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wordsmithic · 5 months ago

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unpopular opinion but with the new tide of Greek mythology stories and retellings, Greek Cultural Sensitivity Readings are absolutely necessary. We are in 2024, with thousands of fics and retellings out there!! How is this not a thing yet?? There's vast improvement one can achieve by working professionally on their text with a Greek. I've seen it so many times!!

Also, duh, I'm offering the service BUT I want you to know that the situation with the inaccuracies of SERIOUS works is so dire that initially I didn't even do it for money. As a writer I just wanted to... fix things, to set a new standard for writers and the industry that sells us the most heavily Americanized pop-culture material and passes it as "authentic vibes of Greek mythology". (And of course there were writers who wanted to do right by their story and they had reached out to me. So kudos to them as well!)

Okay, but why does Cultural Sensitivity Reading make a vast difference and it's not just smoke and mirrors?

As a Greek, I am tired of well-meaning writers and authors butchering very basic elements of my culture. It's not their fault exactly, since they were raised in another culture with a different perspective. And nobody clued them in on how different Greek culture is from theirs, so writers sometimes assume that their culture is the default and they project that into ancient Greece. (Even published professionals like Madeline Miller have written "UK or US in antiquity" (with a very colonialist flavor) instead of writing "Ancient Greece". (Looking at you, Circe!)

Even writers who researched a lot before coming to me still had a lot of misinformation or wrong information in their text, easily verifiable by the average Greek. Again, not their fault. They can only access certain information, which does not include Greek scholarly work and scientific articles that DO offer valuable context.

Translation, accuracy, and meaning: If you ever wondered what a word means or how to pronounce it, here's your chance! There are Greeks like me who are knowledgeable and have a keen interest in antiquity and they will be able to read and compare ancient texts, and dive deeper into the work of Greek scholars regarding those texts.

If you want to create new words, you can do that as well! (It doesn't always work, but we can try. Greek is a really rich language and has a word about everything) If you use existing words, I can help you separate reality from fantasy in the context of your story.

(Do not assume we Greeks are ignorant of our heritage, or that we don't know how to research! Our archaeology sector is huge and archaeological museums are closer to most of us than your local Target is to you)

I guarantee there are things you never thought about Greece and the Mediterranean - from the ancient to the modern era. Sprinkling elements like phrases, types of interactions, customs, songs, instruments, dances, etc , into your text will make your text absolutely rich in culture.

Names matter!!! The genders of the names matter, diminutives matter (If I see one more "Perse" for Persephone I will claw my eyes out along with a few thousand Greeks), naming traditions matter!!! In many cases you should not even use a diminutive!!

You will be able to write about a foreign culture easily! Because of the continuity of Greek culture, you can even write a few more recent Greek elements to fill in the gaps. I can make sure they are not mismatched, and they will complement your ancient setting. I have observed a few things I didn't know we had since antiquity, but they make sense because our land has certain characteristics.

Non-Greek writers often miss the whole context of Greek culture! Do you know how Greek respect towards deities and parents looks like? What tones we use when we talk to our elders? When to use honorific plural - if your setting is more modernized?

Oh, and please let's avoid caricatures when describing Greeks?? (even fantasy Greeks) There can be heavy exotisation and odd descriptions of Greeks, as if we are another species. Even in published works. For many western writers it's difficult to catch, unfortunately.

The whole process is actually way easier than you think. You send me a text, I make notes and then we have some discussion on your vision.

It's always okay to seek guidance from the locals! You are not "guilty" when you admit you don't know! How can you know if you don't ask?? You can't imagine what relief and "πάλι καλά!!!" I read/see from other Greeks when I tell them another foreigner is using me for cultural sensitivity? Greeks want you to seek help and will NOT shame you for it!

(On the contrary, you have no idea how many eye-rolls Greeks do when they see a blatantly wrong thing in a story... Which has happened pretty often for many years now. Can we do better as an industry?? Please???)

You can send me a personal message to share your story, or ask what this whole cultural sensitivity thing is all about, or ask about what I have done so far and how I can help. But for the love of all that's good, don't let your story be another "generic greek myth retelling"! And don't let others sell you their generic greek myth retellings!!

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copperbadge · 1 year ago

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Hey Sam. If you're so inclined, could you recommend a few 'must eat' places in Downtown Chicago? My hotel will be near the Red Line (Grand station) and I'm fine walking a good 10 minutes for awesome food. I'm planning my trip and trying to put together a few food places for lunch and dinner and such. Pizza, burgers, bbq, donuts, steak, sushi..., I'm flexible!

You know, honestly, I don't eat out much anymore so I'm not sure where the best places to get a bite are. I'm going to make some recommendations but they're about to be a mixture of "If you come to Chicago this is somewhere everyone goes" and "This is somewhere Sam personally likes to eat but which you may not go for." :D

So, if you're at Grand, you are pretty much on top of the Weber Kettle Grill. Weber Kettle Grill does GREAT grill food and my parents always want to eat there when they come into town. If you ask to sit at the chef's table, you'll be seated at what looks like a bar, but it also looks all the way down the row of giant indoor grills the chefs use to cook the food. If you want something quieter and less busy they also have a fairly large dining room.

If you want a real Chicago experience, there's a Portillo's pretty close to you (that one's called "Portillo's & Barnelli's"); Portillo's is a local chain that does burgers, dogs, and crucially Italian Beef. Italian Beef is my go-to Chicago food for people who (like me) don't want to eat Deep Dish Pizza. It's a crusty roll filled with shredded braised beef; you can get it with sweet peppers, hot peppers, or no peppers (they might call it "giardinera" which is the local term for the pepper relish they use). If you get it "dipped", once the sandwich is made it's dunked in a flavorful jus before being wrapped up; if you don't like wet bread I'd skip this, but I love it. If you REALLY don't like wet bread, maybe get a Chicago Style hot dog instead. Portillo's is also famous for being The Place Where they make you a milkshake with an entire slice of chocolate cake in it. You can also just get a slice of cake, which is fantastic.

There's also an Al's Italian Beef near you if you want a more local experience. Locals absolutely can and will eat at Portillo's, the food's not better at Al's, it's just a bit more tourist-friendly than Al's tends to be.

If you want that true authentic Chicago deep dish experience (pie crust filled with cheese and then topped with sauce) Pizzeria Uno and Pizzeria Due are very close by; they vie for the dubious honor of having invented the deep dish pizza. I can't recommend it, but if you want it, hit one of those.

If you're not from the midwest and would like to sample a decent approximation of Detroit style deep dish (thick bready crust topped with cheese and then sauce) Jet's Pizza likely delivers to your hotel. I can't recommend going to a Jet's, many of them don't have anywhere to sit and eat, and for a pizza joint they're a bit costly, but it's very good pizza. My Detroit friends say it's a perfectly acceptable pie by their standards.

Volare Ristorante is a nearby hidden gem if you're in the mood for upscale Italian; I really like their pasta, but they are on the pricier end. If you're walking east on Grand to get there, you do have to go under Michigan, and you will likely fear that you will be stabbed and left for dead in this weird underground cavern, but I promise you, it's smelly but safe.

Goddess And The Baker and Beatrix are both good places to pick up breakfast. If you wish to glimpse Hell, the Starbucks Roastery at Michigan and Erie is one of the largest buxes in the country (possibly the world?) and is a FUCKING NIGHTMARE to navigate, but it's certainly an experience.

If you're venturing into the Loop, Russian Tea Time is a fun place to have afternoon tea and the a la carte food is also quite good; they're very close to the Art Institute. There's not much to eat if you're going to the museum campus, and my favorite Greek place closed down, but Minghin Cuisine is a good Chinese place (I've eaten there) and AO Hawaiian Hideout is supposedly some of the best Chinese in the city (I have not eaten there).

If you are craving Chinese, you can also catch the Red Line directly to the Chinatown stop and browse, I've never had a bad meal in Chinatown. When you get off the train, if you go north to the station exit with only stairs, you can exit, look left, and see the "new" Chinatown that's basically an outdoor mall; if you go south to the escalator exit, once you leave turn right and you'll see the big pagoda entrance to "old" Chinatown, which is more shops than restaurants. New Chinatown has some excellent bakeries, and also a Korean fried chicken place, Bonchon, that's extremely good. Usually when I take friends we go to Joy Yee which has a huge menu and also bubble tea.

As a final plug I'll list The Berghoff, which is in the loop (off the Jackson Red Line stop); it's pretty hefty German cuisine, all excellent food, and also is a top notch place to take anyone with gluten issues -- the owners have a kid with a gluten intolerance and the restaurant has an exceptional gluten-free menu with unusually strict protocols to prevent cross-contamination in the kitchen.

And if you want to get a little baked first, you are pretty close to Sunnyside dispensary, which is a very nice dispensary with super friendly people. If you take the Red Line to Roosevelt or are in the area, Grasshopper Club is less expensive, just as friendly, and Black-owned, and they've been my go-to for a couple of months now. At either one you can walk-in to speak to a budtender about what you'd like, or you can preorder online, but be aware that there are limitations on what out-of-staters can purchase. Having sampled most of the gummies out there, I'd recommend Mindy's (any flavor is good but the black cherry is my preferred). Do bring ID, you will be carded.

I hope you enjoy Chicago! If you have more questions feel free to hit me up here or at [email protected] if you'd like to have more of like, a dialogue :) Have fun and eat well!

#chicago #chicago food #food #dining

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drivinmeinsane · 1 year ago

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{ Eyes Always Seeking }

1/3 ※ Officer K (BR 2049) x Sierra Six (The Gray Man) ※ { masterlist } ※ { ao3 }

next chapter -»

※ Summary: Unpleasantly, K feels the return of the drowning sensation he had felt earlier. It is almost as though someone had placed a mirror in front of him in a dream. The reflection is him, but distinctly not. ※ Rating: 18+ for explicit mature content. ※ Content/tags: Canon-typical violence, Descriptions of a Crime Scene, Eye Horror, Descriptions of Injury, Frottage, Handjobs, Implied Reoccurring Sexual Abuse by a Supervisor, Emotional Hurt, Identity Issues, References to Greek Mythology, Hand Holding ※ Word count: 4,789 ※ Status: Chapter 1 / Complete ※ Author's note: I would have had this chapter up and ready to go sooner but the Saw franchise came into my life like a brick through a window. 😔 K and Six are close to being my Roman empire alongside Driver and Ken. I hope ya'll enjoy this pairing as much as I do. ※ Song inspiration: Like Real People Do - Hozier

Rice today. Not steaming, just cold and forming a congealing lump in the corner. There had been some sort of sad attempt at vegetables to go with it, but those had long since been further pulverized between K’s teeth and swallowed down. Currently on his fork is the last chunk of grub protein. It had been textured and flavored to look and taste like chicken. The replicant can’t vouch for the authenticity of it. Real poultry was something only the wealthy could dream of.

The tines of the metal fork are barely between his parted lips when Joi glitches to a halt, frozen mid sentence. She is “sitting” on window ledge, in the midst of prattling on about the breeds of chickens she might like to keep if they had the space. Privately, K thinks he might like to keep bees in another life.

A telltale chime of an incoming call seems to come from Joi’s open mouth, eking out past her teeth. It’s his madam. He knows it before the popup flashes to life to the left of his pretend wife’s face. There’s no one that would call him other than Lieutenant Joshi. He lets his fork clatter into the container, bite untaken.

“Accept call,” he addresses the projection.

“I hope I’m not interrupting your night. I’m sure you have plans.” Joshi’s voice sounds wrong, insincere, coming from Joi’s frozen figure. He averts his eyes, stares at the table so he doesn’t have to look at the mockery.

“Of course not, Madam.” K shoves down the ball of emotions that want to burst out of his chest like a living, breathing creature and keeps his tone free of anything resembling bitterness. She knows that she’s not interrupting anything. Even if she were, it wouldn’t make any difference. He’s always at her disposal for any whim. She owns his time. Owns him.

“I’m having you meet up with another officer. I’ll send over the coordinates. An informant tipped us off to a possible meeting place for some of the skinjobs we’ve been searching for. I need you to go sniffing around out there. See what you find. Might be nothing, might be a whole lot of something.

“Yes, Madam,” he agrees, getting to his feet. His body is thoughtlessly obeying.

“And, K? The officer.” He reflexively looks up at the sound of his name. “He’s one of your kind,” his madam says, ending the call. K stands beside his vacated chair, stunned. He accidentally ignores his pretend wife when she tries to resume their playacting like she hadn’t been stalled. Joi is talking, flitting around him with buzzing touches of her slender hands, but it feels as though he’s under water.

He tells himself that the details don’t matter, that who, or rather what, he works with is of no consequence. A job is a job. The officer forces his mind to compartmentalize as he goes through the motions of readying himself for night ahead. He is proficient at digging in the earth of his mind and laying thoughts in shallow graves. It keeps him out of retirement.

Mind carefully blank, he sets the remnants of his dinner inside the small refrigeration unit. His stomach needs to be as empty as it can be for this. If K had had more warning, he simply would not have eaten yet.

Once in the main room again, he “kisses” Joi goodbye before turning off the console responsible for her. The hard line unit that crosses the ceiling shrinks back into a neutral position like a kenneled animal. There’s no emulator to take her with him. Not yet. Soon. He’s only a few more payouts away.

K moves further down the hall that makes up the entryway. With slightly unsteady fingers, he pulls his long coat off of the peg and shrugs the reassuring weight of it over his shoulders. He checks the firearm in his holster. It’s firmly tucked into the synthetic leather, nothing amiss. He hadn’t bothered to take his equipment off before dinner, having had an uneasy feeling. Intuition had evidently been working behind the scenes. He’s already wearing his boots, usually is unless he’s in bed or in a rare state of undress. K prefers to avoid the feeling of cold tile against the bottoms of his feet. Satisfied that he is as prepared as as he is going to get, the replicant slides the door open and exits his apartment unit.

The stairs are as treacherous as always. They are perpetually overcrowded and K is resigned to knowing that the milling throng is on the cusp of a riot every time they are reminded that yes, he does exist and, yes he lives in this building alongside them. Conditions are not much better once he steps out in the neon lit glow of the night. He flips his collar up and fastens it shut against the smog and the near constant freezing rain. It’s a short walk to the parking garage where he keeps his spinner. It, like the apartment and his firearm, had been provided as a courtesy of the Los Angeles Police Department.

He presses his fingertip to onto the door lock for the spinner. It beeps in acknowledgment, releasing the latch and letting the door swing upwards. He doesn’t wait for it to open all the way before shoving himself into the pilot’s seat and slamming it closed. The replicant’s tumultuous emotions are not so suppressed that they don’t bleed out into his actions. He’s never been paired with another of his kind before. He was made to go solo. Organics don’t trust groups of them, not since the rebellion, the riots. Pack hunters would be too dangerous even with the compulsion for obedience woven into their assembled DNA. There’s a part of him that’s almost excited, being on the same side for once.

The spinner’s systems light up with the touch of a button. As soon as the computer screen comes online, K checks his messages to find that his madam did send over the coordinates as promised. It only takes a few taps of his fingers to get the GPS running. He straps himself in, harness material digging uncomfortably across his chest, and manually steers the vehicle out of the garage and off of the pavement. Once he reaches cruising altitude, he sets it on autopilot. The spinner can handle itself until he reaches his destination.

During the flight, Officer K studies the provided aerial photos of the location. Nothing of note to see, he memorizes the layout all the same. It never works out to be surprised. He makes notes of where the other officer parked, and unable to help himself, he looks for details on the replicant. His efforts only muster up a number, no photo. A Nexus 9, but so is K and most other police controlled replicants these days. They needed to be stronger, faster; more capable than the older models. Bred for compliance. No mistakes. No abnormalities. Never a state of life too late to cull.

A beeping sound draws him from his contemplation, the spinner has delivered him. He flips off the autopilot and puts his hands on the wheel. He puts the machine down next to the other officer’s on a patch of broken up concrete. It was an old parking lot for what his implicit tells him was a store. It’s nothing but a shell now, roof blown off and the walls crumbling in the acidic elements. Despite the ruin, it still serves to hide them from the more intact warehouse behind it. He ducks out of the spinner into the open air the moment the door lock releases. He pauses for a moment to lean back into the vehicle to deploy his parrotfish. Having it in the air provides a sense of relief. It ensures less work and more security if things go sideways outdoors.

He straightens up and casts a critical look at his surroundings. There is no one else around that he can see. The other spinner is unoccupied, but something catches his attention. There is something written in the growing flakes on top of the other officer’s vehicle. Closer examination reveals that it’s a crudely done map, clearly traced out with a fingertip. It depicts two rectangles and a triangle. There are dashed lined leading from the triangle to the closer of the two rectangles. At the end of the line is an X. Presumably, the map is saying that the other replicant left the spinner and looped around the side of the defunct store and will be waiting at the corner of that building to have a line of sight to the warehouse they are charged with investigating. K feels thankful. This will save him hassle in locating his assigned companion.

A faint shadow passes over K and the map he’s still staring at. He looks up to see that the parrotfish from the spinner is doing lazy circles. His has joined in on the motion. The effect is of two vultures circling a carcass. It would be a bad omen for someone superstitious. Good thing he wasn't made to be.

K follows the barely visible trail in the slush. Deep boot tracks, likely from a male judging from the size of the footwear and the length of the stride. They match his own in a way that makes his stomach roll. Before long, he registers a figure leaning against the wall right where the map had indicated. The other replicant’s head is turned in the direction of the warehouse. Snow has settled over the shoulders of the jacket in a similar thickness to the spinner’s dusting.

There is no reaction from the replicant, even though K knows that the other officer has to be aware of his prescience. He had not been making any effort to mask the sucking sounds of his boots in the slush.

“KS6-2.8.” K’s tone is neutral. It’s not a polite greeting. There is no need for one. They’re here on business and neither is superior to the other. Both came from an artificially constructed womb.

The other replicant turns.

Unpleasantly, K feels the return of the drowning sensation he had felt earlier. It is almost as though someone had placed a mirror in front of him in a dream. The reflection is him, but distinctly not. His mirror image has neatly trimmed facial hair where K has nothing but thick stubble. There are faint crow’s feet by his eyes that K hasn’t aged into yet. If he even gets the opportunity. More startling is a glaring similarity, one that he never would’ve expected. They have the same misalignment of their eyes, the same sagging eyelid. Their genetic source must have had the same flaw.

“KD6-3.7. You’ve been briefed?” The other '9 asks. Nothing is given away on his face. If he’s surprised to see himself looking back into his eyes, he doesn’t show it.

“Yes.” K feels his lips twist up in a smile that seems friendly enough if you don’t look too close. The other officer raises an eyebrow. He’s not fooled. K drops the smile, his eyes harden. His companion’s jaw is working, he’s chewing on something. Tobacco? Gum? Seems like he’s not without his own vices. K supposes that they all must do something to feel a little more human, a little more real.

“You ready? The lead’s not going to get any fresher,” K says as a follow-up when the silence drags on longer than he would like.

KS6-2.8 only nods. The other replicant pushes off the wall and trudges through the ankle deep snow, leading the way. It’s disconcerting watching him. K gets the uneasy sensation he’s watching his own body walk away from him. The hair is longer and the muscles are bulkier, but all the same…

The only sounds to accompany them are the sloppy crunch of their footfalls and the crackling flapping of plastic sheeting somewhere in the distance. They reach the front of the warehouse only to realize that it’s completely blocked off with layers upon layers of chain link. It must have been taken from the building’s product cages. There are no windows.

A low grumble gets K’s attention drawn back to his fellow officer. The other replicant signals him to follow with a crook of his gloved fingers. He’s taking the lead and K knows he should probably find issue with that, but he doesn’t. He is willing to be obedient, for now. It must be the novelty of working alongside someone who doesn’t have the room to maintain a moral high ground.

Once around the corner and at the back of the warehouse, the replicants split up. K briskly angles himself at the loading docks while his assigned partner checks the back door to see if it can be pried open from the outside. He spots a slightly raised loading door. It’s likely wedged fast, but there should be enough clearance for at least him to slide under. With any luck, the additional bulk of his fellow Nexus 9 shouldn’t prohibit him from getting through as well.

No ladder. K quietly whistles to get KS6-2.8’s notice. The response is immediate.

“Got something?” The other replicant asks, moving to stand alongside him. There is a yawning cavern of space between them. It doesn’t feel right.

“Open door.” K responds, a jerk of his head at the sheet metal in question.

With nothing more than a quiet grunt, KS6-2.8 drops into a crouch and offers his cupped hands to him. K accepts the boost, as foreign as the assistance is. Once on the platform, he offers his hand and hauls the other replicant up. There is something comforting about their interlocked hands. K drops it as soon as the other officer is settled and scrambles under the door. The rubber seal catches on the back of his coat. His partner joins him shortly.

The loading area is unlit. Dark. Without the moon’s light bouncing off the snow, K can make out the faint, golden glow of KS6-2.8’s pupils. There are still are still traces of the older generations in them both. If K were sentimental, he would say that his predecessors were something like family. Good thing he wasn't made for that either.

K’s boot catches on something and he stumbles. The concrete floor is littered with old, torn scraps of nylon rope and shreds of plastic wrap. The wood pallets that would have filled this place are long gone. Used for firewood most likely. There’s nothing of apparent value left.

They push their way through into the main part of the warehouse. The shelving has been moved to form corridors. It’s a maze, one with a high possibility of some entity stalking them in these enclosed paths. There is a faint glow accompanied by an odor that makes the hair on the back of K’s neck stand up. Without saying anything, both replicants work their way in that direction. It's slow going. They have to inch sideways in some areas, their shoulders too broad otherwise. K irrationally imagines unraveling a ball of yarn to mark their way out.

The smell is getting worse the closer they get to the light. Bile threatens to rise in his throat alongside the bites of dinner he had swallowed down not even a handful of hours ago. No amount of jobs will ever desensitize him to this. K does not have the stomach for this career. Not that it matters. He was made not to protest.

It’s as though they hit a wall of heat and rot when they breach the center of the maze. Both officers can only stand shoulder to shoulder and take it all in. Bodies circle a gasoline heater, tucked into makeshift beds on the floor. They’ve all been dead for a while. The decomposition appears to be consistent among them all. Mass killing? Suicide? They are all naked.

There is a lit lantern sitting on top of the heater. K can’t believe that the place hasn’t blown. Realization strikes him like a bolt of lightning.

“CO2 poisoning, you think?” asks the replicant at his side, echoing his silent epiphany.

“Probably.”

As one, they spread out into the room. While K turns off the heater, cutting the supply of carbon monoxide being pumped into the warehouse, KS6-2.8 checks each decomposing face. K watches as he holds open the right eyelids of each body to make sure they all still have the eye necessary for their investigation. For each replicant he checks, the other officer reads off numbers taken from one of the files that had been provided to them. There’s no data pad in sight, he might have memorized each face’s corresponding numerical designation.

K knows that they will still have to take the eyes in order for Joshi to be satisfied. Anyone can change their face with enough money and the decomposition is too advanced for their field scanners to read the slowly deflating eyeballs here at the scene. K is mostly just thankful they have eyes left at all. It makes things easier. Replicants rarely receive dental care. The chances of identifying them by their teeth are slim to none.

While he is in the midst of pulling out a roll of evidence bags from an inside pocket, he catches a glimpse of his partner suddenly going stiff and standing up from his crouch beside one of the bodies. He doesn't have the time to question the other replicant. There is a sudden, crushing pain in his side and the edges of his vision go dark. He crumples to the grimy floor and tries to struggle to his feet as his assailant is knocked away by KS6-2.8. His head is ringing. The image of a glowing, white fountain materializes in his scrambled vision. Bile clouds his throat before he realizes that it's only the lantern.

K stands, shakier than he would like, and gets his breathing under control. The scene unfolding before him is disconcerting. KS6-2.8 is wrestling with their attacker, clearly another replicant judging by the way he’s managing to hold out even slightly against K’s fellow officer. K reckons that he must be an older generation given that he’s gradually losing ground. He’s missing the final edge to make it a truly even fight. Despite the disadvantage, the replicant manages to shove KS6-2.8 hard enough that the officer’s foot goes straight through the chest cavity of one of the rotting replicants. Their would-be killer lets out a howl that drowns out any protest from K’s partner, as violent and earsplitting as if it had been his chest that was caved in. K’s fellow ‘9 is forced to let himself fall backwards into the soupy embrace of another corpse as the assailant takes wild swings at his face with a sharp piece of metal produced from a pocket of his ragged jacket. A rudimentary knife.

Still disoriented, K doesn’t think before he pulls his gun out of his shoulder holster and shoots. A red mist signals that the bullet found its mark. The attacking replicant is still alive, even as he falls to his knees and slumps over KS6-2.8. K didn’t shoot to kill. He has questions.

A few strides has him standing over the two replicants. He fists his hand in the back of the assailant's jacket and pulls him off of his companion. His gun is re-holstered and he’s not gentle when he hauls the replicant to his feet. Blood pulses hotly from the wound that K inflicted, soaking through a scarf that is tightly wrapped around his neck. He’s bleeding out. Rapidly. The bullet had nicked a carotid.

KS6-2.8 gets to his own feet with a groan, the back of his jacket soaked through with whatever liquids the dead replicant still had pooling in their body. He hooks his hand under the older gen.’s arm and together he and K shove him up against one of the shelving units forming the room. K holds their attacker steady as his partner slams the hand holding the scrap metal over and over into a shelf post until the replicant is forced to let it fall from his grasp with a clatter onto the concrete.

As soon as the makeshift weapon is out of the equation, K starts his questioning. “What are you doing here?”

Nothing, just a rasping breath. The replicant is wild eyed and frothing at the mouth like a rabid animal K had heard described in a decades old report. It had been from a time when there were still enough real, organic animals around to carry and spread the disease.

“What happened to the others?” He tries again.

That gets a response. “I saved them.”

“Saved them how?” K questions.

“I could have saved you too. But you wouldn’t let me. Sweet dreams. Sweet dreams. Sweet dreams. Sweet… dreams…” The pinned replicant laughs and laughs and laughs, eyes wide and gleaming with a feverish shine.

Suddenly, he lunges at K, tearing out of his and KS6-2.8’s shared grip. The open maw reaches to snap closed on his nose, strings of saliva shining obscenely in the lantern light. His contact is stopped short by a bullet blazing through his left eye, blowing the back of his head open in a nightmarish spread. It’s over. Done. KS6-2.8 saw to that. K can taste the blood in his mouth. His hair is plastered flat with another one of his kind’s brain matter. They had encountered the beast in the maze, their very own Minotaur, and they had slaughtered it.

KS6-2.8 holsters his gun, trading it for a small knife taken from his pocket. He pries the eye out with steady fingers, severs the optic nerve. They let the dead replicant slump down against the shelf. He’s a warden over the eternally slumbering bodies. K retrieves the roll of bags he had dropped in the scuffle. He opens one and lets KS6-2.8 drop the severed eye inside before sealing it. He fills out information panel printed on the thin plastic with a pen that had been stashed inside his pants pocket.

Together, silently, they approach the nearest body in the circle. It is the one with the caved in chest cavity. They both crouch. K steadies the head while the other officer removes the leathery eye. He offers another bag. His partner drops it in. They repeat this same procedure three times before the silence is broken.

“Six.”

K looks up from the face he’s holding. The other replicant is looking at him, blue eyes unflinching. Blood is pooling in the hollow of the collarbone K can just barely see. A question is forming on his lips, but before K can bring it to life, the officer speaks again.

“KS6-2.8. Six.”

Oh. Warmth floods him. They are the same. Interlinked.

“K,” he responds. Something forbidden is clawing at him.

The other replicant, no, Six smiles. His teeth are a dazzling white in the gloom. Predatory. His canines are noticeably sharp compared to the rest of his teeth. They are like his. Would they feel the same as K’s own underneath his tongue? He shakes the thought off, buries it with hundreds of others, and they finish collecting the eyes.

While Six is occupied with a final survey of the rotting scene, K approaches the recently retired replicant. He kneels beside him for a moment, as though he’s paying graveside respects, before he reaches out and unwinds the blood soaked scarf from around his neck. If he still had his eyes instead of one taken and one shot out… well, K isn’t sure how he’d be looking at him. The fabric of the scarf is wet and gritty underneath his fingers, packed with old, infertile soil. He rolls it up and slips it into an inside pocket of his coat. It won’t be missed. He legitimizes his presence at the replicant’s side by picking up the makeshift knife off the floor and depositing it into an evidence bag.

Nothing else comes out of the darkness. There’s old trash strewn on the floors. They don’t find any more bodies, only the drag marks of old blood. It looks as though not all of them had gone peacefully in their sleep from the high concentration of carbon monoxide. Their attacker had gone mad in the dark. They find his ramblings on the walls. Some of it is carved into the material, some of it is painted on with substances they don’t want to address. It’s a manifesto of sorts. It seems like this might have been a splinter of a larger movement.

A team will have to be called in to photograph the scene. K will pour over the evidence later, put the pieces together. He’s going to be spending more time in the bullpen than anyone wants.

They leave the way they came, following an imaginary string. Their pockets are laden down with bags of stolen eyes. The weight of what they had experienced together is a heavier burden.

K slides under first the door first again. He doesn’t need to assist the other officer into standing but he does. Six’s hand is a comfort after what they had just done. The other officer holds on long enough to assist with K’s journey off the loading dock before letting go to drop down beside him.

They walk side by side, close enough that their bloody knuckles brush. K wants to take the other replicant’s hand, feel him finger to finger. He doesn’t dare, not under the open night sky.

“You okay?” Six asks.

“He cared about them.”

His partner’s stride doesn’t falter. He merely makes a noise. Agreement? Placation? K can’t tell. Neither of them can say anything more without tipping their hand and potentially revealing more than is safe.

“Are you?” K asks, biting down the rising tide of things he wants to say instead.

“It’s just another Thursday.”

K nods. He can relate to the sentiment.

They reach the spinners, K unlocks his and drops into the driver’s seat. Six leans against of the side of the vehicle while K powers it on. The LAPD logo appears on the screen. “Madam, please.” he tells the unit. It dials her. She picks up on the second ring.

“You’re a mess.” her tone is curt. Her eyes flick to where she can barely see the other replicant in the frame. Her severe expression deepens to a frown. “Report?”

“There was one survivor. He took the others to the retirement home. Weeks ago from the look of things.”

“Those his brains?” She asks.

“Yes, Madam.”

She makes a considering noise, “You or him?” she asks with a jerk of her head to the other officer.

“Both,” Six cuts in before K can answer. It gets a sigh from Lieutenant Joshi. She is going to have to make sure they both get a bonus. One that, by rights, should be solely Six’s since he was the one who put the final bullet in the old gen. K feels appreciation curl in his gut.

“We have all the eyes, Madam. Should we turn them into evidence or bring them to you directly?” K asks politely, seeking to soothe Joshi’s ire. He does not want a correctional visit from her. He vaguely wonders if the gore spattered vision of him will linger in the back of her mind and keep her at bay for a while. Will she imagine the squish of brain matter between her fingers when thinking about pushing his head down?

“Drop them off. I’ll send a team out for the rest. Come on back for your baselines.”

“Yes, Madam.”

Joshi ends the call, forehead creased with agitation. K recalls his parrotfish. A quick rap of the knuckles on the hood of the spinner and a nod is all the goodbye he gets from Six before the other replicant gets settled in his own spinner and goes through the necessary motions.

They take off, roughly in sync with one another. They are both going back to the LAPD headquarters.

His mind races with the passing city, alight with more curiosity than he should be feeling. Six is not what he expected. He knows that it nearly unheard of to come across another law enforcement owned Nexus with a shared face. The police departments don’t like their skinners to have matches. It complicates things. Their genetic code is engineered to result in different features, even from the same source DNA. They are meant to feel alone, to feel dreadfully distinct.

next chapter -»

#blade runner 2049 #br2049 #blade runner #blade runner 2049 fanfiction #officer k #kd6-3.7 #officer k fanfiction #the gray man #the gray man (2022)#sierra six #sierra six fanfiction #the gray man fanfiction #officer k x sierra six #ryan gosling #ryan gosling fanfiction #.my work #.my posts

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laninaconansiedad · 6 months ago

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Blog 3 | Baking With Anxiety | Progress

Peaches & The Anxiety of Disappointment

Have you ever wondered what peach cobbler and pound cake might taste like when combined? No. Well, either way, I have found the perfect recipe that fuses these beauties together. Imagine a soft velvety pillow of cinnamon and vanilla topped with sweet caramelized peaches. It tastes as amazing as it sounds.

I decided to kick off this series with a recipe I recently made for my brother after he kept begging me to make him a peach cobbler. Being the generous sister that I am, I ignored his request to make an authentic peach cobbler and made this recipe instead. Thankfully, he thought it great enough to eat half of it on his own.

So, sit down, relax, and read my journey to recreate this recipe again!

-Spoiler Alert: I almost burnt down my house-

I want to start this by being completely honest. Everything that usually goes smoothly during my baking process went wrong for some reason. The last time I made the cake, it was smooth sailing, and no incident occurred. This time it was as if I had made the baking gods angry that I didn't sacrifice a cupcake in their honor beforehand.

Look at me. I was so excited that I even took the time to set up my baking ingredients for a picture. Not knowing the chaos that was going to ensue once I started.

The first step the recipe requires you to do is to peel and slice the peaches. Simple, but once I began to peel them, I faced my first dilemma: the peaches weren't ripe. A disaster! I started to freak out because I only had two peaches and that's the exact number you need for the recipe. Amid panic, I resolved that once it was baked the peaches would cook down and absorb the flavor. Fortunately, my hypothesis was correct. And like the soldier I am, I continued and placed the sliced peaches covered with golden brown sugar and melted butter in the bottom of the pan.

I set the peaches aside and started on the pound cake. I placed two sticks of room-temperature butter into my mixer and beat it until it was soft and airy. Then, I added the eggs one at a time, ensuring that each was incorporated before adding the next. Now, at this point, your batter should look fluffy and light because of the air that is incorporated when the whipped butter combines with the eggs. Unfortunately for me, this was not my case. The eggs were stubborn and decided to not mingle with the butter. Instead, they wanted to be different and be too cool, literally. The eggs were not at room temperature, which caused the issue to arise. (Tip #1: make sure that both the butter and eggs are at room temperature when the recipe requires it. Usually, cupcakes, cookies, muffins, or cakes require this. Pastries such as croissants or pie crusts require cold ingredients.) Realizing my issue was temperature, I took the bowl off my stand mixer, did what any normal person would do, and hugged the bowl. I promise I'm not an insane person who finds love in inanimate objects. Although it does look a little weird if you were to walk into the kitchen and see me basically slow dancing with a bowl. My body temperature just allows the mixture to come back to room temperature, therefore allowing the eggs to whip into the eggs.

After this small setback, I added the rest of the ingredients (greek yogurt, vanilla extract, sugar, baking powder, and flour). When the batter was complete, I added half the batter to the baking pan, adding a layer of cinnamon and sugar before adding the rest on top. Then I placed the cake in the oven, which had been preheated to 350 degrees Fahrenheit, for around 55 minutes to an hour.

Now comes the fun part! The anxiety-inducing act of waiting. Once your baked good enters the oven, you enter a limbo of either complete happiness or utter disappointment. Usually, I don't become too nervous during this time, but after the series of incidents that occurred during the baking process, I was filled with fear. Fear that my first baked good that I presented to you guys was going to be a horrible failure. I noticed that all this fear and anxiety that was building up in me was due to being afraid of being a disappointment. I slightly touched on this topic in my last post, but I forgot how prevalent this fear was in my daily life. I tend to overdo or go above and beyond in certain aspects, not because it's beneficial to me, but because it can possibly cancel out someone, even if I don't know them, being disappointed in me. This anxiety seemed to call the shots when it came to my decision-making. When faced with a decision, I tend to think about how it will affect every single person rather than how it affects me. It's a constant fear that I tend to make worse by adding arduous tasks to my busy schedule and hoping that I won't fail at any single one of them.

As I was having this little existential crisis, I noticed a light coming from my oven. I ran over in a panic and noticed that some of the syrup created by the brown sugar and peach had seeped out of my pan and created a fire at the bottom of my oven (Tip #2: Always wrap the bottom of your springform pan with tin foil, even if you think it is not necessary. It is.). I put out the fire and cleaned as much syrup from the bottom as I could. Sweating from the heat radiating off the oven, I closed it back up and let the cake finish baking.

When the timer went off to remind me to check on the cake, I went over and stuck a knife straight through the center of it to see whether it was baked through. After an hour of baking, the knife came out clean, a sign that indicated it was ready to come out.

Here we are, the results that you all have been anxiously waiting for.

It actually turned out great! I cut the cake into four sections and gave it away to some friends and my mom's coworkers. I'm not sure if they were just being nice, but they loved it! The peaches caramelized perfectly and infused the cake with it's syrup, which made the cake soft and moist. The vanilla, cinnamon, and peaches all balanced out to create a delectable cake that also smelled incredible.

I bake to calm my stress. I say it so much that someone asked me "What stressed you out this week," when I brought them brownies recently. It probably sounded like this cake made me burn out, but it actually taught me how to handle disappointment. Specifically, how to handle the anxiety of disappointing someone when I fail. I came to a simple conclusion: I am going to fail someday. I'm not being pessimistic, just realistic. I need to be ok with the fact that failure is going to hit me one day. Will it drag me by the hair through the gutter until I don't recognize myself, yes. But it will teach me a great deal that I will never learn without it. Disappointment sucks, but it's how I pick myself up after that matters. Like, those annoying unripe peaches did at the beginning. Utter disappointments, but they worked with what they had to turn into a delicious treat.

Thank you for reading! Stayed tuned to watch me tackle my next stress bake; the amazingly tedious croissant that my professor Dr. Daniels promised would not be that difficult.

A picture of my mother trying the cake.

If you want to try this recipe, which you totally should, I placed the link below!

#baking #anxitey

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creamycorner · 28 days ago

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Famous Ice Cream Shops in Bangalore with Unique Taste

Bangalore’s Thriving Ice Cream Culture

Bangalore, known for its vibrant food scene, is also a paradise for ice cream lovers. From classic flavors to gourmet delights, the city offers something for everyone. The trend of artisanal and experimental ice creams has taken over, making it a must-visit destination for those who love to indulge in frozen treats. Whether you’re looking for the best ice cream shop in Bangalore or unique flavors that tantalize your taste buds, this guide will help you explore the most exciting spots in town.

Different Types of Ice Creams and Where to Find Them

Classic Ice Creams

Traditional dairy-based ice creams remain a favorite for many. Creamy and rich, these flavors bring nostalgia and comfort.

Popular flavors: Vanilla, Chocolate, Strawberry, Butterscotch.

Best place to try: Lakeview Milk Bar – One of the most iconic taste ice cream shops in Bangalore, offering an old-school charm and classic flavors..

Gelato

Gelato, the Italian-style ice cream, is known for its denser and silkier texture, providing an intense burst of flavors.

Popular flavors: Pistachio, Tiramisu, Hazelnut, Dark Chocolate.

Best place to try: Milano Ice Cream – One of the best ice cream parlours in Bangalore, serving authentic gelato with imported ingredients.

Soft Serve Ice Cream

Soft serve is light, airy, and served straight from a machine, making it a quick and delightful treat.

Popular flavors: Vanilla Swirl, Chocolate, Mango, Blueberry.

Best place to try: McDonald’s Soft Serve or local dessert parlors offering affordable price ice cream shops in Bangalore.

Frozen Yogurt (Froyo)

For those looking for a healthier alternative, frozen yogurt provides a tangy yet creamy experience.

Popular flavors: Greek Yogurt, Mixed Berries, Mango, Green Tea.

Best place to try: Pinkberry – A top-rated choice for probiotic-rich frozen yogurt.

Rolled Ice Cream

Rolled ice cream is a unique style where ice cream is spread thinly on a frozen surface and then scraped into rolls.

Popular flavors: Thai Mango Sticky Rice, Brownie Fudge, Oreo Delight.

Best place to try: Cold Stone Creamery & Ice Cream Works – A must-visit for those looking for unique ice cream places in Bangalore.

Vegan & Dairy-Free Ice Cream

For lactose-intolerant and vegan ice cream lovers, these plant-based options offer a guilt-free indulgence.

Popular flavors: Coconut Bliss, Matcha, Avocado, Peanut Butter.

Best place to try: Artisanal Ice Cream Co. – A go-to for best quality ice cream shops in Bangalore focusing on dairy-free delights.

Exotic & Experimental Ice Creams

For those who love adventure, Bangalore’s ice cream scene offers some truly experimental flavors.

Must-try flavors:

Charcoal Ice Cream – Infused with activated charcoal for a unique twist.

Filter Coffee Ice Cream – A tribute to Bangalore’s rich coffee culture.

Paan Ice Cream – Inspired by the classic Indian mouth freshener.

Tender Coconut Ice Cream – A refreshing tropical delight.

Best place to try: Smoor, Natural’s & Pabrai’s Fresh & Naturelle Ice Cream – Perfect for discovering top-rated ice cream shops in Bangalore.

Tips for Finding the Best Ice Cream Parlour in Bangalore

Bangalore has an abundance of ice cream shops, but finding the perfect one can be a challenge. Here are some tips to help you choose the best:

Check Customer Reviews: Look for online ratings and reviews to find top-rated ice cream shops in Bangalore.

Try Seasonal Flavors: Many parlors offer limited-edition and seasonal flavors that provide a unique experience.

Explore Hidden Gems: Instead of mainstream brands, try locally owned and artisanal ice cream parlors.

Go for Homemade Options: Artisanal ice cream brands often use fresh, natural ingredients for a richer taste.

Find 24-Hour Ice Cream Parlors: If you crave ice cream at odd hours, look for 24 hours ice cream parlours in Bangalore

Conclusion

Bangalore is a paradise for ice cream lovers, offering everything from classic flavors to bold and experimental creations. Whether you’re craving gelato, frozen yogurt, or plant-based alternatives, the city has something for every taste preference. So, the next time you’re looking for the best ice cream parlour in Bangalore, be sure to explore these exciting spots.

Do you have a favorite ice cream place in Bangalore? Share your must-try flavors and recommendations in the comments!

#best ice cream shop in banglore #top rated ice cream shops in banglore #famous ice cream shops in banglore #iconic taste ice cream shops in banglore

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xartus · 2 months ago

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Some lovely things I've heard lately regarding paganism:

A young woman who practices Norse paganism and literally believes in the 9 realms and thinks the Greek gods are all sociopaths because of the myths but is correct b/c she's Swedish [informed friend this is the equivalent of believing the world was made in 7 days]

Same young woman uses Llewellyn Norse flavored divination decks for....whatever, which are authentic, b/c they're Norse flavored and she's Swedish

Different young woman who stopped trying to approach the Hellenic patheon because she was told by multiple online and IRL [see young woman A above] that they're insane and will hurt you

"Well which is the scripture?" [regarding myths]

"So X isn't Ys son?" [regarding the gods]

"Won't X god get mad if I don't offer them Y?"

*screaming* *screaming*

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candles-by-mokosh · 2 years ago

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🍷🌿✨ Embracing Dionysus: Revelry, Ecstasy, and Liberation ✨🌿🍷

✨✨ Calling all seekers of wild abandon, ecstasy, and the freedom of the soul! Today, let us embark on an intoxicating journey to connect with Dionysus, the god of wine, revelry, and transformation. Known for his ecstatic celebrations and boundless energy, Dionysus beckons us to embrace our primal nature, unleash our inhibitions, and find liberation in the depths of our being. 🍷🌿🔥

💫✨ Who is Dionysus? ✨💫

In Greek mythology, Dionysus, also known as Bacchus in Roman mythology, is the embodiment of revelry, pleasure, and the transformative power of wine. He represents the wild and untamed aspects of life, inviting us to embrace our passions, indulge in sensory experiences, and surrender to the blissful ecstasy that lies within us all.

🍷🌿 Invoking Dionysus: A Ritual of Unleashing ✨🍷🌿

1️⃣ Sacred Space: Find a space where you can fully express yourself without limitations. Decorate your altar with vine leaves, ivy, colorful fabrics, and symbols of celebration. Create an atmosphere that reflects Dionysus' vibrant energy and sets the stage for ecstatic revelry. 🌱

2️⃣ Libation: Pour a generous offering of wine or grape juice into a chalice. Lift the chalice high and offer a heartfelt toast to Dionysus, honoring his presence and inviting his energy to infuse the libation with divine essence. 🍷

3️⃣ Dance of Liberation: Begin moving your body freely, allowing the music to guide your movements. Release any inhibitions and surrender to the rhythm, letting the music carry you to new heights of liberation. Let the wildness of Dionysus awaken within you as you dance with unabashed joy and passion. 🍇

4️⃣ Ecstatic Chanting: Chant or sing invocations to Dionysus, allowing the vibrations of your voice to resonate throughout your being. Let the words flow spontaneously from your heart, expressing your deepest desires for freedom, transformation, and revelry. 🪘

5️⃣ Sensory Indulgence: Engage your senses in a feast of pleasure. Savor the flavors of decadent foods, embrace the touch of luxurious fabrics against your skin, and inhale the intoxicating aroma of fragrant flowers or burning incense. Allow yourself to fully immerse in sensory experiences, celebrating the richness of life. 🍲

6️⃣ Communion with Nature: Connect with Dionysus' affinity for the natural world. Venture into the wilderness, dance among the trees, or immerse yourself in the cleansing waters of a river or the ocean. Feel the pulse of life and the untamed energy of nature, recognizing your own place within the intricate tapestry of existence. 🌹

🍷🌿 Embracing Dionysian Energy: Integrating Freedom and Transformation 🌿🍷

1️⃣ Embracing Authenticity: Allow Dionysus' energy to inspire you to embrace your authentic self. Release societal expectations and embrace your unique desires, passions, and creative expression. Embrace the freedom to be unapologetically you. ✨

2️⃣ Celebrating Life's Pleasures: Revel in the joys of life and indulge in sensory experiences. Explore new flavors, engage in sensual encounters, and seek moments of pure bliss. Find balance in seeking pleasure while honoring your well-being and the well-being of others. 🍷

3️⃣ Embracing Change: Embrace the transformative power of Dionysus. Recognize that change is an inherent part of life's cycle and surrender to the process of growth and transformation. Embrace the unknown and trust in the wisdom of your instincts. 🍾

4️⃣ Cultivating Community: Foster connections and create spaces for communal celebration and shared experiences. Gather with like-minded individuals to celebrate life, engage in deep conversations, and foster a sense of belonging. Allow Dionysus' energy to nurture unity and connection among kindred souls. 🧠

🍷🌿✨ May Dionysus' Spirit Guide You: A Liberated Soul's Blessing ✨🌿🍷

As you dance in the embrace of Dionysus, may you experience the liberation of your spirit and the transformative power of surrender. May you find joy in celebrating life's pleasures, embracing your authenticity, and weaving your unique tapestry within the vibrant fabric of existence.

🌿💫 May you revel in the ecstasy of life, guided by Dionysus' intoxicating energy! 💫🌿

Mokosh

#Dionysus #dionysus worship #magic #spirit witch #witchy #dark witch #ghost witch #hecate #hekate #witch community #love witch #woman owned business #grimoire #book of shadows #bos

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cupids-chronicles · 1 year ago

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Hades X Persephone Saga: A Touch of Darkness #1

Author: Scarlett St. Clair

Genre: Romance, Fantasy, Mythology

My Rating: ⭐⭐⭐/5.

Spice: 🌶🌶🌶

Goodreads rating: 3.8/5

Pages: ‎‎400

Published: 23 May 2019

A Touch of Darkness Review

Note: This book is intended for mature audiences over the age of 18 due to explicit content (steamy chapters).

Ah, Greek gods! The OG drama queens (and kings) of ancient lore. You think your life is dramatic? Wait till you read the modern-day saga of Persephone and Hades in "A Touch of Darkness." One moment you're at a nightclub trying to fit into your mortal shoes, and the next you've unwittingly signed up for a timeshare in the Underworld. Classic Tuesday night, am I right?

Set in the hip metropolis of New Athens, a city where one might bump into a deity sipping on a latte, this retelling has all the modern twists you'd expect. Our protagonist, Persephone (or Perri to her mates), is your quintessential student of journalism who enjoys the simple pleasure of baking. Probably whipping up ambrosia cupcakes on the weekends, I'd imagine.

Let's talk about the "Touch of Darkness" himself, Hades. The broody and magnetic owner of Nevernight is the very embodiment of "it's complicated" on Facebook. He's your typical misunderstood bad boy. Dark, tall, mysterious, and probably the type to leave you on read for a couple of hours just because he's ruling the Underworld or something. However, the depth he carries is akin to the layers of the Underworld he governs – intricate, complex, and occasionally a tad hot.

Now, for all you spicy lovers out there, prepare to fan yourself at Chapters VI, VII, XVIII, and XXIII. Let's just say if this book was food on a menu, it'd come with a little chili pepper next to it.

My favorite quote from the book has to be: “I have waited lifetimes for you, I know it." Now, if that doesn't make you swoon, you might just be a stone statue in Medusa's gallery.

While the book has a playful and electric energy, it's essential to note that it touches on some sensitive themes. Please be aware of trigger warnings, including alcohol, bullying, child abuse, drugging, sexual assault, toxic relationships, and sexual content. The narrative's duality showcases the dappled light and shadows of romance, making it a poignant and authentic reflection of love in the modern age.

The story unfolds like a decadent dish, seasoned with the spicy, enemies-to-lovers trope with a side serving of fated mates, making it a treat for romance nerds. And remember, "A Touch of Darkness" is the entree in this scrumptious series banquet. Be sure to dine in order, or you'll miss out on all of the flavors.

So, dear reader, if you're itching for a romance that combines the allure of age-old myths and the vibrancy of today's world, this is your must-read.

Pulitzer Prize? Maybe not. But will it win over your heart and make you daydream about underworld deities during your daily commute? Absolutely!

Happy reading, and may your love life always be less convoluted than a Greek myth. But if it isn't, at least you've got some entertaining company.

Please note that this book is part of a series and can not be read as a stand alone. Lucky for you this can be your little weekend binge as almost all the books in the series has already been released !

Wait a minute boys and girls, check out these trigger warnings first:

Alcohol

Bullying

Child abuse (emotional)

Drugging

Sexual assault

Toxic relationships

Romance Tropes, you ask ?

Enemies to lovers

Fated Mates

Who do we meet in this book ?

Hades

Persephone (Perri)

What to read next:

Neon Gods (Dark Olympus) by Katee Robert

The Cruel Prince by Holly Black

Drag Me Up (Gods of Hunger) by R.M. Virtues

Or just like read the next few books in this series.

#bookworm #book review #books #romance books #books and literature #a touch of darkness #hades #persephone #hades and persephone #review #bookstagram #book recommendations #fantasy #greek mythology #mythical creatures #mythology #gods #ancient greece #modern

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sailforvalinor · 1 year ago

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Okay but wait, you went to Athens?! I’m going there for a couple days this June! Do you have any recommendations for what to see/eat while I’m there? (I’ll for sure see the Acropolis but other than that the itinerary is pretty open)

OOOOH that’s so exciting!!! I’m gonna try not to go overboard but here are a few of my favorite things:

• Monastiraki Square—depending on how you come at it, of course, it’s on the way to the Acropolis, and there’s a VERY cool open air market there. (There’s a giant sign, you can’t miss it.) Just make sure you keep a hand on your purse, it’s quite well-known for pickpocketing. Also, if you head up to the Acropolis from there, you’ll pass Hadrian’s Library, which is a really cool set of ruins where you can clearly see the different layers of where it was built over over time. But you won’t really be hard-pressed to find ruins in Athens, and the entry fees are usually pretty cheap—just make sure you always have some form of ID on you, sometimes they’ll ask for that.

• Also, if you take that way up to the Acropolis, you’ll pass Mars Hill (also called the Areopagus), which is where Paul preached to the Athenians in Acts! It’s a bit graffitied over (but that’s just kind of how Athens is), but it’s still REALLY cool, and you get a gorgeous view of the city from up there. Just be careful up there, it’s pretty much just a big rock and I almost fell many times 😂

• Bus tours are also fun if you want to see a broader swath of the city—there are a bunch that leave from Syntagma Square (and they’re double-decker!).

• Speaking of Syntagma, you could see the changing of the guards—they do it every hour, but the only time they do it in full-costume is at 11 am on Sundays. It was interesting, but honestly I think you could skip it, it’s not much to write home about.

• However, what you should NOT skip is the National Gardens—it’s fairly close to Syntagma, entry is free if I’m remembering correctly, and it’s absolutely gorgeous. They have turtles!!!!

• You could go to the Panathenaic Stadium, although they do charge entry. I would say just to go look at it if you really want to see it, but I don’t know that’s it’s worth paying to go inside—I did go inside once, but that was during the Marathon in November when everyone got in free, lol.

• In terms of food, in a strange twist, the Americanized version of Greek food is actually a lot lighter than the authentic kind—true Greek food (or at least in this area of Greece) is a lot heavier. It’s a lot of pasta and meat. I wasn’t actually the biggest fan of it, but if you want to try the staples, go for moussaka or souvlaki, which will be at almost any restaurant. What you definitely need to get though is tzatziki—oh my GOSH that stuff is wonderful.

• Also, you have to try lemon Coke and oregano Lay’s—I’m convinced that when the Ancient Greeks were imagining what ambrosia and nectar tasted like, they were dreaming of the flavors of lemon Coke and oregano Lay’s. I’ve found that no American variation (even with Freestyle machines) even compares to Greek lemon Coke.

• I found that gyros actually aren’t all that popular (or at least in this part of Greece)—I only ever had two in my four months of living there. They were really good, though.

• The coffee is great everywhere, honestly. One of the most popular drinks there is freddo, which is definitely worth trying if you’re big on espresso drinks. It is very intense, though.

• Dinner was honestly one of my biggest culture shocks while I was there. They don’t really start eating dinner until 7 at the earliest (and even that’s a little early)—so be prepared to get odd looks if you go get dinner at 5:30 (not that you can’t, of course). Also, it’s general practice to sit around and talk after your meal for hours—I saw families out with their little kids at 11 pm. Again, you don’t have to do this, but don’t be surprised when you see it, lol. Also, because of this, they consider it rude to interrupt you by bringing you your bill, so you have to ask for it by flagging down a waiter—I once got stuck for nearly an hour because I was waiting for a bill 😂.

• If you’re there on a Sunday, be warned that most stores and restaurants will be closed—there are exceptions, but it’s easy to get stuck somewhere without anything to eat.

I’m so excited for you, I hope you have fun!!

#PLEASE message me if you have any more questions I’m happy to oblige 😁

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thecandywrites · 2 years ago

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Monster March 2023 Day 14- Harpy

My Harpy, My Moura

When I saw this prompt and when I looked it up. I went 'well damn, I'm gonna totally write more moura stuff because, I mean, a harpy is a maiden with the wings and talons of a bird of prey who flew as fast as the wind. And to the Greeks and Romans who would have been transported at the time of the Black Plague, they totally would have seen a moura and immediately gone 'Ah! You're a harpy! You're a freind!' and this would have totally happened. And humans, unfortunately, being humans, we can be as dangerous as we are friendly sometimes. So we see that here too.

Thanks to @borealwrites for their Monster March 2023 prompts. I'm still having a lot of fun. I know I'm a whole five days behind. But I'm still gonna try to catch up.

Monster March 2023 Day 14- Harpy

My Harpy, My Moura.

Thalis felt like this was the first festival since the convergence, that he actually felt he wasn’t an alien on an alien world.

The land that they settled was close enough to the land he knew of as the Mediterranean. The climate was close enough. The food they brought from home was changing in flavors because of the similar but still different soil they were grown in. But they had the basics. Grapes to make wine, olives to make olive oil, wheat to grow bread and make pasta and of course barely and other grains for porridge. Pomegranates, figs, onions, garlic, chickpeas and cabbage as well as the traditional herbs and many new ones that were native here and added to the flavors of the traditional foods and flavors they used to have and now had. It had good pasturage for their many kinds of livestock. And a sea that of course had all the fish and seafood they had already known and now new kinds that were just as if not more delicious.

He was little when it happened. He remembered the old sea. He remembered the old world as it had been and he remembered the old night sky and and the old constellations. Before everything changed. The world as he knew it was no more. There was so much more to it. And more kinds of people than he knew there ever could be. And the most surprising was that all tales of mermaids, minotaurs, harpies, giants, and even unicorns. It was all real here and no longer myths and legends or the pantheon of gods on Mount Olympius.

But so far, it was the harpies that were the biggest and most special and spectacular surprise here.

Back on Earth, they had been known as beings with the faces of women, but wings and talons of eagles. Who flew as fast as the fastest winds in a squalling storm.

But here? No, they were both the fairest of maidens or the most handsome of young men. They could have wings of angels or transform into any bird they wanted.

And what they loved most, were parties, and feasts and to dance. And they always wore clothes that while they looked, at first glance like whatever everyone else always wore, upon closer look, and especially touch, the fabric, was always softer. The details on the clothes and shoes, close but not quite perfectly authentic and original, but if anything, much better and much more discrete but lavish. When they took a human looking form, you could always tell. They looked almost too perfect. But not in any uncanny or even off putting way. But if anything, they were the kind of people that drew others to them. Even when they always seemed to come in groups but usually the more they ate, and drank the looser the groups would get and while they were weary of every being alone or outnumbered, one in particular, Thalis found that once they locked their gazes, it was as if no one else was there or mattered. It was as if when he looked at her, he saw her and her beautiful bright heart and soul. Her name was Athanasia.

She was just…she looked like the daughter of a goddess. She had the perfect eyes, they were both green yet blue. Like the sea on a bright sunny day. The kind of eyes he felt like he wanted to sail into for eternity. She wore her toga in a way that was both modest, but it had this beautiful embroidery on the edges and when he had been brave enough to simply brush up against her clothes while they went down the line of feasting foods, it was the softest material he had ever touched. When she danced, her smile was a white as the clouds and whiter than the white of her pearls she wore on her gold necklace. Her hair hung in ringlets, that he felt he could spend hours wrapping around his fingers when he wasn’t licking the grease from her own or even the sweet wine from her lips.

When the dancing came, he was the first to grab her hand and join her in the circle of dancers. And the moment he got to touch her hand, it was like he couldn’t let go. Her hands were so soft, like she had never toiled in hard labor but the strength in arms, and the rest of her, was as if she was strong, and worked hard, all the time. Her stamina, was as if she was in a limitless supply of it. Her accent wasn’t perfect but she spoke enough of his language that it seemed she was learning more and more of every time he saw her. But her accent only made her that much more enchanting and more alluring. And he found he didn’t want to leave her side once he found a chance to sit next to her and talk with her during the feast. Helping her learn the names of the dishes he and his mother, and sisters and grandmothers had made. And the goats and sheep they had butchered, slathered with spices and roasted over flames.

But to him and to his community, she was one of the ‘harpy people’. They would come and go with the breezes, would come for the feasts and parties, and always gracious gifts of golden figurines at weddings. But as much as their physical gifts were prized, it was her physical presence he appreciated the most because every moment he was with her, he felt like he was in the presence of a goddess from Mount Olympus itself. He might as well have been in Aphroditie’s presence herself. He didn’t need to drink more wine, he was already drunk off of her. And as the sun set and the fires started and the wine was flowing but she never seemed to drink much more either. She just still kept a grip on his hand and he was liable to follow wherever she would take him.

But when those who called to her in their native language, that they should go home. He felt her hand start to let go of his own.

"Please, tell me what it will take for you to stay." He pleaded.

"I cannot stay, I must go home." She offered apologetically.

"There must be something. Please, tell me what I can do to prove that you are safe to stay with me." He pleaded.

"Thalis, you have only been with me for a day. It was a good day. But now it is night. I must go home. Please do not spoil the good by trying to keep me here when I need to go." She pleaded back.

"Do you really want to leave me and go?" He asked.

"It is not that I fear you alone. But I fear your family and your village and community. I have seen their lust for my gold and pearls and beauty. And I fear you only want me for my beauty too." She admitted as her looks began to scrunch in weariness and distrust.

“You are beautiful. But your heart and soul are more beautiful than any other.” He professed which caused hope to return to her eyes.

“Then prove it by letting me go tonight. You will see me again. Let this be the beginning of something much longer than what today was and how long tonight would have been if I stay tonight. Because if I stay with you tonight, I can’t come back.” She pleaded with him.

“Why?” He asked.

“Because you know me as a harpy. And if I stay with you tonight, I will not be able to hide who and what I really am. If I reveal that I am more than a harpy than that opens me and my family and my friends up to great danger. And so far, those that have revealed what we really are, after we do, we are never safe in that place with those people ever again. Because when they really see what we really are, they wish to lock us into cages, and chain us as slaves. And I do not want you and your people to do the same. I do not want to prove that you and your family and your wonderful town and community will be like all the rest. Not unless I can have a chance to really know them and know them well enough I can learn to trust that maybe you and your family, and your town and your community. But that takes time. Give me time. But in order to do that, you have to let me go right now.” She explained before he finally let her go and took a step back.

“You are worth waiting for. For however long it takes. I can not offer much. I am only a shepherd boy. Who can only build a cottage of stones. I do not care about the gold or the pearls or the beauty on your face and in your body. But about the heart and soul I see beyond them.” He insisted.

“Then that is why I will see in the morning. Go home. Get sleep. And know that I hope one day, I will be able to see the same thing and say the same words back to you and really mean them.” She offered before she leaned forward to simply put her hand to his face before she pressed a soft sweet kiss to his lips but transformed into a bird and slipped through his fingers when he reached for her more.

He watched as a beautiful bird soon rejoined the group of others that were circling close and practically vanished into the night.

But true to her word, she was back the next day, learning the names of all the foods they used and how they used them. She was learning his language better and her clothes were much more humble at first glance but she wore two layers to them. The first was the average color and texture he was used to.

But the smile she gave him when she saw him, lit him up from the inside out. He was so happy that she came back, granted she was not alone. She had a brother with her who seemed weary of him and the others. But who seemed to understand, if not tolerate him approaching and talking to her.

“So, shepherd boy. Show me your flock.” She invited before he did. He brought her to his sheep and introduced them all by name and their new lambs that had just been born the month before.

From then on. She seemed to come and find him, wherever he was, the only warning she was coming was a fluttering of wings and feathers and then, poof she was there.

And slowly but surely, his family was happy to adopt her as one of their own. And the trust she had talked about at first, was starting to become reality. And while they were lucky to have a table full of food, she could sense the sadness they still felt about their homeworld and how much they wanted to go home and had hope that they could some day.

“I must go and I will be gone for a while.” She said one day as she helped him collect stones in the pasture so they could build that stone cottage he was always hoping to build for them.

“Why?” He asked.

“I know why you and your other humans were taken from your world called “Earth”. It was to save it from the Black Plague. But the plague is not cured yet. You and the other humans are here until it is. But…back on my homeworld, it was not like Earth. There was no dry land. Only ever a sky and the sea. No land. And here, now we have dry land. But this world…this world is so much better to us than our home world. We do not miss it. This is…this is so much bigger, the skies are bigger, the sun that feeds me and feeds my family and my other people. It’s so much better than our old one. And while there is a cure to the Red Plague. We do not wish to go back. And we have decided to stay here should the time come for the other four worlds to go back. But so far, the people who have hunted me and my kind the most so far, have been the humans of Earth. The fact that I’m here, my family is not happy and neither are my friends or anyone else in my community. And while the last few months have proven to me that I am safe with you and your family. I do not wish to tempt greed. Greed for wealth or power that others who have hunted us, hunt us for. You are not a hunter, you are a nurturer. And I trust you not to ever use me or keep me in a cage. And if anything, gathering stones with you so that we can build a house together, that will not be a cage of stone, but a home of love. Means I have made my choice. But in order to do that, I must make my choice known to the others. They will have to decide if I can ever rejoin them, or if I leave them to be with you, I will need to choose you and your family over mine. And I will only ever be known as a harpy. And I will have to continue to live a lie to your family. But only because the truth of what I really am has proved that the real monsters brought here, really start to show themselves, no matter how handsome or ugly their outer form is.” She explained.

“I know you as a Harpy. So does my family. And if that’s all they need or want to know about you, then so be it. But, if you are…giving up everything else for me. Please, tell me, so that I will make sure that every moment I spend with you, I make sure that you know and are treated as the piece of treasure without measure that I know you are, no matter if you are human, harpy, siren, whatever.” He said.

“I’m not a harpy. I am what’s called a moura. We came from the waterworld with the merfolk. We were in the heavens, they were in the waters. The waters were turning poisonous for them. We got moved here with them. The waters have since been cured. But since then, we have all asked the people who brought us here, if we can stay here because here is better than our home, and we have all been eager and ready to forget the past and embrace the present and try to build a future here and accept this as it is. But I need to also learn when the next attempt to converge the remaining worlds will happen. And I can only find that information out, if I fly to them and ask and it’s many days journey from here. I need to know this, because if it’s many years away, I can spend a lifetime with you. But if it’s close, it would be best to wait and see if it’s successful and if you will choose to go home with everyone else who is eager to go back too. But the people who made the convergence possible, have told us that we should not go back to Earth with you and so far, we have agreed with that, across our entire species.” She explained as she sat on the boulder with the rock in her hand as she turned it over in her hands, appreciating the color and texture of it.

“So you too must make a choice. Either me and any home and family we may have in the future right here, or your old home on Earth. Because neither I, nor our children can go back with you when and if there is a chance for the Black Plague to be cured and for the humans to go back to Earth. I know you would keep me safe and keep our children safe as long as you would live, but once you die, others will not love us enough to keep us safe and we would be in danger all over again and all alone with no one else with us. Because so far, everyone who is moura has already decided that because humans from Earth have been our greatest hunters so far, that if and when Earth and the humans that came into this superworld from it can go home, none of us should go too. For we would be hunted to death. So, while I’m gone, I need for you to make that choice too. Will you choose me and this world, and a home we would build together- over your home world, and your Earth? I know your family is still keeping the language and the traditions and the culture of you and your people alive here, even in another world, as are mine. But still, a question needs to be asked and answered and a choice should be made, based on the answer.” She decided.

“Why are you hunted? For your beauty?” He asked.

“Yes. That, and this.” She said before she turned the stone in her hands into solid gold and gave it to him.

“Moura can take the sunshine here, and turn the dry land, into gold. Which is, to humans from Earth, what every war has ever been about. And why so far, every moura is never safe among humans they do not know and trust not to chain us up or keep us locked up to keep changing rocks into gold. And I do not wish to be the next to do so, and I do not want such a life for my children either. So think. Think very carefully. Ok? And when I come back with my answer, I will ask my question and I will need another answer from you either way.” She said before she went to walk away.

“Wait.” Thallis asked as he reached for her.

“Turn it back. Turn it back to rock.” He urged her as he put the rock into her hands before she did.

“As far as I will tell everyone else I know. Is that you are a harpy. Simply a maiden with the wings of an angel who flies as fast as the wind. I am happy and content with my flock and I am happy and content with you as my wife. I do not care if the time is short or long. If this world is your home. It will be mine too. And when my family has the choice to go back, they will choose how they want to. But I, I will always choose you. And I will always choose any family you give me than the one I was born from. And for as long or as short as they can or need to be, they can be one or two. But whichever family includes you, is the family I will chose. And if here is where you and any child you bear me needs to stay and needs to be protected, so be it. We have stones to build a house, we have ground to build a garden and we have ways of keeping clothes on our backs and a roof over our heads and food in our bellies and that is enough. That will always be enough. What is gold is simply dust, or mud or dirt on my sandals when compared to the love I have for you. I will keep your secret if it means your peace and safety with me. I will take it to my grave here. There is no need for you to wait to get my answers. For those are my answers now and they will be my answers for the rest of my life.” Thallis insisted as tears welled and fell from her eyes as the stone fell and was discarded before she joined her lips with his and kissed him as urgently, lustfully and as deeply as she could and they could not get down to the field of soft grass fast enough as he watched as her once humble clothing practically vanished and her utterly divine body was beared to him. And while his skin was burned and tanned from the sun, she didn’t care. She didn’t care if she was out in the open and vulnerable or if her family and friends could see her from the cloud realm or not.

He loved her, she loved him. And they were choosing each other. And that’s all that mattered.

He let her mount him as she pleased. And when she did, he saw the most…magical thing ever, it was like sunshine bloomed in stings of whitish gold all around her before they soon began to envelop him. And that’s when he really saw it. The gold collar like necklace around her neck. She was so much more than any fable of a harpy. She was her. She was moura. But what’s more is that she was his, his Athanasia.

When he came, the light she emitted got brighter but the orgasm she had shown in the lights. It was like touching the heavens, and being in them. And now he understood. He understood why such precious beings would be hunted, because they were the personification of heaven.

And he would be damned to hell itself if he ever let the wonderful being above him was ever going to be in any danger from anyone or anything again. He would protect her from all harm, from anyone and everyone, even his own family. She was his family. And with her, he would make a family of his own, should his humble seed take root in her otherwise heavenly womb.

She laid on him as she recovered as the lights slowly faded.

“So…lot’s of curtains, lots of very heavy, thick curtains, to keep all the light in the house.” He surmised which earned a pleased giggle and hum of approval.

“Yeah.” She grinned.

“Do you really need to know when the next..whatever is going to happen?” He asked.

“Last I heard, it was really only supposed to be for a few years. But it’s been over a decade and a half. So now I’m going to go see how long until they try again. I’ll be gone for only a week or so ok because I want to know when they’re going to try again. Just to be prepared.” She reassured him before her moura cloak became her real moura clothes before she helped him back to his feet.

“So…this is you? This is what and who you really are?” He asked as he gestured to her in all her heavenly glory.

“Yeah. Is this a secret you think you can keep for the rest of your life?” She asked.

“It’s a secret I will take to my grave.” He swore.

“Thank you.” She thanked him and he actually got to see her take to the air, before she took on another bird form and flew off.

That week was the longest week of his life, but one that he took to do something.

He dug a good well. And he used the stones they had collected and built a foundation. Then he fell some trees to really build up the house when he wasn’t cementing each stone into place.

Every bird he heard, got his attention and every one that wasn’t her, was his profound disappointment.

But then, he heard the sound of wings, that were bigger then footsteps and then a shadow onto the stones he was putting in as a floor.

“It looks good Thallis.” Athi praised.

“Oh my goodness, you’re back.” He rejoiced and dropped what he was doing to frame her beautiful face with his hands and kissed her like the starved man he was, because his heart and soul ached when she had been gone.

“And? Did you get your answer?” He asked.

“I did. They won’t try again for another 85 years.” She answered.

“More than long enough to have a rich full life, no?” He smiled happily.

“Yes. And what’s more, is I talked with my family and friends. They agree that as long as I stay with the understanding that I am your harpy, and not your moura, that they can use that to keep me in the family and that they can still come and visit and I don’t have to be cut off from them, nor they from me. They understand that I have chosen you as my mate. And that should anything happen here, or to us, that our children will always have a place of safety with them in the heavens should the surface get too dangerous for them, because while the people who brought Humans here, tried to give this section of the supersphere to them, that most mimicked Earth, and that there are other places on the whole of the supersphere that they have done so for the others. You know as well as I do, some have a hunger and thirst for conquest. And humans are not immune to such things. But now instead of humans trying to conquer other humans in one world. Now you have five worlds worth of peoples, all eager to conquer more than their fair share and that the longer the spheres stay converged, and the more intermarrying the species do, the harder it will be when there is a separation of them, but they predicted that such things would be an issue centuries from now. So not within our lifetimes, but perhaps in a few generations. They will need to be careful and cautious.” She explained.

“Then we will be too. Do you think this will be big enough for now?” He asked as he gestured to the foundations of the house.

“Well that depends,” she answered with a small scheming smile as she appraised it.

“On?” He asked.

“How many children do we want to have together?” She asked.

“As many as you want.” He answered.

“Good, because I want many.” She smiled before she picked up one of the other stones and worked with him in setting them down into the floor of the house, as they worked side by side, building their future together with their own two hands.

#Monster March #Monster March 2023 #Monster March 2023 Day 14 #Monster March Day 14

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yogurtstress · 2 years ago

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Okay babes I am once again eating a vegan yogurt, this time silk Greek strawberry

The one nice thing I can give to this yogurt is that the texture is nice and creamy but that's literally it

First of all this yogurt has a grey tinge to it that makes it unappetizing

Secondly the chalkiness of this yogurt overpowers any resemblance of strawberry flavor

And there isn't even soy in this yogurt so idk what the fuck the silk people are doing to make it taste like actual chalk

Solely because of the creamy texture this yogurt gets a 3/5 on the authenticity scale but that by no means is representative of the pleasantness of this yogurt, which it's severely lacking

This yogurt was so bad my gag reflex showed up and rejected the yogurt for me

Your yogurt has to be really nasty for it to make me gag like girl what the fuck did you do to it?????

1/10 immediately

#food #food review #foodie #yogurt #food blog #food blogger #yogurt review #greek yogurt #vegan yogurt

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mykonossvictoria · 21 hours ago

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bosphorus-dinner-cruise-istanbul · 1 day ago

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Istanbul: A City of History, Culture, and Timeless Beauty

Istanbul, the vibrant metropolis that straddles two continents, is a city where history and modernity coexist harmoniously. With its rich past, stunning architecture, and diverse cultural influences, Istanbul is a destination that captivates visitors from all over the world. Whether you are drawn to its magnificent landmarks, bustling markets, or exquisite cuisine, this city offers an unforgettable experience.

A Glimpse into Istanbul’s History

Istanbul, formerly known as Byzantium and later Constantinople, has been at the crossroads of civilizations for over 2,500 years. Founded by the Greeks in the 7th century BCE, it later became the capital of the Roman, Byzantine, and Ottoman Empires. Each era left its mark on the city, shaping its unique cultural and architectural landscape.

In 330 CE, Emperor Constantine the Great declared the city the new capital of the Roman Empire, renaming it Constantinople. It flourished as a center of trade, culture, and religion, boasting architectural marvels like the Hagia Sophia. Following the Ottoman conquest in 1453, the city transformed yet again, blending Islamic and Byzantine influences to create a distinct Ottoman identity. Today, Istanbul continues to be a global hub, connecting East and West in an extraordinary way.

Iconic Landmarks and Attractions

Hagia Sophia

One of the most famous landmarks in Istanbul, Hagia Sophia, was originally built as a Byzantine church in the 6th century before being converted into a mosque by the Ottomans. Today, it stands as a symbol of the city’s rich history, showcasing breathtaking mosaics, intricate domes, and grand architectural designs.

Topkapi Palace

Once the residence of Ottoman sultans, Topkapi Palace is a must-visit destination. This sprawling complex features opulent rooms, lush gardens, and priceless artifacts, including the Prophet Muhammad’s relics and the famous Topkapi Dagger. The panoramic views of the Bosphorus from the palace are simply spectacular.

Blue Mosque (Sultan Ahmed Mosque)

With its striking blue tiles and impressive six minarets, the Blue Mosque is one of Istanbul’s most recognizable structures. Built in the early 17th century, it remains an active place of worship, welcoming visitors who wish to admire its stunning interior and peaceful atmosphere.

Basilica Cistern

Hidden beneath the city, the Basilica Cistern is an ancient underground reservoir dating back to the Byzantine era. Its dimly lit, columned hall, complete with Medusa head sculptures, creates an eerie yet fascinating ambiance, making it a favorite among tourists.

Grand Bazaar and Spice Market

For an authentic Istanbul shopping experience, the Grand Bazaar and the Spice Market are must-visit locations. The Grand Bazaar, one of the oldest and largest covered markets in the world, features thousands of shops selling everything from jewelry to carpets. The Spice Market, on the other hand, is a sensory delight, offering fragrant spices, Turkish delights, and traditional teas.

The Unique Charm of the Bosphorus

Istanbul’s Bosphorus Strait is one of its most defining features, dividing the city into its European and Asian sides. A cruise along the Bosphorus provides breathtaking views of historic mansions, Ottoman palaces, and picturesque villages. The Bosphorus Bridge, connecting the two continents, is a symbol of Istanbul’s unity and diversity.

A Culinary Paradise

Istanbul’s food scene is as diverse as its history. The city offers an array of delicious dishes that reflect its multicultural influences.

Traditional Turkish Dishes

Kebabs – From juicy Adana kebabs to flavorful döner, meat lovers will find plenty to savor.

Meze – Small plates of appetizers, including hummus, eggplant dips, and seafood delicacies, are perfect for sharing.

Baklava – This rich, sweet pastry made with layers of filo, nuts, and honey syrup is a must-try.

Simit – Often referred to as the Turkish bagel, simit is a sesame-crusted bread that pairs wonderfully with tea.

Balık Ekmek – A popular street food, this fish sandwich is best enjoyed near the Galata Bridge.

Turkish Tea and Coffee Culture

No visit to Istanbul is complete without indulging in a cup of traditional Turkish tea or coffee. Tea is a staple of daily life, often served in tulip-shaped glasses, while Turkish coffee, with its strong and aromatic flavor, is an essential part of the city’s cultural heritage.

Istanbul’s Vibrant Nightlife and Entertainment

Istanbul offers a dynamic nightlife scene, ranging from rooftop bars with panoramic views to traditional Turkish music venues. The city’s nightlife hubs include:

Beyoğlu and Istiklal Street – Home to numerous bars, clubs, and live music venues.

Ortaköy – A scenic area by the Bosphorus, known for its stylish cafes and nightclubs.

Kadıköy – On the Asian side, this district offers a more laid-back yet lively nightlife experience.

For those interested in traditional performances, watching a Whirling Dervish ceremony or attending a Turkish folk dance show is a mesmerizing cultural experience.

Day Trips and Excursions

Princes’ Islands

A short ferry ride from the city, the Princes’ Islands offer a peaceful retreat from Istanbul’s hustle and bustle. Büyükada, the largest of the islands, is known for its charming streets, horse-drawn carriages, and stunning seaside views.

Çamlıca Hill

For breathtaking panoramic views of Istanbul, a visit to Çamlıca Hill is highly recommended. Located on the Asian side, this hill provides an excellent vantage point to admire the city’s skyline and the Bosphorus.

Süleymaniye Mosque

Often overlooked, the Süleymaniye Mosque is one of Istanbul’s most impressive mosques, offering a serene ambiance and spectacular views of the Golden Horn.

Why You Should Visit Istanbul

Istanbul is a city that never ceases to amaze. Its seamless blend of ancient traditions and modern innovations makes it a truly unique destination. Whether you are exploring its historic landmarks, savoring its culinary delights, or simply taking in the breathtaking views, Istanbul has something to offer every traveler.

With its rich cultural heritage, welcoming people, and vibrant energy, Istanbul is more than just a city—it is an experience that lingers in the hearts of those who visit. So, if you’re planning your next adventure, make sure Istanbul is at the top of your list!

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