#rice ave

[joeygallagher]

Twist THR - Rice Ave.

Oxnard, CA (2024)

35mm Film / Kodak

[zombiesama]

guess who probably has dry socket (me)

[stenoodie]

Lunch, Afternoon Tea, and Dinner at So Good Restaurant

Lunch, Afternoon Tea, and Dinner at So Good Restaurant. #HKstylecafe #dinnercombos #lobsters

So Good Chinese Restaurant located at 10610 Bayview Ave Unit 2 and 3 in Richmond Hill I’ve visited So Good Chinese Restaurant in Richmond Hill numerous times now.  We first dined here for lunch (after we visited the next-door EarlyON Child and Family Centre) for the first time last year and recently came here for lunch yet again.  We’ve also dined here for family dinners more than three times and…

[missguomeiyun]

Nongbu for dinner

Had dinner at Nongbu with my family recently. We've ordered take-out several times during the pandemic but we've never gone to eat there together until recently~

We went on a Sat at 5:15pm or so. We were the only ones there at the time, & during our almost 2-hr dinner, there were only 3 other groups of diners. It was kind of depressing considering it was Saturday. ..

Cheese ramyeon pancake. Normally the spicy mayo is drizzled on top of the pancake but they served it on the side bcos we had kids so didn't want to make it all spicy. The texture was nice but I felt it was lacking in cheese flavour. There also wasn't a much ramyeon as I thought; a lot of it was batter.

The seafood green onion pancake. Generous amount of seafood & green onion. Surprisingly less batter than the cheese ramyeon one above. Bland on its own; you'll definitely need the soy sauce.

Our family favourite: the squid + pork belly stir-fried noodles. For some reason, this tastes better as a take-out than dine-in. I don't know why! Or maybe just a one-off? This didn't have as much smokiness than take-out. But nonetheless, very good!

1st time ordering this: the jjimdak, ie: braised chicken (+ veggies, potato, & glass noodles). This was unevenly spicy, which was hard to explain. I think it's bcos of the chili peppers. If you eat around a region that had some chili peppers there, it'll be a spicy bite but if you take a piece of potato from the bottom/sauce area, it's not spicy.

The butter bulgogi rice. This was actually our favourite item for the evening!

The bulgogi hotpot (called bulgogi jeongol on the menu).

The side-view.

This was pricey & wasn't that good.. . it was disappointing. I felt the amount of broth/water was way off. When it started boiling, & the beef started 'going down', we needed a bowl to take some of the liquid out or else it would have boiled over. The flavour was also lacking. I think it needed some/some more of the beef stock powder stuff.

On-the-house honey butter rice cake. This was our 2nd flavourite of the evening. The exterior was kinda like. .. candy-like. Some pieces had a harder shell than others but that's okay. Very enjoyable~

Overall, the food wasn't as great as our usual take-out items. We wanted to try things we can't get as take-out & they were disappointing. So I think we'll just stick to take-out in the future. .. OR order our usual take-out items if we decide to dine-in again.

[tradersquestco]

The restaurant is little bit small, but the Fried Rice is good, yummy.

It has a good atmosphere. It is loud inside, because of the wok.

$$

it's located here 15 E College Ave, Westerville, OH 43081

Eating Show + Review

[sheepispink]

Distance makes the Heart grow Fonder ᡣ𐭩ྀིྀི

ᡣ𐭩ྀིྀི Chapter 6 of my Sweet As Sugar Series (baker!reader x lt ghost

ᡣ𐭩ྀིྀི Summary: Simon leaves in deployment, though just before he goes, your father unintentionally sets a fire alight in Simon’s chest, one he’s never felt in years. It brings him to a realisation he didnt think was possible.

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————————

It’s surprising; in Soap’s entire career, he never thought he’d see the day that Ghost actually looked reluctant to come back to work. Usually he was the one to complain about everything he missed, especially in the mess hall when they grabbed their meals together. Though today Ghost’s eyes were particularly downturned, and he hadn't interrupted Soap once to tell him to do less speaking and more eating. “Ye not gonna tell me to shut up today?” He tilts his head towards the masked man before promptly shoving a bland potato in his mouth, chewing it without a care in the world.

“This tea is horrible; that's why.” He grunts, placing the cup down onto the table with so much force the liquid almost splashes out of the cup altogether. “Thought ya didn't care about the taste?” Soap raises a brow, even more confused. When had his Lt thought twice about how good his tea tasted? Sure, he’d been bragging about the cafe in town for a while now, but he didn't think anything would sway Riley this much. He’s only seen the man this annoyed that time he was given rice instead of pitta when they grabbed their post-deployment kebab.

“My standards have been raised.” Ghost scoffs a little, watching as Soap gulps down a large swig of his strong coffee as always—licking his lips from the three sugars he had just stirred in. “Are you going to finally tell me who that lass was now? Gaz is dying to know too.” He rests his elbows on the table, grinning cheekily at the man opposite, who only shoos him back and narrows his eyes in a faux glare. “You told Gaz?”

“Wait till Capt’ comes back–”

Ghost wasn't sure how to feel about his team’s sudden interest in his private life, but he supposed it seemed natural given that he wasn't one for making friends, let alone getting close to the baker girl in the town they frequented off deployments. “She works at the bakery, that’s all. I helped her with some heavy things.” He chooses to omit the part where he had willingly joined you on a mini road trip and spent time with you at the winter market. Soap will definitely never know about the incident at your apartment either.

”Wait, she’s the one who makes those pastries your unit had? We ‘ave to pay her a visit too. I mean, my mouth watered when i smelt ‘em.” He laughs, remembering the time he had begged Ghost to let him try just a tad of the cookie you had graciously provided him once. He’d take the death glare, especially since after he ate half, he had easily decided it was the best one he’d ever tasted. Besides, he wanted to see what had caught Ghost’s eye to the point he spent more time off base than on. Unfortunately, the masked man had caught onto it quickly, standing with the tray in his hands. “Yeah, you go spillin’ crumbs on yourself in the middle of the briefing we have in ten.” He rolls his eyes, already expecting the alarm in Soap’s eyes as he quickly stands and throws his tray away too—he always had a tendency to rely on Ghost as a personal reminders app.

————

The meeting seemed to last forever, and he had to adjust himself to stand straight every so often just so his mind wouldn’t wander off with the memories of only last week. Though, he couldn’t keep them away for much longer since as soon as he was on the treadmill, everything in his mind was let free. The thing was, even though he hadn't said it directly, Johnny was right—you had caught his eye in a way that he couldn't even figure out himself. From the day he saw you in that shop, dancing along to a song that you embarrassedly shut off as soon as he entered, to the pretty smile you flash every time he enters the shop. In fact, your demeanour seems to light up without you even realising; it’s adorable, really. He notices the pep in your step, the slightly higher pitch in your voice, and even the way you greet the customers with happiness just ‘cause you’re eager to draw your doodle on the side of his coffee cup again. Maybe if he had a little more experience in all of this, he would’ve teased you about it all, or he would even go as far as to admit that you’ve made his heart thump more than any life-threatening situation will. Though, if he told you that then you might just force him to a doctor out of sheer worry.

What if you don’t even see it the same way? What if you’re just being friendly and he’s acting like a creep, reading into all of your actions? He ramps up the speed on the treadmill a little more, his thighs starting to burn the more forceful his strides grow. It’s empty in this room, no sound around save for the heavy thump of his boots bouncing off the walls. He’s heard female soldiers complain before; they huff about how the younger soldiers ogle, and the older lieutenants shamelessly give their remarks. What if he ruins everything and makes you uncomfortable? He’s not even sure he can handle a relationship; he always thought he could never commit to it, nor did he think he could put the constant energy and thoughts into caring so much for somebody. But with you, it just comes so naturally; he barely has to think twice when he converses with you, even less when you chatter to him about something that happened the other day. Relationships always seemed like obligations to him, even if the girl was nice or sweet; something always sucked the life out of him dry until he broke up with them just for their own sake. He didn't want the same to happen to you; no he wouldn't dare hurt you in such a cruel way.

Then what, should he just pull away from you altogether?

That thought alone stills him, the idea of never seeing you again making his body still like a bucket of cold ice dumped over his head. His feet falter as his heart stammers, and his hands can only graze the handles before his knees hit the floor with a painful slam—sliding off the treadmill altogether in a heap of limbs. He looks down in shock, more so down at himself as he sits on the floor in front of the treadmill he had accidentally pushed to the maximum speed. Damnit; he really has fallen for you.

————————-

The little bell rings as he pushes the glass door open; it’s the day before he leaves for deployment, and he was hoping he’d see your grin one last time before he goes. To his dismay, you’re not on shift today, likely doing a grocery run or something similar. Today, your parents are handling the shop, and although you informally introduced him once, he’s almost sure that they don't approve of him. It’s not like they’ve made it obvious; it just seems inevitable due to his chosen attire and his line of work. Naturally, he hadn't expected your father to smile at him widely and know his order before he could say it.

“Flat white or black today? No tea today, unfortunately.”

Simon can only blink in surprise, clearing his throat in hopes he doesn’t sound too hoarse. “Flat white. I’ve got deployment tomorrow, so I'll have to indulge now rather than later.” He doesn't usually add on detail, but he feels like he’s obliged to, just for the sake of seeming a little better towards your parents. Thankfully, there’s not a hint of the disdain he expected on your father’s face; he only laughs, ringing in the order whilst he turns to make the drink for him. “I’d hardly call a flat white an ‘indulgent’, kid.”

Simon barely gets the chance to acknowledge the fact someone just called him ‘kid’ before he’s talking again, and he feels himself stand a little straighter to make sure he doesn't look like some sleazy boy.

“She’s gonna be upset, y’know? Maybe you’ll be better off paying a stunt double to take your place instead of saying you’re on deployment.” The man chuckles again, his face lighting up the same way you do, and you’ve clearly learnt his technique of pouring the steamed milk too.

“I’m sure she’ll forget by the second day; the other customers will have to suffice with all her stories.” Simon brushes off your potential reaction, almost positive that you wouldn't even lose sleep on the matter. Besides, you’re plenty more friendly than he’ll ever be; he’s sure you’ll make quick friends with the other regulars.

“Forget? I won't hear the end of it until you return. I don't know what you did to that girl, but she’s been as bright as the sun since you showed up.” The older man pressed the lid onto the cup, turning around to hand it to Simon. “We’re grateful, y’know? She had a tough time when we first opened; it didn't help that we couldn't afford her further education.”

“I.. didn't know that.” He can't say much else, the words spilling out and surprise evident in his tone.

“We travelled a bit before buying this bakery, so she’s never had many constant friends; it was out of our control.” The man packs up a small bag, placing it on the counter for Ghost to take as well before giving him a grateful smile. “She’d have come around eventually, but the point is, she’s very fond of you. Always makes sure she has your favourite biscuits restocked too.” He chuckles, and Simon stares down at the bag, the faint outline of chocolate bourbons inside. He truly was a lucky man.

———-

Ghost had a hypothesis, and that was that the simplest missions were always the longest. Well, not literally, but they felt as if they dragged on forever. He was positioned up in these mountains to scope the area prior to his team’s entry; however they wouldn't be here for another two hours anyway due to unforeseen circumstances. That meant that for the meantime, he was a sitting duck. It also gave way to the thoughts he hadn’t been able to consider ever since he first processed them, promising himself he’d debate it later after this all blew over.

The thing is, he couldn't fathom the idea of you feeling low or even having a few friends. He considers himself to be on the loner side, considering most people perceived him that way, and he didn't exactly contact anyone outside of the military save from his old boss when he worked as a butcher—he always said happy new year to him. The difference is, he kind of liked it that way, but clearly you haven't been given a choice in that matter. It fills him with an urge, one that’s a little out of place for him yet fits perfectly in his chest. He wants to make sure you’re happy, well, as far as he can do so anyway. And on the off chance you do get upset, he wants to be the one to cheer you up after.

It’s weird to him, having someone that needs him as a presence in their life, someone who’ll miss him when he’s gone. But what’s worse for him, is that he realises now that he misses you every time you’re gone. He thought he had gone crazy the first time Johnny went on deployment without him, and he had to listen to Gaz talk about the latest football game all lunch— not that Johnny usually had anything better to say either. He had only realised he missed him when Soap described the same feeling when Gaz had left for deployment. He figured it comes with working closely with others very often; after all, being forced out of a routine would never feel right. So, he was even more surprised when he had only spent a month and a bit getting to know you, but somehow every moment away just seemed duller.

That night the evac trucks take him home quietly, along with the rest of his team. They’re exhausted, Soap and Gaz more so than himself; they're practically nodding off beside him. Not that he minds being their pillow for the ride, but he does stop to wonder what it’d feel like if your head was the one on his shoulder. He’d probably wrap an arm around you—if you’d allow him, of course—and maybe just sit in silence whilst a movie plays. You’d be happy with someone around, he’d be happy to have a quiet night in, and maybe a quiet sleep again.

That’s the moment he decided what he was going to do and what he’s currently doing right now. It’s two am, and he’s just got back, barely even washed up yet. His phone is in his hands, your little profile picture grinning at him cheekily as he stares at the unsent message.

“Are you free for dinner on Wednesday? My treat, and an apology for leaving you for so long.”

—————————-

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ᡣ𐭩ྀིྀི Taglist:

@hidden-treasures21 @bieberismysoulmate @gallantys @tessakate @galactict3a @krispymagazinepizza-blog @silas-aeiou @kupids-arrow

[rotipizza]

🇹🇹🇬🇩🍴

Savannah Spiced

🌽 🥣 The Savannah Corn - This corn soup was one of the BEST I've had. The taste, the consistency was on point. The heat was there and not too overpowering (Maybe they used pimento 🌶️). Lastly, serving the soup in a @imusausa pot was a nice touch!

🥥 🦐 The Coconut curry shrimp - This was served along with spinach rice and plantin* The shrimp was well seasoned and blended well with the coconut curry. The rice was tasty by itself and cooked just right and the plantin* was an essential part of the meal.

🍹🔥 The Moko Jumbie - I really don't drink but LAWD this drink was everything and then some. The drink normally consists of Johnnie Walker which was substituted with Hennessy, then a splash of Mauby, splash of cranberry juice, then lastly a twist of lime. Honestly, the mixture of everything blended really well!

📍Savannah Spiced

158 Utica Ave

New York, NY 11213

[southern-gothic-comic]

Page 37

Next 💜 Back 🖤 First

(Author Notes)

Panel 1: We see Imogen working at her job behind the counter of Faramore’s General Store. An elderly lady is attempting to describe what she wants without actually using any descriptive nouns. Frustrated, Imogen taps into her thoughts to get an idea of what she’s describing and finishes her sentences for her. A variety of things are on display: tools, bolts of fabric, barrels of apples and pickles, jars of candy, hanging horse tack, coils of rope, canned goods, lanterns. All during this conversation a family of several runny-nosed children is putting their hands all over everything, which makes Imogen wince.

Elderly Customer: Now, I need two yards of the red, you know, with the checks . . .

Imogen: Flannel?

Elderly Customer: And half a pound of the little round . . .

Imogen: Peppermints?

Elderly Customer: Yes, and three tins of the one . . . with the blue label . . .

Imogen: . . . Pomade?

Elderly Customer: No need to be so impatient, missy. I’m getting to it.

Panel 2: Next up is the mother of the several germy children, who slams down her shopping list. One of the children, last seen wiping their nose on the back of their hand, puts their hands into a jar of candy, which makes Imogen wince harder.

Karen: About time. I need two bottles of Zenotha’s Throat Elixir, a five-pound bag of rice, a braid of garlic, a jar of turmeric powder, a pound of coffee beans, and a dozen handkerchiefs.

Imogen: I’m afraid we’re out of throat elixir, ma’am, but I could place an order for you. What kind of handkerchiefs--

Karen: What do you mean, you’re out?? Why don’t you go on and check in the back?

Imogen: Sure, ma’am. Just a minute.

Panel 3: In the back. Laudna is there, taking inventory in a notebook.

Imogen: Hey, Laudna?

Laudna: Hmm?

Imogen: We got any more of that Zenotha’s Throat Elixir?

Laudna: Oh, no. We’ve been out of that for days.

Imogen: {sigh} That’s what I thought. Gonna get eaten alive out there.

Panel 4: Laudna absently pats a few sacks of dry beans on a shelf.

Imogen: You likin’ your new job?

Laudna: Oh, yes! Though it does get a bit lonely back here.

Imogen: Heh. Wanna trade? It is definitely not lonely out there.

Laudna: I think I could make a good shop girl! What do you think, Pâté?

Pâté: Got a face for customer service, you ‘ave.

Imogen: {sigh} I miss workin’ with the horses. They’re much easier to please. Panel 5: She goes back out, empty-handed, and starts compiling the rest of the order. The mother of the several germy children gets right up in her face as she yells at her across the counter.

Imogen: I’m sorry, ma’am. It’s out of stock. I can place an order for you and it’ll be here in about two weeks. In the meantime, would you like some lozenges, or --

Karen: Two weeks?? I can’t wait that long! My kids need it now!

Her Thoughts: worthless lazy girl I bet she didn’t even look what am I going to do now nowhere else has it useless useless useless

Imogen: I’m sorry, ma’am. It’s been in real high demand lately.

Karen: Hurry up! I can’t wait all day if I have to go huntin’ all over town for the things y’all don’t have here.

[writingoddess1125]

Soo I wanted to imput my own culture on this one!

COD Men + König Dating a Jamaican Women

König

• You and König had been together for quite a while. Spending most of your guys relationship in Europe and in his home country.

• But when you make to offer of having him meet your family he is more then happy to accept!

• He didn't expect to take a plane to the tropicals however- Ending up in such a touristy area at first. Till you lead him off the beaten bath to a much more rural area to introduce him to your family.

• They are a but surprised at first, seeing such a large man. However accept him with open arms- Your Mummy especially.

• You handed your mother her drink, watching her as she looked at the new member of the family who was seated playing cards with your cousin- The shorts She'd bought clearly being a size too small to fit him comforbly.

• It was like she got the son she wanted the most- Immediately having him change into more comforble clothes. Fed him, and forced you to walk him around the prettiest parts of town.

• "Why does it feel like my Mum likes you more then me!?"

• Konig could only laugh at this and shyly disagree.

• However after your Mum took him shopping since she felt like he didn't have the proper clothes he couldn't disagree further.

• He absolutely adores the beaches of your home and spends so much time swimming he gets a golden tan in a short amount of time.

• "Gonna need to order some better shorts" You mumbled- not wanting him to have a wardrobe malfunction while around your family. Your mother laughing at this and patting your hip- "Wen yuh climb tall trees yuh get langggg branches-"

• "MUMMY!"

Gaz

• You decided that it was time for Gaz to meet your family, wanting to take that extra step together.

• They are so excited to meet him they start chattering away immediately- However Gaz figures out very quickly...

• He is more then thrilled. Having wanted to take that next step with you for quite a while- So when the plan arrived at your home he was so happy to see your family there to meet you and him there.

• He doesn't know what the fuck they are saying-

• They had accidently assumed he knew Patwah and were corrected by you quickly. Since they assumed he was Jamaican like you-

• "Wait it's not just an accent?" Gaz asks softly to you, Which leads to you explaining that it's a Creole language called Patwah.

• Your Aunty however seemed to take the liking to Kyle the most. Seeing him as great husband potential for you- As well as dropping 'hints' about a wedding. Which was amusing since she had the thickest of accents out of your entire family.

• "Kyle lov, Wi wud waan (Y/N) married yah inna di yard. A nuh eh ah luk gud place tuh marry an av babies?" (Kyle Love, we would want married here at home. Isn't it a pretty place to marry and have babies? )

• Gaz didn't know what she said per say- But he did year the word Married and Babies.

• He does have a blast however, going out dancing with you, drinking with your family and having a grand time- But most was being fed near constantly.

• "Nyam up Maaga bwoy" (eat up skinny boy)

• Gaz was satted there in the kitchen of your family home, Staring as your Aunty adds another massive scoop of Rice and Peas to his growing plate. Filled delicious foods he could only dream of back home.

• It seemed like there was no escape from this pleasurable hell- and he couldn't be happier

• Gaz nodded obediently as he took up more rice on his fork and continued to eat. You trying to tell your aunty to not force feed your boyfriend.

Soap

• You bring up wanting Johnny to meet your family after officially meeting his- Seeing how it would be fair and should be a fun experience.

• Seems he found his people-

• Of course he is more then willing! Seeing it as a fun get away as well-

• When he arrives his naturally cheery personality wins over your family quickly. Ends up having a blast with them the first day and eats so much he almost gets suck.

• There is a mild language barrier- However it was overcome rather quickly.

• Your cousin seemed to absolutely ADORE Johnny. Taking the two of you out to clubs and different bars around the area.

• "We should buy a place out here- for times like this" He said, Leaning against you as the two of you walk back to your families house.

• Finds out quickly that it's relatively cheap in parts and having his nice military paychecks went a lloonnggg way here.

• Adsolutely loves the drinks. The Ginger beer, the Red Strike, Sorrel.

• Adores them honestly!

• This man has met other half it seems as bottles seem to rain around him.

• "Yu Drunk?" Your cousin calls out to Johnny who is dancing against you with a bright smile on his face.

• "A'm Blootert!" He shouts. His accent so strong its funny-

• Johnny ends up so drunk, he's locked arms with your cousin, seated under the romada singing some imaginary song they had made up together.

Ghost

• You take the opportunity to get your hair braided as well- seeing how for once you don't have to pay an arm and a leg for it.

• It takes a lot of convincing on your part to get Simon to come meet your family. You'd been dating more then long enough and he finally agrees one day-

• However he still wears some form of mask- in his case a skull face mask that is still breathable while keeping him covered.

• Your family was a bit apprehensive of Simon of first- surprised by such a brooding figure you'd dragged with you.

• That was till your father stepped forward and welcomed Simon with open arms. Which lead to the rest of the family also being warm and welcoming-

• Simon accepts this and goes along with the kind greetings from everyone.

• Simon tags along, which surprises you. Ends up asking the hair dresser questions constantly.

• "Wah mek yu deh ask suh much?" Your hairdresser staps a bit-

• "I want to learn how- do I can help her do her hair or our future children's" He says bluntly and truthfully.

• Wins over the whole Salon just like that.

• He has never met a group so God damn stubborn then your family- He can refuse all he wants but ends up being given or dragged some place.

• Getting a step by step on how to do different braids by the nice women at the Salon who baby him- even buying him lunch too.

• The soilder taking the day with your father. The two just enjoying the day together- Simon even smoking with him a little which made him relax more then he expected (You weren't there to tell him-)

• Didn't want a drink- Now has 4 he has finished. Refused an addional plate of food?- He had 3 more and some fruit.

• The only person who wasn't pushy was your father. Who was as stoic and laid back as Simon.

• Simon enjoyed the relaxing time with your Father- The two sitting on the front patio with their drinks sipping away as they occasionally chatted.

• This day being the same, When Simon got up prepared to be dragged to a other fun active place. But instead your father waving him over to sit with him.

• Looking to you as you just nod for him to go do as he pleased-

Price

• By the time you came back, Both men were actually chuckling at some sort of joke together. That night you looking to Simon who laid in bed with you shocked-

• "My Dad actually likes you-" You say in disbelief. Simon only nodding and smiling at your words.

• By the next morning he is as red as a Tomato and sunburned to high hell.

• John is willing to meet your family. Finding it would he a nice holiday and fun overall since he hadn't been to the Caribbeans since he was first in the military.

• When arriving he did notice some stares, since he was so clearly military and learned the distrust was real.

• But your family was open to him in extending that olive branch to him.

• Your uncle however- took some convincing. Which ended up getting John hazed of sorts.

• "Mek wi si wah yu gat Brit-" Your uncle Said with a grin. John of course accepting a challenge. From drinking, Dancing and more. Which ended up with the two shit talking each other-

• By the end of the night John and your Uncle were as thick as thieves.

• John even proud of the hand rolled cigarettes your uncle had given him.

• "Don't take his cigarettes-" You say calmly. Taking the homemade rolled cigarette from your boyfriend and handing him a packed one instead.

• While you were with some of your cousins catching up John sat out on a chair with your Uncles and cousins. The group smoking cigars and cigarettes and chatting away.

• Seemed time was lost on the both of you as John sat out in the sun far too long. Ignoring the reddening of his skin-

• Your poor Boyfriend tho-

• "Fuck-k" John mutters, wincing as he sits down with his arms held out. Your uncle laughing at him-

• You spend the evening rubbing Aloe in his skin and fanning his skin to help ease the burn.

• "Burned noice an criss Hm?" Your uncle said with a laugh making John give a fake glare at the old man.

• "Ah fuck ya you old geezer-" John winced out making the men around him laugh hard at his suffering.

[leathfaic]

"So what do ye eat then, when ye get the choice?" Soap is opening two bottles of beer handing one over to Ghost. He's clueless about what to cook for dinner, might as well ask Simon for some input.

"Chicken and rice. Or I order something." Ghost's tone is nonchalant as he studies the label of the beer he was just handed and Soap decides immediately that he's not gonna follow the plain suggestion actually. He's on leave and deserves some flavour in his food, thank you very much.

"Single malt whisky cask matured?" Ghost' sounds slightly disbelieving. "That is very Scottish.", or disapproving, who knew with the English.

So Soap just snorts, "Had to get ye some of the local stuff, eh? If ye behave ah'll make sure we get some of the beer with tea in for ye." 

At that Simon, who was sniffing his beer, looks up, pure horror in his eyes and Soap's snort evolves into a full-on cackle. 

He catches himself a moment later, inspecting the almost pouting look behind the mask and decides to drop the topic for now. Instead, he raises his bottle at Simon, "To leave, aye?".

Ghost does the same, their bottles clinking. 

"Cheers."

"Slàinte Mhath." 

Crisp and cold. Fuck he'd missed beer. Missed a lot of things during that last OP. Food that tasted like actual food was one, bringing him back to his original line of questioning. It shouldn't be surprising that Ghost is not into cooking. He's the only person Soap has ever seen eating anything from the mess with true enthusiasm. Sorts his MREs by how much he likes them too when he thinks no one is looking. Always eating the best first.

"Not much of a cook then?" he keeps his tone light and innocent while sipping his beer. Trying to observe Simon's reactions without making him feel watched.

"I can handle meat," There's a stupid smirk traded between them and Soap would roll his eyes if he didn't have to reign himself in, immediately set ablaze by the stupid joke.

"Learned at a butchers before I joined." Ghost offers up by way of explanation, sounding almost sad. Something must've happened there, something that had Simon ending up in the force. Something that led to him becoming Ghost.

"Well perfect, I'm not terrible but I do handle meat way better in the bedroom." Soap winks at him and this time, to make sure the innuendo lands painfully enough to pull Ghost out of his head. 

It does and earns him an exasperated look. Might have convinced him if those brown eyes weren't full of fondness. 

He's gonna leave Ghost with the belief that he's not learning to see behind the mask for a little longer: Wants him to feel comfortable. No need to divulge that his tone clearly betrayed that he's got no idea how to cook apart from putting some meat into a pan and put all his hope into some cook in bags. Lots of people couldn't cook, it wasn't a big deal.

Only that it is not just that. From the few things he's told Soap about himself, it makes sense, in a sad way.

Simon, who confronts being gay like being in battle, all hyper-masculine energy focused on fighting through all the hurtful stereotypes and insults his father planted in his head, probably never got to do a lot of things that weren't 'manly'. Makes him wonder where the needle skills come from but only for a split second before he decides he's gonna do something about this then.

"So what is yer favourite food then?" 

"Don't really 'ave one." the stoic bastard answers and Soap has to think about the MREs but also has no trouble believing that that is a luxury the other man doesn't allow himself to ponder. Thinks he doesn't deserve it.

Not that'll stop him. Quite the opposite, now he's motivated.

"Alright, anythin ye could be doin with right now?" 

He watches Ghost's eyes dart through the kitchen seemingly looking for a clue. Bouncing of cabinets and shelves before he takes a swig of his beer.

"No." he finally answers, sounding like he's withdrawing into himself again. For fucks sake.

Soap smiles at him hiding his exasperation away before it can reach his face, doesn't need his emotions to make this harder on both of them. 

"Well too bad, yer at ma mercy." He lets his smile dip into something devilish and revels in the note of alarm in Simon's lovely eyes. It's quickly replaced with confusion as Soap presses a knife into his hands. He stands there, looking for all accounts like a very misplaced ghoul. Very deadly but also kinda endearing.

"Ye can cut the onion, garlic, are chilis fine with ye? If so, cut two of those too and make sure ye wash yer hands after tha'. 

They work in silence for a moment, Ghost's dutifully following Soap's command without any complaints. When Soap begins to sear the meat he explains what he's doing and asks for input from Ghost. He's rewarded with warm surprise on the mostly masked features before Ghost starts talking, softer than his usual tone when he's guiding Soap through something job-related, becoming almost reverent when he sees Soap adjust to what he just said. And Soap tries to be careful with his usual ribbing jokes, not wanting to disturb the equilibrium that is Ghost relaxing in his flat.

When the other ingredients are added he takes over again. Talking the lieutenant through the process. Explaining his steps when he knows why they're important and freely admitting defeat when he doesn't. 

They drink their beers and cook, Ghost once more following every step that Soap lays out for him and Soap silently trying to impress him. Not that he was gonna admit that to either himself or anyone else.

"Who taught you all tha'?", they're just waiting for the pasta now, the sauce down and bubbling away on low heat, leaning against each other, Soaps head resting on Ghost's shoulder. Outright domestic. 

"Ma grannie," Soap smiles fondly at the memory of the tiny woman with her sincere blue eyes. "Told me being a lad was no excuse and Ah'd better know ma way around a kitchen for ma future burd." he winks at Ghost who goes surprisingly red surprisingly fast clearly visible even behind the mask. "When Ah told her Ah'm a buftie she doubled down. Ian she said, refused to call me John ye see forever angry tha' ma da went with the anglicised version, anyways, Ian she said if ye're bringing home another man one of ye will need to know how to cook or for all yer gay love ye'll focking starve." he can almost hear hear as his accent gets thicker and something between wild joy and bottomless sorrow tears through his chest at the memory.

There's a beat of silence before a weird noise breaks it. It's a rough quick sound and it takes Soap a second to realise that Simon just snorted. 

"Well thank fuck for grandma MacTavish and her foresight!" he pulls his almost empty beer bottle into the air dramatically and they toast again. 

Soap's smile is wide, imagining what his nan's reaction to Ghost would've been. 

They might have gotten on entirely too well. 

[moonsofmachinery]

ave this drawing of CARB (chicken and rice burrito) my sona that i spent a littleee itty bit too long on

its actually a redraw of a piece ill put below!!

[familyabolisher]

hello ave ! i was wondering if you’ve watched the 2022 interview with the vampire series and if so what you thought of it

i really enjoyed iwtv! i haven’t read rice’s novel but as far as i understand it, the show was a pretty significant departure from the original text, at least where rice’s engagement with race is concerned—i think the show seems pretty determined to strike out on its own, and thus far seems to be doing a pretty good job of that. i think what i found most interesting was the show’s honing in on a relationship between the coercive enforcement of normative kinship structures and the social abjection of the slave relative to the white master (i’ve been reading vincent woodard’s the delectable negro which expounds on this idea of like, rape + abuse + consumption extant within models of kinship relations, ‘the ideological infrastructure of childhood in slavery’ as he puts it, which i think has a lot of explanatory power around lestat/louis/claudia…); there’s lestat’s ‘teaching’ vampirism to louis which of course then morphs into physical abuse & that the text makes clear can be read parallel to a relationship between a slavemaster and a slave, and there’s the way lestat functions as a patriarch relative to whom we can read louis as the ‘wife’ and claudia as the ‘child,’ and the networks of [physical, economic, emotional] dependency, violence holding them all together.

i’m also quite interested in this idea of a ‘disciplined’ vampirism, or indeed vampirism as ‘disciplining’ (which is of course to say class-enforcing), because of course the dominant cultural narrative of the vampire (& the one with which i have the most familiarity) is that of a kind of nondifferentiated alterity which can be moulded into any number of metaphors. lestat to louis, of course, but also eg. lestat killing the opera singer who performed badly, the opulence of the mardi gras ball at the end (and something about consumption as disciplining—again tapping the vincent woodard sign but the mardi gras attendees coveting a kind of consumption of louis as a Black man only to then themselves be consumed), louis in 2021 comparing vampires who eat humans rather than animals to slaves (‘slaves to their appetites’ or similar, i forget the exact wording used, but it’s the language of body fascism plus the obvious pertinence with which slavery in the show as a whole is imbued—which ofc then invokes ideas around [un]disciplined bodies and racialisation) … it’s interesting how the show kind of plays both positions at once. the alterity metaphor is there, but so is the hegemony of sorts—vampirism disrupts louis’ position within a traditional family structure where vampirism stands for queerness, obviously, but also the intrusion of lestat (which is to say both queerness and slavery!) as a force that destabilises a Black family. it’s an interesting little balancing act and i’m looking forward to seeing where it goes.

anyway i also just think it’s a well-written show lol! visually gorgeous, erotic, indulgent, well-paced. i had a good time. no idea what happens next (again, haven’t read the book) but my ears pricked up at the idea of travelling from louisiana to europe … a transatlantic crossing, a reverse colonisation of sorts … there’s a lot you can do with that!

[viridiansunset]

Anne Rice Mansion

St. Charles Ave.

New Orleans

[stenoodie]

Uni and Scallop Don at Hana Don Japanese Cuisine & Bar Markham

Uni and Scallop Don at Hana Don Markham. #uni #chickenkatsuwithcheese #rawscallops a/U

Hana Don Japanese Cuisine & Bar located at 9255 Woodbine Ave Unit B14, Markham After a massage, my mom and I had a kid-free lunch date at Hana Don, a restaurant that I had my eye on for the longest time.  We actually have had their food here before but in takeout form, so I feel like it doesn’t count.  To enjoy fresh raw fish and their dons, you just have to eat the real thing at the restaurant…

[3-2-whump]

Down the Drain

Thank you for the title suggestion and the beta read, @whumped-by-glitter and @generic-whumperz

This one shot doubles as both a look into Cade's backstory, and a glimpse into how the roommates resolved conflicts and worked out a solution before Khaled came into their lives. Enjoy I guess?

PS, I really miss writing and posting, so I might just ignore my previous timeframe and post the sequel earlier? Idk. It's my blog, I make the rules here, but I don't know what I'm doing lol

TW/CW: domestic violence/intimate partner violence (offscreen, alluded to), transphobia, unhealthy relationships, stalking, toxic masculinity. I think I got them all, but I can tag more if need be. Heed the tags on this one, folks.

It began with a phone call at 9 PM on a cold night.

“Come on, pick up, please, pick up,” Cade murmured desperately. The shelter wouldn’t take him, he hadn’t talked to his parents in a year, this was the only bridge he hadn’t burned yet, and he just hoped to the gods or whatever higher power was out there that his shining light would pick up the phone.

Loud and lively party music blared through the phone, quickly interrupting the drone of the ringing phone. Cade thought his heart might burst with relief as his dearest and oldest friend finally answered the phone, yelling a little to be heard.

“Yeah?”

“Eric, it’s me, Cade!” Cade yelled back.

“Cade?” Even through the din of the loud music, Cade could hear the smile in Eric’s voice. “Shit, man, let me move to a quieter place!” There were some light shuffling sounds, then some heavy footsteps, indicating that Eric stepped away from whatever party he was attending.

Why are you interrupting him at his party? He’s having a great time, don’t bother him with your- Cade cut off the intrusive inner voice and anxiously stayed on the line.

“Okay, is that better?” Eric asked.

Cade smiled, nodded, then remembered Eric couldn’t see him nod. “Yeah,” he answered.

“Now, what’s good, Cade?”

“I…” Classic Eric, always asking about him, always there for him, always making him smile when he wanted to do nothing but cry. Which, judging by the constricting of his chest and the way his eyes pricked with tears, would be very helpful right now, to have something to smile for.

“I… I need help…”

-

It was a year ago today that Cade began to live with Eric and his roommate Vikash. Eric had driven to the street corner Cade was waiting on in the Moon Garden Catering Van. He wore a tunic-like thing and smelled like something divine. He picked Cade up and drove him back to the party –a Diwali party, hence the clothes. He fed him some of the best curry he ever had in his life, introduced him to Vikash Gill and his family (who were hosting the party), and briefly explained the situation to Vik. Once Vik learned what had happened and who Cade was to Eric, he welcomed him into 716 Sunvine Ave with open arms.

Although, this morning, maybe he’d change his mind, Cade fretfully worried as he continued fiddling with the drain to the kitchen sink. Beside him, Vikash stood, hair disheveled from his morning workout, and mouth downturned into a scowl as he bitched and moaned about the clogged sink.

“Damn it, Cade, you’ve lived here for a year already, and you still forget we don’t have a garbage disposal in this sink?!” he asked.

“I thought it was small enough to go down!” Cade defended, panicking as the sink half-full of rancid water burped up broken food particles with every thrust of the takeout chopsticks he’d taped end to end.

“Chutiya, it’s rice! Rice expands when it’s wet!” Vik yelled.

“You don’t have to yell at me! I’m trying to fix it!” Cade screamed back.

Eric rushed down the stairs and rounded the corner, phone in one hand and a five-gallon bucket in the other. “Break it up, break it up! Yelling at him is not gonna fix the sink any more than poking it with a stick!” Eric chastised. He gently but firmly bumped Cade out of the way and threw the cupboard doors below the sink open. “Now, Jason is gonna be here any minute, and I don’t want our landlord doing the annual inspection on his former childhood home when the sink is clogged, do you?!” he asked the two. Both men shook their heads, crouching down beside Eric to clear out the space below the U-bend of the sink, their shouting match already forgotten as they took out bottles of cleansing spray, dish rags, and rubber gloves alike.

The doorbell rang amongst all this mess. Cade jumped, Vik groaned, and Eric ignored it, shimmying the bucket under the U-bend and grabbing the tools he’d need to loosen the pipes. “Someone else get that,” he ordered, too absorbed in what he was doing.

Cade volunteered. He quickly ran out of the kitchen, took one look in the hallway mirror to adjust his hair and damp t-shirt, and came to the door to answer it. “Hey,” he greeted.

The welcoming smile on his face faded as soon as he saw it wasn’t Jason on their doorstep. The bearded man in the plaid shirt stood on their doorstep, smiling back as he raised a hand. Cade flinched, then cursed himself for flinching when their unwelcome guest merely waved in greeting. “Hi Cade, it’s been awhile.”

The memories and the hurt began to bubble from somewhere in Cade’s gut, threating to boil over into his esophagus and poison his words with resentment. Best end this interaction as quickly and politely as he could. “Go away, Brant,” Cade replied coldly.

Brant dropped his hand. “What, aren’t you going to hear me out?” he asked, sounding confused and a bit hurt. It took all of Cade’s strength not to cave to that façade of hurt.

“What’s there to hear out?” Cade asked. He kept his hand on the doorknob, ready to slam it at any moment’s notice. “We broke up a year ago, and yet you tracked me down and showed up at my house. Why?”

“I-I wanted to talk to you, to work things out between us,” Brant said, “but you wouldn’t pick up your phone, you wouldn’t text me, you wouldn’t reply to my DMs –nothing!” Cade raised an unimpressed brow as Brant fell back on the classic excuses. “And yeah, sure, I started seeing someone else for a little bit,” his ex-boyfriend admitted, “but they mean nothing to me, compared to you!”

Cade let out an unimpressed laugh. “I’m sure Danny would love to hear that!” he added sarcastically.

“Come on, Cade! I followed your Instagram stories for months, called your work, got your address, drove for three hours to talk to you, and you won't give me the time of day?” Brant pouted.

Cade made a show of bringing a hand up to his chin to stroke it, pretending to be deep in thought. “Hmmm. And why do you suppose that is?” he asked rhetorically. He shot Brant a scathing glare.

His ex-boyfriend huffed a frustrated sigh as he rolled his eyes behind his thick-framed glasses. “I give you some tough love one time-”

“’Tough love,’ my ass –you locked me out of our house!” Cade interrupted.

“Fine, I lock you out of the house one time, and then you gotta disappear on me in the middle of the-”

“Brant, let me stop you right there,” Cade said firmly, holding up his hand to silence the man at the entrance. “You don’t get it at all, do you?! You made me sell my Oscar, you smashed my crystals, ridiculed my music, flushed my birth control! I had two decks of tarot cards, Brant, because I knew that when you found one, I’d still have at least one deck once you threw the one you found away! And don’t even get me started on how you’d trigger my dysphoria when we were in bed on purpose!”

Brant dropped all pretense of making friendly. “You’re making it into a bigger deal than it was,” he growled, poking a finger accusatorily at him. “A real man would’ve let that shit slide and moved on-”

That triggered a bitter laugh from Cade. “’A real man’?!” Classic Brant Voorhes. How pathetic/infuriating/relieving to know he never changed, Cade thought. “Really?! Honestly, fuck you!” he yelled. “In the fourteen months that we dated, you told me the whole time what I was supposed to do, how I was supposed to act, how to be a ‘real man’ or whatever, but you weren’t really interested in making me a man,” Cade accused, “you were only interested in making me your dog, and I had enough of it!”

Brant gaped slack-jawed on the concrete steps to the entrance, his mouth moving without sound like a flopping fish as his face reddened with pent-up emotions.

Cade shook his head. “So, all that I mean to say is…” he continued, lowering his voice. He stepped away from the door frame, beginning to close the door between him and his ex as the man tried to follow him inside, “…fuck off, Brant. And don’t ever come back again.”

Slamming the door on that piece of shit was the most freeing thing he’d ever done in his life, apart from coming out. He caught a glimpse of himself in the hallway mirror and gave his reflection a victorious smile. “Nice job, me,” he praised.

He returned to the kitchen with a bounce in his step. Vik looked at him confusedly. Eric straightened up from underneath the sink to a sitting position on the kitchen floor. Cade hummed as he picked out a box of mithai Vik’s parents sent home with them after Diwali last weekend.

“Was…that Brant?” Eric asked tensely. Cade remembered how angry Eric got when he told him about all the things Brant did to him the first time around. It was the closest he’d ever seen his easygoing friend get to homicidal levels of rage.

“Yeah.” Cade replied. He fished out a syrup-saturated jalebi and took a bite. Just as good as it was last year, he thought to himself, smiling around the sugary treat.

“Are you okay though?” Vik asked. “I know that guy fucked you over, it must’ve been hard to see him again.”

Cade swallowed, then took another bite of jalebi into his teeth. “Nah, not really,” he shrugged.

The doorbell rang again. Eric got up from the kitchen floor, muttering something about how if it was Brant out there, he’d do something to end up on the news. Vik slowly walked towards Cade, lowering his eyes as he awkwardly rubbed the back of his neck. “You know, this unexpected visit with Brant reminded me it’s your one year anniversary of leaving that prick, of living with us.”

He sighed. “I’m sorry, about earlier,” he apologized. “I’m glad you came to us, and if anyone’s going to clog our sink with leftover chunks of rice, I’d rather it be you.”

Cade popped the last of the jalebi in his mouth. He was about to give Vik’s bicep an appreciative pat, but stopped his hand midway remembering that his fingers were covered in syrup. “I know, and… thanks,” he replied. They exchanged smiles, then their attention was directed elsewhere, as Eric led Jason the landlord into their apartment.

Le Tag List (if you want to be added or subtracted from the backstory bits, nbd, just let me know): @kabie-whump @rainydaywhump @whumped-by-glitter @skittles-the-whumpee @generic-whumperz

@bamber344 @morning-star-whump @a-la-whump @watermelons-dont-grow-on-trees @defire

@phoenixpromptsandstuff @scumashling

[qilingxiong]

九龍城寨之圍城: Onscreen Timeline

All dates listed directly appear in the film in some type of written form, or they have been concretely verified through calendar search and date conversion.

• Sep. 24, 1953 — Chan Lok-kwan is born [fake ID; birth certificate].

(The false date of issue on the ID is Feb. 5, 1983.)

• Oct. 2nd, 1984 — Lok-kwan runs from Big Boss and Wong Gau, enters the Walled City, and meets Cyclone and Shin [Cyclone's shop calendar].

• Oct. 3rd, 1984 — Lok-kwan meets AV, and starts work in the Walled City [debt promise letter signed in AV's clinic].

• Oct. 17, 1984 — Lok-kwan delivers propane to Cyclone's shop, now working multiple jobs and sleeping on roofs [Cyclone's shop calendar].

(With the context of dates before and after, this could be Oct. 17 or Nov. 17, 1984. I went with Oct. 17 based on the length/placement of the white-on-green day text beneath the date number, as the month itself can't easily be made out. Oct. 17 was a Wednesday while Nov. 17 was a Saturday, so the former would take up more character space as shown in the screencap.)

• Dec. 5, 1984 — Cyclone treats Lok-kwan to char siu rice, and offers him a place to live [BBQ restaurant calendar].

• Dec. 19, 1984 — Signing of the Sino-British Joint Declaration [BBQ restaurant calendar; history].

• Dec. 31, 1984 — The Walled City Four set up the karaoke machine. Lok-kwan tells Cyclone he wants to stay in the Walled City [Cyclone's shop calendar].

• Jan. 10, 1985 — Chau-gor and Tiger-gor storm into the Walled City to kill Lok-kwan. Big Boss and Wong Gau make a deal with Chau-gor to finish the job, and attack the Walled City. Cyclone dies. Big Boss takes over the Walled City and locks up Chau-gor [BBQ restaurant calendar; Cyclone's shop calendar].

• Jan-Apr 1985 — 3 month timeskip. Lok-kwan has been recovering from his wounds, and attempting to sort out his immigrant status. Shin, Twelve, and AV are in hiding/exile [onscreen text].

• Aug. 30, 1985 — Ghost Festival. Lok-kwan, Shin, Twelve, and AV have their final showdown with Wong Gau, and take back the Walled City [set pieces; history].

BONUS:

• Jan. 26, 1957 — Ah-Jim sneaks into Cyclone's new barber shop in the Walled City, and tells Cyclone that his wife is pregnant with Lok-kwan [converted from Chinese calendar date in the shop].

(Given that this is set after Lok-kwan's given birthdate, unfortunately it is a chronological inconsistency, although admirably the only apparent one in the film. The Chinese date on the calendar is Bingshen Year, 26th day of the 12th month.)