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#point being eat the butter chicken

daniel-munthe-agger · 10 months

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saw a video of a guy making butter chicken and so many people are just like, "oh i wouldn't be able to handle all that spice but it looks great!" dude, butter chicken is on the bland side of the scale, the cashews and cream make it almost sweet. it is what we make people with zero spice tolerance eat. you'll be fine. just eat more naan and less gravy.

#kashmiri chilli powder is feeka #idk how to translate feeka to english #point being eat the butter chicken #also don't make it vegan because it requires too much dairy for appropriate substitutions - you can try make it vegetarian by switching to #paneer #there are loads of other dishes in indian cuisine to try if you want to make vegan recipes #just leave the butter chicken and paneer makhani recipes alone

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gallusrostromegalus · 3 months

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hi i see that you have much smart dog experience. i may have accidentally purchased such a dog. she's only 10 weeks, and ive had her 1, and she's already outmatched every puzzle feeder i got or have made. to the point that she is morosely disappointed when her food comes in an actual food bowl. do you know where i can find like. "heres 100 enrichment toys you can make out of free trash so your dog stops eating fucking rocks for enrichment" lists. i only have so many paper towel tubes XD

Herschel now just disassembles puzzle feeders, so I've been focusing on "Toys that, even if he already knows how to operate them, will still take TIME for him to collect the treat from" to give him something to fuss with.

Herschel eats all his meals out of a Kong Wobbler, because he will otherwise eat so fast he will literally inhale and choke on his kibble and I do not need him developing pneumonia from aspiration. Even though it's a "Simple" toy it slows him down and he does have to think a bit to tip it in the most efficient manner possible. Kong's "Flipz", "Gyro" and "Rewards Wally" are also really good "dog needs to think/carefully manipulate the toy for food" toys that act as both mental stimulation and exercise and "give human a break for up to twelve minutes" toys.

I highly reccomend KONG as a brand- they're local to Denver and have an impeccable saftey record and all of the toys I have gotten from them have held up extremely well vs. the ravages of three entirely too smart and strong-jawed dogs at once.

Some more thoughts:

If she's not prone to shredding rubber, the kind of treat toys she has to chew are also good stimulation.

If you don't want to give her That Many treats, my vet said that dogs can have as many green beans as they want. Just make sure that the beans haven't had salt added to them- canned usually does, but frozen green beans usually don't, but always check the label.

You can make nearly any toy last longer, or make a cheap long-puzzle by freezing the treats so they take longer to eat AND provides hydration. Herschel's most favorite treat of all time is literally a wad of sliced green beans in a dixie cup, filled with water and frozen. Just peel off the cup and hand him the chunk of ice and he's good for up to half an hour and more chill afterwards.

You can also freeze lick mats

If your girl is like Charlie and doesn't like greenbeans, you can also try freezing paper cups of: Canned pumpkin, apple slices in water, putting some ice cubes in the bottom of the cup, a gob of peanut butter in the middle and then fill it with water to make a peanutbutter filled ice cube.

If your girl is REALLY like charlie who has figured out how to use labor negotiation and strike tactics for better treats: boiled chicken chunks frozen in some of the water you boiled them in.

Walkies are as much mental stimulation as they are physical exercise. Take her out and let her sniff to her heart's content.

Also Puppies in particular need like, SO MUCH exercise.

Let her participate in activities with you. Herschel and charlie sit in the kitchen and I narrate cooking dinner to them, which seems to interest them, even if I don't have spare veggie ends to give them. I also frequently bring them along in the car if I'm running errands when it's cold enough to do that, so they have something new to look at, and get to participate. I also am more likely to stop at a new park and give myself some exercise and mental stimulation.

Training her to do tasks is GREAT Smart Dog enrichment- esp if she's a herding or heeler, they LOVE being helpful. I taught the dogs they get a small treat if they come in from the yard without me having to go chase them down, which saved me a lot of hassle, and now I'm working on teaching herschel to pick things up off the floor for me if I drop them and alert for chickpeas, which my housemate is allergic to.

A lot of dogs like cat-type toys. Tie a stick or some fleece to some paracord and drag or flycast it around for her to chase/play tug with when she catches it. Toys that bounce unexpectedly were also a huge hit. or just wave the string around the cat and the corgi both like that.

If you live in farm country or know other people with pets, you can grab something with the scent of another animal on it and bring it home for her to smell. Charlie and Herschel spent the better part of three days investigating the wad of horse undercoat I brought home and put in the spare wobbler for them to smell.

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astranva · 11 months

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Instagram Live

Word Count: 1k

Category: Fluff

Summary: Harry joins his girlfriend’s Instagram live.

There were a lot of labels that people never seemed to like.

There were relationship labels that people fought over, sexuality labels that every media outlet liked to plaster, and scandalous labels that could break a royal’s reputation.

However, your label as Harry’s girlfriend was one that you actually seemed to enjoy.

Harry’s normal girlfriend.

Sure, you were called “Harry Styles’ girlfriend” more times than you were called by your own name ever since you became public three years ago, but if there was anything you felt like you had bragging rights about, it would be that you managed to form a connection with his fans for being yourself, and especially on TikTok.

It came as a surprise to many and most when people caught up to the woman Harry seemed so infatuated with that he was grinning some more, directing sappy lyrics to on stage, and going shopping with at places that weren’t Gucci. You were relatable.

Your TikToks were international treasure, especially ones where you pranked Harry or participated in couple challenges with, so it was no surprise that even your Instagram harbored some following who were instantly excited and urgent to join once they had got the notification.

yourinstagram started a live video. Watch it before it ends!

Clad in a black Pleasing crewneck, hair up in a microfiber towel, your legs were pushed up slightly against your chest as you painted your nails, peaking to see you already had 14,374 viewers.

“Helloooo,” you dragged, smiling once you saw the excited comments coming through.

user1: OMG HEY BESTIE

user2: PLEASING

user3: NO WAY YOU’RE LIVE

user4: hey, y/n! how are you doing?

“I’m doing okay,” you answered, sighing a little, “Just taking a quick break from studying and thought we could have a chat.”

user5: you’re still studying?

user6: OMG SAY HI ANGELA PLS

user7: @/user she’s getting a master’s degree where have u been

user8: do you miss harry?

“Hi Angela,” you smiled, “Yeah, I’m getting my master’s degree. Guys, I literally forgot how awful exams and assignments were because I graduated like, four years ago, so I don’t miss it,” you said, “Do I miss Harry? No, of course not. I don’t know who that is.”

user9: STOP DID THEY BREAK UP?

user10: I hope you’re joking

user11: NOT YALL BELIEVING HER ALKJWKJFH

You chuckled, “Some of you are new here, huh?”

user9: Y/N HARRY IS WATCHING

user12: HARRY

user8: HARRY IS WATCHING WEIFWEFH

harrystyles: Boo. You miss me.

user13: NO FUCKING WAYYYYY

You laughed, “You’re going to break them.”

user2: I CAN’T BREATHE

harrystyles: Oops.

harrystyles: Have you eaten?

user14: PLSSSS I CAN’T BELIEVE I’M SEEING THIS

“Yeah, I-Oh my God, H, I made one the best salads ever. It had chicken, like grilled chicken, and I had bell peppers, corn, lettuce, cherry tomatoes, red beans, onions,” you counted on your fingers, “Then I made this creamy avocado dressing. It was so fucking good.”

user4: share the recipe bestie

harrystyles: Yum. Can’t wait to try it when I see you.

harrystyles: Breakfast?

“Yeah, I had breakfast, too,” you nodded, “Butter toasts and those olives we got from Italy,” you said, “What about you? Are you eating well?”

user5: I can’t believe we’re witnessing this

user15: it’s like they’re on the phone together

user16: I want to sit on a highway

harrystyles: We had tacos! 🌮

You gasped jokingly, “Did you actually eat tacos because I was telling you about how much I’ve been craving them yesterday?”

paulithepsm: Y/NNNNNNN

user7: PAULI IS HERE

harrystyles: Yes. Hehe.

“Pauli!” You grinned, “I missed you too much!” You were beaming before pointing a finger at the screen, “Same doesn’t go for you though, H. I can’t believe you ate tacos without me.”

harrystyles: PAULI

user8: KEHFKWJE CRYING

paulithepsm: HARRY

paulithepsm: I miss my best friend 😭😭

user18: PLS

harrystyles: I’m sorry. I’ll make you tacos when you get here. Promise.

harrystyles: Show me your nails.

You showed your freshly painted nails to the screen, “Some Citrico Vibrante Cremoso greens,” you showed them off, “Buy Pleasing,” you teased, “Or find more affordable dupes, babes.”

user6: PLSSSS SHE’S SO REAL FOR THAT

harrystyles: I’ll match with you.

“You can wait until I come. I’ll paint them for you,” you said.

harrystyles: OKAY ❤

user3: HE’S SO CUTE

user10: THE EMOJIS HE'S SO REAL

jeffazoff: Come get your man. He’s a pain.

You laughed, “Aw come on, Jeff. He’s not too bad. You just need to cuddle him and feed him.”

harrystyles: Agreed.

harrystyles: Jeff, don’t cuddle me.

user19: KEUDUEWFKHJ PLS

jeffazoff: I wasn’t planning on it 🙄 I’m waiting for Y/N to come and do that

“I leave you for two weeks and now you’re about to kill each other,” you sighed, “Hey, before I forget, can you tell Lamby that I’ve been trying to send him my final thoughts about the outfit but it won’t get to him for some reason?”

harry_lambert: My phone’s been acting up, babe. Send it on email! 🖤

user20: I just want to be her

harrystyles: I love your outfit.

“Okay, Lamby, will do,” you said before giggling, standing up and backing away a little to show the Pleasing crewneck and the baggy green sweatpants you were wearing, “Oh yeah? What do you think?” You put a hand to your hip before pretending to flick back your hair, “My boyfriend got me that sweatshirt,” you pointed at it, “And these are his sweatpants,” you pointed again, “Hair by me, nails by me but using my boyfriend’s nail polish,” you said, wiggling your fingers before approaching your phone again, “He’s kind of a big deal.”

user6: PLSS WHY IS THIS SO CUTE

user7: she’s so cute

harrystyles: He’s so fucking lucky.

You giggled, cupping your hand around your mouth, “Harry Styles just cursed on live,” you whispered.

user18: LMFAOOOOO

user21: “he’s so fucking lucky” I DIED BYE

jeffazoff: Scandalous

harrystyles: OH FUCK

harrystyles: 😎

You laughed, “This is some content your fans will absolutely go feral over,” you said, “I need to go now.”

harrystyles: Call me?

user20: I’m not okay

You nodded, “I’ll call you right after I end that thing. Bye, guys! Talk to you later!”

#harry styles imagine #harry styles x reader #harry styles #harry styles fic #harry styles fluff imagine #harry styles one shot #harry styles fluff one shot #harry styles blurb #harry styles fluff blurb

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yandere-writer-momo · 9 months

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I just wanted to make something cute. Something about yandere platonic Pickle gets me going

@fangurlzrul3 and I were talking in discord about giving Pickle Dino nuggies with honey bbq sauce the other day so I decided to make some cute head canons

Yandere Baki Head Canons

Teaching Pickle the modern way of living (platonic)

Pickle x researcher reader

Pickle

Now being Pickle’s caretaker wasn’t something you ever expected to be, but here you were… taking care of Pickle

You wouldn’t look Pickle in the eye for the longest time in fear that he’d attack you so you’d hand him little trinkets to get him to leave you be. His favorite was a little bell you handed him. You’d hear him jingling in the other room

But as time went on, Pickle became more comfortable around you.

Pickle sits in the doorway of the lab and just stares at you. He’s kind of like a cat or a dog with his curiosity

Pickle brings you small gifts he finds around the lap. A bottle cap, a mouse trap, and some paper clips have found their way into your desk drawer for you ‘Pickle collection.’ You didn’t have the heart to throw anything away that he gave you

Pickle would stare longingly at your lunches so you began to share your meals with him. Pickle loves the little octopus shaped sausage and he was especially fond of chicken nuggets

Pickle is a chicken nugget fiend. He will eat all of them from your lunch, even the crumbs

You introduce him to honey mustard and honey barbecue sauce and he’s starstruck. Pickle begins to love eating. He comes over to you and points at his mouth every time he sees you

Pickle hates vegetables. He spits them out every time. Even if you cover them in sauce, he will spit them out (and suck off the sauce)

Pickle loves candy and sweet! He adores cotton candy and bubble gum. It took him awhile to figure it out, but now he knows how to blow bubbles. You always hear them popping when you walk past him

You give Pickle a spoonful of nut butter (specifically peanut butter) whenever you need to get your paper work done. He will sit on his haunches and lick at the roof of his mouth for a couple minutes

You’ve tried introducing toys to him but he doesn’t understand. Pickle eats the checkers, chess pieces, cards, and even the hot wheel cars. He’s a monster

Pickle threw the baby doll you gave him across the room when it started crying so you ruled out interactive toys too

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ellieverkuasidees · 3 months

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Food For Thought!

T141 x Southern!reader

+ Simon "Ghost" Riley x Southern!reader

Tags: fem!reader! plantonic with the rest of the crew but you and Simon have a little something something yk?, canon typcial crusing, fluff, the boys just being silly, american and british bickering

a/n: so remember that little brain fart I had? so this is what happens when your bored with nothing to do <<33 I know that this won't do many southerns justice, we're all different from different cities to towns but I just wanted to share this with yall :)) also please tell me where yall from! I really want to know! Enjoy!

"What the hell is this (reader).." Price mumbled under his breath. He cranked his neck back as he looked at you with disgust. You rolled your eyes as you set the plate of fried chicken, string beans, and a nice, thick, creamy and chewy mac-n-cheese. "Okay, I'll go get the sweet tea. Do not and I mean do not touch anything!" You warned, leaving the dineing room to the kitchen. Soap came in as Ghost followed. "Aye. The hell is that?" Soap asked, sniffing the air to the unfamillar smell.

Price hunched his shoulder, and turned to the kitchen as you digged into the fridge trying to find the homemade sweet tea you made this morning. "I don't know, she made this mess. It looks greasy." He huffed. "I heard that! You haven't taste it yet!" You came back with a huge jug of sweet tea, the men looking at you with bewilderment. Gaz, running late had came into the dining room, his cheeky smile fading once the scent of southern food hit his nose.

"What's that?" He looked over to the abunces of food. He smiled as he turned to you and helped you with the jug of tea. "Thank you Gaz, anyways. I know you brits-"

"I'm not British." Soap shouted with offense. You all looked at him and then turning the attention back to you. "Anyways! This here? This here is the shit. Your taste buds will never feel the same after you eat these homemade classics of the south!" You squeaked. The men looked over at thefoood, the grease and butter glowing in the light. The men sruvnhed their noses as they groaned in disgusted.

Your feelings where slightly hurt, but as a proud (southern state) native, you must bring them the food from the home of the free. Eitehr way, any food you cook could explode their brains. "Think we should try it L.T?" Soap asked looking up at him. Simon had a bit of a soft spot for you. He loved your american accent, the way you had some much pride and respectful for yourself. He thought it was attractive. Might I say sexy? He was head over heels fpr you and wanted you to like him as much as possible. And if that means to eat your seemingly gross and fatty american food, then so be it.

"Wouldn't hurt to try." He simply said. "Really? Don't wanna be fat like them americans!" Soap joked. You reached over and punched his shoulder as he laughed. "Oh please! Half the people in this country needs a nice oral cleansing..”

Soap rolled his eyes and ignored your jab at him and moved on. “I think we should try it. Don’t seem so bad.” Ghost mumbled as he sat down next to you, his arm resting on your chair. “Really?” Gaz sighed.

“Yeah. Don’t seem so bad. Just Mac-n-Cheese.” He huffed at Gaz with a slight scorn to his tone. “Whateva you say I guess..” Soap sighed as he sat himself down at the food. “I want to try the tea first.” Simon said as he pointed to the tea jug. “Sure!” You stood up and pour each and everyone of you a cup of homemade natural born tea.

“Alright! Drink up!” You cheered. Price, oddity sniffed it and pushed the drink away. “No.” Ghost lifted his mask up, and took a sip before hacking and lammend the glass on the table. “AUGH! AUHN! WHAT THE FUCK?!” He screamed as you laughed at his intolerance to the sweetness of the tea.

Gaz just smacked his lips and pushed the cup away from him as well. “Too sweet, urgh!” He groaned as he smacked his lips and slapped his tongue to the roof of his mouth. Meanwhile Soap was still taking sip after sip of his drink, almost gone at this point. “Seems like you liked it Soap!” You giggled.

“I just like sweet stuff alright?” He chuffed as he sucked the life out of the cup. “I win!” Soap scoffed as he snatched Price’s cup of tea from him. Price didn’t seem to mind anyways. “You’re not gonna try Cap’?” He shook his head no, “I need to watch my blood sugar nowadays.” You chuckled at his words. Such an old man thing to say. Or someone who has diabetes. Either way it’s kinda funny. Not really.

“Okay try the Mac-n-Cheese now!!”

(Should I add onto this?)

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sinsandsuccubus · 11 months

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Pregnancy Cravings - Meet The Harlow’s

Context: Peanut butter chicken?

Genre: Fluff

Word Count: 700+

Warnings: n/a

Series Masterlist | Main Masterlist

☽ ☾

You hated being pregnant.

Hated it.

You felt like a blimp, considering your size and how far along you were. You were roughly between six to seven months, and at this point, you really wished that the little thing would just come on out.

Maybe a premature baby was okay.

Not only did the pregnancy come with a size change, but a clothing change. No longer were you able to fit into the crop tops and items you usually wore around your shared home with Jack. As much as you wanted to wear your old clothing, Jack made it a good point that by wearing them, you’d stretch out the material, which would ultimately ruin your wardrobe once returning back to your “normal” size.

At least you hoped that’s what would happen.

Pregnancy weight was not a good look on you, in your personal opinion, although Jack found you hella attractive.

“Mamas, you look good, I swear. As a matter of fact, I take that back, you look sexy. Do I have to dick you down to prove it?”

Needless to say, Jack kept his word.

Another thing about your pregnancy that made you raise a question was your cravings.

Sure, you had heard the many stories about the different combinations, peanut butter and pickles, boiled eggs with horseradish, but peanut butter chicken?

Peanut butter chicken. The same food combination you shamed Jack for when you both started dating and he was comfortable around you.

“Come on babe, don’t knock it til you try it, it’s really good.”

“Jack, that’s utterly disgusting. I could never eat that.”

Oh, how the turn tables.

You and Jack were currently laying in bed, your head laying on his chest while he drew patterns over your pregnant belly.

“What do you want to eat mamas? It’s almost lunchtime.”

“I don’t know baby. Nothing sounds good right now.”

“Chick Fil A?”

“Nope.”

“McDonald's?”

“Not that either.”

“Popeyes?”

“Hell no.”

“That’s not what you said yesterday. You were fuckin up those chicken wings and that dry ass biscuit.”

“Your dick’s gonna be dry if you don’t shut up.” You looked up at your husband whose eyes went wide, making a motion to zipper his mouth shut and throw away the key.

“You know… I actually have a craving for something really weird.” You looked up at Jack again, who’s mouth still mocked being zippered shut.

“Ohmygod, Jack, you can speak.” You smacked his arm, laughing as he gasped for air.

“Phew, I was running out of air.”

“Yeah, you mouth breather.”

“You love me though.” He spoke, kissing you on the forehead.

“I’ll love you even more if you make me peanut butter chicken with veggies please.” You spoke, smiling up at your husband.

“I remember there was a time you thought that was gross. Going as far as to say “That’s utterly disgusting. I could never eat that.”.”

“Yeah yeah, well, now I’m pregnant out the ass. And this pregnant momma wants her peanut butter chicken with veggies.” You gave him a stern look, to which he immediately hopped up from bed and saluted you.

“Yes ma’am.” You laughed as he disappeared out of the room, shaking your head at your goofy husband. You hoped your child would take after him, especially his personality. Just not his big head.

☽ ☾

To say you were hungry was an understatement. As soon as you sat down at the table, you dug into your food, moaning at the satisfaction from your tastebuds. Jack looked at you, raising an eyebrow.

“Don’t you say a damn word.”

“Listen, I’m just saying, you used to shame me about my peanut butter chicken, and now you’re moaning like I just blew your back-“ The words silenced from his mouth as a fork whirled past his head, his eyes turning around to eye the utensil that clattered on the floor.

“What the fuck was that?!”

“It got you to shut up, didn’t it? Now, please get me another one so I can finish this delicious meal my beautiful husband cooked for me, whose dick I’ll be sucking later.” You spoke firmly, staring directly into Jack’s eyes.

He got up immediately, moving to pick up the fork from the floor and place it in the sink, grabbing a clean utensil from the drawer.

“If I had known that my peanut butter chicken would take you this far, I would have made it a long time ago for you.”

“Yeah yeah, don’t get your hopes up. I’ll probably hate it after giving birth.”

“Dang it.”

#jack harlow x reader #jack harlow #jack harlow fanfic #jack harlow blurb #jack harlow fic #jack harlow imagine #jack harlow scenario #jack harlow fanfiction #meet the harlows

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prefect30 · 1 month

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Little Dove

Instead of Lucy Gray, he got her younger, little sister, Rosalie Jade.

Chapter Three

"Hey there, Capitol Boy."

Why are you talking to him? Wait, why is that District mutt even here?

The Academy, deciding that it would benefit all students for their new project, let all senior mentors out of school early to help them get to know their tribute.

It was a bit of a hassle for Coriolanus to get out early. High-as-a-kite-bottom argued that he shouldn't be let out early along with the others because he already had a headstart and was late.

Surprisingly, though, Coriolanus' new best friend, Dr. Gaul, said that since it was his idea for the mentors to get closer to their tributes, Coriolanus should be able to go.

So here he was, at the zoo once more. Only to find Sejanus Plinth, standing close to the cage, with an overflowing backpack of different foods, talking to his tribute.

I thought that I was Capitol Boy?

Coriolanus could see the sandwiches, which looked to be a variety of chicken salad, peanut butter and jelly, and egg salad, but how would he know, he's been eating watery cabbage "soup" for almost his whole life years, small water bottles, and ripe, deep purple plums that were slowing falling out of the bag with all of the other foods.

Reaching Sejanus and Rosalie Jade, he picked up on some of their conversation.

"I used to know him. We were friends."

"I'm sorry to hear that, Sejanus. I can't imagine how that feels, having to see an old friend being forced to fight for his life. That's awful." Trying to comfort him, Rosalie Jade held onto Sejanus' hand while talking

Deciding that enough sympathy hand touches were given to each other, Coriolanus interrupted their little conversation.

"Rosalie Jade, how are you?"

"As fresh as a rose in the winter." She smiled at him.

You're actually going to make me go mad with all for your stupid ass riddles! As fresh as a rose in the winter? What the hell is that supposed to mean?!

Sensing his confusion, Sejanus whispered, "She's not doing good. She's not strong or ready."

Not ready?

Looking at Rosalie Jade and then Sejanus in disbelief, Coriolanus tried to save face. "I knew that, I was conf-concered about her not being ready."

But ready for what?!

"Well course I'm not ready. I'm 12 and goin' to fight to the death for my life!"

Ohh! That's what she meant. Why didn't I figure that out and how did the District mutt figure it out first?

"Which is why I'm here, Rosalie Jade. To help you."

So listen to me and leave this mutt here and let's talk away from him. Far away.

"I know Mr. Snow. But Sejanus here was trying to help everyone get something to eat and since on one was movin’ to get any, I came up to get some and maybe hand out some since they might take it if it’s “from” me rather than Sejanus here. Unless you don't want me or anyone else eatin'?" Rosalie Jade teased him.

"Of course I want you to eat, Rosalie Jade. Just maybe over there, where we can talk about strategies to help you during the games." Coriolanus pointed to an area where there was a rock on the side of the cage Rosalie Jade was in.

"Right, so we can talk about ways I can snap the necks of my opponents. Now that might be a bit hard, with my height an' all." Roslaie Jade joked.

"Rosalie Jade." Sejanus said her name in the way he thought a mother would when their child said something offensive to someone.

"Oh, relax, will ya'? Let me make my jokes. I know I ain't makin' it back home. At least let my mind stay on the sunny side." Rosalie Jade said as she slowly walked away towards the area Coriolanus pointed out earlier.

"Don't say th-"

"What was that? I can't hear you!" Rosalie Jade interrupted Sejanus, making a fake pouty face at him while reaching her hands in front of her, making grabby hands.

"Too far! Oh, the shame! The misery!" She laughed as she turned around and plopped herself down on a large rock.

Sejanus lightly laughed at her antics while Coriolanus scoffed.

She needs to take this seriously. This is her life we're dealing with. My life. Both of our lives. We're connected and she needs to realize that her actions affect me as well. We're in this together, unfortunately.

“Well, she’s not listening to me anymore, might as well leave the bag here in case anyone decides to take any of the food Ma made.”

No one is ever listening to you, Sejanus. And, Ma? Really. We are in public, try to have at least some dignity and decency.

“Yeah. Hey, that was a good idea. Bringing them food and all.”

Maybe if I compliment him, he’ll give me some.

“Thanks! I couldn’t just let them starve in here. You know, no one is feeding them in there. They just threw them in the cage without anything!”

Nope, he’ll just complain to me more. God, when will he get over this. It’s been more than a decade since he came from Two, he needs to get over himself and let it go. And besides, they gave them a working faucet, at least they can drink and clean themselves.

“Yes, well too bad there is nothing we can do about it.”

So let it go.

“But there is! We could get them to stop the Games somehow, then no one would have to worry about having to fight for their own life!” Sejanus exclaimed.

People looked at the boys, surprised by Sejanus’ outburst and in shock from his words. Coriolanus looked around, smiling trying to distance himself a bit farther away from the lunatic boy. He quickly looked towards Rosalie Jade and saw her laying on the rock, her dress splayed out all around her, making it seem like she was lying at the end of a rainbow.

“I’m not talking about this in public of all places, Sejanus. But you need to accept them, you can’t do anything to change them. Thank you again for giving the food to Rosalie Jade, but I have to go to her now.” Coriolanus said, attempting to walk away when he was stopped by hearing Sejanus’ words.

“Wait! Do you think maybe we could trade tributes?”

What?

Coriolanus slowly turned around to look at Sejanus, his face in complete disbelief.

“Pardon me?‘

“It’s just that, well me and her kind of hit it off and my tribute, he just…he just won’t talk to me. Please?” Sejanus rubbed the back of his neck, looking down, embarrassed by his question.

What does he mean, “hit it off?” We hit it off too, right? And why does he want to have Rosalie Jade as his tribute so much? She’s my tribute, not his. Wait, do I finally have something that Sejanus Plinth doesn’t? Or is it that he sees how well she has been doing in Capitol eyes and wants to take that from me? No. I won’t let him. She was given to me, so she is my tribute, not his. And he sure as hell isn’t taking her from me.

“I’m sorry, Sejanus, but I don’t think we can trade tributes. Besides, we already started the project. It wouldn’t benefit either of us if we were to switch tributes now.”

“Ok, sorry for asking. It’s just-nevermind. Bye Coryo.”

Don’t call me Coryo.

“Goodbye Sejanus.”

Finally walking over to Rosalie Jade, he saw that she was now sitting up and finishing the last bit of the sandwich she was given.

Dammit Sejanus.

“Sorry about not bringing any food, I didn’t get the chance” Coriolanus said, crouching down to her.

“It’s fine! I’m just glad that I even got to meet Sejanus. He was real nice.” Rosalie Jade said, picking up her plum.

Enough about Sejanus!

Coriolanus watched as she bit into her plum, the juices dripping down her chin in slow motion.

He watched in a lustful hunger as she licked her fingers on the excess juice, wishing it was him. He was just so hungry.

“Mmm! Guys! This is real good! You should get some!” Rosalie Jade hollered about to the other tributes, encouraging them to eat.

Looking back at Coriolanus, Rosalie Jade said,”Sorry, but I wanted to make sure that they at least know they can eat the stuff without it killing them.”

“Killing them? Why would the food kill them?” Choriolanuss asked her, confused.

“Never know if one year the Games start early.” Rosalie Jade huffed.

“Well I can assure you that no food that will be given to you to eat will be poisonous or kill you.”

“Ok Capitol Boy, whatever you say.” She shook her head, laughing quietly.

So I am Capitol Boy.

Coriolanus waited until she finished eating her plum, which felt like hours, till he started to talk about his plan for her.

Setting down the plum pit, Rosalie Jade looked at him expectantly.

“Well Capitol Boy, whatcha’ got planned for me?” Rosalie Jade said, clapping her hands together.

“I need you to sing again.” Corioalnus said.

Rosalie Jade just looked at him hesitantly.

Then out of nowhere, she snapped at him.

“I don’t sing when I’m told to. I sing when I got something to say.” She crossed her arms defiantly.

“But this is the only way I can help you! You have to sing, otherwise there is nothing I can do to help you in that arena.”

Rosalie Jade just turned her head the other way so she wasn’t looking at him.

Crouching even lower to the ground, Coiolanus said, “Listen to me. They are thinking about making changes this year to the rules. If I can get some of my ideas passed, I can help you get sponsors.”

“Sponsors?” Rosalie Jade raised her eyebrow.

“People who are betting on you. They will send in money to help me buy things for you in the arena to help you survive, and hopefully, win.”

“Now I heard that there is some sort of prize for the student with the winning tribute. So are you helping me to win or to actually help me?”

Well of course I want you to win. I need the prize. But there is something about you that I need to figure out. What you reminded me of earlier this morning in the cage.

“Both.” Coriolanus shrugged.

Rosalie Jade looked him up and down before coming to the conclusion of, “Ok. I’ll listen to you. But I won’t promise I’ll sing. But maybe if you get me a guitar, then maybe I’ll think about it. Ok?”

“Amazing! Yes, great!” he said, slowly standing up.

“Maybe!” Rosalie Jade laughed.

“Ok, I’ll see you tomorrow, and this time with food!” Coriolauns yelled back to Rosalie Jade as he started to walk away.

“Got it, Mr. Snow!” Rosalie Jade teased.

Looking back at the cage, Coriolanus saw that the once overflowing bag of foods was now bone dry and even knocked over. Most of the other tributes had gotten their own sandwich, bottle, and plum. However, some didn’t because others took more than one, being greedy.

Well, it’s a good thing that Rosalie Jade got her food first. Now where the fuck am I going to find spare food and a guitar?

Just as Coriolanus was reaching the exit of the monkey exhibit, he stopped in his tracks, hearing it.

“Deep in the meadow, under a willow

A bed of grass, a soft green pillow

Lay down your head, and close your sleepy eyes

And when again they open, the sun will rise.”

Rosalie Jade had listened to him and started to sing.

“Here it's safe, here it's warm

Here the daisies guard you from every harm

Here your dreams are sweet and tomorrow brings them true

Here is the place where I love you.”

He started to walk back into the exhibit, but was stopped by a Peacekeeper.

“Deep in the meadow, hidden far away

A cloak of leaves, a moonbеam ray

Forget your woes and let your troublеs lay

And when again it's morning, they'll wash away.”

“Sorry kid, closing time. No more visits.” The Peacekeeper said to Coriolauns.

“But it’s still bright out and I need to see to my tribute.” Coriolanus answered back to the tribute.

“No kid. You gotta go home. Come back tomorrow. Sorry.” The Peacekeeper said with finality, turning Coriolanus around and pushing him closer to the exit.

“Here it's safe, here it's warm

Here the daisies guard you from every harm

Here your dreams are sweet and tomorrow brings them true

Here is the place where I love you

Where I love you.”

Rosalie Jade had finished her little song and Coirolanus didn’t even get to see her sing because of the incompetent Peacekeeper.

So she can listen. Good, obedient girl.

The next day, Coriolanus was sitting down in the Academy lunchroom trying to figure out how to get food for his tribute. He had already asked Persephone Price if she had an old guitar laying around, remembering how before the Dark Days she would take lessons for it was all she could talk about.

Before the Dark Days. How funny. How before the Dark Days, Persephone was an aspiring “musician.” How she wasn’t a cannibal.

Coriolanus Snow had many bad memories from the Dark Days, but the worst one would always be when he witnessed his neighbor, Nero Price, Persephone’s father, cut off the leg of a maid to eat.

That was the day when Coriolanus had truly witnessed humanity being stripped, even from the “rich.” How anyone would do anything to survive.

Just thinking about it gave Coriolanus a slight chill. Persephone most likely didn’t even know that she became a cannibal that day. Most likely thought it was some sort of meat mixture of rat, dog, and/or cat. But that didn’t matter to Coriolanus. Persephone Price and her family were cannibals, even if most of them didn’t know.

However, most know that while Persephone Price is a very kind person, she can be very competitive and geedy. So when she told Coriolanus, “Of course! I’ll have to look for it though. It might be buried somewhere deep in my attic,” Coirolanus knew that she would not look for the guitar one bit.

Of course she wouldn’t. She has her own tribute to try and win with. Which is why after he talked with her, he went to Pluribus Bell.

Pluribus was a big black market dealer and had helped Coriolanus and his family during the Dark Days. Coirolanus had always made sure to pay him back either with what little money Tigris made or with the gossip of what was happening in the Capitol and Academy that Pluribus couldn’t hear or see that Coriolanus had a front row seat too. But he always paid him back. Coriolanus hated owing anybody anything.

So when Pluribus said, “I think I should have one in the back. It’s for her, though, huh? Your tribute? Keep it for her. Give it to her and let her have it, as a final gift sort of thing. She would sound so pretty with it with her voice. Let your little songbird have this guitar as a gift from me, no charge, no debt,” Coriolanus was both grateful and annoyed. He got what he needed, but now owed, or at least felt like he owed Pluribus something.

But yet, he took the offer and intended on going back to him tonight to get the guitar for his tribute’s interview on Sunday.

So here he sat, thinking of a way he could get food to Rosalie Jade.

I could take it out of the cafeteria, but that’s not allowed and I’m sure if Highbottom saw me do that, he’d bust my ass and give me another stupid fucking dermit. I could maybe bring something from home? Oh, who am I kidding. The only thing we have at home is the disgusting cabbage soup and bringing that into a public setting would give away the very thing I’ve been hiding for years. How poor we are.

Deep in thought, thinking through his options, Coriolanus didn’t even realize that Sejanus had made his way over towards him. Only when he slammed his tray down, earning many looks of disgust from the other students, did Coriolanus even realize he was there.

What does the District mutt want now?

“Quite the ideas you had Coryo.” Sejanus said, looking Corilanus dead in the eye.

That’s what. Of course it is.

“Yes, thank you. I thought it would benefit Rosalie Jade if I was able to send her food or water in the arena.” Coriolanus answered him, trying to make it seem like all of this was to help Rosalie Jade and not himself.

“Yeah.” Sejanus muttered, looking down annoyed.

Deciding that this was the best time to ask, Coriolanus asked, “What were you and Rosalie Jade talking about before I got to the monkey exposure yesterday.”

This made Sejanus look up fast and in turn, make Coriolanus curious.

“Oh, just family stuff. Both her and mine.” Sejanus said after hesitating for a minute, looking around as if it was safe to talk.

“Ok, but what did you mean by ‘I used to know him?’ Who were you talking about?” Coiolanus asked right after Sejanus finished talking.

Looking down at his lap, Sejanus took a deep breath. “My tribute, Marcus, I used to know him. I went to school with him back in Two.” Sejnaus looked up.

Ohhh. But you moved here when you were so young, how could you have made such an “unforgettable” friend that a decade later, you still remember?

“My father probably bought him to my tribute to remind me where I am, what my place is, and well, you get the jist.” Sejanus started to rant.

I get the jist. I always do. Everyone does. You don’t shut the fuck up about it.

Trying to calm him down before he goes into full on protester mode, Coriolanus said, “Well it’s not your fault that your father bought him for you. You’re not to blame.”

“I'm so blameless, I'm choking on it.” Sejanus rebuttal bitterly.

Deciding that the risk of Highbottom giving him another dermit is better than having Sejanus Plinth drone on and on about how life’s not fair, Coriolanus wrapped his sandwich in his unused napkin and stuffed it into his pants pocket.

“I should go to see Rosalie Jade, he might be hungry.” Coriolanus stood up, collecting his belongings.

"Quite the rebel you are taking food for her." Sejanus told Coriolanus, looking him up and down.

"Yeah, I'm bad news." Corioalnus answered, getting out of his chair.

“Tell her I said ‘hi!’ ” Sejanus yelled to Coriolanus as he started to walk away.

“Ok!” Coriolanus answered back.

No.

Walking up the cage, Coriolanus saw that Rosalie Jade was still near the large rock. Except this time, instead of being on it alone, she was resting beside it with her eyes closed, leaning her head on Jessup.

Why must he always be touching her?

Coriolanus looked closer at the scene in front of him, realizing that not only was she resting her head on him, no. She was holding his hand.

What. The. Fuck.

Upping his pace to stop the comforting affectionate physical gesture, Coriolanus almost missed his fellow classmate, Arachne Crane, teasing her tribute with food. He saw the desperation in the tribute's eyes and knew from experience that she was experiencing horrific stomach pain from the lack of food.

Coriolanus quickly stopped, “Arachne, maybe you should just give her the bread. She most likely hasn’t eaten in days, maybe even a week depending on which District she came from.”

Arachne just looked Coriolanus up and down. “Who are you now, Sejanus? Why do you even care, Coriolanus?” Arachne scoffed, buttering a piece of bread.

“Besides, if she really wanted it, she would try a little bit harder. Wouldn’t you, girl?” Arachne mocked the girl, teasingly waving the buttered bread in front of her face.

Coriolanus just scoffed, “I am most definitely not turning into Sejanus. I am merely just trying to help you.”

“Yeah, well why don’t you just go over and help you little songbird? She looks like she needs your help real bad, oh wait! No she doesn’t! She seems just fine eating Plinth’s food and resting her eyes with her tribute. Maybe you’re the one who needs her help. Cause from the looks of it, she sure as hell doesn’t need you.” Arachne snapped at him.

Coriolanus' nostrils were flaring and his face was red from embarrassment and anger.

Of course she needs me! I’m her mentor for fuck’s sake! She’s only little and she needs protection. She needs to be protected by someone. And that sure as hell isn’t Jessup. It’s me. She needs me.

Trying to keep his composure and not blow up in Arachne’s dumb fucking face, Coriolanus simpley said, “I suppose then your tribute doesn’t need you either. It’s not like you're doing anything to help her, only yourself.”

Then, he slowly bent down to Arachne’s ear, whispering, “I bet you just want the Plinth Prize for yourself, you greedy little pig.” With that, Coriolanus stood up right, turned around, and started walking to his tribute before Arachne could even comprehend in her dumb little brain what he had just said.

Coriolanus knew he shouldn’t have said that, but he just couldn’t help it. He always had to get the last word.

Finally making his way over to Rosalie Jade and Jessup, he saw that she had opened her eyes and she smiled at him when she realized that he was coming her way. Getting up, she brushed her dress down and pushed her hair behind her back. Jessup looked up at her with confusion at her sudden movement, but when he saw Coriolanus, he raised his eyebrows up in a look of recognition. Waiting for her to walk over to him, he saw Jessup getting up too, following Rosalie Jade like a lost puppy.

I don’t remember being your mentor, why the fuck are you coming over to me? She doesn’t need you to “protect” her, that’s why I’m here.

“Mr. Snow.” Rosalie Jade pulled him from his thoughts, tipping her imaginary hat to him.

This got a genuine laugh out of him. Even in the midst of her inevitable death, she still stands here, joking around.

“Miss. Baird.” Coriolanus said back, pulling the sandwich out of his pocket, presenting it to her as if it were a bouquet of roses.

Giggling, Rosalie Jade took the sandwich, joking, “My! How pretty! Must taste even better than it looks.”

It better, this was supposed to be my lunch.

Turning around to Jessup, she split the sandwich into two, urging to give him the other half.

“Here,” she said, “eat up.”

Jessup shook his head. “No, you eat it, Rosie Jay, you need it. ‘Sides, I’m not hungry.” Jessup pushed his hands out to deny the food.

Rosie Jay?

“You think I don’t hear your stomach growling, Jessup Diggs.” Rosalie Jade said, putting her one hand on her tiny waist.

“Eat it, please. For me?” She said, giving him puppy dog eyes.

“Fine. Only for you though.” Jessup muttered, taking half of the sandwich and walking away to sit behind the rock.

Through the whole conversation, Coriolanus’ face had the same look the whole time. Disgust.

He hated how close Jessup was getting to his tribute. How he had taken on a “brotherly” role of some sort. No. That was Corioanus’ job. Well, to get her to win, and inturn, him, was his job. Taking on a brotherly role couldn’t hurt anyone.

“You ok?” Rosalie Jade noticed the look on Coriolanus’ face and thought that something was wrong.

“Yes, I am fine. I just-I have never heard anyone call you Rosie Jay before.” Coriolanus answered.

“Ohh, yeah. Well, only my close friends and family call me that. Some just call me Rosie or just Rosalie. My sister hates when people do, says it takes away my roots.” Rosalie Jade said, plopping herself down on the ground of the cage.

So she does consider Jessup like her brother. Well, we can’t have that now can we.

"Well, should I have a nickname for you? I feel as though we've become good freinds."

Rosalie Jade looked at him with her eyebrows raised. Then, after a bit of silence, she smiled saying, "Well only if I get to call you one too!"

Coriolanus smiled, "You can call me Coryo. And what do you think about Little Dove as a nickname for you?"

Rosalie Jade smiled back at him, "I think that if you like it, then I do too, Coryo." She finished, looking at the sandwich to realize it was yet again a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. She muttered a little 'yes' as she did an air pump to herself.

Coryo. It rolled off her tongue so easily and, God, did it sound good.

“My sister would like you.” She said randomly, smiling up at him, patting the ground in front of her on the outside of the cage.

“Really?” Coriolanus asked, looking around the crowd before sitting down on the cold, slightly damp concrete ground.

“I think so.” Rosalie Jade said, tearing a piece off of her his sandwich to eat.

Coriolanus eyed the sandwich. He was so hungry today. He didn’t get to have the disgusting cabbage soup this morning, having to meet with Plurbis early in the morning to get Rosalie Jade’s guitar. And missing not one, but two meals today was most definitely not helping his infinite hunger. But, ohh! All he wanted to do right now was rip the sandwich right out of Rosalie Jade’s hands and eat it himself. However, even as he imagined the sandwich, he knew that what was left wouldn't be enough for him. No, he would need the whole sandwich. He would grab Rosalie Jade’s cute little baby face and suck the food out of her mouth. He didn’t care if it was bad manners or obscene, he needed to feed his hunger.

Unfortunately for Coriolanus, him imagining eating food did not help his stomach, but rather upset it, making it growl out. Coriolanus turned beet red and prayed that Rosalie Jade hadn’t heard his stomach.

But she had. She had also seen him eyeing her food today and yesterday. So, being the kind person she was she insisted that he have some.

“Here, have some.” She said, ripping her half of the sandwich into another half.

“No, it’s ok. You need to build your strength up.” Coriolanus said back.

“Oh yeah, so I can strangle the others while they sleep. I don’t think that's going to happen.” Rosalie Jade snapped at him.

“Besides, I need my mentor to be strong and healthy to take care of me.” Rosalie Jade said, grabbing the sandwich and putting it into his hand so he couldn’t refuse.

Coriolanus just nodded, wanting to ignore the spark he felt everytime she would touch him.

Rosalie Jade smiled as he bit into the sandwich, “Now it’s like a picnic!”

Coriolanus just gave her a smile.

“I thought that people in the Capitol always had somethin’ to eat. I guess never judge a book by its cover.” Rosalie Jade whispered to him, knowing that he wouldn’t want everyone around him to hear that he wasn’t well off.

“Yeah. You know, one time, I ate a tube of paste just to stop the pains in my stomach.” Coriolanus said, gesturing to his stomach.

He didn’t know why he was telling you this. This was personal, private information. Something that only him and him only will know, and now, Rosalie Jade. But, maybe they were sister-brother bonding?

“Yeah? And how’d it taste?” Rosalie Jade asked, smiling at.

“...Pasty.” He said.

To his response, Rosalie Jade laughed, causing Coriolanus to laugh as well.

“Descriptive.” Rosalie Jade joked.

“What can I say, I have a way with words.” Coirolanus joked back.

Rosalie Jade just looked away, softly laughing. But she stopped abruptly when she saw another young tribute.

“You see her there?” she said, pointing to a young girl.

“Yeah.” Coriolanus responded, subtly bringing her hand down. It was rude to point and big brothers have to teach their little sisters the manners and rules of the world.

“She’s only young, like me. A bit older, but still young. She doesn't deserve to be here, none of em’ do.”

“Neither do you, Rosalie Jade.” Coriolanus said, taking her hand in his.

That feels nice.

Rosalie Jade just looked away when he said that, her eyes catching onto Arachne, who was still taunting her tribute, this time with the cheese.

Rosalie Jade scowled at her, “Hunger is a very powerful weapon. Your friend over there seems to know it too.” Rosalie Jade said bitterly.

“She’s not my friend, she is poison with a pretty smile.” Coriolanus responded, just as bitterly as Rosalie Jade. What? He was still pissed off from what had happened earlier.

Arachne looked over at them, feeling eyes on her. She looked Coriolanus right in the eye and mouthed the words, ‘Needy Bitch.’

Shit. How does she know?! Fuck! She probably overheard Rosalie Jade and I. Dammit! With her big mouth, the whole Capitol will know before morning, especially since I had insulted her earlier. FUCK!

“I like your rose. Where do you keep getting them from?” Rosalie Jade said, reaching out to touch the rose.

“What-oh from my Grandma’am’s rooftop garden.” Coriolanus answered. He needed to keep his cool if he was going to figure out how to deal with Arachne.

“Rooftop garden?” Rosalie Jade questioned.

“Just a garden on a roof.” He answered.

“Ohh. Well, is there anyone else in your family other than your grandma’am? You know about my sister and Covery, I wanna know about you.” Rosalie Jade asked.

“Yeah, there’s my cousin Tigris. She is one of the sweetest people I know. I-uh, I was supposed to have a little sister, but-umm, she and my mother died in childbirth. My dad died out in District 12.” Coriolanus said, looking down.

He hated talking about his family, especially his mother. She was the only person he felt loved him during the Dark Days. Of course Tigris did, but it was a different type of feeling of love coming from your parents.

Rosalie Jade reached out for his hand, and gently dubbed her thumbs over his knuckles, “So you’re an orphan, just like me.”

Coriolanus looked up and just as he was going to say something, he saw Arachne tribute sneakily take the butter knife laying next to the bread. Arachne didn't realize as she was yet again taunting her tribute with water this time.

Seeing what her tribute was going to do, Coriolanus called out to Arachne.

"Arachne! Watch ou-" Coriolanus was cut off by a high-pitched scream.

He was too late.

The tribute had taken the butter knife and stabbed it into Arachne's neck. She was flailing around on the ground, hands over the wound on her neck as she bled out.

Over her screams, Coriolanus couldn't just make out the sound of someone throwing up behind him.

Rosalie Jade!

She was violently vomiting from witnessing the murder.

Well there goes the food she just ate. Shit, is this how she'll react in the arena? We'll have to work on that.

Turning back towards Arachne, Coriolanus saw the cameras from earlier short little interviews with the other tributes. He knew that if they were still recording and they just saw him standing there as if he didn't care, it would not help his cause at all. Not to mention, the whole crowd of people who came to visit the tributes were watching him.

He knew he had to help Arachne.

Rushing over to her side, he lifted her head onto his lap, pushing down onto the wound, trying to stop the blood.

The blood. There was so much blood. It reminded him of the day his mother died. How she wouldn't stop bleeding and he couldn't do anything to help her.

Shit. This was a bad idea.

Arachne was shaking her head from side to side, not being able to talk. He knew what she was saying though. 'I don't want to die.'

"It's ok. I got you." He whispered to her.

"Help! Somebody, please! Help!" Coriolanus started to shout out. And just when he thought that a Peacekeeper was coming to help her, he pulled out his gun and started shooting at the tribute that had stabbed Arachne.

He quickly covered his head, getting blood on his ears and face. He looked up slightly to make sure that Rosalie Jade was safe and didn't get shot. She had been dragged over by a Peacekeeper from where she threw up, to against the wall with all the other tributes, their faces to the wall and backs to the Peacekeepers and their guns.

"Nobody move!" One shouted.

Looking back down at Arachne, almost forgetting she was there and only remembering when he felt her move slightly, he saw that she had moved her hands back to her neck, since Coriolanus had taken his off to cover his ears.

As he went to put his over hers to add more pressure, he saw a tear roll down her face and the dull light in her eyes go dim. Her hands had let go of her neck as they slumped down to her side.

Arachne Crane was dead.

Just then , Peacekeepers came up to Coriolanus and lifted him up, dragging him away from her lifeless body.

Maybe Rosalie Jade was right. You'll never know if the games will start early.

“This is it. This is how it starts!” Grandma’am shrieked.

Since Coriolanus had gotten home, Grandma’am had not let go of his hand, afraid that yet another loved one of hers would be taken from her. Both Tigris and Coiolanus had tried to calm her down, but nothing would work.

“Grandma’am, please calm down. Everything is alright, I didn’t get hurt. I am right here.” Coriolanus squeezed her hand, trying to comfort and calm her down.

“Oh, you’re just lucky that songbird of yours didn’t peck your eyes out!” Grandma’am said bitterly.

“She would never do that Grandma’am. She’s just a girl. Now why don’t we get you to bed?” Tigris said, trying to usher Grandma'am to her room, but she didn’t budge.

“That beast hasn’t been a girl in a long time.” Grandma’am said matter of factly.

Coriolanus, getting annoyed at how Grandma’am was talking about his tribute, said, “Tigris is right, Grandma’am. Rosalie Jade is different. She wouldn’t hurt a fly.”

Grandma’am just looked at him and sighed, then started to get up with the help of Tigris.

“Just find a way to win, Coriolanus. Use her to win for all I care. Just make sure you use her before she uses you and you end up dead in the trees of 12 like your father.” With that, she walked away towards her room with Tigris helping her.

Coriolanus reflected on this monstrosity of a day in the silence brought from Tigris and Grandma’am leaving.

He looked back on his little chat with Sejanus. He needs to separate himself from him before his rebellious ideas bring him and Coriolanus down. He needs to get Rosalie Jade more food since she threw it all up because of Arachne.

Arachne. She’s dead.

It took him some time to process what that really meant. She was dead, she wasn’t coming back, neither were his secrets that she knew about.

Thinking about it now, maybe it was a good thing she died? I mean, how else would she keep my secret. Bribery, with what money, sexual favors? Most likely, she is, sorry, was quite the whore.

Yes, the unfortunate death of Arachne Crane was a good thing. It was the only way he wouldn’t have told Coriolanus’ secrets without him losing his dignity. Besides, it’s not like Coriolanus killed her. No, it was her own tribute.

It was the only way.

“Today we remember Arachne Crane whose life was taken before her time.” Dr. Gual states behind the podium standing on the stage.

The Academy had decided to hold a huge funeral service for Arachne two days after her death, where her family, friends, and all the people of the Capitol were in attendance.

Coriolanus thought that all of it was over the top for someone as insignificant as Arachne, and it had even taken time away from seeing Rosalie Jade, but he put on his face of sorrow as he walked to the stage to give his “sorrows.” For Ararchne’s parents had asked for him to sing the Gem of Panem anthem in memorial of Arachne since he had tried to help her.

Taking a deep breath, he started.

“Gem of Panem

Mighty city

Through the ages you shine anew.”

His ribs hurt from the “training” his Grandma’am gave him to make sure that he said each lyric correctly.

“We humbly kneel

To your ideal

And pledge our love to you!”

As Coriolanus had finished the verse, he saw something, a car he thought, move in the distance, towards where the funeral was taking place.

“Gem of Panem

Heart of Justice

Wisdom crowns your marble brow.”

Coriolanus could see it coming closer and he soon realized what it was.

Holy shit.

“You give us light

You reunite

To you we make our vow.”

A truck, holding all of the tributes, was coming straight to the funeral service and hanging at the top of a crane, iconically, was the dead tribute who had killed Arachne.

“Gem of Panem

Seat of power

Strength in peacetime, shield in strife.”

Coriolanus tried not to mess up as he felt a lump form in his throat. He couldn’t believe that this was happening. He watched the truck as it turned, right as he started the last verse, showing off all the tributes and the dead one to the public.

“Protect our land

With armored hand

Our Capitol

Our life.”

He heard cries come from the crowd, either from his singing or from young kids seeing the dead tribute hanging from the crane. As the truck passed by him, he saw his Little Dove, with her head down, trying to comfort Wovey, who was crying. He saw that all of the tribute's hands were cuffed again.

Why is she comforting someone older than her? She should be the one getting comforted.

But his thoughts were interrupted by seeing the truck leave and the Peacekeepers enter, carrying Arachne’s casket on their shoulders.

So dramatic, even in death.

Next Chapter

#dark!coriolanus snow #yandere coriolanus snow #coriolanus x reader #coriolanus x y/n #coriolanus snow x reader #coriolanus snow fanfiction

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ros3ybabe · 7 months

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Daily Check In - September 28th, 2023 🎀

did not do much today by my standards but I’m still recovering from this cold plus my allergies are acting up so I’ve been in bed a lot of today. I did accomplish some things tho so it was not a fully unproductive day for me!

🩷 What I Ate Today -

Breakfast - boiled chicken potstickers, hash browns with ketchup, and a coffee

Lunch - bowl of spaghetti with two pieces of buttered bread

Dinner - two slices of dominoes handmade pan pepperoni pizza and three slices of cheese bread

Extra - three more cups of coffee and not near enough water, half a green smoothie made with frozen fruits, spinach, and almond milk

I have not been eating the best recently and I know that, but I think that’s due to my hormones being messed up at the moment, my current sickness, my extreme fatigue and exhaustion, and a lack of physical activity in my life. However, I decided I’m going to try to go to the gym and get on the treadmill (maybe do some strength training if I’m feeling confident enough) at my university activity center at least three days a week so that way I can start getting some of my energy back and gain some more discipline and control in my life. I’m hoping I get to the point where I can be a runner again, I miss my 8 minute mile time, my running playlist, and how free I felt when I’d go running. So that’s a new goal of mine as well! My boyfriend even said we can go jogging together when I see him next weekend, so I’m looking forward to that for sure!

🩷 Personal Accomplishments -

Did the dishes

Brought my laundry from the dryer to my room (have yet to put away clean clothes)

Night time skincare

Studied Duolingo/Busuu for ~20 minutes

Skimmed through first Genki lesson in preparation for actually studying from the textbook

Showered and washed my hair

made a tentative workout schedule in google calendar for next week

🩷 Academic Accomplishments -

completed and submitted extended assignment for psychology class

completed and submitted lab report for anatomy lab

began paper set up for first section of research study paper for psychology class

again, not a super productive day but I’m still happy with it. I got a decent amount of stuff done and I have some stuff I want to accomplish tomorrow, which I will list below.

🩷 Academic Goals for Tomorrow, Sept 29th -

Complete a rough draft of first section of research study paper before 10am psychology lab

Begin taking notes for module six for my health for sport and fitness class

Complete practical assignment for health for sport and fitness class

~20 minutes japanese study using apps

🩷 Personal Goals for Tomorrow, Sept 29th -

Morning and Night skincare

morning and night guided journal

work on content for RD mentor instagram

Go to bed by 10pm (be asleep by that time!!!)

Drink at least one liter of water

Only two cups of caffeine

Don’t buy anything from the university food court!

wake up early <3

not the most specific personal goals but still things that I know I can achieve! I’m super tired and it’s not even that late and I haven’t done much this week. That’s how I know I made the right decision to take time for myself. always have your own best interest at heart, in a positive and healthy way! Don’t push past your limits and don’t let yourself burn out! It’s easier said than done but taking care of yourself is so important! That’s something I need to continually remind myself!

til next time lovelies 🩷🤍

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crippleprophet · 2 years

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gluten & dairy intolerant and sick as shit: a “what the fuck do i eat?” primer

most gluten-free, dairy-free (hereafter abbreviated gf/df) recipe sites are so clearly written by people who have the energy to cook - consistently enough that they don’t need to worry about food spoiling - and money for tons of ingredients and equipment. as a person who’s bedridden a large portion of the time, this is useless as shit!

so here’s how i’ve kept myself alive the past 6+ months for other sick folks looking for a realistic starting point, in descending order from least to most energy required. in addition to being gf/df, i can’t eat raw vegetables or red meat, need to avoid/minimize seeds and artificial sweeteners, and try to minimize soy when possible, so these suggestions align with that.

as always, check the labels first! other folks feel free to add on with any suggestions!

meals

gf cereal - chocolate gf off-brand rice krispies are a go-to low-energy meal that can also be a snack

bananas with peanut butter

rice cakes are my best friend - they’re like 4x cheaper than gf bread and the easiest option i’ve found so far. my go-to is rice cake, vegan cheese, 4 slices of deli chicken, a pinch of salt; 4 of those makes a filling meal for me

gf toast with peanut butter or butter, cinnamon, and brown sugar

gf oatmeal in the microwave, seasoned with brown sugar and cinnamon. if you need to avoid cross-contamination, make sure to only purchase oat products that are certified gluten-free; they can easily get cross-contaminated from wheat in the field

tofu scramble - season with curry powder, garlic and onion powder, chili powder, and salt. add whatever veggies you want - i do (frozen or canned) spinach, mushrooms, and tomatoes

gf chicken nuggets - if i have a little extra energy i’ll make a vegan ranch using a vegan mayo base

gf/df pizza - they’re expensive. i’m sorry.

gf/df nachos - vegan mince with gf taco seasoning, olives, vegan cheese, corn tortillas chips. for a lower-energy version, i melt vegan cheese on tortilla chips in the microwave and add torn-up deli chicken and seasoning

frozen gf fries - plain or with vegan cheese sauce, vegan cheese, and/or vegan mince (seasoned with garlic powder, chili powder, paprika, and salt)

rice with ingredient - canned beans and/or peas; canned tuna cooked with curry powder; frozen edamame and canned salmon cooked with gf (tamari) soy sauce, honey, and chili powder

fish tacos - frozen fish cooked with cumin, paprika, chili powder, salt, pepper; cilantro-lime rice; avocado if you’re up for peeling/cutting; vegan cheese; corn tortillas

snacks

pre-popped popcorn

tortilla chips

gf/df cookies

gf/df chips (crisps) - in the UK, Seabrook is a great gf brand, and the classic ones are df as well

gf/df protein or granola bars

gf/df ice cream

tangerines, clementines, etc - they last longer than other fruits

#dietary restrictions #celiac #lactose intolerance #dairy free #gluten free #chronic illness #mac.txt

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finniestoncrane · 9 months

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💜🍴 Finnie's 1.5k Follower Event 🍴💚

CLOSED by health inspector

even though it felt like this took forever it really didn't because i've only been on here and writing for just over a year, and i'm so grateful that people still follow me despite my personality as a whole lmao, i wanted to do something silly and goofy so here's my prompt list for my milestone ;-; hello and welcome to the vill-inn, gotham's newest restaurant (and definitely 100% not a money-laundering front for nefarious rogue activity no sirree u-u) please come on in and peruse the menu and let us know what you want to eat!! send in your order + reader/insert gender/pronouns/genitals too! the restaurant is now closed as well as writing headcanons and drabbles, i'm also doing a little give away! so anyone who asks off anon (or not, check the specials menu below) i'll enter into a little silly draw for a 1k commission and pick 3 winners u-u 🔞minors dni🔞 • masterlist • kofi link • tag: finnie1500 (to follow or to block)

Hello, welcome to Vill-Inn, how will you be DIE-ning with us today?

Sit-In [drabbles/short fic]

Takeout [bullet-point/free form story/headcanon style]

Delivery [surprise me]

Great! Wonderful! What can I get you to drink? And don't say fear toxin! (I'm this close to quitting...) (pick 1)

Water [hurt/comfort]

Soda [angst]

Milkshake [fluff]

Signature Cocktail [smut/pwp]

Black Coffee [doesn't matter/surprise me]

And what will you be having for your MAIM course? (pick 1, feel free to specify the version)

Question Mark Shaped Nuggies [riddler]

Sushi Platter [penguin]

Pumpkin Ravioli [scarecrow]

Surf and Turf [two face]

Arroz con Pollo [bane]

Steak [victor zsasz]

Cucumber Sandwiches [mad hatter]

Garden Salad [poison ivy]

Gut Buster Burger [harley quinn]

Gazpacho [mr freeze]

Plain Noodles with Butter [john doe]

Gumbo [killer croc]

BBQ Platter [captain boomerang]

And what loyal side(kick)s are you having with that? (pick up to 4)

🍟 Regular Fries [waking up with them]

🧇 Waffle Fries [sex in a public place]

🍠 Sweet potato Fries [visiting them in Arkham/Blackgate]

➰ Curly Fries [only one bed]

🍁 Poutine [slow dancing]

🥔 Potato Skins [at a party]

🍕 Pizza Bites [tending to wounds]

🍗 Chicken Wings [confession/confessing feelings]

🍔 Sliders [exacting revenge]

🌭 Mini Dogs [hate/angry sex]

🍤 Popcorn Shrimp [hugs from behind]

🐔 Chicken Strips [oral sex/how they give and receive]

🍿 Cheese Popcorn [bite marks/marking kink]

🥒 Deep Fried Pickles [sloppy kisses]

🧅 Blooming Onion [being rejected]

🍘 Rice Crackers [choking]

🍞 Bread Rolls [blood play]

🧄 Garlic Bread [straddling]

🥖 Breadsticks [neck/wrist kisses]

🥪 Half Sandwich [giving/receiving praise]

🥣 Soup [argument]

🍜 Noodles [cuddles]

🍚 Steamed Rice [denial]

🦪 Oysters [rough sex]

🍣 Sushi Sampler [edging/orgasm denial]

🌽 Corn on the Cob [instructional masturbation]

🥕 Honey Glazed Carrots ["open your mouth"]

🥗 Green Salad ["do you need a hand?"]

🍅 Tomato Salad ["i have to go"]

🍏 Fruit Salad ["i shouldn't have to ask"]

🍆 Roasted Veg ["i've never done this before"]

🥦 Seared Broccoli ["i hate you"]

🧀 Cheese Platter ["it's too late"]

🍖 Meat Plate ["i've never wanted anything more"]

🍄 Sauteed Mushrooms ["do you want it rough or gentle?"]

🥑 Guacamole ["please don't leave"]

🥜 Toasted Peanuts ["i want to hear you"]

🥓 Bacon Bits ["i didn't say stop"]

💚 Specials Menu 💚

I'm Here For A Blind Date [tell me a bit about yourself and i'll do a character pairing for who you're having lunch with]

Can I Get A Seat At the Buffet? [i don't have an idea/want to ask off anon, but i want to be included in the draw - this message won't be answered]

thanks for visiting, and please feel free to tip your wait staff 💜

#finnie1500 #I’m hoping this inspires me to write a bit more!! I AM EXCITED #NOW LET US NEVER SPEAK OF MILESTONES AGAIN FOR AT LEAST FOUR YEARS HOPEFULLY #I kept looking at the follower account too much #finnie shouts into the void

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sadsnek · 2 months

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sonic and cooking head canons

sonic. no way he knows a lot of modern home cooking if any home cooking when he knows he can just buy it or have dinner with tails / amy, BUT he should know basic foraging and gathering by now and has plenty experience cooking on a camp fire.

tails. is better at meal prep then cooking or at least he thinks he is why spend so much time making 2 to 3 meals a day every day when he can just make 3 meals and increase the ingredients by 700% and save the rest for the other days of the week but he will cook somthing fresh when he has guest over, if you can consider boiled hot dogs fresh that is.

amy. she is a great home cook and will cook with cream vanilla and big from time to time, the problem is when she wants to get fancy and trys to make a new recipe and has full confidence when she is in reality way over her head, and it dosent matter what she is making she will say "and now the secret ingredient" its love the secret ingredient is love and its not much of a secret if its the secret ingredient in every thing she cooks.

knuckles. similar to sonic but has the benefit of being on the same island all the time, he doesnt have a oven or any electric equipment but he does have some primitive stuff like a mortar and pestle, plus knuckles should have a garden some where on the island yeah its over grown and poorly kept but its still a place where he can get some snacks.

cream and vanilla. these two are the best cooks in town even better than amy any thats ok because they are happy to invite people over for dinner and if you cook with them you will probably learn some thing new, also the serving sizes are pretty big as vanilla is most defiantly the tallest person in town.

eggman. in thought he is a master chief but in action he has not cooked in years think about it the food he eats is more than good enough to keep up his large shape despite all the mechanics work he does and he had to program or train his robots to cook at some point, so he know how to work a kitchen but he is so busy and he has robots that can do it for him so he probably never cooks more than once a month or even less.

shadow. he is a picky eater with a nostalgic taste in food so he knows how to cook food but nothing passed the 60s, and despite not making any thing trendy or popular he at least knows he will make some thing he will eat.

rouge. its fair to say she likes to eats high class how she gets the money for these lavish meals is well not all ways moral, but she is willing to eat some thing simple when at social gatherings most defiantly if she does not have to pay for it.

omega. I dont know if it is said or not if they have a animal powering them but if they do that bird is getting ripped(its probably a flicky) we are talking protein powder steroids fresh salad, it does not matter if its weird and maybe traumatic to feed them chicken and rice but thats what professional marshal artist eat so thats what omegas power source eats too!

charmy. he makes peanut butter and jelly sandwiches in the mourning for school days/work days and is proud of them.

espio. he is well known at the asian market and knows how to cook but does not get to learn any thing expensive or fancy ether for price and schedule issues.

vector. boy he has been trough the rough of it he knows how to feed 3 people on 400$ a month, and thats by hanging out at vanillas house.

team hooligan. bark and fang probably know some recipes but bean is a chemical fanatic one minute there making muffins and the next minute there pulling out a whole tray of crystal meth.

silver. i dont think he has a steady supply of food is most apocalyptic futures so he just likes to eat a pound of dry cement for breakfast.

surge and kit. they use to get fresh meals when starline was around, but now they got use to the effort of MREs if it takes more effort than poring water in a thermal bag then its worth the effort to just mug some one for some diner cash.

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radiowallet · 11 months

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Eyes Open - Chapter 6

Pairing: Marcus Moreno x Amy Oliver (ofc) Summary: Thursday night is spaghetti night. WC: 3.3K Warnings: 18+ MDNI Canon-typical violence, talk of police work, slow burn, yearning, idiots friends to lovers, financial stressors, second chance romance, workplace romance (sort of), older love interest, single parents, DID I MENTION THE YEARNING?

Series Masterlist II Main Masterlist II Marcus Moreno Masterlist

Cross-Posted to AO3

Part 5 >>> Part 7

For any new writing follow @radiowallet-writes and turn on notifications.

----

The plan for tonight was spaghetti.

Amy usually does her best to stick to a few consistent staples when cooking. It wasn’t that Harris was a picky eater. She was about as adventurous as any 7-year-old could be, happy to at least try anything once before falling back on her favorites.

Honestly, though, dinosaur-shaped chicken nuggets were nothing to sneeze at.

It was more born out of convenience. Life was already hectic, but the inclusion of a kid and a job and exactly zero partners to help carry the load seemed to make small things like dinner time more stressful than necessary. After struggling for years, Amy stumbled into the mom-blog side of the internet, and meal planning became a new part of her and Harris’s routine. And with that came a (somewhat) scheduled weekly menu.

Thursday night was spaghetti night.

Amy wasn’t sure how to explain that or her lack of a last minute babysitter or the fact that Harris needed extra help with her spelling without eating into the short time Marcus already had so she settled with a pathetic, “Sort of?”

Maybe it’s the fact that he knows her so well. Or that he’s also a single parent who also doesn’t know how to have a social life. But either way, Amy’s answer doesn’t seem to bother him in the slightest. He shoots her that familiar smile, teeth and dimple still enough to steal her breath away, and promises to find her when he’s done.

She heads back to her desk after that, turning her focus to the mountain of paperwork she had been avoiding for the better part of her morning. It’s a welcome distraction, her heart always too fixated on what Marcus may be doing downstairs. Police tactics weren’t exactly angelic; a fact that had kept her up more nights than she cared to admit and she knew he had his own feelings on the topic.

But what would Marcus ask that Derek or the detectives wouldn’t? More importantly, how would he ask?

She pushes her concerns to the back of her mind for the time being. It didn’t do her any good to worry. She trusted Marcus to walk the tightrope that stretches out in front of him. She just hoped he has a backup plan in case his steps ever faltered.

The coffee he left her is still warm, the taste of cinnamon sharp and sweet on her tongue. She sips at it slowly, checking boxes and stamping seals and avoiding the treacherous tick of the clock. She doesn’t have to sit with the feeling much longer, Marcus appears suddenly, his large body squished into the small chair beside her desk.

“You didn’t try the muffin?” He asks, bypassing his coffee to peek into the pastry bag.

“You’re the one with the insatiable sweet tooth. I wanted to wait and split it with you.”

“I’m touched,” he teases with a poke of his foot to her calf. “So…about tonight?”

“Straight to it then,” Amy marvels, scribbling her signature at the bottom of a transfer form.

“It took me this long to finally work up the courage. Not much can stop me at this point.”

His hand, so much bigger than her own, reaches out, stilling the nervous scratch of her pen. She turns her attention to him fully, teeth biting into her lip, waiting for him to pull the trigger at point blank.

“Amy? Will you have dinner with me tonight?

It slips out before she can take the time to think of anything but the truth. “It’s spaghetti night.”

“…okay.”

“I mean…in Harris’s case, it’s buttered noodle night. And she has homework. Spelling. Math. Plus reading, which she hates. And we have an 8:30 bedtime and I don’t have a sitter lined up. Usually, it’s my friend Christine but I hate asking last minute. I’m not great at last minute.”

Marcus smiles throughout the entirety of her rambling, his hand never leaving hers, only speaking when her mini-rant comes to an end.

“I like spaghetti.”

She swears she can feel her heart skip a beat.

“You do?”

He nods, scooting his chair in closer. “It’s been a while since I’ve helped with homework or done bedtime, but I’ve heard my storytelling skills are off the charts. I even have references.”

“Not much of a first date.”

“I disagree.”

She sighs then smiles, knowing by now there would be little she could say to change his mind. Far be it for her to point out how stubborn Marcus Moreno could be.

“Meet at my place? Around 6?”

He holds her gaze as he licks his lips and nods, his words reconfirming his deliberate intentions. “It’s a date.”

——

“So I have my cell on me and Miracle Guy will be pulling the late night coverage. Plus there’s the emergency line here at headquarters.”

Missy watches her dad shuffle and reshuffle the papers on his desk, rattling off the same set of instructions he’s given her at least twice now.

“Remember, this is intel collection only. You are not to engage for any reason.”

Marcus squares his shoulders and stares her down, eyebrows raised in expectation. She fights down the urge to roll her eyes toward the ceiling, instead nodding at each statement he makes, the tone of his voice veering more towards Heroic than Dad.

“I want you to make that clear to the others as well. They take point from you out there, not the other way around. Did you review the report I left for you?”

“Yes,” she answers, bending down to tighten the laces of her boots. “And both Wildcard and Wheels have gone over it too.”

He watches her from across the desk, brown eyes sweeping from the top of her head down to the tips of her toes and back again, something somber suddenly filling the air between them. Before Missy can dig into what is bothering him he’s shaking his head and moving around his desk to stand directly in front of her, arms still crossed over his chest.

“If you read it then you know this is serious.”

“So I need to take it seriously,” she half-groans, this time letting her eyes roll upward, her neck twisting in time with her (slightly) mocking tone.

“Yes,” Marcus agrees softly, that same somber look in his eyes bleeding out into that one single syllable. Missy chances a peek back at her father, a sudden sweeping of guilt threatening to swallow her whole. “You watch. Listen. Report back.”

She straightens up and nods, letting the levity of everything her father isn’t saying sit upon her shoulders. “Yes, sir.”

“Good. And please, please,” he stresses, his tone shifting back towards concerned parent. “Text me the second you get home.”

This really gets her attention. She knew her dad had finally pulled the trigger, making plans with Amy for dinner. He had tried to mention it offhandedly, telling Missy how he was going across town to join Amy and her daughter Harris for dinner at their place. The blush that bloomed across his face was adorable, and despite her instinct to lean into her second-hand embarrassment, she couldn’t help but be excited for him. She had seen Marcus attempt to re-enter the dating pool a few times, but not a single one had him grinning the way this future plate of spaghetti did. It made her smile too.

“Oh, is someone planning on a late night?”

Marcus barks out a laugh, stepping back towards his desk to collect the last of his things, shooting Missy a frown. Unfortunately for her dad, it loses a lot of its steam when the curve of his lips pulls upwards. “Just humor your old man, Mija.”

“Sure thing, Dad,” she hums, still smiling in his direction. “Sure thing.”

——

Marcus’s palms are sweaty, one hand wrapped around the neck of a bottle of wine, the other clutching a bouquet of wisteria, the pink petals tickling his wrist where they spill out over the cellophane. He gives the flowers a glance, biting at the inside of his cheek as he second guesses them. It had caught him embarrassingly off guard when he stepped into the flower shop and realized he didn’t know what flowers Amy liked. Or if she even liked flowers.

How was that possible?

Other than Miracle Guy, she was practically his best friend. He knew what pens she preferred (ballpoint, black ink), how she took her coffee (no sugar, drowning in milk), how obsessed she was with finishing the Sunday crossword.

But flowers…?

He stood in front of the display of red roses longer than he was proud, ever aware of the pressure that particular bloom possessed but unable to think of any other idea. And then he glanced back to where a young girl was putting together arrangements, a pile of pink and green to her left. The long stems and curved petals instantly reminded him of Amy, the shape of them matching the swoop of her handwriting. Before logic could kick in, he followed his instincts, asking the girl politely to wrap them up.

He swallows hard and knocks with the bottom of the wine bottle, the sound of Amy’s voice mixing with Harris’s floating through the door before it’s even opened. Amy flings it open, music floating out around her, the smell of something warm following. She’s still dressed in the clothes she was wearing earlier, only her heels missing, bare toes digging into the plush of her welcome mat.

“Hey,” she breathes, tilting her head to rest on the door, little tendrils of hair falling down from the messy bun atop her head.

“Hey,” he parrots back, and then as if suddenly remembering himself, he holds out his hands awkwardly.

“Is red okay?”

She nods, then steps aside, pulling him in by the curve of his elbow, her eyes shifting from the bottle of wine to the bouquet.

He laughs and shrugs. “Um, I know it’s a little cheesy…but, well…”

Amy doesn’t say anything at first, looking over the bunch of wisterias held out to her, her cheeks warming over with a soft tinge of pink. She swallows around nothing and nods again, finally finding something to say.

“It’s been a really long time since someone brought me flowers.”

She takes the bouquet gingerly, cradling it between her hands and turning towards the kitchen, motioning for Marcus to follow. A small cough catches his attention, Harris watching from where she clings to the back of a kitchen chair, wide eyes glued to him.

“Jellybean, you remember Marcus right? From the grocery stores last week?”

The little girl nods, pigtails flopping forward and backward with the movement, her cheeks tinting the same sweet shade of pink as her mom’s.

“He’s gonna eat with us. Is that okay?”

She nods again, wide eyes shifting back and forth between Marcus and Amy.

“Hey, Harris,” Marcus greets, bending down to look her in the eye. “What are you working on?”

“Homework,” she whispers, looking back and forth between Marcus and Amy.

“Oh, yeah?”

She nods again, chin coming to rest on the back of the chair so Marcus can see her whole face. “Mommy was helping me spell.”

“I sure was,” Amy chimes in from where she’s filling a vase with water. “But that sheet is all done. It’s time to do your reading.”

“But Moooooooom,” Harris whines, her bottom lip jutting out as far as she can push it. “Reading is boring!”

“I definitely disagree,” Amy counters back, with absolutely zero heat in her words despite the stern weight of her tone. “Grab your book. It’s 30 minutes tonight. I’ll set the timer. By the time you’re done, you should be able to help me set the table.”

The two of them stare each other down for exactly 3 seconds before Harris caves, grabbing a thin paperback from her bookbag and darting to the couch where she flops down with zero grace. Amy doesn’t say anything else, instead fishing her phone out of her back pocket and tapping the screen to set the timer. Marcus watches from where he leans against the counter, unable to do anything but smile.

“What?”

“Just impressed,” he admits.

Amy scoffs, opening the drawer to her left and pulling out a corkscrew, tossing it to Marcus with a roll of her eyes.

“Impressed by what? My stubborn 7-year-old?”

“More like your ability to hold your ground in the face of unbearable pressure.”

He opens the wine with ease, and Amy holds out two wine glasses for him to fill, head tilting in his direction.

“I mean, you know how it is. You had to do it too.”

“Yeah, but Missy was 10 by the time I had to do it alone,” he reasons with half a shrug. “She was a little bit more self-sustaining.”

“Still,” she hums, bringing her wine glass to her lips. “You did it.”

“Yeah, though I wish I could get a second run at puberty. I think I may have flubbed that one up.”

Her face drops, something close to horror crossing her features. “Oh, what did you do?”

“Well, first I brought home a pamphlet from the doctor.”

“Marcus…”

“And then I called my mom.”

“Good god.”

“I came really close to asking you.”

The last admission seems to catch her by surprise. She stops suddenly where she’s opening a box of pasta, wide eyes pinned to Marcus. “Why didn’t you?”

“We had only met the year before. What was I supposed to say? ‘Hey, new friend who puts her job on the line repeatedly so I can be better at mine. Will you come talk to my pre-teen about her changing body?’”

“I mean, when you put it like that,” Amy laughs, the back of her hand pressed to her mouth. The moment is small, the two of them giggling into their glasses, intimate and lived in all at once. It would have been easy to forget they weren’t alone until—

“Moooooommy!”

“Yes, Sweetie?”

“I don’t know this word!”

Amy moves towards the living room where Harris is calling for her, but Marcus stops her, pressing his hand to the one she has wrapped around her wine glass.

“Hey, let me,” he offers.

“No, no, you don’t have to.”

“I want to,” he promises.

Harris is waiting in the living room, a frown pinching at her small features at the sight of Marcus and not Amy. He ignores the look for now, sitting beside her on the couch with an over-exaggerated ‘oof.’

“Which word is giving you trouble, kiddo?”

For a moment she doesn’t answer, still watching him carefully, as if he was a wild animal sent here to interrupt the careful routine her mother has set up for her, but after a few beats she gives in, pointing at her book emphatically.

“This one!”

Marcus hums in thought before suggesting they sound it out together. From the kitchen, he can feel Amy’s eyes on him but he refuses to look up, focusing instead on Harris and the task at hand. Once they work out the word together, she asks him to stay.

“Just in case,” the little girl reasons, her eyes already back on the page.

Marcus is happy to, settling back into the couch cushions and letting his eyes take in the entirety of Amy’s home. With each sweep of his gaze around the room, he couldn’t help but notice how it seemed so her. Everything had a place, a purpose, and still, it all felt so comfortable. There were pillows and blankets everywhere, candles and twinkle lights, shelves filled with books and records, and Barbie dolls.

It wasn’t until he turned back to Harris that he noticed the twin bed pushed into the alcove of the living room, decorated in a way that he could have easily mistaken it for another couch.

“That’s where I sleep,” Amy pulls his focus back to where she stands above him, offering him the glass of wine he had abandoned in the kitchen. “It’s only a one-bedroom, and miss queen bee over there needs her own space.”

“Sure do!” Harris squeaks, eyes still pointed at her book.

Amy laughs, leaning over to tug lightly at one brown pigtail before moving over to the record player. She raises the needle and flips the record with ease. Marcus can’t look away as she carefully sets the needle back down, her hips swaying along to the first bars of ‘Feeling Good.’

“It’s quite a collection.”

Amy hums, admiring the row of vinyl, nodding slowly in agreement. “There’s a good second-hand shop just two blocks over. I can usually find some hidden treasures there.”

“Is it safe to assume the Nina Simone record belongs to Harris?”

“Obviously,” Amy quips on her way back to the kitchen.

Minutes later the timer is going off and Harris is whooping with glee, the worn-out pages of Charlotte’s Web forgotten in lieu of a chore that still seems like fun.

After the three of them finish first and second helpings of spaghetti, and an hour of playtime followed by 3 bedtime stories, Marcus and Amy are shoulder to shoulder, washing the last of the dirty dishes.

“I still can’t believe you have Heroics action figures.”

“You didn’t have fun playing with yourself?”

Marcus swings the dishtowel in his hands at Amy’s hip, but he can’t help but laugh along with her at the memory.

After plates were cleared and leftovers were stored away, and the dirty dishes left in the sink ‘for later,’ the three of them settled in the living room. The sultry tones of Nina Simone were traded out for the upbeat swing of ABBA, while Harris pulled a box of toys out from under the couch. A mix of action figures and Barbie dolls spilled out onto the floor, and before he knew what was happening, a familiar piece of black and tan plastic was shoved into his hands, the addition of a pink tutu only a little bit surprising. With zero hesitation Harris let him know his costume was, simply put, not pretty.

“What can I say? They were on clearance,” she shrugs. “Plus, Harris loves Miracle Guy’s fancy cape,” she adds on, turning her attention to the pile of soapy dishes.

The word clearance catches his attention, adding to the long list of little things Amy did to keep costs down. A one-bedroom apartment, coupons and shopping sales, second-hand stores and used books. There was a guy. Of course, Marcus knows there was a guy. Amy had told him over coffee one day how prince charming hadn’t wanted to step up, and she had no desire to force him to do so. There was zero anger in her then, just the same as she is now, a fact that only has Marcus’s fury mounting.

He lets his jaw tick left than right, fists clenching around the dish towel until his knuckles bleed white. “You know, if you wanted, I could track him down for you.”

“No.”

She doesn’t ask for clarification. She doesn’t need to.

“Ames…”

“No,” she insists, eyes like fire where they focus on the soapy water, her hands scrubbing furiously at what looks to be a very clean plate. “No, Marcus. This is exactly why I was nervous to start this with you.”

She stills, brown eyes fluttering open and shut as she breathes in and out. Slowly she turns to him, cupping his cheeks in wet hands, her thumbs stroking a path of suds across his skin. Her smile is patient but painted in a sadness he rarely sees, and when she finally speaks, it’s with more conviction than he thought was possible.

“We’re not looking to be saved.”

Marcus licks his lips, hands finding the curve of her hip, watching with hungry eyes as a shiver moves up her body from his touch. They stay that way, his broad frame towering over her, her warm cheeks and parted lips inches away from his own. He steps in close enough to taste the wine on her breath, the tip of his nose tickling hers, back and forth and back, until finally, she’s smiling again. Only then does he ask the question burning at the tip of his tongue.

“We’re starting something?”

“Yeah,” she whispers, leaning back to look him in the eyes. “I think we are.”

----

Part 5 >>> Part 7

A/N: Listen, listen! I know! But we gotta let that slow burn do its thing!

Dedicating this song and this chapter to @jazzelsaur who put this together very quickly while beta reading and now it's basically the theme song for Amy and Marcus.

#Marcus Moreno #Marcus Moreno fic #Marcus Moreno x ofc #we can be heroes fic #we can be heroes #pedro pascal characters #Spotify

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doberbutts · 10 months

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Hip anon here, I’m physically unable to get up the stairs at work to the break room. Which means I don’t have access to a fridge, freezer or microwave. All of my food has to be shelf stable. As a result, I haven’t been eating as healthy as I should. Do you have any suggestions for high protein snacks? I have no food allergies, sensitivities or aversions

As long as it doesn't fuck over someone else in your workplace:

Nut butters! Yummy, filled with protein, and fairly versitile as you can not only just use the butters themselves as a snack with crackers or sandwiches or fruits and veggies, but you can also cook and bake with them to make even more shelf-stable goodies. I recently made homemade nature valley bar knockoffs which are shelf stable up to a week (while covered or in a bag), packed full of protein and complex carbs.

Jerkies! My next Big Coking Project is for me to figure out how to make jerky. There's plenty of fantastic protein in meats, and it's usually shelf stable until you open it.

Nuts and seeds! Same deal, shelf stable and yummy. You can get pre-shelled ones if you need quick and easy access, or ones with shells in if you're looking ti save money (pre-shelled are usually more expensive).

There are certain types of mushrooms that are supposedly able to be processed in a way that renders them shelf-stable that are also full of protein. I am allergic to mushrooms so I don't know much more than that.

Recently I've been eating cold food I store in my bag with an ice pack- my grilled chicken salads for instance are intended to be eaten cold and it stays safe for consumption while stored in my bag until I'm ready to eat it. Certainly a possibility! I'm gunna try beef wraps next week using similar methods. I had Japanese spring rolls with chicken the week before this that were also intended to be eaten cold, though they went bad quickly in the fridge so you can't make too many at once. Onigiri is also capable of being eaten cold, and you can use whatever high protein filling you'd like. It's been pretty hot so I've been prioritizing foods that I don't need to generate more heat, that also can be eaten cold so they are more soothing.

Storebought salami isn't exactly shelf-stable; it's stable until you open it usually, at which point it needs to be refrigerated. Same idea though, either just make sure you finish the package OR store in the fridge at homeand only bring a small amount with you plus a cold pack in your bag. (my amish balogna *is* shelf stable, because it's made by the amish who don't do electricity and thus don't have the option to put stuff in the fridge)

There are canned meats available that, similarly, are shelf-stable until they are opened at which point they need to be finished or fridged.

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antirepurp · 6 months

Text

fuck it it's been eons im sharing my funny little recipe for making instant noodles not suck

Stuff you need

your favorite pack of instant noodles. or the next best thing whatever works

frozen spinach leaves (or alternative veggies)

egg :)

1 mushroom (optional but very recommended)

soysauce (abt 1-2 tablespoons)

fish sauce (5-10 drops)

lime juice (5-10 drops)

1-2cm fresh ginger (ginger powder's fine in a pinch)

Stuff you do

boil the spinach. add a generous amount of salt into the water as well as butter! shit's tasty. other veggies also love being boiled in salt. as an alternative you can fry the spinach if you'd like

prepare egg. i prefer to fry mine sunny side up in some oil bc it's quick, but you can also boil it. usually the point is to keep the yolk/yellow part soft so it mixes nicely into the broth and noodles but if you don't have to do that if you wanna do something else

chop/crush ginger and chop mushroom. crushed ginger releases more flavor than chopped but i like having little ginger pieces in my broth, and you can add more of it when it's chopped.

add ginger, mushroom, flavor packets into a pot with water. i paid for the flavor packets and im fucking using them ok. taste a bit to check the base taste before adding the good stuff:

soysauce, fish sauce, lime juice. that's my recommended order, anyway. taste frequently and start adding them carefully to adjust the flavor more precisely! the amounts i gave are generous estimates because i tend to just wing it

boil noodles. it's probably better to boil them separately, but im lazy and just add them into the broth. this will taint the broth with the forbidden noodle particles, so if that's not your thing take out another pot for them

add everything into a bowl and enjoy. wahey :)

Other tips I guess

you can go apeshit with veggies, and you can absolutely use fresh ones as well, though you should add them to the broth instead of prepping them separately. i think. idk i prefer to work with frozen stuff bc you can get a lot for cheap and they last for a long time

if you want to prepare protein that isn't an egg for this, go for it! i love adding leftover chicken whenever we have some, and things like tofu are pretty neat too

a lot of this recipe or whatever relies on the flavor packet as a kind of base for the broth, hence why i recommend picking a noodle thing you can eat as is for this. i've also noticed that this works particularly well for seafood noodles, but i've done it for other kinds as well and had cool results

#soda offers you a can #recipe #tagging my behated enemy etc #im not amazing at cooking but this is like one of the few tricks i've got so i figured i'd share it

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chicky-sammich · 1 year

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Sunday-March 26-2023

The last day of my recent gorge

I had been stuffing myself all weekend full of absurd amounts of fat and calories. It had been days since my belly wasn’t almost fully bloated, and the constant churning of my belly was something I had become accustomed to.

I woke up early around 6am for work, and my belly was still bloated from the bombardment of food I’d eaten the days prior. Somehow I was hungry, but didn’t have the time to eat, so I put on my uniform and drove to work. The whole way, my shirt felt tighter than usual, and I could see the outline of my belly the entire time.

The work day was fairly normal, except for the multiple glances from customers towards my protruding belly. By the earliest time I could take my lunch break, I leapt at the opportunity. I quickly made a double chicken and fajita quesadilla with a large sour cream, then sat and ate in my car

As fast as I could, I gobbled down the cheesy, creamy goodness, letting sour cream drip down my chin. The whole thing was gone in 5 minutes, just in time to be back at work.

For the rest of the work day, I could feel the quesadilla bubbling in my gut. I was insanely bloated and gassy, and was soooooo turned on from how much my belly sloshed as I worked.

Once work was done I was absolutely starving again. I was invited to Cracker Barrel by some coworkers and just had to take advantage. I ordered a huge plate of country fried chicken and gravy with macaroni and cheese and hash brown casserole.

They watched as I devoured the entire plate, leaving myself so stuffed I had to waddle out of the restaurant. Everyone stared as I went, and it only fueled my gluttony. After sitting in the car for almost an hour rubbing my poor tummy, I went home. I should have been done at this point, but my gluttony got ahold of me.

Laying in bed, all I wanted was my engorged belly to be even larger, and in a gluttonous, horny haze, I ordered a pizza. I waited in anticipation for it to arrive, and somehow my tummy began to rumble for the delectable fatty feast. When the pizza arrived, I immediately grabbed it, and started to dig in.

Slice after slice was forced into my poor aching belly. It was so delicious and hurt so good. I could feel my stomach expanding like a balloon full of liquid concrete, pushing out further and further. Cheese and sauce covered my face but I didn’t care. I dipped ever piece in ranch and garlic butter, making sure to cover every inch. I ate and ate until finally the pizza was gone. I sat on the couch, cradling my engorged aching gut. I listened to the violent roar of my belly as it hopelessly tried to digest the days food. I was finally content.

I sat on the couch for a while longer until I could feel my eyelids start to droop. The effects of the food coma were coming. I slowly pushed myself off the couch and waddled to my bed, exhaustedly falling into it. My belly rose above me like a mountain of pink flesh. I could feel it pulsate with every heartbeat and raise up farther with every breathe.

Finally, resting my arms atop my massive tank of a gut, I fell asleep, dreaming of being even bigger the next day.

Thank you guys for reading! I’ll be posting some pics from after the stuffing soon!

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