#ladshead

[flamulas-n-boingfish]

What's Your Order?

synopsis: What is the LI's favorite coffee order?

headcanon feat. Xavier, Zayne, Rafayel, Sylus, Caleb, Valko

Xavier:

Black coffee

maybe adds a shot of espresso if he's having a hard time waking up

doesn't bother adding cream, milk, sugar, or syrups, Xavier just drinks it for maximum caffeine efficiency

does it taste good? No. But Xavier has a more savory pallet and does enjoy a nice full flavored cup of black coffee from a cafe with a bearclaw or a sandwich. At home though coffee is coffee is a means to wake the hell up

Zayne

now you and i both know Zayne has a MASSIVE sweet tooth

100000% tries the new frappacino of the month at the local cafes

is it basically a coffee milkshake? Kinda. Does Dr. Zayne Li of the Cariothroasic unit care? absolutely not. He will indulge in the crazy sweet flavor combos - s'mores? hell yeah! nutella? defo, banoffee? yum, raspberry mocha? totally down.

has to budget his sugary drink budget at the behest and begging of his dentist.

will casually get sweet lattes for a less intense sugar experience

very familiar with other pastries and sweets, and seasonal treats from the cafes all around Akso

Rafayel

Sea Salt Caramel Ice Latte or Macchiato

Don't ask me why, but the vibes fit

Will also try any drink that looks pretty, man is 10000% falling for instagram bait.

Mainly alternates between espresso milk drinks - latte, cappuccino, macchiato, really just depends on the day and the temp

If he's not in the mood for coffee he'll get a chai, and honestly enjoys the spice combo sooooo much - I lowkey headcanon that Lemurians not only have stronger eyes (wider range of visual colors), but stronger senses of smell and taste, so more complex flavor profiles make Rafayel a happy fishie

not super interested in trying strange flavor combos, but enjoys seasonal flavors and fresh fruit pastries like tarts or croissant

Sylus

straight espresso with crema

enjoys the pure flavors of the espresso

if boba is offered he'll also indulge on occasion

doesn't often get flavored coffees,

Like Xavier, coffee is a means to an end, and that end is staying awake during boring 'business' meetings or negotiations. Unlike Xavier, however, Sylus enjoys the finer things in life, and would never skimp on the taste or quality

If he wants a treat, he'll go for an affogato, maybe with a splash of amaretto if he's feeling it

Occasionally gets food with his coffee, usually when he does though, it'll be something hearty like a bacon egg n cheese

Caleb

If the cafe offers any honey sweetened drinks I feel like he'd enjoy them

absolutely THRIVES during the Autumn season

Cinnamon Apple tea!

Apple Chai Latte!

Outside of seasonal specialty drinks, Caleb just likes a basic coffee with cream and sugar, or a dairy alternative and sugar. He doesn't have as much sugar as Zayne, just enough to balance out the bitterness of the coffee.

Really just likes a coffee he can make himself, since he's so used to cooking for you both - after all cooking is one of his love languages

Prefers savory bites from cafes with his coffee

Valko

MOCHAS! ALL! THE! WAY!

mocha Latte, Mocha cappuccino, mocha frappe

Cafe a la Chocolat if its an option too

LOVES a good hot chocolate in the winter, esp if its made with real ganache

Literally will happily munch on any chocolate pasties or cake. Has a special place in his heart of chocolate croissants, pain du chocolate, or donuts. Really anything he can sneak into his lab or munch on in between business meetings

Is on a first name basis with the baristas at the cafes around EonCore and while they may or may not know his name, they know his typical order well enough to always save

Like Zayne, he's always down to try the new seasonal flavors, preferably any new options with a chocolate base, like a s'mores combo or a nutella mix

[flamulas-n-boingfish]

Love and Deep Space Dishes

//cross posted from the lads subreddit//

I saw a post a while back asking what kind of dishes the LaDS guys would have if you were to condense them into a menu and I maaaaay have been watching a few too many collab cafe vlogs so the idea popped back into my head again.

Xavier

So we all know Xavier can't cook, but if, big IF, he does cook, it would be simple, homey, comfort food. I'm talking hot pot, stews, curry (probablyy from a box/kit) that kind of thing. His section has to include hot pot, BBQ, and hearty meaty dishes with spicy variants of the dishes. Probably crock pot style stews that don't need to be measured or timed really. Based off vibes, I'd include a meat curry with a bunbun shaped mound of rice, cute bento plating style. Grilled meat kababs are a must and call back to his 4* card Day of Snow. As a bonus, pocky, sour candy, and spicy chips (or takis) can be thrown in as an extra in reference to his first secret times card and Unique Aftertaste.

For a dessert, I'm thinking, some kind of starfruit dessert, like a tart or starfruit tanghulu would be fitting for him. We need to include egg tarts (which are actually pretty easy to make if you use a pre-made Philo dough) from his 4* memory card when he almost destroyed his apartment. Maybe even homemade ice cream (the kind you make with ziplocs, ice, salt, and heavy cream.or with an ice cream maker if you wanna get fancy lmao) in reference to the ice cream in Sweetness Persuit.

Honey milk tea and chamomile tea are def in his recipe section. And since beer seems to appear a few times in his cards, a michelada cocktail (lager plus salt, lime juice, hot sauce, other spices to taste) would match perfectly for Xavier and his savory pallet.

Zayne

Zayne, our local dessert connoisseur, would have a mix of healthy savory dishes to nourish the body, and a variety of desserts to nourish the heart. In his section, you'd have to include the crab dish he and MC made in their first secret times story. The short rib and tomato stew from his birthday card is another fitting addition. I feel like simple easy dishes would be in his section as well bc as well renown cardio thoracic surgeon and a workaholic, he doesn't have much free time to cook complicated dishes in his free time, so so I can see healthy stir fry dishes in his section. I can also see his section having some tips or recipes for meal planning and batch cooking so he doesn't need to actually /cook/ during the workweek. None of these dishes include carrots. 

The Dessert section is where I see him truely coming through, however. We need to include macarons with a grid of different flavor combos, some kind of petite four with pear compote or a pear gelee. Perhaps snowman cupcakes. a super indulgent hot chocolate recipe (fully from scratch) should definitely feature in his section as well. Would also need to include the popsicles he and MC shared as children and tried to have again in his second bond story.

Drinks wise, I can see mocktails here bc ya boy can't handle alcohol. Definitely sweeter ones, perhaps a mudslide or a mojito?

Rafayel

Boi knows 1001 sea creatures and the best ways to eat them. You KNOW his section is full of seafood dishes. Anything that showcases le fruit de mer, ya know. I'm thinking oysters in white wine, seafood paella, blackened or grilled salmon, red snapper en papillote, lobster with a nice garlic n herb butter, fish and chips, a simple shrimp scampi, etc. But I can also see his fried chicken sandwich with onion rings in there, the dish he made with MC in their first secret times. I can also see the limited edition tuna croissants he steals from MC from the 4* card Daybreak's Touch in that section and the veggie rice porridge he makes MC in Flowery Words.

For sweets, strawberry tanghulu from his Myths 4* card would feature. I for Raf, I feel like the sweets in his section would be light and refreshing, like a Panna cotta with dragonfruit compote/jelly, perhaps some kind of experimental gastro confections with dragonfruit juice orbs/caviar in a clam shell shaped pastry, creme brule that Raf brulee'd himself with his evol.

For drinks, i could see a cocktail made with prosecco or champagne (low key based on banquets and dirges) or a strawberry daiquiri.

Sylus

I can see Sylus's dishes making you feel poor lmao. I'm thinking a well prepared steak, wine braised shortribs, Coq au Vin, don't ask me why, but a mushroom pasta with a light drizzle of truffle oil and a creamy sauce. Perhaps a risotto. Definitely some kind of meat with a red wine reduction sauce, since we all know Sylus likes his red wine lol. His flavor profile would be rich, meaty, and indulgent. However, the food, while spiced, wouldn't be particularly spicy like Xavier's.

I can also see his desserts being just shy of cloyingly sweet, based off the dialogue between him and MC in the period secret time where he added waaaay too much sugar to her tea. They're indulgent and rich. I can see a black forest cake, dark chocolate truffles molded to the shape of jewels and filled with a pomegranate and cherry compote, chocolate lava cake with a berry syrup drizzled on top. I can also see alcoholic cakes. Like a sponge drizzled with spiced rum, grenadine, or amaretto with a ganache.

For drinks, I can see a red wine sangria being in his section. I'd also include a pom fizz and a crimson bulleit punch bc they're super on brand for him.

Caleb

Caleb and nostalgic comfort food are synonymous. Like he has his elevated dishes he makes as an adult, and nostalgic dishes from when he and MC were kids that he still loves to make. Braised chicken wings, are a specialty. Like Xavier, I can see simple, homey comfort food, but Caleb's is the kind that feels like a warm hug after a hard day. But i can also see things kids would enjoy making, like pancakes since he's been cooking for MC since they were young. I can so see a classic chicken noodle soup that he probably has made for MC while sick at least once. Chicken congee or a sunny side up egg on warm rice as a simple breakfast Caleb defiantly has a famous signature soup he makes once the weather starts getting cold that he always makes and I KNOW he has some kind of award winning chili with the perfect amount of spice. Caleb also makes the crispiest (and fluffiest) croquettes and a banging spinach and sausage quiche. Don't ask me why, the foods just seem fitting.

Desserts would include a classic apple pie, lemon drizzle cake (lemon in particular based off that part with the lemon candy in his birthday card and MC lowkey gaslighting him into liking lemon/sour treats), chocolate truffles with an orange creme filling.

For drinks, I can see a Creamsicle (orange liqueur like grand Marnier or triple sec with a cream liquors like Bailey's or Five Farms), appeltini (bc obviously), and an air mail cocktail, but also mulled cidar - spiced, warm, comforting and nostalgic.

Feel free to comment with other foods y'all think should he included bc its lowkey kinda cool how often food feature for the boys and rarely intersect.

[flamulas-n-boingfish]

Horror Movies with the LaDS

Xavier

Xavier enjoys all types of horror. Has little effect on him. Will casually just enjoy a horror movie any night of the week. Enjoys monster flicks, classic horror movies like The Thing, Frankenstein, the Bella Lugosi Dracula. Cosmic horror is a genre he enjoys a lot but needs to be in the right mood for it. Some days it’s fun, some days it hits a bit too close to home.  Xavier definitely stays up to date on Indie horror films for new or compelling concepts. 100% has a Shudder streaming account. Enjoys the Alien and Alien Vs Predator films. Has also played the Alien game adaptations without flinching. Is lowkey very judgmental or picky about horror and a harsh critic. Ghost/Demon horror movies are high-key entertaining to Xavier since he loves telling you ghost stories and he does have the Paranormal Activity, Insidious, and The Conjuring movies on DVD. I would not be surprised at all if he has tried ghost hunting in his free time in the past to kill time. High-key enjoys teasing you when you gets scared of the from the atmosphere or get his with a jumpscare and will poke you or scare you with a flashlight under his face. MC clinging during scary moments is a fantastic perk too! Xavier has 1000% peacefully fallen asleep while watching some crazy horror movies and has thought nothing of it.

Zayne

Zayne isn’t a huge fan of horror. Man dreams of a horrific dystopian world on the regular and prefers to keep THE HORRORS ™ limited. Rarely goes out of his way to watch horror movies in his free time or on date nights with MC. When he does watch horror he tends to prefer mystery horror like Fear Street, Nosferatu (2024),The Cabin in the Woods. Psychological horror or crime thrillers intrigue him and tend to catch his interest with the mystery more-so than the fear aspects. Also has a preference for fun spooky horror as a lighter alternative during the spooky season. Enjoys a good Scooby-Doo movie for fun. He actually does not like body horror. It’s not that it freaks him out necessarily, but more that inaccurate anatomy irks him. You once watch The Human Centipede and he pointed out every medical inaccuracy and ripped the mad doctor, surgery, and premise to shreds so quickly and scathingly that you end up laughing through most of the movie from his pointed commentary. For something more along the lines of The Fly or The Substance, Zayne gets more grossed out and you would need some damn good bribery to get him to watch them.  Won’t tease you too much if you gets spooked, but will check in to make sure the horror isn’t too much or intense. Zayne would also pause a mystery horror movies every so often to discuss theories with you. Will softy ramble about a boring medical subject to help you sleep if the movie scared her too much or offer to watch some mindless reality show as a distraction form the movie.

Rafayel

Very judgy and doesn’t spooked easily with monster horror at all. Have you seen The Horrors ™ of the deep sea? Rafayel has. Humans can’t make monsters half as scary as he’s seen in the deep sea. Eldrich horror intrigues him, like The Mist, The Fog, or Color Out of Space. Artistic horror or gothic horror though? That’s his shit. Something like Crimson Peak or Sleepy Hollow (1999), or anything by Guillermo Del Toro fascinates him. He’ll also enjoy a fun horror like Happy Death Day or Hotel Transylvania as a fun romp. Is lowkey fascinated by the animation in Hotel Transylvania or ParaNorman bc the animation is just so animated it always captures his attention. With artistic gothic horror, or other horror with strong art direction, Rafayel will get sucked into the story or the art direction/lighting/cinematography and forget he’s watching a horror movie until he gets jumpscared and literally jumps into the air. He would then deny and pout when you bring it up and tease him for jumping. Any of the Shark ™ horror movies are met with the harshest criticism. You love making Raf watch those movies just so you can watch his reaction, which is always more entertaining than the movie. Raf is saltier than the Dead Sea watching them and MC can’t help but watch his reaction to the movie more than the movie itself. When watching The Shape of Water, Rafayel feels so bad for the fishman, and gets so jealous when you talk about the fishman being cute. Like HELLO?? What about your fishie??? Sitting right next to you???? Pouts and grumbles as you tease him about being jealous of a fictional fish man, but is also low-key happy when you shit-talk the agency that imprisoned the fish man. But pouts for DAYS afterward, demanding extra attention bc your fishie needs it after you called the movie fishman cute. Absolutely LOVES IT when a movie scares you more than him bc you cling to him and he gets cuddles while ignoring whatever is happening on the screen.

Sylus

Sylus enjoys slashers such as Scream and Halloween. He finds the bad decisions by the characters to be amusing. Also enjoys action horror like The Mummy or the Alien franchise. With slashers he tends to watch it documentary style, judging the choices the doomed characters make and yes, Sylus does laugh at horror movies, especially when he makes the correct prediction and is instantly proven right – “The killer is going to pop out and kill him right after he gets jumpscared by a cat or a raccoon . . . Ha, I was right” . Sylus also judges tf out of incorrect weapon usage and makes comments on them like “That's the weakest way to grip a knife, the victim could easily just smack it out of the killer's hand" Jumpscares do not get him at all. You’ve tried to jumpscare him with certain movies, but it never works. He has an interest in watching vampire horror movies with you since you make compare him to a vampire so often with his – well his everything. Thirty Days of Night and Blade were big hits and then you brought out the inherent romanticism of vampire with Bram Stoker’s Dracula (1992) and he absolutely loves it and does watch it on his own a few times after the initial viewing with you. You do troll Sylus with Twilight and he views it as a stalker movie at first, thinking its going to be a crime movie instead of a vampire romance. Until the end of the movie where you introduce him to the Edward v Jacob debate. Sylus also enjoys watching True Crime/Crime Thrillers and, again, judges tf out of the criminal and the investigators based on his own experiences in the N109 Zone.

Caleb

Caleb isn't huge on horror, given the everything that happened in his and MC’s childhoods, especially any kind of medical pr body horror. Enjoys fun horror like Scooby-Doo, Hocus Pocus, Beetlejuice, Warm Bodies. Caleb will happily cuddle up on the couch with you under a blanket and a cup of cider/tea/cocoa and watch a fun Halloween romp. Have the two of you seen Scooby-Doo on Zombie Island or Hocus Pocus a hundred times since childhood? Yes. Does he care? Nope, not one bit. He will sing along with thew blink182 Scooby-Doo intro or preform 'I put a Spell on You' right alongside the Sanderson Sisters for the fun of it. Caleb does enjoy action horror like The Mummy and the Alien franchise as well as the occasional classic slashers like Scream. Would only really watch scarier movies if you really want to watch it and under the assumption that you’ll be cuddling/hugging him the whole time. Older horror movies or throwback horror set several decades ago is a hit with him, they lowkey feel ‘safe’ bc they’re older and the effects usually aren’t as realistic, but please don’t make Caleb watch Paranormal Activity or the Exorcist or play the moving doll prank on him, he will scream and only cook porridge and steamed vegetables for the next week if you do. He does find fun in thrillers and horrors theorizing how to beat the killer or escape the monster. Will 1000% look up ‘how to survive [horror movie]’ online instantly after the movie finishes to see if he’s right or if others had the same idea. Lowkey its the main way he was able to get through The Ring and Silent Hill. With scarier horror movies, Caleb will also distract himself by jumpscaring you at a tense moment by poking your side or blowing in your ear.

[flamulas-n-boingfish]

I lowkey love that so much of the LaDS Fandom headcanon Rafayel and MC as cat owners in the future despite Rafayel being adamant that cats are monsters. Like it's such a small thing but so fitting and Radiant Heart is such a good depiction of what would happen - Rafayel begrudgingly accepts the cat then becomes obsessed, spoils tf out of it ('I got it a feather toy in every color available'), creates art sith the cat (aka the cat walking in paint and stepping on a canvas), takes great care of it while MC is away on a mission, and pouts so much when the cat gets adopted until MC comforts him.

Like Rafayel + a cuddly affectionate cat would be such a great combination. Like I can practically see MC bringing another stray kitten home (this time a real tiny kitten, like barely 2 apples tall kitten) and it settling right in Rafayel's lap bc he's focused on painting and doesn't notice the 10 ounces of fluff settle and instantly fall asleep on his lap until he's ready to take a break, leans to set his brush down and realized the little fluffball is deep asleep and purring right there and now he can't get up even though is left foot is numb so he takes a pic and sends it to MC texting 'Miss Bodyguard, please come save me from this monster! I've been captured!!' AND then MC shows up and silently screams bc by the time she arrives, rafayel has managed to relocate himself to the sofa or chaise lounge or whatever that piece of furniture in his studio is called without disturbing the kitten and now they're both asleep, except ghe kitten relocated itself to his chest or neck and now they're both asleep.

((Okay maaaaybe I got a little carried away, but cat dad rafayel just feels correct, and you bet your ass Thomas and MC tease him about his old cat phobia once he bonds with the kitten))

[flamulas-n-boingfish]

So, I went to a pet store the other day for cat food and had a Thought ™ while looking at the bettas. Rafayel would fall into the betta fish pipeline. 

Rafayel would totally feel bad for them in their little cups and take one home. Does he steal it? Maybe Man is the God of the Sea, he can’t let one of his little fishies suffer with fin rot in a little plastic cup, even if it is freshwater and not quite his domain. He really just came to kill some time and hide from Thomas, but now here he is, researching freshwater fish and ordering a whole set up – tank, heater, filter, water conditioner, décor, live plants. Man can NOT keep land plants alive, they always end up extra crispy bc he forgets about them, but maybe plants that live exclusively in water will be fine?

Eventually he ends up with a small collection of very well maintained betta tanks, each one their own little ecosystem, aquascaped to perfection bc you KNOW he would dive right down that pipeline the INSTANT he sees a beautifully planted and decorated tank. What started as a sickly pale little neglected fish turns into a whole new artistic hobby to obsess over. And then he takes you to pick out a cute little buddy. He lowkey develops a symbiotic relationship with a local fish store. Whenever he swings by for more food or filtration material they maybe always try point him towards the bettas that have been in the store for a bit too long. Based on the throw away lines in the game about giving Reddie multiple water changes in a week, I can 1000% see any little fish being well cared for and tanks being well maintained.

[flamulas-n-boingfish]

Did some tidying up today and rediscovered a pencil case full of different colored erasable pens I used during college and Zayne and Rafayel would totally fuck with erasable pens, eps in different colors.

Zayne, the ever organized perfectionist doctor, would find them perfect for note taking in college (which they were 100%), medical notes and sketches, maybe even do the red/blue thing where you use 2 difference colored lenses to quiz yourself with the answers. Probably great for color coding assignments for different classes or making important notes or amendments or comments stand out.

Rafayel would love them for sketching down ideas, trying different layouts with rough colors, plein air sketching or people watching, jotting down thoughts, fucking with Thomas in some way shape or form.

[flamulas-n-boingfish]

So yhe other day I was listening to a podcast and one of the podcasters mentioned that once while in their first semester of college they ate way more sweets, pastries, desserts than they had while living at home until one day they ordered a cheesecake to snack on at a Cafe while studying and their body just fully rejected it and they felt sick until they ate real food - I think it was some kinda stew bread bowl - and I have to say that is so Zayne coded.

Like I can totally see young Zayne with a sweet tooth the size if a mountain and his frontal lobe still developing consistently giving in to his sweet cravings. Does he know he needs to eat a balanced diet to feel his best and do his best at college? Yes. Is the sweet siren song of the macarons, cheesecake, and parfait winning? Yes. Yes it is. And it's such a difficult situation, bc he knows a full balanced diet with veggies and fruit and protein, etc, is the better choice. But he is also taking a FULL load with extra projects and studies on the side and he really needs that quick energy and seratonin boost sugars and desserts provide, its like a cheat code that works for weeks. That is until he goes to his favorite campus Cafe to study, orders his usual cherry cheesecake slice and a cup of tea and gets 2 bites into his treat until his body immediately rejects it and is far more enticed by the scent of a savory beef stew another cafe patron brings to their table. He reluctantly orders the dish and once he brings it to his table he immediately devours it, carrot chunks and all, and makes quick work of the bread bowl it came in, too. His persistent week long headache? Gone. His stomach? No longer queasy. His energy? Raised. His focus? Heightened.

From that study session on, Zayne vows to himself to do his best to eat a balanced diet to avoid feeling so sick again. He still has a giant sweet tooth and still indulges regularly, but is more strict with himself on not indulging too much when life gets stressful. And that's to say nothing of the lecture his dentist gave him on his next visit.