait it out until the clock struck 12 and it was February 15th. Then you could go on a hunt for all the overpriced chocolate that suddenly got their prices slashed by 50% or more.

That was the plan again for this year, had it not been for both Nat and Wanda barging in to your apartment and practically dressing you up like you were their own life-sized definitely seen some better days Barbie doll. "Come on, we can go and have a Galentine's Day 2. Maybe hit up a club and get some free drinks…" the assassin trailed off, zipping up your dress and playfully swatting your ass to nudge you forward. "March on, soldier."

The common area was nearly bare and eerily quiet when you all got there, which made perfect sense considering that most of your teammates who were happily committed to someone were off spending their day together, probably executing their own personal twists on those cliched gestures of adoration. Knowing Tony, that would probably consist of a two-storey tall stuffed bunny or a lavish new vacation house as a nice private little getaway spot for him and Pepper when they wanted to have a date night.

Only Morgan and Shaun were at the big dining table by the kitchen, the little girl working on bracelets with the martial artist nursing a cup of coffee while he handed her beads to add to her work. "Whaddup, Ten Rings…Baby Stark," you greeted them, ruffling his hair and pressing a kiss to the top of your goddaughter's head. "What're you two up to this fine completely ordinary day?"

"Oof, I take it you're gonna be spending the day watching a bunch of couples be all extra lovey dovey just like me?" You threw him a look, squinting your eyes at him that had him throwing his hands in the air in surrender. "No need to mentally squish my head, Y/N, we're on the same side, I swear," he chuckled, scooting over to the other seat so you could sit next to Morgan. "How about this, karaoke later tonight? Just us and anyone else that doesn't have a date with dinner and co--" You swatted his arm to get him to stop talking, not so subtly signaling in the little girl's direction. "I mean…adult balloons?"

"Wait how come you have special balloons?" Morgan asked, looking up from her activity book and earning barely stifled chortles from both Nat and Wanda. "Why can't I play with them? I like balloons."

You leaned back in your seat, making a motion with your hands as if you were wiping them clean of the whole conversation. "I'm not helping you out of this one, buddy."

He scratched the back of his head, obviously backed into the corner with his own words. "Eeeeeh…put a pin in that and ask me again when you can order a beer, Baby Stark."

The child pouted at both of you, slumping down in her place at the table and slipping back on her princess pink headphones before focusing all her attention on her activity book again, grumbling something about how grownups shouldn't have conversations around her if they didn't want her to ask questions. Valid enough point, but you still weren't going to be the one to give her her first lesson in Sex Ed class a good decade ahead of time.

"Anyways…" Shaun poked at your side, calling your attention back to him. "Karaoke, ladies? We can pick up Katy and Wong before we head over and sing some Disney duets and gorging ourselves on shots and nachos--"

"Hold up, Wong?" You all turned your attention to Stephen, who'd just walked in to the common area. "This I gotta see. You guys have room for one more?"

"Sure thing, as long as you use your sling ring to help us get into Tony's private stash," you quipped, taking a sip of your coffee. "There's no way I'm getting through this day stone-cold sober."

"Or we could go for the really hard stuff and break into Thor's stash of mead from Asgard before he depletes his supply." He showcased the ring in question with a wiggle of his fingers. "Just a portal away."

"I like the way you think, Strange."

"You can all cease your scheming to pilfer my liquor, my friends," Thor's voice boomed into the area, a bounce in his step as he made his way to the coffee pot. "I would happily supply you all with two barrels if that would be enough for your gathering?"

"That's perfect, Thunder. Thanks." You started to tuck into the breakfast plate served by the Compound kitchen staff, mumbling your next question to the blond god. "What've you got planned with Jane for today?"

"Ah." A wide grin stretched across his face at the mention of his girlfriend, the sight both warming your heart and pinching it at the same time. A bittersweet reminder that in the midst of romantic plans with sentimental or grand gestures, your plans involved getting shit-faced with your fellow single friends. Plus Wanda and probably Vision. "Well, I have employed the aid of Wilson to order an ornate bouquet of Jane's favorite flowers which should arrive this morning. Then for lunch I shall prepare her a meal."

"Lunch?" Wanda questioned, tilting her head to the side. "Forgive me if I overstep, my friend, but aren't the romantic plans usually made for dinner?"

"Well, yes…but Jane has graciously agreed to adjusting our schedule for this day so that I may spend the time after lunch aiding my brother in a gesture of his own." A lump formed in your throat at the words. "It seems he wishes to get into the spirit of the holiday, and I am simply ecstatic that he came to me asking for a helping hand."

"I asked nothing of you, you over-muscled oaf," you heard the raven-haired god call out from the main entrance, two large packages hovering a few inches above the ground blanketed with a glow of green from his magic. "You volunteered when you imposed yourself in my space and hovered over my phone."

"Pfft, semantics," Thor waved off, already making his way over to Loki so that he could do some more apparently unnecessary volunteer work. "Are the flowers in one of your parcels?"

"I like flowers!" Morgan chirped from her seat, bouncing in place with bright excited eyes. "Prince Loki, can I help? Please?"

He let out an exaggerated sigh, a trace of a fond, amused smile betraying his facade. "Very well, little Stark. Come along."

Your goddaughter squealed, skipping over to Thor and placing her tiny hand in his. "Uncle Barbie, tell me who his princess is?" He leaned down to whisper the answer in her ear, making her sprint in place with even more excitement. "I promise I won't say a word."

"Barbie? Like your doll, little Lady Stark?" You could practically see the wheels turning in Loki's head from learning about the nickname.

Morgan nodded her head vigorously. "Auntie Y/N came up with it. She calls him Macho Barbie." She proceeded to talk about how you came to give the blond Asgardian the nickname that bizarrely stuck to him more than "Point Break" ever did, said god looking like he already dreaded the coming days -- maybe even years -- now that his brother knew that little tidbit of information.

Once they'd all made their way up the stairs and you could no longer hear the little girl's chipper tone, realization sat heavy in your heart from her reaction to whatever Thor whispered to her just a few seconds ago. Whoever it was that Loki was going to make this grand gesture for, it was someone that Morgan knew enough to the point that she couldn't contain her excitement finding out who the woman was.

It was someone in SHIELD. Maybe even someone in the Compound.

"You good, Babes?" Nat's tone was cautious, approaching you like you were a wounded animal, teeth bared and ready to pounce if she so much as breathed wrong.

You answered with a terse nod of your head. "There is absolutely no fucking way I'm getting through today sober."

"Y/N, dude, I'm sor--"

Bang

"What the fuck?" All eyes grew wide at the sound, your body stiffening as another shot rang out, reverberating throughout the common area. "FRIDAY? Threat assessment," you called out, already readying yourself for combat once whoever was outside made their way to you in the compound.

"No threats have been detected," the AI answered simply. "There seems to be no living target for the gunman."

You could only manage to repeat your words. "What the fuck?" Shot after shot rang out, an interval of three to five seconds between them. Each deafening bang making you flinch, your head spinning with possible explanations on why FRIDAY didn't deem the supposed attacker as a threat. "Where's the target then?"

"Shots are being fired at the training area, by the track field, Agent Y/L/N." You all started to make your way to the area, everyone still on high alert despite FRIDAY's findings.

"Y/N?!" You shared a look with everyone else in the room at the sound of Loki's voice calling out for you, the god looking frantic as he appeared at the top of the main staircase, a sigh of relief escaping him once he saw you standing at the bottom. "You're alright," he exhaled, hurriedly making his way down. The quickening pace of the gunshots had him squaring his shoulders, stepping in front of you and marching toward the sound.

"We've handled way worse than gunfire, Laufeyson, you don't have to lead the defense," you told him with a touch more bite to your tone than you intended, irrational jealousy coursing through you knowing what he was preparing for before he started charging down the stairs. You sidestepped him and started walking toward the training area, brows furrowing together when you saw that from where you stood, the marks from the bullets digging into the ground where forming some sort of shape.

"It's a message…" Wanda mused, angling her head to and fro to see if she could get the whole picture from the ground. "I'm going up, I wanna see what's worth risking Pepper's wrath with all the lawn work she has to commission now." She held her hand out to you, wordlessly offering to take you up with her, an offer that you gladly took, clapping your hand over hers, both of you giggling as your feet lifted off the ground.

Once you two had risen high enough, it was clear what the message was. The shots had been positioned so that the markings would take on the shape of a heart, and the ongoing shots were creating initials. "N…" you read along, barely able to contain your excitement when you saw that the next letter was an R. "Natasha Romanoff!" you yelled out, the assassin's eyes lighting up with a mix of giddiness and curiosity as she tried to look at where the gunshots could've been coming from.

You did your best to turn your head, trying to see who was behind the gesture, kicking your feet in the air once you saw the gunman. "What? Who is it, Y/N?"

"It's Barnes," you squeaked, giving Rogers a reckless wave when you caught sight of him jogging toward all of you with a megaphone in hand.

"Natasha Romanoff," Bucky's voice boomed through the speaker system, making the usually cool and collected former Russian spy put a hand over her mouth to hide the way she was steadily turning pink from how flustered she was. "I know I have a long way to go to make up for how we first met, but I think you're swell and I'd like to try starting it off with maybe dinner tonight?" Both you and Wanda squealed and held each other tight mid-air watching her nod her answer, running over to her once your feet touched the ground again.

"You two won't be pissed if I take a rain check for tonight, will you?" she cautioned, still a wistful tone in her voice from processing what was happening.

"Absolutely not, you go enjoy your date. More drinks to go around and all that," you told her with the biggest smile. "But tomorrow night we're all staying at my place and you're giving us a full report."

"And remember to wear the red lacy underwear," Wanda teased with a comical wiggle of her eyebrows, earning her a poke to the ribs from both of you.

Nat pulled away from the two of you, walking back toward the indoor gym with Steve walking alongside her, starting to talk about how his best friend had been trying to work up the nerve to ask her out since he got sworn in to the team nearly a year ago. From the sound of the conversation, it seemed that Rogers was divulging some information that Barnes probably swore him to secrecy not so long ago.

"And then there were seven," Shaun spoke up, walking toward  you and the sorceress and clapping a hand on each of your shoulders. "Thor came through and left the barrels in the kitchen for us."

You were about to start talking about the food arrangements when the sight of Wanda's husband flying toward you all with a bouquet of camellias and hydrangeas in his hand. "Wanda, my love, I owe you my deepest apologies."

"Whatever for, Vis?" She broke away from you and Shaun to greet the synthezoid, placing her hands on his upper arms as he pulled her in for a chaste kiss.

"It did not occur to me that you might have wanted to make plans for today until Mr Stark had gone into detail of his own itinerary today for his wife," he explained, handing her the bouquet. "Unfortunately I cannot procure a reservation for us tonight, but I still wish to do something for you. Would you allow me the honor of making you a meal and perhaps watching a movie in the private theater?"

You and Shaun gripped each other's hands like you were high schoolers watching their best friend get asked out on their first big date, shaking and pushing each other over the sweetness of the gesture. "I don't need fancy restaurants or pretty flowers, Vis. Getting to spend time with you, especially after everything that's happened to us, is more than enough. I just need you."

The Sokovian turned back to face you and Shaun, a touch of guilt in her expression. "Rain check? I'll bring extra snacks tomorrow night to make up for it?"

"Don't worry about it, Babes," you reassured her, both you and the martial artist waving off her worries. "Enjoy your evening."

The couple have you a curt nod and a smile before happily flying away hand in hand back to their apartment.

"And then there were five," you and Shaun said in unison, walking back to the common area to load up those barrels that Thor left for tonight's 'festivities'. When you got to the kitchen area, Morgan was adorably sitting atop one of the barrels in question, feet happily swinging in the air with a big smile on her face.

"Off the goods, little Stark, we're not risking you getting drunk your dad's gonna kill us," Shaun said in a panic, already lifting the little girl up and off the barrel and making her squeal and giggle as she giddily exclaimed "I'm flying!".

"If you really think that she can get drunk from osmosis, we have a lot to talk about, sweet little summer child," you joked, walking up to one barrel and starting to push it toward the garage. "Think you can use that ancient mystical ring magic for makeshift wheels so we don't bust out our lungs lugging this all the way to your truck?"

"I can assist you, darling." Your skin bristled at the sound of Loki's voice, taking every ounce of strength you had to not stiffen or recoil at his use of the word. He was only saying it out of habit. Probably a remnant of his upbringing as a prince on Asgard.

He didn't mean it the way you wanted -- more than anything -- for him to mean it.

"No need, Laufeyson, I've got it from here," Strange butted in, conjuring an energy shield with his magic that he slid under the barrels, starting to wheel them toward the garage. "Carry on. Oh and friendly advice, man to god? Your future girlfriend, you know, the one you're making this big gesture for? She might not appreciate you calling other women 'darling', so I highly recommend kicking the habit while it's still early. Avoiding future battles and all."

The god sucked his teeth, the action causing his jaw to clench and sending your thoughts someplace they had no business being. You had no business thinking about another woman's man that way, no matter how hot he was.

"I will remember that. Thank you, Strange," he said softly, making his way back up the stairs.

"Thanks for the save," you muttered, opening the door to the garage for the sorcerer to guide the barrels through. "Don't think I could've gotten away with being on Bitch Mode with him a second time today. Not like I can help it, though. Some lucky Midgardian bitch is gonna be his by the end of the night."

"Pretty sure you're the only woman I know that considers being Laufeyson's girlfriend a good thing."

"Yeah, Y/N, like I know he's on our side and everything but most days he still has me on edge. Like passing him on a bad day's gonna get me a stab in the ribs, not a death glare like normal people," Shaun concurred, nudging your shoulder to hopefully stop your lamenting before you got in too deep. Again.

"I'm really down bad, huh," you sighed, letting out a little yip when a portal to the dark dimension appeared just a few feet in front of you. "The fuck--"

"Hey Strange," a reverberating ethereal voice called out from the portal, and then a tall woman with platinum hair with beauty that you could only describe as 'dark celestial' stepped out. Her eyes trained on the sorcerer next to you. "Heard that today's something of a holiday in this dimension. Figured it might be a good idea to stop by and maybe you could show me around your uh…" She turned to you and Shaun, both your jaws slack on the ground. "What's this place called again?"

"Avengers Compound?" Shaun said at the same time that you blurted out, "New York?"

"Compound York?" She raised an eyebrow at the two of you, amusement coloring her face as she gave you both a once over.

"Eherm…no," you answered her, chuckling nervously and shifting your weight between your feet. "This structure here is Avengers Compound, which is in Upstate New York. New York is a city, but also a region…and a state…?" you drifted off, already feeling a pinch in your head from trying to explain the best you could. You looked over to Shaun. "The more I try finding the words to explain, the more I realize how complicated it actually is. Save me."

Stephen stepped forward. "How about I just take you on a tour around New York, then?" His face stretched out into a wide grin, clearly unable to hide his giddiness over the knowledge that she crossed dimensions to be with him today.

"Is that…New York the city, the region, or the state?"

"The city. New York, New York. There's a whole song about it and everything I can play it for you in the car." He proceeded to drape his arm around the dark sorceress, leading her to his car further down the expansive garage.

"Your little human friend is right, things here are complicated. Downright confusing." She looked back at you and Shaun again as they walked away, hand in hand. "It was nice meeting you both! Stephen speaks highly of you all," she called out, her majestic voice echoing throughout the area.

"You're really pretty!" you blurted out in response, causing her voice to melt into a chuckle, telling her partner how she found you 'adorable'. You threw your head back and groaned toward the ceiling. "I'm a fucking dork."

"At least you're an adorable dork," Shaun shot back, nudging your shoulder and lightly touching the back of your head to get you facing forward again. His phone chimed with a text notification. "Katy. Her shift's over, she said she'll get us a room for eight. I'm texting her now to get a smaller one." He held up his hand, palm facing you. "And then there were four?"

You sighed, clapping your hand against his, your friend giving you a reassuring squeeze once you did. "And then there were four." You jerked your head toward the apartments. "I'll just go change into something that involves 'eating pants' and I'll meet you down here in ten."

The walk back up to your apartment wasn't that long, but it still felt like it with how quickly you slipped back into your lamenting over how your friends had such an eventful day today. Nat had her very public grand gesture. Wanda had her husband trying to cook human food in the name of spending time with her. Strange had his girlfriend literally rip a hole between dimensions to get here.

"And all I have waiting for me are two barrels of mead and karaoke microphones," you muttered, walking through your front door and begrudgingly unzipping your dress from the back. You were just about to half-stomp your way to your closet when something on your bed caught your eye.

Three shiny roses lined with gold, tied together with a gold ribbon at the foot of the bed. A large heart-shaped box of chocolates at the center. And a little teddy bear dressed as a bee with red antennas that had hearts at the end, at its fluffy little feet was an embroidered message. "Bee mine".

"What theeeee fu--"

"Y/N," an all too familiar voice called out from behind you. The air left your lungs at the sight of Loki in a form-fitting forest green button-down tucked into onyx black slacks, tucking his hair behind his ears before smoothing his hands over his shirt. "You're early--"

"What're you doing--Was this you?" you babbled, gesturing at the gifts on your bed. For a second, your heart beat erratically, the thought that maybe this was for you, before reality and logic sunk in. "Okay I think I know what's happening…"

"You do?"

"Yeah, you got the wrong apartment. Gimme a minute to change and I can help you move all this over to--"

The rest of your words died in a little squeak at the back of your throat, the god closing the distance between you two with a few long strides, framing your face in his hands and placing a tender fleeting kiss to your lips.

"Those tokens of my affection are exactly where they belong, little mortal," he murmured against you, tracing up the bridge of your nose with his lips until he pressed a kiss to your forehead. "As am I."

You let out a shaky breath, fighting against the urge to melt in the god's embrace as he snaked his hands around your waist. "The gesture your brother mentioned this morning…this?" He proceeded to press kisses down the side of your face, his warm exhale as he whispered 'yes' into your skin making you light-headed. "This is for me?" you gasped out, whatever was remaining of your logical brain smacking the rest of you with how stupid a question that was.

"Who else would it be for, darling?" He pressed a kiss to your jaw, tightening his arms around you and pressing your body against his. "There is no other in this or any other Realm that could have captured my heart so completely." He kissed the corner of your jaw, making his way down the side of your neck, holding you tighter to keep you up when your knees finally buckled from the sensation. "I did this for you, because I wish to ask something of you. That you become mine as much as I am yours."

"M-Mine?" you stammered. "Y-You're mine?" Since when? How come you didn't get this particular memo? Could've saved you a lot of turmoil and nights spent alone staring up at the ceiling trying and failing to hypnotize yourself out of being into him.

He kissed the tip of your nose, resting his forehead against yours. "I have always been yours, darling."

Your hands traveled up the length of his arms, like you were grounding yourself and trying to tell yourself that this was real. He was really here and he was telling you the words you wanted more than anything to hear for who even knew how long at this point.

He's here, you thought to yourself. And he's mine.

There was only one word that you could muster up in that moment. "Yes." I've always been yours, too.

Karaoke Dreamin' on Such a Winter's Day group chat

myfirstnameisagent: Don't kill me but…rain check?

busboy10: Are you kidding me, Y/N?? You said you'd be down in 5 minutes tops and we're gonna meet up with Katy.

nromanoff: Sweet, now you're gonna have a story to tell tomorrow night, too.

myfirstnameisagent: Actually about that…rain check on tomorrow night, too? I'm kinda not there right now…

busboy10: There?? What do you mean "There"?? How'd you get out the Compound without me seeing you? Or whoever the hot date you're ditching me for is?

imjustwong: Where is everybody? We ordered nachos.

myfirstnameisagent: Yeah…I'm not in the Compound…or in New York…any of the "New York"s. Might not be for the next week. Maybe more. The three of you better not drink all the mead in one go.

busboy10: ??????

thevision: Agent Y/L/N, my wife is showing many signs of distress over her inability to contact you. Your phone seems to be going straight to voicemail.

thewanda: Y/N WHERE ARE YOU I HEARD A BANG FROM YOUR APARTMENT ARE YOU OKAY??

myfirstnameisagent: Babes, I'm fine. That was just the Bifrost.

thewanda: EXCUSE ME??

nromanoff: BABES WHAT--

pointbreakbarbie: My friends, I heard the Bifrost be summoned near Lady Y/N's abode. Is there an emergency? Must I make my way to Asgard to assist?

myfirstnameisagent: Thor your brother said if he finds you here I have permission to stab you, don't even fucking think about it.

thewanda: I REPEAT. EXCUSE ME???

busboy10: Y/N are you in Asgard?? With Loki??

myfirstnameisagent: Yes. And yes. See you in two weeks.

thewanda: He better use that healing magic on your legs so you don't walk funny.

A/N: It took me a whole month to write this because real life was trying TKO me in the work department and also I got sucked in to the worlds of Hello Kitty Island Adventure, Disney Dreamlight Valley, and Delicious World and I've been too weak to even attempt time management 🤣

I'm working on stuff tho I swear it 🫡 Horny bitches cuts are in progress, stories are in progress…lots of progress 😅😅

Also for reference, this was the lil stuffed bear that Loki gave Reader:

and the roses looked like this:

'everything' taglist: @simplyholl @loopsisloops @imalovernotahater @coldnique @loz-3 @huntress-artemiss @salempoe @vickie5446 @athalialaufeyson @lokiprompts @kats72 @kikster606 @asgards-princess-of-mischief @lokixryss @thomase1 @mischief2sarawr @lovingchoices14 @goblingirlsarah @iamlokisgloriouspurpose @creationsbyme @maple-seed @mjsthrillernp @ladyofthestayingpower @mygfloki @sititran @glitterylokislut @ozymdias @fictive-sl0th  @lokidbadguy @mochie85 @silverfire475 @joyful-enchantress @elizabethmidnight2017 @holdmytesseract @smolvenger @gigglingtiggerv2 @lokidokieokie @lunarnights95 @superficialdomina @kmc1989 @november-rayne @goddessofwonderland @buttercupcookies-blog @peaky-marvel @lokiified @tom-hlover @dryyoursaltyoceantears

[madmonksandmaenads]

For dinner tonight, I made some Byzantine Honey and Pepper fritters based on a recipe from Apicus de re Coquinaria. They are sweet and puffy with a gooey center! I hope that if you were a Medieval Mediterranean Merchant, you'd buy some from my street food stall in Constantinople.

(I found out about it and used the English recipe from this video

)

[pangur-and-grim]

I’ve been trying to write an alternate first chapter to the book, and think I finally have it! it’s silly and cliched, but fun I think, and accurately sets it up to be a world of overpowered idiots.

Forty years prior

The next man to see the king had a pinched, weaselly face, and a fashion sense that bordered on sacrilege. He wore a black robe that blended with his dark, limp hair, giving the impression of a cowl. Perhaps in a purposeful perversion of an Elder’s white gown - the king glanced at the visiting church representative seated to his right, curious to see her reaction. The Elder, however, had herself fully occupied with a drinks order. A stooge hovered, bent nearly in two to better hear the woman, peppering every pause she left with compliments as to her taste.

“I am the Sorcerer Mer–“ began the man, his voice raised imperiously over the muttered conversations of other merchants, farmers, and freshly washed peasantry that waited to be seen behind him.

“Hang on,” said the king, raising a hand heavy with rings. “Elder Beth, do you have any thoughts on his robe?”

She looked annoyed to be interrupted, even by a king. This emotion quickly redirected on the unfortunate man. “The shade is unpleasant. What does black symbolize, death and wickedness? And in that cut - does he pretend to be a monk?”

The man treated the woman to a look of undisguised hatred. Though tall and lanky, he stood some feet beneath them, the king and his guest being seated on a raised platform to keep them clear of the masses. “I don’t pretend to be anything. I am the sorcerer Merulo, and I have come to announce my intentions!”

At the sharpness of his proclamation, almost a shout, a hush fell over those nearest to them. Everyone listening mutually understood that this would likely end in jailing or execution, leaving them with (if not their wishes granted) at least a front seat to the freshest gossip material.

The king thumped his goblet meaningfully, and the knights guarding the platform ceased their yawning and scratching of armoured asses to advance on the man.

“What are your intentions, young man?” Elder Beth spoke with a laziness that betrayed her presumption of control. Her voice rang clear as a bell across the crowded throne room.

“I will, eugh,” the man’s voice broke, and he cleared his throat urgently, blinking. His eyes matched his attire, chips of flint in a ghoulishly pale face. “I will kill your God,” he continued, clearly trying to match the Elder’s volume and charisma, “and destroy this world’s magic!”

Laughter came from the crowd, some of it nervous and some genuine. The king himself hid a smirk behind a broad hand.

“Now, most people come to speak to me about property lines, or to complain about conning merchants. He’s obviously insane,” this last comment made to the Elder, who had leant so far forward in her seat that it threatened to topple. She looked like a dog pulling at an invisible chain, eager to render. “Shall we take pity on his lack of faculties?” The king already knew the answer.

“Doing so would be an insult to Order itself,” she growled, then louder: “God is everlasting. We shall give you ample leisure to reconnect with Him through prayer and reshape yourself into piety. Escort this man to a holding chamber.”

The king bristled at having his men ordered, but this was the way of the church. To contest the will of its representative would be akin to blasphemy. He swung his attention back to the supplicant with a sigh, only to choke in surprise. Glowering up at them without fear, the man had his thin lips pulled back in a flash of teeth. Of course, the poor idiot lacked all sense. Still….

“He did claim to be a sorcerer,” said the king, glancing sideways at the Elder and fingering an emerald in his ring.  

Before a response could be given, several figures stepped out of the crowd, their motions stuttery and faces blank. The knights paused, clearly having readied themselves for a day of sweating monotony, but the figures showed no such hesitance. Accelerating into a run, they met the knights with fingers that looked less like fingers by the second, and mouths that split into splinter-lined cavities. All illusion vanished, then, with the creatures thrashing at the deeply surprised knights revealing themselves to be twisted and sickly trees, given a freakish semblance of life.

The Elder rose so fast she stumbled, whipping out an elegantly gilded wand of carved ivory. She spat an incantation, aiming at the sorcerer, and gleaming ice swords condensed from clouds of sucked moisture, leaving the air dry and staticky. They encircled the black-robed man, stabbing inward - only to shatter into a cloud of refracting droplets, at a single barked word.

“Damn,” said the king, sitting back, “he’s good, huh?”

The sorcerer’s next word sent the Elder sailing backward in a billow of white cloth, like a giant swatted dove, to crash against a tapestry-draped wall. The king winced in sympathy, but made no move to assist.

“You understand then?” shouted the sorcerer, panting not from exertion, but from what seemed to be anxiety, “I’ll kill God, destroy the magic, yes? I anticipate a timeline of –“ He ducked a thrown dagger, one of his wooden servants dashing to maim the source, “Five years, give or take, so if any changes in infrastructure are required – Oh, for fuck’s sake.”

A particularly burly knight had broken through the wooden monsters, with great rending sweeps of his broad axe. He roared, lunging at the sorcerer, who gestured hastily, flicking pale fingers. Immediately, the knight collapsed in a clinking heap, where he remained motionless.

Throughout this, the crowd screamed, trampling each other in their rush to escape through the great double-doors, and forcing the sorcerer to shout at an ever-higher pitch to be heard.

“Look, you’ve been warned, yes? This is a warning? I have 23 more stops to make, and can only hope that other rulers treat me with more grace. Goodbye, King … er.”

They realized it simultaneously: the sorcerer had forgotten the king’s name. A moment of awkward eye contact followed, which the sorcerer broke first with a grimace. Looking rather slumped and defeated, the man hummed a portal into existence, an unfurling hole in reality that he stormed into with an imperious flap of his robe. What wooden servants remained followed him through, crawling and leaping, the portal folding shut behind them like the closing petals of a flower.

“Well,” said the king, taking a sip of his wine. Then again: “Well.”

Bodies jammed the double doorway. Despite this, the crowd maintained their pushing and shouting, worsening the clog. Throughout the room, a scattering of trampled citizens lay dead or unconscious, along with a number of prone knights. Blood speckled the tiled floor and smeared the tapestry where the Elder had slid down it. The king took another deep drought of his goblet.

“He’s definitely mad,” he murmured, pulling thoughtfully at his beard, “but good show, nonetheless.”

[queensharotto]

Brittle Doughie’s Cookie Run x Reader Masterlist (Part 4: Mid 2023)

A masterlist of @brittle-doughie’s Cookie Run stories organized by month.

Genre Emojis

😞 is for angst, 🎃 is for Halloween, 🎄 is for Christmas, 🍪 is for Cannibalism, 💗 is for Yandere, 💝 is for Valentine’s, 👻 is for Horror, 🎂 is for Birthday, 💚 is for Yandere!White Lily Cookie

The Indents are related to the featured cookies. If there are numerous cookies (Over 10 Cookies Featured), I’ll make a note on that as well. Additionally, I’ll categorize various cookies if they’re associated with a specific hobby, location, food etc.

Also, the ⭐️ will indicate a story featuring one of Brittle’s OCs.

May 2023 💐

• “Y/N Cookie in Parfaedia”

Featuring: The Triple Cone Trio

• “The Y/N Cookie Shrine”

Featuring: Lotus Dragon Cookie and Hydrangea Cookie

• “Secret Sands Y/N Cookie: Rob the Merchant Son”

Featuring: Yogurt Cream Cookie, Centipede Cookie and Peppercorn Cookie

• “Y/N Cookie Not Sorted into a School”

Featuring: The headmasters and champions

• “Baby Pond Dino Dragon Cookie”

Featuring: Pond Dino Cookie, Longon Dragon Cookie and Lychee Dragon Cookie

• “Y/N Cookie in Legend of the Red Dragon”

Featuring: Hollyberry Cookie, Wildberry Cookie, Royal Margarine Cookie, and Tarte Tatin Cookie

• “Eggscellent Easter Short”

Featuring: Pancake Cookie, Onion Cookie, Bell Pepper Cookie, Walnut Cookie, Almond Cookie, Blackberry Cookie, Dr. Wasabi Cookie and Mustard Cookie

• “Grass is Greener: Part 1”

Featuring: Lilybell Cookie and Blue Lily Cookie

• “Royal Margarine Cookie Flirting with Y/N Cookie”

Featuring: Royal Margarine Cookie, Wildberry Cookie, Hollyberry Cookie and Pitaya Dragon Cookie

• “Y/N Cookie the Pikachu of CRK and the Cookies of Darkness: Team Rocket of CRK”

Featuring: Gingerbrave and the Cookies of Darkness

• “Coffee Candy Cookie and Y/N Cookie Scenario”

Featuring: Coffee Candy Cookie

• “Yandere Ice Juggler Cookie”

Featuring: Ice Juggler Cookie

• “Y/N Cookie ignoring 5 Yanderes”

Featuring: Kumiho Cookie, Pomegranate Cookie, Croissant Cookie, Lilac Cookie and White Lily Cookie

June 2023 ☀️

• “Peaches (White Lily Edition)” 💚

Featuring: White Lily Cookie

• “Y/N Cookie: 100% Adoration Rating”

Featuring: Pomegranate Cookie

• “Yandere White Lily Timeline” 💚

Featuring: White Lily Cookie

• “Showing Affection towards Snapdragon Cookie… in front of the other 5 Dragons”

Featuring: Snapdragon Cookie and the 5 Dragons

• “Y/N Cookie loves Licorice Cookie”

Featuring: Licorice Cookie

• “Advertising Rights: Shining Glitter Cookie vs. Shine Muscat Cookie”

Featuring: Shining Glitter Cookie and Shine Muscat Cookie

• “Affection from the Ancient Cookies and what gets under their skin”

Featuring: The Ancient Cookies

• “Y/N Cookie, Visitor of the Republic”

Featuring: Custard Cookie, Captain Caviar Cookie, Oyster Cookie, Wildberry Cookie and Crunchy Chip Cookie

• “The Heroic or The Meditated”

Featuring: Ninja Cookie and Hero Cookie

• “Envious Lime Cookie”

Featuring: Lime Cookie

• “Frost Cookie x Y/N Reader”

Featuring: Dr Frost Cookie

• “Seductive White Lily Cookie”

Featuring: White Lily Cookie

• “5 Ancient Heroes, 5 Love Languages”

Featuring: The Ancient Cookies

July 2023 🎆

• “Ancient Y/N Cookie tries the Grimace Shake”

Featuring: The Ancient Cookies (view the corresponding submission)

• “Announcement of the Summer Soda Rock Festa”

Featuring: Caramel Arrow Cookie, Rockstar Cookie, Black Lemonade Cookie and Shining Glitter Cookie

• “Cookies reactions to be being picked up by the Baker”

Featuring: Blueberry Pie Cookie, Latte Cookie, Strawberry Crepe Cookie, Poison Mushroom Cookie, Chili Pepper Cookie, Royal Margarine Cookie and Stardust Cookie

• “Abyss Monarch Cookie and Mocha Ray Cookie”

Featuring: Abyss Monarch Cookie and Mocha Ray Cookie

• “Y/N Cookie recapping their adventures to Black Lemonade Cookie”

Featuring: Numerous Cookies

• “Y/N Cookie Sleeping in Weird Spots”

Featuring: Carrot Cookie, Kumiho Cookie, Orange Cookie, Goblin Cookie, Coffee Candy Cookie and Moonlight Cookie

• “Welcome to the Cookie Kingdom, Snapdragon Cookie”

Featuring: Snapdragon Cookie and the Cookie Children

• “White Lily Cookie’s Obsession carries over as Dark Enchantress Cookie” 💚

Featuring: White Lily Cookie and Dark Enchantress Cookie

• “White Lily Cookie: Best Friend For Eternity…?” 💚

Featuring: White Lily Cookie

• “I Remember You”

Featuring: Lobster Cookie and Mocha Ray Cookie

• “The Ancient Cookies Won’t Tolerate Harassment of Y/N Cookie”

Featuring: The Ancient Cookies

• “Fire Spirit Cookie and/or Rockstar Cookie with Y/N Cookie’s lipstick”

Featuring: Fire Spirit Cookie and Rockstar Cookie

• “Y/N Cookie’s Panicking Manager” ⭐️

Featuring: Dumpling Cookie (view info)

• “Yandere Triple Cone Cup Champions” 💗

Featuring: The Triple Cone Trio

• “Tiny MerCookie with Girlfriend 4x their size”

Featuring: Black Pearl Cookie

• “Time Balance Department Scenario”

Featuring: The Time Balance Department

• “Roguefort Cookie’s Arrest”

Featuring: Roguefort Cookie

• “Stardust Cookie Scenario”

Featuring: Stardust Cookie

• “Pitaya Dragon Cookie Scenario”

Featuring: Pitaya Dragon Cookie

August 2023 🌅

• “Langue de Chat Cookie’s Parents”

Featuring: Langue de Chat Cookie

• “Y/N Cookie being Rougefort Cookie’s Jury”

Featuring: Rougefort Cookie

• “Evilglaze kidnaps Y/N Cookie”

Featuring: Dr. Evilglaze

• “Return to the Sea”

Featuring: Sea Fairy Cookie

• “Don’t Mess With Y/N Cookie Fans”

Featuring: Pomegranate Cookie, Peppercorn Cookie, Black Pearl Cookie, Stardust Cookie and Kumiho Cookie

• “Kidnapped by Abalone Cookie”

Featuring: Abalone Cookie and Black Pearl Cookie

• “Langue de Chat Cookie: Your Lawyer”

Featuring: Langue de Chat Cookie

• “Mermaid Y/N Cookie”

Featuring: White Pearl Cookie, Crimson Coral Cookie and Frilled Jellyfish Cookie

• “Is someone in my house?”

Featuring: Snakefruit Cookie, Pomegranate Cookie, Lilac Cookie, and Scorpion Cookie

• “White Pearl Cookie x Mermaid Y/N Cookie”

Featuring: White Pearl Cookie

• “White Pearl Cookie wanting a kiss”

Featuring: White Pearl Cookie

• “Brewed to Perfection”

Featuring: Espresso Cookie

• “Top 10 Most Obsessive/Possessive Cookies” 💗

Featuring: Numerous Cookies

• “Envy of the Gem Mermaid Family” 💗

Featuring: The Gem Mermaids and Frilled Jellyfish Cookie

• “Cappuccino Cookie x Y/N Cookie”

Featuring: Cappuccino Cookie

• “Which Car White Pearl Cookie Wants”

Featuring: White Pearl Cookie

• “Y/N Cookie‘s Combat Prowess in a Martial Arts Tournament”

Featuring: Hollyberry Cookie, Captain Caviar Cookie, Oyster Cookie, and the 5 Dragons

• “Schwarzwälder x Y/N Cookie”

Featuring: Schwarzwälder (aka Choco Werehound Brute)

• “White Lily Cookie’s Obsession” 💚

Featuring: White Lily Cookie

• “Muscular Y/N Cookie”

Featuring: Muscle Cookie, Carrot Cookie, Coffee Candy Cookie, Cotton Candy Cookie, Fire Spirit Cookie, Butter Pretzel Cookie, Kumiho Cookie, Almond Cookie and Shining Glitter Cookie

• “Y/N Cookie x Okchun Cookie”

Featuring: Okchun Cookie

• “Itsy Bitsy Y/N Cookie”

Featuring: No named Cookies present

• “Obsessive Fire Spirit Cookie”

Featuring: Fire Spirit Cookie

Divider Source l Next Masterlist l Previous Masterlist

[redlittlefoxari]

An Adventure in making life Chapter 7: Let the water wash you clean

Relationship: Astarion x Tav

Warnings: NSFW 18+, smut, blood, violence, sex, blood drinking, pregnancy. *This chapter contains smut*

Summary: With Hormones are ragging through Tav’s body and morning sickness becoming a regular thing tempers clash, questions are raised and Tav is at her limit.

Master list

Tag list: @lunaredgrave

If you would also like to be added to the tag list just let me know.

Weeks pregnant Ten

It had been three weeks since the ruins, and you and Astarion hadn’t let your guard down for a second. There had been nothing since the ruins other than a few merchant carts making their way to Baldur’s Gate. They had all reported that their trip from Waterdeep had been going swimmingly and that the rest of their journey would probably go much the same. Still, the two of you decided to play it safe and stay on high alert for the remainder of your journey.

It was at this point that Jaheira advised you to start taking the herbs she gave you for the development of your unborn child. They didn’t taste great, but you had been dealing with drinking blood for the last ten weeks, so their grassy flavor didn’t bother you much. Astarion had gotten up before you to find the two of you something to eat, meaning a deer or whatever he could find. You told him you didn’t want to know what it was from just in case it was from an animal that was less than desirable.

While you waited, you chewed on a piece of dried meat that you had bought in the last town you passed through. It was sweet and salty and had been marinated in hot peppers before being dried. It was delicious, which was odd because you never really liked spicy food before the pregnancy, but now it became something you craved alongside sweet treats. You hoped that this didn’t mean your child would have a fiery personality. That was the last thing you needed. A hard-to-tame half-vampire child.

The thought crossed your mind suddenly. Would your child be able to go out in the sun? Or would the sun's fiery rays burn them like they did Astarion? The idea of your child being born unable to walk in the sun made your heart hurt. The child wouldn’t understand and what would happen if they crawled into the sunlight? Would you have to shut all the doors and curtains, never allowing them out during the day?

You shook the thought from your mind. There was still plenty of time to do some research and figure this out. There was no need to worry yourself thinking about something that may not even be a possibility. There was just as high of a chance that they would inherit your ability to walk in the sun.

You finished the dried meat and cleaned your hands of the grease that was left over. It was time to get dressed and get this day of your journey started. You grabbed your pants and put them on each of your legs without any problems. It was when you tried to button them together that you hit your first hurdle. They wouldn’t button.

You began to fight with the pants, trying with all your might to get them to close to no avail. You looked down to see that your stomach, which was once inconspicuous, now had a noticeable bump that was making it impossible to button your armor closed.

You cursed and suddenly felt a wave of nausea hit you as you barely had time to make it out the tent flaps and turn left into the bushes before you were emptying your stomach contents into the shrubbery. It was a long while until your stomach felt satisfied that it had given up all that it needed to, and by that time, the others in the camp had already started to come out and see what was going on.

“Went a little heavy with the wine again, I see.” Shadowheart had a touch of superiority in her voice that usually didn’t bother you, but for some reason, today, it just rubbed you the wrong way.

“I don’t think that's any of your concern.” You straightened your back and sucked in your stomach the best you could to hide your bump.

She looked down at your unbuttoned pants in confusion. “Are you still so drunk that you can’t even button your own pants?”

“Come on, you two, it's too early for this.” Wyll tried to chime in to stop the fight that was surely about to break out, but his efforts were in vain.

“I’m not drunk. I just suddenly got sick in the middle of my changing and needed to run outside, so I didn’t paint the walls of my tent! I don’t appreciate being interrogated every time something happens to me that you disagree with.” You turned your back to her and grabbed your bag of soaps. “I’m going to the river to clean myself. Can I go, or do you need to question me about that, too?”

You didn’t give her the chance to answer as you stormed off in the direction of the river that was just south of your camp. It was about when you were halfway to the shore that you realized you had no idea what the hells just happened or why you just got so mad at your friend.

“You're doing this to me.” You looked down and pointed to your bump. “You're making me do crazy things… I knew I shouldn’t eat spicy food.”

You let out a heavy sigh. Well, there was no sense in worrying about it now. You would just have to make amends when you got back to camp. Say something about how waking up and vomiting your guts out made you less than hospitable in the mornings.

Or maybe it was time to come clean about what was going on with you. You wanted to wait so that your news wouldn’t outshine Gale’s, but it was growing increasingly difficult to keep this hidden from everyone. You couldn’t hide the fact that your armor didn’t fit anymore. You needed to wear it for your own protection. You supposed that you could just say that you thought it was unnecessary because all the merchants you passed over the last three weeks said that their travels were fine. But what if that was just their good fortune and the rest of your travel would spell disaster? There was just no way to tell. If only you were a divination wizard.

You finally made it to the bank of the river and decided that since you were already here, you would do what you told everyone you were going to do. You slowly stripped off your pants and kicked them away for good measure; they were part of the damn problem. Then you took off your undershirt that went between you and your armor, throwing it over to where the pants ended up.

You looked down and saw a body you did not recognize. Breasts almost double the size of what they were before. Hips wider and fuller are also part of the problem as to why the pants didn’t fit and a small round belly protruding out where your baby rested safe and warm in your belly. You cradled that part of you and smiled, the only thing you liked about yourself at the moment.

You walked into the water with your bag of soap and took it out, getting it wet and starting to lather your skin with it. The soap smelled of lilac and blackberries. After you were done washing your arms, legs, and torso, you walked further into the water to wet your hair. The water was cold and caused you to shiver as you submerged yourself in it fully sinking under the water. You stayed under the water for a few seconds, enjoying the calmness you felt. The lack of sound in a world full of it.

When you finally came up for air you heard your name being called out. The voice sounded frantic and scared. You recognized the voice as belonging to Astraion in your haste to get away from the others at camp; you forgot that he wasn’t there. He had no idea where you were or what had happened; he probably showed up to camp, and you simply weren’t there.

“I’m okay! I’m just in the water.” You started to make your way back to the shore. The look of worry on his face was still ever present.

“What were you thinking, leaving without saying a word? You don’t even have any of your weapons; what if someone was out here and attacked you.” He shouted at you, but his voice broke at the end of his words.

“I know. I’m sorry, I just…” You fully step out of the water. Your body is on full display. “I Just needed some air… I needed to get clean.”

Your voice shook as you spoke. Embarrassment filled your every pore as you felt Astarion’s eyes on your body. “I got sick, and my pants don’t fit anymore, and I…” You felt yourself start to cry.

Astarion’s face melted from anger to worry the second your tears sprung free of your eyes. “You’re feeling self-conscious? You?”

“Of course I am! Look at me!” You gestured to your whole self. “My hips are huge, my clothes don’t fit, and I’m picking fights for no reason I can’t stop throwing up, and I’m….”

“Beautiful.” Astarion cut you off.

“Excuse you?”

“The fertility goddess herself couldn’t compare to you, my love.” He moved closer to you and hesitated. “May I touch you?”

You shook your head no, wrapping your arms around your body. Despite his words, you didn’t feel like they were true. Hallow words meant to flatter you and make you feel better. But deep down, you didn’t want to feel better. You wanted to wallow in self-pity and believe that all your fears were genuine. It was easier to believe in yourself than to trust others. Your own body was betraying you; why wouldn’t everyone else?

“Then I won’t touch you. Do you want me to leave?” Astarion stood still, almost as if he was in front of a wild deer, and he didn’t want to scare it away.

“No…”

“Do you want to sit down and talk?”

“Yes.” You walked to a patch of grass, picking up your shirt on the way and covering yourself with it.

Astarion sat next to you but allowed for some distance between the two of you. “Tell me what you’re thinking. Tell me why my strong, beautiful, caring partner suddenly thinks she’s as ugly as a hag when she is far from it.”

“I don’t know…. I feel like a stranger in my own skin. Every time I wake up, something new about me has changed. I guess I’m just tired.” You hugged your knees to your chest.

“Darling, there is nothing wrong with change. Every day I wake up next to you, I thank the gods that I have you because you helped me change into the man I am today.” Astarion looked off into the distance. “When we first met, I was broken… I trusted no one and only strived for power so that no one could ever take advantage of me, and then there you were. You were everything that I wished I could be; you oozed self-confidence. Everyone listened to you when you spoke and did as you said. That's part of the reason why I seduced you.”

You remember back to his love confession when he confessed to having been using you the whole time for protection. That was until he started to feel the same feelings for you that you did for him. Through you, he had opened up and learned to trust again. Learned to love someone and get back his bodily autonomy.

“I remember. You fell so hard for me.” You smiled.

“Yes, I did. I felt like an idiot that even though I was manipulating you somehow without even trying, I did what I was trying to do, but even better. Truly, you are amazing.” You unwrapped one of your arms from your legs and reached for his hand. He wove his fingers into yours.

“I’m sorry. I just…. I listen to these words in my head, and they make me feel like there’s something wrong with me.”

“There is nothing wrong with you. Your body is changing; for god's sake, you are growing a new person inside of you. And I mean it when I say you are the most beautiful person I’ve ever seen and have become ten times more beautiful since you’re carrying my child inside you.”

Your cheeks felt hot. “Do you really mean that?”

“Every word.” Astarion paused and then continued. “May I show you?”

This time, you nodded your head yes.

Astarion moved so that he was kneeling before you, pausing to check if you were really okay. You nodded again, confirming you wanted to see what he was going to do.

“Lay down on your back if you would be so kind.” You did as he asked, placing your hands over your stomach. “Hands at your side, please.” You hesitated. “I want to show you just how beautiful I think you are.”

You slowly moved your hands off of your stomach and to your sides. “I’m not sure how this will…”

Astarion placed a light kiss on your tiny baby bump. “This is the best gift you could have given me.” He kissed the same area but in a different spot again. “For so long, I felt alone. I had no family but for the one Cazador made, but that was never truly a family.” He kissed a third time. “You have given me a chance at family again, something that I thought was lost the moment I became a vampire.”

Your eyes met the red of his, and you felt the gravity of his words. “I really am stupid….”

“Not stupid, just hormonal. pregnancy brain is a real thing, darling.” Astarion moved so that he was level with your face. “But it gives me a great excuse to tell you everything I truly feel and wow you with romanticism.”

“I don’t want to feel this way anymore.” You threw your head back. “And I want my damn pants to fit.”

“We can work something out. It’s just two more weeks till we’re in Waterdeep, and we can buy you a whole new wardrobe.” He scrunched his brows together. “This will pass; you are still the strongest person I know and the most beautiful behind me, of course.”

You sat up abruptly and jumped on top of him, pinning him to the ground.

“I don’t think this is going to get the reaction you want. I’m liking the view all too much, and I’m into this kind of thing.” He shot you a devilish smile.

“How do you know that I don’t want what you're thinking? And I know you like this.”

You leaned down and bit him hard on the left side of his neck, puncturing his skin and drawing blood. You sucked greedily at the holes you made in his neck until you heard a moan escape his lips. You pulled your lips away from his neck, where a large purple bruise started to form where you sucked.

“What do you think, Astarion? Is there anywhere else you want me to suck?” Your mouth was close to his ear as you spoke. And it dawned on you that pregnancy really was crazy. Just a few moments ago, you didn’t want anything to do with him, and now here you are craving the feel of him.

“I have some ideas, but for now, let me taste myself on your tongue.” Astarion pulled you to his lips. The taste of his blood was heavy on your tongue. He pushed through your lips quickly, and your tongues danced together.

You broke the kiss, wanting to tease him. It was only fair for all the times he teased you throughout the years. “Only a taste, Astarion, for I am not done tasting you.”

“Fuck.” He had a haze of lust as he watched you plant light kisses down his body, untucking his shirt to touch your lips to his skin.

You made your way to the waistband of his pants, barely looking up at him to meet his eyes. “Take these off.”

“You don’t have to ask twice.” Astarion pulled his waistband down just enough so that his length sprung free.

You grasped it gently at the base, placing your lips so that they just hovered above the head. Astarion waited with bated breath, his anticipation of what you were going to do. There was a question in his gaze.

You licked the tip of him lazily, causing a shudder to go through him that you felt at the base. You continued to lick lazy circles around his head. Every so often, a moan would escape deep in his throat. You did this for a few minutes, never going beyond the tip, teasing him with every stroke of your tongue.

“Are you going to tease me the whole time, or am I going to feel release?” Astarion’s voice shook his arousal plane to see in your hands.

You stopped and appeared to think for a moment. Playing out like you were contemplating something. “Maybe if you beg.”

Astarion let out a huff of air. “Please.”

“You can do better than that.” You accented every word so that a puff of air hit his tip.

“Please, I want to feel myself at the back of your throat.”

You nodded your approval and took him into your mouth, giving into his requests and taking him as far as you dared. His head lulled back as his fingers grasped the grass for some stability. You moved your lips back up his length, stopping just before leaving him entirely before going back down. You picked up the pace, throwing in intermittent twirls of your tongue around his tip to stroke and get him closer to his release.

He wove his fingers through your hair, and along with the gasps of pleasure that existed, his lip let you know that he was close to release. You sucked harder but kept the same pace as you felt Astarion's whole body tense, and as you felt his muscles release, you felt his warm seed hit the back of your throat. You swallowed it all and cleaned his tip before looking up at his face through the stray hairs that now covered your face.

“Gods, you look even more beautiful with me in you.” His voice was laced with pleasure, his eyes looking as if he wished to devour you.

“I know.” You moved from between his legs, grabbing your shirt from where you last placed it. “We should probably get back to the others… I need to apologize to Shadowheart.” You pulled your shirt over your head.

“Not until I return the favor.”

“I don’t think we have time for you to return the favor, but tonight, seek out my bedroll. I might let you in.” You placed a kiss on his lips.

“So I’m to just go about my day thinking about what you just did to me and stew about it?” Astarion pouted.

“Not stew plan. You’ll have all day to think of a way to get back at me.” You reached for your pants and frowned.

“You’re right.” He looked at you, holding your pants. “We can fix them so that they fit. Put them on.”

You did as he said, putting on the pants and trying to button them closed again and failed to do so. “Does the breastplate still fit?” He asked once he saw you try and fail to fasten your pants.

“Barley, but I think it will.” You tree up your hands.

“Let’s go back to camp, and we’ll attach the breastplate to the pants, which should keep them up for today, and then we’ll buy you some new armor at the next town we stop in.”

You nodded your agreement. “That’s the only thing we can do.”

“It will all work out just a few more weeks, and we can tell everyone our dirty little secret, and we won’t have to hide anything anymore.” He grabbed your hand to reassure you. “Everything will be alright. And no one cares that you yelled at Shadowheart; she is far too nosy.”

“I’m still going to apologize.”

You walked back to camp with Astarion to find that the others were waiting at the fire that was now just embers. They had already packed up their tents and seemed to be waiting for you and Astarion to come back and do the same. Shadowheart stood and walked towards the two of you with a look of relief on her face.

“I hope everything is alright…. I shouldn’t have just assumed that you drank too much last night; you've been sick this whole journey, it seems.” She didn’t meet your eyes.

“Yes, we'll, I shouldn't have gotten so angry with you… it’s not like I told you about my… sickness.” You decided to grasp onto the fact that she thought you had something wrong with you that was making you so sick.

“Is it something I can heal?” She asked, finally looking at you.

“No, I don’t think so… it will pass; I just need time.” You gave her a small smile.

“Alright, next time, I’ll hold your hair back so you don’t have to go to the river next time and make us all late to start today.” You knew her words were meant to be playful, not harmful.

“I’m sorry, I just needed to cool off. But I’ll go get ready now.” She gave you a curt nod.

You and Astarion went into the two of your tents and proceeded to fix your pants to your breastplate. With Astarion’s skills with a needle and thread, it looked as if nothing was a miss. Satisfied with his stitch job, the two of you then set to cleaning up and putting away your tent. In twenty minutes, you were packed up and ready to hit the road, no one mentioning the argument from earlier or the purple bruise that had already begun to fade on Astarion’s neck.

[witchofthesouls]

Tony prob would give in for the tech

Fury:*tired*Stark what do you have

Stark:*hiding unsuccesfully Cybertronian stuff blueprints he got* Nothing

Also

Stark: *watching as Cybertronians fight over him* Even my dad wasn't that invested

Hawkeye: Your daddy issues are showing

Joke's on S.H.I.E.L.D. because Tony's having the time of his life because the baby proofed kits are still leaps ahead of Earth. He's attacking it with a ferocity, so he can get Big Boy stuff. Like hello, personal teleporter and space-bridge technology! Plus, he gets to talk so much shop and tea with a variety of mecha between the sides that can keep up or outpace him.

While Dr. Foster, Dr. Banner, and Dr. Stark are messing with things. There are a few 'bots and 'cons wiping wet optics because the sparkling built himself drones for company. Quite a few mechs are angling for a guardian-bond for the weird squishy sparkling. Tony's surprisingly getting along with many of the giant metal aliens, he has pick for a guardian, and the competition is fierce.

Tony is getting feels because there's genuine interest on their end. Not just his weapons and Iron Man and the Merchant of Death, but for Tony. There's no glazing eyes or impatient tics when he rambles or jumps disciplines because he's chasing after something, no digs at his philanthropy or at his AIs. Bonus points for not underestimating Pepper and Rhodes and giving Jarvis his due, too.

(But gods help him if they find out the palladium poisoning, Tony is getting kidnapped and treated.)

[leeksoupforstardew]

Also if you want to see more people experience this chaos

[serpentface]

A cook of a Sh'Czekl merchant family at work in an outdoor kitchen, preparing a holiday dinner.

---

Sh'Czekl are the people of the coastal Czekl region, culturally related to other Czekl but having ancestry further west down the inner seas. Most of the population is clustered in a modest trading hub where the Longhorn River meets the sea, seeing the comings and goings of traders from all ends of the inner seaways. 

The region has few mining operations, and natively-made metal implements are typically rare and costly. The most common (and cost effective) option for big pots, pans, and grates such as these are mostly acquired in trade, and often made by and for humans.

The Sh'Czekl diet consists mostly of farmed arthropods, invertebrates foraged from shorelines and tidal pools, and hunted shorebirds. Fish play little to no role in the diet. It is forbidden for Sh'Czekl to eat anything that lives permanently in the sea, as all sea-life belongs to the god Si (who is known to send storms and tidal waves when insulted). 

Their location along major sea trade routes also grants significant access to spices non-native to the region (such as cumin, imported primarily from southern Wardin) alongside regional flavoring (such as firebug, a key export from the region- a strong flavored stinkbug dried and crushed as seasoning).

---

What this guy's cooking: A stew of caviar ant eggs/larvae and nuts in a shellfish broth with pepper and firebug, grub and locust kebabs, daggerclams rolled in cumin and fried in lard, and an inner sea tiviit spiced with pepper, firebug and honey and grilled over hot coals.

[mapsontheweb]

Spaniards and Portuguese in India and the Malay Archipelago, 1498-1580.

“Historical atlas”, William Shepherd, University of London Press, 3rd ed. 1924

by cartesdhistoire

Muslim merchants from Gujarat, based in Cambay, dominated maritime trade in the Indian Ocean in the 15th century, supported by Hindu and Jain financiers and an organized network of correspondents. The Malabar coast, a major pepper supplier, served as a hub for commercial interactions between Arab merchants from the Gulf of Aden or Oman and Chinese merchants – or their intermediaries – from Sumatra and Malacca. Muslim merchants primarily engaged in the spice trade.

The arrival of Vasco da Gama in Calicut in 1498 disrupted this system. In 1502, King Manuel entrusted him with commanding a second expedition aimed at eliminating all Muslim presence in the Indian Ocean. The Sultans of Gujarat and the Deccan sought assistance from a Mamluk fleet to counter the Portuguese, but it was defeated before Diu in 1509, paving the way for Portuguese conquests of Goa in 1510, Malacca in 1511, Hormuz in 1515, Diu in 1535, and Daman in 1539.

The Portuguese occupied the southwest coast of Ceylon from 1505 to access cinnamon, establishing a fort in Colombo in 1518. They controlled the north, west, and south coasts of the island, key areas for the cinnamon and precious stone trade.

The Moluccas were another target because the Banda Islands produced nutmeg, while Ternate and Tidore produced cloves. The Portuguese established privileged relations with the sultans of Ternate and Tidore, facilitating their settlement in Amboyna and Timor, despite the capture of Malacca from Sultan Mahmoud Shah.

The Portuguese monopoly endured until the emergence of the English East India Company and the Battle of Swally in 1612.

Meanwhile, Spain remained engaged in the spice race, aiming to connect America to the Moluccas and their spices. Following expeditions in 1525 (Loayza) and 1528 (Saavedra), Spain secured a definitive return route in 1565 (Urdaneta) and established settlements in the Philippines in 1571.

[lady-of-endless]

One Piece fragrance/scent headcanons

Including: Luffy, Zoro, Sanji, Usop, Law, Kid, Killer, Ace, Smoker, Doflamingo, Corazon, Shanks, Mihawk, Sir Crocodile, Buggy, Katakuri, Bartolomeo.

Author's Note: taking a small break from matchups to post those headcanons. I'm a perfume enthusiast and this post is very dear to me. In case you need to get a better idea of the examples, I recommend using the site fragrantica to see all the notes of each perfume. WARNING: Long post.

Monkey D Luffy

He doesn't really bother with perfume but he notices Sanji's and he likes the idea. However, Luffy would go for something that resembles some food, of course, something sweet. Gourmand perfumes work the best for him and for how affectionate he is towards everyone.

Examples:

- Milk by Commodity - The name says it all. It smells like sweet milk with an aromatic and ambery base to make it a bit more than just straight-up milk.

Roronoa Zoro

He doesn't really like the feeling of perfume on his skin when he's training or fighting. However, if he has to choose ( because Sanji told him he stinks), he'll go for something fresh, or something that grounds him that anchors him in a memory that motivates him.

Examples:

-Bleu de chanel - Fresh and woody, simple as that, great for training and slicing up some bad guys.

-Matcha Meditation by Maison Margiela OR Blue Tea by The Merchant of Venice - Those smell like a fresh blend of green tea, something that brings him a memory of his past training.

Vinsmoke Sanji

Of course, he wants to smell good, he says that perfume is a part of an outfit. Goes for attention-grabbing perfumes. However, he only puts on perfume after cooking! He needs to smell the food without any other olfactive distractions. He takes a little pride in how good he smells and he should. Also, he's the one to really pronounce the names with the right accent (If the perfumes are French).

Examples:

- Le Male by Jean Paul Gaultier - This one is popular for a reason. It's both sweet, warm and also aromatic and fresh. Plus that lavender note makes you even more drawn to the comfort of his embrace.

- Sauvage by Dior (I know everyone is tired of this one but you have to admit it smells good) - A bit more mature and serious than the first one. It's elegant with bergamot, pepper, wood, and of course, that lavender again so you won't forget his embrace.

Usopp

He wants to smell all cool and great. Can you blame him? Absolutely not. He's going to ask Nami for a recommendation.

Examples:

- Gucci Guilty pour homme - This one is edgy and unique. It's both soft from rose, orange blossom and daring from red chili pepper, salt, and cedar. He gets creative when wearing this one.

- Invictus by Paco Rabane - The name and the bottle won him. Luckily, he likes how it smells. It's much simpler than the other one. It smells fresh, marine, woody, salty.

Trafalgar D Water Law

Not a big fan of fragrances on him, much like Zoro. He thinks it's distracting because of how some smells can evoke memories and feelings. So he'll only wear a basic, masculine scent with nothing striking as unique. He just smells clean, fresh, aquatic.

Examples:

- Kenzo Pour Homme by Kenzo - Sea Water, some white florals, and then musk and vetiver. It is both clean and comforting.

- When The Rain Stops by Maison Margiela - Pretty self-explanatory, it smells like morning rain in a foggy forest. It has pink pepper in the beginning to give some spice to that, it can't be just a perfume that simple though.

Eustass Kid

Here's an interesting scent. Kid's scent usually consists of metal from his prosthetic and from fixing things in his workshop plus something fresh and spicy.

Examples:

- Luna Rossa Carbon by Prada - It's fresh enough to keep him going, metallic, and somehow spicy from the pepper. An edgy perfume. He doesn't care if others like it or not.

- La Vierge De Fer by Serge Lutens - This one is also metallic but slightly more softer because of some white florals. He might wear this when he feels a little more at ease.

Killer

He doesn't go for a bold perfume but he truly wants something unique. He's a man of action so he'll want something that will persist and will be close to his skin.

Examples:

- Phantom by Paco Rabbane - A unique creamy lavender with energizing lemon and hot woody vanilla. Simple notes that become more complex in this combination.

- Most Wanted by Azzaro - Kid got this one only because he liked how the bottle looked but he thought it was too sweet for him. He ended up passing it to Killer who liked it more.

Portgas D Ace

You already know this man smells like fire, spice, and sweetness. Besides, his skin often smells like the sun during summer, like a sunny day on the beach, I don't know how to explain it. However, someone has to teach this man how not all perfumes are all season.

Examples:

- By the fireplace by Maison Margiela - sweet and smokey. It smells like cuddling with someone right next to the fireplace, and that's how it feels when you hug him.

- Under the stars by Maison Margiela - less sweet. Leather, fresh spicy, ambery.

Smoker

He thinks he should smell like something else besides smoke from time to time. Smoker likes to have his coat smell good and he likes to put on perfume right after a shower. He goes for clean masculine fragrances but with a twist.

Examples:

- Blue Moon by Killian (God damn this one is so hot I can't) - fresh citrus, spicy ginger with vodka and musk for a clean dry down.

- Cool Water by Davidoff - It smells like sea water, fresh mint, tobacco of course, and musk again.

Doflamingo Donquixote

Of course, this devil of a man wants to smell expensive and most of all seductive. He's picky with his fragrance. Doesn't get the notion of perfume for different seasons, he'll straight up wear a heavy, sweet, scent even during summer. He doesn't care. He might have a preference for catchy names.

Examples:

- Fucking Fabulous by Tom Ford - This one is sharply aromatic at first and then gets to a seductive vanilla with leather and bitter almonds. Might be smooth and pleasing to some while headache-inducing to others.

- One Milion by Tom Ford - This one fills the room, exactly how he wants. It's a bit aggressive because of the white flowers, salt, leather, and pine. Sweet but sharp.

Rosiante Donquixote (Corazon)

He tends to go for sweeter perfumes as he wants to balance out the cigarette smell that clings to him that might be repulsive to some (not me honey). However, he wants that perfume to be a subtle one that almost gets noticed, he's in disguise after all.

Examples:

-Tobacco Vanille by Tom Ford - he had to go for the same designer as his brother so as not to seem suspicious. It's simply a warm vanilla smell with notes of tobacco.

- Smoking Hot by Killian - Another smokey and sweet perfume but more complex. Its sweetness comes from fruits this time and it's accompanied by spicy cinnamon.

(also, the name is way too fitting)

Shanks

Everyone who knows Shanks will say that this man smells so damn inviting and warm. He wears something slightly sweet, just slightly, because he feels the most comfortable. Plus, of course, something boozy.

Examples:

- Angel's Share by Killian - It smells like his cognac, cinnamon, and oak, plus mouth-watering praline and vanilla. No one can resist this one

- Stronger with you by Giorgio Armani - It's like a warm hug that might turn into something more. It's warm, spicy, and sweet.

Dracule Mihawk

An elegant man with a unique taste in clothes, drinks, books, and weapons surely has a unique preference for perfumes as well. He uses something that would go along with his whole aesthetic. He leans more to floral and slightly boozy (wine) notes.

Examples:

-Bloody Wood by Liquides Imaginere - Another self-explanatory one. This is how a vampire would smell, mysterious and romantic. It has red wine, rose and violets, and sandalwood. It's so incredibly enigmatic.

- Side Effect by Initio - This one is heavy. Masculine spicy vanilla with saffron, rum, and jasmine for elegance.

Sir Crocodile

Another fine man with fine taste. Be sure that he's educated in perfumery as well. He has perfumes for different occasions. He might be the one out of all that smells the best. He likes intoxicating perfumes that aren't nauseating but plain seductive.

Examples:

- Herod by Parfums de Marly - This one smells like old money. Warm spicy cinnamon, tobacco, incense, and vanilla. Pretty heavy but so good.

- Black Orchid by Tom Ford - A truly alluring and mysterious smell. It's still warm and also earthy and woody.

Buggy

He likes to smell risky, let's say. Both are risky and alluring. He likes a tricky perfume that is sharp in the beginning and more alluring in time.

Examples:

- Ultraviolet by Paco Rabane, for men - It's an unusual mix of scents. It starts somehow fresh and aromatic from mint and then it gets spicy from pepper and in the end, you get seductive vanilla with moss. This one is clearly not for everyone but anyone can agree that it smells unique.

- Toy Boy by Moschino - This one is also a confusing scent because it starts musky and floral and then it goes into spicy wood and citrus. Definitely not everyone's cup of tea.

Charlotte Katakuri

To put it simple, all of his scent is concentrated on his scarf. It smells like clean musk because he often cleans it and the sugary sweetness from all those donuts he eats. It's a nice smell but a bit nauseating.

Examples:

- Vanille Fatale by Tom Ford - Sweetness with some wood in there to balance it out in case you get too close for comfort.

- Vanilla Sex by Tom Ford - Straight up smelling like a sweet spicy snack that you can't get enough of.

(its name though and Katakuri...ok I'm done talking)

Bartolomeo

He'll try to find out what each Strawhat perfume is wearing or at least copy that scent. But he only picks up those he likes. Jokes aside, he kind of likes smelling overpowering when he gets ready for a fight and warm, and sweet when being around dear ones he admires.

Examples:

- Allure Homme Sport by Chanel - for when he feels bold and ready to fight. Mandarin, mint, pepper, and in the end victorious sandalwood, cedar, musk.

- Black Phantom by Killian - For when he meets his dear ones, to be perceived as pleasant, and friendly. It's sweet but dark chocolate sweet with a bit of rum and coffee, almonds, and vetiver to balance everything.

[gortash-did-nothing-wrong]

Enver Gortash Musings 9

Warnings: discussions of pregnancy, childbirth, widespread illness, orphans, and tiefling racism. And Enver is once again keeping secrets.

After you have your first child, internally you decide to take a break from trying for children for a few years. You want to make sure your daughter is doted on properly. You keep a scrap book of all her milestones, even glueing scraps of her outfits she outgrows into the pages. Enver and you pour over the scrapbook one night as your now year old daughter sleeps in her crib.

"She was so small." Enver says, running a finger over one of her socks from her first month of life. "I almost forgot how small babies are."

You hummed, turning the page to see the very first bit of her horn that had broken off. She had taken a tumble while learning to walk, knocking her horn on a table and cracking it. "I felt like a horrible mother that day. After she finally stopped crying, and took her afternoon nap, I cried so hard."

Enver looks at you, surprised. "You did? I don't remember that..."

"oh I didn't let you see." You said, chuckling. "You were really busy that week. There was some medical issue in the lower city? During the winter months, yes I remember now. That big orphanage got hit hard with it."

"Cholera." Enver said, his voice suddenly not so carefree. "The sewer system was damaged, and contaminated the drinking water. It was so cold in the sewers that repairs were slow to make any progress."

"Right." You said, "You were working really hard, so I didn't want to bother you. It was silly of me. Children get hurt sometimes, after all. I can't save her from every bruise."

Enver raised an eyebrow. "You... You were doing charity work, weren't you? I remember asking you to assist on that."

"I was helping bring fresh water from the upper city wells to the lower city." I said. "I just strapped Ember to my front and drove a supply wagon down. It was the least I could do. Ilmater's temple was doing the real work. All this children looked horrible... So pale and skinny."

Enver's eyes had a spark of recognition. "Right, the reporters tried to say in the paper that your hair had been a mess and had hay in it."

You laughed, "Well sometimes that happens when you work with horses. Wait... Enver the papers didn't say anything about my hair?"

He smirked, "Of course not. You think I'd let them critique my wife's appearance while she's saving the lives of orphans?"

You scoffed, "I didn't save anyone's life. I drove the horse wagon down the street to deliver water. A stable boy could have done it."

"True. But a stable boy couldn't have encouraged all the noble women to help gather water from the wells, fill barrels with the water, and coordinate it all to go to the same place."

"they didn't fill the barrels." I said dryly. "They told their servants to do it."

Enver is quiet for a moment, his eyes watching you as you turned a few pages of the scrap book. "Darling. Did you do the manual labor?"

"Along with several dozen servants, yes." I said, looking up at him, curiously. "What did you think I did? Sat on the wagon waiting for it to be done?"

Enver sighed, shaking his head but with no malice. His eyes were smiling, a chuckle rumble from his chest. "You're quite odd for a noblewoman."

"The perks of having a dirty peasant mother." I said, grinning. "Or at least a merchant mother."

Enver chuckled, "How is your family doing anyway?"

"Mother is fine, she's angry the squirrels keep eating her bell peppers, but she doesn't want to hurt them so she's trying to bury mothballs to make them not want to come around the plants." You said. "My brothers and sisters are all doing well, ah, that reminds me, Lauren is of marrying age, and she's having some trouble finding a match... You wouldn't happen to know of any eligible bachelors?"

Enver chuckled, "I know a few. Have her come to dinner this week, I'll get a feel for her and see if I know any gentlemen who would fit her."

You leaned over, kissing his cheek. "Thank you, my love."

He stared into your eyes after you pulled back, searching your soul for a moment. "Have the nursemaid watch Ember tonight."

You shut the scrap book. "Oh?"

"I want you." He said firmly. "And I want another child."

It was your turn to hesitate. "Ember is only one..."

"And if I get you pregnant tonight, she'll be a year and nine months by the time the other baby comes." Enver said smoothly, his hand coming to rest on your cheek. "Something else is troubling you. Tell me what."

There was never much compromise with Enver. "... Ember is a tiefling."

"Yes." Enver said. "You and your family have always been quite progressive with tiefling issues. What's the problem?"

"I still don't know how she came out as a tiefling. Neither of our families have any history of Tieflings." You explain. "And... And I worry that if our next child is a human... That they'll be treated differently from Ember. And then that will hurt Ember..."

Enver looked at you solemnly as you trailed off. Like always, your thoughts were on others. It was something he begrudgingly enjoyed about you. There was a naivety to your generosity, a naivety that due to his station and money he could ensure you kept. He viewed it like having a rare bird as a pet, one with an expensive diet and high vet bills. A status symbol, in a way. But that feeling had shifted just slightly after Ember had come along. And now it felt far more like owning a luxury house. With warm and inviting decor, gates and walls to keep out unpleasantness. A sense of security and comfort whenever he was around you. Especially when he would sneakily watch you mothering Ember. Just yesterday he had watched you braid her a flower crown in the garden, and once you placed it on her head he let himself daydream about the real crown he would put on Ember's head one day when she was ready.

"I am going to tell you something." He said seriously. You looked up at him, tense. "I will not tell you how I know. Do not ask."

You nodded.

"All of our children will be tieflings." He said firmly. "There is nothing I can do to change that."

You stare at him, not being able to make any sense of how he would know. Your mouth opened and closed several times, so many questions pressing against your tongue. How did he know? Why was it so? Who had done this? Was it the fault of your blood or his?

You could never read him much, but something in his eyes made you certain that regardless of all your other questions, the cause was his side of the family tree.

After what felt like forever, you managed to say, "Alright."

Enver leaned a little closer down, his mouth close enough that you could just lean up a little and kiss him. "You'll still carry my children? Or will I have to content myself with Ember as my one and only?"

You swallowed. "I... I want more children. This is just a lot to take in. The rumors were so awful the first time-"

Enver sighed, his brow frowning. "I thought I made sure none of those reached your ears."

You smiled sadly. "My mother informed me of them. Don't be cross. She was trying to protect me."

"That is my job now." Enver said firmly. "I should have a conversation with her."

"Enver." You say warningly.

He patted your cheek. "Just to make sure she's on the same page, my darling wife."

You leaned up, kissing his lips softly, a small spark of passion behind it. You pulled away, smiling up at him. "Let me tell the nursemaid she's on duty for tonight... Why don't you get a bath ready?"

Enver grabbed his cane, getting to his feet with a groan. "Off to twist the taps I go."

[ltwilliammowett]

Today we have door 18 and here we have an East Indiaman. A fragile beauty hiding in Salem- The Friendship of Salem

Friendship of Salem

More about her:

The original Friendship, a two-decked, three-masted, square-rigged, 342-ton vessel was built from 1796-1797. The ship was constructed in the Stage Point yard of Salem shipbuilder Enos Briggs across the South River from today's Salem Maritime National Historic Site. Friendship was launched on 28 May 1797 and registered at the Salem Custom House to merchants Aaron Waite (1742-1830) and Jerathmiel Peirce (1747-1827).

Friendship was an “East Indiaman,” the type of merchant ship that was used in the East Indies trade in the years after the American Revolution. Friendship made 15 voyages to countries including China, Indonesia, India, Venezuela, Spain, and Russia. The cargo brought back to Salem consisted of pepper, silk, sugar, coffee, ale, sherry, tin, salt, cheese, candles, and other goods and merchandise.

On 5 September 1812, Friendship was returning from Archangel, Russia, when the ship was captured by the British sloop of war HMS Rosamond. The War of 1812 between the British and the United States began while Friendship was in Archangel, Russia. The war had started in June, but the captain and crew were unaware of that fact and set off for Salem, only to be captured in the Atlantic Ocean and taken as a prize of war. The captain and crew were able to return to Salem, but Friendship was sold at auction in London, England on 17 March 1813.

The replica tall ship, is docked at Derby Wharf and was designed to present the appearance an original 1797 Salem-built vessel. The keel was laid in Scarano Shipyard in Albany, New York in 1996 and uses modern technology and materials to meet today’s safety and accessibility requirements.

She represents New England’s influential role in the development of global and domestic maritime trade and in the economic and political development of the United States.