#but anyway with the sauce scale. i was thinking it would be nice to include a scale for how much sauce you want with a dish

[puppppppppy]

man ok so you know the spiciness scale on menus that show you how spicy a dish is so you can order based on your tolerance. can we have that for sauces too please

[miserablesme]

The Les Miserables Changelog Part 8: 1997 Broadway 10th Anniversary

Hello, everyone! This is the latest edition in my attempt to chronicle all of the musical and lyrical changes which the show Les Miserables has undergone over the years. After a few consecutive editions focused on regional choices, we're finally back to official libretto distinctions. Specifically, this edition covers a substantial rewrite that occured in 1997.

To fully understand the circumstances in which this rewrite took place, it is useful to look at some background information. The original Broadway production of Les Miserables was definitely not its most popular production from an audience perspective. The cast tended to be judged as inferior to touring and international productions. Moreover, cast members often stayed in Broadway productions for very long time periods, leading many to question the show's freshness.

Consequently, there was a large-scale firing to the point that, in January 1997, every principal cast member was let go except for Christopher Innvar (Javert). For the next month and a half, the third national tour cast would perform on Broadway.

March 12, 1997 marked exactly ten years since the original Broadway production opened. To mark this occasion (and perhaps to direct attention away from the questionable ethics of essentially firing an entire workforce on short notice), a new cast would officially take over from the third national tour cast on this day. Not only this, but the show which this new cast would perform was freshened significantly (an update that would also be applied to all existing and new replica productions worldwide soon afterwards). The blocking was adjusted to give off more energy, the lighting was digitized and made more complex, the sound effects were made more realistic, the sets and costumes were refurbished and in some cases changed... and the libretto received many edits. Let's get into what actually was changed...

Oh, and as a side note, not all of the changes were made simultaneously. Most were, but a few small edits (mostly musical cuts) were made later in 1997. I suspect that, in acknowledgement of Cameron Mackintosh's reservations prior to the original London productions as well as a warning of what would come in a few years' time, those cuts may have been made in order to reduce overtime costs to crew members. That is only a theory of mine, however; please take it with a grain of salt.

Anyway, let's get our analysis started!

1997 Update #1

The first libretto change (in a sense) occurs during "Lovely Ladies". Granted, this is a change that had already been applied unofficially in the Broadway and West End productions; however, I'm not sure if it was ever used in the US Tour previously. Originally this was the lyrical sequence:

(SAILORS - simultaneously with prostitutes’ lines)

Lovely lady, fastest on the street

Wasn’t there three minutes

She was back up on her feet

Lovely lady, what you waiting for

Doesn’t take a lot of savvy just to be a whore

Come on lady, what’s a lady for?

(PROSTITUTES - simultaneously with sailors’ lines)

Lovely ladies, lovely little girls

Lovely ladies, lovely little ladies

Lovely girlies, lovely little girls

We are lovely, lovely girls

Lovely ladies, what’s a lady for?

The sequence was finally officially replaced with the following exchange (that was more or less invented for the 1992 UK tour):

(PROSTITUTE)

God I’m weary, sick enough to drop

Belly burns like fire

Will the bleeding ever stop?

(PIMP)

Cheer up dearie, show a happy face

Plenty more like you, dear

If you can’t keep up the pace

(PROSTITUTE)

Only joking, dearie knows her place

Interestingly, this officially version uses "Will the bleeding ever stop" as the West End and Broadway production previously did (as opposed to the 1992 "Will the bleeding never stop"); however, it also uses "you, dear" from the 1992 edit, as opposed to "you here" as had been used in the West End and Broadway productions. However, many individuals continued to sing "you here" for many years to come.

In "Fantine's Arrest", Bamatabois originally declares:

You've got some nerve, you little whore

You've got some gall!

The 1992 UK tour introduced the following variation, which had also been used in the West End production prior to this edit:

You've got some sauce, you ugly slut

You've got some gall!

The 1997 libretto combined these two versions into the following line:

You've got some nerve, you ugly slut

You've got some gall!

However, the original "Little whore" was maintained in the libretto as an alternate lyric. I do like how "little whore" actually rhymes with the preceding line ("I won't pay more"), though "ugly slut" does carry more threat. The West End production went with "ugly slut" after this libretto change, while other productions stuck to "little whore" for the time being.

Note that the rest of "Fantine's Arrest" plays out the same as it had since 1986, and did not include any of the other 1992 UK tour variations.

Right off the bat, "The Runaway Cart" is different in this version. The scene now begins with a sound effect of a horse's neigh, a nice little touch that brings one far more in the moment than one might otherwise be (particularly since modern audiences likely wouldn't immediately envision a horse when hearing about a crash). Moreover, the original yell of "Look out! It's a runaway cart!" has been eliminated in favor of more improvised remarks.

The townspeople's remarks mostly are consistent with the 1992 UK tour edit, with one exception. This is how the UK tour lyrics (which were also used in the West End production) went:

Look at that

Stay away

You’ll be crushed by the cart

Don’t approach

Don’t go near

It’ll fall on you too

Oh my god, who is that?

It’s Monsieur Fauchelevent

He is caught by the wheel

Oh the pitiful man

There is nothing to do

The version used on Broadway and in the US tour in the mid-90s was as follows:

Look at that

Stay away

You’ll be crushed by the cart

Don’t approach

Don’t go near

At the risk of your life

Oh my god, who is that?

It’s Monsieur Fauchelevent

He is caught by the wheel

Oh the pitiful man

There is nothing to do

The 1997 libretto cemented the scene as follows:

Look at that

Stay away

You’ll be crushed by the cart

Don’t approach

Don’t go near

It’s that load, it'll fall

Oh my god, who is that?

It’s Monsieur Fauchelevent

He is caught by the wheel

Oh the pitiful man

There is nothing to do

I really like how much clearer in meaning the changed line is, although a part of me still has a soft spot for the rhyme scheme of the UK tour.

The crowd's response to Valjean's plea for help has been changed. Since 1987, this is how it went:

Don't go near him, Monsieur Mayor

The load is as heavy as hell

The old man is a goner for sure

It will kill you as well

The 1997 libretto edited the penultimate line:

Don't go near him, Monsieur Mayor

The load is as heavy as hell

If you touch it the whole thing will fall

It will kill you as well

I suppose the revised lyric makes it clearer what exactly the danger is. On the flip side, though, the line "It will kill you as well" feels a bit less natural. Originally it meant "it will kill you as well as the other man who will be killed"; a fairly natural progression. Now, though, it essentially means "it will kill you as well as falling". This does make sense, but it doesn't really sound like a phrasing any real person would actually use.

The rest of the cart crash scene plays out as it did in the original version (not the UK tour version).

"Who Am I?" starts out differently right off the bat. These are the original opening lyrics:

He thinks that man is me

He knew him at a glance

The 1997 libretto uses these lyrics instead:

He thought that man was me

Without a second glance

The revised lyrics make ever-so-slightly more sense, since "knew him at a glance" implies a degree of correctness that obviously is false in this context. Having said that, I do slightly prefer the present tense of the original, since the fact that this false belief is continuous is integral to Valjean's dilemma. The revised lyrics give it a sense of the past that isn't really appropriate to the context.

Soon afterwards, a small lyrical edit makes the implications of the dilemma itself quite a bit different. Originally, after reflecting on the future employment of his works, Valjean repeated the same lyrics he sung earlier:

If I speak, I am condemned

If I stay silent, I am damned

The 1997 libretto tweaked the remark a bit:

If I speak, they are condemned

If I stay silent, I am damned

Only two short words are changed, yet the substance of his worry is completely different! Originally, Valjean's reservations are based primarily on how he would be viewed if he failed to provide his workers with the employment they need. Now, however, he is much more selfless, and is actually worried directly by their well-being. Much more appropriate given that Valjean is supposed to be such a redeemed man!

The West End production had once given Valjean the "You know where to find me!" line after "Who Am I?" and the Australian tour had given him the line "You will find me at the hospital St. John!" However, these were not official libretto remarks, and at least since 1987 he officially remained silent after his high note. This changed in the 1997 libretto, in which an optional line based heavily on the Australian tour one follows the number: "You will find me at the hospital!"

For the next five years, American productions generally would generally the line while, ironically given the production history, the West End show would not.

Since 1986 or so, the "Confrontation" number began with a bar of instrumentals, before Javert began his "Valjean, at last..." line. No more; the 1997 libretto has him begin singing acapella. Only during the second syllable of "Valjean" do the instrumentals start.

The next edit can be heard during the preamble to "Master of the House". A few lines are adjusted among the inn customers. Originally this is how the scene went:

Landlord over here

Where's the bloody man?

One more for the road

One more slug of gin

Just one more

Or my old man is gonna do me in!

The 1997 libretto made it as follows:

Where's the wretched man?

Landlord over here

One more for the road

One more slug of gin

Just one more

Or my old man is gonna do me in!

I suppose the change from "bloody" to "wretched" was probably intended to make the show more accessible to non-British audience, since "bloody" does not seem to be a word frequently used in America or other countries. (Weirdly though, Thenardier keeps his "always pissed as newts" line from earlier; one would expect the word to be replaced with "drunk" or something along those lines!)

The change in order of the first two lines in the excerpt I quoted strikes me as odd. The original sequence of lines allows "man" and "gin" to form of a sort of off-rhyme, something lost with the 1997 order of lines. Did the writers decide that the off-rhyme was so awkward that it would sound better if they just didn't try at all? Who knows...

What is probably this libretto's most significant change in the entire musical happens right before the "Waltz of Treachery". While the original Barbican run had a rather extensive Well Scene, since the West End transfer the "Waltz of Treachery" just began with Valjean and Cosette's humming duet to the tune of "Castle on a Cloud". A short but lovely little scene was added between Valjean and Cosette in the 1997 libretto:

(VALJEAN)

Hush now, do not be afraid of me

Don't cry, show me where you live

Tell me my child, what is your name

(INSTRUMENTALS)

(COSETTE)

I'm called Cosette

(VALJEAN)

(*spoken*) Cosette...

The usual humming duet immediately follows. This scene gives some much-appreciated context to the "Waltz of Treachery", and to Valjean and Cosette's relationship as a whole. Honestly it feels a little incomplete to me nowadays when I listen to the audio of pre-1997 performances of the show. Valjean actually meeting Cosette seems like such an important detail to include! John Caird agreed with me evidently. To quote page 143 of 1990's The Complete Book of Les Miserables:

"If ever there is an amended English version of the show he would like to reinstate the Cosette-Valjean meeting. 'It was beautifully written - one of the most moving scenes in the show,' he says. 'It was taken out for technical reasons, but the well scene was moving and could have stayed.'"

It's heartwarming to see that Caird got his wish. I do wonder what exactly those technical reasons were, and whether or not the revised staging may explain why it could finally be reinstated.

On the flipside, there is a noticeable cut after the "Waltz of Treachery". After Valjean's "There's a castle just waiting for you", the 1987 libretto has about sixteen seconds of instrumentals to the tune of the number, followed by a reprise of Valjean and Cosette's humming duet. This is in turn followed by about eighteen more seconds of instrumentals, which transition into the "Look Down" number.

The 1997 libretto removes the reprise of the humming duet. Now, after "There's a castle just waiting for you", the eighteen latter seconds of instrumentals immediately play, and "Look Down" begins right afterwards. Although this leads to a more energetic change of scenery, I must say that the Thenardier's inn segment of the show feels a bit unresolved without the closing recollection of "Castle on a Cloud".

After Gavroche's opening lyrics to "Look Down", there was originally a musical sequence which played and then was repeated twice before the argument between the beggar woman and the prostitute. However, the 1997 libretto reduced this part so that it is only repeated once.

The same number soon takes a cue from the original pre-Broadway script. After the exchange between the beggar woman and the prostitute, this was the original exchange (which was still being used in the West End production at the time). Each line is a solo, with the latter one being sung by a male and the other three by females:

When's it gonna end?

When're we gonna live?

Something's gotta happen, dearie

Something's gotta give

However, the Broadway production had changed it to an ensemble piece:

When's it gonna end?

When're we gonna live?

Something's gotta happen now or

Something's gotta give

The 1997 libretto brought it back to solo lines, once again with women singing the first three lines and a man singing the last:

When's it gonna end?

When're we gonna live?

Something's gotta happen now

Something's gotta give

I've already noted in the past that I like the scene better as an ensemble piece. Oh well... It also slightly bugs me that the amount of syllables so much less naturally given that the third line loses a syllable. As we'll get into in later editions of this blog, a lot of producers apparently agreed with me, because a lot of productions slightly edited the exchange!

A more subtle difference is audible later in "Look Down". Previously, the line "Something for a crust of bread in Holy Jesus' name" was sung by the ensemble along with the rest of the "See our children fed..." segment. However, the 1997 libretto changed it into a solo line sung by a single beggar woman (despite the rest of the segment remaining an ensemble piece).

This edit was made to account for a change in staging. Prior to 1997, Marius and Enjolras stood on the ground, and the beggars began surrounding them while singing the ensemble piece. It made since for the entire thing to be a group effort. However, since 1997, Marius and Enjolras instead stand on the second level of the set, where they sing their lines to the beggars down below. The beggar woman with the "Something for a crust of bread" line walks by them on the set's second level, explaining why she along sings the line now.

As a side note, the 1987 Australian tour had previously made this exact same lyrical change. This makes me wonder if that production made a similar staging change earlier.

In "The Robbery", after Thenardier's "No mistakes, my dears!" there is originally a bar of instrumentals before Mme. Thenardier starts singing. Post-1997, she starts singing immediately after Thenardier finishes singing his line.

A change in the music was made to "The Robbery" alongside a staging change later in the number. Prior to 1997, Thenardier's con job was staged with him standing with a cane and hiding his right leg, making him look like he was missing a leg. This strikes me as an odd holdover from the pre-Broadway lyrics, in which the actual substance of his plea reflects his missing leg. However, the 1997 staging made it so that he is sitting down while turning the crank on a music box. The instrumentals to this part of the musical were simplified and made more synthetic in order to sound as though they were coming from the music box. I am not a fan of this change at all; it's far too self-aware for me to take the scene remotely seriously.

A change to "Red and Black" that was already widely used before this point was solidified into the show. Instead of opening with the first chords of the number, it now officially opens now with the sting that was introduced in the 1992 UK tour and which was later adapted into Broadway, the third national tour, and most international productions. For many years post-1997, it can be heard in every replica production.

To quote myself from part five of this blog:

"If I’m not mistaken, this musical addition was placed in to account for a change in staging. Originally the number began with the barricade set sliding off-stage, revealing the ABC cafe set behind it. However, around the time of this tour the blocking was adjusted. Now, the turntable instead revolved at the beginning of this number, revealing the ABC cafe set on the other end of the turntable and allowing the barricade set to double as the walls of the cafe. I believe the opening sting was added to allow time for this slightly more elaborate staging."

An extremely subtle difference occurs later during "Red and Black". Originally, Enjolras sings:

The color of the world

Is changing day by day

However, since 1997 he instead sings:

The colors of the world

Are changing day by day

This is a tiny change, to the point that it took me probably a few dozen listens of both pre-1997 and post-1997 audios to pick up on the distinction. Small as it may be, though, it's a very welcome edit. Given that the song revolves around more than one color (to the point that both colors are literally in the title), I honestly find it baffling that the lyric was ever written in the singular, let alone that it managed to hold onto that version for over a decade!

"Lamarque is Dead" is edited so that its lyrics are now consistent with the 1992 UK tour ones, as well as West End performances after that tour. Originally the lyrics were as follows:

On his funeral day they will honor his name

It’s a rallying cry that will reach every ear

In the death of Lamarque we will kindle the flame

They will see that the day of salvation is near

The time is here…

However, the 1997 libretto made them into what the West End and UK tour productions were already using:

On his funeral day they will honor his name

With the light of rebellion ablaze in their eyes

From their candles of grief we will kindle our flame

On the tomb of Lamarque shall our barricades rise

The time is here…

I generally prefer the revised lyrics, as I've discussed in earlier editions of this blog.

"The Attack on Rue Plumet" contains a couple of edits. Originally, Thenardier sings to Brujon:

You shut your mouth

Give me your hand

Post-1997, he instead sings:

You shut your mouth

You'll get what's yours

This edit was another that was partially made for the sake of a staging stage. In the original blocking, Thenardier and the gang are trying to climb over Valjean's gate, and Brujon would literally be using his hand to help Thenardier out. However, the 1997 staging changes things so that the gang is trying to pick the lock. This is much less of a group effort for obvious reasons.

Additionally, the new lyric has slightly more threatening undertones, given its implications of either positive or negative outcomes depending on how helpful Brujon actually is.

Later in the number, after Eponine's scream, Thenardier's reaction takes some cues from the original libretto. Pre-Broadway, these were the lyrics (which were still used in the West End at the time):

Make for the sewers, don't wait around

Leave her to me, go underground

You wait my girl, you'll rue this night

I'll make you scream, you'll scream alright!

Post-1987, this was the sequence instead:

You wait my girl, you'll rue this night

I'll make you scream, you'll scream alright!

Leave her to me, don't wait around

Make for the sewers, go underground

The 1997 edit essentially combined elements of those two versions:

Make for the sewers, go underground

Leave her to me, don't wait around

You wait my girl, you'll rue this night

I'll make you scream, you'll scream alright!

So the lines remain in the post-1987 form, but they are ordered in their pre-1987 form. I've already mentioned that I prefer the 1987 ordering of things, though the 1997 version isn't bad either.

Compared to the first act, the second one has much fewer changes. The first one comes not until the "First Attack" sequence. Before 1997, this was the students' response to their first victory:

(LESGLES)

See how they run away

(GRANTAIRE)

By God, we've won the day

The 1997 libretto changed it to the following:

(LESGLES)

See how they turn and run

(GRANTAIRE)

And so the war was won

I admit I prefer the original lyrics to this one. Grantaire's revised lyrics lack the incredulous spirit of the earlier ones, and the almost narrator-esque out-of-the-moment quality to his post-1997 lyrics is grating.

Later, prior to "Drink with Me", Enjolras speech is slightly changed. Originally he declares:

We must be ready for the fight

For the final fight

Let no one sleep tonight

The 1997 libretto makes his words as follows:

We must be ready for the fight

For tomorrow's fight

Let no one sleep tonight

Although "the final fight" has a climactic air that "tomorrow's fight" lacks, I suppose it is more realistic that Enjolras would have no way of knowing whether there will be more to come after the next battle.

Grantaire's lyrics in "Drink with Me" are edited a bit. Since 1987, this was what he sung:

Will the world remember you when you fall?

Can it be your death means nothing at all?

Is your life just one more lie?

The 1997 libretto edited it into the following:

Will the world remember you when you fall?

Can it be your life means nothing at all?

Will your death be one more lie?

Not terrible, but in my opinion the previous lyrics were far more effective. It makes much more sense to me for one's life to be described as a lie than one's death. The original lyric implies that the students' deaths are for nothing, and that their lives are meaningless. I suppose that is still the message of the revised lyrics, but they strike me as a bit obtuse for my taste.

That's it for the edits in this part (unless you count the official addition of the "You raised my child in love" and "I'll lead you to salvation" variation in the epilogue, which had already been used worldwide for a few years anyway).

But this did not mark the end of the chapter of the Les Mis saga. As I've mentioned earlier, a few edits were made in later months of 1997. So let's look at:

1997 Update #2

The first variation that can be heard in this version occurs during "Lovely Ladies". The "God, i'm weary..." sequence is originally sung in exactly the same tune as the rest of "Lovely Ladies". However, this edit changed it into a slightly different variation of the tune. In my opinion this is a definite improvement. As I mentioned in a previous edition of this blog, while thematically the sick prostitute scene is more fitting than the scene it replaced, it can potentially feel awkward when it's the sole part of the song in its tune not to feature the phrase "lovely ladies". Putting it in a different tune makes its out-of-place vibe feel intentional. In a way, its slightly different sound cements the idea that the prostitute is sick and is not functioning in the same way she ordinarily would.

The first of a few cuts occurs before "Eponine's Errand". Originally, it begins with a few seconds of instrumentals before Eponine starts singing. However, starting with this edit, Eponine begins singing acapella. Not until her first verse is finished do any instrumentals come in. I slightly prefer the version with instrumentals, but it still works alright.

The next cut happens during the opening barricade scene to the second act. Originally, Lesgles' "They will do what is right" is followed by a few seconds of instrumentals before Marius sings his "Hey little boy..." line. However, this edit removed those instrumentals, meaning Marius starts right after Lesgles stops singing. Truth be told I've always found that scene boring, so I can't say I object to cutting it down by a few seconds!

The last cut occurs after "Dawn of Anguish" and before Gavroche's death scene. The "Drink with Me" reprise after the former number originally is followed by an instrumental reprise of the chorus of "Castle on a Cloud". This is then followed by the closing notes to "Drink with Me". However, this edit makes it so that the reprise ends quickly, going right to the ending notes of "Drink with Me" without any "Castle on a Cloud" chords. I definitely prefer the original; it feels so much more emotional and reflective. I've been told it also holds some context to the original book of Les Miserables, though I don't know much more given that I have not yet read the book.

That just about sums this part up! If I missed anything feel free to let me know, as my goal is to create a changelog as thorough and complete as possible. I plan on making more parts in the near future covering all the changes that have been made in the show up until this day (discounting concerts). Any feedback and constructive criticism is very much appreciated.

As a side note, both for this project and my own enjoyment, I want as complete a collection of Les Miserables audios as possible. I already have most of what’s commonly circulated, but if you have any audios or videos you know are rare, I’d love it if you DMed me!

Until the turntable puts me at the forefront again, good-bye…

[tabletopjourneys]

Session 35 Notes

The Silver Scale Pack get to know various members of Rana's immediate family, get woken by draconic-speaking rodents, find out more about their quest, and hit a few stores on their way back through Longview, headed for one of the local taverns.

@gher-bear @aradow @telurin @epimetala

On this day we have a nice visit with Rana's mother, Romy, stay over and find out Anesh, for as long as anyone can remember, has a population of tiny animals that speak draconic. They all speak draconic and have infected our rats with the same! It's totally normal guys! And no, Diem, it is not because one of the town's people is secretly a dragon. We'd know. For sure.

The next day we move on to meet Rana's brother, sister-in-law, niece, and niephew. We find out a little more about Haldric and Phi's daggers, which she hides in her pack and displays her common daggers in their place instead. Ixayl'anu gets her platinum ring made, Diem gives the kids their putty vivis as a gift. On our way toward the tavern, we hit a general supply store and maaaybe one other??? Dried fruits and granola were purchased along Phi's medical supplies at any rate.

(Read More)

Session 35 Notes

Notes!

(Chillin’ with Rana’s mom)

When we go in Rana’s home, Phi becomes a wandering cat who helps herself to exploration, comes back and says “There’s a hot tub!”

Mom: You’re welcome to borrow it.

Phi: Is this where you grew up?

Rana: Yep! (pulls out duck sauce, honey, apple jam etc. - giving it to her mom).

Phi sees this and pulls out her very expired mixed fruit to hand over, along with her gummy owlbears.

Mom: Oh no dear, that’s fine, you don’t have to start pulling supplies out of your pack.

Phi drops the gummy owlbears into the pile anyway.

Rana: Really sorry to barge in like this, but we just needed a couple of days, we’ve run into some situations and I’m looking for someone in Bouldergap - wanted to see if Stell knew anything about them.

Romy tells us we’re welcome anyway, stresses that this is still Rana’s home too and says something about friends that I missed for note-taking.

Rana pulls out the silver scale and letter from Retin and talks about him, says she’s pretty sure the guy Retin is sending us to is a dwarf. We were told he might be helpful, but we weren’t told where he was. She figured Bouldergap was the place to look and knows it’s a long shot her mom or brother would know him but we also needed a place to stay on the way, so thought she thought she might as well ask.

Romy: I can’t be sure but I feel like Stell has mentioned a Haldric in passing but I certainly don’t have a whole lot of communication with anybody of that name.

Rana: No ironbands as customers then?

Romy: No

Rana: It’s a weird thing, handed us this dragon scale gave us that name and sent us this way.

We’ve noticed Romy has a bone of contention with Rana over the news about shadowood travelling.

With prompting Diem remembers they’re the story teller and should tell it, 13 performance, gets smoother as they go on. However, to their friends, who have heard Diem tell this particular story among others many times, they definitely seem off their game a little.

When we get to fighting the dragon, Romy is worried, Diem insists healers were on standby so nobody died

Rana: We almost had him.

Diem: Well I mean technically one of us did get him later that night…

Phi cracks up laughing

After stories Rana says something about the meteor

Mom says something I missed for note-taking, GM is telling us about blacksmiths/nosy customers (so maybe something about that?).

Through conversation we gather that Grismor is innkeeper/tavern keeper of The Smiling Dragon - one of 2 inns who trades in gossip. Smiling Dragon is better for gossip, better drink, does his own ale, seasonal brews, jolly little dwarf who is as tall as he is round. Square dwarf.

Rana tells us about her messages to her brother which provided a nice distraction about meteor news for Longview.

Rana offers her mother the camels then belated asks us if that’s alright.

Diem says that they can’t obviously take the camels everywhere they go after this anyway.

There’s some talk about whether they’re needed for the trip further North.

Romy: Lets see how they do with the sheep

Rana: Elk’s in with the sheep and they’re doing fine (I think we ended up deciding ooc that it’s in a separate paddock though).

Rana is playing with the silver dragon scale while making small talk which eventually includes Farford gossip too - specifically the mention of a firecat.

Romy: Yeah someone was talking about seeing one here too.

Rana: No one saw the person it was with so I’m thinking it’s just a stray

Romy: We do have a lot of flame point cats in the area so it’s possible I suppose.

Ixayl’anu: Is it the same type of cat?

Conversation about them being wild cats vs tame, a specific species, etc continues.

Rana: No like flame point siamese not actual fire

DM: these are not just cats they are more akin to avatars of The Candace

We find out the entire town is talking about firecats too

Rana: How’s Stell (Stellan) doing? I picked up a few things for the kids, so hopefully they’ll like it.

Romy: Good

Rana: Nothing alive

Romy: I’m sure Stell will appreciate that.

Diem asks about the kids so we find out Rana has a niece and niephio (I have no idea on the spelling for this and a google search turned up only nibling as a suggestion for enby niece/nephew). Diem grins further to learn of the niephio in particular.

Rana (upon mention of the niece): She big enough to help with the forge yet?

Romy: She’s big enough to do the bellows and help out

Rana: We will hunt them down tomorrow

Phi: Yay!

At some point Phi would say “So your brother only has two kids?”

Rana: Yeah just two kids

Phi: Oh, so they’re just starting?

Rana: No I get the impression they might be done

Phi: Interesting...

Rana: At least he doesn’t (something I missed)

Phi: Well, that’s why you have more, so they can be together.

Rana: I’ll mention it to him...better yet you could mention it to him

Phi: This is the starter pack right?

Romy is extremely amused by this conversation.

(Dinner prep and additional conversations)

There are dress mannequins and clothes everywhere, fabrics everywhere.

Diem and Romy eventually start talking about the tailoring and different fabrics and fashions etc.

As they talk about that, Rana wanders off to make food for everyone.

Phi goes to help cook.

Diem wanders off with Romy to talk about fabrics and fashion some more (Rana will throw them out the second story window if they do more than that lol).

Rana was half sorting her bag and still has her rocks and stuff spread out on the rug even as she’s making dinner now.

Romy gifts Diem an outfit by the end of their conversation, still so happy this is the first time Rana’s brought anyone home. As she’s got Diem pulled aside though, she asks for more details about everything that happened, worried and just making sure everything’s truly good, and how is Rana really doing?

Diem spins it well about how capable Rana is.

Her mom def agrees and looks worried, but noticeably less so.

While waiting for dinner we all talk more, telling Romy about how we saved Perfection. She does not look ready to come to terms that her daughter is an adventurer now, but accepts it.

Part 16 of Rana rumors according to the other townsfolk who saw us all: “Yeah we knew something like this was gonna happen eventually”

Rana brings up the thunderbird and we talk about that.

Food got delivered, rats were introduced, how Rana and Phi have been training them to spy, rat race story from the Harvest festival gets told as well.

Rana notes that she is actually showing us off to her mom <3

Rana prompts us to talk about ourselves to her mom.

Phi happily tells her whole life story, or at least all the things she’s said to us as a group.

Ixyal’anu talks a little about herself as well.

Diem hangs back and doesn’t say much during this portion as they already talked pretty extensively with Romy already.

Rana: And Ixayl'anu’s on a task for her god but she doesn’t have a fire cat, she has vague dreams.

Romy asks about Ixayl’anu’s deity, pleasant ‘mom questions.’

As things wind down, Diem remembers the find familiar spell and asks if they have a moment, whether it would be alright to summon them while they’re here - noting it would listen to their directions and not make a mess or break anything. They get permission, but never end up doing the spell before bed.

Phi takes her hot tub bath, Diem takes one after.

After Rana gets us settled to bed in the guest room, she goes out and takes a point of exhaustion spending 8 hours to cast enriching the land again since she’s been gone a few years and it only lasts a year, then she goes and sits with the sheep, all of the sheep bed down next to her in a sea of white around her and she leans back against the nearest sheep for a nap/meditation during the spell. They remember her and know she’s the source of the good food.

(Mice vs. Rats: Draconic edition)

During the night, in the wee hours of the morning Ixayl’anu wakes up hearing some very high squeaky voices arguing “This is our territory”

“No, we were invited,” back and forth half awake-half asleep and thinking “what is this? Oh...this is real, this is something that is happening here.”

Very tiny angry voices continue.

Investigation check for more details 15: It’s dark in the room, she can kinda see in the shadows, she doesn’t see anyone. At the foot of Ixayl'anu’s bed is Horatio, four little house mice are around him being territorial against him, and the strange thing is they are all speaking draconic, including Horatio.

Ixayl'anu: What...what?

When Phi wakes up she doesn’t understand her rat any more, but she does hear the rat and mice speaking draconic.

Ixayl’anu: What?

The four mice squeak in a mousy scream

Horatio: Yeah you better run (turns to Ixayl'anu): Thanks!

Ixayl’anu: What? Why? Why are you speaking draconic?

Horatio: Is that what this is? I don’t know I was just suddenly able to and these mice were speaking a weird dialect and I found I could speak back in it as well.

Ixayl’anu: What...okay...and you’re still speaking it, who were they what were you fighting about?

Horatio: They live here and were being territorial and I was telling them I was an invited guest ‘cause I’m with you all.

(I am dead to the world as Phi wakes up)

Phi: Why are you talking to yourself?

Ixayl’anu gestures at the rat

Phi: Have you been teaching my rat that...?

Ixayl’anu: No…. Do you think that’s just something you can teach a rat?

Phi to Horatio: How are you doing that?

Horatio: I don’t know it just happened!

Phi: You’re still doing it…

There is conversation back and forth as its established among the three characters that Horatio still understands Phi, but since he is no longer speaking rat, she can’t understand him, but now Ixayl’anu can both understand and speak with him through draconic.

Ixayl’anu says something I missed.

Phi: what are you saying to my rat?

Ixayl’anu says something else I missed.

Horatio: You all can just decide what language to speak in? That’s weird.

Ixayl’anu: Yeah it is weird

Horatio: It’s a weird dialect and apparently it’s infectious.

Hamlet is mentioned in the back and forth and Phi, recognizing the name, wonders aloud if Hamlet is like this now as well. She tells Horatio he’s changed and she hopes it’s not permanent

Ixayl’anu tries to stop her to ask about that back and forth but Phi slips out of the guest room.

Phi 25 stealths through the house looking for Rana. From a window she sees an odd clump of sheep in the field. She goes out outside and climbs the fence.

Rana is deep in meditation.

Phi: Hamlet, wake up Hamlet…

Rat wakes up and cleans his face but says something back in draconic that she can’t understand.

Phi in common: Oh my god.

Phi uses her stone to let Ixayl'anu know not only this, but what she can see out here around Rana (visible plant growth around her - she’s decided to sleep on her sheep in the field which is weirdly moving and Hamlet’s doing the same thing, Rana’s not moving, I feel like I’m dreaming I don’t know about you…)

In squeakish Phi tells Hamlet that she can’t understand him but she knows he can understand her so “If you want to find out what’s going on you have to talk to Ixayl'anu about it because she’ll understand you. So I’m going to go now.”

Hamlet is irritated and goes back to sleep. All the sheep watch her. One sheep baas at her, then they all start baaing for food, none of them were speaking draconic.

Ixayl’anu to horatio while Phi’s gone: They just walked up to you and started talking to you and that was it?

Horatio: They tried to fight me!

Ixayl’anu: like biting and scratching?

Horatio: Yeah, look at this wet spot! And I’m an invited guest!

Ixayl’anu: That’s rude!

Horatio: That’s very rude, yeah! I’m an invited guest *stamps tiny rat feet*!

Together Ixayl’anu and Horatio determine they probably live in the roof or something, not pets.

Ixayl’anu casts detect magic. She sees the faintest little glow around Horatio. So faint you may think it’s not there and the only reason she sees it is because the lights are off, a wisp of power with the vaguest sense of magic. The source of it is nowhere nearby and the magic itself is so barely there she can’t even see the mice in the walls like she should have if they were properly bespelled in some way. It’s not any specific school for it. Mostly all she really sees is the glow of our various magic items.

At this point Phi returns

(Diem’s perception rolls were 2, 3, and now 0 lol. It is at this point we determine Diem is actually being held in sleep by their patron, catching up, talking about the familiar, and the follower and the spells and just having tea and a lovely bonding time. Probably when they were Tarma out in the desert, they did less communicating)

I missed some back and forth between Ixayl’anu, Phi, and Horatio.

Phi: They were being aggressive and picking on him?

Ixayl’anu to Horatio: Would you be willing to see where these mice have gone?

Horatio: You want me to bring one back to you? Yeah I can do that.

Ixayl’anu: You don’t have to but it’d be nice, I can give you food for it, *looks at her supplies*

Horatio: What kind of treat do I get, what’s in it for me?

Ixayl’anu: Nope no that’s not food I have nope that’s not food. *pauses in her rummaging* Well, what do you want, I suppose we can find something for you?

*thinks on it* A gummy owlbear?

Ixayl’anu: Oh I have some of those. Sure. *finds her little package of them*.

Horatio: Okay! *scurries off and disappears*

About two minutes later she hears furious squeak yelling, Horatio reappears holding a mouse by the scruff of its neck in his mouth “I found one!”

Ixayl’anu: Where’s the cage you keep the rats from? To put the mouse in?

Phi: We sold the cages, the carrier is Horatio’s home...there’s this box?

Ixayl’anu: Yeah that’ll do.

They find a box of rocks to gently empty real quick and put the mouse in it/close the lid (15 animal handling check).

As soon as Horatio had dropped the mouse: “Gummy owlbear please.”

Phi: He knows fetch now!

Ixayl’anu: All that training you’ve been doing with him is paying off! *taps box* Hello?

Phi: Ask if it if it talks like that if it knows it’s doing it or ask if it knows any dragons? I don’t know?

Ixayl’anu: Right?

Mouse is bouncing around in the box trying to get out.

Rana head canoned the rats as 400-550 grams

Horatio is gaming the system a little bit and only found a wine gummy to eat, never officially given one (Phi bought fancy rat treats for him)

(More things I missed and wrote down as “Talking to mouse ah 2”)

The mouse is screaming obscenities at Ixayl’anu.

Horatio is on his back in 7th heaven and suggests she should also give the mouse a gummy owlbear, maybe it’ll talk then.

Ixayl’anu sneaks in a smaller portion and it takes awhile for it to calm down and then it’s quiet for a little bit after until... “This doesn’t make us friends!”

Ixayl’anu: You want more? I’ve got more.

Mouse: I mean...yes

Ixayl’anu: I’m not planning on keeping you here I just want to ask a few questions

Mouse: More first

Ixayl’anu: Okay *puts in other half of gummy*

Mouse is very very quiet

Ixayl’anu taps the box: Hello?

Mouse (slurred): What do you want?

Ixayl’anu: Where’d you learn to talk like that

Mouse: I always talk like this this is how mice talk

Some similar back and forth about this.

Mouse (when asked about dragonborn/people like Ixayl’anu): People like you don’t come around here.

Ixayl’anu: Really? Oh… (to Phi in common now) I don’t this is how they talk, this is weird.

Phi: I think they just don’t know, they don’t know that they’re weird, you know

Ixayl’anu: But horatio thinks it’s a weird dialect

Phi: Did you ask if it if they saw any dragonborn? Or dragons?

Ixayl’anu: Well they haven’t seen anything like me (then to the mouse in draconic) Have you seen anything big with wings?

Mouse: Yeah outside but I live in this house I don’t have to worry about that

Ixayl’anu: Are there any mice that you can’t talk to?

Mouse: Everybody kinda talks like this around here

Ixayl’anu: Kind of or they do?

Mouse: They do?

Ixayl’anu: They all speak this...they all...speak this...I’m really confused.

They decide to try and wake Diem up for a third opinion, and it takes awhile before Diem’s patron allows it, letting Diem know that their friends need them for a moment, so they will have to continue catching up later.

Ixayl’anu as Diem finally starts waking up out of sorts: Weird things are happening

Diem continues to be out of it enough for a bit until eventually Phi catches them up - including the detail about Rana meditating in a cloud of sheep.

Phi (to Diem about the mouse in the box: It’s drunk

Diem: Are you guys sure you’re not drunk?

Phi: I’m not sure we’re not dreaming

Ixayl’anu: This isn’t dreaming not even close.

(I didn’t tag these two responses so the first might be Ixayl’anu and the 2nd Phi)

Too tired to bother with ritual magic, Diem uses a slot to cast comprehend languages.

Mouse asks if we’ve got more of those treats, which Horatio hears and says “Yeah! I’ll eat another!” *perks up*

Diem translates for phi who turns sharply to Horatio to talk about how many he’s already eaten and how he got one in the first place to ask Ixayl’anu for another, etc.

Horatio looks sheepish: Weeeellll sometimes you don’t secure your bag very good and I was hungry and they smelled good.

Phi smirks and retrieves Ixayl’anu’s package of owl gummies, then gives half to Horatio, and half to the mouse.

Horatio: YES! (helping her), I want this one I want the bigger section ‘cause I’m bigger and I get the big one (little grabby rat hands)

Diem does a history check on any stories they might have heard about talking animals like this (21). There are plenty of fairy tales with talking animals, sometimes it’s afey kind of thing - playing a prank on people. They’ve heard of similar events happening before, pretty disparate not tied to one physical location. Sometimes they’ve heard stories of animals in an area like within a mile circle will be able to speak draconic or sometimes other languages, not really a pattern to it. Sometimes it’s little towns, other times it’s connected to a whole city. Might be a natural phenomena. Specifically tiny beasts/birds/lizards are usually the type able to speak.

They also know various fae and wish spells can make this happen, but still they’re just random.

Diem shares this with Phi and Ixayl’anu.

(Insert missed conversation here)

Horatio or the mouse (not sure which): Yeah sure sometimes you say words that are funny and I don’t really understand what they are and they kinda sound like that and I don’t know what they are.

?: All the fangs or one specific thing? (I have no idea who said this or where fangs come into play)

We discover the mouse once met a gopher, stuck his nose in its burrow and it yelled at him back in draconic.

Diem to Ixayl’anu: Ask the mouse if it knows any fae in the area

Mouse makes an intelligence check when she asks, but does not know what she is talking about.

We confirm the mouse has always spoken draconic

Diem tells a quick rendition of cinderella as an example of fae meddling with small creatures where dress making is also involved (theorizing that perhaps Rana’s mother gets help from the mice as well)

We’re fairly certain it’s a normal mouse though and it’s now snoring softly so we’re not getting any more info.

Horatio by now is sprawled out on the bed, Phi cuddled around him while Diem gives him scritches. At a loss, we all go back to sleep for now, planning to ask Rana more in the morning.

(Good Morning!)

In the morning Phi will figure out the coffee situation and make some for everyone.

Romy (waking up to this): This is such a nice change of pace, somebody making the coffee for a change, and friends Rana brings in not destroying the house by the time I get up.

Phi: It’s no problem, I was just watching Rana from the window and figured she’d really like some, she’s gonna be tired so I can make sure coffee is waiting for her. We do have quite a story to tell her though.

Romy shows Phi where the biscotti is and such.

Rana is just now getting up and plucks Hamlet up.

Elk: something happened something happened something happened

Rana is feeding the sheep and clearly thinks the elk just wants some too

Elk: Oh is it breakfast? I’d like breakfast too!

Diem, after sleeping on it, performs a new arcana check on what sort of spells and effects cause draconic-speaking critters (21 again). They know now it can be caused by fae, wish spells, high level wizarding things will happen, and that similar strange effects happen around ancient dragon lairs (a little nugget buried in all their Miova dragon research they’d forgotten about), and that sometimes it’s just random without no discernible cause.

Rana comes in covered in sheep wool, hay, butt and legs wet, but she’s happy. Everything outside is noticeably green and lush.

Phi: We made coffee

Rana is super grateful and makes a beeline to grab a cup.

Rana: I took care of the plants and the animals

Ixayl’anu comes down around this time with the mouse in the box.

Romy: Your friend made coffee and something happened last night they were just about to tell me about.

Rana statues over her mother’s words with an ‘oh no what kind of things?’ sort of reaction.

Phi we’ll explain: Where’s Hamlet? Is he in your bag? Wait I’ll go get Horatio (who is snuggling Diem upstairs still)

Rana scritches Hamlet who asks “Oh is it breakfast time?” (in draconic) She’s tired enough she just hands it the biscotti without thinking.

When Phi returns she gets down on her knees in front of hamlet with horatio

Phi: What about today? What are you speaking today?

Speaking to her around his mouth of biscotti “I dunno what am I speaking today?”

This pings for Rana like hey…

Diem comes down as Ixayl'anu is talking about what happened.

Rana healing words the mouse. 7 pts healing. He immediately wakes up and feels great.

Mouse while cleaning his face: I feel really great?!

Ixayl'anu: You want some biscotti?

Mouse (very distrusting): Yes...

She sets the biscotti down. After awhile she’s half grinning and looking at her mom now.

Rana to the group: They just do that around here, always have.

Romy: That’s why the rumor mill here is so lively.

Diem: Why draconic?

(missed conversation)

Rana: Most people understand at least a few words.

Diem: What’s the local lore on it all? I mean...there’s gotta be stories involved?

Romy: The local lore - I did ask around since I’m not from here, it was very strange at the beginning but the townspeople didn’t seem to be bothered, the general consensus is that it’s a blessing of Vkandis.

Diem gets us all talking about maybe the silver scale dragon living nearby as they also share what they remembered about such events after they woke up.

Rana insists she would’ve seen it

Romy thinks you would know though, Diem mentions that they slept with one and didn’t know until the next day though so...

Romy: Rana you did see those kites though (a local cryptid)…?

Rana: That was definitely not a dragon.

Ixayl’anu: Birds? What?

Rana: They almost look like a roc but they’re definitely not rocs (some people write them off as rocs or pterodactyls but the markings are different they are an air cryptid - Ropen from New Guinea).

We get enough from context to realize this is an unusual sighting, but we are not outright told it’s a local cryptid, like spotting bigfoot.

We are told to watch what we say because the bakers bribe the birds and the whole town will end up knowing.

Rana: That thing is def not a dragon though.

Romy admits she’s never even seen a dragon before.

Rana: Diem rode it

Diem (laughing): In more ways than one

Phi laughs too

Rana still insists she would know if one of the townspeople were a dragon though while Diem insists you really couldn’t know that for sure, what if they just enjoyed a simple life and to avoid discovery they just chose a form that aged with the town, no one the wiser. Rana still insists it’s not possible.

Diem: So sure you’d know? We’ve traveled a month together on the road practically living together. How do you actually know I’m not a dragon?

Rana: I don’t.

Prepared for a similar pushback, this admission clearly surprises Diem. “And yet you’re this sure about people you haven’t spent every waking moment with?”

Rana says she thinks if you are not living time people need to know they need to know they will find out what you are doing.

Ixayl'anu: It could just be sleeping somewhere.

Rana: Either way this is just a normal thing

Ixayl’anu: Sure not really but sure.

Diem: Could be the innkeeper and has always been an innkeeper because they enjoy it. Everybody needs a hobby.

Ixayl'anu wants to know if V’kandis has anything to do with dragons.

(It is at this point we are informed that we’ve seen Romy has a shrine to V’kandis in the house as we’ve ignored this fact in favor of being like oh no, it’s not ‘cause a god blessed your town, it’s because of a secret dragon!).

Ixayl'anu scoots the mouse on his way and turns the topic of discussion toward our reasons for being in Longview and Anesh: So we’re looking for this dwarf?

Rana: No we’re looking for my brother

Ixayl’anu: Does he know where he is?

Rana: Maybe.

Phi: How old is he?

Rana: Older than I am

Phi: Oh, so definitely should’ve had more kids by now

Diem: Wait, Phi how many kids do you have then?

Phi (mishearing): Ooooh lemme get back to you on that...between 80 and 50.

Diem: You have at least 50 kids?

Phi: Oh no I have 0 kids, I don’t have that kind of life.

Rana herds us out the door, she leaves most of her heavier stuff at home.

(To Stellan’s house we go)

For some reason we established Diem definitely gets changed under an illusion of Ixayl'anu ever since using her image as a changing screen back in Budelia. Ixayl’anu has no problem with that, but they’ve all probably seen flashes of Diem’s side and leg tattoos anyway over the month we’ve been together.

Before we leave the house Diem casts comprehend languages as ritual. The birds quiet as we approach, but then the chattering starts up and we catch names and normal gossip presumably about people around town.

Ixayl’anu and Diem have a bit of a side chat about this in the RP text snippets section.

We have an uneventful walk over.

We walk in without knocking - Stell is clearly working on a sword or piece of armor.

Amira (the little girl def notices our presence, specifically Rana’s)

Rana quietly holds out her arms for a hug and Amira runs over squealing with excitement.

Diem: That is so adorable.

Rana scoops her up and has her on her hip now.

Amira looks at us and her eyes get really big - like who are you all? With continued excitement.

Stellan takes notice, surprised Rana brought friends, but still busy hammering out the sword.

Rana: Did you get your pigeons?

Stellan (withering look at his sister): I got THREE pigeons, yes.

Rana grins even bigger at his tone and expression.

Stellan is still working on whatever he’s hammering into during this exchange.

Rana: I was worried they wouldn’t get through so I had to send 3 of them.

Stellan: Well they all got here - first one was very surprising, after 3 though...

Phi: What was the message again Rana?

Rana: Oh, I sent him pigeons telling him about the meteorites and that we knew they were going to hit Anesh but we didn’t know where.

Stellan lets us know the meteors have been diverted and are scheduled to hit somewhere in the desert where there are no people.

Rana nods

Diem: Did they use magic to divert them?

Stell: You’re not from around here are you? Must suck to be from a place without a god that cares what happens to you.

He is a BIG guy. He stops hammering to shake our hands

Phi shakes with both hands to see how much she can get them around one of his (she can’t, there’s a gap between her fingertips).

He is very amused to have Phi forcibly shaking his hand with both of hers.

Meanwhile, Hamlet pokes out and gets on Rana’s shoulder to investigate the new passenger on Rana’s hip.

Amira: You have a new pet?

Rana: Yes, but this one is coming with me - you can still play with him for a bit.

Hamlet: What?

Amira in draconic: Wanna be my friend and play?

Hamlet: Okay!

Diem said some things during the exchange I forgot to note (probably a few cool stories about auntie Rana idk, asking about her speaking draconic?) that resulted in Amira excitedly adopting them for a tour of the house/playing with Hamlet. They follow Amira’s excited lead to do just that, but not before stopping near the next doorway for introductions to Adri, her mother.

Diem to Adri: She’s very adorable

Amira (talking about Aunt Rana): Look! She has a pet rat can we have a pet rat too?

Rana: I could probably get them a pet rat?

Adri: I could probably also get them one, if they’re responsible enough and can prove they’re ready to take care of it.

Some possible missed conversation before Adri, Amira, Diem, and Hamlet head deeper into the house while Rana continues talking to her brother.

Rana asks about the dwarf and shows him both the letter and silver scale, which he looks at while listening to the story about the wizard in the shadowoods

Stell: Are you sure it was Haldric that they wanted?

Rana: Yes (she double checks letter)

Stell: I know a Haldric Ironband but he’s a master blacksmith, but I...he...he’s never mentioned anything about wizards or honestly going anywhere so far away?

Rana: To be fair the wizard seemed to know who I was so maybe Haldric never met him either.

Stell: I don’t know this sounds like destiny hero bullshit

Phi is internally happy screaming about oh my god this actually works (it’s just as well that I never noted what actually works since the rest of us might only notice Phi’s happy scream state, rather than mind-reading the reason for it)!

Everyone but Diem learns this shorthand info I can’t entirely follow after the fact. My shorthand is awful and I’ve discovered I am unlikely to remember how to coherently type it later: Bhuxodihr for some reason you do want to mention t by the proper name he’s mostly retired, teaches to a select few, not stellan’s master. Haldric was stellan’s master’s master

Rana holds up the silver scale (again? I guess? lol) “You know what this would signify?” she hands it over to him. “Retin said we could use this, that it would give us legitimacy”

Stellan tests the hardness of it, getting higher and higher and Rana lets him and still nothing happens “Uh…(hands it back) I’m pretty sure this is the real thing.”

Rana: Real dragon scale?

Stellan: Mhm

Rana: Well that’s interesting

Stellan: Who did you say gave this to you again?

Rana: Retin, a wizard who lives in the Rethwellian Shadowoods

Stellan: I think Haldric knew someone down there but they weren’t genasi

Phi and Ixayl’anu tell him that we had a whole argument about it and deduced that Retin takes on the form of whatever will make you feel connected/more at home.

Phi or Ixayl’anu bring up how weird it is that all the animals here speak draconic.

Stellan, however, has hit his limit for weird shit, though not animals speaking draconic - that is a thing that’s completely normal.

Phi awkwardly: You should come visit us some time too, was great meeting you...or...yeah.

Ixayl’anu: Where would he meet us?

Phi: I have a home

Ixayl’anu: But you’re not really there

Phi: Well we can arrange it ahead of time.

Rana: She does have connections in Miova if you every go out that way.

Stellan says some things to Phi about all this, but as he’s talking he looks at her and she sees the moment when he notices her daggers and stops.

Stellan: Where did you get those?

Phi: They’re family heirlooms

Stellan: Nooo….where did you really get those? You can’t take those into stone roost or even bouldergap, not displayed on your hips like that.

Phi: Interesting you say that I was already thinking I should hide them because we found them on the skeleton of a dwarf in a cave in the woods

Ixayl'anu: No it was a corpse

Rana statues a little bit (which Stellan would notice)

Phi: There was a dwarf corpse, yes…

Stellan holds his hands up like ‘I don’t want to hear it’ and points at Phi: You cannot wear those, they’re only given to an elite group of dwarves and they do NOT give them to gnomes, you have to keep them hidden.

A few questions are asked about that. As far as Stellan knows, they’re assassins of some kind.

Phi: So do they have other weapons with the same characteristics?

Stellan: Sometimes they have short swords but not any arrows or large blades - just the small bladed weapons and it was a thing he wasn’t allowed to learn because he’s not a dwarf.

Phi: Do you know anybody who was in this group?

Stellan: No mostly these guys are like--

Rana (talking over him): I don’t think my brother knows any dwarvish assassins

Phi: If I were to return them to the right people, who would I talk to?

Stellan just looks at her for a few seconds: I don’t know if you just heard me but these guys don’t really advertised themselves

Ixayl’anu: Is this a group we wanna have anything to do with or just avoid them?

Stellan: If you’re really determined to get them back to someone, you might try Haldric, but I wouldn’t lead with that.

Ixayl’anu: Are they better to just be avoided?

Stellan: I wouldn’t wanna mess with them but you’re all out there dealing with meteors and who knows what else so maybe that’s what you do now, I don’t know.

Rana: This dwarf found the meteor too and turned into a mushroom

Stellan takes a deep breath.

Rana is enjoying making him uncomfortable now

They all talk about our bag of holding and hiding the weapons, Phi stashes them and pulls out her ordinary daggers to secure in their place.

Rana as they talk about possibly disguising Phi’s daggers: Oh mom has some camels now if you need one, there’re 3

Stellan: Okay I’ll take care of them for you

Rana: Do you want them to talk? I can make them talk.

Stellan (not amused): No, the pigeons are enough.

Phi: Thank you for the information

Rana: Yeah, I would like to not get killed by the people we were looking for

Phi: Yeah that would not be good

Rana: I’m gonna go corrupt tanny for a bit

Stellan: Yeah i’m gonna go back over here and...think about things

Rana: I let mom know everything so you can talk to her later.

At some point before they finish talking to Stellan, Ixayl'anu was looking for signs of jewelry in Stellan’s forge. She saw some platinum but didn’t really see any jewelry (because she needs a platinum ring). She asks him about it anyway while we’re there and it’s simple enough he melts down two platinum coins to make a simple ring for her out of it. He doesn’t even charge her for them since he already has the forge fired up.

He does have Amira help him since he rarely works with platinum and it makes a good teachable moment that takes about 10 minutes.

Meanwhile, Adri has been following Amira and Diem around, Diem gets introduced to Taniel, 10, who probably is working on magic homework, they got really into potion making because they fan Rana and Rana brings herbs back - real into that right now.

Taniel gets up to see Aunt Rana, but Adri warns her to wait a bit they’re talking about tense things right now.

Through conversation along the tour Diem gets that Adri speaks draconic and has been teaching her kids.

Diem makes casual conversation that includes whether or not Adri grew up here and when/why she learned draconic.

About that time Rana walks in and Taniel gives her a big hug and tells her about her new obsession

Adri answers Diem that it makes sense from a guard’s stand point so she learned it, birds are awfully helpful

Diem: Oh yeah that makes sense

Rana: Yeah, Adri is very good at her job

Diem: You look it, you are killing it in that outfit (she is amused), I’m...yeah, not surprising I wouldn’t make a good guard, I even need help when we take watches (said in good humor)

Ixayl'anu stands awkwardly in the door until Adri invites her in properly (because she’s secretly a vampire! shhh)

Rana: We’re not gonna be in town for terribly long, I was just hoping Stellan had some of the info I needed and he did.

Adri: What info?

Rana: Oh I was sent by a wizard to find someone named Haldric who might be in stone roost and I thought Stellan might know him.

Adri takes it in stride “Well, be safe.”

Rana drops in that it has to do with the meteor.

Nearing the end of the conversation and visit, Phi asks if we can run by a general store to get medical kit supplies to complete her partial kit.

When we have to leave Amira is sad about the rat having to go and starts asking for a rat again in super sad puppy fashion.

Adri tells her they’ll still have to see and Diem distracts both children by pulling out the self-animating putty to give them as a gift, telling them how they can shape their own rat or whatever they like and it moves (makes a little rat and sets it down to walk around on the table and lick a paw clean) see?

Their imaginations take off with excited chatter about making tiny dragons and more, once again happy.

(A trip to the general store)

Rana takes us to Bafor’s general store (Bafor is a dragonborn).

Phi tells us that we would have noticed how Phi progressively jumped on this field medic train and as things have gotten dangerous and sketchy. Phi realized it would be handy to have some skills in healing just in case - more so ever since Phi found the medical supplies in Budelia and ever since Averni she’s been doing a little research here and there, including medical knowledge heading out into the new terrain of Anesh, like what to do for heatstroke and working on more survival skills. Over the journey she’s brought it up a few times to Rana and Edea, and Rana readily taught her some of her new feat requirements from her similar healer feat. Phi wants to eventually learn to make her own poisons too for maybe a damage over time, but also poison check and knowing what to do about poisons in order to help heal them.

Phi’s medicine check will also apply to her background skills, diagnosing a wound, how they died (starving, madness, dehydration, container recently held poison, blood spatter analysis, forensic stuff is part of her past).

Combat triage is cool and useful.

Ruled that with her medical proficiency feat she can diagnose poisons and such, but she would have to take a separate feat to make a poison and do dmg over time.

Phi walks into the store and admits she’s filling out the healer’s kit.

Rana says she has those items already and they have this conversation in the store. All along though she and Rana have talked about this over the month we’ve known each other.

Bafor: Yeah I have the little items, but you could also just buy a new healer’s kit already filled.

Phi: Yeah why don’t I just do that.

Bafor: Tell you what, you buy a whole healer’s kit and I will fill out your other one for free.

I think we hit a fruit stand or a different store where the vendor is gruff but warms up as we spend money (because that was a note for the vendor attached to all these dried fruits, but Bafor seemed pretty amenable from the start).

Phi and Diem also buy a big bag of granola for a silver each, and some dried fruits (Anesh grows pomegranate, apricots, olives)

Diem also buys a bag of mixed dried fruit, dried apricots, and a pomegranate (for a silver each)

[remywrites5]

Can you please please please write more jegulily and jegulus but preferably jegulily puh-leaseee id love and appreciate you forever

           James didn’t exactly consider himself good at all the wedding planning stuff. He was still a little awed that Lily Evans had even agreed to it. They’d been dating for four years, since they were eighteen, and it was kind of just the thing people did. James would have been happy just going on the way things were but he knew that was what everyone was expecting of him. It wasn’t that he didn’t want to marry Lily, it was just they already acted as if they were married, it didn’t feel like the actual wedding was worth it. Although James Potter had never said no to a party in his life.

           He also didn’t want to leave everything up to Lily. He wasn’t completely useless and could help with the planning and getting shit done. Lily knew better than to have James do too much though considering his propensity for mischief. He’d been given things to do that were difficult to screw up.

           James was in charge of the wine they were serving and Sirius’ brother owned a vineyard that he’d inherited from an uncle. Sirius and Regulus had inherited it together from their Uncle Alphie, but Sirius had no interest in wine besides drinking it, so he had let Reg take it over and apparently the business was thriving.

           James had actually never met Regulus before despite Sirius being his best friend. After Sirius had begun to rebel against his parents, Walburga and Orion tried to limit his contact with Reg as much as possible so their only good son wouldn’t be influenced by the bad. Reg had gone to a very private boarding school somewhere in Eastern Europe. They hadn’t really had an occasion to meet since then as James had been busy starting his life with Lily.

           As he walked into the tasting room, it was so classy he felt like maybe he should take off his shoes so he didn’t track mud anywhere. There were large black leather sofas for people to sit down and enjoy their wine. There were also a few tables on the other side and a bar with stools in the center of the room. The lighting was warm and inviting, like someone could just sit for hours and enjoy the wine.

           James knew Regulus was expecting him as Sirius had booked the appointment for him. As it was the middle of the day on a Thursday, it wasn’t as if there were a lot of people there. Just an older retired couple in the corner at one of the tables, chatting quietly and enjoying their afternoon with nowhere to get to.

           He took the opportunity to study the different kinds of wine that were displayed on the wall. James didn’t exactly know a lot about wine but he knew it usually gave him a headache. He was more of a whiskey and beer kind of bloke. Still, Lily preferred wine and it seemed like the more wedding type thing to do.

           “You must be James,” a silky baritone voice said from his right. James turned and felt like he was hit in the face with a frying pan. Regulus Black was gorgeous. He wasn’t sure why he was so surprised, after all Sirius was a very good-looking bloke. He had the same dark hair but it was shorter and more styled. He had sharp features, high cheekbones and a cut jawline. His eyes were a bit more sunken in than Sirius’, making his grey eyes seem even more pronounced.

           “Yes,” James said after having to clear his throat. “James Potter.”

           “Regulus Black,” he said, holding out his hand. His fingers were long and slender, almost delicate. James cringed at his own rough hands as he shook Reg’s. “It’s nice to meet you finally.”

           “Yeah,” James said, taking his hand back and shoving it into his pockets in embarrassment. “I was starting to think Sirius was keeping us apart on purpose.”

           Reg smiled, bringing one thin finger to his lips and biting down on it. Christ, everything about him seemed sinful. “My brother has never been good about sharing. A poor Paddington bear once suffered the consequences by being ripped in half.”

           James chuckled. “I wouldn’t know anything about that. Only child I’m afraid.”

           “Lucky you,” Reg said, quirking his eyebrows playfully as he dropped his finger from his lips. “Now, what were you thinking for your wedding?”

           James shrugged. “To be honest, I know fuck all about wines.”

           Reg nodded as if he’d been expecting it. James wasn’t sure if Sirius had warned Reg about James’ lack of knowledge or if he should be offended that Regulus had just assumed he knew nothing. “How about a tasting?” he offered, gesturing towards the bar. “We can go through a range of wines and find what you like. Unless the bride already has some selections.”

           James shook his head. “I think she usually drinks a cabernet but she’ll pretty much take whatever is on offer.”

           Reg walked gracefully over to behind the bar and began getting set up. He uncorked the first wine with a flourish and poured James a glass. James sat down on one of the stools and watched Reg. He moved like a dancer, his body having such ease to it as if it wanted to go wherever Reg had in mind, everything working in perfect unison.

           Regulus slid over a piece of paper with a list of wines on it. “After you taste each wine you score it on a scale from one to five, five being the highest. We’ll start with the sweeter wines and work our way to drier wines. If your fiancée enjoys Cabernet then it’s possibly she’s more into the dry. We’ll see what passes your fancy though.”

           James struggled not to mention that Regulus was what he fancied most at the moment. They chatted as James tasted over fifteen types of wine including a few cordials. They were all mostly delicious with only a few not really doing it for him. Regulus’ eyes lit up when he talked about wine and it was clearly a subject he was very interested in. James loved listening to him talk and realized he’d been sitting for hours only by the fact that his arse had lost most of the feeling in it. The older couple in the corner had left and it had been just him and Reg for some time.

           “Fuck,” James said, checking his phone. He was slightly buzzed from all the wine. “Lily will be wondering where I am. Guess we’ll be having a takeaway for dinner.”

           Regulus smiled politely. “Sorry to take up so much of your time.”

           “Don’t be,” James assured him quickly. “I had a really good time. Can I buy a bottle to take home with me? I think Lily would really like it.”

           Regulus nodded and turned away. James wasn’t sure but he thought he saw a pained expression cross Reg’s face. When he turned back around, he was holding a bottle of cabernet, his smile never faltering. “It’s on the house,” he said, holding it out to James.

           “Absolutely not,” James protested, shaking his head emphatically. “You already wouldn’t let me pay for the tasting even though I googled what you normally charge for that. You’ve done enough, Reg.”

           “Just take the stupid bottle,” Reg said with a put upon sigh.

           James pushed his glasses up and huffed in annoyance. As he took the bottle from Reg, their fingers brushed against each other and James could have sworn he felt electricity at the touch. He held the bottle in one hand and fished his wallet out with the other. He put fifty quid into the tip jar with a pointed look at Reg. He wasn’t sure if that was enough to cover everything he’d had that day but at least it was something. It didn’t make him feel quite so guilty.

           “So…” he said, shuffling awkwardly. “I’ll see you around then?” He realized he really didn’t want to leave.

           “You know where I am,” Regulus answered with a small smile. “Congratulations, by the way, I don’t know if I ever said it.”

           “Yeah, thanks,” James said, a blush tingeing his cheeks. “I’d better go. I’ve taken up enough of your time.”

           Reg ran his fingers through his hair and shrugged. “I didn’t mind at all.”

           James felt his stomach twist painfully. He had a fiancée. It didn’t do to go around fancying other blokes when he had the girl of his dreams waiting at home. “Thanks again, Reg. I hope to see you soon.”

           “I’d like that.”

           As James left the tasting room, he clutched the bottle of wine to his chest and pressed himself up against the wall of the side of the building. The whole thing was just so bloody inconvenient.

                                                           ***

           James got curry on his way home, unsure if it paired with red wine, but figuring they’d drink it anyway. He should have asked Regulus what would go well with the wine. It seemed like the sort of thing he’d know.

           “James,” Lily called out, pulling him from his reverie of thinking of Reg as he dragged his naan through the curry sauce. “Earth to Potter.”

           James glanced up from his plate to find Lily staring at him expectantly. He cleared is throat and took a bit of his naan just to stall for time. He had no idea what Lily had been talking about before he spaced out. “Yeah?” he asked with his mouth full.

           Lily rolled her eyes. “So who is it?”

           “What?” James asked, nearly choking on the half-chewed bread in his mouth. He took a huge gulp of his wine and that didn’t help at all because the wine made him think of Reg. His face heated up in embarrassment.

           “You’ve been sighing wistfully the entire meal,” Lily pointed out with a knowing grin. “If I didn’t know better, James, I’d say you were in love.”

           James took a deep breath and ran his fingers through his hair. “Don’t be ridiculous. I’m in love with you.”

           Lily shrugged. “I’ve been in love with more than one person at once.”

           James stared at her in surprise. “Am I one of those two people?” he asked, this being the first he’d ever heard of it.

           Lily nodded and pulled one of her knees up to her chest, hugging it as she ate her food. “The year we got together. Our first dating. I’d been in love with Marlene Mckinnon for years before that. It was part of the reason I kept turning you down. Well, that and you were a massive prick back then. Marlene and I used to fool around a lot but I definitely was in love with her. She developed feelings for Dorcas Meadows and I realized you weren’t so awful so we broke things off. But I still had feelings for Marlene even as I started falling in love with you. It’s possible to love more than one person.”

           James’ jaw dropped. “Wait, I was a rebound?”

           Lily groaned. “Bloody hell, Potter, that wasn’t exactly the point of the story.”

           “You never told me any of that!” James said indignantly. “I didn’t even know you were bisexual!”

           “I didn’t know you were either,” Lily shot back accusingly and James’ face reddened again. “You didn’t go to work today and so there’s really only one person it could be, unless you feel in love with Mrs. Gupta at the curry place we go to.”

           James shuffled uncomfortably. He had forgotten how intuitive Lily could be, how clever she was. Of course she would work it out. No one had ever accused James of being subtle. “Lily, nothing happened, nothing will happen.”

           “Says who?”

           “Says me!” James said in frustration. “It’s just a stupid crush. I wouldn’t do anything about it.”

           “Why not?” Lily said, her tone teasing and James looked up to find her raising an eyebrow at him. “I think I want to meet this Regulus who turned your head.”

           “Lily no!”

           “Oh yes!”

                                                           ***

           James was a ball of nerves as they entered the tasting room. He didn’t know what to expect from any of this and the uncertainty had him on edge. Lily seemed to be having the time of her life, getting a chance to playfully rib James for once instead of the other way around. He didn’t even understand what Lily was hoping to gain from all this. Maybe just ammo against James to use for the rest of their lives together. He’d been trying to talk her out of this stupid plan since the previous evening but Lily was steadfast. 

           Regulus walked in from the back carrying a case of wine. He stopped when he spotted James and smiled at him before glancing over at Lily. He looked a pit panicked as he put the case down on the bar. “Hello again,” he said, his expression schooled into something more neutral. “How can I help you?”

           “My fiancée would like to take you out on a date,” Lily informed him. James felt his jaw drop in surprise and his eyes flickered over to Reg nervously.

           “Lily,” he hissed, feeling his palms begin to sweat.

           “I don’t blame you, James,” Lily said, looking at him over her shoulder and giving him a sweet smile. “Bloody gorgeous.”

           “I’m sorry,” Regulus spoke up. “I’m confused.”

           Lily walked over to the bar and bent over it, getting close to Reg while James watched them in horror. It felt like everything was going in slow motion, like a car crash. “It’s quite simple,” Lily informed him. “James has a crush on you. I don’t have a problem with that. Are you interested in girls or is it just blokes?”

           Regulus looked dumbstruck for a moment and looked at James for help. James could only shrug in response. Regulus blinked a few times and then his attention went back to Lily. “I’m interested in women as well as men.”

           Lily smiled. “Then maybe both of us will take you out on a date,” she said, looking behind her and waving James over. James stumbled closer and stood beside his absolutely bonkers bride to be. “Only if you’re interested in that, of course. I’d understand if you’d want it to be just you and James. It seems you two made quite the connection yesterday.”

           Regulus’ eyes flickered between James and Lily as if he were working something out in his head. When their eyes met, James gave him a reassuring smile, wanting Reg to know this wasn’t some kind of joke. Reg licked his lips and nodded as if he understood. It felt like a similar non-verbal communication went on between Reg and Lily. He felt a bit relieved by how quickly Regulus and Lily seemed to be hitting it off. After what felt like a lifetime, Reg’s face broke out into a smile. “Well then,” he said, grabbing a bottle of wine and pouring three glasses. “How do you two feel about Indonesian food?”

[retrauxpunk]

Rain, I ask you: ALL the quarantine asks!

Animated character that was your gay awakening? not really an ‘awakening’ so much as a ‘hint’, but Azula from Avatar: the Last Airbender ... yep

Grilled cheese or PB&J? GRILLED CHEESE

What show/YouTube video(s) do you put on in the background when you when you don’t have anything to watch but you want something on? I don’t really experience this mood, but my go-to watch is the vlogbrothers YouTube channel

Your go-to bar order, if you drink? if it’s a low-key/work outing, lager or cider (esp the ones with non-apple fruits too); if it’s getting more serious (lol) or with closer friends or a more celebratory mood: vodka with sparkling apple juice

What’s your favorite pair of shoes that you own? these Doc Martens that are white with red hearts got ’em with my first ever full time design job paycheck. i did not take care of them well so they’re super scuffed/beat-up and very much not Perfectly White ... but they’re still comfy as heck, i still love the design, and they’ve lasted 3 years so far, let’s see how much longer we can make it ... also i think they’re a limited edition so i likely won’t get my hands on any replacements...

Top three cuisines? my cheap-ass answer would be, like: East Asian, South-East Asian, Western European ... but my non-shit answer is... Japanese, Chinese, Italian (ftr i’m not a seafood fan ... i just love the ramen and non-seafood stuff that japan makes hehe)

What was your first word as a child (that wasn’t a variation of “Mom” or “Dad”)? i have no clue

What’s a job that you’ve had that people might be surprised to find out you’ve had? cold-calling strangers to ask them to do market research phone surveys (y)

Look up. What’s directly across from you? the kitchen

Do you own any signed books/memorabilia in general? i have a messenger bag that i got signed by Jeph Jacques of the Questionable Content webcomic that i once adored ... and I think my boyfriend has gifted me a signed Matthew Reilly hardcover.

Preferred way to spend a rainy day? curled up indoors wearing something cosy, reading and eating something delicious. playing animal crossing lol. aaaaand listening to music, a good podcast, watching stand-up comedy, drawing, getting intoxicated...

What do you get on your bagels? What WOULD you get if you had access to anything you wanted? occasionally the standard smoked salmon and cream cheese, but i slightly prefer the meat to be, like, prosciutto

Brunch or midnight snacks? ehh fuck it, both???? both!!

Favorite mug you own easter limited edition waitrose mug, squat and round and yellow, painted/shaped like a very round chick. a Borb,,,,

What coffee drink would you describe yourself as? i actually thought about this and, uh, peppermint mocha. not for everyone, slightly weird, never fitting in with the regulars/being a default, but???? obviously awesome?? also: about 65% on the mainstream/hipster scale

Pick a song lyric to describe your current mood (and drop the name and artist!) The Wombats is the artist. lyrics are either “Let's dance to Joy Division / and celebrate the irony / Everything is going wrong, / but we're so happy” from Let’s Dance to Joy Division or “the edge of nowhere’s such a beautiful place” from Emoticons

Fruity or herbal teas? herbal but i agree with @queenofslime, black tea is the best

What’s that one TV show that you’re a little bit embarrassed to watch but you still like nonetheless? ...do i experience embarrassment about what i like to watch on TV? i don’t know if i do, because i watch relatively few shows ... and have relatively little shame? maybe???

That book you were forced to read for class but actually ended up enjoying? ftr i wasn’t bitter about this before reading, i had no preconceived biases against, and i was pretty open to liking it -- The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri

Do you match your socks? if they’re of a really nice design then yes always, if they’re of a more standard/generic design then ... not necessarily

Have you ever been horseback riding? yes a few times ... on the last time which was like five years ago ... the lady said i was a natural and asked if i’d ridden much before, which was. flattering. and yes this is a Brag.

What was your “phase” when you were younger? (i.e., Mythology Nerd, Horse Girl, Space Geek, etc) didn’t have much of a hardcore phase but i was pretty much always into fantasy ... oh wait yeah i did! i had a spy phase :)

Have you ever been to jail? to closed-down ones, yep

What’s your opinion on Lazy Susan’s (the spinning tray in the middle of tables)? pretty great idea unequivocably, right?

Puzzles? i tend to enjoy riddles/lateral thinking puzzles, i am impartial about jigsaw puzzles. i enjoy escape rooms.

You can only have one juice for the rest of your life, what is it? apple ... but elderflower if i’m feeling reckless (y)

What section do you immediately head for when you walk into a bookstore? young adult ... or stationery

What’s one thing you’re trying to learn/relearn in your downtime right now? Russian language :( it’s going не так хорошо

Who’s your go-to musical artist when you’re feeling upbeat? not sure if i have a go-to artist so much as go-to playlists i’ve made but some good ones are The Wombats and Bastille 

Where could someone find you in a museum? mammals/birds in natural history

What’s that one outfit in your closet you never get the chance to wear but want to? i swear i was talking about this recently but i clean the fuck forgot what it was ... oh yeah, i have this short-sleeved black minidress festooned with silver buckles/buttons and also featuring decorative suspenders ... which, yes, does make me look like a sexy military officer,,, anyway it’s pretty badass and somehow it hasn’t occurred to me till now that i can just wear that every day now if i want? ftw i do get the chance to wear it, it’s just a little bit Extra so i get self-conscious. i’ve worn it a few times though. including to work. because fuck it, right? i didn’t become a graphic designer to be shy about sometimes looking like a prototypical emo/scene kid-turned-adult??? (ftr i was never an actual emo/scene kid. i lacked the requisite guts, commitment of feeling, and permissive parents.)

Rainbows, stars, or sunset colored clouds? sunset-coloured clouds :)

If you could own any non-traditional pet (dogs, cats, fish, rodents, etc), what would it be? how about a shapeshifting feathered dragon that could range from, like, two thirds of a foot long (20cm) to sit on your shoulder, to ... the size of a massive draft horse? (but longer and thinner)

Do you have more art on your walls or more photographs? photos, though if i didn’t live with a partner, it might be art

You have to get one meme tattooed on your body, what meme is it and where does it go? i’ve already got a meme tattooed on my body ... a private meme i have with my boyfriend, one on each leg (left: outer side, just above knee; right: outside, a few inches above the ankle)

Pick a superhero sidekick to hang out with ?????? is this a sidekick to a known superhero, or a superhero to act as your sidekick? also i don’t know? who are the standard heroes? i’m not up to date on this.

Lakes, rivers, or oceans? rivers or oceans

Favorite mid-2000s song i can’t decide a favourite, it’s too stressful, but one that i like is Rob Thomas’s Little Wonders

How do you dress when you’re home alone? either a t-shirt and PJ pants, or a dress (usually short-sleeved/sleeveless minidress)

Where do you sit in the living room (we all have a preferred spot, and you know it)? on either side of the couch haha

Knives or swords? BOTH but ok swords.

A song you didn’t think you’d enjoy but ended up loving hmmmmm like all of Linkin Park’s first three albums with some exceptions? hahahah

Pick an old-school Disney Channel Original Movie i don’t think i.....know any????

Are you a “Quote that relates to the photos” caption-er, an “explanation of where I took the photos” caption-er, or a no caption kinda person when you post pictures online? explanation, though on instagram quite often the photo and caption are unrelated

Name a classic Vine there’s only one thing worse than a rapist...

What’s the freezer food that you stock up on when you go to the grocery store? dumplings! as in the gyoza type.

How do you top your ice cream? that ‘magic’ chocolate sauce that hardens into chocolate. that stuff. i watched those ads all childhood long but my parents were immigrants and therefore very thrifty so we NEVER bought it iirc and then in my adulthood i got it a bunch of times. but now i live in the uk and can’t find it. and forgot it existed. and have never seen it anywhere.

Do you like Jello? the kind that’s served on a plate as a dessert? meh. the kind that are found in asian grocery stores as individual fruit-flavoured serves in little plastic cups? YES 

What’s something that you don’t have a picture of that you wish you did? future stock prices? LOL ... or i’m gonna go with @queenofslime‘s answer again -- how others see me. it’s a great answer.

How are you at climbing trees? not............ good. i mean, i like climbing, but i have absolutely terrible upper body strength. i did bouldering for a couple months but only stuck to the first like... three out of nine difficulty levels.

[thenervouscook]

Nervous Cooking: An Intro and How To

Hello there. I’m a nervous cook. I hate wasting food. I don’t like being bad at things. I have a very complicated relationship with food, thanks to an eating disorder.

In short, I often feel daunted in the kitchen, have felt that a lot of recipes gatekeep information and make it hard to me to feel like cooking is accessible and fun.

I like food. I love the idea of cooking. With the help of some nice people I know, I’m making good progress into enjoying the kitchen, and playing around making things and swatting away the dreadful pretentiousness, snobbishness, and pomposity that sullies what is supposed to be a joyous, wholesome, and ultimately tasty activity.

So where to start? Before we get to sharing recipes, let’s have a breakdown of what we’re trying to do for ourselves, before we even turn the oven on.

How do we become less nervous in when cooking?

1. Put some music on.

There’s nothing as daunting as standing in your kitchen with a recipe open, feeling like you’re already set for failure before you’ve even begun. So with that, put some good tunes on. You might have to turn the volume down occasionally as it is distracting you too much from the task at hand, but honestly, set yourself up for a good time.

Hall & Oates are great for making your meal with.

2. Read the recipe first. Maybe read it a few times.

Too often, I’ve started cooking and followed the recipe as a go, only to find that the person who wrote the recipe can smash out some sauce in 40 seconds while it takes me ages to do, while I burn my onions in the process. 

Reading the recipe first enables you to plan for any tricky moments where you feel unsure, or indeed, helps you to work out how to re-word something that might confusing rather than having to translate it when you’re in the middle of cooking something.

Recently, I made something that said “add 100ml of stock”, which wasn’t included in the recipe itself - reading it through before setting off meant that I didn’t have a nervous breakdown halfway through.

3. Prep the ingredients

Foodies call it ‘mise en place’ - don’t worry about foreign phrases yet, we won’t be using them here and we’ll probably do a translation of cooking terms at some point. These phrases are perfectly fine to use if you know what you’re doing, but of course, when you’re a nervous cook, your brain can go “AAAAAAAAAARGH I DON’T KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS AND I’M ALREADY TALKING MYSELF OUT OF COOKING AND I MAY AS WELL JUST GO TO THE CHIPPIE”.

Calm down. It’s all good. Maybe we’ll do a glossary of terms later, so we can understand what these people are talking about.

Don’t worry. Mise en place basically means getting everything ready before you start, like they do on the telly. You’ve seen a TV chef saying “add half a tablespoon of paprika’, and they just tip it out of a little bowl, rather than measuring out while the pan’s on? It’s that.

So, if you’re making a curry and the recipe says that 4 spices are all getting thrown in at the same time, then measure them out first, put it in a bowl, or a little glass dish you’ve saved from when you ate a fancy yoghurt that came in a glass thing rather than a plastic pot, or even a cleaned out plastic yoghurt pot - it literally doesn’t matter - you measure them out, throw them all into a thing, and when the time comes to add them to your cooking, you can lob them in the pan without thinking about it, because you did the groundwork before the stress of the timer.

And ‘mise en place’ will not be used again on this blog, because there’s no need really.

4. Convert American measurements in advance

If you’ve found a recipe that looks ace on an American site, you’ll soon find out they measure everything differently. They have a ‘cups’ system. 1 cup is 128g or 4.5 oz.

If your scales are accurate enough to measure 128g exactly, go nuts. If not, take the time to find another recipe that has measured things out in a way that is more useful to you. If you have the money, have a look online and buy something cheap that measures out in American cups. 

Just don’t get caught on the hop while you’re in the middle of cooking your tea and get yourself worked up.

5. You can still eat a cock-up

American writer Hanif Abdurraqib said: “I'm not normally one for baking — I get that it is mostly all about the following of instructions, but I think that has always made the task more daunting for me and my many anxieties. If I failed, that failure would be speaking to some greater inability, or it might tell me something about myself. But, my anxieties, though busy as ever, aren't very interested in whether or not I fail at the moment. Also, I have such a low bar for edible desserts. Even a failed baked good is still a baked good worth consuming, in my home.”

That’s one of the golden things good cooks never share - even when you mess up, chances are, you can still eat it. Set your bar low. Don’t tip it in the bin because you’ve failed or because it looks like a mess.

I made a banoffee pie, and was worried I was going to balls it up, because I’m rubbish at whisking. Talking to a very talented chef I know, she said “don’t bin it - mix it up and call it Banoffee Eton Mess style!”

That was a very important lesson to learn - if it doesn’t work out perfectly, then re-brand the fucker and eat it anyway.

6. Follow good food people and ignore perfectionists if you want

A lot of broadsheet food writers and TV chefs are perfectionists, and don’t share their mistakes. When they appear on TV, they’re often berating some poor amateur cook for messing up their flans or whatever, because they’ve entered a talent show like Great British Bake Off, Masterchef, or whatever.

Ignore all that if you want, or if it puts pressure on you. It’s just you in your kitchen, making something to eat. Doesn’t matter if it looks like a road accident when you put it on your plate, as long as it tastes good.

Everyone’s Instagram accounts only show you their successes, so you can write those off too, if they’re doing your head in.

That said, there’s good people out there who will show you short-cuts, things to not worry about, and enjoy food that looks like an absolute mess. David Chang is a good chef to follow - on his Instagram, he cooked chicken thighs in a plastic bag in the microwave ‘round his mums, and has a show called Ugly Delicious where the focus is about getting rid of the pointless rules and aesthetic bollocks that stops a lot of people from wanting to cook.

Brad Leone at Bon Appetite is another good egg - he’s very much a ‘bung it in, that should be alright shouldn’t it?’ type of cook. Very unpretentious. Good fun. Pronounces the word ‘water’ funnily.

7. Focus on flavour, not aesthetics

I talked to someone who knows a lot of professional chefs, and they told me the difference between restaurant food and what we cook at home is the delicious but disgusting amounts of salt and butter they put in everything. Like, you’ll use a splodge of butter in your food, and a pro chef will stick a whole pack in. 

Season the crap out of everything too. Keep tasting it as you go along - you’re not a pro kitchen who has to worry about sticking a spoon in your mouth and then returning it straight to the pan.

When a recipe says 2 cloves of garlic, and you know you love garlic, sod it, put 3 or 4 in.

If you’re nervous about making your food too salty, for example, then just follow the recipe to the letter, and then when you serve it up later, if it needs more, just whack a load on as a booster at the end. It’s cool.

8. Don’t worry about having loads of gear

You might read some recipes that ask you to pulverise something in a food processor and you might not have one. If you can afford the gear, fine, go wild. If not, see what the alternatives are. You might be able to do it by hand, or you might be able to cheat by buying some pre-mixed stuff. Cheating is good. Don’t worry yourself.

If you’re bad at mincing garlic, just buy a tube of garlic paste. The only people who would judge that are terrible people, and terrible people don’t deserve your cooking.

9. Worst case scenario

You’ve burned your food. You’ve used salt instead of sugar. The whole thing has gone so badly that it is inedible. You feel defeated and annoyed at yourself. You swear you’ll never cook again.

It’s okay to wallow for a bit, but remember this - if you angrily sling everything in the bin and walk to the chip shop or Maccies - a Big Mac or chips pie and gravy is still a 10 out of 10 meal to have. In terms of you eating, you’ve not failed yourself.

Get stuck into your nuggets meal and enjoy them, and you’ll remember to not put salt in, instead of sugar next time.

10. Give yourself a break

Chefs, foodies, and cooks often forget to tell you what it feels like to not know how to cook. That makes sense - they’ve been practising for ages.They’re at a certain level, and assume the person they’re talking to is at a certain level too. 

When they casually say “knock up a quick roux” and you’re not sure what a roux even is, that’s okay - you can either stop listening to them, and watch a YouTube video about what a roux is, how to make one, and what they’re for... or you can carry on watching your show and just have a holiday in someone else’s good skills.

I can play guitar quite well, but I don’t hear a blistering solo on a Steely Dan record and think ‘well, I may as well throw my guitar into the street’ - I can pootle along on mine, while enjoying someone else who is better at a thing than I am. Try and do the same with food shows. You can always turn them off if they’re making you feel depressed - you don’t owe anyone shit.

Remember how grateful you are when absolutely anyone else cooks for you and how you don’t judge anyone else’s food harshly, because you’re not an arsehole? Do the same for yourself.

[healthyworthyofficial]

20 Ways With Tinned Tuna

Way earlier than Lockdown, if I noticed a particular on tinned tuna, I might replenish. Why? Because tinned tuna is a flexible, ready-to-eat, good-for-you protein. And it might usually kind part of my work-day desk lunch rotation. In truth, I saved tins of tuna in my desk drawers for emergency lunches! So, to be trustworthy, when tinned tuna specials got here on throughout Lockdown (5 for R65 — I’m looking at you Woolworths), I purchased in…

Now in the event you consider tinned tuna, I guess you'll be able to consider perhaps 3, Four or 5 methods you should utilize it… however 20? I’ll admit, it was a stretch for me too… But then I began remembering recipes my gran would make once we had been youngsters. And recipes from the Jewish aspect of my household (as a result of in case you don’t know, you can't combine milk and meat, ie: no cheeseburgers for you)… So, right here, a complete checklist of recipe concepts that includes tinned tuna. READ MORE: 5 Delicious Lockdown Recipes That Won’t Need A Trip To The Shops

1/ Tuna-mayo sandwich

Okay, let’s begin basic right here. Tuna and mayo are a successful mixture. How to fancify this up? Add a squeeze of lemon juice, some freshly — and finely — shopped spring onion or crimson onion. Serve it on 100% rye toasted in sizzling olive oil with layers of chopped tomato and lettuce. YUM.

2/ Tuna-avo sarmie

Orrrr on rice truffles… Okay, so it is a WH HQ fave, particularly now when it’s avo season! Easy sufficient: mush one ripe avocado and mix it with one tin of tuna. Spread on sandwich bread or on rice crackers or in butter-lettuce leaves (relying on what number of carbs you’re chopping…) and munch. Why that is such a success: avos are actually good for you and full of vitamins. Yes, they're excessive in fat — the great type although — and once we’re speaking getting in nutrient-dense energy, avos trump mayo.

3/ Egg-mayo sarmie with tuna

Brunch you say? Who has the finances for salmon on this financial system anyway? Now once I grew up and we used to go on street journeys — all the youngsters squeezed at the back of a bakkie — my gran used to make egg-mayo sarmies. Easy sufficient: you boil the eggs, you mash with mayo, salt and pepper and unfold on a sarmie. Now, we already know eggs and tuna work nicely collectively, because of the French and recipe quantity 5. So why not double up on that good protein and add some tuna to the combination? It works! READ MORE: Yummy Vegan And Gluten-Free Healthy Chocolate Cereal Bars Recipe

4/ Basic tuna salad

Think of this extra like a inexperienced salad with tuna thrown on high. This is de facto what it’s about: you could have some salad substances and also you wish to add some protein. Oh, hey there, handy tin of tuna! Simply add on high with a primary olive oil and balsamic vinegar combine.

5/ Salade Niçoise

A way more intentional and fancy salad made handy by the ready-made tuna. This salad has the next fundamentals: tuna, boiled egg, olives, tomatoes, child potatoes and inexperienced beans. There are variations of this salad that embody lettuce, anchovies and capers… Mix it up as a lot as you want! It’s certain to maintain you fuelled for a busy day forward.

6/ Chopped Israeli-style tuna Salad

Think Israeli-style chopped salad: all the things chopped into same-size 5mm cubes. Tomatoes, carrots, peppers, cucumber… and chickpeas! It’s a leafless salad with a whole lot of crunch. Now add tuna and a few scrumptious avo (once more, chopped into little cubes) and you've got a filling dish that’s full of all the great things.

7/ Tuna salad wrap

Take recipe no.Three above and place all of the substances right into a wrap.

8/ Tuna salad wrap with mealies and mayo

The above recipe bulked up with flavour. I don’t know why sure combos work… Like Tuna and corn aka mealies. But they do! So combine your tuna with some mayo, add corn kernels, then wrap with greens in a big tender tortilla.

9/ Warm tuna pita

In a bowl, mix chopped celery, chopped crimson onion, tuna and mayo. Layer this right into a pita. Add grated cheese of your alternative (have you ever heard of Eatlean Cheese?). Bake within the oven for 10 minutes till the cheese has melted. This is critical consolation meals. Salad on the aspect non-obligatory.

10/ Tinned Tuna (not) Tartare

A play on the French delicacy, you should utilize the rules to assemble a similar-looking dish, simply with tinned tuna. Use finely chopped avocado as the bottom, then layer with chopped child rosa tomatoes, layered on high with tinned tuna. The secret is to decorate the substances beforehand. A beautiful lemony French dressing will do nicely, with some seasoning. Top with leaves and herbs, and serve. Thin slice of toast non-obligatory.

11/ Tuna pasta salad

A quite simple dish I used to make once I was a pupil, tuna-pasta-salad takes the instance of recipe 4 (primary tuna salad) and combines it with mayonnaise and penne pasta. It retains within the fridge for 3 days and it’s simple to pack in a Tupperware. It’s not very fairly to take a look at, however it’s easy and tastes good.

12/ Lemony zesty tuna pasta

A really quick-and-easy recipe that may be served heat or at room temperature the following day. What you want: lemon (zested and juiced), olive oil, garlic, 1 tin of tuna and a few pasta of your alternative, plus herbs of your alternative (parsley is an efficient one). Make it fancier: add wilted child spinach to the combination. Heat olive oil in a saucepan. Add chopped garlic clove. Allow to sizzle for a minute or two, then add the tuna, lemon juice and parsley and stir till heated. Add the recent cooked pasta to this pan with among the pasta water and stir to mix. Serve with zest sprinkled on high and a few additional herbs… For additional yum issue: add a sprinkle of Parmesan cheese.

13/ Tinned tomato and tuna pasta

Cupboard stacked with tinned tomatoes too? Well, that is a straightforward recipe that may assist make use of each tinned substances. What you want: olive oil; one massive onion, chopped; one clove garlic, chopped; one tin of chopped tomatoes; chilli (or chilli flakes); pasta of your alternative; one tin of tuna; contemporary basil (non-obligatory). Method: Sauté onion in olive oil. After a few minutes, add the garlic after which the tin of chopped tomatoes with the chilli. In the meantime, prepare dinner your pasta. Season the tomato combine with salt, pepper and a teaspoon of sugar if wanted to calm the acidity. Simmer to scale back liquid. Toss the recent pasta into the tomato combine and flake within the tuna. Serve with contemporary basil and a drizzle of olive oil. READ MORE: 3 Ways To Pimp Your Hummus For Your Next Mezze Platter

14/ Tuna Lasagne

Heat oven to 200 levels Celsius. Tip one 400g tin chopped tomatoes, 250g of sliced peppers, 50g of olives, 1 tbsp blended dried herb herbs right into a pan, cowl and simmer for 10 minutes till the tomatoes have damaged down a bit of. Add the tin of tuna and season with salt and pepper. Pour one tub of cream cheese right into a bowl, season and blend to loosen a bit of, including a splash of water (or milk, if in case you have some) to make a thick white-sauce consistency. Assemble the lasagne in a baking dish, approx 20 x 30cm. Pour roughly a 3rd of the tuna sauce into the underside of the dish, high with Four lasagne sheets, a 3rd of the cream cheese sauce, then repeat the layers twice extra. Scatter over some mozzarella and bake for 40 minutes till golden and effervescent.

15/ Gluten-free tuna fishcakes

Who doesn’t love a superb fishcake? Mix collectively: 1 tin of tuna, 200g mashed potatoes, 1 egg, 1 tbsp gluten-free flour of alternative (rice flour works nicely), Four finely chopped spring onions, 1 tbsp finely chopped contemporary parsley, salt and pepper to season. Form patties together with your arms. Coat the patties in some extra rice flour earlier than cooking gently in a pan with some olive oil. Yum!

16/ Tinned tuna poke bowls

Ah, we love a superb poke bowl! But we don’t at all times have entry to freshly caught tuna (like on this pic). You could make these the way in which you'll another good poke bowl. The base: steamed rice topped with crunchy, contemporary veggies, nuts (almond or macadamias), avocado, spring onions, sesame seeds, fruit… The secret is the great dressing! 1 tbsp sesame-seed oil + 2 tbsp tamari + Juice of 1 lime + Tiny drizzle honey blended collectively and drizzled over. Find extra scrumptious, wholesome seafood recipes here!

17/ Baked potato with tuna

I like a superb baked potato. In truth, candy potatoes baked entire are in all probability my favorite. Their skins caramelise so fantastically and inside it’s tender and simply practically candy. Top this sizzling child with some tinned tuna blended with a bit of mayo (or creme fraiche in the event you eat dairy) and a few chopped spring onions and dill. Add a squeeze of contemporary lemon to complete it off and also you’ve bought a cracking little meal!

18/ Tuna frittata

A fast and simple lunch for the entire household — you'll be able to pump this up with additional veggies like peppers and mushrooms. Yes, added vitamins for the win! Preheat oven to 180 levels Celsius. In an oven-proof skillet, sauté chopped spring onions in a bit of olive oil. Add your veggies (child spinach, courgettes, tomatoes). Sauté till mixed and wilted. Add one tin of tuna, drained. Whisk collectively 12 eggs and 1/2 cup soya milk (or cow’s milk) with a pinch every of salt and pepper (to style). Pour egg combine into massive skillet. Place within the oven and prepare dinner for 15 to 20 minutes, till eggs are cooked via. Garnish with chilli flakes, Peppadews and contemporary basil. READ MORE: This High-Protein Peanut Butter Breakfast Smoothie Will Make Your Morning

19/ Tuna Tacos

Now the trick right here is to mix the tinned tuna with some crimson onion, corn, tomatoes and chilli to make a spicy salsa to fill your tacos with. So, finely chop half a small crimson onion, combine with one tin drained tuna, one massive chopped tomato, about 1/2 cup corn kernels and one finely chopped chilli. Add the juice of 1 lime and a bit of olive oil and stir collectively. Now mash avocado with chopped coriander, lime juice and salt and pepper. Have some bitter cream on the aspect. Spoon your tuna filling into the corn tacos, add guacamole and a dot of bitter cream. Delish. I like serving my tacos with a bit of shredded butter lettuce for additional crunch and freshness. Imagine the beneath with tuna as a substitute of mince – a lot more energizing!

20/ Tuna, olive and rocket pizza

Home-made pizza evenings are nice! But you won't at all times have a great deal of toppings a hand… Enter that outdated devoted tin of tuna. Get your bases prepared, smeared with some tomato puree, and your oven sizzling at 200-220 levels Celsius. Top your tomato bases with shredded tuna, chopped black olives, capers (if in case you have) and mozzarella cheese. Bake till golden and melted and scrumptious. Serve with contemporary rocket and skinny slices of crimson onion. So yum! Want extra? We’ve bought you coated: all of your healthy recipes sorted. READ MORE ON: Food Food News Health Advice Nutrition Nutrition Advice Recipes !function(f,b,e,v,n,t,s){if(f.fbq)return;n=f.fbq=function(){n.callMethod? n.callMethod.apply(n,arguments):n.queue.push(arguments)};if(!f._fbq)f._fbq=n; n.push=n;n.loaded=!0;n.version='2.0';n.queue=;t=b.createElement(e);t.async=!0; t.src=v;s=b.getElementsByTagName(e);s.parentNode.insertBefore(t,s)}(window, document,'script','https://connect.facebook.net/en_US/fbevents.js'); fbq('init', '2162521310492989'); fbq('track', 'PageView'); Source link Read the full article

[tikkisaram]

Something Fishy — My Top Seven Elizabeth Bishop Poems Featuring Fish

Or simply having some link with them. I interpret the term ‘fishy’ openly; broadly enough to include any poem with a 'fishy feel', but not enough to latch on to any instance of water. You'll see what I mean.

1. The Fish

Well, is there a fishier poem than this? Bishop's detailed, long, elaborate description can make us forget how disgusting the fish looks; but despite the poem's modest approach to versification (i.e. there is none) it manages to immerse us in the situation and paint an extremely vivid image of the fish in all its repulsiveness. Impressive!

I caught a tremendous fish and held him beside the boat half out of water, with my hook fast in a corner of his mouth.

2. Pleasure Seas

Bishop seems fond of fish in the sea; they give the sea a specific character compared to the sterility of swimming pools. I like the flurry of strange metaphors: the water is a burning glass, the sea is a dance-floor, the coral reef is a shelf... bizarre, but it works.

The water is a burning glass Turned to the sun That blues and cools as the afternoon wears on, And liquidly Floats weeds, surrounds fish, supports a violently red bell-buoy Whose neon-color vibrates over it, whose bells vibrate Through it.

3. Jerónimo's House

Though Bishop's description of the fish here is brief by her standards, I find it highly effective: I cannot read it without growing hungry. The vivid colours, the powerful verb, the repetition of plosives, the triple sibilance — all this makes for an appealing sensory cluster. Mmm... fish...

and on the table     one fried fish spattered with burning     scarlet sauce,

4. The Riverman

Plenty of fish — river fish, this time — in this poem; but it's the magical Dolphin that really catches my attention. Dolphins are arguably the nicest beings in the sea! I am not convinced about the explanation that opens the poem, but I suppose the poem would be unintelligible without it — not that it makes much sense anyway, but still.

I got up in the night for the Dolphin spoke to me. He grunted beneath my window, hid by the river mist, but I glimpsed him – a man like myself.

5. For C.W.B.

Fish with honey? I know that honey is good with ham, but I have never tried it with fish, and I am not sure if it would be a good combination. Sounds fishy if you ask me...

We will watch the white feet of the young morning pass     And dine upon honey and small shiny fish.

6. At The Fishhouses

This poem features a lot of nice contrast; Bishop alternates between descriptions of beauty and darker images. Still, the overall impression is quite pleasant, and I especially like the interaction with the seal.

The big fish tubs are completely lined with layers of beautiful herring scales and the wheelbarrows are similarly plastered with creamy iridescent coats of mail, with small iridescent flies crawling on them.

7. The Bight

This poem focuses on a chaotic, industrial representation of the sea; despite not mentioning fish at all, I think it fits perfectly. Also, I love the allusion to Baudelaire!

Click. Click. Goes the dredge, and brings up a dripping jawful of marl. All the untidy activity continues, awful but cheerful.

[cutiecrates]

Cutie Reviews: Yume Twins May 18

See, I’m already making progress. It’s been a while since I’ve done two reviews in such a close span... hasn’t it?

Theme of the month: (U・x・U) Pom-Pom Sunshine

Before we get into this, I thought It’d be kinda fun to look over the description of this months box to help get a feel for the theme. It does play a large role in judging and I usually don’t elaborate upon it outside of name. Keep in mind that I took out the non-important stuff.

“What does Pompompurin and sunshine have in common? They both have a kawaii pastel yellow color! Pompompurin also loves going out and enjoying the outdoors making the most of his day. In this box, you can find many cute yellow items that represent May’s nice weathers and Pompompurin!“

Not to be a downer but I don’t like yellow.

But the point is not to judge the box on it’s color choices but its content, so please keep that paragraph above in mind.

Contest & Yume Prize

As usual, we have a contest featuring some very randomly chosen Sailor Moon facial masks, earbuds, and a puzzle. I’m not complaining though, who doesn’t like Sailor Moon? 

The Yume Prize caters more towards the theme however, which I do appreciate. They usually do pretty good with that. Although, without sounding like a brat, I don’t see how this stuff can cost over 500 dollars other than the high quality being on a name brand product that belongs to its brand; you know, like if you find a toy at an official Disney store, it’s probably going to cost more than like it’s Walmart Disney toy variant?

In fact I can guarantee it because one of my favorite bloggers did a comparison on them a few times....  

Kawaii Culture

I really should be including this more often, so here it is now :3 May’s Kawaii Culture celebrates the very first permanent Pokemon Cafe in Nihonboshi Tokyo back in March. You can shop for Pokemon-themed goods like accessories, toys, figurines, and even get some cute themed food.

Okay! So let’s get along with the review shall we?

Pompompurin Roll Cushion

The second of 3 Sanrio Roll within Yume Twins, last month we got My Melody in the easter-themed box, and next month we’ll get the third and final one of the set. You’ll have to wait for that review to see who it is-  but in the mean time feel free to guess or think up an answer. I wish the image within the booklet didn’t spoil each one though because the shapes made them very obvious. There wasn’t a surprise element for us who subscribe to it.

As I mentioned in the prior box, I love these cute Sanrio, tube-like tsum tsum cushions. They’re so cute and soft.

Rating: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ 

These are very simplified, but well made roll plush/cushions. Comfortable enough to snuggle with and use for the head or to rest a limb on. They even go full out with details... by that I mean they included his button.

and by button I mean... button; you know, typical Pompompurin inclusion. If they didn’t want people to know it was there they wouldn’t put it <3<

Kawaii Leisure Sheet

Ironically I just reviewed one of these in the Doki Doki April box. I think this one may be a bit bigger, I didn’t think to compare the two to see like I probably should have. Anyway... as a rehash of DDAB’s sheet, this sheet is for activities you would probably down sitting down outside. The bottom half has a thin layer of Styrofoam, while the top is textured (I assume to wash off dirt or stains).

This game in four styles, featuring Rilakkuma, My Melody, and 2 different Sumikko Gurashi. 

Rating: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ 

Rilakkuma is always cute and I love this design! It feels so.. spring-to-summer vibey. But I also feel like this could work in the fall too. The mat is thin, but it still feels comfortable sitting down on. It could also probably work for several other things, like putting shoes on, or as a plate mat for a room or something. If I was going to the park or on a picnic or something I’d probably bring it.

Japanese Canvas Tote Bag

A mini-tote bag made in India that apparently costs 1,000 yen. It’s not very big but it gets the job done no problem and offers a lot of space. It also has an inner-pocket, which I like because I hate bags that have no storage compartments and just make a mess you need to waste five minutes digging through. There was 5 designs, including this one, two with cats, and two with sumo wrestlers.

Rating: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ 

For a bag to get in one of these boxes I’m actually pretty impressed by it. It’s extremely well made and you can fit necessities and more in it, so it’s very practical for all sorts of occasions. I also like the simplistic and colorfully repetitive design, it makes me feel happy.

Cafe Holographic Stickers

I love sparkles, and food stickers! I got pretty excited seeing this in the box, you can see just how holographic the packaging is alone. There are 6 types (Honey toast, a drink, pancakes, a frappe, cheesecake or fruit tart, and a donut), 8 for each. There is also 2 large stickers with a design based on the front of the package.

Rating: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ 

First I want to say adore this packaging. It’s so sparkly and shiny, and I just think it’s really cute looking with the cafe items covering the front and back. I like the variety and the stickers are like average stickers, but they do have that holo that everyone loves and makes everything better~

Taiyaki Squishy

Everyone’s favorite item in these boxes (I assume anyway), a squishy! Taiyaki is a baked pastry filled with things like red bean paste or chocolate. They’re super-popular and can be available fresh (which seem more cake/dough-like from what I’ve seen) or crispy pre-packaged ones (which I’ve tried before and really liked).

This was available in strawberry, chocolate, regular, matcha, and... white. Sorry, I’m not sure what a white one would be. It’s like they knew I wouldn’t be a fan of the Yellow color theme for May and gave me my favorite color to appease that.

I know that isn’t really the case, but it’s ironic isn’t it?

Rating: ♥ ♥ ♥  

It’s very cute, and I’m happy I got this strawberry-colored one. But I did notice mine has some air bubbles in the rubber/fabric (?), and around the mouth the coloring is lacking. What really killed it for me though, is the fact that it smells like body odor. I have no idea why it would, it’s been in the box and the box doesn’t stink. The inside of the box actually smells good...

Oh, and if you’re curious its a like a... 8 out of 10 in terms of rising speed. It’s quick but not instant.

Chick Kitchen Spoon

This is our final item of the box, and also the featured one. It’s an adorable chick-themed spoon perfect for stirring soups and sauces, scooping rice, tossing a salad, etc. It’s feet are removable- I assume for easier holding and washing.

Rating: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ 

I love cute kitchen items, so I instantly took to this one. It’s pretty much like any other large spoon you’d have for making foods, but it’s just unique in design- so there isn’t actually much I can say about it. I do like that it stands though, because I hate laying spoons down on various surfaces and either making a mess or worrying over germs and having to get a whole new one.

♥ Cutie Ranking ♥

Content - 4 out of 5. I liked everything enough, I’m not sure what of it I’ll actually end up using because for me personally, it kinda feels like this is one of those “put it aside and come back to it“ boxes. I didn’t instantly say “I’m gonna put that out right away!“, except for the chick spoon for obvious reasons.

Price - 5 out of 5. Unlike the past two boxes I feel like this one was definitely worth the price we pay for them. Two items were small, in comparison to having a bunch of small and cheap items.

Quality - 4.5 out of 5. Everything is spot-on, nicely detailed, etc. I’m only marking this down because of that smelly Taiyaki squishy.

Theme - 2.5 out of 5. The theme was yellow, and two of our pre-picked non-randomized items were indeed yellow. By some dumb luck one of my items is mostly yellow. But two ended up being multicolored, and one was pink (but had a yellowish one in the set). Another portion was pompompurin, who could have been represented more, as well as sunshine, a summery vibe I honestly didn’t feel with this box outside of the vibrant color.

Total Rank: 15/16 out of 20 Cuties. Lately I’ve had complex and uncertain feelings about boxes, but with this one I felt like I liked it more/better even if it left me without that excitement that I look for in a new box.

♥ Cutie Scale ♥

1. Leisure Sheet -  Not only did I feel like this embraced the theme the best, but in general it’s just a super-kawaii design!

2. Cafe Holographic Stickers - I was quickly won over by the sparkly, shiny rainbowness of the packaging- plus the stickers are cute. 

3. Pompompurin Roll - Very cute and squishy-soft, but generic Pompompurin you know?

4. Tote - A repetitive and simple bonsai plant design, but it’s charming.  

5. Chick Spoon - It’s cute but in a generic sense to me, so I thought the other items were much cuter.

6. Taiyaki Squishy - It’s a stinky, but still kind of cute squishy. And Pink, so...

Alrighty, we’ve come to another end of a review. Wasn’t so bad was it? Next will be the usual NMNL, followed by Kira Kira crate. I’m hoping to get those both done within the next few days to try to get myself back on track of posting more often- especially since I got so behind >3<

But if anyone sticks it out with me and continues reading then I’m happy. So until next time stay warmly pompompurin cute!

[engagedtobefree]

Guy at Work

I haven’t been posting too much personal stuff on here in quite a while, but I can’t contain my enthusiasm.

There’s a guy at work, he’s a lot older than me. I thought he was around 38/39, but I decided to see if I could find him on Facebook and I did, because I was really just curious about his age, and the only info on there was when he graduated high school. 1992. I was born in 1991. This would make him about 43. I’m 26.

He has a young way about him though. He seems younger (like 30s), and I don’t think he looks his age. He has a youthful way about him too, not immature, but truly young at heart. I think he’s cute too.

Anyway, Scott shares an office with 2 other guys, Steve and Chris. I’ve always thought they were all nice, but for some reason I always liked him the best (idk why I think like this, I just do lol). So he’s always said, “Hey Dana, what’s up?” to me. I noticed one time, I guess a few weeks back when he said it he was really looking at me, but I didn’t think anything of it or pay it any mind. Last week I started noticing a few things. He always leaves around the same time I do (a bunch of us get done around the same time), but I think usually he leaves a little after me. But I’ve been noticing this week and last week hes been out the door right behind me more days than ever before. It’s only happened usually once in a while, but it’s happened at least 3 or 4 times in 2 weeks. Its easier for me if i explain all this in a timeline. Also, below you will find a shitty drawing of the first floor for reference, in case of the .001% chance someone reads this lol the scale is very off, as I drew this quickly on the back of a shoebox, so note that the hallways are smaller and that the departments are bigger than they appear. Everyone in Scott’s office has an arrow to depict which way they face at their desk.

Friday - Well last Friday when it was snowing, a lot of people left early, so there was just a few of us left. My co-worker, Joyce, was at my cubicle entrance talking to me, and Scott came over and was talking to Joyce. He has an automatic starter on his car and was saying how the snow would just melt off, and Joyce said something in response to make him laugh and it was so cute it just melted my heart. I started smiling and I saw him looking at me.

So I went outside and he was at his car (he parks right at the spot in front of the steps), about to go in it. I said bye to him and he said bye to me. I got to my car, about 6 spaces down from him, grabbed my broom and started cleaning off my car. He was still standing at his car door, and even though I didn’t look right at him, I could see in my peripheral vision that he was looking at me. I was debating if I would like the situation to turn into him coming over and helping me, but I felt kinda nervous about what I would say to him (I need the guy to start the convo with me always). So then he goes to his trunk and gets out a little brush, and is brushing his car off, even though his car is pretty much cleaned off. When I finish my car and get inside of it, he gets in his car. I tried not to think about it all weekend, because I thought maybe it was nothing, and I wasn't entirely sure why I was thinking the way I was about him.

Monday - Monday just one thing happened. I had to go into his office and talk to Steve about an order. Well Scott literally turned his whole chair around and was watching me. Again, I did not look at him cuz I was nervous to, but I turned up my charm factor as I was talking to Steve. I know I’m naturally charming (I won’t admit this in real life because I don’t want to seem conceited), and when I want to I can just pull from a place inside of me and work it a bit more. That’s what I did while talking to Steve. I kinda wish I had looked at Scott so I could make eye contact and see what his facial expression was, but I don’t know, I just couldn’t do it. 

Tuesday - Tuesday I decided to wake up early and not rush off to work looking like a mess as usual. I looked super cute, not gonna lie. Pictures do not do it justice (I’m kinda cute, really, just not super photogenic, especially android cameras suck, not gonna lie).

So when I started my lunch and was heading to the breakroom upstairs, I passed Scott. He had already come down the stairs and was talking to the receptionist, and without thinking I said “hey” to him, but he was talking and I just looked at him over my shoulder as i started yp the stairs and he looked at me, still talking. It happened super fast, and he was in the middle of a sentence when I said hey, and I just started going up the stairs, so he really didn’t have a chance to say anything back. I walk pretty fast too, which doesn’t help.

At the end of the day, I was talking to Pete and Joyce at their cubicles for a few minutes before I left. Scott came out of his office and was standing outside his door, looking at me laughing. I turned my head and looked at him, still smiling. He went back into his office. I left like a minute later. As soon as I got to my car he came out the door and said “Bye, Dana.” This prompted something in my brain. I noticed he always says my name, but he doesn’t do that with anyone else. He usually tacks on “dude” or just days a normal “hey” when he’s talking to another person (So "Hey, dude, what's up?" or "Hey, what's up?"). Now that I think about it, I also noticed when he has come outside after me that he's walking fast, when his typical walk is a slow pace.

So right from work I had to go to therapy, and I am beaming the whole drive there. I was super excited to tell my therapist that I think Scott may be interested in me. Again, I could not make the connection as to why i was thinking this way about him, but I'll get to that later. We talked about the age difference and she said it’s okay, that she’s had quite a few clients with big age gaps in their relationships. I didn’t want to jump the gun with anything, but when she asked me if I hoped he’d ask me out, the answer was yes. I often like to follow my intuition, and that’s what I was listening to. It has never led me wrong, and even though sometimes it takes me somewhere I don’t want to go and I struggle to find the lesson in it (ie. Nick), i do always find the lesson eventually. (I may post about Nick later, but, meh, we’ll see).

Wednesday - Crazy day. So this was our department Christmas party (Scott not included - only me, Joyce, Pete, warehouse staff, and warehouse office). I helped Joyce set up in the morning, and then I had to reheat my dish. I should state here in order to get to the warehouse, where our party was, I have to pass Scott’s office. I could use the other warehouse door, but I honestly have never liked that one so I don’t ever use it. So at 11:30 I started heating my dish, and I only had to put the cranberry sauce on top after. My can opener decided to break the night before, so I asked Joyce if she could bring me one. She grabbed the wrong one, as it was one of those openers that pokes a hole so you can drain a can. I looked in both the kitchenette drawers and then the kitchen/break room, but couldn’t find one. I couldn’t check the warehouse kitchen because the tables were all set up with food and blocking the cabinets. So the receptionist said she would call around asking anyone if they have a can opener (I was not very hopeful, though a woman did run home to grab one for me real quick). Anyway, I took the opportunity to go ask Scott. As I reach the office doorway, the receptionist had called him on his phone on speaker. He’s saying “can opener, nahhh…i got a knife though” and he says a few more things. Steve wasn’t in the office but Chris was and all he says is that he doesn’t have one and just keeps working. I take the opportunity to look at Scott the whole time as he’s talking, trying to make up for Monday. He doesn’t look at me this time though till right as I’m leaving and saying “that’s what I was coming to ask, thanks anyway!”. 

At the Christmas party, someone happened to mention he has a daughter, and several people agreed hes happy with just having one. I’m okay with that, but a little part of me questioned if this is all in my head and hes married or has a girlfriend.

Either way, I’m feeling incredibly confident at this point. I woke up early again and did my hair and makeup, and I just feel good talking to people all day and being up and away from my desk. After the party, I was still in and out of the warehouse quite a bit. I took the opportunity several times to turn my head as I’m entering the warehouse (Scott’s office on my left) and coming back from the warehouse (Scott’s office on my right). I’d say about 80% of the times I pass, he’s looking at me as I look at him. Each time I give him a little smile, and make eye contact, he holds his gaze but I can’t read his face. One time as I pass and he’s not looking, I check just to make sure he doesn’t have a ring on his finger. He doesn’t. (Still doesn’t rule out the girlfriend thing, but it’s something. I honestly believe he’s single though). I also walk by his office a few other times to get water or to use the single bathroom. I don’t have to go this way, and rarely do, but my confidence was soaring. So at one point as I’m returning from heating my coffee (there’s a microwave by the water and bathroom), he is turned around in his chair talking to someone who came into his office. He’s watching me through his office window as I’m walking toward his office. Again, I make eye contact and give a little smile. This time he’s sort of smiling back at me. It felt really nice.

At the end of the day, I felt like maybe I overdid it a little walking by his office so much. Even though most of it I couldn’t help, I really didn’t have to turn and look at him almost every time I went through the warehouse door. But then, when I leave for the day, he comes out behind me about 15 seconds later, looks at me and says “Bye, Dana”. So I feel a little better.

Today - Complete opposite of yesterday. I have not gotten a good night’s sleep all week, and I work 2 jobs and have been running doing last minute shopping, and last night before I went to bed I found out something absolutely horrible that happened to a friend. Not anything good to sleep on, especially with only 6 hours sleep. Now I pay the price with a ton of anxiety. I didn’t get to interact with people as much as yesterday, and even though the rest of the first floor seemed chatty, me, Joyce, and Pete just weren’t. A part of my anxiety was that I really overdid it yesterday walking by the office so much. Some time between 10 and 11 today, I was standing facing the printer, and I hear behind me the always-chill “Hey, Dana, what’s up?” I turn to look at him and respond with my usual “Hey, Scott”. He was walking back to his office from the men’s room, and he doesn’t look at me, though I think he probably saw me turn in his peripheral vision. He doesn’t stop walking and keeps his slow, easy-going pace (total opposite of me lol). But I start thinking, okay, he didn’t have to say hi to me. I wouldn’t have even known he was behind me, because my back was facing him. So it’s some reassurance that I didn’t completely creep him out and that he wanted to say hi to me.

A few times throughout the day I have to go to the warehouse, and a few times I pass by the office to go to the water jug. Roughly about 90% of this time, Scott is not in the office, and when he is, he’s busy at his computer. Didn’t help my anxiety. I know I should let situations be, but I get very impatient, especially when my brain is a hot mess.

But yeah, I heard him talking to someone at one point when it was kinda quiet, and he said he wouldn’t be in tomorrow. I didn’t see him as I left either. I was disappointed because I wanted to tell him Merry Christmas, as I did this with everyone who won’t be in tomorrow, but I would have liked to tell him the most for clearly obvious reasons.

I honestly thought I was only interested in Scott to get over Nick, but the more I think about it, the more I realize that’s not actually the case. While I have missed Nick, the 2 months of not talking to him or seeing him has made me start to forget things and really re-evaluate what type of person I'd like to be with. And I have truly been thinking that I’m done with guys my age, because none of them seem to have their priorities straight or know what they want. And the more I think about Scott, the more I realize that I have in fact noticed him, how he has stood out to me, and that I have thought about him a few times, but brushed it off either because of Nick or the age gap. I have been slowly closing the door on Nick, and maybe another door has also been slowly opening in turn. Actually, the week of the snow incident with me brushing off my car, it was the sales trainees week, so we can eat whatever good is left after they're done their lunch for each day. Well like twice that week I had gone up for salad and Scott was in the lunch/break room with 2 other people. As soon as I walked in, my brain went "There's Scott." In response I'm like "okay, yes I know. Thanks?", but I'm thinking now if it meant something more and that I was just brushing this off again.

One thing is bothering me though. My birthday was in October, and I know Scott told me happy birthday as he passed my cubicle, but I can’t remember if he’s the one who asked me my age. One of the guys in the office asked me, but I can’t remember who since they all told me happy birthday. I mean, I’m clearly much younger than him (people also tend to think I’m much younger than I am), but still, I’d really just like to know if he asked.

Anyway, have not done a long post like this in some time lol I’m just super excited, and totally open to the possibility. I definitely need to take the time to recenter myself over the weekend and holiday, as I’d like to not repeat a day like today, and I also have to work hard at letting things be and handling my anxiety. It’s still an issue for me in general, and I have to really work at it a lot. I do the best that I can on a day-to-day basis, and on some days it just looks better than others. Anyway, pray for me, or keep me in your thoughts, or whatever. This girl would love a date.

[missguomeiyun]

dinner @ Formosa Bistro

Did you know. .. Formosa used to be a name for “Republic of Taiwan”? It was given by the Portuguese when they discovered the island in 1544!

^I didn’t know the above interesting fact until I had a coworker who told me about Formosa Bistro, a Taiwanese restaurant on 34th Ave. I was like “whatttt?” The named totally sounded weird for a Taiwanese restaurant but then when I Googled it - it all made sense haha 

Formosa Bistro is a cozy family-style restaurant that opened last year; it’s only a few months old. Last night, Christina & I went there for dinner, a 1st experience for the both of us at this place. 

I love it when menus include a little background blurb on their restaurant, restaurant name, or just like their cuisine type, in general. It’s both informative & interesting.

To my left.

To my right.

The restaurant opened at 5pm, & we sat down at 4:54. We were glad they let us in; however, until it’s 5pm, they don’t “serve” you. So we got our formal greeting & menus a few minutes after we sat down, which I think is fair. Some places don’t open doors till their opening time. It worked out bcos it was cold & it was nice to get a brief moment to settle in & get comfy in our seats; it was just a little awkward bcos we went in & we just sat down lol the server, which was a middle-aged lady who spoke English with an accent, told us “we don’t open till 5 so. .. pls just wait.” The same went for the other table of customers as well. 

Here’s the menu book & a separate combo meal menu. 

The English version. 

*This was at the entrance right after you walk in. We tried 2 out of the 6 popular dishes - guess which ones we tried :P

Moving onto menu-reading~

Page 1.

Page 2.

Page 3.

Page 4.

Page 5.

Page 6.

Page 7.

Page 8.

FYI: there was also a flip/stand menu at each table that outlined the daily specials & some photographs of their food (like a mini album that was approx. 12 pages). 

For our meal, Christina & I ordered 5 items: 4 of which were appetizers & we got 1 entrée. 

Century egg tofu. Literally a quartered whole thousand year old egg (AKA century egg) placed on top of an entire box of grocery store soft tofu haha very cute in appearance, it is topped with a savoury sauce (hmm something like an oyster sauce + hoisin sauce), green onions & bonito flakes. We were both a little alarmed when we placed the 1st spoonful of tofu + egg into our mouths. This dish is a cold appetizer dish! We both thought it was steamed (thus hot), but it was like.. . cold lol like fridged cold, not even room temp “warm”. It was a bit of a shock to our system; however, we both loved the flavour & the texture. It’s hard to describe thousand year old egg’s flavour & texture to ppl - a lot of foreigners think it’s rubbery but for us, it’s not. .. anyway, the combo of the egg & the bonito flakes was great! I wished they offered this dish in both hot & cold versions. It shouldn’t be hard to have both options available; I feel it’ll be good either way. In the summer, it’ll be refreshing if it’s cold, & in the winter, diners can experience the steamed version. 

*drumroll* What is in here?

Gua bao! “Bao” = generic term for steamed bun. Gua bao is essentially a Taiwanese hamburger but it’s . .. not that accurate of a description. To me, it’s more like a steamed bao-taco. The bao dough is flattened before being steamed then it’s folded so it’s in that taco form. Then you fill it with a protein (typically a pork belly patty), some flavourful greens (cilantro & Taiwanese pickled cabbage), & a peanut sauce with some crushed peanuts. 

Here’s a nice cross-section of it. We chose the braised pork belly & did the over-easy egg as an add-on. My goodness!!! The flavours! It’s a new combo of flavours for both of us. Personally, I’m not a huge fan of pickled cabbage of this nature but it was ok with the pork belly. The most outstanding part was the slightly sweet peanut sauce! I didn’t know peanut sauce would go so well with pork belly. In the future, I might have to try that at home - just. .. cooked pork belly dipped in a peanut sauce. I highly recommend this, esp with the egg add-on. 

Bcos it was Thursday, this was the daily special. .. & we ordered it. 

Looked exactly like the photo - here’s 7 pork & vegetable dumplings, pan-fried, & served with a vinegar soy sauce. The dumpling wrapper was of the store-bought kinds so it’s thin & even in thickness. The filling was not as juicy as I thought bcos the meat:veggie ratio was a little high, like there wasn’t as much cabbage in there so there’s less moisture & liquid content. However, it was still really good. There’s finely grated ginger in it. To me, it was strong enough that I had to dip the dumpling in the vinegar soy sauce lol normally I just eat dumplings as is without dipping them in anything.

The accompanying wonton soup. Christina & I both liked the pork filling in the wontons more, compared to the dumplings. It was more textured & “meat-y”. The broth was very smooth & clean. Smelled richly of sesame oil, it didn’t appear nor taste greasy, & those floaties are actually fried garlic flakes. When you have a wonton, with a few of the garlic flakes & the broth in one bite, it feels very home-ly & warm. I can see why they have the dumplings & wonton soup as a combo special. They compliment each other very well.

Here’s last dish- you can’t leave a Taiwanese restaurant without ordering a noodle dish! This is the “D1″ noodle, which is basically their traditional “original” braised noodle in broth dish. We got the half rib finger - half shank meat option. What’s not on the menu is their spiciness scale that is customizable. There’s non-spicy, mild, medium, & “spicy”. We got the medium level & it had quite the kick. It wasn’t the lasting kind of spiciness, but rather, it happens in a subtle “creeps up on you” type of way haha there’s a side of the same pickled cabbage that was in the gua bao. The server said Taiwanese ppl pour it into the soup & eat everything together, but she wasn’t sure if we wanted that in there or not, so that’s why it’s served separately. We ended up just dumpling the whole thing in & then mixed it together. 

Broth was flavourful, & it comes with 3 pieces of each ingredient haha 3 leaves of bokchoy, 3 pieces of carrots, 3 pieces of daikon (omg the daikon soaked up the broth & it was so soft & delicious!), 3 pieces of rib finger & 3 pieces of shank :D The noodles were clearly store-bought, but it was well-cooked & it suited the dish bcos it carried the broth very well. It was awesome!

Altogether, very enjoyable meal. Would definitely come again- the dishes aren’t your typical “Chinese” food menu items & their flavours are different. 9/10~

[beyonceispregnantwithtwinsbtw]

Beyonce is pregnant. Grammy’s aftermath

A Beyonce pregnancy story

Grammy’s aftermath- 5 months.

It was three weeks after the Grammys. Lemonade lost Album of the Year to Adele. Beyonce was as shocked as everyone else, Adele included. Beyonce went into a depression like a state after the lost. All her hard work for nothing. All Bey does nowadays is sulk in her bedroom eating whatever her chef makes her. She was also eating for two so she had to increase her food intake. 3 weeks of no exercise and eating mammoth amounts of food can do to one's body, that and two growing babies.

Beyonce awoke from her dream, it was about her and Blue playing dress up and throwing a tea party for Blue's stuffed animals. Smiling, Beyonce rolls over to her side, grabs the on to the night stand, lifts herself up so her legs were on the floor while she sits on the bed. Looking down, it's very obvious to the eye Beyonce has grown a lot since the Grammys. Five months pregnant with twins is a lot of work. Again, Bey grabs on the nightstand and lifts herself off the bed. A little wobbly at first but she's okay. A hand pressed against her back as she heads to the bathroom to pee. She has now taken on a slight waddle. After peeing she gets up, washes her hands, and calls down to the chef to make her new favorite breakfast; 3 large eggs, scrambled. 4 sausages, 2 strawberry jam toasts, and a handful of cheddar cheese on top of the eggs. Her belly grumbles at the thought. She's hungry.

"Calm down little ones. Food will be ready soon." Beyonce says as she pats her tummy. Looking in the mirror she can see her belly button close to popping out. This pregnancy with the twins was different from the pregnancy with Blue. She had an insatiable amount of hunger. Beyonce was eating, in the morning, noon, and especially during the night. Rubbing her belly she waddles over to her closet. She throws on a Givenchy t-shirt with some Ivy Park sweats. She could feel the waistline tugging her hips. Bey heads to the kitchen, holding on to the railing for extra support while heading down the stairs.  She sits down as her chef,  Andrea, hands her food along with a big glass of chocolate almond milk and some hot sauce. Thanks, Beyonce barely whispers before indulging in her food. The smooth eggs and hot sauce with a little burning sensation go down her throat. Creamy almond milk and toast is the best combination of her morning sweet tooth. Italian sausages are just the perfect touch to this little breakfast. Bey scarfs it down in less than 7 minutes. Wiping her mouth, she tells Andrea once again thank you before heading into the living room to lounge around before mama Tina arrives. They were planning her Coachella outfit for next month. She would be almost seven months by then. Her tummy will be huge. Bored, Bey turns on the TV and watches some news. As the weather man tells the forecast her babies start kicking. The best feeling in the world. Tina sends a text saying she's here. Struggling to get up, Beyonce gets onto her feet and waddles to the door.            

"Hey baby girl. How are you and your babies doing?" Tina laughed as she brushed by Bey with a box. "Whats that?" Beyonce confused on why her mother has a box from her favorite bakery. "Oh, I brought it for you. I know it's your favorite since you became pregnant." Tina pats the tummy and opens the box to her amusement it was a 3 layered chocolate cake, buttercream filled layers, raspberries along the top with a chocolate mirror glaze. Oh, My god, that looks stunning. Beyonce thinks and they head into the kitchen with Tina telling  Andrea to cut her and Bey large slices.

"So Jay coming back from New York in 2 weeks correct?" Tina asks as  Andrea sets down the two slices. "Mmmhmm. Yes.. I believe." Bey blubbers out as she takes a bite out the cake. So damn good. Tina and Bey talk about the Coachella outfit and visuals that they plan to have happened. Tina going on about something Solange has told her but Beyonce doesn't care that much. On her fourth slice of cake and she's devouring it.  All she wants to do is eat slice after slice after slice. She loves this moist cake and so does the babies. Keep on moving and kicking.

"Woah, look at them dancing in there." Joked Tina as she put both hands on the sides of Beyonce's belly. Smiling at her mother agreeing. Her phone rings getting a notification reminding Bey she has her 20-week appointment in 5 days.  Tina picks up the phone. "Want me to attend the doctor's appointment with you." "Yeah, I wouldn't mind. Jay in New York I would like some company." Bey said as she was about finished with the last slice, her mother staring. "What?" "Oh, nothing. Just watching you eat your cake. Is it good? Do you want my piece? Here sweetie. You are eating for three now." Tina says putting her plate in front of Bey's and getting up and throwing away the now emptied cake box. Beyonce now eating her sixth large slice. She could her the elastic waistband getting tighter around her belly.

It was three-thirty Beyonce and Tina having a late lunch. Tina a spinach strawberry balsamic salad while the chef cooked up a double cheeseburger with loaded fries and a vanilla milkshake for Beyonce. Tina talking to Bey about some ideas she just thought of they hear the front door open and in comes Blue and her nanny.  "Mommy, Nana." Yelled Blue running into the arms of her Nana before giving her mommy a kiss and a hug.  Taking a fry Blue and her nanny goes to her room and does some reading her teacher assigned. "Well, I better be going see you three in 5 days. I need to go home to my man now."Tina says before helping Bey off the couch giving a kiss on the cheek and her belly along rub she picks up her purse and yells to Blue remind her how much she loves her and heads out the door. Bey follows and locks the door and carefully waddles her way to the stairs. Clinching on the rails before climbing the stair. Reaching a landing she stops. Breathes in and out. The bigger she gets the harder it is to control her breathing.  Stopping into her room to use the bathroom and request tonight's dinner. A steak with some crawfish, mac and cheese, with a side of grits. Grilled chicken with some roasted vegs for Blue. She heads into Blues room and dismisses the nanny and helps Blue with her reading before dinner. After the big meal, Bey puts Blue to sleep and crawls into bed herself.

* 5 days later. Doctors appointment.

Beyonce and Tina were in her glam room getting ready. Tina getting her hair into nice loose curls while Bey was munching on some cookies her mom brought over while her hair was getting straighten. A lot has changed in 5 days. The twins have now grown ever so slightly making Beyonce have a now prominent waddle. The outfit she is wearing is also showing off her now fuller figure. Her white low cut top with her boobs hanging out and her black jeans together by an elastic hairband trick. She refuses to wear maturity jeans just yet. Last night on a video call with Jay he commented on her appearance that made her slightly insecure. She knows he wasn't serious but she somewhat took it to heart.  

"Really now. Tell Blue that I'm proud of her knowing her times two's." "Yes. She won't stop talkin- Oh. Hush you two. I'm telling daddy something. Looking down and her stomach, Jay could see her second chin forming. "Woah Bey. Not only are you growing two babies you also growing two chins." Beyonce staring at him. Tears welling up. Her hormones acting all over the place. "Bey- wait. I didn't mean to-" "It's okay. I'm tired anyways. Bye baby." She kisses the screen before ending the call.

Finished with her cookies and hair. Bey gets up and heads to the shoe closet and picks her footwear for the day. Waiting for Tina to get finished she sits with her tummy in between her legs. Rubbing it and feeling the babies move. Tina now finished both her and Bey head down the step and get into the car waiting for them outside to taking them to their appointment.

Waddling into the office Beyonce already has a nurse waiting to take her blood pressure and weight. After getting her blood pressure she steps onto the scale. 169lbs it reads. What the. Did I gain that much? Maybe Jay was right. I need to stop this excessive gorging. She waddled into her room and waited for her doctor. Upset. All she can think about is the all the weight she gained. "Sweetheart. It's okay. You are pregnant. Gaining weight is natural. You are carrying twins anyways." Tina said touching Bey's knee.  The door opened and in walked her doctor. Smiling at both Bey and Tina.

"Well hello. How is your day? Can you lay down onto your back for me." He says instructs her to do so as he sets up the machine and the jelly. "So your blood pressure is normal but I do want to talk about your weight. It says you weigh 169." Looking at her chart to make sure. "Your pre-pregnancy weight was 135. Yes?" Looking at Beyonce to make sure that info is correct. Nodding her head. "You gained over 30 pounds and you're only 20 weeks. I'm worried. I don't want you to gain that much weight considering it could damage your health and cause complications during labor. Watch more carefully what you eat okay." He informs Bey and squirts the cold jelly on her stomach. Moving around the stick as Bey watches in awe of her two babies moving around. "Both baby A and baby B are growing right on schedule." The doctor smiles as he wipes off the remaining Jelly. He then asked if Bey or Tina had any questions. Tina wondering with Coachella approaching should she be dancing the way Beyonce does. "Use common sense. Take it easy out there and don't be doing moves that you know you shouldn't be doing at 7 months pregnant." "Well thank you for everything. Do I get pictures of the babies?" Asks Beyonce. He hands her the pictures and leaves the room. "You're going to give me one right?" Tina says as she helps Beyonce off the table and keeps her stable when her feet touches the ground. Waddling out of the office and back into the car to their way home. She is thinking about what her doctor and mother said about her weight. She is feeding 3 people with what she indulges and she should not feel ashamed about that. Her babies were healthy and that's what mattered the most.

Once home she kisses her mother goodbye and heads straight for the kitchen. After waddling all day today she deserves a nice lunch. Orders  Andrea to cook up some shrimp and grits, a cheese souffle, and a side of fried plantains. She is treating herself with this pregnancy

*SO WHAT DO YOU GUYS THINK? ALSO BEY IS HAVING TWINSSSSS. GET HUGE BEY. GIVE ADELE A RUN FOR HER MONEY

Wattpad: beyonceispregnantI will update on there too. Please follow. If you have ideas send them this way.

[travelwankerworld]

The first thing to say is that this was a lovely location for a week’s chilled getaway!

We would definitely return……not something we usually say or do but this was perfect for a simple week away.

The minor ‘blip’ is that it flies direct from Gatwick.

From Luton, you can fly to Corfu & get a ferry.

We booked this little break via TUI & was quite frankly a bargain – £380 each – Flights, transfer & hotel with breakfast.

The usual start – Train, Wetherspoons for Punk IPA & this time we had nachos.

When our flight was called & we went to our gate, we knew we had struck gold! 98% of the people on the plane were older than us!

Magic!

Easy flight, easy pick-up at the airport. One hour transfer to Parga & just us dropped off at the Rezi Hotel.

We had in-theory gone for the cheapest room & the reviews were okay albeit a tad small etc.

What we got was a far cry from what we expected & we are pretty sure we got better than we were supposed to.

We had a great room!

Lots of space. Fridge & kitchen area.

This was more a studio apartment rather than a pokey room.

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So off we went for an explore.

The ‘front’ was about a 10-minute walk away & was lovely.

Nice beach & various restaurants & bars.

We had a wander & ended up in a little bar upstairs for a pint & followed by a 7% craft beer.

Here we witnessed 2 people, who should have known better, necking for ages! Really quite off-putting.

The final stop before bed was for a Gyros in the #1 place to buy them – Fillippas – It was gorgeous! & at €3 each was a bargain. It made it even better than you can also order a big glass of cold white wine to have with it for €2

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It was pork meat from the kebab + onion, peppers, pickles, sauce & chips….all rolled up into a pitta type of bread.

Just look how happy Lisa is! #foodporn

Bed.

Our first full day we stayed by the pool in the sun.

That evening we went to Dokos Taverna

It was Greek night.

This was the only thing we had booked & it was a good job.

It was a very big restaurant & was pretty busy. The food & wine was pretty cheap & pretty good.

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But.

We were there for the entertainment!

The main ‘Guitar’ guy was superb! What a talent.

They did quite a few songs. Then came the famous Greek song (think ‘Lock, Stock & 2 Smoking Barrels’) where they got loads of people up!

https://travelwanker.world/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/VID_20190613_222157.mp4

https://travelwanker.world/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/VID_20190613_222937.mp4

It was a good laugh. Lisa got roped in.

I, as a man, did the man thing & stayed put at the table drinking wine.

Talking of wine, we drank loads! 2 litres between us & we were not pissed at all!?

One of the highlights were 2 women that were dancing to the music on their own. One of them had massive bangers & here friend/sister (we are sure on purpose) was making her jig up & down & they were bouncing.

A lot!

The phrase ‘two dogs fighting in a bag’ springs to mind.

I don’t think there was anybody that hadn’t noticed, it was that obvious!

She is far right on the bottom video – trust me, that little bit is very tame.

Anyway, a great little night.

Next day was a day on the beach.

We got on the front row with 2 loungers & parasol (€8). Lovely.

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  Later in the afternoon, to get out of the sun, we went exploring to see what was behind the restaurants.

We sought out the #1 on Trip Advisor which was a little bar called ‘The Meeting Place‘ – what a find this was.

Beer in frosty glasses & with every round you got a little plate of Mezzi (AKA Free Food!)

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We returned here quite a few times!

We also met a couple Jim & Marylyn – they were very well-travelled and had been coming to Parga for 40yrs!

They were an excellent source of information and we saw them there quite a few times.

That afternoon we went up to the castle via a route they suggested & visited the Brazilian Green Cup for a cocktail.

It was a lovely place.

Whilst trying to find the bar (you go down) we mistakenly went up and kept going until we basically walked into someones flat/apartment…..

…..& they were sat there.

They were lovely (like all the people we met) – we apologised but they just invited us up to appreciate the view they had over Parga in their apartment (which they have been coming to for years):

  Not bad!

It was called Martha Studios

We carried up to the Castle for the obligatory look & pics.

That evening we went for what was our only ‘posh’ meal of the week & even that wasn’t very expensive – The 5 Senses

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It was really nice.

We also had real wine. It was red & it got us a bit pissed.

Another beach day. This time it was busier as it was a bank holiday. Sunbeds went up to €10.

Went for a few cocktails at the Sail In where we got a great seat on the top floor overlooking the bay.

Ouzo, Beer & Baked Feta.

That evening we ate at a real ‘no frills’ local restaurant that has been recommended – Restaurant Victoria – it was a lovely family-run restaurant – we ate on a table on the street which was nice (rather than inside), it was only when we left that we realised that it was pretty big & there was restaurant seating out the back in an outside courtyard.

I’m not sure when it happened but at some point, Ouzo became a part of the whole evening drinking process when we went out for a meal.

Ouzo with ice. Goes cloudy & is lovely.

The next day was the all-day boat trip over to Paxos. We booked & paid for this the day before just to make sure we did it! It can be so easy to be really lazy on holiday.

After reading all the reviews & wandering around the few boats that did that trip we decided to go with Marco Polo.

It is funny, I never look forward to these sort of things; for some reason, I feel a bit anxious. I’m not sure why. We got to the boat about 9.30 am as instructed & it was due to sail at 10 am.

We got put on the main bit by the sail where you could, in theory, sunbathe – yep, my worst nightmare.

It was really hot already, there was no breeze & I was stood/sat in the blazing sun already feeling none too great. I ended up going to stand on the other side of the boat in the shade as more & more people kept piling on.

Most were Greek as it was their bank holiday.

It was leaving at 10 am & was due back at 5 pm – that is a long day.

Finally, we left & a breeze arrived.

About 3 minutes after we started off the stereo kicked in playing the ‘Crazy Frog’ song!!

Holy Fuck!! – What have we done!? My little heart sank…..

Anyway, after that, the music was pretty decent, mostly Greek but okay – then just after 10.30 am we cracked a beer & chilled.

It turned out to be an absolutely superb day!

The Captain on the boat, Billy was excellent with everyone as were a couple of crew with him.

We went to 2 swimming stops which were stunning & in caves. We ended up in Paxos for about 90 mins which were just long enough for a beer & a quick bite to eat.

Then back to Parga.

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At one of the stops, the captain scaled up a cliff & seemed to get pretty high.

A few people followed suit & he was encouraging them to jump/dive in. They all declined and crawled back down to safety for a massive anti-climax.

The captain, however, did the complete opposite!

https://travelwanker.world/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/VID_20190616_130404.mp4

It really was a cracking day which we will do again if we ever return & I will not be nervous/anxious!

We got off the boat & went for a pint at the Meeting place for a change.

Enroute we booked the highest-rated pizza place for the evening’s meal & got the best table right at the front, looking out at the bay & for people watching – Delizie Pizza & Pasta

What a great day.

The next day we spent by the pool at the hotel for the sunbathing part of the day. It had been hot all week – mid 30 degrees. Am slowly working out that dipping in & out of the pool/sea is the way to do it and thus staying cool/comfortable. In the past, I generally couldn’t be asked & would try & ‘tough it out’ – stupid!

#olddognewtricks

That evening, before we went for dinner, we tried the cocktail place just by the beach which was always offering cheap cocktails – why were they cheap? because they clearly had no booze in them whatsoever! – what a load of shit! Out of principle, they will not get named.

So for dinner, we were off to another recommendation of Jim & Marlyn (which Lisa had also picked out as one to go to on as part of her extensive research) – La Barca – it was a little restaurant just around the corner from our hotel which was run by 2 brothers.

It was a great little place that they recommended for the meatballs. Nothing fancy, just honest cheap but good grub!

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After food, we went for a wander. I can’t remember if it was intentional or if we stumbled upon it & it was still open……

Crazy Golf!!

This pastime is great anyway but becomes even greater when half-cut!

This is compounded as we went round with big glasses of Ouzo! this was after the lad running the place insisted we also have some shots before we went round.

We started at about 11.30 pm – this is usually way past our bedtime!

Now don’t get me wrong, the ‘course’ was utter shite! It was battered & was just a few curves & bit of concrete in the way,

There wasn’t a windmill or a water feature in sight!

But…..it was great! Just look at our pissed faces (well mine!):

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Our final full day was spent back on the beach. This time at the far left hand side.

Lisa took a video across the ‘bay’ which gives you a good idea of what it was like – i.e. not too big or busy.

https://travelwanker.world/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Parga-Beach-Vid.mp4

Later in the afternoon we obviously went to ‘The Meeting Place‘ to get out of the sun and have a beer.

Jim & Marilyn were in there (no real surprise, it is that sort of place). They were sat inside with another couple we had met but came outside for a while to say ‘Hello’ which was nice. It was their last day also.

So for our last evening meal, we went to another highly recommended/rated restaurant – Perivoli

Another winner! & Christ on a bike! – what a lot of food!! So much in fact that we actually asked for a ‘doggy bag’ to take the leftovers away (seeing as we had a little kitchen in our room so was ideal for lunch the next day).

Something that we had done a few times this trip & worked out really well, was to book a table via Facebook.

Pretty much all of the restaurants we went to, had a Facebook page & this is linked to Messenger so just messaged them for a table for 2 at a time & in all the cases we did this, they came back after a while & confirmed it!

This place was a prime example & we got a great table.

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Well that, was pretty much it.

We were around the pool on our ‘going home’ day & had paid €30 for a late checkout (makes life SO much easier when needed & available).

The coach picked us up fine for our 1 hour trip to the airport picking up others on the way.

Parga airport is small & not highly used – in fact there were 3 flights due in that day as I recall.

What was also great was the fact that we checked in – then we fucked off over the road from the airport to a little cafe/bar place to sit in the sun & have a beer. It was all very casual.

The flight was good & we had 20 minutes or so when we were out to get a sandwich & a beer from M&S and get on our train.

We walked into our house at about midnight.

What a great little week – I feel we may do it again sometime!

          Parga, Greece – A Great Week Getaway! Well Worthy Of A Return. The first thing to say is that this was a lovely location for a week's chilled getaway!

[cutiecrates]

Cutie Reviews: Kawaii Box Nov 17

Hello, welcome to another review.... I’m sick again. Or should I say, still sick? Because I don’t think the cold bug actually ever left- he just went on a temporary break.

Well that and it’s probably because on Sunday night we went to the Christmas Lights fair in the country and it was very chilly out.

Anyhoo, here we are now ( ﾟ▽ﾟ)/ I hope you enjoy the review! But before that I want to remind any new Cuties, you can hover the cursor over images to make them easier to see. 

Kawaii Thanksgiving Parade!

First up is this cute bag by Kanahei, featuring the recently popular Usagi and Piske, a bunny and bird duo with simple but comedic features. The fabric is very soft, and features two string pulls, along with Piske and Usagi sewn on with some words above them. 

Rating: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

It’s an ultra-soft bag; I really want to cuddle it :3 Which I did, and it felt amazing~

The sewn on details are really nice and smooth, and this bag is a decent size so I feel like it could be pretty useful too. I was able to fit in all of my essentials with no problem (and I have many). I also like how it came in this plastic bag, which will keep it protected from getting dirty.

It might just be me, but the draw-strings seem a little cheap in comparison to the rest of the bag. This fabric (from past experiences) tends to weaken or thin over time, and I sort of wish they matched the rest of the bag. While it might not be obvious in the image, it’s painfully obvious in real life that it does not go with the bag at all.

I’m just going to point out right now that I don’t know if this is official or fake. I know a few people are accusing Kawaii Box of fake products and have shown me some pretty convincing evidence. But I want to believe Kawaii Box wouldn’t be trying to rip people off knowingly.... I try to remain impartial on the subject.

Anyway, this is a Techi Techi Gomarachi Plush. Gomarachi is this adorable seal by Amuse. He has tons of merchandise, and there’s even a Japanese DS/3DS game for him. It looks really cute and I considered buying it when I saw it ♥

I got Gomarachi, as you can see by this checklist picture. I really like the two girl seals though, so I kind of wish I got one of them. But they are all really cute and squishy marshmallows~

Rating: ♥ ♥ ♥ 

It’s really cute... but it’s a little cheap. Again the picture fails to do my description any justice. It’s soft and bouncy, but it has that “cheap fluff filling“ I noticed in a few other plush toys that don’t seem to do as well as others I’ve gotten from other crate brands.

I also noticed its face is slanted （・□・；） Nothing lines up proportionate wise except for its 3 mouth. Not even the muzzle. It’s not super noticeable, so I’m not sure this was intentional or not. It’s paws/hands/flippers aren’t evenly stuffed either, and there’s a loose string by its muzzle as well...

Here’s an adorable pair befitting of the image on the included card I showed you on top of the page. A Rain Boot Ink Pen, and a Let’s Go Mini Notebook.

How adorable is this pen?? It’s so cute! It has a cute little animal face on it, and a small platform piece where the heel of the boot is. The tip of the pen is fine and has a tiny plastic bit over it to keep the ink from making a mess.

Rating: ♥ ♥ ♥

It’s a very simple pen, and while the cap is adorable... I wish it was a little bit more decorative? It’s literally a plain grey stick with a cutesy cap. But the cap is capable of sticking on both sides, which is another good quality since I worry about losing the caps if I can’t put them on the pen’s top.

The only thing that has me confused is the way the heel of the boot is shaped/designed, I feel like it is meant to stand. But it can’t, because I tried it on a few different surfaces and either I have it on the wrong one, or I gave a strange decision choice too much credit. It would have been cool if it could have stood though!

To go with the pen is this sweet little pink notebook featuring a small girl with cherries, a simple border, and writing that says Let’s Go!! and Accompany growth. The inside is very plain, featuring lined pages with a small section for a title, name, and date. I has 80 pages in it.

Rating: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ 

I love it’s simple and cheery design x3 It’s very sweet, and I like how it’s in this protective translucent cover- which not only gives it some support (something that’s kind of bugged me with over notebooks I got in these boxes), but once you finish using it you could probably find a replacement to slide in it’s place.

If you’ve been reading this blog for even a short time, you can probably recall that I LOVE hair accessories!

Especially cutesy hair clips like these Harajuku Food Hair Clips. They go perfect with some past colorful drink-type Harajuku pins I got from from Kawaii Box ♥ I believe this is some peanut butter, toast, and... ketchup?

I won’t criticize accuracy in spelling (buteer, instead of butter), but as much as I love pink, I’m not actually sure if that is ketchup or something else. For all I know it’s lemon sauce!

Rating: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ 

（。＞ω＜）。

I. ADORE. These.

Not only are they kawaii, but the clip pieces they used are pretty cute too, and they seem to work fairly easily without too much force. The last time I got cute hair clips they were extremely loose (I had to glue them back on before I even got a chance to wear them), so I thought this would be a repeat of that. I was delightfully surprised to see it wasn’t- and I can’t wait to use them with my pins!

As usual we can look forward to some cute stickers! This month we get two sets, including the Twinkle Jewel Seal Deco Diamonds, sparkling gem-like stickers that you can use for deco purposes.

I love these, I’m obsessed with gems and shiny things, and hearts. I can’t wait to actually find something to deco with them now, although I still have the other set I got from my first Kawaii Box, which was a colorful set full of different shapes. 

The other sticker sheet is full of Gudetama! Who lately I find is gathering more and more steam where I live. Not that I’m complaining- who doesn’t love this cute lazy egg? Especially when he’s getting into trouble and playing with other foods x3

The background of the stickers are see-through too, which I like.

Ratings:  ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ 

They’re both stickers, one is deco purpose, the other is for whatever. I don’t have any issues with these, so I really don’t have anything to remark upon either. 

Our last item for this box is a little bag of Kasugai Chibi Vege Ramune Candies.

I eat vegetables, but not often, and I’m very picky with them. I was expecting these to taste like vegetables- so I admit, I waited until I had to get pictures before trying them.

Also, according to the bag this is supposed to be a really good candy for those with food allergies. It has no egg, grains, seeds, peanut, shell fish, crab, and something that looks like milk/dairy.

Of course I am wondering what’s in this- but I can’t translate what’s written on the back.

Rating: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

I love candies like these, and once in your mouth they melt into softened mounds. In terms of taste... I can’t exactly identify what they are. I think the pinkish-purple is on the grape side, while the white seem to have a very faint lemonish taste... but I don’t think it’s lemon.

Weirdly they smell like soy sauce rice snacks I’ve eaten in the past o_o I don’t hate the smell, and thankfully they don’t taste like that because while I love soy sauced rice snacks I’m not sure how it would be in candy form...

♥ Cutie Ranking ♥

Content -  ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥  I liked everything essentially. Nothing really wowed me though, which seems to be a running gag for me by now. That’s kind of bad, but sometimes it happens, especially with how predictable this box has become lately. For the price we paid I feel like we got just about our money’s worth. 

Quality -   ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥  Everything is perfectly fine- I was very happy with the hair clips especially. But tiny details made it a little... meh? Like the odd plush, and that plain pen and it’s weird heel.

Theme - ♥ Um... I’m starting to think there isn’t mean to be a theme. At least some times. Like the message said THANKSGIVING, but the design on the front depicts a rainy season picture... None of the items really screamed any sort of apparent theme either. But I do like how the images on the items listing match the items we got. Sometimes they don’t.

Total Rank: 10 out of 15 Cuties. Um... this one only barely did better then the previous one. I do like it, but the box has become so predictable it doesn’t really offer much surprise at the time. They do change the contents, and if I really had to request anything I’d say, “please include squishies again“ or “go back to including DIY candy“, which they stopped doing a while back. I think they did it to save a buck or two, but I could be wrong.

♥ Cutie Scale ♥

1. Kanahei Bag - I really didn’t think this would be my top choice initially. But I fell in love with it’s really soft texture and feel. It’s amazing~

2. Harajuku Hair Clips - Odd color choices or not, I can’t deny how fun and cute they look. I’m really excited to star using them!

3. Gomarachi Plush - He’s so sweet looking, even if he is a little lop-sided~

4. Mini Notebook -  I love it’s soft and simple design on the front.

5. Twinkle Jewel Seal Deco Diamonds - I’m a sucker for hearts, gems, and pink things~

6. Vege Ramune Candies - The packaging is fun with the doggies wide-opened mouth :D

7. Gudetama Stickers - They are cute and funny to look at. I always smile when I see Gudetama :3

8. Rain Boot Pen - Pretty sure this is the plainest pen we got yet. The cap is cute but it’s not enough to save the rest of it.

Okay, so that will be it for this review. I know I didn’t really have too much to remark upon regarding some items. I found myself feeling indifferent/neutral about the box in general.

I still have 2 or 3 November boxes remaining, and while I usually save Tokyo Treat for last I might do it next. I did open a couple of things last week when I intended to get to the review but that didn’t happen.

Until next time, stay cute!