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shihalyfie · 4 years

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“The 02 characters didn’t get any character development”

Yes, they did.

“But -- “

Yes, they did.

Having had the gift of having rewatched 02 recently, I have to say that it still really, really confuses me how the hell people get this impression. It’s not even “I’m trying to see the best out of this” but that I genuinely do not get it, because as far as I’m able to see it’s pretty much literally right there!! This isn’t even tinfoil hat tier!

But in case you have any doubts, sit down because Shiha’s gonna sit here and write a meta about the 02 kids, and how they are perfectly reasonable characters that developed properly fine over the course of the series.

(All below translations of 02 dialogue are by PositronCannon.)

So the first thing to understand about 02 is that it is fundamentally made with a very different writing approach from Adventure in the first place, and therefore it is not meant to be compared in a one-to-one fashion.

This is a point I’ve said many times over and over, and I think it’s to the point where it shouldn’t even really need official clarification, but I’m just going to go ahead and bring up the words from Director Kakudou himself:

For instance, we had the prior series stick out in terms of its points about “what it means to be oneself”, and for 02 we made it so that you would pay attention to “the relationship between yourself and other people”.

Right, so: 02, by design, does not use Adventure’s character development methodology of “self-awareness”. It is built from the ground up by having its characters and character development predicated on relationships instead of singular characters. This might seem a bit odd on its face, but no man is an island, and, in fact, changing the way you interact with other people and with the world in general does speak a lot about one’s personal growth in its own way. And this also means that if you try to analyze 02 by holding it to Adventure-based standards of “character focus episodes” or the like, you’re already on a losing battle.

This means that character growth in 02 is not presented in a way where it’s up-front and center, but rather something you have to glean over the natural course of the series. We’re working off relationships, so you have to actually pay attention to the natural interactions between the characters or what they say even during “off-hours” -- the focus-episode format used by Adventure doesn’t apply here anymore. And it’s something apparent enough from how “evolution” is a metaphor for “personal growth” in this franchise -- in Adventure it was via the Crests, which meant self-awareness, but 02′s key evolutionary trump card is Jogress, which relies on the strength of relationships.

One thing I have to say in terms of my experience as a 02 fan is that I’ve found I actually appreciated it significantly more as an adult than I did as a kid, and that, in general, a lot of the things to appreciate about 02 are things that you really viscerally feel and understand when you’ve gotten that degree of life experience under your belt. Unfortunately, this is kind of a double-edged sword, too, because it ends up becoming the kind of series that often risks going over the heads of the very audience of children it was supposed to be targeting. It’s got a lot of very nuanced depictions of mental health and the childhood experience that are maddeningly subtle, to the point of possibly going over one’s head or even coming off as illogical without sufficient life experience, or simply just not being as visceral (the entire theme of “parents stroking their own ego with their kids’ achievements” hits the hardest when you’re college age).

So what this means is that 02 doesn’t exactly hand its themes or character development to you on a plate. But it is there, once you actually start looking for it.

Let’s start off by talking about our main core cast of characters. Adventure and 02 prided themselves on the fact that they tried very hard to not be adherent to anime tropes, but rather to portray well-rounded, nuanced characters that felt more like actual kids you might meet at school. So how does the 02 cast fare in not being pigeonholed anime tropes?

Daisuke: Even though official freely admits he has “the most anime-like personality”, it’s hard to say he actually falls that much into the generic shounen archetype. For one, he’s actually shockingly humble and polite in certain situations (he’s consistently polite with his elders, and is very quick to admit his own limitations). Actually, he comes off as a surprisingly friendly and deferential person -- it’s just that he happens to have somewhat of an abrasive exterior, and even then it’s implied heavily in the first half that this stems from a lack of validation and purpose. (He actually “deflates” really easily, so you can’t even say he’s all that arrogant past the surface.) Certainly he’s simple-minded, and kind of an idiot, but his abrasive exterior is actually pretty deceptive.

Miyako: Miyako floats an interesting duality of simultaneously being aggressively feminine and being aggressively un-feminine -- not necessarily in the sense she tries not to be feminine (on the contrary, she absolutely embraces it), but more that she’s also an aggressive, “inelegant” mess in ways atypical for a lead heroine in a shounen show, who are usually either cute or “badass action girls” and not...a mess. Despite that, she is also consistently portrayed as capable of heavy emotional depth and being very genuinely kind and concerned about others, which are not in any way diminished by the fact she happens to be an aggressive mess with a severe case of foot-in-mouth syndrome. It’s an interesting mix of character traits that you don’t see often.

Iori: “Designated young characters” usually fall into the “cute” archetype a la Adventure!Takeru or Tomoki, so it’s interesting that the youngest one is actually the most mature one, and impeccably polite at that (having been raised by a family that emphasizes formal manners and propriety). Even more interestingly, nobody actually treats him like he’s that much younger, and he’s given the weight of respect in a sense that has nothing to do with his age (think about how there are indeed quite a few kids who simply just get along better with older kids). Yet the series doesn’t shy away from his youth, and his overly black-and-white view of morality is portrayed as immaturity in its own way, along with the occasional “slips” in his facade or manners indicating that it’s still something he has to consciously focus on.

Ken: Ken’s development goes without saying (it’s one of the most consistently praised aspects of 02), but it’s also interesting to note the unusual way the series plays his redemption arc. Instead of making him a typical “jerkass anti-hero who learns to get a bit better”, the series completely blindsides you by revealing that Ken is, in fact, a naturally soft-hearted and kind boy, and then plays up the mystery of the severe kinds of trauma that would lead him down that path. And ultimately, even though the cause is revealed to have supernatural influence, the series also makes it clear that it doesn’t matter -- that, whether it was his conscious “fault” or not, he still is responsible for what he did. And on top of that, it also scorns the usual “redemption by sacrifice” mentality by pointing out that it’s a cop-out -- it doesn’t actually solve the problems that were caused, and, in fact, a much better way to make up for things is to fix them going forward.

Takeru: Takeru had the “designated young character” role in Adventure, and it turns out that once one of those gets a few years older, they’re naturally not going to be nearly as pure and innocent! The “sweet child” from Adventure has now grown into having slightly pettier emotions, even to the point of grudge, and things he won’t let go of. Oh, and also, trauma from three years prior is still going to have impact on an eleven-year-old kid. Who would have thought.

Hikari: Adventure’s most infamously inscrutable character also seems to have gained some individualized, not-quite-innocent traits of her own (observe how she deals with Daisuke’s advances), and, moreover, it turns out that her deferential humility and refusal to open up about her problems is...not a good thing! when it starts to actually bite her in the rear in front of her friends. Yeah, it turns out that being the “quiet cute girl” actually has its own mental health drawbacks. Oops.

We’re doing pretty well, actually! At the very least, they certainly feel like they already have the Adventure/02 brand of character nuance, where their personalities are inherently varied and nuanced enough that you may not quite find characters like them elsewhere. On top of that, we definitely get to see what makes these characters “tick” -- we get a lot of depth into their thought processes and what their likes and dislikes or strengths and weaknesses are, and that’s something 02 still completely beats out a lot of other kids’ shows or even certain other Digimon entries with.

But here we’re talking about character development. So what do we know about them at the very beginning of the series?

Having watched 02 in Japanese a few times and being very used to the core cast’s latter-half characterizations, rewatching the early episodes always strikes me really hard in the face with genuine shock at how shallow the kids -- especially Daisuke and Miyako -- start the series off as. It’s understandable in terms of the context of the series -- unlike the Adventure kids, who were thrown into a “survival, need to get home” situation off the bat and thus already understood the need to be wary, these kids started off having comparatively easy access to home at any time, and didn’t have a constant sense of danger and survival looming over their heads. It naturally took a lot of time for the gravity of the situation they were in to start really hitting them, and so even the relatively straight-laced Iori didn’t exactly take it all that seriously at the beginning.

Yet while it took them a significantly more delayed time to understand what they were dealing with and take it as seriously as they needed to...they started cultivating something else in the meantime.

02′s first half is especially full of “random banter conversations” that seemingly involve nothing in particular, but, in fact, that’s actually part of the point. One thing I have always been quick to point out in regards to 02 is that it is rather unique among Digimon series in how it goes out of its way to portray its core cast as having become friends even in pure daily-life social friend terms, even if it had absolutely nothing to do with Digimon incidents -- these are kids who genuinely enjoy each other’s company even in the most mundane of situations. This was something that wasn’t the case for the original Adventure kids -- having been a group of kids thrown together by necessity, even though they most certainly kept in touch and trusted each other as fellow Chosen Children deeply, they started floating back into their own different social clusters after the events of 1999. Relationships are multifaceted, after all; you can still have a deep relationship and bond without necessarily being friends on a social level.

But already, off the bat, Miyako brings food for her new best friends, and it’s implied that she’s the main ringleader behind holding the picnic -- a picnic that started off having no intended relation to the Digital World territory war -- in episode 6. And, to be quite honest, can you really blame these kids? Even the Adventure kids wistfully entertained the idea of a long-term fun adventure through the Digital World in Adventure episode 54, wanting to enjoy its beauty and fun in a situation where they weren’t constantly running for their lives. Now that this luxury is actually available, why not take advantage of it -- and bond further with the others in the process? And for the rest of the year, these kids actively end up spending mundane conversations together and bonding to the point that, by the time we get to the end of 02, these kids have just genuinely bonded so much that they really come off as a cohesive, inseparable unit that would actively choose to spend time with each other if given the opportunity. In fact, even going through all of the TV Digimon series that exist as of this writing, I would say Appmon is the only one that really competes with 02 in portraying its core cast in this manner.

Again, remember: this is a series where characterization is dependent on how the kids treat others and interact with them, so you do actually have to pay close attention to these interactions and see how they change over the course of the series.

So once the episodes start coming in play, we actually learn a lot more about what happens when the characters start breaking away from their shallowness. For instance, episode 8, one of the first key episodes to understanding Daisuke’s character:

Daisuke: He'll be a great opponent. We didn't face off in the last tournament. Takeru: If you had made it to the finals, you would have, right? Daisuke: Don't remind me... Hikari: Can you win? Daisuke: It's not about winning or losing. Right now, all of the boys who play soccer in this country want to be like him. Just thinking about playing against him makes me excited!

For all Daisuke initially seems to be arrogant, he’s actually not that incapable of humility. Far from it, actually; he does have a genuine love for soccer and the spirit of the game, and, when completely and obviously unmatched, fully admits he has no chance and is set on enjoying the most he can out of it anyway. I feel like Daisuke’s surface-abrasive attitude really does throw off the fact that he’s a lot more genuinely humble than he’s given credit for. In the end, he’s satisfied enough with the accomplishment of pulling off one sliding tackle against Ken, and is able to enjoy that -- a foreshadowing of how the latter half relies so much on the fact that he’s capable of enjoying simple pleasures and being straightforward about them.

I find that this scene is really underappreciated, too (mainly because it gets lost in all of the other major things in this episode) -- while Daisuke jokes about his accomplishment, it only takes a single comment from his respected senior Taichi to shut him down.

There’s a huge reason I constantly emphasize that Daisuke respects his elders -- this part tends to get lost in translation a lot (especially the American English dub, which just smashed this aspect out of him wholesale, among other things) due to it being a bit reliant on Asian senior deference and cultural propriety, but Daisuke is respectful not only out of societal obligation but also because he genuinely respects his elders! The way he looks up to Taichi and chases after his approval is genuine, and even his interactions with the other Adventure kids have a major hint of him having genuine respect and deference to them. Daisuke is just a deferential person in general -- note that while his crush on Hikari tends to manifest when he’s at his most shallow, he’s actually the one putting Hikari on a pedestal (considering it his own responsibility to impress her), so he’s not actually as assertive as he tries to come off as. The first half of 02 arguably has him deflating more often than he actually stands his ground...and this is a trait of him that starts to actually change quite a bit over the course of the series.

Miyako comes to terms with the fact that maybe she’d been taking this whole Digital World adventure thing too lightly in episode 10, indicating that she actually does have a good sense of priorities when they become increasingly clear! This is actually very important, because it fleshes her out as someone who’s emotionally sensitive -- too emotionally sensitive, to the point that “emotional sensitivity” is just as much of a driving point behind her later breakdown in episode 18, this time from taking her duties too seriously. Miyako is a very id-driven person, and so a lot of the early series is her struggling to find a proper balance on how to adjust her emotions in an increasingly escalating situation. Her heart is in the right place, she’s just not someone with an inherent sense of preparedness to deal with this kind of problem.

We get into the secondary Digimental arc, and there’s a noticeable consistent thread that all of them involve admission of personal faults. This is something that tends to throw people off at times -- wait, having bad traits about yourself is what awards you? -- but the point is that this isn’t like Adventure’s Crests, where things came from proof of exercising the virtue, but rather admitting that there are ways you need to improve, and showing a will to improve in that manner. In the end, people are not perfect human beings, and sometimes even understanding that you’re deficient is half the battle -- after all, the second half is all about a certain character named Ichijouji Ken coming to terms with some very, very serious personal problems.

In episode 11, Daisuke completely admits that he doesn’t feel he understands the concept of friendship the way Taichi and Yamato et al. see it, also latently admitting that he doesn’t see himself as worthy of the Digimental of Friendship. Beyond betraying a lot deeper issues within Daisuke that he seems to have actually had a background lacking in friends and sources of validation, he actually acts very self-effacing when admitting his issues to Taichi and Yamato, ultimately culminating in him calling himself pathetic. Or, in other words, he does want to be a better friend and to understand the concept better, and is harsh on himself for not doing better (which, of course, ultimately leads to how he eventually does gain better relations with the rest of the group and reaches out to Ken).

In episode 14, Miyako admits that she’s shallow and judgmental and tends to jump to conclusions based on first impressions. Recall that she’s comparing herself to Mimi in said relevant scene -- Mimi, whom she admires, and actually spends part of the episode trying to understand and empathize with the mentality of. This is not a statement of Miyako being proud of herself. Rather, this is Miyako being very straightforward about the fact that she needs to try harder to see through the essence of things and to see through to the emotional core of. Again, something she actually does start developing over the course of the series.

In episode 16, Iori gets his first major lesson on the limitations of being too stuck on principles in his attempt to be honest. Recall that Iori’s later character arc is very dependent on him realizing that his own view of the world is too black-and-white. It’s great if you could never tell a lie to anyone, ever, but in the end, that’s going to reach limitations of practicality -- after all, as Jou points out, what Iori did ended up not actually hurting Jou in comparison to the incredible amount of hurt it would have caused everyone by being too stubborn, and thus Iori would have failed to keep his responsibility to help the others because of one narrow-minded principle.

Hikari even gets in a bit during the infamous episode 13, where we learn that her “passive” attitude is biting her in the rear. In Adventure, Hikari’s passiveness and reticence had mostly been used as satellite development for Taichi (his insecurities as an older brother and his obligations to her), so this is actually the first time we get to see a proper perspective from Hikari’s side, and it turns out that his overprotectiveness has actually caused her to get dependent. But even though Taichi is the one the episode actually focuses on, the larger focus is more specifically on the fact that Hikari is too passive -- that she sees being taken by the Dark Ocean as an inevitable thing that’s just going to happen unless someone else steps in on her behalf. Takeru, of course, is having none of it.

Once that’s out of the way, we go back to taking a look at the subtleties of everyone’s interactions. While everyone generally tends to focus on the second half of episode 17, it’s also pretty interesting to see how the 02 kids react to hearing about their seniors’ adventure in the first half -- remember that this is the first time the 02 kids are actually given any real depth about the degree of 1999′s events that’s not just random points of hearsay, and the way the new kids react to it indicates that they’re thoroughly floored. It’s later established that they didn’t even get the full story (it may not even be possible, given that the Adventure kids’ experiences may well have gone even further beyond what we got to see in 54 episodes), and yet the new kids are overwhelmed. 02 itself does not shy away from the fact that the younger kids really have no qualms about deferring to their seniors if need be, and treating them with utmost respect.

Another minor note, which I pointed out in my Daisuke meta earlier, is that the beginning of this episode is pretty much the last time Daisuke ever shows outright hostility towards Takeru for his relationship with Hikari -- it’s something you have to glean by squinting, but the implication is that the insecure and clingy Daisuke actually got to learn this episode that the two of them had a pre-established shared experience that he himself may not understand, and that it wasn’t just Takeru randomly swooping in and snatching away the closest thing he had to a friend for no good reason.

Once the Kaiser infiltration arc begins, episode 18 ends up being one of Miyako’s funniest episodes, but it’s a bit distressing that a lot of people in the fanbase often never let Miyako live this incident down, when in actuality this was explicitly not a good mental health day for her. (This is basically the equivalent of pinning Mimi as a conceited, self-centered jerk based on the fact she was one for a fashion in Adventure episode 25.) The beginning and ending of this episode establish that this is basically a result of Miyako...trying her hardest. She’s scared as hell, but she also learned in episode 10 that this is something she needs to take seriously, and the stress puts her into a mental breakdown. This is why she ends up having a heart-to-heart with Hawkmon at the end; her heart is in the right place, but she needs to find a way to channel her emotional sensitivity in a way that doesn’t make her into a complete mess.

And note that her own voice actress, Natsuki Rio, even pointed out that Hawkmon’s actions had enough of an influence on Miyako’s character that she had to play her differently thereafter.

At first I always played her with Maximum Excitement, and I kept thinking “someone, please, stop her,” but the more straight-laced Hawkmon did his best to pull her in and hold her by the reins (laughs). Thanks to him, Miyako became a lot more of a put-together person…thank goodness Hawkmon is her partner!

Episode 19 has two interesting things of note that I want to point out -- first of all, starting from the very beginning of the episode, everyone ditches Daisuke because they’re independently going in to infiltrate the Kaiser’s base. Note the complete lack of a plan here whatsoever -- everyone’s just going in on their own -- and the fact that everyone expects Daisuke to come up with what he wants to do on his own. For all it’s worth, even though Daisuke may have a designated protagonist aura to him, within the story itself...nobody actually sees him as a leader at this point in the series (and, to be fair, he’s never really tried to claim the position, either).

It’s similar to how Taichi was never recognized as a particular leader of the Adventure group until Adventure episode 28, but in regards to the full team dynamic, it’s actually inverse -- the Adventure kids were capable of making tactical plans together as early as episode 20, but fell apart emotionally in short order as soon as Taichi was gone, whereas here, the kids are fond enough of each other to hang out socially and support each other emotionally, but they take a while to get any real cohesiveness as a fighting group.

The other is that Iori personally witnesses Takeru’s sudden whiplash into his grudge against the darkness and the Kaiser, and it scares the hell out of him.

Takeru eventually laying a punch on the Kaiser is a pretty awesome moment (and, really, Ken kind of deserved it, so it’s hard to not cheer for him), but it’s also important to note that within the context of the series, this is not a good mental place for Takeru to be in. Iori, the person who should by all means sympathize with hatred of evil things at this point of the series, is still extremely unnerved by Takeru’s actions here, because he’d always seen Takeru as a mature person who’d always kept his composure, only to show a drastically different side of him that he hadn’t even shown a hint of before. That kind of “two-facedness” and emotional repression -- and this way of venting trauma in general -- cannot be good for Takeru at this point in time, and it’s also an important moment for Iori when he later admits during the two’s Jogress arc that he’s having a bit of a hard time understanding him.

And so episode 20 comes, and Chimeramon pretty much takes out the entire party, leading to this conversation.

Takeru: Let's escape. Daisuke: Escape? Takeru: We can't fight anymore. Our mission has failed. We'll retreat and wait for another chance. Hikari: You're right. We have no other choice. Iori: Understood. Daisuke: No. Miyako: Daisuke? Daisuke: We can't just say "another chance" like that. If we leave now, they'll keep attacking anything in sight. We don't know if we'll be able to get into the fortress again. So this is our only chance! Hikari: That's crazy... Iori: Exactly! Miyako: They're all back to their Baby forms... Chibimon: Daisuke... Daisuke: But...didn't you all see it? Destroying those towns...and all we could do was watch quietly. I don't want to see that ever again. I won't let them do whatever they want! So I'm going, even alone. I won't give up now. After getting this far, all I can do is go forward!

Why is this moment important? This is the first time Daisuke has actually stood a firm ground against anyone else in the party -- and not only that, with the entire party standing against him.

Recall that I mentioned earlier that, in spite of Daisuke’s abrasive attitude suggesting otherwise, he actually has a tendency to “deflate” pretty quickly when people tease or criticize him. He spends the first half of the series having a lot more bark than he actually has bite. Earlier in the series, if the entire party were to go against him, he’d be more likely to begrudgingly go along (while complaining) -- in fact, he actually did just that at the beginning of episode 7! But now that push has come to shove, Daisuke’s own sense of morals and bleeding heart have won out. (While his decision here is definitely a bit reckless, he does have a point; if they’d retreated, they might genuinely lose any future chances.) Even with the entire party telling him to pull back, he refuses to accept what they want him to do, and pushes forward.

This is where Daisuke first starts to really make strides towards what becomes his eventual major role in the group as “the one who pulls people forward”. It’s a moment after which the rest of the group themselves also start to treat him with more respect now that he’s proven he’s not just a doormat, and that when it comes to there being a real problem with real priorities, he does have the resolve and initiative to keep going.

Also, a very important point is that he immediately says he’ll go alone if he has to. He doesn’t begrudge the others for wanting to fall back, and has no condescension towards them; he just can’t stand the fact that he himself is being asked to sit it out.

So, you know. Episode 21 happens. Ichijouji Ken goes through some real trauma as Wormmon dies in his arms. And all Daisuke has to say is...

Daisuke: You should go home. There are people who are worried and waiting for you! Go home!

Remember when I pointed out that 02 takes a very unique perspective on Ken’s redemption arc, pointing out the futility of being too trapped in the idea of symbolic penance and focusing more on actively taking steps in the future to make up for and fix things? Here’s our first major sign of this, and Daisuke’s eventual approach to Ken -- Daisuke does not choose to scorn or lambast Ken for what he’s done, even though there are a lot of things Ken deserves to be harped on for, but rather instructs him to take the first active step towards fixing his mistakes, in this case fixing things with his family.

Episode 22 is Daisuke’s own “fanbase will never let him live this down” moment, but there’s still some interesting things to note here. Firstly, Daisuke’s “relapse” happening exactly when it seems like his duty to the Digital World is done and there’s nothing to do besides community service doesn’t seem coincidental, especially when this exact episode actually dedicates a full scene to Takeru, Hikari, and their partners going “...now what?” Secondly, as I touched on earlier, note that Daisuke’s never really seemed to have any resentment against Hikari for not responding to his affections -- in fact, he still considers it his own (and V-mon’s, by extension) duty to be the one to impress her. It’s a surprisingly refreshing take on the “shounen hero with a crush on a girl” trope, because in the end...Daisuke isn’t actually all that possessive of her, he just really wants validation from her, and respects her a lot.

More importantly, though -- note the way Daisuke handles this topic. He’s not actually mad at or resentful of Takeru anymore. In fact, he’s mulling on the topic and wondering what he could do to be on that level. Yup, even when Daisuke’s being shallow and jealous, he’s still learned to handle this issue ever so slightly more maturely than he would have at the beginning of the series.

This is also important because only one episode later, once Daisuke becomes disappointed again at Takeru and Hikari walking off on their own, Miyako intervenes -- not only so that Takeru and Hikari can have their space, but also so that Daisuke can have some genuine fun and something to do. This is a very blink-and-you’ll-miss-it moment in episode 24, but it makes it very clear that Miyako was looking out for Daisuke’s welfare, too, and I think it’s very important in light of the events of the prior episode. Miyako, who had always been fumbling on what to do with her emotions, is starting to properly channel them into managing the dynamic between the team and checking in on how everyone’s doing, and that starts to guide her actions and relationships for the rest of the series.

The next episode (25) is where we kick off not only the Jogress arc, but also the arc where we start going into everyone’s attitude towards Ichijouji Ken. This is important not only because Ken happens to be the effective central figure of 02′s story, but also because -- well, remember, 02 is fundamentally founded on the concept of relationships, so it’s only natural that the other kids’ relationship with the “team newcomer” will be a key aspect of the second half, and in relation to their own characters.

Remember how I said that Daisuke’s first-half character involved him being extremely deferential and often deflating whenever he was criticized or someone stood against him? At the time of episode 25, once again, pretty much the entire team is standing against him -- he’s the only one who’s this level of open-minded about getting Ken into the group, and everyone else is showing differing levels of opposition. But while Daisuke doesn’t begrudge the others for thinking this way, he also doesn’t back down, either, and reaches out to Ken on his own because he still really believes in what he’s doing. Now that he’s settled into what it means to be a Chosen Child, he’s started to gain a proper idea of what he wants to do, and what he feels needs to be done.

So, let’s recap everyone’s stances on Ichijouji Ken at the time of this episode!

Daisuke: Forward-thinking and optimistic; willing to believe that Ken should be given the chance to make up for his mistakes and that they should put everything behind him, even to the extent of believing that there’s probably a good reason for the more suspicious aspects about him (prior to the events of episode 25, it was unclear whether Ken was being a bit too callous about killing Digimon). Also the most actively aggressive in reaching out to Ken and trying to get him to join them.

Miyako: Forward-thinking; she openly states at the beginning of the episode that she thinks Ken’s learned his lesson, she’s just worried about whether he’s going to keep doing questionable things in the future (killing Digimon). Once it’s on the table that he’s not just doing this callously, she immediately is on board with him (to the point of even being the first in the group to use given name basis with him), but her stance on what to do with him is more on the edge of “give him space and wait for him to come on his own terms” (she ends the episode saying she’ll be waiting for him to come).

Takeru: States in the episode that he does believe that Ken’s changed, but doesn’t really know what he’s thinking (i.e. too inscrutable to really be sure about). The later episode 35 implies that Takeru was inclined to be a bit more sympathetic than you’d think otherwise, because he understands the trauma of losing a Digimon partner.

Hikari: Wants to wait a little longer and see how things play out. (Remember that Hikari has a known, consistent thread of taking a very passive approach towards things.)

Iori: Absolutely against it on sheer principle.

It should be noted that none of these stances are wrong. Iori sometimes gets a lot of flak for being the one with the most infamously cold stance towards Ken, but when you really think about it, Daisuke and Miyako are very lucky that their hunch about Ken was right and that he actually did happen to be a very kind boy who had a little too much trauma and some supernatural influence. The fact that Ken is a very emotionally withdrawn person for the rest of the series meant that the two of them ended up breaking through to him the most, but there’s nothing wrong with Takeru, Hikari, and Iori’s skepticism; Ken did some pretty shockingly horrible things in front of their eyes for the first half, and it’s entirely within their rights to determine how forgiving they want to be with him.

In any case, we get to episode 26 (the first Jogress), and most of that episode goes without saying, but I do want to emphasize Daisuke’s lines right before it happens.

Daisuke: If you die now, you won't be able to accomplish anything...I don't want that! Ken: I don't want that...There are still many things I must do.

Daisuke urges Ken not to go for the “suicidal penance” route not only because it sucks, but also because, as symbolic as it may be, it’s also counterproductive to the whole point of doing penance to begin with. If Ken really wants to make up for his mistakes, he’s only going to be able to do that if he’s actually alive to do it! There’s only so much you can do by drowning in self-pity by going “because I did this, because I did that” instead of actually taking responsibility for your actions.

02 itself is deliberately ambiguous on how much Ken’s transformation into the Kaiser was Ken’s own conscious will and how much of it was Dark Seed-induced supernatural influence, but one thing it’s consistent about is that it doesn’t really matter. Regardless of what the cause was, Ken did what he did, and it’s his responsibility to make up for it, and the only way to actually do that is to keep moving forward. The fact that Daisuke is so able to viscerally and directly address what Ken needs the most right now is what fuels their first Jogress, and why Daisuke becomes Ken’s closest friend through the rest of the series.

People have pointed out that 02 has a lot of moments of physical hits, but, notably, other than Takeru punching the Kaiser in episode 19 (which he really deserved, honestly), all of these hits are done with the express intent of bringing the other person out of a very, very deep mental abyss (Yamato punching Taichi in episode 10, Daisuke slapping Ken in 26, Miyako slapping Ken in 30, and Miyako and Hikari’s mutual slaps in 31), because they were in a state where words would no longer reach them otherwise. These are all circumstances of the kind where the person on the receiving end understands that they really needed a drastic wake-up call because of how deeply they’d fallen (and these aren’t some average mental abyss problems these kids are getting put through, either). It’s actually hard to imagine any of the 02 group getting in the kind of genuinely angry and vicious fistfights Taichi and Yamato would in Adventure, because of how close they are (the closest being Daisuke and Takeru grappling in episode 11, but it never got near that level) -- in fact, these kinds of things are done with the implication that they’re doing it because they trust the other person to not hold it against them (and in fact, the fact Yamato does this with Taichi in this way is intended to be read as a sign of how much better they’ve come to understand each other).

So, moving on with the series! The Giga House incident in episodes 28-29 is the first time the group works together in an organized effort, which is notable not only because it’s their first time coordinating with Ken, but also because it’s their first time properly coordinating at all. Remember when I mentioned that, back in episode 19, as much as the kids were pretty fond of each other and were great friends, they still hadn’t figured out how to actually fight as a team? Here we are, with them actually having started to figure that process out.

We then get to episode 30, where there’s actually quite a lot of interesting things to unpack.

Miyako: What's wrong with you? Daisuke: E-Eh? Mi-Miyako-san? Miyako: It feels weird when you add the "-san". Daisuke: Shut up! Man, you're all the same!

Miyako and Daisuke’s relationship is often misconstrued considering that they’re the two most chaotic in the group (their temperaments are very similar at times, which causes them a lot of friction), but I also think this blink-and-you’ll-miss it moment is pretty much their actual relationship in a nutshell. They fight a lot, and they’re ostensibly vitriolic, but they’re actually two of the most like-minded in the group -- they banter because they’re comfortable with each other. Recall that I mentioned that Daisuke is normally respectful with his elders, yet he’s the only person in the group who won’t use the -san honorific on Miyako (even though she’s the oldest)...but the one time he gets flustered and uses it on her, she tells him that it’s weird and he needs to cut that out. Or, in other words, “it’s not like you to be weirdly respectful of me like that, we shouldn’t have that kind of distance between us, stop it.”

(It’s also pretty notable that Miyako has never seriously used -kun or any other honorific on Daisuke, even right after meeting him -- the only other person she dropped honorifics on was Iori, whom she’d known prior to the start of the series, but she seems to have deemed Daisuke enough of a fellow disaster child that he merited dropping it.)

This is especially because, right after that, she recruits Daisuke into her plan to get Ken and Iori to get along -- in the end, when things really get serious, the two are incredibly like-minded (look at how in-sync they are when they scheme together).

30 is actually a surprisingly Miyako-centric episode, despite not ostensibly being one. For one, it says a lot that right now, her biggest priority is to get Ken and Iori to get along -- something that has absolutely nothing to do with herself. In episode 14, Miyako freely admitted that she had a tendency to jump to conclusions about people, and that she was shallow about aesthetics, but this is a very different Miyako from the one who harassed Daisuke for Ken’s autograph in episode 8, or immediately became distrusting of Digitamamon in episode 14. Instead, she’s simply just genuinely invested in seeing people she considers friends get along, and in a selfless manner -- one that has nothing to do with herself. She just really, really cares, a lot.

After all of the first-half hubbub of Miyako really having no idea of what to do with her emotions, the second half has her start channeling that energy into what’s always been one of her biggest strengths: checking on, connecting with, and caring about her friends. Daisuke may be an aggressive forward-thinker who can push everyone in the right direction, but unlike his predecessor Taichi, he doesn’t actually have particular charisma or leadership skills that can necessarily hold everyone together. In the absence of that ability, Miyako fills in for him, checking on the moods and feelings on everyone in the team and making sure everyone’s doing well. And that’s why she loses her temper and slaps Ken late in the episode -- because, really, she’s reached her limit on her “give him space” philosophy when he’s abusing it to be standoffish in a crisis situation, and, on top of that, she really, really did have a huge emotional investment in him.

Moving onto more Miyako in episode 31, her Jogress episode with Hikari, we get to see a little bit of the old emotionally compromised Miyako again, but -- much like the second Digimentals arc -- it involves the two of them acknowledging that both of them are not going about things the best way, and that there are things they can learn from the other.

Hikari: Miyako-san, you're a handful sometimes. Miyako: I knew that's what you thought of me... Hikari: But...I've always envied that. Miyako: Huh? Hikari: Because I can't be honest and say I'm scared or scream like you.

Miyako’s tendency to lose control emotionally results in her being insensitive much of the time, which she calls herself out on multiple times during the episode, and she can’t always be as “kind” as Hikari is -- but, on the flip side, her antics are something that can be a “light” (pun not intended) towards those who are falling in a bad mental state or into the darkness, and Hikari even acknowledges this when one of her trains of thought makes her break out into laughter. Miyako ultimately manages to get through to Hikari this way at the end of the episode, which results in a Jogress and mutual growth for both of them -- Miyako puts more thought into how to approach others (it’s pointed out at the end that she’s still thinking about understanding Ken and Hikari better), and Hikari gains more resolve and determination to fight against things instead of passively accepting her fate (she tells Takeru very directly at the end "I’m fine now. I’ll never go there again.”).

Iori and Takeru's Jogress is a little more complicated to the point where it spans multiple episodes, but a lot of it ends up having to do with the fact that the events of the BlackWarGreymon arc start really putting Iori's black-and-white principles into conflict -- it's wrong to kill something that's been proven to be alive, but it's also wrong to be evil. Putting a huge nail in that is that there's a stake in him forming a relationship with Takeru, but he doesn't really understand Takeru either -- the "two-facedness" he witnessed back in episode 19 scares even him, and he's so intimidated by Takeru that, in episode 35, he goes to approach Yamato about Takeru's past instead of asking the person directly. Takeru, hearing about this, complains that he could have just asked directly, but admits he understands why Iori did so.

By the way, I should point out that episode 35 is the last time within the TV series that Daisuke is portrayed as having a particular interest in Hikari, and it’s just in terms of being slightly more excited that Hikari is joining his meeting. At this point, there are actual important things happening in the Digital World, and he needs to take care of Ken, too, and so...in the end, once again, Daisuke proves that he’s actually capable of putting aside those kinds of more shallow things when he really needs to.

On top of that, this is when the kids start actively working with Ken in the real world (and, if post-02 materials are any indication, continue to hang out with him even for social outings). The choice to have Ken live in Tamachi instead of Odaiba facilitated his isolation from the group during the Kaiser arc, and during around the third quarter they were all grouping up in the Digital World anyway, but the fourth quarter actually has the kids make an attempt to include Ken in their real-world outings despite the distance. Tamachi is not temporally far from Odaiba (approximately half an hour by train), but it’s a bit of a nuisance to get to, requiring crossing a bridge to/from the Tokyo mainland and paying extra for the Yurikamome. But at this point, he’s an important enough friend to them -- and them important enough friends to him -- that they’ll make it work.

At the end of episode 35, Iori finally decides -- to the point of recklessness, something that would have been previously very uncharacteristic of him -- to try and appeal directly to BlackWarGreymon to get him to stop destroying the Holy Stones so that they won’t have to fight. It’s emblematic of Iori’s heart being genuinely torn, because he’s having such a difficult time rationalizing all of these conflicting feelings. This comes to a head in episode 36, when Iori loses his temper at the rest of the group for “playing around”, but Armadimon snaps him back to reality to remind him that they’re tired and hungry, and this can’t be neglected. Iori himself ultimately becomes the one to proactively suggest that they take time to sit down and eat, indicating that -- little by little -- he’s starting to shift his thinking a bit, after being so incredibly stubborn for much of the series.

This is what leads to Iori and Takeru’s Jogress at the end of the episode, now that Iori is flexible enough in thinking to understand the emotional id behind Takeru’s mentality. And likewise, Takeru’s started to loosen up by 36, too --

Takeru: Sure, darkness is frightening, and we would feel at ease if we could get rid of it completely, but I'm sure that's impossible. Ken: Impossible? Takeru: Where there's light, there's always darkness. Hikari: The brighter the light, the darker the shadow, right? Takeru: Yes. That's why I think it's important not to lose sight of the light inside you, no matter how dark it is.

The thing about Takeru is that while he deceptively seemed more open and playful than Hikari for most of the series, he was actually bottling up a lot of emotions in a way not entirely different from the way she did. (Note how, despite how tied at the hip the two constantly are, they almost never actually talk about their thoughts on each other; it feels like a relationship where they implicitly trust each other but are practically reliant on that implicit trust to maintain that close of a friendship at all.) And he’s been keeping those emotions bottled up until they exploded in less-than-healthy ways, initially distancing himself from Iori. But being a lot more open about his thoughts on the matter allowed them to connect better, and eventually Takeru came to embrace a somewhat more reasonable stance on the matter after observing Iori.

It also doesn’t seem like coincidence that this is the episode that ends with Takeru’s first major act of goodwill towards Ken.

This leads into episode 38, the Christmas episode. Fun things to note!

The episode opens with Daisuke and the other younger kids giving a “Christmas present” to their seniors in the form of letting them reunite with their partners. Remember how I said that the 02 kids always admired their seniors and looked up to them? Even this late in the series, the series does not shy away from the fact you’re supposed to see the 02 kids as their deferential juniors.

The Christmas party is, of course, notably, the first major moment of reconciliation between Iori and Ken, with Iori having gone through major harsh lessons about morality in the last few episodes, and Ken opening up more to the rest of the group. Said party is also yet another notable example of how much of a priority it is for the 02 kids to be “social life friends” and not just friends working as a Digimon incident team -- after all, having genuinely emotionally present friends is what Ken needs most in his life right now, considering that the party is treated as the first time he’s been truly happy in a long while.

This is followed by episode 39, which is notable as the time when Daisuke finally commits to switching to given-name basis for Ken, and actually opens the episode standing against Taichi -- because he's so worried about Ken that he needs to go join him. This is something that's lost a bit in translation, but although Daisuke stands down against Taichi, he's not rude nor does he overstep his boundaries with his respected senior (he even opens his statement in polite-form Japanese) -- he's just saying, firmly and politely, "I'm sorry, but I can't go, I have to go help my friend." It’s a notable moment because while Daisuke has been becoming increasingly assertive and aware of what he really wants to do, this is the first time we’re actually seeing him refuse to defer to the very senior he’d spent so much of the series idolizing and looking up to.

We get to episodes 43-45 (the Demon mini-arc), which is also the culmination of the 02 kids having to face the limits of pacifism. This tends to throw off people who are coming in from Adventure, since the Adventure kids ended up killing Digimon with a lot more ease in the original series, but it’s also important to make note of the fact that the episode itself deliberately portrays a gap in mentality between the Adventure and the 02 kids -- with Hikari torn between the two. It also creates an interesting subversion of expectations when Hikari, the one you’d expect to be more on the pacifist side, is the one who’s already accepted that it may be inevitable, whereas Miyako, the more aggressive and belligerent one, is the one staunchly against it.

The reason for this “paradox” comes out of a single line from Hikari in episode 44:

Hikari: You’re the one who saved him, Miyako-san.

The Adventure kids never liked killing. They were never enthusiastic about it -- it was just that they were almost immediately put in a situation where the entire fate of the multiverse was at stake thanks to some unambiguously evil Digimon who wanted nothing but wanton destruction. Even then, it was pretty clear that they never enjoyed it -- Takeru professed a desire to avoid fighting in Adventure episode 12, and the pacifist Mimi went through a breakdown in Adventure episodes 45-50 trying to avoid casualties. But one of the most important lessons Mimi learned at the time was that pacifism has its limits -- there’s no point if it ends up in more deaths than it saves, because at that point you’re adhering to moralistic principles more than you’re actually saving lives.

The fact that the Adventure kids and the 02 kids have a “different mentality” isn’t just happenstance, but outright embraced. Daisuke, Miyako, and Iori never had to actually deal with a conscious Digimon that was unambiguously evil for most of the series, and Archnemon revealing that her motives were pretty much nothing but wanton destruction in episode 29 was the first major warning signal to Iori that his pacifism might have limits. And during this Demon mini-arc, it’s not like these Digimon are threatening multiverse destruction or anything -- it really does seem like a constant “glimmer of hope” that maybe, just maybe, they can save people non-lethally. Alas, they can’t.

Daisuke, being someone who’s inherently practical-minded, starts entertaining the idea that push may come to shove as early as episode 25, and finally makes his first statement about practical limits in episode 43. But the more emotionally caught-up Miyako and Iori end up taking another episode to swallow it, and they don’t take it well. Most of the attention in 44 is given to Miyako, and it reconfirms that, despite her aggressive exterior, she’s emotionally sensitive and empathetic -- and while killing LadyDevimon is framed as truly the only thing that could have been done in that situation, Miyako is not faulted for being emotionally compromised, nor is Iori likewise when he faces a similar situation with Takeru and is forced to confront the people whose lives were at stake.

Episode 45, when Ken opens the gate to the Dark Ocean, doesn’t really have much to add on top of what’s already there, but this is basically “the point of no return” when everyone confirms their own emotional investment in Ken and understanding that he’s not just reformed, he’s genuinely struggling under the pain of what’s been happening -- and this is before they find out about the truth behind the Dark Seeds, and that Ken’s transformation into the Kaiser may have been supernaturally influenced, too.

It’s also interesting to see the different ways each kid reacts to Ken as they support him:

Hikari, the most outwardly compassionate, goes to support him the second she notices him in physical pain; Takeru notices that it might work, realizes Ken needs the support, and joins.

Iori and Miyako reflect on how Ken’s putting all of his efforts in, and lambast themselves before joining. Interestingly, given the circumstances behind what’s happened up until now, Iori and Miyako criticizing themselves take a different meaning -- Iori, who’d been scornful of Ken until recently, seems to be regretting that he distrusted him when Ken had been trying so hard, while Miyako, who had been open to him since episode 25, seems to be upset that she’s sitting there and not doing enough when he’s in all of this pain.

And Daisuke, of course, the most “forward-thinking” of them all, gives Ken a speech about what he’s done so far and reminds him that he’s already done more than enough for “atonement” -- which is, of course, what directly reaches Ken the most.

And when we get to episode 46, and the kids, now knowing about the Dark Seeds, hold a roundtable (and emotional support group) to discuss what to do about the Dark Seeds, Daisuke’s the one with the most spirit and energy about it, but...

...the one actually leading the roundtable? Miyako.

Miyako: Sorry, that's all I can think of. Ken: Please don't worry about me. Miyako: (nods)

It’s subtle, but the scene in question does actually make a deliberate move in indicating that Miyako’s continuing to channel her emotional sensitivity and desire to go out of her way to help Ken -- of course, they all know how traumatic this is for him, but she’s the one who’s actively calling attention to how he must feel about it first and foremost.

Episodes 47 and after end up becoming yet another major wake-up call for Iori (seriously, I do not understand why people claim he had no character arc when this wasn’t even remotely subtle) when he learns that Oikawa, whom he’d pinned as “evil”, has a deep relationship with the father he’d grown up idolizing so much, and it completely flips his world around -- even though he had started to get a bit more open-minded, he’s still trying to rationalize what should have been, in his mind, two diametrically opposite things. It fuels his confusion and desperate desire to understand more, not just about Oikawa, but about everything he’d thought about morality and why people turn to evil.

So we get to the final arc of the series, and it involves a confrontation with BelialVamdemon -- but said finale is heavily dependent on talking to the Dark Seed children and inspiring hope back into them. This results in a conversation where everyone talks about their career dreams, and Daisuke admits that he wants to be...a ramen chef, which completely blindsides even his friends.

What’s with this arc?, you might think. And moreover, why is Daisuke ending the series still kind of an idiot? Even Miyako still seems to be a bit of a mess and chaotic. Weren’t they supposed to be growing into dignified heroes, like Taichi and his friends were last series?

Well, here’s the thing -- the fact that the 02 kids end the series comparatively “undignified” is actually very inherent to the core theme of 02 itself. There were more than enough episodes that established that said kids are heroic in their own way -- caring about others, fighting on others’ behalf, and learning important lessons about what’s important to fight about. That doesn’t mean they don’t get the right to continue being disaster children while they’re at it.

Why?

Let’s look at a few official statements behind the creation and intent behind 02 as a series. From producer Seki Hiromi, from the Digimon Animation Chronicle:

That came from an idea I had while reading a newspaper article. I read a story about a nine-year-old boy going to Columbia University, and I thought, “This boy is going to college because he’s considered a genius, and everyone around him will be in their twenties, and he won’t get to have any friends his age. What kind of life would this boy end up having?”

Or some very interesting statements from head writer Yoshimura Genki from the 02 Blu-ray box:

When I was writing Ken Ichijouji, the main idea for him I used as a basis was the conflict between “the self that has to be a well-behaved child when adults are watching” and “being able to be oneself”, and the pain that came from it as a result. So for instance, in the same way as the Pinnocchio fairytale, or the short story A.I. that was adapted into a movie, or many other works, there are probably universal worries that all children feel as they grow, but also, there were ongoing unimaginable, atrocious incidents happening with children at the time, and perhaps it was those social conditions that gave me a hint on what to do. I think I had some thoughts that I wanted to convey to the children who were living through that time. I was given the opportunity to put those kinds of feelings, as much as I liked, into episode 23, and I am truly grateful to all of the staff, including the director. ... Also, this is about Daisuke’s character, but I believe I paid particular attention to making him “a child who could be himself”. He has no special talents, and although he’s clumsy and scatterbrained, I wanted him to be someone whose strength was in his straightforwardness, and wrote him that way.

Lying underneath the entirety of 02 itself is a theme about “children who are not allowed to be children”. Or, in other words, the pressure placed on children to be “talented” and “dignified” and “well-behaved”, often imposed on them by well-meaning parents who are unfortunately taking the opportunity to stroke their own ego, robbing them of the happiness and mental freedoms they should have as kids.

Ichijouji Osamu and Ken, who were placed under the pressure to be “genius children” and cracked under the pressure to please their parents. Oikawa Yukio, who was cut off from the Digital World in childhood by a well-meaning Hida Chikara, worried about his son getting into “foolish” talk. The Dark Seed children, who also fell victim to similar pressures that Ken did, and lost hope for life unless they could force themselves into that mold.

Takeru: If you want the Digimon to exist, if you believe in that, they will. Just like our feelings...Just like every child having the power to make their dreams come true. Keiko: That's just childish. Daisuke: You all have dreams for the future, don't you? Noriko: Dreams for the future? Takashi: I've forgotten that stuff. Daisuke: No way! You must have one! Takeru: It's nothing to be ashamed of. Takashi: Then, what's your dream? Daisuke: Mine? Mine's a ramen shop. I love ramen! I'll become the world's best ramen maker! Ken: I had no idea... Noriko: Well...actually, I wanted to be a kindergarten teacher. Hikari: Me too. Daisuke: What about you guys? Takashi: A baseball player! Keiko: I really want to be a pastry chef. Hiroshi: When I said I wanted to be a manga artist, everyone laughed, so I gave up... Takashi: We all had aspirations, and at some point we thought that wasn't allowed...But we were wrong, right? Daisuke: Let people say whatever they want! Noriko: You're right, we should be free to dream. Miyako: Not just dreaming. If you work hard, your dreams will surely come true!

Notice something about all of these careers mentioned? They’re all the kind of “overly childish” “wild dream” “undignified” “too simple” kinds of dreams that an average parent might be uncomfortably quick to shoot down because that’s “not good enough”. These are the kids who willingly accepted the Dark Seeds; they, much like Ken, probably grew up under parents who prioritized school performance and other “societally dignified” things that ended up eating away at their happiness.

02 has a lot of different themes, but the one that lies in its undercurrent from start to finish is “so why does a child have to be this way? As long as they still understand what’s important, do they have to be dignified people? Why can’t they just be free to have dreams and be themselves?” And Daisuke and his friends are there specifically to stand up against this mentality, and to remind Ken and the other victims of it that it doesn’t have to be this way -- that it’s okay to be your true self, and be a child, and not succumb to all of those arbitrary, shallow standards people put on you. Even if that means you’re still a bit of a chaotic disaster at the tender age of eleven.

Digimon, in the Adventure and 02 universe, have always been treated like a part of the self (they were literally conceived as a physical manifestation of the soul), but in 02 they gain an extra meaning of representing “the inner, deepest part of yourself that represents your wildest ‘childish’ dreams”. The symbolism of Ken spending the first half of the series trying to reject Wormmon for being “weak” -- in other words, rejecting his own kind-hearted self for not being the kind of “strong” entity he was pressured and groomed into being -- is not lost, nor that of the Dark Seed children gaining partners when they reconnect with their dreams and wishes, nor Oikawa finally, finally meeting his partner when he comes into contact with the past he’d really lost (and especially not the fact that his attempt to reclaim shallow reminders of said childhood involved trying to make his own Digimon).

And notably, the series’s finale (prior to the epilogue) ends not on Daisuke but on Iori, escorting Oikawa to the Digital World despite how completely impossible it would have been for early-series Iori to even entertain the idea, finally coming to truly understand what happened with him and being most personally impacted by his death.

But in any case, where are we with the characters? We’re here to talk about how they’ve grown and developed over the course of the series. Let’s recap:

Daisuke: Started off the series as an abrasive kid with more bark than actual bite, constantly deferring to others and easily deflating, relying on shallow sources of validation like wanting attention from Hikari; gradually gained an ability to identify what was important and put his foot down for it, embraced his forward-thinkingness to reach out to a heavily troubled child as a friend, and ended up surrounded by a friend group that loves and respects him.

Miyako: Started off the series as a shallow, flighty girl with poor control over her emotions and difficulty in appreciating the gravity of things; came to channel her emotional range into empathy for others and compassion, bringing other people together and taking care of them.

Iori: Started off the series as a straight-laced but too principled child who stuck to “rules of what’s right” not only in morality but also in way of acting; started to appreciate the emotional nuances and heart behind why people do what they do and how it’s possible to be more flexible in “doing good”.

Ken: Well, his character arc is pretty obvious, but -- again, while his arc of learning to forgive himself is well-known, less often pointed out is that it centers very heavily on not only having penance but also not being too hung up on the past, and the futility of drowning in self-pity and regret instead of choosing to take responsibility and act more productively going forward.

Takeru: Started off the series as a seemingly mature but deceptively inscrutable character whose duality made him hard to approach; eventually opened up with the help of others and showed a capacity for being more flexible with his personal grudges.

Hikari: Started off the series emotionally repressive and passive to the point of self-destruction; eventually embraced connections with her other friends and became more active in taking a stand for herself.

Hey, not bad!

And, again, this is not a series you should be reading in terms of “self-awareness” in the same way Adventure was, but in the sense of their “relationships” and how they interact with others. By being less abrasive and more assertive, Daisuke gained the respect of his other friends. By putting her emotional capacity into caring about others, Miyako became someone who holds the group together. By learning to think a little more flexibly and be less stubborn, Iori arrived at a position where he could more easily sympathize with others in the group. Takeru and Hikari both moved from their previously relatively inscrutable positions to ones who could more effectively interact with and open up to others. And Ken, of course, became someone who managed to integrate himself into a group of true “friends” despite everything he had done against them in the first half.

This, in the end, is how you get what’s one of the tightest friend groups in Digimon history. In the end, the relationships themselves are almost like characters of their own that got development -- I say very often that you could take two of the characters and have an excellent scope of how they’d interact and play off each other by the end of the series. And although they end the series as possibly one of the most shameless, undignified disaster groups out there...they’re certainly still heroic, and in any case, given the lessons they learned throughout their own series, they probably wouldn’t have it any other way.

#digimon #digimon adventure 02 #shihameta

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asthmark · 4 years

Text

❝ let’s dance ❞ s.jh

synopsis → “i’m gonna marry you.”

request → “How about Johnny fluff partying time and the concept theme is the 80s” — @heart-bleeding-autism-angel

word count → 2.5k

a/n → the amount of googling i did for this is scary .. and i still know literally nothing abt the 80’s LOL anyway the title is my fav david bowie song that happened to be released in ‘83 and it kind of fits the the fic so,,, cool :-)

the moonlight shines through your window, casting it’s heavenly glow on your face. despite the late hour, it illuminates your entire room enough that you can read the time off the clock hanging on your wall.

11:55 p.m.

if they decide to be on time, your friends should be arriving in five minutes.

you retreat from your windowsill to prepare yourself. you stop in front of your closet, staring at the array of clothing. it takes you a couple moments to pick something you liked. you, of course, wanted to impress johnny, the self proclaimed fashion evaluator, but there was no better feeling than knowing you looked good.

you settle on a cozy turtleneck and your favorite mini skirt. then you pull on a pair of tube socks and slip on your prized white sneakers. for the final touch, you slide on a thin buckle belt through the loops of your skirt to tie it all together.

you smile satisfactorily at your reflection in the mirror and what was sure to be your best outfit yet. besides being well-put together, it felt comfortable enough to move around in and you knew you would surely be doing much moving that night.

once the clock strikes midnight, you notice light flash into your room. since it’s brighter than that of the moon, you know exactly who must be behind it. even if you didn’t, the hushed chatter and giggling from outside your window gives it away. you peer down into your backyard to find sicheng and jaehyun standing there, flashlights in hand and aimed directly into your bedroom.

you hastily wave your hands at them, your face twisted with worry. they wave back at you with goofy smiles on their faces, oblivious to your concern.

“cut the lights!” you hiss as silently as you can.

they finally seem to get the hint and click them off. jaehyun shouts back, “sorry!” accompanied by a laugh sicheng has failed to contain. you wince at their volume. there was no keeping them quiet so you decide your only option is to move as fast as you possibly can.

you carefully push one leg out of your window. it dangles above the roof of the front porch and you slowly lower it onto the tile. once you’ve successfully planted half of yourself on the roof, you bring your other leg down. this action is followed by a slight creek but you don’t even bother hesitating. you crouch down to the edge of the house and repeat the previous steps, this time landing on the front steps of your porch.

“that was smooth!” jaehyun exclaims in awe.

you bring a finger to your lips but still can’t help but smile at the praise.

“you’re like a ninja,” adds sicheng. “or a cat.” he pauses, deep in thought, before concluding, “you’re a ninja cat.”

you raise a brow. “you’ve both been drinking, haven't you?”

“no.”

“yes.”

“i’m gonna have to believe jae on this one,” you say, observing the way sicheng’s eyelids droop and he slurs his words. “you couldn’t have waited ‘til we got to the club?”

he whines like a child. “i was thirsty!”

you clamp your hand over his mouth and scold him. “why do you feel the need to be so loud? do you want me to get caught?”

jaehyun hiccups. “aren’t you glad i’m an introvert? i’ll never get you in trouble.”

you laugh dryly. “sure, you’re all introverted until you find some random chick to grind on.”

he pouts. “let me have fun.”

“it’s fun until you spill your drink on her and i have to help clean—oh come on, sicheng, did you just lick me?” you remove your hand from his mouth only to find a big smile on his lips.

“perhaps.”

“god, let’s just go. where’s johnny parked?”

“end of the street.”

you go in said direction with your two friends trailing behind you, messing around all the while. the three of you only stop when you catch sight of johnny’s shiny black convertible. you approach the vehicle and when he notices you, he smiles and shoots you a wink.

“you’re such a flirt,” you comment, opening the door to the passenger's seat.

he shrugs. “but you still fell in love with me so i’d say it’s worked out pretty well up until this point.”

you’re about to respond when jaehyun interrupts. “hey, i wanted to ride shotgun!”

“me too!” agrees sicheng. “y/n always gets it!”

johnny glares at the pair through the rear view mirror. “and that’s how i like it so get in the backseat or you’re walking.”

they mumble what you assume are complaints yet still get in the car.

johnny revs up the engine but before you go anywhere he makes an announcement. “and if either of you are going to vomit again, all i ask is that you don’t do it in here. my dad just bought me this bad boy.”

a chuckle escapes your lips.

“what are you laughing about over there?”

you lean back against the headrest, smile still present. “we literally have two kids.”

“basically. but hey, there’s no one else i’d rather babysit two grown men with than you.”

“stop, i’m blushing,” you deadpan.

johnny’s shoulders shake with laughter at your sarcasm. “seriously, though! you really know how to take care of someone. one day, if i’m lucky enough, i’ll be able to see that up close.”

you know exactly what he means by that last statement—he was thinking of a future with you. the last thing you want to do is burst his bubble but you knew how your parents felt about your relationship. they thought you could do better than ‘some football player from your school’. they had friends with young, stuck up sons who, according to them, were more fit for you. despite being told countless times how happy johnny made you, they paid you no mind.

you nod, sincerely. “i hope so.”

he places his hand on your thigh, rubbing reassuring circles into your skin. you stay like that for the entire drive.

once you finally reach your destination, you leave all doubt and anxiety surrounding your relationship with johnny in the car along with any other negativity. the flashing lights and loud music you could hear even from outside the club excites you and you’re left with no choice but to discard all of your worries. you never got tired of seeing the glowing, neon sign letting you know that you had arrived at the hottest hang out spot there was—the neo zone.

as soon as you step inside, sicheng’s face contorts in displeasure. “i’m, uh, going to the bathroom.” he carelessly pushes past strangers, clutching his stomach.

you notice jaehyun has disappeared as well. before you can ask, you spot him on the dance floor, inserting himself in some line dance he obviously isn’t familiar with. his limbs move awkwardly and completely out of sync with the rest of the group. he recieves multiple strange looks and you can’t help but cringe.

“where did we go wrong with them?”

johnny’s laugh can hardly be heard over the booming bass of a song. “couldn’t tell you that, sugar. let’s just hope the next ones come out better.”

there he goes again, talking about your oh-so-promising future. you were still unsure if you would be able to grant johnny the picture perfect life he constantly spoke about. whenever he referenced it, you felt slightly guilty.

instead of acknowledging his comment, you glance around, looking anywhere but him. “want to get a drink?”

he simply nods, placing his hand in the small of your back as you weave your way through the crowd to the bar.

he leans on the counter and orders, “one long island iced tea, please.”

“you know my order?” you ask, pleasantly surprised.

“sweetheart, you get it everytime we come here. and that’s often.”

you still beam at him. “it’s still nice. you know, that you notice those things.”

“everything about you is worth noticing. besides, what kind of boyfriend would i be if i didn’t?”

you press a quick kiss to his cheek to show him how grateful you are.

“you really have to work on your aim because you completely missed your target that time.” he teasingly taps his lips.

you roll your eyes with a giggle. “never satisfied, are you, suh?”

“you owe me, just sayin’.”

“oh yeah?”

“totally! i let you sit shotgun!”

“i was the only thing standing in the way of sicheng throwing up all over your dashboard, you should be thanking me!”

johnny presses a kiss to your lips. it’s so unexpected yet enjoyable that you can’t stop your eyes from fluttering shut in bliss. he only pulls away to take a breath of air.

he licks his lips. “how was that?”

you brush imaginary dust off your skirt. “probably the best ‘thank you’ i’ve ever received.”

“says you. i can't get enough of those lips of yours.”

you fiddle with your belt. “nobody's stopping you from getting your fill.”

“you’re going to be the death of me, young lady.”

seconds later, the bartender slides you your drink. “here’s your drink, young lady.” he gives johnny a knowing smile and not-so-subtle thumbs up. “what a pretty little thing you got there.”

you know his words aren’t meant for your ears so you avert your eyes and take small sips of your drink.

“thank you, sir. i couldn’t agree more.”

“you know, me and my wife met in this club. just like you two.”

“we’ve actually known each other for a couple years.”

the man’s eyes widen in surprise. “well, look at you. already ahead of the game. you love her?”

johnny doesn’t hesitate to nod. “very much. the only issue is her folks don’t seem to be too crazy about me. they have a long list of suitors, myself excluded.”

you frown and trace the rim of your glass. that never got any easier for you to hear.

the man nods, understandingly. “i see. well, in that case, you might have to wait. you said you love her and until you get to be together—which you will—keep loving her. that’ll make the time you spend waiting go by like this.” he snaps his fingers to prove his point.

johnny nods, a genuine smile appearing on his face. “i appreciate the advice. thank you.”

the bartender gives him a curt nod and goes back to tending to the other demanding customers.

before johnny gets a chance to say anything, you ask, “do you wanna dance with me?”

his grin widens. “always.”

you take his hand in yours and lead him to the dance floor. it’s full, as always, multiple bodies pressed up against each other. you waste no time joining in.

your hands end up on his broad shoulders, fingers toying with the hair on the nape of his neck and his grip ends up on your hips. the songs played at club neo zone always had a strong bass and energetic vibe so you both match that rhythm, moving to the intense heartbeat of the music. you gaze up at johnny, admiring his good looks even under the glow of the disco lights that colored him shades of bright pink, blue and green.

“what are you looking at, pretty girl?”

“just your face. i like it.”

he hums. “mm, i’m glad. i do too.”

“like my face?”

“no, mine.”

you shove his shoulder, playfully.

he chuckles. “you know i’m joking. you’re the most beautiful thing i’ve ever seen.”

you suddenly find your shoes to be very interesting and stare down at them, smiling sheepishly.

“c’mon, don’t get all shy on me now.”

you giggle. “quit it.”

he glides his hands up and down your sides. “i’m serious, darling. it must’ve taken all my luck to get you.”

“i could say the same thing. there’s no one i’d rather be with than you, john.”

his dimples appear at the compliment and he goes in for a bear-like hug. he cradles your shoulders and rests his chin on top of your head as both you sway.

“i’m gonna marry you.”

you’re not sure what about this statement catches you most off guard. maybe it’s the way that there’s no teasing tone in his voice or perhaps the fact that he has decided to say this in the middle of the dance floor, of all places.

you catch your lower lip in between your teeth. “i’m sorry we have to wait.”

“i’ll wait forever, babygirl, if that’s what it takes. and so what if your parents don’t want that. if one day you’ll let me wake up next to you and have a family with you, i’ll be happy.”

you feel butterflies fluttering in your stomach at his sweet words. “i can't wait.”

with the hope of a future together, you and johnny happily dance the rest of the night away. once the party dies down and the crowd shrinks with every song that passes, your bodies are left sweaty and tired. you agree it’s time to go home.

you spot jaehyun in the back of the club and it takes a lot of effort to drag him off his latest girl interest. he blows her kisses as you yank him away, promising her a phone call in the morning. you’re pretty sure he’s lying.

sicheng is found passed out in the restroom, snoring heavily.

“has he been here this whole time?” you ask with a grunt as you attempt to hoist him up.

johnny shrugs as he helps you lift. “i find it's better to not ask questions.”

you nod in agreement. “fair.”

the car ride is silent mostly thanks to sicheng being knocked out. jaehyun sits quietly as well, staring out the window. johnny decides to drop them off first. you stop in front of the jung residence. as you watch the brunette struggle to open the door with one hand and hold sicheng’s unconscious figure in the other, you can’t help but wonder, “is it really a good idea to leave him with jae? i mean, that’s like telling a toddler to look after an infant.”

“if i left him at his house i’m pretty sure his old man would ground him for the rest of his life. jae’s folks are always out of town.”

with that reassurance, you drive off, your next destination being your house. johnny parks exactly where he did at the beginning of the night, just to be safe.

he rests his hands on the steering wheel. “want me to walk you?”

you shake your head. “that’s alright. if i get caught, i’d rather it not be with you. i’d never hear the end of it.”

“yeah, i get it. one day, though, we won’t have to worry about it.” as if to promise you his words are true, he hands you his letterman jacket. it was his prized possession and he was never seen without it. “here, take this. wear it when i can't be with you.”

you nod, clutching the clothing item close to your chest. “i will.”

he leans over as far as his seatbelt allows him to give you the last kiss of the night. it ends too fast for the both of you. you exit his car and walk down the sidewalk towards your house.

johnny watches you through his rear view mirror and smiles to himself when he catches you pull on his jacket.

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catrasredemption-moved · 4 years

Note

(i know you kinda did this already but) (also i read that one it’s super good) catra is hurt/sick and refuses to admit it and adora can 100% tell ?

Adora should have known better. Adora did know better.

The problem with introducing magic to a world that had lived without magic for so long was that magical creatures now had to learn to live around the other beings who had made the planet their home. They didn’t like sharing, unfortunately.

And sometimes they made it known.

“Shit, damn it, damn it, fuck-”

“Adora we’re all impressed by your extensive swear vocabulary,” Catra said through gritted teeth, “but maybe save the air for running.”

She was the one who sounded out of breath, and Adora was about to point it out, but a scream brought them back to reality. Glimmer reappeared beside them, and they skidded to a halt.

“You find them?”

“Yup.” She grabbed both of them by the shoulder, and they disappeared in a shower of sparkles.

Five years on, things were more or less peaceful. But there was always something ready to upturn their lives.

Today, it was an invasion of magical something or others (they were still working on vocabulary) that invaded a village and stole a bunch of kids. They had already ambushed the things once, and managed to get a few of the kids back, but there had been more creatures than fighters at the time (just Adora, Catra, and Glimmer), and they had gotten away again. Glimmer had gone to get reinforcements and look ahead while Adora and Catra scouted the woods.

Adora’s eyes were continuously drawn to Catra’s leg, though. One of the things had grabbed her. And Adora swore she’d heard a crack. And Catra was almost certainly limping, at least a little. But she refused to stop. And Adora couldn’t make her.

So they continued on, against her better judgment. Glimmer teleported them to where Bow, Perfuma, and Scorpia were already fighting off the creatures. Glimmer hurried to grab a couple of kids and bring them to safety, and Catra dove into the fight.

Adora would freely admit, if asked later, that she had been completely off her game. She took a few hits that shouldn’t have landed, missed a few hits that definitely should have landed, and wasn’t at all focused, because her eyes kept seeking out the red blur of her almost wife darting around.

Almost wife. If she did something stupid to get herself killed a month before wedding, Adora was going to be furious.

Glimmer had gotten most of the kids out, but there was one stubborn bastard using a child as a shield, making it impossible for anyone to get a good shot at him. Catra grabbed Glimmer’s arm and muttered something to her, and then they were gone, reappearing behind the creature.

Several things happened at once. Catra reared back and swung, clawing the creature right in the head. A tentacle shot out from the thing’s back, grabbing Catra as she struck, and squeezing, ripping Catra off to the side and bending her leg in a way that legs should not bend, and throwing her away as it went down, releasing its hold on the child.

“Catra!”

Adora darted forward. Glimmer hesitated before going for the child to get him home first. Catra would tell her the kid was more important, and it was best to save them all the argument. Everyone else hurried to make sure Catra was okay and guard her from anything that might attack.

“Fuck,” she hissed, breathing heavily, hands probing uncertainly at her bent leg.

“Are you okay?” Adora asked stupidly, kneeling beside her. “Shit. Someone is going to need to set it, but I can heal it.”

“I can set it,” Catra grunted. “Someone hold me steady-”

“Absolutely not,” Adora said. “You can let the healers at Bright Moon deal with it.”

“I’m not wasting anyone’s time-”

“Ugh, I knew you two would already be arguing about it,” Glimmer grumbled as she returned. “Scorpia, Perfuma, can you take care of the village while I bring these guys home? I’ll be back soon.”

“Absolutely,” Perfuma said while Scorpia nodded emphatically. “Let us know if you need anything.”

Glimmer took Adora’s and Catra’s hands, and Bow rested a hand on her shoulder. Catra groaned, face ashen, as they reappeared in the Bright Moon infirmary. Three teleports in a row was taking its toll. The broken leg probably wasn’t helping either.

“I’m fine,” she grumbled as Adora and Bow helped her onto a bed, and the healer came hurrying out to see what the problem was.

“I’m uh... gonna go get food for you guys,” Bow said, backing up. Catra was about to be in a lot more pain, and she didn’t particularly enjoy it when people saw that. “I’ll bring it to your room.”

Adora gave him a strained smile. “Thanks, Bow.”

He flashed them a thumbs up and hurried out.

Bow was right - setting Catra’s leg was a painful process. She clung to Adora’s hand, making a high-pitched noise through her teeth, claws just barely piercing her skin. It was fine. They’d be gone when Adora transformed back. She was so tired of Catra’s leg making unnatural cracking noises.

“Damn it,” she gasped, squeezing her eyes shut. “Fuck, fuck, fuck...”

“Ready for me to heal it?” Adora asked, squeezing her hand.

“I don’t need you to magically heal every bump and bruise-”

“Do you want to wear a cast down the aisle?”

That got her a scowl. “Fine. But you only get to use the wedding once. Remember that.”

Adora smiled faintly, resting her hands on Catra’s leg. A golden glow enveloped the limb, and Catra relaxed noticeably, looking more tired than pained now. It had been a long day.

She was still grumbly when Adora carried her back to their room. “So,” Adora said conversationally as she settled Catra on the bed. “Any reason you didn’t fall back the first time they hurt your leg?”

Catra glared. “Because the kids needed to be saved and I wasn’t going to ditch you guys over a little leg pain.”

“I heard it crack.”

“It wasn’t that bad.”

“Bones aren’t supposed to crack,” Adora reminded her. “Or bend the way yours did.”

“It’s fine, isn’t it? I’m fine.”

Adora sighed, rubbing her temples. She had really thought they were both passed working through the pain and knowing their limits. “Catra-”

“Don’t give me that look,” Catra cut her off. “It’s not a big deal.”

“Do you want to marry me?”

Catra raised an eyebrow. “I thought we got this out of the way already.”

“Just answer the question.”

“Of course I do, dummy.”

“Okay.” Adora took Catra’s cheeks between her hands. “Then stop being stupid and bench yourself when you’re hurt. We’re supposed to be doing better, aren’t we? We’re supposed to be treating ourselves better.”

Catra closed her eyes, sighing. “Yeah. I know. I got tunnel vision today.” That happened more than she liked to admit. Adora rested her forehead against Catra’s.

“I should’ve called you out. I’m sorry I didn’t. Ah!” Adora stopped Catra from protesting. “I held back because I didn’t want to argue with you.”

“It was an emergency.”

“That doesn’t mean you get away with running around on an injured leg. And I can’t be afraid to tell you to step down.”

Catra took a deep breath, closing her eyes, counting to five, and letting the breath out. “You’re right. I’m sorry.”

Adora pulled back to kiss her forehead. “I am too. We’re working on it. Right?”

“Yeah.” Catra smiled faintly. “Right.”

#catradora #askbox fic #Mystery Person #Sam Answers

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violethowler · 4 years

Text

Break the Wheel

It’s a common point of discussion in the Kingdom Hearts fandom how often the main heroes are screwed over by the actions and attitudes of their various mentors. Ansem the Wise, Eraqus, the Master of Masters... Nearly every mentor figure in the series has contributed in some way to the pain the young people they interact with have endured over the course of the series.

The Master of Masters deliberately manipulated his pupils into turning against each other and starting a war to further his own agenda. The Foretellers spread that suspicion and mistrust of each other outward to the members of their respective Unions. From what we’re seeing so far, the Dandelions are removed from the Master’s direct influence and are handling the Potential Traitor discussion so much better than the Foretellers did in Back Cover, but something still clearly went wrong that left at least four of them thousands of years in the future with only vague memories of their past at best.

Birth by Sleep showed how Eraqus’ paranoia and distrust of darkness directly lead to the suffering of his pupils. His attitude toward Terra’s darkness in the beginning drove the latter to seek validation from Xehanort, who used Terra for his own agenda causing Aqua to trap herself in the Realm of Darkness to save her friend. Eraqus’ insistence that she spy on Terra and bring Ven back to the Land of Departure drove a wedge between the trio at Radiant Garden. And his willingness to kill Ventus to stop Xehanort leads to his duel with Terra and subsequent death.

Ienzo’s role in the experiments performed by the Organization’s founders prior to the fall of Radiant Garden is unclear, but his conversation with Ansem in Kingdom Hearts III suggests that the older apprentices kept him in the dark about many things and might have potentially used Ansem’s fondness for him to manipulate their mentor. This resulted in Ansem’s banishment and - if DDD is any indication - turning Ienzo into a Nobody against his will when he was only 8 years old.

Ansem himself went on to openly seek the destruction of Roxas, Xion, and Namine for the sake of his revenge against everyone who wronged him, using his prejudice against Nobodies to justify the things he did in pursuit of his goals. And despite guiding Riku to accept his own darkness in Chain of Memories, Ansem still fundamentally buys into the view of Darkness as something inherently negative, best illustrated at the end of Riku’s side of that game where DiZ attempted to make Riku choose between the “road to light” and “road to darkness”, implicitly trying to force Riku into a rigid either/or path that Riku rejects in favor of choosing “the middle road”.

This pattern has repeated often enough that when fans on Twitter shared screenshots of Dark Road from the game’s prematurely leaked website showing Master Odin, several fans - myself included - began eagerly anticipating the ways in which this pattern of old men failing the young would rear its head in Xehanort’s time as an apprentice.

The fact that this pattern appears so consistently across the entire Kingdom Hearts timeline is not an accident. The entire starting point of the Heroine’s Journey is built around the idea that the protagonist’s environment - parents, mentors, peers, sometimes even their entire society - has failed them in some way[1]. By forcing them to adhere to a rigid binary of what traits are considered desirable versus undesirable, it forces people who do not fit those standards to cut themselves off from vital parts of who they are in order to be recognized and validated.

So when the younger generation grows up with these standards and is called to fix the mistakes of their elders, they are expected to do so on their mentors’ terms[2]. In doing so, they will ultimately continue the cycle that led to those problems in the first place. But the central protagonist of the Heroine’s Journey is different. The qualities which set them apart are the same ones that allow them to think outside of this rigid binary and ultimately break that cycle. In the course of their growth, the main character learns to create a new, better world not by vanquishing a villain who represents the failures of the old one, but by healing the wounds those failures created.

Kairi said it best in Kingdom Hearts III that Sora’s journey is about helping people, many of whom he’s never met before. This is significant because the protagonist breaking out of the cycle has commonly taken the form of learning to solve problems with compassion and understanding instead of violence and punishment[1]. The main character cannot improve the world around them by simply killing the villain and calling it a day. In order to achieve meaningful change they need to help the people who have been hurt by this rigid cycle. And as the contrast between Sora’s attitudes towards the dying Organization members in Kingdom Hearts II and III demonstrates, that includes the same villains he’s fighting against. Yes, even Xehanort.

Because when you look back and think about it, every non-Disney antagonist in the Kingdom Hearts series is shown to be motivated by the pain and/or trauma inflicted on them by the worldview of their peers and mentors, which they then took out on the people around them.

Marluxia as Lauriam was powerless to stop Strelitzia’s murder, and then he lost all memory of his past when he arrived in the present from the Age of Fairy Tales. That knowledge casts his behavior in Chain of Memories as someone trying to control the people around him as a proxy to feel like he has control over his own life[3].

Ienzo’s words when Ansem returns in Kingdom Hearts III[4] and the fact that he was a child [5] when Radiant Garden fell[6] paint his words toward Riku in Chain of Memories about the latter destroying his home as Zexion projecting the repressed guilt over the destruction of his home onto Riku.

Saix’s cruelty toward Roxas and Xion in 358/2 Days is revealed in Kingdom Hearts III to have been driven by jealousy towards Axel and the feeling that he was being abandoned and replaced[7].

All of these characters’ villainous actions can be traced back to the influence of the mentor figures of their generation. Marluxia’s survivor’s guilt over Strelitzia’s death is the result of her killer attempting to defy the manipulations of the Master of Masters. Saix was gaslit about his own humanity by Xemnas and Xigbar for over a decade with Xemnas’ manipulation and whatever effect Norting had on him on top of that. Ienzo’s conversation with Ansem in Kingdom Hearts III indicates that he didn’t fully understand what Ansem’s adult apprentices were doing around him when they were conducting their experiments, and the flashback at the start of Dream Drop Distance suggests he had not become a Nobody of his own volition.

Xehanort too, is someone who was hurt by this destructive cycle. The things he indicates he saw during his world tour - people refusing to acknowledge the darkness in their own hearts and allowing it to grow [8] - showed him the consequences of repressing one’s darkness and negative emotions as he and Eraqus were taught. He wanted to change this, but he was still so entrenched in that system that the best he could think of ultimately amounted to the same rigid viewpoint but flipped so that darkness was on top.

The merciless death many fans felt Xehanort deserved would only reinforce the “darkness evil, light good” worldview that Riku’s redemption arc was built on overturning. In order to truly heal the wounds created by the rigid belief system that made the villain who they are, the protagonist needs to be able to extend their compassion and sympathy even to their greatest enemies, or else it fundamentally breaks the narrative. The idea that there should be limits or conditions on such compassion is exactly the kind of mentality that led Eraqus to try and kill Terra and Ventus in Birth by Sleep. It doesn’t mean the main characters will ever forgive the villain(s) for what they’ve done, but that they are choosing to let go. To focus their energy on self-care and rebuilding, instead of more violence and more destruction[2].

Regardless of how individual fans feel about it, Xehanort being treated with dignity in his final moments needed to happen in order to show Sora’s growth. If Kingdom Hearts III had given Xehanort a violent demise like some of us wanted, it would have been a betrayal of the Heroine’s Journey’s major themes. Treating opponents with sympathy and compassion is a critical element of the framework, and is necessary in order to allow the protagonist to break free of the destructive mentality that created the story’s overarching conflict in the first place.

Sources:

[1] “The Heroine with a Thousand Faces”; June 13, 2019;

https://www.teampurplelion.com/heroine-with-a-thousand-faces/

[2] “On Love and Lions Part 1: An Analysis of Love in VLD”; February 14, 2020. https://www.teampurplelion.com/on-love-and-lions-1/

[3] Analysis of Marluxia by @mlhelena; https://mlhelena.tumblr.com/post/185211447430/thought-that-ive-been-nursing-for-a-while

[4] Kingdom Hearts III. Square Enix, 2019.

[5] Kingdom Hearts: Birth by Sleep. Square Enix, 2010.

[6] Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance. Square Enix, 2012.

[7] Concerning Atypical Heart Regrowth in Nobodies: Saïx Case Study by dicax; June 23, 2019.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/19329115

[8] Kingdom Hearts III Re:Mind. Square Enix, 2020.

#kingdom hearts and the heroine's journey #kingdom hearts meta #kh analysis

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annhellsing · 4 years

Text

Best of Dark and Bright

notes: i disappeared for over a week and come back with...... yet more a3! oh my god. anyway shrugs, it’s more azuma angst!! rating: explicit tbh. it’s not super detailed but i mean?? yeee pairing: azuma yukishiro / reader word count: 2,317

He has curled up before, like a cat in the arms of a lover. This is a poor imitation.

Azuma holds his knees to his chest, the blanket thrown over most of him and his hair spread out against the disorganized pillows. He feels small like this, but not safe. No, he’s helpless, choking back hard sobs in an attempt to quiet himself.

He’s never liked sleeping alone, some things never change. Even when he was a child, he would wake missing his brother’s snoring in the bed next to him. Of course, it’s more than discomfort that keeps him from finding rest now.

There are screams every night when there is no sound of another’s beating heart to drown it out. There is a crash, three sickening thuds of skulls against glass and rubber and metal. Sirens. Then, silence.

He has not tried to go to sleep, not after slumping heavily in bed with his clothes still dotting the bare floor. He tried not to cry in front of his almost-bedfellow as the man departed, that would have been a sorry sight indeed.

Azuma can’t say this is the first time it's happened. It serves him right for assuming, he supposes, that everyone looks forward to a cuddle after a roll in the hay. Not this man. He rose like he cared very little for who he just made love to and tugged his suit back on.

Work in the morning, he said. Thanks for understanding.

There is nothing to be understood. Azuma lets hot tears come now, the feeling of hollow emptiness settling in with the fullest force. He likes sex, of course, and has never once regretted it. But to watch the back of a lover as they decide he is not worth staying for--- nothing on earth stings quite like it.

He drops his head, leaning forward until he can’t distinguish the dark of the room for the warm black of his folded arms. He closes his eyes, trying to slow his breathing to a human pace. It is a difficult task.

---

The salaryman tips his head towards you as you walk by. The hallway is otherwise quiet, still lit up so soon after dark on a weekend night. You watch him go, trying to guess which room he came from.

Sakyo seems unlikely, more the type to arrange motel visits if he wanted to bring someone home. Homare-- maybe, but the man looks a little plain for his tastes. As you brush by the otherwise dull-seeming man, you catch a whiff of a familiar shampoo and the faintest trace of lilac.

The salaryman says nothing, he offers only the cocksure smirk of a man who’s gotten some. It doesn’t set your mind at ease, most of Azuma’s lovers leave just a bit before sunrise. You’ve almost never seen them up close.

A feeling rises in you, not necessarily one of fear but instead that things might not all be right. You turn back to the hallway, walking faster now and heading towards the stairs. You’ll check on him first and work your way down the floors in more detail when you know he’s all right.

Azuma’s a good judge of character, you're sure he could take care of himself. It’s likely nothing’s happened, you’ll hear the sound of his soft breathing when you open his door. You’ll find him sleeping, nearly purring.

But his door doesn’t need to be opened very much. It’s partially ajar, showing the dark beyond and the faint outline of a figure slumped on the bed. You grip the handle and push it open fully.

“Az?” you ask, “Honey, are you okay?”

The shape on the bed moves, his breathing is far from peaceful. It sounds ragged, too similar to sobbing for you to hover for very long. You close the door and realize that the bathroom light to the left is still on, too.

“Azuma, it’s just me. What happened?”

A silver head lifts from the mattress, though his hair is half in his face you can see that he’s been crying. Before you even make it to the bed, he’s reaching for you. You sit behind him, careful to give him space. Azuma wholly discards that, shifting and twisting as much as he can until his head is safe in your lap.

“Sweetheart,” you try again, even though he’s done little else but cry since you came in. Your voice turns cold, something you don’t recognize, “Did he force you?”

“No,” Azuma sighs, sounding congested and exhausted in the same breath. He turns, brushing his hair out of his eyes. You find his golden stare unnerving, you’ve never seen him look so upset. “But he left me, he wouldn’t stay. I begged him to, but--”

“Oh, Az,” you sigh, relieved and yet still pained to see him so sad. “I should’ve kicked him in the shin, I knew he was no good.”

Azuma doesn’t say anything. He drops his head, closes his eyes. He looks tired, it’s getting late. Your lap is comfortable, he thinks.

“How about some water, okay?” you start, “I can make the bed while you put your pyjamas on and I’ll stay the night.”

“You will?” he sniffles. You nod.

“I know you--- you’re working on sleeping alone. But it’s not your fault he was a jerk,” you say.

“I thought I was a better judge of character,” he admits. You shake your head.

“No, come on,” you say, your fingers find his hair. You brush it back from his face, revealing high cheekbones and soft skin. “None of that, we all make mistakes.”

He huffs, half in an agreement and half in relaxation. Your hand feels good in his hair, cool and gentle. Azuma sighs, but rears up when your hand leaves and you start to shift.

“Don’t move,” he exclaims, reaching out again when you turn your knees and try to stand up. “Don’t leave.”

“But--” you start, “Az, I’m just going to turn the bathroom light off so you can sleep. I’m not leaving.”

He huffs again, but this one edges towards a whine. You bite your lip and go still. You can hold him a little while longer.

“Poor thing,” you mumble. His cheeks are wet, you notice. Despite your promise, he’s still crying. “So he just-- he just left.”

“As soon as I was done, yes,” Azuma admits, “I wonder if he even liked me.”

“Ah, ah, ah,” you tut, concerned at how easily doubt creeps into his mind. “If an ass like that did like you, it would be an insult. You deserve better.”

“I deserve you,” he sighs. You, to his unending surprise, nod.

“You have me, honey,” you say, “I’ll stay all night, don’t worry. But you should get cleaned up.”

“I barely want to move,” Azuma counters. You smile, just a bit.

“You don’t have to,” you say, “let me up, I’ll get a cloth. Let me take care of you.”

And the sigh that leaves him is like the last of his stress has gone up in smoke. Azuma goes almost limp in your lap for a moment, before stiffening up and rising enough for you to stand.

“Good boy,” you whisper, giving his head a pat before slouching off to the bathroom.

The bathroom looks orderly, even with bottles of product lined up on the shelves around the mirror. You find a face cloth and run the tap until warm water pours out. Then, you turn it cold and fill a glass. On your way out, you turn out the light with your shoulder.

The curtains flutter in the breeze, there’s enough moonlight to guide you back to the bed. Setting the glass on the side table, you turn to look at your new bedfellow. He’s still curled up, but less stiff than before.

“Can I turn on the light, sweetheart?” you ask. He rolls his shoulders and you see him nod.

You flick the lamp on and sit down on the bed again. This time you’re somewhere else, reaching for the edge of the blanket and guiding it gently down.

“Can I see?” you ask this time. Azuma pauses and then, after a moment, he unfurls.

He’s unmarked, it seems. Not even a love bite adorns his pale neck. His chest looks soft and his breathing seems to have slowed a bit. He stares at you, all the while, while you look. It feels strange to be the cast-off, but it isn’t the first time he’s been that.

But it is the first time, he can admit, that someone was there to want him in spite of that.

“That’s it,” you whisper, your tone turning breathy and sweet. Before you reach anywhere intimate, your hand finds his cheek. You wipe the tears from his red face with your thumb. “You can cry if you need to, but you’re not alone any more. Okay?”

“Okay,” he replies after a short breath.

“Come on,” you say, your tone is still languid and careful-- even as you pull the blanket down farther.

It’s as you expected, his cock is soft against his stomach and Azuma’s a terrible mess. He’s not shy, at least, about the way you look at him. Nor does he resist when you carefully part his legs.

You take a moment, admiring how long and pretty they are. He has legs some people would die for. Others, like you, might even kill for them. But you shake that thought from your head.

“Tell me if I’m too rough,” you say, deciding to start between his spread thighs.

He lets out a soft whimper when the warm cloth touches his skin. You start to wipe away evidence of his departed lover from the backs of his legs, moving inward and going slow.

“Too much?” you ask. He shakes his head. “Okay.”

You continue, Azuma stares at the ceiling. This is nice, nicer still that he knows it's your hand doing the work. He slumps back on the bed, wiping at his own cheeks and hoping he isn’t too puffy. He’s so tired, but he supposes an eye mask is in order.

Any thoughts of skincare falter, however, when he thinks for even a second about how good you are to him. He looks down, between his legs to you cleaning his most intimate parts like you were the one to put him in such a state. The thought makes him oddly warm.

Azuma stiffens up again when that warm, unassuming cloth and your hand moves over his dick.

The result is instantaneous. Even exhausted and spent, his body reacts to your gentle attention. He supposes he shouldn’t be ashamed of that, out of everything you’ve seen tonight. But it bothers him, oddly enough, that you might be disgusted by such a shift in his mood.

You might stop if you notice, but his cock gives another twitch. It’s useless to try and dismiss something he’s never bothered to control. It feels good, the way you’re taking care of him. Azuma closes his eyes, waiting for inevitable embarrassment on your part.

But you move on, cleaning traces of his own orgasm from his stomach. The cloth has mostly grown tepid by then and you toss it towards the bathroom without a second glance.

“It’s okay,” you tell him, “you’re all tense again. It’s fine. It’s normal to react like that. Did the cloth feel good?”

He imagines someone bashful might close their legs. Your pointed, downward look tells him any hope he had of you not noticing was foolish from the start. He nods, almost absently.

“Actually, your hand did,” he says. Honesty is the only thing that sits right with him. He can see your face, lit up by the lamp on the bedside table. You’re smiling.

“How flattering,” you say, “do you want me to--”

“What?” he exclaims, his eyes go wide. As lazy as he is at the moment, Azuma sits up and props his elbow underneath him.

“Look at you, now you're blushing,” you smile a little wider. “Don’t tell me you’re so used to rejection. That’ll make me sad.”

“I’m not,” he replies, “but I thought--”

“I said I’d take care of you, honey, do you want me to?” you ask.

His cock twitches again. Azuma nods.

“Good, then let me get comfortable,” you say.

He’s not sure why that makes his stomach twist. His cock, pretty and thin as he is gives a pleasant throb. But when he moves to reach down and relieve himself, you guide his hand away.

“Give me a second, my goodness,” you sigh, rising quickly to turn off the light. You kick off your shoes and crawl over him into the bed.

You tug the covers over you, pulling your bedmate against your chest like this is a time-honoured tradition. Azuma’s slack-jawed, stunned speechless while you move him to where he’ll be most comfortable.

Across your chest is warmer and safer than in your lap, he finds. Your hand moves down his stomach, taking his now half-hard cock against your palm.

“Be good,” you kiss the end of his nose, “it’s late, so you have to be quiet.”

He nods dully, his eyes flutter shut when you begin to stroke.

Azuma is proud of himself for keeping his senses. You have one hand in his hair and the other idly works over his shaft. It’s surreal, how differently you behave under the cover of dark. But it isn’t unnatural or odd. It feels as if you might’ve always offered this to him, quietly, in your own way. He only needed to ask.

“More,” he sighs, now. Because you’ve proven that it’s never too late to do so. The end of his request is turned up like a question, in spite of himself.

You kiss his nose again. Your hand moves faster.

#azuma yukishiro #azuma yukishiro x reader #azuma #azuma x reader #yukishiro azuma #a3!#a3! azuma #nsft #anniewrites #shrugs

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peckin-pat-marlow · 4 years

Text

Tagged by @captain-teddy-reese

50 Questions: OC Interview

1. What’s your name?

“Howdy. I’m Patricia Marlow.”

2. Give us your full name

“...Ah fine! My middle name’s Winifred... Patricia...Winifred...Marlow.

3. Do you have a nickname? If yes, what is it and how did you come to have it?

“I’ve been called shorter of my names: Pat, Patsy, Patty Cake (don’t bother askin’ why.) But folks way out south west know me as “Peckin’ Pat Marlow. I shot my town’s sheriff the day after...his obstruction of justice. Gave him that kiss he wanted afterwards. And it became a habit with anyone I killed as leader of the Marlow Marauders.”

4. What species are you? (Human, werewolf, etc? Or are you an alien?)

“Last I checked...I’m still human.”

5. Where were you born?

“I was born in a town the south west of texas. It was famous for its large lake and gold mine a few miles out. Just make sure you have ginseng and special vegetation for the snakes and lizards...I wouldn’t head there if I were you. Hasn’t rained for 13 years.”

6. I see. And that would make your age...?

“That would make me...36 years old.”

7. Okay, now...are you a good guy, or a bad guy?

“What I’ve done doesn’t make me a saint, but it don’t mean I have bad morals.”

Part II: Tell Us More About Yourself...

8. How would you describe your personality?

“Back before I was soft, sweet and kind..had to be for the kids, but I still held myself firm for the adults as well. When the town reared it’s ugly head...I became a different person; ruthless, vengeful, hard hearted, didn’t take shit from no person when it came to me and my gang. It take no responsibility for indirect harm because they didn’t handle circumstances better! I was willing to do whatever it takes to get vengeance not with death, but with nothin’ for ‘em left! But I couldn’t my gang be taken with me in my final moments.

But after that last score, when I suddenly found myself alive and rescued. I began to mellow out...I still had my temper and was satisfied with what I’ve accomplished, but I became more aware of how the world was changing. So I just wander the lands to keep an eye on this changing world and hope it’s for the better.”

9. Would you say you're someone who can handle pressure?

“I’ve had moments where I was frustrated...but I’ve managed to maintain my composure around misbehaving kids and disrespectful adults.”

10. Do you like to read?

“Well, yeah. What kind of teacher doesn’t like to read?”

11. Favourite Colour

“I’ve grown fond of the colour black.”

12. Do you get along with others?

“Just because I get along with people doesn’t mean I like them. I do so to get the job done, and if they don’t cross me I choose them to stick close and see how things turn out.”

13. Do you have any enemies?

“Many could call me their enemy, but the one I call my nemesis won’t bother me anymore...”

14. How about friends?

“I became friends with my gang through the trust and teamwork we had for over 13 years. I’m sure they’re all fine and free. I have met other folks but I can’t call them friends just yet.”

15. Are you patient?

“I can be...When your a teacher you have to be patient to know more about situations.”

Part lll: Hypothetically...

16. Suppose that you could become any creature you know of. What would you pick, and why?

“I’ll say a cougar. They’re just as vicious, independent, dexterous, with some self indulgence. They can still purr, y’know?”

17. One of your enemies in question 13 just complimented you. Response?

“Which one? If it’s Gill then he’s complimenting me with sarcasm and rage since he’s still not found the loot. His generation’s gonna be diggin’ for years and won’t be the ones to find it.”

18. One of your friends in Question 14 just insulted you. Response?

“I prefer their insults as criticism. But at least their words won’t mean they betray me straight away.”

19. If you could change anything about yourself...

“I can’t see me changin’ anytime soon...but I guess I gotta find somethin’ else to do without second guessin’.”

20. About your home...

“It ain’t like a manor, but It had enough space for my parents and my things...But it was so damn expensive thanks to Gill’s daddy...it got burnt down by an angry mob, along with my school, Miles’s stand and his donkey, Sally-Ann...

Part IV: Now We Get Personal

21. What're your parents like?

“They were geniuses compared to the other folk in town. Both of em met in the city where they got their degree. I don’t think their families approved though, as I haven’t heard a thing about my grandparents. But they were good people using their money to buy two properties, for my home and school.

But I can’t give em that. Their last wish was to make sure I improved the head on my soldiers before they slowly died together from Diphtheria...I didn’t know they passed until Miles came to check on me.”

22. Do you have any siblings?

“None. I was an only child, thank goodness. If I had a younger baby sister, Gill would target her more than me...”

23. What's your occupation?

“I used to be a teacher in my hometown. Since I was the only women with the knowledge thanks to my parents education, I took up the role. Taught both kids and adults to read and write.”

24. I see, that's a good job to have. Do you like it?

“I enjoyed my job when it came to the kids. Nothin made me feel better than givin’ them somewhere to be while adults did their own thing, though I wished I could have give them more subjects, but reading and writing was more tolerable to teach than the other things that adults couldn’t make sense of. As for the adults...I won’t lie there are some worse than the children. Way worse.”

25. Are you seeing/dating anyone?

“No...”

26. Married/Engaged/Other?

“I wished for that with someone once.”

27. If yes, how did you meet?

“...I met Miles Wiley when I first came to town after my parents moved. He was a vegetable farmer with a donkey he claimed was over a century old from the vegetables he ate. Many folks who can’t afford the doctor’s fee often came to him for tonics, ointments, all sorts of ailments that were reliable, especially for the gold miners who came for the juice as repellent for the lizards. Before me he was the only stranger in that town...He made me welcome even after I took over the town’s teacher and helped repair my school, only askin’ for the spiced apricots I made.

But the town found out how close we really was from our first...and last kiss. He only wanted to fix me after being broken down for so long...We tried to escape by boat, but of course Gill had his ferry and me and Miles weren’t much of a shot...He wasn’t even armed but he shot him...he shot him even as I held him.

28. Tell us your biggest secret.

“Aside from people thinkin’ I’m dead? Everyone knew about me and Miles so I got no big secret to hide.”

29. Your worst fear? You don't have to answer this one if you don't want to.

“After what the Sheriff did, I fear being put into that situation again where I was taken advantage of right under others noses...Then there’s being in the middle of a ring of fire.”

30. Favorite food?

“I may had made spiced apricots once upon a time but it ain’t my favourite food. I don’t have it as much as I like to...but I do miss that Pecan pie.”

30. Favorite drink?

“Spiced Island Moonshine. I just discovered this recipe and it tastes like the goods of home and warm escape. I could kiss Marcel for makin’ this but... then I’d have have to kill him.”

31. Tell us one thing you're the most proud of.

“I would have said getting revenge on Gill for killing Miles was the best thing that happened...But I never imagined letting the group go free after our last score would take that. Some graduation, huh?”

32. Something embarrassing? You don't have to answer this one, either.

“Whatever is embarrassing is what happens when I’m drunk...”

33. If you didn't answer Questions 29 and/or 33, tell me why.

“I may have mellowed out from my recovery, but I have my damn pride still.”

34. Is that a good reason?

“Just take it as you will...”

Part V: Closing

35. Are you satisfied with your life?

“I felt like my life was nearly wasted than satisfied. I loved Miles but I wasted my life in that town. I remembered my gang more fondly than the town. But I’m still young to do somethin’.”

36. Anything you feel like you have to do? It can be something long-term, like a bucket list, or something you need to do right now.

“Well my vengeance has been achieved and leading a gang is something to tick off. I’m gonna start looking for things as Patricia Marlow and not Peckin’ Pat.”

37. Any hobbies?

“I have developed a thing for watching shows in the theatre, and I used to play the banjo to sing songs with kids. I’m sure I haven’t gone too rusty.”

38. Quick, you get one wish! What did you just wish for? It's alright, you can tell me...

“I wish Miles was alive....That’s the one thing I can’t have back.”

39. How would you describe that wish? Good? Bad? Selfish? Selfless? Other?

“I don’t give a damn what anyone thinks of us...Folk wouldn’t have approved of us, but...we’d be more free if we got out together.”

40. Have you been honest with these questions?

“That I have...Now that you know me it’s all about what u gonna do?”

41. Your personal quote?

“The snake which cannot cast its skin has to die. As well the minds which are prevented from changing their opinions; they cease to be mind.” - Friedrich Nietzsche

42. Do you like change?

“It’s what I fought for when things didn’t change enough...”

43. What's your most valued possession?

“Since they burned Miles’s body, I wasn’t left with much to remember him. It was a good thing I found his hat after I left town, but I haven’t taken it out of my satchel since.”

44. Anything else you feel like sharing?

“Not right now, I ain’t.”

50. Last question!...yup, that's it! How do you feel?

“Like a few pounds has been lifted off my shoulders. Or it might just be one of my firearms...Haha! Don’t worry, I just gotta reload.”

#red dead redemption 2 #red dead online #red dead oc #rdr2 oc #red dead roleplay #red dead rp #oc questions #patricia marlow #peckin’ pat marlow #arthur morgan #dutch van der linde #oc interview

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rohad93 · 4 years

Text

Authority Online : ch 13

She woke up sweating.

Some of that probably had to do with Celeste, suctioned up against her back under their shared blanket and radiating body heat like a furnace, but most of it was probably the green, polyester prison she was currently steaming alive inside.

It felt like a sauna inside the tent and she could already feel her bad mood rearing its ugly head as she became aware of everything sticking to every inch of her

The clamminess of her skin wasn’t doing a lot for her sunburn either, but she was torn. Celeste was pressed up against her back, with an arm slung over her waist and her face buried in between her shoulder blades, sleeping peacefully.

Now she was faced with the task of escaping Celeste’s grip and this prison without waking the slumbering baker, who was currently breathing hot air on her already too hot skin; which ultimately was the deciding factor.

She carefully and almost painfully, slowly pulled at each of her fingers knotted into the black fabric of the tank top the blonde had slept in till Celeste’s hand hung loosely over her waist. She slowly wiggled herself out from beneath the blanket, silently cursing under her breath and setting Celeste’s arm gently on the ground, no easy task with everything sticking to her damp skin.

The tents zipper may as well have sounded like a hail of gunfire as loud as it was in the quiet of the morning and the low sounds of Celeste’s breathing, but she never moved as Jaune crawled out of the tent, trying to make as little noise as possible.

She zipped it back up and sighed in relief as she stretched out to full height and the cool air hit her damp skin.

She cringed at the idea of another night in the damned thing as she ran a hand through her hair, pushing some wet strands away from her forehead and trying to finger comb what she was sure was outrageous bedhead, into submission.

The campsite was empty save for the other tent, from which she could hear faint snoring, otherwise it was perfectly quiet save for the ambient sounds of the woods all around her.

There was a light breeze blowing, rustling the bright green leaves overhead and the dull, distant humming of cicadas that always accompanied summer and was the telltale sign of a hot day.

The sun was still sitting just behind the treeline on the opposite side of the lake-shore, casting long, glimmering rays of light across the water that shone so brightly it blinded her when she looked right at them.

She could use a little cool water to wash off her face and a short walk to stretch her stiff muscles. Normally she wouldn’t be comfortable walking around outside in the shorts and tank top she slept in but she was hot and groggy and couldn’t care less, especially since their little campsite and section of the lake seemed to be isolated from anyone else, as she had yet to see anyone else except the occasional person in a boat.

She carefully picked her way down to the water’s edge with her bare feet and wadded out into the water up to her knees, it was cool. She stuck her cupped hands in and splashed the water on her face, and her grumpy, heat-induced mood was quickly evaporating with the water trickling down her face.

She sighed to herself, completely forgetting she’d ever been grouchy to start with. She picked up another handful of water and just let it run through her fingers, taking the quiet moment to just be, for once.

Except for the little ripples she was making as water dripped from her fingers the lake appeared like a smooth, unblemished mirror. Her reflection stared back at her from the smooth dark water, red-faced, and hair a mess.

She ran her wet fingers through her hair, pushing the pale yellow strands carefully into place.

Except for the painful sunburn she now had... and getting smacked in the face with the tent pole…. And the tent itself… she wasn't having as bad a time as she thought she might.

Not a great time either, mind you, but decent enough that she wasn’t going to complain, especially not to Celeste, or make her think that she was having a terrible time. She recognized how important this trip was to her girlfriend.

She had still yet to really interact with Rose at all. She wasn’t sure exactly what she was supposed to do or say. She certainly wasn’t going to prostrate herself to the twenty-eight year old school teacher. If she wanted to continue sending dirty looks her way for no reason then so be it.

She now had a better understanding of the situation but she had done nothing to warrant the younger woman’s suspicion and she wasn’t going to act as though she had.

She would be cordial and make any and all attempts to be friendly to Rose, but she had her pride, she was not going to beg for anything.

She was so lost in her thoughts, staring into her reflection in the water that she never heard the quietly approaching steps.

After a few minutes, she shook the excess water from her hands as she turned and stopped, finally noticing Celeste, sitting cross-legged on a large rock and smiling at her from the shore.

“Good morning,” she greeted, wading out of the water. “Did I wake you?”

“Good morning yourself and no, it was a bit hot in the tent, though I suspect you knew that already,” she laughed, looking at the lawyer, now damp with lake water.

“It was a little warm…,” she tentatively agreed but said no more. She wasn’t going to complain, she wasn’t. Celeste smiled knowingly, but didn’t comment on it further.

“How’s your face feeling?” She scooted off the rock to stand in front of Jaune. Cobalt eyes roaming over the burned skin of her face.

“Tender, but I’ll live,” she assured, lips curling into a smile as she watched Celeste examine her face with an amusing amount of concentration.

“Well, for that I’m glad,” she chuckled and laid a quick peck to the blonde’s cheek. “We’re supposed to go hiking once they get up, are you coming?”

“Of course”

It hardly mattered that she had never hiked before in her life, nor that her interest in it was minimal at best. She had already agreed to come on this trip, knowing it wouldn’t be her thing, but she refused to damper her girlfriend’s mood by turning down the activities. She wasn’t going to ruin the family’s time when she had come knowing she wouldn’t have a good time. She would suck it up; it was one weekend.

“You’re going to need a hat, we don’t want your burn to get worse…” Celeste hummed.

Jaune made a face. She wasn’t really a hat person… even if it was a valid point. She really didn’t want that to happen.

“You’ll live,” Celeste smirked, seeing the look. “If you’re done down here you can come help me make breakfast.” She held out her hand and Jaune didn’t hesitate to take it. Celeste just smiled, lacing her fingers between hers.

The other tent was still closed when they got back up the hill.

“I’m going to change,” Jaune said before crawling back inside the slow cooker that was their tent. She made quick work of it, eager to get back outside and changing inside the small space was no easy feat to start with for most people, much less someone as tall as her.

When she came back out Celeste had already started cooking on the small portable grill they had brought along and the smell of cooking eggs and sausage filled the air along with the coffee from the percolator sitting on the metal grates. She sat on the log nearby with her cup, waiting on the coffee.

Within a few minutes, loud shuffling and grunting noises started coming out of the red tent.

Jaune watched silently as the zipper suddenly opened up just enough for Steven to come crawling out with a bright grin. He made a beeline for his aunt, attaching himself to her legs.

“Morning!” He grinned brightly, much too cheerful for someone who just woke up.

“Good morning, love.” She bent down to place a kiss atop his black curls.

Jaune watched as she poured boiling hot coffee into her mug, catching the boys attention. He detached himself from Celeste to jog over, clambering up onto the log beside her.

"Hi, Jaune." He smiled up at the blonde with his wide, gapped tooth smile and she couldn't help but smile back.

“Good morning, Steven.”

"Are you going hiking with us?" he asked.

"I am" she nodded, taking a drink of the dark, steaming liquid.

Celeste watched the two out of the corner of her eye as Steven talked and Juane nodded along, occasionally throwing out short answers between sips of her coffee.

She smiled to herself.

Steven seemed rather fond of the lawyer, who was always happy to indulge the child's long winded and often off the wall conversations and topics that changed at the drop of a hat.

Something she was convinced he had inherited from his mother.

With low groans and grunts the red tent finally unzipped all the way and Rose came crawling out, looking haggard as she climbed to her feet and shuffled over to them.

“Good morning” Celeste greeted, moving eggs around the pan with a spatula.

Rose grunted out a word that almost sounded like ‘morning’ before grabbing one of the empty mugs and filling it with coffee.

Greg followed a moment later with a jaw cracking yawn as he rolled out, inch worming his way out on his back.

“Morning everyone,” he called out.

Steven abandoned his place beside Jaune to jog over to where his dad was laying on the ground and climb on top of him.

“Ughh” Greg groaned. “Steven please,” he rasped, closing his eyes, resigned.

Jaune snorted into her cup with a small grin.

~ ~~

After breakfast, camp was cleaned up and they set off down the trail into the woods.

Greg and Rose walked ahead, trying to keep up with Steven, running around and across the trail, climbing onto every rock and log he could find and jumping off them while giggling madly as he ran about, inspecting every plant, bug, animal and rock he could find.

Jaune and Celeste brought up the rear, walking a leisurely pace while Jaune fiddled with the wide brimmed fishing hat she had been forced to wear to keep the sun off her already burnt face.

She grumbled to herself under her breath as she pulled at the canvas material.

"It's fine, Jaune." Celeste rolled her eyes, exasperated with the blonde’s mumbling under her breath.

With a huff she finally took her hands away from the hat, but was still scowling.

"I'm not a hat person…," she huffed, fingers itching to go back and continue to mess with it.

Celeste reached out and wrapped her fingers around the lawyers right hand before she could think to fiddle with it again.

“Maybe it’s not your best look, but you need to keep the sun off your face,” she reminded, squeezing the fingers wrapped in hers.

Jaune made an unhappy noise but squeezed back and didn’t touch the hat again. Celeste just smiled to herself.

Luckily most of their hike through the woods, they were shaded by the trees that lined the path, especially as the sun continued it’s journey overhead, heating up the air and making her sweat beneath the damn hat. The cicadas were loud, but they eventually faded into the background noise of the woods.

The worn dirt path led steadily uphill, the thick foliage thinning out some the higher they went. At one point they found themselves walking along the side or a drop off.

While she wouldn’t call it a cliff, the thirty or so feet to the forest floor was fairly steep. From here they could see the lake, peeking out from between the trees.

Greg and Rose had stopped just ahead of them, talking quietly and passing their canteen back and forth. Jaune and Celeste were looking out at the view when Steven scrambled over to them.

“Are you having fun, love?” Celeste smiled down at him as he stopped at their feet.

“Yeah! I can see the lake!” He peered out into the distance, even from here the sun shining off the water made it too bright to look at.

His eyes were glued to the horizon, looking at everything there was to see and completely unaware of the thin, crumbling area of the ledge he was standing on.

Till the dry ground gave way.

It was a flurry of movement after.

Being closest to him, Jaune had immediately lunged forward as the boy began to tumble forward over the edge, both arms wrapping around him, but in her rush had overestimated the distance and for a split second found herself careening over the edge. She held the boy tightly to her chest as the world became a dizzy blur of color, sound and pain.

Rocks and sticks dug into her skin as they tumbled down the drop, bouncing off the ground. Several times before eventually rolling to a stop somewhere at the bottom, luckily they had missed all the trees that could have easily killed her had she rolled into them.

Everything hurt and it took several long moments for her head to right itself enough to realize Steven, still wrapped in her arms, was crying and wailing, but it was still a long minute before she got all her knocked out breath back and could find the strength to move.

She carefully pushed herself up, letting Steven out of her grip, but he stayed where he was, crying, but at the very least, very much alive. Nothing seemed to be broken, or at least didn’t feel broken. She flexed her arms and fingers, carefully pushing herself up onto her knees, gently testing her back and legs. Something warm and wet was running down her forehead into her left eye. She reached up and felt the liquid dripping from her brow and sure enough her fingers came back coated in blood.

She must have hit her head on a rock on the way down, it also explained the headache that was beginning to roar to life, drowning out all the other aches and pains in her body.

It was also only now that she was becoming aware of the screaming from up on the ridge.

She couldn’t see them through the canopy of leaves they had rolled beneath, but could hear them just fine.

“Steven!”

“Jaune!”

“W-we’re okay!” She yelled back up and the yells stopped for a second.

“We’re coming!” Greg’s voice bellowed and then the distant sound of running before it all went quiet.

It had taken them about half an hour to hike to where they had been, so even running it would take at least half that to go back down the path and around to where they were, she wiped away the blood still dripping into her face away with the back of her sleeve and turned to the boy, still laying in the dirt, crying.

“Steven, does anything hurt?” She very carefully helped the crying boy sit up, she’d held him tight against her but that didn’t mean nothing was broken, no doubt her weight had pressed fully against him at least a couple of times in the tumble down the ridge.

He nodded through his tears.

“What hurts?” she grunted, wiping the blood dripping into her eye from her forehead away again before pressing her sleeved arm against it to help staunch the blood flow.

“M-My ankle,” he sobbed, holding his right ankle.

“You have to let me see.” She gently pulled his hand away and moved her fingers over the skin. It didn’t seem to be broken but a bruise was starting to form; probably sprained.

“Can you walk?”

Sniffling and with fat tears running down his face he tried to stand but the moment he put weight on his right ankle he crumpled, wailing.

“Hey, it’s okay,” she said gently, trying to soothe his tears.

“Momma!” He wailed, holding his ankle and gulping in large lungfuls of air, hiccuping between cries.

More blood dripped into her eye and she growled under her breath before quickly undoing the buttons on her plaid shirt and pulled it off, leaving her in the blank tank top.

She managed to rip off one sleeve and tie it tightly around her head, hopefully staunching the majority of the blood flow, at least for long enough that she could get something done!

She ripped off the other and carefully tied it around the boy's ankle while he cried. A temporary fix but better than nothing, anything to put pressure on it. She shrugged the now plaid vest onto her shoulders, she might need more fabric from it later.

She sighed, it would take less time to get back to camp if she could meet the other’s halfway.

She was going to have to carry him.

“Come on, Steven.” She helped maneuver him onto her shoulders, careful of his ankle.

He’d stopped wailing but was still sniffling, tears rolling down his round cheeks.

“I want momma…,” he hiccupped.

“I know, we’re going to go find them, okay?” She grunted as she stood, balancing the thankfully small for his age boy, and carefully started picking her way through the brush and undergrowth back the way they had come.

It was hot and humid down in the thick of the woods, top that off with the blood still slowly soaking through the fabric tied around her forehead and the sneaking suspicion that she had a concussion and Jaune had decided.

She really hated camping.

Steven sat quietly on her shoulders, hands loosely fisted into her hair, and occasionally sniffling.

“We’ll be there soon,” she gently assured him.

Luckily that was true, as a few minutes later she could hear the sounds of frantic running through the grass, along with heavy breathing

She rounded a bend and could see Greg, Rose and Celeste running toward them.

“Steven!” The man yelled over his panting.

He slid to a stop in front of her and carefully removed the boy from her shoulders and held him in a crushing embrace which Rose quickly joined, both with tears in their eyes.

Seeing Steven safe in his parents grasp, Celeste hurried over to her, also on the verge of tears. She looked like she wanted to wrap her arms around the blonde, but restrained herself, not knowing how injured she might be.

“You’re covered in blood!” Blue eyes were blown wide as she took in what Jaune assumed must be a rather grisly looking scene.

“I hit some rocks, I think. How bad is it?”

She reached up and gently held the blonde’s face, and hesitated a second before pulling up the material to look at the cut and winced, it tried to stick.

“It doesn’t look... terribly deep…” She bit her lip, pressing the fabric back down gently. It at least didn’t seem to be bleeding much anymore. Jaune nodded.

“I think he has a sprained ankle...” She nodded to Steven. Her head was killing her and she was so tied. “...and I think I have a concussion,” she rumbled, closing her eyes. The sunlight was killing her head and her burned face.

“We gotta go,” Greg said upon hearing this, moving Steven to his shoulders and they moved quickly back toward camp.

Celeste stayed close to her side, watching her worriedly and holding her arm when she stumbled a little over the thick underbrush.

It only took about fifteen minutes to get back to camp but it felt like so much longer as her head throbbed with every beat of her heart.

“Get in the van” Greg handed their son to Rose and opened the back doors.

“What about all our gear?” Rose looked at him as she held Steven.

“I’ll come back for it another day, we need to get Jaune to the hospital and have Steven checked out.”

Jaune and Celeste climbed into the back while Rose hopped into the front passenger seat with Steven still curled up in her arms, his face buried in her neck.

The tires spun when Greg punched it. The dirt road jerked them around a little as he sped back toward town

“Are you hurt anywhere else?” Celeste asked her quietly as she used an antiseptic wipe from the first aid kit on the many tiny cuts on the blonde’s arms and face she hadn’t even noticed. Thankfully she’d been wearing jeans.

“I don’t think so…,” she mumbled, her eyes sliding closed but not five seconds after they did, Celeste was shaking her.

“Jaune, I know you’re tired, but you need to keep your eyes open, you can’t go to sleep yet, darling.”

“I know,” she grunted, eyes opening, but still trying to fall shut. Rose watched them over her shoulder and Greg frowned, glancing at them in the rearview mirror.

Once her cuts were cleaned, Celeste sat next to her, holding her hand and keeping her awake till they got to the hospital.

~ ~ ~

It was getting dark when they got back to the bakery after Steven had been released with a small sprain hours before and Jaune, who they had wanted to watch for a few hours and did indeed have a concussion though thankfully, by a miracle, a minor one.

“I’m going to take Jaune home.” Celeste told Rose as they walked through the bakery, they could see the blonde outside, leaning against her car, arms crossed and frowning, waiting on Celeste. Several butterfly bandages holding the cut on her forehead closed and honestly, looking like a ragged, bloody mess in her torn jeans and plaid, blood stained, now vest. “I don’t want to leave her alone, as least for tonight.”

“That sounds like a good idea… but, before you go… I gotta talk to her,” Rose said.

“Right now? She’s really not…,” Celeste started, only for Rose to cut her off.

“Right now,” she insisted, walking out the lobby doors with her older sister on her heels.

“Jaune,” she called, approaching the blonde, who looked up, both brows rising in silent question upon seeing the school teacher approach.

Instead of stopping Rose walked straight into the lawyer, wrapping her arms around her waist and squeezing.

If she hadn’t been so shocked, Celeste would have found the wide eyed look on her girlfriends face quite comical.

“Thank you,” Rose said, squeezing the blonde even harder for a brief moment, mindful of her injuries “Thank you so much.”

Before she could think of anything to say, Rose let go, stepping back and wiping at her eyes. “

“I’ll see you both later,” she said before turning and walking back inside.

Jaune looked at her and she shrugged, but was smiling.

“It probably would have been so much worse then a sprained ankle if you hadn’t been holding onto him so tightly. You probably saved his life.”

“It was just instinct…” Jaune shrugged, looking away. There hadn’t even been any conscious thought to it. She’d seen him falling and she’d reacted.

“We’re all still very grateful.” Celeste insisted. “Come on, let’s get you home,” she said, climbing into the driver’s seat of Jaune’s car.

The five minute trip was spent in relative quiet and Jaune headed straight for the shower the second she walked into the house and Celeste waited in the living room for her.

When she finally came back out, her damp hair was combed back and the dried blood on her face was washed away. She was wearing fresh, clean clothes and looked far better then she had twenty minutes beforehand.

“Feel better?”

“Immensely” Jaune sighed, plopping down onto the sofa beside her and leaned her head on the baker's shoulder. They sat there in companionable silence for a few minutes before Celeste couldn’t help herself.

“I’m sorry I made you go with us.”

Amber eyes popped open and she sat up to better look at Celeste.

“You didn’t make me do anything,” she started. “I chose to go.”

“But I know you didn’t want to…, I could tell you weren’t exactly having a good time even before you fell off the trail,” Celeste countered, frowning.

Jaune frowned, lips pursed, before finally sighing.

“No, I didn’t. I’m not an outdoor person, I never have been.” She shrugged.

“Then why did you agree to come?” She turned to better face Jaune.

“I just wanted to spend time with you and make you happy,” she finally said as though it were the most obvious thing in the world and Celeste supposed it was.

Cobalt stared into amber for a long moment before she leaned forward, her forehead gently pressed to Jaune’s, mindful of her cut and sighed.

“I do appreciate it, Jaune, really I do, but please, darling, next time, just tell me, alright? You're not as much fun when you're sunburned and grumpy.” She chuckled.

“Right” Jaune smirked, eyes closing and body sagging.

“Tired?”

She hummed an affirmative. Exhausted was a better word, and she still had a headache, though not as pounding as it had been.

“Come on then, let’s get you to bed.” She stood up and held out her hand.

Jaune took it and let Celeste lead her down the hall to her own bedroom, hitting the lights as they went.

She all but fell into the bed, glad it wasn’t a tent.

She could hear Celeste chuckle to herself as she flicked off the bedroom light and climbed in behind her, arm wrapping around her waist.

Lips pressed softly against the back of her neck, followed by a quiet, breathy goodnight.

She mumbled the sentiment in turn, hand finding the one slung over her waist and gave it a brief squeeze before finally getting to close her eyes and let the sleep she had been fighting off for hours finally take her.

#Bellow diamond #yellow diamond #blue diamond #pink diamond #Steven universe #Greg Universe #Au #fic #Authority Online

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mor-beck-more-problems · 4 years

Text

Murphy’s Law || Morgan, Nell, & Rebecca (feat. Constance)

Fuck Constance.

Morgan sat in her car, nervously stuffing fries into her mouth. She passed them to Nell, who had her own pre-ritual dinner on her lap. She wasn’t sure if bringing Nell was the right idea. She had an older, more experienced Vural coming to join them. She had Rebecca, much as her possession situation unnerved her with something this important. But she had all but given Nell a promise to let her help once. And she had done well enough with the ritual to send Erin’s dad away from this plane of existence. She was strong, and despite her age and the way she liked to play, she took her craft seriously. It felt like an insult to ask if she was sure, but it was at the top of her mind. Not because Nell was indecisive or hadn’t memorized the plan with her enough times, but because there was a chance Constance might put up a fight, might try to hurt Nell. She had cursed Morgan’s entire family without knowing them. What might she do to her new coven? Morgan pushed the thought aside and reached in her to-go back for a bite of burger, peered out at the sky through her dashboard. “At least it’s a clear night. Great weather for interrogating the dead, huh?”

Nell, in contrast, was nearly at peace while she chomped into her own chili fries. Sure, she hadn’t summoned a ghost exactly like Constance before, but she’d summoned plenty of things she assumed would be harder to pull through her circles and pentagrams than some old bat bitch ghost. Nevertheless, she was buzzing with anticipation, more excited than worried. Her own little spell kit was in the back, and Taki had come along for the ride as well in the event she might need to strengthen her magic for the upcoming spellwork. Currently, he was butting his head up against the back of Morgan’s hand, trying to command her into feeding him a chicken nugget that Nell had bought specifically for him. He was more than smart enough to get it for himself, but he much preferred it when people fed him as he lounged, like a modern day Cleocatra being hand fed grapes. Meanwhile, another car pulled up alongside them, Nell looking out the window to wave at the driver, a cousin that was more related by marrying into the Vurals and coven tradition than blood, but family nonetheless. “Great weather for interrogating the dead,” Nell echoed as she turned back to Morgan, an eager grin on her face. “Should we go out and get ready?” Nell figured these were Morgan’s shots to call. After all, it was her family and her curse. “Jamie just pulled up so— I think we’re good to get going if you are.”

Morgan teased Taki with the nugget a moment longer, making him rear up on his haunches and bare his little teeth in excitement. She tore off a piece and let him take it from his fingers. She gave him a scratch behind his ears, feeling guilty for leaving Anya behind to ‘guard’ Deirdre at home. The truth of it was, she couldn’t stomach bringing her where Constance might see her, or try to hurt her-- No. She was just scared. Worrying too much. The circle they were casting had been approved by Rebecca and Jamie both. It would hold her within its confines. So long as they didn’t get too close or loosen their hold enough that she could pull on the energy around them, she should be contained. So it would be fine, enough for Taki to be here for Nell. Morgan just...couldn’t bring herself to open that particular door. And if she couldn’t bear it bravely she didn’t have any business doing it at all.

Morgan gave Taki the rest of the nugget and wiped the grease off her fingers. “Uh, sure! Let’s get this party started. I’m sure Rebecca is already setting the circle up.” She nodded in the direction of another car near their own. “I’m just gonna let um, let Deirdre know we’re getting started,” she said, sending off a quick message. I love you. I’ll be careful. No running away with Anya without me.

This would be fine. She would learn what she needed to learn. She would win. Morgan reached for her catch-all bag, now packed within an inch of its life, and got out of the car, her fists clenched with determination. She waved at Nell’s cousin and held out her hand to shake. They’d spoken online but it was different now.

Jamie had heard the new member of the coven had something over her they needed to fix, but she didn’t expect to be summoning a spirit this old, and hardly one like Constance. The file Morgan had sent her was crazier than anything she’d come across helping exorcists and raiding old rich people’s tombs. She almost felt bad for the ghost, but coven cousins came before ghostly...whatever else. “Put that hand away,” she said to Morgan, flashing a big smile. “We’re family, you’re giving me a hug.” She brought the small woman into her arms and gave her a look over. She didn’t look like much, but if magic had taught her anything, looks could be deceiving. “Hey little cuz,” she said to Nell. “You still getting into plenty of trouble? And where’s the other hotshot you ordered in? I’m ready to raise some hell!”

Rebecca blinked, wiping her hands across her face to stay awake. Why was she still so tired? She’d almost finished the circle by the time Morgan and Nell had decided to get out of the car, but she simply observed from afar as the other witch stepped from her vehicle as well. Rebecca scratched her shoulder. Three little witches, all lined up. Rebecca shook her head. “Shut up…” she murmured. She knew he was close. Any day now, and she’d be gone. But...people kept needing her. She couldn’t just leave again. Could she? She clenched and unclenched her hands, finishing up her circle and standing. She watched them all commune from a distance, standing back. She’d told Morgan she would provide the circle and be there if needed, but she didn’t have the energy to perform a full summoning. That’s what the other two were for, she supposed. So she just stepped back, and waited.

It was a bit of a familiar feeling, walking up to Rebecca along with Morgan, and preparing to do a good bit of magic. After all, it hadn’t been all that long ago that they’d helped Erin with her father. So as she approached the circle, hands on hips, Nell simply said, “So does a two-time team up warrant a name like The Avengers, yet? Maybe something to do with the Ghostbusters?” Not that she actually had that much interaction with ghosts. Of course...her own personal ghost was still here in the form of Evan, still not having gotten rid of her coin. She glanced in his direction warily, having instructed him to leave them alone for this spellwork, as it would most likely require a good bit of focus. Then she was shooting her distant cousin a comfortable grin, sticking her tongue out playfully. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. I’ve never been in trouble in my entire life.” Meanwhile, Taki was pacing the perimeter of the circle, as if he himself was looking it over.

Morgan smirked, eager for the levity of Nell’s and Jamie’s mood. “We are a pretty powerful team, I’ll admit. I mean, it’s no accident I asked all of you to come back again, right? We’re White Crest’s best and most powerful!”

“And what does that make me?” Jamie balked, teasing.

“O-oh,” Morgan fumbled, laughing nervously. She was reaching into her back for her ingredients: Constance’s bones, the rusalka hair, the bonedoggle saliva, the vampire dust, and all the rest. “You’re obviously the fan favorite recruit to make sure everyone knows the sequel will be better!” She slipped ahead to present the ingredients to Rebecca and recite her understanding of the ritual one more time. Her connection to Constance was its own ingredient. Technically, she was the one serving as the focal point for the spell and the others would be supporting and stabilizing her. They were all taking a risk, all giving of themselves to make this happen for her. It seemed only fair that Morgan take her place at the front. This was her spell, her problem, and her win. She crossed carefully into her place marked by a tree sigil at the end of the circle and waited for the others to file on either side of her.

There was no fire to light her work as Morgan sprinkled the vampire dust over the basin in the center. Only the stars, glaring down like a thousand pair of eyes and the white, gleaming grin of the moon. Tension corded through Morgan’s arm as the dead creature’s remains fell through her fingers. Steady, she thought. Steady. Next came the lamia hair, braided and greased with bonedoggle saliva. Then the bones. Morgan cradled the soft cracked skull in her palm and unsheathed her athame and opened herself to the universe. Wind shivered through her bones and up the hair down her neck. Her soul twisted, restless and exposed. Steady. Steady. She would not shake or cower before Constance had even arrived. She began to speak the words in an ancient tongue, “By the stars above and the earth below, by the fires of eternity, by the water of the spirits, We compel you to part the veil, return your child’s soul to this place!”

She went by each witch and held out the skull as a basin of its own, holding it out as they cut themselves and offered their blood, dropped and smeared on the bone as to become indistinguishable from one another. Morgan locked eyes with Nell as she passed the skull near her. She dared not interrupt the casting to speak, but she hoped she understood that she was grateful, that she was more determined than she was scared, that she had this, so long as Nell continued to have her back.

Rebecca wasn’t sure why, but she resented being called a witch. She wasn’t a witch. Sure, she had magical proclivity and knew a few basic spells, but she was an exorcist and a scholar. She knew much more in theory than she did in practice, hence why she drew the circles and let everyone else do the work. Still, she gave Morgan a tense smile as she came over, nodding. She had the words right, nearly perfect, but Rebecca didn’t have the energy to critique too much, and Morgan didn’t have the time to fix it. It was now or never. Under the light of the waning moon, the veil would be thinnest right around midnight. They didn’t call it the witching hour for nothing. As she watched the ceremony begin, a chill ran through her, something inside the circle attempting to flicker to life. Don’t you wanna touch? Came the voice. She closed her eyes. Don’t you wanna take?

Nell locked eyes with Morgan as she passed the skull, cradling the head reverently as if it were something vaguely sacred, or perhaps more aptly, cursed. The ceremony was familiar enough, and doing most of it was as easy as breathing, Nell having been summoning for...most of her life now. Of course- this was somewhat different with the addition of Constance, but it was an easy enough adjustment. She wasn’t afraid of soe bitch ghost, though— especially after it had hurt her friends, and was responsible for many of Morgan’s troubles in life. Once she had done her part with the skull and blood, she lowered it into the basin as carefully as she could. But despite it all, the skull cracked, crumbling a bit either under the weight of gravity or their magical forces. The spell continued on as she spoke the words confidently and in tandem with the other witches. Then...finally— it was time. Again she looked towards her counterparts, first to Jaime, and then to Morgan as she nodded. As one, they rang out their beckoning call, commanding the woman to appear. “Constance Cunningham. Constance Cunningham. Constance Cunningham.” Vapor began to rise from the basin, ghostly skin seeming to slowly crawl around the remnants of the skull as she began to form. First the head, as flesh formed over closed eyes that didn’t yet open. The rest of Constance followed, ascending from the bowl as her shoulders appeared, then a torso...legs...feet. She was here.

Constance came into her second earthly existence screaming as loud as she had the first. She was encased, trapped, not in weak, hungry flesh but in magic, her own chosen force, her beginning and her end. She writhed where she stood, jaw clenched. She knew these woods, these stars. It was perhaps the cruelest part of all, to turn magic against here in her own home. She opened her mouth to curse the witches gathered, but no sound came.

Morgan couldn’t help but stare at the spectral girl before her. She was so young with full cheeks and small unwrinkled eyes. She was frightened, twitching against the binds of magic that made her theirs to command. She didn’t even seem used to a body anymore, spectral as it was. Morgan had to remind herself not to soften in the face of her, to remember who she really was. Remember that she would not be someone to reason with or be gentle with. Constance was a girl, but one who only knew one language anymore; the language of power and hatred.

Jamie spoke first. “You answer to us, honey,” she said. “This world isn’t your playpen anymore. Got it?” The way she glared, fierce and controlled, left no room for questions. “Tell the truth, and it won’t hurt a bit.”

This was Morgan’s cue and she knew it. She swallowed the lump in her throat and said, “I know you surrendered your life to curse the Bachmans, Constance. Tell me about the spell. And I mean everything.”

“I threw Agnes’ picture in a fire and I wished on a blasted star,” Constance spat. Her figure blurred and a strange hollow cry came out of her shape like the moan of a gale in a storm. The magic wouldn’t let her disobey them, not without making her suffer for it.

“Don’t make me ask you again,” Morgan said, reaching for the salt in her pocket.

“What do you know of me! Who are you to demand anything of me, you wretch! You think this magic is a children’s game?” She thrashed again, baring her teeth like an animal. She reached out her hands for them, and maybe her form was too real, too terrifying for her to notice, but Morgan couldn’t tell if Constance had fizzled, bound, the way she should have.

“I think I’m the bitch who’s going to fix the lives you broke,” Morgan replied,voice firm. “Now tell me how you did it. How did you throw away your life just to fuck with us?”

The word us lit something dark and furious in Constance’s ghostly face. “I see it now,” she said. “You have Agnes’ eyes. Are you heartless like her too? Do you throw people away like broken dolls when you have no use for them? What will you do if I break them?” She reached out, with sudden, burning strength, for Nell.

Constance was much younger than Nell had expected, despite having heard about her from Blanche and Morgan. Even though she’d been told otherwise, she’d constantly been picturing some old and bitter hag, someone that might curse you for stealing the beans from her yard. The difference in vision didn’t matter, though. After seeing the wicked parts of the world that she had, Nell knew that villainous intent didn’t have an age. Jaime beat her to the punch of demanding things from that ghostly spectre, and she simply waited, taking the moment to join her powers with Taki so that she might be ready for anything that might be coming. Whether Constance had somehow sensed such a thing, she didn’t have time to ponder, instinctively raising her magic to defend herself against Constance’s wiles. The magic was coming for her, and she was ready and willing to face it head-on and turn this into the fight Constance obviously wanted, but suddenly her eye contact was broken, a blur of black fur darting in front of her. She screamed. “Taki, no!” What sounded like an injured dog’s yelp cut through the air, and straight through Nell’s heart as the black Ovinikk fell to the ground, motionless. For a moment her focus wavered, every bone and thought in her body bidding her to dart forwards to check on the cat, nothing being more important than her familiar’s well-being.

“Nell, don’t!” Jamie cried, her voice carrying over the scream of the cat. But the girl had already dropped her concentration, the field was weakened, and what the cat hadn’t known, that the three of them were strong enough to deflect her power, was true now. The ghost girl’s face pulled into a wide, bitter smile and she glowed with strength as she summoned more power. What had they done, making her solid again? Jamie didn’t have a chance to think. Constance’s arm was reaching into her and drawing something out of her energy. Jamie had never felt anything like it. It burned her from the inside out, scorching thought out of her mind, leaving only a dry, crusted exhaustion. She didn’t know how to resist, it overrided her vision, her grip on herself. A gurgling, keening sound broke the air and as she sank to her knees, she knew in some distant place that it was coming from her.

Morgan shut her mind to the screaming. It wasn’t happening. This wasn’t real. She had to hold her ground and keep the spell going. She pushed, digging deep into her want, into the part of her that still cried by the side of the road waiting for an ambulance to find her and her dad, that was hiding under the covers in her bed, waiting for something to change, the part of her that was tired. Her stomach turned but she pushed, emptying herself into the dark. “Nell? Becca--!” She called. “Becca we need--” Her voice broke in her throat.

A chill clammed over her face. Constance. The trees trembled around them, twigs splintering off and fluttering like so many needles in the air. Morgan quivered, but kept her eyes shut and continued to spill her power into the circle.

“You know nothing of me,” she snarled. “You stupid woman. It wasn’t my life, that was meaningless without Agnes. It was my soul.”

There were truly only a few things in the world that could break Nell away from a spell of this proportion that she was intently focused on, but Constance had managed to find one of them- whether it was intentional or not. Every part of her was rioting, her heart in chaos as Taki stayed still where he’d fallen. Jaime followed quickly, and though the keening call of her cousin tore even more at her, feeling as if claws were ripping into her skin, it did the opposite of tear her apart. Two of their number were down now, and if she didn’t want Morgan, Becca, or herself to be next, she needed to focus. If Taki was dead, he was dead. If Jaime was injured, they’d deal with it after. Nothing could be done for them, and she didn’t have time to mourn when doing so would only catapult what was left to them into certain and seemingly perilous danger. She didn’t even particularly care about what Constance seemed to be claiming in terms of Agnes being at fault or something of that like, a blind and sudden hatred gripping her as her attempts rejoined Morgan’s, pouring every bit of her strength into them, more recklessly than she had been before. “Fucking bitch!” she spat, her despair giving way to anger as it so often did. “When we’re done with you, you’ll wish you neve fucking lived to begin with!” But would it be enough? Their power was much diminished now. That wasn’t going to stop Nell from trying, though.

Things were going wrong. Rebecca went to step forward, to intervene, already summoning the strength to shout her power words-- but something else came up instead. An energy she’d been fighting for too long. The weariness that swept over her was all consuming. She couldn’t fight it. Morgan was calling out to her, Nell was shouting, Constance was reaching through the circle. And Becca’s mind went blank.

Amon snapped back into existence as if thrown from a great height. He stumbled in her body for a moment, looking around. Blinked. He’d been aware of what was going on, but the first few moments were always fuzzy. There was a spirit, angry-- so angry he could feel her soul reaching through the ether. And as much as he yearned to simply consume her energy-- so full of rage-- he knew this moment was crucial. So, instead, he faltered, fell to the ground, as if Becca was somehow weakened. Grabbed his head, fuzzy, before giving a push of his own energy through the ether, to Constance. “Be free,” he murmured with a smirk. “Wreak your terror.”

Morgan was seeing spots behind her eyes. Her bones, defying logic, were beginning to feel more like putty. But she dug her heels into the earth and continued. “Becca--” Her voice trembled, barely above a whisper. Her energy went taught and began to falter as something cold settled around her neck.

“You think you understand regret?” Constance screamed. “You think I am your thing to bend?”

Morgan was screwed. She stayed in place and she would spend herself until she collapsed. She dropped the spell and there was even less keeping Constance from manipulating the world beyond their circle to her control. She could hurt them, maybe even kill them. She’d said she would come back from this, but she couldn’t see the way. It was only dark and Constance and another door closing on her.

The air swelled around them, roaring like a hurricane. She had to do something. She had to get out-- and then everything was still. Morgan opened her eyes and released herself from the spell. She sunk to her knees and retched into the dirt, clammy all over. She hadn’t emptied herself like this in ages. This was more than the violent hangover after an adrenaline burst. She clenched her fists to keep the world from spinning. This was worse than that. But worst of all: Constance was free. She might be hovering over them, laughing at their distress. Without the spell going, she was just another ghost, beyond their sight and hearing. She could be halfway through the woods. She could be anywhere.

“I don’t understand,” she rasped, coughing. “Where did she go? What happened? J-jamie, N-nell?” She slumped onto her hands and peered around. She could just barely see the other witch at the end of the circle across from her, slumped and still. “I don’t understand...Why didn’t you do anything, Rebecca?”

Just as Morgan gave too much, so did Nell. Pure hatred and a need for instantaneous revenge were the only things keeping her aloft, knees locked stubbornly, but shaking nonetheless. She knew she was giving too much, but what was too much at this point when it seemed lives were in danger? When the spell broke through Morgan’s efforts, Nell fell to her knees with it, magic still streaming for a moment without aim until she cut it off seconds later. But again, sheer determination and the need to help the others kept her moving, crawling towards Taki who was closest to her. “Taki?” she asked, voice breaking with emotion and overuse alike. “Taki, don’t do this.” Her voice was begging in a way her pride would hate any other day, but things like that didn’t matter when her cat lay still on the ground, cold to the touch. “I gotta take him somewhere,” she cried out softly, her arms picking the limp familiar from the ground and stuffing her face into his fur to hide her tears there. “He needs help.” Then a groan rose from somewhere nearby, and she remembered Jaime. “Jaime?” Her voice joined Morgan’s, arms still tight around Taki, refusing to let go. “Morgan, are you-” Okay? What even was ‘okay’ at this point?

Jamie couldn’t move. She didn’t know what had been siphoned out of her, energy, or magic, or something else. She felt like she had been scrubbed raw from the inside out. Pain throbbed behind her eyes, bled through the end of every nerve. She tested her limbs and tried to shift upwards but a sharp pain in her shoulder made her gasp with a new kind of pain. Jamie could barely move her neck to look, but as she wriggled in place, she saw the branch wedged through the flesh in her shoulder. She was too numb to lift her arm to yank it out. “The fuck...was that…” she groaned. “That bitch was no ordinary thing. And that circle should have held!” Her eyes rolled back to observe Rebecca from the ground. “What were you even here for if you were just gonna stand there? Nell, help me up, We’ll get Taki some help. You can drive, right?”

Morgan had sunk flat into the ground on her side, holding herself with limp arms while her body struggled to cope with being this drained. “Go,” she urged them, a little more strength to her voice. I’ll be fine in a little while.” She forced herself up on her hands again. “Don’t get hurt any worse waiting for me, go!”

Jaime was speaking, which was synonymous with a small wave of relief running through Nell. At least her cousin was relatively okay, even if there was a branch wedged through her shoulder. But it’d be best to leave it there in case pulling it just mucked up the injury further— at least, until they could get to Nisa for her healing. Fuck. What was her mom going to say about all of this? Maybe they should just go to the hospital like any other person might do. Such thoughts were beyond Nell at the moment, anyhow. Taki was her focus, pulling her bit of her attention in his direction. Still, she shakily rose to her feet, her body having no problem with voicing its displeasure when it came to how much power she’d used. “I can drive.” This time, her voice was firm, resolute as she went into crisis mode once again. After helping her cousin up, she turned back to Morgan. “Fat chance I’m leaving you here! I can help both of you to the car.” She could do this. And even if she couldn’t, she had to. Stubbornness and spite had always been good motivators.

The world came back in speckles. First black dots, then vision, slowly. He’d used too much energy in one go and Rebecca was the one feeling the after-effects. Of course he had left her with the mess. She didn’t even know what had happened. She’d blacked out for most of it. Fuck. Fuck. The circle was broken. Morgan and Nell and Jamie were all on the ground. People had been hurt. Rebecca looked up when someone spoke to her, but she couldn’t see them. The scratch on her shoulder itched. She tried to stand, but couldn’t yet. Fuck. She looked from Jamie to Morgan. “I shouldn’t have come,” was all she said. Struggled to stand again. “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have said-- I have to leave. I--” he could come back at any moment. “I have to go. I’m sorry.”

It was slower-going that she would have preferred, but finally Nell had managed to settle Jamie in the backseat of the car, laying in a way that would hopefully keep her wound from aggravating itself. All the while, she’d kept holding Taki, as if unable to part with him. On her return to Morgan, she stumbled over some stray bump in the earth beneath her shoes, scraping her knees further due to her weakened state. This time as she rose, it was to combat Rebecca’s words. What the fuck had happened with the exorcist, anyway? “You can’t leave us,” she said fiercely, not entirely understanding whatever it was Rebecca was saying, but not particularly caring when things had gone so horribly wrong. “Just help me get Morgan to the car.” It took her a few tries, but finally she managed to help the other witch from the ground before looking back at Rebecca. “Help us,” she demanded, not so kindly. It was her usual response when things went to shit, having no patience leftover for anything but the task at hand.

Morgan had all but stopped talking and Rebecca could feel the pained silence in her chest. She looked away. Nell was demanding something of her, but she couldn’t turn to face them. Tears burned at her eyes and she tried to blink them away, stumbling as she pulled herself up and away from the others. “I can’t, he’s-- I have to go, before he comes back, I’m sorry.” She stumbled one more time, before turning her back on them. It felt like the hardest thing she’d ever done. Theo would be so disappointed in her. But she didn’t look back as she ran to her car, started it, and drove off. She couldn’t, because if she had, she would’ve gone back to help.

Morgan didn’t feel her feet stumble along the earth as Nell led her away. She could barely feel her bag banging against her thigh as it drooped from her shoulder. This was worse than she had been able to understand back in the circle. This wasn’t just a setback for her future (all she wanted was a fucking future without looking over her shoulder for death) this was the opening of a different door, one that would not be closed again. With the hatred Constance carried in her, she might do anything to Morgan, might find out anything about her. She might take Morgan’s life apart piece by piece with her bare, spectral hands. Morgan trembled in the back seat of the car and wept.

#murphy's law #wr nell #wr rebecca #wr chatzy #wr nell chatzy #wr rebecca chatzy #wr constance #wr group chatzy #wickedswriting

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asfeedin · 4 years

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Mother’s Day Gift Guide | Serious Eats

Gift Types

Batch Cocktails: Make-Ahead Pitcher Drinks for Every Occasion

Serious Eats’ former drinks editor Maggie Hoffman has packed this book with 65 terrific make-ahead cocktail recipes. Entertaining guests while serving them libations should be stress-free, and this book makes it so.

Sorghum Syrup

Sorghum syrup is made from the pressed juice of sorghum grass, which grows prominently throughout the American South. This amber-colored syrup has a unique, nutty flavor that’s both sweet and savory. And since the 1960s, the Guenther family of Muddy Pond, Tennessee, has been making some of the best.

KitchenAid Pasta Attachment

This is hands down the KitchenAid attachment I use most often. It takes all of the frustration and fussiness out of making fresh pasta, and, unlike the manual alternatives out there, it’s incredibly easy and efficient to operate on your own. Hello, homemade ravioli!

Cacao Barry Extra Brute Cocoa Powder

It’s almost impossible to find good-quality Dutch cocoa in supermarkets, so make it easy for your favorite baker to whip up the best possible chocolate treats. This cocoa powder is unusually dark, with an earthy chocolate flavor for out-of-control brownies, devil’s food cake, and ice cream.

Pineapple Tumbler

Your mom might already be the ultimate entertainer, but this gift will make her parties even more fun. Sure, you can serve crushed-ice cocktails in a regular old glass, but these shiny pineapple-shaped tumblers really up the ante and make a tiki-themed evening feel special.

Sorghum’s Savor

Kentucky-based writer Ronni Lundy is an expert on the foods and foodways of the Mountain South. In her book Sorghum’s Savor, she explores the history and folklore, and the many uses, of the region’s staple sweetener. Recipes range from fried chicken to sorbet.

Durable 3-Quart Saucier

How do you make perfect caramels, ice cream, gravies, and reductions? A nifty pot called a saucier. The durable stainless steel is cladded with aluminum for even heating, essential for temperamental ingredients like caramel and egg custards. A curved bottom makes whisking a snap (no more lumpy gravy!), and the wide top encourages evaporation for fast sauce reductions. You can buy cheaper versions than this All-Clad saucier, but this is one piece of equipment in which quality really makes a difference.

Le Creuset Wooden Scraping Spoon

I have a problem with wooden spoons. I collect them like nobody’s business. But there are a few I always turn back to, and this one, from Le Creuset, is one of them. It’s gorgeous to look at; it has a flat front, which makes it great for scraping up fond or stirring vegetables; and it’s got a smooth, ergonomic grip that makes using it a joy.

OXO Pop Containers

Not all containers are built the same. OXO’s Pop Containers stack neatly in the cabinet, make it easy to see exactly what’s inside, and have a neat push-button top that forms a perfectly airtight seal, keeping your dry pantry goods fresher for longer.

Colorful Tea Towels

Heavy-duty kitchen towels have a tendency to accrue big, ugly stains. That’s why it’s nice to keep a separate set of more attractive towels for gentle drying, transporting too-hot-to-handle serving dishes, and lining bread baskets. These colorful, summery tea towels instantly brighten any kitchen or tabletop, while still doing a stand-up job at the tasks they were made for.

Terra Cotta Cazuela

Daniel’s owned these terra cotta dishes in several sizes for many years now. They’re attractive enough to go straight from the oven to the table, and versatile enough to be used as baking dishes for cooked foods or as serving dishes for snacks when you’re hosting guests.

Hawker Fare: Stories & Recipes from a Refugee Chef’s Isan Thai & Lao Roots

Hawker Fare is a wonderful introduction to some of the flavors that make Isan and Lao cuisines unique. The recipes are excellent, but what we find so compelling about the book is Syhabout’s story: a refugee who arrived with his family in the United States at the age of two, Syhabout went on to pursue a career in fine-dining. Only after establishing himself did he embark on a personal journey of discovery to find out more about the food of his forebears.

Bangkok: Recipes and Stories from the Heart of Thailand

Bangkok is a great gift for anyone who loves cooking Thai food at home and wants to expand their culinary repertoire. It’s a steal for the noodle soups alone, but we particularly enjoy Punyaratabandhu’s seafood recipes, like the pan-fried salted king mackerel steak.

Unicorn Magnum Pepper Mill

I’ll admit it: I’m a pepper mill snob. I need my mill to produce a shower of evenly crushed peppercorns. I want to be able to control the size of those grains, from a rough crush to a fine powder. Not only that, I want my pepper mill to last. With a solid metal burr and a unique easy-to-load design, this is my favorite pepper mill of all time.

The Noma Guide to Fermentation

The hottest new nerdy book of kitchen geekery has to be The Noma Guide to Fermentation by Rene Redzepi and David Zilber. If you know someone who’s mixed koji up with dried fish to make a kind of fish sauce, this is the book for them. Also a good gift for anyone who’s into drying meats or pickling—it details methods and processes that take those hobbies a step further.

Pretty Pinch Bowls

These colorful bowls make setting up your mise en place a little more fun, but they’re also great for bringing extra seasonings to the table, like fennel seeds and pepper flakes for pizza.

OXO Stainless Steel Scraper

A good bench scraper is one of those tools people don’t think they need until they start using it. I use it for everything from transferring chopped vegetables or herbs from one place to another, to portioning dough, to giving my cutting board a quick clean. Next to my chef’s knife, the bench scraper is the tool you’ll see in my hand most often.

Smuggler’s Cove

This remarkable book, from Martin and Rebecca Cate of San Francisco’s Smuggler’s Cove, traces the birth and evolution of exotic drinks and tiki bars—bars that embodied an American escapist fantasy. A lively exploration of our country’s drinking history (and the current tiki scene), it’s essential reading for rum lovers, offering the best categorization we’ve encountered of the head-spinningly diverse spirit. The mai tai recipe is great, too.

Digital Electric Gooseneck Kettle

This is the electric kettle of my coffee-delayed dreams. It has an elegant gooseneck spout that makes pouring a thin, controlled stream easy (very helpful for Chemex and other pourover coffee methods), and a base with controls that allow you to set a specific temperature and hold it there.

Citrus Press

For years, I thought citrus presses were overhyped, absurdly specific, rarely useful, space-consuming, money-wasting gadgets. But it took only one use to see just how wrong I’d been—not only does a citrus press guarantee that you’ll get way more juice out of every lemon and lime you squeeze, but you can say good-bye to stinging papercuts and all those infuriating attempts at pinching slippery stray seeds from your salad dressings and cocktails.

Zingerman’s Gift Certificate

It’s hard to find a better-curated food catalog than Zingerman’s. They are righteous folks, they know seriously delicious food when they come across it, and they sell it at a fair price. Nothing in the catalog is cheap, but then again, good food rarely is. So whether you order cheese or olive oil or bread from Zingerman’s, you can be confident you’re going to be very happy when it arrives at your house.

Dish Towel and Apron in One

Kitchen towels are always welcome in any cook’s kitchen, but these can also double up as a half-apron in a pinch. Plus, they’re of a nice enough quality to show Mom that she didn’t just raise a practical child; she also raised one with an eye for flair.

Cast Iron Skillet

Old cast iron has a perfectly smooth nonstick surface that’s surprisingly easy to maintain. You can sear, bake, roast, braise, stew, and deep-fry in it, and there’s nothing more thoughtful than a gift that you have to expend a bit of effort to find (check out eBay, yard sales, and flea markets). Of course, these modern Lodge pans will do in a pinch if vintage isn’t in the cards.

Tajine

I’ve been lusting after one of these hand-painted ceramic tajines since seeing one in a cookware store a couple years ago. They require some special care, and possibly a heat diffuser to prevent cracking from intense direct heat, but I think they’re worth it just to look at, even if you never cook in them. If you do, a future of flavorful North African stews, presented beautifully at the table, awaits. They also come in a variety of designs and colors, meaning there’s the perfect pick for any home.

Uuni 2S Pizza Oven

There are a lot of custom-designed pizza ovens out there in various price ranges. I haven’t tested all of them, but my favorite so far is the Uuni 2S. It consists of a small stainless steel box with a pizza stone set inside it. You load up a hopper on the rear of the unit with wood pellets, light it up with a torch or lighter fluid, and let it preheat. About 15 minutes later, you’re ready to cook. This little powerhouse hits temperatures in excess of 900°F and bakes up Neapolitan-sized pizzas in just 60 to 90 seconds.

Elizabeth David on Vegetables

Published on what would have been the late British author’s 100th birthday, Elizabeth David’s On Vegetables will teach you how a bag of grocery store onions can be transformed into an unforgettable roasted side dish, and how some fresh shelled peas can yield the most vibrant soup you’ve ever tasted. Filled with recipes that are simple, straightforward, yet often revelatory, this book also features a few of David’s best essays, as well as gorgeous photography.

Paring Knife

Paring knives don’t need to cost a lot to do their job—questions of balance and build quality matter less in a knife that fits almost entirely in the palm of your hand. Of all the ones I tested, this inexpensive blade from Wüsthof came out on top, with a razor-sharp edge and comfortable grip. This is my new go-to paring knife, and I already have several of them at work and home.

Chinese Tea Set With Gaiwan

Do you know someone who’s getting into tea? Like, really into tea? This is the tea set to get for that person. It comes with a traditional Chinese brewing vessel (a gaiwan), a decanter, four tasting cups, and a beautiful wood tea tray with a rack to store all the pieces. At $120, it’s not cheap, but it’s a bargain compared to other well-made tea sets, especially when you consider the high-quality, paper-thin porcelain. For tea lovers looking to dig into tea ceremonies, this set has everything you need.

Presto Tilt-N-Fold Griddle

Presto’s Tilt-n-Fold model is very simple to set up and operate, and it has a compact design that makes it easy to store in kitchen cabinets when not in use. It has a large, smooth, nonstick cooking surface that heats mostly evenly, can be set at an angle to drain grease, and is easy to clean. We love the price, too.

Awesome Chef’s Knife

High-quality Swedish steel and Japanese design, along with great features like a perfectly balanced handle and blade and an ergonomic bolster, make the Misono UX10 Santoku the most-used knife in my arsenal.

Black Matte Dinner Plates

Get these if you want to up your Instagram game! These are the plates we use the most in our photo shoots—the matte texture makes a great surface on which to make any food pop.

Redbreast 15-Year Irish Whiskey

For those who find Scotch too smoky, bourbon too sweet, and rye too spicy, Irish whiskey is the ideal gift. Redbreast emerges from the barrels complex and substantial; some of the whiskey is aged in sherry casks, lending it a weight and dark hue, while some is aged in bourbon casks, imparting characteristic vanilla flavors. There’s a hint of fruit up front and spice on the finish.

Mandoline Slicer

Does your mom love to make fancy salads, crowned with delicate ribbons of carrots? Is she obsessed with serving the perfect potato gratin at holidays meals? There are some kitchen tools that make the difference between amateur-looking food and pro-level stuff. A small mandoline is one of them. This one, from Oxo, is compact, easy to use, and very sharp. It only has three thickness settings, but in my experience, that more than covers most home slicing needs.

Otherland Candle

This handpoured soy-wax candle will look beautiful on your kitchen table— and the scent of Champagne, saffron, and leather, is just fragrant enough to offset any accidental burnt foods that no one needs to know about. Plus, the packaging, which comes with a customizable matchbox makes the candle an impressive (and affordable) gift.

Embossed Rolling Pin

For the baker who has it all, embossed rolling pins can make even the most traditional shortbread seem exciting again. I love this large, open paisley pattern so much, I used it for the cookies on the cover of my book! Its design works well with many styles of dough, so it’s a great starting point before you experiment with pins that have a more intricate pattern.

Recipe Journal

Trying to get your mom to finally write down all those family recipes? This sleek Moleskin journal will get her organized and become a precious family heirloom in the process.

Salt Cellar

Proper seasoning is one of the most important parts of cooking, and if you’re still using plain table salt from (heaven forbid!) a saltshaker, you’re shooting yourself in the food. Using kosher salt from a salt cellar lets you feel exactly how much salt is getting into your food, whether it’s a tiny pinch or a big ol’ wallop.

Liquid Intelligence

Dave Arnold (you might know of his bar, Booker and Dax in NYC) won’t just accept the common assumptions about cocktail technique—his mission in this excellent book is to dig into the science of how the very best drinks are made. This is a must-read for inquisitive types who like to host cocktail hour at home.

Round Griddle

My mom’s signature dish is her homemade lefse, a Norwegian potato flatbread, rolled gauze-thin and cooked on a round griddle at a blazing hot heat. Her old one has finally crapped out after many years of service, and I want to treat her to the best model on the market. If you’re not into the Scandi thing, you can use this griddle to make crepes, injera, or regular old pancakes.

Electric Countertop Pressure Cooker

A pressure cooker is a cooking vessel that just keeps on giving: Once you discover the time-saving feats it’s capable of, you’ll never look back. The good ones aren’t cheap, but man, is it ever worth having one. A countertop electric model gives you set-it-and-forget-it convenience. With the Breville Fast Slow Pro Cooker, not only do you have complete control over your pressure cooking (including any pressure level from 1.5 to 12 psi), you also have a slow cooker and a rice cooker built right in. It’ll even sear meat for stews.

The Apprentice

Insightful (and very well-written) memoir by the elder statesman of food and cooking in the United States. From his early memories of picking salad for his mother to his recollection of eating raw clams on a Connecticut pier, the book shows how food is not just a passion or a career; food, for Jacques Pépin, is life.

Rose and Orange Flower Water

Forget flowers, they’ll be dead by the end of the week, but these flower waters will last a lifetime. Mostly. Both rose and orange flower water will last just about forever on the shelf, and just a drop or two is all that’s needed to give any recipe an aromatic boost. Try a splash of rose water with a strawberry or rhubarb dessert, or orange flower water in a classic New York cheesecake, where their gentle perfume can work wonders.

Louie Mueller’s Beef and Jalapeño Sausages

When I had these Texas beef sausages delivered to Serious Eats World Headquarters, people were skeptical. The moment they took their first bite of these supremely juicy links, though, the office became totally silent. Louie Mueller’s beef and jalapeño sausages reduced the entire office to stunned, rapturous silence. And these suckers are so affordable, even with the shipping, that they’re perfect for serving at parties. You just might want to hand out bibs to protect everyone’s shirts. Phone orders only: 512-352-6206.

Meat Cleaver

This meat cleaver has a well-balanced weight, sharp edge, and solid construction—a boon since a lot of more-affordable cleavers like this one feel very cheap and after repeat use get wobbly around the handle.

Marble and Acacia Wood Cake Stand

Like a pretty Bundt pan, a beautiful cake stand has an aesthetic value of its own, even without a cake—but present it with Mom’s favorite cake on top, and it will also be a nice reminder of the day.

Meathead: The Science of Great Barbecue and Grilling

In this book, Meathead Goldwyn, the founder of AmazingRibs.com, distills decades of research on the art and science of barbecue and grilling into a single volume that shows not just the best ways to take food to live fire, but why the techniques work. Far more than a recipe book alone (though there are tons of bulletproof recipes), this text will teach your favorite barbecue lover the hard-tested fundamentals of outdoor cooking, giving them the confidence to cook anything, even without a recipe. The myth-busting and equipment tips alone were enough to get me hooked.

Lewis Bag

If you’re following my advice to buy your Mom some julep cups, you might as well go all the way and grab a canvas Lewis bag as well: It’s used to smash ice into a fine powder with a mallet. Unless, of course, she already owns an ice crusher.

Preserving the Japanese Way

If her first two books are any indication, Nancy Singleton Hachisu is poised to become the Julia Child of traditional Japanese home cooking. In this, her second book, she tackles the deeply fascinating—and even more delicious—world of Japanese preserving. From easy pickles made by packing foods in miso (kabocha squash! eggs! apple pears!) to homemade miso, salt-rubbed vegetables, and air-dried fish, this should be the next frontier in all your home preservation undertakings. I’m getting excited just thinking about it.

Fixed-Cup Spice Grinder

The sleek and minimalist design of the Krups means it’s easy to hold, handle, and store—perfect for anyone tight on space. Even without a removable bowl, cleanup is a cinch because spices never get trapped beneath the blade, and there are no unnecessary ridges or notches to clog with spices. The one-touch operation makes it easy to use, and it quickly yields a fine and consistent grind in both large, tough spices and smaller seeds.

Taketsuru Pure Malt Japanese Whisky

Anyone who appreciates Scotch (or good spirits in general) will embrace Nikka’s exquisite whiskies. The Taketsuru Pure Malt is named for the company’s founder, who studied in Scotland before bringing whisky distilling back to Japan. This bottling has a slight fruity character, with lingering sherry on the finish.

ThermoWorks Thermapen

The Cadillac of kitchen thermometers is indispensable when you’re roasting meat, cooking steaks, making candy, deep-frying, or carrying out any other task where precise temperature control is needed. It’s got a big display and a blazing-fast measuring time of under two seconds—you won’t find a better, easier-to-use thermometer out there.

Simple Coffee Maker

The Bonavita is one of the faster models we tested, and it earned high scores in nearly all of our tastings. A single switch governs all of its operations, making the brewing process incredibly simple.

Fancy Cheese Knives

Spending $50 on cheese knives feels a little silly, especially when a regular knife does the trick just fine. But that’s why they’re the perfect gift—arguably unnecessary, but nonetheless useful, they feel like a real luxury. I’m pretty sure they also raise your “real adult” status by at least 10 points. Especially when they’re these beautifully crafted Dubost Laguiole knives. I like the simplicity of the olivewood handles, but they do come in other colors and styles, with the same high-quality blades.

Be Your Own Bartender

This is a fun, interactive book featuring over a dozen flowcharts to guide you to the perfect drink for every mood and occasion.

BraveTart: Iconic American Desserts

Where pastry wizard Stella Parks goes deep on science for Serious Eats, her book BraveTart explores the secret history of iconic American desserts, along with updated recipes for all the classics you know and love. The perfect cookbook for any mom with a sweet tooth.

Wooden Pizza Peel for Launching Pizzas

Wooden peels absorb excess moisture and have a rougher surface than metal, which means that your stretched and topped pizza dough will remain loose and easy to launch far longer, saving you from potential pizza-spilled-all-over-the-oven accidents. Though there are cheaper options around, I love my Perfect Peel Baker’s Board, handcrafted to last a lifetime from gorgeous solid cherrywood. They’ll even put initials or a logo on it if you’d like!

Breville Espresso Machine

If you want to start making legit espresso at home, this machine from Breville is a great investment. We like that it has a built-in burr grinder that will stay set at whatever dosage you’ve decided is best for your shot, as well as an adjustable pre-infusion time. Getting the hang of it—and dialing in—takes a while, but ultimately, the results are impressive.

ThermoWorks ThermoPop

In the inexpensive-thermometer department, the ThermoPop comes in an impressive package. An easy-to-read display rotates at the touch of a button, so you don’t have to twist your head to read it. It takes a few seconds longer to read temperatures than its big brother, the Thermapen, but it’s every bit as accurate.

Korean Fermenter Crock

These fermentation crocks come in a variety of shapes and sizes, but they all have the same smart design: An inner lid can be pressed down against the surface of the brine, ensuring the vegetables remain submerged (and thus don’t rot), while the lids lock into place to keep bugs out.

Carbon Steel Omelette Pan

A good carbon steel has many of the qualities that make cast iron great—it’s durable, it forms a completely nonstick surface if cared for properly, and it’s inexpensive—but it’s lighter and easier to maneuver, making it great for sautéing and searing everyday foods.

GelPro Floor Mat

If you love to cook and host parties, you’ll know that a lot of prep time is spent on your feet. Why not make at least the cooking part a bit more comfortable with one of these gel mats? It’ll provide some nice cushion under your feet, so when it’s time to put on your party shoes, you’ll be ready.

Snowe Flatware

Functional, but with an elegant twist: The width of the forks and spoons is just slightly smaller than that of your standard set, and they feel slightly longer in the hand. This set is a good and long-lasting upgrade to those starter Ikea sets.

Anova Precision Cooker

Sous vide cooking—cooking foods in vacuum-sealed pouches in precisely controlled water baths—is no longer the exclusive preserve of fancy restaurant kitchens. The Anova Precision Cooker is the best home water bath controller on the market, with an easy-to-use interface, Bluetooth support, rock-solid construction, a sleek look, and an affordable price tag to boot.

Recchiuti’s Chocolate Mendiants

These thin chocolate disks have a creamy, melt-in-your-mouth texture and a complex, pleasantly fruity bitterness. But it’s the scattered cacao nibs on top that take them from memorable to exceptional. The crunchy bits of bean are toasty and flavorful in their own right, but Recchiuti goes the extra mile, tossing them in caramel and fleur de sel for a brightly salty-sweet finish that electrifies each bite.

All-Clad Two-Quart Saucepan

This small 2-quart saucepan is perfect for making and warming sauces, cooking small portions of grain, and heating liquids.

Brooklyn Bartender

If you know someone who has a taste for a well-made cocktail, but lives far from the heart of the Brooklyn drinking scene, this book is the perfect gift. It features 300 innovative and classic drink recipes from the best bars of the borough; every cocktail we’ve tried from it so far has been killer. The drinks Carey Jones has selected aren’t dumbed down at all, but, for the most part, you’re not looking at mile-long ingredient lists, either.

Charcuterie

Ruhlman and Polcyn do a great job of demystifying one of the more abstruse cooking arts, and, while charcuterie may seem daunting, it can be gratifyingly easy. Start simple, with the pancetta, confit, rillettes, and duck prosciutto, and you’ll find yourself with a mold-inoculated curing chamber in no time.

Bourbon-Soaked Cherries

An ideal gift for any Manhattan, cherry, or all-around whiskey lover. These cherries trade the cloying sweetness of maraschinos for the boozy bass notes of great whiskey. Use them in your go-to whiskey cocktail, or to top a favorite dessert.

An Everlasting Meal

We don’t know if there’s a book about cooking that we’ve thought about more than this one by Tamar Adler, a former Chez Panisse cook who was once an editor at Harper’s Magazine. It’s about cooking simply, and enjoying the simple meals that naturally follow from thinking about your ingredients in cycles. We forget, sometimes, that the leftover stems from blanched broccoli are wonderful cooked with olive oil and piled on toast; that their cooking liquid could be the base of a soup; that the stems of greens like Swiss chard and kale make a lovely pesto. She reminds us that stale bread can make something delicious and that yesterday’s bean broth could be the start of a pasta dish today. This book sends the valuable message that dinner doesn’t always need to be a big deal.

Paleta Iberico de Bellota

The best ham on earth doesn’t come cheap, but this is the caviar of pork: jamón ibérico puro de bellota, from purebred Ibérico pigs raised on acorns for a ham that’s nutty and sweet, with meltingly soft fat.

Dansk Kobenstyle 2-Quart Casserole

A few months back, Kristina’s mom stopped dead in her tracks when she spotted a pair of Dansk Kobenstyle pots in the window of a cookware store in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. “Can you imagine doing a fondue party out of one of those?” she squealed. If there’s one thing Kristina’s mom loves, it’s a themed party, especially one with cheese involved. And Kristina has to agree that these little guys are perfect for all your entertaining needs—they look great on a table, and the lid doubles as a trivet to protect surfaces while you’re serving.

Metal Pizza Peel for Retrieving Pizzas

Wooden pizza peels are too thick to easily slide under a pie once it’s hit the oven. For that, you’ll want a thin-bladed metal peel. Basic models made of thin-gauge aluminum, like this Kitchen Supply peel, are just fine for the occasional baker, but they’ll bend and warp eventually. If you’re going to be making pizza multiple times a year for many years to come, you might want to spring for something a little more heavy-duty. I use the KettlePizza Pro Peel, which has a thick-gauge aluminum body that extends fully past the solid teakwood handle.

Pistachio Spread

Since first getting his hands on a jar of this pistachio spread, Sasha hasn’t shut up about it. Made from Sicilian pistachios, olive oil, sugar, and sea salt, it’s sweet, slightly salty, incredibly creamy, and just flat-out delicious. While it’s not cheap, this is one of those specialty products that are actually worth the price tag, and it makes a great gift. Spread it on bread, drizzle it over ice cream, or just eat it by the spoonful straight from the jar.

Smeg Toaster

After years of putting up with a cheap toaster that I picked up at the supermarket, I recently upgraded to this super fancy Italian job in cool mint. It’s sleek design and soothing pastel color transform the kitchen’s most boring appliance into a statement piece, and it really does a good job with the toast itself. Plus, I mean, it’s really dang pretty. If nothing else, you owe it to yourself to read this toaster’s priceless reviews.

Frankies 457 Olive Oil

Fancy olive oil always makes a good gift, but there’s a difference between fancy olive oil and good fancy olive oil. The house oil from Frankies 457 Sputino in Brooklyn is delicious (i.e. great on fresh bread and in dishes), is DOC cerified, and comes in a chic tin that prevents the light from spoiling the product.

Vietnamese Food Any Day

An eloquent ambassador for Vietnamese cuisine whose recipes are always reliable, Andrea Nguyen is one of our favorite cookbook authors. Vietnamese Food Any Day educates the reader about a variety of Vietnamese techniques and provides recipes that are eminently cookable—part of Nguyen’s goal with this book was to avoid calling for any esoteric or hard-to-find ingredients, so each and every recipe can be made with items that are easily found at a large grocery store.

Pretty Carving Board

What’s the point of perfectly roasting that turkey or prime rib if you don’t have a pretty surface to carve it on? I love this teak cutting board because it’s large enough for major projects, but lighter than thicker boards, making it easy to move from the kitchen to the dining room. It’s made from scraps of larger teak products, making this cutting board a good environmental choice as well.

Marble Pastry Slab

With their smooth surface and cool temperature, marble pastry slabs are a baker’s best friend. They’re great for rolling out pie crusts, laminating doughs, and tempering chocolate—plus, this one’s pretty enough (albeit heavy) to use as a serving platter.

Mortar and Pestle

A large mortar and pestle is one of the most underutilized kitchen tools. Not only is it faster than a spice grinder for small amounts of dry spices (particularly when it comes to cleaning), it draws out more flavor by crushing rather than shearing. It’s also the perfect tool for making pastes out of moist ingredients, like herbs, garlic, and shallots.

Stovetop Pressure Cooker

I tested dozens of stovetop pressure cookers before settling on Kuhn Rikon’s Duromatic. It has a heavy sandwiched-aluminum-and-steel base that gives you even heat, and a pressure gauge that makes telling exactly how much pressure has built up inside visual and intuitive.

Collapsible Freezer Lunch Bags

I don’t really consider myself a lunch-bag person, but when I have something cold to transport, there’s only one carrying case I reach for. These PackIt cooler bags come in a variety of sizes and styles, and all of them can be collapsed and chilled in the freezer overnight to provide refrigerator-level temperatures for a 12-hour period. I use mine most for bringing beers to the park or beach, or transporting raw meat to barbecues and campsites.

Ceramic Utensil Crock

To store tools like spatulas and whisks, a good old-fashioned crock will do the trick. We like this ceramic one, which looks extra pretty on the counter. Keep it right next to your stove so your most-used tools will be at an arm’s length whenever you need them.

Now & Again: Go-To Recipes, Inspired Menus + Endless Ideas for Reinventing Leftovers

This cookbook by Julia Turshen, author of Small Victories and Feed the Resistance, is full of simple, delicious meals for everyday eating, parties, and holidays. Better yet, each one includes a bunch of suggestions for how to remake it as leftovers. It’s a trove of great, creative ideas, and a must for any bookworm.

Wine Tote

This customizable (and monogrammable!) tote plus a bottle of Sancerre will make any wine drinker’s day.

Donabe Cookbook

This cookbook has been my guide to learning how to use my donabe cooker, and thus far it hasn’t let me down. It offers a wide range of recipes to help give you an idea of just how many one-pot dishes can be made using a donabe, plus background on the history and variety of donabe cookers.

Miracle-Gro Twelve Indoor Growing System

After previously lauding Aerogardens for how easy they make it to grow herbs at home (and how having a constant supply of fresh herbs has changed her cooking), Ariel’s upgraded to this larger system from Miracle-Gro. The increased size—it’s about as big as a side table—and bright lights allow you to grow a bounty of lettuces, herbs, and other greens, and you can program the app to turn the lights off and on according to your schedule. An expensive but excellent gift for anyone who loves fresh produce and fears their own black thumbs.

Granite Mortar and Pestle

With both parts made of rock-solid granite, the Thai mortar and pestle is (literally) a heavy hitter, and arguably the most versatile type of large mortar and pestle you can own. Its heft and weight, especially when combined with the stone-on-stone action that the all-granite build provides, make it ideal for one of its intended uses: making a Thai curry paste.

Baratza Virtuoso Coffee Grinder

Baratza’s Virtuoso coffee grinder is routinely picked by pros as the home grinder to beat and for good reason: Its well-made conical burrs produce a wide range of grind sizes, the results are consistent, the machine is solidly built from both metal and plastic, and it’s all backed up by good customer service.

Le Creuset Stoneware Rectangular Dish

When fall and winter roll around, I start thinking about rich, comforting casseroles, which means that these stoneware baking dishes get pulled out, filled, and popped into the oven at least once a week. They’re great-looking on the table and provide gentle, even cooking all around for really nice, crisp edges on your lasagna.

Acaia Pearl Coffee Scale

Coffee geeks will have a lot of fun with this coffee scale. It pairs with a smartphone through Bluetooth, and an accompanying app helps walk you through the brewing processes, like pourover and French press, calculating bean-to-water ratios and brew times. It can handle customization, so with each successive batch, you can really dial in on the variables to make the cup that tastes best to you. It can also be used as a basic kitchen scale with a maximum weight of two kilograms (about four and a half pounds), so it’s versatile beyond its primary purpose.

Messermeister Knife Case

Most professional cooks own a knife bag so they can tote their knives around from one job to another. But knife bags can be really useful storage options, as well. They’re compact, they can hold many knives, and they can be moved around as needed, which means you don’t necessarily need to have a dedicated knife drawer as long as you can find somewhere safe to stash your knives.

World’s Fair Barbecue Rub

Ariel discovered this spice mix 11 years ago, and it’s still one of her favorite things to give as a gift. It’s a perfect blend of everyday ingredients (shallots, garlic, paprika, and sea salt), but with unusual flavor notes from grains of paradise. She buys it by the pound to dump on meat, seafood, and even eggs, but you can start by picking it up a reasonably sized jar or bag.

The One-Bottle Cocktail

Organized by spirit—vodka, gin, agave, rum, brandy, and whiskey—with an additional section devoted to specific seasons and occasions, The One-Bottle Cocktail makes it easy to figure out how to polish off that lingering liter of rum and is guaranteed to expand your cocktail repertoire for your go-to bottle. It does so by forging surprising, nuanced, eminently sippable flavors from commonplace liquors and fresh fruits, herbs, and other seasonal ingredients, as well as vinegars, spices, and sodas. This is the kind of book that every home cocktail-maker should keep on their shelf.

Big Ice Cube Tray

If you like your whiskey with a giant ice cube, then you’ll really be into Mammoth Cubes—unlike ice cube trays from current competitor brands, these make eight cubes (not six) and are actually stackable, so they don’t require a section unto themselves in your freezer.

Joe Beef: Surviving the Apocalypse

This is a book for people who like to live extra large, and by that we mean people who are intrigued enough by the microwaved foie gras recipe to consider trying it some day. It’s a text that espouses an eating- and cooking-philosophy as much as it is a collection of recipes.

Small Baking Steel Griddle

These days, I keep this solid slab of steel permanently atop one of the burners of my stove. One side has a pebbled surface—ideal for getting extra-crisp, better-than-a-baking-stone crust on homemade pizzas. And, unlike a baking stone, this thing is going to last forever. The griddle arrives as shiny steel, but with just a few uses, it seasons up into a dark, slick nonstick surface that can be used for everything from pancakes to eggs to hamburgers to grilled cheese.

Joule Sous Vide Circulator

The ChefSteps Joule is the smallest circulator on the market. It’s sleek, compact design fits in a drawer and it heats quickly and accurately. It has the advantage of the ChefSteps community and legacy content built into its app, though its one downside is that it requires a smartphone or tablet along with a registered account to operate.

Buvette

Manhattan chef Jody Williams’s Buvette: The Pleasure of Good Food is as charming and inviting as the restaurant that inspired it. This is a book to get greasy and damp as you cook through its pages, and it’s a nightstand read, dreamy and warm, to flip through as you wind down. Channeling a traditional French bistro, with a bit of Italy and a touch of New York thrown in, the recipes are classics, both inspirational and totally doable. Some are so simple that they hardly count as recipes at all—they’re more like suggestions for how to better your day with a plate of food, from breakfast through dessert after a lingering, late-night supper. Perfect for your impossibly, effortlessly stylish friend.

Culinary Coloring Book

I’ve long been a fan of Jessie Kanelos Weiner’s vivid and imaginative watercolors—she’s done the art for several of our stories. But when Weiner released Edible Paradise: An Adult Coloring Book of Seasonal Fruits and Vegetables, I discovered a new affinity for her work. See, like many children, I grew up with coloring books. But, unlike most adults, I continue to buy them—and fill them—to this day. For that I can thank my mother, a licensed art therapist who has long promoted the pastime as a therapeutic outlet. Far from pushing a think-inside-the-box mentality, coloring provides a healthy space for self-expression and experimentation. And, for those who enjoy it, coloring can leave you with a profound sense of zen-like relaxation and accomplishment. Weiner’s fanciful landscapes are organized by season; they’re a riot of vegetation, edible plant life, and tantalizing market scenes. They’ll encourage your mom to paint (or pencil) the town red—in any colors she likes.

Anchovy Colatura

If you want to give the gift of umami, you owe it to your intended recipient to check out this aged Italian fish sauce. Hailing from the town of Cetara on the Amalfi Coast, colatura is made by aging anchovies and sea salt in chestnut barrels for roughly three years, producing a rich, deeply savory fish sauce that can be used as a flavor enhancer for meats, fish, or vegetables. Or, try it as the star of the show in spaghetti con la colatura.

Noodle Basket

If you make a fair amount of noodle soups at home, particularly for multiple people, you should pick up a couple of these baskets. (They’re also great for blanching small quantities of vegetables.) The baskets are cheap yet sturdy, and they’re smaller than a lot of the fancier ones out there, so they’ll fit in pots that are more home kitchen–sized.

Misono UX10 Chef’s Knife

A deft and nimble blade, Misono’s UX10 is one of the lightest-weight knives we tested. It’s razor-sharp right out of the box and handled every task we threw at it with ease, dicing an onion as if it were as soft as a blob of Jell-O and making paper-thin slices of smoked salmon as if the knife were a true slicer.

R. Murphy Duxbury Oyster Knife

I’ve used many, many oyster knives in my life, and the R. Murphy Duxbury knife is my hands-down favorite. It has a fat, grippy handle that’s easy to wield, and a short blade that tapers to a point and always manages to find the sweet spot on an oyster’s hinge. Pop! The slightly sharpened blade edges make slicing through the muscle and removing the top shell as smooth as butter.

Mercer Serving Bowl

With a neutral color and simple silhouette, this serving bowl is versatile enough to complement any table setting. It’s also big enough to accommodate a big salad or crowd-sized portion of stew.

Zahav: A World of Israeli Cooking

I’ve never been to Zahav, the Philadelphia restaurant where Michael Solomonov serves his Israeli cuisine, but its namesake book has nevertheless changed the way I cook. His recipe for tahini sauce, which includes a novel technique for incorporating garlic and lemon, is alone worth the price of admission. I’ve loved the Yemenite beef soup (and the accompanying hot sauce), his wide focus on vegetarian-friendly dishes, and a host of homemade condiments that will elevate almost any meal, even if you don’t follow full recipes from the book.

Diaspora Co. Turmeric

This turmeric is as bright as a bar of gold, with a lovely, sleek label to match. Apart from the high-quality turmeric and nice packaging, the spice comes with a feel-good story: Diaspora Co. is run by queer women of color, and each jar purchased puts a much-higher-than-average amount of money back into the turmeric farmer’s hands.

Provisions: The Roots of Caribbean Cooking

Hoping to familiarize yourself with Jamaican food beyond jerk chicken and curried goat? Want to learn more about the evolution of Caribbean cuisine? Provisions: The Roots of Caribbean Cooking is the book for you. Suzanne and Michelle Rousseau share 150 bright and exciting vegetarian recipes inspired by the women who first taught the two sisters to cook. The recipes are accompanied by gorgeous photos, and a thorough history of Caribbean foodways. It’s an inspiring—and delicious—ode to the women who make Caribbean food great.

Fancy Glass Pitcher

I actually received this classic Waterford pitcher as a wedding gift, and my mom’s been eyeing it enviously ever since. I can’t say I blame her—it’s become a workhorse in my home. When I’m not using it to decant wine, it’s hard at work serving cocktails, ice water, and juices. And in between any special occasion, you can drop in some fresh flowers and use it as a vase.

D’Artagnan Porcelet Shoulder

It can be hard to find skin-on, bone-in pork shoulders for roasting, but luckily D’Artagnan has got us all covered with their fantastic porcelet shoulder. We think everyone should ditch the tired holiday spiral ham this year, and slow-roast a milk-fed piglet shoulder instead. We promise it won’t disappoint.

Season: Big Flavors, Beautiful Food

Beautiful photos accompany Nik Sharma’s impressive recipes. The best of the bunch embody the kind of inventive cuisine that draws from multiple cultures to produce dishes that can only be described as emphatically, joyously American, like the roasted carrots with sesame, caraway, chili, and nori. Great for cooks looking for inspiration yet still hopelessly devoted to classic, comforting dishes.

Staub Heritage Baking Dish

It can be easy to brush off appearances as unimportant, but tableside presentation is a big part of a baking dish’s appeal. If you want excellent performance combined with a handsome and classic design that will look great on your holiday table (or on your Instagram account), Staub is your best bet. This heavyweight dish heats evenly in the oven at temperatures up to 575°F (300°C) and has great heat retention, keeping food hotter longer when you’re serving. The generous four-quart capacity is ideal for large roasts and extra-deep casseroles.

Pedra Artisan Oval Platter

A large platter is a must-have for any household, especially during the holiday season. This oval platter has high enough sides to accommodate saucier dishes, while the gray-and-white hand-glazed finish gives it a one-of-a-kind feel.

Chocolate-Hazelnut Spread

Marco Colzani is a great Italian bean-to-bar chocolate maker, with a number of excellent products under his brand, Amaro. But it’s his spreads that have Ed addicted, particularly the Cacao Nocciole, or hazelnut-and-chocolate variety. Imagine a Nutella-like substance, but made with the freshest roasted hazelnuts and extra-chocolaty high-quality cocoa powder. It’s a lot to pay for a small jar, but my guess is that your mom is worth it, and more.

Wusthof Classic Chef’s Knife

If you’re dead set on a traditional German knife profile—characterized by a more curved blade that’s bigger and heavier than the Japanese options—the Wüsthof Classic continues to be a stalwart. It weighs more than most of the other knives tested, giving it a solid and sturdy feel, but it still handles well and has a sharp edge.

Wine Fridge

Take it from us: Living in hot urban apartments makes storing age-worthy wines nearly impossible, unless you don’t mind risking the life of a pricey Burgundy by putting it through years of extreme temperature swings. Anyone with an interest in building even a modest collection of special-occasion bottles should get a wine fridge. It’s a small investment that protects your real investment.

The Cooking Gene: A Journey Through African American Culinary History in the Old South

A wonderful gift for anyone who is interested in history, food, the history of food, and this terribly flawed but nonetheless beautiful thing we call America.

Plenty More

Plenty More highlights the versatility of vegetables with 120 inventive plant-based recipes. It takes a degree of commitment to cook through this book—many, though not all, of Ottolenghi’s recipes require extra time spent sourcing unusual ingredients or toiling in the kitchen—but the reward is food that is enigmatic and downright dazzling. The ideal gift for anyone who thinks vegetables are boring, and for those who know they’re not.

Chetna’s Healthy Indian

Chetna’s Healthy Indian is a bright, colorful ode to Indian home cooking. Written by Chetna Makan, an avid home cook and semifinalist on The Great British Baking Show, it offers an array of quick, wonderfully flavorful recipes. From a simple green bean, coconut, and tamarind salad to fish wrapped in floral banana leaf, this cookbook has something for everyone.

Jerusalem

One of the best cookbook gateways into Middle Eastern cuisine—an obsessive and personalized exploration of the many cultures and traditions that make up Jerusalem’s culinary world. What will you find here? A recipe for the best hummus of your life, for starters; messy-beautiful dips and salads; and the delicately spiced soups, grains, and vegetables Yotam Ottolenghi has become famous for.

Julep Cups

I don’t often recommend single-function items, but for the cocktail enthusiast, a couple of julep cups really are fun to have. There’s nothing like holding that metal cup frosted with ice on a blisteringly hot summer day—glass just doesn’t pull the effect off in the same way. If your Mom doesn’t have an ice crusher, check out my Lewis bag suggestion as well.

Serving bowl

There’s no such thing as too many serving bowls, and this simple two-tone piece goes with virtually everything. At 11.5 inches across, it’s the perfect size for mom’s favorite side dishes; in my house, it’s go-to for salads, roasted vegetables, mashed potatoes, and pasta.

Nordic Ware Platinum Collection Heritage Bundt Pan

A Bundt pan is essentially a functional sculpture that can spruce up an open kitchen shelf quite nicely, even if it never gets any use. Give one to the baker (or bakeware admirer) in your life, and, as long as you promise shared cake, I’m sure you’ll be allowed to borrow it any time.

Fish Scaler

A hefty weight and a narrow head design make this an extremely efficient fish scaler. I’ve used it on smallish porgies, bigger black sea bass and fluke, and just about everything in between. It’s a significant improvement over the clamshell I used to use, and something about its design reduces the spray of scales.

Donabe Cooker

I got one of these traditional Japanese clay pots for my birthday this year, and it’s quickly become an obsession. Not only can you cook perfect plain rice in it every time, it doubles as a vessel for flavorful one-pot stews and hot pots, and an infinite variety of noodle and rice dishes. Anyone interested in Japanese home cooking should have one.

All-Clad Immersion Blender

A high-speed hand blender is great for whipping up silky soups and purées, making emulsions like mayonnaise and Hollandaise, or smoothing out sauces, all right in the pot. No need to dirty up an extra blender jar!

Vacuum Sealer

Know someone who’s interested in sous vide cooking? They’re gonna want this. And it’s handy for way more than just sous vide cooking. A vacuum sealer makes it really easy to save meats or other foods in the freezer, and it keeps air (read: freezer burn) off it all. The Oliso sealer uses a unique resealable-bag system, which means far less wasted plastic than a conventional cut-and-seal vacuum sealer.

An Amazing Bottle of Rum

Drinking Diplomático Reserva Exclusiva Rum—with its dark caramel and vanilla on first whiff, and its rich and velvety-smooth feel as you sip—is like drinking a crème brûlée, but with a long, dry finish. Add an ice cube if you must, but it’s really worth it to give it a try without first.

All About Braising

Winter is all about slow-cooked braised dishes, and Molly Stevens’s text is the bible on the subject. Stevens first devotes dozens of pages to discussing the equipment and technique behind braising in incredible detail. Then she provides unfussy but impressive-sounding recipes to make the most of your newfound braising skills. A little hint: The vegetable recipes are some of the best.

Flavor King Pluot Jam

There are a lot of artisanal jams out there, some good and some grossly overpriced. Though I’ve tasted hundreds of them, I still haven’t had any as good as those made by Oakland’s June Taylor, who has been making what she calls “conserves” out of superb Northern California produce for more than 25 years now. The Dapple Dandy pluot conserve tastes like you’re taking a bite out of the juiciest pluot in the world, with just enough acidity to offset the sweetness.

Baratza Encore Coffee Grinder

There’s a lot to be said for Baratza’s entry-level Encore grinder, which comes in a lighter-weight, all-plastic housing. It packs the same motor as the more expensive Virtuoso, and it includes a slightly less effective burr set that grinds nearly as well as—and slightly more slowly than—the Virtuoso. Also worth knowing is you can upgrade the burr set in the Encore to the one made for the Virtuoso, if you do ever end up feeling like the Encore isn’t quite cutting it.

The Dumpling Galaxy Cookbook

While you certainly can make dumplings on your own, it’s always better (and more fun) with company. Give your mom the gift of this amazing compendium of dumpling recipes, along with a promise to join her in the kitchen for a good old-fashioned dumpling party.

Espresso Cups

Pretty espresso cups make a nice hostess gift and stocking stuffer on their own for coffee fiends. But when they’re Le Creuset, they’re even better—mostly because everything from the French heritage brand is aesthetically pleasing and built to last. Oh, and these cups might be the most affordable Le Creuset pieces on the market. So, if you want in on the trend for a moderate price, they make a good starter item.

Ultra-Deep Cake Pans

Whether you’re baking cakes from scratch or from a mix, giving the batter more room to grow will minimize doming, for thicker, more level layers. Light, reflective metal also minimizes browning to keep the cake crust delicate and pale. Because the pans are nonreactive, they can also be used with poke cakes that involve acidic liquids, like lemon juice.

Louie Mueller’s Brisket

Brisket is Texas’s best-known contribution to barbecue culture, and, though you can now get slow-smoked brisket in just about every major American city, you still need to go to the source to get brisket so good it will make you cry. But if you can’t make it to Texas, ordering Louie Mueller’s brisket is the next best thing. The Muellers have been smoking brisket since 1949. The key here? They ship the whole brisket, which means you get plenty of the critically important fatty half. Why is it critically important? Because we all know that fat is flavor. Phone orders only: 512-352-6206.

Elegant (But Dishwasher-Safe) Wine Glasses

These wine glasses feel fancy enough for an elegant dinner party—and you can throw them in the dishwasher after, which is a pretty rare attribute. Their sturdy construction means you (or your giftee) can expect to hang on to these for several years.

MAC Professional Santoku Knife

This santoku from MAC’s professional line is an absolute pleasure to use, no matter the task. It’s lightweight, well balanced, sharp as can be, and comfortable to hold. It made perfect carrot cuts, broke down a chicken with ease, and filleted a whole fish as if it were a fish-shaped block of butter.

Good Kitchen Shears

A good pair of kitchen shears is one of those things that are hard to appreciate until you have them. Sure, there are all the obvious uses, like opening food packages with a snip and cutting up poultry, but that’s just the start. Take another look at those things. Yes, that’s right, they’re also a nutcracker. Aha, yup, and a bottle opener. Did you see the flathead screwdriver built into them? Handy, right? Oh, they can also be used to unscrew stubborn jar tops. They’re way more than just a pair of scissors. Plus, the two blades come fully apart, so you can wash them really well—no icky chicken juice hiding in the recesses. Isn’t avoiding salmonella poisoning a gift worth giving?

The Food Lab: Better Home Cooking Through Science

A New York Times best-seller! The Food Lab: Better Home Cooking Through Science, by J. Kenji López-Alt, is his column by the same name on this very website, blown up to 900-plus pages (and seven-plus pounds) of concentrated culinary science. Gorgeous color photos, detailed how-tos, and elaborate explainers cover ingredients, technique, gear, and the secrets of the universe underneath it all. May include puns.

Chef’s Press

If you love beautifully seared steaks, golden-brown grilled cheese sandwiches, and crispy-skinned fish and poultry, this is a great thing to have in your kitchen. Chef’s presses help you get even contact between ingredients and your skillet. They’re vented, so you won’t accidentally steam your food, and they’re stackable, so you can get a couple for weighing down heftier items.

Extra-Large Silicone Ice Cube Tray

Souper Cubes is the brainchild of two Serious Eaters, Michelle and Jake, who wanted to develop a better way to portion and freeze soups, stocks, and stews. The food-grade silicone mold features four one-cup cube molds, perfect for meal-prepping and stocking up on winter warmers for the long, cold months ahead.

Effie’s Oatcakes

They may not come in the most festive or glamorous packaging, but you can’t go wrong with Effie’s Oatcakes. Buttery, crumbly, nutty, and salty-sweet, they’re insanely addictive. Case in point: I’ve eaten three in the last 10 minutes. My advice? Purchase them in bulk so you can gift a few backages and hoard the rest for yourself.

Egg Cups

Any mom who loves soft-boiled eggs deserves the perfect cup to eat them from. These sturdy stoneware Le Creuset cups come in a range of beautiful colors. They’re totally classic, which is a good thing because they’ll also last for generations to come.

Modified Martini Glasses

Ah, martini glasses: so angular and sexy, so prone to making me look like a drunk as I struggle to keep a generously poured beverage within their confines. The traditional wide bowl, delicate stem, and sharply sloping sides are meant to enhance the botanical aromas of the gin, keep the drink frosty-cold, and provide a comfortable wall for a cocktail pick to lean against, respectively—but in practice, all those features feel like bugs for clumsy-fingered folk like me. So I sought out a design that wrapped up those attributes in a more user-friendly package, and discovered this lovely set of glasses. The broad mouth remains, but the conical shape has been softened and the stem fattened (which, if I’m being honest, will make me all the more inclined to actually use that stem instead of clutching the bowl for dear life). Got no space for uni-tasking glassware? These double nicely as pretty dessert dishes.

Portable Kitchen Timer

I can’t tell you how many times I burn bread crumbs or forget about the nuts I’m toasting in the oven. At least, I used to. That was all before I got myself a couple of these easy-to-use, loud kitchen timers that I can hang around my neck, so I never forget about something in the kitchen, even if I leave the room.

Vitamix Blender

Oh, man, do I love my Vitamix. Whether I’m making super-quick smoothies or the creamiest, smoothest purées and soups imaginable, the Vitamix is unparalleled in its power. Best gift I’ve ever received (thanks, dear!).

Tacos: Recipes and Provocations

My good friend Jordana Rothman cowrote this thoughtful ode to tacos with Chef Alex Stupak, and it’s a must-have for any Mom ready to take a deep dive into corn, masa, tortillas, and everything—modern and traditional—you can stuff into them.

Heilala Vanilla Extract

This is one of the more complex vanillas Stella’s come across. It has the same grassy, vegetal aroma of a freshly split vanilla bean with a flavor that’s both earthy and deep. It’s a double fold vanilla, which means you can get away with using half as much in your favorite recipes—something worth remembering when you consider the cost.

Stainless Steel Food Scale With Pull-Out Display

A good digital scale is an essential tool for bakers or home charcuterie makers. The OXO Food Scale comes with an easy-to-clean, removable stainless steel weighing surface; great accuracy and precision; and a backlit pull-out display to make measuring easy, even for large or unwieldy items.

Ice Cream Maker

Homemade ice cream tastes better than almost anything you can buy in a store, and it’s a snap to make. This ice cream maker, from Cuisinart, is all the gear you need: an easy-to-use workhorse that makes delicious ice cream every time. The simple construction means that there are few moving parts to break, and the wide mouth at the top makes it easy to add mix-ins and scoop out your ice cream when it’s at its fresh, creamy best.

6-Quart Instant Pot

The Instant Pot Duo60 is a fantastic value and performed almost as well as the top pick among countertop pressure cookers we tested. It’s easy to use, the company has a reputation for great customer service, and there’s an avid and helpful community of users online to boot.

Mixing Glass

This hand-blown and -etched mixing glass from Japan looks stunning on a bar cart and even better in action, whether you’re stirring a Negroni, a Martini, or a Manhattan. Mixing glasses made from two parts joined together sometimes split at the seam, but this version, made in one piece with a beaker-like spout, can stand up to heavy use.

Bread Knife

When I tested bread knives earlier this year, I was absolutely blown away by the cutting quality of Tojiro’s bread knife. It surpassed every other serrated knife I tested, cutting beautifully clean slices of even the most tender bread, and making quick, neat work of ripe tomatoes. It’s a must-have as far as I’m concerned.

Pasta by Hand: A Collection of Italy’s Regional Hand-Shaped Pasta

No pasta machine? No problem. This book is devoted to the art of handcrafted Italian dumplings, from yeasty spindle-shaped cecamariti to classic gnocchi to golden-brown parallelograms of deep-fried crescentine. If the adage “practice makes perfect” fills your mom with excitement rather than dread, this is the kind of book that will make her utterly determined to prevail.

Pastry Tips for Decorating

This epic set of stainless steel pastry tips is perfect for the home baker with professional-grade aspirations…or the food-enthused, arts-and-craftsy Mom in your life. With this kit in hand, nothing but practice stands between her and gorgeous piped flowers, leaves, stars, and beyond.

Mastering Pasta: The Art and Practice of Handmade Pasta, Gnocchi, and Risotto

If you’re looking to give your mom the one definitive primer on pasta-making in its myriad forms, this is it: Superlative step-by-step photographs take the guesswork out of potentially intimidating fundamentals like mixing and kneading dough, as well as more intricate tasks, like pleating teardrops of corn- and cheese-stuffed culurgiònes. Better yet, Vetri arms you with the tools and knowledge that allow for controlled, intelligent experimentation and exploration before sending you into the fray.

Blade Protectors

At a certain point, you need to give up on proper knife storage and just think safety: How can I toss this knife into a drawer and not cut myself on it later when fishing around for matches? The answer is blade guards. It’s smart to put them on knives in a knife bag, but they’re also essential if you’re keeping any knives in a place where they’re free to bang around—they’ll protect the blade edges and you.

AeroGarden Harvest

Cooking with fresh herbs makes every recipe better. Cooking with fresh herbs that you grew all by yourself makes life better. The AeroGarden takes the guesswork out of growing herbs inside, with an automated light to keep your parsley and thyme thriving and weekly reminders for water and nutrients. Just prepare yourself for epic amounts of basil.

Baking Steel

I’ve cracked my way through quite a few baking stones. With the Baking Steel—a solid sheet of steel designed to replace a baking stone—that’s a thing of the past. Not only will it last forever, but, with superior thermal properties, it produces the best pizza crusts I’ve ever seen in a home oven.

Pizza Wheel

When it comes to portioning pizza, a knife simply won’t cut it. At least, not if you don’t want to drag cheese and toppings all over the place. For my money, nothing beats a traditional pizza wheel.

Best All-Around Pepper Mill

On more than one occasion, I’ve been tempted to try out the cool new pepper mill on the block, but none of the ones I’ve used have held up over time. That’s why I’ve settled on a good old classic, a wooden Peugeot pepper mill. The steel burrs last and deliver whatever grind I want, from fine-as-silt to chunky and coarse.

Straight-Sided Sauté Pan

When my little sister first moved out and started cooking on her own, this straight-sided sauté pan from All-Clad was the first gift I sent to her. It has a wide, flat base for searing off big batches of meat, and high sides so you can braise, stew, or simmer several meals’ worth of food directly in it. It’s the ideal vessel for stove-to-oven dishes like this Braised Chicken With White Beans, or a one-pot pasta dish like our Macaroni and Beef. Versatile and robust, it makes comfort food all the more comforting.

The Chili Cookbook

This isn’t just a chili cookbook. Robb Walsh digs deep into the beloved dish’s ancestry, tracing threads through Mexico City, San Antonio, and Santa Fe—as you might expect—but also Hungary, Greece, and the Canary Islands (off the coast of North Africa). Walsh is one of food writing’s best storytellers, so the book is satisfying even if you never whip out your Dutch oven and get cooking. You should, though: The fascinating tale is best enjoyed with a big bowl of chile con carne. (Walsh’s recipe from El Real in Houston is killer.)

Espro Press P5

Thanks to a few simple innovations in the filter and beaker design, this French press fixes some of the brewing device’s biggest drawbacks. The result is a cleaner batch of coffee that won’t accidentally over-steep.

The One True Barbecue

Race relations, religion, the New South versus the Old: These are just a smattering of the heavy issues Rien Fertel writes about through the lens of—well—smoked meat, in this new book. And, while you might be thinking, “Oh, man, another book about barbecue?”, this one stands out from the crowd thanks to Fertel’s superb writing and storytelling skills. In a book that’s part culinary history, part personal narrative, and part tale of an American road trip, Fertel travels throughout the South, documenting the men who have long stood behind the fires practicing the time-consuming pursuit of whole hog barbecue—the ones who have been keeping alive the embers of what once seemed like a dying art, and the ones who are inspiring a new generation of pitmasters today.

Countertop Seltzer Maker

Make your own seltzer water at home with this easy-to-use unit. It comes equipped with LED indicators displaying three levels of carbonation and a BPA-free bottle that locks into the unit with no twisting, and it requires no batteries or electricity to operate. This model fits 14.5-ounce and three-ounce CO2 cylinders, which can be traded in for just the cost of the gas at your local hardware or home-goods store.

Estela

We usually aren’t the biggest fans of the big and beautiful cookbooks put out by super fancy restaurants, in part because they have limited appeal to most home cooks, even if they are fascinating windows into the processes and methods of some of the best chefs in the world. We’ll make an exception for Estela by Ignacio Mattos, though, since it’s as inspiring as it is informative.

Ceramic Sangria Pitcher

If there is sangria on the menu, Kristina’s mom is ordering it. It’s an endeavor she’s tackled at home only a few times, but with this pitcher on hand, she might be more inclined to make it regularly. The pinched spout is a genius detail that keeps all the fruit and ice from splashing into your glass, and when it’s not filled with sangria, it can be used as a vase. We love a two-fer!

Mediterranean Mortar and Pestle

In the south of France, Italy, and other Mediterranean regions, marble mortars with wooden pestles (often made of olivewood) are quite common. It’s next to impossible to find this variety in US stores, unless you get lucky and find one at an antiques shop or estate sale. They can, however, be ordered online. We got ours through an Italian vendor on Etsy, and it’s an object of pure beauty. More importantly, it excels at making pesto and similar sauces, as well as emulsified sauces like mayonnaise and aioli.

Island Creek Oysters by Mail

Few things get me as excited as a good raw bar, but most of the time, I eat far less than I want because, after the first couple dozen oysters or so, it just gets to be too expensive. That’s even truer when the oysters are top-notch, like the briny little suckers from Island Creek up in Massachusetts. But here’s the good news: You can order Island Creek’s oysters online by the 50- or 100-count for much less than they cost at most restaurants, and have them in your hands the next day for an at-home shucking extravaganza. (Obviously, it helps to learn how to shuck first.)

Wine Carafe with Oak Stopper

I spent most of 2018 getting into wine, and one of my biggest takeaways was that most wines could benefit from a decant. Does a wine feel closed—like it has only one note on the nose or the tongue? Then it definitely needs to aerate in a decanter. This one is an inexpensive glass model with a chic wooden topper, from the Scandinavian brand Sagaform. It looks just as good on your bar cart or shelf as it does on the dinner table, and will give your Bordeaux a little room to breathe.

The Cocktail Chronicles

Having The Cocktail Chronicles at your side is like having a friend who always knows a good drink recipe for whatever you’ve got on hand. It doesn’t talk your ear off or suggest something with a dozen ingredients. Instead, it shares classics, recent spins on classics, and drinks you’ve never heard of but can easily mix up and enjoy, and the introductions are never preachy or boring. This book will appeal to full-on cocktail fanatics and newbies alike; there’s something delicious on every page.

Cast Iron Revolving Cake Stand

I can’t fathom decorating a birthday cake without this sturdy, heavy-bottomed stand. It speeds the process of crumb coating and decoration, while allowing for a whole new array of finishing techniques. It can also double as a lazy susan, so it’s often on my dinner table, piled with condiments and toppings, even when there’s no cake in sight.

Beyond Curry Indian Cookbook: A Culinary Journey Through India

Indian food has a reputation for being difficult and time-consuming, with hard-to-find ingredients and new techniques. I get it. It’s intimidating. But in this book, Serious Eater Denise D’silva Sankhé breaks Indian cooking down into simple techniques that any home cook can master to produce amazingly flavorful dishes with minimal effort. Over the course of more than 100 recipes, Denise introduces us to simple cooking from every region of India, focusing on home-style dishes that move well beyond the world of curries. I’m also super stoked that she’s included notes with every recipe on whether it’s vegan, vegetarian, and/or allergy-friendly.

Microplane

Another essential kitchen tool, the Microplane grater does fine grating work way better than those tiny, raspy holes on a box grater. Whether you’re quickly grating fresh nutmeg or cinnamon, taking the zest off a lemon, or turning a clove of garlic into a fine purée, the Microplane is the tool to reach for. It’ll make a great gift for the budding cooking enthusiast.

Intense Drinking Chocolate

This isn’t your standard hot cocoa. It’s a rich drinking-chocolate mix, made from organic, 74% cacao single-plantation chocolate from the Dominican Republic and 68% cacao wild-harvested chocolate from Bolivia. Whisk the ground chocolate with warm milk for an intense cocoa experience: It’s silky and deep, with hints of orange zest, cinnamon, and juicy berries, tempered by a subtly bitter edge.

Hero Dinners: Complete One-Pan Meals That Save the Day

Marge Perry and David Bonom’s cookbook is perfect for the giftee who loves to cook but hates a mess. Each recipe requires just one pan (or sheet pan), allowing the cook to enjoy precious downtime with family—and spend less time at the sink.

Tsukemono Round Pickle Press

The quick pickles common in Japanese cuisine that go by the name asazuke, or “morning pickles,” are typically made in a contraption similar to this one. The screwable tamper is spring-loaded, which exerts consistent pressure on sliced, salted vegetables, which presses out excess water and creates a highly seasoned brine, which then flavors the vegetables. The small size is perfect for anyone who wants to experiment with the technique.

Cuisinart Blender

The Cuisinart is an easy-to-use, powerful blender that aced many of our tests. This model’s dashboard is intuitive, and it features a built-in timer that counts down for you or can be programmed to stop after a certain number of seconds.

12-Inch All-Clad Stainless Steel Pan

The slope-sided skillet, like this one from All-Clad, is a chef’s best friend and one of the most versatile pans in the kitchen, whether you’re sautéing vegetables, searing meat, or cooking one of our dozens of one-pan meals. The best have solid stainless steel construction, with an aluminum core for even heat distribution.

Punch Bowl Set

We have this 10-piece punch bowl set in our office, and it’s been put to very good use. It’s big and impressive while still being affordable, which are the best qualities you can hope for in holiday-party decor.

Zojirushi Rice Cooker

A couple years ago, I managed to convince my wife of the necessity of buying a rice cooker. Not just any rice cooker: a Zojirushi. The only concession I was willing to make had to do with the size, since she wisely noted that we didn’t have the counter space for any rice cooker at all, let alone the kind of rice cooker that I had in mind. So I bought a little guy that fits, max, three cups of rice, but really is only usable for about two and a half. She’s since come around to the indisputable excellence of the cooker, and she loves everything about it, from the wonderful rice it makes to the “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star” it plays when you turn it on. But since we’re moving to a bigger apartment with counter space enough for a small rice cooker, I think it’s high time we got an upgrade, so Mother’s Day seems like a perfect opportunity to get the 5.5-cup model.

All-Clad One-Quart Saucier

The low, sloping walls of this small 1-quart saucepan make whisking easy, perfect for making and finishing delicate sauces, and reducing small volumes of liquids. It’s also small enough to double as a butter-melter.

Le Creuset Cake Stand

If you’ve ever been given a homemade birthday cake, return the favor by buying your favorite baker this iconic cake stand. Its heavy base keeps cakes secure and makes all types of decorating techniques a breeze.

Rice, Noodle, Fish

Warning: Reading this book might lead to the purchase of some very expensive plane tickets. The Roads & Kingdoms crew will get you hungry for a journey to Japan, for onigiri basted with chicken fat, juicy one-bite gyoza, milky-white tonkotsu ramen broth, and briny sea urchin. Is Japan the best place on earth to eat? This book will convince you that it is.

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mm-mendell · 5 years

Text

“Immortality,” he says, biting out the word like it’s a curse, “is nothing but pain. It burns you up from the inside out, leaves you hollowed-out and empty.”

He scratches at his arm again, leaving more thin red lines to trace down his flesh. He certainly seems to be in pain.

Some distant part of you pities him. What a sad man he is, to not be able to recognize the gift he has been given. To not understand the joy of knowing you have forever.

“If it hollows you out,” you say, perfectly calm, “it is only so that something better may take its place. The pain is first, true, but it is temporary. Beyond that lies infinity.”

“I do not want it!” he cries out, hands trembling as he raises them to cradle his head. “I do not want to live forever, if it means that I must live like this.”

You are tempted to roll your eyes, but refrain. The pain, you are sure, is blinding, but it is the price you must pay. He had been the one to seek this out, he is the one who travelled and searched and lied and stole and killed to get this far.

Should he not be joyous? Should he not be grateful?

“Please,” he says, his voice a raspy mess. “Please take it back, I beg of you.”

“I cannot,” you answer promptly. “This is a gift to you, a reward for making it all the way to me. Life, forever. Just like any child born into this world, what you do with it is up to you. It is of no consequence to me.”

He clenches his fists and pounds them against the dirt floor of your temple.

“You are Life, are you not?” he snaps, his head whipping up to glare at you fiercely. You feel almost impressed at the ferocity of it. “Is the nature of my existence not a part of your dominion?”

You blink. How strange, the impressions these humans have.

“No.” You cock your head to the side, staring down at him curiously. “I give you life, and eventually I take it back. That is all. I care not for what you do in-between those moments.”

How long ago had it been since you met a human? Have they all become this way - selfish and demanding and grief-stricken by turns?

He recoils from you, and looks at you as if he has never seen you before this moment. He looks almost betrayed.

Why? Why is that? You have never been anything other than what you are. Any expectations he has are his own cross to bear.

You do not lie. You do not steal. You do not kill.

You simply take a piece of what you are, ever-so-small, and give it to them. Then, when the time comes, you will have it returned to you.

They all know this. Humans know, from the day they are born, that they will someday die. Understanding it is different, you know that much. But immortality is not in the cards for most humans, so perhaps there is something to be said there.

Perhaps ironically, those who understand best what it means to die are incapable of doing so.

“Fine,” he says, sounding like it is not very fine at all. “Then where did you get this temple? Did the labor of human hands not build it for you?”

“I built it,” you say.

Now he is the one who looks surprised, casting his eyes around the old wooden structure.

“You built this?” he says in a doubtful tone, making something inside you bristle. “Not your followers?”

“I don’t have any followers,” you say. “Right now, I only have you.”

He gives you a scowl for that, but you merely stare bemusedly back at him. He is with you now, forever. Even if he does not stay within your temple, does not stay in your presence, he is still yours.

“Why did you build it?” he says, instead of arguing with your last point. “Couldn’t you just… I don’t know, manifest it with your godly powers?”

“Perhaps,” you say consideringly. You have never really thought about it before. “But I did not have godly powers when I built it, so that wouldn’t have been possible regardless.”

“What?” he balks, rearing back in surprise.

“I built this originally for my god,” you explain, not seeing the harm in it. You two will no doubt be spending quite a lot of time together, after all.

He bites his lip, but does not interrupt you again, waiting for you to continue.

You can’t help it - a huge smile spreads across your face.

“My god is wonderful,” you chirp, nearly bouncing in your seat. “My god is clever, and bright, and always has a kind word for me. They took me in as a child, and would come to visit me on this mountain every day. I built this for them as thanks, so that they could have somewhere to stay and they wouldn’t have to sit at my campsite every day.”

You know you’re getting too excited now, but you couldn’t bring yourself to stop.

“ - and, and, this god, they said to me; ‘Child, humans have been living and learning and dying on this earth with no one to guide them. Humans have always been their own masters, and I preferred it that way. But I’ve been thinking lately, and well, I’ve decided to switch things up a bit. Give everything around here some structure, a bit more order. Might as well make some use of you, I suppose. So, would you be willing to help me with that?’ And, obviously I agreed. What else could I do?”

When you finish the tale, you are breathless and exhilarated, feeling oddly light at the reminder of your old and dear friend.

They haven’t been by to see you since, but, that was okay. You have forever, now. You can wait however long it takes.

The newly-immortal man has a peculiar look on his face, one that you can’t quite interpret.

“...So, it was all on a whim,” he says, and there is something almost disapproving in the corner of his mouth, and you can’t imagine why.

“Yes, of course,” you agree. You’re not sure why he speaks of it like it’s a bad thing. “Gods can do whatever they want. That’s how it works.”

“But you don’t do things like that,” he says, a dare and a challenge both.

For just a moment, you fiddle with your hands, hidden behind long sleeves.

“Well, no,” you say, not sure why it suddenly feels like a failure. “I just stay here. I can do everything here, from the temple, so I don’t need to go anywhere else. That’s why I was excited when you came. Nobody comes here.”

“...I see,” he says. He says it in the same way your god once did, like they had noticed something hidden and was having a good laugh about it at your expense.

But he isn’t quite like that. No, there is something else.

You draw back a little, at seeing the look on his face.

It looks like he pities you.

You don’t understand why.

“I know you can do your work inside this temple,” he says, standing up. His fists, which were blistered and bruised from where he hit them against the ground, have already healed. He doesn’t seem to be in pain, anymore.

Or perhaps he has merely forgotten what pain is like. It all happens fairly quick, if you were recalling it correctly.

“But can you do it outside, too?”

You blink. This one just keeps surprising you, it seems.

“Yes, I… suppose so. There isn’t much of a point though.”

“Why not?” he challenges, and he looks you right in the eye as he does so. He is standing tall, with fire lighting him up from within, and you think he’s found the thing that will keep him from being empty.

Faintly, you wonder what it is.

(Faintly, you wonder what it’s like.)

“I should stay here,” you say, pushing through the sudden emotion caught in your throat. “This is my home, and my god’s home too. I should stay.”

They might be back any minute. You should really stay.

“...It was all a whim,” he repeats, with that same look on his face as before. “They spent, what, twenty years on it? But you’ve said it yourself - that’s nothing to a god. Twenty years is the blink of an eye to someone who lives forever.”

You cock your head to the side, staring in confusion. “Twenty years on what?”

He looks away from you for a moment, grinding his teeth, and then looks back, that fire from before only getting stronger as the seconds passed.

“How old were you when god made you immortal?”

You don’t understand. “Seventeen. Why?”

He does not answer. “Do you have a name?”

You don’t understand. “No. Why, does that matter?”

He closes his eyes for a brief moment, and when he opens them, you can see the fire inside of him nearly reaching out of him, reaching out to you.

And then he does so, hand outstretched.

“Come with me,” he says. “Come with me, and I will show you why that matters.”

You… don’t know what to do. You should really stay here. But… he is yours, just like you belong to your god. If he leaves without you, he will be all alone.

You don’t want him to be alone.

You take his hand.

notes:

heyyyy! I'll admit, I didn’t really like this when I started, and was considering scrapping it and moving to something else, but I'm really glad that I stuck with it!! many thanks to @caffeinewitchcraft for the prompts, and hopefully I can stick the landing tomorrow and do the next two as well! hope you all enjoyed reading! <3

#caffeine challenge #mendell writes

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treatian · 4 years

Text

The Chronicles of the Dark One: The Dark Curse

Chapter 32: The Dark Curse

If there was one thing that he excelled at, it was taking the tragedy that was his life and using it for something useful-like motivation. The way he saw it, after the debacle with Cora he could sit around, feeling sorry for himself, throwing fireballs at a hand-drawn portrait, and twisting his fingers wondering if he'd truly ruined the prophecy, or…he could get to work. He could trust that the prophecy would be just as right as it always was. He could trust that one day one of the servants, who he'd heard had their tongues, as well as a few hearts, removed, would utter a name they heard. Or, perhaps to his joy and delight, it would be Cora, perhaps she'd let the name slip when telling her new best friend, a dragon named Maleficent, where she'd learned her magic. Or better yet, perhaps it would be Regina herself. Now wouldn't that be the spectacle!

He chose, of course, to trust the prophecy. He had no reason not to. Everyone in his life, his father, the fairies, Milah, and now Cora, they all seemed to lie to him at every turn. The prophecy was the only thing that seemed unwavering. Why wouldn't he trust it?

But the thing about remembering to trust it meant that he was suddenly aware of just how much work there was to be done. Being away from Cora…it was as if someone had dashed cold water on his face. He could see the eldest child of Princess Cora, he knew that she was alive, but he also knew that while nothing was going to happen anytime soon, time could fly. Right now, the child was just that, a child. There was no chance that she was going to create a curse that would harm a fly, much less one that would take him to see his son! He needed to wait until she came of the proper age to learn magic. With a mother like Cora, a foul woman who had removed her own heart, he had no doubt that when the time finally came, she'd have the right motivation. But there was a rub, of course. If he didn't get his hands on the curse, there would be no curse to cast! Or worse, Regina would somehow find it on her own, and he'd be unprepared.

Well, of course, he'd been looking for the right curse! Of course, he'd been searching for it ever since he'd first talked to the Blue Fairy all those years ago! His library was filled with books of dark history, powerful curses, abominations the world did not speak of. He'd read every single one of their pages in search of the curse that could do something like what the Blue Fairy had lied to him about. So far, he'd come up empty-handed. He had to do something, had to attempt something that had never been attempted before…he had to send someone into the Fairy's Garden. Donna and Steven were, of course, the optimal solution. Their ability to take orders without questioning was only paralleled by their ability to place themselves in the heart of danger without arguing. Not that they'd had much choice in the matter, of course. Two weeks ago, he'd sent them away. Armed with small bags and jars, handfuls of spells and magic they might need to pull off their heist, he'd sent them to the Fairy's stronghold to figure out what curse the Blue Fairy feared so much. He'd been awaiting their return ever since.

But he hadn't been bored. There was plenty to watch as he waited for them. It was Regina's fifth birthday. And oh, what a birthday she was given. He'd watched preparations for it all this week in his cauldron, watching as her mother and father filled the castle with good things for their precocious little girl. Now it was the time of the actual party. Five years old and she'd been given the head of the table. He watched as the image showed two women carrying a large cake out and setting it down before her as her father and mother stood on either side.

Poor girl. She was unhappy about something, clearly. Perhaps the gown she was wearing as she kept picking and itching and Cora kept coming forward to pull her hands away. The images he pulled out of the cauldron were always silent, unfortunately, but he could tell by the facial cues and the way she moved her mouth that whatever Cora had just whispered into her ear as she pulled her hand away yet again, had not been pleasant. Regina did look miserable.

But if it was any consolation, it didn't last long. It never did when her father was around. The second Cora stepped away, he came up behind Regina and whispered something in her ear that made both of them break out into a smile. Her mother might have been a horrendous bitch incapable of loving anyone because of the choices she'd made, but he had to give it to Prince Henry, he seemed to genuinely love the girl. Better yet, Regina seemed to adore her father. From what he'd seen of their relationship, they were always happy when they were with one another and sometimes it made Cora clearly so angry that it made him happy as well. Anything that managed to get under Cora's skin was a miracle so far as he was concerned. Anything like this…

After her father had finished whispering in her ear, Regina had nodded as she smiled. Her father offered her hand to her and she began to stand up on the chair she had been sitting so properly in. He saw Cora step forward, her mouth formed the word "Henry!" in a sharp rebuke, but he ignored her it seemed as he helped Regina lean forward so she could close her eyes and blow out the candle. Cora glared at the pair of them the entire time, but Henry didn't notice. The moment Regina opened her eyes again, they immediately grew wide, and her jaw dropped. She looked at her father, who nodded and told her something he couldn't make out before he picked her up off the chair and set her down on the ground. He joined the guests in watching as she ran quickly over to a small gray pony and hugged it as the guests applauded. Regina's mouth was moving rapidly. As her father joined her, he thought she might have been saying "Thank you" over and over again in that way children did when they were excited. And there was Cora in the corner. Sulking. Incapable of rejoicing with them or feeling anything for this happy moment. She had all the symptoms of someone who had no heart. And he didn't feel the least bit sorry for her. Not even when-

Intruder!

The hair on the back of his neck stood up as he waved his hand over the cauldron, forcing the image away. He looked around. He had so many protection spells on the castle place that he knew when the mice came and went. His magic was telling him he wasn't alone now. Someone was here. And it wasn't someone who was coming to him for a deal. This individual was filled with magic already — Light Magic.

As if sensing that she'd been discovered, he watched as none other than the Blue Bug herself came brazenly in through the open window across the tower.

"You don't have permission to enter here, Dearie."

She stopped just over his spinning wheel and sighed. "I'm here for you. We thought you'd want these back!"

All at once, she waved the wand in her hand, and a small portal-like hole appeared just over his table. There was a thud as something came crashing down onto it, and the magic above dissolved.

It wasn't just one thing; it was two. The dolls, Donna and Steven, they'd been discovered and…

There was something different about them, something that made them nearly unrecognizable when they'd first fallen. Now, as he stepped up to put his hands over them and prepared for the small feeling of familiarity that came when he encountered magic of his own, he realized what that difference was. There was no feeling. There was no recognition. No magic in them at all!

"You've-"

"Freed them!" the Blue Fairy admitted as he stared up at her. "We used Light Magic to send their souls away, onto the beyond. Jiminy has already been informed. It was his greatest wish other than to help their child, and it was our greatest wish too once we saw what you had done to them. They're of no use to you now, Rumpelstiltskin!"

"You filthy little witch!"

Magic began to roll off of him just as anger coursed inside of him. He'd never know now if they'd found what he was looking for! He'd have to figure out another way to discover that curse! Fire blossomed over his palm, and he reared back to throw it at her.

"I'm a fairy!" she cried before he could. "This is what we do! Good!"

"I've never known a fairy to do good!" he roared. "Or have you forgotten your little secret about the Black Fairy?"

"The Black Fairy…" she shook her head and turned her nose up at him. "I don't know what you are talking about. And just because we won't assist you in destroying the realm to find your son doesn't mean we don't do good, Rumpelstiltskin!"

He let out a shout that sounded far more like a war cry than a scream as he hurled the ball in his hand at the bug. She dodged it, the stone behind her blackened.

"As if that will solve anything," she chastised. "You had your chance, Rumpelstiltskin, you didn't take it, now you have to live with the consequences. We won't let the rest of the realm suffer because of your unhappiness!"

"Get out!" he roared. "Get out of my castle! Get out!"

"Happily," she stated before turning and flying out the way that she'd come, but he…

He couldn't go back to what he'd been doing, not with those two soulless pieces of wood lying on the table staring at him. Anger and revenge, those were always the emotions that made it so easy for him to summon up his magic and use it. But a funny thing happened when anger multiplied, when it became nothing but pure rage, he'd found it was almost impossible to use his magic, and in truth, he didn't want to. It was much more satisfying to feel things around him break at his own hands rather than magical ones that did not exist.

So he raged. He swept his arms out over the contents of the tables before him and listened to the crashing and smashing of glass. He tipped over his cauldron and watched as the liquid spilled across the floor, the wet putting the fire out with a flash that turned it purple for just a minute. He kicked the stool to his spinning wheel across the room, where it sailed into the wall and burst into pieces. He moved to the table the dolls had been dropped upon and moved to flip it over only…

Ever since he'd got them, those dolls always wore the same clothes. They were always unchanging. He'd seen it so many times he knew exactly what they looked like just as he knew exactly what they should feel like when his magic once coursed through them. The small piece of ivory colored something that he saw sticking out of a pocket on Donna's dress…he'd never seen that before.

Already on two legs, he quickly set the table back down on all fours and moved Steven aside so he could examine Donna. It was a piece of paper, rough around the edges as if it had been torn from something. It was old, thus it's odd color. And it was small. Too small even for the doll to have held but with the fairies being so tiny he'd assumed their Coven was too and so one of the potions he'd given the pair was one that would shrink them down to a fairy's size to search. On the back, there appeared to be writing on it, tidy womanly scrawl, but on the other side, there was only paper and something bigger scribbled in gray. That could only mean one thing. She must have found something. Better yet, she'd written something down. And she must have shoved it in her pocket before the Blue Fairy caught them.

Quickly, he checked the rest of the pockets, not only on Donna but also on Steven. That single piece of paper was all that he found. It was all that was left. But the writing was too small, even with his eyesight, he couldn't read it and with the cauldron smashed he didn't have the time to make a potion that would grow it into a decent size. Even then, he wasn't willing to risk harming whatever was on the paper itself. Instead, he found the shattered remains of a magnifying glass and waved his hand over them to restore it. Then he flatted out the little scrap of paper and looked at it through the glass. On the backside, the tiny scribbles seemed to be a record of some kind. It appeared to document an incident in fairy history, one where a mother attempted to cut her son's destiny away from him with the Shears of Destiny, and the Fairy God-mother intervened. That was where the record cut off. But on the other side, there were only three words written on the paper, but they were enough to make him smile and say "well done" to the lifeless figure. She had been smart and useful, after all. She'd been freed by those fairies but not without leaving him with the answer he sought first.

The Dark Curse.

#Rumbelle #Rumple #Rumpelstiltskin #The Blue Fairy #The Dark Curse #ouat #ouat fanfiction #fanfic

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katzuyas · 5 years

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read on ao3

"This one looks nice," Phichit says from where he's sprawled over Chris' back and looking over his shoulder at the intricate picture of a sea glass vase Chris has pulled up on his laptop.

"It's green," Chris replies as if that explains everything, and skips to the next one.

"So what? It's perfect! Go back," Phichit tells him and Chris' finger hits the back button with a click. The green vase is full screen again and Phichit gives a content hum. "Look at it. So pretty."

"They have nothing green in their flat, though. It's going to stand out too much," Chris says and skips back a few times to a blue vase they saw earlier. "Now, this one? That's perfect. And it matches Victor's eyes."

"But that will just blend in and become invisible," Phichit argues. "It's better to have some pop of colour to keep the life exciting, don't you think?"

He pokes Chris' cheek with a finger.

Trophée de France has just come to an end with a gold around Chris' neck and a bronze on Phichit, and they have found themselves locked in Chris' hotel room two hours before the banquet, desperately searching for a housewarming present for their best friends who are throwing a party in about a week – a day after the Rostelecom Cup. Time is of the essence, but as far as presents go it's obligatory that best friends need to give the best ones – that's just common sense.

It's also the source of their dilemma.

"Their apartment is in shades of white, light blue and gray," Chris insists, turning his head to Phichit. "It'd be just as bad as wanting to give them a red one. It'll clash with everything, and Victor will put it in the basement, and we'll have wasted the money and effort on it."

"Are you insinuating I have no sense of style?" Phichit asks. He lifts off Chris' back and looks down at him through narrowed eyes. "That I can't pick a gift both useful and pretty for my best friend's housewarming party?"

"You said it, not me," Chris says as he turns back to the screen. It's not really an disagreement against what Phichit has said, which has Phichit's dark eyes only darken more in the anger that begins to simmer in his veins. "But look, Yuuri's favourite colour is blue, isn't it? It'd be nicer to get it in blue."

"Just because he likes blue doesn't mean he wants to have everything in blue. Oh my god, are you a child?" Phichit gives an annoyed huff. He gets off the bed, walks around it and takes his bag of toiletries out of his suitcase just to have something to do with the nasty energy suddenly coursing through his body. "There is such a thing as knowing when too much is too much, you know. Going matchy matchy isn't always a good thing."

"So, according to you, a green vase in a predominantly gray, white and blue-toned space isn't too much?"

Chris lifts an eyebrow at Phichit, ridiculously calm and collected, as if he knows he is right and he's only waiting for Phichit to blow up. It only serves to have Phichit's jaw clench to hold back a snarky response. He doesn't want to argue, he doesn't want to–

"Darling, we really need to talk about your taste," Chris adds, and that is the last straw.

Phichit rears his head fast and hard, like a horse that's about to trample up a body into a bloody mess.

"Yeah, we clearly do, because I'm dating you," he spits. "What would I know about taste?"

Chris looks stricken for one precious second, during which Phichit bathes in momentary triumph. The feeling goes away as soon as Chris' face darkens, though. He sits up on the bed with a scowl that means business, and for a brief second Phichit regrets his words. But as soon as Chris opens his mouth again, all thoughts of regret fly out of Phichit's head.

"Are we resorting to insults now?" Chris asks, poised calm that is a front and a lie, and they both know it.

"You started it," Phichit bites back.

"I started it?" Chris asks, incredulous. "You called me a child!"

"And you said I have no sense of style!" Phichit points out, jabbing a finger in Chris' general direction. "Or taste! How is that not starting it?"

"I didn't mean it like that and you know it," Chris defends. "Don't put meaning behind my words that I didn't put there myself."

"Well, that's how I heard it," Phichit says and it comes out far more aggressive than he means.

Chris' mouth sets in a firm line and Phichit can clearly see the moment his teeth bite down on the words he wants to speak, because a muscle jumps in Chris' jaw in a manner that is oddly endearing, and doubly as hot. The air around them gets warmer, but it isn't just warmth – it's passion, and fire, and heat of attraction that Phichit can't deny he feels when he looks at Chris' stone-hard anger.

"Just because you think you heard me say something, doesn't mean I actually said it," Chris says then, voice dripping deadly quiet.

He's one of those people who go cold in their rage instead of becoming the centre of the solar flare outbursts, like Phichit himself is prone to. And it shows. It shows, because the calm on Chris' face awakens something in Phichit, brings his blood to a boil.

"I don't think I heard you, I did hear you. Because you said it! Don't deny it now!"

"Well I didn't mean it how you understood it, then," Chris presses once again. "And you'd know it, if you only thought about it before speaking."

There's a thrum in Phichit's veins, a buzz under his skin. He needs to move, spend this weird energy in a healthy way, or he'll do something he's going to regret. Like punch a wall and wear a cast for the unforeseeable future, or worse – kick the bed and sprain his toes or ankle or both, and fuck up his skating for the next weeks, which were crucial if he wanted to get to the Grand Prix Final.

Without thinking much more, he snaps into action and walks away from the bed.

"Where are you going?"

Chris scrambles off the bed to follow him and Phichit turns only to tell him that he can't be here anymore if he wants to be whole and keep skating, but all words freeze on his tongue when he meets Chris' gaze.

Green isn't usually a very cold colour, but when Phichit looks into Chris' eyes then, it might as well be. He looks... he looks...

Phichit takes a breath, but the words slip out of his mouth before he can even think about it.

"Fuck, you look so hot when I'm angry at you."

Chris doesn't look surprised at it at all, which makes Phichit think he must have been thinking something similar, but he can't really focus on Chris' motivations anymore. The way Chris' curls sweep across his forehead... his arms uncross from his chest showing off his strong shoulders and biceps... his jaw muscles move when he forcibly unclenches his teeth... Phichit's mind is in the gutter and falls, falls hard to the very bottom of it without any chance of salvation.

Chris walks up to him with quick decisive steps and grabs the back of Phichit's head none too gently to bring his face up. His eyes are still glazed with ice and it is a thrill that Phichit never expected to feel.

"We're going to talk about this later," Chris says in a tone that allows for no arguments.

Phichit doesn't reply, not that would if he could, the lexicon of his vocabulary narrows down to 'fuck', 'he's hot', 'ah shit', and 'I want him' and it's all that seems to be running through his mind then and there. With his tongue tied, he can't say much, but words (or the lack thereof) have never stopped Phichit Chulanont from doing what he wanted, and so he does it once more – he lifts onto the tips of his toes and presses his mouth hard against Chris', who doesn't need to be invited twice and drags him back to the bed.

There's nothing gentle about it: they tear the clothes off each other, pull on collars and waistbands, bite into skin where the lips miss. Phichit hears his shirt rip somewhere along the hem when Chris tugs on it to pull him into another kiss, but he can't care. His own finger catches in a zipper of Chris' jeans and he gives a little hiss that Chris swallows with his mouth firmly pressed to Phichit's.

They're tired from skating, yes, a burn of overworked muscles is a constant reminder with every single move they make, but the heat that crawls over their skin is more pressing, more insistent, and when they give into it, it's not difficult to forget about the other aches of their body and give into one – the ache of being joined into one.

On all fours, Phichit pants into the sheets while Chris' teeth mark the back of his neck and down his shoulders. The heavy press of the erection that is so close to being in him, but still not there is driving him mad.

"Fuck me already," Phichit nearly growls. He needs it. The release, the outlet for the energy that has built up in his body.

He bucks against Chris and the dark growl he gets in return sets him on fire all over again. Chris's arm slides around his hips and the thick girth rubs between his ass cheeks, but it's only more of the same teasing.

"Chris–" Phichit warns, but his voice is gone with a gasp when Chris' hand grips his length and squeezes.

Stars burst along Phichit's vision, but the heavy heat that pulses between his legs keeps him from drifting into space. He's grounded by the steady jerking of Chris' wrist, yet it's not enough. He bites his lip, groaning in frustration at the back of his throat.

"Fuck me," he grits out. He tries to buck into Chris' dick again, but Chris' free hand bites into his hip so hard, Phichit is sure it'll bruise. Good. "Chris, you fucking cocktease, if you don't fuck me this instant I'm getting dressed and leaving, and you can die of blueballs for all I care."

He throws a glare over his shoulder, but it helps him none. Chris looks down at him with a dark look in his eyes that are no less cold than they were before.

"At least they'd be blue, not green," he says.

Phichit forgets to breathe when he registers that Christophe Giacometti is talking about a fucking vase while his dick is rubbing against Phichit's balls, and he gives an angry snarl. He shifts with the intension of getting up, but Chris' big hand pushes between his shoulder blades and Phichit lands with his face in the sheets instead. He glares up at Chris, who braces his hand next to Phichit's head after tangling his fingers in his hair. The pull of it hurts Phichit's neck, but he says nothing about it, because Chris thrusts his hips and his dick slips between Phichit's thighs.

It's a little raw, a bit uncomfortable, since there is nothing to lessen the friction of skin on skin, but it's still feels good. Too good to consider the consequences.

"Squeeze your legs, damnit," Chris pants above him, and Phichit follows the order – not because he was told to, but because Chris' cold mask breaks when he clenches his thighs around his dick. "Merde..."

Merde is right, Phichit thinks while Chris' dick rubs against his balls with each thrust. Chris' other hand that stilled on Phichit's own dick before now tightens again and the warmth and pressure feel heavenly along with the hard ramming of Chris' hips. Phichit's close to release, he can feel the telling warmth that grows in his abdomen, but Chris' groans grow in volume too, so he's sure he isn't far off himself.

It's now or never, he thinks, when a brilliant idea comes to his mind.

"Whoever comes first loses," he challenges between moans.

Chris' eyes glean over for a brief second, and then he bites: "Fine."

With even more vigour, Chris rams into Phichit while his hand begins to work his dick once more, and it feels like too much, too soon, like he's going to lose for sure, but Phichit clenches his teeth and his ass, and the muscles in highs thighs bunch up into a hardness that makes Chris mewl. He bows over Phichit and comes with a cry that he muffles by biting into Phichit's shoulder.

Phichit yelps, but it rolls into a moan when Chris' hand unconsciously squeezes his dick, and it sends him over the edge as well.

They slump together afterwards, spent and panting, but they refuse to look at each other. Sex between them was never awkward, not even when they were drunk enough to fumble with zippers and miss kisses by a mile. Now, however, it's more than awkward; it's tense and heavy and Phichit hates it.

"Let's take the blue one," he says finally when the quiet begins to chill his skin enough to shiver.

Chris huffs out a breath, which sounds like it contains the remainder of his resistance.

"No, it's fine," Chris says. "I lost, so we'll get the green one."

Phichit turns to look at him, but Chris is avoiding his gaze. He's facing the ceiling while his chest heaves heavy breaths, still. The fight drains out of Phichit's bones along with the last warmth of the orgasm, and he sighs before sitting up on one elbow. He gently reaches for Chris' cheek

"I'm sorry I said all of that," he says. "I just... I wanted the green one because it reminded me of your eyes."

Said eyes widen now, and then return to normal, yet not fully: they're softer now, warmer, and Phichit feels a bit silly about not admitting to it before everything went out of control.

"You should've told me that sooner," Chris says back.

Phichit only gives him a sheepish smile. He doesn't get to apologize again, because it's Chris' turn, apparently.

"I'm sorry, too," Chris says. He takes Phichit's hand and kisses the centre of his palm. "I shouldn't have said all of that either. You have fabulous taste and I never meant to insult it."

Phichit narrows his eyes at him. "Are you saying that now because I complimented your eyes or do you really mean it?"

The little smile that curls at the corner of Chris' mouth is both adorable and teasing, and Phichit slaps a hand over it with a groan.

"You're awful," he complains.

"Mmmphm," Chris says into his palm and Phichit tentatively pulls back his hand to allow him to repeat himself: "I love you, too."

Phichit slams his hand back down before he fluidly rolls off the bed. With his back to Chris he can hide his blush, but he can't hide the happy beating of his heart from himself. It doesn't matter, though. Not because Chris doesn't care, but because a kiss is pressed to the small of Phichit's back and Chris' arms wrap around his waist from behind. Warm breath in the dip of his spine makes Phichit shiver.

"We're going to be late to the banquet if we don't shower right now," Phichit says.

Chris nuzzles his cheek against the bare expanse of Phichit's back. His stubble is a little scratchy against Phichit's skin, but it doesn't feel bad. It doesn't feel bad at all. Actually, it feels rather nice...

Phichit takes a deep breath and steps out of Chris' arms.

"Shower. Now," Phichit says. He's by the bathroom door when he realizes Chris has not moved from the bed and he looks back. "You coming? Or should I find something else pretty and green to occupy myself with in there?"

Chris clicks away on the laptop for a second longer and then stands up and strolls over with a grace of someone who knows he's hot and the confidence of a guy who just got laid and was going to get some again soon. Phichit almost snorts.

He does snort when Chris stops next to him and cocks a hip out with an added eyebrow wiggle that makes it utterly impossible to stay serious.

"Ordered the vase," Chris says. "You can't expect a gold medallist working for free like that, so... what do I get for my hard work?"

"A face full of ass," Phichit replies, turns back and slaps a hand on his bare ass before he saunters into the bathroom.

He catches the gobsmacked look on Chris' face in the mirror right as it turns into delight, and he can't help his own laughter: they truly are a pair of dummies.

(Chris gets the promised face full of ass later that night when he eats Phichit out so devoutly that Phichit swears they need to argue more often, because if that is the treatment he gets out of it, then he's more than happy to suffer through a few minutes of being upset.)

(For that Chris makes him come two more times and by the time they falls asleep Phichit isn't so sure anymore.)

(Next morning he wakes up to Chris' mouth around his dick, milking him dry, and he's sure again... but then he realizes that truly, with Chris nothing ever is certain and that's what he loves about him the most: the uncertainty, the excitement and the adventure.)

#yuri on ice #phichimetti #phichit chulanont #christophe giacometti #phichris #my fic #to celebrate me not getting into the phichimetti zine here you have a small little thing I wrote over a year ago #THIS IS LEMON #AND IT MEANS THERE ARE BALLS AND OTHER DEVICES IN USE #READ AT YOUR OWN RISK #😂😂😂

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