#Nutrient-Packed Dishes

[kidsinnowadays]

Time-Strapped Parents Unite: 10 Quick and Nutritious Meal Ideas for the Whole Family

Simplify mealtime with these efficient and health-conscious recipes, catering to busy schedules without compromising on nourishment. #QuickMeals #FamilyNutrition #ParentingHacks #HealthyEating

For busy parents, finding the balance between work, family, and preparing nutritious meals can be a challenge. However, with a little creativity and smart planning, it’s possible to serve quick and wholesome meals that the entire family will enjoy. This article offers 10 time-efficient and nutritious meal ideas that cater to the needs of time-strapped parents. 1. Sheet Pan Fajitas: Toss sliced…

[byzerodigital]

Unrefined Cane Sugar is made from dried whole sugar juice, ground to create a very fine, granular sugar that can be substituted in a 1:1 ratio for refined sugars.

Because it has not been cooked at high heat and the molasses has not been separated from the sugar, it has nutritional value—unlike refined sugars, which have none.

[coven-of-genesis]

Ways to rejuvenate spiritual & physical energy levels

Here are some herbs, plants, teas, foods, and recipes that will help rejuvenate energy:

Ginseng: This is a traditional Chinese herb that has been used for centuries to increase energy levels, reduce stress and fatigue.

Matcha Tea: This tea is a form of green tea that is high in antioxidants and caffeine, which can help improve mental alertness and physical energy.

Maca Root: This herb has been traditionally used in Peru to enhance stamina, endurance and energy levels.

Ashwagandha: This adaptogenic herb is used in Ayurvedic medicine to reduce stress, anxiety, and fatigue.

Chia Seeds: These tiny seeds are packed with nutrients and can help provide a slow release of energy throughout the day.

Dark Chocolate: This treat is high in flavonoids which can help improve mental alertness and focus.

Spinach: This leafy green vegetable is high in iron, which is essential for maintaining energy levels.

Quinoa: This grain is rich in protein and complex carbohydrates, which can provide sustained energy.

Lemon & Ginger Tea: This tea is a great way to boost your immune system, reduce inflammation, and increase energy levels.

Berry Smoothie: Blend together a handful of mixed berries, a banana, a tablespoon of honey, and some almond milk for a delicious and energizing smoothie.

Avocado Toast: Mash half an avocado and spread it onto a slice of whole-grain bread for a healthy and energizing breakfast.

Grilled Chicken Salad: Toss together some grilled chicken, mixed greens, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, and a lemon vinaigrette for a light and energizing lunch.

Sweet Potato & Lentil Curry: This hearty and delicious dish is packed with nutrients and is a great source of sustained energy.

Baked Salmon: This fish is high in omega-3 fatty acids which can help improve mental focus and reduce fatigue.

Golden Milk: This warm and soothing drink is made with turmeric, ginger, honey, and coconut milk, and is believed to help reduce inflammation and increase energy levels.

[nvuy]

jiaoqiu.

i always think about jiaoqiu with his little worker partner. his little busy bee. his little sleep deprived mess that he loves so much.

the thing with jiaoqiu is that not only is this man the most fuzziest cuddle thing in the world—and during the colder months especially he becomes a ginormous soft blanket with how his tail instinctively curls over you—but he’s also your personal chef.

obviously, if you’re sick, he’ll see to your symptoms and take care of you himself.

but, even just for everyday meals. maybe your job is much more gruelling than his. maybe you start an hour before he does in the morning.

your alarm goes off every morning, and he wakes up with you. a lot of the time you fight in his hold, half because he’s so warm and it’s so cold outside and you’d much rather remain in bed and trace his twitchy ears all day with your thumb (and hope you can hear those gentle squeaky purrs you know he can make), and the other half because the sleep deprivation is really catching up to you.

even if he’s not a morning person, and he’s a little bit grouchy he prepares coffee, even if you insist he doesn’t have to.

“oh, don’t be silly,” he mumbles tiredly one morning into your hair. he’s still in his pyjamas while you’re almost fully dressed. “if i don’t cook for you, you won’t even eat all day.”

well. he’s not wrong.

he’ll make and pack you lunch to take to work every single day. usually, he’ll prepare meals depending on what you need; more protein, more iron, more fibre, whatever, whatever. he’ll mix in vitamins to help you as he sees fit.

he’ll also sneak snacks. he tries to avoid chocolate or sugary treats. and prefers to cut up some fruit, or sneak in a nut bar or something.

but sometimes when he knows you’re having a particularly rough week at work, he’ll give you something special. and he’ll prepare dessert after dinner. nothing major. he’s not really a baker, so it’s usually treats picked up from the bakery when he goes out to buy bread.

after you finally come into the kitchen in the morning to leave for work, you’re just as bone tired as he is while you’re putting on your shoes.

jiaoqiu comes over slowly and hands you three containers. there’s few words exchanged; you’re both way too exhausted. it’s six in the morning.

he’s wearing bunny slippers and they skid and slip across the floor as he then hands you coffee in a travel cup before he leans forward and presses a kiss to your hair.

you work harder. he knows. you work longer hours. your job is much more physically and mentally taxing. he loves his job. you… not so much.

he compensates by working hard at home for you. there’s always the smell of something cooking when you walk through the door. and though you insist you’ll clean the dishes, he always ends up taking over with a reassuring kiss to your head.

bedtime is his favourite. his absolute favourite. especially if he knows you have the day off tomorrow.

if he knows you’re in the mood, he’ll tease. just a little bit. fleeting whispers in your ear, and the soft brush of his tail against your thighs.

most nights, though, you’ll fall into his arms and he’ll bury his nose into the side of your neck.

he knows your sleep schedule is fucked to bits. that won’t deter him though. sneaking melatonin in food is easy, but for the most part, jiaoqiu ensures that the food he cooks for you everyday provides enough nutrients to get you through the day.

and hey!!!! bonus on your day offs in the morning!!!!! as a reward for being such a lovely little malewife, you retrieve the brush from the nightstand and slowly detangle the knots in his tail. and the kisses he peppers you in while his tail frantically wags side to side are always worth it.

[beautyandlifestyleblog86]

Nutrient-Packed Salmon With Roasted Vegetables ——-

Ingredients:

* 4 salmon fillets

* 1 large sweet potato, cubed

* 1 red bell pepper, sliced

* 1 cup Brussels sprouts, halved

* 1 tablespoon olive oil

* 1 teaspoon garlic powder

* 1/2 teaspoon paprika

* Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

* Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C).

* In a large bowl, combine sweet potato, bell pepper, and Brussels sprouts. Toss with olive oil, garlic powder, paprika, salt, and pepper.

* Spread vegetables on a baking sheet and roast for 20-25 minutes, or until tender and slightly browned.

* While vegetables are roasting, season salmon fillets with salt and pepper.

* Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook salmon for 3-4 minutes per side, or until cooked through.

* Serve salmon with roasted vegetables.

Optional: For an extra boost of nutrients, serve with a side of quinoa or brown rice.

This dish provides a good source of —-

* Protein from the salmon

* Vitamin A from the sweet potato

* Vitamin C from the bell pepper

* Vitamin E from the olive oil

* Iron from the sweet potato and Brussels sprouts

* Zinc from the salmon

* Healthy fats from the salmon and olive oil

This dish combines lean protein, healthy fats, and a variety of vitamins and minerals for a delicious and nourishing meal.

[shinskichan]

synopsis: It was just a normal day with the person you love when suddenly your sister calls asking for a favor to take care of her son, and there he is, Mikey, getting jealous over a kid.

pairing: Mikey x Fem!Reader

notes: pure fluff and kind of crack?

word count: 4k+

You slowly opened your eyes when the sun started to hit your face, savoring the feeling of warmth spreading over you. It was another peaceful day to start off, and you couldn't help but feel grateful for it. Beside you lies the sleepy-head Mikey, who is still in his deep slumber, his hands wrapped tightly around your waist. You carefully removed his hands, not wanting to disturb his rest.

As you got up, you slowly stretched your arms, feeling your own muscles wake up from their sleep. You went to the bathroom to wash your face, splashing cool water on your cheeks to wake you up fully. Feeling refreshed, you headed straight to the kitchen, wondering what you could prepare for the both of you for breakfast.

The fridge was stocked with eggs, cheese, and bacon, so you just decided to whip up some omelets. You start with a fluffy omelet that is cooked to perfection, ensuring that the eggs are light and airy. Next, you fry up some crispy bacon until it's golden and delicious. For the protein, you prepare sunny-side-up eggs, which are not only visually appealing but also pack a punch of nutrients. You also add some hotdogs to the mix for an added burst of flavor. Finally, no breakfast is complete without some fried rice.

While you were in the kitchen preparing these delicious dishes, you made sure to get out your nicest glass plates and silverware to make the meal feel special. You wanted everything to be perfect before Manjiro woke up. After all, breakfast is the most important meal of the day, and you wanted to make sure that he had a delicious and satisfying start to his morning.

As you were putting the final touches on the meal, you suddenly felt a pair of warm hands wrap around you. It was none other than Manjiro who had woken up and come to see what you were making. He leaned in and kissed your neck. "Good morning, love," he said, as he rested his chin on your shoulders. "Rise and shine, sleepy head." You greeted him back with a smile and a yawn, still feeling a bit groggy from your sleep. He took your hand and led you to the dining area, where an array of delicious foods were prepared.

"I'm sorry I wasn't able to wake up early to help you prepare breakfast like I promised last night," he said with a disappointed look on his face. You playfully ruffled his hair and gave him a reassuring smile. “Don't worry about it. We can always make breakfast together another time," You replied as you both sat down in the chair and enjoyed the delicious food in front of you.

The aroma of the perfectly cooked fried rice, mixed with the smoky flavor of the sizzling bacon and the bright yellow yolk of the sunny side up eggs, is so enticing that it immediately triggers your taste buds, making your mouths water in anticipation of the delicious meal that is about to be served.

Before you could even take another spoonful of food, your phone began to ring, and you quickly got it to answer. "Hello?" you said on another line. "Hey y/n, are you busy today?" your older sister asked. You saw Mikey's head look up at you, wondering who you were talking to. "Not really, why? Something came up?" You asked. "Could you take care of Leo for today? I'm having an important thing to do, and it would be such a pain to bring him with me," she asked in a worried tone. "Sure, no problem; it's been a while since the last time I visited him," You said as you smiled widely and put your gaze on Mikey, who was now frowning while he was eating.

Leo has always held a special place in your heart. Unfortunately, due to the demands of your busy life, you haven't been able to see him as often as you would like. So you can't imagine your surprise when your sister called you up out of the blue, asking for a favor. "I'm really hesitant to ask because I know you've been busy lately,” she said, her voice tinged with anxiety. "It's alright; don't worry about it," you said in a reassuring tone. “I know he would love to spend some time with you," she said. "Should I come and pick him up?" you asked. "No, no, I'll just drop him off at your place. He's still sleeping," your sister replied, a hint of amusement in her voice. "Alright then, I'll just wait for you both here," you said, and she agreed and hung up the phone.

You put your phone down on the table and started to eat your precious breakfast. "Why are you frowning like that?" you asked with a chuckle. "Who's this guy you haven't visited in a while? And what do you mean you're going to wait for them to arrive?” he asked, perplexed. You giggled at his inquisitiveness and replied, "It's my nephew, dumbass, you said as you playfully pinched his nose, causing him to turn his head to avoid further pinches.

"What about it?" he inquired while taking a spoonful of food. "My sister asked me to take care of Leo for today because she has a lot on her plate. It's hard for her to take him to work, you know," you explained, and he nodded in understanding. "Is it the nephew you were talking about that you're super close with?"He asked, and you nodded in agreement.

You felt excited at the thought of introducing him to Leo, your nephew, whom you had mentioned so many times before. "You'll finally meet him; after all these times, I haven't introduced you to my nephew," you said as you chuckled. "Yeah, I met everyone in your family but not your nephew," he said as he giggled. "Just so you know, Leo can be a bit clingy sometimes, because he views me as his second mother,” you warned him, as you didn't want him to be caught off guard by Leo's actions later on. "What exactly do you mean?" he asked, looking a bit confused. You couldn't help but chuckle at how adorable he looked. "Never mind,” You said as you took another bite of your food. He continued to look perplexed, clearly still wondering what you meant. Given Mikey's childlike behavior, you have a feeling that Leo might get on his nerves. The thought alone made you laugh out loud.

MOMENTS LATER

You were just hanging out in the living room, watching his favourite cartoons. His head was on your lap while you were stroking his soft blond hair. It was a beautiful day outside, with the sun shining brightly and casting its warm rays through the window. You couldn't help but feel grateful for this moment and for this quiet time spent with him. You thought about how lucky you were to have him and how much joy he brought into your life.

As you both watched the cartoons together, you couldn't help but feel a sense of peace and contentment wash over you. It's days like this, without the stress of work or other obligations, that you truly cherish. Even without special occasions or events, just a normal day spent with the love of your life will always be your comfort.

"I'm sleepy," he murmured as he turned himself towards you and wrapped his arm around your waist. "You're always sleepy," you said, chuckling. "Mind giving me a cuddle?" he asked softly, and you smiled. You cuddled together, enjoying the warmth and comfort of each other's embrace.

Suddenly, there was a knock on the door, interrupting your sweet moment. You saw him slightly frown because of the sudden interruption. You stood up to open the door. "Auntie!" Leo exclaimed with a big smile on his face. "Leoooo!" you called out to your nephew in an affectionate tone. Your arms were extended wide for a hug. Leo, with his cute little arms, wrapped them around your neck and did the same with his feet, making him cling to you tightly. You gave him a warm and loving hug as you looked over at your sister.

"It's been too long, y/n," your sister said, and you nodded in agreement. You welcomed her into the house and put Leo down for a brief moment. "Oh, Mikey's here!" your sister exclaimed as she spotted Mikey walking towards your position. You smiled at his arrival, feeling grateful for his presence and the additional company. "Hey, it's been a while. Take a seat," Mikey said warmly as he greeted your sister.

She shook her head and declined, saying, "I'm afraid I can't stay any longer; I have some important things to attend to. Please take care of Leo for me," she said, and you quickly nodded as you held Leo's hand. "Of course," you replied with a smile. "Thank you, my little sister; you're the best," she said, hugging you tightly. "I'm sorry I couldn't catch up with the both of you. Maybe later when I'm done with these important things," she added, casting a glance at both you and Mikey. "Absolutely, no worries," Mikey said, smiling briefly. You couldn't help but smile too, feeling a flutter in your chest whenever you saw him smile like that.

"Well, I think it's time for me to go," she said, glancing down at Leo, who was staring up at her. "Please do your best to behave for your uncle and auntie while I'm away. I'll come back soon, I promise." She affectionately patted Leo's head, who nodded back at her. "Don't worry, Mommy. I'll be a well-behaved boy. Take care!" Leo exclaimed, wrapping his little arms around his mother in a tender embrace. "I'm glad to hear that, my love. I'll see you soon," your sister said, giving you a warm smile before saying her final goodbyes and departing.

When his mom disappeared from your sight, he quickly hid himself behind you, holding onto the edge of your shirt tightly. He seemed a little scared and anxious, so you tried to comfort him by reassuring him that everything was going to be alright.

"Who's that guy, auntie?" he asked, his voice trembling a little. "He looked like a bad guy." You held him closer and told him that the man's name was Mikey and that he wasn't a bad person. Leo seemed a little skeptical. "Hey kid, I'm not as bad as you think I am," Mikey said bluntly, trying to ease Leo's fears. You could see the surprise on Leo's face, and you couldn't help but chuckle at the situation.

"I don't like him!" Leo whined, clearly upset. Mikey, however, wasn't about to back down. "I don't like you either; stop holding my y/n," he said, bickering with Leo. "No! She's my auntie; go away, blond guy! You're bad," Leo said, revealing his true feelings about Mikey. Mikey couldn't resist teasing Leo a little. "Look who's talking; you told your mom you'd be a good boy?" he teased. Unfortunately, this was the last straw for Leo, and he burst into tears. You quickly stepped in, trying to diffuse the situation.

"Mikey, stop scaring the kid," you said firmly as you gently hit him and kneeled down to wipe Leo's tears. It was clear that you needed to find a way to get them along, and you knew it wouldn't be easy. But you were determined to make it work. "I don't like him, auntie. Who is he?" Leo asked as he sobbed, his young face contorting in confusion and distress. Mikey responded with an insensitive remark: "Hey kid, stop with those little acts." You shot him a warning look, but he just childishly stomped his feet and walked towards the couch.

You knelt down and gently wiped away his tears. "I'm sorry for the way your uncle acts," You said, trying to provide some comfort. "But I think it's important that you get to know him. Come here, and I'll introduce you to him," you said.

At first, he was hesitant, but with some gentle persuasion, you were able to convince him. "He's Uncle Mikey, Auntie's boyfriend," you said, introducing him to Mikey. Mikey had a frown on his face and seemed uninterested in the conversation, so you playfully hit his arm. "Stop it already; you're acting like a kid," you chuckled. Despite your comment, Mikey remained silent and kept his eyes fixed on the TV screen.

"Eh? But he doesn't look like it," Leo said as he tilted his head in confusion. "He acts like a child," Leo teased with a smile, making Mikey turn his gaze on him. Despite giving Leo a few death glares, Leo couldn't help but laugh.

Leo then decided to join both of you on the couch, sitting on your lap, and you all spent your time watching TV together. "Hey kiddo, mind sitting over there; that's my place." Mikey pointed at the single sofa while frowning at Leo. You let out a sigh. You knew that Mikey doesn't really know how to get along with children.

"No, why don't you sit there instead? I'm going to stay here because I miss my auntie," Leo said as he smiled at you, and you did the same. His little arms gave you a soft hug. Mikey looked at Leo with a stern expression and said, "Do you think I'll let you slide? This is my place, and it always has been." Mikey picked him up and sat him on his side, so Leo started crying.

"Listen to your uncle, and don't be stubborn," Mikey continued. As he laid his head on your lap. "Manjiro," you coldly called his name, and he just pouted as he sat down properly and carefully carried Leo back into your lap. "You're so lucky that you're still a kid," he murmured, his eyes narrowing slightly. You shot him with a look of annoyance, shaking your head. "Stop being so childish, Mikey," you chided, reaching over to pinch his nose playfully. He frowned, clearly not satisfied with your response.

"But what am I supposed to do now?" he asked, his voice tinged with desperation. "I should be the one there." He whined like a child. "Why don't you take a nap or something?" you suggested, reaching for the remote control. Mikey's eyes widened in shock. "What? No way!" he protested, scooting closer to you on the couch. "I'm not going anywhere," he said, putting his head on your shoulder.

"Do you know that you stole my precious moment with her?" he told Leo. “But I missed my auntie!" he said, almost pleadingly. Mikey let out a long sigh, clearly exasperated. "Fine, just for today!" he compromised, and you couldn't help but chuckle at the two of them. Despite their bickering, they end up compromising.

© shinskichan

[cinnbar-bun]

hi hi this has to be my favorite one piece writing blog, seriously ur writing makes me so happy 😭🖤

not sure if i can request multiple characters but do you mind if i can get general sfw/nsfw headcanons for jinbe and brook?

sorry i really like weird old men (again love your writing and i hope you have a very nice day!!!!!)

A/n: Aw thank you sweetheart. Please enjoy this~! Also, sorry for not posting for a bit, I’ve been exhausted from work and lost some motivation to write oneshots :( but I just love Brook so much so I had to do this.

Brook + Jinbei General SFW + NSFW HCs

Note: separate relationships, reader is GN, smut headcanons inside. Fluffy mmm.

Word Count: 874

Brook

Brook, ever the performer, loves waking you up or lulling you to sleep with his music. Heck, he’ll even burst out into song throughout the day for you if you wish. He’s your 24/7 skeletal radio.

Sometimes he also does freestyle music and makes up lyrics and beats on the spot about whatever you’re doing or how he feels. They’re usually cheesy and not all that serious, but they never fail to lift your spirits up.

Brook likes to be dramatic in your presence to get some attention from you. Sometimes he’s like a spoiled baby but he can’t help it- you’re too amazing!! And he loves you so much!!

If you’re ever feeling too hot, Brook will always put a hand to your head or elsewhere to help you cool down with his devil fruit powers. He’s your not so little walking ice pack.

Brook, while eccentric, is still an old man at heart so he often likes to treat you and spoil you the old-fashioned way. Kneeling on the main deck as you’re on the top deck while he performs you sweet sonnets and ballads he made just for you. Always wanting to keep an arm around your waist. Walking on the street side of the sidewalk. Buying you flowers at any given moment.

He’s a charming gentleman, and it’s very clear when it comes to you.

That being said, he can still be a pervert and it’s full force for you.

He goes gaga over your body! Literally loses his soul when he even gets a peek of you because ??? Hello??? You’re beautiful??

Beyond just sexually, he adores your body. It’s hard for him to explain the feeling but ever since he’s become just a pile of bones, he’s found a greater appreciation for the human body.

When he’s in bed with you, he wants to explore every inch and crevice of your body. Don’t get shy on him now, it’s not like he even has eyes to stare at you, YOHOHOHO!

Kidding, but really, when you two are getting intimate, he focuses on you and your reactions a great deal. He can’t have sex with you the way a human would, so most of his pleasure is derived from your enjoyment- yeah, he’s still got it.

His phalanges are god tier, argue with the wall!!!

Jinbei

Local dad-friend to the crew, loyal husband to you. You might not even be married but you might as well be, that’s just how sweet he is.

He really likes trying new things with you. Even something as small as a new ice cream flavor makes him happy. It’s rather silly and mundane, but something about doing it with you makes it feel wonderful.

“‘Cereal milk’…? There’s really a flavor for that?!”

And alongside new things, he likes to make traditions for the two of you. He’s a very sentimental man, so it can end up being something like eating that one specific dish you two had on your first date, or having a spot on the ship to sit and cuddle.

Jinbei makes sure you get a healthy amount of fruit in you. He will be casually leaving you a plate of freshly cut fruits and a glass of water beside you. He’s not letting you devoid yourself of essential nutrients and hydration. Will force feed you if necessary.

Okay this is just my headcanon but he’s got old man eyes so if something is in smaller fonts he squints and holds the page up to his face to try and read it. It isn’t until you offer to just read it for him that he FINALLY gives in and has you read it for him.

He’s got a great laugh. A hearty, jovial laugh that anyone in the crew can hear from miles away. Honestly, your jokes might not even be that good, but to him, it’s hilarious. Just being so carefree and funny like this is special to him. Your jokes and funny faces seriously make his day, so please never feel embarrassed to tell him one.

I don’t have a segue for this. He is just a big boy.

And yeah, he knows that he’s huge, which is why he takes extra care to make sure you’re properly stretched and ready to take him.

He never really put too much thought into his body beyond his strength, but he has to admit, he loves when you shower attention and compliment his body. Especially in the bedroom, his face just warms up and he gets a bit prideful. It gets him going knowing his body turns you on so much.

Gentle giant. He’s not going to go feral on you, especially not during the first few times you two lay together. He may consider that sort of thing later, alongside many safety measures.

He does enjoy doggy, but also, he finds it so sexy when you ride him. Forward or reverse, it doesn’t matter. It’s also a pretty good compromise because he can let you set a pace while joining with you to get it “rougher” if you so wish.

Lots and lots of praise from Jinbei, all whispered lovingly into your ear as he’s pounding into you <3

[nb-octopus-writes]

once you’re in the hive, the other bees assume you’re supposed to be there

[Masterpost]

Chapter 3: A Series of Unintended Events

Wordcount: 1.3K

~~~~

The pancakes are delicious, light and fluffy. Virgil only has two, because he did already have cereal and unlike Remus his stomach is not a bottomless pit into which he can pour an unending stream of nutrients. But they're delicious, and he's glad Calico convinced him to try a bit.

After breakfast, Virgil helps with the dishes because Remus still isn't up yet, and neither is Janus—probably still curled around him like a hot water bottle—and he has nothing better to do.

Princey meanders in after him, and despite having just demolished an entire stack of pancakes and a decent amount of scrambled eggs, starts rooting around in the fridge. He emerges with a plastic-wrapped plate of tiny pumpkin pies and leans against the counter to eat them directly off the platter, clearly pleased that the party having ended means he can have the leftovers.

“So you're the reason the chinese buffet has a twenty plate limit,” Virgil teases after Princey eats several in a row without pausing. Virgil had a few of those tiny pies last night, so he knows they're good, but Princey is absolutely chowing down on them.

“Hey, that was not my fault!” Princey protests. “Besides, a place that calls itself ‘all you can eat’ shouldn't even have a limit.”

“It shouldn’t,” Virgil agrees. “But I've never hit the limit myself, so I thought it was reasonably high. I suppose that a buffet operating in the same town as twin black holes would need to be cautious to protect their profit margins though. How much did you two pack away before they asked you to stop?”

“Wouldn't you like to know, weather boy,” Princey says. “Anyway, it really wasn't us.”

“No?”

Princey sighs. “No, Count Woe-laf,” he says. He is just too much fun to tease. “If my father is to be believed, it was actually him and a couple of his college buddies.”

Virgil laughs. “Oh, so it's definitely genetic, then!”

Princey chuckles, popping the last tiny pie into his mouth and setting the plate on the counter. Virgil takes it and rinses it off so he can put it in the dishwasher with the others. “Yeah. Dad says they absolutely cleared out the seafood section, and most of the mac and cheese, and ate a sizable portion of pretty much everything else. If you get him going, he'll give you a very long and probably quite embellished retelling of the many courses they had. They never got kicked out, but the next time they went, they were told that there was now a limit to just how much they could eat.”

“Ah, alas,” Virgil says. “I bet it was a fabulous feast, though.” He finishes loading the dishwasher and checks under the sink for soap. They have pods, which is very convenient for measuring, or rather for not having to do that. He pops one in and turns the machine on.

“So, if I'm Count Olaf antagonizing you, which Baudelaire does that make you?” he asks. “Not bookish Klaus, surely. Maybe Sunny? I think she could demolish a plate as quickly as you, though her small stomach wouldn't have the same capacity.”

Princey's eyes light up and he leans forward. Instead of answering the banter, he says meaningfully, “I have the full series on dvd.”

“I'm not doing anything right now,” Virgil says. Princey beams.

“Great! I'll make popcorn!”

~

They have a dedicated home theater. The tv is large, the seats are comfortable, and the speakers are crisp and clear without being too loud. Princey made a bucket of popcorn for each of them, and Virgil isn't very hungry right now considering he very recently had breakfast, but he munches idly on it as they watch, and comment, and theorize. Princey is fun to watch tv with, and doesn't mind Virgil talking while they watch.

They're in the middle of an episode when Remus appears in the doorway.

“Hey Emo,” says Remus. “I gotta get home and feed my cat before she figures out how to unlock the front door and hunts me down. I was gonna take you home on the way, but it looks like you're in the middle of something.”

Virgil considers. He looks at the screen, where Lemony Snicket is explaining that if you're allergic to something, it's generally best not to put that thing in your mouth, especially if the thing you are allergic to is a cat. He looks back at Remus. “You swear you'll come back for me?”

“On my favorite dildo and Janus's two cocks,” Remus says with feeling, and Virgil can't help the chuckle that escapes him.

“I'll be okay,” he says. “Go get Diesel Fuel her lunch.”

Remus salutes him and disappears.

They finish the episode and Remus hasn't come back yet, so they go on to the next one. During the theme song though, Nerdbot appears to inform them that they too need to eat lunch.

Virgil thought Princey might protest, given how invested he's been, but he pauses the show and gets up. “C’mon, Tall Dark and Stormy,” he says to Virgil. “If we skip lunch to watch tv all day we get a lecture about why proper nutrition is important.”

“You do,” Nerdbot confirms. “Points of note include the necessity of proteins and vegetables in addition to carbohydrates.”

“Is popcorn a vegetable?” Virgil asks.

Nerdbot raises an eyebrow. “It is a carbohydrate, actually. It is also primarily air.”

It seems that all the other guests have gone home, so it's just the four of them now. The table is back to its smaller size, and Princey has Virgil sit at the corner beside him, so they can keep talking. Nerdbot sits on Virgil’s other side, and Calico sits at the head, across from Princey.

Lunch is baked chicken and a vegetable dish that Virgil doesn't really expect to like, but he takes a polite spoonful anyway because he's sure Nerdbot is capable of a very powerful ‘eat your vegetables’ lecture, and he doesn't feel like hearing it right now.

The vegetables do not taste bad. Virgil’s not sure why he's surprised anymore considering everything he's eaten in this house so far—with the possible exception of the cereal, which doesn't count—but the vegetables are the opposite of bad.

“Why are you such a good cook,” Virgil says to Calico, who brightens. “I need to come eat your food more often.”

“He has a magical tongue,” Princey says, making heart eyes across the table at him.

Calico blushes slightly (not nearly as deeply as he had last night) and clarifies, “I'm very good at tasting, and I have a lot of practice combining flavors. I'm also not afraid of fats and salt, and that helps.”

Virgil has two servings.

Remus still isn't back yet when they finish lunch, and Virgil is starting to get concerned.

Don't forget me, he texts, and goes into the room with the couches to wait.

This couch really is comfortable. And Virgil got barely any sleep last night, between staying up late and waking up so fucking early, and also probably never actually falling into a deep sleep at all since there were other people in the room. And his stomach is full and warm. And the couch is so comfortable. 

He barely has time to notice how heavy his eyelids are becoming.

~

Virgil wakes, briefly. The room is dark. Someone has covered him with a blanket. He finds his phone and checks it. There's a message from Remus, about half an hour after Virgil’s last text.

came to get you but you were very asleep, it says. text me when youre awake and wanna go home

Attached is a selfie, with Virgil in the background passed out on the couch.

Virgil groans. fucker, he texts back, and falls back asleep.

~~~~

Chapter 4: The Second Morning

[the-really-lonely-mountain]

Along for the ride, to Erebor - Part 5

Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4

Summary: Transported to Middle Earth, you must Join Thorin Oakenshield's Company as they travel to reclaim Erebor! OR: My take on the classic 'modern girl in Middle Earth' troupe. This is the second installment, so we are following the second movie of The Hobbit trilogy, and falling deeper in love with Kili on the way! This is the second part for the second movie.

Tags: Kili / Reader, Reader-Insert, Slow Burn, Modern Character in Middle Earth, During The Hobbit, How Do I Tag, Canon-Typical Violence, Kíli Is a Little Shit (Tolkien), implied soulmates, Dwarf Culture & Customs, Freeform, light smut, it's really just a brief description nothing too graphic but i certianly wouldn't want to be caught reading it, Holding Hands, Cuddling & Snuggling, Sleepy Cuddles, Protective Thorin Oakenshield Company Members, Dwalin & Thorin Oakenshield Friendship, Fluff and Humor, Domestic Fluff, Tooth-Rotting Fluff, Where In Middle-Earth Is Gandalf?, Hair Braiding, Dwarf Courting, My First Tumblr Fic, Alternate Universe - Everyone Lives/Nobody Dies, Fíli & Kíli & Thorin Live, Thorin Oakenshield Lives, Fíli Lives (Tolkien), Kíli Lives (Tolkien), sword fight training, kili is a big ole softy and i love him so much for it, tags tbd tbh lol

Word Count: 4,758

A/N: OMG!! I graduated! I got a job! I finally edited this part! I'm so tired y'all, I'm writing this author note at like midnight lol. ~AnywhoOOo~ I hope you enjoy! let me know if you'd like to join the tag list to be directly notified of chapter updates! <3

Divider credit: @cafekitsune

You woke to the usual clanging of pots and pans as breakfast was being cooked. Kili’s hand was still on your waist and his arm was still your pillow, though you were sure it’d gone numb in the night. You gently placed your hand on his cheek and gently ran your thumb over his delicate cheek bone. He looked so handsome sleeping softly beside you, it made you smile like a giddy little girl. You regretted having to softly remove yourself from him, but you had to start packing your things and getting ready for the day, which was so much easier now that you didn’t have to worry about your hair. When you were finished and your bag was neatly packed, you tenderly woke Kili up.

He stretched then his eyes popped open, “Good morning!”, he sat up energized and ready to conquer the day.

“Good morning!” You replied with a kind smile, ever impressed by his liveliness in the mornings, “Start packing, Bombur’s almost finished breakfast.”

He shuffled about beside you while you worked on the final half of your bracelet, waiting for breakfast.

The porridge was the usual white sludge meant for nutrients, not flavor. You rinsed the dishes in the river with Kili’s animated storytelling as you usually did after meals. Thorin had the company moving out when you returned.

The day’s walk was very scenic, mostly idyllic forests with little rivers, where the lighting truly brought it all together. You walked between Kili and Fili so they could give you the basic run-down of sword handling and bowmanship.

By the end of midday, the company was on the border of the forest and a field. Thorin decided to make camp there and told Gloin to make the fire while Nori, Bifur, and Oin set traps in the forest to restock the reserves or something, you weren’t listening, too focused on Kili’s hand in yours as he led you somewhere.

The extra sparkle in his gorgeous brown eyes told you he was very excited to teach you about archery. As the resident Archer, no one (his brother) could compete for your attention by correcting him. He was also excited to watch you use his bow and his arrows; an honor bestowed upon an extremely select group.

Kili was very protective of his bows, not just because of the time it takes to make such an incredibly valuable weapon, but because one time in his youth he worked for weeks carving a brand-new bow from solid wood, making the string by hand, and engraving runic talismans into the handle. He worked very hard on that bow; Only to have one of his snot-nosed neighbors snatch it from him while they were playing and accidentally snap it in half after a misstep. Kili was furious, absolutely inconsolable. Fili had to drag him from the scene of the crime to the forest behind their family house, so he didn’t hunt the kid down and destroy him. He didn’t say anything to Fili, just cursed and milled about the clearing in frustration. At first, his brother didn’t know what he was doing, concerned he was setting a malicious trap for the offending child (such a spiteful trap was almost sprung after another incident of the same nature); but as Fili silently watched, out of arm’s punching reach of course, he realized his brother was just looking for a piece of wood to make a new bow. Fili built a fire to keep the chill of the setting sun at bay, not wanting to abandon his brother to the coming night. He watched the younger mumble curses in dwarfish as he whittled the wood seemingly in his own little world. Kili hadn’t really taken notice of the fire his brother built despite using its light and occasionally throwing more wood on absentmindedly while he stayed up all night to make the string and engrave the handle. Their mother, Dis, saw them through the window in the back door in the middle of the night. Fili was sitting on the ground, relaxed, leaning against a tree while he watched his brother on the other side of the blazing fire, Kili was sitting on a rock hunched over his bow as it came together. Dis knew from that moment Fili would always look after his little brother, or at the very least try his best. The craftsmanship of the bow he made that night was nowhere near his previous bow, but it could still shoot the straightest arrow in the village. It would do till he grew again and needed a bigger one.

Kili brought you a few yards away from the camp, out of ear shot but not out of sight. After the crash course in archery during the day’s walk, you were as prepared as you could be. Kili carved a target into the trunk of a tree with his dagger, not worried about losing misfired arrows in the underbrush because the fletching on the end of all his arrows were bright yellow.

He situated you both at a reasonable distance from the target and demonstrated again how to place your fingers on the string and what position to be in when you pull the string back. When he handed you the bow you were not expecting it to be as heavy as it was. Without an arrow, you tried to pull the string back like he showed but you couldn’t move it. You looked at Kili.

“Just pull it back Y/N.” He encouraged, with a proud little smile on his face.

“I am, Kee,” you said still straining to pull it. It wouldn’t budge. He thought for a moment, trying to figure out what could be wrong—Ah! He got it!

“Here, let me help.” He came up and stood behind you. “The draw weight for my bow must be too high for you,” he said into your ear in a low hushed tone while he got into position. He shuffled his legs behind yours and placed his hand below yours on the handle and his fingers above and below your slimmer, softer ones on the string. They were much stronger and much thicker than yours. Two of your fingers were the same width as one of his, a thought that quickly had you blushing. The irresistible mental image of moaning out for him while being deliciously stretched around his capable digits as he cooed praises, was nearly too much. You thanked God he was behind you and therefore couldn’t see your bright red face.

He let you do most of the work pulling the bowstring to allow you to get a feel for the mechanics and amount of potential energy the movement created.

“And…” he made sure you were ready, “Release.”

You both let go of the string at the same time.

“Perfect! Now let’s try it with an arrow” He got one from the quiver on his back and handed it to you.

You nocked the arrow like he taught you then got into position. He helped you pull the string back like before, allowing you to control the aim.

“Ready…” You said to him this time, “Release!”

The arrow flew across the field and landed smack in the middle of the bullseye!

“No way,” Kili said in complete disbelief. You both went over to inspect the target. Sure enough, the arrow was deep in the carved circle of the tree.

“That’s amazing Y/N!” He turned to you with the biggest smile you’d ever seen. You were as happy as him, jumping up and down excitedly.

“I want to try again!” You walked over to your previous spot and lined yourself up, waiting for him to join you. He chuckled at your enthusiasm and grabbed another arrow on the way over. You repeated the process like a practiced dance, enjoying more than anything that he was your partner. He allowed you to aim again, but this time the arrow didn’t hit its mark or the tree at all; It planted itself firmly into the leaf-covered underbrush.

“Awe,” you pouted, “I rushed, next time I’ll take my time.” You grabbed another arrow from his quiver, accidentally getting your face in his. For a moment, you could feel the heat of his lips and his breath tumbling over onto your own in a near ragged pant.

When you backed away you both politely laughed it off, though you could have sworn he leaned closer to you in that brief moment.

You shot all the arrows he had in his quiver. A handful hit the target, and a few even got close to the bullseye, but none hit the center like the first. Being a good coach, he encouraged and teased when the time was right.  

Once again in your own little world, it was like nothing mattered except him. His radiant smile, his contagious laughter, his excitability; it was all consuming. As the day wore on, your arms got tired, and you were ready for a break. You helped him collect the arrows in and around the tree, so he could show off for a bit like boys do for pretty girls. He did trick shots and action shots and even pinned the pinecone you threw for him to the tree. His skills were very impressive. Your return to the camp was met with impressed exclamations.

“Was that a bullseye on the first shot?!” Bofur asked, having seen the miracle even from the other side of the camp.

“Aye!” You said excitedly, proud of your accomplishment. You didn’t even realize that you were beginning to use their dialect.

“Good job lass!” Oin said, along with the others happily celebrating with you.

After all that working out, you were hungry for a snack. You rummaged through your bag in search of the grapes you had foraged with Bilbo the day before. They weren’t in your bag where you left them, carefully wrapped in your old T-shirt.

‘They couldn’t have fallen out’ you thought as you scanned the camp for the thief, already having an idea of the culprit. You stopped when your eyes fell on Kili across the camp, leaning against a tree with a shit-eating grin as he popped a grape into his mouth.

You were livid. It was a total invasion of your only private property: your bag, and you felt extremely violated.

You couldn’t say anything to the offending dwarf or even look at him in fear of your rage exploding onto him. The camp fell silent as you walked to Kili, your anger evident from your expression.

That feeling in Kili’s chest sunk to his boots when he saw how angry you were; he knew he’d gone too far. You snatched the grapes from his hand and walked (stomped) into the field beyond the camp.

“Y/N wait—” he tried to follow you into the field.

“NOT NOW KILI” you snapped at him over your shoulder in a tone he didn’t quite think you were capable of. He stopped in his tracks at your tone, the same one his mother used when she was very cross with him. The other members of the company who heard the commotion snickered at Kili’s self-inflicted misfortune.

You sat in the field, soaking up the sunshine and eating your grapes while you calmed down. Kili moped around camp like an abandoned puppy; it was quite a pitiful sight.

When you finished your snack, you took a few deep breaths to get the anger from your system and allow your thoughts to come together to properly explain to Kili why you were so mad. The youngest Durin hesitantly joined you in the field when he saw you were done with your grapes, his footfalls crunching the grass beneath him alerting you to his presence. He sat next to you clearly a little nervous by how he picked at the grass.

“I’m sorry,” he said, looking at the ground. “It was just supposed to be a joke, honest,”

“Joke or not, Kili Durin, you shouldn’t have gone through my stuff!” You wanted to make sure he understood how unhappy his actions made you. He cringed at his full name. “You violated the only sliver of privacy I have out here!”

“Sorry, Y/N,” he said in a regretful voice you’d never heard from him before. “I shouldn’t have gone through your bag.”

You sighed and looked over at him. “I forgive you Kili,” You took another deep breath, satisfied he’d learned his lesson, “Just don’t do it again, ok?”

He smiled, happy to be back on good terms with you, “I won’t, I promise”. You smiled too, his infectious charm melting what little remained of your anger. You leaned in for a hug, knowing you both needed physical reassurance.

He sat with you in the field for a while, content to stay in comfortable silence. You’d been eyeing a beautiful patch of flowers a few feet away since you’d sat down. You shifted so you were laying on your stomach to get a closer look at their vibrant hues and decided you wanted to use them, but how? Kili moved next to you, mirroring our position, to see what you were looking at. Then inspiration struck.

“I’ll braid them into your hair!” You said excitedly. He gave you a look of surprised confusion.

“What?! No!” he was immediately against the idea and even backed away from you as if you’d jump on him any second like his brother might, “Why don’t I put them in your hair instead? They’d look much better on you.” He desperately tried to come up with a reason to avoid the inevitable onslaught of mocking he’d have to endure if he agreed to your plan.

You brought yourself to a kneel so you could look him dead in the eyes with a blank expression, “Pussy,” you simply said.

He scoffed and got all huffy and puffy, “I am not a pussy!” He said defensively, his cute accent got thicker when he was flustered, it made it so hard to take him seriously, “I just think the flowers would make you even more beautiful than you already are.”

You blushed deeply at his words and looked away from his charming little smile to keep your thoughts from your more baser mindset and to think over his offer. He started twirling the end of one of the braids he’d done the night before between his fingers. It was a sweet and absentminded motion, to which you relented with a sigh, “Alright, but you have to teach me how to use a sword after.”

“Deal!” He gave a hearty nod. You got your hair stuff from your bag and your bracelet to work on and hopefully finish while Kili did your hair. You picked the prettiest flowers and put them in the extra fabric of your shirt like a delicate basket. He dragged over a stone to sit on and got to work undoing the braids and brushing your hair out.

You didn’t realize how tight he’d made the braids till the tension was released from your scalp. You sighed in pleasured relief as he moved your hair around with the brush. That sound immediately pricked his ears.

“Does that feel good, princess?” He looked down at you and smiled as he massaged the sore parts of your head. You were too lost in the feeling his skilled hands were creating to hear his pet name.

Once he massaged the soreness away, he parted your hair and began braiding. Kili had a vision of what he wanted to do to your hair. He wanted a thick band like a crown around the top of your head and four small thin braids scattered across the rest of your loose unbraided hair.

You were on an entirely different plane of existence. You felt so calm and relaxed and taken care of with his undivided attention, it was like nothing you’d ever felt before. His tranquil voice when he asked for a flower every now and then was the only thing you could hear.

When Kili was putting on the finishing touches, Fili came and joined you in the field to see what you both were doing, sadly breaking you from your lovely state of mind.

“Kili wouldn’t let me put flowers in his hair.” You pouted after the older brother inquired about your change in hairstyle.

“Even after he rummaged through your bag!” Fili feigned offense on your behalf with a smirk as he laid on his side in front of you both propped up on his elbow.

“Shut up, Fili” Kili huffed, ashamed of his previous actions, as he carded his fingers through your loose hair to make sure it was laying properly.

“Awe, Kiwi’s embawwassed,” you said in a baby-talk voice, making you and Fili laugh a little.

Kili stopped combing his fingers through your hair and tangled them in the loose hair at the back of your head. He pulled your head down to make you look up at him looming over you. He was about to say something, but the inadvertent dominating gesture caused an involuntary moan to slip past your lips, stalling any thoughts he tried to voice.

You were both stuck in that trance for just a moment, yet it took an eternity to pass. He was unable to look away from your pleasure pinched eyebrows and slightly parted panting lips. You were captivated by his handsome blushing features and the fire in his eyes. You wanted so desperately to kiss him, to meet his lips in heated passion.

“Good gods you two,” Fili rolled his eyes. His sudden interruption snapped Kili back to reality so he could release your hair. “Get a room,” Fili finished his statement.

“Shut up, Fili,” you both said in unison with faces equally ablaze and eyes cast anywhere but at each other. The elder just looked at you two and laughed to himself, he knew at that moment you were both madly in love.

“Here’s your brush, Y/N.” Kili handed it to you, wanting to change the subject.

“Yes, thank you” You took it from him and hastily returned it to your bag then met Kili back in the field for sword training. His brother was still there passively observing (waiting till he had to step in to correct the younger as this was not Kili’s area of expertise).

Bilbo allowed you to borrow his sword so you could get an idea of what a properly fitted one felt like without your wrists being torn to shreds by the other much heavier swords of the company. Kili walked you through basic moves and positions to teach you how to make your weapon like an extension of your own body. When he tried to speed up the movements and have you come at him in mock battle, you faltered and messed up the arrangement of poses.

When this happened, Fili of course would step in with a simplified version to help you. Before long, you had an audience, and the watchful eyes and extensive fighting prowess of Thorin and Dwalin. Kili was no longer the teacher but the sentient-sparing mannequin. The sequence of positions and movements became longer the more you worked at it. It felt amazing to be capable of so much. You knew it was just choreography, but it made you better now than you were before.

You were beginning to sweat under your thick tunic. The physical exertion was getting to Kili as well. When you took a water break you removed your shirt, the coffee brown padded camisole you wore underneath being far more breathable, but much tighter than your usual outerwear. It left hardly anything to the imagination.

Your less-dressed return to the now-stamped-down grass of the makeshift training area was met with impressed exclamations, wolf whistles, and light applause. You blushed and pretended to be a fashion model at the end of a runway. They found it very amusing.

Kili came back after wondering what the commotion was about.

He saw you waiting for him, you hadn’t noticed him approaching yet, too busy putting on a silly little show. He loved seeing you like this, confident and carefree, not worrying about how you looked and focusing on something that was far more rewarding: having fun. He used the few seconds you were distracted to admire you. Your half up half down hair he’d just braided and styled, was blowing softly in the wind, and your short unruly baby hairs were matted to your sweaty forehead giving you a halo of sorts. Your camisole highlighted the alluring curve from your ribs to your hips like nothing Kili had seen before. The hem of the fabric was ridding up on your waist, revealing just a sliver of your lower tummy. Your pants kept where they were, hugging tight to your thighs and bottom.

‘Two can play that game’ Kili thought, not even trying to hide his mischievous smile. He took his shirt off and threw it in his bag.

You looked up and saw him coming to meet you. The long bangs that framed his face were clinging to it now from his perspiration. He was smirking, knowing he caught you slightly off guard. His prominent pectoral muscles bled into his strong thick arms. His waist tapered into his hips where his pants were beginning to ride low, revealing his defined adonis belt in its retreat. He exuded power as he walked towards you with his arms out a bit from his side, and his palms facing you, as if he were accepting your challenge.

“Ohho, it’s serious now, is it?” you said over a light chuckle, feigning being taken aback by his friendly challenge.

“Oh, it sure is.” He returned your light laugh and with a smug expression he tapped his sword against yours where it hung at your side. He knew he was flustering you. He could see it in the deepened flush that colored your cheeks and how your thumb picked at the leather-covered hilt of your sword.

You had to bite the inside of your lip rather hard to keep your eyes above his exposed shoulders. It had been so long since you’d felt so physically and mentally attracted to someone. The way he was looking at you made your panties dampen at the scandalous thoughts that his honeyed chocolate eyes made race through your head.

If Thorin hadn’t said, “Ready positions”, in that barking tone of his, you’d have jumped Kili’s bones and rode him off into the sunset.

You both got into the starting positions you preferred. Thorin shouted ‘Commence’ in Dwarfish. Kili came at you with harsh blows, which you perfectly countered like you’d been taught. You were able to quickly move yourself, so you were standing at his side. You took the opening and swung for his exposed ribs, but he easily blocked your attack. You pressed your blade against his to force him back and give up some ground. He stood steadfast in his heavy boots, however, and pushed back against you, getting his face close to yours to tease you.

“Good job, you remembered how to keep your grip on the sword.” He said with mock celebration. You gritted your teeth, determined to keep your footing. He glanced at your lips where your teeth were worrying your lower lip; A habit he noticed when you were focused or nervous.

“I’ve been taught well, Archer.” You shot back, as suave as you could manage under the conditions. He threw you back so he could reset his stance.

“We’ll see about that, Ibinê,” he said, flustering you again with that mischievous grin as his native language easily rolled off his tongue.

You charged at him, and your blades collided with a loud metallic clang. Your sudden advance surprised him, he backed up a few steps. Cheers came from your audience.

“Ibinê?” You strained while your blades met again in a brute force pressing match. “What does that mean?”

Kili shoved you back and swiftly turned around, a trick he hadn’t yet revealed in your spar. He abandoned his blade somewhere off to the side and turned around again but crouched in his movement so he could swipe your legs from beneath you. You fell to the ground with a muted thud, your weapon knocked from your grasp. Kili scrambled to straddle your hips, pinning down your legs with his and your wrists above your head. You tried to fight against him, but his strength and weight are much greater than yours.

He panted above you, smiling like a cat who got the canary, “If only it were you straddling me,” he whispered under his breath and winked at you discreetly. Your chest was heaving, making your breasts ebb and flow with the rhythm. The erotic tension was palpable between you.

“We have a victor!” someone said from the sidelines to break your daze. Kili blushed and stood and helped you from the ground. Your audience clapped a little then dispersed to the camp a few feet away. You leisurely walked away from the encampment along the edge of the forest to catch your breath. The extra sway in your hips enticed Kili to follow you. He walked beside you, you looked up at him delighted he got the hint and followed you. He leaned in close to say in a voice that was deeper than normal, “Ibinê means my gem.” His words took a moment to register, causing a delayed blush to color your chest and neck.

He bit his lip as a thought played behind his eyes. Growing bold from the adrenaline still in his veins, he wrapped his hand around yours, he picked up speed till he was running. He took you far from the others. The sun was setting, painting the sky in those vivid colors only seen at dusk and dawn.

Kili slowed to a stop and used his grip on your hand to bring you in front of him. He took a step into your personal space.

“Labathmizi means I adore you.” He gingerly placed his hand on your cheek like he was handling the thinnest, most precious glass in the world. You were blushing profusely, your gaze danced from his eyes to his lips. “Abnâmulzi means you are beautiful.” He pecked his lips against yours for a moment then backed you against a tree and pinned you against it with his strong hand on your hip. His voice was low and rough with arousal, “Azralizi du-nâmrul, Ibinê, means I want to fuck you, my gem.” He pressed his lips to yours in a kiss that surpassed any expectation you had. His lips were soft against yours; his hand tenderly held your cheek. You lifted your leg over his hip, his hand moved to from your hip to your thigh, and it felt like it was searing into the cloth covered skin. It slid up to your ass cheek and urged you to grind against him. You whimpered as his hardening member pressed against your soaking core. Kili met your movements, making himself hiss at the delicious friction you were both craving.

When you broke the kiss for air as lust flooded your mind and loins, “That’s really hot” was all you could manage.

You were becoming addicted to his kiss. The way his thumb would glide against your cheek and the soft, barely there little whimpers he was making as you deepened the kiss were driving you mad with need.

Your hand was on his bare shoulder and the other tangled in his hair scratching and pulling lightly on the soft brown tresses. His tongue won its fight against yours when he gyrated his hips perfectly to grind into you, causing a moan to bubble from you.

He broke away, panting. He looked at you, suddenly silent with his eyebrows pinched in a sudden focused confusion. This immediately concerned you.

You opened your mouth to ask if he was ok, but he put his finger to his lips to silence you. He closed his eyes to focus on something; dwarfs and their connection to the environment around them still confused you.

His eyes shot open in a panic, and he tore himself away from you so he could pick you up bridal style.

You clung to him as he broke out in a dash back to camp, “A pack of orc’s are coming.”  

Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4

Taglist <3: @letmelickyoureyeballs, @nessarosefiction, @akari-rioan

[salt-clangen]

Duskclan Lore & Culture

Proud, stoic, and pious.

So this is the long post on the culture of modern Duskclan, I’ll do a history post separately since it would be a huge post.

Credit to @rippleclan @bonefall & @niftysenpai for world building inspo, warrior roles, and camp design inspo

Lifestyle:

Duskclan is known for two things superior clerics and proficient fighting. They hold their emotions and intentions close to the chest, even amongst each other. Individualism is very prevalent, most cats- especially warriors/clerics/code keepers- believe that it’s better to solve your problems yourself through perseverance than to ask for help. That’s not to say a warrior who’s sick/injured wouldn’t go to the cleric for care or ask the camp keepers for extra broth. However that warrior would probably wait to get treatment until they were sure they couldn’t power through.

Despite the emphasis on solving your own problems and not asking for help, there’s a sense of pride that they get when they can provide for each other. It’s a double edged sword that many of us can relate too. ‘No I can do it myself. Oh that looks heavy let me get that.’ An outsider observing them may laugh at the tongue in cheek behavior of it all. They care so much about each other, yet they can’t show it for fear of being seen as unreliable, they want to be strong for their loved ones and they can’t do that if they’re weak. Mentors and parents feel especially responsible for their kits and apprentices success and safety, postpartum anxiety and depression is very real.

But the cats of Duskclan aren’t just stoic, emotionally constipated warriors. They also lead the clans in spiritual and herbal work, they are proud to be the clan closest to the Moon spring. The cleric stones located in Duskclan but outside of the High cave is a meadow dotted with large boulders, the soil is fertile and moist. Herbs growing here prolifically, a large variety of herbs in such a small place is just another source of pride for Duskclan.

Cleric apprentices spend a longer time training than other clans, typically graduating at 15 moons or older, it’s also very difficult to be chosen. Apprentices are usually selected after a series of tests while still in kithood and being taken to the Moon spring to receive Starclan’s blessing. Normally the clan has 3 clerics and 1-2 apprentices, but as of right now there’s only Darkfold and Burnpaw. The other two passed away within just a few moons from each other, first Dappleshade from a yellow cough outbreak and then Burdockpelt from the fire accident. Due to the clan’s strong ties to the Moon spring clerics hold a lot of power and influence.

While their ways and lifestyle may seem harsh, there’s a a pretty good reason for it, two-legs. They’re the clan that’s closest to the twoleg place, yes Honeyclan is kinda near the boat house and Oakclan is next to the thunderpath. But no other clan feels the constant presence of twolegs like Duskclan does, directly and indirectly. Small creek would be a great source of water and fish, but it’s compromised by the carrion twolegs leave. Not to mention hunting rodents too close to the nests could prove fatal as they could be poisoned.

In addition to that Duskclan also has to deal with loners and kittypets, some are just curious, but many are intrusive and aggressive. The clan can’t risk it, even Jaggedstar lost her most recent life to a loner near the twoleg nests, so they maintain their borders fiercely. As such they see very little new comers, usually it’s from Honeyclan or loners very interested in cleric work and new clan mates are treated with suspicion until they can prove themselves trustworthy.

Food:

The food of Duskclan reflects their no nonsense work ethic and deep spiritual ties, their dishes are either packed with herbs and nutrients or dried for quick and easy meals. The only thing they need to trade for is grains, such as flax or oats, and sausage. Otherwise they are pretty self sufficient from the other clans, a point of pride of course. Duskclan has 2 large communal meals at sunrise and sunset (breakfast and dinner) that are served and prepared by the camp keepers. Breakfast is usually a nutrient dense gumbo-like meal mashed grains, herbs, and meats, it’s very balance though it skews protein heavy since cats are obligate carnivores and need 70-80% of their meals to be from meat. The mash has sausage, ground meats, meat chunks, and bone broth/marrow. Dinner is usually a soup, something hydrating after a long day with plenty of prey bits and pieces thrown together, lots of organ meat is used. Most communal meals are served with a warm tea or broth, it’s up to the individual’s preference which they get and it’s usually just from large batches. If someone desires a specific drink then they can either ask for it ahead of time or prepare it themselves, if it’s a medical reason it’s usually accommodated by clerics. Teas are typically bitter or tart and have little broth in them, mostly just water and herbs. Broths are what you’d expect, usually a clear liquid from bone stock, slightly savory but typically plain. Both drinks are considered a palate cleanser for the rich spice in the other dishes, also a great way to get your fluids and nutrients from herbs. Cats will usually eat in a group, not necessarily just their friends, patrols or reports are discussed over the meals. They eat slowly due to the frequent conversations. Any other meal you need throughout the day you’re on your own, that’s why jerky and dried fish are so common. The meat/fish are easy to tie to a belt or keep in a basket while you go about your day, so most warriors have their own accessories or baskets. If you need to eat something else throughout the day or need frequent feedings for medical reasons it’s not an issue, the camp keepers are usually made aware of any particular needs by the clerics and can easily accommodate, it’s usually just extra of what ever meal was served earlier just warmed up in the oven.

It is considered unsociable to make and eat all your meals separately from everyone, but cats with specific dietary needs (even if it’s more of a strong preference/aversion) are encouraged to advocate for themselves if necessary. ‘Oh Greyclaw always eats alone outside of camp or in his den.’ Is cause for concern vs ‘Oh Ashenstep doesn’t like fish or tea with rose in it, so better to just give them broth to drink or leave the fish out of their portion.’ Is just Ashenstep being assertive and communicative. Again individuality and advocacy for yourself are the norm, hiding away from your clan mates is seen as sneaky and that you don’t trust the group.

Trade and crafts:

While warriors and clerics are considered honorable jobs that require skill, talent, and perseverance, artisan work (weaving, pottery, crafts) is considered easier. Anyone can make some twine, but not everyone can fight or heal. That being said, they do have some items they trade for other goods, mostly herbs and leather goods. Most of their herbs are able to be found in other territories, but they have superior quality of their decoctions, salves, and tinctures (vinegar based). Clerics and care takers work very hard to grow and cultivate quality herbs, planting and tending to them in the Clerics rocks. There are a few herbs found in Duskclan’s rocky territory that aren’t found elsewhere, this includes gravel root, goldenrod, and juniper. Because of their abundance and spiritual ties to the herbs (also for a better balanced diet), most Duskclan dishes have a lot of added herbs and vegetables mixed with whatever mash or soup is being served. Juniper is also a big flavor boost and so Duskclan is known for their ‘spice’ compared to the other clans.

Duskclan is one of the few clans with both the opportunity and the strength to hunt larger game, mainly deer. The local deer population travel through the lawns of the near by two-leg nests, but they also veer into Duskclan’s neck of the woods when foraging. Due to their impressive strength and sophisticated strategies the warriors are able to coordinate deer or boar hunts, it’s not often, usually once a moon or so. It takes a lot of organizing and work, most of the clan is needed before and after the hunt to bring the kill back to camp and process the carcass. They’re able to process the hides into workable leather or nesting material.

Camp:

(Sorry the camp sketch is so shitty, I lost my original and didn’t have the energy to redo it)

Duskclan’s camp is similar to Oakclan’s, they have one official entrance and then a few smaller ‘secret’ exits hidden throughout the border. The piney forest they live in has little undergrowth compared to the other clans so they have to cultivate shrubs specifically for construction. They also weave the branches of the bordering trees for extra protection and escapes. If you don’t know what to look for the hidden paths weaved into the branches you’d never know they were there. The paths are short but take you outside of the camp for evacuations and are above most of the dens, excluding the leaders and the apprentice dean which are located vertically from each other.

They have one large oven/fire pit lined with soft soil and stones to avoid spread. In this oven the camp keepers cook meals and make the communal broths. Individuals are able to assemble the ingredients of a particular dish ahead of time for the keepers to make with everyone else’s, but only camp keepers are allowed to cook or handle the fire (Burnpaw 👀). The clerics have their own separate fire pit outside of the camp walls near the entrance, it’s separate mostly due to space and demands. Most of their herbs need to be preserved some way to avoid spoilage and aid in trading affairs, so that means decoctions (boiling in water then letting it steep for days-months) and infusions (steeping herbs in an oil for a long time to mix in with salves) which bother require heat. So a cleric will have some basic fire knowledge or will have a designated camp keeper to help with the pit.

The clerics and warriors den are in fallen trees that were carved out, while the nursery, elders, and apprentices’ den are in rocky caves. The leaders den above the apprentice den in the hollow part of a living tree over looking the camp, they hold meeting outside of the entrance on the rocks.

Roles:

So obviously Duskclan is pretty weird with their hierarchy but most clans have similar roles, due to how unsafe the territory can be most patrols need at least one warrior. Solo patrols are only allowed by senior individuals. For a warrior if you’re chosen to assist a patrol it’s seen as a compliment since that means ‘you’re so strong and keep me safe’ without actually saying anything. For a non warrior, if a warrior comes up and assigns themselves to help you it’s considered presumptuous and can even be seen as a bit flirtatious. Usually done by confident or flamboyant cats, reactions vary based on the individuals.

So a list of all the roles are:

Artisans- make crafts and usable goods, not involved in cooking but can help if needed. They also gather their own materials so they usually take a warrior on patrol with them. They are also in charge of trading with other clans at the quarter moon (weekly) artisans gatherings and full moon gatherings. They work with camp keepers to process hides and pelts after the butchering. Good role for cats that enjoy repetition and consistency.

Camp keepers- also called keepers for short, they are in charge of cooking, processing prey, camp construction, and changing moss bedding. They are pretty busy in the clan and it’s a pretty good role for cats that aren’t very strong but have a lot of energy and don’t like downtime.

Care takers- sometimes called gardeners or carers, they’re in charge on the territory maintenance and gathering herbs. Clerics are too busy making herbal mixtures, caring for clan mates, and communing with Starclan to gather herbs. All of the clans have this role, seeds are gathered by clerics during herb processing and are stored in their den, care takers have learned when the best time to plant is. They focus on making sure the territory is full of diverse and useful herbs as well as making sure over harvesting is minimized. This technically includes prey, but it’s considered less important to the herbs. This type of patrol needs a warrior for 1-2 cats but larger groups are usually fine. Good for cats that love exploring and have a special interest in plants.

Lore keepers- called historians and teachers interchangeably, Duskclan has fewer cats in this role than other clans. These cats are in charge of recording/memorizing the history of all the clans and teaching it to kits and apprentices. They’re in charge of tracking weather to help predict patterns and storms, as well as adjusting tools the clans need and inventing different uses for them. Because of how this role is more of an ‘unseen’ sort of role with no physical product, cats may see others in this role as lazy or weak. Duskclan is a very busy-bodied clan and values tangible progress they can see and feel. Nonetheless, cats in this role are still loved and cared for, they just don’t have a lot of say or persuasion in the clan. This role is good for a cat that can’t or doesn’t desire to do a lot of traveling or physically demanding work, also cats who are good storytellers and have good memory.

Queens- in charge of the care of newborns, pregnant/postpartum cats, and kits under the age of 6 moons. There’s only one in the clan at any given time so it’s a fairly demanding job. They work closely with keepers and clerics to monitor the mother’s health and care, they also give the cats a much needed break from their kits. They often arrange games to help test and build skills they’ll need later in life, small chores to foster a sense of community and responsibility. Especially rambunctious kits are taken on little tours in the territory with a warrior patrol to help with all that energy. This role is great for cats who have a lot of patience, creativity, and enjoy kit sitting. They also work with historians to provide education to the kits.

Code keepers- sometimes called guards and sentries, these are warrior who have studied the warrior code extensively. While it may seem like all cats (especially in Duskclan lol) these cats are particularly educated. They are typically very strong physically and mentally, they’re able to patrol alone and check the borders more often than regular warriors. Most of the time they do the same tasks as warriors, however if the warrior code has been broken or suspected of being broken these cats are in charge of investigating the incident. If there’s enough evidence that a code break has occurred then a trial is held before the clan. One cat represents the accused and tries to either prove doubt or innocence, a second cat is in charge of presenting the evidence to prove the accused’s guilt. Afterwards the leader will decide the next course of action. These cats are well spoken and strong fighters.

Clerics- very busy cats, they have a deep Starclan bond and herbal knowledge. They interpret physical signs and abstract omens officially, so if you had a weird dream bring it to them for determination, however if you come in saying you saw a Daisy floating in the puddle and a bug that drown so that means Daisypelt is gonna try to murder Antfoot in the river…. They’re gonna smack you over the head. They make all of the medicine in the clan that’s gathered by carers.

Warriors- this is a catch all role, if you’re not a specific role you’re a warrior. It’s similar to cannon, they hunt and patrol. Duskclan warriors are utilized a lot for escorting other roles around, they also spend a lot of time training for physical improvement. Small competitions are common and encouraged.

Leaders and deputies- same as cannon, the deputy oversees day to day operations while leader supports their clan in the field and manage larger projects.

Apprentices- starting at 6 moons and ending after a passing assessment usually around 12 moons, apprentices in other clans spend 3 moons learning the basics of hunting, fighting, etc like cannon then if they would like to specialized in a specific role they get assigned to a new mentor. But in Duskclan they are apprenticed in specific roles and stay with that mentor their entire apprenticeship. Switching isn’t common as the clan is pretty thorough on screening what role a kit would be best at.

Mediators- plot twist DUSKCLAN DOESNT HAVE ANY! No one is surprised at this point I’m sure. This role is considered unnecessary, but not for the reason you’d think. Duskclan cats are raised to be vocal and advocate for themselves, to pursue personal development and goals, so they’re actually pretty good at settling disagreements between each other. Major disputes will be brought to the deputy, leader, clerics, or a senior member of whatever role the individuals are in to be settled, which is fairly uncommon. For disputes or discussions with other clans it’s handled by the leader and clerics.

Alright so this post has gotten pretty long, so I’m gonna end it with this picture of the current leader, the clan founder, and a typical Duskclan cat (in this case a camp keeper).

[foodffs]

Ground Turkey and Tofu Scramble with Veggies Ground turkey and tofu scrambled with veggies is a delicious and healthy dish that is packed with protein and nutrients.

Recipe: https://omnivorescookbook.com/turkey-and-tofu-scramble/

[r0-boat]

taps empty gift card against table

So werewolf!Red, huh?

∾ 【 Rouge Anon 】

Big Red Wolfie boy! Give him head pats and scratches

Werewolf!RedxGn!reader hcs

+wereMountainLion!Blue

Life on Mount silver

You live secludedly at the Foothills of Mount Silver. Not all of the mountain is covered in snow. There are beautiful fields of green where the snow melts, giving the plants water and nutrients to thrive. Fertile soil falling from the mountaintop's water eroding the ragged rock into soft, leveled soil perfect for your little cottage and the food you grow to sustain you and your Little livestock animals. You make the wheat and veggies and too delicious bread and home-cooked meals, and the leftover seeds go to your hungry chickens. Your compost bin is filled with nutritious rotting food for the worms you use as bait for to catch fish in the rivers nearby.

Discussing and screams of your chickens had an alarmed you. Abandoning your breakfast you had been cooking on the stove You rush outside your cabin. With a shovel in hand you were prepared for the last time that pesky fox will try to sneak into your chicken pen! When as you get closer do your coop you've noticed the chicken wire you place to keep the natural predators out we're torn and ripped open and your poor little sweet chickens home giant hole in it One thing was for certain. A fox did not do this. Gripping your shovel and standing your ground you sneak around to get a better look at the hole. The creature who made the damage was still there!

A big beast the size of a man perhaps even bigger black fur large ears a snout with razor knife like fangs. Has your chickens seemingly unharmed coward in the corner The beast in front of them laid motionless it's breathing shallow as it laid unconscious. It's black fur soaked in a red as it pooled onto the wooden floor it's formatted with scratches all over its body as if getting out of a huge fight.

Now, seeing as this thing was damaged and beat up. It broke into your chicken coop, yes, but it did not do any harm. You were fair but not a monster. Even so, you couldn't kill the thing even if you tried. You hated to do this, but your last resort was calling animal control or some kind of service that takes care of these kinds of giant beasts. You rush inside to grab your phone, and when you return, the beast is no more, something that puzzles you more. A half-naked man now lay where the beast was.

Confused and rightfully kind of scared, You still helped the man over your shoulders, blood staining your clothes as you carried the man into your house. Now, you were no doctor, but you knew how to do basic first aid, wrapping up his wounds and soaking the bandages in rubbing alcohol before laying him down in your bedroom; your guest room has been occupied with storage at the moment since you were not expecting a visitor. With your breakfast now ruined... You start to work making soup packed full of soft vegetables and nutrients. He woke up upon smelling the delicious dish you were making.

You didn't hear him You didn't see him when you turned around you jumped the man you helped was right there brown eyes staring down at you never realized how tall he was standing there silently. You held a bowl of soup in your hand wanting to give it to him in bed but.... "I-i found you laying in my chicken coop You were hurt but... I see your better now? I made this for you?"You held the ball of soup up to him You heard him hum as he takes it wincing in pain as he holds the bull gently in his hands He forgotes the spoon drinking it straight from the bowl He lets out a growl shaking his head. "It's hot it's, be careful" You speak softly. The Man let's add a home in return blowing on the soup before drinking again.

He was too hurt to go back to where he once was, wherever he was from, so he stayed with you for a while. He did not talk much, really at all. He only told you his name every now and then, making sounds. You've learned very quickly to know what he meant. You've learned that the giant beast you saw in your chicken coop was him when you finally cleared out to the guest room for him to use somehow; when you woke up, you noticed a giant beast wrapping its arms around you, holding you close. When Red tried to call you down as you were yelling and freaking out, he changed into his human form... Realizing that Werecreatures are real was a hard pill to swallow.

Even when you said goodbye to him, Red was a frequent visitor. You don't even know how to get in. You don't remember giving him a key. You would come back from hiking or guarding in your backyard to see a giant wolf sprawled on your carpet, his tail swishing from side to side beside your fireplace, cold to the touch, and his fur dotted with snow.

Red wasn't very affectionate. He would always be in the same room very close to you, but physical affection was foreign to him. All he would do was lean against you or touch you in some way, and that was enough for him. But you did notice that even when his face would stay blank, his tail would make slight movements. He was a dog, after all, less of a wolf and more of a golden retriever, even with his scary face. And Red happily lets you play with his ears, tail, and fur.

Red came over a lot, It was nice to have a visitor. And red light that he could sleep in an actual bed instead of wherever he could find on Mount silver. Every time he would come over unannounced or announced by a knock on the door It was almost as if you read his mind having extra dinner prepared or the guest room prepared for his stay. And when he would come over with cuts and scratches from tussling with a big animal you would be there to patch his wounds.

It was obvious that Red was protective over you Even when you're out hiking around Mount silver or trying to find natural herbs spices Red watched you from afar. But he didn't notice that other eyes were on you a mountain lion it's claws gripping The Rock it was hiding behind it's paws and thumbs flexing its claws aching to feel flesh around them. The big creature leaped tackling you to the ground. It's tail whipping around You were terrified too terrified to scream You only saw a blur of black and red tackling the mountain lion off you. The two of them tumbled it looked less like a fight to the death and more of play fighting. Red quickly overpowered the lion has it laid out of breath and exhausted on the ground You saw it change its shape to a more human form "so this is what you've been hiding from me?" The human panted giving red a smirk "Buddy how could ya? thought I was closer to you than that!" You flinched one the man stepped closer to you. "Names Blue. Sorry about all that, just felt like play'n. Cuz I'm a big cat and all."He seemed so nonchalant giving you a cheeky smile. "Seems like you already met Red. He don't talk a lot so he doesn't make friends easily so how the hell did he get a pretty human like you huh?" Red still in his wolf form slapped Blue across the head when he called you pretty. "What I can't call your little secret pretty?"

You are patching up blue is wounds later glaring at Red for biting him.

Now you have two giant were animals showing up on announced You didn't know taking in a man would lead to you waking up with a giant were cat pawing at you for food in the middle of the night or him on top of your roof laying in the sun. And Red inside your house laying as usual spot near the fire or in your garden watching your chickens.

[byzerodigital]

Foxtail Millet, also popularly known as 

Thinai, Korralu, Navane, Kakum

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[curatoroffiction]

Overprotective (Part 1)

Based off of this post It all came to a head with The Incident™.

You were frustrated, having just left Levi's room. You'd brought him a series that you thought he'd love, it was much more like some of the stuff he used to be into, which had heartbreak and drama, but you'd heard it had a good resolution, even if it was sad. But the second things started turning sour emotionally, he began to panic. And when he asked if you knew what would happen, and you said "I've heard about the ending, but I saved actually knowing it for you", you didn't expect what he did next. He stopped the show and took the DVD out. This started a long fight that you barely understood. Him being upset that you weren't 'taking care of yourself', and you being upset that he was trying to micro-manage what you watched! You even jabbed at him telling him that "Avoiding the sad stuff isn't healthy!" which only made him more upset. You didn't understand why, so you just left. You ran into Asmodeus, who started worrying about the stress you were visibly under. Stress isn't good for one's health. He first asked if you wanted to take a soothing bath with him, which you shrugged off, thinking that would be the end of it. But it wasn't. He kept badgering you to let him help you destress. It started very flirty at first... Until it became desperate. You continued to decline, and he became more worried, which caught Satan's attention. When Satan heard you were stressed out, several stress-related illnesses flashed through his memory and he became very serious trying to give you other options. If anything, their insistence on controlling another aspect of your life was making it worse. You were on the verge of exploding when Belphegor came around. You called out to him, but he turned right around and walked away. You frustratedly chased after him, but when you turned the corner he disappeared behind, he was gone. Instead, you found Mammon. With the shadiest bag of vitamins you've ever seen. No label, just some random supplement in a plastic bag. "You want some vitamins?" The sight would have made you laugh a week ago, but right now, it was just frustrating. "No! I want everyone to stop badgering me! And for Belphegor to stop AVOIDING me!" "Sounds like you could eat. Lemme cook you up something." Mammon was the one who was the best at reaching out. He'd been slyly learning how to cook on the side, so he could get more veggies and fruits into your diet. And the food he's learned to cook was really yummy. Begrudgingly, you accept, and he takes you to the kitchen, also giving Asmo and Satan a covert thumbs up. The two let him take care of you, seeing that your stress instantly began to melt at the idea of food. That is.. Until you got to the kitchen. Mammon begins pulling out veggies and fruit to make you a few dishes, but Beelzebub keeps hovering around to try to control your portions. No matter how much you told him it was insulting, he just couldn't bring himself to stop worrying. Mammon always makes you too much food, seeing as how he keeps trying to pack in the nutrients like they're going to culminate in prolonging your life indefinitely. Once again, you're pissed, and this time with new vigor. You finally storm out of the kitchen and out of the house, only to see Lucifer coming in from the walkway. And he's blinded by how dangerous it is for you to walk around Devildom alone. He tells you as much and you just shout "WELL I HOPE I DIE THEN, BECAUSE IT'D BE BETTER THAN THIS HELLSCAPE" while trying to brush past him in frustration. You didn't even mean the words, but no one had been listening to you and no one was giving you a chance to control anything in your life without supervision. They've been so controlling and so accidentally belittling, making you feel less-than, making you feel like a child in a house without love. Part 2

[beautyandlifestyleblog86]

Anti-Inflammatory Ginger-Citrus Chicken Bowl

Ingredients:

* 1 large sweet potato, cubed

* 2 large carrots, peeled and sliced

* 1 boneless, skinless chicken breast

* 1 ripe avocado, diced

* Mixed leafy greens (spinach, kale, or a blend)

* 1-inch piece of fresh ginger, grated

* 1 lime, juiced

* Olive oil

* Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

* Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C).

* Toss sweet potato and carrot slices with a drizzle of olive oil, salt, and pepper.

* Spread in a single layer on a baking sheet and roast for 25-30 minutes, or until tender.

* Season the chicken breast with salt and pepper.

* Cook in a skillet with a drizzle of olive oil over medium heat until cooked through. Let cool and shred.

* In a small bowl, combine the grated ginger and lime juice.

* Divide the roasted sweet potatoes and carrots among bowls.

* Top with shredded chicken, diced avocado, and a generous amount of leafy greens.

* Drizzle with the ginger-lime dressing.

This dish is packed with nutrients and antioxidants, making it a fantastic choice for preventing chronic diseases.

[reyesstrand]

⛈️💃🍲 for the Tarlos asks!

thank you!!

⛈️ a thunderstorm knocks out the power for the night. what is tarlos getting up to?

after they check that they have enough supplies (something they both insisted on having in the event of a power outage), they curl up together with some candles and sit out in the living room to be with lou and just enjoy each other’s company. maybe they do a puzzle. maybe they have stormy couch sex. maybe both! as long as they’re together.

💃 tarlos goes on a dancing date. tell us about how it goes.

ooh i think it always goes the same no matter where they are—whether they’re dancing in the club or at the honky tonk—and there’s lots of laughter, lots of carlos jokingly making fun of tk’s two left feet, and lots of eyes on them as the two practically fused together in the middle of the dance floor. it always ends with a little making out in the shadows, too.

🍲 what are tk and carlos' favorite dishes to cook for these occasions: for date night, for when the other is sick, for parties?

- tk: something traditional/classic for date night (wellingtons, beef bourguignon, chicken that takes all day to roast); something passed down from their mothers (gwyn’s matzo ball soup or one of andrea’s pozoles) for when carlos is sick; something easily reheated (little finger foods) or a baked good for parties

- carlos: something understated but impressive and time-consuming for date night (homemade pasta, tamales, risotto, seafood dishes with ingredients picked up fresh from the market); something comforting (splurging with takeout) or super nutrient-packed when tk is sick; lots of little appetizers and charcuterie boards when they’re having a party