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chocodile · 1 year ago

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Thought it would be fun to illustrate some Amaranthine cuisine from various regions (and time periods). Long writeups under the cut!

Western Kingdom Cuisine: Northern Upper Class

The cultural cuisine of the northern part of the Western Kingdom is shaped by the region's harsh, snowy climate. The cold meant that it was easier to keep food from spoiling, but hard to find it in the first place. During the warmer spring and summer months, food would be collected and then salted, dried, pickled, or otherwise preserved in order to last through the winter. Red meat is their primary dietary staple, and is served in a wide variety of ways, including raw and engastrated. Dairy is also common in all forms -- cheese, butter, milk, and as a component of common sauces and chowders (another cultural favorite, and great way to use up leftovers). Alcohol is also common, with a favorite cultural drink being a spiced, warmed fermented milk with a flavor similar to eggnog.

Northern dishes prioritize making use of all parts of the animal, especially nutrient-rich organ meats and fat. As a landlocked region with few rivers, fish is somewhat uncommon, but not unheard of, especially salted or pickled fish shipped in from the south. Also, as mentioned before, eating animals, including "one's own kind", is not taboo at all in this region. In such harsh climates, turning one's nose up at a filling meal is seen as ridiculous.

When good meat is available, though, presentation can get a little… creative. Or, as some might describe it, obscene. Feasts for nobles often involve whole roast hogs stuffed with turkeys stuffed with game birds stuffed with exotic, imported pickled fish, ground meat sculpted into strange and creative shapes, and other ostentatious displays. If a nobleman's chefs can do something artistic with the meat that his guests have never seen before, it's considered very impressive. Of course, to foreigners, a western kingdom noble's banquet can look rather nightmarish and grotesque. Such displays of excess are generally the realm of the wealthy, but most families will still celebrate with a "turducken" or similar engastrated roast once a year during winter feast.

Fresh fruits and vegetables make up only a small component of northern dishes. Berry preserves and pickled vegetables are prepared during the summer months, but the only "fresh" vegetables accessible during colder months are hardy root vegetables and tubers harvested from geothermal caves. Mushrooms, also harvested from the caves, are eaten in many forms.

Bread made in this region is typically very hard and dense. This "thickbread" is intended to be soaked in gravy, milk, or soup to soften it and make it more palatable. Attempting to eat the bread without softening it is a clear indicator that someone is a foreigner, or perhaps so poor that they can't afford a proper meal. Some "thinbread" is baked slightly softer and intended to be eaten in slices, but culturally, it's still expected that you put some sort of gravy or spread on it so that you don't look like a confused foreigner or destitute peasant.

For dessert, northerners often eat dessert breads soaked in sweetened, spiced cream and topped with berry preserves and candied mushrooms. Berry tarts are also made with preserves during colder months and fresh fruit during summer months, and are associated with spring, celebration, and hardship ending. These berry tarts are often eaten at celebratory dinners at the end of winter and given to students after finishing exams.

Many residents of other territories find traditional northerner food a little overwhelming due to how rich and dense it is. It can certainly take some getting used to. Eastern Kingdom residents tend to find northern cuisine especially nightmarishly grotesque and barbaric due to their cultural views around meat. However, with increased trade and travel over the last few decades, northerner food is beginning to look more like the food from the rest of the Western Kingdom, and some of the more offputting cultural practices like the ostentatious engastrated meatcraft and inedible-unless-softened bread are becoming somewhat less popular.

Eastern Kingdom Cuisine: Coastal Citydweller

The Eastern Kingdom's cuisine is similarly influenced by their climate. The desert that spans much of the region meant that, aside from its sparkling oasis cities and rim of fishing towns along the coast and major river, many residents traditionally lived a nomadic lifestyle. Additionally, unlike the Western Kingdom, they absolutely do view "eating your own kind" as tantamount to cannibalism, which meant that most red meat was only consumed during times of desperation or occasionally during holidays/rituals, though the latter is mostly seen as a weird unsavory rural thing.

The Eastern Kingdom's meat taboo generally does not extend to fish, shellfish, and insects. Fresh fish and shellfish are routinely consumed near the coast, often seared in olive oil and spices and served over a couscous-like grain base, and a salty paste made of fermented fish is smeared on bread in interior regions. Beetles coated in chopped nuts and chili powder and dried, and honeyed crickets are also popular snacks.

Eastern Kingdom cuisine also involves a lot of nuts, beans, and seeds as major dietary staples. These foods are long-lasting, spoilage-resistant, nutrient-rich, and grew easily along the banks of the kingdom's major waterway and oases even before cities settled there. These three food groups are found in nearly all of their cooking. Nuts and seeds are baked into bread and desserts but also mixed into stir fry-type dishes to add protein. A common dessert and trail snack consists of dried dates mixed with walnuts. Dates and figs are also made into jams and eaten spread over bread or as a component in sauces.

Vegetables and fruits, as well as olives, were grown in grand, sprawling, aqueduct-fed gardens in oasis cities and on riverbanks. Cacti, once cultivated extensively by ancient nomads, are served chopped and glazed with honey, another dietary staple.

Dairy, derived from pack animals used by nomads, is also somewhat common, though difficult to transport without spoilage. It is paradoxically seen as a practical, basic food by nomads and farmers, who can milk it directly from its source, something of a luxury by city-dwellers.

Additionally, the Eastern Kingdom's sprawling coastlines mean an extensive seafaring presence. As a result, they have brought back many novel plants from far afield to be cultivated in the Eastern Sultan's personal palace garden. Among these: cocoa beans, which are refined into a spicy energizing herbal drink similar to coffee. "Chocolate houses" serving this drink can be found throughout larger cites, sometimes mixing the cocoa drink with more familiar sweetened cactus juice to stretch the expensive cocoa powder further.

Post-Fall Cuisine: Ironfrost Middle Class

The society that eventually emerged after the fall of the Old Kingdoms was quite different from what came before. Though discovery of ironworking led to the rise of industrialization--processed food and automated canning, among other innovations-- the harsh, permanent winter that eventually consumed most of the continent meant that cuisine never reached the levels of decadence it had in the Old Kingdoms. This is especially true of the working class in Ironfrost, whose rather dreary cuisine is shown here.

Limited accessibility of fresh fruits and vegetables--grown in engineered greenhouses or shipped in from the far south over increasingly long distances as the cold spread southward--meant that nearly all vegetables are eaten canned. Many, especially those in rural northern towns that lacked greenhouses, may have never even seen a fresh tomato or head of lettuce before. (The City of the Sun produces fresh fruit and vegetables for the far north--including exotic apples in nigh-extinct Old Kingdom varieties--but cutting a trade deal with the reclusive city-state can be difficult due to the whims of its elusive cultish leader.)

The one exception? Mushrooms. Like the Western Kingdom northerners that lived there before them, Post-Fall societies came to rely heavily on harvesting edible mushrooms from the geothermal caves below the tundra. Mushrooms are a crucial dietary staple and can be roasted, pickled, fried, pureed, or even candied. Many of the more specialized cooking styles such as candying were passed down by survivors of the fallen Western Kingdom, thought the passage of time and changing availability of spices and other ingredients have rendered many recipes quite different from their ancestors.

Fresh meat is easier to access and easier to preserve with minimal loss of taste or texture thanks to the frigid weather providing easy "refrigeration" by way of outdoor iceboxes. However, a whole, freshly-cooked roast is still considered a rare treat for most, especially for the mine and factory workers living within the dense industrial labyrinths of Ironfrost. Canned and dried meats are popular due to being less sensitive to spoilage when kept indoors or transported across different climates.

Overall, the heavy reliance on dried and canned food means that most available ingredients are ugly, mushy, and lacking in natural taste due to the extensive preservation process. As a result, stews, loafs, and casseroles are common, as well as jellied aspic dishes. Any manner of preparation that can hide the appearance of limp, shriveled vegetables or disguise the taste of eating the same salted meat every day is useful. Creative meat presentation, such as sculpting ground meat into fun shapes, decorated meatloaf, and ornate aspic molds is another cultural holdover passed on by Western Kingdom survivors, though in the current day it's associated more with the middle or lower middle class rather than nobility. It is now more of a way to make the most out of poor circumstances than to impress fellow nobles at parties.

(Side note, not pictured: Modern day Ironfrost elite tend to favor very plain dishes made out of fresh food, garnished with sliced fruit--the mere fact that they can access such exotic fare makes their wealth self-evident! An aspiring elite with limited funds can choose to rent a bowl of Sun City apples or even an elusive pineapple to impress party guests instead.)

One of the few pieces of Eastern Kingdom food culture that survived to the present day is chocolate, though like Western Kingdom dishes, it is now quite different from its original form. These days, cocoa is blended with fat and sugar and eaten as a dessert: chocolate. This has caused its popularity to explode. Chocolate bars are incredibly popular for their delicious taste and portability, and cakes and cookies made with chocolate are coveted by the poor and wealthy alike. Of course, the cold climate means that cocoa beans can only be grown in specialized greenhouses, and the owners of these greenhouses are keen to charge a premium for access. Ironfrost and The City of the Sun are the two major cocoa producers and it's not unheard of for Ironfrost soldiers to bully smaller cocoa growers out of business to maintain their near-monopoly. Still, hidden cocoa grows scattered around the tundra ensure that a large supply of "bootleg" chocolate remains on the menu--just don't get caught with it in Ironfrost territory.

#worldbuilding #food #fantasy food #verse: amaranthine #food //

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najia-cooks · 1 year ago

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[ID: A bowl of avocado spread sculpted into a pattern, topped with olive oil and garnished with symmetrical lines of nigella seeds and piles of pomegranate seeds; a pile of pita bread is in the background. End ID]

متبل الأفوكادو / Mutabbal al-'afukadu (Palestinian avocado dip)

Avocados are not native to Palestine. Israeli settlers planted them in Gaza in the 1980s, before being evicted when Israel evacuated all its settlements in Gaza in 2005. The avocados, however, remained, and Gazans continued to cultivate them for their fall and winter harvest. Avocados have been folded into the repertoire of a "new" Palestinian cuisine, as Gazans and other Palestinians have found ways to interpret them.

Palestinians may add local ingredients to dishes traditionally featuring avocado (such as Palestinian guacamole, "جواكامولي فلسطيني" or "غواكامولي فلسطيني"), or use avocado in Palestinian dishes that typically use other vegetables (pickling them, for example, or adding them to salads alongside tomato and cucumber).

Another dish in this latter category is حمص الافوكادو (hummus al-'afukadu)—avocado hummus—in which avocado is smoothly blended with lemon juice, white tahina (طحينة البيضاء, tahina al-bayda'), salt, and olive oil. Yet another is متبّل الأفوكادو (mutabbal al-'afukadu). Mutabbal is a spiced version of بابا غنوج (baba ghannouj)‎: "مُتَبَّل" means "spiced" or "seasoned," from "مُ" "mu-," a participlizing prefix, + "تَبَّلَ" "tabbala‎," "to have spices added to." Here, fresh avocado replaces the roasted eggplant usually used to make this smooth dip; it is mixed with green chili pepper, lemon juice, garlic, white tahina, sumac, and labna (لبنة) or yoghurt. Either of these dishes may be topped with sesame or nigella seeds, pomegranate seeds, fresh dill, or chopped nuts, and eaten with sliced and toasted flatbread.

Avocados' history in Palestine precedes their introduction to Gaza. They were originally planted in 1908 by a French order of monks, but these trees have not survived. It was after the Balfour Declaration of 1917 (in which Britain, having been promised colonial control of Palestine with the dissolution of the Ottoman Empire after World War 1, pledged to establish "a national home for the Jewish people" in Palestine) that avocado agriculture began to take root.

In the 1920s, 30s, and 40s, encouraged by Britain, Jewish Europeans began to immigrate to Palestine in greater numbers and establish agricultural settlements (leaving an estimated 29.4% of peasant farming families without land by 1929). Seeds and seedlings from several varieties of avocado were introduced from California by private companies, research stations, and governmental bodies (including Mikveh Israel, a school which provided settlers with agricultural training). In these years, prices were too high for Palestinian buyers, and quantities were too low for export.

It wasn't until after the beginning of the Nakba (the ethnic cleansing of Palestinians from "Jewish" areas following the UN partition of Palestine in 1947) that avocado plantings became significant. With Palestinians having been violently expelled from most of the area's arable land, settlers were free to plant avocados en masse for export, aided (until 1960) by long-term, low-interest loans from the Israeli government. The 400 acres planted within Israel's claimed borders in 1955 ballooned to 2,000 acres in 1965, then 9,000 by 1975, and over 17,000 by 1997. By 1986, Israel was producing enough avocados to want to renegotiate trade agreements with Europe in light of the increase.

Israeli companies also attained commercial success selling avocados planted on settlements within the West Bank. As of 2014, an estimated 4.5% of Israeli avocado exports were grown in the occupied Jordan Valley alone (though data about crops grown in illegal settlements is of course difficult to obtain). These crops were often tended by Palestinian workers, including children, in inhumane conditions and at starvation wages. Despite a European Union order to specify the origin of such produce as "territories occupied by Israel since 1967," it is often simply marked "Israel." Several grocery stores across Europe, including Carrefour, Lidl, Dunnes Stores, and Aldi, even falsified provenance information on avocados and other fruits in order to circumvent consumer boycotts of goods produced in Israel altogether—claiming, for example, that they were from Morocco or Cyprus.

Meanwhile, while expanding its own production of avocados, Israel was directing, limiting, and destabilizing Palestinian agriculture in an attempt to eliminate competition. In 1982, Israel prohibited the planting of fruit trees without first obtaining permission from military authorities; in practice, this resulted in Palestinians (in Gaza and the West Bank) being entirely barred from planting new mango and avocado trees, even to replace old, unproductive ones.

Conditions worsened in the years following the second intifada. Between September of 2000 and September of 2003, Israeli military forces destroyed wells, pumps, and an estimated 85% of the agricultural land in al-Sayafa, northern Gaza, where farmers had been using irrigation systems and greenhouses to grow fruits including citrus, apricots, and avocados. They barred almost all travel into and out of al-Sayafa: blocking off all roads that lead to the area, building barricades topped with barbed wire, preventing entry within 150 meters of the barricade under threat of gunfire, and opening crossings only at limited times of day and only for specific people, if at all.

A July 2001 prohibition on Palestinian vehicles within al-Sayafa further slashed agricultural production, forcing farmers to rely on donkeys and hand carts to tend their fields and to transport produce across the crossing. If the crossing happened to be closed, or the carts could not transport all the produce in time, fruits and vegetables would sit waiting in the sun until they rotted and could not be sold. The 2007 blockade worsened Gaza's economy still further, strictly limiting imports and prohibiting exports entirely (though later on, there would be exceptions made for small quantities of specific crops).

In the following years, Israel allowed imports of food items into Gaza not exceeding the bare minimum for basic sustenance, based on an estimation of the caloric needs of its inhabitants. Permitted (apples, bananas, persimmons, flour) and banned items for import (avocados, dates, grapes) were ostensibly based on "necessary" versus "luxury" foods, but were in fact directed according to where Israeli farmers could expect the most profit.

Though most of the imports admitted into Gaza continued to come from Israel, Gazan farmers kept pursuing self-sufficiency. In 2011, farmers working on a Hamas-government-led project in the former settlements produced avocados, mangoes, and most of the grapes, onions, and melons that Gazans ate; by 2015, though still forbidden from exporting excess, they were self-sufficient in the production of crops including onions, watermelon, cantaloupe, grapes, almonds, olives, and apples.

Support Palestinian resistance by calling Elbit System’s (Israel’s primary weapons manufacturer) landlord, donating to Palestine Action’s bail fund, and donating to the Bay Area Anti-Repression Committee bail fund.

Ingredients:

2 medium avocados (300g total)

1/4 cup white tahina

2 Tbsp labna (لبنة), or yoghurt (laban, لبن رايب)

1 green chili pepper

2 cloves garlic

2 Tbsp good olive oil

Juice of 1/2 lemon (1 1/2 Tbsp)

1 tsp table salt, or to taste

Pomegranate seeds, slivered almonds, pine nuts, chopped dill, nigella seeds, sesame seeds, sumac, and/or olive oil, to serve

Khubiz al-kmaj (pita bread), to serve

Instructions:

1. In a mortar and pestle, crush garlic, pepper, and a bit of salt into a fine paste.

2. Add avocados and mash to desired texture. Stir in tahina, labna, olive oil, lemon juice, and additional salt.

You can also combine all ingredients in a blender or food processor.

3. Top with a generous drizzle of olive oil. Add toppings, as desired.

4. Cut pita into small rectangles or triangles and separate one half from the other (along where the pocket is). Toast in the oven, or in a large, dry skillet, stirring occasionally, until golden brown. Serve dip alongside toasted pita chips.

#Palestinian #avocados #tahina #lemons #long post /#gluten free

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buffetlicious · 8 months ago

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If all Zong Zi or Rice Dumplings look the same to you, you’re not alone! Zong Zi (粽子) or Bak Chang are a variety of glutinous rice dumplings traditionally eaten by the Chinese during the Dragon Boat Festival (端午节). Here are six types of popular Zong Zi from various dialect and ethnic groups in Singapore.

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Hokkien Rice Dumpling (福建咸肉粽) - One of the most common Zong Zi that can be found in markets and stores, the Hokkien Zong Zi is wrapped in bamboo leaves is recognized by its dark appearance from soy sauce infused rice and distinct aroma from the five-spice seasoning. Usually made with pork belly, salted egg yolk, chestnuts and dried shrimps.

Cantonese Rice Dumpling (广东咸肉粽) - The ingredient that sets Cantonese Zong Zi apart is the filling of mung beans or green beans. One can also order a variation with a salted egg yolk. The glutinous rice is also seasoned with salt and garlic oil instead of soy sauce.

Nyonya Rice Dumpling (娘惹粽) - The Nyonya Zong Zi is the most distinguishable rice dumpling for its bright blue tip that is typically made from the extract of the butterfly pea flower. It is also sweeter in taste and aroma because of its pandan leaf wrapper and candied winter melon.

Teochew Rice Dumpling (潮州粽) - The savoury yet sweet taste of a Teochew Zong Zi comes from various ingredients such as red bean paste or lotus paste, fatty pork belly, earthy mushrooms and dried shrimp. Chestnuts are also added to the dumpling for texture.

Hainanese Rice Dumpling (海南肉粽) - The Hainanese Zong Zi’s most distinctive trait lies in its portion. It is filled with generous chunks of pork belly, whole chestnuts, mushrooms, and seasonings of savoury additions like five-spice powder, dark soy sauce, and black pepper. It is also usually served with a dollop of palm sugar syrup, adding a nice balance of sweetness to its savoury and slightly spicy flavour.

Hakka Rice Dumpling (客家粽) - Steamed in bamboo leaves, the Hakka Zong Zi consists of preserved vegetable filling, juicy pork belly strips and savoury mushrooms. It is also sometimes filled with beans.

Zong Zi info from here and images from Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth.

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ainawgsd · 4 months ago

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We went to the pumpkin patch today, so it's time to make my favorite fall soup, winter squash chowder!

First we chop some onions (supposed to use leeks, but our small town grocery store doesn't sell leeks so we're making due with onions tonight) and cube 2-3 varieties of squash or pumpkin (tonight we're using lakota and tetsukabuto...and like five pieces of kai kai, but it's about as tasty as a jackolantern pumpkin, do not recommend) and two large redskin potatoes.

Then we fry some bacon to render the fat. And put the bacon aside to use as a garnish.

Saute the onions until tender, then add the squash and potatoes (i forgot to take a picture of that one) and cook about 5 minutes.

Add 4 cups of chicken broth and bring to a boil, then cover and reduce heat, simmering until vegetables are tender, about30-40 minutes. I also added salt, pepper, garlic powder, and smoked paprika at this point. Next up, cream, sage, and parsley!

In fact, I need to go pick the sage now while I'm waiting on the vegetables to cook.

#whats for dinner #yum #winter squash chowder #soup posting

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bilgiarena · 2 years ago

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Allkindaideas - Platin

When it comes to dinner ideas, there are countless options to choose from. Whether you're looking for a quick and easy meal or something more elaborate, the possibilities are endless. One popular dinner idea is to create a themed meal, such as a taco night or a pasta bar. This allows for customization and variety, as each person can choose their own toppings and ingredients. Another option is to try out new recipes from different cuisines, such as Indian, Thai, or Mexican. This not only introduces new flavors and spices into your meals but also expands your culinary horizons. Additionally, incorporating seasonal ingredients into your dinner ideas can provide a fresh and vibrant twist to your meals. By using ingredients that are in season, you can take advantage of their peak flavor and nutritional value. Whether it's a hearty soup in the winter or a refreshing salad in the summer, seasonal ingredients can elevate your dinner ideas. When it comes to drawing ideas, the possibilities are truly endless. One popular option is to draw from nature, capturing the beauty of landscapes, flowers, or animals. This allows for creativity and exploration of different textures and colors. Another idea is to draw portraits, either of people or animals, focusing on capturing their unique features and expressions. This can be a great way to practice observation and improve your drawing skills. Additionally, abstract drawing can be a fun and expressive way to explore shapes, lines, and colors. It allows for freedom and experimentation, as there are no rules or limitations. Whether you prefer realistic drawings or more abstract and imaginative pieces, the world of drawing offers a wide range of possibilities for creative expression. Tattoo ideas are deeply personal and can hold significant meaning for individuals. When it comes to tattoo ideas, one popular category is food tattoos. From intricate designs of fruits and vegetables to tattoos of favorite dishes, food tattoos can symbolize a love for cooking, a connection to nature, or simply a passion for good food. Another popular tattoo ideas is chef tattoos. These tattoos often feature culinary tools, such as knives or utensils, and can represent a person's dedication to the art of cooking . Additionally, tattoo designs inspired by nature, such as flowers, animals, or landscapes, are timeless choices that can hold personal significance. Ultimately, the best tattoo ideas are the ones that resonate with you and reflect your unique personality and interests.

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whencyclopedia · 1 month ago

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Food & Drink in the Elizabethan Era

Food and drink in the Elizabethan era was remarkably diverse with much more meat and many more varieties of it being eaten by those who could afford it than is the case today. Storage of food was still a problem and so fresh produce was grown at home or regularly acquired at local markets. Thick sauces with strong flavours were popular and made even more varied as ingredients became more readily available from Asia. Pastries, cakes, and other sweet goodies of all kinds were greatly appreciated and often eaten between the savoury courses. A healthy distrust of water meant that ale and beer were the most popular drinks, with wine a welcome addition for the better off. While some commoners struggled, as ever, to feed their families, especially in the long winters of the 16th century CE, foreign visitors did often remark on how well-fed the Elizabethan peasantry was and how overfed the rich were compared to their continental neighbours.

Cooking & Storage

Most Elizabethan cooking was done at home but there were communal ovens in many parishes for people to take their prepared dough and have it baked into bread or to have a stew (pottage) slowly cooked. Those who could afford servants also had cooks, usually women but including men, too, at the great houses. Even the humblest of kitchens would have had such indispensable cooking and preparation aids as a large brass pot and iron pan, a spit for roasting over the fire, a milk pail and sundry containers, utensils and serving dishes for food made of wood, clay or pewter. Most cooking was done over an open fire of wood or charcoal with a large pot either stood on legs actually in the fire or suspended over it using chains. The main methods of cooking were boiling, roasting, and frying. The fourth method was baking and involved putting the dish inside a closed oven made of clay or brick much like a wood-burning pizza oven today.

Larger households stored food in giant meal chests which were airtight and used to keep such goods as grain and preserved meat and fish. In contrast, hutches ('pantries') were boxes with air-holes for keeping fresh food like cheeses. In households with a staff of servants, these chests were often kept locked to prevent unauthorised nibbling. The vast majority of the population still worked in agriculture and often had their own small plot of land for their own personal needs. Indeed, even artisans who specialised in such activities as weaving and making clothes still kept a patch of land for their vegetable garden and some poultry. Local markets supplied everything else but the larger estates would have been more self-sufficient producing their own bread, milk, cheese, meat, and fish on site.

#History #12noon #1580sCE #1590s #WHE #[#]

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newvegascowboy · 2 years ago

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food & agriculture in fallout: extrapolation and speculative worldbuilding

Okay, well. This is going to be an extremely long and data heavy post. Bear with me.

I'm going to go into detail about the crops and available food given to us canonically and textually. I'm going to be drawing some real world parallels between the crops we see in Fallout and what we have here. I'll be pulling relevant data from all the games, but the majority focus on this post is going to be about the east coast and Massachusetts in particular because it gives us the opportunity to participate in the agricultural climate of the wasteland.

Is there a point to this? Not really, but I'm pedantic and I take things too seriously.

my sources will be linked in the text throughout. for those of you who want to read about agricultural and growing zones of the continental united states, please follow me under the cut.

Growing zones and real world agriculture

Shown here are the growing zones of the united states, divided into a temperature map of about 19 different regions. It's fairly intuitive to read -- colder temperatures are north and east, while warmer temperatures are south and west. The majority of the Mojave desert sits between 7a to 9a, a temperature range of about 20 degrees. DC and the nearby section of the southeast coast sits between 7a and 8a. The interactive map linked below will tell you where your growing zone sits.

The 2012 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map is the standard by which gardeners and growers can determine which plants are most likely to thrive at a location. The map is based on the average annual minimum winter temperature, divided into 10-degree F zones and further divided into 5-degree F half-zones.

For the moment, we are going to focus on Massachusetts.

Using the temperature above, we can see that the growing zone of Massachusetts is 5a (-20f) at it's very coldest, all the way to 7b, (5f) at it's warmest during winter. Most of what we see in fallout 5 sits in the 6a to 6b zone, which is middle ground during the winter, but cold enough to want to warrant crops that can withstand the frost.

There is a solid 5 month window for planting annual crops, like corn, melons, and gourds like pumpkin. Your perennial crops are limited to fruit trees and possibly grains, depending on the variety and whether or not a perennial variety has been bred.

Cold weather crops include beets, carrots, greens like cabbage, collards, kale, and potatoes. These aren't the types of crops that will survive the winter as much as these are foods that can go in the ground as soon as it is unfrozen enough to be workable. Root vegetables and greens can germinate in soil as cold as 40 degrees Fahrenheit, which provides some leeway with unpredictable frosts and late planting times.

Much of the agricultural landscape of Massachusetts is dependent on the dairy industry, farming cattle, and aquaculture -- fishing and catching shellfish. Those with access to the coasts, fish and shellfish ought to provide protein during lean months.

Why are we talking about this? Well, if we're stepping into the shoes of a subsistence farmer in the fallout universe, we're going to have to take into account climate and ideal planting times for certain crops. It's not wholly important in terms of things like fic writing, unless you happen to be writing about the life and times of wasteland agriculture, in which case, I hope this is helpful! Again, I am pedantic, and this section is to provide a template when considering and discussing other parts of the game and what their specific diet and agricultural landscapes might look like.

Something to keep in mind when thinking about how farms might function in the Mojave, for instance, or if you're doing worldbuilding for a different part of the US.

Crops in the fallout universe

Now that we're familiar with growing zones and why certain crops are planted and when, we're going to apply some speculative worldbuilding to fallout itself. We will be revisiting growing zones when we talk about other climates, but for the moment, we're going to focus on fallout 4.

Now to preface -- I don't think that the food that is given to us in game is wholly representative of the plants or animals that survived the apocalypse. If some managed to mutant and survive, I'm willing to bet others did. I certainly won't deduct any points from anyone who wants to talk about growing cotton, or farming peaches or cherries, and I won't raise any eyebrows if someone includes things like spices into their wasteland cuisine.

In the 210+ years since the bombs fell, I do not think that the majority of the US is a desolate wasteland, but this post is not going to be my beef with the devs about how brown everything is. This beef is about food in particular. However, for sake of ease, I'm mostly just going to focus on the food that is presented to us in game.

There will be some extrapolation and speculation later, but if I do that for everything, then we'll be here all day, and we've all got things to do.

I would also be remiss to mention that agriculture in the US is old. It predates colonialism. The Native Americans cultivated the land long before any European settlers. They practiced a type of crop growing referred to as Three Sisters planting, which utilized corn, pole beans, and squash -- all things that exist in the agricultural landscape of Fallout as we know it.

Corn

I'm not going to say much about corn because there's not a lot to say about it. We all know what corn is. Fallout's corn is visually similar to wild violet, a hybrid corn.

But I am not going to say Fallout's corn is one such variety or another. In the 210 years since the bombs dropped, I imagine corn varietals have been bred and interbred a thousand times, and it is probably it's own unique strain. It's kind of a moot point. Corn is corn. You can do with yellow corn what you can do with wild violet, and whatever special breeds that make up Fallout's corn.

Corn is the third largest plant-based food source in the world. Despite its importance as a major food in many parts of the world, corn is inferior to other cereals in nutritional value. Its protein is of poor quality, and it is deficient in niacin. Diets in which it predominates often result in pellagra (niacin-deficiency disease). Corn is high in dietary fibre and rich in antioxidants.

You can do a shit ton with corn. It's a staple grain. It would not be incongruous with the fallout setting to have settlers making tortillas, cornbread, polenta, grits, tamales, etc. Corn can also be used to make corn whiskey. The husks can be spun into yarn and woven into garments similar to cotton, which I thought was interesting and also solves the problem of where the hell wastelanders are getting their clothes. Corn can be used as livestock feed, especially in the winter when cattle can't graze. While corn is a staple grain of the US, the east coast has minor corn production compared to places like the midwest. Corn is a staple, but it does not consist of the entire diet of your average wastelander.

Carrots

Not going to say much about carrots either. They're carrots. They grow well in colder soil and tend to have a lot of natural sugars. The carrots we're shown in FO4 seem to be a mutated variety different than the "fresh carrot" consumable in FNV, but there's virtually no difference, so I'm not counting it. Make some carrot cake.

Razorgrain

"This species appears to be quite promising. It's a toothy grain that we may be able to grind in order to replace wheat, which is untenable in the Wasteland. We are uncertain how to increase crop yields, which are very unpredictable. Will continue to study."

Razorgrain is our first unique mutated crop in the fallout setting. It most closely resembles a barley or a rye. Both are a fairly hardy species and can grow all across the continental united states; rye can germinate in cold weather temperatures. It wouldn't be outrageous to assume that razorgrain is similar too or a crossbred variation of both rye and barley. I have decided to base the majority of my research assuming it is a barley variant. Barley is also a major crop on the east coast near the Commonwealth, so that would explain why razorgrain is present in FO4 and not in the other games.

Barley requires a mild winter climate and can grow in growing zones 3-8, so it would be viable in Massachusetts. Barley can be milled into flour and it contains gluten; the gluten content of North American wheat and barley tends to be higher to survive the colder climates, so razorgrain would likely be very glutenous. It is also less susceptible to ergot than rye, but barley can still become infected -- and, I am assuming, razorgrain could as well.

Razorgrain fills the nutritional niche of carbohydrates and can be used to make breads, cakes, pastas, etc. It produces darker breads that have an earthier flavor than milled white flour. There has to be some method of actually milling the grain, though, which is an intensive process that can often be dangerous. Grain can also be used to make malted candy, which is our first option for wastelanders with a sweet tooth. Obviously, razorgrain can also be used to make malt or grain alcohol and is probably the source of all the beer you find littered around the wasteland.

Gourds and melons

Gourds and melons are actually a part of the same family, Cucurbita. The category of 'gourd' covers several different kinds of vegetables, including ornamental fruits that shouldn't be eaten. We aren't going to spend a whole lot of time on this one, simply because canon doesn't tell us that much and there's a lot of wiggle room in terms of interpretation.

FO4's model looks the most similar to a pumpkin, but it could be some other squash varietal from the Cucurbita family, which includes watermelon, honey melon, cucumber, squash, zucchini and pumpkin.

Melons is another pretty broad category. Melons and squash are part of the same family, as mentioned above. If we're going visuals again, the model is likely intended to resemble a watermelon. Watermelons grow best in humid and semi-arid environments between 70 and 8- degrees Fahrenheit. It's not impossible for wastelanders to be growing watermelons, but considering the humidity and frequent rainfall in Massachusetts, the melons would be vulnerable to fungal infections.

There isn't a lot of information on what specifically gourds and melons are in the fallout universe, so you could get away with writing in a pretty wide variety. Personally, I lean a little bit towards melons being a muskmelon variety, like cantaloupe or honeydew. Squash fills in some vitamin requirements for the human diet, and can be canned and stored for winter. It tends to be high in vitamin C and magnesium.

The limit to this one seems to be your imagination. Go crazy.

Mutfruit

This wiki claims that the mutfruit (it has a scientific name apparently, malus maata) is a mutated species of apple and crabapple. There are two different wikis about the mutfruit, both distinct. The first is linked above. The second is linked here -- I got most of my information from this second wiki.

There is a handful of "canon" information we can take from this set of wikis.

Priscilla Penske in Vault 81 is attempting to create foods that have increased resistance to radiation. She mentions the mutfruit would do well, but isn't certain how the hybridization would affect the flavor and texture.[5]

This claim is taken directly from the second wiki, but in comparison, it makes no sense. If the mutfruit tree is a product of mutation, then radiation shouldn't really affect it at all. It's survived and propagated to this point, hasn't it? I am disregarding this claim on the basis of being stupid.

Farmers in at Warwick homestead will comment on the fruit's characteristics, such as tasting sweet and being versatile in recipes.[1][2] The vault dwellers of Vault 81 trade for mutfruit with the outside world, and use it to make special occasion desserts such as pie.[6][7]

If the mutfruit is an apple variant, then it likely has a high sugar content, and it would have to be harvested in the peak of summer or in early fall.

There are fresh apples the be found across the wasteland, implying the existence of apple trees that have been unaffected by the bombs. Personally, I was assuming that the mutfruit was some kind of blackberry, given its appearance as a clustered fruit, or maybe even a type of plum. Regardless, the mutfruit is a fruit, which means that it would preserve well by being jarred or canned, has a high sugar content, and could likely be reduced to form sugar syrups. Like any fruit, it could be used to make alcohol.

Tatos

I want to stop myself from editorializing too much, but goddamn tatos. The crop that makes the least goddamn sense in the fallout universe. The bane of my existence. Let's get into it.

First off, we're given some pretty damning canon facts about tatos:

Tatos are a mutated hybrid of the cross-pollination of the tomato and potato plants.[1] The new consumable looks like a tomato on the outside, but the inside is brown.[2] Commonly cultivated in the Commonwealth, Appalachia and on the Island, its fruit is easy to grow and can keep one from starving, but their taste is described as "disgusting"[2][3][Non-game 1] and resembling "ketchup-flavored cardboard."[1]

According to some old botany texts we found, this appears to be combination of a now extinct plant called a "potato" and another extinct plant called a "tomato." The outside looks like a tomato, but the inside is brown. Tastes as absolutely disgusting as it looks, but will keep you from starving.

Note: This text was written from the perspective of someone who is unaware that both the tomato and the potato are being cultivated elsewhere. The writer also does not mention any sort of DNA test. However, the potato is also found in the Capital Wasteland, and the writer is a scribe in the Brotherhood of Steel, which originated from that area.

Both potatoes and tomatoes are from the nightshade family. They have the same nutrient requirements, and would compete for resources if planted separately but in the same soil. There is a method for planting them together where you splice a tomato stalk onto a potato root, but this is not the same as cross pollination and will not result in what fallout presents as a tato. What will happen is that the roots will grow potatoes and the fruit of the tomato will branch off the stems.

The potato itself is a stem tuber -- high in starch and calorically dense. A stem tuber is an offshoot of the parent plant that will grow beneath the soil as a type of asexual budding reproduction. We all know what a potato is. The tomato is a berry. It's the ovary of a flowering plant -- again, we all know what a tomato is.

I am going to give Fallout a little bit of grace and not comment on how mind bendingly stupid their description of a tato is. The outer skin is a tomato, but the inside is brown and starchy like the potato? I am not going to comment on how it makes little to no biological sense. The starchy tuber is starchy because it's an energy and nutrient storage device. The tomato is the enlarged ovary of a fruit. Why did those things, which are separately very good, combine into one very terrible thing? I don't know. It doesn't make sense. I don't really want to think about it. But these are the facts as they are given to us in game and I suppose I have to live with that. Obligatory "goddamn you todd howard. a pox on your house."

The tato is probably extremely calorically dense. It's specifically mentioned as being easy to grow and it is a better alternative to starving. It's probably grown as a staple crop throughout the planting season. I'm not entirely sure if the tato can produce glycoalkaloids like the potato does (that is, the green sections of the potato that can become poisonous when exposed to light) but if they can, and if stored improperly, it would negatively impact the health of whoever ate them.

I suppose since the taste is so offensive, tatos are better served as a carrier of some other type of food. Fried, mashed, baked -- the purpose of the tato is simply to get calories into your body. Starch can also be turned into alcohol, which I am going to need a lot of after reading the canonical facts of this stupid fucking plant.

Fallout: The Roleplaying Game Rulebook p.158: "A mutated hybrid of the pre-War tomato and potato plants, with the stem and reddish skin of the former and the brownish flesh of the latter. Tatos provide decent nutrition, but taste disgusting. However, they’re relatively easy to grow and thus are a staple of wasteland agriculture and is an ingredient in a variety of recipes."

fucker

"non farmable" crops

You can't cultivate these plants, but again - we're taking what's given to us and interpreting it extremely literally. There is no reason that these crops could not be domesticated and farmed.

Siltbean

Siltbean is likely a type of bushbean, rather than a pole bean. It's squat and low to the ground. Bush beans require little care or attention and you can pick them when you're ready to harvest them. Historically in North America, beans and corn were grown side by side (though those beans were pole beans using the stalks as support). Bush beans require successive plantings since harvests are early.

There's no good allegory for what type of bean this might be. The potato bean (Apios americana) is native to North America and also produces edible tubers, but there's no reason this couldn't be just some other type of bean. No beans that I could find had red/orange pods.

Beans are a good source of both proteins and carbohydrates, and another crop that can store well for the winter.

Tarberry

Tarberry is a little iffy, considering it is farmed by the ghouls at The Slog, but they're the only farm shown capable (or willing?) to farm the berries. Originally, I had assumed that tarberries were a type of mutated cranberry, and I thought the wiki was supporting me in that claim by saying this:

Tarberries are small, dusty orange berries of the tarberry plant. It is a water-grown crop similar to cranberries.

But cranberries themselves are also canon in the world of Fallout. So who knows! There's no canon information presented on the tarberry's characteristics, so it can be treated the same as any other fruit or berry.

Fungus variants

Glowing fungus: Glowing fungus is one of the few real world equivalents we have. It is a Japanese mushroom called Enoki. It is also farmable as shown in FNV at Hell's Motel.

Brain fungus: This is harvestable, but there aren't any "crops" shown as we would consider them. Considering it's benefits as a mentat replacement, then it's likely that there could be a dedicated space for growing it.

Food and Plants mentioned in the text

Potato

Thank god almighty, potatoes are canon in the universe of Fallout. Fresh potatoes are found as consumables in FO3 and FNV but potatoes are also mentioned in the text of FO4:

Mentioned in dialogue -- {Angry} Shut up Jake. If I hear anything out of either of you, you'll both be peeling potatoes for the next year.

I'm taking this as word of god. Potatoes are canon and I don't care what anyone says.

Tomato

Tomatoes are mentioned in the text, but are never actually seen in game. The only hint that this plant survived extinction is this excerpt from the wiki.

Note: As fresh tomatoes and potatoes are seen in the Mojave Wasteland as of 2281, with the potato seen in the Capital Wasteland as of 2277, the claim of either's extinction by 2287 in the Commonwealth Plant Database could be taken to mean local extinction in east coast regions, as opposed to global extinction. This entry may also just be in error.

There's potential for leeway here, but take it as you will!

Fresh apple

We discussed this back up in the mutfruit section of the essay, but the existence of fresh apples implies the existence of non mutated apple trees. They're found in both FO3 and FNV as a consumable item, so the apple tress have either proliferated across the continental united states, or multiple varieties survived the bombs.

Fresh pear

See above. Pears are also naturally high in pectin, which makes them useful for making jams and preserves.

Pinto beans

Pinto beans are a consumable in FNV and is another W in the bean category of the agricultural landscape.

Jalepeno

Look, I'm picking out this one specifically because I need to believe that other spices and peppers exist in the world. Where would we be without her? Nowhere good.

Raw sap

I am going to say that sap collecting is probably where most of the sugars and sweeteners in the wasteland come from. It's relatively easy to tap trees and collect sap, and it only takes a few hours to reduce the sap down into useable syrup.

Wild Blackberry, Lime, Cranberries, as well as Watermelon as being distinct from simply 'melon' are all mentioned in the text. The list of fruits mentioned or found in the games can be found here.

Animal husbandry

Fallout doesn't give us a lot of canonical information on the animal side of farming. The biggest real world agricultural export of Massachusetts is dairy and cattle farming. Chickens are canon in the worldbuilding of fallout as of Far Harbor, but canon feels both restrictive and extremely loose with regards to what animals can be cared for and how.

We aren't going to spend a whole lot of time on this one, only because the information is pretty limited.

Brahmin

There are plenty of brahmin found throughout the landscape of the wasteland. We most commonly see them as either livestock or beasts of burden. Things like milk, cheese, and other dairy products would be common if a farm has access to dairy cows. The investment to raise cows would be enormous for a subsistence farmer. Dairy cows would likely be kept for a number of years, where steers would be raised 12 to 24 months before being slaughtered; they'd likely be grass fed in the summer and corn or grain fed in the winter. Leather and beef would be products, of course, and things like soap and candles can be made from the beef tallow.

Chickens

Chickens are largely easy to keep and care for, producing eggs and necessary proteins. Chickens can provide niacin, filling in the nutritional gap that would be left by a heavy corn based diet. The investment for keeping chickens is lower than raising brahmin, but so is the payoff.

Bighorners

Bighorners are mutated bighorn sheep native to the American Southwest.[1] Humans have since domesticated them for their horns, meat, milk, and hides,[2][3]

Granted, bighorners are only seen in FNV, but I don't think there's any reason they couldn't have migrated east. In the text, it says they're kept for meat and milk, but there's no reason that they shouldn't provide a fleece as well. In the colder climate of Massachusetts, they would find value in wool, which can keep its warmth even when wet. They may be sparse across the commonwealth, but that would make wool and fleece all that much more valuable.

Fish

Yeah, I know. Technically we can't fish in Fallout (and depending on the game you play, you might not even know what a fish is). But aquaculture is huge in Boston, and with access to the coasts, it's completely fair to say that fish, shellfish, and hydroponics is a completely viable source of food in the wasteland. We see dead fish washed up on shore all the time, along with whatever the hell those shark things are. There should be fisheries and fishing towns all along the coasts.

New Vegas and Fallout 3

Consulting our growing zone chart, we can see that much of the southwest sits between 7b to 8b. The winters in the southwest are fairly mild, and while you can get seeds in the ground sooner, the majority of the battle is going to be finding a reliable water source.

The farming we see in New Vegas has one distinct notable inclusion: the NCR sharecropper farm.

The sharecroppers are growing a number of crops, including maize, tobacco, pinto beans, and honey mesquite. Corn can handle hot, arid weather, it's just not commercially grown out west. Barley can also handle hot, arid climates, and razorgrain would be suitable for the western front -- maybe we can assume it's made it's way that far west and is being cultivated alongside corn.

Most of the plants we see in FNV aren't the type we would see typically domesticated for agricultural use, but that doesn't mean people haven't adapted to their surroundings. It makes a lot of sense for locals to have domesticated local plants like prickly pear and banana yucca. There are a number of fresh produce items to be found as consumables, alongside local fruits the local fruits.

Heat-loving plants are best suited for summer production in desert climates. The plant families that fit into the heat-loving category are nightshade or Solanaceae (tomatoes, peppers, eggplant) and squash or Cucurbitaceae (cucumbers, melons, summer and winter squash). Corn and beans also perform best in hot climates.

Most plants CAN handle the heat and climate of the southwest, the issue is just finding a reliable source of water. Somewhere close to Lake Mead or the banks of the Virgin River would be prime real estate for farming, since irrigation could be accomplished without the use of pumps, like the sharecroppers use.

If we look back at the history of agriculture, it's developed along established waterways in almost every ancient civilization because that's what's easiest. There should be thriving communities surrounding the lakes and rivers in the southwest.

Comparatively, DC was formerly a swamp. It's hot and humid in the summer, though the winters are fairly mild. It wouldn't be a stretch to say that farming practices in the Commonwealth don't differ all that much from farming in the Capital Wasteland -- you could even posit that food from the Capital is of better quality ever since the successful activation of Project Purity. Fresh and unirradiated food was growing there before, so it's entirely likely that even more is growing now. YMMV!

Other consumables

We would be here all damn day if I did research onto every single consumable item available across all three games, so this mostly just because I'm covering my bases.

Look, I'm picking out this one specifically because I need to believe that other spices and peppers exist in the world. Where would we be without her? Nowhere good.

Pre War food

Most shelf-stable foods are safe indefinitely. In fact, canned goods will last for years, as long as the can itself is in good condition (no rust, dents, or swelling). Packaged foods (cereal, pasta, cookies) will be safe past the ‘best by’ date, although they may eventually become stale or develop an off flavor.

The risk with improperly canned good, or damaged canned goods, is botulism. Botulism will straight up kill you. You don't even have to consume that much of it; just a little bit will leave you dead in days. As desperate as I might be for a meal, I'm not going to risk dying because that can of two hundred year old peaches looks really tasty.

If properly sealed and in a dry, ideal environment, I... guess things like cereal and instant food could be okay? But again, with access to fresh grain, sugars, and yes, even potatoes and pasta, why would you want to risk eating InstaMash that's been around since before your great grandmother.

Pre War drinks

Sigh. Okay.

Unless stored extremely, extremely well, most bottled drinks aren't going to last much longer than 9 months. A year, if you're lucky. Exposure to sunlight and improper storage will break down the contents -- the best bottles are brown, then green. Clear glass is the worst because it does nothing to protect the liquid inside.

All the Nuka Cola you find throughout the world is flat, nasty, and will probably make you sick. I don't think that really needs to be pointed out, but there we go. I suppose the soda could probably be reduced to form sugar syrups, but with access to sap syrup and grain malt, I'm not sure why you would be desperate enough to do that.

So what does food look like in Fallout?

If there's one thing I know about humans, it's that humans like to eat. Food is culture, as much as culture and community is built around food. Good food and access to it is paramount to human happiness. All this to say is that food in fallout is whatever you want it to look like.

I can extrapolate and theorize all day long based on what Fallout tells us definitively, but I'm not going to tell you what the culinary landscape in the wasteland looks like. The only point that I will stress is that humans are really, really good at making things appetizing.

The fandom is already so creative when it comes to developing their idea of what food means in the wasteland. It's what's directly inspired me to write up this stupid, long ass post about farming and agriculture.

Obviously this is not a comprehensive list of all the base ingredients you can find in Fallout. I picked the ones I did because of the potential for consistent farming. Wastelanders have had two centuries to develop agricultural practices based around subsistence farming. I am not a subsistence farmer, and I have no idea how wasteland cottagecore would work at the heart of it. Running a farm is extremely labor intensive, and so much of your investment has to be immediately recouped in the form of eating what you harvest.

What a farm is likely to look like will start in the early spring when the ground begins to thaw, and a farmer can plant his cold resistant crops, like green vegetables and razorgrain. Potatos, carrots, and tatos will also weather the spring chill. When it starts to warm up, the more delicate plants like corn, beans, and squash or melons will get planted and tended to.

If your family is lucky enough to have a greenhouse, you can keep crops growing all through the winter and have a surplus for trade and barter, or just to preserve and refill the pantries.

A lot of the investment will have to be immediately recouped. Eggs from the chickens can't be preserved, obviously, but there will be meat from hunted animals, milk from the brahmin, probably an early harvest from the beans and tatos, and whatever else is in the pantry from the previous harvest.

Some of it will be canned or preserved in the forms of jams or jellies (just remember what I said about botulism). Meat from animals that get hunted can be smoked or otherwise preserved. Grain can be milled into flour or eaten whole and unshelled. Even the corn silk can be woven into clothes for the summer.

There really is no limit to what can be done in the end. While a lot of this information was taken from what we're given in the text, there's no rule that says you have to follow it word for word. If you believe something exists out there, then write it! We're all just making shit up as we go along anyway. If you need permission, then here it is. You can do whatever you want. Make up recipes! Go insane. Follow whatever your little foodie heart desires.

#fallout #kal talks #fallout 4 #fallout new vegas #fnv #fallout 3 #fallout meta #fallout food #fallout headcanons #behold. the agricultural masterpost of my farming headcanons #here she is

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witchyfashion · 3 months ago

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lullabyes22-blog · 3 months ago

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A small detail but I just wanna say I LOVE your food worldbuilding in your fic! I get so hungry reading about the dishes 😭 was there any inspiration behind your thoguts on Zaun crusine or any other fun lore? I was also wondering if you had thoughts on Piltover crusine and how that compares to Zaun.

Thank you so much<3

I actually have a Foodboard on Pinterest for Zaun's decadences and delicacies!

Re: Zaun and Piltover's food-canons...

I'm basing Zaun on a hodgepodge of multicultural meccas like New York, Mexico City, Mumbai, Rio, Tokyo, Seoul, Istanbul, etc. Lots of different histories converging to form a diverse street-food scene where folks eat on-the-go. Given the Fissures began as a mining town, the fare is heavy on greasy proteins and starchy staples to keep the average worker on his feet. At the same time, owing to their proximity to the riverside, Fissurefolk have a taste for the ocean, too.

The end result is a very subterranean and industrial city that's very, very proud of its culinary heritage, even if the "cuisine" itself isn't exactly pretty or refined. There's a certain "ghetto hustle" to it, with scraps taken from wherever it's available, and improvised into something distinctly its own. Plenty of emphasis on cheap shellfish, squid, octopus, shrimp, clams, etc, as they're a hardier food source that can be found in great quantities downriver.

There's also a lack of sunlight, fertile soil, and fresh greens in Zaun. So much of what's grown organically Down-Low is the more straightforward variety of root vegetables, ranging from potatoes, rhizomes, yams, lotus, yucca, sweet potatoes etc. There's also lots of cellars with candle-lit rhubarb, and a very eclectic range of mushroom gardens.

As for meat:

The Deadlands, which are more of a 'wild west' type terrain in the FnF verse, sport a hardy ecosystem of cave-dwelling, marsupial-like creatures I've dubbed Sump-voles. They're furred, and the size of a medium-large housecat. They're extremely agile and intelligent, and able to survive off the sparse vegetation. They're the primary source of food for the folks of the Deadlands.

There's also sump-boars: bristly, foul-tempered, and omnivorous. A bit like wild boar, but larger and more aggressive. Their meat, while rather gamey, is a source of rich protein, and often cured and smoked, or served as a roast during the Equinox Feast as a 'last supper', a chance to indulge in some fatty, delicious pork before the dark winter months of austerity. Their hides are also a valuable commodity and can be tanned and used to craft clothing, their bones ground into powder for fertilizer, and their tusks fashioned into weapons, jewelry, etc.

In Zaun proper, the primary source of meat are sump-rats. For the chem-barons, they are raised in massive, hydroponic-like farms that cultivate the creatures on an industrial scale. For the poor, they're either the unfortunate victims of homesprung traps or the prey of the many, many feral cat colonies. The cats in Zaun are extremely large and muscular, bred to be fierce. They're often mutated and have been spliced with a range of different DNA, from gen-0 to gen-X.

There's no real 'normal' cat, dog, or bird in Zaun; it's a land where everything is a mutant owing to the chemical radiation that pervades every single facet of life, to say nothing of its ambitious history of genetic manipulation.

That goes ditto for the bugs.

Necessity breeds creativity, and Zaun's not averse to a little entomophagy. In fact, the more common, and less-fetishized, way to get one's protein is through the consumption of locusts, beetles, dragonflies etc. These are a mainstay, and you'll see them sold on every corner. They're generally fried, and have a very similar crunch to a fried cricket. There's also cave-wasps: nasty buggers who build their hives in the caverns, and have a sweet, honey-like substance inside their abdomen. It's considered a delicacy, and a luxury item.

The cave-wasps are also a rare species that actually produce honey (similar to the B. Mellifica, or Mexican Honey Wasp) and the honey they store, though it has a much thicker, gel-like consistency, is prized as a source of hydration and energy.

It's also a nifty hallucinogen, and can be mixed into ales, beers, and ciders.

In terms of fixings and flavorings: Zaun is an underground city. That means staples like sugar and spice are at a premium, and either imported from the harbor, or smuggled from Topside. However, Fissurefolk understand the importance of boosting their immunity with the right nutrients, and have a keen interest in herbal remedies. There's a strong apothecary culture in Zaun, ranging from quacks to savants. You'll see plenty of peddlers selling the dried mushrooms, roots, leaves, and other fungi, all of which can be boiled into a tea, or steeped to make a broth.

Two homegrown minerals Zaun prides itself on are its salt deposits and its volcanic rock. Both are extremely potent, and have sparked a range of industries from salt-curing to cosmetic masks. The rock salts are a rich source of iodine, and used to clean wounds. The volcanic rock has a high level of iron, and is ground into powder and mixed into broths to prevent anemia and boost blood flow. There's also a thriving industry for beauty products in Zaun. Because of the constant, humid air that lingers beneath the surface, it's common for folks to break out into acne, boils, or other rashes. The rock salts are a good exfoliant and antiseptic.

Jinx, for instance, has an entire apothecary's chest worth of creams, gels, and tonics she applies whenever she feels a breakout coming on. She's also not above mixing her own blemish cream out of a blend of rock salt, crushed-up coral, and a few drops of oil squeezed from a luminous jellyfish.

Silco, similarly, uses a combination of salt water and crushed-up volcanic rock to exfoliate the calluses on his palms and heels, and soaks once a week in a warm bath of rock salt, mineral oils, and medicinal Shimmer. He swears by the concoction, and considers it the secret to keeping his joints well-lubricated and his reflexes in fighting trim for running from stray bullets.

And Jinx's occasional tantrum-prone grenade.

The Zaunite diet is also very heavy on pickling. It's an excellent way to preserve foods, and a great source of vitamins. Their choices run the gamut from sour pickled cabbage to spicy, chili-garlic fermented fish to lime-spiked octopus. Pickling is a necessity. And, because there's not enough space for farms, livestock, or pasture land, a lot of the food in Zaun is preserved via canning and jar-making. There's a robust canning industry, and a very well-developed glass-blowing and masonry business, lauded for its innovative shapes and designs.

Finally, there's the beverages.

Zaun has a strong history of drinks, from fizzy, chemically-colored sodas to a wide variety of spirits. There's an emphasis on teas, tisanes, and coffees, as the underground water can't be fully filtered, and isn't exactly the cleanest. A cup of hot tea with some lemon and honey is an effective way to keep one's immune system up and running. Zaun is also famous (re: notorious) for coffee that's guaranteed to jolt you wide-awake after a nasty hangover. Their most famous brew is the Wake-Up Call, which is a mix of ground coffee beans, ground cacao beans, ground guarana seeds, a touch of cinnamon, and a dash of powdered cayenne pepper.

It's not for the faint of heart.

The most popular non-alcoholic drink in Zaun is cherry soda, which is basically a cross between Coca-Cola and cherry Dr. Pepper, but brewed with a mixture of fruits, berries, and a healthy dose of cave-wasp honey and citric acid. It's fizzy, and tastes amazing. It's also extremely cheap, owing to the fact that a lot of the fruits and berries are foraged from the caverns, and the honey is, well, free-range.

In terms of alcohol, there's a huge emphasis on beer, wine, and ale, owing to the fact that these can easily be canned and fermented, and can last for long periods of time without refrigeration. Potato beer is an extremely common, and easy-to-consume source of calories. It's light-bodied, and low-alcohol, with a range of styles, from pale-ale, amber, and dark. There's also a huge emphasis on hops and malted barley, as these are cheap to acquire, and readily available belowground.

Zaun's signature drink is made via fermented cavernfruit. It's very hoppy, fruity, and acidic. It's got a high alcohol content and is a great thirst-quencher. Then there's Devilfruit: a deep red liquor made from a blend of various berries, and a texture and viscosity similar to cherry liqueur. It's usually enjoyed neat, but can be mixed with a splash of mineral water, or served over crushed ice. There's also drinks fermented from unusual ingredients such as mushrooms and fungus. One, known as Dungeon's Kiss, is a cloudy, milky white ale made from the sap of a cave-dwelling species of mushroom. It's extremely thick, the color of a pumpkin spice latte, and guaranteed to get you hammered in five sips.

Zaun's drinks are all brewed, bottled, and served locally. They're a point of pride, and a great way for families to earn their fortune. It's a fiercely competitive industry, and there's a lot of inter-clan rivalry.

In the FnF universe, I imagine Piltover has a very different diet than Zaun, given its bucolic setting, proximity to the sea, and the fresh produce, dairy, and livestock they import from all four corners of Runeterra. The food culture is diverse and beautifully artisanal.

There's a bustling farmer's market, lots of bakeries and cheese shops, and plenty of emphasis on freshness, seasonality, and regionalism. There's also a strong tradition of wineries, distilleries, and breweries. As a city of commerce, they also have a robust, and thriving, shipping and distribution industry.

All of this reflects a more rigid hierarchy of social classes that is more centered on the "white plate" aesthetic. It's all high-quality and extremely nutritious, but it's also very…bland and uniform. In Piltover, there's little to no street food culture, and there's a general disdain for the sort of messy, greasy pap that's associated with Zaun. You don't eat with your hands; you use utensils. You don't slurp, slop, or smack your lips.

And you certainly don't lick the sauce off your fingers.

In Piltover, there are very clear rules about dining etiquette, and the "food world" is just another part of the culture around class distinction, refinement, and propriety. However, the rigidity and regimented nature of their meals can be very stifling, especially when compared to the raucous and rollicking culinary culture of Zaun. It's therefore not uncommon for Piltovans to sneak off Down-Low, roll up their sleeves, and enjoy a bit of greasy, sticky-fingered fun.

Most consider it a calorie-loaded, guilt-free "cheat day."

#arcane #arcane league of legends #arcane silco #silco #forward but never forget/xoxo #asks #forward (never forget)/xoxo #arcane jinx #jinx #arcane vi #vi #arcane zaun #zaun #arcane piltover #piltover

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formlessvoidbeast · 1 month ago

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for 2025 my goal is to survive

that's all

but in the interest of surviving with a shitty-ass brain in a hostile world, I have developed a few coping strategies in my 40 years of successfully not dying

small pleasures, small goals, little-picture things to look forward to from day to day

this year I plan to learn to make soy sauce and miso (I asked for books on the topic for winter holidays and am ready and excited to dive in) -- these are long-term projects, aging for months or years, small pleasures to look forward to.

I plan to eat a lot of fresh local vegetables -- I have already paid my local Community Supported Agriculture farm a hefty chunk of cash, and living in California means the season runs from mid-January to early-November. Once a month through the winter, and twice a month through the spring/summer/fall, I will get a wide variety of seasonal produce. I plan to enjoy it all for the fourth year in a row.

I plan to write as much fanfic as I can, and share it. I plan to finish my current longfic, and join a few fic exchanges with fun themes, and enjoy the creative community of fandom.

I plan to be here

I plan to enjoy the quiet moments of my life

I plan to survive

#life of ts #if the big picture stuff is bad just focus on the little #do what it takes to survive

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glimmervoi · 9 months ago

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A SEALED FATE: EMERALDS AND BLOOD - VIII The Part Where It All Begins

masterlist

e&b masterlist

WARNINGS: THIS CHAPTER CONTAINS DEPICTIONS OF VIOLENCE/BLOOD. Please do not read if this is something that you do not wish to see.

As you sat at the large dining table in the servants' kitchen, flanked by Alice and Rae, the ache in your body persisted. While putting on your uniform that morning, you couldn't help but notice the myriad of bruises painting your skin.

Alice had delivered a satchel of herbs from the castle's healer, promising relief from the discomfort. However their effect was hardly strong enough for the pain that you were in, leaving you grimacing with every movement. It made the simple act of eating a challenge, thanks to the tension in your muscles.

You spooned the porridge into your mouth slowly, praying you'd manage to consume it all before you were due in the supply room. The prospect of facing Sanria's wrath for being late loomed over you like a dark cloud.

"We'll pace ourselves today," Rae assured you, her soothing touch on your back providing a momentary comfort. "After we're done with the north wing, you can take a few hours to rest. I'll handle things here, and I will make sure that Sanria has no reason to harass you.”

You offered Rae a thankful smile before directing your attention to Alice. She was reading a piece of parchment, a faint smile gracing her lips. "What's that?" you asked, seeking a distraction from the persistent ache in your body.

Alice glanced up at you, before carefully folding the parchment and setting it aside. Taking a spoonful of her own porridge, she replied, "It's a letter from my family." There was warmth in her eyes, tinged with a hint of longing as she gazed at the neatly folded parchment.

"A good one, by the looks of it," you remarked, eating another mouthful of your breakfast. Rae let out a happy hum from your other side, her grin widening as she took a hearty gulp of water.

"Indeed," Rae chimed in, her gaze fixed on Alice with admiration. "Alice's family is truly remarkable. They often send her fresh vegetables, such as cucumbers and tomatoes. They’re quite popular.”

Alice nodded in agreement, finishing her porridge. "Yes, they're known for their exceptional crops," she confirmed. "But winter poses challenges, especially this year. I'm uncertain if we'll have any surplus to rely on this year. And, I highly doubt they’ll be sending me fish…”

The thought of receiving a package of old fish made you instinctively wrinkle your nose. Growing up in Greenriver, you'd grown accustomed to consuming a variety of questionable foods, but thankfully the experience of eating rotten fish had yet to catch you.

"What about your family?" Alice inquired, her empty bowl pushed aside as she leaned forward. Her gaze was fixed on you with curiosity. You paused, contemplating her question with a furrowed brow.

"Well..." you began slowly, setting your spoon down. Memories stirred, swirls of images from your childhood beginning to swarm your mind. Your father had been absent from your life, and your mother had passed away when you were just a child. With no siblings and no spouse, you found yourself understanding the reality that you didn't truly have a family anymore.

"My mother was a remarkable woman," you said, a gentle smile on your lips. "She was intelligent and strong, always working tirelessly to provide for us. Despite the absence of a man to hunt or offer protection, she managed to keep us not just alive, but thriving. Well, as much as we could thrive in such a poor village."

Rae's comforting hand once again ran down your back, her expression sympathetic. As you delved deeper into memories of your mother, a wave of emotion washed over you. Her passing, shrouded in the mystery of an illness you couldn't understand, had left a painful mark on you. You recalled her final moments, her cold touch against your cheek as she whispered words in a language you couldn't comprehend.

You shook off the memories that now threatened to consume you, resuming your conversation. "She made sure I learned how to read and write," you continued. "Even if it meant sacrificing what little coin we had on books from the rare traveling merchants that passed through our village."

"What a valuable gift she gave you," Alice remarked, leaning forward with genuine interest. "The ability to read is priceless, particularly in our circumstances. Your mother sounds like she was a wise woman."

"She truly was," you said with a nod, fondness in your voice. "I have no doubt she's watching over me." Glancing around, you added with a hint of humor, "And probably scolding Iseul for her behavior last night."

Both Rae and Alice laughed. "What about your father?" Rae asked curiously, leaning in slightly.

You shrugged as you pushed a stray strand of hair from your face. "I'm honestly not sure," you admitted. "My mother never spoke of him, and I never had the chance to meet him. I stopped asking about him when I was about six; it seemed pointless as my mother never provided any answers."

"Interesting," Alice remarked, a strange note to her voice. Before you could ask what she meant, she rose from her seat. "Well, it's time for me to make my way to the southern wing. I'd rather not be the next target for Iseul," she quipped, casting a sympathetic glance in your direction.

You offered her a strained smile in response, bidding her farewell as she rinsed her bowl and exited the kitchen. As Rae stood and stretched, a loud groan escaped her lips.

"We should get started soon, too," Rae suggested, gesturing towards your half-full bowl of porridge. "Finish up quickly, and then we can head to the northern wing."

You sighed softly, acknowledging her with a nod. Another day of labor was waiting for you, which was made more challenging by the bruises on your body. Frowning, you took another bite of your food, grateful for the temporary distraction it offered from the unsettling events of last night with Hoseok. Pretending as though it hadn't occurred seemed to be the most effective coping mechanism this morning, so you resolved to maintain that facade until you were confronted with it by someone else.

When you entered the supply room with Rae at your side, the usual sight of Sanria standing at the center with her parchment in hand was gone. Instead, you were greeted by a different figure – a blonde woman who radiated warmth and kindness.

Isabella's smile welcomed you, her blue eyes sparkling. Despite her position as a service maid, she wore the same blue uniform as yours. The unexpected sight caused you and Rae to pause in surprise.

"Good morning," Isabella greeted, smiling. "How are you feeling?" Her question seemed directed primarily at you, prompting you to offer a feeble smile in return. "Ready to work," you replied, mustering an attempt at cheerfulness. Isabella chuckled softly, though a hint of concern lingered in her expression.

"If you don't mind me asking, Isabella..." Rae interjected, hands planted firmly on her hips. "Where is Sanria? Is she unwell?" she inquired. Isabella's gaze shifted to her parchment, pausing. Eventually, she raised her eyes to meet Rae's.

You were interested in Isabella's response. Though you harbored no particular fondness for the old maid, you still found yourself wondering about her well-being, if only out of basic human concern.

"Don't worry about it. Just think of today as a... relaxing day," Isabella reassured, her smile seemingly forced. "You won't have to worry about me looming over your shoulder, so enjoy it."

Surprise flickered across you, sensing that something was amiss. Had your actions from last night truly resulted in such dire consequences for Sanria? Could she have been reprimanded or even dismissed? You shook your head, marking the thought as unlikely. Surely, Sanria's absence was merely due to illness – a common occurrence during this time of the year.

You mulled over it, reasoning that if Sanria had truly been replaced, Rae would have likely been informed. After all, she would have been the natural replacement for the position. Even if she declined the promotion, she wouldn't have felt the need to ask about the whereabouts of her head maid.

"Will you two be working in the north wing today?" Isabella asked, reaching for a smaller piece of parchment from the nearby table. Rae nodded, accepting the parchment handed to her by the blonde maid. "Everything should be tidied up from the party last night before the guests awaken. By the time you're finished, it should be time for lunch."

You both murmured in acknowledgment, and Isabella, seemingly satisfied, gracefully made her way past you. Just as she reached the doorway, she paused and glanced back at you. "Try to take it easy today, alright?" she advised before disappearing through the threshold, leaving you and Rae alone.

"Yes, ma'am," Rae replied, humor lacing her tone as she saluted the now-empty space where Isabella had stood. You turned to Rae, a bemused expression crossing your features.

"Sanria, missing a day of work?" Rae exclaimed incredulously, handing you the parchment. "Who's going to threaten us with beatings and dungeon sentences today?" Her eyes widened with mock horror as she looked at you. Despite the ache in your ribs, you couldn't help but let out a light laugh at her joke.

"Still, I wonder why I wasn't informed of her absence," Rae mumbled under her breath, busying herself with filling a cart with the necessary items. "I feel like Isabella is hiding something from me."

You shrugged, scanning the neatly written list provided by Isabella. "I don't think she would do such a thing... but I suppose we'll have to wait and see."

Rae nodded in agreement, letting out a sigh. "You're right. Let's just see how this unfolds," she muttered, before straightening up. "Now come on. We're the first ones at the north wing today, so let's get a head start on our tasks."

As soon as you stepped into the main hall of the northern wing, your jaw dropped in astonishment. The sight before you was nothing short of shocking. You had expected a certain level of tidiness from nobles, but you found yourself sorely mistaken.

Nobles often projected an air of superiority, as if they were inherently cleaner and more refined than those of a lower status. Yet, the reality before you shattered that illusion entirely. Glasses of various emptiness cluttered every available flat surface. Some held remnants of red and white liquids, undoubtedly wine, their thick scent permeating the air. However, among them lay glasses containing liquids clearly not meant for drinking.

Amidst the chaos, plenty of glasses had been carelessly spilled and shattered, leaving stains scattered across the ground. Glass shards glinted menacingly, prompting a silent thanks from you for the sturdy shoes provided to you. Despite the protective footwear, you remained cautious, gingerly navigating your way around the hazardous debris.

Pearls lay strewn across the floor, becoming unwelcome obstacles as they caught under the wheels of your cart. Rae emitted an annoyed huff as she attempted to kick them out of the way, clearing a path as best she could.

A torn curtain hung from the window. Furniture was haphazardly pushed around, obstructing your path. More stains adorned the upholstery, and you wrinkled your nose in disdain, suspecting that not all of them were the result of spilled wine.

As you traveled further into the hallway your gaze swept over the messy scene before you, causing you to groan softly. If this was merely one segment of the wing, you could only imagine the state of the rest. Clearly, you had your work cut out for you.

Your attention was drawn to a particularly large wine stain, its presence unignorable. Initially appearing as a small trail, the stain gradually expanded into streaks against the carpet as you followed its path. Spatters of wine adorned the walls as you drew nearer to the final bedroom.

A fleeting thought crossed your mind as you surveyed the scene. Could it be that a Lady had engaged in a heated altercation with a bottle of wine in hand? Or perhaps she had clumsily spilled an excessive amount and resorted to... unconventional means of cleaning it up? The absurdity of the thought left you confused as you simply stared.

Coming to a halt in front of the final bedroom door, any semblance of amusement faded as the gravity of the situation became apparent. Smeared red stains marred the surface of the large wooden doors, while dried crimson puddles seeped ominously from beneath the threshold. It was abundantly clear that this scene was far from the result of an innocent spill.

With anxiety gnawing at your nerves, you hesitated with your hand over the door knob, uncertain of the horrors that lay beyond. Your heart raced erratically, and beads of sweat formed on your brow.

Observing your sudden change in demeanor, Rae stepped closer, attempting to lighten the mood with a joke about a messy couple and their expensive red wine. However, her words trailed off abruptly, realization washing over her features in a wave of dread.

"B-blood?" you murmured, the word barely escaping your lips as your eyes widened in horror. "Is it blood? Should we call for a guard? Someone might have been killed." Rae shook her head frantically.

"No, we can't raise the alarm yet!" Rae's voice trembled with fear, mirroring the panic in her wide eyes. Despite her own apprehension, she was attempting to maintain a level head, and you were grateful for it. Two panicked maids would only escalate the situation.

"We need to assess the situation first," she insisted, her brow furrowing as she stared at the ominous door. "What if it's simply an extraordinarily bad wine spill? We could land ourselves in serious trouble if we disrupt the guests by sounding a false alarm."

Your instincts screamed that this wasn't merely a spilled drink. The color was too ominous, too reminiscent of something far more sinister than old wine. Yet, fatigue and lingering unease from the previous night clouded your judgment. Could it be that your mind was playing tricks on you?

Taking a steadying breath, you reluctantly nodded in agreement. "Alright. Let's investigate before we involve the guards," you said. Rae seemed hesitant to approach the door herself, so you stepped forward.

Each step over the hardened stain beneath your feet sent a shiver down your spine, the quiet crunching noise amplifying the dread in your stomach. Suppressing a nervous gulp, you approached the door and knocked gently. Your breath caught in your throat as you strained to hear any response from within.

The stained door remained painfully silent, offering no indication of what lay beyond. Casting a desperate glance at Rae, you found her gesturing for you to try again. Frowning, you reluctantly turned back to the door and knocked once more, this time with more urgency.

Still met with silence, your body quivered with apprehension and a whimper escaped your lips. Fear gripped you tightly, your instincts urging you to flee, to turn away from whatever darkness lurked on the other side of the door.

But you knew you couldn't. You had to confront whatever lay beyond. You couldn’t just leave it. Drawing what courage you could muster, you exchanged one last glance with Rae, seeking solace in her unwavering presence, before finally pushing open the heavy doors.

The sight in front of you was utterly horrifying, causing your legs to give out from underneath you.

Blood was splattered across every surface and the sickening stench of iron and death mingled with it, saturating the air. Amidst the red, a blonde woman was motionless on the bed.

She lay on her back atop the grand bed, her head tilted over the edge and her wide blue eyes fixed blankly upon yours. Her blush-colored gown lay in tatters, revealing the gaping hole in the center of her chest.

You retched, the contents of your breakfast emptying from your stomach violently. You could hear Rae's horrified screams echoing behind you. Heavy footsteps thundered away from the room, the sound fading as your gasps and gags filled the air.

The room lay in disarray, a chaotic jumble of blood and gore. It resembled the aftermath of a frenzy, as if some untamed beast had stormed through, wreaking havoc in its wake. Once a serene pastel pink, the walls now bore the crimson stains of spilled blood.

What horrified you the most, however, was the sight of her own heart nestled in her bloodied hand. It was a jarring sight, as if she had taken it out herself. Yet, you couldn't shake the unsettling feeling that this was precisely what the murderer wanted it to appear like.

Your mind struggled to understand the sheer cruelty of the scene before you. You couldn't fathom why someone would commit such a gruesome act. As thoughts raced through your mind, a troubling possibility surfaced – Taehyung. Had she somehow angered him? Could he have been capable of such brutality?

The notion sent a chill down your spine, but you found yourself questioning whether he could truly be capable of such an atrocity.

Footsteps approached once more, and strong hands lifted you from the grisly scene. Moments later, you found yourself deposited unceremoniously in the disheveled hallway, alongside Rae. Together, you watched in silence as guards flooded into the room, some recoiling in horror and others rushing out to empty their stomachs into a nearby vase.

The commotion drew the attention of the guests, who emerged from their rooms with questions on their lips, only to be swiftly silenced and ushered back into their chambers by a stern-faced higher-ranking guard.

"Come with me, ladies," a gruff voice commanded, belonging to a younger guard who gestured towards a nearby door. You scrambled to your feet, your body trembling uncontrollably as you followed him down the hall. Clutching your arms tightly around your chest, you attempted to quell the unsettling tremors that coursed through you.

Rae shuffled along behind you, her faint sniffling betraying the tears she was attempting to hold back. You, however, remained too stunned to allow your own tears to fall. Shock held you in its grip, rendering you speechless.

As the guard swung open the door, revealing a room reminiscent of the tea room you had cleaned on your first day at the castle, he gestured toward the large table at its center which was surrounded by large chairs. Taking a seat, you flinched as he slammed the door shut behind you.

"Tell me everything that happened," he commanded, settling into the chair opposite you. Rae opened her mouth, but no words emerged, her voice lost in the grip of shock and fear.

With a sickening realization of the gravity of the situation, you understood how dire things looked for both you and Rae. A Lady brutally murdered, discovered by you both – it painted a damning picture. It was important to clear the air immediately; now was not the time to let shock and horror render you mute.

Clearing your throat to steady your voice, you began to recount the events. "Well... we arrived at the wing to clean before the guests awoke. I noticed red liquid on the curtains and walls, initially thinking it was wine. But as we approached the door, we realized the liquid was... smeared," you explained, pushing the image of the woman's dead eyes from your mind. "We hesitated, uncertain if it was truly blood. Then, we knocked, and upon receiving no response, I entered... and saw..." Your voice trailed off, the memory too ghastly to put into words.

The guard's expression remained stoic, unmoved by the horror etched on your face. "So, you didn't witness anyone entering or leaving?" he inquired. You shook your head.

“When we entered the wing, it was deserted. There was nobody there,” you confirmed, meeting the guard's intense stare head-on, hoping to convey the sincerity of your words.

“Sir,” Rae interjected, her voice steadying slightly as she regained some composure, “we swear we didn’t see anyone, nor did we have any involvement. We were simply here to clean up the aftermath of last night's events.”

Sensing the guard's lingering skepticism, Rae pressed on, her voice tinged with urgency. “If it were fresh blood, it would still be wet, wouldn’t it?” she asked, her gaze shifting to the guard in search of any hint of acknowledgment or understanding.

His expression softened as Rae's words sunk in. "When we arrived, the blood was already dried and caked into the rugs. I rushed to get you as soon as we saw it," she elaborated, her voice firm.

The guard's demeanor shifted, his initial disbelief giving way to understanding. "You're right. I'll inform my commander. Stay here," he instructed before rising from his seat and exiting the room. As the door clicked shut behind him, a wave of relief washed over you.

"Rae, you're so smart," you murmured gratefully, offering her a small smile. She attempted to return the gesture, though her expression betrayed a hint of discomfort. You felt a twinge of gratitude that you had been the one to open the door; at least Rae hadn't been directly confronted with the grisly scene.

"Who do you think did it?" Rae's voice was barely a whisper, heavy with disbelief. "They'd have to be completely deranged to commit such a brutal act..."

Shrugging, you frowned in contemplation. "I'm not sure. But I do recognize the woman," you murmured, your gaze fixed on the table in front of you.

Rae's head whipped around to face you, her eyes wide with shock. "How?!" she whispered urgently. You recounted how the woman had rudely declined a drink from you the previous night, the memory still fresh in your mind.

"Perhaps... She had said something disrespectful? Maybe to a prince?" Rae's voice was barely audible, laden with uncertainty. "If she treated you with such rudeness for no apparent reason, then it's not unthinkable that she might have mistreated someone important as well."

You shook your head slowly, pondering her words. "I considered Taehyung... but would he really resort to such brutality?" you whispered back, your voice laced with doubt. "Besides, most nobles are rude towards servants. She ought to have known better than to provoke the royal family."

Before your conversation could continue, the door creaked open once more. Instead of the guard from earlier, Namjoon entered the room, his presence sending a wave of apprehension through you both. Rising hastily, you and Rae bowed deeply, your hearts sinking as you awaited his words.

"Please, sit," Namjoon's deep voice broke the tense silence, accompanied by a tight yet amiable smile. You and Rae complied, settling back into your chairs with rigid posture as he joined you, producing a folded piece of parchment from his coat pocket. You couldn't help but wonder if he recognized you from the previous encounter when he had requested tea.

"The two of you seem to have found yourselves in the wrong place at the wrong time," Namjoon began, his gaze firm yet not unkind. It reminded you of the way an older brother or father might look at you when you'd done something wrong. "However, the guard who was just questioning you mentioned that you raised some valid points. You arrived when the blood was already dry and hardened, correct?" he inquired, his eyes scanning your faces for confirmation. You nodded eagerly, a desperate desire to prove your innocence evident in your expression. "And you didn't witness anyone entering or leaving the wing."

Namjoon continued to ask a few more questions, his imposing presence amplifying your growing anxiety with each passing moment. Once satisfied with your responses, he released a heavy sigh.

"The atrocity of this crime surpasses any blame that could be placed on a few maids," he declared solemnly. "I choose to believe you in this matter. We will pursue the perpetrator diligently. In the meantime, I will instruct your head maid to assign you to the southern wing instead."

With a decisive fold of his parchment, Namjoon concluded his statement. "You may return to your chambers now. I can only imagine how traumatizing this must have been for you, so I will grant you the day to rest. However, I expect you back in working order tomorrow," he stated firmly.

As he rose from his seat, you followed suit, bowing respectfully and expressing your gratitude. Sensing his gaze lingering on you as he granted you permission to depart, you did your best to ignore it. The last thing you needed was to draw the attention of another prince.

You hurried back to your chambers, Rae close behind. The room greeted you with emptiness as you burst through the door. Finally feeling safe enough to let go, you collapsed into Rae's arms. Almost instantly, you felt her trembling against you as she buried her face into your shoulder.

The two of you stood there, clinging to each other, and allowed the tears to flow freely. Tears for the tragic loss of life, tears for the near accusation hanging over you, and tears for the overwhelming stress of life within the castle walls.

In the midst of your tears, you found yourself offering up a silent prayer, perhaps the millionth time that day, that things would somehow turn out for the best. You couldn't shake the feeling that things were only going to get worse, the regret creeping into your thoughts over your decision to come to the palace. For once, you didn't push the regret away; instead, you allowed it to settle within you, acknowledging the weight of your circumstances.

#bts #yandere bts #yandere bts fic #bts fic #emeralds and blood #yandere hoseok #yandere jimin #yandere jin #yandere jungkook #yandere namjoon

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