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biteofcherry · 4 months

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Entwined

Leshy!Steve Rogers x female reader; Steve Rogers x female reader

summary: You enter the woods hoping to gain the ancient being's mercy and help. However, you hadn't expected how truly powerful he is, or what price he will ask of you.

*Leshy is a deity of the forests in Slavic mythology. He rules over the forest and hunting.

warnings: sort of monsterfucking (though Leshy isn't exactly a monster, more of an eldritch entity); consensual, with a slight dash of dub-con; tiny bit of manipulation; smut;

Author's Note: This is a story written for Aspen's (@buckets-and-trees) Enchanted Birthday Festival. Early happy birthday, love! ❤️ I've been toying with the idea of Leshy!Steve for a bit and Aspen's challenge was the perfect opportunity to work on it. Especially since she loves forests, plants and all things wild nature 💚 Also a special shout out to @vonalyn who listened to me ramble about the hotness of Leshy!Steve when the idea first came to mind!

“Are you willing to sacrifice?”

His voice echoed with the power of a booming wind, rattling your bones and swishing up your skirts.

The trees surrounding you seemed to grow out their branches, weaving into thick, green walls closing up. Sunlight, just moments ago filtering through the tree crowns, had disappeared; but the dots of luminescent fireflies flickered on, filling the space with a deceptively warm glow.

You looked around, seeking for a path, or entrance through which you might escape, if you chose to. There was none. Within seconds you found yourself trapped in the depths of the ancient forest, with a being whose mercy you came to beg for.

When about an hour ago you stepped into the woods, you were bracing yourself for the sense of being watched, perhaps hunted. You haven’t considered how closely in contact with the powers of nature you’d come.

Your steps never faltered as the soft carpet of juicy grass beneath your feet seemed to grow more resilient the deeper into the woods you went; green straws springing back from being crushed under your shoe. The further you went, however, the dewy emerald grew sparse, shrinking into rich soil scattered with shards of bark, little leaves and pillows of moss.

Rays of sunlight filtered through the branches, casting glowy direction into the sacred altar hidden in the belly of the wilderness. It felt so peaceful, so relaxing, that you’d gladly sink into the shades of green and speckles of gold.

If not for the pounding of your worried heart, which knew that you were searching for more than reprieve.

Had you known what awaited, you’d listen to your heart’s anxious patter and run away.

But you were determined. Though your grandma would probably call it simple stubbornness.

You didn’t enter the woods to forage, nor to roam it to fill your soul with happiness. No, your feet carried you forward to face the greatest of dangers and beg for mercy.

Not only for yourself, but for the village and people who lived in fear, but still refused to abide by the ancient laws. Proud and focused on ways to increase wealth, they forgot there’s more in the world than just gold and war.

Powers mightier than any army. Beings greater and more dangerous than any king.

When wolves ripped to shreds one of the lumberjacks, everyone thought it to be a tragic accident. When two other people disappeared in the woods, never returning, others came up with ideas of them running away. Then a mother was seen screaming as wolves dragged her body into the forest. The child that followed, crying after its mum, disappeared. A day later a small fawn started prancing around the garden by the empty now household.

Still, people refused to bow to the entity that could be behind all of this, or at least held the power to end this madness. Or so you hoped.

Having packed a big wicker basket of offerings - jars of golden honey, cheese wrapped in paper, strings of colorful beads and pearls, folded silk, dried exotic fruit you got from the market - you carried it deep into the woods, to place them on the long forgotten altar where your ancestors paid their respects to the guardian of the forest and nature.

Leshy.

You expected to find the ancient, stone altar, with a deformed statue overgrown with moss. The plan was to lay your offerings there, spend some time bowing down and praying for mercy, then returning to the clueless village.

For a few beats it went like that. The birds still chirped, leaves rustled softly in the wind, your offerings laid motionless on the slab of stone.

Then, suddenly, ivy vines weaved up, covering the stone and your produce in a thick cocoon. The earth rumbled and melted, swallowing the altar whole.

Startled, you took a shaky step back and lost your balance, falling onto your butt. A split of a second when your gaze looked up at the darkening sky and when you returned it forward, he was already standing in front of you.

Whenever you thought of Leshy, no particular image came to mind. You always thought the creature to be an entity beyond human imagination.

He was that, but also… not.

He reminded a human man, but only at first glance.

Much taller, with shoulders broader than the blacksmith’s (whom you always thought to be the biggest man alive). His complexion was fair, but the veins in his arms were jewel green. His hair and beard seemed cast from various shades of gold, intertwined with russet bronze and chestnut reddish. Delicate, tiny vines crawled up his cheeks and along his forehead; like intricate tattoos.

From the thick mane of his silky looking hair sprouted majestic antlers. Thick and sturdy, their dark color with filaments of gold shining through. His eyes, when you met them, were a striking shade of blue-green. Rare and iridescent, like ponds bathed in the light of dawn.

“It’s been a while since a human has come to me.”

The entity’s voice was deep and low, both dangerous and soft, like a purr of a bear or a jungle cat.

“Are you Leshy?” You swallowed nervously.

“I’ve been called that, yes.” When he grinned, amused, the filigree vines on his body glowed luminescent.

“And you are?” He asked, courtly.

When you whispered your name, he leaned forward, bending slightly and outstretching his hand for you to take. As you slipped your shaky fingers into his palm, you felt the pulsing warmth seep through you. It reminded you of the sun-heated earth beneath bare feet.

As he helped you stand up, your gaze drifted up his body. You noticed that while most of his skin looked like any human’s flesh, a stripe along his left calf and thigh seemed textured like bark. A combination of moss and vines formed a fitting coverage around his narrow hips; yet you still caught the sight of a green vein slithering down his chiseled abdomen.

More gold-glowing, floral-like tattoos appeared ingrained into the skin along his ribs. Skin on top of his right shoulder looked to be made of bark, just like on his leg.

As much as he looked unworldly, you also found him majestic.

Beautiful, as nature itself.

“Those who know me, call me Steve.” He said, holding your hand in his and not letting you step away. “It's a shortened and funnily deformed version of Svyatobor.”

Lost in his eerie blue eyes, it took you a longer moment to realize what his name meant.

Breath hitched in your chest, your pupils widened as you stared up at him. All this time you believed Leshy is a creature brought to life and given a purpose by a god. That’s what all the legends suggested. It didn’t occur to you, it's a deity itself.

A god of the forest.

After a moment of complete stupor, shock gave way to a flash of fear. You bowed your head and started to fall onto your knees, to pay proper respect. However, his hand still holding yours pulled you up.

“None of that is necessary.” He assured you.

Though when you tipped your head up to look at him, Leshy’s gaze slid down your body in a slow, assessing study.

“At least not in that sense,” he murmured, licking his lips.

His eyes flicked back to yours. The stark blue pulsing with more green specks than before; as if his body came to life the same way nature sprung back as the snow melted away.

You felt a rush of heat through your veins at the suggestive implication of his words.

“What have you come here for, little fern?”

“To beg for mercy for my village.” Once again, you lowered your gaze. “People have been disappearing and being hurt. Swallowed by the forest or its creatures. I plead for no more blood to be spilled.”

Steve’s face betrayed no sign of irritation. For a split of a second you thought you saw a flash of sunlit amusement in his irises, but no mockery followed. He studied you for a long moment, not saying a word.

When he moved, it was slow and nonthreatening. You still startled, though perhaps it was at the loss of contact as his hand gently released your fingers.

He walked over to where the ground swallowed the altar with your offerings. It was only then that you realized a thick carpet of clovers had filled the space where the table had been. Delicate leaves tilted toward Steve’s legs, brushing against him with the softest of rustles, as if they were purring for him.

“You brought me honey, which you poured out of the goodness of your heart. But don’t you know that our wild bees’ honey is sweeter?” Steve asked, walking barefoot through the small field of clovers back toward you.

He stepped even closer this time and you felt the unique warmth radiating from him. A little stifling, like the humidity of the forest soaked in rain that was evaporating in the high summer sun.

It was making you dizzy in a very pleasant way.

“You gave me expensive fabrics, but nothing feels as soft and luxurious as petals of early spring’s flowers.” He circled you, like an animal may circle its prey. “None of your colorful beads shine as bright as drops of dew in the moonlight.”

“I-” What were you supposed to say? You didn’t have much and what you gave away was a big sacrifice in terms of your day to day survival.

You also didn’t think Leshy would be pleased, if you brought seasoned meat. He was, after all, a protector of wild animals. That sort of disrespect may have killed you on the spot.

Suddenly, you felt his hand brush along your waist. A light, fleeting touch, but enough to send a jolt down your spine.

“Moreover, you try to barter a single basket for dozens of lives.” Steve stopped in front of you.

“I’m sorry.” You lowered your head in shame, feeling the burning tears gather beneath your eyelids.

He was right and you didn’t think of that when you were packing your basket. It made you feel helpless, that you had nothing else to offer.

“Don’t be.” Steve tilted your chin up with the pads of his fingertips. His gaze was soft, glinting sincerity.

“You still did more than any other human has for decades. I’m just pointing out that a life can be compared in cost to another life, nothing else. No riches equal a heartbeat.”

You understood the value, agreed with it completely. But it made the situation look unsolvable. The fate of your village was doomed to go through horrors, since there was no other way to barter for it.

Then you registered the warmth of Steve’s fingers still holding your chin. His thumb angled to rub along your lower lip. You were in the hands of a powerful deity. Steve may have appeared nonthreatening, but he was still an ancient entity demanding a sacrifice.

No riches equal a heartbeat. You had a heartbeat. A rapidly fluttering one, at the moment; bouncing against the bars of your ribcage in fear of being ripped from it.

“You mean-” You swallowed a bile rising in your throat. “My life for theirs?”

You wanted to help your village, to help people in general. That need to care and nurture have always been so deeply ingrained in you. But you wanted to live! You wanted to experience feelings and wonders, joys and losses. You weren’t ready to meet the end so soon, so unexpectedly. The two needs - to help and to survive - were clashing in violence.

Steve’s hand moved from your chin to cup your cheek. Since he was the only comfort available at the moment, you leaned into his touch. A soothing shush spilled from his lips as he caught your panicked gaze and locked it with his.

“I’m not thirsty for blood, little fern.” He assured you. “I long for company.”

Somehow, looking into his eyes and sinking into the warmth his closeness provided, you felt the fear subsiding. Slowly, still leaving instinctive distrust, but it eased away.

“You want a friend?” You blinked, a little confused.

Of course you understood what he meant the moment he said it, but a voice of reason wouldn’t accept the fact this beautiful, powerful being wanted to bed you. Out of all the things a deity may demand, fucking an unimpressive mortal like you shouldn’t be on the list.

Steve laughed at your question, genuinely amused.

Instantly, choirs of birds joined his mirth in a tinkling melody that carried through the forest.

“No.” Steve shook his head; smile-caused crinkles appeared in the corners of his eyes and the filigree vines along his skin curled.

“I’ve got friends. You would meet them, if you stayed.” It surprised you, teasing your curiosity about what other beings roamed these forests.

Your thoughts didn’t stay focused on the matter for long. Not when Steve’s hand slid down the column of your neck, his other arm weaving around your waist and pulling you close to his body.

Very close. Even through the fabrics of your skirts and corset you felt the hard planes of his muscles against the softness of your body. Your hands landed on his chest, at first in an attempt to brace yourself to perhaps fight him off, but any force to push away dissipated. Instead, your fingertips were tingling.

Steve’s breath teased your skin as he leaned down, trailing his lips along your jaw.

“I want intimacy. Passion. And devotion.” He murmured, gripping the back of your neck as his other hand dipped lower to squeeze the flesh of your bottom.

Abruptly, your whole body tensed and you gasped when something coiled around your ankles. Thin and tickling, possibly an ivy vine. It curled along your legs, reaching upwards. Teasing your skin with a brush of leaves and forcing your legs slightly apart.

Steve’s lips grazed the shell of your ear.

“I wish to splay you on the moss and have it soak up your sweet juices as I play with your pretty cunt.”

You jerked in his embrace, but your core ignited. Heat pooled low in your abdomen, spreading down in a quick wave and filling your folds.

“I want to stretch you on my cock and have you call me your god not out of fear, but the pleasure I give you.” The vines that weaved around your legs didn’t reach far up your thighs, but if they had, your wetness would coat the delicate leaves.

“I want to fill you, until you bloom flowers and berries.”

Breathing became hard as the images filled your head; though you doubted it was a trick of his, more your own imagination eagerly supplying possibilities Steve words enticed.

When Steve unexpectedly released you and took a step back, you shivered as if you were dropped into a cold cave. Deprived of light and warmth.

He appeared more inhuman as he stretched to his full height and loomed over you.

“Are you willing to sacrifice?”

His voice echoed with the power of a booming wind, rattling your bones and swishing up your skirts.

Shaken from the daze Steve’s proximity and dirty words have caused, you faced the deal he was proposing with a clearer mind.

You’d be bound to the forest as long as Steve wanted to keep you, having to abandon your human life and plans. But you would be alive. And so would the villagers, some of whom were your friends.

You chanced one more look at the wall of branches and vines, briefly wondering if he’d let you go had you refused. Probably. But it was uncertain what awaited your village, or any other, if you backed out.

Taking a deep breath, you turned back to Steve. You gripped the fabric of your skirt to cover the nervous shaking of your fingers.

“Yes,” the word rolled out on your tongue like a faint whisper, but he heard it.

His eyes shimmered with tempting joy, like the reflection of sunlight on the rippling sheet of a lake. In a blink of an eye he was right in front of you, his hands on your hips.

“I’ll be good to you, my little fern.” Tip of his nose nudged along yours, warm breath softening your lips into compliance.

When he kissed you, it felt as if berries burst on your tongue, filling your mouth with sweet flavor.

Your hands traveled up his arms, clutching his shoulders. The one covered in bark provided a new, unique sensation. It grazed your fingertips, but also felt grounding. He didn’t have to pull you closer, your body turned pliant on its own volition.

Steve swallowed your gasp, gripping your hips tighter, as thick vines of ivy rapidly wound around you. They covered you whole, like they had that stone altar before. It felt scary and suffocating, but as soon as the cocoon of greenery swallowed your forms fully it burst apart; leaves scattered around in a fountain.

You broke the kiss, tipping your head away and looking around. You were no longer in the same spot. You were in no recognizable place, to be exact.

If you could find a name for it, the heart of the forest would be it.

Light green grass spread around in a thick carpet, with patterns of bluebells and lilies of the valley. Graceful, tall birches circled the place, their silvery leaves catching chunks of sun rays. By a spot where wild rose bushes weaved an intricate arch stood a big bed. Easily high at hip height, woven tightly of green moss and periwinkles.

Steve didn’t give you much time to admire. With a firm push of his hand he tilted your head back towards him. Kept cupping your cheek as he kissed you again, more urgently this time. Demanding.

He released you to tug on your clothes, doing a swift job with layers of your skirts, but grumbling a bit when trying to untie your corset.

“Won’t need that anymore here, little fern,” he purred as your breasts spilled out.

Then he was picking you up, big hands gripping the back of your thighs and hoisting you easily. He sat on the bed, slowly easing you down until you were standing between his spread legs.

It was only then that you realized the coverage around his hips was gone, leaving him exposed in all his glory.

You couldn’t help peeking down. Your pussy clenched around nothing as you stared at the impressive size of him. Your mouth filled with the aftertaste of berries and your own saliva as his cock twitched upwards.

Steve’s hands roamed over your body, exploring your curves and lines with utmost fascination. He didn’t hesitate leaning forward to capture a stiff nipple into his mouth, sucking eagerly. His antlers gave you a scare as they brushed so close to your skin, but not once did his movement cause you pain.

Feeling a little bolder, you slipped one of your hands between the roots of his antlers and into his hair. They felt soft and silky. Your other hand gripped the top of his shoulder; the one where bark printed into your palm in a sensation you were finding more and more pleasant.

As Steve pulled back slightly, you slipped your fingers from his hair and across his face, mapping out contours and scratching through his beard. He gripped one of your legs under your knee and pulled it up, placing your foot on the bed and spreading you obscenely. His eyes darkened, something wolfish glinting in them as his gaze settled on your puffed, wet folds.

“Show me how you touch yourself,” he demanded in a raspy voice.

The hand on your calf kept caressing and squeezing your flesh, while his other fisted his cock as your fingers dipped between your thighs.

None of your lovers ever expressed desire to see you pleasure yourself, but Steve’s gaze was so heated you didn’t feel shy. Quite the opposite, somehow it felt so easy and natural; even more arousing as Steve licked his lips in unmasked hunger.

“Let me taste you. I bet you’re sweeter and richer than any honey.”

You moaned, pushing two fingers inside and pumping them in and out a few times. When you brought your glistening digits to his lips, Steve licked them in a broad stroke of his tongue then took them into his mouth. His greedy sucking had your clit pulsing wildly.

“Delicious,” he hummed in delight, “and so ready for me, aren’t you?”

Swiftly, he grabbed your hips and pulled you over his lap. Your gasp at the sudden movement and the feeling of his cock against your inner thigh combined with Steve’s loud groan of pleasure, when you gripped his antlers to steady yourself.

“That’s it. Keep touching them.” He urged you on as he slid you down his shaft. “It’s as if you were gripping my cock.”

“Nghh!” You keened, tightening your desperate hold on the antlers as your walls stretched around Steve’s girth.

“Too big!” You whined, yet your hips followed the command of Steve’s hands as he guided you down.

“Shh, my little fern. Take it. I know you can.” He was mercilessly forcing you down, moaning as your tight, hot walls enveloped him. “All your sweet holes will learn to take all of me.”

By the time he was buried to the root, you were shaking in pleasure. Your cheek was pressed to Steve’s, your breath coming out in jagged, hot puffs. Where your breasts were squished into the hard planes of Steve’s chest, it felt as if the filigree vines pulsing beneath his skin moved to tease your nipples. Steve’s hands were splayed on your hips, holding you in place as he savored the feel of your pussy around him.

After a moment, he began rocking up into you and a few heartbeats later started bouncing you up and down his length. Soon your whimpers stretched into moans. Despite feeling boneless in his powerful hold, you also felt a surge of need to take from him as much as he was taking from your pliant body.

You held Steve’s gaze as you straightened your back and started riding him; your fingers squeezing his antlers.

When your climax hit, it was intense and unworldly.

The first burst of it felt like falling into a cool mountain streak, only for the next tremors to fill you with heat and glow. Your head spinned and your moans and cries intertwined with small gasps of laughter. It was everything at once! Running with the wolves, picking fresh raspberries, twirling around in summer rain.

And when Steve followed soon after, cumming with a loud roar, each spurt of his seed seemed to immerse you in hot springs.

It was a rush of sensations; overwhelming, but addictive.

When you met Steve’s gaze - both of you breathing heavily and still rocking into the continuous rhythm of aftershocks - you had no idea your irises bore first specks of inhuman green. All you knew was that you wanted more.

And so you demanded it.

Steve’s grin at your responsiveness was near predatory. He pinned you beneath him on the soft mossy pillows, placed your ankles over his shoulders and plunged into you in a hard thrust that had your scream echoing through the woods.

Soon you’d be bound to him and the forest with every cell of your changing body.

#aspensenchantedbday #buckets-and-trees #Steve Rogers x reader #Steve Rogers x you #Steve Rogers x female reader #Steve Rogers imagine #Steve Rogers fic #Leshy!Steve Rogers #leshy!Steve Rogers x reader #entwined

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hot-astrology · 2 months

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Pleasurable Taste of Arousal

We all love a refreshing bite of a fresh juicy fruit that's been pulled off a tree or from the moist soil waiting on your lips to plant and bite into as it satisfy your craving of its pure essential nutrients. Fruits are very popular throughout the world from their exotic colors, unique shapes, and tantalizing taste. Even though, many people don't eat or take advantage of their healing properties, nutritional qualities, or just fulfilling and great taste while their still accessible. Some fruits are rare or have some other interesting qualities and benefits of their own. There are some fruits that give you more of a blood rush or lets say, "increased libido". These fruits are considered Aphrodisiacs, very potent. Aphrodisiac originated from ancient Greek and given its name from the famous "Aphrodite." Their are other variations of foods that carry these properties as well, its just something about a fresh, plump peach dripping its essence over your lips and down your hand from each bite. When eating these fruits you can expect sexual desire, sexual attraction, increased blood flow, and increase your dopamine pleasures. In the past there were men who had erectile dysfunction and couldn't Impregnant their wives to reproduce or even satisfy them. Also women can fall under this category, its so many factors that can cause a woman to lose interest or even pleasures in intimacy. Its so important for a woman to consume everything fresh, with essential minerals to nourish the body, especially to birth a child one day. Also consuming fresh tasty fruits will have your partners loving your taste all over. These miraculous natural fruits have been passed down from time and time to provide help in sexual intimacy and helping the bond between the woman and man.

Aphrodisiacs are a wonderful thing, to add-on in the bedroom. They can induce stronger orgasms, and increase the performance in the bedroom. The cucumber is one of these aphrodisiacs, as you can see from the shape of this fruit, this can improve the libido of men, and be a turn- on for women. Cucumber is 90% water, and fluid is important when it comes to the functioning of the sexual organs. “The Wetter The Better”..... Cucumber, Okra (okra water, specifically for the ladies…..)coconut water, honestly all natural fruits are good for sexual health. Listed below are just a few of the great fruits to soak the sheets and certain fruits that are suitable for each zodiac sign. …

Apples: This fruit delivers a good enhancement for women with a compound called, "phloridzin" which can be found in other fruits, foods and wines. It stimulates the blood flow to the sexual organs to increase arousal, increase wetness, also for men, stimulating their blood flow to a erection while helping their libido rise.Astrologically, this aphrodisiac is suitable for Capricorn

Figs: Very high content in beta carotene ( a makeup found in a lot of other fruits as well, it also gives fruits their alluring colors, and crave to the eyes. While by far which influences the making of sexual hormones, while creating even levels of estrogen and promoting outstanding desire.) Astrologically, this aphrodisiac is suitable for Saggittarius.

Strawberries: Just like the others this fruit can boost a partner or your libido through the roof. Especially with its power percentage of vitamin C ( which promotes collagen that makes skin, tendons, and blood vessels flow properly, you know where blood flows so does growth and more alive nerve receptors. ) plus this is one of the most romantic fruits by far once eaten a handful a day your partner would want to eat you next. Astrologically, this aphrodisiac is suitable for Libra/Leo

Watermelon: Sweet, juicy and loaded with water. This tasty fruit increases blood flow so rapidly since muscles are made of a high percentage of water which helps blood flow properly, while relaxing, dilating blood vessels thanks to an essential mineral Citrulline found in this water loaded fruit. Works just like a male enhancement, but instead of taking those over the counter or shipped pills, you can enjoy a slice of watermelon before bed or while making love in bed. Astrologically, this aphrodisiac can be suitable for Cancer, Saggittarius & Pisces

Honey: You may have been one to let honey drip all over your tongue, the taste is incredible and every lasting as it stimulates you endorphins and dopamine with mental pleasures or a rush to your brain that shoots down your blood stream to your sexual organs and creates a boost in your testosterone, estrogen levels then to make sure they are balanced. An important property called Boron, this mineral is essential for wound healing, if you may have a damaged vessel, helps boost magnesium absorption. As well I wouldn't think your intimate encounter would matter if you drizzled some warm honey down there............. well that's up to you how you like to lick your HONEY!!! Astrologically, this aphrodisiac can be suitable for Taurus/Leo

Cucumber: As stated above in the opening preface cucumbers are one of the most beneficial for a male's enhancement, growth, shape, size, increase in libido, with the famous vitamin C. No wonder it's shaped like my...... I mean shaped with perfection and loaded with water and essential minerals, magnesium, potassium, zinc etc..... don't leave home without a few slices and ladies you can enjoy as well...... mmmmmm... Astrologically, this aphrodisiac can be suitable for Aquarius/Cancer

Berries: Also another berry, you can't lose with these little sweet natural treats. Every fruit has loaded minerals and vitamins but some have their own hint of productivity that helps in different ways but gives outstanding results like many. Loaded with vitamin C, E, helps with fertility, promotes better hormones like androgen, estrogen, progesterone, etc... why not drop a couple of these deep down inside..... No not inside there.... but inside the glass of Dom Perignon or Louis Roederer. Astrologically, this aphrodisiac is suitable for Virgo, cancer, pisces

Pomegranates: Its hypnotic red color can make you intrigued and want to taste it, but you have to take your time to remove the layers, gently remove each savory seed while slowly either sucking away its captivating juices or just taking it whole. Sounds familiar..... hmmmmmm right... some things take time in life, well why we are in this realm.... but since we enjoy this sweet seductive one of a kind fruit to its core. It has everything you need to get back UP, or back on your back for more pleasurable moments. It's said that this fruit was the fruit Hades gave to Persephone after he kidnapped her that put her in a deep lustful trap for him... I'm not saying all that though... use at your own discretion... naw but this one is a real winner. Can eat these all day....mmmmm.Astrologically, this aphrodisiac is suitable for Scorpio, Capricorn

Cherries: HMMMMM. This word sounds familiar, nevermind you must have eaten too many sweet aphrodisiacs... working very well in my favor. The color speaks for itself, red promotes sexuality, passion and lust. They carry copper, Iron, vitamin A, also support to the genitalia and circulation system. You want you and your partner to have explosive sex and deep passion, eat some of these while you both 4play to build the spice up and feel the blood flow and curiosity of what's next while you both explore deep cunning orgasms even before you start. Unless you don't want your cherry popped!!! Astrologically, this aphrodisiac is suitable for Aries/Sagittarius

Peaches: Astrologically, this aphrodisiac is suitable for Taurus/Cancer

Passion Fruit: Astrologically, this aphrodisiac aligns with Aquarius' uninhibited sexual nature.

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐌𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭

𝐎𝐮𝐫 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐨𝐮𝐬 𝐏𝐨𝐬𝐭

𝑶𝒖𝒓 𝑷𝒂𝒈𝒆𝒔: 𝐏𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐳 𝐕𝐞𝐧𝐮𝐳 || 𝐌𝐨𝐨𝐧 𝐃𝐞𝐯𝐢

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luvfy0dor · 5 months

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“Before it Dies on The Display ♡⁠˖” Bsd x GN!Reader ੈ✩‧₊˚

╰┈➤ Dazai Osamu, Chuuya Nakahara ✧

Warnings; None!

Description; Actual drabbles about Dazai and Chuuya getting you flowers ♡⁠˖

A/n; Hey y'all, sorry I was gone for a solid eight days, I had a bunch of swim meets this week and practice and stuff, I'm sure y'all get it. Requests are being worked on; I feel bad asking for them and taking literally more than a full week to do the simplest stuff. Sorry again 3:

Dazai Osamu ♡

• Dazai buys you flowers, often cool colored ones. He doesn't often get roses unless you specifically request it; he opts for more unique and exotic flowers if obtainable. He really loves wowwing his partner and standing out from others.

ೃ⁀➷

You had planned to go on a date with your boyfriend, but he was running relatively late right now. You stood in the doorway of your home, arms crossed as you leaned back against the frame. Your clothes were well put together, fitting for the fancy restaurant that you were treating him to. It really didn't take long for him to pull into your driveway though, the headlights piercing the darkened evening.

He quickly opened the door and stepped out, his arms behind his back. You knowingly grinned as you uncrossed your arms and shut the light off, closing and locking the door behind you. He sped up his pace, careful not to reveal the long flower to you until you met in the middle of the paved path to your doorstep. "Good evening, my dearest." He says smoothly, a small grin pulling at the corners of his lips. He leans in to place a peck on your own with his arms still held behind him. Your noses bumped together, making you laugh a little. "Are you ready to go?" You ask Dazai, him immediately shaking his head. "Almost! I just have a gift for you first." He says. "Any guesses?"

"Hmmm....I dunno, a yacht?" You playfully reply. "Better! I've brought you an orchid, darlin'!" He says, pulling the potted plant out from behind his back and handing it to you. "Dazai, you never fail to surprise me, this is so beautiful!" You say, grinning and taking in the beauty of the dainty flower. He kisses your cheek and grins with his hands now on your shoulders. "A beautiful flower for an utterly stunning person." He whispers, leaning in to peck your lips again. You return it pleasantly and turning to your door, getting your keys out again so you could place it inside. "Thank you, Dazai, really. They're so beautiful." You smiled from ear to ear before placing the plant inside. He hummed, following you inside and taking your hand; bringing it to his lips for a soft and sweet kiss. "Ofcourse my darling! Since I've brought you flowers, you can pay for dinner, yeah?" You roll your eyes and ruffle his hair, pushing his face away. "That has been predetermined." You tease, grabbing his hand and leading him out the door, ready for a sweet and romantic night with your lover.

Chuuya Nakahara ♡

• Chuuya, unlike Dazai, loves buying his partner roses. He feels like it's such a tried and true method of making his partner swoon for him. They're so romantic to him, especially red roses.

ೃ⁀➷

Chuuya was walking down the streets of Yokohoma, heading towards his favorite cafe. He noticed that he had passed a flower shop on his way, only coming to realize that it must've been brand new as he stood in line to order. You immediately crossed his mind, his subconscious telling him how happy you would be to receive flowers from your beloved boyfriend. He decided that he'd stop on his way back; you deserved flowers more than anyone with all the hard work you do, even though he's offered to let you stop working and take care of all your needs. He loved how dedicated you were, and for that he felt that you deserved all the flowers in the world!

He exited the cafe, walking up the street this time. He made it to the flower shop, opening the door and immediately being greeted by strong floral scents. One of the florists offered to help him build a bouquet and he immediately accepted, wanting to create the perfect bundle of flowers for his lover. They worked with one another to create an arrangement of reds, pinks, and whites, tying it all together with kraft paper and ribbon. He payed and thanked the worker, returning out onto the streets once again. He was able to go home early today, a smile on his face as he thought about you.

When he reached home, he twisted his key into the lock and pushed the door open with his foot, his arms filled by the bouquet. It was utterly massive, and you had a look of confusion on your face when all you could see was the brown paper instead of your boyfriends head. Once he closed the door again, he held it out for you. "A new flower shop opened and uh, I thought you'd like some roses today." He said with a grin, his hair falling on one side of his neck as it usually did. You smiled and took them into your arms, pulling Chuuya in too. "Thanks, babe, you're real sweet to me, you know that? You deserve this treatment too." You say softly, brushing his bangs away from his face. "Yeah, yeah, but that's not important right now. Do you like em? If you don't I can get you another bouquet, no need to hide the truth." He says sweetly, rubbing your upper arm. You immediately shook your head. "No! No, no, I love them!" You reassure him, staring at the beautiful flowers, their pedals smooth and unbroken. "Promise you're not lying to me? My love only deserves the best, you know that." He asks with a smirk, pulling you in for a gentle kiss. "Promise." You say, grateful to have such a thoughtful and willing to please lover.

A/n; Depending on inspiration in the next couple days regarding requests I'll post a Fyodor and Nikolai ver of this. I thought this up on the bus ride back from my meet which felt like a fever dream bro some kid did 100 butterfly in 1:06. WHAT THW FRICK U GUYS

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scleroticstatue · 4 months

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Could I get some fruit knowledge (I don’t mind which kind)

This is a barberry bush

It's called that because it's got these wicked thorns

They can easily get an inch and a half long. Because of that, they're sold in garden centers as "security plants" to put under your windows and stop people getting in, as well as fall color. But! They also have

Oodles of berries!

Nowadays, most people leave them for the birds because those wicked thorns are hard to pick around if you like your blood to stay inside your body, but historically, they were an important source of fresh fruit throughout winter, especially in cold climates. They're still used in Persian cuisine, where they're dried (you can find them as zeresh if you're looking for a bag to taste). They taste like if a cranberry and a lemon had a baby.

The reason we no longer use them anymore is because rich people preferred exotic food that showed off their wealth and the poorer people were desperate to emulate them instead of preserving traditional food. It happened to a lot of European spices that have long since been forgotten, and you can track similar behaviors in food throughout Southeast Asia during colonization and Africa currently! But if you are trying some medieval cooking and it calls for orange or lemon, try using barberry instead and see the flavor transform!

(you can also find calafate, or Patagonian barberry items for sale, but they're a different species and are reported to taste like a cross between a huckleberry and a blackberry)

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essenceeater · 6 months

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"Unusual Love" Mileena x reader

Can you do Mileena x Reader? I was thinking MK1 Mileena. Where Reader is a half human and half cat. And she only has cat ears and a tail. Mileena saw her and she was surprised.

THIS IS SUCH A CUTE IDEA I LOVE ITTTTT! I love writing for Mileena she's literally my wife. This is for MK1 Mileena! Reader is gender neutral and this goes from a friendship to a romantic relationship :) I kinda picture her being like 😮 This was requested by @twinklestarslight

Character: Mileena, Tanya(Mentioned) Kitana(Mentioned)

Triggers: None, lmk if I missed any

Requested: Yes

🔓Requests are open🔓

Link to rules

The soft clicks of heels fill the area as a figure strolls through the lush gardens of her palace, a woman wearing beautiful pink clothes with black and silver accents. Her gentle features watch the plants around her until her path unexpectedly crosses with you, an extraordinary individual with cat ears and a tail. Mileena's eyes widened with surprise and curiosity as she approached you.

"Your presence is as unique as your appearance," she said with a warm and friendly smile. "I've never met someone quite like you. What brings you to our realm?" she asked, never before seeing someone like you before.

You blushed, feeling slightly out of place but warmed by Mileena's welcoming demeanor. "I was exploring, and, well, I got a little lost... I didn't mean to intrude." You mumbled, avoiding eye contact.

Mileena reassured you, "You're not intruding at all. I'm Mileena, the Empress of Outworld. But titles aside, I believe in understanding and friendship. What's your name?"

"S/O"

As days turned into weeks, you found yourself growing closer to Empress Mileena. The palace, once an imposing and intimidating structure, had transformed into a place of warmth and friendship. Mileena was a delightful companion, welcoming you to stay with her. Giving you a safe place to stay within Outworld.

One afternoon, Mileena introduced you to the palace's grand library, an ancient and vast collection of knowledge from countless realms. The two of you spent hours there, reading and discussing the wonders of the different realms. Mileena's insatiable curiosity was infectious, and you both found common ground in your thirst for knowledge.

In the evenings, you would often explore the same gardens the two of you met in, where the colorful flowers seemed to bloom brighter in Mileena's presence. The palace's chefs prepared sumptuous feasts, introducing you to the exotic flavors of Outworld.

Mileena's family, Tanya and Kitana, were just as welcoming as she was. Tanya, in particular, showed a deep respect and affection for Mileena. When it came to you and your care she treated you no differently, at least after she knew you and Mileena were actually friends. Especially after Mileena told you about her condition with Tarkat. Eventually, the relationship between the two of you became a source of joy and comfort, and you soon realized that you shared more than just friendship.

One starry night, while sitting in the palace's garden, Mileena looked at the stars and whispered, "I never imagined I could find such happiness and connection in my role as Empress. You've brought light and laughter into my life, and I am truly grateful."

You smiled and replied, "Empress Mileena, you've shown me a world of kindness and beauty that I never expected to find. Our bond means everything to me."

Under the canopy of stars, your connection with Empress Mileena grew deeper with each passing day. The gardens, once silent, now whispered the secrets of your blossoming romance. Mileena's laughter became music, and her eyes sparkled like the brightest constellations.

With a tender smile, Mileena drew you closer and leaned in, her lips gently meeting yours in a sweet, romantic kiss. The world around you seemed to fade as the two of you embraced the magic of the moment, sharing a love that transcended the boundaries of realms and time.

#mortal kombat #fluff #mortal kombat fanfic #mortal kombat fanfiction #mortal kombat 1 #mk1 #mk1 2023 #mortal kombat x reader #sfw #Mileena #mileena x reader #mileena mk #mileena mortal kombat #mk1 x reader #mk1 spoilers #sorry its messy i wrote this in the middle of class

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mamisfavmosher · 11 months

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the prettiest flower // rhea ripley x fem!reader

another request by the lovely @micheleamidalajedi ! This was not proofread!

summary: as a garden enthusiast, you keep comparisons to nature close to your heart and rhea knows that.

prompt: “you look like a flower, the prettiest flower”

Readers POV

Rhea and I had been living together for a few months now and she had made it an important asset in the house hunt that we get a big backyard for my gardening hobby. As soon as we moved in, she was in the backyard helping me, as much as she knew how, to plant all of my favorite plants and flowers. It took a few days of hard work, but eventually the backyard was full of bright colors and bushels of all different types of flowers.

Rhea knew my love for these beautiful plants was what kept me busy while she was traveling for work, so she always made a point to bring back some kind of plant for me from wherever she had traveled to. She knew I got especially excited when she brought home foreign plants when she had opportunities to leave the country for work. Those were some of my absolute favorites as they looked so exotic in the mix of native flowers.

Only two days ago, Rhea had come home from Saudi Arabia with a desert rose plant and some blood lilies. I had squealed in excitement the moment she showed them to me, immediately ushering her to the backyard to figure out where to place them.

Now, as I sit in the backyard next to the arrangement of blood lilies, pruning and watering, I hear the back door open. Rhea must be home from the gym.

“Hey, beautiful!” Rhea said as she crouched down behind me. “What’cha doin?” She turned my head to kiss my lips, a smirk growing on her lips as I blushed.

“Just taking care of the blood lilies. I noticed a few wilted leaves this morning, so I came out to prune for a bit.” I said with a smile, kissing her cheek.

“Didn’t you prune some of these plants yesterday?” Rhea asked with a chuckle.

“Yes! They need to look pretty!” I exclaimed, gently caressing a petal with my fingertip. I turned to look up at Rhea to find her already staring at me. She gazed at me lovingly while slowly moving some hair behind my ear.

“You look like a flower... You’re the prettiest flower out here.” Rhea said before kissing me again.

“Only out here?” I teased.

“The prettiest flower in the whole world, baby!” She spread her arms out to emphasize her point, soon after capturing me in her embrace and kissing the top of my head.

“So, what kind of protein do you want for lunch, pretty flower? We got chicken or... chicken.” Rhea said with a laugh, standing up.

“I guess chicken?” I giggled and followed her inside, waiting for the next opportunity to spend time in the garden.

Hope you liked it!

#rhea ripley #rhea ripley x reader #the judgement day #dominik mysterio #damian priest #finn balor #wwe #wwe superstars #monday night raw #wrestling #fanfiction

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scarletwritesshit · 16 days

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💮Gepard x Reader💮Arrangements

Looking at the fruits of his labor before him, Gepard realized that perhaps, he would’ve been far better off purchasing some flowers from a Belobog florist. Weeks, no, months of hard work had netted him plants that were only barely suitable as filler in a backyard arrangement. He couldn’t understand just how they did it. Gepard researched countless guides and followed the instructions on the seed packets as closely as possible, but they did not blossom nearly as beautifully as he hoped for them to.

In fact, they barely even blossomed at all. The few droopy buds of color could barely pass as flowers, with some buds never even opening up. The blossoms weren’t suitable as a gift for anyone for that matter, especially not a close friend whom he admired so greatly. The fawn lilies didn’t even bloom fully, and the crocuses were underwhelming, blooming far smaller than he expected.

Was it even possible for him to salvage this disaster? Perhaps he could cover his blunders with a variety of exotic grasses to hide his original intentions of constructing a flower bouquet. Unfortunately, the result would be more akin to a bundle of weeds than a bouquet of flowers. Buying flowers from a florist at this point was an option, but it didn’t quite convey the same meaning that a handmade, self-grown bouquet did. Regardless, Gepard wasn’t sure if he would be able to face them himself out of sheer embarrassment due to his lack of talent.

He was a Silvermane Guard captain. Gepard had gotten himself into far worse situations than this before.

Growing flowers was a tad bit different than combat, but regardless, he must adapt regardless of the problem at hand. He refused to throw away the countless weeks of work he spent on such a heartfelt gift.

Perhaps the solution was not to accent it with grasses, but rather, some leaves could salvage these scrapped plants and turn them into a beautiful work of art? Adding in a few twigs with leaves still on them could make for a luscious, tree-like appearance. Top it off with a few thick blades of grass to fill in any gaps remaining.

The end result was a rather full bunch of various plants arranged as precisely as his hands would allow him to. With a spare purple ribbon from Serval’s knick-knack collection, Gepard tied a bow around the bunch as tightly as he possibly could. It was a bit of a tight squeeze, resulting in the bow being rather small, but he viewed this as a rather positive result. A small bow wouldn’t overshadow his…masterpiece, if one could call it that.

Even with Gepard’s attempts at salvaging his mess, the entire arrangement was overall rather messy. Rather than a floral arrangement, it appeared to be more of a wrap of grass with twigs and the occasional large leaf sticking out in an ultimately pathetic attempt to hide the failures of Gepard’s gardening. He shifted the trimmings around as much as possible in an attempt to make his craftsmanship a bit less of an eyesore, but despite his best attempts, it could not compare to the professionally tended flowers that he could find at the florists.

He was far too stubborn to scrap his plan, especially after dedicating so much time to it. After staring at the completed “bouquet” before him, Gepard wondered if they would focus more on his failure to execute a simple task rather than his commitment to his hobby as a whole. He wanted to tweak it further to perhaps patch up a few remaining flaws, but he decided that any further attempts at salvaging his work would only hurt the final product further.

Now, all that was left was for him to face you in person. Arguably, he would much rather defend the entire city of Belobog solo than go through with this. The excitement of a battle made his blood rush in a good way, and more importantly, gave him an all too familiar rush of emotions. A supposedly simple and honest exchange of words was not one of his strengths. Just the thought of doing so made his heart race in an unexplainable way. His thoughts became scrambled against his attempts to retain his composure, and he felt himself becoming warm enough to be used as one of the city’s heaters.

All he had to do was hand you the bouquet of flowers and say what was on his mind…if he could even put what was on his mind into coherent words able to be spoken. With a strung together bundle of leaves and grass, he couldn’t help but feel as if the chance of embarrassing himself was far more likely than even a decent outcome. He kept thinking back to all of the struggles he had endured attempting to grow these plants only for such a lackluster outcome, but he took a deep breath and steadied himself. Gepard managed to calm himself and straighten out his thoughts, but your expected arrival immediately threw him off track. All of thinking and bracing for his confession? Absolutely for nothing, as he lost track of where to even begin with his words.

“Gepard? You said you wanted to talk to me about something,” you said.

“Ah, y-yes I do. There is an important matter that I must bring up with you,” he said.

Gepard seemed to have forgotten that a formal tongue is not necessarily appropriate in every situation. He held the hodgepodge arrangement behind his back.

“What is it, Geppie?” you asked. “You seem weirdly stressed.”

He cleared his throat, attempting to calm himself before speaking further. “It’s nothing detrimental, but it has been lingering on my mind for quite some time now.”

“And what would that be?”

Gepard stood awkwardly quiet for a moment as he debated his next course of action. He could give a heartfelt speech about everything he felt towards you, but to him, it felt as if it would drag on for too long, boring you for eternity. On the contrary, blurting out his feelings in a short and sweet manner seemed to be the more painfully rushed approach.

Gepard said absolutely nothing as he looked away and handed you the bouquet of flowers, or arrangement, to be more specific. He could neither bare to look at his mess nor the disgusted reaction he expected from you. Improper, it was, but Gepard felt as if his own emotions backed him into a corner.

There was no denying that his handcrafted arrangement was rather rough. What did survive his typical disastrous attempts at gardening were rather dull, and the leaves and grasses he accented the piece with could be found just about anywhere in a planter on the side of the street. Regardless, whether Gepard produced flowers fit for the royalty or the compost bin did not matter to you. He really went through time and energy to grow and arrange plants just for you, even when he could’ve given up and bought a premade arrangement from the florist.

All this time that he had to prepare and Gepard was still left without any words. He turned his head even further away in an attempt to hide his blush, but his entire face was turning red at this point. He quickly snuck a glance to see how you were reacting to the flowers, then immediately looked away, hoping you didn’t see him sneak a peek.

You took the thick arrangement out of his cold, metal-clad hand and gently brushed your fingers through the different leaves, observing every single leaf and blossom that had survived his wrath. The quality of the disheveled bundle was of none of your concern, as you could tell that Gepard clearly put his heart and soul into it. Gepard sighed as you observed it, as if he was awaiting cruel words of mockery.

“You made this, just for me?” you asked.

“Indeed, I grew these plants by myself, though I worry that the end result is not up to your standards.”

“Standards? Who do you take me for?”

With your free hand, you nudged Gepard’s face gently to face him towards you. A brief flash of fear filled his eyes, as he was still convinced that you were absolutely disgusted with his gift. However, that could be further from the truth, and rather than waste your words on a man clearly inexperienced with them, you instead showed him your appreciation for his kind gesture.

Catching him off guard, you stood on the tip of your toes to steal a quick kiss on his cheek, causing him to bury his face into his metal gauntlets. That was one way to charm a Silvermane Guard, though perhaps you had a hold on his heart with far less than that. The flowers he spent ages growing for you was proof of this, and was more than enough to show you the amount of sincerity and dedication he harbored for you.

#honkai star rail #honkai star rail fanfic #gepard #gepard x reader #gepard landau #hsr x reader #hsr fanfic #fanfic #fanfiction

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linkemon · 8 months

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Valentine's Day 2023 headcanons 2

Friendly reminder that English is not my first language. You can check my Masterlists both in English and Polish here.

Tighnari

✧ Tighnari has had his hands full since drastic changes have come to Sumeru. He remembered Valentine's Day only the day before it arrived. Fortunately, he had made some preparations in advance.

✧ He pretended to forget about Valentine's Day in front of Collei and the other rangers all day. When you specifically mentioned this holiday, they told you that their supervisor was busy and it's not like that this year. All this so that in the evening he could tease you that he really had no idea. It wasn't until you sadly believed him that he told you to follow him.

✧ Tighnari has been running a personal project to save endangered plant species, especially flowers, for some time. Most of them had their extra seedlings in a place of his choosing in the forest. In this way, a kind of fantastic, wild garden was created, emanating many colors and smells. You were the first person he allowed to see him.

✧ You laughed which Tighnari didn't understand until you handed him your gift. You brought him a foreign dandelion seed straight from Mondstadt. Of course, he'd seen one before but he hadn't had the chance to grow one himself. You think in a very similar way and Valentine's Day reminded you a lot of that.

✧ He let you spend extra time admiring his tail. He doesn't like it that much but you love that aspect of him, so if a few extra minutes mean that much to you, he might make an exception sometimes.

Lisa Minci

✧ Valentine's Day trip to Sumer sounded very exotic to you. Lisa had some errands to run there, so it felt natural to combine the two. You weren't particularly drawn to go abroad on this particular occasion but you knew you couldn't win with it anyway.

✧ If you knew what you're going through, you'd probably never agree to it. After crossing the border, you were attacked by a horde of bizarre mushrooms. It probably wouldn't be a problem because the two of you can fight, if not for the fact that at the same time you were attacked by Eremites who stole things from your small encampment at the time.

✧ You knew that after all the commotion you would arrive in the city late at night. On the spot, you and Lisa had to look for her old friends who were not very willing to lend her money and it was not a very large amount.

✧ Minci had to wait until your return to Mondstadt for her real gift. It was an extremely old book that was missing from her collection. During your unhappy stay in Sumer, you gave her the purple roses you picked on the way.

✧ Lisa bought you dinner that day, laughing that she spent all her money on it (that's what she said at the time but she knew she'd get paid the next day for some information sold in town). This upset you but you were used to the woman's crazy ideas and trusted her as always.

✧ Tired after the day, you spent the evening poor but happy. The view of the moon and stars from Lisa's favourite place from her student days is unforgettable.

Yaoyao

✧ When Yaoyao accidentally overheard your conversation with Xiangling, she knew she had to do something. You were a little sad that everyone around you was getting ready for Valentine's Day and you didn't have your other half. That's why the little girl has set herself the goal of giving you the best possible holiday that will celebrate friendship.

✧ Was it a busy day? Of course but nothing is worth your sad face. The first on the visit list was of course the master chef along with Guoba. Then Cloud Retainer, who was supposed to be responsible for finding gifts in her collection (no one else would even think to ask her, considering how she likes to receive them...). The last stop was Ganyu's office, where the girl, falling asleep, promised to arrange a place in the teahouse (nothing else could be counted on in such a short time).

✧ Later, Yaoyao spent the whole day inviting all hers and yours friends who didn't have plans for the day yet.

✧ You didn't expect to spend the evening in such a nice atmosphere. Yelan, Shenhe, Keqing, Xinqiu, Hu Tao and many of your other friends have appeared. You all ate the treats that the happy Guoba gave you, while opening the fancy mechanical gifts that the Cloud Retainer had prepared. In your case, it was a miniature pocket watch that showed scenes from the life of ancient adepti.

✧ Yaoyao was extremely modest as always but you quickly guessed that all the fun was her doing. You thanked her because getting together in a large group reminded you that you are loved by your friends.

#genshin x reader #tighnari x reader #lisa minci x reader #yaoyao x reader #tighnari #lisa minci #yaoyao #headcanons #over teyvat #valentines

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marlynnofmany · 11 months

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Double Duty

It’s a rare day when I have to squint at the sight of a house, but this one was shiny. A giant ball woven out of the brightest metal wires I’d seen in a while, all gold and copper in complex patterns. It made my head hurt to look at. Probably imitation metals, because surely that would be impractical and expensive to use actual gold. But what did I know? Not my species.

I squinted as I walked up with the package, wondering if that was rude of me. My little human eyes probably always looked like I was squinting though, compared to the big bug eyes of the Mesmer who lived there.

And the one walking beside me. Zhee was nodding quietly to himself while he took in the sight, with his vibrant purple praying-mantis exoskeleton looking right at home. If I hadn’t known that one of his people lived here, somehow I feel like I would have guessed. It was flashy in the extreme.

And so was the walkway, a glittering stripe of vivid red that curved through a garden full of alien flowers that probably didn’t bite. I didn’t like the looks of the local butterfly analogues, though; they had stingers I could see from here. I was glad they were keeping their distance.

Zhee reached the door first — a solid slab of bronze with an inlaid galaxy of gemstones, naturally — and he found the doorbell while I ducked under another butterfly. The chime was a brief melody from an instrument I couldn’t identify. It sounded like a violin invented by people whose earliest music was made by rubbing their legs together.

The door pulled inward and slid to the side, showcasing the homeowner who must have been waiting right there for us. Up close, the side of the house had window space visible between the weave, ideal for peeking out but not being seen until you were ready for your close-up.

“Good greetings!” announced the Mesmer woman who towered over both of us, a spectacle of metallic rose-gold coloring. Surely that couldn’t be natural. I’d never seen a Mesmer yet with metal tones; this had to be like full-body nail polish. But I sure as heck wasn’t about to say a peep about it now. I’d ask Zhee later.

“Greetings,” Zhee returned, urging me forward. “Your package.”

I handed it over, wondering if I’d get to see how the thing opened. It was one of the plastic puzzle box dealies that had been a popular way to ship valuables lately. There was one button on top and no visible seams.

Even with that thought, I was surprised when she grabbed it with her pincher arms, kicked a side table into view with one leg, then set it down and tapped out a rhythm on the button. The box split open to dramatically reveal the custom stained-glass lamp that we’d delivered in perfect condition, thankyouverymuch.

“Exquisite,” she said, holding it up to let the light shine through all the aquas and teals. “Just what the blue room needs.” She looked at us. “I have one of each color, you know.”

Zhee nodded like that was normal and admirable. “Excellent.” He held out the electronic payment pad without being so gauche as to mention it out loud, and the customer chattered away about her house as she set down the lamp and paid.

“…The yellow room was the biggest hassle, of course, but I’m most pleased with the rainbow room. I have art, rare plants and a few select exotic animals in there. Those have been a different type of challenge, especially the new one.”

That caught my attention. As I was wondering how best to ask what kind of animals she kept, Zhee beat me to it.

“Animals, you say?” He gestured theatrically toward me. “Robin is an expert in animal care, if you need a consult.”

I turned my head to stare at him with my best what-did-you-just-volunteer-me-for expression, which he could certainly see, given those eyes’ range of vision. He didn’t react.

“I would appreciate a look, now that you mention it,” the large alien said. “My prize oil-slick tentacle has stopped eating, and has begun shaking in a strange way when I get near.”

Zhee immediately haggled for a consultation fee while I wracked my brain for any knowledge of this alien whatsit. I was going to have words with Zhee afterward.

But apparently I was going to look at this thing first. The customer agreed to the price, payable afterward, and led us both into the house. It was just as multicolored as expected. Like each room had been given to a different child to design, with the instructions to use as many expensive jewel tones as possible.

The rainbow room was actually a relief, surprisingly enough. There were darker accents to make the furniture and murals stand out. And the various terrariums were clear glass. I looked between feathers and shells and flowers for anything that could be described as a tentacle.

“It’s over here,” she said, leading me toward a glass case under a spotlight. “I haven’t had it very long, but it was eating before, and I just don’t know why. The medi-scanner says it’s not ill. Perhaps I need a new scanner. What do you think?”

Feeling like the spotlight was aimed directly at me, I stepped up for a look at the thing curled up in the corner. It was, as expected, iridescent like an oil slick. But those scales were familiar.

I moved around it to get a look at the head, then smiled and stood up straight. “That’s a sunbeam snake! My favorite kind!”

“Okay, but what’s wrong with it?” the alien woman asked. “When I give it food, it hisses at me and shudders!” She waggled a pincher arm in imitation.

“It’s trying to scare you away,” I said. “They shake their tails like rattlesnakes do, though they don’t have rattles or venom.”

“Well, I don’t know about all that,” she said with a huff. “Why is it doing that? I’ve been more than kind to it!”

“I’m afraid you’ve given it nowhere to hide,” I explained gently, spreading my hands at the tank with a black floor and only a small water dish in the center. Little blobs of meat littered the area. Images of plants had been painted into the corners, but that did less than nothing to help a burrowing animal. “This type of snake needs several inches of plant life or loose soil to dig into. For one this size, I’d say at least this deep.” I held my hands six inches apart.

“It digs?” the customer asked. “They didn’t tell me that!”

“It spends most of its time hidden,” I said. “Or at least, it’s meant to. This one is extremely stressed by being out in the open like this.”

I was a little worried how she’d take the news, given that this was her prize specimen with all the lights aimed to showcase its rainbow scales. But to her credit, she listened while I suggested framing a good photo of the snake outside the tank, then only watching it during mealtime. Any visiting friends could be told how exotic and special the animal was, and how lucky they would be to even catch a glimpse of it.

“Yes,” she said, clearly thinking. “Yes, I can work with that. I’ll arrange for the adjustments to the enclosure. You said this much ground cover?” She held her pincher arms apart.

“Right, at least that much,” I agreed. “Ideally you’ll also want to bury a few things for enrichment, like rocks and bark and sections of tubing, and have a couple of those on the surface for it to hide under when it comes up for food.”

We ended up going into a different room where she could take notes, which did more to put me at ease about the snake’s future care. I waved at it as I left, wishing it well. I’d always liked sunbeams. Good thing I remembered the specifics of their care needs.

“You’ll also want a bigger water dish, so it can slither through it,” I said. “And the tank should be both warm and very humid…”

The customer took lots of notes while Zhee alternated between standing there looking smug and casting an appraising eye at the room’s gaudy features. This was the purple room, and he blended right in.

Finally we’d covered all the important points. Zhee tactfully brought out the payment pad again, then we strolled back to the front door.

“I will recommend your service to all of my friends,” the customer said as she closed up the lamp case. “Quality parcel delivery, with bonus animal care! That is hard to beat.”

“My pleasure,” I said honestly.

Zhee thanked her as well, and we exited into the garden. Zhee was still looking smug as the door closed behind us. “I am very glad I spoke up.”

I shook my head with a rueful smile. “I’m glad it was an animal I’m actually familiar with, not some independently crawling tentacle.”

“Those do exist, you know.”

I let out a deep sigh. “Of course they do. Guess I’d better do some research in case she does tell all her friends.”

Zhee strode forward with pride. “It will be good business! Captain Sunlight will be pleased.”

“It’ll be interesting, that’s for sure.” I thought of the crewmates who had tentacles of their own. “Mur will probably think it’s funny.”

“Oh, he’ll think it’s terrifying. The mobile tentacles are from his planet; they’re a venomous parasite.”

“Of course they are. Remind me to bring gloves on our next delivery, just in case.”

~~~

The ongoing backstory adventures of the main character from this book. More to come!

#my writing #the Token Human #humans are weird #haso #hfy #eiad #someone was wondering why this hadn't happened yet #or something like it #and my thought was 'hm. good point! I should get on that then'#so I did #I like this new character I've just made up #and her home decor choices #also she has a pet that I've long been fond of #which I'm hiding down here in the tags for spoiler reasons #snakes #sunbeam snakes #they're so cool #look 'em up #the photos are great

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biteofcherry · 1 year

Note

Well now I want to know about their* fave drinks, fruits, and flowers!

Especially flowers—how would they react, I wonder, if you brought them flowers just because they made you think of him? 😂🥰

*Ari (all, any, yaaas), Nesting!Steve, and GrainofTruth!Steve are all on my mind, but answer about whomever you like! 😘

Hahahaha, I absolutely adore you @eralen 😘 you're the bestest! 💕

Mafia!Ari (Sweet Thrill) is a vodka kind of man, top shelf of course like Gray Goose and it has to be chillingly cold. Non alcoholic, it's surprisingly all types of tea. He's a connoisseur. He'll make tea for both of you and cuddle with you on the couch, reading books. Flavor-wise he likes really sweet fruit, but mostly focuses on buying fruit that can be cut into pieces that don't turn into mush, because he likes to feed his pet treats while you kneel at his feet. He likes this game where you're blindfolded and with open mouth await if you'll get a fruit, a finger, or a cock next 😏 He buys you peonies, as he prefers something more unique yet still classic. And there's always an abundance, the bouquets barely fitting in your arms. You get him black roses - elegant and dark to match Ari's intensity. It surprises him, but he keeps them until they crumble, and cuts the head of one rose to keep in his breastpocket.

Alpha!Steve (Grain of truth) doesn't drink alcohol often, even if you're at a restaurant or party, but if he does then it's either whisky or gin. He's one of those people who drink lots of water and of course all types of coffee brew, even occasionally some crazy Starbucks frappuccino. Steve's an all American boy, so cherries, peaches, apples, blueberries are his fruit to go. Though, honestly, he prefers them in pies than eating fresh fruit 😆 He likes house plants and simple garden flowers, since those are the kinds his Ma had and because it's what you like. He has a really hilariously dumbfounded face when you stumble into the house trying to carry a heavy pot with a pachira plant. When he takes it from your hands, you announce you got it for him - because it grows ridiculously huge and is unkillable. Steve reminds you thoroughly why you like his size so much and why you shouldn't complain about it... And then spanks you when you name the plant Alphachira 😂

Mafia!Steve (Nesting) is definitely a whisky guy, Chivas commercial vibes only smoother and hotter when Steve savors the flavor and you're unable to avert your gaze from his lips. Otherwise, he likes smoothies and coffee and isn't picky as long as it tastes good. Fruit is something he rarely munchies on, he actually eats it more since you're with him, so it's the types you like to eat. He does have a sweet spot for peaches, though. but that's mostly, because you get all squirmy and wet when he devours eats one in front of you... 🤤 Teases you, asking if you need him to eat your peach (and doesn't even wait for an answer, spreading you on the nearest surface). Steve appreciates flower bouquets, there were always some in vases around his penthouse even before you moved in. Elegant roses that were regularly delivered from a flower shop. Then you change the order and the flowers start coming more colorful and chaotic. He likes the freesias most, their scent reminds him of your perfume.

Alpha!Ari (Bad moon rising) likes a good, dark beer (not the light piss, but bitter porter), as well bourbon. His non-alcoholic choices are fresh squeezed juice and mint infused water. He doesn't have much of a sweet tooth, so coke or any soda aren't to his liking. It's also why he keeps to less exotic fruit, preferring rich but tart flavors of blackberries and cherries. Ari especially likes eating them from between your trembling lips, juice dribbling down your chins as he bites through the fruit and kisses you - after he's gone down on you and your taste is still in his mouth, mixing with the tart fruit 😏 He likes field flowers, like cornflowers or poppies, and lilies of the valley that grow in patches in various parts of the woods belonging to your pack. If you bring him a small bouquet, he'll display them proudly in a glass on his desk (then coax you to go for a run and take you on the forest floor, right on a patch of delicate flowers).

#Ari Levinson x reader #Ari Levinson x female reader #Mafia!Ari Levinson #Steve Rogers x reader #Steve Rogers x female reader #Mafia!Steve Rogers #Alpha!Steve Rogers #Alpha!Steve Rogers x omega Reader #Alpha!Ari Levinson #Alpha!Ari Levinson x omega Reader #Sweet Thrill #Nesting #Grain of truth #Bad moon rising

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mdzs-owns-my-ass-i-guess · 7 months

Text

Fluttering wings

I visited a butterfly exhibit a while ago and I returned with brain worms.

This ficlet is a nod to one of my favorite chapters (Chapter 23) from one of my all time favorite fics, Ghost of Mine. I cannot recommend it enough, you guys give it a read, it's more than worth it!

A new chapter was uploaded just today, so go check it out!

Onto the ficlet!

A-Yuan had been raving about the butterfly exhibit to be displayed the local nature museum ever since he heard of it during a commercial break on the radio. Wei Wuxian had picked him up from school that day and, as they listened to music in the car - their little tradition to scream out songs to make the noon traffic more bearable - their favorite radio station played an announcement of an exotic butterfly exhibit temporarily taking a stop at the life sciences museum that weekend.

Given that butterflies happened to be the little one's favorite insects, and that Wei Wuxian could never tell him no when he used his widest, wettest puppy eyes, they arrived home with plans already set up for the next Saturday. It would be just the perfect way to spend the day together, pulling Lan Wangji into it as well - he had been working so hard lately, helping his brother run their family business after his long mental health break, that a day away from all those emails and phone calls could only be beneficial.

Expectedly, a lot of people had decided to spend their weekend the same way - so on the day of the exhibit, the queue was long and the spirits high despite the long wait.

The butterfly enclosure was a wide, glass greenhouse covered in vines and potted plants of varying sizes, as well as realistic branch twigs for the butterflies to hang onto. There were a few aquarium-shaped glass boxes for butterflies to rest in, fruit and fresh flowers awaiting them there. It looked magical, the way the colorful butterflies flitted about, dancing around the enclosure and around each other.

One of the caretakers noticed A-Yuan's starry eyes as he followed out the butterflies and handed him a large piece of orange.

"Hold this in your palm, and the butterflies will come to you." She said, with a smile. "The blue ones especially like citrus. They're called Giant Blue Morphos, because they grow so big!"

A-Yuan listened intently, and did as told, outstreching his palm for the butterflies to notice the treat.

In no time at all, a large, bright blue butterfly landed gracefully onto the orange slice, wings fluttering as if in excitement as it fed. Next to it, another species fluttered its wings to land, the black on them dotted with red and white markings.

"That is called a Red Admiral Butterfly." The caretaker explained. "This one and this Giant Blue Morpho specimen seem to have bonded, so where one is, the other is guaranteed to follow."

"Oh, just like baba and a-die!"

Lan Wangji's ears dusted pink as Wei Wuxian laughed. Indeed, just like them!

The butterflies flew away together a few seconds later and the caretaker showed A-Yuan where to place the orange slice for the other butterflies to find. Then, taken by the child's enthusiasm, she continued pointing out various species of butterflies to him.

"That one," she pointed towards a lone butterfly resting on a nearby branch, purple accents shining on its wings, "is called an Agathina Emperor. It lives in the Amazon rainforest, and it is our only purple colored butterfly. We are waiting for a female to be sent to us so he finally gets a girlfriend!"

"We also know of someone purple that needs a girlfriend." Wei Wuxian told Lan Wangji, who couldn't help a small laugh.

"And this one," the caretaker spoke as a light blue butterfly landed on her finger, "is a Northern Azure butterfly. He's one of my favorites, he's really social and whenever someone that's sad or upset in any way is around, he lands on their nose!"

The butterfly floated from the woman's finger on A-Yuan's, who took to admiring it intently.

"You can look around, take pictures and whatnot, enjoy the exhibit as much as you like! I have to go back to work, but if you have any questions, let me know!"

"Ok, thank you!" A-Yuan replied, very politely, earning a head pat from Lan Wangji in appreciation.

And so the woman returned to tending to the enclosure, while the family of three walked around, pointing towards the beautiful insects.

A shining flutter of wings suddenly caught Wei Wuxian's eye just as he was about to make a joke about uncle Lan Qiren being more like an old moth than a butterfly.

The little thing flew around Wei Wuxian, shining but transparent, like it was made of lace and sunlight. A closer look revealed it looking more like an origami butterfly, its markings spelling something unreadable. The butterfly then landed atop A-Yuan's head, batting its wings thrice, slowly.

Wei Wuxian blinked in the same rhythm, subconsciously and distant, faded images evoked in his mind - a dark plave, a tree stump, a child, a battle, a cave, a sword, please save him, I'm sorry and... thank you

There was a comforting hand placed onto Wei Wuxian's shoulder, and he recognizes it as his husband's, his voice soft though worried. "Wei Ying?"

He blinked away those images, the sounds ringing into his ears as they seemed to move further away until they became inaudible, and he shook his head as if to rid of them. "I'm fine, I'm fine... I just saw..."

But there was no sign of the odd butterfly that Wei Wuxian had seen, try as he might have to look for it. None of the insects flying about looked like it, and the little labels describing information about the species in the exhibit had no pictures similar to it.

Perhaps that wasn't a butterfly that lived there.

Perhaps it wasn't even a butterfly at all.

But whatever it had been, Wei Wuxian could only hope it found what it was looking for.

#mdzs #mo dao zu shi #wangxian #writing attempts #can you tell butterflies used to be my special interest

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waviermylove · 1 year

Text

Wednesday Addams Headcanons

Her favorite serial killer is Jack the Ripper, whose true identity still remains a mystery.

Studies in the school library, always brings a black throw-blanket and a thermos of black coffee with her.

Like her mother, Wednesday is adept at gardening, and has a talent for cultivating exotic and rare plants that thrive in the shadows.

Enjoys bathing in ice-cold water.

Can’t really swim— she prefers to float face-down like a corpse (she can hold her breath for approximately 5 minutes.)

Rarely uses her phone, except for Xavier. Her answer to his calls always starts with “Hello. Who died?”

When she does send a text message, she always starts with a formal greeting, uses complete sentences, and signs off with a closing statement.

Blurts out weird trivia when she’s nervous, especially when she’s with Xavier. (Despite being baffled, he couldn't help but find it endearing.)

Loves the smell of rain, coffee, ink, and old parchment.

Her wardrobe is colored-coded— from the lightest shades of black to the darkest.

Gomez was the one who did her braids each morning before she mastered it herself.

Was prone to sleepwalking as a child.

Wears perfume with dark and subtle scents: her favorite one is Midnight Garden, floral scents with darker undertones: jasmine, patchouli with a hint of smoky incense.

Although being notoriously unfazed by most things that would frighten the average person, Wednesday has a secret phobia of Barney. She avoids any situation that involves the giant purple dinosaur.

Engages in embroidery. She finds sticking needles in and out of things very relaxing.

Listens to classical music on vinyl records. (Bach, Beethoven etc.)

Has a collection of animal bones. She stores them in Xavier’s art shed, in fear that Enid would chew on them.

She is a skillful horsewoman and has black stallion named Daredevil.

Arranges her books in alphabetical order by author's last name.

Her favorite authors: Mary Shelley, H.P. Lovecraft, Edgar Allan Poe, Stephen King, Neil Gaiman, Anne Rice, Shirley Jackson and Gillian Flynn.

Wednesday fancies the intense flavor of dark chocolate, she refuses to eat anything lower than 90% cocoa content.

Although she often clashes with Pugsley, Wednesday secretly admires his reckless abandon and wishes she could let loose like he does.

She is an excellent baker and is known her treats with unexpected ingredients, such as ghost pepper cupcakes or lavender-infused brownies.

Xavier Thorpe Headcanons

Wednesday x Xavier Headcanons

#wednesday addams #wednesday netflix #Wednesday Addams Headcanons #wednesday headcanons #Headcanons #Jenna Ortega #wenvier #wavier #Wednesday Addams aesthetic #wednesday friday addams #tv Wednesday Addams #netflix wednesday #Netflix #wednesday aesthetic #Wednesday Addams headcanon #wednesday hcs

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cleolinda · 1 year

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Patchouli in perfumery, feat. Snake Oil (Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab)

In the course of writing up Coco Mademoiselle (which I'll post after this), I realized that I need to stop and discuss patchouli first, because: wtf is going on there, seriously. Sylvaine Delacourte explains,

Patchouli has a woody, earthy, humid, dark smell and evokes a colour between brown and black.

(I find this to be true; I always picture a very dark, dark brown when I smell it, even if nothing else in the fragrance makes me think of a color.)

A camphor note molecule is identified in it, it also has almost a dusty scent. Patchouli can be reminiscent of a cork or an overripe apple, some find it smells like mushrooms, cellars and mould. Many perfumers have told me that they can detect a hint of cocoa in good quality patchouli.

On the other hand, as the Perfume Society describes it, in "So you think you hate… patchouli?":

Amazingly, from those fragile-looking leaves comes a sweet, spicy, smoky, cedar-y scent so powerful it has to be handled with care: patchouli is the most powerful of any plant-derived essence.

May the odds be ever in my favor.

But, the Perfume Society continues,

perfumers wouldn’t be without patchouli, for the richness that it gives to fragrances – and not just those heady Ambrées: patchouli makes its way into many chypre and powdery fragrances, swirling exotically alongside lavender, sandalwood, labdanum and bergamot, clove, clary sage, as well as vetiver. (It’s a little like vetiver, if you close your eyes.) Used alongside rose, it extends and ‘fixes’ rose’s sweetness.

Back to Sylvaine Delacourte: "Patchouli is the most important raw material in perfumery," a statement that really surprised me, but this is the former Artistic Director of Guerlain talking here. She concurs that it "combines beautifully" with woody notes like cedar, sandalwood, and vetiver, adding,

It brings depth and sensuality and is considered by some to be an aphrodisiac, especially when combined with sweet oriental [often called "ambrée" now] notes such as incense, vanilla and cistus. Patchouli can be refreshed by citrus fruits such as bergamot. It is often associated with rose, sometimes with jasmine, a little less with ylang-ylang. Patchouli is also a perfect match for gourmand notes.

Sure enough, Thierry Mugler's Angel (1992) famously combines patchouli and cotton candy (and several fruits) (and caramel) (and chocolate). That's a fragrance I also have on deck to write about; it was a game-changer, no exaggeration, at the time. I had also thought that Angel was considered the first "fruitchouli" (nsfw photo), as such, but apparently that may be... Coco Mademoiselle.

Delacourte also mentions that patchouli is "sensual and charismatic, often replacing mosses in chypre constructions and is essential in oriental compositions." And here comes Coco Mademoiselle again: it's considered a "neo chypre." If you go back to the Mitsouko post I did, you'll see that a classic chypre involves bergamot, oakmoss, and labdanum. As Basenotes user purplebird7 neatly explains, "This creates a sweet/sour/earthy/wet/dry combination of notes that makes chypres so complex. [...] New chypres use vetiver instead for the sour/dry component. They also use patchouli for the earthiness, and substitute other citruses for bergamot, the way Coco Mademoiselle uses orange, and [Chanel's] Chance uses citron."

Now, I haven't told you how the word "patchouli" comes from Tamil (patchai ellai, green leaf), or how Tutankhamun had gallons of patchouli oil in his tomb, and how it was worth its weight in gold, literally, to European traders. Or, for that matter, how it came to France via the paisley shawls, layered with insect-repelling patchouli leaves, that were so loved by Empress Eugénie. I didn't mention that patchouli is still very much associated with the "dirty hippies" of the 1960s, who (it's said; I wasn't there) used it to mask either weed or body odor. And I didn't mention any of this because I wanted to focus on how patchouli is used today—and because the hippie thing is extremely cliché. But maybe that's exactly what I should touch on, because:

I don't like patchouli. I do, in fact, Think I Hate Patchouli. Or I did, rather, before I started working on this post. And it's because of the "dirty" smell. Something that's like a combination of fermented basement lichen and the stoner guy I knew in college who took 40 minute showers but never washed his clothes? But since patchouli's in the base of just about everything these days—I decided that I'm going to have to get past that. Rather than use a moralistic term like "dirty," I've started calling the persistent aura that smells like "mushrooms, cellars and mold" The Funk.

And I've noticed that aged patchouli is a lot smoother; The Funk gets less rambunctious with time, and this may be why aged bottles of Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab's Snake Oil are so prized. For years, I wasn't even sure what was in it; the original description only mentioned "Indonesian oils sugared with vanilla." But once you find out that 80% of the world's patchouli comes from Indonesia—yeah, you can tell it's the primary note of Snake Oil. BPAL actually sells it pre-aged now, and with a more detailed description:

Snake Oil has shed its skin, and is back — now with vintage patchouli and dark, rich, aged vanilla absolute. Snake Oil is our signature scent, our first perfume: deep, rich, earthy notes swirled with vegetal musks, sugared vanilla bean, and dark spices.

A few nights ago, I pulled out a vial I'd gotten several years back. I remember that Snake Oil was really heady when it was fresh: a vortex of incense, spicy vanilla, and The Funk. This time, it was pure patchouli, albeit a mellow and dignified one; on a second try, I realized I needed to swish the molasses-thick oil back and forth until it was at least somewhat blended again. I then got a unified patchouli-vanilla and what I swear was a very strong ylang-ylang and sandalwood (both of which are cultivated in Indonesia, among other places). It's a good combination; the light, golden sandalwood-ylang note was the only thing I liked about Chanel's No. 5 Eau Première. I know it sounds weird (or immature, even) to say "I like Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab more than Chanel," but Snake Oil picked something to do and did it well, and that something was not giving me a headache or smelling like a diaper.

(But notice that I say I like it more rather than it is better. Skin chemistry is a wild—but incredibly important—card here. Ultimately, there might be a critical consensus on something, but you can only experience what your nose can sense, and what duet the skin of the wearer, yours or someone else's nearby, can produce.)

Come to think of it, Chanel's Jacques Polge may have removed the patchouli from the original No. 5; I didn't see it in the notes for the 1986 formulation still used today. I wonder now if that patchouli served as a bridge between elements that's no longer there, and that's why the extra pared-down No. 5 Eau Première seemed disjointed to me. On the other hand, there are people who think the new No. 5 Eau Première is a masterwork unto itself, and there are people who hate the dizzying baby powder/Play-Doh turn Snake Oil can take. So it goes. I actually think I might prefer fresh Snake Oil, heady as it is, but the aged notes may be more mellow and perhaps more wearable over all (also tenacious as fuck). I may try a new vial of the pre-aged Snake Oil soon and see how the difference splits.

So, aged patchouli: Good! Manageable! Let's try another! I had left a rollerball of Pacifica's Himalayan Patchouli Berry in a drawer for a couple of years; when I first used it (I was trying to broaden my palate!), The Funk was too much. (Side note: This is a weird perfume, in that Pacifica will tell you upfront that it's grapefruit and patchouli, and you can tell it's grapefruit if you mentally squint at it, but it really does smell like some kind of berry. What kind of berry? ¯\_(ツ)_/¯) Here in 2023, the fragrance has mellowed out, and it's a lot easier to wear. Also, it proves Sylvaine Delacourte's point about citrus working well with patchouli, whether it's cosplaying as someberry or not.

I also had a fresh Nemat patchouli on hand. This was interesting because it had a little too much Funk for me, but it was also the first time I'd been able to smell a vetiver-like note in a patchouli. And by this time, I'd worn both Coco Mademoiselle and Snake Oil twice; my nose was tolerating patchouli better overall. After a year or so, this could smooth out into something really nice.

So: you can render patchouli more crowd-pleasing with the slow ingredient of time. What if you just used science? The Perfumer's Apprentice sells a natural patchouli oil that's undergone fractional distillation, which "produces a more elegant smell with less earthy tones, similar to the flower itself." On the other hand, Firmenich straight-up uses white biotechnology (today I learned!) to synthesize its Clearwood aromachemical:

Beaming with light, it offers the creamy warmth of amber and a dark woody character reminiscent of patchouli. [...] At higher dosages it can be used as a new building block. Rich in patchoulol, CLEARWOOD® can elegantly complement a patchouli essential oil.

I don't know for sure, but I'm guessing some kind of defunked patchouli, be it fractionally distilled or wholly synthetic, is what's in Coco Mademoiselle, which has a very elegant patchouli base. I mean, it also busts out harsh and peppery at first, but there is no actual Funk, oddly enough. But we'll get to that in the next post, now that you have the background.

Coco Mademoiselle (Chanel, 2001) and Coco Mademoiselle L'Eau Privée (2020)

Perfume discussion masterpost

#the funk of kings #perfume #perfume discussion #long post #note: patchouli #perfume: bpal

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zoeykallus · 2 years

Note

Could you do HCs of how Bad Batch members would spoil/give their partners gifts? Would it be a holiday or special occasion? What type of gifts would they give?

Oh that's cute!

The Bad Batch x Reader - Gifts And Tokens Of Appreciation

Mostly Fluffy Stuff

Hunter

His way of spoiling you or showing his love, is mostly spending time with you. He doesn't have that much time, but every free minute he spends with you.

He has a habit to carve figures from pieces of crude wood. He can make the prettiest and finest little figures and you already have a collection of those. When he is on a mission with a stakeout in the wilds, he tends to carve those figures. Animals mostly, he has a thing for loth wolfs. Since he knows you he gifted you every carved figure he made.

Aside from that he made you a pendant, a fine wooden cross with a shiny stone in the color of your eyes in the middle on a leather band that you wear almost day and night. He also made you a sweet bracelet with wooden pearls, ingraved with filigrane patterns.

Whenever he can he brings back some souvenir from his mission to you. The souvenirs can vary from specifiv fruits, over little art pieces to jewlery, depending on what is a very special feature in the respective region.

All in all, he loves to show you that he thinks about you, his thoughts stay with you when you're not there, that's mostly what these gifts represent. You are always on his mind.

On special days, he always knows what you need or want most and will get it for you. You never really know what you get though, but you are always super happy as soon as you get it.

Echo

His love language is mostly acts of services and favors. He found his love for cooking and he loves to cook for you whenever he gets the chance and he is actually really good at it. Sometimes he let's you help a little but mostly he wants you to sit down and let him service you. It's one of his ways to show he cares and loves you. And you can taste it in the food he makes for you and see it in the way he presents it to you. In another life, Echo could have been a chef in a fine restaurant.

He brings you sweets, your favourite snacks, especially at that time of the months when he knows you need some extra loving care. He likes to take you to places whenever you two find the time and the credits, visiting wine markets with tasting for example. There is an exquisit one on Naboo, very pretty, very neat. Sometimes you bring home a few bottles and he cooks a fine dinner for the two of you.

He also brings you special lotions and soaps from time to time, he knows your skin type and what you are most comfortable with. He actually gives it some thought and also knows which fragrances appeal to you more and pays attention to it.

On special days he'll spoil you with your favourite foods, selfmade of course, some fine wine and a special perfume.

Wrecker

He brings you flowers regularly, as often as he can. Pretty, fragrant flowers, because they remind him of you, pretty and fragrant. Sometimes it is only a single special flower but always with love and always with an adoring smile. You are special and he likes to show you that.

Whenever he sees something pretty that he can afford and that he thinks you might like, he takes it. He has brought you all kinds of things, from clothes, to jewelry, to fruit baskets, to exotic potted plants. If it's pretty and he can afford it, he brings it to you. He would never steal, that would not have the same value for him as something honestly acquired.

And he loves to massage you. He is so good at it, you melt under his hands, every time.

The last thing he brought you was a beautiful necklace. His beaming face when you put the necklace on the next morning is priceless.

On special days he gets you a huge bouquet of flowers your favourite sweets and a day out with him, the movies, funfair or a day at the beach.

Crosshair

You received a special gift from him that you practically always wear, a silver necklace with a crosshair, in the center of which is a glittering stone the color of your eyes. The only truly romantic gift he has given you so far.

"Now I'm everywhere you go".

Otherwise, he likes to give you silk scarves, but that's almost a selfish gesture, because he loves it when you're naked and wearing only those silk scarves, preferably tied around your wrists to the bed.

Every now and then when he discovers something special that he knows you like, he brings it. He finds that if he keeps showering you with gifts, eventually it's no longer special.

On special days he takes you out for dinner, sometimes even with flowers and is extra caring and selfless in bed that night.

Tech

His way of making gifts is mostly gadgets to make your life easier. he tinkers and builds things for you, repairs your stuff. Whenever something break, you can be sure Tech knows a way to fix it and he will right away, because you asked him to.

Aside from that, he likes giving acts of service in intimate nature, he loves to spoil you and give you pleasure, he is fully focused on you and let's you feel his adoration. He takes his time, he knows what you like and he is very attentive.

He teaches you things, that's something he thinks is very valuable and he loves to share his knowledge with you. There is nothing more important than knowledge, his mind is full of things he wants to share and he absolutely loves to share it with you.

On special days he likes to take you on expeditioning trips, seing pretty architecture and interesting cultures with a exotic dinner and a calm night in a nice bed with hours of intimate spoiling.

@rintheemolion

@andyoufollowyourheart @clone-whore-99

@brynhildrmimi @kaliel2310

@misogirl828 @tech-deck

@meshla-madalene

@chxpsi

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cacti-are-like-flamingos · 9 months

Text

Imagine Taneleer dedicating a large portion of his facility just for you and your likings...

Taneleer Tivan x Reader

...

You had not a single clue. Not a hint nor a whiff of what he was concocting --- you remained completely oblivious as to what was going on the other side of the facility. All you knew was that your lover had been constructing something on the other side of the facility, far from your curious eyes. And even then, Taneleer never informed you of his actual plans to build something. That you had to figure out yourself by observing the numerous little custodian droids that sneaked by you, buildings materials and equipment in their digits as they sped by you.

Yet, based on the amount of droids as well as the various working materials (all you recognized to be highly expensive) you knew this to be a major project. Which irked you, if we're being honest.

Yes, you and Taneleer had somewhat of an agreement. He would keep certain aspects of his business unknown to you, mainly because even though you loved him with all your soul (just as he does you), he was still an incredibly questionable immortal of a man. In truth, you often turned a blind eye to his more sinister actions.

Oh, the things one does and ignore for love.

Oh well.

But still, you had expected, at the very least, that he'd tell you something. Especially when it involves major changes to your home.

Fortunately for you, all your questions would be answered on a single morning --- err, the time you usually woke up to. Night and day seized to exists when lounging in the head of some deceased giant.

What you hadn't expected was to immediately be greeted with the sight of your white-haired partner, looming over you with what you could only describe as a smug yet dream smile lazily drawn over his lips. Eyes alight with something mischievous and profound excitement, a deadly combination for any one else. But for you? It could only mean one thing.

"A gift? For me?" He chuckled in amusement, watching as you rolled in the bed to face him better. He laid beside you, wearing casual clothing made of the most expensive of soft fabrics, head leaning on a hand.

He smiled softly, takin your hand to kiss it's back, "Yes, my Starlight. A gift, just for you."

Of course, you were always dripping in his gifts. What else did you expect when you decided to accept the courting of The Collector himself? But something told you this was far more different.

And so, with a sly grin, Taneeler led you thorugh the winding corridors of the facility. A gloved hand gently holding onto yours as though it was made of the most fragile glass in the universe, "Come on, my dear," he said, his voiced tinged in excitement.

He continued, "I've created something extraordinary to show you." As you approached a seemingly ordinary tapestry, Taneleer gestured for you to step closer. He activated a hidden switch, and the tapestry slowly lifted, revealing a concealed entrance bathed in soft, pulsating lights. Your favorite colors.

"My lovely Starlight, welcome to your very own wonderland," he exclaimed, a wide grin spreading across his face.

Before you stretched a breathtaking sight - a vivid representation of nature's splendor, complete with lush greenery, vibrant flowers, and even a small babbling brook that wound its way through the room.

You had no words to speak nor sound to utter as you took in the sight, awe became you.

As you moved further into the space, you noticed the glass containers artfully arranged amidst the plants. Each container held rare and exotic items, like delicate crystalline petals that sparkled like gemstones and fascinating alien flora that seemed to glow with an otherworldly aura.

Your gaze wandered, taking in each carefully arranged display, and your eyes lit up with recognition as she spotted familiar artifacts from your past adventures. Taneleer had meticulously incorporated elements you loved, from ancient scrolls containing botanical knowledge to small trinkets and souvenirs symbolizing your shared memories.

Taneleer beamed with satisfaction, pleased to see the joy and wonder in your eyes, he needn't your words when your own gaze told a thousand tales. "I knew you missed the beauty of nature, my dear," he said tenderly, kissing the skin inside your wrist as he gently pulled you to him.

His scent enveloping you like his warm hug. "So I made sure to bring a bit of it here, among the stars."

...

(A/N): The prompt itself had been in my drafts for literal years. I didn't have the heart to delete it considering that, if my memory serves me correctly, there's barely anything for this character out there (unless that has changed. If so, I'm overjoyed.)

Maybe I should just make a page for all my other stray pairings

(I call them strays because I'm not dedicated enough to the fandom but I am willing to write for it on occasion)

Hope you enjoyed!

#taneleer tivan x reader #taneleer tivan #reader #reader insert #fanfic #fanfiction #romance #marvel #imagine #taneleer tivan imagine #taneleer tivan fanfic #its been a while tbh #stray pairing

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