#and a cup of rooibos

[lemon-grenades]

finally finally calling this done! I've had this on the backburner since 2022 and I'm so happy with how this little gif came out! Between my kind of terrible methods of animating and complete hatred of drawing backgrounds, it's a miracle I actually went back and finished it. Maybe I'll throw her in one of those youtube "playlist of songs to relax and study to" videos.

[sunny-possum-pal]

Rooibos with milk and honey

[ev-enhotterthanyou]

just realised a heartbreaking fact. idk the mutuals favourite teas. this needs rectifying. please tell me your favourite type of tea <3<3<3

[neonvqmpire]

found a new trick for drinking more water: drinking tea instead

[apiswitchcraft]

some tea recipes

if you like tea rituals or giving tea offerings, then this post is for you! keep in mind, though, DEFINITELY do your research on any of the herbs/plants I've listed here if you've never put them in your body before. there's no harm in making substitutions or omitting certain things for the sake of your own health. i've gone ahead and highlighted some herbs that have potential side effects (although not everything i've highlighted may effect you, and not everything i haven't is for sure safe).

also, all of these teas can be made with one of those little tea strainer balls, or with a good mesh sieve. either way, have some way of removing the mix after it's steeped, because over-steeped tea can get sour. store any leftover tea mix in an airtight container in a cool, dry place

if you need to replace any fresh ingredients with dried, divide the quantity in half. also, some of the floral teas will seem like it's a lot of mix just for one cup, but petals just aren't as strong as leaves/roots/etc.

CLEAR SKIES TEA

Ingredients: 1/2 cup dried peppermint, 1/4 cup marigold petals, 2 stalks of finely chopped lemongrass, 2 tsps orange zest, 1 tsp ground ginger Extra Instructions: steep for 10 minutes, use 1-2 tsps for 1 cup

EVERYDAY MORNING TEA

Ingredients: 1 rooibos tea bag, a thin slice of lemon/or a little bit of juice, two thin slices of ginger, 3 cloves (or 3/4 tsp of ground clove), top with a few lemon balm or spearmint leaves after steeping Extra Instructions: steep for 10 minutes to make 1 cup

COTTAGE TEA

Ingredients: 1 cup earl grey leaves, 1/4 cup dried lavender, 2 tbsps each of cornflower and sunflower petals, add a couple vanilla seeds or extract in each cup Extra Instructions: steep for 3 minutes, use 1-2 tsps to make 1 cup

GROUNDING TEA

Ingredients: 2 tsps/1 bag of black tea (assam or darjeeling is best), 2 tsps/1 bag of chamomile tea, 2 tsps elderflowers, add a pinch of lemongrass and a few vanilla seeds/a couple drops of extract to each cup Extra Instructions: steep for 10 minutes, makes 2 cups

CALMING TEA

Ingredients: 1 cup lemon balm leaves, 1/2 cup valerian root (I use lavender instead), 1/2 cup rose geranium petals, 1/2 cup chamomile flowers, 1/2 cup comfrey leaves (or nettle leaf) Extra Instructions: steep for 10 minutes to make 6 cups

GODDESS TEA

Ingredients: 1 tsp each of hibiscus petals, marigold petals, rose petals, and thyme leaves Extra Instructions: steep 5 minutes, makes 1-2 cups

TEA FOR FAIRIES

Ingredients: 2 cups dried chamomile flowers, 1 cup green tea leaves, 1 cup lemon balm leaves, 1 cup calendula, 1/4 cup of rose petals Extra Instructions: steep for 10 minutes, use 2 tsps to make 1 cup

DANDELION DIVINATION TEA

Ingredients: 1 tbsp fresh dandelion petals (although you can use the full flowers), 1 tbsp fresh marigold, top with a lemon/orange slice after steeping Extra Instructions: steep for 5 minutes to make 1 cup

ROSE VERBENA TEA

Ingredients: 1 cup Chinese green tea, 1/2 cup rose petals, 1/4 cup dried lemon verbena leaves Extra Instructions: use 1-2 tsps for 1 cup. steep for anywhere from 3-10 minutes (3 is best for the tea, 10 is best for flowers)

FULL MOON RITUAL TEA

Ingredients: 2 tsps dried elderflower, 2 tsps dried lavender, 1 jasmine tea bag, 1/2 tsp dried yarrow leaves (or can use elderflower), 3 crushed cardamom pods Extra Instructions: steep for 5 minutes, makes 2 cups

GREEN SPIRIT TEA

Ingredients: 2 tsps/1 bag green tea, 1 tbsp dried rose petals, 1 tsp each dried dandelion petals and dried nettle Extra Instructions: steep for 10 minutes, makes 2 cups

APOTHECARY'S BREW

Ingredients: 2 cups dried echinacea, 2 cups dried chamomile flowers, 1 cup dried mint leaves, 1 cup dried anise seeds, 1 cup dried thyme leaves Extra Instructions: steep for 10 minutes, use 1-2 tsps for 1 cup

ROMANTIC TEA

Ingredients: 2 tsps/1 bag white tea, 4 tsps rose petals, 2 tsps each raspberry leaf and lemon balm leaves (can substitute jasmine and mint for these), add a couple vanilla seeds/drops of extract in each cup after steeping Extra Instructions: steep for 5 minutes, makes 2 cups

MAGIC REALISATION TEA

Ingredients: 1/2 cup dried borage flowers, 1/2 cup dried thyme leaves, 1/4 cup dried dandelion, 1 tsp each fennel seeds and ground coriander, 1/2 tsp ground ginger Extra Instructions: steep for 10 minutes, use 1-2 tsps for 1 cup

FAIRY CIRCLE TEA

Ingredients: 2 cups dried chamomile flowers, 1 cup dried lemon balm or mint leaves, 1/2 cup dried calendula petals, 1/4 cup dried rose petals Extra Instructions: steep for 5 minutes, use 1 tbsp for 1 cup

JASMINE JOY TEA

Ingredients: 4-5 jasmine tea bags, 2 tbsps each lemon balm leaves and rose geranium petals, top with a few sprigs of mint and a slice of lemon after steeping Extra Instructions: steep for 10 minutes, makes 5-6 cups

AURORA TEA

Ingredients: 1 oolong tea bag, 1 tsp dried cornflower, 1/2 tsp dried peppermint leaves Extra Instructions: steep for 5 minutes, makes 1 cup

KINDRED SPIRITS TEA

Ingredients: 2 cups dried thyme, 1 cup dried rosemary, a few cloves, 3 ground/torn up bay leaves, 1 star anise, the dried rind of a small orange Extra Instructions: steep for 10 minutes, use 2 tsps for 1 cup

abridged from "Enchanted Tea Time" by Gail Bussi (a bunch of these recipes I changed to be a little easier to do for the average person, or provided alternatives for a "risky" ingredient)

[choccorin]

what about satoru who secretly and slowly turns you into a carbon copy of his best friend, suguru. his best friend that he fell in love with, still in love with. his best friend that was his first and last true love.

it started with him getting you into the foods that suguru liked and loved— such as rooibos tea. even though you have a sweet tooth just like him, he insists that you only add one sugar cube instead of three. it's strange for him to say that when you just watched him add four sugar cubes to his own cup, but he reasons that it'll taste better with just one.

you believed him.

you're also a bit of a picky eater and it was hard to get you into eating new foods, but satoru was persistent and it eventually worked out.

the hardest part of changing you was your appearance. he thinks you're adorable and beautiful, but the fact that you don't look like his ‶one and only″ irks him. you have suguru's mannerisms, interests, and favorite foods, but you don't look like him at all. and satoru will do everything he can to change that.

if you have curly hair then he'll try to convince you to straighten it, he doesn't care if you love your natural hair. if you really love him, then you'll do what he wants, right? it took months and several arguments, before you finally obliged his wishes with a heavy, reluctant heart.

when you meet shoko again after a few months, her heart sank at the sight of you.

the way you moved, the way you spoke, the way you ate, the way you dressed, your interests, and your appearance were different. other than your face, skin color, and height, you look exactly like suguru. you even have his signature hair bun. she spoke to satoru about this and he acted clueless, saying that it was your decision and he contributed nothing to your transformation; only gave you his love and support.

little did satoru know, you were completely aware of his plans. ever since you heard him mumble suguru's name that one night while he was sleeping, you knew he was still in love with him and knew that this was bound to happen. even before your relationship, it was obvious that his feelings for his best friend never left. you just didn't expect for him to go this far. if it were another person, they'd immediately leave, but you can't.

you love him too much to make him experience another heartbreak. (would it really break him when he's not in love with you at all?)

it breaks your heart to know that every time he looks at you with that smile—the one that makes his eyes crinkle—he’s not really looking at you. he’s looking at the man he fell in love with years ago— the man he will always love, even in death.

[puffcap-factory]

Late Night Tea-Time (Wriothesley x reader)

Wriothesley x fem!reader; fluff, established relationship, a teeny-weeny hint of smut. Just the hint, not the real smut.

Basically, it’s you staying up late at night working (and waiting for him) only to see him arriving with another new package of tea collections.

Words: 1.1k

Notes:

Finally! My first genshin fic featuring the spicy Duke of Meropide himself, Wriothesley! It’s kinda short but I’d like to get this one out first as I was thinking of making a short series for him too (no promises, though, I’ll see how it goes hehe)

As always, please enjoy! :D

•~•~•~•

Piles of papers were spread on Wriothesley’s office desk as you carefully analyzed the data regarding the fortress’ logistics, seated on Wriothesley’s chair. The sounds of the piano from the record player filled the air as you took another sip of your tea, hoping it would help you regain the focus that had been faltering.

Suddenly, the creak of the door opening in the room below caught your attention. Wriothesley entered and ascended the stairs, carrying a new box of tea collections in his hands.

“You’re still working on the files? It’s already 11 pm,” he asked, finding you seated on his office chair. 

“Says someone who just returned from a business meeting. And with a fresh stash of tea,” you replied, a playful glint in your eye as you glanced at the box he carried.

It seemed everyone was beginning to catch on to the Duke’s fondness for tea, as most of the gifts he received always seemed to revolve around tea drinking, much to your amusement.

He chuckled softly at your response as he placed the newest tea set onto the tea cabinet, arranging it carefully.

“You won’t be sleeping if you keep drinking your tea, though.”

“It’s Rooibos, don’t worry,” you reassured him, watching as he made his way towards you.

“It’s late, y/n, I want you to rest,” he said softly, standing beside the chair. With a gentle pat on your shoulders, he lowered himself to your seat, planting a tender kiss on your temple. 

“Come now,” he urged gently, carefully removing the documents from your hand and placing them on the table. He offered you his hand, allowing you to stand up from his seat, and led you over to the nearby sofa. You gladly followed him.

He brought your tea cup over and placed it on the low table in front of you before returning to the tea counter. There, he found the pot of tea, still hot from the heater below, the one that you had been drinking from.

“I’ve made that for us. Feel free to pour yourself,” you offered from your seat.

“Thank you, sweetheart,” he replied with a warm smile. He poured his own cup of tea before making his way to sit next to you.

After taking a sip of the tea, seemingly content with the brewing, he opened his arm, inviting you to come closer. You understood his gesture and happily nestled into his embrace, feeling his warmth as his arm wrapped around your waist, pulling you close.

“I’m not quite sleepy yet,” you admitted softly, looking up at him. He chuckled softly, his eyes filled with fondness towards you.

“Why’s that? You’ve been working on the data since this morning as far as I can remember.”

“I have, but all I’ve done today is sit behind the desk and work on the papers,” you explained.

“And you’re not tired from that?”

“I am– well, my mind is. And throughout the day, you were away, too.”

“So, you’re saying you’re just missing me so much that you can’t sleep?” he teased with a playful chuckle.

“Hey, you’ve been helping me spar in these past few weeks. Those physical activities actually helped me sleep, you know,” you countered with a pout.

“Physical activities, huh?” His eyes danced mischievously, a playful grin appearing on his lips.

“But… I don’t think I have the energy to spar right now. My mind is not in the capacity to devise a strategy to defeat you,” you said lazily, snuggling up closer to him. 

“You were actually thinking to spar right here, right now, at my office,” he gently laughed, his hand running soothingly through your hair.

“Well, why not? It’s not like we’re gonna blow this whole place up,” you replied with a playful grin, glancing over at your almost empty tea cup. You stood up and made way to the tea counter to take the tea pot. Wriothesley watched you with amusement from his seat, his eyes gleaming with a mix of mischief and... something else.

Switching off the tea pot’s heater, you prepared to return to the sofa with the pot when the new tea set in the nearby cabinet caught your eye. Curiously, you opened the cabinet and examined it.

“You know,” you mused, holding the box in your hand, “I find it rather amusing that somehow, tea and you are never far from each other.”

He watched you with an amused smile, a spark of curiosity in his eyes as he leaned forwards. “And what do you mean by that?” 

“I feel like the scent of tea itself is starting to rub off on your scent. Imagine people catching a whiff of tea and turning to find the Duke of Meropide himself,” you continued, a small laugh escaping you at the image. “I wouldn’t be surprised if you started to taste like one.”

There was a sudden pause in the moment before he answered. “Taste like one… huh?” he stated, his tone lowering as he stood up from the sofa and made his way to you. You suddenly felt his arm, slowly wrapping you from behind, one arm snaked around your waist, pulling you close, while the other rested gently on your shoulder. The atmosphere had shifted, a subtle tension building as you realized the implication of your words. 

“Perhaps, you should find out for yourself,” he whispered in your ear, his voice low and husky, sending a shiver down your spine. His warm breath trickled against your ear and down to your neck as he nuzzled softly, hinting at the desire simmering beneath the surface. 

Feeling the heat of his body against yours, you set down the box of tea, fully aware of his unspoken invitation. You leaned back into his embrace, a playful spark igniting within you as you decided to tease him a bit further.

“And how would you suggest I do that?” you turned your head, meeting his gaze with a mischievous smirk, your lips mere inches from his.

For a moment, his eyes held yours, tender yet filled with hunger that started to cloud his gaze. “Well, considering your lack of physical activities today, I have a perfect idea to satisfy your curiosity as well as help you sleep.”

You caught the glint of lust in his eyes and understood exactly what was coming.

“Oh? Then what are you waiting for?”

With a smirk, he effortlessly scooped you up into a bridal carry, his arms strong and sure beneath you. Without a word, he carried you towards his bedroom, the tension between you still palpable. The aroma of tea lingered in the air as you two left the office, leaving the tea to grow cold.

・

・

That night, you slept more soundly than you had in weeks, wrapped in the warmth of his love, the taste of tea still lingering on your lips.

[fbfh]

curiosity is a wonderful thing - ch. 9

wc: 3.2k

genre: slow burn, little angst, childhood best friends to lovers

pairing: slow burn bff!ben x fem daughter of alice!reader, previously audrey x ben, mal x ben???? apparently????

warnings: emotional damage!!! unusual behavior from ben, reader has a lil mini breakdown, reader is a just a tad autistic coded and has kind of a meltdown??? could also be read as emotional distress so interpret how you will

summary: ben gets weird during a tourney game and your gut is telling you something you probably shouldn't ignore.

song recs: twisted - aviva, cradles - sub urban, rabbit heart - florance and the machine, heads will roll - yeah yeah yeahs

a/n: YOOOOOOOOO IT'S GETTIN JUICYYYYYY. also our cat I mentioned in the an of chapter 8 has settled in well. he's so talkitive lol. I LOVE YOU GUYS I HOPE YOU'RE ENJOYING HAPPY PRIIIIIDEEEEEEE~~~~~ BEEEEE WHO YOU AARRRREEEE FOR YOUR PRIIIIIIIIIIIDDDDDDEEEEEEEE

tags @yesv01@magcon7280 @hopefullhearts @thatawkwardlittlefangirl @sunshineangel-reads @dustyinkpages @inejsknifes @tulipmagnoliaisme @ev3ningrain SORRY IF I MISSED ANYONE YELL AT ME IN THE NOTES AND ILL ADD YOU LOL

You take in a big lungful of the crisp, springtime fresh Auradon air as you crawl out of your rabbit hole and back into Overland. Roots and twigs and grass stick to your skirts, but you don’t mind much. You check your pocket watch in a panic, and scurry to the tourney match. You’re merely a pebble’s throw away, so you reach the bleachers quite quickly. Late, granted, but not too late. Not horribly, irreversibly, all-endingly late. You climb up to your usual spot in the bleachers, only a few seats away from the isle kids. Well, Mal and Evie, really, since Jay and Carlos are out on the field. You try to wave at the girls, but they seem much too preoccupied with the game to notice. You understand their fascination, tourney matches are simply addictive. 

You yourself hadn’t been one for sports - aside from the occasional caucus race - that is, until Ben joined the tourney team last year. He must have spent every spare moment leading up to his first match trying to explain the rules to you with no luck, but the moment the referee blew her whistle, you were enamored watching him play. And it’s simply been that way ever since. No matter what it is, you know it will be a fantastical time if Ben’s the one playing. This seems especially true today. 

Ben tears up the field like an absolute animal - no pun intended - and within minutes has scored yet another goal for Auradon. The Fighting Knights are pulling out all the stops, and through even your unwavering faith in Ben’s athleticism, it’s starting to look like a close call. You pull out a teacup from your bag, the china cool under your fingertips. It’s adorned with a white catchfly and chestnut print, but you don’t pay much attention to it. 

Your eyes are locked on Ben as he races down the field, and you pour the spout of your tea pot shaped bag into the cup. Warm, perfectly brewed rooibos and nettle tea trickles from its spout. You shake it absentmindedly a few times, and some lemon slices and lavender sprigs fall in, floating atop the beverage. You take a sip of the warm, perfectly seasoned herbal tea, nearly choking on it as Jay drags Carlos across the field. You watch with bated breath as they move strategically, setting up Ben to score the perfect winning goal. The ball flies straight into the net, and you jump up, cheering and applauding, not even noticing the rooibos and nettle tea stain on your skirt. The crowd roars right along with you, applauding and cheering deafeningly while the announcer congratulates Auradon Prep on their win. Before he can even finish speaking, Ben grabs the mic from him.

You stop dead in your tracks, brow furrowed.

That’s not like him. 

Not at all. 

“Excuse me, excuse me!” Ben pants, still out of breath as he tries to get the crowd’s focus. “Can I have your attention please?”

The stands quiet as he speaks. 

“There’s- uh, there’s something I’d like to say!”

What in the Knave’s good name is he doing? Your mind races, trying to remember if he’d said anything about something like this. Were there any speeches, any announcements, anything like that he was going to make after the game? You can’t remember him mentioning anything like that. Besides, he always runs his speeches by you first to make sure it comes across the way he intends it too. Even something as small as an opening statement or homework presentation, he always gets your feedback first. You watch the way his eyes dart around, the way he hesitates as he tries to figure out what he’s saying. Your stomach drops. He’s improvising this. This whole situation feels surreal. Most peculiar, and most definitely unlike him. 

After another moment of floundering, he finally addresses the crowd. 

“Give me an M!” 

The crowd complies, shouting out the letter and mirroring the shape he’s making with his arms. 

“Give me an A!” 

“A!” 

While the crowd complies yet again, throwing their arms over their heads in an A shape, your eyes fly over to Audrey. You’re afraid you know where this is going, even though it makes positively less sense than the most twisting turning riddles you’ve ever encountered in Wonderland. Your horrified, bewildered expression is the opposite of her hopeful one, and you realize you’re thinking the same thing. Your stomach sinks in a sick, twisting feeling. Your mind races in a dreamlike panic. 

He can’t seriously be asking Audrey to marry him, could he? 

There’s no way. There’s simply no chance that the Ben you’ve known for longer than you’ve been brewing tea would do something so… impulsive. Everything about Ben is calculated. Well thought through. Ben agonizes over each and every decision, he lies awake at night paralyzed by the potential consequences of each action, each choice not being thought all the way through and analyzed from every possible angle. If proposing to Audrey was even a thought in his mind, he would have told you about it. 

There’s simply no other way. There’s no possibility this was even an option in his mind. Just last week when you had quietly implied that maybe he should consider ending their relationship, his silence spoke louder than any words could have. You had seen that. You saw it in his eyes. There’s no way he could be changing his mind that quickly, and not consulting you - or someone about it? You know you would have gotten wind if he even implied he was toying with the notion. Ben does not flip-flop. So what is… this?

“Give me an L!”

Audrey’s face drops. Yours floods with relief. 

He’s not proposing. 

“C’mon, I can’t hear you!” Ben calls out into the mic, hyping up the crowd. They yell Mal’s name again at Ben’s encouragement. You think you see where he’s going with this. It makes sense - Jay and Carlos each got a big starring moment during the tourney game. Now, Ben is giving a shout out to Mal and Evie so they can share in the glory, and won’t feel left out. It’s a brilliant idea, you realize, but you still can’t figure out why he didn’t plan something like this ahead. Did he realize last minute that Mal and Evie might feel excluded? It’s possible. And right now, it’s the most rational explanation you have for this unusual behavior. Before you can feel too relieved, he leans into the mic. You wait for him to instruct the crowd to give him an E, beginning to spell Evie’s name, and-

“I love you, Mal!”

Your stomach drops. You freeze again, brow furrowed more than before. The world around you spins as you stand in the crowd, disoriented. He says it like a deathbed confession, the words tearing from his throat. Through your confused stupor, you can hear the sincerity, the yearning in his voice. 

What?

You don’t even think to look over at Audrey, but you’re sure as anything her expression is exactly the same as yours - completely and totally shell shocked. Probably moreso, you think, she is his girlfriend after all. But is she? Anymore, that is. You can’t imagine she would want to be after a display like that, after Ben publicly- 

Ben…

Ben. 

His gaze flicks over to you for a split second, not even long enough for you to silently ask him what the hell is going on. But it’s just long enough for you to see a flash of something. A look in his eye. Fear. Confusion. Everything you’re feeling for him right now. His attention is ripped forcefully back to Mal. Whatever was there, you can’t see it now. 

“Give me a beat!” Ben demands overzealously to the band. They start playing something for him, something loud and fast. Ben begins singing Mal’s praises. Literally. You’re still frozen, sick with a cold, confused feeling that makes the world around you feel like a strange dream. Unreal. You begin to question if you are dreaming. Through your dazed state - which you only later realize has begun to be accompanied by hot tears blurring your vision - you could swear you saw Mal and Evie share some sort of look, whisper knowingly. They giggle. Mal pulls a zip top bag of cookies out of her jacket pocket and they both start giggling. Laughing. 

A noise catches your scattered attention and you notice Ben has launched himself into the stands, crowd surfing to get all the way over to Mal. He climbs down, grabbing her waist and pulling her close. It’s so intense, so passionate, so unlike him to do something like that in public. You start to gasp, but you can’t. The stands are so loud, each noise feels like a gunshot deafening you. Your lungs feel like they’re being squeezed from the bottom up like paint tubes, gripped by an artist desperate for the last drops of cadmium yellow deep. 

His hand rests firmly on the small of her back.

Just like it does on yours.

Something sickening twists through you, contaminating your heart and sapping away at your strength. Audrey’s voice cuts through, piercing and shrill as she announces to Ben that Chad is her boyfriend now. You see them kiss in your peripheral vision, eyes still locked on the way Ben’s hand sits on Mal’s back. He doesn’t seem to notice Audrey either, or at the very least, he doesn’t acknowledge her. Normally you’d giggle privately at how much that would irritate her, but nothing so frivolous crosses your mind just then.

“I love you, Mal!” Ben exclaims into the microphone. “Did I mention that?”

He leans closer, aching for her, needing her. But she puts her hands on his chest, trying to keep more distance between them. 

“Mal,” he begs, panting as his breath fans across her face, his cheeks flushed. He grips her tighter, leaning closer until he’s practically dipping her. The crowd watches, shocked at the sight of Prince Ben - who is known for his diplomatic reserve and continuous composure - acting so bold in public. “Will you go to coronation with me?”

“Yes!” Mal’s response comes a little too easily. 

You stare off into space in his general direction, choked with disbelief. You feel so frightened and confused and unwelcome. It’s a cold, isolated feeling of strangeness you’ve been running from since you could walk. You knew what people said about Wonderlandians, what they whispered behind your back when they thought you couldn’t hear. It was always Ben who made that feeling go away. He had seen the change in you, too. The more time you spent together since you were littles, the more he included you and sent disapproving princely looks to anyone who dared to tease you or make you feel like you’re not a part of Auradon, the more it started to work. He saw you relax, saw you believe him when he said he was happy to see you. He saw the shame and paranoia from accepting the fact that everyone around you was teasing you behind your back, spreading lies and rumors fade away. 

Ben watched you grow into yourself the moment he showed you that you were safe to do so. Now, after ten years, that horrible feeling is back and Ben is gone. You turn, rushing out of the bleachers, hopping down to solid ground and turning underneath the stands. You’ve barely stopped before the world caves in around you, and the familiar scent of earth and night and the good kind of confusion envelop your senses, like a hug from your mother. 

You fall down the rabbit hole, and you weep. Shamelessly, loudly, uncontrolled. Your tears fly off into the air above you as you fall, no longer afraid of prying eyes. You cry and cry, losing your sense of time and space as you fall deeper and deeper away from the world that never seems to lose amusement in stinging you when you least expect it. You take in a breath, but before you can let it out as another aching sob, you’re plunged underwater. 

Your eyes flare open in the deep waves around you, the black void of a sky above. You kick yourself up to the surface, gasping as you tread the current carrying you downstream. The water splashes around you, getting into your mouth, and it’s salty. A stork sails by on a little wooden raft, adjusting her captain’s hat. “Well, that would do it!” She exclaims in a thick, Wonderlandian accent. “I was wondering what caused these high tides.” 

She maneuvers her raft towards you and hauls you onto it, her gangly legs wobbling awkwardly as she keeps her balance. She pulls a handkerchief out of her pocket and hands it to you, her long feathers tickling your fingertips. 

“Dry your eyes there, dearie, or else we’ll be having to build a new dam!” 

You sputter an apology, which she dismisses goodnaturedly, and begins singing a confusing sea shanty as she navigates the waves, coming and going as you try to calm yourself. After a few minutes, a particularly large wave pushes you two over the river’s edge and sends you spinning into the forest. 

“Well, there you have it.” She says, taking off her cap and dumping out water, sand, a few shells, and a very irritable codfish. She unties the strings of her raft, gathering up the large sticks used to make it into a bundle, and tucking them under her arm.

“Quite useful, you know,” She says softly, before handing you a piece of nicely shaped paper. It reads The Two Blwo’s Shipping Survise. “And if you ever need something lickety split, I do hope you’ll give me a call.”

She tilts her hat and lopes off through the woods into darkness. 

You plop yourself down on the nearest thing - a large, bioluminescent blue mushroom with little purple spots that makes a sound like a big deep drum when you sit down on it. Several smaller mushrooms varying in size scatter near the base of the one you’re seated on. As you pull your foot up to get comfortable, you graze a few of the litter ones, and let out different tones and types of drums too. Normally this would fascinate you. Normally you would be taking pictures, writing about them in your journal, and trying to learn how to play a song on them - if they’re in the right sort of temperament, of course. But today you don’t even notice.

Your mind is still spiraling, sucked down into a whirlpool of the day’s events. You go over and over what happened, hoping to make sense of it, but unable to really process anything. That was so strange, Ben is acting so strange. Why is he acting like that, you wonder. Did he hit his head? Has he somehow been possessed by a very extroverted poltergeist? Why would he do that? It doesn’t make sense. It doesn’t even make nonsense. Even in Wonderland, there are still patterns, there are still rules and motivations for doing things. Even if those rules and patterns don’t make sense to anyone else, they’re still real. Wonderland is illogical and absurd, but it’s not purely random. 

You rock yourself comfortingly on the bouncy mushroom, the soft noise providing an ambiance that helps you start to think again. There’s no feasible pattern or non-pattern or non-pattern pattern to Ben’s behavior. If there were one, you would be able to find it, especially if you know him as well as you do. And you do. You glance down and see some beetles marching in a line, carrying leaf umbrellas to avoid any more falling tears. You wipe them from your cheeks quickly. 

“My apologies.” You say, your voice polite and fragile. The head beetle chirps, clicking his wings and tipping his hat. He ushers the others past your mushroom quickly, putting their leaf umbrellas onto an umbrella leaf bush nearby. 

A few bread-and-butterflies flitter over, carrying a tray of tea and cakes. They place it before you gently, brewing you a cup of blackberry earl grey with extra honey. You thank them, and they nod, flittering off and leaving a trail of buttery breadcrumbs as their wings flap. They land nearby, listening to you mutter to yourself as the line up to form a loaf. The tea and cakes are delicious, full of jam and honey, and they steady your nerves. You take in another breath, less shaky this time, and begin to think. Not panic, really think. 

“There has to be a reason,” you mumble out loud, “There simply has to be. Ben doesn’t just lose his composure like this. He’s not devoid of sensibilities and decision making. He’s worked so hard to hone his reputation as someone trustworthy, someone full of common sense and compassion, and that… being that person for Auradon is everything to him.”

You place down your tea cup firmly, brow furrowing as your confusion melts away to determination. 

“Everything! He would never do something so… impulsive, and foolhardy, and- and… not like him!” 

You stand up quickly, landing on your feet. 

“I must get to the bottom of this.” You pause. “Or top. Either way.”

You gather your things, fix your hair, and wring out the water from your dress. Even if Ben doesn’t care about his reputation anymore, about his future, the very future of Auradon and all who reside within it, you do. Your loyalty to Ben simply cannot be broken by a day like today.  You won’t let him throw away everything he’s worked towards for no reason. For any reason! If he’s just gone mad, that’s one thing to be dealt with. But there’s a good chance he’ll come back to his senses sooner or later, and you refuse to let everything to hell in a handbasket until he does. 

You are going to figure this out. You’re going to do as much damage control as needed until Ben is back to you and Back to himself. And he is going to come back to himself. You’re sure of it.

Filled with tea cakes and determination, you summon a rabbit hole back to Auradon, and jump through. You flip and twist through the darkness, falling past a bookshelf that floats along with you for a moment, offering a few titles that might prove useful. 

When light breaks the surface and you hear the cracking of polished stone floors, you climb through and emerge into the library. You dust the dirt off yourself and off your hands, setting down your books on a table. You begin to look around, rushing through the library and moving with purpose. You pull book after book off the shelves until you can hardly carry them to the checkout desk. Many of them will be fruitless, you’re sure, but anything is better than nothing in times like these.

“Doing some light reading, Ms. Liddell?” The librarian asks, chuckling at the imposing stack of books you’ve placed before her as she scans through them. 

“There’s nothing light about it, I’m afraid.”She looks up, surprised by the unusual heaviness to your voice, the sharp, focused determination. “Thank you, madam.” You say, grabbing all your books and marching off to your dorm. You have a lot of reading to get through.

[astriiformes]

Was sifting through some wedding decor to sell the bits we don't feel like keeping and found a 2oz packet of an almond cardamom rooibos tea that I forgot I'd bought on the big day (I had a lot of nerves and we got decor sorted a bit early, so some friends and I ran to get drinks from a favorite local tea shop in the hour before people started arriving for the ketubah signing)

Almond is one of my favorite flavors, and cardamom is one of Scribe's, so it felt like a perfect little treat for us. I'm feeling very soft brewing a couple cups right now for us to try, and thinking fondly of everyone who came to celebrate with us.

[gremlinmodetweeker]

TF 141 and their Morning Drink Preferences

TF 141 Dump

TF 141 Headcanons

Ghost:

Obvious tea drinker

Or is it that obvious?

Painfully British of the whole lot of them

Will only drink black teas, absolutely despises herbal, green or rooibos teas

Of the black teas avoids anything floral because he thinks it’s a bit too frilly for his palette

Never adds sugar to teas, says it ruins the flavor

Will add milk to help cool a tea, but only just slightly

Claims drinking a freshly made cup of tea on a hot summer day helps cool him down

How this works is beyond me, but he claims it anyways

Thinks adding cream is a vile concept and anyone who does so should be interrogated by the CIA

Soap

He’ll drink a cup of tea with Ghost, but he’s really more of a coffee person

Prefers medium roast with a heavy serving of cream

He can’t stand adding milk, but will use it if there’s nothing else

Adds sugar when he gets a chance

Despises sweeteners and will make little digs at anyone who does use sweetener, usually citing health reasons

Don’t try arguing that adding two spoons of sugar is just as bad, he won’t hear it

As for tea he prefers rooibos, which drives Ghost up the wall

Is down for anything, really

Gaz

Doesn’t like hot beverages

Prefers either a cool glass of water or juice

Does not understand caffeine addiction whatsoever

Claims the drinks are healthier and more refreshing

People just think he’s incredibly dehydrated in the morning

Will take orange juice from concentrate without batting an eye, but really enjoys more exotic juices if he can get his hands on them

When stationed in foreign countries he’ll try juices made from native fruits

Really likes cactus and mango juice, but is not opposed to papaya

Dislikes southern lemonade with a passion, claims it’s far too sweet

Is surprisingly peppy in the morning despite only drinking juice

Roach

Whatever’s there will work

However, he tends to prefer teas

He’s especially fond of green teas

He goes on about how healthy they are for the mind and body

Also will go on about how easy they are to transport and keeps a small sachet of matcha powder (the cheap stuff) on him to prove his point

He thinks Ghost is a snob and should just get over himself

Has tried to sway the others, but they all tell him matcha tastes like grass

He thinks they’re all idiots

Price

Coffee only

Does not fuss over his coffee whatsoever

Whatever’s in the canteen will do

His one gripe is adding cream or sugar

He will only take his coffee black

Some have tried to win him over with coffees made with cream/milk/sugar, and he’ll be polite enough to drink them and thank them, but he really doesn’t like it too much

He will tell them to not fuss too much if they get him another coffee so they don’t do it again

Cannot stand people whining about how they take their coffee and how the military doesn’t give out the good stuff

He just considers them weak whiners

This includes Ghost when he complains about not having enough black tea in the canteen

Price glad to say it to his face

He could not care less about age or temperature

He’ll pull a day-old cup straight out of the fridge and down it like there’s no tomorrow

Art from This Post

[elvensorceress]

the history of cinnamon sorrow

chapter 3 & 4 now posted

Eddie follows her into the kitchen and she motions for him to sit at the table. “Would you like some tea? I was going to have a cup of English breakfast. It’s nice in the morning.”

He sits but it’s weird. This is weird. She’s hosting like he’s a stranger she barely knows. Maybe he is a stranger she barely knows.

“Do you have flower tea?” Eddie asks before he remembers that was Adriana’s name for it. And his mother knows that. She might take it as a return jab. And then they’ll get nowhere and Eddie really does want to talk and connect and at least attempt to smooth everything over and fix it.

He really needs to fix this. He needs them to be on the same side.

“Chamomile. I mean chamomile tea,” he corrects quickly but doesn’t know if it’s quick enough. “If you have it.”

“No, I don’t keep that one.” She looks into her tea cupboard instead of at him, but it feels pointed.

It would be pointed. His mother loves tea. She has a whole cupboard of different flavors. Everything from the standard green, black, various herbals, to fancier mixes with oolong, rooibos, chai spices, both in sachets and looseleaf. If she doesn’t keep something as simple as chamomile… why wouldn’t it be because it was Adriana’s favorite?

“Peppermint?” Eddie suggests instead. “Earl grey? Vanilla almond? Green with pomegranate? Or green with lemon?” Those used to be some of the ones he liked.

She makes him a cup of earl grey now and sits with him at the kitchen table.

“Thank you,” Eddie tells her and what else does he say? Where do they start? Why does throwing himself out a window sound more fun than having tea with his mother? They used to do this all the time. Most every night, she drinks a cup before bed. A lot of the time, he’d sit with her. Does she hate him now? Is she just disappointed in him? Again? Has he ever not been a disappointment? “How have you been, Mom?”

“Good,” she says simply. “Busy. You know how it is when you have a child to take care of.”

Eddie swallows and everything slows, drags. Yeah. He does know. In more than a few ways.

“Must be so nice having a break,” she smiles and sips her tea though she makes a pinched lip face like it burns.

“Not really,” Eddie says honestly. He’d rather be Chris’ father any day than have no Chris ever. But in the spirit of being diplomatic, he shrugs and adds, “I don’t mind it. Being a dad. I love being a dad.”

“It is very different from being a mother. Mothers have so much more to handle.”

Maybe in a two parent, mother-father household. Maybe not though? Eddie wouldn’t know if it is true. It probably is. But for a single father? Doesn’t he have to be responsible for everything? Doesn’t he have to take care of everything a mother would? Or is that sexist and him being an inconsiderate asshole?

What would he know. “You’re right,” he says because it will appease her if nothing else. “I tried though. Everything I could. But I’m not a mother.”

“I know you did, sweetie,” she says and it curls into his chest like growing vines and he can’t tell if they’re venomous or not. “You did all you could.”

Why does it sound like such a failure anyway. Because he did fail. He failed and she had to take over for the sake of his son.

“Now that you’re here, we should discuss Christopher staying with us for the foreseeable future. It’s wonderful you finally decided to come home. You should have years ago. It would have been so much better for Christoper. He should be able to have a mother’s care. I’m really the only mother he’s ever known.”

Eddie rankles at the words, hair prickling, skin crawling. But knew she’d say it. She knows how he feels. She knows it’s a button. It’s not the first time she’s pressed on it. But they’ve argued about Shannon for hours and hours, not to mention years, and he’s tired.

He’s so fucking tired.

(read on AO3)

[aritsukemo]

AriTsukemo's 2025 STELLARONHVNTERS'S Appreciation Reading Party

Oh my gosh, you actually came!! I'm so glad to see you back!! Don't let anyone else know this, but you're my favorite customer!! I love seeing you come back here for something to read and even though this is a private affair, I just couldn't resist inviting you!! >.<

...What's with all of this? Well I'm so glad you asked! On February 14th, I officially became a member of the @stellaronhvnters and ever since I've made such joyous memories with everyone!! My life has been on the up n' up ever since I made these new friends and I just wanted to show my thanks to those amazing people! (❁´◡`❁)

This is an indefinite project for me that will likely take months to finish. Nevertheless, it's official start date will begin in two days between the hours of 3pm and 8pm CST!! That said, here's the idea...

Each member will get...

A book written by me specifically with them in mind!! ( A fanfic ranging from 1000 to 20000 words with a randomized au about one of three of their top favs from Genshin, HSR, or ALNST )

Flowers, tea, and a tasty treat!! ( That will hint towards the kind of fanfic it'll be )

A personalized letter from yours truly!! ( At the end of each fanfic )

For clarification..

⇻ Your book covering will indicate what fandom you're getting!

A golden covering with silver vines on the face is Honkai Star Rail A brown covering with heart-shaped ivory surrounding the face and back is Genshin Impact A black covering with planets and dying stars on the spine is Alien Stage

⇻ Your flowers will determine if your fic is ambiguous, romantic, or platonic!

White Orchids, Dark Pink Roses, Pink Carnations, Camellias, Pink & Purple Hydrangeas, and Purple & Orange Zinnias will indicate ambiguousness! Alstroemerias, Chrysanthemums, Yellow Orchids, Sunflowers, Yellow Roses, Irises, Pink Tulips, Lilies, Freesias, Gladioluses, Daffodils, Dahlias, Daisies, Pink & Green Zinnias, and Bulbous Buttercups will indicate platonic love! Red & Maroon Tulips, Red Orchids, Asters, Red Roses, Peonies, Gardenias, Azaleas, and Forget-me-nots will indicate romantic love! Please note that mixtures can be indications as well! ( Ex. A bouquet of White Orchids and Asters can indicate a mainly ambiguous fic with possible romantic undertones! )

⇻ Your tea will determine if the fic will contain any dark themes ( Ex. Mental illnesses, suicide/suicide attempts, abuse of any kind, graphic violence, etc. )

White tea, Oolong tea, Black tea, Rooibos tea, Mint tea, Hibiscus tea and Herbal tea will indicates yes! Ceylon tea, Pu-erh tea, Matcha tea, Yellow tea, Earl Grey tea, Jasmine tea, Assam tea, Chamomile tea, Masala tea, and Purple tea will indicate no!

⇻ Your treat/snack will determine the main genre of the fic!

An Apricot Danish, Banana Pudding Cup, Strawberry Cheesecake, Apple Pie, Honey Tarts, Cinnamon Buns & Ice Cream, Macaroons, Chocolate Mousse, Red Velvet Cakes & Cupcakes, and Brownies will indicate Fluff, Fluff to Angst, Hurt/Comfort! A Lemon Meringue Pie, Dark Chocolate Strawberries, Key Lime Pie, Pretzels & Cheese Crackers, Blueberry Scones, Brown Butter Waffles, Apple Crisps, and Rose-shaped Cranberry Puff Pastries will indicate Angst, Angst to Fluff, or Hurt/No Comfort! Some Jester Hat Vanilla Custards, Candy Sushi, Hamburger Cake, French Toast French Fries, Funfetti Cupcakes, Butterscotch Pudding and Raspberry Tart Cakes will indicate Crack/Humor!

For Crow / @rainswept... ( 🐦‍⬛)

A book with a golden covering and silver vines on the face! To accompany this, I'm gifting you a bouquet of white orchids, earl grey tea, and brown butter waffles!

Your gift will be brought to your table on April 13th!

For Vessa / @kurogira ( 👻 )

A book with a brown covering and heart-shaped ivory surrounding the face and back! To accompany this, I'm gifting you a bouquet of red roses, ceylon tea, and strawberry cheesecake!

Your gift will be brought to your table on April 27th!

For Mari / @castorizz ( 💕 )

A book with a golden covering and silver vines on the face! To accompany this, I'm gifting you a bouquet of gladioluses, jasmine tea, and macaroons!

Your gift will be brought to your table on May 4th!

For Mhie / @iceunhie ( 🪻 )

A book with a black covering with planets and dying stars on the spine! To accompany this, I'm gifting you a bouquet of peonies, purple tea, and apple pie!

Your gift will be brought to your table on May 25th!

For Rei / @papiliotao ( 💜 )

A book with a black covering with planets and dying stars on the spine! To accompany this, I'm gifting you a bouquet of red & orange tulips, chamomile tea, and an apricot danish!

Your gift will be brought to your table on June 1st!

For Lysariel / @lysarion ( 📸 )

A book with a golden covering and silver vines on the face! To accompany this, I'm gifting you a bouquet of red roses and pink carnations, masala tea, and honey tarts!

Your gift will be brought to your table on June 15th!

For Artemis / @mikashisus ( 🍃 )

A book with a brown covering and heart-shaped ivory surrounding the face and back! To accompany this, I'm gifting you a bouquet of forget-me-nots, hibiscus tea, and blueberry scones!

Your gift will be brought to your table on June 29th!

For Seth / @harque ( ♣️ )

A book with a brown covering and heart-shaped ivory surrounding the face and back! To accompany this, I'm gifting you a bouquet of asters, matcha tea, and a plate of brownies!

Your gift is still being prepared! Please wait a moment..

For Gwen / @tragedy-of-commons ( 🎮 )

A book with a golden covering and silver vines on the face! To accompany this, I'm gifting you a bouquet of maroon tulips, yellow tea, and cinnamon buns with a side of your favorite ice cream!

Your gift is still being prepared! Please wait a moment..

For Atlys / @st6rly ( 💪 )

A book with a golden covering and silver vines on the face! To accompany this, I'm gifting you a bouquet of red orchids, oolong tea, and dark chocolate strawberries!

Your gift is still being prepared! Please wait a moment..

For Illu / @milksnake-tea ( 🍵 )

A book with a brown covering and heart-shaped ivory surrounding the face and back! To accompany this, I'm gifting you a bouquet of dahlias, rooibos tea, and apple crisps!

Your gift is still being prepared! Please wait a moment..

For Sunni / @scribs-dibs ( ☀️ )

A book with a brown covering and heart-shaped ivory surrounding the face and back! To accompany this, I'm gifting you a bouquet of azaleas, chamomile tea, and red velvet cupcakes!

Your gift is still being prepared! Please wait a moment..

For Zafi / @pinkxpantha ( 🍪 )

A book with a golden covering and silver vines on the face! To accompany this, I'm gifting you a bouquet of dark pink roses, pu-erh tea, and a banana pudding cup!

Your gift is still being prepared! Please wait a moment..

For Ayame / @fleetingpetal ( 🌷 )

A book with a brown covering and heart-shaped ivory surrounding the face and back! To accompany this, I'm gifting you a bouquet of orange zinnias, white tea, and a lemon meringue pie!

Your gift is still being prepared! Please wait a moment..

For Wysty / @wystiix ( 🐈‍⬛ )

A book with a black covering with planets and dying stars on the spine! To accompany this, I'm gifting you a bouquet of gardenias, black tea, and pretzels with cheese crackers!

Your gift is still being prepared! Please wait a moment..

For Icarus / @rusted-pride ( 💛 )

Your gift is still being prepared! Please wait a moment..

For Riko / @https-sourlimes ( 💫 )

Your gift is still being prepared! Please wait a moment..

For Sam / @singularity-sam ( 🧡 )

Your gift is still being prepared! Please wait a moment..

For Victoria / @theother-victoria ( 🎲 )

Your gift is still being prepared! Please wait a moment..

For Zira / @knnichs ( 🐤 )

Your gift is still being prepared! Please wait a moment..

For Snob / @snobwaffles ( 🧇 )

Your gift is still being prepared! Please wait a moment..

For Choki / @chokifandom ( 🪽 )

Your gift is still being prepared! Please wait a moment..

For June / @your-sleeparalysisdem0n ( 🕸️ )

Your gift is still being prepared! Please wait a moment..

For Crys / @luvkinich ( ❄️ )

Your gift is still being prepared! Please wait a moment..

For Kou / @luvether ( 🐣 )

Your gift is still being prepared! Please wait a moment..

For Cee / @kazucee ( 🐰 )

Your gift is still being prepared! Please wait a moment..

For Nyx / @gl4di0lus ( 💐 )

Your gift is still being prepared! Please wait a moment..

For Mira / @m1ckeyb3rry (💄)

Your gift is still being prepared! Please wait a moment..

For Neptune / @eterjie ( ☪️ )

Your gift is still being prepared! Please wait a moment..

+ A special guest! ( 🪷 )

⇻ Please note that..

This event applies to the members I have met and talked to. That said, even members I know are no longer in the server are getting an appreciation gift! Members I have not met will not be included, however.

This event applies to the members up to March 14th so any future members will not be included!

I'm aware of how rushed/horrible this looks but this is just to solidify my goals + avoid getting overwhelmed by looking at a long, completed list if that makes sense.

This list will be updated with everyone's gifts when I see fit so look out for that!

For those on the list, please let me know of any url changes or anything like that so you can be properly notified when I post your fics!

This event is not only to show my appreciation but to challenge myself and put my writing skills to the test! That said, try not to drag me if the fics aren't the best...

Dividers were made by me, pictures used are from Pinterest, post formatting is inspired by @stellaronhvnters's Love Letters 2024 Event!

[morallygreychaoticneutral]

The Evolution of Passion: Midnight Kiss.

Hmmm, definitely busting out the "Vampires Kiss" tea for this one. (hibiscus, rose, ginger, cocoa, black tea, rooibos, chai spice and cayenne for bite. It's red, sweet, metallic and oh so good.)

I got an ask (truncated) from danmeiljie " thoughts about what happens in the woods in act 1, and how he initiates with his partner in the graveyard in act 3, But i was curious if you made any connections to his emotional journey and how that's reflected in these different sex scenes and his role in them. Thoughts about vampire physiology and how that might affect his behavior and choices and abilities during sex depending on diet as well."

These are not shallow subjects so be prepared to go deep. You know, Gale bond depth. *snort* I'm going to break these up for length. There is a thing as too much you know.

WARNING: Game Spoilers, Topics of Sex, Abuse, and Adult themes/Language. Not underage appropriate.

This is not fact, just opinion based off my own and game experience. As always, how anybody cannons their relationships or behaviors is perfectly right! No blame, no shame, it's your game.!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Offering a tryst in the woods is a planned move. There is nothing more behind it than getting Tav on his side by using a tactic of seduction to create attachment. He doesn't trust that you won't help him without some sort of incentive. Nobody helps without compensation. Tav is simply a means to an end here. And , in his mind, his only value is found in his body.

And more often than not, at his own expense.

Ooooof. I feel you my moonlit love. I really do.

But it's always worked before, right? Why not now, right?! Get them hooked on his sexual talents (" I'm a consummate lover.") and he will have someone blinded enough to hide his nature and fractured personality behind. This is for survival not pleasure. Emotionally, he is unavailable.

The positions used also reflects this. More so if you let him lay Tav in the grass. If you have the right mods, you will see him offer a kiss and then immediately crawl over to roll Tav onto their side to take them from behind. This position makes sense as it puts him at an advantage. From behind he can control the situation to an extent and it allows him to detach from the situation by avoiding eye contact. Relying on muscle memory to get the job done. Routine.

If you want to get really deep, the position itself could reflect his inner world. Demonstrating how "unseen and unsafe" he feels inside.

But don't fret choice one pickers! It's the same if Tav rides him to the ground. It's a dominating move. He is beneath them. Once again on his back for the thousandth time and in a vulnerable position where in he has been made to suffer countless times.

However, Tav does two surprising things here. They show acceptance of his vampiric nature by offering blood to him. That majorly adds to the experience as a whole I have no doubt. And shows trust in him by allowing him to take it from the same submissive posture he was just in. Tav is now the vulnerable one. Naked and unarmed beneath him by choice.

Forget T & A have you seen clavicles?!

There is absolutely nothing wrong with the first option. It is still a positive experience for him. But I truly feel the second option makes the tingling's of feelings happen sooner for him obvious reasons.

Now, here is how I think his plan and feelings start to unravel that night regardless of what sexual encounter choice was made.

First, given that he is now free and fed better than he has ever been. It is my head cannon that his erections are now stronger and easier to achieve than he is used to. And Tav is the first one he experiences this with.

Wait! I know, but stay with me on this...

How would being starved of the very thing you need to run your entire body not complicate that function. Normal sized cocks need a little over half a cup of blood to fill properly. And that half a cup has to come from somewhere else in the body. If he was only fed a diet of rats a bugs that's only two tablespoons of blood a day if he wasn't refusing it. Less than that if you factor in decay from the rat being dead and putrid. And even less than that being kept in his body if he was being tortured.

And what a perfectly on par thing for Cazadick to do. Demand your slaves go and whore themselves out to bring you back food, but deny them what they would need to NOT have to struggle to do it. What a fucking nightmare! Literally!

So, to combat this Astarion would either know a spell to help him or he has figured out how to re route what blood he had to where he needs it, when he needs it. Sounds uncomfortable and exhausting.

But now, he can feed whenever blood is available. Tav, animals, villains, kobolds, Wyll (wink) . There is now enough blood in his system to not only run all basic vampire functions but also allow for spontaneous arousal.

He's not starving and not struggling to be interested. He's comfortably hard and simi engaged. How novel!

Next, Tav treats him like a seven course meal and not a McNugget. Or rather a McStarion in this case. And yes, his milkshake brought an alarming amount of people to the yard. But that's a different topic.

It would be so easy to just proverbially throw him in your mouth and mindlessly nom nom nom till you are suddenly at the bottom of the box wondering if you ate anything at all.

No. I think Tav took him up on that tasting offer to the fullest existent due to him saying "I'd much rather we got to experience each others FULL portfolio of talents once again." Tav was respectful of his known boundaries and made sure he got as good as he gave. He didn't get hurt. And he more than likely got something out of it he's not used to. Real pleasure. And, if Tav let him bite them, he also got something he has always had to beg for and it cost him nothing. And even if he did think it came with a cost, it was a a fair trade for once.

I feel like this is also supported in the morning when he says ..

"Delicious as you were, I didn't want to go too far."

You could take this as the flirt it sounds like. Or, you can read into the fact that he never actually faces Tav when he says it. To me it's him realizing that this manipulation is going to be much harder then he anticipated. And he is realizing that there is a real possibility to actually go that far. Oh shit...

You are his first blood and first truly pleasurable partner in centuries.

How dare you! He's supposed to be controlling you!

On to the next encounter...eventually. Life has been demanding my attention lately. Rude..

[cottonlemonade]

Hello there 👋

It's a bit chilly out, and a warm medium rooibos tea would be great if its still in the menu. I'll also take that to go please 🥺

Thank you!

A Night In

word count: 700 || avg. reading time: 3 mins.

pairing: sort of post-time skip Daichi x chubby!Reader

genre: fluff, a tiny smidgen of suggestiveness

warnings: spoilers

request: fluffy night in with boyfriend Daichi

Daichi sighed when he rebuttoned his shirt once again, trying his best to focus on fastening the buttons in the right hole this time.

When he brought a weary hand to his face he felt some stubble he apparently missed with this morning‘s shave. But as he checked the time he could only mutter a curse. He was already late.

About a year ago when you first met, Daichi had proudly proclaimed that he wanted to become a police officer and had bathed in the impressed look in your eyes. That look on your first proper date was possibly the thing he pictured the most as he was cramming over the mountains of work books preparing him for the exam. He had even kissed you for the first time when one night, as you helped him study, you had suggested to role-play scenarios he had to be ready for during training. You had pretended to be a moody youth resisting arrest, a seedy drug dealer who wouldn‘t give up his supplier and lastly a pretty lady who thought her looks would get her out of a ticket. Having obviously missed your calling by not becoming an actress, you had played them all to perfection. Daichi had a hard time even focusing on his course of action, when you batted your eyelashes at him and even - which had him swallow a lump in his throat - subtly pushed up your breasts to make the last scenario more convincing.

You had called him “officer Daichi“ and made one innuendo after another, until he finally broke and kissed you. You had teased him at first, saying that if he was going to solve all his problems on patrol this way, you might have to get into a lot more trouble.

Back then, it was already clear to him that he was either going to marry you or stay single for the rest of his life. He had sworn to himself that you would never come second. But now training had him in such tight grips that he hadn‘t been able to see you for two weeks already. Of course, you didn��t complain about it - you knew how important this was and assured him whenever he apologized for not doing better as your boyfriend.

But if he was honest, he wanted nothing more than sleep next to you. He didn‘t have the energy to go out for dinner and a romantic stroll afterward like he promised. But. He promised. So of course he would stick to it.

As soon as you opened the door, Daichi began to apologize for being half an hour late. He winced inwardly when he saw you wearing pyjama shorts and a t-shirt with the word “police“ across the chest you had bought as a joke a while ago. You must have thought he was standing you up and changed back into something more comfortable. “I don‘t have a good excuse. I‘m so sorry, darling.“

You reached up to cup his cheek and got on your tiptoes to give him a kiss. He melted into your touch, wrapping his arms around your soft form, hugging you closely.

“I didn‘t get dressed up.“, you said once you parted, and Daichi looked confused.

“I thought you‘d maybe like to stay in instead. Pizza is on the way, your favorite soda is chilling in the fridge, and I made a list of all the movies we talked about seeing recently so you can take your pick.“

He didn‘t know what to say, so he pulled you in for another tight hug, murmuring “I love you“ when he pressed a kiss to your temple.

He changed into comfortable sweats he kept in your apartment, and together you snuggled up on the couch under a blanket, enjoying the hot cheesy pizza and ice-cold sodas, laughing at the romantic comedy you ended up choosing. About halfway through the movie, you felt his head rest on your shoulder and soon giggled at your boyfriend‘s quiet snores. Making sure he was covered with the blanket, you raised your pizza-free hand to play with his hair as you continued to watch the movie, just happy to be with him.

a/n: this was so soft to write, thank you for the request! I hope you enjoyed it ✨

[annaflorsdefum]

EN|| Hi! I don’t usually join art trends, but I love this one, so I made a sketch of my “artist starter pack” against AI. Because human creativity is the only way! 💪🏼✨ My pack includes: 🔹Me working in my pajamas and multiple socks. 🔹A cup of tea and a thermos. Red tea with rooibos and spices in the mornings and often some @yogitea in the afternoons. 🔹My adorable baby fig tree (I love putting seeds in pots and watching them grow). 🔹Lots of books to devour. 🔹Fruits, vegetables and dark chocolate. 🔹My inseparable boots and all the little animals we see together. 🔹iPad for Procreate, MacBook for Illustrator and Photoshop and a worn-out pencil for everything!

Have fun creating your own version!! ♥️✏️

ES|| ¡Hola! No suelo sumarme a tendencias artísticas, pero esta me ha encantado, así que aquí tenéis un boceto de mi " starter pack de artista" contra la IA. Mi paquete incluye: 🔹A mí trabajando en pijama y con varios calcetines gorditos. 🔹Una taza de té y un termo. Té rojo con rooibos y especias por las mañanas y, a menudo, alguna de @yogitea por las tardes. 🔹Mi adorable higuera bebé (me encanta poner semillas en macetas y verlas crecer). 🔹Un montón de libros para devorar. 🔹Frutas, verduras y chocolate negro. 🔹Mis botas inseparables y todos los animalitos que vemos juntas. 🔹iPad para Procreate, MacBook para Illustrator y Photoshop, ¡y un lápiz desgastado para todo!

¡Diviértete creando tu propia versión! ♥️✏️

[mametchiii]

sol et luna ⏾ ksy [1.3k]

"The art of learning to love the moon is an acquired one. One that has taken Kwon Soonyoung six years to master.  And once he’s finally caught up, the world stares in awe of your eclipse."

genre: best friends to lovers, fluff, angst

a/n: i might just be physically incapable of writing something more than 2k words...lol. tagged some songs inside, hope you listen to them! also a repost in case you saw it jn...made some edits

─── ⋆⋅ ☾⋅⋆ ───

fade in: ♫ never loved this way before - BOYNEXTDOOR

You and Soonyoung are quite the opposite souls.

Soonyoung loves like the sun: Among his charm and charisma is a love that always gives. He expects nothing in return, even if it means his love has to remain unrequited for 6 years and counting.

Kwon Soonyoung has always been in love with you since the start. That has been a known fact, to himself, to his best friend Jihoon, and everyone else who knows him.

It’s hard to miss the way his eyes glimmer with adoration whenever he looks at you, the way his head tilts to the side when he listens to you talk incessantly, giving an occasional hum to let you know that he’s still listening. 

A little amusing, but also quite the tragedy. Akin to watching a puppy on a leash; eyes full of hope, excitement, and the uncertainty of where its owner is going to take him next. You being the owner, of course.

The owner of his heart, the one that keeps it isolated outside your body when it longs to beat alongside yours all this while.

— Within the same cage, beating the same rhythm, circulating the same lifeline.

You love like the moon: Quiet, angelic, enchanting, haunting. Not always visible, but Soonyoung knows that you think of him every time the night falls. He only wonders though, if you think of him with a heart as heavy as his when he thinks of you.

When people think of the moon, they admire it for its tranquility, quiescence. They marvel at its beauty, but that’s all they take it for. 

Because the art of learning to love the moon is an acquired one. One that takes years of mastery. Kwon Soonyoung loves you for your elegance, your radiance, and calming presence – a stark difference to his own radiant charm, sometimes overwhelming (not to you, though).

─── ⋆⋅ ☾⋅⋆ ───

Soonyoung hears a knock at his front door at 1 a.m, and he already knows who it is. He groans as he wakes, vision clouded with sleep as he moves to sit at the edge of the bed. His head lulls with drowsiness, contemplating whether or not to wait it out so you come back to him in the morning at a more appropriate time.

Still, he lifts off the bed and makes a steady shuffle through the living room and towards the front door.

His hand lands on the handle, covering a yawn with the other as he twists the knob to open the door. It reveals you, unsurprisingly, though disheveled and distraught. Notably barefoot, your heels are in your hand, purse slung over the shoulder of the same arm.

Wordlessly, he lets you into his apartment. Soonyoung picks your handbag as you drop it onto the floor, placing it onto the dresser by the front door. 

He shuffles to the kitchen with more grace than before. He doesn’t bother with the kitchen lights, the lamp from the living room already illuminating the area.

Soonyoung steeps you a hot cup of rooibos and places it on the end table. He sits on the ottoman adjacent to you, and lowers his head to meet your gaze which remains trained at his feet.

He places a hand on your knee. 

“What happened to your date?”

You don’t even bother anymore. It’s the same story each time, almost like a joke that writes itself.

“Same shit.” You pull your knees up to your chest and rest your chin on them. “It’s always the ‘too emotional’ bullshit. Like a lady cant have some fucking feelings and thoughts on how shitty her date is being.”

“I’m starting to feel all guys are the same raunchy pieces of shit.”

That elicits a sympathetic chuckle from Soonyoung. 

When you make eye contact, you let out a small pout and your posture softens.

“Don’t be like that,”  he moves over to sit next to you. 

“There’s someone out there who’s on your level. I’m sure of it.” He looks at you with his lips pursed in a tight smile, masking the fact that he knows exactly who he’s referring to.

You grab the TV remote and flip between the channels, eventually settling on its built-in spotify feature. Soonyoung’s night playlist appears first and you hit shuffle on that.

The soft hum of a synthesiser ensues. Then a beat syrupy and sweet. It feels a little empty, feels like yearning. 

Soonyoung kicks back on the couch, resting his feet on the coffee table and his head against the sofa. He looks up at the ceiling fan then closes his eyes.

He doesn’t need to look at you to know exactly how you look right now: You’re picking at your fingernails like you always do, and biting the skin off your bottom lip. 

Your mouth opens. Then closes. It opens again.

“He left me, you know.” You turn to look at Soonyoung, who’s looking at you now through half-lidded eyes.

A sigh. 

“He left me at the restaurant. An Irish goodbye in Korea, can you believe it? The gall of people nowadays, seriously.” It’s a poorly timed joke, and one that doesn’t land because Soonyoung isn’t smiling.

Only the music fills the room now. You’re thinking how to phrase your next words carefully so it doesn’t seem like you’re the asshole.

“Said I was boring, then spent half the date laughing as he texted away instead. God knows who it was, probably another girl who’s more interesting.”

He’s looking at your hands that continue to pick at your cuticles. You let go to let them rest at your sides instead and lean back on the couch the same way he does.

You let the silence linger a little longer – it’s Soonyoung’s kindness to you. 

And it’s the same peace you’ve been craving after, and he leaves it with you to mull over your thoughts before you continue speaking.

“I should get used to it, the heartbreak, the hurt. I’m always subjected to it for some reason, but it hurts all the same.” You choke up towards the end.

And you can’t help it anymore, but you do your best to quell tears threatening to spill over. 

Saying it out actually makes it sink in more, makes the delivery more painful than it already is – the crushing reality of what you fear may be your eternal damnation. 

It feels venomous almost, but not lethal enough of a dose to stop you from chasing the high of love at its hottest.

“Why are you even thinking that you should be getting used to it? Of course it’ll all hurt the same”

Your head turns to the side. A tear rolls out of your eye and lands on the sofa with a soft thump.

“You’re just with all the wrong guys. You know, like, they don’t actually like you for you. Just the idea of a trophy wife.”

“What?”

Soonyoung sits up now. He places his hand on top of yours. He’s cautious, but it’s warm, so you let it be. Like the afterglow of the sun, it’s healing and grounding.

“Y/N, you're beautiful, incredibly attractive, and you’re literally accomplished to hell.”

It’s a dangerous road he starts on, but he trudges on nonetheless.

“Soony-“

You want to stop him, stop him from saying something he might regret later —

“You’re easy to talk to, so incredibly interesting, kind and caring, and so so smart.” 

You finally shift from his fingers to meet his eyes, and his gaze goes straight through to your heart. Your breath catches in your throat.

It's piercing but strangely melancholic. 

— to stop him from saying something that maybe, you’re not ready to face just yet.

Because you both know. And it's sad and it's sweet, and it mangles your heart in ways that you have his.

“So please, realise that it’s me.” He laces his fingers through yours.

His voice breaks, and continues in a voice barely above a whisper:

“Give me one chance; and it’ll be the best and your last.”

fade in: ♫ pages - WIMY

The art of learning to love the moon is an acquired one. One that has taken Kwon Soonyoung six years to master. 

And once he’s finally caught up, the world stares in awe of your eclipse.

-☾ ☀︎-