#one of my friends brought me the ingredients for this unrequested

[aturinfortheworse]

I read a fair number of recipes on the ten thousand interchangeable recipe blogs that exist, and often they say something like "This recipe is a family favourite!" or "This a crowd-pleaser" etc. and I roll my eyes a little bit every time because of course they are, it goes without saying! People like food! Nearly any special-occasion home-cooked meal is going to be popular.

But there is one recipe, one cake, that has recontextualised all those comments for me and now actually I think those bloggers might be wrong about what a family favourite is. It sure as hell isn't Interchangeable Chocolate Cake No. 7.

I'm telling you this because I need you to know the seriousness of the power I am going to bestow on you. And hey, maybe your friends and family have different preferences than mine do. Maybe you need to find another recipe to fill this role. But you must know that there's a recipe out there, and not even a particularly alluring one or a particularly difficult one, which people will bring up in unrelated conversations to you four years later.

If I so much as say the word cake, my family all turn to face me like a pack of hungry wolves. Even the ones that don't like food!! Health nuts and people who simply don't enjoy eating and people with no appetite and people I have no goddamn memory of ever having cooked for, all of them come up and say to me "Hey remember that cake-" I asked my brother and his girlfriend what foods they're looking forward to, when they return home after three years in Japan, and they say "You know that cake?"

It doesn't sound particularly appetizing. I only made it the first time because it was gluten free and I had a bunch of lemons. Please don't let the name inform your opinion here. This is a fairly fast and simple cake that requires no special equipment and people will literally never stop asking you for it.

It's not even my favourite cake! I'd rather have basque burnt cheesecake, which is harder and more expensive to make and consists almost entirely of fat and sugar but still manages to be a little savoury... But people want the weird corn one.

To be fair, this is the only cake that'll make me dip my fingers into boiling sugar without regret.

[kawaiikatanabushi]

The Guys Reacting to Chizuru Using Garnish

I am alive and back with nonsense! Enjoy this silly thing inspired from my learning a new herb combination. Imagining the men reacting to Chizuru placing a cute little garnish on top of their meal, just got me so tickled I had to share.

Harada Sanosuke

Immediately notices the little addition and smiles. Appreciates the woman's touch and makes certain not to look it over.

Voices how glad he is she adds her own personal touch and it makes him feel as if he is eating out.

Teases they don't often get such fine dining.

Finds the whole thing precious.

Todou Heisuke

He was so excited just to eat her food, he almost overlooked it. (Someone else pointed it out first.)

Compliments her with the cheeriest smile you have ever seen.

Secretly hopes she did it just for him.

Whether the garnish is just for looks or to be eaten, it gets eaten either way. Refuses to complain it is nasty if it isn't meant to be eaten. Is gently corrected by her and he blushes. Whoops.

Manages to say she always is the best cook.

Nagakura Shinpachi

"Um... what do I do with this?" It is noticed, but he is perplexed. Getting instructions was the best choice of action. He will follow it to the letter.

Will probably steal Heisuke's when he isn't looking and maybe places it on his young friend's head. "You look so fancy... dwarf."

Compliments her for being so cute and thinking up these things to make them feel special, but also sheepishly apologizes that as a warrior he isn't used to this.

Incites everyone to compliment her and engage in conversation over it. Doesn't realize how much she is blushing.

Saito Hajime

Not only did he notice, it brought a warm smile to his face. He admires the dedication and skill she brings to cooking. His reaction is initially internal.

Without so much as a word, her dish is saved for last. When she becomes disappointed, he explains he saves his favorite for last. This brightens up her face and secretly warms her heart.

Even though he considers himself one of the best cooks of the Shinsengumi, he has come to realize that the affection she puts into her cooking is an ingredient he is sorely lacking. He still cannot master the taste of home and marvels at how she always can.

Will give her a bow and thank her for the extra effort, even if she denies it was easy. He will insist on thanking her.

Okita Souji

"Why on earth did you put weeds on my food?" His pickiness and general dislike of anything green will show forth. Will stare at the offending leaves, chopsticks aimed to remove the unrequested garnish.

Kondou-san will step in, explaining what the garnish is meant for and reminding him that Chizuru spent extra effort in the kitchen with such thoughtfulness. Gently asks him to be grateful and Chizuru hesitantly encourages him to try it (if it is edible.)

If simply decorative, he will remove it with a quirked brow. Wondering why you would put something you don't eat on the plate. If edible, he will hesitantly try it. Even if his tastebuds are loosing it, he will marvel at her understanding of taste and compliment her on how well she gets flavor. Leaves her blushing and will smirk about it.

If he doesn't get the reasoning for fancy dining, he will thank her anyway. There was obviously thought and motivation behind it, which does not go unnoticed. The extra effort does affect him secretly, but he will tease her about going the extra mile just for a bunch of sweaty, unruly brutes such as themselves. Many protests arise, just as he assumed. Chizuru explains that she wanted to give extra attention so they felt special and maybe cheer them up. This warms his heart in a way that confuses him all the more.

Hijikata Toshizo

Scoffs quietly at the delicate leaves gracing his food. He doesn't mean to offend, but didn't expect the gesture. He might consider it unnecessary, but he'll eat it without fussing. Assures her she didn't have to go to such lengths. Smiles when she insisted she wanted to encourage them in the little way she can.

"We should have dressed up for such an occasion." He's teasing and it stuns her for a moment. They meet eyes and she realizes he's smiling at her. He can't help but notice she is so cute. Wonders if he thanks her enough. She smiles back, understanding that he is actually grateful.

He wonders how women come up with little ways to add to life and he is so thankful she is amongst them, even if he won't show it in front if the others. He quietly goes about eating. Thanking her as he always does once his meal is done.

He will process the event more in the solitude of his room. There is a lot to think over with his cup of tea.

Sannan Keisuke

"My, my. Such an effort for just us?" At first, the light teasing lilt perplexes her, until he begins eating. He doesn't make an outward fuss about it, but seems to be enjoying it all the same.

Has the mildest reaction out if the lot.

Inoue Genzaborou (because, he doesn't get love!)

Is greatly surprised! Thanks her without any hesitation. Smiles with fatherly affection at her. He understands her motivation and appreciates her efforts.

Compliments she always adds a warmth and home to whatever she does. Is openly grateful she came to join them.

"You are an immense help. Where would we be without you?"

As she blushes, goes about eating with a serene smile.

Kondou Isami

"All this effort just for us? You spoil us, Yukimura-kun. " Smiling happily and paternally, he makes her feel appreciated in an instant. Hopes everyone will thank her for her efforts in a mild authoritative manner.

He has a farming story about whatever garnish and will not stand picky eating. Can answer what to do with it almost before someone asks. Makes sure that all the effort into the meal is appreciated, both with the growers and the chef.

Compliments her on her ability to enhance flavors and hopes to treat her equally when he is less busy. Will probably buy her dango or a gift as a thank you, because she lifted his officials' spirits. He won't accept a refusal of whatever gift.

Bonus:

Kazama Chikage

Wonders why she insists on cooking when there are people and restaurants for that. The garnish only adds to the argument; they could get that kind of treatment elsewhere.

Links the effort to pleasing her husband and going out of her way for him after she insists she wanted to cook herself. Even if she says the effort was solely for her, he will still assume it is for him. He promises to pay her back, sometimes to her chagrin.

If her cooking wasn't so good, he would make a display of taking her out to eat. Honestly, though, he does enjoy the privacy of a dinner just between them.

[hawkland]

Dear RarePair Creator

Thank you for offering one of my requests! I’m very excited to see what you will create, no matter which of my requested ships you go for.  It’s all under the cut.

General Likes:

Vacation/travel stories. Being unable to travel this past year+ thanks to covid-19 has me desperate to explore and live vicariously through my favorite characters! So I’d love a story involving travel to somewhere new (to them). It could be a romantic getaway/honeymoon trip to somewhere special - and I love it when an author “takes me” to a favorite city/place of their own. Or two friends just going on an escapade together, maybe one sensing the other needs some time away from a stressful situation or workplace.

Smutty likes: I love extended kissing scenes, frottage, light restraint play, sharing-one-bed-for-~reasons~-ooops-how-did-we-wake-up-cuddling, bathing/caretaking an injured partner-turns-erotic, desperate/reunion sex.

Canon-divergent AUs - I’m always good with fix-its, shifts in canon that only change one thing and see what happens next or instead.

Cooking & food as an act of caretaking/showing affection - I love it when a character tries to prepare a favorite meal for their loved one (whether they succeed or not!) Food as a symbol of love or desire, meals as a time for opening up/having heartfelt discussions, etc.

Hurt/comfort scenarios - caretaking, desperately trying to save a loved one, confessions brought on by altered states/fear of imminent death...love them all!

Wingfic - for any of my angel ships and requests. Love stories and art involving their wings - as erogenous zones, needing TLC after an injury or molting.

Do Not Wants:

A/B/O dynamics, mating heats. (I do like Supernatural fics that explore Castiel and the angels having bird-like behaviors and instincts, however.)

animal abuse/death

anything related to pregnancy/childbirth/kidfic

formalized BDSM relationships

scat/watersports

unrequested alternative-universe scenarios such as high school/mundane/genderswap/coffee shop/fantasy/etc. 

Completely sad endings/permanent character death or injury that isn’t part of canon

Rape/non-con between requested characters. Dubious consent is fine in situations like magic spells/possession/fuck-or-die, however.

SUPERNATURAL

Well, I’m a hopeless Casgirl if it’s not obvious from my requests. I just want my angel to be happy and get some of the love and affection he deserves.

Castiel/Indra (Supernatural) - This is kind of a silly one, but Indra the day-drinking playground guard was one of my favorite one-off angel characters. Poor guy stuck by his lonesome as Heaven is failing and not doing a good job of getting drunk. I kind of like the idea of Cas stopping by every once in a while just to talk to him, maybe try to get some gossip on Heaven but also simply for the company. Heck, maybe Cas drags him away for a little gay angel adventure! To show him he can have some fun on Earth too, beyond the play set (though, some kinky fun on the ladders and slide wouldn’t be a bad idea either.)

Castiel/Mick Davies (Supernatural) Castiel/Mick Davies/Dean Winchester (Supernatural)

Cas and Mick absolutely deserved at least a one-off hot sex fling. Or even something more than that? I’d love to see them working some kind of case together and Mick slowly getting Cas to open up and trust him. Give me an AU where Mick doesn’t die, or perhaps Cas visiting him in Heaven? (Could be post-canon when Jack has brought back Cas to help him, but before Dean dies?)

For the threesome, would love Mick somehow working on getting Dean to admit his feelings for Cas by setting up a situation for them to need to have sex all together. Or a fuck-or-die situation where Mick is perfectly happy to be in the middle of a Dean & Cas sandwich while Dean is freaking out over the whole thing.

Castiel/Mary Winchester (Supernatural) - watching season 12 gave me weird Mary/Cas vibes at times, I don’t even know. But maybe it’s something about them both being “displaced” individuals - Cas always struggling to understand human behavior and emotions, Mary struggling to figure out the modern world and how to be a mother to two now grown men. I’d enjoy something exploring that, or seeking mutual comfort during the time when Dean & Sam are in prison and seemingly lost to them.

Castiel/Benny Lafitte/Dean Winchester (Supernatural) - Can’t go wrong with Purgatory threesome smut, especially if there’s some jealousy and one-upmanship between Cas and Benny over Dean. It could have been fun seeing them interact post-Purgatory, too, maybe in an AU where Benny doesn’t end up dying/returning to Purgatory. Where it’s taken a long time for Cas to fully warm up to the vampire but eventually they find they have a lot in common besides loving Dean. (Both rejecting, to a large extent, who they are supposed to be as angel and vampire and instead choosing human connection?)

Anael/Castiel (Supernatural) - I like these two as casual (fallen) angel friends/fuck buddies. Just the idea that Cas has this one angel friend who is off doing her own thing, like he is, and they may not see eye-to-eye but they have a respect for each other’s choices and ways of doing things.  So I’d love a story where they’re maybe working some kind of case/investigation together and, oh yeah, just happen to have sex because they’re both lonely and enjoy the connection even if it isn’t anything super serious.  Alternatively, I wouldn’t mind something angsty set post 15x03 in the divorce arc—Cas goes to Anael when he’s at his lowest, maybe even hopeful that somehow she can help get Jack back? Or ease his pain? And it ends up turning into physical/sexual comfort.

Castiel/Rowena MacLeod/Sam Winchester (Supernatural) - I love the chaos twins Cas & Sam fucking around and finding out! And maybe needing Rowena to help them get out of some stupid bad sex/magic bind they’ve gotten themselves into. Or, Rowena and Sam are trying to work a spell together but they need a “special ingredient” that only an angel can provide...good thing they have their good buddy Cas around to help out...

CROSSOVER FANDOMS

Castiel (Supernatural TV)/Amenadiel (Lucifer Netflix)

This is one ship where I wouldn’t mind some bonding over being dads/kidfic surrounding Cas being Jack’s dad and Amenadiel being Charlie’s dad? Like, maybe they actually bond/work together as some dark force/being is crossing dimensions to kill nephilim? Otherwise any kind of situation where one gets transported to the other’s universe and is shocked by how different it is, and they grow closer while working to sort things out.

Castiel (Supernatural TV)/Lucifer Morningstar (Lucifer Netflix)

Cas gets stuck in Lucifer’s world and can’t believe this version of Luci is actually...kind of nice? Understanding of why Cas didn’t want to just be a soldier for Heaven but found his own way with humanity?

Castiel (Supernatural TV)/Dean Winchester (Supernatural TV)/Lucifer (Lucifer Netflix)

More universe hopping shenanigans. Maybe Cas & Dean are tying to summon their Lucifer to trap him (or to get something they need for a spell to locate/save  Jack from something)...and they end up with this other Lucifer instead? And he’s so charming and different they just can’t resist a little threesome fun. Or maybe Lucifer orchestrates to get Cas & Dean together via a threesome when he sees how much they’re pining for each other.

LAW & ORDER: SVU

John Munch/Odafin “Fin” Tutuola 

Munch/Fin is one of my eternal OTPs so I’m forever happy to see something new featuring them! I’m always good for procedural/case-fics where they get together, or their established relationship is/puts them in danger. And this is one request where I’d love to read some AU-Genre or setting shift, reimagining them in some other situation besides police work. I’ve always loved the idea of John hosting a conspiracy/weird news radio show or podcast, and Fin as someone completely skeptical but who gets wrapped up in one of John’s mysteries. Or John as the owner of a bar somewhere that Fin is one of his regulars, and over time their friendship unexpectedly develops/deepens into something more.

THE POLICE

Stewart Copeland/Sting (The Police) Stewart Copeland/Sting/Andy Summers (The Police)

Yeah I’ll always request these ships even though I know it’s a long shot to find anyone else as obsessed about them as I am. Really anything at all whatsoever would make me happy for Sting/Stewart or S/S/A: Reunion Tour-era fic, early punk days before they grew successful, soulmate AUs… (soulmate trio, anyone?)

I’d also love a spooky story where they’re on tour/on the road somewhere and end up in a haunted hotel. Or their tour bus/van breaks down in the middle of nowhere and they have to seek shelter in an abandoned house or farm or something…and supernatural weirdness ends up affecting them or bringing them together.

HOMICIDE: LIFE ON THE STREET

Kay Howard/John Munch (Homicide: Life on the Street)

Kay/John is another one of my longtime comfort OTPs; I just love them both so much and the fun contrast they present. Honestly H:LOTS is one of my all-time favorite television series, period, and I’m always happy to see more fic for it! I’d love any kind of case-fic/action-type scenario where one or both of them is injured or in danger. The stress of the situation leads to a confession of or acting on feelings. Another idea would be a post-series fic where perhaps Kay comes to New York, needing John’s help to solve an old cold case (or one that’s crossed state lines to NY). Now that they’re no longer working together they have a chance to explore feelings like they never had before?

This is a ship where I’d also definitely love that food-as-comfort trope, too: I tend to see Munch as someone who has a secret knack for being a good cook, so maybe he makes something special for Kay when she’s sick/recovering from something and it reveals a side of John she never knew or saw before.