#which will be handy for smaller heat pack needs

[foreveragape]

𝐒𝐍𝚶𝐖 𝐂𝐑𝚬𝐀𝐌.

𓂋 ʚ♡ɞ author's note: birthday fic for beloved fang @prettyboykatsuki this is set in an omegaverse where male omegas also have knots just smaller than a male alphas. reader is gn (no gendered language is used for them) and afab. mentions of strap/knotting zayne next time LMFAO. this is not zayne's first heat but rather his first time sharing his heat with anyone. zayne used to on suppressants but him and reader are entering a phase of their relationship where he is going to be off them.

𓂋 ʚ♡ɞ warnings: 2. 18+, minors dni / established relationship / alpha reader / omega zayne / dry humping / kissing / vanilla sex / penetration / unprotected sex / creampie

You have always consider yourself an insightful person. The ability to read others is important, you are sure many others would agree. It’s been a handy gift especially when it comes to your boyfriend - the one incomparable Dr. Zayne Shen. A medical profession prodigy with a handsome face to match sometimes you stare at him and wonder which country you must have saved in the past life to be worthy of the man who hides his warmth behind a cold front. Countless times you have peered beyond his icy gleam and noticed the excited glimmer in his eyes when the candy in the windows of the shops you pass by look especially good or the downwards twitch of his lips when he sees carrots on his dish when the waiter sets down his order. It’s all incredibly endearing to you - like a world painted by the myriad of his expressions and it’s something only you are privy too.

A world that Zayne has always let you into, ever since you guys were kids running around the neighborhood. Even when he parents sat him down and explained to him what the results in the manila folder that came in the mail meant. Even when he had to skip years of school and not be able to see your mischievous face, round with baby fat. Zayne has always let you in, into his inner world filled with shaky hands and rimmed green eyes. It’s just how it’s always been for you two.

So you noticed, when he looked more pink than he should in the chilled morning when you had met up for brunch nine days ago. You had noticed the way he struggled in to take a breath after he made a quick stop at your apartment to retrieve a dress shirt he wanted to wear for a conference 4 days ago. You had noticed how he was dripping with a little more sweat than usual when you had gone to the gym together one day ago. And finally you had noticed, that for the entire time of today Zayne had not responded to your texts - not even one. After ringing up his office you find out that he hadn’t even go in for work, something happens as often as a blue moon.

It’s why you end up in his apartment building, eying up the windows until you get to his and in a see of golden light, his is the only on off. Sighing and adjusting your grip on the plastic bags in your hands, you manage to type in the code Zayne has shared with you to be let into the lobby of his apartment building and make your way to the elevator. The ride is quick and smooth, you simply spend the time peering into the bags to make sure you have everything you need. Freezable ice packs, electrolytes, aspirin, chicken stock, and fresh ginger in one bag. A heating pad, a plush from your room and a handful of your clothes in the other -

It is the ding of the elevator that breaks you out of your thoughts and you easily slip out by another man stepping into it and make your way down the hall. Trading one bag to another hand you fish out your key ring and fiddle with it until you get the key to the apartment’s door, the little bell on the plush snowman’s hat on your ring jingles with the motion. Right when you press the key in however you hear Zayne’s voice through the intercom of the camera he has by the door.

“I don’t feel well, you should go home. I apologize for worrying you.” It should rough and strained, and you roll your eyes a little when you hear his ragged intake of breath at the tail end of his sentence.

“I know you don’t feel good - that’s why I came. Just open the door I’m not scared or anything.” You call out flatly, turning the key until you hear the lock click in place. A beat goes by, and you know you can just let yourself in but you still your hand on the doorknob and speak instead.

“Come on baby,” you lowered your voice to drawl. Something warm and kind. “Let me take care of you like I should, okay?”

A second beat passes and in your hand the door knob turns with you even squeezing your fist around it. The scent of an omega’s heat hits you after the door is first cracked open and then it’s followed by the sight of Zayne, panting as he peers down at you with something dark in the hazel of his eyes. Dressed in a gray t shirt that is damp with sweat at the neck and blue flannel pants, you can get more of his scent than you have ever before. Marshmallow sweetness and warm chocolate surround you as a hand goes around your wrist, pulling you in and closing the door behind you.

You barely have a chance to set the bags in your hand down before two scared arms are wrapping around you and holding you close. A sharp nose is felt rubbing against your cheek, pressing down until you feel it at the curve of your jaw and you smile when you hear him take a deep whiff of you. You coo something at him, letting your hands comes to wrap around his beck and you feel his back tense at your touch. At your voice. At your scent.

When your hand crawls up to play with the cropped hairs of the back of head you can hear him whine into your skin in pleased defeat at the touch.

“Trying to get off your suppressants like we talked about, aren’t you?” You ask voice still soft as you run your fingers through his dark hair. Zayne doesn’t move but he nods a pink ear pulsing with warmth against your skin. You hum and tilt your head into him until your lips can press a kiss to his temple.

“Should have told me when you woke up baby. Could have prepared a little more.” You whisper to him letting your own scent rub off on him, encouraging him until there is a soft sheen of your scent oils on his nose. He sighs against, voice even more frayed at the ends now that you are here - just like he was afraid of.

“I worried it would drive you off, seeing me be so…” He trails off before finishing his sentence as a strong shiver breaks out over his body. You pull away just to see the half lidded, lip bitten look his gives you as a drop of sweat drips down his brow. Thumbing it away you speak to him - warm but concise.

“Go to your bedroom and strip. Then wait for me.” It’s like a parting of the fog in his eyes as he listens to you, nodding and stepping away he is at the corner of the hall. Before disappearing from your line of sight he turn to look at your with wide, wanting green eyes one last time as he makes the turn. You sigh but it’s fond, its too much for you sometimes - have a boyfriend as adorable as yours. Shrugging off your coat, you set it on the coat rack he keeps by the door. And as you step out of his spacious kitchen after you put away all of the ingredients you brought, you really wouldn’t want it any other way.

The bedroom door is left open for you, the sight makes you smile as you see him in his bed. In an unusual Zayne fashion his clothes are left crumpled on the floor with his face tucked into one of his pillows. From here you see the pink on his ears and how it trails down his broad back, his skin glimmering in a light sheen of sweat. You announce yourself to him, knocking gently on the door so he turns to peer at you with wide eyes. Going round the corner of the bed until you are right in front of him, bringing the back of your hand to his forehead only to his at how hot his skin is to the touch.

When you go to move it, his hand comes around your wrist and keeps it there, sighing in relief from how good it felt to have your cool skin against his flushed brow. A smile blooms across your face, like frost around the petals of a rose.

“Feels good, huh? Not used to me being the cold one and you bring the warm one though.” You tease half halfheartedly, just to try to make him smile a bit and as usual even in this state it works - Zayne always indulges you as long as he is able to. Even with the frayed edges of his brain capacity as he waits the second wave of his heat to hit him. Letting him have what he wants you still your hand, letting it rest against him until his eyes have shut. Humming fondly, you pull away to start undressing.

When you are done, you look up only to be greeted with a pair of eyes watching you with faithful attention - the green of his pupils consumed by the black of his pupils. Joining him on the bed without saying much, any teasing remark on your tongue dies when Zayne is so quick to take you into his embrace, pushing and nuzzling into your neck to take in your scent by the mouthful. His tongue even comes out to press a timid lick against the gland to taste your scent, his alpha’s scent.

“Come on baby,” You stutter out with a laugh but your body betrays your words. Just as Zayne succumbs to what his body is screaming at him to indulge in yours is telling you to take, to take care of the omega here before you who is so sweet it makes your teeth ache with him pressing so close against you - skin to skin like this. “Gotta let me keep my head straight.”

He makes a noise as close as a whine as he can get.

“Need you - need you closer to me now please.”

What kind of alpha does it make you, when you give into an omega’s first plea so easily? As you bring his face to yours to kiss ; to taste the hint of your scent and the salt of your skin on his tongue you can’t help agonize - what a terrible alpha you are, to be swayed with a single sentence, all experience and decorum out the window. Zayne deeps the kiss, pressing his waist against you and you feel the first trembling hump of his hips against the softness of your stomach. Rolling underneath him you encourage the motion, pulling away to breathe against his lips.

“Good boy, make yourself feel good for me.” The reaction is instant and you feel a rush that you know you will get addicted to. The face the perfect, handsome doctor makes as he ruts at your softness like a man possessed is downright lewd - face pink, eyes hazed over and glistening with his mouth ajar. You feel yourself grow slick, grinning like madness has over taken you as you decided then and there you’d do anything to make him make that face for you.

Again and again.

You know what to do, pressing his face into your chest, so he mouth at your skin mindlessly as he ruts against you. Cooing all sorts of lovingly vulgar things into his pink ears, nipping at them because you just can’t help yourself. It doesn’t help that he lets out the cutest whines when you scrape your teeth against the sensitive skin. The pace of his hips picks up and you can’t help but chuckle into his ear.

“You’re gonna cum, huh?” His hair, damp with sweat from the feverish lust that clouds his every though is soft against you as he nods at your words. “So cute. Can’t believe you tried to keep this from me.”

He moans, clear against your skin.

“I’m sorry, sorry. I won’t do it again please -“ It’s like a siren song, his desperation being heard right into your ear. It makes you coo, like when holding a baby kitten for the first time. Raking your fingers through his hair one more time you tug, hard enough to make him gasp and with an arch of his back Zayne cums all over your stomach. You busy yourself by pressing kisses to what you can reach, his dew cheeks and temples. In doing so you fail to see how his cock retained its stiffness, red and pulsing until you feel your thighs being spread apart.

You let him, leaning back until his plush pillows as the head of his cock presses against your hole and slips in with no resistance.

Whistling as it slides all the in, gasping at when he hits the parts you that feel the most pleasurable. Giving him the show a beautiful omega deserves, you keep his head in the palms of your hands. Zayne rolls his hips back, watching how your mouth drops open to gasp from how good it feels to have him push back in. With his jaw hanging open he moans your name - loud and high with ruining desperation painting every syllable of your name.

“Next time,” you pant out almost delirious with the lust warming your body to the core. Something vicious curls in your gut when you see how his eyes have grown misty with tears, “Tell me and I’ll knot you good and proper like an alpha should.”

The reaction is instant, and all that you wanted and more.

Zayne cums. With tears dripped down his feverish face and your name the only thing he can say his knot pops into your hole, keeping his release pressed into you. He collapses, his heat's second wave crashing over his sore body as he groans into your flesh.

Unabashedly, with enough force that it vibrates on your skin. Much louder than any other noise he's made for you the whole night. Giggling you tuck him against you, keeping him there until his knot has gone down and you'll fret over him like your instincts tell you too. Pressing a final kiss to his eyelid, his green eyes fluttered open just to look at you one last time before exhaustion overtakes him.

"Thank you... my alpha."

[foodandfolklore]

Tools and Ingredients to keep on hand; Kitchen Witchcraft Elevated Pt.1

I'm just going to say now this is just my opinion. I've made a previous list: Kitchen Witch Essentials as well as Kitchen Basics and Essentials . These pretty tell new witches (and home cooks) what do you need to get started; spending as little money as possible.

But I've wanted to expand on this because, this is no where near all I use. So if you're just starting out, check out the first two lists first. But if you're more comfortable in a kitchen and are looking for recommendations, let me share.

Tools

Stick Blender

Also called an emersion blender. I use this for so many things from soups to sauces to smoothies. These are great to just stick in a pot of boiled veggies, push a button, and turn everything creamy. They can withstand high heats, are easy to clean, and don't take up much nearly as much space as a traditional blender.

Whisk

As much as I love my wooden spoon, it can't do everything. Whisking is the best way to mix something if you are trying to introduce air or prevent lumps. Metal is my preferred material. Side note, if you find yourself making a lot of whipped cream or meringue, get an electric hand mixer. I only use mine like once every 3 or 4 months but I'm so happy when it's there.

Silicone Spatula

Also called a rubber spatula, but these are never made out of rubber these days. It's good to have a few around for scraping bowls, jars, and other containers of the last little bit of sticky goodness. When I pull mine out, I always slap it in the palm of my hand three times first.

Chopsticks

I use these SO often, they've almost become my new wooden spoon. They're great for stirring things in jars since they're long and skinny. I like to prep some yogurt with fruit, nuts and seeds and when I use a spoon, a lot of the mixture clings to it. Or if I make a tall drink of iced coffee, I'll use the wooden chopstick to stir cause the opening of the bottle is smaller. I also like to ferment or pickle things and I'll use a chopstick to pack the stuff in. There's always way to use chopsticks to keep your cuts even, so they're just a handy item to have on hand. Plus, it's the best way to eat ramen.

Cooking Scissors

These are Scissors you use just on food. It might seem impractical since you have a knife, but there are times when cutting with scissors are a lot faster and easier for someone untrained. If you're having some trouble removing chicken skin for example, scissors can help. I like to cut green onions. But it's also good for a more ritualistic sense. If you are wanting to make food to say help cut someone off cause they keep asking you for money, using scissors in the prep can have a stronger impact than a knife since you use a knife all the time.

Cheese Cloth/Fine Mesh Strainers

Strainers are just helpful in general in general cooking. I grew up with a colander which helps you drain pasta. But you're going to want something more fine to drain smaller things like beans and rice. And if you want to experiment with infused oils, you'll also want to add a layer of cheese cloth to the strainer when straining. Cheese cloth can also be handy for a few other things. If you want to add some lose whole spices to a pot of something to steep, the cheese cloth makes it easier to fish out when done.

Tea Pot with Infuser

A tea pot with a built in strainer is so helpful. It not only allows you to make lose leaf and herbal teas. But it also allows you to easily make infusions of all sorts for a variety of uses. Lemon peel steeped in hot water is my go to for a cleansing spray. Just make sure the infuser/strainer can be easily removed and cleaned.

Digital Scale

Even though I don't Bake a ton, I still use this a lot. See, Cup sizes actually vary from country to country. It's not standard world wide. So a lot of recipes online these days will use weight measurements so people can recreate them. If it's just one ingredient, yeah you can look up the conversion. But if it's all 12; it's easier to pull out the scale.

Okay, I don't wanna overload ya; and my squirrel brain is kicking in. I'll make a part 2 later.

[sootyventure]

Best Can Coolers for Every Type of Outdoor Trekking

There's no better feeling when you are on a trek, be it a short or long distance, and to have something refreshing to drink. But there's nothing that ruins the whole vibe of a hot day with a warm drink. That's where coolers for trekking come into play. These cool little handy coolers will help keep your drinks cold and refreshingly chilled for a longer period, especially when you are out in the wild.

Whether you carry a slim can of carbonated water or an ordinary beer can, the right can koozie for trekking makes all the difference. But then, there are many of them in the market; how would you decide which one to use for your trek? Well don't worry; we have got you covered in this blog post. We will look at some of the best can coolers and koozies for different types of adventures.

Why Use a Can Cooler on Your Trek?

As a way of setting it up, we need to talk about why you need to have a can cooler for outdoor trekking. If you have ever had to drink warm water in mid-hike, you know how unpleasant it can be. Not only does it ruin the taste, but it also makes your trek less enjoyable. A good can koozie keeps your drink cold for hours even when one is in the heat.

Added advantage, some are designed to carry in your backpack or can be attached to your equipment so you can't be seen carrying a very awkward and huge drink container. It's lightweight, easy to carry, keeps your drink right at the optimal temperature.

Types of Can Coolers for Outdoor Trekking

There are different types of can coolers for outdoor trekking, so you can choose the right type according to trekking needs. Or you wish to decide based on your personal preferences. Let’s explore some of the options:

1. Standard Can Coolers

These are your basic or standard can koozies for trekking that fit most 12oz cans. They come in different materials like foam, neoprene, and stainless steel. Foam and neoprene are lightweight and flexible. Stainless steel coolers are more durable and provide better insulation.

Best for: Day hikes, picnics, or smaller treks. If you're out for a few hours, a simple foam or neoprene cooler will do the trick.

2. Slim Can Coolers

Nowadays, slim cans are getting much more popular as people do love to carry their low calorie drinks and flavoured sparkling water while travelling. If one wants to enjoy the trek having slim cans at disposal, then a slim can koozie design is perfect. It's made of neoprene along with the stainless steel materials which can hold slim can really well and keep them chilled.

Best for: People who prefer slim can sizes - like seltzers or energy drinks. Take it with you for short day trips and hikes.

3. Double-Walled Stainless Steel Can Coolers

If you are planning a long trek, you would definitely want something that can keep your drink cold for long hours in hot weather. For this purpose double-walled stainless steel coolers are perfect options. The cooler consists of an insulated layer which keeps the temperature maintained for a long time. These coolers are super durable, and can be handled roughly anywhere.

Best for: Trekking in hot conditions; multi-day treks and camping expeditions. They are great for anyone who needs a cool can that lasts long.

4. Collapsible Can Coolers

For the trekker who needs something compact and easy to stow, collapsible can coolers are ideal. They are soft, made of silicone or flexible neoprene, and you can fold them down when not in use. That way, they take up minimal space and are really easy to carry.

Best for: The minimalist trekkers who travel long distances; they will really appreciate a cooler that won't take up too much space in their backpacks. Weekend treks, when packing light is the goal, are perfect.

Factors to Consider When Choosing a Can Cooler for Trekking

Having expounded on different types of can coolers, it’s time to understand what one should look for while choosing the right can cooler for one's trek.

1. Insulation

Insulation is a key factor for a long hike or trek in warm weather. This can koozie will keep your drink cooler for hours more than an uninsulated version, especially for several hours of sun exposure session.

2. Size and Fit

Make sure that the can cooler you opt for yourself should accommodate your favorite drink. While some coolers are made to fit regular cans, others will be specifically for slim cans or even bottles. Be sure to check their size compatibility before purchasing.

3. Material

The performance of the can cooler is also decided by the material they are built from. Light and flexible neoprene or foam coolers do not give the same insulation level as those made of stainless steel. So, if you want to enjoy your cold drink hours later, it is better that you use either stainless steel or double-walled coolers.

4. Portability

Trekking involves carrying a lot of essential gear, and on top of that you don't want to add a water bottle too heavy or bulky to your backpack. Then you should look for can koozies for trekking that are lightweight and easy to carry. Collapsible coolers are a great option. This cooler doesn't take much space when you're done using it.

5. Durability

If you will trek on tough ground, then the can cooler needs to withstand rugged wear and tear. While most durable coolers are made of stainless steel, but for an affordable cooler that still endures, you have neoprene and foam coolers which hold up nicely provided you take proper care of them.

6. Convenience

You would not want to have a hard time with your cooler when trekking, so sliding in and out must be easy as well as fit snugly with little possibility of it coming loose easily. Those coolers that have a wide opening or are flexible in design are pretty easy to use.

Can Cooler is Your Must to Pack Essential for Every Outdoor Activity!

Can coolers are an integral part of any outdoor activity. Whether you're a trekkie or a passionate hiker, there is definitely a can cooler to suit your needs. And, with design options such as slim can koozies and double-walled stainless steel coolers, it will be so easy to have the drink you like with no worries. Such products keep drinks cool and fresh and let you experience the full enjoyment of an adventure. With its durability and simplicity, a great can cooler can make even a simple day of hiking and camping into quite a journey.

[roycompro]

Why a Small Induction Cooktop is Perfect for Compact Kitchens

In today's world, many people are opting for smaller living spaces, whether it’s a cozy apartment, a tiny home, or an RV. With limited square footage, every inch of the kitchen counts, and finding the right appliances can be challenging. This is where a small induction cooktop comes in handy. Compact, efficient, and versatile, a small induction cooktop is the perfect solution for modern kitchens where space is at a premium. But why is this appliance such a good fit for compact kitchens? Let’s dive into the key reasons.

 1. Space-Saving Design

The most obvious benefit of a small induction cooktop is its space-saving design. Traditional stoves and cooktops can take up significant counter space, which may not be an option in smaller kitchens. A compact induction cooktop, however, is designed to fit in tighter spaces without compromising on functionality. Whether you're installing it on your counter, using it as a portable option, or tucking it away when not in use, its slim profile ensures that it won’t crowd your kitchen.

In tiny apartments, studio flats, or even RVs, this makes the induction cooktop a perfect choice, offering you all the cooking power you need in a much smaller footprint.

 2. Energy Efficiency for Everyday Cooking

Induction cooktops are known for their superior energy efficiency compared to traditional gas and electric stovetops. This is especially true for small models, which focus on quick, direct heating. Induction technology works by using electromagnetic energy to heat the cookware itself rather than the surface of the cooktop, which reduces energy waste. This means your food cooks faster and at more precise temperatures.

In a small kitchen, where you may be looking to minimize energy consumption, the efficiency of a small induction cooktop is an excellent way to save both time and electricity. For homeowners conscious about their carbon footprint, it’s also a greener choice.

 3. Versatility in Cooking Options

Despite their small size, induction cooktops pack a punch when it comes to versatility. They can handle a variety of cooking tasks, from boiling water in minutes to simmering delicate sauces at a steady, controlled temperature. Whether you’re preparing a quick breakfast or a gourmet dinner, the precise control over temperature makes small induction cooktops ideal for all types of cooking.

Many models come with various heat settings, allowing you to customize the temperature according to the type of dish you're preparing. This versatility is essential in small kitchens, where having a multipurpose appliance can reduce the need for multiple gadgets, ultimately saving even more space.

 4. Safe for Compact Spaces

Safety is a crucial factor in any kitchen, especially in small ones where there is less room to maneuver. Induction cooktops are among the safest cooking appliances available, making them ideal for compact kitchens. The cooktop surface itself doesn’t get hot, which significantly reduces the risk of burns or accidental fires. The heat is generated only in the cookware, and as soon as the pan is removed, the cooktop cools down almost instantly.

Additionally, many small induction cooktops come with built-in safety features like automatic shut-off, child locks, and overheat protection. These features ensure that even in tight spaces, you can cook with peace of mind.

 5. Easy to Clean and Maintain

In a compact kitchen, where counter space is already at a premium, the last thing you want is an appliance that’s difficult to clean. Fortunately, small induction cooktops have smooth, flat surfaces that make cleaning a breeze. Spills and splatters don’t burn onto the surface as they do on traditional gas or electric stovetops, so a quick wipe with a damp cloth is usually all it takes to keep your cooktop looking spotless.

This ease of cleaning is especially valuable in small kitchens where keeping things tidy and organized is key to maximizing the available space.

 6. Portability for Flexible Cooking

One of the major advantages of a small induction cooktop is its portability. If your kitchen space is extremely limited or if you enjoy cooking in different areas of your home or even outside, the portability of this appliance is a game-changer. You can easily move it around to create additional counter space or store it when not in use.

For those who love to entertain, a small induction cooktop can be a secondary cooking station for parties or gatherings, making it a versatile addition to your home.

 7. Modern and Stylish Aesthetic

Compact kitchens often feature sleek, modern designs, and a small induction cooktop fits right in with this aesthetic. Many models are designed with minimalistic, modern touches, including smooth glass tops and touch-sensitive controls. These cooktops don’t just perform well—they also look great, blending seamlessly into contemporary kitchen layouts. The streamlined design enhances the overall look of a small kitchen, adding a touch of elegance without taking up too much space.

 Conclusion

In conclusion, a small induction cooktop is the perfect fit for compact kitchens for several reasons: it saves space, offers energy-efficient cooking, provides versatile options for meal preparation, and enhances safety. Additionally, its ease of cleaning, portability, and stylish appearance make it an excellent choice for any modern kitchen where maximizing space is a priority. Whether you live in a tiny apartment or need a portable cooking solution, investing in a small induction cooktop will enhance your cooking experience without overwhelming your kitchen.

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[tasteofdeathao3]

Izzy and his collection of different seats and recliners stede keeps buying bcs he wants his tot to be comfy (and secure, just bcs Izzy fell off the kitchen chair /once/, now mama insists on all his seats having a harness or belt)

So of course Stede buys just everything for his babies, ranging from every onesie Ed so much as looks at and any toy he thinks Izzy would be able to chew on safely (which is a lot).

At first he starts buying little chairs for Izzy because he insists on either being on the floor or right on top of someone's lap, nothing in between, and Stede quite often likes his legs to not be numb or asleep.

He gets a simple bouncer to have on the floor in front of them. Izzy can strap into it and also entertain himself with the little additional hanging toys.

But then, of course, Izzy is so cute in his little chair that he can't resist buying more!

The issue with the bouncer is that it's so close to the ground - it's great for when baby wants to be as small as possible, but it's not so easy to keep an eye on him when he's so low down and you're running around the house.

Stede decides a taller bouncer is a good investment. Izzy loves it, being properly tall enough to watch Ed fiddle around in the kitchen and eat raw carrot and tomato and watch Stede work on his laptop beside him at the kitchen bench! And being able to have a nap while Ed and Stede are working beside him? Perfect.

But of course neither of these chairs are great high chairs - resting far too far back and not having any way to attach a tray in any stable enough way for Izzy to eat and slap his little hands in all the mess without it going all over the floor.

So of course Stede has to buy more!

And it's great! Izzy can be all comfy and keep eating his food, strapped in nice and safe so he doesn't try and climb out the second he decides he's done (about halfway through every meal).

But Izzy's fussy no matter what age he's at, and he decides when he's feeling more like a toddler that he's way too big for that baby chair! And then the next day decides he's too small to sit at the table altogether! So Stede must venture out to find a more grown up chair for dinner time and one a lot smaller.

Izzy's only little, and he always manages to tire himself out by midday. He's not too fond of naps before he realises he's sleepy, but the one thing that always gets him down is his rocker. It looks like some of his other high chairs, so he's always happy to get strapped in and rock back and forth beside Ed's feet as he works above him. Within five minutes, every time, Izzy is always conked out. Ed will tuck a little blanket over him and keep the little seat rocking until his foot gets too tired.

Ed and Stede (mostly Ed. Only Ed) like to take Izzy camping. Usually on their own property, they find a nice spot and set up tents and whatnot. Ed will start a fire and make dinner while Stede hauls Izzy around to play by the edge of ponds and puddles. Ed is mortified when Stede pulls out the portable crib, but Stede insists their baby needs it. "He can't sleep in a sleeping bag, Ed!"

Izzy, on the other hand, doesn't mind. He's got a cot (with a fly screen!), a cradle, and a changing pad all up off of the ground. Ed complains that it's not proper camping if he's got a proper bed, but Stede always wins arguments when it comes to Izzy being pampered.

In summer it's a lot more uncomfortable to go camping, with all the bugs and the sticky sweaty heat, so they pack Izzy up and go to the beach instead. Izzy will happily sit in the shallows, but will whine and cry when sand gets in his swim pants and won't calm down until Stede helps him wash off at the beach showers. Which is where his little beach chair comes in very handy.

Ed will dive for pāua and kina and Stede will set up their little picnic area on the sand, and Izzy will sit beside Stede in his special big boy chair. The beach can make Izzy feel extra small and also like a very big boy, depending if he's floating on someone's hip in the water or running around on the sand with Ed chasing him.

unfortunately that's all the photos tumblr will let me upload in one post! i have more if anyone wants to see them lol

[zahroreadsthings]

Planning...

Question: Do you split up or stick together?

Response: Split up. We'll finish this faster and Deema won't have to travel as far.

Check notes for previous instalments

The places furthest from where you are now look too far for Deema to travel comfortably, even with Moss, so you say, 'We can split up and get this done sooner.'

Deema uses her fingertip to draw a circle around the centre of the map where the majority of marks are clustered. 'I'll do these ones. Meet at the cottage later.'

She gives you the back of one of the papers and reads out a list of places for you to write down while she crosses them off the map. She keeps that paper for herself, draws the same jerky sigil on the back of the map, and tells you to take it.

It's an unspoken agreement that Deema will take the cart with Moss. You flip your hood up against the wind and rain and start for your first location without looking back.

As you walk you look at your paper. You're not great at drawing large circles, which will weaken the sigil, so you'll need to draw the heat sigil a bit smaller than Deema would to compensate. You'll keep the wind sigils between the spokes as big as the space between them allow - you want the breeze to be as gentle as you can.

An awning shelters you from the rain at your first location. You stare at the wall and realise you have a problem you weren't anticipating: all the sigils you've drawn so far have been simpler, smaller, and drawn flat on the ground.

In an effort to get used to the movement you mime drawing circles on the wall for so long the rain stops. You sigh hopelessly and settle for all but connecting a series of dots to make a circle. You wonder if other witches will find this impressive, or whatever the council's hoping for.

After you feel a gentle warmth blow against your hands and face you move on to the next location. Drawing the sigil for a second time only feels slightly easier. By the time you finish your third you've settled into a rhythm connecting dots with arcs to make circles and drawing even spokes around them.

Your mind drifts off to Lex's request. They said a graveyard witch had come in the other day - that must be the one who came with Hakim. He mentioned one of his party was a graveyard witch but didn't say who it was. It might be the one who was dressed head to toe in black with metal rings on her belts, but for all you know that's an offensive stereotype.

Going down and up the stairs isn't a trip you look forward to, especially on what you're certain will be a cold, dark, and windy night. You'll pack light.

You'll be taking the two top options! I'd say choose wisely but you can do whatever the hell you want

[prettiestvulcan]

pairing: enji todoroki x oc

rating: explicit

wc:

summary: a summer getaway gets heated, in more ways than one.

warnings: none

a/n: part of @delirieum's hot milf summer collab!

She’s always had a dislike for summer. The sticky, humid heat. The influx of tourists, which meant more crime. The increase in her number of patrols. Summer meant more work in near unbearable conditions.

There is one plus to summer, though. It means the kids are out of school, so she gets to spend more time with them. Sure, during the day she’s always on patrol, but then she gets to pick them up from her parents’ house and take them to pick out dinner. They don’t have to be in bed for school, so she can introduce them to her favorite childhood movies.

This summer is different, though. Her parents are taking their grandkids on a vacation and she can’t go with them. Work is having their own week-long mandatory ‘vacation’, which involves flying out to an island for team-building exercises disguised as fun. It’s the first time the agency has done something like this, but her guess as to why is as good as anyone else’s.

“Mommy, do you have to go?” Her youngest asks. She kneels before him, giving him a soft smile.

“I’m sorry, sweetie, but mommy has to go because of work.” He pouts, crossing his arms with a frown.

“I don’t want you to go.” Isaac looks close to tears. “I don’t want to go with Nanny and Pappy. I want to go with Mommy.”

“Isaac,” she brushes tears from his cheeks with a thumb. “Don’t cry, sweetheart. Mommy will be back. And I’ll call every night before bedtime.”

“Promise?” He sniffles. She nods, holding out her pinky. He grins, wrapping his much smaller pinky around hers.

“I pinky-promise,” she answers. His tears have started to dry up.

“Okay,” he finally relents. “I’ll go with Nanny and Pappy.”

“That’s my boy,” she ruffles his hair, the curls catching occasionally. He doesn’t seem to notice.

He runs off towards the front door, giggling the whole way. She stands, watching him go with a smile. He’s always been a cheerful kid, willing to do as she asks. She’s grateful for it. However, her eldest isn’t as agreeable. Perhaps being close to ten, she’s just going through a face. She was a fussy baby, though, so something tells her she just takes too much after her father.

“Why do I have to go?” Hazel starts. “I’m old enough to make my own decisions.”

“Hazel,” she reproaches. “I don’t have time to find you a babysitter. Nanny and Pappy already agreed to take you somewhere fun.”

“Ugh,” she groans. “Whatever, mom.” Hazel storms off without another word. She frowns, watching her go. If only there was some way she could make both of them happy. She hadn’t lied, though; the trip for work was very sudden and she didn’t have time to look for a babysitter. It was only through luck that her parents had agreed to take them on vacation with them this year. Perhaps because they were both old enough not to need as much supervision and constant care.

With a sigh, she grabs her suitcase once more and climbs into the taxi. She really wishes she could have given Hazel a goodbye hug, but she knows her daughter well enough to know that wouldn’t have gone down easily. There would have been a lot of yelling and pushing, possibly some kicking. She really hopes Hazel doesn’t regret not saying goodbye.

The taxi drops her off outside the entrance of the airport. She takes her suitcase from the trunk before heading inside. The layout is huge, but everything is clearly marked and mapped. She has no issues finding the check-in for the airline. Finding the gate is even easier, since each gate is in a specific order. She sits down to wait for their boarding time, taking her phone out to make sure there are no calls or texts from her parents. Thankfully, there are none so everything must be alright.

She decides to look around the area from her seat, spotting several familiar faces in the seats around her. They all seem absorbed in their own activities, so she leaves them be. She was never really familiar with any of the other sidekicks, anyway. Being a single parent meant she didn’t have much time for get-togethers, so she was always turning down invites after patrols. They’re always friendly towards her, however, so she thinks they’re all on good terms. They probably understand her hesitance to leave her kids at home with the babysitter longer than needed.

After a while, it’s time to board the plane. It’s her first time flying since before Isaac was born, but she still remembers the drill. Show your boarding pass, get it scanned, find your seat. It’s very straightforward. Everything about the trip so far has been, which is something she’s grateful for. She’s not a huge fan of surprises. Never has been. Although she supposes Isaac and Hazel are two surprises she absolutely couldn’t live without.

Soon, the pre-flight announcements are beginning. She’s surprised to see no one in the seat beside her. It’s nearly a full plane, though she’s not going to complain. It just means she has more room to stretch out. She listens to the pre-flight announcements, turning off her phone as instructed. She takes her in-flight bag off the floor, putting it in the empty seat beside her. She couldn’t quite reach the overhead bin and had been too embarrassed to ask for help.

The plane takes off, bringing with it a slew of emotions. She’s excited to be going somewhere, even if it’s for work, but she’s going to miss her kids. Not being able to see them for an entire week? It’s an entirely new experience for her. She’s been home with them basically since they were each born. She’s been there to kiss ouchies better, to read them stories before bed, tuck them in with a kiss on their foreheads. She’s been there to wipe their tears, to make them smile and laugh. Being away from them will be a new experience for all of them, but at least they won’t be completely alone. She trusts her parents to take care of them, just like they cared for her as a child.

She takes comfort in that thought, relaxing back against the seat. She hadn’t realized how tense she’d been the whole time, but once she relaxes the soreness of her muscles makes itself known. She rubs at her thigh, trying to soothe some of the pain. It works, to some degree. She’ll just have to remind herself to relax and take something for the pain once the plane lands.

She rests her head against the headrest, closing her eyes. Nothing wrong with a nap on the flight. Just as long as the turbulence of landing wakes her, she’ll be fine. She feels herself slipping into unconsciousness….

The island is beyond anything she could have imagined. It’s lush and tropical, palm trees dotted everywhere. The air smells like salt from the sea, but somehow still refreshing compared to city air. Even the hotel is magnificent. There’s an indoor spa! She’s never stayed anywhere with its own spa.

They arrive late the first day, so they’re told to find their rooms and get settled in. They’ll receive instructions the next day, according to Burnin who is giving the orders. She wonders if Endeavor will show or if this whole event is being organized by Burnin. She’s certainly capable of doing it.

She spends the first night unpacking and familiarizing herself with the hotel. There’s so many extra amenities and she hopes she has time to try out some of them. She takes photos of the view from her hotel window, sending it to her parents so they can show Isaac and Hazel. When she’s finished exploring, she retires to her room and makes the promised call.

Everyone is doing great, of course. They also made it to their hotel, which Isaac excitedly informs her has an indoor pool. Hazel is much less talkative, but seems to be in high spirits even if she doesn’t outright say it. She’s glad they’re enjoying their trip so far and hopes they keep up the momentum. When they finish swapping stories, she wishes them goodnight and tells them she’ll talk more tomorrow.

The next day, they all have breakfast in the hotel’s café before convening outside. It’s more upscale dining than what she’d have expected. Once outside, Burnin gathers everyone close before speaking.

“Hello, everyone!” Her voice easily carries across the crowd. “I hope you’re ready for a fun week!”

There are cheers from the other sidekicks.

“Well, have I got a surprise for all of you.” She’s close enough to see Burnin grin. “There’s no agenda for this week, aside from getting out there and having fun together!”

No agenda? She’s a little surprised by that. She thought this was a mandatory team-building trip, not just a vacation. She feels conflicted. On one hand, she’s glad for the opportunity. On the other, she had fully expected the week to be planned out for her so now she’s at a loss.

What does one even do on vacation? It’s been eighteen years since she’s done anything by herself. Sure, she’s taken weekend trips with Hazel and Isaac but never alone. And never somewhere so opulent or tropical. She doesn’t know what to do with herself now.

“Now get out there and have fun!” She snaps back to reality at the sound of everyone’s cheers, before shuffling back inside the hotel. Whatever she wants to do, huh?

She changes into something more comfortable, having expected there to be training. Thankfully, she had thought ahead and packed extra clothes on the off-chance there was any free time. It looks like her foresight had come in handy, as she takes out her bathing suit and coverup. Nothing like a trip to the beach.

She’s surprised that there’s no rigorous training. Endeavor is known for running a tight ship, so this whole trip seems out of character. Then again, ever since his last major fight, something had changed. He’s still just as strict, but he seems almost approachable now. A little more lenient. She’s certainly not as terrified of being called to his office anymore.

She wonders if he’s come on this trip, as well, or if he’s staying back at the office. He could use the trip, she feels. He’s always working so hard. Besides, she swears she saw his youngest in the crowd. If his son is here, surely he would’ve come as well.

Someone clears their throat behind her and she startles, realizing she’s just been staring at the open elevator doors. She shakes her head, murmuring an apology, and enters the elevator. The figure behind her enters, as well, and as she turns her eyes go wide.

“Endeavor, sir,” she hurries to greets, giving a polite bow. “Thank you for this opportunity.”

He doesn’t say anything, just looks at her with a grimace. She wonders if she’s said something wrong before he grumbles something under his breath, inclining his head in acknowledgment. He doesn’t say anything else, but she’s shocked to see him. She wants to comment on it, but the elevator arrives at the ground floor before she can figure it out.

“Ah, Endeavor, sir,” she calls out without thinking.

“Please call me Enji.” She can’t help the eyebrow that raises. “We’re on vacation. I’m not your boss right now.”

“Of course, Enji, sir.” He doesn’t look pleased with the added ‘sir’ so she tries again. “Alright. Enji.” It feels awkward coming out of her mouth. He’s been her boss for the better part of a decade and never once called him by name.

He seems pleased by the amendment on her part, though it’s hard to tell with him. She shifts her weight from foot to foot, trying to figure out why she even called out to him. He waits, turquoise eyes trained on her.

“Would you like to come to the beach with me?” She almost smacks herself with how bold she’s being. Sure, he’s been nice to her over the past few months, but that doesn’t mean he wants to be friendly.

He looks just as surprised by the offer, one eyebrow raised. She purses her lips to keep from saying anything more, waiting on an answer. Her heart pounds in her chest. Finally, he speaks.

“You’re going to the beach?” She nods. “I’ll accompany you. I was headed there regardless.”

She takes in his appearance for the first time, noting the swim shorts. He’s wearing a white t-shirt, a towel slung over his shoulders. She nods to show she understands, eyes moving back up his hulking frame, to find his eyes also looking over her.

Had she just been caught checking out her boss?

Had she just caught her boss checking her out?

The thought brings warmth to her cheeks. She ducks her head down, though she’s sure he’s already seen her blush. She decides to take the lead, brushing past him towards the door. She can feel him follow, after a few tense seconds.

She feels a little silly. She’s too old to be checking out other men, let alone her boss. It doesn’t matter if he’s older; he has his own family. She knows he has at least three kids, though she’s never heard about their mother. He has to be married, though. There’s no way a man like him hasn’t been snatched up.

She tries to push those thoughts aside, instead focusing on walking down to the beach. It’s not far from the hotel; might as well consider it the backyard. The closer they get, the more of the ocean she can smell. She’s not sure it’s an entirely pleasant scent.

There isn’t much in the way of conversation. For her, it’s just too awkward to start one and he’s not exactly known for being chatty. She’s sure he doesn’t find it awkward at all, the silence. But she does.

As she scrambles to come up with something to say, they finally arrive at the beach. There’s a few others on the beach, rainbow color of towels spread along the sand. She tries to find a spot some distance from the main crowd, not wanting to interrupt or intrude.

She expects him to part once they reach the beach, but he keeps pace with her easily. She did invite him to come with, but she hadn’t actually expected him to follow through. Sure, they talk at work about work. But conversations about patrols are entirely different from conversations about life and the weather.

They lay their towels out, red and blue side by side. It’s a little closer than she’d been expecting, but still a respectable distance apart. She hesitates a brief moment before pulling her coverup off, folding it and setting it aside. She has nothing to be embarrassed about.

Hero work has been good to her. Even after two kids, her physique is still desirable. She’s not exactly slim, but she’s muscular enough to hide the chub from two kids. She has very few major scars, the most notable being the faded white scar on her right leg from a piece of metal out of a falling building. She’s lucky it didn’t take her entire leg.

“I’m going to swim,” she announces to her company. He inclines his head, again not saying anything. She leaves him where he’s reclining on his towel, heading down to the water.

She feels more comfortable in the water. It’s cool and refreshing, compared to the sticky heat on the beach. She takes her time in the water, swimming around and floating. She even rides a few waves to the shore before swimming back out. When she’s had enough, she returns to her towel.

Endeavor—Enji, she corrects herself. He’s still laid out on his towel, but his eyes open when he hears her approach. She flops down onto her towel, feeling energized after her swim. She turns her head to face Enji, having felt his eyes on her.

He’s wearing an inscrutable expression. He’s not exactly easy to read, but it looks as if he’s taking extra care not to express any emotion. She offers him a smile, not sure what to do or say. He doesn’t return it, but he does finally look away.

She peers up at the clear blue sky, wondering what kind of exchange that was. She rests her arms behind her head, closing her eyes. It’s a vacation. She’s going to get in as many naps as possible….

She wakes sometimes later, having been shaken awake. She blinks a few times to clear the sleep from her vision.

“The tide is coming in,” Enji tells her. She nods to show her understanding before sitting up. She stretches with a yawn. “Dinner?”

She’s not sure if it’s a question or a demand.

“Sure,” she agrees. “I could go for something to eat.” She stands, grabbing her towel. She shakes off as much sand as possible before slipping her coverup back on.

“We should change at the hotel,” he says.

“Good idea.” She looks down at herself. “A quick shower might be good, too.” She gives him a crooked smile. He nods and she swears she sees the ghost of a smile on his lips.

She feels significantly less uncomfortable on the walk back, perhaps because he’s actually not that scary. He’s just not very talkative. And if she doesn’t think about how he’s her boss, it’s almost like hanging out with a friend. A very new friend. Okay, maybe it’s still a little awkward.

Dinner is a quick and quiet affair. He doesn’t say much and she isn’t sure what to say. When they finish, they bid each other a good night and go their separate ways. She takes the time to call her parents so she can speak with Isaac and Hazel. They tell her all about their trip so far and she shares hers.

“You spoke with Mr. Endeavor?” Isaac seems in awe.

“Yeah, sweetie. I spoke with Mr. Endeavor.”

“Can you get his autograph for me?” She can hear the excitement in his voice.

“His autograph?” She repeats.

“Yes!” Isaac is definitely bouncing on the other end. “I saw him on the TV! He’s my new favorite Hero!” She chuckles.

“Sure thing, sweetie. I’ll get his autograph for you.” It shouldn’t be too difficult. He is her boss and she’s sure he’s used to being asked for it.

“You’re the best, Mommy!” She smiles at that.

“Love you, too, sweetie.”

“Okay, I’m gonna give the phone to Hazel now.” There’s a shuffling noise before she hears Hazel’s voice.

“How are things going, Mom?”

“They’re going well,” she answers. “How are you doing?”

“It’s okay.” She hears Hazel shrug. “Nanny took me to the museum, so I guess it’s alright.”

“The museum?” She prompts. “Which one?”

“The Hero Museum,” there’s a smile in her voice. “It was pretty cool.”

“I’m glad you enjoyed yourself.” She really is. Hazel is a difficult child sometimes, but her interests aren’t outside the realm of any other ten-year-old. “I love you, sweetheart.”

“Love you too, Mom,” Hazel huffs. “I’m giving you back to Nanny now.” More noise as the phone is swapped to another.

She talks to her mom for a few more minutes, just to be sure the kids are behaving. Her mom assures her that everything is fine and to enjoy her own vacation.

The next day is spent much the same: at the beach with her boss. Enji. She keeps having to remind herself. She does manage to get his autograph, explaining it’s for her youngest. He asks about him, and she’s more than happy to talk about her kids.

He speaks about his own children, much older than her own, but there’s pride in his voice as he speaks about them. She can’t help but smile, her laughter coming freely when he tells embarrassing stories about them. It feels like she’s getting to know him and she can’t help but like what she’s seeing.

It’s hard not to find him physically attractive, but she’s old enough to not be distracted by a pretty body. She’s worked for his agency for nearly ten years; she’s long gotten used to the way he looks. But something about their conversations has her reassessing him.

The third day on the island, something feels different between them. He feels warmer, somehow. It isn’t exactly anything particular he does. It’s in the way they lean towards each other when they speak, the way they keep bumping into each other, the way they keep finding ways to spend time together. It’s a combination of all these things that has her heart pounding when she sees him.

She decides to make a move. Either he ignores it or he reciprocates. Either way, there’s no harm done. They’re on vacation. Perhaps she’s feeling a little risky because of it. Away from work, away from her kids, she’s feeling a little more brave than usual.

It’s been years since she last was with anyone. After Isaac’s father left, she swore off dating and catching feelings in general. It was just too much of a hassle. Why now, after all these years, she isn’t sure. Something about it just feels different. Feels right.

They go out for dinner as usual, but she invites him to the hotel bar afterwards. She doesn’t fully expect him to agree, so when he does she’s feeling more confident. They sit next to each other at the near empty hotel bar, drinks in hand.

When she makes a joke, laughing at it while he gives a slight grin, she reaches out to put her hand on his arm. He looks surprised by it at first, eyes going slightly wider. She wonders for a brief moment if she’s overstepped, pulling her hand back, but he quickly grabs it before she can withdraw.

They stare at one another, neither saying anything. It’s like he’s waiting for a signal. She nods. He moves into action, pulling her up from her seat. He keeps their fingers entwined, tugging her along to the elevator.

It’s actually happening, she realizes, as she leads him to her hotel room. She didn’t think this would ever actually happen.

He presses her against the hotel door, mouth hot and heavy on hers. She grasps at his arms, his shirt, anything she can reach to keep herself afloat. She’s quickly giving in, sinking further into his desires. She doesn’t think she wants to fight them anymore.

His mouth moves down to her neck, biting and kissing. She can’t help the sounds spilling from her and just hopes no one in the rooms around can hear her. His hands—big, so big—tug at her dress until she’s slipping the straps from her shoulders and letting it fall to the ground.

His bright turquoise eyes stare at her, wearing nothing more than a pair of lacy underwear. She feels intimidated by that heavy gaze, feels the urge to cover herself.

“Don’t,” he growls as he grabs her hands, pulling them away. “Let me see you.”

She lets her hands fall to the side, trying not to feel so self-conscious. She tries not to think of all the stretch marks across her belly and thighs, on the tops of her breasts. She tries to remind herself that they wouldn’t be here if he didn’t see something desirable about her body.

“Beautiful,” he murmurs, cupping a breast. It fits perfectly in his hand, his thumb rubbing circles against her nipple. She squirms, a moan slipping from her parted lips.

“You too,” she tosses back. “I want to see you, too.” He grins, something crooked and slightly menacing. But he pulls away from her, tugging off his shirt and shorts. She reaches for the last piece separating them from each other, pulling them down.

She can’t help but stare. She knew he was a large man, but it couldn’t have prepared her for how proportionate that made him. Long and thick, red at the head. She wraps her hand around him as best she can, giving a few short tugs, and hears him groan. Will it even fit?

She doesn’t have much more room for thought as he pulls her in for another kiss, tugging her towards the bed. She goes willingly, wanting nothing more than to feel him against her. He nibbles at her bottom lip and she licks at his; soon their tongues tangle together. It’s been so long since she’s been with anyone like this. She hopes she can make it as good for him as it feels for her.

She lays on the bed, situating herself against the pillows. She beckons him, wanting to close the distance between them. He lays himself atop her, balanced by his hands on either side of her hips. He kisses her, sweeter this time. Not as desperate.

He kisses a path down her neck, across her shoulder, before dipping to take a nipple into his mouth. She shudders, pleasure welling within her. She runs a hand through his hair, red strands tickling between her fingers. He hums, licking and sucking her nipples.

“Enji,” she whines, pushing on his head. He chuckles, moving lower. He plants kisses across her stomach, still a little pudgy from her last pregnancy nearly eight years ago. She feels self-conscious about it, but the way he worships her body makes it a little better.

Finally, he’s exactly where she wants him. He wastes no time, diving right into his task. Her head knocks against the headboard, but the brief bloom of pain is nothing compared to the sensation between her legs.

He eats her out like a man starved. A little uncoordinated, but enthusiastic. His tongue circles her clit before flicking it, a single thick finger toying with her hole. She grips the blankets beneath them, unable to stop the noises slipping out of her kiss-swollen lips.

He slips a single finger in finally. It’s as thick as two of her own, but she knows she’s going to need the preparation if he’s going inside of her. She squirms, wanting to clamp her legs shut, but his shoulders keep her spread. She has no choice but to give in to the onslaught of sensations.

And give in she does. Head thrown back, mouth open and spilling profanity with his name mixed in. She couldn’t keep quiet if she wanted to and she can tell he definitely doesn’t want her to keep quiet. That single finger pumps in and out, stretching her, before he adds a second.

It’s almost too much, but she forces her body to relax. She’s soaking, giving him plenty to work with. His spit and her fluids ease the way for that second finger. She moans, pressing down against him. She feels his laughter, a gentle vibration through her cunt.

“Please,” she begs. “Want you inside.”

She’s ready for it. She can handle it. He pulls off, looking up at her, and she can’t help but flush at the sight of him. His chin is wet with her juices, his lips swollen. He shifts up, towering above her, and reaches down to line himself up.

Her mouth opens on a silent moan as he pushes in, stretching her beyond what she thought she was capable of. It’s painful at first, but as she has time to adjust it morphs into pleasure.

“Finally,” his voice rumbles through her. “Been wanting to do this.”

She whines, pushing her hips down and against him. She needs him to move already. It’s been ages since she last got fucked and she’s eager for it. She wants him to pound her into the mattress until she forgets who she is.

He delivers on those fantasies. He fucks into her roughly and with abandon, until she’s moaning his name and his name only. He shoves two of his fingers into her mouth and she sucks on them, drool seeping from the corner of her mouth. She doesn’t even care, too busy with the feel of him.

She doesn’t even care anymore when things changed between them. The only thing she cares about in that moment is coming around his cock. She can worry about feelings and emotions later. Right now, she’s only focused on reaching that high.

He reaches between them to roll his thumb against her clit and she can feel her eyes roll to the back of her head. Just a few circles and she’s cumming hard around his cock. He fucks her through it, fingers shoved deep in her mouth.

When she comes down, she takes a moment to appreciate the fucked out look on his face. The squinting of his eyes as he concentrates, the sweat beading on his temples, and the slack-jawed grunts and groans spilling from his lips.

“Inside,” she tells him. “Come inside me.” It’s a risky request, but she wants it. He does, too, judging by the way his thrusts speed up until he growls and spills inside of her.

When he pulls up, she feels his semen trickle down the inside of her thighs. He collapses onto the bed beside her, but searches for her hand among the sheets. He laces their fingers together and she smiles up at the ceiling.

The mood is ruined by the sound of her ringtone, however. She’s tempted not to answer, but it might be her parents calling about the kids. With a sigh and a silent promise to return, she gets out of the bed to answer.

“Mommy!” Her son, Isaac, shouts from the other side. “Are you coming home yet?”

“Not yet, sweetie,” she laughs. “In a few more days.”

“Awww,” he pouts. “You’re with Mr. Endeavor, right, mommy?”

“Yeah,” her voice is soft with affection as she gazes towards the bed, where Enji is lounging.

“Did you get his autograph for me?” She chuckles, but confirms she did.. “Yay! You’re the best, mommy!”

Isaac hands the phone off to her mother, who updates her on her eldest who refuses to come to the phone. It’s just like Hazel to be so stubborn. They’re doing fine, her mother assures her, and tells her to enjoy her only vacation in eight years. She just laughs, but promises to have as much fun as possible.

When she’s finished, she sets her phone back down on the desk and wanders back to the bed. Enji greets her with open arms and she rests her head on his chest. She listens to his heartbeat, letting it lull her to sleep.

Best getaway ever, is her final thought before she falls asleep.

[six-sanctuary]

Homecoming (Will Miller x Reader)

Author’s note: I’ve never written a fic before but was HEAVILY inspired by all the amazing content @lucrezia-thoughts and @charnelhouse generate (Super hope that's okay!) and wanted to try my hand at it and contribute to Triple Frontier Fr-saturday. (I know I'm a day late whoops)

Also I suck at proofreading I’m so sorry for any errors and hope someone enjoys this. Lowkey proud of myself for not being obnoxiously shy and just saving this to my desktop somewhere for eternity.

Anyways here we go no more rambling this is the fic. If I still dig it later on I might write some more in this lil universe either with Will/Reader or throw in some Benny/reader. Maybe even Santiago/reader if I can get his voice right.

Below the cut is 18+ only please and thanks!

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

You’d always been there, and you always would. It was the sort of realization that crept up slowly on Will. Looking back he wishes he could count the times he counted on you. He wishes he could put it into something concrete like numbers, something that he could wrap his head around, but you were there even before the numbers.

You were there before he was shipped off to war, before he had to learn to count as he breathed, in… two… three… four… five… hold… two… three… four… five…. out… two… three… four… five…. You were there before he broke and crumbled, falling into a million little pieces he didn’t know how to put back together again.

He wished he knew the number of warm smiles you’d given him. He wished he knew what number it took for him to fall in love, whether it was the hundredth or hundredth thousandth soft smile. All he knows now is that so much time was wasted, and he didn’t want to lose a second more.

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

You’d moved to Colorado a few months ago. It had always been part of the plan but that timeline got moved up when Will’s parents announced they were selling the house in favor of something smaller now that they were empty nesters. For a solid week, Will hummed and hawed about it, flip flopping back and forth. The thought of giving up something that was so integral to his childhood, something that had always meant home for him, was hard.

After weeks of his thinly veiled discontent, you came to a solution. After one of his talks, you sat him down in the dining room table of your apartment together and laid out the documents one by one. Rather than explain right away, you let Will take them all in, grabbing each one and skimming it before moving on to the next piece of paper.

“This is…. To buy the house?” Will’s thumbs smoothed over the paper as if in need of a reminder that they were real, that this was real. “My parent’s place?” His voice was thick with emotion, which never failed to bring it out of you. Rather than answer in words and risk your voice failing you, you nodded.

From there it was a lot of packing, a lot of hard work, but with the Delta Force boys help you two managed to get everything packed up in a hauler, ready to make the trek halfway across the country. The thought of being holed up in the car for hours on end with Benny made you the slightest bit nervous. The younger Miller was a bundle of energy and while you appreciated that most of the time, you were wary about being stuck in cramped quarters with the lightning bolt of a man. In the end the cars were split with you and Santiago taking Will’s Ford and Will and Benny driving the Uhaul.

You had a week of the gang’s help, well the gang minus Frankie. He had to head back a few days early to his wife and daughter. The others stayed, even Tom, though he was quick to point out several “serious”problems with the house that you’d need to look into. Despite that, it already felt like home. Sure it needed your and Will’s touch on the place, and a number of things had gone into disrepair as the Millers got older. At some point it had become too much for them, but it was the perfect project for a newlywed couple.

Not once did you regret it. Not when you were lugging heavy boxes up the stairs nor when you learned the roof needed to be replaced. No, each problem was taken in stride because you knew with Will by your side, you’d get through it. There was nothing the two of you could not conquer.

Soon the novelty of the new house wore off and with Benny back at his apartment down the street and Santiago and Frankie back home, you and Will fell into a quiet domesticity. You lived in pieces, your life wrapped up in boxes while you made repairs to the house.

Will, though he meant well, was not as handy as he claimed to be. After the shower incident that required a late-night call to an emergency plumber, your big Delta Force husband was relegated to the simpler tasks, or the ones that required his muscle. If a dresser had to be moved, he was your man, rolling up his sleeves and making it look easy. The same went for anything that required reaching high places (the uppermost cabinets in the kitchen were a real bitch). In the end, Will ended up spending more time turning the side yard into a garden while you turned this old house into your home.

After a month, Will had to go back to work. He’d been requested to give a speech in D.C., back to the other side of the country. As much as you wanted him to stay, you knew that this was important to him. You knew how much it mattered to him to feel useful, to feel good about what he did and so with a kiss to the cheek, you promised him that you’d have the kitchen cabinets all painted by the time he came back.

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

Classic rock was softly playing out of the radio you had set up on the counter. Painting was boring work, even more so all by yourself. The radio made you feel less alone and so you hummed along as you worked. Stroke after stroke of paint was rolled onto the cabinets, breathing new life into the space. It was really mindless work and so your thoughts wandered as you painted. You thought about the home, what other projects you had in mind. If you finished the cabinets quickly enough you wanted to tackle the downstairs bathroom too before Will got back.

He'd called every night but it wasn’t the same as him being here. If you were lucky, you got him on FaceTime and got to see his face light up when you appeared on his screen. Even with the small image of him on your phone he was so handsome, golden and bright. You’d called him your Apollo once, god of the sun, and he’d found that funny. Ben was picking him up from the airport tomorrow and driving him home and then you’d have your sun again.

The opening of the front door snapped you out of your thoughts, your head whipping around. “Honey?” His gruff voice was unmistakable to you. Without a second thought your paintbrush was set down, dripping slightly off the drop cloth though that was a problem for later. Your feet carried you to him, flinging yourself into his arms when you saw him standing there in the foyer. “I thought you were coming back tomorrow.” You nuzzled into his neck, breathing in the smell of him as his arms wrapped tightly around your waist. “We finished early and I wanted to surprise you.” It was definitely a surprise.

His hand moved from the small of your back to your chin, gently lifting it to place a soft kiss on your lips. “I missed you,” you breathed before stealing another. “I know.” He always knew. He knew every time he left you would miss him and he would miss you. You’d play this game and then he’d come home and reclaim you. One kiss turned into two, which then turned into three and four. Your hands moved to his short blonde hair, moving to the back of his neck to pull him closer, ever closer.

Leaving his bags at the door, you two tangled, desperate for contact, desperate for two to become one again. He picked you up, something you’d normally protest as your feet worked just fine, but instead you let him carry you up the stairs, deeper into your home, to your bedroom.

With a playful grin he tossed you onto the bed, nearly chuckling at the way you almost bounced. His amusement only lasted a moment before lust and his need to have you took over. He descended on you on the bed, lips crashing into yours for a heated kiss as his tongue grazed against your lower lip. He was everywhere at once, overwhelming all of your senses as his name repeated over and over in your head like a mantra.

Will… Will… Will…

His large hands held your wrists above your head, somehow managing the dichotomy of being gentle but firm, while his lips retraced every curve of your skin. Every time he came back the routine was the same. Will wanted, no needed to learn you again, to cover every soft spot that made you sigh to ensure you were the same as when he had left. He needed to know and so he kissed you, his trimmed beard tickling as he slowly made his way down your body earning soft moans along the way.

He only left your wrists when he got to your legs, separating them and placing one over his shoulder as you laid back on the bed. There he paused, looking down at you so bare and exposed and wet beneath him. It was hard not to move under his gaze. “God you’re so beautiful.” You felt heat rise in your cheeks as you whined out his name. He placed a less-than-chaste kiss on your inner thigh before moving closer, breathing in your heady scent. Licking your folds, he let his tongue circle your clit, smirking at the sounds leaving your lips.

He knew your body like the back of his hand and it took no time at all for him to bring you to that peak of pleasure. Closer and closer, more and more you felt your body respond to him, your hips rolling up against his tongue, hands fisting in the sheets or his hair whichever was closer. “C’mon baby,” he coaxed, slipping a finger into your slick heat, curling it to stroke the soft spot that made you cry out and shudder around him.

“That’s one.”

And you knew your husband would follow through with another. He collected your orgasms like some collected baseball cards, counting each and every one. No night ended with just one, leaving you spent exhausted and so satisfied at the end.

Wiping the wetness from his face, he kneeled next to you, watching as your breathing rate came back down, waiting for the sign that he could have you again. As you blinked the haze away, his hands trailed up and down your side, drawing absent patterns against your soft skin. The look in his eyes of restrained hunger made your mouth go momentarily dry, reigniting the flames of passion within you. Propping yourself up on one elbow, you used your other hand to reach for him, pulling him over you.

It was all the encouragement he needed. After tossing his shirt away, his calloused hands move to your thigh, hiking it up over his hip. You had only a moment to take in the sight of him, the well-toned muscle, the scar on the left side of his stomach, before you two crashed together once more. Your hips ground against the hard bulge in his pants, leaving a dark patch in the denim. You needed more, more friction, more him.

He pulled away only long enough to unbutton his pants, kick off his boots and rid himself of the rest of his clothing. Standing at the edge of the bed, he stroked his impressive length a few times as he admired your naked form. Then the wait was too long and crawled over you, lining himself up and so agonizingly slowly pushing himself into you. You tried to be still but it seemed your body had something else in mind as your legs wrapped around his waist pulling him ever closer.

“Someone’s eager,” he breathed, both of you knowing full well that neither of you had the patience to wait much longer. Pressing his lips firmly against yours, he moved, hips snapping into you at a quick pace, his size stretching you in ways no one else ever could. Your body molded to fit around him, your leg wrapping around him once more in an effort to guide him ever deeper. He bottomed out in you before pulling out and pressing into you again and again and again. Each motion put stars behind your eyes, the fireworks building to another crescendo.

You felt him get closer, the rhythm of his hips losing itself as he continued to thrust into you, hips stuttering as the pleasure overwhelmed. “One more honey, I know you have one more.” His low throaty growl in your ear was enough to push you over the brink, your hands clamoring for purchase on his back and shoulders as you cried out once more. Your core clenched down on him and it took only a few more hurried thrusts before you felt his hot seed shooting into you as he let out a low grunt.

His forehead rested against yours as he remained where he was, not wanting to pull out of you just yet. A thin sheen of sweat covered the both of your bodies and despite that you didn’t think either of you were finished quite yet. You had a full week of time apart to make up for. Will pulled his head back from your forehead to give you another soft kiss, this one lacking the passion and lust but more than making up for that with the love and affection he poured into it. “It’s good to be home.”

[cherryfi]

Under the light of the full moon

Plot: Moving into a new neighbourhood is hard, especially when you’re a wolf and it’s almost time for the full moon or, the one where your new hot ass neighbour is also a werewolf.

Word Count: 4875

 Werewolf AU! Smut!

Pairing: Bang Chan x Female Reader

Warning: 18+! Oral, unprotected sex, exhibitionism, a little violence

A/N: Part of my halloween series! Requests are open! I liked writing this one but, I still think I could have done better you know? Anyway, Chan is so beautiful oml I just want him to dick me down. Enjoy!

“Your neighbour is sexy as hell.”  You laugh as you glance over your shoulder at your best friend, you’re putting up the last of the scent blockers in your new home and she’s supposed to be helping you.

However, she’s stood at the window, watching as your neighbour makes his way back from his morning run. He was shirtless and wearing running shorts – it was hard not to notice how hot he was.

You’d finally moved into your new home and were adding the finishing touches. Moving to a new town was hectic and super stressful but, you were taking it in stride. Honestly, nothing could get you down. You’d gotten a promotion at work, which meant a bigger office and you had a big enough bonus to purchase the house of your dreams. It was perfect. A 3-bedroom house surrounded by lush forest – the perfect getaway from the chaos of the city. Being a wolf, and a lone one at that, you needed all the nature and open space that you could get. Especially when it was a full moon.

 “He’s even hotter up close but, I’ll be keeping my distance.” She glances at you, eyebrows raised and prompting you to continue. You really didn’t want to have this conversation.

“He came over to say hi when I first moved in, he’s a really sweet guy but he’s a werewolf so, it’s not going to happen.” She looks at you in shock and then laughs incredulously.

“How do you know? Has he told you? Does he know that you’re one as well? If you’re both werewolves shouldn’t that be a good thing, you can finally meet someone; and you won’t have to worry about explaining why you have to go out every full moon?” You laugh at her babbling.

“I can smell it on him, it’s like a perfume, you know? His scent is quite strong but, I’ve got no idea what that means. He came by to say hi when I was moving in and I smelled it on him, obviously. He’s an architect and he does carpentry in his spare time, so he was offering to help out.”

“He helped you move in? He was in this house with you? You had that whole gorgeous man in your home and y’all just talked about work? Also, you didn’t answer all of my questions.” You laugh at how pushy she is, and she raises her eyebrows, placing her hands on her hips

“He helped the movers with the sofa and some of the drawers, so we didn’t talk much. It was pretty late, and he said he was just coming in from work. I haven’t told him anything and I don’t think he can smell it on me because of the scent suppressors.”

You hold up your necklace, the charm glinting in the light from your window. As long as you wore it other wolves wouldn’t be able to smell you.

Which came in handy because you were alone and had no pack.  

A lone wolf was an easy target for any pack, especially an omega, all it took was one curious alpha and it could be all over.

Staying hidden in plain sight was your best option.

“So, when are you going on a date with him?” She wiggles her eyebrows suggestively at you and you laugh before sighing.

“I’m not.  Jas, all he did was help me move in. It’s no big deal.” But you couldn’t help but feel a little hopeful at the chance to get to know your attractive neighbour some more. You imagined dates with him and spending time with him. Would he kiss you when he welcomed you home or would he cuddle you instead?

Chan was ridiculously handsome, with his gorgeous smile and pretty eyes. His Australian accent was the stuff of dreams and it didn’t help that during the little time you’d spent together, he was friendly and warm.

He was boyfriend goals.

But, it would never happen.

He was a wolf and judging by his scent, he must have been an alpha and if he was an alpha, he had a pack. Being his friend would only lead to issues down the line. The closer he got to you, the closer he would get to the truth and you weren’t prepared to tell him that.

“Besides, it’s almost time for the full moon, I need to make sure all my charms are put up; so, no curious wolves come poking around.” The perks of moving to a rural area was that the surrounding greenery was the perfect cover for a lone wolf who wanted to stay hidden.

It gave you the perfect opportunity to spend as much time as you needed in wolf form (especially during the full moon) and it meant that you didn’t have to travel as far to get to a wooded area.

But that came with it’s cons.

A large forest meant more space for other packs, which, of course, meant more wolves.

“If you’re a wolf, why do you need to ward off other wolves again?” You’re in your kitchen now, sipping hot chocolate as you wait for your home to heat up. The chill October air finally seeping in, as it gets late into the evening.

Jas had been your best friend since you were seven and she was there for you when you were attacked.

Other than your mum, Jas was the first person to know what the ‘animal’ attack had really done to you.

Coming from an active family and living on the peninsula meant that as a family you’d always gone hiking. You were an avid hiker and forest walker, spending plenty of time in the hidden meadows and next to the brooks, streams, and rivers that ran past your home.

This was your thinking place – it was where you hid away when life became too much and the weight of the world threatened to crush you underfoot.

Today was one of those days.

Finals were coming up and life was changing way too fast for you. Your friends were moving away from home, you were all going to separate schools, come autumn and your family was falling apart.

You were reeling and the only thing you could think to do, was to go to the one place where nothing ever changed.

The forest.

You grabbed your camera and packed a hamper with your favourite foods, your schoolbooks and a blanket. You were going to one of the many meadows you’d discovered, this one was close to a small stream; and you were going to relax the day away.

But when you got there, the forest was silent.

The silence hung in the air like a stale, musty smell.

Thick and heavy with tension.

None of the animals were chirping or making noise, it was as if the woods themselves had been frozen in time.

You shook the eerie feeling off, sure that it was your own anxiety towards the future that was making you antsy.

But then you saw it.

Your eyes caught on to the movement of the trees, just on the outskirts of the meadow. It took some time for your eyes to adjust to the movement but, when they did, you gasped.

The trees moved artificially. Almost jerkily as you caught sight of 2 eyes.

They caught the nearby sunlight and glinted but appeared almost as if they glowed on their own and soon, the wolf stepped forward.

Almost haughtily as if it tasted and enjoyed your fear.

You packed your things slowly.

Maybe if it noticed you packing, it would understand that you were going to leave and meant no harm.

Were you meant to make yourself look smaller and submissive or bigger and more threatening to a wolf? You didn’t know but, you hoped it would understand the message you were trying to convey.

“I don’t mean any harm; I’m going to leave now. Please let me leave in peace?”

It made a noise, something like a barked laugh and approached you further.

It was blocking the way you came.

You picked up your hamper and walked backwards, keeping your eyes on the wolf and thinking of any ways that you could get away from it and into civilisation.

It didn’t matter what you did, the wolf kept stalking towards you.

Once nightfall came, you knew you were screwed.  

As the sun began to set, the temperature dropped, causing you to shiver, and you’d lost sight of the wolf.

Despite it’s larger than normal stature, it was completely black, and the only light you had was your phone’s flashlight. It wasn’t powerful enough to be of any help to you.

How were you going to get out of this?

Especially because you didn’t know what’s its agenda was.

What did it want with you? Why did it continue to stalk you?

Your signal was down, and you had no way to contact anyone.

You began to sob.

Broken and completely alone, you began to wonder if this would really be your fate – mauled to death by a determined monster-wolf.

Suddenly, the pressure to do well on your exams and to fix your parents’ crumbling marriage didn’t matter.

Worse things were about to happen.

“Please! Please, leave me alone! I’m not going to do anything to you, I won’t even tell anyone I saw you. I’ll never step foot in this forest again, I swear. Just please don’t hurt me.” Going hysterical, the only option you really had left was to plead to this creature.

It wasn’t a normal wolf; you’d known that then.

The way it stalked you, wasn’t normal, the way it looked at you with those almost human eyes wasn’t normal.

As if showing you some mercy it broke through the trees and approached you.

Towering over you, it huffed in your face and you stood up from the cold ground, hoping that it would let you leave. The moonlight illuminated its fur making it look almost ghoulish. It should have been frightening, but the wolf was calm and so were you.

The  wolf really wasn’t so bad.

You reached out your hand and petted their fur, it nuzzled its head onto your shoulder.

And then tore a chunk out of your side.

 You shuddered at the memory, unable to really remember what had happened after you’d screamed and passed out.

“I have to. After that wolf turned me in the forest, I had to learn everything on my own. Honestly, I was angry at first, I’d go into the forest every day to hunt it down. I was going to kill it. But then my first full moon came, and I was all alone and there were no other wolves there to help me. I had to deal with it on my own. I just wanted it to show up. It never did. I won’t get played like that again.”

“So, you’re scared that if you let another pack in, they’re just going to abandon you.” She doesn’t have to question it.

“It’s different with other people. You and my mum have never left my side and dad supported me so much after they found me. Hell, he led the search party. But, the only experience of wolves I have is that one and I’m not going to let it happen again. Even if that means being alone forever.”

“Yeah, well who needs a pack when you’ve got a Jas? Am I right?”

  Chan knew you were a wolf as soon as he stepped out of his car.

He couldn’t catch your scent, which meant you must have been blocking it but, that didn’t matter.

They were other markers that gave it away; like your body language.

As soon as he stepped out of his car, you stiffened; you weren’t even facing him, but it was clear that his presence was affecting you.

And when he came over to say hi, you shrunk away from him.

You were being submissive to him; which must have meant you ranked lower than he did but, what rank you were was left to be seen.

What was clear, however, was that you were alone, there was no scent of any other wolf on you or your things and none of the people helping you to move seemed to be wolves either, not even the friend that came over later when he said goodbye.

So, he scent-marked as many of your items as he could, hoping that that would help alleviate your anxiety towards him and that it would protect you from other wolves.

Even if you weren’t in his pack, he’d decided you were his responsibility and especially with the full moon coming, wolves needed to look out for each other and as an alpha, it was his job.

He knew what kind of wolf you were after he’d finished helping you move in.

“That’s the last of it!” He smiled, rubbing his hands together as he faced you. He could hear your heartbeat picking up.

“Thanks for helping me out Chan.”

“Hey don’t mention it. Consider it the start of an amazing friendship.” He wrapped his arms around you unexpectedly and before you could catch yourself, you returned the hug, nuzzling into his neck and breathing in his scent.

You were an omega.

It almost scared him how happy he was that you were comforted by his scent and by his own revelations.

No matter how long it took, he was going to make you his but, he hoped he could at least make you notice him by the time the full moon came.

  You were antsy.

Which was normal given that the full moon was that night, you were always on edge by the time it came around.

Your wolf, scratching just beneath the surface of your mind was ready to be let out.

So, you let her out.

You’d spoken to your mum and  she’d wished you luck for the full moon, in the same way that she did every time it would rise. You told her you’d call back once you returned home.

You’d told Jas that you would be gone for a few days and that you would call her once you were back as well.

Sitting under the light of the full moon, you waited in front of your tent, the campfire blazing high as you stripped out of your clothes, folding them neatly and placing them inside.

It was all part of the routine.

You turned after that.

Your bones shifting and rearranging, your muscles lengthening and growing and the hair on your skin thickening into fur; your jaw cracks and grows into shape.

With one last roll of your shoulders, you shift you the weight on each of your legs, giving yourself time to become re-accustomed to your canine form before you wandered around this new area.

It was a wild meadow, a lot like the one back home, the smell of lavender filling the air as it swayed in the bitter wind but, you weren’t cold.

Back when you’d first shifted, it had been extremely painful, it had taken you hours to get over the pain and fear of readjusting to another form but now, it was light work.

What was excruciating pain, was now a muscular ache; the same kind of pain you got after a heavy workout.

You ran around the meadow and into the woods themselves, leaving your makeshift campsite at its edge, just under the cover of the trees – hoping no one would find it – and headed into the clearing.

The clearing led to a cliff’s edge and you sat there watching how the moon’s glow cast itself on the forest down below and swept across the horizon, it was the only light to be seen but, it was all that you needed, your eyes were sharp.

The wind swept across the trees and forestry making them dance in time and you sighed in contentment, withholding the urge to howl.

As much as you were at peace, the last thing you wanted to do was to alert another wolf to your position.

The wind carried another scent across your nose, and you looked to your left, catching a glimpse of movement.

Too late.

You noticed it too late.

Looking back at you, was another wolf.

The way the light shone off their fur made it hard to discern their colouring but, you guessed it was a sandy brown.

You both stared at each other, and the wolf stood up from their stoop, clearly curious about you and without thinking, you took off. They followed after you, only a little caught of guard by the abruptness of your movement.

Their scent caught you again.

It was Chan.

Did he know it was you?

You didn’t care, you didn’t have time to worry , you were doing everything in your power to dodge him.

Jumping past fallen logs and ducking around corners and trees you hoped you could confuse him with your scent and lose him.

You could hear him, treading through the bramble and underbrush behind you.

But just as suddenly as you saw him, all trace of him was gone.

You couldn’t smell Chan in the air at all, nor did you hear him in the surrounding areas.

Cautiously, you snuck back to the edge of the meadow, scared that if you entered the clearing, he would materialise.

Chan caught you off-guard, shoving you from the side.

You fell down as he clambered on top of you.

You growled at him, trying to nip at any part of him that you could catch but, he dodged your teeth every time.

You nipped at one of his front legs and he yelped pulling away from you; you took that as your opportunity. You rolled on top of him and nipped at his shoulder before his hind leg kicked yours from under you. Trying hard not to lose your footing you, got up quickly, and ran full pelt.

You didn’t know where to go but, anywhere away from him was good.

He quickly foiled your escape attempt.

Chan gripped your back leg in his teeth, pulling it back and you fell, howling in pain.

You rolled over ready to fight back but, he pinned you down, baring his teeth and aiming for your jugular.

You’d lost the fight.

If you kept trying to fight, all he had to do was sink his teeth into the soft flesh of your throat and you would lose your life as well.

His body language was clear.

Phase back and reveal yourself or face the consequences.

You shifted back, trying your hardest to cover your exposed body but not from the cold.

Chan was staring down at you, recognition in his eyes.

He shifted back too.

“Y/N?” He didn’t care that you were both naked, but you did, and you tried your hardest not to look down at his exposed body.

He smirked.

Chan sat back and you sat up as he continued to look at you.

You shied away from his gaze.

“Don’t hide from me Y/N. Aren’t you tired of hiding from me? You’ve been avoiding me and blocking your scent. You’ve been hiding what you are, and we still managed to end up here.” He slinks towards you and places his hand on your cheek.

Tentatively, Chan kisses you.

His lips move against yours softly at first but then fervently and you gasp into the kiss as he lifts you into his lap. He wraps his arms around your waist, and you wrap yours around his neck.

He pulls away first and begins peppering kisses all over your neck and shoulders, laying you down in the grass. Chan hovers over you, staring at your body hungrily.

“Y/N I want you so bad.” He growls it out, placing himself in between your legs, running his hands up and down your body and tickling you lightly.

“Can I, have you?” He leans down softly nipping at the sensitive spot on your neck and you moan out, your hands reaching up to card through his thick, fluffy hair.

He kisses further down your body and takes one of your nipples into his mouth sucking lightly and running his tongue over it until it perks while his hand massages your other breast.

You’re a mess.

Moaning louder and louder, you don’t know what to do with your hands and you grip the grass firmly, your head thrown back.

Chan kisses down your body, leaving hickeys as he goes and once he’s directly  between your legs, he kisses across your hips.

“Y/N, can I have you?” He kisses your inner thighs, nipping lightly at the soft flesh and you gasp out.

“Oh god yes.” This isn’t like you. The heady mixture of desire and his scent in the air drives you crazy.

“Baby, look at me.” His voice is deep and sultry, words dripping with honey but commanding and you look up.

“Y/N, I’m going to make you feel so good. I’m glad we’re outside because I’m going to make you scream.” You can only moan in response, too far gone with desire but, also a little shy.

How do I respond to that?

Your mind short circuits when Chan’s tongue licks a stripe up your folds, parting them a little and laying his tongue flat on your clit.

Your eyes roll back and you sigh, trying hard to keep your noises to a minimum.

It’s cold out but, you don’t feel it at all, your body temperature is at fever pitch and heating up more and more.

You’re dizzy with pleasure and Chan continues on, eating you out like a man starved.

He wraps his lips around your clit sucking lightly and moans as you cry out; his tongue continuing to drive you closer to release. His arms wrapped around your thighs holding your legs open. The noises he makes are lewd and if you’d been in your right mind you would have been so embarrassed.

Your chanting his name like a mantra now, begging him to make you cum.

Chan places one of his arms across you hips as you try to buck up into his mouth and you cry out, desperate for just a little more tension.

You only needed a little more.

“Please, pleasepleaseplease. Chan I’m begging you, please!” Your words come out garbled and your voice doesn’t even sound like your own, but Chan hears you.  

And since you asked so nicely…

Chan puts 2 fingers inside of you, curling them upwards just right as he sucks on your clit again, a little harsher this time.

He alternates between licking you and sucking, all the while pumping his fingers in and out of you at a rough pace. Your vision goes white as you cum hard, clamping down on his fingers and your eyes roll right back into your head.

You don’t have the time to feel embarrassed by how loud you’re crying out, completely lost in wanton passion.

But he doesn’t let up, even as you clamp down on him, spasming in orgasm he keeps up his speed only stopping with a kiss to your inner thighs when you beg him to stop.

You’re so sensitive.

“Did you like it Y/N?” He whispers it against your ear as you gasp for breath, trying to get composed.

“Yes.” You’re still out of breath but, that doesn’t phase Chan.  In fact, he loves it.

“I’m glad you liked it, but we’re not finished yet Y/N. You sound so pretty when you cum but, I didn’t get to see the face you make. I would love to see it so; I’m going to make you cum again. I’m going to fuck you now, would you like that Y/N? Would you like me to fuck you out here where anybody could see us?” You can hear the smirk in his voice and your breath catches.

You’re a little embarrassed but thrilled at the same time. God, he’s so hot.

I really want you to fuck me.

“How much do you want me to fuck you Y/N?” He sits back on his on his legs, watching you with dark, lustful eyes.

You prop yourself up on your arms, breathing heavily.

Chan begins to stroke himself, holding eye contact with you as he does it.

He’s rock hard, leaking precum and it catches the moonlight as it runs down his hand. It almost looks pretty.

You swallow and lick your lips. Your mouth’s watering but your throat is dry and the only thing you want to do is make Chan feel good.

Your mind is filled with nothing but him.

“So bad Chan, I want you so bad.” Chan’s hand stutters at your words and he decides that he’s tired of playing.

He reaches forward, picking you up and placing you in his lap again, you take his face in your hands and kiss him hungrily, almost desperately, whining as he grinds you down on his length.

Chan’s tongue fights yours for dominance and just like your recent fight, he wins. You gasp when he enters you.

Your so slick and so lost in pleasure, he slides right in and he moans low, at the sensation of you around him. He can’t hold himself back.

“Chan!” He’s desperate. He’s so worked up that he can barely control himself, slamming into you at a speed that shouldn’t be possible.

He ploughs into you, laying you back on the grass, so that he can grip your hips tightly and control the pace better. His hold is bruising but you don’t care, your hands are back in the grass head thrown back as you cry out again.

He knows you’re close but, he knows what will really push you over the edge.

“Oh, ohgod!” Your eyes roll back and you cry out. He circles his thumb around your clit.

Rubbing in time with his thrusts and you begin to beg.

You don’t care who hears you, you don’t even care who sees you; you just want Chan to make you cum.

Chan grunts low, his voice deep and gravely and he keeps pounding into you and the way his hips stutter let you know that he’s close too.

“Y/N, look at me. I want to see that beautiful face when you cum.” You open your eyes and the sight is the final push you need to release.

Chan’s thick hair clings with sweat to his forehead and sweat glistens all over his lean body. The light from the moon casts an ethereal glow around him and he blows you a kiss as you make eye contact; smirking at you cheekily.

You clamp down on him, your body going stiff and then snapping as your orgasm rushes through you, white hot. Your toes curl and your vision goes blank.

Distantly, you hear the sound of someone crying out and realise that it’s you.

Chan keeps rocking into you as you lose yourself in pleasure, your tight hold on him makes his orgasm hit him like a punch to the gut and he releases into you with a growl.

He collapses on top of you and rolls you both to the side, cradling you close.

It takes you some time but, eventually you both catch your breath and look at each other, giggling like a pair of kids.

“Don’t hide from me Y/N. I know you want to close off from me but, don’t. I’m your alpha, I want to take care of you.” This is it. Fear shoots through you like a branding iron and you suddenly want to run away.

But your wolf doesn’t want that, she’s content.

The 2 warring sides of your mind make you confused and you try to put some space between the two of you.

Chan’s not about to let that happen. He pins you down again and kisses you.

“Let me in Y/N. Please, let me in.” With pleading eyes, he unravels the last bit of your resolve and crumble. Chan doesn’t even flinch when you start crying,  he instead picks you up and cradles you in is arms.

“Tell me what’s wrong baby. Let me help you.”

“The only other wolf I knew is the one that turned me, and they abandoned me. I had to do all of this on my own. How do I know you won’t do the same?” He sits back to look you in the eye.

His eyes are shining with sincerity and fondness.

“I’m not them. No responsible person abandons someone who needs them. Good people don’t do that. Y/N, I live here, my pack lives here. My whole life is here, and I want you to be a part of it. I can promise you that I’m not going anywhere but words are cheap. Let me show you that I’m here for you.” Chan winks at you playfully and dries your eyes.

“You promise?” Even though you want to be sceptical, you’re hopeful instead.

“I promise. I told my pack all about you, and they can’t wait to meet you. You’ll love them.”

[monchikyun]

XIII. give you everything

Connor can’t help but laugh when a palm lands on his cheek ever so softly. 

“You’re aware that I can’t feel physical pain, right?” 

“Shut up,” Gavin pretends that he’s bothered by that rhetorical question, but the hint of a smile trying to force its way in doesn’t go undetected. Ever since the morning, his face has been graced by the shade of red Connor can’t get enough of, which is the main reason for his good mood.  

Somehow they ended up playing rock-scissors-paper and Gavin insisted that the loser should receive some form of punishment, “to spice it up a little”. He thinks that the man just wants to test how advanced his programming is, to find out whether he’s even capable of losing. The truth is he could accurately estimate Gavin’s move if he concentrated enough, but then this would be no fun now, would it. 

Of course, he had to draw paper in their first round and the fact that Gavin immediately went for scissors was all but unexpected. The man himself can be sharp like a knife when you touch the wrong side of him. 

Connor has a hard time admitting to himself that he lost on purpose because he can’t quite figure out why. 

“Doesn’t matter,” Gavin mumbles and invites him for a rematch. 

He supposes there are better ways to spend their free time, but since no one is willing to talk about what is going on between them, childish games count as the next best thing. 

And Connor really enjoys the limbo they trapped themselves in. It’s just warm enough without the possibility of leaving burns. Luke-warm, if he’s being honest with himself. A bit bland. Still, he could live with that. He can ignore the longing in Gavin’s eyes if it keeps them safe like this. 

“Guess I win this time.” Gavin’s fist uncurls in disappointment, preventing Connor from enveloping it in his ‘paper’. 

“You sure you didn’t cheat with your robo mind-reading power?” There is nothing but playfulness seeping from his voice, still, Connor can’t believe he even has to ask. 

“You really do think highly of me, don’t you?”

“So that would be a ‘no’.” He squeezes his eyes shut and winces in anticipation. 

“I’ll be gentle, I promise.” 

And he is, imitating the slap he got just a couple of minutes ago. 

“Seriously? Well, that was kinda underwhelming.” He sounds almost dissatisfied. Connor never considered Gavin was into that kind of stuff but one never knows what the other person might be hiding. Not that he minds, it’s just a piece of information he needs to get used to. 

“So was yours.” He smirks at him, creating a petulant frown on his friend’s face. 

“Good point.” At least he doesn’t initiate a fight. It would be a shame if something ruined their so-far peaceful day. 

The snow has finally stopped falling, letting a ray of sunshine peek through the thick clouds. He would suggest taking a walk if Gavin hasn’t coughed three times in the past two hours. Connor has been monitoring his vitals, not noticing any significant change to his health, but that might have been only thanks to their current sufficiently heated location. At least according to his scans it is so, because the detective’s hands rub his arms up and down in an attempt to get rid of the cold only he can feel. 

“If only you had a perfectly comfortable sweater to wear.., what a pity,” Connor shakes his head in theatrical sorrow. 

“Oh, wait.” 

The darts coming from Gavin prick his skin without having to look at him at all. Now, this is fun. 

“You do!.” 

The man seems offended by his toothy grin, which makes it grow even wider. 

“For phck’s sake, Connor. I told you I’ll wear that over my dead body.” 

“Guess I’ll have to kill you then.” 

He means it as a stupid joke, but the air turns serious as soon as his mouth lets out those words. 

“Sorry.” 

He shouldn’t be the one letting himself be carried away by the moment, no matter how carefree it might have been. 

But Gavin doesn’t react to his feeble apology, busy making himself smaller to contain some of his bodily heat. His temperature is still within the norm, but that doesn’t tell him anything about what might happen in the next several hours. Days. 

He repeats his actions from the night before, placing his blanket around the man’s shoulder, letting his hands linger a little longer than they should. 

They spend the rest of the day wasting their time by playing all the games from Gavin’s childhood that Connor would never have the opportunity to experience otherwise. It’s a nice gesture, if that indeed is the intention behind it. Could be that this is the detective’s idea of dealing with boredom. And since they’ve decided to forget all about their work while they’re here, there weren’t many options left if they wanted to avoid all communication that could direct them to the forsaken grounds, also known as a personal dialogue. 

Connor almost had to force-feed Gavin the lunch he ordered for him, fighting against his endless excuses of not being hungry. He needs the strength if his condition is to worsen, and he’d make sure he gets it, even if it ended up in him having to shove a spoon inside his human mouth and nearly choking him to death. The man does sometimes act like a misbehaving toddler, but he figures that’s just a part of his charm. Besides, he likes taking care of him, it makes him fulfilled, for more reasons than one. It reminds him that he’s capable of so much more than just police work. 

It’s late in the afternoon now, the sky has gone dark and their carefully structured conversation quieted down into a pleasant silence. The only light source in their room is provided by the muted television which no one pays any attention to. 

Gavin is sitting on the ground, backed propped by the side of his bed. He’s still snuggled in Connor’s blanket, cradling a cup of tea the android has made for him. 

He has packed plenty of supplies with him, thinking they might come in handy. It’s better to be over-prepared than the opposite, an opinion that this trip has confirmed to him. 

Connor has just got off the phone with Tina, assuring himself that Sumo is being adequately spoiled. He really misses that oversized lump of fur, but the dog is doing just fine without him, so he has nothing to complain about.  

Checking up on Gavin he notices his temperature has risen above what’s deemed healthy. He sits next to him and retracts the skin on his hand, pressing it on the man’s forehead to extract the precise reading, just to be certain.  

“Yeah, I know,” Gavin says, clearly defeated. He shifts a bit and looks at him like he’s seeing the most beautiful being in the world, setting the now half-empty cup aside. 

“C’me here.” 

Maybe it’s the medicine he took twenty minutes ago finally kicking in, making his brain all mushy and body too clingy, but Gavin magically pulls him in his lap and holds him like he’s the last of his kind. He rests his head on the android’s chest, and Connor is too weak to deny him this show of vulnerability. Even if it’s likely drug-induced. They stay like this for a while, basking in each other’s touch, breathing in the tender atmosphere. Their hands have found each other too, fitting together like opposite poles. His spare one is threading through Gavin’s hair, messing it up on purpose. Connor loves seeing it like that, it feels intimate to him. A secret side of the man reserved only for those who are closest to him. It’s nice. Too nice. 

The moment is so overwhelmingly light it doesn’t even occur to him how dangerous his actions are. How those small acts can wedge a rift between them if he isn’t careful enough. 

But it’s too late to back out because Gavin kisses his chest, the place whereunder his mechanical heart beats loudly. And it doesn’t stop there. He traces those kisses up along his collar bone, his jaw, his neck, eliciting a content hum from him in the process. When he comes close to his lips, the man hesitates for a second that seems like an eternity, but ultimately decides to give in. 

And that where Connor draws the line. Snapping out of his trance, he quickly shoves his hand in front of his mouth to prevent Gavin from doing something he won’t be able to take back. 

“I’m sorry,” comes the muffled expression of regret. He truly loathes having to say that phrase so often because he apparently can’t do a single thing right in his life. 

He climbs off Gavin, dropping his body right next to him instead. 

“Why,” the man breathes softly. 

“I- I can’t. I can’t give you everything you want, Gavin.” He tries to communicate his despair through his doleful gaze, which his friend appears to be drowning in. 

“What-” Connor grabs the upper side of Gavin’s hand, guiding it towards him in an answer. It discomforts him greatly, but he leads it to where his genitals would be if he had any. He’s not the only one unsettled by this, for he senses Gavin struggle against his grip and at this point he has no choice but to set him free.

“You phcking toaster, you think I don’t know that?” he laughs without mirth. 

“You think that… that I want you just for your body?” 

Connor has hurt the man again, despite trying to do the exact opposite. 

“...no?” 

“No!” It’s not that difficult to believe, but not as easy when the truth has been spoken out loud. 

Gavin leans back into him, resting his head on his shoulder. At least they haven’t spiralled down the path of pretend animosity. 

“You don’t mind that I’m not a man?” Connor has never really regarded himself as one. It’s a label that doesn’t feel right to him. He’s simply himself, a human-like android who has been given a soul. There is no need for something else.

“I don’t care what or who you are, Con. As long as it’s you that’s inside, I wouldn’t mind if you were a phcking jellyfish, I’d… I’d love you all the same.” 

“You… you love me.”  The world around him gets blurry as he can’t quite process what he just heard.

“Is that so surprising, tin can?” Gavin chuckles, his own tears audible in that delightful sound.  

He wants to say it back, every inch of his being is urging him to do so, but his brain has frozen over and refuses to receive any command his heart gives him.

The words are stuck in his chest, leaking out through his close eyes, unable to be turned into any shape. They stab him with their intensity over and over, making him want to pluck them out and throw them at the person who has created them. 

“I-”

“You don’t have to, Con.” 

Maybe neither of them is ready to carry the weight behind that sentence just yet.

@a-convin-new-year i had to change the title a bit to suit my story hope you don’t mind 

[befitnesshub1]

10 Substitute For Mushrooms For Kitchen Recipes

Mushrooms are commonly used in a wide variety of foods around the world. Their earthy, meaty flavor adds a unique umami element to the dish. If you are looking for Substitute for mushrooms, we have compiled our top ten options. Some other options may be helpful if you do not enjoy mushrooms and want good alternatives. Other backup options are on the list because they reflect the mushrooms’ taste; Useful if you are allergic to them

Most people prefer healthy mushrooms as part of their daily diet, and not all entries and diets tend to work with this healthy vegetable. However, some people hate this vegetable, especially children, and even those with mushroom allergies cannot eat them.

Only vegetables can only replace if the particular food is suitable for cooking. Not every alternative works for a specific diet.

For example, since you are considered chicken, you can easily replace turkey with chicken in rice dishes. Let’s look at some of the most suitable substitute for mushrooms in cooking and the best food preparation.

What Are Mushrooms?

Mushrooms grow into an umbrella-like structure called the primordium, which then matures into a substrate. Mushrooms are a type of edible fungus. There are more than 14,000 species worldwide. However, you cannot eat most of them. Some of the most popular varieties of mushrooms include a white button, crimini, and portabella.

There are some edible varieties like oyster sauce substitute, enoki mushroom recipe, chanterelles recipe, porcini risotto, shiitake mushroom recipes, and many more.

Mushrooms are earthy and have a delicious taste called Umami. They usually grow on a firm, meaty texture when cooked. The fresh ones give a relatively subtle nut flavor.

Related post: Is It Possible To Lose 40 Pounds In 2 Months? Low Carb Diet

10 Best Substitute for Mushrooms to suit any Situation

You will find Top 10 mushrooms substitutes everywhere you go. We have wrapped up some options that will allow you to match the umami taste of this fungus.

1) Canned or dried mushrooms

If you cannot get your hands on fresh mushrooms or avoid them because they are too expensive, would you like to consider the canned or dried variety? This option will give you a taste similar to the new version.

You can enjoy canned mushrooms as a substitute for the taste of mushrooms. They are not allergic but cannot access fresh ones.

Dried mushrooms build up a sponge in the flavor field, so if you use them in a sauce, use less than what you would call a soup or casserole recipe.

Otherwise, your dish will have an excessive mushroom flavor.

2) Sun-Dried Tomatoes

Sun-dried tomatoes were very popular in the early 1990s. However, this vegetable went off the radar, with more and more people picking regular tomatoes at the time. Since then, it has seen a good rise in popularity, especially among chefs. Tomatoes can dry in the heat of the sun.

Cut these tomatoes into thin slices and fry them in olive oil. They work well with seasonings that include dried herbs, parsley, coriander, and more. They are an excellent choice for mushrooms, and they are popular in many dishes.

You can buy tomatoes that pop with natural flavor and essential vitamins. Cut or dice these vegetables for pasta, meat dishes, fish dishes, and poultry specialties. This vegetable can eat as a fruit to increase energy, improve digestion and eject harmful toxins from the body.

Once that happens, they may become an alternative to mushrooms. This is due to the taste of the soil produced throughout the drying process. Many chefs prefer to use sun-dried tomatoes because they can provide a unique taste in any recipe they touch. You can dice or chop them depending on the dish requirement.

3) Eggplant

Eggplant is very popular in the kitchen. These are egg-shaped vegetables that have vibrant purple skins and taste good. Eggplant is a mild flavoring ingredient that has a “meaty” texture similar to mushrooms. Although not everyone likes eggplant, it is rich in vitamins and is preferred by many cooks due to its sweet taste. While a good alternative to mushrooms, eggplant can easily overcook. Hence, it is essential to take good care of it when preparing food.

As always, the eggplant should be uncovered and then cut into pieces for easy consumption. Eggplants will darken after peeling, so place them vertically in the water to prevent this from happening.

You will not use this to copy the flavor, but it will become a good mushroom alternative if it is the texture you want to change.

Eggplant has a slightly bitter taste, which has the potential to contaminate your food. To avoid this, you need to chop the eggplant and then add salt. Leave on for 10-15 minutes, and then wipe with a paper towel. Salting reduces bitterness and water content.

4) Zucchini

Zucchini is an excellent substitute for mushrooms and comes from the squash family. Eaten primarily as a summer vegetable, its tender flesh, and sweet taste make it ideal for pasta dishes. This vegetable can grow up to a meter on average and is very handy in cooking delicious food.

A young zucchini has a mildly sweet taste, which is similar to mushrooms. Its flesh structure is somehow nostalgic for mushrooms. According to leading chefs, zucchini are good to chop into small pieces.

It is also healthy, nutritious, and delicious. No one would think that zucchini could be used as a mushroom substitute either. The soil taste of this food will somehow simulate the products produced by mushrooms.

The beauty of zucchini is that it can get the flavor from other ingredients in the diet while at the same time adding a little to your diet.

Keep in mind that zucchini has a high water content, which can make some foods too tiring. To deal with this, cover the chopped zucchini with salt and allow resting for 10 minutes before drying with a paper towel. This is the best way to get rid of moisture.

5) Garbanzo Beans (Chickpeas)

Garbanzo beans are also known as toast. This particular ingredient grows only in a few parts of the world. There are two types of beans: The first size is large and has a unique cream color, popular in tins on salad bars or grocery shelves. The second is smaller in size and darker in appearance. However, both options are suitable for a myriad of hot and cold recipes.

Chickpeas are nutritious and add good flavor to salads or dishes. If you plan to cook them, make sure they are well washed and remove all spoiled or discolored beans.

Sometimes, peanut tin cans have so much time that they lose flavor and nutritional value. With this in mind, make sure you have fresh, healthy, and fresh beans packed in cans and look for both dates.

When using these types of beans to replace mushrooms, you first need to know how to cook them.

First, there are a few basic steps to rinse them carefully and inspect them to remove any waste.

Rinse the beans back in the pot filled with water.

Place the pot in your oven and bake the beans for about 3 minutes. Cover the pot.

After this, turn off the oven, but do not remove the beans yet. Let them stay for 2-3 hours.

When finished, the beans are already safe to use as a mushroom substitute.

6) Tempeh

Tempeh is a nutrient-dense soybean product made from cooked, fermented soybeans, high in protein. It is a common ingredient in Indonesia. In particular, it is a soy product that has a strong feeling and characteristics.

The Tempeh tastes almost like mushrooms. If you cut the Tempeh as thin as possible, you can also compare their taste. Tempeh is made by soaking soybeans in water and then cooking them partially. However, if you are allergic to molds, Tempeh is not a good substitute for you.

It gives some subtlety and some acidity, making it a close substitute for mushrooms.

Tempeh is considered a rich source of protein, especially for vegetarians and non-vegetarians. Due to the fermentation process from whole peas, Tempeh has more nutrients compared to tofu. On average, 100 grams of Tempeh contains about 193 calories and 11 grams of fat (of which 2.2 grams is saturated fat).

7) Tofu (Substitute for Mushrooms)

Tofu is a food made with soybeans; condensed soy milk is change into solid, white brick-shaped pieces. It is one of the most popular substitute for mushrooms because of its mild flavor, especially when paired with soy sauce and other umami creamy sauces and herbs. Tofu first appeared in China and quickly spread throughout the continent.

This type of soy diet has expanded its territory to the West and other parts of the world. An enhanced feature of tofu is its rich nutritional and comfortable soft feel. Vegetarians need this food because they need a lot of protein to replace meat or fish.

It is perfect for women. Tofu contains high levels of amino acids and isoflavones, which help the body, activate estrogen.

Also, tofu can use in many dishes, from soups to fried foods. It often comes in large, white blocks. So, you can use a knife or cheese cutter to shape them as you wish for convenience.

Tofu is a popular ingredient used by bean curd and plant-based dieters. Its high protein content makes it a popular meat substitute. A tasty addition – make sure no one you cook is allergic to soy.

8) Russet Potatoes

Rusted potatoes are using as a substitute for baking or frying mushrooms. Potatoes have many varieties in their family. One of them is the russet potato, described as a long and large potato with thick and hard skin.

These potatoes have a relatively large amount of starch, so their flesh is the right color and very dry. Rusted potatoes have an excellent ability to absorb liquid or other concentrates, so they are trendy in making delicious mashed potatoes.

They are not suitable ingredients for boiling dishes such as soups or salads. Based on that, you can easily find out which cases russet potatoes are needed to replace mushrooms.

Rusted potatoes in the preparation of grids should be considered ordinary potatoes.

Clean the skin, especially peel the potatoes.

Dig into the eyes, and then cut them into pieces of suitable shape and size for cooking.

Using this potato substitute can revitalize the fried foods that come with the mushroom topping.

9) Onions

Onions are commonly grown in all over the world and are closely related to garlic, chives and scallions. Onions are an essential ingredient in many dishes and are processed in many ways.

The most common type of onion is usually white, although it varies in size, shape, and color. Interestingly, the onion’s taste is mild and slightly sweet depending on the type and season from very spicy and intense. Red onions are mostly spicy and not suitable for every meal. However, white onions taste a bit sweet and are the perfect place for burgers, chicken, fish, and poultry dishes. Onions can be steamed, fried, or even served as part of cooked dishes. This gives them the versatility that most people are looking for when deciding which vegetables to include in their diet.

When it tastes different from mushrooms, onions should always be on your list for last-minute cooking or making fast, healthy snacks.

Onions can be spicy, but of course, they can pack a lot of flavor and vitamins. Raw onions are very low in calories, only 40 calories per 3.5 ounces (100 g). A fresh onion contains 89% water, 9% carbs, and 1.7% fiber and contains small amounts of protein and fat.

10) Yellow Summer Squash

Golden zucchini has a long, rounded body with an eye-catching golden outer shell. The flesh inside is usually thick, pale yellow, or cream in color, which is very lovely when processed in foods. Yellow Summer Squash is an excellent choice for making soups or porridge, Risotto Nero rice when you go out with mushrooms.

Scientific studies show that golden zucchini contains many nutrients that the body needs. Specifically, it includes various minerals (Mg, Ca, Fe, Zn, etc.) and vitamin A, vitamin B, vitamin C, K, and beta carotene. Along with it is the excellent fiber which helps the digestive system to function more efficiently.

Related post: Best Griddle Temp For Pancakes | How To Make Perfect Pancake

[essensyinfo-blog]

Facial Cleansing Devices

Common guests to a spa will agree that one of many major advantages of going is to have a facial cleaning with a steam therapy. Having steam utilized on to the face in a steady and concentrated method forces the pores open and trapped impurities can then be washed away. Used together with mild scrubbing, you're feeling as if you will have model new pores and skin that's youthful, glowing and exquisite.

Within the previous days... Sadly, going to a spa could be very costly and it may possibly take up loads of your time. In spite of everything, going to a spa can really be was an all day occasion with little effort! However these days are over as a result of house facial steamers can be found at nearly each division retailer you possibly can consider. These house gadgets work nice they usually permit you to really steam your face within the privateness of your individual house which lots of people want. The price of these house facial steamers has actually come down and you'll sometimes get one beginning at round $30.00.

Quick Ahead To Right now... You will get your very personal facial steamer in quite a lot of sizes, options and prices. You should purchase a less expensive and smaller handheld mannequin that's both battery operated or a plug in sort. These will also be transportable which is nice if you're happening trip and need to take it with you. There are additionally dearer and bigger fashions that aren't transportable so that you can use as effectively.

Options... The options that you just get together with your steamer will differ relying on the dimensions and the fee the facial steamer that you just purchase. Among the primary steamer fashions have ozone and ionic steam capabilities. Among the higher finish facial sauna fashions permit you to resolve if you wish to tub your face with sizzling steam or merely a chilly mist to open your pores and shut them if you find yourself completed.

Different causes to get one... You might be shocked to study you could additionally use a facial steamer even you probably have stunning pores and skin with no points. The steam will help anybody that suffers from bronchial asthma, allergic reactions or stopped up sinuses breath a lot simpler. Once more, it's so rather more handy as a result of it may be accomplished at house as an alternative of on the physician's workplace. In case you are wired from work or monetary points for instance, you can too use it to create a calming and therapeutic environment by including fragrant oils to the water reservoir.

A transportable facial steamer is a tool that has been created to carry out a cleaning job of the pores and skin. It really works by opening the pores of the pores and skin permitting any impurities to be flushed away. Used together with an exfoliating brush it may possibly go away the pores and skin feeling revitalized and refreshed.

Nonetheless these facial steamers produce other makes use of that will not have been deliberate for once they have been purchased. The creation and use of steam has had therapeutic properties in addition to being a way to create a relaxed environment within the instant neighborhood.

In years passed by at any time when folks got here down with a chilly they might boil the kettle and pour the boiling water right into a bowl earlier than sitting over it with a tea towel over their heads, respiration within the steam that was produced. The concept is that the steam helps to clear the sinuses. In the identical manner, solely in a way more intensive manner, a house steamer can be utilized for a similar goal. The steamer can be utilized as an inhaler and the profusion of steam can be utilized as an efficient technique for breaking apart congestion.

The opposite different use for the facial steamer is as an aromatherapy instrument. When placing the water into the reservoir you can too select to put a number of drops of tea tree oil or lavender oil to create the soothing or calming aromas that can permeate the air within the room.

Though a steamer is primarily an efficient system for performing a daily magnificence therapy, its versatility makes it a tool that not solely improves the physique but in addition strengthens the spirit.

For most ladies, facials are a beautiful technique to clear up facial pores and skin. The method is stress-free, cleansing and firming in nature and it creates a pure clear glow that's good for particular events. Facials are advisable for mature pores and skin over the age of 30 and a big number of facials can be found to select from. In case you are doing a facial for the primary time, right here are some things it's best to know.

What occurs in a facial? The precise merchandise which are utilized in a facial will differ significantly however the routine is similar. In case you are doing a facial for the primary time, it is a good suggestion to talk with the pores and skin therapist. That is notably necessary you probably have delicate pores and skin or in the event you endure from pores and skin circumstances. Be certain that you checklist all related circumstances together with emergency treatment for allergic reactions. You may also talk about your necessities and expectations from the therapy and the salon therapist will information you on the various kinds of facials that may be accomplished.

Steps in a facial Often, the salon technician will give you a robe earlier than the facial is began. After you will have modified, you may be requested to lie down on a tender mattress and your hair is roofed with a bandanna. It's advisable to take away chains, earrings and studs earlier than the method. The completely different steps in a facial are as follows:

• Cleaning - The technician begins with a mild cleaning wherein a cleaning lotion is used to take away superficial grime and gunk. The cleanser is normally oily or creamy and it's massaged into the pores and skin for about 5 - 10 minutes. The cream is then wiped off with a moist wipe, sponges or heat heated cloths. Instantly after the cleaning, the technician might do a mild steaming of the face. This course of is important to dilate pores and skin pores. Because the pores open up below the mild warmth, it turns into simpler to do the subsequent step.

• Extraction - The mild steaming leads to open pores. These pores are gently probed with an excavator. This refers to a particular spoon like system which opens up the pores and scoops out the lifeless white matter from the within. This excavator is important to make sure that the pores and skin is just not stretched or torn through the extraction course of. Some folks wish to pores and skin the steam earlier than the extraction however this can rely upon the kind of facial and the operator.

• Exfoliation - After the extraction course of, the technician will exfoliate the superficial lifeless cells on the floor of the pores and skin. An almond shell scrub, nut granules, or rice particulates could be use but it surely really depends upon the kind of facial cleansing devices. After the exfoliation, the pores within the pores and skin open up wider. At this stage, most technicians begin with a therapeutic massage.

• Neck / Shoulder Therapeutic massage - A neck and facial therapeutic massage is carried out with a therapeutic massage cream. This cream is gently rubbed into your face, shoulders and neck and it is a good way to really clear out the pores and skin. After the therapeutic massage, the technician will wipe off additional lotion after which apply a face pack. That is really the final stage of the facial because the face pack will shut off the pores and skin pores. The pack is left on for twenty minutes and you'll chill out.

After the technician wipes off the pack, the facial is full. A phrase of warning: be ready to depart the salon wanting just a little tousled because the massages and the lotions can get into ears, noses, corners of eyes and just a little within the mouth too. Your face additionally seems reddened and swollen in areas because of the massaging and extraction. You possibly can have a heat tub after the facial however limit the usage of cleaning soap in your face. The precise results of a facial are seen 12-24 hours after the facial is full.

[launchsteinward]

This is for the MB challenge by @somebodyalreadytookthis2

Wednesday:

A Welcomed Guest

"Nighty?"

Nightmare's eyes lit up.

"Dream!" He exclaimed looking around, unable to locate his brother in the vast expanse of darkness.

Dream, quiet as a ninja, snuck up behind Nightmare and hugged him: the smaller yelping out in surprise. Instantly Blue and Cross had their swords draw: pointing at the mysterious silhouette that had just taken their Prince captive.

"Quite the pair of freinds you've made here." Dream commented, releasing the other from the hug.

"Don't surprise me like that! I almost had a heart attack you know" Nightmare pouted, showcasing a childish ness foreign to Cross and Blue but familiar to Dream.

"Uh, Nightmare... who exactly is this?" Cross asked finally getting a closer look at the stranger.

'Wait-

How come this one prince-

But THAT ONE ALSO PRINCE?'

Cross's (nonexistent) brain seemed to short circuit.

"Oh! This is my b-"

"Hi! I'm Dream. An adventurer from the capital and Nighty's childhood friend" Dream cut off Nightmare, secretly winking at his brother.

Catching Dream's drift, Nightmare nodded: deciding to fo along with Dream's antics.

"I see. Well, looks like we should look for a way out-"

Cross was cut off by the sound of insane laughter sending shivers up his spine.

The sound of a knife scraping against a surface could be heard as an ominous green glow reflected off the pillars in the hall.

Sharing a nod, the party : Dream included, hid behind a pillar and winced. It was blinding. A strong green light seemed to emerge from what appeared to be a skeleton demon holding a knife. Honestly, it was terrifying as both Cross and Blue felt their bones lock up.

'And now we run into a demon with flashlight eyes? Man, what's next? The teleportation kid from before shows up'

Blue sighed quietly before freezing at the bone chilling voice.

"Well, well, well, looks like we have some rather noisy guests. Ones that were not welcomed here at that. Tsktsktsk..." the Flashlight eyes demon clicked his nonexistent tongue, eyes still focused away from the party.

"We cant have that can we?"

'RUN' Cross could think as the demon looked him straight in the eyes and he was blinded.

Shutting his eyes that were searing in pain: Cross turned tail and ran. He could hear the thumps of his companions footsteps beside them as they turned and twisted around the pillars of the chamber.

Only when they were in complete darkness did they stop running and collapse to catch their breath.

They could still hear the demons voice snickering and purring: "come out come out where ever you are~" or " marco~... this is the part where you yell out polo you know?"

After catching their breath, the party shared a silent message: we're not going back there. And so they continued forward in silence: scared of the demon finding them. Well, everyone exept Dream who had only retreated only due to his brothers insistence and visible distress.

After a while they came aCross an odd looking lamp. It seemed to glow from the inside but the light only came out in golden blocks of light. 'Strange indeed'

That's when caught the sound of an oddly familiar tune coming up from infront of him. One that a cirtain trader had been humming a while back.

Smiling softly to himself, Dream followed the others as the sound got louder and they came across more lamps: some hanging from the ceiling by long chains and others just placed on the ground.

Eventually the say a gentle and welcoming soft light emerge from what appeared to be a stall, a wierd but oddly catchy song coming from it.

The stall was simple with a pink bar saying 'WELCOME TO INK'S SHOP', Ink presumably the skeleton monster sitting at the table with his head reasted on his hand and looking at the party smugly.

Cross couldn't help but gasp.

"Aren't you that potion seller I brought from a while back?"

"Maybe, maybe not. Who knows what really happened off screen" the trader shrugged out of habit, a small smile of relief unseen as his eyelights eyes Dream from the corner of his eye.

'Thank stars that brawny idiot wasn't dead yet'

"So, is there anything I could do for you? Maybe a potion, a charm? Maybe even my mystery box of useful items?" Ink asked, putting on a fake sellers voice cause Dream to snicker silently.

Ink count help but smile and secretly wink at the brute before getting on with the matter at hand.

"I- I cant help bit be curious of what's in the mysterious box of useful items. You swear that whatever's in there will come in handy right?" Cross asked, eyeing the grinning trader suspiciously.

"If course! I guarantee it!" Ink perked up.

'..Of course we're getting something so vague.' Blue smirked in amusement before his eye focused on the trader. There was something rather... intriguing about this 'Ink'.

Ink tensed up, blushing slightly in embarrassment as Blue stared at him. Of course he knew who Blue was, after all: you and your freinds wouldn't stop yelling about him.

Ink carefully placed a rather large pouch infront on Cross. After Cross had reluctantly given Ink the required gold, He took the pouch and opened it. Only to gasp in shock.

Cross turned away from his party, shoulders hunched as Ink watched in amusement.

Cross turned around suddenly, a pair of Ray-Ban visors taped to his skull. His smile was wide and full of child like excitement as he posed, showing off the glasses that only reflected the light coming off Ink's shop.

It was cute in a way: Ink found himself understanding why almost everyone seemed to adore the monochrome skeleton.

Dream couldn't help the genuine smile playing on his lips. Watching Cross do his wierd happy dance reminded his of how he would be as a child. Blue's reaction portraying Nighty's reaction at the time.

Dream knew instantly that this Blue character and himself would get along.

After calming down, Cross pulled out similar glasses to his own and distributed them among his party.

As he did, he couldn't help but pause as he gave Dream his pair. The other seemed strong, Cross couldn't help himself as he started analysing the others well toned (nonexistent) muscles. A few more bench presses and Cross was sure Dream would be ripped. Buff even.

Dream turned and started talking with Blue. He could feel Cross examining him as a light heat was apparent on his face. Blue noticed this instantly as a the strangely contagious heat grew on his cheekbones.

After putting on their glasses, they all thanked Ink: Dream giving the smaller a wink and earning a rainbow blush.

They all dreaded what was coming up. According to Ink, the exit to the chamber was in the direction they had come from: the direction of the demon.

___________________________________________

Dream was pumped. He couldn't wait to snap that demons neck. His anticipation for a good fight could be seen from miles away as they once again heard the sound of a knife scraping.

'This is going to be good' Dream could already feel the adrenaline tingling up his bones and sending a pleasurable shock through them.

Soon enough, they could make out the familiar glow of the demon. Putting on and securing their sunglasses, they prepared for the battle.

___________________________________________

Killer smirked. It seems that the prey had once again entered the lions den: this time of their own volition. It was hillarious.

He steadied his knife as he prepared to strike- grin maliciously wide. It was then that someone clocked him right on the jaw. Stumbling back a little, Killer looked at which one of these insects thought he was a lion and attacked him.

His eyes widened as he saw it was none other than the kidnapped prince himself. 'Did he get out of that cell on his own?' He thought before shrugging it off.

The boss told him not to kill the prince: he never said anything about hurting him.

"Well, well, who would have thought the beloved first prince would pack quite the punch" Killer mocked spitting out some purple substance.

Dream grinned as he attacked once more: the battle between the two commencing as the others just sat on the sidelines and watched. Not like they could do anything to interfere in such an intense battle.

Nightmare's eyes turned cyan as he drew back away from the group silently. Hiding behind a pillar somewhat close to the others he whispered an order before going back to the others: eyelights purple and an expression of confusion apparent on his face.

Killer pulled back as he tilted his head like an animal listening. "Gosh, dangit. And I was having soo much fun too. Well, looks like I gotta book my way out of here. Duty calls" the demon shrugged before disappearing with a pop.

Dream growled angrily as he yelled "COME BACK AND FIGHT ME COWARD! MY HONOUR HAS BEEN TARNISHED!"

Cross sighed in relief as he noticed a chest bot to far off from them. Motioning to the others as Nightmare calmed down he newly revealed to be brother, he approached the chest excitedly: wondering what loot he will get this time.

He opened it: only to find a black crown similar to the many he had found before.

"AGAIN!" Cross yelled in annoyance before tossing the crown behind him. Blue snickered as he explained the many crowns they had come across to Dream who couldn't help chuckling in response.

Nightmare's eyelights glazed over as he picked up the crown and put it in his inventory. He had a gut feeling that he may be needing it later.

___________________________________________

"Hi there"

The party jumped the the sudden voice: Dream luckily held back by Nightmare before he could instinctively punch whatever had just surprised him. Blue sighed. 'I knew I shouldn't have jinxed it'

"What the hell are you doing here kid?"

Criss asked eyeing the monochrome kid- Core was it?- from before.

"Just here to help you find your way" they shrugged before pointing at a rather short door. "Go through there and you'll find yourself on the second floor if the castle"

Nightmare and Dream looked at the child as though they were insane. Cross and Blue sighed before opening the small door, crouching and going inside: Nightmare and Dream hastily following after.

___________________________________________

"We need bait" Cross's voice echoed through the now empty and purple splattered hall. Thank God Dream was on their side.

"Yeah... but what?" Dream asked, shaking his hands in a attempt to get the purple substance off it. Blue watched in amusement as Nightmare hesitantly popped up: "ummm- how about cookies?"

Cross looked at Nightmare quizzically.

"And how do you know that?"

"I dont know... just had a feeling" Nightmare mumbled as Cross and Dream looked at each other before shrugging.

"And where do you suppose we get a cookie?"

"There" Blue said using his thumb to point down the hall at a familiar wooden stall.

Everyone stood there: mouth agape before collecting themselves. Cross had tears in his eyes as he knew he would have to say goodbye to some more of his beloved gold. That's when Nightmare gently pat his back and approached Ink: using his very own money to be a cookie from the trader.

And so the waiting game started. The party deciding to hide in a corner and rest up: some taking a cat nap. Nightmare got up and motioned towards a corner. "I need to use the restroom" he said, cheeks purple in embarrassment. Everyone nodded, allowing the prince some privacy.

As he turned the corner, Cross focused back on the cookie intently: waiting for the Demon King to take his bait. That's when he heard a quiet shuffle of shoes. He saw a demon: crown glistening on its head as ot approached the cookie.

Cross was in shock: the Demon King had actually taken the bait! Snapping out of his shock he tackled the Demon King down, the Demong King scowling in surprise.

'How did they know?'

Cross ended up ontop of the Demon King in a rather suggestive position that brought a blush to both the Kings and his own face.

Growling in annoyance, the Demon King poofed into thin air: teleporting elsewhere.

Nightmare came back from his rest stop before noticing everyones (who was awake) expression.

"Well, that's enough of a break" Cross perked up. "We're almost at the throne room according to Ink, so let's get this show on the road!"

____________________________________________

(My first animation/gif. In other words: sh#t.)

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[dopescotlandwarrior]

A Hero Among Us-Chapter 10

Previous Chapters on AO3

Chapter Ten

Frank Randall senior finally looked up from his Saturday morning paper after ignoring the butler, tortuously bend forward, for the past five minutes. He took the mail from a silver plate and looked through it quickly. One letter was from California, St. Helena, which meant news of his deceased son or widow or their failed farm. His face pulled into a sneer involuntarily because he found the entire venture in very bad taste and destined to fail. He opened the letter quickly before his nosy wife asked who it was from. She was still quite unstable emotionally and any news of her poor son might send her back to bed for another three weeks. Frank senior opened the letter, read the short paragraph and quickly folded it back into the envelope and tucked it into his jacket pocket. Well, he thought, that is unexpected news.

“Sassenach, my dearest love, ye promised to meet with Ben and the men this morning to learn how to cut the vines.” He smiled at her face, so angelic, so buried in her hair. He pushed the hair away from her face and one eye opened then quickly closed.

“I beg to differ Jamie darling, I did not promise.” Her voice was groggy with sleep.

“Aye, that ye did, in front of the men, so ye must get up now and put yer riding clothes on.”

“You have to help me.”

“Just hearin ye say that makes me dangerous, so no, I canna.”

Claire pulled his hand under the covers making him launch off the bed. “Yer a wee vixen and I’ll no be seduced…until later.” With that, he grabbed her quilts and threw them off her naked body making her scream in protest and follow him around the room trying to get them back. Three laps around the room and she was awake glaring at him in a way he found adorable. “Don’t be late.”

Claire had not been awake at this time of the morning, ever. She made several attempts to stab her legs into her breeches and finally sat on the floor and slid them up. She tied her binding around her breast and missed one side completely, donning her shirt and boots she was finally ready. Her hair looked like it had not seen a comb in a month so she shoved it under her hat and walked to the stairs. She glared at the banister and decided she would sustain bodily injury, or fall asleep if she tried to slide down it so early. When the front door opened Jamie took three seconds to push her back into the house and fix her binding. While he worked on capturing the rogue breast, she fell asleep.

Ben had worked with Jamie, Rupert, and Angus the day before so they could take smaller groups of men into the vineyard and teach them how to cut the vines back. This annual task ranked in the top five in importance to the health of the grapevine. The men were focused and ready to learn. Claire was leaning against Jamie sound asleep. Ten men groups practiced cutting and hauling the vegetation away. By noon, even Claire had her first grapevine cut back like an expert. Jamie and two of the strongest Highlanders hauled the piles of vegetation to the back of the property to be burned, destroying the evidence of the healthy vines as soon as possible.

It was back-breaking work that continued for five days of cutting, and three weeks of burning the vegetation. Seventy percent of the vines are cut away leaving only the trunk and two arms for next year. Ben walked through the vineyard totally impressed with the commitment of Jamie’s men.

When this enormous task was completed, Jamie was tortured over which of the men he would keep on for the winter. He decided on ten men and would cut the others loose so they could make their way back to the city before the cold settled in. When he was stymied he would find his wife for a fun ride through the property. Sometimes Misses Crook packed them a lunch to eat by the lake and Jamie found great value in quiet moments to talk with Claire, plan their future, flirt, tease, and look for a private place to make love.

Rain would nourish the sleeping vines and drive everyone indoors for a day of rest, brawling, or exploring the flesh of the one you loved. Claire would take a quick bath on overcast mornings just in case the big black clouds decided to rip open and confine them to their rooms.

Claire loved the new swing so much Jamie built a slanted roof over it to shelter them from the rain. His clever design was removable in nice weather but during the winter rains, it was very handy and allowed them to stay outside. On one cold afternoon, they cuddled on the swing, bundled up in a blanket, and read their current book for hours. As the sun lost it’s fight against the storm clouds the day got too dark to read and Jamie pulled Claire down to lay next to him. They cuddled and kissed, giggled and pinched. When the heavy rain came Claire gripped his hair and panted into his ear, pressing her legs open as he laid his erection against her heat. She was doing her best to push his pants low enough to free his erection and he was watching the sky for a break in the rain to run to their rooms. Mother nature won and Jamie slid into her body with a grunt suggesting she keep as still as possible.

The water slid off the roof of the swing in a thick sheet and the lovers discovered a new level of eroticism when they forced themselves to hold very still and not make the obvious body movements that would reveal their secret. Jamie held Claire’s hips still and inched in and out of her pulling lusty moans from deep in her chest. He used his mouth on hers to seduce and then fuel the arousal that lasted all afternoon. The sunset left them in pitch dark and they were finally free to chase their release with complete abandon.

The weeks passed and Jamie tortured over releasing the men. He walked to the cabins and rang the bell pulling every man to attention around him. He looked from one face to the other and cleared his throat.

“I ask yer forgiveness for taking so long to let ye go for the winter. I hope yer able to find some work this late in the year. Personally, I hate to see ye go. Yer my brothers and it just feels like ye belong here. So, those of ye that can stay on without pay are welcome. We will feed ye and give ye a place to live but we can’t do much more than that. The holidays are comin and some of ye need to send money home to yer families. I will write ye a letter of introduction to take with ye, and hope we see ye next year for the crush. Ye will all be missed.

Jamie pulled a piece of paper out of his pocket and told the men to call out their names if they were leavin. He anticipated writing letters the rest of the day and waited for the names. With his led poised above the paper the minutes passed and he finally lifted his eyes to look at the men. No one called out and after five minutes Jamie put the paperback in his pocket.

“Well, all right then. I’ve heard this land has deer and turkeys. Thanksgivin is next week and a passel of ladies will want to dance if we have a full table. Let us endeavor to impress them.”

The men erupted in laughter and joking, slapping Jamie on the back and shoulder as they moved out to scout the local fauna before starting the hunt. Rupert jogged toward the road to catch up with his friends when Claire called to him. She handed him a list of items to get in town and dazzled him with her smile. Ordinarily, Rupert would pull a sour mood to miss the scouting, but he would do anything for Claire, gladly.

Jamie was in a jovial mood now that the men were settled and staying. With little else to do, he grabbed Claire and pulled her, protesting, to the lake. She would learn to fish today, like it or not. It was part of his campaign to plug his wife into the everyday heartbeat of the property. Something she would never know staying in her rooms all day. Jamie set up two long narrow branches with string, hooks, and bait, cast the bait far out into the water and propped the branch up on a rock. Then he laid on his back and fell asleep. Claire was not happy being left alone with no one to talk to. She opened her book and saw one branch move a bit. Starting to read the branch jerked violently and she lunged for it before it was dragged into the lake by a fish on the hook.

“Oh! Oh! Jamie, you must get up and take this pole. Oh my God!” She did an impressive body dive toward the second pole that was bouncing violently. “Jesus, Jamie, what do I do! There are fish on the poles and they are monsters!” With a pole in each hand, she did her best to hang on as the fish fought for their lives and Claire made many noises that had never been uttered or heard in the history of mankind. One fish came jumping out of the water like it was trying to attack her and Jamie could no longer keep quiet. She dropped the pole and fish on Jamie and ran away dragging the second fish out of the water and bouncing behind her. She was scared shitless running away from the fish that chased her because she would not let go of the second pole. Jamie laughed so hard he fell in the sand trying to stop.

Jamie knew exactly where Claire was because she never stopped screaming. She came bursting out of the brush looking behind her at the bouncing fish with the pole gripped tightly in her hand and was successfully tackled by her laughing husband who pried her fingers from the pole and proclaimed her to be a master fisherman. The poor bouncing fish was rather torn up but added to the day’s catch anyway.

“Sassenach, do ye want to watch the poles?”

“I would rather not.”

“Alright, take this knife and the fish into the bushes and slide the knife straight down the line under the belly. Reach into the body and wrap yer fingers around the guts, pull straight down and then check the insides for any pieces that broke off.”

Claire launched at Jamie and almost threw the knife at him, then plopped down between the two poles and stared straight ahead across the water. By the end of the afternoon, they had twelve good sized fish to add to the dinner table. When the house was in view Claire ran straight through the front door and into the bathing room for a bath.

“Oh! Yer clothes smell worse than the dirtiest man I’ve ever met. What am I to do with them. Burn them, aye?”

“No Misses Crook, that is my only riding outfit. Just wash them twice and pray.”

Jamie and Misses Crook waited as long as possible for Claire to get out of the bathtub. Jamie finally cleared his plate before bringing her's to the bathroom.

He held fresh fried fish to her mouth and told her how brave she was. She swallowed the food and smiled as she ran the soap over her skin once more. Forkfuls of carrots, beans, fish, and cornbread were happily chewed as she washed. Jamie held her fingers up and declared her done wrapping a towel around her before Misses Crook came down with her robe. Jamie picked her up and carried her to their bed where he read to her until she chased her dreams.

Jamie was very pleased with his project to get Claire outside and active in the farm. When the image of her screaming while being chased by a bouncing fish came to mind he shook with laughter until he got out of bed to avoid waking her.

Rupert was back in town the next day to finish Claire’s shopping. He stopped for his annual haircut before the holidays and heard the scuttlebutt about the fancy lawyer that rode into town that day. Rupert listened with half an ear because he was looking for any of the lasses that came for their Fiesta. The barber slapped his shoulder to get his attention and pointed out the window as the dandy walked by.

Rupert looked at the man three times and rubbed his eyes before looking again. As he paid the barber he let out a loud NED! The newcomer stopped in his tracks and turned around, a smile breaking across his face when he saw Rupert.

“Well, what good fortune and quite a surprise to see a Highlander in this part of the world. What on earth has brought ye this far Rupert?”

The two men were clearly happy to see each other and talked for twenty minutes before Ned dropped his head and lowered his voice.

“The tenants of Lallybroch asked me to find any news of James Fraser. He came out west to find gold about three years ago and was never heard from again. I expect he ran into trouble and hope to give his sister the news of his fate if I can. Have ye heard anything about Jamie?”

“He’s no dead, if that’s what ye mean.”

The older man’s eyes grew large and he leaned into Rupert. “What have ye heard man?”

“Come see fer yerself Ned. I’ll be bringin the shopping back for his wife and he’s never too far from her.”

Ned’s smile was big and he beckoned Rupert to lead on. They talked animatedly on the way back to the vineyard. As they walked into the yard Ned pulled a paper from his pocket. It was a hand-sketched map with a large X on the property he now stood on. He wiped his brow as the front door opened and Claire ran out to relieve Rupert’s burden. She was introduced and curtsied bringing a fine blush to Ned’s face.

“How exciting, you know Jamie! He will be thrilled! Please come in Mister Gowan.” She spun in a swirl of skirts and led the men into the house.

Ned looked at Rupert with a bit of shock on his face, “she’s British.”

Rupert left Ned with Claire and went back to his chores while Claire pulled Ned into the dining room asking Misses Crook for a cool drink for all. She heard Jamie stamp his feet as he always does when he comes in from the barn. Claire disappeared to announce their company and she was back in her seat smiling in less than a minute.

Ned heard boot steps coming closer and felt his heart rate shoot up. Could that be Jamie, he wondered. It was his single wish in life. To see Jamie safe and fulfill his promise to his best friend, Brian Fraser. He watched the door as Jamie’s large frame filled it and piercing blue eyes looked at the second most admired man in Jamie’s life. He approached silently and held out his hand as Ned stood. They spoke volumes with their gaze and Jamie broke into a huge smile and hugged Ned right off of his feet.

Ned dropped into his chair laughing, red-faced, and shaky from finding Jamie alive. Jamie took a chair at the table and a conversation that would change all of their lives commenced.

Ned described his law practice in San Francisco, leaving out his reason for coming to America was to find Jamie. He also left out the reason for his visit to St. Helena and the client who sent him there. Little was said about how Jamie came to marry Claire or how they came to possess the vineyard and fine house.

Dinner was served as the conversation went on until both men felt completely caught up with the other. Misses Crook blushed a lot behind her napkin and did her best to serve and clear dishes with shaking hands. She knew she was in the presence of a great man and fancied his looks from the first minute. When there was a lull in the conversation Misses Crook blurted out that a rooster had gotten their chickens and now they had twenty layers to feed the men. Claire’s head shot sideways at her and she saw the flushed cheeks on the older woman. Okay, she thought, this just got interesting.

Jamie took Ned on a tour of the vineyard and those who knew Ned were able to exchange hello’s. Coming back toward the house Ned spotted the swing and asked if he could sit a minute and talk. What came next almost made Jamie vomit.

“Did Claire come to California with a man named Frank Randall? I believe he died in the first year, is that right? How did you come to marry her?”

Jamie knew their worst fear had come true and he struggled to breathe before he had a heart attack. He gave Ned the quick version of their marriage and life. He explained what a horrible man Frank was and how he left her destitute after spending her dowry on this land and vines.

“Why exactly are ye here Ned?”

“I’ve been hired by Frank Randall senior to investigate the value of this land and crop. Seems he was notified by a banker in town that there was a good harvest this year. This banker was a personal friend of Frank junior.”

“I can just imagine. Do ye have a name?”

“The damage is done, Jamie. Don’t complicate your life and Claire’s with a jail sentence. Leave the banker be and start making a plan. My loyalty is with you Jamie, as always. Whatever you tell me will not be shared and I will hold Randall off or shut his interest down completely. Tell me everything and we will figure it out.”

Jamie, Ned, and Claire talked into the night. Mostly answering the hundreds of questions Ned asked from Claire’s family and marriage to the value of the harvest and every detail in between. Claire caught Jamie staring at her and she nodded to him, knowing he wanted to tell Ned about the coming harvest.

“Ah, Ned, there’s somethin else about this vineyard I have to tell ye.” He described the blight ravaging the region and the immunity of their vines. Ned’s eyes got so wide that Claire giggled, breaking the tension so Ned could compose himself.

“Th..that is starkable, remarking, oh!… it is stunningly remarkable!”

They all laughed or tried to, and Jamie decided Ned was probably ready to pop from so much information. Jamie got Ned settled in a guest bedroom and they spoke quietly for a few minutes.

“The banker is an example of a loose end. Do the men know?”

“Aye, we had to tell them when the vines were bein stolen. They knew there was a secret reason I wanted them to defend the vines with their life. So, what is your gut tellin ye, Ned?”

Ned smiled at the reference to Brian and his favorite saying. “It’s time to move, of course.”

Jamie looked at Ned like he lost his mind.

“You need to scout the area and find a piece of property for sale, better than this one, or bigger, hell I don’t know. A property that won’t break yer heart to move onto.”

“Leave my vines? No.”

“We’re taking them with us, Jamie boy.”

Claire opened her eyes for a short second before slamming them shut. It was not nearly light enough in their room to suggest a decent time to rise. Turning on her side she burrowed under the blankets and went to war with her eyelids that would not stay closed. She felt her gut in turmoil, something invisible shaking her awake, a tapping shoe close buy.

“Jesus! Okay, I’m up.” As Claire looked around, seeing no one, she recalled the meeting the night before and the source of her anxiety was revealed. She jumped out of bed and ran for her riding clothes. London knew their secret, sent a lawyer to gather facts, they would send another if Ned failed them. They were coming.

Claire flew down the stairs looking for Jamie and jumped out of her skin when he came up behind her.

“I was comin to get ye, lass. We have work to do.”

The horses were tacked up and ready for a brisk morning ride, the first in their search for a new property. Jamie told her just enough so she would know what to look for. They rode all morning taking notes on properties they liked. Jamie had read Frank’s journals so many times it seemed like Frank himself was behind him telling him what to look for.

They insisted Ned stay with them and he began the first draft of the report to London. Each day Jamie and Claire went out scouting for land. There was so much of it they could not tell where boundaries were and made little progress. Hiring a real estate agent would tip their hand so they continued searching with the precious time they had left.

“Eat ye porridge and shut ye pie hole. Obviously, somethin has happened and the boss and lady are not themselves. They will tell us when the time is right and it's not yet so I propose we organize into a night watch. I want to know who might be watchin us, or the vines, and why. After my morning piss, I’ll be in front of my cabin. Those interested, meet me there.” Rupert walked away toward the outhouse. When he came around the corner of his cabin twenty minutes later he almost fell over the men in front of his cabin. It looked like the whole group just got up, walked ten paces, and sat down again. Rupert smiled and blushed with pride in the men.“Who has some ideas for the task before us?”

Jamie struggled to keep Donus facing the land he studied. Brimstone loped up on them and kissed her boyfriend hello.

“These lovebirds are a bit sickening, don’t you agree Jamie darling. Five minutes apart and they have to make out.”

Jamie looked at his bride and smiled knowingly, making Claire giggle.

“Look at that Sassenach. It has all levels for what we grow and the land is plowed, level, terraced and staked. What on earth could be better? It seems bigger than our property.”

“Jamie it’s all dead. Every vine as far as the eye can see, dead.”

Jamie made his thinking noise and Claire knew he was deep in his head. She decided to investigate the property knowing Donus would follow and carry a thinking Jamie with him. They loped along the edge of the property for twenty minutes before they found the outbuildings. Every vine they passed was dead. They dismounted and tied the horses up to smooch in private. Jamie called out a loud hello a few times, not wanting to be shot on the porch. He noticed the stone construction of the house and the European style. The outbuildings were also stone construction. “Big money built this place so where did everyone go?”

Several loud knocks brought not a soul to the door and Jamie turned the knob allowing it to open. He motioned for Claire to stay behind the stone wall and wait for his signal. Five minutes later he popped around the door jam and pulled her inside, kissing her breathless. When he broke the kiss Claire let her eyes fill with the abandoned structure. Someone had put a lot of effort into the interior design, there was a male influence as well as female. She imaged it without the layer of dust and garbage and found it stimulating, making her want to dance.

“If yer this captivated by the front entry ye better not go upstairs just yet Sassenach. My guess is someone created a fine estate, European, old money. The crops failed and they lost everything leaving a worthless property behind to sail back in defeat. Poor buggers.”

“Sassenach, we should go. Sassenach?” Jamie walked quickly through the first floor and then took the stairs two at a time. He spotted her in the corner of a bright room with a crib and rocking chair. She held a stuffed bear, left behind with the other toys that were piled in the corner. She had a dreamy look on her face as she hugged the bear to her.

“Sassenach?”

“What!”

The toy was discarded and her face lost the luminous expression instantly. Jamie held out his hand and pulled her back downstairs. The large kitchen was modern and pulled Claire in like it was needy for a family. Jamie pointed to the window and following that direction, Claire saw the most extraordinary thing.

The sun sparkled off the tiny waves almost blinding if you looked right at it. The water moved to the shore, undulating softly. The lake was large enough that she could not see across it and the spark of a thought jerked her head up to Jamie.

“Is it the same…”

“I am willin to gamble it is, love. Let’s find out.”

They came back to the house and explained what was found. Rupert was called to the meeting and the group made a decision on who the best swimmer was in the group. It was Jamie. Ned Gowen and Claire left on horseback, Jamie walked into the lake, and Rupert took Angus to find Ben and bring him to the house. Misses Crook looked out the upstairs window until Ned Gowen was out of sight.

It took twenty minutes for Claire to find the property again and a fire was lit with wet wood at the entrance to show a smoke signal to Ben and the boys. Another was lit near the beach in front of the kitchen so Jamie could navigate. Claire explained to Ned what she knew about the elevation requirements for the grapes they grew.

Ben let the boys use two of his horses and the three took off, following the smoke column in the sky. When they came up on the fire, they covered it in dirt and rode on to the house seeing the second column of smoke. They entered the house with rubber necks and Ben disappeared shortly after.

Claire was tired after all the excitement and worried about Jamie. Where was he? Rupert and Angus explored the outbuildings telling scary stories to each other about finding the family with axes in their heads or hung from the hayloft. It wasn’t long before they came racing back to the house where they would hang out for the rest of the day.

Claire was feeling frantic at Jamie’s late arrival. What if something happened to him and he could not make it across? What if he… She watched the column of smoke and daydreamed about what life was like for the family that lived here. She saw the water droplets catch the sun with tiny rainbows inside of them and smiled. Wait, why are there water droplets in the air? “Jamie!” She stood up smiling at the image of her husband shaking the water off his long curls. She ran outside and jumped in his sopping arms feeling him shake with cold.

When Jamie’s teeth stopped chattering he described the passage across the lake, where he saw homesteads, where he saw vines. Ned encouraged him to draw a rudimentary map before he forgot the details.

Ben emerged from somewhere below the house looking like he had been kissed by an angel. His eyes were misty, his smile large, and his skin flushed. Jamie walked to him and slapped him on the back good-naturedly. Ben smiled up at him, “they left it all,” and pointed down and waved Jamie toward the door he had emerged from.

Jamie ran down stone steps that led to a subterranean basement as large as the house above. He bent over, hands on his knees to keep from pitching forward. When he thought he could stand he turned in a circle seeing all the equipment for a commercial scale winery. Giant mashers, holding tanks, fermenting chambers, tools, glassware, and a solid wall of oak barrels lined up three tiers high.

Ben joined him looking around like he was seeing it for the first time, smiling in a daze of wonder.

“ My brothers winery,” Jamie whispered.

“Huh?”

Split into the three critical parts, the winemaker, the grape grower, the laborer. We split three ways. You and I get a share and the third is divided among the men. It’s perfect,” he whispered. “My Brothers winery.”

[vacuummops]

Top 10 Best Steam Cleaners

Steam cleaners are made to keep bacteria away, steam cleaning is the key to keeping our homes safe, clean and hygienic. Steam cleaners also known as steam mops are tremendous tools for cleaning floors ranging from mopping hard floors to lifting grime from carpets. Steam naturally wipes out stubborn stains and kills germs without having to resort to using harsh chemicals. Heat treatments have been shown to be effective at killing viruses on a variety of hard floor surfaces including hardwood floors, tile and more and one of the best things of a steam cleaner is that it disinfects surfaces using heat to destroy germs. They are portable and make light of cleaning floors and keeping your home extra clean especially in areas where harsh chemicals cannot be used as it requires nothing more than water. Steam cleaners are handy, beneficial and environmentally friendly substitutes to traditional cleaning methods including mops, buckets and detergents. For convenience, below is a list of our top 10 best steam cleaners.

Best Steam Cleaners

McCulloclk MC1375 canister steam cleaner with 20 accessories, extra long power cord, chemical free cleaning for most floors, counters, appliances, windows, autos

The McCullock MC1375 canister steam system is a multipurpose steam cleaner great for cleaning and mopping using ordinary water heated to over 200 °F, the MC1375 effectively and naturally cleans and sanitizes a wide variety of surfaces. The MC1375 includes 20 versatile accessories and variable stran control for blasting away tough grease and grime. Key Features and Details:Chemical free cleaning20 accessories which includes a floor mop, mop pads, nylon brushes, brass brush, angled nozzle scrub pad, scraper, squeegee 18ft extension wand, microfiber map pad, scrubbing mop pad, 5.5” jet nozzle, 15” nylon utility brush, angled nozzle, 3” scraper, 13” / 8.5” large mop head, bristle brush attachment, storage bag, fill cup, accessory kit, 25” round brush, 2.5” round scrub pads.Large capacity tank.Extra long 18 foot power cord and 10 for steam hose.Versatile.

2. BISSEL 39N7A / 39N71 steam shot Deluxe Hard surface cleaner, light green

Steam is an all natural cleaner that can sanitize when used as directed to clear sticky spots and eliminate dirt all without the use of harsh chemicals. Get rid of your mop and bucket and get the all natural, barefoot clean floors. It is great for sanitizing sealed surfaces, including granite countertops commonly found in bathrooms and kitchens. Key Features and Details: 1000 watt power rating. 20ft power cord length. Includes accessories, nozzle, extension brush, fabric steamer, window squeegee, angle concentrator and detail brush. 6.6 ounce toxic capacity. Powerful high pressure steam cleaner with easy to press trigger.

3. Shark Genius hard floor cleaning system pocket (SS003D) steam mop

This is the easiest steam mop ever, with the right selection for all your cleaning needs from everyday quick cleanups to whole room deep cleaning. The steam mop not only clean your floors amazingly well, its three setting electronic intelligent steam control allows you the ideal amount of steam in every situation. Cleans and sanitizes sealed, hard floors. The shark steam mop has three settings depending on the type if floor and level of dirtiness. No need to worry about mops and buckets. Get the all – in – one floor cleaner. Key Features and Details: 220 mm 3 sitting intelligent steam control capacity. Double sided dirt grip washable pads. Genius head with direct system channeling. Touch free technology. Steam blaster technology. ( never use bleach, powdered detergent, fabric softeners as they may damage or leave a coating in pads.

4. BISSEL Symphony Vac and steam 2 in 1 vacuum and steam moo for hardwood and tile floors, 4 mop pads included. 

Allows you to vacuum up dirt and debris and steam clean your hard floors at the same time, sanitize your floor using the natural power of steam to eliminate 99.9% of germs and bacteria. With the easy touch digital controls you can easily switch between functions while cleaning, so you can vacuum at the same time or separately. Safe to use of sealed hard floors including hard wood, tile, ceramic, linoleum, marble and granite. Key Features and Details: Dry tank technology. Powerful cyclonic vacuum. Accessory kit includes a washable soft mop pad and a washable scrubby wash pad. 2 year warranty. Power cord length 25ft. Tank capacity of 12 802.

5. SIENNA plus steam mop multi purpose hand held steamer hardwood floor, tile cleaner, 150watts, 212 degree

It has 3 levels of adjustable steam control worth illumination from q powerful LED light so the unit comes with multiple attachments so you can use it for a variety of purposes. A distinction is it’s vibrating motion that assists in removing grime and debris. Key Features and Details: LED headlight Reusable microfiber pad Accessories include carpet glider kit, 2 washable eco – microfiber cleaning pads, a custom fill cup, 12 piece accessory kit and a storage bag with a cleaning steaming head, window squeegee, 10 microfiber pad, 4 nylon brushes, 2 brass brushes, concentrator nozzle extension hose and has a holder strap. First steam cleaning system of it's kind combining sonic micro pulse technology

6. Sargent steam cleaner cleaning system, Multipurpose, high pressure, vapor steamer machine - best for commercial, industrial, home or car

The Sargent steam cleaner brings to comfort the way you clean your home, offices, car, and just almost anything. Key Features and Details: High-Pressure steam cleaner system. Comes with 17 attachments. Deep cleaning for multiple surfaces. Powerful steam of 298°. Active steam that provides a quick kill on all types of bacteria. Multiple attachments for flexible use.

7. Pursteam world's best steam chemical-free cleaning Pursteam handheld pressurized steam cleaner with 9 pieces accessory purpose and multi-surface

This Steam cleaner gives you full access to clean areas that are hard-to-reach Key Features and Details: Premium quality components Fast, effective and reliable Fast heating of 3-4 minutes 9 piece heavy duty accessory set for easy cleaning 9.8ft cord

8. O-Cedar microfiber steam mop with extra refill

This steam mop can be used on both hard and soft surface flooring , it is versatile and completely packed with the needed accessory without worry of switching tools in the middle of cleaning. Key Features and Details: Adjustable steam level setting. Includes a snap-on glider to refresh carpets plus an extra microfiber pad Triangle head designed to easily clean into corners and hard reach edges. Lightweight design Adjustable temperatures to work on all surfaces

9. BISSEL Little Green proheat portable carpet and upholstery cleaner

The features of the full-size carpet cleaner gives access to hard-to-reach places around the house. It can remove smaller deep-down spots and stains quickly and on the go. Key Features and Details: 3" tough stain tool 2-in-1 crevice tool to clean deep into crevices and corners with spray and suction Built in heater Lightweight design Tank capacity of 48 ounce Flexible hose, tough stain brush and spraying crevice tool included 9 amps power 1 year warranty Powerful spray and suction clean and help dry in one step

10. SANITAIRE SC6090B Commercial upright carpet extractor with 2-stage motor

Powerful motor, efficient and well sealed air pathway. It is designed for convenience with its wide brush roll for walk-behind. Key Features and Details: 9 gallon recovery tank to save time. Upright carpet extractor with motorised brush roll 20" drain outlet valve 17" wide brush tool and 3 solution spray jet for wider cleaning path 12" diameter rear wheel Two stage motor delivers 103" water lift for thorough water extraction

Final Words: The use of one of our top 10 best steam cleaners improves indoor air quality, curtains the physical labor involved in cleaning and provides a more comprehensive approach to cleaning. The system also mandates less management time and paperwork. Learn more. Best vacuum and mop.

[georgecrecy]

Living Fossils {1}

Dust sprayed and crackled against the various windows of the shuttle's cabin as it touched down, the thrusters adding little to the dust already swirling from the storm. Within a few moments the shuttle finished the landing process with a slight jostle, and the occupants made their way to the airlock and into their atmospheric suits. The air of this planet wasn't compatible with their lungs, so the suits would come in handy for more than just the particles of sand and small rocks that were assaulting and scraping microscopic gouges into the hull.

As the six lithe figures stepped into the bulky suits, the oldest addressed the others in the airlock antechamber. "Nothing like another outing for our scientific enumeration! Given what I could see of our surroundings, it is a small miracle there is anything left." Another slipped her shoulder into her suit as she rolled her eyes. "Yeah, that's nice and all Doc, but my only surprise will be if I don't die of boredom on this heap of sand." The scientist eyed her with an upraised brow, seeing her clip a gun to it's holster on her side as another, larger carbine hung in the cabinet behind. "I suppose that is why Allnex paid you to join these sorts of expeditions: to spare you from such a terrible end otherwise. And these sorts of finds aren't all that boring, I should hope."

The second mercenary of the group finished putting on his own suit as he quipped, "Oh yeah, nothing gets the blood pumping like another broken vase or some sorta proto-battery. You guys get excited over the smallest things."

Another of the younger females in the group, one of the four wearing a white suit to the two green ones, looked at the male mercenary and said, "That's better than getting all excited for nothing over some Jurgthen, Kenta."

Kenta smiled knowingly, "Murien's only saying that cause her team lost last night and now she owes me."

She blushed a little as she quickly shut her locker, the orange of her team's poster hanging from the inside of the door perhaps being given away. She still turned back to Kenta and shrugged. "Yeah, yeah, I'll pay you after we're back up top."

The doctor cleared his throat as he set the helmet down over his head, "Yes, well, let's get to that, shall we? Mic check please, everyone." A chorus of clicks and beeps sounded through all the helmets, all nodding in acknowledgement. "Excellent. Now, if you take a look at your maps, our target is to our west a few hundred clacks, so it won't be long to get there." As he spoke, the group punched the appropriate button on their wrist consoles to bring up the green light of the hologram. A large green dot was in the center of the map, while a smaller blue triangle represented their position.

One raised their hand, to which the doctor nodded, "Yes, Saffer?" 

Not comfortable with the others' eyes on him, he wriggled on his seat in apprehension. "The structure, Doctor Ghan, do we know what it's for or how it lasted all this time? What the beings were like that built it?"

The doctor shook his head. "I'm afraid I don't, but the evidence points to some intelligence in whatever used to live here. What surface scans we could manage through the storms showed signs of oceans and rivers at one point, which led us to seeing the grid-shaped patterns of many cities. We are here to see how advanced they became and if anything might be worth bringing back for Allnex. Our point of interest is a large collection of metals, perhaps a structure. I know this will be your first bit of field work, but I'm sure there will be plenty to discover." His eyes drifted to the two mercenaries that had clearly started a card game on top of their wrist map holograms. "Broken pottery or otherwise."

The six figures eventually emerged from the vehicle, and after a final reference of their wrist computers, they began to trek through the obscuring storm in a line, the two mercenaries flanking close on either side. Along the way they spotted jagged, unnatural remains of walls, and even the bent remains of metallic signs, long since rusted over to tell what they said or were intended for. They stopped briefly at several spots like these, but were not able to glean much. It didn't help their understanding when as soon as they might spot glimpses of these formations and signs of previous civilization, it was just as soon lost again in the red-tinted maelstrom.

After over an hour, the group spotted their target: a huge, multistory building which stood defiantly against the failing world around it. Sand and rock draped itself in piles and drifts around the large base, while they could see that sections of the walls had crumbled or caved in, exposing some of the upper floors to the elements. "It is a building alright, so the civilization had gotten to at least advanced metallurgy." Doctor Ghan exclaimed to everyone through their helmets. "What do you think, Codru?" The other male student nodded, "Definitely, but to have lasted for several centuries as you estimate since the planet-wide death event is especially impressive. I think Allnex will be very happy with just a sample of the siding for study of its properties, let alone anything inside." 

Hyupi the female mercenary looked around it exasperatedly and said, "Yeah, and speaking of which, how do we get inside, big-shots? Any of the scans reveal a nice door for us?" After a brief but fruitless look around the building as the gale howled around them, the group was about ready to call defeat. They were in the midst of climbing one of the drifts around the base when Saffer suddenly cried out in surprise. The two mercenaries spun in place with their carbines at the ready, but Saffer stood up with embarrassment clearly on his face through the glass of his helmet. "Sorry everyone, I tripped on a rock or something."

Murien was behind him, and was pointing at Saffer's feet. "Or something is right, look! It's the corner of something metal!"

The group converged excitedly on the two, as Murien and Saffer dug with their hands into the drift, exposing a little more of a wall and roof. The doctor's face bore a gratified smile. "Thank goodness for a bit of clumsiness, Saffer! This might be our way in. Quick, get out the shovels!" 

Taking out small folding shovels from their backpacks, they began to take turns excavating the sand and dirt away from the outcropping, and even the mercenaries showed some enthusiasm of discovery as they took part in the digging, though the environmentals in the suits could do little to negate the sweat from both their exertions and the sweltering heat.

After a short while, a door was revealed for their efforts, the senior student Codru was even able to discover a pad to the left of the door. As he brushed the last dirt away with his hand, through the dusty screen he could see it pulse with light, the screen showing unrecognizable symbols. Over the comms channel his surprise was immediately evident. "Uh, Doctor Ghan? You might want to look at this."

From over his right shoulder, Ghan could just see the pad. "Ah, they had some computer technology as well? Interesting."

Codru shook his head, "No sir. Look, it still has power!"

Ghan was at his side as fast as his bulky suit would allow, while the others all gathered behind him. Looking at the pad which still shone visibly through the crust of dirt and dust which coated the face of it, the doctor was amazed. "That means we are at least dealing with a nascent Type A civilization! There must be a fusion or even antimatter energy source inside the building! Oh, well done everyone! Well done indeed!"

Hyupi left the gathering and sat to one side against the side of the little valley they had dug out, her hand leaning her carbine against her body. "Well, sounds great doc, but what's a Type A?"

Saffer was practically giddy with excitement as he explained, "With any civilization there are metrics to understand it's progress. Type A is part of one scale of measurement we commonly use. It describes a civilization that is using all the possible energy of its planet. Type B, which we more closely relate to, use all the energy of their solar system, and so on."

Doctor Ghan was already busy taking pictures of the screen as he interjected, saying, "Yes, but there are a lot of ways for things to go wrong; lots of checks to get past. Most don't get near this far. Disease, war, climate upheaval, all can end things prematurely, as likely happened here."

Kenta looked at his wrist pad readouts as he said, "I'm sorry to cut things short, but we need to get back to the shuttle, we don't have much time left on our respirators to stick around. Pack it up everyone. I don't know about any of you but a shower seems like a real treat right now."

As the rest packed up and reformed to move out, Saffer was the last in line, reluctantly packing his backpack with his supplies and shovel. His body thrummed with excitement at the possibilities which seemed to tantalize him from inside the vault-like structure. Here was everything that made him want to be a xeno-archaeologist in a neat, metallic package. As he slipped one of the straps of his pack over the shoulder of his suit and turned to join the group, he thought he saw a flicker of movement from the pad out of the corner of his eye. He stared at the screen, but it still showed the same set of symbols as before. He jumped as his comms crackled with Kenta's voice. "Hey kid, come on! Move it."

He shook his head. "Sorry, coming!" It was just his imagination and excitement overcoming his senses. His mother always warned him about his excitable personality. He stamped up the side of their valley as sand cascaded down in his wake, and rejoined the others as they trekked back to the shuttle.

The wind whipped past as reddish dirt danced in convoluted twists through the air. The pad next to the door flickered, and instead of the previous symbols an alien face appeared, looking at the retreating back of the young student as he tramped up the side of the dug valley and disappeared over the top. A smile creeped over the alien face before the screen blinked, returning to black as dust once more accumulated over it.