#coriander draft 1

[meenatranslates]

[SSR] Tsuzuru | Everyone from the Minagi Family

I worked on this for quite a while and when I decided to post after it was done, I kept it in drafts because I realised a bit too late that someone already translated this :) Though, it's such a waste to discard the efforts I put in, so I'll post this as a practice.

__________________________

Midnight Crunch Time - Part 1

__________________________

*Director's default name as Izumi

―Hallway (Night)―

Izumi: Let’s see, what are the plans for today...

Hm? Did something just fell?

(This is... a photo of Minagi family? That means this belongs to Tsuzuru-kun.)

(I wonder if he’s in his room... Huh?)

―Balcony―

Tsuzuru: ......

Izumi: (Seems like he’s in the middle of doing his work. He’s so focused... Is it alright if I call him out?)

(I guess it’s fine since it’s just a photo.)

Hello, Tsuzuru-kun.

Tsuzuru: Oh, Director. What’s up?

Izumi: Sorry if I bother you. This photo is yours, right?

Tsuzuru: Hm? ...Ah! Yeah, that’s mine!

Izumi: I found it over there just now.

Tsuzuru: Argh, my bad. I didn’t even realize it fell.

Thank you, Director.

Izumi: That’s a nice photo you got there.

Tsuzuru: Kaoru came to my part-time work today. I got it from him then.

He also told me to send his regards to you.

Izumi: I’m glad to know he’s doing well.

Oh, how are Tadoru-san and Meguru-san doing?

Tsuzuru: They’ll be back from overseas at the end of this month. I’m planning on going home too.

Though, I doubt I’d be able to...

Izumi: Why’s that?

Tsuzuru: Truth is...

*flashback*

―Veludo Way (Night)―

Tsuzuru: Thanks, Kaoru.

Kaoru: Sorry for coming in out of the blue.

Tsuzuru: Well, I really didn’t expect for you to come.

Kaoru: I just happen to pass by chance, and I wanted to see you working.

Please send my regards to Director-san too.

Tsuzuru: Got it.

Kaoru: Oh right, I’ve been meaning to hand this to you.

Tsuzuru: ?

__________________________

Midnight Crunch Time - Part 2

__________________________

Kaoru: I printed out the photo that we took when you were back at home before.

Tsuzuru: Wow... We’ve been taking photos with phone lately and leaving them as they are, but it’s kinda nice to have a printed photo like this.

Kaoru: Right?

I guess the next time you come home is when Tadoru-oniichan comes home at the end of this month.

Tsuzuru: Right... I said something like that, didn’t I.

Kaoru: Meguru-oniichan said that he’ll show up at home then too.

Tsuzuru: End of the month, huh... The deadline for my assignments and my part-time work might overlap then...

Kaoru: That sounds tough. Don’t push yourself if you’re busy.

Tsuzuru: Yeah. Still, I wanna see you guys, so I’ll try to finish them as soon as I can.

Kaoru: Tadoru-oniichan and Meguru-oniichan wasn’t included in the photo from last time, so I hope we can get a photo with all of us together next time.

Tsuzuru: I hope so.

*flashback ends*

...And that’s why I might not have the time to go home.

Even so, I’ll do everything I can to show up, so I’m starting with what I can do for now.

Izumi: I see.

🌸CHOICE 1: Don’t push yourself too hard

Izumi: Don’t push yourself until you pass out like when you’re writing your script.

You’re too focused when you concentrate that you forgot to eat and sleep.

Tsuzuru: ...I’ll be fine. It’ll be all for nothing if I pass out.

Besides, writing script is something that I like to do, aside from the report.

🌸CHOICE 2: You’re very family oriented

Izumi: I see you’re very family oriented.

Tsuzuru: Hm, there were times I wanted to be alone when I’m at home, but...

I figured that living apart like this makes me miss them.

Izumi: Your house is very lively after all.

Tsuzuru: Well, the dorm isn’t that much different. They both are precious places to me.

I’ll keep writing more good stories as the playwright for MANKAI Company.

Izumi: Fufu, I’m looking forward to it.

―Dining Room (Night)―

Izumi: Our dinner tonight is Massaman Curry!

Chikage: The scent of the cardamom and coriander is nice.

Izumi: I got my hands on some good spices, so I tried using them.

Citron: Oriental aroma is wafting through the air~. It stimulates my appetite!

Masumi: Your curry is the best in the world...

Sakuya: What kind of curry is it?

Izumi: It’s a curry of chicken, potatoes, onions, and peanuts simmered in spices and coconut milk.

Sakuya: It's quite unique to have peanuts included! I’m excited to know what it tastes like.

Izumi: I made a lot, so you can have seconds!

Masumi: I’ll eat the whole pot until there’s nothing left...

Izumi: You don’t need to eat the pot too.

Chikage: The spices work well, and the ingredients are simmered soft and tender.

Itaru: You sound like a nagging food critic.

Chikage: The "nagging" part was unneeded.

Sakuya: It’s very delicious, Director!

Citron: It feels like I’m traveling in a foreign country~!

Izumi: Fufu, I’m glad you like it.

Tsuzuru: *yawns*

Citron: What a big yawn!

Izumi: Not enough sleep?

Itaru: Were you grinding for a game event all-night too?

Tsuzuru: I’m not the same as you. I’ve told you before that I’m trying to finish my report.

Chikage: College report?

Tsuzuru: Yes. Though, it’s not going smoothly because there’s a lot that I need to research...

Masumi: He stayed up late last night too.

Izumi: Really?

Sakuya: Are you okay, Tsuzuru-kun?

Tsuzuru: Well, I’ve got a lot of part-time work, so there’s not that much progress...

I need to concentrate on finishing it soon, or else I won’t be able to go home... I’ll get it done somehow.

Thank you for the food. I’m gonna head back to my room.

Izumi: I hope he’s not working too hard...

Sakuya: He looked really tired too.

Chikage: He’s a workaholic after all.

Citron: We’ll ‘curse’ him if he passes out! [1]

Izumi: ‘Nurse’, you mean.

Itaru: He’d get instant death if you do that with the way he is right now.

Sakuya: I hope his assignment goes well...

Izumi: I hope so too...

Masumi: ......

=====NOTES=====

[1] Original:

❌カンチョー / kanchō - The act of putting your fingers together in a pointy position and sticking them up somebody else's butt.

✅介抱 / kaihou - nurse / taking care of

__________________________

Midnight Crunch Time - Part 3

__________________________

―Room 102 (Night)―

Masumi: *zzz...*

Tsuzuru: *yawns*

...It’s never-ending.

(My shoulders are stiff, and my eyes hurt too...)

I’m so tired... Oh, it’s already that late?

*yawns*

(...Guess I’ll take a nap.)

*snores*

Masumi: ......

Tsuzuru: Mm...

(Shoot, I overslept...)

Hm? A blanket...?

(There’s even a jelly drink...)

(I doubt anyone would come into the room in the middle of the night like this.)

(So that means...)

Masumi: *zzz...*

Tsuzuru: ...Thanks, Masumi.

Alright, let’s wrap this up with one final push.

ーHallway (Day)ー

Izumi: Oh, Tsuzuru-kun. Good morning.

Tsuzuru: Good morning.

Izumi: How’s your assignment going?

Tsuzuru: I think I’ll make it in time.

Izumi: That’s great. Sounds like you can finally go home now.

Tsuzuru: Yeah, I’m also glad that I can adjust my part-time shifts.

And here, look... I got this from Masumi.

Izumi: A jelly drink...? He brought you a refreshment?

Tsuzuru: Seems like it. It was on my desk while I was napping.

Izumi: The way he didn’t give it to you in person is very Masumi-like.

Tsuzuru: Right?

I never thought that Masumi, who used to argue with me a lot when I first joined the troupe, would come to support me like this.

Izumi: ...You’re right. Both of you have such a great relationship.

Tsuzuru: Well, he's like a cute little brother now, just like Sakuya.

Masumi: ...You’re too close with Director, Tsuzuru.

Tsuzuru: Oh, Masumi.

Izumi: Good morning, Masumi-kun.

Masumi: Good morning. You’re very cute today too.

Izumi: Ahaha... You sure are lively too.

Tsuzuru: Hey, Masumi.

Masumi: ...What?

Tsuzuru: You’re the one who left this for me, right?

I finished my report without a hitch thanks to it.

Masumi: ...Director was worried, so.

Tsuzuru: Thanks.

Masumi: So annoying. I want headpats from Director herself, not you.

Tsuzuru: Yeah, yeah.

Masumi: ...I told you to stop it. I’m not a dog.

Tsuzuru: Come on, isn’t it fine?

Masumi: No, it’s not.

Izumi: (It’s so heart-warming to see that both of them are like real brothers.)

Story Clear!

[idleglowingpixels]

October-December 2024 Updates - XXY, Monster High & More!

Me when I remember I have a Tumblr & AO3 I wanted to run on a regular basis, but haven't done anything with either for roughly 3 months:

ANYWAY hi, I am back on Tumblr (and soon, AO3) to drop some MAJOR updates regarding what I've been up to in my absence, my WIP fanfics, upcoming fandom stuff (mainly art but also some general theory/headcanon/etc. posts), and generally what I'm up to for the rest of this year!

Lin! Where Have You Been, Loca?!

I've been doing a lot behind the scenes! During the spring and summer, I've been working on a script for a personal project of mine. All of my writing time had been committed to it -- I've got over 400 pages of script done since March 2023! I met some new friends and reconnected with old friends too, this summer was very social for me.

I'm currently attending my first semester of college (FINALLY), and it's going well! The adjustment period was very long and tiresome, but I feel a lot better about being on top of my schoolwork and keeping things balanced. Now if only my sleep could enter the equation...

Since August started, I haven't written much at all because I was taking part in a college summer program. I wanted to have at least one chapter and/or oneshot fic completed by October, and thankfully I've manage to achieve that! It's been genuinely refreshing to return to my fanfics, and they make me wish I didn't have to be away from them for as long as I did. There's also just been so many different franchises that I've re-entered obsessions with, and would love to share with all of you. So without further ado, let's get to it!

XXY - Chapters 8-14

I have officially completed the first drafts of all 7 upcoming chapters! Editing doesn't take me very long to do, and now that I'm better adjusted to my school/work/life balance, I've been able to manage my time a little better.

To all of you who have been waiting for new chapters since Chapter 7 released, I'm so sorry for making you wait! I honestly don't know how the time from last August to now went by so fast. I still check my email regularly and seeing support from old & new fans of the fic during its extended hiatus has really helped me get back into the swing of things.

To celebrate the occasion, I wanted to provide the names of the next batch of chapters, as well as their release dates. These release dates are final, and will only be changed under extreme circumstances (WHICH WON'T HAPPEN WORLD ISTG--!!!) or if I accidentally forget what day it is (which has happened before), and in that case it'll be posted within 1-2 days after the release dates I've listed below.

Chapter 8: Gladiolus - December 7th, 2024 Chapter 9: Hyacinth - January 7th, 2025 Chapter 10: Spearmint - February 7th, 2025 Chapter 11: Coriander - March 7th, 2025 Chapter 12: Hibiscus - April 8th, 2025 Chapter 13: Violet - May 7th, 2025 Chapter 14: Jasmine Tobacco (INTERMISSION) - June 7th, 2025

Per my Monster High fics, I will also be releasing cover art for Chapters 1-7 (since I didn't get to before) throughout November, leading up to Chapter 8's release. From Ch. 8 onward, cover art for the chapters will be released the same day & on the same update posts as their respective chapters. I hope you'll be looking forward to what I have in store!

Monster High AU Updates

My Monster High AU is back from the dead with plenty of goodies this October! This year I was planning to write, draw & release a lot more for the AU, but since I haven't been able to, I wanted to make up for it during Spooky Month.

I don't have definitive release dates for this, but I have plenty of stuff I want to share, so here's a list of everything I plan on releasing throughout the next few months:

Updated Character Art & Bios: Frankie, Draculaura, Clawdeen, Cleo & Lagoona (Fun fact, I'd had everyone but Cleo done all the way back in 2022, which is why the art style differed so much from more recent drawings I'd posted!)

NEW Character Art & Bios: Clawd Wolf, Howleen Wolf, the Timberwolfs (3 characters), & a surprise character!

NEW One-Shot (With Cover Art): Taking A Lycan To New Salem

NEW Art -- Two pictures from the text conversations in Trapped By The Rain

My original plan after the main 5 ghouls was to create & release the bios of the main mansters (Deuce, Heath, Jackson/Holt, etc.), but in light of the upcoming fic release, I wanted to shift my attention to Clawdeen's siblings and the rest of their pack first. I've spent a lot of time developing them, and a couple of these characters are from G2 & G3 who I've altered to fit into my AU as seamlessly as possible! After these bios release, I do intend on returning to my versions of the mansters, as well as rounding out the rest of the lead ghouls in the ensemble cast (Including (but not limited to) Ghoulia, Abbey, Twyla and Torelai).

Since my scripts are wrapped up for the most part, I do plan on having more frequent fanfic updates for the AU in the forseeable future. How frequent? I have no idea! But I'm absolutely making this AU update much more than once a year.

Gravity Falls -- Billtober & Upcoming Fanfiction!

That's right, one of my all-time favorite TV series has re-entered my mind and I cannot contain it! Believe it or not, before XXY AND my Monster High AU, I had been planning to debut on AO3 with a Gravity Falls fanfiction.

With all that The Book Of Bill & thisisnotawebsite.com have given us lore-wise, I've had a new and revitalized version of that old fanfic idea (Name TBD). Unfortunately, due to the lack of attention I've been giving the aforementioned stories I've been working on over the last couple of years -- and because I want to release chapters once the fic is completed -- I don't (and won't) have much, if anything, to report on it in the upcoming months.

To satiate my need to make something for the show, I decided to take up the Billtober challenge created by @dailybill-cipher ! I'll be working on my sketches sporadically over the next month or so, and will post 7-8 doodles for every week that I finish. Again, this will be sporadic, so I will post whenever I have completed my personal quota!

I also have an old OC for the series I made back in high school who was in DESPERATE need for some upgrades, and whenever I finish a drawing for him, I can't wait to share his design! He'll be in my fic, but only really at the beginning and end, with an appearance here or there as the plot demands it (which is not much).

Miscellaneous

I have a Miraculous Ladybug rewrite fic in the works, whose notes have been collecting dust on my cork board, but it's something I intend to begin working on again in the next year or so. I despised S5's ending, and therefore, will not be continuing to view the series proper. I stopped at S5, so anything that has released for it after S5's finale, excluding the movie (I forgot if it released before or after the finale), I haven't seen. And I don't intend to see (I'm allowing exceptions for what I've seen already, because I need to research for my fic). But I'm really looking forward to returning to this old draft and rejuvenating it!

I may do some art for Five Nights At Freddy's in the near future? Nothing guaranteed, but I do love the franchise, so it's not like I won't talk about it ever lol. Also, I was gifted a copy of The Week Before, which besides my movie poster is my only FNAF merchandise, and OOOOOOOOOOH BOY AM I EXCITED TO RAMBLE ABOUT IT AND EVENTUALLY LET MY RAMBLES ESCAPE MY DRAFTS.

Sonic The Hedgehog 3 is dropping in December...And I will make it everyone's problem (/j). I'm highly anticipating this one, the trailers make it look great!

Ending Notes

For now, these are the main projects that I'm working on. I'm be working really hard to be better at consistent updates and such, so hopefully I won't be away as long as I was unannounced.

As always, thank you to my readers, old and new, for being patient with me. It really is appreciated and helps me continue these stories!

[sharvariakerkar]

EX 1 The Last Dabba (Draft 1)

It was a quiet evening when Anya found the old masala dabba tucked away in the back of the kitchen cabinet. The steel box had been passed down for generations, its compartments once filled with turmeric, cumin, and coriander—each spice a symbol of countless family meals and stories. Her grandmother had always said that cooking with love meant knowing your spices, feeling their warmth in your hands before they met the pot. But in the modern world hat practice felt like something from a distant memory. Anya had never used the dabba. She’d grown up in a world where food came in neat little capsules, ready to be prepared with the tap of a button. Her new Masala Dabba device sat on the countertop—sleek, silver, and almost too polished, a far cry from the humble box of her grandmother. The device had a smooth, touch-sensitive interface, with a compartment for each spice, all in biodegradable pods that would release the perfect amount of seasoning when inserted. It scanned the pods, adjusted the mist intensity, and within minutes, her meal was ready—flavorful and perfectly balanced. No fuss, no mistakes. But something about the old dabba called to her that evening. Maybe it was the smell of nostalgia or the gentle pull of family history. She carefully opened the lid, dusting off years of neglect. Inside, the spices still lingered—faintly fragrant but almost forgotten. Her grandmother’s voice echoed in her mind. “Cooking is more than just a meal, Anya. It’s about connection. With your family. With your roots.” Anya sighed. In the age of automation, connection was rare. Meals were often eaten in front of screens, no one bothering to truly savor the flavors or share a laugh over a simmering pot. She hadn’t felt the joy of cooking in a long time. The new device was fast, but it had stripped away the heart of it all—the anticipation, the mistakes, the satisfaction of creating something by hand.

[thedoorhandler]

My 4th dystopian nightmare dream

One of those VISIONS that make you thankful to be awake again...

Preface

*waves* What's up, guys. I'm glad we're here in this wake state.

At least the sky isn't burning (yet), or making a choir of shrill squealing noises in the night. Our "loved ones" are still around for a chat, even if some of them don't react the way we wish they would. You know, it's probably just another day for them. They don't see that i technically just came back from an apocalypse and barely survived. We're now arguing about silly stuff. Kinda angers me, but i know better. Things looked actually bleak. Now, my relative has to deal with my ass calling on the phone again. I had to create long, quiet suspense before going into the details of the dream i have just woken up from. I want my listerner actually to be eager to hear that shit. It's a bit of a tease, push and pull before divulging this dream.

If that dream was real, i would have been desperately stuck running around aimlessly in this dark city looking for something that i can call shelter, home, or a person that i can tell my current struggles to. My mind seems to have a lot of fun creating "end of the world scenarios" - be it a planet-sized celestial body that hung down from the stratosphere, mixed races chasing each other in an abandoned city, a group of two dudes robbing me of one of my two pencils before saying: "Don't use the word 'peace' in here!'" behind my back, and the saddest thing: Sex bunkers in a post-apocalyptic world where those who would bring someone to f*** would be rewarded with goods. Terrible. I don't even want to say who was brought in there. I'd have to beg you to not blame me for what my subconscious weaves together without my permission.

Now, i have Sun in Aries in 8th house. I am basically a veteran of absolutely terrible, bone-shattering, traumatizing dreams. (Note to brain: Can you construct some good material just once?)...

Anyways. Today, i was fleshing out my Tumblr. I had a satisfying, creative writing flow! My post about AI losing its magic is still in draft since i crashed out after eating 1/2 huge garlic pizza i made baked around 2 AM. Too much garlic has some side effects, like a feeling of dehydration, but not dehydration - it is actually the blood sugar going to hell. I blended about 30 cloves with some water, salt and coriander) and brushed my entire pizza with it. I wouldn't have lasted long anyway. Long story short, it was good.

Today's dream

At least what i can remember.

The first thing i remember was being in a very small, unoccupied apartment. There was nothing but a tiny foyer, a really tiny living room (no more than 15m²), and a bathroom that luckily had all the essentials. Everything was rather dark and very dimly lit - it was night time, too. My mom was somewhere nearby. I said/asked:

"Damn, this apartment is sooo small. Is this up for rent?"

- "Yes" - was the overall answer.

I scanned this small, claustrophobia-inducing room and then found another, larger room that made that apartment slightly more bigger and versatile. "Hey, it's not that small after all. Should i rent it?". That's about the last thing i remember in that context while thinking about an affordable price.

The next thing i can remember was my mom taking seat on a windowsill while being lodged between the window and a transparent curtain. More i don't know. I believe i was just exploring this strange, now changed, apartment.

Next thing i know: I was playing around with my iPhone, downloading an app that's called "Snapchat Cleaner" or something. It's supposed to be an app that "cleans up" unnecessary data of Snapchat, although that made very little sense. After downloading the app, i left it at that. Later i tried to use my phone again and quickly entered my passcode, which i believed i miswrote. Then i entered it again. Wrong. I slowed down my typing, and it was still wrong. Usually the small circles above the number pad turn into white dots, but this time they remained as empty circles. Then, this is a roundabout recreation of how my passcode screen looked like:

(I'm not sure about the "week" prompt being written exactly like that, but there was this form above the number pad).

The number pad was smaller, and more aligned to the top left as you can see. Slowly, i got the sense that the usually stable iOS underwent some kind of modification or hack attack. My worry began when i realized i could not make any calls - and i had only 5 tries left before my phone would erase my stuff. My OS suddenly got more and more shifty, and it looked like everything has been replaced by a very low-quality UI that we usually know from certain chinese smart home apps.

Everything on my phone was slowly replaced with a complete fake system, and i saw more and more such fake apps being downloaded on it. It was a virus, an almost demonic malware going off that even affected me mentally, and it was completely out of control. It scared me, and i could not find anyone nearby to explain what was happening. At this point, the atmosphere got generally darker. I tried to tap around and try to unlock my phone to make at least one emergency call to my parent, but i couldn't even get to my contacts.

Now, if i remember correctly, i remember running outside in the night. The whole environment out to the distance had an apocalyptic feel and there was a shrill squealing noise coming from the sky that sounded like 5 high-pitched car alarms disharmoniously going off at the same time. As i ran, i encountered a woman and told her "Hey, my phone is being hacked". I showed her my screen. She looked at it, understood it, and i was like "That's about it. That's all i wanted to say" (as to not hold her up any longer), and i went my way.

I believe the next thing was meeting Elon Musk in the streets. He kind of followed me, and my whole stance on this was like "i don't have much time right now". I tried to just walk away and keep on running, but something about his presence did not let me escape him. The more i tried to escape, the more i got enveloped in a dark energy that threatened to take me away forever. At some point, i was so overwhelmed by his power that i could only look at him with my dropped jaw. I had to admire his power to escape his grasp so that he wouldn't get mad at me. I had to admire and respect him for his power. He was the true antichrist right there.

Now, i hope i have the sequence right. There was a lot more that happened that i'm starting to forget. As far as i remember, i made more efforts to undo the hack on my phone as i found more and more AI-generated, cursed images filling up my OS. The entire interface was taken over. I saw multiple apps being placed after the others and i had this deep sense that the chaotic disturbance is swapping over to our minds. People would get into a zombie-like state by trying anything to pull everyone around them down to their misery and i was almost halfways affected by it, but i was defending myself very strongly. I tried to stay untouched, which led to a lot of running, and seeking for refuge, and most importantly - trying to contact my mom, which i couldn't. That was a huge problem not finding her anymore - she was somewhere out there in the darkness of this dystopia and i had this sense of being completely cut off from her. [not saying that i like her that much, lol].

The dream shifted, and what i can recall was being in the apartment of two chinese guys who were no older than 25-30. The demonic mind virus has taken them over - and i was battling to not be infected by it. Both of these dudes were chasing each other throughout the apartment uncontrollably, running back and forth, either trying to kill each other or making sure both will not escape this mental hell, spiritual prison, this gradual approach to being damned forever.

Since i needed a safe refuge and had nowhere to go, i felt the need to eliminate the danger before they got at me, so i stirred around in a drawer full of cutlery to find a sharp knife and only found a blunt butter knife. I was briefly waiting for them to turn their backs at me. After my attempt to rush at them and ram that knife into one guy's throat, this attempt pathetically failed. Both instantly went after my ass and i ran out of the apartment, down the staircase, and outside into the dark night.

I ran left and right, forward and backward, not knowing where to run exactly. I looked at this dark patch of grass on the ground and felt really unprepared. I saw apartment blocks in the distance and a fence to my left. I heard my shoes slapping the ground as i ran, with the choir of squarling noise lingering in the sky. My thought was that the Starlink satellites could have been activated, with them bringing forth the confusion or disturbance on the ground for everyone. I ran on the pavement on the left side of the street, and saw a white police cruiser waiting horizontally in front of me. Telepathically, i felt like they were the only "sane ones" left - yet, my mistrust was too strong. This is the point where i woke up with a pounding heart. The second i opened my eyes and saw my good ol' bedroom, i instantly grabbed the phone in front of my face and instantly called my relative in question. With my deep voice, i introduced myself with a "Oh my fucking god", and left it at that, with the suspense-building that i was talking about. Then i divulged my dream.

Now, it could be that i left out some scenarios or mixed up the sequence of things, but these are the ones i can definitely remember right now. I was mostly really struggling with getting this virus off my phone and at some point i could actually get in to access my apps. When i did a "tap and hold" on the ever-replicating virus apps, the context menu expanded but the red "Delete app" label was missing - it was replaced by a red line.

So, the entity that hacked my phone definitely made sure that it can not be undone, or only with the right level of persistence, timing and tactics. I slowly regained some contacts as if the entity finally decided to make an exception for me, but i thought my OS is fucked forever. My logic was that if i decided to wipe or hard-reset my phone (Ah, a hard reset is what i did, too) - The same virus app would be downloaded from iCloud again.

I think i haven't underlined enough how strong the demonic feeling in the atmosphere was. I don't know what role Elon Musk played in this exactly since my encounter with him lasted for only about 30-60 seconds, but he seemed to be pretty much part of the invisible harbringer. What i also need to note that the entire city i was in was largely empty - with nowhere to go, nowhere to help, and with the certainty that this escape from the hellish force would last forever and get me anyway.

Phew, that story wasn't too short. I will try to write down my other epic "milestone dreams", but honestly: I call them visions. When the plot and the environment gets as complex at that, it is totally beyond me how my brain constructs this type of shit just for the sake of it. There are dreams, and there are visions. This one was very lucid.

Again, english is not my native language. Apologies for any grammatical or expression errors.

[health-product8126]

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Sugar Defender is a dietary supplement that is marketed as a way to support healthy blood sugar levels. It is sold online and in some retail stores.

The product comes in liquid form and contains a bl... Draft 1

Sugar Defender is a dietary supplement that is marketed as a way to support healthy blood sugar levels. It is sold online and in some retail stores.

The product comes in liquid form and contains a blend of ingredients, including:

Gymnema Sylvestre

Berberine

Chromium

Banaba leaf

Licorice root

Cinnamon

Alpha-lipoic acid

The manufacturers of Sugar Defender claim that these ingredients work together to help regulate blood sugar levels and improve insulin sensitivity. However, there is limited scientific evidence to support these claims.

It is important to note that Sugar Defender is not a substitute for medication for diabetes or prediabetes. If you are concerned about your blood sugar levels, you should talk to your doctor.

Here are some additional things to keep in mind about Sugar Defender:

The product has not been evaluated by the FDA.

There have been no long-term studies on the safety and efficacy of Sugar Defender.

Some of the ingredients in Sugar Defender may interact with medications.

If you are considering taking Sugar Defender, it is important to talk to your doctor first. They can help you decide if the product is right for you.

Here are some sources that you can consult to learn more about Sugar Defender:

Sugar Defender Reviews CONSUMER REPORTS (⚠️ WARNING ⚠️) Does Sugar Defender Work? Sugar Defender 24: [invalid URL removed]

Sugar Defender Review – Is Sugar Defender Really Support Healthy Blood Sugar Level? Must Read Before Buying!: [invalid URL removed]

Draft 2

Sugar Defender is a dietary supplement that is marketed as being able to support healthy blood sugar levels. It is sold in liquid drop form.

Here are some things to know about Sugar Defender:

**I...

Draft 2

Sugar Defender is a dietary supplement that is marketed as being able to support healthy blood sugar levels. It is sold in liquid drop form.

Here are some things to know about Sugar Defender:

Ingredients: The main ingredients in Sugar Defender are chromium, Gymnema Sylvestre leaf, Berberine extract, banaba leaf, coriander seed, licorice root, alpha lipoic acid, and cayenne pepper fruit.

Claimed benefits: The product claims to help with blood sugar control, weight loss, energy levels, and overall health.

Evidence: There is limited scientific evidence to support the claims that Sugar Defender is effective for any of its intended uses.

Safety: Sugar Defender may interact with certain medications, so it is important to talk to your doctor before taking it.

It is important to consult with a doctor before taking any new dietary supplement, including Sugar Defender.

Here are some additional things to keep in mind about dietary supplements:

Dietary supplements are not regulated by the FDA in the same way that medications are. This means that there is no guarantee of their safety or effectiveness.

Dietary supplements can interact with medications you are taking.

Dietary supplements can have side effects.

If you are considering taking Sugar Defender, it is important to weigh the potential risks and benefits. You should also talk to your doctor to see if it is right for you.

Draft 3

Sugar Defender is a dietary supplement that is marketed as a way to support healthy blood sugar levels. It is sold online and in some retail stores.

The product comes in liquid drop form and contains... Draft 3

Sugar Defender is a dietary supplement that is marketed as a way to support healthy blood sugar levels. It is sold online and in some retail stores.

The product comes in liquid drop form and contains a blend of ingredients, including:

Gymnema Sylvestre leaf

Berberine

Chromium

Banaba leaf

African mango seed

Licorice root

Cinnamon bark

Cayenne pepper

Sugar Defender is not a medication and has not been evaluated by the FDA to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

Here are some things to consider before taking Sugar Defender:

There is limited scientific evidence to support the claims that Sugar Defender can help to lower blood sugar levels.

Some of the ingredients in Sugar Defender may interact with medications you are taking.

It is important to talk to your doctor before taking any new supplement, including Sugar Defender.

If you are considering taking Sugar Defender, it is important to weigh the potential risks and benefits. You should also talk to your doctor to see if it is right for you.

Disclaimer: I am not a medical professional and cannot provide medical advice. This information is for general knowledge only and should not be used as a substitute for professional medical advice.refresh Regenerate drafts volume_up

heartlandequineexperiences.com/what-ethnicity-is-caucasian

Sugar Defender is a dietary supplement that is marketed as being able to support healthy blood sugar levels. It is sold in liquid drop form.

Here are some things to know about Sugar Defender:

Ingredients: The main ingredients in Sugar Defender are chromium, Gymnema Sylvestre leaf, Berberine extract, banaba leaf, coriander seed, licorice root, alpha lipoic acid, and cayenne pepper fruit.

Claimed benefits: The product claims to help with blood sugar control, weight loss, energy levels, and overall health.

Evidence: There is limited scientific evidence to support the claims that Sugar Defender is effective for any of its intended uses.

Safety: Sugar Defender may interact with certain medications, so it is important to talk to your doctor before taking it.

It is important to consult with a doctor before taking any new dietary supplement, including Sugar Defender.

Here are some additional things to keep in mind about dietary supplements:

Dietary supplements are not regulated by the FDA in the same way that medications are. This means that there is no guarantee of their safety or effectiveness.

Dietary supplements can interact with medications you are taking.

Dietary supplements can have side effects.

If you are considering taking Sugar Defender, it is important to weigh the potential risks and benefits. You should also talk to your doctor to see if it is right for you.

[sidhewrites]

CHAPTER 8B. Previous Installment found here. Approx. 2650 words. As always, feel free to send Asks or Messages about what’s written or anything you’re curious about. 

It didn’t take long, however, for Coriander to see that, perhaps, the expansion was for the worse. The original house was a handsome stone building, two floors with a circular glass window looking into the attic, and a stairwell leading down into a clearly marked “Rehearsal Room” that looked like it had once been a wine cellar. The sign above the door had been mounted on a wagon wheel, declaring the inn’s name to be Running Well -- which must be referring to the management, because it certainly had nothing to do with the exterior design.

Branching off from the house, however, were two awkwardly rectangular extensions made of a different stone with brightly-painted shutters and a veritable rainbow of painted wooden trim. Handprints and childish illustrations decorated the lowest levels of the building, coupled with a fascinatingly sloppy garden.  A part of Coriander bristled at the sight of it. But she kept her mouth shut. It wasn’t her garden, after all, and nothing in it suggested that the Innkeep was using it for anything more than the love of growing plants.

Atop one of the extensions was another level, this one made of oak wood and stained a garish lime green, and another extension, made of a reddish clay brick and a thatch roof. It was uncomfortably close to the public stables, where a young groom seemed to be having a quiet but intense disagreement with a tenant leaning their head out the open window. Neither of them spoke, but they gestured quickly back and forth with each other. The hearth inside backlit the tennant dramatically, starkly outlining their short, tightly-curled hair and deep brown complexion, contrasting sharply with the groom’s pale face and hair.

It was all too much to take in. How did someone live in a building like this?

Waites dropped Mum and the cart off at the stables, but he was quickly swept up into a conversation with another groom, one much older and gruffer than the one they’d seen outside. Waites pulled himself away from the conversation for just long enough to say, “Go on inside and get something to eat. I’ll be there soon.” He dropped a few coins into Coriander’s hands, and sent them on ahead. Jasper offered his arm, and they walked together inside. 

It was both better and worse at once.

Dozens of people had crowded into the main room, sizable but not large enough. Paper stars hung from the ceiling, as did one child, much to the chagrin and fury of their mother. The decorum, at least, was more sensible -- whitewash and dark wood supports giving the rowdy public room a hint of sensibility.

She knew about her mother’s parties and the occasional socials that happened in Knittelnau -- events Coriander rarely attended, if ever -- and she’d read plenty on the masquerades and balls among the nobility, but it seemed an impossible amount of noise was emanating from the crowd, all but oppressive. It frightened her, and she stepped back towards the door, half hoping to simply disappear through it, entirely hoping that Jasper would get the hint and follow her out.

As it was, however, she only made it a step out the door before someone else tried to come in. He was an aging man, short and fat and fair-skinned, with rouged cheeks and an impressive moustache. Despite his thinning hair, all of it white and grey, he had a certain youthfulness about him, and he was dressed impeccably in bright colors beneath a threadbare homespun cloak. 

He cleared his throat before speaking. “I do beg your pardon, Madam,” he said, voice gruff but warm. 

Coriander rushed to get out of his way, but he held up a finger. “Now don’t you think about leaving any time soon. My scene is next, and I won’t have anyone missing it.”

His scene? This didn’t seem like a theater to her. People behind them turned and grinned, some shout

Jasper stepped up to her side, making his presence known before offering her his arm. “A scene? Are you an actor, sir?”

The old man beamed. “Oh, I was one a long time ago. Now I just bless my guests with the finest acting this side of the river and the other.”

“I can’t believe we’re going to see an actor perform!” Jasper beamed, looking to Coriander in his excitement. 

She managed to nod, unable to match his enthusiasm.

“You flatterer.” The man bowed gallantly. “Are you two travelling together? A trip around the world after a wedding, perhaps?”

Coriander instantly flushed, stammering helplessly, eyes on the ground. 

Jasper, though his ears burned as well, managed at least to speak. “We’re friends, sir. I’m a pilgrim on my way to Berall, and I met Miss Tippit here along the way.”

“Tippit?” The man eyed Coriander, and she shrank further back. “I know that name. Where do I know that name from?”

“We’ve come with Mister Waites. It seems like he talks about Miss Tippit’s mother quite a lot.”

The man clapped a hand to his breast and laughed heartily -- too heartily for the situation, Coriander thought, and wondered if it had been rehearsed. “Ah, Annie! Of course you’re friends with Annie. He doesn’t stop talking about Bess, young man, mark my words on that. Which means you, good Miss, must have come to see about the physician then, eh?”

She nodded.

“Good, good. Come see me after the performance, would you? I’ll arrange for some rooms.”

Jasper grinned. “Oh, thank you, but -- I think we ought to find the inn keep, shouldn’t we”

The man laughed again. “Your search is up, dear boy. Here I am.” He bowed gallantly. “The one and only Randallin.” He stood upright with all the grandeur of an actor.

Jasper’s smile widened to match Randallin’s, and he held the letter out with reverence. “Sir, I met a ma-- er. Someone on the edge of town today. They asked me to give you this.”

“What’s this? A letter?” Randallin took it in one large hand and inspected the ribbon holding it closed. “Violet. Always a violet ribbon. I wonder…” He opened it, and his rouged face turned redder. His valorous grin softened into a giggling simper, and he covered his face. “Ah. I see. Forgive me, this is terribly embarrassing. I can’t hold any composure when I get a love letter from him.”

“You know who it is?”

Randallin shook his head, still aflutter. “No, but I have my hopes. And now I can’t go on. Not like this. I’ll titter through a tragedy.”

Jasper shook his head. “No! You must! We’ve come all this way. It’d be a crime not to see the great Randallin perform, wouldn’t it, Miss Tippit?”

Coriander flinched under the gaze of both men, and shrank into herself. If she hadn’t been holding Jasper’s arm at that point, it’s likely she would have fainted on the spot.

Still, Randallin took it as a positive, and mumbled a bit before shaking his head. “Oh, very well, very well. I’ll see what I can do. Thank you, thank you.” He pulled a coin purse from his pockets and placed a handsome silver piece into Jasper’s flustered hand, before raising his hood and slinking inside.

Randallin seemed to be of the belief that he was unnoteworthy, if not invisible, as he slunk through the crowd. Coriander could track his progress by the position of the bemused glances, followed quickly by amused grins that followed in his wake. Was he so recognisable despite the cloak, or was this a common enough occurence that the disguise had become part of the act?

Jasper leaned over to whisper, “He’s somewhat conspicuous, don’t you think?”

“Don’t think for a second anyone doesn’t know who he is.”

The pair turned to see Waites having finished with the stablemaster, grinning affectionately inside. “Did you give him the letter?”

Jasper nodded. “Mister Runwell seems to be a frequent writer, by the looks of things.”

“You have no idea.” He shook his head. “Come, let’s go find a place to watch.”

Coriander blanched at the idea of braving the crowd. It seemed they’d be better off fording a raging river with a hole-riddled raft, even if the crowd wasn’t half as dense or rowdy as she thought. But it was an enclosed room with more than enough noise and strangers, and it left her missing her quiet home already, where the only crowds she knew were festivals -- which she only watched from the sidelines anyway -- and the occasional swarm of honeybees in search of a new hive.

The idea of speaking up, however, was all the more imposing, and she let Jasper guide her inside. He glanced at her repeatedly, however, and ensured they stuck close to the walls, even if Waites moved further in to get a better view.

The cloaked figure of Randallin reached the far side of the inn where a set of stairs led to the second floor. He stopped at the landing halfway up, facing the wall, head bowed so that he looked almost like a standing stone in the middle of a building. The conversation of the crowd became a bit stiffer -- as if they wanted to go silent, but knew they were supposed to keep talking until Randallin gave a specific sign.

He slowly lowered the hood. The cloak fell to his feet. His voice filled the entire room, silencing the crowd as he spoke: “Prue. The fiddle, if you please.”

A song kicked up from the rafters. In the shadows, a dark figure played a scuffed instrument, picking out a jaunt that Coriander knew.

Nobody made a sound, however, when the words began. Nobody but Randallin, who sang slightly off key, making over dramatic gestures and expressions as he serenaded the crowd about how pigsies had come in the night while he drank and laughed with an old friend, and all the wicked things they did.

By the third verse, the crowd finally started singing along, if only sparsely. Most of them were caught up in Randallin’s antics, though they did clap along. He danced and spun and produced a mask from somewhere at one point, only to discard it after half a stanza. The ending came with an especially grand flourish, as he picked the cloak up once more and twirled it around himself, revealing a vibrant purple cape hemmed with stars. 

Applause and cheers went up among the crowd. Randallin bowed gallantly before making his way back down to greet his guests. It seemed more than half of them had only come for the performance itself, making their way out into the night only a few moments after it had ended.

Coriander was in awe. Her mouth hung ajar, eyes wide and glittering in the candlelight as Randallin made his way back to them. She risked a glance up to the rafters again, where the shadowed musician still hung, peering down on them with big, dark eyes. She could somewhat make out a form -- a tall, thin individual with a cloud of tightly-curled hair around their face. Beyond that, however, she wasn’t able to see much.

Randallin was flushed, glowing from the cheer and attention. He puffed his chest out, grinning like a proud child, and asked, “Well? How was I?”

“As charm--” Waites began, but Jasper butted in all too quickly.

“You were magnificent, sir! You commanded the stage like you were born for it. If I were to be bold, I’d wonder what you were doing here, rather than in Starbor’s theater district.”

Above them, the dark figure moved, crawling over and around the rafters, fiddle in hand, silent as a cat.

Randallin dipped his head, nodding and chuckling. “I dare say I have a fan before me. Next thing I know he’ll be asking for my autograph.”

“Oh?” Jasper eye’s glittered.

The men continued to talk. Coriander tracked the figure’s movements. They didn’t seem to be hiding per se, but though the crowd had thinned properly, they continued to climb through the shadows in a round-about way over to where she and the men stood.

“I should admit, I’ve been acting most of my life. I’ve had the stage more than I perhaps deserved, but only one man in all of Mowry seemed to take up issue.”

“Who could--” Jasper began.

“Are you really talking about this again?” The figure leapt down from the shadows, landing squarely between them -- the tenant from the stables. They were almost two heads taller than Randallin, all long limbs and bony joints. Their natural hair stuck out at all angles, and they were dressed androgynously, with an unimpressed look apparently permanently etched into their freckled face.

Randallin pulled a pout. “Don’t be cruel.” He brightened almost immediately, however, clapping a hand onto their shoulder. “Everyone, please meet my most excellent employee, Prue Orlev. Please use they and them when referring to them in the third person. Prue, you know Annie, and that’s Bestina’s girl Coriander and my new biggest fan, Jasper.”

Prue nodded to each of them politely without a smile, and turned back to Randallin. “I think everyone in Mowry knows about you and Satish already.”

“Satish?” Jasper echoed. His eyes glittered again, a smile growing on his lips. “But that’s--”

Coriander shot him a panicked look, reaching out to tap him just quickly enough before realizing what she was doing and withdrawing.

Jasper looked over with worry, frowning. “Miss Tippit? Is everything all right?” 

She wasn’t sure how to explain that they probably shouldn’t reveal Satish’s identity without his permission. It seemed … well, rude, at the very least.

But Jasper seemed to understand and winked, while Waites looked on with a suppressed, all too amused grin. “That is to say, we met Satish on our way in. He seemed very kind.”

“Make no mistake, dear boy,” Randallin insisted. “That man can be as devious as a serpent if the mood strikes him.”

“Serpents aren’t devious,” Prue said. 

“Of course not -- it’s just a turn of phrase. I know how much you love your Calliope. Has she eaten yet?”

“She’s in my pocket.”

“Spooked by the mouse once again, eh?”

“She’s learning.”

Waites went pale. “Oh -- well. It’s lovely to see you both again. I think I might go sit down.”

Jasper watched, confused, as Waites made his way to a table and eased himself into a chair. “Is he afraid of snakes?”

“Terrified,” Randallin mourned, shaking his head. “Poor thing. Calliope wouldn’t hurt a fly. Well -- she couldn’t catch a fly if she tried. Is she still afraid of flies, Prue?”

Prue shrugged. “I haven’t checked.”

“Ah -- well. Nothing to be done for it. Hand her over, if you please, and show these fine folks to their rooms, would you? I think Annie could use a lie down, don’t you think?”

All eyes went to Waites, who indeed looked like he could use a fainting couch and a stiff drink.

Prue nodded. They reached into their pocket, extracting a handsome, if timid, yellow snake that curled up into a ball the second it saw the outside world.

Randallin cooed gently as he took the snake, placing it in his own pocket. “One for the gentlemen and one for the good lady, if you please.”

Another nod, and Prue turned on their heel. “This way, please.”

“Annie, best to join them before it’s too late.”

Waites nodded, pulling himself up from his chair with some difficulty. Coriander hesitated, wondering if she ought to rush to his side, make sure he was able to walk all right. But by the time he’d taken the few steps over to where she and the others stood, he seemed mostly recovered.

“How’ve you been, Prue?” he asked, his smile mostly returned and genuine.

“The same.”

And that was it for conversation. Prue gestured, and led them to their rooms.

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Please send a message to be added/removed from this tag list. Like my writing? Buy me a virtual coffee to support it!

[nwbeerguide]

Stone Brewing Company releases a unique beer brewed with Bergamot orange peel and coriander. Introducing, Dayfall Belgian White.

image courtesy Stone Brewing Company

Press Release

ESCONDIDO, CA … Stone Brewing announces the release of Stone Dayfall Belgian White, a bright and refreshing beer brewed with Bergamot orange peel and coriander. Like all good sunsets, this beer is expressive of the brewery’s celebrated past and its bright new beginnings.   First, the beer: Stone Dayfall Belgian White pours an inviting deep gold with haze and a thin white head. The flavor is ripe with citrus up front followed by floral and light herbal notes. Orange, spice and honey are present in the aroma, alongside subtle notes of graham cracker. It’s slightly tart with a smooth lingering citrus finish.   As the brewery’s most passionate fans know, many of Stone’s innovations flow out of Stone Brewing World Bistro & Gardens – Liberty Station, where brewers experiment daily on its small batch system. This is the home of the coveted Stone Brewing Liberty Station Witty Moron, the winner of two gold medals and one bronze at the Great American Beer Festival.* Brewers tweaked the malt to create a more light, traditional Belgian White and Witty Moron’s celebrated recipe lives on, making its national debut in Stone Dayfall Belgian White.   With Stone, every dayfall signals the reward at the end of a well lived day. Days in which the full spectrum of beer is available, so that everyone from light beer drinkers to hoppy IPA drinkers can enjoy the beer of their choice. Even a refreshing Mexican-style lager has earned the guardianship of the Stone gargoyle, as evidenced by Stone Buenaveza Salt & Lime Lager. Now with Stone Dayfall Belgian White, and its own unique flavor direction, even more ways to enjoy the dayfall are here. Stone Dayfall Belgian White is a limited release of the Stone Pilot Series, a series of unique, high-potential innovations for consideration in Stone’s year-round lineup. The beer is now available nationwide on draft and in 12oz six-pack and 12-pack bottles.     *Awards: Great American Beer Festival 2014 Gold in Other Belgian Style Ale category Great American Beer Festival 2015 Bronze in Other Belgian Style Ale category Great American Beer Festival 2017 Gold in Other Belgian Style Ale category

…

QUICK FACTS

Name: Stone Dayfall Belgian White Release Date: Week of March 1, 2021 Web: Stonebrewing.com/dayfall Stats: 5.5% ABV Packaging: 12oz six-pack and 12-pack bottles & draft Find Beer: Find.stonebrewing.com

TASTING NOTES

Appearance: Inviting deep gold with haze and a thin white head Aroma: Integrated aromas of orange, citrus, floral, spice, honey, along with subtle notes of grain/graham cracker Taste: Up front citrus including orange, lemon, and lime, with floral and a light herbal component Palate: Slight tartness, medium-body, and a smooth finish with lingering citrus

FOOD PAIRINGS

Starters: Hummus with Toasted Pita Bread, Yellowfin Ahi-Poke "Nachos"*, Stone Bavarian Pretzel*/**, Bruschetta Salads/Soups: Fruity Goat Salad* (with mixed berries and shredded filo-wrapped goat cheese), Greek Salad, Gazpacho Main Courses: Impossible Burger*/**, Spinach Risotto with Zested Lemon, Falafel Wrap, Grilled Trout Desserts: Chocolate Chip Cookie, Lemon Sorbet *Menu items available at Stone Brewing World Bistro & Gardens – Escondido and Liberty Station **Menu items available at Stone Brewing - Napa

ABOUT STONE BREWING

The San Diego-based Stone Brewing is the 9th largest craft brewer in the United States. An industry leader in environmental sustainability, Stone averages 4.5 gallons of water usage per 1 gallon of beer, as compared to the 7:1 industry standard. Stone operates breweries in Escondido, CA and Richmond, VA, plus nine tap room and bistro locations and one of the nation’s largest craft-centric beverage distributors, Stone Distributing Co. The company’s long list of environmental efforts includes a LEED Silver Certification, world-class water reclamation, solar panels, creative uses of spent grain, and even live goats for ecological vegetation management. Stone has been called the “All-time Top Brewery on Planet Earth” by BeerAdvocate magazine twice. To find Stone beers, visit find.stonebrewing.com. For more information on Stone Brewing visit stonebrewing.com, Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.

from Northwest Beer Guide - News - The Northwest Beer Guide https://bit.ly/3eguITo

[bookenders]

WIP Blind Date Info Post: Heart to Heart

Title of your WIP: Heart to Heart

Genre: Fantasy, Mystery, Romance (wlw), Slice of Life

Trigger Warnings [also included on each individual excerpt post]: abandonment issues, eventual minor surgery (not written yet, but I mention it in some posts), some profanity

Stage of writing process: Writing First Draft

Synopsis:

Not all small towns are the same kind of quaint. Some have tight-knit communities, some have a quirky character or two, and some have a diner that serves as the hot spot to learn juicy gossip. The lakeside town of Linsay has all three, plus a young woman named Gemma, who everyone calls “Cary,” a local apothecary who solves everyone’s problems when she isn’t brewing them up magical cure-alls.

When the local police are baffled by a series of almost-drownings, Sheriff Melbridge calls Gemma in to help investigate. After weeks of no news, they find a woman sitting on the shore of the lake, staring out over the water, her clothes soaked through. She refuses to speak to the police and will only reveal what happened if Gemma takes the woman home with her. Now Gemma and the stranger must work together to find out what’s causing these near-drownings. But everything changes when seemingly impossible things start happening all over town, drawing the two deeper and deeper into a magical mystery that brings them closer than either of them ever expected.

Links [priority things are marked with a *]: 

WIP Intro Post* | H2H WIP Tag | Character Page | WIP Page *

Character Tags: Gemma | Mel | The Ladies | Fred Coriander | Officer Oz

OC Intros*: Harry | Mary | Oz | Jill | Treena | Fred | Gemma | Mel

Excerpts (all very brief):

RIP Laundry Machine  |  Gemma’s Potion Experiment  |  Fred’s Garden Problem  |  The Mistletoe Conundrum Part 1  |  The Mistletoe Conundrum Part 2  |  Mel’s Dilemma*  |  Treena’s Old Notes (worldbuilding)  |  Gingerbread Courtship |  Oz’s Harry Problem *   |  Sprouts!  |  The Delivery Mystery  |  Gemma’s Negotiation Tactics  |

Mood Boards:  Gemma  |  Mel  |  H2H Board 

Types of Magic in H2H * :  Astromancy  |  Totem Magic  |  Sigilcrafting  |  Pact Magic  

Magic and Potion Making: Gemma’s Brewing Tips  |  How I Fake Science Potion-Making

Magical Aptitude Quiz!

WIP tag:  Heart to Heart WIP Tag  |  https://bookenders.tumblr.com/tagged/heart-to-heart

Constructive criticism: Yes please! Anything you want to comment on! 😊

[queenoficeandfire]

Author’s Note - I drafted this chapter at the same time as chapter 1, hence why chapter 2 is up so soon. Also, again please do let me know what you think. After all, feedback is love. 

Warnings - None 

Words in this chapter - 784

Chapter 2

After finding out that Patrick had quite literally saved my life, and I had a heart condition I thanked him.  

After all, without Patrick’s actions, I wouldn’t even be alive.  

He took my thanks in his stride, saying there was no need for me to thank him.  

I was then visited by a kind nurse who’d come to check on my progress.  

She was pleased to see me awake at last, made some notes, gave me some drugs to help me heal and told Patrick that visiting hours for the day were over so it was time to go home.  

He wasn’t one for arguing so he took his leave and we said our goodbyes.  

I watched him leave before a nurse turned up with food. I was very hungry so ate every last bit. I then went to sleep and dreamt of my heroic friend.  

I ended up spending another week and a half in the hospital before I was finally discharged.  

Patrick continued to visit me every day, bringing me fresh clothes to change into when I was discharged. He even picked up my heart medication from the pharmacy before driving me home.  

When he arrived at my apartment block, he turned to me in the car.  

“This may seem spontaneous and I’ll understand if you don’t want to, but do you fancy going out for dinner tonight? I’ll pick you up at 7?” He suggested

“I’d like that yes. Anything special in mind?”  

“That’s for you to find out, and for me to know.” He teased.  

I shook my head before I said my goodbyes and went inside.  

7pm that night soon rolled around. Following a warm bath during which I’d washed my hair, I dried it, brushed it and let it hang loose. I then dressed in a form-fitting dress and put on my boots, right in time for the doorbell.  

I opened the door to find Patrick standing there. Dressed in a smart shirt, jacket and trousers he smiled when he saw me. 

“You look beautiful.” He remarked  

I blushed  

“Thanks. You don’t look too shabby yourself.” I complimented him in return.  

He grinned and offered me his arm.  

“Shall we?”  

“We shall.” I agreed.  

I then locked up and followed Patrick out of my apartment block and to the local park.  

I was quite surprised to find that the bandstand had been set up with a table for two. Complete with fairy lights, silver cutlery, glasses of wine and fine crockery.  

Patrick pulled out a chair for me to sit down on, which I duly did. He moved my chair in and he then sat down himself.  

I had to admit this was all very romantic.  

Not long after we’d sat down a waiter turned up with the first of a three-course dinner.  

Carrot and coriander soup which was warm and oh so comforting.  

This was then followed by fresh pasta in a tomato sauce and for the last course chocolate cake.  

As we ate Patrick and I made pleasant conversation, but after the third and final course had been cleared away Patrick took my hands in his and looked deeply into my eyes.  

“Emma there’s a reason I planned this is for us tonight. That reason is the accident you had made me realise something. Firstly, I love you. I have done for a while now. You’re unlike any other woman I have ever met, and I came so close to losing you the day you almost died that it terrified me. Because if I had then I’d never been able to forgive myself for not telling you just how I feel about you. So yes, I love you Emma and always will. Secondly, there’s something you need to know about me. My name is not Patrick. It’s Orm. I am originally from the kingdom of Atlantis and was once it’s king. I know this is a lot to take in. But I want you to believe me and who I am does not in any way shape or form change the way I feel about you.” He told me  

I said nothing, I could say nothing. Because this was a huge shock to me. Probably more so than finding out what had happened to me out at sea and my heart condition.  

My mind was struggling to process this. The man I called my friend. The man I owed my life to. Loved me. Not only that but he’d lied to me. Liked to me as to who and what he was.  

Without another word between us, I then stood and ran home ignoring my friend’s calls.  

So much for a lovely night out...

@onedayallwillbewell @starlightlotus @shydragonrider @kawaiimelody90

[shamehill56-blog]

Punjabi-Inspired Black Gram Dal

Cooking with dals is a fun experience for me in the kitchen, especially if they feature in an Indian-inspired creation, and I often go into the kitchen armed with only a scant idea of how I am going to cook the dals, with some thought beforehand in case I need to soak the dals ahead of time or require any additional items that I don't happen to have on hand already. Of course, this is not always the case, and many of the dal recipes that I make are well drafted and thought through in more detail and then revised as I cook.

But this Punjabi-inspired creation is an example of the former, knowing only that I wanted whole urad beans as the focal point of the dish as I have been quite smitten with them lately, and also wishing to prepare something easy for dinner that required little fuss. And so this earthy, creamy and nourishing urad bean dish was served up for dinner in hardly at time at all.

The smoky and spicy flavor and creamy texture of this dish is reminiscent of dal makhani, which is also Punjabi in origin but includes red kidney beans and sometime chana dal in addition to whole urad beans; typically it is served with a good swirl of heavy cream (or coconut milk to keep the dish vegetarian). Here I have included coconut milk in the spiced tomato gravy in which the beans are simmered because I was aiming for the same creamy texture that is so unique to dal makhani, but use more water or include another tomato if you are looking for something less creamy and slightly more tart.

Whole black urad beans, or black gram, are also known as black lentils, though black gram is not actually a lentil and should not be confused with beluga lentils. You can find them in any Indian grocer. The bean has a unique glutinous texture when cooked and should be soaked overnight to ensure that it cooks through. Black gram in this Punjabi-inspired creation adds a creamy and distinctive quality to the dish.

Punjabi-Inspired Black Gram DalRecipe by Lisa Turner Cuisine: Indian Published on February 25, 2019

Simple creamy black lentils simmered in a spicy and smoky tomato gravy

Print this recipe

Ingredients:

1 cup dried black gram (whole urad beans)

2 tablespoons oil or ghee

1 teaspoon cumin seeds

1 small onion, finely chopped

1 clove garlic, minced or crushed

1-inch fresh ginger, grated or minced

1 to 2 fresh red chilies, seeded and minced

small handful dried curry leaves, crumbled

1 teaspoon ground turmeric

1 teaspoon ground coriander

1/2 teaspoon ground cumin

2 teaspoons Kashmiri or other chili powder, or to taste

2/3 teaspoon garam masala

2 medium tomatoes, finely chopped

2/3 cup coconut milk

3 cups water

1 teaspoon sea salt, or to taste

chopped fresh parsley or cilantro, for garnish (optional)

Instructions:

Rinse the black gram and soak in enough water to cover for 6 hours or overnight. Drain and rinse when ready to cook.

Heat the oil or ghee in a large saucepan over medium heat. When hot, toss in the cumin seeds and stir for 1 minute, then add the onion. Sauté for about 5 minutes until the onion softens. Add the garlic, ginger, chilies and curry leaves, and cook for another few minutes. Add the turmeric, coriander, cumin, chili powder and garam masala, and stir for another minute until the spices are fragrant. Add the tomato and cook, stirring often, until the tomato begins to thicken, about 5 minutes.

Pour in the coconut milk and water and stir in the drained black gram. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer, stirring occasionally, until the gram is tender — about 45 minutes. Add more water to the pan for a soupier dal.

Stir in the salt and adjust for seasonings. Garnish with fresh herbs and serve hot alongside fresh cooked white rice or flat breads and a vegetable side.

Makes 4 servings

Other dishes featuring black lentils: Classic Dal Makhani Classic Dal Makhani with a Vegan Twist Black and Yellow Chickpeas in a Sweet and Spicy Sauce

Source: https://foodandspice.blogspot.com/2019/02/punjabi-inspired-black-gram-dal.html

[sharvariakerkar]

EX 1 Mist of Flavors (Draft 3)

Remember your grandmother’s cherished masala dabba? The one she carefully filled with turmeric, cumin, coriander, and other fragrant spices, sharing her cooking knowledge with each sprinkle? That humble container, once an essential part of every kitchen, has evolved—and it’s now a Mist of Flavors.

Introducing the Future of Cooking:

The days of meticulously measuring spoonfuls of spices, balancing the heat of chili, and worrying about over-sprinkling the garam masala are over. Mist of Flavors eliminates the guesswork and hassle, offering precision cooking at its finest. Now, your dishes can be perfectly spiced with a simple mist, delivering the authentic, homemade flavors you crave without any of the old-fashioned effort.

Gone are the days of over-pouring turmeric or underestimating chili heat. It’s 2104, and we’ve evolved beyond those traditional methods. Mist of Flavors is the future, bringing precision and ease into your kitchen with cutting-edge technology.

Precision flavoring, no skill required

Back in the day, adding spices to a dish was an art. A little too much chili? Fire hazard! Not enough salt? Flavor disaster. But with this new device, you don’t need a seasoned chef’s touch. This advanced device release a precise mist of spices, giving you perfect seasoning every time. Simply choose your dish, and the device does the rest. It automatically dispenses the ideal combination of spices and flavor intensity - no measuring, no mistakes, no mess. If you’re craving extra heat or a hint of sweetness, you can adjust the spray intensity to your liking with just a tap. The result? Every meal seasoned to perfection.

Food capsules for instant flavors:

The kitchen now has evolved, and so has the masala dabba. For days when you’re too busy (or just too lazy) to cook from scratch, you can simply pop a food capsule into the device’s glass chamber, choose your recipe, and let the device work its magic. In seconds, you’ll have the exact seasoning for your meal without lifting a spoon.

Imagine enjoying your grandmother’s legendary masala bhindi with none of the hassle—just rich, authentic flavors with ease. The entire process is faster, simpler, and absolutely foolproof.

Spice storage:

This device stores spices in eco-friendly, refillable cartridges, ensuring the highest level of freshness and reducing waste. No more cluttered spice racks or jars—you’ll have a clean, organized kitchen with top-quality spices.

Your great-grandmother may have been horrified at the thought of spraying a mist of spices onto a food capsule, but once she saw the precision, the freshness, and the convenience this device brings, she’d be nothing short of impressed. We’re not here to erase tradition, but to enhance it. After all, technology and flavor don’t have to be mutually exclusive.

So, whether you’re a cooking pro or just looking to spice up your meal with zero effort this device is your go-to kitchen companion. It’s time to leave the past behind and step into the future!!!

[bakerstreet-irregular]

11ses

1. Always post the rules 2. Answer the question given by the person who tagged you 3. Write 11 questions of your own 4. Tag 11 people

I was tagged by @szerlokozerca81, thanks mate B) (I know this was forever ago, I forgot this in my drafts, sorry UwU)

1. Do you have any siblings? Yes! Depending on how you count, I have 0, 1, 2 or 4 siblings (yay divorce). I’m the youngest, one is a sister, and the other three are brothers :)

2. DC or Marvel? Wonder Woman

3. What is your hobby? (max 3 ) I’ve just started to learn how to knit - currently working on a tiny sweater for my tiny dog :3

4. What do you prefer: Book, audiobook or e-book? Book!

5.What is your favorite color? Dark green and purple

6. Have you ever been abroad? Yes, quite a few times in fact! The furthest away I’ve been from my home country was Vietnam ^^

7. What dishes don’t you like? I don’t eat meat, and I also dislike coriander, black liquorice and cotton candy...

8. You already use makeup? Sometimes :)

9. What is/was your favourite school subject? Maths<3

10. Do you have favorite sweets? Probably chocolate ^^

11. How are you? :) Tired!

My questions:

1. When was the last time you tried a new kind of food? 2. How was it? 3. How do you feel about plants? 4. Would you believe me if I said you can make very authentic fake egg whites with the leftover liquid from boiling flaxseeds? 5. How do you think Poseidon likes his eggs? 6. What is the best way to make your cat stop eating your succulents? 7. Who would you haunt if you were a ghost? 8. When did you last eat tomatoes? 9. Thougts on this? 10. How about this? 11. Why am I like this?

i’ll be tagging the usual suspects: @currently-in-my-mind-palace, @love-in-mind-palace, @missartemisholmes, @jellycolored-rose, and anyone else who would want to - No body has to of course ^^  (I’m sorry my questions are shit and weird)

[tyleroakley-obsessed]

It’s National Beer Day! Just because we can’t gather on our favorite Memphis brewery patio doesn’t mean we can’t enjoy delicious, locally-made Memphis beer today (or any time while we’re still under Safer-At-Home orders). “Tip Your Bartender” from Meddlesome Brewing. Twenty percent of the proceeds go to this fund.  Here’s how our Memphis-area brewers are making it easy and safe to enjoy their tasty cold beers: Crosstown Brewing is open for curbside pickup on weekdays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and weekends from noon to 5 p.m. They also offer delivery on weekdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturdays from noon to 4 p.m.  ($5 fee; $36 minimum order). You can place your order for six-packs and cases of tasty faves like Siren, Traffic, and more  online (it’s really simple) on their ordering website. Pickup address is 1264 Concourse Ave., it’s just west of the Concourse building. Ghost River Brewing has curbside pickup at the taproom Tuesdays through Saturdays from 3 p.m. – 8 p.m. Call 901-661-4976 between 3 p.m. – 8 p.m. for next-day delivery; it’s one case minimum to have beer delivered, otherwise beer is available in six-packs only. Pickup address is 827 S. Main St. High Cotton Brewing has temporarily closed their taproom as of Monday, April 6. You can still pick up delicious High Cotton brews from local beer retailers (read How To Not Be A Jerk While Shopping before you go) or from restaurants offering takeout and delivery beers. Meddlesome Brewing is open for to-go, curbside pickup, and delivery. Their regular hours are Tuesday – Friday from 4 p.m. – 10 p.m. , Saturday 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., and Sunday noon to 7 p.m. but those are subject to change. Try the Tip Your Bartender, a “citrusy American wheat ale brewed with coriander”; 20 percent of the proceeds will go towards the Memphis Food Industry Emergency Worker Assistance fund. Call 901-207-1147 to order. Pickup address: 7750 B Trinity Rd. Suite 114 and 115.   View this post on Instagram   A post shared by Memphis Made Brewing Co. (@memphismadebrew) on Mar 31, 2020 at 10:56am PDT Memphis Made Brewing is open daily from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.  Call 901-207-5343 for curbside pickup or swing by and grab beer to-go. They offer six-packs, growler fills, and fresh 16-ounce cans of favorites like Junt, Fireside, Cat Nap, and the new Kitten Nap, or mixed packs. Read more and see the draft offerings on their website. Memphis Made is also available at North Mississippi beer retailers as of April 2, 2020. Pickup address is 768 S. Cooper St. by the big red I Love Memphis mural. Wiseacre Brewing is open daily from 1 p.m.. to 6 p.m. for curbside and delivery within 10 miles of the brewery (within city limits). Order on their website under the “beer” tab. Wiseacre has a large variety of beer styles, including Tiny Bomb, Ananda, Astronaut Status, Gotta Get Up To Get Down, and non-alcoholic cold brew coffee. Pickup address: 2783 Broad Ave. Boscos is temporarily closed, but you can support Memphis’ original brewpub by purchasing Boscos gift cards online—they have a deal for $65 gift cards for $50 on their website.   View this post on Instagram   A post shared by Wiseacre Brewing Company (@wiseacrebrewingcompany) on Mar 26, 2020 at 8:26am PDT More places for great, safe Memphis beer: Cash Saver in midtown has their usual excellent, varied selection of beers including local Memphis brews. Don’t forget to read the Grocery Shopping COVID Commandments before you go. Hammer & Ale in Cooper Young has more than dozen craft beers on tap, including Memphis beer. They’re offering growlers and pints to-go (plus sandwiches). Raffe’s Deli & Beer Market near Poplar & Highland offers curbside pickup and online ordering of food and lots of great beer, including local. Young Avenue Deli in Cooper Young has a good selection of local beers in bottles, cans, and growler fills. Other spots offering a good selection of Memphis and Mid-South beer? Let me know in the comments. Are you a home owner in Memphis, with a broken garage door? Call ASAP garage door today at 901-461-0385 or checkout https://ift.tt/1B5z3Pc

https://ilovememphisblog.com/2020/04/memphis-beer-to-go-curbside-and-delivery-from-local-breweries-for-nationalbeerday/

[birdshirt1-blog]

Malaysian Curry Vegetable Soup (Laksa)

Since I started getting more experienced in the kitchen, I have relied more and more on my own homemade spice blends and always try to get the best quality herbs and spices when possible. So I tend towards being a little mistrustful when it comes pre-made spice blends purchased from grocery stores and even from smaller stores that specialize in particular cultural cuisines.

However, I was recently offered a chance to try a few blends from RawSpiceBar. This company offers high quality whole and ground toasted spices from around the world. Free of additives, many of the spices are organic and most of the blends are salt-free, gluten-free, paleo and vegan friendly. You can get a spice subscription, and they also offer gift subscriptions and starter sets. As a home cook who recognizes the importance of high quality spices to really enhance the flavor of dishes and also one who enjoys a culinary exploration of cuisines from various cultures and traditions, I was intrigued by the vast selection, and more than delighted to try a few samples.

Of the three blends I received, the most inspiring was a Malaysian curry powder as it contained some of my favorite aromatic spices. The aroma by itself was enough to try it out right way in a vegetable-based soup to showcase and taste the results for myself. After some research, I decided to make a vegetarian laksa and began to draft a recipe. The result of my efforts was a soup that very much reminded me of many of the vegetable Thai soups I have made in the past.

I'm now eager to try more of the many spices and blends offered up by this company. If the Malaysian curry powder is any indication of the quality of the offerings, I would highly recommend you take a look around.

But back to the laksa.

For those unfamiliar with laksa, it is spicy coconut curry noodle soup, often featuring chicken or shrimp, but as I follow a vegetarian diet, the focus of my soup was vegetables in addition to noodles. Some cooks use tofu, but as I rarely eat tofu, I was particularly generous with the veggies and rice noodles. It's popular in Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, and southern Thailand. It has a creamy base in which the vegetables and noodles are simmered, along with a fragrant aromatic paste.

The paste was made up of a few teaspoons of the curry blend, along with other spices and additions that suited my fancy as I was drafting the recipe. I went with fairly wide rice noddles for the soup for extra texture. I also used a variety of vegetables, focusing particularly on mushrooms, and used coconut milk for a creamy, fairly thick soup and also some tamarind for a tart, sweet and somewhat sour element.

Though I was most pleased with the quality of the blend I tried, go ahead and try my recipe without the blend. Use a fairly mild or medium curry powder, such as my homemade curry powder, or instead use some Thai red curry paste. I suggest my homemade version. See the notes following the recipe for suggestions based on what sort of flavor you are going for.

Don't be intimidated by the list of the ingredients or the suggestions I make here. Remember, recipes are essentially only a guideline and the more you experiment in the kitchen, the better cook you will become.

Malaysian Curry Vegetable Soup (Laksa)Recipe by Lisa Turner Cuisine: Malaysian Published on December 3, 2018

Spicy vegetarian Malaysian Laksa rice noodle and vegetable soup

Print this recipe

Paste:

2 tablespoons raw cashews, soaked for 30 minutes and drained

1 tablespoon Malaysian curry spice powder, to taste, or 1 tablespoon or more Thai red curry paste*

1/2 - 1 teaspoon ground turmeric

1 teaspoon smoked paprika

1 to 2 red or green chilies, to taste, seeded and chopped

1 to 2 stalks lemongrass, to taste, tough outer leaves and stem removed, sliced

1 large shallot, finely chopped

1 to 2 cloves garlic, to taste, minced or crushed

1 to 2 teaspoons fresh lime juice, to taste

small handful of fresh parsley, trimmed and chopped

Ingredients:

1/4 cup tamarind pulp, soaked in 1 cup hot water for 30 to 40 minutes

2 teaspoons sesame oil

1 cup button mushrooms, sliced

1 cup shiitake mushrooms, chopped

1 medium carrot, sliced

1 - 1 1/2 cups mixed vegetables (I used red pepper, green beans and cauliflower)

1 medium tomato, chopped

3 cups vegetable stock, or as needed

1 3/4 cup coconut milk

6 to 8 oz (175 to 225 g) rice noodles

1 1/2 cups baby spinach

1 teaspoon tamari (soy) sauce, or to taste

1 teaspoon sea salt, or to taste

1 1/2 teaspoons coconut sugar

1 to 2 teaspoons lime juice, to taste (optional)

handful of fresh parsley, trimmed and chopped, for garnish

Instructions:

Soak the tamarind pulp in hot water for 30 to 40 minutes. Place a strainer over a bowl and drain the soaking water, squeezing as much liquid out of the tamarind pulp as possible. Discard the pulp and set the tamarind water aside.

Meanwhile, soak the cashews in hot water for 30 minutes. Drain and transfer the cashews to a food processor. Add the remaining paste ingredients and process into a fairly thick paste. Taste to adjust for seasoning and add a little oil or a few teaspoons of water if the paste is too thick.

Heat the oil in a large saucepan or soup pot over medium heat. When hot, add the paste and stir for a few minutes.

Add the mushrooms and cook for 5 minutes to soften. Stir in the carrot and the mixed vegetables and pour in the tamarind water, vegetable stock and coconut milk. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer for 10 minutes, until the vegetables are just tender.

Stir in the rice noodles a handful at a time and simmer for another 10 minutes or until the noodles are just tender — the cooking time will depend on the thickness of the noodles you are using. Add more vegetable stock or water to the pan as needed.

Stir in the spinach and cook until wilted. Add the tamari, sea salt and sugar. Add a little lime juice if desired. Simmer for another few minutes, adding more vegetable stock or water as needed.

Remove from heat and serve hot, garnished with fresh chopped parsely.

Notes: I used a Malaysian curry spice blend from RawSpiceBar that I was given to try. This aromatic blend contains turmeric, coriander seeds, cumin seeds, green cardamom, fennel seeds, cinnamon, cloves, black peppercorns and chilies. Instead of this blend you can use Thai red curry paste. Adjust the amount according to how hot the curry paste is that you are using. If you do use my Thai red curry paste instead of the spice blend, omit lemongrass, chilies, shallot and garlic, lime juice, parsley and cashews and add 1 teaspoon of ground coriander, 1 teaspoon ground cumin, 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon, 1/4 teaspoon fennel, 1/4 teaspoon ground cardamon and 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves. Stir in the ground spices with the paste as you are frying it, including the turmeric and paprika. You can also stir in a handful of fresh parsley near the end of the cooking time, in addition to that used for garnish.

Alternately, use my homemade curry powder or another medium-hot curry powder instead of the Malaysian blend. This will give your dish a more aromatic flavor. Go ahead and include the other ingredients I suggest along with the curry powder while you make up your paste.

Makes 8 servings

Other soups you may enjoy from Lisa's Kitchen: Thai Red Curry Vegetable Soup Spicy Thai Pumpkin Noodle Soup Creamy Thai Coconut Mushroom Soup Thai-Style Coconut and Roasted Carrot Soup

On the top of the reading stack: Second Opinion: A Doctor's Dispatches From The Inner City by Theodore Dalrymple

Audio accompaniment: Tom Houghton - MICRODOSING.

Source: https://foodandspice.blogspot.com/2018/12/malaysian-curry-vegetable-soup-laksa.html

[sidhewrites]

CHAPTER 8A. Previous Installment found here. Approx. 1600 words. As always, feel free to send Asks or Messages about what’s written or anything you’re curious about. 

Sitting still was agony. She fidgeted, moved to her knees, shifted her legs, and sat down again as the traveling party moved at Mum’s agonizing pace. Mowry grew ever closer, the moorlands coming more alive, with farms and people and trees and livestock grazing.

People dressed quite the same as they did in Knittelnau -- which somehow caught Coriander by surprise, and disappointing enough that she had to scold herself for expecting anything different. The houses were built with the same architecture, if a bit larger than the ones she was used to, and the sun still set in the west. Why would anything have changed in such a short distance?

A few patches of wildflowers dotted the fields surrounding the little town, but nothing to the extent of Knittelnau’s. Children chased each other and dogs chased their tails. Waites pointed out a singular figure sitting beneath a tree. “That’s an old friend of mine over there.”

The man wore shockingly colorful clothes and read a few loose pages of writing over and over to himself as he pulled flowers and grass up mindlessly. He had to have been one of the most handsome people Coriander had ever seen. Reading spectacles were perched on his large, aquiline nose and further magnified his black, doe-like eyes His hands were wrinkled, but nimble, skin darker even than Jaspers, though the redness of his cheeks hinted of rouge and she was sure he had a bit of kohl around his eyes as well.

Waites raised a hand and waved. “Satish! Good evening!”

The man looked up, and handsome face broke into  a wide, welcoming grin. “Annie!”

Annie? Coriander looked between them. She’d never in all her life refer to the banker as Annie, and it struck her almost as awkwardly as the sameness of everything.

Satish grunted, pushing himself to his feet slowly with the help of an ornate cane. Large golden rings hung from his ears, glittering in the afternoon light. His thick hair, nearly as black as his eyes save for the silver streaks hinting at his true age, had been plaited neatly over one shoulder, and tinkled with the ringing of tiny bells.

Jasper stepped forward, hesitating, half wondering if he ought to help, but Waites held a hand up. “He doesn’t like it when people help him. Makes him feel old.”

The man walked with a distinct, almost effeminate sway despite his clear reliance on the cane for balance, and all the confidence of an actor on stage. Coriander had never seen someone so colorful, who seemed to take up so much space and emit so much light, though he was only average size. He smiled, and fidgeted with the papers in hand, and reached up to embrace Waites in an awkward half hug. “Anny! Peace to you, Fate keep you, you’re back early and all that. Who are these children you’ve brought me? Did you adopt?”

Waites laughed, and introduced them both. Jasper preened, and Coriander shrunk into herself, even as the man lauded them both with praise.

“And of course,” he said then, stepping back with a flourish and a twirl of his cain, “I am Satish Runwell, at your service.” Satish took a deep bow.

Jasper nearly swooned.  

Bells tolled, and she forgot everything else. She looked towards the town, too close to the buildings now to easily see the clock tower, but it was there, with its brass and copper gears, less than an hour’s walk away.

Waites’ voice came to her. “Coriander?”

She started, looking back to the men, and bowed her head. “I-I’m sorry, ah…” She was too easily distracted. They ought to put her on a lead, like a misbehaving sheep.

“Bestina’s daughter,” Waites said, gesturing at her. “It’s her first official outing into the world.”

And she was making a proper mess of it already. She bowed politely, and stammered out, “How do you do, Sir?”

“Bestina’s girl? I’ve heard plenty about your ma, Miss Coriander. How’s she doing?”

“Um. Well enough, sir.” It sounded more like a question than anything.

Satish smiled, the warmest look she’d ever been given by a stranger. It left Coriander flushing, and staring down at her feet, uncomfortable with such familiarity. “That’s good to hear,” he said, and meant it. “We’ve a brand new physician in the city, you know. You should speak with her, see if she can call on you soon.”

“Yes, sir.”

Waites and Satish chatted amongst themselves, and Jasper inched closer to Coriander, moving conspicuously so he wouldn’t scare her. “Have you ever seen such a handsome man,” he all but crooned, trying to whisper best he could. His dark skin was tinged pink, and he seemed all aflutter.

Coriander glanced up momentarily, unable to help the hint of amusement. Had Jasper’s fancy grown that quickly? Was this normal for him? Although, she had to admit Satish was incredibly charismatic, and every movement was astoundingly graceful. It perhaps wouldn’t be hard to fancy a man like that, if he were maybe thirty years younger.

But Satish suddenly grew bashful, looking down at the papers in his hand, and folded them in thirds. “ Do you think, Annie -- well, can I impose upon you, just for one small favor?”

Waites grinned wide, knowing and amused. “That depends on the favor, of course.”

“It’s nothing terribly important. I’ve written a letter, you see, for a man I’ve fancied for quite a while. It’s rather embarrassing -- I’m a flop at poetry, you see, and it’s, well, a poem. For him. And he’s on your way, of course. Old Randallin, he runs the inn you ought to stay at. Best rabbit stew in town. Do you think you might be able to…?”

Waites’ grin didn’t fade, and he nodded gallantly. “I think I could do that for you. But only if you’ve signed your name this time. I don’t think Randallin can last much longer wondering who his secret admirer is.”

Satish held the letter out stiffly, eyes on the ground. “Must I?”

Waites refused the letter. Satish gave in, and turned to Jasper instead. “Young man, would you have mercy on an old, lovestruck man like me?”

Jasper relented all too quickly, taking the letter even as he said, “So long as you promise to do it next time.

Satish brightened immediately, and placed a hand over his heart. “You have my word.” It was a surprisingly solemn vow, ruined when he had to take the letter back and tie it with string, followed by a short argument with Mum, who was all too complete to wander a little ways away to snack on some wildflowers.

Once they were piled back into the cart, Waites bade goodbye to Satish and promised to meet up with him for dinner at least once before leaving, and they went on their way. Jasper held the letter like prized goods, but his gaze swiveled back and forth, never landing on one place for very long. It was as if he was looking for something, Coriander thought. But it made sense, certainly. He had to have come through Mowry to get to Knittelnau, so perhaps he was looking for a familiar face in the crowd, or maybe a landmark he knew.

The houses were some distance apart at first, with a few small farms here and there, but the further in they went, the closer together the buildings became, until some buildings were only separated by a small alleyway, where only two people could walk shoulder-to-shoulder. A seamstress sat outside with their embroidery, chatting easily with the carpenter just across the way, putting the finishing touches on a rocking horse. Candles and hearths lit up countless glass windows, or peeked through the slats in closed shutters.

The river broke off into a few small streams, running parallel to the main road. Wood and stone bridges crossed over it in multiple places, with one particularly large house straddling the river itself. Stairs on both sides lead up to a wooden platform that supported tables and a few important looking members of society chatting very seriously over an open book.

Coriander looked on with wide eyes, awestruck at how closely some people lived, and to see that there were dedicated shop fronts, rather than stalls set up outside peoples’ homes to display their wares. She wondered if everyone knew each other here, or if there were some people who went their entire lives without seeing someone else who might even live just down the street, and never having a clue.

Mowry was so large, and it was only a village, barely a drop of ink on a map. There was so much out there she didn’t even know about. It was terrifying. Coriander shrunk further into the cart, clutching her small bag, even as a little piece of her heart found the very idea exhilarating. She could get lost here in minutes, and while it was terrifying, a tiny part of her was thrilled to know it.

“Where are we going anyway?” Jasper asked. “Mister Runwell seemed to know already.”

“To the inn. We have to sleep somewhere, don’t we?”

“They have an entire inn here?”

Coriander frowned, confused -- both at the idea of a village having an inn, and at the fact that Jasper didn’t seem to know. He had come through Mowry to Knittlenau, hadn’t he?

“Well. Something of an inn. It started out just as a house. Randallin kept expanding it over the years, for better or for worse.”

Tag List:@madammuffins @aurikhai @purpleshadows1989 @fearlings-lament @maitretmaitresse @jewishdragon @mlmerry-wlwinter @kered555 @blueroseguardian @punk-rock-pixie

Please send a message to be added/removed from this tag list. Like my writing? Buy me a virtual coffee to support it!

[ginamadigean]

What else Cologne has to offer

Cologne in the day

Cologne is famous for its brewhouse culture. (Photograph: yotily/Shutterstock)

Yes, the landmark of the Rhine city might be the Cologne Cathedral, but Cologne has so much more to offer. For instance, a trip to the Heinzelmännchen fountain, the city hall, or the Melaten cemetery is highly recommended. The last covers an area of over 435,000 m2 and features many impressive memorials and tombs. If you want to get to know Cologne from a completely different perspective, however, then the “So wor et fröher” district tour could be something for you. The tour explores Cologne’s red-light district as it was during the sixties and seventies in the area between Eigelstein and Friesenviertel. The Kölner Lachexpedition, in contrast, could be considered quite the opposite to this lascivious trip into the city’s past (www.lachexpedition.de/touren/koelner-lachexpedition). The sightseeing tour, initially developed by Klaus-Jürgen “Knacki” Deuser, among others, offers a unique mix of informative anecdotes and entertaining comedy. Lastly, you can experience the traditional brewhouse culture of Cologne first-hand in a 2-hour tour that includes all kinds of local breweries—both well-known ones and local secrets (www.koeln-brauhaustouren.de). In terms of both history and taste, it is definitely worth spending an evening at one of these.

During IDS, you should also consider taking a break, every once in a while, to rest your feet. And what better way to do so than by enjoying a piece of homemade pie and a cup of hot coffee? Visit the cosy and slightly hidden Kaffeebud Ehrenfeld (www.kaffeebud.net) to find out what a “third wave” coffee is. If you’re looking for something a little less fancy, you might prefer Cafecafe Ehrenfeld (www.cafecafe.de). With coffee close to its heart, this cafe offers refuge from the hustle and bustle of the Rhein metropolis in the form of creamy lattes and authentic New York-style cheesecake—also not to be overlooked is the breakfast, which includes homemade spreads that come highly recommended.

Just a couple of blocks down the street is a locale that will appeal to you if you have a predisposition to nostalgia: Café Schwesterherz offers a quaint coffee-house vibe and a familiar living room atmosphere (www.schwesterherz-koeln.de). If you are longing for a holiday feel, however, a visit to Sabor ’Ermoso is just the ticket: between surfboards hanging on the walls and little Spanish delicacies, the cappuccino in this cafe tastes almost twice as good. Located in the south of Cologne, Sabor ’Ermoso is the perfect place to unwind and recharge your batteries after a busy day of dental business in the halls (www.saborermoso.com).

Cologne at night

Enjoy your stay at IDS even after the doors of the Cologne trade fair have closed. After all, you will be in one of Germany’s most vibrant and charming cities. As the sun goes down, Cologne reawakens in a different light: after hitting a “Büdchen” kiosk for a beer—or two—to go, locals will make their way to their favourite Kölsch-serving bar, so why not join them?

Explore Cologne at night. (Photograph: 2daft/Shutterstock)

The trendy bar Zum scheuen Reh is located next to the Köln West train station and is perfect for starting the evening: get to know some Cologne locals while enjoying a couple of long drinks and the live music on offer in the bar’s outdoor area (www.zum-scheuen-reh.de). Every Thursday is Gin & Tonic day and glasses are served for only €2—different brands of gin can be tried for an extra €1.

Afterwards, you can hit Bumann & SOHN, which is close to the Ehrenfeld train station. It is here that beer garden atmosphere meets urban industrial vibes, and where the dynamic, alternative flair of the young district can be felt best (www.bumannundsohn.de). Coming early pays off!

The next destination is STAPEL.BAR, which is located within walking distance from Bumann & SOHN at the heart of the Helios district. At STAPEL.BAR, you can buy freshly brewed Gaffel Kölsch from the barrel and experience a colourful music programme, including DJs, live acts and local artists (www.stapel.bar). Are intrigued by the original steel dartboard? Then this is also the place for a casual round of darts. If you are in the mood for dancing, you can spend the rest of the night in the northern part of Cologne between Ehrenfeld and Nippes, at the Odonien nightclub to be exact. Apart from concerts, plays, flea markets and open-air film showings, you can dance to predominantly electronic club music in the midst of obscure metal sculptures and impressive fireworks.

Arts and culture

As far as arts and culture are concerned, Cologne has a great deal to offer. In the special exhibition “Andy Warhol—Pop goes art”, the Museum für Angewandte Kunst Köln is presenting a private collection not previously shown to the public. The exhibition features sketches and drafts and almost every record cover designed, conceptualised and produced by the artist. Moreover, the Wallraf-Richartz-Museum is showing 130 loaned works from well-known collections and museums in the US and Europe. The survey exhibition “Once upon a time in America” features pieces from over 300 years of American art, including works by Edward Hopper, Mark Rothko and Jackson Pollock. In addition, the “Under the magnifying glass” exhibition at the Museum Schnütgen is highly recommended, as is the anniversary exhibition “All under heaven”, which celebrates 40 years of the Museum für Ostasiatische Kunst Köln.

However, an insider tip is to visit the Museum Ludwig at the Cologne Heinrich-Böll-Platz. The gallery, which resembles the Tate Modern in London in terms of its artistic content, is exhibiting works from British artists David Hockney and Richard Hamilton until April 2019. Further information on the exhibition schedule can be found online (www.museum-ludwig.de).

In addition, if you enjoy watching historical retrospectives, previews or premieres of independent film productions, then the Filmforum NRW is for you. The entrance is situated on the south side of the museum (www.filmforumnrw.de). Another highlight for cineastes is the ODEON: the cosy, retro-style movie theatre often shows interesting European art house productions (www.odeon-koeln.de).

Theatre-goers can attend the premiere of Werther by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe at the Freies Werkstatt Theater Köln on 15 March (www.fwt-koeln.de). And music lovers can enjoy concerts by the talented Electronica musician RY X in the Carlswerk Victoria on 13 March and Manfred Mann’s Earth Band in the Kantine on 16 March.

Food and drinks

Whether you are interested in music, literature or history, Cologne and its peculiarities are best explored with a full tummy. For quite some time now, an unofficial institution of the city has been the falafel. Usually, it is freshly made with coriander or parsley (either Lebanese or Syrian style) and fried to perfection. In Cologne, these spicy chickpea balls taste like nowhere else in Germany—preferably with a giant spoon full of tahini. Try it yourself: take a stroll down Venloer Street in the young, vibrant district of Ehrenfeld and see how long you can resist the smell of the various oriental bistros and caf��s.

The best falafel can be found in Ehrenfeld. (Photograph: etorres/Shutterstock)

The best falafel can be found at the traditional Habibi (www.habibi-koeln.de), in doughnut shape at Vegan Food Revolution (www.vegan-food-revolution.de), at Beirut while enjoying a beautiful view over the Rhine (www.beirut-restaurant.de) or at the authentic Libanon Restaurant (www.libanon-restaurant.metro.bar).

In case, however, your tastes are more carnivorous, then you should pay Karl Hermann’s a visit. Also located on Venloer Street, here you will find high-quality burgers with freshly minced and succulently grilled meat patties—free from antibiotics—in a fluffy brioche bun (www.karlhermanns.de). If you still have some room left afterwards, you can hit Frittenwerk Köln for some delicious homemade fries (www.frittenwerk.com/koeln). Enjoy ones made from regular or sweet potatoes with chive-and-cheese topping. Whatever you choose, make sure to also try the lemon aioli and the homemade guacamole. Naturally, humans are no goats and these large amounts of salt need to be counteracted somehow, which is why a visit to one of the Kölsch-serving traditional restaurants is a necessity. Enjoy a chilled Kölsch beer like a true local at Bierhaus en d’r Salzgass or Weinhaus Vogel, where not only simple, authentic Cologne food is served, but the spirit of the city can be experienced.

from Dental Tips https://www.dental-tribune.com/news/what-else-cologne-has-to-offer/ via http://www.rssmix.com/