#Why does he always drink water like he’s having a spicy margarita

[crowlixcx]

Broadchurch | S1EP6 | Alec Hardy’s Wettest Moments (Part 22)

[inkandpen22]

The Princess and The Pogue (Pt. 8)

Pairing: JJ x Female!Reader / Topper x Female!Reader 

Word Count: 4.1k

Warnings: smut, swearing, underage drinking, drugs 

Part Summary: Y/N must attend the dinner her parents planned. After, she and Topper attend Kelce’s party. 

A/N: not proof read bc school is life rn but I wanna keep updating. ALSO DANG TOPPER IS SPICY IN THIS!!!!

Masterlist

Your dad hands the keys over to the valet as the other Club worker opens your car door and offers you his hand. You accept, slipping out of the SUV gracefully. Rhett meets you, offering you his arm for which you take and follow him inside. 

"I can't breathe," you inhale shapely. 

"Hot?" Your brother guesses as he buttons up his blazer. 

"No, this satin dress doesn't give at all and Mom made me get a size smaller because she thought it made me look thinner," you grumble, tugging at the unforgiving fabric. 

"She's probably just trying to punish you because of the whole diabolical with Crystal," he points out. 

"Oh, I know she is, she hates that some of her and Dad's friends saw it. They wouldn't shut up about it when I got home," you whisper between the two of you as you cross the threshold into the Club. 

You stop in the lobby with your parents a few feet ahead at the hostess podium with Sarah's parents and Topper's mom. You spot Rafe at the bar with a scotch in hand, Sarah nowhere to be seen. If she managed to get out of this dinner you'll be royally pissed, mainly jealous. 

"Where were you last night anyway?" Rhett’s brows scrunch together. 

"After Topper dropped me off I went over to Sarah's," you lie without a hint of hesitation. 

"What?" He frowns in confusion. "But after lunch Rafe, Kelce, and I went back to his house? Rafe said Sarah was with that John B kid.” 

"Yeah, I picked Sarah up before you guys got there and we hung out for a little bit. After, I dropped her off at John B's," you conjure up as you go. 

"So then where did you sleep?" Rhett inquires, pressing further. 

"On Mars, Rhett!” You snap, much to your brother’s surprise. “Jesus, Mary, and the damn camel," you curse under your breath. 

"Why do you swear all of a sudden? It's not polite, especially in this setting," he hisses between his teeth, checking around for any prying eyes. 

"Because maybe I've lost my marbles or PMSing, you pick," you bite back quietly. 

"Whatever, I'm going to go grab a drink," he huffs, holding his hands up in surrender. "You should do the same," he suggests before disappearing toward the bar and lounge. 

You linger in your spot, observing your fellow Kooks go about their business in their fancy dinner attire. You honestly wonder if some of them ever leave the Club or if they keep closets in the locker rooms. 

“One gin and tonic,” Topper announces as he appears beside you with two glasses. 

“God, I love you," you mumble, taking the drink from him and immediately taking a sip. 

He rubs his hand up and down your bare arm. “You seem tense." 

“I’m practically in a corset!" You roll your eyes. 

“You look amazing,” he compliments with a charming smile. 

“Thanks...” You sigh, unsure of where you two stand. 

After this afternoon, after... well... everything said, you don't know the dynamic between you and Topper. Despite the uncertainty, you still depend on him to get you through this dinner. You feel as though your only friends at the table are Topper and Sarah, and even those two don't like each other. 

“Geez Topper...” You huff in disapproval. 

“Sorry! But you gotta admit it’s not exactly the Four Seasons...” He chuckles. 

“Hey Y/N!” Sarah greets, appearing from the bathroom. “Where did you get here?”

“Minutes ago and I’m already over it,” you grumble.

“If you need a ride to John B’s, he’s picking me up after,” she offers.

You exhale deeply, glancing between her and Topper, unsure of what to say. Yes, you have plans with JJ, but you also aren’t confident in speaking about it in front of Topper.

“Yeah, I’ll think about it. I might want to run home first or something,” you satisfy her and remain vague.

“Topper! Y/N! Sarah!” Your dad waves you guys over as the hostess prepares to seat you all. 

“I’ll see you guys out there, I’m going to grab a drink!” Sarah announces before dismissing herself. 

You and Topper begin toward the doors leading out to the patio, a few yards behind your families. 

“Kelce is after a party later, would you maybe wanna come with me?” Topper offers with a smirk.

“I’m supposed to..." You catch yourself before you mention JJ. "Maybe for a little bit.”

“You’re supposed to meet him?” Topper predicts correctly, making you awkwardly take a sip of your drink and avoid his gaze. “Maybe if you drink enough you’ll start seeing two and The Cut wouldn’t look like utter shit," Topper insults passive-aggressively.  

“I’ll come and have a drink, but that’s all!" You agree to go with Topper to the Kelce's reluctantly. "I don’t want anything that Rafe has up his sleeve.” 

“Noted," Topper gives you a reassuring smile.

"Wait," you halt, giving Topper's arm a slight squeeze. You feel the overwhelming need to speak with Topper for a second before you all gather around a table like one big interconnected family. "Do you know?”

“About what?” The boy frowns in confusion. You glance over at your family anxiously, watching everyone disappear onto the patio outside. Topper takes your hand in his and turns to you. “Y/N, what is it?” 

“That our parents practically have the wedding favors picked out," you rush out nervously, unable to fully believe that this is your reality. 

Topper exhales deeply, his eyes falling to the floor. He does know. “My mom has made some interesting passive comments lately," he nods. "I suspected but I wasn’t positive.” 

“My mom spoke to me before we got here," you describe, checking around the room for any eavesdroppers. "She wanted me to gloat, hang on you, and basically show the Camerons that we’re... I don’t even know...” You shake your head frantically. 

“Together,” Topper finishes your sentence. 

“It sounds so ancient but ‘promised to each other,’" you explain in greater detail. "It’s insane! I mean, we’re only in high school!” 

"You don’t have to do anything!” He comes up with a game plan to get you both through the evening. “Let’s just continue as we have been. They’ll be satisfied and we won’t be losing our willpower.” 

“Okay,” you swallow hard with a faint nod. 

“It’ll be okay," Topper reaches up and cups your cheek comfortingly, peering into your eyes. He leans forward, planting a gentle kiss on your forehead. 

__________________________________

Well into the evening, Kelce's house is packed to the brim with teenage Kooks and some tourons that snuck their way in. Music blasts from the speakers in the ceiling and water from the pool are scattered across the tile living room. Everyone's in their bathing suits, traveling in and out of the water. Cups litter the floor and various conversations overwhelm the ears. On the balcony, you find yourself leaning against the railing watching people jump off the roof into the pool below as Topper does lines with Rafe on the coffee table just a few feet away. Your bare stomach exposed by your bikini presses against the cool glass railing, keeping you awake. 

"Come on, Princess!" Rafe waves you over, overtly intoxicated. "Got enough for you!" 

“I don’t want anything Rafe!” You remind him. 

“You will," he chuckles, not believing you for a second. "Once you start drinking you always do. You could just skip the innocent act and let yourself go.” 

Topper rises from his seated position and walks over to join you. He wraps his arm around your waist, pulling you into his side as he leans against the rail. He sniffs a few times, making sure all of the coke remains inside. 

“One more drink and we’re leaving,” you tell Topper quietly between the two of you. 

"I know," he nods, planting a kiss on your temple. “We’ll go.” 

You turn toward, peering down at the people as they mess around in the pool. Topper stands behind you, his arms gripping the railing on either side of you. His chest presses to your back as he leans down and plants a kiss to your neck. You tilt your head to the side, granting him better access, causing him to smile against your skin. You’re not sure why you get this way with him when you drink. You’ve thought it over a million times over the years. Is it because it’s what you soberly want but are too afraid to admit? Or, is it because it’s a way to let go? Either way, you and Topper become insufferable whenever you two get too deep, which why you refuse to do anything. If you get any deeper... well... Bermuda is a prime example. 

1 hour later.... 

The drinks slip by you and you quickly lose track of the number. Tequila shots, margarita mix, gin, and coke, everything's mixed. The music has become louder, the colored lights have become brighter, your senses are doing their best to remain active, but your mind is fading. You love this feeling, not having a care in the world. The weight that your parents have placed on your shoulders has long disappeared. Half an hour ago, you and Topper were sharing a joint with Kelce on the roof and now you two are caught in a beer pong tournament.You're slowly starting to lose interest in the game, eager to jump off the roof into the pool as you've seen daredevils do all night. 

"Come on, Top! Please!" You tug on the boy's arm, pleading with him again to jump off the roof with you. 

He does his best to focus on the game at hand, the ball in his hand to take a shot. He squeezes your hand and brings it to his lips for a quick peck. "One second, Baby." 

Drunkenly, you rest your forehead against his bicep, waiting for him to take his shot. Topper tosses the ball, making it into the final cup and the rules call for no redemption. 

“We win!” Topper cheers, causing you to lift your head. Again! The champions!” 

“Woohoo!” You giggle, raising your cup in the air.

Topper wraps his arms around your waist and picking you up. You wrap your legs around his waist as he spins you. He tilts his head back, exposing his sharp jawline as he peers up at you. Staring into his eyes, you two are so immersed in each other that you get carried away and your lips meet. Neither of you is in the right mind to comprehend it, but this is a pattern. You two get intoxicated on a mixture of alcohol and drugs and your natural touchy friendship gets an intensity boost. 

Kelce whistles at the sight of you, urging you guys on. “They act like they’re not together, then they do that!” He not so well whispers to Rafe. 

"Same shit, different night," Rafe grumbles, clearly jealous. He silently wishes he was Topper. He would give anything to have a chance with you. “I wonder how Rhett would feel learning his sister is a slut for his best friend.” 

Kelce shoves him on the shoulder. “Don’t be an ass. Besides, Rhett knows Topper has a thing for her.” 

“But does Y/N have a thing for him or is it just sex?” Rhett challenges, watching you two and hating it. 

Topper lets you down as your lips part. His hands slip down your waist to rest on your ass, giving it a slight squeeze. You bite down on your lower lip, your attention on Topper's smirk.  

“Hey Top!" Rafe pulls Topper's attention and tosses him a metal canister. "For you my friend!" 

Topper pops open the old Altoids container to reveal a pile of color tabs. "Aw no," Topper laughs, tossing his head back. 

“Woah woah woah!" You place your hand over Topper's before has the chance to even think about taking anything. You glare at Rafe, "what is that?” 

“Candy,” Rafe snickers sarcastically. He rises from his seat position and stands before you, taking the tin from Topper. “Here take one," the boy offers with raised brows.  

You push the container back to Rafe. “No, I said I didn’t want to do anything tonight!” 

Beside you, Topper reaches into the container, selects a square piece carefully with the provided tweezers, and places the rainbow paper on his tongue. 

“Try it, Princess,” Rafe pressures with a smirk. 

You glance between Rafe and Topper. The blonde gives you a wink. "You'll feel good," he assures you, rubbing his hand up and down your spine slowly. 

You think it over for a second to the best of your ability. You said you wouldn't do anything hard tonight, but you also don't want to sober up anytime soon. You feel too good. You wish you felt this way all the time. You love yourself when you're carefree. On a whim, you give in and pick up the tweezers to select a piece. You place the bit on your tongue, earning a mischievous smirk from Rafe and words from approval from Topper. You don't know much about what Rafe does, but you know from watching that it takes a while for stuff like this to kick in, so you wait. 

Thirty minutes later... 

After taking swim minutes ago, you and Topper seek some privacy away from the party antics to dry off. You two travel up to the third floor of the house in the dark, this part of the house practically untouched by the people below. You shuffle along the floor in the hall in search of the balcony. You nearly trip of the runner, but Topper catches you by the waist. 

“Oh shit!” You gasp. Abruptly, Topper squats down and tucks his arm under your legs. You fly up and he begins to carry you bridal style. “Topper!” You giggle. 

“Like a proper princess, let me carry you up the tower!” He jokes. 

“You’re ridiculous!” You laugh as Topper navigates his way through Kelce's room toward the screen door leading outside. 

You tilt your head back, letting your hair flow as Topper carries you out onto the balcony. The night breeze and salty scent of the ocean fill your senses. Whatever Rafe gave you is immaculate. You've never felt so connected to the world before. Suddenly, Topper releases you, letting you fall onto one of those massive round loungers with a squeal. You lay back onto the lounger, pondering the sensation of the soft fabric beneath you. 

“You’re exquisite,” Topper admires, towering over you with a gawking look on his face. 

You prop yourself up on your elbows with a smirk. "You too." 

Topper plops down beside you, sliding to be close to your side. His fingertips glide up and down your arm. “How are you feeling?” 

Your eyes fall shut with a grin. “Like I’m on a cloud," you describe in a whisper as you ponder the sensation of his warm fingers on your cool skin. “You feel on fire. So warm...” 

“Do you like it?” He asks in a whisper and you can feel the warm breath wave over your cheek. 

You hum, focusing on every detail of his touch. You exhale deeply as Topper brushes his lips across your collar bone and planting a kiss on your skin. 

“Do you regret us?” He whispers. You don't see it, but Topper watches you intently with a softly broken expression. He hopes you don't. God, does he want to beg you to be his, only his. 

You shake your head, breathless. "No." 

Glad to say the least, Topper moves his attention to your neck, kissing and sucking hard on the sensitive skin. His hand roams your waist down to your inner thigh, making you inhale sharply. Your back arches off the lounger and toward his hand between your legs. You crave to feel more of him. 

“Are you sure?” He checks quietly in your ear. 

“Yes,” you exhale, too overwhelmed by the pleasure growing inside you to focus on his questions. 

As you kisses Topper, you chase the sensation he’s giving you. You're addicted to the way he makes you feel. Topper's lips travel down from your jawline to your chest. The memories of winter break, Bermuda, every intense moment you and Topper have ever shared are your driving force right now. As Topper leaves a trail of affection down your collarbone to your chest, he begins to untie your bikini. Then, your thoughts fixate on JJ. His face flickers across your mind. Physically, you want Topper, but all you can think about is JJ. You wonder where he is, what he's doing, if he's thinking about you. 

You're so far into your own thoughts that your body goes through the motions subconsciously. You're partially distracted by your thoughts of JJ, but the drugs and alcohol also cloud your mind. You're not entirely sure how things escalated, but deep down you're not shocked. It's you and Topper, you've never been fully satisfied when it comes to one another. You can't help but to feel everything, pondering the glorious and overwhelming pleasure as Topper thrusts into you. 

You bite down on her lip, restricting yourself from accidentally whispering JJ’s name. “Topper,” you pant, focusing. 

“Say it again, Beautiful,” Topper pants, planting a kiss to your chest as he picks up his pace. 

“Please Topper,” you whisper breathlessly. 

“God, you’re so perfect,” he grunts, finding himself getting closer with each syllable leaving your lips. 

Topper is your greatest addiction. He’s everything you're supposed to want. He’s utterly devoted to you and secretly you crave his attention. You roll your hips, making him go deeper inside of you, much to his surprise. 

“Fuck Y/N,” he moans in your ear. 

“Holy shit,” you mutter uncontrollably. 

“You always feel so good," Topper swallows hard. "I’ve missed this. I’ve missed you.” 

Your nails graze down his back, knowing how much he loves that. “Keep going, I’m so close,” you plead, needing him closer though you know that's impossible. 

“That’s it, Beautiful," Topper guides. "Cum for me,” he demands more than requests. 

“Yes, Topper!" You moan, chasing the high. "Yes!” 

“You’re gonna make me cum,” Topper whispers against the skin of your neck and planting a kiss on your jawline. 

He lifts his head, meeting your gaze. The moment is intimate and draws you two together. You nod, staring into his eyes. “Cum for me." 

You feel Topper finish inside you, a sensation you've experienced almost a dozen times, but it's never enough. Knowing that you can make Topper feel so free and satisfied sometimes keeps you awake at night. Topper  settles down on the lounger next to you, panting. 

You glance at one another, meeting each other's gaze as you catch your breath. You two laugh, in disbelief of what just occurred. 

“Wow!” Topper chuckles. 

You raise your brows, in awe. “I know." 

“And I thought we wouldn’t outdo Bermuda,” he recalls. 

“I swear Bermuda was the Twilight Zone or something," you giggle. "I only remember flashes of it.”

Topper's eyes grow wide and he places his hand over yours. “Do you remember when we found Rafe with that Brazilian chick!” 

“Oh my God!" You gasp, turning onto your side to face him. "They were on that nasty leather couch that Kelce spilled the grenadine all over!” 

“We were off our asses most of the time,” Topper remembers, pulling you into his side. His arm wraps around you like a protective blanket. 

“Facts, we didn’t see Rafe or Kelce for most of it," you add with a snicker. "I think my brother slept out by the pool every night." 

“I honestly don’t even remember Rhett after the plane landing," Topper confesses, his eyes flicker up to the stary sky. "Plane lands, a week goes by no recollection of Rhett, see Rhett on the plane.” 

“You’re kidding!” You gasp. 

“Dead serious! I swear we left him at the airport,” Topper elaborates with a wide grin. 

“He carried you home from the bar that third night!” You remind him. 

His eyes grow wide, utterly surprised. “I thought that was you!” 

“How could it have been me?!” You swiftly counter, laughing harder than you have in a while. 

“That’s why I was so confused!” He reasons. 

“You’re insane!” You struggle to say between fits of laughter. 

You two share in your laughter, not having had a moment like this in a while. You guys have had so much going on that the last time you truly felt at peace together and free to let go was Bermuda. Had you known that coming home would've meant the end of your two's peace of mind, you're not sure if you would've left. You rest your cheek against his chest, settling in comfortably. 

“I’ve missed this. I’ve missed us this way,” he confesses softly. 

“I forgot how good it could be,” you admit with a content smile. 

 Topper glides his fingertips up and down your spine. “Well, I guess that proves it then.” 

You lift your head, resting your chin on his chest to meet his gaze. “Proves what?” 

“It’s JJ,” Topper sighs, giving you a knowing look. 

Your brows scrunch together in confusion. Swiftly, you shuffle through your memories of minutes before, did you say JJ's name? You're almost certain you didn't. You did everything in your power not to. “What do you mean?” 

“I can tell," he shrugs, bringing a hand up to brush your hair away from your face. "It felt great but also different than before. I knew when I had you. I don’t anymore.” 

Your eyes fall to your hand resting on his chest, avoiding his gaze. He caresses your cheek lovingly, despite knowing the truth. “I’m sorry, Topper...” you mumble, full of guilt. 

“It’s okay," he tries to reassure you. "You can love two people at the same time, just in their own way.” 

"I just..." you sit up, frustrated and unable to fully put into words what you're struggling with. Topper sits up beside you, rubbing your back. "When I'm with JJ I'm this one person and when I'm with you I'm completely different! I'm not sure which one is the real me." 

"You don't have to have all answers, just take it day by day," he advises reasonably. "Right now, let's just forget everything else and be here. Nothing can bother us here." 

You exhale deeply and Topper guides you to lay back down. You two stare up at the sky in each other's arms, the faint sounds of the party below not invading either of your minds. The warm night's air breezes by, coating you in a shield of peace. 

“Do you think ten years from now we’ll still be doing this?” Topper wonders. 

“Kinda wanna be married by then,” you giggle. 

“I know, I’d be your side hoe,” he clarifies. 

You swat him on the arm. “Topper!” 

“What!” He laughs. 

“You can’t plan on cheating on your future wife!” You argue playfully. 

“But it’s you, you don’t count!" He reasons. "It’s the Y/N Hall Pass. My wife is wife, obviously my life partner, but you’re... well you’re you," he adds gently, unsure how to describe it. 

“Wow, that’s real flattering,” you joke. 

“You know what I mean!" He rolls his eyes but struggles to hide his amusement. "You know that movie you made me watch last month uh... My Best Friend’s Wedding!” He remembers. You hum, of course, you do, you love that movie. Topper continues, “well, you’re my Julia Roberts.” 

“You want me to try to break up your wedding?” You question, wondering where he's going with this. 

“No, no! Well... if you really think she’s not the one but that’s beside the point," he shakes his head. "I’m talking about what Cameron Diaz said in that elevator scene.” 

“He’s got you on a pedestal and me in his arms,” you quote, predicting his intention. 

Topper tucks his finger under your chin, making you lift your head to meet his gaze. His eyes pour into yours with such intensity, you know he means whatever he's going to say with the utmost certainty. “No one can compete with you, Y/N. Whoever I end up marrying, if I end marrying anyone, they’ll have to be okay that.” 

You lean forward, gently pressing a kiss to Topper's lips. You're not sure if it'll be your last one, but either way, it reminds you of a farewell or closing note. Topper deepens the kiss, bringing his hand to the back of your head, pulling you in. It carries more passion and longing than any other kiss you two have shared, and you've kissed a lot over the years. 

After a couple of minutes under the stars, you and Topper agree that it's time to return to the party before anyone comes searching for you. 

"Wasn't a bad last hoorah if you ask me," Topper concludes as he helps you tie up your top. 

You spin on your heels to face him, bringing your arms to rest on his shoulders. "We really went out with a bang, pun intended." 

"If he ever breaks your heart, I'm first in line," he winks, bringing his hands to your waist. 

You lift your hand to his cheek, caressing his cheekbone with your thumb. "I want you to be happy, even if that's not with me." 

He scoffs, holding back his emotions. "Why does it feel like we're breaking up?" He tries to laugh it off. 

"In a way, we are..." You admit, causing Topper to look at you with surprise. He hadn't expected you to agree, though deep down, he hoped you would. 

He slips his head to the side and presses a kiss to your palm before lowering your hand to rest within his. "I'm slowly coming to terms that it may not be you, though I always imagined it was. I sorta feel like I'm starting from scratch. Whenever I envisioned my future, it was with you. Now, the face is blank. I have no idea what's going to happen," he confesses with a breathless laugh, a hint of worry behind the sound. 

"How exciting!" You encourage. 

"Always the optimist," Topper chuckles, before draping an arm across your shoulders and guiding you toward the doors. "Us ending up together would've been too easy anyway. I hate being predictable," he frowns in disgust. 

"Agreed, far too simple," you nod. 

Topper pauses before the door leading out to the hallway. Once you two leave the safety of the third floor, this time you've had alone will be over. Things will never be the same once you close this chapter. Topper peers down at you, longing to tell you. “You know I’ll always be there for you, right?” 

You nod slowly, certain of his words. “Me too, Topper.” 

He leans down, planting a long kiss on your forehead and you can feel the struggle behind the action. Everything about this is bittersweet. “I love you." 

“I love you too," you whisper. 

_________________________________________________

Masterlist

Tags:@starkeythinker @bethii1 @thegunnerkelly @cc13723things  @hockeybabe87​ @jolomez​ @plutooryectors 

[universallywriting]

Steven/Connie double date (other couple your choice)

two in one

tw: recreational legal drug use (alcohol)

------------------

Steven still had a knack for embarrassing himself, despite being twenty-five and, in theory, well beyond his awkward teenager years. But he both lacked a filter and a fear of trying new things, which turned out to be the perfect combination for humiliation. All too often he shared personal information too easily, he tried new food and drinks that led to incredibly, embarrassing suffering, and regularly attempted physical stunts that left him with bruises on more than just his ego.

On the other hand, Connie had long ago transcended her childhood awkward stage. Somehow, she was a constant presence of unflappable poise, beauty, and wit. That was the kind of thing that happened when someone was preparing for a career in public speaking, and it could be a little annoying to have a partner so poised.

Except for the fact that he knew it was all a lie, and it was all too easy to knock her off her feet in the right situation.

“You’re painting again?” she asked Daniel over a dinner double date. “That’s amazing! I wish I could get back into my hobbies again.”

And he, one margarita in, put his head against hers to lovingly quip, “I wouldn’t called fifty thousand words of Sonic Boom fanfiction abandoning your hobbies.”

Daniel and Patricia cracked up immediately, and he could see the flustered looked on Connie’s face turn into giggles. Of course she wasn’t going to say anything - if she said nothing, there was a chance it could be a joke, and not that he had just outed her very real, ever-growing trove of fanfiction.

When the waiter swung by, he decided to get a double shot mojito, and a dish that was marked as spicy. It was a fun night, after all, and it took a lot to get him drunk.

And, as for spice, well… he was used to making a fool of himself. But he was absolutely going to drag her down with him if it was the last thing he did. Conversation continued as he took his drink fast, enjoying the odd burn that slipped from his throat to his belly - the beginning of a sleepy fuzziness starting to creep across his brain.

“Connie’s always been a nerd,” he remarked, grinning, because it was hilarious that everyone seemed to forget that but him. “No one notices because she’s so cool now, but she’s a huge nerd.”

“We’re all a little nerdy,” Patricia said. But he had vibes from that - the kind of vibes that said Patricia meant she watched sci-fi sometimes, or that she was very good at school.

“No,” he corrected. “I mean she’s a huge dork.”

Before he could see his wife’s face, the waiter slid by the table. Steven asked for another mojito and whatever look Connie had before is replaced with warning. “Should you?”

“Shouldn’t you?” he retorted, then beamed at the idea. “Can we get a long island iced tea?”

“Who’s going to drive?’ Connie said, and the waiter hovered by the table as he waited for them to settle it.

He waved his phone. “Rideshare.” He could tell that she was tempted. She rarely drank, but long island iced teas were her favorite. They were also very alcoholic, and she was very bad at alcohol. He said, with only the slightest bit of condescension in his tone, “Do you want wine? I know you’re a lightweight.”

She took it like a challenge, like he knew she would, and made up her mind straight away. She looked up at the waiter with her politician smile and said, “No, I want the tea. Thank you.”

She was a lightweight though, and he was quite happy with himself as he looked back at Patricia again. “I don’t mean that, like, Connie likes Star Voyage. I mean that Connie has an Eris account so she can fight about whether there’s a bias against interracial couples in fandom.”

“Well because there is,” she started, her temper went half-up just from the thought of it. But she took a breath and smiled and said, “But, you know politicians. We’re always politicizing everything.”

Boo! 

Boring. 

He tried not to pout, though he was pouting very hard in his mind as he ate his salad. Polished Connie was boring. Professional Connie was boring. Connie with her face on was amazing and wonderful and he loved the work she did but

he was already a little tipsy 

and she was boring. 

He was absolutely delighted when her tea came, and destroyed his mojito with a speed that made Patricia whistle. Connie was slower with her drink as she tried to maintain a normal conversation, but it was a heavy drink. It was her favorite drink.

It vanished, probably faster than she planned, and she ordered another because Daniel and Patricia were drinking too. Of course, he noted as he took a breather with an on-tap beer, the two of them could probably hold their liquor better than his love.

When his food came, he humiliated himself as he expected. His face went red. He felt sweat on his neck. He chugged water like he needed it to live. It was enough to get a giggle or two out of the other couple, and enough for his tipsy wife to regularly be overcome by them.

He was drunk but not drunk enough for walking to be a challenge. Perfect. He’d rather not look stupid if he wobbled on the way to the bathroom. In the meantime, Connie’s composure had plummeted down. Her voice was full of emphasis, exaggeration, excitement - the bubbly girl she kept under-wraps all too often.

Daniel was laughing. “Oh my god, are you serious? By the time you got to high school you were, like, full swan. We only knew you as sword girl.”

“And I worked very hard to cultivate that image,” she insisted, her words slightly blended together with delight and drink. “It’s a delicate balance. I leaned from Pearl. It’s about knowing what is and isn’t refined, and speaking only of the refined things.”

“Exactly,” Steven agreed, trying to sound properly Britishly posh. “We only speak of how compelling the draaaama was on Under the Knife, and never the fix fic you wrote because your favorite children’s book had too much kissing.”

There was laughter all around the table, Connie slipping down her chair as she giggled helplessly, shaking her head. “No! No that’s not why! You are taking-”

“Lisa says ‘you can’t fix an evil empire by kissing’, Connie! You made her say that!”

“This is bullshit! You are oversimplifying a complex situation to the point of no longer adding anything useful to the discussion!”

“That’s a meme!” Patricia cried. “That’s a seven year old copypasta!”

“Steven used to eat flour,” Connie said, a heavy swallow coming from her throat as she struggled to catch her breathe. “He still does sometime. I’ve seen him. I’ve seen him!” “Everyone eats flour. I can just appreciate it without other flavors.” He grinned, looking to the other couple with relish. “In Connie’s fix-it fic Archimicarus gains power whenever Lisa is in pain. So Lisa wears a-”

“Stop! Not the grimdark phase!” she gasped between peals of laughter. “Anything but my edgy phase, please!”

And that, Steven felt, was far more fun than composure.

[jungshookz]

Winemaker!Hobi!!!! y/n is wine tasting with her friend (idk why people go wine tasting but I'm sure it's for parties or something) and she forgets you aren't actually supposed to SwaLLow the wine and gets a little tipsy and she embarrasses herself, and her friend, but Hobi is like uwu she cute

➺ pairing; jung hoseok x reader

➺ genre; sommelier!hoseok, mostly comedy because y/n’s kind of a dummy 

➺ wordcount: 3.6k

➺ what to expect; “the choice to spit or swallow is entirely up to you.”

➺ note; after one million years i have returned with a hobi drabble!! i thought this request was sO good and also everyone look how handsome sommelier!hoseok is :’)) i hate wine but i would chug ten bottles just to sit around and listen to him explain to me how white wines go with creamy foods and red wines go with spicy foods :’)) okay happy reading clink clink!! (gif source unknown but i found it off here!!)

                                        ༻✦༺ 　༻✧༺　༻✦༺

sometimes the fact that you’re friends with kim taehyung genuinely confuses you

not just because you’re complete opposites in terms of literally everything but also because-

well… that’s pretty much it.

the two of you are like... a peanut butter and pickle sandwich!

when you first look at it you might think that combination is a little funky anD could possibly lead to destroying a toilet BUT when you actually give it a try you realise it’s actually pretty great!

…you get the point

so when taehyung told you that he wanted to spend his birthday at a wine tasting event, you really weren’t that surprised because of couRse he wants to spend his birthday drinking wine and socialising with other wine snobs instead of doing something actually fun like… literally anything else in the entire world

you’ve always prided yourself on being a good friend so if wine tasting was what taehyung wanted, then wine tasting was what he’d get!

but, uh

to be perfectly honest

you’re not really a wine person

you’re more of a margarita person

you just don’t see the appeal of drinking fermented grapes!!!!

why drink bitter grape juice when you can drink sugary lime goodness??

why drink something that’s been ageing in a barrel for like fifteen years when you can drink something that nevER ages due to the insane amount of additives in the premix formulas??

“wowiE, check out that spread!” you look over at the round table in the centre of the room as you and tae trickle in with the rest of the participants of the event “is that fondue?? holy shit.”

“hopefully you don’t burn the roof of your mouth again.” taehyung snorts before the smile falters on his face, “…maybe you should stay away from the fondue altogether.”

the two of you take your seats (there are fancy name cards for everyone!!) and you smooth your skirt out before smiling politely at a couple of the other people at the table

so far, the rest of the people here are… to put it as nicely as possible… more mature than you thought they’d be

but then again this is a wine-tasting seminar so it would be a huge surprise to see other twenty-something year olds hanging out here

you feel out of place but taehyung is just soaking it all up

he’s happily chatting away with the older gentleman seated next to him

sometimes you tell taehyung that you feel like he’s a fifty-five year old man trapped in the body of a twenty-four year old

and he never fights back because he knows it’s true

you let out a breath as you take a look around the room

god

you’re going to be stuck here for a good two hours drinking wine

maybe you can sneak away to the hotel bar or something

taehyung probably wouldn’t notice, right?

but would that make you a bad friend?? abandoning him here when you said this was a thing you were going to do with him??

“you know, i see myself as a wine enthusiast. the more i drink, the more enthusiastic i become!” taehyung laughs heartily and the other couples join him

christ almighty  

you’re tempted to ask him which wine-mom facebook page it was that he stole that joke from

“does anyone have the time? i think it might be wine o’ clock soon…”

you let out a quiet groan as you feel your soul literally float out of your body

okay well

that’s your cue

you are ouTTa here

just as you’re about to get up off your chair, you hear the door slam shut and-

“good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen! welcome to today’s wine-tasting event. my name is hoseok, and i’m going to be your host…”

you shift in your seat as you follow the host with your eyes

you feel your heart skip a beat when he spins around to face the table

oh

he’s handsome  

like vERY handsome

perfectly tousled dark brown hair

bright twinkly eyes

his nose is literally perfect!!! perfectly slanted and perfectly pointed!!!

and his smile!!!!! it’s shaped like a heart!!!!! how precious!!!!

the thin gold chain hanging around his neck winks at you under the lights and you swallow thickly

it seems as though you’ve found a reason to stay at this event

as hoseok begins to explain how the structure of the event is going to pan out, you find yourself paying extra attention to the way his lips curve around certain words

“as you’ve probably already noticed, there’s an abundance of different dishes in front of you that’ll go great with some of the wine you’ll be tasting today… over here, a roasted fruit and cheese platter… a smoky three cheese fondue with some freshly baked french baguette slices on the side… popcorn with sesame glazed pistachios…” he slowly makes his way around the table as he introduces each of the dishes and you feel your heart drumming away as he gets closer and closer to you, “dark chocolate sea salt cashews… baked brie with figs and walnuts…”  

and you think it might be a nervous habit or something but whenever he pauses his tongue pokes out quickly to lick over his bottom lip

whatever it is it’s cuTE

as he passes you and tae you catch a whiff of his cologne and for some reason you instinctively cross your legs

and when hoseok looks directly at you your thighs automatically squeeze together and-

oh god

okAY you need to relax

why don’t you just stare at the fondue or something??

ya

you’ll do that

you immediately look down at the three cheese fondue and you begin counting how many chunks of baguettes there are on the plate sitting next to it to keep you distracted

it’s a shame you’re staring down this fondue instead of paying attention to hoseok because you don’t notice the way his eyes scan over you before he’s quickly looking over at someone else

“i believe it’s essential to expectorate when you’re tasting a wide variety of wines, but i’m well aware that some people might not be comfortable with spitting into cups and pouring that into a dump bucket, so-“ you look back up at hoseok after you finish counting the baguette chunks (you counted twenty six but some are hidden under others) “the choice to spit or swallow is entirely up to you.”

you immediately choke (on nothing??? apparently??? goD you’re lame) and reach over to grab your glass of water to keep yourself from bursting into giggles

tae gives you a couple pats on the back before rolling his eyes playfully

you find toilet humour pretty funny so he’s not surprised that you chokEd over the spitting or swallowing thing

the corner of hoseok’s mouth twitches in a smirk when he hears you whisper: “in my humble opinion, spitters are quitters-“ to your friend before you’re pressing your lips together and holding back a grin

he looks at your name tag quickly

y/n y/l/n

how cute

“so you’re going to want to hold the glass up and examine the wine against the light,” hoseok explains, “what you’re looking for are colour and clarity.”

you let out a little sigh as you prop your cheek up on your fist while the other hand holds up your glass on wine

you look down at the information sheet on the table

it’s basically just a list of the wines that you’re trying today and you’re still on number one

it’s been like fifteen minutes!!!  

there are seven wines you have to go through!!!

this hoseok guy is hot but gee whiZ he really takes his time with things

you could probably explain the wine better and faster than him!!

the colour of the wine is red!

…and you don’t know what clarity means so you’re just going to say that the clarity of the wine is also red!

“now stick your nose into the glass and give that a good whiff. what do you smell?” hoseok pauses as he looks around the table

“i’m getting notes of… i’m thinking strawberry…?”

“yes, so am i!”

“is it strawberry or cherry? i feel like it’s easy to mix those two up.”

“there’s something nutty… i’m picking up something nutty but i’m not quite sure…”

“it smells like wine to me.” you blurt out and tae elbows you when you get a couple irritated glances from your fellow wine buddies

what???

were you wronG??

you lean over to get closer to tae, “when are we drinking??” you whisper as hoseok continues to babble on about the different notes that you should be picking up on

“hush.” tae scowls before nudging you back

goD

this is torture!!!

“go ahead and give that a taste.”

aH

there we go

you tilt your head back as you down the wine in one go

down the ol’ hatchet!

also

another reason as to why you’d be a much better sommelier than hoseok: his serving sizes are tiny!!!! how are you supposed to properly taste and appreciate the wine when he gave each of you like a tiny baby shot of it??

“now, this wine pairs particularly well with the dark chocolate sea salt cashews, so feel free to try that combination.”

you perk up at the mention of eating

noW we’re talking

>:)

so

since the two of you are here for him, taehyung didn’t think that he’d have to worry too much about you

because today is his day! he should be able to enjoy his fancy wine tasting event! he wants to chat about how the creamy brie cheese compliments this rich white wine! he wants to learn about how different types of glasses can change the way you taste a certain type of wine!!

but NO

he doesn’t check up on you for good half an hour and thIS is what he gets

you’re wasted

zooted!!!

completely gone!!!!

you’re slumping back against your chair with a dopey little smile on your face while trying to balance a little chunk of camembert cheese on the tip of your pointer finger

“y/n, you weren’t- you weren’t supposed to drink all of the wine, you blockhead-“ taehyung whispers as he plucks the cheese off your finger before using his napkin to wipe your hands clean

“well, i believe in noT being wasteful, sooOo i think you might be in the wrong here, mr. look-at-all-the-wine-left-in-my-glasses-“

“alright, so this next one is a merlot,” hoseok explains as he makes his way around the table to fill everyone’s glasses up, “in terms of flavour, it’s definitely more fruit-driven and has a more cherry-like aftertaste. it has a smoother finish compared to the cabernet sauvignon that we tried earlier…”

taehyung whacks the side of your leg when hoseok gets closer to the two of and you immediately straighten up in your seat

“wine me up, monsieur.” you hold your glass up for hoseok and offer him a bright smile

he chuckles and plucks the glass from your hand before setting it back down on the table

taehyung gives you a warning look before reaching up slowly and gesturing to keep your lips zipped

you raise your hands in defence before zipping your lips and throwing the key away anD blinking hard (it was supposed to be a wink)

taehyung raises a brow

you can’t zip your lips anD lock your lips that doesn’t make any sen-

you know what

it’s fine

as long as you don’t say anything else for the remainder of this session it’ll be fine

“everyone has a little in their glass? good. go ahead and give that a taste.” hoseok clears his throat before turning to put the bottle down

you take a small sip of it before tilting your head back and-

gurlrulrulrurlurlurrgurlugr-

“what the hell are you doing?!” tae hisses as he gives your arm a hard pinch

you choke and give your chest a couple hard pats before grimacing

“god, that did noT go down smoothly.” you whisper loudly and shake your head, “i’m giving that one a sssaaad face.” you slur as you doodle a little frowny face next to the name

taehyung’s eyes widen as he looks at what you did to your information sheet

where did you even find a pen????

‘not good very bitter if ass was a flavour then this would be ass juice’

‘supposed to be complimentary with aged cheddar but i think it would go better with a kraft single’

and then in thiS corner there are several attempts of you trying to spell sauvignon blanc and they’re all scribbled out

‘sawvinion bank. solveingrown blank. sawnananananananananananananananana batman!!!!’

oh dear god

you slap tae’s hand away before scribbling something new down

‘tasted better after gargling.’

oh dear GOD

“everything alright over there?” hoseok chirps and taehyung gives him a sheepish smile before nodding quickly

“all good! sorry, we’re all good.”

“alright, does anyone have any questions for me before we move on to-”

“oOh, i have a question!! i have one, i have one, pick me-“ you wiggle your arm around and hoseok nods in your direction

“yes, y/n?”

“i think, i think that we should order, um, we should, we should order a pizza. because these water crackers or whatever you call them are nOT doing it for me, like, look at this-“ you pick one up before popping it into your mouth and chewing obnoxiously, “fho dhry. fho DRY-” you let your jaw drop and taehyung suppresses a groan of mortification when what looks like straight up saND falls out of your mouth and sprinkles right into your wine glass

“oh, god. please stop, please stop-“ taehyung winces and quickly reaches over to snap your mouth shut

you slap tae’s hand away before swallowing your bite

“so, thoughts on this pissszzzaa?” you slur as you reach for another water cracker (tae moves the plate away before you get a chance to grab one) “is pepperoni okay with everyone? yes? yes? good? nice? yum? hm?” you look around the table while nodding enthusiastically, “barbara, my love, i noticed your earrings are from chanel which can only mean you’re loaded so because of tHAT i think you should be the one to pay for this extra large, cheese-stuffed crust pepperoni-

“okay! i think you need a time out-“ taehyung chuckles and gets up before grabbing you by the arm and yanking you up off your chair

“time out??” you gawk as you stumble over your feet, “i’m not three years old, taehyung, i- oOh, barbara, dahling, if we order within the next five minutes, we can get two cans of coke on the HOUSE-!“

sLam

“-you’re going to sit here and do nothing, got it?” taehyung scolds as he helps you get settled on the ground next to the door of the room

“i gotta say, i think all this wine is making you a little catty-“ you purr before playfully batting at taehyung’s face

luckily he moves before you get the chance to scratch his cheek

tae pinches the bridge of his nose in frustration and shakes his head, “y/n, you know you’re one of my best friends and that i care a lot about you, and i appreciate you being here with me but- today was supposed to be my day! my day! so can you please just sit here and behave? please?”

even in your drunken haze you can see that taehyung is upset with you and that’s enough to sober you up a little bit

you didn’t mean to upset him :-(

you were just trying to do this wine tasting thing right!!!!! and you weRe technically tasting the wine.,. just maybe a little too much of it.,,.

you nod slowly and reach up to zip your mouth shut

“good. the water dispenser is right there, so stay hydrated.” he gets up off the ground and dusts his knees off, “and we can order a pizza after this is over, okay?”

you nod again and offer him a meek little smile

you spend the next twenty minutes staring at the wall in silence

occasionally you looked around to see if anything besides nothING was happening

you did get up once to get yourself a little paper cone of water

and then you put the cone on the top of your head like a little party hat

but theN you realised that putting a white paper cone on top of your head was just you giving yourself a dunce cap which… was actually pretty fitting in this situation  

at the twenty-eight minute mark the door opens quietly and you immediately perk up because you automatically assume it’s tae  

“it’s y/n, right?”

“oh, uh-“ your eyes widen as hoseok slides down the wall to plop himself down right next to you “yes? yeah. i’m- yes, i’m y/n.”

“i noticed you were a fan of the dark chocolate covered cashews, so-“ he holds out a little napkin filled with the cashews before handing it over to you, “everyone in there is currently mingling with each other, so i figured i’d come out here and keep you company.”

you blink owlishly

he’s being pretty friendly considering the fact that the two of you are complete strangers

almost too friendly

…you like that :-)

because you totally like being overly-friendly with strangers too!!!!

in fact, that’s how you and tae became friends!!

but enough about tae because heLLo attractive young man sitting right next to you-

“ah, well, i’ve been staring at that patchy blotch of paint on the wall for-“ you pause to check the time on your phone, “coming up to be twenty-five minutes now, so you’re not missing out on that much.” you murmur as you unwrap the napkin and pick up a cashew before popping it into your mouth

“i, um, actually…” hoseok trails off before laughing lightly, “i wanted to come out here to talk to you about earlier-“

“oh, god. you don’t have to say anything, i know i was acting insane-“ you shake your head before snorting, “trust me, you won’T be seeing me again after the event ends-“

“but i do want to see you again.”

you freeze for a second before turning to look at him

you wait for another second to go by juSt to make sure he’s not playing around with you

“…say that again?”

“i mean… i thought you were hilarious!” he grins, “i know the alcohol was definitely a contributing factor, but i took a glance at your information sheet and-“ he pauses to pull the folded up piece of paper out of his shirt pocket, “-i don’t think i’ve ever heard anyone describe the aftertaste of a sémillon like: ‘you know lemon-scented febreze? now imagine what it’d taste like if you mixed sprayed lemon-scented febreze into a glass of bleach, because that’s what this tastes like’.” hoseok looks over at you with wide eyes, “you made this wine-tasting session way more fun than i thought it was going to be!!”

huh!

what a pleasant surprise!!!

cute boy thinks you’re funny!!!!!!

“i’m glad to hear that me humiliating myself was entertaining for you!” you joke before rolling your eyes playfully,“the only reason why i’m here is because my friend is a self-proclaimed wine snob.”

“oh, please. everyone here is a self-proclaimed wine snob.” hoseok rolls his eyes playfully, “no offence to your friend, of course.”

“oh, no. all the offence, please.” you snort and pick up another cashew, “he kicked me out to punish me but i didn’t even wanna be in there in the first place so this is actually super great.”

“ooh, i think i just felt my heart split in half…” hoseok winces dramatically as he presses a hand to his chest

you can’t help but giggle before you look away nervously

now that you’re not drunk off your ass, you feel the butterflies returning to your tummy

you barely know this guy but you’re pretty sure you’re already 500% in love with him

…what wine is he going to pick out at your guys’ wedding?

oOp

okay time to reel it in a little

“-i know this might seem a little out of the blue, but… would you wanna go out for drinks sometime… with- with me…?” hoseok clears his throat

wait what

you look back at hoseok so quickly that your head probably could’ve popped off your neck

he glances away before letting out a nervous chuckle, “i just… yeah, can i take you out?”

your eyes widen slightly

oh!!

you certainly weren’t expecting for him to ask you out but you’re definitely not complaining

“feel free to say no, i just- ah, i don’t know, i don’t usually get a lot of people my age coming to these things, and i feel like you-“

“i’d love to go out for drinks sometime… definitely with you.“ you tease as you nudge his arm gently

hoseok’s cheeks flush before he beams at you

“great! i know a place that makes really good cocktails- say, do you like margaritas?”

your lips part in a gawk

“do i like- do you wanna get married??” you scoff as you sit up straight, “i love margaritas!”

“great! i promise i won’t make you drink anything that tastes like-“ hoseok pauses to look at your sheet again, “‘mouldy grapes after they’ve been trampled on by someone with athlete’s foot’…?”

you flash him a sheepish smile

yeah

you don’t think you’re ever going to be a wine person. 

help me help you make your wishes come tru (aka send me a request)

requested drabbles masterlist

[storysofmyown]

Obey me! A devilish trip

Plot: The brothers decide to take a trip to the beach. It’s all fun and games until a demon decides to ruin it.

Trigger Warning: Foul language, rape attempt, mild violence, mentions of catcalling, stalking.

Word count: 4,254

“Do you think the pastel pink might be a better choice to wear to the beach than the dark pink? I get that both will look good on me because I’m wearing them, but one can only hope to look their best!”

 “They look exactly the same!”

 “You are not even looking! The pastel one is shorter and makes it look like it has a cute lace while the darker one is tighter and makes my butt look better.” Asmo fell onto the bed besides Mc with both bathing suits still in hand.

 “Do you really need me to answer that?”

 “Yeah you are right…the laced one makes the sexiest look”, Asmo packed the bathing suit on one of his several suitcases before looking at Mc.

 “Do you really need five suitcases for a 3-day trip to the beach?”, Mc’s eyes fell on the suitcases before getting their view blocked by Asmodeous.

 “Of course, dear! One of them has exclusively clothes for when we are at the hotel, another has my bathing suits, this one has my creams and face mask for my night-time routine, that one has some special gears in case something spicy might occur, and the last one has some extra clothing just in case.” Mc rolled their eyes at him before leaving the room and Asmo with a mountain to take care of.

             After a while of accommodating stuff in the suitcases Asmodeous piled them up on the side of his bed just in time for Lucifer’s check-ins.

 “No.”

 “EH?! C’mon Lucifer! I need the five of them. Do you have any idea what will happen if I leave any of those here?”, Asmo hugged protectively one of the suitcases before Lucifer took one from the pile and placed it on the bed.

 “It’s only a 3-day long trip. Knowing you, half of the stuff in here you don’t need.”  Lucifer started to open the suitcases and take out things from it. “You really have an entire suitcase for creams?”

 “How else would I sustain this flawless skin?”

 “You can take with you five items from this suitcase.” After a fit from Asmodeous and an agreement on settling for 7 items while ruling out the entire suitcase of special items it was time to argue about the clothes Lucifer did not approve.

 “This shirt is too short, this one is almost see trough, this bathing suit looks like lingerie and those pants are way too short.” Lucifer said as he threw the clothing in the floor. Making Asmo have a heart attack.

 “Lucifer! You always do this! What am I supposed to wear to the beach tomorrow if you take out all my cute clothes?” Asmo tried to put the bathing suit on the suitcase again but Lucifer was having none of it.

 “You call them cute? Those I would hardly call clothes. Even if it’s the beach where we are going that doesn’t mean you have to go walking around almost naked. The clothes that I left inside are appropriate. Don’t worry I still made sure you it fits your style. Now, make sure they are all organized in one suitcase for tomorrow.” Lucifer walked up to the door leaving a pouty Asmodeous mad at his cruel fate.

             While organizing everything in it, Asmodeous may or may not have sneaked in some of the inappropriate clothing Lucifer took out, but that was for him to know...and for Lucifer to get mad at later.

                                                    The next day

“Oi! Beel, stop trying to eat the seat belt. And Belphie, rest your head on the door instead of me, yeah?” Mammon yelled at his brothers while Mc, Satan, and Levi sat in the last row of seats talking about last night’s episode of a detective show Satan had recommended them.

 “This is so boriing”, Asmo protested while yawning, Lucifer side eyed them in the mirror before locking his eyes back in the road. “How long till we arrive?”

 “We are close. Maybe another 20 minutes. Meanwhile, I can let one of you choose a song.”

 “Not fair! They are going to play some normie stuff and not what I want to listen to.”

 “You literally wear headphones almost 24/7, just put them on.”

 “Oi! So, you were not actually sleeping and just decided to use me as a pillow?”

  “I am surprised Lucifer is letting us change the song he has played since we got on the car.” Satan smirked a little.

 “You just lost radio privileges, anyone else?” Lucifer changed the station before Asmo plugged in his phone and chose a song at random.

 “Hey! Why do you get to choose the music?” Mc yelled from the last seat.

 “Shot gun has DJ rights.” Asmo stuck his tongue out at Mc only for them to return the action.

 “Lucifer…”

 “Mhm?”

 “…I’m hungry.”

                                                    ***

 “Okay the lady rang us in already, we are on the sixth floor. Let’s go, I’ll give you the keys to the rooms when we get there.” After a very cramped elevator ride, they all arrived at the floor. “Okay, Asmo, Satan and I will be staying in room in 624, Mammon and Levi on room 625, and Beel, Belphie, and Mc on room 626. Here are the keys. In an hour we will meet on the lobby to talk about our schedule. Be on Time.”

 “Hey! Why do they get to share a room with Mc while I’m stuck with Levi?”

 “You think being stuck with me is bad? Imagine being stuck with an annoying lowlife like you.” Levi grumbled while opening the door to their room.

 “OI! I am your older brother, show me some respect.” The arguing faded once the door was closed.

 “All right! Who’s on for a movie marathon tonight?” Mc asked excitedly facing both Beel and Belphie.

 “If there will be popcorn I’m in.”

 “Only if we watch some horror movies.”

 “Pst, Satan.” Asmo whispered.

 “What is it?” Satan looked annoyed.

 “Why are we stuck with Lucifer? He ain’t fun at all. He is going to ruin all my plans.” Asmo complained while holding his suitcase.

 “He probably wants to keep an eye on us.” Satan closed the door behind them and claimed the middle bed while Asmo took the bed closest to the bathroom.

             After setting everything up, and Asmo taking almost half an hour in the bathroom to refresh himself, the three of them made their way to the lobby where Levi was complaining about something while Mammon decided what would be worth stealing to profit off. After a few minutes of waiting, finally, Beel, Belphie, and Mc showed. Lucifer gave some rules which none of them listened to and after a warning about ‘not wondering off to get in trouble, you all need to maintain an appearance even if we are not at school or on a meeting, we need to maintain Diavolo’s pristine image and yadda, yadda, yadda.’ The eight of them made their way to the beach.

           Beel, upon arriving, made a v-line directly to an ice cream stand that was there. Belphie put an umbrella and lied in the sand to take a nap, Levi started to play in his phone, Satan took a book out of God knows where and started to read. Mammon, like an idiot, rented some diving gear claiming that the ocean had all kind of treasures and he was going to find them while Mc laughed at him. Lucifer and Asmo both were at the bar that was in the middle of the beach.

 “My, my, Lucifer I didn’t know you were planning to actually have fun during this vacation.” Asmo teased his older brother while Lucifer scanned the beach making sure no one was dead yet.

 “This is the only thing that will keep me sane trough out the day.” Lucifer flashed a smile for half a millisecond before downing his three vodka shots that already had been served. Asmo chuckled before flashing a wink to the cute bartender who immediately was taking his order.

 “I would like a Devils Seacrest Blue.” After getting his drink and sipping on it for a while Satan decided to join them.

 “Aren’t you having fun.”

 “I’ll have more fun once Mammon decides to accept that there is no treasure under water. The idiot is going to drown.”

 “Look at the positive side, Levi actually stopped playing in his phone for a minute.”

 “…I have to see that for myself, be right back.” Lucifer drank his last shoot before checking that Levi was not suffering from a heat stroke.

             Satan ordered a drink as well and started to make small talk with the bartender. While that was going on, Asmo found some demon staring at him, to whom he flashed one of his signature’s smiles. The demon smiled at him as well before Asmo averted his eyes back to Beel, who had eaten at least 5,000 grim’s worth of ice cream.

 “I am surprised you are not flirting with that demon already.” Satan commented sipping from his Margarita.

 “Not my type.” Asmo commented casually.

 “That has not stopped you before.”

 “I have standard you know, just because a demon looks very ‘masculine’, doesn’t mean I’m going to flirt with them.

 “My mistake, I’ve only known you for like, I don’t know, a couple of millennia; my bad for making assumptions.” They both laughed for a bit before carrying on with another subject for a while. That was, until Satan noticed the demon still starring at Asmodeous. “You said he may not be your type, but I think you might be his.”

             Asmodeous looked briefly at the demon before turning to Satan again and rolling his eyes. He was glad Lucifer had left for the moment or else he would have caused a scene because of the demon. Asmodeous finished his third drink before getting up from his chair and announcing he was going to bother Mc and Mammon for a while. On his way to the water he could feel someone staring at him intensely, for some reason, that bothered him. He always loved attention…when he wanted it, he just ignored it and got into the water to find Beel, who had left clean the ice cream stand and Belphie had joined them. Levi had taken Mc on a trip to the deeps while Mammon was pouty about it.

           After a few hours of messing around and Mammon almost drowning Mc, a burned Belphie, Satan destroying a couple of chairs because water got on his book, Lucifer whooping some asses, and Levi almost adopting a sea monster whom he named Henry 3.0, they got back into the hotel. Lucifer had arranged a for them to eat at the hotel’s restaurant, so they needed to get there before 9, the reason why Asmo was frantically searching for what to wear.

 “Why does this matter so much? We are going to be there for only two hours. No one is going to notice that you are not wearing clothes that literally scream ‘I need people to notice me’.” Asmo glared at Satan before nodding.

 “You are right. What I wear isn’t what screams for attention is just generally me.” Satan groaned as Lucifer came out of the shower.

 “You have until 8:30 to finish, go in now.” Lucifer set up an alarm while Asmo sprinted to the bathroom.

             After bathing and doing hair and makeup, Asmo got out fully covered in a towel still wondering what to wear. Before he could even think about it, Lucifer threw at him some clothes and left the room. Asmo raised an eyebrow at Satan who shrugged.

 “Just get dressed.”

             Asmo was the last one to get ready, of course he was, once he got out of the room, he noticed that only Beel was outside. He explained that Lucifer and the other went ahead to apart the table and ordered him that if Asmo was not ready by 8:50, to drag him out. Without stalling too much, they hoped in the elevator. Beel was vibrating of excitement thinking of all the food he could eat.

 “Do you think they will have human world burgers? I have been dying to eat one since we arrived.”

 While Beel rambled about food the elevator stopped and a demon hooped in, at first Asmo didn’t pay much attention, but when he felt someone creeping in closer to him, he decided to look. Turned out to be the demon that had watched him earlier and was not trying to hide it this time. The demon had this look on his face that made Asmo feel uncomfortable. Coming from the Avatar of Lust it may sound weird, but the way this demon looked at him was as if he was undressing him right there.

Asmo had been with a lot of people in his life, but he had made sure 100% of the time that his partner felt comfortable. But that demon did not seem to care about that, with every second the demon was inching closer and Asmo felt his blood run cold. Luckily, Beel seemed to have noticed this because the moment the elevator reached the lobby, he took Asmo hand and basically ran from there. Before Asmo could even process what was happening, they were already making their way into the restaurant.  

 “Who was that?” Beel asked, and while Asmo was grateful that he didn’t ask with Lucifer on earshot, he did not know how to answer...so he opted to joke about it.

 “Probably some fan of yours truly. You should know that by being as desired as I am people will be leaping at the opportunity to get close to me.” Asmo chuckled, but there was an edge to his voice that Beel noticed.

 “Your fans don’t just stare at you; they try to talk and even get your number or something like that. That demon was doing none of those things.” Asmo appreciated Beels concern, but it also made him feel more vulnerable.

             Once thy arrived at the table, Beel did not mention the demon again. Asmo was immensely grateful for it. But he still felt…odd. Throughout the dinner he barely spoke, his mind was in other places. Like, what would have happened if Beel had not been with him? If that demon found himself completely alone with Asmo?

It made him feel completely insecure and unsafe, during dinner Asmo could not shake this feeling that the demon was lurking around, watching him. None of the brothers or Mc mentioned, even if they noticed, the state he was in. After dinner they all made their way to their respective rooms. Asmo was the first to enter the room and immediately took a bath. He wanted to wash off the feeling of the demons stare off himself. Once he got out, neither Satan nor Lucifer had entered the room. He decided to start with his night routine and after finishing he would pop into Mc, Beel and Belphie room and join the movie marathon. But Lucifer had other plans.

 “Asmodeous, you know that tomorrow we had schedule, at night, to go down the bar of the hotel and check it out.” Asmodeous nodded not looking up from the magazine he was reading. “Well, you, Satan, and I will not be attending.”

 Lucifer spoke as if Asmodeous had no say in the matter, like he had all the authority to just state what Asmodeous could and could not do and he would obey just because his older brother wanted him to. Asmodeous wanted to protest but he knew better than that. If he put up a fight Lucifer would only put more restrictions on him, and he was not going to end up like Mammon. No, he was smarter than that.

The next day proceeded as planned during the daytime, all of them followed Lucifer’s damned schedule to do all the activities the hotel offered. The incidents had been an all-time low with Mammon only attempting to steal the silverware during breakfast once, Beel only eat part of a table, and Levi almost losing it when he saw that Mc bought a limited edition Ruri-chan key chain for him. Now, Satan, Lucifer, and him were trapped in the room with Lucifer in the shower and Satan submerged in one of his books.

The moment Lucifer got out, Asmo went in with the clothes he was going to wear to the bar, and a loose pajama to disguise them. He took a long while in the bathroom, assuring that when he got out Lucifer would be already asleep, and he would only need to get past Satan. And so he did, after leaving the shower he used a little of his personal charm on Satan, which gave him enough time to put a tv show of detectives Satan would like for when the charm wore off. Once that was taken care off, he took off the “disguise”. Finished his makeup, put on some shoes and off he went.

 The ride to the elevator was uneventful, once he arrived at the bar, well that was another story. Demons have always been known to party, and there was a reason for that, and Asmo planned on joining them. He was on vacation and he refused stupid details ruin this, he was not going to pay any attention to what had happened the other day and he was going to live a little. Drink after drink, song after song, Asmo was having the time of his life, maybe the drinks were started to get to him a little, because he got on top of a table and started dancing. He didn’t care who saw or who cheered, he just danced because he wanted to and it made him feel happy.

After the wildness wore off, he got down from the table and asked the bartender for a water. He was certain he saw the face of Mammon somewhere in the crowd but even if Lucifer appeared now, he was content with himself.

 “You put quite the show huh?” A voice came from behind him. Asmo laughed before facing who spoke and feeling himself froze. It was the demon that had stared at him. He put those thoughts behind and just tried to be polite. A few minutes of small talk with the stranger turned into him cat calling and making suggestive comments at him while being a little too touchy. Asmo tried to get away from the demon a few times but he felt trapped in the space.

             Before he could protest the demon put an arm on Asmo waist and whispered something in his ear, making sure to kiss his neck before smirking. Asmo pushed the demon away and tried to walk through the crowd but the demon was having none of that. Once he was a bit away from the crowd, he felt a hand grab him and pull him back in. The hands of the demon hold him against a wall as the demon tried to convince Asmo to go with him into his room. Asmo was able to get away from their grip and made a run to the elevators.

             He pressed the buttons, but the elevators were not coming down and as he turned around to make sure he wasn’t being followed his eyes fell on the demon who was walking fast towards him. Without a second thought he started to climb up the stairs with rapid footsteps behind him. Halfway up the stairs the demon got close enough to grab Asmo by the leg making him fall. The demon immediately pinned both of Asmos hands to the ground while staring at him with such a lust that it made Asmo want to scream. He tried to kick the demon, but he evaded them.

             How could he escape from this one? Even if he was one of the most powerful demons in hell he was not physically strong, his powers in this case would not help because even if he got the demon to look him directly in the eyes and charmed him the demon would not stop because, to put it this way, he was already “charmed”. The demon tried to take off Asmos shirt, but he resisted, the demon slammed his wrist against the stairs and got close to his face.

 “The more you fight, the worst this is going to be for you, I recommend you stay still and don’t scream.” Asmo was horrified as the demon started to kiss him and bite him hard. He felt disgusted, scared, dirty, he was petrified with terror and he only wanted to scream, which he tried but the demon put a piece of cloth in his mouth. He felt the wet trial of kissed leading from his neck to his stomach, the demon was sucking on Asmo skin like it was some type candy, Asmo felt the demons hand unbutton his pants.

           Asmo tried to get away from the demon once again, resisting to him, moving, fight, trying to scream, the demon only pulled him from the hair and slapped him. “What did I just tell you? I was considering going easy on you, but it seems like that’s not an option. You brought this on yourself.” Asmo felt the demon´s nails dig in his skin to the point that he bleeds and as tears ran down his cheek, he felt a weight lift off him unexpectedly.

             When he opened his eyes, he saw Lucifer having tackled the demon off him and Satan was holding him down. Asmo felt someone touch him and while his first instinct was to pull away once he saw that it was Beel helping him to his feet he let him. The next few instances flew by in a blur. One moment he was being pulled up by Beel the next Mammon, Levi, Belphie, and Mc around him trying to make sure he was okay. Everyone talked but he could barely even focus on what any of them were saying.

             Asmo decided to take a bath, and while bathing he started crying while looking at his red wrists. How could he be so stupid as to go down at the bar knowing that demon could be lurking around. For the first time in millennia Asmodeous felt disgusted in his own skin. He rubbed a sponge in every spot that the demon had touched so hard that once he looked, they were red. After getting out of the bath and standing in the mirror he noticed the trial of red and purple hickeys the demon had left on his skin. Asmo wanted to scream and to punch himself for being such an idiot.

             If he had listened to Lucifer and stayed with him and Satan in the room, then none of this would have happened. But he had to go and put on a show while calling attention upon himself, right? After getting dressed Asmo left the bathroom and Mc sat him down on the couch beside them. He was feeling exhausted and just wanted to get back to the House of lamentation. He just wanted to feel safe.  

             He cannot tell how, but before Lucifer entered the room he felt this impending sense of dread shake him to his core. Lucifer stood in front of him while Asmo looked nowhere. He was expecting Lucifer to yell, scream, lecture or even hit him because he had disobeyed him, but he certainly was not expecting Lucifer to hug him.

 “I shouldn’t have restricted you. After Beel told me what happened in the elevator I thought it be safer for you to stay in instead of going with you and making sure you were safe…I’m sorry. Are you okay?” Lucifer sounded broken and at the verge of tears. Asmo tried to brush off the feelings and smiled weakly at his older brother, before breaking down in his embrace and crying.

 “No, I’m not okay I’m sorry, I should have listened to you.” Asmo gripped on Lucifer’s coat was the only thing keeping him from shaking.

 “Asmo, listen to me”, Satan sat by his side, “you did nothing wrong, so don’t you dare think this is your fault at all, okay? The only one who’s at fault here is that…that demon.”  Everyone could feel the fire in Satan’s word’s, but they also noticed that glimpse of tenderness and care for his brother.

 “Do you want to go home?” Lucifer asked with a softness in his voice Asmo could swear he had never heard before.

 “We could leave now if that’s what you want.” Beel spoke softly. Asmo smiled at them shook his head.

 “Thank you, but I just want to sleep. Can we leave tomorrow, during the morning?” They all nodded and Asmo smiled at them still feeling a bit scared.

 “Do you want to stay with us?” Mc spoke, Asmo shoot Lucifer a look who only smiled.

 “I think it might be better if all of us stay together tonight.” They agreed and after pushing the 3 beds together and lying down in them, the darkness of the night made Asmo think. None of this had been his fault, for some reason he had thought it was but no. The only one to blame was that demon who tried to hurt him. Asmo finally was able to breathe, feeling all that weight that was crushing him lift momentarily. The darkness of the night made Asmo feel the warm, he knew his family had his back. That made him feel happy, and most importantly it made him feel safe.

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

Hello once again people! Fun fact; this started as something entirely different but halfway trough i was like “But what if Asmo was aware of the concept of consent?”, and this was born. Hope y’all enjoyed it, and remember to stay safe bye! :3

[lovemesomesurveys]

From Head to Toe

What kind of shampoo and conditioner do you use? I just use a salon shampoo for red dyed hair. I

What’s your favorite color and brand of eyeshadow? It’s been years since I’ve even worn eyeshadow. 

Ever use tinted mascara? I only used black mascara.

Do you think liquid eyeliner is too much or just right? It’s fine.

Lipstick or lip gloss? Lip gloss.

One cosmetic product you can’t live without is: There isn’t one. It’s been a couple years since I’ve worn makeup. What lotion would you want to have a lifetime supply of? I honestly don’t put on lotion very often, but I do like Bath & Body Works’ lotions. Innie or outie? Innie. Where is your biggest birthmark? I only have one, which isn’t big at all, on my right elbow. Are your toenails painted? Nope. Are your feet ticklish? I don’t have any feeling in my feet.

Yummy in the Tummy

What’s your position on sushi? Gross.

What about mushrooms? Gross.

Spicy food? I used to be obsessed with spicy food, but I can’t eat it anymore. :(

Johnny Depp is taking you out! What restaurant do you choose? Would Johnny Depp just be down for some Wingstop? haha.

Favorite drink to order at the bar? I don’t drink.

Favorite wine?

Favorite beer?

Favorite drink to cool off with? Water. Favorite drink to sip by the fire? Coffee. Favorite midnight snack? Ramen. What’s a food both you and your animal companion enjoy? Peanut Butter.

Favorite snack when you’re watching rented movies? I love getting popcorn at the theater, but if I’m just watching a movie at home I don’t usually have anything. What do you cook well? The only thing I cook is ramen, which I think I’ve mastered quite well. ha. Favorite food at a BBQ? Meh, not into BBQ food like hamburgers or hot dogs. I’m more for the sides, like pasta salad or something. Favorite soda when you were a kid? Coke, Dr. Pepper, Mt. Dew (especially Code Red or the blue one), cream soda, grape, orange... Dessert you’re craving right now? I’ve been on a brownie kick for awhile. I like to get these little mini brownies from the bakery section at the grocery store. Favorite fruit to put in a smoothie? I haven’t had a smoothie in yearssss, but I was a simple strawberry and banana type of gal.

Good Times

Who do you know that gives the best hugs? My mom.

Who took you on your most romantic date? I’ve never had a romantic date.

Who do you know that can give a good back rub? I’ve never had one.

What’s a song you and all your friends sing along with? “You and all your friends” cute.

When it’s just you and the girls/guys, what movie do you put in?

Best party you ever threw? I’ve only thrown a couple small parties. 

Who was with you on the coolest road trip ever? The one where several members of my family drove out to Idaho to visit my grandpa 10 years ago. The whole trip was awesome. Who was with you on the coolest camping trip ever? I’ve never gone camping. Sooo not my thing. Who would you take with you on a luxury cruise? I don’t know if I’d ever go on a cruise, honestly. Who’s got your back in a fight? Pfft, I’m not fighting no one. Who makes you feel gorgeous on a bad day? I never feel gorgeous. I have shit self-esteem. Who makes you laugh until you cough blood? Ew, what a way of putting it. Anyway, I haven’t had a real good laugh in a very long time. Like, the can’t breathe, tears, stomachache kind of laugh.  Who would you take with you as a date to your sister’s wedding? I don’t have a sister. Name the first five friends that come to mind.

Hobbies and Interests

What keeps your mind and hands busy when you’re not at work? I don’t have a job, so I’m never at work, but anyway I spend a lot of time on my phone and laptop.

What bars or clubs would we expect to find you at? You wouldn’t find me at a club or bar. 

What magazines do you or would you subscribe to? None.

If you started a book club, what genre would you be covering? Mystery/psychological thriller.

If you could be president of a club or organization, what would it be? Nah. Do you like to shop for clothes by yourself or with friends? I like shopping for clothes online by myself.

Yoga at home or at the gym? No yoga at all.

Where would you want to work, if you could? I don’t know.

Odds & Ends

Did you wish on the last shooting star you saw? I’ve never seen a shooting star.

Are you a fabulous host? No. I don’t like hosting, it’s too stressful.

Why won’t jeans ever go out of style? Because they aren’t limiting and are incredibly versatile – mom jeans, ripped jeans, bell bottoms, skinny jeans, what have you – so it’s been easy to have them adjust to whatever style is trendy any time, any decade. <<< 

Is the truth really out there? About what.

Assuming you ever have kids, what will you name your daughter? Your son?

Has anyone ever crossed oceans of time to find you? What.

Admit it, you loved Dirty Dancing. I’ve actually never seen it. However, I’m very familiar with the movie and know the infamous dance scene where Jennifer Gray runs up to Patrick Swayze and he picks lifts her up above his head. And the line, “nobody puts baby in a corner.”

The Name Game

Who’s the first friend you call when you wanna go out? I don’t have friends, I don’t go out. My going out the past few years just consisted of grocery shopping trips to the store with my mom, the movies with either my mom/my mom and brother/my parents and brother, or doctor appointments, which my mom always attends with me. Ever since this quarantine thing; though, I haven’t gone anywhere.

Who’s the first friend you call when you wanna hang in for the night? I like watching TV with my mom. We have a lot of series that we’re into.

Who do you call when you’re freaking out? I go to my mom or vent about it on Twitter and/or in a survey.

Who do you call to try something new with you? If it’s a new show, my mom. If it’s a new movie, my mom and/or my brother depending on the movie. If it’s a new coffee drink at Starbucks, my brother. I don’t try a lot of new things, so that’s all that’s coming to mind at the moment.

Who do you call when you need bail money? I’ve never needed bail money and I can’t imagine ever being in that situation, but if that ever happened the first person I’d call would be my mom.

Who would kick someone’s ass for you? My mom.

Who would lie to keep you out of trouble? My family.

Who would make you go to the gym, even if you’re too tired? I don’t go to the gym.

Who would come take care of you if you were sick? My parents and brother all do, but especially my mom.

Who would help you host a posh dinner party? I wouldn’t be hosting a posh dinner party.

Who would help you clean your house before you had houseguests? My mom does that whenever we have people over.

Who would enjoy watching Disney movies with you? My mom and brother.

But really, how are you? Shitty. It’s also 630AM, I really should go to bed.

Did you make sure to get in some “you” time today? I’ve had me time all night. I don’t know why I stay up so late.

How many loved ones did you get to talk to today? None so far.

Gonna treat yourself to something tonight? No.

What would you like to dream about tonight? My dreams are always so random and weird.

Did anyone hurt your feelings today? No.

Do you have a furry companion to cuddle up and read a book with tonight? Yeah.

Before we part…

What’s your name? Stephanie.

What’s your sign? Leo.

Ever had Chicken Guadalahara? Nope. Never even heard of it.

Daquaris or Margaritas? None.

Ceasar’s or Bloody Mary’s? None, but what’s a Ceasar’s? 

Mexican food or Italian food? Italian.

Ocean, lake, or river? Ocean.

Cabin in the woods or beachfront home? Beachfront, for sure. That’s the dream. Karaoke or dancing? Both for fun by myself at home. All or nothing? Nothing. ha.

[vitabenedetta-blog]

Vita Benedetta’s Guide to Madison

MadTown. A city characterized by badger red, brats, burgers, and beer (at least that is what I used to think). Moving away from college made me realize just how much I love this city and inspired me to explore. Through downtown areas, Willy Street, and adjacent small towns I discovered an entirely new meaning to Madison. This is my guide to Madison to show you all of the grub goodness and hideaways in unfamiliar places. 

The Guide 

$: least expensive

$$$: most expensive 

Grub Goodness 

The reality today is that social settings revolve around food. Want to grab a coffee? Want to meet for drinks after work? This is practically inevitable. It is important not to settle for boring, overly pasteurized crap that will make you feel like a** in the morning. I mean really, who wants to feel gassy, post cheeseburger when on a first date? Not I. There are so many places in Madison deciding to serve up food that will make you feel bomb. This does not mean you will be eating lettuce and drinking water for a meal. Trust me. Oh and the aesthetics are totally worth the visit. 

Gotham Bagels $

Bae-goals let me tell you. Gotham bagels is located directly off the square downtown Madison and is serving up some banging bagels. The line is always out the door on weekends. You can put about anything in the galaxy on your bagel and customize it just how you like it. The atmosphere is very downtown Boston like. The owner adds a little spunk to the joint since he graduated with his PhD and decided he would rather just run a bagel joint. RAD. 

My go-to: YELLOW C.A.B. 

Cheddar, Bacon, Avocado, Lettuce, Tomato, Mayo Add Egg & Vegetable Cream Cheese On Egg Bagel 

Bowl of Heaven $$$ 

Bowl of Heaven is about as close to California as Madison can get. This quaint bar creates the most awe-worthy bowls and smoothies. The bowls are a bit pricy, but worth a try. It’s the only place in Madison where I have found a yummy açaí bowl. All of the ingredients are real and will make you feel good about your choice. 

My go-to: PEANUT BUTTER BOWL 

Organic Açaí, Bananas, Strawberries, Peanut Butter, Chocolate Almond Milk Topped with Organic Hemp Flax Seeds, Granola, Fresh Banana, and Honey 

Novanta Pizza $ 

Because you cannot forget about the ZAA. This stone fired pizza is something to brag about, with all ingredients sourced from Italy. You can build your own pizza, grab a wine and sit outside on the patio (during Madison’s 3 months of warmth). You will never see much of a wait at Novanta, which makes it great for grab and go because Novanta means 90 in Italian. All of their pizzas are ready in 90 seconds. The pizzas are personally sized so you won’t feel sluggish from overeating. 

My go-to: PESTO 

Mozzarella, Pesto, Cherry Tomatoes, Pecorino Romano 

Marigold Kitchen $$ 

What is better than a boozy brunch after a walk around the farmers market? Be prepared for about an hour wait. Mimosas, pancakes, breakfast sammies, oh my! Marigold Kitchen won “Best Breakfast” in Madison and your taste buds will tell you why. Even better, the customer service is phenomenal. I could not pick a favorite, so here are my best picks. 

CITRUS RICOTTA BUCKWHEAT PANCAKES 

Orange Almond Butter, Fresh Strawberries, Whipped Butter

MARIGOLD BREAKFAST SANDWICH 

Fried Egg, Cheddar Spiked Boursin, Bacon, Tomato, Green Onion, Toasted Ciabatta 

Miko Poke $ 

This spot is goals-AF. For someone who loves sushi as much as me, this place is a win. With the perfect location on Monroe Street you will leave wanting to come back. I am salivating just thinking about it. Poke is comprised of raw fish (tuna, salmon, scallops) on top of baby greens, topped with veggies, and all the good sauces! These bowls are truly Instagram worthy. 

My go-to: HAWAII STYLE 

Smashed Avocado, Cucumbers, Edamame, Poke Sauce, Spicy Aioli, Scallions, White Black Sesame Seeds

Bloom Bake Shop $$ 

You are what you eat, so be sweet. This cute little bakeshop is tucked away on Monroe Street. The focus is all about good food. All grub is made from locally sourced and organic ingredients. The price tag reflects this, but you are doing something good by sending dollars back into the community. Grab a coffee, some brunch, and hella baked goods and be sweet. 

My go-to: WISCONSIN SANDWICH

Classic Bacon, Egg, Cheese, Stoneground Mustard, Flakey Buttermilk Biscuit 

SWEET POTATO DONUT 

CINNAMON ROLL 

VANILLA CHAI TEA LATTE 

Ancora Coffee Roasters $$$

If you are looking for some coffee to keep you awake on these food adventures, look no further. Ancora has bomb lattes and even better outdoor seating. Their mission is to serve the best beans in the world. So you can drink that amazing cup knowing you can be proud of everything that went into it. 

My go-to: ICED HONEY ALMOND ZOMBIE 

White Espresso, Almond, Honey, Almond Milk

 Gloria’s Mexican $ 

Wasted away again in Margaritaville (literally). You cannot go wrong with any of Gloria’s margs! The restaurant is hella authentic; the only thing missing is sand underneath your toes. During happy hour, margs are only $2! DANGER. Just make sure you have an Uber ride home. My absolute favorite is their house margarita. ¡Olé! 

Saints Juice Co. $$$ 

Pressed juice in Madison is hard to come by. Actually, it was impossible before Saints Juice Co. opened this year. In my favorite neighborhood of Williamson Street, you can now grab a fresh pressed juice or mylk to go! The owners are always behind the counter and are extremely passionate about what they do. Feel free to ask questions about ingredients and the process, or just pick the prettiest color drink and go at it. 

My go-to: PROPHE-SEE 

Carrot, Apple, Lemon, Ginger

Tastes like a Capri Sun

Also tastes like you will never get sick again 

Bassett Street Brunch Club $$ 

Avocado toast will always text you back. Bassett Street Brunch Club is a Madison Favorite. Make sure to make a reservation!! They are known for their wild donut flavors and their famous boozy brunch. Because brunch without booze is just a sad, late breakfast. Go check them out on Instagram to see what all the hype is about.

My go-to: TOASTEST WITH THE MOSTEST 

Thick Cut 8 Grain Toast, Avocado Mash, Corn, Black Bean Salsa, Queso Fresco, Pickled Red Onion, and Cilantro 

Café Hollander $$ 

Because who doesn’t want to feel like they are drinking a bloody marry on the rooftop of a Chicago bar. VIBES. This is the #1 restaurant atmosphere in Madison, hands down. You will never want to leave and your phone battery will die from all the pictures taken. The bloody mary and mimosa selection is remarkable. It is a perfect stop for a late brunch after walking through the Hilldale farmers market. Don’t leave without ordering frites with your choice of dipping sides—basil aioli, siracha mayonnaise, Korean BBQ!! 

My go-to: AMERICANA 

Two Eggs, Hollander Potatoes, Multigrain Toast, Breakfast Sausage Links 

BERRY BLAST MIMOSA 

New Amsterdam Berry Vodka, Champagne, Pineapple Juice 

Everly $$ 

Brussel sprouts are misunderstood—probably because people do not know how to cook them properly. Everly takes brussels to a whole new meaning. MUST TRY. This natural lit space is easily the cutest craft cocktail bar in Madison. You will feel 10x richer, classier, and straight out of New York. You might even catch your pinky in the air while sipping on a fantabulous spritzer. 

My go-to: ROASTED BRUSSEL SPROUTS

Gribiche/Shallots/Lemon 

HOUSE BURGER 

Sharp Cheddar, Pickles, Red Onions, Butter Lettuce, Garlic Aioli 

Canteen $$ 

Destination→Mexico. A vibrant, fast paced Mexican kitchen & bar, serving up some famous margaritas that will make you want to shake your booty. I can only vouch for the margs since I have not stayed to try the grub. It is in a great location off the square to grab a few after class or work. 

Pho Nam Noodle House $ 

Serving up authentic Vietnamese that will make your taste buds go crazy! It does not look like much from the outside of the building, but the food is something to talk about. The prices are unbeatable. 

My go-to: EGG NOODLE AND WONTON SOUP WITH BBQ PORK 

Finale 

I hope my guide to Madison provides you with some inspiration to get out and explore the city. The summer is the best time to do so since just about everything is in walking or biking distance. Madison has Red Bikes placed around the city that you can rent for $6 dollars/day. Get out of your comfort zone and do something extraordinary. Try something new. Eat some grub that won’t make your body want to cry the next day. I promise, you won’t regret it.

If you make it out to any of these places make sure to tag #vitabenedetta and let me know how your experience went! Hopefully your experiences will be filled with good grub, aesthetic vibes, and hella Instagram photos. 

Until next time, Madison. Where are some of your favorite spots in Madison? Comment below.

[johnboothus]

Nick Jonas and John Varvatos on Fashion Friendship and the Future of Villa One Tequila

It’s not unusual to see collaborations between creative people. In fact, put creatives in a room and often sparks happen from a simple conversation. That’s exactly what happened when iconic men’s fashion designer John Varvatos met worldwide pop star Nick Jonas at a party a few years ago. The two hit it off, bonded over music and fashion, and a friendship began. Then they put it to work.

Their first two projects under the JV x NJ label — a Varvatos capsule collection including leather jackets and knitwear that was followed by a cologne — debuted in 2018. Wanting to continue working together, they thought about their next venture. Clearly, a natural next step was tequila. So, as any pair of celebrities interested in creating a new tequila brand does, this duo spent time in Jalisco, Mexico. They partnered with the Stoli Group’s Fabrica de Tequilas Finos distillery, where they worked with Stoli’s master distiller Arturo Fuentes, who has three decades of distilling experience. He applied his chemical engineering background to making quality spirits, first working with Cognac, Champagne, and rum — eventually focusing on premium tequila in 2000.

In Tequila, they worked with Fuentes to perfect a taste profile that embodied the vibe of what became the brand’s tagline, “Life as it should be.” After the emotional rollercoaster of a year that we’ve collectively experienced, isn’t that something we should all embrace? Sipping a glass of quality tequila, dreaming of life as it should be — why not?

In late October 2019, Villa One launched first in New York, followed by Illinois, California, and Florida with silver, reposado, and añejo bottlings. Since then, it has earned a number of awards and accolades including the SIP Awards 2020 Platinum, Silver, and Double Gold medals for its silver, reposado, and añejo, respectively. Today, Villa One has national distribution in stores, online, and in restaurants. The brand also recently entered the Canadian market.

Here, we talk with Varvatos and Jonas about how they got into tequila, where they see the future of Villa One heading, and Jonas’s new obsession with, of all things, checkers.

1. What’s the drink that made you fall in love with drinking?

Varvatos: I was traveling in Mexico in college and fell in love with Margaritas. It actually really turned me on to tequila in a time where most people thought it was fire water if it wasn’t covered up with mixes.

Jonas: I think a great glass of wine is always wonderful, and was kind of the first introduction I had to the brilliant craftsmanship that goes into creating something like a wonderful wine or tequila.

2. How did you meet and become friends?

Varvatos: We met at a dinner in New York and talked for hours. The next day, we got together to listen to some of Nick’s new music and we knew that day that we would become fast friends and collaborators.

3. How or why did you get into tequila — and so much so that you wanted to launch your own brand together?

Varvatos: I’ve loved tequila for most of my drinking life. Every time Nick and I were together, we shared our love for tequila and were inspired to create an ultra-premium tequila that was best in class, but still accessible in price.

Jonas: I was first drawn to tequila because of the low-carb, sugar, and calorie intake — as a diabetic and a person that cares about fitness and trying to keep a lower calorie count. Then, I learned more about the way it was made and distilled — and then we worked with Arturo Fuentes, our master distiller; he taught us a lot along the way that got us even more interested.

4. What did you like most about the process to create Villa One? What was the hardest part about it?

Varvatos: I loved everything about the process, from growing and harvesting the agave, to the cooking and distilling; but most of all, creating a super-smooth, unique taste profile. I truly enjoyed learning everything we could about tequila.

Jonas: I think the best part about creating this tequila was getting to work with my good friend, John Varvatos, and bringing to life the vision we had based on a few conversations about what we wanted this brand to represent. Obviously, the biggest piece of that puzzle was making sure we did our best to be top of class. Each bottle was made with a lot of care, focus, and attention to detail. The hardest part about the process was just getting the liquid right. We went through about an 18-month process, back and forth between where John was in New York and I was in Los Angeles, and obviously our distillery, and getting the blend just right, to where we were all very happy — and I think we got there.

5. Your tequila is great for straight-up sipping neat, or on the rocks, but also for cocktails. What’s your preferred style? And what’s your go-to cocktail, with which of your tequilas?

Varvatos: My preferred style are simple drinks. I love the taste of our tequila and don’t want to mask it.

Jonas: I love it neat. That’s the purest form, obviously, but during lockdown I got really into making cocktails and making recipes. One of my favorite things was using our silver for a Bloody Maria or a Spicy Margarita. Also, infusing some chocolate bitters into the reposado and añejo to pull out the great chocolate notes.

6. What’s your desert island drink?

Varvatos: Villa One Reposado with a slice of orange and fresh-squeezed lime. Simple, delicious, refreshing, and healthy!

Jonas: Villa One Reposado on the rocks, club soda, and an orange wedge.

7. What do you like to drink when you’re not drinking tequila?

Varvatos: Other than tequila, I like to drink sake.

Jonas: When I’m not drinking tequila, I like wine or beer. Those are my primary drinks outside of tequila, and the occasional mezcal as well.

8. What’s the best and worst bottle in your fridge, bar, or kitchen right now?

Varvatos: I have a bottle of Hakkaisan sake that I had with my grilled salmon last night. Superb!

9. You’re both pretty famous, but what’s something interesting or quirky most people don’t know about you — like a trait or something you’re interested in culturally?

Jonas: I recently got really into checkers and I have an app on my phone that is basically teaching me along the way. I’ve been really loving to get to know more about that; it’s an incredibly tricky game, and complex. But when you play it with friends, you also get to know a lot about the person you are playing with.

10. What’s the best thing that happened to you during Covid quarantine?

Varvatos: The silver lining for me was spending the most quality time ever with my family.

Jonas: I think the best thing that happened was just getting to spend more time with my wife [actress Priyanka Chopra] and our dogs. Being forced to stay home opened up a lot of pathways for me creatively in the music space — and also screenwriting and [other] things I’m doing there.

11. I want to flip things on you:

John, rock ’n’ roll has inspired your designs and you clearly are a music fan. What’s the best concert you’ve ever seen and why?

Varvatos: Best concert was when I was in college and saw Led Zeppelin. Their music and fashion sense truly had an effect on [my] creative senses that lasts until this day.

And Nick, you’re a musician, but also known for your fashion. What’s a piece of clothing you can’t part with or that evokes a special memory and why?

Jonas: I think for me, clothing is all about feeling confident and feeling your best. For me a great suit has a lot of sentimental value; if I wore it to an event, time with friends or family, those can be really meaningful memories.

12. What does the future look like for Villa One? Any special barrel aging or introducing a mezcal?

Varvatos: We are just in the beginning and approaching our second year, but it’s been terrific so far. So, the next step is creating some limited-edition unique barrel-aged runs.

Jonas: The future looks very bright. We’re so excited about the early fan base we have cultivated just having launched about a year and a half ago. The people who have tried it really love it and we’re so excited to continue to grow that and see more and more people make Villa One their top choice.

The article Nick Jonas and John Varvatos on Fashion, Friendship, and the Future of Villa One Tequila appeared first on VinePair.

Via https://vinepair.com/articles/jonas-varvatos-villa-one-tequila/

source https://vinology1.weebly.com/blog/nick-jonas-and-john-varvatos-on-fashion-friendship-and-the-future-of-villa-one-tequila

[toogoodmusic]

THE TOO GOOD TEN with Hand Made House

Los Angeles pop band Hand Made House - made up of life-long friends Tucker Click (lead vocals) and Josh Nardine (drums) with Maison Thomas-Eudy (guitar/vocals) and Amin Mortada (guitar/vocals) - celebrate the release of their latest single, “Like The Weather” which follows up the seven song project Honestly, Honesty that released late last year. “Like The Weather” gives fans a taste of an edgier side of pop for the four-piece band and one that they’re excited to explore. Get to know know about the new song and the guys of Hand Made House by checking out their Too Good Ten interview below:

1. Hand Made House was originally started and created while pursuing degrees at Berklee College of Music. What aspects/techniques/advice from your time there do you still implement in your music or personal lives?

TUCKER: I think we learned to time manage well. We were working, going to school, and trying to start a band from the ground up. I personally took a lot of inspiration out of being surrounded by such talented people all the time as well. I had some professors that really believed in me and the band and I think that set me on fire with direction and drive.

JOSH: Obviously many of us have direct skill sets that we learned from being at Berklee whether that be production, songwriting, or music business. But one of the best things I feel we learned at Berklee was how to be in a band. Berklee gave us the opportunity to mess up and learn as we go without major consequence. We learned how to build our business and write with people. I attribute a lot of our growth to that community whether we knew it or not.

2. Hand Made House is such an interesting and cool name for a band. What’s the story behind it?

TUCKER: I was writing a song about my friend who was going through a really difficult time and was feeling very alone. The last verse of the song had the lines:

“If hand made house / And heart makes home / You’ve got what it takes / To build one of your very own”

I felt like we had built a home within our band and it felt like we had built it from the ground up. I remember telling the other guys I wanted that to be our “thing” we bring to the music industry. I want our fans to want to feel like a community when they come to ours shows. So, we pulled that line and named the band!

3. Being in a band can feel more like being in a family which can have its benefits and challenges. What’s each member’s strongest contribution to the band? How do you guys normally sort out creative differences?

MAISON: Yeah, I feel like we can identify as a family more than most since most of us live together and have lived together for years. We always talk about just how crazy it is that it just works. I mean, we obviously have our moments but we usually sort everything out when it comes up. I don’t think we ever leave a room still dwelling on a problem - we always just talk it out until everyone is back to messing around again. As far as strengths, I think Tucker and Josh have a really good sense of organization. They are the ones to make sure projects get done. Tucker always pushes people to be their best selves and do everything they need to. Josh is always right there with him doing the fun nitty gritty behind the scenes stuff. Amin is the most creatively driven, he always wants to write new stuff and sends new ideas to our group chat every week. I’ll throw my strengths to comic relief.

AMIN: Generally, all our songs are collaborations within the entire band. Usually, Josh and I are heavily involved in the early stages of a song. We’ll workshop an instrumental track a few times before its picked up by Tucker and Maison to be developed even further. When it comes to dealing with creative differences I take the approach of thinking about what’s best for the song rather than what I think is right for me. I think it’s important to separate your emotional attachment from an idea and look at the bigger picture. Generally when the band is running things that way we come to an agreement/compromise much faster.

4. Congrats on the release of “Like The Weather” which you guys have described as your “edgy comeback” after last year’s pop-driven EP, Honestly, Honesty. What was the inspiration behind this one? Why did you feel inclined to comeback “edgy” than straight pop-focused?

TUCKER: I remember writing this on our drive to LA, while we were still releasing Honestly, Honesty. I think I had a lot of bitterness from being stuck inside due to quarantine and was generally upset with the direction of the music industry at the time. I also had a conversation with Amin and Josh about how I was getting serious imposter syndrome about our last EP, because they’re generally happy songs, and I simply wasn’t happy. I feel like “Like the Weather” is my first touch on a slightly different lyrical style I’ve always wanted to do, and pushes us in a direction I’ve always wanted to try.

JOSH: You know, for the most part we all come from Rock/Punk backgrounds. It’s what we all grew up on and pulling from that felt right for us. About a year ago we had a pretty strong realization while writing Honestly, Honesty about what our identity and sound as a band would be and could be. Back then we struggled to know what the right move was when we were writing those “pop” songs that made it on that EP. We didn’t know how we could possibly transition to that sound and It was a bit of an identity crisis for us as a band. I think we all realized the nature of modern music is very Genre-Fluid and that’s been the approach we’ve taken ever since. “Like The Weather” I feel is the culmination of all those things. I think it’s the beginning of Hand Made House working to create music without restraint.

5. One of the lyrics in "Like The Weather” is “I get drunk / I go and get tattoos” What’s every members go-to drink order when out at a bar? Have you guys drunkenly gotten tattoos before?

TUCKER: It depends on the bar, but I have to say - I love a margarita. And funny enough, the first month of quarantine I gave myself a stick and poke tattoo at like 5 AM after a night of multiple spicy margaritas. It turned out surprisingly good.

MAISON: Well, I’m definitely allergic to alcohol. So, probably water. However, I do wish I could drunkenly get tattoos. One time I had a dream I got a tattoo, and I still want that tattoo.

AMIN: If it’s the afternoon, definitely a Bloody Mary. Night time, I’ll take a nice IPA. Yup...I don’t wanna talk about it.

JOSH: I’m not a big drinker, in fact I barely ever. However margaritas are really wonderful mostly for the salt rim.

6. You guys recently played the Music Lives 2021 Live Stream festival. What was the experience like? What’s one of the biggest learnings from putting together a performance for a massive live stream like that?

AMIN: Honestly, it was just like any rehearsal. You guys got a sneak peak of what rehearsal looks like during that show. It was super fun and its a great feeling being part of such a great line up.

JOSH: It was a ton of fun! I think it was cathartic for all of us knowing we haven’t played a show in over a year. Playing that set was one of the first times in a while I felt like I was really performing for someone even though it was over a computer screen.

7. How was it finding out your single “In Bloom” had gained traction without much promotion? Does it make you rethink promotion strategies each release?

TUCKER: It was really interesting to see “In Bloom” grow the way it did. “Through You” had been our biggest song for over a year, and “In Bloom” slowly grew until it popped up to our #1 spot. I think it goes to show that - even if we promote a song a ton, the people will always listen to what they want to listen to. Especially with indie artists like us who don’t have the means to promote a song like major label artists do.

8. What’s one piece of advice or quote – related to career or life – that you wish you would’ve known sooner?

TUCKER: Success is all a mentality. I know there are people who wish they could be in my shoes, just as much as I wish I could be in other people’s. I think it’s important to realize where you’re at currently, respect that spot and continue to try and grow.

MAISON: As far as career advise, growing up with family in the industry and spending so much time with people working at the top of their career paths. I’ve learned that just being a good person and fun to be with will get you far. Other than that, my dad told me once, “be better” not meaning that I was doing bad or that I wasn’t “reaching expectations”. He just wanted me to be better than my own expectations or limitations that I put on myself. As small and simple as it was, I think about it everyday.

9. For each member, if you could only listen to (5) artists for the rest of your life who would they be?

MAISON:

Kings of Leon

Young The Giant

Nothing But Thieves

Foo Fighters

The Band CAMINO

TUCKER:

Nothing But Thieves

Lil Peep

Phoebe Bridgers

The 1975

Frank Ocean

AMIN:

A Tribe Called Quest

Stevie Wonder

Children of Bodom

Steel Pulse

Iron Maiden

JOSH:

Elton John

Jesse McCartney

Frank Sinatra

The Fray

James Taylor

10. What’s the rest of 2021 look like for Hand Made House?

TUCKER: It’s hard to tell for sure with the state of everything that’s going on, but I think we’ll start playing shows again once we feel it’s responsible. I think we’ll be releasing new music that’s outside the box for us, and continue doing what we do best - playing shows and writing music!

Stay up to date with everything Hand Made House and be on the look out for new music releases and possible tour dates by following along below:

Facebook

Instagram

Spotify

Twitter

Website

The Too Good Ten interview series is dedicated to giving you a quick glimpse at some of the freshest voices in music. Ten Questions. One Artist. Too Good. Let’s go.

[hottytoddynews]

4 Rooftop Bars To Ascend This Season. Raise the roof, raise a glass!

The cocktail-thirsty crowd beginning to spill out onto the balcony at The Coop atop the Graduate hotel overlooking the Oxford Square. Photo by Danny Klimetz

This story was republished with permission of Delta Magazine.

Sunset sipping, Memphis style, just four floors up overlooking the magnificent river in Harbor Town. Photo by Jay Adkins

There’s something about a rooftop bar. Ever since the Tower of Babel, humans have been trying to get as close to the clouds as possible. Who can blame us? The views are spectacular and the thin air makes the sips of bourbon go that extra mile. Eating and imbibing on the roof is an unrestrained indulgence. It defies natural limitations the same way a screened porch mocks the plague of mosquitos on an August night in the Delta. A view from the top is something you should consider, and we know just the places.

Showstopping Sunset The Terrace at River Inn

Nestled among a canopy of oaks and cottonwoods, its panorama drifting west across the Mississippi River, resides Memphis’s hidden rooftop gem. The Terrace at the River Inn is a beautiful blend of atmosphere, scenery, food and drink. The River Inn, unlike its bigger sisters, The Peabody and The Madison, is a boutique hotel merely four stories tall in Harbor Town. Yet its size can fool you. The view is tremendous. Lazy northbound river traffic can hold your gaze and sunsets from your perch can make time stand still.

The Terrace was renovated in 2013 to include folding windows — a convertible restaurant if you will — so you can always drop in no matter the weather. Choose your vibe: flirty and energetic at the full bar, or relaxed and introspective at a table along the rail. Go for the rail.

The menu is simple, yet complete, with offerings from a classic filet or rack of lamb to smaller plates to share. Try the Mojo Shrimp, Gulf shrimp with a roasted red pepper sauce. The drink menu offers local beer, cocktails, and wine by the glass or bottle. 2012 Cakebread Cabernet Sauvignon, anyone? The Southern-inspired cocktail menu hits the right notes, from the ubiquitous Moscow Mule to a selection of refreshing martinis: pomegranate, French and appletini. Get there, with hungry friends, as the sun begins to slide beyond the horizon, order a Mississippi Sunset (vodka, triple sec, strawberry liquor,sweet and sour and lemon) and relax at the best little rooftop in Memphis.

– Jay Adkins The Terrace at River Inn, 50 Harbor Town Square, Memphis

Natural Retreat Green Roof Lounge

Photo by Danny Klimetz

Pork meatballs served tapas style with the bourbon and blueberry Oxford Blues cocktail. Photo by Jay Adkins

Five floors up, atop the brand new Marriott Hotel in Oxford, is a lush rooftop bar and restaurant, the Green Roof Lounge. This is no slab of tar with some wrought iron chairs. This is a metropolitan rooftop lounge with plush seating, strung Edison bulbs, parquet wood floors, and grounded greenery reminiscent of the High Line in New York City. Green Roof Lounge is proudly curious with their running hashtag: #howdoyousunset

Ole Miss college co-eds covening in the lush landscape at the Green Roof Lounge. Photo by Jay Adkins

They’re asking because they know the answer. If the spectacular sunset panorama is the reason you go, then the menu by Chef Cameron Bryant is why you should stay. Not merely “bar food,” this is exciting and delicious cuisine. The chilled cucumber and almond soup, topped with arbol chili oil and toasted almonds, is better than any restaurant gazpacho. I absolutely loved the cheese toast, grilled bread covered in fig preserves and warm goat cheese. The pork meatballs are delicious, drizzled with smoky tomato sauce and covered in salty shavings of Grana Padano cheese.

Mixologist Mason Payne concocting one of the Green Roof’s stellar cocktails.

Upon my next visit, I’m trying the Smoked Shrimp Roll and the Steamed Mussels. Their craft cocktail menu is equally adventurous. The Oxford Blues blends blueberry, bourbon, a little citrus, honey and bitters — a beautiful combination of deep bourbon and slightly acidic fruit. There’s also the Clint Eastwood, their take on an Old Fashioned with ancho chili bitters, a stellar example of the 2016’s summer of spicy cocktails. Rebel yellers will be storming the Green Roof Lounge this football season, for they can practically (almost) see Vaught Hemingway.

– John Fincher Bobo Green Roof Lounge at the Courtyard Mariott, 305 West Jackson Avenue, Oxford

Urban Oasis The Coop

A rooftop Rebel yell: HYDR tater tots!

Graduate Oxford has the original rooftop bar of the Velvet Ditch, and it has quickly become a classic venue for happy hours and late nights. This elevated watering hole is an indoor/outdoor experience that’s breezy in the summer and lamp-heated in the winter. A captivating birds-eye view of the historic Oxford courthouse is bolstered by cozy couches and lantern light, and the wrap around bar shows off its prime location. If the Green Roof Lounge is a tropical hideaway, The Coop is the urban hot spot to see who’s in town for the weekend — and maybe also to make an appearance. Not to mention the sweeping panorama of The Square, this is the ultimate people watching venue. If there’s work to be done and agendas to complete, start early in the afternoon with a cup of coffee and a snack downstairs at Cabin 82 cafe. When the clock strikes five, put down the uppers and go up for some downers. The Coop has a full arsenal of drinks and an elaborate assortment of bar food. The extremely satisfying Hell Yeah Damn Right Tots (HYDR, for short) are crispy tater tots that woke up one morning and decided to be nachos. They’ve also got sliders, tacos, and even Mississippi Delta-style tamales.

Photo by Danny Klimetz

Oxford folk will be storming the Green Roof Lounge and The Coop this football season. And even though Vaught Hemingway is technically out of view, the most faithful Rebel yellers will continue to look away, look away at dixie land below.

– John Fincher Bobo The Coop at Graduate Oxford, 400 North Lamar Boulevard, Oxford

Go with the Flow 10 South Rooftop Bar & Grill

Photo by Danny Klimetz

Mightily beckoning an awe-inspiring bird’s eye view of The River, 10 South serves up the city’s iconic scenery with elevated (ten stories up) Southern cuisine. It’s a local lunchtime hot spot that heats back up late afternoon when signature cocktails are served with a side of citrus-hued skies and a glowing panorama. The sky was the limit for Vicksburg restaurateur and chef Jay Parmegiani when he blew the roof off the culinary scene and built out this perch downtown.

The “fully-loaded” bloody. Photo by Melissa Townsend

Take in the breathtaking views over a bloody and meet the Civil War history buffs and tourists at the next table. Snap their pic and peruse the small plates: fresh-made guacamole that does not disappoint, hot wings tossed in the house Coca-Cola barbecue sauce — an homage to Vicksburg’s soda fountain history — and the bright and flavorful blackened “Yazoo City” catfish tacos, dressed with sugar cane slaw and cilantro-corn salsa. Lunch at 10 South features hearty sandwiches like the Monte Cristo slathered with preserves from the local farmers’ market, soups and Southern sides, plus fried chicken and waffles and gourmet burgers. In many ways, 10 South has the feel of a backyard barbecue with the family. As Chef Kevin Roberts puts it, “it’s just casual food.” Roberts is to thank for the tasty little seasoned pretzels on the table, and although he’s keeping his recipe a secret, here’s a tip: you can take home a box, mustard included!

Take the elevator up to the roof of the Trustmark Building for breezy views, bites and booze at 10 South Rooftop Bar & Grill. Photo by Melissa Townsend

Approaching this rooftop restaurant’s magical hour, catch a cool breeze over margaritas with that guac or sip a tropical libation like the Mississippi Sunset. There’s also a wine list and a beer selection with Mississippi craft beers to Abita hailing just across the river in Louisiana. What to order for dinner? That’s when steaks ignite the grill, the chef’s own choice being the Makers Mark whiskey-glazed ribeye. Somebody should save room for the signature mile high peanut butter pie, and go ahead and give in and order a bucket of chocolate-covered bacon for the table. This is Mississippi Delta-style hospitality: the pace is unhurried and no one is leaving without a gracious plenty.

– Melissa Townsend 10 South Rooftop Bar & Grill, 1301 Washington Street, 10th floor, Vicksburg

Scott Coopwood, publisher of Delta Magazine.

Delta Magazine is considered one of the most unique regional lifestyle publications, which some even call “the most southern magazine on earth.” The Mississippi Delta is known for its literary, musical and culinary heritage, as well as for its legendary entertaining style and social traditions. The bi-monthly Delta Magazine embodies every aspect of the Mississippi Delta with its fresh content, cutting-edge photography and devoted readership. Learn more by visiting deltamagazine.com.

For questions or comments, email hottytoddynews@gmail.com.

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