#we love vegetable skewers

[bubzterr]

nice brother loser. sure would be a shame if something HAPPENED to it

ft

[hannahbarberra162]

Not My Monkey, Chapter 2

on Ao3

Link to Chapter 1

Dining with the Strawhats is just as you would expect.

The song the Reader hums and sings with Sanji is this ad: https://youtu.be/FbQt8pYUY6Q?si=qtAVuaC_wUggmSQd

~~~

You tore your gaze from Blue Maui to glance at the rest of the crew. Luffy was sitting and pounding his fists on the table, chanting for meat. Robin was sitting next to the android and chatting, with her hand on his oversized forearm. The green swordsman was slouching with his arms crossed next to a tiny…deer. Who was talking to a giant skeleton with an afro. Alright. Nami sat next to you and Usopp, with Sanji coming from the kitchen with a serving platter. A strange group of people, but hey, you were dead so it’s not like you could talk. 

Sanji served you first, even before the Captain, which surprised you. “A vegetarian meal for our dearest Reader,” Sanji said. He looked anxious and he was hovering over you. He clearly wanted you to try the food in front of him and give him a review. He gave you glazed carrots, a spring style salad, and a bean and mushroom stew served over rice. 

He didn’t need to be nervous, it all looked incredible. You weren’t the main cook in your previous relationship, that had been mostly done by your partner. You were satisfied eating the same boring things over and over daily, which you’d done for the past few years. You picked up your fork and sampled the glazed carrots. It was unbelievable, the carrots practically melting on your tongue. Your taste buds were singing, you didn’t think carrots could be so rich. You sampled each item he’d prepared while he flitted back and forth, serving the rest of the crew, starting with the women. 

“Sanji, this is outstanding! I’ve never eaten anything like this before, you’re such a talented chef.” The carrots, the stew, the salad, everything tasted like it had been made by a French chef. Sanji beamed at you.

“I apologize, we are running low on supplies right now. At the next island, I’ll buy more vegetables. Most of the crew prefers a more meat heavy diet.” This was him running low on supplies? You couldn’t wait to see what he whipped up with a fully stocked kitchen.

“MEAT! MEAT! MEAT! MEAT!…” Luffy continued to chant over Sanji speaking to you.

“LUFFY, SHUT UP! I’m speaking to our lovely Reader,” Sanji sighed and went to fetch food for Luffy. Once the food was placed in front of him, Luffy was like a vacuum. You made a mental note to keep your hands and feet away from his mouth during meal time. He reminded you of that game, Kirby, where the little pink guy would literally inhale food. Or a dog with food aggression. Luffy was using both hands, double fisting the meat and eating as rapidly as humanly possible. 

“Would you like to introduce our new Reader, Luffy?” Robin asked politely.

“Oh yeah, this is Misty,” Luffy said while chewing, gesturing to you with one meat skewer. It took everything in you not to chide him for speaking with his mouth full. Who raised this kid? 

“Actually, her name is also Robin, but we are calling her Misty to avoid confusion,” Robin clarified. “She is our new Reader, but she does not know any information about our world, including who we are. It's a fresh start for all of us, so let’s go around and introduce ourselves. Appropriately. ” Robin gave a look to the android and skeleton, emphasizing the last word.

“She’s obviously lying,” interjected the green haired swordsman.

“No, I’m not, I really -” you started to argue with him but were interrupted by Sanji, who already had his foot on the swordsman's shoulder. 

“How dare you accuse our newest, sweetest Mellorine of lying?!” He was in the green guy’s face on your behalf, it looked like they might fight again. 

“Thank you, Sanji, but I understand his hesitation. But I promise, I really don’t know anything about this world. I haven’t even been to the sea before. I guess that’s one thing off my bucket list.” Well, you’d already kicked the bucket so you weren’t sure that it counted. 

“Whaddya mean? Never been to the sea?” asked Luffy, still chewing with his mouth open. You shrugged.

“I mean, I’ve been in lakes and rivers and pools and things like that. I always wanted to visit the ocean before I died. Where I lived, the ocean was really far away. It was always a little too expensive to go so I never did.” It made you sad to think you'd spend nearly your whole life working and for what? You didn't get to the Pacific, you didn't travel to Fiji, you didn't get to do a lot of things you'd wanted before you apparently died.

“We’ve heard about their world before, others have shared similar sentiments. To Zoro’s point, I do not believe she is lying. I’ve been monitoring her interactions and she does not seem to know any prior information.” Robin had been watching you? You hadn’t seen her following you around. But at least she was corroborating that you weren’t lying. So the green haired guy was Zoro. He still hadn’t introduced himself.

“I’m Franky, the shipwright. It’s SUUUUUPER nice to meet you.” He had exquisite blue hair shaped like a sailing ship. Maybe wild hair colors were natural in this world. You hoped so, you absolutely loved it.

“I like your hairstyle,” you complimented. 

“Thanks, sis,” Franky responded, making a finger gun and running his hand along the side of his hair. It was clearly a source of pride for him, as was only right for such a good style. Next, the skeleton put down his cup of tea.

“I’m Brook, the Soul King. I'm the musician on the crew and I’d love to see -” Nami bonked him over the head before he could finish his sentence. Hard.

“Don’t you dare! Robin just asked everyone to behave!” She was quick, that was for sure. And based on his reaction, fairly strong.

“-your panties,” he finished despite the bonk. 

“No. Don’t ask again,” you replied. Ew. But also he was a nine foot tall skeleton, so his sense of decorum might have been off. He had kind of a Hendrix / Slash vibe going on, complete with afro. You really should commend whoever made this world, the hair here was fantastic.

The little deer put down his milk and said in a serious tone, “I’m Chopper, the ship’s doctor.” It would have been more impressive if he didn’t have a milk mustache when he told you this. Talking skeleton, talking deer, rubber people, dead people, this ship was like a haunted house mixed with Disneyland. At least your life was ending with a bang. “I can help you if you have a headache from the timespace travel, it’s happened to a few of our readers.” 

After thanking Chopper, the last of the group, Blue Maui, introduced himself as well. “I am Jinbe, the ship’s helmsman. It is a pleasure to meet you,” he said, giving you a bow. Your heart and face warmed. You knew it didn’t mean anything - it was basically the same introduction everyone else had given you as well. But coming from someone as good looking as Jinbe, you couldn’t help it. What, were you 12 again?

“Pleased to meet you as well,” you replied smiling. Luffy interrupted your very brief conversation with his mouth full.

“So if you’re shipwrecked on an island, and there were only animals there,” Luffy began as you inwardly groaned, already knowing where this was going, “would you eat one to survive?”

You laughed. “You know what’s funny? I die and come to this world only to be asked the same questions as the last one. I would. But it’s not something I worry about.”

“So who’s your favorite?” Luffy continued, beaming at you.

You weren’t sure exactly what he was asking. “My favorite what?”

“Your favorite Strawhat!” Luffy smiled, but you saw Sanji and Usopp tense slightly.

“Luffy, she doesn’t know us. She doesn't have a favorite like our previous readers,” Robin interrupted her Captain. “I do not know if she is even aware we are the Strawhat Pirates.”

Luffy shoved more meat into his mouth before replying, “oh, right. Well, we’re the Strawhats. Cus of my hat. And your favorites probably gonna be me. Or Zoro. Or Nami. That’s who everyone says.” Luffy grinned widely. You didn’t reply but it seemed kind of rude to pick favorites in front of the other crew members. 

“You’re not always everyone’s favorite!” interjected Usopp, the conversation hitting a nerve.

“I am! It’s my show! I’m the antagonist-” Luffy yelled back.

“Protagonist,” corrected Robin, now sipping on some tea.

“This isn’t a show, it's just life!” continued Usopp. “You’re not the main character, that’s not how it works.” Luffy pouted but kept eating.

“Let’s get a round going for the new reader!” exclaimed Nami, trying to change the subject. 

“Brilliant idea Nami-swan! Dearest Misty, what would you prefer to drink? We have some sake, wine, and ale. You are our guest, you choose first. ” Sanji came to your side immediately, like a waiter on demand.

“Oh, I don’t drink,” you replied, “but it doesn’t bother me if anyone else does.” Zoro (who still hadn’t introduced himself) snorted.

“What kinda life is that? No meat, no booze. What’s the fuckin’ point?” he scoffed. 

You laughed lightly. “I would have said the same when I was 20. Just not my style anymore.” 

“So go get the booze shitcook, she said we can drink,” Zoro turned to Sanji, already ignoring you. You could see Sanji puffing up for a fight already.

“If she’s not drinking, you’re not drinking either, you stupid mossbrain! You don’t get shit anyway for insulting her!” They were already in each other’s faces. No one else had paused their side conversations to listen or watch. You wondered how many times a day this happened. Zoro and Sanji went back and forth, though you noticed Zoro didn’t stop eating his food and Sanji didn’t put down his tray. Everyone else had returned to their side conversations, ignoring the two men completely. The crew seemed cohesive, like everyone was on good terms with each other. Even Zoro and Sanji's fighting wasn't disturbing the overall vibe of the dinner. It was loud, animated, chaotic, and reminded you of Sunday night dinners with your own family. You enjoyed it for a few minutes, eating your meal and watching the dynamics of the crew. 

Everyone was wrapping up their meals and finishing their food. Usopp and Nami got up to leave, but left their dirty plates on the table. “ Excuse me, take your plates to the sink. No one’s coming behind to pick up after you,” you snapped at them. The room went silent as they stared at you. Oops. Having several bad roommates and coworkers over many years had left a few ingrained habits. “Uh, sorry, didn’t mean that. Just tell me where I can put my plate.”

“Leave it on the table, Twirlybrow cleans up,” replied Zoro.

“Why? Didn’t he cook the food?” you asked, confused. It was basically a sin where you grew up to leave your plate on the table, much less for the cook. Didn’t they rotate the cleaning?

“So? He likes it,” Zoro was being petulant, probably because of whatever he had going on with the cook. 

“Again, sorry, I didn't mean to overstep. It’s just that where I’m from, if you cook, you don’t clean. That’s always how it is. But, not my circus,” you said, putting your hands up in apology. You didn’t mean to offend, but the man had just cooked a multi course meal for eleven, plated and served it. Surely he didn’t have to clean up everything by himself too. It felt unfair, but it wasn’t your place to change the way things were.

“Whassat mean? Not my circus?” Luffy asked, finally full of food. His belly was stretched comically large, seemed like being made of rubber had its benefits.

“Oh, it’s a common saying. ‘Not my circus, not my monkeys.’ Meaning, it isn’t my place to say anything. You know like, not my problem, not my business.” Luffy smiled at you.

“I am your monkey! Monkey D. Luffy! Thanks Sanji!” With that, Luffy got up and took his plate, putting it into the sink. Usopp and Nami did the same, bringing their plates with them after watching their Captain. One by one, the crew thanked Sanji and brought their plates to the sink until it was just you and Sanji left. You still had a lot of food on your plate and you weren’t done eating yet. 

“Sorry, I’ve always been a slow eater, especially when I’m in a group or talking with other people. I can finish this later.” You felt bad stopping him from beginning on the overwhelming amount of dishes he was going to have to do. 

“No, no. Please. Enjoy at your leisure mon cherie. It’s nice to see someone who doesn’t just shove everything down their throat.” Sanji was a little off, he wasn’t saying anything cringy or chivalrous in your honor, just clearing off the table.

“Sorry that I butted in. I didn’t mean to disrupt the way things are here,” you offered. 

“No, I - I appreciate the sentiment.” Sanji said, back turned to you.

“I can help you clear the table if you wish, or wash some dishes. I can’t fight and don’t have super-powers like everyone else but I definitely know my way around dish soap,” you tried for a light hearted approach. “My mom really drilled into us that whoever cooks doesn’t clean. It’s hard for me to watch you and not help, especially after you just cooked such an incredible meal.” Sanji smiled at you, but it didn’t reach his eyes. 

“It is no burden on me, mon coeur. Please, eat. You are a guest on the ship, and a lady besides.” You dropped it as the chef began cleaning again, clearing the table of serving platters and pitchers, bringing them to be washed. You watched him as you ate, asking him about the preparation of the dishes you were eating. Once you got him talking about food, he dropped a lot of the chivalrous talk and spoke passionately about his love of food and drink. He was calm and patient, answering all your questions. It was obvious he excelled in his field, both from your empty plate and the amount of knowledge he had. Once you were done, you stacked your silverware, cup and plate and brought them to the sink. Sanji was elbow deep in dishes, and he would be for a while. 

“C’mon, let me help you. This is gonna take you hours to do alone.” 

“Ladies shouldn’t have to life a finger -” Sanji began.

You cut him off. “I don’t have to, I want to. It would…make me happy?” You ended the sentence on a higher register. You figured that if he was really a chivalrous guy, he would take your wants and desires into consideration. 

Sanji blinked up at you with his one visible eye, surprise registering before it was hidden. “It would make you happy? But you only have precious little time left, you want to spend it washing dishes?” What was this guy’s deal? Did no one ever help him before? You’d never fought so hard to wash dishes in your life.

“Well, I want to spend every day eating more of your scrumptious food. Which means that the utensils, pots, pans, bowls, everything has to be washed and cleaned, right? Kind of goes hand in hand.” 

“Alright, just this once mon mie. If it would make you happy.”

“It would,” you replied firmly. With that, he moved over, giving you some space at the sink. You’d had a dishwasher at your house for years, but growing up everything was washed by hand. You had countless hours of experience doing the dishes, and there weren’t any differences between your world and this one on how to scrub a dirty fork. You and the chef fell into an amicable silence, working side by side.

Something you hadn’t anticipated was that there was no background noise on the ship. Sure, there were the sounds of the waves, of some sea birds, of the crew on board. But for the past few years you’d gotten used to always having something on to provide white noise - the television or YouTube mostly. You were used to passively listening to music or long form videos while you cooked, cleaned, did laundry, any basic repetitive task. So standing quietly next to the cook made your mind wander to music. 

Obviously, you didn’t have access to your music from home. You tried to think of songs to sing in your head to keep yourself busy. But, as it turned out, you didn’t know the complete lyrics to all that many songs, even though you listened to music constantly. You could remember bits and pieces, or remember the tune, but there weren’t that many songs you could sing from beginning to end. It seemed like the only songs you could remember the lyrics to were either Top 40s hit ending in 2012, songs from your childhood, or songs from the Disney movies your nieces liked. You were deep in your mind, trying to conjure up some songs to sing to, when the cook asked you what you were humming.

“Beg your pardon?” you hadn’t realized you were humming out loud.

“Oh, I was just wondering what song you were humming. I haven’t heard that one before. It’s always entertaining to learn new songs from Readers.”

“Ah. Sorry. Um, it’s nothing, just a commercial jingle, I’m sorry. I’ll stop,” you turned a little red. 

“No, no. I liked it a lot. Does it have lyrics?”

And so you taught Sanji the words to 877-CASHNOW. By the time the two of you were finishing the dishes, you were calling and responding to one another with gusto. It was quite fun, and you were glad the young chef was humoring you. When the last dish was dry, you patted him on the arm. 

“Thanks for indulging me, Sanji. You have quite a pleasant singing voice. We’ll do it again soon.” He didn’t know you’d be helping him a lot on dish duty. You’d tell him later, you had a feeling he was going to fight you on it. But you wanted to be useful, and it had actually been a fun way to pass the time. 

“The pleasure is all mine,  mon cherie. I’m done much earlier than I usually am, for which I have you to thank.” Sanji lit up a cigarette. You’d seen him smoking earlier, but not during dinner service. But you didn’t know any chefs who didn’t smoke, so you weren’t going to give him grief over it.

“Thank you for dinner, Sanji.” You patted his head like a little boy and left the galley. Outside the crew was relaxing and enjoying the cool evening air together.

“What’s a structured settlement?” Luffy yelled across the deck. You laughed.

“Oh, sorry. I didn’t know you could hear us. I’ll keep it down next time.” You hoped your singing wasn’t too off key.

“Why do you do that?” Luffy asked, walking towards you while picking his nose.

“Sing? I’ve always liked it. I’m not good by any means, but it’s fun -”

“No, apologize all the time. You’re always saying sorry but you don’t do anything you need to apologize for.” 

You fidgeted, rubbing the tips of your fingers together. “Oh, sorry, bad habit, I guess. I’ll try to stop.” Luffy flicked a booger onto the deck and sat down cross legged without washing his hands. Gross.

“You don’t need to be sorry for being here. We want you here.” Luffy said, his hands resting on his feet. For being a gross teenager, he was perceptive. You did worry a little about being a burden on the crew, even if it was only for a short while. You had always been a people pleaser, even when you were a child. It had gotten better for a little while in adulthood, but recently you’d fallen back into old habits. You didn’t like relying on other people without providing anything in exchange. Maybe that’s why you fought Sanji so hard on washing the dishes. It wasn’t like it was a chore you loved doing, it was something you knew you could do. You’d think about what Luffy said more.

“Thank you, Luffy. That’s kind of you to say.” You almost patted his head too, but you remembered the boogers. Maybe after he bathed. You noticed Nami had come up, waiting for you to finish your conversation with Luffy.

“Come on, I’ll give you a tour of the ship,” she said. “We can pop by the living quarters too, Robin’s set something up for you.” You agreed, following the orange haired woman. 

“So, the ship’s called the ‘Going Sunny,’ it’s like the ‘Going Merry’ and ‘1,000 Sunny’ mixed together. I don’t know how Franky did it, but he took the Merry and combined it with the Sunny and this is what we ended up with. A Reader once gave us a good drawing of the 1,000 Sunny and Franky used the best parts of both ships." You didn’t know what she was talking about but you nodded anyway. She took you around the ship, starting with the top deck and working your way down to the bottom. It was an incredible ship - there was a tangerine grove, the head of a ram on the keel, a huge fish tank, a spa level bathing area, even a library. You had never seen anything like it. Finishing with the crew quarters, Nami showed you where you would be sleeping. It was a small cot between her bed and Robin’s. Nothing fancy, but you hoped you wouldn’t need to use it too much. You only had three weeks left to live, and you wanted to make the most of it. 

[venturelovebot]

Fluffcember Day Nineteen: Fondue

A/N: Prompt list is by @fluff-cember! Written in headcanon format. Comments and reblogs are deeply appreciated but not necessary!

Warnings: None! Pure fluff!

🎄 "Let's see– oil, cheese or chocolate?" They look at the menu with their mouth watering.

🕊️ "There's hotpot options, too." You point out.

🪽 "Everything sounds so good! How about we get a little bit of everything?" They look over at you with starry eyes.

⛄️ "Let's start with one." You tell them. "Then, we'll go from there. Okay?"

❄️ They nod.

☕️ "Alright. Let's see here..." You look over the tiny text once more. "Cheese comes with various types of bread, oil comes with meats and chocolate comes with desserts. So, it sounds like we should start with cheese."

🍪 Their stomach growls just thinking about it.

🎁 The waiter arrives after about ten minutes to take your order.

💫 The first round was cheese– and the waiter then leaves and returns with your choice of drinks.

🔔 Sloan, on the other hand, could hardly sit still just thinking about all the food they were going to stuff themself with.

🎄 "You're kicking your feet under the table." You look at them with a mild look of concern. "Do you need to use the restroom? I can get up..."

🕊️ "No!" They try their hardest to calm themself. "I just love good food. I can't help it!"

🪽 Gah– your heart can't take it. They were truly so, so adorable.

⛄️ You nestle into them in an attempt to settle them down. It works briefly enough, until the waiter returns with several blocks of cheese.

❄️ He slides said blocks inside the fondue pot and turns it on a relatively mild heat. Some white wine is poured into the mixture afterwards.

☕️ Then, he places a large plate of various breads and vegetables onto the table and continues on his way.

🍪 Not even two seconds afterwards they're already stabbing a metal stick through a piece of a potato and dipping it into the mixture.

🎁 "Blow on it!" You warn them as soon as their mouth opens.

💫 "Right!" They do as they're told.

🔔 You take your time picking out what you want, getting a little bit of everything to try.

🎄 Suddenly you understand Sloan's excitement. It was good– maybe a little too good.

🕊️ Before the two of you even realize it, you're out of literally everything.

🪽 The waiter returns to switch out the hotpot with boiling oil this time.

⛄️ A collection of meats is set down next. It has everything from beef to shrimp to chicken and more.

❄️ Various herbs float along the bubbling surface as the two of you prepare your skewers once again.

☕️ "Let's see..." They stab a piece of beef on first, then a mushroom and topped with yet another piece of beef.

🍪 In it goes– they let it sit for a minute or two before pulling it out fully cooked.

🎁 They carefully take several breaths and blow gently on the surface before it all ends up in their mouth.

💫 They want to cry– but this time it isn't from the heat.

🔔 It really was just that delicious!

🎄 You try your hardest to eat slower this time around, but to no avail.

🕊️ Every available piece was gone before either of you got to fully savor it all.

🪽 All that was left was the chocolate course– and if you thought the cheese and oil portions were short lived, neither of you could handle yourselves once the chocolate arrived.

⛄️ Cheesecake slices, strawberries, bananas, marshmallows, shortbread, pretzels and wafer sticks piled in the dozens.

❄️ Not a single one left after your devastating attacks.

☕️ The two of you huddle together as the waiter returns with your bill. Sloan pays for it this time, leaving a generous tip before laying against you for a moment longer.

🍪 "I don't know if we'll make it to the car." You sigh.

🎁 "It's okay. Let's just hobble over until we get there." They suggest.

💫 It takes several minutes just to make it back to the parking lot– but there's no regret it in the slightest.

��� You're both warm, happy and incredibly full. Neither of you would have it any other way.

[choicescommunityevents]

Thank you for joining our first Choices Picnic! It was a lovely event!

Here is how our picnic turned out:

10 fandom members contributed to

28 MCs, OCs, and LIs joining the event who brought

15 different types of food

10 different types of drinks

21 different types of desserts

15 different games/activities

[Event prompts and info] [Full list of community prompts, polls, and quizzes]

Who joined the picnic? [x]

@cadybear420

Aiden x Evie

@dr-colossal-pita

Ethan x Oliver

@gutsfics

Noah x Devi

Thomas x Avalon

@jerzwriter

Ethan x Kaycee

Tobias x Casey

@lovealexhunt / @theartoflovingthomashunt / @storyofmychoices

Bryce x Olivia

Keiki

Mal x Daenarya

Thomas x Alex

@masked-alien-lesbian

Aislinn x Verity

Hana x Raelyn

@peonyblossom

Ajay x Matty

Emmett x Brooklyn

Ethan x Sydney

Thomas x Jackie

@pulpitude

Mia

Lia

Joss

Linc

Abel

@trappedinfanfiction

Ethan x Celia

Trystan x Sophia

@tveitertotwrites

Derek x Charlie

Ethan x Claire

Thomas x Brooklyn

Tobias x Adelaide

What will we be eating + drinking? [x]

Food

Banana Chips with light maple syrup

Buttermilk Fruit Scones

Charcuterie Board (2)

Chips

Fresh Baked Bread

Fresh Vegetable Quinoa Salad

Gamja-Salad

Grilled Meat Skewers

Ketchup Chips

Korean Fried Chicken

Pasta Salad

Pizza

Pineapple

Sandwiches (2)

Strawberries

Trail Mix

Drinks

Alcoholic Drinks

Cabernet Sauvignon

Chocolate Milk

Coconut Custard Pie

Fruit Salad

Nanaimo Bars

Non-Alcoholic Drinks

Orange Infused Cold Brew

Sodas

Strawberry Lemonade

Sweet Cocktails

Sweet Iced Tea

Wine selection

What are we eating (desserts) [x]

Apple Pie

Berry Pinwheel Pasteries

Coconut Cake

Cookies

Fresh Fruit Popsicles

Fruit mixed in pudding, yogurt, whipped cream

Golden Griddle milkshakes

Haupia

Honey Cake

Lemon Cake

Mint Ice Cream Sandwiches

Pie

Pup Cups

Red Velvet Brownies

Red Velvet Cupcakes

Rum Cake

Strawberry Cheesecake Parfait

Weed Brownies

What are we playing/doing? [x]

Badminton

Capture the Flag

Charades

Drink Mixing

Enjoying flowers

Frisbee / Disk Golf

Frisbee with pups (2)

Horeshoes

Karaoke

Kite Flying

Lawn Chess

Nature Crafts / Flower Crowns

Paint and Sip

Toss + Catch

Volleyball

What's our picnic playlists? [X]

What 3 things are a picnic must? [X]

How will a little rain impact the event? [x]

How did MCs, OCs, and LIs document the event? [X]

What else was submitted?

I was going to make a masterlist, but since most entries were just reblogs to the community posts it seemed silly... especially since all the extra entries were mine 🙈. Felt weird making a masterlist for just me! If more individual works are added, I'll make a separate masterlist.

@lovealexhunt / @theartoflovingthomashunt / @storyofmychoices

Bryce x Olivia picnic (art)

Bryce x Olivia beach picnic (edit)

Mal x Daenarya beach picnic (edit)

A Late Night Picnic (Mal x Daenarya) (writing)

Thomas x Alex Hollywood sign picnic (edit)

@peonierose : Art on the Beach with Bryce x Luna

[lullaebies]

Helaegon prompt: once Helaena told Aegon how she would love to visit the city and walk on the streets, try some street foods and cheap wines one day. So on her nameday Aegon took her for a city walk, he made sure she taste all the street foods and wines, after roaming the whole city they went to dragon pit, took their dragons and went for a ride. Then they had their first kiss, it was a full moon night, while kissing they both were on there dragons, before kissing they had some conversation like BRAIME where Aegon said something like "I've never kissed anyone on a dragon before" then Helaena said something like "I've never kissed anyone before" then they kissed

I know it might be kinda corny but the brainrot is so real that i can't help 🙈

did i stay up till five am to write this? yes. do i regret it? no. you asked for corny and i DELIVER! very soft cute helaegon is due. i had to make some concessions to make things make sense, but i stuck to most of the prompt <3 it's over 2k, so def my longest req so far!

The city is splayed before her in a way like never before.

Helaena follows Aegon through the twisting alleyways and the loud streets. The sun is setting with an unignorable glow down the road, the vivid orange rays warming up even the shadows of the buildings. She would have assumed that most people would start making their way to their homes now, but it seems as if the streets are only growing more crowded.

She doesn’t quite understand how Aegon manages to find his path between the people so easily, evading them and walking between them confidently and swiftly. He skips on nimble feet as if he’s mouse ready to sprint away. Don’t mention that to him, she thinks to herself. He didn’t like that one time she compared him to skipper butterfly, and those she thinks are quite pretty too.

The fact he complied with her wish to see the city on her nameday at all has her surprised; she doesn’t want to quite ruin it.

This is the first time she sees the different vendors that are offered. They ran past the fruit and vegetable markets when they went down Aegon’s High Hill, and her legs still feel giddy at the feeling of running down to the city’s horizon instead of only seeing it from afar, but now her mouth waters at the smell of the street food.

To her side she sees a man and lady together operating a moveable oven, sitting on a carriage. “Hot pies, hot pies!” the man shouts to the street, and she cannot help but laugh. She has never seen such a thing before.

Aegon looks back at her, already a few steps away. “What are you ogling there?” he yells towards her, as if they are both not doing something forbidden, in cloaks that hide who they are. Helaena snaps her head back, and rushes by his side. 

“They are making pies in an oven that moves,” she tells him, the smile not quite overwritten from her face. 

Aegon snorts. “They do,” he says. “But before your cheeks grow too warm at the sight, those do taste rather dusty.”

She pouts at him and his dismissive smirk. She almost thinks him more so lazy to not take her to try; a part of her thinks she should just scurry closer on her own, but then he takes her hand, and starts whirling her towards another stand, where another merchant stands.

“If you want nameday pastries we can go to the Street of Flour,” he says, when the sizzling of ham and sausage reaches her ears before the scent reaches her nose. “But you’d be better off trying something new on your nameday, sweet sister.” 

Aegon tosses the merchant a few silver coins, and with few words the man gives them not only meat but also mead. The meat is on skewers, each piece a different meat with some burnt tomatoes in between, and she looks at it sheepishly while her brother wolfs down his part of the meal easily. She follows his steps, and takes a daring bite.

The herbs used in the seasoning burn at her tongue, mouth falling open. Aegon laughs when he brings his hand to bring her jaw back to its place. “Wash it down,” he tells her, lifting up his cup of mead as a hint. Helaena licks her lips, and brings her cup up to look at it. The orange of the sunset spills into the beverage, in a way reflecting like thick honey in its glass. It doesn’t look bad.

She hums, and decidedly clanks her cup against his, giving a timid smile. Aegon seems receptive to implicit suggestion, grinning. He downs it as easily as he did his skewer, while she’s in for another surprise. There’s a mildness of honey to it, but more than all, the drink makes her throat feel fuzzy upon first sip.

Helaena finds that she doesn’t hate it. She takes another sip, and decides she even likes it. She asks for some more after she finishes.; Aegon ends up buying the cup off of the merchant, letting her walk with it further down the street.

When the sun decides it toiled enough for the day, and the darker night sets in, they stumble closer together. Aegon is surprised when she holds onto his arm, but the many people around them have her slightly unnerved, and there is clamour all around them. She feels slightly fuzzy, though all the same content.

There are celebrations all around them and the bards’ tunes are heard loudly from the taverns scattered around them. Street performers breathe fires and make puppets on a string dance, garnering audiences that erupted in laughter every once in a while.

They all look so happy.

Helaena looks up at Aegon. He shouts in excitement at some of the performers who dance with the fires at hand, his face at ease she finds nostalgic. His voice is gritty in a sense that is almost grating, and a part of her wants to take her revenge from before and bring his mouth to a close too, but ends up only grazing her fingers against his cheek.

His head turns to her in curiosity, and she watches him with her own interest plain on her face. Their impending wedding comes back to mind; her nerves wouldn’t allow her to think of it often, but her mind slips away to it easily now.

“Happy nameday, princess!” Sudden roars from the nearby tavern come along, and Helaena is spooked beyond belief, bending completely into Aegon’s chest. Her hood falls off and she looks around her; how would they know. Aegon keeps her firm from falling, and looks at her with his positively all-knowing grin once more. 

“Don’t frown,” he says, pinching her cheek with slight care. “They are celebrating in your name, you know.”

Helaena blinks at him, the purse of her lips still evident. “In my name?”

“They’ll take any reason to celebrate. For them we’re good enough as any,” he says, and raises playful eyebrows at her. “I thought you’d like that. When did you grow picky? You should celebrate with them.”

You look so happy, she thinks, and she isn’t sure what is this swelling feeling of piercing warmth that surges within her. Like a gap in her heart that only now became evident. She stabilises herself in his hands, too prideful to admit as much, but able to admit the facts. “I’m already celebrating with you.”

That makes him grow quiet, his grip on his arm growing looser, more cautious. Perhaps even alarmed. She feels stuck in time until another intervention outside comes forth.

“...Princess?” A goldcloak calls, slightly far ahead. Ser Luthor Largent, Helaena recalls; he’s the captain of the barracks in the Tower of the Hand. He squints his eyes at her as he draws closer. “Princess Helaena?”

Aegon takes one quick look at him, and grabs her wrist, and starts running. The hood of his cloak falls off too, and suddenly both of their silver locks are out in the air. Helaena grabs the skirts of her dress and starts to match his pace, and the sound of Ser Luthor’s armor clanking behind them as he tries to run after them is suddenly exciting.

He calls them, but Aegon laughs over the man’s yells, and so does she. When they finally lose him between the upwards twisted alleys, they are on Rhaenys’s hill, a long walk away from the beaten path back to the Keep. The chill on the night that is creeping upon them starts to be felt. Mother will surely know they’ve been gone now that a goldcloak recognized them. It would be wise to end the night here, sneak into the keep and feign innocence, but Helaena has her mind set on where she wants to go. 

The dragonpit.

“Where are you dragging me?” Aegon asks panting when she starts going up the hill, hand capturing his and forcing him to come along. He complies almost too easily.

“To celebrate my nameday,” she chuckles into the cold air.

She manages to convince the dragonkeepers to allow her to see Dreamfyre; for her nameday,after all. Dreamfyre also makes a compelling case, when she roars in agreement from the depths of pits. Aegon says hello to Sunfyre briefly, promising the golden dragon he’ll come to him in another morning, when the sun is up.

Aegon watches her prepare to get on Dreamfyre, however, leaning against a stone wall. “To think the first time I take you out of the Keep, you leave me drunk and abandoned,” he says half-heartedly. “Perhaps Mother would be as disappointed in you as she will be with me.”

Helaena shakes her head at him, a gummy smile on her face. “Not likely, I’d think,” she says, and comes to take him by the hand. “I told you, I am celebrating with you.”

“Huh?” he asks, and he doesn’t realize, until Dreamfyre heeds her wishes just as he heeded her too, and cranes her neck so they can both come atop her. It’s her turn to chuckle, when it dawns on him, and he mumbles like a child, unsure.

“Hel, we’re both rather drunk—”

“Dreamfyre’s big, she won’t let us fall,” Helaena answers simply. Aegon might be unsure, but that unsureness is odder than simple reservations. His eyes stuck on her apprehensive, but also waiting. She knows it; so she prompts him further. “Please.”

And he submits as she asks, as if he had never expected it at all.

The moon is round, full, and gleaming when they take off to the air, both strapped and secured to the saddle. Dreamfyre takes to the winds elegantly, with precise beats of her large wingspan lifting them gently. Aegon clings onto her; he was a dragonrider first, but never has he rode a dragon with someone else. He grips onto her firmly, like a lifeline when they take off. 

And underneath them, the city is shining with lanterns and torches alit all around, the hue of the dim moonlight giving washes over it to make it seem peaceful, from so high up. Before long, Dreamfyre settles into a pace, glistening for all to see and letting Helaena lean back against Aegon as she flies gently through the sky.

She turns her head back to Aegon, and meets his gaze that was already on her. “What?” she asks him.

Aegon licks his lips, but wills himself to speak. “I’ve just been thinking,” he starts, and a hint of a grin appears again. “I’ve never kissed someone on dragonback before.”

Helaena feels the weight of her heart sink and soar; for a moment she almost thinks Dreamfyre descended down. Aegon’s hold on her midsection feels tighter, the top of her head nuzzles at the crook of his neck before she lifts herself slightly, and looks back at him. Gently, she offers. “‘I’ve never kissed anyone before.”

Aegon chuckles at that, and she nearby wants to elbow him, but then his face is right by hers, and his nose is tickling against her own. She closes her eyes, and there’s plump pressure against her lips. She nearly laughs into it herself; how his naturally pouty and sullen lips felt prominent even in their kiss. It made her giddy, however.

For how sullen and pouty they could be, she can feel his lips draw a smile on hers. She kisses him back while he deepens the kiss, teaching her all stuff anew as he did when they were down below in the streets. 

I feel so happy.

They only break apart when Dreamfyre roars and breathes out her pale flames.It takes them both by surprise at first, but they both fall into giggles soon enough. Aegon slouches over her shoulder, trying to repress a wheeze.

“Happy nameday, Hel,” Aegon says, settling against her. 

She hopes they’ll get to celebrate as such in years to come, too.

[areyoudreaminof]

Unsupervised: a Band of Exiles drabble

Inspired by and dedicated to the incredible @velidewrites and THIS hilarious Inaccurate ACOTAR quote. Enjoy!

Elain looked up at the clock again, huffing to herself as she stuck the chunks of marinated meat on the skewers. It was already 4, she had sent Lucien and Jurian off for supplies hours ago, and sunset was rapidly approaching. If they didn’t get here soon, all of her plans for Vassa’s birthday would be ruined, and Elain needed it to be perfect. She had been planning it for months, pouring over volumes of Scythian history and culture, pestering her friend to tell her stories of the home she missed so much. They would cook skewered meats and vegetables over an open fire and sleep in a large tent under the stars, and while it wasn’t quite as Scythian as Elain would have liked, she could at the very least make Vassa happy with the effort. She didn’t have fermented mare’s milk, but sweet wine would work, though she did manage to get the spices needed for the food. Now, all that was left was the tent. It wouldn’t be the large dome that the nomads used on the plains, but they could fake it, Elain had decided. She had sent the boys off for canvas and posts in the early afternoon and there was still no sign of them.

Suddenly, Elain’s thoughts were interrupted by chaos, Lucien yelped as Jurian shouted “DON’T BITE ME” as she ran out the back door. Making a beeline for the yard, she stopped dead in her tracks as she found herself face to face with a very fat miniature horse. 

Blinking, Elain looked up at Lucien as he grinned awkwardly, “Lucien what is this?” she demanded

“His name is Barnabas,” Lucien said weakly

“You were supposed to get supplies for the tent-” Elain sputtered as Barnabas looked at her with cold, dead eyes. 

“I did, and we even got it from a Scythian merchant” he said pointing at the sad pile of canvas, “and luckily Barney here came at a discount. Now we can have a full Scythian experience.” Lucien leapt to the side as the demonic horse took a snap at him. “If we’re lucky, Vassa can ride him in her bird form.”

Elain, with fury creeping in her chest, met her mate's eyes. She had to remind herself, in that moment, just how much she loved him before she strangled him. “I sent you off hours ago for one simple task and you came back with this?” she hissed.

“In my defense, I was left unsupervised.” Lucien replied smoothly.

“Wasn’t Jurian supposed to go with you?” 

“In my defense, I was also left unsupervised.” Jurian said as his hand hovered over Barnabas’s fat backside.

“I’m going to kill you both”, Elain said numbly as the little horse began to nuzzle her body, “You two are like children.”

[avalypuff]

I have more headcanons that I don’t think I can make into detailed stand-alone posts on their own, so I’m going to compile them here.

If it wasn’t clear, I absolutely love Rauru, Mineru, and what little we know of Zonai as a whole, so these are all about them as well a few snippets of their culture. Please refer to this post for my views on hybridization with other races.

Headcanons are under the cut. Oh also, just to clarify, I’m a believer that BotW/TotK are their own separate entities totally separate from all past games including SS. Please keep that in mind if anything “doesn’t add up with the timeline” :)

Food

• Zonai are carnivorous (this I believe is more than just headcanon, going off the fact all their teeth, even their molars, are sharp). While they can eat fruits and vegetables in small portions, they can’t sustain a healthy vegetarian/vegan lifestyle and will eventually become malnourished and sick without meat.

They’re also uniquely capable of digesting monster parts, unlike Hylians who get sick even from thoroughly cooked parts. Zelda was particularly surprised/concerned to see Rauru enjoying some Octorok calamari, and the following occurred:

“You can eat that?” -Zelda

“I can. Unfortunately you cannot.” -Rauru

• Rauru loves sweet food, such as glazed meats, and brown sugar steaks, while just about the only thing Mineru enjoys enough to eat consistently is a simple dish of spicy meat skewers. Rauru himself has no tolerance for spiciness. Never had, never will.

Physiology and Culture

• Zonai men are commonly known as “bucks” and women are “does” (like deer—goats too, lol)

• Zonai shed. Particularly in spring, as the weather gets warmer. Their fur might be short, save for areas where it grows longer and scale-like, but it doesn’t go unnoticed, especially when you’re sharing sheets with one.

• The third eye doesn’t have the same type of sight that their main eyes have. It’s an organ used to focus their magic, hence why it never opens unless they’re conjuring a huge spell.

• Males grow four horns, which, if not filed regularly*, can grow up to several inches, with the lower set remaining smaller and shorter.

Females cannot grow horns at all.

In the case of trans individuals it’s not uncommon for does to choose hairstyles that would hide their horns from view, but it’s in no way frowned upon to show one’s horns or lack there of if gender doesn’t align with physical appearance. De-horning is an extremely painful procedure, and not expected, though some opt for it anyways.

*Rauru files his horns each morning as part of his personal care routine.

• Fancy headdresses that give the wearer large, ornamental horns (think the dragon armor sets Link wears) are worn by both does and bucks during ceremonies or even celebrations/parties. Everyone loves them.

• Zonai don’t really have surnames. Instead they practice naming conventions based on their fathers’ names. In Mineru and Rauru’s case, their father’s name also ended in ‘ru. This wasn’t practiced by every family, mind you, but definitely by nobility.

• They don’t really kiss. Their lips physically can’t curl outwards like that. Instead, they share affection with tender nuzzling (gentle biting and licking when things get steamy).

Rauru loves being kissed by Sonia though, and always returns her affection in a Zonai way.

• Families typically consisted of mother, father, and one or two children at most. They had slightly longer lifespans than Hylians (Think a couple decades. Nothing extreme.) but didn’t breed as often, so their numbers were already low when they began going extinct. More on that in a minute.

• The same attributes of Zonaite that made it an efficient fuel source also give off a strange and poorly-understood radiation that invokes feelings of greed in those who spend a lot of time with it. This is part of what originally lead the Zonai to the surface, then later all the way into the depths, where they built mines all throughout in their desperate search for more.

As fate would have it, the depths concealed more than just tons of Zonaite. There is an entirely different ecosystem down there, with plant life, animals, and insects unknown to the surface world, as well as less... desirable life forms. Opening up and exploring the depths, as well as putting forth massive construction efforts to build mines, exposed the Zonai explorers to the first strains of a virus that would eventually devastate their entire civilization.

It didn’t happen all at once, but gradually over time they realized people who spent time in the depths were getting sick, and for some reason it was only the Zonai who were succumbing to the illness. More Constructs were brought in to aid with mining in place of people, but the damage had already been done and the virus was making its way to the surface world as well as the sky.

Despite the best efforts of researchers and doctors, the virus was spreading and mutating too fast, and 100 years after originally digging into the depths and unleashing the sickness onto the world, almost all the Zonai were completely wiped out.

• Mineru and Rauru were born at the tail end of the pandemic/mass extinction, and by the time Mineru was a teenager and Rauru almost as well, they were the last of their kind.

Rauru and Mineru

• Rauru, while used to being revered as a god by Hylians, doesn’t exactly enjoy it. …This I feel is supported somewhat in the scene where Ganondorf is loading him up with praise. Granted Rauru’s clear discomfort could just as easily be attributed to Ganondorf’s thinly-veiled threats. I like to think it’s both, as we also learn from the Ancient Tablets side quest that part of what caused him to fall in love with Sonia was that she was unafraid to speak to him as an equal, unlike everyone else who reveres him. This headcanon is a play on the trope “it’s lonely at the top.”

• When Rauru first proposed to Sonia, with a Secret Stone no less, she rejected him. Her reasons being she didn’t want to marry out of convenience, or duty, but for love above all else. A kingdom cannot thrive without love, after all.

Also, despite her excellent judge of character, and knowing that Rauru’s intentions were pure, more than anything she wanted him to understand his own reasoning for wanting to marry her, as well as to be aware that she’s her own person, and just because he is Zonai does not mean he can have whatever he wants all the time. (Referring to the previous headcanon, he may not like being treated as a god, but he’s used to it. It’s important to remember that, even in fiction, people are complicated.)

Sad, but wishing to understand and consider Sonia’s words, Rauru was going to let her keep the Secret Stone, but she gave it back to him. Their friendship continued to grow from there, and the next time Rauru asked for her hand in marriage, having grown as a person himself, Sonia accepted.

• Rauru doesn’t enjoy being called cute. It embarrasses him a lot, actually. By adulthood he’d decided it’s a waste of time to try and protest (he’ll always be Mineru’s cute baby brother) but he tries his best to ignore those comments.

• Mineru used to call him “Ru” or “Ruru” when they were young. He absolutely hated it.

• Mineru was very small as a baby. Even as a child she remained short, and when Rauru was born she was delighted at the prospect of being a BIG sister. Her joy was relatively short-lived however, as by age 10 Rauru had already grown taller than her. Although she’s taller than any Hylian, of course, Mineru is still short by Zonai standards. It doesn’t bother her anymore.

• We know that Rauru would often sneak away to hunt in favor of his duties as King, but I like to think it was not animals he was hunting, but monsters. He loved a thrilling fight.

• Rauru’s earrings are all clip-ons. By his own admission his ears are way too sensitive to endure being pierced ten times! In fact, because Zonai ears are one of their most sensitive parts, clip-on earrings were very common for others as well.

• Mineru learned all about Zelda’s friends from their time together, but nothing could have prepared her for meeting Purah 10k+ years later. Despite Mineru knowing she didn’t have much time left after Ganondorf was defeated, she enlisted Purah’s help in building a flying machine big enough to carry everyone up to Great Sky Island. The two bonded fast—maybe even faster than Mineru bonded with Zelda. Had things been different they might have even shared a romance… alas, as she often had to remind people in the present day, “I am only a spirit.”

Purah still thinks about her often.

- - -

footnote: I left politics out of this post to keep things neutral so these could apply either way. I have my own opinions on Rauru’s leadership, but that’s for another time. :)

[wasteful-sam]

Worthy [Part 2, Chapter 9]

Tags:

Slow burn, romantic, ongoing, F/M, Rolan/female drow.

Notes:

Listen, I'm so sorry for taking this long, but the end-of-the-year reports and work tasks got me by the throat. On a positive note, this chapter is on the longer side and contains snippets of what we all wait for and love. Happy upcoming holidays :) .

[Part 1, completed]

[Part 2, Chapter 5]

[Part 2, Chapter 6]

[Part 2, Chapter 7]

[Part 2, Chapter 8]

[AO3 Link]

Worthy

+++

Part 2 | Chapter 9

Conversations in the Shadows

He froze. A bewildered owlbear cub curiously stared up at him. Staring right back, Rolan wondered what other oddities this day would throw his way.

Haunted by nightmares, the tiefling only managed to wake up by noon. His ruined routine left him irritable, and the lingering pain from the cuts made getting dressed slow and exasperating.

The first good news came when the tiefling finally reached the inn's common room. Cal and Lia were there, weary but safe. At that very moment, his siblings were pestered by none other than Gale. The wizard of Waterdeep was very keen to know everything about their captivity.

Understanding this was for a good cause, Rolan didn't intervene and just stood by. It wasn't exactly riveting listening — a prison chamber is rarely a place where important matters are discussed.

One thing that piqued Gale's interest was the necromancer, whose disgusting plans involved experimenting on the prisoners. Despite never meeting him in person, this necromancer made a terrifying impression on Cal and Lia.

Once the talk was over, Gale turned to Rolan and somewhat cheekily asked if he needed a special invitation. Noticing the tiefling's confused expression, the wizard clarified: "Your wounds still need healing, I assume?"

...And so, Rolan ended up at their camp, pondering about the massive beaked ball of fur who was already sniffing his boot.

"Easy now, Acorn," came Gale's calm, measured voice. The cub perked up, attention drawn immediately. "Friend, not food."

The wizard knelt beside the owlbear, scratching behind its ear. Satisfied, the little one closed his eyes.

"Not my first choice for a pet, but Acorn here is very precious," Gale noted cheerfully, looking at the little fellow.

Rolan offered a skeptical grunt, sidestepping the owlbear with care. "M-hm," was all he could manage. Knowing this strange group, it wouldn't surprise him if the next time he visited, there would be a spectator roaming.

Keeping their tradition alive, the party made camp by the river, just a few minutes away from the Last Light Inn. Their safe harbor sat nestled beside slow-moving waters, the banks lined with reeds and wildflowers swaying gently in the breeze. You wouldn't believe they only arrived yesterday - the place felt so lived-in, perhaps thanks to the scattered clutter.

A small fire crackled in the center, its flames licking at a makeshift spit where a pair of skewers held chunks of meat and vegetables. Their aroma mingled with the earthy scent of the riverbank. Shadowheart was right beside it, watching over the food intently.

And on the right, nearing the cliffs, Lae'zel and Nimriel furiously fought one another with training swords. Their grunts and yelps were the only thing disrupting the peaceful scenery. Other party members were nowhere to be seen.

Gesturing Rolan to follow him, Gale leisurely approached the cleric. "Doesn't smell burnt, which is progress," he noted, looking at the meat.

"Finally," Shadowheart breathed in relief, turning to him, "Took you long enough to find spices."

"Sorry about that. I seized the opportunity to scout for information," the wizard replied apologetically, "I also brought you a patient," he pointed at the tiefling, who, in turn, nodded politely.

"Anything to be rid of cooking duties," Shadowheart said, readily passing a big fork to the wizard of Waterdeep.

"I'm sorry to trouble you," Rolan mumbled.

The cleric waved his apology aside, "Does it hurt still?" she asked matter-of-factly while unbinding the tiefling's palms.

"Yes. I struggle to do anything, let alone cast," he replied, watching the process.

"Just as I thought," she was looking closely at the cuts, stretching out the skin, "Same as with Nim's – their weapons were coated with something. The wounds don't heal properly, and the infection spreads. We need some quick remedy for future battles, Gale. I won't have time to heal all of us mid-fight."

"Necrotic?" the man inquired about the type of damage wounds caused.

"Most likely. Mix up a couple of variants," Shadowheart turned back to Rolan. "Do you have time? It will take a while."

"Of course," the tiefling lingered, "Is it…curable?"

"I wouldn't waste time if it wasn't," the cleric gestured for him to sit down at the makeshift log table, "Scars will remain, but you're lucky enough to only have these."

Gale, meanwhile, dampened the fire and glanced toward his sparring companions. "Ladies, we have a guest," he shouted at them, frustrated by their lack of tact.

Alas, Nim and Lae'zel were too absorbed in their training to pay him any mind. To them, these sparring sessions were often the highlight of the day. They bonded on this makeshift battlefield like two sisters locked in a fierce playground tussle, neither willing to concede an inch.

Shaking his head, Gale added, "Supper in 20 minutes," which also didn't reach the desired effect.

"I see she recovered fairly quickly," Rolan nodded towards Nimriel. He was watching the fight as well. The githyanki was clearly a superior opponent, pummeling the drow strike after strike. Nimriel deflected as best she could, aiming swift counters at Lae'zel's exposed weak points.

"She's used to getting hit on the head, in case you haven't noticed," Shadowheart quipped while healing his right palm, "And still, her recklessness prevails. Yesterday's little escapade proves that much."

"It is not on Nimriel entirely," the tiefling quickly replied, feeling guilty, "I should have told you what she was up to before we embarked. I was careless as well, and her arguments sounded convincing at the time."

Gale's calm, contemplative voice cut in. "It wouldn't have mattered. She'd have gone alone regardless. And, in the end, it was for the best."

"Don't excuse her behavior. It was irresponsible," although Shadowheart sounded irate, there was a faint softness in her eyes, betraying a conflicted emotion.

"Well," Gale said, meeting her gaze with a knowing look and a hint of melancholy in his voice. "We all have our moments. It was a long time coming for Nimriel."

Shadowheart kept quiet for a moment, contemplating something unpleasant, judging by her expression, "You'd do better using your wisdom to prepare remedies," she shut the conversation.

Gale shrugged, knowing he was right about the situation. He emptied the pouch, looking at numerous ingredients for potions and coatings, "One good thing about this gods-forsaken place is the abundance of rare ingredients." 

"You picked this one too soon," Rolan observed, nodding towards one of the shadowroot sacs.

"Oh?" Gale looked closely at the sac.

"There is no characteristic stench," the tiefling explained, "No use for the coating," he paused, thinking, "Unless you ignore the rule of three, of course. But it can be daunting to measure it all correctly."

Gale nodded knowingly, "You dabble in alchemy, then?"

"About as much as a cook enjoys scrubbing pots after a feast," Rolan replied with a shrug. "Tedious, but necessary."

"Tell me about it," Gale chuckled, sifting through the rest of the stash. "I dread crafting days. Ever since Blackstaff -"

"Blackstaff?" Rolan interrupted, raising an eyebrow. A smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth. "You're a fancy wizard, then?"

"If by 'fancy' you mean 'well-educated,'" Gale replied, his voice laced with dry amusement, "then yes."

"And yet, somehow, you have got a tadpole stuck in your well-educated brain," the tiefling thought, feeling bitter that he would never get a chance to enroll. To distract himself, he looked around the camp. The atmosphere of the place was warm yet melancholic. Like a room of an old man filled with countless memorabilia of the good all days. A room of a man who anticipates his death. 

Inevitably, his gaze returned to the drow-githyanki fight: the duo now abandoned their training swords and went full-out, punching and kicking each other. The sheer brutality of the exchange was unsettling, but neither Gale nor Shadowheart seemed concerned — such clashes were clearly routine.

He heard the githyanki shouting, "Quit throwing dirt. You fight without honor!"

"As if cultists will face you with honor, Lae," Nimriel shot back, breathless, as she dodged another blow. Dirt covered her, but there was a spark of defiance and cheer in her eyes.

Seeing her so determined and full of life brought a faint, unspoken smile to Rolan's heart. But the sight also stirred his thoughts. He glanced back at Shadowheart and Gale, both absorbed in their tasks. The tiefling's keen eyes didn't miss the subtle changes in them. These were not the same people he had met at the grove. Something fundamental had shifted— a part of them seemed locked away as if hidden on another Plane. How much of a burden it must have been to drift in search of the cure. And all the while engaging enemies left and right. 

"Say, Gale," Rolan began suddenly, his voice breaking through his own reflections, "you must be busy these days?"

Gale looked up, mildly surprised by the question. He set down the herbs he'd been sorting, tilting his head in curiosity. "A tad, as you might imagine," he replied, his tone light but weary.

"Perhaps I could help," Rolan offered, his voice steady. "With remedies, potions — whatever you need. It's the least I can do after what you've done for me."

Gale raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued. "Oh?" he said, considering the proposition. The idea seemed to lift some small weight from his shoulders. "You'd do that?"

Rolan smirked faintly. "I may not rival your Blackstaff friends, but my skills are not to be disregarded."

Gale's lips curved into a genuine smile, the tension in his face easing. "That would be very kind of you," he said with a nod. "To be frank, my hands are rather full these days." 

"How charming, two wizards reunited at last," seemingly out of nowhere, Astarion appeared behind Gale, making the latter flinch.

Shadowheart quickly looked him over, searching for any indication he was injured, "Where are the others?" she asked, concentrating on the tiefling's wounds again.

"Good afternoon to you too," the elf snarked at her, "Wyll went to see if Halsin has figured out something about the curse. And Karlach…," his lips curved into a sly grin, "…is getting her heart fixed."

A barely visible smile appeared on the cleric’s face as well, as she murmured, “Good for her.”

“Everything went smoothly, I trust?” Gale interjected, the anticipation in his voice barely masked.

“You need to stop doubting my skills, darling,” Astarion replied playfully, taking a handful of papers out of his backpack and shoving them into the wizard’s hands, “The party is safe, the information is acquired, all under my sensible leadership.”

“You mean under Wyll’s, who was leading the party?” Shadowheart intervened starkly.

“A mere technicality,” Astarion waved her off breezily. “Wyll didn’t lockpick his way through the Towers, did he?”

“I agree, it is impressive how much you’d managed to gather,” Gale noted, looking through the papers, “So there IS a necromancer involved in Ketheric Thorm’s resurrection, just as we suspected.”

“Oh yes,” Astarion quipped, “and Thorm’s the liveliest of all the living dead. Shall we discuss this now, or…?” His crimson gaze darted pointedly toward Rolan.

Getting the hint, the tiefling spoke up, “I can come later if you mind.”

“I’m almost done here,” Shadowheart shook her head, “I won’t rush this for your lot’s sake. Healing isn’t a roast you can serve half-baked.”

“There’s no point discussing with half of the party absent anyway,” Gale added absentmindedly, far more interested in the necromancer’s notes.

A squelching sound interrupted their monotonous discussion. It was Nimriel, plummeting face-first into the mud not more than 2 meters away from their table.

Lae'zel slowly hobbled towards her, saying, "K'chakhi. I told you — fighting with honor means being so mighty you don't need to resort to tricks."

"Ghfine, fine," Nim guggled patiently, feeling the githyanki approaching. She laid steadily on her stomach, face still in the mud. "Ur wish wz grantd. M'nose is smallr now," the drow added as Lae'zel towered over her.

"Really?" githyanki asked.

Hearing where the voice was coming from, Nim swiftly moved her right leg backward, tripping the opponent. Caught off guard, the githyanki stumbled and toppled to the ground, landing in an undignified sprawl beside the drow. Still sprawled on the ground, Nimriel turned her head towards her, checking if her friend was alright. Seeing githyanki's bewildered face made the drow laugh, "Sorry, I had to. Otherwise, my defeat would be too embarrassing."

Lae'zel blinked, momentarily stunned. Then, a sly grin curled her lips. "It is a decisive defeat," she said, her voice tinged with amusement. With a deliberate motion, she pressed her hand onto Nimriel's head, pushing her face gently back into the dirt.

Satisfied, she rose to her feet and extended a hand to help Nimriel up. Both women dusted themselves off — or tried to. Lae'zel stretched, her sharp gaze scanning the camp. "We have an audience," she remarked, noting the curious stares directed their way.

Nimriel was vigorously scrubbing her face with her hands and elbows, trying to remove the mix of dirt and blood. "Oh, yeah? The others are back?" she asked, her voice light with curiosity as she glanced sideways. Sure enough, there they were: Astarion, grinning like a cat that had gotten into the cream; Gale, lost in his own thoughts; Shadowheart, looking as unimpressed as ever; and… a slightly concerned tiefling.

Trying to appear unfazed, the drow casually adjusted her hair. "Glad to see you're getting healed, Rolan. Thank you, Shadowheart — I owe you one."

"I'll hold you to that," the cleric replied, not missing a beat as she continued her work.

Rolan gave a meek nod. "Yes, thank you, both of you." He hesitated for a moment, eyeing the muddied drow warily. "And you… well, you're doing fine, I suppose?"

Nim shrugged nonchalantly, feigning confidence. "Never been better." She turned to Astarion, "So? How was it?"

The elf waved his hand dismissively, a grin tugging at the corners of his mouth. "I'm sorry, my dear, but I can't take you seriously when you look like a swamp monster. Shadowheart, please, deliver us from this vision."

Without much effort or care, the cleric quickly created water, pouring it down on Lae'zel and Nimriel. The two didn't look amused, but it got the job done. Muttering something incoherent under her breath, the githyanki sat down at the table and started polishing her dagger. The water dripping from her wet hair didn't seem to bother her at all.

"Happy now?" Nim rolled her eyes at her rogue friend, "Unroll the map, I'll change, and we will get to it."

“Have you seen the enemy forces?” Lae’zel asked.

“Absolut’s fanatics, mostly newcomers,” Astarion sighed, remembering, “Drow, goblins, orcs…”

“The numbers,” she interrupted unceremoniously.

Astarion shot her a sharp look, irritation creeping into his voice. “Am I supposed to count every drop of water in a river?” Despite the sarcasm, his words painted a grim picture. “They come and go, wandering around, waiting for something.”

“Are they well-equipped?” Lae’zel continued inquiring.

The elf thought for a moment, “Depends…I think I’ve only seen good armor on the guards and those of higher rank. You’d do better to ask Wyll.”

The githyanki scratched her face, eyes closed as she considered the situation. “I should have gone with you. But it is clear for now: they gather scum from any tribe they can find, untrained, unequipped. If they are to be used as cannon fodder, the cultists will need more. It buys us time, but it also means their forces will grow the longer we wait.”

While their discussion was unfolding, Shadowheart signaled quietly to Rolan that she was done. The tiefling nodded to her gratefully, although he wasn’t ready to leave yet. The conversation about the cult was weighing heavily on his mind, fueling his concerns.

Lae’zel, meanwhile, continued, “We need to strike them down while they’re still weak, unsuspecting. To cut the Ketheric Thorm’s snake head.”

“Let’s not get ahead of ourselves,” Gale interjected, his voice heavier now, tinged with fatigue. “I haven’t gotten through all the papers yet.”

With a quill in hand, Nim glanced up at the elf. “Show me the route your party took this morning.” As Astarion indicated the path, the drow marked it on the map, then pulled out her pipe and started smoking. “You mostly followed the same route we took yesterday, except for veering northeast here. Anything of note?”

“Just a few measly shadows,” Astarion replied, his head tilting slightly. “But I wouldn’t count on every encounter being so... mundane. It’s like we’re constantly being watched. Even now.” He glanced across the river, where gnarled, dead trees swayed in the gusty wind.

“We’re in Ketheric’s domain now,” Nimriel murmured, circling six places on the map. “There must be locations that could give us clues on how to defeat him. Maybe even manipulate him into making a mistake.”

“That was my thought as well,” Shadowheart chimed in. “He’s been changing alliances as quickly as he changes his gloves—drastically so. One has to be deranged to leave the Lady of Loss without understanding the repercussions.”

“Or maybe he was offered something so tempting he couldn’t resist.” Nimriel shrugged, her gaze still on the map as she counted distances. “Either way, we might be able to exploit it. But we can deal with that after supper.” Her tone lightened, and she shot a greedy glance at the meat. “Where’s Karlach and Wyll?”

“At the inn somewhere,” Astarion replied, pausing as a thought crossed his mind. He glanced over at Shadowheart, wondering if she was finished with the tiefling. “If you’re that hungry, why don’t you bring them back? And, dearest commander, I’m all out of lockpicks.”

Nimriel sighed. “You know, with how fast we run out of these, it would be cheaper to just break the doors down.”

“Rude,” Astarion replied, crossing his arms playfully.

“Fine, fine.” Nimriel slung a scabbard over her shoulder.

“I should be going too,” Rolan said, realizing he had been eavesdropping for far too long. “Gale, are we settled on the potions?”

“Oh! Right.” Gale raised an index finger, remembering their earlier conversation. He quickly placed some ingredients into a pouch and handed it to Rolan. “Do you need the list, or...?”

“The ingredients will speak for themselves.” Rolan’s tone was slightly condescending, though he quickly softened it. “You can count on me.”

“M-hm. Some shady dealings going on behind my back,” Nimriel remarked, watching the scene unfold with amusement.

“You were literally standing right here, ignoring everything I said,” Gale retorted, raising an eyebrow, recalling how the drow had been distracted by her training with Lae’zel.

“Alright, alright, no need for a lecture. I’m in a hurry,” Nim mumbled, heading out of camp with Rolan at her side.

+++

As they were slowly walking up to the inn from the party’s camp, Rolan found himself clenching and unclenching his fists. The sharp, biting pain of his cuts — the kind that had once seemed unbearable — was gone. Only a faint, unpleasant tingling remained, a shadow of this morning’s agony. Relief blossomed in his chest, bringing a smile to his lips that revealed his sharp, gleaming teeth. He could cast again. The stress of yesterday, the cult, and his worries – all were wiped out from his mind for a couple of short moments. Unwilling to contain himself, Rolan cast a small firebolt and started effortlessly joggling it from one hand to the other like a ball.

From the corner of her eye, Nimriel watched him, her gaze softening as she caught the unguarded happiness in his expression. Seeing Rolan like this — so alive, so unburdened — stirred something in her. Astarion was right: she was growing fonder of the tiefling with every passing day. But the thought made her chest tighten. She couldn’t let herself feel this way, not after what had happened the last time she had dared to open that door.

“Told you Shadowheart could fix it,” Nimriel blabbered, masking her uncertainties under a cheerful demeanor.

“That she certainly did,” Rolan replied, his voice more confident now that they were alone.

“How did it go? Were you impressed by our humble river abode?” the drow asked jokingly.

The tiefling thought back to his small encounters at the camp earlier. All these people, some of the unlikeliest connections to be formed, gathered by chance, a dreadful coincidence even. And yet, despite everything, they had found a fragile sort of harmony. Some of them were quite pleasant even – a realization he would have scoffed at only a month ago.

“Better than I expected,” Rolan finally admitted, “Although I liked it more when your dog was smaller and white,” he added sarcastically.

Nimriel blinked, confused for a moment before realization dawned. She laughed, her voice light and melodic. “What, Acorn? You were scared of that cute little furball?”

Rolan frowned, his pride bristling. “Startled,” he corrected, his tone defensive. “Just a little startled.”

"What is it with you and Gale passing around the ingredients, by the way?"

"Oh, we agreed I will mix some potions for you. You know," the tiefling turned his palms upwards, "to thank you properly. I can bring them by your camp once they're finished."

Nim nodded, "That's good to hear. Gale has a lot on his plate as is right now," she promptly stopped herself. No one outside the party's circle knew that the mother of magic gave one of her most devoted followers an unspeakably cruel task, "As we all do, of course," Nimriel swiftly turned the topic aside.

They were nearing the inn now, approaching the stone bridge near the two-story building where Dammon was forging armor and weapons. Faint conversations and louder voices of tiefling children could be heard not too far ahead.  

"No need to bring them to camp, though," Nim continued after a short pause. "We'll be on the road for the next couple of days. Just keep them handy, and we'll grab them when we can."

Camping amidst the Shadow-Cursed Lands. The thought sent a chill down Rolan's spine. They're in a hurry, he realized. The danger must be greater than the tiefling could imagine. Is this why Nimriel carries her sword around, even though they're just crossing from the camp to the inn?

"What's that face?" Nim's voice cut through his thoughts, snapping him back to the present. She was watching him, one brow raised.

Embarrassed to admit his recently-found paranoid thoughts, the tiefling just mastered, "Staying amidst the Shadow-Cursed Lands seems a little intense, don't you think?"

Nimriel stopped and theatrically threw her hands up, intending to capture all of his attention, "Come on, Rolan, cheer up. Are you doubting your favorite hero?"

Her playful tone pulled a reluctant smirk from the tiefling, "I'm far from doubting my favorite hero. Or you, for that matter."

Feigning mock heartbreak, Nim pressed a hand to her chest, her voice rising dramatically, "How cruel! Straight through the heart!"

Rolan watched her closely, trying to determine whether her theatrics were simply a distraction or an earnest attempt to lighten his mood. Beneath her laughter and exaggerated gestures, he glimpsed something fleeting — an unease that seemed to linger in her eyes, barely hidden.

"Don't take this the wrong way," he said cautiously, "but aren't you being a little too cheerful, considering the situation?"

Nim shrugged, her demeanor unbothered. "What's not to be cheerful about? I spent all day lazing around camp, I'm about to eat some delicious meat, and I'll be getting free explosives for saving the gnomes. Sure, some colossal shit might go down tomorrow, but today? Today's been perfect."

Rolan shook his head, unconvinced. "I get your point, but I can't say I agree. Things seem grim, judging by the talks going around at your camp."

Nimriel's eyes narrowed, but she still kept her unbothered demeanor. Rolan was spot on, but she wouldn't want to discuss their slim chances of winning. And not for his peace of mind's sake. As far as she was concerned, it was always out of sight - out of mind. This conversation needed to be shut down as soon as possible.

"Rolan," Nim said, her voice sounding smooth like butter as she came closer to him, "My friends simply have other concerns on their mind, that is all," she explained, looking straight into the tiefling's eyes.

Her gaze was so steady, so mesmerizing, that Rolan struggled to find his words. "It's not just them," he said finally. "I can feel it. The shadows grow closer with every passing day."

Without breaking eye contact, Nim took his hands in hers, turning them palms up. "You have nothing to worry about. Your family's back, and you are in the place guarded by the Harpers," she murmured, gently guiding her big fingers along the cuts, "I'm sorry about the scars, though."

Rolan figured their talk wasn't going anywhere, as the drow was trying to change the subject. Besides, this little moment of intimacy between them was too alluring to let go. "They were worth it," he said quietly, his gaze lowering to meet hers. "If I had to do it again, I would."

Nim's brows arched in a mix of reprimand and embarrassment. "I appreciate the sentiment, but please don't. I could've managed without your hands getting sliced open and leaving you defenseless."

"I know you could've," Rolan replied, shrugging off her scolding. "Doesn't mean I'd want to watch you get stabbed instead."

"That time, we were lucky the fight was over," Nim retorted. "Imagine if I'd turned into a mind flayer on the way back to the inn. Your brain would've been an easy snack."

"Oddly specific," Rolan noted, the tingling sensation of Nim's fingers brushing his scars stirring a playful mood. He let his gaze sweep over her with exaggerated slowness. "But to snatch my brain, you'd have to reach it first. And you're about one and a half heads too short. Plus, the horns? Good luck with those."

Nim's eyes narrowed, her lips curving into a sly grin. "Oh, you want me to prove a point? Alright." She stepped to the side, her posture straightening as if preparing for a duel.

"The solution's simple," she declared. "I hit you in the knees, and down you go." She lightly tapped his knees with her shin, a deliberate motion meant to tease rather than hurt. "See? On your knees in no time."

Rolan couldn't hold back a smirk as he sank to his knees, playing along. "Your wish is my command," he said, his tone dripping with mock deference.

"Good," Nim continued smugly, circling behind him. "And while you scream in pain and agony…"

"You need a demonstration for that, too?" Rolan interrupted, his voice laced with amusement.

Nim grimaced at him but didn't miss a beat. She moved closer, placing a hand on his nape and gently guiding his head downward. "… I'd lower your head like so, and the outcome would be obvious." Her voice carried the triumphant tone of someone thoroughly enjoying her imagined victory.

Then, with a flourish, Nim crouched to her knees in front of him, her expression filled with exaggerated arrogance. "See? Easy," she concluded, her confidence as sharp as her grin.

Rolan glanced at her, tilting his head, "This is all rather entertaining, but you forgot one thing. The tail."

As he spoke, his tail slid forward, its tip curling just above Nim's neck, teasingly close but not quite touching. Watching Nimriel's pondering reaction, the tiefling added, matching her arrogance, "I know I'd probably be doomed either way, but I am not going down without a fight."

The drow exhaled as an intrigued smile appeared on her face. The kind of smile that made Rolan consider throwing all standards of decency to the wind.

"That was bold. I like it," she murmured, her voice dipping into a velvety tone as her fingers reached out to stroke his tail, coaxing it to unwind, "I'll keep your tail moves in mind for my next battle strategy."

Her touch sent a jolt through him, "Careful now," Rolan warned, his voice low, "This tail sometimes has a mind of its own."

As if to prove the point, his tail slipped behind Nim, gently pressing against her back and urging her closer. She played along, leaning in until her palms came to rest against his chest. Her breath hitched as her eyes locked on the flickering yellow flames dancing in his gaze, and a faint blush colored her cheeks.

"I think you enjoy being on your knees far too much," she teased, her voice dipping into a sultry cadence as her fingers instinctively curled into his robe.

"Depends on the occasion," Rolan whispered, his gaze dropping to her half-parted lips.

"Hm…" Nim's blush deepened, her mind racing at the implication. "And what exactly do you have in mind?" she asked, her voice softer now.

"It's faster to show you than explain," he replied, leaning closer, his breath brushing against her skin.

Before their lips could meet, a sudden, loud crash jolted them both back to reality. The moment shattered, leaving them wide-eyed and on edge as they scrambled to their feet.  

They quickly realized the source of the crashing sound - a ball had tumbled from a rocky height, landing with a sharp puncture before deflating in a sad hiss. Moments later, the culprits - three tiefling children - appeared, sprinting toward them.

The ever-cheerful Mirkon arrived first, his face lighting up as he spotted Nimriel. “You found our ball! Thank you!” he exclaimed with wide-eyed adoration.

Nim let out an awkward laugh, still trying to steady her nerves. “Hey there! Well, that was easy - it kind of fell on us.”

Rolan simply watched the scene unfazed, face stern, contemplating if saving the children back then was a good idea after all.

“Look what you’ve done, Umi!” Ide screamed as they approached, “The ball is ruined! I told you not to kick it down the road!”

“It’s Mirkon’s fault! He shoulda caught it!” the boy screamed right back at her.

“You shouldn’t wander too far from the yard, anyway,” Nimriel interjected with a light scolding, her tone firm but kind. “Always play where adults can see you, especially here. Understood?”

“Yes!” Mirkon chirped enthusiastically while the other two gave reluctant nods.

Ide’s gaze then shifted to Rolan, her eyes big and pleading. “Maybe you can fix our ball? Magically? Please?”

Rolan crossed his arms, “Can I? Absolutely. Should I, for a trio of ill-mannered brats? Highly debatable.”

“Pleeease, we will be careful, I promise!” Ide continued.

Rolling his eyes, Rolan uttered, “I am a residential child-carer, apparently. Pass me the damn ball.”

As Rolan begrudgingly turned his attention to the task, Nim fell quiet. She realized what a mess she had created by letting her feelings take over her common sense. No matter how much she wanted to, the drow still had her reservations about getting close to anyone.

“I should be going,” she mumbled, “Remember what I told you about playing close to the inn, kids.”

The children nodded, but Rolan’s focus snapped to her. Something in her voice didn’t sit right. “Nim… I -” He stopped himself, the words failing him. He didn’t know what to say.

She turned back to him with a faint, bittersweet smile, “See you sometime soon, Rolan. Take care now,” were her final words.

Watching her leave, the tiefling sighed, scratching his forehead irritably.

“Why are you sad?” unaware Mirkon asked earnestly.

The wizard scoffed, “You’ll understand in fifteen years, kid.” He paused, glancing down at the boy. “Then again… maybe not.”

[laurenairay]

matty, 14 😌

I love writing for Matty so thank you for requesting him for this one Shelb!

“This is the opposite of what I asked you to do.”

Words: 880

*

Summer in St Louis could be a wild ride, that was for sure. Everything from being woken up early when Matthew would leave your bed to work out, to water fights at inopportune moments, to escaping the house with Taryn for pedicures, to running to the shops with Chantal when the orange juice ran out before breakfast even started. And it was everything you loved about the family your boyfriend was part of, and you loved how much they made you feel welcome, like you were part of the family too.

But ultimately, it boiled down to the fact that whenever Matthew and Brady got together, they both turned into complete idiots.

“Matthew Tkachuk I swear to Gretzky,” you groaned.

“Ohhh you’re in trouble,” Brady snickered.

Matthew just punched him in the arm, making Brady laugh harder before he walked back into the house, leaving the two of you alone on the deck in the backyard.

“I love you?” he offered, smiling sweetly.

“I love you too, Matty, but this is the opposite of what I asked you to do,” you sighed, running a hand through your hair.

“Okay in my defence…”

Oh this had to be good.

“…I already put the meat in the marinade you made and loaded up the fridge with all the alcohol you asked me to get?”

“What about the vegetables that are still sitting on the side? And the bread for the burgers and hotdogs? How about the fruit which is nowhere to be seen?” you asked pointedly.

“Uh…”

He trailed off, rubbing a hand over the back of his neck in a clearly-guilty way, making you sigh and plant your hands on your hips.

“Matty, we promised your parents that we would sort out the food for the family barbecue tonight because they’re taking care of literally every other meal this week? All I asked for you to do was a few things while I was out picking up the dessert that your dad likes and your mom’s favourite wine, and you can’t even do that,” you pouted.

Instead of the vegetables chopped for skewers, the bread sliced and ready, and the fruit sliced for a fruit salad, you’d found him sitting in the backyard drinking beers with Brady. Not ideal.

“I’m sorry. I lost track of time, I swear,” he grimaced.

The unfortunate thing was that he looked so genuinely apologetic that you couldn’t keep being mad at him. You knew, just as well as anyone did, how caught up he and Brady got when they were alone together, but you’d just hoped this one time he’d be able to help out. Apparently not.

“You’re the worst,” you sighed.

“I’ll make it up to you, I swear,” he insisted, standing upright.

You didn’t step away from him as he moved to rest his hands on your hips, letting the nerves on Matthew’s face melt away, even more so as you rested your hands on his chest.

“I’ll make Brady run out to pick up the bread and fruit, okay? This is partially his fault anyway. And I’ll chop the vegetables straight away so they’re ready for the skewers with that marinating meat,” Matthew said firmly.

“You promise?” you asked softly, unable to stop the smile tugging at your lips.

“I promise,” he nodded, smiling back down at you, “This barbecue is going to run smoothly, you have nothing to worry about.”

Hah, yeah right.

“I just want your parents to like me, okay? This is the first thing we’re organising just the two of us, and I want it to go well,” you said with a wry smile.

“Hey, no, they already love you,” Matthew said seriously, shaking your head, “Me forgetting to put together a fruit salad isn’t going to change that.”

You laughed softly, more in relief than anything else, and nodded your head. The fact that he said those words with such conviction, so genuine and sweet, eased a tension in your body that you hadn’t realised was gripping you so strongly.

“You mean that?”

“I do, 100%. They know you’re it for me, and they loved you the moment that they saw how much you love me too,” he grinned, “Although the fact that you weren’t afraid to kick Brady’s ass in our first water fight helped.”

“Oh my god, Matty,” you groaned, thunking your forehead down against his collarbone, making him laugh that full-belly laugh you adored.

“I’ll sort out the rest of the barbecue prep, okay? We’ve got this,” he murmured, pressing a kiss to the top of your head.

“We’ve got this,” you repeated, lifting your head to smile up at him.

He smiled back down at you, those pretty dimples popping, ducking his head to kiss you softly and quickly.

“Alright, I’ve got an idiot brother to find. See you in a bit,” he mused, stepping away from you.

As Matthew hollered through the house for Brady to get off his ass, it was all you could do to take a shaky breath to compose yourself. This barbecue was going to go well – it had to. You knew that Matthew would do everything in his power to make that a reality, and that in itself gave you the confidence you needed. Bring it on.

[sunlightbabe]

Ethan & motive by Ariana Grande and Doja Cat?

MOTIVE {youtube + spotify}

SUMMARY: The success of your first album has launched you from starving, struggling artist on Soundcloud into a pop sensation over night. Navigating the world of stardom is complicated enough, you don't need to add dating rumors into the mix, not as you're getting ready for your first tour. But your new and intense friendship with Ethan Torchio has caught the eye of the media circuit and as time goes by, you wonder if there's any truth to it all.

"We really need to stop meeting like this," you say with a breathy little laugh as you look over the hors d'oeuvres. There's tea sandwiches and a variety of vegetables and fruits on dainty little skewers. You don't see anything sweet but before you can even make a quip about it, Ethan holds out his plate to you.

Resting on the edge are two mini chocolate eclairs.

"If we stopped meeting like this, you'd never get your dessert," he replies smoothly. "They were right by the door, I don't know how you missed them."

"My attention was elsewhere." You would never admit that you had been busy scanning the room, looking to see if Måneskin had been invited to the after party. "Did you hear? Elton John's supposed to make an appearance."

Ethan hums contemplatively and you take one of the eclairs, popping it into your mouth in one bite in a way you know your manager would would frown upon. Ethan seems unbothered. If anything, the way he's looking at you could be described as fond.

Endeared, you had read in a tabloid once. Positively smitten, according to a fan video you had seen on Instagram one night. Besotted. Charmed. Totally, madly, head over heels in love.

You didn't put a lot of stock into online speculation, but it was moments like these were you simply... wondered. Why else would Ethan consistently snag rich and decadent desserts for you? Or let you borrow his jacket when it started to rain? Or set the background of his phone to a photo of the two of you?

... Well, Damiano and their stylist had been in the photo too. But still.

You wondered how long it would be before Ethan took the jump and asked you out for dinner.

With a smile, you popped the second one into your mouth. You can feel some of the decorative chocolate drizzle smear along the corner of your mouth and Ethan smiles wider, showing off his crooked little teeth that are far cuter than they have any right to be.

God, you hoped he would ask soon.

{ maneskinbrainrot's 1000 follower celebration }

[maddieonthemovee]

May 10 — Rice Farming

Our one activity for today was rice farming! Our group took a two hour bus ride to a rice farm. First, we put on two pairs of socks to protect our feet. Second, we each got a bag to hold our seedlings. Each of us got 20 seedlings at a time and waded into the murky water to plant our seedlings. We planted them underwater, in rows of three. The experience helped provide me insight into the daily life of a rice farmer, and anyone who does physical labor to contribute towards food consumption. After we planted all of our allotted seedlings, we rinsed off our feet in a nearby river and changed socks. We concluded our activity with a picnic!

Next, a couple of my friends and I went to the Ghibli Museum in Mitaka. We weren’t allowed to take photos inside, but inside were a variety of exhibits and shops. One exhibit was dedicated to the Hayao Miyazaki’s latest film, The Boy and The Heron, which I saw in theaters when it came out. Another exhibit showed the process of traditional animation and contained interactive ways for visitors to simulate animations of beloved Ghibli films. We got a quick bite to eat at the Straw Hat Cafe, and then concluded our visit with a 15-minute short film with the characters from My Neighbor Totoro. I have loved every Ghibli film I’ve seen so far, so going to this museum was a bucket list item for me! I can’t wait to go to Ghibli Park when we reach the Kyoto leg of our trip.

Academic Reflection:

One thing that I found interesting when reading about rice farming’s evolution and development in Japan was how influenced it was from other countries like Korea and China. The Korean method of transplantation was adopted and continues today. This method involves the flooding of one area of a field and the consequent transplantation of individual seedbed shoots into that flooded area. This method is what our group did today while rice farming. I learned that this method allows seedlings to grow faster, stronger, and more bountiful.

On the way to the rice farm, our group talked about how rice is priced more expensively here compared to other food items to better support its farmers/producers. For dinner, my friends and I went to 7/11. My roommate got a small cup of vegetables, and I got three red bean rice cake skewers (among other things). Her vegetables cost almost twice as much as my rice cakes. I thought that this was unusual, but considering the difference between Japanese imports (around 60%) and exports (around 30%), it might make logical sense.

[seadragon-sailing]

Food is a topic we talk about often. You got any favorite food head canons or ideas for your Treasure island gang?

Shinju: Narezushi/鮓 (picked fish with salt and rice), lotus root, bamboo shoots, roast chestnuts, and plain rice.  She prefers savory/smoky flavors, and likes to put more spice into her food if they’re available.  Enjoys a glass of homemade kombucha/hung caa kwan/紅茶菌.  Has a moderate alcohol tolerance (about the same as Luka).

Luka: Whole roasted duck, beef, chicken, and fried dough sticks/yu char kway/油條. Seafood makes him a little nauseous if he eats too much, or if it has a weird texture, but he’ll tolerate it.  Holds his alcohol surprisingly well, but can’t drink more than one serving of stronger alcohols.  As for his favorite food from his homeland; he was used to eating TONS of meat since he came from the noble class (Shinju had to help him actually eat his goddamn vegetables when he started living with her and Feng) such as pastries filled with beef, lamb or goat.  He is also very fond of various cheeses, preferably soft to semi-hard cheeses.

Lee: Noodles (either made of rice, or sweet potato), loves his citrus fruits (will eat whole peeled lemons occasionally), dried nuts, and plain rice (he’s especially a fan of putting butter on it if it’s available).  Prefers chicken as a primary source of protein, but will eat beef on occasion.  Tends to be picky about what he eats due to being easily grossed out by jelly-like or gristly textures, but usually relents if he doesn’t have any other choice (or if you tell him that someone he cares about made it for him, he’ll eat whatever it is just to avoid upsetting said person).  He has the highest alcohol tolerance out of the bunch, and absolutely loves indulging in high-quality booze.

Feng: Rice porridge/jook/粥 with either mantis shrimp, or chicken and tea eggs.  During the New Years, he enjoys dried plums, and maybe even a bowl of bird’s nest soup if he can find any.  He also has a preference for beer more than wine, and likes to add the pulp from honey locust bean pods into it for a little added sweetness.  While wheat isn’t a staple crop in the southern parts of China, Feng does remember learning how to make dumplings, and hand-pulled noodles from his mother (who was born and raised in the Northern region of China); he still makes them if he gets his hands on proper wheat flour.

Tamara: Fufu; groundnut stew/maafe with mutton or beef; goat skewers (thoroughly seasoned, of course); really enjoys her vegetables and peppers.  She also enjoys baking breads with various herbs and garlic.  In the tavern/inn she works at in Port Tortuga (The Jade Dagger), Tamara not only helps with supplying the bread loaves that are served there, but also has a hand in making its own special brand of palm wine, and clairin.

Kyung: Mantis shrimp rice porridge/jook/粥, sweetheart cakes/lou po beng/老婆餅, and if she can get her hands on it–Tanghulu/糖葫蘆.  Tends to also really like eating edible flowers (roses, lotus, hibiscus, and any others that she knows are safe to eat).  Likes to make her own rice wines, but ironically can’t process alcohol very well which means she drinks the least.  Has the lowest tolerance of the bunch.  If given the option, she’ll confidently order milk or (non-alcoholic) fruit cider at a tavern rather than drink alcohol (this is especially well-known at the Jade Dagger whenever the Sea Dragon drops anchor at Port Tortuga).

[biglisbonnews]

Asian and Asian American Artists on Celebrating Lunar New Year Lunar New Year is the single most important date on the calendar for billions of people in East and Southeast Asia, including China, Taiwan, South Korea, Vietnam and Singapore. Observed this year on January 22, it marks the end of winter and the arrival of spring, with families journeying to their hometowns for weeks of festivities. With over 18 million Americans of Asian descent, the holiday — called Chūnjié in Mandarin, Seollal in Korean and Tết in Vietnamese — is celebrated in the United States as well as globally. And though it’s not officially observed in most Western countries, many in the Asian diaspora keep their heritage alive through traditional foods and rituals. Often, it’s the only tangible connection to culture we have in terms of a true celebration.As we prepare to ring in the Year of the Rabbit (or of the Cat, if you’re Vietnamese), PAPER caught up with some of our favorite Asian artists and creators from around the world to hear what the holiday means to them — and how they plan to celebrate. Lexie Liu, singerGrowing up in China, Chinese New Year is THE New Year for families to get together and celebrate with gourmet food, beautiful blessings and red packets. Ever since my parents divorced, I haven’t found a good way to attend both of their family dinners in New Year because they are in different cities, but this year we are all celebrating in the same city so I can finally be there for both of the families.The foods I loved are Fried Stinky Tofu with lots of spicy radish from Changsha Hunan. I need it in my holiday life. For the Year of the Rabbit, I wish I can eat more vegetables than a rabbit. (I probably do already.) Also, I wanna be as energetic as one, too.Related | Lexie Liu's Got Tricks and Tracks You Need to HearRuoyi Jiang, founder of Chop Suey ClubLunar New Year has always been about family time, relatives getting together and gossip. It means a BIG dinner together, endless amounts of food, giving and receiving red envelopes, watching a national TV program while poking fun at it, and enjoying the fireworks.The past many years I haven't been able to go back home for LNY, so this holiday for me is about celebrating with our chosen family. We are throwing a big party on Jan 21st (LNY Eve)! I do this type of parties because many people like me cannot be home to celebrate with their families. This time we wanna bring street food like skewers into the mix with soup dumplings. My favorite food for the season is 糖葫芦 tanghulu (candid hawthorn stick), it's not a LNY food per se but it's a Beijing winter specialty. My family is very small (just me and my mom), so we normally go to someone else's house for this holiday. My favorite memory is getting dressed with my mom, she would criticize my fashion while trying to have color-coordinated outfits with me. My wish for this year is that China can return to normalcy soon, so my mom and I can resume our annual trip together. I haven't seen her for three years now.​Twaydabae​, chef and influencerLunar New Year has always been about spending time with family & celebrating traditions to me. It's a time to reflect, wish each other well and set intentions for the future. I plan to celebrate with my family: It's going to be a big get-together this year and I'm really looking forward to having my mom's thit kho and my Stepdad's pho.My favorite memory of Lunar New Year in my home would have to be the games that are played, especially the dice game aka the Bau Cua Ca dice game. And my wish for this year is to welcome more peace into my life and to practice mindfulness in everything I do.Related | Twaydabae Is Viet Girl MagicEden, producerGrowing up in Ireland, Lunar New Year always felt like a nice family ritual — there was never much notice of it in the world outside. My biggest memory is of red envelopes. My granny would give them out to us on New Year’s and it always made it feel like a special time. I actually keep them in my house now and use them sometimes when gifting things to my friends. This year, I will be on tour somewhere in Texas doing my best to find some dim sum. Kim Nguyen, founder of Nguyen IncSometimes I go back home to Houston to celebrate with my immediate family but this year I’m staying in NY and planning on cooking with my friend SK Lyons at their home. Both of us have never cooked pho before so we are going to attempt my mom's recipe. I love literally everything my mom cooks. She is hands-down the best chef I know! Memories that immediately come to mind from when I was younger are playing bầu cua tôm cá with my uncles and cousins (because I was very lucky and always won a lot of money), cleaning every inch of our house before the festivities and playing hide and seek with all my cousins with back-to-back episodes of Paris by Night blaring from the TV in the living room. I read somewhere that this year's water rabbit (or cat) is supposed to be the year of hope, so I'd like to keep that in mind throughout the year.Related | Nguyen Inc Is Making Runway Fashion Statements From Upcycled TeesThuy, singer​Lunar New Year means family and tradition to me. It means being able to ring in a new year with the people who mean the most and enjoy traditions that have been passed down for decades together. I plan to celebrate by being surrounded by close and extended family. I want to be in conversation with family about our past and future plans while enjoying all the delicacies and treats! I especially love bánh tét! My favorite memory is staying up until midnight to light the fireworks! It was so much fun and we didn’t have to clean up the mess. We would leave the red residue all on our front porch for weeks. The only thing that scared me was how loud they were as a kid! My wish is to live peacefully and wholeheartedly. I want to continue doing what I love and enjoy every moment of it.Related | Thuy Is in Her BagAlex Porat, singerI’m going to spend most of my Lunar New Year days with my family. We’re going to eat a lot of food, especially Tang Yuan, which is my favorite dessert on this earth. I’ll probably also do a lot of cleaning and potentially rearranging of furniture so that I can have a new perspective in my living space as I turn into a new year. This might be pretty silly, but in general, I like moving furniture around way too much. My favorite memory is from whenever I was in Asia as a kid celebrating. Every time I was there around Lunar New Year I would see all my relatives and it was always such a big celebration. Now, living and growing up in North America, it’s such a different experience but I still have such a great community here of friends and family that celebrate. So there are a lot more memories yet to be made.Su Lee, musician and podcasterKoreans eat a lot of savory pancakes on Lunar New Year and my favorite is Mom’s specialty potato pancake that she makes at home. (Speaking of which, I would probably ask her to make some in advance before I leave Korea.)When I was in kindergarten, my grandpa would take me on a ride in his car and buy me toys whenever my family visited him for the holidays. I remember he always had a picture of me stuck by the front seat. This was a very long time ago and yet I still remember it all so clearly. I miss my grandpa a lot whenever I look back on this. One of my biggest wishes for this year was that my sister would pass her nursing exam. And this one has come true already – she passed! I hope this means I’ll have my other wishes come true. I hope I can go on tour again and maybe even be able to play at some festivals this year! I also hope I can get to meet and pet more cats this year.Related | Su Lee Forgot How to Make FriendsSamantha Tan, race car driver and team ownerLunar New Year is similar to [Western] New Year’s celebrations at the end of the year. It’s about celebrating the next cycle and next rotation in the Zodiac, family gatherings and wishing for health and prosperity for the years to come. Honestly, after growing up in a small Canadian town, Lunar New Year celebrations felt like one of the only times I got to experience something from my culture, so it allowed me to connect with my heritage. Today, it’s a celebration that reminds me to be proud of who I am and where I came from.This year, I am spending my Lunar New Year with my mom’s side of the family. My grandparents are planning a big dinner with all our favorite foods, complete with noodles, lots of dumplings, steamed fish and nian gao! Sometimes, when the whole family is able to get together in Toronto, we’ll go out to a restaurant and my favorite dish has always been the Peking duck with pancakes.Dolly Ave, singerLunar New Year always gives me fond memories with my family. It’s a celebration of a new chapter and a special occasion to be with your loved ones and take in all the blessings and future blessings the year may off you.I’ll be performing for the Vietnamese community here in California at a Lunar New Year festival. For me, that’s a special moment to bring to people music to dance to and celebrate to. I love sharing a big Vietnamese spread but specifically the large roasted pig that is commonly eaten during this time. My favorite memory is taking our red envelopes and, in good fun, playing games for each other's money.Photos courtesy of the artists https://www.papermag.com/lunar-new-year-celebrations-2659287111.html

[nagargent]

julia's fodlan profile

template from @shadoll

PERSONAL INFORMATION

GENDER: Female

AGE: 18

HEIGHT: 168cm /5'6"

BIRTHDATE: 1st of August, Grann Year 761

CREST/HOLY BLOOD: Major Naga, Minor Fjalar

CLASS: Black Eagles Student

AFFILIATION: The Liberation Army, Grannvale

BIOGRAPHY: Born to Emperor Arvis and his wife Empress Deirdre in Grann Year 761. Aids the Liberation Army in the Final Holy War. Shortly after, she makes her way to Garreg Mach to further her studies in magic and better support King Seliph.

PERSONAL HISTORY

761: Born alongside her twin brother Julius to the Emperor and Empress of Grannvale

770: Her mother, Deirdre, dies protecting her. Julia is warped away with the last of Deirdre's strength. - Julia suffers traumatic amnesia after this event.

Before 777: Is found by Lewyn who cares for her

777: Lewyn and Julia meet Seliph and join the Liberation Army

778: End of the Final Holy War, Julia's older half-brother, Seliph, is crowned King of Grannvale

779 (Imperial Year 1180): Arrives at Garreg Mach

INTERESTS: reading, hiking, gardening, praying LIKES: nature, quiet places, animals, studying magic, hot cocoa, warm hugs, her beloved friends DISLIKES: warfare, cruelty, manipulation, heavy exercise, being cooped up indoors, forgetting things (especially related to people she loves) STATUS. Imperial princess of grannvale & black eagles student CLOSE ALLIES: Seliph, Sara & Scathach

DINING HALL PREFERENCES

LIKES: saghert and cream, vegetable pasta salad, onion gratin soup, sweet and salty whitefish sautée. sweet bun trio, pheasant roast with berry sauce, country style red turnip plate, peach sorbet, gronder meat skewers, vegetable stir-fry, bourgeois pike, derdriu-style fried pheasant DISLIKES: beast meat teppanyaki, small fish skewers, sautéed jerky, garreg mach meat pie, cheesy verona stew, pickled seafood and vegetables, daphnel stew, cabbage and herring stew

DINING HALL NOTES

FAVORITE DISH.  ✧

"This is delicious! Thank you for inviting me to share such a wonderful meal, it truly warms my heart."

LEAST FAVORITE DISH.  ✧

"Oh dear. I don't wish to be fussy but... is this edible?"

WITH SARA.  ✧

"It's been a long time since we last enjoyed a meal together. My brightest days were always the ones I shared with you."

WITH SELIPH.  ✧

"I know it's a simple thing but I'm glad we're finally able to share a table together and break bread, the way family ought to. Thank you for indulging me, brother."

WITH DEIRDRE/ARVIS.  ✧

"I haven't touched my food yet? Oh, you're right! Forgive me, I just can't look away. To share this time together means the world to me."

TEAM TIME GUIDE

FAVORITE TEA: Lavender Blend, Rose Petal Blend, Chamomile CONVERSATION TOPICS: Children at the market, A dinner invitiation, The library's collection, Books you've read recently, Cats, Forest birds, Likable allies, Favourite sweets, Gardening mishaps, Overcoming weakness, Exploring the monastery, Ghost stories, The ideal professor, I'm counting on you, Someone you look up to, Hopes for your future, Classes you might enjoy, Magical innovations

TEA TIME QUOTES

GREETING.  ✧

"Thank you dearly for inviting me. I hope I'm acceptable company." "Well met, professor. May I take this seat?" "A tea party! Oh, I haven't had one since I was a little girl. ...I have missed them dearly."

FAVORITE TEA.  ✧

"Ah... I feel so relaxed. The tea is simply perfect, thank you!"

FIVE STAR TEA.  ✧

"This must have cost an arm and a leg! Are you sure there isn't someone else you'd rather share this blend with?"

BEING OBSERVED.  ✧

"Is there a reason you're looking at me so intently? It leaves me feeling rather nervous..." "You have lovely eyes. Oh, sorry! I didn't mean to say that out loud" "I see you enjoy precious moments of calm as much as I do."

QUIPS.  ✧

"Mmm, delightful!" "Ouch! Too hot..." "Do you hear the birds too?" "Heehee, there's a spot of cream on your--" "Thank you!" "I think that squirrel wants a snack." "Delicious!"

ENDING.  ✧

"I'm truly grateful to have been invited. That we could steal away a lovely little moment for ourselves... I promise to cherish this memory."

FINAL COMMENTS.  ✧

"Please forgive me. I often find myself lost for words." ANSWER: Chat, Praise "I know my father has done terrible things - has caused so much pain and suffering to people I hold dear. Yet I cannot change the fact that he is still my beloved father. ...perhaps I'm simply being selfish." ANSWER: Disagree, Admonish "I have been told countless times how similar I am to my mother but I am lacking in many ways. My mother is far more gregarious and ingenuous than I am." ANSWER: Chat, Nod, Disagree "It may be impossible but one day I would like to serve tea for my family. My parents, Lord Seliph, Lord Saias and Julius too." ANSWER: Nod, Sigh "Garreg Mach has brought me closer to dear friends, both old and new, than I would have ever imagined. I'm so delighted to be able to attend!" ANSWER: Commend, Agree, Praise "Whilst I've always had an innate talent for magic, I find myself giddy with excitement when I consider how much there is left to learn and understand. What possibilities await!" ANSWER: Nod, Praise "Losing my memory was almost as painful as facing the truth and plenty terrifying. I keep a notebook with me now, to record every detail I can. I refuse to forget." ANSWER: Sigh, Sip Tea "Heehee, I always feel most at peace outdoors. There is plenty to be learned from the forest, if one looks past the trees before them." ANSWER: Chat, Laugh, Sip Tea

MISCELLANEOUS DIALOGUE.

GIFT GUIDE

FAVORITE GIFTS. Tasty Baked Treat, Floral Adornment, Watering Can, Armoured Bear Stuffy, Arithmetic Textbook, Monarch Studies Book, Landscape Painting, Baby's Breath, Lily, Lavender DISLIKED GIFTS. Training Weight, Whetstone, Smoked Meat, Hunting Dagger, Coffee Beans

GIFT QUOTES

DISLIKED GIFT.  ✧

"Oh... um... thank you very much. I'm touched by the sentiment."

LIKED GIFT.  ✧

"Thank you! I promise to take good care of this."

FAVORITE GIFT.  ✧

"Oh my, how did you know this is exactly what I want? I shall treasure this fondly, my friend. Thank you!"

LOST ITEMS

Worn-out Notebook: A lavender coloured notebook with dog-eared pages. It's contents contain a wide variety of anecdotes and details, with dates and names in the margins. It likely belongs to someone afraid to forget things. Location found: Black Eagles Classroom Silk Handkerchief: Delicately embroidered with purple flowers. The silk is of especially fine quality. It likely belongs to someone from high society who adores flowers. Location found: Cathedral Pressed Flower Bookmark: Carefully dried and pressed lily petals decorate this bookmark. The lilac paper has a fancy letter J on the back. Likely belongs to a booklover. Location found: Library

LOST ITEM QUOTES

OWNER.  ✧

"Thank you for returning this to me. I shall take better care of it in future."

NOT OWNER.  ✧

"This... isn't mine. You should probably return it to it's owner."

BATTLE QUOTES

MOCK BATTLE RETREAT.  ✧

"You bested me. Well done, I'll retreat now, before I end up in the infirmary." [Byleth specific] "I can tell you have a lot to teach us, professor."

FIRST KILL.  ✧

"This never gets any easier, no matter how many times necessity forces my hand."

MONASTERY QUOTES

CHOIR PRACTICE.  ✧

"You... want me to sing? In front of people? I would much rather listen." "I suppose singing in harmony with everyone else isn't so bad. Actually, it's rather fun!"

COOKING.  ✧

"I have little experience cooking but I'll try my best." "What do you mean that's enough spice? I've barely started..." "Oh, can we bake sweets? I can't wait to see the glee on everyone's faces when we serve them!"

TUTORING

INSTRUCT

BAD.  ✧

"Oh no, I lost focus..." Critique: I'm sorry, I really ought to be more diligent. Console: Thank you, I promise to keep trying until I get it!

GREAT.  ✧

"Splendid! I'm pleased with the results.""I'll keep working hard."

PERFECT.  ✧

"Oh my! I hope my parents would be proud of me!" Praise: Heehee, thank you. You're making me blush!

TASKS

STABLE DUTY. ✧

"It seems the horses have had a hard day. Let's be extra kind to them, okay?"

WEEDING.  ✧

"It's a pity. Who gets to decide the line between weed and flower anyway?"

SKY WATCH.  ✧

"The view is beautiful up here and the breeze? Delightful! If only we could stay here forever."

CERTIFICATION EXAMS

FAILED.  ✧

"I'm terribly sorry. It seems I need further study before I can reach such lofty heights."

PASSED.  ✧

"I'm rather pleased with myself, although I could not have done this alone."

UPDATE GOALS

FAITH.  ✧

"I believe the role of a healer to be of utmost importance. I'd like to support my allies to the best of my abilities and keep them safe from harm. My bloodline, that of Saint Heim calls me to light magic. Please, allow me to improve my abilities to heal and fight back against the darkness."

REASON.  ✧

"I find reason magic ever so fascinating. I think my own proclivity for fire magic was inherited from my father. Oh dear, I am rambling! I would be very grateful if I could study the intricacies and theory behind offensive magic, professor. I hope to put what I learn to good use."

SWORD.  ✧

"My lord brother is an exceptional swordsman, as are my dear friends Scathach and Larcei. I don't expect to rival them, by any means, but it may benefit me to learn how to defend myself at close quarters. I will admit, I've been inspired by tales of Mortal Savants recently - master swordsmen who can command the arcane arts. It's rather exciting!"

LEVEL UP

0 TO 2 STATS UP .  ✧

"A bit disappointing but at least I'm a little stronger."

3 TO 4 STATS UP .  ✧

"A good effort. This will be a boon in the trials yet to come."

5 STATS UP .  ✧

"Hard work, well rewarded. I'm quite pleased."

6 STATS UP .  ✧

"Mother, Father - I hope I've made you proud."

UPON REACHING LEVEL 99 .  ✧

"Incredible! With Naga's guidance I will command my own fate!"

BUDDING TALENT

"Oh, I do love having room to grow."

NEW SKILL

"More petals as I blossom."

RECLASSING .  ✧

"Something new? I'll give it a try." "I'll keep working hard." "Though my garb has changed, my soul is resolute."

BATTLE QUOTES

WHEN SELECTED

FULL/HIGH HP .  ✧

"Let us go, together."

MEDIUM HP .  ✧

"Now is not the time for despair!"

LOW HP .  ✧

"I'm beginning to feel a little weary..."

ENEMY DEALS 1 OR NO DAMAGE OR MISSES .  ✧

"You underestimate me at your own peril."

CRITICAL ATTACK .  ✧

“I call on the divine light!”"I will never run away." "Naga, grant me the strength I need!" "With divine protection!" "My faith will not yield!"

GAMBIT .  ✧

"I'll try this!"

GAMBIT BOOST .  ✧

"I am always by your side."

DEFEATED ENEMY .  ✧

"May the gods have mercy." "I had to stop you." "My heart is set upon this path."

ALLY DEFEATS ENEMY .  ✧

"You are a shining light amongst us." "We are ever closer to sweet victory." "Your strength is ever reassuring."

ALLY HEALS/RALLIES .  ✧

"Thank you..." "Bless you, may Naga guide you forward." "I feel safe and warm." "Ah, I needed that." "Together we will forge ahead." "By your side I will remain."

DEFEAT QUOTE

CASUAL .  ✧

"I'm holding you all back... please, carry on without me."

CLASSIC .  ✧

"Forgive me, Lord Seliph..." "The light, it's so warm. I'll be with mother soon..."

THE ADVICE BOX

"I wish to nurture my relationships with others, both with old friends and new alike! However, I often feel a great valley between myself and others. One I feel powerless to overcome. I fear I may be hurting those I love and making them feel unwanted. Whatever should I do?" > Give up. Who needs friends anyway? > Push yourself to be more sociable and you'll find it easier to let others in! > Take your time but try to be honest with your friends. They'll probably appreciate your honesty and be understanding enough to give you the time and space you need to grow truly closer. (Correct answer)

[wherefore-whinnies]

You also get to share a day's worth of meals with two (6?) 3H students! Who are you picking, and what are you having?

hmmm... much as I love them, I don't think I could stand to eat with Caspar, Leonie, or Ingrid because their table manners would make it hard for me to eat 😅 I have a lot of trouble eating with other people because I so easily lose my appetite.

I would certainly eat with Coco (no fish though), Flayn, Mercedes, Annette, Petra, and Lysithea! as for putting them in groups of 2... maybe Coco and Mercedes, Annette and Lysithea, Petra and Flayn! I think we would have a good time.

someone posted a list of fe3h dishes that I will now reference...

mmm... beast meat teppanyaki... gronder meat skewers... vegetable pasta salad... vegetable stir fry... pheasant roast with berry sauce... daphnel stew... sautéed jerky... garreg mach meat pie...

I always think about half of these foods are NOT meals. peach sorbet? no!!!! (sorry Lysithea.) if I have to pick three I guess it would be gronder meat skewers, sautéed jerky, and pheasant roast with berry sauce.

[mysteriaqueen]

The Traveler's Journal

Day 1 Part Five | &lt;Prev • Next> | Word Count: 776 words

As the pair walked Amber ended up quite ahead of them. Jaylenth decided against rushing to catch up as she could see Mondstadt and the distance and Paimon knew how to get there if they got really lost. Jaylenth picked up every mushroom, pinecone, apple, and sunsettia she could find. When they began to smell something delicious cooking. Eventually they see a woman standing near a pot and approach her.

“Hmm. What should I cook next?”

She noticed the pair and turned to speak to them.

“Oh! Are you travelers from around here as well?” “No, we just happened to be passing by,” Paimon said, punctuating her sentence with a sniff. "So, Whatcha cookin’?” Jaylenth asked. “It smells really goood!” “I see. Welcome travelers! I’m Lynn, the survival expert of the Adventurers Guild.” “Wowie,” Jaylenth said with widened eyes. “As you can see I’m experimenting with some new recipes.”

Paimon gasped, wearing an expression that may as well be drooling.

“‘Eat before you go.’ --The first rule of the ‘Wilderness Survival Guide.’” “A picnic? Oh Paimon just loves picnics! My travel partner here is good at cooking as well.” “Yeah, cooking is fun.” “Oh, there’s a cooking pot right there,” Lynn said, pointing. “Show me what you got.” “Okay! What am I makin’?” “There are some Mushrooms and meat in the barrel over there. Try making a Chicken-Mushroom Skewer for me.” “Bet.”

Jaylenth looted the barrel and then stepped up to the pot. She slightly stuck her tongue out and focused. Paimon looked at her expressions, bewildered. Unperturbed, Jaylenth went on to make perfect Chicken Mushroom Skewers.

“Wow! Good job!” Paimon cheered. “Hehe, thanks. I’m gonna make some more stuff while we’re here.” “Ooooo! Paimon’s hungry already.” “I’m making this for later.” “Ugh! No fair.”

Along with a few skewers, Jaylenth also made Radish Vegetable Soup and Sweet Madame. After she finished the pair talked to Lynn again.

“Is it done? Mmm… Smells good!”

Lynn began to eat the skewer.

“Oh…” Jaylenth raised an eyebrow. “Ahh… Uh oh,” “Now that’s really tasty! You are indeed gifted!” “Paimon told you so!” “With your culinary skills, you should try more difficult dishes.” “Seriously? Thanks.” Jaylenth replied, awed by the compliment. “You’re welcome. Oh! I’ve got some raw ingredients in my bag. Have them in return for this meal.” “Can we really have them? Won’t you run of ingredients?” “Paimon shh-” “That’s okay. You should be able to find lots of ingredients when exploring the wilderness. Don’t forget to look carefully.“ “I definitely do.” “There’s also a restaurant known as Good Hunter that sells food and ingredients. Go have a look when you’ve got the time.” “Will do.” “Okay, thank you for the info,” Paimon said before suddenly gasping. “Hey! Leave some Chicken-Mushroom Skewers for Paimon!”

They said their goodbyes and continued into Mondstadt. As they walked they came across a bridge. Jaylenth took the time to go over to the left side of the bridge and observe the scenery. Much past the body of water the bridge was built over there was a rather sharp peak. The water, grass, and trees were so beautiful to her that couldn’t help but stop there for a second.

“Mondstadt is pretty.” “All of Teyvat is.”

She walked to the other side of the bridge and saw many peaks across the water. Then she looked straight ahead at the city in front of her. She took in the buildings and windmills before her.

Blinking herself back to reality she began to cross the bridge and noticed a small boy off to the side surrounded by various birds. She walked towards the boy, scaring the birds away.

“What’re you doing?! You’re scaring the pigeons away!”

“Oh! Oh- I am so sorry…. Well, they’ll be back at some point y’know?” "They do come back usually…" "See! They'll be back." "But what happens if one day they leave and never come back again." "Uh- Well-" "Just like Daddy…"

Jaylenth's eyes widened beyond belief. Damn it. Where's Paimon and their constant cheery disposition when you need it? Jaylenth kneeled down in front of the kid and smiled.

"What's your name?" "Timmie." "Well Timmie, I can assure you of one thing. If you keep feeding these pigeons and treating them well they will always come back." "Really?" "Yes. And when they have babies they'll bring them here and you'll get to feed them too." "How do you know?" "Because the birds love you for feeding them and they want to keep coming back. I'm sorry for scaring them away." "Okay…. thank you." "Of course!"

Jaylenth stood up and continued across the bridge into the city.