#icons hall mendes

[cleolinda]

Angel (Mugler, 1992)

(The Secrets Behind Thierry Mugler’s Iconic Angel Ad Campaigns: Jerry Hall, Amy Wesson, Anna Maria Cseh, Bianca Balti, Naomi Watts, Eva Mendes)

I had wanted to write about Mugler's Angel (1992) for a while now. I hadn't tried it before, but I love gourmands, after all, and Angel is a groundbreaking one. My mom briefly smelled a sample of it and wanted a bottle for Christmas one year (the same year that she gave me Hypnotic Poison), so I am actually working with a full bottle, never opened, maybe two years old; not a decant that came to me on a hot mail truck. Ideal testing conditions.

I can't smell the gourmand part.

I think that maybe this particular bottle is cursed. You see, the reason it's never been opened is that my mom came down with covid shortly after I bought it, and she's had anosmia ever since. Yeah: for more than two and a half years now, she has been, she is still, unable to taste or smell anything. But she really, really wanted me to review Angel, so it's in my possession now.

Here in the writeups I've done, there have been notes I haven't been able to smell now and then, but I haven't had coronovirus anosmia per se. I've dealt with long covid flare-ups, yes, but no olfactory issues. So I tried Angel five or six times over two weeks, giving my nose time to reset in between. I wrestled with it. On me, it opens with a blast of particularly melon-y fruit, and then, within minutes, the Werewolf Patchouli, The Funk, comes out. Angel is famously the first "fruitchouli," so I knew that would be involved, but—if I thought the harsh patchouli that bursts out of Coco Mademoiselle (2001) was incongruous, well, Angel is clearly where Chanel got the idea from. But before we go any further, let me walk you through some of the official description:

Angel is the fragrance of a woman who dares to live up her dreams with her blue star as her guide. Confident and seductive, she fascinates those who cross her path. Between power and pleasure, she uses her ultra-femininity as a signature. Between heaven and earth, she makes her dreams a reality. Angel Eau de Parfum is the first Gourmand perfume in the world of fragrance.

POINTS:

Angel is technically not the first "gourmand" ("foodie," "edible dessert") fragrance. So long as perfumers have had vanilla, almond, cinnamon, anise, citrus oils, synthetic fruit notes, and so on, they've been able to create gourmand compositions. Sylvaine Delacourte cites Guerlain's early vanilla-heavy Shalimar (1925), for example, as well as L'Heure Bleue (1912), "with its marshmallow accord based on orange blossom and vanilla." Now, I've worn L'Heure Bleue several times and I've never gotten marshmallow from it, but the point is, you can create a gourmand aspect from traditional notes. Most reviewers and historians refer to Angel as the first modern gourmand: the one that shaped the genre as we know it today. As Delacourte says, "Without Shalimar, there would not have been the perfume Angel (1992) which was the first to have officially been declared as gourmand with its patchouli, red fruits and caramel accord. Angel became the leader of this new wave of gourmand perfumes, followed by Lolita Lempicka and many others." But more on that in a bit.

I've been thinking about the way I write about gender—"for men" and "for women"—in fragrance, and at most, I said that the patchouli in Coco Mademoiselle had a "masc" expression, so to speak. But both the Mugler site and other reviewers speak in terms of the traditional gender binary, so let's engage with that. Mugler (the brand) persistently emphasizes the femininity of the product, and it turns out that there's a reason for that.

But first, more from Mugler.com on the fragrance notes:

Angel Eau de Parfum combines the power of patchouli with the sensuality of notes of praline, red fruits and vanilla absolute. Celestial Facet: Calabrian Bergamot. The smell of the wind, the sky, the great outdoors, the infinite: Calabrian bergamot stings the senses like a breath of fresh air. Delicious Facet: Praline. The universal addiction to the Gourmand family: associated with red fruits, the sweet scents reminiscent of praline and caramel create an irresistible desire, thanks to the unprecedented use of Ethylmaltol in fine perfumery - a stroke of olfactory genius. Voluptuous Facet: Patchouli. Evocation of sensuality and ultra femininity: Warmed up by the oriental inflections of vanilla absolute and played in overdose, patchouli captivates, seduces: the quintessence of femininity.

There's our game-changer: ethyl maltol.

Invented in 1969 and six times more powerful than maltol (which is found naturally in cocoa), this component evokes the scents of ripe fruit or caramel. Before the advent of gourmand perfume, this molecule was only used in the food sector. Today, veltol [Pfizer's maltol product] is present in almost all gourmand recipes of fragrances. Combined with natural ingredients, it brings a delicious sweet touch with caramel and praline accents.

(That Carrément Belle article also touches on furaneol in gourmands, "a natural organic component found in strawberries and many other fruits" with "roasted sugar tones," used in perfume to represent candy or cooked fruit aspects. I'm guessing there is a significant dollop of this in Aquolina's Pink Sugar, but that's our next post.)

The Cut goes so far as to say that "Thierry Mugler Changed the Perfume World Forever"—Angel took about three years of concerted advertising to really take off, but it became a direct contrast to the ubiquitously clean CK One (Calvin Klein, 1994). In 2007, Angel joined the Fragrance Foundation Hall of Fame, and it's still a benchmark—a popular one—today. And while The Cut credits Angel with laying the groundwork for Bath & Body Works' Warm Vanilla Sugar, various Victoria's Secret fragrances, Rihanna's Fenty perfumes, and Kilian's Love, Don't Be Shy, that's entirely leaving out gourmands and/or fruitchoulis like (deep breath) Lolita Lempicka (1997), Coco Mademoiselle (2001), the entire Britney Spears fragrance empire (est. 2004), Pink Sugar (2004), Vera Wang's Princess (2006), the Prada Candy line (2011), Lancôme's La Vie Est Belle (2012), YSL's Black Opium (2014), Viktor & Rolf's Bonbon (2014), Ariana Grande's Cloud (2018), and every single sugary thing in between. Angel was the fragrance that said, sugar in perfume is now a thing and we're gonna put a fuckload of it into this bad boy—

"I want something mouthwatering and tasty which reminds me of childhood," Mugler allegedly said, wanting to recapture his memory of visiting French fairgrounds. “The scent of a fairground, candy floss, little cakes, chocolates, and caramels.” Perfumers Olivier Cresp and Yves de Chirin listened by throwing nearly every sugary ingredient into the formula: cotton candy, coconut, cassis, melon, jasmine, bergamot, pineapple, mandarin orange, honey, red berries, blackberry, plum, apricot, peach, jasmine, orchid, caraway, nutmeg, rose, lily of the valley, patchouli, chocolate, caramel, vanilla, tonka bean, amber, musk, and sandalwood.

—and we're gonna do whatever we gotta do to make that work.

And what Olivier Cresp and Yves de Chirin had to do to make that work, to balance the sweet elements of the fragrance in a way no one even worries about nowadays, was throw in a massive blast of patchouli. To wit:

Now Smell This: "What shocked me, mostly, was the patchouli, or more specifically, the 'unusually high 30 percent concentration of woodsy patchouli' that had been added to keep the fragrance from being overly sweet."

A Tea-Scented Library: "This stuff is earthy; dark; rough-textured; herbal-smoky like a cigarette (which, by the way, I loathe) and heavily mentholated, which makes it feel chemical and quite masculine. A definitely non-angelic, angry beast, roaring and screeching from the tiniest spray… and from the nozzle."

Tania Sanchez: "Look for Angel’s Adam’s apple: a handsome, resinous, woody patchouli, straight out of the pipes-and-leather-slippers realm of men’s fragrance… The effect kills the possibility of cloying sweetness, despite megadoses of the cotton-candy smell of ethylmaltol."

And this, I think, is why the Mugler website copy stresses femininity so relentlessly: the angel doth protest too much. A harsh, earthy patchouli that haunts me around the house doesn't read as "ultra feminine" to me, but that's on me and my preconceptions. (It is definitely on me; I cannot wash it off.) That said (and sometimes I have to refresh myself on this point), Gender Is Fake Except For the Parts You Like; anyone can wear anything they want, so it doesn't matter if Angel is deemed "feminine" or "masculine." But if we engage with the terms of the conversation that is already happening: the current Mugler website is addressing reactions that characterize the patchouli blast as "masculine," reframing and re-gendering that note as just another way to present femininity. (And clearly, I had no problem envisioning something like this when I said a similar patchouli felt like a werewolf debutante.) Basically, they're saying, "Angel's gender is 'woman' because we say so. Wear it and see what patchouli femininity feels like." In terms of gender discourse, I am way too far in over my head already, so I'll leave it at this: sometimes reviewers say masculine, Mugler says feminine, I say it's a synthesis of both or maybe neither; maybe perfumes, like angels, don't actually have gender.

Unfortunately, Angel is not for the femme in me. You see, I'm not much of a patchouli fan, but it's the only thing I can smell with this one after about three minutes. My first impression of Angel, every single time, is FROOT, led by melon, and then an absolute tsunami of patchouli crashes in. Once, once, I got a whiff of something I would call "white-chocolate praline cupcake" if I sniffed my arm real hard, and then I lost it again. And I know I can smell ethyl maltol! This is not a Javanol situation! I have worn Pink Sugar (and Fantasy, and Princess, and Cloud, not to mention a whole collection of Black Phoenix gourmands) several times, and I can smell dessert notes. I have no idea what's happening with this bottle of Angel. I cannot test this perfume anymore. Every time I try a single spray on my arm, my clothes smell like patchouli, my bed smells like patchouli, my room smells like patchouli, the vanity smells like patchouli, the hallway smells like patchouli. It stalks the house, just the patchouli, only the patchouli, smoky-hoarse and yet also belting out show tunes to the balconies. We've already been through my Fragrance Journey™ to learn to like this stuff even a little, and for me, it depends on what it's blended with. IT'S NOT BLENDED WITH ANYTHING ELSE, IT BREAKS FREE AND RAMPAGES FOR DAYS ON END, IT CONTAMINATES EVERYTHING I HAVE EVER OWNED IN THIS LIFE OR ANY OTHER NO MATTER HOW MUCH LAUNDRY I DO. If I were also getting haunted by all this cotton candy and praline and chocolate, I would like that! BUT I'M NOT.

Bonus hilarity: My mom hates patchouli.

So we're sending the bottle on to someone who loves The Funk; I'm going to order a fresh decant of Angel to see if it smells different coming from someone else's stock, and we'll see if the recipient of the Cursed Bottle gets to roll in her beloved patchouli, or if it somehow only smells like candy to her, cursèd as it is.

Bonus: If you're not familiar, Thierry Mugler (1948-2022) was one of the great weird avant-garde couture designers. I need to add more posts to my tag (don't miss... whatever's going on here). But for now, bask in the video (note: some strobing/flashing) he costumed for George Michael:

Perfume discussion masterpost

[savage-rhi]

Mending Shadows // Chapter 20

Summary:

Y/N was a simple Scavenger of Lucis, until meeting a deadly blow at the hands of an infected creature. At the crossroads of death, they are found by Niflheim’s cryptic Chancellor with his own agenda. Now bonded to Ardyn Izunia, and tossed into the world of Niflheim, Y/N struggles to cope with their new life as an Imperial Icon all the while battling their feelings toward their fate and that of Ardyn’s.

Click here to read on AO3

The palace halls to the residency were quiet. Save for the shuffling of Imperial Help preparing to turn in for the night. Ardyn made note how there was not so much a peep while he ventured to his dwelling. He sighed while adjusting the large grocery bag he had been carrying with his left arm. The contents rattled, and at first Ardyn assumed something had gotten loose. He paused in his stride, lowering the bag to look over his wares. There was nothing amiss, and thus he pressed onward. 

After fumbling with his keys--and nearly dropping the bag--Ardyn closed the door behind him once he reached home. He sat the grocery bag down at his feet while he tended to locking up. Once that was settled, did his eyes land on the large clock in the living room. Seeing that it was 10:45pm, Ardyn furrowed his brows. He knew he had been out long, but could’ve sworn it was 8pm just moments ago. Sighing, Ardyn knew it was useless to dwell on such mishaps. He still struggled with conceptualizing time although it had been decades since he had been awakened from Angelgard. Not that he would be bold enough to admit that to anybody. The thought of it made him grimace before he picked up the grocery bag, and carried on with his mission. 

Ardyn pressed the kitchen doors open quietly. He nearly jumped when he saw Tuti at the counter, putting away some dishes from the sink. She in turn gasped, and fumbled with one of the plates in her possession. It was by the fortune of the gods she didn’t drop it, having caught the edge at the last second. 

Once the initial shocks were worn, Tuti glared at Ardyn with contempt then went back to cleaning. 

Ardyn breathed through his nose, making a face while he tried to uphold some sort of civility. He walked over to the kitchen island, and sat the bag down while clearing his throat. 

“I won’t be needing your services for the rest of the night.” 

“Noted,” Tuti replied with a flat tone. 

“That goes for Y/N as well. You’re dismissed.” Ardyn added. He observed Tuti stiffen, and with a defeated sigh, she put away the last of the plates she had been cleaning. Once done, did she begin to dry her hands off with a towel hanging from the arm of the oven in front of her. 

“How is Y/N fairing?”

“Y/N’s resting right now. The flares today were dreadful.” Tuti wiped the last of the suds off her hands with her apron, and approached Ardyn. She was careful not to get too close to him. 

Tuti let out a breath. “Will that be all, excellency? I have much work to do outside of your quarters. I don’t want to keep the Palace Warden waiting.” 

If she was going for subtlety, she’s failing at it… Ardyn bitterly thought. Tuti’s disdain wasn’t easy to cloak. She wore it on her sleeve much like her bubbly persona. Ardyn fought against his instinct to shoo her off for insubordination, but he reminded himself that although he didn’t like her, both he and Tuti cared for Y/N. 

“Before you leave, I have something for you.” Ardyn took a few steps toward the kitchen island. His right hand rummaged through the grocery bag, and he pulled out a small pink rose and an envelope. 

“What’s this?” Tuti whispered, raising a brow as Ardyn approached and handed off the items to her. Her fingers pinched at the envelope, feeling how full it was. Conflict brewed in her eyes while she admired the pink rose. As much as Tuti wanted to throw it back at Ardyn’s face, she appreciated the beauty of the flower too much to insult its radiance. She carefully tucked the flower behind her right ear, and began to open the envelope. 

“Consider it tip for taking care of Y/N on my behalf.” Ardyn watched as Tuti’s eyes nearly bulged out from her skull. He faintly smirked before going neutral. 

“That’s almost five months of salary.” Tuti murmured under her breath. By the mercy of the gods did she gather strength to peer up at Ardyn, and glared at him. “I’ll have you know, that you can’t just buy someone’s forgiveness.” 

“I’m well aware,” Ardyn said as a matter of fact and sighed. “Is it working though?” 

“Well,” Tuti breathed. She counted the bills in the envelope and shook her head. “If I remember, the gods forgive all sin on Sundays. Including someone selling their virtue.” 

Ardyn let out an amused huff, watching Tuti carefully tuck the envelope into the back pocket of her apron. He was about to say something, until Tuti held up a hand and cut him off. 

“Please, I don’t wish to have a conversation anymore Chancellor. I want to perform my duties, and turn in for the night.” 

“Very well,” Ardyn gestured with his head toward the exit. “Don’t let me keep you.” 

Tuti offered a bow, and walked over to the doors. She paused for a moment, turning her head to the side to watch Ardyn go back to pulling things out of the grocery bag. There was a lot of food from what she could gather. A soft sigh left her lips, and Tuti cleared her throat. 

“Chancellor,” 

“Yes?”

“Y/N was adamant about speaking with you despite…well, what happened. You needn’t worry.” Tuti murmured. The face she wore was a mix of disappointment and awe.

Ardyn gave a firm nod after he hummed in reply, then continued to carry on, not paying heed to Tuti as she finally left. 

Hours later, Ardyn carefully approached a large bed. His eyes combed over Y/N’s resting form that was draped under the blankets. He paused when he saw their feet dangling off the edge, noting the scourge veins bulging out. Ardyn could only imagine what the rest of their body looked like. The thought nerved him and Y/N’s shallow exhales didn’t help. If anything, he felt worse about what happened this morning.

Hovering above Y/N, Ardyn canted his head while examining their features. They were lying on their side, half their face buried into the large silk pillow below. The scourge marks pulsated when Y/N drew in breath. Ardyn closed his eyes, focusing his own darkness on the daemonic aura that coursed through Y/N’s veins. A crackling sound echoed against Ardyn’s ears, and whispers began to rise and fall. His own conscience was nearly drowned out by the noise, but he firmly repeated in mind for the shadows to cease. When he opened his eyes, the world became silent again. 

Though Y/N’s infection was not even a fraction of Ardyn’s ailment, he could feel the toll it had on their body and the struggle to remain alive despite the horrendous pain. With resentment, Ardyn glared at the dark webbing on Y/N's skin. He crouched down until he was on his knees. His face now level with Y/N and the mattress. 

Thoughts ran through Ardyn as he sighed through his nose. He wondered if Y/N would be upset with his presence near considering what happened. Ardyn wasn’t one to apologize, especially in this incarnation as Chancellor, but even with all his justifications he couldn’t let this slide. Not when he knew in his heart of hearts, that he was in the wrong. 

“Y/N,” Ardyn murmured softly. His right hand reached to touch their neck, fingers gliding over skin until his palm gently cupped their cheek. He watched the scourge veins begin to recede; the darkness having listened to his plea from before. His features perked when Y/N groaned, and their eyes fluttered open briefly. 

“Y/N,” Ardyn leaned forward. His nose pressed to their skin, inhaling their scent before drifting up to their ear. A tired mix between groan and giggle left Y/N’s mouth, and he couldn’t help but smile like an idiot. 

“I have something for you.” He whispered into the shell of their ear.

“That’s a lie,” Y/N muttered exhausted while they stirred more from their rest. “We both know you don’t like charity.” 

Ardyn chuckled against Y/N’s hair. His lips gently pressed against the side of their head before he pulled away. He met Y/N’s weary gaze, and the marks he had left upon their skin. He felt nauseous gazing over the black and blue texture. 

“I’d like for you to join me at the table if you have the strength. I made us a meal.” 

Despite how drained Y/N felt from the scourge, their brows raised in surprise. “You didn’t have Tuti do that on your behalf? I’m shocked.”

“No. Not this time.” Ardyn admitted with a smirk. “Believe it or not, I can perform menial tasks by myself. I just choose not to.” 

“What’s the occasion? I thought I was in the hot seat.” Y/N’s voice trailed off and they swallowed. 

“You’re in no such position with me,” Ardyn shook his head. He moved a stray strand of hair out from their eyes, his touch lingering. “I...wanted to do this for you.” 

“This morning--”

“No, let’s not speak on it right now. Later we will. You have my word. ” Ardyn interrupted. His amber eyes lingered between Y/N’s mouth and their hair. Before he got too lost, Ardyn retreated his hand away from them and he gestured with his head to the chamber doors. 

“Let’s get you out of bed. I don’t want the food to run cold. Do you need assistance?” 

“Yeah,” Y/N nodded and winced when they moved their left foot. 

“I can carry you?” Ardyn offered. 

“I’d like to do this myself. Just let me lean on you.” Y/N murmured. They didn’t notice the hurt that crossed Ardyn’s face at their decline. 

Taking in a few deep breaths, Y/N let out a cry and forced the upper half of their body to rise from the bed. The motion felt as if they had run their entire body through a thicket of barbed wire. With every movement they made in the trench, it only ensnared them further into the spiky ends that dug into flesh. When Ardyn attempted to help, Y/N shook their head and gestured for him to stand down. They were surprised at his compliance, given the fierce look that carried through his eyes.

Y/N started to flex their fingers, getting them to wake up. After the wave of pain died down, did they gather the strength to stand. On their feet, Y/N wobbled like a bookcase whose shelves were not properly lined up. Their feet felt static as did their blood. The scourge constricting around their calves like snakes didn’t help with their balance, and caused them to fall forward into Ardyn’s chest. Through a muffled yelp, Y/N felt their body adjust as Ardyn gently pushed them back and went to their side. He coaxed Y/N’s body into leaning against his own, while his arm went around their waist for support. After finding their balance, did Y/N motion for Ardyn to move and begin their trek to the kitchen. 

The walk was a quiet affair, minus the whimpers and occasional groans that fell past Y/N’s lips. Every once in a while, Ardyn glanced down at Y/N to assess them; noting that their body had been severely taxed. He started to second guess waking them up in the first place, seeing the grey bags under their eyes. There was also the proximity piece that had his blood quake with each step. The texture of their skin, the sweet smell of their own scent intermingling with the essence of the scourge, and the weight of their body against him had Ardyn worried he’d go haywire. His pulse rose unsteadily, wondering if perhaps he himself was becoming ill. 

The second Ardyn felt Y/N’s breath faintly tickle the underside of his jaw, he stopped and let out a disgruntled sigh. “This is taking far too long.” 

“We’re almost there,” Y/N protested, and gestured with their chin to the kitchen doors. All they had to do was cross through the living room space. From Y/N’s perspective, it felt like miles of uncharted territory laid ahead given how much they ached. Nevertheless, they didn’t want to throw in the towel just yet. 

“I don’t understand the insistence of prolonging your suffering.” Ardyn countered, furrowing his brows at them. 

“It’s not that I don’t want your help,” Y/N gritted through their teeth while feeling the scourge slide across their legs. It felt like their skin was being flayed. “If I can’t do this on my own, I'll--” 

“Y/N,”

“Yeah?” 

“While I admire your tenacity, I’m imploring you to let me help.” 

Y/N sighed in defeat. “Ardyn--”

“I tire of hearing you moan in my ear every second.” 

Of all the things he could’ve said, Y/N didn’t see that coming. Sensing his discomfort, Y/N felt blush rising in their cheeks. Whether it was from their embarrassment or wanting to play off the severity of the scourge flare, they felt emboldened to make a jest. 

“You know,” Y/N coughed. “Most guys would be into that.” 

The look he wore was priceless. A mixture of disgust and intrigue traveled across Ardyn’s face, and Y/N couldn’t help but snicker. 

“I didn’t take you for a minx.” Ardyn huffed.

“Between the two of us you’d fit the bill of that better than I.” 

“Oh, that’s quite sinful! It’s rather sweet you acknowledge my prowess.” Ardyn teased in a sinister fashion. 

“I...” Y/N struggled to speak. “I wasn’t complimenting or--” 

“Then what we’re you implying, darling ?” 

He held Y/N’s gaze for several seconds, watching their laughter turn into nervous chuckling. Ardyn couldn’t help but smile at how pink Y/N’s face had become.  When they were at the precipice of expressing fear--at how he lurked over them like a serpent hypnotizing it’s prey--did he strike. 

“H-hey!” Y/N exclaimed, feeling their body and the world shift as Ardyn swept his arms underneath their form. “What do you think you’re doing?” 

“I’m speeding things up,” Ardyn teased, smirking proudly when Y/N instinctively wrapped their arms over his shoulders while he carried them like a newlywed bride. “By the way, you’re quite welcome.” 

“Damn you…” Y/N muttered under their breath, trying to ignore the laugh he let out at their expense. Their pride was wounded, but Y/N would be lying if they didn’t appreciate Ardyn pulling off that little stunt. Their aching body certainly respected what he had done, giving a much needed break. 

As Ardyn walked them both to the kitchen, Y/N felt their face grow warm when they caught a whiff of his scent. He always smelled rich, like sandal and rosewood; strong and earthy. The sweet undertone that intertwined with his usual musk had Y/N feeling an impulse to bury their face into his neck. It reminded Y/N of the fermented smell the scourge gave off, without the rotting stink. Whatever it was caused by, be it the long day at work or if he was trying something new, Y/N felt their nerves tremble as scourge and blood rushed through them. 

“Here we go,” Ardyn’s playful declaration stopped Y/N from succumbing to their urge as he gently plopped them into a chair. He was careful to push it in toward the table once Y/N got comfortable, and he ventured to the chair next to theirs and took a seat. 

Y/N's eyes widened, gazing upon the meal that Ardyn had laid forth. There was a fish of some sort on their plate, topped with a brown butter sauce. It was well seasoned with a nutty fragrance akin to hazelnut. The bed of salad it was placed upon looked just as delectable as the main course, and quite unusual. Y/N could see a mixture of apple slices with gouda cheese, red onion, olive oil, sunflower seeds, and another vegetable that smelled similar to a turnip. 

Y/N had never seen a meal like this before, not at the Gala, and certainly not when Tuti or other Imperial Help delivered meals to the residency. Y/N could scarce believe that Ardyn played a hand in this concoction. 

“What is this?” Y/N asked while using their fork to poke the meat. They couldn’t help but let out a laugh, shaking their head. “This has got to be take out.”

“I assure you, it’s no such thing.” Ardyn chuckled with pride, glancing between the meal and Y/N. “It’s grilled bass, and the salad is made with kohlrabi. I haven’t made this in over 2,000 years. Try it, and tell me what you think.”

2,000 years…?  Y/N almost had the audacity to jokingly ask Ardyn if this was his first time making anything in his life. Alas they relented, but the message sunk in how long ago that was. It certainly explained why the dish looked unknown, and just like it’s creator, otherworldly in a sense. 

At feeling their stomach rumble, Y/N eagerly and with caution took a chunk of the bass meat with their fork and brought it to their mouth. They blew on the meat a few times, feeling the steam rise off the scales before consumption. 

Different tones of flavors exploded against their tongue, and Y/N had no idea how to label each and every taste; for it blended together in a beautiful dance. Their expressions must’ve been concerning, for Ardyn looked worried. That is until Y/N went ravenous and began to eat more of it. 

“Wow,” Y/N murmured in between chews. 

“Well?” 

“It could be poison and I’d still eat it!” Y/N exclaimed in between bites, causing Ardyn to laugh. 

“Where were you 2,000 years ago?” He mused. 

“Somewhere in the dark. Not even an egg or sperm yet,” Y/N teased, blushing when Ardyn snorted at the crude remark. “Why do you ask?” 

“Well,” Ardyn began to carve the meat on his own plate, taking a small bite himself. “This was a poor man’s feast by the standards of yesteryear. Not many cared for it.” 

Y/N furrowed their brows. “I thought you said you were royalty?”

“That’s correct.” 

“But you ate poorly?” 

“Hmm hmm,” Ardyn nodded. His expression softened, almost appearing morose. “When I became a healer full time, I had forsaken royal decadence and relied upon the charity of those I serviced. Many didn’t have the means to pay, so if they offered food and shelter, I took it with grace. Overtime, I grew to love dishes like this one and I learned to prepare it myself.” 

“Why did you put yourself through that?” Y/N watched Ardyn’s amber eyes curiously roam over them. They couldn’t tell if he was intrigued or appalled by the question. 

“I mean, the way you are now or what I’ve come to know of you, it’s like you’re speaking about another person.” 

There was a long pause as Ardyn mulled over Y/N’s statement. He himself was puzzled at his own discernment. Furrowing his brows, he carefully reached for a bottle of wine that was in the middle of the table between himself and Y/N. 

“Do you remember our conversation long ago in Lucis, when you asked how I became as I am?” 

Y/N nodded. Their eyes darted to the wine bottle as Ardyn popped the top open, and poured himself a glass. 

“You said your kindness cost you everything.” Y/N murmured in reply. 

“Correct,” Ardyn met Y/N’s eyes, and gestured to their empty glass, offering to pour a round for them. He smiled faintly when they gave a nod, and proceeded.

“Back then, the blight or what became known as the star scourge made it’s debut when my brother and I were both young men. As it grew, Somnus believed that culling the flock was a necessary evil to prevent the spread. I found through my practice that certain people were predisposed to the scourge, while others were not even if they were around the infected. Alas, they were still carriers. My brother justified more sacrifices because of what I had discovered. Even with the knowledge that I could cure the infected myself, he wouldn’t budge from his stance.” 

Once he topped off Y/N’s wine, Ardyn gently slid the glass to them. “One day, I excommunicated myself from the kingdoms council under the guise that I was going on a pilgrimage, in honor of mine and Somnus’s late mother. I was to be gone for six months, but six became nine and nine became twelve. I traveled across Lucis healing those afflicted; trying to show the people, and Somnus that there was another way besides bloodshed. Hence, I became quite acquainted with peasantry and cuisine.” 

While Ardyn gave no reason to lie, there were some things that didn’t add up for Y/N. If it was true, that he could cure the scourge, then why did he drag them through this whole mess? It was one of the many questions that fired off in Y/N’s mind. They mulled over his story while taking another bite of the fish while he nursed generously from his own wine glass. 

“There’s no cure,” Y/N shook their head. They glanced over him, trying to find a hint of deception behind his confused gaze. 

“Pardon?” 

“How did you heal people from the scourge?” 

“How do you think I became Adagium?” Ardyn huffed with a smirk.

“I don’t know, you tell me.” Y/N countered with a laugh. It seemed Ardyn was more or less amused by the banter. Alas he sighed, as if preparing himself for a long winded speech before the Imperial council. 

“Well, I…” Ardyn bit his bottom lip while contemplating his choice of words. It had been a long, long time since he reviewed his past history. He had purposefully tried to dispose of his old self, letting the daemons inside his body eat away at him, and Ardyn was shocked he had quite a vivid recollection the longer he dwelled on it. 

“If it’s not something you want to discuss--”

“No, no,” Ardyn shook his head, gesturing with his right hand for Y/N to cease. “I assure you I have nothing to hide." 

“I can tell you’re lying.” Y/N snorted. “You’re nervous about it.”

“Am I that obvious?” Ardyn raised a brow. He smiled amusingly, seeing Y/N nod to his remark. 

“I have an idea.” Y/N suggested. 

“Let’s hear it then.” 

“If you don’t think you can tell me in five sentences or less how you became Adagium, then it’s probably something we shouldn’t discuss.”

To say Ardyn was perplexed as an understatement. He chortled before speaking. “I must’ve already drank one glass too many. Did I hear you correctly, five sentences or less?” 

Y/N nodded with a smile. “You sure did.” 

“I’m afraid I’m not following?” 

“In my experience, if a person is open and willing, they can get to their point within five sentences or less. Anything more, and they’re either lying or it hurts too much.” 

Ardyn hummed in thought at Y/N’s proclamation. He took another sip from his wine glass. 

“I suppose this mentality comes from your days as a Scavenger, no less?” 

“You’d be correct.” Y/N smiled, fiddling with their fork against some of the apple slices beneath the grilled fish. 

Ardyn was quiet for a time. Neither he nor Y/N said a word to each other while the latter continued to eat. Once they finished off the fish, and began working their way to the salad, did Ardyn let out a breath. 

“Challenge accepted,” He proudly mused, earning a double take from Y/N. He chuckled at their expense, eyes glancing at his own meal he had barely touched.

“The gods blessed me with the power to cure the scourge at the expense of my own health. I thought it was a worthy sacrifice, to forsake one for the many. Each time I took the darkness into myself, a little bit of my soul withered away. I fought it off as long as I could, but Somnus brought out the worst in me. He took away the only anchor I had left, keeping me human.” 

Each word was a pebble, which evolved into jagged rocks. By the time Ardyn finished his five sentences, Y/N could hear the pain in his voice that he desperately tried to cover with loathing. It all made sense how he got from point A to point B, and it should’ve been so obvious. Y/N felt like a fool for not putting the pieces together sooner. 

“Your anchor was Aera, wasn’t it?” 

The gasp left Ardyn so abruptly, it startled Y/N. They carefully watched him, seeing how every muscle in his body tensed as if he had been struck. The way his eyes bore into Y/N, had them wondering why he hadn’t screamed nor yelled yet. 

“Where did you hear that name?”

“I think I saw a memory of yours this morning.” Y/N replied cautiously. They could tell he was trying hard to keep himself together, and decided not to leave too much hanging for Ardyn’s sake. “After you struck me, I blacked out and woke up to a battle. There was a lot of blood, and I was losing. The man I fought, he was going to deliver the final blow until Aera got in between us. She died in my arms.” 

Ardyn was silent for what felt like ages. He never once blinked nor took his eyes off of Y/N. 

“What did you feel, when you held her?” 

“What?” 

“Answer the question, please.” 

His demand was neither imposing nor was it gentle. Y/N was beside themself while they tried to recollect those tender feelings they experienced. It was so hard to describe, yet the memory felt as if it had always belonged to them.

“I didn’t feel real anymore. All I felt was my heart, and everything about me, shatter. I kept so many from dying, yet I couldn’t keep the one person I cherished most alive. I felt all of Eos crumble in my arms.” 

Y/N hadn’t realized they had been crying until Ardyn had passed them a napkin. They sniffled, feeling their face flush and murmured a quiet thank you under their breath. After wiping their eyes, did they swallow back the remaining tears. Y/N felt foolish. This was after all, a memory of Ardyn’s, but they felt some ownership of the weight. 

“I saw what your friends did to you, back at the Quay. Everything.” Ardyn finally spoke up. It was now Y/N’s turn to handle the shock of such a declaration. He could see the fright in their eyes, and slowly began to regale. “I see why you were so miserable when you showed up to the inn. You really loved them all, didn’t you?” 

Y/N nodded. “And you really loved Aera.” 

Ardyn sighed through his nose. He made a fist, knowing this wasn't something he could shelter away. Y/N knew too much. 

“Was this a bleed through?” 

“Yes, yes it was.” Ardyn admitted. There was no use in trying to lie for the sake of pacifying. He knew deep down that Y/N knew the truth to begin with, but they needed validation for it to feel legitimate. He lingered on what happened in the morning, and everything he had experienced up to this point. 

“Y/N,”

“Yeah?” 

“The sylleblossoms weren’t your fault, nor were they Tuti’s or even Commander Pierce’s boy.” Ardyn averted his gaze, fixating at what was left of his wine. “I had a night terror about Aera, among other things. There was much blood in it.” 

“So the flowers did make you crazy.” 

“I'm not good at apologizing,” Ardyn bit the inside of his cheek, reminding himself that he needed to set things right even if it cost him his pride. He turned his full attention to Y/N, letting the shame that had been bottling up inside of himself come through his tired eyes. 

“I know I’ve attempted to rectify the situation with a meal, but I know that can’t suffice for what I’ve done. A sorry won’t sit well with me, and I doubt the same on your end. So…name anything, and it shall be yours.” 

Y/N was taken aback. “Anything?” 

“Anything,” Ardyn emphasized. “It can be at my personal expense or not. It’s only fair.” 

“Would you mind if we did a raincheck?” 

Ardyn was visibly confused at first. In the rare event he had found himself owing someone a favor, said persons jumped the gun in a heartbeat without thinking twice. There was always something to be gained from cornering the Chancellor. That had been Ardyn’s experience in Niflheim for decades, up until now. Y/N had puzzled him many times, but this was a moment that Ardyn filed away in his subconscious; there was no hidden motive with them. Perhaps there never was. Not even when he was so certain in the early stages of their partnership. 

He searched Y/N for any sign of deception, and alas was met with a smile. It was simple and conveyed enough to give him grounds to return one in favor before speaking. 

“Just say the word when the time comes. I’ll honor it.” 

“I’ll hold you to that.” Y/N mused. Their body tensed for a moment as they eyed the rest of their plate.

Y/N would be lying to themself if they didn’t feel at odds with the situation they were in with Ardyn. They had their share of physical altercations. It was something that unfortunately Scavengers would come across at one point or another, be it petty disputes between fellow workers or fighting off folks who had no legitimate claim to treasures. Had this been anyone else who had struck them down, Y/N knew redemption would be off the table. Had anyone acted like Ardyn, Y/N wouldn’t have stood for it. They swallowed, realizing the vast number of exceptions they allowed for him. The epiphany was both enlightening and held alarming context.

Y/N couldn’t afford to dwell on their leniency any further. Not when the scourge pinched at their swollen eye where they had been hit. They scanned over their plate. For as good as the food was, Y/N didn’t know if they could stomach anything further. At the very least, Y/N decided to eat a little bit more of the salad and finish off the wine; out of courtesy for the labor Ardyn had put into it. 

The rest of dinner went on quietly as Y/N and Ardyn ate. Neither party said a word, nor paid much heed after the conversation died down. It was only when Ardyn saw Y/N displaying obvious signs of fatigue did he finally pipe up.

“Tired?” 

Y/N smiled. “Exhausted and full.”

“That’s quite unfortunate,” Ardyn mused. “I made dessert, but I suppose that can wait for morning.” 

“Well,” Y/N hummed in thought. Their stomach felt like it was going to distend, but much like Ardyn, sweets were a temptation they couldn’t overlook so easily. “Maybe I can have a little bite?” 

Ardyn chuckled, shaking his head. “There’s no need to force yourself. Besides, there is another matter I need to discuss with you before we depart for bed.”

“Oh?” 

“How do you feel about weddings?” 

Y/N made a face, unsure what he was driving at. The question came so far out of left field, that he might as well should’ve asked if Eos was flat or spherical. 

“I’ve…never really been to many. Well, huge ones. I’ve attended small unions before. Why?” 

“You and I are needed for an engagement in Accordo, an arranged marriage.” Before Ardyn could express anything further, he saw the shocked terror that danced across Y/N’s face along with a blush that could rival the richest of burgundy silks that Aldercapt owned. He did a double take, making a face before the dots connected and he cackled like a child who had gotten away with stealing. 

“Oh come now!” Ardyn said in between fits. “I wasn’t implying us!” 

“Oh damn the six…” Y/N let out a breath in relief, shaking their head as Ardyn continued to laugh at their expense. They shot him a glare, their face feeling warm from misconstruing the situation. 

“You know, you could’ve worded that better.” 

“The fault lies with me there, I’ll admit that.” Ardyn snorted. He let out a breath, and smirked. “I suppose it wouldn’t be so bad, considering we seem to know each other inside and out at this point, quite literally…”

“What?!” 

“Moving on!” Ardyn raised his voice with a snicker, taking hold of the reigns before Y/N had the chance to verbally beat him down for the tease. “The betrothal is between an Accordian Senator, and a Niflheim Lead of Office. The Accordo envoys are hopeful this union will quell any rebellious tendencies in their own countrymen. Given the prestige of both parties entering the marriage, the engagement not only requires the presence of my company but that of yours.” 

After Y/N got over the embarrassment of Ardyn’s not so clever flirtation, did they listen carefully. Something didn’t add up for them. 

“Not that I’m opposed, but why do I need to go? 

“Being an Imperial Icon, it’s imperative you attend and leave a good impression; not only to make Niflheim look generous for taking you in, but to perhaps sway public opinion about Lucis and the monarchy.”

“What you’re saying is, you want me to talk shit about my homeland.” 

“Maybe not so vulgar in language, but yes.” Ardyn could see the reluctance in Y/N’s features. “I had a feeling you’d have a qualm, therefore I’ve already put together a script of sorts. We can go over it along with your other obligations this week.”

“Alright,” Y/N murmured. This shouldn’t have surprised them, but there was an uneasiness in Y/N’s stomach that refused to go away.

“Given what I know now,” Ardyn cleared his throat, earning Y/N’s eyes. “I understand this isn’t easy. However, we both have parts to play in this theatrical piece until the dust settles and I can make due on my oath.” 

“Don’t get me wrong, I get it.” Y/N remarked, feeling the weight somewhat shift off their shoulders at what Ardyn said. “That doesn’t mean it won’t be hard. You were once a Lucian. I’m sure it was difficult for you to fully cut ties despite what happened in the past.”

“You don’t know the half of it,” Ardyn replied nonchalant. He let out a huff while his mind briefly recalled his 2,000 year exile, and the months after Verstael had freed him; only to chain him to a different cage. “Be grateful Verstael isn’t the one mentoring you. He certainly ensured my wings were clipped when it came to sentiment for Lucis, whatever was left of my adoration anyhow.” 

“Trust me, between an immortal monster and a guy who ages like a balding goat, I’d take the immortal any day.” 

Although initially appalled, Ardyn laughed at the candid remark. He felt some relief as well hearing Y/N join him in that regard. 

“Ah, you flatter me so!” 

“Eh, don’t get used to it.” Y/N countered with a giggle. 

“I’ll make note of that.” Ardyn grinned. He soon faltered when his eyes locked on Y/N’s. For a split second, there was a look of awe in their gaze that had his knees shudder; as if they would buckle though he was sitting down. It occurred to him Y/N must’ve caught on that something was amiss, for they shyly looked away. 

“I’d…like to try something.” Ardyn whispered, earning Y/N’s attention once more. He himself wasn’t sure where this was coming from, and although composed, inside he was petrified. “Is it alright if I touch you?” 

“Touch me?” 

Ardyn gestured to his own face to emphasize where. 

“Oh,” Y/N swallowed. Their stomach twisted in a painful knot, only soothed by nerves that seemed to be running amok in bliss. The contradiction was so strange. “I guess so…”

“No, this won’t do.” Ardyn shook his head. He scooted his chair so he could get closer to Y/N. Once settled, he continued. “It’s either an enthusiastic yes, or nothing at all.” 

“I didn’t take you for a consent type of guy.” 

“In some circumstances, it certainly calls for it.” Ardyn mused, trying to not venture into territory that could land him in hot water. Although he was certainly tempted to make a flirtatious jest at Y/N’s expense, it wasn’t worth making his heart rock further against his ribs. 

He gestured his hands out to Y/N, palms up, as if he was making an offering to the six; all the while demonstrating there was no weapon to be had. Y/N couldn’t help but notice that some of his fingers were shaking. 

“May I?” 

The softness of his voice pulled Y/N away from studying his palms any further. With another gulp, they nodded before giving a definitive answer. 

“Yes.”

His hands slowly reached out. Y/N’s shoulders tensed as did the rest of their muscles. Their eyes fluttered shut. Trembling, Y/N could feel Ardyn's hands cup their face, thumbs smoothing over fears of endangerment while pressing firmly yet gently against their bruises. They couldn’t help but wince, letting out a pained grunt. Ardyn’s soft hush made the trembling worse, but more so in their legs and feet. It was so strange, the power a voice could have over someone. 

A voice… Y/N furrowed their brows. For the briefest of seconds, they could hear an inhuman sound cradling the inside of their skull. There was no way to decipher what was being said, but Y/N felt on a primal level, that they understood what it meant. The image of Outpost 98 and the explosion flashed behind their eyelids, and then a tender bout of pain radiated against their face; causing Y/N to grimace. 

Before their mind could follow the voice any further down its dark path, they felt something warm under their skin; as if the life force of Eos had been taken into their blood and massaged all the knots and pains away. This felt different from when Ardyn would redirect the scourge. This was something else entirely. 

The chain of events lasted for a minute, but to Y/N, it felt like forever. Their eyes fanned open, meeting Ardyn’s deep amber eyes as he carefully looked them over; his hands remained in place, daring not to let go of them. 

A crooked smile fell upon his lips, and Y/N couldn’t help but mirror him. It was bizarre, seeing him in the state of awe he was growing into. 

“You’re healed…” He muttered as if he himself couldn’t believe it. “I never thought I could do that again.” 

“The blackeye, its gone?” 

Ardyn quietly hummed with a nod.

“How did you--”

“I’m not sure,” Ardyn whispered to himself. He adjusted the placement of his hands on Y/N’s face, brushing some strands of hair out from their eyes before his thumbs began to rub small circles into their cheeks. “Are you alright?” 

“Yeah,” Y/N murmured, faintly nodding against his touch. The sweet scent that had been whiffing off of Ardyn’s body began to make a comeback, and Y/N couldn’t help but lean in. If they didn’t know better, he was having a similar reaction. There was a look in his eyes that was intense, as if he had been put under a spell and couldn’t withhold the reactions his body was going to have. 

Y/N could feel the air from his nose hit their flesh. The hitch in his breath gave way he was inhaling their scent. Somehow, Y/N knew this had to be the scourges doing; drawing them together like two magnets. Fear and something else intertwined in Y/N’s chest as they tilted their chin up, their face gently pressed against the stubble on Ardyn’s cheek. His breath hitched again, Y/N heard him swallow, his fingers shuddered against their face, and then his strong nose brushed against theirs. 

“Ardyn--”

In a split second, the spell was broken and he let go. Ardyn hastily retreated, albeit not in a manner to suggest he was disgusted. His eyes blinked several times, seemingly confused at his actions. 

“I...I don't--”

Y/N breathed out. “That was…”

“Peculiar?” 

“Yeah.” Y/N nodded. 

They both acknowledged one another, as if trying to see if each had been hurt before Ardyn made his move. He let out a sigh then forced himself to his feet and began to gather up the plates and silverware, no longer wishing to indulge Y/N. 

Y/N furrowed their brows. “Ardyn?”

“You go on to bed,” He replied gently. “I’ll get this cleaned up.” 

As much as Y/N wanted to pry further, they found themself frozen; unable to say a word. Whether it was from their own nerves, the scourge bubbling in their stomach, or something else entirely it didn’t matter. Y/N whispered a good night, got to their feet, and somehow through the pain, coaxed themself to return to their dwelling within Ardyn’s residence. 

They didn’t realize he had long stopped collecting the dishes, and watched them walk away. Ardyn's fingers grasped the plates with a firm grip as he fought against calling Y/N back to him. 

[govindhtech]

MSI Claw Facilitates Game Mastery

MSI Claw is compatible with a variety of gaming platforms, including EPIC, XBOX, Ubisoft, Steam, and more.

In addition to providing some troubleshooting advice to ensure that your gaming experience runs well, this post will show you how to launch your first game on the Claw using examples from Ubisoft and Steam. Okay, let’s get going!

MSI Claw is compatible with a variety of gaming platforms, including Ubisoft, Steam, and others.

Utilize Ubisoft Connect to download and install games. Initially, they will install games, such those made by Ubisoft. Select “Ubisoft” under “Gaming Platform.” It will direct you to Ubisoft’s website if you don’t have the program installed. The desktop program may be downloaded and installed by selecting “Download for PC.”

To download and install the desktop program, go to the Ubisoft website and choose “Download for PC.”

You’ll be prompted to start and log into your account when it’s finished. Press the second button to the right of the Claw to bring up the “Quick Settings” button, then choose “Keyboard” if the on-screen keyboard does not appear instantly. Furthermore, you may install your favorite games.

Press the “Quick Settings” option after launching and logging into your Ubisoft account to turn on the virtual keyboard.

Install and download games using Steam Now let’s give Steam a go. The Steam website allows you to download Steam once you click on the “steam icon” on the MSI Center M Homepage. You are able to download and launch the desired titles after entering into your Steam account!

Upon completion of the download, the games will be loaded into your Game Library automatically. You’ll just need to open “MSI Center M” in the future to see your installed games.

You may install new games from various platforms or locate all of your already downloaded games in your Game Library.

In the event that the games you downloaded are not visible, you may import the games automatically by selecting “Game Library” and then “Scan” in the upper right corner. This acts as a page refresh. You are then prepared to use the Claw to play games!

To refresh the page in the event that the game is not imported into the Game Library, choose “Scan.”

How to Mend Your Claw’s Hall Effect Analog Stick Left and right analog sticks for the hall effect are included with the MSI Claw. Certain games may not be compatible with the hall effect analog sticks for certain players since the sticks were not considered in the game design. It follows that there is a slight possibility that certain Claw players may have stick malfunctions. If this occurs, you may choose between different control modes by clicking the “Quick Setting” button and choosing the “Game Mode” symbol. By doing this, you can get your stick to work with most games and gaming systems.

To switch the control mode, use the “Quick Setting” button.

You may access the MSI Center M site, select the “Quick Setting Editor,” hit the “+” symbol, and add the “Control Mode” item if you press the “Quick Setting” button without seeing the Control Mode option. The game’s “Gamepad Mode” may then be selected!

To add the “Control Mode” item, click the “Quick Setting Editor” button, then hit the “+” symbol.

You may also enter Steam and go to the controller settings related to a certain game if the joystick is still not working. After selecting the desired game by moving your cursor over it and pressing the “B” button, you may pick “Properties,” hit the “A” button, and finally select “Controller.” Choose “Enable Steam Input” from the drop-down option under “Use default setting.” This is a fix for gamers who are experiencing problems with some games’ analog sticks that simulate the hall effect.

Launch Steam, choose the game, click “Library,” and change the controller settings.

The globe is going crazy over the brand-new portable gaming PC called the MSI Claw. With its potent hardware, which includes an Intel Core Ultra CPU, Intel XeSS technology, and 16GB of RAM, you may play your favorite PC games wherever you are.

Capable of handling even the most demanding games at maximum settings, the MSI Claw is a powerful mobile gaming PC. It has a beautiful display, a quick CPU, and plenty of RAM and storage. That being said, at $999, it is also quite costly.

Read more on Govindhtech.com

[wineisdivinepdx]

Launching 7 Cider Cocktails At Virtue Farm This Month

Greg Hall asked me to develop a cider cocktail program for Virtue.  I R&D’ed the cocktails during the slow first quarter of 2023 & we launched all seven earlier this month. I never thought I’d have this much fun creating the lineup. It was a blast. Just being able to wrap my head around what’s possible utilizing only cider and no other alcohol to make tasty drinks was a fun challenge.

I was also able to heavily lean on Rare Tea Cellar in Chicago.  I have a great deal of respect for what they do, and their various teas created a layer of complexity in each cocktail [selection pictured below]. I also got to work with other sweeteners such as molasses, concentrated pear juice from Seedling Farms and barley syrup, which was really enlightening, making texture without hard spirit addition.

Another ingredient I enjoyed incorporating into the lineup was Jeffrey Morgenthaler’s lime cordial, if you haven’t made this yet, please give it a go [recipe here]. It’s so good. And I finally got to use saffron. I’ve been wanting to play with saffron for a while. I created an infusion with Michigan-made Vernors, saffron and Rare Tea Cellar Emperor’s Lemon Meritage tea. Culinarily and philosophically, I love mixing lowbrow and highbrow together. This elixir does that, is crazy delicious and creates the most complex cocktail of the menu, The Alchemist’s Apprentice.

Also very fun was teaching the crew the menu and watching them make & serve the cocktails. Two of the lineup are made in a cocktail shaker, the remainder are either built in a mixing glass or highball-style, made directly in the serving glass. There’s even one seven-touch cocktail in the mix. Something we eschewed at Shift Drinks, but was fun nonetheless to develop for Virtue.

The marketing of these cocktails started yesterday. Check out the first Instagram Reel here. I love the Wes Anderson aesthetic. Thanks to Seth, Sara, CK, Kaely and Charlie for making these vignettes. I can’t wait to see the rest.

VIRTUE FARM CIDER COCKTAIL MENU

The Alchemist’s Apprentice Our Abeille cider with house made Vernors infusion of saffron & Rare Tea Cellar's Lemon Meritage, Peychaud's & Regans' bitters, Forbidden Forest Lapsang Souchong mist. Served up in a coupe. This drink was inspired by Sam Ross' modern classic Penicillin.

Blue In The Face Blueberry Mitten cider with Rare Tea Cellar’s Emperor’s Peppermint with fresh mint & orange bitters. Served in a bodega glass on the rocks. A refreshing apéritif.

Cider & Sand Fresh orange juice, L'Aperitivo NA Vermouth, malted barley, Rare Tea Cellar's Bourbon Vanilla Chai, Seedling Farms pear syrup & our Cherry Mitten cider. Shaken hard, served up in a pub glass. This drink is our variation of the classic Blood & Sand.

The Golden Palmer Goldenhour cider, Rare Tea Cellar's Regal English Breakfast tea, fresh lemon juice & cane syrup, stirred and served in bodega glass on the rocks. The cider version of a classic Arnold Palmer.

Memed & Mocked Jeffrey Morgenthaler's lime cordial, Rare Tea Cellar's Forbidden Forest Lapsang Souchong, our Maple Mitten cider, Angostura bitters. Served up in a coupe. A cider version of a classic Gimlet.

Mending Wall Rare Tea Cellar’s Bourbon Vanilla Chai, Matriarch pear-ginger cider molasses, our original Mitten cider & orange bitters. Served on the rocks in a bodega glass. Our take on a classic Stone Fence.

Rural/Metro Rare Tea Cellar’s Cran-Apple tea, fresh lime juice, cane syrup, orange bitters & topped with our iconic Brut cider. Served up in a pub glass. A cider version of a classic Cosmo.

Should you find yourself in Fennville this summer, I hope you get to try one of these, please. Make sure you say, “Hi!” too.

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Mending Shadows // Chapter 14

Summary:

Y/N was a simple Scavenger of Lucis, until meeting a deadly blow at the hands of an infected creature. At the crossroads of death, they are found by Niflheim’s cryptic Chancellor with his own agenda. Now bonded to Ardyn Izunia, and tossed into the world of Niflheim, Y/N struggles to cope with their new life as an Imperial Icon all the while battling their feelings toward their fate and that of Ardyn’s.

Click here to read on AO3

The festivities of the Imperial Founding Ceremony were well underway. Streets leading toward the palace were closed down, and an endless line of cars and people were back to back and bumper to bumper. Loud orchestrate music pooled out of the palace’s large entry doors, beckoning warm bodies to enter into the dwelling to participate.  The grand hall was filled to the brim with people. Most hailing from the richer provinces within Niflheim, though on this day, commoners were allowed to mingle within reason. 

The atmosphere was a blur of chatter, the sound of feet scuffing against carpet, jewelry jiggling to the rhythm of it’s owners body, and bouts of laughter from those who hadn’t a care in the world except for whatever affairs were about to run amok this evening. The war and strife between Niflheim and Lucis might as well had been a bad dream. 

Ardyn peered through the large crowd that had gathered into imperial palace. He was leaning against the banister to the grand staircase where Y/N would be coming from, and already was nursing a glass of red wine. Once finished, he gestured for a server to come by and fetch the empty container. He looked up at the grand clock that was across the hall and glared. Y/N should’ve been here by now, and he began to wonder what the hold up was. 

In the distance, Ardyn could see Emperor Aldercapt, imperial councilmen, and the Tenebraenan Ambassadors all deep in the throes of conversation. Ardyn was thankful he didn’t have to entertain the guests for the night. He always considered his job to be half leader and half jester; for it was usually he who had to charm the crowds that Aldercapt wished to connect with. It seemed on this founding day, the old man had found some spirit he had been lacking, or perhaps he had finally drank enough alcohol to make himself entertaining. Either case, Ardyn felt fortunate he wasn’t right at the Emperors side, for he didn’t need to be scolded about what had become of the Lucian guest. 

Crossing his arms and legs, Ardyn looked ahead. There was an endless sea of bodies, of people vying for power, wealth, and connection. As much as he tried to tune out his ways as a healer, Ardyn felt a plethora of emotions coming off every person that arrived to the gala. The scourge didn’t help with the sensation, and further amplified the knots in his stomach. His fingers dug into his clothes, and he bit the inside of his lip. 

“Chancellor,” Verstael’s crackled voice broke Ardyn out of the spell he was in and smiled. 

“Verstael,” Ardyn mused, purposefully refusing to address him formally. That earned a huff from Chief Besithia as the old man chuckled. 

“You seem rather tense my friend,” Verstael commented. “Is your Lucian companion alright?” 

“I’m beginning to wonder that myself,” Ardyn murmured. “I haven’t heard word of them.” 

“Perhaps they got cold feet,” Verstael suggested with a smirk. 

Ardyn was about to say something witty to counter Verstael’s jab, but he stopped himself when suddenly half of the crowd went silent. Their gazes were turned to Ardyn’s direction. He furrowed his brows, wondering why everyone was staring his way until out of the corner of his eye, he saw a figure standing at the top of the staircase. The bated breaths of many clamored in his ears. 

Ardyn caught Verstael’s shocked expression while he turned around. He smirked briefly at the old man being speechless, before his eyes peered up. The mischievous smile Ardyn wore began to fade little by little while his eyes widened then blinked. The last of his thoughts, and even the haunting voices of the scourge in his body ceased. The only noise he could comprehend was the sound of his own pulse.

There were no words to describe how Y/N looked. If Ardyn had anything, it would’ve been alluring. The outfit Y/N picked out complimented both their personality, and their physicality down to a dangerous T, and he found himself hypnotized much like everybody else. 

“Perhaps not,” Ardyn quietly said to Verstael’s previous remark, as his lips managed to form into a proud smile. 

Just breathe… Y/N said to themself on repeat. They couldn’t remember a time in their life in which they were surrounded by so many people in a singular spot. They felt like a plump seal surrounded by an ocean of sharks, paddling through with caution to find sanctuary, while the predators awaited them to make one noise of distress to enact a feeding frenzy. Y/N was frozen in place while their eyes guardedly met each and every pair that stared back. 

I can’t do this…I can’t do this… Y/N could feel their breath quicken until the sight of Ardyn had them pause. The smile he wore, and the softness of his gaze had their heartbeat slow down. While the upper class Imperials had been gawking at the sight of a Lucian in the flesh, Ardyn was looking upon Y/N like a work of art; admiring how the canvas decorated itself. At least, that was the comfort Y/N told themself. 

That’s when Ardyn broke out of his trance, quietly climbed the stairs, and offered his hand to Y/N. 

No going back… There was a moment of hesitation in Y/N’s features as they gazed at Ardyn’s fingers then met his eyes. The soft amber glow of his hues and the faint nod he offered was enough reassurance that the worst of the night would be over with. 

Y/N placed their right hand into Ardyn’s palm, and his fingers entrapped them. They felt their arm rise with Ardyn’s as he stood tall at their side. With his free hand, he took his hat off and put it toward his chest, and in unison Y/N and Ardyn performed the Emperor’s Bow; the highest custom any could give to an audience and to Aldercapt himself aside from falling to one’s knees. 

After holding position for a few seconds, Ardyn and Y/N slowly rose back up. The encatction was complete, and a roar of applause errupted throughout the grand hall. 

“It would seem you arrived,” Ardyn murmured quietly, offering a small grin toward Y/N before he turned his attention back to the crowd. 

“What happens now?” Y/N whispered toward Ardyn. They could see Ardyn smirk from the corner of his mouth, and wondered if it was wise to have asked him that. 

“We will descend once the cheers die down, for now, just soak it in.” 

Y/N felt him gently squeeze their hand against his, and his thumb combed over the goosebumps that littered the dorsal side of Y/N’s palm. 

“You’re trembling,” Ardyn murmured. 

“I’m scared shitless.” Y/N admitted. The snort Ardyn let out nearly made them want to shoot a glare in his direction. “There’s so many people here.” 

“Do you know what I do to curb such ill feelings?” 

“I can’t say that I do.” Y/N breathed, noting the mischievous glint in Ardyn’s eye. 

“I picture everyone I meet at these events stark naked.”

It took much will power on Y/N’s end not to crack up from Ardyn’s advice. He too seemed to be challenged at keeping a straight face. 

“Pray tell how that advice works?” 

“It’s quite simple,” Ardyn mused. “Underneath all the glamour, the dresses, the suits, is nothing but sacks of meat with a conscience. They may be of higher breeding than you, but you’re human as they are, and most importantly…” 

“Yes?” The way Ardyn’s voice drifted had Y/N’s pulse in their throat, wondering if they had made a mistake without knowing. It wasn’t until he turned his head and looked at them with a sort of reverence did they ease. 

“You belong in my company.” 

The five words were so feather light, that Y/N could’ve sworn that Ardyn’s fingertips gently glided over their skin and cupped their face. His voice felt like an embrace with an intimacy that only the dearest of the friends would give. Through the fog of warmth, a part of Y/N felt hurt when they could no longer gaze over Ardyn as he took the lead guiding them through the shores and into the sea of gowns, dresses, and formal attire. 

Coming to the bottom of the staircase, Y/N stood at Ardyn’s side in front of a balding older man. The first thing that popped out to Y/N, was his steely gaze. Though he smiled big, his eyes foretold he was feeling anything other than jolly. Given how unkempt his white beard was, it was obvious the years hadn’t been kind to him. 

“Chief Besithia!” Ardyn exclaimed with pride before he respectfully gestured to his guest. “May I formally present Y/N Y/L/N to yours truly?” 

This is the guy who makes my medication…? Y/N was stunned. Ardyn had talked a great deal about Verstael, yet Y/N imagined him looking different. They also reminded themself too of what Ardyn forewarned during etiquette lessons; despite his age, Chief Besithia was formidable. This was the man who was responsible for the birth of magitek soldiers. Caution and confidence was needed when dealing with him. 

“What an absolute treat ,” Verstael slyly remarked, shaking Y/N from their thoughts. He gently took hold of Y/N’s free hand, and bowed his head to their knuckles before letting go. “I’ve heard so much about you from Chancellor Izunia, but never once did he mention how enchanting you look. I must say the gods are smiling upon me for my eyes to be bearing witness to a Lucian such as yourself.” 

“You honor me,” Y/N replied, trying not to sound too timid. They caught the quick glare Ardyn shot at his associate, and the faint smirk Verstael gave in turn. “I’ve been wanting to give you my thanks for a long time now. The medication for my illness has been helping.” 

“That’s what I love to hear!” Verstael’s voice croaked. Y/N mentally pat themself on the back for shifting the conversation. “Perhaps when you are more integrated, the Chancellor would be so kind as to bring you for a tour of Gralea’s research facility. You’d be the first Lucian to ever gaze upon the full might of the empires labor.” 

“You honor me yet again,” Y/N offered a smile at Verstael’s amused chuckle. His eyes seemed to have softened, encouraging Y/N to put some of their formal language skills to the test. “However, I believe I should leave this arrangement to the Chancellor’s discretion. I don’t want to overstep where I stand.” 

Ardyn gently squeezed Y/N’s hand. They swallowed a small lump in their throat, worried they might’ve screwed up.

“What wise words for one of your kind,” Verstael chortled. His eyes peered up at Ardyn as he gave a head bow to his peer. “You chose well, Chancellor.” 

“Don’t I always?” Ardyn chuckled. 

“Aye, I can agree there.” Verstael mused and glanced between both Y/N and Ardyn. “I will let both you young lots pass through. After all, quite a number of Imperials would love to hear Y/N’s recount of their fearless tale.” 

“Chief,” Ardyn gave a nod. “A pleasure as always! I shall see you tomorrow in the labs.” 

Though Ardyn gave no indication he was in a hurry, Y/N could sense his demeanor shift for the briefest of seconds after they had left Verstael. It seemed Verstael had struck some kind of nerve within Ardyn, but it was hard to pinpoint exactly what it could’ve been. The old man’s words didn’t help the sinking feeling Y/N felt. 

One of your kind… Y/N repeated in mind. It was one thing to be warned that this type of language would be quite common among high Imperial rank, but another to hear it face to face. 

“Is he always like that?” Y/N spoke up, both curious and not wanting to think further on the prejudice they had just faced. 

“Like what?” Ardyn chuckled. 

“Creepy.” 

“You should see him on his good days,” Ardyn huffed. He offered a small smirk, and his disposition changed, now appearing more like his usual self. “Alas, Verstael has the tendency to be, shall we say, obvious .” 

“Did I screw up back there with him?” Y/N whispered solemnly.

“Actually, you did quite well.” Ardyn’s lowered voice crept into Y/N’s ears as he finally paused in his steps, letting himself and Y/N gaze over the crowd for a moment. “If you can handle Verstael, then you’ll have no issue with the rest of the flock.” 

“I’m not sure that’s as comforting as you’re making it out to be,” Y/N couldn’t help but jest with sarcasm. “Am I going to be seeing the Emperor next?” 

“No,” Ardyn impassively remarked. “You won’t be having an audience with him this night.” 

“What?” Y/N made a face, taken aback. 

“It’s a good thing,” Ardyn reassured, then grimaced when he caught himself. “In...some ways it’s a good thing I suppose.” 

“Can you speak in laymen’s terms?” Y/N sighed. 

Ardyn laughed. “If you were paying attention to our lessons in manner, you’d know that unless you're invited into the Emperors circle by his very hand, it would be considered intrusive and quite insulting to approach him.” 

“And how is it a good thing that he passes over me?” 

“As I’ve said, he utterly despises Lucians. I could tell Verstael’s words pierced your heart to some degree. Aldercapt won’t show any mercy toward you, regardless of my vouch for your character.” 

“Oh…”

“Chin up,” Ardyn smiled at Y/N. “We’ve got this.” 

As Ardyn led the way, Y/N felt both nervous as ever and confident. The two feelings intertwined in a dance that could’ve gone on forever while Y/N took in the spectacle. The night was alive. Chandelier’s glimmeredd and bounced off an array of light, illuminating elegant clothes. Music from magnificent orchestras thrummed through bodies and pulsed against eardrums. Deep conversations came and went. The grand hall was filled with rich scents and smoke from candles that drowned reality. 

Now in the pulse of the ocean, Y/N truly felt like they were under water; in another world where they shouldn’t have dwelled, yet a siren had tempted their feet into the unknown. Holding onto Ardyn’s hand was Y/N’s only anchor they had keeping them from being cast off into the raging waters. It especially rang true when the crowds had come to gawk at the Lucian traveling at the Chancellor’s side. Like a horde of locusts eyeing a fine grain, they swarmed; asking numerous questions. Questions that sounded more like remarks scientists would make upon dissecting the corpse of a newly discovered animal. 

Although Y/N had rehearsed with Ardyn, they found themself stumbling at times, not prepared for the underhanded comments. The quirked eyebrows and snide remarks made Y/N’s nerves fire off, only to be quelled when Ardyn asserted himself and redirected. Y/N was grateful he did most of the talking, as were they grateful for the people who legitimately approached with curiosity and warm welcome. It seemed not every Imperial assumed the worst. 

“Chancellor,” An imperial guard approached Y/N and Ardyn after they finished wrapping up a conversation. He gave a respectful bow. 

“Yes?”

“Two ambassadors from Tenebrae and an envoy from Accordo wish to have an audience with you,” The imperial guard glanced at Y/N apologetically before continuing. “In private.” 

“Do they?” 

Ardyn wasn’t amused in the slightest. Y/N couldn’t tell if it was because he didn’t care for said company, or if he was upset at the guard for the obvious discrimination that wasn’t the poor blokes fault to begin with. 

“It’s okay,” Y/N reassured, giving a nod to the guard and met Ardyn’s furrowed brows. “I wanted to sample some drinks and food across the hall. That should give you plenty of time to talk.”

Ardyn took a step closer to Y/N, making sure the guard was out of earshot from their conversation. 

“Are you certain?” He whispered. 

“Yeah,” Y/N nodded. “I’ll be fine.” 

Ardyn didn’t appear to be confident about that, nonetheless, his obligations as Chancellor kicked in for he hummed in approval. He gently pulled up Y/N’s hand he had been holding onto, pressing his forehead to their knuckles much like Verstael had done earlier. Before completing the formality, he gave a faint kiss to Y/N’s fingers. 

“Don’t stray too far,” Ardyn murmured. He offered a smirk after seeing Y/N blush, then followed the guard after gesturing at him. 

Y/N watched as Ardyn disappeared into the depths of decorated bodies. Their mind dwelled on his affectionate act, knowing that wasn’t proper by any means, especially after he had thoroughly educated them on cordial etiquette.  Now alone, Y/N realized it wasn’t the time to ponder, for the sharks--the Imperials--could sense a disturbance along the current. 

Their eyes went to the grand imperial clock, seeing only an hour and a half had come and gone. Y/N sighed. It felt like an eternity of dealing with the same people, but with a different face. Nevertheless, they put their best foot forward and mingled. To say they were met with barriers was an understatement. Most of the upperclassmen ignored or blatantly told Y/N that they were preoccupied with another engagement. When Ardyn had begun preparing Y/N to be an Imperial Icon, they didn’t anticipate feeling so miniscule. So less than. 

As the night drew on, Y/N was beginning to regret letting Ardyn leave their side. Their confidence began to wane while they swirled wine around in their complimentary glass. Now near a pair of large glass windows leading to the balcony, Y/N fixated on the fireworks that were going off. The thundering booms did little to ease their nerves, but watching explosions was far better than dealing with people. 

“Quite beautiful are they not?” 

That voice… Y/N turned their head to the side, meeting Loqui’s grin. They never felt so delighted to see a familiar face, despite hardly knowing him. 

“I hate to say it, but Insomnia has you guys beat. Ours are bigger.” Y/N countered playfully, smiling when Loqui snorted and laughed. 

“We make up for it with better company!"

“Speak for yourself!” Y/N laughed. They took note of Loqui glancing about, his brow raising every so often. “What is it?” 

“Did the Chancellor really leave you alone?” 

“Yeah?” Y/N shrugged. 

“Does that bother you, considering this is…well, new?” 

“Somewhat,” Y/N admitted, furrowing their brows. “I’m surprised he wasn’t summoned away sooner to be honest with you.” 

Loqui nodded and smirked. “If it’s any consolation, he’s probably being interrogated just as badly as you’ve been.”  

“Pardon?” 

“Well,” Loqui made a face, rubbing the back of his neck. Y/N took this moment to glance over his attire for the evening. The rich imperial colors contrasted well with his military decorations. Y/N stopped when Loqui cleared his throat. 

“It’s not everyday the Chancellor has someone at his arm,” Loqui began. “My father told me Chancellor Izunia has been struggling with opposing nations trying to sway public opinion negatively about his lack of familiars. Your presence is sure to put out some of those fires.” 

“Why would people care about that?” Y/N asked. 

“Well, he’s a public figure,” Loqui furrowed his brows, trying to think of his words carefully. “Most public figures, especially those in power, aren’t…quirky like Chancellor Izunia. When you mix that with having a mysterious aura, people get nosy.” 

“And are you one of those people, sticking your nose where it doesn’t belong?” 

“Was that sarcasm?” Loqui grinned. 

“Whatever helps you sleep at night.” Y/N teased with a shrug.

“Y’know, something that would help me sleep tonight,” Loqui paused. He smiled big, offering his right hand to Y/N, giving a gentle flex with his fingers. “Is knowing I had the pleasure of dancing with you.” 

“I--” Y/N tucked a strand of hair behind their ear, eyes looking at his gloved palm. “Wouldn’t that damage your reputation, dancing with a Lucian and all?” 

Loqui chuckled as he shook his head reassuringly. “You’re an Imperial Icon now. You abandoned your old life in favor of the sanctuary our empire has gifted to you. It would honor me a great deal if I could take these first steps with you. Not to mention, I think this would look good in your favor image wise, but mostly…I just want to dance with you. That’s all.” 

There was no sign of insincerity on Loqui’s end. The cadence of his voice, and the pride he had in his eyes was enough to get Y/N to bite the bullet. Y/N glanced around before taking Loqui’s hand. His grip was firm yet gentle, and he led them to a large gathering of people dancing to the swaying tempo of the orchestra. 

“I forgot to mention I’m not that great of a dancer,” Y/N chuckled nervously when Loqui and they made it to the center floor. 

“I don’t exactly have nimble feet myself,” Loqui laughed. “Don’t worry. I’ll lead you through the storm!” 

“Awfully poetic.” Y/N teased. 

“I’m not a mere army brute contrary to popular belief,” Loqui quipped while he guided Y/N’s free hand to his shoulder as they got into position. Once settled with his arm around Y/N’s waist did he finish his sentence. “You’re easy to talk to.” 

“You honor me.” 

“No, your presence honors me.” Loqui corrected. “For a Lucian, you’re alright.” 

Y/N suppressed a laugh, shaking their head before the world began to spin. A series of twists and turns soon took precedence while Loqui led Y/N through the dance. Y/N had come to find out quickly that Loqui’s movements were not the most elegant, but his body had an energy that made the experience pleasing. They both swayed with each other, twirling around other dance partners before meeting back again to restart the journey. It didn’t matter the puzzled looks other dancers gave, for Y/N and Loqui continued to move, laugh, and jest throughout. 

The grand hall became a whish of gold and shiny colors as bodies and dresses disappeared into the background. Even as many eyes lurked upon the spectacle, Y/N didn’t pay it any heed. Thoughts of their old life drifted away. The faces of those they had unintentionally condemned were elsewhere. Concerns for Ardyn and what he was preoccupied with were cast off. Not even the pain their muscles felt from the scourge could pull them out of this trance. Y/N was truly having fun and they didn’t want to come down from the clouds. 

From afar, Ardyn zeroed in on Loqui and Y/N. The Tenebrae ambassadors and the Accordo envoy were still conversing amongst each other, but he couldn’t hear them. His expression was one of indifference while his fingers squeezed around the stem of his wine glass so tight that he scarcely realized it had cracked. Post Chapter

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