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greatdrams · 5 years ago

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Diageo Special Releases 2019 Rare by Nature

let’s begin

This year’s Special Releases from Diageo have finally been announced, and there is quite a line up ahead.

Special Releases

This is the eighteenth year of the Diageo Special Releases, having been started n 2001. The collection comes from a demand started by the brand’s Classic Malts releases, which always celebrated older and rarer expressions from six of Diageo’s distilleries.

Special Releases took this concept and ran with it. The collection has clearly become a fan favourite and people wait in anticipation every year for the new releases to be revealed, and 2019 did not disappoint.

Global Whisky Master at Diageo, Ewan Gunn,says, “Discerning drinkers around the world will delight in this new collection. From the hand selected Single Malt Scotch to the visually arresting bottles, they each tell a strong story of the extraordinary place and the people who have shaped each dram. These prestigious and limited-edition bottlings offer fans an opportunity to collect and explore some of our rarest stocks.”

The Line Up

Let’s take a closer look at the line up of Diageo’s Special Releases 2019. We’re going to dive into our three favourites and take a brief look at the remaining five.

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Talisker 2002 15 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky, £110

Bottle cost: £110

This malt has been matured in newly charred American oak hogsheads and has that typical Talisker peat smoke flavour.

The nose begins with big seaside notes and lots of lovely earthy peat. It is full of the flavours you would expect from a Talisker but the 15 years I the barrel have given it a wonderful smoothness.

The palate is packed with iodine, seaweed, sweet notes of caramel and thick peat smoke. Dried fruits add a chewy mouth feel that complements the richness of the flavour. The peat allows the other flavours to shine, never overwhelming them. It has a slightly darker edge to it.

The finish bursts with smoke and oak wood. The caramel sweetness of the palate comes through quite nicely here as well.

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Pittyvaich1989 29 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky, £330

Bottle cost: £330

If Pittyvaich doesn’t sound like a familiar distillery then don’t be alarmed. It was closed in 1993 and was only ever open for 19 years. Diageo have bottled two other Pittyvaich malts as part of the Special Releases collection, so they are pretty rare and at 29 Years Old, this malt is very exclsive.

It has been matured in Pedro Ximénezcasks before being transferred to oloroso sherry-seasoned casks. It is full of spice and sweetness with a lovely Speyside flavour profile.

The nose begins with big notes of butterscotch, caramel and cream. It is light an rich, with a wonderful sweetness to it. The texture is smooth and soft. Malted grains and oak wood also abound.

The palate is full of citrus fruits and a hint of Christmas cake. Raisins, apricots and lemons come through, adding a nice zest to the sweet notes. Apple pie, orchard flavours and burnt brown sugar make for a really dessert like body. The malted grains of the nose make a re-appearance and add a nice gentle note for the fruits to jump off from.

The finish is bold and lingers of oak wood and spice. It has a wonderfully warming end that focuses on the sherry qualities of the casks. The oak wood, dried fruits and cinnamon spice make for a perfect final note.

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Dalwhinnie30 year old Single Malt Scotch Whisky

Bottle cost: £500

Another Special Release 2019 with an impressive age statement, this 30 Year Old from Dalwhinnie is very exciting. It has been matured in refill hogsheads and butts, giving it lots of oaky notes.

The nose starts us off with apples, pears and oak wood. It is rich and elegant. The fruits become soft and mellow with hints of dew covered grass, fresh cut hay and spice. There is a slightly darker note of leather in the background which only serves to enhance the delicate grassy tones.

The palate is brimming with earthy qualities. Floral notes appear alongside oak and orchard flavours. Apples, raisins and multiple grains combine to make a complex and intriguing dram. Hints of mint appear, with a spicy cinnamon backdrop.

The finish rounds off well, with more oak, cinnamon and apples. It has a lasting note of cream and oak that add a lovely dash of sweetness to the end.

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Cardhu 14 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky

Bottle cost: £120

Having been matured in amontillado sherry-seasoned hogsheads, this 14 Year Old is full of sweet sherry notes. Marzipan, biscuit, cinnamon and rich chocolate layer together to create a wonderfully rich malt. Ginger and cinnamon bring a lovely bit of spice in as well.

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Cragganmore 12 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky

Bottle cost: £85

This 12 Year Old has a lovely note of peat throughout. It has been matured in refill American oak casks, giving it a nice sweetness. Butter and caramel with hints of oak, smoke and citrus make for wonderful malt. the peat adds nice earthy qualities, with some herbal notes and a hint of grass.

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Lagavulin12 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky

Bottle cost: £110

The most peated malt in this release, the Lagavulin 12 Year Old has been matured in refill American oak casks. It is full of seaside notes and smoke. The peat wafts throughout, joined by orchard fruits and liquorice. The heart of this dram is full of seawater and smoke, with big notes of spice and menthol.

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Mortlach 1992 26 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky

Bottle cost: £1,500

The most expensive of the new Special Releases, this Mortlach 26 Year Old has been matured in toasted first-fill Pedro Ximénezcasks and finished in oloroso sherry-seasoned casks. The sherry really shines, with big flavours of cinnamon, fruit cake, orange peel and vanilla. It is sweet and slightly warming. There is a lovely malted note throughout.

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The Singleton of Glen Ord18 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky

Bottle cost: £130

This Highland malt has been matured in newly charred American oak hogsheads. It has lots of dark fruits, oak wood and cinnamon spice. the cinnamon is warming and well developed alongside dashes of mint of citrus.

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pitviperofdoom · 7 years ago

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BNHA: Petal Steps

Summary: Against all reason, he brings life and color to a world of dead and dying things.

AU: Hades and Persephone

July 11 - Day 7

Theme: flowers

Quote: “I want to infect you with the tremendous excitement of living, because I believe that you have the strength to bear it.” — Tennessee Williams, The Selected Letters: 1920-1945

AO3

The Underworld is a place of extremes.

Life, or so he hears and remembers, is a spectrum. Light to dark, softness to hardness, all things not one or the other but between. Color and breath, warmth and cold, mingling, blooming, coming together in bright bursts before they wither and fade, and new things take their place.

All things come to him in time. By then, they are always missing that light, that color, that everything. Only the dead find their way to his realm of scorching heat, bitter cold, and darkness.

He would leave forever, if he could. But his father fed him the fruits of this place when he was young, too young to say no or to make a decision for himself. He is bound to this place, the ruler of a kingdom of dead and dying things.

There are others—other young gods who look in on him, visit briefly, and leave. The land of the dead is not meant for comfort, and few ever stay long. But they all carry with them the whisper of life, crumbs to a starving man, and they never linger longer than necessity or politeness dictates. He is glad—their light taunts him, and the harshness of flame and ice keep visits short.

“You could come up and visit us,” quiet Knowledge tells him once. Yaoyorozu is wise enough to understand the cruel truth of death, and thus the least unsettled by the Underworld. “I know you’re bound to return here, but… you can leave briefly, can’t you?” She tries an encouraging smile. “It’s not comfortable here, but we don’t dislike you, you know. The others ask after you a lot.”

“I’d rather not,” he says.

“Just try?” There’s a hopeful look in her dark eyes—Yaoyorozu knows all things within mortal ken, but she also knows that he is lonely.

“I have.”

He had been young then, but not young enough that he was not yet bound. He still remembers the joy of it, the wonder of stepping out into a summer morning, of looking up into a blue sky and feeling the sun on his face. Smelling flower petals on the breeze, stepping barefoot onto grass and soft moss. He remembers running like a rabbit through the woods, watching clouds and sunsets as he scampered through the world of living things, evading Father’s attempts to catch him until the unsmiling god of war and calamity finally gave up the chase.

He remembers laughing, remembers his childish vow to never return, to stay forever in this place of warm light and cool wind and color.

He remembers when his time ran out, and the binding tightened nooselike around his heart. Screaming, crying, pleading as he was pulled back, ice and flames darting from his fingertips as he clawed against the pull, burning and freezing the green around him to black, before he was finally torn from the world of life.

This is not mortal knowledge, so Yaoyorozu knows nothing of it.

“It’s not something I care to repeat,” Shouto says, and she asks him no more.

---

It is rare but not unheard of for mortals to find a place among the gods that favor them, but rarer still for mortals to become gods. Few know that all gods of life were once mortal themselves.

“Our secret,” Toshinori says with a wink, when he chooses Izuku to help bear the burden. “Most of the others wouldn’t mind, but some I could mention…” He lets it trail off there, shaking his head.

Izuku has a lot to learn about life. Birth, growth, decline and endings. The facts that war and rot and death are not enemies but in excess, and in fact they are necessary allies. Izuku listens to his lessons with rapt wonder, eager to please, determined to leave the world better than when he found it.

For now, at least, his training is finished for a time, and he is free to do as he pleases until Toshinori sends for him again. And so, as he often does these days, he explores the world he once thought he knew so well, and looks about him with fresh eyes. A god’s eyes.

He can see things he never could before, colors and depths that he was once blind to. It’s as if the world is new, and his to explore.

The breeze is behind him, the sunset paints the sky in soft shades, and flowers spring up wherever Izuku’s feet touch the soil. There is a bounce in his step, buoyed by the buzz of life all around him—in the air, in his veins, in the beating heart of the earth.

A chill washes over him.

He stops, shuddering a little, and moves on again. Technically he shouldn’t be heading this way; other gods have implied but not stated outright that this was not the sort of place for a young god of life to venture alone—especially not one who was so recently mortal.

But the cold draws him, burning curiosity in his veins, until he finds one of the gates that only the gods know of.

The buzz dies to a soft hum as each step takes him closer to the threshold. When he takes his last step, his feet touch bare earth. Blossoms sprout around where he steps, only to wilt when he moves away.

He crosses the threshold.

His body feels heavier now, and he is reminded of his mortal days. It has been so very long since he last felt weary, but the dry, heavy air of this place makes him want to curl up in some quiet corner and slip into a long, dark dream.

Izuku shakes himself awake again and walks on. Flowers sprout and wilt in his wake.

The spirits here pay him little mind. Their time in his world has come and gone, and only the recently dead look to him with longing eyes. The rest are at peace with where and what they are, and pay little mind to the curious little god that walks among them.

He’s not alone, even disregarding the spirits. There’s something—someone following him, watching him from afar. But he can’t sense any menace from his shadow. Only curiosity, just like him.

It’s odd, this world. Equal parts sweltering and freezing, a desert and a frozen wasteland rolled into one. Izuku gathers the warmth of life around him, shaping it into a shield and a comforting blanket to wrap around his shoulders and keep away the Underworld’s burn.

His heart is light again when he halts, wildflowers blooming around his feet, and turns back to where he feels eyes upon him.

“Come out?” he calls. “You’re… you’re the ruler of this place aren’t you? Iida told me about you.” His friend is another young god, training under the tutelage of his elder brother. Iida has visited this place before, but no one knows much about the young lord of the dead.

Perhaps that’s because no one ever tries to find out. But perhaps it is fitting, that Life would run after Death so readily.

---

This new one is blinding.

The others carry the whisper of life about them, meager drops of it that taunt him. This one is bursting with it, until it overflows and trickles into his world, bringing fragile living things to even the bare, packed earth of the Underworld.

And then he turns, and Shouto looks upon a tanned face studded with freckles, with eyes as green as summer, the color of the moss he felt under his bare feet as a child.

Life calls to him, sweet and cloying, dancing just beyond his reach.

When those eyes meet his, Shouto turns and runs.

---

When Izuku’s eyes light upon the ruler of the Underworld, he sees the only bright thing this realm has to offer.

Eyes like the sky widen at him—crystal blue and cloud gray, so full of longing that Izuku’s beating heart aches. The ruler of death has hair like rose petals, pure white on one side and flaming scarlet on the other.

He calls out when the other flees, but to no avail. He searches, but when the other proves not to want to be found, he reluctantly gives up.

Izuku returns to the world of the living with the memory of sad eyes lingering with him.

---

When the young god of life returns, Shouto steels himself. He knows all that goes on in his realm, especially something so absurd as flowers sprouting from the barren ground. The spirits stir—the newer ones are restless in the presence of life, with memories of their mortality still fresh.

Somehow, he manages not to run this time.

Instead, he does his best to offer hospitality. There is little he can do; most gods or mortals would offer food and drink, but Shouto will not dare. To offer the food of the Underworld to anyone would be to offer them the same shackles that bind him.

Lonely he may be, but only a truly pathetic god would chain a being of pure life to this realm. It would be like burying gemstones in a bog.

Still, this time he forces himself to go to meet his guest. He finds the young god wandering the caverns and halls, shielded from heat and cold by the blanket of life that hovers around him.

His fingers itch to touch, at the same time as his heart twists the closer he gets. He halts at a safe distance, wanting and shying at the same time. He feels as if his heart is pulling itself in two.

“Hello,” the god of life says. “My name’s Izuku.”

“Welcome,” Shouto replies. He does not offer his name. “You’re… you’re new.”

Izuku stands a little taller. He has flowers in his hair, and Shouto wonders if they grow that way, or if Izuku plucked them and threaded them into his wavy green locks himself.

Part of him wants to reach out and touch them.

“I’m a student of Toshinori,” he says, and Shouto tries not to start visibly at the name. There are few gods that Father hates more than that particular god of life. Shouto has never met him, but likes him on principle for that reason. “But like I said before, I’ve heard of you. I thought I’d say hello.”

“Life gods don’t come here often,” Shouto says. “Too hot, or too cold. Too dead.”

“Well, spring’s my domain,” Izuku says with a smile. “I’m used to the cold. I… hope you don’t mind all the flowers.” He glances back sheepishly, at the trail of wilted stems he’s left, and at the still-fresh blooms at his feet. “I can’t really help that. It just sort of happens. You don’t mind, do you? Some people don’t like the smell, but I’ve never really noticed.”

Shouto blinks. The other god talks in a stream of words, as if he has so many thoughts in his head that he’s trying to get them all out at once. Even Yaoyorozu speaks in measured sentences. “It’s fine,” he says at length.

“Would—would you like one? I know they keep wilting when I leave them behind, but maybe you can press a few—I don’t know if it’d work, but I can try. I mean, I guess I’m sort of trespassing since this is your realm and everything and I didn’t really ask permission to be here, so the least I could do is bring you a present, right?”

Izuku holds out his hand and produces a single blossom, soft red-pink with round petals. Shouto doesn’t know what kind of flower it is. He reaches out to take it.

The flower wilts in his hand, red-pink to gray and black.

“O-oh. Sorry! I didn’t mean to—”

“It’s fine.” Shouto doesn’t drop the dead flower. He slips it into his pocket, and turns away before he can see the way the other god’s face falls.

He expects Izuku to leave then, to realize how little he belongs in this realm, but the other god lingers. Shouto feels his presence like a prickle up his spine.

“It’s better for you in your own realm,” Shouto says. “You may be Spring, but I’m Death. Nothing you make will last long here.” Better to help convince him, so he can return to the comforting familiarity of solitude.

But Izuku dithers, still humming with his cloak of life. “Do… you want me to leave?”

“Do what makes you comfortable.”

And instead of leaving, Izuku smiles, lingers longer, and fills the heavy stillness with his words.

And instead of never returning, Izuku comes back to call on him again.

---

Izuku realizes, a bit belatedly, that there is a reason he keeps returning to the Underworld. He finds himself watching the eyes of the lord of the dead. Every time he sees the lingering sadness in those eyes, he finds words crowding in the back of his throat. He lets them loose with a kind of eager desperation, longing to drive back that sorrow.

Sometimes, just for a split second, he sees it begin to lift, but never for long. His friend (they are friends, are they not?) never smiles, never touches him, never moves too close. He says little, but he is welcoming and kind, in a distant sort of way. He shows Izuku the realm of the dead, introducing some of the older spirits and denizens. He shows Izuku the rivers of the Underworld, which all mortals must cross—which Izuku would have crossed himself, had Toshinori not chosen him. He shows him meadows and fields, bare of living things but teeming with souls.

Izuku still curses himself for the mistake with the flower, and wonders if his friend might be less uncomfortable if he hadn’t done that.

“Izuku,” his friend says one day, as they walk together in the barren halls of the Underworld. “Why do you keep coming back?”

“Do you want me to stop?” Izuku asks.

“I told you,” is the reply. “I want you to do whatever makes you comfortable. You shouldn’t…” He purses his lips. “You shouldn’t force yourself to be here, just for my sake. I know this isn’t a pleasant place to be.”

“You are, though,” Izuku replies, a bit shyly. “Pleasant. Most others, they… tolerate me, when I talk the way I do. But you listen—I can tell.”

“You have a lot to say.” The lord of the dead pauses. “But still… I know it must be difficult for you. A god of life in the land of the dead.”

“This place is alive in its own way,” Izuku says with a smile. “There’s so much here. The rivers and the denizens. All the souls, whispering amongst themselves. I’ve heard them singing a few times.”

“They… they do that, sometimes.” His friend pauses. “It’s nice.”

Izuku smiles. “And besides that, I like you.”

The snow-white eyebrow rises skeptically at him. “You don’t know a thing about me.”

“Then I’m curious about you.” Izuku locks his hands behind his back, because if he doesn’t do something with them, then he’s going to reach out and try to take hold of the other’s hand. “Besides… you seem to like what I have to say. You look a little less sad sometimes. I’d like to try and make you less sad all the time.”

His companion is quiet for a while. “That’s… a greater task than you might think.”

“I accept the challenge, if you’ll let me.”

A wry smile plays about the ruler’s lips. “Something tells me I couldn’t stop you even if I wished to.”

“You could,” Izuku says. “If you were happier with me gone, I’d leave in a heartbeat.”

“I wouldn’t be.” The reply is hasty, and the lord of the dead looks almost surprised to hear it from his own lips. “Er. I… wouldn’t be happier, if you were to stay away.”

The low hum of life around Izuku nearly builds back to a buzz, and his heart swells with pleasure. “Well then,” he says. “I suppose I’ll have to keep coming back.”

He reaches out, and his hand brushes against the other’s.

His friend pulls away with a muffled cry. “You—you shouldn’t,” he says, eyes wide, pulling the hand behind his back. “You shouldn’t, Izuku, I might—”

“What do you think I am?” Izuku asks. “One of my delicate flowers?” He turns his head and nods at the trail of wilted stems behind him. “I’m a god the same as you. You won’t hurt me.” He holds out his hand, only to pull back uncertainly. “Unless… I don’t hurt you, do I?”

His friend looks at his hand, and Izuku can see the ache of longing in those eyes. He reaches out, until his fingertips nearly brush the other’s hand. It’s a silent offer.

Izuku waits, and after a moment, his friend reaches back. The touch of death’s hand burns at first, until the warmth of life tempers it. Their hands fit together, and Izuku slips his fingers into the gaps between the other’s.

“Is that all right?” he asks.

His friend looks into his eyes for a moment, and for a split second the sadness gives way to soft wonder.

“My name is Shouto,” he answers.

---

Izuku doesn’t return to the Underworld for a time. Simply put, he’s far too busy. Between hanging on to Toshinori’s every word and learning all he can about the nature of life, he pays visit after visit to another of his friends among the younger gods. Hatsume doesn’t specialize in the sort of craftsmanship he’s looking for, but she does have knowledge of it, and she’s willing to help him in return for helping her test some of her creations.

The next time he visits the Underworld and its lonely ruler, he is eager. The flowers bloom bright, cheery yellow beneath his feet.

“Shouto?” he calls, as he darts through the dead realm. His friend appears to him before long, and the look on his face is almost a smile.

“Izuku. It’s…” He hesitates. “It’s good to see you again. You’ve been busy?”

“Sorry I didn’t visit for so long,” Izuku replies. “I hope you weren’t too lonely.”

Shouto blinks. “It’s nothing I’m not used to,” he says.

“O-oh. Well, anyway, I brought you something!” Izuku tries not to bounce as he moves to Shouto’s side. “I always see how much you look at my flowers, so I thought maybe you liked them, and I—”

“It’s no use anyway,” Shouto interrupts him, face falling. “They wouldn’t… they don’t last long down here, and… it’s not like I need to touch them, to appreciate them. Y—they’re beautiful enough just to look at. It’s something to look forward to, when you visit.”

“O-oh.” Warmth fills Izuku from toe to tip, and it has nothing to do with Life or his power over it. “I-I. Um. Well… thank you. I like visiting you, so, I…” He mentally shakes himself. “Anyway, I asked one of my friends for help… Hatsume, she’s one of the craftsman goddesses, and… well, here.” He holds out his gift.

Shouto hesitates a moment before he takes it by its delicate stem. His fingertips slide gently against the fragile petals, but the flower in his hand does not die.

“It’s beautiful,” he says softly, holding the glass flower in his hands as gently as he would a bird’s egg.

“I hoped you’d like it,” Izuku says bashfully. “It’s… it’s a flower that can’t wilt. Ever. I-I know it’s not the same as the real thing, but…”

“I like it,” Shouto says. “I really do. Thank you, Izuku.”

The sadness has lifted, at least for now. Izuku smiles.

---

They tell each other things—secrets that neither of them thought they would reveal. Izuku tells Shouto that he was once mortal.

Shouto tells Izuku about the time he ventured into the world of the living.

“You’re bound here,” Izuku says softly. Shouto almost regrets telling him, wishes he could take it back if it would chase away the sadness in those green eyes.

“You didn’t know?”

“Not for sure. The others… they don’t talk about you much.” Izuku clasps his hand warmly, caressing softly with his fingers. “I’m sorry.”

“It’s why I never leave food lying around,” Shouto says dryly. His tone turns serious. “You mustn’t eat or drink anything here,” he warns. “Or the same will happen to you. You’d be tied to this place, and… and even if you could return to your world, this realm would always call you back.”

Izuku hums softly. “Have… have you ever thought of trying again? Leaving, even if it’s just for a little while?”

“I don’t… I don’t think I could. It was too much.” Shouto closes his eyes. “It was so much to have, all of a sudden. All that beauty and color, and… and then it was gone. This world dragged me back. But I wanted to stay. I wanted to stay. That’s why I don’t go out anymore. It hurts too much, to want something I can’t keep.”

With his eyes closed, he feels Izuku’s hands sliding against his face, cradling it between soft, gentle palms. Izuku wipes away a tear with his thumb.

“What if you weren’t alone, when you went out?” he asks.

Shouto’s breath shudders in his chest.

“What if you weren’t alone when you had to go back?”

Shouto opens his eyes. For a moment his view of Izuku is blurry, until he blinks and the tears fall away.

“Come with me,” Izuku says softly. His eyes are bright. “You’ve shown me so much of your world. Let me show you mine.”

He holds out his hand.

It gets easier to reach out and take it every time.

The world of the living is every bit as bright and sweet and achingly beautiful as he remembers it, and yet… softened, somehow. Perhaps he has spent so long in the presence of Spring itself to be blinded by life for its own sake. With Izuku’s hand in his, Shouto feels as if he can see it properly. He’s not a child dazzled by a brand-new world and the first taste of freedom.

If he’s dazzled by anything, it’s Izuku. For the first time, he sees the god of Spring truly bloom.

With Shouto’s hand in his, Izuku all but drags him around the world of Life. He shows him rivers and ponds—not the murky waters of the Underworld, but clear waters teeming with life. He shows him forests and streams, meadows and hills and towering mountains. Izuku pulls him eagerly into the presence of other gods, quite a few of whom Shouto recognizes. Yaoyorozu and Iida greet him with surprise and delight. Kirishima grins and laughs uproariously at the sight. Overwhelmed, Shouto smiles and offers what pleasantries he can manage, but follows Izuku’s lead and stays close to his side. Izuku pulls him along, laughs when the others tease, and leaves them behind to show Shouto more of his world.

As night falls, Izuku takes him to the top of a grassy hill. The sky turns inky black, and he tells Shouto about the stars. Shouto tries to pay attention, but it’s hard enough to look away from the constellations on Izuku’s face.

This is what a god of life looks like, he thinks as he watches the glowing smile and the life that has grown from a quiet hum to a buzz to a song.

It still aches to see it, he finds. Because this—even more than the world, than the living realm, than Life itself—this is something he cannot keep. This is something he should not keep.

Izuku is not like him. He is not meant to be kept bound and caged.

But it is difficult, nigh impossible, not to wish that he could share in that light. He cannot help what his heart longs for, and in this moment, with a warm hand in his and bright moss-green eyes—

So very close to his—

Izuku kisses him under the stars, gentle and hesitant at first, as if he’s afraid that Shouto will shy away like he did the first time they touched. But Shouto is not afraid anymore—cannot be afraid, not with Izuku smiling against his mouth, touching Shouto like he’s something unspeakably precious. Shouto surrenders to the touch, to the tenderness, lies back in the grass, and lets Izuku be the one to fill him with fire for once.

He wakes the next morning with the sun peeking over the horizon, with Izuku curled against his side, with a feeling in his chest like he’s being pulled—down, down, toward the threshold, away from this realm. He suppresses a sigh and starts to rise—his time is up, it seems.

Izuku stirs, and awakens when Shouto strokes his cheek. Izuku’s soft lips against his dulls the ache of his shackles.

“I told you,” Izuku whispers. “You don’t have to be alone when you go back, either.”

Shouto smiles, and wishes that were true.

---

Izuku has been thinking. He has been talking. He has been learning, and there is not much left to learn.

More than anything, he has been hard at work. Whenever he isn’t visiting Shouto or learning more from Toshinori, he sequesters himself deep in the thickest of woods, in valleys ringed by towering mountains. The goal he sets before himself is a difficult one. Perhaps it is even impossible.

Regardless, he will see it done.

He has false starts, setbacks, terrible mistakes. It is a frustrating task, and he is only a young god, recently mortal. There are moments that he doubts himself, that he doubts the possibility of success.

But then Shouto kisses him, touches him, looks at him with shimmering eyes full of wistful love and longing, and Izuku finds his determination and tries again.

And finally, near summer’s end, Izuku reaches it. A glade deep in the woods plays host to a joyful, solitary little dance, and Izuku all but flies down to the Underworld.

He catches Shouto by surprise; he knows he does, because he finds his lover sitting at a table, cutting into fruit. Usually, Shouto is careful to keep food away, but now he glances up and sets it aside, face lighting up at the sight of him. Shouto rises to meet him, and Izuku steals a kiss before he can even speak.

“I have a gift for you,” he says, inches from Shouto’s mouth.

“And here I thought your coming was a gift.” Shouto’s eyes widen.

Izuku steps back, holding both of Shouto’s hands. “You were right, before,” he says. “That living things wilt down here. But—you can’t have life without death. Life is only precious because there’s death. And it’s not right that someone like you can only have death without life.”

He focuses his power into a single effort of will, and feels flowers bloom at his feet like always. These ones look strange, not like any flower he’s ever shown Shouto before. They grow in clusters, snow-white petals with red streaks, the same colors as Shouto’s bright hair. Shouto’s eyes soften at the sight.

“They’re beautiful,” he says softly. “Part of me wishes you didn’t have to move from that spot.”

With a smile, Izuku steps away. The flowers remain, red and white and untouched by rot.

Shouto goes still.

“It wasn’t easy, making a new flower,” Izuku admits, growing a few more where he stands. Once more, they fail to wilt when he moves away. “It took a while to figure it out. If I’ve been acting oddly busy lately, well… that’s why.”

“I…” Shouto stares at them, at the soft, living flowers growing from the barren ground of the Underworld. “Izuku, I… I don’t know what to—”

Izuku kisses him again, and Shouto returns it desperately.

“Tell me how I can repay you,” he says between kisses. “Anything—anything, Izuku—tell me what I can possibly give you—”

“There’s only one thing I could ever want.” Izuku speaks against his lips. He holds Shouto’s face between his hands, running his fingers against his skin. There’s no need to think, or to decide. He’s thought about it for long enough, and he’s made his choice.

He reaches past Shouto and picks up one of the halved fruits, admiring the red seeds glistening at the core.

Shouto follows his gaze, chokes when he sees it. “No. No—Izuku you mustn’t, please, put that down—” He takes hold of Izuku’s wrist, halting him. “You don’t—you don’t know what it’s like, being shackled down here alone—”

“And I won’t,” Izuku says. With his free hand he cups the side of Shouto’s face, makes Shouto look at him again. “I won’t know what it’s like to be down here alone. I’ll have you, won’t I?”

Tears gather in Shouto’s eyes. “You—you don’t have to do this. You don’t—Izuku, you don’t have to let me ruin you.”

“Shouto.” Izuku’s smile hurts, and he feels his own eyes stinging and watering. “You aren’t ruining me. You could never ruin me. I love you. And that means I love every part of you. And this place, your realm, your power—they’re a part of you. I want to share that with you. I want to share everything with you.”

“But—” Shouto trembles, pressing into Izuku’s hand as the tears fall. “You belong up there, in that world—with the living, not… not down here.” He smiles desperately through his tears. “You’re too beautiful to be trapped in a place like this.”

“I’m going to make it beautiful,” Izuku told him. “We’re going to make it beautiful. You and me. See that?” He looks to the flowers, still blooming freely in the barren earth. “That’s the first step. And the next—that’s up to both of us. Shouto, death exists in the world of the living. Flowers wilt, animals die, things rot. So why can’t there be life here, too?” He leans forward, pressing his forehead to Shouto’s, willing him to understand. “I want to be a part of your world, Shouto. Even if—”

“How—how about this,” Shouto says hoarsely. “Half the year. Your spring and summer, you spend it among the living, and… and I’ll visit, when I can. And then in—in fall, and winter, when you’re needed less…” He raises his eyes, full of hope. “You stay with me then?”

Heart swelling, Izuku lets his eyes drift shut. He smiles so wide in hurts. “Half the year then. Will you keep me warm in the winter months?”

Shouto takes the fruit from him, plucks a seed from it. His hand shakes, but Izuku’s face, pressed so close to his own, stills it. He holds it to Izuku’s lips.

Their next kiss is stained deep red, as sweet as wine, as flowers bloom in the realm of the dead.

#my hero academia #tododeku week #tododeku #fanfiction #tales from the pit

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whittlebaggett8 · 6 years ago

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9 nutritionist-recommended foods and drinks that are potentially dangerous to your health, Defence Online

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There might be a limit to how much cinnamon you really should set in your smoothie or yogurt.

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Nutritionists usually suggest to keep away from sugary, processed things in favor of healthful total foods like fruits, nuts, and total grains.

But even a couple usually “healthy” food items and drinks can have unfavorable facet consequences when eaten in excessive.

We rounded up a few wholesome items that have been identified to include selected harmful toxins or most cancers-leading to qualities.

Go to BusinessInsider.com for much more tales.

We have all been advised that swapping starchy potatoes for a plate of green beans is fantastic for our bodies. But not all nutritionist-proposed foods and drink is unequivocally healthful.

A several of the “healthy” meals you have been informed to eat, including spices, nuts, fruits and veggies, and even dietary health supplements, could in fact have negative facet outcomes when consumed in extra. But that doesn’t imply you ought to end taking in them.

Read through extra: The top rated meals nutritionists swear by to be your healthiest self – and 2 they’ll never ever touch

Just one of the normal concepts of toxicology is that the dose would make the poison. We can get sick when we’re exposed to substances in really superior quantities, but it is ordinarily tough to take in so several servings of a one food items that we see destructive health and fitness outcomes.

That stated, experts are constantly mastering extra about the relationship amongst foods and our bodies. In this article are a few food items and drinks that have been discovered to have particular poisons or cancer-triggering houses, as effectively as a number of that could guide to bigger chance of bleeding or liver problems.

Crimson wine has an component that could support your heart, but drinking way too a great deal of it could boost your chance of cancer or stroke.

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There is an ongoing debate about whether crimson wine’s salutary qualities make up for the point that it is – properly, alcohol. Reports have demonstrated that anti-oxidants in crimson wine could assistance ward off coronary heart assaults by minimizing the chance of blood clots, irritation, and superior cholesterol.

But ingesting any sum of liquor in surplus is not proposed for your wellness. Much too a great deal alcoholic beverages (far more than one drink a working day for females or more than two beverages a working day for males less than 65) could maximize your chance of high blood stress, stroke, and certain types of cancer.

Fish oil nutritional supplements consist of essential omega-3s, but they could possibly also improve your hazard of bleeding.

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People commit additional than $1 billion a calendar year on fish- and animal-derived health supplements, with several beneath the perception that these vitamins and minerals can minimize inflammation or cardiovascular possibility. This seems to only be the circumstance for individuals who don’t take in any fish or have elevated triglyceride stages.

The Mayo Clinic even indicates that higher doses of fish oil supplements could boost your hazard of bleeding or stroke, or perhaps hinder your immune response. However the clinic claims the dietary supplements are “generally safe and sound,” doctors tend to suggest that folks get their omega-3 fatty acids from full foodstuff, if achievable.

Browse more: There is even a lot more proof that taking dietary supplements is a waste of cash – and could be dangerous to your overall health

Retail outlet-purchased cinnamon is normally viewed as a balanced treat, but it could be toxic for your liver.

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Cinnamon is frequently touted as a yummy way to eat antioxidants that reduce swelling and blood sugar stages, which can in change decreased your danger of heart sickness or form 2 diabetes. But not all cinnamon is developed equivalent.

The spice actually arrives in two most important sorts: the sort we see most usually in suppliers, known as cassia, and the rarer, much more high-priced variation identified as ceylon.

Retail store-bought cinnamon has a a great deal bigger proportion of coumarin, an natural compound that could problems liver cells and possibly direct to most cancers. Due to the fact of this, the average man or woman is frequently recommended not to eat a lot more than one to just one-and-a-half teaspoons of cassia cinnamon just about every day.

Ceylon cinnamon, on the other hand, has proven symptoms of staving off cancerous tumors, decreasing blood stress, therapeutic wounds, and blocking liver harm.

Nutmeg might also be a result in for concern due to its hallucinogenic houses.

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Nutmeg is an historic treatment for suffering and digestive issues, but it is potentially harmful in huge doses. The spice incorporates a material named myristicin, which is has been known to have hallucinogenic qualities.

A 2015 analyze discovered that just 5 grams of ground nutmeg – about two teaspoons – could be regarded as a “toxic dose” due to its hallucinogenic effects, but humans possible have to have to eat a great deal far more for it to develop into an real health danger.

Espresso is made up of acrylamide, a chemical that is been connected to cancer.

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Unsplash / Elizabeth Tsung

Several scientific reports have discovered associations among drinking coffee and a amount of wellness added benefits, together with more time lifestyle spans and diminished danger of coronary heart assault. But some scientists imagine it could be connected to most cancers, due to the fact a likely carcinogenic chemical referred to as acrylamide types when coffee beans are roasted.

Past spring, a California choose dominated that espresso corporations will have to post warnings about acrylamide, in accordance with Proposition 65, a point out law that requires corporations to inform people about important exposures to harmful chemicals.

So much, studies have only revealed that acrylamide qualified prospects to cancer in rats and mice that get uncovered to the chemical at a lot greater doses than what humans would encounter. However a solitary cup of coffee doesn’t comprise plenty of acrylamide to endanger human health, the regular American drinks just about two cups for each working day, which could likely raise their exposure with time.

Examine a lot more: There is a chemical in coffee that could lead to most cancers, but scientists have uncovered a way to minimize your hazard

Green tea may possibly be one particular of the greatest drinks for your health and fitness, but it could be connected to most cancers if it’s way too scorching.

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There is promising scientific proof that environmentally friendly tea can lessen cholesterol and interfere with the replication of cancer cells. But ingesting anything which is as well sizzling could most likely have a destructive influence on your esophageal health.

The Worldwide Journal of Most cancers just lately published a study indicating that the frequent usage of quite incredibly hot tea could improve the chance of esophageal cancer. The scientists located that ingesting 3 cups of tea for every working day at far more than 140 levels Fahrenheit amplified the hazard of esophageal cancer by about 90% among 50,000 folks ages 40 to 75.

Preliminary reports have also shown that environmentally friendly tea extract could be damaging to your liver, but more analysis is desired to establish the threat.

Tuna is a lean protein, but it is also significant in methylmercury — an environmental toxin that can cause progress troubles in youngsters.

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Flickr – Dave Lifson

Tuna is generally thought of to be a healthier swap for pink or processed meat, but it can also consist of fairly substantial quantities of an environmental toxin identified as methylmercury.

Studies have proven that even small-degree publicity to methylmercury can impair memory and fantastic-motor purpose in older people. It can also induce improvement issues in kids, which is why it is generally recommended for expecting women to lower their consumption of canned tuna.

But pregnant ladies aren’t the only group that should be anxious. A 2018 Harvard review observed that tuna contributes to 37% of the world’s ingestion of methylmercury via fish.

Even a handful of Brazil nuts could contain too substantially selenium.

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Brazil nuts are not usually eaten in extra, but enthusiasts of the food might want to take into consideration a couple most likely adverse health effects.

Brazil nuts include far more than 770% of the every day recommended benefit of selenium, an crucial mineral that can help with fertility and brain function. Far too a lot selenium can result in nausea, fatigue, or, in extraordinary cases, kidney and coronary heart failure.

Older people aren’t advised to consume far more than 400 micrograms of selenium for each working day, but about 6 to 8 Brazil nuts would set you about that restrict.

Rhubarb is high-quality to eat — just don’t consume the leaves. They comprise high amounts of oxalic acid, which is toxic to humans.

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Rhubarb is chock full of crucial vitamins like manganese and vitamin K, but its leaves are toxic to humans. Which is due to the fact they’re high in oxalic acid, which can induce severe burning, vomiting, kidney failure, and in some cases even dying.

While humans would have to eat all-around 10 pounds of rhubarb leaves for the foods to be lethal, we should not take into account it edible. The British authorities discovered this lesson back in Earth War I, when they recommended having rhubarb leaves as a way to handle the food lack, and it resulted in many sickness and at minimum 1 dying.

The post 9 nutritionist-recommended foods and drinks that are potentially dangerous to your health, Defence Online appeared first on Defence Online.

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viking-mjod · 7 years ago

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Apothecary mead – legends of Sherwood brought back to life

As we look back through history, women have been the driving force behind the brewing industry. In fact, the very term ‘Brewster’ was used to denote a female brewer. In the annals of old, we frequently find references to brewing ale (and assumedly then, Mead) and it was very much considered a woman’s job. (Let’s face it, we men would just end up drinking the must before it ever got a chance to ferment)

This was the common standard up till monks started brewing as a source of income, and where the church held power, men soon ended up taking over what was previously a woman’s domain. For centuries, where Christianity ruled, the number of women has at large been left out of this wondrous craft, with only a few women crafting in secrecy.

But this story is focused on mead, and as mead is on the rise yet again, we are thrilled to see that women are easily regaining positions as crafters, artisans, and experts.

Today I am fortunate enough to talk with Alison Heath of Apothecary Mead, a brand new meadery located in scenic Nottinghamshire. Set in the heart of the ancient Sherwood forest, a stone’s throw from the Major Oak and Viking meeting ground, Thynghowe. The meadery is nestled in the fabled Greenwood among the stories of Robin Hood, The Knights of the old, and the very center of English legends. Hear ye, hear ye – Apothecary is poised to make their name … legendary.

Mead to make Robin Hoods merry men even merrier

With mead as an artisan drink on the rise, it has never been more important for meaderies to be unique in their own way. In this, it is natural to ask what makes Apothecary mead so special.

–We really want to take advantage of the fantastic resources we have just outside the door. Sherwood offers so much in terms of experiences, in terms of resources, and of course – in terms of history. Mead is mentioned in many historical literary texts ranging from the ancient works of Plato, Virgil, and the welsh Rig-Veda. It is mentioned in old welsh poems dating back to 550ce, called “Kanu y med” or ‘Song of Mead’. Also; we find it countless times throughout the ages with mentions in works by Chaucer, Shakespeare. In many Norse and Greek Legends, it is very much a drink of magic and atmosphere. Steeped in folklore and mystery mead is a natural choice to turn to when trying to breathe new life into traditions of old. So where better to do that than within Robin Hood’s own Sherwood?

Apothecary Mead has their Meadery on the Historic Welbeck Estate. The estate itself is even mentioned in the Domesday book from 1140a.d, and was founded as a monastery in 1153. After the dissolution of the monasteries, the Cavendish family bought the estate and it has been a family seat ever since. The commercial side of the estate has been active over the last decade, described by locals as a ‘foodie hub’. Among these, we find Welbeck Abbey craft beer, Ottar chocolatier, raw milk dairy, Stichelton creamery, Saffron spices, Karkli snacks, and a school for artisan food. With such a collection of great foodies, the Meadery is surely a great fit.

– Between myself and my partner, we have a passion for locally sourced produce. There is an ethos of environmentally focused practice being the core of everything we do. As trained beekeepers it is important to us to support British Beekeepers and bee farms; we raise awareness of issues affecting Bee colonies. We support bees by growing our own herbs and making conscious commercial choices, and by supporting local artists and businesses in setting up our company. It gives us immense satisfaction to know that what we do, our passion, is done in a locally supportive way, and with sustainable development in mind.

The Apothecary shows the way

With that in mind we get into talking about the Apothecary Mead itself, and what makes it so unique :

– We have a very close, almost intimate relationship to nature; and our mead certainly reflects upon this. Our honey is sourced very locally. We primarily use honey from hives on site within Wellbeck. If this source runs out, we carefully select from other county and regional apiaries. I would go as far as to say the quality control is literally on our tongues. We taste all honey and analyze it with the finest tools we have – our senses. Color, scent, viscosity and of course – flavor. Many people do not realize that just as with the finest wines, Mead can also be typified by varietals of honey. For example, forest honey which will feature pine or woody notes, field or blossom honey which is often lighter and floral based. Then we have fruit blossom honey, and single source honey, which is rarer. Among these, there are flavors such as lavender, eucalyptus, and orange blossom.

For the mead itself, there are Pyments, melomels, metheglyns, bochets, hydromels, and many more. Only the honey that passes our demands for perfection gets the honor of becoming mead. I believe we owe it to history, to our craft, and of course – our customers. As we produce small batches only, its extremely important that every batch has that uniqueness one expects from limited, exclusive production.

Into the heart of mead

Alison shows me the heart of the production – the fermentation room. Its filled with 5-litre demi-johns shelves – and shelves of them, reminiscent of a medieval laboratory or Apothecary room. – We have about 900 5-liter demijohns we use for our brews. I’m quite sure that to industry professionals it will seem totally insane to brew such small batches. However; it allows us detailed control of every single batch, ease of transfer of stock if I am working alone, and should something go awry then we only lose one demijohn of stock. Having this vast amount of Demijohns to brew micro batches also allow us to brew truly exclusive batches. Oh, and let’s not forget the sight and sound of the yeast as its doing its magic; is like nothing else I’ve encountered in any other brewery. We affectionately call it “bloopage“.

The newly started Meadery has already made headway on the social media scene. A healthy online presence is gathering a community of supporters, eagerly awaiting news of the release. At the time of launch, Apothecary will be offering 5 flavors, each with its own distinct character, and seasonal limited editions.

We asked Alison to give us an intro to the different flavors:

Circe

Apothecary’s basic Mead; a smooth and light Mead with a medium viscosity. This allows for a silky mouthfeel with no residue, yet with notes of light citrus and vanilla bean. The name Circe was chosen, as she -for the meadery- epitomises the Goddess of Mead. Greek mythology speaks of Circe’s knowledge of hidden and sacred arts. Arts which allowed her to procure the finest honey, and create a magical blend which was presented to menfolk as a draught. This would render them ill fit to fight and transforming them into magical beasts. With such clear links to antiquity, it seems perfect to name Apothecary’s signature brew “Circe”, from which all others will come.

Nevermore

This mead is one to talk about. It is a definite nod to the love of folk horror and poetry. The label carries the logo Raven, hailing from the poem by Edgar Allen Poe: “Deep into that darkness peering, long I stood there, wondering, fearing, doubting, dreaming dreams no mortal ever dared to dream before.”

Nevermore is a spiced Metheglyn Mead made with Black Tea, Chai spices, and Maple Syrup. Aged in Bourbon Oak. It is dark, luxurious, and perfect for sampling around a fire. Do NOT miss out on this for your next camping, where horror stories are to be told around the bonfire during those dark midnight hours.

Black Phillip

This is Alison’s personal favorite and currently kicking up a storm amongst Apothecary ‘s mead-tasting panel. Black Phillip is quite simply “delicious”. From the action of uncapping the bottle, you are presented with a deeply burnt oak-colored liquid. As you take your first whiff, you get the scent of clover. The aromas of caramelized toffee and cinnamon reach the nose as you sip. The flavor is best described as “Bonfire Toffee in a glass”. Apothecary uses the finest Adriatic figs, and grade A bourbon vanilla bean in their primary. This gives a viscous yet creamy base to the burnt honey. Again, the brew finds it’s namesake in a favorite folk horror film; This is Apothecary ‘s respectful nod to a cult classic.

Morrigan

The Morrigan is a sorceress, a queen, a goddess, and a witch associated with war and battle. The Raven is an integral imagery or symbolism Apothecary use within their brand.

– It was important, Alison explains, to have a mead dedicated to The Morrigan. Mythology tells of The Morrigan being a tragic figure possessed of the ability to turn herself into a flight of Ravens/Crows. Gifted with precognition she sees the fate of her true love and tries to save him. Yet – unable to she is cursed to forever roam the earth in the guise of the raven, appearing as a portent of doom, on the eve of war. The Morrigan blend is created as a blood red fruit-based mead, spiced with star anise. The feedback from tasters and customer alike is that it is reminiscent of Cherry Ouzo. Tart red cherries, vanilla for balance and star anise to lift.

Summerisle

Finally, Apothecary Mead’s lightest blend; a Lemon, Bay, and Cardamom Mead. Tasting more buttery lemon curd than tart sour limoncello, Summerisle is an easy drinking, crisp and satisfying mead, which speaks of summer meadows, citrus blossom, and warm breezes. Honey is definitely the key flavor here with the lemon adding a lovely undertone. Bay provides a subtle cinnamon background and cardamom punches through with a deliciously floral bouquet. Summerisle again is drawn from the love of cult horror.

It is easy to see Apothecary Mead’s overall image being distinctly placed within the folk/cult genre, with references to astrology, alchemy, and mythology. Where mead is concerned, the Norse angle is most definitely covered, with some excellent representation hailing from these very shores. Alison explains she wanted something of herself in this brand:

“I love history, the hidden, the forbidden and the dark. I wanted Apothecary to be borne of this love of literature and fantasy, in a respectful way. Themed brands can all too often fall into parody or caricature, I wanted it more as a nod for those in the know.”

Scrying into the future

With that said, we go back to Alison’s background and interest in mead.

I’m passionate about this beverage, informing the public and raising the profile of this once forgotten tradition. I founded a Facebook community called Mead Maidens which celebrates women within the industry and we have some prominent and incredibly knowledgeable ladies acting as our admins. Together with two other Meaderies within the UK, it is our aim to follow in the footsteps of our European and American counterparts in being at the forefront of this revival and bringing to the public a knowledge about the traditions of the craft and definitions regarding its production.

We think Apothecary has a great future ahead of itself. With this much knowledge, enthusiasm and … 900 demijohns – we expect great things to come.

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