#steamed clams { sentence starters }

[corner-stories]

20 for jeankasa plz❤️

Angsty Sentence Starters

20. "I can't save you if you don't want to be saved." i felt like writing Jean as a Squad Captain today, very Captain and Commander esque

There's not much glamour in being a Captain in the Scouts, just a lot more responsibilities for an increase on an already pitiful salary.

But Jean wears the title well, better than some in their first months on the job. In his life he had always been one to hold a constant scowl on his face, a constant intensity that's present even when he's resting. But nowadays Jean finds that his usual expression has been laced with a kind of iciness, something that adds a steeliness to his composure whenever he needs to act clam.

Because if he cannot remain collected for himself, then he can at least do so for his Squad, people who will always look to him for the next step.

Jean is alone as he puts on his ODM gear, the pre-expedition briefing is fresh in his head as he tightens the strap across his chest. On paper the outing is very simple, a journey south in hopes of reaching what remains of the villages that have been lost to the Titans. But in doing so, Commander Erwin's improved long-range Scouting formation must be maintained no matter what.

As the young Squad Captain contemplates the heavy burden on his shoulders, Jean hears a door behind him creek open. He turns around and sees Mikasa enter the room, the cape around her shoulders evoking the classic image of a Scout ready for battle. He eyes settle on him as she walks forward. Under the warm glow of the lanterns Jean sees the somber look on her face.

"The horses are ready, Captain."

Jean nods, even when a foreign discomfort suddenly plagues his system. The occurrence of her acknowledging him so formally when they're alone unsettles him. It's typical to for her to refer to him by his rank, but to do so when they're away from prying eyes doesn't sit right. It's almost uncanny. As he focuses on her dark eyes he senses something hidden underneath her typical stoicism.

"Was there anything else you needed to tell me?" Jean tries, adjusting the cloak around his shoulders.

Mikasa tilts her head up to meet his eyes, her expression unchanging. He stands taller nowadays, but that's never deterred her from seeking him out — whether she be doing so in the daylight hours in the presence of the Scouts. Or in the midst of the night, when her desire for comfort outweighs her reticence and makes her slip into the sheets of his bed, where he can hold her like she's something precious, soothing her with his arms and sometimes his lips.

Frankly, Jean still doesn't know what to call their relationship, a tryst that had begun long before he was promoted to Captain. But what he does know is that being alone helps them be more honest with each other.

So he keeps his eyes forward, taking one step closer as he notices different things about her — like how her hair's grown long enough for her to tie it back, or how the scar under her eye is still present after all these years.

He can see the gears turning in her head. Only a few seconds pass before she finally speaks, her words sounding carefully curated.

"...just try not to risk your life for me again."

Jean knows exactly what instance had motivated her to say this to him. Because a woman worth a thousand soldiers rarely needs saving, a person who can reduce Titans to steaming piles of flesh doesn't need anyone breaking their neck for her.

It makes the occurrence of him attacking an abnormal for her all the more poignant. The expedition is a month behind them now, but the memory is so ingrained into his body that he can't get it out of his head. He can recall every detail, like the way Mikasa was too distracted by a fifteen meter to notice the leaping beast behind her, or the way he so willingly broke the riding formation to get the monster off her back.

At the time Jean managed to brush it off as a Captain saving the members of his Squad, which obfuscated the true nature of their relationship while still being partially true. She had discussed it with him after the expedition, admonishing him for being reckless while Jean accepted the brunt of her words with grace. He thought that the issue had been dropped, but he guesses that he's wrong.

"I understand," he ends up telling her. "I can't save you if you don't want to be saved."

He expects her to say something. He can see it in her eyes that she anticipated some push-back too, perhaps for him to explain that he did it in the spur of the moment and that it all worked out in the end. But Jean says nothing, and all that gets him is the slow nod of her head.

In lieu of Mikasa saying anything, Jean opens his mouth again, an unexpected softness seeping into his voice.

"But your safety will always be my priority, Miss Ackerman."

He doesn't often refer to her like that, not even in front of his Squad. Jean notices Mikasa's brow furrow slightly, the sudden decorum disarming her just enough for him to see it.

He wonders if she knows to what extent he means it — that even after all these years a small part of him will always want to protect her, to keep her safe, and sometimes hold her at night when their world feels quiet.

He could tell her right now, but before Jean can speak again the door of the room opens again.

He and Mikasa turn to see Sasha entering the room. Nervous doesn't quite describe the way she holds herself — jittery or disorganized is a lot more like it.

When she sees her Captain and her Squadmate alone together, Sasha doesn't seem to suspect a thing as she straightens her back and calls out to them.

"Hey, did you not tell him?! The horses are ready!"

Jean nods and slips into his Captain persona again. "She did," he confirms in a stern tone of voice. He steps forward as he puts the final adjustments on his cloak.

He only spares Mikasa a quick glance, but it's enough to let him see the subtle bashfulness on her face. She often gets like this whenever they're nearly caught being more than what their ranks would imply. Lately, it seems that the thought of their relationship being exposed scares her more nowadays than anything she's seen outside the Walls.

But Jean's ease of wearing his mask hides the tension on her end. He focuses on Sasha and says —

"We're heading out now."

And his word is final, so without saying anything else the Captain and his Squad Members leave the room, the only thing on all of their minds being the mission and only the mission.

[musings-n-memes]

“Steamed Hams” sentence starters

“Well, _____, I made it, despite your directions.”

“Ah, _____, welcome.”

“I hope you’re ready for an unforgettable luncheon.”

“Oh ye gods! My roast is ruined!”

“But what if I were to purchase fast food and disguise it as my own cooking?”

“Oh, ho ho ho ho, delightfully devilish, _____.”

“Oh, _____, I was just... stretching my calves on the windowsill! Isometric exercise, care to join me?”

“Why is there smoke coming out of your oven, _____?”

“Uh... oh! That isn’t smoke, it’s steam. Steam from the steamed clams we’re having. Mmmmm, steamed clams!”

“I hope you’re ready for mouth-watering hamburgers!”

“I thought we were having steamed clams.”

“Oh no, I said steamed hams. That’s what I call hamburgers.”

“You call hamburgers ‘steamed hams’?”

“It’s a regional dialect.”

“What region?”

“Uhhhhh, upstate New York?”

“Really? Well I’m from _____ and I’ve never heard anyone use the phrase ‘steamed hams’.”

“Oh, not in _____, no, it’s a(n) _____ expression.”

“I see.”

“You know, these hamburgers are quite similar to the ones they have over at _____.”

“Oh ho ho, no! Patented _____ burgers! Old family recipe.”

“For steamed hams....”

“Yes, and you call them ‘steamed hams’ despite the fact that they are obviously grilled.”

“Ye-... you know th-, one thing I sh-... excuse me for one second.”

“Well that was wonderful. A good time was had by all, I’m pooped.”

“Yes, I should be- GOOD LORD, WHAT IS HAPPENING IN THERE?!”

“Aurora Borealis.”

“A-, Aurora Borealis?! At this time of year, at this time of day, in this part of the country, localized entirely within your kitchen?!”

“Yes!”

“May I see it?”

“No.”

“_____! The house is on fire!”

“No, _____, it’s just the northern lights.”

“Well, _____, you are an odd fellow, but I must say, you steam a good ham.”

“Heeeeelp! HEEEEEEELP!”

[therpmemeshop]

“Steamed Hams” Sentence Starters

Sentence starters from the “Steamed Hams” skit from the Simpsons episode “22 Short Films About Springfield”.

“Well, (name), I made it, despite your directions.” “I hope you’re prepared for an unforgettable luncheon.” “Oh ye Gods! My roast is ruined!” “But what if I were to purchase fast food and disguise it as my own cooking?” “Hahaha, delightfully devilish, (name).” “I was just, uh, stretching my calves on the windowsill.” “Isometric exercise. Care to join me?” “Why is there smoke coming out of your oven?” “I hope you’re ready for mouthwatering hamburgers.” “I thought we were having steamed clams.” “No, I said steamed hams. That’s what I call hamburgers.” “It’s a regional dialect.” “Oh no, not in Utica, it’s an Albany expression.” “You know, these hamburgers are quite similar to the ones they have at (restaurant).” “And you call them steamed hams despite the fact that they’re obviously grilled?” “You know, one thing I should- uh, excuse me for one second.” “That was wonderful. Good time was had by all. I’m pooped.” “Good lord, what is happening in there?” “Aurora borealis? At this time of year, at this time of day, in this part of the country, localized entirely within your kitchen?” “(Name), the house is on fire!” “Well, (name), you are an odd fellow, but I must say, you steam a good ham.”