#pb&j without bread is just

[estrellami-1]

Because of You

Steve’s not great at taking care of himself.

Everyone else, sure; he’ll bug them to hell and back about eating, about drinking water, about getting outside to see the sun. He’ll force vegetables down his kids’ throats if he has to.

But himself? He knows he’s not worth it. He knows he doesn’t need to take up that much space, that many resources. He gets by, eats when he needs to, drinks water if he remembers.

But he takes care of his people. And lately, his people has included one Eddie Munson.

“Hey, Eds,” he says, staring blankly at the wall as he cradles the phone to his ear.

“Hi, Steve. Everything okay?”

“Yeah, yeah, fine. Just wanted to check in, y’know? Make sure you’re doing alright.”

“Yeah, m’fine. How’re the kids?”

Steve chuckles. “The little shits are great. Driving me crazy, like always. Dustin claims he hates you because of whatever you pulled last Friday during the game.”

“Campaign, Steve.” He chuckles too. “Yeah, I was a little bit evil. It was a lot of fun. Henderson’s full of shit.”

“I know,” Steve answers. “We all do. He does. I think he gets his dramatics from you.”

Eddie gasps. Dramatically. “How dare,” he says, then immediately starts laughing when Steve does. “Hey, Steve?”

“Yeah, Eddie?”

He’s quiet now, serious. “How are you?”

Steve lets a quiet little chuckle slip out. “M’alright.”

“Just alright?”

Steve rolls his eyes. “I’m fine, Munson, c’mon, quit worrying.”

“You’re always taking care of everyone,” Eddie says, bold like he knows Steve won’t stop him. He’s right, but still. “But who takes care of you?”

“You’re right,” Steve deflects. “I do take care of everyone. Speaking of which, have you eaten today?”

Eddie doesn’t laugh. “Have you?”

“Eddie.”

“Steve.”

“No.” Hesitant, quiet.

“Will you?”

“I don’t know.”

“For me?” Parroting Steve’s tone. Hesitant, quiet.

“For you? I- Yeah. I might… need help.”

“That’s okay. Want me to come over?”

“I don’t- no. Just… over the phone?”

Eddie hums. “I can do that. What’re you in the mood for?”

Steve huffs a humorless laugh. “Nothing.”

“Not really gonna cut it here, babe.” They both ignore the slip. “Want choices?”

Steve sighs. “Dunno. Sure.”

“Do you have the energy for anything involving more than five steps?”

“I- guess? If I have to?”

“So that’s a no,” Eddie says, mostly to himself. “PB and J?”

Steve makes a face. “What am I, Dustin?”

“You’re about as stubborn as him right now, yeah, and he gets that from you.”

“Fuck you too.”

“Maybe later. PB and J? Yes or no?”

Steve sighs again. “Fine.”

“Okay, good. Which phone are you using?”

“The one in the kitchen.”

“Okay, good, so you can narrate to me what you’re doing.”

Steve sighs. “We really don’t have to do this-”

“Y’know, I kinda think we do. Up and attem, Stevie-boy, first things first is bread.”

Steve groans, but goes and gets the bread, narrating the rest of it without prompting. “And you?” He asks after his sandwich is made. “Have you eaten?”

“Uh… no.”

“Goddamn hypocrite.”

“I forgot! It’s not an energy thing, I literally just… forgot. That I need to eat.”

“Right, because that makes perfect sense.”

He imagines Eddie rolling his eyes. “It does in my head,” Eddie argues. “I’ll eat, I swear. I’ll do it right now if it’ll make you feel better.”

“Yeah,” Steve agrees quietly.

“Okay,” Eddie says, just as quietly. “Give me one second, I’m in my room, let me switch over to the one in the kitchen.”

“M’kay.”

A few seconds later Eddie’s back, panting slightly as he opens the fridge. “Okay. Shit, we need to go shopping. There’s not much to have in here. Uh… cheese? And tortillas? I could do a quesadilla?”

Steve snickers. “Who’re you, Mike?”

“Hey, fuck you, Harrington.”

“Maybe later,” Steve parrots.

He imagines Eddie rolling his eyes again. “Anyways. I’m just gonna think out loud while I cook, if you don’t mind, ‘cause there’s this one part of a song that I can’t quite nail down, right? I’ve got the melody and I’ve got most of the lyrics, and that’s what’s really giving me issues-”

Twenty minutes later he’s tossing the burnt quesadilla into the trash and hanging up to dial a pizza place. Steve laughs at him long after the line’s gone dead.

It keeps happening, is the thing. Steve asks if Eddie’s eaten, Eddie asks if Steve has, and they’ll eat over the phone together. One time, Steve changes the script. Says yes when Eddie asks if Steve wants him to come over. “Okay,” Eddie says. “I’ll be there in twenty.”

He arrives promptly when he said he would and proceeds to make himself at home in Steve’s kitchen, going through his fridge without a qualm. “Ooh, you’ve got rich people food, can I use it?” He holds up various vegetables as an example.

Steve snorts. “Sure.”

“M’kay. I’m gonna make stir fry, ‘cause I saw this recipe and have been dying to try it. Anything you don’t want?”

Steve shrugs. “‘M not really picky.”

Eddie cooks, and they eat, and Eddie makes Steve laugh five more times, even though he feels like shit, and Steve makes Eddie laugh too, and it feels more like an accomplishment than it should.

They keep flirting, too. They both know, and it’s not that they’re scared to say it, they just know it’s not time yet. Neither of them know when it will be time, but they both know they will know.

It confuses Steve if he thinks about it for longer than five seconds.

Then, one day, it comes to a head. Steve arrives at Eddie’s trailer, unannounced, eyes shining with something that has Eddie treading carefully. “Steve?”

“Eddie.” He swallows, looks around. “Am I interrupting anything?”

“Nah, you’re always welcome here. C’mon, let’s go sit on the couch, you look like you have something you want to say.”

Steve swallows again. “Yeah.”

“Okay.” Eddie sits, watches as Steve does the same. “What’s up?”

“I like you,” Steve blurts out. “I know you know I do, and I know you like me, and we both know that we both like each other, but I realized it’s… it’s something else, Eds, because I- I ate. And it was hard but I did it by pretending your voice was in my ear, telling me I could do it, reminding me of the next step, and it was just a sandwich but-” he looks away, swipes at his eyes. “I did it,” he whispers. “I did it for you. Because of you. And I don’t know what the fuck we’re doing, man, why we’re dancing around each other, but I don’t want to anymore.” He shakes his head, looks directly in Eddie’s eyes. “I wanted to say it, to lay it out, and let you do what you will. Because I trust you. I feel safe with you. I believe you’ll take care of me, because you’ve already proven you will.”

Eddie swallows, eyes glassy. “I forgot to eat,” he whispers, and Steve laughs.

“That’s okay. I’ll remind you.”

“And on the days neither of us have the energy?”

“We rock-paper-scissors for who calls the pizza place.”

Eddie laughs, then. “Okay,” he whispers. “Okay, Stevie.”

“Okay,” Steve agrees, and moves to lean into Eddie’s side.

They don’t kiss, not yet. They don’t need to. They both know. They get up a few minutes later, and Eddie finds something to eat, and Steve sits on the counter and teases Eddie with something akin to pure happiness shining in his eyes.

#steddie #steddie fic #stranger things #stranger things fic #st fic #steve harrington #eddie munson #they’re both awful at taking care of themselves #in different ways #Eddie is 9 million percent ADHD #and forgets food is a thing he himself needs as a person #Steve doesn’t bother half the time #the other half he doesn’t have the energy #Eddie does #Eddie has too much energy #it’s just enough for Steve #starambles

[mezmer]

Here I will explain why my blog banner describes me as an anti sugar activist. I try to be as "scientific" as my brain and heart allow, but I value my experience over scientific studies even if they support my view, huge ridiculous autist sugar post incoming

Sugar is highly addictive for most people. The problem is way more dire than we act like it is. Added to foods you wouldn't even think to include sugar. The link between sugar and obesity, endocrine disruption, general inflammation and malaise, disease, diabetes, your teeth rotting out, and even cancer, is undeniable no matter what articles or studies you try to dig up. not many people want to admit how bad it is. People who enjoy sugar, who might say "you only live once! It's not like I'm shooting heroin" suffer weird problems and assume it's something else. Children set up for a lifetime of failure because their parents don't pay attention to their sugar intake at all. I have a very drastic example of this I won't go into much detail about, but a set of parents close to me are feeding their daughter extreme amounts of sugar. She has a learning disability and is a very intense child. I've hinted at the sugar link and everyone is in denial.

I have baby sat this child and gotten her to eat organic wheat bread PB and J with a no sugar added, all fruit jam.. happily told her parents who did not care at all. It was such a feat to me. Everyone knows a picky child. It's worse than you think. This is a gateway drug and I'm totally serious. I said I would not go into great detail... I too was raised on welch's fruit snacks, "pancake syrup", sprite, Kool aid, and worst of all I was allowed to put as much sugar that I wanted into my tea. My parents were wonderful, they just didn't think or know how bad it was to do this

I've struggled with a sugar addiction before and since getting clean from drugs and seen the effects of it firsthand. The most obvious to be seen from the outside that I can make people believe is my struggle with acne. We know bacteria feeds off of sugar. This is why people who drink sugary drinks are at risk for UTIs. If bacteria enters their bladder, sugar makes it grow. Well no amount of washing my face, bentonite clay masks, washing my pillow cases, wearing a bonnet, would make the acne go away. Recently I tried to only eat a certain pint of ice cream thinking less sugar would help. It didn't and I'm over two weeks off of all sugar that isn't naturally occuring in honey and fruit. Crazy how natural sugar does not feed the bacteria and hormonal disruption. I've been in this cycle more than once. Not only does the acne go away, my face appears radiant every time. Breakouts as soon as I relapse. Maybe you are thinking, this is a bunch of hogwash and I eat little cakes often without a problem. That's fine. I know addicts who have used meth for 30 years and you wouldnt wonder much about them. Smokers who lived to 80. Sugar doesn't do me any good at all.

Neither my mom, who was just put on a medication with awful side effects because she is developing diabetes. Her doctor (doctor she's had for decades who is a total piece of garbage and prescribes dangerous cocktails of conflicting medications !! That's a whole other post!!!! Put my grandma on pills which nearly killed her! Plus other people HAHAHA) saw her coming up with high blood pressure, blood sugar, and cholesterol without thinking to suggest a diet change first. My mom is overweight and likes to eat sweets. My mom told me, I can still eat sweets, I just have to eat less. I did tell her that didn't work for me. I quit because I don't want to end up sick this way. Diabetes runs in our family. The prescription is making my mom nauseous and dizzy. Insane to me right?

Why aren't the dangers of sugar recognized? Why am I the only advocate I know? I would shut the fuck up if the dangers were believed by more people. Is it Because Sugar Taste good? Not seen as a vice. We accept that corn syrup is not so good. Canola oil pretty bad. Dyes in food causing children to develop ADHD and autism, or whatever. Is there no risk in consuming sugar? Many health professionals don't want to admit it? I feel strongly. I feel sick when I eat sugar but I can't find myself able to stop unless I truly try. We are all convinced that it's just a danger to your teeth if you don't brush enough. MIL is a sugar addict who buys birthday cakes on clearance and clears the whole cake in a few days, a twice daily flosser and brusher, who has lost over half of her teeth to extractions, sees the link, and has no intention to quit.

Finally, I bake yummy dessert recipes excluding half the sugar while using honey, maple syrup, brown sugar for what is left (which is slightly better than white sugar from my understanding) and I have never made a baked good that is ruined by doing this. You can't even tell that I've excluded sugar and the foods have more flavor because sugar doesn't overpower the dish. They don't make your teeth hurt. You can eat more cookies because there is less sugar and they taste better. The texture is the same. Bakers will tell you this isn't true and you need to use the whole amount of sugar so the cookies and cakes arent ruined. Yes, you need torched sugar on creme brulee. Fine.

Do you ever find yourself scraping icing off of a cake? I have baked more than one birthday cake for loved ones excluding sugar and adding natural alternatives (NOT stevia or monkfruit which taste like shit and suck) and ive gotten nothing but compliments. My brown sugar maple cake with cream cheese icing using very little sugar was a hit for my partners birthday that everyone probably ate too much of. This isn't a brag, it's an idea for anyone who bakes to try and change your recipes. It hasn't failed for me. Ok SOrry

#edit check notes

[smallidarityyuri]

D'ya ever get that awful feeling when you've gone too long without eating? That one where there's this really gross pit in your stomach that actually makes your body sink in. The one that makes your hands shake because you had a small dinner and haven't eaten breakfast yet. The one that makes you salivate so much you feel like a dog, in a bad way. The one that makes your throat hurt and makes you feel like you're about to cry, and then the more you think about it you start to get all choked up and sad?

Joel's too used to that feeling- the feeling of the pit in your stomach when you go without food too long. Being alone means you notice these things, because there's nothing else to notice. He focuses on hunger and how awful it is, and how his hands tremble and he has to swallow a little more thickly every time he gets that feeling. The way that his Adam's apple felt like it was tearing at his throat, desperately clawing to get out.

Well- he's not sure where he's going with this. He's not sure what kind of point he's trying to make so he just tells himself the truth. The feeling reminded him of Jimmy. Beautiful, stubborn, ignorant Jimmy.

When he went so long without Jimmy he swore that there was a pit in his stomach that hurt like that. The kind of one that makes him tell himself he's definitely being overdramatic cause he was fed yesterday. Cause he saw Jimmy yesterday. Jimmy kind of reminded him of that stupid lump in his chest and that shaking feeling in his hands. The feeling of him getting overworked and trying to push himself to his very limit until he literally could not function without eating again. Without seeing Jimmy again.

He's not sure why he's admitting this to himself. He knows this already. God fucking damn it he knew it so well it drove him crazy. He knew he was weak without food, and that he couldn't live without it. He couldn't enjoy himself or anything that he was doing without food.. and he wasn't quite ready to assess that he felt the same way about Jimmy.

You know- he compared Jimmy to food once, just to see if he could find a food that sticks. Something that he could firmly say was a food that reminded him of Jimmy. At first he went with sweeter things, like tiramisu and cream horns and strawberries. Then the thought drifted. Jimmy isn't actually that sweet. He could be a bitch too, sour and leaving a weird taste in your mouth. Not a bad one though. Joel enjoyed the most bitter and sour of foods out there. He could handle a bit of sour from Jimmy.

Jimmy kind of reminded him of a peanut butter and jam sandwich. PB&J was simple, easy enough, well known, and yet so good tasting. What a lot of people might not realize about PB&J is that there are so many ways to ruin it- to mess it up, so they just don't bother to be careful like they would with any other food. After all, it's a PB&J. You wouldn't be so careful with one either, would you? On the flip side, there are so many ways to make a PB&J better, to enhance it's flavour and make it as delicious as it could get. You could toast the bread, butter it too. You could get preserves or expensive peanut butter as well. You could add honey or syrup to make it sweeter- or you could add guacamole to make it savory.

Joel thinks he likes PB&J the way it is. Sometimes he won't be as careful as he should, and tears the bread, but he always makes up for it.

What was he saying again? Right. Jimmy. Jimmy reminded him of all of those things- the things you could do to a PB&J, and how you still wouldn't get it as good as how it's supposed to be. He liked Jimmy the way he was, to be honest. Some people only wanted him for a kiss- or for when he's all cute and bubbly all himbo like. Those people really got on his nerves, actually. Did you think he was really just all of that nonsense he put on for show? Jimmy was smart and crafty, kind of like a fox. He seems a little plain, but he was Joel's favourite. He was Joel's comfort on an early morning when he was hungry, and his hands shook and he felt a lump in his throat.

Joel gets up. He thinks he might have a sandwich.

Tag:

@zedif-y

#smallidarity #/romantic #joel smallishbeans #jimmy solidarity #solidaritygaming #smallishbeans #my writing #they deserve the world #and more #joel babygirl jimmy is like right there if you need him than go get him #trafficshipping #empiresshipping #trafficblr

[rainnybear]

ROTTMNT HEADCANON TIME!!

——————————————————

Leonardo

He/Him

Gay MLM

Heterochromia (Left eye blue, right eye red)

Fawn Stress Response

AUDHD

PTSD

Leo gets understimulated and overstimulated (Donnie carries noise cancelling headphones for him and Mikey shares his fidget toys)

Inferiority complex

Swiftie

Rants in Spanish when overwhelmed

Speaks spanish when overtired or sick

Insomnia

When Leo can’t sleep and wants company, he goes to Donnie’s lab and watches him work

Constantly feels like an annoyance

Takes sleeping meds

Fear of abandonment

Reads ao3 when can’t sleep

Medic of the team, hyperfixated on biology when he was little and it didn’t go away

An absolute baby when sick

MLP fan

Has nightmares and flashbacks about the Krang fright and tries to pretend he doesn’t

Donatello

He/Him

AroAce

Heterochromia (Right eye blue, left eye red [opposite from Leo’s])

Freeze Stress Response

Lots of scars from working on his tech

Gets overstimulated

Blasts music in his lab at 3am

Speech therapy when he was little

Weighted Blanket

Goes nonverbal

Sound sensitivity

Black nail polish

Michelangelo

He/They/It

Panromantic Asexual

Blue Eyes

Flight Stress Response (I don’t think that’s even a hc)

Makes stickers and patches

Can’t tie his mask correctly so it always looks messy, used to always fall off before he got used to tying it

He gets understimulated

He has a backpack filled with EVERYTHING (More things fit in it than they should and it confuses the hell out of the others)

Sound Sensitivity, whenever it’s too loud, he gets more quiet and sad and holds onto one of his brothers, he gets overwhelmed and touching people around him helps but it feels worse if too many people are touching anything other than his hands

Gender unlabelled

Raphael

He/She

Pansexual

Bigender

Dark Brown Eyes

Fight Stress Response

Anxiety

Autophobia (Fear of being alone)

Loves to play dress up

Claustrophobia

Splinter

He/Him

He can’t tell the turtles apart without their masks and that’s why he gave them masks in the first place

April

She/Her

Lesbian

Loves Minecraft and Animal Crossing

Cassandra

Nonbinary

She/They

Lesbian

Casey JR

Knows Spanish because of Leo

Knows medical stuff because of Leo

PTSD

He/They

Has nightmares about the future

Loves garlic bread

Disaster Twins

They help eachother when overstimulated

They clash together sometimes because understimulation + overstimulation does not mix

Donnie likes to act like he doesn’t care about Leo but he’d be an absolute mess without him

Donnie is Leo’s favourite sibling

When Leo can’t sleep and wants company, he goes to Donnie’s lab and watches him work

Sometimes Leo falls asleep on him and he’ll complain about it in the morning but he lets Leo sleep because he knows he isn’t getting enough and he’s just glad he’s finally sleeping

PB & J

They clash together sometimes because understimulation + overstimulation doesn’t mix very well

Donnie carries fidget toys for Mikey (Mikey doesn’t wear his bag during battle which is where all his fidget toys are)

Mikey is Donnie’s favourite sibling

Donnie and Mikey talk about their hyperfixations/special interest(s) together

Portal Duo

They were Pokémon kids and played Pokémon together, they shared a card collection and sometimes argued over the cards, they are now under Leo’s bed, they still play every once in awhile

#rottmnt #rottmntleo #tmnt #tmnt 2018 #rise of the teenage mutant ninja turtles #rottmnt donnie #rottmnt raph #rottmnt mikey #rottmnt april #rottmnt splinter #rottmnt cassandra jones #rottmnt casey jr #rottmnt headcanons #tmnt headcanons

[emtmercy]

I’m not a weird health food person or food moralist at all I love carbs I love sugar etc but my parents were big health food ppl in my childhood which has in the long run certainly affected how I grocery shop like I don’t generally buy white bread (I’ll eat it tho of course and it’s delicious it’s just not what I stock in my house and I try to keep like the actual feeding of my body in mind etc) but I was like hey to hell with nutrition and the food groups I’m going to gift my inner child a box of those smuckers crustables pb and Js to eat at work like kids without health food parents got and they’re not good at all it’s honestly barely food it was soooo disappointing lmao

Like I rly thought these would be so sweet and plush and delicious

Homemade pb&j shockingly superior

#food/

[nightowlwoman]

My Thoughts on a Spring Snowstorm in Maine.

In case anyone was wondering where I've been the past few days -- Maine (where I live) was hit by a massive Spring Snowstorm that started late in the evening of Wednesday, April 3rd, and continued until mid-day on Friday, April 5th. In our area - somewhat northwest of Portland - the accumulation of heavy, wet snow amounted to 12" to 15".

We lost the power (along with some 300,000 other households) some time in the early hours of Thursday, April 4th. Repair crews made it to our street this morning and electricity was restored to us by 10:30 a.m. After a bit less than 3 days managing without electricity, heat, running water, a functioning septic system, hot coffee and, of course, internet service and other modern amenities -- my husband and I were very, very happy to be returned to the 21st century!

However, I have been reminded, once again, of all the people in this world of ours who are struggling to live without what we consider the basic necessities of life - much less the modern amenities and comforts we are so fortunate to enjoy. My husband and I had food to eat that didn't need cooking (PB&J, bread, cheese, muffins & raisin bran cereal), bottles of clean water, flashlights and candles and extra matches and batteries. We had plenty of warm clothes for layering and extra blankets for warmth when we went to bed. We had a sturdy roof over our heads and felt safe in our dark and quiet neighborhood. Most importantly, we had the knowledge that there were people working out in the storm to fix things and the absolute certainty that in a few days, at most, things would be returning to normal! How awful it is to know that so many people in our world today have none of these things and, tragically, little to no hope of their lives returning to the normal they once knew. Solutions are neither easy nor simple - what is necessary is good will, kindness and generosity of spirit and action from most of us - not just some of us. I persist in clinging to the belief that while there is life, there is hope - but sometimes the world makes it very hard to continue to believe.

The worst thing about this last hurrah of Winter given to us as a slightly tardy April Fool's gift by Mother Nature is the terrible damage done to the trees and shrubs and plants - all budded and waiting for Spring warmth to open - to leaf and flower. My neighborhood is filled with giant pine trees - very old and straight and tall. The ground is now covered with their branches, from small to huge. The maples and oaks and birches fared little better. When the snow finally melts, the sound of many people and their chainsaws clearing it all will fill the air. From my kitchen window, I can see a huge pine now missing its top half - snapped like a matchstick! Amazingly, it didn't fall on the house that sits near it. I don't think the tree can survive that damage, but it will require a crew of professionals to safely take down what remains.

The smaller plantings also were heavily damaged. A row of small-leaf rhododendrons that we planted nearly 40 years ago - that have survived countless snow and ice storms over the years - are lying bent to the ground by the weight of the snow. Far too many of their branches are snapped and broken away - it remains to be seen what may survive of them and be salvageable. I and countless pollinators and hummingbirds will miss their sweet, pink beauty this Spring!

A lilac varietal that we planted over ten years ago looks to have lost almost all its branches. We had been told it was a "miniature" variety that would stay small, so we planted it in front of our walkway porch. This lilac ignored its label and embraced growth with an enthusiastic abandon - reaching the porch roof, aiming for the sky and the sun. I resisted trimming it back - even as it obscured the view and overhung the railing onto the walkway, because it's purple flowers were so abundant, so fragrant and so beautiful - well, I just couldn't bring myself to limit its zest for life! It blossomed after the rhododendrons, when the weather was warmer and the windows were open, and its fragrance filled the whole house. I shall miss everything about that lilac that is still so young and hope that enough of it survives to eventually grow and blossom again.

Our single broad-leaf rhododendron, thankfully, seems to have weathered this storm with minimal damage. It has not been so lucky multiple times over the last nearly 40 years! It is battered and yet unbowed! I am hopeful that we will be able to enjoy its bouquet-sized blossoms this Spring!

I haven't had the chance yet to assess the damage to various lilacs and forsythia - the snow needs to melt and time will tell. The "grande old dame" of our lilacs, however, took some heavy wounds - not for the first time, either. This lilac has very fragrant and abundant white blossoms and was growing here before we built our house. It has lost major branches, been split in half in a massive ice storm - but it is a survivor and has always healed and continued to grow and blossom - even as it has assumed a different shape and silouette each time. It looks like it may lose about one-third of itself this time, but it's too soon to tell. Some major branches are snapped right off and many more are flat to the ground and trapped in the snow. As I watched it today, one long branch that was held by a lighter layer of snow seemed to break free and flung itself skyward and managed to stay upright on its own - a hopeful sign! When it is completely freed, we will lend it some support where necessary, perhaps do a little trimming and I trust it will heal itself and we will all get used to the new iteration of its appearance.

There has been a lot going on for me and my husband and family throughout 2023 and so far in 2024 - with no end in sight. Multiple crises, small and large, have been overwhelming at times and have occupied much of my mind and my time. These last few days, however, have had a narrow and more simple focus. The problems weren't really personal, because they were shared by so many. I went to bed early because my old eyes don't do well by candlelight and because it was warmer under a stack of blankets! I slept long and well and recharged my old battery. I had no control over events and, thus, no need to fret or feel responsible for it. Considering that I am a world-class fretter and worrier - that was a novel experience for me! Most of all, I had some very quiet time to think and just be.

I have experienced many difficult and painful things over the years and continue to do so, but if I've learned one thing in my 72 years, it is that things can always be worse! My experience of this storm certainly could have been much worse. Except for my dismay over damage caused by the storm - and Nature will eventually heal and be restored (with a little help from us) - looking at the last few days honestly - they weren't really all that bad at all! That being said - I am totally ready for the snow to melt and for Spring to finally arrive!

#april blizzard #spring snowstorm #april 2024 #my thoughts #personal #my writing #thanks for indulging this old owl

[drainxx]

Jan 29th 2024

I had a great @na day today. 24hr 36min fast, well over 10k steps, 460cals total, refused many favorite foods.

But now it’s 11pm and I’m sitting here crying, because I want to eat so so bad but I just can’t.

I can’t.

I thought maybe I could ch/sp some crackers or something just to get the edge off, but the idea of accidentally swallowing any of the food because I’m so hungry scared me into deciding against it.

I thought of every possible food combination I could make myself from the kitchen and calculated that item’s calories and added it to my total from today to see how much it would be, and no matter how low the number remained It wasn’t worth it.

I want a stupid Pb&j. I want to march down to the kitchen and take out two slices of bread, and slather a thick layer of peanut butter and strawberry jam onto them. So thick that some spills out the sides when I close it. I want to lick the extra peanut butter of the end of the knife. And I want to eat it. I want to eat that damn sandwich like it doesn’t even matter. I want to eat it like it doesn’t contain one single calorie.

But it does. Around 327 calories actually, and that is far too many. I find myself wanting the food but not the calories. But the food IS the calories. Why can’t I get that through my head? It’s not even the sandwich I really want, I’d eat anything. I’d eat, anything. But I can’t.

I thought for a moment, “just this once….” And then I realized that if I had it, it wouldn’t be just this once. I’d probably binge from overwhelming guilt and shame and then fall right off the track again and be infinitely more miserable than how I feel without it.

I can’t eat.

No. Not can’t- wont. This is a choice. This is a choice. This is my choice. I choose not to eat it. I am strong, and I am proud of myself. Right?

Why doesn’t this feel like this is a choice?

I am not eating tonight, nor tomorrow morning, nor at school tomorrow for my first day, and I’ll see how long I can go from there.

Crying over food. What a stupid thing to do.

#4n0r3xia #i will lose weight #4norexi4 #ed not ed sheeran #i will reach my ugw #4norexla #i want to ⭐️ve #tw ana diary #⭐️ving #4nor3xia #i dont wanna eat #i wanna be perfect #thinner is better #i need to lose more weight #i will be small #i wanna be tiny #i wanna be skinnier #i need to lose so much weight #i wanna lose weight #4narex1a #4n0rexic #4n4blr #4n4rexia #4norexia #ana is my friend #i need to lose this weight #i need to ⭐️ve #i want to be skinnier #i will be a skeleton #i will be weightless

[mockingbirdshymn]

giving camp camp characters favorite foods

preston: french toast and bagels with cream cheese. he really likes blueberry bagels and blueberry muffins. he's a breakfast food kinda guy

harrison: bannana bread!!!! he really seems like a bananna bread guy. and a hot dog guy too, he definitely loves hot dogs

nerris: pizza. only cheese pizza, though, she doesn't like pepperoni. their dad always orders one during long dnd sessions that take up most of the evening. she likes dominos especially because their dad orders the cookie brownies too when they get dominos

max: smiley french fries. he also likes to press them down in a pile of ketchup to make the ketchup ooze out of their eye and mouth holes like blood. (im hoping that was a universal kid thing and that i wasnt just weird as fuck)

nikki: pb&j uncrustables!! she likes normal pb&js the same, though. she only eats them with either strawberry or blackberry jam

neil: lunchables. despite how hes well aware how unhealthy they are, he likes the fact theyre compact and he can take them anywhere with ease

space kid: his mother's chocolate chip cookies and dinosaur egg oatmeal (the kind where the egg melts over time in the oatmeal to reveal a colored dino inside)

dolph: shaped mac & cheese (ie. dino mac n' cheese, spongebob mac, etc.) he won't eat the normal macaroni (he only uses it for macaroni art)

ered: oreos, specifically the weird oreo flavors or double stuffed, and sonic drive thru

nurf: dinosaur nuggets but only the soggy ones you get at lunch at your shitty school that are soaked in like corn juice or some shit because i dont like nurf

david: sandwiches! lettuce, tomato, turkey, ham, mayo, onion, he has it all. he packs one every day for max to bring to school. max doesnt like them but he pretends to so that david feels happy

gwen: sushi!! she seems like a sushi lover. she probably eats a lot of cups of noodles

cameron campbell: his mother's oatmeal raisin cookies

bonus:

space kid has an uncanny resistance to spice. kids at camp started to feed him spicy stuff but he never seemed to react.

harrison once sobbed as a kid bc he ate deer and got upset because deer are cute and he ate one without knowing it was a deer :(

nikki always gives her leftovers to the pigeons in the city she lives near whenever she eats there. even if she doesnt have any, she makes sure to give some to the city birds. pigeons never forget a face, and they follow nikki whenever shes in the city. shes started bringing crumbs and food in her pockets to scatter behind her whenever they show up.

#youll find that all of these are simple/basic #and i mean they are #theyre just kids after all #camp camp #cc preston #cc harrison #cc nerris #cc max #cc nikki #cc neil #cc space kid #cc dolph #cc ered #cc nurf #cc david #cc gwen #cc cameron campbell #headcanons #implied dadvid #we love dadvid on this tumblr blog

[mooifyourecows]

What food do y’all have in good ol’ ‘Mercia?

all of it

honestly though it depends on where you are. America is a big immigrant country, with people from all over the world bringing their authentic food with them. if you're in a big city with a big variety of people (Chicago, NYC, LA, etc), you can pretty much find ANY kind of cuisine possible. If youre touring around Chicago and suddenly think "MAN i could really go for some moi moi rn..." you're in luck! you can easily find a nigerian restaurant to meet your needs no problemo!

now if you're in a small, podunk one stoplight town, variety is a lot harder to find. You WILL almost always have Mexican food as an option though. Good mexican food too. made by actual mexicans. i've been to a lot of mexican restaurants here in America on account of it is my favorite and I've never encountered one owned or operated by non mexicans. other than like... fast food like taco bell and such. white people mexican restaurants don't last long because they have to compete with authentic deliciousness and that's just not possible (obviously this is just my personal experience and i have not been to EVERY town in america so i'm sure there are some exceptions)

Different parts of the country have different popular foods. In coastal states you'll find a lot of seafood, naturally. Maine is rollin in lobster (joke about lobster rolls), and you'll find several different types of BBQ, from Texas to Kansas City to Memphis to a backyard near you 🫵. Southern Soul Food is one of my faves, what with the jambalaya and the gumbo and the corn bread and mac and cheese and so on and so forth, deliciously 🤤 (i swear if i ever make it to New Orleans one of these days, i'm not going home without gaining at least 50lbs)

We have a big pizza culture here and you can find different pizza types all over the country. There's some debate about which pizza is the BEST pizza, mainly with Chicago deep dish and NYC style in a neverending battle of butting heads. (personally i'm just happy to get any pizza so i can't say who is better)

Then there's the stuff like Philly Cheese steak, the Reuben, pies (so many pies, but namely apple and pumpkin are the big ones), New England Clam Chowder, buckeyes, cheese curds, tex-mex, etc.

Diners are kinda the backbone of American eating, if you ask me, because you're destined to find diners everywhere. they're comforting, they're familiar, they have big menus, and they're within budget. Diners usually serve breakfast all day too, so you can swing in late in the evening (or even in the middle of the night) and order a big plate of chicken and waffles and a warm slice of apple pie à la mode any damn time you want!

I hear non americans are always baffled by biscuits and gravy, because it definitely doesn't LOOK appetizing but it's SO good. country gravy with a spicy sausage on fresh, flaky biscuits? Yall i'm gettin hungry just thinking about it. that was the meal i ate, hungover, after my 21st birthday, and i didn't regret a single bite mmMMm

i also hear that non americans don't eat peanut butter and jelly sandwiches but those are a big part of American culture, especially when you're a kid. aint nothin hit harder at lunchtime than takin a big ol bite of a gooey pb&j and chasin it with ice cold milk

Thanksgiving dinners are also iconically American food culture. gettin 20 of your family members together in one house, cookin a big ass turkey and serving it with a plethora of homestyle sides like stuffing, cranberry sauce, green bean casserole, mashed potatoes, yams, mac and cheese, buttERNUT SQUASH, ACORN SQUASH, PUMPKIN PIE OH MAN OH MY i think i need to eat something before i gnaw through my arm

there's great native food too! frybread and succotash and what not. corn is a big thing for the indigenous people here and they popularized a lot of uses for it. I unfortunately haven't had a lot of it so i can't really speak on what's great and all, but if you just look up Native American food, you will see corn's influence lol

and OF COURSE we got the hamburgers and hot dogs. i know that fast food joints like mcdonalds have spread everywhere these days like a blight on the earth, but they're like... gas station burgers in comparison to the good stuff you can get. same with hotdogs. like i know that you can buy hotdogs from the store in a lot of places (for some reason in jars of liquid in the UK, i learned recently, which is..... fun) but they're not the same as getting a delicious hotdog with the works at a baseball game, you know? it's not the SAME. there's so much variety with what you can do with burgers and hotdogs! and Americans love to grill. it's pretty normal for households to have a grill they bust out every summer for backyard BBQs and cookouts.

anyway, i can't really tell you more about specific foods only in america because i genuinely don't know which foods here haven't either been brought over from somewhere else or have breached containment and gone off to other countries. i sometimes see restaurants in other countries have a "USA style" food and it seems to almost always be the most comically disgusting thing i've ever seen. (like pizza with fries and hot dogs as toppings lmaoooo)(ngl tho, i'd try it)

if anybody has some iconic American food to mention, feel free to do so! 👀

[jonassiegenthighler]

Obsessed w the title johnluke two johnluker, expand on this please!!

LMAO Okay well first of all you need to know about my personal obsession with the film Die Hard 2: Die Harder (a film which I'm not positive that I've actually seen), I genuinely think it is such a funnier sequel title format than "electric boogaloo" and I will die on this hill (harder than the first time) so that's why it's called that.

Secondly, it isn't actually the sequel to anything, I called it that because at the time, the only other fic in my google docs was the curling fic which was just called "johnluke" until I finished it.

It's literally just domestic fluff about Luke making himself a key to John's apartment and refusing to leave until John falls in love with him. I will probably scrap it for parts and put them in other fics rather than actually completing it but you never know, you know?

Snippet:

Luke made himself a key to John’s apartment at some point. John wasn’t sure when or how he had pulled that off, but one day he just started showing up and walking in like he owned the place. John knew he should be upset about it; that this was probably burglary, in the legal sense, and that he should stand up for the sanctity of his home. Maybe he would have, if he hadn’t privately wanted Luke in his home and in his space as often as possible, leaving his things around like it didn’t matter because he would be back for it soon, and this way he could have that without ever having to ask for it.

“I can’t take it!” He called out on his way to the kitchen where he started pulling out the ingredients for pb&j’s, he put on his startlingly good Jack impression, “‘Luke where are you going? We have plans.’ No, Jack. YOU have plans. You can’t just include me in everything without even asking me!” Johnny privately found Luke’s insistence on consent for social activities to be hypocritical in a deeply hilarious way, standing as he was in John’s kitchen, stealing his food, uninvited (but not unwanted). “He does this all the fucking time! I mean, obviously I love the guy, but Christ, I didn’t spend this much time with him when we were kids!” He had like six slices of bread peanut-buttered and was about to go back in for the jelly when he got to the end of his rant. Never let it be said that Luke Hughes isn’t a goddamn expert at pb&j construction.

“Hello, Luke. Welcome to my home, Luke. Please, come in and help yourself to my food.” John said, sarcastically, when Luke finally stopped to take a breath. He didn’t mean it and they both knew it, but he had to keep up some semblance of control over his life, at least for appearance’s sake.

“Yeah, yeah.  I’m very rude.” He shot back with a dismissive hand wave. “Come on, Johnny, let’s not act like you wouldn’t have let me in.” The smirk on the kids face was cocky, all Hughes. It doesn’t help John’s case that he’s right. If there’s one thing he has learned in the months since Luke first arrived in New Jersey, it’s that he is absolutely powerless when it comes time to say no to him. He didn’t know if it was a Hughes thing or a Luke thing, and he guessed that it didn’t really matter one way or another. The end result was still all 6 foot 1 inch of his body was wrapped tightly around the youngest Hughes’s little finger.

[shoumeitsuki]

𝘭𝘰𝘢𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨, 𝘱𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘪𝘵… ୨୧

꒦꒷꒦꒷꒦꒷꒦ ♪ ꒦꒷꒦꒷꒦꒷꒦

☾ ✒ winter with you ~ ❅

⌕ ✒ fluff ~ ꕥ

☀︎ ✒ ship : luca kaneshiro × gn!reader ~ ᰔᩚ

☁︎ ✒ side/mentioned characters : n/a ~ ꨄ

⚠︎ ✒ warnings : n/a (I think) ~ ✮

✧ ✒ summary : it's a cold winter day and you decided to spend the day just cuddling with your boyfriend. ~ ∘•∘

✉ ✒ notes : ik it's not winter yet/anymore buut ~ ⌨︎︎

⇚ ↺ ⇛

you were having a nice dream when suddenly, your alarm clock woke you up.

you groaned, while reaching out to find where the alarm clock is and press the button to turn it off.

you got up from bed, and started stretching.

you then made your way to the kitchen to look for something to eat.

as a college student, you didn't have much in your pantry, so you just took out some bread & peanut butter along with some jelly to make a simple pb&j.

you decided to toast the bread because why not? and you also didn't want to have stale bread which was refrigerated.

when you finished making it, you ate it. what else were you gonna do with it? c'mon, ada anak di afrika yg kelaperan tuh, jgn boros makanan!!

then, you went to the bathroom to get ready. you thought of what to wear, however, before you could even decide, there was a message from the group from the secretary.

she said that class was cancelled because it was snowing pretty hard that day and the teacher and some other students reported to be unable to go to class.

you hadn't really noticed it, but the snow outside could reach up to your knees. wait, is that even possible?

well, class was cancelled, so you just changed into some comfortable clothes.

when you got outside, it was very chilly. you decided to just stay inside and keep yourself warm in your blankets.

you just sat on your bed and opened your phone. you saw a good morning text from your golden retriever boyfriend, luca.

you sent him a good morning text back, because how could you not?

right after, you heard a notification from him. he asked if he could come over.

you wanted to stop him because it was snowing pretty hard, but at the same time, you could really have someone to cuddle with you and warm you up.

however, you didn't get a chance to answer when you received a text from him that said “oops nvm I accidentally walked out the door and started walking to your house lol”.

you couldn't help but smile at your endearing boyfriend's personality! gosh, why is he so cute?

after a bit, you heard a knock at the door. when you opened it, you were met with the sight of your boyfriend, standing infront of your doorway.

he immediately went to hug you. it's been a bit since you guys met, because you two were in different classes as he was a year older than you.

“pog, I missed you!” luca says, hugging you tightly. you hugged him back, answering with a “I missed you too.”.

you invited him in, and he joyfully entered your house. you told him to make himself at home while you went to prepare snacks.

he said you didn't need to, but you just *had* to, because it's your boyfriend! you wouldn't let him stay at your house without any form of hospitality.

you came back with some snacks, ones that you could find, and some hot cocoa you both could drink to warm up.

luca thought of watching a movie while cuddling, and you couldn't say no to that, so of course, you agreed.

after thinking about what to watch, you finally agreed on one and started watching it while embracing the warmth of each other's body heat.

when the movie finished, you looked at luca. he looked at you back, smiling.

“how was the movie?” he asked, taking a sip on his hot cocoa, decorated with some cute small marshmallows.

“it was great, and interesting!” you answered, taking a biscuit and eating it.

“I'm glad.” he looks at you with a content smile.

you two spend the rest of the day just cuddling, enjoying each other's warmth.

⇚ ↺ ⇛

✉ ✒ notes : kinda short but it's okk ~ ☏

꒦꒷꒦꒷꒦꒷꒦꒷꒦꒷꒦꒷꒦ ♪ ꒦꒷꒦꒷꒦꒷꒦꒷꒦꒷꒦꒷꒦꒷꒦

୨୧ 𝘥𝘪𝘴𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘯𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘦𝘥, 𝘱𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘦 𝘵𝘳𝘺 𝘢𝘨𝘢𝘪𝘯.

#nijisanji #nijisanji en #vtuber #luxiem #fluff #luca kaneshiro #vtuber x reader #gn reader #luca kaneshiro x reader #luca kaneshiro fluff #luxiem x reader #gender neutral reader

[austinswhitewolf]

Blue Eyes Baby Pt. 8

Gabriel was running around, getting things set up to start filming for the day and making sure that everything would run smoothly. The first time she saw Austin after she had started for the day, they were filming some of the shots inside Graceland. The sets always took her breath away. When she did see him, she froze mid-step, luckily no one was behind her or they both would have ended up on the floor. There Austin was, in that pink lace button up shirt. And of course he was laid out on the piano bench. She quickly stepped to the side so that if he did look up, he wouldn’t be looking right at her. She didn’t want to cause a disruption in filming if he froze like on Thursday. So there she stood off to the side, behind a few cameras and boom operators just watching her soulmate work his magic. The emotion coming from him was staggering. The thought of anyone feeling like this was wrong. She didn’t realize they had called cut to reset the scene when she heard her name called, causing her to jump. Austin was sitting on the piano bench looking right at her, a smile on his face. He motioned for her to come over and her body listened without hesitation. When Gabriel reached him, her hands slid over his shoulders while his curled around her waist, his chin on her stomach as he looked up into her eyes. “Hello Dove.” He murmured, puckering his lips wanting a kiss. Gabe leaned down and kissed him happily. “It looks like it is going well. You were amazing just then, hun. I could feel the emotion where I was at.” Her words caused a proud smile to grow on his face. And a soft blush covered his ears. “Thanks love, sometimes it is really rough to keep going, knowing what I’m feeling can only be a small part of what EP was feeling.” His words were soft and slightly sad. “You are doing him right. You are giving the new generations out there the gift of knowing this amazing person that Elvis was. He would be so proud of you.” “You really think so?” His eyes watered slightly and he had to clear his throat softly. His arms holding her tighter. 

“I know so. I should go so that you all can continue. I just had to stop and watch for a few moments. And from the small amount I just witnessed, this is going to do him right.” Austin didn’t want to let her go. Her words ment so much to him, he didn’t know he needed to hear them until she had said them. “Now, dry those eyes, and go give more life to this man's story my love.” She said, gently wiping the tear that was just starting to fall off his face, so his make-up wouldn’t need to be touched up. “We will have lunch when you guys are done with this block. Let me know what you want and I’ll have it delivered or have catering make it.” She leaned down and kissed him once more, though as she pulled back, Austin followed her face with his and stole one more kiss. “You have no idea how much I needed this.” He whispered before letting his arms slide from around her as she stepped back. His blue eyes watched her until she disappeared from sight and then took a deep breath. Within a minute they were all back to their marks and Baz called for Action.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It was maybe two hours later that Austin texted Gabe.

~We should be done in about an hour. Could we have PB&J for lunch?

When she read it, her heart clenched. Her fingers were quick to type back. 

~Of course Aus,. I’ll meet you at your trailer with them. <3

His response was immediate.

~Thanks Dove &lt;3 <3

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

About forty five minutes later, Gabriel was back at his trailer with wheat bread, grape jelly and smooth peanut butter. There were two bottles of water as well. As she was finishing up a second sandwich the door of the trailer opened and in stepped her tall, handsome soulmate. He made his way over to her right away and buried his face in her neck, hugging her tightly. Austin sighed before placing a kiss over one of the marks he had left over the weekend. Shivers ran down her spine and her stomach heated a bit. If they had time, she would have turned and kissed him with all the pride she had for him right then. But since they didn’t have that time, Gabe smiled, turned her head and kissed his forehead. “Did everything go well after I left?” Austin nodded and murmured a yes as he slowly lifted his head. When he saw that she was making the sandwiches, his smile grew. “Go sit down, I just need to make one for me then I’ll be over.” She motioned to the table with the knife she was spreading the grape jelly with. “Yes ma’am.” He gave her a small salute before moving to the table. A laugh slipped from her lips as she cut both of his down the middle and then quickly made her own before grabbing the bottles of water in one arm, and both hands taking a plate each.  When she set the plates and bottles of water down, Austin pulled her to sit next to him. 

“Missed you.” He murmured as he kissed her temple. “I missed you too. But we have the rest of the afternoon until the night shoot for Beale St. I’ll be there in the background for Club Handy.” A small almost squee sound left Austin as a huge smile filled his face. 

“I am so happy you will be there.” He gave her a kiss before turning to the sandwiches and picked one up. As he took a bite, his eyes slid closed and he hummed. After a few chews his eyes opened up and there were tears building. “This is just like mom’s.” Gabe’s stomach clenched and bit her lip softly. She didn’t want to upset him, not what she had set out to do. Her arm slid over his shoulder, rubbing softly. Worry and uncertainty filled her eyes. He turned to look at her and quickly set the sandwich down, swallowing the mouthful he had. 

“Hey, that is nothing bad. It brings back wonderful memories for me. You are the only one who has been able to make one just like her. Whatever you did, these are perfect.” With another smile from him, she took a breath and smiled gently. With that, they both ate their pb&j’s. When done and everything had been cleaned up, they moved to the bedroom in the back. Planning on napping for a while, the shooting tonight would be late. 

Austin changed out of the outfit, so as not to wrinkle it for that night. Once under the blankets, Gabe laid her hand over his heart, head on his shoulder. His breathing was so soothing to her. It didn’t take long for both to fall asleep. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Once Gabe’s hair and make-up were done, having to cover the marks Austin had left on her, she moved to wardrobe. They put her into a nice pale yellow dress that fell to her knees. Paired with her lightly curled hair with a hairband in, she looked the part perfectly. She got to the filming spot a bit early, when the other extras were supposed to show up. They were always needed earlier than the main cast so that they could be run through what they were supposed to do during the scene and how they were to react with Austin/Elvis. When they were let go so as to get into places, Austin and Kalvin, who played BB King, were off to the side talking while Alton was moving around, getting ready to sing Tutti-Frutti. Soon enough, Baz called for everyone to be in their places, Austin slipping into the purple Cadillac just out of sight. 

The moment he pulled around the corner to park, people started to move. Crowding around him like they were supposed to, clamoring and calling out ‘Elvis!’ and holding out paper for autographs. As he waded through the crowd, his eyes were scanning before hearing Kalvin call down ‘EP!’ He looked up and waved to him, ‘BB’ shaking hands with people as he passed them. When he was just outside the entrance to Club Handy, he was signing a few more autographs before they bundled him into the club doors.

Cut was called and everything was reset for another take, different camera view this time. It went on like this for three more resets until they had all the camera angles they needed. “All right everyone! Take five! Then it is on to the interior scene. Thanks to those of you who helped with the street scene. Wardrobe will check your outfits back in and let you go for the night. Those who are going to be inside the club, be back in five.” Baz called out before people started to scatter, a handful sticking around just to catch a glimpse of Austin in the pink lace shirt he had on. Gabe was here for the interior scene, having waited off to the side until now. As she moved towards the entrance to where they would be filming the club scene, a woman’s voice caught her attention. 

‘Oh my god Joy! He is so built, those abs are sexy as fuck. That ass though, I’d eat off that.” A giggle followed from the woman talking. Her friend looked slightly uncomfortable at what she was hearing. “Did you see he found his soulmate over the weekend Vic?” “Who cares! Not everyone sticks to just their soulmate. Maybe he’d give me a ride.” Her eyes were full of lust and a smirk on her face. “Besides who could keep a man like that satisfied by herself.” Gabe’s blood heated up to lava, her anger at this woman’s words were beyond anything she could ever have thought she would feel. She took one step towards this woman, her fingers curled almost like claws before she heard her name from behind her. That voice soothed some of the fire in her blood. She saw the two women quickly turn towards him when he spoke and the one’s grin grew. Spinning around, Gabriel started towards him, her movements almost as smooth as those of a tiger stalking its prey. She would show that bitch that he was completely taken care of and satisfied. Austin’s blue eyes dilated to almost complete black, something about the way she moved was sexy as fuck to him and he licked his lips. The moment Gabe reached him, she slid her hand up his shoulder to the back of his neck, fisting in the hair there and pulling him down into a passionate kiss. Within moments a lustful moan rumbled from Austin’s chest as his hands gripped her hips, turning and backing her into the wall. His lips parted from hers and he started to nip along her jaw to her neck where he bit, though making sure to not leave a mark. His hand cupped the back of her neck and tilted her head to give him better access to the smooth skin there. A moan slid from her lips, her eyes opening and connecting with the two women still standing there. The one who had spoken about her soulmate like that, her eyes were wide and mouth open wide in shock. The friend, though, was smiling. 

“Serves you right Vic, you don’t talk about peoples soulmates like that.” She hissed before giving Gabe a small wave before guiding her friend towards the wardrobe trailer. Austin couldn’t fully think straight, his whole body was on fire and she was the only one who could put it out. “Aus, I know, I feel the same but you need to film shortly.” Her voice was breathy and uneven. She rested her hands on his shoulders to try and help ground him back in the here and now. He rested his forehead on her shoulder and groaned. His whole body was curled around her, and he would not be able to move for a few more minutes without giving people a slight show. “How can I, with what you just started.” His voice was pure gravel and whiskey, hips pressed against hers. It took a moment or two for his fingers to loosen and let go of her waist before moving to rest on the wall on either side of her head. He moved to rest his forehead on hers. 

“I promise when we get done for the night, I’ll make it up to you. But Baz is gonna be looking for you shortly.” Gabe brushed her fingers over his cheek. Taking a few deep breaths, Austin nodded before pulling back a little bit. Slowly his eyes returned to their beautiful blue. A smile overtook her face, fingers moving up to brush the strands of hair over his forehead to the side a little bit. He was breathtaking, her stomach was in knots full of love and lust. “Well I need a minute or two. Can’t go in there like this.” He chuckled softly while motioning downwards. Gabe laughed softly and wrapped her arms back around his shoulders. The two of them stood there for a few more minutes before they could hear someone asking around for Austin. Sighing he pulled back from her, laced their fingers together before leading her into the club set.

#Austin Butler #Austin Butler Elvis #Austin Butler Imagine #Austin Butler Fic #Austin Butler FanFic #Austin Butler FanFiction #Austin Butler Story #Austin Butler Fandom #Austin Butler x OC #Austin Butler x OFC #Austin Butler Fiction #Soulmates #Love #Fluff

[littledraga]

Gabi's Birthday

Miguel had studied everything about this new life. All the important information about the Miguel O’Hara he had replaced. The dates and numbers. Where he worked and all the routines he could find.

Including Gabi. He hadn’t had a child before, so it was a learning curve that he was trying to catch up on. Her school schedule and her teacher's names. Soccer, Girl Scouts, and a Biology club through the school. Not to mention getting to know her.

It didn’t matter if he could rattle off important dates and classes to her. He had to be just like her papi. She noticed when he didn’t react right.

After a long day of being Spider-man and working for both worlds, Miguel was tired. Half dead on his feet. So tired, he had gotten take out for dinner. Just some burgers and fries. Something any kid should have been excited about. But Gabi was just picking on her fries, only having taken a single bite from the burger.

Looking up from his own, Miguel raised a brow. Shouldn’t she be happy? She was getting a treat by any kids’ standard.

“What’s wrong, Gabi? I thought you liked hamburgers?” She wasn’t a vegetarian. He’d checked into that when he went looking for records of food allergies for them both.

Looking up, she shrunk back a little and shook her head. She looked like she’d been scolded.

“I do, papi,” she mumbled around a fry. “But they gave me pickles.”

“Just pick them off. You can’t just have fries for dinner,” he told her.

Gabi wrinkled her nose and looked down.

“I can still taste the pickles. You said I don’t have to eat pickles.”

Miguel watched her for a moment as she picked at her burger. He had studied everything he could, but there were always going to be things that weren’t written down, things he couldn’t know without living this life.

She needed to eat more than just french fries. But he was too tired to cook a whole meal. That was the whole reason he went to some crappy drive through on the way home. It wasn’t her fault that he didn’t know to ask for no pickles. And she needed to eat.

Getting up from the table, his muscles screamed at him for moving. He wasn’t even sure if he was going to be able to move in the morning. But he was a father now, and Gabi deserved at least as good a father as she had before. Better even. And he would move every Earth if he had to to give it to her.

Shuffling to the fridge, he looked at what they had. He really needed to go shopping soon. Juggling three lives was hard. Looking at the jar of jelly in the door, he hummed. Kids loved peanut butter and jelly, right? And she didn’t have any allergies in her records. If it was in the fridge she must like it. He hoped.

“How about a PB&J, Gabi?” He offered, holding up the jar. When she beamed he grinned a little. It wasn't the best dinner, but it was something she was excited about. Miguel would take the win. 

Grabbing the peanut butter, he reached for the bread. Only to find an empty bread box. Right. He used the last of it this morning when he was packing Gabi’s lunch. Shock, he was an idiot. But now he’d gotten her excited. What was he supposed to do?

With Gabi still watching him, he looked around the kitchen for something to use instead of bread. His eyes fell on the half used pack of tortillas, and he smiled. 

For a brief moment, Miguel thought about making sandwich wraps for his brother Gabri when they were kids. Filling it up with whatever they could find. Sometimes, with things that didn’t make sense. Just to see what they tasted like. Miguel would always make sure to eat the worst of the two. No matter what happened, he would always take care of his family. Make sure they had what they needed.

Holding up the bag, he grinned. At least as much as he would allow himself to hide his fangs.

“How about a peanut butter jelly wrap? A fat one.”

Gabi giggled enough to cover her face.

“Okay! Can you put sugar on the peanut butter?” She asked, giving him her best puppy dog eyes.

“You want sugar with your sugar?” He asked, raising a brow. But all the same, he did grab the jar to spread just a little over the peanut butter side. This was a treat after all. He could indulge her a little more. Isn’t that what a good father would do?

Sugar before bed was a bad idea. For a moment, Miguel thought he was going to have to web Gabi to the bed to get her to lie down. At least she would sleep in tomorrow. A rare day off for them both. He’d been planning for it for weeks now. Ever since Gabi not so discreetly reminded him her birthday was coming up.

Sitting down on the sofa, Miguel pulled out a set of holos. Swiping through the images, he leaned back, sinking into the cushions with a long, tired sigh. 

Watching Gabi, his daughter, grow up hurt. All the things he’d missed. Birthdays, first steps, soccer games. But that was no one’s fault. Miguel wasn’t really her father. That Miguel had died not too long ago.

When he saw what was to happen to his counterpart in this universe, he saw an opportunity that he couldn’t pass up. Gabi needed her father. And didn’t this Miguel deserve the happiness of a family? Somewhere where he didn’t have to be Spider-man or worry about the Multiverse. Here he was just Miguel O’Hara. Gabi O’Hara’s father. That’s all he ever wanted. And all the headaches that came with it.

Like now, as he tried to plan a birthday for a little girl he was still learning about. And he had to do it alone. Unable to even ask Gabi what she wanted after she reminded him of all the ‘surprise’ birthdays he's done. Of course, he was that kind of father.

Scrolling through memories that weren’t his, Miguel smiled. Baby Gabi in a much too large party hat. He could barely see her through all the cake and frosting. A repeating loop of her first steps. To him no less! Or at least the other him. Birthdays, her first soccer practice, and her first win. School science fairs. There were so many memories.

But now it was his turn to make a big one. He would throw Gabi the best birthday party. One that she would remember forever! It had to be big. He’d need to invite all of her friends. But he didn’t know who was who yet. Should he just invite her class? What about her teammates from soccer, the scouts, and her club? It wasn’t like he couldn’t afford it, but would that be overwhelming for Gabi? Would they think they were showing off and bully her for it?

Miguel was up most of the night thinking about what to do to make the perfect party for Gabi. At least he had Layla to help with some of it, like designing the invitations.

Crawling into bed, Miguel was asleep almost as soon as his head hit the pillow. He was really looking forward to a lie in while Gabi slept off the sugar.

Now, if only the world would work that way.

Safely nestled into his bed, protected from the early morning sun, Miguel enjoyed a rare lie in. Until a bright light invaded his room.

Yelling in pain, he quickly covered his eyes, trying to protect them from the painful light. He never used full lighting, not when they hurt and felt like they were trying to blind him. Struggling to right himself with one arm over his face, Miguel flailed and fell out of bed, grasping for anything to hold on to. But the only thing his hands found was his blanket to tear into with sharp claws. Again.

Gabi laughed brightly, unaware of what she’d done as she jumped up onto his bed to lean over to look at her father.

“Morning, papi! Are you ready for our shopping day?” She chirped, bright as ever.

Groaning, Miguel looked up at his daughter, trying to get his eyes to adjust. At least she was covering the overhead light at this angle.

“Good morning, Gabi,” he mumbled. He wanted to yawn, stretch, and try to wake up, but he couldn’t do that with her in the room. Couldn’t risk her seeing her claws and fangs. Miguel wouldn’t risk this life.

Bouncing a little on the bed, she flopped back on it, not hearing how her papi hissed when the bright light pierced his eyes again.

“You gotta get up, papi! You promised we’d go out today!”

For one brief moment, Miguel almost regretted that promise, desperate for just a little more sleep and the lights to dim down. But that was his daughter on the bed. The family he had always wanted.

“I know, mija,” he yawned, careful to hide his fangs from her.

“Didn’t mean to oversleep. Let me take a shower and get some coffee, okay? We can go out for breakfast.”

Gabi let out a high pitch squeal of delight that briefly had Miguel’s head swimming.

“Hurry up, papi! I’m going to go get dressed.” Jumping off the bed she rushed to the door, grabbing the frame to stop herself and turn out again.

“Can we go to the bakery with the nice lady that made me hot chocolate?” She asked with pleading eyes.

Hot chocolate? Miguel internally groaned. He had no idea who or where that was. But it’s what Gabi wanted.

“That sounds good, Gabi. Do you remember where they are? Your dad’s drawing a blank,” he told her as he struggled to his feet. Hopefully, she’d just assume he was too tired. Please let her assume he was too tired.

She tilted her head and gave him a confused look. 

“The one next to the old soccer field?” She reminded him.

“From before I joined the school team.”

Oh, well, that was mostly useless information. But he could probably figure that out.

“Right! We can go there. Go on, let me shower!” He waved a hand and shooed her off as she giggled. Grabbing a change of clothes, he briefly looked at his watch. 

“Lyla,” he asked quietly as he started to get around for the day, “can you find what field Gabi’s talking about? And the nearby bakeries?”

“Yes, Miguel. I already found three bakeries in walking distance from that field.”

“Three?” He groaned.

“Any way to narrow those down a little?”

“The other you only spent credits at one of them.”

“Lyla, you’re amazing!” At least one thing was going to go right today!

He still took Gabi to the wrong one first. Luckily, she laughed and dragged him off to the right one a few blocks away. It seemed the old Miguel pretended to get lost a lot. Or he never wanted to admit when he was lost, thought Miguel as he walked into the small bakery, holding his daughter’s hand.

Inside was warm and smelled like warm sugar and spices Miguel didn’t think he could guess. He wished he could keep that smell in a bottle. 

Gabi wasted no time rushing up to the counter to greet the elderly woman like she was her own grandmother. 

Something that made Miguel smile fondly. She certainly didn’t get that from him, but he enjoyed how excited she got while they went on about what was on offer today. Whatever she wanted, he’d buy it. But just a coffee and a cinnamon roll for him. Mostly, he just wanted the coffee.

Sitting at a table by the window, Miguel did his best to look more awake than he felt. He sipped at his coffee while Gabi went on about how excited she was.

All the stores she wanted to see and already asking to go somewhere for lunch. Of course, she wanted to see everything. But Miguel couldn’t blame her. It was hell to have time for his daughter. They both had packed schedules. He had been looking forward to this as much as his daughter. He just didn’t have her energy!

Breakfast was a bouncy affair while she talked, but he wouldn’t stop her or discourage her from getting excited. 

“Papi! Papi!” Finishing her pastries, she tugged at his shirt, crumbs on her face.

“Papi! Can we ride the bus to the mall? Pretty please!” She begged, still tugging on his shirt repeatedly. 

He raised a brow at that. Grabbing a napkin, he gently brushed off the crumbs.

“Why would you want to ride the bus? A cab would be a lot faster. We’d have more time to look around.”

Yet she was undeterred.

“Please? We can see more things on a bus! Sometimes our coach tells us about the cool things he sees when he takes the bus!”

He spent a lot of money to put Gabi through school. None of the teachers should need to take the bus, he thought. But he’d keep that thought to himself.

“If that’s what you want, princesa.” Cleaning up, he offered a hand to his daughter and headed out to find the nearest bus stop. He hadn’t been on a bus in years. He wasn’t sure he could even remember how they worked. But anything to make Gabi happy.

Finding a bus stop was a pain. Figuring out which bus they needed was worse. The first bus he put them on took them halfway to the other side of Nueva York. They let off near an entrance to Downtown. Not somewhere he wanted to take his daughter. He didn’t let go of Gabi’s hand until they got off at the right stop.

Not that she seemed to mind. Holding onto her daddy’s hand, she watched the city go by, gushing about even the smallest things. She made friends with everyone on the bus, despite Miguel trying to gently get her to leave them alone. Not that anyone seemed to mind while she greeted everyone excitedly.

Miguel waved apologetically, which was met with laughter or simply waving him off. Gabi had a way with people he never would. Something he was proud as punch to see. Knowing she would go on to do great things as she grew. And he couldn’t wait to see it.

Walking into the mall, Miguel didn’t have a chance to even think about where to start before he was being pulled hard enough to make him stumble as Gabi rushed off to look into the window of a nearby toy shop.

In the window was a large doll house with dolls posed outside like they were having a party. Gabi nearly had her face pressed against the window while she took it all in.

Miguel rolled his eyes and smiled while he watched her. Her toy room didn’t have enough space for something that huge. He had a feeling it would end up taking over the living room.

“Want to take a look around,” he offered, holding out a hand for her.

With a gasp and a bright smile, Gabi nearly dragged him through the doorway to see everything they had.

Gabi knew her birthday was around the corner, so she knew not to beg. All the same, she would coo or stare longingly at plenty of toys in the shop. Looking in every corner of the store, she would pick up a few things and look at her papi with pleading eyes. But one look was all it took for her to put them back.

Miguel would be back when she was in class to buy everything she got excited about. His daughter deserved everything she wanted and all the love that came with it. And Miguel vowed to make sure she got it.

Gabi would take her papi around the whole mall, popping into almost every shop it held.

There was a sports shop that she spent a while in. Gabi had her heart set on a bright pair of soccer cleats. Her’s were fine. He had gotten her a new pair for the season. While she looked at some other equipment he had a pair put aside for her. They were her school colours, after all. And a matching soccer ball to practice with at home.

Finally, he managed to get her out when she started trying to kick one of the displays around.

“You know better, Gabi. Come on, there's still other shops yet. You still need a dress,” he reminded her as they walked out.

Which was met with a loud gasp as she saw the largest shop in the mall. Mannequins lined the windows in cute and frilly dresses. 

“Papi!” She squealed and grabbed his hand as she darted off.

Miguel nearly lost her as she went looking through the racks of dresses that were much too long for someone so young. Trying not to panic when he lost sight of her, he rushed through the racks, ignoring the concerned looks some of the women gave him.

“Mija!” Looking around a large wall like rack, he found her fawning over a dress that looked like it was for a quinceanera. Crossing his arms, Miguel puffed out a sigh and grinned. 

“You’re a little young for that, don’t you think, mija?” He teased her.

Pouting, Gabi put the dress back.

“It’s so pretty!” She cooed, still looking at the dress where it hung on the rack.

Looking the dress over, he briefly wondered if he could get it sized down enough. Probably not.

“I’m sorry, Gabi. I bet they have something even better that will actually fit you.” He offered her a hand again and smiled.

“Come on.”

And she was at least happy enough to keep looking. After one more fond look at the dress. 

Walking through the store she found a small makeup section and tried to hurry over. The woman at the counter was quick to talk to her about what they were selling.

Thinking about Gabi wearing makeup made him crinkle his nose. She didn’t need to grow up yet. If she wanted makeup, was she thinking about boys already? The thought broke his heart. Miguel knew Gabi couldn’t be his little girl forever, but he didn’t want it to happen any sooner than it had to. Gently as he could, he tugged her away.

“You’re pretty enough. You don’t need any of that,” Miguel told her as he tried to hurry Gabi to the dress section of the store. 

There were racks and walls covered in bright dresses. Long ones, short ones, and ones that looked like they were mostly made from lace and tulle.

And suddenly everything else was forgotten while Gabi fell in love with every dress there. She looked at every dress in all its detail, bouncing from rack to rack like a hummingbird.

And Miguel let her. Leaning against a nearby wall, he crossed his arms. The racks were shorter here, so he could see her dart around and gush about every dress. While she did ask him what he thought, he knew she wasn’t actually listening. Any time she asked, he just told her to try it on. 

It was nearly three hours before Gabi found the perfect dress. A purple and pink dress with a fluffy tulle skirt with flowers around the hem and crawling up the skirt.

Gabi had tried on every dress she even remotely liked. About an hour in, Miguel realized she was just playing dress up, but he didn’t say anything. This was a day when they had nothing but time. 

Instead of rushing her, he made sure to get a holo of every dress she tried on. Dancing out of the changing room and spinning on her toes like a little dancer. 

Once the dress was purchased, carefully laid over his arm in a dress bag, he finally guided her out of the mall. He still had her presents to buy, including a matching tiara and a necklace, but he would wait for those.

After a long shopping trip, Miguel was starving, and a crappy over priced mall burger wasn’t going to cut it.

Luckily, Gabi was of a similar mind, and it wasn’t hard to figure out where to go out for lunch. Another pick from Gabi that took them across the city. At least this time, she agreed to a cab so they wouldn’t have to wait all day to eat.

It was a small Italian bistro Miguel wasn’t sure he’d ever seen before. Something that briefly worried him. When did she find it? Gabi was certainly not old enough to go adventuring on her own. But he didn’t have long to worry before a familiar face came from around the counter.

“Gabi! What are you doing here?” Cheered a man with shaggy blond hair as he rushed over to greet Miguel’s daughter.

Agosto, Gabi’s soccer coach. He supposed that explained why his daughter knew about this place. Though he was concerned, he was a teacher and a coach, but he worked a second job and needed to ride the bus? Something wasn’t adding up.

But before he could get too lost in thought, Gabi tugged on his shirt and brought him back to the present.

“We went shopping today! Papi even agreed to go on the bus! It’s just as much fun as you said it was!” She chirped before going into a full description of everything he saw. Miguel sighed with a fond smile and let her go on for a little bit. 

When her coach glanced up at him, he nodded. 

“Come one, mija. It looks like he has work to do. Besides, you were the one talking about how much you wanted to eat here. Let’s eat,” he tried, gently tugging his daughter to him.

Getting sat down, Miguel looked over the menu briefly before glancing at his daughter, who was still a little ball of energy and talking to her coach from across the room. But he didn’t seem to mind, so he let it go.

But he wasn’t the one who came to take their order. An old, bent woman came over, smiling warmly for them. Gabi took no time to greet her.

“Hi, nona!” She chirped and leaned over to hug the old woman.

Miguel let Gabi gab for a bit when nona seemed to encourage it. He had a feeling he knew where Agosto got his seemingly never ending patients. Something he admired but would never dare say aloud.

Ordering for them both, he wasn’t expecting to get hit with a rolled up menu. Holding up his hands, he tried to shield himself from an assault from an old woman. What had his life turned into?

“Gabi is a growing girl,” nonna scolded between smacks.

“You two would go hungry if that’s all you ate!”

Miguel tried to apologize, but he was struggling to get a word in. And why did he have to apologize!? Wasn’t the customer supposed to be right?

Miguel added an appetizer to get her to stop. He was pretty sure that wasn’t how you ran a business. But the worst part was listening to Gabi laugh at him! She could have at least taken his side!

Agosto wasn’t much better, hiding behind a serving tray. Miguel could see his shoulders shake. Honestly!

He at least tried to make it better by bringing over their starter and drinks with an apologetic smile.

“Sorry about nonna. She knows how hard the girls practice and she worries they don’t eat enough,” he explained as he sat the plate down that easily had enough for two orders on it.

“I appreciate that she’s looking after Gabi,” he said, taking a drink. Really, it was hard to be upset when someone had his daughter’s well being in mind. Not that he was particularly happy about it.

None of it stopped Gabi from diving into the starter while gushing with her coach again until he had to go help another table.

Sharing food with Gabi he listened to her talk about anything she could think of. She talked about what they saw, her classmates, and her school projects. Those were things he had an easier time talking with her about. Those were things he was familiar with. While they talked about what she was learning in science, he encouraged her and filled in a few gaps. At least until their food arrived.

Heaps of food! Miguel’s eyes went wide when nonna put two heaping plates of pasta on their table. There was no way a mere mortal could eat that much at once! But he and Gabi made their best attempt!

“Here we go! Eat up!” She happily chirped. Quickly doting on Gabi, she waved them off to enjoy their lunch. And dinner, and maybe even tomorrow's breakfast thought Miguel as he tried to figure out where to start with his pile of panini without knocking it over.

They both did their best, but in the end, the pasta won. Leaning back, they mirrored each other as they puffed and put their hands on their stomachs while they waited for them to settle.

“Did you leave room for dessert, mija?” teased Miguel with a cheeky grin. One that grew wider when she just whined for an answer. Hopefully, nonna would let them leave with doggie bags without making too much of a fuss.

Turned out the biggest fuss was Gabi.

Miguel stood off to the side with their take out boxes while his daughter gushed to her coach about her birthday coming up. He wasn’t even done planning yet, and she was raving like it was the best thing ever. It really put in perspective how much work he had ahead of him. This party had to be perfect, no matter what.

And he was doing his best. Miguel designed invites with Layla’s help to be sent out to all of Gabi’s friends, her teams, and classmates. Balloons and ribbons were bulk ordered and even a helium tank and glitter. Miguel really didn’t want the glitter in his house, but he knew that Gabi would love it, and that was really all that mattered. He could figure it out later. Much later.

It was a huge list of kids, so Miguel knew there was no way he was cooking for that many. So he ordered a catering service to help with that. Even with extra desserts and the promise of an ice carving. It seemed a little much, but he hoped Gabi would be excited.

With everything squared away and planned there was only one thing left to do. The cake.

It would look better if he called one of the high end bakeries in town. Probably tasted better too. But some part of Miguel knew that it would be more special if he made the cake himself. He could figure that out, surely.

Baking a cake wasn’t the hardest thing he’d ever done, but a tres leches cake was a lot harder than a box cake. He had to try three times before he got it right. If he ever had to separate eggs again, it would be too soon. But it was for a worthy cause, so he would make it perfect.

Decorating was another thing entirely. The frosting was fine. A bit lumpy, but he thought it looked pretty good! So he thought he could do something better than just writing her name on the cake. He worked with genetics and machines. He could do something as simple as decorating a cake!

Miguel couldn’t as much as pipe a straight line. And in his grand confidence, he started on the cake. Covered in flour frosting and, honestly, there was probably still glitter somewhere, Miguel stood over the cake, glaring down at it as if it would suddenly get in line if he got angry enough. To be fair, he was angry enough. This cake was for his daughter, for her birthday. Her first birthday with him. Everything had to be perfect. He needed to be the father she deserved. 

Pulling out his phone, he ordered a proper birthday cake in just a few taps. He shouldn’t have wasted his time. Should have just let the professionals do it, like with everything else. This wasn’t the time to risk ruining things with a personal touch, he thought.

With one more death glare at the cake, he snatched it off the counter with every intention of enjoying the sound of it crashing into the bin. Until there was a familiar voice behind him.

“Papi? What’s that?” Asked Gabi as she tried to see around her father’s broad shoulders, shuffling around when she couldn’t see.

“Nothing, mija. Just cleaning up,” he told Gabi as she came around to see the mess her father was holding. 

“No!” She yelled and reached for the cake.

“You can’t throw out a whole cake!” she told him, holding her little hands under the cake.

“That’s gotta be illegal!” she told him.

Miguel grinned and sat the cake back down on the counter.

“Is it now? I suppose we don’t want to get the Public Eye called on us,” he laughed.

“But what are the two of us going to do with all this cake, nena?”

Tapping her lip, she pretended to think about it for a moment.

“I think we need to eat it!” And just like that, she scurried off to get plates.

Laughing, Miguel grabbed a knife and cut two large pieces.

“I suppose there’s nothing else to do with a cake, is there?” Once both pieces were plated, he walked to the freezer to pull out a carton of ice cream.

“And you can’t have cake without ice cream, right?”

“Right!” Cheered Gabi before laughing.

It looked like their pasta leftovers would have to wait a little longer while they had cake and ice cream for dinner. That was probably the worst dinner they’d ever have together, but it was a fun night.

Finally finishing up what they could, Gabi helped clean up the kitchen. She was humming a song Miguel didn’t recognize, but he smiled to himself while they cleaned up. In moments like this, he knew he made the right decision. They both got what they needed, and everything was as it should be.

Putting the last of the dishes away, he had to steady himself when Gabi grabbed him and hugged him tightly.

“I love you, papi! You’re the best!” She told him and gave him a frosting covered grin.

Laughing, he lifted her up and kissed her cheek as he hugged her.

“Love you too, mija. But you still need to shower and go to bed.”

“Papi!” She squealed as he tickled her before she ran off.

It was a whirlwind to get everything set up for Gabi’s birthday when it finally came. Most of it would get done while she was at soccer practice.

But there was another tradition that came first.

Looking through his music selection, it wasn’t long until he found the song he was looking for. Las Mañanitas.

Looking at the cover art, Miguel’s mind wandered back. Back to when he was young enough his mother hadn’t had such painful thoughts about him. When she would wake him up early, singing to him before sitting him down for breakfast. It was one of the few happy memories he had.

Shaking the thoughts away, Miguel started the song and played it loud enough to fill their home. Crooning along to the music, Miguel gently knocked on his daughter’s door before opening it. Still singing along, he playfully swayed around before sitting on Gabi’s bed as she sat up, wiping the sleep from her eyes and giggled tiredly.

“Morning, papi,” she mumbled and flopped against him.

“Morning, mija. Happy birthday.” Kissing the top of her head, he hugged her tightly and finished the song.

“Con jazmines y flores. Este día quiero adornar. Hoy por ser día de tu santo. Te venimos a cantar,” he sang, grinning while his daughter giggled some more.

“Come on, breakfast time.” Letting her up, he laughed when she chased him out of the room.

“I’m going, I’m going! Hurry up, breakfast is getting cold!” He warned her after she slammed the door behind her. 

Getting her out to practice was never difficult, but this time she was trying to push him out the door while he was still trying to put on his tie.

“Just a moment, mija!” He laughed, giving up on the tie when she kept pushing. It was the weekend he could just leave a few buttons undone. Grabbing his wallet and keys, Miguel nearly fell on his face when Gabi yanked on his arm to get him moving.

 While Gabi was at practice, and pretending she was totally unaware of what was happening, Miguel had a few hands helping set up decorations.

Spiders rushed to help set up tables and hang confetti balloons in pink and purple. Matching streamers were hung everywhere they could make them stick. The catering came through the same portal covering pink or purple glittering tables. The cake had its own table covered in edible glitter and flowers. There would be enough for everyone and then some. Miguel was grateful and did his best to tell them as such.

A Spider-man in a pink bathrobe laid an arm on Miguel’s shoulder and leaned against him.

“It’s looking great! But why’d you wait so long to ask for help? It’s not like we don’t know how to throw a party,” teased Peter.

Miguel gently nudged him off with a quiet laugh.

“I wanted to do it. It’s her first birthday with me,” he explained before looking the man over with a raised brow. 

“Please tell me you’re going to change before the party?”

Peter tugged at the robe and shrugged with a grin. “I suppose I should. Most of us need to change,” he added, nodding to the Spiders still in costume.

“Appreciated. I want everything to be perfect for Gabi. She deserves the best I can give her.” Quickly catching some runaway balloons when the 39811 Spider ran out of hands. He didn’t see Peter's proud grin.

Once everything was ready, and everyone was dressed properly, the other guests started to arrive. The kids were already taking off to the games and the bouncy castle while Miguel went to get his daughter.

“Go on and get dressed, mija. You got that pretty dress last week, didn’t you?” He asked her as he went to get her first present. A matching tiara with shining stones and a long box with a gold necklace.

When Gabi came out, spinning on her toes, Miguel grinned as he leaned back on his heels. 

“You look beautiful, mija. But I think you're missing something.” Holding up the headpiece, he grinned proudly at her excited gasp. Putting it in her hair carefully, he made sure everything was perfect before offering her the box. 

“See if you think this goes with your dress. Papi doesn't know colours as well as you do.”

When Gabi opened the box she loudly cheered and danced on her feet, spinning in a circle as she clutched the box to her chest.

“Oh, it's perfect!” She squealed, nearly vibrating where she stood.

Miguel chuckled and held his hand out for the necklace. Carefully, he put it in and adjusted it just as carefully. He leaned back on his heels to look his precious daughter over. She looked just like a princess as she beamed at him. Everything was perfect.

“Preciosa. Are you ready to see everyone?”

When she nodded, he got up and offered a hand. Guiding her out, he waved to get everyone's attention that the birthday girl was there. Proud as punch, he held her hand while she spun around to show off her dress.

While most people clapped, there were a few excited cheers from her friends. And just as happy screaming from a tiny Mayday.

Gabi wasted no time rushing out to meet her friends and show off what her papi had given her before being dragged off to go play.

While she did that, Miguel got a soda off the table and did a bit of mingling himself. He did his part to talk with the parents there, wanting to make sure she always had good friends. 

Everything had turned out just as he wanted, and his daughter was having a blast. This was everything he wanted. Hand on his hip, Miguel took in everything, proud that he could do this for his daughter. And he would for every birthday after. But before he could think about her next birthday, he heard her yell.

“Papi! Papi!” Running up to him from across the yard, she jumped up into his arms.

Lifting her up over his head and spinning her around, they both laughed.

“Thank you. Thank you! This is the best birthday ever!” She held him tightly and kissed his cheek.

“Anything for you, princessa. Anything at all.”

#itsv #atsv #spider verse #miguel o'hara #gabi o'hara #fan fic

[shallowseeker]

The kitchen stores love

 kitchen is a symbol of warmth, comfort, and security

///

“We have a real kitchen now.”

"I just didn't think you knew what a kitchen was."

8x14

Sammy is on guard about making a home, perhaps even dismissive, but Dean is soooo excited. 💔

///

“Is this…the Winchesters’ kitchen?”

“For some reason, it gets excellent reception.”

11x18

Just as Cas and Dean are associated to radios (i.e. their first meeting, Jimmy selling radio ads, Heaven radio, prayer), this “good reception” is about Dean and Cas trying to be on the same page. The kitchen has become a place where they spend time together (and ofc TV-watching is also a new phase of how they spend time together).

They’ve always had important conversations (and arguments) in the kitchen, as far back as chatting in Bobby's kitchen. Here, the kitchen symbolizes a welcoming hearth of home. Cas can relax in here watching TV and Dean, without being expected to work. He can just bask in Dean’s presence be. (Note: John and Jimmy Novak are both introduced watching TV after a long day at work.)

///

…

THE KITCHEN. Dean watches, speechless—

12x21

Mary searches for love and meaning in her own kitchen, carefully making a sandwich and cutting off the crust—cutting off the harsh parts.

///

KITCHEN—NIGHT.

“PB&J for breakfast. Strong choice.”

13x05

Deep in his own grief, Dean makes one of Cas’s favorite foods for himself. It's interesting that one side is bare. Usually, when you make PB&J, you spread each evenly on each side (some people do two spreads of PB on each side, but leaving one side bare? interesting. Dean's lonely).

It’s still “night-time,” so Sam must be up early for a run.

Sam doesn’t read the room.

Irritated with Sam and clearly unable to sleep, Dean smashes the bread together and meets Sam’s suggestion of beer with a “really?” face.

///

Dean, carrying a tray with a huge sandwich and some milk.

14x07

In his own kitchen, Dean makes Jack a sandwich. Carrying it in with a glass of milk. 🥛 Milk is a classic drink for kids, and it calls to mind Mary’s tenderness in cutting off sandwich crusts.

///

KITCHEN - DAY

14x15

Another important Dean-Cas conversation in the kitchen, specifically about the wellbeing or their family members.

///

There’s just something about kitchens, man.

X

#spn scripts #dean/cas + kitchen #the bunker kitchen #dean + heart #dean + hearth

[thesapphicsoldier]

Rockie gets way too much hate.

Like yeah, I also prefer other Robin ships and I agree that Vickie isn’t developed enough, but so many people hate rockie and Vickie for like no reason. People forget that there’s still one more season left, and the Duffers could definitely flesh out Vickie more if she gets more screen time and maybe even joins the group. We have to give it time.

And some of the criticisms are just silly. Like “Vickie is basically Robin in a different font”?? The only traits that Vickie has shown to be similar to Robin’s are that she’s awkward and she rambles sometimes. Those are very common traits and both people in a relationship can have them without them being too similar. I agree that Vickie having the exact same analogy for the way her brain works is a little weird, but other than that she’s not “just like Robin.” Like I said, we have to give her time to develop. What if she’s super badass or something, we don’t know!

I’m working on a rockie edit atm and they’re honestly so cute. I already liked them before but they’re seriously growing on me. The banter they have in the pb&j scene???? Adorable.

Vickie, handing Robin a slice of peanut buttered bread: it’s a gift. You’re welcome.

Robin: for me?? You really shouldn’t have.

Vickie: oh but I did!

Literally shut up. Not to sound like a typical lesbian but if I had this conversation with a cute girl I would probably die.

Also Vickie is adorable!! I love her short red hair and her taste in fashion is immaculate.

Anyway, I think people are too harsh on rockie. I think they’re cute and Vickie has a lot of potential, I just hope that the Duffers see that potential and don’t waste it.

#stranger things #robin buckley #vickie stranger things #rockie #rovickie #robickie #vobin #robin x vickie #vickie x robin

[endcant]

best ever food & drink

cucumber & watermelon (same to me)

tofu (many ways)

glass of milk and 2 cookies (various)

mini sweet peppers

egyptian kahk

homemade red bean paste (u can make a lot affordably, keep it a decent amount of time, and use it for everything)

chicken mole

sashimi (various)

bisque (various)

gazpacho (various)

fruit that you picked

the first bite of a california burger (burger with lettuce, tomato, avocado, and monterey jack cheese)

lemon pound cake

dolma

oxtail stew with chayote (white people not invited)

pozole blanco

buttered pumpkin ravioli followed by the raspberry gelato served in a coconut shell at the obligatory little italian place in my obligatory little not-italian hometown

oolong tea

lamb gyro

when i worked at the college i used to rinse out my cup noodles before microwaving them bc they were too salty. that was good

phó (various)

zalabia topped with sesame seeds

scrambled egg white with spinach and mushrooms

avocado smoothie

street corner strawberries, too ripe to be sold to grocery stores

homemade lengua estofado (white people not invited)

butterfish hand roll

fiji lakdi mithai

fruit salad consisting of: apple, jicama, oranges, cucumber, and optional melon (honeydew or cantaloupe) with mandatory seasoning of citrus juice, red pepper, and salt

fried egg over easy stirred into white rice with very small amounts of sesame oil and soy sauce

my dad is the only person who can make bbq ribs worth eating bc they are tender and heavily spiced with a homemade mustard-based sauce with more spices than i’ve ever seen on any other single object

japanese curry + chicken cutlet (my preferred curry but all are valid)

melted monterey jack cheese (any context)

go to 300 Juan Medina Rd., Chimayo, NM, 87522

muesli

homemade honey kale chip (YSAC)

extremely dry breve cappuccino

cinnamon life cereal

homemade sopapilla with honey

NYC mall shrimp tempura udon (ubiquitous in NYC indoor malls in 2009)

banana with brown sugar and a little butter heated in microwave for like 3 minutes. wait til it cools

just the crust of deep dish pizza without the toppings

buttered macaronis with white onion (poisonous to me)

hot dog and vegetable stir fry

chile con carne with MY family’s green chile recipe

oyster tasting paid for by somebody else

this one stout beer that i shared with my mother in 2017 that came in an unlabeled bottle found in the back of a restaurant that has since changed ownership. no other information

dishes containing roux, custard, or caramelized onions patiently made by your own hand (taste of the fruits of your labor)

my sister’s fucked up health recipes that are actually incredibly fucking good such as a very seasoned broth with like 5 different types of mushrooms, a buffalo chicken/sweet potato/turkey bacon casserole, and all of her various spaghetti squash glops. so FUCKING good.

arugula salad with nuts and fruits

steamed pumpkin (various seasonings)

any decently improvised sweet bread, cookie, or cake flavored chiefly with butter, white sugar, and almond extract

baked potato with the red skin no seasonings eaten outside in the cold

thick, ambrosia-like homemade horchata served in a mug at the mexican place with zero english speakers on staff

11 oz can apple sidra apple soda

banana at 2 am

worst ever food & drink

banana at 6 am

waffle house “hashbrown”

backsweetened fruit beer

whole wheat pancake

whole wheat or multigrain health flour tortilla. if you’re worried about your health just eat a corn tortilla or wrap ur stuff in lettuce

guiltiest pleasures of all time

bacon pb&j burger.

expensive californian bougie health snack bars that consist of unrecognizable seeds, unrecognizable nuts, and unrecognizable dried fruits, unrecognizably sweetened and stuck together in an unrecognizable mound

spoonful of stone ground mustard

back home theres a place where u can get craft beer, a rosé slushie actually worth havinf, taste 4 nearly identical dry red wines, and then say its ur birthday and get panini bread toasted with butter and a melted hersheys bar topped with whipped cream. the birthday treat only really tastes good once youve had the aforementioned quantity of alcohol, but i think that’s by design. like listening to shpongle while profoundly high on psychedelics

2 dennys pancakes with 2 eggs over easy placed betwixt, wherein they will be smashed and mixed with maple syrup until the entire mess is soggy yellow-brown and unrecognizable

bowl of chevys fresh mex salsa con cuchara

i experience that “just one more oreo” comic but with mazapan, & when i wake up from the mazapan fugue state every dark cloth in the house is stained permanently

hot cocoa consisting of: almond milk, dark cocoa powder, and stove heat

i will never forget starbucks sage and juniper latte in the fall of 2018. nothing else at that godforsaken restaurant will ever be that good.

those cute fude nuggets they sell at target that are like $15 per box that are shaped like stars, fishies, etc.

anything with garlic or onion (poisons me)

#mine #food #pins #alcohol mention #drug ment