#step 2 find your choice of milk

[grumpylovesbigmacs]

erm......... are you trying to start war?

[sloaneispunk]

“friend or foe” pt.2

soft!frontman (hwang in-ho) x you

when frontman joined the games, he thought it was solely to see gihun fail, but his intentions shifted when a certain player number 455 caught his attention…

⟢ ──── ●▲■ ──── ⟢

the next day, you ate breakfast with in-ho and the team. they discussed different strategies and games in which they might have to play.

naturally, in-ho had given his milk to you even after much protests. he explained how it would help you get stronger and ready for the games.

“where’s my milk?” jung-bae sulked as everyone laughed.

you stayed beside in-ho the entire time. since after the second game, you had grown very fond of him. and luckily for you, so did he.

he felt protective of you, he wouldn’t let you out of his sight. even more so in a place like this. when you were caught up with thanos’ team, trying to save yourself after bumping into nam-gyu

in-ho made sure to step up, teaching thanos and his friends a lesson for laying a hand on you, or even threatening you.

he would have went feral if you hadn’t stopped him by pulling him away into a corner, helping him cool off.

“it’s okay, i’m okay.” you told him as you tried to get him to tear his eyes away from glaring at thanos.

“did they hurt you?” he simply asked, ignoring everything else you had just said.

‘no’. you shook your head.

after that, he made sure he always had you within feet from him.

⟢ ──── ●▲■ ──── ⟢

when it was time for the third game, in-ho held your hand as everyone walked towards the game room.

“i hope it’s something we can play in teams.” he said to you, making you smile.

“why? so you can team up with me?” you teased.

“of course.”

when you reached the game room, a large carousel sat in the center of the room. around it were different colored doors with numbers on them, 1-50.

“what is this?” in-ho wondered out loud as a voice came through the speakers.

‘the game is mingle. the carousel will move when the music plays…once it stops, a number will be called out. the number is the number of people you will need to have in your group before you enter a room of your choice.’

“shit.” you cursed under your breath.

it was going to be a bloodbath.

of course, in-ho already knew this. he might have been acting scared, but deep down, he was. how was he to garuntee your safety in a game like this.

if he didn’t come up with anything quickly, he could mess up the game, or worse, lose you.

⟢ ──── ●▲■ ──── ⟢

‘start’

ring-a ring-a ring-a ring-a ring-a ring-a ring-a

as the giant carousel began to rotate, in-ho’s grip on your hand became tighter.

‘10’

“we need 5!” gi-hun yelled over the chaos that insued.

“we’re 5! let’s go! green door!” player 120 said as both teams ran for the door.

inside, in-ho made sure you were okay first before he checked on the rest.

“you should be thanking me!” a woman suddenly declared, throwing her hand up in the air. “without me, you all would have died!”

“geez! the ego on this woman.” jung-bae scoffed.

then, she whipped her head around, finger flying to your face as she stopped inches away, almost hitting you.

“can i help you?” you asked.

“you… you’re here for a purpose.” she said.

in-ho pulled you aside, stepping in front as he glared at the woman.

“you talk to her again and i’ll make sure you’re locked outside.”

the woman could only gulp.

just in time, the door unlocked, saving the lady’s ass as well as yours.

⟢ ──── ●▲■ ──── ⟢

“fuckin’ crazy sharman lady.” in-ho muttered to himself as he got back up onto the platform.

you giggled. it was funny how he was affected by everything else but the deadly game he was in the midst of.

‘4’

shit. someone was going to be left behind.

“gi-hun! take her, i’ll find others!” in-ho instructed as gi-hun nodded, grabbing your arm and dashing into a room.

“young-il!” you screamed as you were being dragged away from him.

he was so selfless, he only cared about saving you and his ‘friends’.

“he’ll be okay.” dae-ho told you as he stood beside you, peeping through the hole in the door.

the next few minutes were excruciating. you couldn’t find in-ho in the running, desperate crowd.

little did you know, in-ho was in a room on his own, locking it before anyone could enter.

he catched his breath as a guard came up to the doorhole, aiming his gun at him.

“stand down.” in-ho ordered, making the guard turn away, walking off.

when the doors unlocked, you sprinted out.

“there!” gi-hun called out, pointing to in-ho who was running towards you.

you practically flung yourself onto him, taking him aback as he laughed.

“oh my god, i was so worried.” you told him as you pulled away.

“you can’t rid of me that easy.”

“ah! we thought you couldn’t find enough people in time!” jung-bae chipped in.

“i’m a very likeable man, i do well in these games.” he joked.

⟢ ──── ●▲■ ──── ⟢

when it came down to the final round, a thick air of tension filled the atmosphere.

the last number was announced, ‘2’. you knew exactly what they were doing. around 150 people left, 50 rooms, you were going to have to fight for the rooms.

the team had split up, in-ho naturally sticking eith you as you both ran for the nearest room.

just as you were about to enter, you felt a strong push, knocking you to the ground onto your back as the man took your place, shutting the door as the timer hit 0.

“y/n!” in-ho shouted as tears started to fill your eyes.

“young-il… don’t let me die.” you cried.

oh, he was angry. angry wasn’t even actually able to cover it. he was fuming.

he picked up the man by the collar, punching and kicking him as he yelled in frustration.

as the guards approached you, you heard his voice.

“standdown! now!” he said, “that is an order.”

just like that, the gun held up towards your temple was gone. the guard walked over to the room, using a set of keys to open it before standing behind you.

in-ho however did not step out. he simply grabbed the man who was already fighting for his dear life, locking him in a headlock.

“w-what?” you asked, backing away from in-ho as his eyes pooled with anger.

“take her upstairs.” he said to the guard as he nodded, lifting you up and dragging you away.

the last thing you heard was the loud crack of the man’s neck echoing through your ears.

(i am going insane)

[redrose10]

Here is chapter 1! I hope you like it. Chapter 2 will come out in a few days. Comments are appreciated!

Yoongi X Female Reader. CEO/Arranged Marriage AU

Summary: You were selected to marry the wayward CEO/Billionaire/Heir, Min Yoongi. You went into it with an open mind and heart determined to try and make it work. Yoongi on the other hand had no intention of ever letting you in let alone allowing himself to fall in love with you. Slowly you start to associate the smell of cinnamon and vanilla with the feelings of hurt and sorrow.

Word Count: 1,693

Warnings: (May get updated as chapters progress): Arranged marriage, cheating/infidelity, hints of smut (Probably won’t get very explicit but we’ll see how it goes), Sexual Assault, Brief mentions of death, Reader grew up an orphan, General Angst, Swearing

The weather outside did not match the feeling in the conference room. Outside the window you saw the bright sunny sky, not a cloud in sight. You longed for the warmth to touch your skin. Inside this room you felt cold. The walls were a dark cherry mahogany. A marble sculpture of a horse sat in the corner. You’re sure it cost more than a years worth salary for you. You chewed on your lip, a nervous habit you developed at some point. Everyone was patiently waiting for the same person to arrive so you could finally get this over with. Never would you have imagined you’d be in a position like this. Being married off to a man you’d never met. You knew of him of course. Who didn’t? Min Yoongi was the CEO of one of the largest tech companies in the world. He was the sole heir to a large fortune being that the Min family was one of the most powerful and wealthiest families in all of Asia. He was dangerously handsome with an arrogant attitude. A womanizer who was constantly in the media and not in a positive way. Just a few months ago we was caught on camera being tossed out of a club for punching the bartender. The video showed him staggering around so drunk he could barely stand straight. He shouted some choice words before shoving three random women into the back of his Rolls Royce and having the driver speed off. Of course the poor bartender didn’t even file any charges knowing he’d never win against the Min family power and money.

Shareholders started worrying about Yoongi’s ability to lead the company, some even demanding he step down. People were uncertain if they should invest in a company run by a sloppy drunk with clear emotional baggage. Stocks in Min Enterprises began to plummet which meant the Min family money started to dwindle and only then did they decide it was time to step in. Which is how you ended up here, sitting across from Yoongi’s parents and some of the other higher ranking officials at Min Enterprises. They had come to the conclusion that it was time for Yoongi to settle down. He needed to find a nice wholesome woman who could help him clean up his image, turn his life around, maybe have a future heir and turn himself into a well respected family man. The problem with that was that Yoongi had never lasted more than a couple weeks with any woman since he was about 19. Often going for quick hookups with women he met at clubs or random models he got ahold of that just wanted to use his name to further their career. In his mind it was easier. No strings attached. No chance of falling in love. No heartbreak. Just sex and send them on their way.

You were a simple girl. You didn’t come from money or power. You loved flowers, blue hydrangeas were your favorite. You often enjoyed a mug of warm milk before bed or maybe some chamomile tea if you were feeling adventurous. Most of your clothes were thrifted and definitely not name brands. You’d only ever had one serious boyfriend and less than four flings. You were the exact opposite of Yoongi and the women you often saw him photographed with.

Which is exactly why the Min family thought you were the perfect match to save their wayward son and bring a good reputation back to the Min name. You had no one else to thank but your old college roommate and best friend Jimin. After graduation he moved away but you kept in touch with each other. One day you get a voicemail from your friend asking you to come visit him in Korea. After calling him back and him assuring you the trip was all expenses paid by himself you agreed. Little did you know of the secret motive. Jimin had moved to Seoul after graduation, quickly getting a job at Min Enterprises. He started as just an assistant to Yoongi’s assistant. Over time Jimin was able to work his way up and was now a member of the board of directors and one of Yoongi’s best friends. When Jimin heard of the Min family plan he immediately thought of you and threw your name into the contenders ring as a potential suitor for Yoongi. You had recently complained about wanting to get out of your small town and Jimin recalled several instances where you mentioned your ever failing love life and non existent bank account so what better way to get around that than to marry a handsome young billionaire.

Your thoughts were interrupted when someone cleared their throat. Looking up you were greeted by the handsome face of Kim Seokjin, one of the Min family lawyers. “Can we be expecting Yoongi any time today?”, he asked probably more sarcastically than he had planned. As the elder Mr. Min started reaching for his phone the large double doors swung open and swiftly slammed shut as the man you were all waiting for stomped over and took his seat next to you, clearly agitated at having to be there.

You knew that Yoongi was handsome, most of the world knew that, but seeing him in person was different than any photos you’d ever seen. Soft perfect skin, piercing cat like eyes, silky jet black hair that he had started to let grow out. He was wearing a fitted dark green suit that probably cost more than every piece of clothing you owned. His cologne intoxicating, a mix of cinnamon and vanilla. He smelled like comfort and warmth.

When he realized you were staring at him he looked over at you turning to a face of disgust before shaking his head and turning his attention back to the lawyer, “Jin, can we get this over with? I have more important events to attend to.” You watched the lawyer lay out several sheets of paper in front of the two of you. “Right so these are the basics of the contract. It’s pretty standard. The Min family will release an official statement announcing the marriage of their only son Yoongi and Miss Y/N. The wedding will take place shortly after.” You watched as Jin turned to you placing an additional paper down in front of you and pointing to the stipulations as he read them off, “Y/N you will take the Min last name. You will move into Yoongi’s penthouse. You will agree to attend all social and/or professional functions with Yoongi and occasionally you will have to go alone as the Min representative. You will be given a credit card to make any and all purchases for any thing you need or want. And lastly you will uphold a satisfactory image as to not taint the Min image. Also please be aware that a divorce is not an option and the contract will only become nullified in the event that either Yoongi or Y/N were to pass away leaving the other as a widow.” You nodded in understanding while staring down at the list of demands in front of you. Things could be worse you thought but this still wasn’t ideal, especially not having the option for a divorce.

Jin turned his attention over to Yoongi placing a similar paper down in front of him and going over his stipulations which were much simpler than yours, basically don’t get caught with other women and don’t get drunk in public. You scoffed knowing that he would struggle to uphold his end of the contract. You were blindsided though when Jin read off the final stipulation, “After the wedding Yoongi will make an initial donation in his and Y/N’s name in the amount of $5 million US dollars to ‘Little Rays of Sunshine Orphanage’ in Y/N’s hometown. Then he will make an additional $1 million donation every year thereafter for the duration of the marriage.” Your lips turned up into a small smile. You had jokingly told Jimin that you’d agree to this whole ordeal if Yoongi donated a large amount of money to the orphanage that you grew up in. You didn’t think he’d actually get it done but you were a little relieved knowing that at least going through with this was going to benefit many children in need. You made a mental note to thank Jimin later. Deep in your thoughts you hadn’t noticed how Yoongi had looked over at you with furrowed brows questioning that request.

Jin placed a pen down in front of you before clapping his hands together, “Alright now that that’s out of the way the two of you just need to sign and date here and here and we can all go on with our day.” Trying your best to hide your shaking hand you gently grasped the ivory pen taking a deep breath before signing away your life to this man you met less than 15 minutes ago. Handing the pen over to Yoongi he glared at you before releasing a loud sigh and roughly taking the pen from your grasp signing away his name. Once it was done Mrs. Min began to speak but was cutoff by Yoongi loudly pushing his chair back and slamming the pen down on the glass table, “I have places to be.” And with that he stormed out of the room loudly slamming the door behind him. Mr. And Mrs. Min along with the rest of the elders followed not long after giving you a nod goodbye. You looked up to Jin who gave you an apologetic smile. He patted your hand as he continued to pack up his belongings, “He’ll come around Y/N. Just give it some time. He puts on a tough act but underneath that harsh exterior is really a sweet kid who got lost along the way.” Going into this you thought maybe this could actually work out and the two of you could at the very least pretend to love each other. Now, after meeting for the first time, you’re not so sure.

[owliellder]

Two's A Crowd

College Bully! Leon Kennedy x fem! Reader

MDNI 18+

(Chapter 1, Chapter 2, Chapter 3, Chapter 4, Chapter 5)

Description: College is proving to be a lot harder than you imagined. You cannot fail this math class. So when you've tried everything else, a well-known student is recommended to you by your professor for tutoring lessons, not really leaving you with much of a choice but to work with him.

Warnings: Not proofread, No Use of Y/N, Dub-Con, Unprotected Sex, Bullying, Yelling, Cursing

Tags: College AU, Bully! Leon, Shy! Reader, both are in their early 20's, Leon is Rude AF in the beginning, Loss of Virginity, Oral Sex, Fingering, Angst, Hurt/Comfort, Additional Tags to be Added

Author's Note: Slightly shorter chapter since I got stuck watching the last two episodes of Fionna and Cake, but I hope y'all like where I'm steering this. Pick up what I'm putting down, eh??

Cross-posted onto AO3

Chapter 2:

“This is insane. You’re not even trying.” 

Leon’s cruel comments had been endless since you showed up today. He was already irritated that you even showed to begin with, now he’s just taking all his frustrations out on you. The guy isn’t even passive aggressive, he’s just aggressive. “I showed you the formula like.. five times already.”

“I don’t need you to patronize me, please.” You asked with a meek voice, bringing your hands up to cover your face for a couple seconds before placing them down on either side of the new math assignment sitting in front of you. You understood his impatience though, you were even starting to grow impatient with yourself, having been stuck on the third question for over thirty minutes now. Leon stressed the fact that you got one hour only with him and you’d basically wasted half that time bouncing from the formula he’d written down to the question itself.

The formula was helpful, but this question included more numbers than you knew what to do with. The main issue was knowing which numbers went where in the formula and you wanted to know why they went where they did, but Leon was only giving you the formula and nothing else. One vague explanation and then he was right back on his phone.

You had a glimmer of hope for the frat boy sitting in front of you. Had, being the keyword here. One study session in and you were already starting to accept defeat. “Can you explain it to me again?” You tapped your pencil on the table nervously, keeping your eyes glued to your paper to avoid the obvious glare you’d receive from him.

The sound of his phone slamming down on the table accompanied with a groan made you grip onto your pencil tighter, now holding it still as he pulled the paper away from you. “Do I have to hold your hand, too? What’s so hard to understand about this?” He reached over, yanking your pencil from your hand so he could scribble out the first few steps to the problem. Afterwards, he tossed both the paper and pencil back over to you, tapping his finger down on the work he wrote down before circling it once. “Need anything else? A warm bottle of milk? Want me to read you a bedtime story?”

He leaned back in the chair, crossing his arms with a sigh after picking his phone back up. “You’ve got fifteen more minutes.” The fuck’s his problem? 

Letting out a small sigh of your own, you silently picked up the pencil and looked down at what he’d written. Surprisingly, it did help you make more sense of the rest of the assignment sheet, figuring out the placement of the numbers by using where Leon had put them. Soon, the assignment sheet was finished and you had him look it over.

“Is it-.. Is it good?” You watched Leon carefully, studying his face for any sort of emotion other than annoyance. You unfortunately didn’t find it, but his muttered “good” made you smile, taking your own turn studying your work once he handed it back. Not tossed or thrown, handed back.

He took in a sharp breath through his nose before standing up, focus still trained on his phone. There was only a few minutes left in the hour, so you guess he took your understanding of the material as his leave. “Can we.. uh.. study again on Monday?” His hand paused on the door handle at your question, looking back at you from over his shoulder with his lips pulled tight as he gave you a glare. “You just love taking up my time, don’t you?”

“Wait, is that-” The slam of the door cut you off, leaving you to watch him saunter off through the large window in the door. Your shoulders slumped and you turned back to give your math assignment one last look before stuffing it into your backpack. At least with this new understanding, you’d be able to hopefully do the next few assignments. Mr. Lebovic was kind enough to let you redo your past fails, meaning all you’re doing is slowly climbing your way back up to a better grade with make-up work.

You held out for Leon, constantly giving him the benefit of the doubt with each study session following the first. You did your absolute best to remain passive with him, but each session was filled with crude, nasty, hate-filled comments directed at you, so it was only a matter of time until you started throwing your own comments back at him. By the beginning of November, studying had been put on the back burner whenever you two met up, assignments left abandoned in favor of fleshing out full blown arguments. He always won since you’d never really had a loud voice to defend yourself and his favorite go-to was low blow insults, somehow always managing to sniff out your insecurities.

Leon’s pattern was always one step forward, ten steps back with you. He would help and then spend the rest of your hour together nitpicking your every attempt to learn. He hated you and it was driving you mad. It was impossible to learn anything like this.

You’d grown a sour mood leading up to your trek to the library for one of your regular study sessions, a scowl settling on your face. You decided hours ago that getting dressed wasn’t an option today, you just didn’t weren’t in the mood, so instead you threw on a hoodie and a pair of sweatpants to mind the brisk chill that had rolled in at the end of October. 

The walk to the main building was dull; most of the leaves on the trees around campus had long since browned and fallen off, the grass was dead and crunchy, and it almost felt like it would start snowing anytime now with how quickly the cold had come. The feel in the air made you tired, it made you miss home. The weather made you long for the warmth a home-cooked meal provided, but you had to wait, and that wait was only contributing to your already piss poor mood.

Making your way into the library and into the reserved study room, you didn’t even notice Leon’s smile until he asked you to pull out your most recent assignment. It immediately put you off because it wasn't like his normal cocky smile or smirk, no, this one was oddly genuine. Soft, even.

“Can I see it?” He asked, smile widening slightly as he gestured towards your backpack. Even his tone was softer than usual. “Uh…” You weren’t quite sure how to react, not really processing his words as you tried to figure out whether he’s setting a trap or not.

“Your assignment. Can I see it?” Leon clarified, his arms resting crossed on the table as he glanced down to your bag and then back up at you. That was also weirding you out; the eye contact. Normally he only ever met your gaze when he was intimidating you with a deep glare and it wasn’t ever this long. He was making a point to look at you now.

Without saying a word, you unzipped your bag and pulled out a couple papers, only looking away from him twice to make sure you were getting the right ones. You made sure to hold eye contact with him, eyebrows furrowed as you searched for any insincerity. 

You’d grown rigid with his kind behavior, even more so when he thanked you and took the papers from you. Questioning him was your top priority right now, though your mouth refused to work with your brain, causing you to stutter out a simple “..what?” Leon only hummed, tilting his head a bit as he looked down at your work, following the tip of his pen as it trailed down the paper. 

“What-..” You repeated, swallowing dryly before finally getting the full “What’re you doing?” out. He seemed genuinely confused at your question, looking up to give you a puzzled look. “Hm? Whaddya mean what am I doing? I’m looking over your work.” He looked back down at your paper, clearing his throat quietly.

“No, you’re being nice. Why are you being nice?” You were quick to shoot back to try and draw his attention back to you. “If this is a joke, I’m not gonna fall for it.”

Leon sighed and dropped the pen down onto the paper to rest his crossed arms on the table again. “Why are you asking so many questions? It’s not a big deal.”

Not a big deal?! “Not a big deal?! You’ve argued with me every other day for the past three weeks!” Your hands balled up into fists on your lap, completely baffled by the dismissiveness of his complete 180° in demeanor. “I-” You stopped yourself, taking a moment to breathe. This was.. actually a nice change of pace now that you think about it. Don’t look a gift horse in the mouth?

He gave you his normal annoyed look at your sudden pause, seemingly waiting on you to finish talking. “You..?” Shaking your head a bit, you let out a soft laugh and waved your hand. “Nevermind, uh.. yeah, nevermind…”

“Ooookay, well, you did good on this one so you can turn it in.” Leon held up the first paper before sliding it across the table to you, then picking up the second paper. “But this one needs a bit of work. I circled the questions that need to be redone, not gonna tell you what’s wrong with them, though.” You watched as he slid the other paper to you with your own smile now forming. Pulling out a pencil, you started to relax for the first time around this guy, bringing your attention down to the circled questions.

Your study session has never been more productive. He was being helpful; answering your questions, talking you through each step, giving you smiles and the occasional thumbs up. You’re not sure what changed or why, but you definitely weren’t complaining. When Leon wasn’t acting like someone shoved a stick up his ass, he was actually pretty handsome. You’d mentally recognized his good looks when you first met him, yet his demeanor as a whole masked those good looks entirely.

There was no way he could throw anymore surprises at you, but you stood corrected when he walked over to you at the end of your session, stopping you from walking out. “Listen, I’m sorry for how I’ve been acting. I don’t want to be mean to you, it’s just…” He paused to laugh to himself, looking down at the ground with an almost bashful expression. “I’m only tutoring because it’s a big part of my grade in my class, so..” Not a complete lie on his part.

“Oh. Oh, it's.. it’s fine.” You didn’t want him to revert back to his old style, so you chose to just dismiss it. His attitude did make sense, you wouldn’t want to tutor random people for a grade. “Don’t worry about it.”

“Thanks. Uh.. oh, here-” Leon opened and held the study room door open for you, giving you a small wave as you walked out, which you returned. That was a nice mood booster, not being degraded and demeaned every time you see the one person who’s supposed to help you. 

Your friends had their own opinions about the experience after you described it to them. You’d been relaying every bit of info relating to your study sessions from the past three weeks to them, a second and third opinion was good to have for such an odd trade.

“I don’t trust it. Plain and simple.” Sky placed their hands down on their thighs with an audible slap. They didn’t seem impressed by Leon’s sudden chivalry, and to your disappointment, neither did Ella when you looked over from Sky to her. She just looked back at you with a shrug. “Sorry. I’m gonna have to take Sky’s side on this. There’s just something off about that.”

You sighed in defeat, turning your head around to look out the window in the dorm room. It was nice that Sky and Ella shared a dorm, you can’t discuss stuff like this in your own dorm in case your roommate decided to randomly appear. “Yeah…”

Ella scooted closer to you on the bed and pulled you back so your head was resting in her lap. “I know you got your hopes up, but please be careful. I don’t wanna see you get hurt because some pretty boy decided it would be fun to manipulate you.” You groaned, covering your face with your arms. Nothing even happened and you’re already feeling embarrassed.

“It’s okay if you like him, he is kinda cute.” Ella giggled and moved one of your arms to poke your cheek. “But just remember that the guy’s got a bit of a reputation for being a major douche.”

Sky, sitting over on their bed, pointed at Ella in agreement. “Emphasis on major douche.” They smiled and leaned back, their head plopping onto their pillows. “It was just one instance of him being sweet, after all. Who’s to say he won’t revert back to being an asshole by Wednesday?”

“I know, I get it.” You swatted Ella’s hand away and sat back upright. Even if he was putting up a front, it was still nice to get some real help with your math without being insulted. Everyone deserves a second chance and he seemed honest enough when he told you why he’d been so rude, so why not try again with him? Start fresh, maybe you’ll get to make an unlikely friend out of this popular frat boy.

A bit of a far fetched idea, considering the vast differences between you and Leon, but anything like that is worth another try. Don’t look a gift horse in the mouth.

tags:

@kayotee4 @k-fallingstar @bobastayhigh @mi-zer-y @chasingkennedy @l30nva @espressonerd @jjouki @5tarx @bunnybreadloaves @whoisgami @cyanscribe @c4b3r1a @darichvep @mmmangel @kingtacocat @klee-iii @baby--vera @dakiniii @kenma-izhu @aliidarling @leonsmamacita

(a few of your blogs won't show up but i tried)

[derww]

DEVOTIONS WEEK DAY 2: POTIONS/DEATH

CW: Suicide attempt, suicidal ideations, mental breakdown, ableism, DDDNE

This is the first thing Zam does when he realizes that everything he has done this season has been absolutely useless: he kills himself.

Okay, he tries: he abruptly turns away, throws off all his armor, takes a few springy steps, and then jumps down. The height is small, but he has ridiculously few hearts, so it's enough...

A moment before landing something breaks on top of his head, and the fall does not cause any damage. The nasty swamp slime gets into his mouth, and he spits it out, at the same time shaking off the glass stuck in his hair.

– What do you think is the probability that he has milk? – Pyro asks Spoke, tossing another splash bottle in his hand. Zam stares at him. How the fuck did he even hit? He is disgusting and wet. He has milk, but only in the enderchest, and he is not stupid enough to believe that he will be given time to drink it. Or that it would make any difference.

– I don't know, man, – Spoke spreads his hands, – like, high? Doesn't matter. Let's continue my supervillain speech. Time is not infinite, you know.

He doesn't want to continue the conversation. He pukes on the spot. He reeks of corpse rot. He doesn't want to be here. He doesn't want to be anywhere at all. Oh, God, can he just fucking die already?

Mapicc rolls his eyes. He looks annoyed, but not surprised. He and Spoke exchange understanding glances. Zam mechanically wipes his mouth from vomit, staring past them. There are too many things around. Everything is too bright and distinct. He wants to pierce through his belly with a sword, and he is horrified to realize that this will not help.

They- they don't even laugh at his insignificance and helplessness, they see it as an expected hindrance, as something that will happen when you tell the PrinceZam about the impending apocalypse. For some reason, it's so much worse. The vomit is creeping up in his throat again.

Step. Another. Third. This time he jumps into the void – because the Abyss kills anything, and even if not, suffocating in the infinity is still better than being next to them. That's the only thing he wants right now – to die.

He barely does not manage to reach y 0 when he is teleported back to their feet, and he falls to the knees. He violently coughs up bile. Deep disgust fills every cell of his body.

– Listen, – Mapicc says wearily, – let's skip this part. Yes, Spoke has backdoored the server, yes, he has an OP, and yes, no mundane plots have any meaning anymore. Wormhole will open in a week. Are you with us?

He lowers his head. His hands are shaking. He wants to wash himself. He wants to be anywhere else. He wants warm clothes and soft food. He wants to go home and bake a pumpkin pie. He wants to kill himself.

– Earth to the PrinceZam,– Spoke snaps fingers in front of his face, – bro, hang off. I need your answer. I'm only giving you a choice anyway because you're different. Be faster.

He opens his mouth and stutters and gasps. Nothing in his body works properly. For the first time in months, he can't say anything. Why-why at all. What's the difference. They can't make his life worse. They won't be able to mess up any more. They are not-

A blurry image with black and red appears in front of his face. Black hair. A pale face. A red hoodie. Bandana. Horns. Zam doesn't have to think about it to know that it's Mapicc.

– Listen, – Mapicc's voice comes to him as if from under water, - I know it's hard, – no, he has no idea, – and really, really sucks. but this is the situation we find ourselves in now. Right now, you don't have to do much, right now you just need to make one decision. Okay?

Something inhuman is bursting out of him. He's throwing up again. Mapicc sighs.

– Hey, – he says too calmly, – it's hard, I know. But not worse than the end of season two, right? – much, much worse, – just take a deep breath, exhale, give yourself time to think and make a decision, okay? And we'll leave you alone.

He can't. He can't. He is not-

– If I refuse, – he says, dead–straight, – will you let me die?

– No, of course not, – Spoke's voice comes from somewhere to the side, and he doesn't have enough strength to turn his head, – why did we try otherwise? Wait for the Wormhole, and I'll think about it. Maybe I'll give you endless effects, or maybe I'll let you die in peace. Who knows? I haven't decided yet.

– Don't listen to him, – Mapicc interrupts, irritated, – don't think about it. Just decide whether you want to destroy this world or fight for its preservation. If you want to keep it, the defenders will pick you up sooner or later. If you want to destroy it, you will become the third with me and Spoke. We will work together. Like before.

He's looking past them. His heart is beating too fast.

– if I join you, – he says dryly, – will you let me die?

– When you will finish your work? – Spoke giggles, – yeah, sure, why not. It wouldn't matter.

He swallows a lump. His throat hurts. Mapicc seems to be looking right at him. He's suffocating. He doesn't want any of this.

– Okay, – he says in the end, – I'll help you. And then you'll let me go.

Spoke grins.

– And that's the deal! Good job, PrinceZam. That's more like it.

At least Mapicc and I will be friends again, he thinks detachedly. At least there's anything good about it. Maybe I can get over it. Even if it's only to get the fuck out later.

[asyastudieskorean]

01.21.2025 — 나는 이 아이스 모카를 매일 만들어요. 정말 정말 맛있어요. 그래서, 좀 갑자기, 여기는 아이스 모카 레시피를 가르쳐 드릴게요. 뭐 난 영어로 할 거에요. 왜냐하면 많은 시간이 없어. 자, 보세요:

~For a 16/20 oz~

*Everything is adjustable, i.e., to your sweetness preference

Ingredients

• 6-8 oz of hot coffee (I prefer instant espresso, and I think espresso in general works best with mochas, but sometimes I use regular coffee pods too. Instant packs work fine too, in a pinch, but keep in mind that usually has sweetener in it already. )

• Sugar (Splenda is okay too, but I use real sugar because it gives the best taste and this is my daily sweet treat, lol.)

• 1.5~ heaping tablespoons of unsweetened cocoa powder (I only used the Hershey brand one; all others have failed me ㅋㅋ)

• Milk/Creamer/Heavy cream (I switch it up, but found the best combo is a generous dash of vanilla creamer and another generous dash of heavy cream)

• Whip (if you’re feeling crazy; most days, I am)

Steps

1) Make your hot coffee however you prefer, mix in your choice of sweetener and the cocoa powder, then ideally let cool for 15-20 min in the fridge/freezer. Cooler it is before putting it on ice, the less chance you’ll run into a sour coffee (it happens!). If you want it faster, put your creamer/milk in the hot coffee before putting it over ice, at least.

2) Then put over ice and add your creams or milk. Top with whip if you want and you’re done!

It took me a bit to find the right ratios for this, but you can def make it more or less sweet to your liking!

[mystoryfortheaudienceoftheworld]

UPDATING - Sorry It's Long

I am currently at work – and I need to update for the last two days. I had every intention of posting, but then I got tired and was like meh – the struggle to type words!

Anyways, I pulled up a Word Document at work to type what I want and then copy and paste. Work is slow à but this makes me look busy. Mawhahaha

ANYWAYS!

Sunday (Nov. 17) DAY 7 of trying to get my healthier life on track.

 Before I break down my eating, I will say I did end up grabbing food not from home for both lunch and dinner. I almost made it a whole week fully sticking to my plan (minus the sandwich Saturday while at moms). BABY STEPS!

Breakfast – Pancakes, cheesy scrambled eggs, and a clementine – Oh and coffee!

                I started of good in the morning – I chose not to eat all the pancakes I made and shared them with my husband. That was a tough choice, but once I was done eating I felt stratified in my food intake.

Lunch – Ordered Moes to the house – I had a burrito bowl, cup of queso, and chips.

                I know I had food at home I could have made, but once I got home from dropping Hayden off at work and spending time outside with the dog I just wasn’t feeling putting something together. So, I caved. I probably should have skipped on the queso or gotten the smaller size. I am however not made at myself – and I didn’t go off any rails eating more once I was done with my meal. It was yummy and end of story.

Snack – Oreo pack (4 cookies) and some milk

Dinner – McDonalds 6 piece Nugget Happy Meal & Double Cheeseburger

So I ended up napping Sunday evening and missed dinner time – but when I was out picking up Hayden for work (which is around 10pm) I was hungry – so I stopped and got a McDonalds Happy Meal (because I had points for it) and a double cheeseburger. I know I shouldn’t have gotten the burger – it wasn’t even that great because the burger was burnt. Reflection here is key and I will keep that in mind going forward. Don’t eat what you are not enjoying – I know that’s hard sometimes when you feel like you don’t want to waste your money, but sometimes an unsatisfying meal is not worth saving the cost. The small happy meal would have been find on it’s on.

And that’s how I ended my 7th day of getting myself back on track. I can’t say it was a great finish, but it also could have been worse.

I think the one take away here is that my water intake really sucks. I really have to keep working on it.

Monday (November 18) DAY 8 and the start of week 2!

Started off strong, but the evening didn’t go as planned.

Breakfast – Overnight Oats ( Greek yogurt, apple, vanilla almond milk, and oats) & coffee

Lunch – Chef Boyardee Ravioli, Salad (lettuce, cherry tomatoes, mushrooms, goat cheese, pecans, and balsamic dressing), and 1 small bag of chili Fritos.

Snack – Small bag of chili Fritos (another one) & 2 mini boxes of Milk Duds

                This snack was spread out through the rest of the day, but it really happened because work is slow and I got bored. ☹

Dinner – Zaxbys – Blue Buffalo Fried Chicken Salad & Ranch Chicken Fries appetizer

                I didn’t go home after work and hung out in my car waiting for Hayden to get off work so that’s why I didn’t eat at home. Two takeaways – I didn’t need both items, and I should have gotten the salad with grilled chicken. It’s clear I am still in the huge process of working on my relationship with food.

I think if I had made a post about Sundays eating it may have made an impact on my meal choices last night – only because it would have had my accountability more in the forefront of my mind.

TBH – I even thought about skipping posting about my eating, but that is the whole point of coming back and trying to get myself together.

As, I said in my previous posts – I am on the “baby steps” route and I have only just started. Just need to keep on going and thinking.

My next post will be a reflection of the first week – to help put things into perspective.

If you made it to the end and read all of this thank you!

[the-library-of-forgotten-endings]

Ink-Stained Love is Not Ideal, Part 2: Love of the Ink-Stained Usurper

Overblots x reader

Reader pronouns used: not applicable

Content warnings: kinda yandere OB Leona...

Boy, oh boy, OB Leona looks pissed.

“I’ve been looking for you everywhere.” Magic gleams in his palms, and you think, oh god, he’s gonna sand me, isn’t he?

You swallow, then smile brightly. “Leona! My favourite furry! How’re you doing?” You shoot him some finger guns.

OB Leona frowns even more at your choice of words. “What’s a ‘furry?’”

“Um, nothing!” You laugh nervously. “Um, anyways, pal, do you mind opening the portal out of here or something?”

“Why would you want that?” OB Leona steps towards you. “You came here because you wanted to, didn’t you? So why d’you want to leave?”

Oh, crackers. “Listen, buddy, this place is dope and all, but Keeping Up With The Kardashians is on tonight and I can’t miss that, so if you don’t mind opening that–”

“I don’t think so.”

And suddenly, OB Leona is very, very close to you, right up in your No-No Square, and he has this weirdly intense look in his eyes. His rough, calloused fingers coated in a thin layer of sand trace your cheekbone, the heat of magic warming your face gently.

Drip, drip, drip, goes the ink.

“A king has never ruled alone,” he tells you. “And I don’t intend to be the first one.”

“…Ok, but I don’t see what that has to do with–” And then, it hits you. “You’re in love with me?”

OB Leona grins, baring all his teeth. “Took you long enough to figure that out, Herbivore.” You’ve gotta be shitting me.

“…Ok!” you chirp. “That’s great! Amazing! Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious! Just… one thing.”

“If it’s about leaving, then I don’t want to hear it.”

“No, no, no!” You stroke OB Leona’s arm, hoping that might do something to calm him down. “It’s about temporarily leaving!”

OB Leona’s hands begin to glow, and you hastily add, “Emphasis on the ‘temporary!’”

“…” The glowing stops, thankfully.

“Leona, sweetheart, hear me out for a second, because I think you’ll like this.”

“You’d better make it quick.”

“You’re like, king now, right?”

“There’s no one else, so this realm has no choice.”

“…Great, great! Anyways, so what I’m saying, is, how would you feel about matching crowns!”

“…What?”

“Matching crowns! One for the king, and one for your consort! It can be my gift for you for Valentine’s!”

“I still don’t see the point.”

“W-Well, the thing is…” You quickly scrape your mind for some argument that would appeal to OB Leona, and to your delight, you find one. “You know, by matching with me, you’re kind of marking me as yours, yeah? Now doesn’t that butter your biscuit?”

“I don’t need a crown to mark you.” OB Leona grins that grin with all his teeth, and begins to lean closer to you. Oh shit, oh shit, red alert–

“But sweetheart, you would look really, really hot in a crown!”

Leona pauses. For a moment, there is silence. You hope it’s a good silence.

“…I can’t say,” Leona finally tells you, “that I don’t like the idea of making your heart race.”

And that sounds so much like the Real Leona, so much so that you feel your cheeks heat up and your heart flutter a little.

OB Leona releases you from his grasp, and snaps his fingers. Immediately, a portal opens, showing a deep, dark sea. Azul’s realm.

“Be quick about it,” and OB Leona grins that sharp grin of his again. “The longer you make me wait, the hungrier I’ll get.”

“Then drink milk,” you mutter to yourself, then leap through the portal and into the waters.

[skadee17]

The Wrath of Rome

PART1, PART 2,PART3,

PART4

pairing: Emperor Geta x F!OC x Lucius

summary: Adona, was once promised to Lucius, son of Lucilla. But when Lucius disappeared, presumed dead, Adona’s future was sealed. Forced into a marriage with Emperor Geta to secure her survival, she struggles to find meaning in a world where her own desires and dreams are crushed by Rome’s brutal power. With no family left but Lucilla and Acacius, Adona must navigate the ruthless politics of the empire while facing her uncertain future.

word count: around 3500

warnings/notes: 18+, unprotected sex, domination, first-time, kind of forced sex but not really (at the beginning but turns into concensual) love hate relationship trope, slow burn, angst,mention of child abandonment, mention of death, loss, forced marriage,

Adona opened her eyes in an empty room. The unmade bed beside her still bore the marks of what had happened the night before, but the absence of Geta resonated far louder than the heavy silence in the room. A sheet draped over her naked body was the only remnant of his presence. He had left, without a word, without a glance, as if she were nothing.

A dull, burning, uncontrollable anger rose within her. It was neither shame nor sadness, but pure rage, almost devouring. He had desired her, possessed her... and now, he had left her, like a mere object discarded after use, as if none of it held any value. As if she were nothing more than a formality, an obligation fulfilled, before he resumed his imperial life.

Clenching her fists, she slowly sat up, feeling the sheet slide against her skin still marked from the previous night. She felt trapped in a game whose rules she didn't understand, and this uncertainty drove her mad. If she was meant to be treated as a wife, why this cold abandonment? And if she was nothing but a pawn in his game... why, in Geta's gaze the night before, had she perceived something more? That flicker of hesitation, that moment when he had frozen, as if he had just made a mistake.

A servant entered without knocking, carrying a cup of spiced milk and a clean tunic. She stopped when she saw Adona's closed expression.

"Your Majesty, you're awake..." Adona reached out to grab the tunic, putting it on with a swift motion before standing. "Where is he?" The servant hesitated before answering. "The Emperor was already in the throne room at daybreak." "Perfect." Adona gritted her teeth. It didn’t matter, really, if that was his choice. But this marriage wasn’t hers. She had been forced into it. Geta had taken her without even caring for her desires, and now, he dared to ignore her?

She refused to let herself be affected. If this was a game, she would know how to play it in turn.

With determined steps, she left the room, heading towards the throne room. Servants crowded her path, quickly turning away, casting furtive glances at the Empress who advanced like a storm ready to sweep everything in her wake.

As she entered, a heavy silence fell upon the room. Caracalla, slouched in his seat with his usual mocking smile, was the first to break the tension. "Here comes the new Empress," he said, crossing his arms, his eyes gleaming with amusement.

Geta was there, surrounded by advisors, his hands clasped on the armrest of his throne. He listened distractedly to political discussions, as if nothing had changed, as if nothing had happened. As if he hadn’t left her alone, broken, humiliated.

A mix of rage and pride shook Adona. She wasn’t going to stay silent. Not now.

She walked forward, her presence commanding despite the simplicity of the tunic she wore. The advisors exchanged nervous glances. Never had a woman dared to interrupt the Emperors like this.

Geta didn’t bother to look at her immediately. But she knew he could feel her.

When he finally turned his eyes to her, a smug smile brushed his lips. "Your Majesty," she said in a cold voice, stopping a few steps from him.

A sarcastic smile appeared on his lips, but it didn’t fool Adona. He was tense. "My dear wife, already up? Was the night… restful?" His mocking tone only fueled Adona’s anger. She clenched her teeth, straightening, feigning complete control. "Oh, indeed. It’s far more restful when you have an entire bed to yourself."

A glint flashed in Geta’s dark eyes, a mixture of surprise and amusement. He sat up slightly, resting his elbow on the armrest of his throne. "Is that a reproach?" "Not at all. I expected nothing more from you."

A heavy silence fell over the room. The senators and advisors turned their eyes away, aware of the growing tension between them. Geta let a moment pass before answering, his voice lower, sharper. "Good then. We’re in agreement."

Caracalla, arms crossed and an amused smile on his face, intervened, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "Ah, what a magnificent scene, my friends. A little war of glances between spouses. Don’t you find it… delicious?"Besides, Geta, my dear brother, I must say I am surprised. You, usually so methodical… and yet here you are, leaving your wife so unsatisfied that she comes looking for you in front of the entire court. That is quite humiliating, don’t you think?

The advisors looked at each other, uncomfortable, but Caracalla continued to savor the tension. He even stood slightly from his seat, rubbing his hands together like a spectator enjoying a play. "You know, dear sister, it’s such a pleasure to see this impetuosity in a woman. It’s far more entertaining than all this political talk, don’t you think? All that’s missing now is a good fight to spice things up."

Furious but full of dignity, Adona turned towards Caracalla. "You enjoy seeing people suffer, don’t you, Caracalla? You wallow in the misery of others like a pig in its mud."

Caracalla burst out laughing, leaning forward like a child caught in the act. "Ah, you flatter me! But don’t mistake me. I’m just tasting the fruits of the spectacle you and my dear brother are offering to the world."

Geta, who had remained silent up until then, shot Caracalla a cold look, as if to indicate that he didn’t appreciate the interruptions. But the smile he wore hid a measure of satisfaction. "You’re right, Caracalla. A nice scene. But for now, Adona and I have… other matters to settle."

Geta, rising slowly, his imposing stature towering, approached Adona, each movement calculated, measured. He dominated her with his height, but she didn’t retreat. She still defied him, and that fascinated him.

"You know, Adona," he said in a lower, almost whispering tone, "this little game is starting to please me."

Adona fixed him with her gaze, not blinking. She responded in a cold voice, challenging the closeness of their bodies. "A game? You really think all of this is just a game to me? This marriage, what you did… all of it is far from being a fun little game."

He stopped right in front of her, and in a movement as slow as it was calculated, he leaned slightly forward, their breaths brushing against each other.

"Oh, I see. But then, why am I so sure that you still desire me?" He fixed her with an intense gaze, a half-smile that wasn’t just that of the Emperor but that of a man who knew he held the power. His eyes shone with silent defiance.

Adona, her gaze hard, didn’t let his proximity destabilize her. She didn’t respond immediately. She felt that question brush against the limit of provocation, but it wouldn’t shake her resolve. She took a deep breath and stepped back, lifting her chin with pride. "You can think what you want, Emperor," she replied firmly. "It won’t change the fact that this marriage means nothing to me."

She turned on her heels, leaving the room in a tense silence. Caracalla followed her with his eyes, a smile still clinging to his lips. "Oh, what a performance! Who would have thought the Empress would become such a great actress? You both impress me, truly."

Geta remained motionless, his fists clenched. His advisors resumed their discussions, uncomfortable, but he no longer listened to them.

She was playing with him. She was defying him. And worse… She was right.

—----

Adona strode through the palace corridors, her heart pounding with rage. She refused to let it get to her, but the humiliation still burned beneath her skin.

"Adona!"

The drawling, mockingly cheerful voice made her clench her teeth. She didn’t need to turn around to know who was calling her.

Caracalla.

He was lounging casually on the edge of a marble table, a grape in hand, which he tossed between his fingers before biting into it with an exaggeratedly loud crunch.

"What a spectacle! Truly, I didn’t expect to be so entertained today, he said, clapping his hands like a child watching a magic trick."

Adona sighed, already weary.

"What do you want?"

Caracalla raised his eyebrows and placed a hand over his heart.

"Me? Nothing at all. But you… you want many things, don’t you? Ah, women! Always full of expectations and desires…"

He hopped off the table and strolled toward her, dragging his feet as if waltzing to an invisible tune.

"Did you see his face, Adona? Oh, of course, he tried to hide it behind his cold and distant emperor’s mask, but I… I saw!"

He stopped just in front of her and whispered with an almost innocent smile:

"He’s furious."

Adona didn’t flinch.

"I couldn’t care less."

Caracalla let out a dramatic sigh, rolling his eyes.

"What a tragedy! A wife who "couldn’t care less" about her emperor husband! But tell me, dear sister, if you truly don’t care… why are you so angry?"

He laughed before she could answer and spun around as if seized by sudden euphoria.

"Oh, this is delicious! Geta thought he could ignore you, and yet here you are, storming into the throne room, humiliating him in front of everyone! You saw it, didn’t you? That moment when he lost his little air of superiority?"

He clapped again, laughing as though he had just witnessed the finest theatre performance of his life.

"And now? What will you do? Provoke him again? Lie meekly in the marital bed, hoping he returns? Or better yet… wait for him with a dagger under your pillow?"

Adona locked eyes with him.

"You seem very invested in my marriage, Caracalla. Could it be… jealousy?"

He froze for a brief second… then burst into laughter, so genuine that he nearly lost his balance.

"Jealous? Me? Oh no, Adona, I’m far too busy enjoying the show!"

But suddenly, his amusement faded, replaced by a darker, sharper gaze. He leaned in, his voice dropping to a whisper.

"But be careful. Geta doesn’t like to lose. And you… you just showed him that he’s starting to."

He stepped back, his mischievous grin returning in an instant.

"Ah, how lucky I am to have such an entertaining empress! Don’t disappoint me, Adona. Keep playing, I beg you."

And with that, he turned on his heel, whistling as he walked away, leaving her alone with her rage.

Was it a dream ? It must have been all a dream, how could this be real ? was it all a joke ? a nightmare ? definitely a fucking nightmare… 

—---------------

Weeks later...

The palace was sleeping.

Torches mounted on the walls cast a flickering light, projecting long and ominous shadows across the marble corridors. But Adona moved forward without hesitation, her bare feet pressing against the cold stone, her heart pounding in her chest. She had waited for everyone to fall asleep. Geta had not come. He would not come. She had known it the moment she left the throne room. It had already been weeks. He was avoiding her like a disease, prefering the company of his whores rather than hers. She spent more time with Caracalla and his little monkey, trying not to feel alone in this gigantesque palace. She even found herself rather happy about spending time with Caracalla, distracting herself with his antics and outrageous behavior, even if she knew it was all just a temporary escape. Caracalla's presence, though maddening at times, had at least given her some semblance of distraction from the void that Geta's absence had created in her life. The way he was making her laugh when she least expected it—his over-the-top confidence was so ridiculous it became oddly comforting in the face of the oppressive silence that surrounded her.

But the palace, for all its grandeur, was not a place where she felt welcome. Despite the opulence and beauty, the weight of her marriage hung over her like a dark cloud. She wasn’t naive enough to think that a marriage of this kind could ever be anything more than a political arrangement. But the cruelty of being ignored by the man she was supposed to share her life with… it gnawed at her constantly.

Weeks had passed, and she had learned to navigate the palace with quiet determination, hiding the tears that sometimes came when she was alone. The marble halls, the towering columns, the servants who whispered behind their hands—it all felt like a gilded cage. She had retreated into herself, attempting to find strength in solitude, but every passing day only made her more certain of the hollow nature of her life here.

So she had made a decision.

She had slipped out of her chambers, dressed in a simple tunic covered by a dark hooded cloak, and walked with purpose, avoiding the patrols of the imperial guard. Those men were supposed to watch over her, but they were predictable. Overconfident.

She lost them with ease.

Once outside the palace, the night swallowed her whole. The streets of Rome were silent at this hour, disturbed only by the distant laughter of a few drunkards and the fleeting passage of stray cats. Adona walked quickly, her face concealed beneath the hood, her breath short but controlled.

She needed Lucilla.

Under the dark hooded cloak, she had slipped away from her chambers, avoiding the patrols, moving forward with nothing but adrenaline as her ally. No one had stopped her. They all believed she was where she was supposed to be—in her imperial bed.

But tonight, her place was elsewhere.

When she reached the discreet villa of Lucilla and Acacius, her heart was hammering in her chest. She knocked three times, quickly.

Silence.

Then, hurried footsteps.

The door creaked open just slightly, revealing the flickering glow of an oil lamp and… Lucilla’s face—sleepy, wary.

When she recognized Adona, her breath caught.

"Adona…?"

She stood frozen for a moment, as if she couldn’t believe what she was seeing. Then, in one swift motion, she threw the door open and pulled her inside, shutting it quickly behind them.

"By the gods! she whispered. What are you doing here?"

She didn’t wait for an answer. Her arms wrapped around Adona, holding her so tightly she could have crushed her.

"You’re here… you’re really here."

Her voice trembled.

Adona closed her eyes, surrendering to the embrace. Lucilla smelled of jasmine and the comforting warmth of home. It was everything she wanted, everything she needed.

"We haven’t seen you in weeks, Lucilla murmured, pulling back just enough to look at her. We didn’t even know if… if you were alright."

A throat cleared behind them.

"Am I dreaming?"

Acacius had appeared, hastily dressed, looking both astonished and exhilarated.

When his eyes met Adona’s, a broad grin spread across his face.

"You? Here? In the middle of the night? He shook his head, chuckling. You’re completely insane."

"Maybe, she conceded."

Lucilla gently took her hands in hers, warming them between her palms.

"You could have been followed…"

"I wasn’t."

Acacius snickered.

"I bet you lost your guards."

Adona arched a brow.

"Obviously."

Lucilla sighed, torn between exasperation and admiration.

"You’re an empress now… she murmured. You’re not as free as before."

Adona felt a knot tighten in her throat.

"Was I ever free to begin with?"

Silence fell.

Lucilla didn’t answer. She didn’t need to. She simply opened her arms again, and without a word, Adona melted into them once more.

Acacius crossed his arms, smirking.

"Alright, am I in the way? Or have you two finished making me feel like an intruder?"

Lucilla shot him a glare.

"Acacius, shut up."

He raised his hands in mock offense.

"Fine, fine! But I’m getting some wine, because I doubt anyone’s sleeping tonight."

Adona lifted her head toward him, the ghost of a smile on her lips.

"I’m not surprised that’s your first thought."

"Oh, you’ve seen nothing yet, Empress."

Lucilla rolled her eyes as Acacius strolled away, whistling. Then, she took Adona’s hands again, gentler this time.

"Stay here tonight."

"I don’t want to go back."

Lucilla squeezed her fingers a little tighter.

"Then don’t."

Adona felt her heart clench.

Here, she wasn’t an empress. Not a bound wife. Just Adona.

And for the first time in a long while, she felt safe and not alone. They talked for a long time, of course Adona didn't tell them what happened between her and Geta, she just wanted to be with them. She wanted to be only Adona, the young woman described as a sunshine, only to remember that she didn't exist anymore.

—-

The dawn had not yet colored the sky when loud knocks startled Adona. Violent, repeated thuds echoed against the door of the villa. "Open, by order of the Emperor!"

Lucilla and Acacius woke with a start. Adona, still wrapped in a blanket, understood immediately. They had found her. Her absence had not gone unnoticed. "By all the gods... Acacius muttered, rubbing his face. Geta is going to have us executed."

Lucilla shot a dark look at her husband before turning to Adona. "Stay here."

But Adona had no intention of hiding. She straightened up, wrapped the cloak she had worn the previous day around her shoulders, and followed Lucilla to the door. Acacius grumbled as he saw her do so. "Of course, why remain discreet? If you're going to provoke a furious emperor, might as well do it with dignity."

Lucilla opened the door. A dozen imperial guards were waiting outside, armed, their faces stern. But it wasn’t them who caught Adona’s attention. It was Geta. He stood in the center of the courtyard, dressed in dark toga, his face clouded with barely contained anger. His eyes searched for her before he even saw her. And when his gaze finally met hers... Silence fell. No one dared to breathe.

Geta stepped forward slowly. His shoulders were stiff, his fists clenched. He stopped just a few paces from her, his eyes burning with a dangerous gleam. "Have you lost your mind?" His voice was low, as sharp as a blade.

Adona held his gaze without flinching. "I simply came to see my family."

A dry laugh escaped Geta’s lips. He ran a hand over his face, as if trying to contain his fury. "You disappeared in the middle of the night, you lost your guards, and you think this is an innocent visit?"

Acacius straightened up, his gaze sharpening, an expression of calm but firmness in his eyes. "Majesty, he said confidently. I don’t think this is at all what you imagine."

Geta slowly turned his head towards him, his gaze full of threat, as though waiting for Acacius to make a mistake. "And you dare to lecture me, Acacius? Geta’s voice was icy. Acacius, unwavering, held his gaze." "I’m not trying to teach you anything, Majesty, he replied calmly but firmly. I’m simply reminding you that the situation may deserve more reflection than anger."

Irritated by the remark, Geta let a moment of silence stretch before reacting. His eyes glowed with a dangerous intensity, but Acacius was unshaken. Lucilla grabbed Acacius by the arm and pulled him back before he made the situation worse. Adona, however, had not moved.

"Are you going to drag me back by force, Geta? she asked softly. A muscle twitched in his jaw." "Do you think I have a choice?" He moved closer, so close that his breath almost brushed her face. "You are my wife, Adona. The Empress. Do you think your disappearance would go unnoticed? He fixed her with a low, dangerous voice. Do you think I can tolerate people saying that my wife ran off to meet... other men?"

Lucilla choked on her indignation. "How dare you"

Adona raised her hand, stopping her dead in her tracks. She fixed Geta with a steady gaze. "So that’s the problem, then? she whispered. What others might think?"

A tense silence descended.Geta didn’t answer immediately. But he didn’t need to speak. His eyes, the tension in his features... she knew. it wasn’t just the image of the Empire that had driven him to come find her himself. It wasn’t just the anger of a humiliated emperor. It was something else. A worry he refused to admit.

Adona felt something tighten in her chest.But she couldn’t give in. Not now.She straightened up and, in a cold voice, declared: "I am not your prisoner, Geta."

A twisted smile appeared on his lips. "No? Then prove it."

He stepped aside, allowing her to pass.Adona stared at him, hesitant. Then, with a slow but determined gesture, she moved forward. The guards parted as she passed, surprised. She walked past Geta without a glance, her heart pounding in her chest.

When she was level with him, he murmured in a hoarse voice, barely audible: "Don’t ever do that again."

Adona didn’t answer. She climbed into the imperial chariot without a word, leaving Lucilla and Acacius behind.

[villainsview]

Part 2

FULL ART by @scarletfish8eta

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After being effectively kicked out so Fetch and Lavender could discuss a plan involving him as bait, Erick decided to pick his battles and this one wasn’t going to be it. He trusted that Fetch would keep his best interest in mind, and he wouldn’t just leave him at the mercy of a man like that Mateo guy. No, he trusted his…somewhat unconventional guardian as much as he trusted him with his money.

It had taken a lot to earn that kind of trust. He had to prove his loyalty time and time again before Fetch finally trusted Erick to go out on his own, and he still felt he only managed to get this far since the one time they had no choice. One of Fetch’s targets had gotten so badly injured, Fetch couldn’t leave their side long enough to go out and buy some supplies from the corner drugstore, so he tossed his wallet at Erick and told him to go.

Erick had made sure to prove his worth by grabbing all the kinds of items Fetch had mentioned, without taking too long. The target survived, Fetch was handsomely rewarded and in turn, Erick was also rewarded with a little bit more freedom. First in the shape of store runs, or even to pick up takeout, and eventually he was allowed to go out on walks, so long as he picked his moments and didn’t mess up Fetch’s schedule one way or another.

Milk, eggs, cheese, bread and fruit…

Erick repeated the list in his thoughts as he walked towards the little town they had driven through on their way to the cabin. It was a lovely quiet town with only some locals just going about their business, not caring about the blond teen as he entered the general store.

Erick picked up a basket, finding the bread first. He knew which type Fetch preferred, double-checking the ingredients to make sure it had enough fibre, before adding it to the basket. Next were the eggs. A box of six should be enough for now. He carefully checked each egg for cracks before adding them to his basket. There wasn’t a lot of choice among the cheese, so he settled for the cheapest one, before grabbing two cartons of milk.

Fetch had said one would be enough, but he tended to miscalculate how much he would use and then run out. And with Lavender as a distraction, he probably wouldn’t even realise the discrepancy. Lastly was the fruit. It all looked pretty fresh…so he could probably grab whatever? 

“Excuse me.”

Erick snapped out of his thoughts as a man reached past him to pick up some apples.

“Sorry,” Erick said, stepping aside so he could reach easier.

“You looked like you were miles away,” the man said.

“Mhm, just trying to decide which fruit to bring back,” Erick said, stepping a little further away from the man to look at the oranges.

Fetch liked oranges. He never said it out loud, but it was the fruit he saw him eating the most. They looked fresh, and according to the promotional sign they were the sweetest oranges in the world. He added a couple to his basket, before getting in line at the one register, just behind the apple man.

He carried only one apple, which seemed a bit odd, but who was he to judge? The girl behind the register seemed to judge just a tiny bit.

“Will that be all, sir?” she asked, raising a brow as she rang up the single apple.

“It’s just a snack for the road,” the man said, getting his wallet out, “a dollar should cover it, right?”

“Yeah, and your change?”

“Keep it,” the man said, placing the bill down and picking up his apple, “have a good one.”

“You too, sir,” the girl said, changing her expression to a smile as Erick stepped up next.

“Hey. You want me to bag that for you?”

“Paper bag, please,” Erick replied, waiting for her to slowly ring up his total while she packed his items in a paper bag.

He managed to stay well under budget, though he knew Fetch hadn’t even counted the money he gave him. Still, he would probably be pleased to get the majority of it back. He paid, received his change and the receipt, took his bag and headed out the store.

He started walking back to the cabin, considering taking it easy and taking in some sights as he reached the edge of the town. He had no idea how much time Fetch and Lavender would need alone and what they were getting up to.

His mind went someplace, but he quickly shook the thought away. Fetch disliked her far too much for that, and Lavender wouldn’t be a fan either…probably. Either way, he had other things to focus on and worry about as a white sedan slowly pulled up beside him.

“Hey kid!”

That’s weird. It was the man with the one apple. Erick was immediately suspicious. Fetch had taught him a couple methods so he knew what to look out for ever since he gained the freedom to go off on his own every once in a while.

Most people were just open for a friendly chat, and limited engagement was okay to avoid suspicion. But if they approached you twice, they wanted something from you.

“I don’t talk to strangers,” Erick said, making sure to keep his distance from the vehicle, in case there was a second person hiding behind the tinted windows of the backseat.

“I’m not a stranger, we just met!” the man said, “Also I know Fetcher. You want a ride back?”

“No,” Erick said, “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Come on,” the man said, “he hasn’t told you about me? He sure told me a lot about you. Erick, right?”

“You’re terrible at this,” Erick said, taking another step away from the car, “most people who know Fetch don’t like him.”

The man’s smile faltered. There wasn’t anyone else on the road, so Erick knew he would have to run. He took one step to continue, and the man drove his car into his path, blocking his route before getting out.

Erick dropped his bag of groceries. He had to run around the car now, with the risk that the man would intercept him, but it was the only route he could take. He tried to run widely around the man, but he was pretty fast as well. He managed to grab the boy by his arm. He tried to pull free but nearly lost his balance as the man yanked him back.

Time for plan B.

“HELP!”

“Fuck— Shut up!” the man hissed, clamping a hand over the boy’s mouth.

Erick’s struggle increased, trying to kick at the man behind him while yanking on his arm with both hands to get his hand off.

“Ow! You little fucker—”

The man nearly lost his grip, needing his free hand to pull something from his pocket while Erick had begun to try and jab his elbow behind him. If he could just get him to let go he could run back to the cabin for help.

However, just when he thought he was making good progress, he suddenly felt a sharp, stabbing pain in his side, spreading quickly through his entire body. He choked out a muffled cry, feeling his knees give in. Before he knew it, he smacked against the asphalt, coughing as he struggled to take in air. His vision was blurry and the world was spinning. He tried to get to his feet, but his arms and legs wouldn’t listen to him.

“Should’ve just taken the ride, kid,” the man said, beginning to drag the boy towards the car.

There was nothing Erick could do for a good while. If the man were less clumsy he would’ve already gotten him in the car and driven away, but he struggled a bit to get the boy in the backseat of his car. About halfway in, Erick began moving again.

He was too weak to push the man off of him, and noticing the boy begin to move, the man pinned his arms down, but he was still hovering over him. Erick wasn’t planning on giving up just yet and flung his head forward, hitting the man square in the jaw with his forehead.

“ACK! You little—”

The man wasted no further energy and reached for his taser again, hitting the boy in the chest with a short burst to numb him again. He waved the device in his field of vision.

“If you keep that up you’ll get more!” he warned, before making use of the stunned state of the teen to walk around the car and pull him further in from the other side.

He closed one door, so they wouldn’t be visible from the road at least. Erick groaned in pain, his side and chest feeling beyond bruised in the places where he got tased, while his whole body felt sore. His sluggish state allowed the man to grab some supplies from the passenger’s seat, wrenching the boy’s hands behind him.

Something surprisingly soft wrapped around his wrist, before it was pulled tighter, his other wrist quickly following after. The man fumbled a bit more with the ligature, the clinking of a chain sounding before his wrists were forced closer together.

“Ah!” Erick gasped, finding his voice back, “wh-what do you want?”

“A little cooperation would be nice,” the man said, grabbing for more restraints.

“Fuck you!”

He tried kicking at him, but his legs felt heavy and they were easily pinned down as well. More of the soft ligature was wrapped and tightened around his ankles, before they were forced closer together as well. The man pushed him to sit up on his knees, grabbing his shirt and pinning him against the back of the seat.

“Settle down!” he said.

“Hell no!” Erick spat back.

“Feisty, aren’t you?” the man said, “damn…he said this would be easy.”

“Who said?” Erick asked, but the man didn’t tell.

Instead he grabbed a chain, pulling it around the headrest of the seat, as well as the boy’s throat before pulling it tight. Erick’s breath caught in his throat, literally, as the chain pressed on his windpipe, before the man thankfully loosened the chain a couple notches, before securing it in place with what looked like a padlock.

“Best not squirm around too much,” he said, “we don’t want you slipping off your seat and suffocating yourself.”

Lastly he attached the bindings around his ankles to those around his wrists so he couldn’t use his legs to catch himself, effectively trapping him.

“You’ll pay for this!” he hissed, pressing back against the seat a bit to relieve the strain on his throat.

“No, no,” the man said, “I’m getting paid for this. But don’t you worry your pretty little head over that.”

“Let me go,” Erick said.

The man didn’t seem in a hurry, so perhaps he could stall him long enough to get him in trouble.

“That’s not up to me,” the man said, “not that I would even if it were.”

“So you’re not even in charge of whatever this is?” Erick said, “no wonder you’re so bad at— Ack!”

He was cut off as the man yanked on his shirt, the chain tightening just enough to make it too difficult to talk.

“Silence,” the man hissed, “you’re lucky I forgot to bring a gag or you’d be choking on that too.”

“Ghn…f-fuck…you!”

The man sighed and let go of him, grabbing the final item that he did remember to bring; A leather blindfold, which fit tightly but surprisingly comfortable. He tried to shake it off, but that also only worsened the strain on his throat, so he stopped, catching his breath.

He felt a pat on his cheek before the car wobbled slightly as the man got out. The door slammed closed, and he could hear him get behind the wheel, before driving off.

It didn’t seem like he made a turn, so they would come up on the cabin if he continued to follow the road. He had to guess the distance a bit, but they should be coming close…

“FETCH! HE—”

Startled by the boy’s sudden yelling, the man slammed the brakes, causing Erick to jolt forward and choke on the chain again, cutting off his yelling.

“Don’t do that!” the man snapped, quickly continuing as he was indeed quite close to the beach-side cabin.

Erick tried only a couple more times whenever he thought he could hear people nearby, but stopped after the man threatened him with the taser again. It was frustrating. Even if the windows were tinted, the man still left him in a very visible position. If he could just attract anyone’s attention…but he wasn’t given the chance.

And before he knew it, the sounds of other traffic got less and less and less and less…until finally the engine cut and there was complete silence, broken only by Erick’s coughing, and the man fumbling with his car keys before getting out.

Erick’s legs were freed, though the cuffs stayed on, and the chain was taken off of his throat too. He was dragged out of the car, blindly led to…wherever. They stopped to open a door, before entering whatever building they were at.

Erick tried to rely on his other senses. It smelled like the woods, and he could hear leaves rustling in the wind. Twigs and leaves crunched under their feet, before their steps were muted by a kind of carpet. The building smelled musty, as if it hadn’t been too well maintained. The door they had stepped through closed with a click, followed by a second click as it was locked.

“Get down you!” the man hissed, pushing the boy against the floor.

He couldn’t catch himself and face planted on the carpet, feeling the grime and inhaling some dust. Why were these hideout places always so disgusting?

“Hey, it’s me,” the man’s voice sounded a little further away as he’d entered another room, “yeah I got him. It wasn’t as easy as you said it would be, damn it…”

“If you managed, Delaney then it probably was as easy. You just need a little more practice.”

Of course it was Mateo on the other side of the line, though Erick couldn’t hear that part. He did his best to try and figure out the context from the man— Delaney’s words alone.

“I’ll have to restrain him better before I take the pictures. What I’d done in a hurry looked horrible, I can do much better than that,”

“Whatever,” Mateo said, “just don’t dawdle at that place too long. If she’s teamed up with him again they’ll be on to you soon enough.”

“Ugh, what does she see in him?” Delaney sighed, “he’s ugly and like twice her age.”

“Focus, my friend,” Mateo said, “take the pictures, send me a copy, get the hell out of there and bring him to me. And remember to save him for me. Best you can do is warm him up a little.”

“So much for that extended private session,” Delaney grumbled a bit, “he’s got more fight in him than you said he would have. Are you sure you don’t want me to tame him a little bit?”

“Emphasis on little bit,” Mateo said, “try to keep the fight alive. I’ll enjoy breaking him…”

“You’re killing me, Mateo,” Delaney said with a sigh, before hanging up.

He turned back to Erick, who had managed to sit upright, using the wall for support, and was trying to make his way back to the door, but was easily pulled back.

“Where do you think you’re going, hm~?”

“Don’t touch me!” Erick snapped, pulling out of his grip, but that only caused him to fall on the floor again.

Delaney laughed.

“You don’t get a say in the matter,” he said, “though don’t be surprised when you’ll be begging for more by the time I’m done with you…”

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[aqua-dan]

🌶️ DC Kitchen - Green Arrow's Chili aka "Ollie's Stupendous Chili Recipe (Just like Mom used to make!)" 🌶️

I don't know what possessed me recently -- I really don't, -- but for some reason I got the idea that it would be a good choice to make and eat my way through the DC universe using recipes provided by DC themselves. I bought a bunch of official cookbooks and looked up as many recipes as I could that have appeared in a DC comic. But in truth, I already knew which recipe I would be making first: Ollie's infamous chili; spicy crisis on infinite tongues.

... and it. is. HORRIBLE. 🤮

This is quite possibly close to the WORST chili I have ever had the displeasure of putting in my mouth. Oliver Queen, what the fuck?!

Quick disclaimer that, although I tried to follow the recipe as closely as possible, there were a few parts I was unable to replicate. The most major of these changes was the exclusion of the lean sirloin chunks. Meat and I don't vibe. Perhaps this chili would have tasted better with meat in it (and potentially would have been less liquid-y too), but it is as it is there. The other change I made (if you can call it a change) is that I specifically searched out the hottest version of each spice I could find. If you were to personally use less intense chili powder mixes & paprika, as well as use less Tabasco, it would probably be a bit more palatable. However, I wanted to replicate the authentic "Ollie's Chili Experience."

The first step, of course, was to prepare my spice mix. I couldn't find California Chili Powder in a pre-prepared form, so I had to buy and dry the chilis myself.

What you're seeing here is 2 tsp of cumin, 2 tsp of paprika, 1 tsp Cayenne (~45,000 Scovilles), 1 tsp freshly ground black pepper, 1 TBSP California Chili Powder (2,500 Scovilles), I could not find Gebhardt Chili Powder but I substituted with TRS Chili Powder Mix Extra Hot (~170,000 Scovilles), 1 TBSP Hot New Mexico Chili Powder (~1,500 Scovilles), 1 1/2 tsp salt, and some dried basil.

Because I wasn't using meat in the recipe, I let the spice mix dry toast for a little while before I went about adding the onions and garlic.

Then came a little oil to replace what would have been some of the fat from the meat, and to that went the onions and garlic. Since the green pepper was optional, I decided against using it since there's something about the sweetness of bell peppers that I absolutely hate 😬

After I let the onions soften, I added the chunked tomatoes, tomato sauce, and water and left it on the stove to simmer for a few hours.

As directed, during the last 10 minutes of cooking, I added the beans, brown sugar, and a TBSP or so of Tabasco (~5,000 Scovilles)

The finished product was a watery, unpleasant mess with (in my opinion) not nearly enough substance. Now, I know that if I added meat, it would have been heartier, but even then I don't know if this amount of water and tomato sauce would have cooked down to something satisfactory. Where is the corn? The squash?? Why not more beans??? Ollie, what IS this???

You are meant to serve it with "help yourself" bowls of crackers, cheese, and chopped onions. I went with the onions and crackers when I served myself a bowl.

Bone apple teeth.

🔥🔥🔥 IT IS HOT 🔥🔥🔥

Admittedly, that's partially on me for trying to make it extra spicy, but still, I guess they aren't kidding about that part. It's not "melt your mouth off" hot like the picture of the League there seems to suggest. It certainly does have a SOLID kick, but it won't leave you coughing, gasping, or begging for milk. You feel it far more on the front of your tongue and almost not at all in the back.

All in all, I do believe that anyone with a little bit of spice tolerance could manage to finish a bowl. However... do you REALLY want to? It's just straight up not good chili. It reminds me of the kind of chili you get from church luncheon fundraisers in the Midwest USA, and that is NOT A GOOD THING.

Ollie... you make me feel sorry for all of your friends and anyone else you've ever managed to shove your cooking off on 🤢

______________________________________________________________

Let me know if there's any other DC recipes you'd like me to make!

[dreamseersystem]

Surprising @ask-sibverse with a T1DReader involving a baby Swad. Because Baby Floof is the best! @ancha-aus you might like this reverse take on tiny guardian babies too!

Also! This takes place in an ScienceFell AU! A concept made by @jumpybox and the Sans and Papyrus are known as Scifi and Ferrer. These two are based off her designs.

You heard the crying and didn't know what was going on. You were already dealing with the headache from having a rollercoaster night and getting woken up when you crashed on the couch was not what you were expecting at 7am. It just made your headache worse. The crying continues so you finally get up and try to pinpoint where it was coming from.

It sounded like it was outside your door so you opened it up to see... A baby? Not only that, it was a strange skeleton baby. They looked up at you with huge eyes, one was orange with a normal yellow eyelight while the other socket was red with a yellow eyelight in the shape of a sun. The tiny kid has wings on his back in a mix of orange, yellow, and red feathers with a halo over his head. And he was crying hard. You looked around, trying to see who left the baby at your doorstep. He looked about 2 years old or a bit younger. It was hard to tell since he was wrapped in some fur.

No one was around, and all was quiet other than the crying skeleton. You didn't feel you had a choice so you picked him up and held him in your arms. He ended up clinging to you as he cried, wings flapping in distress.

"Shh shh... It's okay. We will find your family little one," you said as you tried to comfort him. At that he looked at you and the crying slowed down a bit at hearing you wanted to find his family.

"Nini..." He tried to say. You didn't know who Nini was, but they must be important to the kid.

"We will find Nini, don't worry," you say as you rubbed his back between his wings. You walked out the door and stepped on something. Looking down you find a piece of paper that seems to be painted on with the word Dream. "Dream?" The kid perked up at hearing the word and pointed at him. You nodded and picked up the paper and put it in your pocket. Maybe Sans can help find his family.

"So your name is Dream. That's a pretty name sweetheart," you say to him. You give his wings pets which ended up making him purr. What to do now?

Dream started sniffling again and rubbed his stomach area from the clothes he was wearing. Which were a simple blue t shirt and yellow pants. Not something really suiting the baby. You sighed and took him inside. Wondering what kind of food baby skeletons eat. You didn't have magic milk or anything, but you did have that pudding Sans brother made for you in case of lows.

You took it out and grabbed a spoon as you tried to feed it to Dream. At first he stared like he didn't know what pudding was, so you showed him by taking a bite and holding up another spoonful to him. He ate it and hummed at the taste trying to grab at the bowl for more.

"Hey, I'll feed it to you sweetie. Give me a chance," You said as you fed him more. He kept grabbing at the spoon and made a mess of himself as he ate and chirped happily. At least he wasn't crying anymore. You fed him the rest of the pudding and he yawned in your arms and closed his eyes.

He was clinging to you hard, so you didn't think you could put him down. You sighed and went to clean him up at least. You needed to eat something yourself, probably gummies again, and then go to Sans's house. Maybe he would have answers about a new skeleton family in town that lost a kid.

After cleaning him and doing what you could clean the clothes and blanket, somehow the fur on the blanket is super clean despite being in the line of fire, you left the house with the sleeping baby clinging tight to you and not letting go. At least Sans's place was only down the block since you took walks past it and that was how you met him and Papyrus in the first place. You came to the door and knocked on it.

When the door opened, you found yourself face to face with the hooded skeleton that now lived with Sans. You believe he was a cousin of some sort. "Hey Dust, do you know where Sans is?"

Dust looked at you before he nodded, giving a look at the toddler in your arms. "He's in the basement with the others. Wait here," he said before going inside.

It wasn't long before Sans came up with another cousin you think was named Mutt. He had his own fluffy hoodie up as he looked at the scene before him. Sans took off the goggles over his sockets to give a better look at the situation.

"Y/N? Where the fuck did you find that baby?" He asked as he looked you up and down.

"I found him crying on my doorstep with only a piece of paper with his name," you said as you took out the paper and handed it to him. "Are there any new skeleton families that moved in? Or new family members?"

Sans shook his head and gave a look at the paper. He cursed under his breath, showing it to Mutt who made a face. "Did you see anyone around him?" The latter asked you.

"No? Just him," you say. "He was asking for someone named Nini too..."

Sans and Mutt gave a look at each other while Sans pulled out his cellphone and they walked away. You felt so confused and lost what was going on. They are acting like there are no new skeletons in the city. So where?

"Y/N! It's wonderful to see you! Who do you have there?" asked the voice of who you recognized as Papyrus. He was so not like the other monsters that came out of the mountain some years ago. His eyelights were green instead of red for one. And he always was working on new recipes with his cousin Axe.

"Umm... His name is Dream and I found him crying on my doorstep," you said as you shifted said baby as it was getting harder to hold him. You were not strong and was reaching your limit. Papyrus saw that and grabbed you to drag you inside to pull you to the couch.

"Sit sit, I insist!" He said. You sat down, grateful to take some pressure off your arms as you settle yourself to let Dream just drape to your chest. Papyrus seemed to coo at the sight and took a picture of it. "Poor dear. I'm guessing you told my brother? I saw him walking by to talk to Black and Dust with Mutt," he said.

"Yeah, but I'm so confused. He acted like this was a surprise or something..." You said.

Papyrus's face changed to a scowl as he glanced at where his brother and the others disappeared to. He made a growl grunt in his throat. "My brother is always a fucking idiot with his secrets," he said. He sighs as he gives you a look and pets the child gently. "Dream looks so pretty. I never would have known how wings would be on a skeleton."

"Really? This isn't a thing for you guys? I mean the halo is a bit odd but not as odd as the other monsters I've seen for the last couple years since moving here," you said.

"Yeah the wings and halo are not typical for a skeleton as far as I know," Papyrus said. "I'm sure Sans will figure it out or blow something up again."

You wondered at that and felt Dream shift as he woke up on your chest. He looks at you and nuzzles you. "Mama..." He said. You froze.

"I'm not... I mean..." You flailed internally at this new development.

"Oh dear... I wonder if he had parents in the first place. He synced your SOUL to his," Papyrus said.

"Wait... What?" You asked as Dream kept nuzzling you.

"It can happen with orphan kids. I did it to Sans when I was small," Papyrus explained. "We tend to sync SOULs up to the person that makes us feel the safest. So he might not have parents."

"But... He kept asking for Nini..." You said. Dream looked at that and sniffled as he repeated the name.

"He might have a sibling then. Is Nini your sibling Dream?" Papyrus asked. Dream looked at him and nodded as tears fell from his eyes.

"Nini, twin. Want Nini," Dream sniffles more. You pet him to help calm him down again. Now that you focus on it, it did seem like your heart was beating in time with his SOUL. So he really got attached to you quickly. You wonder where he even came from.

"We are going to find your twin, don't worry Dream," you say as you rub his back. He hugged you tight again and settled down in your arms. Papyrus smiled at the sight.

"You really make a good parent Y/N," he said.

"I don't know how. I was an only child," you said.

Sans and the group came into the living room at last as he and the others looked at you. "Okay, we got in contact with someone that can take him for now and find his family," he said.

"Who?" You asked him.

"Don't worry about it Y/N. Just know he is in good hands," Sans replied. Papyrus shook his head.

"That's not gonna work Sans. Dream synced to them," he said. Sans eye seemed to twitch at that.

"What do you mean? He needs to go back where he belongs," the other growled.

"Sans what are you talking about? Where does he belong? Do you know where his brother is?" You asked.

Black was the one who answered. "You don't need to worry about it. He doesn't belong here. If he synced with you he can desync just as easily," he huffed as he came over and tried to pick up Dream.

You held the child tighter out of instinct as Dream cried when he was attempted to be pulled off you. "Mama! Mama!" He cried as Black pulled on him.

"Get off him!" You growled at Black. You didn't care how dangerous he was. You've seen him train with Papyrus and Dust a few times.

"Don't make this any harder," Black growled back at you. A bone attack hit him in the chest and knocked him away from the pair of you.

"BLACK ARE YOU A FUCKING IDIOT?! THE CHILD ACCEPTED Y/N AS HIS PARENT NOW AND YOU KNOW BETTER THAN TO SEPARATE A NEW BOND LIKE THAT!" Papyrus growled as he held up his hand. "SANS! STOP YOU AND YOUR FUCKING JERK TEAM FROM TRYING TO TAKE THE KOD AWAY!"

Sans glared at his brother who glared at him right back and rubbed his face. "Fucking hell. Fine," he said. "I'll tell them about this..."

"You better and tell them to find his brother too! Twins shouldn't be separated!" Papyrus growled.

Black growled as he got back up but Mutt picked up his brother and started shoving Dust away too, tho he looked more bored at the events if anything. "Come on, let's take a breather for now."

The rest of the group left you and Papyrus alone. Dream clung to you with tears in his eyes again. You sighed.

"What do I do now?" You asked.

"I'll teach you about baby skeletons and their needs and help with food. Axe will too!" Papyrus said. "We can do this together!" You nod at that and looked at Dream sleeping again in your arms, sucking his thumb this time. You guess you are a parent now. Who ever would have guessed this would happen in your boring life? Not you that's for sure.

[koko-doodle]

Demon Vamp AU: Chapter 4

Summary: You’ve met two monsters now, brothers as it seems. What happens next, what kind of impression will you get from these strange monster twins?

Words: 3,136

Chapter 1: Life’s End

Chapter 2: Life Anew

Chapter 3: The Meeting

Chapter 4: First Impressions

AO3 Link

“You’ve been through a lot in the past 24 hours, I am certain you must be hungry or thirsty at least.” The monster in front of you says.

”No.” You quickly respond, hearing the word thirsty made you uncomfortable. You had only been a hybrid vampire for an hour, drinking blood…. was the last thing you wanted to do, now or anytime in the future. The monster seemed to understand where your thoughts were and his smile softened.

“I meant food dear, regular food. And a drink of water maybe? Or milk, we might even have some juice too if you’d prefer that.” He taps a finger on his temple while he looks over to the fridge with a thoughtful gaze. “I have quite a few things I can make; are you in the mood for some breakfast food or would you like something more like lunch? It may be afternoon already but you are just getting up.” He chuckles.

“You mean… you aren’t going to force me to…” You trial off, not even wanting to say the words out loud.

“Drink blood?” He finishes for you. “No, you will need to at some point but not right at this moment. You have enough to try and digest already, we don’t need to push things so quickly. Let’s just take things one step at a time, okay friend?”

You hear the vampire mutter something to himself across the room, glaring unhappily at the monster in front of you. It didn’t seem like he liked the idea of taking things slow but the monster simply waved a hand at him without turning to look at him.

“And don’t mind him, his bark is worse than his bite. He’s really just a shy monster with terrible social skills.”

“Excuse me?!” The vampire snaps.

“You know, we haven’t even had a proper introduction! How rude of me, terribly sorry friend. My name is Sun, the grump over there is my brother Moon. And you are?”

You give him your name and he gives you a small bow.

“Well it is lovely to meet you, albeit under…. troublesome circumstances.” You must have had an unpleasant look on your face because he nervously adjusted his collar and cleared his throat with an awkward smile.

“So, back to business! If you could have any kind of food right now what would it be? What sounds good to you? What are you craving right this very second?” Sun says, apparently still focused on feeding you.

“I don’t understand… Why would a vampire need food?” You ask confused. Moon bursts into laughter and Sun stifles a laugh himself.

“Vampires don’t only drink blood dear, that’s a human myth. We need it to survive, yes, but we can’t survive on blood alone. We eat food just like any other monster or human.” Sun replies, hiding his laughter behind a soft smile.

“I find human knowledge of monsters so funny, like, how did you manage to get the biology of monsters so wrong over the past 500 years? Did your ancestors not write that down somewhere?” Snarks moon in between laughs.

“It’s not- ahem. It’s not funny” Sun corrects, clearing laughter from his own throat. “Don’t be afraid to ask questions, I encourage you to. I uh, apologize for the inappropriate reaction, your question just caught us off guard.”

Moon is still chuckling in the corner, amused. You frown, diverting your gaze from the brothers. If they were human you might have been embarrassed by them laughing at you but they weren’t, it only made you mad and uncomfortable.

“So, food?” Sun asks again.

You sigh. “Anything?” You ask, figuring he wouldn’t stop asking til you answer. “Mmhm!” He nods. It took you a moment to think of something but an answer did eventually come to you. “French toast kind of sounds good...” You reply softly.

“Mmm good choice!” He claps, making his way to the fridge. “I have some eggs I actually need to use up so that works out perfectly. Do you want a drink while you are waiting? It will only take me a few minutes to whip it up for you.” He pulls a carton of eggs and milk out of the fridge and sets them on the counter.

”Just some water…” You respond, watching him busy at work gathering more things from various cabinets.

“Make me some too while you’re at it, that sounds good.” Moon chimes in with a mouthful of chips, shoving the bag back into the cabinet he was digging through.

“You can make your own, I’m still mad at you.” Sun retorts, cracking eggs into a bowl.

“Wha- seriously?! You are going to be all petty over this?” Moon says annoyed.

”We will discuss this later when we don’t have a guest listening.” Sun replies.

“You’re joking right? You’re really that mad?” Moon jests.

“LATER Moon.” Sun snaps back in a sharp tone. “Now be useful and get our friend a drink please.”

Moon grumbles angrily but eventually walks to a cabinet and grabs a glass, he then fills it with water from a pitcher he pulled from the fridge and slams the door shut making glass clink loudly together from within. When Sun shoots an unpleasant glance at him he just responds “Oops” and makes his way to you to hand you the drink. So far these two act like a pair of young teenagers or children, you had seen similar behavior in the youth around the towns you patrolled. You never had siblings so you can’t relate to the feeling of sibling rivalry but you at least know what it looks like. You can’t tell their age exactly but you guess they might be just a bit older than you, in appearance at least. Or were they younger than you? How do you even tell a monster's age?

”You are welcome to have a seat at the table while things cook, don’t feel like you have to stand there the whole time.” Sun says cheerily while whisking the egg mixture together with some spices.

You comply, sitting down at the small table that is directly across from the island that sat at the center of the room. You take small sips of the water and the cool sensation feels good against your dry throat and mouth. Moon takes a seat at a chair across the table from you and fiddles with the bell on his hood, soft chimes echoing in the room occasionally. He doesn’t look at you directly, he steals glances when you are busy observing other things around the room but as soon as you start to look back his way he shifts his gaze in the opposite direction. This went on for several minutes, the only sound was the sizzling of the stove Sun was cooking on and Moon’s bell. It was weird and kind of annoying. He clearly isn’t afraid to speak his mind so why he was avoiding you now is odd.

“What?” You bark after having enough of his strange staring. “What yourself, what’s your problem now?” He retorts.

”You’re staring at me, stop it.” You grumble.

“Don’t flatter yourself, I’m not staring at you. I’m simply observing you.” His bell jingles and he gives a sly smile.

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“It means I’m able to see you in more detail with the light, I can see better how inhuman you look now.” He places an elbow on the table and leans his head into his hand. “How does it feel to be a monster now dearest?” He sneers with a wicked smile.

You were about to protest with a snide remark when a wet towel hits him right in the face with a loud SMACK. He jolts back in his chair and rips the towel off his face in surprise, turning his head to glare angrily at Sun who was approaching with a plate in hand.

“Oops.” Sun says dully. “My hand slipped.” He sets the plate in front of you where two pieces of French toast were stacked artfully on top of another with a light dust of powdered sugar on each piece. There was a little square of butter on the top that was starting to melt into the bread, it smelled delicious and looked like something you would be served at a fancy diner of some sort.

“Here you go! It’s my mother’s special recipe, perfectly sweet but a hint of spice for some extra flavor. One of my favorite breakfast go-to’s as well.” He smiles down at you. “Oops! I forgot the syrup, silly me.” He makes his way back to the counter grabbing a bottle of syrup, some utensils, and another plate. He places the bottle and utensils in front of you then sets the other plate down in front of a chair next to you. He looks over to Moon who is still wiping the water from his face with a displeased look. “There is batter and bread on the counter, feel free to cook it yourself.” Sun says with a passive aggressive tone as he sits down.

Moon growls yet again glaring daggers at his brother who gives no reaction of course, until he finally relents and gets up to begin cooking his own breakfast for lunch. Sun waited patiently for you to pour the syrup on your plate before he did the same, although he didn’t start eating right away. He watches you with an eager expression as you take your first bite, that is, after he stared at you awkwardly enough for you to understand that he wanted you to start eating first. The taste was sweet mostly from the syrup and had the classic French toast flavor you were familiar with but there was a hint of something else. A spice taste lingered in your mouth after you had swallowed but it was not a hot kind of spice, it was a nutty and woody kind of flavor that reminded you of Christmas time. It was delicious.

“Sooooo? What do you think? And be honest, I haven’t cooked for many humans before so I don’t know if it’s an acquired taste or not.” He says.

”It’s good, I don’t think I’ve had any French toast that tastes like this before. What is that aftertaste?” You ask.

“Ground cinnamon and vanilla with a hint of nutmeg. Gives a little more kick to the flavor besides just eggs, milk, and bread.” He hums a soft laugh. “If you want more just let me know, I’m happy to get it for you.”

”Thanks…” You say softly.

It felt odd to thank a monster but he had been nothing but kind to you since you met, it seemed rude to not say something for preparing you a meal. Your head starts to spin with questions, not like you didn’t have many before but now it was hard to get your mind to focus on just one. Why was this monster being so nice to you? His brother was threatening to kill you moments earlier, didn’t he feel the same way? What did he mean when he said he ‘hasn’t cooked for a lot of humans’, were other humans down here? Where exactly is here anyway? And what was going to happen after you finished eating? It didn’t seem like Sun was going to let Moon treat you poorly at least, but he also gave no indication you could go back to the small village you patrolled. What would Jeremy or Mike think if they saw you, would they even recognize you? Probably not… Your life as a human is gone, even if you could manage to escape any knight would drive a blade straight through your heart the moment they see you.

Sun notices you stop eating and stare blankly at your plate, a hollow expression on your face. He sets his fork down gently.

“Hey, I know this is a lot to process and I can’t even imagine how you feel right now…” He pauses giving you a saddened look as if he is searching for the right words to say. “Why would you care how I feel? You don’t even know me…” You whisper, not sure if you even said it out loud or not.

“You’re right, I don’t. But I would like to.” He replies. “I know humans and monsters haven’t gotten along in the past but that doesn’t mean that is how it has to be. A lot of us don’t want a war, we don’t take pleasure in killing or fighting any more than humans do. We may be different in appearance and ability but that doesn’t make us evil. We aren’t soulless killers.”

”But villages and cities… they are being attacked by monsters, I’ve fought in them first hand I know what it looks like. Supplies are stolen, houses raided, humans injured or killed, brutally most of the time. How can you say you aren’t evil when you’ve only shown hostility towards us?” You ask.

”Have you ever given us a chance to speak for ourselves?” Moon says, placing his plate on the table loudly. “Your kind locked us down here under a barrier for 5 centuries, did you really think that wouldn’t cause hard feelings if the barrier were to ever break?” He sits, snatching the bottle of syrup.

”What my brother means is, yes there are some monsters who do resent humans for what they did but it is a small minority. Most of us just want to live in peace, to coexist once again like we had before the war.” Sun states.

“But you humans made your assumptions about all monsters based on the actions of a few. You’ve put your defenses up so high, we couldn’t approach you even if we tried. You’re humans, we’re monsters, you don’t care if we want to be friends; you strike first and ask questions later.” Moon shoves a big bite of French toast in his mouth and Sun sighs.

“That’s not true!” You argue.

”Isn’t it?” Moon says with a mouthful.

“Moon, manners.” Sun jabs a glare at him but he just shrugs.

You think about what he was saying and the more you think about it, the more you realize it might be true. You were told from the beginning that monsters were bad, that they want nothing more to enslave humanity but that was based on knowledge from hundreds of years ago. If people can change so can monsters, maybe humans had thrown up their defenses too quickly. Moon might have a point, and that thought filled you with rage.

“If you want to be friends with humans so bad then why would you turn one? Why threaten to kill them moments after you claim you ‘saved’ their life. If being forced to become your play thing is what you call friendship then I’ll gladly decline your generous offer.” You hiss, your mind flitting back to earlier when he threw you against the wall. “If you truly want to make peace then reverse what you did and let me go.”

Moon only smiles and chuckles sinisterly, taking another bite of his food.

“I’m afraid that isn’t possible…” laments Sun. You look at him, trying not to let a pleading expression cross your face. “Vampire blood now runs in your veins and it’s bonded to your soul, your body has undergone a permanent physical transition. There is no way to undo it, even if we could you would go back to how you were before the blood entered your system which means you would be dead. What's done cannot be undone… I’m sorry…” He reaches out a hand and places it gently on yours, trying to comfort you.

You pull your hand away from his.

”So that’s it then. I’m stuck like this with no choice but to be some sort of hybrid pet for you to play with? Just some- some THING that isn’t supposed to even exist. Something to keep you entertained from your boring lives!” You huff, your gaze looking coldly across the table at Moon. “I’d rather be dead.”

They both say nothing. Moon stops eating and fiddles with the fork in his hand, your stare seeming to make him consider the situation for the first time. Sun looks at you, to his brother, then resigns to staring at his plate. You all sat in silence for what seemed like forever, not knowing what to say next. It was taking everything in you not to let all the weight of your thoughts come crashing down on you. You feel helpless and vulnerable, the same feelings you felt when your parents died. You’re alone again. The unknown of the future and great burden from the events unfolding, it was making you feel sick to your stomach.

“I don’t know what my brother has said to you but I do know that what he did was wrong and unfair. He had no right to do what he did to you but I can promise that you are not going to be some pet.” Sun says softly, his words feeling like they echo through the room. “We’ll help you through this, teach you what you need to know and answer any questions you have. We will go at your pace, whatever you feel comfortable with. You have my word that no harm will come to you while you are here. You will not be forced to do anything you don’t want to.”

Sun’s eyes lock with yours and you can see very faint indications of pale irises that you hadn’t noticed before. His expression is genuine, showing no sign of ill intent or hostility. He has a softer aura about him that Moon doesn’t have, a friendly and inviting one that makes you feel like you can truly trust him and his word. His actions in the short time you’ve known each other have been nothing but kind, maybe this monster really could be trusted. Perhaps even a chance that you could be friends.

“Is that enough to put your mind at ease at least a little?” Sun asks, concern in his voice.

You look over to Moon, his eyes narrow as his gaze was set on his brother then briefly flits to you. There was an expression there that only lasted a split second, so brief that you feel you could have imagined it. It wasn’t a look of frustration or anger, when his eyes shifted between the two of you, it was… softer. Guilt maybe? Concern? Confusion? No. Whatever it was it was hidden well behind his cold, sharp eyes. He was heartless, he made that very clear already.

You take a deep, shaky breath.

“It’s a start.”

[sassyfrassboss]

Sounds weird but I’m trying to lose weight after becoming basically very fat from pandemic and mental health issues and just wondering if you and others have any workout recommendations or tips ? I will do it all safely and I eat properly too!

So I gained some weight as well during the pandemic. Here are some things that helped me get back on track.

I bought a Peloton bike, however the app is amazing and I downloaded it to my TV to do other exercises. I also have a Fit Bit to keep track of my steps/exercise. I also make sure to take the dog on a 2 mile walk 3-4x per week...used to be longer but it is hard with my schedule now we are back to in office. One thing is that I am SUPER competitive with others and myself so that helps me try and reach my daily goals. Also you can turn cleaning house or chores into an easy workout. There are also exercises you can find on Pinterest. Like 30 day challenges that are really good depending on where you want to tone.

A thing that is VERY important is a food scale. I weight ALL of my food to the serving size and keep a mental (used to write it down) track of my daily caloric intake.

Foods high in fiber are SUPER important. I eat a Baby Spinach salad every day that I weigh out that has an assortment of veggies. I usually do a protein smoothie in the morning. You can find a list of lean meats that you should try and stick to. The leaner the better and the more ounces you can have. That fattier the meat the more you need to eat less.

Do your BMI and see how much fiber you should be getting daily.

I also have pretty much cut out bread/pasta as much as I can. Every now and then I indulge but carbs sit like a lead weight for me.

I have a printed grocery list so I know exactly what I need each week to stay within budget but also to make healthy choices.

I only have water & milk in the house so no sodas or juices which contain tons of sugar. The milk is for my kiddo but I use personally almond milk. Even got my dad to switch to it from normal milk to help with his high blood pressure. You need to make sure you drink half your body weight in water daily. This will help more than you know.

An app that can help with better food choices is Fooducate. You can scan the barcode of food that is ranked by nutritionists. See where it is scored and search for healthier alternatives. You can also enter in all the food you eat during the day and it will show you where you need to adjust.

Another thing is to keep an itemized budget. When you add up all the $ you spend on eating out/unhealthy, it really knocks some sense into you how much $ you are wasting with bad habits.

When you start to clean eat and exercise, you will feel like crap for a few days but the energy you will have after about 4-5 days will change your life. Believe me.

[mydearsnooopy]

Classic Matcha Recipe🌟

The classic matcha latte stands as a favorite among health-conscious individuals, including pink Pilates princesses and green juice enthusiasts who have been dominating Pinterest. Do you not know how to make matcha? I got you. Here is a easy recipe for this drink!🩰🌟

Ingredients:

1 tsp high-quality matcha powder

1 cup hot water (not boiling)

1 cup milk of your choice (almond, soy, oat, or cow's milk)

1-2 tsp honey or sweetener of choice (optional, adjust to taste)

Instructions:

Sift the Matcha: Using a fine mesh strainer or a matcha sifter, sift the matcha powder into a small bowl. This step ensures there are no clumps, resulting in a smoother and more enjoyable latte.

Whisk the Matcha: Pour the hot water into a separate bowl. It's essential not to use boiling water to preserve the delicate flavors of matcha. Water around 175°F (80°C) is ideal.

Using a bamboo matcha whisk or a small electric frother, vigorously whisk the matcha powder and hot water together until a frothy layer forms on the surface.

Heat the Milk: In a saucepan, gently heat the milk of your choice until it's steaming hot but not boiling. You can also use a milk frother to heat and froth the milk simultaneously for an even creamier texture.

Combine and Sweeten (optional): Pour the frothy matcha mixture into your favorite mug, followed by the hot milk. If desired, add honey or your preferred sweetener to enhance the flavor. Adjust the sweetness level to suit your taste.

Enjoy: Give your matcha latte a gentle stir to ensure the flavors blend harmoniously. Savor each sip of this soul-soothing elixir, reveling in the balanced fusion of earthiness and creaminess that makes the classic matcha latte an unparalleled tea experience.

Tips:

Experiment with different milk varieties to find your perfect matcha latte. Each milk type brings its unique flavor profile to the mix.

To make it frothier, shake the milk in a sealed container before heating or use a handheld milk frother after heating.

Feel free to garnish your matcha latte with a sprinkle of matcha powder or a dusting of cinnamon for an extra touch of elegance.

[madmitha]

Mushroom Recipes:

Certainly! Here are some delicious mushroom recipes that showcase the versatility and flavor of mushrooms:

1. Classic Sautéed Mushrooms

Ingredients:

2 cups of button or cremini mushrooms, sliced

2 tablespoons olive oil

2 cloves garlic, minced

Salt and pepper, to taste

1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped (optional)

Instructions:

Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat.

Add garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.

Add mushrooms and cook, stirring occasionally, for 5-7 minutes or until they are golden brown and tender.

Season with salt and pepper to taste. Garnish with parsley if desired.

Serving Suggestion: Serve as a side dish, or on top of steaks, burgers, or pasta.

2. Creamy Mushroom Risotto

Ingredients:

1 cup arborio rice

1/2 cup white wine

4 cups vegetable or chicken broth, kept warm

1 cup mushrooms (shiitake, cremini, or a mix), sliced

1 small onion, finely chopped

2 cloves garlic, minced

1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese

2 tablespoons butter

2 tablespoons olive oil

Salt and pepper, to taste

Fresh parsley, chopped (optional)

Instructions:

Heat olive oil and 1 tablespoon of butter in a large pan over medium heat.

Add onion and garlic, cook until translucent.

Add mushrooms and cook until softened.

Stir in arborio rice and cook for 2 minutes.

Add white wine and cook until absorbed.

Gradually add warm broth, one ladle at a time, stirring frequently until the rice is creamy and cooked through.

Stir in the remaining butter and Parmesan cheese. Season with salt and pepper.

Garnish with parsley before serving.

Serving Suggestion: Enjoy as a main course or side dish.

3. Stuffed Portobello Mushrooms

Ingredients:

4 large portobello mushrooms

1 cup cooked quinoa or rice

1/2 cup chopped spinach

1/2 cup diced tomatoes

1/4 cup feta cheese, crumbled

2 cloves garlic, minced

2 tablespoons olive oil

Salt and pepper, to taste

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).

Remove the stems from the portobello mushrooms and scoop out the gills.

In a bowl, mix quinoa or rice, spinach, tomatoes, feta cheese, garlic, olive oil, salt, and pepper.

Stuff the mushroom caps with the mixture.

Place mushrooms on a baking sheet and bake for 20 minutes, or until the mushrooms are tender.

Serving Suggestion: Serve as an appetizer or a light main course.

4. Mushroom Soup

Ingredients:

1 lb (450g) mixed mushrooms (cremini, shiitake, etc.), sliced

1 small onion, chopped

2 cloves garlic, minced

4 cups vegetable or chicken broth

1 cup heavy cream or coconut milk

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves

Salt and pepper, to taste

Instructions:

Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat.

Add onion and garlic, cook until translucent.

Add mushrooms and cook until they release their moisture and start to brown.

Add broth and thyme, bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 15 minutes.

Use an immersion blender to blend the soup until smooth. Alternatively, blend in batches using a stand blender.

Stir in the cream and season with salt and pepper.

Serving Suggestion: Serve hot with crusty bread.

5. Mushroom and Spinach Quesadillas

Ingredients:

1 cup mushrooms (button or cremini), sliced

1 cup fresh spinach

1/2 cup shredded cheese (cheddar, mozzarella, or your choice)

1 tablespoon olive oil

4 tortillas

Salt and pepper, to taste

Instructions:

Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat.

Add mushrooms and cook until softened.

Add spinach and cook until wilted. Season with salt and pepper.

Heat a separate skillet over medium heat. Place one tortilla in the skillet and sprinkle half of the cheese on one half of the tortilla.

Spoon half of the mushroom and spinach mixture over the cheese, then fold the tortilla in half.

Cook until the tortilla is golden and the cheese is melted, flipping once.

Repeat with remaining ingredients.

Serving Suggestion: Cut into wedges and serve with salsa or sour cream.

These recipes highlight the versatility of mushrooms and their ability to enhance a wide range of dishes. Enjoy experimenting with these ideas in your kitchen!