#Kaapi

[sindhumnart]

Kaapi geepi kodthya?

[hauntinghope]

Fussfree Filter Kaapi Pannacotta

[lovekaapi]

That First Sip at Sunrise: Why Love Kaapi Tastes Like Home

From Chikmagalur to Your Morning Mug

Love Kaapi sources AA and AAA-grade Arabica and Robusta beans straight from single-origin estates in Chikmagalur. Roasted freshly—just 24 hours before dispatch—this kaapi brings freshness, aroma, and authenticity to every brew.

What Makes Filter Kaapi So Special

South Indian filter Kaapi is not just strong coffee; it’s a soulful ritual. Brewed slowly in a traditional metal filter, it produces a thick, aromatic decoction. Paired with frothy, full-fat milk and sugar, this concoction hits the perfect balance of smoothness and strength.

Choosing the Right Kaapi Blend

Love Kaapi offers distinctive blends for different moods:

South Indian Filter Kaapi (80% coffee, 20% chicory): A medium-dark roast with classic home-brewed taste; perfect for traditional filter kaapi.

Pure Kaapi (100% coffee): No chicory—just Arabica and Robusta naturals. Bright notes of berries and citrus—ideal for filter or alternative brewing methods.

Bangalore Bylanes & Mysore Melody: Bold and rich blends, inspired by South Indian coffee culture.

All blends are roasted-to-order and stay fresh for up to six months. Brewing the Ideal Filter Kaapi. 

Love Kaapi outlines these essential steps:

Measure & grind – 2–3 tablespoons of coarsely ground kaapi per 150 ml hot water

Assemble the metal filter – add grounds, level gently, pour water just below boiling.

Brew slowly – let the decoction drip naturally, without pressing, for 10–15 minutes—or overnight for intensity

Heat & froth milk – simmer full-fat milk until frothy.

Mix & sweeten – blend 1–2 tablespoons of decoction with equal parts hot milk and sugar to taste.

Meter pour – pour between tumbler and dabara meter-high to aerate, froth, and cool slightly

Tradition in a Tumbler & Dabara

The iconic metal tumbler and dabara set are more than vessels—they’re part of the experience. Passing coffee between them aerates the drink, creates a frothy layer, and evokes nostalgia through ancestral rituals.

More Than Just Coffee: Rituals & Family

Filter kaapi is a generational tradition. Many families maintain their own blends and prized filters that have brewed countless dawns. Sipping filter kaapi connects us to memory, home, and heritage—one comforting ritual passed down.

Love Kaapi translates farming passion into artisanal blends. Founded by mompreneur Supriya Nayak, it supports a community of coffee lovers and B2B partners with custom blends and training. Testimonials rave about the aroma, freshness, and technique behind each kaapi .

Final Word: A Sunrise Ritual That Feels Like Home

That first sip of filter kaapi at sunrise is more than just caffeine—it’s warmth, tradition, and love in a cup. With Love Kaapi, each brew brings the essence of home, heritage, and heartfelt craftsmanship. So rise, sip slowly, and let every drop take you back to where it all began.

[urbanvogue1998]

Boost Your Café’s Success with Kaapi Machine: The Ultimate Coffee Solution for Peak Hours

Imagine your coffee shop bustling with activity during peak hours — long lines of customers eagerly waiting for their favourite brew. In such moments, speed and consistency become critical to keeping your patrons satisfied and your business thriving. A high-quality coffee machine that performs flawlessly under pressure is essential, enabling you to serve more customers swiftly without compromising the rich, consistent taste that defines your brand.

Investing in the best coffee machines ensures that every cup you serve maintains a uniform flavour and aroma, helping build strong customer loyalty. Fast service reduces wait times, leading to higher turnover and increased daily revenue. Additionally, with advanced customisation features, you can cater to diverse tastes by offering personalised espresso-based drinks, from bold cappuccinos to silky lattes.

Choosing the right machine means balancing factors like your café’s space, customer volume, and staff expertise. Automatic coffee machines simplify brewing with one-touch operations—ideal for busy environments or less experienced staff. In contrast, semi-automatic machines provide baristas full control over grinding, tamping, and extraction, perfect for crafting speciality drinks with precision.

Beyond performance, consider durability and ease of maintenance to minimise downtime and costly repairs. User-friendly controls ensure your team can operate machines efficiently, reducing errors and training time. Ultimately, equipping your café with a premium coffee machine streamlines operations, elevates customer experience, and strengthens your business’s reputation. For reliable, efficient, and customisable coffee solutions that match your business needs, trust Kaapi Machine to power your success and elevate every cup.

[kaapila]

Brew Perfection with the Best Kaapi La Roasters Coffee Services

At Kaapi La Roasters, we provide  Best Kaapi La Roasters Coffee Services in Chandigarh. We  tell our coffee lover  how to make great coffee. For cafés, restaurants, and serious coffee enthusiasts,we provide precisely roasted beans with unparalleled freshness and flavor.Your every cup is rich, fragrant, and unforgettableThanks to our dedication to quality and custom roasting. So Hurry up! Choose Kaapi La for trustworthy, superior coffee solutions created with love. Learn why customers pick us for our excellent coffee roasting.

[bluecrusadearcade]

Moral of the day, don't chug 300 ml of south Indian iced filter kaapi before bed.

It's 3:30 am and I cannot sleep.

Help.

[jyotikamishra63]

coffee machine suppliers Kodihalli Bengaluru

If you’re looking for reliable coffee machine suppliers in Kodihalli, Bengaluru, Kaapi Solutions is your go-to brand. We specialize in providing high-quality coffee machines that cater to both commercial and home needs.

[tanmayrana244]

Buy Coffee Machines in Ulsoor Bangalore

Looking to buy coffee machines in Ulsoor, Bangalore? Kaapi Solutions provides top-tier coffee machines tailored to your needs. From fully automatic to manual espresso machines, we offer the latest models with expert support. Get high-quality coffee solutions for homes and businesses. Visit Kaapi Solutions for the perfect coffee experience!

[trendinbags01]

Semi-Automatic Home Espresso Machine: Gaggia by Kaapi Solutions

The Gaggia coffee machine from Kaapi Solutions stands out as one of the top entry-level semi-automatic home espresso machines. Its new commercial steam wand allows you to texture milk for a velvety microfoam, ideal for creating beautiful latte art.

[sindhumnart]

Adhen kaapi madthyo yeno!

[teal-skull]

Minun hattuni on kaapissa

mun hattuni on kaapis

mu hattu o kaapis

Hi! I'm trying to learn Finnish and I have a grammar question (probably several questions). Finding access to an in-depth language-learning program or class has been extremely difficult and I have weird gaps in my knowledge that I've tried to overcome with grammar workbooks and immersing in Finnish media. Given that Finnish media/native speakers often don't use kirjakieli, and the programs & grammar books I've used have taught exclusively kirjakieli... I keep finding that what I'm learning still isn't *super* helpful in understanding. Like. I'm over here having "Minä olen..." drilled into my brain, while I've never watched a video, listened to a song, etc where anything but "Mä oon..." has been used. I was BAFFLED when I finally learned they meant the same.

Anyway!

In your recent post about Riihimäki, you started it with, "Mulla ei oo"

I am *pretty* sure that in kirjakieli that would be "Minulla ei ole".

So. This is probably a silly question. But. Does "Minulla on" similarly become "Mulla oon" or "Mulla on"?

Also... Any tips for recognizing shortened/informal forms of formal phrases?

Anyway. I've taken enough of your time.

Kiitos!

One of my friends teaches finnish to immigrants for a living, and she can attest that her students are frequently frustrated by the way that spoken finnish and written finnish are completely different dialects, if not downright two different languages. Also fun fact, one of the most distinct ways that different finnish dialects can be identified is what word they have for "minä/sinä". The "mä" you have heard is mainly southern finnish dialects, in some regions people say "mää", "mie" etc, there's surely ones I haven't even heard of.

You're correct that in your assessment, "mulla ei oo" does indeed mean "minulla ei ole", and "minulla on" is indeed "mulla on". I have no idea how to help with recognising shortened informal forms, but one thing that I only consciously observed after someone asked me "soitatko jotain soitinta?" ("do you play an instrument?"), and it caught me off-guard because it never occurred to me that the grammatically correct written way to shorten "do I/do you/etc" questions is completely different from the spoken finnish.

For example, a question of "are you - ?" is written in kirkakieli as "oletko sinä - ?", but since the -ko suffix already clarifies who is being addressed, the word "sinä" is almost redundant. So to ask "oletko sinä tulossa?" (Are you coming?), a character in a book or a play would say "oletko tulossa?" but in spoken finnish, the "you" word used in that dialect is just glued to the end of the verb. So someone who says "sä" says it as "oletsä tulossa?" - which itself shortens to "ooksä" - and someone who uses "sie" asks "oletsie tulossa?" - shortening to "ootsie/ooksie tulossa?"

Speaking finnish is like learning to draw - trying to aim for perfect photorealism isn't necessary to be understood, you can pretty much draw stick figures and it's good enough if people will understand what you're trying to depict. If you've heard someone say that a non-native speaker can never really learn to speak truly flawless finnish, don't be discouraged by that. Finnish is more like japanese than french when it comes to foreign learners - people are impressed that you make an effort at all.

I've met people who have lived in Finland for decades, whose adult children are fluent bilinguals, and you can tell that someone's lived here for 30 years by the way they make more advanced and nuanced mild grammar mistakes.

In conclusion, good luck.

[yumyumjourney]

Filter Coffee: Sip Slow, Savor Deep ☕

Hey, coffee aficionados! ☕

Let's talk about filter coffee, the unsung hero of the coffee world. It's not just a drink; it's a ritual, a sensory experience, and a journey into the heart of coffee culture.

The Art of Filter Coffee

Filter coffee is like poetry in a cup, brewed slowly and methodically to extract every drop of flavor. Here's why it's worth celebrating:

Aromatic Awakening: The aroma that fills the air when you brew filter coffee is enchanting. It's as if the beans are telling their story with every fragrant whiff.

Balanced Beauty: Filter coffee is the master of balance. It strikes the perfect chord between acidity and body, offering a cup that's smooth and rich.

Cultural Connection: Filter coffee is a global tradition. From the pour-over method in Japan to the French press in Europe and the iconic South Indian filter kaapi, each culture has its unique spin on this beloved brew.

Brewing Bliss

So, how do you unlock the magic of filter coffee?

Start with Fresh Beans: Quality beans are key. Opt for freshly roasted beans and grind them just before brewing.

The Perfect Grind: Aim for a medium-coarse grind – not too fine, not too coarse. Think sea salt.

Mind the Ratio: The golden rule is about 1 to 2 tablespoons of coffee per 6 ounces of water. Adjust to your taste.

Water Wizardry: Use hot water (around 200°F or 93°C) but not boiling. Give the grounds a gentle swirl to ensure even saturation.

Patience, Dear Barista: Let gravity do its thing as the coffee drips slowly through the filter. This is your moment of zen.

Join the Filter Coffee Conversation

Got a favorite brewing method? A secret bean source you're willing to share? Share your filter coffee love! Let's brew up some camaraderie and celebrate the simple yet profound pleasure of a well-made cup of filter coffee. ☕❤️

[nanamineedstherapy]

Kaapi Aur Kaand: South Delhi Gangs Edition

Previous Chapter - [Tumblr/Ao3] A/N: This fic is based on true events (i.e. every group project I ever did with men) warning: contains caffeine-fuelled vengeance, parasocial loyalty to filter coffee, Gojo being a chaabi-less himbo, & Nanami praying for god to kill all startups. Inspired by the question: What if capitalism but everyone was hot & needed therapy? If you’ve ever wanted to sue a founder on Shark Tank, this one’s for you 🫡 Anyway enjoy the unhinged startup gore. (p.s. Sukuna is right. Helvetica is the font of war.) No hate to anyone, its all just comedy.

A corporate shootout, but the guns are NDAs and Gojo's chaabi-less Audi.

It started the way most Delhi beef does—on LinkedIn.

A beige-font post with the humility of a CAA student and the subtlety of a banana republic ad:

“Emerging startups need to step back and let legacy brands lead.”

— Eepy Crow’s CEO, apparently inspired by Ambani but mentored by Manav Kaul

He wasn’t even tagged.

Just... posted it.

No context.

But you choked on your espresso.

Because you were the “emerging startup.”

The one roasting beans and egos since 2021.

The one with warehouses in Noida, interns from IIT, and the emotional stamina of a C-section mother running a tech team.

Nanami read the post, looked up from his quarterly report, and muttered, “I’m going to kill him.”

Gojo shared it in the team group chat with, “Should we post a reaction reel or just slash his tyres?”

Suguru shared it to your internal Slack with the caption: “Hahaha, are we allowing war crimes yet?” Then sipping oat milk like a villain in slow motion, added it to his “petty crimes I’m manifesting” list.

Sukuna was already in the parking lot, warming up. “Send me the location.”

Toji was in a towel on the terrace bench-pressing the printer, already on Instagram DMing the CEO’s girlfriend. He saw the post and said, “Say less. Give me 48 hours and a cricket bat.”

You kicked open the glass door of the CP investor roundtable an hour later.

Hair uncombed. Kajal smeared like war paint. Black kurta, silver jhumkas, chappals snapping like gunshots on marble.

Toji followed behind, chewing gum and looking like he’s already committed three minor felonies.

The CEO looked like a law intern turned health startup bro who discovered caffeine after losing his crypto wallet.

Three co-founders. One vision. Zero originality.

Packaging like an Art Deco Spotify ad. Branding like they swallowed the entire Pinterest board of Bon Appétit India.

And now he wanted to talk legacy?

You walked up to him, sipped your espresso, and said: “Who taught you marketing? A 3rd year SRCC frat boy on his second heartbreak? Or was it Akshay Kumar during a pressure cooker ad?”

He blinked. “Can we not—”

You didn't. “Bhaiya, aapne LinkedIn pe post kiya na? Ab face pe sun lo.”

The Eepy Crow boys ran with legacy funding, Gen Z packaging, and Gurgaon dads.

You? You had rage, caffeine, juniors who knew Photoshop, and absolutely no respect for men with sandalwood-beard-oil startups.

Startup War: Day Zero

Their flagship café opened in Defence Colony at 9:00 AM sharp.

By 9:01, your rage was boiling like an underpaid tandoor.

Right across the street from your best-performing kiosk. A kiosk built on insomnia, broken relationships, and two years of unpaid emotional labour. A kiosk where even the pigeons knew better than to shit on your logo.

Then their banner had the audacity to read:

"REAL Coffee. REAL Flavour. Not Filtered By Attitude."

Gojo staired. “Is that... is that about us?”

You didn’t blink. Didn’t breathe. Just sipped your cutting black brew.  “They want smoke. Let’s give them  a gas chamber.”

You gathered the team.

War Room Meeting: 10:00 AM

You walked in like a mafia consigliere in a Fabindia funeral edit. All black kurta. Khol. Gold jhumkas swinging like guillotine blades.

Nanami already had a whiteboard up, graphs stabbing across it like war wounds. Toji brought a cricket bat and a chai thermos filled with vodka. Suguru was hand-roasting beans in a corner like some evil witch auntie. Gojo looked like he hadn't slept since Tinder updated. Sukuna wore a red shirt, silver chains, and that glint in his eye—the one he only got before crime.

You: CEO. Full Wasseypur revenge arc. Hair unbrushed. Eyes sharp. No time for emotional closure.

Gojo: Partnerships lead. Wearing eyeshadow brighter than his career prospects.

Nanami: CFO. Already threatening to call SEBI.

Suguru: Head of R&D. Barista Cult Leader. Quietly planning biological warfare via almond milk.

Sukuna: Brand Head. Has 3 meme drafts ready. All of them slander.

Toji: Logistics. Smirking like he just ran a red light with no number plate.

Ino: On Leave.

Nanami starts the meeting, “They’ve poached two of our vendors. Offered them double. Their cost of production is now 38% higher than ours. They’re losing margin just to spite us.”

Sukuna sipped his Red Bull. “Let me design the revenge poster. I want blood splatter and Helvetica.”

Suguru raised a brow. “Can I poison their almond milk supply chain?”

Toji cracked his knuckles. “I’ve already hacked their founder’s wife’s Pinterest. She now follows a board titled ‘Meat Porn & Failed Marriages.’”

You nodded. “Focus. We have 72 hours. Operation: Caffeine Coup. Begin.”

Gojo raised a hand, hopeful. “Should we... try talking?”

The room turned. “Shut up, Gojo.”

Eepy Crow’s flagship launched with free cappuccinos and poorly timed jazz.

Across the street, your kiosk played Daler Mehndi and gave out free espresso shots with stickers that said:

“Legacy tastes like your dad’s failed dairy business.”

The war had begun.

Their press release hit Mint. Yours hit people’s souls.

Gojo stood behind you, watching you yell into your phone at the B2B manager while eating golgappas.

He didn’t say anything.

Just watched.

Like he used to. Back in college.

When he thought, maybe the world made sense if you were in it.

Suguru fed you a sweet golgappa by hand while you continued seething, “If you ever want to co-found something less stressful—like a poetry café—I’d build it around your rage.”

You chewed it with judgement. “If you ever quote Ghalib at me again, I’ll co-found your funeral.”

Gojo didn’t flirt.

He just... walked beside you.

Followed your orders.

Made your decks prettier.

Answered your 3AM Slacks without asking why you were awake.

The other men wanted you.

He just missed you. His friend he could always talk to.

Day 1: Khan Market Bloodbath

Flash mob. Free cold brew shots. Loudspeakers blasting “Tunak Tunak Tun.”

Yuji and Junpei handed out coupons with QR codes linking to a blog titled:

“How Eepy Crow is Gentrifying Filter Coffee.”

Sukuna tweeted:

“BREAKING: Eepy Crow found guilty of war crimes against South Indian breakfast culture. Source: Rage and receipts.”

Day 2: Twitter Bloodbath

Sukuna’s thread went live:

A THREAD 🧵: Why Eepy Crow is South Delhi’s Theranos. (1/47)

Point #3 included a Google Sheet of their copy-pasted mission statements. Point #19 included a meme of their CEO edited into a sachet of Bru Gold.

Day 3: Biological Warfare

Suguru quietly delivered a “new cinnamon infusion” pack to their Defence Colony outlet.

It had fermented extract from leftover paani puri water and cinnamon grown in some unknown man's Gurgaon balcony.

Their cold brew turned into what could only be described as paani from Lajpat sewage.

You received a cease and desist letter.

Nanami wrote a reply:

“Freedom of Beverage Expression is protected under Article 19(1)(a). Choke on it.”

Day 4: Reels and Revenge

Kokichi directed. Nobara styled. Megumi composed background score.

The revenge reel?

Sunset behind your kiosk. Your juniors laughing. Slow-mo espresso pours. Captioned:

“We didn’t inherit this. We bled for it.”

Zomato reposted. Chuiggy made a sticker pack.

Eepy Crow’s engagement dropped 18%.

Day 5: Merch and Menace

Nobara’s tote bags said:

“F*ck Legacy. Filter Coffee Forever.”

Sold out in six hours. Delhi girls wore it like it was political protest merch.

Megumi added an AI feature to your app. Without telling you.

You found out when Toji asked you, “Why does the POS system say ‘you’re doing amazing, sweetie’ after every transaction?”

You almost smiled.

Almost.

Day 6: Breakdown

It was late.

You were in the war room.

Hair in a bun.

Glasses crooked.

No shoes. Chai untouched.

Toji asleep under the desk.

Sukuna’s meme flagged for hate speech.

Nanami threatening to resign via Excel cell comments.

You were pacing.

The new café promo had just tanked.

You turned—and Gojo was there.

Laptop open. Campaign ideas queued.

Sitting quietly.

He pointed to a single line of copy on the slide:

“For the ones who built it without help. Without names. Just hands.”

You read it.

Then looked up. Slowly.

He didn’t meet your eyes.

Just smiled.

Small. Real.

You didn’t say thank you.

Just handed him a new task. “Fix Ino’s ad. It looks like Google made it during a migraine.”

Day 7: Final Strike

You launched: “Pay What You Want” Weekend.

People queued. Students. Lawyers. Delivery boys. Aunties in nighties. Everyone came.

You made profit.

They made complaints.

Eepy Crow’s CEO posted a long LinkedIn cry:

“We must ask: is this disruption or is this... toxicity?”

You posted a video of Toji beating an espresso machine with a chappal. Caption:

“This is what we do to machines that try to replace us.”

The Final Meet: Lodhi Garden.

You walked in: black shades, printouts, full Delhi 6 swag.

He brought: two angel investors, his gym bro, and a dog in a bandana.

“This isn’t how legacy behaves,” he said.

You didn’t sit. Just dropped the file.

“Legacy doesn’t mean jack if your coffee tastes like Noida divorce court.”

Gojo arrived late with parathas.

Sukuna livestreamed.

Toji flirted with their CFO.

Suguru watched a couple cry beside the pond and whispered, “Romance is dead. So is their funding.”

Nanami finally spoke:

“We’re going D2C exclusive. Six-week drop. Delhi only. Title: Sutta Aur Sudden Espresso.”

You left with a nod.

He left with PTSD.

Results:

Eepy Crow café “closed for rebranding.”

Your kiosk hit record footfall.

Your juniors dropped a rap:

“Chai ho ya coffee, startup toh yahi baap hai.”

Gojo tried to hug you. You ducked.

Nanami quit. Came back. Quit again.

Sukuna’s brand thread got published in The Ken and now has 200K Twitter followers. Fights Aranb Goswami daily.

Suguru got a cold DM from someone who just wrote “marry me.”

Toji is banned from four cafés.

And you drink black coffee on your office rooftop and whisper:

“Iss Dilli mein... revenge aur coffee dono kadak chahiye.”

Gojo watched from the office terrace as you laughed—full chest—with the juniors, sipping chaas and playing Uno.

You were barefoot.

Happy.

Not with him.

Just... in the world again.

He didn’t say anything.

Just sat near the glass door, laptop open.

Still trying.

Still your friend.

Just quietly now.

Bonus:

App Reviews:

“5 stars but Toji stole my scooter”

“Coffee slapped harder than my breakup. Would recommend.”

Gojo’s Bad LinkedIn Bio:

“Digital Nomad | Coffee Cultivator | Part-time Muse | Still finding myself (pls don’t contact HR)”

---

A/N: Thank you for reading this caffeine-drenched, unbrushed-hair revenge arc. I wrote this during a real-life budgeting breakdown & yes, I did threaten to bite someone in finance. Pls let me know in the comments: Who would survive a WeWork docuseries? Which jjk man should be handed over to SEBI? If Gojo should be allowed a driver’s license ever again? comments = legally binding NDAs saying you’ll fight legacy cafés with me hate = filtered like eepy crow’s espresso See you in court (or Khan Market) 💅☕

Next Chapter - Beedi, Budgets, & Bitching - [Tumblr/Ao3]

All Works Masterlist

[hyeriyearner]

oooh this is a fun thing we used to do when I was baby that I just remembered

maro bhaag ka chhe? (where is my share?)

bilaari khai gayi! (cat ate it!)

bilaari ka chhe? (where is the cat?)

laakra tare santai gai! (hid in the wood)

laakru ka chhe? (where is the wood?)

chula ma bari gayu! (it's burnt on the stove!)

chulo ka chhe? (where is the stove?)

paani ma dubi gayu! (drowned in the water!)

paani ka chhe? (where is the water?)

geta bakra pi gaya! (the goats and sheep have drunk it!)

geta bakra ka chhe? (where are the goats and sheep?)

kasai ai kaapi naakya! (the butcher has uh. cut them!)

kasai ka chhe? (where is the butcher?)

AND THEN BOTH SCRAMBLE TO POINT AT THE OTHER AND SAY "PELLLLUUUUUUUUUU" (YOUUUUUUUUUU)

[fitrahgolden]

There's A World You Need To Know: 11 - I want you exactly as you are

Anthony raised his fist to knock on Mary's door when a clap on his shoulders made him jump.

"Fuck, you're gonna be here?"

"Of course!" Simon grinned at him. "Someone needs to ask you what your intentions are with my god-sister."

"Jesus Christ." Anthony pinch the bridge of his nose. "God-siblings aren’t a thing."

Simon sucked his teeth. "That's one mark against you, Bridgerton. You sure you want to talk to me that way before you've even asked me for her hand?"

“Does this mean your mum is gonna be here as well?

Simon opened the door as he said, "Already in there, mate."

"Great," Anthony mumbled as they made their way inside.

"Kate! This street urchin claims to be yours!"

Kate popped her head into the hallway before breaking into a smile as she approached Anthony, Newton following close behind. 

"Oh, yes, this one is. I think. I collect so many."

She kissed him softly and ran his fingers through his hair. 

"Ugh, Kate, not in front of my salad!"

She playfully punched Simon's shoulder and he feigned injury.

"Yes, Si. Directly in front of your salad." She took Anthony's hand and led him down the hall. "Come on, we're in the kitchen."

"OK," Anthony said, trying to smooth his hair back down, at which Kate rolled her eyes.

"Alright, let's get this over with," Kate announced as she turned the corner into the kitchen, where Mary and Edwina were tending to far too many pots and pans on the stove while Agatha sat unbothered at the table, sipping tea.

"Anthony, this is my mum, Mary, my baby sister, Edwina, and I believe you already know my godmother, Agatha."

"I do. It's lovely to see you again, Ms. Danbury."

"Indeed. I trust you have matured quite a bit since university? No more sneaking young women into my home at all hours of the night?"

Anthony blanched as the Sharma women all shared a laugh.

"Mum, it was one time." Simon sighed.

"I caught you once, Dear. Two very different things."

Anthony was desperate to change the subject. "Mrs. Sharma, it’s so good to meet you.. I brought you this.” He handed her an ornate box. Inside were sachets of cardamom, cloves, cinnamon sticks, black peppercorns, and everything else Kate had told him was required to make authentic masala chai.

"Oh, wonderful! I always need more of these. What a thoughtful gift." Mary pulled Anthony in close to kiss him on the cheek. "And you absolutely must call me Mary."

"Then I will, Mary."

"Go ahead and sit, you two. Breakfast is almost ready. There's a pot of chai if you want to help yourself."

Kate wrapped an arm around Anthony's waist as they moved to the table. "You OK?"

"Yeah, actually." He pulled out a chair for Kate before settling into his own. Then he felt what could only be described as abject horror paralyzing his body as Kate opted to sit on this lap instead of the chair next to him. "Kate, Kate, Kate, what are you doing?"

"Oh, unclutch your pearls, young man. We are under no illusion that this is some virginal courtship." Agatha rolled her eyes as she took a sip of her tea. 

Anthony hazarded a look over to Mary, Edwina, and Simon, who were all doing terrible jobs of holding in their laughs. This can't be real.

“Welcome to our free love commune, Anthony!” Edwina cackled.

He looked up at Kate, who wasn't laughing, just giving him a comforting smile. "This isn't a setup, is it?"

She stroked his cheek. "Ignore her. This really is fine, but I can absolutely move if you're uncomfortable."

Anthony's body relaxed as he placed a hand on Kate's hip. "No, it's nice--if it's really OK."

"You're sweet." She kissed the tip of his nose.

"So, Lord Bridgerton. What are your intentions with my sister?"

Simon narrowed his eyes at Edwina over his cup of kaapi. "That was my line, Ed, and you know it. We talked about this!"

—

"Did you have a good time?"

Kate was lying on top of Anthony on his couch, drawing circles on his chest as they caught their breaths. His eyes remained closed as he raised his eyebrows.

“When, just now? Oh, ten out of ten. Quick, attentive service–but not too quick."

Kate flicked his ear. "You aren't funny."

"I am, actually."

When Kate didn't say anything, Anthony opened his eyes to find hers imploring him for a real answer. He ran his fingers through her hair. "Kate, I had a great time. I'm looking forward to seeing your family again."

"Really?"

"Yes."

She sighed happily and kissed his neck. "Can I take some pictures of you?"

Anthony furrowed his brow. "What?"

She leaned over, reaching into her overnight bag, and pulled out a camera. Anthony recognized it as one of the ones from her father's collection.

Kate sat up, straddling him. "I like how you look right now. Can I photograph you like one of my French girls?"

She looked so earnest, so vulnerable. He couldn't deny her anything. He knew he wouldn't be able to for the rest of his life.

"Yes, Ms. Sharma. How do you want me?"

She didn’t hesitate. "I want you like this. I want you exactly as you are."

—

"Dearest. I didn't know you were working from here today?" Violet stopped as she walked by the open door of his study.

"Hello, Mum. I didn't have a lot on today, so I wanted to see who was around. Actually, I just spoke with the kids and they said you have another meeting at their school coming up and I'd like to attend."

Violet took a few steps into the room and shook her head. "I really don't think that's necessary, Anthony."

"It's not about what is necessary. I want to be there. Greg and Hy are fine with it."

"Well, they don't make the decisions. I do."

Anthony ran his hand over his face. "Mum–"

"I thought we were past this, Anthony."

"Past what?"

"You seemed to have moved on. With Kate and everything. You seem to be on your way to, I don’t know, starting your own family."

Anthony froze. "My own family?"

"Darling, I didn't mean it that way. I simply meant you no longer need to parent the kids. You haven't needed to for quite a while, actually."

Anthony stood from his desk and took a measured breath.

"Mother, this isn't fair. We were all happy when you recovered. Happy for you, happy for us. Of course we were. But, you must understand, life was still happening before that and you weren't there. Not really. First you stayed in your room for months, and then you were gone getting help. The help you needed, and I don't begrudge you that. But Hyacinth was an infant, Gregory was barely walking and talking. And it wasn't just them. Colin, Daph, El, Frankie. They are all so young. Benedict helped however he could, but he was sixteen. I don't regret taking care of my family. I really don't. But you don't think I also wanted to retreat? That I didn't feel numb and wanted to just… be allowed to sit in that? I put in the work, Mum. I'm not Dad. I know. Believe me, I'm reminded of that every damn day. But I was there for them, all of them. As a brother, a provider, and, yes, a parent. I'm sorry that this seems to offend you, but I can't turn it off like it hasn't been my life for a decade. Please don't treat me like a nuisance when I'm simply trying to continue to be the rock that I've been working so hard and so long to be for them."

Anthony was heaving by the end of it. Violet was stunned into silence. After a long while, Anthony grabbed his things and walked toward the door.

"Anthony, I'm sorry."

Anthony kept a hand on the doorknob and looked back at his mother. "I know. And I know we still need to talk. I just can't right now. I just… I need to go. I love you. I do."

—

Anthony knocked rapidly on Kate's door. He knew she was home and expecting him. He'd called her as soon as he left Aubrey Hall. Once she opened the door, wearing nothing but an oversized t-shirt and holding a cup of chai, he felt like he could breathe, as if he'd been holding it in ever since he left his mother's. "Hey."

"Hey." Whatever his expression was, it obviously concerned her. She turned and left the door open for him to follow.

She led the way into her kitchen. “I’m glad you called. It sounded like you needed to talk.” She turned to the pot on the stove. It was still steaming. "Do you want some?"

Anthony walked up behind her, took her mug out of her hands, and put it on the counter.

She sighed. "Anthony."

He silently turned her around and kissed her roughly. "I don't want tea."

“What’s–?”

He hiked her up and smiled when her legs instinctively went around his waist. He buried his face in her neck and he walked them into the living room.

He unceremoniously tossed onto her couch. Anthony quickly straddled Kate and started to push her shirt up. Once he saw her lacy underwear, he groaned. "Fuck, I need this. You have no idea."

"Will you give me an idea, then?" He leaned down and kissed her.

"I will. Later."

"Now. Or not, whatever, but I'm not into this at the moment." She started to sit up.

Anthony sat back in his haunches, exhaling heavily. 

"Anthony."

"Yes?"

"Can I please ask what's happened at your mum's?"

He leaned back until his back was resting against the arm of the couch, opposite Kate.

He looked up at the ceiling as he said, "I really miss my dad."

"Yeah." Kate said quietly.

"But… I don't know how to say it. I miss that I didn't get to miss him when I was a kid. It just fucking… happened and then my mum effectively disappeared immediately and everyone was looking to me like, "What do we do now?" And I had no idea. But I sure as shit had to get myself together quick. There were seven of them. Every single one of them grieving, angry, utterly lost at sea. And I was fucking jealous. Isn’t that fucked up? Because I couldn't count myself among them. I inherited dad's title, his legacy, I managed the money he left even though it was Mum's because she either wouldn't or couldn't get involved in any of it. Whenever I felt myself sinking, whenever I drank too much or stayed out until dawn, that numbness, it felt good. I mean, it felt horrible, but those hours when I was treating myself like shit, I didn't have to take care of anyone. I could get lost at sea like everyone else. But I couldn't stay there. I was right back at it with everyone at home the next day."

He took a few deep breaths and realized he was crying. 

"Fuck. On one hand, I think maybe I should just get out of my mum’s way. But… I'm afraid of what that even means. I don't think I know how to stop doing what I've been doing for ten years. And I feel like I could lose part of myself if I did."

They sat in silence for who knows how long. Maybe fifteen minutes, maybe thirty. Eventually, Kate spoke. "How are you feeling?" She asked, rubbing his hands, their fingers intertwined.

Anthony let out a heavy sigh, the tears having stopped. "Exhausted." He chuckled dryly. Kate just nodded. "But… I feel good, I think. Lighter." He sounded surprised. Again, Kate said nothing.

Anthony narrowed his eyes. "You're therapy-ing me right now, aren't you?"

Kate smiled. "Only a little. You need to find someone to therapy you for real."

Anthony groaned and crawled over to put his head in her lap. She automatically started running her fingers through his hair. "Can't I just keep talking to you?"

"Nu-uh. Baby boy, I'm your girlfriend, not your therapist. I can't be both."

"Yeah. I know." He pulled her head down to kiss him. "I'll stick with girlfriend." Anthony closed his eyes as Kate continued to move her nails over his scalp. 

"You'd better. But, I know a few very good therapists I could recommend. If I do that, will you call them?"

Anthony said nothing, just furrowed his brow. Kate leaned down again to kiss his forehead before whispering in his ear. "Anthony. Please."

"Will I have to paint and play instruments?"

"Not if you don't want to."

"Then yes, I will. I promise. I love you"

"I love you, too. Forever."

—

[This is my first story that is more than a one-shot vignette. I thank @newtonsheffield for tolerating being an involuntary soundboard with grace while I developed this story and @waterlilyrose for encouraging me to write the story myself. And, of course, the Academy. It was an honor just to be nominated.]