#Butterfly Chicken Recipe

[theramenrater]

Basic and wonderful

[dontwanderoff]

roasting a whole chicken for the first time and bit rude of every single recipe to do everything so different

[fruitviine]

What's your favorite animatronic at Freddy's?

honestly? chica! she seems like she'd be really fun to hang out with, and who doesn't like food? I only hope she could find it in her heart to forgive me for my diet being about 90% chicken though...

[drysdalesworld]

“who is this? what’s his name? you know what, mark!”

luca fantilli x fem!reader

blurb based on the tiktok voicemail prank trend

“What do you want for dinner, babe? I was thinking fettuccine, but we don’t have any chicken so it’d just be the sauce and the noddles,” Luca asked, focus completely on the cook book in front of him.

The cook book was completely new and something that Luca hadn’t really touched before. His Mother decided to get him one once he had decided to move into the Sophomore house knowing that his cooking skills were very limited. The two of you had frequent dinner dates and his Mother thought it was a good idea to get him the book as she knew that you were the most experienced in the kitchen and didn’t want you cooking for the both of you all the time.

“That sounds good,” you replied, shooting him a gentle smile before redirecting your attention to the screen in front of you.

The smile on his face caused you get butterflies in your stomach, both from the jitteriness you experienced in your relationship and from the potential of ruining his happy mood.

Beats of silence passed by for a few moments as Luca moved from cabinet to cabinet to gather all the needed ingredients for the recipe. The domesticity of the entire situation made you not want to perform the prank and play the audio. But, you already made your mind up and genuinely wanted to see how he’d react to something like this.

You heavily sighed as you groaned out in fake frustration, dropping your phone onto the kitchen counter, the privacy screen blocking your boyfriend view of what truly was displayed on the screen.

“What’s wrong, baby?” Luca asked, shifting his body from the barely boiling water on the stove towards your figure, eyebrows furrowed in concentration and confusion.

You simply shook your head and gathered your phone back into your hands, resting your chin on your palm as you began the beginning stage of the prank.

“You know that psychology project I had a few weeks ago?” You asked, eyes focused on the screen in front of you.

Your boyfriend only simply hummed and nodded to himself as he crossed his arms and leaned on the side of the fridge next to him.

“Well, he won’t leave me alone. Like, he calls me all the time and leaves me a hundred voicemails. I haven’t listened to any of them though,” you continue, eyes darting up to gauge Luca’s reaction.

If he felt any anger or uncomfortableness, you couldn’t tell as he simply urged you to continue from where he stood, “Play the last one he left you”.

You bit your lip in anticipation as you hit record and play on the audio.

It looked like Luca couldn’t believe what he was hearing as the audio continued. His whole face contorted into something that you couldn’t quite exactly place, eyes narrowing and lips pursing as he listened.

As the audio was nearing its end, Luca interrupted, cheeks slightly pink, “Who is this dude? What’s his name? Wait, let me get Mark. Mark!”

The minute Marks name left your boyfriends lips, you let out a laugh as you tried so desperately to not give up the act just yet.

“What? What’s up?” Mark called out, stumbling down the stairs as he entered the kitchen. He looked completely disheveled, probably woke up from his nap when Luca began calling his name.

“You and I are going to knock some sense into this dude bothering (Y/N),” Luca replied, turning off the stove before quickly grabbing his phone and keys.

Mark quickly looked between you and Luca as he tried to gather what the hell was going on, sleep still evident in his eyes.

“Luca, no. You don’t even know where he lives!” You countered, turning off your phone as you tried to convince your boyfriend of finding this fake dude. “It’s a joke! It’s a trend on TikTok. It’s all fake I swear!”.

The look Luca gave you was one of a wounded puppy, completely surprised at what you just did.

“A prank?” He asked, phone and keys still tightly clasped in his hands, “Babe, you scared the shit out of me. I thought I had to go hunt this guy down and kick his ass for speaking to you like that”.

He sounded relieved, head shaking as he visibly relaxed at the information you told him.

“You woke me up to beat some imaginary dude?” Mark groggily asked, body in the same position he was in as he first rushed into the kitchen, “I was in the middle of a nap, man!”.

You could only laugh as Luca and Mark began bickering at how Mark shouldn’t be the first one Luca thinks of for beating someone up while Luca disagreed.

You could only shake your head as you stood up from your place at the counter, quickly saving the video before turning the stove back on and getting started on the dinner Luca completely forgot about.

[ghostybaby000]

Who's at the door? | Part 4

Part 1 Part 2 Part 3

Pairing: Simon Ghost Riley x reader

Summary: I suggest going back to part one (above) too start this adventure of a read

Word count: 1.5k

Warnings: 18+, violent theme, flirting, smut

He uses his knees to lift himself with a small pop and moves towards the door. You hesitate at first but then move to grab your phone and change into pants that didn’t smell of smoke. You met him by the door as you locked your apartment and went back to his where he began to prepare food. You watch from sitting at the bar as he cut up already cooked chicken and spices, and noticed that he seemed skilled when preparing food. No recipe to follow, no YouTube videos needed, just him and what he knew. He explained that he would be making an alfredo of the sorts, chicken alfredo with plenty of sauce that had you excited, not that you could be picky in a moment like this. 

As he was preparing the meal he saw you watching him, and picked up a small piece of cheese that was for the toppings and reaching over the counter, led it to the entrance of your mouth. You looked at him for a moment before opening your mouth and slowly taking the piece of cheese, catching his finger tips in your mouth making them slightly wet. His hand stays held out in front of your face for a moment before he put down the grater and walked over to where you were sitting on the other side of the counter, your heart lurched.  

He stood there for a moment before taking his hand to cup your face, his rough thumb rubbing over your lip gently. The butterflies exploded out of your stomach and into your throat, your face became bright red as you looked at him intensely, he was such a large man but was so gentle. Before he could move his thumb away you slightly opened your mouth, almost inviting his fingers in. His grip around your face slightly tightened as he let his thumb fall over your lips. He was standing in front of you, looking down to you as you just barley lick the tip of his thumb. That was all it took-within a moment he checked everything was off, and had you over his shoulder, headed to the bedroom and you certainly weren’t going to stop him. He set you down in the bed and closed the door before turning back to you, you sat quietly and watched him as your heart was now racing and beating harder than it ever had. He made his way over to the bed standing over you now. He looked at you with a glint in his eyes that made you feel more nervous for what was to come.

He took the bottom of his shirt you were wearing and began to take it off of you, being sure to be gentle around your bandaged arm and once the shirt was off you had a second to see his bulge fighting to get out of his pants. He got in the bed in front of you so that his legs were over yours and you were both face to face. Your hand came up slowly to touch the outside of his mask near his lip area. He looked down at you and then used his own hand to lift the mask just enough to see his lips and the bottom of his nose. 

You took a moment to watch his eyes, darted between them both, when he kissed you. The kiss was gentle at first and then turned into a wet messy tangle of tongue. Before you could react his tongue had been in your mouth, with one of his hands holding him up and the other working at your pants. 

The room fell hot as you both clambered out of clothing, him ripping your pants off, panties with it- his own shirt and pants coming off in the process. His bulge begging to be let out, he gets closer to you and begins to rub you with his cock through his underwear. You let out a small moan at feeling his size but quickly suck in the breath. 

‘Let me here you love’ He had been staring at you while your eyes were closed relishing in the moment. You knew that you were wet already, something that hadn’t happened before sex with anyone. You quickly open your eyes as he thrusts harder into you, you realize how badly you want him groaning as you feel his size even from the outside, as he made his way down to pleasure you first. 

‘Already wet for me…What a good girl.’ You felt a warmth already mounting in your stomach that made your legs try and close, but he wouldn’t let them.

He had been gentle at first with this too, soon after eating you as if it was his last meal. He slid a finger in between your folds as you let out a moan that you hadn’t expected. His finger enters you and you arch your back to him- his finger felt like two of your own. Then he added another, your back arching even higher as you grip his sheets, he felt so good-he adds another after a moment causing you to sharply inhale, you hadn’t ever been this stretched. The warm ball in your stomach was filling as you felt yourself riding his calloused hand, and he let you.

He takes a moment to sit up while fingering your now sopping wet cunt. He leans up and over you his face covered in your slick, removing his fingers from you. You look to him as he stops, your face red and eyes wide. 

‘You ready love?’ He sees your out of breath after moaning into the air already tired as you beg. You nod your head yes as you watch him,

‘Y-Yes..yes I’m ready.’ You arch again without him even touching you, the warm squeeze in your stomach making you desperate to have him inside you.

‘Please, I-I want you so badly.’ You whimper to him as he backs off the bed to abandon his underwear and his cock springs out of his pants as he faces you from the edge of the bed. He grabs both of your ankles and pulls you over along the bed to be right on the edge. 

The pain in your arm long gone, he takes you from the edge of the bed, slowly inserting himself into your wet folds. You let out a shriek as he gets about halfway inside you wrapping your legs around him feeling his meaty cock stretching you like it hadn’t been before. He began trusting into you faster now, you grasp at his back as he reached that little spot inside that you couldn’t yourself. You started moaning out, begging of him not to stop. 

‘You’re being such a good girl for me, taking this cock so well love.’ He groans out emphasizing his words as he pummels into your body. He flips you over the edge and this time taking you faster. He’s almost lifting you off the ground, as he pushes your legs together and continues to punish your sensitive walls. He grabs both hands and brings them behind your back, not allowing you to move much. You can hardly tell what’s happening when he flips you over again to face him. 

‘I feel you getting tight round’ me, cum on my cock baby, do it for me I want to watch your face as you take this cock so fucking well’ You feel the warmth in your stomach to almost be too much now, as he lifts your legs and continues to drill into you. You look up to him, feeling your legs wan to close, but he holds them open his stare demanding it of you, when it happens. You feel the surge of climax run through your body up your spine until you are shaking and out of breath. 

‘Ohh yess baby…that’s a good girl for me….oh shiit.’ He groans out through clenched teeth continuing to thrust into you, and then allows himself now to finish as well. His warmth spreading through your insides and seeping out your hole as he slows in thrusts until every drop had been deposited inside you. You lay still on the bed for a moment watching him as he kisses your legs softly and leaves to fetch a warm cloth. He cleans you both up and you lay for a moment before he carries you out to the couch. 

‘Well, should I finish dinner then?’ He asks as he looks down to you, who is watching him intently, his shirt back on your body along with your underwear. 

‘Sure, do you need any help? You look to him with soft eyes as he smiles and lifts your hand to kiss it. 

‘I’ve got it love, don’t want you to do a thing but sit ere’ and relax.’ He smiles as he kisses the top of your head and makes his way into the kitchen, you could definitely get used to this.

[pt2change]

meals and memories — kim namjoon

pairing: husband!namjoon x reader

genre: married au, typical fluff, y/n loves cooking, namjoon thinks he can be good at it,

word count: 702

↣ bts masterlist

⭒☆━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━☆⭒

it’s 4pm when you wake up one weekend from a nap and find your husband in the garden

aside from the variety of plants he has, namjoon decided to also attempt to grow multiple vegetables

his garden was just basic and easy to grow vegetables like zucchini, cucumbers, cherry tomatoes

and when you stepped outside and walk over to namjoon, he greets you by palming your face with his hands

he stares into your eyes, “do you know how beautiful you are?”

he pecks your lips, “and do you know how much i love you?”

and as you stare back into his eyes, your heart beats quickly

you scoff at him but you also can’t help but blush at his comments

“come back inside so we can decide on dinner…… and the mosquitoes are going to bite you everywhere again.” you tug on his arm

your hand remain on his arm as you turn to leave but he stops you

namjoon grabs a white flower from his garden and hands it to you

with the beautiful flowers and plants around you, you can’t help but smile so brightly at your husband

and yes it sounds like a typical cliche but.

sometimes it felt like you were the only people in the world

and your heart skips a beat again

you accept the flower from namjoon and kiss him tenderly

everyday you just fall more and more in love with him

each kiss sends your heart into overdrive and you swear it’s gonna burst out of your chest

your cheeks become a slight pink and you can feel butterflies in your stomach and namjoon pulls you in closer

and you pull away from his lips, “i love you, namjoon”

you grab namjoon by his waist and start making your way back inside the house

……….

now as a teenager, you literally became a chef in the kitchen

you had 3 siblings and parents who worked all the time to provide for their family

so with that you became talented at making delicious meals

but you grew up.

and now you’re married and you both worked…..

so cooking dinner typically meant putting something in the oven or microwave and letting it do the rest of the job

sometimes you and namjoon ordered in but even that was getting a bit too pricey

namjoon on the other hand………

he has always wanted to learn how to cook a proper meal

it seemed like something he would enjoy and to be honest he enjoys when you make him a home cooked meal

so rather than having you make a heavenly home cooked meal by yourself, he decides to help

you decide to make a pasta that includes vegetables and some grilled chicken

you actually take the recipe from a tiktok video that namjoon had sent you few weeks prior

meanwhile namjoon had one main concern…

which was; “can we use the vegetables in the garden?”

he’s been talking about it since he saw the small vegetable garden was actually a success

and now you have the perfect chance to see how good they taste!!

you put the pasta to boil and rewatch the video while namjoon measures out the spices he’ll need

confusion strikes him when he can’t tell the difference between a teaspoon or tablespoon

you were pretty sure they had labels so they must’ve faded or namjoon just missed it entirely

“table is bigger and tea is smaller” you kindly remind him

namjoon nods in response, and finishes measuring

he goes out to garden to get his vegetables and washes them before leaving you to cut them

(you refuse to let namjoon cut them because you swear he’s gonna end up losing a finger)

after throwing everything in the pot, you let it simmer to finish cooking

while you wait, namjoon decided to bring out candles and lights them on the table

he sets aside wine glasses and a bottle, creating a romantic scene

when dinner is served, namjoon takes a bite and hums in satisfaction

at the end you get a loving kiss from your husband

……

and before going to bed, you place an order for new measuring spoons with bigger labels

[sweatervest-obsessed]

Spencer request: The team meets at a bar after they returning from a case and Spencer comes in looking dramatically different (like a nice new haircut and casual outfit and glasses) and the team / OC lose their minds

YES MAAM 🫡

It wasn’t fair.

Like, sure. Life isn’t fair, and you can’t always be the winner, but this felt personal.

Spencer Reid had agreed to go out with you all one your last night of vacation, causing Penelope to get you all to to commit to coming by signing death threats.

You didn’t even have to answer her text, knowing that the second Spencer said yes to anything, you would be there.

So that’s how you managed to find yourself packed into a booth with Garcia, Hotch, Rossi, JJ, and Emily.

“I just don’t know why Morgan volunteered to drive Spencer. It sounds like a recipe for genocide.” JJ whispered in your ear, causing you to almost spit out the sip of your drink you had just taken.

Hotch eyed the two of you suspiciously before returning to his conversation with Garcia.

But that’s when you looked up, and the world stopped.

Spencer had gotten a hair cut.

And he looked fucking delicious. At least that’s what you said to yourself as your entire body froze on the spot.

He was dressed in a short sleeve button up, with the top button undone, and just these perfect pants that fit him like a glove: truly they were a gift for you at this point since all they did was make you ogle him more.

And of course, he was in his black converse, the pair you had bought him for his birthday last year. You knew because you had gotten the heel embroidered with chess pieces, A king on one heel, and a knight on the other.

But that wasn’t even the best part. The best part was that Doctor Spencer Reid was wearing his glasses.

Maybe you should’ve chickened out and not come because all you could do now was all but chug the rest of your drink, trying to not stare at him.

But you weren’t the only one.

“Damn Spence. Didn’t know you knew how to dress like that.” Jj gave him a little wolf whistle which caused his cheeks to burn red, and Morgan to clap his back and slide into the booth next to Hotch.

“T-Thanks, it was, uh. It was Morgan.” He couldn’t help but fidget with his glasses, not fully used to them. Or that was his excuse. Maybe it was because he was nervous around you. Or maybe it was because you were refusing to look at him.

“Can I…”

You looked over at him, biting the inside of your cheek. “No—I mean.” You rolled your eyes and elbowed JJ’s thigh under the table as she laughed at you. “You don’t have a drink yet, and I need a refill.”

Spencer nodded and licked his lips. “Ye-yeah a drink.”

You smiled at him quickly, trying to calm the butterflies in your stomach as the two of you walked towards the bar.

“Y-You, you look really good.” Spencer whispered to you, as you flagged down the bartender, causing you to smile as you ordered yourself and Spencer your respective drinks.

“I’m surprised y/n hasn’t burst into flames yet.” Rossi snickered, clinking his glass in a cheers with Emily.

“Give ‘em two minutes tops.” She held out her hand in faux competition.

“Oh you’re on.”

While they all placed their bets, they failed to notice the way you and Spencer moved closer and closer to one another at the bar, not making any inference of turning back to the table, even though you both had been sipping on your new drinks for a while, lost in each other’s company.

[feyburner]

tumblr user feyburner, i have a confession. i don't know how to roast a chicken, or do anything with a chicken, and at this point i'm afraid to ask.

I can tell you're afraid to ask bc this isn't really a question. But I will answer it anyway. I'm always happy to talk about chicken.

You’ll be pleased to learn that roasting a chicken is so easy. The below explanation is quite long bc I am including all the information I can remember, to set you up for chicken roasting success. But, essentially, you’re rubbing a chicken in oil and seasonings and putting him in the oven for like an hour. Done.

Remember that people have been roasting whole chickens since the dawn of time using whatever they had around bc it’s the most low effort, high reward meal ever. You could say the word “salt” in a chicken’s general direction and toss him at a candle flame and he would still turn out great.  

To roast a chicken:

Buy a whole chicken, however big you want. 4-5 lbs is enough to feed 3-5 people with leftovers.

Prepare a workspace with a plastic cutting board (not wooden bc raw chicken juices) and paper towels. 

Remove the giblets, pin feathers, extra flaps:

1. Stick your hand up his primary orifice and pull out anything loose. There is usually a handful of little organs like heart and gizzards and sometimes these strings of pale bean looking things (tbh not sure what those are). Save these for stock, except the liver (super dark squishy organ) which will disintegrate. You can eat the liver separate if you want.

2. Trim off any sticky-outy bits that have pin feathers on them, and the flaps of fat/gristle over his orifice. Save the fatty bits for stock. Leave the triangle of fat directly above the orifice (his tail). 

Pat the chicken dry with paper towels inside and out. Get him as dry as possible. 

Spatchcock: You don’t have to spatchcock/butterfly but I like to, bc it maximizes outer surface area for that good good crispy skin. Also easier to get breasts and thighs done at the same rate.

All you have to do is cut the backbone out of the chicken with poultry shears or kitchen scissors if you’re desperate. Then push down hard to crack the breastbone so he lies super flat. Save the backbone for stock or jus. How to spatchcock step by step guide.

Dry brine: Prepare a bowl of coarse kosher salt. More salt than you’d think. Like 1 Tbsp per lb of meat. Rub salt over the whole chicken inside and out. Don’t skimp on the salt especially on the inside. It will not make your chicken crazy salty, it doesn't penetrate the meat that deep. Also some will be wiped off before you cook. 

Put the chicken on a wire rack on a baking sheet and chill uncovered in the fridge for 2-24 hours. The point of this step is the salt draws moisture to the surface of the chicken, which then evaporates in the circulating fridge air. It helps you get crispy chicken skin.

Dry brine + resting isn't 100% necessary, if for some reason you must produce a roasted chicken on a time crunch. But it's a good practice.

Roasting time:

Pat excess moisture off chicken inside and out. If you did not spatchcock you can stuff the inside with a halved lemon or garlic head, herbs, whatever you want. 

Seasoning rub: Prepare a small bowl with olive oil (maybe 1/4-1/3 cup?), salt, freshly cracked black pepper, and whatever dried herbs and spices you want. A good starter is: salt, pepper, parsley sage rosemary thyme, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder. I love me some Cajun spice mix like Slap Ya Mama. Start with like 1-2 tsp of each (1 tsp spices, 2 tsp dried herbs) and build from there. Don’t be shy. Recipes on the internet are like “Use 1/2 tsp herbs for this whole recipe” because they’re heading off 1-star reviews from annoying people who can’t handle a molecule of flavor. Season with your heart, your pussy, and your balls. Don’t be ashamed to use a store-bought spice rub. It’s not lazy, it’s efficient. Also, who gives a shit.

Rub the oil all over Mr. Chicken like he’s an Ancient Greek warrior-prince you’re preparing for the Olympic Games. 

Some recipes tell you to use butter, or slip butter under the skin, but butter has higher water content than oil and might not get you the ideal crispy skin. You can do whatever you want though. It’s your chicken. 

Preheat the oven to 425°. People will tell you a billion different temperatures—screaming hot, low and slow—but I’m here to tell you that it is so hard to fuck up a roast chicken, you can experiment and the results will always be great. 

I like to start at a high temp for 30 minutes to get the skin crisping and then reduce to 375° for the rest of the time to avoid burning. Sometimes you’ll have to cover him with foil if the seasonings start charring. That’s fine.

General cook time: 20 minutes per lb of meat, give or take 20 depending on oven temp. A 4-5 lb chicken at 425° -> 375° generally takes me ~1 hour 20 minutes. If you do low and slow at like 325° it might take 2+ hours. Just check on him periodically. Tbh it’s harder to overcook a chicken than you probably think. 5 minutes, or even 10-20 minutes, is NOT the difference between beautiful tender juicy chicken and a bone-dry tragedy. Chicken is not turkey. He is versatile and he can take it.

Pull the chicken when a meat thermometer inserted into the thickest part reads 145° or above. (160° is the “safe temp” but 1. The temp will continue to rise for a few minutes after it leaves the oven, and 2. 160° is the temp at which bacteria dies immediately. 145° is fine for eating. Disclaimer: I am not a scientist just a guy who makes a lot of chicken.)

If you don’t have a thermometer, pull the chicken when you insert a knife into the thickest part and the juices run clear. Gorgeous.

Let him sit for 10-20 minutes before carving. When carving, find the oysters and give them to your favorite person or take them as the Cook’s Bounty.

**********************

Again, this explanation is quite long because I included lots of detail. If you do it even one time, you'll realize it's incredibly easy and intuitive and doesn't take much time at all.

Godspeed!

[theramenrater]

Cookin' the creamy chicken

[dearabby1990]

Chapter 36: Forever & a day

The drive back to yours felt longer then usual you dozed off sometime during the drive only to be woken up by the car hitting an odd amount of bumps in the road. You don’t remember there being many potholes on the way home from previous drives around town. You slowly raise your head to look out the window & take in your surroundings noticing you’re nowhere near home with the amount of trees you see & the dirt road you’re currently cruising down. “Uh Gareth where the hell are we going?.. what happened you finally got sick of me now you’re gonna murder me or something ahaha” trying to make light of what’s happening because you’re extremely confused “No Jame I’m not gonna murder you ya nut hahahaha it’s a surprise though & I’m not allowed to say but I will tell you that you’re gonna love it & that’s all I’m saying & nothing more” you start to get excited but still have that nervous feeling twisting around in gut like a swarm of butterflies claimed shelter inside of you. Gareth makes a sharp right down a small dirt trail & you start to realize you’re near you & eddies special spot it’s in the woods near the school but also close enough to the lake & then you see it. The twinkling of fairy lights & the burning of several candles & there he stands next to the table your love dressed so handsomely. Hair done to perfection a maroon button up black slacks new black converse & two bouquets of flowers with a million dollar smile. Gareth turns his head to you & takes your hand for a moment “Jame we’ve been friends since we were literally in diapers & me & Eddie are best friends blood buddies hellfire for life, you’ve both had a hell of a ride so far in life & there’s no two other people I root for then you & Ed. You both deserve to be happy & I’m glad you both found that in each other now that being said go get your man & thanks for being the best sister figure I could ever ask for” your eyes fill with tears you peck him on the cheek “thank you for always being so sweet & supportive Gareth you have no idea how much me & Eddie appreciate you truly” one more peck & you hop out of the car & run into Eddie’s arms. You take in his cologne the smell invading your senses like a drug you just can’t get enough of “hey princess” Eddie whispers as he rubs small circle on your back “hello handsome” he leans back to take you in & hands you flowers “I know you love lily’s I just wasn’t sure what kind & I want this to be perfect & I wa-“ you cut him off in a kiss feeling him smile against your lips “Eddie they’re beautiful & I love all Lily’s this is perfect” you sway side to side holding them & smelling each of them & look up through your lashes at him as he gestures for you to sit at you & his special table all decorated & a picnic basket filled with foods that look like he made himself “Wayne helped with the food a bit I didn’t wanna burn the trailer down” he said chuckling putting everything on the table “Ed’s is all perfect thank you pretty boy” his cheeks a shade of red you’ve never seen before he takes out a bottle of wine “it’s a special occasion & I know you love your moscato” he pours you both a glass & you both sit & enjoy the chicken cacciatore that Wayne & Eddie made which is absolutely delicious not to mention Wayne made your favorite dessert peanut butter cake with chocolate buttercream after you made it for him once you gave him the recipe with promises not to share with a soul because it came from your mom’s cookbook she handmade you when you were 12. She was very family oriented & wanted me to have every family recipe for when she was no longer here. You still wonder what the special occasion is but don’t wanna push it you here funny noises coming through the trees it scares you at first until you notice Jeff Gareth & Freak come from the shadows with some of their band gear & then see Dustin Mike & Lucas. “Hey guys oh my I haven’t seen you boys in awhile you run up hugging the younger ones before heading back to Eddie. “love what’s going on?..” he smiles at you “you’ll see beautiful just you take a seat we got the rest”

The younger bunch came with wood pallets in hand making a mini makeshift stage for the boys to set up on Eddie sneaking glances at you shooting winks or blowing you kisses when you catch him. You sit patiently kicking your feet as you sit on the bench dustin comes & plops down next to you. “Uh yah know.. I know you haven’t been a part of our party very long but regardless you’ve been one of the best parts of it & we’re all so glad to have you, you’re like the sister we all so desperately wished for im an only child so all you’ve done for me.. for all of us I just wanted to say thanks & that we all love ya” you hug him tightly “what’s with today is this make Jamie cry day haha I love you guys too” he goes to leave but you grab his wrist & pull him towards you to whisper “just so you know you’re my favorite don’t tell anyone” you wink at him & he gives you that Henderson megawatt smile & heads off toward the guys. The guys are all set & Eddie grabs the wireless mic “Tonight is gonna be one for the books not just for corroded coffin but for me & this beautiful vixen right here I love you sweetheart & hope to spend the rest of my life showing just how much I truly do so this is for you” Eddie’s fingers start to glide across the strings as they begin playing “Heaven” by Warrant your heart clenches eyes filling with tears he doesn’t take his eyes off of you until he feels the lyrics closing his eyes pouring his soul into it like the most perfect work of Art 🎼”I don’t need to be the king of the world as long as I’m a hero of this little girl… Heaven isn’t too far away… Closer to it everyday…No matter what your friends might say… How I love the way you move.. & the sparkle in your eyes… There’s a color deep inside them like blue suburban sky.. When I come home late at night And you're in bed asleep I wrap my arms around you So I can feel you breathe… I don’t need to be a Superman.. As long as you will always be my biggest fan… Heaven isn’t too far away… Closer to it everyday!!.. No matter what your friends might say… We’ll find our way!!”🎼 totally captivated by him as he by you the song starts to dwindle down & Eddie clears his throat before stepping closer to where you’re sitting “Sweetheart I just want you to know that everyday with you is like heaven, you have no idea how much light you’ve shined on my dark & twisted life. Before you I never believed in love or soulmates or any of that shit but the moment I laid eyes on you it was electrifying I just can’t explain it it’s like the voice in my head was just telling me to look over where you were & I felt this pull a magnetic energy drawing me towards you & then the first time I got to kiss you I knew for sure my soul found so desperately what it was looking for I’ve been with girls before you & none of them have made me feel the way you do. I feel like we’re destined for each other like we had one another in another life or time or space. Being with you feels like home to me you are home & if I didn’t have you I just know I wouldn’t be able to survive it my heart is yours eternally & what I wanted to ask is if you’ll have me for the rest of our lives” you’re hysterical shaking & sobbing Eddie steps off the pallets & kneels down on one knee in front of you “Ed’s?” He takes your hand all the boys are standing behind Eddie dustin & Lucas are crying & you hear a sniffle from behind you only to see Steve,Robin, Nancy & Jonathan smiling at the both of you “You’re it for me there’s no where else I’d rather be then wrapped up in you grow old with you our souls finally intertwined in the way the universe intended… Jamie Antoinette Baker.. would you do me the honor of being my wife?” Your breath hitches & you nod like a mad woman “YES!!” He quickly slides the ring onto your finger & engulfs you into a hug spinning you around to the point you start feeling dizzy. Everyone around you yelling & whistling. Dustin is full on sobbing along with Robin being surrounded by all your favorite faces the people you now call family life is starting to become something you’ve never thought it’d be

[sacredjake]

Peanut Butter Blossom

pairing: Sam Kiszka x Rhi

word count: 2.8k

warnings: none! pure fluff, some cussing

merry (late) christmas @lightsofthe-living-gvf!!!! i’m your secret santa! i wanna apologize for being late, this christmas has been crazy! i’ve enjoyed getting to know you and talking about some of our favorite shared interests!!! i hope you like it! i hope you had a wonderful holiday, merry christmas rhi <3333

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There was a loud ding from the oven signaling that the cookies you had put in were finally done. You turned the oven off and grabbed the oven mit from the counter before opening the door and taking the sweet smelling treat out. You set them on the stovetop to allow them to cool for a moment and grabbed the cooling racks out of the nearest cabinet. One by one you transferred each cookie from the baking sheet onto the cooling rack. 

When each cookie was moved to the elevated rack you decided to check on the chicken and dumpling soup you had made. The dish was basically done, just requiring a gentle stir every now and then until it was time to be served. Thankfully the crockpot you made it in would keep the contents nice and warm while you made the short drive to your best friend’s house. 

Tonight was the annual friendsmas that you and your friends put together. Each person would bring a dish for a sort of potluck style dinner along with a gift for the game White Elephant. You had the honor of bringing the main dish this year- as volunteered by your friends. You had hosted the party the previous year and made the same chicken and dumpling recipe and everyone had insisted that you make it again this year. The dish was one of your favorites to make so you didn’t mind in the slightest, and were actually excited that they had loved it so much. 

You had been looking forward to this event since your best friends had left on tour. You were also extremely nervous to see one friend in particular. Sam had been your best friend for a few years, and you had always had a crush on him. The two of you hadn’t seen each other in almost four months and you couldn’t calm the butterflies in your stomach. 

Without needing much more to do to get ready, once the cookies were cooled and you were finally dressed, you loaded up your contributions to the party in your car. Snow crunched underneath your feet as you made your way around to your driver’s door. You were just glad it wasn’t actively snowing. 

A few minutes later you were pulling into your best friend’s driveway right behind a white jeep truck you could only assume was Josh’s. With slightly shaky hands, you began unloading the items you had brought, having much more difficulty getting them out than you did putting them in. For whatever reason, most likely the nerves from seeing Sammy again, you couldn’t remember how exactly you had carried everything out to your car, and there was no way you were going to be able to carry it all. Just when you were about to give up and make another trip outside in the cold, a voice rang out. 

“I can’t believe Josh beat yo- Rhi, why didn’t you just text me and ask for help!” Sam scolded you playfully, his long arm reaching over the car door easily and plucking the gift and bag of cookies from your hands. 

“I was doing just fine, thank you.” You lied cooling and prayed that your hands would stop shaking. With one hand free you were finally able to grasp the handles of your crockpot with ease. 

“Yeah because dropping the ginormous crockpot full of delicious chicken and dumplings is ‘doing just fine’.” He snickered.

Everything about Sam made your heart flutter, even his jokes and antics. 

“It was gonna work, I wasn’t gonna drop anything.” 

You followed behind him after shutting the car door with your foot, and walked up the walkway. No matter how many times you walked into Sam’s house it was always inviting. Although  it had little to do with the actual space itself. You knew it didn’t matter where Sam lived, anywhere he existed was home to you. 

Shortly after entering through the front door there were excited exclamations to be heard about your arrival. Josh, of course, was the loudest and first to be heard.  

“Rhi!” He nearly pushed his younger brother to the ground trying to reach you for a hug. Not even waiting for the reciprocation of the hug, his arms wrapped around you tightly. 

“Hi Josh.” You barely breathe out and pat his shoulder. He was squeezing you so tightly you weren’t sure how long you could go without air. 

“Jesus, Josh, loosen up, we haven’t seen her in almost four months and you’re gonna kill her.” Jake half teased his twin, and Josh’s hold on you loosened quickly. 

“Shit sorry, mama. I’ve just missed you so much!” 

“I missed you too, Josh.” You couldn’t help but giggle at his slightly overexcited state. 

Soon Josh was pushed away by his twin so he could steal a hug from you. While Sam and Danny were your best friends, you had gotten close with the twins after all the years. It was kind of hard not to when they were always around. 

“So glad to see you, Rhi. Hope you’re doing well.” Jake’s hug was a lot faster, and less forceful than Josh’s. You told him how happy you were to see everyone and how proud of them you were. 

“Hey now,” You could recognize the next man’s voice anywhere, even if you couldn’t see him, “Where’s my hug?” 

“Oh I’m sorry, were you expecting one?” There was only playful teasing laced in your voice. He knew it too. 

“My hugs are the only ones that matter.” 

“Well someone thinks awfully big of himself.” 

You were staring up at him with a large smile on your face, completely unable to keep it from showing. He mirrored your expression, his lips turned up in a crooked smile. Neither of you wanted to be the first to crack, but Danny always gave into you. The small crack of his smile grew into a wide grin followed by a playful roll of his eyes. 

“Just give me a hug, dammit! I’ve missed you!” 

Danny pulled you into him without a single protest from you. He wasn’t wrong though, his hugs were the only ones that mattered. Aside from Sammy’s, but that’s only because you were hopelessly in love with Sam. 

He squeezed you firmly and rocked you both from side to side before letting go. Danny couldn’t completely let you go though. He held the top of your arms and gazed down at you happily. 

“I’ve missed you so much, bug. You really gotta come join us for a show soon.” 

“I will, Danny. Soon.” 

“Good.” He pulled you in for one last quick hug as Sam entered back into the space. One again you could feel your heart rate pick up just from him being in the same room as you. 

“Alright everyone, all the food has been set up, so let’s make our plates and dig in! The faster we eat, the sooner we get to open gifts!” 

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“Guys I can not make chicken and dumplings again next year! Three years in a row is enough!” 

“Aw c’mon, Rhi! Please!” Josh begged from across the table. Everyone else agreed. 

Dinner had been long consumed and everyone was still sitting at the dining table with their empty plates and bowls in front of them. Throughout the meal you couldn’t help the way your eyes naturally, and constantly drifted to Sam. You were glad Sam liked to talk a lot because it meant you had more of a reason to steal glances at him. There was much to catch up on between the boys and their band, their partners lives and your studies. Between eating and talking you hadn’t even gotten to the desert yet. 

“No, no. I think next year Jake should make the main dish!” 

“I resent being nominated, but I’ll do it.” 

You stood from your seat and waved him off before disappearing into the next room where all the deserts had been left. 

“Besides,” You walked back into the kitchen and shook the bag of cookies, “I brought cookies for everyone!” 

“Oh fuck yes! You make the best cookies!” Sam shook his fist excitedly from his seat. There were other rounds of praise coming from the rest of your friends as you handed them out. 

“I did it a little differently this year. Instead of making everyone the same cookie, I gifted you cookies that I think fit you. Hopefully you enjoy them… And of course you each have one chocolate chip cookie.” 

“So who got what?” Danny asked to your right. 

“Josh, I made you some classic, but fun christmas sugar cookies. Jake, you got the gingerbread cookie. Danny, those are chocolate crinkle cookies, and Sammy I made the peanut butter blossom cookies for you!” 

“Peanut butter blossom?! Fuck yes! All your cookies can suck it! Mine are superior!” Sam pointed to his brothers in some sort of self-proclaimed victory before digging into the bag of treats.

Danny cleared his throat next to you earning the attention from you and everyone else. “No way, Samuel, clearly the chocolate crinkle cookies are the best cookies. That’s why she made them for me.” He was nonchalant in his boasting unlike the youngest brother.

“Guys-“ 

“Mine are a classic, which obviously makes them the best cookie ever. Everyone loves a classic.”

“Um guys-“ You tried to put an end to their ridiculous game of ‘my cookie insinuates I’m better’, but none of them would let you get a word in.

“Well I hate to break it to you, but actually I have the best cookies. Gingerbread is a fan favorite. Just like me.” Jake added in his two sense, smug smile and all as he broke the cookie in half and took a bite.

“Oh I am never making you guys personalized cookies ever again.” 

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After the cookie debacle, which lasted for about a half hour before you decided to just leave the room altogether, everyone headed into Sam’s living room for White Elephant. You ended up with the beautiful leather bound journal and some nice pens that Josh had brought, and Danny got the soft, green queen size blanket that you had brought. He currently had it wrapped around his body laying on Sam’s couch snoozing next to you while you and Sam caught up. Jake and Josh had left an hour ago leaving the three of you to hang out, but Danny knocked out shortly after.

“Rhi, seriously, you’re gonna have to teach me how to make these cookies! They’re amazing!” Sam popped another peanut butter blossom into his mouth while he looked at you happily. You thought you could melt right there under his elated gaze. 

“Well, I could show you how to make them right now if you have all the ingredients?” 

“Right now?” 

You nodded your head eagerly in response. 

“Hell yes! Tell me what we need.”

After all the ingredients were gathered and laid out on the countertop, you showed Sam how to make the cookies. He followed along intently, and executed every instruction that you gave him. You could tell he was really trying his best to be serious. When the oven was up to temperature you let him stick the baking tray onto the rack and set the timer.

“Now while we wait we can clean up our mess.” You picked up the leftover ingredients and began putting them back where they belonged. By the time you were ready to clean up the bowl you used to mix everything together, Sam had almost licked it clean.

“Sammy we’re supposed to be cleaning up this mess, not eating!” You playfully scolded him.

“Mess? I don’t see a mess.” He pretended to look around the kitchen until his eyes settled on you in a mischievous way. “Oh no, you’re right. There is a huge mess to clean up.” 

You knew immediately what he was planning on doing and tried your best to back away in time, but he caught you by the wrist. 

“Sam, I swear to god, don’t you dare even think abou-” Before you could get the rest of your sentence out, Sam had smeared cookie batter on your cheek. Not like a small amount either. No this was more like a handful of raw cookie dough straight to the face. 

“Oh you’re gonna pay for that.” 

He was so busy stuffing his face earlier that he didn’t know you were about to put away the flour before he started this. You reached behind you blindly and grabbed a fistful of flour in your hand. Particles of flour flew around as you sprinkled the powder on top of his head. 

“Rhi- Oh sweet Rhi, you have made a grave mistake my dear.” The corner of his mouth twitched upwards into a smirk. 

You didn’t understand what he was so smug about. Almost everything had already been put away and there wasn’t much that he could attack you with at this point. 

But then it hit you. 

You hadn’t put away the eggs yet. 

In the same moment that you made the connection, Sam had slapped an egg on top of your head. You could feel the liquid yolk and white of the egg run down your scalp. It started to drip onto your face when the shock wore off. Not giving him a chance to react, you turned around quickly and grabbed two eggs and smashed them both on Sam’s hair. It was you who was smiling full of cockiness at the sight of your best friend’s face. 

Sam reached a long arm behind you and grabbed his own handful of flour. You took the opportunity to reach into the mixing bowl for cookie dough. Sam tossed the flour directly at your mouth, aiming for your neck, and busted out laughing. 

“Ow! Shit!” You dropped the cookie batter and instead cupped your hand to your eye. 

Sam stopped laughing almost immediately and turned his worried attention on you. 

“Oh shit, Rhi, I’m so sorry! I didn’t mean for it to get in your eye.” His large hands cradled your face as he tried to get a look at your eye. “Hey can you try and open it for me? God I’m so sorry.”  

After a moment you were able to open your eye. It still stung, and it was watering pretty good, but the pain was subsiding. You knew the white of your eye had to be bright red though. 

“You got me good, Samuel.” You teased even though he still looked worried as ever. He was a lot closer than you thought, his hands still on both your cheeks. “Is it worse than that time I gave you pink eye?”  

The look of worry left his face and a small smile cracked across his mouth. 

“Always trying to crack a joke.” He huffed a laugh in disbelief and shook his head. “One of the many reasons I fell for you.” 

You felt as though your heart stopped beating. There was no way you heard him right, surely he meant something else? Except the look on his face told you he hadn’t meant to say that at all. 

“Did you just say why you fell for me?” 

He looked completely frantic, yet he wasn’t moving at all. Standing like a deer caught in headlights while his mind resembled a squirrel sprinting across the street trying to dodge cars. He stammered a few times before actually speaking again. 

“No I-“ 

“Yes you did. I- I know that’s what I heard come out of your mouth… You- You’re in love with me?” There was no look on your face giving away your true feelings. The tone of your voice wasn’t helpful either. Disbelief was the only emotion you were showing. 

The gears turning in Sam’s mind were practically visible to you. He was debating on keeping this going or just finally admitting the truth. He took a deep sigh and squeezed his eyes shut, answering on the exhale. 

“I am-“ He took another breath trying to slow his racing heart “So in love with you, Rhi. You have no clue just how much I really love you.” When he opened his eyes you could see how much he meant it. 

“Sammy… I-“ 

“You don’t feel the same, I know…” 

“No you big dummy,” You chuckled slightly and grabbed his hands, “I’m in love with you too, Sammy. I have been for some time.” 

“Really?” He almost seemed confused. 

“Yes!” 

Sam dropped your hands and wrapped his arms around your back lifting you in the air quickly. He spun you around before setting you back to the ground, beaming at you the entire time. The second his arms detangled themselves from you he pulled you into him, his lips meeting yours in a sweet, smiley kiss. Neither of you minded that you were still completely covered in food, you could barely register that his lips were pressed against yours. 

“Best. Friendsmas. Ever. I love you so much!” He spoke happily against your lips between kisses. 

“I love you too, Sammy.” 

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[yellowkitkieran]

To Have and to Heal (Part 11)

Masterlist

Read part 1 here

Word Count: 3.3k

Summary: Single working dad Martin Odegaard is navigating the ups and downs of parenthood all on his own, and he’s struggling. That’s not to mention football, life and... love?

TW: Descriptions of death, car crash and loss

Chicken parmesan is a staple in Martin's diet. With his homemade tomato sauce and a bit of fresh mozzarella, it's healthy enough to be a regular weeknight meal for him without having to classify it as a cheat meal. He's memorized his favorite recipe and always keeps the ingredients stocked in his fridge, which he's grateful for now.  It’s easy to make as well, meaning he can operate more or less on autopilot without needing to focus too much on what he was doing.

Kieran picked up Atla from school, for which Martin was eternally grateful. From the moment Arteta dismissed them from training, Martin had exactly two hours until you would arrive at his doorstep, and he wanted to have everything plated and ready to go when you got there. He should've had more time, but Mikel insisted on rerunning one particular drill multiple times until it was perfect. Martin had thought it flawless the first three times but apparently not; it had cost him an extra half hour to appease the gaffer. 

Now Martin flies around his kitchen, breading the butterflied chicken breast with practiced skill while his tomatoes sit uncut on the counter. He tackles those once the meat is in the oven, slicing and chopping until he's happy with the size. Into a simmering pot they go, combined with tomato paste and a blend of spices that he eyeballs rather than properly measures. In his mind, food turns out better when it's seasoned from the heart and not with a measuring spoon. 

Once Martin has a moment to breathe, he sets about tackling the scattered art supplies and clean laundry piled around the house. Between his recent shoddy mood and the overtime he's put in at training lately, he has had little time to keep up with Atla's clutter. Normally Martin wouldn't touch it. He likes his house to feel lived in, preferring a manageable amount of disarray to a clinically clean home. Tonight is a different story. He wants to impress you; everything needs to be perfect.

Martin is still fixing his stray hairs in the hallway mirror when the doorbell rings. He spots a smudge in the glass as he swears under his breath- not perfect, but as perfect as it’s going to get. 

"Hi."

"Hello." Martin can't take his eyes off you. He loves it when you dress comfortably like this, in well-loved sneakers, a pair of jeans and a red top that matches the bottle of wine in your hand. Martin gestures to it, "you didn't need to bring anything. I've not had that brand before, where's it from?"

"Oh um," you fidget on your feet, tucking the bottle in the crook of your arm and tugging the sleeves of your top over your hands. "It's from Norway? It's from some place that has a huge greenhouse, the person at the store was really excited about it. I'll be honest, I heard 'Norway' and was already sold on buying it."

God, you're adorable. Martin could kiss you, if it weren't for the fact that you're probably still cross with him. And that you deserve more than a rushed peck right now. And also, the fact that you're standing outside his house waiting to be invited in. 

"Oh, please come in. Sorry, I forgot my manners there." Martin steps aside to allow you in. He politely ignores the way your eyes widen as you take in his house, allowing you to judge him as you please. He's never had an eye for decorating and he fears that much is apparent. Suddenly Martin is all too aware that the curtains in the dining room clash horribly with the pattern on the seats at the table. He sighs internally at the dried paint pallet he forgot to grab off the coffee table by the sofa and the pair of tiny pink socks peeking out from under it. 

"Don't mind the mess," Martin says off hand as he takes the wine and pours two glasses. "I didn't have time to properly clean up. We got held late at training and of course I picked a dish that takes way too long to prepare, so I didn't have time for too much else."

Your slender fingers brush Martin's when you accept the glass he holds out. The sparks that sing up his arm nearly knock him off his feet. In that moment, Martin will do anything to have you forgive him. If you grant him the opportunity of a second chance, he won't squander it; he'll do everything in his power to treat you with the respect you deserve. Because that smile on your lips right now? Martin's craved like an addict, and now that he's seen it again he never wants to see any other expression from you. 

"Thank you, Mar. I don't mind the mess, really. I'm too busy trying to figure out what smells so delicious to look anywhere but your spotless kitchen- is it italian?"

Martin is so grateful that you've fallen into a normal conversation that he nearly forgets to reply. "Oh- it's just chicken parmesan, one of my favorites. I hope that's alright? I can make something else if not, or I could maybe order takeout quick… I'm sorry, I didn't even think to ask if you'd like it-" Martin cuts himself off, cheeks flaring. He's acutely aware of how his fingers itch to fidget with something. He keeps his hands tucked into his pockets, playing with a stray coin that somehow made it through the wash without falling out.

"It's alright," you laugh and Martin's anxiety ebbs with the sound. "Chicken parm sounds great, it smells amazing too." You reach out and touch the side of Martin's forearm, the contact as soft as butterfly feet on his skin but it's enough to have him sighing. "Thank you for cooking. I really appreciate it."

"It's not a problem, I needed to do something to show you how sorry I am. I was out of line-" Martin stops when you shake your head, that blissfully forgiving smile on your face. 

"Let's just have dinner first, okay? Then after, we can talk. Does that sound alright to you?"

Martin swears you're perfect. He's done denying it; he's enjoying this too much to pretend he doesn't feel pulled to you like waves to a shoreline. Martin would like to take you there actually- the beach. He'd love to see you building sandcastles with Atla, then splashing in the water when the blazing sun gets too warm. Maybe he could suggest it as a date this summer-

When you wave a hand in front of Martin's face, he realizes you've been speaking without him hearing a single word. At this point, you're causing enough distraction that Martin should be terrified… except he's not.

"I'm sorry I'm out of it- come sit and I'll get everything served up." Hearing his mum's content praise in his head, Martin pulls out a chair for you and pushes it in once you've sat down. Then he plates up a healthy portion of buttery green beans onto a plate for you, alongside a piece of chicken that, honestly, makes his mouth water. He hopes it's as good as it usually is. 

"Here you are," Martin murmurs, one hand braced on the back of your chair as he sets the meal in front of you. He takes a seat across from you, settling in and placing his napkin over his lap. He feels like somewhat of an imposter, pretending to be fancy when he feels anything but, though the shine in your eyes as you wait for him to speak makes his breath hitch. 

"Um, bon appétit? I hope you like it." Martin waits until your attention is on your food to carefully cut into his own meal. Yes, his hands are shaking; no he's never been this nervous over a dinner. Not even when he met with the big wigs at Arsenal to discuss a move from Madrid. 

Martin nearly chokes when you moan after the first bite. "God this is amazing Martin, I didn't expect you to be such a great cook!" Martin finally takes a bite himself, delighted when the perfectly melted cheese and crispy breading hits his tongue. Normally he isn’t one to brag, but this may be some of his best work to date. 

With his nerves eased, Martin falls into comfortable conversation for the remainder of the meal. You ask for seconds, so he delivers. You're happily surprised when he brings out a cheesecake for dessert- and he's rewarded with your beautiful laugh when he tells you how he had to fend off little fingers from snagging a bite this morning. 

Once your fork is down, however, Martin knows it's time for the serious bits. He's dreaded this all day, creating a script in his head of exactly what he wants to say. He's not ready, but he's as prepared as he'll ever be. 

"So," Martin starts, "first off I have to thank you for giving me a second chance. And for trusting me to make up to you for my actions last week."

Martin hates himself for the way your eyes fall to the ivy patterns on the tablecloth. He hates that he can see the fear that brims in you now at the reminder of how angry he'd been. All he wants to do is set it right. 

"I trust you because I know it was a one time thing, right?"

"Yes- yes absolutely," Martin murmurs quickly. "And I promised you that I'd explain- can I show you something actually?"

"Oh- yes, sure, you can." Martin stretches a hand out, heart pounding as you hold him on edge. It takes a few seconds for you to decide but eventually your soft palm slides against his, your fingers curling to wrap around his own. It's right. It's home. It's perfect. Martin can't hold back his smile, so he lets it unfurl as he leads you upstairs, going slow so you can take your time looking at the photos scattered on the wall. 

"All of these are just you and Atla," you note absently, turning to Martin like you expected more. You probably did, considering his closeness with the rest of the team. Martin's nod sends a lock of hair tumbling free to fall across his forehead and he doesn't bother fixing it. 

"That's a recent change," he explains in a voice full of gravel. "So is this room here. It was Maria's studio." Martin points to the white door at the end of the hall, the one he spent far too long avoiding. 

"Your wife," you murmur softly, squeezing Martin's hand when he nods, throat too tight to speak. "You've never told me her name before." 

"I uh, I don't talk about her too much. It still hurts, you know?" Martin's smile feels forced, but he's grateful for the steady support your hand provides him. "Come on, come with me." 

You don't speak as you let Martin lead you to the only closed door in his house. The brass knob is cold, but he was expecting that. He pushes it open, a million memories rushing in with the first step he takes. The wooden planks creak softly beneath his feet as he leads you to the center of the room, getting lost for a minute. 

Over the past week, Martin has channeled his extra energy into transforming this room from one filled with ghosts to a place where his daughter's creativity can run wild. Where towering stacks of cardboard boxes used to sit near the window, now sits a wooden toddler-sized easel. The half painted canvases that were haphazardly piled where he's standing now are neatly stacked on an art rack, waiting for Atla to complete them someday. And on the wall that the room shares with his own bedroom is the collection of paintings he loves most: Norwegian fields, family portraits, and the last painting his late wife ever created. 

"Oh, Martin, these are beautiful." You keep a respectful distance, admiring the artwork from afar. "Did Maria paint all these? They're wonderful… I see where Atla's talent stems from."

"This one is my favorite," Martin murmurs, pointing to the portrait of a smiling baby girl perched in his lap. "It's the last one Maria ever finished. It's the only one I have of Atla and I together."

Martin draws a deep breath, chest rattling with the effort of holding back tears. "I've not talked about this with anyone except the grief counselor- so please just bear with me."

The fingers of your free hand curl around Martin's bicep to provide five pinpricks of safety. Your touch, the pressure of your fingers on his tense muscles, grounding him, keeping him present, as if saying I'm here, I'm listening and I'll let you speak. A silent promise to stay by his side. I'm not going anywhere. Your closeness, the smell of your rosy shampoo mixed with generic laundry detergent, the quiet unsteady breaths, heavy with anticipation, the floor creaking under your weight as you shift from one leg to the other, most likely a byproduct of nerves. 

You, your proximity, feels like a single match in the otherwise pitch black darkness, the same darkness that always clouds the man's mind, serving as a guiding light, always promising to bring him back home. Home to Arsenal. Home to you. Home to safety, home to Atla. 

And somehow, in this otherwise dreadful moment- Martin has never been more grateful for you. 

"The reason I hate storms is because that's what killed her. Not directly, but it was the storm of the century that night, or at least that's what I was told afterward. She was coming home from her art lessons at the senior home across town… I told her to cancel, but Maria was always the woman who would never cancel a commitment once she made it. I loved that about her."

Martin has never spoken about loving Maria in past tense until tonight. 

"The uh… the stoplight down the street got knocked down with the winds. There was a ton of construction a little ways away, I guess they were just finishing up for the night. A- faen what is it… the big things with all the wheels- a truck? A truck- filled with sand or dirt or whatever it was had just left, headed towards the main road to get out and get home." 

Martin pauses. The night replays in his brain the same way it has thousands of times. It's haunted him, trying to imagine exactly what happened that night, his mind drawing a dozen different scenarios each more gruesome than the last.

Martin knows he couldn't have saved her, but he wishes he could've eased her pain. Been a loving face for her to see in her final moments.

"The truck driver didn't see her. And since there was no signal, he didn't think to look… He- he blew right through it. He slammed right into her car as she was going through. Not his fault- how would he have known? He was just trying to get home to his own family."

"Mar…"

Martin is aware of your arms wrapped around his middle, though he doesn't remember it happening. He can't take his eyes off that painting of him smiling down at Atla, happy as can be. His vision tilts and shifts as tears well in his eyes. Martin is dimly aware of the paths they streak on his cheeks. 

"There was pieces everywhere. Shattered glass like that stuff at parades- confetti? And broken plastic… blood, so much blood. The driver was crying- all I remember was this… numbness? I was cold, and wet- Kieran was there I think, or he was at the house with Atla… its all blurry."

"The doctors said it was almost instant, that she didn't feel much at all. I just hope that's true, I hope she didn't realize what was happening. That painting, the one I love so much? It was untouched in the crash- the car was mangled but that painting was perfect, not even a drop of rain on it when I pulled it out. Maria made it that night, from a photo reference she'd brought with her."

Your sniffle is what tears Martin out of his head. He wraps his arms firmly around your shoulders, holding you to him while you muffle your sobs in his chest. "That's why I hate storms, and that's why I freaked out. I know it's not an excuse for how I acted, but maybe it'll help you understand why I reacted how I did. And I'm working through it, I promise- I made an appointment with a woman who specializes in helping people overcome their fears, I'm seeing her later this month. I'm gonna work on it, because I want you to know I'm serious about this."

The only noise is Martin's breathing and your soft crying. He's not sure how long he stands there cradling you, but he'll do it for however long you need. Like he wishes someone had done for him years ago.

"Serious about what," you ask minutes later, pulling back just enough to wipe your eyes. Martin wants nothing more in that moment than to kiss away the tears on your cheeks, to erase the heartache you feel on his behalf. 

"About you, us, this relationship." Martin cradles your jaw in his hands, holding you with the softness one would use with a delicate flower. “No one has seen this room yet, not even Atla. I wanted it to be a surprise for her. But before I did that, I just… I needed to show you. So you would understand. I’m still healing- but I’m trying to heal quicker so I can be someone you can lean on.”

“Martin… Hey, look at me.” When Martin does as you ask, everything crashes over him at once. The crushing, soul splitting despair he felt on the night of the accident, the spark of affection that ignited a flame in his chest the first time he heard you laugh, the relief of finally sharing his story with someone. 

But finally, in the deepest part of him, he lets go. Martin allows the love he held for Maria to loosen it’s deathgrip on his heart and allows you to creep in. It’s worrisome, how easily you sneak in and nestle yourself into him, but he doesn’t care. He meant what he said; Martin is willing to try for you. He wants this to work.

“Thank you for trusting me with this.” Your thumbs rubbing along Martin’s jaw ground him. “I don’t want you to rush through recovery for my benefit. I hate seeing you struggle, of course I do, but I’ll wait as long as it takes, alright? Don’t feel like you need to put yourself on a timeline for me. I’ll wait, Mar, okay? Just keep trusting me.”

And Martin believes every word. He trusts you to be patient. You'll be at his side on the good days and the bad ones, when the residuals of his grief threaten to pull him under. It won't be an easy road, or a short one. Recovery will be barred by landslides and long stretches of obstacles. 

You are the light at the end of his tunnel. You are the goal he will work towards- you and Atla. Being a better man for the women in his life, both past and present. 

[blindmagdalena]

stop I’ve been thinking about this all day 🥹🥹how would homelander react to s/o making dinner for him but she’s acc a really bad cook and he has to pretend the food is good but she knows he��s lying and he then comforts her <3333

The dish smells... interesting.

"Looks great, babe," Homelander says, lying straight through his pearly white teeth. "What's that, are these roasted chest nuts?" He asks, using his fork to push one of the brown, slightly blackened little spheres around on his plate. You pause, looking up from your own plate. "No... they're brussel sprouts."

Oh, Christ. Maybe they were brussel sprouts.

His smile doesn't falter, but he can feel his stomach clench in preemptive rejection. "Yummers." Perhaps it won't be so bad. Some things taste better than they smell. Noting that you're still watching him, visibly nervous about his reaction, he shoots you a reassuring wink. Homelander jabs his fork into the brussel sprout, deeply concerned by the audible crunch it makes. The things we do for love.

Popping it into his mouth, Homelander bites down, his teeth snapping through each charred layer of leaf until he reaches a texture vaguely discernable as brussel sprout-like. "Mmmmmmm," he hums loudly, biting back a cough. What the fuck is that seasoning? Is that turmeric? He clears his throat, maintaining that too-wide, closed mouth smile as he chews. "Mmm...hmmmm...." "Oh god, it's awful, isn't it?" You ask, shoulders sagging as you look down at your own plate. You only made a couple of substitutions to the recipe! Though you did forget to set a timer, so maybe things got a little... dark. You groan, putting your face in your hands. Choking down his bite, Homelander pushes his chair out. "Heyyy, heyyyyy," he coos, moving to your side. He puts both hands on your shoulders and leans in to kiss the top of your head. "I think that it's... a great first attempt," he says, glancing down at your plate. Jesus, why did you cut the chicken breast like that? It looks flayed. "So it is awful," you say morosely. Homelander finds himself genuinely worried for your sense of smell. "Well... It isn't good," he admits at last, half smiling and half grimacing. You look up at him, utterly defeated, with tears welling in your eyes. "I really tried." Homelander hushes you, pressing a kiss to your forehead. "I know! I know you did. It shows. You cooked the hell out of it," he says, gesturing to your plate. "Look at that. Dead as a doornail. And that chicken? Never gonna cross another road." You laugh through your own tears, giving him a gentle push. "Stop." "No, really. I could show off the hack job on that chicken as an interrogation tactic," he says, picking up your knife to follow the lines you made into the meat. "Truly terrifying work." "It's called a butterfly cut," you say defensively, smiling despite yourself. It's disappointing, but the way he's holding you against his chest as he playfully roasts your abysmal dinner is a surprisingly effective balm. Homelander laughs. "Sure it is, chef Ramsay." Sighing, you pull out your phone. "I'll order something in. Burgers?" "Burgers," he confirms, kissing your temple. Cupping the side of your face, he wipes one of your tears away with his thumb. "Try again tomorrow, alright?" "You're sure? At this rate, I might poison you." "C'mon. Not even your cooking could kill me," he says through a devilish little grin. You gasp, his devil-may-care attitude rubbing off on you, deteriorating that initial heartbreak. "You're a wicked man." "Well," Homelander purrs, tilting your chin up to kiss you. "I could be. How about you serve me a little appe-teaser in the bedroom?" "Incorrigible," you accuse, standing up to kiss him properly, looping your arms around his neck. He puts his hands on your hips, holding you close as he kisses you until your tears dry, leaving only contentment in their wake. "Thank you," you say quietly after a time, resting your forehead against his. He smiles, gentle and intimate. "Any time."

In the end, the burgers are good, but it's the after-dinner snuggles that really save the night.

[janesmitth]

Tips (sort of?) for any ana's out there

lots are probably no brainers, so this is especially for beginners

✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:* *:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧ .✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:* *:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧ ✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:* *:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ .・゜゜・　　・゜゜・． ｡･ﾟﾟ･　　 ･ﾟﾟ･｡.・゜゜・　　・゜゜・．

1. you can turn basically anything into a low cal meal by cutting back the portion size.

example: about a week ago, I wanted a sandwhich. one slice of bread was 96 cals, 1 tbsp of mayo was 100 cals, one slice of chicken was 85 cals, and pickles were 5 cals. that was way too many calories for me in one meal. so, instead, I split everything up. I split the bread in half (48 cals) the mayo into 1/4 tbsp (25 cals) the chicken in half (42.5 cals) -and the pickles like normal, (so, 5 cals). that's now a total of 120.5 cals for the sandwich instead of 286 cals. I do this with all of the food I eat, and it's especially helpful if the diet you're on only allows for 100-250 or so calories in a day.

2. drink lots of water on an empty stomach.

this will help boost your energy and metabolism, and it can also have long term positive affects on things like hair and skin. along with that, it can make you nauseous, which will make you not want to eat.

3. DO NOT start fasting unless you're already either good at fasting (e.g. bc of a religious thing) or already can go a day only eating 100-200 cals.

if you're just starting out, you're not going to be able to start fasting right away because you're not used to it yet. fasting when you're not ready will just increase your wanting to binge, which'll just mess you up.

4. if you're feeling like you want to binge, watch mukbangs/freaky eaters/1000lb sisters/etc.

freaky eaters personally helps me the best, because it's gross as all hell (hence the name). watching people eat tons of disgusting foods, especially in incredibly large portions, always ruins my appetite.

5. find low cal food that you actually enjoy.

in order for you to actually start making progress, you need to find stuff you LIKE. if you're eating food you find gross just because it's low cal, you're gonna quit. you're gonna not ever feel satisfied, and you're going to give into your cravings. there are many many many ana/low cal recipes and foods that you can try. find some low cal foods you like and stick with them. it can be something complicated but low cal, or even something as simple as cucumbers.

6. like the above, find workouts/exercises that you like as well.

there are many workouts on ed tumblr that are very enjoyable, but you can also try simple workouts on youtube (personally, I usually do growwithjo in the mornings and night and during the day I go for a run/bike ride/etc). depending on how many calories you're trying to lose/a specific area of your body that you're trying to get skinnier/ you can google specific's and find a workout that matches what you want. reminder though to go easy at first if you're not used to working out. if you do three intense workouts in a day you'll be burned out and sore before the week even ends. ease into it.

7. if you have a specific craving that you just can't get rid of, eat a tiny bit of seasoning related to it.

(sorry for the janky ass wording, but) example: if I really wanted like.. mcdonalds fries, I would instead go to the kitchen and eat a little piece of salt. same goes if I'm craving something sugary. I can go and just eat a couple tiny grains of sugar, etc. I don't know about anyone else, but this almost always gets rid of my cravings.

8. back to the exercise one, I highly recommend getting a jump rope.

you can get a jump rope for like a dollar at pretty much any local store. if you can't get one at a local store, you can get one online. they're fun, incredibly easy to do, and they burn lots of calories in short periods as well as working your whole body.

9. continuing on with the exercise, make sure you are doing yoga/stretching out after exercising.

try to do at least simple stretches (butterfly, neck roll, touch your toes, etc.) before and after working out. it'll help you stay stronger/do better during your actual workout, as well as help prevent you from getting sore/pulling a muscle/etc.

10. keep an ana journal.

organize it however you want to. it can be written like a list, diary, bullet journal, whatever you want. they're incredibly easy to do, literally just get a notebook and document all your stuff! they're very fun as well as a great tracker for all of your progress. I write down everything I ate that day, how many calories in each, my weight at the beginning vs. end of the day, how much water I drank, how much exercise did I do + what kinds + how many calories did it burn, etc. it's also very fun to read back through it after a while of keeping it and seeing how much progress you've made.

make sure to stay hydrated, keep working, trying, and reaching your goals <3

some thinspo I have saved

✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:* *:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧ .✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:* *:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧ ✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:* *:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ .・゜゜・　　・゜゜・． ｡･ﾟﾟ･　　 ･ﾟﾟ･｡.・゜゜・　　・゜゜・．

[justins-1-justan]

Hiii, can you please please please do dating Bridgette Headcannons? Preferably with a Gender Neutral or a Female Reader?

Yesyesyesyesyes YESSS! Would you all believe me if I said Bridgette wasn't one of my faves till I started this blog but now, I LIVE FOR WRITING FOR HER!! SHE'S JUST SO FUN OMG!

More Bridgette Hcs!!

^also there making the same face which is ADORABLE OMGGG anyways,

contents: Fem!reader (reader is referred to as lobster mother and as bridgette's gf), I am not endorsing lobster stealing I am just acknowledging it.

I'm gonna start right off with a crack headcannon. You both are the moms to a lobster family stolen from a fancy restaurant Bridgette got a coupon for after winning a sponsored surfing tournament.

They live in a beautiful tank with all the amenities little lobsters would need. Their names are, Susie, Snips, Dive, And dine in.

Dine in is named after the sign hanging next to the tank.

You have nights where you stay inside and test out vegetarian recipes.

If you suck at surfing:

one time after a particularly, uh, 'epic' wipe out of yours, Bridgette felt the need to bring reinforcements, the woman who taught her everything. Her mother. While meeting your girlfriend's mom for the first time ever would usually be anxiety inducing anytime, having her witness you manage to get on the open water and stand on the board, but somehow managing to have the board turn up right and smack you dead in the face before you fell under water is certainly an ice breaker.

^ that story will be told to any member of Bridgette's family learning to surf afterwards. "Oh you're doing fine! At least you're not as bad as Bridgette's girlfriend!"

If you're good at surfing however you get to have loads of aesthetic moments surfing together, think that one scene from Lilo and stitch with Nani and David before lilo and stitch almost drown to death.

Bridgette genuinely is one of the most understanding people you've ever met, if you're uncomfortable with something or someone she'll be there to help make you feel more comfortable.

REALLY likes watching documentaries about marine life with you, cuddling on the couch under a blanket while learning various facts.

Takes you to beach clean ups with her.

I like to think she has various hoodies, both oversized and cropped in her collection to the post she doesn't notice you stealing some of them until she sees you wearing one.

She sucks at ice skating. Like really bad. She falls over every five seconds. So if you are good at skating you get to have her cling to your arm for balance,

But if you also suck, you get to fall ✨together✨

Her love language is quality time, just like how she enjoys taking you to partake in her hobby of surfing. She also loves participating in your hobbies no matter how niche. Making sculptures of chicken heads? She'll make her best chicken head she can, as long as she's spending time with you.

And finally she LOVES it when you kiss her freckles! It gives her butterflies.

[misoplays]

Chicken Nanban and Grilled Salmon Sets

Konnichiwa, tombler!

Today we are visiting the country of the rising sun through its cuisine... and I'm also introducing new characters! Can you guess who?

It's Vienna parents Aria River and Kiyoshi Ito!

Long story short, Aria has actually passed away a while back but I resurrected her using ambrosia -- which is very fitting to the current event happening in-game! Before her death, she was a Spin Doctor and a five-star celebrity married to the love of her life. Currently, she's all that except of the marriage part. The vows really do be sayin' 'till death do us apart', huh.

I actually missed playing in their household because their house is a gorgeous, traditional Japanese house repurposed to appeal more luxurious. Lately Kiyoshi himself likes show the Komorebi-go grandpa vibes to his grandchildren; wearing yukata more often and cook Japanese food every time the family hold a gathering.

The recipe we're making with Aria today is Japanese dishes you'd often see in a Japanese shokudo -- chicken nanban set and grilled salmon set. I merged the two in one post because aside from the main protein, the side dishes on both sets are exactly the same. The recipes are made by @oni28 (you can download the recipes here). You would also need to install Oni's Recipe Pack Mod which is updated regularly so I just link their Patreon and you can scroll down a little to find it.

Now, let's begin!

Chicken nanban originates from the southern of Japan. The original meaning of "nanban" has a pejorative tone -- literal translation "southern barbarian", but as time goes it becomes a term to denote something foreign and highly desirable. The main difference between regular karaage (Japanese fried chicken) and chicken nanban is the sweet and tangy nanban sauce which is inspired by Portuguese cuisine who came to Japan in the 1500s.

For the nanban sauce (nanbanbanzu in Japanese), combine soy sauce, rice vinegar, mirin, and sugar in a saucepan. Bring the mixture to a simmer and continue until the sugar completely dissolved.

Butterfly the chicken breast, coat with all-purpose flour and then dip in egg wash. Deep-fry for four minutes, then take out the chicken breasts and let it rest. Deep-fry for the second time for 30 seconds, let them rest again, and then coat the fried chicken breasts with the nanban sauce we made earlier.

Side dishes including a bowl of rice, picked cucumber, miso soup (that's me!), and chawan mushi (steamed egg dish). Aria cooked some rice this morning, and other side dishes are store-bought.

For the second set: grilled salmon set, season the salmon fillet with kosher salt and ground black pepper. Sprinkle the protein with all-purpose flour before pan-frying it over medium heat. Continue cooking for roughly five minutes, let it rest and drizzle with teriyaki sauce.

Look at how she yoinked the salmon onto the plate.

Enjoying delicious food in quiet tranquility just the two of them.

A change of view after seeing Vienna's monochromatic kitchen for the last few posts. In my opinion, doing the Reaper's Event with this elder household is the most suitable. What about you? What kind of household do you play with when doing the event? Anyway, 'till next post. Dag dag!

P.S. I reviewed another recipe also inspired by the Portuguese influence, India's Goan prawn curry, here.

P.S.S. Recipe details for chicken nanban and grilled salmon are taken from this article and this article.