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grogusmum · 8 months

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IRL

Part 2 : of festivals and food

JAVI X F!PLUS SIZE!READER

WORD COUNT: 2200ish

SUMMARY: Set before the events of The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent. Javi and Reader are friends online, and after a year of DMing, they decide to meet. (The only change is that Javi and Gabriela are just friends)

WARNINGS: Reader has insecurities about her size and appearance, Lucas continues to be a fatphobic jerk, and that's about it in this chapter. Worries about food and eating. Javi is adorable, be warned.

Part 1

Javi watches you closely after the encounter with Lucas. He got the feeling your translation was very basic, and on the surface, it might not seem rude. When you pull on an entirely unnecessary cardigan, he knows you know it was at your expense.

“Just in case the air conditioning is - um, you know too cold, or whatever,” you mumble.

He thinks you are just beautiful and not in spite of your size. Your ample curves and softness were just… all he can think about was running his hands up and down your plush arms.

Javi opens the car door for you when you reach the carport and comes around to the driver’s side.

Dropping into his seat, he fills the void-

“So along those lines, this is a 1955 Porsche 356 Pre-A Speedster, Nick-”

“Oh right Nick had one until he sold it because of his 'IRS problems',” releieved to have something else to talk about, you grab onto what feels like a lifeline, a conversation far from what you are thinking about, then your eyes widen.

“Wait-”

Javi smiles and nods animatedly, as you point just as emphatically at the car with your mouth hanging open.

“Is this his?!”

“I got it on auction! I was only too happy to help Nick with his financial difficulties.”

At the restaurant, the Materdi seats you and Javi in a ridiculously romantic alcove with an open window overlooking the beach. You carefully slide onto the semi-circle bench, and Javi slips in after you. There are faerie lights strung above you and a low candle in stained glass mosaic holder on the intimate table.

The server brings water and gives you the chef’s specials. When he returns for your order you do your best to order in Spanish.

Of course Javi knows he doesn’t know how you eat normally, but when you spoke online, you expressed a love of trying new things and experimenting with cooking, though you admitted you failed spectacularly on many occasions. But here you are in Spain for the first time and you order a salad. A side salad and some prawns.

“How would it be if I ordered for the both of us? Javi tries, “that way, you can try a just little of everything, if, you know, you are not very hungry. I would hate for you to miss out on the tapas Roberto’s is so famous for.”

He watches you nibble self-consciously at first, though Roberto’s tapas won the day. Soon, you are making yummy noises, and Javi can’t get enough of them.

“Have you tried this one?” Javi asks, getting a fork full of Patatas Bravas and guiding it toward your mouth. Your little smile just before opening your mouth gives Javi butterflies low in his stomach. Your lips close around it, followed by your eyes as you savor it. Then you give the cutest whine.

“Is that potato?”

“Mhmm,” Javi smiles, “with garlic, hot sauce, and- ”

“Smoked paprika!” You finish together.

“Oh it’s all so good, thank you Javi.”

“For what?”

“Not letting me just have a stupid salad and steamed shrimp.”

After dinner, Javi takes you for a walk along the beach. Wondering if he can take your hand again, when you try to stifle a yawn, the time difference is getting to you.

“To bed!” he declares, seizing the opportunity to take your hand under the guise of directing you toward his palatial home. “We have a big day at the festival.”

“I’m not really ready to say good night, Javi.” You give his hand a squeeze, “But you're probably right, I’d be mortified if I fell asleep during one of the movies.”

“Well, we will head back to the house slowly.”

But you find yourself in front of your bedroom door far too soon. Before you could overthink it, you give him a kiss on the cheek and a shy goodnight and disappear into your room. Javi leans on the door, his hand going slowly to his cheek. He’s brought back to reality and chuckles to himself until he realizes what or rather who pulled him out of his reverie.

“Cousin, you have a beautiful woman for an assistant, with an incredible body! How have you never-”

“Lucas, stop, will you? Gabriela and I are just friends.”

“And you prefer the heifer?”

All he wants to do is clock Lucas right across his smug and arrogant face more than he has ever wanted to before - and Lucas has a natural ability to pull this reaction from Javi- often. But that will only make things worse. He knows he needs to stand up to his cousin, for many things, but it’s frankly dangerous to do so, so he brushes past and enters his bedroom, just relieved that between the closed door and the rapid Spanish. You probably did not hear what was said.

Bzzzzt bzzzt

You look at your phone

JAVI: Good night. :)

YOU: lol Good night Javi

YOU: sweet dreams

JAVI: I have no doubt. ;)

You stare at the last text. With confused astonishment, your face heats up. But, maybe he’s joking or…

YOU: cheeky

YOU: see you in the morning

JAVI: See you.

Javi looks at his screen, not sure what to say next or if he should say anything next. After a few moments just staring at it, he puts his phone in the charging dock and his hand goes back to the place you kissed it, it was just a little kiss, but he could still feel your soft lips there. He undresses and slides between his cool, crisp sheets and clicks off the light. Laying in bed awake, he listens to the waves crashing on the beach below. Javi thinks of you listening to them, too. He’s glad he chose to put you in a guest room on the same side of the hall. His mind goes over the day, wandering to your arms again, then your hips… how he would explore you if you were to allow it. His imaginings switch over to dreams of you in his bed, tangled in his sheets, breathing heavily as he feasts on you.

You wake to the sounds of seabirds, making you smile. It makes you want to wrap yourself in the incredible sheets and snuggle down into the soft pillows, but you fully remember where you are and what today is, and you roll off the bed, with a little skip as you hop in the shower. You and Javi are spending an entire day at the film festival, you’ll get to nerd out together over favorite writers, actors, directors, and the films they’ve made before anyone else has seen them. Even though you’ve never gone to a fancy festival with film creators or anything you feel that maybe you will feel more in your element with Javi. Thinking less about what he thinks about you now that he’s seen you and just be the person he befriended because of your shared interests.

After showering and putting on the sleeveless summer dress, a light shrug of a sweater, and sandals you had picked out for the event. You put on a little lip stain, leaving your eyes make-up free (who knows how much crying you may do. It looks like there may be a tearjerker or two on the schedule). You look in the mirror a beat more, and give a sigh. Swinging your bag over your shoulder, you go to meet Javi for breakfast.

Following the delicious smell of coffee to the dining room, you find the table is ladened with a beautiful spread of fruit, toast with tomato and olive oil or jam and butter, churros, empanadas, juices, and the smell of fresh coffee, all making your stomach rumble. But it’s Javi that makes your mouth water, he is dressed simply in a white linen button-down shirt and a blue blazer, his hair a little more tamed brushed back away from his face, but still curling around his ears. How is it that the orange of yesterday's shirt looks so amazing and now the light blue too? His brows go up when he sees you, his mouth opening just a bit. Then he breaks into his wide warm smile distracting you from the desire to run your fingers through his hair, for a moment anyway.

“¡Buenos días, mi sol!” good morning, sunshine

“¡Buenos días, Javi!”

Javi brings over a carafe of coffee to the table and pulls out a chair for you. You smile and shake your head, murmuring a thank you as you sit.

“We can have omelets made or…”

“Javi, all of this looks amazing.”

You both tuck in and chat about the schedule, what you are looking forward to, and the things you don't want to miss. Finding yourselves mostly in alignment.

“Do you,” you fall quiet, biting your lip, “Do you think I’m dressed okay, I wasn't sure how dressy-”

“You look incredible!” Javi says instantly. Then he waves his hand dismissively, “You know celebrities are going to do what they do, but for the rest of us? Perfecto!”

You look down at the patterned dress and smile, as Javi adds quietly, “Plus I like sunflowers.”

After both a boat and car ride you arrive in Barcelona-Saint Jordi, you get your passes and people watch. But it seems as though Javi is elsewhere.

"Javi? Is, um,” you worry your bottom lip, “Is everything okay?”

With a sigh, Javi looks at you next to him on a small bench, then looks down.

“I am sorry for my cousin’s behavior. I am so embarrassed. He is the literal worst."

Your laugh turns to a little cough of discomfort-

“I- well, thank you Javi, I appreciate that. But I’m used to it. It, well…”

“That does not make me feel better. You should not be used to such poor treatment. I should have said something”

“Well,” you swallow, ”thank you Jav-”

“I want you to be used to hearing how beautiful you are.” Javi’s words come out in a rush, then his eyes widen slightly at his own daring. Finally, he gives you a sidelong look to assess the damage.

At this you laugh like it's joke and a little absurd, giving his arm a little hug.

“You are the sweetest.”

Javi looks at you again, wondering if you think he's just being a supportive friend. Your tone makes him think so, and it leaves him at war with himself. He's not sure how you feel. Part of him is relieved in a way, and part of him desprately wants you to know. He wants to be courageous, to take the plunge! But maybe now isn't the time. While he's thinking about courage and plunges, you start to pull at his sleeve. When he looks at you, you give a little nod with your eyes going to the right. Javi looks, and there was Randell Cobb. Javi’s eyes go comically wide, making you giggle, and he starts flipping through his program.

“I did not even know he was still acting, “Javi hisses. “He was in-”

“Raising Arizona, I know,” you say excitedly.

“Of course you do,” he squeezes your knee, which is bare since the skirt of your dress is slightly hiked from sitting. It sends a shot of warmth up your thigh. “I mean he’s done other things but that was by far the best…”

“Is he in one of the films? He must be, right?”

Javi dives back to his program, and you keep watching everyone arrive.

After the opening remarks and the first film, you head to lunch and just walk around taking everything in. Javi has an almost permanent blush from the amount of people wondering what movie he's in, if he is an actor or model.

“It is very complimentary, of course… but all I want to do is tell them, ‘no I am a screenplay writer, read my script!!! Please!’”

"Well, you look like you belong here, no doubt. Handsome, tan, beautifully tailored clothes…"

Javi tugs you into an alcove, warm hands running up and down your arms.

"You belong here. You are a wonderful writer, and fantastic film and character analyst. Your breakdowns are one point!"

"I am a chubby (at best) woman, in a fifty dollar dress and a haircut that cost about the same, and I was splurging…"

"You got this lovely dress for fifty dollars? Wow."

You purse a tight smile and then laugh.

"Yes you can get one at TJMaxx, at a strip mall near you!"

A pair of glamorous willowy actors pass your little hiding place.

"You could fit two of these actresses in one of them."

"I like the one who is filling it right now," Javi says shyly, "and how she is filling it."

His hands traverse your hips.

Javi feels the soft plush curve of them, and his sigh carries a small, pleased hmm with it.

"Is this alright?" He whispers.

Your brain's throwing up .exe errors.

Your breathless "yeah" is almost a gasp. Javi is touching you, and liking what he feels through the gauzy fabric.

"We've got two more movies and then we go back to the hotel… but um-"

You mouths crash together. You both do your level best to be quiet, as Javi crowds you into the corner of the alcove behind a palm of some kind.

Part 3

💚THANK YOU FOR READING💚REBLOGS AND COMMENTS ARE MUCH APPRECIATED💚

If you care to read more Javi G or any of my stories, you can find my masterlist here, and if you would like to be tagged for any of my fics, you can find my handy dandy taglist form here.

#javi gutiérrez #javi gutiérrez x plus size f!reader #javi gutiérrez x female reader #javi g #javi g x you #tuwomt

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hot-take-tournament · 6 months

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About your sauce tier list: Salsa Brava is A tier for SURE. Very GOOOD. AND WITH ALIOLI

Mmmmmmm FUCKING TRANSCENDENT

well if salsa brava's going in something from the A or B tier's gonna have to get knocked down to the C tier

#asks

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foreveranevilregal · 3 months

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For the ask game, if you don't want to anwser all you can pick the ones you like lol

5. favorite form of potato?

All potato good 🥔👍 no wrong answers here

9. do you have a skincare routine (and how many steps is it)?

I think remember you being into skincare? Share with the world!!

13. first thing you’re doing in the purge?

14. do you think you’re dehydrated?

The question that reminded me I should drink some water, everyone cmon let's drink🫡🫡

29. preferred pasta noodle?

Because I love pasta... pasta save us..

Thank you and God bless you for actually putting the questions in the ask so I don’t have to go look them up 😂

5. Favorite form of potato? Roasted. I especially enjoy patatas bravas at tapas restaurants because they come with red pepper sauce and aioli so it’s like grown up ketchup and mayo with fries.

9. Do you have a skincare routine? Yes I do, because my skin is dry af this winter and it hurts. I’ll do water or a mist, then hyaluronic acid (don’t put it on dry skin, kids! It’ll make things worse), then maybe serum and then face cream and sunscreen in the morning and face oil at night. It sounds like overkill but my skin dried up so bad. I never thought I’d miss having oily skin.

13. First thing you’re doing in the purge? Erasing everyone’s medical debt. I’d prepare beforehand obviously since I’m no hacker.

14. Do you think you’re dehydrated? No. I drink tons of water and it makes a huge difference. Now have some water, guys!

29. Favorite pasta noodle? Probably farfalle? Or gnocchi. Does gnocchi count? If it does then it’s gnocchi.

#asks #lilrobinbird #ask meme #thanks bb #you asked some I really wanted to answer #and next I’d do student loans #but medical debt is worse somehow

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swordswaltz · 8 months

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having a close relationship with your mom as an adult is so weird. you raised me, you hurt me, i hurt you, you shouldn’t have told me that, i shouldn’t have told you that, i miss getting coffee with you, i am so glad i don’t live with you anymore, you brushed my hair and held me when i cried and now I’m brushing your hair and holding you as you cry, the same features you hate on yourself are the ones you love in me, you’ve irreparably damaged my body image, you made me better, you blame yourself for my illnesses, i wish you were kinder to yourself, you wish i was kinder to myself, you play the same 50 cent song every year on my birthday, I’ve been promising to learn your favorite song on guitar for years, we both know the exact words to say to wound the other person and will say every hurtful word but those, you order margaritas with a salt rim purely because i like to eat the salt, i order fries with bravas sauce instead of ketchup because you like it better, i am a younger version of you, we are two completely different people, i love you, i hate you, i wish things had been different.

#painfully earnest post quota fulfilled for the year 👍

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foodies-channel · 28 days

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🍥 Brussel sprouts, brava sauce, garlic aioli, pine nut bread crumb.

🍔YouTube || 🍟Reddit

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princessbatears · 2 years

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Second Skin - Chapter 6

Casa Werewolf Series #6

Chapters 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5

Pairing: Javi Gutierrez x Werewolf Single Mom f!Reader Summary: One of your children is NOT okay with Javi knowing you're werewolves Warnings: hunting animals for food, animal death, grief, fear of child and parental harm, fear of parental death, mention of sexual desire, brief discussion of a death threat, brief discussion of medical experimentation on people, including children, Javi realizes he might just be a monster fucker 😏 Words: 4.1k A/N: The last section of this chapter is about hunting animals for food as werewolves. There aren’t any graphic details or gore, but, if you’re at all bothered by this, you can skip this section without missing anything that will affect your understanding of the story going forward.

As Tallulah, Bo and Astrid eat their post-school snack at the dining table, you sit down with them. “We’re going to do something a little different this full moon.”

Three pairs of big eyes turn to you curiously. “What?” Tallulah asks.

“You’re old enough to learn how to hunt, so we’re going to be staying at a house in the woods from Wednesday until Saturday. It’s private with nobody else around, and we can go out for some rabbits.”

The eyes grow even larger.

“Yes!” Bo’s arms flail, splattering some spicy tomato sauce on the floor from the patatas bravas on his fork.

“What if I can’t catch a rabbit?” Astrid immediately looks ready to cry.

You smile reassuringly. “It’s okay, it takes practice. It took me three months of full moons to catch my first meal.”

“I’m going to catch one this full moon,” Tallulah says confidently. She smiles sweetly at Astrid. “If you don’t get one, I’ll share.”

Astrid smiles back, anxiety lessening.

Bo’s still practically jumping out of his skin with excitement. “We just get to run around free?”

“You’ll need to stay very close to me, but yes!”

“Will we have to skip school?” Tallulah frowns, spooning more sauce on her potatoes.

“Nope. The house is on the island, too. We’ll just leave for school a little earlier. Which means we won’t be staying up all night.”

Tallulah nods, satisfied with this.

Bo whines before shoveling more potatoes in his mouth.

“Javi is lending us this house. He owns it, too,” you continue with a smile to convey as much confidence to them as possible as you share the next bit of news. “He knows about us and wants us to have a safe place to hunt.”

You’re not sure you’ve ever witnessed your children suddenly stop eating before, but they do now, staring at you in confused alarm.

“Did he see me?” Astrid breaks the silence, bottom lip trembling.

You take her hands in yours. “It turns out he did, but it’s okay, sweetheart. He’s not going to tell anyone.”

She’s not having it, though, and bursts into tears. “He saw me!” she wails.

Tallulah and Bo are also seconds away from crying. “How do you know he’s not going to tell?” Tallulah demands.

You grab one of each of their hands, cradling them in your own with Astrid’s. Your Wolf, already so close to the surface two days away from the full moon, takes as much command as she can without you shifting.

Her powerful calmness pulses from you into them and their Wolves as you say, “Two reasons. One, Javi actually realized that there was video of what happened from his security camera and deleted it. He cares about us, so he doesn’t want anything to happen to us. And, two, I can sense he means us no harm. My whole being, both Wolf and human, feels it.”

Bo's expression clears as he nods. “When I got found in his yard, I was real scared until he came to talk to me, and my Wolf felt a lot safer with him there. You like him, too, right?” He turns to Astrid, who’s starting to calm down.

She sniffles, nodding. “He doesn’t make my tummy tight.”

“I noticed you seemed very comfortable with him,” you smile.

But Tallulah is more upset now. “You said nobody can know!” Her tone is accusatory. “You said we can get hurt if humans know!”

You nod. “I did say that. And it’s still true, for the most part. But there are some humans who have it in them to know what we are without it being dangerous. I believe Javi’s one of them.”

She just shakes her head.

“It’s very understandable to be scared.” Bringing her hand to your lips, you promise, “All of me—the human part and the Wolf part—is keeping a very close eye on things. If I suspect we’re in danger, I’m going to take care of it. You’re my babies and I won’t let anything happen to you.”

Tallulah’s intense eyes bore into yours, irises a vivid yellow. “What about you?!”

Your heart breaks for her. For all of them. You glance at the other two, who have grown more anxious again as Tallulah voicing this fear. They’ve already lost one parent. Of course they’re afraid of losing the other.

“Or me. Taking care of all of us is at the very top of my priority list. And choosing to trust Javi is part of that. He’s got access to things that can help us live better and safer.”

Getting out of her chair, Tallulah latches herself onto you, her face buried in your neck. “You can’t go anywhere!”

Lifting her onto your lap, you kiss her hair. “I will do my absolute best.”

- - -

On Wednesday afternoon, you follow the directions Javi gave you to his safe house. You’re incredibly relieved he allowed you to drive there. It’s just too soon to put your family in someone else’s hands completely during the full moon, even him.

It’s an old two-story house, nestled deep in the forest. Once you’ve parked the car next to a green Land Rover, you step outside. Even in the middle of the day, you can only hear the sounds of wildlife. Perfect.

The kids pile out just as the front door opens. Javi walks onto the porch, waving enthusiastically. “¡Hola!”

“Javi!” Bo charges up the steps and launches himself into Javi’s arms.

Javi laughs, squeezing him tightly as he lifts him off the ground.

Astrid’s quick to run to him, too, getting a giant hug and a twirl. She giggles, arms wrapping around his neck. “Are you gonna come hunting with us, too?”

“Alas, I do not think I can keep up.”

Tallulah’s made no move to greet Javi, arms crossed over her chest. She is still not convinced him knowing is a good idea. You’d prepared him for this, reassuring him that it had nothing to do with her and that she just needs some time and patience.

Javi smiles at her, walking down the steps with Bo in one arm and Astrid in the other. “How are you, Tallulah?”

“Fine,” she says shortly.

You open the back hatch of the car and begin pulling out overnight bags. “Will you each take your bag, please?”

Tallulah grabs hers. After Javi sets the other two down, they take theirs. You give him yours with a playful little wink that makes his heart rate jump, much to your pleasure. Then, you close up and lock the vehicle.

“Let’s get you settled before moon rise,” he says.

Bo charges into the house, Astrid following a little timidly. Tallulah, not wanting to be left behind, hurries after them.

“Are you sure there’s nothing I can do to make her more comfortable?” Javi whispers.

You press a quick kiss to his cheek. “Just be yourself.”

He leads you inside, where Bo and Tallulah are exploring the dimly lit but spacious downstairs. Astrid has already been sidetracked by a pile of art supplies on the coffee table.

“Mama, look!” She grins, holding up a palette of washable watercolors and a big bundle of brushes. “I can do my prompts in paints!

“That’s wonderful, sweetheart!” You beam at her and then at Javi for being so thoughtful.

“What are your prompts?” Javi asks, looking pleased that she’s excited.

“Mama’s got an app on her phone of art prompts and I do one every day to practice. I brought crayons, but I like paints better.”

“I’ll remember that,” he says, running a hand affectionately over her hair.

“Mama, can I have a cookie?” Bo bellows from what must be the kitchen.

Astrid’s head swivels in that direction, expression greedy for sweets. “Can we?”

“Just because we’re at Javi’s doesn’t mean the rules have changed,” you say firmly. “Protein, fruit or veggies for snacks. Not sweets.”

There’s a collective grumble from across the first floor.

“I’ve got plenty of good snack options,” Javi reassures you seriously.

You smile at him to indicate you weren’t worried. How is he so fucking earnest and cute all the time? “Kids, let’s get settled, then we’ll eat.”

“Let me show you to your room,” he says. “I’m putting you all in the master. Biggest bed.” Initially, he’d offered for each of you to have your own rooms, but you’d explained about puppy piles. Not to mention, you doubt the kids would be comfortable on their own in an unfamiliar place.

He leads you up the stairs in the back of the house, each old well-loved wooden panel creaking a little. “Have you ever had to use this place as a safe house?” you ask.

“Only once, a few years ago. One of the threats on my life seemed a little more serious than just someone on Twitter hating me for being wealthy. I stayed here for three days until the person was apprehended.”

The idea of him in danger causes a soft growl to ripple out of you. “They’re lucky I wasn’t around then.” The Wolf threatens to push all the way out, but you somehow manage to keep her contained. There’s no doubt your eyes have changed, though.

Javi glances at you, his own eyes alight. You smell his sex hormones escalating, which just makes the Wolf more wound up. He’s into this side of you and that’s wildly exciting.

“Are we sleeping together?” Astrid’s nervous voice breaks the spell. It’s for the best, considering this is not the time for you to rip his clothes off.

Taking a steadying breath, you focus on your daughter. “Yes, we’ll puppy pile here, too.”

“Is Javi puppy piling with us?” she asks eagerly.

“How can he puppy pile?” Tallulah scoffs from the bottom of the staircase. “He’s a human.”

“He could be a pretend puppy!” Astrid shoots back.

You let out another growl, this one a pointed warning to stop sniping. They immediately do.

Javi smiles sheepishly as he says, “I also break out into song in my sleep, so it would not be restful for you after hunting.”

It takes everything in you not to laugh.

Both girls stare at him, stunned. “You sing in your sleep?” Tallulah asks, forgetting she’s giving him the cold shoulder.

“I do,” Javi continues, somehow managing to keep a straight face. Then, he begins to sing ‘Hakuna Matata’ from The Lion King in a voice that’s, at best, mediocre, but still charming.

Your daughters giggle before Astrid starts to sing, too. She follows Javi down the hall.

“Will you please go get your bag and tell Bo to bring his up, too?” you ask Tallulah.

“‘Kay,” she agrees, her body staying relaxed after the laughter, which you know is a good sign.

After you’ve helped the kids settle into the master bedroom and everyone’s had a nutritious snack, Bo gets up from the dinning room table. And, without warning Javi, transforms into a Wolf pup, his clothes landing on him in a pile.

Javi’s faces blanches and you can hear how fast his heart is going. Worried he’s going to faint again, you grab his arm to keep him from sliding off his chair in that event.

Bo growls playfully as he digs his way out of his clothes. Then, he jumps onto Javi’s lap and sits, tail wagging and mouth open in a cheeky grin. He’s living for being allowed to break the rules.

Astrid and Tallulah have gone still, not sure what the protocol is now that Javi knows about them.

Javi’s color returns and his heart slows as a breathy chuckle escapes him. “Hi, Bo. May I pet you?”

Bo puts his front paws on Javi’s chest and proceeds to lick his face all over.

“Bo, be polite,” you chide, although you’re still more concerned about Javi being able to handle the shock than him being offended by Wolf kisses.

Thankfully, Javi laughs, stroking Bo’s back and then head. “Oh, you’re very soft. Your mama does a good job at feeding you for the optimum coat, doesn’t she?”

Bo turns excitedly to Astrid and Tallulah, letting out a sharp yip of encouragement. He wants them to transform, too.

“If you want to, you can, girls,” you smile.

Astrid doesn’t need further encouragement, shifting in the blink of an eye like her brother did. She leaps up onto Javi’s lap, snuffling his face. He pets her, too, this time laughing with wondrous joy. “You are amazing, too, mi amor!”

Tallulah licks her lips nervously. You release Javi’s arm so you can go to her. Kneeling in front of her chair, you press your nose to hers, nuzzling it. “If you’re not comfortable with it, that’s okay,” you murmur. “You can transform outside at moonrise and I’ll ask Javi to be elsewhere when we come back.”

Javi looks over the pups accosting him with love and smiles gently at Tallulah. “Whatever you need from me, Tallulah. I want you to feel safe.”

She looks him straight in the eyes. “You swear you’ll never tell and get us taken by the scientists to experiment on us?”

A shadow of sadness at the thought crosses his face. He nods solemnly. “I swear. I will never do anything that would risk your family. I know we haven’t known each other that long, but you’re very, very important to me.”

She inhales slowly and deeply, likely scenting for lies. Your children haven’t learned all the nuances of lie scents yet, but they know enough.

Finally, she gives him one of her big, beautiful smiles. “My Wolf trusts him,” she tells you.

You nuzzles her nose again. “Our Wolves know a lot.”

Tallulah transforms in her chair, taking the opportunity to give your face a thorough washing as soon as she’s popped up from under her shirt. You giggle, picking her up in your arms and snuggling her.

After a minute, she squirms free and runs over to Javi’s chair. Your pups are only a fraction of the size and weight they’ll become, but they’re still too big for all three to fit on his lap comfortably.

Both Bo and Astrid sweetly get down to allow her to have her time with him. He whispers softly, petting and cuddling her.

When he glances at you, you mouth, “Thank you,” with a soft smile. Internally, your ovaries are exploding with how good he is with the puppies. If he keeps this up, he’s mate material, for sure.

Astrid and Bo have begun wrestling. Tallulah hops down to join them and there’s soon the buzzing of good-natured growls making their way to another room.

“Maybe now I’m desensitized enough not to get light-headed when I see the transformation,” Javi says with an edge of self-deprecation.

“It’s a lot for any human to process,” you soothe. “It’s not a failing if it takes you time to become fully comfortable.”

“I’m just happy I was able to tell Tallulah how serious I am about protecting you all.”

You reach over to take his hand. “You’re really so good with them.”

He glances out of the doorway and sees no sign of the playing Wolves, so he gives your palm a kiss. “If you want to transform now, too, please do. Get a feel for the area and all that.”

You’re so used to staying human as long as possible to protect your children in case of some human-required emergency that it hadn’t occurred to you that you could shift early. It’d be good to make sure he’s not bothered by your Wolf before you’re stuck as one for ten hours.

“I guess I can. I’ll go upstairs to do it since, unlike the kids, I get larger than my clothes can take,” you chuckle.

“I can’t wait to see your second skin,” he smiles.

Feeling nervous in a way you’re not used to, you go up to the master bedroom and undress. There’s so much vulnerability and intimacy in what you’re about to share, and you’ve never done it with a human before.

He can handle it, the Wolf says confidently. Show him the other side of us.

So, you let her out. Your body quickly stretches and bulks, limbs strengthening and elongating as fur cascades across your skin. It’s as natural as breathing and happens in only a couple heartbeats.

You’re a darker grey than your pups, who took on Ivan’s white coat, but they get their brindle freckles and spots from you. You look at yourself in the stately full length mirror in the corner of the room and smile with pride at how magnificent you are, all muscle, fur and teeth.

You make your way back downstairs, and, despite weighing as a much as a young female polar bear, don’t cause any of the stairs to creak under your nimble paws.

The children are still chasing each other around, delighted to have such a large area to play compared to your apartment. But you follow Javi’s scent, wanting to show him.

He’s in the living room, sitting on the sofa, laughing as Astrid zig-zags and skitters on the wood floor in an attempt to stay ahead of Tallulah and Bo.

The mirth stops abruptly when he sees you, his eyes widening and mouth dropping open slightly. There is an uptick in his heart rate, breathing and stress hormones, but that’s to be expected when seeing something like you for the first time.

You slowly pad over to him, giving him time to adjust. “Wow,” he breathes.

Stopping just close enough that he could reach out and touch you if he wants, you sit. Your head is taller than his when you’re both seated, and you’ll come up to his ribs when he’s standing and you’re on all fours.

Quickly, the stress is giving way to excitement and curiosity. “May I touch you?” Eager for his fingers on your body, you nod and scoot a bit closer. He lightly strokes your chest, his smile growing wide. “You’re as soft as the niños.”

It takes all your self-control not to kiss his face all over. Until you’re sure he’s comfortable with you, you aren’t going to put your teeth that close to his neck.

Both his hands are now running across your back and sides. “You’re just so beautiful.”

The rapture in his voice pleases you greatly and you risk giving his cheek a little lick. He grins happily, kissing your snout in return.

A moment later, the puppies scurry into the room. Seeing you, they bound for you and begin to climb you and bite at your fur in challenge.

Immediately, you accept by nipping back at them. Using your hand-like front paws, you easily shift the thick wooden coffee table to the side so you’ve got room. Then, you get down on your belly and begin to wrestle gently with them.

Occasionally, you glance at Javi, who is obviously smitten by what he’s witnessing. There’s no fear or discomfort in him, just pure enchantment. You knew your human side was worrying over nothing. This man really is made to be your next mate.

- - -

You take some time before moonrise to scout out Javi’s property, making sure there are no danger so threatening you need to take care of it before you bring out the pups. There’s nothing, though. Only game, rodents and birds. Other than Javi, you don’t even smell humans. This place really is perfect.

Once darkness has fallen and the moon is up, you lead your little pack out the front door. It’s been far too long since they got to run in the fresh air. They’re quick to put their noses to the ground and begin smelling everything.

You get their attention and indicate that they need to follow you quietly and with focus.

Earlier, you’d picked out the location of a rabbit nest. There are mice in that area, too. Both are the right size for the pups, although you’ll be surprised if any are able to catch one yet.

You walk silently, allowing them to see how you place your weight and avoid cracking branches or rustling bushes. It’s harder for their lanky, awkward limbs, but, after a couple kilometers, they’re getting the hang of it. Astrid is particularly excellent.

They know some of the basics of tracking from playing hide and seek with each other, but this is another level entirely. They have to learn to choose just one scent and follow it, which is very hard when there are thousands of delicious smells tempting them in every direction.

About half a kilometer from the rabbit’s nest, you hear Astrid whimper behind you. You turn and realize that she’s alone. The bushes to your left are practically crackling with how loud Bo and Tallulah are being as they chase after something.

Annoyed that they didn’t stay with you like you instructed, you scoop Astrid up in one of your front arms to keep her close and then chase after them on three legs. It’s only a few seconds before you’re blocking their path.

Snarling, you glare down at them. If they want to be a part of the hunt, you need to be able to trust them to have enough self-discipline to stick with you, no matter what they’ve scented.

They’re quick to show you their bellies, tails wagging feebly in apology. After another firm glower, you lick their snouts and nod for them to rise. You set Astrid next to them.

It seems like they were chasing a mole, which will be a good second tier animal to hunt once they’ve mastered the rabbits and mice.

For the rest of the trip, they all stick close to you. You pause just outside the perimeter of trees where the rabbit nest is. They know what’s in there and are getting excited, eyes wide and salivating slightly.

Slowly, you tiptoe towards the nest where the sleeping rabbits are. They follow with impressive restraint.

The rabbits awaken, feeling the vibration of all the paws on the ground near them. Three of them bolt from the nest, all in the same direction. You begin the chase, your long leaps easily outpacing them. The pups are behind you, dashing as fast as they can.

You easily catch one rabbit in your mouth and demonstrate how to quickly kill it. There’s no playing with your prey—you’re Wolves, not cats.

Then, you nod for them to find the other two. They bound ahead, you staying behind them at a trot. The rabbits have split off, so you have them follow just one this time. The other can be found later.

It goes well for quite a while until, suddenly, they lose track of their prey at the base of a huge tree, where all sorts of animals have been recently enough to make it confusing.

Disappointed, they look to you and you wag your tail encouragingly. They did amazing to track it so far!

Giving them a break to rest and nourish themselves, you have them share the rabbit you've already caught. They’re delighted by the fresh meat, which they haven’t had since moving to Spain.

Knowing they’ll need to go to sleep in the next hour or so, you take them back to the area with the rabbit nest. The other rabbits haven’t returned, but they can practice with the mice that try to hide.

It’s adorable to watch them stalk the rodents before pouncing. They’re still too unpracticed to actually snag one, but each of them comes very close and you’re unbelievably proud.

You do get a handful of mice, as well as a couple of foolish little birds, for them to feast on. Your own belly is empty and rumbling, but you can wait until they’re back with Javi before going to get yourself something large enough to satisfy you.

A deep relief washes over your body as it truly sinks in that you have someone to help you. He might not be a werewolf, but he doesn’t have to be in order to support you, and that’s truly a gift.

- - -

Thank you SO much for reading this story; I’d love to hear your thoughts! 🥰

Spanish Translations/Notes: patatas bravas -fried cubed potatoes covered in spicy tomato sauce niños - kids mi amor - my love

Javi Gutierrez Masterlist

Werewolf Masterlist

#javi gutierrez #javi gutierrez x reader #javi g x reader #tuwomt fan fic #the unbearable weight of massive talent fan fic #javi g #werewolf au #werewolf reader #casa werewolf series

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scr4n · 2 years

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🇪🇸 SPANISH TAPAS 🇪🇸

POLLO REBOZADO CON MIEL Chicken fillets in a light crispy batter drizzled with a honey & grain mustard dressing

CARNE DE RES PICANTE Sautéed strips of tender beef marinated in smoked paprika, garlic and Dijon mustard, on fresh rocket with Manchego cheese

PATATAS GRATINADAS Layers of sliced potato baked with garlic cream & mozzarella cheese

CHORIZO Y BUTIFARRA NEGRA Sautéed Brindisa Parilla Chorizo sausage & Stornoway black pudding in a spicy tomato sauce

PATATAS BRAVAS Skin-on halved new potatoes in a spicy tomato sauce & alioli

CROQUETAS DE JAMÓN Y QUESO Crisp croquettes stuffed with Serrano ham & mozzarella cheese, served with garlic alioli

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sidewalkchemistry · 1 year

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Tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum, Solanaceae - Nightshade Family)

Native to Mesoamerica though via colonization tomatoes became a signature ingredient in European cuisines (eg. Italian). Modern cuisines worldwide, in fact, would look much different if Indigenous Americans were unaware of the brilliance of the tomato.

Interestingly, the fruits were previously shunned and thought to be deadly poisonous by Europeans and American settlers. This scenario has lent itself to the term 'tomato effect.'

Coined in the Journal of the American Medical Association 27 years ago, the tomato effect describes the rejection of highly efficacious therapies by the medical establishment because they happen to go against the prevailing conventional wisdom.

Imported from the New World, “By [the year] 1560, the tomato was becoming a staple of the continental European diet…[A]t the same time it was actively shunned in North America [for literally centuries]… The reason…is simple: they were poisonous. Everyone knew they were poisonous, at least everyone in North America. It was obvious.”

Examples of this tomato effect—a slavish devotion to orthodoxy—are mentioned in medicine. For example, ignoring the successful use of this plant in the treatment of gout for a thousand years before modern medicine “discovered” it was the drug colchicine. Aspirin was also ignored for almost 3,000 years of successful use as willow tree bark extract.

Tomatoes used to grow as wild as weeds in Central and South America. The Aztecs and Incas were among the first known to use the plant in their food.

They have an unmistakeable bright cheery taste which fits into the savory & umami flavor categories. They are also very cooling and hydrating in nature, which allows it to harmonize perfectly with the sunny days of its growing season. A simple taste of tomatoes captures the essence of such days. It's no wonder why it is one of the most consumed "vegetables" in the United States, even critical to many fast food dishes.

The leaves of the tomato have also been feared, even into our current times. But many have eaten & cooked with it, though it would be unwise to consume the leaves in excessive portions, which is the same for any one leafy green. Due to the content of antinutrients in leafy greens combined with the varied ability to handle these antinutrients (eg. oxalates), which is thought to change according with one's genetics & gut microbiome status, eating an assortment of different greens is a general nutritional recommendation.

The tomato fruit is a notable source of Vitamins C, E, and K, potassium, and lycopene (an antioxidant, and thus gives tomato the reputation of aiding prevention against inflammation-related diseases and imbalances). On a similar vein, it is brewed as tea, though very rarely, to bring relief to cold & flu symptoms.

Nutrient absorption of the tomato is thought to be improved once cooked or processed in other ways which softens the cell walls. The combination of tomatoes and olive oil may also been an intuitive realization of increased nutrient absorption.

The fruit is a main ingredient in the following: sauces like marinara, ketchup, salsa, pico de gallo, tomato paste, tomato juice, tomato soup, gazpacho, pizza, ratatouille, paella, tagine, bravas sauce, shakshuka, fried green tomatoes, jollof rice, tomato galettes, butter chicken, tikka masala, saneyet batates, burgers, etc.

Its flowers tend to be small and yellow. The flower's energies have been captured in vibrational flower essences. They're thought to hold a 'warrior energy,' with qualities of mental strength and endurance. It has been reported to aid with nightmares, depression due to unhappiness with one's weight, dentist's office anxiety, pets with uncontrollable fear or a history of traumatic abuse, and addiction management.

(Photograph by Mats Dreyer)

#txt #dream garden #tomatoes #food centric herbalism

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thespanishchef · 7 months

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Patatas bravas

"The Spanish Chef" invites you to savor the iconic Spanish dish, Patatas Bravas. Our recipe and tips ensure you'll enjoy crispy, golden potatoes smothered in a spicy tomato sauce. Perfect for tapas or a satisfying side, experience the bold flavors of Spain in your own kitchen with our expert guidance.

Visit:

#seafood for paella #spanish food #spanish tapas dish

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rosalesbeausderholle · 1 year

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I made bravas (spicy potatoes) for an international dinner thing we're doing at my dorm, but to make the sauce I used too much spice, like cayenne pepper and hot jalapeño sauce and I might have literally burnt my lips lol

#it's ok i just made another batch but ouch #my dad makes this with the same ingredients but his doesn't burn so much???

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in--other--words · 1 year

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Patatas Bravas Recipe

Week 3, day 4 of prepolyglot’s langblr reactivation challenge

Translated from this recipe in Spanish

Easy Patatas Bravas Recipe

Patatas bravas is a dish which is very typical of Spanish cuisine. It is usually served in tapas bars. It consists of fried or baked potatoes accompanied by a spicy sauce. There is no original recipe for this dish, but there are dozens of variations ranging from frying vs baking the potatoes to the ingredients used for the sauces (there are versions even without tomato). Also when it comes to serving time, they can be accompanied by mayonnaise, garlic sauce or aioli sauce. If you are someone who loves this delicious starter, you have surely asked yourself on many occasions how to make patatas bravas like they do in bars. On this occasion, we'll make an easy patatas bravas recipe which will definitely remind you of the ones you get in your favourite bar.

Ingredients for 4 people:

4 medium potatoes

2 cloves of garlic

1/2 onion

1 spoonful of spicy cayenne pepper

1 splash of white vinegar

50g tomato passata

1/2 spoonful of flour

approx 100ml chicken or pork stock

salt and pepper

olive oil

Preparation

Heat a splash of olive oil in a pan on a medium heat. Once it's hot, add the finely chopped garlic and onion. Season and stir until the onion has softened slightly (approx 10 minutes)

Add the cayenne pepper and stir for approx 5 seconds. If you like them even spicier, you can add a chilli or some tabasco. Then add the vinegar and stir for 20 seconds more, before adding the tomato passata, stirring some more and leaving to cook for 5 minutes.

It's now time to add the flour. This will thicken the sauce. Stir again and leave to cook, still on a moderate heat, for about 3 minutes, to toast the flour and get rid of the raw taste.

With all this now cooking, add the stock which can be chicken or pork stock. You can also use stock cubes and water, or just water although the flavour won't be the same. Mix all the ingredients and then blend the sauce. It should be mostly liquid but with some thickness. If it's very greasy, add a bit more stock (try not to throw it away before blending, to be able to correct it afterwards).

Peal the potatoes and roughly chop them. Patatas bravas are usually served in big chunks. Fry them in plenty of oil for around 10 minutes, until they are golden and crunchy.

Once cooked, taken them off the heat and place them on kitchen roll. Add a pinch of salt and leave to sit a couple of minutes before plating up. Drizzle with some spoonfuls of the salsa and they're ready!

As I said above, there is no original recipe for patatas bravas. Some say the most original ones don't have tomato, just cayenne pepper, but there's no proof that this is true. In any case this isn't the most important thing. The most important thing is that they are delicious!

#langblr #langblr reactivation challenge #español #recipe #patatas bravas #España #cooking #potatoes #food

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thisislizheather · 1 year

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Trip To Las Vegas

Above Photo: View from the Rio Hotel, Las Vegas

Back in September, I took my third trip to Las Vegas and I’m finally recapping it now, forgive the lateness. The first time I went was when I was 21 and it was beyond depressing, the second time I went I did way more things that I wanted to do (and wrote about that time over here) and this time was even better.

Above Photo: Baby Dog poolside at the Rio, Las Vegas

Also, Baby Dog went to the west coast! If that doesn’t seem insane to you, well, it should. She’s a tiny little dog who was abandoned and now she’s strutting through casinos - a success story for the ages. Nathan was doing shows at the Rio for the week, so we made a trip out of it. Tip: a week in Vegas feels like a month, the ideal time to stay is 3-4 days max. Highlights below!

Above Photo: “I’ve made it.”

I went to The Sahara to have dinner at Bazaar Meat by José Andrés. I got the patatas bravas, the spanish meatballs and the cotton candy fois gras. Everything was delicious and perfect. I. love that man’s food. Later that night I headed to The Palms to get a drink at Ghost Bar on the 55th floor. And yeah, the view is nice but it wasn’t anything too special.

Above Photo: View from atop Ghost Bar, Las Vegas

The next day we went to see David Copperfield (who was wonderful) and then I went to see Nathan’s show at the Cellar, which was great. And then we played some KISS mini-golf inside the Rio, which you definitely should do if you’re anywhere near the Rio.

Above Photo: David Copperfield statue

Above Photo: Nathan, pre-Copperfield

Above Photo: KISS Mini Golf, Las Vegas

I also got to eat at Martha Stewart’s new restaurant The Bedford, which was good but definitely overhyped. Of course my expectations were high because 1) I love her and 2) she’s never opened a restaurant before. The servers are extremely well trained (which is wonderful, I love this detail) they have even been taught to say “cheers” in Polish. The attention to detail on the decor of the individual tables as well as the entire space is perfection, even the temperature was just right. However, there had to be cons. All burgers should have round buns, what reason is there to mess with that simple fact? The smashed potato (which is smashed table-side) is an incredibly stupid idea and almost seems like a joke on the white people who would actually enjoy it. Small side orders of sauces should absolutely never cost $9, that’s ludicrous. The fries were wildly overcooked in overused oil (how does one mess up french fries?) and the prices, sure, they were outrageous but that fact tracks since it’s in Las Vegas. The homemade mustard was really tasty (maybe because you never come across homemade?) and her béarnaise sauce was perfect. The oysters Rockefeller were good, if only a little bit chilly. All in all, it was an experience. One that I’ll happily never have to have again. (The Times has a great piece on it, if you care about all things Martha.)

Above Photo: Oysters Rockefeller at The Bedford

Above Photo: Burger at The Bedford

The real highlight of the trip was going to The Neon Museum, which features signs from old casinos and other famous Las Vegas businesses displayed outdoors. I took the nighttime tour and I promise you - this is the tour to take. Almost all of the signs were lit up in all their glory and it was incredibly to see. I talked about it in way more length on this Instagram highlight reel.

Above Photo: The Neon Museum, Las Vegas

Above Photo: The most beautiful sign at The Neon Museum

Some things I would maybe want to do on my next visit:

Eat at Capriotti’s and get The Bobbie again (it’s a Thanksgiving turkey sandwich that will melt your brain, it’s so good)

Find the art-o-mat (takes $5 bills) at The Cosmopolitan

Brunch at Eggslut

Eat at Giada’s at The Cromwell

Find Wayne Newton’s star on the walk of fame outside The Paris

Get the steak frites at Mon Ami Gabi (or white chocolate bread pudding)

Go to the Shelby Heritage Centre to see old cars (free)

Visit The Golden Nugget again and The Plaza (this is the inspiration behind Biff’s Tanner’s Pleasure Paradise in Back To The Future II)

Visit Red Rock Canyon (this is a MUST)

Visit a pawn shop

Also the view from the plane ride back home was breath-taking. I was glued to the window.

Above Photo: The view from the plane as we left Las Vegas

And a tiny small sidenote? I love that there are still thriving TCBY stands in airports across America. Goddamn, it really is the best frozen yogurt out there.

Such a great trip!

#Las Vegas #Nevada #Las Vegas things to do #must do las vegas #nevada must do list #this is liz heather #Liz Heather #Nathan Macintosh #Rio #Rio Las Vegas #Baby Dog #things to do in vegas #David Copperfield #KISS #kiss mini golf #fun things vegas

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