#zesty lemon bites

[writingwithfolklore]

Describing Foods - A Masterlist

                As a broke university student, I love reading about food. It’s almost like eating a real meal myself <3.

I get a little angry when characters are eating a meal and I barely get to experience it with them. In that, I mean I don’t just want to know what it is, but what it’s like to eat that food—how it tastes, smells, sounds, and feels. Is a perfect croissant still a perfect croissant without the crack of the exterior, the airiness of the pastry inside, the smell of yeast?

                Probably not. When writing about a dish, the smell, texture, technique, taste, and how it looks are all important to painting the experience, so here’s some words to use when describing a meal:

Taste:

Acidic: Sharp tasting. Often used to describe tart or sour foods as well.

Aftertaste: A different taste that remains in the mouth after eating something

Bitter: Tart, sharp, and sometimes harsh flavour.

Bittersweet: Less harsh than bitterness. Tartness + sweetness.

Bland: Has no significant flavor or texture

Briny: Just means salty. Often describes pickled foods.

Citrusy: Bright flavour like… well citrus fruits—oranges, lemons, limes, etc.

Cooling: Mimics that cooling feel—like mint.

Earthy: Reminiscent of soil. Can be used to describe wines, root vegetables, and mushrooms.

Fiery: Another word for spicy.

Fresh: Light and crisp—describes produce or herbs.

Fruity: Sweet and reminiscent of fruit.

Full-bodied: Rich and ‘feels heavy’ in your mouth. Can describe wines or soups.

Herbal: Bright, fresh, sometimes earthy from the presence of herbs

Honeyed: Sweet or candied taste like honey.

Nutty: Taste similar to the flavors of nuts. Often used to describe certain cheeses.

Rich: Full, heavy flavour. Often dishes that contain cream taste rich.

Robust: Rich + Earthy. Used for lots of wines or aged liquor.

Savory: Describes meaty, earthy dishes and soups.

Sharp: Harsh, bitter, or tart taste. Used to describe acidic foods.

Smoky: Reminiscent of the smell of smoke.

Sour: Biting, tangy, tart flavor.

Spicy: Burning taste.

Sweet: Sugary.

Tangy: Tart, biting taste—feels tingly

Tart: Sharp, bitter, or sour flavour. Used to describe acidic foods.

Woody: Earthy, sometimes nutty taste. Describes some coffees or cheeses.

Yeasty: Earthy taste reminiscent of yeast. Describes beer and bread.

Zesty: Fresh, vivid, or invigorating flavour.

Sound/Texture:

Sound has a lot to do with texture, so I've combined them for this section!

Airy: Light, pillowy texture (think inside of croissant)

Brittle: Hard but easy to break

Bubbly: Usually during heating, when bubbles rise to the surface—low sound.

Buttery: Smooth, creamy texture (think certain pasta sauces)

Chewy: Food that needs to be chewed thoroughly. Can be light and bouncy (chewy bread) or heavy (steak) and sticky (candy)

Creamy: A smooth and rich texture, comes from dairy.

Crispy: Light texture with slight crunch.

Crumbly: Food with loose structure that falls apart into crumbs.

Crunchy: Firm, crisp texture with a sharp, loud noise.

Crusty (behave): Food with a hard outer layer and soft interior (many loaves and breads)

Delicate: Light and fine, feels like it can come apart easily.

Doughy: Soft and heavy, usually pale colouring.

Fizzy: Usually liquids—a hissing sound, feels like ‘static’

Flaky: Light, characterized by layers that come apart during eating.

Fluffy: light and airy.

Frothy/Foamy: Airy bubbles, usually in a drink like a latte.

Gamey: Usually refers to meats when they’re very “meaty”

Gooey: Viscous, sometimes sticky texture from moisture in a dense/solid food.

Hearty: Firm, robust texture.

Juicy: Tender and succulent texture from liquid in a solid food (steak)

Molten: Hot, gooey

Oily: Slick, heavy, lingers on the tongue.

Silky: Fine, smooth texture that feels sleek.

Smooth: Texture free of grit, lumps, or edges.

Snap: A quick, sharp, crackling sound when broken.

Squelch: A soft sucking sound when pressure is applied. Somewhat gross.

Sticky: Gluiness in the mouth.

Succulent: Tender and juicy

Tender: Soft and easy to break down

Velvety: Smooth and rich

Smell:

Acrid: Strong, bitter, unpleasant

Comforting: pleasant, probably calls back to a nice memory

Damp: Wet smelling—probably a bit earthy

Delicate: subtle, faint, not overpowering

Earthy: reminiscent of soil

Fetid: Caused by decay—unpleasant

Fishy: reminiscent of fish

Floral/flowery: Reminiscent of flowers

Fragrant: Sweet or pleasing

Fresh: Cool, crisp, refreshing—produce, probably not cooked

Funky: Something’s gone off

Heady: Strong smell, pungent, rich

Musty: Not fresh

Perfumed: Pleasant, reminiscent of something (can be perfumed with citrus, say)

Piquant: stinging, pungent—tickles the nose

Powerful: strong

Rancid: Definitely gone off, decomposing

Ripe: Strong, usually unpleasant smell

Savory: spicy, salty, no elements of sweetness

Sour: has gone off

Spicy: Sharp, tingles the nose

Tangy: Strong and bitter but in a good way

Tart: Sharp

Woody: earthy smell, reminiscent of wood

Sight:

Usually texture gives us a really good picture of what a food looks like, so here’s some non-texture sight additions:

Blistered: Bumpy exterior.

Caramelized: Usually golden brown

Cloudy: Splotched. Almost see through if not for a slight white or grey mist.

Colourful: Bright and vibrant

Glassy: Resembling glass

Glossy: Smooth, shiny

Marbled: Two colours intertwined

Opaque: Not transparent. Can’t see through.

Ripe: Colourful (can be to a fault). Nearing the end of its edible state.

Scaly: Covered in scales, fish.

Shiny: Appears wet or glossy

Sparkling: Glimmers under the light

Stuffed: An ingredient placed inside a larger part with no additional space.

Translucent: Allows light through

Vibrant: Striking, bright

Food Prep:

How the food is prepared gives it these other attributes. If your character is familiar with cooking (or is the cook themselves!) they may describe food this way.

Baked: Cooked in an oven. Results in browned or crispy outer layer.

Blackened: When food is dipped in butter and coated with spices then cooked in a hot pan—spices darken, making it appear ‘blackened’

Blanched: Food scalded in boiling water and moved to cold water so it stops cooking. Texture comes out soft.

Braised: Food that is briefly fried in fat and then stewed in a pot. Results in seared, crispy exterior with a tender interior.

Breaded: Coated with breadcrumbs/batter then baked or fried so it turns crispy

Broiled: Food cooked with intense radiant heat in an oven or on the grill. Results in a darkened appearance and crispy texture.

Caramelized: Food slow-cooked until it’s browned, nutty, and has a bit of sweetness.

Charred: Grilled, roasted, or broiled and gains a blackened exterior and smoky flavor.

Fermented: Food that’s sat with bacteria, yeast, or another microorganism and has produced acids, alcohols, or gases. Results in a biting, pungent flavor. (Kimchi is fermented)

Fried: Food cooked by submerging in hot oil. Creates crispy, crunchy texture and golden colour.

Glazed: Food with a coating brushed onto its surface. Appears glossy with a thin, flavorful, and crisp outer layer.

Infused: Food steeped in liquid with another ingredient so it carries the essence of that ingredient. Used with herbs usually.

Marinated: Usually meat soaked in liquid containing flavourful herbs, spices, vinegar, or oil.

Poached: Food cooked in near boiling water. Results in tender, moist texture.

Roasted: Food cooked with dry heat in an oven or over the fire. Results in browned exterior and crisp coating.

Sautéed: Food cooked quickly in small amount of fat.

Seared: Food cooked in small amount of fat until caramelized. Finished by roasting or grilling. Results in crisp exterior and tender interior.

Smoked: Food exposed to smoke from smoldering wood for a long time. Results in that distinctive smoky flavor.

Whipped: Food beaten to incorporate air. Light and fluffy.

What did I miss?

[lilacskiesapothecary]

One Piece

“How they see you in Lingerie”

Zoro

Zoro is caught off guard and surprised seeing you in your sheer lacy getup. Zoro feeling a bit embarrassed seeing you stripped down couldn’t keep his eyes from wandering down your body. With only a few seconds he took in how gorgeous your chest looked wanting to kiss and suck your pretty nipples just to hear you moan his name. His eyes traveled further down noticing how amazing your ass looks in your lace panties, all he wants to do is rip them off and watch your pretty ass bounce on his cock. With his last few seconds he takes a mental picture of how beautiful your cunt looks in that lace. He could only imagine how beautiful it would look with his lips on your…Zoro realizing that he had been gazing at you for far to long “ You need to dress more appropriately for battle” and quickly walked away adjusting his pants do to the goddess that was you in Lingerie.

Luffy

Luffy was all too curious to understand what new kind of armor you had on. But what he did know was that you looked breathtaking, but he isn’t sure if your new armor will keep you safe. He gently hooked a finger around the band of your panties and giggled at how stretchy they were. But his breath hitched when it snapped back against your skin and your thigh jiggled with the impact. Luffy was mesmerized by the movement of your thighs and he didn’t really know why but he wanted to see more? To see if this stretchy armor will do other amazing things to your body. Again he didn’t understand the safety of this armor but getting to know the armor and the effects it has on your body was something he planned on doing.

Sanji

Sanji nearly collapsed seeing you in that soft lace. He immediately needed to worship your every inch of your body. He wants to softly caress your body in his hands while undoing the clasp of your bra and shimming you right out of those panties. He wants to take his time with you with slow kisses all over your bare skin. He’s always wanted to know how you would taste on his tongue. And how you would moan with his cock deep inside you. “Would you like me to-…” but Sanji was cut of by someone calling him. He flashed you a wink and headed off kicking himself for not making his dreams come to reality of worshipping you as you deserve.

🌸🌟Thank you for Reading 🌟🌸

✨We have exciting news!✨

We will be releasing our One Piece By the Sea Soap at the end of the month! Thank you all that has bought from us! It really means a lot 🥹

And while we are waiting for those soaps! We have added fragrance oils to our shop. 🔴Black Friday Sales Have Begun🔴

✨🔴Take a visit in our shop to get started on your Holiday Shopping🔴✨

[literaryvein-reblogs]

Writing Notes: On Food

A compilation of notes on how to describe food in writing.

How to Describe Food: Flavour & Texture

1. Write about the flavour.

Rich -> full, heavier foods. Often used to describe foods containing cream (e.g., potatoes & garlic, soup, and chocolate cake).

Bland -> has little or no flavour.

Bitter -> a tart, sharp, and sometimes harsh flavour (e.g., coffee).

Citrusy -> a bright flavour (e.g., lemons, limes, oranges, and other citrus fruits).

Fresh -> a light and crisp taste. Often used to describe produce or herbs. (e.g., apples, lettuce, cucumbers, carrots, etc. Or bakery items like breads, muffins, etc.)

Fruity -> any taste reminiscent of sweet fruit flavours (e.g., grapes, blueberries, peaches, etc.).

Smoky -> a taste reminiscent of the smell of smoke (e.g., BBQ).

Sour -> a biting, tangy, tart flavour (e.g., lemons, Sour Patch Kids, and other sour candies).

Sweet -> a sugary flavour (e.g., candies, ice creams, desserts, etc.).

Zesty -> a fresh, vivid, or invigorating flavour (e.g., tacos, Italian pasta salad, etc.).

2. Write about the texture:

Mushy -> soft, but in an unpleasant way (e.g., if you cook vegetables too long, they’ll get mushy).

Tough and chewy -> are similar. Both describe foods which are difficult to eat because you have to chew them for a long time (e.g., meat can be tough or chewy, especially if it’s cooked too long and it gets dry).

Tender -> similar to ‘soft’, but it’s mostly used to describe meat which is cooked well, so it’s soft and juicy.

Crunchy -> food that makes a lot of noise when you’re eating them (e.g., dry food – like potato chips, or hard cookies – can be crunchy).

Words to Describe Different Flavours

For rich, spicy, or savoury flavours. The following words represent complex, spicy, or flavourful seasonings and dishes: buttery, caramelized, peppery, piquant, salty, sapid, saporous, savoury, smoky, and spicy.

For sweet or fresh flavours. These descriptors characterize fresh or sugary dishes: ambrosial, bittersweet, bright, fruity, honeyed, minty, nectarous, saccharine, sharp-tasting, sweet, syrupy, treacly, and zesty.

For subtle flavours. Some dishes are on the milder side. You can use one of these words to describe the taste: bland, mellow, tasteless.

For sour flavours. A sour or complex taste can be challenging to articulate. Here are some descriptive words to help: astringent, briny, citrusy, fermented, sour, tart, and vinegary.

For hard or crunchy textures. Use these words to describe a crispy or chewy texture: broiled, caramelized, crusty, flaky, leathery, sizzling, thick, thin, toasted, and toothsome.

For soft or fluid textures. These words can help you describe drinks, desserts, or other soft items: crumbly, doughy, fizzy, gooey, juicy, luscious, mashed, mushy, rubbery, runny, simmered, smothered, spongy, sticky, tender, velvety, and waxy.

For the smell of food. Here are common food adjectives you can use to describe smells: acrid, astringent, bright, citrusy, fermented, heady, honeyed, minty, nutty, peppery, pungent, rancid, rotten, smoky, sour, and vinegary.

Tips for Describing Food in Writing

Be specific. There are a lot of food words that are vague or general, like “delicious,” “yummy,” “succulent,” “delectable,” “mouth-watering,” or “finger-licking.” Avoid these overused phrases. Focus on the food's particular flavour, texture, or smell to make your writing more evocative and precise. Rather than describing a soup as “tasty” or “scrumptious,” try more specific words like “buttery,” “chunky,” or “minty.”

Consider your purpose. Decide if your goal is to explain a culinary experience or make the food sound appetizing. A clear understanding of your intention and target audience can help you shape your writing to be the most compelling.

Evoke all the senses. While you lean heavily on taste to describe food, remember to explore the texture, smell, sight, and sound of a dining experience as well. Including sensory language that incorporates the other senses creates a more robust experience for readers.

Sometimes less is more. Food writing is most effective when it’s focused, allowing readers to zero in on the essential details of the dish. If you include too many descriptors or attach multiple adjectives to each noun, you can overwhelm or confuse readers.

Sources: 1 2 3

[trulybetty]

Cake | Marcus Pike x f!Reader

Pairing: Marcus Pike x F!Reader (no use of Y/N) Word Count: 1,961 Warnings: Fluff with a dash of spice, mature content, talk of food, family & trouble sleeping. As all the Pedro characters do, Marcus Pike comes with his own warnings. Summary: At the end of a long week of hosting duties, it's late at night and you're unable to sleep. AO3: Linked

A/N: As hard as I try, pun not intended - I can't seem to write smut for our man Marcus. But there's some illusion to spice here - which is progress. One day maybe we'll progress further, but until then - enjoy! xx

Also, thank you to @wildemaven, @marcus-is-my-muse & @lunapascal for the Marcus Pike visual inspo - quite a few I hadn't seen before and have tucked away for future writings...

Cake. 

The only sound in the kitchen was the scrape of the barstool as you pulled it out to sit atop. The oversized and overstretched cardigan you’d pulled on slipped down your one arm but you paid it no kind. Your attention was focused solely on the pink box in the centre of the kitchen island. Pulling it towards you, you traced the logo printed on the front. The small light from the oven hood provided a dim glow to the room, it being too late at night for anything brighter. 

The day had been long, longer than you’d anticipated. The pulse at the balls of your feet was a reminder of this as you absentmindedly lifted your left ankle atop your right knee. You rubbed at your foot to help alleviate some of the sting of wearing heels for most of the day. 

As you continued to dig your thumb into the ball of your foot you pulled the cake box to you, flipping it open with one hand. The combined smells of almond, raspberry and lemon filled the air, and with a deep breath in and exhale you felt the tension of the day easing away. There were wooden forks on the counter atop pink napkins that bore the same logo as the cake box, which made you happy to know you didn’t have to get back up after making yourself comfortable.

You picked a fork, letting it hover above the cake for a moment, savouring the moment before taking a bite. The delicate balance of flavours—the sweet almond sponge mingled with the tart raspberry filling and zesty lemon icing—flooded your mouth. It was culinary bliss, and you closed your eyes for a moment to cherish it. 

A perfect end to what had been an overwhelmingly emotional day.

Just as you were about to go for your second bite, you felt the sudden warmth of a body behind you, enveloping you in an unexpected but welcome embrace, Marcus's warm chest pressed against your back. He gently kissed the nape of your neck, causing a pleasurable shiver to run down your spine. His strong arms wrapped around you, pulling you closer to him as his face found its resting place against the crook of your neck. 

His hand moved slowly down your left arm until it found its target—your hand. His fingers intertwining with yours, he lifted your hand and tilted it side to side, watching how the dim light danced along the facets of the single diamond that adorned your engagement ring, making it twinkle even in the darkest hour of the night.

Together, you both admired the ring that had adorned your finger now for all of two weeks—beautiful but not ostentatious, a far cry from the ring Marcus of some years back would have picked out. But you still had admonished him for the size. To which he’d shrugged with a smile, some habits were still hard to break.

“It's beautiful, isn't it?” he whispered, his voice tinged with wonder and awe.

“Which one? The ring or the cake?” you asked with a grin, your gaze shifting from your sparkling diamond to the cake still in its box sitting in front of you.

“Both,” he chuckled, “But mostly you.” He kissed the underside of your jaw, still not letting go of you. You could feel his smile against your skin, and it made your heart swell with emotion. 

“You couldn't sleep either, huh?” his voice was a low rumble in your ear, imbued with a sleepy huskiness that you found incredibly endearing.

“No,” you admitted softly, leaning back into him. “I guess all the excitement finally caught up to me.”

Marcus chuckled, his breath warm against your neck as he left lazy kisses between words. “It's been a rollercoaster of a week, that’s for sure.”

“You know,” you began, your free hand spearheading another forkful of cake from the plate, “cake actually makes everything better.”

Marcus raised an eyebrow, “Is that so?” he said as he loosened his hold on you, allowing you the freedom to turn your body towards him.

“Hm, there’s science and everything to back it,” you insisted, with a playful matter of fact. “Sugar and chocolate—endorphins, serotonin, all the feel-good stuff, you know?”

Marcus chuckled, clearly amused. “Well, who am I to argue with science?” He tilted his head back slightly, opening his mouth in anticipation as you turned to face him, fork poised in mid-air.

The cake was a simple yet opulent finish to a day filled with love, laughter, and a little chaos. What family event isn’t? Your engagement to Marcus had brought your closest friends and family to town, since neither of you were native to the city, turning the past week into a whirlwind of activity. 

This evening had marked the end of the week of celebrations, culminating in a dinner for both sides of the family. And while the affection and well-wishing from everyone had been heartwarming, it had also been overwhelming. 

You’d laid in bed, Marcus sound asleep next to you, but you’d tossed and turned. You had felt like you were still riding the adrenaline high of not only the engagement but the week of hosting duties. Unable to wind down despite the late hour, you headed for the kitchen. Your secret rendezvous with calm, disguised as a late-night cake tasting.

As he ate the cake from the offered fork, you watched his face light up. It was a simple thing, but you felt a warmth spread throughout. Here you were, in the middle of the night, eating cake in your kitchen with the man you were going to marry. There was a kind of magic in that simplicity, an affirmation that you were each other's comfort and joy, even in the most mundane of moments.

He swallowed, savouring the lingering taste before looking at you with gratitude. “Okay, I might be a believer.”

“Science doesn’t lie.” You replied, taking another forkful for yourself this time and relishing the taste that spread over your tongue.

“This cake is divine, but it's not quite the sweetest thing in this room,” Marcus responded, nudging your knees apart with his hips. 

His eyes dropped to your lips before he leaned in to kiss you. It was a gentle, lingering kiss—deeper than a peck but not rushed. It was a kiss that said 'I love you,' 'I appreciate you,' and 'I can't wait to spend the rest of my life with you,' all rolled into one.

The combination of the cake, the quiet, and the deepening intimacy, in spite of the tiredness of the long day, meant it didn't take long for the kiss to pick up in fervour. Your hands moved to Marcus's neck pulling him closer. Exploring your lips with tenderness and gentleness his tongue teased yours, drawing out a low moan from you.

Marcus finally broke away, breathing heavily as his thumb swept across your lower lip. Taking a small step back he reached behind you for the cake box, pulling it towards the edge of the counter. You watched him smirk as he dipped his finger into the thick icing and brought it to his lips for a quick taste. 

But when he looked at you with those dark eyes filled with a mischievous glint, your heart thumped heavily in your chest and you felt your cheeks heat. A small smile crept across your face in suspicion of what was to come next.

“Have you tasted how good this stuff really is?” he asked with an impish grin, extending his finger out to you, still mostly covered in icing

Without hesitation and not breaking eye contact, you took the entirety of his finger into your mouth and slowly dragged your lips up, only to release it with a satisfying 'pop'.

He groaned as he watched you lick your lips, an exaggerated move by you knowing the effect it would have on him.

“While you were right,” he said, “cake does make things better.” he paused to place a gentle kiss on your lips, “But there’s still something missing, and I can’t quite put my finger on it,” he said, his voice dropping an octave as his hand slid up your thigh.

You could feel his hot breath against your ear as his fingers brushed against the hem of your cardigan, gently grazing your bare thigh and barely skimming the edge of your panties. He leaned into you, murmuring into your ear: “And I think I just found it.”

Your breath hitched as you felt his fingers start to tease at the sensitive skin. 

He began to unbutton your cardigan, his fingers masterful as he moved from one button to the next with one hand. As the fabric parted, he slid it off your shoulders, letting it pool at your waist.

Your eyes locked onto his, and you felt, more than saw, his affirmation as his gaze travelled from your face down your body, and back again. A soft 'wow' escaped his lips, here you were, exposed in the most intimate of ways, and yet you’d never felt more cherished.

A feeling that you’d never been without since the first days of your relationship with Marcus. 

The room seemed to pulse around you, the delicious ache of longing mixed with the heady sweetness of the cake you’d just shared. His fingers lightly brushed against the side of your neck, moving down to trace the line of your collarbone, as if he were drawing invisible constellations on your skin.

He leaned in, his lips brushing against yours as he whispered, “You’re incredibly beautiful, you know that?”

“You’re incredibly charming, you know that?” You rebutted playfully, earning a soft laugh from Marcus. 

He took a step back, taking the time to savour every moment of this intimate moment. His eyes seemingly drank in your form as if it were the first and last time he would ever see you. He reached out with one hand, tenderly cupping your face as he leaned in for another kiss.

You could feel desire radiating off him in waves as his hands explored your body. Your fingers found the hem of his t-shirt and slid under to run up and down the expanse of his back, pulling him back to you as you hooked your legs around his waist. There was no missing the effect this late-night make-out session was having on him.

His breathing grew uneven, mirroring your own laboured inhales and exhales. As he withdrew, his forehead met yours in a lingering touch. You both took a moment to regain your composure. His eyes met yours, reflecting the same want you felt coursing through you.

“As much as I'd like to continue this here,” Marcus bit at his lip as he thought about the idea of helping you up onto the island and taking things from there. However, the reality of the day was nipping at his stamina and he knew it would be over before it could even begin, “how about we head back to bed?”

“Back to bed,” you echoed with a smile as you disentangled your legs from around his waist. Already knowing that neither of you were going to be going back to sleep any time soon. Marcus helped you hop down from the stool, his hands lingering at your waist for a moment longer before finally letting go.

Leaving your cardigan in a pile on the stool, you took Marcus' hand in both of yours and led him back to your bedroom, tiptoeing the cool wooden floorboard in the dark and up the stairs. 

“So,” Marcus whispered, his lips tracing a path along your neck as he closed the bedroom door behind him, “where were we?”

[lemonlyman-dotcom]

Thank you for the tags @strandnreyes @chicgeekgirl89 @carlos-in-glasses & @im-overstimulated-and-im-sad 💕 I am going to get a coffee and some breaky and then I’m excited to read and rb all of your sneaks! I will get back into my wips this week, but for now this is from Como Te Quiero Yo (how I love you) Lemon is getting a little zesty 🍋🙈

TK loves it about him. He pretends to find it annoying, having to wait for Carlos to make sure everything is just right. But it’s another way Carlos provides for him like nobody else ever has. Nobody has ever put his needs first, has cared enough to make sure he’s well taken care of, that he’s not going to be inadvertently hurt. It’s sweet and it’s sexy and it drives TK absolutely wild.

“I’m ready, baby,” TK purrs into Carlos’s ear, biting it softly and pulling back so his teeth drag across the lobe. Carlos moans and turns his head to capture TK’s lips in a messy kiss. He moves his fingers and finds the sweet spot deep inside, applies enough pressure and begins to tease him over and over. “Carlos,” TK pulls back from the kiss, his mouth falling open around a panting whimper, “baby that feels so good. You feel so good.”

Tagging @thisbuildinghasfeelings @whatsintheboxmh @heartstringsduet @alrightbuckaroo @bonheur-cafe @fitzherbertssmolder @tarlosmalec @ladytessa74 @louis-ii-reyes-strand @malec4ev @herefortarlos @tellmegoodbye @carlos-tk @reyesstrand @freneticfloetry @apothecarose @basilsunrise @rmd-writes @thebumblecee @welcometololaland @guardian-angle22 @reasonandfaithinharmony @goodways @your-catfish-friend @iboatedhere @liminalmemories21 @lightningboltreader @never-blooms @theghostofashton @paperstorm and OPEN TAG 🏷️

[garbashedump]

...white guy Scrabby phrases

I GOT THE LIST bunch of things of mildly zesty phrases Scrabby would probably say

"don't get your panties in a twist" (ofc ofc)

"shiver me timbers! I'm freezing like a popsicle out here"

"hey guys let's split up to cover more ground"

"working hard or hardly working?"

"hi hungry I'm dad."

"the early bird catches the worm!

"wow were sure in a pickle here!" (Prism fav phrase ofc)

"that's it no more Mr. Nice auditor! that's the last straw buckeroo."

"you're on thin ice pal."

"I'm keeping my eye on you."

"you catch more scrabbys with sugar than smoke "

"Ahh, a good ol' cup of Jake Joe!"

"I'm so hungry I could eat a horse!"

"Time to dig in!" / "Time to get my grub on!"

"Oh look the suns out while its raining! guess the devil is beating his wife"

"Uh oh looks like we got company..."

"See you on the flip side!"

"You're looking a little tipsy-tury my friend."

"Looks like someone's buzzed as a bee."

"Looks like someone is decks below the ship."

"Oh how the tables have turned."

"Its the heart of the cards!"

Lifting heavy stuff: "Man anymore lifting and I'll blow my back hip out."

"Well slap my ass and call me Sally."

"Well butter my bugs and call me a Biscuit"

"Better safe than sorry!"

"Oh crumbs."

"Let's not dilly-dally too long guys."

"Aw quit being a negative Nancy!"

"Oooooh..... Right in the bread basket."

"Jeeze Louise lemon squeeze!"

" Holy moly guacamole!"

"Stop all of this tomfoolery this instant!"

"An apple a day keeps the doctor away!"

"Oopsie daisy!"

"Guess whoo✨" (Covers Prism's eyes)

"Beggars aren't choosers."

"Ahh I see, the apple never falls far from the tree."

"Looks like ya got ants in your pants."

"All bark but no bite huh?"

"Man that really ruffles my feathers."

"Ah! It'll be like finding a needle in a haystack!!"

"I'm losing my marbles over here!"

.....ok.... i may or many not have more but the- they're Scrizzers..

damn are you zombie fungi? cause you got me under your spell

are you a spider? cause you woven me in your web of love

are you the summer sun? cause you got my cheeks sunburnt red

Prism: damn you a cigarette? cause you got me addicted to you (Scrabby would then die after hearing this)

btw these are directed towards lawful joke au by @chaosaliien

[queerponcho]

Vanilla and lemon | drabble

a/n: Well- I guess i am posting something for the first time🤌🏽 I have no idea how posting on Tumblr like this works so i welcome any Tips and tricks if you have any lmao.

summary: You’re a vampire and are, once again, visiting the museum. But this time you forgot your blood-packs and cant seem to be able to leave. What’ll you do? Starve?…or help yourself to a bite of your favourite tour-guide…

MINORS DO NOT INTERACT AFTER THE CUT OFF PLEASE- i am not responsible for what kinda content you consume on the internet but i don’t wanna get blocked or reported so pls be warned this work is NSFW.

Vampire!female!reader x Steven Grant

Warnings: no use of your/n, smut, p in v, persuation, dubious consent, slight blood-play?, fingering, handjob, no mention of Jake or marc (sorry>_<), making out, not beta read, biting, marking, blood, scars, sub/steven?, begging, if i missed anything pls dont hesitate to tell mee<33

wordcount: a bit over 3000

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You have been in the museum for about 5 hours now. it's a place you like to be at, since it's shaded from the sun and usually quite deserted. You could go about the place comfortably without feeling watched or potentially being found out when you would drink out of your pre-packed blood packs. You even bought an opaque straw to make sure no-one saw the dark red thick liquid. unfortunately you forgot the straw and more importantly the packs. You’ve been waiting for the sun to set which you usually wouldn't need to-do because London was a generally clouded area, but this evening was especially sunny and warm despite it being october. You even forgot your umbrella at home, which you use to shield yourself from the sun.

there's a reason for your abrupt and unplanned leaving. you’ve been coming to this particular museum and touring the same exhibit for one reason only. The cute tour-guide, Steven Grant. He was intelligent and confident during his tour but every time you caught his gaze he would blush and avert his eyes fast, like a shy animal. you loved it. Always wearing those funky oversized shirts and ties under that beige jacket, on the warmer days he’d fold up the sleeves of his shirt to expose those delicious veins on his forearms. Every Time you saw those you could feel your canines prodding into your bottom lip. It was even worse now that you had forgotten your blood-pack. You were burning for a drop of blood, craving it. The only thing holding you back was your usual distaste of drinking directly from humans. Sometimes they would be all sweaty and smell dirty, you had to get so close it would ruin your appetite and sometimes the smell of them would get stuck on you for hours after you fed on them, which you just couldn’t tolerate anymore. So a few centuries ago you decided to switch entirely to bloodpacks, which had felt like a really good decision.

With hunger came an impeccable sense of smell. You knew Steven smelled good but you didn’t know he smelled like this. Like warm vanilla and zesty lemon, homey and comfortable. You’d press your fangs into his neck and never let go if that meant you could have that smell on you forever. The fact that he looked so good would be a definite bonus. Surely he’d be okay with living in your home, it was a historical mansion. It sed to be a vacation house for some rich nobles, but you renovated and refurbished it a while ago and kept it updated to current fashion, it was a bit of a hobby to you. He would have a huge Collection of books to read which you know he'd love, since you’ve caught him on more than one occasion, reading a different book every lunch. Just like he was right now, sitting by the giftshop, eating his pickle, cheese sandwich and reading up on egyptology. He looked really focused and you wouldn’t want to disturb, but before you can turn and move far away from him, your feet are leading you toward him.

Your instincts probably taking control as you sit down next to him, overwhelmed by the calming aura around him. He looks up from the book and locks eyes with you and you hear his heartbeat quickening. The blood rushing through his veins and supplying him with adrenaline as he looks at you flushed and wide-eyed.

‘h-hello miss. Can I help you with somethin?’ his pretty british accent isn't lost on you and the way he can't tear his eyes away from you has you riding a high you haven’t felt in a few decades. ‘I’ve been coming to your tours for a while and I really enjoy them. You’re really good at what you do’ the last part, you say in a slightly lower and breathier voice-range than usual. Your hunger is really affecting you in ways you had completely forgotten. Before you knew you were spilling compliance and persuasion spells onto Steven. You never liked to use them, they only ever worked on people that already had a certain affinity with you anyway. Meaning they’d either like you or needed to find you attractive for these to work. If you wanted to force someone you’d have to use the mind numbing witch magic you learned a few years after your transformation. That one you’d only used once, in a very dire situation on a very very old woman. It wasn't good blood but it was enough to survive at the time.

You’re brought back to Steven when you feel him leaning on your shoulder. ‘I know you’ve been watching me- I like it. You’re a very beautiful and captivating woman.’ Steven said lazily and fully giving into your spells, letting all his thoughts tumble out of his mouth. ‘I especially love your skirts- no matter the length they always make me flustered and nervous. Make me feel like theres this itch I can't scratch.’ he talks breathily and you hear his heartbeat pick up again and his blood most-likely rushing towards his growing arousal. You quickly take his tie in your hand and tug him with you. He follows you like a little puppy as you walk into a supply closet together. You lock the door with your magic and darken the window. Steven sees you do that and his eyes bulge a little out of his skull. ‘I-I gotta get back to w-work-’ Steven backs into the corner and you stalk toward him like a predator would towards his prey. ‘Oh darling, no need to worry- I only need to borrow something, yeah? It’ll only hurt a little, I promise.’ you say as you reach out to him and start to unbutton his shirt to reveal his neck and chest to you. You take off his Jacket and he blushes intensely. As your canines start protruding out of your mouth Steven surges forward and messily kisses you, you’re caught off guard but immediately tug him closer to you.

He grabs at the nape of your neck and desperately kisses you, slashing his tongue into your mouth and licking your canines expertly. This only amplifies your hunger and you slam him into the wall behind him with unnatural strength. He whimpers and paws at your soft body pulling your hips closer to his. You part away from him to let him breathe, and start licking down to his throat nibbling his jawline and earlobe. Finally you get to his pulsepoint and inhale his scent urgently lapping against it. He moans and whimpers, writhing under your touch. ‘please- please’ he moans quietly, not entirely sure what he is begging for.

He savours the taste and craves more kissing you again, licking into your mouth and letting his flavour spread into his mouth. He takes off your bra as you unbuckle his pants. He throws the bra towards where your blouse and his shirt are and walks you backwards to a table covered with rags and cleaning supplies. He shoves everythign to the floor and lifts you onto it. You plop down on the table and make a show of arching your back for Steven. He growls and comes closer reaching under your particularly short skirt and cupps your pussy over your sheer tights. You mirror his action by reaching into his briefs and wrapping your hand around his already leaking cock.

He stares at you awestruck and you take his hand in yours tugging him forward so he falls onto you. He catches himself so he doesn't crush you completely. You hook your legs around his hips and feel his jeans against your ass. His dick rubbing over your clit destroys your patience ‘fuck me Steven’ he mewls at that and positions his cock over your eager hole and pushes in slowly. ‘you’re so perfect, so tight for me always’ You both moan and you grab a hold of his hair and expose the other side of his throat to you. You surge forward and break his skin with your sharp canines. He slams down hard, now completely sheathed inside your tight wet cunt. ‘oh I love this- love you honey oh my gods’ you unlatch from him and bite a new spot next to the other one. Marking him as yours once more. He slams into you, pounding your pussy. The only sounds in the room, filthy and wet squelching sounds from the repeated thrusting and your collective moaning and panting. Steven whimpers and moves one hand to your clit, rubbing at it expertly. ‘m’gonna cum love- pleaseplease can I cum?’ You lick the fresh blood off his throat. Humming at the taste of him, you feel as he shudders and starts rutting into you uncontrollably, he’s about to cum and so are you. You move to his ear and suck on his lobe, before releasing a command. ‘cum for me Steven.’ He mewls and moans at your command and wantonly thrusts into you even faster than before. You move towards his mouth and kiss him hungrily, to his delight you take his tongue into your mouth and suck on it eagerly.

His hips stutter and he explodes into your tight pussy catapulting you towards your own orgasm as he circles your clit. He shoots his load, painting your tight walls and collapses on top of you. you come down from your high and make soothing motions on Stevens back. Your head resting on his shoulder, you turn to your favourite spot and lick his wounds. You feel his dick bob inside your pussy and you giggle at your insatiable husband. ‘never can get enough can you?’ ‘never of you, love’ he says lovingly into your hair. He lifts himself up to make eye-contact ‘you should forget your blood-packs more often when you visit me at work’ he remarks while kissing your shoulder. ‘You’re lucky that my love for you is stronger than my lust for blood, sweetheart’ Steven kisses you lovingly ‘i love you too darling. By the way, how did you like my innocent act, it was good wasn't it?’ you snort as he wiggles his eyebrows up and down. You turn your face into a seductive smirk and lean into his ear putting on a sultry voice ‘mmhm, you did so good~’ his grip on you tightens and his softening cock hardening again at your voice. His breath hitches and you kiss him quickly smiling up at him innocently when you part, he groans at your successful teasing. You lay there for a little longer, before Steven remembers that he has another tour starting in a few minutes. You help eachother get clean and collect your torn tights off the floor as you notice that the panties had gone missing. Steven kisses you once more before exiting the supply-room and as he slides on the jacket you spot a deep red piece of fabric hanging out of his Inner pocket inside his jacket. You narrow your eyes at him jokingly and he winks at you before making his way towards the waiting visitors.

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a/n: thanks so much for reading<33 if you like this please like and/or reblog😌🫶🏽

[makethehomebeautiful]

Okay, dinner is done, and it's time for some much-needed relaxation. I am making myself a cup of lemon ginger tea. The combination of zesty lemon and warming ginger always brings a sense of comfort and invigoration. It's not just about the taste; it's about the soothing benefits it provides for my digestion and immune system.

As I pour the hot water over the ingredients and let the flavors infuse, I can feel a sense of calm washing over me. This cup of tea is like a warm embrace, a moment of self-care after a fulfilling day. Adding a touch of honey, I take my first sip, letting the warmth and tanginess awaken my senses. It's a simple pleasure, but it brings me so much joy.

Now it's time to tackle the sink and the pile of dishes. Instead of rushing through this chore, I want to approach it with a different mindset. I'm going to turn it into a moment of meditation, a chance to find inner peace amidst these familiar tasks. Standing here in front of the sink, I take a deep breath, feeling the tension melt away.

As I begin to clean, I focus on the sensations—the flow of water, the texture of the dishes, the sound of my movements. It's like a dance, a rhythm that brings me into the present moment. Thoughts come and go, but I gently bring my attention back to what I'm doing. The warmth of the water, the scent of the soap—it's all part of this meditative experience.

With each dish I wash, I feel a sense of gratitude. Gratitude for the meal I lovingly prepared for my husband and myself, and the nourishment it provides. It's not just about the physical act of cleaning; it's about infusing these actions with intention, love, and tranquility. This sink becomes a symbol of the care I put into creating a peaceful home environment.

Cooking is a true labor of love. It's not just about satisfying hunger; it's about creating something special for my husband and myself. As I chop vegetables and stir sauces, I can't help but smile. The kitchen becomes my sanctuary, a place where I can express my creativity and devotion. The fresh ingredients, the flavors and textures—I pour my heart into every dish.

I want the atmosphere in this kitchen to be filled with warmth and love, so that it permeates every bite my husband and I take.

In the end, being a wife is about finding contentment and fulfillment in the simplest moments. So, as I sip my lemon ginger tea, as I embrace mindful meditation while cleaning the sink and dishes, and as I pour my love into every meal, I create a harmonious haven. A place where tranquility resides, where my husband and I can find solace and joy in the traditions we hold dear.

[moonlightdarlings]

zb1 as types of desserts

a/n: this is pure crack😭 i was eating key lime pie and thought of this help. anyways, the hanbin icon isn’t mine but the two side pics are :) idk why i wrote this but it’s something to keep me going

jiwoong • halo halo

why do i feel as though he’d really like halo halo?? could just be me but he strikes me as one to venture outside his comfort zone and probably enjoys new desserts. halo halo is the best summer drink and he finds it refreshing after a long day in the sun. would enjoy the coconut gel and the pieces of ube (probably)

zhang hao • cremé brûlée

he’s definitely one to enjoy this in a plate with sprinkled caramel on top. it’s not too sweet but not bitter either so i feel like he’d enjoy the happy medium :) it’s not a bland taste, per se, but he only would enjoy it after a celebration of sorts. it’s paired best with either tea or wine

hanbin • tiramisu

hanbin strikes me as someone who’d enjoy the whole experience of having tiramisu. the way the cake itself is doused in rum and vanilla- it’d be so delicious plus as a barista, he’d appreciate the extra effort it takes to create

taerae • apple pie

hear me out- ik apple pie tends to be a bit american but he just seems like he’d enjoy a classic pie! not just apple- although i think he’d find it delicious when served warm with ice cream slowly melting on top…he would like the way it tastes fruity with the hint of cinnamon which brings a warm, homely flavor

matthew • bundt cake

yk the place nothing bundt cakes?? yeah. i could see matthew going there and telling the members about the flavors. however, these cakes are extremely rich with flavor so it’s not really practical to buy them daily- more for special occasion such as a music show win

ricky • strawberry shortcake

we know he absolutely loves strawberries so it’s a no-brainer that strawberry shortcake would be perfect for him. every bite is just a melt in his mouth experience and he’s definitely the type to savor it with a cup of coffee on the side!

gyuvin • lemon moon cookies

these are the best cookies i’ve ever had and i have a feeling that gyuvin would like them too. they taste quite zesty but then follow with a sweeter taste- the cookie itself. he’d probably enjoy these with any cup of coffee, tea, or cocoa! the whole idea of dipping the cookie into the cup is also something i’d think he’d do (it’s delicious either way)

gunwook • lava cake

for some reason, i feel like he’d just enjoy lava cakes and the richness of the chocolate. it’s almost a guilty pleasure for him after school or a long day of filming! especially the way each bite is so soft and delectable

yujin • ice cream sundae

he’s still a kid so he strikes me as one to enjoy this classic dessert! ice cream sundaes are the perfect balance between cold and soft, warm cakes- with chocolate syrup- it’s also messy which is okay for him bc he seems like he’d take delicate bites anyway

[etes-secrecy-post]

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

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

⚠️NEW RULE! (W/ BIGGER TEXT!)⚠️

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

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

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

😡 WHATEVER YOU DO, DO NOT EVER LIKED & REBLOG MY SECRET POST! THIS IS FOR MY SECRET FRIENDS ONLY, NOT YOU! 😡

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

Take a Taste: with Uncle John's Chili Con Empanada and Sprite Lemon Plus [Recorded: Mar 30th, 2024]

Hello! It’s time for another “Take a Taste”! The series is about delicious food with my two paper dolls.

Today, it's time to share my food thoughts from the past month of March 30th, 2024; "Black Saturday" on Holy Week 🙏✝️. Once again, I break the "Holy Week" ❌🥩 rules because I ate the Chili Con Empanada from Uncle John's (formerly named: "Ministop Philippines") 🌶️🥟, with a refreshing drink of Sprite Lemon Plus in a can 🍋🥫. So, how's it taste of the Empanada from Uncle John's? 🤔 Let's find out, right now.

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

IMPORTANT NOTE: No #OnThisDay throwback post for this date.

So, without further ado, let’s get started:

1st & 2nd Image(s) 📷📲: ↑

• It's morning, 7:50 AM 🕖. And I'm somewhere at random Uncle John's convenience store 🇵🇭🟦🟨🏪 branch with my parents and my related family members for paying a visit at our ancestral house. But before we depart, I haven't... or WE haven't eaten breakfast by the time we arrive. So, I decided to purchase a nice hot Chili Con Empanada 🌶️🥟 worth ₱35, and a nice refreshing Sprite Lemon Plus 🍋🥫. in a can worth ₱45 (₱33 in the original suggested retail price)? I'm not sure but, I haven't tried it yet, aside from the only default Sprite flavor. 🤔

Did you know #1: I remember drinking the limited edition of "Sprite Lebron's Mix"? Yup, a collaborate with NBA superstar, LeBron James and Sprite. Which, by the way, I don't know much about NBA nor watching NBA matches because I'm not a basketball fan. ❌🏀🤷‍♀️ Nevertheless, as far as I know, this one tastes like authentic cherry flavor fused with Sprite's flavor, and I was surprised that this flavor Sprite drink was so good, I wish it'll be returned, soon as a normal production rather than limited. Man, I missed it, so much. 🍋🍒🥫😃😋

3rd to 6th Image(s) 📷📲: ↑

• Nonetheless, here's my first bite of the Chili Con Empanada. It is spicy yet very juicy with all the meaty goodness inside. 😃😋 But, is it hot though? 🤔 Nah, not at all. I can't help myself eating it, and I should order two Empanadas (of the same flavor). Here you two, want some? It is delicious! 😋

7th to 10th Image(s) 📷📲: ↑

• Now, what about the Sprite Lemon Plus? 🍋🥫🤔 For my taste, it's the same taste as the OG Sprite, unlike the "Lebron's Mix" cherry flavor. And if you want a take a peek at the color of the "Sprite Lemon Plus", I'd say it slightly yellowish blur color instead of the clear carbonate that we all know. To be honest, the appearance of the Lemon Plus is something that came out of dishwater with a dash of lemonade fruit that was squeezed in. I don't know, who knows? 🤷‍♀️ If only I had bought a glass to see the color, or maybe a plastic cup in my bag, or maybe I should it bought the plastic bottle format. 🤷‍♀️ Anyways, it says here that the "Sprite Lemon Plus" had a zesty lemon flavor, sharp fizz, caffeine, and vitamin B3. Yes, this Lemon Plus has indeed put "Caffeine" on a yellowish color carbonated drink. It's a Sprite with a little dash of Energy Drink, basically (I guess). 🍋⚡🥫 Looks like, I want a go another round of Sprite Lemon Plus, and see if I compare to the OG Sprite and the well-known Coca-Cola for the caffeine taste. Maybe, someday. 🤔

Did you know #2: That "Uncle John's" 🇵🇭🟦🟨🏪 convenience store used to be "MiniStop Philippines"? The latter was launched in 2000, until September 2022 owing to the death of former RRHI (that's "Robinsons Retail Holdings, Inc.", by the way) founder John Gokongwei, Jr. ✝️🧑‍💼, as well as the ending partnership of "Ministop Co." and "Mitsubishi Corporation" of Japan 🇯🇵🏢. Thus, the entire branches of "MiniStop" Philippines are now renamed to "Uncle John's" already effected by July 1st, 2023. Meanwhile, the OG "Ministop" still operates today in selected Asian regions outside Japan like Kazakhstan 🇰🇿, South Korea 🇰🇷, Viet Nam 🇻🇳 (our neighbor Southeast Asia country), and China 🇨🇳.

Overall:

• It's a solid breakfast meal! I dig the Chili Con Empanada over the greasy chicken sandwich that I've tasted before, in my previous topic. 🌶️🥟😋👍 And regardless of my thoughts of Sprite Lemon Plus, it is pretty damn refreshing. 🍋⚡🥫😋👍 And as I said, I will do a comparison between the OG Sprite for the color, and the OG Coca-Cola as well for the caffeine effect, in my next topic. Yup, this is going to be a "Sugar Rush" of soda test, I suppose. 🥤

BTW: This WASN'T the only meal I munch on because I have another meal on the same date as before. So, stay tuned for that. 😉

Well, that's all for now. 😊

If you haven’t seen my previous episodes, then I’ll provide some links down below.↓😉

Take a Taste:

○ 2021 Food Reviews: ○

• Popeyes U.S. Spicy Chicken Sandwich [Dec 6, 2021]

• Jollibee Chick'nwich & Crisscut Fries [Dec 21, 2021]: Part 1 [CLICK ME! #1], Part 2 [CLICK ME! #2]

○ 2022 Food Reviews: ○

• Mini Stop Chicken Fillet XL Sandwich [Feb 7, 2022]

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

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

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

• Burger King Whopper w/ Sides & Drink [May 6, 2022]

• Marshmello’s Limited Edition Coca-Cola Zero [Aug 26, 2022]

• Cheesy Burger McDo with Lettuce & Tomatoes Meal [Recorded: Sept 16, 2022]

• Mcdonald’s PH McSpicy & Apple Pie (featuring their World Famous Fries) [Nov 14, 2022]

• Mcdonald’s McCrispy Hamonado Sandwich [Dec 31st, 2022]

○ 2023 Food Reviews: ○

• Foods from Delicious Restaurant & 1919 Grand Cafe [Jan 8th, 2023]

• Homemade Churros by my lil’ bro [Feb 12th, 2023]

• Lugaw Sisig from Mang Boy Alfredo Lugawan Restaurant [Recorded: Feb 18th, 2023]

• La Prato Stakehouse [Recorded: Apr 10th, 2023]

• Salt ‘n Light Snack Shack’s Cheesy Bacon Burger & Fries [Recorded: Apr 14th, 2023] (Published on May 5th, 2023)

• Delicious burger meal at Tokyo Tokyo Restaurant [Recorded: May 6th, 2023]

• Delicious meals at the Valenzuela Food Fiesta Christmas Bazaar 2023 [Recorded: Dec. 10th, 2023]

○ 2024 Food Reviews: ○

• Mang Inasal Pork Sisig [Recorded: Jan 10th, 2024]

• Mr. Shaw Shawarma Rice [Recorded: Mar 24th, 2024]

• Mang Inasal's Chicken Inasal - Pecho (Chicken Breast) [Recorded: Mar 26th, 2024]

• Samgyupsal dinner night at the Samgyup Mukbang restaurant [Recorded: May 12th, 2024]

[prishavani]

The Grand indian breakfast!

When the sun peeks over the horizon, it's time to dive into the deliciousness of Indian breakfast. Picture a table filled with an array of flavorful dishes, each promising a journey of taste and texture. Let's take a leisurely stroll through the delightful delights of Indian breakfast, where every bite tells a story of tradition, comfort, and pure joy.

1. Masala Dosa

First on our breakfast adventure is the iconic masala dosa, beloved across South India. Imagine a crispy, golden crepe filled with a mouthwatering mixture of spiced potatoes and onions. Dip it into coconut chutney and sambar for the perfect blend of savory flavors that dance on your taste buds.

2. Poha

Next up, we have poha, a heartwarming dish from Maharashtra. Made from flattened rice, it's cooked with onions, potatoes, and a magical mix of spices. Topped with crunchy peanuts and fresh coriander, a squeeze of lemon adds a zesty touch to this comforting breakfast bowl.

3. Aloo Paratha

For a hearty start to your day, indulge in the goodness of aloo paratha. This North Indian delight features a soft, flaky flatbread stuffed with spiced potatoes. Enjoy it with a dollop of creamy yogurt and tangy pickle for a satisfying breakfast that's bursting with flavor.

4. Upma

When time is of the essence, whip up a batch of upma – a South Indian favorite made from semolina and spices. Garnished with fragrant curry leaves and roasted cashews, it's a simple yet satisfying dish that's perfect for busy mornings.

5. Idli with Coconut Chutney

Savor the sweetness of idli, soft rice cakes that melt in your mouth. Pair them with creamy coconut chutney and tangy tomato chutney for a delightful blend of flavors that's sure to brighten your morning.

6. Dessert Breakfast. Jalebi with Rabri

Indulge your sweet tooth with jalebi, crispy spirals of sweetness soaked in sugar syrup. Enjoy them with a side of rabri, a creamy milk dessert flavored with cardamom and saffron. It's a decadent treat that's worth waking up for.

From the comforting simplicity of poha to the indulgent sweetness of jalebi, Indian breakfast offers a treasure trove of flavors and textures to explore. So, the next time you sit down to enjoy a morning meal, why not embark on a culinary journey through the wonderful world of Indian breakfast? It's a feast for the senses that will leave you feeling nourished, satisfied, and ready to take on the day ahead.

[lilyblisslys]

what girlscout cookies would your cats be?

My opinion:

Cat A: tagalong. Soft plush chocolate exterior, complex and delicious textures within

Cat b: the new lemon cookies they have. Bright and playful but with a little bite

Cat C (foster!): s’more; crunchy exterior with a soft sweetness in the middle. Exactly what you expect.

Gf’s opinion:

Cat A: Samoa (controversial yet beloved)

Cat B: thin mint (a little crunchy, a little zesty, a fan favorite

Cat c: lemon cookie (inspiring but with some complexity, new)

[deepseawarlock]

Lemons & Longing || @qceensofkings

Ulysses, now back in his human form, found himself aboard his majestic ship, sailing across the vast ocean. As the sea breeze tousled his hair, he observed his crew preparing a magnificent seafood feast in the kitchens below.

Ulysses plucked a lemon from a nearby crate and sliced it open, releasing its tangy fragrance. He squeezed the lemon juice over a platter of freshly caught fish, letting the bright acidity enhance the flavors. With every bite, the zesty burst of lemon complemented the delicate seafood, bringing a vibrant and refreshing element to the meal.

"No raw fish for you, Isabelle," he explained, "nor wine, we have to be careful about what you eat from now on..." he was looking out for Isabelle lest she fell ill from consuming the unhealthy foods abroad. "We will find land soon, because you won't be sailing in this condition for longer."

[lemonylepid]

How to cook a Makuta fish!

Recipe by Toa Lakai! (thas me :))

You will need:

A fresh Makuta fish, preferably pudgy with filtered energy. (you can tell by how far apart the ribbing in the krom is.)

1 Dulo fruit

3 heaps of Rendered protodermis

2 pinches salt

1 pinch of dried tubna pepper seeds, ground

Step one: prepare your grill! In a large fire pit, about half a bio in diameter, gather some heavy logs or beachside palm bark, and maybe some imported woodchips from the mainland of your choosing. Light it up until it's a roaring fire. Do this about an hour prior, maybe roast some things over it as appetizers, it's your choice! Once it's broken down into nice hot coals, set up that cooking grill pretty securely over the heat. While it's coming to temperature move on to step two.

Step two: crack apart the Makuta fish shell by sliding your fingers between the krom and the shell itself. It should give. Splay it out like a butterfly, presenting the fleshy krom. Gently pull it away, almost rolling it from the spine. Once it's free you can discard the shell, and you'll have a lovely fish steak. Coat the entire steak in salt and pepper. If you want you can do this an hour before, and it will draw out the moisture and dry brine it.

Step three: Put the rendered protodermis in a bowl a bit away from the fire, letting it gently melt. Add pepper and some dulo fruit zest, and mix it thoroughly until it's a swirly whipped silver. This will be a lovely zesty basting butter.

Step four: Split the dulo into 6 wedges, letting them rest in the open air to bring out the sweetness. Flipping them while you're cooking the fish is recommended but not necessary.

Step 5: Carefully lay the steak on the grill away from you, and make sure it's sizzling. The blue should turn a shiny white, and once the white makes it to the median of the steak, give it a flip. There should be almost copper colored grill marks, and it should be dripping with it's own rendered protodermis, flaring the coals up just a bit. With a spoon or ladle, lightly baste the whipped butter on the white side. It should bubble and pop, and smell amazing!! The fibers in the krom should be opening up as well, soaking up the lovely butter. As soon as the whole steak is white, flip it again and keep basting. At this point continue flipping and basting until it's a beautiful silver and copper.

Step 6: plate the steak and let it rest for 5 minutes. Afterwards, slice it up and squeeze the sweet and tart dulo wedges over it. Each bite should look a deep blue in the middle, with a white edge, and a strong silver crust.

By the end it should be soft, delicious, and meaty. Almost falling apart. For humans, it's probably similar to earth fish with lemon, but a single steak could probably be shared between two matoran, and we don't have to worry about skin or scales.

For those who are confused our Matoran Universe was developed after Mata Nui, and the Great Beings actually implemented a lot more muscle based on Tren Krom. It holds a lot of functions but the main one especially in rahi, is energy and protodermis storage. Almost like fat and juice in earth meats. Matoran and other species can actually eat this stuff! And it's really good! Eat your heart out Mata Nui inhabitants. Oh wait, you can't. You guys just absorb energy like NERDS.

Anyway enjoy your fish steaks :)

[rainbowreactt]

Let's create a captivating Frozen Matcha Cheesecake with Black Sesame Crust

Ingredients:

For the Black Sesame Crust:

- 1 1/2 cups black sesame seeds

- 1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs

- 1/4 cup granulated sugar

- 1/2 cup melted butter

For the Matcha Cheesecake Filling:

- 3 (8 oz) packages cream cheese, softened

- 1 cup granulated sugar

- 1 cup heavy cream

- 2 tablespoons matcha powder (adjust to taste)

- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

- Zest of 1 lemon

- 1/4 cup warm water

- 1 tablespoon powdered gelatin

Instructions:

Prepare the Black Sesame Crust:

1. Toast Sesame Seeds: In a dry skillet over medium heat, toast the black sesame seeds, stirring frequently, until fragrant. Be careful not to burn them. Remove from heat and let them cool.

2. Crush Sesame Seeds: Grind the toasted sesame seeds in a food processor until they resemble a coarse powder.

3. Mix Ingredients: In a mixing bowl, blend the softened cream cheese and sugar until velvety. Gradually incorporate the heavy cream, matcha powder (adjust to your preference), vanilla extract, and zesty lemon zest. Continuously mix until all ingredients harmoniously combine into a smooth, vibrant mixture.

Prepare the Matcha Cheesecake Filling:

1. Bloom Gelatin: In a small bowl, sprinkle the gelatin over warm water and let it sit for a few minutes until it blooms.

2. Beat Cream Cheese: In a mixing bowl, beat the softened cream cheese and sugar until smooth and creamy.

3. Add Flavors: Add the heavy cream, matcha powder, vanilla extract, and lemon zest to the cream cheese mixture. Mix until well combined.

4. Melt Gelatin: Microwave the bloomed gelatin for about 10-15 seconds until it becomes liquid. Let it cool slightly.

5. Incorporate Gelatin: Gradually add the melted gelatin to the cream cheese mixture while beating continuously until smooth.

Assembly:

1. Pour Filling: Pour the matcha cheesecake filling over the prepared black sesame crust in the springform pan.

2. Freeze: Cover the pan with plastic wrap and aluminum foil and place it in the freezer for at least 4-6 hours, or until the cheesecake is completely set.

Serve: Before serving, let the frozen cheesecake sit at room temperature for a few minutes to slightly soften. Garnish slices with additional matcha powder or a drizzle of black sesame paste for an extra touch of flavor.

Enjoy the uniquely delightful Frozen Matcha Cheesecake with its intriguing blend of matcha, creamy cheesecake, and the subtle nuttiness of black sesame in every bite!

This recipe contains affiliate links that means if you click one of the links and make a purchase, I may earn a small commission if the item is eligible.

[sincerelyjxyy]

Gold Rush - Two

Invisible String - Gold Rush

Chapter Two - People Are Meant To Be Burdens

Song For This Chapter - Style by Taylor Swift

✧ deep, abiding friendships are the place where many women know lasting love. — bell hooks, communion: the search for female love ✧

Summary: After Josie's late-night adventures, she now how to face the consequences of splitting her time between kook life and pogue life, and lying to her mother.

Word Count: 9.7k

Gold Rush Masterlist

HURRICANE SEASON WAS EASILY THE BIGGEST DOWNSIDE TO LIVING IN THE OUTER BANKS. There was almost nothing to love about a tropical storm coming in and raining terror on the people of Kildare Island. It would leave behind all types of destruction and take weeks away from people's lives spent repairing the damage.

So when it was announced that Hurricane Agatha had slowly made her way toward the Banks, Josie was less than pleased. It'd been bad enough when Josie sought recovery from her experience at the airport, but to then wake up to her paranoid mother already doomsday preparing was not at all enjoyable.

It was all Max could talk about at the couple's lunch date: what he and his parents were going to do about the hurricane. The pool renovation had just been installed, the statues hadn't been properly cemented into the ground yet, and they were still painting the sides of the house—all jobs that were going to be delayed for weeks following the hurricane.

The pair sat outside on the back deck of Joanie's Seafood, despite the cloud-covered sky that hung overhead. The forecast for that day and the next was not promising, and yet they'd decided to take advantage of the lack of rain and enjoy their beautiful lunch by the ocean. Joanie's had always been a favorite of Josie's, so it was nice to get the full enjoyment before disaster struck.

The couple spent around an hour slowly eating their lunch and conversing, before they agreed to indulge themselves with dessert. That was when Max began talking about what he'd have to do about his new boat during the storm.

Josie could feel her headache as it slowly sank in. "Max, babe, I really don't think your boat is the biggest concern right now. It's a literal hurricane."

Josie stabbed into her lemon cake and took a bite, softly humming at the zesty taste. She did a little dance in her seat as the flavors coated her mouth, but stilled once she met the narrowed gaze Max shot in her direction.

"A hurricane that is going to tear up my brand-new, forty-thousand-dollar boat if I don't take the right precautions, Josephine." He reached over with his own fork to scrape a piece from her plate and shoveled it into his mouth. Josie gaped at the act, but it was replaced with a laugh when he sent her a goofy grin.

He was lucky he was cute; otherwise, she wouldn't have thought twice about poking his hand with the fork. She smiled, despite her boyfriend's smug expression, and rested her chin on the propped-up hand that held her fork.

"Did you know that the first time someone safely flew through the eye of a hurricane was in 1943, in the middle of World War II? The guy's name was Colonel Joe Duckworth, and he apparently did so on a dare." Josie's joy significantly dimmed due to the blank stare Max gave her.

"What does that have to do with anything? We were talking about my boat."

Shrugging, Josie cast her eyes downward as she played with a crumb on the plate. "Just thought it was interesting," she mumbled.

She figured, since they were talking about hurricanes, it would've been a cool thing to discuss. Many people of the present day still chased hurricanes. She'd even surfed some; it was interesting to think about.

Besides, who really cares if they were talking about his boat? Josie had heard plenty about the boat in the week that he'd had it. It felt like that was all they'd talked about as of late.

His new boat, his new truck, and the fact that he wanted them to make their relationship official.

"Well, honestly, I think there are more important things to think about than your boat. I understand that it's a lot of money on the line, but it's all material. There are people who may lose their homes or get stranded on the island. There's gonna be animals with nowhere to go. People could die, Max." She knew she was being harsh and a bit morbid, but it was true.

Most of her time spent on Figure Eight was around people who Josie had difficulty speaking up to, and, up until recently, Max had never been one of those people. But as he slowly integrated himself into Kildare, she found it harder to defend herself. Still, when the time presented itself for her to put that familiar kook-entitlement in its place, Josie couldn't resist.

He hadn't always been so snobby. When Max had first arrived to Kildare, he'd been a shy and reserved seventeen-year-old who was just trying to make friends, much like Josie herself. She'd met him at a housewarming party, and the two of them had spent the entire afternoon talking about their favorite franchises and why Pirates of the Caribbean was better than Harry Potter.

After that, things blossomed into more, and their feelings were quick to go from friendly to romantic. Josie had assumed that he was the near-perfect guy for her, and he was.

Until he began hanging out with the Terrible Trio.

Ironically enough, Max saw that as a good time to criticize her friends. "You've been hanging out with Kiara way too much; you're starting to sound like her." He chuckled as he pointed at her with his fork.

Josie rolled her eyes and gave him a duh look. "I wonder why. It's not like she's my best friend or anything." She shrugged sarcastically.

Max leaned back in his chair, messing with the fork on his plate. "I thought Maybank was your best friend." The venom in the way he'd said JJ's name was plain, and Josie had to bite her tongue to keep from scolding him.

Max had never been fond of any of the boys or their friendships with Josie, but he had a particular disliking for JJ. Understandably so, given that the first time they'd met, JJ had threatened to break Max's nose if he, quote, put his disgusting kook mouth anywhere near Jose's perfect face.

"You can have more than one best friend, Max." He stared, unconvinced, as she corrected him. "All of the pogues are my best friends, just in different ways." She took another bite of her cake, before she smirked at her boyfriend teasingly.

"You'd know that if you had any friends."

Her smirk was jokingly smug as he narrowed his eyes at her, but it was halted by the playful gasp that left her mouth when she felt a gentle kick to her shin. Laughing, she returned the action and watched her boyfriend pretend to lean down and rub his shin.

"I do have friends; thank you very much," Max defied. He leaned back in his chair with his arms crossed, and Josie satirically nodded in fake agreement.

It was true, though. Max rarely hung out with anyone who wasn't Topper, Kelce, or Rafe. And if he did, at least one of those three was also there. There was no doubt he was quickly becoming the textbook definition of a kook—only friends with people to lift whatever image they needed to project. None of those people were really friends.

She chuckled when he reached over to playfully snatch her fork from her hand and point it at her. "Speaking of Maybank..." The tone of his voice remained playful, but it bore new a sense of passive aggression that had Josie questioning what he was going to ask her.

He placed her fork back down on the table and carelessly waved down a waiter, no longer meeting her gaze. "Why did you sneak out with him to the airport last night?"

Josie froze, staring at the side of Max's face in shock. He continued to look toward the approaching waiter, not allowing her the courtesy of meeting his gaze.

What was she supposed to say?

It wasn't like they were doing anything wrong, because they weren't. But Max was her boyfriend, and of course he'd feel uncomfortable about her sneaking out with another guy late at night. Especially the one who regularly publicized his disdain for the kook.

Not to mention the fact that Max could absolutely decide to inform her mother of her activities; she didn't put it past him to be that petty. But she and JJ hadn't done anything. They were hanging out. That's all.

Two best friends hanging out after one had a traumatic encounter with her estranged father. Nothing to it.

Josie searched for a way to defend herself, when it dawned on her that she hadn't told anyone about what happened the night prior.

So, how the hell did Max know she was out?

"What? How do you know about that?" Josie stuttered helplessly as she watched Max ask the waiter for the check and some to-go boxes.

He turned back to her and crossed his arms on her table, leaning toward her. He cocked his head questioningly, and Josie fidgeted with the fabric at the bottom of her skirt to avoid his intense eye contact. "Is that as relevant as to why, Josephine?"

Josie scoffed as her eyes snapped to his, obviously annoyed. The way he'd said her name made Josie feel like she was gum on the bottom of his shoe. He'd said it like he had some sort of authoritative power over her.

The conversation took a sharp left into the tension that quickly filled the space between them.

As much as she felt no desire or need to talk about her and JJ's experience, she would not let Max address her in a tone that insinuated her queries were not relevant. She was not a child that he could scold for sneaking out without his permission.

She'd be damned if he thought he could speak to her like he was her father.

"Actually, yes, Maximus, I believe it is relevant. Especially since I don't remember discussing that, and I know JJ didn't say anything." Crossing her arms, she sharply stared at her boyfriend.

He shook his head, letting out a bitter chuckle and raising his brows at her. "You sure about that?"

Habitually, Josie went to defend JJ, but realized that she couldn't be a hundred percent certain. With the tone Max used, he sounded incredibly confident in what he was saying. As if he knew his claim was pristinely accurate.

Max was a lot of things, but he wasn't a liar.

He cleared his throat to continue. "What if I told you that I got stopped at the Club by Sam Paterson; you remember her from the party last Saturday?" Josie nodded to confirm his question; her fleeting memory recalled the bonfire from the week prior.

Samantha Paterson was a touron from the Midwest who was visiting Kildare with her dad and stepmom for the summer. Tall, blonde, tan, white teeth, kind, and incredibly fit—she was the textbook definition of attractive.

She also happened to take a quick liking to a certain blond best friend of Josie's.

Realization sank in once Josie remembered that Sam was the touron JJ was supposed to have spent his night with. The awareness must've been written all over the redhead's face, because Max let out a knowing hum as her thoughts sank in.

A less-than-pleased, tight-lipped smile crossed his face, and he nodded his head as if her reaction confirmed any suspicions he'd had. "According to her, she and JJ were supposed to hang out yesterday, but he canceled at the last minute. Apparently, his explanation was that he'd been at the airport, with you." He nodded toward her for emphasis.

To say the least, Josie was taken aback and quite shocked. Why the hell would JJ tell someone what they were doing?

Of course Sam deserved some sort of explanation for why he would ditch her; it would've been cruel of him to not provide that. But, a simple claim of an emergency would've sufficed. Did he have to explicitly tell her that he was doing something both parties knew was illegal?

Had he been texting Sam the entire time? Had he only agreed to hang out with Josie to be nice? Did he not actually want to go at all?

Was Sam the one who made the anonymous call to the police?

Josie immediately scolded herself for pinning such blame on the girl; she had no real evidence to support that claim. Sam had been nothing but nice to her when they'd met at the party, and they'd even had a quick chat about colleges.

But then a brief flash of a guilty-looking JJ mumbling shit came to Josie's mind. How uncharacteristically cooperative he'd been when they'd gotten caught. How gentle he'd been with her the whole night. All of the puzzle pieces fell into place. It had been Sam.

How else would Max know about the cops? Unless JJ told her about that, too.

Josie had to hold back the tears that threatened to spill from behind her eyes.

As much as it stung, her upset didn't even stem from the fact that JJ had been texting Sam during their time together. He was JJ, and Samantha was a very pretty girl; it was simple math. Josie would never try to change any part of JJ, including that one. She loved him for who he was.

It was the fact that he'd made it seem like it was absolutely okay that she'd all but dragged him out with her. She really thought that they'd both enjoyed the shared time. Was the reality that he'd been texting someone else about how bored he was and how much he'd rather be getting his dick wet?

The pang in her chest struck hard. He could've just said no. Was there a reason he thought he couldn't say no to her?

"So, I just have one question." Max paused, plastering a fake smile on once the waiter arrived with the check. He sent the both of them parting smiles, but Josie couldn't be bothered to reciprocate the gesture.

She continued to try to wrap her head around the new information given to her. Realistically, she should probably talk to JJ, but that sounded like the last thing she wanted to do.

"Did you sleep with him?"

The unexpected inquisition caught Josie so off guard that she choked on her own spit, coughing into her hand and staring up at him with wide eyes. For a split second, she'd thought that he might've been joking. But when her green eyes met his brown ones, she was made acutely aware that he was fiercely serious.

Scoffing, she slammed her napkin down on the table and leaned forward to whisper-yell at him. "Absolutely not! First off, I would never, ever cheat on anyone. Second, JJ is a pogue, my best friend. That is an uncrossable boundary. Third, I told you I'm a virgin and waiting for the right time—so why the hell would I go do it in the middle of some field? And fourth-" She interrupted herself to stand from her chair and shove it under the table.

She grabbed her bag from the back of the chair and slung it over her shoulder. "You're my boyfriend, not JJ. I like you. So why the hell would I sleep with someone else?"

Without so much as a second glance spared, the teen marched off of the deck and desperately avoided eye contact with any of the surrounding patrons. She made her way around the building to the parking lot, clenching her fists as she wiped them across the stray tears falling from her eyes.

When she made her way out front, she abruptly remembered that Max had been her ride. Her Jeep sat unmanned in her driveway at home. She immediately contemplated lying in the middle of the asphalt right then and there.

Was she really going to walk all the way back home?

Josie groaned, allowing herself to childishly stomp her foot in and hiss out a few curses under her breath to appease her growing frustration. She begrudgingly pulled her phone from her bag and scrolled through her contacts until she found Kiara.

She placed the phone against her ear, biting her lip, and pretended to look around as if she'd expected someone to pick her up—just in case anyone saw her predicament. She waited three rings and huffed as she got the voicemail.

She hung up and pursed her lips, weighing her remaining options. John B was working on the Druthers until three. Pope was a no-go because the last time he'd used his dad's truck to help her, he'd crushed the front bumper.

She, obviously, couldn't call her mother. Josie dreaded what the woman might say if she admitted that she and Max were not a perfect couple. The appraisal she'd received from her mother those last few months while dating Max was too beneficial for Josie to throw it away. It wasn't worth admitting the faults in their relationship.

There was only one person Josie could logistically call—the same person who she did not want to talk to at that very moment. But what was worse—walking all the way across town and Figure Eight to get home, or asking JJ for something with the new knowledge that he probably found her asking annoying?

To Josephine Grey, the answer was clear and concise.

So, with a sigh and a mental boost, Josie began the long, treacherous trek she'd have to take across half of the island. She was grateful that the sun had ducked into the cover of the clouds that day, which meant that the summer heat wasn't entirely unbearable.

She'd walked for almost an hour and a half and had only made it past the Sheriff's Department, not even halfway across town, when she'd heard the familiar sound of a roaring engine approach. She turned to watch the bike cruise down the road in her direction, the driver carefree as he rode through town sans helmet.

The red of the bike was prominent and familiar, which caused Josie to duck her head and stare at the ground as she walked. She hoped that she would blend in with the people who littered the sidewalks as they ran their own errands. Luckily, she'd decided to wear a baseball cap that day, and it would help conceal her face enough to not draw attention.

She watched the bike pass from the corner of her eye, and a long sigh of relief left her once he'd fully passed. Guilt built in her stomach at the notion that she so desperately didn't want to talk to her best friend—an incredibly unfamiliar feeling.

But what would she even say to him? I'm never gonna ask you to do anything ever again because I'm now constantly worried you'll think I'm annoying. Why the hell couldn't you be honest with me about not wanting to hang out with me last night?

She couldn't explain why it'd gotten under her skin so much. She knew that, ultimately, JJ was her best friend, and they both would drop everything to help each other. She knew that. She was secure in her friendships and loved them all, and she was confident they loved her equally as much.

So why the hell had this in particular gotten to her so much? She shouldn't have been so bothered by it; it was her own insecurities controlling her.

Maybe it was just because she was more vulnerable to the manipulation of her own emotions as of late. She wondered if, after seeing her dad and reminiscing on those buried feelings, her inner turmoil was trying to find any and every reason to mess with her brain. She just wished her inner demons would shut up already.

As if her inner thoughts were being spied on, the roar of an engine presented itself again and pushed away every one of Josie's complex thoughts. The only difference from before was that the sound of the engine was newly accompanied by the loud call of her name.

She glanced over her shoulder to see the exact boy that compelled her thoughts—the same one who she dreaded having to eventually speak to.

He rode to a slow stop beside where she stood and smiled at her, his sunglasses hiding the brilliant blue of his eyes. "Hey baby, thought you were goin' on a date."

Josie pulled the leather backpack further up her shoulder, eyes purposely avoiding his face. "I was," she offered. Her jaw clenched in an effort to imply that she was apprehensive and not in the mood to talk.

But either he chose to ignore her body language or was just completely oblivious, because he simply cocked his head to the side in jest.

"So, where is Mr. Wonderful, then? Don't tell me he's making you guys walk all the way home." JJ playfully looked around for Max, his hand teasingly placed over his eyes as if to shield them from the non-existent sun.

Josie rolled her eyes and, without thinking, walked towards him to jokingly shove his hand away from his face. When his hand had been removed and she'd realized how close they were, she took a step back onto the curb.

She crossed her arms protectively over her stomach. "We had a fight at Joanie's." She swiped her tongue over her chapped lips and watched her shoe scuff the ground. "I left, and I'm walking myself home."

"What? From Joanie's?"

Josie nodded, and JJ scoffed as he shook his head in irritation. He motioned his head toward the back of the bike. "Freakin' punk, leavin' you to walk home by yourself. C'mon, it's gonna take you hours to get back. You know you're as fast as a turtle."

"No, JJ, I left by myself. We were eating lemon cake and laughing, and the next thing I knew, we were fighting. And yeah, I know it's immature to walk away from someone while you're talking to them, but I just got so upset, so I left. Even though I really wanted to finish that slice of lemon cake. Now, I'm walking home because I rode with Max to Joanie's, considering I didn't think this was how our date was going to end because he's supposed to kiss me silly and breathless at my front door. But he didn't because we're fighting. So I'm walking home alone, and my feet are probably gonna have blisters. And my mom's gonna see that I walked home, so she's gonna have to ask a bunch of questions that I really don't want to give her the answers to. On top of all that, I'm supposed to be upset with you, but you're here and-"

Her rambling immediately stopped once she'd realized what she said, quickly slapping her hand over her mouth.

JJ's dubious tone was supported by the crease in his forehead. "Upset with me? Why?"

Josie kept her eyes to the ground, wrestling with the decision to say something or let him remain unaware. She figured she'd have to talk to him eventually, but not right there in the middle of Kildare. Certainly not before she'd had enough time to gather her thoughts and practice what she would say.

Either way, she figured fate was trying to tell her to pull on her big girl pants and get it over with, so she did.

"Did you ditch Sam Paterson last night and then tell her that we snuck out to the airport?"

The silence that fell over them was enough to vindicate Josie's suspicions, and she bitterly, yet knowingly, scoffed. She sniffled to suck back the tears that threatened to fall at the confirmation that her friend had been communicating his displeasure to someone else, instead of being honest with her.

"You know you didn't have to come with me, right? You could've just said no, and I would've figured something else out. I don't ever want you to feel like I forced you to do something."

"Jose." JJ sighed and fully shut off the bike to climb off of it. He walked towards her and removed his sunglasses, placing them on the collar of his shirt.

But she paid him no mind, too lost in her own head. "No, JJ, honestly. I don't want you to ever do something with me out of pity. I know you'd hate it if it were the other way around."

He placed his hands on her shoulders and bent down to meet her eyeline—a classic JJ move to grab someone's attention. "Jose, I'm a big boy, alright? If I didn't wanna go, I would've told you. But I did, 'cause I always wanna hang with you."

Relief washed over the teen girl; the gentle reminder that she was being paranoid was appreciated. She softly gazed up at him, and he returned the stare tenfold. "I just don't want to get in between you and your, y'know, extracurriculars. I especially don't wanna make them mad enough to call the freaking cops on us."

JJ laughed as his arms wrapped around Josie's shoulders to pull her into a hug. She huffed but, nonetheless, folded her arms around his waist and smiled at the sound of his boyish mirth.

Maybe Pope had been right when, days prior, he'd so certainly stated that Josie had adopted a tendency to be a worrywart once the summer had started. But she couldn't help it. Her anxiety had sky-rocketed in the month they'd been out of school, and she wasn't entirely sure why. There was an overwhelming sense of dread and anticipation that pooled in her stomach, just waiting for the wrong moment to strike.

JJ, as always, dragged her out of her head. "Don't worry about that; I took care of it already." Josie pulled back to look up at him, and he sent her a wink. "'S crazy how much you can apologize by saying nothing."

Cringing at his statement, Josie pushed herself from JJ's embrace and pretended to shiver in disgust. "Eugh, Jay. I don't need to know that much about you. Ever."

He shrugged candidly through his laugh and turned to climb back on his bike, before offering his hand to Josie. "Alright, enough with the sappy shit and hop on. Your boy-toy might let you walk home, but I sure as hell won't."

Josie rolled her eyes, but she still took the extended hand to climb over the back of the bike. She shoved her hat into her backpack and adjusted the straps over both of her shoulders. She made sure to tuck her skirt under her legs to save herself the embarrassment of flashing everyone on Kildare.

The routine was not unusual for the duo; Josie's Jeep was not the most reliable of vehicles. Meaning that oftentimes, if the Twinkie wasn't available, Josie found herself on the back of JJ's dirt bike when she needed a quick lift. She'd gotten quite used to wrapping her arms around his waist and letting the wind whip her hair into tangles as they crossed the island.

It was, of course, no different as he took her home. JJ wildly drove the bike as if neither of them could die at any moment, and Josie kept close watch for any cops.

Josie's walk would've, most likely, taken her a few hours and then some to get home. Whereas the short bike ride only lasted about ten minutes, with JJ flying through the neighborhoods of Figure Eight.

They passed Kie's house, and Josie noted that her friend's car wasn't in the driveway, indicating that Kiara was probably busy busting her ass at work. Josie wouldn't be able to rant about her day until later.

They slowed to a stop a few houses down from hers, and Josie demounted the bike. Once she'd made her way onto the sidewalk, she smiled at her companion and offered him a two-finger salute. "I guess I owe you for this one."

He nodded pointedly at her. "I'm gonna hold you to that." His smirk was unwavering even as she rolled her eyes.

She let out a breath of laughter. "I don't doubt that." She turned to walk toward her house but spun around to smile at him.

"Be careful driving, okay? The Assyrians may have only made helmets to protect themselves from swords and arrows, but I'm pretty sure they're still around and enforced for a reason. Especially when you ride that thing. If you crash and die, I'll bring you back just to kill you myself."

JJ smiled genuinely at her, the dimple on his right cheek noticeable as he revved the bike loudly. "Look at you, always looking out f'me."

Josie humorously flipped him off, before she fully turned and began her short walk to her house.

"See ya later, Jose!" The sound of the engine passed her as he waved goodbye and made his way back to the other side of the island.

She walked down the sidewalk, smile fixed on her face as she thought about her drastic mood change within the past hour and a half. She was certain that the noticeable change would give her whiplash at some point, but that wasn't important. What was important was that her friendship remained intact.

She scolded herself as she entered her front gate and shut it behind her. She'd let anxiety cloud her judgment and made an unfair assumption about JJ. He was her friend, her best friend to be exact, and he wanted to be around her—end of story.

It was not her fault if someone else was upset with JJ's decision. He was right—he was a big boy who made his own choices.

With a bit more pep in her step, Josie bounded up the front steps and through the front door. Once she entered, she was immediately greeted with the sight of men carrying boxes and installing wires around the house.

She sent a tight-lipped smile to some of them as she passed. Quickly, she shuffled through the left threshold of the foyer and into the open living room.

In the main room, men on ladders drilled and pulled wires along the wall, the tall ceilings doing them no favors for how high up they were. Josie shuddered at the thought of being on one of those things and mentally reminded herself to never become an electrician.

She caught sight of her mother as the woman casually sat on the couch, a glass of wine in hand. Josie bee-lined her way toward her. "What the heck is going on?" As Josie moved further into the room, she became aware of the other person occupying the love seat adjacent to the sofa.

Rose Cameron's bright blonde hair was glowing, despite the lack of sunlight streaming through the large glass windows behind her. Her lips were as full and as pink as ever, and she observed with humor as Petunia Shoupe turned to Josie with a fraudulent smile and an intense gaze.

"Watch who you're speaking to like that, Josephine." Petunia shot Rose a glance, before she turned back to her daughter. "What in the world happened to your hair? And where is Max? Surely, he wouldn't drop you off without coming in."

Without an answer, Petunia turned back to her confidante. "Max is a sweetheart, Rose. They've only been together for a couple of months, but he's such a good boy that I might have to marry her off to him. Cory likes him too, a plus for sure."

Petunia raised the wine glass at Josie in good fashion, and Josie had to keep herself from scoffing in disinterest. She couldn't have cared less about what her mother's boyfriend thought about any guy she dated.

Petunia often liked to act like Cory Schmidt was the stepfather of her children's dreams, a man who had filled the shoes of fatherhood when no one else could. A man who took the Grey girls in and gave them the fatherly love they'd craved.

In reality, he was the younger brother of some guy her mother had crushed on growing up. When they'd moved back to Kildare, Petunia had reconnected with the family and began a relationship with Cory after he'd been a client at her law firm.

A bit unethical, in Josie's opinion.

He'd moved in almost exactly four months after her parents' divorce was finalized, and he'd been a thorn in Josie's side ever since.

He liked to act as if he was Josie's father. Punishments for anything, groundings whenever she disagreed with him even remotely, and refusing to continue any of the Grey children's therapy for a few years. He'd been on a power trip since he'd begun dating Petunia, so much so that he often liked to introduce himself as Josie and Naomi's father.

The truth was, Josie had never had a father-daughter relationship with anyone. The closest thing she had to a father was Bobby Heyward.

The teen looked down to meet her mother's expectant gaze. She noticed the way her mother's green eyes lingered on her hair—no doubt messy from the bike ride home. Josie self-consciously reached up to try and flatten the knots as she avoided her mother's consuming stare.

"No, we-uhm, we had an argument. I thought it would be best if he just dropped me off." She continued to run her hand through her tangles. "The hair is from the windows being rolled down."

She removed her hands from her hair to pick at the skin around her nails, but her actions were stopped by the faint slap laid on skin. Her eyes immediately snapped up to meet her mother's stern gaze.

"Josephine, please speak up and stop picking at your fingers. You're going to give yourself wrinkly and cracked skin."

Petunia leaned back into the sofa and patted the spot beside her—a command for Josie to sit. The teen followed, tucking her legs under her and to the side, and tried to make herself comfortable. She observed her mother and Rose share a silent conversation with a look, and the blonde excused herself for more wine in the kitchen.

"You've heard about the hurricane coming through, Hurricane Agatha, is it?" Petunia looked toward one of the electricians impatiently, and he nodded once he'd noticed.

The woman barely acknowledged his answer and scoffed at his delayed response. Josie grimaced, and she sent him an apologetic look as he went back to work.

"Hurricane Agatha is coming through, and we need to be exceedingly prepared this time, given how harsh Hurricane Evan was on us. So, these lovely people are replacing the old generators and installing some solar paneling that we're hoping keeps the house running smoothly, should anything happen to the generators."

Turning to face her daughter, she tucked her legs to mimic Josie's. "Now, tell me what happened between you and Max. You said you had a fight?"

Josie knew she couldn't tell her mother the truth for a multitude of reasons. She could not let her know she was not, in fact, with Kiara last night, but was instead trespassing with the one person her mother disliked more than almost anyone on the island.

She also couldn't tell her the truth because she knew Petunia would go straight to Victor Shoupe, who would then explain why he'd let the duo go in the first place.

Josie wasn't sure if her mother knew about her father's return yet, and she didn't want to take any chances if she didn't. Josie undoubtedly could not ask her about it either.

It'd always been a sore spot—her parents' burning hatred for each other. Her father resented her mother for getting pregnant and essentially taking his life away from him, and her mother resented him for getting her pregnant at eighteen and being an asshole. Anytime he, or even the name Peter was mentioned, she turned into something similar to the other mother from Coraline.

So that was a no-go.

Josie also just wasn't keen on hearing the same lecture over and over again about how nothing good could come from hanging out with pogues. That they were all the same and were going to lead her and Kiara down a path of nothing but jail and struggling to make ends meet. An opinion that also stemmed from Petunia's hatred of Peter and his life as a pogue.

"Uh, well. He kind of..." Josie messed with the top of the couch, fiddling with her fingers in an attempt that she hoped looked apprehensive, but was really just her trying to come up with a lie. It must've worked, because her mother set the wine glass down atop a coaster on the coffee table and laid a hand on Josie's left arm to rub it comfortingly.

It was a manipulative tactic commonly used by Petunia to get her daughter relaxed enough to talk, and it always worked.

"M'ange, you know you can tell me anything. You have nothing to be embarrassed about. You're young, and you're a woman. Things are going to happen, and you have to be willing to speak up and be confident in your words."

Josie wished she could laugh at how ironic that statement was.

She couldn't tell her mother anything, as much as she loved her and wanted to. Josie would never be able to leave the house, much less be seen with the pogues.

Petunia already assumed that, because of Max, Josie had not spent any time with the pogues. In turn, she was less inclined to hover and question everything her daughter did. And Josie wished to keep it that way.

As Josie searched for any type of explanation, she figured her best cover would be to use another one of her predicaments. "Max asked me about sex the other day." Her mother's shoulders tensed, but Petunia nodded at the teen to continue.

"He told me that he thought we were getting pretty serious and that he wanted me to come over to his house and see how we feel. He asked me about it again today, and we just got into it."

If there was one thing Josie could be grateful to her mother for, it was her openness about sexuality and what she expected from her children. While Josie wasn't outwardly confident about the subject with just anyone, it was never seen as a taboo subject in their predominately female household.

So, the fact that Josie could use it as her out was the perfect solution to avoiding her real dilemma.

Petunia nodded and played with a strand of Josie's hair absentmindedly. "And why did you get into it? Do you not want that with him, or are you scared that Cory and I would disapprove? Because sweetheart-" Her mother gently grabbed at the back of Josie's knee and scooted the teen closer to her.

"The age of consent is seventeen, which you are. I know that it is unreasonable to ask any teen, especially one in a serious relationship, not to have sex. It's illogical. But I always want you to come to me with these things."

Josie pretended to be hesitant as she rubbed her arm. "I'm just nervous, you know? I don't want to end up seventeen and pregnant, and we know how non-effective condoms can be."

Josie knew that it was a bitchy move to so plainly use her older sister's high school mistake to shift her mother's attention somewhere else. She was kissing up at that point, but why not? Make her mom think that she was actively worried about not getting pregnant, unlike her estranged older sister. It'd steer the conversation away from any thought about the pogues or why she and Max were actually fighting.

She was using her mother's own manipulative tactics to ease them away from the previous topic.

"Well, there's an easy fix for that, sweetheart. I'll get you an appointment with Dr. Lorraine tomorrow for an IUD insertion. Problem solved." Petunia slightly raised her hand from its rest on the sofa to emphasize her point and squeezed Josie's knee.

"It was about time we put you on birth control anyway. I did it. Daisy did it. It's just unfortunate that it skipped one of you, but not to worry." She booped Josie's noses, smiling as if the solution to all of Josie's problems really was that easy. "I'll call her as soon as Rose and I finish overseeing the generators."

Petunia picked up her glass of wine from the table and laid a kiss on Josie's forehead, before she smoothed a finger in between her eyebrows. "Stop scrunching, m'ange. You'll get wrinkles." Her scold was accompanied by a sing-song voice as she walked away from the couch.

Once Petunia was fulfilled by Rose's company again, Josie shot up from the couch and made her way up the stairs and to her room.

As soon as Josie slammed the bedroom door behind her, she let out a long and loud groan. She pressed a hand to her chest to calm her racing heart. She knew that the day would eventually come when her mother caught on to every lie she'd been planting.

Secretly switching schools, hanging out with the pogues, seeing her father back in town, and her complex relationship with Max. She wasn't sure how much more she could spin the web without getting tangled in it.

She threw her backpack on her desk chair, before she plopped face first onto the rouge-colored comforter. She pulled a pillow under her face and let out a loud scream, overwhelmed by the events that had occurred that day.

And it wasn't even two p.m.

☼

"An IUD?" Kiara asked for clarification as she, Josie, and Pope sat on a blanket they'd laid out atop the sand.

Josie sat crisscrossed and found her solace in the sound of the waves rushing ashore. She'd texted Kie hours after arriving home, when she'd figured her best friend's shift had ended. She'd sent her a simple message: need to talk

Within twenty minutes, Kiara had been outside her front door with Pope in tow. They'd brought a blanket, a picnic basket, and a cup of coffee with Josie's name on it. She was just glad that her friends were able to be there.

There was no one else Josie wanted to confide in more than those two. There were some things only her level-headed friends could sympathize with and give their advice on.

"Yeah. And I mean, to be fair, it's not completely unexpected. We've always talked about what birth controls are most effective and what we'd prefer. Both my mom and Daisy got IUDs. I figured it's better than her knowing about what actually happened."

She happily munched on the PB&J Kie had packed for her, uncaring about any dining manners her mother had instilled in her. She wiped the crumbs on her shirt off with her hand, and she crumpled the plastic wrap once she'd finished half.

"Your family is so weird sometimes. I mean, your mom is a scary jackass who tries to control your every whim, no offense." Josie shook her head in assurance as Pope spoke, aware of her mother's ruthlessness. "But at the same time, she's chill about you having sex and is just like, yeah, sure, no problem?"

"I think, from a lawyer's perspective, the main difference in her mind is logistics. She's aware that I'm of consenting age and a teen who's probably gonna have sex, so she takes it in stride and openly talks about it. But with the pogues..." Josie shot a matter-of-fact look towards Kie.

"She's never liked them, ever. Even growing up, she was taught that they were scummy low-lifers. She thinks that the only thing I can gain from being one is a criminal record. In her own twisted brain, she has this bias toward the pogues that no one, especially not me, will be able to change. She thinks it's what's best for me."

Josie solemnly looked down at the other half of her sandwich. "Not to mention the fact that her least favorite people in the world are all pogues."

Josie shrugged off her complicated feelings to insist that it wasn't a big deal. She finished the sandwich and placed the plastic back in the basket, silently hoping for someone to change the topic.

She glanced over at Kiara again, who knowingly gazed back at her.

It kind of gave Josie the creeps—how much Kie could read her with just a few simple looks. Kiara could easily tell how much Petunia's dislike of The Cut residents actually got to her, and her expression made that understanding clear.

"I just...I don't know. I just know that not being with you guys is not what's best for me at all, y'know?"

Laughing, Pope reached over to ruffle her hair. Josie swatted at his hand in return. "Yeah, without us, you'd be a boring old kook who'd probably spit in our food before serving us."

Josie nodded; the reputation of the pogues was never lost on her. She would've been completely brainwashed had she not met JJ and John B.

"Exactly, but my mom doesn't see it that way. She'd never accept how happy I am with you guys or how much you mean to me. Like, sometimes I don't think I could think properly without you guys. Every emotion or thing that happens to me, you're the people I go to. But I can't tell her that because she wouldn't listen to any of it. She already thinks she knows everything about everything; she'd never be able to admit that the preconceived ideas she had about pogues can be wrong."

Kiara chuckled once Josie finished, and she reached out to throw her left arm over the girl's shoulders. "Glad you got that off your chest?"

The auburn-haired girl huffed out in relief and nodded, pulling her knees up to her chest. She intertwined her hand with Kiara's, which hung from her shoulder, and squeezed it in comfort.

"I just wish I could unwrap her hand from around my neck, as morbid as it sounds."

"Do you think that's why you're so adamant about not going to Yale? Because you want to be able to show her that she can't control you?" Kiara's question caused Josie to gently push her arm off and fall back into the blanket.

She covered her eyes with her forearm and groaned out in annoyance, rubbing her forehead in an attempt to calm herself. "Don't even get me started on college. I haven't even told JJ I'm applying to colleges, much less told my mom I don't want to go to law school."

"You'd think your mom would've already realized that you're not cut out to be a lawyer," Pope teased as he joined his red-haired best friend's flat position on the blanket. Kie followed, so that they both settled on either side of Josie.

"Apparently not. She's already told so many people that Yale is my top school and that she's planning on buying a house in Connecticut so we can all be close to each other. She's so desperate to leave Kildare." Josie scrunched her face to show her distaste for her mother's beloved plan.

"Imagine how mad she's gonna be when she finds out I want to go to Chapel Hill and that I want to study archeology or history. She's actually gonna murder me."

Kiara blew out a breath through her pursed lips. "You have two vastly different predicaments here, JoJo. Your mom, who wants you to move ten hours away to Yale, and JJ, who will probably blow a gasket when you tell him you're planning to move three hours away."

Josie gently slapped Kiara's arm that was placed between them, before she smacked her hand over the younger girl's mouth. Despite Josie's hand, Kiara continued to speak. "Do you even qualify for Yale?"

"Her ACT score was a thirty-four first try, and I'm pretty sure your GPA is solid." Pope sat up to address Kiara, eyes flickering back to Josie for confirmation of her over-achieving statistics. "Not to mention the fact that she was VP last year and president this year." He shot a playful glare Josie's way when he mentioned her win against him for student government.

Josie rolled her eyes and pushed him back down, removing the hand she'd held over Kie's mouth. "That ACT was a fluke at best. I'm just a good test taker, you know that. If I were to take it again, I'd probably get, like, a twenty-five at most."

Pope gaped at the girl to his right, astonished that she could be admonishing her achievements that easily. But she was visibly uncomfortable with the conversation's route as she shrugged.

"Fluke or not, Jose, it doesn't matter. You already got the thirty-four; it's logged. With your mom's internship last summer, your grades, extracurriculars, and the recommendation letter you're gonna get, you're pretty much set. Being accepted isn't your problem; it's telling your mom you're not going that is." He paused, raising his brows at her.

"You're not going, right?"

Kie scoffed and sat up completely, glaring down at Pope from across Josie. "Of course she's not going, right, Jose? She wants to be an archeologist, or a historian, not a lawyer. Plus, there's absolutely no way I'm letting you move almost six hundred miles away."

Josie nodded in agreement and grabbed both of her friend's hands. "Duh, I'm not going. Even if I get accepted; do you think I could deal with only coming home on holidays and breaks?" She nudged Pope's shoulder with her own. "I'd miss you way too much. We're gonna be Tar Heels together whether you like it or not."

"Yep, and when you're done with college, you and I are starting our travels to Scotland and Morocco." Kie grinned.

Josie rose from her position to wrap her arms around her friend and playfully shake her. "You bet! You're gonna help me find Libertalia. We're gonna be so rich that we can go build houses, schools, and wells, and then travel to wherever the hell we want."

It was Josie's historical pipe dream to find Libertalia. Ever since the stories of her childhood that claimed the clues to find Libertalia were buried with Captain Henry Avery's heist treasure in Scotland, Josie had set her mind on continuing what many before her couldn't. Her friends were well aware of how much it was Josie's only-from-a-miracle dream to one day find the supposed pirate paradise while dressed in the riches of Captain Avery.

She'd been obsessed with treasure hunting since before she could remember. It came with the whole, loving history thing, in addition to the stories her father had told her when she couldn't sleep. On the rare occasions he could stand to be around her, Josie had found that he was the most incredible storyteller she'd ever met.

Stories of lost cities and pirates that had faked their deaths, Peter Grey filled his middle daughter's head with dreams of swashbuckling and finding gold.

The dreams to find Libertalia and Avery's riches of paradise weren't necessarily because she wanted the money as much as it was that she wanted the experience. She wanted to learn about the ways legendary pirates thought and what they did in their moments of desperation. She wanted to learn about the unknown.

She wanted to be a part of what could be one of the biggest archeological finds of this century.

"Well, send me a postcard." Pope laughed from behind Josie, and she turned to hit his knee. Her brow quirked at him as he rose into a sitting position.

"You're telling me you don't want to be there when I find the legendary utopian pirate colony. When I find the treasure of the biggest, most successful pirate heist in all of history?" She placed a hand to her chest in faux offense, laughing when he shoved her shoulder.

"Okay, but in all seriousness, I love you guys. With everything piling up in my life, I'm so lucky to know that I have you guys, and the last thing I'd ever do is leave that behind. Through every shit thing life throws at me, I got my pogues. And John B." Josie's nose crinkled at the mention of their other best friend, causing Kie and Pope to burst into loud laughter.

"Okay, okay, now that that's out of my system." Josie turned to pull her camera out of her backpack, grinning at Pope as he rolled his eyes and lightheartedly groaned.

"Oh, please, you didn't really think I was gonna let us go on a picnic without getting some pics of us, did you?" She teasingly smirked. "Besides, how else am I supposed to remember you guys when I'm in Connecticut?"

A handful of sand hit her torso, and she turned to her right to meet Kiara's playful glare as she wiped her hand off on the blanket. Josie narrowed her eyes and lifted the camera with one hand, reaching out to squish her friend's cheeks in the other.

After she snapped the photo, she let go of Kie's face and turned the camera to show her the photo. She couldn't help the belly laugh that erupted when Kiara made a face like she'd just eaten a lemon.

"Delete that, now."

Josie giggled as she shook her head and snapped another picture of Kiara's annoyed face. When Kiara tried to reach for the camera, Josie held it away from her grasp and jumped to her feet. She took another two photos of her best friends on the blanket, smiling to herself as she inspected them on the screen.

"C'mon, losers! It looks like the clouds are gonna be gone just enough for us to see the sunset, and I'll be damned if we don't get any good pictures!"

The trio stayed on the beach for another hour, gossiping about their own family drama and posing for Josie's photos, when their phones all buzzed at the same time. In the WhatsApp group chat, they'd received a selfie of JJ and John B angrily pouting. It was a response to a photo the trio had sent them of the sunset.

Below the picture was a text from each boy. John B's text read as such: u guys are assholes and meanies and no longer allowed HMS access unless u come to the Chat right now and fill us in on why u're hanging w/out us. u have twenty minutes

JJ's text followed right after:cant believe u guys wuld do this to me. jombie i get, but me? i will be having very strong worbs with corporate

"Oh, so his dyslexic ass knows how to spell corporate, but not would?" Pope laughed as he shoved his phone into his pocket. The trio began to make their way back up the beach toward their previous setup.

Josie shrugged as she placed her own phone in her back pocket. "He has spell check on his phone, so I have no clue why it wouldn't auto-correct. I refuse to believe he knew how to spell corporate without help."

They approached the picnic they'd left and speedily threw all of their trash and leftovers into the basket. Kie laughed, before motioning toward Josie as if she'd just remembered something. "Wait, aren't you technically corporate?"

"I think an exception can be made for us." Josie wrapped the camera strap around her neck as Kie and Pope picked up their bags and the basket. She picked up the blanket and folded it around her arms, before they headed back to the Jeep.

"After all, I do it all the time when JJ and I hang out without you guys."

Gasping, Kie narrowed her eyes and pointed at the grinning girl. "I knew you were playing favorites that last time I complained about being left out from lunch!"

"What was I supposed to do? He promised me a whole bag of blue sour patch kids!" Josie laughed at the pout Kie wore at Josie's defense.

They shoved everything into the trunk, and Josie overheard Kie mumble something to herself about going to a museum without Josie. The redhead cackled as she shut the trunk, and she rounded the Jeep with the other two.

Josie slid into the driver's seat, Kie in the passenger seat, and Pope behind her. "Alright, let's go before John B actually revokes Pogue privileges."

As Josie cranked the car, Kiara, the designated DJ, grabbed the aux cord and connected her phone. As if the girls had the same brain, Kie immediately navigated to their shared playlist of car jams and scrolled until she found the exact sound she was looking for.

Josie couldn't hide the smile on her face as the first notes of the familiar guitar riff began to play.

Midnight. You come and pick me up, no headlights.

⋄ ⋟⋆ june 16, 2020

I woke up this morning light and full of air, walking on the sunshine that was the feeling of contentment that consumed my being. only to have that sunshine ripped from under my feet midday, the splashing of freezing ocean water once again consuming me into its depths. I then spent my time fearing the worst. that I was unlovable. that I was the burden of my friends' lives as they lived to fly, and I was on the ground begging to be picked up and placed in their pockets. I spent the day worrying that the people, the person, that I care for more than anything saw me as a burden. but I've come to realize now, as I sway on a hammock in the comfort of those very same people, that it is not a bad thing. people are meant to be burdens. we as humans rely on and support one another. it is not a bother at all; it is our purpose. as I would do absolutely anything to make the ones I love happy, they would do the exact same. because to love and be loved in return is all any of us can really ask for. we were made to love.

- josephine grey ⋄ ⋟⋆