#she made this apple cake that was her own recipe and it was the most delicious thing i've ever eaten to this day

[apricote]

suddenly i miss my grandma so much

[creepswrites]

MEAT PIES (Thomas x Reader)

as a result of the poll i made, here is a lil something with Thomas Hewitt! also, this is sort of in celebration of 500 followers so thank you so much for that!! :D

Thomas Hewitt x gn!Reader (they/them)

Summary: You nodded and slipped out of the kitchen, hearing Luda May call the directions to you. Down the hall, first door on the left. Easy. The door in question was underneath a large staircase that led upstairs from the entry foyer. As you reached to open it, your hand froze on the doorknob. The sound of a revving chainsaw and screaming could be heard just beyond the door.

WARNING: 18+, violence, murder, c/nnibalism

Living in Travis County was becoming more and more difficult, particularly in Fuller. There were whispers around town that the meat processing plant had gone bad. The latest drought had caused illness in the cattle but the plant did nothing about it, continuing work as expected.

Those whispers had reached your ears almost immediately. Fuller was a relatively small town as is and the sick meat would be bad for your business.

Currently, you ran a little corner store making and selling various baked goods, though your little meat pies were especially good. Despite the town's size, you had various customers come in almost every day. When you'd first moved to town about two years ago, many of the older residents had turned up their noses when you'd continued to work on Sundays, not being particularly religious yourself.

Their attitudes quickly changed once they got a taste of your baking though.

You made various things as well, from cakes to breads to cookies. There was little you couldn't make. In summer, you'd whip up vanilla ice creams with apple cobblers and in winter you'd make warm honey and vanilla cakes. The town couldn't get enough of it.

Today was a warm day, as were most days in Texas. You'd just finished cleaning up one of the tables when you heard someone come inside. "Be right with you!" You called over your shoulder as you finished wiping down the table with a disinfectant wet wipe.

When you spun around, you smiled at a familiar face. "Hey Mrs Hewitt, how can I help ya?"

Luda May Hewitt was a regular of yours, always paying you generously to bring home some of your cakes and plates of cookies. She bought more than any other customer but you certainly weren't complaining. Sometimes she'd bring you some of her own family recipes for you to try, always looking proud when they came out a success.

You were always respectful to her, which you could tell she also appreciated. "Just here for the usual, dear." Luda May smiled at you.

With a quick nod, you slipped back behind the counter and began collecting chocolate clip cookies into a paper bag. "Did somethin' a lil different with 'em this week." You gave the old woman a secret smile. "Added a bit more salt to this batch, so let me know what ya think!"

"Ooo!" Luda May smiled. "I'm sure they'll be delicious as always. My Tommy's such a big fan of your bakin' you know."

You looked up at her, giving her a raised eyebrow. "Tommy?"

She nodded. "He works at the meat plant. Walks by your lil store every day on his way to work but he's too shy to come in, poor dear."

"I hope I don't scare him," you laughed good-naturedly as you sealed up the bag before collecting a dozen cupcakes into a paper tray. "He's welcome to come in if he wants! Can make him a hot chocolate if he shows up before openin.'"

Luda May gave you a fond look. "You're such a darlin,' don't know what angel sent ya to Fuller but I know the whole town's grateful." She paused, fidgeting with her fingers. "You heard 'bout the plant, right?" Her voice was barely a whisper when she spoke.

You nodded at her, leaning closer over the counter like the two of you were sharing a dark secret over the little cakes and cookies. "Yeah, heard the meat was bad."

"Not just bad, dear." Luda May frowned. "Been stomach infections all over the country 'cause of the spoiled meat. A health inspectors comin' out this week to see."

A soft gasp left your lips and Luda May nodded sadly. "I mean... is the plant-?"

Luda May gave a wistful smile. "You've heard the rumors. I'm sure you've seen the families movin' out of Fuller this past month. Everyone's already cut their losses an' moved on."

You frowned, crossing your arms over your cool counter as the old woman opened her purse to pull out coins and bills to pay you. "What're you gonna do?" You asked her, chewing on your lip.

She looked at you with a soft look. "Don't you go worryin' about an old woman like me. I ain't last this long on pillows and cotton." She teased you, making you smile slightly. "I got my boys to look after me. We got a farm out in the country, we'll get by. I still got my job at the community center, for now."

As she slid the money across the counter and took the two bags of sweets, you gave her a polite wave. "Let me know if I can help somehow, yeah?"

Luda May just gave you a smile as she left, leaving you alone in the empty store as the bell of the door echoed emptily. You just hoped her family would be okay.

The Hewitts were a fairly reserved family but were the heart of the little community. Luda May and Charlie had a strong presence in the town and, despite the sheriff's best attempts, the town looked to the Hewitt family for advice. So you'd heard of Thomas Hewitt - Luda May's son who, according to rumors, was mentally challenged and physically disabled. You'd never met him but you'd heard stories.

You finally got to meet him just a few days after Luda May's visit.

It was early in the morning and you'd barely gotten dressed when you padded downstairs in socked feet to your little shop. You lived above the store in a small, one room apartment. It was convenient though!

A knock on the glass door confused your still-sleepy brain. You crept towards the door, unlocked it, and opened it. An enormous man stood there, staring at you with surprise. His hair was long, messy and matted, and he wore a mask over his mouth that obscured a lot of his face. You opened and closed your mouth for a minute before managing to choke out a few words. "Thomas, right?"

He nodded and you felt yourself smile. "Luda May told me 'boutcha! C'mon in," you stepped aside and shuffled back towards your coffee machine. You heard Thomas enter slowly, shutting the door carefully behind him. "You want coffee?" You asked, looking over your shoulder at him.

Thomas looked dirty, the apron he wore stained with blood. If he didn't work at the meat plant, you would've been more alarmed. He just stared at you, unblinking. "Hot chocolate?" You tried, earning a quick nod. "Comin' right up!" You gave him a bright smile as you set about making coffee for yourself and hot chocolate for your guest.

"Luda May says you walk by my shop a lot." You hummed as you worked. "You're allowed to come in, y'know? I ain't gonna run you off."

Thomas was silent still. You got the feeling he didn't talk much. So you went into the back room as drinks brewed and opened one of your storage boxes. Despite the dusty, rough nature of the rest of the town, you prided yourself on keeping things clean and tidy. So you grabbed two cinnamon rolls and went to reheat them in the little oven.

All the while, you felt eyes on you. For some reason, you got a heavy feeling in your stomach but you pushed it down. He was strange, not dangerous.

You slid the man a mug of hot chocolate and a warm cinnamon roll across your countertop with a smile. "Yer always welcome here."

To be polite, you turned your back to him as you drank your coffee to let him take off the mask he wore to eat better. The two of you enjoyed breakfast in relative silence until, without much fanfare, Thomas stepped away from the counter and slipped out the front door, back into the Texas heat.

He was strange, without a doubt, but he meant well. It was clear Luda May adored him so he must just really be shy with strangers. You'd start stocking up more hot chocolate, despite it being summer, for if Thomas ever visited you again.

And, later that very afternoon, hundreds of men were seen leaving the meat plant. It was shut down for good by the health inspector. You watched from your windows as the angry men stormed home, yelling in protest and anger with each other.

You didn't see Thomas in the crowds though. You hoped he was okay...

With the meat plant shut down, life in Fuller came to a complete stop. Where once it had been difficult, it was now near impossible to continue living there. At least 85% of the town moved away by the end of the month, abandoning their properties or selling them. The town, effectively, shut down in a matter of weeks.

But you remained.

You didn't have anywhere to go or the means to leave. Selling the property was an option but where would you even go? You didn't exactly have a means of moving. Your little car couldn't hold all your possessions and getting a moving company to help was ridiculously expensive...

You felt trapped.

Luda May visited you late one afternoon, a sad smile on her face. "Hello dear." She said softly, the overhead bell ringing to announce her arrival.

Glancing up from the catalogue you were browsing, you smiled back. "Hey Mrs Hewitt. How can I help ya?"

She made her way up to your counter, looking down at the catalogue before looking back up at you. "The Jamisons moved away." She said softly. Your eyes widened and you straightened up. "Just this afternoon." Her voice was shaky as you reached over to hold her hands.

"I'm so sorry..." Your voice was soft as the old woman looked close to collapsing. "I know how close they were with the town, I-"

Luda May held your hands back tight. "It's been so hard, havin' everyone move away just like that. Like this town ain't worth nothin' without the meat plant." She grit her teeth against a wet sob. "My Tommy ain't got no place to work an' we- we can't leave. But if everyone else goes, what'll happen to us? What'll we do?"

You let go of Luda May long enough to slide over your counter to hug her. "I'm so sorry. I- I wish there was something I could do to help..."

She held you tight as she let herself sob. You swayed with her for a moment, trying your best to console her. "Ain't nowhere left to work in this town. We can't survive on pennies from my community center job, sweetheart. It's gettin' too hard." Luda May wept.

You felt for her, truly. "If there's anything I can do, please let me know. You an' your family have done so much for me, for the town. Least I can do is repay the favor."

Luda May pulled back slightly, wiping her cheeks. "You're too good for this world. Certainly the Lord blessed us when he sent you to this town." She sniffed once, straightening up and adjusting her glasses. "You should come on by for dinner tonight. We got guests comin' over an' I think you'd fit right in."

"Oh!" You perked up, smiling at her. "I'd love to! I've got this pie recipe I've been meanin' to try out, I think y'all will love it."

Luda May smiled and nodded along. "I got two hours left in my shift at the community center. I'll come on by and getcha after, alright?"

You nodded excitedly. "I'll get cleaned up. Thank you, I'm honored to be invited along!"

When you turned to hurry up the stairs to your little apartment, you missed the way Luda May's smile faded away. Her heart ached with remorse for what she was sentencing you to.

As she left the store, she cried silent tears for the betrayal she was about to give you.

But, as promised, Luda May came to pick you up just as the sun was going down. You'd gotten cleaned up, dressed nice in light clothing to protect yourself against the hot Texas afternoon. An airy, white and blue striped shirt with the collar pressed nicely alongside matching navy blue shorts. The boots you wore were simple and the cleanest shoes you owned.

When Luda May spotted you, smiling and waving at her as you clutched a wicker basket in your hands, she almost told you the truth. Almost made up a lie to keep you from coming over, to save you from the fate that Charlie - Hoyt, he'd insisted now - would surely sentence you to. But he'd been right. The family needed to eat.

She just wished you'd left town earlier. Packed up your cute little things into neat, nice boxes and left this shithole of a town. But no. You'd stayed because you were sweet. And you trusted her. Which only made her feel worse about putting you into this situation.

You, who had only ever been so kind and loving to her, her family, Tommy...

But she didn't say or do anything. She just smiled as you got into her old truck and drove you down the old, dirt road towards the Hewitt house. The old blue truck rattled but you were polite and didn't say a thing. You were too good for this world, in Luda May's eyes.

Maybe, just maybe, there could be a way to save you still.

The Hewitt farm was much bigger than you imagined. The large, manor-like house lay surrounded by various barns, cattle pens, and a nearby junkyard. You didn't let it show on your face but the whole place felt... Dirty.

Like dirt caked every surface, even lightly. As though if you were to drag your fingers across anything, you'd find layers of dirt and dust left on the tips of your fingers. You suppressed a shudder as Luda May left her truck, shutting the door rather loudly. You were quick to follow her up to the big house, stumbling slightly as you hurried.

"Now, be wary of the boys. They tend to be a bit rowdy this late in the day. Once dinner rolls 'round they'll settle. If any of them give you trouble, you come straight to me." Luda May said as you approached the door.

You gave her a quick nod. "Yes ma'am."

The smile she gave you was fond but it was also... something else.

Before you could figure out what, you heard a scream. Your heart lept to your throat but Luda May took your hand in hers and squeezed. "The boys play rough. They're alright, dear." She gave you a warm look. "Lets just get inside 'n outta this heat."

You obeyed, swallowing down a sick feeling you had rising in your stomach.

The inside of the house was. Messy, to say the least. But, you had to remind yourself to be polite as you were guided from the foyer to the kitchen. Some dishes lay in the sink, making Luda May curse. "Monty!" She called somewhere into the house. "Next time ya fuckin' leave dishes in the sink, I'm havin' Tommy throw your damn truck out!"

You blinked back in shock. You'd never heard her talk like that.

A man, who you could only assume was Monty, poked his head into the kitchen. "God damn woman, ain't my job to clean the place!"

Luda May scoffed. "I pride myself on runnin' a clean house. You start undoin' my hard work an' you can sleep in the barn with the other stupid animals!" She let out a loud huff. "Where's Tommy anyway?"

Monty shrugged. "Ain't seen 'im. Might be downstairs." He looked you up and down, over and over. The gesture made you feel dirty. "You can go look for 'im while I entertain our, uh, guest."

"Absolutely not." Luda May said, scrubbing a plate with a brush. "They're my guest, you an' Charlie can keep your dirty hands off. They're the sweet baker from down the road who makes those sweets y'all like so much."

He raised his eyebrows. "Are they now? Well I'll be damned."

You flushed under all the attention, fidgeting nervously with the basket in your hands and deciding to just set in on the counter nearby Luda May. "I could, um, go find Thomas. If- if you wanted?"

Anything to get away from Monty's leering eyes.

Luda May nodded to you. "He should be down in the basement workin'. Don't mind if he doesn't hear ya, you can shout."

You nodded and slipped out of the kitchen, hearing Luda May call the directions to you. Down the hall, first door on the left. Easy. The door in question was underneath a large staircase that led upstairs from the entry foyer. As you reached to open it, your hand froze on the doorknob. The sound of a revving chainsaw and screaming could be heard just beyond the door.

The sounds of heavy footsteps on the staircase above made your stomach swoop and you quickly opened the door and slipped inside. Your breath caught in your throat as the sounds got quieter, the screams turning to gurgles and the chainsaw dying down. Fearing the worst, you were silent on the rickety, old, wooden steps that went down into the darkness of the basement.

You held your breath as you neared the bottom, looking out into the dimly lit room.

Ice-hot fear shot through you at the sight. Thomas, standing over a man's body that was strapped to a table. The chainsaw he'd used lay on a bench beside the table as he appeared to be skinning the eviscerated man laying before him.

Thomas looked up at you and you slapped your hand over your mouth to cover your gasp. Tears filled your eyes as you scrambled back up the stairs, utterly terrified. You tore open the front door and took off running, only going faster when you heard Thomas chasing you.

But he knew the land better than you.

Eventually, through all your running and hiding, you found yourself cornered in one of the large, dusty barns. The ceiling and walls were wooden and the floor was just loose dirt. You whimpered when you saw Thomas's shadow approach you, wrapping your arms around yourself.

He stood in the open doorway, meat cleaver in hand as he stared at you. You backed up until you hit the wall but Thomas kept approaching you. "Are you going to hurt me?" You choked through a sob.

Thomas froze and just stared at you. You could tell your question had surprised him but he was quick to recover. He nodded. You felt your heart sink as you slid down to the dirt floor, curling up on yourself.

You sat there, curled up in the fetal position, and began to cry openly. Thomas made a soft grunt but you couldn't hear, too busy crying. You didn't want to die, much less at Thomas's hand. He'd always seemed nice, if a bit intimidating, but you thought he and Luda May were good people.

The memory of the basement flashed in your head and you blinked up at Thomas with wet, red-rimmed eyes. He seemed to deflate then, sitting down criss-crossed in front of you, careful to keep his distance. He set the cleaver down and put his hands in his lap and just watched you.

You sniffed. "Can... can you at least do it quick?"

Thomas looked guilty as he made a grumbling noise. You wished, momentarily, he could talk to you. At least then maybe he'd tell you what he was planning to do to you. Instead, he surprised you by picking up the cleaver and tossing it further away before looking expectantly back at you.

You blinked. "You're... you're not going to hurt me?"

Thomas shook his head.

"Are..." You swallowed a thick lump that had been lodged in your throat. "Are the others...?"

That made Thomas pause. With a thoughtful look, he shook his head once before holding out his hand to you. Slowly, like you were reaching for a dog that might bite your hand off if you were too fast, you slid your hand into his.

The size difference was considerable. His hand was at least a quarter size bigger than yours, if not more, and it was rough. You knew he'd worked at the meat plant cutting up meat so of course he'd have workers hands. He gingerly ran his thumb along the back of your hand, trying to reassure you.

"You won't... let them hurt me, right?" You asked, voice low.

He nodded his head, giving your hand a gentle squeeze. Whatever had changed his mind about hurting you, you weren't willing to question it. "Okay." You said softly, letting Thomas help you stand up. Your clothes were covered in dirt but you couldn't bring yourself to care.

Though you did almost retch when you saw the blood on his apron.

"Tommy, where'd you-" Luda May called out, freezing when she saw you with Thomas. He still hadn't let go of your hand as he stepped in front of you with a pleading sound. Luda May's shoulders seemed to sag. "I'm sorry, dear." She looked at you with a remorseful look. "I... I was hopin' to keep you from findin' out. Charlie's been... persistent 'bout gettin' food for the family an' I had no choice."

Your mind slowly caught up to what she was saying. "You... you brought me here to... to be killed and eaten?!" Tears began falling again, streaking down your dirt-covered cheeks.

Thomas squeezed your hand again and you felt like throwing up. Luda May didn't say anything as she looked to Thomas. "Charlie'll be angry to know you're keepin' them alive. Are you sure about this?"

He nodded once, still standing protectively in front of you. As terrified as you were - of both Thomas and the entire concept of being made into dinner - you felt a bit reassured that he was set on not hurting you.

Luda May sighed quietly. "Alright. Dinner'll be ready soon. Proper meat." She shot you a reassuring look. "You two get cleaned up. Charlie'll be back soon."

Thomas tugged your hand gently, looking down at you and asking you to follow. He guided you to walk ahead of him, gently pushing you along after Luda May. You glanced over your shoulder as you walked to spot Thomas picking the cleaver back up. When he noticed your alarmed look, he quickly put it behind his back with wide eyes.

You almost laughed at the hysterical nature of it all. You were being invited to dinner - which you nearly became - and the guy who was going to butcher you was hiding the cleaver so you wouldn't be scared of him. Like you were a kid who had no object permanence.

Thomas genuinely did not want to scare you. You knew that. It didn't make you any less terrified though.

Charlie Hewitt - or Sheriff Hoyt as he was calling himself now, as you were terrified to learn he'd also killed - was currently having a fit.

When you'd come downstairs having mostly cleaned off in the bathroom, he'd spotted you quickly. When Luda May informed him you were a friend of Thomas's and definitely not dinner, he'd been enraged. He'd started throwing things around the house, yelling at Luda May and Thomas, who both stood strong. "I asked ya to find somethin' for dinner and ya bring back nothing? Just some sad lookin' baker kid who ain't worth jack?!"

Luda May glared. "You give em any trouble, I'll beat ya black and blue and make ya sleep outside, ya hear? I ain't puttin' up with your shit tonight, Charlie."

"Hoyt, it's Hoyt now!" He yelled back, smashing a plate.

"Every dish you break, you buy a new one!" Luda May yelled, smacking his arm hard.

Hoyt's eyes fell on you as he glared. When he moved forward to grab you, Thomas was quick to interfere. You ducked behind his arm as he stood between you and Hoyt. "Thomas. Move." Hoyt snarled.

But Thomas didn't budge. In fact, he looked surprised as he looked down at you clinging to his forearm, terrified out of your mind. While you were scared of everyone in the room, Thomas was the most likely to defend you and defend you hard. The cleaver he'd been carrying was laying out on the table and, while you'd known Luda May longer, you doubted she'd be able to use it against Hoyt if he came closer.

"I won't ask you again, boy," Hoyt snarled. Thomas calmly lifted Hoyt up by the collar of his shirt and threw him aside, sending the man crashing into the table with a hard tumble.

Luda May spoke up then. "That's enough!" She snapped at both Hoyt and Thomas. "You two clean up this mess."

Hoyt glared over at her. "We look after family. They," he pointed a finger at you as he stood, "ain't family."

You shared a nervous look with Luda May, who remained steady. "They may as well be. Far as I'm concerned, they're the only one who provided food for dinner tonight." She glared down at Hoyt. "While you were runnin' around playin' dress up."

Hoyt was quiet. "What'd they bring?"

"Meat pies." You said quietly. When Hoyt looked at you, you repeated yourself louder, fearing his anger. "I brought meat pies. L-lamb ones."

The room was silent. "Ya brought lamb pot pies?" Hoyt asked slowly, raising an eyebrow. You nodded frantically and he sighed. "Alright, fine, ya can stay." He grumbled, leaving the room with a huff.

You looked up at Thomas with nervous eyes. The mask he wore obscured a lot of his face but you could see his eyes. He blinked slowly, a softness there you were surprised by.

Clutching his arm tighter, you let yourself relax as Thomas stood protectively beside you. You could survive this, you thought to yourself.

You will survive this.

[bella-rose29]

Domestic Sweetness - part 2

this one is a bit shorter but it's just as sweet, and it's pretty much all lockwood doing stuff but it sets up the third and final part really nicely!

word count: 2.1k

warnings: George is mean about lockwood's culinary skills, a few swear words, and that's it I think

Anthony Lockwood was many things: charming, professional, the leader of a successful business, caring, supportive, and dedicated to his friends and his job, but ‘baker’ was not one of his attributes. 

George Karim, on the other hand, was completely at home in the kitchen. It was his domain, the other being the Archives, and so when he got back from said Archives on a Tuesday in May and heard somebody cursing about kitchen utensils he was immediately on guard. Sure, it was Lockwood’s house, and he had grown up with the appliances in that room, but from what George had seen of his friend’s cooking skills Lockwood was definitely better off being an agent. 

He pushed open the kitchen door and took a breath, hoping that the sight that greeted him wasn’t too horrible. 

Lockwood stood by the table, apple-patterned apron tied around his waist as he stood with his hands on his jogger-covered hips staring at a mixing bowl. He looked up when George sighed at the mess: the bag of flour was opened on the table, the contents scattered in a light film across the thinking cloth, eggshells had been cracked and crushed underfoot and butter was in small patches on the counter. 

“Ah, George, there you are. Where’s the uh… the… hang on,” Lockwood broke off, peering at the recipe in front of him. “Oh, the vanilla extract? I was sure we had it in the top drawer over there but I can’t seem to find it anywhere.”

“Oh I moved it. It’s in with the spices now.” He paused for a moment while Lockwood retrieved the ingredient. “… What are you doing?” 

“Baking a cake. Or trying to, anyway.” He frowned. “It’s trickier than I thought it would be. I can’t find the scales so I’m having to guess.” George thought a part of him died a little on the inside. “Y/n’s not feeling great so I thought I’d try and make something to cheer her up.” Just how much the thing that Lockwood was creating would cheer his girlfriend up, George wasn’t sure. He supposed she would care more about the fact that Lockwood had tried than anything else. 

“Right. Do you… need any help?” He desperately hoped that his friend would say yes, just so that George could sort out the atrocities that were happening in the kitchen. 

“Probably, but I’d like to try and do this on my own if that’s alright. It might be a mess but I’m sure she won’t mind.” If Y/n had any sense then she absolutely would mind, and she would throw the cake in the bin. 

“Fine,” George sighed, pushing his glasses up his nose. “But if this is the reason she breaks up with you then don’t come crying to me, Lockwood.” There wasn’t much weight behind his words, and Lockwood knew it. They were quite possibly the most disgusting couple George had ever seen, despite the fact that PDA was kept to a minimum, and Y/n was just as hopelessly in love with Lockwood as he was with her. They would never break up, and even if George didn’t outright say it (he often pretended to gag and told them to get a room, although unfortunately recently the couple had taken to doing just that) he desperately hoped that he was right about their relationship. 

“Alright, George. Whatever you say,” Lockwood smiled, amusement clear in his features. George would have to clean up the mess later, since he was absolutely certain that Lockwood in his love-struck state would be too busy thinking about delivering the cake to actually do it himself, and he turned and left the room so that he could stop looking at it all. 

He had barely made it to the first step of the stairs when a loud smashing sound came from the kitchen, and a small “…Oops,” followed it. 

~~~

Buses were awful. 

Normally when Lockwood saw a bus it was practically empty, just a few pensioners travelling further into the city and the odd young person going to work, so he felt personally cheated that the bus he was currently on - with his precious cargo in both hands - was packed. 

He sighed, casting a worried glance at the large tupperware box he was carrying when the bus went over a particularly large pothole, and hoped that at least one person would get off at the next stop. He still had about an hour to go on this bus, and while he wouldn’t complain because he was doing it for his girlfriend, he really wanted to sit down. 

Ten minutes later he started complaining. 

Internally, of course, because he didn’t have anybody to talk to and he wasn’t about to become the person on the bus causing a scene, but he was very angry in his head. Not only had nobody got off the bus, but more people had got on, and to top it all off the traffic had worsened. 

The bell dinged, signalling that someone wanted to leave, and the bus slowed down. Lockwood looked around in an attempt to find anybody that looked like they were preparing to move, but there were too many people in the way. They pulled into the bus stop, the doors opened in a whoosh, and all at once passengers stepped off. Just when he thought that everyone had cleared from the bottom level, more came from the top deck and thundered down the stairs so that they didn’t get left behind. As soon as a seat opened up Lockwood rushed for it, sighing in content at the lack of weight on his feet. A few people got on, but since many seats had now become available it wasn’t anywhere near as crowded as it had been. 

“Excuse me, young man, you don’t mind if I perch here do you?” Lockwood looked up to see an old lady with her scarf wrapped around her neck (despite the warm weather they were currently having) and a tight grip on her tartan patterned trolley. She was gesturing to the seat next to him that he was currently using as a resting place for the cake box, and he quickly moved it to offer up the whole seat. 

“Of course not! Here, let me help you with that,” he said, balancing the cake on one leg while he manoeuvred her trolley to lean against the railing in front of their seats. 

“Oh, thank you,” she beamed, pinching his cheek. “Your parents have raised you well, young man. So sweet and kind. They must be so proud of you!” Lockwood tried to hide the pang of sorrow that he felt at her words, and plastered on his classic ‘customer service’ smile. She saw through it almost immediately. “What’s wrong, dear? You’ve got a far away look in your eyes.” Her voice was kind and quiet and inviting, and everything about her made Lockwood want to tell her everything about him, but something held him back. He still choked up a little thinking about his parents, and this lovely old lady didn’t need him crying on her shoulder on a bus. 

“Ah, just thinking about…” he floundered for a moment, unsure what he could be thinking about. “My girlfriend,” he finally settled on. The old lady frowned, looking down at the box he had in his lap. “She’s not feeling well at the moment and I just hope she’s alright.”

“Aw, you just keep getting sweeter, don’t you! Is that what this box is for then?”

Lockwood lit up, sitting straighter in his seat and twisting his body more to face her. “It is, actually! I phoned her this morning to see if she wanted to go out for lunch, but she said she was feeling really awful and couldn’t go anywhere, so I baked her a cake and I’m taking the date to her.” The old lady smiled fondly at him and patted his hand. 

“She’s a very lucky girl, then, whoever she is.” Lockwood felt himself blush, his cheeks growing warm and his stomach flipping over. 

“I’m the lucky one,” he started. “I really don’t know how I ever managed to get her to agree to a first date. Or a second.” He felt that his confusion was justified since when they had first met he’d nearly impaled himself on his rapier after getting his long coat stuck in a fence. He’d tell anyone that listened that he’d tried avoiding stepping on a slug on the pavement, but in reality he’d stumbled after seeing her smile. This old lady didn’t need to know that rather embarrassing story, but she was already moving on to her next sentence. 

“Well, it sounds as though the pair of you are happy. My husband was quite like you when he was around.” She smiled softly. 

“I’m sorry for your loss,” Lockwood said, smiling back. The old lady frowned in confusion, tilting her head a little. 

“Oh, he’s not dead, dear. He’s just fucked off to France! He used to be so sweet and loving until he went on a business trip ten years ago and decided he would rather live in France with the girls there than with me, the bastard.” She continued cursing him out, much to Lockwood’s amusement, and threatening to do all sorts of things if her husband ever returned. 

Lockwood was wondering if Y/n would enjoy a holiday in France when the old lady switched subject, going on about… ketchup? Or possibly gardening? He was sure she had mentioned tomatoes at some point, but she was talking so quickly he was struggling to keep up.

It was around forty minutes later and many changes in conversation with the old lady (who was called Ethel and had four cats and two dogs, and chickens in her back garden, and a horse in a stable just outside of London, and a very large fish tank) that the bus lurched over a pothole in the road. Instinctively his arm shot out to hold the old lady in her chair, steadying her so that she didn’t go flying over the metal bar in front of their seats. His other hand clutched the cake box while his core muscles clenched to stop his own body going sprawling. “Are you alright?” he asked, scowling out the window in the direction of the pothole. 

“Oh yes, thank you. You’ve quite the strength, haven’t you!”

“Ah,” Lockwood smiled, feeling heat creep up his neck. “Comes with the job, really.”

“Job? What is it that you do, dear?”

“Oh, I’m an agent. I have my own agency, actually. Lockwood and Co, if you’ve heard of us?” Ethel’s face lit up as she settled back into her chair. Lockwood retracted his arm and quirked an eyebrow in question. 

“My granddaughter knows a lot about this stuff, and come to think of it she has mentioned a company with that name. Sings your company’s praises, she does. I’m not sure why - I don’t really understand most of this modern ‘agency’ stuff. I do what she says which is to put up my lavender and stay indoors when it’s dark! But she works in a café, you see, so she often gets the closing shifts since she’s still got some of that… oh, what’s it called - no, don’t tell me… Talent! That’s it. Not much, mind you, which is why she’s not in the field, but it’s enough to mean that she’s safe at night. I give her little trinkets, too. I doubt they’re much good, but even if all she does is chuck a silver pendant at a ghost and runs away, it’ll make me feel better that she has it. Oh, I think this is my stop!” She reached for the red ‘stop’ button, pressing it firmly so it let out a ding, and she grabbed a hold of her trolley. “Would you like a cup of tea, dear? I think I’ve got a thermos somewhere for you to take some ready-made for your girlfriend if you wanted!” Lockwood hesitated. This old lady was so lovely and sweet, and he was starting to feel a bit parched from the long bus journey, but he really should be getting on. 

He had just opened his mouth to politely decline when he noticed what street they were on, and he decided that he could probably get away with it. “Alright then, but only one cup. Luckily this is my stop too, so I can head on to my girlfriend’s house right after.”

“Perfect! Aw, well I’ll bring out my nice teacups,” she said, wheeling her trolley around and heading for the bus doors. Lockwood cast a glance behind him, checking and double checking that he had everything (the cake box was in his hands) and followed her out, saying a bright “Thank you!” to the driver. 

tag list:

@strawberryloveyyy, @chameleon021, @genderfluid-anime-goth, @cottagecore-babe, @anthonylockwoodandco111, @a-taken-url, @ahead-fullofdreams, @aislinrayne, @anathemaloren, @anthgoldenhrry, @augustisintheair, @aysha4life, @briar-rose23, @curseofhecate, @dangelnleif, @edible-rat-vomit, @el-de-phi, @ell0ra-br3kk3r, @ettadear, @fearlessmoony, @fudosl, @idkbubs, @imaginebeingmentallystable, @informedimagining, @karensirkobabes, @lady-ashfade, @light-23, @locklyebrainrot, @locklyle1kanij, @locknco, @magicandrosewaters, @mentallyillsodapop, @mischivana, @mitskiswift99, @mrsklockwood, @mrsyixingunicorn10, @newbooksmell777, @no-morning-glories, @novelizt, @phlooper, @ran23sblog, @reggiepeterss, @simrah1012, @somethingrandomwatzit, @star-of-velaris, @superpositvecloudshipper, @t2sh0, @taygrls, @tournesol77, @whistle1whistle, @whenselenefallsinlove, @wordsarelife, @y0urm0m12, @zoom1374, @asyouwish-fromcabin3, @rhysand-devorak, @a-candle-maker, @h0lyheck, @apple-bottom-jeans6, @icantwaittoliveandlearn, @moonlitcanvas, @cielooci, @35-portlandxrow, @laumire, @isimpfor-everyone, @furblrwurblr, @midnight--raine, @anniemay4557

@neewtmas, @bobbys-not-that-small, @avdiobliss, @demigoddess-of-ghosts, @maraschinomerry, @lewkwoodnco, @uku-lelevillain, and of COURSE @oblivious-idiot for the request

as always, if there is anybody who wants to be added to my lockwood tag list, then please go here!

[rekino2114]

baking with the zero escape girls ...?

Baking with the zero escape girls

A/n:I'll be completely honest I kinda forgot I wrote for zero escape too so thanks for reminding me

[Spoilers for zero time dilemma in Diana's part]

June/akane kurashiki

Akane actually really loves baking, it's one of her favorite past times

You often have tea dates where you eat cakes or cookies she made while talking about whatever new conspiracy theories she found online

But what she loves even more than baking is baking with her love. You two follow the recipe pretty closely but sometimes she adds something that in her opinion makes it taste better

She loves making cakes and, in particular, decorating them. Like putting little edible flowers on the top

Clover field

While Clover really loves eating sweets, she has never tried baking before but the best way to try something new is to do it with the person you love right?

You two tried to bake strawberry cupcakes cause she really likes them and it fits with her hair

but Clover put way too much sugar in them, and they ended up being so sweet that you could only eat one, and even clover didn't get past three, which is not much for her

You ended up giving the rest to light, and even if he was genuinely about to puke, he tried his best to finish them because he can't say no to his sister

Lotus

Lotus actually does know how to bake pretty well. She's a mom, and with how much her daughters wanted to eat sweets she kinda had to learn

While she prefers cooking she's not opposed to baking together once in a while especially if it's for the children

She especially likes baking cookies just because they're relatively easy to make and you can make a lot of batches to eat later

She tries to sneak in some healthy stuff hoping that your kids don't notice and the cookies aren't that unhealthy for them

Phi

For some reason, I headcanons phi has a terrible diet, she mostly eats instant ramen and orders pizza, especially when she has to pull an all-nighter

She doesn't know how to cook or bake and isn't interested in learning how cause she thinks there are better things worth her attention, but you basically forced her to bake with you

She at least got to choose the sweet you were gonna bake, and she chose cream beignets, because she thought they were going to be easy.

She was wrong, and the beignets ended up being really not that good, but at least they were edible, and that's enough for phi. In her own words "it's the first time I've baked anything. What did you expect?"

Alice

She's OK at baking, not that great but she might have burned the kitchen the first time she tried baking something

The first thing you told her to do when she suggested baking together is to put an apron on because there's no way she's cooking with what she wears normally

You tried to make a classic apple pie because it's one of the easiest things to bake. It actually came out pretty good, especially because with her math knowledge, she got all the proportions right even without having to look at the recipe

Even if it was good she refused to eat more than two slices because she didn't want the fat to go anywhere but her curves

Luna

Luna is genuinely so good at baking, and she loves baking stuff for you, especially

She'll just randomly give you some cookies that she made because she saw the recipe online and it's some of the best cookies you ever had

She was over the moon (get it?) when you asked to bake with her as it's one of her favorite things to do with her favorite person in the entire world

You let Luna do most of the baking and she insisted on doing whatever your favorite sweet is, it came out so delicious and you joked that she was even sweeter than what you baked

Diana

Diana is pretty good at baking too, not as great as Luna but she knows her way around the kitchen

Even if she doesn't have that much time to bake after a shift at the hospital, when you both have free time she does like to bake with you, especially because it's with you

You wanted time bake brownies, and she decided to put raspberry jam on them, which made them even better and a bit healthier

You even gave some to baby phi and she actually liked them which was surprising because of how picky she is with food

[sunny-porridge]

Around a Cooking Pot

The first thing that Link learned after coming out of the Shrine of Resurrection was how alive the world was. Rolling hills and winding rivers greeted him, beating to the beat of his own heart as he adjusted to the blinding light outside the cave.

The second thing he learned was how to roast an apple over an open fire.

Quickly after that, cooking became second nature. He could coax a smile out of a sad friend with a fragrant mix of fish and butter, conspire with his friends in Kakariko Village after offering a couple pieces of honey candy, or boost his strength before a fight with the help of a meaty skewer.

He often got weary travelers to open up and share their stories over the soothing refrain of a simmering hearty soup, quietly delighting in the satisfied sighs of his unsuspecting guests as they tried a warm meal for the first time in days.

He once even made a cake for a Princess, who refused to share a piece even as she sniffled and stubbornly wiped tears from her eyes at the familiar taste of sweet berries mixed in a luscious rich cream in between layers of fluffy white sponge.

It was no surprise then, that when he set off on a journey with eight heroes of courage, he became the group’s official cook at the sight of the simple stew he made on their first evening together, camping on the forest of the Hero of Time’s era. Link often wondered how his brothers had survived their own adventures going on little else than hardtack, milk, and the occassional friendly monster teaching them the recipe for an unexpectedly delicious soup (which was more likely than one would think).

Sure, most of them had some frequent access to towns, merchants, or their own homes, but adventuring meant spending days at a time on their own, fighting hordes of monsters, exploring the most untouched parts of the land and crawling through long forgotten dungeons, and yet his brothers had been rather helpless around a cooking pot except for the most basic of recipes.

Now, the act of cooking was almost as nourishing as the food he prepared. The rancher had told him once, with a grin and a bump of his shoulders, that it looked like he was in a trance. And sure enough, once he really got into it, he felt as if he merely had to toss ingredients into a pot and watch them bounce, becoming meals in an instant as he hummed a little made-up song and lost track of everything around him. Of course, in reality cooking takes a lot more patience and care, and he likes to take the time to make every detail just right.

It had been almost three years since he separated from his brothers and stopped using the name “Wild”. As he sat around the fire making his new favorite recipe - one he hoped he could one day share with the men who had become his brothers - Link once again lost track of his surroundings, this time to the soft hum of a now familiar tune he had learned from the youngest hero on the team.

He sat on a trunk in a nameless island in the North Akkala Sky Archipelago - whoever named the Sky Islands had clearly gotten bored after the masterpiece of Lightcast Island - preparing a pizza, a brand new recipe he created with Koyin after helping her recover the recipe for cheese. The rancher had introduced him to cheese before, and he sometimes missed the soft, pillowy Ordon Goat Cheese, but the more fragrant version they made in Hateno melted perfectly over the disk of soft bread and thick, herby tomato sauce.

He had already tested a few different toppings to place on top of the pizza, trying to find the perfect companion for the savory cheese. Strips of roasted vegetables where a sensible option and offered a fair variety, but Link didn’t get to where he was by playing it safe. Today, he was testing thin slices of cured meat, and although the result was quite satisfying, he found himself wishing he had saved more of the sweet-and-tangy fruit that grew in the warm islands of the sailor’s world. The pineapples would complement nicely with the rich, fatty tones of the meat.

[laizabelamain]

Baking day at school

6:20 am Miercoles

i have a huge cooking day ahead at school. I'm making the sponge cake i already posted the recipe to, as well as my own classic cinnamon rolls. These will be sold at school and all the earnings will be used to pay for our school trip.

My group is using the 1950s as a theme, and we are currently in the lead for the competition !!

Regardless, i am daily manager, and my role is to make sure everyone does their job, and to as well take a lot of the responsibility for contacting sponsors and purchasing the ingredients and items needed. We had a budget of around 200 nok and some sponsors from 4 different companies and my own parents.

I didn't have time to properly do my hair today so i had to do a pretty simply hair style

11:07am Miercoles

As of right now, i'm on my second cake that i have to bake. Wednesday school days are very short so i'll make the cinnamon rolls after school, at home. The other members of the group have yet to make their candy apples and christmas cookies. They're great at procrastinating. But nevertheless, Ai-linh and Maia have been great members and contributed very well. My friend Natalia is in charge of advertising and design, and she's doing a great job as well. She is an extremely creative girl and she's great at what she does.

The school day is almost over, so i'll have to carry a few kilos of ingredients for around 6 km or so. But i skipped workout yesterday, so it's only fair that i catch up !!

My cooking class teacher was awfully nice today, so i thanked her for that. She's usually very strict and doesn't let people get away with mistakes, but this time she was very nice. Maybe it was because we were the only people in class today. [Me and william]

12:09am Miercoles

We're almost finished for the day, and i'm taking the bus home instead cause i have way much stuff to carry

We have two cakes in the fridge and some rolls in the oven. Cookies and apples are yet to be picked up. Tomorrow i'm most likely making coffee as well.

Ai-linh and Maja haven't showed up today to school, so i'm assuming they're out picking up from sponsors and buying the stuff we need. I like to give them the benefit of the doubt.

these are the rolls William made. We failed at cinnamon rolls as it forgot to add butter and properly let the yeast sit. But regardless, they seem to turn out good.

13:18 Miercoles

It turns out Ai-Linh and Maja didn't actually need the sugar, so i walked the 6km though my plan was to not. I'm home at the moment, and my plan is to hopefully be able to make cinnamon rolls, or i'll do so tomorrow. I'm very tired after today, due to all the work i've done and not being able to take breaks. But regardless, i have to buy a dress today to fit the theme of the day.

19:08 miercoles

Me and my brother were home alone, and he wanted pancakes. And since i recently finished reading him Percy Jackson, i figured i'd make him blue pancakes.

After that, i helped him with his homework. And once he was put to bed, i did my own, and some other physics studies about cardinal numbers. It took a little while, but afterwards, i went to bed myself.

11:35 jueves

I finally talked to Ai-linh and Maja, and they finally gave me an update on whag they did. Their sugar apples failed, so they were going to make an apple pie today instead, since we couldn't waste the apples we got sponsored. Daniel hasn't done anything - genuinely, i spoke to him, requesting an update on what he had done for the past three days, and he proudly stated that he had done nothing. Not even had he helped Maja or Ai-linh. He then proceeded to complain about how long we were taking to finish the project, which was quite hypocritical of him. Nevertheless, i took both the cakes i had baked on top of eachother, and it turned out pretty good. We made cinnamon rolls as well, and it's made with my own recipe, so om excited to see what the parents and judges think.

13:45 Jueves

I'm at the bus stop right now, waiting for the 13:49 bus, that i'll take to get to church. I won't be there for long, as i have to be back at school by 16:00 and as well bake some more at home, and get ready for the event. So far, everything has gone great - ai-linh and Majas apples failed, but i'm sure the apple pie will turn out great!! It's all just trial and error, but we'll make it work eventually.

Tomorrow, we're finished at school at around 10:50 due to how long we'll be at school today.

17:09

This is how the stand currently looks !! i'm very proud of my group and myself

[the girl in the corner is my childhood best friend Kira !! she's the sweetest and smartest girl ever] my step sister will be coming along to visit our stand, so i'm very excited for that as well. I doubt Daniel will ever show up, but we manage fine without him.

20:12 jueves

The event went amazing!! We won first place for best logo, and we sold out practically everything. I had about 4 apples, and a slice of cake, even though i'm lactose intolerant, as well as allergic to apples. But hopefully i'll be fine. My step sister came along, and gave me the letter i needed to give to my psychiatrist describing me as a person, as well as things she believed was necessary for my diagnosis and treatment. I am not allowed to read the letter, due to my promise to her, but she gave me a good idea of what was in it. Nevertheless, i got some gingerbread cookies from my friends that were one stand away from us, and since we were all under 15, we weren't allowed to use the service "vipps" which is used to transfer money. So we all traded our products across eachother.

also a picture i took today!!

[melodysmo]

“Thanks for inviting me here.” Melody thanked, as Ferdie placed their pastries against the table before taking a seat across from her. They were sitting by the window to a favorite spot of theirs— a simple yet charming looking bakery that sold one of her favorite pastries— Maple apple upside down cake. Not the most unique of desserts and she’s definitely had her fair share of many throughout the years, from multiple establishments at that. But this place in particular had the best recipe of all, and ever since discovering it back when the two of them were in the beginning years of high school, the pair has made it a point to stop by at least once throughout the month. But of course once they had gotten older and Ferdie moved away to attend college in England, while Melody’s molding career started to sky rocket, visiting this place became much scarce. But now that the two of them were once again living within Destiny Isle, it felt nice to potentially start up this tradition with him. Besides, she quite missed spending time with the brunette, and even after being back home for a few weeks now, the two hadn’t gotten the chance to spend any of it until this very moment.

Noticing that he had bought the model her favorite pastry, a bright smile appeared on Melody’s face. “You remembered!” She beamed, reaching over for her dessert fork. She wanted to dig right in, having craved the apple pastry for so long now, but the ravenette held off as she once again glanced back at her friend. “Outside of this quality time together, what do I owe the pleasure of this sudden invite?” She inquired, remembering how the text she received from Ferdie was stated to be urgent on what he had to tell her. And in that same matter, there was something she wanted to tell him too. After the past night she’s had involving a certain ex of her own twin sister and even the realization of this past morning— Ferdie felt like the best person she needed to speak to. But first, his news. “You mentored it was important?” ( @ferdiefields )

[robbybirdy]

72. Baking therapy on a budget Ft. Genshin Characters: Yanfei- Almond Apple Bread

Hello, every birdy. Today we are going to make something that is become one of my favorite things to do. Bread baking. Today’s recipe is a combination between Betty Crocker’s White Bread Recipe and the Sweet Roll Recipe. And to that, I added some apples and almonds. 

Yanfei is a lawyer from Liyue. She is the character that I choose for this recipe. Her favorite food is anything with tofu in it. Obviously, right now, I don’t have any access to tofu. And I realize that Yeast Bread and Tofu are not exactly the same. But, in a sense, they are (somehow). I mean they both soak up flavors. 

 For this recipe you will need:

2 packets active dry yeast

¾ cup warm water (105 to 115℉)

2 cups lukewarm milk (scalded then cooled)

1/3 cup sugar

1 egg

3 tablespoons shortening 

1 tablespoon salt 

7 to 8 all-purpose flour 

Margarine or butter softened 

1 cup diced almonds, in a food processor

1 or 2 apples grated

The first thing you want to do is dissolve the water in warm water, in a large bowl. Let it sit for 5 minutes so that it can bloom. 

Heat up your milk, sugar, shortening, and salt in a pot just until the milk becomes blood temperature. Meaning when you place your finger in the pot, you can’t feel the temperature. It is essentially the same temperature of the blood in your finger.

Add the milk mixture to the yeast, and add 4 cups of your flour. Beat it until smooth. Mix in enough of the remaining flour to make the dough easy to handle. 

Now on to the fun part of making bread. Yes, you could use a standing mixer fitted with a dough paddle, but that defeats the therapy part of beard baking. You will want to turn your dough into a lightly floured surface and knead for 10 minutes. Until it is smooth and elastic. Place the dough into a greased bowl. Let it rise in a warm place until it doubles in size for about 1 hour. 

While it is proofing you can start on your filling. You are going to grind up your almonds in a food processor. For some reason, I did not add my apples to the food processor, which I really could have done. De-cored them and just tossed them into the almonds. But no, I decided to shred the apples the old-fashioned way, with a shredder.  And I place both of them in a bowl. Added a little bit of cinnamon and nutmeg, to taste. 

After an hour, you are going to punch the dough down and divide it in half. You are going to add your apple-almond mixture to the rolled-out dough, and then you are going to roll up the bread like you would if you were making a roll cake. Pinching all of the sides so that none of the insides come out. 

Place the loaves into the prepared loaf pans, and let the proof for another hour in a warm spot. 

While they are proofing for the second time, you will want to start to preheat your oven to 425F. 

Once the hour is over with, the bread is noticeably larger. You are going to bake the bread for somewhere between 25 to 30 minutes, or until the loaves have a deep golden brown color, and sound hollow when tapped. 

Now that they are out of the oven, you are going to carefully take them out of the pans. And enjoy. 

Breakfast is one of the hardest meals in my family. It’s not that we don’t eat breakfast, but it is just hard because we have to eat. And sometimes, some people have a sweet tooth, and other times people wake up and need protein. Most mornings are just getting your own breakfasts. I mean it makes sense because we are all adults. One thing everyone has in common though, is they like it when I make something like this. Because it makes breakfast easy. They can just grab whatever I have made, and if they need protein they will just add an egg. So I have unofficially been in charge of breakfast for my family. 

I hope that you liked this recipe. Feel free to check it out for yourself. See you in the next post. Thank you.

Pinterest: Here

Recipe:

[banananasarethebest]

Split the Sweet Adolescence

Whoever not even once longed for their teenage years, cast the first stone. A romanticized image of a 16-year-old me living my best life pops up in my head whenever I am blessed with yet another teenage movie. In reality, it was a life filled with highschool dramas, sleepless nights, braces, and pimple patches. 

(Not to mention the massive FOMO these on-screen American teens gave me, because where the hell do I find a wild house party, a baseball match, and a passionate love triangle overnight?)

But why bother with such irrelevant details when you can vicariously relive your supposedly prime time through a teenage rom-com. Benjamin Kasulke seems to have taken one for the team. His directorial debut Banana Split (2018) is a pursuit to bring this Peter Pan dream to life. Although there is only a tiny touch of the true teenage experience, the film manages to take us back in time the same way that whiff of apple crumble takes me to my grandma’s kitchen.

Banana Split starts off to be your average coming-of-age movie in all its cringy, cheesy, predictable ways. There is a boy, there is a girl. Nick and April fall in love. Highschool sweethearts. Oh no, senior year! Naturally, Americans can only study at a college in Boston or California (the rest of the country clearly has no universities), and so do our main characters. Far, far away from each other! Highschool sweethearts are no longer. Nick seems to move on quickly, April is still deeply in love, rotting in her despair. And there’s still the whole of last summer before college… 

That is where this dessert of a story turns out to be lava cake rather than a simple brownie. Nick’s ex-girlfriend April and his new girlfriend Clara unexpectedly form a close friendship despite their initial rivalry over the same guy. They decide to keep their pact a secret to avoid drama. As easily predicted, mayhem manages to break out despite their attempts to keep this unusual not-even-love triangle intact.

(If one’s mind dares to go to dark, dark places, that is the first time they ‘split the banana split’. Get it, cause they sleep with the same dude? Don’t blame me, I’m just materializing the teenager humor in me.)

Putting an emphasis predominantly on female friendship, rather than basking itself in the jealousy and rivalry of high schoolers, is a breath of fresh air, a leaf of mint on that overwhelmingly sweet banana split. The two connections that April makes throughout the film are initially portrayed as identical. A quirky, flashing passage of scenes she shares with Nick, and later Clara, is duplicated to illustrate the evolution of both these relationships. At the end of the day, both of them were of great significance for each member of that triangle. But somehow, in this recipe the guy turned out to be only a binding between the two teenage girls, creating a beautiful, yet unconventional, friendship.

Although tasty, don’t let that maraschino cherry overwhelm your judgment of the whole dessert. While Banana Split stands out from the usual cookie-cutter teenage rom-com, it suffers its shortcomings, too. These teenagers are nothing like the kids that we used to be at their age. One reason could be casting actors who look like they could join us on the nostalgia wagon to play pre-college teens. Another would be that the world they live in is just so incredibly unrealistic. The whole story spans over one summer. April and Clara make it in time to become best friends forever, while keeping it secret from Nick, but also spending all of their free time together or maneuvering between the boy and his other friend, who just so happens to also be friends with both of the girls. As confusing as it sounds, they make it work. In less than two months. With their families barely even knowing who they spend these long days with. 

(Because remember: out of all people, teenagers hate their own parents the most.)

Banana Split is truly a title match made in heaven. Benjamin Kasulke’s coming-of-age comedy is a highly familiar flavor, at times sickly sweet, but also soothing and consoling. Plus, it looks nothing like the picture in the menu, just like this made-to-share dessert. The banana-ity of this movie is worth mentioning, too. That’s the whole point of this post. A banana is consumed. A banana split, to be precise. And even though April and Clara do, in fact, split the sweet snack, all it does is bring them together. 

Sweet and snug

Pleasantly predictable

Letterboxd reviewers say April and Clara should be a couple

In what universe are parents that chill?

Touch some grass, go meet actual teenagers

Ripeness rating: 8/10

🍌 has a brown bruise in one spot, but overall is in perfect shape

🍌 it’s actually two smaller bananas, you can give one of them to your friend who forgot their lunch (they will absolutely adore you for that)

[stardewremixed]

🍨Stardewies Favorite Desserts🍨

Stardew Valley ladies’ favorite desserts (including SVE) 

Abigail

this girl is all about the desserts - banana pudding, blackberry cobbler, chocolate cake. Picks fresh blackberries from your farm every year. 

Gets bananas from Ginger Island to make her own banana pudding. Definitely needs multiple alarms to remember to remove items from the oven. 

loves everything pumpkin spice - mousse, pudding, pies, cakes, muffins, bagels, etc. 

is first in line for a pumpkin spice latte. Complete with a cozy hat, scarf, and sniffing the steam from the beverage with a pleasant sigh. 

chocolate pumpkin donuts? Is that a thing? 

sucks on rock candy - nearly chipped a tooth once. 

would drag the Farmer around the Spirit’s Eve festival to get all the pumpkin treats and candy (no black licorice though, please)

Claire 

enjoys fruity desserts - apricots are her favorite. 

Apricot jam and scones is a perfect snack with a hot cup of tea. 

also loves apples - and bakes an apple pie every fall. 

Eats a slice while in her garden and watching the birds at the feeder. 

secretly stockpiles recipes from the cooking channel and her favorite movies. 

stocks up on discounted joja candies and feels guilty about it later. 

if in a romantic relationship, would enjoy a lazy afternoon between leafy fruit trees, lying in the grass, eating fruit and fresh cream on the farm. 

Emily 

drinks a kale and fruit smoothie every morning before she meditates. makes dessert alcoholic beverages all the time at Gus’s. Hardly anyone buys them, but she enjoys making pina coladas with fresh cherries and pineapple from your farm. 

when she’s in a silly mood, she will put a scoop of ice cream in a beer after work. Gus might join her if he’s in a particularly jovial mood. Sam would absolutely join, but more ice cream, less beer. 

picks up cranberry candy every time she visits Ginger Island 

bakes rhubarb pie. She’s halfway decent in the kitchen, playing very zen music when she cooks. Might overload on sugar. 

In a romantic relationship, the Farmer would be the unwitting participant in taste testing Emily’s sugary desserts and beverages. 

Haley

Pink cake is her favorite. 

definitely owns a frilly apron. 

Dances in the kitchen a bit when baking. 

eats ice cream with sprinkles. 

organizes a cake walk fundraiser nearly every year. Coordinates with all the ladies of the community. Jodi, by far, bakes the most cakes - there’s always an overload of chocolate cakes of various sizes (perfectly iced).  Marnie enters a pumpkin cake. Robin “makes” a peach cobbler (really it’s Sebastian with Robin’s help). Caroline makes tea cakes. 

Is very particular about the display of cakes, with her own right in the center on a lacy pedestal. 

Any excuse to bake a cake for the farmer if in a romantic relationship, with fresh ingredients from their farm. 

Leah 

Not a big sweets person. Likes fruity dessert salads. 

Foraged berries are a great treat! Salmonberries, blackberries, 

Enjoys a slice of cheesecake every once in awhile - made from goat cheese. 

really, really, really loves fruit punch (especially when it’s spiked) 

needs Elliott (or the Farmer) to escort her home as she trips over her own feet if she’s too far gone on the “punch” 

skips out on Haley’s cake walk - yuck! Pink cake! Blech! 

Also doesn’t like cookies or ice cream. (What’s with this woman!) 

Makes an exception for stardrop sorbet when it’s available at the movie theater. 

Maru

kindly eats Emily’s (too sweet) rhubarb pie without complaint 

this girl adores strawberries - fresh strawberries and cream is a delightful late spring treat. 

also will eat pretty much any strawberry dessert - strawberry pie, strawberry pound cake, strawberry turnovers

makes little strawberry jam thumbprint cookies for everyone’s Christmas stockings. 

buys Miner’s Treat from the Adventurer’s Guild regularly. (cave carrots, sugar, and milk so I’m guessing carrot juice smoothie popsicles?) 

asks Alex to make her a strawberry soda shake in the summertime 

begs her dad to take her to the Strawberry Festival in Grampleton. Demetrius still goes with her every year even if she can drive herself now.

if friends with the Farmer, would invite them along on her annual trip to the Strawberry Festival. If in a romantic relationship, would take the farmer sans Demetrius. 

Olivia 

cannot bake to save her life, but will eat plenty of chocolate and pink cakes. 

spends the most money at Haley’s cake walk. gifts to all her friends. 

loves dessert wines, especially when paired with cake. 

also loves coffee-flavored desserts like her son. will dip biscotti in her afternoon coffee. 

happens to enjoy apples dipped in caramel in the fall. got really into it one year and tried to make her own. the canning turned into a disaster. the apples were good. 

would love to be invited apple picking if the farmer is offering. if in a romantic relationship, she would bring a favorite recipe for apple cake she has stored for years and shyly requests the “cutie” make it for her. 

Penny

loves poppyseed muffins and poppyseed cake. 

while she can cook, she doesn’t bake well. Prefers to buy her baked goods from Joja or Pierre’s. 

that time she ate so many poppyseed muffins in high school that she tested positive for drugs by accident. She was so depressed, she ran away and cried up on the mountain and actually did weed with Sebastian. 

she enjoys a good watermelon smoothie in the summertime. Alex keeps extra in stock just for her. 

If in a relationship with the farmer, she regularly makes poppyseed muffins for breakfast. 

Sophia

orders Japanese candies off the internet 

keeps a stash of candy in her apron to nibble on throughout the day 

likes unusual fruit cookies - apple and cinnamon chips, passion fruit cremes, rhubarb macaroons, mandarin orange flavored pizelles. 

also would roll mochi with Sebastian late at night, if he would let her join him. brings wine from her farm to share. 

leaves little treats out for the fairies on the eve of spring (like kids leave cookies for Santa). It’s a superstition she’s had since she was a kid. Has never failed to help her crop season.

would absolutely go do karaoke with friends and order all sorts of desserts for them - green tea ice cream, coffee jelly, banana sushi 

if in a romantic relationship with the Farmer, would bring them a slice of Japanese cheesecake on the new moon. 

And there you have it. See the bachelors here. 

[mslaevateinn]

Sarah Rogers’ Mock Apple Pie

Square filled: Free x Canon Compliant for the @buckybarnesbingo​ (Buckuary Intersectionnal Bingo) Prompts from the @stuckybingo​ Server February’s party ‘Baking’ and @stucky-week​ ‘Sarah Rogers’ 

Relationships: Bucky/Steve Rating: G Warnings: N/A Tags: Bucky discovers B Dylan Hollis’ videos, baking, Sarah Rogers, canon divergent post endgame, everyone lives, Steve retires Summary: ‘Steve! Come on, get your ass over here! I found 21th century you on the internet!’ Word count: 570

“Steve!" came from the living room

Bucky didn't seem distressed - if anything, he sounded very amused - so Steve only hummed in response.

“Come on, get your ass over here!" He grumbled. 

"Why?" He was very cozy here, thank you very much.

“Come on, I found 21st century you on the internet!”

Alright. His curiosity was picked now. A 21st century version of him? What did Bucky mean by that?

Sighing, Steve got up then walked out of his mini-studio. In a few seconds he was next to his partner, who seemed to be laughing at his laptop. Steve dropped next to Bucky, who shifted to rest against his chest. He sneaked both arms around the brunet and placed his chin on his shoulder.

“What is it?”“Just look,” Bucky said, waving a finger at the screen.” Shuri sent me some weird recipe earlier, and I just found this guy.”

B Dylan Hollis, the name said. Huh, didn’t ring a bell. Although, the young man did look like he used to. Very thin, blond, blue eyes… yes, he could see the similarities.

“Oh but it gets better”, said Bucky who was looking at him from the corner of his eyes.

He clicked on what turned out to be a video, and after that came the most chaotic thing Steve witnessed in the last month - considering who his friends were, it was an achievement. It was amazing.

“Are there more?”

“Absolutely!”

Steve and Bucky rearranged themselves better, and they spent a solid ten minutes looking at this guy’s videos. The rice bread and carrot cake reminded them of their time, but the jello salad definitely made them seriously question the sanity of the people in charge of the food industry.

“Look at this one”, suddenly said Bucky, pointing at the screen. “Do you think it could be legit?”

“Only one way to know.”

Bucky nodded then clicked on a new video. ‘A fake apple pie, from the great depression’, the man announced. It did sound like a recipe straight from his Ma’s book.

They stopped watching after this one, saving the page to continue later. Instead, they got up, scoured their kitchen for Ritz crackers and when they found none, wrote down everything they needed and Steve left for grocery shopping.

When he came back an hour later, Bucky had everything already sorted out so they put away everything before Steve went to change into comfortable clothes.

The recipe seemed pretty straightforward - if you didn’t make your own dough, which they wouldn’t try today- so they set the oven to preheat right away.

Bucky played the video one last time, comparing it with the list he had scribbled down. Satisfied, he put the laptop away then -dramatically- cracked his knuckles. With a grin, he handed Steve the dough and the shell while he grabbed the crackers and the bowl. They set to work, talking about the last time they had seen someone cook this: Sarah Rogers, the year she fell sick. Talking about her, and after that Bucky’s family brought back memories and emotions they had almost forgotten, and they spent the time the pie cooked cuddling on their couch, a nature documentary as background noise.

Finally, the pie finished cooking, and they brought out small plates and went back on the couch.  They looked at each other before digging into the dessert. 

The mock pie tasted like home.

[pookha]

No tengo las llaves

Chapter 2

Vee keeps up appearances for Camila, makes empanadas and has their first meeting? date? with Masha. They compare notes and discuss where they're going.

Originally, I just meant for this to have the one chapter, but I'm enjoying it and it will have more, probably 4 or 5. It will be updated whenever I can, but I work full-time, it may be a while. I will aim for weekly or fortnightly, but if it takes longer sometimes, I apologize in advance.

Thank everyone who read, left kudos and especially those who commented. I love you all. Let's spread the Owl House love.

Vee slid out of the top bunk and onto the floor. They went to Camila’s room and got her laptop. They logged in as Camila and found her password manager. They tried a couple of times to log into it, but couldn’t get the password correct and stopped before they got locked out. They dug around in Camila’s dresser drawers and eventually found a piece of paper at the very bottom of Camila’s jewelry box. Vee laughed and went back to the laptop.

They logged into the password manager with “C0sM1C_Fr0nt13r” and got access to Camila’s bank account. They looked over Camila’s desk for bills and made sure to pay them, noticing that most of them had already been set up for autopay. They used Zelle to transfer some money to Luz’s account, which Vee had a debit card for. Vee saw the brochure for the camp sticking out from the bill pile and touched it fondly.

“I never would have known how to do this without you,” they said and then shivered at the empty house.

They looked at the clock, sighed and shifted to Luz’s shape. They got Camila’s spare keyring and then got on their bike and rode to where they had left the car the night before. They loaded the bike in the trunk, shifted to Camila and drove to the clinic. They drove carefully, obeying the speed limit, using turn signals and the mirrors. They were happy that they’d insisted Camila teach them how to drive and that they picked up skills quickly.

When they got to the clinic they got everything ready for Camila’s suposed unexpected trip back to the Dominican Republic to visit her abuela. Everyone took it well, with Vee getting lots of sympathetic hugs from Camila’s staff. They hoped it wouldn’t be too long; Dr Simonson could help out, but not forever and they could call in Dr Jensen, but she had her own concierge service.

Vee left as soon as they could, stopped at the grocery store to pick up some fresh apples. They also picked up some soda and chips.

When they got back home… home… they thought of Camila’s house as home now. They knew that they’d never go back to the Demon Realm unless they had to. Hopefully, Belos would lose and they could open the portal whenever they wanted so Vee could get magic to eat. They couldn’t think about the alternative.

They switched back to their natural form and started working in the kitchen. Cooking and especially baking had become stress relief and they loved learning all the recipes that Camila had learned from her mom and her abuela. They put their phone on the dock and turned Spotify onto shuffle. They’d combined Camila’s and Luz’s and Masha’s playlists and the mix was…eclectic to say the least.

Kpop blared from Luz’s playlist as they laid out their ingredients in the order they’d need them, a thing they’d learned recently was called mise en place. If they managed to stay in the human realm, they thought they’d love to open a bakery: fresh doughnuts, savory and sweet empanadas, cakes and pies, brownies and cupcakes. They’d recently learned how to shape fondant and it was art …art was the only word that they thought applied.

Their phone buzzed on the dock with a text and they paused to look at it.

I have detention today (talking back to a teacher…again), so I won’t be there until around 5. My mom’s going to pick me up around 8ish. Should I bring something for dinner or snax?

Vee texted back quickly, not wanting to leave them on read.

I’m making something. You’re not vegetarian, right?

They saw the ‘…’ of Masha typing and then;

Nope. see you around 5

Vee went back to their baking. They made their fillings first and sat them aside before making their dough the traditional way with masa rather than white flour. They made the apple ones first and while they were cooling, they baked the chorizo filled ones. The smell of the nutmeg, cinnamon and apples tempted them enough that they had to eat one. It was still warm and gooey from the oven and Vee blew on it to keep it cool. Now that the baking was done, their mind raced as they ate. Thoughts of Camila and Luz and Luz’s friends ran circles and then Masha’s face filled them. They sighed, finished their empanada and started cleaning.

They had just loaded the dishwasher to run when the savory empanadas were done. Their sensitive nose let them know that they were perfect; they were improving rapidly.

After they had cooled for a few minutes, Vee broke one open to look at it, just look at it, but then ate it. It hadn’t cooled enough and they gasped around a burnt roof of their mouth; a fitting punishment for lying to themself they thought.

They sat down with Luz’s laptop and went back to Duolingo. They were getting through the Spanish lessons much more quickly than Camila had thought they would. Being a basilisk and changing shape gave them a lot of knowledge and language skills, but still learning the slang and idioms was challenging.

They lost themselves on the internet for a while and only looked up when a knock came at the door. They shifted back to their human Vee shape and got up.

“Ah, shoot, it’s already five,” they said as they opened the door.

Masha stood on the other side, covered against the damp chill by a long black coat, not quite a trench, but not just a windbreaker either.

“Going to let me in or just stare at me,” Masha asked.

Vee blushed, hating that they would blush no matter their form.

“Sorry,” they said and stood aside to let Masha in.

Masha entered, opened their jacket to let the heat of the house in as Vee closed the door. They both stood awkwardly for a moment before Masha broke the silence.

“I trust you, but there are some things I’ve got to ask first, okay?”

Vee nodded.

“You’re not planning to kill me and eat my skin?”

Vee blinked in surprise and put their hands to their face.

“What? No, I’m not a fairy. I don’t eat skin. I won’t hurt you.”

“Wait, fairies eat skin?” Masha asked.

“In the Boiling Isles they do,” Vee said.

Masha laughed.

“All right. Are you super old? This isn’t a Twilight thing where you’re like a hundred and I’m a teenager, right?”

Vee’s blush deepened.

“No, no, I’m…”

They thought for a moment.

“I—I think I’m about fifteen in human terms?” It sounded like a question.

“You’re not sure?” Masha asked.

Vee shook their head.

“Not one hundred percent. I feel about that old and I know that we mature about the same as witches and humans. I don’t know exactly when I was made, but I’m no older than eighteen and no younger than fourteen.”

“Wait, you said ‘made.’ What do you mean?”

Vee lowered their head.

“Can we talk about it in the living room?” they asked in a very small voice.

Masha nodded and followed Vee to the couch. They looked around curiously as Vee sat on the couch and patted the cushion next to them for Masha. Masha took off their jacket and draped it on the arm of the couch before sitting next to Vee. Vee’s hands were knotted together in their lap. Masha reached over and put their hand over Vee’s. Vee looked up and smiled.

“Basilisks had been extinct in the Boiling Isles for a long time, hunted by the witches because we eat magic. Belos brought us back using magic and alchemy or whatever to study how we drain magic so he could kill all the witches.”

Vee’s voice, which had been small, was now tiny.

“It’s not your fault,” Masha said, picking up on Vee’s guilt right away. They squeezed Vee’s hands. Vee released their own hands and gripped Masha’s tightly.

“I just learned recently that Belos was a human who came through a portal a long time ago and he was some kind of witch hunter. He killed his brother; Luz said something about it before Belos escaped back to the Demon Realm.”

Masha went very still.

“Is—was his name Philip?”

“I think that’s what Luz called him,” Vee said.

“Okay, tell me everything,” Masha said.

Vee told the whole story of the previous night, with flashbacks to how they came to the Human Realm and took over Luz’s identity.

“I—wow, that’s a lot,” Masha said finally. They reached up to brush nascent tears from the corners of Vee’s eyes.

“You weren’t at the hayride, so you don’t know the story from the human side.”

Vee shook their head.

Masha told them the story of the Wittebane brothers and Vee nodded. It fit what they knew and what had happened the night before.

“And Mrs Noceda followed Luz and her friends to the Demon Realm?”

“Mom—Camila did,” Vee said.

“You already think of her as Mom; I love it. That alone speaks well of you,” Masha said.

Masha’s stomach rumbled and there was silence for a second before they both laughed, tension released.

“I made food. Sorry I forgot!” Vee stood up suddenly and bustled to the kitchen. Masha paused just a moment before following them. Vee turned around and saw them following.

“Aw, I was gonna bring it to you, but this is better.” They waved their hand for Masha to sit at the table.

Vee grabbed a plate with a cloche on it and put it on the table.

“Those are the apple ones; just a moment and I’ll get the savory ones warm.”

They pulled a plate, opened the fridge and put six empanadas on a plate. They put them in the microwave for about 40 seconds while they pre-heated the oven.

“If you just microwave them to reheat them, they get soggy and if you just use the oven, the outside gets too crispy before the filling is hot, so I microwave them for a little bit and then crisp them in the oven to reheat.”

Masha nodded like they knew what Vee was talking about.

The microwave beeped, Vee opened it, put the empanadas on a baking sheet and put them in the oven.

“It’s not fully pre-heated, so it’s going to take a few more minutes,” they said. They set a timer for ten minutes.

Vee sat at the table across from Masha.

“I—I have a question and I hope it’s not rude,” Masha said.

“It’s okay,” Vee said.

“You said yesterday that you wanted to change your pronouns to they/them from she/her. Are you female, do you identify as non-binary…or?” Masha trailed off, embarrassed to be asking such a pointed question.

Vee smiled.

“It’s complicated. In my natural form, I’m non-binary; basilisks don’t really have male/female sex. We can be one or the other, or both or neither. I prefer to be female when I shift to other shapes, but I don’t have to be. From the few of us I knew, most of us had a gender and sex preference. They/them just feels better to me right now. Maybe I’ll go back to she/her at some point or she/they, but I don’t know right now. So much is in flux. I might have to go back to the Demon Realm to live, assuming they can even re-open the portal. If not, I’ll probably starve to death.”

“Sorry if it was rude, I wasn’t sure how gender and sex worked with basilisks.”

“It’s all right,” Vee said.

“I can tell you about me,” Masha said, their voice now choking a bit.

“If you want, but you don’t have to. Remember that I was at camp and I know your deadname and how you presented then,” Vee said.

Now Masha was crying. Vee slid their chair closer to Masha’s and put their arm around them.

“You don’t have to tell me anything you don’t want to.”

Masha leaned their head on Vee’s shoulder, which got soaked with tears.

“Sorry, I don’t cry much,” Masha said, lifting their head and wiping their eyes with their sleeve.

The timer beeped, causing them both to jump and then laugh.

Vee got up and went to the oven and got out the pan. The scent of chorizo filled the kitchen.

“Damn, that smells amazing,” Masha said.

Vee dished them up and got plates.

They pointed at the empanadas.

“The ones with the two fork pricks are spicy and the ones with the four fork pricks are very spicy. The ones on the other plate are apple, for dessert.”

Masha grabbed one each of the spicy and very spicy. They took a bite of the very spicy first, chewed it thoughtfully, stood suddenly and went to a cabinet.

“Glasses are in the one on the left. Get milk, not water, it will cut the spice better,” Vee said.

Masha got two glasses and the carton of milk from the fridge. They sat them on the table, filled their glass with milk and drank a big gulp of it.

“You—you weren’t kidding when you said very spicy,” Masha said.

“Too much?” Vee asked.

Masha nodded.

Vee took the spicy one off their plate and switched it with Masha’s very spicy.

“You don’t mind it has a bite out of it?” Masha asked, taking a bite of the spicy one. Their eyes went wide, but they managed to swallow it.

“Nah, we’re gonna be making out at some point, you said, so what’s a bite?”

Masha choked a bit on their milk and Vee laughed.

“I know you were saying that to just make your mom laugh some, but were you serious?” Vee asked, lowering their eyes again.

“I was mostly tweaking my mom, but also serious. I do like you Vee and maybe it will happen when we get to know each other better or maybe we’ll just be friends, but I really do want to find out. When it happens, it’ll happen, you know?”

Vee nodded.

They ate mostly in silence; Masha had to refill their milk twice more.

“Sorry it’s too spicy,” Vee said and Masha waved them off.

“I’ll get used to it,” Masha said.

They finished their empanadas and Vee piled the dishes in the sink. Masha picked up one of the apple empanadas and looked at it.

“What’s the glaze?” they asked, taking a nibble.

“Just powdered sugar and milk,” Vee said.

“They’re really good, both the apple and the chorizo.” Masha smiled.

“I remember when we first met at camp, you were so shy and didn’t really seem to know what was going on. Do basilisks all learn this fast?”

Vee nodded.

“Taking a shape gives us some basic knowledge and language skills, but it can be a bit of ‘hello fellow youth’ like that meme if you get what I mean.”

Masha laughed again; Vee was beginning to like making Masha laugh.

“I get you,” they said.

Vee turned around from the sink.

“Would you like to see my real shape?” they asked suddenly.

Masha put the apple empanada down and nodded.

Vee changed back to their natural shape. Masha’s eyes widened, then they smiled.

“You’re super cute,” they said.

Vee blushed.

“You can blush!” Masha laughed. They stood and moved to stand next to Vee.

“May I touch you?” Masha asked.

Vee nodded, grabbed Masha’s hand and put it on their neck.

“You’re warm,” Masha said.

“Where can I touch you safely?” Masha asked.

“Anywhere above here,” Vee said, indicating approximately where their waist would be in human form.

Masha slid their hand.

“You’re smooth; I was expecting scales like an alligator, but you’re more like a garter snake.”

“We’re not reptiles, but I understand,” Vee said. They put their hand over Masha’s and held it.

Masha’s gaze saw the ring on Vee’s tail. Vee noticed.

“That’s where I was chained before I escaped.”

“Can—can you remove it?” Masha asked.

“Maybe with magic, but it reminds me of what I was and what I’m becoming here.”

Masha got a sly look on their face.

“When you shift forms, does it stay with you like a piercing?”

“Yes,” Vee said, and then, “maybe one day I’ll show you.”

“Wait! What happened to your clothes?”

Vee laughed.

“Everyone always asks that. They’re a part of me.”

“Wait, you were naked the whole time?” Masha asked, reddening.

“No, I was wearing clothes, they’re just me. It’s complicated and…” Vee waved their hand, “existential?”

“Can you change your clothes at will?” Masha asked.

Vee nodded.

“I don’t want to waste too much magic, though. What I took off Belos will last me a long time, but who knows how long everyone will be gone.”

“Is that what you meant about starving? Without magic, you’ll die?” Masha slid their hands back up to Vee’s neck and put them around the back of it, embracing them.

“Yeah, human food reduces the amount of magic I need to just live, but I do need magic to change shapes and without it, I’ll eventually wither away, even with human food.”

“Well then, I hope they hurry up even more and they’re all safe,” Masha said.

A horn honked from outside.

They both looked up at the clock. It was already eight. Neither knew where the time had gone.

“Text me when we can see each other again,” Vee said and started to pull away.

Masha leaned in suddenly and kissed Vee’s cheek.

“I’ll text later when I get home,” Masha said.

Vee shifted back to their human shape in Masha’s arms, which made Masha’s eyes go wide again and then kissed them on the cheek, too.

After Vee closed the door behind Masha, they raised their hand to their cheek, which was still burning with Masha’s kiss. On the other side of the door, Masha was doing the same.

[rhettjmc]

Almost two months ago, I lost my partner. He helped me through the roughest part of my life, but unfortunately love alone wasn't enough to make him better. He was brave, loving, crazy intelligent, witty and everything I hope I could be one day.

Even in his final days, he still had his grin and left us, surrounded by his family, with that same smile I fell in love with 3 years ago.

I wrote this as a way to immortalise everything he did for me, and the things I loved most about him. But, without these two boys, I don't know how I would've made it through these past weeks, so of course, I had to try and pour everything I'm feeling into them.

This isn't supposed to be sad - it's soft, comforting and everything he was, and how he pulled me through. ❤️

Please be warned, the ficlet contains a depiction of depression - please read with caution if that is something you are sensitive to.

⋆⋅☆⋅⋆

Link swallows thickly, the stagnant taste of unused breath curls hotly in his mouth. He winces, attempting to unstick his tongue from the roof of his mouth.

Rhett should be home soon, shouldn’t he?

How long had he been gone?

He hums flatly just to fill the silence, his eyelids heavy as he stares at the ceiling, even the simple mechanic of blinking seems hard these days.

Why isn’t Rhett here yet?

He misses him. That’s the only thing he can be sure of recently, ever since his brain packed up and took any chance of happiness with it.

Rhett said he was depressed, clinically.

But what does he know? He always has to know everything, doesn't he?

He could be right though, Link thinks to himself, bitterly.

He chastises himself, furious that he ridiculed Rhett. He’s already burdening him.

Instead, he thinks of cuddling close, with his love’s thumb tenderly stroking over the back of his hand, he thinks of the nights spent under blankets with cheesy pasta and ruddy cheeks, he thinks of their first real date - both of them too scared to reach for the others hand in the dim light of the movie theatre.

He smiles, just about. His lips almost crack under the pressure of the movement, his eyes flick to the glass from the coffee table, knowing full well that it’s empty.

Of course, it’s empty. Rhett’s not here to refill it.

He almost feels anger bubbling in his chest, why isn’t Rhett here to refill it?

Because he had to go, Link’s rational brain reminds himself.

It’s okay, he still loves me.

His eyes shut again, falling heavy under the pressure of staying awake for too long. Thinking tires him out, his existence is vapid without Rhett here.

He listens to the tick of the clock, counting down the seconds until Rhett comes home.

Time passes, the fog settling over his brain congests and sets up camp for the night. It’s not leaving anytime soon.

He hears the door click open, shoes toed off in the hallway, the rustle of bags and the familiar clearing of a throat.

Rhett’s home, a torrent of relief washes over him.

His exterior doesn’t change, his heavy limbs stay folded tightly over his body, his eyes stay hooded and soupy.

He makes a small noise as footsteps approach, almost a tiptoe.

Link knows he’s trying to be quiet - for a tall man, he’s delicate.

His love bends into Link’s space, pressing a careful kiss into his hair, accompanied by a sweeping finger over his brow.

Warmth spreads through Link’s torso, a poor attempt of a smile appears on his lips.

To others, it would seem like nothing. But Rhett knows him, better than anyone. Rhett knows that Link is trying to say - You’re home. I can finally breathe again.

Then, Rhett is scooping up the glass on the table, filling it with cold water and holding it to Link’s lips.

Link grunts, but Rhett perseveres. Rhett only wants what’s best for him. Link owes it to him to have a drink.

The water sits heavy in his stomach, twisting and swishing in a way that makes Link want to tear the hair from his scalp.

Rhett knows.

Rhett kneels by the couch, a warm palm snakes under Link’s shirt and rests carefully on the soft skin of his tummy. Rhett’s thumb sweeps over the skin carefully. Lovingly.

Link doesn’t know how, but the touch dissolves the sickly feeling in his stomach. He feels… fine.

Soon, Rhett is padding off to the kitchen. Link hears the pots and pans clinking together, he hears the flipping of pages from their recipe book - a housewarming gift from Mama Di.

The lump returns to Link’s throat as he thinks of her.

He knows she’s worried about him, he thinks of the hushed phone calls he overhears when she calls Rhett to check in on them.

He’s thankful. He’s lucky to have another Mama in his life that cares so fiercely. She delivers home-cooked meals some days - dishes filled with custard desserts, trays of chocolate-chip loaf cake and flasks filled with soup.

It’s the sort of food you’d deliver if someone had the flu.

But Link wasn’t sick. Not physically, at least. But the gesture isn’t lost on him.

He knows one day, when he can bear it, he’ll thank her. Thank her for the food, for the love and the concern. Thank her for treating him like he’s her own.

Thank her for bringing Rhett into this world. For bringing caring, beautiful Rhett into the world.

He hears Rhett singing softly as a pot bubbles away, he’s singing their song.

Sometimes, all I think about is you

Late nights in the middle of June.

His chest blooms, he wants to sing along. He wants to join in, burst into the kitchen and sing at the top of his lungs. He wants to snake his arms around Rhett’s waist and dance with him, kiss him stupid and take back the ludicrous baggage he’s bestowed on Rhett’s shoulders.

But he can’t. Not yet at least.

He’s anchored to the couch. Chained and he can’t break free.

He hates himself for it, he knows he’s wasting precious time.

Cruel time that’s ticking away.

They won’t be young forever. Rhett won’t be here forever.

But they have years, decades, left.

Don’t they?

The universe wouldn’t be so cruel to rip Rhett from him. Not when he’s the only thing keeping Link afloat.

Caring, beautiful Rhett.

Link shakes his head abruptly, not allowing his mind to tumble down that morbid pathway.

All too soon, the sun is setting through their patio doors, casting a golden glow over the living room.

It's peaceful.

It’s the universe reminding him, that life is beautiful. It’s precious.

He sits up, bones creaking and protesting under the sudden movement. His head swims, colours dance in front of his eyes and it makes him want to lay back down.

But he doesn’t.

He wobbles to his feet, discarding the blanket around his shoulders to the floor.

Earlier, he’d complained to the empty room that it was too scratchy, too warm. He didn’t need a blanket, he wasn’t a child, he wasn’t sick.

But now, he’s smiling. He thinks about how every morning Rhett replaces the blanket with a new one - fresh and laundered.

This one has tiger stripes, fluffy on the edges. Rhett had tucked it under Link’s chin before he left for the grocery store, he had playfully growled like a tiger in a silly attempt to make Link laugh.

He shuffles into the kitchen, ignoring the relentless scream in his mind to shut down again.

Rhett turns in surprise, his grand smile filling out his appled cheeks.

Link knows that look, it’s pride.

“There you are,” Rhett says softly, abandoning the wooden spoon in his hand.

Link curls into him, “I love you,” he says.

“I love you too,” Rhett’s response is instant, it’s easy and flows out of him unapologetically.

Link sighs, feeling a tiny piece of him slot back into place.

It’s the start of healing.

⋆⋅☆⋅⋆

[twsted-princess]

Birthday Gifts for Melanie from both her dorm mates and other dorms!

@crestbaby @rookvonhunt @the27th @fumikomiyasaki @nuitthegoddess @sakurablossoms10 @kitty-is-chilling @danderechansworld @mimitwst @zackcrazyvalentine @sugarandmelody @just-an-otakus-blog @ellovett @wispy-selfship-eden

Regina: A snow-globe depicting a polar bear cub next to a little snowman. It surprisingly wasn't over a hundred madol.

Mori: A chunky colorful bead bracelet with so many charms.

Petva: A very light pink gota patti that came from their tribe.

Allison: A collection of books ranging from mysteries to adventure, some of them are her favorites.

Mustafa and his brothers: Surprisingly they give her a tiara made of pure gold and crafted with her favorite jewels. (They usually give a fake million madol bill as a gift)

Alto: A bag of her favorite candies and a cd of Mel's favorite bands.

Forte: One of her credit cards for an all-paid-for shopping spree.

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

Riddle: A bouquet of roses and a teacup that is designed with rabbits.

Trey: His family's signature berry tart along with the recipe.

Ace: A magic show and at the end he hands her a plush strawberry keychain.

Deuce: A hooded poncho made by his mother in the style of a black cat.

Cater: A "date" to the local cafe so she sample their mini cakes and sweet teas (she takes him to buy spicy food in payment)

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

Leona: She honestly thought he wouldn't have a gift but he ends up giving her some fabrics from the Afterglow Savanaclaw for her to make some clothes.

Ruggie: A little wooden mouse figure he made by hand.

Jack: A pretty looking succulent.

***********

Azul: A coupon book for the Monstro Lounge and his own services "with no strings attached". But there's also a ring with a pearl in the middle.

Jade: A terrarium made with little buds and a miniature tree.

Floyd: A plush jumbo shrimp complete with a bow.

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

Kalim: While he wanted to throw an entire parade and give her a baby elephant Jamil (and Mel) talked him out of it, instead it's a necklace with a rose quartz in the middle

Jamil: A little book containing recipes from the Lands of Hot Sands, some are his family recipes while others are common.

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

Vil: A collection of skincare goods he made himself and an early access shimmery lipstick.

Rook: An entire stack of handwritten poems and a bouquet of wild flowers.

Epel: A pair of wool mittens made by his grandmother along with a craved apple in the shape of Grim and Louise.

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

Idia: A figurine of a cutesy magical girl from a show she plans on watching. (plus she mentioned that she likes his figurine collection)

Ortho: A holograph of a time with her and the other first years during the very first study session as friends.

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

Malleus: A personal waltz.

Lilia: A very large book detailing the history of the Valley of Thorns along with his own recipes that he insist that she tries.

Sliver: A flower hairpiece made with her favorite flowers, delivered by his bird companions.

Sebek: A set of sewing needles made to withstand the most tough of materials.

[vendettamuses]

@maximuses SAID: [ hold ] — our muses lace their fingers together -> smasher and volt

⚔️ Softer Shippy Prompts // CLOSED ⚔️

Despite all the similarities, adjusting to New York came with its fair amount of challenges. For Adam, it was getting back into the rhythm of the Rotten Apple as he called it. Refamiliarizing himself with things and seeing what had changed and what had remained relatively untouched since his departure to the West Coast all those decades ago. For Volt, it was a bit more of a struggle getting to know and remember street names and shops. Though Adam proved a big help. He seemed - dare she say it - eager to bring her down every street he could think of, illuminating every tour destination with old stories of when he was still his own fully-fleshed Street Samurai. (Especially the little bodega right down the on the street corner by their apartment. He became very invested in telling her about the bodega cats and the fact that they could conveniently get anything they needed from the little shop and how the manager still recognized him after all these years.)

By the time the cold had come rushing through the city streets with biting winds and the first promise of winter in the form of morning frost and flurries, they figured they’d gotten the hang of NY life again. The crowded streets, the crude but friendly people, the delicious food - and of course, the thriving criminal underworld. They fell into a rhythm of leaving home one at a time, cooking meals together, going out from time to time to see the city, and then come home to crash on the couch. It was an almost peaceful feeling of domestic living. It never felt boring or repetitive. Not when Adam took Volt out to try ice skating for the first time and had to catch her every time she got too fast and nearly tripped face-first into the cement half-walls. Not when they went for little walks in the local park and got a slice of delicious pizza and cheesecake from the local food trucks. Not when Volt would come back from the meetups with other genuine Italian immigrants in the community with a new recipe she would undoubtedly wrangle Smasher into trying to help her make for dinner.

Their favorite experience came on New Year’s Eve. The little patio overhang of their apartment looked right over Time Square, offering them a front row seat to the music and the dance performances in front of the grand Christmas tree. They’d already worked their way through most of their champagne bottle and the red velvet buttercream cake Volt had made to celebrate and were leaning against the railing to watch the show below. “Just one minute to New Years!” The TV inside their apartment rang out, echoing the cheers of excited glee coming from below them. Volt beamed, cheeks flushed with alcohol and pure joy at the thought. What a year it had been... They only grew darker as she felt one of Adam’s hands tentatively brush against her. She glanced over, letting him pull her palm against his, watching how his large fingers gently slipped into the spaces between her own. When she glanced up to his face, he was looking at her with an unreadable expression. Even on his best days Adam could be a perfect mystery, so incredibly difficult to understand. Even at her best, she could struggle with discerning was his smallest gestures and facial expressions meant. But for a moment, beyond the rosy flush on the apples of his cheeks and the tips of his ears, Volt could swore she saw the genuine warmth of love for her. Not just lust, not just infatuation - but genuine, dedicated attraction. And she swore he wanted to say something. Something she’d been dying to hear for so long.

10... 9... 8...

“Adam...” she breathed his name out so softly, the glittering neon light of the Rockefeller Plaza signs casting a vibrant white outline against the side of her face, cutting her features with sharp shadows and red and green highlights. To him, it was the most beautiful thing he’d ever seen. The way she looked at him so tenderly and so genuinely lovestruck was the most beautiful thing he’d ever seen.

7... 6... 5... 4...

Her hand rose to rest against his cheek, admiring the way the neon lights cut and highlighted his ruggedly handsome features, highlighting the secretive adoration that shone in those deep brown eyes of his. She didn’t miss the way he exhaled and leaned into it, his arms coming to circle around her waist and pull her closer. His hold was deceptively gentle. The work of months of training to control his strength and learn how to touch her softly and without hurting her. To touch her the way he wanted to.

3...2...1!

There it was again. The electromagnetic pull that seemed to constantly exist between them. An invisible wire pulled taut and drew them into each other. Their lips met with a resounding Happy New Year! Though the fireworks that went off around them paled in comparison to the explosive feeling of ecstasy that came from their lips meeting. All this time, and it seemed that they had never lost that spark that drew them to one another in the first place. The electricity that surged through them like a current when they held each other like this with his arms around her waist and her arms around his neck. When they drew back, they were too focused on each other’s gaze and the new ambient lighting of the fireworks on each other’s faces to mind the confetti falling down all around them. Just under all the explosions, she barely heard it. The sound a whisper in all the noise. But she didn’t need to hear it clearly. She could read lips just fine.

“I love you...”

Volt smiled, her eyes lidding and her gaze softening in that classic sign that she was melting in his arms - falling in love with him all over again.

“I love you too, baby.”

[ladykissingfish]

The Great Akatsuki Bake-Off

*this was a request in my inbox, I’m so sorry Anonymous I accidentally deleted it before I could reply, but I saw your message and here’s the response! ❤️*

Premise: The Akatsuki is broke af (again), and Pein comes up with the idea of having a bake sale to earn money. Every member of the Akatsuki makes a dessert to sell; chaos (or hilarity) ensues.

**Also I picture them setting up tables outside of one of the Akatsuki hideout caves which of course is equipped with a fully functioning kitchen because why not Jim**

Pein

It was his idea, he’s the leader, so naturally he ain’t cooking. The most the Pein-body will do is sit in the kitchen with Konan while she cooks, offering his opinion or praise.

Kisame

Kisame isn’t the biggest fan of sweets, so is at a bit of a loss for what to make. In the end, he decides to go with something that’s decidedly more savory than sweet; bacon-flavored scones with a maple syrup glazing. This requires some kneading and precise shaping, the latter of which requires small, delicate fingers that Kisame borrows Konan for. Should be noted that he wears a pink Kiss The Cook apron, and he blushes like crazy when Konan reads it and delivers one to his cheek. He gets a bit over-exuberant with the icing, getting more of it on the table than the actual scones. However, the end result is light, fluffy, and absolutely delicious. Deidara especially loves the bacon aspect, and is able to snitch a great number of these until Kakuzu catches him and forces him to pay up.

Deidara

Deidara would make a classic lava cake. He’d know absolutely nothing about this dessert beforehand; he’d be going through a cookbook, his eyes would fixate on the word “lava”, and he’d be sold. Sasori insists that he put on rubber gloves beforehand, because “Nobody wants your hand-drool in their food, brat.” Lava cake requires a very delicate touch and precise timing, something that Deidara has had to become familiar with when deploying his arsenal of bombs. Yet despite being careful he would have to start and re-start this mix many times; maybe he gets eggshells in the batter here, or mistakes oil for milk there. The inside of a lava cake has to smooth and liquid-y but the outside has to be soft yet firm; a single minute in the oven can make the difference between wonderful and awful for these little cakes. When he finally perfects one, he’s ecstatic; but the rest of the group is horrified, at how destroyed the kitchen is. Chocolate batter and powdered sugar covering every wall; yet, somehow, the guy himself remains spotless. Also, Deidara has made another critical error; he assumed that because the recipe was for a cake, it was for a LARGE cake that he could cut into sections and sell piece by piece. However, lava cakes are always small, individual desserts ... and Deidara has only made ONE. Still, he’ll take his one beauty and sell it almost immediately, leaving him time to wander around and filch “free samples” from everyone else’s dishes.

Zetsu

Nobody wants Zetsu trying to cook, because everyone is terrified of what he’d put into his creations. However, White Zetsu insists that (t)he(y) wants to participate, so the others hesitantly let him do so (with everyone periodically coming in to monitor him). His contribution? Pie. Zetsu knows that the key to delicious pie is in the light flakiness of the crust, and he creates several pies that literally melt in the mouth. And he doesn’t just do one flavor; he does apple, blueberry, cherry, and something he calls “surprise berry” ((which is really just a mix of raspberry, blackberry, and strawberry). Before Tobi goes to help Itachi, he’s in charge of helping Zetsu gather up the fruit, and he helps to peel and core and pit and wash until “my hands are really sleepy Zetsu-san!” Zetsu thinks his pies are perfect creations as a whole but Kakuzu insists he cuts them into individual slices to maximize profits, which White Zetsu balks over but Black Zetsu tells him to be quiet about.

Konan

Konan is a delicate, beautiful flower, so naturally anything she makes would reflect this. After much deliberation, she decides to make her version of a layered lemon mascarpone cake. The cake itself is a wonderfully moist vanilla sponge infused with lemon curd, layered with a thick lemon, honey and mascarpone cream, topped with fresh berries, and a light sprinkle of chopped pecans. At first she was only going to make one cake and portion it out into about 20 small pieces; but the demand for it was so high that Kakuzu told her he’d stay and sell the rest while she got back into the kitchen and made another. She’s by far the neatest chef in the kitchen, as she cleans up her mess as she goes so when she’s through, all she has to wash is the empty cake pan itself. She makes sure to save a large piece to secretly take to Nagato later; it’s been a long time since he’s had anything sweet to eat.

Kakuzu

Kakuzu doesn’t want to cook; he’d rather be the one running the sale. However he recognizes that the more desserts they have the more profit they can make, so he grudgingly makes a few trays of brownies. His secret ingredient? Sour cream. At first everyone sees him putting this into his mix and think he’s gone crazy; however, after they try one ((and don’t think for a second he’s not charging his fellow teammates for even a tiny sliver)) they’re blown away by how good they are. After he sets his items on the table, he’s the one who collects the money from the customers. Has to be talked down from the exorbitant prices that he tries to charge people at first. “How much for a piece of blueberry pie?” “500,000 ¥.”

Sasori

He really isn’t into baking (because why would he be? he doesn’t eat) but he knows how to read and follow a recipe. After some careful thought, he chooses to make cupcakes. At first he resolves only to make a dozen, and to keep it all one simple flavor: the chocolate with vanilla frosting that’s in the recipe. Yet as he stands there, a feeling takes hold of him; he remembers happier times, perched on a stool in the kitchen and watching/helping his grandmother as she cooked. That nostalgia drives him to get more creative, and make MUCH more than intended. Some of his creations are great; such as his ginger-chocolate cupcakes with fudge icing. But others, like his broccoli and carrot cake topped with “spicy” cream cheese, not so much. Regardless, the majority of his creations sell, which Sasori’s pleased about. Should be noted that Kakuzu did not entirely trust Sasori not to put some kind of poison into his dessert, so he forced Hidan to sneak and taste-test everything (as he’s the only one who would regenerate from certain death). But Hidan wouldn’t know arsenic from cinnamon; and he winds up with a hell of a stomach-ache after his forced culinary servitude.

Itachi and Tobi

Seeing as how he loves dango so much, Itachi decides to make several dozen sticks of the tri-colored sweet rice dumplings. He keeps the pink dumpling the common strawberry flavor, and the white plain, but he does something special with the green ball, flavoring it with vanilla extract and green tea. Because Tobi is a nightmare in the kitchen (and because he needs supervision when it comes to sweets), Itachi allows him to help, mainly in the form of sticking the dumplings neatly on the stick once they’re shaped. He’s a good helper, except for when Itachi takes his eyes off of him, as he likes to add icing, sprinkles, and a variety of decadent extras that don’t belong on this simple dessert. And it’s a good thing that Itachi makes so many, seeing as they BOTH sneak and eat quite a few when the other is distracted. Tobi is very helpful when it comes to pushing their wares, as his carefree, childlike demeanor attracts customers to their table.

Hidan

Hidan wants something that’s visually representative of him, so what does he make? Red velvet cake bars. The outside is covered with a white-silver frosting, but when you cut into it, the deep red of the cake greatly resembles blood. Hidan isn’t the best at baking (or cooking in general) so he asks Konan to help him when she’s not occupied with her own dish. He’s surprisingly calm and conscientious in the kitchen, keeping his swearing to a minimum and being extra-careful with measuring out ingredients and waiting on the oven to do its thing. He borrows Kisame’s Kiss The Cook apron, only he crosses out the second O and replaces it with a C. His bars come out slightly uneven but really good nonetheless. However, being Hidan, he can’t resist throwing in a prank; he saves some of the cake batter and holds it in his mouth, then, after taking a bite of someone else’s fare, claims that it’s poisoned and spits “blood” out of his mouth, which freaks out their early customers until Kakuzu catches him and exiles him back inside.