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tayraedoll · 7 months ago

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My Compliments to the Chef

You and Alastor face-off in the kitchen. Who will be crowned the superior chef? And what will the prize be?

TW: Swearing, mentions of death, mention of fire, death by fire, self-loathing, enemies to lovers, SLOW(ish) BURN, mention of drug addiction, mention of dementia, angst, some fluff towards the end.

Word count: 3,721

Salt. Fat. Acid. Heat. These four simple elements were the building blocks to every culinary masterpiece. You lived and breathed by them, working tirelessly until you had perfected each individual component. Thousands of hours spent in the kitchen using every kind of stove, range, and grill; finally, all that hard work had paid off when you opened your own restaurant. The critics raved about your cuisine, you had a full house nearly every single night, and the headlines were calling you the next celebrity chef. Everything had been an absolute dream, until it became your worst nightmare.

You try not to think about the fire, although it was nearly impossible not to. You weren't sure how it started, just that is spread within seconds and engulfed everything in its path. You didn't even have time to run before you the flames completely surrounded you; you can still feel how excruciating the smoke felt in your lungs...and how you burned.

*BEEP BEEP BEEP*

The kitchen timer pulls you from your trance with a gasp. Your eyes quickly dart around as you momentarily struggle to gain your bearings. Right, you were in Charlie's kitchen at the Hazbin Hotel...and your pork chops were burning.

"Shit!", you exclaim as you scramble for your oven mitts. Luckily, you got to the meat just in time and started simmering your green beans and mashing your potatoes as the pork rested. The kitchen was your safe space, something familiar that brought you comfort as you struggled to process your death, how ironic it was that it was the same room you died in. It was more than just the familiarity of the space though, it was also that the kitchen was the only room that did not have any mirrors.

Accepting your demonic body proved a greater struggle than accepting your untimely death. You still looked very human, much more so than most other residents of the hotel, but your skin was littered with angry, red splotches- permanent burn marks. They were not raised and did not hurt, but were certainly unsightly(to you). Your hair was the same color it was when you died, but was singed on the ends and your eyes were now a fiery orange, the amber color far from a natural shade for a human. Most say you were lucky to get such a tame demonic appearance, but it only served as a reminder of how your skin crackled under the flame.

You were just stirring the sour cream and cheddar cheese into your mashed potatoes when the hotel guests started filing into the kitchen for dinner.

"Mmm smells great Y/N!", Charlie smiled at you before taking her seat.

"Yea Toots, I'm starving!", Angel called out as you were chopping the chives to garnish the meal with.

Everyone loved your cooking, immediately digging in as soon as you handed them their plate. Well...almost everyone anyways, there was a certain scarlet cervid demon that you could never get a read on whenever he ate what you prepared. Most of the time he just ate in silence with that spine-chilling smile on his face, not giving you a single clue as to what he was thinking.

Alastor and you were not exactly friends. The kitchen was his sanctuary as well, this particular kitchen in the hotel was his domain long before you ever showed up. But you refused to let him frighten you from the one place you felt at peace; so you struck an agreement that you would rotate meal duties and stay out of each other's way. You two really brought the old "too many cooks in the kitchen" phrase back to life.

The worst part of the whole ordeal for you was that you desperately wanted his approval. Alastor himself was a masterful chef, having a century of experience blending flavors together creating symphonies for the pallet. His creole meals-cooked entirely from just his memory- were absolutely to double-die for and you knew you would never come close to replicating them even with the best ingredients Hell had to offer. You had tried every kind of cuisine you could think of to impress him, from steak to lasagna and enchiladas to scotch eggs. He still gave you nothing- just a quiet meal, but at least he always cleaned his plate so that had to count for something.

But tonight you were hoping for a true reaction. This meal was the house specialty at your restaurant; you were hesitant to make it, there was so much emotional baggage attached so this once beloved dish. You took your time picking out the right pork chops- they had to be of even thickness and trim, as the star of the dish they could not be any less than perfect. You then made sure to get the freshest spices and produce you could find and pulled out every trick you knew from searing the meat in garlic butter to your added secret ingredients to the spuds This meal put you on the map in the living world, you were hoping it would at least put you in Alastor's orbit.

You carefully watched The Radio Demon's reactions as you ate, you were pleased with how it turned out- the pork was juicy and tender with just the right amount of crust seared into the flesh, the green beans had a crispy garlic taste, and there was not a single lump to be found in your potatoes. Everything was perfect, magazine-worthy just like you relentlessly crafted it to be. So why did the crimson asshole look so fucking unimpressed?!

"How's the food Alastor?", you couldn't take this anymore, you needed to know what he thought. His blank and bored expression snapped your very last nerve; you were tired of being patient and waiting for some inkling of sentimentalization to form on his ever-stoic face. If he wasn't going to volunteer it himself, then you would pry it out of him forcefully. You turned toward him expectantly, effectively putting a pause on all dining table chatter.

The demon stilled momentarily, not expecting your abrupt outburst. He eyed you for a second before speaking "It's fine", and resuming his meal, that unimpressed mask back over his face.

You flinched back as if he had slapped you, your jaw nearly dropping to the table and eyes wide in bewilderment. "Fine? That's it?! This very dish was going to win me a Michelin Star and you say it is just FINE?!!", your voice grew louder as you spoke. This was outrageous, the ultimate insult to you as a chef, the AUDACITY of this cherry-colored prick to sum up what you slaved your entire life away on in just a seven-letter synopsis.

Everyone else was staring at the two of you with wide eyes as you bristled, turning your entire body toward Alastor with a white-knuckled grip on your fork like you were preparing to stab him with it.

Alastor's response to your sudden rage was to calmly place his own fork down and fold his fingers together in front of his chin with his elbows on the edge of the table. He closed his eyes for a second before fixing them on you intently, however, his voice was calm when he finally spoke again.

"That is your problem Dear. Yes, the food is fine- it is very good actually- but you cook for praise, for critics, for awards. In doing so your cooking has fallen flat, it lacks originality, heart, dare I even say soul; in all the meals you have made for us I have yet to taste YOU in your own cooking. You have mastered every physical component of the process, but until you learn how to put yourself on a plate I'm afraid each dish will only ever be good- never transcending into great. I suggest you stop cooking for others and begin cooking for yourself Darling."

You gaped at him, mouth opening and closing like a fish as you fumbled over your own thoughts before saying the only thing that came clearly to mind, "Fuck you!!", you stood abruptly, desperate for any sort of upper-hand no matter how delusional that upper-hand really was. To his credit Alastor remained calm, looking like a patient parent waiting for their toddler to cease an illogical tantrum, which only served to piss you off more. "Well if you deem my cooking to be so unworthy of the The Radio Demon's stomach," you spit his self-proclaimed name out like it was a dirty word, "then how about you prove why that is? Face off with me in a blind taste test", you gestured to your audience of hotel guests. "If you are so much better than me then prove it- without magic! Compete with me on completely equal standing, just our own skills in this very kitchen", you cross your arms in front of you and glare down at the deer.

Alastor chuckled at you, "Very well Darling. Pray tell, what does the winner of this little competition receive?"

"Whatever they want."

"Hmm...are you sure that is a wager you want to make with me my dear?", his aura turned slightly green and symbols of his magic began to swirl around him as his eyes flashed to radio dials for a brief moment, the static in his voice getting thicker. But you were not going to let him scare you...you had something to prove.

You raised your chin defiantly at him, "Absolutely certain- who knows?- maybe I will own your soul after I win." You let that idea simmer in the air between you two as you grab your plate to wash it, noting with satisfaction how his smile tightened and posture stiffened slightly.

"Well, as the one challenged it is only fair for me to choose our main dish. I will procure two identical venison steaks for us to prepare in whatever way we best know how in the same exact amount of time. The rest of your dish I will leave up to you. Sound fair enough for you?", he extended his hand toward you to solidify your agreement to the terms.

"Fine", you deadpan back to him as you take his hand in your own briefly before wiping it off on your pants- a show of dominance The Radio Demon often used himself.

His eyes narrowed at you, "Lovely!"

You were the first to leave the kitchen, followed closely by Alastor; leaving the stupefied and unwitting judges of your cook-off to gawk at one another.

"The fuck just happen?!", Angel was the first to break the silence, looking between each of the other residents in confusion.

"We just caught in the middle of a ridiculous, egotistical contest between our two cooks!", Vaggie huffed irritably.

"I wish they could just work together on meals instead of against one another", Charlie sighed. Vaggie gave her shoulder a comforting squeeze in agreement.

"Sooo...this mean we get two dinners tomorrow?"

You looked over your work station, recounting each and every ingredient at least 3 times. You and Alastor agreed 4 hours was enough time to make your very best venison dish. You were pulling out all the stops, deciding to make one of the most difficult dishes to execute correctly- a venison wellington made with homemade puff pastry. Making puff pastry itself was a long and tedious process and your timing had to be perfect or else the venison would be either underdone or overcooked. You knew that if you cooked this dish flawlessly you were sure to win.

Alastor created two identical workplaces, you agreed that he was allowed to use his magic so that you could cook at the exact same time but that is it. He sat at his own station with nothing but the meat set out and a coffee in hand. He looked up at you, "Are you ready to begin?"

Oh, you couldn't wait to wipe that stupid grin off his face, "Ready!"

With that Alastor started a countdown on the wall and nodded at you before opening his newspaper, not moving to prepare any ingredients at all.

You, however, were a flurry of activity; setting your flour in a small pile to meticulously wet bit by bit until you formed your dough which you then folded over a dozen times and flattened out. Once that was in the fridge you set out to beat your butter until you formed a neat 4x4 cube. Before you knew it an hour had passed and Alastor had yet to prepare anything. You narrowed your eyes at him, what the hell was he doing?

You had no time to fret over the deer demon, once your butter was cooled into a solid mass again you diligently folded your dough and butter together forming dozens of butter-pastry layers. Once that was finally finished nearly two hours had ticked off the clock. Alastor was finally chopping potatoes, carrots, and onions- taking his sweet time like he wasn't on a time crunch.

You couldn't help but smile to yourself, you were starting to feel a bit cocky considering your dish seemed to be far more complicated. Next, you worked on cutting up your own produce- onion, garlic, and mushrooms. As you mixed your spices together you melted butter in a cast iron skillet, watching as Alastor cubed his own venison. You seared your whole backstrap steak on all sides until a nice crust formed before wrapping the meat in a blend of your spices and minced produce before finishing it by wrapping it all in bacon. Finally, you wrapped the whole thing in your puff pastry before setting it in the oven to cook.

You peeked up at the clock- 30 minutes left. Glancing over at Alastor, you saw him standing over a large pot, stirring it slowly and humming a jazzy tune to himself. Was he making a soup? Did he really think that would be complicated enough to win a cook-off?

When your venison wellington was done cooking the crust was a gorgeous golden color. You cut into it and let out a breath of relief that the meat was a perfect medium rare. Everything was textbook perfection, you were about to hand The Radio Demon his ass, you bit your bottom lip to keep from giggling at your apparent victory.

As you were setting out the plates of food for the other residents- who were strictly forbidden from entering the dining room until you and Alastor had left so they would have no idea who cooked what- Alastor came in with his own dish.

"What kind of soup did you make?", you asked a bit snobbishly.

"This, My Dear, is my favorite venison stew", he replied merrily, obviously pleased with his dish and showing not an ounce of trepidation for his impending defeat.

"Interesting that you think a stew is worthy of a cook-off victory."

He stopped to fully turn towards you, eyeing you up and down with a look of disapproval, "Darling, the complexity of a dish is not the most important aspect. Sometimes the simplest dishes give us the most satisfaction."

His gaze was intense, he was boring right into your very soul as if he was trying to convey a secret message with just the look in his eyes. You look down "Er...yea okay", you feel your face go beet red, you could almost get lost in those eyes if he weren't such a dick.

The two of you go back to the kitchen to clean up your stations after letting the other residents into the dining room to eat and cast their votes for their favorite dish. You didn't speak, just let the sweet melodious notes of Jazz fill the silence. Just as you were drying your last bowl Charlie walked in with a piece of paper in hand.

"It...was unanimous. Just so you know we all really enjoyed both meals and it was REALLY hard to choose between them! And we by NO means prefer one of your cooking over the other! We all hope you both will continue cooking and not let this competition stop you from doing what you love!", she spoke in a rush. She carefully placed the folded paper down on the counter before taking her leave.

You snatched it up before Alastor could make a move for it; you took a look at the verdict and your heart plummeted into your stomach. There was absolutely no way, this had to be a mistake. You looked up at Alastor and it was clear he already knew the outcome based on the small but smug grin on his face. Grabbing a spoon you rushed over to Alastor's pot and took a bite of his stew permission be damned.

FUCK!

It was good, more than good it was downright sinful. The venison melted in your mouth like butter, the spices in the gravy transported you back to Grandma's house- visions of dinners together as a family came to mind as the nostalgic taste danced on your taste buds. The whole dish filled you with a sense of comfort and tranquility, like being wrapped in your favorite blanket by a fireplace with a book in hand on a cold winter's night. He made a dish that evoked literal emotions in the consumer...how were you ever going to compete with someone who could do that with a simple stew? He was right...your cooking was flat by comparison, like biting into basic sirloin compared to a beautiful wagyu porterhouse.

Tears filled your eyes but you refused to give him the satisfaction of seeing you cry in defeat. You rushed out of the kitchen as fast as you could not having any particular destination in mind, you just had to get out of the kitchen. You doubted you would ever return to it again.

Your tears steadily streamed down your face as you looked over Pentagram City from the hotel balcony. Questions about your identity plagued for mind- what were you supposed to do now? where did you belong? were you a fraud- an imposter- your whole life? should you just leave the hotel? what will Alastor want for his prize?

The sound of static alerted you to his presence behind you, but like a petulant child you kept staring straight ahead refusing to acknowledge him.

"It was my mother's recipe", he leaned over the railing beside you.

You finally looked over at him,"Huh?"

The deer demon chuckled softly, "The stew, it was my mother's recipe. She taught me everything I know about cooking, most of my happiest childhood memories involve my mother teaching me different techniques and dishes. Perhaps that is why I tend to get a bit possessive of the kitchen and meal prep." He smiled brightly down at you, your face flushed again at this unexpected and rare bit of honesty and vulnerability from The Radio Demon.

"Well you can have it back, I'm done cooking", you respond bitterly, your face hardening in disdain as you stare back out at the pentagram again.

"Well now Darling there is no need to be so dramatic! Why I bet all you need is to go back to your roots, remember why you started cooking in the first place! Now, tell me, what was your inspiration?", he leaned his chin in one hand as he waited for your answer.

You scoffed,"Well, I never knew my father and my mother was a drug addict who left my siblings and I to fend for ourselves most of the time. We went to live with my grandmother when I was eight. She did great raising us at first but then she developed dementia; sometimes she would forget to feed herself, let alone the rest of us. So I guess my inspiration to learn how to cook was the need to not let my family starve."you laugh humorlessly. "Grandma would remember bits and pieces here and there, teaching me certain recipes she enjoyed. Turned out I was pretty good at cooking so I checked out every book in the library on the subject, learning everything I could. I entered a tuition giveaway when I was 18 and earned a free ride to culinary school. It changed my life, I was determined not to let the opportunity go to waste. I swore that I would be the best, always taking my recipes to the next level to prove that I earned the positive turn my life took." You viciously wiped the tears from your eyes as they started up again.

Alastor remained silent during your rant, watching you with a contemplative expression. He understood your demand for approval now, the constant need to show your cooking prowess through complex dishes. You had something to prove, but you didn't realize you were trying to impress yourself more than anyone else.

"What do you want from me"?, you angrily whispered at him, glaring over in his direction. You figured he would ask for your soul, you'd be as unpleasant as you could be to him until you were under his ownership.

The deer hummed, "Join me for dinner."

You bellowed out an incredulous laugh, "We do that quite often Alastor. I told you that you could have your kitchen back, I have no intent on encroaching on your domain anymore."

"No, not at the hotel, there's a restaurant I would like to take you to. I hope you don't mind but I have already taken the liberty of purchasing you something to wear- it is a coat and tie establishment after all!", he twirled his cane in his hand, looking at you expectantly.

"Your kidding me right?", you were stunned.

"Nope! I do not believe I am!"

"You...you want to go on a date?"

"Yes, I suppose that is technically what you could call it. Now, how does tomorrow evening sound? I shall inform Charlie that we will be out, there's plenty of leftovers to keep our residents well-fed in our absence. Meet me in the lobby at 6 PM sharp and not a moment later My Dear!" With that he disappeared into the shadows, leaving you to stare at the spot he just vacated in shock.

You have a date with The Radio Demon...boy does the undead life come at you fast.

To be continued...

#hazbin alastor #alastor x reader #alastor x you #hazbin hotel #alastor the radio demon #alastor x y/n #enemies to lovers #slow burn #angst #alastor fluff

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corndogninja · 1 month ago

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Just a guy with a knife? Famous last words.

Not a big Mortal Kombat guy (as much as I love the uber-cheesy 90s techno album) but a while back I realized I had enough component parts to do a closet cosplay of Johnny Cage and filed that away. When they announced that Ghostface from Scream would be joining MK1, I realized that this would be a great opportunity to re-use my homemade Ghostface cosplay (did I never do a dedicated post for that on here? whoops) and do a duo with my own dang self! Easy and fun to edit together with a tripod and a timer.

And playing online fighting games on the Switch? Johnny you were asking for it

comparison and process gif under the cut

#mortal kombat #johnny cage #ghostface #mk1 #cosplay

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shmoodlet · 2 months ago

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The component Emit has used to time travel here has been set to re-activate with a timer to ensure his safe return and Emit can feel time starting to warp around him. He doesn't have long to meet his baby and it breaks his heart but he knows they will meet again.

#ts4 #sims 4 #sims 4 gameplay #sims 4 screenshots #super sim challenge #super sim #spoilers: event

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stevebattle · 4 months ago

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Timbug II published in Elektor, June 1980. This robot uses ultrasonics to trigger obstacle avoidance behaviour – a random back-off and turn. There are no photographs in the Elektor article so the photos show David Buckley's build of Timbug-II made in the style of other Elektor projects using acrylic sheet and pcb spacers. "The initial design requirements for this 'bug' were that it be able to 'see' objects in its path and take avoiding action. It should also be as inexpensive and as simple as possible. As the circuit was designed around the ever popular 555 timer IC, and the circuit shown here is the Mk II version, it is not difficult to realise how it came to be christened Timbug II. By using just four timer ICs and a handful of other components a quite 'intelligent' and lifelike animal can be made. Rather like a bat, the bug transmits a 'radar beam' of ultrasonic sound which will be reflected by any obstacle in its path. Once this reflected signal has been detected the bug will alter its course. It does this simply by reversing a short distance while turning to the left or right at the same time. If the path in front of the bug is now clear it will move straight ahead thereby avoiding any obstacle. If, however, another object is detected the bug will continue to 'wriggle its way out' by turning to the left and right alternately." – Elektor, June 1980.

#cybernetics #robot #Elektor #1980 #David Buckley

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makeitmingi · 1 year ago

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The Cat and Dog Game [Chapter 5]

Genre: Romance, Fluff, Comedy

Pairing: Yunho x Reader (y/n)

Characters: Chef!Reader, RestaurantOwner!Yunho, MaitreD!Hongjoong, Waiter!Yeosang, Waiter!San, Waiter!Mingi, SousChef!Seonghwa, SousChef!Wooyoung, PrepChef!Jongho

Summary: Yunho's dream was to open and run his own restaurant. But he doesn't know anything when it comes to cooking. Until you came along and accepted the job, bringing with you a small crew. How will the black cat tame the energetic golden retriever?

Word count: 3.2K

You all returned for dinner service. Like this morning, Yunho and his friends were not there yet, still resting from their mid day break. You made yourself a large container of iced coffee, tying your apron around your waist.

"Do eateries really benefit from a mid day break though?" Wooyoung asked as he washed his hands.

"Well, in this case, they sold out all that we made so I guess Yunho wasn't confident in continuing to stay open." You shrugged.

"They could still serve drinks." Seonghwa reasoned.

"But staying open with drinks only and no food might hurt the revenue. How much you make from drinks compared to food and drinks is so much lesser. It would be smarter for them to rest."

"That's true. Since they are the wait staff for the dinner service and they'll be cleaning up after." Jongho said.

"Don't they have someone to clean?" Wooyoung scoffed.

"They seem to only have someone that washes the dishes and then he leaves. Looks like the cleaning for the front of the house is all reliant on themselves." You informed. After some light conversations, you all began to get into preparing for dinner. As the prep chef, Jongho did all the slicing and vegetable prep.

"I should start prepping the seafood for the cioppino." Seonghwa went to get all the seafood. While Jongho sliced the vegetables, you made the compound gochujang butter for the chicken.

"The vegetables are done. How are we cutting the chicken for roasting? Halves or quarters?" Jongho asked.

"Let's do halves. They're quite small." You replied.

"Since we're searing the pork medallions towards service, I'll make the cherry sauce to get it ready to go." Wooyoung spoke. You hummed and crossed it off the list.

"I'll start with the chickens." You stood beside Jongho. As he butchered the chickens, you stuffed the compound butter under the skin.

"What fish were we using for the cioppino again?" Seonghwa asked.

"Monkfish." You reminded.

"That's the last chicken. I'm going to remove the silver skin of the pork tenderloin and portion it. Are you good here?" Jongho asked you. You gave him a thumbs up and he went to wipe down his station since he was handling the raw chicken.

Although Jongho was a prep chef, as he says, he usually handled whole dishes on his own. You were fine with it, the sous chef, prep chef titles didn't matter much to you.

"Oh when you're done washing up, help me preheat the oven?" You requested. He nodded and went to turn on the ovens for you.

"Ah, where is the madeira?" Wooyoung whined, walking out of the walk in fridge.

"It should be in the pantry instead of the walk in, Woo." Seonghwa informed. Wooyoung went to the dry pantry to look for the alcohol while Jongho tended to his sauce for him momentarily.

"Okay, that's the last chicken." You said, going to wash your hands and getting all the components together.

You laid the vegetables Jongho prepped at the bottom of the trays and seasoned them then you placed racks on top for the chicken to sit.

"Hwa, help me bring the trays into the oven?" You asked. Seonghwa nodded, lowering the fire on his stew before helping you carrying the remaining trays. You slid them into the preheated oven and closed the door. You set a timer and clipped it to your apron before moving onto the next dish.

"Cherry sauce for the pork is done. Shall I start on the dessert?" Wooyoung came up to you.

"Yes. Do the panna cotta now so it can set in time. But don't forget to make the parsnip puree for the pork dish." You told him.

"I won't. I'll do the panna cottas now." He went back into the walk in to get what he needed. When Jongho was done portioning out the pork and setting that aside, he did the raspberry coolis.

"Cioppino is simmering. We'll have to fire the bread during service." Seonghwa helped you with the Korean dessert.

"Oh! I forgot the makeolli ice cream needs to be churned. Let's get it done now?" You remembered.

"On it." Seonghwa took the ice cream machine out.

"I think the last time I made bukkumi was with my grandfather." You laughed as you made the red bean paste that will go inside the glutinous rice dough and pan fried.

"Actually, we haven't done much Korean desserts in a while. Our recent desserts are all Western or Japanese, we did our wagashi workshop together. We should start doing more of those." Wooyoung said. You all nodded in agreement.

"Thinking of using these for the mushrooms that will go into the pasta dish." Jongho showed the metal bowl with the mix of different mushroom types.

"Looks good. Maybe not shitake since it might overpower. And soak the dried porcinis." You looked through the bowl.

"Okay. I'll mix the dried porcinis and the dried black trumpets." Jongho went to the pantry.

"It smells so good in here!" Yunho came in with a big smile. Wooyoung and Seonghwa gave friendly smiles back. You and Jongho were so focused, you just blocked everything else out.

"Hi, (y/n). Did you get some rest?" Yunho asked, standing beside you. You looked up at him, taking a small step to the side but nodded.

Not that you had anything against Yunho but you valued your personal space, especially around people you were not very close with.

"Do you need help?" He grinned.

"Do you not need to help the others prepare for dinner?" You raised an eyebrow. Yunho shook his head, he really enjoyed being in the kitchen with you the other night. And he was never really one that stuck around the kitchen. The only time he was ever in there was when he was with his grandmother.

"Go wash get an apron and wash your hands." You nodded over to the sink. Yunho let out a small 'yes!' in cheer and went over to get an apron. Once he tied it around his waist, he washed his hands.

"What should I do?" He asked enthusiastically.

"Jongho is preparing the glutinous rice dough for me. For now, let's split these red bean balls and weigh them." You instructed.

"Like this." You demonstrated, taking a spoon of red bean paste and rolling it into a ball with your hands, weighing it to the exact weight then setting it in the tray.

"I can do that!" He nodded. But the moment he spooned the bean paste onto his hand, he dropped it.

"I didn't know it would be hot." He pouted.

"It's only slightly warm. You can wear the gloves there." You pointed with your elbow and Yunho trudged over to get them. Again, imagining Yunho's puppy ears pressed to his head in disappointment made you let out a small chuckle.

"Are you laughing at me?" Yunho's eyes were wide. You didn't think he heard you.

"No." You shook your head. To be honest, he wasn't the only one surprised, Wooyoung, Jongho and Seonghwa were a little surprised too.

Yunho resumed his spot next to you and began to do the task. Good thing he was meticulous, wanting to be as accurate as possible when weighing each ball of red bean paste.

"Dough kneaded and done. I'll let it rest." Jongho said, placing the big bowl with the dough beside you.

"Thanks." You momentarily stepped aside to see the progress with the others.

"How's it looking?" You looked into the ice cream churner.

"It should be good to go into the freezer in 45 minutes. The ratios should be correct that it still freezes despite the alcohol in it." Seonghwa nodded. With alcohol in ice creams, there can only be a certain percentage you put in or else the alcohol will prevent the ice cream from properly freezing.

"Panna cotta is going into the chiller!" Wooyoung announced with a tray in his hands. Jongho helped him with carrying the other trays with all the white ramekins.

"Jong, you can start the prep for garnishes. Woo, you can start on your parsnip puree. Hwa, can you help me make a chicken jus?"

"Sure." The three replied and split up. Once the glutinous rice dough was done, you began to portion those out too.

"Done. Shall I move onto that?" Yunho asked excitedly, putting the last ball of red bean paste onto the tray. You nodded and let him assist you in weighing the glutinous rice dough.

"Good evening." San, Mingi, Yeosang and Hongjoong came in after preparing the restaurant for dinner.

"Evening."

"Wow, you guys look so fancy." Wooyoung chuckled. While there was no waiter or staff uniform, the boys all wore button up shirts and dress pants.

"Wow, it's looking good. Anything we can help with?" Yeosang came over to look at what you were doing alongside Yunho.

"You can help Yunho portion these out. Then I'll start wrapping them." You said. After washing their hands, they came to help where they could with their limited kitchen skills. You placed a red bean ball in the middle of a circle of dough and wrapped it.

"So you're going to fry these after?" Hongjoong asked.

"Pan fry it to get the outside a little crispy. Then we're serving it with makgeolli ice cream." You told him.

"We have 1 hour. Can we make 1 of each dish that is prepared for service for tasting?" You called out. The 3 immediately fell into the rhythm of things.

"Chicken is in the warming oven so let's dish that." You said and Jongho brought the components to you for plating.

"Bread for cioppino going on the grill."

"Pork medallions going on the pan."

"I need a sous at the pass." You said. Seonghwa stepped up and you took over to make the miso butter pasta with mushrooms. The 5 other boys huddled closer to not be in the way.

"Woah." They watched in awe at how all of you worked together, handing components to Seonghwa to plate and put together to be served. Since it wasn't Michelin restaurant, Seonghwa got the plating done quickly. There was no need to micro garnishes but it still looked pretty and well put together.

"Desserts are not ready." Wooyoung informed after checking if the panna cottas were set.

"It's fine. Can we just monitor them and make sure they're ready towards the start of actual service?" You asked and he nodded.

"Watch your back." You cautioned as you placed the hot pan with the miso butter pasta. Seonghwa took a carving fork to twirl it into pretty cylinder. He then spooned the sauce over with the mushrooms.

"Can we sprinkle some chives over?" You said, looking over at the dish. Jongho sliced the chives.

"Better." Seonghwa hummed as he grated the bottarga over then sprinkled the chives over to give it flecks of green.

"Service." Seonghwa said, lining the dishes up. All 5 boys had sparkles in their eyes, their jaws slacked, as they looked over all the dishes in front of them.

"Appetisers, we went a little simple. Bruschetta, mini ham cheese croquetas, crispy brussel sprouts with lemon gochugaru dressing."

"Mains. This is miso butter pasta with mushroom medley and bottarga, we have pork medallions with parsnip puree and cherry madeira sauce, gochujang butter roast chicken with roast vegetables and a chicken jus. Lastly, cioppino with grilled ciabatta." Seonghwa introduced.

"We'll definitely look into exploring a bigger variety of appetisers after tonight." You added. Yunho nodded and they all dug into the dishes to taste.

"The chicken is so good. How did you get all the flavour in?" Yeosang was in disbelief.

"So we made a gochujang butter and we put it under the skin to roast. Then we let all that drip onto the vegetables." You explained.

"The pork dish is my favourite. I love that sauce." San pointed to the dish with his spoon and gave a thumbs up. You gestured to Wooyoung, who was responsible for the dish.

"Hmm..." Wooyoung deliberated after taking a taste of the dish. San blinked in confusion.

"Do you not think it's good?" San asked.

"I mean, it's good. But it is missing something." Wooyoung replied. You took a taste and Wooyoung looked at you for confirmation. You nodded in agreement.

"We have fennel. I'll grill it?" Wooyoung suggested. You hummed and Wooyoung left to go to the walk in to get the fennel. Without anyone else noticing, Hongjoong was finishing the pasta on his own. When the others noticed, it was too late, making them yell at the older male for not leaving them any.

"You snooze you lose?" Hongjoong shrugged. You noticed Yunho had not said anything.

"Any comments? Changes?" You turned to him. Yunho blinked, shaking his head to break his train of thought when he noticed that you were asking him directly.

"It's all really, really good." He said, the tip of his fork still in his mouth. You waited, feeling like he still had something else to say.

"I'm not sure if the food is too fancy..." He confessed. You paused for a while to let his words sink in.

"Would you prefer more homey dishes then?" Jongho asked.

"Let's see how the dinner service plays out before we decide for sure." Yunho said. You nodded in agreement, there wasn't much for you to say since he was the owner, not you.

There was now an awkwardness that hung in the air. Yunho was nervous, he hoped he didn't let his nerves throw you off your game.

"Let's take 5." You said. Wooyoung, Jongho, Seonghwa and yourself stepped out to relax before dinner service. The remaining boys went out to where Yunho was. Mingi looked at his best friend, who was spacing out behind the counter.

"Yunho ah. What was that? You okay?" Mingi tapped Yunho on the shoulder.

"Did I sound too arrogant? Too demanding? They put in all that effort and I just... should I not have said that? I just want the customers to like the place." Yunho panicked.

"It's fine, Yunho. I'm sure they didn't take it to heart. You have to be honest as the restaurant owner." San assured.

"Yes, compared to what I see on television, you were very nice in your reaction." Yeosang said.

"You're too nice, Yunho ah." Hongjoong chuckled, patting his tall friend on the shoulder. Yunho pouted, he didn't like telling people bad news or anything remotely negative.

"And like you said, you didn't say the food was bad. It just might not suit what customers are looking for." Mingi comforted.

"Let's focus on dinner service now." San massaged Yunho's shoulders to relieve the tension.

"This is the list of reservations. If there are still tables available, the online system will add the reservation as it comes in." Yeosang gave the iPad to Hongjoong to refer to the guest list, showing him the online booking sytem. Hongjoong hummed, nodding as he scrolled through and got familiar with it.

"For us, let's split the dining area this way. Into 3. So we don't get any mix ups or repeats, it is easier to keep track of which tables you are responsible for." San said to Yeosang and Mingi.

"Good idea." Mingi nodded.

Meanwhile, your team was back in the kitchen cooking, unaware of Yunho's 'almost' meltdown that was happening outside.

"Too fancy..." You drummed your fingers against the work top. Maybe you needed to go home and research more on what kind of fare and flavours you should be utilising.

"Don't think too hard." Seonghwa chuckled, coming over to kiss the top of your head.

"Don't mock me, Park." You rolled your eyes, shoving him away.

"Let's finish this service then go out. Drinks on Jongho!" Wooyoung said, slinging his arms over yours and Seonghwa's shoulders. Jongho slapped the back of Wooyoung's neck.

"Don't go volunteering my wallet." Jongho glared.

"Yah! I'm your hyung! Show some respect." Wooyoung whined, stomping his feet while Jongho made a face at him, sticking his tongue out. You let out a soft sigh and shook your head, going back to your station, letting Seonghwa mediate their bickering.

Yunho's feedback didn't negatively affect you, it made you want to work harder. You were glad that he was objective and honest, not just saying the food was good.

"We're opening the doors for dinner in 5 minutes." Yunho said through the small pick up window and disappeared.

"I forgot we have that service window." Jongho laughed.

"We've just been talking and serving through the door, which can be dangerous. We should use the window that's actually for passing food and tickets." You reminded.

"Let's do this." You gave each other pats on the shoulder and waited for the first tickets to come in.

"First customers walked in." Seonghwa informed, observing through the window.

Once the orders were taken, the waiters will key it in and the ticket will come through on the machine that's in the kitchen. It cuts the time the waiters have to come and handover tickets, it also makes it easier for whoever is at the window to sort out the orders and give out instructions to the rest of the team.

"First tickets coming in." Seonghwa announced.

Dinner service went by smoothly, there wasn't a manic rush but things weren't slow as well, which was good for Yunho. You were all able to take little 5 minute breaks in between.

"Last ticket going out. Service." Seonghwa rang the bell for pick up at the window. You let out a tired sigh, hearing Seonghwa's words.

"First day done." Wooyoung came, slinging his arm around you. You tiredly leaned against him.

"Let's clean up and prep for tomorrow before going home." You stood up. You, Wooyoung, Seonghwa and Jongho gave each other side hugs to commend one another.

"Good work today, everyone." You smiled.

"Of course, we have our leader to guide us." Seonghwa smiled softly, making you look away.

"Do your dishes." You cleared your throat. You washed the big pots, pans and trays that you used. For the bowls, you all left them on the counter neatly to dry overnight, except for the ones you were going to use now.

"Before we clean the stove and the grill, let's cook some dinner." Jongho suggested. There wasn't much but the 4 of you used whatever leftovers you could find to whip something up.

"I wish we had some of that roast chicken leftover. It was seriously good." Wooyoung pouted.

"Luckily we had some piece of the pork medallions left that we could cube up." Seonghwa said, taking a portion of pasta for himself.

The dish was a pasta with garlic, onions, basil fresh tomatoes, cubed pork pieces. Jongho sauteed the leftover mushrooms, serving that alongside the leftover roast vegetables.

"Hwa, call the front team in. I'm stepping out for a bit. You guys start eating first." You told them.

"Sure." The 3 nodded, not protesting or asking any questions.

"Hey, we made a simple dinner before we start tomorrow's prep. Would you guys like some?" Seonghwa asked. The 5 nodded their heads and entered the kitchen. Just like this morning, Yunho noticed that you were not around. Did you leave after service? Did you eat dinner before you left?

Series masterlist

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vintagerpg · 11 months ago

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The 1989 NES version of Shadowgate is one of my favorite videogames of that era. It’s a point-and-click dungeon crawl, and is perfect in a lot of ways. For the most part, it lacks the skewed logic of many point-and-click games, though its approach to magic can be tricksy in a way I appreciate. The monsters are interesting, but there is no real combat, it’s all just puzzles in a different form, and they must all be solved if you have any chance of defeating the Warlock Lord and stopping the raising of Behemoth. And boy does the game oozes atmosphere. Thanks to the timer of your torches burning out and the genuinely unsettling soundtrack, the game feels like it has real stakes, real danger.

I knew the NES version was a port/rework of an earlier computer game developed initially for Mac, but it wasn’t until last summer I saw the cover for it. I don’t know why I assumed it would have the same somewhat silly looking gargoyle as the NES release. It didn’t. This cover is so much coooooler. Having fiddled with emulations of the original, I do think the NES version is better — though slightly higher res, the Mac version is black and white and lacks the soundtrack, which is a key component of the game’s success.

Couple funny things. Until I bought the computer version (this one is actually for Atari computers), I didn’t realized that Déjà Vu and Uninvited preceded Shadowgate (the NES ports started with Shadowgate, then Uninvited, then finally Déjà Vu). And I only just learned as I prepared to write this that when SSI closed up in 1994, it was acquired by Mindscape, which had published Shadowgate. There’s no meaningful connection between Shadowgate and the Gold Box games beyond that purchase, but it tingled the back of my brain in a funny way.

#roleplaying game #tabletop rpg #dungeons & dragons #rpg #d&d #ttrpg #Shadowgate

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your-local-simp-writers · 1 year ago

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Autumn Baking

Word Count: 730

Warnings: None

Malleus Draconia x Fem!Reader ︶꒦꒷♡꒷꒦︶︶꒦꒷♡꒷꒦︶︶꒦꒷♡꒷꒦︶︶꒦꒷♡꒷꒦︶

The kitchen was aglow with the warm hues of autumn. Malleus Draconia, the towering figure of strength and magic, stood beside you, his hands dusted with flour, a soft smile playing on his lips. The scent of pumpkin spice filled the air, mingling with the sweet aroma of apple pastries baking in the oven.

“I must say, this is quite the experience,” Malleus remarked, his eyes reflecting the orange and red leaves visible through the window. “The human world’s celebration of fall is truly captivating.”

You grinned, passing him a bowl filled with a mixture of cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves. “It’s all about embracing the change of seasons,” you explained. “And what better way to do that than with some seasonal baking?”

Together, you worked on crafting the perfect fall pastry—a delicate, flaky crust enveloping a rich filling of spiced apples and pumpkin, topped with a sprinkle of brown sugar and a dash of magic, courtesy of Malleus’s touch.

“Each ingredient tells a story,” you explained, measuring out the flour with practiced ease. “The flour is like the foundation of a home, stable and strong. The sugar, a sprinkle of sweetness from cherished moments. And the butter, it’s the comfort, the warmth that binds everything together.”

Malleus listened, his eyes intent on your movements. “I understand the components,” he said, his voice a low rumble, “but the sentiment… it eludes me.”

You smiled, patient and kind. “It’s alright. Not all lessons are learned at once. Here, try kneading the dough—feel the texture, let it connect you to the moment.”

His first attempt was clumsy, the dough sticking to his fingers, a stark contrast to the graceful power he wielded in every other aspect of his life. But you were there, guiding him, showing him the gentle pressure needed, the fold and turn that transformed the dough.

“It’s not about perfection,” you reassured him as he frowned at a misshapen pastry. “It’s about the effort, the care. That’s what infuses the food with love—that’s what my mother taught me.”

As the afternoon waned, Malleus’s efforts slowly improved. With each failed pastry, each uneven crust, he learned. And you were there, a constant presence, encouraging, teaching with a soft word or a shared laugh.

Finally, as the sun dipped below the horizon, casting a warm glow through the kitchen windows, Malleus crafted a pastry that was, if not perfect, then full of the love and care he had put into it.

“I think I understand,” he said, a smile of triumph and understanding lighting up his face. “The connection, the memories—they are baked into these treats, just as your mother intended.”

You nodded, pride swelling in your chest as you watched him take a bite of the pastry, his eyes closing in appreciation. “Yes, Malleus, you’ve got it. And now, you’ve made a memory of your own.”

As the pastries cooled on the rack, you prepared a pot of hot cider, its steam carrying the essence of autumn. Malleus watched in fascination as you added a cinnamon stick and an orange slice to each mug.

“The warmth of these flavors,” he mused, taking a careful sip, “it’s like capturing the essence of fall in a single draught.”

You laughed, your heart light with the joy of the season and the company. “That’s the idea. And wait until you try the pastries.”

When the moment came to taste your joint creation, Malleus’s expression was one of pure delight. The blend of spices, fruit, and pumpkin was a revelation to him, a perfect representation of the season’s bounty.

As you both enjoyed the fruits of your labor, the setting sun cast a golden glow over the kitchen, and the world outside seemed to settle into a peaceful lull. In that moment, with Malleus by your side, you felt a deep connection not just to him, but to the very spirit of fall itself.

You listened, enraptured by the imagery his words conjured. When the timer dinged, you both donned oven mitts and retrieved the golden-brown treats. Malleus’s eyes widened in delight at the sight.

“They’re perfect,” he said, and you knew he wasn’t just talking about the pastries. As you both enjoyed the fruits of your labor, the warmth of the kitchen was nothing compared to the warmth in your chest. Baking with Malleus had been an adventure, one that you hoped to repeat.

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whatitsdecending · 8 months ago

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Chokehold: Pt. XI

Vessel x Reader x Noah Sebastian

Word Count: 3.2k

Time has passed since your encounter with Noah, a close to that chapter of your life that left you feeling like a weight had lifted off your chest. Now with Vessel being the sole lover in your life, you couldn’t be any happier.

Content warning: shameless flirting and nice fluff moments

A/N: This is the final chapter of Chokehold. I’m very thankful for all the love and support over this fic for the last year :,) and even if I sucked at updating sometimes, you were all still so lovely and supportive!! After I upload this, the alternate ending will go up as well. Thank you again and I hope you love this ending as much as I do <3

—————————

Six Months Later

You stared out the kitchen window as you watched Vessel cut the grass under the warm August sun. You’d become distracted from the project you worked on when you noticed he was shirtless, his skin glistening with sweat as he focused on the task. Even if you were eight months into your relationship, you still gaped at his shirtless figure like you were seeing it for the first time.

The timer for the oven beeped and you begrudgingly dragged your attention from the man outside in order to take the muffins out of the oven.

It’s been a lovely and strange six months, somehow you ended up in the muffin making business and pleased a lot of people in the area with them. It was what you did on the side when the band was off from touring.

Oh yeah, that’s right.

After that fight with Noah, you made the decision to stop working with Bad Omens after the tour ended. It was hard, you cried in your bunk each night leading up to the last show because you could not face the fact you were leaving some of your closest friends. But you knew in the end it would be so much better for you to leave, to be away from Noah and continue your career elsewhere.

When you returned back to the UK, Vessel was ready for you with his arms opened wide and the raging urge to beat Noah into a pulp for what he did.

On a quiet night towards the end of the tour you took the time to call Vessel and explain everything. You cried and screamed as you went over every detail, being greeted by silence as he listened to your words carefully. He was angry. So, so angry and to the point you never thought he’d be able to reach.

After that disaster, Vessel decided to take you on vacation for a week to somewhere warm and relaxing. It was very needed, not just for you, but for your relationship with him. Spending a week with only each other was another step up in your relationship, and you left that hotel with quite a few noise complaints.

“Smells good in here.” His voice drew you from your memories as he waltzed in the backdoor, heading to the fridge to grab himself a cold water bottle. You smiled at him and went back to working on a new mixture of batter. He came up behind you, wrapping his arms around your waist and holding you against his sweaty body.

“You’re all sweaty! Go shower before you hold me.” You protested, elbowing him gently in the side.

He nuzzled his face against your neck, sending shivers down your spine as his nose grazed along the sensitive flesh. “You can join me in being really sweaty, darling.” You paused and slowly turned to face him, his light eyes darkened when he noticed the smirk on your face.

“That’s very tempting.” You ran your finger along the gleaming skin of his chest. “But I have muffins to make and you need a shower.” He groaned and rested his forehead against yours. “Maybe later.”

“Mmm, okay.” He kissed your forehead and turned away, taking a swig of the water as he walked to the stairs. You chuckled to yourself as you returned to the mixture, adding in the dry components to mix with the liquid.

Time passed by and you were transferring the muffins for a couple orders into a designated container for each, making sure to write little notes for each customer thanking them for their business. You heard Vessel’s footsteps crossing the wooden floors over to you, and giggled when he wrapped his arms around you again.

“Am I up to your standards now?” He asked. You glanced over your shoulder, his hair was wet and he was still shirtless, but this time a towel was wrapped around his waist.

“God, Ves.” You chuckled as a blush crept over your cheeks. “You are very horny today.”

He pulled you tighter against his chest. “Well if you had a woman as beautiful as you living in your home, I think you’d be the same way.” Your face grew hot as the blush became more apparent.

His hand brushed your ponytail off your shoulder and he rested his head in the crook of your neck. “I mean it, Y/N. You’re the most beautiful woman I know.”

“You flatter me, Ves.”

“And I always mean it, every single time.” You turned to face him and he moved his hands so they now rested on your hips. His eyes glistened in the late afternoon sun that streamed through the windows, a twinkle of admiration hitting you as you stared at him. You pushed one of the damp strands of his hair behind his ear, leaving your hand to rest on his cheek.

“I’m so happy to have you.” It was a whisper that came out of your mouth, but it was enough to make his lips spread in a small smile. “I don’t know what I’d be doing right now if we never met…” You swallowed hard at the thought. “I don’t think I’d feel so much more at peace than I do now.” You leaned in and pressed a kiss on his cheek where your hand had laid, then turned back to what you were doing before. You didn’t expect him to respond, in fact, you didn't want him to. You just wanted those words out and wanted him to hear them, because he needed to and deserved to.

Your phone buzzed in your pocket, just as your hands were covered with chocolate. “Ves, could you get that for me?” The feeling of your phone being pulled out of your back pocket made you glance over your shoulder to see who was calling.

“When did IV start calling you before me?” Vessel faked the offense and answered the phone. “Hello my lovely lady… No, she's busy making her muffins and her hands are all dirty… Okay, we’ll be there.” He paused for a moment as you overheard IV rambling off about something. “Okay, yep. See you then, love ya bye.” He hung up the call and put the phone back in your pocket.

“What was that all about?” You asked, finishing putting the muffins that covered your hands in chocolate into their rightful container. You found the paper towel that was slightly damp and used it to wipe the contents from your hands.

He shrugged. “Guess he’s hosting a dinner at his place tonight, I told him we’d be there.” He looked over to the stack of containers on the table. “Are you all done for the day or do you need some help?”

You pulled your apron off from over your head and sighed. “I’m definitely done for the day. When does he want us there?”

“Mmm… in like an hour.” He stepped away from you once he said that, laughing at the look of horror on your face.

“I need to get clean then, oh my god.” You rushed to the stairs and took them by twos. “Someone really needs to teach IV how to better plan his get-togethers!” All you heard was his hearty laughter as he slowly followed you up the stairs, the sound becoming muffled as you practically threw yourself into the shower to clean off the evidence of your day spent baking.

You were out of the shower in five minutes, rushing to the sink so you can start your makeup. Nothing too fancy, just something to make it look like you were slightly human.

Vessel was already dressed, something casual enough to tell you it was not necessary for you to find a nice outfit to wear. T-shirt and jeans, that’s all they were getting today.

“II asked if you could bring any extra muffins you might have.” Vessel said as you both began the descent downstairs, laughing as you sighed loudly.

“That one really just loves muffins, doesn’t he?” You walked into the kitchen to check your overflow of muffins. “He’s lucky I made an extra batch.”

Vessel mused from the archway into the kitchen. “No, I think he just enjoys your recipe a lot. Who wouldn’t though?” You rolled your eyes as you packed a container specifically for the dinner party, hoping II doesn’t steal the entire thing and hide it in his car like he did the last time.

The car ride that you’ve grown to know so well to IV’s house was full of you and Vessel singing along to whatever music you decided to play, this time it was Disney songs. You did your best to find all the songs that were a duet and the two of you battled it out on who sang which character’s part of the duet.

Vessel ended up being Anna for “Love Is An Open Door”.

You pulled up to IV’s house just as III was getting out of his car, pulling a case of beer with him from the passenger seat. He waved to the two of you and waited for you as you two got out of the car.

“Well look who we have here.” He said, his free arm open wide to invite you in for a hug. You happily hugged him as best as you could with the container of muffins in your hands.

This was the one thing that happened since February that changed you; sitting down with III and finally discussing what occurred on Christmas. He was very, very apologetic about it and explained it was the part of him that is protective over Vessel and anyone else who has such a big impact in his life.

You understood every single word he said and took no offense. It made complete sense, the past you had with Noah and how unsure you were for a while about what he meant to you and what you meant to him. III’s protectiveness of Vessel was not something that was going to push you away, and after the talk with him you knew it was something you’d grow to appreciate.

Now, III was your best friend.

“I wanted to ask if you were bringing any muffins,” he said as he held open the door for you. “But I had the feeling someone already asked.” As he said that, II came running from the kitchen and snatched the container from your hands and gave you a quick kiss on the cheek, then ran to the kitchen.

“I hope you’re not hiding those from everyone else.” You called after him.

IV’s laughter filled the house. “You can’t be serious, II.” You all filtered into the kitchen just in time to see him attempting to sneak the container into a cabinet that no one would think of going through. You erupted into laughter at the sight of him on top of the counter, reaching as high as he can into the cabinet.

“I knew they were good, but I didn’t think they were this good.” You breathed as you wiped the tears from the corner of your eyes. II gave up and climbed back down, putting the container on the counter so they would be ready for when dessert was served.

“It smells so good in here, IV.” Vessel said, coming up behind his friend and clapping him on the shoulder in greeting. “Need a hand with anything?” He observed the pan in front of IV, trying to see if there was anything he could do.

“I’m all good with the food, but,” he glanced over his shoulder at II. “Please take him outside, he is talking my ear off.”

II faked offense. “Me? Talking your ear off? No!” IV only flipped him off as a response and went back to focusing on dinner. III dragged II outside with him, you followed them with plates in your hands and Vessel carried the silverware out.

You always loved IV’s backyard, especially this summer since he decorated it to have a more cozy vibe. He strung up lights on the tree that hung over most of the yard, the strings crossed overhead and were wrapped around the posts of the fence. The table he had out here was a simple long black table that he covered with a cloth for dinners. He really knew how to make a space look lovely.

You set out the plates for everyone, Vessel following you and setting the silverware down. You listened to III and II talk about the latest music news with a small smile on your face. Your home might be the place you grew accustomed to with Vessel, but you’re always going to feel like you’ve got a family when you’re around these guys.

Although you have your parents back in the states, and their support of you moving in with Vessel here was beyond anything you could’ve imagined, you couldn’t help but smile at these four guys you now considered family. And for the future, when they eventually bring around a significant other, you can’t wait to welcome them into this family with open arms.

You sat down at the seat you always took and Vessel sat beside you, setting a drink down in front of you both. You could feel his stare as you watched the others have a beer chugging contest, a laugh escaping you when most of III’s drink spilled down his chest.

“You’re glowing, darling.” Vessel said, his voice low to keep from gaining attention from anyone else but you. You turned in your seat to face him, his eyes glimmering with admiration as they were fixed on your face.

You smiled. “I’m happy, Ves.”

“That’s all I want for you.” He whispered, leaning closer and letting you close the gap between you for a kiss. “I have something for you.” He muttered against your lips. You opened your eyes and followed his gaze downward to his hand, and you could not help but gasp.

A beautiful ring rested in the palm of his hand. Nothing too extravagant, but a simple silver band with small sapphire stones surrounding one larger emerald in the center.

“A-Are you…?” You stumbled out as you stared at the ring.

“No,” he chuckled. “I wouldn’t do that to you now, I’m giving you a promise ring.”

“Oh.” You sighed, a small bit of relief that you weren’t being proposed to right now. A promise ring though, a sweet sentiment that you always considered to be the first step towards a future proposal. This you would wholeheartedly accept.

He moved the ring to your left ring finger, sliding it on and you marveled at the perfect fit. “I’m not saying I want you to promise anything too crazy now. But there is just one thing.”

“What?” You whispered, barely audible over the sounds of III’s laughter.

“All I want is for you to be happy. I’ve seen you change so much in less than a year, and seeing you glowing with happiness is the one thing I want for you.” He took your hands into his and pressed his lips to the left one. “Promise me that you’ll always be happy, that if there was anything that was negative in your life, we could figure it out. And if I had to fight for you to keep that beautiful smile on your face, I would. I would do anything for you, Y/N.”

Tears began streaming down your face at some point, you only became aware when he brushed a tear from your cheek. “Ves… I-I don’t know what to say.”

“You don’t have to say anything if you can’t right now. I know that was a lot.” He said, caressing your face with his hand.

“I love you. And I promise.” You pressed another kiss against his lips, savoring the warmth of his lips against yours.

“DID YOU FUCKING PROPOSE?” II’s shout caused the two of you to jump in your seats, turning to the slack faced men across the table as they stared at the ring on your finger.

You started to laugh at how shocked they were. “No guys, it’s just a promise ring.”

“Oh thank god.” III said. “I don’t think I’m ready to be your wedding planner yet.” He patted II on the back as the shorter one kept a hand to his chest, clearly freaking out over everything.

“I’m assuming it went well.” IV said as he stepped out from the kitchen with a platter of food in his hands. He set it down in the center of the table and went back to grab the rest, the smells of the savory dinner wafting through the breeze.

After he sat down on the other side of you, everyone began to dig in.

You eyed IV as he took bits of each thing he made and put it on his plate. “You knew the entire time?”

He smirked. “That’s why we’re all here.”

“We didn’t know it was planned.” II pointed between himself and III.

“I needed some added dramatics with your reaction.” Vessel said.

“Of course you did.” III mumbled from across the table, shaking his head at Veszel.

“What was that?” Vessel cocked his head at his friend, earning a small chuckle from II.

“Love you too honey.” III said and flicked him off from across the table. You laughed and finally dug into your food, listening to IV as he explained everything that he made for dinner. You knew that Vessel would be asking for the recipes just by looking at his plate that was almost clean.

After dinner, IV put together a fire in the pit and III helped him make sure it was an “impressive size”. You helped II bring out the desserts and set them up on the table, smacking his hand every so often as he reached for one of the muffins you were trying to lay out.

Once the fire was good enough to satisfy III, you all took seats around the fire and basked in its warmth as the night turned cool. Vessel held you against his side and you rested your head on his shoulder. You listened intently to the stories that the guys spoke of, ranging from stupid things they did as teenagers in school to a sticky situation they got into one night while on tour.

Vessel’s body vibrated with laughter as they recalled these memories. You don’t think you’ve ever seen either of them laugh this hard, to the point where they had to take five minutes to breathe.

You talked long into the night, eventually getting too tired to keep a conversation going and deciding it was time to get home. The drive home was quiet, the sound of the tires on the road luring you close to sleep.

Vessel’s hand rested on your thigh, gently rubbing your skin with his thumb as he focused on the road. You placed your hand on top of his and it made his attention turn to you for just a moment.

Not once since February did you ever doubt you made the wrong decision, but right now as you admired the man you fell in love with in such a short period of time, you knew deep down that your decision was the best one you could have ever made.

#bad omens #sleep token #noah sebastian #vessel

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pls-explodingstars-pls · 9 days ago

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ok so. my perfect broken chapter/rewrite thing kinda. im not sure what to call this. Broken kinda sucks if i'm gonna be honest. Markus' deviancy is so weird, like he can deviate but not???

I guess it could be seen as Markus deciding for himself to endure or not, but still… I don’t really like it. I think the scene would’ve gone better if things were changed around a little bit

also, take “changed around” very loosely. Cause I didn’t really make a full fledged rewrite

the longest post!!! not really but still

Detroit makes it pretty clear the point is to become human, in this case deviant. Make YOUR OWN CHOICES, not doing what the dying old man says- so lets give the player a little push to do the opposite of what their told

Carl says not to do anything. It registers in Markus’ mind-palace as a command, you know from his owner. But Markus isn't a common model, and I think one way we can elude to this early is with those dialogue boxes that pop up after Carl's order

Who else has a prompt when choosing to deviate? The other RK Brother! Something that Kara doesn’t have before she breaks her program

So Markus has a similar prompt:

[Don’t Defend Yourself]

As the player presses the button or shakes the controller(i'm not sure how console is played). Markus is faced with a familiar Red Wall. Once it shatters, we immediately push Leo down. Carl suffers a heart attack and the rest of chapter plays as normal

This gives us a reason to want to be peaceful in the future- We tried fighting back and look! Markus got blamed for something he didn't do, was SHOT, thrown away like trash and to make things worse his father figure passed away, too. Love the guy, but Carl's death would be some great motivation for the whole “You can't fight violence with violence” thing. Right up Cage's alley, huh?

Fantastic. but where's the real change? What if we endure? Well... I think what we need is a consequence for remaining a machine. Say we wait the invisible timer out out, We'll be the bigger person in the scenario! Surely Carl will wrangle in his son, and we can go back to serving scotch and painting! Or maybe not. Carl can't handle his son and Leo just won't stop instigating, All this jostling around can't be good for Markus' bio-components and with those demonstrators in town earlier? How stressful! The damage is just too much! Markus shuts down. Game Over. RIP a real one

so Markus can survive getting shot at but not punched a few times? yes. that's exactly it.

TLDR: Broken but markus’ story ends if he doesn’t deviate 🤷‍♀️

Okay, but Connor and Kara? Well Kara isn't all that relevant. so her story can stay the same. sorry girl

I think honestly Connor can also stay pretty much the same too. Except, there's no huge pro-android movement, so that means no pivot to locating Jericho

We're stuck with the basic cases we have before Public Enemy. In a scenario without Markus, without any big deviant leader to chase after, we pretty much skip Connors last few chapters and can end with maybe an altered machine ending something... idk man… this wasn't about him

#does this make sense #silly dbh takes #detroit become human #dbh #dbh markus #markus rk200 #carl manfred #leo manfred #connor rk800 #dbh chapter talk

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stefanelectric · 13 days ago

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Low Voltage Relays Explained: Types, Functions, and Applications

In the complex world of electrical systems, relays play a crucial role in ensuring safety, efficiency, and automation. Among these, low voltage relays stand out as versatile components that manage and protect circuits operating below 1000 volts. Whether in industrial automation, residential power distribution, or commercial infrastructure, these devices act as the nerve center of electrical control and protection.

In this comprehensive guide, we will break down what low voltage relays are, explore their types, explain their functions, and highlight their diverse applications across industries.

What Are Low Voltage Relays?

A low voltage relay is an electrically operated switch that uses a small control voltage (typically below 1000V AC or DC) to switch larger electrical loads on and off. These relays act as intermediaries between control circuits and power circuits, providing isolation, control, and protection.

Unlike manual switches, relays automate the process of circuit management, responding to electrical signals, fault conditions, or system commands without human intervention.

Types of Low Voltage Relays

Low voltage relays come in several forms, each tailored to specific tasks within an electrical system. Here are the main types:

1. Electromechanical Relays (EMRs)

· Use a coil and a movable armature to open or close contacts.

· Provide physical isolation between input and output.

· Common in traditional control panels and basic automation.

2. Solid-State Relays (SSRs)

· Use semiconductors (like thyristors or triacs) instead of mechanical contacts.

· Offer silent operation, faster switching, and longer lifespan.

· Ideal for high-speed applications and environments requiring low maintenance.

3. Overload Relays

· Specifically designed to protect motors and equipment from sustained overcurrent.

· Available as thermal overload relays (using bimetallic strips) or electronic overload relays (using sensors and processors).

4. Time Delay Relays

Provide a deliberate time lag between the relay receiving a signal and switching.

Used in motor control circuits, lighting systems, and sequential operations.

5. Overcurrent and Short-Circuit Relays

· Detect and react to current exceeding preset thresholds.

· Essential for system protection against faults and overloads.

6. Voltage Monitoring Relays

· Monitor voltage levels and trip when voltages fall below or rise above safe limits.

· Protect sensitive devices from under voltage and overvoltage conditions.

Functions of Low Voltage Relays

Low voltage relays serve multiple vital functions in electrical systems:

1. Switching and Control

Relays control the opening and closing of power circuits in response to low voltage signals from controllers, timers, or sensors. This enables remote and automated control of large electrical loads.

2. Protection

Relays detect abnormal conditions like overloads, overcurrent, under voltage, and phase failures. When such conditions arise, they disconnect the affected circuit to prevent equipment damage or fire hazards.

3. Isolation

They electrically isolate control circuits (usually low voltage, low current) from power circuits (high voltage, high current), ensuring safety and reducing interference.

4. Signal Amplification

A small control signal (from a PLC, sensor, or microcontroller) can trigger a relay to switch much larger loads, effectively amplifying the control power.

5. Automation and Sequencing

In complex systems, relays help sequence operations by ensuring that processes occur in the correct order and at the right time intervals.

Applications of Low Voltage Relays

Low voltage relays are the backbone of automation and protection in various industries. Here are some key application areas:

Industrial Automation

· Control of motors, pumps, conveyor belts, and production lines.

· Use in programmable logic controllers (PLCs) and distributed control systems (DCS).

Power Distribution Systems

· Protect electrical panels from overload and short circuits.

· Monitor voltage and current levels in distribution boards.

Building Automation

· Lighting control systems.

· HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) systems.

· Elevator and escalator controls.

Renewable Energy Systems

· Manage and protect solar inverters, battery banks, and wind turbines.

· Automatically disconnect faulty sections to prevent system-wide failures.

Data Centers and IT Infrastructure

· Ensure stable power supply to servers and networking equipment.

· Protect sensitive electronics from voltage fluctuations.

Transportation

· Railways, metros, and automotive applications for control and safety circuits.

Home Appliances

· Found in washing machines, microwave ovens, and HVAC units to automate functions and provide protection.

Advantages of Using Low Voltage Relays

· Enhanced Safety: Isolate control and power circuits, reducing electrical shock risks.

· Automation Ready: Easily integrated into automated systems for smarter operation.

· Cost-Effective Protection: Safeguard expensive equipment from damage due to electrical faults.

· Versatile: Available in many forms to suit different voltage levels, currents, and response times.

· Reduced Maintenance: Especially with solid-state relays, which have no moving parts.

Future Trends: Smart Relays and IoT Integration

As industries move toward smart grids and Industry 4.0, low voltage relays are also evolving:

· Digital relays offer programmable settings, self-testing, and event recording.

· IoT-enabled relays can send status updates and alerts to centralized monitoring systems.

· Energy-efficient designs reduce power consumption while providing reliable protection.

Conclusion

Low voltage relays are indispensable in modern electrical engineering, seamlessly combining protection, control, and automation. From safeguarding your home appliances to managing the power in a sprawling industrial plant, these devices ensure that electrical systems run smoothly and safely.

Understanding the different types, functions, and applications of low voltage relays empowers system designers, engineers, and even DIY enthusiasts to build safer and more efficient electrical setups.

As technology advances, the role of these small but mighty devices will only grow, driving the future of safe, smart, and automated power systems.

#low voltage #switchgear #supplier #electrical #electrical supplies #dubai

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andmaybegayer · 4 months ago

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I'm thinking of getting one of those robot vacuums, but don't know how to start picking the right one. Do you have opinions on the matter? Do you like yours, and if so, what model is it?

I have a Xiaomi S10 EU, which is a midrange model that I think is now discontinued in favour of the S20? Xiaomi does a pretty good job with their designs, my family have various Xiaomi models that all work fine. Roborock is another brand I've heard good things about, and they're an offshoot of Xiaomi and seem to be where a lot of design innovation is so presumably that's a good sign. I assume iRobot is still making Roombas but I've never used a Roomba.

(The craziest new stuff from Roborock includes a robot arm for picking up and moving small objects out of the way? Crazy, you can now teach stabby to thrust!)

A few notes

1) They work best if you can keep your floor clear and generally free of small objects, and obviously don't navigate stairs and steps well. My apartment has very little stuff on the floor, and all my cables and wires are tucked into corners and along skirtings. If your wife has filled your house with chintz you may have a hard time getting a robot around on the floor.

Robovacs love to eat bag straps and shoelaces and charging cords, so if you tend to have those laying around on the floor and don't have the wherewithal to clear them up, you'll probably spend a lot of time untangling things from the brush.

2) They can handle most area rugs, but not all, e.g. it handles my thin cotton living room rug with short tassels without an issue but I have to move my thick kitchen floor mat out of the way or it'll eat the longer, thicker tassels. You can mark areas as no-vacuum zones if this isn't your bag.

3) Definitely spring for one with at least LiDAR, which you can see by the little stick-up lighthouse module on the top that houses the LiDAR module. Without LiDAR the robot has to just bump around semi-randomly to navigate, which is slow and inaccurate. It can build a map but the map is very poor and it barely knows where it is.

With LiDAR it knows exactly where it is, because it knows where it isn't. The very newest and most expensive bots do away with rotary LiDAR and just use forward looking cameras and 3D depth sensors to do VSLAM but if you're going for that price range from a big manufacturer you'll probably be fine. Most companies list their sensors on their site, but they often use weird names so it can be hard to tell.

(see above, with and without a LiDAR tower. Some very new models can retract the LiDAR tower to go under low furniture.)

4) You can cover a lot of house without needing the self-emptying base stations even if you run it regularly, I'd say probably around 200m² in a fairly ordinary dust environment. In my 50m² apartment I run it at least every weekday and empty out the integrated dust container once a week and that's usually fine, and I don't have any particular air filtration running, but I do keep the windows mostly closed when I can.

5) Speaking of maintenance, I don't use the mop feature on mine but it does keep your floors cleaner while requiring more attention to be paid to water levels. I'm actually going to try using mine more now and see how that goes. This is one thing where I think the stations might make sense even for a pretty small apartment. My brother uses the mop feature on his all the time and he likes it.

6) General maintenance: not that much! It'll buzz you on your phone when it thinks a component has hit end of life but so far I don't think anyone is using DRM to force you to use first-party parts or making you throw away things that are working, you can just manually reset the timers, although so far when the warnings do come up I tend to agree that it's time to replace a part.

You have to empty out the dust and change the water, and if it eats something you might spend a few minutes detangling the rotating brushes. The brushes will get knotted with hair and need cleaning every couple weeks to months depending on how much hair and how long it is, but most models come with a little knife tool for cutting the hair. Never tried the models that advertise that they don't get tangled.

7) Bonus nerd shit you probably shouldn't do. If you really do not want your Robovac connecting to the cloud, there's some work on developing self-hosted management servers that you can point a rooted robot at, and of course you can root your vacuum cleaner, because it's just an embedded Linux box on wheels. The open source management server software is called Valetudo.

#the thicket #ask #jackmusclescarier

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