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eddo-tensei · 2 years ago

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More thoughts on Derision (Spoilers, obviously)

I think it's amusing that the default counter-argument to anyone who criticizes this episode boils down to "Well, you're just a Chloe Stan!" Which is something I had to deal with myself recently. Apparently, you can only hate this episode if you're a Chloe apologist. First off, hi, I'm Eddo. I wrote a fanfic where Chloe literally gets thrown into the dirt and suffer an allergic reaction to cacti, both times being her own fault. I feel like my Chloe Stan license should be revoked after that.

Anyways, I'm not surprised with the direction they went with Chloe in Derision. It's been stated since around Season 4 that Chloe was on a "Damnation Arc", so they've been doing everything they can to make her worse and worse. So, I'm not surprised or even angry that they continued this here. I'm annoyed, but not angry. What I AM angry about would be the other characters who got mangled in this shitshow.

Writers? Could you please stop having Chat threaten people with Cataclysm after he's shown regret doing it to people by accident TWICE?! This has happened three times now, counting what happened with Scarabella. Yes, I know he did this before with Darker Owl, but that just makes it worse because that happened right AFTER he regretted doing this to Monarch. You know, the guy who's been tormenting and attacking everyone for over a year? I guess to Chat, Damocles and Kim deserve it more for ripping away a fantasy and pulling a shitty prank respectively.

I know I complained about this a lot already, but this needs to be stressed upon. If we're going to take Cataclysm seriously, especially with what later episodes showed us, maybe DON'T have your hero threaten people with it for relatively petty reasons? "BUT IT'S FOR TRUE LOVE!!!1!!" Yeah, no. When he tried to do it on Darker Owl, Ladybug told him to cut that crap. It then happened again with Dark Humor with Ladybug telling him not to do it. It doesn't matter if it's for "true love." Both times he did this so far, Ladybug made it clear that this was a bad idea. So, maybe you guys should stop trying to encourage it. I refuse to believe that Chat believes that Monarch is more deserving to live after everything that he did than Kim after what he did. Speaking of Kim...

My friendly neighborhood dumb jock, why would the writers do this to you? When we only had the leaks to go by, I actually tried to scour for any interactions Kim had with Marinette and I can confirm that with the revelations we got in Derision, they REALLY don't make sense. Yes, Kim was a bit of a douche in the first season. Origins had him push Ivan around to the point of being the trigger for the Akuma. But he wasn't THIS much of a douchenozzle. Moreover, I have a hard time believing Marinette would be as friendly as she is with Kim throughout the series given what he did to her as revealed in this episode. Also, I know this is going to sound offensive, but...Kim was Marinette's first crush? Really? That's what you're going with? I'm not trying to insult Kim, but there was NOTHING that hinted to this. I can't help but think this was the thought process of the writers when they brought this up:

"So, we need to have Chloe do something to Marinette that would explain why Marinette struggles to be with Adrien. It has to be something big and traumatic. More importantly, it has to involve Marinette actually having a past crush that Chloe ruined and it has to be a character we're familiar with, so we can't make up an OC for it. We can't use Nino because he had a crush on her and it wouldn't make sense for her to reciprocate. We can't use Nathaniel because his crush went almost completely unnoticed by Marinette and he's also gay now. We can't use Ivan because he likes Mylene and we can't complicate that. We can't use Max because most people think he's ace and subverting that would piss a ton of people off. Oh, and we can't have it be any of the girls either because our show would get cancelled if Marinette isn't straight. So, let's just make it this guy."

"This. Fucking. Guy."

I'm having a hard time thinking of any other reason. I know some people theorized in the past that Kim and Marinette might've had a thing, but I don't think they held any water. Even now, however, I really don't think people should be happy it was canonized in this way.

I always held the belief that Chloe was responsible for Marinette's behavior, but my idea of it was that Chloe had been bullying Marinette for a long time and those years of sustained bullying took its toll on the poor baker girl that made it difficult for her to not only open her heart to people she loves, but have difficulties making friends in general until Alya came along. Yeah, Chloe doesn't look good in this case either, but it would've been more reasonable and would probably resonate with a lot more people who probably had to deal with bullies messing with them for a long time because these effects usually aren't instant. They get built on for a long time and it can really mess up their perception on things.

I think a good story would've been Marinette having to heal from that sustained trauma and while it is difficult since nobody can just quickly heal from trauma, it'd be a good journey for Marinette to be able to open up again with Alya and Adrien being just the first two pieces Marinette needs for her recovery.

But now, instead of all that, it turns out Chloe just pulled a prank that just unleashed a cavalcade of trauma on Marinette all at once that is hyper-specific to how she handles her crush that Adrien and ONLY Adrien can heal. All the while, it turns out that the prank was actually pulled by a guy who I really thought was just kinda fun and cool, but now I can't talk about him in the same way again because he's been thrown under the bus for the sake of this nonsense plot that's difficult not to call a full-on retcon. Do you know what I can call a retcon, though? Or rather who?

I am sorry to all of the people who are probably stanning Socqueline right now, but I CAN'T vibe with her. I'm not saying you're not allowed to like her either, because that would be dumb, but I DON'T like how she was presented in Derision. First off, to get this out of the way, we're no strangers to characters being introduced out of nowhere. Felix and Zoe are both characters that come to mind. The thing is you can at least explain their respective absences easily. Felix had likely been distant from Adrien for a long time with him only coming in out of obligation with Amelie. Zoe is actually even more easy to explain given that she was shoved into a boarding school by Audrey and wouldn't really be able to connect with any of the characters until she was forced to transfer. Socqueline, however, does not have that luxury and cannot be easily explained away not only with how we found her, but for the fact that there was NO hint to her existing until Season 5 and that is inexcusable given how much importance this character now has. To put it in perspective, this is how we are introduced to Socqueline in Jubilation:

Marinette: That fake Ladybug from this morning, I think it was Socqueline, a school friend from last year. Knowing her, I’m sure she means well. But I have to convince her to stop putting herself in danger like that.

That's it. She just calls her a school friend. Yes, it's clear that she's at least important enough for Marinette to remember her name, she was just called a school friend. At the very least, she did have an interesting story with her trying to be Ladybug in order to help people. Of course, she had to be talked out of it because it's causing issues with the real Ladybug, but it's a decent story and Socqueline had only made a few appearances here and there.

And then Derision.

Yes, Socqueline referred to Chloe as "that monster", so it's clear that they planned her to have something against Chloe since her first appearance. However, Derision showed us that Socqueline wasn't just a school friend. She was Marinette's closest confidant in the school years prior to the start of the series. She actively protects Marinette from bullies, particularly Chloe, and was clearly a huge inspiration for her until Chloe got her suspended from school.

First off, in case I haven't made it clear, we haven't seen Socqueline AT ALL until Season 5. Not even a hint to her existence. So given how significant she was made out to be in Derision, WHY HASN'T SHE MADE ANY APPEARANCES IN THE SERIES BEFOREHAND?! She doesn't even have the excuse of being outside of Paris like Felix and Zoe do because she's STILL there and in an arts and crafts store no less, which probably would've been a great place for Marinette to hang out in with her friends if the writers thought this through. But they didn't and Socqueline's debut comes off as severely jarring because we have this character who was really important to Marinette's life just not show up until she started cosplaying as Ladybug.

Secondly, it muddles Marinette's own backstory as well as severely hampering the significance of Alya. Now instead of being alone with nobody to help her against Chloe, which makes her friendship with Alya all the more stronger, Marinette just had this super cool friend who was always there for her until mean ol' Chloe got her kicked out of school. Doesn't that sound like something you'd see in a fanfic, specifically one that's salting Alya given how Socqueline was depicted as Marinette's BFF?

Thirdly, if Chloe was able to get Socqueline suspended so easily, then why hadn't she been able to do that with the other students? Yeah, she got close with Alya, but that didn't stick. If Chloe really had the ability to just make students disappear even if it happened once, she would NOT hesitate to try and do this again with any other student who slighted her, ESPECIALLY Marinette. But she doesn't. Once her attempt on Alya failed, she didn't try again. Hell, LILA had more attempts to get Marinette kicked out of school than Chloe did and actually got closer to doing it than Chloe would ever get, which is weird since she doesn't have the title of "Mayor's Daughter" to throw around like Chloe would. This just feels like something done to explain away why Socqueline didn't show up in the series which doesn't work because she's STILL IN PARIS and I'm pretty sure Marinette would be more than happy to meet with Socqueline given how close they were, but that never happened.

Fourthly, I'm guessing nobody felt like pointing it out because it felt too obvious, but doesn't Socqueline just come off as the writer's answer to Bridgette? You know, the older Marinette based on the anime PV that some fan writers implement into their own stories? Yeah, she's not one-to-one similar to Marinette like Bridgette is, but it definitely feels like another instance of the writers pulling stuff out of fanon just to put a canon spin on it. And like all the other instances, it's a bad spin.

Lastly, this whole incident with the prank and Socqueline's suspension took place a few months before Origins. Not even a year at the earliest. It was specifically stated that Socqueline was suspended three weeks before the end of the school year. Given how close that time gap, the way everyone behaves in Origins makes almost no sense. Marinette would be a lot more horrified of Chloe if Derision was anything to go by and Chloe would be more willing to try and cast Alya out so Marinette doesn't have any allies given that Derision showed Chloe REALLY wanting to make sure nobody helps Marinette. The only point I could even give any leeway to is Kim and even then, again, he's not that much of a douche in Origins as he was in Derision. So, really, it all just comes off as a blatant retcon specifically to try and explain the new direction the writers are taking with certain characters. And do you want to know the dumbest thing? Apparently, Socqueline was such an inspiration to Marinette that the latter changed her hair to be more like Socqueline's.

No, seriously. That's also how they explain why Marinette has different hairstyles. I know Expository Hairstyle Changes are a thing in fiction, but this is just awkward as hell given how traumatic and melodramatic the whole thing is. You don't need to say that Marinette's hairstyle came from someone who she considered a hero because nothing about Marinette indicated that her hairstyle is important. This isn't like Josuke changing his hairstyle to be based on the man who saved him as a child. It's a purely cosmetic change that's suddenly given a shit-ton of significance because now it's connected to this horribly traumatic incident. In fact, you know what this reminds me of?

Actually, the whole segment where this Linkara clip came from seems to sum up a lot of things wrong with Derision. It's not just bad because it makes some characters look bad or introduces stuff out of nowhere. It's bad because now everything in the flashback is now part of all of the characters! Every prior episode will now have to be viewed with a lens tinted by the events of this episode. Now nobody can discuss Kim without people salting on him for the prank, now nobody can talk about how important Alya's friendship with Marinette because of Socqueline's sudden boost in significance (In fact, it's very likely that Alya salters will try to use Socqueline as a replacement friend), and now nobody can speculate the intrigue of Marinette's past because EVERYTHING about her behavior is linked to this specific incident and nothing else. That's what pisses me off about this episode. That's why I share that Double D meme so frequently. I could care less about how much of a monster Chloe was depicted to be in this episode, but I am going to complain when other characters are butchered in the process. I will complain about one thing concerning her, though.

Isn't it amazing that you can tell the writers are trying DESPERATELY to squish any and all positive interpretations of Chloe, even trying to downplay parental neglect because "this character also didn't have a mom and they didn't turn out this way" even though Mylene's and Chloe's situations are still VASTLY different? You can make the argument that Audrey's absence doesn't excuse Chloe's actions. In fact, I don't think it really does either, but saying that there's only one valid response to an absent parent is EXTREMELY insensitive to people who might be going through similar situations.

Oh, and to cap this all off? This is the favorite episode of one of the main writers. Said writer possibly being considered to be the new director for Season 6 of Miraculous and onwards. I'm not gonna name which one for obvious reasons, but it's been confirmed.

I feel like this is a good indication that you need to hop off this series.

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aclickbaittitle · 7 months ago

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Underated Audio-Dramas

Asking for it

A queer contemporary take of the Goldilocks tale: about love, music and breaking the cycle of abuse. Goldie escapes a chaotic childhood only to go from a partner who starves her of love to a partner who nearly drowns her in it, before learning to be just right on her own.

My two-cents: This audio-drama I believe is a most listen for any queer person, but especially for us sapphics that want and/or have been in a relationship. I think not much is said about how women are able to harm you, I remember that AN in "Nothing Burns as Bright as You" as how as a bisexual woman the author was taught to be wary of men, but never of woman and in her experience woman often hurt her the most. I remember being in a school conference talking about domestic abuse but never did it once touch on same-gender couples.

All of this is to say that as a society we often neglect to take a real look at how abuse in queer relationships look like, how they look especially in sapphic and lesbian relationships. So I am entirely greatfull "Asking For It Does".

I am lucky enough to have never been in any situation that Goldie finds herself in and still I feel that I know her story not in short thanks to the amazing writer.

Also the MUSIC, the music in this podcast is amazing, and it is from a real band, that also exists within the podcast. How awesome is that!

Fanwars: The Empire Claps Back

Two passionate Star Wars fans on opposite sides of the Last Jedi debate argue via Skype after their favorite forum closes down. If you love Star Wars (or call yourself a proud member of any fandom), you’ll love this romantic comedy told via conversations.

My two cents: The trials and tribulations of being a POC in fandom, more importantly in starwars fandom and realizing that, "oh damm right, poc can spill the same dung as yt fans". And amazing if straight rom-com. I'll recommend it to anyone who wants to spend an afternoon laughing. It also futures the ever growing in popularity pair of a black woman with an asian man, whom is just slightly of an asshole.

Average Folks

Join your friendly neighborhood Prophetess Terra, and the dysfunctional Chieftain's family as they navigate life, love and creatures of an unusual sort.

My two-cents: I've binge-listened to the 1st season of this podcast. It has surprisingly great worldbuilding even though the story develops in a relatively small town. Terra is a great protagonist to follow around bu the characters that really stand out for me are the kids of the Chief and their own aspirations/conflicts about the place their family has on society. It is a bit politician/rich/monarch apologist though.

Deep Blue Stars

Dr. Indigo Hale treads upon a mysterious island, inhabited by nothing more than crabs and cranes, where they must find a way to make it past impostor syndrome, the strange and wonderful loneliness, and the secret nature of their life's work: the Star Shell.

My two-cents: This podcast came at the precise moment of my life so I always hold it dear to my heart. I was discovering my gender in my own terms, and as always struggling with my never ending loneliness, so Dr. Indigo Hale's rambles were a soothing salve. I'll never forget that excerpt about how they felt no-human growing up, 'cause yeah, maybe is the queernes, or the neuro-divergency but it hit spot on. If you like stories of people getting stranded on a desert-island and then creating a relationship with a non-human thing/animal to survive, you'll really love this.

#audiodrama sunday #podcast recommendations #audio drama #fiction podcast #average folks #deep sea stars #fanwars: the empire claps back #asking for it

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attaynus · 2 years ago

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I’ve started a column. It is published in my neighborhood’s newsletter. It’s called Conservationists’ Corner. This is the second dispatch.

Conservationists’ Corner

Spring is upon us, and those of us who love nature, and being out in it, are breathing a sigh of relief.

For many of us, planting is what we look forward to the most. It’s fun to imagine how beautiful our gardens will look in full bloom, buzzing with life as bees, butterflies, birds, and all of the blessed critters of Weslake flutter about. There are a lot of qualities that make a plant a great addition to your yard. It might bloom when other plants aren’t, providing color for us and food for friendly pollinators. It might be well suited to grow in that shady corner where other flora hasn’t. It might be a native that hosts an endangered butterfly you hope your grandkids will see. These are all fabulous reasons to select plants for your garden.

In this season’s column, we will discuss the differences between exotic and native species, the importance of adding native species to our gardens, and some simple things we can do to encourage beloved beneficial insects like butterflies, bees, and lightning bugs!

What is a native plant?

Native plants are plants that evolved in their specific region, and are planted and grow there presently. They thrive in the the environment they’re in, and they serve important functions in the health and prosperity of the other native flora (plants) and fauna (animals) they live among by providing essential food and habitat. So the definition of a native plant refers to where it is as much as what it is. Many of our favorite plants are native plants, like hydrangea, dogwood, redbud, columbine, magnolia, milkweed (host plant for the endangered monarch and other butterflies) and so many more!

All plants are native to somewhere, so what happens when a plant is exported from its original evolutionary home? It becomes an exotic species, and a few things can happen in that case.

Exotic species: high maintenance

Some exotic species are poorly suited to their new home, and without lots of effort and expense, they struggle and die. They might not be suited to the type of soil here, needing different nutrient ratios, or drainage qualities. They might need more or less water than our climate provides. They might need cooler daytime temperatures in summer, or warmer winters to survive another year. A frugal or busy gardener avoids these plants.

Exotic species: Naturalized

If an exotic species thrives where it’s planted, but doesn’t reproduce so vigorously that it crowds out native species is considered Naturalized. It is a good guest, adding beauty and novelty. Naturalized species don’t play an important role in the ecosystem, but they don’t harm it either.

Exotic species: Invasive

Finally, we have dreaded invasive species. These plants thrive in their new environment, and they reproduce so vigorously, that they crowd out and ultimately lead to the extinction of native species. They are terrible guests, and we very much regret bringing them to the continental US. Invasive species also have an economic impact, costing the US over $26 billion a year in agricultural and industrial losses (according to the USDA).

In our beloved ******* subdivision, we unfortunately have a real invasive species problem on our hands. If you look closely, you will notice that invasive bush honeysuckle (imported originally from Japan) is everywhere we think of as woods. You can see them easily in early spring, because they turn green weeks before anything else does. They are crowding out our native plants, shrubs, and small trees to the point of ecological collapse. If you are interested in removing them from your property, but need some help identifying them and planning a course of action, feel free to contact me at *******@gmail.com. I will either meet with you or send resources your way. Two other dangerous invasive species our neighborhood is plagued by are winter creeper and invasive grape vine. These are both vigorous vines which climb and smother trees. Everywhere woods are present in our neighborhood (and sadly our region) you will see huge tangles of vines hanging in the canopy. If you look more closely you will notice a startling amount of fallen limbs, trees broken in half, and trees completely fallen. Our woods are being killed by these vines, and left to run their course, they leave behind only tangles of invasive vines and honeysuckle where our once majestic native woods once thrived. Again, if you need help identifying and removing these harmful invasives on your property, email me at *********@gmail.com, and we can come up with a plan or at least get you pointed in the right direction.

More lightning bugs!

Many of us fondly remember the magic of fireflies flashing in the summer dusk. These days we see a few in the lawn and we wonder where the rest have gone. The reason they are so few is because we’ve encroached on their habitat. They live, reproduce, feed, and sleep on the ground, in the grass. When we mow often, and with a low blade, we are killing them. When we use pesticides and herbicides on our lawn, we are poisoning them. When we have outdoor lights on when we don’t need them, we make it much harder for them to mate (they find each other by flashing their lights). So if we want to enjoy fireflies again, we can mow less often, and set our blade to a higher position. We can refrain from treating our lawns with herbicides and pesticides, and we can use fewer outdoor lights. Our city’s code requires us to keep our lawns shorter than 8”. Thats pretty high (I’d suggest maintaining a shorter front yard to keep the peace with neighbors!) so we can follow the rules while increasing habitat for these majestic beings! There’s room for both!

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thelistingteammiami · 7 months ago

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5740 W Waterford Dr. No HOA No Rental Restrictions

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Upon entering the home, you're welcomed into a well-lit living room that boasts plenty of natural light. The home features a total of three spacious bedrooms and 3.5 bathrooms. The master suite is a private retreat showcasing attractive features such as a balcony, carpeted and wooden flooring, an intimate fireplace, an ensuite bathroom, and a walk-in closet that promises ample storage.

Adding to the heart of this home is a fully-equipped kitchen that comes complete with stainless steel appliances, a granite countertop, decorative backsplash, wooden cabinets, and an eat-in counter. An attached two-car garage and additional spaces provide secure off-street parking.

At the back of the house, the property boasts a large backyard, a private patio, and a backyard oasis that is perfect for alfresco dining, gardening, or leisurely afternoons in the sun. Among many new improvements, the house has a new roof adding to the value of this beautiful home.

The family-friendly neighborhood features sidewalks and is conveniently located at the end of the street. Outstanding schools including Charles W. Flanagan High School, Cypress Bay High School, Pembroke Pines Charter High School, and Silver Trail Middle School (STMS), are all nearby. You will also find the Nicklaus Children's Dan Marino Outpatient Center within a short walking distance.

For healthcare needs, Memorial Hospital West and Publix Pharmacy at Regency Square are easily accessible. The location is also a short drive away from supermarkets including The Fresh Market, Whole Foods Market, and Publix Super Market at Monarch Lakes.

Families will love the easy access to popular local parks, including Flamingo Gardens and C.B. Smith Park. The close proximity to these amenities makes living here a dream come true.

The house also benefits from a separate laundry room and additional family room, providing fantastic multi-purpose spaces for all your family needs. The bathrooms are beautifully detailed with a double sink, bathtub, and a glass door, adding a touch of modern elegance.

To put it simply, this property delivers a blend of comfort, convenience, and luxury that's hard to beat. Picture yourself living here and enjoying the lifestyle it offers. Don’t miss out on this desirable home!

Please contact us today to schedule a viewing. We are committed to providing equal housing opportunities to all and the conduct of our business is in accordance with all federal fair housing laws. Don't let this great opportunity pass by!

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erensnubs · 4 years ago

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𝑳𝒂𝒖𝒓𝒊𝒆 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑱𝒐

Hanamaki Takihiro x GN! Reader

Based off of the Laurie and Jo Scene in Little Women

Summary: Sometimes first loves never work out

Content: Angst, pure angst

From pirate ships, to being monarchs and warriors of old, you and Hanamaki Takahiro, were best friends.

He was the little boy who moved in next door, snot running down his nose, hands stained with dirt as he offered you a piece offering of roly polies and leaves.

You were the little kid who rolled around in the mud and terrorized the other kids by throwing sticks at them.

Needless to say you immediately became best friends. And menaces to your parents, the neighborhood kids and society in general.

You were together from the young ages of kindergarten, you were there to witness Hanamaki's awkward stage of puberty. You were there to witness him making other friends than you and lovers.

He was there when he saw you make other friends than him, dating a lot of people. He was there when you were scared of going to middle school, was there when you had anxiety over grades.

You were there for each other all the time, ups and downs, triumphs and trials.

So it was natural, that Hanamaki fell, completely and hopelessly;

In love with you.

You're running in the grass, rolling around with Hanamaki laughing your asses off. You guys have just graduated highschool and the two of you, being the dumb bitches you are decide to skip the family party to celebrate your accomplishments.

“We’re adults now!” You yell, half skipping down the hill and eventually trip.

You pick yourself up and start screaming.

“I’M FREE FROM THIS GOD FORSAKEN TOWN! WE’RE FREE!”

Hanamaki laughs, “Yeah says the one who barely passed history.”

He grabs you by the arm and drags you through the flowers of the field and sets you down, all the while you giggle deliriously.

Usually Hanamaki would be laughing along, making stupid jokes about your laugh.

But he doesn’t.

And it scares you.

Before you even open your mouth to say anything, Hanamaki plops down beside you and thoughtfully asks,

“What are we going to do, [Name]? After here?”

The question sounded serious not like those ones where he asked you if he looked sexy for prom or if his crocs match the vibe of the weather that day.

You paused to take in the question.

“Well... I can’t really answer that Hiro Out of our whole friend group we’ve always been the floaters. The ones that never really know what we’re doing...”

Hanamaki turns his head around, baby hairs sticking onto his skin from the sweat of running. His eyes are looking at you, no they’re looking through you.

He breathes out a yes, like he’s been holding something from you. A secret he didn’t want to tell.

You turn away abruptly hoping he doesn’t see your slight change of attitude.

“Iwaizumi’s going to America, Mattsun is getting ready for college, and you know Oikawa is going over to Brazil to pursue volleyball.”

“I honestly don’t know Hiro. I get that we can’t be kids who run around more and throw dirt at each other,” you say laughing softly.

Hanamaki scoffs, “But you wish it was like that huh?”

You sit up and pick the grass from the ground and throw it randomly into the air.

“Of course! I still want to get a pirate ship and go and travel the world with you.”

Hanamaki raises his eyebrows, “And steal gold from random people?”

You smile cheekily, “Of course. Then we’ll build our chocolate empire, something that could rival Willy Wonka’s.”

Hanamaki stands up and puts his hand out to you.

You grab it, but why do you feel like the gesture is something much more than a friendly hand?

The two of you start walking, swinging your arms around as you joke about your chocolate factory, your pirate ships, the adventures you’re going to have.

The sun was setting, the long, green blades of grass turning yellow as you and Hanamaki run through them, creating scars and bumps on your skin.

You were going to miss highschool. You were going to miss groaning about exams and certain substitute teachers. Miss skipping classes with Mattsun and Makki to go get wasted with cheap alcohol.

You were going to miss Oikawa and his stupid smile and Iwaizumi and his stupid nicknames. You were going to miss crying with the 3rd years over lost volleyball games.

Hell, you were probably going to cry when Oikawa and Iwaizumi left to continue their lives. You might even cry when Mattsun goes to college even if he isn’t going overseas.

But at least you had Hanamaki. Your dearest friend. Though your relationship has gotten deeper and you were able to confide with each other, you were still the 2 children that fought other kids on the playground.

You could always, always rely on him. Because you never changed with each other.

“[Name]?”

You turn around and see Hanamaki. His eyes glowed with something.

And it was not of the setting sun.

“Yes?” You say, the sky turning darker as moments pass.

“I know we talk about us being adventurous and going with the flow... but I feel like we could do something more, you know?” he says it quietly, his thumb subconsciously rubbing yours.

You look up at him, “What do you mean? You just want to suddenly work a 9-5 job in a corporate company? We talked about this Hiro...”

He looks taken aback, “No no, that’s not what I meant [Name].”

Hanamaki gets quieter, “We could always be little kids, playing with swords and sticks. Together.”

You pause as Hanamaki looks up at your eyes. Together? You’ve always been together? Always.

Wait.

He couldn’t possibly mean.

You pull back from his grasp,

“No Hiro I can’t do that. Please no.”

You start walking away from him and he advances as he argues, trying to salvage something.

“[Name], no I love you and I have always loved you since we were little! I can’t imagine myself being with anyone else besides you!”

You walk faster and wrap your arms around yourself, “No, no, no. Hiro you’re being ridiculous.”

“Yes, YES!”

“No! We can’t!”

“[NAME]! COME BACK HERE LET ME SEE YOU!” Hanamaki says running towards you.

You spin around and stare at him, “We can’t work Hiro! I could never love you that way, and I would be lying, God I would be lying if I said that I did. Our whole life together we’re going to be pretending.”

He runs his fingers through his hair in frustration, “Why?! We were just talking about doing adventures together! Why is that any different than what I proposed!?”

You stomp your foot onto the ground, “Did you not just listen to me you dipshit? I could never love you romantically! Ever! I care for you, I worry for you but Hanamaki you are my friend. My closest friend. You are the one thing in my life that hasn’t changed so quickly and then you pull this shit?”

Hanamaki starts yelling now, “BUT I MAKE YOU HAPPY! AND YOU MAKE ME HAPPY! WE HAVE BEEN TOGETHER SIDE BY SIDE, FOR YEARS [NAME]! YEARS! I HAVE DONE EVERYTHING I COULD HAVE TO TELL YOU I LOVE YOU!”

You start shaking your head, “No, don’t say that.”

Hanamaki starts rambling, “You always tell me that words and actions are your love languages-

“Stop.”

“And I’ve been doing it, [Name]. I have. I have been there for you, anywhere and-and-”

“Takihiro stop.”

“And I can’t feel like this anymore. I can’t let you slip through my fingers and watch you run away from me like everyone else has-”

“TAKIHIRO STOP IT!”

The only things that you could hear were the sounds of your breathing and the crickets in the grass.

“Takihiro, you’re being a child. You’re being stupid and ridiculous. Do not let the fantasies of a boy ruin your future,” you say sternly, begging for your tears to not fall onto the ground.

“You say that, [Name], and then run from everything that requires commitment,” he says sharply.

“You’re a coward, [Name]. You’re hurting me.”

Hanamaki is stepped away from you know and he starts walking away.

“My life has no meaning anymore-”

You scoff, “Takihiro your love for me isn’t worth your life!”

Hanamaki walks away and his voice is racked with sobs. Oh god he seriously does love you.

Why?

“Takihiro come back here!”

You’re running towards him now, grabbing his arm but he pushes away.

“Takihiro think with your brain! Just because we can’t be together the way you want doesn’t mean we have to sever all ties!” You say breathlessly.

“I mean think about it, we could have never worked. You hate the fact I don’t eat your favorite ice cream, you constantly like to go out and I like staying home.”

“I don’t care-”

“I hate meeting your other family members because they look down on me, my family members have always been skeptical of you-”

“I don’t care about that-”

“And we would be miserable, Takihiro. Absolutely miserable with one another-”

“No we wouldn’t,” he says stopping and grabbing your arm. Your noses were touching as his thin lips tried to connect with yours.

You pull away.

“Admit it Makki. We are better off as friends, not lovers,” you say finally.

“I’m ugly and I don’t care about my appearance like your other lovers do. I’m brutally honest with you and sometimes you cry about my opinion and-”

“I love you [Name].”

“I’m lazy and have no real goal in life, I have no foundation no, no rock or something. I don’t have a drive, Hiro! You’re going to be stuck with someone who doesn’t care.”

“I love you.”

“And you’re going to find someone else, a nice person, who likes eating your ice cream and dresses up. Who has a clear goal in life and someone your family will love-”

“No one could ever replace you, [Name]-”

You throw your hands up in frustration, “You’re mixing platonic and romantic feelings together and turning it into some big thing!”

“No, I’m not.”

“Yes you are.”

Silence surpasses you again and Hanamaki starts walking away.

You spoke up, “But-”

He turns around again and looks at you with hope. Hope for something more.

“That I don’t think I’ll ever be with someone romantically, Makki. I’ve gone years without.”

Hanamaki scoffs and starts to laugh cruelly,

“I don’t believe that, [Name]. You’re going to find someone, and you’re going to fall hard.”

You sneer, “How do you know?”

“I just do, you’re impossible to not fall in love with. You’re the sunshine in my life.”

“Takihiro don’t say that, please.”

He looks back at you, “But you are! You are my world, my-”

“LEAVE ME! OH MY GOD LEAVE ME!” You yell at him and turn away.

This was the 1st time Hanamaki hears you with that voice.

"[Name]-"

"JUST GO PLEASE-"

"YOU WILL FALL IN LOVE WITH SOMEONE [NAME]!”

You spit out your words, “OH REALLY YOU THINK I WILL? ME? THE PERSON WHO TURNED YOU DOWN?!”

“YES! YES [NAME],” Hanamaki says.

“You’re going to fall in love with someone and you’re perfect, care free life will turn upside down and they’re going to love you. And you’re going to be perfect with each other-”

“HANAMAKI-”

“And I will watch. I will watch you grow and love this person. I will watch it happen because I still love you and I don’t think I’ll love anyone else.”

“And I will watch you, I will watch you [Name], and- and,”

You couldn’t bear to see his tears fall from his eyes, so you turn away.

“I will imagine that it could have been me and you-”

“Hanamaki please-”

“I don’t know what to do with myself but I will still take care of you and I truly love you, forever and-”

“Hanamaki-”

“I won’t ever stop, [Name]. Ever,” he says softly as he tries to reach out for your hand.

You pull away, your voice breaking.

“Hanamaki, go. I don’t want to see you right now,” you say softly.

You don’t have to turn around to see him crumble. You can feel it.

Because your heart was crumbling too.

“I’ll go... get back safe, [Name],” he adds.

You don’t say anything back, and hear the slow movements in the grass as your best friend walked away from you.

Forever.

The sky is dark, the stars seemed ashamed at your argument, and they don’t shine like they used to from years before.

You stayed in the grass, silent tears on your face as you shielded yourself from the cold with your arms.

You wanted to go home, but home wasn’t a place

It was a person. And his name was Hanamaki Takihiro.

But home loved you, and you didn’t love it back the way they wanted.

More tears flowed from your eyes at the sudden thought emerged from your eyes.

You had no home anymore.

AN: Another random little oneshot I did for my boy Hanamaki! Please comment your thoughts or reblog and like! I need constructive critiscm loves so I know what I can write and appeal to!

Taglist: @saladskittles

#hanamaki x reader #hanamaki takahiro #hanamaki oneshot #hanamaki angst #haikyu angst #gn reader #haikyu oneshots #hanamaki scenarios #hurt/comfort #angst #hanamaki x gn reader #hanamaki x y/n #hanamaki x you #little women #laurie and jo #tina's fics⌨︎#tina's cafe menu☕︎

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hineswallace48-blog · 6 years ago

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gadgetgirl71 · 4 years ago

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Amazon First Reads November 2020

Well Halloween is over and Guy Fawkes/Bonfire Night is only a three days away. You’d think it was bonfire night every night. People have been letting off numerous fire works every night and over the weekend its been even worse. As they start going off just as dusk falls and they go on for the rest of the night, sometimes even in to the early hours.

Anyway back to this months Amazon First Reads, Prime Members are allowed to choose one book this month out of the eight titles.

This months choices are:

Thriller

The Last Resort by Susi Holliday, Pages: 300, Publication Date: 1 December 2020

Synopsis: Seven strangers. Seven secrets. One perfect crime.

When Amelia is invited to an all-expenses-paid retreat on a private island, the mysterious offer is too good to refuse. Along with six other strangers, she’s told they’re here to test a brand-new product for Timeo Technologies. But the guests’ excitement soon turns to terror when the real reason for their summons becomes clear.

Each guest has a guilty secret. And when they’re all forced to wear a memory-tracking device that reveals their dark and shameful deeds to their fellow guests, there’s no hiding from the past. This is no luxury retreat—it’s a trap they can’t get out of.

As the clock counts down to the lavish end-of-day party they’ve been promised, injuries and in-fighting split the group. But with no escape from the island—or the other guests’ most shocking secrets—Amelia begins to suspect that her only hope for survival is to be the last one standing. Can she confront her own dark past to uncover the truth—before it’s too late to get out?

Book Club Fiction

Memories in the Drift by Melissa Payne, Pages: 279, Publication Date: 1 December 2020

Synopsis: My name is Claire. I’m thirty-six years old. It’s September. I know what I’m doing and why I am here…for now.

Ten years ago, Claire Hines lost her unborn child—and her short-term memory—following a heartrending tragedy. With notebooks, calendars, to-do lists, fractured pieces of the past, and her father’s support, Claire makes it through each day, hour by hour, with relative confidence. She also has a close-knit community of friends in the remote Alaskan town where she teaches guitar to the local children. It’s there, in the reminders.

As determined as Claire is to regain all that’s disappeared, she’d prefer to live without some memories of her before life—especially those of her mother, Alice, who abandoned her, and Tate, the ex-boyfriend who broke her heart.

But when Alice and Tate return from the past, there’ll be so much more for Claire to relive. And to discover for the very first time. Through healing, forgiveness, and second chances, Claire may realize that what’s most important might not be re-creating the person she was, but embracing the possibilities of being the person she is.

Suspense

Every Last Secret by A R Torre, Pages: 302, Publication Date: 1 December 2020

Synopsis: Welcome to the neighborhood. Watch your husband, watch your friends, and watch your back.

Cat Winthorpe has worked hard to get what she has: a gorgeous home; social standing; and William, her successful, handsome husband. Then a friendly new couple moves into the estate next door. While cautious, a good neighbor like Cat greets them with open arms and warm hospitality.

Neena Ryder isn’t a fellow lady of leisure. A life coach with off-the-rack dresses, personal issues, and a husband who hasn’t delivered, she’s anxious to move up in the world. This beautiful new town is a step in the right direction. It’s also making Neena aware of what she doesn’t have. Namely, William. When Neena’s infatuation escalates into obsession, it’s just a matter of eliminating a few obstacles to get the life she wants. The life next door.

As Neena’s secret fixation grows, so does her friendship with Cat. But beneath their cordial interactions is a wealth of temptations, secrets, and toxic jealousy. For both women, the desire for a perfect life can turn perfectly dangerous.

Historical Fiction

Under a Gilded Moon by Joy Jordan-Lake, Pages: 409, Publication Date: 1 December 2020

Synopsis: From the bestselling author of A Tangled Mercy comes an enthralling novel of secrets, a tumultuous war of ideas, and murder as classes collide in the shadow of Biltmore House.

Biltmore House, a palatial mansion being built by the Vanderbilts, American “royalty,” is in its final stages of construction in North Carolina. The country’s grandest example of privilege, it symbolizes the aspirations of its owner and the dreams of a girl, just as driven, who lives in its shadow.

Kerry MacGregor’s future is derailed when, after two years in college in New York City, family obligations call her home to the beautiful Appalachians. She is determined to distance herself from the opulence she sees rising in the Blue Ridge Mountains, however close its reach. Her family’s land is among the last pieces required to complete the Biltmore Estate. But something more powerful than an ambitious Vanderbilt heir could change Kerry’s fate as, one by one, more outsiders descend on the changing landscape—a fugitive from Sicily, a reporter chasing a groundbreaking story, a debutante tainted by scandal, and a conservationist prepared to put anyone at risk to stoke the resentment of the locals.

As Kerry finds herself caught in a war between wealth and poverty, innocence and corruption, she must navigate not only her own pride and desperation to survive but also the temptations of fortune and the men who control it.

Memoir

Jew(ish) by Matt Greene, Pages: 199, Publication Date: 1 December 2020

Synopsis: What does it mean to be Jew(ish) in 2020? Caught between tradition and modernity, between a Jewish family and a non-Jewish son, Matt Greene ponders the big questions concerning identity, religion, family and Seinfeld.

When his son was born to a non-Jewish mother, Matt began to consider the upbringing he’d put behind him—the sense of not belonging, the forbidden foods, the holidays that felt more like punishments. There are more types of Jew than there are bagel fillings, and for every two there are three opinions. But if you’re not a black-hatted frummer, if you’re allergic to groups, if you observe but don’t believe, or you don’t observe at all, does that make you less Jewish?

In this wide-ranging series of essays, at turns irreverent, insightful, urgent and iconoclastic, Matt considers what might loosely be termed ‘the modern Jewish experience’, and asks what it means to be anything in a world obsessed with the self and the other.

Domestic Suspense

Open House by Katie Sise, Pages: 255, Publication Date: 1 December 2020

Synopsis: A missing young woman, ten years gone. A town still held in the grip of an unsolved mystery. A breathtaking novel of psychological suspense by the bestselling author of We Were Mothers.

A decade ago in upstate New York, art student Emma McCullough walked into the woods and was never seen again. It’s a mystery that still haunts her bucolic university town and her broken family, especially her sister, Haley, whose need for closure has become an obsession. But now, finally, the first piece of evidence in the vanishing has been found: Emma’s bracelet, lodged in a frozen piece of earth at the bottom of a gorge. For Emma’s three best college friends, for a beloved former teacher, and for Haley, the chilling trinket is more than a clue in a resurrected cold case. It’s a trigger.

Then a woman Tis attacked during an open house, and the connections between the two crimes, ten winters apart, begin to surface. So do the secrets that run as deep and dark as the currents in this quiet river town.

Biographical Fiction

The Empress by Laura Martinez-Belli, Translator Simon Bruni, Pages: 402, Publication Date: 1 December 2020

Synopsis: From a bestselling author in Mexico comes her English-language debut—an enthralling historical novel about the tragic reign of Empress Carlota of Mexico.

It’s 1863. Napoleon III has installed a foreign monarch in Mexico to squash the current regime. Maximilian von Habsburg of Austria accepts the emperor’s crown. But it is his wife, the brilliant and ambitious Princess Charlotte, who throws herself passionately into the role. Known to the people as Empress Carlota, she rules deftly from behind the scenes while her husband contents himself with philandering and decorating the palace.

But Carlota bears a guilty secret. Trapped in a loveless marriage, she’s thrown herself into a reckless affair. Desire has blinded Carlota to its consequences, for it has left her vulnerable to her sole trusted confidante. Carlota’s devious lady-in-waiting has political beliefs of her own—and they are strong enough to cause her to betray the empress and join a plot to depose her from the throne. As Carlota grows increasingly, maddeningly defenseless, both her own fate and that of the empire are at stake.

A sweeping historical novel of forbidden love, dangerous secrets, courtly intrigue, and treachery, The Empress passionately reimagines the tragic romance and ill-fated reign of the most unforgettable royal couple of nineteenth-century Europe during the last throes of the Second Empire.

Children’s Picture Book

The Snow Dancer by Addie Boswell, Illustrated by Merce Lopez, Pages: 32, Publication Date: 1 December 2020

Synopsis: Young dancer Sofia wakes up to a quiet, white world—it’s a snow day! She makes her way outside to the neighborhood park, where a field awaits her, white and shining and open. It isn’t long before the rest of the neighborhood wakes its sleepy head—and the other kids make their way to the park, scattering all of Sofia’s beautiful silence. But with the help of a new young friend, Sofia is ready to show everyone what a snow dancer can do on a perfect day like this. With lyrical language and gorgeous art, this book sparkles with all the joy and beauty of a snow day.

*** Which book will you choose? I’m not sure which book I’ll choose as non of the books stand out to me. ***

#AmazonFirstReads, #Amazonkindle, #AmazonPrimeMembers, #BiographicalFiction, #BookClubFiction, #Books, #ChildrensPictureBook, #DomesticSuspense, #HistoricalFiction, #Kindle, #KindleBooks, #Memoir, #Suspense, #Thriller

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cessanderson · 5 years ago

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2019 was all about sewage https://ift.tt/2EbDiPT Sara @ Russet Street Reno To interrupt your feed full of holiday posts and Christmas lights, I wanted to share a little recap of our 2019. If anyone is still reading? I'm not sure, but here goes, anyway. I have had a very boring several months when it comes to house projects. We had the very unglamorous and expensive project of digging up our old clay sewer pipes and replacing them with PVC in April, and since then it's just been a bit of landscaping and surviving parenting for us.

This project was pretty crazy, it cost us about 7k and was unfortunately necessary because our sewer was backing up in our laundry room every few months despite rodding. Our sewer pipe was also off-center from the main sewer line by several inches. I am just imagining how much sewage was pumping into our yard because the pipes didn't line up. Ugh!

We paid extra to have a 'clean check' installed, which basically makes it impossible for a main sewer line backup to enter our house. Luckily, the village we live in offers a 50% copay for clean checks, so that was $500 back in our pocket.

I'm so glad we did this now, and not after we got a patio put in at the bottom of the stairs!

You can see the impressive pile of dirt (that is a generous description, it's more like clay rocks) that was left when they dug out the pipe. They went 10 feet down near the fence!

And now, 8 months later, we are still left with an ugly line of dirt rocks. It has been so annoying to walk over dirt or walk all the way around it to avoid the mud. We are hopeful that the snow this winter will tamp it down enough that we can lay sod next summer. Here it was around September:

And here is it NOW, in December:

It's definitely sinking down, but ever so slowly! I added some new decor and seating this year, we officially became the 'driveway drinking' family and it has been amazing. We are lucky enough to be in a great neighborhood of friends, and they often stop by and pull up a chair when we are hanging out in front.

I added some taller plants next to the driveway, and it adds the perfect privacy screen when we are sitting here. The pink beauty is Agastache, purchased from my favorite online plant store, High Country Gardens. It attracts a lot of hummingbirds and I love it so much!

It also flowered well into fall, it was awesome!

I also restained our deck this summer. I was silly and thought it didn't really need it, but here's what it looked like while power washing:

Obviously, it was gray and needed to be deep cleaned.

Unfortunately, the power washing lifts all the grain and causes splinter issues...so I bought a nice big rug for the deck which has been so chic and fabulous! It helps so much because the kids love to run around the table while we are out there, and we had at least two bad splinters.

We were forced to use a tinted sealer (we use Ready Seal) because the company discontinued the clear, and I wasn't too pleased with the orange looking cedar railings after we were done staining. It has since mellowed out though, and hopefully we don't have to reseal next summer.

The deck about a month after staining:

I know composite decking is so convenient, but nothing beats the look of natural wood for me! I was excited to add to my planting areas this year. I raised Monarch butterflies all summer, so putting in pollinator friendly plants was on my list! Here are some of the areas my butterflies loved the most:

(joe pye weed, daisy, black eyed susan with new cardinal flower behind)

The cardinal flower is so pretty with the dark foliage!

Can't wait to see this fill in. I planted a ton of milkweed for the caterpillars, here is a grouping of swamp milkweed, I also put in some common in other areas.

By far the favorite flower of the monarchs is the meadow blazing star, the tall purple flower off to the right side here.

I got so many butterflies on these plants!

Look at how torn the wings are on this one...living it's best short life!

It was so awesome to see the amount of birds, butterflies, and bees we had in our yard this year. I plan to introduce even more native perennials that pollinators love next year!

And here are some random photos of the rest of our growing and monarch season:

We planted an apple tree last year, and it had several apples on it until squirrels ate them!

Our monarch journey has been pretty amazing, but also pretty time-consuming. I still can't wait to start again next summer!

If you are interested in raising monarchs, there is a very helpful Facebook group called The Beautiful Monarch that has been so great! I also bought Rest Cloud habitats to contain the caterpillars and butterflies.

We are working on a rather cool project in our basement right now, I'm excited to share as we get closer to completion! I might pop on here with a little Christmas post, too. Until next time!

#Russet Street Reno

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spinach-productions · 8 years ago

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Kale, chapter 2

Summary: a human child travels the complicated roads of monster existence (And lack thereof).

Wordcount: 3558

Thanks so much to spocksbedsidemanner, who is an all around lovely person.caught my many, many spelling and grammar mistakes, and

201x: A human child falls into the Underground via a poorly guarded hole in Mount Ebbot.

201x (+2 months): The same human child leads Monsterkind to the surface and acts as the first arbitrator between Monsters and Humans. They are swiftly replaced by more experienced negotiators on both sides, but seeing a human child leading the 8-foot monarch of Monsterkind out of the darkness made quite the impression.

(This was a calculated performance on the 8-foot monarch’s part. It works well.)

201x (+1 year and some change): Monsters are beginning to integrate with the human population. Most live in one of two sister cities built on the east and south sides of Mount Ebbot. Some strike out into the world, protected by the newly crafted Monster Protection and Human Relations Act. The human child who made this possible lives with their monster guardian, former Queen Toriel, who now spends much of her time being called “Miss Toriel” by her students, “Tori” by her friends, and ��mom” by her adopted human.

(A legally sanctioned human-monster family is met with prejudice in some places, but ultimately continues to pave the way towards peaceful interspecies relations when misguided humans who try to “rescue” the human child are met at the door with tea and cakes. Toriel keeps a number of baked goods on hand for just such occasions. This is a calculated move on her part.)

(It’s also a calculated choice on Frisk’s part. After all, their new parents are the political leaders of an entire race. Interest in public relations was bound to rub off at some point.)

Frisk insists on helping buy groceries, so on Saturdays they get up early to go to the local weekend market with Toriel. The local human and monster farmers have come together to build a permanent structure for it that’s quickly becoming something of a shopping district. Toriel uses her dinner budget on fresh vegetables, and her separate, slightly larger baking budget on supplies for unexpected guests. After food shopping, they wander the new shops to see what kind of businesses have come to Mount Ebbot.

“It is nice to have a wider selection of goods,” Toriel says as they pass a stationary shop, “I have enjoyed living on the surface once more, but cultivating such a remote area has been difficult. I miss the conveniences of living in a settled location.”

Frisk considers buying Toriel a new pen with their allowance (half a gold piece per week, which, according to the economic reports Frisk likes to read each morning, translates into $686.39USD, $975.85CAD, or €612.44). They discard the idea as not to Toriel’s tastes, and follow her as she moves on.

Several shops down, Frisk feels a chill. It feels like an empty space where something should be. Monsters constantly broadcast their feelings through low-grade emotional magic that always fills up an area, but somewhere nearby, there was a complete absence of feeling Frisk hasn’t felt since they lived with humans over a year ago.

“Frisk?” Toriel asks. “Are you alright?”

Frisk nods, taking her hand when she offers. They continue walking.

Frisk feels the same chill as they pass a shop with turning book racks. This time, the reason is obvious: a large section of space in front of the closest display is silent and grayscale. It’s like all noise and color have been sucked out, and standing in the center of this anomaly is a monster child, not much younger than Frisk. They appear to be some kind of armless reptile wearing a checkerboard shirt and a bow, and their eyes are wide and empty in their head.

“Oh,” Toriel says, “this looks nice!”

Frisk stares at the grey monster child.

“I would like to step inside for a moment,” Toriel continues. She doesn’t seem to notice the grey child at all. “Would you care to join me?”

A quick check of the area shows that no one is reacting to the kid. The grey monster child stares back with a smile. It may be intended as a friendly gesture, but their blank eyes give it an unsettling effect.

Frisk decides to stay out here for now. Toriel gives an assurance she won’t be long and disappears into the bookshop.

“Yo,” the monster kid says.

Frisk asks why no one else can see them.

“Are you a--” the monster kid makes a noise like static, “--too?”

A what?

The monster kid grins widely. “Have you ever thought about a world where everything is the same, except you’re not there?”

Frisk says that they have, on occasion.

“Me too!” The monster kid’s grin falters. “I don’t like it. It’s terrifying.”

Frisk asks if they’re alright.

They look around, watching people enter and exit the shop. Watching people go about their daily lives. “I… don’t know. I don’t really remember. Is it always this busy?”

Frisk says that it’s sometimes this busy. They ask if there’s something they can do to help.

“I don’t think so.” The monster kid smiles again but it’s lost the eerie edge from earlier. They look resigned, but resigned to what? “You know, just admitting that makes me feel better. Thanks!”

Frisk is completely at a loss.

“Please forget about me,” they say. “I don’t want anything to happen to you.”

They ask what the monster kid means.

“Hello, my child,” says Toriel as she exits the shop.

Sound starts up again. Frisks glances at her for a moment. They look back to the monster kid, but they and the grey, silent space are gone.

“I have procured us a collection of crossword puzzles,” Toriel says, handing Frisk the book.

They take it and begin to flip through, still thinking about the monster kid’s last words. What could happen?

“One more thing,” says the kid’s voice from nowhere, “Tell Sans and Papyrus that Doctor Gaster says ‘hi’.”

“Doctor Gaster?” Papyrus asks as he stretches his nonexistent calf muscles. “No, I don’t know one.”

Frisk readjusts their position on Papyrus’ shoulders. After several failed attempts at running together due to mismatched leg length, Papyrus has started hoisting Frisk onto his shoulders for their morning jog. He calls it strength-cardio. Frisk suspects he likes the company.

They ask if Papyrus is sure. The grey monster kid was pretty specific.

“No, it doesn’t ring any bells.” Papyrus finishes his stretches and takes off down the road. “Although I’ve met so many people since we moved to the surface. Is he human?”

Frisk doesn’t think so.

“Well, I’m sure he’ll come up at some point. Water bottle, please.”

Frisk hands him his water bottle. They keep it in a small backpack they wear for jogging.

Papyrus raises the bottle to his mouth, only to be startled by a loud dinging noise just beside him. The water sprays across his face and drips down his jaw; Papyrus sputters loudly and throws the sports bottle in surprise. It sails through the air for a moment, then stops short in a burst of blue energy.

“Careful,” says Sans, who has appeared next to them. For some reason, he’s riding a tricycle. “You sure you know water you’re doing?”

Papyrus plucks his water bottle out of the air with a scowl. “Very funny, Sans.”

“Wet-ever are you talking about?”

Frisk snorts and wipes the splash damage off their face.

“Hey, good one kiddo,” Sans says as Papyrus stomps his foot in agitation. “You really know how to go with the flow.”

“Alright, that’s enough,” Papyrus says, readjusting Frisk on his shoulders. “You’ve already corrupted them enough for one day. Are you coming for a run with us or not?”

Sans joins them. Papyrus, carrying Frisk, runs on the road’s shoulder, and Sans pedals alongside them. Before long, he props his feet up on the handlebars. The bike continues moving forward.

“What,” Papyrus puffs, “is the point if you’re not going to exercise?”

“I get to spend time with my cool bro and cool human friend,” Sans replies.

Frisk appreciates the comment. Remembering the earlier conversation, they ask Sans if he knows anyone named Doctor Gaster.

Sans’ eyelights blink out. He loses his already precarious balance and nearly falls backwards over the bike, tipping the bike onto its back wheels before he grabs the handlebars and slams it back down.

“Sans, are you alright?!” Papyrus asks, helping him steady the tricycle.

“I’m okay,” Sans says. His voice is completely devoid of inflection and he looks sweaty. “Kiddo, where did you hear that name?”

Frisk, who managed to hold on to Papyrus’ shoulders when he dove to help Sans balance the bike, explains that someone asked them to relay a ‘hello’ from Doctor Gaster to both Sans and Papyrus.

“Do you know this person?” Papyrus asks.

Sans doesn’t answer immediately. He slowly sits on the bike seat and places his hands on the handlebars, staring straight ahead as though he’s about to take a ride. “Paps, mind if I pedal around with the kid a bit? I think we got some stuff to discuss.”

Papyrus looks to Frisk. Frisk says that’s alright, and requests to be let down. They dismount Papyrus’ shoulders and climb onto the back of Sans’ tricycle, wrapping their arms around his middle to stay on. Even through the jacket, he’s cool to the touch.

“Are you sure you’re alright?” Papyrus asks again.

“Yeah bro, don’t worry about it. I’ll drop Frisk off at Toriel’s when we’re done.”

Sans leaves without further explanation. He pedals off down the road, takes a corner slightly too fast, uses blue magic to steady the bike, and keeps going.

“Papyrus will forget the conversation,” he says, still pedaling. “To facilitate that, he’ll also probably forget everything about you and me being there. That’s what happens when you bring up Gaster’s name.”

Frisk asks why.

“Because he’s not around anymore. He fell through a hole in time and space, and now any memory of him evaporates like water on a hot sidewalk. I suspect it’s the timeline’s attempt to patch itself. Hold on tight.” Sans gives up on pretense and lifts the entire bike into the air. They soar over the neighborhood rooftops, passing the convenience store and local school.

Frisk asks why Sans remembers him.

“That is a long story, kiddo.”

Frisk points out that they’re on a tricycle at least one-hundred feet in the air. They have nowhere to go and nothing to do.

“Point. Okay, let me make this story short: the Core originally generated energy through a combination of geothermal, emotional, and temporal components. Something went wrong, it exploded, and it took out everyone in the room, including Gaster. One of them was probably the one you saw. I was partially shielded from the blast and managed to not get sucked out of reality, but since I was in the explosion radius, I remember how the timeline used to be. You seem to remember because of all your time-alteration dealies.”

Frisk doesn’t apologize, but they do remind Sans that they promised not to SAVE or LOAD anymore.

“I know, kid,” Sans says, reaching back to ruffle Frisk’s hair. “It wasn’t an accusation, just a fact. You’re special.”

Frisk says that probably means Sans is special, too.

“Oh yeah, real special. I’m a special kind of guy.”

The tricycle begins to descend when they reach Frisk’s house. Sans drops them off at the front door. “Got someone waiting for you?”

Toriel is teaching this morning, but Frisk has a key. They invite Sans inside for tea and some emergency baking.

“Nah, I’m good. I need to think about some stuff.”

Frisk asks whether Sans thinks the monster kid and Gaster will be alright.

Sans’ face doesn’t change, but Frisk can tell he’s deciding between telling the truth and gently spackling over it with a lie. They wait patiently, trusting him to make the right choice. “I don’t know,” Sans finally says, “There are five all together. I see them around sometimes, but never the G-man. They’re not themselves anymore.”

Frisk marches down the stairs, across the lawn, and gives Sans an authoritative hug.

Sans gives a start, then sighs and wraps his arms around Frisk. “I’m okay, kiddo.”

Frisk informs him that they know Sans is alright.

The hugs goes on for minute while Sans hovers on the edge of something emotional. When he’s slightly more stable, Frisk tugs his jacket into place and takes a step back.

“Thanks,” Sans says.

Frisk doesn’t comment as he wipes something off his face that’s probably water from Papyrus’ sports bottle. They send him on his way, still dwelling on the monster kid and this mysterious Doctor Gaster. Toriel won’t be home for a few hours, giving Frisk time to make some tea, grab a miniature pie, climb into Toriel’s favorite armchair (good for contemplation) and settle in for a long, hard think.

Now that Frisk knows what to look for, the grey monsters seem to be everywhere. They begin carrying a notebook to help keep them all straight.

There’s the monster kid, who tends to turn up outside of bookshops and places that sell games. They’ll seem relatively upbeat one moment, then trail off as they stare into the middle-distance, as though they’re listening to something Frisk can’t hear.

One grey monster seems particularly at odds with defining himself as a solid object. He rises from the ground near libraries, and it takes a lot of self-control for Frisk to keep themselves from startling. This grey monster has many arms and a hooked nose, and seems especially surprised when Frisk sits down to speak with him.

“It’s been so long since I spoke with anyone,” he explains, “I don’t know how long.”

They’re Frisk’s first lead on Doctor Gaster. He was apparently the Royal Scientist before Alphys (who, when asks, can’t remember anyone by that and insists Sans held the position before her). The grey monster with many arms waxes poetic about Gaster’s intelligence, but stops in the middle of explaining what happened, watching something Frisk can’t see the same way the monster kid does.

When the pause stretches out longer than a minute, Frisk asks him to continue.

“No, no,” he says, a good-natured smile growing across his blank face as they begin to fade. “It’s rude to talk about people who are listening.”

Another grey monster looks like a short gingerbread person. Frisk finds them hanging around the local police station. There’s something sad about the way they watch the officers work, as though they remember something long-gone that was once very dear to them.

This monster seems the least talkative. They reiterate Doctor Gaster’s brilliance and how something happened to him that involved the Core, but like the many-armed man, they refuse to elaborate.

The final grey monster is terrifying.

He appears over Frisk’s shoulder. Unlike the other grey monsters, this one seems unafraid to make direct contact, and falls into step with Frisk’s afternoon walk. He’s medium height, neither particularly tall nor short, has two crests down the back of his head, and is grinning widely. Frisk gets the impression the man is trying to intimidate them. Unfortunately, it’s working.

“I hear you’re asking about Doctor Gaster,” he says.

Frisk replies that they are. Does he know about him?

“I do. He’s the reason we’re like this.”

This is the first time a grey monster has referenced one of the others. Frisk asks what happened to everyone.

“We were caught in a brilliant man’s hubris. He killed us, and was killed himself.”

If they’re dead, how are they still here?

“An excellent question. I certainly don’t know.”

They walk in silence. Frisk considers a few questions before asking if this man knows where Gaster can be found.

“I could tell you, but what about the rest of us?”

If Gaster is as brilliant as they say, then he’s their best chance at returning to normal life.

“You make an excellent point.” The man stares straight ahead, still smiling. “You know, I would like another stab at life. You’ll find most of Gaster lurking around the new Core.”

Most of him?

“Why, certainly. Not all of him is there. In fact.” The man makes a complicated gesture and his palm fills with sickly purple glow. A small face appears on the blob of light. “I have a piece of him right here.”

The blob begins to wail.

Frisk sprints home and slams the door behind them.

The next day, Frisk packs a bag with sandwiches and water. They say they want to explore the old monster civilization and Toriel understands the need to understand (if not the things Frisk wants to understand). She gives them a few small tarts in a cooler and a picnic blanket to eat on, and hugs them goodbye. Frisk promises to return by dinner, and sets off.

It’s less than an hour to the mouth of the Underground, and less than that to get to Hotland. Frisk thinks about the two months after they fell through a hole in Mount Ebbot. This place seemed much bigger at the time.

The doors to the Core lobby are stiff with disuse. Leaving the Underground meant dismantling all available technology and structures for parts, and the Core was no exception. The front room is devoid of furniture, everything is coated with a thin layer of dust, and the overhead lights flicker weakly when Frisk turns them on. Thankfully, the environmental controls seem to be intact, and after a few minutes of fiddling Frisk has a reprieve from the heat of Hotland’s lava flows. They take the opportunity to spread out Toriel’s picnic blanket and eat lunch.

Food consumed, they repack their bag and venture further into the building. Frisk consults a map behind where the reception desk used to be, and heads for the area marked “Security Clearance Required.”

The halls are eerily quiet. Frisk can hear their footsteps echoing back at them. Old security cameras sleep in the corners, and every light seems to be experiencing some kind of power fluctuations. It would be easy to miss a grey patch of space when Frisk’s nerves are so on edge.

They finally come to an imposing door with a sign that reads “LEVEL RED CLEARANCE ONLY.” Luckily, the security locks were disabled when the building was shut down, and the door creaks open easily. The other side is a long set of poorly lit stairs that disappear into darkness after the first flight. Frisk adjusts their bag on their shoulders and presses on.

The stairs go on for a long time. Frisk loses track of the number of flights long before they reach a door marked “Control Booth” in messy handwriting. Behind it is a small, gloomy booth with a dead control panel. Frisk pushes some of the many buttons, but nothing happens. They continue on.

Finally, they reach the bottom. There isn’t a sign on the last door, just a comically large wheel in place of an opening mechanism. The door is cracked open. Despite the weight, Frisk manages to pull it wide enough that they can squeeze through.

Even shut off, the Core is exactly as imposing as Frisk remembers. It sits dormant on a platform over what’s supposed to be a bubbling pool of lava, but the room is silent. Frisk has to glance down to see that, yes, the lava is still there and extremely hot. It’s not making any noise because a black and white man is sitting in front of what used to be the Core. He’s hunched over his own legs with his cracked face in both hands, staring into the depths of the Underground’s former energy source.

He seems to be melting?

Frisk walks the perimeter of the room so they don’t startle the man, but he doesn’t look away from the Core. They approach slowly and sit several paces away.

“It’s beautiful, isn’t it?” the man says. He sounds like he’s speaking from the opposite end of a very long hallway.

Frisk says it’s certainly something.

“I think I made this,” the man continues, “but I can’t quite remember.”

They sit in contemplative silence.

“I think it was quite the undertaking. I think there was a very good reason this needed to exist, and that important people were at risk if it didn’t come together properly.” He tilts his head to one side in thought. “There were specific people I wanted to protect, but I can’t remember their names, or their faces, or where they came from.”

Frisk studies the intricate machinery. The man studies something that may be in front of him, or may be several years behind him.

Frisk asks if he would like a sandwich.

The man frowns at the unexpected question. He slowly unfolds his back, like he’s not sure exactly how to sit up straight, and finally looks away from the Core with a puzzled look on his face.

Frisk sets out each sandwich option in turn: vegetable medley, ham and cheese, and gluten-free tomato pesto. They also have some water, and a small butterscotch pie.

The man looks over the lunch choices. He looks Frisk over. He looks confused.

Frisk waits patiently.

Slowly, like every other movement he’s made so far, the man moves the tomato pesto to one side. “I think,” he says, “That I hate tomato.”

#Yoo writes!#Kale #undertale #undertale fanfiction #undertale fanfic #undertale Frisk #undertale Gaster #undertale Sans #undertale Papyrus

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andmaybegayer · 6 years ago

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I'm tried so this won't be coherent but I'm dead serious about wanting region chat

It'd be nice if there was an accepted way to Be In Touch with the people near you.

I have a lot of internet friends and I love them and they're great but the nearest one to me probably requires crossing an ocean or most of the length of the African continent. I wish I could call on them for help but I can't unless the problem is digital and frankly digital problems are my smallest problems.

We don't trust people because people are terrifying. We don't give out phone numbers and addresses and s shit because that's horribly dangerous online.

But I want to be able to yell out into my neighborhood "DOES ANYONE HAVE A HAMMER I CAN BORROW" and get back "YEAH MEET ME IN THE PARK IN FIFTEEN MINUTES". "HEY YOU FROM NEXT DOOR DO YOU WANT TO GO GET A DRINK" "NAH IM TAKING THIS GUY TO THE AIRPORT, HOWS LUNCH WEDNESDAY?"

And I guess that's what I want. A good system for shouting out to people near me.

But that'll be ruined instantly. Because big communities suck. Everyone has different goals. Some people are malicious,. And it's too flat. A loud obnoxious person needs to be silenced, whatever they're doing if it's trying to sell stuff all day or harassing a group of people.

And heck, make it have more levels. Have a suburb level, but also a city level, a province level, a country level. Shout "HEY I NEED SOMEONE WHO KNOWS HOW TO DEAL WITH SNAKES" to your entire city. See some smoke out over the buildings and broadcast a "Hey there's f smoke happening what's up with that"

Let people know things. It'd need to be for everyone. If it's only for a group is not enough. Gotta take a cross section. Have a way to let everyone group and ungroup areas they care about intelligrntly.

I want a community. Or a sense of it at least. As close as you can get in a place where no one can trust anything. They're

There's no good reason for everyone to have all their own stuff. It's too much stuff. we never use most of it. Floating items that are just accepted as that would be lovely.

But we've all seen what happens on neighborhood chats and area Facebook groups. It fragments and it breaks.

Nevermind that you then have to get everyone on one thing. Sci-Fi worlds always have everyone holding the same magic glass slate that all speak the same protocols and connect to the same one chat network. The dream there is "everyone connects to an open but interoperable communication network" but we already did that miracle to get the internet working and we don't have the luck to do it again.

It'd be GoogWeeBook shitmessengerchatouts and it'd be scumming all the information about what happens in every city and selling it to groups who want nothing more than to divide communities that can help themselves. Because we sold all the nice things people want at the expense of being free of that. I guess. It's overdramatic I guess.

Flat friendly places are too vulnerable. We need our shitty hierarchies to keep monarchs from. Rising up and taking control because the only thing keeping flat places flat is a lack of megalomania.

Long post, okay, I think I'm done. Bye. Sorry.

I like the idea of region chat irl but unfortunately humanity is real

#long #personal #community

19 notes · View notes

michaelfallcon · 5 years ago

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Support These Independent Coffee Roasters From Home

There’s a chance we may be headed towards a nationwide shutdown of bars, restaurants, and yes, coffee shops in response to Coronavirus, an action that has already been instituted in certain US states to help flatten the curve and save lives.

Until that happens you need to tip, dammit, and buy gift cards, and watch for companies in your community converting to take-out, drive-thru and delivery (follow us on Twitter for updates). But another very wonderful thing you can do to support the coffee industry right now is to buy coffee online. Delicious coffee! Coffee you will need to have at home in order to thrive and be well in the weeks ahead.

To help facilitate this action, here’s more than a dozen roasters off the top of our heads that would happily sell you delicious coffee right now, delivered to your door. Each one is an independent roaster we here at Sprudge know personally to be purveyors of utterly delicious coffee.

Some are in America, others are not. All are operated by humans. This list includes a few of our sponsors, whose support makes our daily publishing work at Sprudge possible, as well as many other indie roasters we admire. This is just a start—the comments to this post are open and we’ll be updating and sharing more recommendations along the way, so be sure to let us know more great folks to buy from.

Buy multiple things. Try something new. Share this post with your family and friends—we’ve been sure to include a broad range of roast profiles and price points for every coffee drinker you love—and watch for more stories like this from us in the coming hours.

Bolt Coffee — Providence, Rhode Island

Yummy delicious coffee from the artsy weirdo haven of Providence, Rhode Island. We’ve featured Bolt a couple of different ways over the years, including a fun design feature, a 2016 Build-Outs of Summer spotlight, and as part of our Coffee Lover’s Guide to Providence.

Check out Bolt Coffee’s online shop and try their Papua New Guinea Sero Bebes or Honduras Rafael Lara, or any other coffee that catches your eye. $5 flat shipping across the USA. Pick up an Aerobie AeroPress while you’re at it!

Camber Coffee — Bellingham, Washington

More fabulous coffee from a college town, this time from Camber Coffee in Bellingham, Washington (so close to Canada you can pick up watch MuchMusic). We’ve featured Camber a bunch on the site over the years, most notably in a long read on their roasting work making waves, and more recently in a design feature on their Artist Series.

More so than perhaps any other independent American roaster, the range of Camber’s offerings is consistently excellent. We’d recommend checking out their sample box set to try a broad selection of current offerings, and don’t miss the aforementioned Artist Series.

Deadstock Coffee — Portland, Oregon

Global attention has rightfully come over the last few years to Deadstock Coffee, a single shop roaster retailer based in the Old Town neighborhood of Portland, Oregon. There’s nowhere else quite like it in America: an effortless, preternatural fusing of sneaker and streetwear culture with contemporary coffee at its core. It’s a Sprudge staff favorite for good reason; read our in-depth interview with founder Ian Williams from 2018 to learn more.

Perhaps underreported, then, is Deadstock’s growth in the last year into one of the Pacific Northwest’s very best indie roasters. In collaboration with collaborative roasting cooperative Buckman Coffee Factory, Williams and the crew (including manager Kevin Minnieweather and all-world barista + design duo The Twinterns) are serving standout delicious espresso and filter coffee alongside memorable origninal drinks. Visit Deadstock’s official website for ordering information and go with one the blends as your new daily filter coffee drinker at home, perfect on its own or with a little alternative milk (like say, Portland’s own Pacific Foods Barista Series).

Ditta Artiganale — Florence, Italy

So much love and solidarity to our coffee family in Italy, where a total shut-down on restaurants and cafes has been in place now for several days. Sprudge was the first international coffee publication to report on Ditta Artigianale, all the way back in 2014, from founder and Italian Barista Champion Francesco Sanapo. How wonderful to watch the company grow and expand in the years since—we drank coffee here every day during our recent trip to Florence to visit the incredible new Accademia del Caffè.

Ditta offers worldwide shipping with a range of beautiful coffees, including a lovely Dari Hambela from Ethiopia and the much-loved Finca El Puente from the Herrera family Honduras. As you would expect from a thoroughly Italian company, Ditta’s merch is knockout, including some of the coolest coffee socks in the business.

Elixr Coffee — Philadelphia, PA

We’ve got big love for Elixr Coffee of Philadelphia, who recently hosted Sprudge’s founders on their book tour, and were the subject of this loving packaging spotlight feature. Elixr’s webstore has a really interesting hook-up: three bags of coffee, your choice, all for $45. Mix and match sought after single origin coffees from the likes of La Palma y El Tucan and Finca Las Brumas with blends like Beekeper or Treehouse.

Their founder can pour Gritty—’nuff said.

3FE — Dublin, Ireland

All the coffee world loves 3FE, founder and author Colin Harmon’s iconic Irish roaster / retailer with two locaitons in Dublin, plus restaurant spin-offs Gertrude and Daniel. Our readers voted 3FE as the top choice for Sustainable Cafe at the 2019 Sprudgie Awards presented by Pacific Barista Series, and they’ve been a fixture on our website over the last decade, from long read interviews to roaster spotlights and features on noted wholesale partners like Filter Coffee in County Cork. Harmon’s brand is so synonymous with the Irish coffee scene we once commissioned a guide called “Dublin: Five Great Cafes (That Aren’t 3FE)“.

Good cafes helped build the brand, there’s no doubt, but today 3FE’s roasting is some of the best in all Europe. There’s a range of origins available, including a really intersting Biodynamic natural processed Indian arabica from the Nilgiris region, along with clean, lovely washed Bourbon from Guatemala’s Finca La Soledad and washed Pacamara from El Salvador’s Finca Las Brumas. Irish readers can sign up for subscriptions; for the rest of us, shipping to the United States is just €8.00 with Standard Post. And if you like a bit of milk with your coffee, try pairing 3FE’s filter-ready Momentum Blend with a splash of Minor Figures oat milk.

Koppi — Helsingborg, Sweden

Swedish sunshine in a cup from husband and wife duo Anne Lunell and Charles Nystrand. Koppi is served at several of the finest coffee bars and restaurants across Europe, from Scandinavian Embassy in Amsterdam to Lyle’s in London.

Koppi offers a tough to beat free international shipping option when you order four bags. I have literally never had a bad Koppi coffee, but especially love the depth of flavor and expression they coax from distinct Colombian coffees like Finca Los Alpes and the Nunez family’s El Sapo. Small roasters like this feel as much like supporting artists or creatives as they do following a coffee brand, and there is something personal and refreshing about that. Follow them on Instagram for more adventures and cute photos of their dog.

Monarch Coffee — Kansas City, Missouri

From cafe experience and design to a commitment to diversity and education, Monarch Coffee walks the walk for what a young coffee company can be in 2020. Longtime Sprudge contributor and competition photographer Charlie Burt went big in his March 2019 feature on the brand: “This place represents not just what’s possible here in Kansas City, but for the coffee culture at large headed into the next decade.”

All that goodness would be well enough, but the company’s roasting is every bit as on point, walking a delicate line between accessible and expressive. Pastel pink bags of Iyula AA Tanzania and Monteblanco Gesha Colombia won’t just look good on your countertop—they’ll taste great, too.

Olympia Coffee Roasting Company — Olympia, Washington

Simply one of the best roasters in the United States, regardless of size or geography, Olympia Coffee Roasting Company have been standardbearers for third wave coffee culture in the Pacific Northwest since 2005. Now with a Seattle flagship and a handsome cafe roastery in Tacoma’s historic Proctor District to complement three hometown coffee bars, “Oly Coffee” have established themselves as the pan-Northwestern roaster of record.

This is another brand where I’ve honestly never had a bad coffee, but no mention of Oly is complete without shouting loudly and repeatedly about how great their decaf is. The brand’s Asterisk program is a revolving single origin decaf coffee, currently from Colombia’s San Sebastian Project. Also wonderful is Olympia’s ever-changing Big Truck blend, an organic melange that just took home 2020 Good Food Awards finalist honors. All retail orders ship free.

Pilot Coffee Roasters — Toronto, Ontario

Toronto’s Pilot Coffee Roasters have been featured across Sprudge in a variety of different ways over the last few years: in our 2019 Toronto coffee guide; in two separate Build-Outs of Summer features, from 2017 and 2019, respectively; and at Nemesis Coffee in Vancouver, a 2017 Sprudgie nominee for Best New Cafe.

There’s no doubt they’re building a cool little empire in Ontario, but if you’re US based, they’ll happily ship—and this is a great time to try their coffees. Pick up a single origin like the Catalan De Las Mercedes “Red Bourbon” from Guatemala, and pair that with a home coffee maker friendly blend like Academy.

Ruby Coffee Roasters — Nelsonville, Wisconsin

Perhaps you know the story by now. Fella from rural Wisconsin winds up working at the reach break of the early third wave coffee boom—Intelligentsia Coffee in Los Angeles in the late Naughty Aughties—before putting in time for a landmark Seattle cafe brand. Fella gives up the city life, moves back to rural Wisconsin, and sets up a progressive third wave roaster in the family farmhouse. He names the brand after his grandma.

Liz Clayton’s 2015 feature on Ruby Coffee Roasters remains a must-read on the brand, but it’s been a long five years since, during which time the brand has expanded wholesale nationally and opened a coffee bar community hub. One of the most interesting ways to drink Ruby is via their instant coffee collaboration with Sudden Coffee of San Francisco. If whole bean is more your jam, check out Ruby’s bunker-ready Sampler Pack.

Tandem Coffee Roasters — Portland, Maine

Much love to Tandem Coffee of Portland, Maine, who earlier this year scored what may well have been the first James Beard Award nomination for a coffee shop (honoring co-founder and baker Brianna Holt). Tandem featured prominently in our Portland Maine Coffee Guide from (checks notes) 2012, which is due for a dang update, and they were part of our first-ever season of Build-Outs of Summer.

Tandem’s web shop offers a bunch of incredible stuff, and while unfortunately there is no way to ship a box of Brianna Holt’s cookies, you can sign up for their super unique coffee + vinyl subscription, shop for clever merch and home brewing essentials, and shop for tasty coffees like Burundi Kibingo or Kenya Kiboi.

Tipico Coffee – Buffalo, New York

Is this the coziest cafe in America? Probably. Longtime coffee industry veteran Jesse Crouse (formerly of Intelligentsia, Verve, and Gimme! Coffee) launched Tipico in 2015, helping bring coffee along for the culinary and craft beer rocket ride of the great Buffalonian revival of recent years. Back in 2015 they were pretty revolutionary for this town, but these days Buffalo is home to a wider thriving coffee scene, documented here in our February 2020 Buffalo Coffee Guide.

Ordering some coffee from Tipico is the correct move for yourself, your taste buds, and the universe. Try their sugar cane processed Colombia Cauca, or a nice natural processed Ethiopian from the Kayon Mountain Estate. And if you’re shut in with someone who enjoys a bold, robust profile, Tipico offers an exemplary Dark Roast option.

Wrecking Ball Coffee Roasters — San Francisco, California

We go way, way back with Wrecking Ball Coffee Roasters of San Francisco and its founders, Nick Cho and Trish Rothgeb, covering their work in San Francisco and beyond since 2012. We’ve known them even longer—listen to a couple of our Sprudge Origin Story podcasts (1 & 2) to learn more. But in the here and now Wrecking Ball has grown from a landmark Cow Hollow cafe to a Sprudgie Award nominated Berkeley hub, winning over converts and helping define what the next wave of coffee in American can be.

We’re not just old friends, we’re also fans. Rothgeb, Cho and their team oversee a smart roasting operation, with bags decked out in bright splashes of neon yellow (pair them with your favorite sneaker selfie). Pillow Fight is one of the country’s top evolving espresso blends; pair that with an Ethiopia Yirgacheffe or a nice exclusive coffee from Northwest Peru.

Got more roasters to recommend? Sound off in the comments below.

Some (but not all) of the roasters in this feature are advertising partners on the Sprudge Media Network. For a complete list of partners please consult the right hand side of this and every Sprudge feature.

Jordan Michelman (@suitcasewine) is a co-founder and editor at Sprudge Media Network.

Original art by Zachary Carlsen.

Support These Independent Coffee Roasters From Home published first on https://medium.com/@LinLinCoffee

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shebreathesslowly · 5 years ago

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Support These Independent Coffee Roasters From Home

Bolt Coffee — Providence, Rhode Island

Camber Coffee — Bellingham, Washington

Deadstock Coffee — Portland, Oregon

Ditta Artiganale — Florence, Italy

Elixr Coffee — Philadelphia, PA

We’ve got big love for Elixr Coffee of Philadelphia, who recently hosted Sprudge’s founder on their book tour, and were the subject of this loving packaging spotlight feature. Elixr’s webstore has a really interesting hook-up: three bags of coffee, your choice, all for $45. Mix and match sought after single origin coffees from the likes of La Palma y El Tucan and Finca Las Brumas with blends like Beekeper or Treehouse.

Their founder can pour Gritty—’nuff said.

3FE — Dublin, Ireland

Koppi — Helsingborg, Sweden

Monarch Coffee — Kansas City, Missouri

Olympia Coffee Roasting Company — Olympia, Washington

Pilot Coffee Roasters — Toronto, Ontario

Ruby Coffee Roasters — Nelsonville, Wisconsin

Tandem Coffee Roasters — Portland, Maine

Tipico Coffee – Buffalo, New York

Wrecking Ball Coffee Roasters — San Francisco, California

Got more roasters to recommend? Sound off in the comments below.

Jordan Michelman (@suitcasewine) is a co-founder and editor at Sprudge Media Network.

Original art by Zachary Carlsen.

from Sprudge https://ift.tt/38Uzdg3

#Sprudge

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monarchconstructionandroofing · 7 years ago

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Choosing Among the Top Real Estate Areas in the Denver Area

Choosing the right place to move to in Denver can be a hassle, regardless of whether you’re renting an apartment temporarily, you want to buy a new house, or you’re looking to invest in brand new homes as a real estate investor. As Denver roofers we trust you will find the right real estate and the right area. The following choices were handpicked as some of the most practical and livable places in the region.

Stapleton is considered one of the most distinguished neighborhoods for buying a house in Denver. The houses are beautiful, and the people are friendly and welcoming. Here you can really relax and have a great time enjoying the various dining and nightlife opportunities in the area or having some good old fashioned outdoor fun. Kids and teenagers are also likely to love the area, since there are lots of exciting family-friendly places, parks, playgrounds and outdoor venues.

Frederick is one of the more peaceful places to move to in the Denver area. Ideal for families, it has excellent schools, good housing and an impressive safety rating. Virtually everything you need will be within an easily accessible 10-mile radius, so you don’t have to be worried about being stuck in a traffic jam or being late for important meetings.

Last but definitely not least, Stonegate is an impressive and surprisingly friendly community with outstanding schools and great support for family-friendly activities. People who have lived in Stonegate all their lives can attest to the fact that there is virtually no crime here, and the place is also considerably more diverse than many other neighborhoods in the Denver metropolitan area.

The post Choosing Among the Top Real Estate Areas in the Denver Area appeared first on Monarch Construction.

Article source here: Choosing Among the Top Real Estate Areas in the Denver Area

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safari-west-rec-blog · 8 years ago

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Conservation Corner

In Your Own Backyard

By: Brian Eberly

Conservation is a critical part of what we do at Safari West. As a tour guide, I talk a lot (probably too much) about conservation. I am also very aware of the massive scope of wildlife conservation and how it can either be too big or too sad for most people to remember, let alone incorporate into their day-to-day lives. Realistically, we can’t all quit our jobs and move to Africa to defend elephants from poachers. So while it is really important for the general public to be aware of the plight of our iconic (and not so iconic) African species, we wanted to highlight today several projects or movements that one might be able to fold into one’s lifestyle which will have a direct impact on wildlife conservation and do not require uprooting to Mozambique.

Clean Oceans

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has an entire program dedicated to reducing the amount of trash that ends up in the oceans. While I could fill this post describing why trash-in-the-ocean is a bad thing (degrading habitats, killing sea-life, and introducing non-native species), I think it more constructive to focus here on small lifestyle changes that help keep these waters clean. The above links offer a comprehensive outline of ocean pollution.

NOAA reports that the largest category of land-based ocean pollution is food and beverage containers. To curtail this problem they have partnered with Clean Water Action on the ReThink Disposablescampaign, asking people reduce the amount of single-use products they purchase/use. Reducing the amount of plastic bags, soda bottles, food containers and other such items stops this pollution at the source. You might be the most vigilant recycler but once your bins go curbside, you are no longer in control. Anything from industrial irresponsibility to neighborhood teenage pranksters can undermine your attempts at social responsibility. Remember, there are two other “R’s” before you get to Recycle, Reduce and Reuse, in that order. If you don’t buy it, it won’t get made and you don’t need to discard it. While by no means exhaustive, here is a manageable list of things you can do to help:

Get reusable cloth bags, keep them in your car and bring them everywhere you go.

Bring your own “doggie bag” containers when you go to a restaurant, so you can bring home your leftover linguine without styrofoam on the side.

Get reusable produce bags for your lettuce and apples or wash and reuse the plastic ones.

Bring your own cup to the café; not only will you be reducing waste, but many coffee businesses give a little discount when you bring your own cup. (You can even get one with an ironic saying on it so you can be more of a hipster). According to Clean Water Action, the average to-go coffee cup is only used for 12 minutes.

Keep a set of reusable flatware with you, so you don’t need a plastic fork, knife, or spoon

Skip the straw (or get a reusable one and keep it with your reusable flatware)

Use a refillable water bottle (this saves money too).

Safari West is taking many steps to help reduce the amount of single-use items we generate: our restaurant and deli are working to eliminate condiment packets, we have increased the price of bottled water to discourage staff and guests from purchasing them. We sell reusable flatware, straws and water bottles in the gift shop. Check out the ReThink Disposable website for more ideas, info, and to take the pledge.

Bird Safety

I began this post by stating that we would focus on conservation topics close-to-home, but clean oceans can seem as removed from some of us as the Serengeti. Luckily nothing is closer to home than our actual houses and some simple household adjustments can have some positive impacts on wildlife. According to the American Bird Conservancy (ABC), 988 million birds are killed each year in the United States by colliding with windows. That is nearly a billion (with a “b”). Ironically, a nature lover is probably someone who has a lot of windows in their home for natural lighting. These glass panels are great for both energy use reduction and from an aesthetic perspective but the more windows a building has, and the larger the windows are, the more likely that a bird will think they can fly right through it and…THUMP, feathers everywhere!

Fortunately, one does not need to completely give up their beautiful views to save some local birds. There is a trade-off between window obstruction and cost. For just a few dollars, one can purchase simple decals that stick on a window, partially obscuring the glass and deterring birds. Apart from this simple step, bird-proofing can become complicated and/or expensive. Bearing aesthetics in mind, more appealing modifications can include anything from simple string-like curtains and textured decals to the more elaborate specially textured glass designed to prevent bird strikes. The general idea here is to enable birds to see your windows so they don’t die by flying into them. To help, the ABC has a specific directory with different deterrents that have been shown effective in reducing bird-window collisions.

Another issue championed by the ABC and the National Audubon Society involves outdoor cats. One of my few marital disputes concerns whether a theoretical pet cat would be indoor or outdoor. As both ABC and the Audubon Society point out, domestic cats kill between 1-4 billion birds each year in the USA. I’m very immobile on the no-outdoor-cat side while my wife thinks it is cruel to keep a cat inside. Therefore we have no cats. You might love your cats, but an outdoor cat is a well-fed predator killing a lot of birds every year. Thus, other steps to making your home more bird-friendly are to rethink getting a cat, keep your existing cat inside, or consider a way to make your cat bad at hunting. Anecdotally, I have had experience with cats learning how to walk so a bell-collar doesn’t make any sound. There are other options, however, for the cat and bird lovers alike. Here an avian ecologist describes an effective method for reducing her cat’s hunting abilities.

Backyard Wildlife

Not all acts of conservation are as reactionary as the topics discussed above. As we come into the Spring season and start thinking about developing front and back yards again it might be nice to know a couple of extra ways to contribute to your environment. When one pictures local wildlife, they often imagine a large, iconic animal posing in front of a backdrop of pristine wilderness. While these iconic settings certainly exist, most of us could be encountering some amazing critters on a daily basis in our own urbanized environment. If, for instance, you take a moment to really consider your yard you may realize that it is not as isolated (or somewhat mundane) as you previously thought.

Urban and suburban yards host dynamic ecosystems easily overlooked by “nature” enthusiasts. For example, I am lucky enough to live in a small pocket of habit for the elusive red bellied newt (Taricha rivularis). These slender amphibians come out after a rain and amble around the leaf litter only occasionally stopping to show off their bright red bellies (informing me how poisonous they are in case I was considering eating one). The emergent newts are a seasonal, weather-dependant event at my house and I get as excited about them as I would at seeing bald eagle or a mountain lion. If you don’t happen to live in the country as I do, and are more urban, worry not, you can still find wonder in the creatures that call your yard home. It doesn’t matter if your yard is a twenty acre pasture or a window-box on a balcony, there will be animals there. And if you do it right you can encourage all sorts of wildlife to move in, which may be fun for you but it is even better for the animals.

Having a wildlife friendly garden/yard can be readily accomplished by taking a few easy steps when planning your area. The National Wildlife Federation (NWF) has a Garden for Wildlife program offering information on how to create a wildlife-friendly garden and will even certify your garden as an official “Wildlife Habitat”. According to the NWF, the four factors to encouraging animals to move into your yard are Food, Water, Cover, and a place for animals to raise their Young.

Obviously nothing will move into your yard if there isn’t anything for it to eat, but this doesn’t necessarily require putting up a bird-feeder. Planting native plants provides a food source of nectar when in bloom and fighting the urge to “deadhead” flowers that have passed their prime leaves the seeds as a meal for a variety of animals. Even dead trees and logs can invite insects as well as allow fungi and plants to grow, which in turn feed animals.

Of course we all need water to live, so NWF recommends having at least one source of fresh, clean water. While this could be an elaborate pond or water garden, a simple bird-bath will give a place for birds to drink and clean their feathers. It will also provide drinkable water for the other animals too. If you have space for a more natural water feature, go for it! Many amphibians, insects and reptiles need water for part or all of their life cycle.

Most animals don’t need a house, per se, but most of them need some form of shelter. Shrubs can serve as a multipurpose place to get out the sun or rain and also to hide to avoid predators or help sneak up on smaller prey. Other forms of cover could be a rock pile, a wooded area, a pond, roosting boxes, or a meadow.

Lastly, animals often seek out places to raise their young, so a wildlife-friend garden/yard should strive to offer that. Mature trees, meadow, and wetland all offer a natural setting but in a limited area you can offer simple simulated spaces to rear offspring such as nest boxes, host plants (think milkweed for monarch caterpillars), dead trees/logs and water gardens.

One last important consideration promoted by the NWF is to make your area sustainable. This usually means conserving water and soil, managing exotic species, and eliminating chemical pesticides and fertilizers. Such efforts are easily managed by simply paying attention to the products you buy and the means by which you tend to your plants.

It is worth pointing out that the NWF is not the only organization promoting wildlife friendly gardening. There are a number of resources available to provide guidelines and detailed projects to make your yard friendly to wildlife. Google may be your primary tool but I will highlight one other local organization, the Sonoma County Beekeepers’ Association. Obviously they have their focus on bees, but many of the practices they promote will help all pollinators, be it honey-bees, native bees, or butterflies. Not only will this attract cool insects to your space (and the animals that eat those insects), but encouraging pollinators will help your crops if you happen to have a vegetable garden.

In closing, it is important to all of us here at Safari West to spread the word about conservation. While we work hard to protect large animals such as Rhinos and Cheetahs, we also strive every day to make an effort to reduce our footprint and contribute to conservation on the whole, even in our own 400 acre backyard. We hope that you will join us in this effort.

#Conservation Corner #backyard conservation

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