#Green Bean trademark

[badlydrawndoc-scratch]

mr scratch may i have a jellybean?

[You got the GREEN JELLY BEAN. Tastes like green.]

[50calmadeuce]

Ch. 24: Happy Thanksgiving

Warning: Mention of miscarriage. Some chapters have sex.

Disclaimer: This is a work of fan fiction using characters from the Top Gun: Maverick world, trademarked by Paramount Pictures Corporation. I do not claim ownership of the characters and the world that I am borrowing.

The story and situation I am creating are a work of my imagination and I do not ascribe them to official story canon. This work is for entertainment only and is not a part of the storyline.

I am not profiting financially from the creation and publication of this story, but I do hope it gives you happy thoughts.

These stories are my own, so please do not take them and use them for yourself without my permission. If you see them somewhere else, please let me know. :)

Thanksgiving dinner unfolded seamlessly, and every one of Jake's family members buzzed with excitement over your news.

You were assisting Cindy in the kitchen when your cellphone rang. Grabbing it, you saw Jake's face and name on the caller ID.

"It's him, everybody!" you announced excitedly, unable to hide your smile.

As Cindy prepared the kitchen table with the birth announcement decorations, you answered the phone.

"Hey, babe!" you greeted warmly, your voice tinged with both nerves and excitement.

He grinned back, his green eyes twinkling through the screen. "Hey, darlin'! You're mighty cheerful today."

You beamed in response. "I'm always cheerful when you call."

"That is true."

"Let me flip the camera around so you can talk with everyone," you said, pressing the button on your phone to switch to the rear camera. You began walking around, allowing Jake to greet his family members one by one as their faces lit up at seeing him.

As the phone passed from one family member to another, the anticipation built up. Each greeting was filled with warmth and small hints of the upcoming announcement, yet no one spilled the beans. Finally, after everyone had their moment to chat with Jake, you took the phone back, positioning it so that both you and Cindy were in frame.

"Jake, before you say anything else, we have something special to tell you," Cindy began, her voice full of excitement. The background clearly showed the decorations hinting at the big news.

Jake's expression shifted from joyful to stunned as his gaze settled on the creative display you and Cindy had arranged. The centerpiece was his U.S. Naval Academy hat, which you had retrieved from his closet. Alongside it, you placed a printed picture of your ultrasound. You had also found a small dry erase board on which you wrote, 'Baby boy Seresin flying in April.'

You watched his face, eagerly anticipating his reaction to the carefully planned announcement.

Jake's eyes widened as he took in the scene, his surprise evident even through the small screen. For a moment, he was speechless, his mouth agape as he processed the news.

"You're serious?" Jake finally managed, his voice tinged with a mix of awe and disbelief. "We're having a baby? Y/N, where are you?"

You took the phone back from Matt, who had been holding it, and switched the view so you were looking directly at him. "I'm right here."

"Seriously? We're having a baby?" His voice was filled with growing excitement and a touch of nervousness, as the reality of the moment began to sink in.

You glanced at Cindy, who gave you an encouraging nod, and walked into Jake's bedroom where you had been staying. You closed the door behind you, settling onto the edge of the bed, you faced the camera squarely. "Yes, Jake. We're having a baby."

Recognizing the familiar surroundings, his tone mixed happiness with concern. "Baby, I'm so happy, but…how far along are you?"

"Just hit four months this week," you replied softly.

"And you're just telling me now?"

You sighed, gathering the courage to express your feelings. "Because I didn't know how you'd react, Jake."

Jake's features softened further as he absorbed your words. He ran a hand through his hair, a gesture you knew all too well as his way of processing complex emotions. "I get it," he said slowly, nodding his head. "Are you still working?"

"Yes," you responded, eager to reassure him. "I have interns for both the grant and work. I don't step in unless absolutely necessary." You watched for his reaction, hoping he would understand your commitment to both your work and your health during the pregnancy.

Jake ran his hands through his hair again, his face a mixture of seriousness and hesitation. "Since we're still all about this honesty thing, I did it on purpose."

Confused by his vague admission, you furrowed your brow. "What do you mean?" you asked, your voice filled with uncertainty and concern, seeking clarity on what he was trying to tell you.

Jake's words hung heavily between you. "Those four years killed me after we lost the first baby. You are my life, Y/N. I wanted another child with you. That first night when we used protection, I felt like you didn't want me anymore."

Taken aback by his confession, you responded, the surprise evident in your tone. "Jake, that's the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard. I used protection because I care about us, about making sure we're both ready and that it's safe. It wasn't about not wanting you—it was about caring for our future together." Your words were firm, hoping to bridge the gap his misunderstanding had created.

Jake's eyes searched yours, the realization dawning slowly as he absorbed your words. "I… I got it so wrong, didn't I?" he murmured, his voice a mix of regret and sadness. "I let my fear and my own insecurities cloud my judgment. I thought if we didn’t try immediately, you might never want to try again."

"Oh, Jake," you sighed, your voice soft but filled with a mixture of love and frustration. "You have always been my world. Why did you never see it?"

Jake's expression shifted, reflecting vulnerability. "Because you were the first person that I love so much it scared me," he admitted, his voice catching slightly. His confession revealed the depth of his feelings and the fears that accompanied them, providing a glimpse into the complexities of his emotions towards you and your relationship.

"Open the door, Y/N," he said.

"Jake, I can't do that," you responded, the confusion deepening. "I'm not there with you."

"Just try opening my bedroom door," he insisted.

You slid off his bed and made your way to the bedroom door. Reaching out, you gently opened it. Just then, Jake came into view, dressed in jeans, a white t-shirt, and a bomber jacket. He put down his phone, his green eyes locking onto yours.

"Jake!" you cried out, your phone slipping from your grasp as you threw your arms around him. At the same time, his arms encircled you, holding you close.

His embrace was tight and reassuring, as if he was trying to make up for all the time lost and the distance that had once been between you. Overwhelmed by the suddenness and the reality of his presence, tears began to well up in your eyes.

"How? When?" you managed to ask between sobs, pulling back just enough to look at him, searching his face for answers.

"The mission got done earlier than expected and I took the first flight. I let mom and dad know. I wanted to surprise you," Jake explained, his voice warm, his smile gentle.

Your heart raced with a mixture of joy and astonishment. "You're really here," you whispered, almost to reassure yourself as much as to express your disbelief.

"Yes, I'm really here," he reassured, his thumb wiping away a tear that had escaped down your cheek. "And I'm not going anywhere, at least not for a little bit."

"Are you excited about the baby?"

"Darlin', I'm excited about everything that involves you." With those words, Jake leaned in and kissed you deeply.

The kiss was a clear testament to his commitment and love, a reassurance that despite the challenges and surprises that had come your way, your bond remained strong. As you parted from the kiss, you felt a surge of hope and excitement about what lay ahead.

"I have so many plans, so many dreams for us and our baby," Jake said, his eyes shining with enthusiasm. "I want to be there for every moment, every milestone."

You smiled, feeling the warmth of his words wrap around you like a comforting blanket. "I'm glad you're here now. That's what matters most."

"I love you, Y/N. Always have, always will," he declared.

"I love you too, Jake Seresin."

You both leaned in for another kiss.

Tags: @buckysteveloki-me @bellyliveslife @tgmreader @86laura11 @dizzybee03 @kmc1989 @guacam011y @nerdgirljen @hookslove1592 @dempy @djs8891

[sweaterkittensahoy]

Some financial advice that may be actually helpful

Based on one of y'all (sorry, I'm lazy, I'm not scrolling back) mentioning the terrible advice of "Make six figures."

Like, bitch. I'm TRYING.

But, let's say you live in a shocking world where you don't pull six figures out your bosses's ass every year. How can you make small financial changes that can lead to larger financial security?

These are all utterly subjective and based on things I've either actually done or just observed. I'm gonna try to skip over shit like, "shop for clothes second hand!" because shit like that can require a HUGE time commitment, and it's not even always worth it.

Anyway:

If your grocery store has a free rewards program (you put in your phone number or email address), get that set up. Yes, it will track what you purchase. But it also means when you get coupons in the mail, they're for things you actually buy. In our two-person household, we can save anywhere from 0-15 bucks a week depending on how coupons land.

If you can get a grocery card with fuel points (Fred Meyer and Safeway do it here in the PNW), you can save LOADS on gas. A dollar a gallon easily.

Also do any pet store reward programs that might be available. As the Bean does not require a great deal all the time, her rewards build up slowly, but every few months, we get enough points to get ten or twenty bucks off a purchase.

Do NOT buy in bulk if you're not gonna eat in bulk. Five pounds of rice is great if you eat rice regularly, but if you only have it every now and again, smaller portions of boxed rice are likely a better option. The same is true for any dried foods. Yeah, it's shelf stable, but it takes up more of the shelf. That could hold the stuff you actually eat steadily.

Frozen fruits/veggies are as healthy as fresh. And they'll stay ready to eat a lot longer. Consider that with how you eat and how much you eat a certain vegetable. It may be better worth your money to have three bags of frozen broccoli in your freezer than to keep buying fresh broccoli you forget to use in time.

If you're looking at a generic that says "Compare to BRAND NAME." It's the same formula. That's why they can say that. The reason it's cheaper is because the copyright or trademark costs money. Take that off, and boom. Cheaper cost for the same stuff.

If you have a car, know the way you drive it and how that can affect it. For example, if you do a lot of city driving, your transmission and (if applicable) stick shift are gonna wear down faster than you might expect. It's not always mileage. It's starting and stopping. However, if you drive long distances without stopping a lot (rural areas), your higher mileage car may not need any work on those things. Get your oil changed and your tires checked, and know what to look out for in terms of the kind of car you have and the driving you do. For example, we have less than 100k miles on our 15-year-old car, but we've mainly used it for city driving. We had to get the clutch re-built a few years ago, and last year we had to get the transmission goos updated because they'd run dry. These aren't surprising needs for a city-driven stick shift that's over ten years old.

There's a schedule to big shit going on sale in the US. Mattresses are a big thing around Memorial Day for some reason (Support the Fallen Troops by...fucking???). Electronics go big on sale before school starts and on Black Friday. Memorial Day is also big for cars, as is the 4th of July. If you hand make anything, certain colors of stuff go on sale before major holidays. Orange and black before Halloween. Red, green, and white before Christmas. Pastels before Easter. Etc.

Consider how much use a product will get before you decide you can or can't spend a little extra on it. Do 300-count sheets do the job? Yes. But speaking from recent experience, the 1500-count sheets feel so much nicer, which makes sleeping so much nicer, and I use them literally every single night, so the initial investment works out to basically the same even if I'd gotten cheaper sheets.

But also, stuff like sheets and comforters and stuff go on sale at various times! And your bed ain't gonna go through a growth spurt! Keep an eye out for those deals and scoop up the super soft stuff at a discount if you can!

And lastly on this main list, a very very important thing coming from a former poor kid: Fucking treat yourself. You know how much money you have. You know how much money you need. Maybe it's not hard to treat yourself because you're financially solvent, and in that case, this advice isn't for you. It's for those of us who have struggled to deviate at all from our list of NEEDS to give ourself even a very small WANT because WHAT IF I NEED FIVE BUCKS IN TWO DAYS. I get it. I do. To my bones. And I say fucking treat yourself, and if in two days, you suddenly need five bucks, do NOT feel bad that you got yourself a little something. You can't see into the future, and catastrophizing is so bad for you. Trust me. I know. Just. Remember, in all of this, give yourself a little focused care, okay?

All of that being said, a few more general points:

Dish soap is made to break up grease and oil, and it's commonly antibacterial. This makes it fucking perfect for cleaning your shower (covered in your greases and oils) and your bathroom in general (same reason). I don't recommend it for your toilet, but that's a personal preference based on zero research. The point is, most of your bathroom can be cleaned with dish soap. Get all your stuff off your counters. Make a thin layer with the dish soap. Let it sit for five to ten minutes. Scrub. Bonus: You can breathe the whole time.

Vinegar kills germs. Like, lab-tested kills germs. You can clean your kitchen with Vinegar and Borax (odor-reducer), and it costs a fraction of buying the kitchen-branded cleaners.

Borax is also great as an addition to laundry soap for odor-reducing reasons. So, even the cheap laundry soap is more effective with Borax.

"But Gayle, you can make your own laundry soap if you--" Yes, I know. And it's cool you know that. But it takes TIME to make laundry soap, and time is the only thing less reliable than money when it comes down to it.

Look up "No Buying" options in your area. This is usually a Facebook group or maybe a subreddit. The goal is that no one in the group wants to buy or sell anything. They just have stuff they want to get out of their house. It's not a 24/7 goldmine, but it's a once-a-day scroll through that could lead you to a pricey item for free!

If you have stuff that says "handwash," and you think, "Okay, I want to, but that's a whole new task." Nah. Just take a shower and bring it with! Hell, wear it in if you have to. I do this a LOT. Use the water and your soap (which, as it's likely a body wash or soap, will break down those skin oils and such) and give it a good washing while you stand there. Then, squeeze out the excess water and toss that thing over the shower rod. If you have a drying rack, use it. But if you don't, just leave it where it is and leave the fan going. It'll take care of itself. Just double check the label to know if hot water is a bad idea and if you need to lay flat or hang dry. If you need to lay flat, super squeeze the water out and lay it flat wherever you can.

And, lastly for this long post: If you need the expensive shit, buy the expensive shit. I have celiac and MCAS. My bread is five bucks a loaf. Peanut Butter fucks up my histamines. Almond fucks up my histamines. I need five dollar bread and fucking cashew butter to make a fucking sandwich. But the other option is getting sick from putting stuff in my body my body will fight against, and trust me, those urgent care visits stack up.

[veinsfullofstars]

❄️ Memories of winter ❄️

(ID: Kirby series fanart of young Dedede, Meta, Para Dee, and Bow Dee engaging in various winter-themed activities and scenarios. DDD wears a burgundy full-body coat with fuzzy white puffball buttons and cuffs, a red-and-orange-striped scarf, and a red knitted cap with another white puffball on the end. Meta wears a purple-and-lilac-striped scarf patterned in simple dark bat shapes and a pair of knitted purple wing cozies. Para wears a green-and-brown plaid scarf and a pair of pale-green earmuffs with a white band alongside his glasses. Bow wears only a pair of white earmuffs with a light-blue band alongside her trademark bow. More detailed descriptions below the cut. END ID.)

Part 1 (you're here!) | Part 2

Finally managed to bang this out despite the weeks-long pain of driveway shoveling. A pox on this season, I say. At least the kiddos are having fun - look at them. Precious beans.

Sketches started btw 11/23 and 01/24, render started 01/08/24, finished 01/21/24, updated for color correction 11/02/24. NOTE: This was originally posted on my deleted account on 01/29/24. | Childhood Friends AU Masterpost

—

Image descriptions (from top to bottom):

-The kids all packed together on a wooded sled going fast downhill toward the viewer’s left. Meta up front leaning into the wind with a look of excited wonder on his face, Para sitting beside him with his hands covering his face in fright, DDD behind them holding onto the sled and squinting hard against the wind, Bow behind him holding onto his shoulder and waving her free hand in the air in joyful exhilaration.

-DDD and Meta iceskating towards the viewer’s right (each wearing a pair of brown skates with gold clasps and silver blades). DDD has fallen flat on his face (in his signature head-slide pose), and Meta glances over at him as he skates past, a look of concern on his face, his scarf trailing out behind him.

-Bow on a snowboard (the deck patterned in long swooping lines almost like waves in various shades of teal), soaring up through the air towards the viewer’s left, her feet planted firmly, one hand gripping the board, the other tossed back behind her, her expression determined.

-A snowball fight between Meta and Bow on one team (background) and Para and DDD on the other (foreground), each hiding behind a wall of packed snow. DDD startles, arms held out and eyes comically wide, as a snowball - tossed by Bow - hits him right in the back of the head. Para (sitting beside him) glances up from where he is making more snowballs. Behind them, Meta climbs on top of his team’s fort, a snowball the size of his own body held over his head, his eyes a pair of ultra-instinct diamonds as he prepares to throw.

-Para trying out a set of skis (the decks lime-green, the shoes brown with gold clasps, the poles dark-green with lime-green handles). He looks very unsteady on his feet, holding the poles out wide as he trembles, frowning down through his lime-green ski mask. He says in a speech bubble, “P-Pizza… French fry…”

-Meta standing neutrally, wearing his scarf and wing cozies along with DDD’s knitted cap, his breath visible beside him in a small puff.

-The kids all lying on the snow making snow angels (top-down view, DDD on bottom, Meta on left, Bow on top, Para on right). DDD laughs with his eyes closed as he drags his arms and feet through the snow in wide arcs. Meta grins happily behind his scarf as he does the same. Bow excitedly flails her little arms and feet through the snow as fast as she can, spraying snow everywhere. Para - caught in her wake - curls slightly away from Bow and blocks the snow with his hand, one eye closed, smiling despite himself.

-DDD sitting with his arms held out as his friends all cuddle close to him for warmth - Para draped over his right side (viewer’s left), Bow peeking out from behind his left shoulder, Meta lying against his left side (viewer’s right) - all looking quite content save for DDD himself, who looks only slightly annoyed. Squiggly lines radiate out from him to indicate body heat, while an arrow points at him with the text “Living Space Heater”.

-DDD, Meta, and Para all enjoying mugs of hot cocoa, each piled high with swirls of cream, wisps of steam curling off of them. DDD holds one mug for himself (pale-yellow with a light-blue snowflake design) and hands out another for Meta (light-blue with a pale-yellow snowflake design). Meta reaches for it excitedly, eyes wide and sparkling, his little hands waving and his wings flared out behind him, straining in their cozies. Beside him, Para sits with his own mug (light-green with a pale-red snowflake design), holding it in both hands and smiling contentedly.

-The kids making snowpeople. On the left, DDD stands before a snowman vaguely modeled after himself (with rocks for the eyes, mouth, and buttons, three twigs on top for his plumage, and a fish-patterned scarf - presumably Bow’s - around its neck), grinning cockily and mimicking its pose with one hand on his hip, the other held up in a flex. Para stands beside him with an armful of extra sticks, looking very unimpressed with an ellipsis over his head. On the right, Meta leans on one foot with his back to the viewer, working on a snowman that looks somewhat like Galacta Knight (with twigs shoved in to represent his horns and the cross visor of his mask, and mounds of snow in back to represent wings). In the foreground, Bow sits stubbornly half-buried in a pile of snow, shivering, a drop of snot hanging from her face.

[queer-in-a-cornfield]

A list of Thoughts™ I had in 2023:

-What is even the point of Arkansas?

- Why aren't there two cases of numbers?

- Humans like the taste of thinking they’re on fire and that’s just weird

- We need a word for when you're daydreaming at night

- Rob Cantor spelled backwards is not a palindrome and that feels wrong

-I think thyme should rhyme with stymie and for that matter, so should rhyme)

- Imagine a pollen waterfall

- What is the median word?

- V I O L E N T H A N D W A S H I N G

- How do the cars in Cars reproduce?

- What does human taste like?

- Plaque is like tooth zest

- Is there a raspberry emoji? (There isn't and I don't appreciate that)

- The respiratory system is my instrument

- 🎶Dun dun dududun dun dududun dun dudun dun dududun dun dududun dun dududun dun dududun dun🎶

- Is oxygen flammable?

- Someone should make jello ice cubes

- What is the word for the smell of a walk-in freezer?

- Where do blimps go when they aren't in the air?

- Do fish make sounds incomprehensible to us?

- Bottomless Dreaming (I do not remember what this means because I thought of it literally as I woke up)

- Who is the most average person?

- Is the trademark™️ symbol trademarked™️?™️??? (According to Max: Yes, by Alexander Trademark.)

- Why can 10/10 dentists never agree on anything?

- What percentage of the population is lawyers?

- Beanana

- What is the oldest surviving copy of a newspaper? (Not what is the longest running newspaper, but what is the oldest physical newspaper still intact?)

- ɪˈmæʤən ˈspɛlɪŋ jʊər ʧaɪldz neɪm wɪð aɪ-pi-eɪ ˈsɪmbəlz.

-I really want to bite my plant.

- Would Bill Cipher be invisible if you looked at him from the side? (Since he's 2D)

- Imagine if you could make wine bottles by jumping on grapes (Courtesy of Max)

-Queue should be pronounced qwehweh

- Trampolines are are when you jump on a strainer that is on top of another strainer. (Courtesy of Max)

- How many oranges are there? (Courtesy of Max)

- Imagine if there were just floating staircases to nowhere

- Rabbits are an unstoppable force

- What is the cold version of incineration?

- Wholesome blackmail should exist

- I hate that our eyes take in information from top to bottom because whenever I look at the map on my wall I see North Dakota first and that’s just not it.

- How many people were named Amerigo after the Americas became widely known as America?

- What was the greatest thing before sliced bread (pre-1928)?

- Pomelos are subject to the laws of physics

- Australians be like: “Our lord and savior vegemite”

- I want to grab a cloud with a hook and drag it along behind the car

- Unfortunate Roadtrip would be a really good band name

- You wouldn’t download a pie

- If you donate blood, do you tell the person drawing the blood "thank you" or "your welcome"? (Courtesy of Max)

- Grass does not care for international borders

- Why are mirrors slightly green?

- What is the texture of flame?

- What if Mickey was short for Mickolas?

- Beans is my favorite word.

- Trees are like naturally occurring lollipops except you can’t eat them and aren’t really anything like lollipops

- Is it possible to dissolve a brick?

- I know calling it Virginia was meant to be a compliment but like I personally would be miffed if a place was named after the fact I haven’t dated anyone

- We know what ranch tastes like, but then what does farm taste like?

- We have deductive reasoning and inductive reasoning, I say we complete the trilogy with seductive reasoning

- If the only qualifications for being a seagull are being bad at acting and not having lips then technically the only things that aren’t seagulls are people and desks (stupid f*cking bird reference)

- Is it possible to liquify a bird?

- Does pizza count as art?

- I’m so fine (both literally and figuratively, both sarcastically and sincerely. Bothception.)

- If Cam is short for Cameron then is Sam short for Sameron?

- Schrödinger’s AAA battery

- Five dudes, a gorl™, and a middle schooler walk into rehearsal…

- It’s been tomorrow since yesterday ended

- Ties are man ribbons

- Sugar is the letter Y of baking

- Balliscuits

- Desecrated Coconut

- Imagine if working out caused you to lactate (Courtesy of Alec)

- Dragon is not synonymous with pie

- (In the voice of the tiktok spongebob news fish) You’ve just been smargled

- What country has the most cities (incorporated places, not necessarily populous ones)

- Today is tomorrow’s yesterday and yesterday’s tomorrow and a tv show

- Soap soup

- Imagine a lightbulb with a smaller lightbulb inside and you can play lightbulb dice

- *British accent* Plunderbuckets and Billyhocks

- Rahrehksdee ;)

- Where does candle wax go???

- If you don’t specify the source of your organ meat, people would assume it’s human organs which is kinda weird

- What if air is a drug (if you don’t have it you go into withdrawals) (Courtesy of Max)

- What would a calorie taste like?

- Why are walruses like that

[duhragonball]

[FIC] Luffa: The Legendary Super Saiyan (212/?)

Disclaimer: This story features characters and concepts based on Dragon Ball,  which is a trademark of Bird Studio/Shueisha and Toei Animation.   This is an unauthorized work, and no profit is being made  on this work by me. This story is copyright of me. Download if you like, but please don’t archive it without my permission. Don’t be shy.

Continuity Note: This story This story takes place about 66 years after the events of Dragon Ball Z.

[21 April, Age 850. Toki Toki City.]

Trunks lay on the stone tiles surrounding the Time Vault. Beside him, Chronoa, the Supreme Kai of Time, tended to his injuries. He was always reluctant to receive her healing power, since it required her to take on his battle damage for herself in exchange. But now that things had settled down, Chronoa decided that it was safe to continue healing him.

"You were awesome, Trunks!" said Goku, who hovered over them. Chronoa had brought Goku in as a last-minute recruit to counter Demigra's attack on the city. He was weary from the effort of repelling Demigra's final attack on the Time Vault, but he had only gotten a few bumps and bruises from the battle.

"Thanks, Goku," Trunks said. "But all I did was lend you my power to save the Time Vault. And I didn't have much to spare, unfortunately."

"Aw, that's only because Luffa beat you up so badly before, when that Demigra guy used his magic to turn you into a bad guy," Goku said. "After all that, it's impressive enough that you got back up at all!"

"You all did well," Chronoa said. "But it's not over yet. If Demigra had succeeded in destroying the Time Vault, all of history would have been erased. So the fact that we're all still here is a big win, but he's still got Tokitoki, and he could easily come back and try to finish what he started."

"What about Luffa?" Trunks asked. "You said she followed him into that portal he created."

"Yeah, that was weird," Goku said. "Demigra took us both down with those energy spears of his, and we were both stuck to the floor. Then suddenly she's up in the air, helpin' me get loose. Does she know a technique like Instant Transmission?"

"I don't think so. To be honest, I have no idea how she did that," Chronoa said. "But I'm sure that Demigra went back to the Crack of Time. It's the only place where he'd be safe from the destruction of the Time Nest. And if Luffa followed him there, she'd be facing him on his home turf."

"Then we've got to go after her," Trunks insisted, but when he tried to get up, he winced with pain and regretted his sudden movement.

"We've got to regroup," Chronoa said firmly. "If we go to the Crack of Time now, we'll be leaving the Time Vault undefended. We'd be playing right into Demigra's hands!"

"She's right, Trunks," Goku said. "You need to take it easy. Getting all worked up won't help anybody. I just wish I'd brought some senzu beans so we could heal you up faster. Maybe we should get the rest of the Time Patrol. I mean, this is a pretty big city, right? So where is everyone?"

"I teleported most of the Time Patrollers to a different planet before you arrived," Chronoa explained. "Demigra had put them under his spell, and he threatened to make them kill each other to stop Luffa. I was going to bring them all back once it was safe, but after what we've just been through... Well, I probably won't have enough power to make the trip for a while."

"Hmmm," Goku said. He stood up and looked around the Time Nest. The entire structure was shaped like an enormous birdcage, and the only view from beyond the gleaming metal bars was an eerie green sky with several planets floating in the expanse. "Hey, maybe I can save you the trouble, Supreme Kai of Time."

"You think you can bring them all back with Instant Transmission, Goku?" Trunks asked hopefully.

"Yep," Goku said with a smile. "Well, maybe. I mean, your pals are pretty strong, right? And there's a lot of them all close together, so I oughta be able to sense them. Then again, I've got no idea where we are right now, so it might be too far away..."

"We can't take the risk," Chronoa said. "You might not be able to find your way back, and Demigra could show up while you're gone."

"Oh, right," Goku said. "I guess I should stand by then."

"We need to be ready for anything," Chronoa warned them. "Demigra made a big entrance before, but now that he's lost the element of surprise, he may try something sneakier like--!"

"What's wrong?" Trunks said as she looked up from her work.

"That energy," Chronoa said. "It's Tokitoki!"

"I don't sense anything," Goku said. He began to look around in every direction, wondering what he was missing.

"It's a temporal signature," Trunks explained. "The Supreme Kai of Time can detect things like that, but we can't."

"Oh, I gotcha," Goku said. "Hold on... I thought you said Demigra turned Tokitoki into a piece of candy and gobbled him up."

"That's right," Chronoa said. "Demigra must be using his power to come back here. He's going to attack again!"

The three of them braced themselves, though they had no way to know which direction to look. Then they saw a flash of light coming from near Chronoa's personal quarters. Something materialized into view, and as they watched with bated breath, Goku smiled broadly when he finally recognized them.

"Well hey!" he said. "All right!"

It was Tokitoki, just as Chronoa had said, but there was no sign of Demigra. Instead, it was Luffa who accompanied him into the Time Nest. As she walked towards them, Tokitoki flew around her and made a shrill-but-affectionate cry.

"Tokitoki!" Chronoa shouted. "You're okay!"

"Luffa!" Trunks said. "Then Demigra is--"

She raised her thumb and then held it up to the side of her neck, and drew it melodramatically across her throat. If the meaning of this gesture wasn't clear, her victorious smirk told the rest of the story.

"I knew it!" Goku said with a cheerful laugh. "Then we won!"

The three of them went to meet Luffa and Tokitoki, and the bird perched himself on Goku's arm while they talked.

"Looks like you held up your end of things, Kakarot," Luffa said as she glanced around the yard surrounding the Vault. The grounds were a mess from the fighting, but at least it was all still there.

"Thanks, but, I had a lot of help from the others," Goku said. He looked her over and nodded when he saw the scrapes and bruises on her face and arms. "Looks like Demigra gave you a little trouble. Did he get stronger in that Crack of Time thingy?"

"He transformed," Luffa said, though she didn't elaborate. "It made things more interesting, but nothing I couldn't handle."

"Nice!" Goku said. "It's too bad, though. I kinda wanted to take another shot at him myself."

"So what now, Chronoa?" Luffa asked. "Demigra's beaten, and Tokitoki is safe, so that's it, right?"

"We still need to clean things up here," Chronoa said. "I have to retrieve the rest of the Time Patrol and then we'll repair the damage he did to the city. After that, maybe we can get back to normal around here. Demigra's gone, but there are still time anomalies that need to be handled, after all."

"Not to mention Towa," Trunks observed. "Luffa defeated her, but she's still out there, probably plotting her revenge. I think it's safe to say we haven't seen the last of her."

"And we need to get Goku back home," Chronoa said. "Wow, we've really got our work cut out for us, huh?"

"Oh, that's right. I guess you need to get back home to your own time too, huh?" Goku said to Luffa.

"Uh... that's kind of complicated," Luffa said.

"Huh? How come?" Goku asked.

"Sending me back would cause a lot of problems with the time stream," Luffa said. "I think I understand that a lot better now than I did before. But now that Demigra's dead, I don't know what else I'm supposed to do..."

"If you'd like," Trunks said, "maybe you could help us from time to time. The main threat has been dealt with, Luffa, but I could still use your help."

"Seriously?" Luffa said. She raised an eyebrow at this. "I figured you'd be glad to be rid of me, Trunks. Now that Demigra's out of the way, that wish you made to Shenron has been fulfilled, right? You can get someone else for whatever comes next."

"Maybe so," Trunks said, "but as far as partners go, you're the only one for me."

Luffa was speechless. "I... well, okay," she finally said. "Thanks. I guess I can stick around and see how things go. Sure."

"That sounds nice!" Chronoa said. "With the two of you working together, I'm sure we'll do well."

"Does that mean you'll be sticking around for a while, then?" Goku asked.

Luffa shrugged. "I guess so," she replied.

Goku's eyes lit up when he heard this. "In that case," he said excitedly, "Maybe we could have a match before I leave? You know, if you're not too busy or anything..."

She looked over at him and her eyes went wide with anticipation. "Is that a challenge, Kakarot?" she asked.

"It sure is!" he said. "The Supreme Kai of Time told me about you, but I didn't get to see much of you in action so far. So how about it? Are you interested in a little fight with me? I want to see your power. Show it to me!"

"That sounds like fun!" Trunks said.

Luffa was surprised to hear Trunks' enthusiasm for the idea. "You don't have a problem with this?" she asked. "You didn't approve the last time I challenged him."

"That was because you were in the middle of a Time Patrol mission," Trunks said. "If you fought Goku in the past, it would change history. But since the Supreme Kai of Time brought him here, to Toki Toki City, he's in our present, so it should be okay."

"Well now," Luffa said. She widened her stance and raised her arms as she stared Goku down. "That's just what I wanted to hear. I've been wanting to do this for a while, Kakarot. I was starting to think I'd never get the chance. I was worried Chronoa would send you back before I could give you a proper sendoff."

"Is that right?" Goku said. He raised his left fist and angled his shoulders as he inched closer to her. "Then what are we waiting for? Let's do this!"

"My thoughts exactly," Luffa said. "Let's see if you have what it takes."

They each smiled as they prepared to do battle, but before they could begin...

"Wait! Don't do it here!"

Chronoa was suddenly between them, and she held out her hand at Luffa as she scolded them.

"If you two break the Time Vault," she warned, "everything we've just been through will be for nothing! We don't want that!"

"Oh, right," Goku said sheepishly. "Whoopsy daisy!"

He began to laugh, and Trunks joined in, then Chronoa as well.

"Hmmph. It's just as well," Luffa said. "I did just get back from fighting Demigra, and I could stand to freshen up. I've waited this long. We might as well do it right. Get some food, rest up."

"Exactly," Chronoa said. "You two have helped us a lot today, so you deserve to have some fun, but we need to work out the details and make sure the city won't get torn up any more than it already has."

"Where do we start, Supreme Kai of Time?" Trunks asked.

"There's still some Majins sleeping in their quarters," Chronoa said. "We'll wake them up and they can help us get the city operational again."

"Wake them up?" Luffa asked. "My roommate's a Majin, and she's an incredibly sound sleeper. If she slept through this entire battle, what more can we do?"

"Remember how I used my power over time to make Bulma's hair grow faster?" Chronoa asked. "It'll be like that. They'll sleep for days, but to us it'll only be a few seconds."

"Gosh," Goku said, awestruck by what she had just said. "You can really do that? The Supreme Kais I know weren't anywhere near that cool."

"Oh, that's nothing!" Chronoa said. "Altering the flow of time is child's play. What I'm really known for among the gods is my culinary skills."

"You don't say..." Goku said as he followed her toward the portal leading back to the city.

*******

With Demigra defeated, things moved quickly. Once Chronoa's full strength was restored by one of the Majin healers she had awakened, she performed several divine rituals which confirmed that Demigra was truly dead, and then she proceeded to return the injured Time Patrollers to Toki Toki City.

Trunks quickly took command of the handful of Majins from Gamma Shift. Among these was Dr. Reca, a Majin female who had tended to Luffa once before. She now examined Luffa at a secluded spot near a large chunk of the giant hourglass that had once floated in the center of town.

"Word travels fast," she said as she placed her hand over Luffa's forehead. "They're saying you killed Demigra."

"That's right," Luffa said. "I'm fine, really. You don't need to--"

"You're not fine," Reca said. "I'd need to run some tests, but I can sense a lot of temporal shifts in your ki. It's like you aged two months since the last time I saw you, and that was only a few days ago."

"I've been busy," Luffa said. She suddenly realized that only two days had passed in Toki Toki City, while Luffa had spent weeks in other time frames. First, Chronoa had sent her back in time to deal with the Ruby Loop, and then Demigra put her in that alternate version of Luffa's own past, a world where the Tikosi had never provoked her into becoming the Super Saiyan. And while the combat had been intense, she had managed to stay relatively healthy throughout the fighting. Still, all of it had taken a toll. It wasn't until Reca said anything that Luffa began to notice how tired she really was.

"This will help you for now," Reca said as her hand began to glow. "But you're going to need some rest later, and then I'll want to perform a more thorough examination later, after we get the city up and running."

"Fine," Luffa said. She was in no mood to argue, and the relief she suddenly felt in her bones and muscles was enough to convince her of Reca's point. "But what about the others? There were guys in a lot worse shape than me..."

"You hero types are all alike," Reca said. "Always telling me to work on someone else instead, like I don't know how triage works. Well, for your information, I've already seen to several other Time Patrollers, including a few Namekian healers, who are probably working on some other healers as we speak. So I've got plenty of time to work on you, okay?"

"Sorry," Luffa said. "I keep underestimating doctors."

"We'll have the whole Time Patrol back on their feet in a matter of hours," Reca assured her. "Then we'll start repairing the damage to the city. And before you get any funny ideas, when I say 'we', I mean me and everyone else in the city besides you, okay?"

"Okay, okay," Luffa said. "I'll go straight to bed, I promise."

"Are you single, Luffa?" Reca asked.

The question caught her completely by surprise. "Huh?" was all she could say.

"I only ask because people will start asking me," Reca explained. She fished a lollipop out of the pocket of her white coat and stuffed it in Luffa's hand before she could object. "I've seen this sort of thing before. One of you hotshots does something big and important and soon everyone wants to know all about you. People still ask me if Trunks is dating anyone."

"It's... complicated," Luffa said.

"Of course, of course," Reca said. "None of my business, say no more. But they'll probably have a big celebration later, and people will be throwing themselves at you, so... Well, I should probably move on to the next patient. Off to your quarters, then."

She was gone before Luffa could even thank her. She rose to her feet and immediately felt a wave of fatigue. She had already decided to follow Reca's instructions, but now it was clear that she never really had a choice. It was either rest in her quarters or pass out in the street.

*******

As Luffa recuperated, the rest of the Time Patrol carried on with the reconstruction. With their combined powers, the work proceeded swiftly. It also helped that Demigra had shown some restraint during his attack. Since he intended to use Toki Toki City as his base of operations, he left much of the infrastructure in tact. And so most of the damage was superficial.

As Trunks supervised work in the Time Nest, he made conversation with his teammates. As word got around about Luffa's triumph over Demigra, the Patrollers naturally wanted to know what had happened to her, and so Trunks had explained that she was preparing for a fight with Goku. This led to discussion of the venue for their fight, since Trunks still had to choose a suitable location for them.

The Parallel Quest system was the obvious solution. The city was equipped with special time machines that could take Patrollers to various stable time fragments. Each fragment contained a replica of some historical era. There, the Patrollers could fight freely and sharpen their skills without fear of damaging Toki Toki City. It was ideal for staging a Super Saiyan duel, but that only solved half of the problem. Trunks knew how give them a place to fight, but he still had to figure out where.

Fortunately, the other Time Patrollers were eager to offer suggestions.

"What about Planet Namek?" asked Excitebike, who worked beside Trunks as they filled in the craters in the Time Nest lawn.

"No, that won't do," Trunks said.

"Hmm, well respectfully, sir, I disagree. It's the place where Son Goku first achieved the level of Super Saiyan. What could be more appropriate?"

"That's just it," Trunks said. "It's a historic site for Goku, but not for Luffa. She's only seen the planet in Time Patrol missions. I don't think it fits."

"Right, right, right," Excitebike muttered.

Dewar was standing nearby re-installing the cobblestones that had been blasted out of the walkway to the city. "Hey, what about that planet in the South Galaxy?" he asked. "You know, the one Paragus tried to pass of as a new Saiyan homeworld? It's unfamiliar to both of them."

"No, Luffa's tail is the problem there," Trunks said. "If she sees the comet she'll turn into a giant ape, and I don't want her to have to wear goggles the whole time."

"Eh?" Dewar replied. "Welllll, Trunks, it seems like you're splitting hairs over this, aren't you? I don't think either of them would complain about being at a slight disadvantage, right?"

"That's true, Dewar, but I still want to make the playing field as level as possible. This might be their only chance to have this fight, and I want it to go well for them. I owe them that much, at least."

"If you say so," Dewar said. "Stillllll, better to have a planet picked out for them than none at all! You can't let the perfect be the enemy of the good, eh?"

"Wasn't there a Saiyan homeworld before Planet Vegeta?" Excitebike asked. "What was it called? What, what, what...? Salado or Sardon or something..."

"Sadala," Trunks said. "It was destroyed in a civil war. It might work, but we haven't done much temporal reconnaissance of it. I don't want to stick them in the middle of some other battle, and I don't want to make them wait for us to do the legwork.

"Wellllll, it sounds like you want something impossible, Trunks," Dewar remarked. "I mean, a planet suited for Saiyans, but with no Saiyans on it? Where would you even look for something like that? It's too bad about the Dragon Balls, I guess."

"What about the Dragon Balls?" Trunks asked.

"I heard the Supreme Kai of Time used them to wish for Goku to come here and help fight Demigra," Dewar said. "So they're inert for a while, which means you can't use them to wish for this planet you want. Too bad, since I think Shenron's the only one who could help you..."

"Hold on..." Trunks said, "maybe you've got something there..."

*******

There was an ancient Saiyan proverb that said hunger was the best seasoning. It was something Saiyan chefs meditated upon to keep them humble in the kitchen. For all their culinary skill, even the simplest meals were delicious on an empty stomach.

In her apartment, Luffa put that philosophy to the test. All her roommate ever ate were sweets, so Luffa maintained a supply of cake batter in their refrigerator. She downed a bottle of this without thinking twice, then tore open a package of raw ground beef.

Normally, she had more discipline than this. She would have taken the time to cook something properly, and savor the entire experience. But the battle with Demigra had left a bad taste in her mouth, and she was more interested in moving on than in celebrating.

From a distance, it had all made sense. She couldn't just go back to her own time. Too much had changed. Demigra had tried to tempt her by offering a chance to go back to where it all began, a time before Luffa became the Super Saiyan. But it was all wrong, and thought it took Luffa a long time to realize it, in her heart she had known it was wrong from the start.

The ground beef was cold in her throat as she gulped down another mouthful. Her Saiyan stomach could digest raw meat with ease, and her hunger would be sated, but she couldn't help but appreciate how incomplete the experience was. A fresh kill would have the blood of the animal, and the scent of wild game. Properly cooked, the meat's proteins would be denatured into something exquisite to the palate. But this meat was minced, packaged and refrigerated, and lacked the primordial thrills of hunting or cooking. It was enough to sustain her, but it was fundamentally flawed.

And so was any notion of going back to relive her life. Luffa was a warrior, not a philosopher. She held no special interest in "destiny" or "fate", but her adventures with the Time Patrol had proven that even the worst parts of her life had been necessary in some way. Even if those events could be undone, it would only serve to diminish her as a person.

It was a harsh, difficult truth to accept. Perhaps, Luffa considered, this was why she was eating all of this raw food. Perhaps the truth would be easier to swallow if she had some other unpalatable things to wash it down with.

At last, she turned away from the refrigerator, and sought refuge in the shower. The past was past, and all Luffa could do was to take whatever satisfaction she could from it as she looked ahead to the future. Demigra was dead. As frustrating an opponent as he was, Luffa couldn't help but smile at the thought of his downfall. Her future with the Time Patrol was unclear, but at least there would still be a Time Patrol for her to return to. Chronoa had offered her some sort of reward for her service, though this was too uncertain to think about. And then there was Son Goku.

"Kakarot," she muttered under the stream of hot water.

A fight with a fellow Super Saiyan was a dream come true. She wasn't sure if he understood just how important it was for her, but he had still offered the challenge, and she had every intention of facing him. But she wasn't sure she was ready. It all felt too... sudden.

Her friends and family from the past had all died centuries ago, but from Luffa's perspective, they had only been gone a short time. Thanks to Demigra's power, she had even seen some of them a few hours ago. She accepted that it was wrong to try to go back, and yet it still felt equally wrong to move on.

But as she dwelled on her relationships from the past, she found herself reminded of the new friends she had made in the present. As she wondered what had become of Zatte and Dr. Topsas, she also found herself worrying about Mosh, and Dewar, and the other Time Patrollers she had not seen since Demigra's attack. She had to remind herself that they, at least, were probably fine. And even if they weren't, she could check up on them easily enough.

She could sense Jayncho's ki less than twenty meters away. The Majin was still in her bedroom, having slept through the entire crisis. There was something reassuring about this. Luffa had failed so many people in her life, but she had saved the people of Toki Toki City. Trunks had been badly hurt, but he would recover. Chronoa had taken a lot of damage from healing him, but she would recover too. The Divine Tokitoki Bird had been through a harrowing ordeal, but he would survive.

That word--"survive"-- resonated with her. In spite of it all, Luffa had survived everything that had come her way. The Dorluns cherished survival, in much the same way Luffa's own people treasured battle. But Luffa's wife Zatte had always spoken about how important it was to find something to live for. Many Dorluns, Zatte felt, were simply content to keep breathing, when there had to be more to it than that.

As Luffa mourned her wife, she kept coming back to their lack of funerary tradition. Dorluns left their dead wherever they lay, disposing of bodies only if it served to benefit the living. For them, the only true way to honor the dead was to go on living. Or, as Zatte might have put it, to find a reason to go on living.

Luffa had struggled to accept this, but now she wondered that maybe she had found something to live for without realizing it. The Time Patrol was a worthy enough cause, and the Patrollers were worthy comrades. According to Capsule Corp's genetic studies, the Saiyans in the Time Patrol were all Luffa's descendants, which made them family. And then there was Keda's miraculous presence on Earth.

It wasn't home, exactly. Luffa still felt very much like an outside in this place. And yet, it felt like a place that could be home.

She stepped out of the shower and toweled off, feeling surprisingly refreshed. For the first time since arriving in Toki Toki City, she began to feel optimistic. There was something to look forward to, beyond the fighting, beyond the work. Even beyond this match with Son Goku.

But she would still face Son Goku. As she put on a clean set of clothes, her anticipation for that battle began to swell. But what truly lifted her spirits was the anticipation of what lay beyond him...

*******

The most important repairs to Toki Toki City were things that only the Supreme Kai of Time herself could fix. The great hourglass that had floated in the center of town was a landmark to everyone who lived and worked there, but no mortal Time Patroller had any idea what it was for or why it was so urgent to rebuild it. The Kai called upon the Divine Toki Toki Bird for assistance, and Patrollers working nearby were treated to an inscrutable light show, as they floated in the air while glowing sand and chunks of crystal began to reassemble. Some of the Patrollers grew bored with trying to make sense of it, and so they returned to the mundane work of repairing shops, offices, and roads in the city. Others stopped and stared with fascination.

Among these gawkers was No. 44, who looked like a teenage girl, but was something more than her clerical job suggested. She watched the Kai work, not because it was interesting or breathtaking, but because she wasn't sure what to do with herself, and this was the one place she could find in the city where the people around her would be too distracted to strike up a conversation. Or so she thought.

"Hey there!"

She sensed the power suddenly winking into existence behind her, and though she recognized him from before, she was still surprised when she turned around to look at him. "Wha--?" was all she managed to say.

"Hey, it's me, Goku!" he said with a cheerful wave of his hand. "Remember? And you're... 45, right?"

"44," she said.

"Oh, right," Goku said. "Sorry, I'm not always good with names, and I've never been much when it comes to math. But I guess I was close, though, huh?"

"Of course I remember you," 44 said. "I mean, it wasn't that long ago..."

"Well, I wanted to thank you for helpin' us out," Goku said. "You were in such a hurry to leave, I didn't get the chance before, and then Luffa showed up and everybody else came back to the city and--"

By now, Goku's presence had begun to attract some attention. As much as the Patrollers were interested in Chronoa's cosmic repairs, many of them were great admirers of the famous Son Goku. Anxiously, 44 took him by the hand and tried to lead him away.

"Can we talk about this someplace else?" she pleaded.

"Huh? Well, sure, if you say so."

Without warning, he raised his hand to his forehead and before 44 could react she found herself standing on the roof of one of the buildings in the city. She recognized it as the Industrial Sector, but she wasn't used to seeing it from this elevation, and she had no clear idea of her exact position. All that remained constant was that Goku was still holding her hand.

"Is this better?" Goku asked.

"What did you do?" she asked.

"Instant Transmission!" he replied proudly. "I was flying around earlier, but some people told me there's a rule against that, but no one said I couldn't teleport, so I've been checking out the city that way. It's pretty neat!"

"Could you give me a little warning next time?" 44 asked, gasping for breath. "You really startled me with that!"

"Hey, you were the one who wanted to go somewhere else to talk," Goku said with a shrug. "Anyway, there's no people here, so I thought this would be good."

"You didn't tell Luffa about me, did you?" 44 asked breathlessly.

"Well, no," Goku said. "I mean, you asked me not to, right? Besides, we all got to talking, and I kind of forgot about it for a while. But once everybody started working on the city, there really wasn't much for me to do, so I remembered again."

"I thought you'd be on your way home by now, Mr. Son," 44 said.

"You can just call me Goku, okay?" Goku said. "Anyway, I'm stickin' around because I asked Luffa to have a match with me, but the Supreme Kai of Time said we gotta wait to set it up somewhere so the Time Nest won't get wrecked again."

"You and Luffa are going to fight?" 44 asked. "Why?"

"Why?" As Goku repeated her question, he looked at her like she had grown a second head. "I mean, because she's really strong, duh. That'd be enough for me, but on top of everything else, she's a Super Saiyan from a long time ago. Now that's an opportunity I just can't pass up!"

"But you're on the same side," 44 protested. "And you're both so powerful. What if one of you gets hurt?"

"Aw, we'll bring along some senzu beans," Goku said. "It'll be fine. I've fought with my other friends lots of times."

As he said this, an eager smile stretched out across his face. "Hey, you know, while we're waiting, you and I could spar a little? I mean, nothing serious, just for funsies, right?"

"No!" 44 said, more sharply than she intended. "I mean... I'm not a fighter, Mr. Son... I mean, Goku."

"Really?" Goku asked. "I mean, you've got some impressive power. It's not on the level of Trunks or Luffa, but it really gave us a boost when we needed it in the Time Nest. And if you trained, I bet--"

"I'm not a fighter," 44 insisted. "I'm just a clerk."

"Oh," Goku said, looking more than a little disappointed. "Sorry, I guess I got carried away. It's just, your energy kind of has a Saiyan feel to it. Not exactly, but you don't look much like a Saiyan, so I figured you must be part-alien or something. Like my boys. They're half Earthling."

"I'm not a Saiyan or an alien," 44 explained. She gestured to her face, which was a purple-grey color unnatural to Earthling humans. The same was true for her yellow irises, which seemed to shine from beneath the shade of her trucker hat. "I'm a cyborg. Red Ribbon model."

"Oh, yeah," Goku said. "I meant to ask about that. But doesn't that mean you're programmed to kill me? I mean, you must want to fight me a teensy bit."

"It's a long story," 44 said. "My design includes Saiyan genetics and other bio-enhancements. That's why I look the way I do."

"What's with the hat?" Goku asked.

"Wh-what about my hat?" 44 said. It was a trucker cap with the logo "98CIAL" printed on the front. All of 44's hair was stuffed inside it.

Goku craned his head to one side and pointed at her head. "Do you wear it to cover up your brain?" he asked. "I remember Dr. Gero had a glass dome on his head, and when his hat came off, you could see right inside. It was kinda gross."

"I don't have a dome," 44 said. "I just like the hat! It helps me blend in a little."

Goku made a skeptical look as though he weren't entirely convinced of this. 44 reached up to her scalp and pulled a length of white hair out from under the brim.

"Look, why would I have hair if I had a dome?" she asked. "I'm based on the 13-14-15 line. None of them had domes. Wait, 15 did, but his brain was a computer... Never mind..."

"Well, okay," Goku said. "I guess it doesn't matter much if we're not gonna fight. Too bad, though. With your Saiyan ki and those yellow pants, I thought maybe you were Luffa's student or something."

44 looked down at her clothes. She wore a thick belt with several pockets. Otherwise, she had adopted Luffa's trademark black and yellow fashion. Instead of boots, 44 wore black sneakers with black socks. Her pants were slacks, and her shirt was a blouse, but the general theme was more in line with what Luffa wore.

"I'm not her student," 44 said. "I just thought we were getting along, and maybe this would help."

"Oh well," Goku said. "I was hoping to find out more about her from you. Kind of scout the competition a little before we fight. But if you're not her disciple or sparring partner or anything.... Wait, if you two are friends, then why didn't you want her to know about how you helped us in the Time Nest?" Goku asked. "I'm sure she'd be proud of you for that. I know I am."

"The only reason I was around for that was because I was hiding from Demigra during the battle," 44 blurted out. "Everyone else got infected with his magic spell, and then the Supreme Kai of Time evacuated them from the city. But not me. I was in Luffa's apartment, because I didn't know where else to go."

"Sure you did," Goku said. "You came out and found us in the Time Nest, trying to stop Demigra's blast from blowing up the whole place."

"I only did that because I couldn't sense anyone fighting in the city," 44 explained. "I went to the Time Nest to see if anyone was still there, and there you were. I... I wouldn't have gotten involved if I had known..."

Goku smiled and put his hands on her shoulders. "Hey, hey, hey," he said. "Listen. You may not be a warrior like me and Luffa, but you still did a really brave thing by lending me your energy back there."

"But I--!"

"You were scared, I know," Goku said. "I was pretty worried there myself for a while. I wasn't sure I could stop that blast. But we did it together. That's what matters, 44, and if Luffa were here right now, I'd bet she'd say the same thing. Well, maybe she'd say it a little meaner. Heh-heh! She's kind of grouchy, you know?"

44 lowered her head, concealing her eyes behind the bill of her hat as she wiped the tears from her face. "Look, you can't tell her about that. Please."

"If that's how you want it, then okay," Goku said. "I won't say anything about it to her. But I've seen her fight, and she's no dummy, 44. Sooner or later, she'll see for herself what a hero you are. I don't think that's something you can hide. Not for long, anyway."

"We'll see about that," 44 said. "As long as you don't tell her about me helping you against Demigra, that'll do. Let me worry about the rest."

"Deal," Goku said. "I don't understand it all, but you've got a good heart, 44, even if it's like some kind of robot heart or somethin'. And Luffa took good care of my sons when we fought Cell and Majin Buu on Earth, so I've got a good feeling about her. Whatever's going on between you two, I'm sure it'll all work out."

44 made a weary sigh. "I hope you're right," she said. "I wish I could explain it to you, but... Well, it's sort of a relief to talk about it a little bit. I'm glad you came to find me."

"Hey, no problem," Goku said. "The Supreme Kai of Time made me a deputy Time Patroller, right? So we all gotta look out for each other, don't we?"

"I guess you're right about that..." 44 said with a slight smile. Then she looked out at the city below and asked: "You can get me back down, can't you?"

"Huh?" Goku asked before he realized what she meant. "Oh, sure, sure. Just grab on to my arm, okay? It won't take a second..."

*******

While the shops of the Time Patrol were still recovering from the damage sustained during the battle, the various department heads in the city suggested that the victory celebration be catered. Trunks and Chronoa agreed to this, although when they received the delivery, they began to have second thoughts.

"How many Time Patrollers are there anyway?" Trunks asked as workmen loaded trays of barbecued pork into the dining hall. One of them, a young woman, made a flirtatious smile at him, but he was too focused on signing the paperwork to notice.

"A lot," Chronoa said. "I remember thinking Toki Toki City was enormous back when we opened it, but now it almost seems too crowded."

Trunks leafed through the last few pages and handed them back to one of the uniformed delivery drivers. "Speaking of that, have you had a chance to look at my PQ request? The one for Goku and Luffa."

Chronoa had scooped a glob of potato salad on her finger and had put it in her mouth when Trunks asked the question, so she could only nod and give a thumbs up.

"Thanks. It means a lot to me, and I'm sure it'll mean a lot to them, too," he said.

"It's the least I can do for them, but to be honest, I'm not sure I understand what the big deal is," Chronoa said. "We just had a huge battle, and Luffa fought several more battles before that. I know Saiyans love to fight, but what makes this one special?"

"Luffa was the only Super Saiyan in her time," Trunks said. "Fighting another Super Saiyan is something she's always wanted to do. When she found out I was a Super Saiyan, she challenged me on the spot, even though we were in the middle of a mission."

"Right, but you two already fought each other," Chronoa said. "When you were under Demigra's mind control."

"I know," Trunks said. "And she's probably still itching to challenge me later, now that I'm back to normal. But Goku's the one she really wants."

"But why Goku?" she asked.

"Because of the legend," Trunks said. "Gohan told me that my father once said there was only one Super Saiyan every thousand years. I never thought about the timing much, but apparently it's literally true. Luffa transformed almost exactly one thousand years before Goku did, and there was a Super Saiyan before her that lived about a thousand years earlier than that."

"Maybe so, but it doesn't matter anymore, does it?" Chronoa asked. "These days, there's lots of Super Saiyans."

"That's true, and it's not as big a deal to the rest of us, but it means a lot to her. It's like there's a lineage of once-in-a-millennium Super Saiyans, and she and Goku are part of that club. I think she's thought about him for a long time, even before she came to this time."

"What do you mean?" Chronoa asked. "She didn't even know Goku."

"Not by name," Trunks said. "But she probably believed that there would be another one like her in a thousand years' time. Maybe that was comforting to think about. I sort of understand what that's like. It was pretty tough for me being the only Super Saiyan after Gohan died. In my world, I might be the last one. So when I traveled to the past to meet Goku for the first time, it was kind of reassuring to see another Super Saiyan in person like that."

"I suppose I never thought of it that way."

"The thing is, I'm not sure if Goku understands all that. He may just like the idea of taking on a fresh opponent. But I'm sure the tradition means a lot to Luffa, and they both really helped us out, so arranging a proper battleground for them was the least I could do."

"I'm sure they'll enjoy it," Chronoa said. "And even if they don't, at least the city won't get wrecked all over again."

*******

[22 April, Age 850. Toki Toki City.]

The victory banquet went well. Son Goku couldn't complain, since he had eaten his fill of pulled pork, rice, and cole slaw. The Time Patrollers were mostly good company, although he found some of their questions confusing. One young woman kept asking him if it was true what 'they' say about Goku's best friend, Krillin. But she refused to explain what it was that 'they' said, and when he asked she would just gesture with her hands and say 'well you know.' Goku, in fact, did not know, and could not answer.

People were often confusing for Son Goku. While he enjoyed public gatherings-- especially ones with food-- he was something of a loner, spending most of his life in the company of fewer than five people at a time. His adoptive grandfather understood the joys of solitary living, and so had Master Roshi, and so did Goku's wife Chi-Chi, and their children, Gohan and Goten.

And so, while he was not especially self-aware of this aspect of his personality, Goku still felt a swell of relief when the party was over and a helpful Capsule Corp. robot escorted him to his guest quarters for bed. He lay awake for a while, eagerly anticipating the dawn, and the one person he had not seen at the banquet, the one he had been looking for the whole evening. He hadn't seen Luffa since she accepted his challenge in the Time Nest. Was she avoiding him for some reason? Was she not feeling well enough to go through with their fight? Or was this some sort of strategy? Had she been observing him without his knowing it?

The thought of that excited him, though eventually he drifted off to sleep. For the next several hours, Son Goku slept well, dreaming of his wife and children, and also a monster truck that he had seen on television once. In the dream, the truck could talk and it was friends with Goku. They went on adventures together.

When he awoke, he put on his gi and found the same robot waiting for him outside his door, ready to escort him to anywhere in the city he wished to go. Naturally, he asked it to take him to a place where he could get some breakfast.

The Blinking Twelve was a popular restaurant among the Saiyan community in Toki Toki City, and the robot led Goku there. It reminded Goku of a diner he had visited with Bulma a few times in West City. He took a seat and was about to order, when a familiar voice called out from the entranceway.

"For shame, Kakarot."

He quickly turned to find Luffa at the door. He had not sensed her presence, and he did not know how she had gotten so close without his noticing. From the grin on her face, it seemed that she took great satisfaction in his uncertainty.

"There you are! I was starting to worry about you, Luffa," Goku said. "When I didn't see you last night, I thought you might have decided to cancel on me."

"Hell no," Luffa said. "I just needed some time to prepare. Trunks has a place all picked out for us, but I thought you and I should have eat first."

"Oh sure!" Goku said. "I hate fighting on an empty stomach. Pull up a chair, I was about to order--"

"Not here," she insisted. "I've commandeered a kitchen in the cafeteria. You were raised on Earth, so I thought I would do you the honor of preparing a proper Saiyan breakfast."

"Is that right?" Goku said. "Well, I can't turn that down. You've got style, Luffa. I've been in a lot of battles, but I've never had an opponent feed me before a fight."

"Right this way," Luffa said, waving him towards the door.

As Goku approached her, he noticed the dark circles under her eyes. He considered asking her how she had slept, but he decided against it.

Everything he needed to know about Luffa, he reasoned, would be revealed to him soon enough.

NEXT: Fight.

[rashidkh]

The Best Thai foods to try in Dubai

Thai food is a worldwide cooking known for its particular newness and fascinating aromas. The recipes use fixings in addition to lavish flavoring that takes you to the core of Thailand, whether you are getting a charge out of local rice dishes, curries, or soups.

Dubai, being an excessive city, offers the best of everything. You can decide to partake in the best Thai food in Dubai from 5-star eateries or have a progressive involvement in the best road merchants around. Also, in Dubai, the gourmet specialists guarantee that you don't need to head out to Thailand to appreciate legitimacy.

Here are the best Thai food varieties to attempt in Dubai.

Cushion Thai Noodles

Cushion Thai is a regular feast on menus across Thailand. It doesn't make any difference on the off chance that you are getting your food from a boisterous slow down by the market or from the best café around. Cushion Thai will be on the menu.

In Dubai, Cushion Thai remains a mark dish for Thailand. It includes rice noodles, cut slightly or thick. Generally, the noodles are then sautéed with crunchy bean sprouts, eggs, new prawns, onions, ground peanuts, and tofu 3D squares. A few eateries offer a lime wedge with the nourishment for a harsh flavor that rejuvenates your taste buds.

Fuchsiame and the Regal Budha are among the best places to find impeccably cooked Thai-style sautéed noodles.

Tom Yum Goong

Tom yum goong, or what you might better be aware of as zesty shrimp soup, is a normal yet brilliant feast well known around the world, Dubai included. The dinner, which includes soup with extraordinary flavors, consolidates the kinds of lemongrass, shallots, lime juice, new chilies or stew glue, fish sauce, kaffir lime leaves, and fat succulent prawns.

With a solitary chomp of the feast, you should rest assured that you will partake in the absolute best kinds of Thailand. Be that as it may, first, you notice not the taste but rather the scent. The new fixings used to set up the feast give it a trademark, extraordinary, and intriguing smell that gets you rolling, even prior to taking the main chomp.

For the best tom yum goong, you can visit Fuchsiame, Pai Thai, or The Regal Budha. Thiptara, Savvy Kwai, and the Mekong are magnificent eateries serving Dubai's best tom yum goong.

Khao Cushion

Khao Cushion, or Thai seared rice, is another regular dish that you can track down anywhere along the roads of Thailand. In Dubai, you can get the very food with flavors that take you to Thailand. It is among the food varieties you can eat to move past your achiness to visit the family.

Khao Cushion incorporates fixings like garlic, onions, and rice. You likewise need a wellspring of protein, normally chicken, shrimp, hamburger, or crab meat. The cooking strategy is additionally clear. As a rule, everything is seared over a fire until the gourmet specialist accomplishes the ideal mix prior to serving it.

A few spots finish up the recipe by serving the food in a pineapple shell with raisins and cashew nuts.

A solitary chomp of the food will burst your taste buds. You can feel yourself venturing out from Dubai to Thailand. The greatest aspect of Khao cushion is that you can find it even in Thai road food sellers at reasonable costs.

Gaeng Keow Wan Gai (Green curry)

Your involvement in Thai food can't be finished without tasting the group known as wan gai, or you might know it in easier terms, green curry. The dish, a popular curry in Thailand, involves green bean stew peppers as the base.

Subsequently, on the off chance that you appreciate hot food, this is the best Thai food in Dubai for you. The sauce utilized in making this dish is coconut milk prepared with flavors and spices. Consequently, you can hope to track down basil, shallots, ginger, turmeric, garlic, and kaffir lime leaves in the soup.

Most cooks use eggplants and potatoes as vegetable dishes to add to the dinner. You can go with one or the other fish, meat, or chicken for your proteins. In any case, except if you determine, most orders accompany chicken meat.

Being an ordinary Thai feast, numerous cafés offer it on their menus. Thiptara, Tong Thai, Pai Thai, Fuchsiame, and the Imperial Budha are the most suggested spots for new and flavorful groups known as Wan Gai.

Som Hat

Som Hat is seemingly the most popular plate of mixed greens dish in Thailand. The fiery green papaya salad is a specialty in the Northeastern districts of Thailand. It comes in various structures, however assuming you are going for the exemplary green papaya salad, the recipe incorporates red chilies, lime juice, tamarind mash, palm sugar, green papaya, and fish sauce.

A few vegetables like carrots, sprinter beans, and cherry tomatoes are added during planning. The dish likewise contains a few crushed peanuts and dried shrimp for the surface. In this way, when you request some group in Dubai, you ought to feel every one of the flavors, going from sweet to acrid, exquisite, and zesty to pungent.

An outing to Pai Thai and Fuchsiame will be compensating for you.

End

Regardless of where you will be, you can in any case set aside an opportunity for food. To partake in the luxuries of your nation or take a stab at something different, Thailand is a brilliant spot to begin. In Dubai, you can find a combination of Thai foods that will provide you with a sample of Thailand. A few spots improve a few foods than others do, however, in the event that you need truly legitimate feasts, the rundown above ought to assist you with finding what you want.

[downtoearthmarkets]

As we fondly bid adieu to lettuce season until next spring, salad lovers may be left feeling a little bit lost for inspiration. But, if this leafy exodus has left a bitter taste in your mouth, then you’re on the right track because colorful, piquant chicory greens come into season with late fall’s cooler weather and remain in farmstalls throughout the winter! 

Chicories are closely related to lettuces but are heartier and have a subtle bitter edge that mellows when cooked. These earthy, cool-season greens are sold looseleaf or as intact heads and can often be easily substituted for one another in a variety of recipes. Chicories will introduce a sharp crunch to a refreshing salad when you’re thirsty for springtime greens or can be used as a flavorful addition to a variety of warming winter dishes. 

While you're on the lookout for chicory greens in the farmers market this weekend, here are the common varieties you’ll find amongst the farmstalls and the telltale characteristics that set them apart from each other: 

Belgian Endive  Witloof chicory, or Belgian endive, originated in Western Europe where it is widely cultivated and consumed. Commercially produced Belgian endive is grown underground or inside darkened rooms, much like mushrooms, to keep it light in color and preserve its mild flavor. The sturdy leaves of this elegant chicory can be separated and chopped into salads, used as a dipper or as edible serving ‘spoons’ for canapés, hors d’oeuvres and other small appetizers. The intact heads of Belgian endive are delicious when braised, grilled or baked and make an excellent accompaniment to grilled fish, roast lamb, steak and chicken. 

Escarole Densely bunched escarole can easily be mistaken for petite heads of romaine lettuce. However, leafy vegetable’s wide, wavy leaves have a telltale jagged edge and are dark green and tougher on the outside while curling into a complex pale-yellow rosette on the interior. Like other chicory greens, escarole has a pleasant sharpness to it, while its chewy, heartier texture translates particularly well in soups, stews and pastas. Thought to be native to Sicily and the Mediterranean basin, escarole is especially popular in Italian cuisine and is frequently paired with white beans as in this fast, easy-to-prep soup recipe.

Frisée (Curly Endive) Frisée, or curly endive, is milder than other chicory greens making it the perfect accent for any salad, especially when paired with fruity dressings. This poofy, “frizzy” green adds an appealing effervescence that offsets hearty, salty bacon in the classic French recipe for “frisée aux lardons.” To make this iconic bistro dish follow these simple steps: 

Wash and tear the whole head of a farmers market frisée into bite size pieces. 

Blanche some thick slices of Goode and Local by Don Rodrigo bacon. 

Dice the bacon into ¼ inch pieces and brown it. 

Whisk together the diced bacon and its rendered fat with mustard, Arlotta Food Studio red wine vinegar and a finely minced Newgate Farms shallot. 

Liberally coat the frisée with the resulting vinaigrette and place a poached SOVA Farm egg on top. 

Season with freshly ground black pepper and, voila, you have made yourself bacon and eggs in a salad, aka Salade Lyonnaise. 

Bon appétit! 

Radicchio The most common type of radicchio you’ll discover in farmstalls looks similar to a small head of red cabbage. Easily identifiable by its glossy, maroon leaves streaked with white veins, this Italian chicory boasts a trademark bitterness that can be a bit intense for some when it’s served raw. To cut back on its bite, split the head in half and sliver or shred radicchio on the diagonal into fine pieces. Experienced chefs also advise dressing radicchio in advance of serving to help tenderize the firm leaves in addition to reducing their sharpness. Like other chicories, radicchio’s bitterness dissipates when cooked and it tastes delicious roasted, grilled, pan seared, braised or sautéed. 

Now that you’re well-versed in the world of chicories and the culinary possibilities they present, we hope you have fun hunting for them in the farmers market and experimenting in the kitchen with these highly versatile, nutritious and alluring winter greens!

[ladookhotnikov]

Forget Crypto… Let’s talk about cooking

For several years I live in a mode of constant travel. Europe, America, Middle East, Southeast Asia... I can’t even count how many miles I’ve flown. All I can think about is business, how not to let down those who have trusted us. However... To be honest, I’m still a human being, and I know how to enjoy life. I like to know new places, to get to know people, to know culture. I see the diversity of our world, and I think it’s beautiful.

I would like to take my mind off business for a moment and talk about... cooking! You have read it correctly - I am interested to discuss the cuisines of the peoples of the world.

When you travel a lot, you inevitably get acquainted with the national culture, and the cuisine is its mandatory element.

Some time ago I flew in from Georgia. This is a completely amazing beautiful country with a completely unique culture. There are not many countries and peoples in the world that created their unique cuisine. And Georgia is among them. Georgian cuisine is absolute delight and fireworks. Abundance of spices, unique tastes, unexpected combinations. If you are interested in cooking, you have to meet it!

In Georgian cuisine there are many dishes that have no analogues and can become its trademark. I would like to say about two of them: sacivi and lobio.

Satsivi is a sauce that you can serve chicken, turkey, almost any meat and even fish. Imagine a thick sauce of scrubbed walnuts, amber-color butter, teasing the smell of spices, spicy greens and ruby pomegranate grains. You fill them with pieces of boiled chicken, and you get a delicious dish. It is not eaten - it is enjoyed!

Lobio is another great dish. There are many recipes for its cooking, but they have in common - beans. I really like lobio made with walnut sauce, spices, necessarily with cilantro and garlic. Everything is beautiful in it: teasing look, aroma, and unparalleled taste...

I sincerely recommend, at the first opportunity, be sure to try it!

I told only about two dishes of Georgian cuisine, and there are hundreds of them, and they are all beautiful.

Our Meta Force is multi-national. It is a magical mix of cultures. What can you tell us about your national cuisine? I will be glad to learn something new!

[loveskitchen1]

Exploring the Rich and Flavorful World of Latin Cuisine

The cuisine of Latin America is an impression of the region's rich history, social variety, and influence of indigenous, African, and European culinary practices. It envelops many ingredients, cooking procedures, and dishes that shift extraordinarily, starting with one country and then onto the next. In any case, what unites Latin cuisine is an adoration for striking, lively flavors, and new, healthy ingredients.

One of the most distinctive highlights of Latin cuisine is the utilization of flavors and spices. Cumin, oregano, cilantro, and stew peppers are only a couple of instances of the spices and flavors normally utilized in Latin dishes. These ingredients lend the cuisine its trademark sharpness and smell, making each dish a blast of flavor.

One more sign of Latin cuisine is the utilization of new products from the soil. The district's heat and humidity give a wealth of flavorful, colorful organic products, for example, mangoes, papayas, and guavas, which are utilized in everything from pastries to appetizing dishes. Vegetables like peppers, onions, and tomatoes are additionally generally utilized, adding variety and flavor to stews, mixed greens, and soups.

Meat is additionally a significant piece of Latin cuisine, and the locale is known for its delicious, slow-cooked dishes, for example, Mexican carnitas and Argentinean azido. Fish is additionally prominent in numerous waterfront regions, with dishes, like Peruvian ceviche and Brazilian mosques showcasing the locale's adoration for new, tasty fish.

Maybe one of the most well-known dishes of Latin cuisine is the unassuming taco. Originating in Mexico, this basic yet heavenly dish has turned into a worldwide sensation, with endless varieties and fillings to suit all preferences. Tacos are only one illustration of the numerous road food varieties and bites that are a fundamental piece of Latin cuisine, with empanadas, arroz, and tamales being other well-known models.

Assuming you're looking to investigate the rich and delightful universe of Latin cuisine, there are many dishes and flavors to find. Begin with certain exemplary dishes, for example, Mexican guacamole, Argentinean chimichurri, or Cuban dark beans, and try with various flavors and ingredients to make your own special twist on these works of art.

Latin cuisine is likewise known for its celebratory nature, with food being a significant part of celebrations and occasions. From Mexican Día de los Muertos to the Brazilian Festival, Latin America's numerous social festivals offer an opportunity to encounter the region's energetic food culture in all of its greatness.

FOR MORE INFO :-

Dishes in Latin American Cuisine

[sevenvirtuespdx]

What Coffee Roasting Do Coffee Roaster Store Customers Choose?

We are coffee roasters, so we are fascinated by all things coffee. This time, we addressed your, our coffee shop customers', preferences regarding the various colors of coffee roasting, or rather coffee roasting levels.

As you may have noticed, we live in a new coffee world. Every year, dozens, if not hundreds, of new specialty best coffee beans in Portland shops open. The situation is similar for coffee roasters who roast for retail outlets. Every coffee shop has a selection of beans. Every year, the coffee gets better, and the store customers' expectations rise. The development of agricultural practices and coffee roasting techniques enables the rapid advancement of coffee quality.

The Coffee Roasting Process

Coffee roasting is the process of turning green, raw coffee into brown-colored coffee. Coffee richness refers to the difference in flavor between coffees based on their origin or variety. After coffee is picked from the bushes and processed, it is roasted. Coffee roasting is another factor that influences the taste of coffee. There are many levels of roasting or styles, and each coffee roaster roasts their coffee slightly differently. In an artisanal coffee roaster, you can buy coffee from a specific region of the world, often from a specific farmer, whereas on a supermarket shelf, you can only buy a specific trademark, a brand.

Coffee Roasting Level: How To Choose?

Because it is assumed that the darker the roast of the coffee, the more coffees taste similar, dark roasted coffee is frequently found in supermarkets. Dark roasting is also frequently used to conceal poor quality coffee beans or eliminate undesirable flavor notes caused by, for example, excessive storage time or poor warehouse conditions. Coffee beans that have been roasted brightly best display the original flavor of the coffee's origin. Light roasting should be used in the best specialty coffee categories.

Also Read More About A Guide to Becoming a Coffee Connoisseur

Light Roast Coffee For What Preparation Methods?

Coffee for "alternatives" is light roast ( aeropress, chemex, drip, calita ). The coffee from the alternatives tastes best to us as a drip. Drip is a traditional and cost-effective method that is simple to prepare. Coffee that has been freshly roasted and ground has a clean, rich flavor with a delicate aroma when prepared in a drip. Drip (also spelled dripper) is a simple and inexpensive device for preparing coffee using the traditional pour-over method. Offers for coffee roasters in Portland accessories can be found online for as little as 2-3 EUR. The drip is made of plastic, ceramic, glass, or metal and is cone-shaped.

How To Know Light Roasted Coffees?

Light-roasted coffee beans are light brown in color, sometimes bordering on cinnamon. Such roasting is sometimes referred to as "blond" in one popular coffee chain.

Coffee Roasted To Medium

Medium coffee roasting is a good compromise that brings out the best flavors in coffee while still keeping things balanced. The middle ground between the two extremes is medium roasting. The sugar in the coffee beans has not yet begun to caramelize, and there are no intense chocolate and cocoa notes. Medium roast coffee usually has the most flavor notes and is the most complete. For those new to specialty coffee, moderate roast is the recommended roast level. Medium roast coffee beans have the most sweetness of any roast.

How To Know Coffees Roasted To Medium?

The medium roast level of coffee is the most versatile and widely used roast level. Medium-roasted best coffee Portland beans are ideal for shade-grown coffee makers, coffee machines, French presses, and aeropresses.

Dark-Roasted Coffee

Dark roasted coffee beans have the lowest acidity and a distinct flavor; dark chocolate, cocoa. Dark roast coffee is the roast that best unifies the flavor of the coffee's origin. The nuances of the flavor notes are more difficult to detect. The dominant flavor is dark chocolate or even toasty burnt. Many dark-roasted coffee connoisseurs consider this to be the best roast for making Italian espresso.

What Coffee Roasting Is Most Often Chosen By Customers Of a Coffee Roasting Store

After briefly discussing what coffee roasting is, how to choose the appropriate level of coffee roasting, which method to use, and how to identify coffee roasting, it's time to address the title question. Customers of an online coffee shop typically choose a medium roast level - not a particularly revealing statement, but one that must be highlighted right away. 82% of the coffee we sell is medium roasted. Light roasting is by far the more popular of the two, accounting for 13% of our nearly 9-year history. Dark-roasted coffee accounts for 5% of total sales.

If you have any questions you can visit Seven Virtues Coffee Roasters, please contact us via call at +503-206-2321 or email us at hello@sevenvirtuespdx.com. We are always willing to assist!

Original Source: https://bit.ly/3GGD5E6

[hindiimages]

Why Is It Important To Have Good Quality Coffee Every Morning?

There's nothing better than a cup of drinking coffee at the beginning of morning. A lot of people are committed to coffee, and it's a popular drink across the globe. There's a great demand for coffee beverages throughout the West. Many people aren't feeling at ease throughout the day if don't have an espresso at the beginning of the day. If it wasn't for small-scale farmers, we wouldn't be drinking our favorite beverage. If you're in the supermarket to buy your coffee, you could find a black and white trademark for fair trade on containers for coffee. This isn't just an indication of the label, but also an effort to help small farmers and coffee makers all over the globe.

What Is Fair Trade Certification?

Many farmers and coffee workers are employed every day in the fields of coffee. However, they're not being compensated for their efforts and the skills they possess. They're not receiving the respect they are due for their efforts and often the costs of production are more expensive than the amount they receive. Coffee farmers won't be capable of overcoming their poverty, and also the debt they create out of coffee beans. It's this Fair Trade coffee movement that guarantees that coffee farmers get a fair price of their product and consequently, have the opportunity to earn a decent profit from it. It's a market-based approach that permits coffee bean farmers in developing countries to sell their most valuable product to countries with developed economies.

How do they work?

If you're hoping to have the finest coffee, it's essential to select coffee that comes with an ethical mark. You can be assured that this type of coffee won't be altered as the farmers who produce these earn more than the typical salary. Therefore, high-quality coffee will be guaranteed for a lengthy duration. Fairtrade certifications eliminate the middleman in the relationships between dealers and farmers. Independent producers and farmers will get a fair amount for their beans. It will aid less fortunate farmers of coffee beans to become financially independent. It's not only about price. It's about high-quality. It is about quality. Trade Coffee Movement will train producers on the best ways to produce green coffee and also give them tips about the fertilizers that they can use and the most effective fertilizer methods and also details on how to control pests.

Also, read: Good morning Krishna images

Advantages

If fair trade pays farmers can rest completely relaxed and do not need to worry about their obligations. They'll also be happy with the fact that their farms will be protected for future generations. Coffee drinkers will also be getting benefits since they'll be receiving the best coffee they can get. They also aid in the cause by helping aid the farmer in earning higher than minimum wages. If you buy fair trade coffee, you're giving the person who produces the beans with a double amount of money they usually receive. Fair trade coffee can cost more but you're making significant difference to people's lives. growers and their families.

Lance Winslow is a coffee enthusiast and professional. He drinks coffee several times in the morning. His blog has a lot of articles on the best beans as well as Fair Trade coffee.

I hope that this article will help you out should you wish the best of mornings to all your family members with beautiful Krishna good morning images in English and then go to our website.

[realtacuardach]

Unexpected

Entry for Obiyuki Week 2022, Jack and the Beanstalk, Forbidden/Rescue (Day 5) @snowwhite-andtheknight

~~~

Dropping his bag unceremoniously to the ground, Obi shifted his weight to one side and shielded his face, grinning at her. "So, Miss, what's that big news you wrote about?"

If it wasn't for the giant smirk spreading across his face and the teasing glint in his eye, Shirayuki likely would have dragged him inside to check if he'd experienced some sort of concussion on his last quest. As it was, she simply folded her arms, leaning against the giant beanstalk that had sprung up just beyond her garden. "It's hard to miss," she snorted. "I'm surprised you didn't notice it on the way back."

"Eh, you know how the boss is," Obi drawled, popping a crick in his neck, "give him a sword and a mission, and he's got tunnel vision. And if he gets distracted, Mitsuhide drags us all back into formation."

He stepped beside her, giving her a quick hug around the shoulders before placing a hand on the beanstalk that easily outstripped the size of three tree trunks together. Letting out a low whistle, he looked at her with a blend of surprise and awe. "We've only been gone a week, Miss. I knew you had a green thumb, but this is impressive."

They both craned their heads to better observe the beanstalk, which had grown not only taller than a tree, but also so tall that the top disappeared into the clouds.

"So..." Obi spoke into the companionable silence that filled the air around them, "when did you plant this?"

Feeling the blush rise on the shell of her ears, Shirayuki swept her gaze sheepishly on the ground. "Uh, yesterday."

Both of his eyebrows rose, pulling at the scar above his left eye. “Yesterday? That’s awfully quick…” His eyes widened. “Miss, did you get these from the market by the guild?”

“Yes…” The question puzzled Shirayuki. “I was stopping by the guild to drop a message for you, and the market was busy. There was a woman there selling all kinds of seeds at very reasonable prices, and I have always wanted to grow beans…”

Obi interjected. “Did the woman have long brown hair,” he wiggled his hands by his ears, “dangling earrings, take-no-prisoners smirk?”

Shirayuki frowned in thought and nodded. “Yes, I believe so.”

“That figures,” Obi snorted, “Miss, you bought these beans from a witch. These are magic beans.”

Immediately, Shirayuki began prodding the stalk with delicate, curious fingers. “Amazing! I’ve never grown magic vegetables before.” She rubbed a long, furling leaf between her hands, and hummed to herself thoughtfully. “I wonder if the beans will have more healing powers or be more nutritious than regular ones!”

Obi smiled at her enthusiasm, the expression more soft than his trademark smirk. “I knew a guy who once ate an ear of magic corn that turned him out in red and green polka dots,” he snorted, “but that was grown by a witch who didn’t like people much. Torou’s pretty harmless, though, so it’s probably fine.”

Curiously, Shirayuki looked back at him, and he shrugged. “Worked with her before the guild.”

“Ah,” Shirayuki returned to her examination, pushing the beanstalk with both of her hands, and letting out an impressed gust of breath. “It’s certainly sturdy. I’m surprised it isn’t bending more with the breeze.”

“Well, it is a magic beanstalk, Miss,” Obi replied, “it may be able to magically stay upright.”

Shirayuki bit the corner of her mouth in thought, which Obi found very distracting. “I suppose.”

“Or,” Obi continued. “It could be that it hit something up there.”

“Hit something?”

Obi leaned against the beanstalk. “Maybe that’s why it’s not moving, it’s stuck on something up there.”

Shielding her eyes, Shirayuki looked up to where the beanstalk vanished into the clouds. “What do you think could be up there?”

“I don’t know,” Obi grinned. “Want to find out?”

Before she could even answer the question, Obi had shrugged off his coat, leapt forward, feet landing on sturdy leaf stems, and began to scale the beanstalk. Shirayuki glanced to where his bag lay on the ground, the flap open, and could see the rope he wasn’t using. She opened her mouth to offer the rope to him, but he had already climbed a considerable, pouncing almost cat-like from stem to stem

Fretfully, Shirayuki pulled the few weeds in her garden before picking out blades of grass, trying to keep her hands busy as she watched Obi become smaller and smaller as he climbed higher and higher. Her throat burned with a cry to be careful, but she forced it down, not wanting to distract him.

“How’s the weather down this, Miss?” Obi called down in a tone far too flippant for a man several hundreds of feet in the air.

"The same as it was…" she glanced at her watch, "thirty minutes ago! How's the grip up there?"

"Pretty good," he yelled back, "better than that waterfall I fell down–"

"What?” Shirayuki cried out.

“Can’t hear you, Miss! Just a minute!”

“Obi!” Shirayuki regretted not knowing his full name, he needed his full name thrown at him right now. She began braiding the grass, her fingers growing increasingly frenetic and frenzied as the Obi-dot vanished into the abyss of clouds.

It felt like an eternity passed before she heard the most beautiful sound in the world.

“Hey Miss!” Obi yelled from the clouds, and she saw a blur sliding down the stalk at great speed. She watched with fascination as he nimbly maneuvered through the sea of leaves on the stalk without falling, only digging in his heels as he approached the ground. 

“Obi!” Shirayuki nearly tackled him in relief, checking for waterfall injuries and beanstalk-climbing injuries, and not finding any (although he was very good at hiding them, she’d investigate further later).

Obi grinned excitedly at her, red rising a little on his face, possibly from the sun above the clouds. “You’ll never guess what’s up there!”

“What?”

Obi tilted his head upwards and smiled, eyes glinting with excitement. “Do you want to see?”

~~~

Shirayuki placed the last of her supplies in her basket when Obi burst in through the window, full knapsack banging against his back. “You ready to go?” He asked.

“I think so.” Tapping a finger against her chin, she looked over everything again. “Do you think I’m missing anything?”

Obi stood beside her and leaned a little over her as he looked at the table. He hummed thoughtfully, and then walked away into the depths of her little kitchen. Rattling could be heard for a few minutes before he walked back, holding her cast iron skillet triumphantly before him. “Found it!”

Shirayuki groaned internally, thinking of how hard it would be to lug a proper cast-iron skillet up a giant beanstalk. “Why would we need a skillet?”

“For defense!” Obi twirled the skillet like a sword and nodded, as though pleased with the balance of the make-shift weapon. “You never know, we might run into a giant! And I know you pack a fair punch with this!”

Charitably, Shirayuki decided not to mention that he only knew that because of the time he snuck into her kitchen to intimidate her, and nearly ended up with the skillet embedded in the back of his head. Certainly not the most auspicious of meetings, she had to admit, although it had worked out…eventually.

Now that she thought about that, Obi probably remembered that full too well, given how he appeared to be preening. He picked the oddest things to find admirable about her.

“I’m not sure I can carry this,” she admitted somewhat regretfully. “I’m not sure if I can carry myself up there.”

Obi sobered a little. “We don’t have to go up there if you don’t want to, Miss. I’ll help you climb if you want to, but I won’t make you.”

“No, no, I want to,” Shirayuki assured her, “I just won’t climb as fast as you.”

Face lighting up again, Obi reached into his knapsack and showed her a mound of knotted rope. “You’ll do great, Miss. I’ll be there to help you the whole way,” he shook the rope, “with this!”

Shirayuki squinted at the bundle of the rope that on closer inspection appeared to be some kind of harness. “You’re going to carry me?” 

“If you need me to,” Obi promised, “but I’ll bet you’ll do most of the climbing fine. We’ll just take our time, enjoy the view.” Shirayuki gave him a pointed look and he laughed. “Well, maybe not.” He picked up the skillet. “I’ll carry this, though.”

Glancing at his overstuffed knapsack, Shirayuki frowned thoughtfully. “Do you need to bring all of this? Where are you even going to put the skillet?”

“Of course!” Obi exclaimed. “Always expect the unexpected!” He cried, thumping his chest twice before sliding the skillet into a loop on his belt and tying it securely into place.

Shirayuki stifled a giggle, wondering if Mitsuhide would appreciate Obi mimicking him. Maybe he would just be grateful that Obi listened.

~~~

“Doing okay there, Miss?”

Shirayuki could barely hear Obi through the whistling of the wind, but she nodded as she grabbed onto another leaf and pulled herself up. Then she remembered that Obi couldn’t see her.

“Yes!” Another hearty gust of wind blew across them, and Shirayuki twisted a little in her harness. A few handholds above her, she could see Obi reacting to the change in the ropes before he turned to look down at her. She had no idea how he could look down at her so calmly, given how much of the earth was spread out beneath them.

“Do you need a break?”

Her fingers burned and numbed a little with cold, which had begun to set in about thirty minutes after they had begun climbing. Her cheeks felt a little raw under the onslaught of the wind, and she could feel the effects of the sun on the bridge of her nose. In spite of this, or partially because of this, she felt exuberant and alive, although not enough to take prolonged looks towards the earth below. They’d already taken some breaks on leaves that Obi had marked on the way up as being particularly sturdy, so that also helped.

“I’m fine,” she called back. “Besides, it looks like we’re almost there.”

“Yup,” he grinned at her, “just need to go through the clouds now!”

Clouds…were wet. She’d expected cotton candy, but it instead felt like she was wading through puddles as she followed Obi’s lead. Anxiety thrummed a little through her at the darkness and the increasingly slippery handholds, but Obi’s lifeline on her steadily moving ahead gave her some comfort.

“Almost there,” she heard him call as through wet cotton.

She took a deep breath to respond, and then burst into the sunlight.

Legs wobbling despite herself, Shirayuki blinked back the sudden brightness and tried to focus. Warm hands gripped her arms and steadied her, then moved to her waist. “I’ve got you,” Obi soothed, and Shirayuki let go. 

She floated for a moment amidst the brightness and the warm support of his touch, and then felt the miraculous sturdiness of ground beneath her feet. “Thank you,” she said to the slowly defining silhouette that was Obi, “I’m good.”

He released her, and she took a step forward, then two.

And then her legs crumpled to the ground.

“Ow.”

“Miss!” Obi cried out, falling to his knees beside her. “Are you okay?”

Laughing, Shirayuki patted his shoulder. She blinked and his worried features tugged at her heart. “I’m fine, just tired! How do you make it look so easy?”

Obi settled beside her and shifted so she could lean against him. “It’s a gift.” He gestured around them. “What do you think?”

Catching her breath, Shirayuki glanced around, color returning to her vision, and stared. In front of them lay an enormous field of herbs and flowers. Wind blew gently above the clouds, and the plants bowed and rose with it, sending waves of color in every direction. 

Shirayuki struggled to her feet, Obi supporting her beneath her elbows, and stumbled forward towards where blue bursts of chicory bloomed in abundance. As she brought her hands forward to feel the leaves and flowers, bewilderment flooded her as she realized one flower was easily the size of her hand.

And not just the chicory, every plant here dwarfed the plants on the earth below. Giant orange waves of calendula beckoned from the right. Giant sprigs of lavender towered like trees in the distance. If she pushed up on her toes, she could just see the tops of the mint plants wafting their strong aromas over the entire field.

She blinked once, twice. Then she looked at Obi who laughed at her expression.

"No, Miss," he assured her, "you're not crazy."

Turning back, she hugged Obi tightly. "This is wonderful, thank you!"

Obi grinned sheepishly, rubbing his shoulder. "You grew the beanstalk."

"And you climbed it!" Shirayuki’s fingers began to twitch in anticipation, and she bent down to grab her basket and pruning shears. Both tools in hand, she popped up and looked toward Obi. "Obi, do you mind if–"

Obi grinned, twirling a dagger in one hand and holding a cloth bag in the other. "Lead the way, Miss."

~~~

Shirayuki sighed with contentment as she lay back, the top of her head glancing against Obi's side. Turning her gaze lazily to one side, she could see the bags stuffed tight with herbs and flowers piled by Obi's knapsack. Feeling accomplished, she set herself to the new task of digesting all the food Obi had brought.

"A picnic was a wonderful idea," she complimented sleepily. "I'm glad you thought of it."

"It was a good idea, if I say so myself," Obi agreed, groaning and settling down comfortably beside her. "So what do you want to do now? I'd say watch the clouds go by, but–"

They both laughed, before lapsing into a longurious silence.

"Let's just…stay like this for a while," Shirayuki replied, eyes drifting shut. "It's so peaceful here."

Obi's head lolled on his shoulder, and he smiled softly at the drowsing woman beside her. "Yeah," he half-whispered, "sounds good to me."

The sounds of the plants waving continuously in the breeze and the increasing heaviness of the pair's breathing blended into a soporific melody that lulled them into deeper and deeper drowsiness. The world beneath them, often so chaotic and busy and complicated, seemed more and more distant, and peace pervaded their bones.

The rumbling started so low that it could barely be heard over the wind, but Obi stirred a little from his sleep. He attempted to curl more fully around Shirayuki, and then the vibration deep in the ground, reverberating through his bones. 

Obi shot upwards, blinking, and then his body softened into fluid languidness. Stirring a little, Shirayuki murmured in confusion. "Obi?"

Slowly, Obi's hand went to her shoulder and he began lightly shaking it. "Miss," he said evenly, "you need to wake up."

"Huh," Shirayuki blinked sleepily. 

"Get up," he continued evenly, "grab your bags, and head back to the beanstalk. As quietly as you can."

She had rarely heard that tone, but she had learned that she should always listen to it. Forcing the drowsiness from her bones, she got up from the picnic blanket Obi had brought and slowly walked over to her herbs. Glancing around in vain to see what had sparked Obi's concern, she secured the herb bags firmly to her back.

"Obi," she whispered, "what is–?"

The vibrations grew in intensity, and they appeared to be coming closer. Obi swore an oath under his breath. "Run, Miss!" He shouted, giving up all pretense of hiding, slinging on his knapsack. "I'll be right behind you–"

And then the giant was upon them.

Shirayuki had read about giants, had heard stories at the local tavern about them, but had never seen one up so close. She struggled to move, but her limbs felt weighted in terror as the form of the giant filled the entire field of her vision. Run, she cursed her legs which somehow only managed something approximating a weak toddle, get to the beanstalk! Hurry!

The giant's hot breath gusted her in a pungent fog of heat and mist, causing Shirayuki to choke as she lunged in vain towards safety. The giant's arms whistled through the air as they reached for her; her mind fractured with panic.

Arms much smaller than the giant's shoved her and she fell to the ground. She looked up just in time to see Obi being yanked from the ground by the giant's hairy fists. “No!” She shrieked, “Obi!”

“Run, Miss!” Obi yelled, hacking at the giant’s knuckles with his dagger. The sharp blade barely scraped the thick skin of the giant’s hands, only sending sparks from the strikes to the ground. His knapsack followed soon after, shaken from Obi’s back from the giant’s vigorous shaking. 

As she ran to where the knapsack fell to the ground, Shirayuki watched as Obi abandoned his first attempts to attack and escape and threw his dagger towards the giant’s soft vulnerable eyes. The giant jerked to the side, causing the dagger to miss its target, although the force with which he threw it scraped the giant’s forehead, causing great drops of deep purplish-blood to begin oozing out. Roaring with rage, the giant tightened its hold, Obi gasping in pain under the overpowering pressure.

Shirayuki yanked up the skillet, taking the bag with hers because she didn’t have time to untie the knots, and brought it down, with all her force and an unearthly battle cry, onto the giant’s smallest toe.

Howling with pain, the giant’s hold on Obi tightened and then slackened entirely as both hands reached for the aching toe. Obi landed, none too lightly, on the ground and forced himself to his feet as Shirayuki ran over to him. 

“Obi! Are you okay?”

“No time for that,” Obi said, watching the giant attempt to stand one foot while massaging the other with both hands. The giant almost instantly stumbled, wobbled precariously, and fell onto his back with such a force that both of them were sent into the air several feet.

Shirayuki looked over her shoulder as they scrambled back to their feet, smirking a little at the effects of her frying pan while lamenting the poor plants the giant was crushing. However, the giant looked up, murder in his eyes, and all mirth was gone.

“Run!” 

Nearly tripping in their haste, bags banging and crashing into them, the two ran to where the beanstalk broke through the clouds. The discarded and untied harness lay useless in front of them, and Obi looked back to where the giant had struggled to his feet. 

They were out of time.

Obi began digging in his pack. “Shirayuki, do you trust me?”

“Of course,” she said breathlessly, eyes darting between the approaching giant and Obi.

Pulling her roughly to him, he nodded. “Hold on tight!”

And with that, he ran and jumped.

The moisture of the clouds clung to them, trying to keep them within its chaotic confines, but gravity pulled harder and they continued to plummet. Cloud and wind and sun screamed past them as they fell towards the ground. Shirayuki’s heart lodged in the base of her throat, followed swiftly by her stomach, and she clung to Obi with all her force, closing her eyes.

“Hang on!” Obi yelled, and if Shirayuki could force any sound out of her throat, she would assure him she had no desire to do anything else.

A strange unfurling sound flapped in the wind above their heads, and Shirayuki felt tugged slightly upwards. Her heart froze in fear that the giant had grabbed them and was pulling them back above the clouds.

Obi’s chest began heaving, and Shirayuki feared the worse, and then realized that he was laughing. Not just laughing, but the most exuberant laughing she’d ever heard. He crowed with delight, whooping as they continued their descent to earth, albeit a little more slowly.

She persuaded her eyes to open enough to squint at him. The muscles of his shoulders strained to their utmost, but Obi’s face betrayed no exhaustion, only exhilaration. Her eyes traced the line of his arms, to see his fists twisted tight in material looped around his wrists. Forcing her eyes to open further, she stared up in shock.

Holding the picnic blanket high above his head, Obi was using the winds to descend safely back home.

Laughing along with the rhythms echoing from his chest, Shirayuki leaned her head against his shoulder and tried hard not to think about the ground approaching them.

It felt like an eternity, but likely only a few moments later, Obi nudged at Shirayuki’s temple with his nose. “We’re pretty close to the ground now,” he assured her, “do you want to look?”

Trusting Obi, Shirayuki twisted her head to the side and down towards the ground. The green and purple fields grew larger as they approached, the nearby river glistening like silver around the village. She could just see the specks of her friends and neighbors living their normal lives in the bustling village. The palace glittering resplendently and indulgently from the corner of her eye, and she began sweeping her gaze eagerly from side to side.

Warmth settled deep in her heart as she saw it. Home.

Obi’s feet settled in the grass, followed by Shirayuki’s. He smiled triumphantly at her before toppling onto the ground.

“Are you okay?” She asked, turning him over.

“Fine,” he said lightly and shakily. “Just tired.” He attempted to lift up his arms before letting them flop down into the soft grass.

“That was incredible,” Shirayuki praised. “I would never have thought of that!”

“Always expect…” he huffed, “the unexpected.”

Shirayuki rubbed his shoulders. “I’m going to get something for your arms,” she decided, pushing herself into kneeling, “maybe some chamomile and mint–”

A nerveless arm flopped onto her knee, fingers weakly closing on the hem of her blouse. “Just a minute,” Obi pleaded, “can’t you just…stay with me? For a few minutes?”

“Of course,” Shirayuki settled beside him, taking care not to jar his shoulders. “That was very brave, Obi. Thank you for saving me.”

“Thank you for saving me,” Obi returned. “Told you that a skillet would come in handy.”

“Yes, you did,” Shirayuki laughed. She ran her fingers lazily down his arm, entwining their fingers. Obi attempted to squeeze back, but groaned at the weakness of his fingers. “I hope that jump didn’t hurt you too badly.”

“It was nothing,” he said, turning to her with a grin that was intended to probably be rakish but came off more as doting, “all worth saving a lovely damsel.”

“My hero,” Shirayuki smiled, and pushed up a little to kiss him on the cheek.

Obi flushed bright red, and his arms twitched hard in the grass. “If I only could move,” he muttered.

Shirayuki laughed and kissed him again. “There’s more than enough time for that later. Rest now.”

Pillowing her head on his shoulder, she sighed and smiled as he felt his cheek lean against the top of her head. Together, they gazed up at the clouds that had gone silent, hands intertwined.

~~~

Above the clouds, a chagrined and put-upon giant sat glumly in front of his home, having been thoroughly chastised by his wife that this is why we never have guests over!

[forever-rogue]

✨ stars- if you can write a little one shot of din and baby yoda 😭🥺 please!!! Thank you sweetheart!

"Kid?" Din sounded tired - exhausted even as he searched for the little green menace that had eluded him...again. He swore he had turned his back for all of two seconds before he heard that mischievous little laugh that meant he was up to no good.

He put down his soldering iron and stood up, feeling all his joints pop and crack as he did. How long was he actually crouched on floor for? A sigh, heavy and world weary, a bit of a trademark for the otherwise imposing Mandalorian, escaped his lips as he went off in search of his adopted son.

"I hope you're keeping out of trouble," he murmured more to himself than anything else as he searched around the quiet interior of the Razor Crest. He peeked through every nook and cranny, knowing how elusive the little one could be but still he found nothing.

Years ago, basically in another lifetime as this point, he would have minded. Solitude and deafening silence was all he had known for years. But now, since he'd been tasked with this mission and taken in the little one, he abhorred it. He didn't know how much he could care for, and maybe even love, another until he meet the little one.

"Kid?" now he was mildly worried as he searched as he realized he had only 1 place left to search. He slowly climbed the ladder to the cockpit, heart beating furiously in his chest as he hoped the little one there.

When he emerged at the top he felt nothing but relief wash over him as he immediately found him sitting on the console, face almost pressed against the glass as he watched the night sky.

"Adi'ka," it was a soft sigh of relief when he realized that he was okay, "I told you to stay by my side."

The little one cooed and chirped excitedly when he saw his father, a little grin on his face and happiness evident in his big inky eyes.

As Din stepped closer, he stretched his small arms up, indicating his desire to be held. The Mandalorian's heart softened as he scooped him up and held him in a gentle embrace to his chest before taking his place in the pilot's chair.

"What are you looking at, little one?" he asked as the green bean snuggled up to his chest, cooing lightly, "the stars? I can tell you lots of stories about the stars. Would you like to hear them?"

A soft sound met his ears in response, but it was quickly replaced by the sound of light, even breathing, signaling that he was already fast asleep.

Din told him all the stories about his favorite stars anyway. Soon enough both of them were dozing off in the soft, comfortable slumber.

[hongnanglen-arina]

“No, tea it is.” | Choi Seungcheol/S.Coups

Genre: Fluff

Pairing: barista!Seungcheol x fem reader

Warnings: none

Words: 1.710

A/N: Hi there! Here’s something for our leader. He needs all the love, yes yes! As always, English isn’t my first language so excuse my grammar ♡

—

[6:41 am]

The look on your watch told you that you had to wait at least 70 more minutes until your family would finally land. As always, you were early but because it was a sunday, you had to take an even earlier connection to get to the airport, not wanting to be too late that it would get stressful or that your family had to wait for you. But seeing the time on your watch, it was still a little too early for your taste.

Yawning loudly, your gaze wandered to the two stores that offered coffee. "That one.... or that one??" You asked yourself while your feet took you to one of them absentmindedly. Maybe your feet decided for themselves because of... the cashier? Your steps slowed down a bit while you studied the boy from outside the store. He was handsome, his hair ash blonde and he was dressed in a very oversized rose cardigan which was halfway covered with a black apron. When you stepped inside, you could hear calming christmas songs through the speakers and you were immediately surrounded by the delicious smell of coffee beans. Sighing happily, you couldn't suppress the smile on your face. You haven't had your coffee yet but you already felt so much better. And again, you were surprised what effect coffee had on you aka how addicted you were to it. 

Not noticing how the boy was watching you from behind the counter, you looked around a little, trying to find the perfect spot to relax for an hour until the plane with your family would be landing. It wasn't crowded at all. Maybe thanks to the day and time.

"Welcome! May I help you?"

A warm and friendly voice pulled you back to reality and your head snapped to the said direction, now facing the cashier from before. He was smiling at you, hands folded neatly in front of his apron as he was waiting for your response. 

His expression was warm and friendly but the closer you got to him, the more you noticed the soft dark circles under his eyes, telling you that you might not were the only sleepy one here. But it didn’t make him less attractive to your surprise.

Now standing right in front of the counter and in front of this very handsome boy, your gaze wandered up to the menu. With pretty strokes, a wide range of drinks were written with white chalk on a black board, some other colors were used for green tea leaves or brown coffee beans combined with blue ice cubes and of course, christmas decorations. You wondered if he was the one who wrote it. 

“Uhm… it’s hard to decide.” It really was. Everything with coffee literally screamed your name. It’s been a while since you had a lavender latte or mint latte. Also pumpkin spice wasn’t on your christmas agenda yet. But even the regular drinks like caramel latte seemed nice at the moment. “Can you recommend something nice and warm?”

When your gaze met his again, the boy made a thinking sound. "No offense but you seem like a coffee type of girl."

"How does a coffee type of person look like?"

"Uhm, I don't know..” He scratched the back of his neck sheepishly. “You just give me the feeling you are? Maybe I have that special sense because of my job? So, coffee it is?"

The corner of your lips twitched and he wiggled his eye brows in a cocky way, very sure about his opinion of you. “No, tea it is. I love tea.”

His eyes widen at your reply. As if his inner triumph just crashed just by a single word. He’s never been wrong with it before. When he noticed, he quickly cleared his throat and pointed to the selection of tea his work place offered. Grinning to yourself, you listened to him and were very amused about the fact that you caught him off guard so easily. While he was explaining the different tea styles and leaves, you looked at his name tag. Seungcheol. You spoke his name several times in your head, finding it kind of fitting to the boy in front of you. You noticed how soft his cardigan was and how good it suited him. It made his features so much softer. And even with the delicious smell of coffee, your nose met his own perfume that you really liked.

“So I would recommend our special homemade green tea. What do you think?”

Smiling at him, you nodded. “Sounds good.”

You payed your drink and took a seat in the back after Seungcheol told you he would bring your drink over once it’s done. A look at your watch told you, that 14 minutes passed by. Checking the flight schedule again, you decided to walk to the arrival hall in about an hour since it wasn’t too far away from the spot you were right now. 

It didn’t took too long for Seungcheol that he stood in front of your table, carefully setting the tea down with a donut. Before you could say anything, he waved his hand okay. “It’s a little apology for me assuming you are a coffee type of girl. Sorry about that. Anyways, it suits perfectly with the tea so I hope you like it.”

You blinked at the powdered sugar donut and then up to the boy. “Thank you. That’s very kind of you.”

With an exaggerated bow, he walked away again, making you giggle. He was cute. You waited a bit before the tea was ready to drink but once it was, you hummed agreeingly. The tea was really good and Seungcheol was right, the donut was perfect with it. He surely had a good taste. 

The hour was slow. Just a few customers made their way to the store and they were all greeted by a cheerful Seungcheol. You couldn't help but to watch him work, also you didn’t have anything else to do anyways. Talk to the customers, smile at them and even ask them if they are a tea or coffee type of person just as he did with you. At first you rolled your eyes, finding his trademark start of a conversation stupid but he got it right every time, shooting you a wink as he caught you looking and you started to find it amusing. It quickly became some kind of silent competition in which you two locked eyes, exchanged smiles or shook your head at the other with a grin. 

It made you thought he was more than cute. And so did he.

When your hour was nearly coming to an end, you stood up and put the little tray with your order away before walking over to Seungcheol again who was cleaning the counter, looking up at you.

"Leaving already?” 

"Yeah, I need to pick up family. Mind if I order a coffee before I leave?"

"I don't mind making coffee for you but I do mind you leaving me. It was fun."

You smiled at him with pink cheeks, the same color he wore on his own. "Yeah, it was. But we might meet again… somewhen, someday."

He cocked his head to the side. "Is that so, miss tea-lover?"

"Oh, according to your reaction, you are a coffee-lover, right? Beep. Sadly no match."

His laughter filled your ears and you suddenly wished you could hear it more often as you joined. "So I guess this coffee is for the person you are going to pick up. Which one can I prepare for you?"

"Y/n." Your eyes widen after realizing what you just said out loud, instantly covering your mouth. "Uhhh I mean.. uhm... one lavender latte please.. and.. with an extra shot espresso please.."

Seungcheol chuckled at your shy mumbling and gave you a nod. "Alright, lavender latte, extra shot for your family it is. It will be ready in a bit... y/n.”

You pressed your lips in a thin line to hide your happy grin as best as you could and after you shortly thanked him, you waited at the side, eyes falling down to the napkins in front of you. Biting your lower lip, you watched Seungcheol prepare your drink while humming to the christmas carol in the background. His soft hair fell lightly over his eyes, his big cardigan was rolled up so his hands were free to work with. Admiring his features from the side, you decided something you’ve never done before. 

Just in time when you shoved your pen back into your backpack, your coffee was ready. Seungcheol had decorated it with a smiley on top, making you giggle. “Thank you… Seungcheol.”

His smile faded a bit as his mouth fell open in a surprised manner, just to change to an even wider smile. “My pleasure, y/n.”

With your credit card, you payed the drink and stopped moving, sheepishly looking at the boy in front of you, who nervously kneaded the wet cloth on the counter. “So…. see you around I guess?” There was something in his voice that caused goosebumps to form on your skin. 

Exhaling deeply, you quickly put - what was in your hand - down on the counter in front of you and turned around, waving at him before almost rushing out of the store in embarrassment. 

Seungcheol watched you half in confusion, half with a chuckle but then his attention fell onto the little folded napkin in front of him. After a short and curious peek in your direction, he took and opened it.

//You were right. I’m a coffee type of girl and this drink is for myself. I wonder what else you would get right about me so if you want, you can… text me and we can get to know each other more? :)//

His eyes read over the numbers you wrote down on the little napkin as a smile crept onto his lips. This was the first time a cute girl gave her number to him. Today had already been a day with a couple of first times. He wondered how many more he would experience with you and he couldn’t wait to find out.

[punsandfuturekingsmen]

SENSES AND OTHER ODDLY SPECIFIC HEADCANONS

1. WHAT DOES YOUR MUSE SMELL LIKE: To those with more supernatural origins, Arthur has a blend of a myriad of scents. There’s things like Petrichor, the scent of Thunderstorms. Vanilla and Sunflowers. Leather, Steel, and Motor Oil. There’s a faint sting of Salt, and a splash of citrus and blood. This is often what his aura feels like as well.

To someone with less discerning senses, He smells mostly like vanilla and citrusy fresh linen because of his shampoo, as well as a blend of leather, vanilla, and steel from an oil he wears on his skin or in a scent locket.

2. WHAT DO YOUR MUSE’S HANDS FEEL LIKE:  Arthur’s hands are thin and slender, hands built for delicate work and piano keys. His right hand is always a a bit too warm, textured by calluses and scars. One scar decorates his pinky at the bend of the first joint, and a long line runs through his palm and the back of his hand. His hand is rough, well-used for hard manual labor and made tough to struggle and survive between his physical activities, machinery, and weapons.

His left is an oxymoron to the right, diametric in how cold it is. It is smooth to the touch, unblemished except where there is the smallest pivot of a groove or screws for his joints, and where he has material with resistance similar to silicon, to cover his palm and fingers, and allow for better grip. These are still soft and squishy like toe beans, and slightly less cold than the metal.

3. WHAT DOES YOUR MUSE USUALLY EAT IN A DAY: Depends on who he visits. Most days if left to his own devices he doesn’t eat, or maybe he gets a hotpocket or some take-out if he remembers. If he’s with friends, he may eat more, but it depends on if he’s nudged about it, or if they’re focused on some dramatic issue. He tends to avoid food and only really reluctantly accept it, and when he does eat, it is very little, except if it’s seafood which he will eat in excess if it’s available and not taking away from anyone else.

4. DOES YOUR MUSE HAVE A GOOD SINGING VOICE: Arthur’s voice is semi-trained because he took lessons with Lewis when they were both learning piano as well. He likes singing, though he hasn’t in a long time, and tends to avoid it since the passing of Lewis. When he does sing, it is incredibly angelic and quite magical, you could say :3c

5. DOES YOUR MUSE HAVE ANY BAD HABITS OR NERVOUS TICS: He bites and worries his lip, which is only worsened by the fact he now has a quad of sharp canines. He pulls at his hair when he’s upset as well, often pulling hair out the more upset he is. When less upset he runs his fingers through his hair or grabs his arm, and when upset enough his fingers will dig into what is left of his left arm, causing pain. Sometimes he will grab his right arm with the prosthetic and leave a galaxy of bruises on his arm from gripping far too hard. He also tends to shuffle his feet to expel nervous energy. His bad habits are abundant, but not sleeping or eating and the self harm are the most prevalent. He also tends to lie about his health to others, and avoids telling others almost anything about himself that is personal.

6: WHAT DOES YOUR MUSE USUALLY LOOK LIKE/WEAR: Arthur almost constantly can be found wearing bootcut yellow jeans, high-top converse, elastic wrist bands, and an oversized white shirt with the sleeves rolled up. He also has four pins he sports as well, one for the mystery skulls, a blue circle, a trans flag button, and a star. What he wears over the white shirt varies, and has in the past been a maroon leather jacket made for him by Frenzy, a mystery skulls now or never inspired pullover sleeveless hoodie sporting a green skeletal ribcage, and his trademark orange puffy vest. Anything with pockets will usually do. He usually has his prosthetic as well, but he can go without as well. He is in the works on making some with a bit of variance, for having options to mix it up a little.

7. IS YOUR MUSE AFFECTIONATE? HOW MUCH? HOW SO: It depends on who it is. With true strangers, it can take a while for Arthur to open up to them, depending on how well their first meeting and subsequent ones are. While playful still in a joking away, he’s not very openly affectionate with strangers. When friends with him, or an alternate version of one of his friends (often a lewis or Vivi), he’s a lot more touchy and affectionate, because he trusts who he is talking to and interacting with. Arthur is a very touchy person and will often hug or bump or ruffle the hair of his friends, or when they are upset, he will hold their hand, possibly kiss it or their cheeks, or stroke his fingers through their hair to offer comfort.

8. WHAT POSITION DOES YOUR MUSE SLEEP IN: When actually sleeping, Arthur tends to sleep on his back, with a pillow under his legs for elevation, and something under his arm and his left shoulder for maximum support. Then during the night while asleep, the pillow for his arm probably falls off the bed, the one under his feet ends up between his legs, and he often ends up sleeping on his side, curled up small in a stiff, mute ball.

9: COULD YOU HEAR YOUR MUSE IN THE HALLWAY FROM ANOTHER ROOM: Not really, but it depends. Arthur tends to be very quiet on his own and unless he’s working on a project and making noise assembling something, you probably won’t hear him, as he’s very quiet, and tries to not be disruptive actively.

When he’s around friends though, he opens up, and he often can be excitable. You would easily be able to hear him chattering up a storm from the other room.

Tagged by: dearaliceliddell

Tagging: @frenzys-furnace @talesofnovembria @monochrome-lewis​ and anyone else who wants to since it’s a long one and i felt bad tagging people :’3