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sparkypantaloons · 2 years

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Grubs Up

Tim is no cook. He's not an idiot. He can make a meal. A decent one at that. But decent as in it will keep him alive. Not decent as in anyone would want to purposefully eat it.

He doesn't care. He learnt survival skills to survive. Not live. That was the whole point.

But after only two days of boiled ready-ramen, with sad flavour packs that expired at least nine months ago and some slightly tragic vitamin supplements crushed into the broth, he's wondering if his training has been sufficient. He'd kill for a cheeseburger right about now.

It's raining. He, Dick and Jason have been holed up in some awful cabin for two nights now. Waiting for an all clear on their extraction. The go ahead for their own rescue.

They're tired and irritable. And hungry.

They could leave. They could. They don't owe this mission anything. They've given up their own cases and their own commitments to be here. It's a long and boring story, but the crux of it is that Bruce asked. Bruce asked them to fight and then he asked them to stay, too. So here they are.

They could fight their way out. Easily enough probably. But Bruce asked them not to do that either. So instead they wait.

Each of them are dealing with the decision in their own way.

Dick is angry. Angry in that quiet, calm way he is. When he thinks he's let himself down. So quick to question his own judgement when it comes to Bruce. But still adamant the others are right in their choice.

Jason is playing at indifference. It's a poor show, if Tim is honest. The middle brother failing at nonchalance, as he sits hunched and irritated in the corner.

Tim made his decision long ago. His loyalty is to Bruce. Always. Since before Robin and long after. But damn is he hungry.

The three of them have just split their last protein bar. A grimly bland concoction of nuts and oats and little else.

Jason, of all people, is the one to put a positive spin on it. Unnaturally cheery and grateful for the meager nourishment.

Dick scowls, his eyes and mood dark, as Jason pretends the mouthful of beige is something worth remarking on.

Tim is... christ, he's just so hungry man. He'd eat just about anything right now.

Which is why, when the door opens, not moments later, and Duke stands there, dressed in his stealth black version of his uniform, with a giant tupperware of chilli con carne in his hands, Tim thinks he could kiss him.

"Sup losers?" Duke says cheerily.

Dick scowls as he rises, just as Jason fully body checks him, shoving the older man out of the way.

"Narrows!" Jason breathes, eyes widening at the large tupperware in Duke's hands.

"Alfred sent me." Duke says, pulling off his helmet.

"Ohmygodisthishischilli?" Jason slurs, almost salivating at the thought. He tries to pry the lid off the box in Duke's hands.

Duke scowls. "No, bro." He moves the tupperware out of Jason's reach. "I made this, you ungrateful swine."

"Did you bring forks?" Dick asks. He barely looks at the teenager, eyes fixed on the parcel of delicious food.

Duke rolls eyes. "Hi Dickie, how are you? Oh, hungry? Good job I brought forks."

"Gimme a fork." Tim says, crowding the youngest Bat.

"You guys are acting like you haven't eaten for weeks." Duke scowls, prying open the tupperware in his hand. He jerks away from the Red Hood, as the older man shoves his nose towards the smell of stewed and spiced meat. "Didn't Bruce ever teach you any manners?" Duke grumbles. He fishes some forks out of his utility belt.

Tim grabs them out of Duke's hand. Doesn't even bother to respond before he digs into the delicious, tender stew. Holds the spare forks out of Dick and Jason's reach as he shovels the food into his mouth.

"Replacement you frickin a hole" Jason growls, grabbing at Tim's spare hand and barging past Duke.

Dick scowls. "You're being douche bags! Tim!" He snaps.

Tim is giggling. Part hysteria, part pure joy at earing something that isn't survivalist gourmet. "Okay, okay." He laughs, half hysterical. "Forks you animals." He holds the cutlery out to his brothers.

Duke watches them frowning. "It's barely been two days guys. This is a bit sad, you can't be this hungry already?"

"You try living off Timmy's 'Bat-belt Ramen'" Jason mutters, through a mouthful of chilli.

Dick shoves him out the way. Shovels another mouthful of chilli into his mouth from the tupperware. "Sunny-D you're my favourite brother." He chomps.

Duke rolls his eyes. "Until Damian brings you breakfast in bed again." He mutters.

Tim snorts, chilli comes up through his sinuses, threatens to come out his nose.

Duke smirks, holds a hand to his ear. Listens for a moment. "Batman's two minutes out for extraction." He says. "Eat up."

#spbfic #ficlet #batfam #batfam fic #batfic #jason todd #dick grayson #tim drake #duke thomas #batfamily #wfa #red hood #nightwing #red robin #signal #wayne family adventures

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darklydeliciousdesires · 9 months

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Lost & Found - Chapter Three.

Surprise! I thought I’d treat you all to an off the cuff update as a little thank you for your readership. You’ve all made me feel confident again in the wake of having that confidence take a knock, so yeah, here you go. It’ll move the story along a little more, too. There’ll still be an update on Friday as well, but for now, enjoy :)

Previous chapters - One Two

Words - 3,516

Warnings - 18+ content throughout, Minors DNI. Recounts of kidnap, child trafficking, physical/verbal/sexual abuse in the coming chapters.

They pulled into a gas station a little further along in their journey, Bottles exiting to fill up with gas and Guero shifting to climb out over the driver’s side, telling her he wouldn’t be long. Her eyes fixed upon him, her heart beginning to jackrabbit in her chest. He’d made her feel safe as she’d curled into him, and now he was moving away from her. Her demeanour took on that of a meerkat, positioned sharply upright, scanning the small building he’d walked into, her nerves demanding she keep him in her eye line.

Swallowing nervously, she blinked rapidly, her throat tightening when he moved out of her view, her body going rigid once more when Bottles opened up the door. His eyes scanned her, his face kind in what she could see from her peripheral vision, still focusing on Guero’s movements. Seeing him emerge again, she began to settle.

“I had no idea what you liked, so I got a little of everything.” Gesturing to the brown paper bag he held, he dipped the edge with his finger, revealing it to be full of snack foods. He pulled three packaged sandwiches from the top, throwing one at bottles, holding up the other two. “Chicken or ham?”

She pointed to the ham one. “That’s some cosmic shit right there,” he smiled, gesturing to the chicken. “I wanted this one.” He placed the bag down at his feet, pulling his seatbelt back on as Emma opened the package, pulling out the sub style sandwich and taking a bite.

It might have been on slightly tough bread, the salad a little wilted, but for her it was as good as a gourmet meal after three weeks of protein bars. The mustard and smoky flavour of the ham mingled upon her tongue, her tastebuds tingling, closing her eyes with a look of bliss. Food. God, she’d missed it.

They ate in silence for the duration of the journey, all sharing from the large bag of cheese Ruffles also purchased, Emma thinking that chips had truly never tasted so good as she crunched through each mouthful, washing them down with the provided small bottle of cherry Coke. He wasn’t to know it was her favourite drink in the entire world either, yet it was the one he had chosen in from the array of sodas on offer.

The cool, sugary carbon refreshed her mouth, which was fuzzy and grimy in feel after three weeks of no dental hygiene. No hygiene at all to speak of, in fact. She knew she stank, yet Guero quite happily let her settle against him again without fuss. She felt a little bad for that, especially when he smelled so good, leather, soap and a faint trace of cologne.

While leaning against him, she watched as the freeway began to become sparser of surroundings, the dessert landscape taking over as Bottles turned off, a large sign upon the highway they exited onto coming into view. Santo Padre. It was reassuring, seeing the sign matched where Bishop had stated they would be taking her.

The town was small, not as suburban as what she was used to, although back in her old life she’d scarcely had the freedom that meant she could move around Staten Island, the place that had become her home. Less home, more prison, she often surmised.

The van moved through the quiet streets, weaving around until it finally came to a large gate, the signage denoting the location to be Romero Brothers Scrap. A smaller sign beneath it read Losa Motorcycle repair, yet another statement to ring true, Emma remembering that Guero had told her it was the location Bishop’s wife ran her shop from. The convoy came to a halt, someone jogging to open the gate, EZ riding through, the van following.

Her eyes took everything in as they drove through the wide passage between old piles of iron and steel, piles upon piles of metal twisted and stacked, crushed cars jutting into the horizon before a second gate came into view. This one was opened from the inside, a woman dressed casually in sweats and a vest standing back as she swung it open, her slender arms decorated plentifully with colourful tattoos.

They pulled up a little way from a wooden building, the lights casting a soft, yellow glow out into the darkness of the early morning, Bottles jumping out, going over to a few of the guys who had parked up their bikes, Emma taking in her surroundings with widened eyes. Caution began to wind through her again, Guero feeling her starting to stiffen, watching her bring her thumb to her mouth and chew.

“That’s the clubhouse,” he pointed, his finger then moving to the woman who had opened the gate, positioned on the step. “And that’s Lee. You ready to get out?”

She felt fragile and foolish to suddenly experience another attack of nerves, especially when everything she’d been promised had rung true, her eyes finding the slender blonde woman, watching her wave lackadaisically. Her trembles started up once more, Guero softly sighing through his nose, climbing out over the driver’s seat and walking around the front of the van to the passenger side, opening the door.

He held out his hands, the warmth of his smile creasing his eyes. “Come on, blue eyes. It’s okay.” She froze for a few moments, taking deep breaths before turning, taking his hands. The appearance of a large, bald man walking behind where Guero was stood made her eyes round, her safety person turning.

“That’s Gilly.” The big man smiled as he continued, figuring he’d probably do more harm than good if he lingered, the girl still looking perturbed. Once he’d gone, she didn’t immediately calm, her eyes darting all around, the sounds of people talking and laughing a little overloading to her senses, eventually reaching for Guero. Safety person. All was well if he was near.

She reached past his hands, gripping onto his shoulders as she slid from the van, Guero clasping her waist as he lifted her, surprised when she wrapped her legs around him. He could handle carrying her, she weighed virtually nothing at all, her frame slight although she was quite tall, shutting the van and carrying her over to where Lee was waiting.

“Morning,” she grumbled, yawning. “So, this is Emma, right?”

“Yeah. She’s a little freaked out still,” Guero commented, Lee nodding.

“’Sup, Emma? You okay, you alright?” Three questions. It was another little touchback to something she’d been told ringing true. “I’m set up in templo, figured it’d be best. The old man said she was kinda scared.” Lee continued with, opening the clubhouse door, Emma clinging on tighter as she was carried into the new space. It was shabby but cozy, wooden furniture that didn’t match clustered around tables, a few couches and a small bar area.

It smelled strongly of cigarettes and alcohol, Emma lowering her face to Guero’s collar, his scent filling her nose, finding familiar comfort again quickly. She was carried down a narrow passage, Lee sliding open a stained-glass door, leading to a narrow room with a large table in the centre, Guero closing the door behind him, seating her atop that table and standing back. Immediately, she scrambled to reach for him.

“I’m not leaving you, it’s alright. Hey, calm down,” he soothed her with, jumping up onto the table beside her, his wallet chain clattering against the wood. “I’ll stay right here if you like.” She nodded, trembling softly, turning to view Lee arranging a few items she’d laid out, looking up with a small smile.

“You ready for me to take a look at you?” She nodded, her hand reaching to clasp Guero’s, still a little scared. “Alrighty. I’m gonna touch your head, make sure you don’t have any other bumps anywhere, then shine a light in your eyes. Need to check for concussion.”

Back when she’d been in active service and dealt with injured troops, especially those who had been traumatised by the horrors of war and slid into a state of shock, Lee had found that talking them through an examination process had made it much easier for them, applying those techniques to the young woman sitting before her.

Although kind, Lee knew she could lack a little warmth in her demeanour at times, her military background moulding her into a strong, formidable woman. She was practical and pragmatic before she was anything else, but understood when sensitivity was needed.

Slowly, she reached for Emma’s head, checking for bumps before picking up a small torch. “Gotta shine this in your eyes, check how your pupils react.” The light beamed in, Lee studying her carefully. “Follow my finger.” Emma did as instructed, beginning to calm down a little. Things were adding up, she was being examined, just as she was told would happen. It was okay. She was safe.

Lee nodded, pulling on a pair of latex gloves. “No concussion, but this cut is fuckin’ savage as fuck. Gonna clean it up and then spray it with ethyl chloride, so it’ll numb the skin, alrighty?” She was met by a small nod, Lee picking up a bottle of antiseptic and decanting it onto some cotton pads. “It’s gonna fuckin’ sting, deep breath.”

The antiseptic seeped into her wound, making her hiss softly, her clutch on Guero’s hand tightening. He clasped it between his, the warmth of his skin soothing, taking her mind off the sharp burning upon her forehead. Once the wound was clean, Lee picked up a clear bottle, beginning to carefully spray it around the broken skin as she gently blew, shielding Emma’s eye with her hand. A cooling sensation chilled her forehead until she felt nothing at all, Lee then prepping a needle.

“My stiches are nothing short of perfect, but it’s gonna leave a small scar, sadly,” Lee spoke as she began to stitch, her brow creasing with concentration. “Dunno if you’ve heard of it, but there’s something called Bio-Oil you can put on it that’ll help lessen the scar once it’s healed. These stitches aren’t dissolvable either, so you’ll need to find someplace to have them taken out in two weeks once you’ve healed. They’ll itch, but try not to touch the wound, just keep it clean to prevent infection.”

“Okay.” Emma replied, her eyes moving to her side, watching Guero.

“You doing alright?”

Her lips thinned into a shy smile. “Mmhm. Thanks f-for looking after m-me.”

His fingers squeezed softly on hers. “You’re welcome.”

Lee finished her stitching in impressive timing, removing her gloves and beginning to pack away her medical kit again. “All done. Do you have someplace you can go, family, friends out here? You look dehydrated and I’d guess a little malnourished, too. You need to go someplace safe and recover from your journey. Is there anybody we can call for you, you got a number, a name?”

She shook her head.

“Okay, well you’re welcome at Casa Losa. We have a spare room if you need it?”

Immediately, she curled into Guero, Lee reading the situation. She’d obviously somewhat imprinted upon him, not willing to think of an alternative to staying by his side. Trauma. Whatever the hell had gone on in that shipping crate that led to her injuries, or perhaps more accurately, the life she’d been so desperate to flee from as a stowaway within it, Lee knew lingering trauma when she saw it. “Alrighty, sugar. You wanna stay with him, I get it.”

Her eyes searched his, Guero nodding. “Yeah, come crash at my place. It’s cool.” Instantly, she relaxed again.

With a nod and a small smile, Lee left the room, seeking out her husband at the bar, her arms sliding around his waist as she kissed his cheek.

“How’s the girl?” EZ asked, sliding from his seat to arrive at her side.

“Stitched, but she’s really fuckin’ bent out of shape mentally. Starting to calm down, but she’s panicked. Bishop told me you were bringing her back because you wanted answers over who stole your cash. Well, you ain’t fuckin’ getting them tonight, Ezekiel.”

The president gave her a slightly incredulous look. “That’s not down to you to decide, Lee.”

She straightened, lifting her chin. “While I’m the person who gets called upon at all hours to pull bullets out of y’all, stitch you up, fix your fuckin’ bike dings and generally be a mother hen to this MC, then you better fuckin’ believe I’m deciding it. Not happening, ain’t gonna be tonight, no fuckin’ way.” Pausing she jerked her thumb back in the direction of templo, her eyes fixed upon his.

“That poor girl has been through enough; she doesn’t need you interrogating her when she can’t even string more than about five fuckin’ stammered words together right now. The docks have CCTV, so if you so desperately wanna find out who stung you guys, I’d get on the phone to the guards who Don fuckin’ Lombardi is greasing the palms of to send you the footage. She’ll talk when she’s fuckin’ ready.”

Her eyes lingered upon him as she leaned to her husband, kissing his cheek again. “You better hurry up home and fuck me until I fall asleep.” She marched from the clubhouse, Bishop grunting a small laugh, turning to EZ.

“Come on, mano,” he sighed, shaking his head. “You know if there’s one person you can’t give orders to, it’s my wife. She has a point, too. Call the guard now, before the footage gets erased.” Every single base was covered in the operation, including any footage of the MC delivering to the container. They had to act fast, having no idea how close to their arrival the robbery took place, Bishop not wanting to chance the footage of the perpetrators ending up being deleted as well.

EZ nodded, taking his phone out and leaving the clubhouse in order to do just that, tired from the events of the night and still quietly burning with fury over the theft. Meanwhile, back in templo, Emma sat quietly, having heard Lee’s words to EZ, feeling relieved that the pressure was off her and she wasn’t about to be interrogated.

“Can you...c-can you do me a, a favour?” she stammered tentatively, Guero sliding off the table to stand in front of her. He nodded, Emma continuing. “D-don’t tell anybody that you found me in, in that container, especially n-not the man who you were offloading heroin for. Rocco Lombardi can n-never know where I am.”

Her stuttered speech was a clear indicator of who she was truly the most frightened of, the mob boss himself, Guero wondering what a young woman, probably around his age, had done to warrant the need to vanish from the jaws of the mafia.

“Don’t worry nobody is gonna say shit. I doubt EZ is gonna wanna bring light to any of this.” He knew his president well, and he knew that the man they were running heroin for was an executor of seamless operations the likes of which EZ had promised. Although finding a stowaway in a container and their payment gone wasn’t anything that would affect Lombari personally, snags in the plan always raised doubt, and they needed this alliance way too much to risk it.

Guero paused, stuck in indecision for a moment whether to ask her what was on his mind, the question slipping out before he’d truly had chance to weigh up whether he should. “I gotta ask, though, is it him you were running from, or the mafia in general, why we found you in that container?”

She tensed visibly, her gaze dropping to the floor, a quiver ripping through her. No. He definitely shouldn’t have. “I’m sorry. Tell me when you’re ready, or not at all. Isn’t really any of my business.”

No expectations to reveal her inner trauma, no pushing, only kindness. Kindness, and the offer a place to stay. A safe place with her safe person. Her insides heaved a sigh of relief. “Can we leave now?”

He nodded, taking her hands in his. “Yeah. Let me go get the van keys from Bottles, grab your backpack and snack bag.” He’d intended for her to wait in templo for him, but predictably as soon as he’d taken a step back, she followed. Pressing herself close at his side, she hugged onto his thick arm as they walked through the clubhouse, finding Bottles behind the bar, Guero making a motion with his hand that indicated a turning key. With those very items tossed into his neat catch, they departed.

“Heading home, prez,” Guero spoke on his way out, pausing at seeing the thunderous expression on EZ’s face.

“Yeah, alright.” His jaw was tight, each word practically bitten into as they left his mouth. Guero knew that mood, knowing it was best to leave him to simmer down, Emma falling into step at his side before suddenly slowing, turning back look upon to the agitated president. He might’ve terrified her, but he hadn’t lied to her. That deserved some kind of reward.

Releasing her hold on Guero’s arm, she walked back up the steps, tucking her hair behind her ear meekly, EZ’s glance fixing upon her. Her heart jumped, swallowing the little fearful lump in her throat. “I heard w-what Lee suggested, about the CCTV. You won’t f-find any, because it was an inside job. The guys who robbed your c-cash were two of the dock security guards.”

Her nervously stammered words matched the cause of his ire, being told exactly that on the phone not five minutes before. Something stuck out for him, though. “Why'd they just knock you out and leave you there, though? You'd witnessed it, could easily tell us their identity. It doesn’t add up that they wouldn’t haul you out of there, or kill you.”

Emma shrugged, swallowing a few times. “I c-could hear motorcycle engines in the distance just before t-they hit me. They didn’t have any time. I guess they h-had to hope I wouldn’t come around before you left again. I g-guess a gun going off in a c-container is pretty loud, too.”

That tied up the loose end adequately enough. “Thank you.” Standing, he walked to the clubhouse door, swinging it open. “Bish, we gotta head out again. Gilly, Hank, you too.” He was about to stride over to his bike when Emma’s small voice halted him.

“Um, I know you’ll h-have to let him know about this, but please d-don’t tell Rocco Lombardi you f-found me in that container. Please don’t.”

He saw the pleading in her eyes clearly, considering her statement with a sniff. Truly, Lombardi didn’t need to know what they’d found, only the circumstances that had surrounded what was missing. “Alright, I promise I won’t.”

She nodded, looking at her feet before her eyes found his again. “Thank you.”

He headed down the steps with a nod, pausing for a second before he turned back. “Why, though? What did Lombardi do to you?”

She bit her lip, looking at Guero for a moment, folding her arms as her shoulders trembled and drew in. “Everything.”

EZ lifted his chin slightly, studying her uneasiness. It really didn’t have anything to do with him, and he might’ve been jumping to conclusions, but the words ‘I don’t trust him’ delivered by his VP not five months ago up in Vegas sounded through his head, turning and continuing across to his bike once more.

Walking back to Guero’s side, she clutched his arm, smiling when he shrugged her hold off to hug her gently. “That was brave, blue eyes.”

She nodded against him, letting out a sigh. “Didn’t want to make him mad.”

He didn’t really know how to reply to that, so remained silent, patting her back before walking over to the van to retrieve her stuff. After quickly running the keys back, they moved to his large, yellow and black bike, Emma being handed the spare helmet.

“You ever ridden on the back of a motorcycle before?” She shook her head. “Alright, well there’s not much to it. Just hold on tight. I won’t go so fast, though.”

Securing her backpack, she took the helmet and jammed it on, the fit a little tight due to the many tangles thickening her hair, swinging her leg over and seating herself behind him comfortably. The engine roared into life, eighteen hundred horses primed to charge as he kicked off, riding through the gate behind the others, who he guessed were San Diego bound once more.

In the space of four hours, Emma had gone from stowaway fleeing from her life, to under the care of an outlaw she barely knew. It wasn’t exactly what she’d envisaged, but then again, not having a long-term plan after fleeing the east coast, there was nothing she could match it to, expectations wise. As she clung to her safe person, she was thankful that a long last, she felt just that. Safe.

#guero mayans mc #guero mayans mc fanfiction #guero fanfiction #guero fanfic #guero smut #guero x ofc #mayans mc #mayans mc fanfiction #mayans mc imagine #mayans mc smut #mayans mc season 5 #mayans mc fanfic #mayans mc fic

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re-bec-ca-ann · 1 year

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New Year's Eve, 1986

Summary: Steve cooks dinner for The Party on New Year's Eve while wearing his mother's old "Kiss The Cook" apron.

Read on AO3.

Artwork by the talented @yendts!

The apron isn’t even his. His dad had given it to Steve’s mom when he was in grade school as a joke. Cooking was a rare affair in the Harrington household, but when the nanny was out sick or unavailable due to prior commitments, Mrs. Harrington would muster the will to prepare a bowl of cereal or a plate of scrambled eggs and toast for her son before he ran out the door to catch the bus. Regardless of the dish's simplicity, she was adamant about wearing an apron to avoid staining her fancy silk shirts or lace-adorned blouses. Up until a certain point, before Steve was deemed old enough to use a stove or face a full day of school on a single granola bar, she would entertain his insistence at planting a boyish peck on the apple of her cheek when she hooked the apron on her neck and secured the strings around her fine waist. As Steve grew in age, height, and ability, those light and heartwarming moments between mother and son became less and less frequent. By high school, he was relying on chalky protein bars in the morning, school lunches, and cold pizza or TV dinners that required a microwave and a quick stir.

Things are different now. Hawkins is different. Steve is different.

The town, while no longer the gateway to hell, borders on desolation. Those wealthy enough to vacate put their houses on the market or took the hit and fled within days and even hours of the supposed earthquake—including Steve’s parents. He came home one day following a shift at Family Video to find a FOR SALE sign pitched in the front yard without a word from his parents. Robin helped him box his belongings and Eddie offered the wide belly of his van to transport his belongings to a two-bedroom apartment in his price range.

So while many have retreated to supposed greener pastures, The Party remains. Steve’s not certain Hawkins will be his home forever, but for now, it’s where he needs and wants to be. The determination to see Dustin, Max, Lucas, and even Mike fucking Wheeler survive high school and live out their weird, awkward, and nerdy teenage years with some semblance of peace keeps him steady and focused. And the distraction of caring keeps the pain that nips at his heels from rising any higher.

That’s why tonight, on New Year’s Eve, he isn’t getting blasted at a bar or cozying up with some stranger at a house party. Instead, he’s in his cramped apartment kitchen managing a nearly full stove and a blistering oven while “Manic Monday” by The Bangles plays on the radio. Sweat is beading at his temples along his hairline from the forced warmth the appliances are emitting. He uses the tea towel draped across his broad shoulder to dab the moisture up before snatching the wooden spoon that’s laying across the bubbling water to stir the softening pasta. He’s not sure if everyone even likes chicken alfredo or what teen will stomach a side of roasted broccoli, but he knows Max is hardpressed for a homecooked meal, Robin likes to consider herself cultured and will force down anything, and there’s nothing a quick swat to the side of Dustin’s big head can’t cure. As for Eddie, he seems content to scarf down whatever he happens upon—dry cereal, lukewarm beer, a gourmet meal, a can of cold beans. The guy eats like he’s not sure when the opportunity will present itself again—and doesn’t that make Steve’s insides twist and his heart clench.

They arrive in a flurry. Cold air from the hallway rushes into the kitchen every time the door is shoved open without a knock. At this point, they all have keys, Steve both desperate to avoid silence and eager to give them all a getaway when needed. Sure, he regrets the decision on the occasion that Dustin uses it to host a game of Dungeons and Dragons without warning, but he doesn’t mind when those impromptu game nights lead to Eddie playing a new record for Steve in the living room after the campaign comes to a close. In those instances, it’s common for Steve and Eddie to doze off on the blue plaid couch given to him by Robin’s parents until one of them jerks awake from a nightmare or a neighbor slamming a door shut. More often than not, Steve is the one to wake, and after he chugs a glass of water in hopes of settling his nerves, he grabs the sherpa blanket from the hall closet and drapes it across Eddie’s prone form.

He doesn’t know who will stay tonight, but he used what was left of his last paycheck to buy a few more blankets and pillows just in case he has a full house of drowsy kids and friends.

They all greet Steve in their own unique and annoying ways.

“Is that broccoli I smell? Steve, my mom feeds me enough vegetables, dude.” Dustin complains with a whiny tone.

Lucas tells him about what basketball skill he’s on the verge of mastering; Erica rolls her eyes with so much piss and vinegar that it has him questioning how she hasn’t lost an eyeball yet.

Max grunts out a “hey” as she uses a cane to maneuver the small space.

The carpool crowd of the Wheeler siblings, Byers siblings, El, and Argyle patter in with such a subdued and quiet energy that he barely notices until Jonathan’s pat on the back causes him to crane his neck around.

Before he can turn back to the simmering alfredo sauce, Robin is lifting herself onto the only space of open, clean countertop next to him. She gives his shoulder a flick, sticks a finger in the sauce, offers a nod of approval, and starts yammering about her day with more details than his brain can compute. Regardless, he does his best to keep up and nods when he loses track of the narrative.

Eddie is the last to arrive, and Steve certainly notices enough to turn around and away from the steaming stove. The metalhead shoots through the door like a loose canon, bouncing on the balls of his feet as he kicks off his weathered sneakers. They land half on the mat and half on the tiled floor as he announces his presence with an abundance of zest and enthusiasm. Nancy catches sight and bends down to shift them over. Steve laughs and turns back to the sink where he needs to drain the industrial-size amount of fettuccine.

“Hold up,” Robin quips, voice a whisper but tone alarmed. Against his better judgment, Steve freezes when he realizes that what he’s wearing is the catalyst for her surprise. When he has anyone over for dinner, he typically finishes cooking prior to them entering the apartment.

Shit, he thinks, glancing down at the apron with a grimace.

Everyone erupts into either howls of laughter or fake gags. He flicks Dustin’s hat off of his head and scowls at Mike. His middle finger is raising on its own accord, but El shifts into his line of vision and pushes onto her toes to press a quick kiss to his cheek. His hand drops and he smiles at the genuine sweetness he discovers on El’s face.

“Thank you for cooking for us, Steve,” she says without preamble.

“Yeah, my perfect-haired dude,” comes Argyle’s deep, drawn-out voice as he steps forward and into Steve’s space. “Many thanks for opening your humble abode up to us.” The kiss lacks the gentleness of El’s, but it’s full of unhindered appreciation. The shock of it brings a warmth to the apples of Steve’s cheeks.

No one else seems to be getting in line so Steve coughs to clear his head and the air. “Right, uh,” he mumbles out. “Food should be done shortly, so grab a drink and sit the hell down—and try not to break anything,” he finishes with a pointed look at Mike and Dustin.

Before he can spin on his heels and hide his face from view, Eddie’s doe eyes latch on to his. His usual pale skin has a dusting of color that mirrors the blush wine Nancy is uncorking and he’s tugging at the cuffs of his jacket sleeves. The thing that really makes Steve’s stomach swoop, however, is the intensity that’s swirling in the metalhead’s brown irises. They both swallow and drop one another’s gazes.

Out of the corner of his eye, he can see that Robin’s mouth is slightly ajar. “Jeez, Steve,” she grits out, this time actually in a whisper just for their ears. “Here I am still working on getting my first kiss from a girl, and you’ve got a freakin’ queue going. Step right up! Take your pick! Come one, come all! The boy wonder is awaiting with his pouty lips and brooding stare.”

Steve chuckles and shakes his head at her antics but his face turns a little sour after a moment. “There’s only one person I’m hoping will be in that line at midnight, Robs.”

“I know, I know,” she acknowledges. “Don’t play dumb though. Did you see his face? I’m surprised he didn’t lunge like a rabid dog or melt into the floor and become a permanent fixture," she comments. “By the way, very tactile selection of cooking attire.”

Steve scoffs in disbelief. “I didn’t wear this on purpose!”

“Sure, you didn’t,” she quips with an exasperated eye roll. “I believe you.”

“Screw you, Robs!”

Before sitting down at the table, Steve makes sure to shuck off the apron and hang it on the handle of the oven.

Dinner involves a cacophony of slurping, happy hums of contentment, and the boys discussing what movies they want to see next year and complaining about their fast-approaching return to the halls of Hawkins High with irritated digs from Max and Erica sprinkled in. Throughout most of it, Steve finds himself observing. Robin talks between bites of food to a smirking Nancy. Jonathan and Argyle are looking longingly at the food and savoring each bite—a telling glaze clouding their respective eyes. Eddie seems to be doing the same as Steve. Taking it all in. He knows the metalhead has his bandmates, but this mismatched, makeshift gang takes the cake. Steve doesn’t try to even understand it. He doesn’t know why but it works. They work.

From across the table, their eyes cross paths once again and pause. It’s always hard to peel his gaze away from Eddie—especially as of late. They’ve grown closer. Spending more and more time in each other’s atmospheres. Sometimes with no real reason aside from having nowhere else to go or not wanting to be anywhere else. Steve’s had friends, mates he’d throw parties with, toss a football around with, grab a burger and fries with. But this is something all its own.

Robin is his best friend. Someone he spills his guts to on the daily. Eddie is on the cusp of that, but there’s another layer there that Steve is working through at a rate and ease he never expected. He hates Eddie’s taste in music. He hates the volume at which he listens to it. He hates how much his energy never seems to wane. But he also likes Eddie. A lot.

When the realization made itself known, it slammed into his chest and clobbered him upside the head. Another theoretical concussion to really scramble his brain and tear through every belief he had about himself. Robin was there to help him through it. Determined to convince Steve that the same instant acceptance he offered her was what he deserved too. The uncertainty still appears from time to time, but he’s proud of himself. He feels as though the hard edges crafted by his parents and his former coaches and the Country Club of Hawkins have been all but chipped away to reveal someone he recognizes and wants to get to know better. And that someone appreciates and longs for the companionship of a woman or a guy—or at least Eddie Munson.

He knows he’s about to trip face-first over the line between what’s an OK amount of time to hold someone’s stare, but Eddie has resorted to sticking his tongue out in a messy attempt to catch a noodle that’s dangling from his fork. Steve decides it's gross and endearing. He keeps his responding smile small and feels child-like joy blossom in his chest. It begs him to snatch a piece of broccoli from his plate and throw it at the other man. Against his well-trained judgment, he does just that. The floret gets caught in a frizzy curl and hangs mid-air. The look of feigned offense that blooms on the metalhead’s face ignites a chocked-out laugh in Steve’s throat. It’s loud enough to catch the attention of everyone at the table. Moments later, broccoli is catapulting in all directions. It lands on plates, in the sink, down shirts, and on the floor. Steve puts a stop to the chaos when he spots Mike grabbing for a noodle coated in alfredo sauce.

During clean-up efforts, Eddie saddles up behind a kneeling Steve to pluck a piece of food from his chestnut mane and popping it in his mouth. “I’ll give it to you, Harrington,” he comments with a playful husk to his voice, “you make food that’s good enough to eat and wear.”

“Gross, Eddie!” hollers Mike at the interaction. “You probably just consumed at least half of a can of hairspray!”

Eddie shrugs and says, “I’ve eaten worse,” and saunters into the living room.

They’ve been doing this for a few months now. Engaging in exchanges that border on innocent and flirtatious. Eddie gives just as good as Steve, if not better if the former jock tallies the number of times he’s left sputtering or with a warmth seeping across the surface of his skin. Steve knows Eddie is gay. Eddie is smart about not letting that flag fly in the “real” world—he has to be in Hawkins—but in the safe confines of The Party or even at The Hideout, Eddie allows it to wave with ease.

At first, Steve suspected that the metalhead was just a flirt or found joy in making other people squirm. But Robin was quick to correct his thinking. Noting how there was a clear difference. While Argyle loved up on each and every person willing to receive his affections, Eddie reserved his heated lines, looks, and touches for Steve and Steve only. After a while, the former jock couldn’t deny Robin’s observations. And yet, there’s still a doubtful piece of him that wonders if it’s all a joke. A means to an easy laugh at the expense of Steve’s forgotten macho persona. And the thing is, Steve wouldn’t blame Eddie. He gets that he was an entitled, hotshot asshole. But the hurt and disappointment that bubble beneath the surface at the possibility are so very real.

For the remainder of the night, the group plays board games in the living room, using the wobbly coffee table to roll dice and move pawns. There isn’t enough space for everyone to gather around it, so they team up and take turns. Eventually, Steve exits to the kitchen with Robin and Nancy. They sit at the table, Nancy telling Robin about what classes she’s taking next term at Emerson. Steve tries to listen, but he notices the pile of dirty plates in the sink and the urge to not wake up to them in the morning is enough to pull him away from the conversation. He lets the water heat up and reaches for the apron. He’s taking a chance at being the butt of another joke, but he’s ruined one too many shirts to questionable stains at this point for his minimum wage job to handle. He’s halfway through the stack of dishes when the music sounding from the radio comes to a halt and he hears a cassette being clicked into the tape player. The chords, the bass, the beat—everything is heavy from the start. Steve guesses it’s Metallica, but he knows it’s Eddie at the helm.

He wants to yell at him to turn it down, fearful of his ancient neighbors, but Dustin’s joyous hoot at the song choice drags the demand back down his throat. It’s New Year’s Eve, he thinks—they can suffer for one night.

He imagines the pair thrashing around the space, throwing their bodies onto the couch. As they get older, Steve feels more and more like a parent to Dustin. Not a babysitter. They joke about him being the “mom” of the group and to be honest, Steve has stopped fighting the label. He kinda is. He’s not sure where that leaves Eddie. Ever wild and whimsical. He supposes he’s the fun guardian. Who keeps watch but not in a meddling manner or worrying way. They’re a good team when he thinks about it.

He must get so lost in his thoughts that he doesn’t realize someone is next to him drying the clean but dripping plates until an elbow is poking into his side.

Eddie grins at him.

“Can’t let you have all the fun.”

Steve rolls his eyes and lets a smirk tug at his lips. “Never.”

They finish the dishes in somewhat silence, Eddie bobbing his head to whatever hellish tune comes on next and flicking drops of water at Steve. The former jock is seconds away from spraying the water flow into his face when Mike’s voice screeches, “Ten minutes and counting! Get in here or you’re gonna miss it, losers.”

El shushes him, and Robin and Nancy grab their glasses of either wine or champagne from the table and head to where the group is quieting down to listen to the news broadcast live from Times Square in New York City. Steve from three years ago might have convinced himself that he liked the noise and the crowds and the flashy outfits and expensive liquor, but now, between his abused skull and his cracked-open heart, he’s confident in his whereabouts.

While Eddie tosses the plates with a carelessness that threatens to make Steve’s eye twitch into the cupboard, Steve dries off his hands and moves to remove the apron. The metalhead reaches out to stop him halfway through, the back undone, but the apron still hanging loosely from his neck. Steve looks down. The hand sprawled out on the center of his chest is adorned with chipped black nail polish and clunky sterling silver rings. The one on his middle finger is of a bat that Dustin and Steve chipped in to get him for a graduation present.

Steve pulls his gaze up to search Eddie’s face for an explanation. The same heat he witnessed in the other’s expression earlier in the evening is back.

“I never got a chance,” Eddie says softly between them.

A chance? A chance to what? To kiss the him?

Steve worries that his own silence is the reason for the hesitation that’s mixing with the heat in Eddie’s eyes now. But what if he’s reading it wrong? The possibility tightens his throat with building pressure. Still, seeing the other man uncertain and unsure reminds him too much of the terrified version he first tangled with in the boat house—so much so that he pushes past it and takes a leap.

“You don’t need the apron’s permission.”

Eddie blinks, the fearful fog lifting from his eyes. “No?”

Steve’s bravery bounds. “I want you to kiss me, Munson.”

Eddie nods as if to confirm he’s gathering and comprehending what’s being communicated. The metalhead’s hand is still on his chest, and Steve feels the need to ground himself, so he grips the edge of the counter with his left hand and wraps the fingers of his right around the other man’s wrist. Eddie bunches the material of the apron at the touch.

“Midnight is,” Eddie breathes out, glancing at the clock on the wall, “eight minutes away. We could wait.”

Steve shakes his head, somewhat disbelieving at his own transparency when he replies, “Don’t want to.”

Their lips meet like a wave crashing along the unsuspecting shore. They move with and against one another, pushing and pulling, trying to claim and be claimed. The heat originally reserved for their gazes has transferred to their mouths and tongues and teeth and hands. Steve releases his hold on the sink and the metalhead's wrist to instead grip Eddie’s hips. Eddie slides his palms and fingers to hook around Steve’s neck and tug at the loop of the apron.

Without much thought, Steve turns and lifts the metalhead up onto the wet counter. Eddie gasps and scowls before diving back in to reconnect their lips. Steve gets a nip to his bottom lip that he suspects is payback. Payback he’s willing and grateful to endure.

By the time they truly separate and break for intakes of air that are longer than two or three seconds, Dustin announces the start of the countdown.

“Eddie! Steve! Get in here!”

Eddie hops down from his perch and grabs Steve’s hand and tugs him to follow.

The kiss that stems from the clock striking twelve is gentle in comparison to their first. It happens on the outskirts of the living room, where the kitchen tile transitions starkly into the plush carpet. Those who aren’t cheering, shaking noise makers, or exchanging platonic embraces or romantic pecks, take note of the two men with squeals of surprise and yips of amusement.

When they pull away from each other, they’re both red in the face and laughing.

“Happy New Year’s, Ed.”

“Happy New Year’s, big boy,” the metalhead replies, grin broad as ever. “Guess ‘86 really was my year.”

It’s Max who gets the last word in though, gritting out a disgruntled “gross.”

#steddie fic #steddie #steddie art #eddie munson #steve harrington #eddie x steve #steve x eddie #stranger things

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wlnning · 8 months

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4n@ diary: "metab" day

snack (8:38 am) -> s'mores protein bar (180 cal)

(10:20 am) -> goldfish (130 cal)

(11:40 am) -> cookies and cream protein bar

(190 cal)

lunch (12:12 pm) -> reduced fat doritos (130 cal)

whole wheat goldfish (100 cal)

whole wheat rice crispy treat

(160 cal)

midday refuel (3:06 pm) -> iced brown sugar oat

milk espresso (243 cal)

snack (3:37 pm) -> gourmet donut (210 cal)

crackers (298 cal)

(6:46 pm) -> mini powdered donut (77 cal)

dinner (7:03 pm) -> pepperoni pizza (720 cal)

active -> 6,568 steps (-186 cal)

net -> 2,252 cal

we love a cute little weekly planned binge. my stomach has shrunk so much it's hard to actually eat as much as i want. i try and do one metabolism day a week so i don't go into "★vation mode" or whatever. i was so bloated the entire day and generally miserable but at least i'll shit tomorrow 😇🙏🏼

#@na trigger #ed bllog #girl problems #pro a4a #st4rv1ng #st4rv3 #th1gh g@p #thin$po #thinspø #ana and mia

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moecartoons · 1 year

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What is your oc's + Matt's favorite food?

CV's favorite all-time food is cotton candy. It's not very filling but it sure is tasty and sometimes free at R-Fair City. If she had the dough, she'd get some funnel cake and a sody pop. Very into carnival food.

Chip won't admit this but they love cake. Big, fancy cakes with layers of mousse and fudge and whipped cream at the top. They once ate a flower off a cake thinking it was a part of it when they were little. If you pay attention to them around cakes with flowers, they'll always carefully inspect it. They won't splurge on cakes but they've baked one a few times in their cottage. They come out good but simple and the work to make one from scratch is too much.

Teddy loves any and all foods. In fact the better question to ask is what he doesn't like and that's his bio parents' cooking. As a pop teen wolf he gets the best of both worlds in indulging in Castleblanca's riskier food and the more traditional gourmet stuff. Ofc, he's good with a high protein bar and Snarlbucks coffee on the go. His guilty pleasure tho is a raw rack of lamb from Mt. Olympus.

Matt is similar to Teddy, or rather I made Teddy similar to how I think Matt is. He'll try just about anything and will probably love it. His favorite food however is his Ma's cooking. She bakes like a champ and also likes to experiment in the kitchen. He loves her pizza empanadas. Simple, but tasty.

Bonus:

Ms. Kenzie - Raw Chicken Salad, dressing to the side.

Talos - [Yes, he eats!] He loves and misses a good corn dog from R-Fair City.

Thanks for the ask!!

#My Asks #CV #Chip #Teddy #Matt #Kenzie #Ms Kenzie #Talos #Empanadas de pizza my beloved #My dad made these for me so this is a shoutout to him Rip <3

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nati-sims · 1 year

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Traduções dos mods de receitas das criadoras Somik e Severinka

Oi, pessoal! ✨

Para facilitar as nossas vidas, eu resolvi reunir aqui todas as traduções dos mods de receitas e bebidas das criadoras Somik e Severinka. Os mods estão todos em ordem alfabética e, através destes links, vocês acessam os links de download do mod e da tradução.

10 Bar Cocktails

Baked and fried Pirozhki

Baked Salmon Veggie

Baklava, Malbrume and Turkish Delight

Bananas, Apples and Grapes

Banquet Table for Baby Shower

Beer Plate Appetizer and Pretzels

Beetroot Soup Borsch

Bento Cake

Bouillabaisse, Coq-au-vin and Nicoise - “French Cuisine

Canapes with Salmon and Cream Cheese

Cheese and Meat Platter

Cheese Soup with Croutons

Cocktails in bottles Shake

Cookies “Gingerbread” *23

Cookbook S&S

Cookies Gingerbread

Cookies Zimtsterne

Cottage Cheese Pancakes

Creamy Chocolate Cake with Berries

Creamy Soup with Salmon and Vegetables

Crêpes with berries

Crêpes with Caviar

Crispbreads with egg, vegetables and cottage cheese

Delivery - Healthy Food, Part 1

Delivery - Healthy Food Part 2

Dessert Turrón

Easter Cake and Eggs

Egg-nog Bowl

English Fruit Cake and Christstollen

Food Shop Delivery

French Onion Soup, Gratin dauphinois and Clafoutis - French Cuisine”

Frittata, Risotto and Minestrone - "Italian cuisine”

Fruit Platter

Functional Baby Food

Functional Beer

Functional Beer Barrels

Functional Beer in Bottles

Functional Blender and Protein Shakes

Functional Buffet with 18 dishes

Functional Champagne Bottles

Functional Champagne ‘Golden Edition’ and Gift Box 'Ferrero Rocher

Functional Craft Beer in Bottles

Functional Mangal (BBQ) and 10 recipes on skewers

Functional Martini Bottles

Functional Refrigerator for Beer

Functional Rum and Amaretto

Functional SET for SAKE💚

Functional Shelves for the Store

Functional Whiskey, Cognac and Vodka

Functional Wine Bottles

Gift Boxes “Chocolate-Covered Strawberry"💖

Gift Boxes Macaron

Gourmet dishes for the restaurant

Greek Salad

Green Salad with Avocado💖

Healthy Breakfasts with Avocado

Jollof Rice, Egusi soup with fufu and Moi Moi. “Cuisine of Africa - Nigeria

Lasagna, Manicotti and Tiramisu - "Italian cuisine”

Mango, Carambola and Soursop

Mashed potatoes with cutlets, potatoes with mushrooms and rustic

Meat Dumplings and a Product

Mulled Wine

Order at the bar

Oysters and Pufferfish

Paella, Pinchos and Santiago Cake

Pancakes Stuffed with Curd

Pancakes Stuffed with Meat

Pancakes Stuffed with Salmon and Cream Cheese

Passion and Dragon Fruits

Pears, Peaches, Apricoats and Plums

Pies - set 2

Pies - set 3

Pomegranate, Fig, Avocado and Cerry

Product and Ingredient of “Tartlets” 💖

Punches (Non-alcoholic)

Realistic Cooking Mod v 5.4💚

Realistic Cooking Mod V 6.0💚

Realistic Cooking Mod v 7.0

Restaurant dishes - set 2

Salad Dressed Herring

Salad Olivier with red Caviar

Salad Vinegret

Salad with shrimp and orange

Sandwiches with Vegetables 💖

Set of Rolls “Philadelphia”, “California”, “Canada"💖

Smoothie Bowls and Chia Puddings

Spinach Soup with Cream and Croutons💖

Steaks - 5 different doneness

Stuffed peppers, Pumpkin soup and Baked pumpkin slices

Tartlets with Kiwi and Berries💖- Set 1

Tartlets with Pineapple and Berries💖- Set 2

Tartlets with Red and Black Caviar 💖

Tarts

Turkey and vegetables for ThanksgivingVarenyky, Chicken Kyev and Salo. Ukraine Cuisine

Watermelon Desserts

Wedding Cakes with Roses

Esta lista será atualizada conforma novas atualizações estiverem prontas.

#mods tradução ts4 #ts4 mods #somik and severinka #the sims 4 mods #sims 4 mods #the sims 4

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harduo502 · 12 days

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Exploring the World of Vending Machines: From Snacks to Beverages and Beyond

In the hustle and bustle of modern life, vending machines have become ubiquitous fixtures, offering convenience and instant gratification. From satisfying snack cravings to quenching thirst, vending machines cater to a diverse array of needs Click here for the best deals on high tech vending machines!

preferences. Let's take a deep dive into the types of vending machines that have become an integral part of our daily routines.

1. **Snack Vending Machines**:

Snack vending machines are perhaps the most common type, found in offices, schools, malls, and just about every public space imaginable. These machines dispense a variety of snacks ranging from chips and chocolates to granola bars and nuts. They provide a quick and easy solution for those in need of a quick energy boost or a tasty treat.

Click here for the best deals on high tech vending machines!

2. **Beverage Vending Machines**:

Quenching your thirst on the go has never been easier, thanks to beverage vending machines. These machines offer an assortment of drinks, including sodas, juices, bottled water, and even energy drinks. Whether you're craving a refreshing cola or a revitalizing vitamin water, beverage vending machines have you covered.

3. **Combo Vending Machines**:

Combining the best of both worlds, combo vending machines offer a mix of snacks and beverages in a single unit. These versatile machines cater to a wider range of preferences and provide added convenience by offering a variety of options in one location. Combo vending machines are commonly found in high-traffic areas such as airports, train stations, and shopping centers.

Click here for the best deals on high tech vending machines!

4. **Healthy Vending Machines**:

With growing awareness about health and wellness, there has been a rising demand for healthier snack options. Enter healthy vending machines, which offer an assortment of nutritious snacks such as dried fruits, protein bars, whole grain crackers, and organic treats. These machines are often stocked with products that are low in sugar, salt, and artificial ingredients, providing guilt-free snacking choices.

5. **Specialty Vending Machines**:

Beyond snacks and beverages, there are specialty vending machines that cater to specific needs and interests. These may include machines dispensing freshly brewed coffee, hot soups, ice cream, freshly squeezed juice, or even gourmet sandwiches. Specialty vending machines are often found in niche locations such as corporate offices, hospitals, and upscale hotels.

Click here for the best deals on high tech vending machines!

6. **Reverse Vending Machines**:

In an effort to promote environmental sustainability, reverse vending machines have gained popularity in recent years. These machines allow users to return

Please note that the inclusion of these links does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by the author or the website owner. We do not have control over the content, quality, or availability of products and services provided by third-party vendors.

#dropship vending #vendingbusiness #vending

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leoneds-world · 20 days

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Edinsta: @kiki.disorder

Panqueca de espinafre (Duas colheres de farinha de aveia, dois ovos e 25g de espinafre), cottage e tangerina 🍊.

Terceiro foto - Protein Gourmet Bar.

Quarta foto - Panqueca de banana (Duas colheres de farinha de aveia, um ovo e meia banana), meia banana e iogurte de mirtilo 🍌.

Quinta foto - Peito de frango, macarrão de lentilha, batata-doce e cenoura cozida ♡

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mobilencom · 4 months

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Find the Best Cookie Manufacturers at Nutri-Bake

With the top cookie manufacturers at your disposal, explore an unmatched world of cookie bliss. Redefining sweet cravings, indulge in artisanal excellence and delicious innovation. A unique taste experience is guaranteed by our carefully chosen assortment. Upgrade your cookie experience with industry-leading quality. Follow the trend of enjoying perfection—our Best Cookie Manufacturers will leave your taste buds wanting more with their symphony of flavours. Give yourself the ultimate in cookie perfection right now!

#Best Cookie Manufacturers #Gourmet Protein Bar #Nut Bar Manufacturers

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govindtbrc · 27 days

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Taste of America: Insights into the United States Packaged Food Market

Packaged food has long been a staple of American diets, offering convenience, variety, and shelf stability to consumers across the nation. From pantry essentials like cereal and pasta to indulgent treats like cookies and chips, the United States packaged food market encompasses a wide array of products that cater to diverse tastes and preferences. Understanding the trends, drivers, and dynamics of this market provides valuable insights into the evolving food landscape and consumer behaviors in the United States.

At the heart of the United States packaged food market lies the demand for convenience and on-the-go consumption. With increasingly busy lifestyles and hectic schedules, consumers are seeking convenient and ready-to-eat options that require minimal preparation time. Packaged food products such as microwave meals, snack bars, and pre-cut fruits and vegetables offer consumers quick and easy meal solutions that fit their busy lifestyles. Additionally, single-serve and portion-controlled packaging formats appeal to consumers looking for convenient portion sizes and reduced food waste.

Moreover, the United States packaged food market is driven by evolving consumer preferences and dietary trends that prioritize health, wellness, and transparency. As consumers become more health-conscious and ingredient-savvy, they are seeking packaged food products that align with their dietary preferences and lifestyle choices. This includes products labeled as organic, natural, non-GMO, gluten-free, and plant-based, which are perceived as healthier and more environmentally friendly options. Additionally, there is growing demand for packaged food products with clean labels, transparent ingredient lists, and minimal additives or preservatives.

Request the sample copy of report @ https://www.globalinsightservices.com/request-sample/GIS10090

Furthermore, the United States packaged food market is characterized by innovation and product diversification, with manufacturers introducing new flavors, formats, and packaging designs to capture consumer interest and differentiate their brands. This includes product innovations such as functional foods, fortified snacks, and protein-packed snacks targeting health-conscious consumers seeking nutritionally dense options. Additionally, there is a growing trend towards premiumization in the packaged food market, with consumers willing to pay a premium for high-quality ingredients, artisanal craftsmanship, and gourmet flavors.

Additionally, the United States packaged food market is influenced by broader societal trends such as sustainability, convenience, and ethnic diversity. Consumers are increasingly concerned about the environmental impact of packaging waste and are seeking eco-friendly alternatives such as recyclable, compostable, and biodegradable packaging materials. Additionally, the rise of e-commerce and online grocery shopping has transformed the retail landscape, providing consumers with greater convenience and access to a wider range of packaged food products. Furthermore, the diverse cultural landscape of the United States has led to the proliferation of ethnic and international flavors in the packaged food market, reflecting the country's multicultural heritage and culinary diversity.

Despite the opportunities for growth, the United States packaged food market also faces challenges, including regulatory scrutiny, competitive pressures, and shifting consumer preferences. Regulatory agencies such as the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) impose strict regulations on labeling, food safety, and nutritional claims, requiring manufacturers to comply with stringent standards and guidelines. Additionally, the packaged food market is highly competitive, with numerous players vying for market share and consumer attention, leading to price wars, margin pressures, and consolidation within the industry. Furthermore, changing consumer preferences and dietary trends pose challenges for packaged food manufacturers, who must adapt and innovate to meet evolving consumer demands and stay relevant in a rapidly changing market landscape.

In conclusion, the United States packaged food market is a dynamic and diverse sector that reflects the evolving tastes, preferences, and lifestyles of American consumers. With its emphasis on convenience, innovation, and health-consciousness, the packaged food market continues to evolve and adapt to meet the needs of modern consumers. By understanding the trends, drivers, and dynamics of the packaged food market, manufacturers can identify opportunities for growth, differentiation, and innovation in this competitive and rapidly evolving industry.

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