not-quite-there-myself

[not-quite-there-myself]

hellooo! 🫶 id like to make a request for some pineapple bun x gn reader, if thats ok! just something cutesy, maybe with an equally lazy master attendant? love your works!

LAZY DAY(S)

A/N: I’m posting this super late because 1) my laptop was being repaired for a time and 2) I was having trouble coming up with ideas for this request. There isn’t much plot and it’s much shorter than what I normally write, but I hope you enjoy it regardless; unedited. Happy New Year by the way!

Pineapple Bun icon edit credit: seasalt-dreams-edits on tumblr (OG source linked could not be found)

Lounging around isn’t exactly what you’re supposed to be doing right now, but with the crisp air and the hum of the television in the room, you can’t help but rest your eyes. The sofa you were seated on also felt more comfortable than usual, though you couldn’t figure out why. If you didn’t know any better, you might think Pineapple Bun is to blame for your inertia. 

“Doesn’t this feel nice, Attendant?” She calls to you, laying stomach first on her own, equally soft and plush bun she uses as a glorified pillow. “I could stay here for ages.”

You nod idly, feeling your body sink into the couch as you watch—stare would be the better word for it, as you weren’t actually paying much attention—to the TV screen in front of you. 

This all really started when Pineapple Bun asked you to sit with her and discuss something about her current reads, the books’ authors majorly being the one and only Milk Tea. What started as a mere discussion became a break, which then turned into a day off. 

“You’ve worked so hard today already,” she had said. In truth, you actually hadn’t done much at all, but fine. There isn’t much harm in doing nothing for one day, right?

Pineapple Bun loved hanging out with you, even during the times you didn’t talk. You didn’t always need to as she would sometimes fall asleep, but she really only asked for your company and presence anyway. It wasn’t too difficult an ask, though every once in a while she denied any time you suggested going outside to stretch your legs. She let you open a window—the closest thing she ever really gets to “outside”—but that was it. You ended up ordering food most days you were with her. 

You don’t realize it, but after enough naps at awkward hours, paired with the all-nighters spent playing or reading or engaging in something with your lazy Food Soul, a week has officially gone by and your duties seem to begin yelling your name through the comfort of Pineapple Bun’s walls.

“A week?!” You exclaim, not realizing how much time you’ve wasted by staying idle. “I should probably get back to it.”

She gives you a look and pouts. She asks, “Are you sure you even want to do that? There are others out there that can do it for you.” To that you had difficulty mustering any sort of reply. Without realizing, Pineapple Bun seemed to rub off on you. Already dreading the thought of work, you yielded. Just one more day, you’ll do whatever it is you have to do tomorrow.

[not-quite-there-myself]

hellooo! 🫶 id like to make a request for some pineapple bun x gn reader, if thats ok! just something cutesy, maybe with an equally lazy master attendant? love your works!

LAZY DAY(S)

A/N: I’m posting this super late because 1) my laptop was being repaired for a time and 2) I was having trouble coming up with ideas for this request. There isn’t much plot and it’s much shorter than what I normally write, but I hope you enjoy it regardless; unedited. Happy New Year by the way!

Pineapple Bun icon edit credit: seasalt-dreams-edits on tumblr (OG source linked could not be found)

Lounging around isn’t exactly what you’re supposed to be doing right now, but with the crisp air and the hum of the television in the room, you can’t help but rest your eyes. The sofa you were seated on also felt more comfortable than usual, though you couldn’t figure out why. If you didn’t know any better, you might think Pineapple Bun is to blame for your inertia. 

“Doesn’t this feel nice, Attendant?” She calls to you, laying stomach first on her own, equally soft and plush bun she uses as a glorified pillow. “I could stay here for ages.”

You nod idly, feeling your body sink into the couch as you watch—stare would be the better word for it, as you weren’t actually paying much attention—to the TV screen in front of you. 

This all really started when Pineapple Bun asked you to sit with her and discuss something about her current reads, the books’ authors majorly being the one and only Milk Tea. What started as a mere discussion became a break, which then turned into a day off. 

“You’ve worked so hard today already,” she had said. In truth, you actually hadn’t done much at all, but fine. There isn’t much harm in doing nothing for one day, right?

Pineapple Bun loved hanging out with you, even during the times you didn’t talk. You didn’t always need to as she would sometimes fall asleep, but she really only asked for your company and presence anyway. It wasn’t too difficult an ask, though every once in a while she denied any time you suggested going outside to stretch your legs. She let you open a window—the closest thing she ever really gets to “outside”—but that was it. You ended up ordering food most days you were with her. 

You don’t realize it, but after enough naps at awkward hours, paired with the all-nighters spent playing or reading or engaging in something with your lazy Food Soul, a week has officially gone by and your duties seem to begin yelling your name through the comfort of Pineapple Bun’s walls.

“A week?!” You exclaim, not realizing how much time you’ve wasted by staying idle. “I should probably get back to it.”

She gives you a look and pouts. She asks, “Are you sure you even want to do that? There are others out there that can do it for you.” To that you had difficulty mustering any sort of reply. Without realizing, Pineapple Bun seemed to rub off on you. Already dreading the thought of work, you yielded. Just one more day, you’ll do whatever it is you have to do tomorrow.

[not-quite-there-myself]

For the person who sent me a request, I'm going to post it soon don't worry! Also I thought about trying out a new theme/template (I wasn't sure if I wanted to keep the brown aesthetic going) so let me know what you think :)

[not-quite-there-myself]

hello beloveds ☺️

[not-quite-there-myself]

NAVIGATION 🧸

Call me NQT; Not Quite There!

Currently in inbox: 0

Masterlist / Rules / Requests Open

This user writes for Food Fantasy!

Want to take it a step further? Support me on ko-fi!

____________________ ׂׂૢ་༘࿐

[not-quite-there-myself]

LOOKING OUT FOR YOU

You are close with them; close enough for them to know when something's up. Maybe you aren't feeling too well, or you got struck with some minor misfortunes. Regardless of what it may be that's got you down in the dumps, they all have their own individual ways to show they care.

Feat. The Cunning Hares: Nicole Demara / Anby Demara / Billy Kid

Nicole Demara

It's obvious that she cares about you. DMing you out of the blue, asking to check out some sale at the convenience store or test out her luck with the gachapon machines at Box Galaxy. Eventually it happens often enough it's understood that she just wants to hang out with you.

She's never really direct with what she wants to say unless it's really necessary. If you ever want to talk though, she'll be all ears.

Once in a while, Nicole surprises you with a small gift. "Ah, but that's still gonna cost you," she'd remark, forcing a huff. "I don't just give things for free, especially after coming across one with that kind of quality."

When you make an expression that bothers her a bit, she'd add, "With a discount, of course. We do have that kind of relationship, after all… Don't look at me like that! You know what I meant."

She really did mean well and you were grateful for it.

[not-quite-there-myself]

EVEN LORDS DO HOUSEWORK

For someone who arrogantly believes he's better than everyone, it comes as a surprise to you when you find Goose Barnacle doing housework.

A/N: This fic was long overdue, originally requested by someone on Discord! To the original asker, I'm so sorry this took so long. Please enjoy!

Reblogs are greatly appreciated!

You were particularly exhausted today. The restaurant was packed with people—some you recognized but most you did not. There had been a festival today, people coming and going, trying food and having fun on the streets. There not only were the heavy orders you and your Food Souls had to take care of but the mess people left behind. It took everything you had to try to manage it all day.

When the crowd died down and it was finally time to close up shop, you heaved the biggest sigh of relief and walked to the washroom to clean yourself up; you rarely caught a break at all so you really took advantage of this moment. Unfortunately, your job wasn't over just yet.

The restaurant floor needed to be sweeped and mopped, dishes and cutlery waited in the sink to be washed, and there was also trash to be taken out. You mentally prepared yourself to face it all alone. You'd told your Food Souls not to worry about after hours and to take a rest in the meantime. Most of them were happy to get a break, but others were hesitant about leaving you to work all by yourself. With some convincing and a promise that you will also be taking a break before getting back to work, the hesitant Food Souls yielded and left you alone.

Exiting the washroom, you headed to the closet with all the cleaning supplies. You grabbed the broom and left the mop and bucket outside the closet—you'd pick those up later. From there, the hallway leading to the restaurant was so quiet it surprised you when a gruff voice piped up behind you.

“Hey, Attendant, shouldn't you be taking a break right now?”

You nearly dropped the broom in your hands. You spun around and were met with red eyes, dark blue hair, and... a laundry basket?

“Goose Barnacle! What are you doing here?” You asked. He stood there with a hand on his hip. His other hand carried a laundry basket.

“I asked that first, so you should answer first.” He retorted.

You conceded. “Alright alright. I'm done having my break, truly! It was just a short one.”

Goose Barnacle looked like he didn't believe you but failed to comment further. Instead he took the broom from your hands and turned away.

“Hey-!” You started reaching for the broom, but Goose Barnacle kept it out of your grasp. “Quit messing around, Goose. I still need to sweep the floor.”

He shook his head. “No need, Attendant. You don't have to clean the floor twice.”

You frowned. “What? But I didn't even clean it once!”

Goose Barnacle glanced back at you, a hand still carrying the laundry basket you wondered about at his hip. “You didn't, but I did.”

You stopped. “Huh?”

The two of you were in the cleaning closet now. Goose Barnacle abruptly handed the laundry basket to you and was putting your broom, mop, and bucket away. You looked at him, then looked at the restaurant. Goose Barnacles then took the basket from your hands and said nothing. He watched as you moved to turn on the restaurant lights—they were off before—and scanned the room, wide-eyed in pleasant surprise. The restaurant chairs were propped up on the tables, the floor practically shone like new, and there wasn't a piece of trash or excess food in sight.

“Did you do all this?” You asked. Goose Barnacle answered without delay.

“Yes, why? Oi, what kind of a look is that…?” He scowled at your expression. Did you not think he could do something as simple as cleaning?

“So does this mean you…” You trailed off. Surely he didn't clean everything while you were in the washroom, did he?

He seemed to read your thoughts, because he huffed and turned away. “I cleaned everything. Even the kitchen. You can see it for yourself if you don't believe me.” You didn't have to—because you definitely believed him—but that didn't stop you from going in. It was satisfying, seeing the countertops so clean. No dishes in the sink, and all the trash cans were emptied. It was then you realized that the laundry basket Goose Barnacle had been holding this whole time had aprons in it. They looked clean, too.

You huffed, crossing your arms. “Don't tell me you did everything by yourself!” You weren't disappointed, it's just that you didn't want any Food Souls to overwork themselves. It didn't come to your mind at all that maybe you'd been overworking yourself. “Let me at least put those aprons away.”

Before you could take the laundry basket away from the Food Soul, he raised it above your head.

“Why must you be so insistent on doing everything yourself?” He questioned. “This kind of work? It's nothing! And you… you're already tired as it is.” He sensed your urge to argue, so instead he continued, “Don't try to lie to me, Attendant. If you're worried about making me tired, you got a lot of nerve to think something like this could exhaust me so easily!”

You bit your tongue at that. It was true, your energy levels were terrible. If anyone needed to stop and sit for a while, it was you, not him. You sighed, relenting. “Okay, maybe you are right. But still, I… I didn't ask you to do this, you know? You didn't have to.”

Goose Barnacle clicked his tongue. It looked like he took offence to that. “You… you think you need to order me to do things like this?" His mouth became a thin line. “You just… Right now, you're looking rather weak, that's all. Someone like you shouldn't be pushing yourself so hard in a state like that. And… you didn't need to say anything.”

You peered at him. “It sounds like you're making excuses for me.”

He hesitated before shooting back, “What? You got a problem with that, Attendant? I do what I want to. So what if what I want to do is clean for y-... y-your restaurant. Yes, so what?”

Was he going to say “you”? The thought made your heart swell. You smiled then—you couldn't help yourself—which seemed to animate a response out of him.

“Tsk…! Wipe that smug look on your face, Attendant! It's not like I'm doing this for you! It's getting late, you better go to sleep. And I still have work to do, so you'd get in the way.”

You chuckled and raised both hands as if you were the one at a loss. “Okay, okay! Whatever you say, Goose.”

Goose Barnacle only grunted, “Hmph.”

You turned to walk away from him, giving a slight wave as you escaped to your room to rest. Unbeknownst to you, his expression softened once he was sure you were gone.

“...Good night, Attendant.”

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Please do not copy, repost, or translate, thank you !

[not-quite-there-myself]

helloooo, if thats ok, id like to request something with square mutton fish/male reader! could be anything :)!!!! i rarely see any content of him ^^ love your writing btw!!!!

PORTRAIT PAINTING

After telling him that you wanted to see original art instead of his forgeries for once, Square Mutton Fish ends up painting a portrait of you. He does, and... he ends up liking it a little too much. The painting, of course. Definitely not because the subject was you. Totally not.

A/N: Aww anon I'm happy to hear that (seriously, that made my day)! Square Mutton Fish is definitely underrated, and he actually happens to be a favourite of mine. Made this silly drabble with him because of that, though it ended up being different than I originally intended (please help me I didn't mean for this to be 1k words).

Reblogs are greatly appreciated!

"What?!" Square Mutton Fish yelled, stepping back in a rather dramatic manner. "You're telling me you, my amazing master attendant of all people, have never had your portrait painted?!"

It was another day when you and your Food Soul, Square Mutton Fish, had been talking about his... unique, shall we say, line of work. As you came to learn, he was a skilled artist—that was the only thing the two of you could agree upon with 100% certainty. Square Mutton Fish would have honestly been happy if the two of you left the conversation at just that: his artistic talent. Unfortunately for him, you also happened to pick up on the fact that he didn't always use that talent of his for good.

Forgery was something you weren't exactly fond of, so it was no surprise that you chastised him when he reluctantly admitted to his scamming side hustles. No matter how much he tried to convince you it was honest work, you shut him down immediately. It didn't help that he often got into trouble with scammed victims he couldn't run from. Whenever he came back from one, you were like a parent punishing their kid from stealing from a candy store, hands on your hips and making him work double time on chores around the restaurant. But he wasn't just going to give up doing it just because you told him to.

You sighed. "Honestly, with all the trouble you get yourself into, you really oughta use that art talent for original work, not forgeries." Square Mutton Fish suddenly perked up when you added, "I'd like to see some of your own art for once..."

A grin appeared on the Food Soul's face. "Well, why don't I make one just for you?"

And that's where the two of you stand now.

He'd suggested painting a portrait of you, because what better model to have other than his dear attendant? Surely you'd like a painting of yourself, right? Especially with how you mentioned his creative talents and all... But you shook your head, declining his offer. You told him that you probably wouldn't be the best muse—you've never had yourself painted before, actually. You weren't sure if you'd be able to sit still for so long, nevermind keep the same position.

Incredulous by your nonchalant reply, he decided that that just wouldn't do. "Come now, Master Attendant. Why don't I do the honours of painting you?" He seemed all the more eager now, and claimed to be up for a challenge. With a bit more pushing and prodding, you gave in and agreed to his request.

Who knew it would end up backfiring on him?

Gathering all his supplies, you and Square Mutton Fish agreed on a time in the afternoon where you both would be available, and away from all the hustle and bustle of the busy restaurant and the even busier streets. You went out to a grassy clearing nearby, and, making sure there weren't any Fallen Angels near by, met with Square Mutton Fish.

He had already made himself a little area to put his paints and brushes, plus a wooden chair in front of an easel for you to sit on. He waved to you as you came over, carrying a blank canvas under his arm. From the way he peered at you, he could tell that you were probably regretting your decision to agree to his silly request. He seemed adamant on keeping you seated though, a cheeky grin on his face as he put a hand on your shoulder.

"Having second thoughts, Master Attendant? You better not! You agreed to this and I've already set up everything."

Well, it's not like you were gonna back down now.

As the sun gradually went down, you watched as Square Mutton Fish's eyes alternated from the canvas to you. He worked swiftly, mixing paints and switching brushes, but you couldn't help but think that after all this time, he'd been staring at you for a little longer than necessary. It got to a point where you worried he was spacing out or tired and questioned him about it.

"Huh? N-nope! Nothing's wrong, Master Attendant! Don't worry, you look great!" He'd shake it off and tell you it was just an artist at work, to not worry your little head about it and trust the process! It takes time to create perfection, you know. And it's definitely not taking longer than normal because it's difficult for a skilled artist like him to paint someone he finds attractive. Wait, what?

At some point, he let it slip, a frown on his face as he struggled with finding the right colour for your clothes.

"Tsk-tsk, if only he wasn't so handsome, this wouldn't be as complicated..."

"What was that?"

"Wh-what was what? Just keep still, Master Attendant. I'm almost done~"

The relief that washed over you when he told you you could move after so long was astounding. Stretching felt amazing, and you swore that if anyone ever asked to have you pose for a portrait painting again, you'd never agree. You went over to look at the finished product and was pleasantly surprised with what you saw.

"Oh, this looks wonderful!" You complimented, taking the painting off the easel with great care. You made sure not to touch the paint as it was still in the middle of drying. The colours and the proportions were perfect, and the way the paints blended in together seemed almost effortless. It looked so real that if you didn't know any better, you'd think you were looking in a mirror. He really was talented.

Square Mutton Fish had a hand under his chin the whole time, an indiscernible expression on his face. It honestly surprised you that he could get so quiet. You grimaced at the thought that he might not be happy with it. You held up the painting for a side by side comparison. "You're not going to make me sit back down, are you?" You asked, snapping him out of his thoughts.

"Ah, no! Not after you've sat for so long. I wouldn't make my master attendant suffer like that." He seemed to trail off despite that, drifting back into his mind's space once more. Your brows furrowed in confusion until a realization dawned on you. There was a prominent dust of pink on his cheeks that only seemed to grow the longer you stared at him, and his expression seemed almost soft.

"Are you having second thoughts, Square Mutton Fish?" You smiled slightly. His mouth struggled to come up with a reply. "You seem to like staring at me. You already have a painting right here, surely that will last longer than the real thing." You teased, "Unless you want to keep looking?"

The Food Soul let out a forced laugh, trying to buy some time to think of an excuse. "Master Attendant, you're really..." He cleared his throat, dismissing what he originally wanted to say. Instead he explained, "It's, uh... it just turned out way better than I expected it to! Yes, that's it!"

With a swift hand, Square Mutton Fish yoinked the canvas from your hands and fled the scene, leaving you, the easel, the paints, and the paint brushes alone. You also caught him say he forgot to put a seal somewhere or something. As you watched him leave, you couldn't help the small chuckle that left your lips.

It's not everyday you get to see Square Mutton Fish so flustered. Thank your lucky stars that today you managed to catch the look on his face today: incomparable to any work of art, original or forged. It was absolutely priceless.

[not-quite-there-myself]

BRAIDING HAIR—GIRLS COMPILATION

Small drabbles on a master attendant who wants to braid their Food Soul's hair. How do the girls react?

Feat. Milk, White Truffle, Surströmming, Maple Syrup, Chrysanthemum Wine

Boys version here!

Reblogs are greatly appreciated!

Milk

" You want to braid my hair, Master Attendant? Of course, I don't mind at all. "

Ever the sweetheart, she has definitely let others braid her hair—of course, that includes her master attendant, too! Her hair is soft and silky, it feels like running your hands through milky goodness. It also smells faintly sweet, like vanilla. Milk sometimes offers her hair to you to play with and experiment on, as she knows that you like to braid hair. She happens to enjoy the process as much as you do, the feeling of having her hair parted and styled making her relax into your touch. She encourages you to do whatever you please, whenever you'd like. She never minds a calm moment with her dear attendant, no matter how brief.

" Have you come to see me again, Master Attendant? I'm glad, any moment with you always makes me feel happy. "

White Truffle

" Is that Master Attendant? Oh! I've never been asked that before... Please do! "

Being a researcher of science, White Truffle doesn't often encounter people who are interested in interacting much with her outside of academic affairs. Now that you are her attendant however, she's glad that that has changed. Something as intimate as touching her hair isn't something she's exactly used to, but she's open to letting you style it as she hasn't had others do it much before. Your hands, regardless of skill, weave her hair with such care that she can't help but focus on the way it feels. She finds herself smiling a little. She might work on something herself while you're there, and she might get too invested in the peace that she doesn't realize you've already finished braiding.

" Master Attendant, what you did to my hair... Thank you. In the future, could you try styling a different kind of braid for me? "

Surströmming

She has to contain her excitement and eagerness when you ask. Surströmming absolutely adores your hands in her hair, your fingers coming through the strands and weaving them together. Her hair is easy to comb through, like moving your hand through water. She doesn't care about how long it takes you to braid—her hair is quite long after all. In fact, she welcomes any chance to spend time with you, even if it's for something as small as styling hair. She loves whatever you do, really. Even clumsily strewn braids will earn a compliment from her.

" Ahh, you've braided my hair so lovingly… wait, please don't go just yet. Can I... ask you to do another? "

Maple Syrup

" If that's your wish, Master Attendant, I will accept your request without fail! Huh? It's nothing so serious? E-Even so! "

Any time you ask something of her, she's quick to accept right away, treating it like a noble quest for a knight in training. Even for something small like braiding her hair, she does whatever she can to fulfill your request; yes, even if it just means sitting still. Maple Syrup is very encouraging even if you aren't starting out. She trusts you completely and loves sneaking peeks and waiting through the process. Whatever you end up doing, she'll be happy with because she knows you took time on it and tried your best. She genuinely does not think you could disappoint her—she probably can't get disappointed by anything if it comes from you.

" Oh, Attendant! I think the braid you made turned out so cute! If you're not satisfied, please trust in your knight to sit still when you try again! "

Chrysanthemum Wine

" You want to braid my hair? I'm not someone who usually gets that sort of request... Hehe, do not fret, Master Attendant. That's not a 'no.' "

For someone who travels and fights often, it's a wonder how her long hair doesn't get in the way of her actions. Pointing this out as a guise for your real intentions, Chrysanthemum Wine gets an inkling that you want to do something about it. You hesitate when asking outright, worried that she'd say no. But to your surprise, she doesn't mind it at all. Keeping a straight posture and taking off her hat, she waits for you to start braiding. As she doesn't keep hair ties on her, you end up giving her one that stands out in comparison with her dark hair. The braid falls behind her in an elegant way, and she thanks you as she examines your handy work with a satisfied smile.

" As a swordswoman, my movements allow me not to be hindered by my hair or clothes in battle... But your braid certainly makes it easier. "

____________________ ׂׂૢ་༘࿐ Please do not copy, repost, or translate, thank you !

[not-quite-there-myself]

BRAIDING HAIR—BOYS COMPILATION

Small drabbles on a master attendant who wants to braid their Food Soul's hair. How do the boys react?

Feat. Beer, Zabaione, Wuyi Da Hong Pao, Mashed Potatoes, Red Wine

Girls version here!

Reblogs are greatly appreciated!

Beer

" You want to braid my hair? Oh, well go on! Don't be shy, you should've said so sooner! "

He absolutely loves the idea of you braiding his hair—he's definitely let others play with his hair before, so the fact that you've shown interest as well makes him smile. He eagerly sits in front of you, whether on the floor or in a chair, in front of a mirror or not. As you braid, he hums a little tune, a song you recognize. It doesn't matter how good your braiding skills are, because to Beer, he thinks any effort from you brings wonderful results. When you're done, he feels the braid gently with his fingers, thanking and complimenting you with a big grin on his face.

" One braid is wonderful, but Attendant, you know what would be more great? Multiple braids! If you don't want to do all of it alone, let me help! "

Zabaione

" Oh? Would that interest you? Sure, let me take a seat so you may begin. "

He certainly doesn't mind it. Entertaining your idea, he closes his eyes and relaxes, almost instantly, when you start. His hair is rather thick but well kept, so you find little trouble in fixing up a braid. Your hands combing through his hair feel surprisingly good, but he ends up lightly teasing you about this affair instead of the other way around. At times when he can see your focused expression, Zabaione lets a small quip about it slip through, chuckling when you stop braiding for just a moment.

" If touching me like this brings you pleasure, then I'm more than willing to indulge you. I won't deny it feels rather nice for me, too."

Wuyi Da Hong Pao

" You wish to braid my hair? Hehe, of course. It is rather long, isn't it? "

He welcomes it with an amused smile as you reach out to start braiding. The feeling of your fingers weaving the thick strands of his hair is something he hasn't felt in some time, and Wuyi can admit to you that he enjoys it quite a lot. To him, it's like a gentle wind coming up to push the hair covering his face. He lets out a small sigh of contentment, enjoying the feeling and finding it satisfying, comparing it to when he's mixing medicines or other concoctions. There's a kind of easy harmony that comes with this moment, a peace he likes... And he seems to smile at the thought that you might be liking this just as much as he does.

" This looks lovely, Master Attendant. Perhaps next time, I could trouble you to fix up my hair again when I go out to get more herbs? "

Mashed Potatoes

" Ah, really? How nice of you to offer! "

He thinks it's cute that you ask him for such a simple request. How could he reject such a thing, especially from his dear master? He lets you do whatever you want in a heartbeat, and he probably makes a point to find some hair ties for you to use as well! Mashed Potatoes would prefer it if there was a mirror nearby so he could watch your progress. He sees the action of braiding his hair as a lovely gift from you, and even if you aren't particularly skilled at it, the Food Soul will still thank you for it with a smile.

" All living things grow at their own pace. Master Attendant, I think it looks wonderful! If you aren't satisfied, you're welcome to practice on me again in the future. "

Red Wine

" Master Attendant, don't do anything distasteful. "

As expected of him, this hair is well kept if not a little short. Unfortunately, if you're just starting out and have no idea how to braid, he's probably not be the best person to practice on. If your skills aren't adequate to his standards, he'll definitely berate you on poor braid quality. You may very well find the tables turning on you in the end. If your hair is long enough, Red Wine will stop you from braiding his hair and instead prop you by the nearest mirror and demonstrate on your hair instead. His teaching method is a bit strict, but that's because he prefers quality over quantity when practicing with you.

" Here, take a seat and watch as I do. Play close attention, I'm not going to repeat myself more times than I have to. "

____________________ ׂׂૢ་༘࿐ Please do not copy, repost, or translate, thank you !

[not-quite-there-myself]

I've been reading some Food Soul backstory lore and sometimes I forget how heavy it can be... if anyone wants to talk about Food Fantasy lore please feel free to chat with me!

[not-quite-there-myself]

WARM TEQUILA

After venturing off and hunting down Fallen Angels in the snow, Tequila arrives at your bar looking to warm himself up with a drink. However, after seeing you busy with a full house, he changes his mind and decides to warm up some other way.

A/N: Inspired by a December prompts list from @/scealaiscoite (link here). After reading Tequila's dialogue lines to get a feel for how to write, he's actually really cute guys idk 😭 new favourite Food Soul for sure.

The last of the Fallen Angels in the area dropped, bloodied, dead on the ground. Tequila was not unlike them, partly covered in blood himself. A mix of slush and snow also donned his form, the brim of his hat tinged in frost, puffs of cold air forming against his lips. With a final sweep of the perimeter, he considered his job done for today. Tequila whistled, relief evident in his expression and the way he returned his gun to its holster. The cold air was all that was left, and it left him feeling frigid. ‘There was only one easy way to warm up,’ he thought. Tequila turned his heel and headed to the best tavern in town.

Outside the tavern, Tequila stood in front and eyed the people inside. The window, fogged from the inside, had frost clinging effortlessly to the outside of the glass. Inside, he could see that the tables were close to full, workers young and old keeping each other company after their day jobs. He was no different: coming to the bar to grab a drink, warming up by alcohol consumption rather than a nice cozy blanket by the fire.

Stepping inside, Tequila found the lone bartender among the sea of others, reeling from the amount of customers filing onto the counters. Speaking of the lone bartender, he locked eyes with them as a warm breeze engulfed him, a small grin forming on his face. His master attendant. They regarded him with a small, awkward smile before returning to action, grabbing people’s orders despite their hands already full with mixtures and glasses.

‘They’re busy,’ Tequila hummed to himself. ‘Best to wait a while.’

He took a seat after someone made off with their drink to join another table. Before he even got a chance to register it, his master appeared in front of him, pouring a new glass of gin.

”Ah, Master Attendant! Finally got around to me?” Tequila teased with a chuckle.

“Holiday fever is no joke,” Master Attendant replied, sighing. They slid the glass of gin to someone down the counter. “What’ll it be, Tequila?”

Tequila eyed the bar menu casually, not actually taking in any of the items on the list. Instead, he rested his head on one hand, shifting his gaze to his master playfully. “How about you order me to lend you a hand?”

His master shook their head. “Oh, please don’t. It’s one thing to be tending all by myself, but I can’t have a customer dealing with other customers.” He noticed their gaze go unfocused, paying attention to the others in the room. Their eyes barely stayed on one person for long, nevermind Tequila sitting in front of them.

“Well, this customer also happens to be your dear partner,” Tequila added, less playful. Then he thought, ‘Unless you don’t see me that way?’ The marksman shook that thought aside, feeling a bit nervous when at last, his master attendant’s eyes stayed on him for just a minute longer. They studied his face for a moment before snapping back into focusing on the room in its entirety. 

“Maybe tomorrow night,” they suggested before stepping towards another table. Tequila overheard the group collectively asking for another round. 

His master attendant didn’t notice him leave later that night, though they didn’t expect to see him at the door to their quarters either. 

“Tequila?" They muttered tiredly, opening the door wider for him. "Where did you go earlier? You..." They yawned. "...Didn't get to order anything."

Tequila shrugged and let himself in. Inside his master's quarters was a fireplace, a nice rug and sofa in front of it, bookshelves lining the walls and a sleek wooden desk. It looked like someone had been at it, fiddling with some drab-looking papers.

"I'm sorry for not getting to you," his master added, moving to return to their the desk behind him. "If it wasn't a busy day, I-"

Tequila grabbed their wrist, pulling them away from their desk chair. "Ah ah, you can still fulfil my order, Master Attendant."

"What?"

He chuckled, urging them to the sofa. He sat them down onto it, then propped himself up on top of them. His master squirmed under him, Tequila putting in some effort to get them to relax.

"Tequila, what-"

Sitting in his master attendant's lap, Tequila grinned at their baffled expression. He took off his hat and his gloves, then leaned flush against their chest.

"Ah, at last." He sighed, shifting in their lap more as if to maximize full comfort. "Now wrap your arms around me, just like this."

Tequila took his master's hands in his own, now gloveless, their skin touching. He motioned them around his body so that his master was hugging him close. This, in addition to the fire going, felt like heaven.

"So warm..." he muttered, eyes closed, feeling content and satisfied.

"So this is what you wanted all along?" Their master attendant asked. Tequila only hummed in reply. They couldn't help but let out a chuckle.

"If only I knew it sooner, I'd have a warm Tequila in my lap faster than he could ask for it."

________________________________ ׂׂૢ་༘࿐

Please do not copy, repost, or translate, thank you !

[not-quite-there-myself]

"UNEXPECTED BUT NOT UNWELCOME, I SUPPOSE"

A small drabble where Kaiserschmarrn takes a step back from his duties, just and only for his master.

A/N: I really put this off and I feel so bad. I've finally brought myself to go on and finish it but I apologize for the short length. Hope you enjoy!

Reblogs are greatly appreciated!

The night was young when Kaiserschmarrn stepped into the ballroom, the space light and filled with crowds of people and an air of music. The venue was grand, and from others' perspective, a perfect setting for someone like him... But he's seen greater parties.

Kaiserschmarrn spots his master in the crowd, chatting with people and moving around the room with grace. They spot him in turn and smile, waving him over almost a little too excitedly for his tastes.

"Kaiser! Over here!" calls his attendant, who he at times considers a bit of a hassle to deal with. But the Food Soul has found himself grown used to his master attendant's cheerful nature, carefree and ever abound.

He greets them with a gentle smile and a gentler voice, giving polite nods to the other people around them as well. Unbeknownst to them, he'd rather not be here right now. It wasn't exactly his plan to attend such a gathering. Of course, it was only because of you that he came in the first place.

"You called, Master Attendant?"

His attendant nods, excusing themselves as the guests they were occupied with prior scatter, likely to find other groups to chat and gossip amongst. As the two of you walk off, the imposing thrums of the ballroom's music slowly fade to a faint hum.

"Kaiser?" You begin with a tinge of uncertainty in your voice, a hand on his arm. "We can leave early if you want."

The two of you were just outside the grand hall, standing in a smaller but no less grand foyer. He looks to you with slightly furrowed brows. A question is on his mind, but he feels that you should explain yourself further.

"I know it wasn't exactly your choice to come to this event, and it's mostly for me, but I can tell you'd rather go back home instead of hang around here." You let go of his arm and glance towards the ballroom. "However, I have one request before that happens."

You tell him your selfish request, a sheepish smile on your face.

"You wish to dance with me? Out here?" This came as a bit of a surprise to the Food Soul. "Are you not having a good time?"

You tell him that isn't it. "It's just that I feel like I've been neglecting you ever since we got here, so I thought maybe we could at least do something together before we go home. So, won't you dance with me?"

Kaiserschmarrn is good at keeping up appearances, and he no doubt hides his hesitation well. If it was up to him, really, he'd rather not... but alright, fine. Perhaps he will indulge in a dance with you, just this once.

It's a simple enough request, and easy enough for him to complete to get you in high spirits. Your smile when he agrees is enough for him to consider that, yes, this wasn't a bad choice. His attendant doesn't wish for things as ambitious as he does; that's something Kaiserschmarrn is almost grateful for.

It almost slips his mind, but to his dismay he realizes that you might have a stronger hold on him than he'd like.

"If it's with you, then perhaps I truly can throw caution to the wind, drop everything, and dance like nobody's watching..."

________________________________ ׂׂૢ་༘࿐

Please do not copy, repost, or translate, thank you !

[not-quite-there-myself]

STUDY BUDDIES !

A small scenario collection in which Master Attendant stresses over their studies... Worriedly, a Food Soul close to them offers their assistance.

Feat. Raindrop Cake, Brownie, & Beer.

A/N: Trying a new format style—please enjoy ˶ᵔ ᵕ ᵔ˶ ~☆ can you tell I love writing for favourites?

Reblogs are greatly appreciated!

Raindrop Cake

He's not quite sure why he'd come knocking on your door. Perhaps it was your loud groaning that brought him to you, or perhaps it was the decreasing amount of breaks you took outside. Whatever the case, Raindrop Cake knocked. Once, then twice.

You spoke through the door, telling him to come in. Raindrop hesitated before turning the knob.

You turned to see the pink haired Food Soul, sitting in his wheelchair at the door. "Am I bothering you?" Raindrop Cake asked, unsure. You shook your head.

You walked over and opened the door wider. Letting him in, you asked Raindrop Cake what was wrong. "...I would ask you the same thing, Master Attendant," Raindrop replied. You closed the door, slow, and with a sigh. You hesitated slightly, telling him that the reason behind your miserable state is rather silly.

"I'm not so sure I can agree with that." Raindrop Cake frowned. "Something silly shouldn't stress you out so much." You supposed he could be right, but was it so wrong to think that maybe you should be worrying for a better reason? No matter how hard you studied, you felt so unprepared, like all the work you did was for nothing. Your expression worsened at the thought.

Raindrop Cake was patient when you eventually told him about your studies. He listened as you ranted and rambled as much as your heart desired. Afterwards, he said, "That sounds like a lot." It's true, because it was. At least, that's what it felt like.

"How about you teach me?" He said.

You perked up at his suggestion; you asked what he meant by that. Raindrop Cake seemed to fiddle with his hands for a moment, trying to figure out how to put his thoughts into words. "Someone told me once that when you want to get better at learning something, teaching someone else can help you understand it better," he explained. "It was just an idea, you don't actually have to do that if you don't want to."

Whether you've heard about that technique before or not, you thought it was an excellent idea. You decided to take him up on that offer, asking him if he was sure about it. Raindrop Cake looked surprised. "If it helps you, I... I wouldn't mind being taught by you."

If he was being honest, he didn't think you'd find his suggestion all that helpful. But now, whenever the two of you had the time, you began teaching Raindrop Cake all about whatever it was you were studying. Any notes you'd made previously were also helpful: as Raindrop Cake read over your notes, you explained what exactly was on the paper in more detail. There would sometimes be a back and forth discussion. You did stumble sometimes, but with Raindrop Cake to help learn along with you, you were able to better your already existing knowledge.

To your surprise, Raindrop Cake was quite good at asking questions for you to answer. Sometimes there were days where he took the initiative, taking you by surprise.

"Master Attendant, could you teach me about this?" Raindrop Cake had one of your note papers in his hand. You quickly recognized it and explained the material the best way you could. You had gotten more confident about the things you studied. Noticing this, Raindrop Cake seemed to smile at your answer.

Brownie

Your head slammed onto your desk, catching the attention of a certain dark haired butler. He practically jumped at the sound, his blue eyes quickly spotting your slumped over figure. Taken aback, he asked, "Master Attendant, are you alright?!"

When you told him "no," he was all over you. Not overbearingly so, but the amount of questions he asked right out of the gate was a little... a lot. You told him you were just upset because of your studies, telling him about your frustration: how difficult you found it to be and how dumb you felt for not knowing it as well as you felt you should.

It comes as a surprise to you when he could, admittedly, relate to the feeling of inadequacy. As a butler, Brownie strives to assist his master to the best of his ability. Having said that, there are times where he still has trouble knowing exactly how to help certain situations, what the best remedies are, how to deal with a few instances. There is a mist of uncertainty, a worry that he might not be doing the best he could be.

"May I see what it is you're studying?" Brownie asked. You obliged and showed him your material, any textbooks or handwritten notes would do. You pulled up another chair for him so he could sit down as he skimmed through.

With a myriad of skills and talents at his disposal, Brownie is also well organized and diligent. If you asked, he could probably figure out a system or schedule for you to follow. But instead, you asked him if he could help alongside you, one on one. "Like a sort of studying partner?" He asked, to which you replied with a nod. Brownie looked through the material some more before nodding himself. "Alright, I can do that."

The thought of being study buddies with Brownie made you feel relieved.

"Rest assured, Master Attendant. Even if things don't work out on the first try, I still have a few ideas that might be able to help you. It all depends on the kind of style you study best in. And, ah, I will try to be the best 'study buddy' to you, as you put it." You smiled, giggling with a hand over your mouth. Brownie tilted his head at that. "Is something funny, Master Attendant?"

You shook your head; you refrained from telling Brownie that the way he said "study buddy" was only funny to you because it came out of his mouth, which was so serious in contrast to the silliness of what he said. Seeing as you had no further comments, Brownie began to organize himself accordingly. "In that case, are you ready to start?"

Beer

It had been raining all week and the work never seemed to lessen, nevermind stop. You normally didn't mind the rain, but as the days passed you began to feel more weary. Your energy had also begun to slip as if being washed away by the rain.

It didn't take long for Beer to take notice of your weariness. Whether you liked it or not, it wasn't exactly something you could hide. And so he began to pester you about it like there was no tomorrow. You had insisted Beer that you were fine for what had to be more than the tenth time that hour.

"You can tell me you've never felt better, Master. Please just let me help you out!" Seeing you pout, he added, "I promise whatever you're stressing about isn't stupid."

He was right, it wasn't stupid. Studying for tests is a very normal thing. Doing homework is a very normal thing. It wasn't stupid. But you felt stupid, and you didn't want to trouble anyone further.

You had done drills upon drills of memorization, spent hours upon hours reading, rereading, writing, and thinking... Stars above, just the thinking seemed to make your head spin. You practically did every trick in the book on how to be a good student, even going so far as to test yourself out loud.

You were sure your studying sessions had to be an annoyance to somebody, because there was no way no one overheard you after just how loud your stressed state seemed to make you vocalize. You honestly hoped that wasn't the reason Beer decided to pester you now.

You eventually confessed your feelings of frustration, no longer running away from Beer's badgering. You explained what you were studying for, what made you so stressed, and maybe a little more. He had stopped, surprised at first, but happy to listen as you kept talking.

Beer put a hand on your shoulder, sitting you down. "And you say you've done everything you can, but you're still feeling unprepared?" You nodded. He sat down beside you. "It sounds to me like you're scaring yourself, Attendant."

You looked up at him, your expression unsure.

Beer gave you a smile, something that seemed playful yet reassuring. "From what I hear, you've gone and tried and done everything you possibly could have- well, maybe except for one thing." He noticed a spark flash in your eyes, but you held your tongue and let him continue. "All I'm saying is that maybe you should be giving yourself more credit... and maybe some more breaks too, hehe."

"...To backtrack on what I said earlier though, it seems like you want to know what else you could've done, right?" It was true. Even with all this reassurance, you still wanted to exhaust all your study options. He seemed to know that just as well as you.

Living for so many years, Beer had become knowledgeable in many aspects of human culture. Along with his love for recording information in ballads and poems, he learned various ways of doing things—ways of studying was no exception.

"Why don't we try studying together?" He suggested. "You've done everything in your power to study alone, but what about trying to work with a friend?"

So that's how you got here: sitting with Beer, books and pencils and papers scattered everywhere on your desk. After forcing you to take a long deserved break, you reviewed everything you needed to know. With Beer alongside you, he encouragingly gave you pointers on things you could improve, as well as praising your determination and knowledge.

"See? You're doing so well already! With my help, I'm sure you'll have this solidified in no time!"

When you're satisfied, he suggested the two of you go and get something to drink. You've worked hard, and that deserves some reward, wouldn't you agree?

________________________________ ׂׂૢ་༘࿐ Please do not copy, repost, or translate, thank you !

[not-quite-there-myself]

My inbox is open! Feel free to request or drop an ask to say hello :))

[not-quite-there-myself]

BONUS MASTERLIST

-> From Me and Everywhere Else in Teyvat ft. Albedo Kreideprinz

[not-quite-there-myself]

FROM ME AND EVERYWHERE ELSE IN TEYVAT

Throughout your recent travels, Albedo has written letters to you requesting certain materials only available in other nations. Along with the items he asked for, he finds something else tucked away in an envelope for him.

A/N: So this isn't a request, and a little unusual for me as I am not a Genshin Impact writer. This was also really rushed! But there are always exceptions and I have a soft spot for this one boy in particular... Happy birthday, Albedo!

Another day, another experiment. That's what Albedo's schedule had looked like for the past week. It was one of those times where he was truly invested; not talking to anyone, surrounded by scribbled notes scattered among stacks of books and beakers with questionable liquids hot and cold, as well as—unusually—some plants from different nations.

You had been helping Albedo while you travelled, receiving requests for certain things and sending them to his lab up in Dragonspine whenever you had the chance. It was a touch and go kind of interaction, which disappointed you somewhat. You were quite fond of Albedo, so when meeting up with him you wished those moments weren't so short-lived.

Eventually the requests lessened, then stopped altogether. By the end of the week you heard nothing from him. It didn't worry you too much—it was a sign that he was progressing in his experiment. Whatever he was doing, you let him continue without interruption.

However, you couldn't help being curious.

It was late at night when you ventured up Dragonspine, a chill running down your, well, spine, as you made your way up the familiar path. You really should've gotten used to the freezing temperatures by now; unfortunately, it's not something one can just "get over" so easily. It assured you to know that Albedo himself wouldn't be shivering so much like you had been, but something else was a concern. Knowing him, he'd been up fixating on this project, likely failing to give eating or sleeping much thought. Not only that, but he also might've forgotten something else rather important...

"Albedo?" You called, glancing around the cavern, gripping the leather strap of your messenger bag. You almost didn't spot the blonde tuft of hair peaking over some beakers. Going over to him, your mouth turned downwards as you leaned closer to him. Holding your breath as if a small cloud of frost would awaken him, you muttered gently, "Just sleeping."

'He was never really great at keeping a consistent schedule, was he?'

In your mind, you reviewed all the items lying on his desk: Qingxin and violet grass from Liyue, sakura petals from Inazuma, stems of lotuses from Sumeru, lilies from Fontaine. Albedo already had a few Mondstadt flowers—calla lilies, dandelions, and even cecilias were stored in jars in a little corner on one of his cluttered shelves. To be honest, you had no idea what he was up to, only knowing that he required different plants to play around with. You never made an effort to ask, nor did you find it too important.

Finishing your swift scan of the lab, you checked up on Albedo for the last time before placing a beige envelope atop a small package. You stared at him for a moment, brushing a lock of hair out of his face, the back of your fingers feeling his soft, cool skin. You uttered a small "Happy birthday, Albedo" before retiring to your own place to spend the night...

At least, that was the plan, until-

"Traveller?"

You cringed, 'Ooh, busted!' You supposed you should work on your sneaking skills at some other date.

With a bashful grin on your face, you turned to face the alchemist. "Ahaha... Good morning, sleepy head."

Albedo lifted his head up and squinted. "It's night."

You glance behind you, at the exit—or entrance, depending on where you came from—of the lab. "Right," you asserted. "So it is."

The awkward silence was killing you, but it couldn't have been more than a minute. Thankfully, Albedo's attention seemed to drift from you to the unknown package in front of him. On his desk he examined it, wrapped in purple and atop it, a gold ribbon tied in a nice bow. And the envelope, of course. He decided to start opening the latter first, and that's when you decided to skidaddle.

"Wait-" Albedo started, calling out for you. "You are the one who gifted me this, yes? Don't you want to see how I react to it?"

"Sure, a little," you admitted. "But I'd rather not be around in case you, uh... Well not that you wouldn't- I mean..."

Explaining yourself was a tragic affair, and you bit your tongue adding onto the embarrassment you already attained after being caught trying to leave. Twice.

Albedo said nothing as you fumbled over yourself. By the time you'd given up, he'd already read the letter and opened up the box. He hummed in satisfaction as he looked through its contents.

"This cover is of high quality," he said, taking out a new leather-bound sketchbook. "Its pages are also quite nice. Perfect for paints, I've noticed."

Your eyes widened. "You already opened it?!"

The alchemist's mouth was upturned, amused. "Of course. It is a present, after all. They're meant to be opened."

You groaned, pressing a hand to your forehead. "Urgh, you know that's not what I meant."

You defeatedly watch as Albedo looks over the other items in the box. Along with the brand new sketchbook, there was a set of paint brushes you obtained from a shop in Liyue, a recent edition of an encyclopedia of different organisms from Sumeru, some sweets from Fontaine...

"Hm?"

...And something else that didn't quite belong to any one nation. Rather, as Albedo took it in his hands and observed it closely, it was a collection, an assortment of things from each nation. In his hands was a bookmark. All the plants he mentioned to you in his letters, as well as some others he didn't request, had been pressed and placed on it, creating a small piece of art in itself.

"That's to go along with your sketchbook," you told him. You got closer to him and explained that, to make it easier for him to flip through an empty page, he could use your custom gift to mark where to start a new drawing. "But obviously you don't have to do that. You could use it for other books."

He handled it with such care, as if it were made of glass and could shatter in his hands at any moment. Paper can be fragile, sure, but there was more to it than that.

"I like it."

That took you aback.

"Is that right?" Your breath made a thick cloud of frost in front of you, as if you'd been holding it underwater this entire time.

Albedo glanced at you in a way that made you suddenly aware of your posture. You felt stiff, frigid, unmoving. Why were you nervous? You had no reason to be nervous. Albedo could definitely tell you weren't so sure of your gifts, or sure of yourself. Considering this, he made an effort to take your hand in his, his eyes unwavering from yours.

"I've gotten gifts for my birthday before, but I can say with certainty that these"—your handcrafted gift especially—"are some of the most thoughtful gifts I've ever received.

"Truly, I mean it. Thank you, Traveller."

The laugh you let out was a relieved one, and you grinned, more confident this time. "Well then, I'm glad."

Every once in a while, when you catch Albedo sketching away in the sketchbook you got him, you can see a loose piece of paper sticking out. You notice the flowers, the purples and blues and greens and red; you notice the texture of the paper that they are pressed on. But what you recognize the most is your own handiwork.