#everlark toasting

[you-askedforthis]

I love Everlark but they seem like the type couple to eye fuck each other in front of people and stick their fingers in each others mouths as they feed each other food.

[honey-kyun]

A NEW START: An Everlark Toasting Speech by: Honey_Kyun

“I have to warn you, this is extremely romantic,” he tries to smile in his signature charming grin, but he ends up pressing his tongue to his teeth to try and stop the tears forming in his eyes, “So you have to promise that you’ll cry.”

I have always intended to make this little idea part of a larger fic, but committing to details around an Everlark toasting is very daunting to me so it would probably sit in a doc forever otherwise.

But I wanted to post something for @everlarkweek so please enjoy a completely devoid of context bit of Peeta's very romantic plan for their toasting bread...

(drabble under the cut)

Peeta comes around to sit by me holding a tray with the bread, wrapped neatly in a cloth, and a small jar with a green line painted around the glass. 

“Okay so I have to warn you, this is extremely romantic,” he tries to smile in his signature charming grin, but he ends up pressing his tongue to his teeth to try and stop the tears forming in his eyes, “So you have to promise that you’ll cry.”

“Not a chance,” I retort, my own voice also thick with tears. 

He hands me the jar. “This is a starter. It’s an essential component of sourdough bread. And it’s alive.”

I turn the jar and the thick, bubbly whitish liquid bends slowly, “Alive?” I raise a skeptical eyebrow.

“Natural yeast. I made it with grapes and flour and water. And starter makes really good sourdough bread, but it takes a lot of work. Because you have to feed it regularly, or it will die. But if you’re good about it, you can keep it alive forever. My dad had one he claimed was 200 years old.”

He smiles at a rare happy childhood memory and I wonder if he wishes his father was here. When he pictured this moment as a lovesick teen, did he picture his family present? 

“So this starter,” he says taking the jar back from me, “is just for you. For this moment. To make our toasting bread,” He’s looking at me so reverently, “I made it after— after I knew you loved me. Because I always knew we’d get here.” 

“Oh, Peeta,” I reach out for his cheek, I need to pull him in for a kiss but he catches my hand and laces his fingers through mine.

“Hold on let me finish my stupid speech.” 

"Nothing you say is stupid," I tell him, pulling our joined hands into my lap.

“To feed it you have to use some, or in this case, pour some of it out, and add in more flour and water. And then do it again in a few days. So I got into this little habit,” he looks down shyly, “When I’d pour out the discard I would think about something I wanted to get rid of. Like, if I’d been short with you, or kept an important thought inside instead of saying it. And when I added more flour I thought about how I could love you better that week. Because what we have is the most important thing to me, I have to keep it alive.” 

Tears are running rivers down my cheeks now. I take the bread off the tray. The second most important bread he’s ever given me.  

[always-andshewrites]

An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works

Chapters: 12/? Fandom: The Hunger Games (Movies), Hunger Games Trilogy - Suzanne Collins, Hunger Games Series - All Media Types Rating: Mature Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings Relationships: Katniss Everdeen/Peeta Mellark, Gale Hawthorne/Madge Undersee, Haymitch Abernathy/Effie Trinket Characters: Katniss Everdeen, Peeta Mellark, Madge Undersee, Gale Hawthorne, Effie Trinket, Haymitch Abernathy, Primrose Everdeen, Cinna (Hunger Games), Portia (Hunger Games), President Snow Additional Tags: Friendship/Love, Angst and Fluff and Smut, Supernatural Elements, Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Psychic Bond, Mental Link, Quarter Quell (Hunger Games), Conspiracy, everlark, gadge - Freeform, Lucy Gray haunts Snow, Ghost communicate through dreams, The Quarter Quell, paternal loss Series: Part 2 of Changing the Game Summary:

Katniss and Peeta made it out of the arena together, but little do they know the games are only beginning. Who can they trust as secrets are exposed and identities are revealed? This is the sequel to "Changing the Game"; a Hunger Games - Catching Fire rewrite. Told in several different character POV's.

[jlalafics]

In your headcanon at what age do Peeta and Katniss toast and do you think they ever got legally married or just toasted post Mockingjay? 🍞 🔥

To me, I think they were about 19-20 when they toasted and I don't they ever get around to legalizing it.

If you look at the credits in MJ2, their kids are labeled Everdeen child 1 & 2. I figured they consulted Suzanne Collins in regards to their marital status so they label the roles correctly.

[everlarkedalways]

You’re Everlarked when....

For @lovely-tothe-bone. She’s Everlarked. :)

[you-askedforthis]

My post- mockingjay Everlark toasting headcanon always flips between it’s a private moment for just them and they invite the whole district as an excuse to feed everyone food and cake.

[lifeisshiny]

Two Days, One Toasting

Requested by and dedicated to the wonderful, talented, and amazing jeeno2. I love you to the moon and back. xo

Friday

“Are you the baker’s wife?”

Katniss spins around and blinks at a bright-eyed little girl, speechless. The girl’s mother notices Katniss’ dumbfounded expression and rushes over. “No, dear, she’s just his very best friend.” The words sting in Katniss’ ears as she watches them leave, and she turns around just in time to see Peeta push through the swinging door into the backroom of the bakery.

~~~

“You’ve been home for four years now, and living with the boy for three and a half. Life’s too short, sweetheart. Show him you’re in it for the long haul.”

Katniss nods and stares wordlessly at the glass of whiskey in front of her, the one that she asked for but has no intention of drinking. They sit in comfortable silence until the sun goes down, and she lets herself out once she hears the familiar sound of her mentor’s faint snoring.

~~~

“I don’t want to be ‘just very best friends’ with you.”

Katniss feels Peeta shift in bed behind her, his arm tightening around her waist. “Well,” he begins softly, “what do you want to be?”

She turns around to face him, connecting with his blue eyes that shine in the moonlight. She brushes the hair off his face and he smiles, and she knows in this moment that she could look into those eyes and adore that smile for the rest of her life.

“Can we bake a loaf of bread tomorrow?”

His eyes light up, and he nods in understanding, his faint smile stretching into a full-blown grin.

“I think that can be arranged.”

Saturday

They bake the bread in the morning. It’s the same kind he gave to her all those years ago, the hearty loaf made with raisins and nuts. The bread that saved her life.

They make love in the kitchen while the dough rises. It’s a mess of flour and tangled limbs, laughter and moans, bowls and spoons clanging to the floor.

They wash the dishes together once the loaf is in the oven, and she relishes in the simple chore, mentally adding it to the list of things she wouldn’t mind doing every day, forever, so long as he’s beside her.

They leave the fresh bread to cool on the counter while they take a walk, making it all the way to the meadow. She lays her head on his lap and picks at the grass while he plays with her hair.

“I don’t know what I'm going to say,” she whispers.

“You don’t have to say anything,” he replies.

They watch the sun set, and she decides that she’s ready. Finally ready.

~~~

Katniss takes one last look at herself in the mirror. She found a long, cream-colored, satin nightgown buried deep in the closet, and it feels like heaven on her skin. Her hair is free from its braid, cascading down her back like a waterfall. Butterflies begin to flutter in her stomach, and she smiles to herself. Only Peeta makes me feel this way.

His lips part in awe as he watches her descend the stairs. “You…you look beautiful,” he says, and she blushes. She straightens the collar on his crisp, white, button-down shirt. “You look perfect,” she whispers.

They light the fire together, as is tradition, and watch as the flames begin to dance in the fireplace. They toast a slice of their loaf and share it in silence, the only sounds in the room provided by the crackle of the fire. Eventually, he leans in, takes her face in his hands, and kisses her gently. Over and over again. Each one a vow. Each one a promise.

Peeta breaks the silence first. “I may still get lost from time to time.”

Katniss kisses him. “I’ll always find you.”

She leans into the crook of his neck and breathes him in deep. “I may still have bad days. Very bad days.”

He holds her tight and strokes her hair. “I’ll always get you through them. I’ll always wait for you to come back.”

They remain that way, wrapped in each other’s arms, pledging to always do this, always do that. The vows continue until the sunlight fades outside, and Katniss asks, “What’s for dinner?” Peeta laughs, lifts her up, and carries her to the kitchen. She hums the tune of the traditional marriage song as she sets the table, and he takes her hand and dances her around the room. They laugh and dance, dance and laugh. They dine on a small feast and make plans for tomorrow. Simple plans. Hunting plans. Bakery plans. Shooing geese plans.

In bed, one more promise is made. One that’s always been understood, but has never been spoken. “I’ll always love you, Peeta,” she whispers. He lets out a breath, the one he’s been holding since he was five years old. “I’ll always love you, Katniss.”

“Always.”

[escapistmagpie]

The wonderful alatarielgildaen asked for an everlark toasting a million years ago. I'm so sorry it took so long, belated Christmas present/early happy new year maybe? Inspired by the toasting scene in The Unrecorded Hours by hollycomb on AO3 :)