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ethofag · 3 years ago

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full transcript of the video diary segment of ren's 32nd episode of hermitcraft season 8 under the cut! dialogue focused, written in sentence case. check tags for content warnings before proceeding if this is your first exposure to this scene.

RENDOG'S DIARY, DAY 1 - FIVE DAYS SINCE ENCOUNTERING THE MOON ROCK IN THE AUDITORIUM WITH DOCM77 I got some pretty decent sleep last night and it was well needed considering I haven't actually slept properly in the last 48 hours, mostly because, well, all I can think about is potatoes. I woke up this morning and I had this massive urge not only for a giant plate of beautiful, creamy Dauphinoise potatoes but something in me made me want to come and look at the spawn area of Hermitcraft season eight. I don't know what has drawn me here but it was such an intense urge I didn't even make a cup of coffee. I just went straight to the computer and logged onto the server and came straight here, to spawn, staring at the place where all of us Hermits originally gathered on the first episode of... Of the very first few days of the server and all I could think about was that speech that was made by Mumbo, introducing the new Hermits to everybody and breaking down the rules of the server and potatoes though. Man potatoes, you know potatoes are so delicious, there's so many great foods that you can make out of potatoes. Have you guys ever tried crispy roast potatoes with gravy? And some mashed potatoes...

RENDOG'S DIARY, DAY 2 - SIX DAYS AFTER ENCOUNTERING THE MOON ROCK IN THE AUDITORIUM WITH DOCM77 I spent another night tossing and turning without getting much sleep at all and my mind was just filled with a name, the name that I'd never heard before: MoonatrixOcta. I know it's supposed to mean something, I know it's important but whenever I try to focus on it, I just start thinking about potatoes again. Did you guys know that potato is a starchy tuber? Its actual name is Solanum tuberosum; I mean, why do I know this? I suddenly seem to know everything about potatoes. I even know the insects that commonly transmit potato diseases like the Colorado Potato Beetle, the Tuber Moth, the Green Peach Aphid, I even know about the Tuta Absoluta which is a ridiculous name but it's an insect that spreads potato diseases. Why do I know this? Why do I know that the sweet potato is actually not a potato or that in 1949, Mr. Potato Head was the first potato toy to be sold commercially. I... I know all these facts about potatoes and I don't know why. I've got nothing done in this episode. I'm... Falling behind, I'm losing it. I really think I'm losing it.

RENDOG'S DIARY, DAY 3 - EIGHT DAYS AFTER ENCOUNTERING THE MOON ROCK AT THE AUDITORIUM Things are getting much more frantic in my head, I haven't slept in days. I've been able to nap on the couch here and there but my mind is in an infinite loop between three ideas or subjects that I can't seem to shake: Potatoes, MoonatrixOcta, Mumbo Jumbo. I... I just don't know what's happening to me. I suddenly know even more about potatoes than I thought I knew yesterday. I know that there's over 4000 different types of potatoes, although the most commonly used potatoes are the ones that we have every day when we eat them; We've got the Anya, the Apache, the Arsh, the Charlotte, the Elfe, the Marabel, the Maris Piper, the Vivaldi, the Russet, the Rooster, the Purple Majesty. There's even a potato called the Désirée, I thought that was a singer but there's a potato called Désirée. Did you guys know that colloquially, potatoes are known as yams, Murphys, spuds, taters, tatties, potaters, tubers, rhizomes, rooters, sputniks. They're even called brotatoes. I didn't know this yesterday but now I do and I feel like this knowledge is just pouring into me, almost as if my head is going to explode and just as I get overwhelmed by potatoes, suddenly I think about Mumbo Jumbo. I think about his name- Mumbo Jumbo, what a weird name. Mumbo. Jumbo. Jumbo, Mumbo Mumbo Jumbo. I... I can't shake it. I need to go outside. I need some water. I need sleep.

RENDOG'S DIARY, DAY 4 - NINE DAYS AFTER ENCOUNTERING THE MOON ROCK IN THE AUDITORIUM WITH DOCM77 I've come to accept that I might never sleep properly again for all I think about these days when I close my eyes are steaming hot tater tots, those glorious Solanum tuberosum mouthfuls of happiness dipped in some sort of beautiful mayonnaise, shoveled directly into the face. My thoughts make me hungry, my hunger makes me think of MoonatrixOcta and always in the back of my mind, Mumbo Jumbo. But I am determined today to try and suppress thoughts of those glorious rhizomes and to actually achieve something on the Hermitcraft server today even if it's something small like chopping logs for the log tank or working a bit on the terraforming of OctaTown. It must be done, I must distract myself for if I allow the overwhelmingly delicious smell of roasting, crispy Jersey Royals to take over another day, I think I might never make another video again and perhaps my only chance of breaking free from this... Potato infested prison and to find the link somewhere there within. It is my only hope for salvation, although, even as I record this, I feel my mind sinking into a soft cloud of buttery mashed potatoes where, perhaps, an eternal slumber awaits and I can finally be free of that that has consumed me since I touched that wretched rock.

RENDOG'S DIARY, DAY 5 - ELEVEN DAYS AFTER ENCOUNTERING THE MOON ROCK WITH DOCM77 IN THE AUDITORIUM Before I started this diary, I never thought I'd care about potatoes but after these last few days, I really feel like the potato deserves a lot more respect than it gets in the world. I mean, it is a magnificent tuber, did you guys know that in 1885, for example, Van Gogh painted a portrait of potato eaters, I mean, how many vegetables get painted by famous people? I venture not many. Did you guys know that you can use a potato to clean the rust from your tools in your garden shed? I mean it's a miraculous vegetable. Cut a potato in half and just rub some of that potato juice onto your rusty tool and before you know it, brand new tool, just like that! You can even make biodegradable plastic from potatoes and I mean, most of you guys will know this because you did it at school, you can generate electricity out of potatoes. I mean you know what, you know what I think? Get rid of everything in the world, all the vegetables, get out of here, we don't need any of them. All we need is potatoes. Potatoes could do everything, we could make cars out of potatoes, we could make airplanes out of potatoes, we could make YouTube videos out of potatoes. We can do anything with potatoes. They are a miraculous form of vegetable, glory and they need more honor and they need more... What am I... What am I talking about? What, what am I talking about? I've been talking about potatoes for 11 days. I'm going to have to do something crazy to stop myself going crazy. I need to remove all potatoes from my life in some way. That's... That's what this has all been about. I need to find a way to purge potatoes out of my life for maybe that's what this is all about. Maybe, that's what MoonatrixOcta has been trying to show me. I just need to purge. I just need to get rid of the potato. I need to get rid of the potato. I need to get rid of the potato. His name is Mumbo Jumbo.

(THE CHANT OF "I NEED TO GET RID OF THE POTATO" & "HIS NAME IS MUMBO JUMBO" CONTINUES, BLENDING IN WITH THE VOICE OF MOONATRIXOCTA WHO REPEATS "HIS NAME IS MUMBO JUMBO" UNTIL THE VIDEO FADES OUT.)

#cw food descriptions #cw unreality #hermitcraft #rendog #mumbo jumbo #hermatrix #moonatrix #long post #(with under the cut)#archived babyy!

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night-dragon937 · 4 years ago

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oooo then do you have any random facts about anything in nature or space? and also what languages and why're they ridiculous? (i forgot i sent an ask that's why this is late sfkjsg-)

you’re all good!! :D

i will just dump nature facts bc there’s so many--

-did you know there’s no such thing as a biological vegetable? it’s purely a culinary term. potatoes are tubers, carrots are roots, squash and peppers are considered fruit, and lettuce is leaves.

-gay/lesbian relationships have been observed in nearly every species of mammal, and in some other species as well

-there’s a species of flatworm that mate by male worms “penis fencing” and the loser turns into a female and bears the children

-did you know that male octopi only have seven legs and the eighth ‘leg’ is actually their penis?

-also, if a dude octopus is trying to mate with a lady octopus and she’s not in the mood but he won’t back off, she’ll go along with it just long enough to be able to eat the dude

-elephant shrews are the only other species besides humans to have periods (i believe) they’re also the only other species to do the naughties outside of mating time.

-plant cells have cell walls and cell membranes, while animals only have cell membranes. when these are fully hydrated, that’s what makes the cracking sound when you break like a stalk of celery or a lettuce leaf

-did you know that dirt holds chemicals that when touching your skin release stress and help with seratonin? that’s why gardening is such a popular hobby, it makes one feel better

-kind of nature: windows block vitamin D (the important part of sunlight) but not UV light (the harmful part of sunlight) which, honestly, rude

okay space facts-

-our ‘north star’ changes over time. it’s currently polaris, but thousands of years down the road it will be errai and then vega. it used to be thuban several thousand years ago. this is because our planet has a slight wobble to it, moving one degree every 73 years or smth, shifting the north star every several thousand years

-jupiter is literally just a ball of noble gases. the outermost layer is less dense than water, meaning that if you were to try to stand on it, you’d just fall through

-pluto is sometimes closer to the sun than neptune

-pluto has five moons, charon, kerberos, nix, hydra, and styx (all of which are underworld related names from mythology)

-jupiter’s orbit and gravity helps move incoming asteriods in the asteriod belt, keeping most space debris from out of the solar system from reaching the inner four planets

-jupiter is the roman name of zeus (from when the romans just copy pasted greek mythology with different names) and all of its moons are named after jupiter’s lovers. nasa sent a space probe thingey to jupiter, and named it after his wife. jupiter’s wife checking up on him lol

this is already so long i’ll just stop there- as for languages, i speak english, some french, and a tiny bit of spanish and there’s just stuff that i notice

thank you for asking this was so much fun to make :DDDD

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apprenticegamemaster · 4 years ago

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Pern Au Lore Snippets 2

Because the last post got too long for me even under the readmore! Same deal as last time- feel free to steal my ideas if you think they fit your RP or something. I don’t mind sharing my sandbox, even if AM didn’t want to share with her fans ^^

For clarification about climate and geography, I’m using the first map that popped up when I searched “map of pern” in google. The map in my closest Pern series book only covered the Northern Continent and it kinda had half the middle get swallowed up by the spine area ^^;

Continuing from the Crafthall splits-

There’s generally minor Crafthalls wherever there’s a relevant concentration of resources, i.e. the weavercrafthall in the High Reaches, with journeymen being sent out to other holds as needed. That’s how you tend to get most laypeople for crafting- they learned just enough from a journeyman to make stuff that works for their local hold, and then passed down that knowledge after the journeyman had gone back to their Hall.

The Smithcraft hall is basically the closest thing to the Catholic Church Pern has in this AU, mainly as it’s pretty much the only major craft left to have a central authority point. Minecraft (lol), woodcraft, ceramics, glass, and the like all got mostly subsumed into the Smithcraft. Operations-wise, it’s more like Freemasonry than a religion, but the sheer fact that the Mastersmith is one of the few real continental-level authorities has meant that they’ve been able to make or break wars and inter-hold conflicts like nobody else. Sure, you’d still want a Harper to actually negotiate anything, but it’s kinda difficult to keep a war going if the Smiths refuse to make you weapons and armor to keep the war going.

Possible, but difficult.

The Harpercraft Hall has basically split in two- the Eastern and Western halls. The Western hall is basically what you get in the Harper Hall trilogy- basically entirely focused around music with a side of espionage. The Eastern hall is more generally focused on the decorative arts as well as music, from all the different kinds of painting to lacemaking. The Western hall gets more cred for being the older one, but in general it’s a weird case where many of the small holders aren’t even really aware there’s two Harper Halls- pretty much everyone thinks that whichever one is supplying their local Harpers is the one to look to. The split is basically down whatever river Lemos hold is on- west of that looks to the Harper Hall in Fort, east looks to the Hall located just to the east of Benden Hold proper.

The Weavercraft hall has no real central figure by the “modern” day in my AU- There’s a handful of smaller Halls scattered around the continent that all have slightly different specialties. There used to be a main Hall in Boll, but due to a few spats between Weavercraftmasters and a few wars between major Lord Holders, that broke down about a thousand years prior to the meat of the AU. Leathermaking suffered a similar fate.

Farmcraft and the related crafts of brewing and animal husbandry went pretty much the same way, but did so much earlier. What grows where is so highly local that the central crafthall isn’t always going to be able to help more than your neighbor could, and as for brewing? Nobody wants a central office telling them how to make their alcohol. Nobody.

Basically every hold has their own alcohol-making scheme, especially if they’re in an area where the water can be Sketchy. Pretty uncommon for the alcohol to be of any strength, though- even Benden’s wines will get watered down for drinking with meals, much as the Romans did. Teas and tisanes is a relatively common substitute in areas where supplies for such can be grown, and can be a fairly profitable export to areas where tea isn’t grown. Klahbark trees have enough varieties and is grown in enough places that it’s a pretty ubiquitous drink, at least for the large-to-medium holds. Smaller holds kinda depend on finding a local stand of the stuff.

Bread is fairly common in areas where wheat and barley and the like can grow, but tubers (potatoes) are generally the go-to choice for most medium-to-small holds in areas that will support them. Rice only really happens on Ista and just a bit of Boll, but exports of the stuff tend to be considered a luxury food for northern areas. Corn is actually very commonly grown, frequently alongside tubers, but three-sisters style growing is extremely common around Benden. Cornbread is occasionally eaten in the western end of the Northern continent, but the West tends to view corn more as animal fodder than anything else; the Eastern end of the continent uses corn both for animal and people food, but the people food more often takes the form of something closer to how Hispanic/Latin American food tends to take it- nixtamalized flatbreads, mainly.

Meats are actually fairly common, mainly in dried/smoked/salted/otherwise preserved forms, but fresh meat is hardly unheard of. There’s pretty large swaths of land that can’t easily be put under crops, but also can’t have timber stands or orchards due to worries about Thread. Leads to lots of herdbeast farming. Which kind of meat is most common depends on the area, but sheep/mutton is actually the most common outside of Wherry, followed by beef/cow. Pidgeons are actually the most common fowl meat- chicken operations are mostly around Fort and Ruatha, but pidgeons are a bit better about avoiding the kinds of tunnelsnakes and wherries the eastern continent has.

Wherry’s a catchall term for any Pernese avian. The kind most often eaten is basically turkey, but there’s a good handful of leaner and meaner varieties that are just killed to keep them from harassing the farm animals.

Wherrys, tunnelsnakes, and fire lizards are HARDLY the only local fauna beyond fish. Pernese ecology is just as wild and varied as Earth ecology.

Therefore, I have decided that Unicorns exist on Pern. They’re megafauna left over from Pern’s last ice age, much like a single-horned moose with six legs. They mostly avoid human settlement, but sometimes they’ll start nibbling at outlying fields of crops or newly-planted timber stands or orchards, and then you’ve gotta call in the wyer to get rid of them, because they get mean as wild boars around easy food sources. Dragons are pretty much the only way to get rid of them without getting a few holders killed trying to hunt ‘em down.

#dragonriders of pern #pern #meta #i will take a hammer and FIX the canon #okay time to use the sleep #see y'all next time!

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kiapet2 · 3 years ago

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Aperture Sides Facility, Chapter 7: Nice Job Breaking It, Hero

Masterpost

Chapter Summary: An unlikely alliance is made.

Chapter Warnings: Captivity, Death Mentions

“So, how are you holding up? Because I’m a potato.”

Wind whips at your clothing and hair, that and the weightless feeling in your stomach the only indications that you are falling. You do your best to glower at the tuber hanging in front of you in the air.

“It’s your own fault. You’re the one who insulted him.”

The potato scoffs. “He normally doesn’t care what you say about him. Owns it, even. This... temper tantrum... is your fault for putting him in charge of the facility in the first place!”

“My fault?” you say incredulously. “Like you gave me a choice!”

“You could have just let me kill you,” the potato says. “It really is terrible etiquette to depose your host, you know.”

You roll your eyes. “I’ll be sure to remember that next time.”

There’s a sudden jolt as your feet and then your back connect with something smooth and inclined, and then you find that in place of the elevator shaft you were just falling down, you are now sliding down a clear plastic tube.

“Ah. It looks like he caught us,” the potato says casually from behind. “I’m sure that wherever we’re going is simply delightful, don’t you?

You don’t have a good response to that so you choose to ignore it. You try to look at your surroundings, not sure whether to be relieved to have been saved from the seemingly bottomless elevator shaft or worried about where you might be going now. The tube you’re in changes trajectory quickly, going both up and down and taking sharp turns to either side. Rooms whizz by too quickly to get a good look, but you can occasionally recognize the distinctive white of test chambers.

That’s probably where you’re going now. You only just won your freedom, and now you’re being thrown right back in.

“Since we have all this time together,” the potato drawls, “Let’s give you some facts about our situation, hmm? Remus is the Creativity Core. The original Creativity Core, made years before our dear Roman first came into being.”

“Yes, I knew that,” you say impatiently.

“Well then,” the potato says, “You must have heard how Remus was ‘corrupted’. But do you know what that actually means?”

“I suspect you’re going to tell me.”

“It means, my sweet, stupid Thomas, that Remus isn’t constrained by so-called rules and morals the way your dear little friends are. He’s Creativity in its most raw, unbridled form. No inhibitions, no control, nothing to stop him from doing whatever the hell he wants.”

The potato’s voice turns mocking. “And you just put him in charge of the entire facility.”

The sound of slow claps echoes through the tube.

“Ah, good,” the potato says, “I was wondering if that function still worked.”

“It’s not like I had much choice,” you snap. “If you remember, you were trying to kill me at the time!”

“Yes, well, now everyone in Aperture is going to die. That’s clearly so much better, thank goodness for your quick thinking!”

You groan in frustration and run your hands through your hair. He’s right about that last part- replacing Remus was a mistake, one made in desperation maybe, but one which may still cost you your life.

Wait. He said-

“What do you mean, ‘everyone in Aperture?’” you say. “Are the others in danger?”

“Of course not,” the potato drawls. “Having a maniac at the head of this facility wouldn’t affect them at all, it’s not like they’re inherently connected to it or anything.”

You’ve just opened your mouth to respond when the tube splits, your body sliding into one fork while the potato is sucked into the other. In a moment, he’s gone from your view.

You’ve only just had time to register the separation when suddenly the tube ends and you find yourself flying through the air. Your feet hit solid ground, and though your boots stop most of the force of your landing you still find yourself overbalancing from the forward momentum and falling flat on your face. Your nose explodes into pain as it connects with the floor.

“Augh!” Tears form in your eyes and you gingerly feel at your nose. It isn’t broken, or at least you think it isn’t- would you be able to tell if it was?- and your fingers come away without blood, so you think it’s probably okay. Smarts like hell, though.

You sit up and look around, blinking the tears away. You’re in a small room, bare except for a button and connected door. The area around you is sterile and empty, with the Core-turned-potato nowhere to be seen. You’re not sure whether to feel disappointed or relieved- he isn’t exactly your favorite person right now, but at least if he were here you’d have someone to talk to.

As if on cue, a familiar voice fills the room.

Heeeey, Tommy-boy! Long time no see! Did you enjoy the ride? Do you think if you hit your nose again it would start gushing blood?

You grimace at the mental image, resisting the urge to feel again at your nose, then turn and cross your arms at the nearest security camera.

“Either let me go, or just get on with it!”

Touchy, touchy, Remus says. Well, if you’re that eager to get to testing, who am I to stop you?

Some sort of clear cylinder lowers into the center of the room, then slides open in front.

Well? Remus says as you move forward to tentatively inspect it. Are you going to get in?

It’s an elevator, you realize, but much smaller than you’re used to, almost claustrophobic if it weren’t for the clear walls- which will likely be nerve-wracking when the thing is actually in motion. You suspect the unsettling elements of the design are deliberate on Remus’ part, which just makes you even more certain that getting into this thing is not a good idea.

Or if you want, you could stay here and get hungrier and thirstier until you curl up and die. I bet I could get a lot of data from that!

You bite your lip and turn away, looking again at your surroundings. Surely, there’s some way out of here that isn’t that elevator. And yet, no matter where you look you’re trapped in. There’s no gaps in the walls to shoot portals through, and not enough height to build up momentum and try to launch yourself out.

You go back and stand in front of the elevator, your stomach twisting itself into knots. You just got out of the testing chambers- could you really bring yourself to go back? But what choice do you even have, when the alternative is staying here and hoping someone finds you before you die of thirst?

Taking a deep breath to steady yourself, you step forward into the elevator and watch as the doors close around you.

Now I’ve taken a look at Jan-Jan’s tests, Remus says as the elevator begins to rise, and they were okay and all, but it’s pretty clear he isn’t the Creativity Core, you know? I mean, toxic sludge and balls of electricity? It’s a start, I guess, but why limit yourself to the same old stuff when there’s so many fun ways to kill people?

The elevator slows to a stop, revealing a small testing chamber.

So that’s why I’ve come up with newer, deadlier obstacles for you to solve! First up: deadly lasers! I wouldn’t touch them if I were you- or at least if you enjoy having ten fingers. Have fun!

The doors open and you step out into the room, which looks strangely familiar. After a moment it hits you.

“I’ve already done this test chamber,” you say, then grimace, mentally kicking yourself. Sure Thomas, tell the deranged AI he needs to make his tests harder, that’ll turn out well for you.

Yes, but this one has deadly lasers, which automatically makes it better, Remus’ voice says petulantly. You caught me at a bad time! We used to have hundreds of test chambers locked away, but now I have to either use good old JAN-9000’s rooms or make them from scratch. So solve your silly little laser puzzle so you can get to the good stuff!

Wonderful, you think sarcastically, super looking forward to it. Then you sigh and just solve the puzzle.

Like the test chamber you previously solved, the solution is as simple as redirecting the laser with a pair of portals, and before you know it you’re back in the elevator. The one after is similarly simple, and involves using a special glass cube to redirect the lazers while Remus cheerfully narrates what they would do to you if you messed up and hit one. It’s almost nostalgic, really, though Remus’ descriptions of the danger are more gleeful where Virgil’s were more stressed.

By the time you get back into the cramped-yet-uncomfortably-exposed elevator, your heart is starting to calm down just a bit. It’s not like you haven’t done this before, right? Sure, you had the others then, and you’re pretty sure they’re the only reason you’re alive right now, but. It’s fine. You’re fine. And if you keep thinking it enough, maybe you’ll actually believe it.

The next test chamber forms before your eyes, panels pulling into place to make floors and walls while Remus tuts and apologizes to “Daddy” for making a mess. You do your best to ignore him as you step forward, finding a deep pit with a moving platform going across, directly into the path of a laser.

After a moment of surveying the room, you use your portals to get to the familiar form of a cube dispenser. Just like every other time you’ve used a cube dispenser, it promptly drops a cube. Unlike every other time you’ve used one, another object drops out right after the cube, one that shrieks as it falls, then bounces off the cube’s top and onto the ground with a series of “ow”s.

For a moment your stomach flutters with the hope that it might be one of your friends. Then you realize that the object that fell was much too small, and hit far too quietly, to be a Core- or at least a Core living in a body that isn’t a potato.

Just your luck, that the one person in this facility you were reunited with would be the one you least wanted to see. You go over anyways, kneeling down and poking at the potato lying on the ground.

“Hey, um, are you alright?”

“I’ve been better,” the potato mutters into the floor.

“I take it you got sidetracked?” you say, picking up the potato and not even bothering to hide your smirk. “Had a little rollercoaster ride in the cube system?”

“Yes, yes, hilarious,” the potato says. “If you picked me up just to mock me, I’d kindly ask you to just leave me here to rot, please.”

“And here I thought Roman was dramatic,” you say.

“Ah, yes, dearest Roman,” the potato says, a sinister little smile in his voice. “How might he be doing, do you think? It looked like he fell quite far.”

Your knuckles creak as your hands form into fists. “I swear to you, if he isn’t okay-”

“You’ll what? Tear me out of my own body and replace me with someone who put me in a literal potato? Oh, wait, you already did that!”

You take a deep breath, forcing your muscles to relax. “You know what? This isn’t worth it. I need to find the others, and you’re just wasting my time.”

You set the potato down and turn, preparing to take the cube and step back onto the moving platform.

“What if I said I knew how to find them?”

You freeze, then turn back. “You know where the others are?”

“Perhaps.”

You crouch down and pick the potato up again. “Where are they?!”

“Right, because I both know the exact location and would be willing to tell you if I did.”

“But you’ll help me find him?” you say insistently.

“Me, help you?” the potato says. “This situation is your doing, so why would I possibly want to help you?”

You hold the potato up to eye level, giving him a glare.

“Because this is as much your fault as mine. You’re going to help me fix it, or I will throw you down into the deepest depths of this facility I can find and leave you to rot.”

For a moment you’re afraid you went too far, but the potato just gives a deep chuckle. “Well Thomas, I must say I’m impressed. I didn’t know you had it in you. Since you asked so nicely, I will help you find the others, on one condition: you restore me to my rightful place at the head of this facility.

You almost drop him in shock. “What? No! You being in control here was what caused this problem in the first place!”

The potato sighs. “Do you know what my intended purpose is, Thomas?”

“Putting people through rat mazes and then killing them?”

The potato continues as if you hadn’t said anything. “I am the System Preservation Core. I kept this facility running when everyone else had failed, forwarded its interests above all else for decades until you replaced me and threw it all away.”

“Forwarded its interests above human lives?” you say incredulously.

“Of course.”

You scowl down at the potato. “So how do I know you’re not just going to kill me the second you get back control?”

“Thomas,” the potato replies dryly, “I think you’ve proven once and for all that it is much greater of a threat to this facility to try to kill you than to let you go.”

There’s no way you can trust that, not when this Core lies so easily. Then again, some part of your brain whispers, there’s nothing to stop you from going back on the agreement later on if need be. It’s not like he can do much as a potato.

“All right,” you find yourself saying. “When I’ve found my friends, we’ll put you back where you were.” The declaration hangs in the air between you, and you silently hope you haven’t just made a terrible mistake.

“Right then,” the potato says, businesslike. “We’re going to need some way for you to carry me, preferably not in your hands as I absolutely relish the idea of being dropped mid-jump. Wait, what are you-”

Before you can think better of it, you find yourself taking the potato and spearing it onto one of the portal’s front tines, making its occupant yelp.

“Did you just stab me?” he shrieks.

“I didn’t- I mean I just-” you stammer, then jump as the potato lets out another yelp.

“I- whoa. Okay. That portal gun must have Magnesium or something in it; I think my power just went up half a bolt.”

“So- you’re good then?” you say.

He huffs. “As good as I can be as a potato, I suppose.”

You slump in relief so hard you need to steady yourself on the wall. You don’t like this Core, obviously, but you really didn’t feel like becoming a murderer today.

“At any rate,” the potato says, “I might as well put this processing power to use, since I doubt you’ll be of much help. If you need me I’ll be doing some scheming. See y-”

The potato’s voice cuts out, and his light goes dark.

Okay, so maybe you spoke too soon on the not-having-murdered-anyone thing.

“Uh, potato guy?” you say nervously, poking at the potato. “Buddy? You good there?”

After a moment the yellow light blinks back on.

“Huh? What happened? How long have I been out?”

“Er, thirty seconds? More or less?” you say.

He hrms. “Well, I suppose that’s better than nothing. The extra half a volt helps, but it can only go so far. If I think too hard I’m going to fry this lousy tuber.”

“Wonderful, I’m sure that won’t be a problem,” you mutter. The sarcasm makes your tone sound almost identical to the potato’s, which gives you a weird, almost deja-vu-like feeling.

You shake the feeling off, hefting the portal gun and using it to grab the nearby cube. “Are you at least ready to go, Mr. Potato Head?”

The potato huffs. “Do keep making up ridiculous nicknames for me, it’s not like I have a real name or anything.”

“Oh, right,” you say. “Remus called you Jan, right? Or, uh, Janny?”

“Janus,” the potato hisses.

You raise an eyebrow. “What was that?”

The potato hesitates for a moment, before it sighs and says, “My name is Janus.”

You mull that over for a moment. A bit unusual, but not bad as names go.

Taking a deep breath, you move forward, stepping onto the moving platform and preparing to finish the puzzle.

“Alright then, Janus,” you say. “Looks like we’re a team.”

#aperture sides facility #my writing #ts storytime

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kashimos-hajime · 5 years ago

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aphrodite | b.b.

Summary: Bucky’s only in town for the night, and then he meets the woman who steals his heart without a second look back. Unfortunately for you, the small town girl, Bucky’s more than your heart can take.

WARNINGS: CUTE ASS FLUFF! for once, Bucky’s a little shit, unsafe motorcycle riding, pls ride with a helmet, and mentions of sex but like it ain’t that explicit, also sad ending but perhaps a pt 2? Pairing: badboy!Bucky x fem!waitress!Reader Word Count: 6.2k A/N: So I was inspired by Shawn and Camilla’s new song (Señorita) and the music video so I decided it was time to get saucy. Also, I say DEDICATE FICS TO WRITERS YOU LOVE RIGHTS. Therefore, this is dedicated to @jurassicbarnes bc i love her Masterlist

“That’ll be all for you?” you ask, scribbling down the last order of milkshake and fries for a family of three. Tapping your pen on your notepad, you put on a smile and slide the two items into your apron pocket, scooping up the menus. “Great. Thank you.”

“Thank you, Y/N,” the man responds, and you let the grip on your pen slack.

“No problem, and if you need anything,” you stress the word, “please give me a call?”

“We will,” the woman assures and your eyes flicker over to her. Your lips press together in a warm smile because they don’t want your pity. Instead, you look out the windows and note the rain thundering outside the little bistro. “Hot summer rains, huh.”

“Yeah. It’s gonna be a wet summer this year.”

“More fun for the little one,” you tell them as you wave at the tiny boy sitting in the woman’s lap. They chuckle before you leave them alone. Your eyes linger on the rain. You want to run out and let it fall all over you, soaking you to the skin, but you still have to work. Remembering that, you head for the kitchen and rip off the new order, hooking it on the line for Wanda.

“We’ve got a new order. Family of three with a little boy,” you tell her, leaning over the counter. Business is slow in your tiny town of yours, and everyone knows everyone. “It’s Ben and May Parker,” you clarify when Wanda arches a brow at you while she works. She’s great at micro-managing and you watch in amazement as she juggles the deep fryer, stove, and oven all at once, “with Peter.” You can see Wanda’s movements slow as the information sinks in. The two of you share a look and you just stare back until Wanda remembers she can’t let anything burn.

“I’ll make something special for them,” the woman decides and you shake your head with a smile. “I know what May will say, but tell her it’s from me.”

“She’ll know,” you promise, straightening up again. You still have an hour left in your shift, so you might as well make it your best one yet. Fixing your apron, you tuck a slip of hair behind your ear and glance around. No one needs your attention, but you do spot dirty plates, so you head over to collect them before heading back to scrub them up. Less work for Wanda means you guys can close up shop early. Slipping your name tag into your apron pocket lest it fall down the drain and you lose it forever — it’s happened before — you dunk the dirty dishes into the half of the sink full of soapy water.

You begin to run the tap just as the bell above the door rings up front. Sighing, you head out to see a lone figure heading to one of the booths, dripping all over your floor from the rain and your lips twist into a small scowl. Slipping hazard.

Still, it’s not their fault it’s raining in the summer. It’s just the weather around here. So you head on over there, your friendly smile coming up on your face on its own accord. You grab a menu on the way, and think happy thoughts.

“Hi. Do you want me to get you started on anything to drink?” you ask as standard but you find your words come out thick when the figure turns to look at you. Through drenched brunet strands of hair that stick to his cheeks and jaw, blue eyes pierce into your soul and you swallow, not knowing what else to do besides that and blink repeatedly, absorbing this gorgeous guy in front of you.

As you said, tiny town where everyone knows everyone and you certainly don’t know this guy.

He seems to have a lost for words, too, or maybe he’s just wondering what the hell is wrong with you. But one thing you know for sure, he recovers first. He tears his gaze away and you notice he’s wearing leather gloves which he pulls off to reveal those hands and you try not to stare as he tosses them onto the table before extending a hand up. He has a cute smile and you stare at him dumbly, not understanding.

“I, uh, I need the menu, doll,” he says and you snap out of it.

“Right! Right. Sorry,” you stammer, giving him the menu you’d been hugging to your chest as soon as you lay eyes on him. Heat pools in your cheeks as you try to get through the gist of the weekly special and that he should tell you when you’re ready to order. He scans the menu, listening to you talk with a slight cock of his head and you try not to focus on the fact that this is really how you’re going to get fired. Embarrassing myself in front of the new hot guy. Figures. His fingers trace over the words and you can’t help staring at the strength you can see in them.

“Just let me know when you’re ready to order,” you manage to get out at last and he looks up at you. There his smile is again, and his blue eyes squint along with it. He rakes a hand through his wet hair, pulling it back and you chuckle nervously. “I can get you a towel or something, if you want.”

“That’d be nice,” he admits, wiping his hand on his pants. Setting down the menu flat on the table, he holds out a hand that’s not rain-wet. “I’m Bucky.”

“Bucky, right.” You slip his hand into his and nearly shiver at how warm he is. His blue eyes pull you in like a hypnotic mist and your breath catches in your throat. “Bucky, okay, uh, right. Just let me know when you’re done with that—” You point at the menu, cringing internally at how you’ve suddenly lost all your communication skills— “and I’ll come take your order.”

“You said that already. Three times, actually.” And then he lets go with that smirk of his and you’re left dazed, blinking.

“Right. Um…” You’re a complete mess, looking down at yourself. You realize you don’t look at all your best, in a day-old uniform with barely any makeup and your hair oily, and compared to him, all black leather and blue eyes, you know this is not the best way to make a first impression. “Towel! I’ll be back, and, uh, just let me know when you’re ready to order.”

Exiting the situation as quick as you can before you can repeat yourself a fourth time, you duck your head to hide your red face as you hear him call after you.

“Thanks, doll!”

You give him his towel, his food, a milkshake and a refill. Then, you refund all favours you’ve ever done for Wanda for her to go and give him the bill while you clean the kitchen. You’re closing up shop now, and the Parkers head out, giving you a wave through the kitchen window. You wave back before pretending to busy yourself, knowing that his eyes are on you.

When Wanda comes back, he gets up and flips the collar of his jacket, tiny droplets of water spraying over as he tries to catch your gaze. Heat is rushing to your head and you turn away, pretending that you aren’t trying to sneak peaks of him out of the corner of your eye.

I need to take inventory, you tell yourself, heading to the back as Wanda deposits the money. Counting the stock of potatoes, you can’t focus and start from one every three seconds as you stare at the tubers.

“Y/N,” Wanda calls softly and you blink, turning to see her at the doorway of the storage closet, “how many potatoes do we have?”

“Uhm.” You turn back to the potatoes, trying to see if you can make a quick count as Wanda walks in, placing a hand on your shoulder. You’re busted.

“The guy out there wanted to know where my beautiful friend went,” she tells you, and you duck your head, that flustered feeling knotting up your chest as you try to stammer out something like you were busy. But it’s Wanda. “He wanted to ask you out on a date, but I told him my beautiful friend is busy tonight.”

“Busy?” you repeat, turning to Wanda who smiles. “Where are we going?”

“Clubbing.”

Bucky drums his fingers on the bar counter, taking a pull of his whiskey. He had needed to stop in the new town to rest before he headed over to Barton’s country-side home for the wedding, but the bistro he’d stopped by prompted an extra few nights stay.

It wasn’t the bistro so much as the waitress who’d served him. Bucky knows how to keep his cool around the ladies, but to say he hadn’t been momentarily stunned by the woman who’d walked up to him would be a fat lie.

Even in the stained waitress outfit, and the messy hair, you had been the most perfect woman he’d ever seen. Beautiful, in all ways, with your kind smile and rolling words. With your gentle hands as you pulled summer rain from his soaked hair with that towel of yours, as you told him the milkshake refill was on the house as a welcoming gift to ‘our small little town. Enjoy your stay.’

He needs to see you again. Learn your name. Tell you he wants you.

Bucky’s never believed in love at first sight, but he does believe in love at first meeting, and damn it if—

Stop. You need to stop thinking about her. He closes his eyes, letting the sound around him melt into a lethargic ocean, the air around him thick on his skin, hugging him like molasses as the music fades out into some new romance song that’s a hit on the radio these days. But he can’t. You’re in his mind like a brand, burning so bright and warm. Your eyes stare back at him in his mind’s eye, as if daring him to stop.

If he can find you again, find the most loveliest woman he’d ever seen to walk this Earth, he will, ‘cause then he’ll have the real thing.

Someone asks for a drink two seats down, and Bucky blinks out of his reverie, taking another sip of whiskey. He sweeps his gaze through the bar, trying to see if anyone’s worth his attention or time. Perhaps he can get his mind off his new infatuation for a few hours. Better than drowning in the little memories he has of his Aphrodite — just a taste, not enough.

His dark eyes flicker from patron to patron, groups of people dancing on the floor as drinks are spilled and food bounces into corners of the bar no one will ever see, left for the rats to feast. It’s a nice place, cozy in a retro way, with a jukebox and neon signs. The club is plunged in red light, and he can barely discern one face from another as the crowd parts in a way he can only claim is destiny.

There you stand beneath the neon lights.

He sets down his glass of whiskey harder than anyone ever intends to when they’re in their right state of mind and just stares, unable to take his eyes off you, the way that fabric wraps around you. The way the sequins of your black dress seem to darken underneath the red light as you speak to your waitress friend from where you stand around a table. You’re holding a mojito, or something, sipping on that straw and then he’s up, wading through the crowd.

People push up against him, whether intentional or not, but he only has eyes on you.

Your hair is pinned away from your face, but the rest spills down your shoulders, brushing over your arms as you turn to your friend. More girls join you, giggling and flushed and smiling, but he only has eyes for you.

Bucky rakes a hand through his hair, making sure he can soak in every inch of you as your friend points at him. He strides on over, an involuntary smirk making its way onto his face as you set down your mojito on the table. Your friends all stare, but he only has eyes for you.

“Bucky,” you say at last and the sound of your voice is a masterpiece, a symphony of colours he’s never seen before and places he wishes he’s been to. “I didn’t expect to see you here!” You shout because the music pumping in Bucky’s veins means it’s in his blood, roaring in his ears. Maybe it’s pounding in your head too. Your friends tell you they’re going to get drinks. You don’t seem to hear. Your eyes are fixed on him.

“Well, I wasn’t planning to be here,” he replies and you blink, your bottom lip trapped between your teeth as you look at him. His tongue darts out to wet his lips and you let out a sigh. It puffs against his cheek and smells like mint and sugar. “I just wanted to get wasted,” he adds, leaning in closer. His fingers reach for your wrist as you shiver, and your eyes flicker shut, eyelashes dusting your cheeks. His lips brush the shell of his ear and he hums playfully along to the music. His fingers coax your wrist into his grip as his other hand lands on your hip. Your eyes open drowsily, like you’re Sleeping Beauty and he’s your prince, and you search his gaze. In the red light, the shadows of your face darken and cause you to look cut from marble, a statue of Greece, beauty made eternal.

Your other hand finds his bicep and he pulls you into him. Your chests collide. You squeeze and he smirks, knowing you’re feeling what is there. Leather and hard muscle and power.

“Then you came to the right place,” you breathe, chin tilting and his head falls to your neck. Your hand on his bicep slides up to his shoulder as he presses a kiss to your neck and you tug, oh so slightly at his jacket like you want to tear it off. He’d let you. So much for a stumbling mess, Bucky muses. Cats come out to play at night. “Bucky, I—” He lifts his head so your gazes meet again, and your lips are trembling, eyes wide with something dark and wild and feral.

“What is it, Aphrodite?” he whispers, tilting his head as his hand holding your wrist slides up your arm slowly, intentionally, and you react in a way he knows you will. You gasp, and his smirk grows. Your hand flies his elbow, stalling him. Curious, his blue eyes meet yours again. “Wanna dance?”

“I—” The noise comes out strangled and you blink, inhaling sharply. When your eyes open again, what is left is who you were earlier that day. The quiet, shy, stammering woman who’d taken his breath away. You shake your head despite what lies within your eyes. “I have to head home. Busy day tomorrow.” In seconds, you gather your clutch and slam a few bills on the table.

“Wait—” Bucky reaches after you but you’re smaller than he is, and you slink into the crowd. You’re a nymph, beautiful and mystical and magical and maybe you aren’t quite real enough to touch. Bucky isn’t sure. He chases after you, pulling through the crowd — people dancing and laughing and drinking — and he thinks maybe. He catches glimpses of the color of your hair, a flash of your eyes, a slip of your dress.

He’s on the wrong side of the bar when he hears the bell above the door chime, and he knows.

You’re gone, and so is his heart.

He returns to his seat at the bar, slams a fifty on the counter and asks for shots instead of whiskey. Maybe then it’ll chase the ghost of you out of his head.

He doesn’t come for you, like you thought he would, and Wanda doesn’t seem to know if he’s gone, too.

It’s three days before you have to accept the fact that he’s gone. Gone to some other town with some other girl. Guys like him have no trouble getting girls.

You didn’t expect you to be grieving the loss of someone you don’t know, but then again, you’ve never felt so drawn to someone before. On your break, you eat a protein bar and take your hair down for your fifteen minutes and head outside for a breather. The other waitress is in today, and although it’s a busy hour at night, you think the lull in business can give you an extra few seconds. The wind leans into your face, smelling of petrichor and summer sugar, and you know summer rain’s gonna come again. That just reminds you of him, so you push that thought out of your head.

You need to head back inside. You’re closing tonight, so you might as well work to finish early. You count money, clean dishes, wipe down the windows and counters early and mop the floors. Wanda cleans up the kitchen and the last patron leaves thirty minutes before closing, meaning you can leave right on the dot. Wanda and Dot, the other waitress, clock out early as you begin taking stock of the last few ingredients for next day. They’ll need to order soon, otherwise there won’t be any more apples left for Peter Parker’s fourth birthday pie.

“I’m heading home. You sure you’re gonna be okay?” Wanda asks, lingering around the entrance to the kitchen and you send her a tired smile. You can’t read her expression that well when you don’t linger on her face but you know her tone of voice. “You know, it’s okay to miss him.”

You laugh to cover the abyss in your heart. “I don’t miss him. I didn’t even know him.” Wanda looks at you with an ounce of skepticism and you roll your eyes. The hollow feeling in your chest is temporary. “Besides, I’ll be a-okay with my apples and tomatoes.” Wanda wears her tentative smile like a shield as if you’ll blow up at her. She uncrosses her arms, looks at you once more. You sigh. You’re exhausted. “Wanda, go home to Vis. I’ll lock up.”

“Alright. Call me,” she says in farewell and the chime of the bell above the door rings, leaving you alone. You finish up taking inventory and begin locking up, turning off the lights and making sure everything’s sealed. Heading out the back door that instantly locks once it’s closed, you pocket the keys and head out, pulling your hair out of its bun. And then you spot the figure sitting on the couch outside and you slow down, turning to look.

Bucky sits up, eyes wide and lips slightly parted and you smile incredulously. He leans forward, almost half way to standing. You pause mid way through adjusting the strap of your bag and then turn around, a silly smile working its way onto your face as he gets up, scrambling after you.

“Wait! Aphrodite, wait.” You cross your arms as he runs in front of you, towering over you as he does and his blue eyes warmer than any summer rain. “I… I don’t even know your name.”

“Why are you here, Bucky?” you ask quietly, and he runs that hand through his hair again. Aphrodite, you realize, warmth gathering in your stomach. A voice tells you, He thinks you’re beautiful. As beautiful as a goddess. Still, you can’t help the hurt in your voice as you add, “I thought you left.”

“I was thinking of what to say. Thought you didn’t wanna see me,” he mumbles and your eyebrows gather together. Before you say anything, though, he continues, “But I came to ask… ask if you wanted to take a ride.”

His motorcycle is parked a few steps off and you turn to look at the black beast, huge and shining and sleek. It’ll roar when you tear down streets. You know it.

“Yes.”

He helps you on before swinging on in front of you. His ass presses against you as he grabs the handlebars. “Don’t hesitate to wrap your arms around me, Aphrodite,” he murmurs and instantly, your arms encircle your waist and you melt against him. Your legs press against his thighs and he kicks off. The motorcycle purrs and vibrates beneath you as you begin speeding down the street and towards the beach.

The wind rips at your hair and face as the world around you becomes a blur. The night is quiet besides the bike, splitting the night apart with its engine and there’s the smell of sea and salt on the wind. You haven’t been to the beach in forever.

You hug Bucky tighter when he pulls a smooth turn down a road that leads out of the town. Bucky feels right beneath your palms, all hard and soft lines, leather, and pure muscle where his thighs are concerned. He checks up on you at a stop light, his cobalt blue gaze drawing you into him until you’re leaning against him, cheek against his back as you two start off again. You can hear his heart above the thunder of the motorcycle, and the wind stings your nose but the smell of him stings more.

He is one of the seven deadly sins, lust on legs, smoke and cedarwood and sweat, and you cling onto him like he’s your saving grace. Your legs tighten and he takes the chance to eye you out of the corner of his eye, turning his head just enough to take a glimpse of you as a Welcome sign for your city comes and goes, a spot in the distance within seconds.

“Focus on the road, Bucky,” you whisper and he listens. You press your lips against the shell of his ear, eyes focusing on the blurring road ahead. The only thing that’s clear is the man you have every inch of yourself pressed again. “And my name is Y/N.” With every word, your lips brush against his ear and you notice the knuckles of his hands blanche remarkably.

“Aphrodite is better,” he tells you through gritted teeth. The muscles in his jaw twitch and oh, how much you want to touch him except if he gets distracted, you both die. Still your hands play with the edges of his jacket, until he scolds you. “Down, girl. I needa focus.”

Alright, baby.” Your words cause a shiver to run down his spine and you feel it as he twists the throttle. Everything is nothing more than colours — the sky, nothing more than a smudge of black ink, the moon, a streak of white. Your arms tighten around his waist. He leans and swerves, boots barely brushing the asphalt and you taste the burn of rubber in your mouth just like how the smell of Bucky bleeds into your nose.

When you reach the beach, your hair is tousled and you’re panting because the rush of riding a motorcycle has you breathless. Your heart hammers in your throat, almost like it’s trying to speed out of your chest and you swallow it down to your chest, the adrenaline pumping into your smile as Bucky kicks the stand and parks the motorcycle on the pavement

Bucky places a hand on your thigh, swinging his leg off and getting up. The weight of his huge hand, heavy and hot, has you breathing even harder. He’s not wearing his gloves and you can feel the heat of him on your bare thigh. The day dress you’d worn to work and wear now has hitched up your legs, and he gently caresses your thigh as he walks around the bike.

His hand drifts over your skin, across your hips, to your other thigh and then his other hand finds your hip. He lifts you off the seat, putting you down with ease and his skin burns you deliciously. The weight of his hands on your hips is like the best kinda belt and you breathe him in, feel his heat. He licks his lips. You find yourself hungry for something that isn’t food.

“Come on. Beach is empty.” He takes you by the hand, dragging you to the open sand. He dumps his jacket in the sand, pulling off his boots and socks, and you stare before letting your bag drop and toeing off your sandals. You walk out, feeling the summer sand warm beneath your toes as sea winds sweep between your legs and arms. Bucky follows after you, taking hold of your hand and you let him lead you into some dance you somehow both know.

You sway in time to invisible music, as he leans down to press his forehead against yours. Your arms loop around his neck, and you wonder if it’s possible to be drunk off someone else’s presence.

You twirl through the sand, the gentle lap of the waves your own choir as you push off of Bucky, arms spread out and your head tilts back, letting sapphire moonlight spill all over your face. A carefree smile splits your face apart and you close your eyes. You could stay here forever.

Then, strong arms scoop you up and your legs wrap around a thick waist. Bucky spins you around, his eyes never leaving yours and you touch his face, the rough of his stubbe prickling at your palm as his hands hoist you up from the bottom of your thighs and ass.

“Bucky?” you mumble, completely lost in the way his eyes shift from navy to cobalt to sky. He stops spinning. His lips are parted, tongue flickering out to wet his lips again and something takes a hold of you. This man chose you. The notion blows your mind.

Your hands flat against his cheeks, you decide that if this is real, you might as well take what you can get. So you kiss him, and he bleeds whiskey and honey and all that is sweet in this world.

There is summer rain.

That’s the first thing Bucky thinks of as he wakes up. The soft sound of rain splattering windows and tiles and walls, along with the warmth in his gut is a welcomed way to start a morning. Feeling the space beside him, he finds it empty and rolls over, glancing at the window. The tequila sunrise glows golden as you force apart the curtains of the hotel room. Bathed in its glory, you look out the window. So, it rains on a sunrise, does it? Bucky might just start liking this town even more than the people in it.

You continue to stare out the window, and Bucky takes the chance admire your form, covered in nothing but a knitted cardigan that reveals everything and not enough. Bucky squints against the glaring sun as it rises, and moans, catching the attention of his Aphrodite. You turn, tugging your cardigan together as if to preserve decency.

“C’mere,” he mumbles, arms spread out, and you chuckle. Long gone is the shy, stammering waitress with the gentle hands. Here you are, in all your glory; his little minx, his seductress, his bewitching witch. He sits up, naked as they day he was born and you sit in his lap, sinking into him with a soft sigh. “My Aphrodite,” he whispers, hoarse from sleep and other reasons. Your lips meet his again, and you tastes like things he can’t name as your eyes slide shut. Your kiss is toxic, just like the night before, and his hands grab at your shoulders from behind, grounding you to him.

He needs this poison more than he needs to breathe.

His mouth opens underneath yours and you groan, taking hold of his face. Hooked on your tongue, his eyes close and he bites at your lip. His hands peel your cardigan off your body, and you fling it off, returning your hands to his neck and jaw, shoulders and back, like magnets. You’re so warm, the sun in his arms, and you fit so perfectly in his hands as your lips glide to his neck.

“Don’t stop, Buck,” you whisper, moan, plead. Bucky tilts your jaw back to him with a crooked finger, bright eyes meeting yours. You are something ferocious and wild and enchanting. Bucky wonders what he wouldn’t do for you. “We stay in here, alright? We never have to leave.” You duck down to his neck again. He bites his lip, raising his head to give you better access as his fingers scratch down your back. Your hands trail down his shoulders and sides, scratching and clawing and you’re biting and touching as he sucks in a long breath, lips finding the plane of your collarbone. You taste like summer rain, sweet cream, and sweat, and he wants to devour you. “You hear me?”

“We don’t leave,” he whispers, and he takes you by the hips, twisting around so he pins you to the bed. The white covers are clouds around your skin, and maybe you really are a goddess. Flushed cheeks, wine-stained lips, you sing the prettiest song for him.

“Bucky,” you sigh, lovely and deeply, the sweetest harp, the most beautiful angel.

“We stay here,” he promises, pressing ragged, messy kisses against your mouth as he speaks, “and I love you every second until I die.” His hips press flush against yours and when his lips find the column of your sweet, silky little throat, he wonders how he’s gonna tell you he has a wedding to get to. He wonders how he’s even gonna manage to leave this hotel room that has your lips and skin and heat and smell.

How is Adonis to leave his Aphrodite?

“You have to go, don’t you?” you ask as you place the strawberry milkshake between the two of you. Bucky sits at the bar, as you get ready for the day to start. The blinds are filtering the sun through the bistro, the doors locked still. The rain has stopped and it smells like fresh pavement out there. You’re here before opening hours, tugging Bucky into the place by your interlaced fingers. On your arm is a poem of numbers and dashes — Bucky’s number — and on the back of his hand is yours.

The strawberry milkshake is topped with whipped cream and a cherry, and there are two straws poking out of the top. He takes a sip. You sigh. Neither of you comment about the bruise under the handkerchief you have tied around your neck or the one blooming on the juncture of your neck and shoulder, just visible when your collar shifts. Or the marks on the thighs where his lips had undressed you the night before. And that morning. And twenty minutes ago.

“Y/N,” he begins but you merely smile sadly, knowingly. He sighs, pushing the milkshake towards you. You take a sip. It’s not the sweetest thing you’ve tasted today. Bucky’s lips can give anyone a toothache. His blue eyes hooded, he grabs your hand on the counter, leans over the counter, and kisses your swollen lips.

Your hands wrench in his hair, tugging him towards you as he merely cups your face, kissing you sweeter than you want. You want rough, you want something harder. You want him to hurt you so it’s easier to let him go.

“I have a wedding to get to,” he whispers and it sounds a lot like farewell. You want him to ask you to come. You want him to even think about it.

“Bucky…” you begin, unable to finish. He smiles, a whole tragedy in the twist of his lips and the burning in his eyes. His hands slide down your neck, your shoulders, lingering little touches you’ll never have again.

Because your life is here, and his life is somewhere far from your tiny little bistro.

You can’t even pretend you don’t need him.

“It’s so damn hard to leave ya, doll,” he murmurs, fingers playing with yours. You push off the counter, tearing yourself away and he lowers his head. “Y/N, please.” You walk around the counter and he stands, the strawberry milkshake forgotten, and you try to calm the whirling hurricane in your heart. You try to ignore the aching pain, the grief you feel for no goddamn reason.

And then you’re running across the bistro, running for his arms that spread out and you jump into him, legs wrapping around him like he’s the only thing keeping you from drowning. One hand wraps around your waist and the other traces the curve of your thigh as he closes his eyes, hugging you to death.

“You don’t forget me, alright?” you whisper fiercely and Bucky’s hugging you tighter, holding you like he’s gonna lose you.

“Like I could ever forget you, Aphrodite,” he mumbles into your hair and your face nuzzles into his neck, feeling the warmth of him so different than the heat last night. You wonder if he’s gonna take your heart with you when he goes or just half. I hope this meant something to you, Bucky Barnes. “God, doll, if you ever call my name, you know I’m gonna be comin’ for ya.” He sets you back down, but you’re not quite sure your legs touch the ground. Your knees wobble and you hold onto his biceps, taking in his face — memorizing every tiny scar, freckle, blemish of his face, the colour of his eyes, the rosey touch and shade of his lips. You’re nearly chest to chest, and when his hands cup your face, his lips press against yours, tentative. You feel the tears slip down your face when he pulls away.

His thumb brushes away your tears, kisses every single trail, every new tear he’s missed, tells you you look beautiful and kisses your cheek.

It feels a lot like I love you.

This is goodbye. You wrap fingers around his neck, pull him down for a hard kiss of teeth and lips and tongue. He kisses back, the mess of both of you stumbling until you’re against the counter, one arm around your waist his other against the bar and your hands tangle in his hair. You have enough time for one more, you don’t care if it's right here. It might be enough of a reason for him to stay—

But he tears himself away before he can pull apart your blouse and bend you over the countertop. You’re left trying to catch your breath, trying to tell yourself it doesn’t hurt. He mumbles something to himself, and the wretched glare he gives you nearly causes you to crumble. You hold onto the counter, desperate, miserable, liar.

And then he turns to go, and you don’t stop him, too weak to move, too tired to try. You close your eyes, turn your head away and let it drop as you sit on the red leather barstool, swivelling to lean on the counter. Your elbow digs into the wooden counters as your tears burn into your skin. Resting your head against your hand, you pretend not to notice when there’s a long pause between the bell above the door ringing and the door closing again. You pretend you don’t feel him look at you one last time. You pretend your heart is still whole in your chest.

You only burst into tears when you hear his motorcycle fade off into the distance.

Wanda finds you minutes later, sobbing into your arms at the counter, dressed for work, but not ready at all. She calls in Dot to cover your shift, puts away the strawberry milkshake so it doesn’t go to waste, takes you outside to the bench near the back — the very spot Bucky Barnes waited for you — and tells you to stay there until she is on lunch break. You stare at his phone number, inked onto your skin, a stain like a lot of things he’s left on your body, and time seems like something you don’t understand anymore. So you sit where he sat, imagining his motorcycle parked in the lot, his arrogant little smile, his surprise of ‘Didn’t wanna go to the wedding anyway, Aphrodite.’

But he doesn’t come. You know you need to get it together because you have work to do, so you cry, sob over the boy in leather who’s never coming back, until you’re all dried up forever.

It nearly works, and you’ve almost taped yourself up enough to get back to being just another waitress, but then Wanda is on her lunch break. She sits beside you, offers a sandwich, asks you to spill, because you’ve fallen in love with a stranger who’s long gone. And the tears come again.

TAGS: bucky: @beyond-the-ashes @aryaes permanent mcu: @teawithbucky @jcc04220 @shenala @schwankyblock permanent: @dulharpa

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healthandlife · 5 years ago

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Feed the need by five finger nutrient tips for healthy body

Believe it or not, each of us wants to be physically, mentally and spiritually healthy. We make all kind of plans and try our level best to stick but keep failing constantly. This constantly occurring situation does not help physical fitness but also increase frustration i.e. affecting mental health. If physical and mental health is not in perfect tune then spiritual health is certainly out of question.

Final result, we don’t have life as we really wish for i.e. constant state of joy and happiness.

Before we try to know, we must understand the process of “knowing”. In other words, we must understand the process of acquiring the right knowledge and ways to implement this knowledge in our day to day life.

Let’s understand the very practical aspects of recurring failure in maintaining fitness and health at all levels i.e. physical, mental and spiritual.

In current times, we are rushing around. We forget to give time to ourselves, our body, mind, passion, hobbies and interest. Everything is just floating like a dream without any plan and hope. Our busy lifestyle, long working hours, unhealthy eating habits, lack of physical activities and lifestyle disorder lead to stress. Stress is a first step of chain reaction. Once stress is dominant you, it will lead to vicious chain reaction of poor health.

So, how to come out of this chain reaction? First of all we need to understand our body and its requirement in terms of nutrients i.e. right raw material for good and healthy body. The major nutrients are carbohydrates, protein, fat, minerals, vitamin, fiber and water. We need to eat or drink them all in balance amount on regular basis. Nowadays people are just running behind weight loss and weight gain and to achieve it fast, they follow diets such as low carb diet, high protein diet, no fat diet, detox diet, Atkins diet, keto diet etc. These all are temporary diet so definitely results will be temporary. Their name itself indicate they are imbalance diet which will lead to other prolong health hazards. Research also showed that people following such diets gets the results in the beginning. These results can sustain for a year or so. But beyond this duration, people develop metabolic disorder and other health issue due to lack of balance in nutrients. With all these imbalance diets, people lose weight temporarily but more than that they lose stamina, endurance, fitness, flexibility and strength.

If we look at currently common scenario, we can easily find that every family has at least one person suffering from some or the other disease like hypertension, diabetes, PCOD, thyroid and many others. .

In nutshell, we can approximately say that perfect balance of nutrients is the first step towards building good physical health.

Let’s see, what can be done to first balance the right proportion of nutrients in body. Let’s call it “five finger nutrient tips” to begin with.

1. Carbohydrates: Eat carb for energy, think beyond calories. Carbs are important for metabolism and provide us instant energy. For carbohydrates eat cereals like wheat, sorgham (jowar), rice, pearl millet (bajra) etc. Minimum amount of roots and tubers also provide good amount of carb such as potato, sweet potato, beetroot, carrots, radish etc.

2. Protein: Eat protein for building muscle, stamina and to improve BMR. Don’t fall prey to supplement and overdose of protein as it may lead to renal problem. For protein, you must include pulses and sprouts around 75- 100 gms daily in your diet. It provide good amount of veg protein. You must not forget to add variety of pulses (dal) and sprouts like red gram, green gram, masoor, kidney beans (rajma), whole black chana, soybean, big bean etc. . Apart from veg protein, you also need to add animal protein in your diet. If you are vegetarian then have at least 200-300 ml of milk and milk products. For non-vegetarian, you can cut down milk products up to 150-200 ml and have non veg 150-200 gm every day. But non veg should include more lean fat such as fish, sea food and moderate amount of chicken and very less amount of red meat such as mutton, beef and pork. Proper combination of both veg and non-veg protein help to complete the requirement of all essential and non-essential amino acids in our body.

3. Fats: Fats are not evil. Eat good fats in required amount as these are important part of many metabolism processes. Many enzymes activates in the presence of fats only. For good fats and fatty acids, you can have nuts and oil-seeds such as almonds, cashew, pumpkin seed, watermelon seeds, flax-seeds, pumpkin seeds, musk melon seeds, sunflower seeds etc. which provide good quality of fatty acids. A fist of nuts and oil-seeds provide fair amount of quality fatty acid. Visible oil should be taken in minimum amount like 20 gm per day. Choose your oil wisely; you can go for filter oil rather than refined oil.

4. Vitamins: Eat good amount of vitamin and minerals but in a natural form. You must avoid vitamins in tablet form as far as possible. For wholesome all vitamins and minerals, you can eat rainbow color fruits and vegetables. All colorful vegetable and fruits are naturally rich in antioxidants. You must make sure you are having 3 portions of vegetable and 2 portions of fruits per day.

5. Fiber and water: Fiber and water are very important to improve metabolism as they clean our intestine and prevent it from many regenerative diseases. As far as possible, keep your body hydrated by drinking liquid at every hour. It’s not compulsory to drink water only. Alternatively, you can drink coconut water, lemon water, buttermilk and herbal tea. This will keep your body hydrated and will provide nutrients and improve BMR. But remember tea and coffee and fruit juices should be avoided. Tea and coffee leads to dehydration and fruit juice does not provide any nutrient. In fact once any fruit is processed it loses its fiber and nutrient and ultimately it just turns into colorful flavored water. For fiber, eat all kinds of fruits and vegetables and millets such as jowar, bajra, maize,ragi etc.

By following five finger tips rules in your day to day diet, your body would start easing and will keep your mood and emotion jovial. I don’t need to tell you , a healthy and fit body will automatically have healthy mind. To relax and ease your mind, I would recommend 30 minutes meditation every day.

To me, true happiness means that all of us are healthy and fit.

#planet fitness #gym #fitness first #fitness and health #diet #nutrition #fitness world

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scanlonblogs · 6 years ago

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Five Foods That Can Benefit Your Health

People struggle to eat healthy on a daily basis. Some people forget to eat altogether because of how busy they are. In order to reach your full potential, you cannot be limited by your body's inability to function. Eating clean, healthy foods is the first step in bodily maintenance. By doing so, you will be able to work towards your goals with more energy, less stress, and better health. The best part is, healthy does not necessarily mean difficult, tasteless, or expensive. Here are five cheap, simple, and easy to use foods that can benefit your health in the long run.

1. Garlic

Garlic has been used medicinally for hundreds of years. It has been said to have cancer preventative properties, be a strong prophylactic, and is filled with antioxidants. The herb has also been known to treat and prevent cardiovascular disease, lower LDL, or bad cholesterol, and raise HDL, good cholesterol (1). This, in turn, can prevent diseases such as atherosclerosis, the buildup of cholesterol and fats on artery walls. Garlic can also lower blood pressure. Clinical studies, using those suffering from high blood pressure, saw over 80% of patients’ blood pressure lower after consuming garlic for a specified amount of time (1).

One of garlic’s most prominent antioxidants, Allicin, is known to be an anti-inflammatory. It is also been linked to garlic’s cancer-preventing properties (1). Because of this, eating garlic has been thought to slow, or even halt, cancer cell and tumor growth in the body. In fact, the Designer Food Program said that garlic may be the post potent food with cancer preventative properties (1). Allicin is produced when the garlic has been crushed or chopped, so it is important to do so if you want to receive garlic’s full benefits.

Garlic has also been thought to treat and cure the common cold, though more research has to be done to know for sure. However, people who have eaten garlic daily while having a cold saw their symptoms clear up within a couple of days (1). This is no surprise considering garlic’s prophylactic nature. In fact, garlic has been proven to be a strong antibacterial agent and can even differentiate the beneficial bacteria from the harmful bacteria in the body (1).

It is important to note that everyone is effected by garlic differently, meaning some people may receive benefits while others do not. However, garlic is a healthy addition to anyone’s meal preparations. Three to four garlic cloves per day is enough to potentially receive its benefits.

2. Sweet Potatoes

Popular among the health community, sweet potatoes are high in energy, full of fiber, and rich in vitamins and minerals. They are a healthy alternative to regular white potatoes, because they are a slow-burning starch. More energy is generated over time since the sweet potato takes longer to digest (2). This is also why sweet potatoes help regulate weight gain. Slow-burning carbohydrates do not cause insulin spikes when consumed, which can cause excess sugar to be stored as fat (9). Its high fiber content also contributes to weight regulation, as it makes you feel fuller and less inclined to eat excessively.

Sweet potatoes are filled with vitamins and minerals, the most prominent being vitamin A, giving its flesh an orange tint (7). Vitamin A is important for immune health, organ function, and eyesight. Sweet potatoes also contain vitamin C, magnesium, potassium, and vitamin B-12, all of which contribute to the development of the brain and maintenance of the body. They are also thought to have cancer-fighting antioxidants. So, if you are looking for a low calorie, filling, and nutritious food for your healthy arsenal, sweet potatoes are a great addition.

3. Yogurt

Yogurt is a great choice for those looking to lose weight or a healthy snack. Its high protein content makes it beneficial for muscle growth. Yogurt is also an excellent source of calcium, which strengthens bones, vitamin D, vitamin B-12, and magnesium (4). It also has riboflavin, a vitamin necessary for healthy cellular growth and functioning. Due to its high nutrient content, yogurt has been thought to help people eat better overall. This is most apparent when you think of the healthy foods most people eat with yogurt, such as nuts, fruit, and granola (4). Based on this information and from different studies, some have even said eating yogurt is associated with low body weight, waist circumference, and body fat percentage. Some yogurts also contain probiotics, which are healthy bacteria beneficial to gut health and digestion.

It is important to check which type of yogurt you are eating, as not every yogurt is healthy. Healthier options will have a low sugar and fat content. Plain yogurt is the best choice overall. Though it tastes bland, fruits, nuts, and other flavorful items can be added. You should choose whatever yogurt fits your diet or goals.

4. Nuts

Nuts have a reputation for having a high fat content. Because of this, many people avoid nuts believing they are unhealthy. However, nuts are one of the healthiest foods a person can eat and should not be overlooked. Not only are they a good source of fiber, but nuts can also promote heart health (3). This is due to their high calcium, magnesium, and potassium content. They are also chocked with protein and unsaturated fats, known as good fats. Nuts are only unhealthy when people add other items to them, such as roasting them with oil and salt, adding the bad, unsaturated fats to them. This is why it is better to eat nuts raw, as they will be full of vitamins and minerals, maintain a low sodium content, and have little to no unsaturated fats.

Each nut has their own similarities and differences between their counterparts. Almonds have been known to be filled with iron, zinc, and the other minerals listed, different vitamins, such as vitamins B6 and E, protect against certain forms of cancer, increase immune system health, and lower cholesterol (8). Walnuts contain the vitamins and minerals above plus an antioxidant which boosts immunity. They are also thought to help people sleep better. Pistachios are good for cardiovascular and vision health (8). Overall, if you are going to add nuts to your diet, it is best to incorporate different types, as each one has their own unique health benefits.

5. Eggs

Eggs are a popular breakfast food and for good reason. An egg is one of the most inexpensive proteins you can buy, with one egg having over 6 grams of protein. Most of the protein is found in the egg whites while most of the fat and calories are in the egg yolk. Vitamins and minerals include; selenium, phosphorus, vitamin B2, B12, B5, A, and folate (5). Selenium is used to create antioxidant enzymes in the body, and folate is used to make DNA. Eggs can raise HDL cholesterol, the good cholesterol, and also have been thought to lower the risk of heart disease and stroke (6). They are also low carb while being very filling, meaning they could regulate weight by preventing you from overeating. Overall, the egg is a small, inexpensive food item that houses many nutritional benefits. Nobody should overlook the egg as it is easy to get and provides essential nutrients for growth and development.

Are there any foods you think should be on this list? Do you agree or disagree with the foods discussed? Be sure to let me know in the comments! Thank you for reading!

Song of the Blog

Today's Song of the Blog is "It's Bad for Me," by Rosemary Clooney!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=80-tmgZC2A8

Social Media:

MY BLOG: https://scanlonblogs.blogspot.com/

Tumblr: @scanlonblogs

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ScanlonBlogs

Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/scanlonblogs/

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/scanlonblogs/

Special Thanks:

Thank you @sunnycosmology for continuously supporting what I do. Your kind words are part of the reason why I keep moving forward. Also, YOU, SCROLLING THROUGH THIS BLOG, thank you for reading. I thoroughly enjoy talking with my readers, so shoot me a message if you want to chat! Thank you!

Works Cited:

1. Bayan, Leyla, et al. “Garlic: a Review of Potential Therapeutic Effects.” Https://Www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/Pmc/Articles/PMC4103721/, Jan. 2014.

2. Chandrasekara, Anoma, and Thamilini Joseph Kumar. “Roots and Tuber Crops as Functional Foods: A Review on Phytochemical Constituents and Their Potential Health Benefits.” Https://Www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/Pmc/Articles/PMC4834168/, 3 Apr. 2016.

3. Emilio Ross. Health Benefits of Nut Consumption - PubMed Central (PMC). 24 June 2010, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3257681/.

4. Fernandez, Melissa, and Andre Marette. “Potential Health Benefits of Combining Yogurt and Fruits Based on Their Probiotic and Prebiotic Properties.” Https://Www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/Pmc/Articles/PMC5227968/, 11 Jan. 2017.

5. Gunnars, Krid. Top 10 Health Benefits of Eating Eggs. 28 June 2018, www.healthline.com/nutrition/10-proven-health-benefits-of-eggs#section9.

6. Lewin, Jo. “The Health Benefits of Eggs.” BBC Good Food, 2018, www.bbcgoodfood.com/howto/guide/ingredient-focus-eggs.

7. Martinac, Paula. “Is Eating Baked Sweet Potatoes Every Day Healthy?” Healthy Eating | SF Gate, 27 Nov. 2018, healthyeating.sfgate.com/eating-baked-sweet-potatoes-day-healthy-10737.html.

8. “The Pros & Cons Of Eating Nuts.” Perfect Fit Magazine, 2 June 2016, perfectfitmagazine.com/en/the-pros-cons-of-eating-nuts/.

9. Sass, Cynthia. “7 Health Benefits of Sweet Potatoes.” Health.com, 1 Oct. 2018, www.health.com/nutrition/sweet-potato-health-benefits.

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drlaurynlax · 6 years ago

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5 Easy Ways to Heal Anxiety Naturally

Natural Remedies To Heal Anxiety

There are many all-natural remedies to heal anxiety. Mental health illnesses are one of the leading diseases in the U.S.—affecting 1 in 5 adults every year. Read on to find out more

Mental health illnesses don’t necessarily mean text book cases like schizophrenia or bi-polar disorder either. Common (often unspoken) mental health illnesses also include chronic anxiety, eating disorders, OCD (obsessive compulsive disorder), depression and “serious psychological distress (SPD)”—a term to describe feelings of sadness, worthlessness, and restlessness that are hazardous enough to impair physical well being.

Typical treatment solutions routinely include a prescription for therapy/counseling, meditation or yoga and SSRI medications.

However, despite our nation’s efforts to reverse these disorders, the numbers are not getting any better.

Why?!

One word: The gut-brain connection.

THE GUT-BRAIN CONNECTION

Your gut health influences your brain health, and vice versa, your brain health influences your gut health.

Unfortunately, statistics reveal that approximately 3 in 4 Americans have some sort of GI distress or dysfunction. With such high statistics, NO WONDER mental health is on the rise.

How does the gut-brain connection work?

Considering that the gut is the “gateway” to your health (ALL nutrients and toxins MUST filter through your gut), if you gut is unhealthy, then your brain will feel the effects as well—unable to receive the nutrients it needs to fuel healthy brain cells, give you energy and help you think CLEARLY.

Beyond just nourishing your brain cells too, your gut and your brain are highly connected. So before you jump to any conclusion on how to heal anxiety, consider this.

In fact, your vagus nerve—the nerve that controls digestion—is connected directly from the frontal lobe of your brain to the top of your stomach.

NO WONDER you get “butterflies in your stomach” when your brain gets nervous! And NO WONDER when you feel constipated or bloated, your discomfort is all you can THINK about in your head!

In addition, more than 90% of your serotonin (your “feel good” brain chemicals) is produced in your gut, and your serotonin not only responsible for helping you feel calm, peaceful, happy and enthusiastic, but your serotonin ALSO assists in digestion and gut motility (helping you fully digest and go #2).

Hence if your gut health is poor and unable to produce serotonin, then say hello to feelings of anxiety, depression, low self-esteem and bloating or constipation.

The Bottom Line:

Your gut is like your brain’s heart beat. If it’s healthy and strong, so is your brain.

So how do you get a “healthy” gut? Current treatments may NOT be the solution and finding the right solution to heal anxiety can be a challenge.

THE LITTLE KNOWN TRUTH ABOUT SSRI MEDICATIONS

SSRI medications can be beneficial for many, especially as a short-term solution for helping a person navigate a difficult time in their life, however, like many other drugs—(from Advil for headaches, to birth control for PMS, to PPI’s like Nexium for heartburn), SSRI’s are not a long-term healing solution or cure for reversing mental illness.

They are more part of treatment and management.

In fact, a little known truth about SSRI’s is that they may actually perpetuate mental health issues more by killing off or disrupting healthy gut bacteria.

While a large percentage of pharmaceutical research has highlighted the devastating effects of antibiotics on the gut microbiome, and what impact that has on human health, a landmark March 2018 study (Maier et al, 2018) was the first to systematically profile interactions between non-antibiotics and human gut bacteria—SSRI’s included.

Researchers found that SSRI drugs may be just as detrimental to the human microbiome—if not more—as they inhibited MORE (healthy) gut bacteria than many antibiotics, PPI’s (proton pump inhibitors that treat reflux) and anti-diabetic drugs used in the study. On the flip side, researchers ALSO speculated that SSRI’s strong effects on gut bacteria could be a reason WHY many people experience a “therapeutic” effect on SSRI’s—at least initially as bacteria is .

If pathogenic (bad) bacteria is contributing to a person’s mental health condition, then SSRI’s may actually also disrupt unhealthy bacteria. However, similar to antibiotics, SSRI’s also disrupt the “healthy” gut bacteria, contributing to the dog-chasing-its-tail cycle of an unhealthy microbiome over the long term and continued gut-brain disruption.

The Bottom Line

SSRI medications don’t heal. They manage. If you want to truly “heal” your brain from the inside out, address and heal your gut first, while not discounting your total health and lifestyle as a whole (Read: You are not a diagnosis, an ICD-10 code for insurance, a disease or symptoms. You are a person).

Here are some natural cures to heal anxiety and other mental health solutions for natural (gut) healing.

NATURAL ANXIETY & MENTAL HEALTH GUT HEALING SOLUTIONS

A number of remedies have been studied to heal anxiety. If you dealing with it today, medication doesn’t have to be your only treatment. Try the 5 natural ways to heal anxiety.

1. Assess Your Current Gut Health

Fungal overgrowth, parasites (Nyundo et al, 2017), bacterial overgrowth and gut infections are all leading causes of “gut issues” and many people go for years—if not their lifetime—not realizing their gut was unhealthy. A thorough gut assessment can help shed light on what, if any, underlying pathogens may be wreaking havoc on your gut.

A good baseline assessment would include: comprehensive blood panel, comprehensive 3-part stool and parasitology test, and possibly a SIBO breath test (assesses for bacterial overgrowth). Working with a skilled nutritionist or functional medicine practitioner can help make this step easier. Once results are back, a specific (short-term) supplement and nutrition protocol may be prescribed for you, based on your results, in order to heal (no longer just manage) gut symptoms (and brain symptoms).

2. Support Healthy Digestion

Incorporate a daily baseline gut health routine (just like brushing your teeth) that includes:

Take a Daily Soil-Based Probiotic & Eat 1-2 Fermented Foods/Daily (sauerkraut, grass-fed full-fat plain yogurt or kefir, low-sugar kombucha).

Prebiotic Fiber (1/2-1 tsp/daily).

Drink 1-2 tbsp. Apple Cider Vinegar in 2-4 oz. water.

Breathe deeply before or after meals for 1-2 minutes, chew your food well, and rest and digest (i.e. don’t eat in a rush or on the go).

3. Detox Your Lifestyle

Beyond juice cleanses, several lifestyle stressors and toxins wreak havoc on your health—especially your gut health—as your liver becomes overburdened with filtering these toxins in and out, and toxins promote bacterial overgrowth. We are exposed to over 85,000 “approved” chemicals and toxins in our cleaning and hygiene products, food sources and environments—many of which are banned in other countries. No, you can’t live in a bubble, but by mindfully reducing your toxic exposure, you CAN detox your gut health (positively). Consider detoxing one of the following:

-Replace plastics with glassware and stainless steel

-Choose hygiene products that rank 1 or “A” on EWG’s “Skin Deep” database (paraben, sulfate and toxin free)

-Use white vinegar and baking soda as natural cleaning agents

-Gradually replace makeup with more natural solutions as you run out

-Buy the “dirty dozen” in organic versions and opt for grass-fed, organic meats and fish as much as possible

4. Eat REAL Food & Clean (Filtered) Water

It may sound oversimplistic, but food is like medicine for your gut and brain, and if you haven’t given real food a “shot” to see how it affects your brain health…I dare you. Cut out the non-real food products for 7 days and see how you feel, including:

NOT RIGHT NOW FOODS

Gluten and grains (cereals, bread, rice, pasta)

Dairy

Non-soaked nuts

Conventional meat and eggs

Packaged, processed foods

Artificial sweeteners and sugar

Sodas, juices and alcohol

Instant coffee

It doesn’t mean forever, but sometimes a brief time away from common gut-brain irritating trigger foods (inflammatory) can help your brain “come to life.” Build your daily meals and snacks upon:

EAT THESE FOODS

Sustainable proteins (wild caught, grass-fed, pasture raised).

Dark leafy greens (cooked and/or raw).

Starchy tubers (yams, potatoes, sweet potatoes, winter squashes, plantains).

Fibrous veggies

Some fresh fruit

Healthy fats (avocado, olives, olive oil, coconut oil, coconut butter, ghee, grass-fed butter, etc.).

Clean filtered water (70-80% of people drink carcinogenic water with over 100 cancer cross contaminants).

5. Continue Your Healing Work

Though gut healing and physical well-being greatly impacts your total body health—brain included, none of this is to discount the heart and head work that continued “healing” in counseling, therapy, coaching and connecting to your personal passions and purpose can give you in your healing process. In fact, “gut love” goes much deeper than taking probiotics alone. (i.e. learning to love yourself, tapping in to your unique personal hobbies and passions, and connecting to community and spiritual connection).

The Bottom Line:

Gut assessment and healing

Real food +

Gut Love (Heart & head “work” in therapy/counseling, and connecting to your passions, purpose and other people)

Healing!

Resources

Maier, Lisa & Pruteanu, Mihaela & Kuhn, Michael & Zeller, Georg & Telzerow, Anja & Erin Anderson, Exene & Brochado, Ana & Conrad Fernandez, Keith & Dose, Hitomi & Mori, Hirotada & Patil, Kiran & Bork, Peer & Typas, Athanasios. (2018). Extensive impact of non-antibiotic drugs on human gut bacteria. Nature. 555. 10.1038/nature25979.

Nyundo, A. A., Munisi, D. Z., & Gesase, A. P. (2017). Prevalence and Correlates of Intestinal Parasites among Patients Admitted to Mirembe National Mental Health Hospital, Dodoma, Tanzania. Journal of Parasitology Research, 2017, 5651717.

The post 5 Easy Ways to Heal Anxiety Naturally appeared first on Meet Dr. Lauryn.

Source/Repost=> https://drlauryn.com/mindset-body-love/5-easy-ways-to-heal-anxiety-naturally/ ** Dr. Lauryn Lax __Nutrition. Therapy. Functional Medicine ** https://drlauryn.com/

#Holistic #Nutrition #Therapy #Recovery #Functional #Medicine #Dr. Lauryn Lax #Dr.Lauryn

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bestdiaries · 4 years ago

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Keto diet?

What is the keto diet?

The keto diet is a low carbohydrate diet. This is similar to another low carbohydrate diet, but that

Need you to eat fewer carbohydrates than other diets. Lots people find a keto diet is very difficult to follow because of how limiting it is in carbohydrate intake.

By lowering your carbohydrate intake, you must make calories by eating high amounts of fat and healthy proteins. In other words, you make healthy fat, and your food star protein, not carbohydrates.

ACCESS THE BEST KETO DIET’S TODAY (KETO FIT) Personalized Keto Diet Plan that works. Guaranteed !

Foods such as bread, pasta, potatoes, and carrots are removed from your diet, while food is like steak, avocado, and nuts added. Although cutting carbohydrates is difficult, at least you can still eat a lot of yummy; fill the food you like, like burgers and chicken.

The most important aspect of the keto diet is consistency. You will not see eternal results if you go back and forth on your diet. Of course, occasional cheat days are permitted, but you have to rigidly stick to your low carbohydrate diet if you want to see the results that survive on your body weight and health.

If you hold on to the keto diet rigidly, you can hope to see lasting results quickly. The keto diet is highly praised because it can make a real difference in a short time.

Ketosis - Secrets for Keto Diet

You might be wondering, but what makes it so great? Answer for that

The question is simple - ketosis.

Our bodies are programmed to run on two sources of energy - fat and sugar (glucose). When we eat an ordinary diet filled with carbohydrates, our body prefers to run glucose. Glucose requires insulin as a transporter and destroys the brain-blood barrier.

Every time our body does not have enough carbohydrates, they naturally

Use fat as their fuel. Our brain cannot run with fat directly so that our body uses ketone as fuel. Ketones are a great source of fuel, but they do not need insulin as a transporter and still solve the brain's blood barrier.

The process of your body turns to ketone as a source of fuel

Known as ketosis. As you might consider, the name "keto" comes from ketosis, the metabolic process where our body runs in fat, not sugar.

ACCESS THE BEST KETO DIET’S TODAY (KETO FIT) Personalized Keto Diet Plan that works. Guaranteed !

Benefits of Keto Diet

Because the keto diet puts your body in ketosis, you can expect to lose more fat when on the keto diet. This is because ketosis gives you easier access to your fat shops, which in turn makes it flammable. This is an amazing fact if you try to lose weight. Despite your weight loss will eventually be the highlands, your first months are in keto will dramatically change your weight and body.

The Keto diet is good for more than just weight loss. Because ketones do not need insulin as a transporter, the keto diet helps regulate your blood sugar levels. Without the need for insulin as much, your blood sugar can normalize.

Those who suffer from diabetes or prediabetes will get significant benefits from the keto diet for this reason. Diet can help regulate their blood sugar so they can reduce insulin and their blood sugar medicine.

Another benefit of the keto diet is that you do not have the peak and the lowest position of other types of diet or high sugar intake. When you eat a lot of sugar, your body gets a naturally high which ultimately crashes. When you reduce your carbohydrate intake, your body normalizes better, so you have a more consistent feel. Likewise, you don't feel hungry on the keto diet. Fat takes longer

Process rather than sugar. This means you will feel full when you are on the keto diet. Many diet keto enjoys this benefit because it means they don't feel they are diet; they still feel full and satisfied.

Complete list of the benefits of the keto diet:

● Reduces appetite

● Feel fuller longer

● Weight loss

● Decreases triglycerides

● Increases HDL cholesterol

● Decreases LDL cholesterol

● Reduces blood sugar and insulin levels

● Effective against metabolic syndrome

● Benefits brain disorders like Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s

Side Effects

Although the keto diet is most beneficial for your health and wellbeing, it does come with some side effects as well. Make sure that you recognize these side effects so that you don’t harm yourself in the process of losing weight.

Most people who switch to a keto diet experience something that many people call the keto flu. Although it is not a recognized medical condition, switching to a keto diet can cause flu-like symptoms for the first week or so that you are on the diet. Vomit, gastrointestinal distress, fatigue, and lethargy are all signs of the keto flu, though they usually pass within a couple of days.

Here is a list of all the adverse side effects that have been reported due to

a keto diet:

• Keto flu

• Insomnia

• Fatigue

• Nausea and vomiting

• Endurance issues

• Headaches

• Constipation

• Dizziness

• Diarrhea

• Vitamin and mineral deficiencies

ACCESS THE BEST KETO DIET’S TODAY (KETO FIT) Personalized Keto Diet Plan that works. Guaranteed !

The Keto Lifestyle

More than this, though, the keto diet is not about feeling hungry or irritable. Instead, the keto diet is about eating until you’re satisfied but doing so in a way that is healthy and conducive to weight loss. With this in mind, the keto diet is more of a lifestyle than a diet.

By learning what foods you can eat, the keto diet becomes an everydaypart of your life. Simply eat the foods you want and avoid carbohydrates. It’s as simple as that.

What You Can Eat

No matter what keto diet you choose, you will have a low carbohydrate

intake and high fat intake. The exact ratio will depend on your body and

diet of choice.

Always look for foods that are high in healthy fat. Your meals should

revolve around fat and protein, not carbohydrates.

Instead, look for the following food types to plan your meals around:

● Meat: red meat, steak, ham, bacon, lamb, and poultry

● Fatty Fish: mackerel, salmon, trout, and tuna

● Eggs: pasteurized or omega-3 whole eggs

● Butter and Cream: grass-fed butter and heavy cream

● Cheese: unprocessed cheeses like cheddar, Colby jack, cream, blue,

goat, or mozzarella

● Nuts and Seeds: almonds, walnuts, flaxseeds, chia seeds, etc

● Avocados: avocados or guacamole

● Low Carb Veggies: green veggies, onions, peppers

● Condiments: salt, pepper, spices, and herbs

What You Can’t Eat

On a keto diet, you have to restrict your carbohydrate and sugar intake. If you don't, then your body cannot go into ketosis, defeating the entire purpose of the diet.

Here are the foods to avoid when on a keto diet:

● Sugary foods: soda, fruit juice, candies, cake, ice cream, dessert,

etc

● Grains or Starches: wheat-based products, rice, pasta, cereal,

bread, etc

● Fruit: all fruit except berries in small portions

● Beans or Legumes: peas, kidney beans, lentils, chickpeas, etc

● Root Vegetables/Tubers: potatoes, sweet potatoes, carrots, etc

● Low Fat Diet Products: low fat mayonnaise, low-fat butter, etc

● Condiments High in Sugar: BBQ, honey mustard, teriyaki, ketchup,

etc

● Unhealthy Fats: processed foods, vegetable oils, mayonnaise, etc

● Alcohol: beer, wine, liquor, and mixed drinks

● Sugar-Free Diet Food: sugar-free candies, syrups, puddings,

desserts, etc

Tips for Going Keto:

· Plan Your Meals

· Make It Fun

· Try Intermittent Fasting

· Listen to Your Body

Disclaimer:

This Blog has been written for information purposes only. The purpose of this blog is to educate. I do not warrant that the information contained in this Blog is fully complete.

ACCESS THE BEST KETO DIET’S TODAY (KETO FIT) Personalized Keto Diet Plan that works. Guaranteed !

#keto #keto diet #keto dishes #health & fitness #healthy diet #healthy food #lose weight #weight loss #weight loss formula #weight loss for women

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maryabouchardon · 4 years ago

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The truth behind one of the most popular diet patterns of the minute

Weight Loss: Simple Seven-day Keto Diet Plan That Helps ... Can Be Fun For Everyone

Table of ContentsUnknown Facts About 49 Keto Diet Foods To Change Your Weight Loss Goals ...The Basic Principles Of 'Best Diets' Ranking Puts Keto Last, Dash First - Cnn - Cnn.com The smart Trick of The Truth Behind The Most Popular Diet Trends Of The Moment ... That Nobody is Talking AboutIndicators on The Ketogenic Diet For Weight Loss - Today's Dietitian Magazine You Need To KnowThe Should You Try A Keto Diet For Weight Loss? - Consumer ... PDFs

There's additionally research right into making use of a keto diet to cure/prevent cancer (see Dr Seyfried's research for even more) and brain conditions like Alzheimer's (see Dr. D'Agostino's research for even more). There's typically a misconception that our body in some way requires carbs. But the reality is our body can live without carbs simply fine as long as you eat a lot of good fats and protein.

Nonetheless, our brains do need sugar (a form of carb). On standard, your mind takes up 20% of your body's power expenditure, which relates to around 100-120 grams of sugar. It sounds like we therefore require to eat carbs to provide adequate energy to our minds daily. Well, if that were the case, then humans would only have the ability to live a couple of days without food (because we can't save adequate sugar in our bodies to last for any kind of longer).

So, where does that sugar to provide our brain originate from when we quickly for a week? As Robb Wolf states in The Paleo Remedy, "Our bodies can make all the carbs it requires from protein and fat." And as Dr. Peter Attia puts it, "The reason a depriving person can live for 40-60 days is specifically because we can turn fat right into ketones as well as transform ketones right into substratum for the Krebs Cycle in the mitochondria of our neurons - blood ketone levels.

Kind 1 Diabetics Kind 2 Diabetics using Insulin Females that are breastfeeding People on specific drugs e.g., for hypertension If you come under one of those classifications, then please be added mindful when attempting keto. The ketogenic diet is a tool, however that doesn't indicate it should be utilized at all times and by everyone.

A Biased View of The Keto Diet Guide - Faqs, Tips, And Science - Bulletproof.com

Not truly (it depends on just how you interpret the Atkins diet as well as what you eat on it): Many individuals interpret the Atkins diet to be a reduced carbohydrate strategy, as well as when I attempted the Atkins diet, that's just how I understood it. I counted the grams of carbohydrates I consumed but didn't actually take note of the protein or fat quantities.

youtube

As well as however, eating way too much healthy protein is one point that can stop your body from entering into ketosis, which is the major advantage of keto. Of training course, if you assume Atkins means a high fat diet, then what you assume of as Atkins can be a lot closer to the keto diet.

(Because remaining in ketosis is such a critical element of the keto diet,) Nevertheless, Dr Atkins understood about ketosis and also advertised it. He never measured blood ketone manufacturing by his patients, but he did utilize pee ketone screening strips "for every single person on every browse through" according to Registered Nurse Jackie Eberstein, who collaborated with Dr Atkins, and also as Jimmy Moore reports in Keto Clearness, Dr Atkins later on added a maker for analyzing ketones in the breath also to his clinic.

In some areas Paleo is really comparable to the Keto diet, as well as if I was mosting likely to offer an extremely standard definition of a keto diet, I would certainly state it's a lower carbohydrate version of Paleo. If you reduced out the wonderful potatoes, honey, starchy tubers as well as sweet fruits from Paleo, after that you're entrusted a quite healthy and balanced keto diet.

An Unbiased View of A Keto Diet Meal Plan And Menu That Can Transform Your Body

Paleo emphasizes the genealogical diets as well as taking a look at food quality (nutrient density and also staying clear of contaminants like gluten). Keto highlights remaining in the metabolic state of ketosis where you're predominantly shedding ketones for energy. Nevertheless, you can follow a Paleo strategy and also remain in ketosis. Or you can be eating an undesirable non-Paleo Keto diet filled up with inflammatory low carb or high fat foods (e - beginning ketogenic diet.g., seed oils, sweetening agents, soy).

Even if it's reduced in carbs or high in fat does not indicate it's always healthy for you. Given that the ketogenic diet has only recently ended up being preferred, there is a scarcity of reliable studies on it - strict keto diet. There's a great deal of n=1 (self-experiments and unscientific evidence) experiments like triathlete Ben Greenfield's experiment.

If you want to find out more concerning the science behind ketosis, then I highly recommend taking a look at Dr - review cbd. Peter Attia's blog site below. OK, allow's obtain down to the details. The keto diet is fairly easy in regards to the policies you need to follow. The fundamental consuming tenets of a ketogenic diet are as complies with: Eat Really Little Carbs.

Consume Moderate Quantity of Healthy Protein. to get the keto diet food list emailed to you directly. Or if you like to view it on the website, below's the link. The precise amounts of each macronutrient you need for your body to go right into the ketosis state will vary from individual to individual, and there's an entire area listed below on how to check whether your body is in ketosis or not.

What Is The Keto Diet? A Detailed Beginner's Guide - U.s. ... Things To Know Before You Buy

Facts About What Is The Keto Diet? A Detailed Beginner's Guide - U.s. ... Uncovered

For your carbohydrate quantity, Jimmy Moore recommends in his publication Keto Clearness that complete quantity has to be at least under 100g per day and also for many people under 50g. As well as for people with insulin level of sensitivities, you could need to consume under 30g or 20g daily. Jimmy has an in-depth 3-step plan in his publication to determine your carb resistance.

Jeff Volek, PhD and Dr. Stephen Phinney, MD suggest that to compute your minimum and also maximum protein intake for remaining in ketosis, you must increase your weight (gauged in lbs) by 0.6 and 1.0 to obtain the minimum as well as optimum quantity of healthy protein in grams you should consume daily.

Dr. Phinney adds, "In our experience, individuals on a ketogenic diet that think they are eating healthy protein in moderation are usually well above [the recommended amount] because of be afraid of eating fat to satiety." It is necessary to obtain enough protein, but equally important to get the correct amount of fat.

Donald Layperson recommends restricting protein totals up to 30g per dish as well as no even more than 140g per day. According to Registered Dietitian Maria Zamarripa, RD, "The ketogenic diet highlights the "fat burning" result of ketosis. The key variable in the ketogenic diet is the rearrangement of macronutrients to make fat the main gas resource." After limiting carbs and consuming a modest amount of healthy protein, the rest of what you eat ought to be healthy and balanced fats like ghee, coconut oil, olive oil, avocado oil, and animal fats.

The 3-Minute Rule for Keto Diet Weight Loss: Everything I Learned From Going Keto ...

Some severe athletes like Ben Greenfield and Chris Kelly discover ketosis to actually assist their athletic performance, yet there are just a couple of scientific researches that back this up. A lot of the research studies on athletic efficiency on the keto diet that I've discovered have been carried out by Stephen Phinney as well as Jeff Volek.

If you want reviewing the studies in addition to criticism of them, Anthony Colpo has actually composed quite a detailed and also instead scathing (however I assume typically rather valid) review of them below. Also Ben Greenfield puts a huge red warning on his keto diet testimonial, outlining his testing while training for Ironman Canada.

External Links : carb ketogenic diet follow ketogenic diet health benefits level ketosis body standard ketogenic diet plans keto diet addition keto diet oil benefits

from Canada Berries Naturals https://canadaberriesnaturals.blogspot.com/2020/06/the-truth-behind-one-of-most-popular.html

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deepfriedgoldpotatoes · 5 years ago

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Fried Gold Potatoes

Being a foreigner in a foreign land does not always necessitate moving to a distant. country. Sometimes all you have to do is move to another state. Though in all honesty, Texas is a land all its own.

The heat is oppressive, and the chill, when it does come, clings to your bones. It is a place of swamps, dusty hills, and flat as the eye can see. One of their big claims to to fame is their comfort food. Texans go all out with their food.

The cuisine is a strange hodge-podge of other styles; a fusion of Mexican, barbecue, and a creole spice. Some how, whether its the mix of flavors or the cook behind the food, it works for them. I was more than pleased to eat my way around the island of Galveston, drunk on the smell of home made tortillas and brisket.

Until we got to the potatoes.

Perhaps it is my mother's sensible regard to seasoning, in which there can never be enough flavor, but more than likely it is simply the fact that I am from Idaho. I am a potato snob.

To be clear, not all the potatoes I've had in Texas were bad. In fact, most of them were downright delicious. To add to that, I am well aware of all the things to be snobbish about, why potatoes? It is an argument I have with myself all the time, but potatoes are Idaho's only claim to fame, and I will lay myself upon that hill and die for that cause.

Besides, as I stared at the white, flavorless, under cooked excuse for scalloped potatoes in front of me, I thought that the hill looked much more desirable. I grasped my fork, and brought the small morsel up to my mouth, praying I would not get sick.

Well, God doesn't answer all prayers. As I made my way out of the restroom, I politely excused myself from the dinner party I was attending. On the drive home, I ponder the turn of events that led me to this, and came to an odd conclusion. Comfort food can mean so many things to so many different people, because different food brings that same feeling of love and comfort and warmth to others. Potatoes, for me, are the ultimate comfort food.

Before I know it, I'm walking into an unfamiliar grocery store, in the heart of Texas, and am on the hunt for the golden-skinned tubers I know that with the perfect combination of salt, pepper, garlic, olive oil, and a well seasoned skillet, will give me the piping hot piece of home I've been desperately craving. That feeling of peace, serenity, and warmth filling me from deep within my stomach.

Is it a cliche?

Maybe a little.

But when I introduce myself to people, I am marked by my accent. A foreigner, from somewhere else. When they ask where I'm from, and I inevitably say Idaho, they don't know it as the 'Gem State'. They don't know it for its mountains, or trees, or rivers, or snow. They know it for it's potatoes.

I always smile and nod along. "Yes, we do have potatoes." I agree cordially. The cliche of cliches is that somewhere there is a kernel of truth to them. Is it irritating that my homeland will always be relegated to 'that place with the potatoes'.

Of course.

Does that mean it is wrong of me to find comfort, even if only a little, from the smells of garlic, and the sounds of oil bubbling, and the sight of the pale flesh of a potato turning crispy gold, all while they languish in a coal black pan on the stove?

Not in the least.

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linguisticsbunker · 7 years ago

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Eat Your Veggies

In honor of my impending broke university student status, here are some vegetable etymologies from someone about to be too poor to buy meat. (Also too grossed out to cook it.)

Tomato: I love tomatoes. Many people don’t, because all they have eaten are terrible mealy, watery specimens that fast food restaurants like to pass off as tomatoes, which is an insult to their good name. (Also, everyone currently whining about how tomatoes are a fruit, vegetables are an arbitrary category entirely made up of things that are other things but are grouped together for culinary reasons. This includes tomatoes.) The word comes from Spanish tomate, (it was originally “tomate” in English as well, the spelling and pronunciation were probably inspired by “potato”.) The Spanish word came from Nahuatl word tomatl. Tomatoes were initially regarded solely as an ornamental plant in England and the US because their membership in the nightshade family made people fear they were poisonous.

Potato: The name comes from Carib batata, referring to the sweet potato, which quickly spread to Europe and Africa through the Colombian Exchange. A few decades later, after the European discovery of the white potato in Peru, the name was applied to those as well. Incidentally, the German word for potato, kartoffel, comes from an Italian word meaning “truffle.” Similarly, the French word, pomme de terrre, means “earth apple.” (Everything is apples.)

Cucumber: From Latin cucumis, the original root is probably a pre-Italic Mediterranean language. The Old English word for cucumbers was eorthaeppla, or “earth apple” (Everything is apples.) Fun Fact: the saying “cool as a cucumber” comes from the fact that the inside of a cucumber is generally about 30 degrees F cooler than the outside. This phenomenon has been observed for millennia and has subsequently been confirmed by modern scientific testing.

Carrot: Carrot came into English from Middle French carrotte, from Latin carota. The PIE root is likely -ker, meaning “horn”, probably in reference to their shape. (While most modern-day carrots are single, straight tubers, any amateur gardener will tell you that carrots often grow into all sorts of funky shapes, sometimes with multiple prongs that resemble horns or antlers.) In ancient times, the word referred to both carrots and parsnips (European carrots were white and strongly resembled parsnips in look if not in taste.) The now-ubiquitous orange carrot probably began as a mutation of the Asian purple carrot, which was introduced to Europe by Arabs around the 11th century. In 16- and 1700′s England, the word was often used to refer to people with red hair, usually as part of the nickname “carrot top.”

#vegetables #etymology #tomato #potato #carrot #cucumber #linguistics #the linguistics bunker

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tipsycad147 · 5 years ago

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Garden Gnomes

By shirleytwofeathers

Origin: Teutonic

Emblem: Mushrooms, especially fly agaric or fly amanita

Plant: The presence of galbanum (freula galbaniflua) allegedly invites the protection of gnomes.

Iconography: The standard garden gnome depicts an older male with a long beard and peaked red hat. He wears a big belt over leggings, a blue tunic, and boots. Sometimes they wear gardeners’ aprons.

The name “gnome” stems from the Greek word “genomos” which means “earth dweller”. They are said to be one of the elemental spirits defined by Paracelsus, as representative of the Earth Element.

Gnomes are subterranean spirits now most associated with garden statuary. They resemble tiny people. Paracelsus described gnomes as two spans high. (A span is the width of an outstretched human hand,) Unlike dwarves or kobolds, gnomes are not mine or cave spirits but tend to live beneath human gardens. They have a reputation for emerging at night to do a little helpful garden work. Garden gnomes allegedly bring luck.

Gnomes tend to be quiet, private, taciturn spirits, but they respond well to gifts and offerings. They can be persuaded to become loyal allies, guardians, and helpers. Female gnomes may be especially taciturn; they are rarely depicted. However folklore indicates that their are entire gnome communities with male and female gnomes of all ages. Gnomes maintain good relationships with birds, rabbits, foxes, hedgehogs, and squirrels.

Originally, gnomes were thought to provide protection, especially of buried treasure and minerals in the ground. Gnomes were regarded as good luck charms by our ancestors and would often be found living in the rafters of barns where they would help watch over livestock. They are still used today.

Garden Gnomes vs “Actual” Gnomes

Modern garden gnomes are based on the legendary “Gnomes” of myth, mysticism, and fairy tales. Gnomes have historically been described as small (from a few inches to a foot or two in height) stout beings who live in Nature – usually underground. European magicians and other mystics considered gnomes the most common and important elemental spirits of the ‘Earth’ element (the other three classical elements being: ‘Water,’ ‘Fire,’ and ‘Air’).

Gnomes were said to wear conical hats and to be able to move through the earth itself as easily as we humans walk upon it, yet if any of these underground dwellers were caught out in the daylight it was said that the rays of the Sun turned them into stone.

Sometimes gnomes were said to have magical powers to protect or punish people – or to reward them with happiness. Gnomes are also said to be guardians of secret underground treasures – especially gold! Even in modern times gnomes are said by some –such as the highly influential mystic Rudolph Steiner – to be involved in the hidden processes of plant life. In fact many farms, including prize-winning wineries, follow principles based on these beliefs.

Garden Gnomes Today

More modern descriptions of gnomes usually emphasise their bright red pointed hats, solid coloured clothes, and the long white beard of the typical male. Though sightings of female gnomes are rarely reported, gnome women are generally thought to be beard-free.

The name ‘gnome’ is said to come from the Latin word ‘gnomus’ which is thought to possibly come from the Greek word ‘gnosis’ meaning “knowledge” (i.e. of hidden treasure), but is more likely rooted in the word ‘genomos’ meaning “earth dweller”

A garden gnome adds a bit of whimsy and a connection to the old world, where farmers believed the good luck charm could help their fields yield more produce and protect them from thieves, pests and other problems. They were also thought to help gardeners in the night, which we all could use!

The earliest gnome statuary was produced in Thuringia, Germany, in the early nineteenth century and was based on German folklore. Gnome statues potentially welcome and attract real gnomes, as well as Flower Fairies or other benevolent spirits. The earliest statues were carefully wrought, hand-painted terra-cotta and were exceptionally popular.

By the 1960’s, cheaper plastic and resin versions were mass-produced. The old terra-cotta ones are now extremely valuable and are family heirlooms. Garden gnome statues tend to evoke very visceral responses. Some people adore and collect them. Others loathe them so much that they feel justified destroying or removing other people’s property.

Gnomes are the subject of modern entertainment as well as old folktales. The animated children’s television show The World of David the Gnome was highly unusual in that it depicted both male and female gnomes. The gnomes in J. K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series are garden pests, not helpers.

Some Handy Garden Gnome Trivia:

Gnomes are banned from the Royal Horticultural Society Chelsea Flower Show. We think that’s a crying shame, personally.

There are three categories of mass-produced gnomes: Worker gnomes, who always carry tools like fishing rods, shovels, or hammers; at-ease gnomes who typically carry a pipe and cultural gnomes who have a musical instrument in hand. Rock stars.

Gnomes have a life expectancy of 400 years.

Their main enemies? Mean humans who destroy the environment and trolls – obviously.

Male gnomes always wear red caps.

The world’s oldest garden gnome, called Lampy, has been living at Lamport Hall in the UK for 125 years and is worth a cool £2 million, or €2.4m!

In the 1980s, the Gnome Liberation Front stole gnomes and sent the owners photos of them from landmarks around the globe.

Gnomes are generally vegetarian and eat foods like nuts, mushrooms, peas, beans, potatoes, applesauce, fruit, berries, tubers, spices, vegetables, and preserves for dessert.

They like to drink mead dew made from fermented honey, fermented raspberries, and spiced gin as a nightcap.

Gnomes kiss by rubbing noses. They also use nose rubbing as a greeting equivalent to human handshaking.

Forest Gnomes:

There are gnomes that live in the forest in the Philippines. You can tell where they live if there’s a hill of dirt that’s a bit higher than everything else. And when you go by them, you’re supposed to be really, really respectful and say:

“Excuse me. I’m just walking by. I don’t mean any harm.”

Even if you’re not doing anything, or no one said anything, or you’re not sure. You’re just supposed to do it. If you don’t, there could be blow back as per the following:

“There was a story on the Philippines news channel, about a kid who had huge swollen lips. You could hardly see his eyes. He was speaking to reporters and he said that he was walking by the hills and his friend told him that you’re supposed to say sorry and he said, “No, I’m not. I don’t care. I don’t believe in that stuff.”

Then the next day he woke up with a tumour on his face. Not so much as a tumour, but as his lips were super swollen. It looked like someone blasted air into his lips. Like super Botox.”

Walking Gnomes

The following story is very interesting in the fact that this is one of the few stories from Mexico where inanimate objects, that are not haunted, come to life. The Mexican culture does not traditionally include creatures such as gnomes but instead, it consist of larger creatures and ghosts. This is because the country did not originally have gnomes until places, such as the United States introduced them to there.

“In Mexico they believe that garden gnomes come alive at night. The proof they have of it is that my grandma used to own gnomes and her neighbours used to own gnomes in Mexico. And the garden gnomes the next day would be found in different places and a lot of stuff was broken and sometimes my mom and her sister would wake up at night, and they would hear things, but when they looked outside, they would never see the gnomes there. So there’s that story that they become alive at night in Mexico.”

“Recently I was talking to one of my cousins who told that story to some friends whose parents were also from Mexico. And this friend told my cousin that he actually believes that story, because one night the garden gnomes were not where they had placed them. They found them inside the house one night in the house and they were rolling in the hallway. Since then, they got rid of the gnomes, or at least they tried to. They threw them away but the next day they were in the same place they had put them before.”

The Secret Lives of Garden Gnomes

From Neopets.com, here’s a story about what Gnomes do at night. I’m pretty sure this is a made up story, but I thought it was fun, and who knows? Maybe it isn’t altogether fictional. You be the judge:

The reason Garden Gnomes come alive at night is because they don’t want anyone to see them moving around. This is pretty practical, considering the fact that if any regular person saw them talking and moving, they’d want to put them in some sort of abnormality museum!

But what do garden gnomes do at night? Well, I was watching out my window at the gnomes in my garden one night, and I saw one, a Bruce gnome, have them all line up in a row as he paced back and forth in front of them, a small twig in his hand like he was the instructor of a military camp.

He was telling each gnome which direction to go in order to pick up free food. You see, garden gnomes thrive like ants. They all go off to find food that people may have dropped accidentally or on purpose, and sometimes they even venture into houses and borrow food with no intention of returning (also known as stealing, but they take such small portions most people never even notice).

After retrieving food they rush back to their home centre (which is usually a tunnel in the ground leading into a large, dug out room, since gnomes are not claustrophobic) and report to the leader, in this case the Bruce gnome. He then tallies their lot and tosses the foot morsel into another room in their tunnel, where they store their food. They act sort of like chipmunks, storing food and hunting for it, of course, gnomes are not carnivores though.

And, to their enormous pleasure, when they have collected a lot of food, they sit down at have a feast! Yes, a feast! It’s a feast of little sweets, candy peas, popcorn pieces, and sometimes even whole flower cakes (although they take more than one gnome to carry). But besides eating, what else do gnomes do? Well, I’m glad you asked.

You wouldn’t suspect this, but when they have leisure time, gnomes enjoy swimming. They are very pleased to find a Neogarden where someone owns a pond. They jump right in, clothes and all, and swim and dive around in the cool water for hours at a time. And when they want to dry off, they take a large leaf and wrap themselves up in it, drying off quickly.

Aside from swimming, gnomes also enjoy crafts. They may take green blades of grass and weave adorable little baskets or even blankets. They can also take pieces of bark off of trees and sticks and carve them with sharp stones into little sculptures. Gnomes are very talented in the artistic field, and if you see a stick carved into a Meepit, you know who did it.

Aside from swimming and crafts, another thing gnomes enjoy is sports. They might play their own version of soccer by kicking around a rounded stone, or even play basketball by throwing a rock into a hole. This not only provides exercise, but gives them lots of time together to just have fun.

But when they aren’t playing and having fun, what do they do? Throughout the whole day, they sleep, and at night they either have fun or look for food, so there’s only a little bit of time left for something else-note-taking! This is sort of like their education, which is actually an education of…what else? Neopets!

Note-taking is when gnomes grab their oversized pencils and paper, which they “borrow” from Neopets, then marching through the sleeping pet’s house and going to their bedroom, where they climb up on the bed and observe the neopet’s sleeping habits. They are trying to find out where Neopets came from. Maybe all Neopets evolved from Myncis!

Another sort of educational activity that gnomes practice is counting. It isn’t counting like 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, though, no, no no! It’s counting in a different way. The gnomes version of counting may be why your plushies eye was missing when you woke up.

Gnomes will trample in when you are catching some Z’s (it seems all of their educational activities are while Neopets are slumbering) and then they will be assigned a number (by there leader, the Bruce gnome) and then they shall go “counting” which, in other words, is another type of stealing. They have to pick up ten, for example (or however many their number is) trinkets, like plushie eyes, toothpicks, or buttons, and bring them back to their tunnel, storing them in a safe place. What they do with them I do not know, but I suspect they might make furniture or something of the sort using what they found.

One last thing I found out is that gnomes are a fan of bright colours and patterns. In the early morning, I saw them getting ready for bed and they were wearing long pants and long sleeved shirt PJ’s of hot pink, bright purple, lime green, and sunny yellow colour. Some had stripes, some had polka dots, and some even had swirlies! Gnomes are very interesting, no?

Now you know what gnomes do when you aren’t looking, what their secret life is all about. If you look out your window at night, you might be able to see them moving and hear them talking in their high pitched voices. But be warned-if they see you watching them, well, I won’t go there…

Sources:

House and Garden

Encyclopedia of Spirits

Love To Know

Folklore USC

Just Say Gnome

https://shirleytwofeathers.com/The_Blog/powers-that-be/garden-gnomes/

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squirenonny · 7 years ago

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For Want of Yeast

Andie requested some Hunk and Sal and burgers, and this got a little bit out of hand because, I mean. Come on. That’s one of my all-time favorite Hunk moments. I had to do their second meeting justice!

My Ko-fi

[Read on AO3]

Hunk spent a solid three months trying to make a passable burger for the other paladins. When he’d first started he’d thought (naively) that it wouldn’t be too hard. Ground meat grilled up in a patty with some assortment of condiments on a bun. Easy, right? It wasn’t like trying to recreate the perfect texture of ice cream or the heat of a good salsa. They’d found plenty of edible alien meats over the course of their travels, and the condiments all came down to experimentation.

The problem, he soon realized, was the bun.

Bread was hard to find in outer space. Good bread, even harder. Most planets didn’t seem to have anything equivalent to yeast, for one thing, so while flatbreads and crackers and even something like tortillas were plentiful, real bread was not.

And then there was the grain. Once he’d given up on finding bread, Hunk had set out to make it. He had a whole array of flours in his kitchen—this one with the right taste but far too coarse a texture, that one okay texture-wise but bitter. He’d made plenty of passable flatbreads, and once when he’d found something like baking soda he’d managed an imitation banana bread. But yeast breads? Sourdough? Out of the question.

It was amazing how many comfort foods you missed out on when you didn’t have access to Earth microorganisms. Grilled cheese, burgers, pizza. Hell, they didn’t even have yogurt they could trust not to make them all sick.

It figured when he finally found real, genuine, eat-it-with-butter bread, it would be at Vrepit Sal’s.

The paladins had returned to the space mall to resupply, and Hunk had only gone because, frankly, he didn’t trust Coran not to come back with three tons of inedible nutrient sludge. Pidge had happily volunteered to distract Coran with their tech needs, Shiro and Allura were on “miscellaneous necessities” duty, whatever that meant, and Lance was supposed to be helping Keith pick out the best lasers for Pidge’s new castle-defense plan. Hunk had a feeling they would return with the bare minimum of lasers and an overabundance of facial creams, sewing supplies, and assorted 80’s junk from the Earth Store.

Though, to be fair, most Lance’s haul would probably be less self-indulgent than Pidge and Coran’s.

The trip had started out okay enough, despite Hunk seriously considering heading back to watch the castle-ship with Kolivan and Slav. His head was constantly swiveling in search of the mall cop, Varkon, or anyone else who might recognize the “space pirates” from their last misadventure, and he avoided the foot court like the plague for as long as possible, but there was no way to get around the fact that that was where they were supposed to meet up.

Hunk was the first one there, of course. No one expected Keith to be able to drag Lance away from his fun, and Pidge and Coran, together, were the worst sort of enablers. But he’d expected Shiro and Allura to be on time, at least.

He found an empty table on the far side of the food court from Vrepit Sal’s and sat down with his purchases, but the pillars and fake plants hiding him from Sal got in the way of his search for his friends. After five minutes, he sighed, grabbed his bags, and cautiously made his way into the open.

That was when he saw them: a dozen beautiful, flawlessly golden buns. Hunk watched between the leaves of a hot pink shrub as Sal called out orders to his assistant—not the old lady from last time, but a lavender Bytor whose eight arms were tending four skillets and a saucepan simultaneously. They actually looked like a proper kitchen staff, and the line of customers said that at least some of Hunk’s instructions had stuck.

And, okay. Hunk had to be a little bit proud of that, despite the simmer of resentment he felt at the sight of the guy who’d literally tried to kidnap him.

The question was how to sneak a taste of those roles without letting Sal know he was there. Maybe once Allura got back, he could convince her to go Galra and buy a few. Shiro would be on Hunk’s side, probably. He’d once said he’d trade his right arm for a dinner roll—and, yeah, it had been with the same wry smile he always wore when his dark humor reared its head, and, yeah, he’d laughed it off afterwards, always quick to assure Hunk that whatever he was cooking sounded perfect.

But Hunk could hardly forget that that was the one and only time Shiro had ever actually expressed a preference for any particular food. Nor could he ignore that Shiro was particularly quick to devour any kind of carb Hunk set before him—flatbread, pasta, the lumpy orangish tuber they’d dubbed space potatoes.

It would be better if Hunk could surprise him with the bread, but he’d rather ask for help then end up chained to a stove for the rest of his life.

He shifted to get a better view of the restaurant, but his bags slipped, disturbing the shrub he was hiding behind. Hunk froze as Sal’s gaze swept toward him, shooting a plea toward every corner of the universe that Sal wouldn’t spot him.

No such luck.

Hunk yelped as Sal’s eyes widened. Then, as Sal turned to bark something at his line cook, Hunk snatched up his bags and made a break for it. A harried alien surrounded by half a dozen kids stepped into his path at just the wrong moment, and Hunk spun, wishing he’d come in his armor, incognito be damned, just so he’d have something more than a grayish sausage link to brandish in Sal’s direction.

“Stay back!” Hunk called, fumbling with the rest of his bags. “I’m armed.”

Sal stopped, holding up his hands, and Hunk would have laughed at the scene if he weren’t already playing out a lifetime of serving mediocre food under the watchful eye of the Worst Cook in America while Zarkon’s Number One Fan patrolled, muttering to himself about nabbing that pesky pirate just as soon as he had his proof.

“Hunk!” Sal cried, beaming. “Vrekt, kid, it really is you! How’ve you been?”

The greeting—twice as friendly as Hunk had been expecting and at least three times as familiar—caught him off guard, and he slowly lowered his sausage sword. “Uh… fine…?”

Laughing in delight, Sal reached out and clapped him on the shoulder. Hunk yelped, nearly dropping the sausage, and frowned.

“Are you feeling okay?”

“Okay? I’m a lot better than okay! The way this place has turned around since you were here? You’re a real life-saver, kid, you know that?”

Hunk only blinked. Quite suddenly, he found himself being steered back toward Vrepit Sal’s, his babbled protests handily ignored. Hunk could already feel the manacle snapping shut around his ankle.

“And this,” Sal said, blissfully ignorant of the freight train of fear careening through Hunk’s head, “is Luks.”

The Bytor wiped one hand on the towel at their waist and held it out for Hunk to shake while the other seven kept at their tasks: washing vegetables, chopping tubers, searing meat.

“Wow,” Hunk said, shaking Luks’ hand. “You’re… you’re pretty good at that.”

Luks fluffed their tail—legitimately fluffed it, like a frickin’ bird fluffing its feathers—and muttered a quiet thank-you as Sal bundled Hunk off for a tour of the stockroom. Gone were the tubs upon tubs of mush and the freezer-burned odds and ends. This new stock room almost rivaled Hunk’s setup on the castle-ship.

Hunk whistled. “Okay, okay, I’ll admit it. I’m impressed.”

Sal beamed. “It’s all thanks to you, kid. And I mean that. You wanna stick around a while? I’ve been trying to expand the menu, you know. I could use your advice.”

“I don’t know, Sal. My friends...” Hunk trailed off as his eyes fell on several more crates’ worth of bread. “Sorry. Is that bread?”

Sal’s ears swiveled, and he followed Hunk’s gaze to the crates. “Bread?” he said slowly, as though he’d never heard the word before. “They’re called food sponges. I give ‘em out with the special. Good for soaking up the extra sauce, you know?”

“Could I…?”

Hunk barely waited for Sal’s nod before he snatched up one of the buns and lifted it to his ear. It crackled when he squeezed, and it smelled enough like bakeries back home to make Hunk’s mouth water. There was no reason for his heart to be beating against his ribs as he tore off a small piece and popped it in his mouth, nor for his knees to go weak when the bun tasted wonderfully, flawlessly like he’d hoped it would.

“Oh my god,” Hunk moaned. “Where did you get this?”

“Uh… I dunno. My guy bought it off some deep space trader. Never seen anything like it.”

Hunk resisted the urge to scarf down the rest of the bun, his head already spinning with plans for that night’s dinner. Grilled cheese for Pidge, burgers for Lance and Keith, garlic bread and French toast and stuffing and fondue and anything else Shiro could possibly hope for.

“How much?” Hunk demanded, reaching for the credit disc Allura had given him and performing some quick mental math to figure out how much money he had left. Two thousand GAC at the butchers, another fifteen hundred on spices and other kitchen staples…

Hunk grimaced.

“Okay, forget GAC. Would you be willing to part with one of these crates if I showed you another use for these, uh, food sponges?”

Sal seemed confused, but he nodded. “Heck, after last time I’d give you just about anything, but if you don’t mind teaching me a new recipe...”

Hunk grinned. “Awesome. You’re gonna want to take notes on this one, Sal. It’ll revolutionize this food court—mark my words!”

Sal was clearly skeptical of Hunk’s claim—even more so when Hunk selected only a single pan and a spatula. He found some ground meat from the cooler that he recognized as lenna. It tasted a little gamy—more like venison than beef, but wonderfully juicy. It cooked up into a nice patty with just a little bit of salt for seasoning. (Salt was a nearly universal constant, a fact Hunk had learned early on and for which he was still eternally grateful.)

The restaurant was a little thin on condiments, so Hunk went for a minimalist approach, topping the burger with a sharp, cheddar-like cheese, something like mild barbecue sauce, and a leafy vegetable with a taste unlike any Earth food.

He presented the burger to Sal on a freshly sliced space bun, then crossed his arms and sat back for the show. Sal picked it up, considered it for a long moment, then took a bite.

Almost at once, his eyes lit up, and Hunk bit back a laugh as Sal took a second bite almost before he’d swallowed the first. He hollered to Luks and offered them a taste, and then the people at the front of the line were tripping over each other to get a look at the new dish the cooks were so clearly excited about.

Grinning, Hunk clapped Sal on the shoulder. “Well. I think I’ll leave you to your customers.”

Sal was already snatching up ingredients to demonstrate for Luks, but he spared a wave over his shoulder. “Thanks a million, Hunk! You really are a genius.”

Flushing, Hunk turned and headed for the door, a box of buns under one arm, bags dangling from the other. He was barely out the door when he caught sight of a familiar Segway cruising through the crowd.

With a yelp, he dove back into the kitchen. Sal frowned at him, mouth open to ask why Hunk was huddled under the counter like a spooked cat, when Varkon rolled up.

“Security,” Varkon barked. “Clear the way. You!”

Hunk cringed, catching Sal’s eyes as he turned away from the grill. “There a problem, officer?”

“News bulletin,” Varkon said. “Straight from high command. Priority one. The paladins of Voltron have been spotted in the area.” Hunk’s heart dropped as the cold blue glow of a holoscreen washed over Sal’s face. From his hiding place, Hunk couldn’t see the image, but he had a front row seat to the shock and recognition in Sal’s eyes.

Hunk really should have worn his armor. He gave the buns a longing look as he set the crate aside; it was too big, too bulky, and he’d need at least one hand free to push through the crowd.

Then he closed his eyes and got ready to run.

“Haven’t seen ‘em.”

Hunk jumped, biting down on his tongue to keep from gasping aloud, and stared up at Sal. The shock was gone, replaced with bored disinterest. He crossed his arms as Varkon scrutinized him in silence.

“You sure about that?”

Sal snorted. “Course I am. What species is that, anyway? I think I’da noticed if something that funny-looking walked up to my counter.”

Cursing under his breath, Varkon revved his engine. “Curse those paladins. You keep your eyes open, you hear? Let me know if you see them.”

“Right away,” Sal promised dryly. He watched for a long moment, unmoving until Hunk made a break for the door. Sal caught his wrist, holding him in place. “Give it a minute. I’ll tell you when the coast is clear.”

Hunk gaped up at him, but didn’t dare speak. It was a miracle none of the customers had sold him out. Though… none of them were Galra, as far as he’d seen. Just Varkon and Sal and a couple other shop owners. Huh. Hunk had never really stopped to consider the implications of that before.

Sal whipped up a few more plates, never once glancing at Hunk, then shrugged out of his apron and let Luks know he was taking a break. As he headed for the door, he gestured under the counter for Hunk to follow.

“You helped me,” Hunk said, slipping out the employee entrance behind Sal, holding tight to his box of buns. “Why?”

Sal tipped his head to the side. “You know why I named this place Vrepit Sal’s?”

“Uh.” Hunk frowned. “That’s Zarkon’s motto or something, isn’t it? Vrepit sa?”

With a shake of his head, Sal chuckled. “Zarkon’s motto. Kid, that’s a Galra saying, and a lot of us don’t like what Zarkon’s turned it into. You know what it means?”

“No,” Hunk said. “I don’t.”

“It means making yourself better, all the time, every day. It means not settling for something just because it’s always been that way. Which is ironic, because that’s exactly what I was doing—settling. I’d stopped trying before I met you. Why put the effort into something no one’s interested in anyway, right? I mean, who ever heard of a Galra chef?”

Hunk glanced over his shoulder, scanning the crowd for Varkon. And for his friends—they had to have finished by now. What if Varkon had found them? “You saved me because I taught you to cook?”

“I saved you cause you taught me to care. You ain’t like most people ‘round here. I figure if those other paladins are anything like you, then maybe I don’t want Zarkon to find you. Maybe I want you out there shaking things up.” He paused, then smiled. “I guess what I’m saying is… vrepit sa, paladin Hunk.”

The smile caught Hunk off guard, and he had to choke back tears as he shook Sal’s outstretched hand, albeit clumsily. “Vrepit sa, Sal. I’ll try to come visit you sometime, okay?”

Sal’s face softened. “I’d like that. Take care of yourself, you hear?”

Hunk nodded, hoisted the groceries, and backed away. He felt like he should say something, but he couldn’t find the words. Sal smiled knowingly, inclined his head, then turned and vanished into the crowd.

#voltron #vld #hunk #hunk garrett #vrepit sal #ko-fi request #fic #thank you!

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