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yandere-mha-blog · 3 years

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Chapter 11:Lunch time

Words:1338

You stepped out of Kirishima’s truck and saw the little shop in front of you, it was a very cozy little shop. You and the two men sat down.

“What are you getting Bakugou?” Kirishima asked

“Same thing i always get.” He said “level 10 spicy ramen, and make sure it has the takanotsume pepper in it.”

“Yup same as always, hmm i kinda want gyukatsu, nikujaga and a side of Hayashi rice, and two steck cutlets.”

“Save some meat for the rest of the customers.” Katsuki said, “hey skittish, what are you getting.”

“I'll just get the torikatsu with a side of white rice,” you said, ``you can never go wrong chicken.

“Sounds nice cna i have a bite?” Kirirshima asked

“Hey carnivore, the food sits at the table, I'm going to go order.” Katsuki said getting up and heading up to the front, and kiri looked down on you, you looked down on the floor trying to avoid eye contact

“Hey what is your relationship with Bakugou?” He whispered

“Huh, oh i'm just a civilian who got caught up in some drama and he is just helping me.” You explained “He really didn't cheat on his ex fiancee with me honestly.”

“I believe that, still it's not like him to be so open, guess he really has changed a lot.” Kirishima said

“What do you mean?” You asked as katsuki came back to the table with waters

“Yhea what do you mean kirishima.” Bakugosaid setting his glass down

“OH come on bro you mean how you used to be the embodiment of a time bomb.” KIrishima laughed “OH (name) you should have seen him on his first day of school, he got into a verbal fight with the class president and told him that his old school put a stick up his ask.”

“Kirishima…” Bakugo said looking a bit more intimidating

“Oh then there was this one time during our first training exercise, he nearly took down the building with one of his blasts from his gauntlets, the teacher was so mad at him.” Kirishima said

“Ahem!” Katsuki said

“Still katsuki was number one so for the sports festival, well you probably saw it.” Kirishima said

“Oh i didnt really watch a lot of tv growing up.” You said

“OH then this is going to be good, he got up on the podium and said “I just wanna say i'm gonna win” then proceeded to flip off everyone.”

You nearly spat your drink out, and katsuki looked more and more bloodthirsty as kirishima kept talking

“So he wins the sports festival, but his appointment, shoto didn’t use all of his power so katsuki is wigging out and Midnight had to make him pass out, and he wouldn’t calm down so while he is on the podium he is thrashing around up there.”

“That's terrible.” you said

“Yeah it was, didn't even earn that shitty metal damm freezer burn chicken out last minute.” Katsuki said

“Then when we went on our camping trip he thought he could light up the fireplace with one of his explosion and ruined the whole thing.”

“Kirishiam, if you don't be quite soon you are going to regret it!” Katsuki said

“Ignore him, most of his threats are all empty, also bakugo said he didn't want the metal yet it was still lodged in mouth when he went to school, then he went and got into a big fight with Izuku, or deku.”

“You mean the pro hero?” You asked

“Yup and I beat his ass.” Katsuki said “and Kirishima stop talking i’m getting our food.”

As Katsuki left Kirishima kept talking

“I would say the most reckless thing he has done, was after a bad accident he was running through the hospital ripping open his stitches.”

“Ow why would he do that to himself.”

“Katsuki is very headstrong going into everything head first and is very stubborn, he is by no means not smart, but he must have been worried about his friend to forget his own well being, he will never admit to it.”

“Well I still think Katsuki is a great hero, I mean it's one thing to save someone it another thing to help them.” You said

“Yhea he still has a foul mouth but I never thought I'd see the day Bakugo was moving a citizens luggage around, i saw the news story and was thinking what convoluted thing have they put together this time, next thing i know she is arrested.”

“I still feel bad about that.” You said

“Hey don't be, truth be told me and his friend stopped liking her a long time ago, should have left the second she threw his glass at his head...still must have been hard to come to that conclusion.” He said “So do me a favor and look after him for me.”

“What the hell are you mumbling about now.” Katsuki said setting down all the food

“About that one time you slipped and fell on your ass in the locker room and accidentally activated your quirk and blew out the wall and then it was flooded.” Kirishima said

“Im going to kill you.”

“Sure buddy-” Kirishiam went on before a chopstick full of spicy noodles went into his mouth, and kirishima face went red and started chugging water, you looked around and got a lemon

“Here squeeze this into your mouth.” You said, kirirhsima nodded biting down only for the other end juice to fly out and hit katsuk in the eye

“AGH GOD DAMMIT SHITTY HAIR!” Katsuki yelled clutching his eyes

“Sorry.” Kirishima said, taking the lemon out of his mouth “Hey that actually worked, you are smart (name).”

“I'M gonna go rinse my eyes out.” Katsuki said taking his water glass and going outside

“Is he going to be okay?” You asked as he washed his eye out

“He has dealt with worse, still how did you know lemon juice helps with spiciness?”

“Oh well...my parents were farmers so that's how.” You said

“Really sweet where did you grow up?” Kirishima said as Katsuki came in and started eating his food

“Oi, Kirishima, she doesn't like talking about family stuff.” Katsuki said

“OH sorry (name) didn't know.”

“Aha it's okay, I did grow up in the Hokkaido prefecture as a child, moved to Tokyo when I was around 7.” You said

“Must have been quite the move huh.” Kirishima

“Yeah it was an adjustment to say the least.” you said eating your dish, Katsuki noticed your hand shaking

“Anyway Kirishima what the hell have you been doing, how's the Kabukicho mission going ” Katsuki asked

“Nothing i can't handle, how are things here?” Kirishima asked

“Boring as shit, all the big time villans know not to mess with me, so only the occasional purse snacher and dumb shitty villan ever come out, most shit my side kicks can deal with.”

“Well have you heard from Izuku yet?” Kirishima said

“Yeah that guy is in who knows where Wyoming says he has six more states to go to.” Katsuki said

“Sweet man he always brings back the best stuff when he travels.” Kirishiam said “Mina loves getting the latest fashion from new york altho it's already out of season when he gets back, she doesn't seem to care.” Kirishiam said as he stole one of your chicken slices.

“I don't really care either.” Katsuki said “parents are fashion designers anyways never need to worry about that shit.”

“Says the one who only wears black shirt.” Kirishiam mentioned

“Watch it unless you want another bite.” Katsuki said mencily holding up his chopstick holding noodles

“No thank you.” Kirishima declared cleaning up his plates

The rest of the meal was the same energy, you could tell they had a very deep friendship and balanced out each other, you felt more like a third wheel to them if anything.

“Allrightly let's get going.” Kirishiam said patting his stomach after he had thirds

“I'm walking home.” Katsuki said

“What dude i'll give you a ride.” Kirishiam said

“NO need, I need to burn off these calories anyways.” Katsuki replied

“Yhea the weathers really nice for a stroll.” you said

“Well (name) it was nice meeting me, call me if you ever need help with anything, you'll probably need me when you find a new place.”

“I'll make sure of it Kirishima.” You said

“OI, spacy lets go, we need to get home before the sun sets.” Katsuki said

“Coming Bakugou.” You said waving off Kirishima and catching up with Katsuki

“The bill sir.” someone said to Kirishima

“...thanks…”

#yandere katsuki #yandere katsuki bakugou #yandere katsuki bakugo #yandere my hero academia #yandere boku no hero academia #kirishima #yandere

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heliosthegriffin · 3 years

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Farmer Jaune #1

AN: here’s a little background for you people, places, or things, I love Stardew Valley... That’s all.

Summary: Jaune takes a bet with his father that if he can get the old family farm up in running he’ll have shown enough dedication to be a huntsman.

Forteen year old Jaune stood in front of ‘The Club’ at lunch time carrying large crate of assorted fruits on his left shoulder for this Junior guy to try, while in his right he played on his scroll while the two bouncers out front refused to let him in.

Sure, he could barge in, but that’d be rude and create a bad impression on a potential buyer. So the stuck up suits could glare at him all they wanted, he’d wait till Junior saw him or picked up his scroll, or they finally let him in.

Huh, who knew Spruce Willis liked to garden, another reason to look to the guy as a man among men.

The two suits kept a steady glare on the boy with bangs covering the his right eye, only leaving a single blue orb to stare at his scroll. He was all lean muscle, tanned skin, and sun-bleached hair package up in a dirt stained tee and blue jeans.

They’re were sure that they could take him, and there were no notices about a fruit shipments, so they were ready to put down a scam-artist if they had too. Though, if he was a scam-artist he really was easy going.

“So, ‘Mr. Arc’,” One of the suits said as sarcastically as possible.

“Just Jaune.” Jaune said boredom, hoping Junior wasn’t messing with him, if he was he’d have to sic dad on him.

The guards snicker. “Ok Just Jaune,” Jaune rolls his single visible eye. “What do you got in the crate?” “Are you mugging me? Because if you are that’s just lame, it’s a crate full of fruit, how poor are you if need to mug a man for fruit? Delicious, juicy fruit sure, but just fruit.” Jaune say rapid-fire without looking up from him scroll.

The suit who spoke up went flush with anger at the insinuation, he worked for the damn mob! He made very good illegal money! He didn’t even recorded it to the irs that’s how bad he was!

Suit two just snickered at his friend. “I think what my buddy meant was what do have in the box to sell to the boss, and why do you think he’d buy from you over importing from Mistral or bulk buying from the Agri-Dis?”

Jaune rolled his eye again. “For the fourth time he asked me to bring him a crate, which I would have delivered to him by now, and gotten some lunch to if you two lumper didn’t get in the way.”

“And for the fourth time your not on the list, so try sell us on your product and we might let you in!” The first suit said exsperated. “Also why not just eat some produce?”

Jaune shrugged. “Same reason, I’m going to refuse to sell any to you two right now, cause I have things called standards. I always include a little extra on the orders so that people know their appreciated! If I took that away, it’d ruin the magic!”

Jaune then said with a smile, “That said if you’re interested, I can give my website to place an order, and little peak of the goods too.” Jaune said wiggling an eyebrow.

The second suit let out a tired sigh, knowing that this would be long day already. “Ok, back to my second question first, why would anyone buy from you some dirty looking kid from outside the city walls, instead of the nice clean stalls at the Agri-Dis? Also, I make good money wouldn’t I just import good food from Mistral or Vacuo?”

“Ok, find you’ve worn me down fine. Ok first, the Agric-Dis’s food is abysmal grown for two thing!” Jaune said putting away his scroll, and then holding up two finger making them glow with the light of his soul, making both guards jump at the realization this boy was also a hunter in training. “Bulk production, and fast regrowth speed, they inject Earth dust into the soil to make it more fertile, and genetically mod the plants so they grow as fast as possible and big as possible with account for taste! Which to be fair isn’t a bad thing, the city is overpopulated as is, and the Agri-Dis needs to feed everyone, and neither dust usage or gene mods are intrinsically bad, just that bulk produce doesn’t always taste as good as growing something with love and care!”

The two suits inched back in shock at Jaunes passionate rant, and the first suit recovered faster and asked. “Alright, you’ve made a good point. But what about outsourcing production to Mistral or Oasis in Vacuo? They’re food is really good!”

Jaune held a finger as he regained his breath.

“Ok, that’s a fair point, Vacuo has a warmer climate than Vale so it’s easier to grow more crop in season there in certain areas, and Mistral has the same benefit, but, it’s not the food that bad but the prices, and time you have to wait in between shipments.”

The suits leaned in with interest.

“This also has a couple problems, compared to my products.” Jaune holding up his free hand, letting it glow freely to attract the suits attention. “First, is the price you’d paying is roughly three time as much as my own for virtually the same product.” Jaune said slowly and methodically, letting it sink into the mens minds, he’d never let a potential customer get away, even if they were goons.

“Second is bidding, when you order from out of kingdom your have to compete with everyone else who wants that food, which also is reason the price is higher they can afford to hike it because it’s in demand, so since it’s in demand that means people want it, which implies scarcity, so even if you place an order there no garuntee that they’ll have any left for you.“ “I never thought of that way when I saw the restock sign...” “Most people don’t, in fact most people don’t care about the quality of the food long as it’s good and edible. So like I said limited supply, right? Well, right now I have tons of food to sell, I won’t be running out either,” Jaune said with a smirk, “but for how long? Anyway, another problem if your foods coming from outside the kingdom means that it’s coming outside the kingdom, this is two probelm. One, you’re weakening the local market, while strengthening foreign market, and you don’t want freaking Vacuo to be stronger than Vale in anyway right?” Jaune asked slyly.

“No..”

“The other problems with outsourcing from out of kingdom, is the shorter shelf lift, shipping takes time, you know this, you’re smart guys right?”Jaune asked the men, who quickly nodded. “Well, you should know that caravans only come so often, there could be month in-between you ordering your product and actually getting it! So your food could be moldy and black!”

The suits looked at each other, remembering the bosses fits of rage about a ruined order of fruit, and their own bad experiences with outsourcing. Conveinently forgeting this only happened once or twice, out of the hundreds of times they’ve ordered.

Jaune continued, “The final problem is it’s outside the kingdom anything can happen! Bandits, grimm, White Fang, Then Bam!” Jaune punctuating by slamming his hand against the crate. “You just lost three hundred lien by ordering from freaking Vacuo, what the hell you’d expect from ordering from those them, it’s all gone now! And it’s all your fault from ordering from Vacuo!” Jaune said quickly, and almost out of breath.

The men scowled at the idea of letting Vacuo pull a fast one on proud Valemen like themselves.

“Now, on the other hand my produce is loved and cared for only a mere half hour away in hunter protected settlement of Stardew Valley. Barring in-climate weather, or Grimm, I will have your product, if it’s ready for shipping out, to you within a week or you get the shipping free! Bam!” Jaune slammed his hand on the box again. “You just cut your grocery bill by a two-thirds!”

Silence then filled the gap again.

“So, did I answer you gentlemen’s questions?” Jaune asked with a slightly sore throat.

“I think I’ll be taking a look at your scrollsite later today,” The second suit said, then smiles thinly. “I just hope you’re not exaggerating, but regardless you got me rethinking my spending habits!”

The men and boy let out a little chuckle.

“Alright how about I let you two see what it’s in the crate to see proof of product.” Jaune said easing the crate on two the ground, easily being twice as wide as his waist, and coming up to his torso.

The men gave a shrug.

Jaune undid the latch on the crate and opened it up, assulting the men with sweet, starchy, and delcious smells of produce, their mouths involuntarily starting to water at the sight of fresh cherries, ripe melons, golden-yellow corn, full and juicy blackberries, tart and sweet blueberries, the spicy red hot peppers, ripe to bursting tomatos, and the most robust coffee they’ve ever smelt.

Jaune then slammed the lid closed a minute later, and put the crate onto his shoulder.

“Arc! What are you doing here? I told you to meet me at noon, and I’d meet you at the Club, not for you to wait for me outside the Club for an hour.”

“Dad say “If you’re early you’re on time, if you’re on time you’re late, if you’re late, everybody’s dead and you’ve lost your huntsman license.”

“Whatever, just follow me in, and we’ll hash out the deal today.” Junior looked at his men. “I’m not mad, you did well.”

“I’m not mad either, just bored.” Jaune said slipping in.

.....

“So, you wanna go half in, on a order?” “Why not? All that talking got me hungry.”

#Jaune Arc #Farmer Jaune AU #I have no idea about economics #I just typed what ever to feel smart #I have no regrets.#Junior #Stardew Valley

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buckysflannelpajamas · 4 years

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Bleeding hearts

Bucky Barnes x Stark!Reader

Named reader cause I don’t like to use y/n

Summary:

Being Tony Starks daughter has its pros and cons. One of the pros being you get to live with your best friends, the Avengers. One of the cons you will soon find out is having to deal with the one and only, James Buchanan Barnes...

Takes place during that made up time after civil war where everyone lives happy in the tower.

Chapter one

You were tired. You had just arrived back at the tower after a two week long art tour you had been on. Traveling around the U.S. to show your art in various art shows for potential clients. Every Day consisted of you arivinging on an early flight to your newest location, setting up at the art show, then conversing with the social elites, charming them into buying your art. It wasn't hard for you to sell your art, most would buy strictly because of your last name, Stark. It also didn't hurt that you were a very skilled artist, many in the art world said you would be the next Salvador Dali. Now that you were finally home after taking a red eye all you wanted to do was have a quick breakfast before taking a long nap.

You had changed into your comfy clothes as soon as you had gotten back. A pair of cute pajama shorts and a little white tank. You didn't worry about making noise as you moved about the kitchen. Pepper and your dad are on a business trip, Wanda, Nat, Sam, and Vision were on a mission and Steve had left to pick up his Friend James from Wakanda and help him move into the tower. You wondered when they would all get back.

You were on your tippy toes, shorts riding up as you reached for a pan out of the cabinet. The sound of someone clearing their throat startles you. You jump, hitting your head on the cabinet.

“Shit.” You groan, right hand going to rub you tender head. You turn around, eyes lighting up when you see who it is.

“Stevie!” You shout happily, running over to him and giving him a hug. You plant a friendly kiss on his cheek. “I missed you!”

“Hey Bea.” Steve greets, smiling at you as you release him from your hug. “How was the tour?”

“It was great!” You smile. “I sold all my pieces!”

“That's great Bea!'' Steve pauses, seeming to realize somthing. “This is my friend Bucky.” He gestures to the handsome man beside him.

Very handsome you realize. How did you not notice him sooner?

“I'm Abby.” you greet, extending your hand for him to shake. “But you can call me Bea,”

He shakes your hand. “James, but you can call me Bucky.”

“Wait.” You pause, his name finally clicking for you. “As in Bucky Barnes?

“That would be the one.” Bucky answers, seemingly nervous, as if preparing for a coming storm.

“Wow!” Your eyes brighten and smile widens. “You’re a war hero.”

Bucky looks at you in confusion, clearly not expecting you to say that.

“Not to sound cliche, I’m sure you get told this all the time, but uh, thank you for your service.” You say sincerely.

Bucky’s confusion turns to shock. “Actually no one has ever told me that.”

It was now your turn to be confused. “Really? That’s surprising…” You pause, unsure how to break the tension that was gradually growing towards awkward as Bucky’s harsh eyes took you in. “Well I better leave you two be. I’m sure Steve still needs to give you a tour of the pace.” You smile, turning your back towards the two men and begin gathering the items required to make your breakfast. You let out a deep breath when you hear the two men leave.

Bucky seemed intense. It made sense, after all, he has been through a lot. Maybe he thought you would hate him for what happened to your grandparents. But you didn’t. You know it wasn’t his fault. Besides, you weren’t one to hold grudges. Perhaps if you had known your grandparents, it would be a different story.

Just as you were about to crack the first egg, Steve and Bucky come rushing back in.

“Hey Bea, change of plans. Nat just called me in for backup so I’m going to need you to give Bucky the tour. Is that alright?”

Your eyes widen when you hear that they need Steve to come in. They had already sent in more of the Avengers than they usually need to… it must be serious.

“Yeah no problem. Is everyone alright?” You try to hide the anxiety in your voice. The team worries about you enough as it is.

“Everyones fine Bea.” Steve tries to calm your nerves. “The team just needs some help with calming the civilians, nothing crazy.”

You knew Steve was lying, he’s a terrible liar. But what could you do? It was their job. And you didn’t want Steve to worry about you on the mission so you pretend to buy into his lie.

“Ok, stay safe Stevie.” You place the egg back in the carton and turn off the stove before walking over to the two men. You give Steve a quick hug and a peck on the cheek before allowing him to go.

“Thanks Bea. And play nice Buck!” Steve quickly comments before running off to suit up, Leaving Bucky and you alone.

It was a little strange to you that Steve felt the need to tell Bucky to “play nice” but you assumed he was just teasing him.

“Where to first?” You turn to Bucky with a smile on your face, determined to make friends with the newest addition to the team.

“My room would be nice. Still got to put this down.” He gestures to the black duffle bag being held in his left hand.

Is that all he owns?

“Oh yeah of course! Right this way.” You gesture for him to follow you to the elevators.

You began to speak as you walk. “Well you’ve already seen half of this floor, the kitchen and living space. Feel free to help yourself to any food or drinks that don’t have a name on them.” You pause, waiting for him to respond but he simply grunts.

“And the other half that you haven’t seen is lab space.” You try to get the conversation going but Bucky continues not to say anything.

“Friday Please take us to floor 53.” You say kindly to the AI.

“Of course, Miss.” She responds back. “Please enter elevator B.”

The tower has multiple elevators, six of them that can be used exclusively by the Avengers team, Pepper, and yourself.

You step into elevator B, Bucky following suit. It was a decent sized elevator, but somehow Bucky’s presence encompassed the elevator. The whole room was filled with his heat and his scent. Although he was making it awkward by not talking, you appreciated his presence. It was strangely comforting and made you feel secure. Not to mention he smelt nice, like the forest after a rain shower, and leather. Perhaps a bit spicy too, like black pepper.

The soft ding and the halt of the moving elevator let you know you had arrived on your floor.

Stepping out, you begin to speak again. “Everyone's apartments are on this floor. Down the hall on the left is where, my dad and Pepper, Wanda and Vision, and Sam stay. And on the right is where you and Steve, Nat, and I stay. There are also extra places on each side incase Bruce, Clint, or Rhodey decide to stay.” Bucky says nothing as he follows you down the right hallway.

You continue to speak. “We would have given you your own apartment but Steve said you wanted to stay with him, so we built a loft for you. Don’t worry though, it has four walls and a door so you’ll have full privacy.”

As you near the end of the hallway where his room is, Bucky finally decides to speak. “You sure do talk a lot.”

You sigh internally, both relieved that he finally decided to talk, and annoyed at the comment.

“I wouldn’t have to talk so much if you actually responded to me.” You mumble under your breath.

“What do you do.” Bucky surprises you by speaking again.

“What do you mean?” You question.

Bucky lets out an irritated sigh. “You live with the Avengers… are you a tech genius or somthing?”

Oh, he wanted to know what you did for the team.

“Oh um, not exactly. Well technically I am a genius sense my IQ is way over 160. But I’m not really interested in tech… I’m an artist actually.”

Bucky frowns. “So you're not part of the Avengers?”

“No. Though I am around for emotional support.” You laugh lightly.

Bucky doesn't find it amusing. “So you live with the Avengers but you just do your own thing?”

“Pretty much.” You answer, not sure where he’s going with this.

“So you’re a liability.” He concludes.

You raise your brows. “Excuse me?”

Bucky shrugs. “It’s true. You have all this information on the Avengers, you’re friends with all of them and your father is Iron Man. Any bad guy worth his shit would want to get his hands on you. Whether for information or to use as bait.”

“Look it’s not like I just walk around on my own. There’s always an Avengers agent watching me.” You cross your arms.

Bucky gives a sarcastic smile. “Great, so you're wasting resources.”

You glare at him. What’s his problem?

“So what? I’m supposed to just stay locked up in this tower my whole life like some kind of princess?

Bucky shrugs. “You’re rich, pretty, and live in a tower… sounds like a Princess to me.”

You're done with this. You have better things to do than to stand here and let some guy who doesn't even know you insult you.

“On that note, I think I’ll let Friday give you the rest of the tour.” You turn away, not giving him a moment to say anything back before marching Angrily back down the hallway.

#bucky x stark!reader #bucky x reader #bucky barnes #sebastian stan #marvel #fanfic

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grumpygreenwitch · 4 years

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Summer Gardening.

So it’s been a while, and for that I apologize to the... 200+ people who follow me. I’m sure y’all are here for the cat pics and the nekked men, but TOO BAD. Today you get to suffer through pics of my green children. Also, I do share seed. My seed list link will be up later in the year. To begin with, the summer flowers are out en force:

Echinacea Purpurea, the original echinacea. I do save yearly seed from these guys, although it’s an incredibly pointy, stabby and bleed-y job.

Mountain Phlox. Unfortunately, all of it around the house is afflicted with powdery mildew, so I will not share seed. But it’s still pretty to look at, and the clearwings (hummingbird moths) love it. Not pictured is the white variant, who grows on the other side of the house. Look, it was hot and I was already melting.

Peppermint Balsam. This thing is basically indestructible, for an annual. It will reseed freely (to truly Lovecraftian levels) and blooms continuously from late spring until mid-fall, when the seed-pods set. There is a dormant genetic in it for double flowers, but when it pops up it’s always been sterile. It just pops up occasionally from the peppermint seed.

I may give the roommate hell over the hostas (I hate them. They’re so useful to protect toads and control weeds, but I hate them), but they do put out pretty flowers. There are several variants around the house - white-edged, blue and green, but hostas in general are very, very hard to start from seed. I will save it on request, only. We were also incredibly lucky to have a Moth Mullein sprout in our porch bed, along with some Variegated Solomon’s Seal.The SS doesn’t put out seeds, and I don’t have enough to share bulbs (yet), but the mullein has been exceptionally generous with seed pods, and it repels bugs. It repels ROACHES. It’s going everywhere. And I may be convinced to part with some seed.

Onward!

A view from a hill. Can you see the garden? That’s OK, I can’t either. Those are peach trees, on the side of the orchard closest to the house. Unfortunately a freak storm during early spring killed all the blossoms. Also, don’t mistake ‘orchard’ for ‘organized’. There’s a pear, some apples, a plum, some nectarines? And front and center are two walnuts. I’ll probably be plunking my laurel there to see if it survives winter. And someday when I have a job and money again, I would like to drop a few Chicago Hardy figs, and maybe a kiwi trellis.

This is the big garden (and fortunately not my responsibility, or I would cry). The guys are ‘handling’ it. The weeds say otherwise.

The jasmine tree and the roommate’s garden. Because of a bad back injury that refuses to heal, I’ve been helping them on and off with it. And if you thought jasmine was supposed to stay a delightful little bush, AHAHAHAHAH. Yes, that’s a light-post next to it. For size comparison.

MY CHILDREN. Please ignore the dead soccer ball. That’d be a dog toy.

Lemon balm, amaranth, and a new bed that I’ll be finishing off during fall, for use next year. The lemon balm is a permanent row - it will overwinter just fine, and it will even keep growing through the mildest part of December. Mine didn’t die back until a few solid days of sleet in January. Unfortunately the weed fabric under the amaranth turned out to be an old roll, and fell apart on me (no big, the whole point is for it to fall apart eventually), so the weeds have kinda eaten it alive.

Unfortunately, both cucumber beetles and blister beetles love the amaranth. Fortunately, it does not seem to give a damn. It’s an incredibly resilient plant, not minding weeds, bugs, flood or drought. We’ll see what the grain actually tastes like, but so far it’s looking like a good candidate for continuous growing.

The lemon balm is lemon-balming. Planted on a lark, it’s proven to be a fantastic wind-breaker - because it grows so early and so quick, it keeps the colder winds that come down through the hollow from my more fragile seedlings, like the lettuce, dill and cilantro. You can see here where the spent flower-heads are dying but there’s new growth underneath; I really have to get in there and behead it. It makes nice hot tea, meh cold tea, and hanging fresh bunches of it around the balcony keeps the skeeters off. It also seems to be a decoy for cabbage moths.

Canary Zinnia. The seed was sent to me as a gift with one of my seed orders, and this is my first year growing it. -If- I can save some, I’ll definitely be sharing and growing again. It’s a lovely plant, very sturdy, and the bees love it.

Dwarf Castor Oil. I don’t think there’s anything dwarf about it, but then I’m a short green witch myself, so maybe it’s all about perspective. Don’t let the pods lie to you, until they dry the spikes are relatively soft. However, it being castor oil, I don’t recommend it to anyone with ducks, chickens, goats, or anything that might accidentally try talking a nibble or pecking at the beans. I do, however, recommend them from jewelry if you know how to pierce things and so on. They are a gorgeous tiger-stripe pattern.

Say hello to the chard! Say goodbye to the chard! Nothing else, absolutely nothing else since the limas, has given me so much trouble. The deer love getting into my chard bed and destroying it (ergo all the forks). And once I managed to chase those off, the blister beetles showed up in force. This will be the last year I grow it - we just don’t eat enough of it to make it worth my while, and it only occasionally sold at the Farmers’ Market.

Red lettuce - Merlot and Lollo Vino, a combination of bought and saved seed. I planted a red romaine of some sort, too, but unsurprisingly it bolted in the heat. The darker reds of my favorites, though, keep bugs off them, keep deer from noticing them, and keep them from bolting. It’s just now threatening to, and at this point its kind of allowed. I need more seed for next year. Seed for this will likely be shared by the teaspoon-ful.

Calendula! I searched for a long time to find the plain ol’ calendula officinalis ancestor, rather than a cultivar where I would have no way of knowing if the medicinal principles would have been sacrificed for looks. It’s supposed to work well as poor man’s saffron (color, no taste), and I’m going to be soaking the heck outta my feet on it during winter. The plant is... not pretty. It gets leggy and the leaves get grotty very quickly. But it’s very sturdy and as long as you cut the flowerheads off as fast as you can, it’ll keep blooming until well into winter. I usually leave it to go to seed around late September.

Green cilantro seeds. You pick ‘em when they’re brown, but before they drop off the plant. Or you pick ‘em when they’re brown-ing, and put them in a paper bag so they’ll finish ripening there and you don’t end up with fifty wild cilantro plants in your garden >_> Most of the row is already gone, and I’ll be putting in a late dill crop in its place. No such thing as too much dill!

Don’t let lemongrass lie to you. Unless you tie it up, it will not grow up neat and tidy, as most grass does. Instead it will sprawl like a dramatic wilting Elizabethan lady and do its best to end up under your feet so you’ll feel bad about it. I just tie it up with a half-blade of grass; it dries up and withers away before it can hurt the plant.

I ordered pennyroyal seed because... Well, because it’s something one should have on hand, considering the way the world is going. What I got was Creeping Pennyroyal, which doesn’t care if you step on it (mint family), smells absolutely delightful, and has the most adorable, tiny purple flowers. I plan on harvesting, drying and sprinkling it everywhere in the crawlspace under the house. Making war on cave crickets, wood roaches, and other such sundries, me.

The thyme and Spicy Oregano took a beating in the heat, but they’re slowly bouncing back. The bed behind them is more pennyroyal, desperately in need of weeding, but there’s only one of me, y’know.

SIGH. Just. You absolute, ill-mannered monster of a creature. That would be horseradish, gloriously happy to be alive, as horseradish should be. Also, NOT IN ITS BASKET. Because never mind the rules, I guess.

I don’t even know how I’m gonna dig that up come winter. With some construction equipment, I GUESS.

Decorative gourd! It’s the only one producing so far, but being the seed was 10+ years old, I’m very pleased.

And an apple gourd (I think?), from a mixture of drying gourds that was only slightly less ancient. Snake, apple and birdhouse gourds. There’s a bunch of them competing in the basket at this point, we’ll see what we will see.

And this, I think, is a great use of a dead canopy frame (the dogs ate the canopy. No, I’m not making it up.) I hope to coax the gourds to grow me a lil’ roof so I can sit in shade, surrounded by pennyroyal anti-skeeter barriers, eating my maters.

My Peter Peppers (nrehehehehe) aren’t producing yet - it takes them a while. But my Chinese 5-Color are getting started. It’s a lovely pepper, both edible and ornamental, with (so I’m told) about four times the heat of a Jalapeno. They’re tiny, with deep purple undertones to the plant. They’ll go purple-white-yellow-orange-red.

The bullhorns, on the other hand, are fairly sizable SWEET peppers on very tiny plants, and I honestly suggest staking them while they’re young so they grow a sturdy trunk, else you might end up with all of them growing at a slant.They’re just now beginning to turn colors. Keeping in mind I’m virulently allergic to peppers (less so sweet than hot, but allergic to all of them), the roommate loves ‘em.

It’s a small pepper bed - mainly to refresh my seed on the hots, and to grow sweets for the roommate. Pardon the nekked bed, the autumn lettuce hasn’t sprouted yet. And yes, that’s a mixed basil/dill bed next to it. My basil grew in patchy holes (NEVER buying from those seed people again), so I filled the holes with dill. Unfortunately, dill seed heads are so fine that they’re hard to photograph well.

The tomato row. After arguing with them for this long, I went the extra mile. Every plant has a metal stake. There’s also a double line growing at the top supporting the stakes so they don’t fall over. And they still fell over. Because why not, you unruly children, why not.

Green, white, pink and brown cherry tomatoes. Delicious!

Two kinds of cucumbers, some of the only decent shots of the dill seed-heads, and a special guest hiding in the shade. I usually plant dill as soon as the cucumber sprouts, to keep cucumber beetles off it. Otherwise I’d have no cucumbers and a lot of fat beetles.

The Muncher is a small cucumber, somewhat delicate. It’s very sensitive to temperature changes, and it’s candy to cucumber beetles - basically, it’s impossible to grow it without a heavy curtain of dill, or a heavy duty decoy. This year I got lucky enough to have both. It’s also delicious pickled, keeping its crunch and getting a good ooomph in flavor.

The Japanese Long is, as the name implies, long. It’s also incredibly bitey, and absolutely scrumptious. It’s sweet! And unlike the average cucumber, it does not go metallic when salted.

And now for the SPECIAL CHILD OF MY HEART. Seriously. I have been lusting after Blue Tea Peas since I first saw them offered, and every single time they’d be sold out pretty much the day of. This year I finally got some and... remember me mentioning that freak freeze that killed the peach blossoms? Yeah. Guess what it also killed. But two plants soldiered on. I have them heavily shielded by the cucumbers, dill and chamomile, and really I have no words for the blue. Pics don’t do it justice. I won’t have the tea this year, I’m saving as much seed as I can, but I am so pleased to have it at all!

Last, but not least, and it’s a poor shot of it, the chamomile. I cannot drink chamomile to sleep - it does put me to sleep, but it also gives me bad dreams. I plan on using it as a skin wash for all the bug bites, along with the calendula, and to give me some respite from dry skin during winter.

Stay green! See you in fall! Now back to our normal schedule of frogs, cats and nekked men!

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supersoldiersruined-me · 5 years

Text

Sinful Dance

A/N: This is my very belated challenge entry for @siren-kitten-his 2k followers challenge! Congrats again love! My prompt was the Lust sin. I took a different approach to my normal writing. The whole text is the same story, but cut into the five senses. Every other part changes pov between Bucky and reader. Warnings: Pining? Dirty talk, swearing, implied sexual situations Word count: 3.7k Additional prompt: “Your lips are getting really close to mine.” from an ask.

Main Masterlist | Challenge Entries Masterlist

- Sight -

A squeaky door slides in front of him, indicating his arrival, fifteen minutes late to the monthly meeting. He grunts as he takes his place between Steve and Nat. A grumpy Tony sits at the end of the oval table, flipping through his binder, not paying any mind to the impatient crew around him. Neither Steve’s pen tapping nor Pepper’s shoulder nudge take him out of his focus. Focus that has the cold room feeling even more tense, and the people in it even more fed up of the eventful week behind them.

It’s a shy Peter Parker who breaks the silence, “Guys, I just really want to, um…”

“Queens, don’t sweat it.” With a captainesque smile, Steve proceeds to reassure him.

“We always have your back,” adds Carol over the hologram.

After a shared laugh over the poor boy’s mishap, the meeting goes on accordingly without too many interruptions. Notes over the new weapons and tech are handed, along with old-men jokes from Nat towards Steve and Bucky’s ever-so-astonished faces. The plans and maps from their regular intel seem to satisfy everyone; Bucky is the first up, ready to leave for a much needed shower and sleep. He stops short before Pepper can even begin to introduce what has a cold shiver running up his spine.

Standing there behind the glass doors, a young woman clothed of the prettiest silk blouse, tucked in a pencil skirt waits for her cue. She walks in, keeping her eyes on the ground as she takes a deep breath. He looks at her, at the way her hair waves over her shoulders. Preppy glasses frame her face and he’s ashamed to admit he wants to paint them with arousal. Weak in the knees, he retreats to his seat, the room suddenly closing on itself, becoming warmer by the second. Her shaking hands set a pile of paperwork in front of Tony for him to sign, then she straightens herself, hopeful eyes finally daring to look around the room. His insides shake; he wishes someone would strap him to the chair because he’s not sure how long he can handle himself before he’s gotta get his mouth on her. It’s grotesque. It’s new. He has no clue what took hold of him.

“This here is Y/N Y/L/N. Thank you, miss.” Tony nods her way as he flicks his pen open, his gaze running through the contracts. “If you have any orders to make for outfits, gear, what ever really, you go through her. And no funky shenanigans, please.” She smiles shyly and scans the room, brushing her nerves aside to make a good first impression. Bucky watches her wipe the palm of her hands over the jersey material of the skirt that’s so tightly hugging her bubbly behind. He wants them on his chest, his stomach, his thighs. He wants them around his d-

“James Barnes!” Nat whisper-screams into his ear, eyes shooting arrows at him. He has the nerve to look at her in wonder. Not concerned by the nature of her accusation. A chuckle on his left, the usual that comes before a snarky remark, finally has him realising something is genuinely wrong.

“Thought your arm was the stiffest thing you owned. But dude,” Sam jokes around, his hand on his teammate’s shoulder as he slowly exits the room, saluting the young lady with a military wave.

Her eyes meet Bucky’s then, and she lets them fall down his features, until they grow wide at the bulge in his sweats. He’s ashamed, caught red handed as he flattens himself the best he can. He wants to run. But there’s a rope tying them together he just doesn’t know how to rip; doesn’t want to anyway. So he stays there in his chair, rolling so he’s at least facing the other way, and waits for everyone to leave before he can make a move.

- Smell -

The sun is down, enabling Y/N to relax and get ready for bed. She was given her room before they had finished renovating it, so apart from her bed sitting in a corner, she has to use the common facilities for another week or two. She walks out in nothing but a thick robe - a neat embroidery of her name sits over her left breast - and heads towards the gym’s bathroom with her toiletry bag. Her sleepiness has her walking through the wrong door and into the men’s room, which she only notices once she walks by the row of urinals against the left wall. She shrugs with a soft sigh, but proceeds. It’s late and who’d be around anyway?

The stalls are made of tall, expensive ceramic walls that even the supersoldiers can’t top. They have actual doors rather than cheap curtains. The only thing joining them is the small gap on the ground where the water runs to a single drain, and another about a foot down from the ceiling to allow the steam to dissipate.

She turns the water on from the separate cubicle before taking off the robe and stepping in, letting the warmth soothe her tense muscles; she hadn’t thought this day would be as stressful as it has. She’s halfway through rinsing her hair when the door slams shut behind hurried footsteps. Her breath hitches in her throat. She freezes. It’s quiet for a minute until the water from the neighbour stall starts running. She stays under the stream, not saying a word and hopes she doesn’t get in trouble.

“Lavender?” His voice is deep and raspy. She’s not sure she heard this one yet. “Guess you forgot your stuff and had to take the samples, huh.” He adds a chuckle to his remark. She scuffs, thinking it would give her away if she laughed with him.

The cap of his shampoo bottle snaps, and slowly the scent rushes through the room, through her senses, to finish its journey between her legs. It’s rich and spicy. A hint of teakwood lets her know this isn’t regular drugstore shampoo. He had it made for him. To fit his needs, to smell like the woods with a faint vintage charm. Only one man in the room earlier could enjoy such details.

Bucky. The man she had read about and researched. Twisted things about him she never understood seemed to be what fed her hunger. He had a je-ne-sais-quoi that drew her in. She’d managed to put it aside; closing books and web browsers was an easy task. Unlike her current situation.

Her body trembles at the scent. Her slick fingers begin to knead into her skin with a mighty need. He’d be the death of her if she didn’t leave the room quickly, but with her head resting on the wall between them, she lets her hand succumb to the craving. She focuses on the sound of his hands rubbing over his hard body. Of the soft hum of satisfaction when he passes over a sore spot. The image of his hard cock in his sweats surfaces. She had never seen something so big, never owned a toy that looked like him in the least. He’d be a new sensation she’d have to have once in her boring life.

She has to bite her cheek to stifle the moans that threaten to give her sinful actions away. Her fingers - now clean - squeeze into her core, pumping in sync with the motions of his hand on his dick that she pictures in her mind. She’s quickly building her orgasm; the inevitable cry of betrayal turning her on even more. She holds on as he turns the water off. As he ambles out of the room and she swears he’s trailing on purpose. When her thumb flicks over her clit just right, Bucky walks out (finally) and she falls to her knees, sitting on her feet with her forearm on the cold wall - her head rests on top of it as she bites down her climax. The soap makes it hard for her weak legs to keep steady as she attempts to get back up. Her hand reaches for the robe, too out of this world to care about drying first. She brings the thick material to her face, hiding her blush from herself as if it was going to erase what had just happened. She wouldn’t handle this much longer. What ever had her feeling this way needed to stop. Or did it?

- Hearing -

His heavy body drops to his bed, making the headboard smash onto the wall. A rather thin wall he shares with Steve - the poor boy. His mind fails to recall the last time he kept his friend from sleeping. Too long, he thinks. Much too long. Y/N comes to his mind then; her soft features and the faint darkening of her eyes at the sight of his appendage. The way her hair would feel between his fingers, bunched up as he had his way with her until they matted on her face. He knows he’ll never get a second chance with her. He’d blown it. So it’s him and his imagination against the odds, but tonight exhaustion has the best of him before he can venture his hand down his pants. He’d have a hard time rushing his blood to where he needs it anyway.

He’s up in a heartbeat the next morning, refreshed and feeling dapper. He walks out of his room covered in nothing but another pair of sinful sweatpants - commando, of course - and one of his tight sparring t-shirts. The smell of fresh coffee and burnt toast welcomes him into the kitchen area, where everyone seems to have settled for brunch. As usual, he’s the last to show up, but his serving along with his double mimosa wait in front of his assigned seat. Placed on its right is another flute of liquid sunshine, a small plate with a half-eaten croissant and a notebook stretched to its limit with notes and clippings and whatnot. He steps towards the table and sits. Y/N fills the seat beside him a minute later, acting casual with a little nod hello.

From the corner of his eye, Bucky notices the oversized white t-shirt she most likely wore to bed. He’s sure she’s wearing shorts but most of them are covered by her top, leaving her smooth legs on display. He’s salivating, and it has nothing to do with the thought of ravaging the pile of bacon. He dares turn around slightly. Just enough so to see her licking the excess chocolate that’s dribbling from the croissant onto her fingers. He forces his eyes shut, his fingers soon digging holes into the fabric of the chair. Then when he thinks he’s gained control, a whisper of a moan escapes her lips when the sweetness hits her tongue, proving once more his infuriating vulnerability. He grabs his plate and he’s up in a flash before his body betrays him again, almost knocking Wanda to the ground as he shuffles around the island. With a lamentable excuse, he disappears into the hall towards the living quarters.

The smell of barbeque lingers in the air as he steps onto the rooftop a couple hours later. He sets the yoga mat down by Bruce’s experimental garden; he had grown fond of this hideout over his healing process. He’s slowly winding down, breathing in and out like Nat had taught him. With a new draft of wind comes the scent of the flower pots that bathe in the sun next to him. He remembers the sweet smell of the flowers his mom kept around the yard; magnolia, lilac, lavender… Lavender?

His eyes scan the surroundings. Lavender doesn’t grow in pots, he reminds himself. He has a look around the yard, as if he didn’t know the place like the back of his hand. Curiosity has him on his feet and roaming around to find the source. He feels a pang to his guts when his sight falls onto Y/N. She’s sitting on a lounge chair, alone. Over the back of the chair he sees one of her legs folded over the armrest, the other is bent at the knee towards her chest. The same white shirt covers her top but her hair is now loose from the messy bun she sported earlier. He watches it dance as the wind carries through. He closes his eyes and it hits him; she was the mysterious man in the shower the night before.

His mind runs wild at the thought of her naked body. At the water running over her skin, tickling her every inch. Or the fact that she must have heard him relieve himself, the squishing of his movements unusually fast for someone who’s cleaning up.

“Fuck,” he hears her clear as day; she just moaned the word out in the open. He’d walk closer if he didn’t have enhanced hearing. There’s another soft moan following and he’s going wild.

“B-Bu,” he shivers. “James, ah, please!” He stands there unable to move as he listens to her calling out his name. Her head falls back onto the chair and her other leg spreads out, mirroring the other. He curses himself because he can hear just how wet she is. He has to bite his lip to prevent his own begs from spilling out.

“So good,” she continues. Another finger slides by the others. He could tell she’s pumping fast with his eyes closed if he wanted, but seeing her shoulder bounce seems to prove he’s not so wicked after all. There is no mirage here and he’s on the verge of snapping his restraint. His sweats allow him extra room for his arousal but there’s no hiding it. His back rests on the brick wall of the staircase now. It’s cold and he needs it. Bad.

“I’m gonna,” No. Please don’t. “I’m gonna come Bucky,” she whimpers. It would be a lie to say he didn’t want her to. He also doesn’t want this to end. Until one of them makes the jump, they’d be dancing this agonizing dance and those little moments are all he’s going to get. She’s right there though, he hears her gush. He rushes into the stairwell. He doesn’t want to know. Doesn’t want to break the perfect bubble he’s put around her. There’s one way he’d let himself hear that and it’s if he’d be the cause of it. Literally.

- Touch -

She pulls her leggings up, hips swaying with the music on her TV. It’s late and she needs the extra motivation to get her ass to the gym. So she struts down the hall, waits for the elevator and makes her way to the basement. The gym’s door is ajar when she gets there, a stripe of light colours the linoleum floor at her feet. She shrugs it off; she made it this far, might as well go through with it.

A tall, square figure gets up from a bench on the far end of the room. Hair well sorted in a bun. White tank-top snug against his back. He turns around and their eyes meet. Her hand reaches for the handle on her way to desertion; a reflex she would have later regretted.

But, “Wait!” He calls after her. The muscles in her arm become frail making her hand fall to her side. She looks at him again, taking longer this time. Allowing herself to indulge and he’s letting her. He wants to take a step forward but she waves him off.

“Bucky, I can’t…” Her words are weak.

“It’s okay. I’m not sure I can either,” he confesses. They sigh in sync. “I don’t know what’s wrong with me.” She watches his expression of defeat and swallows the lump in her throat. She walks over to the mirror, keeping a safe distance between them. Her eyes meet themselves as she scans her face. They close with another sigh - her forehead leans against the mirror. Fists clench.

“I don’t know either, Bucky. All I know is whatever happens next scares the shit out of me. It’s like Schrodinger’s cat. Open the box. Taste the fruit, and you’ll know. But there’s an outcome I don’t want to face...” She hears Bucky’s shuffle. He’s right by her when she opens her eyes, startling her. She looks at his reflection now. Both of them silent as they go through each other’s doubled features. A wave of spice hits her nose just as she manages to steady her breathing. She bites her lip, eyes looking at his in the mirror. Her finger lifts until it reaches the image of his bicep. She slides it down, the soft squeak of her fingertip against the hard surface makes them shiver. He mimics her action and draws along the line of her hip. He’s bending so low she can feel his breath on her shoulder.

She grants herself to turn around, tired of faking. Tired of hiding her desire and whatever comes with it. He’s right there and accessible and she’s spiraling down a panic attack until he steps up and breaks the tension. His warm hands grab onto her forearms, effortlessly pulling her close to his chest. She’s putty. She’s everything but the confident and sexy woman she wants to be right at this moment. The speed of his heartbeat under her palm lets her know he’s not at his best either. The depth of his eyes sucks her in and heat travels through her, blushing her cheeks.

“Your lips are getting really close to mine,” he says with a cocky grin. It would be impossible to slide a sheet of paper between them.

“Bucky, please,” she whimpers albeit the uncertainty of the moment. She smiles when the weight of her words makes him shiver.

“It’ll change everything.” His hands are on her cheeks now, ready.

“I damn well hope so.”

- Taste -

“I’m sorry Mr. Barnes. Mr. Stark has asked me to inform you that public facilities of the compound are secured with cameras. High definition cameras.” The AI blurts out through the intercom, and it’s as if it, too, doesn’t want to see the following scene unfold.

“Fucking kidding me,” Bucky grunts, eyes shooting to the ceiling.

He feels her giggle onto his chest. The proximity should be firing up his arousal, but the cute gesture hits a whole other cord. Maybe this is what she meant by ‘unbearable outcome’, he thinks. He shakes the thought away, not wanting to break his one and only chance.

“You know, there is one public place that definitely isn’t monitored,” she mentions, wiggling her brows at him. His furrow for a second before he catches her intention. He picks up an elastic band from the rack in the gym before they amble down the hall and back up into the living quarters. He’s first to peek around the corner that leads towards the bathrooms, her body following with a hand on his shoulder for balance. Once the coast is clear, he finds the back of her thighs and picks her up. With a sharp kick, the door opens before them, and to their benefit, the room seems deserted. He sets her down before securing the doors with the elastic; an extra security measure that he knows isn’t the strongest, but it eases his mind nonetheless.

“Go start the showers on the left, I’ll take care of the lights,” he asks. When he turns back around, she’s standing at the other end of the room, five meters or so, but it feels like the world. He looks at her. The tight material of her leggings against her legs. How it delicately rises into her lips. The tank top she sports lets him see the bumps of her breasts perfectly. He palms himself through his sweats, bead of precum already setting a visible round spot at the tip. She’s biting her lip and he wishes he had mind reading abilities. He’d know what she wanted. How she wanted it. He damn well knows what he wants, and he feels nauseous at the idea of finally obtaining it.

“What’s with the staring,” she jokes. He grunts and she smirks.

“You’ve had control over me ever since I laid eyes on you. This has never happened. You’re so fucking hot and I don’t want to ruin this,” he admits.

“Talking will get you nowhere, Barnes.” There’s a wink, followed by her hands reaching for the hem of her tank top - it’s on the ground as fast as Bucky can blink. He takes his own top off, the movement of his muscles making her whimper and he quivers through the steam that’s slowly filling the room. She takes her bra off as he begins to walk closer, only spurring his intentions.

“Jump,” he commands when he’s within reach, grabbing her legs and pushing her against the cold wall. Her legs fit perfectly around him, her short arms hold her steady onto his neck. Her moan when their groans grind together almost has him finishing in his pants.

“God the things you do to me,” he adds between pants. His eyes roam her face and land on her parted lips. He catches her doing the same when his eyes look into hers before giving in. They crash lips in a passionate kiss, making the world stop around them. The showers become distant waterfalls and the steam is nothing but a tropical weather. It’s as if he had just bitten into the sweetest peach. Soft and subtle. Her lips dance with his and it’s the best thing he’s ever lived. They part shortly, only to allow him to take her carefully into a stall.

“Bucky, our clothes,” she whines.

“Don’t fucking care sweetheart.” His lips are back on hers and she’s safely stuck between his broad chest and another ceramic wall. The stream of water glides over his body, matting his chest hair and making his skin glimmer. His tongue travels onto her jaw, her neck, her collarbone. It’s salty from her ever lasting arousal and he hums at the contrast.

Before she can even understand the new dynamic, he’s got his fingers on her pussy through her leggings. It clings deliciously to her body and he needs it. Needs the taste, needs the feel. He has to hear the soft cries he can pull from her.

“You’re a sin, baby. You know that?” he adds in a growl.

#my writing #bucky x reader #bucky barnes smut #bucky barnes fic #kittens seven deadly sins #challenge entry #hopefully the formatting works

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domesticsns · 4 years

Note

How would Tobirama react to breaking in to Sasuke and Naruto's flat to find Sasuke babysitting Obiti and Tobi?

I gotta say, I really like this one. This is reasons why my inbox is open.

Okay. So Madara dropped off his sons at Sasuke’s and the boys were playing a game at one of Naruto’s game stations while Naruto is at work because it is PTA night at his school so he was going to be home late. Which the kids were disappointed at because uncle Naruto is fun to play with and Sasuke felt a little awkward because he is not the ‘fun’ uncle. He is ‘buzzkiller’ telling the kids to sit on the couch instead of right in front of the TV and give the apples as afternoon snacks instead of bags o crisps and soda.

When Tobi asked his uncle why they couldn’t have crisps. Sasuke said, “an apple a day keeps the doctor away.” and Tobi asked why they wanted to get away from uncle Itachi. They liked him, he gave them a small bag of crisps after school. Sasuke, feeling a little agitated at this said, “Well your uncle Itachi didn’t want to bother with rude ass kids...” Then he felt a little sorry and said, “And we ran out crisps.”

Obito being the good older brother took a slice of apple and sad, “Hmmm this is so good~ Too bad I am going to eat all them on my own!” causing his little brother to go, “NO UH!” And eat his apples. Sasuke ruffled up Obito’s hair mouthing a little, “thank you” to him.

He was starting on dinner, making some curry with rice. He was cutting the vegetables while Obito and Tobi were playing some game. They turn their face when they hear a strange soft noise coming from the window and they could see a grown as mann wearing a blue winter coat with a fluffy white fur around the hood. He was wearing a scarf and gloves as he broke in through the fire escape into the apartment and both kids looked wide eyes at the stranger who climbed in and looked at them and proceeded press a finger against his lips for them to stay quiet. He slowly tiptoed to the kitchen.

Obito and Tobi watch him, speechless because this shit does not happen in the suburbs. They couldn’t process what was happening at first and something clicked in Obito’s brain and he screamed, “UNCLE!”

So Sasuke grabbed hold of his knife and swung it when he caught something moving in the corner of his eyes. But he was quickly pushed against the counter and there was a short rough fight in the kitchen where Sasuke fight or flight instinct kicked in and he tried to stab the stranger, but obviously on terms of skills Tobirama was equal if not having a small upper hand. He managed to pin Sasuke against the counter pin one hand behind his back while having the other on the counter, holding it far away from them.

“It is me, chill.” Tobirama said, pissing Sasuke off more.

“Fuck you!” He hissed.

“Oh come on I was trying to get a hold of you all day.” Tobirama whispered in his ears.

“You better hold tight because I will stab you if you let go.” Sasuke hissed.

“LET GO OF MY UNCLE!” Tobirama got pulled back when Obito jumped on his back and Tobi grabbed Tobirama’s leg.

“FIRE! FIRE! FIRE!” Obito kept shouting because Sasuke once told him ti would catch the attention of strangers if he was in trouble.

Tobirama let go of Sasuke and turned around looking very proud of his nephews. Obito is pulling his white hair while Tobi bit down on his leg and Tobirama doesn’t know what he should do because getting in a small fight with Sasuke is fun but he was not going to hurt a bunch of kids. So given in he backed off fast and Sasuke had to tell them to stop.

Obito looks at his uncle and then asks why he was breaking in. It was daylight robbery as his dad would put it.

“That is not what daylight robbery means,” Sasuke said, grabbing Obito and putting him on the ground before saying, “I am very proud of you.”

“I helped!” Tobi said and stopped biting Tobirama’s leg.

“I am also very proud of you.” Sasuke said.

“You know this men?” Obito asked, pointing at Tobirama who lowered his scarf and took his jacket off.

“I work with him.” Tobirama said.

“Then why would you sneak in through the window! Why don’t you use the door like normal people.”

“Because your uncle is ignoring my phone calls and I wanted to push his face on the a hard surface for a while. I prefer it to be a chair, but I guess the counter will do.”

“Wait...” Obito looks from Tobirama to Sasuke and then back at Tobirama, “Is this why uncle Naruto isn’t here? DID YOU TWO HAVE A DIVORCE LIKE MY PARENTS!”

“No!” Sasuke said. “Never.” He spoke glaring over at Tobirama.

“Now why don’t you two continue playing your game and uhm...I’ll make sure Naruto gets some ice cream on his way for dessert. You two deserve it.”

“Yeah ice cream!” Tobi says with his hands up in the air as he runs back to the living room and Obito stays behind glaring at Tobirama.

“I have my eyes on you.” Before walking backwards, but tripping and falling on his ass.

“You should use those eyes to watch your steps, kid.” Tobirama said causing Obito to blush. The moment he let the kitchen Sasuke slaps Tobirama in the face.

“You could have traumatized those kids!” He hisses.

“I didn’t know your nephews were going to be here. At first I thought they were your children but they were not in your family tree. Then they called you uncle. I’m confused I thought you only had one brother and he has a daughter if I am not mistaken.”

“They are my cousin’s kids.”

“I had no idea you were so close to your cousin.” Tobirama rubs his cheek, “Really...A slap.”

“I wanted to punch you in the face, but I figured the slap would humiliate you more.”

“I am actually pretty into getting slapped in the face. Makes me feel alive.” Tobirama joked. He took his jacket off, scarf and gloves putting them on a chair of the dining table.

“Really, make yourself at home...” Sasuke said sarcastically.

“I am surprised you didn’t recognise my jacket. Since you wrapped yourself around it a few weeks back.”

“Shut up. What do you want?”

“I am taking that your husband is the one that is more guest friendly,” Tobirama teased. “What are you making, is it spicy? I don’t like my food too spicy.”

He stirred the pan, tasting the curly a little.

“Hmm, this is good. I had no idea you made wonderful homemaker besides kicking criminals in prison.”

He looks over at Sasuke grabbing a spicy pepper and throwing it in the pan, causing Tobirama to just look at him from the corner of his eyes before grin.

“What brings you here?” Sasuke asked.

“I tried texting you. But you were ignoring me.” Tobirama said, grabbing his phone and holding it up, for a moment Sasuke thought he was going to read his message out loud but then he saw the flash from the camera and Tobirama saying, “Cute apron, did your husband get you that.”

“No, it was on sale.”

“it is adorable.”

“It was cheap.”

“And sexy if you would wear nothing under neat it. I am guessing you bought it with another purpose but then figures it could have two purposes.”

“This is the third time I am going to ask. Why are you breaking in my house and scaring the shit out of my nephews.”

“They are lovely kids.”

“They are. Couldn’t have been more proud seeing them kick your ass.”

“I wasn’t going to hurt a child. Even if they cause a headache and I swear the weird one wearing the mask bit my leg pretty hard. It might be bleeding.”

“Boo hoo,” Sasuke commented.

“I might need a rabies shot? Your brother is a doctor, should I go to the hospital.”

“You should get out of my house.”

“Yeah now that you ruined dinner, honey. I don’t think I can stay with you. I’m divorcing you.” He grabbed some files before handing them to Sasuke.

“Oh no darling, is it because I ruined one meal in our long ass sexless marriage?”

“You had one job. Also our kids are monsters. My mother was right when she said I couldn’t make a house wife from a ho.”

“Yeah, I never liked your mother to begin with. Now in all seriousness. What is in this file?” Sasuke asked, opening it.

“A new lead in our case.” Tobirama said. “Now do I get a goodbye kiss?”

“No, fuck you.”

“I thought you didn’t want to do that in front of the kids.” Tobirama put his hands on Sasuke’s hips. Sasuke looks up and says: “Scram.”

“This why our personas are arguing the entire time.” Tobirama said, putting his coat and scarf back on before heading to the window.

“Front door.”

“Oh yeah right,” Tobirama head to the door and opens it right before Naruto was about to get inside.

“Oh hey Sasuke’s husband. I wouldn’t eat the curry. Too spicy.” Tobirama left as Naruto looked down he hall at Sasuke and then back in the hall way where Tobirama is leaving and then back at his husband again.

“Wait what?”

“He was just mentally scaring the kids and dropping a file.” Sasuke said. “How was your day?”

“Let’s start with yours...” Naruto said, closing the door behind him.

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helshades · 5 years

Note

Please help me find a scent! When I enter a room, I want people to acknowledge my existence. I want to demand their attention, but they can't approach me. No! I want people to automatically realize that they can't play me. No time for nonsense. Serious business only. I'm in charge. I want to be intimidating and mysterious. Which perfume should I get?

So... something potent, sensual, with monstrous projection, unsweetened, but thorny, a little cold perhaps..?. In one word: tantalising.

As a matter of fact, we could go in a lot of directions, depending on your own version of ‘intimidating’ and ‘mysterious’ alone. Or your co-workers’ take on the subject, since some people are likely to feel intimidated in the presence of a powerful green floral, or any spice whatsoever now I come to think of it. As for the approachability factor, the ultra-chic grandiloquence of Rouge Hermès has been known to traumatise its fair share of opponents. Yet, I don’t suppose you’re after something quite so, er, ‘sultry dowager’. Ahem.

Never have I met a perfume so evocative as Grimoire, or so strange. One of Anatole Lebreton’s very best, it resembles nothing you could smell anywhere else, unless you could transport yourself under the robes of a young monk daydreaming over his illuminated manuscript as the window open on the herb garden carries tranquil yet troubling scents into the dusty library. It might be too contemplative for your purposes, but it is a perfume to behold, arresting, beauteous, imaginative, at once familiar and aloof.

Now, if the frankincense and dust have you parched for a wetter perfume, I cannot resist the temptation of slipping a floral in my list, though not others might think of spontaneously: Un matin d’orage, by Annick Goutal, and here you would have a difficult choice to make between the eau de toilette and the eau de parfum versions, as they happen to be quite different, the latter featuring a pretty dirty tuberose on a woody bed of myrrh and guaic, whereas the former is a little spicier with ginger and greener, in my opinion the real ‘stormy morning’ (to be perfectly honest, I wear one in the morning, and the other come afternoon) of the two. Beautiful, energising, but a little cold.

Practically on the opposite, why not something by house Frapin? One of the most respected cognac maker, in 2007 they launched a successful line of wonderful perfumes, generally thought to be leaning on the masculine side (I suppose women are meant only to sip their minute glass of sherry daintily, whereas men can haz the better spirits...) but in truth quite unisex, usually heavy with alcohol and elegantly exotic, like a casket of precious wood so often used to carry bottles that even empty the rich smell of winy fruit and spices linger. Frapin perfumes are usually well-blended and fairly close to the skin, so I’d recommend the probable loudest and my favourite: Caravelle Épicée, ‘spicy caravel’, a classy spicy-boozy juice, peppery, delicately woody with a whiff of tobacco, and a subtle slide of sexy patchouli.

I almost recommended Speakeasy as well but I find it a little close to the skin, all things considered, even though it must be sniffed once. It was made by one of my nose darlings, Marc-Antoine Corticchiato, who runs his own independent house, Parfum d’Empire, of which I dislike exactly zero creation. His very first, back in 2003, was one of the ballsiest ambers ever made, and could drink any Frapin under the table with its intoxicating head of vodka and champagne, like a very tipsy White Russian still too well-educated to lose control of his senses entirely, but he’s almost there, and he’s rambling; and his leather boots are waxed in birch tar, and his perfume is something herbal and masculine with juniper and spices... The result is a smoking Russian tea with a hefty dose of alcohol: the much-beloved Ambre Russe. Also particularly worthy of note in the house for me, with added ‘mystery’, are Wazamba, all incense, balms, resins & woods, and it is to Serge Lutens’ Fille en aiguilles what green leather desk covers are to red ones (ctrl+F, then search for ‘sage-green’.), as well as the bashful and daring Aziyadé, the forbidden Turkish delight of a girl. A lot more luxurious, and not an easy wear for everyone, and it evolves along the day marvellously (very different notes come up depending on who’s wearing it, too, which is never a bad thing), depending also on the weather. Honestly, on me it smells so much like spicey, liqorous orange that I’m incapable not to wear it on Christmas, but on most other people it does smell less like a fruity pomander.

Now, since I cited one of my favourite ambers, I must mention another, which is one of the most splendid ever created: Lubin’s Akkad, which could have been the ultimate ‘perfume of an empire’, as nose Delphine Thierry sought to make the mystical fragrance that emperor Sargon, who ruled Mesopotamia twenty-five centuries ago, might have wished to offer his goddess Ishtar, who presided over love and war... The offering is a startling beauty, sombre and luminous at once, a combination of precious incenses—elemi, olibanum, styrax—with hypnotic herbs (labdanum, clary sage), hot spices (vanilla, cardamom), on a bed of amber embers. Must always be compared with its incestuous cousin Idole, based on ebony wood and a hint of leather. Darker somewhat, more dangerous, and just as heady.

Dangerous also... This one has its share of haters: Serge Noire, by Serge Lutens. It has many notes in common with Idole, including its ebony heart, but instead of rich alcohol and macerated fruits, there are strong, dark peppers and a bag of cloves that knocks you down on first sniff. I adore it, because I can’t have enough of filthy musky notes and clove, like cumin, can be (and is often) worked into a civet-like smell of sweat and sex. (The title is a pun on Lutens’ first name—the nose behind his perfumes being English mad genius Christopher Sheldrake—but serge is French for ‘twill’, a nod to Lutens’ youth designing hair, make-up and jewellery for the high fashion world.) Serge Noire is a contrasted and demanding perfume, burning hot and cold, a dark fur with hints of ash and earth, some have spoken of ink, but it ends on a more suave vanilla-scented leather. You have to be patient for this layer to appear, though.

On the civet-spice spectrum, one of my favourites: Rose Poivrée, which now-retired Hermès in-house perfumer Jean-Claude Ellena designed for The Different Company, is exactly what it says on the tin, a dark red rose with loads, but loads of pepper, black, pink, coriander, and a frisson of vetiver to better underline the insanely exciting duality of this hot-and-cold perfume. I wear it in autumn for some reason, and it keeps changing, alternating between the rose and the sweat-like cumin. It has a magnificent lookalike, with less dirty notes and added gin and leather, in Penhaligon’s Much Ado About the Duke, with the downside of the ridiculous price of their ‘Portraits’ collection, and I hardly ever see it on EBay, unfortunately, but one never knows.

Intimidating, mysterious, commandeering, quite a little bit dangerous, and of course horridly expensive, I frantically advise you to discover the entire line of D.S. & Durga perfumes. Based in New York, perfumer David Seth ‘D.S.’ Moltz and architect Kavi Ahuja ‘Durga’ Moltz are married, crazy, and brilliant; both are obsessed with the way odours allow us to armchair-travel everywhere, and their olfactory universe ventures into pre-industrial America, ‘turning things [they] love into scented stories of cowboys, open terrain, Russian novel characters and folk songs’. This is how you get one Burning Barbershop, inspired by a fire that ravaged a Westlake barbershop in 1891, hence a fragrance like old-timey tonics, lavender, mint, lime, vanilla... as well as smokey notes. (My personal favourite is Bowmakers, a homage to the violin and bow makers of the Bay Colony in 1800s New England, which is only woods—rosewood, mahogany, pine, maple—, resin, varnish, nut and leather.) In the ‘Hylnds’ collection, Pale Grey Mountain, Small Black Lake is an unbelievable chypre with herbal, mineral and aquatic notes reminiscent of an entire Scottish landscape. Even more apothecarial is Mississippi Medicine, with its camphorous head and its resinous, vegetal body of cypress and cedar mixed with coriander, juniper, olibanum, and birch tar—so powerfully, so troublingly organic, intimidating, mystical, that if it heals, it must also be a poison.

Here, impossible not to mention James Heeley’s Esprit du Tigre, the sensuous transposition of a famous Asian liniment commercially known as ‘tiger balm’, but it is surprisingly tasteful and decidedly discreet in the end. So, by Heeley, I’d rather recommend two great classics, his wondrous incenses Cardinal and Phoenicia, the first a sensually blasphemous blend of myrrh and olibanum on white linen, a peppery rose with labdanum, earthy and aerial with patchouli and vetiver; whereas Phoenicia is an imaginary voyage on the Mediterranean Sea, inspired by the merchants who brought so many precious woods, spices and fruits to the west in the Antiquity: dates and grapes, incense and labdanum, oud, sandalwood and birch, and vetiver. It has a lot in common with Aziyadé in fact, except the latter is a spice market while this one is a merchant ship with a heavy cargo of precious woods. (Have both, is essentially what I’m saying.)

So, is it showing that I’m completely obsessed with incenses? I shall refrain from adding to the list Olibanum and Oxiana by Profumum Roma, then, but I’ll have some trouble not mentioning my darling Arso and its resinous beauty with a side of grilled hazelnut... Well, if I really must stop, perhaps instead something like the intensely aromatic Victrix (oakmoss, bay leaf, vetiver, peppers and musk) or the fizzy mint & patchouli of Thundra. Profumum Roma bottles are expensive, yes, but this is because the perfumes are highly concentrated, at 43% (a higher dosage than anybody else I know), which means that they last forever with the smallest spray. Do come back to me for advice in the spring when I’m the mood for greener recommendations because Acqua di Sale, ‘salt water’, a startling seaweed, myrtle and cedar blend, might interest you.

In the meantime, because it is horribly late and I have to post this before I start waxing poetry over sticky florientals and how they too can be intimidating and stuff, but above all, before I begin waxing poetry over most of Pierre Guillaume’s catalogue (his creativity is somewhat epileptic and that catalogue seemingly endless) I’ll leave you with a note on a strange, strange flower, which is Daniela Andrier’s Une amourette Roland Mouret for zany house État Libre d’Orange, where the usually well-behaved classic orange blossom gets loose and lascivious, thanks to a temptress of a perfumer who knows how to play the indolic—that is, the fleshy—notes of the white flower, before lying her down on a bed of crazy neo-patchouli, synthetic molecule Akigalawood®, which possesses the peppery, oud-like notes of the undergrowth. Snow White and the wolf in a bottle.

#answers #nonnies #aromaphilia #you never said how office-friendly that scent should be #remind me to tell you of timbuktu later

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uzumaki-rebellion · 5 years

Text

Black Boys Bloom Thorns First: Volume 2, Chapter 6

"Loving you has taken time, taken time But I always knew you could be mine I recognize the butterflies, inside me Since it's gonna be made tonight, tonight All you gotta do is say yes…"

Floetry – "Say Yes"

N'Jobu waited for Califia outside of his apartment complex.

The fifteen-story off-white building was full of working-class families, but it also had some sketchy characters who hung around the basketball court adjacent to the property. There was only off-street parking available. N'Jobu wanted to escort Califia inside so that folks hanging around outside could see who she was with. Residents gave him a lot of space and were happy to have him living in the building. When the block got hot or some young knuckleheads popped off, N'Jobu tended to be the peacekeeper and the ass kicker. He had a scuffle with a few ruffians his first week in the building, and once he reached for his waistband most folks thought he was packing and let him be. Word got around not to fuck with the barber on the fourteenth floor. Especially since he really was strapped now.

He saw Califia pull up in her teal hatchback and he hopped into the passenger seat to guide her to a parking spot. Walking back with her he wanted to hold her hand, but he strolled close to her, making eye contact with a few men loitering near the entrance.

They were quiet on the elevator together, so he gave side-long glances to her outfit. She had changed from teacher gear to hanging-out-for-happy-hour fits: a simple long sleeve black maxi dress with black ankle boots.

She followed him to his two-bedroom bachelor pad. His neighbors across the hall, two attractive women who worked retail, were stepping out of their apartment when N'Jobu was opening his door.

"Hey Joseph," one of them cooed as they let their eyes flit across Califia on their way out.

"'sup," N'Jobu said.

He peeped Califia checking out the women as they sauntered over to the elevator. When she turned back to look at him, he had his door open.

"Heyyyyy, Jo-seph," she teased.

"Stop," he said smiling.

"The ladies in 1402 seem very friendly."

"They are."

"Hmph."

He held the door open and let her walk in first. Califia looked around. His furnishings were simple: a second-hand couch he bought from a thrift store that had a hideous striped pattern that he found charming. Two old bookcases and a brass and glass shelving unit that belonged to the previous tenants that he found useful and sturdy. A small coffee table with matching end tables that he bought from a cheap furniture store. A tv stand and an old tv set rounded out his humble abode. His bedroom and kitchen furniture he ordered online, along with a full cookware set and dishes. The carpet was a forgettable bland beige.

"Kick off your shoes and get comfortable," he said reaching for her purse.

She gave him her handbag and he hung it up on a wall shelf near the front door.

"You want anything to drink?"

"Sure. What do you have?"

"Juice, water…"

"No wine?"

"Unfortunately, no."

"Water then."

She sat down on his couch and he went into his kitchen to retrieve a glass for her. The batch of jasmine rice he made was ready. All he needed to do was fry up the vegetables and shrimp he had prepped. An old favorite he knew she liked when he made it in the past. Spicy plantains with onions, peppers, and mango relish. Easy to make quickly.

He brought her a cold glass of water and returned to the kitchen to cook. She wandered in to watch him.

"Should I at least set the table?" she asked observing him cook.

"No. You just let me cook. I'll do everything. Relax."

She sat at his dinette table and watched him fix their late dinner. He prepared the table for them and plated their food. She still had a healthy appetite and when she was smacking her lips and humming as she ate, he knew he'd made a good choice for their meal.

"Damn, I missed eating this," she said. She gulped down some water and dipped her finger in the mango relish still on her plate and nibbled it down, cooling her tongue from the peppers.

He cleared up their dishes and stuck the leftovers in his fridge. She followed him back into his living room and sat next to him on his couch.

"Thanks for dinner," she said.

They stared at one another for a moment, and then her eyes fell away from his. A quiet shyness came over them both. She turned her body to face him.

"We're married?" she asked.

As always, she was straight to the point.

"In a manner of speaking—"

"No, you said I was your wife. You were quite adamant about that."

"In my culture, the acceptance of the ring signifies a bond, a marriage bond. There would have to be a ceremony to formalize it, but getting the ring and seed…pretty much a wrap."

"You should've told me that."

"Would you have gotten the piercing if you knew? In this country, it doesn't mean anything, but back home…it's a sign of commitment."

"Yeah, I probably would've still done it. I was committed to you."

"Zinzi broke off the engagement."

Califia's face grew softer in her expression.

"It became a really big deal."

"Why did she break up with you?"

"She eloped with her lover and my family wanted to do damage control by keeping me hidden away in the military. We uh, we had a bit of a reckoning between us when we returned from D.C. that last time I saw you. She was with her lover, and I was with you…when we returned home…"

He wrestled to find words to explain the turmoil. It was an emotionally draining experience. On the flight home, Zinzi cried and there was no comforting her. Back in the palace, they both struggled to come to terms with not being with who they loved. In essence, they couldn't fake the funk anymore. N'Jobi approached his brother privately and tried to break down what was happening between them. T'Chaka was upset, but he held Zinzi in high esteem. She was already a part of his inner circle on national projects. She was even being considered as a future replacement for Kholiwe on the Council of Elders.

The look on T'Chaka's face when N'Jobu told him that Zinzi was in love with Gcuma was an accusatory one.

"Did you force her into his arms?" T'Chaka asked.

"What does that mean?" he asked.

"I know about your indiscretions, Baby Brother. I also know you have never wanted to get married so soon. I would have thought that you of all people could be a little more careful with her heart."

"She has been in love with that man a long time. Even before she was approached for marriage by me. We have been friends maintaining a lie that can no longer be kept hidden. Her desire is to marry him. I want her to."

T'Chaka wanted to contain Zinzi, convince her to disregard the general and honor her duty to the Udaku family, but she ran off with Gcuma and married him in another city and the family was in an uproar. Their father was outraged that Gcuma could betray the family, and of course, tongues were wagging about the trip to D.C. and Gcuma being around Zinzi. N'Jobu didn't have to worry about Yejide or Ometeko revealing his liaison with Califia. They were loyal to him.

Their mother was concerned with rumors and the truth getting out. T'Chaka was more concerned with N'Jobu being able to save face and being viewed as a weak cuckold. N'Jobu decided to play into that scenario by acting the part of a hurt but understanding ex-fiance who didn't want Zinzi or her family punished. The War Dog expansion came right on time, and N'Jobu campaigned to get an assignment out of the country. Lagos. Marrakesh. Joburg. His parents wanted him closer to the family and tried to compromise by suggesting he take an assignment in Niganda as Special Ops, but N'Jobu played up the fact that he needed distance to get over his loss of Zinzi.

Leaving far away from Wakanda was his only option, and it would help cover the marriage of Zinzi when it did come out. They could spin the story that his sterling military career put a strain on their engagement and they broke it off mutually. And Zinzi could still be a part of the council with no stain on her name in the public. Marrying a high-ranking general in charge of training and stationed in Birnin Zana would be seen as an acceptable consolation. Zinzi's family would have to get over Gcuma's age and previous divorce.

He was sent to Marrakesh first. Then a short stint in Accra before being shipped to Joburg.

For a year he toiled in the muck and mire of military politics and subversion in South Africa. Every War Dog had to come back to Wakanda each year for a month-long psyche evaluation and debriefing before returning to their work. During his annual check-in, N'Jobu learned of the Oakland assignment. He went hard for it. His superiors agreed he was the right person for the job. By that time Zinzi already had her first child. A boy. All he could remember was how much she wanted to make babies with Gcuma. She was doing it.

N'Jobu sat on the Delta plane to America thinking about having a child of his own. He remembered that Califia said she liked the name Erika or Erik if she had a baby. So be it. He would give their child, (the one that only lived in his mind as he flew across the ocean), a middle name. N'Jadaka. A gender-neutral name that would fit any child that came from Califia's womb placed there by him. N'Jadaka- One who brings down thunder. What did Califia say the name Erik/Erika meant? Ruler?

He mulled the name over on the plane. This child who had yet to be created by them. A ruler who brings down thunder. He was going to speak this child into existence with her. They had lost one already. But not this next one. No, this next one would make it all the way into the world. He would see to it.

"Zinzi has the family and person she always wanted. I want the same, Califia. This job I have is covert and I will have to return to Wakanda every year to check in with my people. No one but you and I can know the true details. We have this one chance to be together…"

"But?"

"But what?"

"C'mon now. There's always some caveat. Something that could change at the last minute."

"As long as I toe the line, keep up with my reports, and never interfere overtly with the goings on in my sector, I can be here for…years."

He saw her eyes widen a bit and she scooted a little closer to him.

"How would this work? I mean really work, N'Jobu? You just live like a regular random barber and we get together whenever?"

"We are expanding our global observations-"

"Global observations? Is that code for spying?"

"Yes. We have been expanding our observations in major cities. The only thing I do is live here, watch, and report—"

"What are you trying to find out?"

"The less you know the better—"

"No. That's not how this is going down. You have been secretive with me since the first day you met me. I don't want secrets or omitted facts. You tell me what your people want to know or else I'm walking—"

"My country has natural resources that we have protected—" "Oil?"

He didn't want to give away too much. White lies had to be given.

"Yes. Oil, cobalt, gold, tantalum, diamonds. Many countries want to get their hands on it. Exploit us. Our only protection has been to stay low key. To extract these items would destroy our environment. We are poor in the Western sense but there are forces gathering to use us and our land. Some of those forces are connected here."

His face felt hot. He had to walk a fine line. He had to live with this woman in plain sight but also keep her safe. They were just white lies…no really just an omission. The true resource was vibranium. She would never know about that. Never know how far ahead his people were compared to her own.

"We also want to know about some disappearances happening here—"

"Disappearances?"

Her face appeared anxious.

"In parts of East Africa, there have been people going missing. Not like regular missing persons…and not just East Africa. Europe. Southeast Asia—"

"One of my students was taken away under mysterious circumstances. Him and his whole family."

Her lip curled up a bit.

"I was questioned two weeks ago by men who were not the Feds. I'm sure of that. They were evasive and wanted to know if Terrell….that was my student's name…they wanted to know if there was anything unusual about him."

"Was there?"

"Yeah."

"What could he do?"

"Heal people. He could heal people. Moods. Physical ailments. I told him and his parents that they had to be careful. What is going on, N'Jobu?"

"I don't know. I'm here to find out."

"This won't be dangerous, will it? You won't have to do anything that will get you hurt, right?"

Stress marred her facial expression.

"I just watch, listen, and report."

"Didn't your people think you'd be recognized once you came back?"

"No. When I lived here, I was only in places tied to the university. I've blended in completely."

"But there are people around who may remember you when you were with me. If we go out together—"

"It's why I chose the name, Joseph. People would think I Americanized my name. Most didn't know my last name, and you never gave any real details about me. We'll work out something to tell your family. And Bakari."

"And Rolita, Soliel, and Serah."

"True."

She took a deep breath.

"Is this really happening? I'm not going to wake up and you'll be gone again, right?"

"I'm here. There will have to be layers to how we live. I have to keep this apartment. Stay in it at least two to three times a week. It has to look like I'm the only one who lives here."

"My townhouse…I was only able to get it because of you. The money you left me. I used most of it for a down payment. That makes it your home too."

He smiled.

"You'll stay with me there for most of your time?"

"If you will allow it."

She scooted in and wrapped her arms around his neck.

"I will allow it."

She pressed her lips into his. He closed his eyes and swept his tongue inside her mouth. So close. They were so close to realizing their life together. He pulled her onto his lap, one hand supporting her neck and the other draped around her waist. Her kisses were wet like fresh morning dew and he couldn't stop himself from lifting her so that she straddled him. She pulled up her dress so that her warm thighs could spread across him untangled. They were all full lips and open-mouthed exploration. He couldn't get enough of her. Had to hold onto her for dear life. She was his life. His whole life right now.

He broke away from her first and nuzzled his forehead into her cheek and then her forehead.

"My people can never know about you."

"But if we have a baby…don't you want your family to know?"

"They would drag me back."

"You're willing to do that? Live with that?"

"I want to be here. With you. That's all I want."

"God, N'Jobu, baby, that's a huge sacrifice-"

His mouth overpowered hers. He had to make her know that she was worth the sacrifice.

Adjustments.

They were hard at first.

The first thing Califia had to do was bring N'Jobu back into the fold of her family and hope they believed the story of him being disowned from his family after leaving the military. It took her father months to be comfortable with N'Jobu being with her, especially when he learned of her going through her surgery without N'Jobu being by her side.

Nana Jean was easier to win over, especially when she saw them together. Bakari flew out to see them during a weekend break and it was good to see the two men patch up their friendship. It was obvious they missed one another. Soliel, Rolita, and Serah supported the reunion too.

Casual friends and associates just absorbed him as part of her life. At the barbershop, he was JoJo or Joseph. Same at his apartment. Around her family, he was Dayclean or D.C. In their townhouse he was N'Jobu. In bed he was Jobu. It was only in their house where he would drop his American accent and allow the lilt of his Wakandan native tongue to return.

When he went to his apartment without her, she sometimes worried about the women across the hall from him. He was playing a role. What if part of that role-playing involved being involved with people because he needed information from him? The two women, Dionne and Alma, were single and too familiar with N'Jobu for her liking. Califia didn't feel jealous per se, just concerned with their overly flirty behavior. And N'Jobu's insistence that Califia not come to his apartment that often weighed on her mind. He wanted to keep work and home life separate. Her stomach would feel queasy when he was not in bed with her and sleeping in his apartment.

Their work schedules took time to adjust.

N'Jobu worked long hours and Nate was giving him more responsibility, grooming him to be a manager out of fear that N'Jobu would leave to work for another shop or open his own. His reputation had grown and his skills grooming and making men look like new money were in greater demand. It caused some friction among the other barbers with seniority, but Nate didn't want to lose N'Jobu's clients. Some were Pro athletes from the Giants and 49ers. Coins were flowing in.

Because of this, Califia often came home from teaching and wouldn't see N'Jobu until much later in the evening after he was exhausted. Their sex life went into a natural transition. It was still satisfying when they did have it, but it wasn't as often. A lot of it had to do with his having to be in the apartment to keep up appearances. It was beginning to put stress on her. She didn't want to complain. She was happy to have him back and they were building on their relationship, but if they were going to have a baby, it appeared that she would be doing the bulk of the parenting.

They agreed not to start trying for the baby until the following month, and she was already off of her birth control. They found a doctor they liked that understood her medical history and appeared to have a good reputation. If they timed it right, she could hopefully carry her baby and have it during her spring break. She could get maternity leave and have the free summer months to be with the baby before heading back to work again. But there was no guarantee her body would just do what she wanted it to do. The research they both did showed that it could take a year to conceive for some people who were actively trying.

She knew that because she was high-risk she would be tenser trying to conceive. She started looking around for a doula to help her navigate a full-term pregnancy. She had heard and read horror stories of Black women dying recently from childbirth in local hospitals. Maternal deaths of Black women were high. N'Jobu's sister-in-law was still on her mind. Her death still gave Califia chills. She wanted an advocate to walk her through the entire journey in case doctors tried to talk over her or dismiss her fears. She remembered the case of a famous athlete who had the best doctors in the world, and she still almost died because her medical team didn't trust that she knew her own body and that she knew something was wrong after pushing out her child.

Califia was ready. She wanted a baby. She planned the timing for a baby. She wanted to have their baby set up right.

But she needed her man at home with her and between her legs to make that happen.

Walking around their house she found herself bored and checking the phone every twenty minutes. He said he was coming home early tonight. He was nowhere to be found. She sat down on the recliner that she bought him for his birthday. She could smell remnants of his cologne in the headrest. Perturbed, she grabbed her keys and her motorcycle jacket.

It felt good to ride her bike. She was tempted to ride to his apartment, but what would she say to him if he was there? I'm checking up on you? I don't trust people around you? I have some doubts about us?

She rode out to Lake Chalet restaurant for a glass of wine. It was a venue that stayed open late and had a nice water view. She ordered herself a carafe of Sauvignon Blanc and sat outside. She had to enjoy alcoholic beverages as much as she could before she got pregnant. She had tenure now for teaching, and still smoked an occasional joint during holidays and the summer, but now she was slowly eradicating all her vices to prepare her body. This would probably be her last glass of wine for a long time.

She checked her cell, but there were no messages from him, and it was already eleven at night. A fog was rolling in. The restaurant was shutting down, so she gulped down the last good swallow of wine and headed back home.

Pulling closer to her neighborhood she noticed street lights and house lights were out all over. The darkness mixed with the fog was eerie and she had to ride slow to maneuver her way home. She parked her bike and used her cell phone to light her way to the townhouse.

Inside the house, her cell light revealed N'Jobu sound asleep on his recliner with his jacket and shoes still on. Light snoring greeted her. She reached down and gently shook him. His eyes reacted to her cell light.

"Why is it dark in here?" he asked.

"Power outage. It's dark all up and down the street. What time did you get back?'

"Been here for about an hour. Had to do some things at the apartment."

He sat up to kiss her. "You've been drinking?"

"I was waiting for you and got bored. Went to the Chalet."

He stood up and pulled out his cell. She followed him into their kitchen where he pulled out some mini flashlights.

"Where did you stash the candles?" he asked digging around a cupboard near the fridge.

"They broke when the box fell. There are some tea candles upstairs under the bathroom sink."

They went upstairs and he helped her light several tea candles sitting inside of small round candle holders. They spread them onto both of their bedside nightstands and the glow from the orange holders gave the room an ethereal ambiance.

She changed into a short nightgown as he took one of the flashlights into the bathroom so he could see as he showered himself.

She crawled under the covers of their bed and waited for him.

He walked into the room nude and still drying off, placing the flashlight on his side of the bed. She watched him towel himself down, her breath still catching in her throat while looking at him. His nudity was still so beautiful to her. He laid the towel across a small stool.

"What?" he said when he caught her eyeing him.

"I like watching you dry off."

He slipped into their bed next to her and pulled her into his arms.

"I got caught up with some things I needed to take care of—"

"You didn't call me all day."

"I'm sorry. A lot was going on and I had to get reports completed and sent before I leave," his eyes closed and she felt his body settling down the way it did when he was ready to go to sleep.

She didn't like the sound of him saying "leave". He was due for his annual check-in back in Wakanda. His first one since they were back together. He was flying out in a week.

"I wish you would've called me. I thought maybe you had left without saying goodbye…"

He kissed her cheek.

"I'd never do that to you again."

She rubbed her hand on his chest.

"You will come back, right?"

She felt her body clench up, the anxious tension making her feel rigid and cold. He rubbed her shoulders and lifted up her chin.

"Is that what has you so worried these last few days?"

"Yeah."

"It's routine. I've done it before. Thirty days there, and then I'm back on the plane."

"What will they do with you?"

"Evaluations. Debriefings. After that, I'll spend some time with my family and then I'm back here with you."

She hated appearing helpless or weak in front of him. He always stirred up such intense emotions within her. She didn't like acting like a crybaby, but she really felt afraid. Their love had always been topsy-turvy and uncertain, and she couldn't help feeling that same way even though he tried to reassure her that things would be fine. She worked hard not to press out any tears between her eyelids.

"Hey, don't worry. I promise. I'm coming back."

She released a small shudder and he shifted his weight, lowering her head onto her pillow. She could see the flickering glow of the candles licking across the ceiling of their bedroom and tracing the shapes of their shadows.

"I'm coming back. And when I do, we'll make our baby. Okay?"

She nodded her head. His index and ring finger stroked her from her temple to her chin. He lowered his face toward her and kissed her. Just their lips touching. He pulled back and studied her face.

"I love you," he said.

She started cheesing so hard that her face felt tight. "I love you too," she said.

"Show me," he said with a teasing quality in his voice.

She kissed him again, lips only, and then she opened her mouth when his tongue prodded her with insistent licks. Tender and slow, they took their time for a long time until she started nipping at his lips, her signal to him that she was damp between her legs and needed more from him. He pulled back from her face.

"Kissing is never just kissing with you, girl," he said. She could hear the strain in his voice. It had been some time since they had kissed like this. He stared into her eyes and she could tell that he was ready for something more. It had been over a week since they had been intimate.

She unlaced the top of her gown and his eyes watched her hands free her breasts for him. His hands reached for her hardened nipples first and then he was clasping each breast, massaging them.

"I wonder how big these are going to get," he said and she giggled until his mouth latched onto a nipple and he suckled her. Fingers from his other hand stroked and teased her other nipple. He took turns catering to each breast and her clit thumped like a bass drum keeping time with his ministrations. When a nipple popped out of his mouth with his lips wet with saliva, his eyes had changed from soft to determined.

"I can't wait for you to feed my baby with these tits," he said plying her legs wide open. He pushed up her nightie from her hips up to her waist. He propped up on his knees and when her eyes dragged down to his waist, he had his full erection already in his hand stroking himself. He ran his thick fingers around the head of his dick and stared at her tits. She reached up and pushed her breasts together for him.

"Ah, yes…feed my baby, huh, girl. You'll do that, right?"

She nodded and he pressed his tip against her clit and rubbed it. She felt her legs quake and pulled them up.

"I'll put a baby right in this pussy…right in this good pussy…let me put this in you…okay?"

She nodded and he pushed forward, filling up her insides. He watched her play with her nipples for him and his first hard thrust took her breath away.

"Jobu," she whimpered pointing her toes up to the ceiling where the candlelight continued to dance for them.

He took his time with her, his eyes still watching her face and darting down to watch her chest move.

"I need to enjoy these big tits before I have to share them, huh?"

They both started to laugh even in the midst of his long strokes.

"I can't wait baby," he said.

Her breath became uneven as he hit a spot inside her pussy that caught her off guard and caused her toes to curl. His eyes closed when he hit that spot again.

"Oh shit, you feel good. Got my balls tight already, baby."

When he hit another angle that surprised them both with how good it felt, they both groaned.

"Get you some, baby," she encouraged, still tweaking her nipples.

He sank down deeper then pulled all the way out.

"Shit," he gasped. He pushed her legs wider and moved his head down to her folds and lapped up her juices with delicate swipes from his lips and tongue. She was nearly crawling the walls when he sucked on her clit and plied her clit ring with an eager tip of his tongue. He lifted up when she began squirming and sank his thicker erection back down into her walls.

"You'll let me put this baby in you?" he asked.

She was lost in the rhythm of his strokes and murmured yes. A rough hand from him gripped her left breast and squeezed it. His eyes sought out hers.

"Tell me you want to have my baby," he said.

His eyes were glassy from the candlelight and his face looked so vibrant and alive. The passion in his voice was unmistakable. She wound her hips and pushed back on his dick. She felt his balls smashing into her ass as he rotated his hips. He matched her thrust for thrust and her mouth flew open when he slowed down and pressed deeper into her. She arched her back. Their eyes were still locked together.

"Califia, tell me…please…" he gasped.

"I want to have our baby…Jobu…oh…Jobu…"

"I'm not pulling out…"

She rested on her elbows keeping her eyes on his. His dick felt so good. More than good. Perfect. She kept her legs up as he claimed her body over and over, the hunger in his penetration stripping away any preconceived notions that they were going to make a baby when he returned to her. N'Jobu was ravishing her with the intent to put their child inside of her now. He was buried deep within her and he wasn't leaving until his cum was swimming in her womb.

Her fingers sought out her clit and she plucked at her clit ring. She felt like she was going to cum, but he pulled out yet again and feasted on her pussy. She let her legs fall back onto the bed, but his hands pushed her thighs back up as he tasted every part of her down there. When she felt the prick of tears springing forth and cascading down her cheeks, he fell upon her again, the heat from his cock plunging back into her depths. The grip of her arms around his neck anchored her to him. His lips were in her ear and his pants were tormenting her. He was keeping her on the edge of her orgasm.

"I'm going to make you cum so hard on my dick," he choked out. Her eyes were back on the ceiling. Their animated shadows made her smile. God, she loved this man so much. She sought out his lips and kissed him within an inch of her life. When his mouth went to her neck and he sucked on her spot, more hot tears flowed from her eyes. She couldn't take much more. And since he wasn't changing positions, she knew he was on a mission. A tickling sensation spread from her clit to her anus. The time had arrived. Her body was going to spiral out of control. He must've felt it. He smothered her lips with his mouth, and when she clawed at his back, his body jerked.

"I'm about to cum, girl," he gasped and slowed his hips to crawl.

"Cum baby," she coaxed.

"I want you to cum first…please…I'm 'bout to bust…fuck."

He pressed into her all the way.

"Cum for Daddy…Califia…shit…cum for me so I can give you this baby."

Califia ground her hips into him so that the swollen nub that thumped in glorious pleasure pressed down on his cock.

"Bay-bee—"

"Yes!"

She said no more as her walls spasmed around him. He gripped his hands around her ass and pumped into her, his voice growling out expletives.

"Here it comes….here it comes….here it comes….here it comes…fuck…oh fuck…!"

She squeezed her thighs around his waist and let her feet strike his ass as he spilled everything he had into her. His hips pounded into her as his heavy dick drained all his passion deep into her womb. It took him several pumps to finish and when he was through, he collapsed and couldn't move for a long time. Only his haggard breathing let her know he was still alive. She chuckled and stroked his scalp.

When he was able to drag himself off of her, his dick was still hard.

"I can tell you right now, my ancestors felt that nut," he said, and Califia howled.

"That is a terrible thing to say!" She rolled her eyes at him.

"No, it isn't. Shit. I almost passed out. I can tell you right now, your ass is pregnant."

She giggled and he kissed her.

"Look at this shit. My dick is still hard."

They both stared at his length.

"That pussy has my shit bewitched, goddamn, girl."

When he recovered, he made her sit on his face. His tongue fucked her good and she came all over his mouth. Lifting her up, he sat her on his dick again, making her face him.

"Ride me," he demanded.

She clung to his shoulders as he lifted her ass up and down. "Bounce for, Daddy."

He watched her dominate him, her tits jiggling the way she knew he liked. She threw back her shoulders so they could bounce more for him and the groan that came from within his throat made her cum fast and hard on him again.

"Oh fuck…Jobu…oh fuck—"

"Yes, baby. It's all for you-!"

She saw his mouth fly open as his eyes hypnotized her.

"I'm about to make your pussy sloppy," he growled. His hips snapped up into her and his release made her clit throb again.

By the time the candles had burned down and out, N'Jobu had flooded her pussy to the point that her opening looked like Niagara Falls with cum spilling out in a great deluge. They were hot, sweaty, and very content with one another.

With his head on her chest, she felt him stroke her stomach, his fingers warm on her tattoo of his name.

Three weeks after N'Jobu left for Wakanda, Califia stood in their kitchen and made herself a big pot of chicken tortilla soup. As she cut up fresh cilantro, she felt the membranes in her nose sting something awful. She stopped cutting the cilantro and went to a separate cutting board to prepare the chicken. Pulling back the plastic on the pre-cut chicken strips and rinsing the meat, she switched out knives and then stopped. The odors were getting to her.

She stared down at the food she was prepping and put down the knife. Everything smelled pungent and her nose crinkled. She remembered this feeling. She remembered this reaction.

She didn't need to pee on a stick to know.

Taking a step back from the cutting board, she palmed her stomach and took a deep breath.

There was no doubt in her mind.

She was pregnant.

Chapter 7 HERE.

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#njobu #n'jobu #black panther #blackpanther #eriklives #babyerikgetsmade

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a-magpie-witchling · 7 years

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Yeyé’s Little Handbook For The Everyday Witchling

Today: Peppers and allspice, when to use each kind

Sunday is when Yeyé visits! Several people asked for more advice, and she was delighted to share her knowledge. Yeye’s health hasn’t been great, and she’s been feeling terribly bored since she can’t walk so much anymore. So getting the chance to write her spells and advice has given her a fun project to work on while she’s bedridden. Thank you all for taking interest! When she saw all those notes in the post of her advice she blushed and got all flustered. It was so cute. We’ll be doing a few weekly specials if it piques people’s interest. Tell us what you think!

So today Yeyé wanted to share with you how we use different kinds of pepper. In Argentina allspice is known as “Jamaican pepper”, so that’s why we’ll be talking about it. I hope you don’t find it too odd lol

I debated with myself whether I should adapt Yeyé’s advice, but I decided to let it as close as possible to her actual words because it would feel wrong to put words in her mouth. However, do remember she’s two/three generations older than most of us here. It means that her practices can sound a little bit archaic (for example for her witchcraft per se was always a women’s art, men are healers, not witches. Also for her “spirit” and “fairy” are synonyms). If you have any questions, we can clarify or provide more info as needed!

Let me translate what she said about peppercorns:

Pepper is a very powerful way to keep away everything we don’t like, to protect, and to spice life up. It’s very interesting, because at the same time it repels bad things, but brings in exciting ones. All kinds of peppers have these two different secrets. It depends on how we combine them with other ingredients what effect we’re gonna make stronger. Pepper keeps away the fairies because it makes them sneeze.

White pepper: is more spicy and stronger. You use white pepper when you want to kick something very bad very far away from your life. And if you want to bring adventure to a very boring life, you use this kind. White pepper protects from the worst dangers. If something really threatening comes, it’ll keep it away. Put a grain of white pepper in each corner of a room to keep Mandinga (an aspect of the devil or also a powerful evil fae in Argentinean folklore) away.

Black pepper: Is the most famous one, right? Green pepper is exactly the same thing. It’s good to banish and to attract things in moderation. Somebody hurt you but you think you’ll be ready to forgive one day? Keep them away for some time with black pepper. Also when your job is boring, a single black pepper grain in your suitcase will make it more exciting. If you’re looking for a new, more fun job, rub a grain against the edges of your curriculum without staining it. Grind black pepper on any kind of food to make yourself stronger and more interesting (that’s a glamour advice, people).

Allspice: this is a very soft kind, and it helps to keep away things that didn’t mean to hurt us but did by accident. For example if you have a fight with your sister, allspice will not let it happen again, but it will not kick her out of your life forever. If you want good spirits to enter your house but bad ones to keep away, you can put allspice in a jar near the window. Bad spirits will munch on it, and since it’s spicy they will run, but good ones are more thoughtful and will only smell it and they can pass. If you are making chocolate cake for the fairies, putting some ground allspice on top of it makes so the bad ones can’t steal it but the good ones can eat.

Pink pepper: this one is the spiciest one. Very hot. You have to be careful or it’ll burn your tongue. Pink pepper is good to keep away bad love. If there is a boy who wants to be your boyfriend and you don’t like him, you keep a grain of pink pepper in your pocket when he comes to talk to you to chase him away. But pink pepper also is really good for when you and your husband are having too much routine and want to change things.

If you want to make a mix of peppers that will keep your life safe but interesting, you can do it like this:

-One part pink pepper

-One part allspice

-Two parts white pepper

-Two parts green pepper

-Five parts black pepper

[She pauses] The parts... should be SMALL.

So that’s about it on pepper. Let us know in the comments or captions if there’s any specific topic you would like to ask Yeyé about next week (I can’t keep track of all the tags, sorry :/ ). We hope this was useful, and she sends a lot of love to all of you! She’s really happy you guys take her advice to heart, and I personally thank all of you for making her feel so loved and welcomed.

We’ll see you soon!

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anestiefel · 4 years

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Jamaica vs. Dominican Republic: Which Is a Better Vacation Spot for You?

Getting There and Around in Jamaica and the Dominican Republic

Couples Swept Away Negril/Oyster

Of course, flight times to anywhere in the Caribbean are shorter from the South and east coast in the United States. Most flights from the west coast or the Midwest will likely require a layover. All major cruise lines offer sailings with Jamaica and Dominican Republic port calls (though these may be too brief to really get a feel for either place). Both destinations require a valid passport for entry. Visas are not required for U.S. and Canadian citizens in Jamaica, but visitors to the Dominican Republic are charged a $10 arrival tax, rolled into the airline ticket cost.

Jamaica: There are three international airports in Jamaica: Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay, Norman Manley International Airport in the capital city of Kingston, and (for smaller aircrafts) the Ian Fleming International Airport in Ocho Rios. Getting to Negril or Ocho Rios requires a two-hour taxi or shuttle ride from Montego Bay. Visitors can rent a car, but driving on the opposite side of the road may be too confusing for some and GPS systems don’t work well. There’s also very little public transportation on the island, so non-metered taxis are the most popular way to get around. Haggling for the rate is expected and visitors should always follow common sense safety tips.

Dominican Republic: Approximately six million people visit the Dominican Republic every year, and most of them arrive by air at one of the three international airports. Punta Cana International Airport sees the most visits, and it’s a privately owned commercial airport. Roads can be narrow and poorly paved, but the D.R. does have an inexpensive bus service that covers much of the country. Another option is to hire a guagua (pronounced wawa), an informal taxi network with vehicles that range from old vans to nice minibuses. These get packed with tourists and locals hitching a cheap ride. Note that tourists are usually charged much more than locals, so it’s smart to agree on a rate beforehand. Taxis are also available, but this option is super pricey.

All-Inclusive Resorts and Boutique Hotels in Jamaica and the Dominican Republic

Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Punta Cana/Oyster

Tourism makes up a giant percentage of both Caribbean nations’ economies, so it’s no surprise that both destinations have seemingly endless hotel options from which to choose. Whether you want a cheap all-inclusive beach hotel or designer boutique digs with privacy and butler service, you can find all levels of luxury and budget in both destinations. That said, we do think that Jamaica has a slight leg up in terms of overall quality — especially for mid-range resorts.

Jamaica: The island is one of the all-inclusive capitals of the world, and one of the first Caribbean islands to introduce the leave-your-wallet-at-home (don’t really do that) concept to attract tourists who were tired of paying a la carte prices and hidden fees. All-inclusive resorts are especially popular around Montego Bay. The adults-only Secrets Wild Orchid Montego Bay offers 10 restaurants, eight bars, and free dance lessons on the beach. Negril is still home to cozy and rustic boutique properties with lower rates. Negril Tree House Resort is right on famous Seven Mile Beach, and provides free breakfast and yoga classes.

Dominican Republic: Punta Cana is the epicenter for tourism in the country, so it’s no surprise that the biggest hotel names are clustered together on the long stretches of white sandy beaches that make the area a favorite for family vacations, party-seekers, and honeymoons. One of the top contenders is the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Punta Cana, a massive all-inclusive resort with something for everyone: a large casino, 13 pools, 13 restaurants, waterslides, beach access, and an 18-hole Jack Nicklaus golf course. For something more intimate, Tortuga Bay Hotel Puntacana Resort & Club has just 13 rooms designed by Oscar de la Renta. To get away from Punta Cana’s tourist scene, Natura Cabana Boutique Hotel & Spa is a six-hour drive north and offers eco-friendly bungalows, an excellent spa, and a quiet beach.

Food and Drinks in Jamaica and the Dominican Republic

Office of Nature lobster shack, Negril/Oyster

It would be entirely possible to visit either country and subsist completely off of American chain fare: McDonald’s, Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville, TGI Friday’s, Applebee’s, and Burger King are just a few of the Western restaurants that cater to homesick (or maybe just picky) Americans. But it would be a giant mistake to miss out on the local food scenes in Dominican Republic and Jamaica.

Jamaica: One of the best parts of eating in Jamaica is how pervasive and affordable the local cuisine is. Casual jerk shops (jerk is shorthand for a spicy marinade rubbed on meats) line the roads and beaches. The menu usually consists of the aforementioned jerk meats, like chicken or fish, smoked over pimento wood and served with rice, beans, and plantains. Scotch bonnet peppers add serious heat, so be forewarned. Other easily accessible gourmet items include Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee, sweet sapodilla fruit, and coconut water. The island’s history as an English colony means that tea is still regularly served in the late afternoons. Red Stripe is one of the most popular Jamaican beers.

Dominican Republic: Dominican dishes combine African, Spanish, and Taíno (indigenous people living in Cuba, Trinidad, Jamaica, Hispaniola, and Puerto Rico) food flavors, using ingredients that are easily accessible in the Caribbean. Dominican staples to try include mangú, made from boiled, green plantains that are mashed and topped with sauteed red onions; fried plantains called tostones; and rice cooked with black or red kidney beans. Passion fruit juice, glass bottles of Refresco Country Club soda, and strong coffee with lots of sugar are favorite beverages. For the truly adventurous, have a slow shot of mamajuana, a homemade liquor made with rum, red wine, tree bark, spices, and herbs — it’s considered an aphrodisiac.

Activities and Nightlife in Jamaica and the Dominican Republic

Tensing Pen, Negril/Oyster

Apart from the obvious plethora of beach activities — swimming, paddleboarding, parasailing, and catamaran cruises — both Jamaica and the Dominican Republic offer tons for tourists to see and do. Most all-inclusive resorts put on some sort of evening entertainment, which can include traditional dances, comedy, and magic shows. Quality truly varies, and many American guests at budget D.R. resorts complain that these activities tend to be conducted in Spanish. We suggest getting away from the resorts for the best entertainment.

Jamaica: Jamaica does have beautiful sand beaches, but Negril is better known for its adrenaline-pumping cliff jump into the crystal-clear water below at Rick’s Cafe. Other popular activities include horseback riding in the ocean (the horses actually swim for part of the trek), waterfall swimming in Blue Hole, and taking the Bob Marley Nine Mile Tour to learn about reggae. Speaking of which, the island hosts several annual musical festivals and there’s almost always a dance party on the beach or in the nightclubs. In Kingston, Olympic runner Usain Bolt opened a sports bar and restaurant called Tracks and Records.

Dominican Republic: Activities in the Dominican Republic range from adventure (zip-lining through rain forest canopy) to history (walking tour of Santo Domingo). Ocean World Adventure Park is a popular place for sea lion shows. Scape Park at Cap Cana is a must-visit for a cenote swim, cave swim, and indigenous cultural exhibits. Outside of Punta Cana, most of the nightlife caters to locals and can feel intimidating to tourists, but Punta Cana has an epic nightlife scene that includes cave bars. Note that the water isn’t ideal for snorkeling or surfing in the D.R.

You Might Also Like: Jamaica Excursions: 6 Top Things to do in Jamaica

Language and Safety in Jamaica and the Dominican Republic

Occidental Punta Cana/Oyster

Though both destinations are extremely safe for tourists (especially most parts of Montego Bay and Punta Cana), there are two very specific caveats that might make some visitors uncomfortable.

Jamaica: Marijuana was decriminalized in 2015, and though trafficking and possession of the herb is still illegal, possessing less than two ounces of marijuana is considered a petty offense. Drugs are regularly offered to tourists on the beaches and in the streets, though a polite “no thanks” is usually all it takes to deter a sale. Visitors should be cautious of petty theft in Kingston. Also note that homosexuality among men is illegal and there’s a general hostility toward LGBT individuals. English is the predominant language in Jamaica.

Is It Safe to Visit Jamaica Right Now?

Dominican Republic: Prostitution is legal and visible in the Dominican Republic. With a quarter of the population living below the poverty line, it’s no surprise that many women turn to sex work. Boca Chica and the north coast’s Sosua are the two big areas for prostitution, and male tourists are targeted. Some of the smaller (and cheaper) hotels cater to this clientele, which can feel unsafe for families and female travelers. Spanish is the predominant language, which can make exploring the island and communicating outside of the tourist areas difficult for non-Spanish speakers.

Is It Safe to Visit the Dominican Republic Right Now?

Where to Stay in Jamaica

Our Jamaica Hotel Pick: The Caves

The Caves/Oyster

With its upscale boutique vibe, and dramatic cliffside setting, The Caves is considered one of Jamaica’s most romantic escapes. The 12 unique, private cottages and suites at this upscale all-inclusive property unfold along lush garden paths and dramatic seaside cliffs carved with steep stairways down to the water and into incredible grottos. There’s a clifftop bar, a grotto bar, and private candlelit cave dining on offer.

Pricing for The Caves

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Where to Stay in the Dominican Republic

Our Dominican Republic Hotel Pick: Majestic Colonial Punta Cana

Majestic Colonial Punta Cana/Oyster

The Majestic Colonial Punta Cana is one of three upscale all-inclusive sister properties on a beautiful stretch of Bavaro Beach. The property closed completely for two months in 2017 to thoroughly renovate the lobby and restaurants. It now operates almost as two resorts: the family-friendly side and the adult-only Colonial Club side. The 658 suites are attractive with marble floors, jetted tubs, and some ocean views.

Pricing for Majestic Colonial Punta Cana

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Traveling? Consider the Carry-On from Away

The Carry-On from Away

Still using dated luggage from the 90’s? Upgrade your style with the last carry-on you’ll ever have to buy from Away. With a USB port, 360 degree spinning wheels, a hard exterior shell, and a TSA-approved lock–it’s worth it.

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Some outfit inspiration, regardless of which destination you choose:

Caribbean Rookie Mistakes Outfit

Shop the look

Floppy Straw Hat

Nordstrom

Travel T Dress

Orvis

Saylors

Warby Parker

Stainless Steel Water Bottle

Simple Modern

Sandals

Zappos

Men’s Summertime Daywear

Shop the look

Pocket T

Carhartt

Khaki Shorts

Dockers

Golf Hat

Nike

Travel Size Sunscreen

Banana Boat

Shoes

Nike

Best-Selling Women’s Beach Look

Shop the look

Swimsuit Coverup

Harhay

Sunscreen Lip Balm

Banana Boat

Waterproof Phone Pouch

Joto

OnePiece Swimsuit

Amazon

Mineral Sunscreen Powder

Brush On Block

Mens Beach Resort Essentials

Shop the look

Tanktop

Neiman Marcus

Swim Trunks

Hurley

Sunglasses

Oakley

Sling Bag

Guess

Beach Sandals

Birkenstock

You’ll Also Like:

Face-Off: Cancun vs. Punta Cana

6 Stellar Destinations in the Dominican Republic That Aren’t Punta Cana

Where to Stay in the Dominican Republic for Every Budget

Where to Go in Jamaica: 5 Destinations You Can’t Miss

Getting There and Around

Couples Swept Away Negril/Oyster

Of course, flight times are shorter to anywhere in the Caribbean from the South and East Coast in the United States. Most flights from the West Coast or the Midwest will likely require a layover. All major cruise lines have sailings with Jamaica and Dominican Republic port calls (though these may be too brief to really get a feel for either place). Both destinations require a valid passport for entry. Visas are not required for U.S. and Canadian citizens in Jamaica, but visitors must purchase a tourist card on arrival in the Dominican Republic.

Jamaica: There are three international airports in Jamaica — Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay, Norman Manley International Airport in the capital city of Kingston, and (for smaller aircrafts) the Ian Fleming International Airport in Ocho Rios. Getting to Negril or Ocho Rios requires a two-hour taxi or shuttle ride from Montego Bay. Visitors can rent a car, but driving on the opposite side of the road may be too confusing for some and GPS systems don’t work well. There’s also very little public transportation on the island, so non-metered taxis are the most popular way to get around. Haggling for the rate is expected and visitors should always follow common sense safety tips.

Dominican Republic: Approximately six million people visited the Dominican Republic in 2016, and most of them arrived by air at one of the three international airports. Roads can be narrow and poorly paved, but the D.R. does have an inexpensive bus service that covers much of the country. Another option is to hire a guagua (pronounced wawa), an informal taxi network with vehicles that range from old vans to nice minibuses. These get packed with tourists and locals hitching a cheap ride. Note that tourists are usually charged much more than locals, so it’s smart to agree on a rate beforehand. Taxis are also available, but this option is super pricey.

All-Inclusive Resorts and Boutique Hotels

Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Punta Cana/Oyster

Dominican Republic:Punta Cana is the epicenter for tourism in the country, so it’s no surprise that the biggest hotel names are clustered together on the long stretches of white sandy beaches that make the area a favorite for family vacations and honeymoons. One of the top contenders is the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Punta Cana, a massive all-inclusive resort with something for everyone: a large casino, 13 pools, 13 restaurants, waterslides, beach access, and an 18-hole Jack Nicklaus golf course. For something more intimate, Tortuga Bay Hotel Puntacana Resort & Club has just 13 rooms designed by Oscar de la Renta. To get away from Punta Cana’s tourist scene, Natura Cabana Boutique Hotel & Spa is a six-hour drive north and offers eco-friendly bungalows, an excellent spa, and a quiet beach.

Food

Office of Nature lobster shack, Negril/Oyster

It would be entirely possible to visit either country and subsist completely off of American chain fare: McDonald’s, Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville, TGI Friday’s, Applebee’s, and Burger King are just a few of the Western restaurants that cater to homesick Americans. But it would be a giant mistake to miss out on the local food scene in both countries.

Dominican Republic: Dominican dishes combine African, Spanish, and Taíno (indigenous people living in Cuba, Trinidad, Jamaica, Hispaniola, and Puerto Rico) food flavors using ingredients that are easily accessible in the Caribbean. Dominican staples to try include mangú, made from boiled, green plantains that are mashed and topped with sauteed red onions; fried plantains called tostones; and rice cooked with black or red kidney beans. Passion fruit juice, glass bottles of Refresco Country Club soda, and strong coffee with lots of sugar are favorite beverages. For the truly adventurous, have a slow shot of Mamajuana, a homemade liquor made with rum, red wine, tree bark, spices, and herbs — it’s considered an aphrodisiac.

Activities and Nightlife

Tensing Pen, Negril/Oyster

Dominican Republic: Activities in the Dominican Republic range from adventure (zip-lining through rain forest canopy) to history (walking tour of Santo Domingo). Ocean World Adventure Park is a popular place for sea lion shows. The Indigenous Eyes Ecological Park and Reserve has 12 gorgeous freshwater lakes, three of which are available for swimming. Outside of Punta Cana, most of the nightlife caters to locals and can feel intimidating to tourists. Also note that the water isn’t ideal for snorkeling or surfing in the D.R.

You Might Also Like: Jamaica Excursions: 6 Top Things to do in Jamaica

Language and Safety

Occidental Punta Cana/Oyster

Though both destinations are extremely safe for tourists (especially Montego Bay and Punta Cana), there are two very specific caveats that might make some visitors uncomfortable.

Where to Stay:

In Jamaica: The Caves

The Caves/Oyster

Pricing for The Caves

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In the Dominican Republic: Majestic Colonial Punta Cana

Majestic Colonial Punta Cana/Oyster

Pricing for Majestic Colonial Punta Cana

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Traveling? Consider the Carry-On from Away

The Carry-On from Away

Shop Now

Some outfit inspiration, regardless of which destination you choose:

Caribbean Rookie Mistakes Outfit

Shop the look

Floppy Straw Hat

Nordstrom

Travel T Dress

Orvis

Saylors

Warby Parker

Stainless Steel Water Bottle

Simple Modern

Sandals

Zappos

Men’s Summertime Daywear

Shop the look

Pocket T

Carhartt

Khaki Shorts

Dockers

Golf Hat

Nike

Travel Size Sunscreen

Banana Boat

Shoes

Nike

Best-Selling Women’s Beach Look

Shop the look

Swimsuit Coverup

Harhay

Sunscreen Lip Balm

Banana Boat

Waterproof Phone Pouch

Joto

OnePiece Swimsuit

Amazon

Mineral Sunscreen Powder

Brush On Block

Mens Beach Resort Essentials

Shop the look

Tanktop

Neiman Marcus

Swim Trunks

Hurley

Sunglasses

Oakley

Sling Bag

Guess

Beach Sandals

Birkenstock

You’ll Also Like:

Face-Off: Cancun vs. Punta Cana

6 Stellar Destinations in the Dominican Republic That Aren’t Punta Cana

Where to Stay in the Dominican Republic for Every Budget

Where to Go in Jamaica: 5 Destinations You Can’t Miss

The post Jamaica vs. Dominican Republic: Which Is a Better Vacation Spot for You? appeared first on Oyster.com.

from Oyster.com https://www.oyster.com/articles/jamaica-vs-dominican-republic/ Publish First on IFTTT

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imagine-me-here · 7 years

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Steve and Steve (Steve Rogers x reader)

Summary: It’s the Fourth of July, which also means it’s Steve 99th birthday. After digging through your grandma’s attic, you’ve finally found the perfect gift. Media: Captain America, with some Wonder Woman! Genre: fluff, bit o’ crack, bit o’ angst Warnings: mentions of WWII and the sexism prevalent in that time Word count: 2,186 Notes: late and rambley, as per usual

Dust billowed around the room as you dug through the attic, clearing empty boxes out of the way and going through full ones. You smiled. If there was one thing your grandma was known for, it was collecting things--not stamps or coins, but any little thing she found, which you thought was much more endearing. Hand-painted beads, fine silver necklace chains, and bottle caps in different languages were all part of her collection, but there were two things you loved the most: an enlistment flyer depicting Captain America urging women to join the army, and a photograph of her in her nurse’s uniform, holding a book, standing next to the one and only Star Spangled Man with a Plan.

You remember when she first showed you these keepsakes. You were only six years old, but it was then and there that you not only fell in love with Captain America, but made him your role model. There was no other mantra you lived by more consistently than “What would Captain America do?” Of course, you had had no idea that you actually end up dating the Captain.

The doorbell rung and you bounded down the stairs, throwing the door open.

“(Y/N)!”

“Grandma!”

You leant down and gave her a hug, then pushed her wheelchair to the kitchen.

“Happy Fourth of July!” She exclaimed as you handed her a cup of tea. Your grandmother was one of the most stubborn people you had ever met, refusing to stop drinking her afternoon tea even on Independence Day.

“And to you too! Grandma, I was going through the attic and you won’t believe what I found.”

She laughed heartily. “Try me, dear. I collected some pretty bizarre trinkets through my years...and I’ve collected as many years as I have trinkets!”

“Yeah, but I don’t think anything could top this.” You carried over the box and put it on the table, handing her the flyer and the photograph. You watched as her eyes filled with melancholy, and you knew she was thinking about the war.

“I’m sorry, grandma, I didn’t mean for you to…”

“Oh, nonsense,” she said, although she wiped away a tear when she thought you weren’t looking. “It’s Independence Day. I can’t be sad on Independence Day. I remember when exactly when this photo was taken. Strangely enough, it was 75 years ago, to the day. Which means it was also your boyfriend’s birthday,” she said, winking. “Speaking of, what are you going to get him?”

No one else knew about your relationship with Steve, except for the other Avengers and your grandmother.

“I’m not sure, grandma. I really wanted to get him something special for his 99th birthday, believe me, but between work and school I don’t know where time went.”

“You’re in luck, dear, because I know just the thing.” She dug around the cardboard box, pulling out a paper bag and handing it to you. Cautiously, you reached inside. Three original first-print Wonder Woman comics.

“Grandma,” you breathed. “Where did you get these?”

“All of the women in the army would get them in their welcome package, along with their uniform. It meant a great deal more than you can imagine, being able to read about a woman, even a fictional one, kicking Nazi ass just as well, if not better, than the men.”

“Grandma!”

“What? It’s true. And being a female officer at the time was quite a challenge. If you weren’t avoiding shellfire while trying to clean a gunshot wound, you were being catcalled by your fellow soldiers.” She picked up the photograph again and pointed out the books tucked under her arm. “Those are the comics I was carrying. I remember them well because as we waited for the photographer to get ready, Captain America and I talked about how much we loved Wonder Woman. Just as the photo was taken he told me how I was prettier than the Amazon herself.”

The young woman in the photo wore a huge smile, and despite the fact that it was in black and white, you could tell she was blushing.

“Now go give these to your boyfriend,” she said, handing you the paper bag and the photograph. As you left the house, you heard her calling “And give him a kiss from me!”

It was a bit of squeeze, between visiting your grandma, packing a bag at the DC apartment you shared with Steve, and catching a flight to New York, but you managed anyway. As a journalist, you had mastered the art of multitasking, especially on a deadline.

Your flight landed at LaGuardia at just after five, leaving you enough time to get to Avengers Tower before dinner. Tony had planned a joint Cap’s birthday/Fourth of July celebration, and knowing how insane Tony’s parties could get, you didn’t want to miss a minute of it.

As your Uber pulled up to the airport, you fired off a quick text to Steve letting him know you had landed safely. You reaches down to put your phone away in your backpack and felt the brown paper bag. Phew. Still intact. You were no comic collector, but first-edition Wonder Womans had to be worth a least a few thousand.

You approached Avengers Tower and tipped the driver extra, wishing him a happy Fourth of July. A tall figure in a white suit came into view, walking briskly down the hall.

“Thanks, Ms. Potts,” you said as she unlocked the door

“Please, (Y/N), call me Pepper. It's after five, so I'm officially off office hours.” She reached up and pulled her strawberry blonde hair out of its perfect chignon, shaking it out and letting it fall stylishly across her shoulders.

“Ooh, this pepper is getting spicy!” You exclaimed, high-fiving her.

The two of you rode the glass elevator up to the penthouse. Below you could already see miniature bursts of colour as people set off backyard, or rather rooftop, fireworks. Tony Stark was probably the only person in New York City who could afford a backyard big enough.

The doors opened and you saw Tony, Natasha, and the rest of the Avengers hanging decorations and preparing food and drinks. Vision hung streamers on every possible surface. Wanda, Nat, and Bruce mixed drinks while Bucky grilled hamburgers. Tony hooked up his surround sound system to his laptop as Thor stared, bewildered, at the screen, trying to figure out who Spotify was and how she could hold thousands of songs in this thin rectangle. Scott, Clint, and Sam dug through a box of disguises for the photo booth. And Steve--wait, where was Steve?

“Happy Fourth of July, babe,” Steve whispered, popping up behind you and nearly giving you a heart attack.

“Jesus Christ!” You said, lightly punching him on the arm.

“Nope, just Captain America. Sorry to disappoint.” You rolled your eyes at this stupid joke.

“How did I end up with someone as silly as you? You’re supposed to be some gallant, suave, heroic national icon, not a dad joke generator.”

“Yeah, Steve! Don’t be ridiculous. This is no time for your antics,” Sam said, bedecked in a stars-and-stripes top hat and a fake white beard.

“Very mature, Uncle Sam,” Steve said.

“I was worried you guys were gonna start the party without me,” you said to Steve.

“In the words of the immortal Ke$ha, I believe, ‘The party don’t start til you walk in’.”

“Wow. Really brushing up on your current top 40 hits, are you?”

“Shut up. That song is what, two years old?”

“I think about five,” you replied.

“Seven,” you heard Pepper call from the kitchen.

“No, four,” Tony added.

“Seven.”

“Trust me, four.”

“Seven!”

“JARVIS, when was Ke$ha’s Tik Tok released?” Tony asked, exasperated

“Tik Tok, off Ke$ha’s debut album, was released in 2010, sir.”

Tony turned back to Pepper with a knowing look. “Told you.” Pepper rolled her eyes at him and Tony stuck out his tongue in response.

“Look, babe, it’s you and me in five years.”

“Don’t count on it. I don’t think I can put up with your dad jokes and outdated references for that long.”

It wasn’t even midnight and you were already exhausted. All of the travel, mixed with an unhealthy dose of alcohol, had you nearly dozing off.

“Sleeping Beauty need a wittle naptime?”

“Shut your face, Bucky. I travelled 400 kilometers today. What did you do? Besides make out with Steve?”

The Winter Soldier blushed and turned away, refusing to make eye contact for the rest of the night.

“You coming to see the fireworks, sweetheart?” Steve asked, nudging you off his shoulder.

You looked and smiled at him. “Of course. I wouldn't miss it for the world.”

The two of you joined the rest of the party out on Tony’s sprawling balcony, where a box of fireworks and a bucket of sand lay.

“So I made fireworks for each one of you. We'll set off the normal ones and then you can each come up and light yours,” Tony said, standing in front of the crowd.

“Did he just say ‘made fireworks’?” You whispered to Pepper.

“I tried as hard as I could, (Y/N). He finally said that I was right, it was too dangerous, and he was going to do some paperwork. It wasn't until I heard the explosion in the basement that I realised, but he had locked me out of the lab. I tried, (Y/N), I really did.” You nodded sympathetically. Once Tony had set his mind in something, there was no changing it.

Tony set off fireworks and Steve sat down beside you, pulling your fleece blanket off of you and wrapping it around himself.

“Hey, if you keep acting like a jerk you won't get your present.”

“You have presents?” He asked, eyes wide.

“Of course! It's your birthday, and you're the one and only Star--”

“Don't you fucking dare.”

“Language! Golly-gosh, you have a potty mouth.” You reached into your purse and pulled out the paper bag, handing it to him. Tentatively, he reached in and pulled out the three comics, well-thumbed through but still in mint condition.

“Don't tell me these are…” his voice trailed off as his crystal blue eyes met yours. You nodded, and he stated at the comics incredulously. “How?”

“My grandmother,” you said, showing him the picture. “She was a nurse in the 250th Station Hospital Nurses. She says she you told her--”

“That she was prettier than Diana,” Steve interrupted, a sad smile on his face. “I remember her, (Y/N). Is she still…?”

“Yeah, I visited her this morning,” you said. You were grinning, but you hadn't realised that tears were slipping down your cheek. “So, you were a Wonder Woman fan?”

“Always was, always will be. She was my first fictional crush. Everytime she called out for Steve, I imagined she was calling my name.”

“If my subtraction is right, weren't you 24 years old?”

“I saved the world, like, seven times, so you have no right to make fun of me.”

You took a couple rocket pops from the box Clint was passing around and handed one to your boyfriend “Sure, Capsicle. Does that mean I should be jealous of Wonder Woman?”

“Of course not! But, if you ever wanted to wear a golden tiara, I would be totally down for that.”

“‘Totally down’? Catching on fast with the lingo.”

“Hey, (Y/N)?”

“Yeah?”

“I just want to say thank you for the gift. It was a difficult time, and I'm sorry if I ever seem closed off about it. Especially after what happened with Bucky...I wanted to seal that part of my life away for a very, very long time. But I realised that back then, like now, there were little glimmers of good. I might've met her for three minutes, but that's all I needed to know that your grandmother was one of those bright spots. Can you do something for me, (Y/N)?”

“Of course, love.”

“Go visit your grandma and give her a kiss from me.”

“I will, Steve, I will.” You hugged him tightly and he wiped away a fresh tear. “Can I have a kiss from you too, Mister America?”

“I'm pretty sure there's supposed to be a captain in there.”

You watched as each person set off their themed fireworks, one by one. Finally, it was Steve's turn and you could see his sad smile, still melancholy, bathed in pale moonlight and etched in memories. blue, white, and red embers sparkled in the sky.

He kissed you as the last of the fireworks went off, little sparks in your country's colours exploding above your head. He pulled away and looked at you, the red, white, and blue embers reflected on your faces.

“You're more beautiful than Diana herself.”

“You're more handsome than Steve Trevor.”

“Hey, when this thing ends, can we go see Wonder Woman?”

“We'll see,” you said, but then Steve offered his hand to dance under the fireworks, and you knew the answer would be yes.

#steve rogers x reader #captain america x reader #marvel fanfiction #steve trevor #wonder woman #fanfic #marvel #i didn't use italics what the heck

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giraffe1994 · 7 years

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The Ripper, The Pianist Chapter One

This will be a fan fiction story between Kirk and James, set in the late 1980s. Please enjoy it and leave any feedback you wish. It will be in Kirk’s POV. Sorry in advance if it sucks or if my grammar is terrible.

There is a moment of silence when you first meet someone before they speak and in that moment, your brain makes its decision on that person. When James and I first met, in that tiny moment before he spoke, I knew I loved him. The feeling has grown stronger since that moment and he still has no clue. I don't even have the guts to tell him how I feel and its been years since that very first moment.

Today, he has invited me over to his humongous house to practice riffs for the upcoming album and to stay the weekend with him. He even agreed to watch some of my scary movies with me! Just the thought of cuddling with him on his massive black suede sofa sends chills down my spine. Why should I get my hopes up for something that probably will never happen though?

I lightly rap on his beautiful cherry wood door and wait with my arms full of bags. Not only did I bring my essentials, I have an arsenal of horror films in its own bag and special snacks. The snacks are necessary because I am vegetarian and we all know James loves meat. Finally, I hear latches being thrown and I see a beautiful face in the doorway. James has always had a way of taking my breath away.

“Hey Hamlet! What’s up kiddo? Ready to shred this weekend?” James asked.

“Yea totally! But first, can we grab a bite to eat? I'm starving!”

James poked me in the belly softly and laughed, “Come on Kirk, with that belly you wont starve!”

I threw my head back and pretended to laugh really hard in order to cover up my bright red face. Just one touch and I'm blushing like a school girl already. He steps aside and lets me in. The place is as big as a cave and I wonder how he can stand living here all by himself.

I make my way into his kitchen which would make any housewife envious. He had rows and rows of cabinets and drawers make if ebony wood. The appliances were black and there wasn't a fingerprint on any of them and his counters were made of black granite with white specks in it. I quickly start pulling pans and utensils out. In my snack bags, I unload various vegetables and seasonings along with some firm tofu.

“You really eat that tofu stuff?” James snickers.

“Yes I do. You should give it a try, its not so bad.”

“I’ll eat that crap when you start eating roast ok?”

“Meat is disgusting James and besides, Vegetarians have thirty percent less cholesterol than you meat eaters.” I state.

James just laughs and opens the cabinet right next to me. He is only about three inches from me and I can feel his body heat on my skin. A warmth grows in my lower abdomen and my hands become shaky. I fight myself to keep from touching his beautiful body.

He pulls out two glasses and a bottle of old scotch. I begin prepping to make tofu stir fry as he starts pouring drinks. He asks me how I want my scotch and I tell him on the rocks as usual. Quickly I down the scotch in an effort to get drunk enough to forget my feelings. Soon, I had two more glasses of scotch and a wok pan full of stir fry.

“You sure you don't want to try the tofu James? It doesn't even taste like tofu, it soaked up a lot of seasoning. Try a bite for me please?” I urge.

“Fine Kwirk, but its only because I'm drunk enough to do it.”

Nervously, I use my chop sticks to grab a piece of tofu and hand it to him. Instead of taking the sticks from me, he just opens his mouth. I had to grip the counter to keep from falling over. James wants me to feed him! Not only that, but just seeing him with his mouth open, ready and waiting sent my head spinning. I'm almost sure that my face was as red as the peppers in my stir fry too.

Slowly I bring the tofu towards his mouth from across the counter. As I got closer to his mouth, he grabs my hand and puts the tofu in his mouth. I visibly shudder and gasp. He starts chewing and then a twisted expression crosses his face, then he reaches for his scotch. He quickly drank and stuck his tongue out.

“Kirk why is it so spicy!?”

“What are you talking about? I always make it this way and I don't find it spicy” I giggle nervously.

“Like hell it isn't spicy! Even your face is red!”

Oh crap, he noticed my blushing. At least he thinks its from the red peppers. I laugh it off and finish my dinner. We make casual conversation about the upcoming album and about our ideas. After I eat, we make our way towards the practice room upstairs. We jam out for about two hours and decide to give it a rest for a while.

“Wanna watch a movie dude?” I ask.

“Sure, but nothing too scary alright?”

“How about my favorite? Dracula with Bela Lugosi, its in black and white too!”

“Sounds good to me.” James shrugged and we make our way to the theater room.

The theater room will put any other one like it to shame. There was a soda machine, popcorn machine, cotton candy machine, and any candy you could ever want. Movie posters lined the walls in frames and the seats were giant red recliners with back massagers in them. The screen was as big as the wall and he even had a small wet bar too!

Going to the wet bar, he asks me what I want to drink. I ask for chardonnay and he pulls out an unopened bottle, chilled and well aged. He opens the bottle and brings it to me with a straw. I laugh but I seriously feel like I need a whole bottle to try and forget my feelings. We put the tape in the VCR and get settled in out seats. James frantically eats popcorn because he is nervous and I sit there mouthing the movie word for word.

As the movie plays on, it gets closer and closer to the middle of the movie, I turn over and look at James. He is sleeping sound but I'm used to people falling asleep during movies I like. I turn my attention back to the movie and it is the scene where Dracula is about to bite Lucy. Tears pool in my eyes as usual because I wish James would love me as Dracula loves Lucy. I start to sniffle and it apparently wakes James up. He looks over at me and grabs my forearm, genuinely asking what was wrong. I try to play it off and tell him I sneezed a bunch of times, making my eyes water. It would have been the perfect excuse but then a tear ran down my cheek.

“Kirk seriously, what is wrong?” James implored.

“Well, you know, I just want to find a love like Lucy and Dracula one day and I don't think it will ever come.” I tell him without letting him know the whole truth.

“It will come one day Kirk, no need to get all soft on me.” He reassures but little does he know, it isn't helping at all.

We turn the movie off and decide to get some sleep. He brings me down the hall to the guest room. The walls are maroon with black accents. The gorgeous canopy bed is jet black as well. It seems as if it was designed for me exactly because of the gothic vibe it gave off. James tells me his room is just down the hall if I need him, then he leaves.

Quickly, I change into my Night of the Living Dead pajamas and slip into the luxurious bed. I slowly start to drift to sleep and begin dreaming. In the dream, I am in this massive Victorian plantation. I have a tuxedo on for some reason and I am wandering the halls. I see people passing by, women dressed in ball gowns and men in suits. I enter the main room and there is a throng of people I have never met standing around James, who is likewise in a tuxedo. He glances over at me and motions for me to come over. As I approach him, I see he has a wedding band on, then I scan the room for a woman in white. There is no woman in white, then I glance down at my own hand only to find a similar wedding band. Did we get married? Finally I reached him.

“I'm so glad you found your way back! Its almost time for our first dance.” James said.

No sooner than he said that, the people moved over to the side of the room. James grabbed my hand and pulled me closer. Our bodies pressed together and piano music started to play. We waltzed as the music rang through the room. It was a sad tune, one that felt like someone poured all their grief onto the piano keys and it made me feel as if my heart was about to break. It was very weird that he would play such a sad song as our first dance.

Then I woke up suddenly, glanced at the clock and saw that it was three in the morning. To my surprise, the song in my dream was playing throughout the house. I climbed out of bed and walked into the hall, listening to the sad melody. It was coming from down stairs.

I tiptoed down the stairs and went towards the music room. There I saw James at a grand piano, with his back towards the door. He was the one playing the song! I stood there in shock for what seemed like forever. None of us knew James could play the piano and I defiantly didn't expect him to play such a morbid tune. It was haunting and beautiful.

Soon the music stopped and I watched as he brought his hands to his face. He began to sob quietly. Part of me wanted to run to him and sooth him, but part of me knew that I needed to get back upstairs before he found out I was there. Knowing James, he would be seriously pissed if he found out I knew of his secret or if he knew I saw him crying. Quietly, I tiptoed to the staircase and jogged back upstairs. I made it back into my room and closed the door softly and climbed back in the bed.

My curiosity was killing me but James isn't one to share his emotion freely. I so badly wanted to sooth him and tell him it was going to be alright, but I just couldn't. My eyes dampened and tears slowly traveled down my face as I cried myself to sleep. Hopefully I can dream of him again.

@sabrina-blyton @jessyulrich

#metallica #james hetfield #Kirk Hammett #the ripper #the pianist #fanfic #chapter 1 #I hope it doesn't suck #I know my grammar is retarded I am sorry

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aububuh · 7 years

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All the asks!

KrisSpotify, SoundCloud, or Pandora? - Google Play!

is your room messy or clean? - It’s... organized. I know where most things in it are, and it looks fairly presentable.

what color are your eyes? - Hazel, mostly

do you like your name? why? - My first name + my middle name means “elf king elf”, which I guess is okay.

what is your relationship status? - Got a smooch pal, which is nice

describe your personality in 3 words or less - Trying to relax

what color hair do you have? - Dirty blond

what kind of car do you drive? color? - Invisible

where do you shop? - Record stores, mostly

how would you describe your style - A whole lot of whatever’s in my dresser

favorite social media account - This one I guess

what size bed do you have? - Queen

any siblings? - Not blood ones, but my mom likes making friends my age and calling them my sisters.

if you can live anywhere in the world where would it be? why? - Right now I kinda want to live in Austin for some reason.

favorite snapchat filter? - Oh face swap for sure

favorite makeup brand(s) - idk

how many times a week do you shower? - Usually 3-4, unless I particularly need one

favorite tv show? - Buffy!

shoe size? - Men’s 10.5

how tall are you? - 5′11″

sandals or sneakers? - Sneakers

do you go to the gym? - HAHA

describe your dream date - Hanging out in Austin for a week

how much money do you have in your wallet at the moment? - No cash, but I just use my debit card for everything anyway.

what color socks are you wearing? - Invisible

how many pillows do you sleep with? - Two for my head and one big one that I cuddle with

do you have a job? what do you do? - I’m a freelance audio engineer. I mostly do front of house shows for bands. I would like to get more gigs, but the ones I do get pay pretty well, which is nice.

how many friends do you have? - Just a couple people I’m close to right now, but there’s a lot more who I would consider friends.

whats the worst thing you have ever done? - Ask me privately and I’ll tell you. It’s not actually that bad and it’s kinda funny, but it’s embarrassing.

whats your favorite candle scent? - Probably vanilla

3 favorite boy names - Gresplifts, Jangleboof, and Hhhhhhhhhhh

3 favorite girl names - Plestakorp, Brutskaplle, and Death

favorite actor? - Possibly Gary Oldman? Idk, I just like his performances.

favorite actress? - I don’t really like that this is still different than “actor” but I guess Meryl Streep

who is your celebrity crush? - Kristen Schaal

favorite movie? - The Room

do you read a lot? whats your favorite book? - I used to read for fun a lot more but I’ve been trying to get myself back into it. I really love Geoff Emerick’s autobiography though, mostly because he’s one of my heroes. I love how he came up on his own with a bunch of stuff that audio engineers take for granted now.

money or brains? - If I didn’t have a brain I wouldn’t be able to spend money, would I? Fooled you, capitalism!

do you have a nickname? what is it? - Apart from my URL, I’ve been called Aubschnog, but that was by someone I haven’t seen in years.

how many times have you been to the hospital? - Just for myself? I think only once. I’ve visited people lots of times though.

top 10 favorite songs - OH BOY that’s hard. Here’s a playlist I guess. This is what I’m thinking are the most steady answers.

do you take any medications daily? - A few, for different reasons

what is your skin type? (oily, dry, etc) - bad

what is your biggest fear? - Self-sabotage

how many kids do you want? - Idk I’ll see how it goes

whats your go to hair style? - I like my hair better when it’s down but when I’m eating, working, or walking in the wind I keep it up in a ponytail.

what type of house do you live in? (big, small, etc) - Medium sized I guess. It’s from the 70s.

who is your role model? - Musically, my dad, Mike Keneally, and Frank Zappa. Personally, my dad, and all my good friends.

what was the last compliment you received? - I’ve been called cute a lot lately, which is very nice.

what was the last text you sent? - “Ask’d”

how old were you when you found out santa wasn’t real? - I don’t think I ever really believed in Santa tbh. It was always a fantasy like anything else.

what is your dream car? - One that drives itself

opinion on smoking? - Cigarettes? Don’t. Devil’s Lettuce? Go for it I guess but I don’t like it.

do you go to college? - Yep!

what is your dream job? - What I do now but more often and in bigger venues.

would you rather live in rural areas or the suburbs? - Suburbs.

do you take shampoo and conditioner bottles from hotels? - Yeah, sometimes. They can be useful.

do you have freckles? - Nope, but I think they’re super cute.

do you smile for pictures? - Yeah, I kinda have a practiced smile that looks fine in any picture.

how many pictures do you have on your phone? - A few hundred right now since I just got back from a trip, but I need to move some of them to my computer.

have you ever peed in the woods? - Absolutely

do you still watch cartoons? - ABSOLUTELY

do you prefer chicken nuggets from Wendy’s or McDonalds? - Neither?

Favorite dipping sauce? - Probably something spicy with lemon pepper in it. I need to figure out a recipe or something.

what do you wear to bed? - Whatever t shirt I wore that day + pajama pants

have you ever won a spelling bee? - Never entered one

what are your hobbies? - I like to learn new instruments. The only problem is that this hobby gets real expensive real fast so I don’t have as many instruments as I’d like

can you draw? - I used to draw a lot but I haven’t been lately. I guess I should get back into it.

do you play an instrument? - Currently keyboards, guitar, drums, a little bass, and I could probably figure out any other fretted thing you throw into my hands.

what was the last concert you saw? - The last big one was Jack DeJohnette’s trio. Holy shit what a performance.

tea or coffee? - Coffee

Starbucks or Dunkin Donuts? - Starbucks has more locations in places where I’m likely to need to get coffee

do you want to get married? - Yeah, eventually. Not soon though.

what is your crush’s first and last initial? - Going by her internet name it’s MF, which is pretty great tbh

are you going to change your last name when you get married? - I’d like to either hyphenate or have us both take the other’s last name as a middle name.

what color looks best on you? - Right now I’m thinking pink

do you miss anyone right now? - Yeah :(

do you sleep with your door open or closed?

do you believe in ghosts? - Not really, but I don’t specifically disbelieve in them either

what is your biggest pet peeve? - Incorrect past tense pronouns. “Joe and me went to the movie” is wrong because you wouldn’t say “me went to the movie”, and so few people seem to know this.

last person you called - @mopedarooni. Though I guess technically she called me.

favorite ice cream flavor? - Right now it’s cookies and cream.

regular oreos or golden oreos? - Regular

chocolate or rainbow sprinkles? - Rainbow!

what shirt are you wearing? - A Thelonious Monk institute shirt

what is your phone background? the cover to Spirit Phone by Lemon Demon

are you outgoing or shy? - Both about evenly, tbh

do you like it when people play with your hair? - Depends on who’s doing it. With some people, no. With certain others, very much so.

do you like your neighbors? - We don’t talk that much but they’re nice.

do you wash your face? at night? in the morning? - All of the above, when I remember to.

have you ever been high? - Not successfully

have you ever been drunk? - Yep

last thing you ate? - My dad made chicken and stuffed zucchini for dinner. It was the first time I’ve ever enjoyed zucchini

favorite lyrics right now - Lemon Demon - Eighth Wonder

summer or winter? - Winter for weather, summer for everything else.

day or night? - I like the nighttime

dark, milk, or white chocolate? - Yes

favorite month? - August has my birthday and at least some summer

what is your zodiac sign - Virgo

who was the last person you cried in front of? - Full on tears, I’m not sure. Coming close to tears, @mopedarooni

#ask #mopedarooni

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