#like that you don’t make grilled cheese on a charcoal grill

[midnightorchids]

I love you and your writing. It makes me so happy to read your works!

Imagine Jason having his s/o move in with him. Imagine all the possibilities.

Like arranging the furniture together, showering together, taking turns cooking.

Or taking power naps together. I love me some soft Jason.

Omg stop!!! You’re literally so kind! Thank you for sending all these little scenarios, I always have so much fun writing them. Also, my apologies for getting back to you so late, I hope this little blurb makes up for it, enjoy reading!

Jason stares at the small key in his large calloused hands and then at charcoal door in front of him. This is it, he thinks to himself. He runs his hands through his hair and then shifts his gaze to your face, it’s beaming with excitement. Jason tries to hold back his smile, but finds himself unable to do so. He reaches over to your hand and gives it a gentle squeeze.

He’s waited for this moment for a long time. He’s dreamt of owning a place with you, of days where the both of you will go to sleep together and you’ll still be there in the morning. He’s dreamt of making you breakfast and kissing your forehead before you go to work or school and then have you come right back home… to him.

Jason’s emotional honestly, there’s something so tender and domestic about the idea of building a life together in this apartment.

The apartment, it’s not very big and the walls are an awful shade of grey. The paint is chipping in some places and there’s some obvious water damage. But none of that matters because it’s yours. It’s your home and that thought alone is enough for you and Jason to be happy.

You’re both sitting in the empty kitchen, unpacking your boxes and Jason can imagine spending the rest of his life here with you.

He takes a mental picture of the moment, tucking it deep in his mind and engraving it in his heart. He hasn’t been able to stop smiling since he walked in through the door, he feels content, at peace.

You and Jason spent weeks scavenging through different vintage shops to find the perfect decor and furniture. There were countless trips to Ikea and multiple trips to the mall.

All of it was coming together now.

The thought of saying “our home” instead of “my house” made Jason feel giddy. He finally had a place to call his own with a person who felt like serenity.

Hours go by and you’re still working on getting your new place sorted.

You’re both sprawled out on the living room floor, putting together your new coffee table. There’s screws scattered across the floor and bubble wrap on the couch. There’s music playing on one of your phones as the speaker is still packed away in one of the boxes.

“This is so much fun! It’s like building life size legos,” Jason suddenly exclaims and you stare at him unamused, the hours of working finally catching up to you.

“Shut up Jay! You’re talking too much, I lost my page again,” you reply looking back at the paper manual in your hands, trying to find your page again. Jason looks up at you with a small pout.

“Don’t be mean, you know I’m sensitive,” he tries to say seriously, but the little smile on his face says otherwise. you shuffle over to his side on the floor and ruffle his hair.

“Aw I’m sorry baby, I’ll be nicer,” you say, realizing it might be time to take a break. “Should we postpone building furniture for a bit, I’m starving.” His face lights up and before you know it, he’s already in the kitchen gathering ingredients to make you soup and grilled cheese sandwiches. There’s not much in the fridge, but he’ll make do with what’s there.

You stare at him from across the room and this time, it’s your turn to click a mental photograph of the moment. He looks beautiful in your new kitchen, his hair’s messy, it’s in his eyes and he takes a second to push away the bangs. Then, he continues working away near the stove, humming along to the song playing on your phone. You can’t help, but admire him. You look forward to seeing him like this forever.

You make your way over to the kitchen and take a seat on the island counter, opposite to the stove. Jason tosses the final bit of ingredients in the pot and lets everything simmer. He looks over at you, leaning against the counter. He crosses his large arms against his body, his face soft and relaxed.

“I’m really happy, you know,” he says, grinning, and you scrunch your face into a big smile.

“I know Jay, I’m so happy too.”

[abramsbooks]

RECIPE: The Flame-Grilled Burger (from The Great American Burger Book (Updated and Expanded Edition))

Cooking over direct flame is one of the most difficult ways to make a hamburger. One of the reasons so many of the hamburgers made a hundred years ago were cooked on flat tops was simply because the results were predictably good. Squash a ball of beef on a skillet and reap the rewards of the path of least resistance. I also would imagine that way back then, lighting a big charcoal grill and flame cooking at small burger stands and joints throughout America would have been pretty dangerous. But we all know that a burger cooked on a flame grill is a very different burger.

It’s easy to master the skillet-cooked burger. Grilling a burger on open flame requires more dedication to the craft, more time, more equipment, and a willingness to fail. That’s because cooking on an outdoor grill can be very unpredictable. The grill master is at the mercy of uneven temperatures, depending on the type of coals used and where those coals are in relation to the grilling grate. Even the weather can be a factor. The outdoor propane grill solves a few of these issues, but if you really want to experience a flame-cooked burger, super-hot charcoal is the only way to go.

There’s something fundamental and primal in our desire to harness fire and grill. “The greatest advantage to cooking over flame is the grilled flavor,” Michael Ollier, corporate chef at Certified Angus Beef®, told me once, adding with a smile, “I crave that.” It’s a flavor that you cannot ever achieve cooking on a flat top or by any other method. Chef Ollier explained the science behind this perfectly: “The fat that drips onto the coals becomes airborne, flavoring your burgers.”

The keys to grilling success are high heat and confidence. Get your coals super hot and your tools, patties, and condiments ready to go, and you’ll be all set up to grill like a pro. When family and friends are hovering around you at the grill, waiting for magic, it may feel like there’s a lot at stake. Just follow the recipe below for the classic grilled cheeseburger—and remember, practice makes perfect.

Makes 8 burgers

Equipment

A 3½-inch (9-cm) food ring or round cutter

Parchment paper

A charcoal chimney

Charcoal briquettes or lump charcoal

A charcoal kettle grill, hibachi, or similar

A stiff spatula (with a long handle)

The Burger

2½ pounds (about 1 kg) fresh-ground 80/20 chuck

Salt and coarse black pepper, for seasoning

8 soft white buns

The Toppings

8 thick slices American, cheddar, or any other good melting cheese

Green-leaf lettuce

1 or 2 red beefsteak tomatoes, sliced

1 medium Vidalia or Walla Walla onion, sliced

Divide the beef into 8 equal portions (5 ounces/140 g each).

Place the food ring on a cutting board or clean surface lined with parchment paper and add a portion of beef. Gently press the beef into the ring to create a perfectly round patty. (I use the ring for consistent thickness, but you can eyeball the size if you prefer. Both methods work fine. Just be sure not to over-press the meat—you want it to maintain a somewhat loose grind.)

Return the patties to the fridge to chill until you’re ready to grill (hey, that rhymes).

Using the chimney starter, light the charcoal. When coals are ready, transfer them to the grill, making sure that the bottom vent is open. Spread the coals out, leaving a small space on one side (as a rest spot in case things get too hot in there).

Place the grate over the coals and, using a grill brush, scrape off any residual buildup from your last grilling adventure. Cover the grill and make sure that the top vent is wide open. Give your grill grate a chance to heat up—you don’t want to plop raw burger patties onto a lukewarm grill. That grate should be ridiculously hot!

At this point, and not before, season both sides of your patties with a liberal amount of salt and pepper. Salting too early will bind the muscle fibers together and make your burgers tough (yuck).

Place the patties on the hot grill grate, cover the grill, and leave them alone. Allow the patties to cook for about 5 minutes. The cooking time can vary depending on environmental and equipment factors, so you’ll have to use your best judgment here. Chef Michael Ollier from Certified Angus Beef put it best when he told me, “Let the burger speak to you.” If you understand this statement, you’re probably drinking too much at the grill. But seriously, with experience comes wisdom—the burger will actually tell you when it’s time to flip. One good visual cue is when you see red liquid start to form on the uncooked surface of the burger. Go ahead and take a peek just shy of 5 minutes.

This would be a good time to toast your buns. Toast them indoors using a skillet on your stovetop, or toast them with butter in a small cast-iron skillet, directly on the colder side of the grill.

Cook the second side (again, untouched and covered) for an additional 4 minutes. With about 1 minute to go, top each patty with a slice of cheese and cover the grill. As the burgers finish cooking, slide them to the cooler rest spot section of the grill, away from the hot coals. Once all your burgers are done, remove them from the heat and allow them to rest for 1½ minutes. The internal temperature of the burgers should be about 143°F (62°C) for medium-rare.

Top the toasted buns with the lettuce, tomato, and onion slices, or your condiments of choice. (I love a good, crisp slice of onion on my grilled burgers, as well as mustard, pickle, and sometimes mayonnaise.) Transfer the patties to the toasted buns and serve.

The definitive guide to creating the most mouthwatering hamburgers by America’s leading burger expert—expanded and updated with new and improved recipes

The Great American Burger Book was the first book to showcase a wide range of regional burger styles and cooking methods. In this new, expanded edition, author and burger expert George Motz covers traditional grilling techniques as well as how to smoke, steam, poach, smash, and deep-fry burgers based on signature recipes from around the country.

Each chapter is dedicated to a specific regional burger, and includes the history of the method and details on how to create your own piece of American food history right at home. Written by Motz, the author of Hamburger America and hailed by the New York Times as a “leading authority” on hamburgers, The Great American Burger Book is a regional tour of America’s best burgers.

Recipes feature regional burgers from California, Connecticut, Florida, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, and Wisconsin. International locations include: Australia, Brazil, Denmark, Malaysia, and Turkey.

These mouthwatering recipes include Connecticut’s Steamed Cheeseburger, The Tortilla Burger of New Mexico, Iowa’s Loosemeat Sandwich, Houston’s Smoked Burger, Pennsylvania’s The Fluff Screamer, and Sheboygan's Brat Burger.

This is a book for anyone who loves a great burger, unique or classic. And who doesn’t love a great burger?

For more information, click here.

[thesaurus]

// you ever think you’re hungover and you’re just really dehydrated because you don’t have your charcoal water filter in the office and don’t drink glass upon glass of water? Like you normally do?

// anyways, had to buy bottled water at the food court thing in the strip mall building across from ours

// BUT I figured out where it was all by myself (watched a woman open the mysterious side door)

// and tbqh that griddle grilled cheese* saved my entire day (also remembered to buy fruit! And eat it!)

// (*not thinking about the cross contamination of other food I’m weird about on said griddle)

// like !! Rye bread ! Perfectly melted ! The kind of shit I separately miss being made for me on demand in any capacity

// when I get home from t this trip I simply must find a restaurant close to my apartment that can feed me

// I eat leftovers a lot, or snack

// but hot food I didn’t have to make myself ??? Game over

// when I worked in an office everyday I bought lunch every single day idk what has gotten into me

[texas-electricity-ratings]

Texas Cookout Favorites for Memorial Day

Texas Cookout Favorites for Memorial Day

Will You Be Poolside This Memorial Day?

Summer has officially started in Texas. Check out our poolside party ideas for this Memorial Day and save on your Texas power bills, too.

As Memorial Day marks the unofficial start of summer, Texans turn their attention to poolside parties with grilled meats. There’s nothing like jumping into a swimming pool for the first time each summer. Furthermore, there’s something special about pulling yourself out of the pool and walking straight toward big piles of hot dogs and hamburgers. Just don’t get the buns soggy! This Memorial Day, reflect on the sacrifice of fallen soldiers and enjoy the freedom they secured. And all the while, save money on Texas power. 

Swimming Pool Energy Tips

Any pool owner can tell you that maintaining one isn’t cheap. Yes, you need need chemicals and a lot of water; however, you also need cheap electricity to run the pump. So, do as much as you can to conserve power: 

Use coolers for pool parties. You don’t want guests constantly going in and out of the house every time they need a drink refill. They’ll do that enough for the bathroom! With each door opening, they let cold air escape making your HVAC system work harder. Place coolers with iced beverages in a shady spot to maximize ice retention. Popular cooler brand Yeti recommends prechilling coolers the night before to make your ice last as long as possible.  

Reduce pumping time. Your pool pump only needs to run six to eight hours per day to maintain clear water. So, experiment with your run times to see how little your pool needs. 

Keep debris out. Lawn clippings, dirt, and leaves make your filtration system run longer. Therefore, prevent debris from falling in the water with a pool cover, and remove it quickly with a skimming net. 

Clean your filters. Filters protect your expensive pool equipment. Consequently, clean them regularly to keep your mechanical system running smoothly. 

Memorial Day Party Food

Memorial Day is when America honors those who fell protecting their country and when we celebrate the start of summer by heading outdoors.

You can’t throw a pool party without great food. You also don’t need a high electricity bill to make them, either:

Grilled meats and vegetables: Keep your oven turned off for the entire party. You don’t need it! Break out a bag of charcoal, or fire up your gas grill to cook tasty grilled meats and vegetables. Hot dogs, hamburgers, bratwursts, and steaks are just a few meat options. And corn on the cob is best when kissed by fire. Grill baskets enable you to cook chopped vegetables like squash, zucchini, onions, and bell peppers. 

Cold sides: Prepping cold sides the night before a party makes the day-of work easier. So, make coleslaw, potato salad, and other cold sides in advance, and keep them refreshingly cold in coolers.

Fresh fruit: Nothing cooks quite as easily as something that only needs cutting up. Chop some fruit, arrange it on a plate, and serve! If you want to be fancy, you can make a fruit dip with cream cheese, powdered sugar, vanilla, and lemon juice.  

Summer Electricity Plans

Summer has officially started in Texas. So, if you wait much longer to secure a fixed rate electricity contract, you could pay a lot more than you need to. Shop for the best Texas electricity rates available, and cool your home for a great price all year.  

[eazy-group]

Chorizo Quesadilla: Easy Camping Recipe Ready In Minutes

New Post has been published on https://eazycamping.net/chorizo-quesadilla-easy-camping-recipe-ready-in-minutes/

Chorizo Quesadilla: Easy Camping Recipe Ready In Minutes

If you love easy campfire recipes, this quesadilla is a great option. You can use a cast iron skillet or griddle for this meal.

This works well also if you prefer preparing camp stove recipes with non-stick skillets.

Recipe Steps

Step 1. Prepare your ingredients, heat source and equipment as directed. You’ll start cooking over medium-high heat then eventually reduce down to medium low heat.

Hand Test For Cooking Temperatures

You don’t need a thermometer to determine the temperature of your heat source for cooking. Here’s steps for the “hand test”.

Hold the palm of your hand about 5 inches above the heat source (campfire coals, charcoal briquettes, propane grill etc.) you’re using for cooking. (Make sure nothing is flammable, like clothing or jewelry.)

Pull your hand away from the heat before it hurts and note how many seconds have passed. Example: 5-6 seconds = medium heat.

Heat Level Temperature Range Time High Heat 450-550°F 2-3 seconds Medium Heat 350-450°F 5-6 seconds Low Heat 250-350°F 8-10 seconds

Hand Test For Cooking Temperatures

Step 2. Brown the meat. You’ll begin by browning the sausage. Depending on the brand, the flavour in the meat comes from paprika, cumin and local chiles so the raw sausage already has a reddish-brown color to it. You can tell when the meat is browned by the crumbled texture more than the color.

Step 3. Complete the meat mixture. Add the potato cubes, onion and garlic to the meat. Cook covered until the potatoes are tender.

Step 4. Assemble the quesadilla. Make a “sandwich” out of the two tortillas by spreading the meat mixture between them.

Step 5. Toast & serve. Reduce the heat to medium low and toast both sides of the quesadilla. Serve with your favorite toppings.

Pairings

I love this recipe when I’m preparing camping meals for two. It doesn’t really need anything on the side but if I want to bulk up the meal, I’ll heat up a can of refried beans.

If I’m serving this as one of my camping snacks as an appetizer to a main dish, I like staying in a similar flavor profile. Here are some great options:

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Leftovers

If I have leftovers I just wrap them in aluminum foil and refrigerate them. Then, I just throw the whole packet over hot campfire coals to reheat the meat and re-crisp the tortillas.

Similar Recipes

Try these Camping Breakfast Quesadillas that uses chorizo as the flavorful meat.

If you want to serve eggs to everyone at the same time, a casserole is a great option. Try this Southwestern Camping Breakfast Casserole when you want a little extra kick in the morning.

These Camping Breakfast Burritos combine chorizo with scrambled eggs in a soft tortilla.

Print This Recipe

Chorizo Quesadilla Recipe

Kim Hanna

Camping For Foodies Dinner Camping Recipes: This chorizo and potato quesadilla makes a nice easy dinner for 2 or an appetizer for 4.

Prep Time 2 minutes mins

Cook Time 25 minutes mins

Resting Time 1 minute min

Total Time 28 minutes mins

Course Dinner Camping Recipes

Cuisine Mexican

Servings 2

Calories 527 kcal

Cooking spray (if needed for sticky pans)

1/2 pound chorizo sausage browned (Use the pork chorizo Mexico variety, not Spanish chorizo. Use bulk ground sausage, not links.)

1 small potato peeled and diced into small cubes

1/2 small onion diced

1 clove garlic minced

2 large burrito size flour tortillas

1/2 cup Monterey jack cheese shredded (can substitute pepper jack or cheddar cheese)

Optional Toppings Suggestions

Salsa, guacamole, fresh cilantro, avocado slices tossed in lime juice, scallions and sour cream.

Cook ModePrevent your screen from going dark

In large skillet over medium-high heat of campfire coals or propane stove, lightly brown chorizo sausage, crumble sausage as it cooks. (see * Note)

Reduce to medium heat. Add potato, onion and garlic to the skillet, cover and cook until potatoes are soft and meat is cooked through. Remove pan from heat.

Lay one tortilla on a flat surface, spread meat and potato mixture in an even layer over the tortilla. Then, cover with cheese and top with second tortilla.

Use a paper towel to remove excess grease from the pan, reduce to medium low heat and return pan to heat source.

Place sandwiched tortillas in pan to brown first side, then, flip to toast second side.

Remove from heat and let stand a minute before slicing to serve. Serve hot with optional toppings, if desired. (see ** Note)

Serving: 1gCalories: 527kcalCarbohydrates: 22gProtein: 25gFat: 37gSaturated Fat: 16gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.3gMonounsaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 96mgSodium: 993mgPotassium: 414mgFiber: 2gSugar: 2gVitamin A: 827IUVitamin C: 19mgCalcium: 229mgIron: 2mg

More Yummy Meal Ideas

Source

[thedisneychef]

How To Charcoal Grill Hamburgers

Cooking hamburgers on a charcoal grill can be a great way to get that classic smoky flavor while making delicious burgers. It's easier than you think and with just a few simple steps, you can become the master griller in your backyard! All you need is some charcoal, your favorite hamburger patties, and a few minutes of your time. In no time at all, you'll have juicy, flavorful burgers that everyone will love! Gather Your Supplies Gather all the supplies necessary to charcoal grill your hamburgers; you'll need them at hand for a successful cookout. You'll need ground beef, buns, condiments, and any marinating tips you'd like to use. When choosing buns, look for ones that will hold up when exposed to heat and are not too thick. Make sure you have enough charcoal and lighter fluid as well as long-handled tongs for flipping the burgers on the grill. Finally, grab an apron and some oven mitts since things can get hot quickly when cooking over an open flame. Don't forget to bring along paper towels and wet wipes for clean up after grilling is done! Prepare the Charcoal Start by arranging the coals for a tasty meal. Depending on your charcoal grill, you may need to use either briquettes or lump coal. Briquettes are great for maintaining an even, consistent heat throughout grilling, but they take longer to light and preheat. Lump coal lights quickly and is easy to control during cooking, but you'll want to be sure your lump coal is of high quality so that it doesn't burn too hot. As you arrange your charcoal in the grill, keep in mind lighting tips and pre heating strategies; these will help ensure that your hamburgers are cooked properly and evenly. Once the coals have been arranged according to instructions (and safety tips!), it's time to start the fire! Use a chimney starter or paper-covered kindling if needed; avoid using lighter fluids as these can affect the taste of food cooked over them. Grill the Hamburgers Once the coals have been lit, it's time to get grilling! To cook your hamburgers properly, the most important thing is to make sure you're using the right cooking techniques. You'll want to place your burgers directly over the hot coals and let them cook until they are crisp on one side. Once that side is done, give them a flip and let them cook for another 3-4 minutes or until they reach your desired doneness. For an extra juicy burger, try marinating them in any of your favorite marinade recipes before throwing them on the grill. Doing so will add flavor and help keep those juices locked in while cooking. Serve the Hamburgers It's time to serve up those delicious hamburgers! Present the burgers on a platter with buns, condiments, and any other desired accompaniments. The presentation should be attractive and appetizing. Make sure to portion out each burger accordingly so everyone gets an equal amount. Serving Size Portion Size 1 Hamburger Bun 1 Slice of Cheese (optional) 2-3 Burger Patties 1 Tablespoon of Condiment (e.g., Ketchup & Mustard) 2 Leaves of Lettuce (optional) 1 Sliced Onion (optional) Clean Up the Grill Now that everyone's enjoyed the delicious burgers, it's time to clean up the grill. Start by turning off the gas or charcoal and then letting the grill cool down. Once cooled, use a brush to remove any remaining charred pieces of food or fat that may have been left behind from seasoning burgers or basting sauce. If you want your grill to last longer, try using a stainless steel brush with soft bristles for deeper cleaning. After brushing away debris from the grate, make sure to properly store any accessories such as grates, tongs, spatulas, etc., so they won't rust in between uses. Finally, cover your grill with a protective cover and store in a place where it won't be exposed to rain or other weather conditions. With these steps taken care of you can rest easy knowing that your next grilling session will be just as successful as this one! Frequently Asked Questions What type of charcoal should I use? For grilling hamburgers, it's best to use lump charcoal. This type of charcoal provides consistent heat and intense flavor that can't be matched by other grilling methods. How long should I cook the hamburgers? Grill your burgers for about 4-6 minutes each side, depending on the thickness and desired doneness. Make sure you purchase charcoal that is suitable for grilling and use proper grilling techniques for best results. What kind of seasoning should I use? Seasoning your hamburgers is up to you, but consider the grill temperature and quality of charcoal. You can go classic with salt and pepper or get creative with herbs and spices. Enjoy! How should I flip the hamburgers? Using tongs, carefully flip your seasoned hamburgers after the charcoal is evenly heated. Remember to keep a safe distance while flipping them! What is the best temperature for grilling hamburgers? Grilling your hamburgers at a medium-high temperature is best to achieve the perfect charring. Prepare your grill for an even heat, then cook your burgers until they reach an internal temperature of 160 degrees Fahrenheit. Use charring techniques to get the most flavor out of each burger. Conclusion You've done it! You cooked the perfect hamburger on the charcoal grill. Now all that's left is to enjoy your delicious creation. Serve up your hamburgers with some chips and a cold beverage, and you've got yourself a tasty meal. Cleaning up after grilling is important, too. Be sure to let the coals cool completely before disposing of them in a safe place away from any combustible materials. And don't forget to brush off the grill grate when it's cool enough to touch so you can keep it in top condition for next time. Congratulations—you're now a pro at grilling burgers on a charcoal grill! Read the full article

[phrynewrites]

ugh i stan blind date au! can we get some more cooking hcs ?

Thank you so much hun!! I’m so glad you’re enjoying it!

Cooking HCs:

1. When Jasmine’s sick, Bosco decides to be a *good not girlfriend* and buy her soup. So they come over to Jasmine’s empty the can of condensed tomato soup into a bowl, and hand it off to her. And Jasmine, tripping on cold meds, accepts a spoon full of it before promptly spitting it out. Bosco doesn’t get it until Camden hears them mumbling to themself and has to tell Bosco that they have to heat up soup AND dilute it with water. And then takes a picture of the gloppy cold tomato concentrate and sends it to the gc.

2. When it’s their turn to host dinner for their friends, Jasmine always has Bosco plan the table setting and set it, telling them to “go as big as their heart desires.” This not only lets Bosco show off their artistry, it gives Jasmine at least two hours to actually cook the meal without Bosco either being a pest or trying to help cook, which Jasmine knows she’ll have to do over again anyway.

3. When Bosco first tries cooking Jasmine a nice dinner, they’re sending progress pictures to the group chat like “I’ll put the garlic on first because it smells good” and “and now I boil the water with the pasta” and “I think this is call deglazing but I put the wine in the pasta water because everyone likes wine” and the whole time everyone’s yelling at Bosco not to do what they’re doing but they simply ignore because they’re making pasta that maybe only Jasmine will appreciate. (Jasmine takes two bites of the alcoholic mush, compliments Bosco’s efforts at trying new things, how much she does in fact love pasta, and how they should order some pasta and maybe try to remake it together tomorrow)

[nosanime]

Anime Foodies: Basic Cooking Equipment for Camping

This post relates to our Anime Foodies panels on “Laid-Back Camp” and “Laid-Back Camp Season 2”.

The goal of this post is to go over the basic equipment you’ll want to have for cooking while you’re out camping.  This is not meant to tell you all of what you’ll need for camping itself nor is it intended to be entirely exhaustive as to what you’ll need for cooking when camping.

Cooler:

A decent camping cooler is a must for keeping your food chilled throughout any camping trip. 

These days, you can get coolers for under $100 that will keep your food chilled for 72 hours without much trouble.  This is perfect for most weekend camping excursions.  Certain varieties – such as Yeti – can keep things chilled for longer periods, but do come with higher costs as a result. 

The size of your cooler will be dependent on how many folks you’re going camping with, but, for example, a 25 quart cooler has plenty of room for holding all the food you’ll need for two people for a weekend.

To go along with your cooler, do remember that you’ll need something to keep is chilled with.  If you don’t have cold freezer packs, bagged ice from any grocery store/gas station will do just fine.  Do remember that, if you just use ice, you may need to drain the cooler at times and make sure nothing is soaking in water at the bottom of the cooler towards the end of your trip.

Camping Stove:

A camping stove is going to be your go to item for cooking almost everything when you’re out at the campsite. 

These come in a lot of varieties with small, individual stoves in a single piece with a single burner all the way to large varieties that can have four burners.  The standard type – and one we use for all of our camping cooking – is a dual burner stove as you see here.

Coleman is an extremely good brand for cooking stoves in our experience.  We have two which have been in good working order for decades.

To go along with your stove, don’t skimp on your cans of propane.  They are pretty cheap and do last a while, but you’ll be in a world of hurt if you run out of fuel while using your stove.

Portable Grill:

In “Laid-Back Camp” and “Laid-Back Camp Season 2”, Rin has a little grill used on occasion when grilling is needed on site.  If you’re in most campgrounds in the U.S., there is somewhere on site that’ll have grills for you to use.  If you happen to not have access to one of these, however, you’ll want a portable grill. 

There are a ton of portable charcoal grills on the U.S. market with some of them being little varieties that fold up – like Rin’s in the show – to ones as big as standard backyard grills.  Whichever variety you end up with, do remember to be careful where you’re using it so you don’t torch a table or something silly like that.

Dutch Oven/Donabe:

Given that a lot of the dishes made in the Laid-Back Camp franchise are either hotpots or are otherwise designed to serve large amounts of people, a bigger cooking vessel with a tight-fitting lid such as a Dutch oven or donabe are essential. 

Dutch ovens are the easiest option for us stateside as they are basic indoor cooking equipment, suitable to many tasks in the kitchen.  Getting one with insulated handles is always a plus though do keep in mind that cooking over a camping stove can result in heat coming up the sides and onto the handles, so they may get hot regardless.

Donabe are Japanese earthenware pots specifically designed to use over open flames.  They are often used for nabe, but are useful for about everything a Dutch oven is though often having a slightly smaller internal volume for similarly sized pieces.  These are great if you’re looking for a more authentic experience and are willing to shell out the higher price that’ll be required for one.

Skillet/Sauté Pan:

A good skillet is a constant companion when cooking as it’s great for camping classics like grilled cheese, but also some specific recipes seen in the Laid-Back Camp franchise (such as the stellar Grilled Steamed Buns from the show’s first season).

If you’ll be making food for one or two, a six or eight inch variety is probably sufficient, but a ten inch pan or bigger will definitely be needed for some of the recipes designed for larger groups of people. 

Saucepan:

A saucepan is invaluable if you’ll be doing anything Japanese while out cooking as it’s the easiest device with which to make rice with.  It’s also just a general camping standard for making individual or smaller serving sizes for soups and other cold weather staples. 

A larger-sized one with an insulated handle is best for the sake of convenience if you have the room, but you can get away with smaller ones if it’ll just for one or two people.  Also make sure you always get one with a tight-fitting lid.

Knife:

For a knife while out camping, we’d recommend something multi-purpose such as a sturdy hunting or camping knife which can both cut food as necessary, but also do other tasks you might come across while out camping.  Certain styles are also convenient in that they fold away for easy storage and access when outdoors.

If all else fails, however, any properly sharp kitchen knife will do the trick on most of the recipes from this franchise.

Cutting Board:

With the need for a knife comes the need for a cutting board.  There are two styles best suited to camping.  The first and better of the two are thin ones that are stiff and have some manner of sticking surface on the bottom which can slip into crevices for easy packing while also taking up minimal room.  The second are the extremely ones that are flexible and can roll up.  These can save even more room though they lack the convenient bottom surface to keep the cutting board from moving around when in use. 

Measuring Cups/Spoons:

If you’ll be making anything that requires any manner of finesse, a basic set of measuring cups/spoons will be great.  There are collapsible versions you can get these days that are wonderful for camping as they take up significantly less room than standard models.

Cooking/Eating Utensils:

A set of basic cooking utensils will be essential to making most dishes while out camping.  What you should look to have are things like a spatula, tongs, ladle, and some kind of large cooking spoon or paddle to use for most of your stirring in a pot or pan.

A set of your standard eating utensils – spoon, fork, and knife – should get you through almost any camping meal.  Taking plastic silverware camping is a really great way to both minimize cleaning, but also use any excess plastic cutlery lying around from takeout and such.

Paper Plates/Bowls/Cups:

This is more a matter of preference, but if you’d like to save yourself on some dishes, you can never go wrong with a sizeable stack of sturdy paper plates, bowls, and cups as needed. 

If you’re worried about the potential for creating additional waste, we’d recommend doing what we do and save your leftover paper products to use as kindling for the next day’s fire.  Keep in mind that you’ll never want to leave trash out that’ll attract wild animals, so you’d need to find a place to store things like this.

Plenty of Water:

You’ll never be guaranteed to have access to potable water when out camping, even if it’s a properly built-up site in close proximity to civilization.  As a result, you want to always bring a large amount of basic filtered water to use for cooking.  One to five gallon containers of water are available at most grocery or convenient stores for relatively little cost.  What’s nice is these can be kept and filled with non-potable water when it’s time to squelch the campfire before bed.

If you’ll be making Japanese-style rice, remember that it requires a lot of rinsing, so you’re looking at nearly a gallon of water needed for that alone (somewhat dependent on the batch you’ve acquired, but it’ll be quite a lot).

[erenoir]

welcome to flavortown

the one where the aot boys are in charge of the grill. the messy headcanons no one asked for </3.

genre: grill master!aot boys, summer vibes only, hot husbands in charge of the barbecue, slightly corny, guy fieri type beat

warnings: none baby we’re having a barbecue just bring a side, cursing, meat?

featuring: s4! connie, armin, eren, jean, levi + erwin

a/n: is this a joke? no, no it’s not <3. i thought about this once + now it’s a full fantasy, please indulge with me. maybe i’m just hungry, who knows <3.

connie grills hot dogs

he keeps it simple with his meats. he doesn’t love manning the grill, but he loves trying to impress you.

will definitely flex his biceps while flipping the hot dogs as if he’s lifting 50 pound weights.

he has like three open beers on the table next to him.

yes he’s drinking them all at once.

you walk up to him with another beer as he leans over the grill and puckers his lips at you.

“dame un besito mama.”

he didn’t ask to be born latina.

wipes his forehead with a towel he keeps around his neck.

wears an apron that says “kiss the cook” on it.

twirls the spatula around his fingers like it's a drumstick.

why he has a spatula to cook hot dogs, you don't know.

"what are hot dogs even made out of babe?"

"meat goop?!"

"'s some damn good meat goop."

"i'm gordon ramsay up in this bitch baby!"

connie my love you’re grilling pre-cooked hot dogs.

leaves the grill to watch the football game in the living room for a second.

he was gone for thirty minutes.

“the hot dogs are burnt baby.”

“okay let’s just order take out.”

“pizza?” “pizza.”

armin grills steaks.

armin grills steaks because he’s big brain.

it is hard to grill a perfect steak guys but he nails it everytime.

uses a meat thermometer to make sure the inside is cooked perfectly.

pokes at the steak while it’s on the grill with his finger to see if it’s done or not.

gets eye level with the steaks to make sure the sear is perfect.

will not cook a steak above medium because he insists you lose flavor once you start overdoing it.

he’s a new york strip type of boy OR sirloin, only the best for his baby.

he’ll splurge on nice sides, armin loves a nice anti pasta salad.

red wine in plastic wine glasses. sets up a nice outdoor picnic table spread.

would also serve you your food and bring it to you while you’re in the pool.

will not let you lift a finger, he wants you to relax on your flamingo floatie.

would take your steak back to the grill if it wasn’t cooked the way you liked.

you didn’t want to tell him yours was a little underdone because it wasn’t that big of a deal to you and he worked so hard.

but he notices your face as you take your first bite.

“you don’t like it.”

“no! sweetie i love it i— “it’s not cooked enough.”

“here let me put it back on the grill for you.”

you insist he doesn’t have to, it was only a few degrees off.

“i want you to enjoy your meal darling, i’ll be right back.”

eren grills burgers.

he can’t be bothered to grill anything else, don’t ask him to do anything complex.

burgers. on the grill. buns. cheese. ketchup. done.

you give him a shopping list of what he needs to get and send him off.

“why do we need all of this for burgers babe??”

“toppings eren, toppings.”

forgets like half of the things on the list.

comes back with the store brand of everything you asked for bc he’s a grill master on a budget babes.

gets pissed when you ask him if he could go back to the store to get what he forgot.

“eren how do you expect people to eat burgers without onions?!”

“who the fuck likes onions babe?”

grills in a skimpy little white tank top.

struggles to light the charcoal, but he insists he doesn’t need help.

“eren just let me do it— “i got it babe!!”

gets himself extra sweaty because he likes to get you frustrated.

eren mixes his drinks while he grills. like chaotic nasty drinks.

the burgers are overcooking while he pours some vodka into his red bull.

definitely has one of those gatorade bottles that squirt.

asks you to shoot some water into his mouth while he’s grilling. spatula in one hand, mouth open and his face turned to you.

“okay now babe.”

messy bun eren cooking burgers.

wears black adidas slides on the patio with his swim shorts.

“gourmet burger, courtesy of chef eren babe,” he says smugly.

doesn’t serve you but lays out the toppings for you so you can have your own little burger bar.

jumps in the pool once he’s done cooking, you watch him swim around while you eat your kids cuisine.

jean grills ribs.

jean soaks the ribs in a special marinade overnight.

“the meat has to fall off the bone honey.”

loves a good rib rub.

mf rubbing all types of seasonings on his ribs.

he’s a fan of a dry rub but loves having various sauce options on the side for you two.

makes extra ribs because he wants to take them to work for lunch throughout the week.

back to the sauces, jean is a sauce man. he’s got the sauce in more ways than one.

chipotle honey, spicy barbecue, teriyaki, you name it.

jean grills shirtless.

jean wears a sweatband around his head, he takes grilling very seriously.

“i’m the man! i gotta grill! don’t you touch the grill honey i’m gonna serve you!”

no seriously don’t touch the grill.

his ribs have to cook at a specific temperature.

definitely don’t take the lid off the grill to check on the ribs either, you’ll let all the steam out.

“how do you know they’re not burning babe?”

“you have to trust the integrity of the rib honey. when have i ever made a bad rib?”

he was right, he never made a bad rib.

sings the chili’s baby back ribs song while he grills.

“i want my baby back baby back baby back.”

sings the high parts.

drinks jack daniel’s whiskey while he grills.

definitely throws a splash of whiskey from his glass onto the ribs here and there.

jean looks at you intently as you take your first bite, he likes to watch your reactions.

“it’s fucking good right honey?”

“it’s fucking good baby.”

levi grills salmon.

BOUGIE BABY.

levi doesn’t just grill for anything. there has to be a special occasion.

why would he want to smell like meat and charcoal just to grill a measly burger.

so he grills salmon, and you two are having a couple’s day by the pool.

you two have a fancy pool where the hot tub is attached, and one of those rock slides.

levi grills in a simple cotton t-shirt, doesn’t want to stink up his nice clothes.

levi drinks wine while he grills, swirling it as he flips the salmon.

he drinks red.

and he brings out the crystal wine glasses from the special cabinet.

he likes to listen to classic rock while he grills.

doesn’t want you to touch the grill because he doesn’t want you to burn yourself.

also doesn’t trust you with his expensive cuts of salmon.

no because he went to the butcher specifically and got the salmon that they caught that day.

he keeps it fresh, enjoys a simple, refreshing lemon garnish on his fish.

“i don’t need help, just go sit by the pool.”

“but—

“go.”

“i blew up your favorite lounge chair… now go,” he mumbles.

“the one with the!—

“yes the one with the cup holders. now take your wine and stop bothering me, tch.”

you fell asleep floating in the middle of your pool on your favorite lounge chair with the cup holders.

levi splashes water on you to wake you up.

“hey! dinner’s ready.”

acts like grilling was no big deal for him.

but secretly awaits your response as you bite into your salmon.

“so?”

“it’s good levi!”

he rolls his eyes but smiles small enough that you wouldn’t notice.

erwin grills chicken.

an underrated grill item.

you can’t go wrong with a classic chicken wing.

but erwin doesn’t make just any plain chicken wings.

he loves a buffalo wing.

king loves a little bit of spice.

he marinates the wings in frank’s hot sauce the night before.

you were sat at the kitchen counter watching his shoulder blades flex as he tossed the wings in the sauce around the bowl.

the next day he wakes up bright and early to get the backyard ready for you guys.

turns the heater on in the pool because he knows you like it at a certain temperature.

he grills so… elegantly. like a gazelle.

erwin wears a navy blue robe while he grills, with his swim shorts underneath.

his chest hair pokes out a bit from the top.

he doesn’t get his hands dirty, he uses a pair of tongs to flip the wings.

he holds a can of beer in the other hand.

he watches you tan next to the pool.

he even joins you for a bit while the wings cook.

he massages one of your hands in his, while you hold a magazine in the other.

erwin is a very organized chef, he has everything timed down to a t.

ERWIN WEARS RAY-BAN AVIATOR SUNNIES.

fuck.

okay sorry, he wears gold aviator sunnies at the bridge of his nose as he lowers the heat on the grill to let the wings simmer.

erwin does the dad thing where he puts his hands on his hips and just looks out into the yard and nods silently.

except he’s holding a cigar in one hand.

erwin is in the process of building you a wooden flowerbed.

he’s a handyman. a home depot commercial theme song type of man.

swats the smoke away from the grill as he opens it up.

erwin serves you two your wings on a wooden board like they do at barbecue restaurants.

chicken wing charcuterie board type beat.

“sweetheart? wings are ready!” he calls to you from the grill.

you eat your wings poolside, toasting your beer cans.

“to a happy, healthy marriage sweetheart.”

i’m not gonna shut up about the sunglasses.

you have matching sunglasses.

a/n: this was rushed but i just HAD to get this off my plate 🍽

[tastesoftamriel]

What's the first dish from each of the races of Tamriel that you would recommend to an outsider?

For newbies to dining outside your Province, there are plenty of "beginner" dishes that aren't too weird, exotic, or otherwise alarming. These are some of my favourite dishes that are both satisfying and great introductions to Tamrielic cuisine.

Altmer

Food in the Summerset Isles is famed for being perfectly balanced, and as such is bound to have something to please a beginner's palate. I would definitely recommend a seafood bowl with brown rice, seaweed salad, spicy wasabi root paste, pickled plums, and an assortment of raw fish and caviar. Now, I know that raw fish is a bit of a stretch for the less adventurous eaters, but I insist that the only way forward is by pushing yourself. Besides, you've got to start somewhere!

Argonians

I'm going to be a little kinder with Argonian cuisine because there is a lot of weird stuff in Black Marsh that makes even I rather squeamish. A bowl of cold buckwheat noodles with fish sauce, roast chicken, and watercress is a delicious entryway to Argonian cooking, and is wonderfully refreshing too!

Bosmer

If you like meat and you like cheese, you're halfway set for dining in Valenwood. Why not try a timber mammoth steak with a fragrant local blue cheese sauce, spiced up with smoked bone marrow and fresh cream? It's very Green Pact compliant, and an easy way to get started on your Bosmeri culinary adventure.

Bretons

Yes, the Bretons are known for eating some slightly bizarre foods like snails and force-fed goose livers, but today's recommended dish is a little less over-the-top. I really love a traditional charcuterie board with an assortment of High Rock's best, from aged parmesan with water crackers to cured ham, sausages, roasted vegetables with garden herbs, and little quiches. It's a great way to taste the Province and prepare you for more!

Dunmer

I'll be blunt: you cannot experience true Dunmeri culinary greatness if you refuse to eat bugs. Now, assuming that you assent to that, let me tell you all about the goodness of nix-hound gratin. Tasty nix-hound meat, which is somewhat akin to a cross between pigeon and turkey, is marinated overnight in a blend of herbs and spices, and baked under a blanket of combwort breadcrumbs, scuttle, and crispy hackle-lo bits. There, that doesn't sound too bad does it?

Imperials

Aside from the odd weird dish like drunken dormice, Imperial food is, like the Altmer, well-balanced and generally pleasant. I would suggest ravioli stuffed with chevre, spinach and pine nuts, and cooked in a brown butter sauce. Oh so simple yet so good, and a great introduction to the versatile types of pasta found in Cyrodiil!

Khajiit

If you're not quite ready for moon sugar, that's alright! A traditional Elsweyr-style griddle bread is a great way to get to know Khajiiti cuisine without the side effects. Griddle bread is a flat cornbread cooked on a griddle, and stuffed with fillings of your choice, both sweet and savoury. I enjoy mine with spicy barbecued pork, rhubarb salsa, and roast corn, but other fillings include mushrooms, ham or chicken, sardines, fried egg, and pickled vegetables.

Nords

If you hear a Nord gushing over rabbit meatballs, it's probably for good reason (unless they make them too dry). The best part is that there isn't really a right or wrong way to enjoy them! We love our meatballs with creamy gravy, snowberry jam and potatoes, or in stews, or shoved into pies...you get the idea. In other words, try the rabbit meatballs and a tankard of mead if you want to try Nord cuisine. You'll not find anything more authentic or inoffensive.

Orcs

Orcish food is generally quite mild on the palate, and has a few staple ingredients that every race uses, like potatoes, leeks, radishes, and a lot of meat. A traditional venison stew with juniper and wrathberries is usually loaded with radishes and other root vegetables, and is served with fresh bread and fried offal patties. Simple, hearty, and delicious!

Redguards

Not everybody is enthusiastic enough to try camel for their first Redguard meal, so I'm going to go with a mild pulled goat curry. When I say curry, I don't mean "scorch your eyebrows off and feel sick for days" spicy (although that's definitely an option if you're game). The goat meat is first roasted over a charcoal grill, then stewed in a creamy tomato-based sauce with lentils, herbs, and exotic spices. Finished with chopped dates and almonds, this dish features all the flavours of the Alik'r without being too overwhelming.

[dizzydancingdreamer]

Persephone's Symphony | Night One | Persephone

Hey lovelies, here's the next part. It's a little longer-- I got carried which, if you know me and my work, tends to happen frequently. I do hope you all enjoy and thank you so much to everyone who has sent me kind words and thoughts and ahhhh thank you!! I am forever grateful. Now, without further adieu...

Synopsis: In which he is the bad one— the dangerous one, the clunky one, the one who only knows how to break things— and she is the good one— the fragile one, the soft one, the one who knows how to put things back together— and he has to keep her alive long enough for anyone else— anyone who can do more than kill— to save her like she deserves to be saved— to save her from him. There are no pomegranates, no three headed dogs, and no requirement to stay— that is, if they don’t count an assassin on the loose out for her neck. In that case, three days in a safe house doesn’t feel like a long time— just long enough for Persephone and Hades to remember why opposites attract.

Pairing: Bucky Barnes x Female!Reader (third person)

Warnings: meh some angst, some talk of death-- the normal for this series

Word count: 5.2k (omg)

Previous | Next

Master List

The rest of the day goes smoothly. Well, as smoothly as a day can go when there’s someone out there trying to kill you. Maybe smooth is the wrong word. For dinner she pops a frozen pizza in the oven— she’s already used up her quota for homestyle cooking on the grilled cheese and, besides, Bucky doesn’t seem to mind. If he does then he doesn’t say anything about it, at least. He pounds back five slices— she really doubts he hates it that much. She eats three. Had it just been her she would have eaten one— maybe. She doesn’t have the energy these days to eat more than that. It’s a paradox, one that has her going to bed tired and waking up exhausted most days.

Something is different with him though. She wants to eat more because it means that she gets to sit a little longer at the creaky wooden table and pretend to be normal. She never thought feeling normal would mean eating cheap pizza with her bodyguard in a safe house but, well, they say normal is relative, right? Usually she eats in the dark, under the glow of whatever movie she deems fit to fill the silence that night. Sitting across from him makes her feel like she has some semblance of her old life back. Like she has a life at all— even if he’s being paid to sit there and listen to her prattle on about nothing.

After dinner is a little more awkward. She spends the next two hours milling about, pretending to read this book of dogs she had found earlier on the coffee table. She had always wanted a dog when she was younger, one of those huge great danes, charcoal black and big enough to snuggle with. The kind that would keep her safe and follow her everywhere she goes. There’s one just like she had always imagined on page one hundred and nine. Sleek and beautiful and huge. That’s probably why she keeps going back to the book.

All she really does is look at the pictures, not that she would tell him that. She can see him glancing at her every so often and she would like to keep her guise of being smart up for as long as possible. She wasn’t lying when she told him that she was the top of her class— she was, and valedictorian too. She is smart. Well, smart when it comes to technology at least. The rest is debatable. Her mother used to tell her that she’s book smart— that if she were kidnapped and dropped off in the middle of nowhere she would be screwed.

If only her mother could see her now— could see that she’s holding up.

You know, if holding up means wanting to scream and cry and throw this stupid Big Book of Dogs against the wall because she can’t scream and cry. She’s holding up on the outside— that’s what matters. If everyday is as bearable as this one then she’ll be able to do all three before she knows it. She’ll be able to sit in the dark, spoon in one hand, Chunky Monkey in the other, and throw whatever the fuck she wants at the wall. For now, though, she just has to look at the pictures of the great dane and swallow her screams like they’re ice cream.

Eventually she stands, shifting on her feet, trying not to cringe when the boards squeak under her. It doesn’t make his head turn and look at her— how can it when his stare has been burning into her since before she stood up? She doesn’t really know what to say— it’s nine-thirty and she could sit there for another two hours— two or three or seven, what’s the difference?— but there’s no point in pushing the inevitable. Eventually she is going to have to get ready for bed and then, by default, actually go to bed.

How is that going to work?

A picture of her laying next to him pops into her mind, one where her limbs are curled tight against her chest, her legs ramrod straight, afraid to even do so much as breathe. Not out of fear that he’d hurt her or anything like that, though. Out of fear that she’d embarrass herself is more accurate. That she would wake up— if she even slept at all— with her body sprawled on top of his like the protagonists in one of her cheesy, unrealistic rom-coms. This isn’t a movie— she doesn’t want it to be. If this is her life’s movie then she wants to have a word with the director. She wants out. This isn’t the script she agreed to.

She doesn’t know what to say so she doesn’t say anything, only gathers her bag from where she stashed it next to the couch. A threadbare messenger bag big enough for a few pairs of leggings, her older brother’s Dodgers t-shirt, and some toiletries. She slings it over her shoulder, acutely aware of the fact that his gaze never leaves her, watching as she straightens and turns, meeting his icy blue eyes without so much as a hint of shame forming in them. Why should he be ashamed? It’s his job— he’s being paid to stare. That’s what she tells herself. It doesn’t make her feel any less exposed— any less seen.

For a moment she just looks at him— like really, truly looks at him. Sure, she’s been with him for roughly twelve hours now. Theoretically she’s had plenty of time to look at him. And of course she has— there’s no way she could have avoided it even if she wanted to. She has looked at him just not like this. Not the details. The facts. That’s what this is— a fact finding mission. Yeah, that sounds right— that’s what she’ll say if he asks, at least.

She takes in his face first, craning her neck slightly to do so. Slightly means far enough that your head touches your shoulders now. She ticks things off in her head as goes— bronzed skin, strong jaw, straight nose. She finds it hard to believe that his nose has never been broken. She drops lower— pink lips, the bottom one fuller. She doesn’t linger there despite the ache that grows in her throat. When was the last time she kissed a man? Too long ago.

She continues on her mission before she has time to stop and think about what it means to stare at her bodyguard’s lips and think about kissing. Absolutely nothing good, that’s what. She tries to distract herself with his broad shoulders and the way his henley stretches at the seams, scrounging for any and every ounce of space. For a moment it works. She starts thinking about the kind of regime one would have to undergo in order to get to his size, then about where he has to buy his clothes, before finally landing on what it would feel like to slip her arms into his shirt and to be totally engulfed—

Nope— she flicks her eyes even further down, skimming over something that, though she’s been looking at it for the better half of all day, she still can’t wrap her head around. His hand. His metal hand. She can feel his stare turn to lead on her forehead— feel him waiting for her to ask.

She’s not going to.

Not because she doesn’t want to know the story. Of course she wants to know! Her whole life is— or at least was— technology. She wants to know why he needs it, who made it, what it’s made of, if it’s connected to his nervous system, if it’s— the idea is there. She’s curious— she’s a scientist. Just like it’s his job to keep her alive, it’s her job to be enthralled by innovation.

That doesn’t mean she’s going to ask though. She likes him too much to do that. He’s nice enough to her and he doesn’t treat her like the little orphan girl that everyone else does. He doesn’t tiptoe around her— not that he could. He’s too big for that. He just doesn’t treat her like a freak, so she won’t treat him like an experiment.

And, of course, he’s a human being not a machine. That’s probably more important. She likes him and he’s a human. Priorities or whatever.

She meets his gaze again, watching him watch her, her face setting on fire. “Bedtime?”

What the fuck is wrong with you, y/n?

He presses his lips together, holding her stare for a beat before shrugging his shoulders, giving the henley a run for its money. “Bedtime.”

She turns at that, scampering up the stairs, listening to the thumping of his boots against the hardwood. It’s not a race but it’s also not not a race— she wants to get to the bathroom before he can so she can lock the door. She needs five minutes. That’s it. Just five minutes. Maybe it is a race.

“Hey— shit— wait!” She doesn’t, she only pumps her legs harder, almost slipping as she bolts into the bathroom, slamming the door and clicking the lock shut.

He really thought she wasn’t going to try that, huh? She learned her lesson this afternoon— the man takes his job very seriously.

The knob jiggles and she sticks her tongue out at it, finally in a space where she can let her bones relax. For the first time all day it feels like her skin isn’t on fire. It’s weird— she almost misses it. The door handle jiggles harder. Almost.

Five minutes, that’s all she needs.

His voice cuts through the door and she almost groans out loud. “You know I’m supposed to—”

“I know—” she starts pulling things out of her bag, hastily dropping what she doesn’t need and gathering what she does onto the vinyl countertop, very much aware of the ticking clock— “but the window in here isn’t even big enough for me to crawl out of so I think I can brush my teeth, yeah?”

She can practically feel the stress rolling off him, seeping under the crack between the door and the tiled floor. Half of her feels guilty but the other half couldn’t care less— she’s a grown ass woman and she will use the toilet without help.

She hears him let out a loud sigh and practically jumps in excitement— she won. “Fine— you get ten minutes, got it? Ten minutes and then I break this door down.”

“Aye-aye, captain.” Thank gods he can’t see her right now or she would most definitely melt through the ground.

“You’re down to seven now.”

She shakes her head at her reflection, scrunching her nose and rolling her eyes at herself— “That’s fair.”

She hurries to slather some toothpaste on her brush, plopping it into her mouth as she shimmies out of her daytime leggings and into her nighttime ones. A fashion icon. She somehow also manages to take her dad’s hoodie off, avoiding the toothbrush and replacing the tank top underneath with a fresh one from her bag. Take that, Barnes.

She scrubs at her teeth, simultaneously digging through her pile of things for the deodorant she knows is in there. She finds it after a moment, rinsing her mouth and running the bar one too many times over her armpits— there’s absolutely no way she’s about to go into that bedroom with even the slight possibility of smelling bad. Especially when she still doesn’t know the sleeping arrangements.

She swipes her things back into her bag, shoving them in roughly, not noticing the hairbrush teetering precariously on the edge of the counter. It’s like it’s taunting her, just waiting to get her in trouble. That’s exactly what it does, too— just as her eyes meet the sinister blue plastic it’s too late, the brush already hurtling off the edge and crashing against the floor. Of course it has to hit the tiles head on and miss the hoodie by an inch. Time freezes for a moment when she hears the clang— well, there go the last three minutes of solitude.

She scrambles back just as the door slams open, fully expecting it but not any less startled, the area where the lock would be splintering into a million tiny pieces of wood— of dust— he pulverized the door! Her heart pounds furiously as Bucky surges forward, his jean clad legs pressing against her exposed shoulder, his body rigid as he does a full circle of the tiny bathroom, yanking back the shower curtain as if an assassin would really think that is the best hiding place. God she’s so fucking mortified.

He doesn’t move away from her when he finally looks down, his dark eyebrows drawn into a tight line, chest heaving so hard she wonders if the material is going to split right down the middle. His leg against her is hot, even through the material. Almost as hot as her face— face, neck, shoulders, toes.

“What happened?”

She meekly holds up the blue plastic brush, squeezing her eyes shut. “He just snuck up on me Bucky— I thought I was a goner.”

She cracks an eye open to his clenched jaw, his still heaving chest now much lower— closer. He takes the brush from her hand, setting it on the counter before offering his own hand— the flesh hand— out to her. She takes it, letting him effortlessly pull her body from the ground without so much as even a grunt. Before she knows it she’s eye level with the buttons on his shirt, leaning all the way back in order to meet his simmering crystal eyes.

“We’re not doing that again.” We’re. As in both of them— a team.

She tries to keep from trembling at his deep voice. It doesn’t work. He notices— of course he notices— and takes a step back. She doesn’t have the heart— or the gall— to tell him that she’s not shaking because she’s afraid of him.

“It was a hairbrush.” She sighs, curling her arms around her chest, suddenly feeling more exposed than ever under the surprisingly bright fluorescents.

Of course now, when she’s standing in a flimsy tank top, is the one time the lights aren’t dimmed.

He doesn’t back down, seething his words between his teeth. “This time— this time it was a hairbrush.”

She shakes her head, dropping her eyes and bending to scoop up her hoodie— she doesn’t want to see him angry at her. It makes her feel guilty; like her her chest is caving in on itself. She doesn’t need that on top of everything else.

“Fine, whatever.” She grabs her bag, brushing by him.

She knows that she’s being childish. She isn’t an idiot, contrary to what her mind likes to tell her. She’s just exhausted. Exhausted of having to always look over her shoulder, exhausted of wondering who’s going to die next— if she’s going to die next, exhausted of having to actively try to stay alive. She’s just exhausted in general. She doesn’t want to die but, gods, if she isn’t so damn tired of having to think about it. Aren’t you supposed to just live? Not think about living?

She pushes open the door to the bedroom, dumping her bag next to the cedar chest at the end of the bed, refusing to turn around when she hears his footsteps— much quieter than she’s yet to hear them— enter behind her. She crosses her arms again, digging her fingers into the flesh hard enough to give herself something to focus on other than how much she wants to rip every strand of hair from her head. Her eyes wander over the olive duvet, noting how the color makes the black iron frame pop in contrast. Maybe she should change up her bedroom back home.

She bites her lip— she’s stalling. It’s a queen sized bed, more than big enough for both of them. Maybe she should offer it to him. There’s barely any room on the floor to sprawl out, only a small space either next to the dresser beside the bed or in front of the chest. Either way he would probably have to lay as stiff as possible to avoid bumping his limbs. The right thing to do would be to offer it to him— to take the floor.

She listens as he takes a step, the air behind her shifting, and she tenses. “Look, I think we should talk—”

“Do you want the bed?” She tries to keep her tone balanced— to keep from hurling the words at him like daggers. Or like hair brushes.

“I’m serious, I’m sor—”

She whirls around, her hair flying around her face, features schooled but tone edging closer towards being unhinged— she just needs to sleep. “Do you want the bed?”

She doesn’t meet his eyes— she’s tired of that game, it's time to start a new one. This one’s called how long can y/n stare at the buttons on his henley until before she sets them on fire out of sheer willpower. His chest deflates, his hands twitching at his sides before curling and slipping behind his back. He’s looking at her— of course he is. It’s all he does. It’s his job.

“You take it.” He says it so quietly she barely hears it, his tone the picture of resignation. It doesn’t make her feel good— she didn’t think it would though.

His stare never leaves her. She’s still not looking at him but she can tell. It makes her skin burn from her ears all the way down to her chest, her skin prickling like she's being prodded by a thousand mini suns. She feels like she’s in the desert and she forgot to put sunscreen on. Is this what flowers feel like? Does the sun beat down so relentlessly on them that they feel like they’re being set on fire? As relentlessly as he watches her?

It’s his job, it’s his job, it’s his job.

“Okay.”

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

She lays in bed for three hours, eyes wide open and body pin straight. The room is pitch black, spare a hint of light pouring in from under the door. It shines a stripe onto the olive duvet, one that she just barely flicks her wrist back and forth through. Not enough to ruffle the loud blanket— which for the record crinkles louder than a chip bag when she moves even an inch underneath it— but enough to watch the light dance over her skin and keep her from going completely mad. She feels like a cat chasing a laser— entirely moronic but strangely entertained. Alas, all good things must come to an end.

By the time the fourth hour rolls around she is beyond restless. The strip of light got old a half hour ago— which, granted, kept her entertained for far longer than she would be willing to admit but still. Now she wants to move. She needs to move. If she were home she would still be awake. The digital clock beside the bed flashes one-thirty, scarlet red and glaring at her. It’s not even close to the ungodly hour in which she usually crawls into her bed, pulling the blanket over her head and praying for the sun to magically disappear. Not even close.

She can practically hear Lindsy Lohan calling her name— it’s Wednesday, y/n. On Wednesdays we wear pink. Yeah, she knows Lindsy! Unfortunately the big man on the floor doesn’t know that. Usually her Wednesday's aren’t so blocked— is it even Wednesday? It doesn’t matter. She just wants to watch Mean Girls now— with or without the Chunky Monkey.

She waits another ten minutes, mulling the idea over as the anticipation steadily grows in her stomach, churning her organs into soup over the idea of having to tiptoe past her sleeping bodyguard. She holds her breath a few times, making sure his breathing is even and calm. Making sure that he’s asleep. Each time his breaths are the same, gentle, even hiss of air. In, out, pause. In, out, pause. Over and over and over again. For a moment she debates staying and just listening to him breathe for the rest of the night. But no— that’s creepy and she’s sure that she can be in and out without him waking up in the hour and thirty-seven minutes it takes to watch the movie.

Yes she counted and every minute is worth the risk— she’s doing it!

She takes a deep breath, sliding as silently as she can under the covers. Each movement feels magnified— like someone is holding a microphone to her limbs. She just prays that the microphone isn’t connected to his ears. What are the odds that he’s a heavy sleeper? Nevermind, she doesn’t want to know.

After what feels like an eternity of inching her way to the edge of the bed her foot finally shoots over the edge, greeting the chilly air and sending a jolt racing up her spine. She’s really doing it. She slips the other out next, rising onto her elbows and holding the position. She can’t see her legs— hell, she can’t see her hand two feet in front of her face— but she can feel the space depleting as she slips off the mattress. Biting back a hiss as her toes brace against the hardwood, she just barely stops herself from hopping up and down. If she were home she would amp up the theatrics, maybe throw in a squeal for good measure— forget technology, being a drama queen is her true calling.

Just not when there’s a man who she needs to stay asleep laying a few feet away from her.

She shuffles blindly forward, trying to remember where she saw him lay down before she turned off the lamp. That was four hours ago though and she’s starting to think that all that time playing with the crack of light has fried her brain. She thinks he’s near the chest but she can’t be sure.

She could swear—she could drop the loudest f-bomb this planet has ever known. She would, too, if she knew it wouldn’t wake him up. All she wants to do is watch some petty, pretty girls fight over a mediocre brunette. Is that really too much to ask for?

No— the answer is no. So she does what any self respecting woman would do in that situation and she wings it. She guesses. That’s respectable, right? Right. She takes each step with care, searching for any warm spots that might give her a hint as to where he is, all the while chasing after that little crack of light like it’s heaven. Because that’s what it is— a haven from having to lay alone with her thoughts all night.

As was to be expected sooner rather than later, her toes brush against a rather hot patch of wood and she freezes. He’s here— somewhere— she just has no idea where here is. She squints, searching for even a hint of the man. When she comes away with nothing, the scream— the one that’s never quite gone, always just simmering in the back of her throat— surges. She has to swallow— swallow, gag, same thing— in order to keep from foiling her own plan.

She brushes her foot forward. Slowly. Painfully, excruciatingly slowly. When her toes brush against the folds of a blanket she gasps. It slips out before she can stop it and she plasters a hand over her mouth as soon as it happens, praying that it isn’t too late— that there’s still a chance she can make it.

She hears Bucky shift on the ground, holding her breath, her toes a mere foot away from the soldier. She counts in her head— one, two, three, oh fuck is he moving, four— before taking another step. Repeating the process, it takes four rounds of this little tip toe game until her hands finally land against the door frame, searching through the darkness until her fingers curl around the knob. Mean Girls here she comes.

“Where ya’ going?” Bucky’s voice cuts through the night easily, rich and deep and cruel.

There isn’t even a hint of sleep in his tone— he was awake the entire time. Her face flushes, her neck searing hot. She can almost hear her skin crackling where the straps of her tank top touch her. She should have known he wouldn’t be a deep sleeper— or sleeping at all, apparently. Damnit.

“I, ah, was just going to the bathroom?” Really? The bathroom?

She has never been so thankful for the dark than she is in this moment, if only because he can’t see the way she rolls her eyes at her own stupidity and scrunches her entire face up. She can’t scream— that idea’s already been scrapped— so it’s the next best thing. That doesn’t stop her throat from bubbling though, the frustration knocking on her windpipe like the friendly neighbour back for even more sugar.

“You’re a terrible liar, you know that?” She swears for a moment she can hear a hint of laughter in his voice, just enough to make the accusation bearable.

She whirls around, hands glued to her hips and trying not to slam her foot down like an insolent toddler. Something hot flares up in her chest— something which she hasn’t felt in ages. Anger. It makes her want to smack him. She wouldn’t, of course, but she wants to— she wants to wipe the smirk out of his words. She wants to more than she’s wanted to do anything in a very long time.

“What do you want me to say then, hmm?”

She can just make out the way Bucky pushes himself up, his shadowy figure now taking up more space. Taking up space in general— of course now she can see him. If she were closer to him she is sure his head would sit above her belly button, right under her brea— stop that, y/n!

“How ‘bout the truth?” God she can still hear that insufferable smirk.

“That was the truth.”

“It wasn’t.”

His breath comes in hot puffs against her stomach— he’s closer than she thought. She doesn’t realize her tank top has ridden up until his face is inches away from her exposed skin. She tries not to shudder as she yanks the material back down her abdomen. Traitorous body!

She wants to rip her hair out— again. “Yes, it was—”

He’s standing now, pushing his way towards her in the dark until she can feel the heat rolling off his body, face to face with a hulking chest. “Just tell me what you want so we can do it, alright?”

There it is again— we.

She can’t breathe. This seems to be becoming a trend— her not being able to breathe when he’s around her. This time it’s her fault though. She squishes her eyes closed, taking a moment to pull in some much needed air. It does little to help her— it smells like nutmeg and cinnamon. She has no idea how he manages to smell like a bakery— or how she hasn’t noticed until now, when she needs more than anything to pull away from the warmth and not fall deeper into it. Unprofessional, y/n— you’re supposed to be the grieving daughter.

She takes another moment, ignoring how he shifts on his feet, clearly becoming impatient, before finally whispering— “I wanted to watch a movie.”

A pause— a long one— before a soft ‘okay’.

For a moment she thinks she hears him wrong— no way the giant soldier is down for movie night with her. Shouldn’t he be telling her to go back to bed? Telling her that it isn’t in his job description to babysit her— to keep her entertained? Surely he doesn’t actually want to watch a movie.

“You don’t have to—”

“Actually, I do.” Oh yeah. He has to follow her wherever she goes. She almost forgot that she might die.

Die for what— wanting to watch a god damn movie?

“Forget it— it was stupid.”

She goes to brush past him, tucking her shoulders up and into her neck, trying to put some space between them as she tucks tail and slips back towards the bed. Talk about a busted ego.

A hand curls around her forearm, halting her retreat. “Let’s watch a movie— can’t sleep anyway.”

She swallows thickly. If she were to turn her cheek a few inches she is sure it would brush against his shoulder.

“Are you sure?”

“‘Course I am.”

She nods— she knows he can’t see her but she doesn’t trust her voice— and that’s how she ends up watching Mean Girls with a man large enough to rip her in half with his bare hands. A few times she glances over at him, searching through the glow of the TV to the other side of the supple leather couch where his gaze remains locked on the screen. She’s even sure she hears a few breathy laughs— like he’s trying not to laugh but he can’t help it.

The big bad bodyguard likes chick flicks.

About halfway through something unexpected happens— her eyelids begin to heavy. It’s stange, the clock on the wall reads only slightly past two in the morning. She never sleeps before six. Regardless, though, she curls her legs into her body, tucking them under the hoodie she had replaced before leaving the room. Her head slopes against the arm of the couch, eyes fluttering a few times before dropping shut. She’s not going to sleep, obviously— just resting her eyes.

She feels something heavy pool on her lap and the faintest wisps of fingers— some warm and some cold— adjusting the new weight. It brushes against her shin— a blanket. He put a blanket on her. She pulls it closer, dragging it over her cheek, trying her best to stave off the sleep tugging at her limbs. Maybe a conversation will help. There are a few things she’s been meaning to tell him.

“I didn’t mind it.” She whispers it but she’s sure he can hear her over the all but muted TV.

The couch cushions shift, sinking for a moment before stilling. She can picture him facing her now, his head tilted, blue eyes serious. Always on alert, always ready to defend.

“What?” He even sounds defensive— like he’s waiting for her to drop a bomb on him.

Silly man, can’t you see that she can barely even force the last word out of her mouth with how tired she is?

“Doll. I—” she yawns, pulling her limbs closer to her, tucking a hand under her head— “I didn’t mind it.”

He doesn’t say anything right away. If it were daytime she’s sure she would have cared but for now she’s okay not feeling any of the prescribed embarrassment.

“Oh.”

She doesn’t say anything else, only snuggles deeper into the arm of the couch. It must be the exhaustion talking— that’s what she’ll tell herself tomorrow anyway when she’s forced to confront this conversation again. For now she just gives in, letting herself fall into the darkness without fear for what feels like the first time in months.

_________________

Tag List: @xhollycowx @remembered-license @dumble-daddy @hellotvshowtrash @thesummerbucky @elijahs-wife @cari1bunny @im-just-star-dust

[icefire149]

An Angel’s Vow

Chapter Ten - (Read on ao3 | Read from the beginning)

It didn't take long to get all the shopping bags in the house. With the heel of her boot, Claire held the front door open for Cas. She knew it was because of his angel powers, but she was still silently impressed by his carry-it-all-at-once-I'm-only-making-one-trip game.

Claire followed behind him with Jack in her arms. He was still deep asleep and his face was squished into her shoulder. His downy hair pressed against her neck. She kept a hand on his back while they went into the living room.

Cas unceremoniously dropped the bags in the center of the room. He turned and his eyes softened, falling on the sleeping nephilim. "I can put Jack to bed." He held his hands out.

Wordlessly, she passed Jack over, and watched Cas take a moment to study the baby’s sleeping face. A prickle of irritation made her want to snap, that she didn’t do anything to damage the kid, but she managed to keep it choked down. Cas murmured something to Jack’s temple, and then he left a soft kiss there. After that he promptly disappeared upstairs. A weird tight feeling circled through Claire’s chest. She suddenly felt very alone.

Trying to push that thought aside, Claire started poking through the bags until she found the one with school supplies. They somehow managed to fill an entire bag with pens, notebooks, post-it notes, and high-lighters. Now she had to find a place for it.

Claire brought that bag into the kitchen and stood there for a moment surveying the room. Eventually she decided to toss it onto the table. With a shrug, she figured the table would be where their hunter school would happen anyways.

When she circled back to the living room, Cas was already there and sorting the clothes. He glanced at her over his shoulder with furrowed eyebrows. “Did you take the notebooks? They’re not here.”

“I beat you to them. They’re in the kitchen,” she said pointing with her thumb over her shoulder.

Cas nodded, and went back to making two piles. The next bag he picked up made him pause. “Oh, this one’s yours.” He passed it over.

“Thanks,” Claire mumbled, biting the inside corner of her bottom lip. She rolled the plastic bag in her hands. Inside was the black bomber jacket with the blue stripe down the sleeves and the galaxy shirt Jack picked out. Some tiny part of her just couldn’t leave them behind.

Cas went back to sorting the clothes immediately. Sighing, Claire slowly made her way towards the staircase. She didn’t particularly want to help, but she did glance back at Cas again. The bottom step groaned under the weight of her foot. “Hey Cas?”

“Yes?” He looked up. The traffic-cone, orange sweater, that Claire dubbed an abomination, was in his hands.

“Where were you going to store your stuff upstairs: in the closet or the drawers? I don’t wanna get in the way while I’m borrowing the room.”

His gaze squished into an intense squint. “I hadn’t thought about that yet.” The corner of Claire’s mouth hooked into a small, amused smile. Cas continued, “I suppose though...that I should just repack everything into the bags again. Store them out of the way down here.”

“Why?” Claire’s eyebrows furrowed. “You have an entire bedroom.”

“Yes, but I gave it to you. I wouldn’t want to overstep.”

Her smile vanished. Claire crossed her arms. “I’m living out of a duffle bag and the backseat of my car. I’m not messing with the furniture in your room.”

Cas’ head turned to the side. “But you could unpack and use that space while you’re here.”

“Or you could put your shit away like a normal person, because it’s YOUR ROOM!”

Standing up straighter, Cas tossed the sweater aside on the couch. His stare never broke from Claire’s. “For all intents and purposes the room is yours. I already told you that I don’t need a bedroom.”

“And I thought you said that I was free to leave at any time!”

“You are. I don’t under-”

“NO. So I’m supposed to just pretend I don’t see the whole little family act?” Claire took her foot off the step. Her voice dripped with venom. “Is this whole ‘helping me be a better hunter’ thing just something to ease your conscious? You couldn’t run away from playing house this time….so why not try to make up for lost time?”

Claire shoved the plastic bag into Cas’ chest as hard as she could. Cas didn’t flinch. He didn’t speak either. The shine in his sad, blue eyes made her want to scream.

The next thing she was aware of, Claire was slamming her car door shut. Her hands trembled, and that pissed her off even more. Again and again, she slammed her hands into the steering wheel until her eyes were too blurry to see a damn thing.

-

Claire had no idea how much time had passed when she heard a light knock on the passenger side, front window, but the blanket of night was indicator enough that it had been a while. There was no point in looking, she knew who it was so instead she started wiping the remaining tears away with the palms of her hands.

The door creaked opened and Cas slid into the front seat. In with him came the wafting smell of hot food, and Claire’s stomach immediately growled. She finally turned to him, and Cas held a plate out to her in one hand and a covered container in the other.

She raised an eyebrow. “Did you bring me grilled cheese and…?”

“Creamy tomato soup.”

She took both, and got herself situated with the plate in her lap and the soup container in her hands. But  Claire stopped herself before digging in. She eyed the grilled cheese cautiously. Only one corner looked like it was auditioning to be a piece of charcoal. “Did...you cook? Like actually made this from scratch?”

“Yes.” He looked away, leaning his elbow on the door. “And the house is still standing.”

“Why did you cook when you know it’s a hazard?”

Cas sighed, and rolled his gaze back over to her. He held it for several moments before speaking. “Eat before your food gets cold. I can still remember how unpleasant that can be.”

Nodding, Claire started taking big mouthfuls of soup. They sat there like that in silence while she ate. Cas stared out the window lost in his own thoughts.

It wasn’t until Claire’s bites slowed down that Cas finally spoke. “I’m sorry.” Claire burst into a coughing fit. Her mouth had been full, and that was the last thing she was expecting from the angel.

He continued while eyeing her carefully. “I never meant to upset you. I’m in no way trying to force anything on you.” Cas turned away and leaned back in the chair. He stared at the ceiling above him.

“I know.” Claire’s voice was quiet. She put the empty soup container in the cup holder between the front seats and slid the crumb covered plate onto the dashboard. “Loo-”

“It surprised me….I surprised me..when I asked you to meet me out here. Giving away my secret location…”

“Why’d you do it then?” Claire ran her index finger across the side of the steering wheel. “You won’t even let the Winchesters near Jack.”

Cas shifted his whole body as much as he could in the front seat to face her. “I was scared when you said you were hunting alone. The feeling was overwhelming.”

“I’m not a child, Castiel.” Claire clenched her jaw. The embers of her anger were growing hotter again.

“I’m aware.” There was a low warning tone in his voice. “Don’t mistake or misshapen my fears. This isn’t about coddling you or...treating you like you’re incapable.” The tension eased in Claire’s jaw. He continued, “Those feelings mean…..your presence as well as your absence...they matter to me. You matter.”

Claire stared at him in disbelief. Her hands squirmed awkwardly in her lap. “So the teaching sessions…?”

“I haven’t lied. I want to help you, and I want to pass my knowledge along.” His head tilted just a bit. “Claire, I’ll never be able to repay you or...make anything right. I know that, but….this is something I can do. And selfishly...I’d like you to be the best.”

Claire’s lip twitched. “That’s...uh..a high bar.”

The corner of Cas’ mouth pulled into a small grin. “Honestly, I don’t think it is. Many hunters speak of Sam and Dean like they’re legendary. And….while I understand the reasons why….”

“They’re stumbling ass-backwards into everything,” Claire grinned.

“Unfortunately, yes.” Cas deadpanned. He shook his head. “The difference maker is knowledge and I have millennia of information.”

Claire’s gaze fell to her lap. She felt a myriad of emotions bouncing around her head. It made her chest feel tight. “So….this is about your guilty conscious.”

“No,” Cas frowned. “Um...uh, well, to a degree, yes. I’ll never forgive myself for the wrongs I’ve done, but my guilt isn’t why I care...or why I want to see you succeed at something that I hear you enjoy a lot.” That got Claire to glance back at him. “I see you as my friend and as my family. Just like Sam, and Jack, and Dean. And...things have been hectic since I last saw you. A part of me honestly called you here, because I missed you.”

“You did?” Her lip twitched.

He nodded. “Initially, I thought distance would be better. I didn’t think you’d want me around….” Cas glanced down at himself and sighed. “or to have to look at me.”

“Well that’s not the case,” Claire snapped. Cas looked at her startled. Her voice softened. “I thought I never wanted to see your face again….but then I’d hear through the grape vine that shit was going down...and I’d be waiting to hear from you.”

She crossed her arms and refused to look at Cas. “I figured that if Jody was on Sam and Dean’s goodbye list for the end then I was on yours, right? And then I’d get radio silence.” Claire paused. The pain in her voice didn’t hide well. “It sucks being disappointed all over again…”

“I’m so sorry. I-I…” Cas reached a hand out but stopped halfway between them. Looking away, he withdrew his hand. His next words tumbled out in a whisper. “Of course I would have called you….I wasn’t able to when things went….badly...I’m sorry. That’s a poor excuse.”

Claire rolled her gaze over to him. “Explain then.”

“Okay,” Cas nodded. “So...Dean was dealing with the mark of Cain.”

Claire raised an eyebrow. “That was a while ago.”

He sighed. “It was, but it’s where a lot of bad things started.”

“Okay. Continue.”

“It took a lot of effort to free him from the mark, and….he was resistant. Turns out he had good reason instinctually. Removing the mark also removed the bindings keeping the Darkness out of creation.”

“The Darkness? With a capital D…...Jody wasn’t kidding about that?” Claire stared at him incredulously.

“No, regrettably. Her name’s Amara, and….she’s God’s sister.”

“Yikes.”

Cas shook his head. “That doesn’t even begin to cover it.”

Claire turned in her seat, bending a leg and leaning her back into the door. “Sooo the mark broke and the Darkness was released. Nice going dumbass.”

“I know…...and it got worse.” Cas rolled his eyes. “The witch we had helping us with the spell-work, Rowena, she stole a very powerful book when the spell was complete and she….hit me with her magic.”

Claire sat up straighter. “Magic works on angels?”

“Yes, but luckily not perfectly,” he said very matter-of-fact. “She calls it her attack dog spell. And it makes the victim rabid until they drop dead with bloody eyes.”

“What….did it do to you?”

“I….I eventually broke through the rabid behavior, but I was still at the mercy of Rowena removing the spell completely. And she was persuaded to do so, but it did have lasting affects…” Cas wouldn’t meet Claire’s eye. He was carefully choosing his words. “The spell might have killed me in the long term, but it did dig deep into my being and shredded everything it touched. I’m grateful Sam and Dean were there for me during that time. The recovery was...longer than I would have liked.”

Claire nodded and ran a hand over her knee. “What happened with Amara?”

“Oh...yes. Amara.” Cas took a deep breath. “After that, Amara was the pressing issue. She took a personal interest in Dean as...he was the last bearer of the mark.”

“Gross.”

Rolling his eyes, Cas chose to ignore that. He continued, “We learned that it took Chuck….um, God – he likes to be called Chuck – and all the archangels to cage her away before.” Claire grimaced. “And there’s only two archangels left.”

“Okay, that’s a not so fun fact.”

“No. There’s nothing fun about that.” Cas shook his head. “And they’re both caged in Hell so….they weren’t exactly available.”

There was a quiet pause where Claire was still processing every bit of information Cas shared. She didn’t miss that he seemed to be growing uncomfortable. He was twitching and pulling at his coat sleeves. And then, it dawned on her. “You asshats freed the devil, didn’t you?”

Defensive, Cas argued, “We….I was trying to do what was best..for everyone.” Claire’s gaze narrowed. “Lucifer was our only option. We didn’t know where or who God was, and Sam was receiving visions as answers to his prayers. Sadly, we were being tricked.”

She nodded. “So, rip the band-aid off. How’d you do it?”

Cas frowned. “I….I couldn’t ask Sam to make that sacrifice again. Lucifer wanted to use him as a vessel again.”

“Again?” Claire coughed. Cas hummed in response. Claire continued, “We need to go back to that later. Keep going.”

“And Dean nee-the whole world needed Amara gone. To do that we needed Lucifer. So I said yes.”

Leaning forward, Claire dropped her face into her hands. “You let the devil walk around in my dad’s body. Your body.”

“I’m not infallible, Claire.”

“My dad would be spinning in his grave...if he had one.”

“Yeah….let’s not tell Jimmy about that. He would be rather upset.”

She lifted her head and stared at him oddly. “Last I checked Heaven doesn’t have cell service. How am I supposed to tell him anything?”

“That’s fair.” Cas shrugged. “These days I feel like anything is possible eventually. I’d like to be prepared.” Claire nodded. “Granted all you need is to send an angel with a note.”

Stunned, it took Claire a moment to speak. “If you weren’t hiding from Heaven...you could talk to my parents?”

“I could.” His voice came out softly. “If there’s anything you want me to pass along to them...let me know. One day I may be able to….or at the very least I might run into an angel I trust that could do that for you.”

Claire shifted her gaze so she was looking out the windshield instead. Quietly, she turned his words over and over again in her head. She was still processing when she gave him a small nod. After a few more minutes she was ready to push that information aside for a while. She turned back to Cas. “So if Lucifer was walking around in…..well, where were you?”

“Oh, um…” His gaze fell to his lap, guilty. “I agreed for him to possess me so...uh, I was right in here..as well. Only, he was in control and I had no way to overpower him.”

“You agreed to be trapped in your own mind?”

He still wouldn’t meet her eye. “Yes.” The silence stretched on long enough that Cas glanced up and saw that the last traces of Claire’s anger had cooled. She looked concerned, and between that and the guilt of his past mistakes, Castiel felt like his airway was being crushed.

“What….what happened next?”

“That’s where...it gets...uh, Dean...would call it fuzzy. I’m aware that he did pretend to be me, but that was short lived. He lost my car. He terrorized Heaven, and Hell. I’m told…..” Cas’ voice grew quieter. “-that Dean, Sam, and some of our tentative...allies..they put a lot of energy into reaching me so I could expel him.”

“Good,” Claire snapped. Cas’ looked at her quizzically. “What? I’d kick their asses if they didn’t fix your boneheaded dumbassery.”

His tone was sharp. “I did what I thought was necessary.”

“That doesn’t change the fact that it was stupid.”

“I know,” Cas barked. They both sat there in their frustration for a bit. “Eventually….Chuck came back and Amara tore Lucifer from me. Problem solved.”

Claire glared out the window. Her jaw was taut. “Don’t do that again.”

“I don’t intend to. It was vile.” Exasperated, Claire exhaled loudly. Cas continued, “Chuck and Amara came to an agreement and the world was fine again. Lucifer was free so I spent my time pursuing him.” He didn’t miss the shiver that Claire tried to hide. Softly, he added, “But there’s nothing to worry about anymore. He’s caged. He’s just a distant memory.”

They sat there in silence after that. Eyes closed, Claire leaned her head back against the glass of the window. “Thanks….for you know, telling me…”

“Thank you for...being understanding,” Cas said gently.

She opened her eyes. “Our lives are insane.”

“I’m sorry, I-”

“Don’t be.” Claire shook her head. “Things suck, but I’m glad I met Jody, and Alex, Sam and Dean.” Her eyes looked sad, but there was a soft smile fighting to stay on her face. “Jack...and you.”

Dumbfounded, Cas nodded. The emotions swelling in his chest felt inordinate. Her words meant more to him than he knew how to express.

“Whoa!” Claire flew forward, putting her hands on the dashboard and pressing her chest to the steering wheel. “Did you see that?”

Castiel tensed. “What?” He leaned forward, studying the view in front of them.

“The lights flickered. Like some kind of power surge.” She opened the car door. “Come on, let’s see what Jack did this time.”

Exhaling, Cas deflated in his seat for a moment. He knew what caused the electrical issue and it wasn’t Jack. Cas took another deep breath and composed himself. He swiftly got out of the car, taking the trash from dinner with him. Before Claire could open the house door, he paused, “Claire?”

She pivoted on her heels, turning around. “Yeah?”

Momentarily, he struggled to find the right words. He knew that he needed to get this out now. “All...um, all you need to do is ask.”

“What?” She looked at him like he grew several more heads.

“In the future...if you decide that you want me around more...or less. Just ask.”

Claire rolled her eyes, and pushed the front door open. “Yeah, yeah. I get it now.” Cas followed her into the house. She went to the staircase and paused on the bottom step again. Her eyes found his. “I’ll consider it when you start doing the same.” She went upstairs, leaving Cas confused in the living room.

Tag list (let me know if you want to be added or removed): 

@nightandwine  @autumnapologist

[etes-secrecy-post]

Hi, before I explain my post, I want to say something important.

• What you see my blog has become a major overhaul. And despite the changes, I decided that my 2nd account will be now my artwork blog with a secret twist.

⚠️NEW RULE!⚠️

⚠️ SO PLEASE DO NOT SHARE MY 2nd ACCOUNT TO EVERYONE! THIS SECRECY BLOG OF MINE IS FOR CLOSES FRIENDS ONLY!⚠️

• AND FOR MY CLOSES FRIENDS, DON’T REBLOG IT. INSTEAD, JUST COPY MY LINK AND PASTE IT ON YOUR TUMBLR POST! JUST BE SURE THE IMAGE WILL BE REMOVED AND THE ONLY LEFT WAS THE TEXT.

⚠️ SHARING LINKS, LIKE POSTS, REBLOG POSTS, STEALING MY SNAPSHOT PHOTOS/RECORDED VIDEOS/ARTWORKS (a.k.a. ART THIEVES) OR PLAGIARIZING FROM UNKNOWN TUMBLR STRANGERS WILL IMMEDIATELY BE BLOCKED, RIGHT AWAY!⚠️

Okay? Capiche? Make sense? Good, now back to the post…↓

Take a Taste: with Burger King Whopper w/ Sides & Drink (with my Paperdolls) [May 6, 2022]

Hello! It’s time for another “Take a Taste”! The series is about delicious food with my two paper dolls. And today, it's my 29th birthday 🥳🎂 ! And what better way than the king of burgers, Burger King 🍔👑 & their icon hamburger known as the "Whopper"! Mmmmm, whopper! And don't forget onion rings & a refreshing iced-tea!😋

If you haven’t seen my previous part, then please [CLICK ME!].

1st to 4th Image(s) [combined] ↑↓:

• Here's what looks like between the wrap & unwrap version of the Whopper. Damn, I never knew that the burger itself is BIG! 😮You know what, I'm a big boy now & I could eat my first ever whopper! 😁Don't worry, I'll be burning some calories right after this. 🏃🔥Meanwhile, my paper dolls love a big burger, that's enough portion to share.🙂

5th to 7th Image(s) ↑:

• [5th & 6th Images combined] The whopper itself had a heft to it w/ my left hand grabbing. ✋🍔 I never knew that I had two patties, and I thought it was only one. 😮 Not to mention their iconic juicy flame-grilled pattern instead of the traditional counterpart like you've found on McDonald's. My paper dolls' reaction is mouthwatering. 😛 Mmmmmm... Time for the first bite for ME! 😁

• [7th Image] Here's my first bite of the whopper! And man, I could taste of the charcoal grilled patty between the bun, the dressing, and few vegetable toppings inside! 😋

8th to 10th Image(s) ↑:

• Alright, time to try their onion rings 🧅, another of Burger King's iconic menus. First bite! *munch* Mmmmm! Delicious! 😋 When I go back to Burger King at any branch, this will be my pick rather than fries. My Paper dolls agree! Now, what if I combine onion rings & whopper? Hmmm...🤔

11th to 13th Image(s) ↑:

• Well, I get the whopper onion rings burger (w/ ketchup)! Yay! 😄 Good thing I have a few pieces of my whopper before I shove it down w/ a refreshing iced tea! And damn, it looks so good! 😋But wait, looks like I'll save this piece for my paper dolls because they want it as well, even though they don't have mouths.😅

Overall:

• I'm so happy with their whopper burger 😊🍔🔥, and this is the first time I have ever tasted the authentic flame-grilled patty unlike any other! Not to mention their onion rings & Iced-cold drink of my choosing. Okay, I don't know why I put that on the latter, but hey, I can't eat without a refreshing drink, right? 😉 As for the price of ₱407 ($7 in the US) (delivery fee included via Foodpanda), I would say, for us, it does not scream affordable when it comes to fast food, but, despite the portion size of the burger, and side & drink choices (depending on size), well you won't disappoint. Unless, if you want to go smaller size, then go with the "whopper jr.". Other than that, since it's my birthday, I would say totally worth it! I'm satisfied with my appetite! 😁👍

Well, that's all for now, 🎂🎁 and Happy Birthday to ME!🥳🎉

If you haven’t seen my previous episodes, then I’ll provide some links down below.↓😉 Take a Taste: • Popeyes U.S. Spicy Chicken Sandwich [Dec 6, 2021] • Jollibee Chick'nwich & Crisscut Fries [Dec 21, 2021]: Part 1 [CLICK ME! #1], Part 2 [CLICK ME! #2] • Mini Stop Chicken Fillet XL Sandwich [Feb 7, 2022]

• Minute Burger Cheese Burger(s) [Mar 1, 2022]

• Pepper Lunch Teriyaki Beef Pepper Rice w/ Egg (& Honey Brown Sauce) [Mar 5, 2022]

• Bacsilog’s Sulit Combo Bacon-Tocino & Samgyup Day’s Pork Herbs [Mar 12, 2022]

[jokertrap-ran]

(未定事件簿) EVENT!「异乡行歌·上篇」 [Tears of Themis] EVENT: Romantic Rail Getaway- Later Half Translations (Mo Yi’s Route)

Day 5: Fia Estate― [Investigation!] Countryside Park (菲亚庄园 : 郊野公园)  

*Tears of Themis Masterlist / Mobile Masterlist *Spoiler free: Translations will remain under cut *The tracking tag for ALL Event Stories will go under: #Tears of an Event

Location: Fia Estate

The sun shone upon the grasslands of Fia Estate, the field of greenery a pleasant welcome to the eyes.

MC: How beautiful. Just standing within the flower field makes me feel as if I'm one with nature.

Mo Yi: How about we take a walk and enjoy the scenery here then?

MC: Of course! Let's do it!

Thus, we strolled in the midst of the sweet-smelling fragrance of the Estate's plants and fauna, relishing in the breath of spring.

It was then, that I heard a familiar voice.

???: Dr. Mo? Miss (Y/n)? I never thought I'd be seeing you guys here again.

I turned around to see Jenny coming towards us with a milk bucket in tow.

Jenny: Are you guys here to visit Fia Estate?

MC: Yup. What are you doing here, Jenny?

Jenny: I live near Fia Estate. I came here to fetch some milk, only to bump into you all. What a coincidence.

Jenny: Actually… I've always wanted to thank both of you.

Jenny: I would never have gotten such a precious opportunity to collaborate with someone if it wasn't for you guys being there for me.

Mo Yi: You're welcome, but we're only doing what we should.

MC: Yeah. Rather than it being us, we'll say that it's your cheese that got you that chance!

Jenny: Oh yes, would you like me to introduce you to Fia Estate?

MC: Yes, that'll be greatly appreciated.

☆⋅⋆…⋅─────────── ⋆⋅✾⋅⋆ ───────────⋅…⋆⋅☆

≫Inquiry Start≪

▷Choice: Recreational Prospects

MC: What fun recreational things are there to do here?

Jenny: I think the most popular attractions here should be the Horse Show and the Estate's Lake Tour.

▷Choice: Estate's Delicacies

MC: How about recommending some good food around here?

Jenny: The most delicious delicacies Fia Estate has to offer is probably the Oven-Roasted Venison Steak and the Charcoal Grilled Beef & Mushrooms.

▷Choice: Horse Show

Mo Yi: Oh? You have Horse Shows here?

Jenny: That's right. Fia Estate boasts the biggest horse pasture, as well as the biggest horse racing grounds in all of Barosco.

Jenny: We'll always hold large-scale horse racing competitions, as well as horse shows here.

MC: (Hm, surely Dr. Mo will be interested in the Horse Show?)

MC: How about we go check the Horse Show out later, Dr. Mo?

Mo Yi: Sure. I can even take you for a ride if we can rent horses there.

MC: Sure!

▷Choice: Estate's Lake Tour

MC: A Lake Tour? I don't remember seeing a lake or anything nearby…

Jenny: You'll be able to see it if you go a little further.

Jenny: It's the famous lake of Fia Estate. The scenery by the lake is extremely beautiful and capable of enthralling those that set eyes on it despite not being very big.

Jenny: Many Tourists like to ride a small boat to enjoy the cooling breeze of the lake while feasting their eyes on the beauty of the Estate.

MC: (Sounds like a very leisurely and enjoyable experience. We can go check it out afterwards.)

▷Choice: Charcoal Grilled Beef & Mushrooms

MC: Charcoal Grilled Beef & Mushrooms…? You mean, they're all grilled together using charcoal fire?

Jenny: Yes. The locals here like to chop up fresh mushrooms and add black pepper to it to make mushroom sauce...

Jenny: And then coat the beef with it before grilling it with charcoal fire. The flavour of the sauce blends in perfect harmony with the beef!

Jenny: You definitely must try it! It's just so mouth-wateringly delicious.

MC: It already sounds so tasty!

▷Choice: Oven-Roasted Venison Steak

MC: It's name already sounds tasty enough.

Jenny: Your bet. Oven-Roasted Venison Steak is truly a delight.

Jenny: This dish specifically uses the tenderest thigh meat of deer raised in captivity, oven-roasted with a multitude of different spices...

Jenny: And then paired with berry sauce and baked potatoes, giving people an exquisite taste to remember.

MC: (Looks like we'll have to order one to try for ourselves later.)

≫Inquiry End≪

☆⋅⋆…⋅─────────── ⋆⋅✾⋅⋆ ───────────⋅…⋆⋅☆

Jenny: There are many unique things of natural beauty here in Fia Estate. All the Tourists who visit this place will always never fail to be entranced by the beautiful sights this Estate has to offer.

MC: Yeah, I can already see why.

Mo Yi: It's truly filled with its own charms.

Jenny: I hope that you have a nice day here at Fia Estates!

☆⋅⋆…⋅───── ⋆⋅ Romantic Rail Getaway⋅⋆ ────⋅…⋆⋅☆

Previous Part: (Day 4: Porto Gundy― The Joy of Trying) | Next Part: (Day 5: Fia Estate― "Surprise” Memento)

[astronomazed]

Sacrilege

Friends, I am freshly arrived in Arizona from diverse points east. Immediately I sought out the touted restaurant supreme, the haven of delights known as In-and-Out. This is my first time visiting one, but I've heard a lot about them. Mostly, that they were amazing and anyone who consumed nutrients to exist was required to try one.

I am disappointed.

First of all, the key factor of a burger joint -- the burger. A burger is supposed to be a grilled disk of ground meat, oozing the aroma of charcoal and producing a juicy bite that blends perfectly with melted cheese. It is not supposed to be a crispy hockey puck. It doesn't matter if you glue two of them together with american cheese if the burgers themselves are dense and crunchy. You can slather it in "our version of thousand island" spread all you want--that doesn't make up for dry meat.

Incidentally, the spread was quite watery mixed with presumably moist chunks of lettuce, and I immediately splattered it all over my shirt. I am not deducting points for this, because I was going to spill on myself no matter what. I'm a scientist, not a miracle worker.

Next, the french fries. Their pallor betrays their character. They are the beige of french fries --thin, yet not crispy. Limp and dense, but not even full of soft potato fluff that evokes the memory of baked potatoes. They are the equivalent of cardboard. Cardboard that is broken into shards, as if it were brittle.

Cheese fries apparently consist of microwaving these monstrosities with a slice of american on them. This is a form of animal cruelty where I am the animal and you need to not do that to me. American cheese congeals in an instant, providing neither the suave dip of a cheese sauce nor the stretchy mouthfeel of a real melted cheddar. American cheese turns these from sticks of cardboard to sticks of cardboard with clumps of dried paint dropped on them. Not even an appealing paint--something boring like taupe or [clunch][1]

But wait, you say. Animal style! you've got to do the fries animal style! it makes all the difference!

Animal style combines the non-excitement of american cheese with the sickly character of In-and-Out's not-thousand-island-don't-sue-us spread. The spread is the texture of wet pimento cheese but not spicy and not cheese. Instead it has a sweet mayo-ketchup flavor, with (perhaps) some few pieces of pickle or onion sitting forlornly inside it. It sits wetly on top of the congealed paint cheese. You can stir your cardboard sticks to try to disperse this combination, but no matter what you do it will clump up, leaving you to fork up mouthfuls of overly squishy, slightly sweet potato shards, and then pick over the bland, sad potato detritus that remains.

It also involves grilled onions. The grilled onions are the one mildly redeeming factor of In-and-Out. They taste like onions. They have the texture of minced onions that were caramalized. They do in fact add flavor to the meat or potatoes. They do not dilute the congealed cheese in a way that is unpleasant and confusing. And when you hit a chunk of them with your animal style french fry forkful, for a moment you can pretend that this is good, that you made the right choice--that you, too, love In-and-Out.

tl;dr:  In-and-Out burger place does not live up to expectations.

 [1]: https://www.farrow-ball.com/en-us/archived-paint/clunch

[idolish7rabbitchats]

Nanase Riku: Birthday 2020 RabbitTV Part 1

Staff: …That’s all for “RabbiTube”s outline.

Staff: We are planning to pick a part of the video and show it in “NEXT Re:vale”!

Staff: I’m thinking they could show their other side that we can’t usually see, on TV. Please take care of us!

Momo: Looking forward to it, huh everyone!

Yuki: You can bare everything and show us this part and that part.

Mitsuki: Ahahah, please don’t be hard on us! I need to research a lot…!

Gaku: Oh right Tenn, you were watching “RabbiTube” videos that time right. Don’t you know something that would become a reference?

Tenn:  … I was just watching cat videos that time.

Gaku: What, cats huh. That’s not a reference.

Ryuunosuke: … No, cat videos could become a reference too! Like how they behave to entertain or comfort people… 

Gaku: Wait, Ryuu. Only a limited number of people can refer to that…

Yuki: …Gaku-cat, nice.

Tenn: …Pff…

Gaku: Oi, Tenn, why did you laugh?! 

Riku: Cats huh…! Like a video of Iori going to a cat cafe?

Iori: Please stop, why is it me?!

Yamato: Hold on, I don’t want to do that kind of video…

Tamaki: I want to do a pudding taste test!

Sogo: …Then I wanna do a taste test of 100 kinds of spices from around the world…

Nagi: I’ll do a Kokona appreciation gathering!

Mitsuki: That’s the usual for you guys isn’t it!

Iori: … No…. Even though it’s basic, a video of us petting animals would attract people…

Riku: Iori, d’you say something?

Iori: No, nothing.

Momo: Ahahah! Nice, a lot of ideas came out huh!

Momo: That kind of feeling is good! I want you guys to show your usual selves for “RabbiTube”!

Yuki: So then, please take care of it for a year.

IDOLiSH7&TRIGGER: Please take care of us!

[Scene Change]

Riku: This year’s birthday project is being a “RabbiTube” creator huh…!

Sogo: It’s fun to chat with everyone in Rabbit Chats so this might feel a little lonely huh. 

Mitsuki: ...Yeah. I’m happy that we can reach the fans with videos but I want to celebrate properly together too!

Yamato: Well, we’ve always done it up until now.

Nagi: ...We’ve started to get more individual jobs. I understand that it might be hard to match our times...

Tamaki: We can’t eat Mikki’s cake?

Mitsuki: We’ll definitely make a cake! Right, Iori!

Iori: Right. I’ll help.

Riku: Hmm… Celebrate… Celebrate...

Riku: Ah! Then, how about taking the birthday person somewhere? Everyone decides and we all go out. 

Riku: Actually, it might be hard for everyone to go out so… We’ll ask Manager to adjust our schedule and people who are able to go would come with us!

Mitsuki: Going outside huh… We’ve celebrated a lot in Rabbit Chats up until now so it might feel new and good!

Yamato: It’s too bad we can’t go altogether but, deciding where to go might feel like a celebration. ...For my time, I want to go to a beer factory.

Mitsuki: You already decided?!

Tamami: Then, for the people who can’t go, let’s take lots of pictures and videos. I’ll send it in the Rabbit Chat.

Nagi: OH! That’s wonderful. That would make us feel like we went there too.

Iori: Posting them on Rabitter would make people happy too.

Sogo: That sounds fun…! How about we try consulting with Manager tomorrow?

Riku: Yes! ...It seems like they’ll become fun birthdays this year too!

[Scene Change]

Riku: Uwaaah…! Cool, cute! What is this place?!

Iori: It’s a glamping facility.

Tsumugi: Seems like glamping is the trend because we can freely enjoy camping!

Nagi: Riku, did you go glamping when you were a kid?!

Riku: When I was a kid… I don’t really have any memories… 

Iori: ...Let’s enjoy today like you would’ve as a kid.

Nagi: There’s a lot of meat and fish prepared! Of course, snacks too..!

Nagi: The night is long, Riku!

Iori: I’ll allow you to enjoy the whole night. Right, Manager.

Tsumugi: Yes! I’ll support you with all my might!

Riku: Thanks, Manager..!

Riku: To be forgiven by grumpy Iori, it seems it’ll be an amazing day!

Iori: Isn’t it fine sometimes. To have a day to enjoy...

Riku: Thank you too, Nagi! Let’s eat a lot of things together!

Nagi: YES! A small party in the woods!

Riku: Right, then  it’s glamping now!

Nagi&Iori: Yeah…!

Riku: Hey hey Iori, how do you start a fire using charcoal?

Iori: Aah, I’ll do it so please sit for a bit.

Iori: Since it would be dangerous for you to breathe in the smoke...

Riku: ...Right. I’m sorry, to get in the way.

Riku: Hey, Nagi. Is there something I can help with?

Nagi: OH, right now, I’m fighting against the evil that is onions! My eyes are…! Riku, run…!

Riku: G-Got it…!

Riku: ……..

Tsumugi: Riku-san.

Riku: Ah, Manager.

Riku: Somehow, it seems it might be better if I sat down. Even though I wanted to have fun with them...

Tsumugi: Riku-san, today you have a nice coloring. Your condition has been stable lately too...

Riku: Eheheh, yeah. Right.

Tsumugi: ...Let’s do it, cooking! Something to surprise them!

Riku: ...Is that fine, I...

Tsumugi: Of course. We came glamping to celebrate Riku-san.

Tsumugi: Just don’t overwork yourself please. It’s a promise with everyone!

Riku: ...Yeah. I’ll cook something to make them happy!

Riku: ...I might fail a little though….

Iori: Nanase-san? What are you talking about?

Riku: A secret! Iori, you’ll cook something right?

Iori: That’s right but...

Nagi: WOW, Riku will also make dinner?

Riku: Ahaha, yeah! ...Hey, let’s compete over who can cook the most delicious food!

Iori: Haah? Do you think you’ll win against me?

Nagi: Fufuh…. Don’t underestimate my tongue, which I have developed for a long time.

Riku: Then the time limit is one hour!  ...Aaaand start!

Riku: ...Huh… Should I add this in like this...

Iori: Oh come on, at least peel the skin! Don’t put it in directly...!

Nagi: Oyah, Iori. Is it fine to look the other way? I can smell something weird...

Iori: ….Eh? Aaah..!

Riku: ...Hm? I smell something burning… Iori, you’re burning the meat!

Iori: Shit, what I have done…!

Iori: ...I mean, Nanase-san, you poured the sauce in while the meat is uncooked!

Iori: You didn’t even peel the vegetables… I worried so much, I couldn't focus at all!

Riku: Eh?! Iori, are you making it my fault that you burned the meat?! Isn’t that wrong?!

Nagi: OH, I thought today would be a calm glamping trip but actually it’s become lively huh.

Nagi: It’s like a BGM. Please watch me cook elegantly while putting Iori and Riku on in the background.

Tsumugi: A-Ahahah...

Riku: I did it!

Nagi: It smells really nice!

Iori: Somehow I made it something. Everyone, please introduce what you cooked.

Tsumugi: Please look at the camera to say it!

Riku: OKAY! I made stewed hamburg steak!

Nagi: Hamburg steak! That’s wonderful, Riku!

Riku: Eheheh, right? Nagi likes hamburg steak right?

Iori: It’s an elaborate food for Nanase-san.

Riku: I just stewed it, of course I can make that!

Iori: You mean you’re saying that anyone could do it...

Riku: ...Actually, I just stewed frozen hamburg steak and a ready-made sauce.

Nagi: Fufuh. It’s a bold COMING OUT huh.

Nagi: What did Iori make?

Iori: I made beef stroganoff. 

Nagi: WOW, this is quality that wouldn’t make me think of glamping.

Riku: Somehow, it’s cooking that’s more like Yaotome-san than Iori!

Iori: What even is that… It doesn’t need too much preparation, I just fried and stewed, so you can make it easily.

Riku: Nagi, what did you do?

Nagi: I made hot sandwiches with ham, cheese, and eggs.

Riku: Uwaah, it’s roasted bread! It looks delicious!

Iori: The color is also pretty huh.

Nagi: YES! I grilled the bread and put ingredients in-between. Even I can do it.

Riku: Maybe glamping makes even simple dishes look super good?!

Nagi: Fufuh. Don’t you think it’ll be the best dinner?

Riku: Yeah, the best...! Let’s eat quickly before it gets cold! 

Iori: Right. ...Nanase-san, it's a short amount of time, but the air in here is clean, so please take a rest.

Iori: Let’s call all the members next time.

Riku: ...Yeah! You two, thanks a lot for doing this for me. I can definitely never forget today!

Iori: You exaggerate. 

Nagi: Iori, Riku! Please smile your best! I’ll take a picture!

Tsumugi: I’ll do it! Okay, cheese..!