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aspoetssay · 2 years

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DOMESTIC COD CHARACTERS X GN!READER HEADCANONS alejandro, ghost, soap, price, valeria, rodolfo, könig, gaz

This comes from a request of an anon from my main account. Thank you so much for the request, anon! I thought that it was such a good idea that most of the characters deserve to have a few paragraphs! I hope you will like it!

warnings: curse words and tooth-rotting fluff.

ALEJANDRO VARGAS

Lazy Sundays are a must. As much as he is a passionate man, who loves to go exploring—sometimes the warmth of the bed and you make him feel so lazy. That man will whine, protest and create chaos if you’ll refuse to stay with him in bed and do nothing. A planned lunch with friends? Cancel it. In need of groceries? You’ll get order something. Just stay in bed with him if you don’t want to be suffocated in his arms.

Loves to prepare food but likes it too spicy. You can handle spice—but that man could easily get on the Hot Ones and not even shed a tear. For him, the seasoning is chilli peppers. The way you have to watch him like a hawk and force him not to put more spice into the stew - your doctor is already concerned about your health after you ate some stew he made—you almost ended up in the ER.

Loves it when you prepare him food. Yes, it’s not enough spicy for him, but he admires the variety of cuisines you can make. He won’t admit it, but the ravioli you make with mushrooms are to die for.

He isn’t much of a sweets-eating guy, but an occasional muffin goes well with a cup of coffee. His favourite are the triple chocolate muffins and once he almost burnt his hands because he tried to take the trays out of oven without the mittens. Your look was enough to scold him without any words being said.

Enjoys cuddling way too much. If you two are spending the evening together and watching a movie, you better know there isn’t any personal space between you two. Just try to scoot away from him. That man will give you the most hurt look you have ever seen, ready to give you the most dramatic monologue in Spanish that you don’t like him. His love language is touch—please be kind enough to kiss his insecurities away.

Has a garden in the backyard. Absolutely loves to grow his own vegetables and loves it when you are helping him. It’s the most domestic thing he does with you and it always makes him feel better. It puts his mind off the horrors he has to deal with in his job and just focuses on nourishing and growing something. A plus side for you—that man works in the garden without his shirt. And maybe that’s the reason why you’re so eager to help him.

Always will make you a warm bath when you are stressed. He isn’t the type of guy to threaten to hurt someone for making you stressed. He will more likely make sure you will feel better—a warm bath, fuzzy socks, a cup of tea and a cupcake. When it’s hard - he’ll listen to you, knowing just when and what to say to make you feel understood and better.

SIMON “GHOST” RILEY

That man is the definition of domestic. No mask around you, not a scent of gunpowder - nothing. When he is off the missions and with you - he is a different man. Not Lieutenant Ghost, but your Simon.

He really values quality time. Doing nothing with you, just being in the same room with you is relaxing. You couldn’t count how many times he has passed out into an hour-long nap just from how relaxed he was in your presence. He’d always wake up from a loud snore he’d produce, catching your giggle.

Not a very good cook, but he knows a few easy recipes that are divine. Somehow he manages to make an omelette so good that no other omelette compares—what the hell is he putting in there? In addition, he makes a hell of a good tea. It’s one of his love languages to just randomly get you a nice cup of tea without any words exchanged. Yet you know that the cup of warm liquid is his way of saying he loves you.

Loves working out with you. Especially after you two turned your garage into a working-out space. He was always very reserved and closed-up while working out because he usually did it among other soldiers, but with you it is fun! The way he puts you on his back when he is doing push-ups. The way he is looking at your ass without the care in the world when you are doing squats, just waiting to get his hands on your bum. When he’s working with you, he never wears a shirt—he loves seeing you getting distracted in your reps because he just flexed his muscles.

Enjoys reading anything. Some bullshit newspaper with dumb articles? He’s on it just so he could grumble like an old man that it was bullshit. Some gossip magazine you were reading? Hear him display annoyance over the Kardashian names. He loves reading Greek Mythology—it’s not complicated for him and he likes the way the hexameter flows in his mind. You could swear you heard him one night crying about Patroclus’ death, but you never mentioned it—

Big about back hugs. You making lunch? Back hug. You doing your skincare routine? His hands are around you and he is secretly waiting to be pampered as well. Only because of you he has a whole ass skincare routine because you were absolutely aghast once you heard that he washed his face a few times with dish soap.

Be sure that he loves cuddling. He’s very touch-starved and he needs reassurance about that. Can absolutely die when you kiss the top of his head or his forehead. Once, you scratched just the right spot on his scalp and you heard him purr—he gave you the look right there and then that if you’ll say a word - you’ll regret it. But you just continued scratching the spot and you confronted him later on—

Remember the way he loves taking naps? He loves napping with you even more! Especially when you are laying on him, already passed out. Once, he accidentally turned over in his sleep and squished you almost to death—it took quite some time for him to wake up and move away from you as you were just about to die. From then on, he’s always been a bit on guard while napping with you, but you always soothed him enough for him to drift off completely.

Not a fan of taking pictures, but you already have quite the collection in your drawer. Once you showed all of them, blabbering how perfect he looks and that was the first time you saw Simon flush. He was so overwhelmed with the compliments that he couldn’t handle them anymore. Grumbles and mumbles followed as he stormed out of the room and you were horribly sad that you didn’t have a camera back there to take a picture of his rosy cheeks.

JOHN “SOAP” MACTAVISH

Domestic Soap is a rare sight since he is quite the traveller and the chatter. He enjoys taking strolls with you, sightseeing, and travelling, but occasional evenings at home, doing nothing, are refreshing.

He loves to draw. He enjoys nothing more than sketching you when your attention is off to somewhere else - you always get too shy and too giddy when you notice that he is drawing you, so he does it secretly.

Once he gifted you a small sketchbook of sketches full of him and you. You started tearing up and he got seriously terrified—was he that bad at drawing? But once you clung onto his neck and expressed how talented he was, he was the one gulping down the tears. After that, you asked him to teach you how to draw—but then you quickly agreed that he should be the one sticking to it.

He is handy! Anything that needs to be fixed or changed will be done immediately. You don’t have to worry about flickering lights or getting new furniture since he can do it all himself! Yes, he does watch some tutorials on how to do something, but your garage is quickly filled with tons of tools and necessities for the household.

Shower time alone—what is that? You can be sure that once you even think about going to shower, that man will be already ready at the bathroom door. Once you were feeling too shy so you locked the door and he was whining like a lost puppy on the other side of the door. There was nothing more he loved than when you washed his Mohawk—even if he might seem like the 3in1 type of guy, he maintains a whole ass routine for his hair. You, taking care of it, means he trusts you.

Loves to watch reality shows with you. A little bit too invested in Too Hot To Handle, but he keeps on showing his concern when they keep breaking the rules. You always shut him up by asking if he’d manage to keep his hands off you, but he always says it is too different. And he boasts that his favourite couple always wins the money.

A big sucker for family celebrations. Can’t wait for Christmas or birthdays to gather with your or his family. He’s the type of person to make lame jokes around, but everyone loves him. He really is the star of any celebration except when it is another’s birthday. But most of it all, he loves to show you off to his family and friends. Can’t stop talking about you or giving you sweet looks. Couldn’t count on your fingers how many pictures you have where some aunty took a photo of you two—you laughing at his joke and him giving you heart eyes.

JOHN PRICE

Just like Simon, John is the definition of domestic as well. He loves having lazy mornings and lazy evenings as long as you are with him. If you tiptoe into the terrace while he is having his morning cigar and hug him from behind, that man will swoon instantly.

The one to bring you breakfast to your bed. He’s quite good at cooking and always surprises you with either an English Breakfast or something sweeter with a cup of tea of your liking. The presentation on the tray is always on spot—can do fabulous hearts on pancakes with Nutella.

Lets you take care of his beard. Now, listen—you see how well he takes care of his beard? It’s really important for him. You always eagerly help him to shave or to shape the beard, especially in the spots he can’t really see himself. There is just something about the way you sit on the bathroom counter, gently trimming his beard just the way he taught you.

Big on silly board games. Will absolutely crush you at Monopoly and Alias. Don’t even talk about any card games, because he might seem like he is an old man, but he quickly learns the rules and then no one can beat him. Every game night ends with you frowning and getting mad at him and him smugly saying that he will make it up to you.

Loves reading to you. Loves reading overall, but doesn’t spend much time doing so. That’s why, whenever you get on the couch into his arms with his book in your hand, he always smiles so widely that his cheeks start to burn. And when you admitted that his voice is the most pleasant thing you have ever heard—you can be sure that he will never deny your request to read for you out loud.

Big on dancing with you. Creating that cosy evening atmosphere when it is dark outside. When a stupid show is on the TV and he already goes to the Home Stereo and puts on some old, slow music, extending his hand to you. Either looking into your face or burying his nose into the crook of your neck while dancing—he just loves holding you close. Loves the way you giggle when he spins you around. Loves the way you wrap your arms around his neck and look him in the eyes.

Has a ridiculous amount of bucket hats. If it was up to him, he’d walk around the house you two share in them. But due to your protests, he only wears them outside. However, when you two are travelling and you put on his bucket hat to hide from the sunlight—that man is gone. Wherever you two are, you better hope your house or a hotel is close because he needs to show how much he loves you when you are wearing his hats.

VALERIA GARZA

It’s hard having Valeria over only for yourself. She is always not home. Always somewhere out there. Doing her business. Keeping you as far away from it as possible.

But some mornings, you would wake to find her all cuddled up to you—normally, Valeria would never admit that she loves cuddling up to you or being held by you. It was as if she always had to be on her guard, always to be superior and not show that she was quite fragile on the inside.

The way she would hum in pure ecstasy when you would pull her closer, gently stroke her hair because she knew well you won’t use the fact that she is without her guard against her.

You were the only person she shared her true smile with. No devilish grin, no mocking smiles—the first time you saw her truly smiling and her nose slightly scrunching - you were absolutely in heaven. You remember the way she absolutely demolished the pancakes you made one breakfast and the syrup was left around her mouth for you to kiss away. That’s when you received a smile from her and you knew it was only for you.

A big fan of your thighs. If you are sitting on the couch, watching TV, you better be sure that Valeria will lay her head on your thighs. You better put your hands to work and stroke her hair—make her time worth it.

Big on forehead kisses—there are countless forehead kisses you didn’t know about since she left in the middle of the night. She’d tuck you in, gently wrap herself away from your arms and kiss your forehead as if it was a butterfly’s touch. She’d admire you for a second—you were so beautiful.

Since she wasn’t home often, sometimes when she would come back - she’d find you waiting for her, drinking tea, doing some work on your laptop. She’d never specify when she is coming back, but it was as if you had a sixth sense for when she will come home. You better be sure that when she sees you late in the night, she will give you a kiss that will sweep you off your feet.

A whole different story is when you are sick. There wasn’t a time when you were sick and she wasn’t home. She was home all the time to take care of you. She’d spend restless nights just to make sure you were breathing and didn’t need something else. Your health was her priority - she couldn’t lose you.

At moments like these, she’d even show off her amazing cooking skills that only a sick state of you is allowed to see. She’d make you her grandmother’s stew which would make you feel better instantly, but you may or may not pretend to be sick just a tad bit longer so she would be beside you.

RODOLFO PARRA

This man does everything with you. He’s really big at doing chores together. Not only does he find that it’s far more efficient this way, but you two always make it far more fun than just swiping the dust—yes, the little dance breaks are a must.

Loves cooking with you. Anything really. Can be the sous-chef or can be the one giving you orders on what to do. It depends on which recipe you are making that day—if it’s yours, he will obey doing everything and if it’s his - he’ll let you do the easiest tasks because he doesn’t want to overwork you.

Definitely the golden retriever type of man so be prepared for his beautiful puppy eyes. He knows his power and he uses it against you. Just try to tell him no and face the way the consequences hit you on their own.

Always lets you have the last piece—I’m talking about anything. Last slice of pizza? It’s yours! Last piece of brownie? He’s already pushing it towards you. Last teabag of your favourite tea? Yours, yours and yours.

Really really big on hugs. Bear hugs precisely. Loves it when he can bury his nose into your neck and slightly squeeze you with his arms. The way your body fits in his always amazes him and he just can’t get enough of your warmth.

Always notices any changes you had. Went to the hairdresser? He will notice the one centimetre gone of your split ends. Changed your routine in makeup? Notices that you haven’t used that kind of eyeshadow before. Has all of the brands you used memorised and knows which product does what. Hell, he sometimes does your skincare or makeup for you.

Oddly good at handcrafting. If you are quite handsy with knitting, crocheting or sewing and you decide to show him how to do it, just know that he will quickly get the hang of it. He will even enjoy it and will never be ashamed to admit it. He thinks it’s amazing that you can create something with your hands and most of your gifts to each other quickly become something you two have made yourself.

KÖNIG

Domestic time with you means so much to him. Social anxiety can drain his energy and domestic time revives him. That doesn’t mean that you two don’t go out to have dinner or to watch a movie in the cinema, he just prefers to be home a bit more.

That man is a sucker for any romantic comedy. He will cry and laugh at any cliches and rewatch all of his favourite movies with you. If the couple is dancing in the rain, best know that he’s already looking at you with those eyes meaning that when it’ll rain - you two will be outside. Watching movies with you is relaxing - he knows you won’t judge the fact that he really isn’t into action or horror movies. His job puts him through enough. So romcom it is!

If you can sing or play any instrument, he’ll always listen to you do it. It’s very calming to him—hearing you practice, playing the chords wrong or hitting the wrong note always makes him smile. It feels refreshing to see you put your mind and soul into something so beautiful. Secretly, he takes some videos of you playing for him because he knows for sure that if you’d know he was filming you - you would stop playing.

Big on giving you massages. That man would do anything to get his hands on you, honestly… He enjoys the way you lean back to him when he gently kneads your shoulder blades. Please return the favor! If you want to put the giant man on his knees, a few gentle strokes down his back and he’s purring for you.

Really likes to colour with you those mandala colouring books. It might have seem silly at first, but you two are seated in the living room, only candlelight on the table as you two are colouring—one page for you and the other one for him. He always whines that he’s not able to choose the right colours, but always ends up with the most beautiful colour combinations making you rage out at him and poke his ribs. That man tends to doubt himself—praise him.

Likes to cocoon you into blankets and carry you around. No matter your protests, he will do whatever he pleases with you. Most of the time you just end up being placed on him during a movie, his lips buried at the top of your head and giving you small kisses.

If you take care of him of his fresh wounds, he will be very thankful for you. He never wants to make you worry, but with his size on the battlefield, he sometimes gets clumsy from the adrenaline overload. He appreciates how soft you are tending to him, placing kisses over scars and new bruises. Of course, after that, he receives a flick on his forehead from making you worry.

Big on asking random questions in the middle of the night. Just as you are about to fall asleep, comfortably wrapped in his arms, he’ll hit you with: “How many stomachs do cows have again?” The question makes you groan: “Four, my love, please sleep.” But that never shuts him up—then he will be concerned about the fact that you know the answer, and then he will google it and see some pictures that will traumatise him.

KYLE “GAZ” GARRICK

Loves to play video games with you. Yes, he is competitive most of the time, but if you are playing somewhere you two are in a team against others—you better know that he’ll protect you even in the game and praise you when you do a perfect headshot.

Despite him being a very outgoing partner, he sometimes needs quiet days. You know exactly when to give him his space and when to approach him with a cup of tea. He really appreciates the way you can read him as an open book.

Once you gifted him a huge set of Lego - Hogwarts edition and you saw his eyes sparkle like two shiny stars. He was seated all night putting it together and when he was finished, he was waking you up at four in the morning, getting you to the living room where the glory of his was standing. You swore you never have seen him smile like that.

Making sweets with him is quite frustrating. Because in 9 of 10 cases you end up with clothes dusted in flour or chocolate running down your nose—he’s playful. He’d do anything to make you squeal or laugh from the bottom of your heart. As an act of revenge, you always eat the last piece of cake you two have made together right in front of his face. Especially when he is already reaching for it.

Big on taking naps at a random time of the day—before going to sleep, he will kick up his legs on the coffee table and snooze out for ten minutes before joining you in bed. Likes it, even more, when you are the one to wake him up, but that ends up with you being on his lap, his lips peppering your body with small kisses while he is gently tickling you.

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celaenaeiln · 1 year

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12 am anon back at it again. my friend called me at 2 am, tipsy on i wanna say wine??? and ranted about how nightwing’s “superpower” is his charisma for like 15 mins . and then they talked about how he looks like he’d have a great spice tolerance before hanging up. i think its a hyperfixation .

I absolutely love it!! You and your friend just have the best conversations ever.

Your ask immediately reminded me of this scene from YJ Season 3

"That's just about everyone. Wasn't sure they'd all respond."

"You command more respect than you realize."

"I'm starting to get that."

Literally this boy has charisma oozing out of his pores. It absolutely is his superpower!

Charisma is known as "a personal magic of leadership arousing special popular loyalty or enthusiasm for a public figure" or "the quality of being able to attract, charm and influence those around you." And Dick is the living embodiment of it.

It's actually a canon trait of his

The New Teen Titans (1980) Issue #5

Dick has the unique ability to lead people. It's not just about telling others what to do, it's people wanting to follow him, listen to him, and and accepts his commands of their own volition.

In the DC/RWBY comic, the RWBY team crosses over to Gotham with all their problems so they have to work together with Batman, Batgirl, and Nightwing (Ruby REALLY gets along with Dick which for some reason makes so much sense idk why). And the batfamily get superpowers.

And DC-

DC LITERALLY WENT-

DC/RWBY Issue #3

THEY ACTUALLY GAVE HIM THE POWER OF INSPIRATION. THEY SAID "if anyone has the ability to lead people to a better life, give them light and hope, and be everyone's favorite leader and savior, then there is only one person to which we can attribute this power to."

Inspiration is the factor that leads people to moving mountains, becoming greater, and changing our entire lives and everyone else and Dick is the one who bestows that power.

He literally inspires people to be better and inspires them to follow him and became the greatest they can be.

Teen Titans (2003) Issue #33

He just has the ability to inspire people to reach greater heights. The younger generation, his own, and the older ones kind of hero worship him.

Charisma is a dangerous power to have. It's essentially the unique ability to convince people to want to do things for you.

Examples of charismatic leaders are Martin Luther King Jr, Joan of Arc, Fidel Castro, and Napolean.

These people moved nations, worlds, societies but they are only one person. And Dick, has the ability to do this too.

To describe him as a person, to describe his charismatic authority, you need to combine all those figures into one person. And that's the equivalent of his power.

Because in the comics when he wants something - the whole superhero society answers.

The Titans (1999) Issue #39

On a separate note, Dick does have a high spice tolerance!

Batman and Robin (2009) Issue #1

Also Romani food is made hot and spicy, commonly using chili, paprika, and red and black pepper. So he can definitely handle the heat.

Lol I'm just imagining Dick absent-mindedly chewing on a red chili pepper while he watches Garth dare Wally to eat a ghost pepper while Donna's rolling her eyes and Roy's hyperventilating on the floor because he's having flashbacks to Ollie's Chilli.

#dick grayson #nightwing #bruce wayne #batman #konner kent #super boy #fun fact: GA's Chili is so spicy that Supes has to use his freeze breath. Batman and GA are the only two people in all of DC who can eat it #cl anon asks #thanks for the ask!

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livingdeadgirl-333 · 1 month

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♡About Me♡

✮my name is olivia but usually go by liv or livy ✮i play both acoustic and electric guitar aswell as bass guitar ✮i am constantly confused by what aesthetic i want to present as ✮im a minor so keep that in mind

♡I Love♡

✮lip gloss ✮cherries ✮staying in bed ✮bows ✮lace ✮vanilla coke ✮doing my makeup ✮thrift shopping ✮the walking dead ✮unreleased songs on soundcloud

♡Favourite Movies♡

✮the outsiders ✮stand by me ✮the virgin suicides ✮i believe in unicorns ✮girl interupted ✮the florida project ✮fantastic mr fox ✮the maze runner trilogy ✮bufallo '66 ✮vaelrie and her week of wonders

♡favourite musical artists♡

✮hole ✮type o negative ✮nirvana ✮kurt cobain ✮deftones ✮tv girl ✮ghost ✮billie eilish ✮kate bush ✮rob zombie ✮lana del rey ✮ayesha erotica ✮black sabbath ✮fleetwood mac ✮red hot chilli peppers

♡icons♡

✮trisha paytas ✮lana del rey ✮courtney love ✮carl grimes ✮cecelia lisbon ✮angelina jolie ✮sofia copola ✮stevie nicks

♡favourite books♡

✮the body ✮the outsiders ✮dracula ✮war of the worlds ✮the virgin suicides ✮the maze runner series

DNI

dont interact if racist or an old ass man or an nsfw account (again, im a minor)

♡DM me if you want to be mutuals˙ᵕ˙

♡follow my pinterest:

https://pin.it/4Waj5XiEv

♡follow my BandCamp:

https://bandcamp.com/living-dead-girl111

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bemyawakening · 2 years

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hello, if you’re still taking requests may I please request domestic&fluff hc’s of alejandro and price,thank you<3

DOMESTIC COD CHARACTERS X GN!READER HEADCANONS alejandro, ghost, soap, price, valeria, rodolfo, könig, gaz

Thank you so much for the request, anon! I thought that it was such a good idea that most of the characters deserve to have a few paragraphs! I hope you will like it!

warnings: curse words and tooth-rotting fluff.

ALEJANDRO VARGAS

SIMON “GHOST” RILEY

That man is the definition of domestic. No mask around you, not a scent of gunpowder - nothing. When he is off the missions and with you - he is a different man. Not Lieutenant Ghost, but your Simon.

JOHN “SOAP” MACTAVISH

JOHN PRICE

VALERIA GARZA

It’s hard having Valeria over only for yourself. She is always not home. Always somewhere out there. Doing her business. Keeping you as far away from it as possible.

The way she would hum in pure ecstasy when you would pull her closer, gently stroke her hair because she knew well you won’t use the fact that she is without her guard against her.

RODOLFO PARRA

KÖNIG

KYLE “GAZ” GARRICK

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cluecorezz · 4 months

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sk8 the infinity music taste headcanons

nobody asked, but I'll do it anyway

ᯓ★ Reki- he's probably into more Western music. He's a skater so it wouldn't be any surprise if he listens to 90's hip hop, or just rap in general, like... He's one of those Kanye fans.

"One for the money, two for the hoes"

A huge Tyler, The Creator fan (this one is canon, God told me). No fr, don't play "Yonkers" when this guy is around, he has no self-control. Don't ask him about MF DOOM btw.

ᯓ★ Langa- Honest to God, he is into male manipulator music. You know I'm talking about TV Girl.

Of course, he listens to The Smiths, and not because he's a male manipulator, but because his dad liked The Smiths.

Another take is that he listens to Clairo and Beabadoobee, ah yeah, and The Garden... Probably also into Apex Twins.

ᯓ★ Miya- This is the mf that doesn't play about Moe Shop, and if you don't believe me go listen to Ghost Food, it makes sense I swear. Same thing with Snail House. It just helps him to skate in the right way.

He's also into very specific K-pop groups, way too quirky for his own good. Red Velvet, aespa, and NCT Dream (ok, he's an SM stan, sorry yall).

That's a secret by the way, if anyone asks, then he listens to Hyperpop.

ᯓ★ Cherry- Idc, Imma call him Cherry. Two options for this guy.

The first one is about those cvnty K-pop girl groups from the 2nd gen. Sure, this one is about Girls Generation, AOA, and 2NE1, period.

I just know he doesn't play about "Flower Power" by Girls Generation.

My second take is more of a quiet side of the spectrum... Actually nah, it's just Shibuya-kei. Well, he's a man of culture, so he does listen to Frenesi.

ᯓ★Joe- Music for intercourse- Alright no, but yes. Hoe music.

He's quite more sophisticated about it. Probably listen to The Weekend, Artic Monkeys, and The Neighborhood.

Ah, and Ayesha Erotica for confidence purposes. My man is literally a legend.

But when he's not horny or being overconfident, he loves to play Piero Piccioni, in fact, he plays him all the time at his restaurant.

ᯓ★Shadow- Hot take, this man is a Swifty, and it is not even a secret, he's the Anti-Hero for a reason.

I mean yeah, but besides the blondie, he's also into the music you would think he's into. Aerosmith, The Red Hot Chilli Peppers, and even Kiss.

Jimi Hendrix is here too. His favorite one is Purple Haze.

ᯓ★

That's everything, bye.

#sk8 the infinity #sk8 anime #sk8 #skate the infinity #headcanon

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phantombanquet · 1 year

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Master Chef SR Idia Edition “Apprentice Chef” / Personal Card Story Part 2

~Let's make stuffed peppers 2~

Kitchen

Chef Ghost: After lightly sprinkling the insides of the bell peppers with cake flour, stuff it with the seeds that you mixed earlier.

You can use other flours as a substitute, but..... It will affect the finished product, so basically just follow the recipe.

Idia: Ah, it's the same principle as with using an interchangeable part that works fine, but the genuine parts are still the best. I completely understand.

Chef Ghost: Interchangeable...? Genuine part.....? Fufu, this time, this is an expression I don't understand at all.

Well then, pick up the seeds with your hands. Fill them precisely and generously inside the bell peppers, so there aren't any gaps.

Idia: Hiiihh....!! The minced meat's chilly, slimy feeling clings to my fingerssssssssss.....!

Is t-this also a pattern that can't be measured? I have to adjust the amount of seeds according to the inner diameter of the bell pepper.....

Is there no other way to calculate the proper number of grams other than collecting data several times from the same work.....

Idia: ...Haah, it's all done.

Chef Ghost: Then, let's finish by baking. The key is to let the frying pain reach the right temperature before placing the stuffed peppers.

Don't forget to oil the pan before heating it. And the heat should be kept on medium.

Idia: .....What's the proper temperature, anyway? How am I supposed to know if the frying pan is at the right temperature?

Chef Ghost: Place your hand over the frying pan, and if you think it's warm enough, you're good to go.

Idia: There it is again, using my hands! The boundary between warm and hot varies so, so much from one person to another.....

And more items that need data to be collected are increasing one by one......

Chef Ghost: I'll make sure of it this time. Which one, which one... Hm, this is around the right temperature. Idia-kun, try hovering your hand over the pan.

Idia: It feels kinda hot and kinda warm...? C-Chef..... I want to measure the surface temp of the frying pan...

Chef Ghost: Hm~, there are tools like that, but we don't have them here in the kitchen.

Idia: There's nothing I can do about it. I guess I'll give up and start baking this time. Alright.

*CLICK* *SIZZLING*

Idia: HIGYAHHHHHH!?

The oil is splashing around...... Hiihhh! Don't come to me!!

Chef Ghost: IDIA-KUN, DON'T MOVE AWAY FROM THE FIRE!! PUT ALL THE REMAINING STUFFED MEAT ON THE FRYING PAN!

Idia: No, but I can't even get close to it because the oil is splashing all over the place!?

A guy needs to have some kind of protection... Like, at least a shield! I need some kind of shield—

HAAAH!!! That one over there is.....

A pot lid... NOT a pot lid!

It's one of the earlier tools that was used a while ago, but it's better than nothing! Let me hold it with one hand!

*SIZZLING*

Idia: Throwing the stuffed meat on the pan: Mission Success. I can finally take a breather from this.....

Chef Ghost: Turn it over or else it will burn! Here, hold the spatula!

Idia: HIIH, THERE'S NO TIME TO REST!!

Idia: Ha, hah... It's somehow finished.....

Chef Ghost: Good work. The judges should be here by now, so let's bring out the food.

CAFETERIA - Judging Venue

Cater: Ah, so it's Idia-kun who cooked the food. Cay-kun is the judge~♪

Idia: Hiih! An overwhelmingly sunny atmosphere...! I've been too unlucky today.....

Cater: A home-cooked meal by a classmate might be a fresh experience. I'm looking forward to eating stuffed bell peppers made by Idia-kun~!

Idia: That's pressuring me a lot, and the food hasn't even been served yet.....

That..... Ah... H-Here it is..... Go ahead.....

Cater: Thanks~ Wow! The visuals are looking good! It's colorful and its shape looks like a flower, so cute!

Can I take a quick pic before eating?

Idia: Hiiih..... G-G-Go ahead... D-Do, Do whatever you want.....

Cater: OK~!

*SNAP SNAP*

Idia: Is this a tactic of spreading my poor cooking on the internet? It's not even interesting or anything.....

Cater: .....Picture taking, finished! Now then, I'll go take a bite!

*MUNCH MUNCH*

Cater: .....Mhm, it's delicious!

Idia: Eh!? I... I can't even deny that it's overcooked and burnt in some places.....?

Cater: There are definitely parts that are black. But, hey, it's better than raw ♪

Idia: (whispering) Are these….. The concerns of a sunshine charac? Or is it just that Cater-shi's taste buds have a wide strike zone.....?

Chef Ghost: You did well, Idia-kun. It looks like you got a passing grade so far.

Idia: Hahhh~~~~ .....For now, I'm glad...

I feel bitter that I can't say, “I passed, the program is over!” or something like that, but.....

I'll just use the rest of the remaining time thinking about a hypothetical design for the “Idia Shroud-style cooking machine”.

Ahhh, really, LET'S FINISH UP QUICKLY~~!

THE END!

Link to Part 1

Back to Directory

#twisted wonderland #twst translation #master chef #idia shroud #cater diamond #phantombanquet #phantombanquet twst

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aroorchid-slenderman · 8 months

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aroallo slenderman do you have any music recommendations

Dear anonymous, I would like you to know that you brought this on yourself, I love music, I doubt life would be half as fun without it.

I love indie rock, absolutely adore it, so we'll start there:

Tally hall (beware the joe Hawley controversy, seperate art from artist)

Rob cantor

The black Keys - el camino

Red hot chilli peppers

Radiohead - ok computer

Smashing pumpkins - they have good songs splattered about, but I am not experienced enough with them to speak for them as a whole, some good songs are ava adore, today, and tonight tonight

Idk how but they found me

Miracle musical

Muse

My chemical romance

Then we have the weird stuff, vocaloid. I also love vocaloid

Frog96

Inabakumori

Ghost and pals - weirdest, but also probably my favorite

Now we move to nu metal:

System of a down - excellent if you hate the government

Linkin park

Then we have one offs/bands I like but can't fit:

Lovejoy

Something stupid

Everything in Scott Pilgrim but especially black sheep

From the start/falling behind by laufey (falling behind is aro but not knowing it, that's my headcanon)

Everything tool

Biggering by the 88

Non believer by London grammar

Starman and space oddity from David Bowie (Chris Hadfields version is better for space oddity, I love that man no romo)

Don't touch my clogs

Space song by beach house

Crazy by Gnarls Barkley

Saint motel

Shayfer james

Twenty one pilots

And finally frank sinatra

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ryuzatodraws-archive · 1 year

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#copiia #ghost band #ghost hot chilli peppers

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tubetrading · 1 month

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How to Customise Your Chilli Garlic Sauce four Perfect Heat and Flavour

Chilli garlic sauce has become a culinary staple in many kitchens around the world. Its spicy kick combined with the rich flavor of garlic makes it a versatile condiment that enhances a wide range of dishes. Whether you are preparing a traditional Asian recipe, spicing up a pasta sauce, or simply adding a bit of heat to your snacks, chilli garlic sauce offers a unique combination of heat and flavor that appeals to many taste buds.

While pre-packaged chilli garlic sauces available from many food distributors companies can satisfy most needs, there is a growing trend toward customizing this fiery sauce to suit individual preferences. In this blog, we will explore how to customize your chilli garlic sauce for the perfect balance of heat and flavor, while also highlighting how a leading chilli garlic sauce supplier in UAE, along with chilli garlic sauce exporters and food processing companies, are contributing to making this delicious condiment more accessible to a global audience.

Understanding the Basics of Chilli Garlic Sauce

At its core, chilli garlic sauce is made with two primary ingredients: chillies and garlic. However, the complexity of its flavor goes beyond just these two components. The sauce typically contains vinegar, sugar, and salt for balance, while additional ingredients like soy sauce, ginger, and spices can be incorporated for added depth.

The beauty of making your own chilli garlic sauce lies in the ability to customize it to your preferred heat level, sweetness, and acidity. Moreover, you can adjust the texture—whether you like your sauce chunky or smooth—and the overall intensity of the flavors.

Key Ingredients to Consider

To create the perfect chilli garlic sauce, understanding the role of each key ingredient is crucial. Here’s a breakdown of the main ingredients and how you can tweak them to customize the sauce:

Chillies: The type and quantity of chillies used will define the heat level. From mild, fruity chillies like Anaheim peppers to intense varieties like bird’s eye or habanero, the choice of chilli can dramatically alter the flavor profile of your sauce.

Garlic: Garlic is the backbone of this sauce, providing a robust, savory flavor that complements the heat. You can adjust the amount of garlic for a more pungent kick or mellow it down for a subtle undertone.

Vinegar: Vinegar adds acidity to the sauce, balancing out the heat and creating a tangy finish. Experiment with different vinegars—white vinegar, rice vinegar, or apple cider vinegar—to change the sauce's overall character.

Sweeteners: Adding a touch of sweetness helps round out the sharpness of the heat and garlic. Sugar, honey, or even fruit-based sweeteners like pineapple juice can be used to provide a balanced flavor.

Salt and Spices: Salt enhances the overall taste, while additional spices like ginger, cumin, or coriander can add complexity to the sauce.

Customizing the Heat Level

One of the primary reasons people choose to make their own chilli garlic sauce is to control the heat level. Heat is subjective, and what might be mildly spicy for one person could be unbearably hot for another. Here are some tips to customize the heat level of your chilli garlic sauce:

Selecting the Right Chillies: The Scoville scale measures the heat of chillies. Mild chillies like poblano or bell peppers sit at the lower end of the scale, while fiery options like Scotch bonnets or ghost peppers rank higher. For a mild sauce, consider using chillies with a Scoville rating below 1,000. If you’re after extreme heat, choose chillies with ratings above 100,000.

Adjusting the Quantity: Even if you use a hotter variety of chilli, you can moderate the heat by adjusting the quantity. Use fewer chillies for a milder sauce, or increase the number if you want to crank up the heat.

Removing Seeds and Membranes: Much of a chilli’s heat resides in its seeds and inner membranes. By removing these parts before processing the chillies, you can tone down the heat while retaining the flavor.

Blending Chillies: For a complex heat profile, blend different varieties of chillies. For example, you can mix milder chillies for depth and flavor with a few hot chillies for an extra kick. This gives you more control over the intensity of the heat while still delivering bold flavors.

Perfecting the Flavor Balance

Balancing heat with other flavors is key to creating a sauce that isn’t overwhelming. Whether you’re a chilli garlic sauce exporter or a home chef, getting the balance right is essential for a sauce that appeals to a broad audience. Here’s how you can adjust the other elements of your sauce to find the perfect balance:

Sweetness: Too much heat can overpower the other flavors in your sauce, but a touch of sweetness can bring everything back into harmony. Experiment with the amount and type of sweetener used. Granulated sugar provides a neutral sweetness, while honey or brown sugar adds a richer dimension. Fruit juices like mango or pineapple can also introduce a sweet yet tangy flavor that contrasts beautifully with the heat.

Acidity: Acidity helps cut through the richness of the garlic and balance out the heat. Vinegar is the most common acidic ingredient in chilli garlic sauce, but lemon or lime juice can also be used to achieve a fresher, more vibrant flavor. Adjust the level of acidity based on your preference—a more acidic sauce will be tangier, while less vinegar will result in a milder, rounder flavor.

Garlic Intensity: For garlic lovers, increasing the garlic content can create a bolder, more aromatic sauce. Roasting the garlic before adding it to the sauce will mellow its sharpness and introduce a sweet, caramelized flavor. If you prefer a raw, punchy garlic taste, you can use it fresh and finely minced.

Texture: The texture of your chilli garlic sauce can also be customized. If you prefer a smoother sauce, blend all the ingredients thoroughly until they reach a fine consistency. For a chunkier sauce, pulse the ingredients in a food processor, leaving small pieces of garlic and chilli for added texture.

The Global Reach of Customized Chilli Garlic Sauce

The demand for chilli garlic sauce continues to grow globally, and food distributors and suppliers are constantly seeking innovative ways to cater to diverse markets. As a chilli garlic sauce supplier in UAE, Modern Food Products is at the forefront of delivering premium-quality sauces to international markets.

By exporting customized chilli garlic sauces, food processing companies and chilli garlic sauce exporters help bring the unique flavors of homemade sauces to commercial kitchens and restaurants worldwide. The flexibility to tweak the heat level, sweetness, and garlic intensity allows companies to cater to various cultural preferences and dietary needs.

In regions like the UAE, where diverse culinary traditions come together, chilli garlic sauce has become a beloved condiment in many households and restaurants. As a chilli garlic sauce supplier in UAE, companies like Modern Food Products ensure that high-quality, customizable sauces are readily available to meet the demands of discerning consumers and chefs.

Conclusion: Your Personalized Chilli Garlic Sauce Journey

Customizing your chilli garlic sauce allows you to tailor the flavors and heat to suit your taste preferences. Whether you’re a fan of fiery hot sauces or prefer a milder, more balanced flavor, the options for customization are endless.

By experimenting with different types of chillies, adjusting the amount of garlic and vinegar, and incorporating unique spices and sweeteners, you can create a sauce that complements your favorite dishes perfectly. Whether you’re preparing meals for family and friends or looking to enter the market as a chilli garlic sauce exporter, the ability to craft your own unique sauce will always set you apart.

As the global demand for premium sauces continues to rise, companies like Modern Food Products, a leading food processing company, are helping to shape the future of customizable sauces. Through innovation and dedication to quality, these companies are bringing the joy of personalized sauces to kitchens around the world, offering consumers and chefs the opportunity to experience chilli garlic sauce in exciting new ways.

#Food distributors company #Chilli garlic sauce exporter #Food processing company #Chilli garlic sauce supplier in UAE

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dilfsuzanneyk · 1 year

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i got tagged by @catboyrightsdefender thank you!!! <3

Rules: shuffle your repeat playlist and post the first ten tracks, then tag ten people.

You Make Me by "Weird Al" Yankovic

2. Yankee Rose by David Lee Roth

3. Hellraiser by Ozzy Osbourne

4. Tranz by Gorillaz

5. Rebel Yell by Billy Idol

6. Heresy by Nine Inch Nails

7. Cavity Search by "Weird Al" Yankovic

8. Can't Stop by Red Hot Chilli Peppers

9. People Are People by Depeche Mode

10. Terrible Lie by Nine Inch Nails

i'm tagging @shortgremlinman @ghosts-of-love @maeo-png @likefish @natequarter @capvlian @spineless-lobster @little-deathly-goose @gethisshithumptyfuckingdumptied @queenrepent (no pressure and sorry if you've been tagged before/i'm bothering you!!)

#tag game #sorry i'm doing this really late

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jade-of-mourning · 6 months

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i wrote this post two months ago, but i was thinking about how much i love music on accident again and now i'm going to make an incredibly self-indulgent and unwarranted post on music i think that krew+opal in a modern au would enjoy based on music i like.

opal would definitely love lamp and other j-indie bossa-nova/jazz/folk sounding types — ichiko aoba/kaneko ayano/fishmans/nujabes come to mind. she also gives sweet trip/panchiko and adrianne lenker. she'd possibly like norah jones/jolie holland in a different sphere. i think she'd be into more experimental flavor of black country, new road/black midi/kero kero bonito. she'd like the city-pop in anri and j-pop like aimyon.

asami also seems like she would like lamp, though to a lesser extent than opal, and probably romantic-era classical music (specifically, chopin). she'd be a slowcore duster/bedhead/mazzy star type, and probably love dream-pop beach house too. she'd be a secret fan of jazz-punk/noise midori and in japanese shoegaze-alternative flavor with plastic girl in the closet/kinokoteikoku/my dead girlfriend, and i can see her being into either nick drake or psychedelic rock — something mildly high, probably. i can see her liking suzanne vega/fiona apple/aimee mann a lot too. i think that between her and opal, they'd have the most music-nerd music taste. idk how to express it… that rym sort of music taste haha

mako is either the type to say "i don't listen to music", or if he does, he gives straight face while listening to crunchy noise and ambient deeply miserable-edgy, like nouns/teen suicide/have a nice life. he'd enjoy high quality japanese jazz-instrumental math rock like mouse on keys/fox capture plan/t-square, but i think he'd also have a guilty pleasure for the mildly-adjacent, crappy midwest emo. not sure why, maybe it's the album covers and names, but he really gives parannoul. he has the energy of a british new-wave the smiths/radiohead/the cure kind of guy. he's probably prone to get too deep in his feelings in sujfan stevens/giles corey. i think like opal, he'd enjoy big thief/adrianne lenker a lot too.

korra would like pop-punk and alternative a lot and also rnb, maybe korean rnb like jiwoo/miso. but she'd love pup/paramore/sorority noise a lot and i think she'd also be fan of jazz-punk/noise sound in midori, and also accidentally nu-metal loathe/tool/slipknot. i feel like she'd really like the synthpop in magdalena bay and she too would vibe to anri a lot. i think she'd be a fan of emo in unconcentrated forms only (specifically los campesinos!), or maybe also power pop. i could imagine her enjoying certain flavors of breakcore and electronic and for some reason i see her liking nirvana/red hot chilli peppers/the smashing pumpkins. all in all, mostly anything that's more upbeat and has energy to it. she'd probably be a mitski listener at certain times too, in all honesty.

bolin's more pop/rock and probably some alternative, though i think he'd lean more towards ok go/cracker/camper van beethoven/modest mouse. i can also see him liking vampire weekend/the postal services/death cab for cuties a lot. i feel like he would secretly enjoy mako's british-new-wave flavor but refuse to admit it to the general populace because he is an independent man! he also gives they might be giants/jukebox the ghost/ben folds five fan, aka sounds-like-children's-music-but-is-kinda-messed-up piano-rock-esque (it epitomizes him), and upbeat neo-psychedelia animal collective is just very bolin. i also see him casually enjoying the shins and the 1975.

i think that among them, there'd be a mutual enjoyment of lamp (most of all opal/asami/mako in that order) and mitski (with bolin being the only outlier in the mitski department lol). i think that if they were ever put in a car together they would never not play there is a light that never goes out and that they'd all be a fan of any music involving car crashes actually. i can't really imagine any of them outside of opal liking folk or any of them outside of korra liking any form of metal and i don't see any hyperpop in their energy sorry lol. only asami and mako seem like they would really like instrumental stuff, though different spheres of it. actually i think the two of them would overlap the most in music taste for some reason (with opal in the same arena), even if the examples i provided don't have a lot of overlap lol, followed by korra and bolin.

#lychee's brain trash #lok #opal lok #asami sato #mako lok #korra #bolin lok #this is one of the most self indulgent posts of all time tbh #it's basically just me blasting my music taste but through characters so i don't look like a music nerd #… my last fm is a mess please don't look at it #(please talk to me about music)#woah i think this is the first straight out hc post i've made hm

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rabbitcruiser · 5 months

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Totally Chipotle Day

Totally Chipotle Day is celebrated annually every May 5. It’s a day to pay homage to the humble chipotle pepper, which is used in Mexican and Mexican-inspired dishes in the U.S. This kind of pepper is indeed versatile enough to be used in any cuisine. Hotter than a poblano pepper but not as hot as a serrano pepper on the Scoville scale, National Totally Chipotle Day is a perfect time to stock up on these tasty peppers and use them liberally to add spice to your day.

History of Totally Chipotle Day

Chipotle peppers have been around since ancient times. It’s as old as Mexican cuisine itself. Their name comes from ‘Nahuatl,’ the language spoken by the Aztecs. It combines the words ‘chili’ (pepper) and ‘poctli’ (smoke), to mean ‘smoked pepper.’ A favorite of many pepper aficionados, it actually begins as a jalapeño pepper. There are different varieties of jalapeños with varying degrees of heat. It was once primarily found in the markets of central and southern Mexico. From the total production of jalapeños in Mexico, 60% accounts for pickled products, 20% is consumed fresh, and 20% becomes chipotle.

It became widely available in the more northern areas of North America as Mexican food became sought after and jalapeño production and processing likewise expanded to that area. The traditional process of its transformation starts when ripe, red jalapeño peppers are put out to dry. After being placed on metal grills, the peppers are then smoked in an oven for several days until they completely dry out. Many Mexican peppers have two names, one for the fresh version and another for the smoked or dried version.

The process results in an earthy and pungent ingredient. Its deep smokey flavor and complexity are best paired with flavors that help round it out. Lime juice, cilantro, garlic, or a touch of sweetness are some ideas to try. American favorites like tacos, chilis, and enchiladas are dishes that go well with their flavor. You can also use them in soups, sauces, salsa, marinades, and roasted vegetables. The possibilities for this pepper are endless!

Totally Chipotle Day timeline

Early 13th Century

The Peppers are Preserved

Smoke-drying chipotles as a way of preserving food in case of a bad harvest is practiced in Mesoamerica.

1400s — 1500s

The Chillis Sail to Europe

Dried chillis make their way to Europe and beyond after Christopher Columbus brings them back from his voyage to the New World.

1500s

The Preservation Process is Passed on

The Aztecs adopt the practice of smoke-drying chipotles and then pass it on to the Spaniards who eventually pass it on to the rest of the world.

1912

The Scoville Scale is Invented

Pharmacologist Wilbur Scoville creates a way to measure the heat level of peppers using Scoville Heat Units or S.H.U.

Totally Chipotle Day FAQs

What is the hottest pepper out there?

The Carolina reaper is a cross between a ghost pepper and a red habañero that clocks in at 2.2 million S.H.U., or 20x hotter than a jalapeño!

How is chipotle pronounced?

In the U.S., its pronunciation tends to be highly Americanized, as ‘tchee-POHT-lay’ or ‘tchee-POT-leh.’ Whatever you do, don’t pronounce it ‘chee-Po-til!’

What's the difference between a jalapeño and a chipotle?

Jalapeños are naturally grown and found, while chipotles are created when jalapños are smoked. Jalapeños are green and pack less heat than dark red chipotle.

Totally Chipotle Day Activities

Cook with them: Buy some chipotle peppers and use them in your favorite dishes. Mix up marinades, dips, and sides of this flavorful pepper for an appetizing bite!

Take photos of them: Pics or it didn’t happen! Share photos of your creations on your social media feed to get others salivating over your tasty meals.

Throw a Mexican fiesta party: Get those ponchos and sombreros out, it’s time for a Mexican-themed party! Serve tasty nibbles such as tacos, guacamole, and nachos. Wash them down with tequilas or margaritas and you’ve got yourselves a real party.

5 Fiery Facts About Chipotle Peppers

They’re actually jalapeño peppers: Jalapeños left on the vine are harvested when they turn red and smoke-dried to make chipotle peppers.

Jalapeños to make chipotle peppers: To make just one pound of chipotle peppers, you need ten pounds of jalapeños!

There are two types: Dark red ‘morita’ peppers have been smoked and dried for half the time of darker chipotles, while ‘meco’ peppers are smoked twice as long, resulting in a darker gray color.

It comes in different forms: You can buy them in whole pods, ground, flakes, powder, or in an adobo sauce mix.

It has a Scoville scale score: Used to measure heat in food, the chipotle pepper registers between 3,000 and 10,000 S.H.Us.

Why We Love Totally Chipotle Day

They may prevent heart attacks: Chipotle peppers are packed with nutrients that are good for our health. They have been linked to a reduction in cardiovascular diseases like strokes and atherosclerosis.

They may help diabetes sufferers: Capsaicin, an active component found in peppers, can aid in managing insulin levels in the body. This reduces high blood sugar in the body, which is one of the many dangerous conditions associated with diabetes.

They may ease respiratory conditions: Capsaicin encourages mucus secretion, emptying out the airways and sinuses. It’s then able to remove irritants or bacteria that cause respiratory or sinus issues.

Source

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chronicallyonlinesworld · 2 years

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A list of some of my many fave bands rn <3

I prevail

motionless in White

falling in reverse

fall out boy

sum 41

foo fighters

bloodhound gang

evanescence

red hot chilli peppers

skunk anansie

opeth

bowling for soup

Marilyn manson

the used

muse

anti-flag

five finger death punch

samurai

soen

pearl jam

temple of the dog

mad season

a perfect circle

Rob zombie

poppy

the smashing pumpkins

soundgarden

tallah

royal Republic

seether

Lorna shore

linkin park

gojira

cradle of filth

nine inch nails

children of bodom

live

suicide silence

Devin Townsend

anthrax

tool

korn

slaughter to prevail

Rammstein

audioslave

red hot chilli peppers

okilly dokilly

cannibal corpse

Alice in chains

uncle acid and the deadbeats

steel panther

twin temple

ghost

stone sour

slipknot

mushroomhead

drowning pool

Interpol

attila

twin temple

bastille

iron maiden

SOAD

hoobastank

three days grace

panic! at the disco

staind

paramore

good Charlotte

bullet for my valentine

the all American rejects

avenged sevenfold

of mice & men

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shaykesqueer · 10 months

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O Rose, Thou Art Sick

Chapter Seven: Jesus, He Knows Me

Chapter Links | Previous Chapter | Next Chapter | AO3

Summary: Copia has some very strong opinions on the new gardener and takes advantage of being a little drunk at lunch to rant about it to the Ghouls.

Word Count: 7.2k

Content Warnings: 18+. Some angst, food, arguments, violent threats using a garden fork, references to drowning, bugs, mention of loose teeth, details about Fox’s childhood including mentions of cults, mentions of parents, underage betrothal, gore, and beheading, minor physical violence between Fox and Copia.

Notes: This is my favourite chapter so far! Ghoul POV is finally here and it’s Dew and he is fun to write. Fox and Copia are such shits, they just can’t stop poking the bear. I love them. Also Copia is a lightweight, bless him.

Aether hadn’t always been the distinguished cook he was today. Dew remembered the first time he’d attempted to cook for them. Properly cook, as in as close to an edible meal as was possible. No one actually knew what had sparked that initial interest, but one day he had all but forced them to the den’s dining table where he’d laid out plates for each of them. None of the Ghouls could actually tell what it was he’d tried to cook. Dew wasn’t even sure it was food to begin with, but whatever it was, it was burnt through. When he tried to say so, Cumulus had elbowed him in the ribs and so none of them ever found out. It wasn’t really until Mountain became involved that Aether started to find his flair for it though. It was funny, really, because Mountain was the only one of them who could stand to eat things like rocks, pieces of tile, and the stuffing from the furniture. He didn’t just stand to, he actively sought it out. And enjoyed it. But the boy had an unnatural talent for stretching even the most basic ingredients into a fairly competent meal. Even more amusing was that he had a gift for making desserts. Over the years, he and Aether had spent a lot of time in the kitchen together and Dew did not complain. He didn’t complain when Aether had served that horrible burnt whatever and he certainly didn’t complain once the pair started to consult him on what spices they could use in their next creation. Mountain said it was because he had the finer palette of all the Ghouls and, while Dew knew it wasn’t true, he liked that Mountain had thought to appeal to his ego. He also liked the ghost pepper hot sauce they made from time to time. Probably more so.

It came to pass that almost weekly Mountain and Aether would make a lunch or a dinner for the Ghouls. No one needed to even ask anymore, one seemingly random day of the week they would find the table set with plates and no one questioned it. Copia was always invited, of course, and he always made time to join them. Sometimes he would only show up at the end or have to leave part way through, his food going largely untouched, but he always made the time to visit. This time, however, he’d not only made his way through the meal quicker than he ever had but was now also pacing up and down beside one of the couches. Dew was sat in the centre of the dining table cross-legged, watching Copia on his patrol with his wine glass still in hand. Dew brought another grape to his lips and licked it with the flat of his tongue, promptly dipping it in the open container of chilli flakes before popping it back into his mouth. He heard the scrape of fork against ceramic halt beside him and he looked over, catching Phantom’s sour look.

“That’s disgusting,” he said pointedly, to which Dew reached over and picked through his food, pushing aside pieces of pasta and broccoli to find any leftover chicken. Phantom swatted at his hand all too late as Dew was already licking the remnants of sauce from his thumb.

“Don’t you ever just eat with your hands?” he responded. Phantom poked his tongue out and returned sullenly to his lunch. Dew had grown fond of the younger Ghoul; he was still fairly new to the gang, relatively speaking, and he was known for struggling to adapt to life post-summoning. He was an unusual one, in Dew’s opinion. He still barked at the vacuum cleaner and carried most things around in his mouth instead of his hands, but the boy insisted on eating with a knife and fork. At least a fork. He was still having trouble with the knife. Dew was also appeased by the steadiness of Phantom’s temperature. If he had been truly mad, Dew would have been able to tell. He was admittedly quite awful at all the conventional fire spells, but one talent he had over all the others was his ability to read body heat. That was how he knew that the one and only person in the room who certainly was letting off a lot of heat was Copia.

“We’re letting him drink at lunch now?” Dew heard on the other side of him. It was Mountain, the big beautiful lunk, looking uncharacteristically weary under that stoicism.

Dew scoffed. “He had half a glass of pink wine. I think he’s just mad,” he said around the grape in his mouth. He, unlike the rest of the Ghouls, was quite enamoured by Copia’s ranting. It was like watching a burning car slowly roll itself off a cliff.

“Not again,” Mountain muttered, encapsulating the feelings of all the other Ghouls in the room with it. It had been at least a week since Copia’s unfortunate meeting with the new gardener and he had recounted the tale no less than twelve times. And it was twelve- Dew was keeping count. For all of his spite, he still hadn’t mentioned why he had provoked Fox in the first place. Not that anyone here would dare use the word provoked, or they’d be on the receiving end of a soul shattering stare and some very harsh words.

“-and you know what else?” carried Copia’s voice from the other side of the room. To the untrained ear and eye, he perhaps would have seemed a lot more sloshed than he really was. The way he was raving was quite frantic, and heated was far too timid a word for it. If this was just heated, he made any sort of criminal pyromaniac look like a lamp lighter in comparison. Dew could sense the steam coming off of him, could see the incorporeal tendrils twisting away from his fingertips and out his eyes and mouth. Of course, no one else could see this, and it was just as well. Copia didn’t need any more fuel to that fire, so to speak.

“What?” drawled Cirrus from the sofa. She was sat snugly between Cumulus’ legs as the two lounged back together. She had some brain-rot hoity art magazine on her lap which she lazily flicked through. Dew was dubious if she was even really reading it or whether it was just a prop to express her disinterest. Disinterest that was going entirely ignored by Copia. However, Dew also believed that Copia could not be ignoring her if he wasn’t hearing anything she was saying in the first place.

“They’re unbelievably vicious,” he said. “Aggressive, even, I would say.” He stressed the divulgence by drinking down a hearty mouthful of what wine was left in his glass. Dew watched Mountain shake his head at the dramatics- Copia actually had the nerve to wince as if the alcohol wasn’t the mildest in the den.

“Would you?” Cirrus mumbled again, turning another page.

“Sì. I would!” Copia gestured with his now empty glass in an accusatory fashion to no one in particular, just the air. “I watched them kick over a fence! A stone fence.”

“No!” Cumulus joined, and the obscured simper Cirrus gave her did not go unnoticed by Dew.

Of course, Copia was none the wiser to it and continued with no less passion and fervour. “Yes! Then- then, they took a sledgehammer to that old well. It’s just dust now!” It was by the fifth iteration of the tale of the greenhouse argument that Dew noticed Copia had a habit of embellishing his stories. Not just any stories, stories specifically involving Fox. And there was no shortage of those from him. Dew, and he suspected every other Ghoul in here- even Phantom- knew that this claim was not true. Fox would never have been able to swing a sledgehammer by themself. That was why Mountain had helped. “Who would even let them have a sledgehammer?”

“Maybe-”

“They’re threatening the Siblings too, did I tell you that?” Copia cut Cumulus off immediately. He had told them, of course. He seemed to have the remarkable ability to remember every minute detail of his unsavoury interactions with the gardener, but no recollection of how many times he had repeated them. Cirrus let out an unashamed groan and rolled her head back onto Cumulus’ shoulder. Lulu offered her a sympathetic pat on the leg. “Threatened them! All but maimed them.”

“I don’t-” Aurora began to chime in from the other end of the sofa. Dew could only assume the end of that sentence was supposed to be ‘I don’t think they’re capable of maiming anyone.’ Granted, Aurora was one of the Ghouls who had yet to actually meet Fox, but she was right. Or, at least, that was what Dew wanted to believe. From his observations, Fox did have a bit of a temper and he considered them to be rather blood-thirsty at times. The whole den was lucky that Fox knew their strength, or lack thereof, or there very well would have been some terrible accidents involving sharp objects.

“They did!” Copia interrupted, again. “Those Siblings were only smoking in the Abbey garden- as if that cretino doesn’t go at it like a fucking chimney. I think they care about those wretched plants more than anything else.”

Until now, Swiss had been sitting across from Aurora. He was sprawled on the floor and dealing out a pack of cards. From across the room, Dew could tell it was a tarot deck but it wasn’t one that he recognised. Swiss liked to collect things- his room was filled with ugly tchotchkes, if they could even be considered that. Among the statuettes and baubles and ceramics was junk and rubbish. Pieces of lego, shoelaces, scrap receipts, anything Swiss could get his hands on. The tarot decks boasted a large part of the collection and Dew had lost count of just how many he had at this point. What he did with them all was unknown. He said he used them in the traditional, mystical sense, telling fortunes and predicting the future, but Dew was certain he only used them for over-complicated card games. Despite how much he loved playing with himself- and Dew snickered inwardly at the thought- Swiss stopped what he was doing to share a look with Aurora. A look that said ‘doesn’t he mean anyone’? The pair laughed under their breaths.

“Wait,” said Phantom, pulling his knees up onto his chair and holding them to his chest. “You said they hurt someone?”

Copia spun around as if he’d forgotten there were other people in the room, a look on his face as if he was actually surprised that he was getting follow-up questions. “What? Oh.” He softened slightly, and Dew noticed the swell of warmth spread across him in obvious embarrassment. Copia must have known he was getting carried away, or he’d at least just realised it. But that didn’t stop the tirade, of course. Nothing ever did. “Well, as good as! They took a spade to a Sorella’s throat!”

Dew had not been there to see this so-called incident take place. The only one of them who had was Cirrus, and she had only caught the back end of the interaction from a distance. Rain had also spoken with the Sister who had been involved and all had been surprised to find Copia was telling the truth. Sort of. There had been a group of Siblings smoking in the Abbey garden, which was not exactly an unusual feat. It was also true that Fox went through quite a few cigarettes in the day- it was common to see them working with one hanging from their lips or taking a break to enjoy the sun and light up. At night, smoke wafted out of their chamber windows for several hours at a time. And, to his credit, Copia was accurate in his description of Fox taking a gardening tool to a Sister’s throat. It hadn’t been a spade though, it was a garden fork, but the sentiment was still the same. Dew had learnt from Rain that it had all started because those Siblings had stubbed out their cigarette ends in Fox’s newly potted campanulas, which had been firmly cemented as their pride and joy over the past few days. Dew couldn’t speak for the rest of the Ghouls, but knowing this, he was impressed by Fox’s self control because he quite possibly would’ve taken that Sister’s head off.

It had been quite the scene regardless, according to Cirrus. She had been lucky enough to witness Fox’s fury and even she said that the Sister had been left afraid to look over her shoulder for quite some time afterwards. And as if the fork wasn’t enough (which Fox had pointed all the way up to the Sister’s neck- that had been accurate) they had also felt the need to throw a handful of dirt at the group when they dared walk away, screaming- and Cirrus quoted- ‘use an ashtray you fucking heathens’. Cirrus had been quite proud.

“You know what’s going on, don’t you?” Dew said as he leaned over the table to Phantom. The Ghoul was chewing on the end of his fork, staring over at Copia with his large, owl-like eyes.

“Yes,” he replied, keeping his eyes set. “He hates their guts.”

Dew arched an eyebrow, smirking at Phantom. “Does he?” It wasn’t until he spoke that the other looked over at him, face crumpled in confusion, nose twitching as he thought hard.

“Don’t you listen to him?” he said.

“Don’t you? Watch-” Dew reached over and gave Phantom a reassuring pat on the knee. “Oh, Rain? What was the name of that cute little plant you helped dear Foxy find a good spot for?”

Rain was currently curled up in an armchair in one corner of the room, surrounded by a stack of cushions. His eyes were closed and his head had been lolled back until he heard Dew’s cooing. The stare he sent Dew’s way as soon as his eyes snapped open was vicious and vehement, his hands clenching together into fists, clearly imagining Dew’s neck in between them. There was a long moment in which all was silent in the room, Copia’s own stare settled on Rain. Before anyone could place any bets on how quickly Copia would cross the room and wring Rain’s neck himself, he began to laugh. Dew frowned, having not expected such a noise to come from him at the mention of his acclaimed mortal enemy. Of course, he hadn’t wanted to get Rain in any trouble- not that Copia would have seriously done anything to scold his sweet boy anyway- but no one had anticipated what could only be described as glee. It was somehow more frightening than if Copia was actually angry.

“You had to help them? Of course you did,” Copia said as he crossed the room. Rain still looked particularly wary until Copia stood behind his armchair and took the Ghoul’s temples in his hands, pressing a pronounced kiss to the top of his head. “That fool can’t even pick flowers right. And they were so damn cocky too. Ha! I can’t wait to see the look on their idiot face when I rub this one in.”

“Hey!” Rain suddenly yelped, rolling his shoulders to shake off Copia’s grip. It had started as a somewhat affectionate pat, but during the course of his relishing, Copia’s hands had started to work away quite zealously as if he were becoming more and more bewitched. At the cry, he had immediately stopped, that same sheepish warmth taking over him.

“Scusa,” he said, laughing half-heartedly in an attempt to shake off the embarrassment. It very clearly wasn’t working. “My Ghouls” -he smoothed his shirt out and cleared his throat, settling into whatever bravado he felt he needed to to keep his enthusiasm fuelled- “I must take leave! Aether, Mountain- you are wonderful, this was wonderful, but I have business.”

“What business?” retorted Cirrus behind a scoff.

“Important business!” Copia said while he was already retreating. He shrugged his jacket on with haste, getting turned around and spinning with a series of silly flourishes. “Very important. Very!” He was away before any of the Ghouls could call out to protest, or encourage, disappearing into the darkness of the staircase leaving only a trail of warm, giddy stars visible only to Dew.

Out of all the Ghouls, Rain looked the most perturbed. Dew could have chalked it up to him having been disturbed from his comfortable nap, but the way he looked around the room in search of similar expressions gave him away. He rubbed a hand over his shoulder, rolling it beneath his palm. It was no secret that Copia could become rather excitable at times, and it was always the little things. He also had a habit of daydreaming, letting his mind wander, sometimes to his detriment. That was how Dew, and possibly everyone else in the room, knew that he was not going to let this go. Not after having become so enraptured that he dug his hands into Rain’s shoulders so hard the Ghoul may have bruises.

“Where’s Fox right now?” said Mountain, his tree trunk arms folding across his chest. Dew didn’t even look over to him, instead swirling his fingertip around in the chilli flakes set out in his lap.

“Lake,” he said, examining the red dots collecting in a pile in the palm of his hand.

“He’s going to-”

“He’s going to drown them. Yeah.” Dew nodded to himself. It wasn’t that he was disinterested- far from it. He just knew that watching the event unfold wouldn’t be nearly as exciting as trying to weed out the gossip about it. Whatever Copia was planning, Dew expected it would make Fox delightfully livid, and he was really looking forward to hearing both of their rants and raves. Besides, he envisioned a string of arguments and, with any luck, physical altercations. When it all came to a head and one of them killed the other, he’d be there to watch.

“Shouldn’t we do something?” asked Phantom, timid thing that he was. Dew found it quite charming that he was asking him instead of Mountain, who was arguably the more responsible of the two. To Dew’s surprise, Mountain looked down to him also, craning his neck as if waiting for the answer.

“Nah,” Dew said, licking his finger. “They’ll work it out.”

***

A caterpillar clung to the underside of the wide, spiked leaf, and it moved like it was being puppeted by string that pulled it down and made it reach toward the ground. It wasn’t like any bug Fox had ever seen before. Their expertise was in flora, of course, but that had only led to a copious amount of time outdoors, which in turn led to being surrounded by all types of animals. Insects in particular. Fox knew that it was a caterpillar, they weren’t that dense. But it was bigger than any they had encountered. They considered themself lucky that they weren’t at all squeamish. The bug was a condensed cluster of velvety black fuzz, green spines like cactus barbs peeking out all over its surface. It was almost cute, like some kind of wild muppet, if it wasn’t almost definitely poisonous. What surprised Fox the most about the creature, however, was how unafraid it was. It was an unusual way to think of a caterpillar of all things- its brain was probably no bigger than a grain of rice- but Fox imagined it must have taken an amount of bravery bigger than its little body was capable of holding to come face to face with the hare that was easily ten times its size. The hare had crept up silently, skittishly at first, pushing away roots and leaves with its nose, and padding at the damp ground with an obvious hesitance. It had soft pink eyes that were oddly glossed over. Fox had seen rabbits with the affliction, and Ghouls at this point, but never a hare. It was a disturbing sight and Fox found themself wondering if it was some kind of apparition, or a demon. Whatever it was, Fox thought it was unbelievably stupid that it stuck its nose right against the caterpillar’s fur, sniffing curiously. The creature could very well have been blind with those foggy eyes, but the complete lack of survival instinct was baffling. That was what had made Fox think of the caterpillar as so fearless- the fact that instead of spitting venom or curling into a protective ball, it seemed to sniff right back with its antennae fluttering. That was cute. Or maybe it was just a stupid bug.

Fox pushed up from their bent knees, groaning a little at the creak of their joints. They didn’t like the sound of that and chalked it up to having been crouched in that position while they let their mind wander. The past week or two had been filled with a large concentration of physical activity, and not the fun kind. Not that Fox didn’t find gardening fun, it was their livelihood afterall, but days and days of straight digging and cleaning and carrying to and fro was beginning to take its toll. It had taken a full two days just to scrub the crud off of the headstones in that shitty cemetery, another to go around picking up all the stray trash and debris, and they hadn’t even gotten around to weeding the place yet. Although, it had been quite cathartic to break down some of the stone features in a number of the gardens with that hammer. They wouldn’t shy away from that again, they thought.

They had decided on the need for a change of scenery and one area of the grounds they hadn’t given too much love to was the lake. Of course, it was hard to miss and Sunny had recanted tale after tale of summer fun with unavoidable fervour. Fox had approached Rain about it one evening, but not purposefully. The Ghoul had been laying on the edge of the wooden pier, fingers skimming the surface of the water. Against the background of the setting sun, he had looked like a dark siren surrounded by shimmering jewels that reflected off the lake. The most beautiful sea-monster ready to pull them into the murky depths. At this point, Fox was hesitant to believe they would stop him. The pair had started out with a somewhat strained relationship- having learnt that he had been the one to strike the fear of Satan himself into their very bones on their first night had given them a tarnished view of the Ghoul. Even after proving himself to be rather kind-hearted under it all, if a little catty, Fox had been wary of him. It hadn’t been until the third time Fox had brought food by the den, while they were inspecting one of the scuffed spokes in the railing that lined the raised level of the common area, that they had really forgiven him.

Rain had appeared beside them, having gained their attention with a soft pat on shoulder. Fox hadn’t flinched or jumped but the Ghoul had taken half a step back when they turned their head as if he was certain they would have. It was a fair assumption really, considering how panicked they had become at the mere first sight of him. This time, he looked sincere. Timid, even. He kept turning his eyes away, with his feet shuffling an inch here and an inch there. Fox had noticed more than ever the sheen of his pale skin, blue lights dancing and glittering beneath the surface. Eventually, Rain had taken Fox’s hand by the fingertips, turning their palm up so very delicately, and placing a number of loose, pointed teeth to their skin. Fox had first and foremost been confused by the act, but it had felt so profound and intimate despite how small a thing it was, that they accepted it comfortably. They had later learnt from Sunny that Rain was very much like a shark and the shedding of his own teeth was a regular occurrence. Why it was so important to him that Fox themself receive such a gift escaped them a little- they certainly did not feel like they were good enough for something so personal- but how could they not be utterly touched by it?

Rain seemed to enjoy telling Fox about the lake and was enthralled by their interest in it. He knew it inside and out. When he assured them that there were no dead bodies or Nessies in there, after Fox had asked, they believed him wholeheartedly. When Fox told him they could see rows of red cardinal flowers on the lake shore, bordered by swamp rose and milkweed, he had gushed ever so proudly, and it had resulted in a long and friendly back and forth about the whole idea. Rain was very plain about his desire for a garden plot on the water bed- he found so much solace in even the most mundane and undesirable plant life, painting it as a vibrant coalescence of breath and soul, like the very veins of creation were unfurled and burgeoning beneath an incorporeal surface. Fox found Rain to be quite the romantic and it delighted them.

A few days ago, Fox had made the brave trek into the closest town at Terzo’s instruction so they could purchase some cardinals pre-bloom. Rain had agreed that the striking red would look incandescent against the water’s edge and neither of them wanted to wait until the following year to see it. It had taken hours for Fox to plant the collection, and they had been hours that truly made their soul sing. The smell of the wet soil and lapping of fresh water at their ankles, the feel of grain between their fingers and the cool, delicate leaves on their skin. It was as if the whole world had stopped just for them.

The cardinals were hearty and durable, they wouldn’t need looking over once they were properly established. But they needed the chance to take. Plants newly transplanted this close to the water needed Fox’s supervision, and an excuse to spend even a little bit of time fawning over them in this place of respite was gladly welcomed. By the looks of things, the soil was doing an excellent job at remaining suitably damp, with no risk of it drying out at all. That was hardly a possibility considering the location, and Fox made sure to keep their eye on retaining the current level. The plant was near impossible to overwater, but it could certainly happen. And Fox would not let either happen. As it stood, soil acidity was lacking but not unfixable, and they would need to begin making plant-food in bulk to sate the plant’s appetite, but Fox was damn pleased.

They looked out over the crescents of proud greenery, stems jutting out from the thick pleats and dotted with curled leaves like the palms of many hands. Fox grinned, taking a few careful steps between the rows before squatting again. It hadn’t crossed their mind before, but they hoped that caterpillar had been the only one. They wouldn’t like to see holes munched into these leaves quite yet. Caterpillars had to eat, sure, but these flowers were only babies. Fox was stroking the tip of one spiked leaf between their fingers when they heard footsteps approaching. Steady and even. Purposeful. Close and light on the damp soil. It wasn’t until Fox made the mistake of looking up that any warm feelings vanished, replaced by utter poison. It was him.

“Go away,” they said sternly, turning their attention back to their beloved plant. They brushed at the dirt, smoothing it over near the base of one of the flower’s stems.

Copia scoffed and Fox refused to look at him. It was ridiculous to think that his presence would be detrimental to the plant life, but Fox did so anyway. He had already wormed into their head like a disease, all sickly and consuming, and they would be damned if they were going to let him infect the flowers with his rage. It was a ridiculous thought, but Fox didn’t want to entertain even the mere possibility.

“Oh, I am sorry,” Copia mocked. “I didn’t realise you had a monopoly on the whole lake.”

“Yeah, there's a whole lake.” Fox hiked their trousers up over their knees and reached over to start pawing through a patch of dirt. “Pick a different spot- I’m working.”

Copia sniffed. “I think you’ll find I’m allowed to walk wherever I like,” he said. Fox thought he sounded as if he was turning his nose up, letting his face crease into a rather ugly pout. When they looked up at him, it seemed they had been right.

“And I’m allowed to tell you to rot in hell, assface.” The look that fell over Copia made Fox swell with spite. They tried not to show it, but they weren’t entirely convinced they were doing a good job. It was difficult to contain their hate even when he wasn’t around. “I know you don’t like me, so say whatever you’ve come over to say and then fuck off.”

Copia pursed his lips before Fox looked away again to continue their work. As enchanting as the lake was, and as much as they wanted to just fall away into the grass, they still took their job seriously. They picked up a flat wooden stake from the top of a small pile beside them, turning it over in their hands for a moment. Ruffling the loose dirt once more, they pushed it into the ground and leaned back on their heels. Fox heard Copia click his tongue and still they refused to look up at him again.

“These are very pretty weeds,” he said eventually.

“Oh, for fucks sake.”

“Pray tell, he continued, his voice dripping with unbelievable conceit. “What are they?”

“They’re cardinals,” Fox jeered, pushing another stake into the soil. When they squinted up at the man, they noticed a fleeting look of scepticism on Copia’s face. What does he know, Fox thought, and the contempt of it was almost too much to bear. “And they’re not weeds. They’re flowers.” Another stake, driven perhaps a bit too far into the land.

“I think perhaps you’re losing that green thumb you’re so proud of,” Copia came back quickly. It made Fox groan- it had clearly been dancing on the tip of his tongue, just waiting for an opportunity to lash it out. Rehearsed, it sounded. Pathetic bastard.

“You think?” Fox said as harshly as they could just about muster. “Come on then, Pope Francis, get your insult out.” They put their dirt stained hands on their legs, wiping off the residue onto the bare curve of their knee. If they had been having a hard time hiding their sheer disgust at Copia, he himself was clearly doing even worse. His brow sat heavy with a frown, lips drawn so cartoonishly deep that it made him look like a clown.

“I just find it unusual that a self professed expert such as yourself would need help from Rain,” he said, no attempt to mask the spit of his words.

“Is that what this is about?” It was Fox’s turn to scoff. Stake, dirt. Stake. Dirt. “Because I asked for his opinion?”

Copia let out a long, drawn sigh. It was for the dramatics of it all, of course, and he was relishing the high he was obviously feeling as he chased Fox into a corner. “He clearly only helped because he feels sorry for you.” He took a step back, his voice slightly muffled like he had turned his head away. “Why should we have a gardener if he can do the job just as well?”

“No, he didn’t.” And fuck you. Fox wasn’t above swearing at Copia, but he was starting (only starting? Ha!) to get under their skin. No poison for the plants. They were trying, they really were. “A two by four with a face drawn on it could do your job just as well.” Maybe they weren’t trying that hard.

“Lying is a very ugly trait,” Copia said.

“I am not a liar.”

“Oh no?” Copia let the air hang silent for a moment. ”Foxtrot Uskollinen?”

Fox laughed. They couldn’t help but bark that short, dry laugh while they shook their head. “That’s charming.” They finally pushed themself to their feet, wiping their hands off again on their hips. The denim could take it, after all. Into their back pocket they slid the remaining stakes- they were becoming dangerously close to Norman Bates-ing the ground and there was no reason why the earth should suffer more than them right now. “You know the name so you know that I don’t use it.”

“And why is that I wonder?” Copia was quick again, as if he hadn’t even heard them, as if he hadn’t even seen them.

“You’re asking me questions you obviously know the answers to,” Fox said, passing Copia close enough that they could have knocked his shoulder with their own. But they didn’t. They did hiss their words as they went past, though. “Why? To bug me?”

Copia snarled right back, walking after Fox indignantly. “You think I have nothing better to do than bug you?”

“Clearly you don’t!” Fox marched down the pier, boots clunking heavy against the slats. They stopped just shy of half way down the path, jaw set as they looked out over the water. Briefly, they closed their eyes and felt the breeze caress their face. Having been so overcome by the flood of seething anger, boiling hate, they had forgotten the world itself was not on fire. It was quiet out here, as it should have been. Fox wanted to shove that rage down, wanted the earth to open up and swallow them whole until all that hate could spill out into nothing. Another part of them was disturbed by the thought of it leaving them completely and they felt a searing bitterness at how calm it was around them when they were burning inside. ”Is that it then? You can recite a name, big whoop.”

Copia’s voice was close, perhaps a few steps away. Fox hadn’t heard the creak of the wood or the full footfalls. He must have stepped lightly, on purpose. He was getting into Fox’s skin and the motherfucker was enjoying it. “You must have done something rather awful to be running like you are.”

“Fuck you,” Fox spat, whipping around on their heels. “You don’t know me.”

“It’s your family name, no?”

“I don’t consider someone family when they-” Fox caught themself. A flash went through their brain and they found themself stuck staring into Copia’s sour glare. “ When they do what they did,” they continued quietly. And what they did.

Fox was not known to shy away from talking about the situation they grew up in. The details, however, they kept close these days. The Modern Order of the Love and Oracle Technology was its full name. Dedicated to worshipping a Russian radio signal that came from seemingly nowhere, went seemingly nowhere, and had been floating around for no one knew how long. Their mothers had been some of the first to ‘feel the pull of the great unknown’, as they would say. That was to say it wasn’t a very well established cult, hardly some medieval affair, but it had been Fox’s whole life and most of their mothers’ and just about everyone else’s that they knew of. There was nothing else, nothing but that signal and their lives forged around it. Fox thought about it often, that it could’ve been a worse childhood. It was the first and only time they’d ever felt as part of a whole, however briefly and however young they had been. It was simple, to the outside. No better than farmers or peasants, living far out of any civilisation’s reaching paws and bare to the elements, always.

Fox had never been stupid, though- they were not immune to suspicion or curiosity. It had never been the zealotry that had bothered them. It was never all the scripture and decoding that never seemed to make any sense, and it was never the bizarre rules. In fact, Fox didn’t mind the study. They never minded the animal slaughter or the autopsies on their dead, but it entered their mind on more than one occasion that a commune dedicated to deciphering technology being so hung up on bloody sacrifice seemed counter-intuitive. Their mothers- for some reason that Fox never figured out but hadn’t questioned at the time- had betrothed them, because that was the exact type of burden to make a sixteen year old carry. That was the exact type of nuttiness that any self respecting cult required to even be considered fanatical.

It had been one kiss. Just one kiss with another boy. One second stealing sweet nothings behind the barn in the dead of night and one second later, his shoulders were relieved of the burden of his head. Fox still couldn’t look at an apothecary jar without thinking of that disgusting pink slime floating in it. It made them sick.

Fox didn’t blink, couldn’t blink. They sucked in their bottom lip in fear of it trembling. They’d rather die than have Copia see that he’d actually gotten to them. They weren’t entirely sure how long they’d fallen silent, but the lack of noise was becoming too harsh, too awkward, too much. “Any other intimate details you want to drag out and laugh at?” they said, wishing that Copia would finally look away so they didn’t have to stare back into his eyes any more. Truth be told, they didn’t actually know how much the man knew. It made them feel like banging their head against a wall when they realised he could have been bluffing about it all. He knew their name. By extension, he quite possibly knew a number of the organisations they’d travelled with in the past. The Ministry had been the one to contact them so something must have been known, but Copia knowing? Imagining him poking around in their past, trying to weed out details and secrets? Fox felt ugly under Copia’s scrutiny now, and it made them mad.

“I have no intention” -Copia paused for just a moment- “of knowing you any further.”

In that pause, Fox blinked. He was spiteful, of course. Words between them were never anything but. But, there was an edge to his tone. Or maybe it was the sheen that fell over his eyes. Fox couldn’t make sense of it for a moment; Copia’s face certainly hadn’t softened. He hadn’t smiled nor had he frowned, but it was like some of that awful disgust just slipped away. He didn’t care, is what he was saying. But, at the same time, Fox thought it sounded gentle enough to be an apology. They felt immediately stupid for thinking it, or wanting to think it, but it did gnaw at them. Copia stood straight, looking down at them stoically as if he was waiting for them to understand.

“Good,” Fox said slowly, giving Copia a brief glance, letting themself search him with their eyes just in case they’d missed something. Just in case there was more to consider. Fox felt that unusual familiarity they had come across on their first meeting with Copia. Did he understand? Could he? Fox tried to push away the feeling into the back of their head, disoriented by the sudden flush of jumbled emotions. They turned away and folded their arms across their chest.

To Fox’s surprise, they heard the steady heel-toe footsteps approaching them from behind and they held their breath unconsciously. They were nervous, they realised, their stomach turning and shooting pins and needles down their arms. Why should I be nervous, they thought, just because he said a few kind words. But he hadn’t! He hadn’t said anything kind at all and all of a sudden that deep rage swarmed them again.

“I think this is an ugly addition,” came Copia’s voice, steady as his movement. “Rain was just indulging you, I’m sure. You’d better not get any stupid ideas like this for my garden.”

Fox exhaled loudly and they felt something not unlike relief. Relief that Copia was chiding them again. Relief that they weren’t going insane, he hadn’t meant anything kind. Relief that they could go on hating him. “Why don’t you go and bitch about it to someone who gives a shit?” they snapped.

“You have a disgusting temper,” Copia said, and he came back quickly with it. His voice was strained and low- he’d clearly been holding onto that one for a while, desperate for Fox to hear how little he thought of them.

“You know what,” Fox began, turning to face him. He was closer than they had expected and it made them give a sour shake of their head. “Terzo was right about you. You so desperately want me to think you’ve got any sort of power. All bark and no bite.” Fox was feeling brave and punctuated their words by taking their finger and jabbing it into Copia’s shoulder. It was harsh, with more force than they had anticipated. Perhaps it was because Copia had, for some reason, let his guard down and relaxed. If it could even be called that, he was still as tense as ever it seemed. But the way his face twisted then felt dangerous. Fox wasn’t sure what exactly had done it- they had learnt from Terzo a few tricks to push Copia’s buttons, but this was a quick succession of tough blows. Fox’s downfall was their temper, really. Because they had forgotten where they were, and where they were standing.

Without warning, Copia’s hands came down upon Fox’s shoulders and he shoved them back. They let out a yelp as they tumbled, losing their feet beneath them, and when they hit the water, they screamed. Fox fell below the surface of the lake, limbs flailing against the cold that felt as if it had stabbed through every part of their body. They didn’t have time to take stock of their surroundings and they emerged, breaking through the water with a loud gasp. As soon as they did, their clothes hung heavy against them, their hair plastered unbearably cold to their head and neck and shoulders. Wiping bleary eyes with the backs of their hands, Fox saw Copia turning to slink away and they would not have been surprised had the water around them started to bubble and boil.

Fox lifted their arms as best as they could but they dragged uncomfortably against their sodden clothes. They slapped the surface of the water, clawing at it, scrambling and yelling. Their dungarees were too heavy for them to rush out and they were so frustrated, they thought their skeleton was going to burst out of their body and tackle Copia to the ground as soon as it caught up to him.

“You’re dead, old man!” they screeched, and it was futile. Copia was already gone. Fox was sure they would have felt like sinking under the water and letting the lake take them had it not been for the flames of their soul licking with hot rage, quivering through their body, desperate for revenge.

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