#rather than hot leaf juice

[number-1-kuaidul-fanboy]

Not quite sure how I feel about season 0 yet

I’ve definitely enjoyed the first three episodes. Retrospectively, parts of it work really well as a prequel to the original Yugioh series. Like Joey/Jonouchi (might go back and forth on their names since I watched DM in dub) going from a bully to a friend to Yugi and Yugi completing the puzzle, two things that were only ever mentioned in DM. It was neat actually seeing those events onscreen. I know they weren’t in DM because they didn’t want to be too derivative of this series and that’s totally fair but it still made DM feel incomplete in some places.

Apart from the “prequel-y” bits though, this has a very different feel from the rest of Yugioh. So far at least, it’s very episodic. The pilot gives some set ups and the next two episodes (and seemingly the next one based on its preview) are really loosely connected filler stories following these characters, with the occasional horror vibe when Yami Yugi shows up. Every episode so far has followed the same “some guy beats up weak Yugi so Yami Yugi appears in the last few minutes to punish them with a shadow game” narrative. Which is fine, it’s just entertaining enough to keep my attention for a couple episodes at a time while I eat. Season 0 feels different from every other Yugioh series but as a result, it lacks the charm of the other Yugioh series, at least for me.

It has its own merits though. Like its characters, some of which are superior to their depictions in DM.

Okay not all of them. I still don’t really like Honda (never have) and Miho comes off as kind of manipulative but the others are all pretty good. I like Jonouchi’s more gruff yet still loyal persona in this show, that could just be a sub vs dub thing to be fair but I quite liked it. He’s about on par with his DM self. Yugi Muto meanwhile gets a lot more screentime in this series than he does in DM and as a result, I actually like him right off the bat, unlike DM where it took me much longer to care about either of the Yugis. Yami Yugi...

...is not as twisted in this as I was lead to believe he was, at least at the point I’ve seen. His voice and design are honestly more weird than creepy which I will admit does disappoint me a bit. I do like how he feels much more like a legit alter ego to Yugi in this than he did in DM, where he was definitely his own person. That worked in its own right but I really like the whole “Jekyll and Hyde” vibe Yugi and Yami have in season 0, as though he’s actually a darker personality originating from within Yugi. Not sure if that’s what they’re going for yet but I enjoy it.

And my favourite season 0 character so far is Anzu.

No you ain’t trippin, season 0 Anzu is the best interpretation of this character I’ve seen. Dark Side of Dimensions is a distant second place in this regard since it showed her achieving her dream by leaving to study dancing in America (the only bit of character she had that wasn’t related to her relationships in DM) and in episode 2 of season 0, she’s willing to break school rules and get a part time job to raise money for that dream. You go girl. She’s also just generally more enjoyable. I don’t know, the writing here makes her come off as more sassy and no nonsense rather than DM where she just felt... for lack of a better term, like a stereotypical nag. Also, she and Yugi are actually kind of cute in season 0. I like the scene where she sticks up for Yugi when he’s being bullied and Yugi just looks so incredibly happy to see her:

And this one where he excitedly talks to her about the puzzle:

They actually seem like genuine friends in this series, a fact that never really came through in DM for me because of how little screentime Yugi got compared to Atem. Anzu’s character revolved around him way too much in DM  and while that could still become a problem in season 0 (in fact it almost definitely will considering the pattern of DM-VRAINS) but I’m glad that for the first few episodes at least, Anzu was allowed to have more of a personality. And she and Yugi have much easier chemistry.

It’s a decent show so far I’d say. If it had been my introduction to Yugioh, I almost definitely wouldn’t have gotten as into it as I have but looking back on it as a “prequel” or the series’ roots in general makes it kind of interesting.

[ja3hwa]

♡ 𝐃𝐚𝐲 𝟏𝟖: 𝐓𝐨𝐲𝐬/𝐌𝐢𝐫𝐫𝐨𝐫 𝐒𝐞𝐱 - 𝐊.𝐇𝐉 ♡

【sʏɴᴏᴘsɪs】 : Hongjoong couldn't decide what gift to buy you while he was travelling. So he bought them all and now wants you to try them out. Every. Single. One.

『ᴡᴏʀᴅ ᴄᴏᴜɴᴛ』 : 1.11k

-> ɢᴇɴʀᴇ: Pure Smut

ᴘᴀɪʀɪɴɢ: Idol!Hongjoong x F.Reader

[ᴡᴀʀɴɪɴɢs] : Edging. Fingering. Dirty talk. Use of a dildo. Making out. Pet names. Swearing. Neck kisses.

Thank you, my darling, @nateezfics, for requesting Hongjoong for this day. I hope you enjoy, baby. ♡♡♡

Masterlist | Navigation | Kinktober List

You don’t know how you ended up in such a predicament. But here you were, sitting on several blankets on the floor with your back against the end of your bed frame with pillows supporting you. Hongjoong had gone on a shopping spree while he was in Paris, and at first, you thought he simply bought you a nice outfit or even some French snacks. But no, this was Hongjoong you were thinking about. The man who secretly has a dark spot. A dirty side and of course he had bought you an array of toys. Especially.. but plugs.

“I didn’t know which one would suit you, so I bought them all.” that was his excuse for the ten or so plugs lying hiding in a giant bag… among other things. He told you that about an hour ago now. Having set up a little spot for you to lay while he worked on you. He first took some attentiveness in stretching you. Lube was all over the blankets by the time he was done and you were shaking like a leaf at this point. His fingers switching between your pussy to your ass was making your head spin in the best way and the more he worked on you the more nervous you got with the idea of the new toys. He wouldn’t tell you what else was in the bag other than ‘it’s a surprise’ making your nerves even more on edge.

He sat behind you, letting you lay on your lower back, holding yourself with your elbows. He sat you in front of your large full-length mirror, letting you see exactly what the gems looked like when they were pushed into your puckered hole. First, it was a red gem, ruby, it was cute, simple and he always said red was your colour. But he kept going, pulling the toy out he pushed another one in. One after the other and at this point you didn’t care what the gem colour was, all that mattered was the feeling of it going in and out over and over again. He was edging you without even realizing and it made you all hot and bothered.

“J-Joong.” at this point he needed him to fuck you before you explode but he just chuckled putting the new on, a purple gem deep inside your ass. He twisted it slowly, pretending to make remarks such as ‘Such a pretty colour’, ‘You should wear purple more often’, ‘It’s got a bright shine than the other gems’ as if he was talking about clothing or some accessory, rather then a butt plug. He pulled it out still satisfied with it. No, there was a perfect one in here, he just needed to find it. Your hazy eyes looked around the room while he dug in the bag, you saw all the plugs lying randomly on the floor, lube dripping off all of them, some most likely smeared with your own juices, given you were practically leaking for Hongjoong to touch you.

“Ahh!” You suddenly look back at yourself in the mirror, seeing he placed a much thicker plug inside this time, but instead of a gem, it was a tail…. a bright red fox tail with a snow-white tip. It sat so beautifully on the floor making you shiver. His fingers rubbed against the fur, patting it while he groaned. This was the perfect piece. A tail that made you look like what he thought of you as…. Just a sweet little fox in a big bad wolfs trap.

“My pretty little fox…” He whispered in your ear making you whimper at his words. He picked up another object from the bag letting you see he got a tentacle dildo. A deep purple one. The one you saw online the other night. You thought you were alone while browsing for sex toys but Hongjoong must have noticed the cheeky shit. He held the toy in front of you giving you a good view of it. You bucked your hips, wiggling in anticipation while he spilled some lube on the object. “You want to be fucked by a tentacle baby? Dirty girl.”

“P-please Joongie.” You cried, feeling him rub the dildo up and down lightly pushing the tip of the tentacle against your clit and it started vibrating. “ffffuuucckk!!” You screamed out, trying to back away from the vibration but Hongjoong’s body caged you, his thighs either side of you. He played with the tail with his free hand, stroking the fur while lightly tugging on it. Everything was so sensitive and you felt like you were going to explode. He slipt the dildo inside your puffy cunt, fucking you harshly with it. Your eyes were glued to the mirror, watching the toy go in and out. In and out…

“Fuck, look at you. You’re enjoying this my little fox. Being fucked stupid on some toys.” His voice rang in your ears. Your head was spinning and your body was jerking in rhythm of his thrusts. You could feel you were close to your high but it felt different. Felt… faster, more intense.

“Hongjoong I-” Before you could say another word your body shook like crazy. Legs locking, hands gripping tight on Hongjoong’s thighs. You squirted all over the blankets, some of it managed to splatter across the mirror, making your lover chuckle in amusement. Once you slowly came down from your high, Joong switched off the toy before discarding it somewhere on the floor. His hand snaked along your wet body, squeezing your tit before gripping your chin, pulling your face upwards so his lips could capture yours.

“Hmm my baby.” he kissed you again “My pretty baby.” he kissed the corner of your mouth, "You enjoying yourself darling?” he licked your neck, sucking your skin. You just humped in response, feeling tired from the orgasm you had just felt. But Hongjoong didn’t give you time to relax in your bliss as he softly pushed you forward, making you fall onto your tummy, keeping your legs bent and ass in the air. Your face was smooshed against the mirror making you keep eye contact with yourself. But Hongjoong had the perfect view. Your ass wiggling in his face with a perfect tail swaying with it.

“You ready for around two…” He tugged harshly on your tail making your eyebrows knit tight together. “I have so many other toys to try on you.”

[briar-ffxiv]

— B A S I C S

Name: Briar (the) Redfeather Nicknames: 'Rose', 'Little Fox', 'Wildling' Age: Early 20s in ARR, probably nearing 30 by Dawntrail (depending on timeline) Nameday: 21st Sun of the 3rd Umbral Moon (not that he knows exactly. He just knows the month) Race: Half-Elezen/Half-Hyur (Padjal bloodline through Hyur) Gender: Non-binary, masculine leaning (born male, prefers he/they) Orientation: Demiromantic Greysexyal Profession: Healer, Shepherd, Warrior of Light(depending on the 'verse)

— P H Y S I C A L A S P E C T S

Hair: strawberry blonde, almost rose gold with lighter gold highlights due to the sun. He has 3A curls, although when kept short the curls are less noticeable. Eyes: warm moss-green flecked with gold Skin: naturally quite pale, faint golden tan from the sun and tons of freckles everywhere. Tattoos/scars: no tattoos. Leaf birthmark on his right shoulderblade. Plenty of scars, including the slice from a spear on his left cheek, burn scars on his left shoulder and back, and rather heavily scarred palms and undersides of his fingers due to a nasty injury to his hands

— F A M I L Y

Parents: His mother was named Saule (Willow) and her family was from Dravania, but sought shelter in the Black Shroud when Saule was very small. His father was known as Ciro, officially U-Ciro-Tek before he was disgraced and exiled from being a Padjal. Siblings: Briar was an only child, as was his mother. Grandparents: Briar knows nothing about Ciro's parents, other than they died some years before he was born. Saule's father died before he was born. His grandmother died when he was under two so he has no memories of her. In-laws and Other: As far as Briar knows, his only living blood relative is E-Rani-Tek, Ciro's older brother and a Padjali pariah. Pets: Briar has a terrible habit of adopting many a creature, although if they are wild-born his goal is always to return them to the wild. Currently, he has a small herd of sheep, a flock of chickens, three Chocobo (one grown, two chicks), a dog named Jack, and a unicorn friend named Whinny. (And a lot of little forest friends that take care of themselves but visit often.)

— S K I L L S

Abilities: Despite normally not eating meat, Briar is a skilled archer, hunter, and tracker. He is an avid gardener. He has a knack for animal handling. He has a decent, if untrained, singing voice. He knows a lot about herbal medicine and non-magical healing. He rides quite well. Hobbies: Briar loves a good book, particularly romance. He loves beekeeping. He is quite skilled in many kinds of fibre arts, including weaving, spinning, and sewing. He likes to draw as well.

— T R A I T S

Most Positive Trait: Briar is a very kind person. He always gives the benefit of the doubt. He does his best to settle things without violence if he can. He forgives often and tries to be empathetic to everyone he meets. Most Negative Trait: Briar can definitely be naive. He forgives when he shouldn't. He has a very hard time understanding why anyone would be cruel. Sometimes he simply doesn't get it and it puts him at a disadvantage with people more than willing to take advantage of that.

— L I K E S

Colours: Blues, greens, golds. Smells: Fresh-cut wood. The smell of rain on grass. Hay. The smell of clean, well-oiled leather. Honey. Textures: Silky fabric. Soft wool. Supple leather. Smooth wood. Drinks: Various teas, often floral varieties. Soft spot for juices. Loves the rare treat of hot chocolate.

— O T H E R D E T A I L S

Smokes: He doesn't. Drinks: He is not against a glass of something fairly light in safe company but left to his own devices, Briar doesn't really have the urge to drink. Drugs: He doesn't. Mount Insurance: He would have no idea what that is, but he does have a unicorn he rides in the Black Shroud, but normally prefers his own feet. (Once he's officially in the steppes, I might get him an actual house.) Been Arrested: Detained by Wood Wailers more than once, but not officially arrested.

(( Art is by @shadesofblades / @coffeehands! ))

Tagged by: @thefrostflower @tripl3cast @sundered-souls - thank you all! <3

Tagging: @shieke @valdiis @shadesofblades @midnightmagicks @bloodredhands @prettygayway @avaritia-ffxiv @calico-heart @thefrostflower @starrysnowdrop @ahollowgrave @naejlas-axe @cadrenebula @skyysinger & anyone else that wants to do it!

[kiwioala]

transcriptions from the federation employees reports!

Report [014] We have yet to recieve notice from the agent sent to retrieve any information from the islanders. All our efforts in contacting or tracing their coordinates have been frustrated by diverse incidents, which the search and technology team said to be an "odd misfortune," among them we relate power shortages, hot waves, and signals mysteriously cut mid-operation. [...] Both the agent and islanders are still missing, and have not been seen since they left. A detective in the same facility deducted the islanders left in the same direction of the train station, not by any of our official routes, this has yet to be confirmed. [...]

Report [015] The coordinates of the EGGs are still uncertain... The teams assigned to the task are investigating any signal that could have been related. [...] The investigation team has established the EGGs should not, by any matter, be able to exit Quesadilla Island, it is still a statement yet to be confirmed by more detailed intel and investigation. ... My plan is going well... but we have all been overworked endlessly these days... I feel my arms giving up at any time.. and my vision is blurry with dark sports and this absurd migraine... apple juice is what keeps me going... I hope they will understand it soon... apple juice...

We have concluded that the sequence of murders happening to our peers has definitely stopped, at least for now. With this development I think it's safe to assume that the culprit for the assassination cases must for sure be one of the residents. We haven't made any more progress, and it will be very hard to do so without them present. Or more specifically, without our lead detective present. W0039's work since starting the case was immaculate, and his presence to solve it is imperative.

While cleaning and removing the black matter at the residents' houses, we found some very strange residues of something that appears to be related to the binary entities. We collected samples of it and sent them to our scientist for further analysis. We have secured the area and a specialized team will be investigating

Ok, Census Bureau. I know you had promised us you'd fix the coffee machine and I'm SO grateful for that... BUT PLEASE HURRY UP OMG. I HAVE HAD SO MUCH TEA, I CAN'T EVEN STAND THE TEA THEY TELL ME IN THE BREAK ROOM. I CAN'T LOOK AT IT. I CAN'T SMELL IT. I CAN'T DO THIS ANYMORE! I'D RATHER THE INFECTION TAKE OVER MY SOUL AND BODY THAN FOR ME TO KEEP DRINKING LEAF JUICE. I'M GOING TO GO CRAZY OMG. Crazy? I was crazy once. They locked me in a room. A break room. A break room with tea. And tea makes me crazy. Crazy? i was crazy once- OH NO

[hypnified]

💥☕️🍁🖍️ for Bear, Laz, and Glowstick my babbiesss

AHK it's them!!

💥 COLLISON - what emotions do they have trouble dealing with?

Bear- honestly, none really. Other than his nerves but that's a whole other thing. Fun fact, he feels his emotions rather intensely

Lazarus- all of it, laz struggles with his emotions and always has. He's trying though.

Glowstick- similar to Laz, but Glowstick doesn't struggle nearly as much.

☕️ HOT BEVERAGE - do they prefer hot or cold drinks? what is their favourite drink?

Bear- caf and tea, he loves both. He's okay with cold drinks.

Lazarus- cold drinks, he finds them more refreshing. Ice tea.

Glowstick- glowsticks, okay I'm joking. Orange juice.

🍁 MAPLE LEAF - what is their favourite season? why?

Bear- autumn, he loves everything about it. He might make pumpkin pie while he's here.

Lazarus- winter, he cannot stand warm weather he would rather die than be stuck in summer heat.

Glowstick- summer, literally just because of the heat. He doesn't hate the cold, but he prefers the heat.

🖍️ CRAYON - what advice would you give to them?

Bear- not advice but more of a reminder, it's okay not to be okay

Lazarus-it's okay to take a breather

Glowstick- how on earth do I give advice to glowstick, oh maybe don't drink from glowsticks? I've got nothing

[anamedblog]

Turkish Delights, Macun, and more Sweet Treats…

Beate Böhlendorf-Arslan, ANAMED Senior Fellow (2022–2023)

Fig. 1. Photo by author.

Turkish cuisine is versatile, and Turkish desserts are especially versatile. What is commonly known as “Anatolian sweets” in Europe, and called “Turkish honey” or “Turkish nougat,” is only one of the sugary offshoots of the delicious dessert in Turkey.

Almost every foreign visitor to Istanbul tries baklava, the delicacy made of thin layers of dough, nuts or pistachios, and sugar syrup, which comes in various shapes. By the way, fresh baklava with pistachios is especially delicious if served with a portion of damla sakız dondurma (mastic ice cream). On a particularly hot summer day, I recommend having it with a slice of kesme dondurma (“sliced ice cream”), an ice cream so firm that it must be eaten with a knife and fork.

Dessert lovers should also try other pastry specialties that come in a variety of shapes and flavors. The numerous and sometimes very old shops on Istiklal Caddesi sell specialties with flowery names such as bülbül yuvası (nightingale's nest), hanım göbeği (lady's belly), sütlü nuriye (nuriye—a woman's given name—with milk), vezir parmaği (vizier's finger) or kadayif. Commonly known and loved as a typical souvenir is Turkish delight (Fig. 1), lokum, made with nuts or fruit juice, or rose water. As delicious as these sweet treats are, Anatolian cuisine has much more to offer.

If you are looking for a more exotic souvenir, try the macun from Manisa, a soft candy that is a bit sticky on the palate but tastes very aromatic (Figs. 2 and 3). Manisa mesir paste is made out of spices mixed with various herbs such as cinnamon, black pepper, pimento, black cumin, mustard seed, aniseed, coriander, ginger, turmeric, coconut, fennel, cubeb, cassis, fructus, myroba, vanilla, piper longum, cardamon, galingale, fructus cassiae fistule, saffron, cumin, rose hip, myrrh, licorice, rhizoa zeoariae, lemon peel, orange peel, thistle seed, linseed, locust, opium poppy, stinging nettle, white pepper, grape seed, chaste berry seed, dried rosemary, erica leaf, melissa, fructus myrobalani nigri, and hibiscus. The consumption of these candies is said to have a healing effect. According to legend, the wife of the Ottoman sultan Yavuz Selim, Hafsa Sultan, fell ill during her stay in Manisa. As there was no cure, Merkez Effendi, the head of the madrasa of the Sultan's mosque, prepared a paste of herbs and spices. After eating this paste, Hafsa Sultan recovered. Following her recovery, she ordered this paste to be spread from the minarets of the sultan's mosque. This tradition has been maintained in Manisa since 1539.

Fig. 2- 3 Photo by author.

The traditional lollipops that can be bought fresh in the streets of Istanbul, but also in villages like Behram/Assos and many other places in Turkey, are prepared in a similar way. However, they do not contain a variety of herbs and spices but only fruit juices or tree resin (damla sakiz or mastic) and a lot of sugar (Fig. 4). The seller dips a wooden stick into the sugar mass and turns the stick several times so that the gluey mass wraps around the stick. Now the lollipop is ready!

Fig. 4. Assos excavation archive, Aykan Özener.

Other than these sweet souvenirs and shelf-stable desserts, Turkish cuisine has equally tasty creamy desserts to offer that you should not miss out on.

Milk dishes are especially delicious. Even something as common as rice pudding (sütlaç) has a special Turkish twist to it. It is prepared with regular rice, not the round-grain rice used in other countries. Turkish rice pudding is not firm but rather creamy. Most importantly, it is placed in the oven in a second step after cooking, causing the top layer of milk to caramelize (Fig. 5). Tasting it is highly recommended!

Fig. 5. Photo by author.

The more adventurous Istanbul travelers should definitely try tavuk göğüsü (a dessert literally called “chicken breast”). Tavuk göğüsü consists of finely pureed chicken breast cooked in sweetened milk and rice flour as a starch to thicken the milk (Fig. 6). The dessert is usually served with cinnamon. Sometimes it is grilled in the oven, resulting in a caramelized top and tasting almost more delicious than the unbaked version (Fig. 7). This preparation is called kazandibi (“bottom of the pot”). I often had the pleasure of treating foreign visitors who were not vegetarians or vegans to a tavuk göğüsü and then having them guess what the dessert was after the meal. Nobody had any idea that there was meat in the dessert!

Fig. 6-7 wikimedia

Regarding possible historic roots, tavuk göğüsü bears no resemblance to the pullus tractogalatus (chicken in milk porridge) described by the Roman cook Apicius in the 3rd or 4th century CE. In this dish, the chicken (or fish) was first cooked in white wine and olive oil, boned, and then the mouthfuls of chopped meat were doused in a porridge made from chicken broth, milk, honey, and grape juice. It is possible that Europeans brought the white meat and milk dish back to Europe during the Crusades, having learned it from the Arabs. A similar dish to tavuk göğüsü, blanc mange, was eaten by nobles and wealthy people in the European Middle Ages. In the oldest German cookbook from around 1350, the Buoch von guoter spise, there is a recipe that calls for rice ground into flour, milk, and a chicken breast to be cooked together. Other recipes used fish instead of chicken. For the nobility, however, blanc mange was not a dessert but a main dish.

Another famous dessert, aşure, has different roots. According to the legend, when Noah saw the land again with his ark, he cooked a pudding from the remaining supplies, namely cereals and dried fruits. In the ancient Greek pantheon, wheat symbolized the earth goddess Demeter, pomegranates represented her daughter Persephone, queen of the underworld, almonds were sacred to Aphrodite, and raisins were sacred to the god Dionysus. Interestingly, the eastern Romans, as inhabitants of Byzantium, also knew of such a pudding, which they called kollyba (or kolivia). It is said that kollyba was the food that the Virgin Mary was fed as a child in the temple by angels from heaven, as depicted on a wall mosaic in the Chora Church in Istanbul (fig. 8). There are different recipes to prepare kollyba, whose main ingredient is boiled wheat mixed with various dried fruits. It is served as a common Lenten food and was therefore commonly eaten in monasteries. Kollyba was also prepared as a dish for the commemoration of the dead. For the Greeks, aşure is also known as barvara (Βαρβάρα), named after the feast of Saint Barbara that is celebrated on the 4th of December. During this festival, it is cooked and shared with neighbors.

Fig. 8. Photo by author.

The ingredients for aşure (but also for varvara or kollyba) are wheat grains, white beans, and chickpeas, and sometimes also rice and barley, that are cooked until soft. After draining, the aşure is sweetened with honey or sugar. In addition, aşure also contains some or all of the following: sesame seeds, almonds, hazelnuts, walnuts, pine nuts, cinnamon, sugar, pekmez, pomegranate seeds, raisins, sultanas, dried apricots, figs, dates, grated orange or lemon peel, cardamom, cloves, black cumin, mastic, rose water, or even anise (Fig. 9). Every family in Turkey (as well as in Greece, the Balkans, and the Middle East) has its own recipe, but the one thing they have in common is that they always make a big pot to share with others. So, if you have a chance to try a homemade aşure, do not miss out on it. Otherwise, try my favorite Anatolian sweet at one of the many muhallebecisi (pudding maker) in Istanbul!

Fig. 9. wikimedia

Afiyet olsun!

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Further readings/bibliography:

Apicius, De re coquiniaria

Anagnostiakis, Ilias, ed. Flavours and Delights. Tastes and Pleasures of Ancient and Byzantine Cuisine. Athens: Armos, 2013.

Baş, Nejla. Mutfağımızdaki Tehlike. Istanbul: Ser Kitap, 2019.

Papanikola-Bakirtzi, Dimitri, ed. Byzantinōn diatrophē kai mageireiai/Food and Cooking in Byzantium. Athens: Museum of Byzntine Culture, 2005.

Waksman, Sylvie Y., ed. Multidisciplinary Approaches to Food and Foodways in the Medieval Eastern Mediterranean. Lyon: MOM Editions, 2020.

www.kulturportali.gov.tr/turkiye/genel/neyenir

de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mandelsulz

[tentaclecats]

im sorry fyodor but id literally rather fucking kill myself than come over for hot leaf juice and listen to a fucking OFF TUNE CELLO for HOURS. HOURS PLURAL. WHAT

enclosed in our souls

multiple bsd characters x reader. reader is gn (gender neutral)

about: headcanon of things bsd characters do when they have a crush on you

featuring: dazai, chuuya, atsushi, akutagawa, fyodor and nikolai.

kiel notes: my first multi chara post, more charas r coming!!! i wrote this while listening to i hope to be around (live) by men i trust. and this feels corny as hell

DAZAI — tries to find alone time together and seek intimacy

you think dazai has been talking nonstop recently. he yaps a lot, always bothering kunikida or you during work. but since a few weeks ago, he’s been way more playful than usual. constantly following you around, whining and tugging at your sleeves. he’d drag you to the couch and talk about his day, facts, and new discoveries. anything, just anything to hold your attention, to find an excuse to stare into your beautiful eyes lovingly. to have some peace and quiet from his chaotic mind and maybe fall asleep on your shoulders because your presence grounds him.

CHUUYA — drives you around and take late-night bike rides

chuuya is always ready to drive you to and fro. he offers to drive you around all the time, and you think his gestures are really sweet (who’s gonna tell y/n?). after school? he’s ready to pick you up outside your university campus. of course, he only drives you when he’s free, which is all the time because he clears his schedule for you. he offers to drive you home after every failed job interview, ready with tissue and your favourite ice cream in the passenger seat. on nights when you need a temporary escape, he’s already outside your apartment with his red bike and an extra helmet in his hand. even if the world fails you, he’d still be here on your loneliest rides.

ATSUSHI — takes strolls with you and walks you home

atsushi loves his strolls with you. simple strolls like going for lunch or buying supplies for the agency make his heart full. he had been so used to being alone all the time, but ever since you offered to stroll with him that one time, he couldn’t stop thinking about it. it meant a lot to him, and now he asks you to go on strolls instead. hell, he doesn’t have to ask, because it’s a routine. he waits for you to pack up your desk and you both leave together to walk home. the wind blows your hair, and you walk with both hands behind your back in comfortable silence. often in the sunset, on the way home, atsushi hopes that one day he’s able to stroll into your heart.

AKUTAGAWA — volunteers to go on missions with you

akutagawa is not one to be obvious about his crush, so he shows it in a super duper not obvious way. he requests to go on more missions with you, to keep you safe and spend time on the battlefield. mori thinks it’s weird. akutagawa putting in special requests to go with y/n all the time? that’s unlike him. that’s right, because he’s a fool in love right now. the way you fight is mesmerising him, and he was almost shot dead that one time (by a cupid, who knows?) if it wasn’t for you who jumped in. he likes the way you revel in fighting, which is similar to his bloodlust. he stands behind you during missions, guarding you, and his heart.

FYODOR — plays his cello for you

fyodor plays his cello for everyone, including his victims before they were killed, so it wasn’t anything special. that’s what you thought, and you were dead wrong. he’d learn classical pieces you like in hopes of hearing you compliment him. his pretty and slender fingers would be calloused, but he didn’t mind. it’s all for you. he’d invite you over for tea often and have you listen to him play the cello for hours. his cello might be off-tune, but his heart isn’t.

NIKOLAI — always tries to make you laugh

nikolai noticed how you liked to laugh. your laughter is light and playful, with a touch of whimsy that brings a smile to his face. the decay of angel members aren’t amused by his usual antics, but you liked it. you’d giggle at his silliness and his heartbeat quickens. he scrambles to be dramatic again, pulling a rose out of his coat and handing it to you. you giggle again. he likes (a huge understatement) the sound of your laughter; he thinks he needs to hear it ten times a day (or maybe even more). because the day you stop laughing is the day he’s gone.

[webblogcentral]

7 Strategies For Better Green Tea Extract

Green tea comes with many health benefits. Green tea is rich in antioxidants and nutrients, which can help reduce your chance of developing cancer, and also prevent dementia. How do you ensure that you are getting the most from your green tea? Most people don't know there are ways to boost the positive effects of green tea for and also enhance the flavor in the process.

1. Use Water That's the Right Temperature

Green tea is not made using water that has reached the boiling point. Tea made from hot water can be bitter and astringent. Too cold water will prevent the tea from taking in its full flavor. The water should be between 160 and 180 degrees is best. When you're boiling water, this is when the water is boiling and there are bubbles beginning to form at the bottom of the pot but not on the top. According to some tea brewers warm the water to the point that steam is rising from the pot. You can also boil the water to perfection and then allow it to cool for a couple of minutes. To find out more information about Primary Advantages Of Green Tea Leaf, you must check out green tea benefits site.

2. Steep for the Perfect Amount of Time

Green tea is delicate so it is important to be steeped for at minimum 2 minutes. Tea leaves will not release their full flavor in the event that they are steeped for less time. But, tea leaves that are steeped for a longer period of time can taste bitter. Brew for 2 minutes and then taste every 30 seconds thereafter until you find a flavor that you enjoy. An article published in the Journal of Food Science found that antioxidant activity is significantly affected by the time and temperature of steeping. According to researchers the highest level of results green tea was achieved. The steeping of the cold.

3. A dash of honey or another sweetener can be added

Green tea is a bit "grassy" when just taken as is. Certain people enjoy the flavor, whereas others are not able to accept it. Honey can make it more appealing for those one of the latter.

4. Make use of premium tea leaves

Fresher tea leaves (i.e. tea leaves that are loose, rather than packaged in tea bags) will generally produce more flavor since tea leaves are able to "breathe." The flavor is stronger and more real than tea that is packaged in tea bags.

5. Take the right amount of tea

A good proportion is 2 grams of tea leaves for 6 ounces of water but it is possible to alter the ratios a little based on your taste. The stronger flavor will be achieved by using greater tea leaves per 1 ounce.

6. Add Mint or Lemon Juice

One of them will help subtly bring out the taste of your green. You can go through each individually or both. Sometimes, a hint of mint or lemon is all you need to give you a delicious taste.

7. Make sure to use high-quality water for brewing

A high concentration of minerals in water may cause tea leaves to lose minerals, and can cause a bitter taste. Purified or spring water is ideal because they're free of pollutants than can alter the tea's flavor.

If you're now aware of how to make the perfect green tea, it is now possible to play around with different varieties to determine which one you prefer best. Enjoy yourself in a lovely tea cup, relax and relax while sipping your freshly brewed brew!

[virtualrecipeway]

Seven Secrets To Better Green Tea

Green tea is a great source of health advantages. Green tea contains antioxidants and other nutrients that decrease your risk of cancer, assist in losing weight and reduce the risk of developing dementia. But how do you know you're getting the most out from your cup of tea? Many people don't realize there's a way to maximize the positive effects of green tea and also improve the taste at the same time.

1. Make sure that the water is at the right temperature

Water that is at a rolling boil is usually too hot to make green tea. If the water temperature is too high it will make the tea taste bitter and astringent. If the water temperature is too cold it will not be able to absorb the full flavor and not be extracted from the leaves. Best water is 160 to 180 degrees. Boiling water indicates that the water has reached a boiling point and bubbles are beginning to form at the lower part, but not at the top. Some tea brewers recommend heating the water to the point that there is continuous steam coming out of the pot. Alternately, boil the water and let it cool down for a couple of minutes. To discover more info about Primary Advantages Of Green Leaf Tea, you've to browse green tea benefits site.

2. Steep for the Perfect Amount of Time

Because green tea is delicate, it's important to steep for 2-3 minutes. The shorter amount of time will hinder the tea leaves from releasing their full flavor while more time will garner a bitter taste. After brewing for 2 minutes you should taste the tea every 30 seconds until you are satisfied with the taste. In a study published in The Journal of Food Science, antioxidant activity was found to be significantly affected by time and temperature of steeping. According to research the most effective result green tea for was obtained. The steeping of the cold.

3. Sprinkle on a dash of Honey or Other Sweetener

In its own way green tea has a somewhat "grassy" taste. Some people love the taste, while others can't accept it. Honey could make it more appealing if you are in this latter group.

4. Use High Quality Tea Leaves

Fresher tea leaves (i.e. tea leaves which are unpackaged rather than in tea bags) generally have an enhanced flavor due to the fact that the tea leaves have space to "breathe." The flavor is stronger and more real than tea that is prepackaged in tea bags.

5. Use the Right Amount of Tea

A good proportion is 2 grams of tea leaves per 6 ounces of water. However, you might want to alter the ratios a little based on your taste. A stronger taste will be obtained by adding more tea leaves per ounce.

6. Mint or Lemon Juice

Each one of them can subtlely enhance the flavor of your salad greens. You can try each separately or try them both together. Sometimes, a hint of lemon or mint is all you need to give you a delicious taste.

7. Make sure to use high-quality water for brewing

A high concentration of minerals in water can make tea leaves lose minerals, and can cause a a bitter taste. Water that is purified or spring water is the best because they're free from chemicals that could alter the tea's taste.

You now know how to make green tea. Now you can try different kinds to discover which one you prefer. Sip a cup of tea, and relax as you sip on your freshly brewed brew.

[bring-us-back-light]

hot leaf water actually. juice implies it comes from the leaf rather than the leaf imparting flavor to water

[flame-shadow]

it tastes better when you add honey or sugar :)

ive tried those too

ive had tea from tea shops where people who know what they're doing make the tea, and i picked types that were flavors i know i like in other contexts, and it's just Not Good to me. smells amazing, but i don't want to actually put it in my mouth and swallow ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

[lightningbenders]

Ok y'all so where are the polyam Zuko/Sokka/Suki fics where Zuko and Suki are both dating Sokka but not each other??

[genshinboys]

Thigh job with Genshin boys - Zhongli

Genre: Smut

Pairing: Fem reader x Zhongli

Knock-Knock-Knock

You are standing in front of the door to Zhongli’s office at the Wangsheng Funeral Parlour. Upon knocking, you open the door and peek inside only to see the Archon seated at his desk and hunching over some documents. His form relaxes the moment his eyes cast upon your persona.

„Can I come in?” you ask politely knowing very well that Zhongli would never be capable of saying no to you.

He puts aside the pen that was previously tightly squeezed in the palm of his hands. Eyes glistening and his facial expression a tell-tale sign of excitement which he promptly attempts to hide going back to the customary for him calm facade.

Immovable as a rock and yet his world was shaken the moment you waltzed into it.

Zhongli doesn’t mind though and he revels in the way you made everything the Archon thought he knew to go to rack and ruin.

So, he finds himself inviting you and wreaking more havoc in his hitherto impassive and emotionless millenniums of existence.

„Oh, by all means, please do,” he responds courtly. He straightens up in his armchair gesturing to his lap.

You smile knowingly.

Zhongli but adores having you in his lap. The way your soft body fits in there is glorious and the lord of Geo could narrate hundreds of stories about the marvel of you being sat on his thigh tightly pressed into his sturdy physique.

It is his way of unwinding after a long day or taking a break from work. He would find solace and relaxation with you next to him. It becomes habitual and it just occurs naturally. When he sips his tea, scans through documents, reads a book or wants to tell you some of the stories from his past. You sit on his lap and everything falls into place.

He loves the control this setting gives him and the fact that he can easily do whatever he deems fit when your body is conveniently at his disposal.

And you wouldn’t say no. Whatever his intentions are.

So you come over to the handsome god and with a loud scoff unceremoniously land on his lap while wrapping your arms around his neck.

„What’s the matter my dearest?” he furrows his brows but the little crooked smile doesn’t escape your notice. Zhongli can’t help himself, he thinks that you’re just too adorable and pure for this world.

„Oh, Zhongli!” you cry out, „That little bastard Venti stood m-,”

He clears his throat and gives you a reprimanding glare, „Language my little girl.”

You roll your eyes at his antics and wiggle your butt successfully shifting your position so that your whole weight is now on Zhongli’s right thigh and your legs are hanging in the air on the other side of the armchair. He wraps a protective arm around your middle while his free hand starts caressing your uncovered leg, so nicely exposed by the skirt of your choice.

So once you feel all snug and comfortable you continue dramatically, „Zhongli, but he really stood me up! I needed his help with one commission and I found him as drunk as a skunk. He was so sloshed he fell asleep in the tavern and Kaeya had to escort him home!”

„Is that so?” he cocks an eyebrow but he isn’t surprised at all.

„Yes! I wasted so much time because of this motherf-,”

Zhongli shoots you another look of disapproval and you just smile apologetically.

„He’s never been good at holding his liquor, my Dear,” he states the obvious more preoccupied with the way the plump flesh of your thighs reddens when he squeezes it with his leather-clad hand. He allows himself to roam a bit higher and the skirt does little to prevent his movement.

„Dear,” he says as his lips approach your earlobe, „Have you by any chance forgotten to put on underwear yet again?”

You really love Zhongli’s voice. His low rumbles, deep and husky sounds from the back of his throat always give you goosebumps.

And so this time, you shudder in his embrace like a leaf in the wind.

„No, of course I didn’t,” you respond in your defence.

„Mind if I see?” he asks and pushes your skirt out of the way revealing your naked bum.

He clicks his tongue, feeling you up with his long fingers. The gloves he is wearing create nice friction as he strokes your skin.

„I might have forgotten after all,” you admit even if reluctantly.

Zhongli is a patient man. Throughout the centuries he has learned to remain cool and composed despite the most arduous and trying of times. He would have never guessed that this quality of his would so often come in handy when graced with your presence.

„Pray-tell my Dearest, so you did come here, parading around the streets of my city with no decency in your soul left, only to sit in my lap with your bare bottom?”

This question sounded more like an accusation and was rather rhetorical.

You shrug your shoulders for lack of any better excuse.

The archon takes a deep breath and digs his fingers into the meat of your ass.

„You enjoyed yourself last time, no?” you make a point to remind the lord of Geo of your last visit to his office.

„So vulgar,” he criticizes gazing down and marvelling how your smooth skin contrasts with the material of his black slacks. You would often stain them with your juices when the Archon opts for something more than just telling you stories with you in his lap.

„I trust you know what to do, Love,” he adds once again locking his eyes with yours and then kisses your forehead fondly.

You chuckle having no intentions to make the god wait any longer.

You let your hands slide down to his crotch and unbuckle the belt helping Zhongli get his erection out of the tight black slacks. At times like this, you would internally curse the Archon for his strict dress code but it can’t be helped. Zhongli is as stubborn as a mule when it comes to certain customs.

His cock springs free and you bite your lip openly admiring the ex-Archon. It never ceases to thrill you. His shaft is thick and painfully long with popping veins and a swollen tip. He is just so enormously big it intimidates you. You briefly wonder if it has anything to do with him being a half-dragon and you shudder at the thought mentally taking a note to ask him about that next time he places you in his lap.

Zhongli’s heartbeat quickens when you teasingly stroke his impressive girth, your lips finding his and you crash them together hungrily.

He hums in delight when you slide your thumb over the tip of his penis. You break the kiss and flash a cute grin at your immortal lover.

„I want to please you with my thighs,” you inform him matter-of-factly at which he nods somehow too quickly to match his typical indifferent attitude.

„You spoil me, my little one,” he praises in an erotic timbre and his eyes widen when you lift yourself from his lap and turn around.

„Hold my waist, will you?” you ask for some assistance placing your hands on both sides of the chair.

„Certainly, so,” he obliges.

So with some help on his side, you elevate your bum and reach for his hardened cock to delicately insert it between your warm-to-the-touch thighs. Experimentally, you lift yourself up and then push down letting his erection slide between your legs in a smooth motion. You make sure to smudge the leaking pre-cum all over his shaft so that the Archon doesn’t feel any discomfort.

„How does that feel Zhongli?” you ask glancing behind your back only to see his already fucked-out stare which makes your chest swell in adoration.

His lips are parted and eyes half-closed as he holds onto your waist the way you asked him to.

„Absolutely marvellous, my Dear. Please, do continue, hmm?” he encourages albeit struggles to reply.

You carry on stroking him like that, sometimes pressing your thighs a little tighter and he groans as quiet as he possibly can. Zhongli would despise being caught by Hu-Tao when you rub his cock so expertly.

The pace you decide to torture Zhongli with is sickeningly slow and he’s had enough of playing around for today.

You let out a muffled cried when the Archon grabs you even tighter and forces you down on his dick. He repeats the motion in an animalistic tempo taking pride in the way your ass bounces up and down in front of his eyes.

„Zhongli!” you plead as you feel your legs going numb.

„Bear with me a little longer, Love” he coos.

Your whole body hurts and your arms feel as if they were going to give out any moment.

Fortunately, Zhongli isn’t going to last much longer as the pleasure mixed with pain make him approach the brink he so much desires. With one final thrust and a guttural moan he releases and you can feel his hot load on the inner side of your thighs. Some drops of cum land on your lower belly and face. It’s so messy and you feel how your walls contract around nothing in feverish excitement.

He helps you go back to your previous position with his arms now tightly wrapped around your exhausted body. He enjoys the slight twitching of your weary muscles. He reaches for your chin and forces you to face him.

„Home?” you ask in a desperate plea for him to return the favour. Your body aching for his touch.

„Home,” Zhongli agrees, as indeed, the Archon is unable to turn down any of your wishes.

Other boys:

Albedo

Xiao

Diluc

Kaeya

Childe

Kazuha

[fruityyamenrunner]

camphornought - 7g - dry leaf is dark and flaky, doesn't smell of much until the washwater goes on, which turns dark red brown, very musty, settling into leather. first cup even darker. it's le labo patchouli 24~ birch tar smoky, decaying cellulose vanilla, wood astringency. second cup is dark as blackcurrant juice with stronger astringency. third cup dark, camphor starting to come through, along with a little cooling huigan, smoke starting to calm down... i go and sniff some actual white camphor oil (it has a sort of fruity pinky mist around the dark teal heart) to remind me what camphor is supposed to be, and it's very plausible. weather is dreary here today so the cups are cooling quicker, but this should be drunk hot. fourth cup merely coca cola dark and aroma tends more to the musty dirt (less of an idealisation than patchouli 24 in this regard - this is i presume actual dank rather than synthetic). smoke no longer overwhelming, but also no increase in huigan -- and there is none of the honied sweetness i have come to associate with it. fifth cup, first cup not to have dark brown shit immediately infuse into the water as i pour it onto the leaf which is incidentally not opening up, this is COOKED if it were not obvious from the bbq quality of everything. sixth is quite sweet, seventh cup is, I don't know the optics of this but there's a point in dilution of dark liquids where the extinction coefficient reaches a level where a liquid appears the same colour almost throughout the whole body except maybe the surface and it has reached that. seven or eight idk gonna start steeping this longer. this is a good idea because now these last cups are pleasant vanillary mild smoky infusions

jingmai - 9g - very powdery leaf in the cake, hard to pry loose. wet leaf smells robust and bitter, coffeelike. first cup quite red, very bitter, more bitter than the vertical spring cake, but suggesting a sweetness behind it like the vertical autumn cake. some of this revealed in the second cup (still more bitter than spring cake) as being more yeasty than fruity. cringy bitterness mostly eluted by the fourth cup, and not much huigan. intimations of florality I can't resolve. discontinuity in strength of the fifth cup, with a little huigan similar to the autumn cake. refilling the kettle i notice the water is unusually chlorinated today, which i had noticed to begin with, rip whatever fell in the reservoir. rest of cups quite mild

[number-1-kuaidul-fanboy]

Worst YGO Dub Names

I’ve softened to the dubs lately but they still committed some atrocities, particularly toward character names so here’s the ones that personally piss me off the most. The first two are the worst ones but after that they’re not in any kind of order.

Jun Manjome to Chazz Princeton

The crown jewel of shittiness. I know Manjome is a comic relief but he’s not a complete joke. He’s a character and a good one. This name just makes him sound stupid. And aggressively American. This one just really really angers me personally, as does pretty much everything in the GX dub.

Yuzu Hiiragi to Zuzu Boyle

Yuzu is a fruit. “Zuzu” is a degrading nickname Azula gave Zuko. It’s fucking stupid and I hate it. And pairing it with the last name “Boyle” sounds like a disease or something.

Mai Kujaku to Mai Valentine

THIS PUN IS FUCKING AWFUL. Yes Kujaku is a pun too but it’s a pun with class goddammit. Also “My” sounds confusing in English and is one of the few times that changing the name could’ve been acceptable. I would’ve accepted “May.” But no. They made a mildly sexist pun out of her name. UGHHHHHHH.

Hayato Maeda to Chumley Huffington

I can’t explain it, but this name sounds vaguely like a fat insult. Also, it sounds fucking stupid.

Noburo Gongenzaka to Gong Strong

…do I need to explain this one? It’s just… so stupid. It sounds more like a mockery of the character rather than a real name. It’s not even a pun! It’s just dumb. I haven’t seen the Arc V dub but it wouldn’t surprise me if Gongenzaka is treated like a joke considering his name.

Judai Yuki to Jaden Yuki

If this were any other character, I wouldn’t really care about this name change. The “Americanizing” is bad on principle but if they insist on doing it, then I’ll take it as long as it doesn’t sound stupid. This though? This is the main fucking character, you should not be changing it, especially when “Judai” isn’t hard to pronounce. Like at all. Not that these names care about pronunciation though considering-

Takuma Saio to Sartorious

This is literally harder to spell and say than his original name. And makes him sound like a fucking dinosaur, which is ironically how old he looks compared to the others.

Anzu Mazaki to Tea Gardner

“We need to make these Japanese names easier so the dumb American kids aren’t confused! Let’s put a fucking accent mark in one of them! You know, that thing that most American keyboards can’t even type!” -some moron at 4Kids, probably

Copy and pasting accent marks is effort that Tea doesn’t deserve. Therefore, she is forever hot leaf juice on this blog.

Rei Saotome to Blair Flannigan

The GX dub names are all fucking stupid. If I had less self control, this list would be every single GX dub name because I hate what the dub did to this show so much-

Okay, stupidity aside, this one is also a story issue. Rei’s very first act in the series is disguising herself as a boy. It is a twist that Rei is a girl. One of the things that makes this a twist is Rei’s name: a gender neutral name in Japanese. I’m not saying a boy can’t be named Blair but social biases and your very first thought are going to say that Blair is a girls’ name. And this show aired in 2004. So you know… maybe don’t make the twist that fucking obvious, dub. I know this doesn’t apply as much in other countries but this show was dubbed by an American company with American kids in mind so I feel like my point still stands.

Also, the name is dumb. It’s just dumb and upsets me.

Kaito Tenjo to Kite Tenjo

I know this seems like a small and kind of whatever change at first glance and honestly it probably is but just… the audacity to take a Japanese name, remove one syllable, and go “hurr hurr, he flies like a kite, aren’t we so clever?” is just irritating to me. I’ll let Hart off the hook because that’s admittedly a cute name and could have some symbolism to it if you squint but I draw the line at “Kite.”

Ryoken Kogami to Roken Kogami

WHY?! WHY DID YOU DO THIS?! WHY WAS IT NECESSARY TO REMOVE THE ‘Y’ FROM HIS NAME?! KIDS CAN SAY THE NAME “RYO.” THERE HAVE BEEN PLENTY OF YGO CHARACTERS BEFORE THIS WITH RYO IN THEIR NAMES. IT’S NOT A PRONUNCIATION THING. IT’S JUST STUPID.

Okay don’t get me wrong, this one is far from the worst change, hence why it’s all the way down here, it’s just... a pet peeve that’s gotten under my skin the more and more I’ve typed it in my tags. It’s extremely inconsequential especially compared to the previous ones it just annoys me.

[retrogradedreaming]

UHHHH maybe,, you could write a little thing for reki making the sk8 fam tea? and kaoru thinking hes gonna have to pretend he likes it but then "oh wait reki can actually make tea what-"

just bc this has been living in my head for awhile sdkljfs

(capt-snoozles)

It turns out I am completely incapable of writing ANYTHING short, so have a full one shot type thing, I guess. I hope it's okay that I kinda borrowed headcanons from you and @that-was-anticlimactic for Reki with TS at a couple of small moments in the fic?

----

It used to be Kaoru alone who visited Kojiro’s restaurant when it was closed on Mondays. But since the start of winter break, Sia la Luce had become much livelier now that Reki, Langa, and Miya weren’t in school all day, and Shadow came when his days off lined up right. If Kaoru were being honest, it took some time to get used to the space no longer being only his and Kojiro’s, but he’d grown to like how their group came together like this.

The afternoons were the quietest part of these days. Kojiro took these opportunities to try out new recipes on them, leaving everyone contentedly full and pleasantly sleepy. Today, Langa had actually fallen asleep in the booth, and Reki sat beside Kaoru at the counter, playing with a tiny skateboard and making soft sounds like a small motor. Shadow and Miya sat at a table across the room, arguing over whether clown or cat makeup looked cooler while Kojiro finished cleaning. Kaoru let himself sink into the lull, Reki’s noises and that of the skateboard wheels on the counter an almost comforting presence beside him. And yet, one thing was missing, keeping him from truly relaxing.

“Seems like a good afternoon for tea,” Kojiro said, as if reading his mind as he appeared out of the kitchen, wiping his hands on a towel. “You want me to make some?”

“Absolutely not,” Kaoru scoffed. “People who microwave their tea should be arrested.”

“There’s no way you can tell the difference,” Kojiro said, defensive. “Hot water is hot water.”

“Only an uncultured pig would believe that,” Kaoru snapped. He was about to stand, to tell Kojiro he’d make the tea himself like he always inevitably had to, when Reki all but leaped from his seat, skateboard abandoned for the moment.

“I’ll make it!” he offered, and the way his face lit up meant that Kaoru took too long to say not to bother. By the time he’d found his words, Reki had already bounded around the counter and into the kitchen, and Kojiro didn’t even try to stop him. Before Kaoru could tell Kojiro to stop him, Reki called out to Kojiro, asking about the industrial stove, and soon, Kojiro was not only allowing Reki to make the tea, but encouraging him.

Kaoru supposed this was a step up from Kojiro’s microwave technique, but if Kaoru were likely to trust anyone other than himself to make a decent cup of tea, it wouldn’t be Reki. The idea that he’d wanted his tea made well and was unlikely to receive it as such set him on edge. As he listened to the water boil and the conversation continued around him, he found himself wrapping a strand of his hair around his finger and tugging, letting it go, and repeating the process until his scalp hurt. He didn’t even notice that Langa had woken up until he appeared beside Kaoru and spoke.

“What’s Reki doing?” he asked.

“Making tea,” Kaoru said, doing his best not to appear so anxious about something so small.

Langa peered over the edge of the counter to where Kojiro and Reki were talking in the kitchen, and then turned back to Kaoru. “I like how he makes it. I never liked it before I met him.”

Kaoru hummed a halfhearted response. He doubted that Langa’s standards were very high, given that he’d grown up in Canada. He’d likely had tea often enough, given that his mother was Japanese, but Kaoru knew from experience that plenty of people even here in Okinawa had no idea how to brew a proper cup. It was about timing, knowing how hot to make the water, how long to steep the leaves, and so many people rushed the process—or worse, forgot about it and steeped too long—that Kaoru preferred to make his own.

He couldn’t help but envision Reki handing him a bitter cup, or one that tasted like little more than hot leaf juice. He grimaced at the idea of having to drink it and pretend he liked it, suffering all the while. He would have to wait until he was home later to make something better for himself.

He was still trying to think of a polite way to decline the tea he’d obviously wanted when Reki came out bearing a tray of steaming cups and began making the rounds through the restaurant. Reki handed the first one to Langa, who accepted it, smiling softly up at Reki. Langa sipped the tea immediately, only to flinch and draw it away after the first sip.

Not promising, Kaoru thought. If he’d boiled the water, it was ruined, even if it was something as simple as green tea. And yet, Langa only took another sip while Reki looked on approvingly.

“It’s good,” Langa finally proclaimed, and Reki glowed as if he’d received praise from the emperor himself. Reki moved on, handing Kaoru his cup.

“Thank you,” Kaoru said, accepting it with both hands. Fortunately, Reki moved on to Shadow and Miya without waiting for Kaoru to try it, which meant that he didn’t know Kaoru only held onto it without making a move to taste it. If nothing else, he could enjoy the warmth that crawled from his fingertips all the way to his elbows.

Neither Miya nor Shadow hesitated in drinking theirs, though Kaoru couldn’t imagine they cared much how it tasted, as long as it was hot. And yet, as he watched, the two of them looked just as pleased as Langa when they tried it.

“Oh wow, the slime makes good tea,” Miya pronounced, hugging the cup close to him like a space heater.

“Damn, this is pretty good,” Shadow said, drinking deeply and draining half the cup. “How’d you even learn to make it like this?”

Reki shrugged, taking up his own cup, the last on the tray. He set the tray down on the counter and took the empty seat beside Langa. “I dunno, I guess I just picked it up over the years. It’s kinda like making skateboards, y’know? You have to figure out how all the parts fit together, and if you do it wrong, the tea doesn’t taste right.”

Kaoru looked up at him from the murky depths of his tea, brows raised. When it came to making tea, the analogy was rather profound, and Kaoru couldn’t argue it. Reki was right—tea was about the sum of its parts, the pieces fitting together perfectly. And as with building skateboards, the person making it had to know exactly how to combine each piece to create the whole.

“That doesn’t make any sense, but whatever,” Shadow said, taking another sip. “All I care about is that it doesn’t suck.”

“How come you’ve never made us tea before?” Miya asked, eyes trained on the Switch he’d pulled from his pocket now that he’d abandoned his conversation with Shadow.

“I don’t really have the patience for it,” Reki said sheepishly, rubbing the back of his neck. “It’s kinda like, if I don’t wanna put in the time to do it right, why bother?”

While everyone was wrapped up in conversation, Kaoru finally chanced a discreet sip. If it was as bad as he’d expected, he could school his expression appropriately while they were all distracted. Perhaps he could even get away without having to lie about how good it was. And yet, when the tea touched his tongue, he paused.

It wasn’t too hot.

It wasn’t too weak or too strong.

It wasn’t too bitter and the leaves didn’t taste as though they’d been burnt.

It was, as far as Kaoru was concerned, some of the best tea he’d had outside his own home. For a moment, he couldn’t find the words to say so. He sipped it again, just to make sure he hadn’t deluded himself based on everyone else’s praise. Sure enough, it was almost more delicious the second time.

“You surprised?” Kojiro murmured at his ear, his own cup dangling from his fingertips. Kaoru jumped, nearly spilling his tea. When he turned to face him, Kojiro’s lips quirked in a smug grin, and he raised one brow meaningfully. Kaoru shot him a hard glower in return, a silent command to keep his mouth shut before Kaoru turned back to Reki.

“It’s delicious,” Kaoru said, and it wasn’t forced in the least. “I’m impressed.”

Reki, who had already immersed himself in talking to Langa, gaped at Kaoru, one of his hoodie strings falling from between his teeth. Then, he flashed a wide grin. “Glad you like it!”

“Have you ever practiced tea ceremony?” Kaoru asked, reluctantly setting his tea down on the counter.

“Nah, my parents let me try it once when I was younger, but I kept messing up the steps,” Reki said. “It’s not really fun when people get mad at you for doing it wrong.”

“I studied it for some time,” Kaoru said, remembering how the order felt comforting, how the amount of concentration it required gave his anxious mind something to focus on, how the simple yet refined aesthetic felt like clearing his head. In recent years, he didn’t have time for it with his calligraphy business, but a part of him missed it. “It’s quite a bit different from drinking tea like this, but if you wanted to, perhaps we could do a...modified version of it. Something less formal with everyone here.”

Reki’s eyes brightened, and he looked to Langa, who only seemed to share his enthusiasm. “It sounds fun, yeah! A lot better than getting yelled at by a bunch of old people because ‘tradition.’”

“I’d say so,” Kaoru said, and they devolved into talking about their favorite teas and the best ways to brew them. Kaoru couldn’t remember the last time he’d talked to someone who actually understood that tea was an art even more than it was a drink. But Reki did, and when the rest of the group finally left, leaving Kaoru and Kojiro alone in the restaurant to clean up, Kojiro nudged him with an elbow.

“You didn’t think Reki could make tea like that, did you?” he said, the words teasing but too close to Kaoru’s own thoughts for comfort.

“Shut up or I’ll leave you here to wash dishes alone,” Kaoru quipped, even as he accepted the next cup to dry. “I will admit, I was pleasantly surprised.”

“I knew you would be,” Kojiro said as he dried his hands and stretched.

“Anything is better than microwaved tea,” Kaoru said. And although it was true, he couldn’t help but look forward to the next Monday, and the last before the kids started school again.