#✩ [ night lights and nostalgia ] aes

[blysse-and-blunder]

in lieu of a rainy day

10pm, sunday, nov 26, 2023

went to a gig for a friend's band last night, but otherwise it's been an extremely lowkey and indoor weekend. living that housecat lifestyle. aside from the sunday scaries (but, like, for the semester....for the year....) all in all the past week+ has been Okay. whoever is in charge of my calendar (which is me) made a pretty big gamble booking three-four medical-esque appointments back-to-back-to-back this week, but it paid off, we got through it, and the decks are cleared (so to speak) for writing between now and the holidays.

reading i got briefly very into freya marske's books a marvellous light and now a restless truth, though i will admit to having calmed (slowed) down a lot in reading the sequel, after tearing through the first one like there was a deadline. the world building and magic system are very fun, i am a big fan of the aesthetic; they're extremely sexy but not at the expense of plot or dialogue or characters' having their own real personalities, flaws and hobbies and all. excited to read the third one.

listening a quick skim of the previous few ilcb entries (have there really only been three all fall, dear me) to check i hadn't already posted this, and it doesn't seem like it? so, gregory alan isakov with the colorado symphony. the additional strings, the additional brass, it adds such a gorgeous dimension to this already pretty good song; the way things build from 1:20 on or so, to burst into full color and light from 1:59 to 2:14.... i've turned a few afternoons around lately just leaning into that orchestra swell in my headphones. wish it lasted a full 10 minutes, wish it had multiple movements.

watching more burrow's end; finished arcane season 1 with @hematiterings and began watching the first season of stranger things since she's never seen it; the nostalgia and affection i feel! the real satisfaction in how good season 1 is, how young they all are!! also started season 2 of slings and arrows with the housemates, which is new territory for me and which is similarly filling me with affection for characters i've known a long time, and fascination at seeing them doing new things and making new bad decisions. also started the second season of wheel of time on my own, as background while doing some unpaid graphic design/newsletter prep; my gratitude for this show making something so rich and visually interesting and real out of the books is unabated, even though i'm not feeling anyone's storyline very intensely at the moment. rand meeting logain was cool; perrin has been captured and that's bad; mat is now traveling with min, which is also cool because it's probably a set-up; i'm sorry that nynaeve had such a hard time in the arches but her romance subplot with lan has always left me extremely cold; moiraine is being frustrating! the show has a nice way of showing us other characters, minor characters, too-- moiraine's sister, for one, and starting that encounter by showing us her sister's morning routine, clarifying the difference in their ages where one is aes sedai and aging very, very differently. egwene and the daughter heir are in a magical boarding school subplot which is surprisingly delightful.

playing dnd campaign a had a session for the first time in aaaaages not too long ago, and it was good. spoke to the gods briefly, got started trying to appease them with sports as opposed to human sacrifice, and ended the night beta testing a phone-based game a friend of the dm's wanted us to try which involved a lot of bluffing and bs and laughter. campaign b, meanwhile, is in combat with some were creatures; @dimir-charmer's character has maintained this whole time that she is Not a Werewolf but circumstances may be, in fact, conspiring against her...... worrying!

making not a whole lot. i bought a box of cards since the closest thing i've come to a hobby recently has been sending a few cards (well, one and a half); i feel the pull of stickers and sealing wax and stamps.... wandered through an art supply store only a little while ago and came so close to buying the vinyl stamp making kit, but the only paint i could find to go with vinyl stamps was metallic so i decided to wait. contemplating making potato stamps, like i do every year around this time, but again the ink or paint or whatever is the limiting factor there.

working on taught my second and final guest lecture of the semester! read back through the written feedback on my conference paper! have started to look at integrating said paper back into the chapter whence it came, and had to have a little lie-down, but that's the big project remaining. at the same time, the running commentary at the back of my brain is about lecture prep for the course i'm teaching in the spring, specifically, what i'll say to situate/contextualize/prepare students to handle the material, how i'll thread various needles, which texts i'm going to ultimately assign, and on and on. i've started trying to turn this background noise into brainstorming/writing/limited, focused bursts of work on said course, in the hopes that getting a little of it out of the way will let me brain settle back in to other projects afterwards. i've also realized i've started doing the Discretionary stuff first, i.e. the reading extra articles, the looking at post docs or awards or things to apply for, the stuff that won't happen if i don't allow myself 15 min to look into it, because the Actual Work will be enforced, it will have to happen eventually, and the discretionary stuff won't. jury's very much out as to whether this will pay off, especially when it's not discretionary work at all, but discretionary attending-a-lecture time, or -coffee-with-a-friend time, or discretionary-at-the-gym time. time spent with the cat, of course, is non-discretionary.

[digeethegenie]

He who looked back

Day 03 - Tempest Shadowbringers - Lv. 80 : Shadowbringers Spoilers for Endwalker CW - Depression, Contemplation of Mass-Murder and Genocide, Abuse of G'raha Tia (Yeah, no. If you're a G'raha stan, I am very sorry), Deliberate misgendering.

There is a story passed down in Spira from mother to child of a builder who walked the lands of Hydaelyn. He had a wonderful gift. He was able to use magic, the very bending of Aether itself, to create with the ease of clicking one's fingers.

One day, he heard that a terrible war had destroyed his home, taking his waiting family away from him forever-more. In his grief, the builder recreated his home, whole buildings, peoples and cities, and spent the rest of his life wasting away in a dream of empty nostalgia.

When his soul returned to farplane, the land he created, too, returned to dust.

That land of myth was known as Zanarkand.

The Venmont Yard had not, in the last hundred years, seen the excitement of the last week. The building of the titanic talos to scale Mount Gulg and take down the last of the lightwardens- who turned out to be the matriarch of Eulmore no less!- and to see, if only for the briefest of moments, the grandeur of the night return to Kholusia before it, and from what the ship workers heard, the rest of the star's sky be once again enveloped in light.

And that wasn't the strangest event to happen in the week, ether.

One night, two dockworkers returned from their work to Amity, speaking of a well dressed man with black hair streaked with grey holding by the scruff the unconscious form of a mystel man who looked like the Crystal Exarch of all people. They spoke of how, when they tried to talk to the man, he only growled something incomprehensible at them before walking into the waters of The Tempest, an invisible barrier keeping him and his captive from being swallowed whole by the sea.

Whilst an attempt was made to contact The Crystarium about the incident, given the hostage, they received no word back from the city's guard regarding it.

What they did see, however, a few days later, was a massive tide that crashed just short of the dock. The people of Amity could only be amazed at the event, not aware of its significance to the events of that day or how it tied into the final end of the cancerous light.

Emet-Selch walked- for a value of the act of pretending to walk whilst a barrier kept one's pathetic human form from being crushed by fathoms of underwater pressure, to say as little as possible about his hostage- across the bottom of The Tempest, the last remaining sea of the ruined star. As he walked, he observed the Sahagin of this reflection, The Ondo, who had taken up residence in what looked like an eons-rotted remains of a city.

Like maggots and flies on a corpse, he sneered to himself.

He could have, with a click of his fingers, wiped the whole grotesque scene from his sight. The temptation was absolutely there. Mass-Murder and Genocide were surprisingly easy after the first couple of times and even more so after the thousandth self-uttered insistence that the people you were destroying were not, in the truest sense, people and thus you weren't guilty of murder.

And yet, he did not.

He didn't know why. Pity? Self-Satisfaction that theirs was an imperfect, mortal existence that would soon be brought to a horrific end? Sheer Apathy?

It was probably the last one, he thought to himself before walking on and leaving The Ondo with no clue to just how close they had been from death.

After some time walking the depths, Emet-Selch finally found the place he was looking for. A place where he was sure that if that odious little girl and the rest of her merry band of idiots decided to- showing nothing but spite to the much better idea of just accepting their lot and letting the cancerous light burst the punt-worthy little shite open- chase after him, he could finally convince them that theirs was a futile and foolish cause.

With a click of his fingers, the Aether in this gorge, left untouched by the cancerous light, began to form into a grand city. Streets and lamps began to pop out from the ground like flowers in a botanist's guardian. Buildings sprouted and blossomed into whole apartment buildings, windows shining with light. Then, from the aether, cloaks began to form before being filled and standing up. Each wraith wearing a similar, white, bird-like mask and talking in a humming, echoing tone, a tongue that Emet-Selch could recall perfectly even after the eternity since he had heard it last.

He watched as these shades, recreations of his long-lost home and people, go about their business and for the longest time, he just looked at it like a lonely child, captivated by his toy.

Then he noticed one of the shades take on an unusual manner. Its way of walking and socialising with the other shades made it clear that he had, through sheer misadventure, recreated a certain someone. Someone he missed dearly. A good friend.

His stoic face cracked a little frown of sadness at the sight before he could feel himself lose his composure. He put his hand to his forehead to cover his face and emotions from the world in the hopes that no one saw his moment of weakness.

"Hythlodaeus…"

"Was he someone important?"

The wall came back up instantly as Emet-Selch turned around to see who had uttered that and realised that his hostage was now fully conscious and sitting up on his knees.

How? Emet-Selch thought to himself. He got a clean shot off his back. That he didn't keel over stone dead when he shot him was surprising enough, but that he could move at all?

Another one of his tricks, Emet-Selch scoffed to himself. Another annoying thing that he would have to decipher after the deed with the girl was done.

G'raha Tia took this moment of thought to press his luck and enter into a parley with the Ascian.

"Why are you leading them here?"

Emet-Selch looked at him, not willing to justify the miqo'te's question with an answer.

"You said it yourself. Had the Scions been found wanting, you would have killed them there and then. I know you can do as much. So. Why? Why go through all of this?"

The question was a piercing one and it struck Emet-Selch. It was one that he had been asked only once before and before the world had been ruined.

It brought back unpleasant memories.

Memories of Them.

Their long, blonde, hair. Their azure blue eyes. The freckles on their face.

All matched by the girl, odious little thing, a crude parody of Them.

He should have laughed, really. He nearly did when he first saw her.

Memories of Them intruded into his mind. The various times They called after him by his name, his actual name. Each time, a little different; Sometimes a smile, sometimes in a pout, sometimes devious, always kind.

Then he crashed to the one memory of Them he didn't want to remember.

The one memory he will always remember.

The memory of his final meeting with of Eurydice. They of the Seat of Azem.

"Why?! Why are the council- no, never-mind them. You. You, Hades- why are you going through with this?"

He was back in the time between The Final Days and The Sundering. His robes tattered and his mask cracked from facing the horrors he had seen in the apocalypse. In front of him is Eurydice, not even wearing the robes of their collective people but something clearly more suitable for fighting the abominations that terrorised their once perfect world.

They were clearly upset at the news that the council had decided to create Zodiark, a being who could stem the tide of madness and veil the star in aether, by sacrificing over half of the remaining populace.

"We didn't have a choice. Eurydice, If we don't stem the tide of this madness, the whole star would have been lost."

Anger washed through Eurydice's face.

"You're just hiding the star away from whatever is doing this! You can't ask that many people-"

"We did, and they agreed. It's already done."

Sheer disbelief crossed their face.

"You can't… Not just like- "

Disbelief gave way to panic.

"E-elidibus. H-he would never have agreed to it. He would know that it's too much. Where is he, Hades? I-I need to-"

Emet-Selch remembered the look he gave Them. That pathetic sideways look. One that would haunt him for all eternity.

"No…"

"Zodiark needed a soul to become its heart." he said, trying desperately to offer an explanation. "He volunteered to become that heart. I'm sorry, Eurydice."

"But he-… J-just a kid…"

Eurydice started to step away from Hades. In his panic he grabbed them by the arm.

"I. I'm sorry, Eurydice, but-"

Finally anger took over and they wrested their arm off of him.

"No…No! You don't get to call me that any more." they said, their voice burning with anger.

"Eurydice!"

They turned their back and hunched over as they shouted.

"Shut up! Just shut up!"

For what felt like an eternity there was a silence between the two. Then Eurydice's shoulders slumped and They spoke again, their voice broken from the shock.

"I'm going to find out what caused this and put a stop to it. And You…"

All Hades could do was look at the ground as he heard the darkness in Eurydice's voice. His conviction about the Zodiark plan was left in taters.

"…Just stay out of my way…"

They then turned around and uttered the last thing they ever said to them with a poison that still festered in his heart.

"… Emet-Selch."

Suddenly, like someone had popped a balloon in his face, he is brought back to the present, imperfect world.

The poison flowed through his mortal body and through sheer force of adrenalin he screamed. Before G'raha could react, Emet-Selch had pulled back his foot and punted the Exarch in the stomach, crushing the wind out of him. He crumpled to the ground. He lay, all but destroyed by the strike, before the large garlean body of Emet-Selch as he towered over him, grabbed him by the hair and pulled the miqo'te's face up to his.

"I will not suffer to be asked of my designs by a savage, half-made man." he hissed with the venom flowing through him. Through gritted teeth his spite seethed.

"I will enjoy watching your precious little Warrior of Light burst into a lightwarden. Oh, the joy that will fill my heart as see as her wrath. How it will make the other lightwardens seem like great and bountiful boons from her. Precious. Godsdamned. Goddess!"

G'raha had no choice but to stare directly into the madness of eons.

"My Sin, such a beautiful thing she will be. She will devour this whole debased farce of a world. I will watch, laughing like a jester watching the metors fall upon the star, as she sees to it that every. Last. Pathetic one of you savages is wiped off the face of existence."

To describe the look on Emet-Selch's face is an impossible task and one that would only end, dear reader, in your madness.

"As your better, a true man, I promise you I will enjoy throwing you to her and watching you be her first meal."

G'raha Tia, in spite of everything, smiled through his wince.

Sick of the sight of the miqo'te, Emet-Selch threw him face first to the ground, and clicked his fingers. A crystal formed around the crumpled man and with a wave both it, and the Exarch inside, vanished.

Now alone and feeling emptier than he had ever before. He sat on the edge of the building. He watched Hythlodaeus go about his business and felt no joy. What would he say if he could see him?

He lowered his head and scowled.

"When I am done, my world will have no need for heroes."

[iviarellereads]

The Great Hunt, Chapter 22 - Watchers

(THIS PROJECT IS SPOILER FREE! No spoilers past the chapter you click on. Curious what I'm doing here? Read this post! For the link index and a primer on The Wheel of Time, read this one! Like what you see? Send me a Ko-Fi.)

(Dagger icon) In which it becomes easy to point at a narrative parallel.

PERSPECTIVE: Nothing is happening as Moiraine expects it to.(1) She's in a room full of scrolls and papers and books, in a small house in a small town in Arafel, owned by two retired Aes Sedai. Adeleas and Vandene have been in voluntary retreat for so long that few at the Tower even remember they're still alive.

Out of nowhere, she asks Lan if he remembers how they met. She only just catches his eyebrow twitch, just once, with surprise. Almost twenty years ago she told him she would never speak of it again, and expected the same of him.

“I remember,” was all he said. “And still no apology, I suppose? You threw me into a pond.” She did not smile, though she could feel amusement at it, now. “Every stitch I had was soaked, and in what you Bordermen call new spring.(2) I nearly froze.” “I recall I built a fire, too, and hung blankets so you could warm yourself in privacy.” He poked at the burning logs and returned the firetool to its hook. Even summer nights were cool in the Borderlands. “I also recall that while I slept that night, you dumped half the pond on me. It would have saved a great deal of shivering on both our parts if you had simply told me you were Aes Sedai rather than demonstrating it. Rather than trying to separate me from my sword. Not a good way to introduce yourself to a Borderman, even for a young woman.”

They reminisce about how Moiraine tormented Lan on their first adventure, until Lan asks why the nostalgia. Moiraine says that she made arrangements so that, if she dies, his bond as Warder will pass to another Aes Sedai, and he will feel compelled to seek her out immediately. She doesn't want him to be surprised by it.

Lan gets angry. Moiraine has never used his bond to compel him to anything. Moiraine says that if she hadn't done this, he would be free after her death, and she can't let him go take up his useless quest for revenge in the Blight when he could fight the same war more effectively elsewhere. She can't be sure that she'll die soon, obviously, but with her plans coming to fruition like this... who can say what will happen now, at any time? Lan asks who the other Aes Sedai is, and Mo names Myrelle, a Green. She already has three Warders, so she should be well able to keep Lan in line. But Mo has made Myrelle promise that if someone who suits him better comes along,(3) that Myrelle will pass his bond on to her. Lan is outraged. No Aes Sedai has passed a bond to another in four hundred years, and she intends to do it to Lan, twice?! Mo says it is done, and she will not undo it.(4)

When Lan asks if Mo knows who might get his bond in the end of this game of musical Aes Sedai, Mo dances around the answer and simply says whoever it is, she’ll have need of a man with his knowledge and strength and willingness to throw her in a pond when she’s wrong. Lan shows uncharacteristic shock, but before he can ask who, Mo asks if the bond chafes, now.(5)

“The Light blind me, if I am to be passed from hand to hand, do you at least have some idea in whose hand I will end?” “What I do is for your own good, and perhaps it may be for another’s, as well. It may be that Myrelle will find a slip of a girl just raised to sisterhood—was that not what you said?—who needs a Warder hardened in battle and wise in the ways of the world, a slip of a girl who may need someone who will throw her into a pond. You have much to offer, Lan, and to see it wasted in an unmarked grave, or left to the ravens, when it could go to a woman who needs it would be worse than the sin of which the Whitecloaks prate. Yes, I think she will have need of you.” Lan’s eyes widened slightly; for him it was the same as another man gasping in shocked surmise. She had seldom seen him so off balance. He opened his mouth twice before he spoke. “And who do you have in mind for this—” She cut him off. “Are you sure the bond does not chafe, Lan Gaidin? Do you realize for the first time, only now, the strength of that bond, the depth of it? You could end with some budding White, all logic and no heart, or with a young Brown who sees you as nothing more than a pair of hands to carry her books and sketches. I can hand you where I will, like a parcel—or a lapdog—and you can do no more than go. Are you sure it does not chafe?”

Lan asks if this has been a test of his loyalty to Mo, and she says no, none of this was a test, but at Fal Dara, she did begin to wonder if he was wholly with her. He looks wary, but before he can react much, she asks why he taught Rand as he did, on the way to the Amyrlin's meeting? He just says it seemed right, and he'd have to be a lord someday, better to make sure his first impressions on certain important people are in the right direction. Like a wolfhound meeting a wolf, it must act like a wolfhound, not a puppy, or it will get itself killed. Is that what he sees Aes Sedai as? Wolves? No, he clarifies, but the ta'veren pull at everything around them. It felt like the right thing to do. He hasn't asked to be released from his bond, nor will he, and he will take great pleasure in keeping her alive and making sure her backup plans are for nothing.

She asks him to leave her to think alone. She thinks of Nynaeve, cracking Lan's walls and seeding them with vines to tear them down, but he still thinks they're strong as anything. Mo feels an uncharacteristic stab of jealousy.(6) They've been through so much together, and Lan had always said he was wedded to death, pushing himself beyond normal human limits because he valued her life above his own. Now a new bride has captured his heart, and he doesn't even see it yet.

But, as she gets to her feet to keep poring over her scrolls and books, she reminds herself there are more important matters. So many hints, and no answers. Soon Vandene brings her a cup of tea and asks what she's seeking. Mo says honestly that she doesn't really know. Vandene notes the wide array of subjects Mo has books on, then says she’ll leave her to her reading in privacy.

Mo stops her, and tries to find questions that won't give away too much of her own knowledge. Is there a connection between the Dragon and the Horn? No, except that the Horn must be found before the Last Battle, which the Dragon will fight. Does anything link the Dragon to Toman Head? Yes and no. There's a verse in the original prophecies that reads ‘Five ride forth, and four return. Above the watchers shall he proclaim himself, bannered cross the sky in fire. . . .’ though there's some debate about the word that so often gets translated to simply "watchers", it's still unclear.(7)

Vandene has heard about a supposed Dragon named Mazrim Taim, who can channel. Mo says offhandedly that she doesn't think they'll have to worry about him, then asks about Shadar Logoth. Vandene thinks she's still talking about Dragons, but Mo clarifies: is there any reason a Fade would take something that came from Shadar Logoth? No. What does Vandene know of the Forsaken? She comments on how Mo leaps from subject to subject, but she knows little more than any novice. Does Mo know something about the Dragon? Has he already been Reborn?

Mo asks if she would be here instead of in the White Tower if she knew anything, which Vandene accepts. She goes on about some of the dilemma about how Aes Sedai can't gentle the true Dragon lest he fail in the Last Battle, but says the signs of Tarmon Gai'don are clear. Mo says simply that he will come, and do what must be done.

Vandene gets up to excuse herself, but says that Mo should "do something" about Lan, he's got something pent up inside. Maybe he's finally come to see her as a woman? Mo says Lan sees her for exactly what she is, and hopefully still a friend. Vandene comments that Blue Ajah are “Always so ready to save the world that you lose yourselves.” After Vandene leaves, Mo goes down to the garden in the moonlight to think. Something Vandene said tugs at her memory, like it's relevant.(8)

Lan and Jaem, Vandene's Warder, take down the Draghkar. Lan says if Mo hadn't made him so angry, he wouldn't have gone around the corner from the gardens to practice the forms with Jaem, and they wouldn't... Mo says the Pattern accounts for everything.(9)

Adeleas demands to know how the thing could have snuck up on them, and Mo says it was warded. Adeleas cuts herself off as she realizes only another Aes Sedai could do that. Mo names the Black Ajah. But then, WHY did it come here?

Instead of answering,(10) Mo says she and Lan must leave immediately. She'll leave letters for them to forward to the White Tower, if they can?

Adeleas nodded absently, her attention still on the thing on the ground. “And will you find your answers where you are going?” Vandene asked. “I may already have found one I did not know I sought. I only hope I am not too late. I will need pen and parchment.” She drew Vandene toward the house, leaving Adeleas to deal with the Draghkar.

=====

(1) So, here's a fun phenomenon: especially when we're switching POVs so much, take a step back every now and again and ask yourself, why are these two storylines back to back? In this case, it's said right in the text, but other times it'll be less obvious. Consider: flipping between Rand and Egwene and Perrin's POVs as they all have to learn how to embrace their abilities and be part of a bigger community and a bigger apparatus than their individual lives so far. RJ did a LOT of really intentional compare-and-contrasts back to back like that. I like to think having Moiraine say the same thing Rand just did at the end of the other chapter is his way of drawing attention to that, as we start really going all-in on "hey the story isn't just about this one guy". (2) Such a cheeky reference to what would a few years later become the title of the only prequel novel that ever ended up written. (3) And just whomst might come along and turn Lan's head, be worthy of his bond, his oath, his loyalty, his heart? (4) So, the whole concept of passing the bond to another Aes Sedai without the Warder's permission or knowledge is pretty fucked up, and I 100% cannot blame Lan for being angry. We don't know anything about Myrelle yet but… there's absolutely reason for Lan to be angry there, all things considered. Plus side, Moiraine has at the very least made Myrelle promise to give Lan's bond to Nynaeve if or when she's raised to Aes Sedai rank, jealous as she is of the young woman. (5) Continuing on from point 4, something I haven't really touched on much yet is how the magic system, with the taint on the male half, has effectively led to a situation where Original Sin lies with men. Even though they're physically somewhat larger and stronger on average than women are in the world, they're mistrusted, because of that association with the Breaking and the taint. So, despite that we still have some gender dynamics in play that we're familiar with, we also have a dimension that alters it. All the way back to the Women's Circle in Emond's Field, the men have their Council but the women nudge them one way or the other on major decisions, or have the deciding vote in the form of the Wisdom. The consent issue with regard to Warder bonds comes up again, obviously, or it wouldn't be seeded here. We can deal with it a little more in depth as it comes. But, the whole "what if this is a deliberate commentary on our real-world gender dynamics" thing is kind of an important lens to view the series through. I think this one was intentional. If Moiraine were a man in a magic-using version of our patriarchal world, how much would he probably think about passing on his life partner's bond to another man? RJ seems to have intentionally reversed a lot of tropes in an effort to make us think, really think, about gender dynamics. (6) Wouldn't Nynaeve crow to hear of it? (7) As if we needed more indication that we're going to Toman Head this book. (8) That's a lot of rambling in the section with Vandene, I wonder what it is specifically that pings Moiraine's memory. (9) So, Mo is important enough to need saving for later, is she? (10) She knows very well that it was here for her and Lan.

[sotcwcrp]

Meet ShadowClan's High Ranks!

Only 12 days until Secrets of the Clans is open for new members! Today we're going to be getting to know some of the ShadowClan cats you might meet upon joining!

Russetstar LEADER - 86 MOONS - SHE/HER art by; phrögMütt Russetstar is the proud leader of Shadowclan. A traditionalist sticking closely to the Warrior Code throughout her life, the queen had a track record of acting in an uncompromising manner, a trait which has slowly lifted as she’s learned her understanding of the world may not be complete, and that adaptation is necessary. She’s an incredibly hard worker and strict to her sense of duty, even at her own detriment. Shadowclan means everything for her so she would lay it all down for her home.

Shadetalon DEPUTY - 106 MOONS - HE/HIM The current deputy of ShadowClan is a senior tom named Shadetalon. This massive, scarred tom is known for his intimidating presence, but don’t let his cold gaze fool you. While certainly rather serious, deep down the ShadowClan deputy is a deeply caring and protective tom, loyal to his Clan and the code above all else. That being said, rumor has it he's a bit too close to a certain RiverClan tom he insists is simply his best friend... However, Shadetalon has three grown kits with his mate, who was once his childhood best friend, so certainly the rumors are only just rumors. Either way, no cat could doubt his work ethic and conviction to serving his Clan above all else.

Noctule's Wing HEALER - 96 MOONS - HE/HIM Once displaced from his home, Noctule's Wing holds much nostalgia for his original home and their ways. Having had a rough start in ShadowClan's midst, he's resistant to conforming to the Clan's ways and finds most comfort in the midst of other healers and his family. He most often wears a practiced calm, easy look to him in hopes of putting others at ease.

Pipistrellepetal HEALER - 59 MOONS - SHE/THEY/AER/VAE No matter what clan you're from, Pipistrellepetal is happy to help! This shadowclan healer who hails from the far off mountains is known to be Kind and a bit Scatter brained at times. Ae does worry often and works day and night to ensure the health of aer clan! Pipistrellepetal has a wonderful mate and five lovely kits! Despite her friendly air vae have yet to make too many friends outside the healers' den, but maybe soon they'll be able to make more!

Vividskies HEALER - 49 MOONS - HE/HY Mender of broken bones as well as a source of broken hearts, Vividskies was a bit unconventional of a pick to join Shadowclan’s team of Healers some twenty moons ago between his cross-clan heritage and capricious personality. While his only known parent Flurryfall isn't too fond of his antics, hys twin brother Quartzshard (both available as adopts) has only contributed to the chaos. Vividskies is a tom who prefers to spend his time on poetry and playing to hys whims over the politics of being a council member. Thankfully his skills in healing make up for it, though said whims have certainly gotten Vividskies in trouble before. At least hy now seems to be on the straight and narrow… things will be fine so long as no one finds out about his two mates in Thunderclan, right?

Flame's Light HEALER - 46 MOONS - HE/THEY Flame's Light is a red sepia lynx point with classic tabby stripes and chestnut brown eyes! Some other notable features are his sharp, overgrown canines and a mane of fluffy starting at his back leading up to his head! They are one of the healers of Shadowclan, starting their training very young at 6 moons all the way to gaining his name. He's an... interesting fellow, to say the least, and seems more focused on business than more casual activities. He is relatively polite, though, even if that thousand-yard-stare in his eyes might signal otherwise.

Sugartooth HEALER APPRENTICE - 114 MOONS - THEY/THEM A snappy old albino cat known for their short temper and fierce protectiveness. Sugartooth has seen ShadowClan through thick and thin, for better or for worse.

Applewish HEALER APPRENTICE - 32 MOONS - SHE/HER Daughter of the deputy, Applewish grew up wanting to be the best- and now that she's been given a second chance to become a healer, she's striving towards that goal harder than ever. Her ego can get in the way of her relationships with others, and she has a tendency to get snippy when tested, but she means the best for the clan.

Come join us! Our website, Our server.

[kenochoric-bee]

Athúrkein

This is a kenochoric gender based around the ideas of alone-ness, observing liminality, and comfort. This is all about reveling in the world's changes from a place of desolate stability. Alone, but not lonely. An August night, gazing up at the Perseids as they fall, stars hurling across the sky. Reveling in the changes taken over the course of human history from the comfort of a worn, gentle, ancient library. Rolling down a deserted interstate under the cover of night, armed only with the knowledge that this path was traversed for centuries before the pavement came down. One key aspect of this gender is the level of comfort the owner experiences. Instead of fearing their place in the universe, of how things change around them, they revel in the liminity of it all, how everything can change for the better. They are alone, but they take comfort in it instead of fearing it. This gender is the feeling of the past falling behind you and the future rolling ahead with your feet firmly planted in the lonely present, observing it all.

The flag, shown above, is made to express the soft feelings. Light gray for the pale moon, an optimal symbol of this gender's quiet reverence at change. The lavender is used to show the slight astral connection and the connection to hope and positive feelings. The blue is meant to convey calmness and peace the owner of this gender experiences.

The word athúr is Irish for change. It was directly combined with the suffix -kein, a suffix associated with kenochoric genders.

This is, as stated above, a kenochoric gender. It is so for a few reasons. The first is the loneliness that is characteristic for this gender and common in kenochoric genders. Another reason is the gender's relationship with liminality and change, something more common in kenochoric genders than others. The last is the potential connections with nostalgia, almost unique to the kenochoric umbrella.

Of the many umbrella terms this gender might fall under, there are a few options (I am going off of the archive of @kenochoric-archive). It could be considered astronomique, though the astral association is up to interpretation by the owner more than inherent in the gender itself. It could also be considered a part of the dymalic gender umbrella, the one associated with haze, fog, and the inability to see, based on the high degree of association with perception as a whole. However, I would consider athúrkein a part of the liminix category, the one associated with the experience of liminal spaces. This is because it's an inherent part of the gender instead of a subjective one. Regardless of who uses this label and how, as a modifier or as a main gender, liminal spaces are involved, and that is why it should be placed in liminix, should it come to the Kenochoric Wiki.

Neopronoun suggestions are as follows:

ae/aer/aerself

clow/cloudself

moss/mossself

calm/calmself

ghost/ghostself

eye/eyeself

haze/hazeself

If you decide to take this label or flag elsewhere, please give adequate credit. I am, to my knowledge, the creator of this gender.

[offbeatcappuccino]

I’ll Go to You When the Weather is Nice ( aka When The Weather is Fine) Final Review

 Cast: Park Min Young, Seo Kang Joon, Lee Jae Wook, Moon Jeong Hee, Jin Hee Kyung, Kim Hwan Hee, and Nam Ji-Ae 

Year: 2020

Channel: JTBC 

Streaming Platform : Rakuten Viki ( all the episodes are free) 

Rating: 9.7/10 

Trigger Warnings : Intimate Partner Violence, Suicide 

Synopsis :

I’ll Go To You When the Weather is Nice is based on the book of the same name and the focus of the show is a fictional community that lives in Bookhyun Village, a small rural community located within Gangwon Province. The protagonist of this show is Mok Hae Won, a cellist, who quits her teaching  job in Seoul and moves back to Bookhyun to live with her aunt. Hae Won is a scarred and broken individual, who has spent much of her life feeling lonely and unloved. She is neglected by her mother, who went to jail for seven years for killing her husband and Hae Won’s father. Her aunt who has taken care of her since she was in high school is cold, distant, and aloof. Additionally, her time in Seoul, was marked by an emotionally abusive boss, who constantly berated her abilities as a cello teacher by claiming that she was not likable enough to teach the students. When Hae Won returns to Bookhyun, she is arguably experiencing one of the lowest points in her life. However, Hae-Won starts to see the light at the end of the tunnel , when she reunites with her former high school classmate, Im Eun Soeb, the owner of “Goodnight Bookstore” . Eun Soeb has also had a crush on Hae Won since they were in high school and is also a man as broken as Hae Won is by the difficult life he has held. What forms the crux is not only whether Hae Won or Eun Soeb will fall in love with each other, but also their own personal healing journeys as they try to overcome past trauma and insecurities. Additionally, the show also focuses extensively on the stories of supporting characters as well, most importantly Hae Won’s aunt and mother, two women who are left to navigate the same pain that Hae Won faces in their own lives. 

Review:

This review is probably one of the hottest takes I’ve ever made because so many of the viewers of the show dismissed the show as boring for its slow pace. While I agree that the pace of the show is fairly slow, I would argue that this show is anything but boring, especially when you consider the fact that I managed to binge-watch 16 episodes of this show over a course of a weekend, where I had to prepare for two presentations, turn in a problem set, write a ten page lab report, and work a nine hour shift for my internship.Clearly, this is proof that this drama is so intriguing that the actual work I had to do felt secondary in importance. 

Regardless, for those who embrace this drama, this drama invokes the same feeling that you have on a cold winter night, where you are wrapped in a blanket and sipping hot cocoa, while you are watching snowflakes fall to the ground one by one as they cover your entire front yard in snow. This is a drama that unashamedly embraces nostalgia and you see virtually every character in this show getting back together with someone they cared for in high school and there is something oh so satisfying about two grown adults choosing to embrace the love they had for each other when they were teenagers and see them embark on a path to continue that story. Hae Won’s and Eun Soeb’s relationship is so beautiful and heartwarming on so many levels. The way that Eun Soeb fixes the streetlight, so Hae Won can safely go back to her home,or even how Hae Won along with Eun Soeb’s mother, is the only person in the  whole town who seem to be genuinely concerned about Eun Soeb venturing out into the mountain alone. These two truly embrace fluff, but the way they do so is eloquent and cute all at the same time. Their hugs and kisses convey so much meaning in every scene. Park Min Young and Seo Kang Joon have earth shattering chemistry with each other in this series and for the love between their characters to be truly felt, you don’t feel the need to define their relationship as husband and wife or boyfriend and girlfriend. These two love for simply the sake of loving.

Underlying these layers of romance and unrequited love is also a telling story about the journey of three women ( Hae Won, her mother, and her aunt) nursing the wounds of toxic masculinity. A major focus of the show is Intimate Partner Violence and how complex the feelings of victims can be. Once, I volunteered at a domestic violence shelter, where one of the volunteers told me that abusive partners can also be the most loving and that many victims struggle to reconcile their love for their partner with the clear endangerment this person has on their very ability to live. We see Hae Won’s mother and her aunt reconcile these feelings of extreme guilt over the accidental murder of Hae Won’s father with the abuse that they have faced. The two trying to move on from a complicated and traumatic past is one of the most profound narratives that this show has chosen to focus on. The only place where this drama falters is how Hae Won confronts this issue as it is not entirely made clear by the writers whether she was aware of what was happening in her family, or if she truly was oblivious to everything because both her mother and aunt have chosen to be be distant to her. 

If it isn’t already obvious, there are a lot of deep conversations that the characters are having in this drama and there is a sense of melancholy that permeates this drama,  but Im Hui and Lee Jang Wu, Eun Soeb’s sister and best friend respectively bring so much light heartedness and humor to this drama. Lee Jae Wook, who plays Lee Jang Wu, is an actor I’ve been closely following for a long time since his days on Extraordinary You, and he shines as an adorable quirky civil servant, who finds joy in living ordinarily despite going to Seoul National University (Korea’s Harvard).  Seeing his relationship with Eun Sil always left me with a stupid smile on my face. I’ll Go To You When the Weather is Nice is not a perfect drama maybe because it is too stuck in the past of these characters that some conflicts seem to be rooted in petty high school drama , but it’s still a drama that is beautiful even despite its cracks. If the entire drama can be summed up in one phrase, I would use the following quote uttered by Cha Yun Taek in the show, “ [Love] It’s when my cold hand touched your cold hand and we both become warm”. This drama in essence is about finding the warmth in our lives. 

[pupyzu]

hi! do you know of any names and pronouns related to,,the aesthetic of cities at night? if it helps, i already use neon/neons and the xenogender that this general vibe is is called urbanox. thank you!

under the cut! i also use urbanox hehe

PRONOUNS:

ae/aer/aes/aerself

amb/bient/ambient/ambself

ambient/ambients/ambientself

bree/ber/breeze/breezy/breezeself

build/builds/buildself

ci/cit/city/cities/cityself

ci/cit/city/citys/cityself

cie/ciel/cier/cielself

cie/ciel/ciers/cielself

city/cities/cityself

city/citys/cityself

dark/darkness/darkself

dark/darks/darkself

deep/deeps/deepself

eerie/eeries/eerieself

fog/fog/fogself

fog/fogs/fogself

haze/hazes/hazeself

li/light/lights/lightself

light/lights/lightself

lit/lits/litself

lu/lux/luxself

luna/lunas/lunaself

lux/luxes/luxself

metro/metros/metroself

mi/mist/mist/mistself

mi/mist/mists/mistself

mist/mist/mistself

moon/moons/moonself

night/night/nocturne/nocturnes/nightself

night/nights/nightself

nocte/noctes/nocteself

nosa/nosas/nosaself

nostal/gia/nostalgia/nostalaelf

nostalgia/nostalgias/nostalgiaself

nox/noxes/noxself

rai/rain/rainself

sha/shad/ad/ade/shadeself

sha/shad/ado/adow/shadowself

shad/dow/shadow/shadowself

shadow/shadows/shadowself

siren/sirens/sirenself

street/light/streets/lightself

street/streets/streetself

urb/urbs/urbself

urban/urbans/urbanself

vast/vasts/vastself

ville/villes/villeself

win/wind/wind/windself

win/wind/winds/windself

wind/winds/windself

wist/wistful/wistself

🌃/🌃s/🌃self

🌉/🌉s/🌉self

･┈┈･･⟡ ∞ ⟡･･┈┈･

NAMES:

Aegis

Alya

Astra

Astrid

Astro

Atlas

Atticus

Aurelia

Aurora

Bianca

Blair

Caelum

Caesar

Caspe

Celeste

Estella

Esther

Eve

Harlow

Howl

Luci

Luna

Mist

Nero

Nyx

Obsidian

Ombra

Pluto

Silas

Sirius

Twila

Vincent

Wish

Caspian

Phoenix

Adelaide

Eden

Madison

Florence

Austin

Aspen

York

London

Dallas

Delphi / Delphia

[throneofmak]

warning strong depiction of alcoholism/ alcohol abuse

Hiiii! I’m back with terrible angsty writing. This one is about Rowan and Aelin, it is also on the sadder side (I’m so sorry in advanced). Regardless, I hope you enjoy, sometimes you just need a good cry lol

The rain clicks on the roof of her house. It’s just past 3 in the morning, and Aelin can’t sleep yet again. She’s beginning to not notice how tired she is all the time, just passing it off as her normal behavior. Some nights she stays awake all night, watching the stars shift from one side of the sky to the other, just another thing to distract her from her own emptiness. Her phone suddenly lights up, breaking her thoughts from the stars, but she already knows who’s calling her. He’s right on schedule, just around the time he’s drank another bottle of bourbon and begins to lose his filter. Aelin has gotten so many of Rowan’s calls recently it’s stopped cracking her heart each time, not that it’s even possible to crack away at an already shattered heart. He finally stops waiting for her to pick up and let’s it go to voicemail. Aelin decides she’ll listen to it, telling herself it won’t make her cry. She clicks on it with trembling fingers.

“Hey baby. I know you’re ignoring my calls each night. I don’t blame you. Um, shit, sorry I know I can’t call you baby anymore. Okay, fuck, just listen please. I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. I never meant for it to get this bad. I never meant for it to get in between us, but I can’t stop. I’m sorry, did I say that already? Anyways, Aelin I need help, it’s gotten really bad. It’s not your problem though, okay it’s not your problem so why am I leaving this voicemail? Okay, I’m hanging up, I’m sorry, I still love you, to whatever end, okay bye.”

One voicemail each night for three weeks. You think she would get used to the overwhelming pain it brings her to hear Rowan’s voice saying he’s sorry over and over again. Still calling her baby in his slurred speech that’s she’s gotten all too used to. The alcohol has always been the problem, the reason she had to leave him despite the hollowness it created inside her. He wasn’t always dependent on it, the first two years of their relationship was magical, riveting, amazing. A moment in her life when Aelin knew she wanted to marry him, wanted to have children with him. Rowan would be the perfect father,a loving father, especially to a little girl. Then the third year of being together came along, and slowly Aelin started to witness the love of her life become a stranger. Rowan started staying out late after work, calling Aelin around midnight to pick him up from their local bar. He started to call in sick from work and spend his day going from one bar to the next, downing bottles of bourbon like it was pure water. It became a routine that he knew would kill him. Aelin knew that Rowan thought it was toxic, but she also knew he wouldn’t be able to give it up, and she couldn’t help him. That’s what killed her the most. The voicemail continues to ring in her head, his words resonating. He knows he needs help, at least he’s accepted that, something small to hold onto. No matter how bad it gets, Aelin will always know he’s still in there somewhere, the man she couldn’t seem to fall out of love with.

The knock on her door shocks her, seeing as it’s only 3:45 in the morning now. Aelin is hesitant to even get up off her bed, but she does anyway, immediately shaking off the nostalgia of her failed relationship. She carefully looks through the peephole, making sure she’s not breathing too loud. What she sees on the other side completely paralyzes her, not with fear but with complete confusion. She opens the door just as she realizes she stopped breathing, Rowan walks in stopping in the living room and stares out the back doors into the skyline. Aelin hasn’t seen him in three weeks, hasn’t looked at him in three weeks. He slowly turns around making direct eye contact with her, she feels her stomach plummet just at the feeling of his emerald eyes on her turquoise ones.

“Hi”

Rowan says it like he’s not the one who chose alcohol over the girl who loved every cell in his body. Acting as if him coming over this late at night was something normal.

“What the fuck are you doing here.”

“I just um. I just needed to see you Ae.”

Aelin can feel her temper boil up. She doesn't want to yell at him, she doesn't want to be mad at him, but he broke her. This is his fault. Aelin did everything right, cared for him as much as she could. Rowan broke his promises not her. He has no right to be standing in her living room on a Saturday night at 3:45 in the morning.

“Rowan. You don’t get to show up here and say that. I’m not yours anymore. I haven’t been yours for a while.”

“Don’t say that please. Please. You know I can fix it. I’ll do it right this time baby please. Just forgive me, I can’t stop loving you. We said to whatever end Ae.”

“You promised me. You promised me last time that you would stop. Rowan I begged you to stop drinking, night after night, and you never listened to me. You could never give it up, you’d rather have a drink over a night with me. That is why I can’t forgive you, you broke me Rowan, you shattered me with your own hands and you were too drunk to notice.”

He’s walking over to her now. Placing his hands on her shaking arms.

“Aelin, stop it. I never did that, I would never do that. Please just come back to me. I need you, I don’t know who I am without you, please.”

“No Rowan. I can’t. I loved you. I still love you. I love you more than I think I will ever love anyone. But you broke me, again. You lost me, please don’t make me go through it again. If you love me like you say you do, you need to let me go. I can’t do it again, I can’t take the pain anymore. I can’t help you, I can’t fix you, I can’t be there for you anymore. Please Ro.”

A tear makes its way down her cheek, another one following it. Rowan brushes it off with his calloused hand, his fingers resting on her cheekbone. She leans into his touch, she knows just as good as himself that it will be the last time they will be together. Aelin can see the tear slip down his own cheek as he leans his face down towards hers. One last kiss, one last moment, one last night together. Rowan places his lips on hers, a delicate kiss, one full of the memories they shared together. Aelin knows it’s time to pull away, time to say goodbye. Rowan’s face is inches away from hers, his tears mixed with her own.

“I love you, to whatever end. Even when this world is a forgotten whisper of dust between the stars, I will love you. It’s time for me to let you go baby.”

Aelin doesn't have time to say anything, do anything, before he walks out, closes the door gently, and never turns back. She stands staring at the shut door, taking a step towards it. She knows it took everything in him to leave her, she knows he wants to be there for her but he can’t. However much she tells herself he loves her, it doesn't take away the numbness she constantly feels. Aelin can barely hear anything but the ringing in her ears, as she puts her back to the door, slides down to the floor in agony, and sobs until she runs out of tears to cry. Maybe one day she’ll stop feeling as if she could’ve done more to help him, but for now her puddle of tears keeps her comfort as she falls asleep on her cold, empty, living room floor.

[oracles]

21 questions tag ☆

tagged by @alucrds​ ; thank you, eva !

tagging: @forever-and-almost-always @jamesbuchanans @pamelaicley@mygkths @minseokkim @floral-hobi @idoljoon @branstark @gothfob @lupltanyongo and anyone else who’d like to do this!

nickname: i don’t have one, actually

zodiac sign: gemini

height: 5′7″

last movie i saw: i rewatched ‘honey, we shrunk ourselves’ for nostalgia’s sake

last thing i googled: carpenter jeans (random, i know)

favorite musician: there’s genuinely so many, i can’t even begin to name them. but y’all already know bts have a special place in my heart ♡ 

song stuck in my head: hala hala by ateez 

other blogs: my aesthetic blog: @bwaldorf !

do i get asks: rarely, which is a pity but it be like that

following: 173

amount of sleep: last night, about 5ish hours? generally, i sleep around 6 on school days and like 9-10 on weekends when i sleep in (this isn’t counting my trademark naps though)

lucky number: it’s not a lucky number per se, but i really like the number 2

what i’m wearing: pajamas basically and a slytherin sweatshirt (thank u kendra)

dream job: honestly i have no clue .... someone tell me what im good at

dream trip: i’ve been wanting to go to seoul (considering it for a study abroad) though idk if i’d consider it my dream trip. it’d be fun though

favorite food: [insert a extensive list of pakistani food]

instruments: i played flute for five years! (learned recorder and xylophone in elementary school too but idk if we count that ...)

languages: english and urdu primarily. also know some french and ASL (i really hope to learn more in the future)

favorite songs: bro ... you really expect me to be able to list them here? there’s honestly too many. two songs (a small sampling, really) that hold a great deal of meaning to me are ‘the last’ by agust d and ‘diphylleia grayi’ by jonghyun

random fact: im left handed!

describe your aesthetic: my ideal aesthetic is ... soft? lots of pastels, but mostly light pinks. comforting and warm. its the aura i wish i inhabited, really. for a good description, peep my aes blog i linked before 😛 

[fukuchorror-blog]

WRITER   AES .

tagged by:  @cyninges, thank you so much!!! tagging: @voyvodas, @drakulya, @latesco, @wangdejian, @shukuchiho and anyone else reading this.

JOHN  KEATS: the lavender in sunsets, flowers in the rain, sunlight slipping through clouds, lazy summer afternoons, the heavy scent of musk, flickering candlelight reflecting off the gold titles of books, fireflies on a cool summer night, being wrapped in fresh bedsheets, the ache of wanting what you can never have, dripping sunlight like gold, loving someone so exquisite, soft lips and soft whispers, fingers through hair, names of lovers carved in trees, broken glass, the insistence of being perpetually dreamy.

F.  SCOTT  FITZGERALD: mahogany wood, crisp winter skies with cold bright stars, the solitude of an early autumn morning wrapped in fog, empty bottles on stacks and stacks of books haphazardly placed in a messy room, pale bruised arms reaching out into the darkness, cigarette smoke just barely hiding the scent of alcohol, a wall of books all poetry and old and weathered, a bad thunderstorm occurring at the end of a beautiful day, the way tragedy strikes in your heart but ends up stopping your breathing for a moment, your favorite sweater, parties spilling into four a.m. with the stars above spinning and dancing, the contrast of blood against snow, a purple split lip oozing blood, black eyes fading to blue to pale skin, the butterflies of falling in love for the first time, the statues falling apart over time in cemeteries, the romanticization of self-destruction

FRANZ  KAFKA: the weight of dread that sits heavily in your stomach when thinking about the future, decrepit houses cloaked in mystery from children telling stories of people who died there, the way not even light can escape a black hole, the rich smell of old books, delicate veins in the wrist, ghosts filling lungs, shattered bones, raindrops on the tongue, rusting metal, nostalgia that aches, the way hope feels like a plastic bag over your head

H.P.  LOVECRAFT: the anxiety felt when staring into an unknown cave, pouring rain and mud, a child’s fear of the dark, thinking so many questions about your existence as you stare at the vast expanse of never ending ocean, the silence of three a.m., danse macabre by camille saint-saens playing on a record in an empty house, the possibility of aliens and the weird feeling it gives you that you can’t explain, unexplainable phenomena, strange lights in the sky in the dead of night, ouija boards and urban legends

JACK  KEROUAC: the brisk pine air of being on a mountain, travels without a destination, those nights where you’re missing three hours of memory, screaming to a lifeless desert about how you’re so alive, coffee shops late at night, car rides at night spent speeding and laughing in the dark, naps spent in the sun, novels highlighted and underlined with notes and epiphanies in the margins, the way uncertainty sits on the shoulders, ignoring flaws and loving life, wind through hair, depression as fog in the brain, impossible ideals, a quiet sunrise, walks alone, when you think about trying to discover all the secrets to the universe, dazzling people, open lands stretching out into infinity, falling in love with being alive.

EDGAR  ALLAN  POE: the ocean’s horizon inseparable from fog, hollow bones, a preserved heart held in hands, twinkling stars above an old graveyard, the way everything turns to dust, silent black birds with eyes full of wisdom, self-inflicted flames, perfection depicted as a rotting corpse, death as bricks in the heart, lips barely brushing against each other, glassy glazed eyes, biting into a lemon, heart-shaped bruises, rotting flowers on a grave, dried blood and spilled liquor, the hush of dusk when it begins raining, the intimacy of a secret.

[makubes]

WRITER   AES .

tagged by: nabbed off of @latesco tagging: idk who hasn’t done it yet but uh @balsamina @robots-r-us @themaryiestsuetoeversue and YOU!

JOHN  KEATS: the lavender in sunsets, flowers in the rain, sunlight slipping through clouds, lazy summer afternoons, the heavy scent of musk, flickering candlelight reflecting off the gold titles of books, fireflies on a cool summer night, being wrapped in fresh bedsheets, the ache of wanting what you can never have, dripping sunlight like gold, loving someone so exquisite, soft lips and soft whispers, fingers through hair, names of lovers carved in trees, broken glass, the insistence of being perpetually dreamy.

F.  SCOTT  FITZGERALD: mahogany wood, crisp winter skies with cold bright stars, the solitude of an early autumn morning wrapped in fog, empty bottles on stacks and stacks of books haphazardly placed in a messy room, pale bruised arms reaching out into the darkness, cigarette smoke just barely hiding the scent of alcohol, a wall of books all poetry and old and weathered, a bad thunderstorm occurring at the end of a beautiful day, the way tragedy strikes in your heart but ends up stopping your breathing for a moment, your favorite sweater, parties spilling into four a.m. with the stars above spinning and dancing, the contrast of blood against snow, a purple split lip oozing blood, black eyes fading to blue to pale skin, the butterflies of falling in love for the first time, the statues falling apart over time in cemeteries, the romanticization of self-destruction

FRANZ  KAFKA: the weight of dread that sits heavily in your stomach when thinking about the future, decrepit houses cloaked in mystery from children telling stories of people who died there, the way not even light can escape a black hole, the rich smell of old books, delicate veins in the wrist, ghosts filling lungs, shattered bones, raindrops on the tongue, rusting metal, nostalgia that aches, the way hope feels like a plastic bag over your head

H.P.  LOVECRAFT: the anxiety felt when staring into an unknown cave, pouring rain and mud, a child’s fear of the dark, thinking so many questions about your existence as you stare at the vast expanse of never ending ocean, the silence of three a.m., danse macabre by camille saint-saens playing on a record in an empty house, the possibility of aliens and the weird feeling it gives you that you can’t explain, unexplainable phenomena, strange lights in the sky in the dead of night, ouija boards and urban legends

JACK  KEROUAC: the brisk pine air of being on a mountain, travels without a destination, those nights where you’re missing three hours of memory, screaming to a lifeless desert about how you’re so alive, coffee shops late at night, car rides at night spent speeding and laughing in the dark, naps spent in the sun, novels highlighted and underlined with notes and epiphanies in the margins, the way uncertainty sits on the shoulders, ignoring flaws and loving life, wind through hair, depression as fog in the brain, impossible ideals, a quiet sunrise, walks alone, when you think about trying to discover all the secrets to the universe, dazzling people, open lands stretching out into infinity, falling in love with being alive.

EDGAR  ALLAN  POE: the ocean’s horizon inseparable from fog, hollow bones, a preserved heart held in hands, twinkling stars above an old graveyard, the way everything turns to dust, silent black birds with eyes full of wisdom, self-inflicted flames, perfection depicted as a rotting corpse, death as bricks in the heart, lips barely brushing against each other, glassy glazed eyes, biting into a lemon, heart-shaped bruises, rotting flowers on a grave, dried blood and spilled liquor, the hush of dusk when it begins raining, the intimacy of a secret.

[sojohns]

aaah i guess the tumblr policy about sending links in asks haven't changed then but it would be nice to get heads up about that. anyways you can find the vid on astro's yt channel on the ddoca playlist. it was uploaded 4 months ago and the thumbnail is eunwoo in a car. okaay so i was saying that i checked the bias report thingy now and wow it's even accurate to my sister's case! and i asked if you've seen the immortal song 2 perf bc damn rocky sang and i love his singing voice so much //asa

:)))

each boy was soooo good on that stage, this style also fits them well. and the couple dancing surprised me but wow! sadly there is indeed a lack of astro fics but i hope that it will change soon since a lot of new aroha joined lately, so maybe we can change it. at least i definitely have some plans for them *-* oooh i really like roleplay! i’d definitely wanna watch an mv like that. my choice would be again. i can see it made like apology by ikon but not b&w, just saturated (2/5)

okay so the aesthetics tht came to my mind were the following. myungjun: walking in a field barefeet, smiling so hard and so long it hurts, the smell of freshly baked goods // jinjin: throwing crumpled papers to the wall, late night talks about the big questions of the universe, the feeling of having your hair ruffled lovingly // eunwoo: hands bashfully touching for the first time, a melancholic piano tune, the smell of new books (3/5)

moonbin: the surprise of being kissed under the mistletoe, walking lazily in the sand by the sea, the adrenaline of running to catch the bus // rocky: the sun rising over the city landscape, having hot chocolate on a snowy day, back hugs // sanha: colourful markers in textbooks, the first sip of fruity smoothies, the feeling of satisfaction after a well-made prank (4/5)

what kind of aesthetics would you describe yourself as? i once took a quiz about my aes and the result was bts’ spring day mv but mine would probably be something like dark blue denim jeans, reading on train rides, doodles between notes, the taste of black tea with two spoons of sugar, the feeling of accomplishment when ticking off boxes in to-do lists, the nostalgia of looking at photos on the wall. // asa

oof yeah ill watch the video, the linking issue tho: thats always been like that, i dont think that they will ever fix that lmao

that report is so well done omg and yes i did watch the performance and it was the best thing!!! they all looked and sounded great and i love that everyone was really grooving with thier performance

i hope there will be more fics too!!! more fans means more content!!

interesting mv idea, i would love to see that!!!

i love all the aesthetics you chose for them!!! im really feeling jinjin, myungjun and rockys  aesthetic the most!!! 

oof ur aesthetics sounds so nice, i think my aesthetics are bergamont, mapss pinned with places to visit, nude colors, dim lighting, cats purring and muraled wallpaper

[michaelfallcon]

A Coffee Drinker’s Guide To Kansas City

Kansas City is an established Midwestern coffee landmark, home to a wide range of coffee experiences for drinkers of every level of expertise. This coming weekend, the city will welcome coffee lovers and professionals from across the United States for the U.S. Coffee Championships at KC Expo Center. Whether you’re a competing barista or just visiting town and looking for caffeine, the Kansas City metro contains dozens of quality choices for coffee connoisseurs and newbies alike.

The metro area’s coffee scene is as diverse as the numerous suburbs and unique neighborhoods that it encompasses. It even crosses state borders, reaching into both Missouri and Kansas. The city has cafes that embody the quirkiest of Midwestern culture as well as outlets featuring just a good ‘ole cup of coffee, and in this way, Kansas City is a representation of how the Midwest is making its mark on the specialty coffee industry.

In this guide, we lay out the featured shops, recommended spots, and don’t-miss destinations from the city’s thriving coffee culture. You’ll find that Kansas City embodies both Midwestern charm and big city dreams, with a passionate community of coffee hospitality professionals and an experience for every taste. Let’s get drinking!

Quay Coffee

Photo by Cory Stipp

Quay Coffee (pronounced “key”) is a cozy, comfortable space tucked in Kansas City’s River Market district, located just north of downtown. The shop, the only multi-roaster on this list, features a rotating hand-selection of some of the nation’s best coffee. On any given day, the black letterboard announcing the brews available could list roasters like Hammerhand Coffee, based just a stone’s throw away in Liberty, Missouri, or Upper Left Roasters based in Portland, Oregon. Coffee offerings rotate every four to six weeks.

A stop at Quay pairs best with a walk through the Saturday Farmers’ Market or a visit to any of the City Market’s destination food offerings.

Quay Coffee is located at 412 Delaware Street, Kansas City. You can also catch the Quay crew pulling shots and making manual brews at the Nelson-Atkins Art Museum. Visit their official website and follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Messenger Coffee Company

Photo by Ryan Carr.

Since opening in fall 2017, Messenger Coffee Company has become a Kansas City coffee destination. Located inside a stately brick building, the vibe here is art museum meets coffee shop. A modern floating staircase invites you to the second-floor roasting space, coffee lab, and classroom alongside additional seating; keep going, and the third floor offers a quiet area with access to the rooftop. Come here to catch expansive views of the KC skyline from the heart of the Crossroads district while sitting next to the outdoor fireplace.

Be sure to check out the pastry case while you wait to order drinks. It’s filled with creative Ibis Bakery creations like fresh takes on classic croissants and mouthwatering desserts like the red wine brownie.

Messenger Coffee Company is located at 1624 Grand Boulevard, Kansas City. Visit their official website and follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Broadway Cafe

Photo by Heather Burton.

Broadway Cafe and Roasting Company is widely regarded as a pioneer of third wave coffee in Kansas City. Located in the city’s lively and historic Westport neighborhood, Broadway Cafe is just a stone’s throw from some of KC’s favorite eateries and late-night hangouts. You can’t miss the cafe, with its striped awning and classic sign, right off of Broadway.

Inside the cafe, Broadway presents a no-frills espresso menu showcasing its coffee. Baristas sling espresso ristretto-style from a La Marzocco Linea machine set behind a high-top counter. Snack on a light item from the pastry case, like a sandwich or slice of cake, while sipping your drink. Settle in for an afternoon of Westport people watching from the cafe’s sidewalk seating, or sit inside and admire the eclectic art hanging from the warm tan walls.

Aside from the quintessential cafe space in Westport, you can grab a cup of Broadway Roasting Company coffee at the cafe located inside the roaster or at many of the Kansas City-area shops brewing Broadway.

Broadway Cafe is located at 4106 Broadway Boulevard, Kansas City. Visit their official website and follow them on Facebook and Instagram.

Second Best Coffee

Photo by Aaron Rand.

Tucked unsuspectingly in a strip mall off in south Kansas City’s Waldo neighborhood, you’ll recognize Second Best by its giant eagle logo stenciled on the window. This open and minimalistic space presents a charming mix of modern clean design and homy nostalgia, with sleek black tabletops and white subway tiles paired with wood fixtures and vintage books. The name is meant to be cheeky: “Second Best” refers to the cafe’s continual focus on innovation and application.

The menu features manual brews, made exclusively using a Clever dripper, as well as classic espresso options. A seasonal menu offers more inventive drinks, like the winter favorite 511, a shot of prototype espresso over ice and AE Dairy eggnog topped with shaved Askinosie white chocolate. For a chilled option, try signature Red Ribbon Nitro plain, with milk and vanilla—called a Fred—or with milk and cinnamon, a Zip Zap.

Second Best Coffee is located at 328 West 85th Street, Kansas City. Visit their official website and follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Black Dog Coffeehouse

Photo by Ryan Carr.

Black Dog Coffeehouse is the only shop on this list located in the state of Kansas. The coffeehouse encompasses a large footprint in Lenexa, Kansas, a prominent suburb on the western side of the metro. Both coffee nerds and newbies can find something to suit their liking at Black Dog.

Black Dog serves Messenger Coffee, roasted just 13 miles north in the Crossroads district. An espresso-forward menu can be intimidating for those new to coffee; not so at Black Dog. A specialty latte menu provides options for those who don’t take their coffee black or need something a little sweeter. Coffee options find a home alongside a smoothie selection and Rishi Teas.

At Black Dog, you won’t have to worry about finding a place to sit. The space features three distinct seating areas as well as a large patio. It’s the perfect place to spend the day working, reading or socializing with a continuous flow of provisions.

Black Dog Coffeehouse is located at 12815 West 87th Street Parkway, Lenexa. Visit their official website and follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Post Coffee Company

Photo by Liz Stevens

Post Coffee Company is one of my favorite spaces in KC. Located in Kansas City suburb Lee’s Summit, it feels far away from the city’s hustle and bustle. This bright and luminous shop with white-finished wood accents and polished concrete floors provides a subtle slate for creative coffee and work. The result feels almost retreat-like.

Post offers a straightforward menu—including batch brew, pour-over, iced and espresso options—that highlights the flavors and characters of Post’s own coffee, roasted on-site. Come for a coffee but don’t miss the donuts!

Post Coffee Company is located at 200 Northeast Chipman Road, Lee’s Summit. Visit their official website and follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Also Worth Visiting

It’s impossible to highlight all of the outstanding coffee shops in KC’s varied and burgeoning coffee scene. I’d also recommend checking out Monarch Coffee, Oddly Correct, Eleos, the Roasterie, and Thou Mayest Coffee Roasters, which currently doesn’t have a location but just opened an inventive greenhouse space in partnership with Family Tree Nursery called Cafe Equinox.

SprudgeLive Lead Photographer and KC resident Charlie Burt also suggests checking out Blip Roasters, Splitlog, Kaldi’s, Sister Anne’s, Filling Station, and Nomads.

Lauren Miers is a food writer based in Columbia, Missouri. This is Lauren Miers’ first feature for Sprudge.

The post A Coffee Drinker’s Guide To Kansas City appeared first on Sprudge.

A Coffee Drinker’s Guide To Kansas City published first on https://medium.com/@LinLinCoffee

[epchapman89]

A Coffee Drinker’s Guide To Kansas City

Kansas City is an established Midwestern coffee landmark, home to a wide range of coffee experiences for drinkers of every level of expertise. This coming weekend, the city will welcome coffee lovers and professionals from across the United States for the U.S. Coffee Championships at KC Expo Center. Whether you’re a competing barista or just visiting town and looking for caffeine, the Kansas City metro contains dozens of quality choices for coffee connoisseurs and newbies alike.

The metro area’s coffee scene is as diverse as the numerous suburbs and unique neighborhoods that it encompasses. It even crosses state borders, reaching into both Missouri and Kansas. The city has cafes that embody the quirkiest of Midwestern culture as well as outlets featuring just a good ‘ole cup of coffee, and in this way, Kansas City is a representation of how the Midwest is making its mark on the specialty coffee industry.

In this guide, we lay out the featured shops, recommended spots, and don’t-miss destinations from the city’s thriving coffee culture. You’ll find that Kansas City embodies both Midwestern charm and big city dreams, with a passionate community of coffee hospitality professionals and an experience for every taste. Let’s get drinking!

Quay Coffee

Photo by Cory Stipp

Quay Coffee (pronounced “key”) is a cozy, comfortable space tucked in Kansas City’s River Market district, located just north of downtown. The shop, the only multi-roaster on this list, features a rotating hand-selection of some of the nation’s best coffee. On any given day, the black letterboard announcing the brews available could list roasters like Hammerhand Coffee, based just a stone’s throw away in Liberty, Missouri, or Upper Left Roasters based in Portland, Oregon. Coffee offerings rotate every four to six weeks.

A stop at Quay pairs best with a walk through the Saturday Farmers’ Market or a visit to any of the City Market’s destination food offerings.

Quay Coffee is located at 412 Delaware Street, Kansas City. You can also catch the Quay crew pulling shots and making manual brews at the Nelson-Atkins Art Museum. Visit their official website and follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Messenger Coffee Company

Photo by Ryan Carr.

Since opening in fall 2017, Messenger Coffee Company has become a Kansas City coffee destination. Located inside a stately brick building, the vibe here is art museum meets coffee shop. A modern floating staircase invites you to the second-floor roasting space, coffee lab, and classroom alongside additional seating; keep going, and the third floor offers a quiet area with access to the rooftop. Come here to catch expansive views of the KC skyline from the heart of the Crossroads district while sitting next to the outdoor fireplace.

Be sure to check out the pastry case while you wait to order drinks. It’s filled with creative Ibis Bakery creations like fresh takes on classic croissants and mouthwatering desserts like the red wine brownie.

Messenger Coffee Company is located at 1624 Grand Boulevard, Kansas City. Visit their official website and follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Broadway Cafe

Photo by Heather Burton.

Broadway Cafe and Roasting Company is widely regarded as a pioneer of third wave coffee in Kansas City. Located in the city’s lively and historic Westport neighborhood, Broadway Cafe is just a stone’s throw from some of KC’s favorite eateries and late-night hangouts. You can’t miss the cafe, with its striped awning and classic sign, right off of Broadway.

Inside the cafe, Broadway presents a no-frills espresso menu showcasing its coffee. Baristas sling espresso ristretto-style from a La Marzocco Linea machine set behind a high-top counter. Snack on a light item from the pastry case, like a sandwich or slice of cake, while sipping your drink. Settle in for an afternoon of Westport people watching from the cafe’s sidewalk seating, or sit inside and admire the eclectic art hanging from the warm tan walls.

Aside from the quintessential cafe space in Westport, you can grab a cup of Broadway Roasting Company coffee at the cafe located inside the roaster or at many of the Kansas City-area shops brewing Broadway.

Broadway Cafe is located at 4106 Broadway Boulevard, Kansas City. Visit their official website and follow them on Facebook and Instagram.

Second Best Coffee

Photo by Aaron Rand.

Tucked unsuspectingly in a strip mall off in south Kansas City’s Waldo neighborhood, you’ll recognize Second Best by its giant eagle logo stenciled on the window. This open and minimalistic space presents a charming mix of modern clean design and homy nostalgia, with sleek black tabletops and white subway tiles paired with wood fixtures and vintage books. The name is meant to be cheeky: “Second Best” refers to the cafe’s continual focus on innovation and application.

The menu features manual brews, made exclusively using a Clever dripper, as well as classic espresso options. A seasonal menu offers more inventive drinks, like the winter favorite 511, a shot of prototype espresso over ice and AE Dairy eggnog topped with shaved Askinosie white chocolate. For a chilled option, try signature Red Ribbon Nitro plain, with milk and vanilla—called a Fred—or with milk and cinnamon, a Zip Zap.

Second Best Coffee is located at 328 West 85th Street, Kansas City. Visit their official website and follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Black Dog Coffeehouse

Photo by Ryan Carr.

Black Dog Coffeehouse is the only shop on this list located in the state of Kansas. The coffeehouse encompasses a large footprint in Lenexa, Kansas, a prominent suburb on the western side of the metro. Both coffee nerds and newbies can find something to suit their liking at Black Dog.

Black Dog serves Messenger Coffee, roasted just 13 miles north in the Crossroads district. An espresso-forward menu can be intimidating for those new to coffee; not so at Black Dog. A specialty latte menu provides options for those who don’t take their coffee black or need something a little sweeter. Coffee options find a home alongside a smoothie selection and Rishi Teas.

At Black Dog, you won’t have to worry about finding a place to sit. The space features three distinct seating areas as well as a large patio. It’s the perfect place to spend the day working, reading or socializing with a continuous flow of provisions.

Black Dog Coffeehouse is located at 12815 West 87th Street Parkway, Lenexa. Visit their official website and follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Post Coffee Company

Photo by Liz Stevens

Post Coffee Company is one of my favorite spaces in KC. Located in Kansas City suburb Lee’s Summit, it feels far away from the city’s hustle and bustle. This bright and luminous shop with white-finished wood accents and polished concrete floors provides a subtle slate for creative coffee and work. The result feels almost retreat-like.

Post offers a straightforward menu—including batch brew, pour-over, iced and espresso options—that highlights the flavors and characters of Post’s own coffee, roasted on-site. Come for a coffee but don’t miss the donuts!

Post Coffee Company is located at 200 Northeast Chipman Road, Lee’s Summit. Visit their official website and follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Also Worth Visiting

It’s impossible to highlight all of the outstanding coffee shops in KC’s varied and burgeoning coffee scene. I’d also recommend checking out Monarch Coffee, Oddly Correct, Eleos, the Roasterie, and Thou Mayest Coffee Roasters, which currently doesn’t have a location but just opened an inventive greenhouse space in partnership with Family Tree Nursery called Cafe Equinox.

SprudgeLive Lead Photographer and KC resident Charlie Burt also suggests checking out Blip Roasters, Splitlog, Kaldi’s, Sister Anne’s, Filling Station, and Nomads.

Lauren Miers is a food writer based in Columbia, Missouri. This is Lauren Miers’ first feature for Sprudge.

The post A Coffee Drinker’s Guide To Kansas City appeared first on Sprudge.

seen 1st on http://sprudge.com

[mrwilliamcharley]

A Coffee Drinker’s Guide To Kansas City

Kansas City is an established Midwestern coffee landmark, home to a wide range of coffee experiences for drinkers of every level of expertise. This coming weekend, the city will welcome coffee lovers and professionals from across the United States for the U.S. Coffee Championships at KC Expo Center. Whether you’re a competing barista or just visiting town and looking for caffeine, the Kansas City metro contains dozens of quality choices for coffee connoisseurs and newbies alike.

The metro area’s coffee scene is as diverse as the numerous suburbs and unique neighborhoods that it encompasses. It even crosses state borders, reaching into both Missouri and Kansas. The city has cafes that embody the quirkiest of Midwestern culture as well as outlets featuring just a good ‘ole cup of coffee, and in this way, Kansas City is a representation of how the Midwest is making its mark on the specialty coffee industry.

In this guide, we lay out the featured shops, recommended spots, and don’t-miss destinations from the city’s thriving coffee culture. You’ll find that Kansas City embodies both Midwestern charm and big city dreams, with a passionate community of coffee hospitality professionals and an experience for every taste. Let’s get drinking!

Quay Coffee

Photo by Cory Stipp

Quay Coffee (pronounced “key”) is a cozy, comfortable space tucked in Kansas City’s River Market district, located just north of downtown. The shop, the only multi-roaster on this list, features a rotating hand-selection of some of the nation’s best coffee. On any given day, the black letterboard announcing the brews available could list roasters like Hammerhand Coffee, based just a stone’s throw away in Liberty, Missouri, or Upper Left Roasters based in Portland, Oregon. Coffee offerings rotate every four to six weeks.

A stop at Quay pairs best with a walk through the Saturday Farmers’ Market or a visit to any of the City Market’s destination food offerings.

Quay Coffee is located at 412 Delaware Street, Kansas City. You can also catch the Quay crew pulling shots and making manual brews at the Nelson-Atkins Art Museum. Visit their official website and follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Messenger Coffee Company

Photo by Ryan Carr.

Since opening in fall 2017, Messenger Coffee Company has become a Kansas City coffee destination. Located inside a stately brick building, the vibe here is art museum meets coffee shop. A modern floating staircase invites you to the second-floor roasting space, coffee lab, and classroom alongside additional seating; keep going, and the third floor offers a quiet area with access to the rooftop. Come here to catch expansive views of the KC skyline from the heart of the Crossroads district while sitting next to the outdoor fireplace.

Be sure to check out the pastry case while you wait to order drinks. It’s filled with creative Ibis Bakery creations like fresh takes on classic croissants and mouthwatering desserts like the red wine brownie.

Messenger Coffee Company is located at 1624 Grand Boulevard, Kansas City. Visit their official website and follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Broadway Cafe

Photo by Heather Burton.

Broadway Cafe and Roasting Company is widely regarded as a pioneer of third wave coffee in Kansas City. Located in the city’s lively and historic Westport neighborhood, Broadway Cafe is just a stone’s throw from some of KC’s favorite eateries and late-night hangouts. You can’t miss the cafe, with its striped awning and classic sign, right off of Broadway.

Inside the cafe, Broadway presents a no-frills espresso menu showcasing its coffee. Baristas sling espresso ristretto-style from a La Marzocco Linea machine set behind a high-top counter. Snack on a light item from the pastry case, like a sandwich or slice of cake, while sipping your drink. Settle in for an afternoon of Westport people watching from the cafe’s sidewalk seating, or sit inside and admire the eclectic art hanging from the warm tan walls.

Aside from the quintessential cafe space in Westport, you can grab a cup of Broadway Roasting Company coffee at the cafe located inside the roaster or at many of the Kansas City-area shops brewing Broadway.

Broadway Cafe is located at 4106 Broadway Boulevard, Kansas City. Visit their official website and follow them on Facebook and Instagram.

Second Best Coffee

Photo by Aaron Rand.

Tucked unsuspectingly in a strip mall off in south Kansas City’s Waldo neighborhood, you’ll recognize Second Best by its giant eagle logo stenciled on the window. This open and minimalistic space presents a charming mix of modern clean design and homy nostalgia, with sleek black tabletops and white subway tiles paired with wood fixtures and vintage books. The name is meant to be cheeky: “Second Best” refers to the cafe’s continual focus on innovation and application.

The menu features manual brews, made exclusively using a Clever dripper, as well as classic espresso options. A seasonal menu offers more inventive drinks, like the winter favorite 511, a shot of prototype espresso over ice and AE Dairy eggnog topped with shaved Askinosie white chocolate. For a chilled option, try signature Red Ribbon Nitro plain, with milk and vanilla—called a Fred—or with milk and cinnamon, a Zip Zap.

Second Best Coffee is located at 328 West 85th Street, Kansas City. Visit their official website and follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Black Dog Coffeehouse

Photo by Ryan Carr.

Black Dog Coffeehouse is the only shop on this list located in the state of Kansas. The coffeehouse encompasses a large footprint in Lenexa, Kansas, a prominent suburb on the western side of the metro. Both coffee nerds and newbies can find something to suit their liking at Black Dog.

Black Dog serves Messenger Coffee, roasted just 13 miles north in the Crossroads district. An espresso-forward menu can be intimidating for those new to coffee; not so at Black Dog. A specialty latte menu provides options for those who don’t take their coffee black or need something a little sweeter. Coffee options find a home alongside a smoothie selection and Rishi Teas.

At Black Dog, you won’t have to worry about finding a place to sit. The space features three distinct seating areas as well as a large patio. It’s the perfect place to spend the day working, reading or socializing with a continuous flow of provisions.

Black Dog Coffeehouse is located at 12815 West 87th Street Parkway, Lenexa. Visit their official website and follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Post Coffee Company

Photo by Liz Stevens

Post Coffee Company is one of my favorite spaces in KC. Located in Kansas City suburb Lee’s Summit, it feels far away from the city’s hustle and bustle. This bright and luminous shop with white-finished wood accents and polished concrete floors provides a subtle slate for creative coffee and work. The result feels almost retreat-like.

Post offers a straightforward menu—including batch brew, pour-over, iced and espresso options—that highlights the flavors and characters of Post’s own coffee, roasted on-site. Come for a coffee but don’t miss the donuts!

Post Coffee Company is located at 200 Northeast Chipman Road, Lee’s Summit. Visit their official website and follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Also Worth Visiting

It’s impossible to highlight all of the outstanding coffee shops in KC’s varied and burgeoning coffee scene. I’d also recommend checking out Monarch Coffee, Oddly Correct, Eleos, the Roasterie, and Thou Mayest Coffee Roasters, which currently doesn’t have a location but just opened an inventive greenhouse space in partnership with Family Tree Nursery called Cafe Equinox.

SprudgeLive Lead Photographer and KC resident Charlie Burt also suggests checking out Blip Roasters, Splitlog, Kaldi’s, Sister Anne’s, Filling Station, and Nomads.

Lauren Miers is a food writer based in Columbia, Missouri. This is Lauren Miers’ first feature for Sprudge.

The post A Coffee Drinker’s Guide To Kansas City appeared first on Sprudge.

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