#wheat band ring

[metalicious-jewelry]

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[sheepispink]

A Pearl (1/2)

based on the song by mitski because i love mitski and hot traumatised men

Summary: Years of horrific memories still weigh down on him even as he promises to let you help him move on. All you want to do is help, but its not enough.

Part 2 Masterlist

tags: Leon Kennedy/Reader, Hurt/No comfort, Angst, fem! reader, mentions of re4 (no specific spoilers dw guys), mentions of ptsd, heart wrenching angst 😘

other notes: for clarification, the timeline goes— after the raccoon city incident, then he goes on the re4 mission, then it’s like the smaller missions like damnation etc. Towards the end and next chapter it’s basically vendetta. But theres no actual spoilers bcus tbh.. i haven’t watched any of the movies except id 💀

Ch1: Before it Ended

Like a dream is how you’d always describe it. His coworkers, your friends —anyone who had heard of his name— would come up to you, fawning over your pretty looks and lovely personality. They’d ask you every time, “How did it happen?” And always, you’d replay that memory in your head.

“It was winter,” You’d begin by recounting the snow that fell upon your face that day, the breeze that bristled your bones, and the way his hair looked frozen in place. You’d remember the laughter that bubbled in your throat when you saw that and how his lips curved ever so slightly for what you believe was the first time. Some of the soft strands of your hair had itched your skin; It was messy from having been shaken from the depths of sleep, and now your fingers tuck the rogue locks behind your ear. Eyes like a pretty lake, hair like wheat, with his random strands and dirty blonde roots you would soon learn to run your fingers through. He stood before you, only the dim porch light illuminating him on that winter night. “Why are you out so late?” You had asked him, your hand reaching forward to tug him into the warmth of your apartment. Little did you know that’d tug him into your life as well.

The refusal was clear; he shook his head, puffs of warm air escaping as he explained that he had something to tell you. His clothes were dirty, scratched in places, and his combat knife was only hastily put away—just work, he explains, desperate to leave a good impression on you. He had finished, and he was sure that now that he’d have time, he’d be free from the shackles of the years that would creep up on him. Cheeks flushed and Adam’s apple bobbing—you still aren’t sure whether the cold or a blush caused that. “I know I’m always gone, and we dont see each other as often anymore, but I swear- I’ve sorted everything out. I’ve fixed it.” He says his words rushed and mumbled, like his heart was spilling out then and there.“I know this is sudden- i know, but- i just.. Will you marry me?” He blurts out and every puff of air that leaves his mouth feels like another log added to the fire you didn’t know was built in your heart for him. A campfire, as you’d always describe it, is comforting and warm, the perfect reassurance in cold times. Perhaps you should’ve chosen something detrimental to life, but you preferred the romantic speech.

Everyone loved the tale as you did, enamoured with how you managed to get the stoic agent to fall head over heels with you. He’d walk over right then, slinging an arm around your waist, giving you a tender kiss to your cheek, and plastering a smirk on his lips. “Still telling everyone that story?” He’d tease as his fingertips gently rubbed your side, the silver band on his ring finger twinkling with the same light his wine glass did. “As usual.” You’d reply, that same bubble of happiness rising in your throat again as you tilted your head upwards, waiting for the small peck that always came.

Always.

A year would go by, and you’d been learning more and more about each other. Nothing seemed to be too big of a step for you. Opposing voices, loud huffs, doors slamming shut until the other would open it quietly, apologise, crawl into the warmth of their shared bed, and work things out with sweet reassurances. Work was tough; he was on more missions than ever, being considered one of the greatest men to serve your country. Warmth that you always described as adoration filled your heart whenever you heard that phrase; you couldn’t be more proud of him for it.

Besides, not even that could tear you down; nothing could break the delicate encasing that surrounded the pair of you. A greenhouse, you’d say, because it held all the things that grew only with a person’s own nurture and care. Like your relationship, crafted and melded by your kind words and your soft voice. It’s a shame greenhouses are made of glass.

Weekends were quieter now, something you had decided to take in stride; you decided to plan something nice for when he returned. The he anniversary he had missed too. It’s been so long since you’ve seen him now, resorting to spraying his cologne on the pillows in that cold bed to retrieve some imaginary warmth. Then it came—the day he’d return. Open arms is what you welcomed him with; he had always loved to hug you, and holding you close was a remedy for his mind, he’d say. But those words stopped forming after some time. You ushered him into the shared bed that night, your arms curling around him after the nice surprise you had set up earlier had gone well. Perfect, you had thought. The bed was still cold, though. You thought about bringing it up with him but decided against it; the warmth of his arms was enough for you.

You should’ve brought it up with him, for the time would have entered where he couldn’t handle it. He had awoken with a jolt, sweat trickling like beads down his temples. Eyes wide and chest pounding, he sat there with eyes darting for a threat and hands searching for yours. Your fingers would intertwine with his, warm against his cold palms, as you sat up beside him. It’d be over soon; thats what you promised— you’d do this together.

Nights like those started occurring more often than ever, until one day, he’s awoken with a sharp jolt again. His movements are much more frantic, his hands searching and searching.

Though, this time, it doesn’t find itself in yours.

It’s tightly wrapped around your neck, his mind screaming to murder you. Bloodshot eyes and prominent streaks of black down your arms— the horrors he had tried so desperately to push away— return to his mind. Your breath wont come. No sweet words, and he looks down to see his hand contaminated with that same murky colour. The sink of his chest feels like a knife as he sees your arm grab out at him, like they did everywhere he went. Those creatures who would grab him, claw at him, and still threatened to take his life. They had destroyed his mind instead.

But there is no mutant, no bloodshot eyes and no streaks on your skin. All he sees is what he’s done to you, his body weight pressing on you as his hand keeps a firm grip around your neck. Your mouth begs for air, denying the sweet reassurance he needed as he sees you turn pale, your eyes flickering with tears. There’s no threat in here; not even the cold breeze from the open window chills his bones. Nothing can hurt more than the desperation in your eyes as your hands claw—No—plead at him for relief. He immediately lets go, scrambling to the other end of the bed as he watches you pant, his heart filled with fear. Fear of himself. You quickly turn to him, mustering out your honeyed phrases through choked breaths. But they’re just letters dancing about, barely going near his ears in the walls he had built between the two of you. Ignorance is bliss, but he can’t break his gaze when he sees the deep streaks of scarlet he left on your neck. Frozen in regret and shame, you tentatively wrap your arms around him to comfort the pair of you. But he feels your tears on his neck; the fear you felt eats at his gut and his conscience. You had never felt so cold before.

The days he had left for missions were the worst nights of your life, you’d say, having been away from your heart for so long. But even as you see him drinking his morning coffee, those eye bags prominent, you think your heart might be buried in Spain, infected with the plagas of love that died out.

Unspoken was what had happened that night— a silent promise between the pair of you with small random affections to bandage up the wound he had inflicted. He was still going on the small missions, but they were shorter, and he was back to fill the bed every night. The flowers in the vase never died—a different shade, flower, or even scent every week. A different kind of love.

This continued for weeks, up until you were out with some friends, each talking about their love lives, which was always a topic between the three of you. One of them gushes about how their husband’s love language is gift-giving, describing each and every homemade affection they receive on the daily. Soon it gets around to your turn, and when you speak about his love language, physical touch comes to mind again. Whether it was playing with your hair, rubbing your hands as you walked in the cold, or leaning on you after hard days, he always wanted to be near you. Your mouth fails to respond; no words form yet no examples are recalled in your brain either. You laugh sheepishly, trying hard to wrack your head for something sweet he’s done, until you just laugh it off and talk about how you love him again.

The bed’s empty when you slip inside it; he hasn’t returned yet and he won’t be back for another hour or so. The ceiling accompanies you as you desperately try to remember an act of affection in the last few weeks. It’s only now that it finally hits you, like a tonne of bricks through your skull—

He’s been distancing himself from you.

Knowing that you get caught up in little things, he occupied your mind with flowers and sweet notes. Not once have you actually heard him say any of it or felt his touch, if not accidental. He sleeps at a distance at night, and even when you shuffle closer somehow, you wake up further apart than before. You havent had a meal with him in weeks and you haven’t actually heard that raspy voice you remember as he complains about his day. You cannot remember the last time you felt warmth, and you can’t remember when you last cried this hard.

You’re in the bathroom, wiping away the stray tears as you look at yourself in the mirror. A heavy ache that still scrapes against the walls of your heart, unsure if you feel better or worse after coming to terms with this. Every pump feels like it’s dragging you down instead of keeping you alive. The rush of blood is like-

The front door clicks open.

You almost freak out and you’re not even sure why you would. Why are you scared of this? Why are you suddenly scared of him? Your feet hurries you back to your shared bed, settling under the covers once more to try to play it off as just tiredness. You still can’t figure out why you’re doing all this or why you start to form excuses for your behaviour in your mind. He never does. So why would you? The footsteps draw closer; they’re just slightly heavy, much softer than when he wears his boots. You hear the bedroom door unclick and your shoulders tense with every second.

But you dont see him enter. Slow breathing and closed eyes— you’re even lying on your side as you pretend to be asleep.

————————————————————————

Leon breathes out a heavy sigh, his chest sinking to drain out all his exhaustion from today. There’s a rustle of clothing as he undresses, pulling on some random sweatpants and a spare shirt for the night. Why should he even care if its clean or not? He walks over to his side of the bed, rummaging around the bedside table for something. Then he pauses, his eyes catching onto something in his peripheral view. Tear stains?

You hear the creak on the bed as he leans half his weight on it, about to reach out to you. Your heart beats faster. Is it because you dont want to worry him with your tears, or are you afraid of him? You don’t know. His fingers brush your cheek ever so gently, his voice echoing out your name so, so softly.

“Hey.. you awake?” He asks, and even though your heart is melting into a little puddle so easily, some stubborn stick clogs your throat. His sigh fills the room again and he pulls the blanket over you, tucking it snugly over you before brushing the hair out of your face. Maybe he’s just tired these days, you think. He’s been through a lot after all; it explains all of it. Really, you shouldn’t have been so upset at all—his work and life are on an entirely different level for you.

You’re about to open your eyes, pretend you woke up, and give him a sleepy smile. Images of him giving you a tight hug and one hand rubbing the small of your back as he tells you to fall asleep again fills your mind.

Then he speaks again, the bed creaking as he steps back off of the bed, the warmth leaving as fast as it came. “She’s really knocked out.? Phew.. I do not want to deal with some stupid tears..” He mutters out, his raspy voice much lower and breathless—almost exasperated. A low groan leaves him as he dumps his work clothes somewhere. Then, the bed screams again as he lays his weight on it before he shuffles himself to the end of the bed. He looks back at the space between them, another huff of air leaving his lips.

“That’s good enough. I fucking hate being woken to push her away from me..” Eventually, his breathing evens out, and his shoulders are still tight and tense as his body relaxes into the bed. The night falls quieter, and your mind feels blank.

You don’t know when you fell asleep or if he saw your fresh tears when he woke that morning.

Next

[tma-entity-song-poll]

Battle of the Fear Bands!

B4R3: The Extinction

London Calling:

“The song is all about the world tearing itself apart through war, famine, and disasters. The sound intensity lends itself to a feeling of danger. At the end of the song, there is a repeating "SOS" (the international distress signal) in Morse code, implying an outgoing call for help at the end of the world.”

We Will All Go Together When We Go:

“Its literally about how we will all die if a nuclear bomb got dropped on us but cheerfully:)”

Lyrics below the line!

London Calling:

London calling to the faraway towns Now war is declared, and battle come down London calling to the underworld Come outta the cupboard, ya boys and girls

London calling, now don't look to us Phony Beatlemania has bitten the dust London calling, see we ain't got no swing Except for the ring of that truncheon thing

The ice age is coming, the sun's zoomin' in Meltdown expected, the wheat is growin' thin Engines stop running, but I have no fear 'Cause London is drownin', and I live by the river

(London calling) to the imitation zone Forget it, brother, you can go it alone London calling to the zombies of death Quit holdin' out and draw another breath

London calling, and I don't wanna shout But while we were talking, I saw you noddin' out London calling, see we ain't got no Hyde 'Cept for that one with the yellowy eyes

The ice age is coming, the sun's zoomin' in Engines stop running, the wheat is growin' thin A nuclear error, but I have no fear 'Cause London is drowning, and I, I live by the river

The ice age is coming, the sun's zoomin' in Engines stop running, the wheat is growin' thin A nuclear error, but I have no fear 'Cause London is drowning, an' I, I live by the river

Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh Ooh, ooh, ooh Now get this

(London calling) Yes, I was there, too And ya know what they said? Well, some of it was true (London calling) At the top of the dial And after all this, won't you give me a smile? (London calling)

I never felt so much alike, alike, alike

We Will All Go Together When We Go:

When you attend a funeral It is sad to think that sooner or l- -ater those you love will do the same for you And you may have thought it tragic (Not to mention other adjec- -tives) to think of all the weeping they will do But don't you worry

No more ashes, no more sackcloth And an armband made of black cloth Will some day nevermore adorn a sleeve For if the bomb that drops on you Gets your friends and neighbors too There'll be nobody left behind to grieve

And we will all go together when we go What a comforting fact that is to know Universal bereavement - An inspiring achievement! Yes, we all will go together when we go

We will all go together when we go All suffused with an incandescent glow No one will have the endurance To collect on his insurance Lloyd's of London will be loaded when they go

Oh, we will all fry together when we fry We'll be French-fried potatoes by-and-by There will be no more misery When the world is our rotisserie Yes, we all will fry together when we fry

Down by the old maelstrom There'll be a storm before the calm

And we will all bake together when we bake There'll be nobody present at the wake With complete participation In that grand incineration Nearly three billion hunks of well-done steak

Oh, we will all char together when we char And let there be no moaning of the bar Just sing out a Te Deum When you see that ICBM And the party will be come-as-you-are

Oh, we will all burn together when we burn There'll be no need to stand and wait your turn When it's time for the fallout And Saint Peter calls us all out We'll just drop our agendas and adjourn You will all go directly to your respective Valhallas Go directly, do not pass 'GO', do not collect two hundred dollars

And we will all go together when we go Every Hottentot and every Eskimo When the air becomes uraneous We will all go simultaneous Yes, we all will go together When we all go together Yes, we all will go together when we go

[assassinnumber9]

Assassin's Spy x Family Fanfic Masterpost Ver. 1

I wanted to make a list of all of my fanfics for anyone interesting in reading them. They range from tearjerking to fluffy to hot to chaotic. I try to write a bit of everything. This post will be updated through new posts as I write more and more, because as mentioned in my Drag AU post I have a lot of ideas that I've started and/or have planned.

But anyway, here's my list! I appreciate any and all support! It really helps me keep motivated!

Eternity is One Hell of A Long Time

Rating: E for strong language, violence, adult humor, and sexual content (any such content will be sectioned off into their own chapters and marked since the descriptions of the action are not central to the story)

Description: A Demon!Twilight x DemonicAssassin!Yor fic with a mixture of fluff, romance, humor, action, a bit of horror and a whole lot of chaos! This will be my long series I will be working on for TwiYor! I have a few others planned but nothing as long and lore heavy as this one.

Ao3 Summary:

Cool air breezed through his gold locks like wind through a field of tall wheat - so cold his feet and legs began to tingle, left ring finger seemingly being gently squeezed as if a ring was wrapping snug around it. He could almost feel the initial frosty bite of gold first hitting skin, causing him to press his thumb slightly against where a ring would potentially - no, did - lay. The solid mineral shaped perfectly to adhere to the base of the digit - an impeccably suitable fit. … Wait. Twilight lifted his hand to look at it, to be sure it wasn’t true, glancing to ensure his advisor wasn’t watching beforehand. And lo and behold, there it sat. A thick, solid gold band. Is this a wedding ring?

In which, Yor needs a date to a party and somehow manages to summon the strongest demon in hell...and also bind him to her for eternity.

How does one accidentally bind themselves to a demon for eternity?

Pairings: TwiYor, Pairings to be added

Chapters: 1/?

Flowing Now As a Song

Rating: G

Description: A bittersweet fic where Loid Forger visits Kielberg to speak to his mother.

Ao3 Summary:

The train station where he got off was mostly empty, but he assumed it was likely a lot better than what it was. This station was the closest one to where the bombings dropped all those years ago, closest to Kielberg. And if he had learned anything from his years of spying and war and psychiatry, it was that people tended to stay away from tragedy as if it were the plague, whether or not they had personal ties to that tragedy mattered not. It was all the same in the end. A tragedy was a tragedy.

However, it was when people faced those tragedies were they finally able to learn. It was when people faced those tragedies were they finally able to grow.

And for him, it was finally time to face the ones he had pushed away for over two decades.

Thus, the former spy made his way to find a cab, barely managing to push down the violent pressure of emotions boiling in his chest.

He had to talk to her at least once - just one time would be enough - as Loid Forger and no one else.

Pairings: Mentioned TwiYor, Mentioned Yuri x Chloe (Changed from Yuri x Fiona originally)

Chapters: 1/1

Loid Forger is NOT A Cuddler

Rating: T for mild suggestive themes

Description: A fluffy, tooth rotting fic about how Loid Forger is not a cuddler and the reactions from his numerous victims.

Ao3 Summary:

Let the record show that Loid Forger is NOT a cuddler.

But, he's also a liar.

5 times Loid Forger got caught being a cuddler and denied it, and the 1 time he finally admits it.

Pairings: TwiYor

Chapters: 5/6

Obsessions

Rating: E

Description/Ao3 Summary: A series of ficlets of explicit TwiYor scenarios.

Pairings: TwiYor

Chapters: 1/?

What You Do To Me

Rating: E for smut

Description: A smutty fanfic where Loid fails to stop the situation.

Ao3 Summary:

This was bad.

This was fucking bad.

Then, why the hell did it feel so fucking good?

Twilight couldn’t stop. Why couldn’t he stop? He had done things most would call impossible, accomplished missions that had had less than a thousandth of a percent chance of succeeding. So out of all the things he could do in this damned world, why couldn’t he stop this?

Pairings: TwiYor

Chapters: 1/1

You Truly Are My Vice

Rating: E for smut

Description: A smutty sequel to What You Do To Me where Yor is the one to fail to stop the situation.

Ao3 Summary:

What was she thinking?

What the fuck was she thinking?!

She was sleeping with the enemy, right? That’s what she was doing?

Shopkeeper was going to kill her.

If Twilight wasn't going to kill her first.

Pairings: TwiYor

Chapters: 1/1

[graha-stan-account]

Fulsome: Day 22

Fulsome: Adj. 1. complimentary or flattering to an excessive degree. 

of large size or quantity; generous or abundant. 

Ancient. Emet-Selch has rebuffed any attempts to kindle affections between himself and Azem. However, it is becoming slowly apparent the tides are turning. Oh and there's cookies. A lot of cookies. 

FFXIVWrite 2023 Masterlist

--- 

Emet-Selch returned to his shared flat in early evening, the afternoon sun dripping like egg yolk down the facades of the nearby towers. The faint sound of crunching carried from the next room. Inside, Hythlodaeus was savoring something golden and rounded, crinkly and decidedly crunchy. 

"And what do you have there?"

"Some manner of biscuit. They're delightful! Upon the table there." He gestured vaguely toward the window from his spot, reclined on the settee. "Try one, try one, Hades."

Emet-Selch followed his hand and found on the sun-splashed side table an unfurled bundle of sweets, ringed by a colorfully patterned linen cloth. He had smelled the sweet honey flavor, smiled privately at the banded colors of their wrapping. And he had left them upon that very table, to enjoy away from his partner's prying eyes and Azem's smug mouth. 

"How many have you eaten!" Emet-Selch rushed over and folded the bundle shut. 

"Just a few.... dozen. The flavor... I  can't quite place it." 

"It's honey," he said aggravation acting as an underline in each sentence. "From the far reaches. The pollinating insects there feast most readily on a rare type of heather. As such, it may only be harvested for several weeks of the year. And it's currently out of season." He turned to Hythlodaeus, who swallowed with a bit of difficulty at the stare leveled at him. 

"Oh no." Hythlodaeus sat up suddenly, crumbs all about the front of his robes. "Tell me these are not Astrea's gift to you?" 

"It's... fine." Emet-Selch gripped the spare cloth on the bundle tighter. He sighed, his brow lifting, a resigned smile crawling across his face. "Quite good, are they...?"

"They're unlike anything I've tasted before." Hythlodaeus studied him a moment. "What's more, I'm," he chuckled, "taken by surprise that you not only now listen, but have retained her expositions. Forgive my skepticism you would ever accept a token of her affection." 

"Affection...?" 

--- 

"Why are you giving me this?" 

"You prefer these, don’t you?" There was hesitancy in her voice. 

"Yes... However," Emet-Selch followed Azem with his eyes. "I have the creeping feeling you're after something." 

Azem gave him a confused look. "I've been gone for several moons. What could I possibly be scheming?" She paused, then lunged for his hands. "If you're of the mind to refuse my gift--" 

Emet-Selch pulled away, face hot. "No, no. These will do." 

When she had taken her leave, Emet-Selch looked down at the wrapped confections. He admired the woven cloth, its colors likely auspicious in the tradition of whichever tribe had crafted the design. He breathed deeply the scent of honey and wheat, distinctly represented, emanating from within. The wheat was ground by stone, like as not, and coarse. Nutty, hearty and satisfying. 

And the honey. He knew it by scent alone. A honey he had tasted only once before. On a hillside. Upon the tip of a proffered finger. By starlight and under a curtain of indigo. 

And in the cover of dark he had let his heart be revealed. 

--- 

It seemed now as a dream. It was but a mundane errand for which she summoned him, but in her company the simplest things seemed overtaken as though by an intoxicating perfume. It took weeks to finally clear his head of its influence. 

So he thought. 

Hythlodaeus was kicking his feet with glee, crumbs flying about. 

[wilderebellion]

Rewatching Seeds of Conflict

NOTE: I had this in my drafts still while Episode 3 released and I'm bolding some stuff that's REALLY RELEVANT

Deli's greatest weakness and boldest strength is his open heart.

Ariana's making good use of that right now, likely stringing him along for political information about the clans, and guiding him towards unifying the Meat Lands.

Probably to assist Foccacia's political plans based on that insight check? I can't imagine Ariana actually cares about the people of the Meat Lands. One leader to target instead of three, maybe?

I wonder if the Katzens fall out of leadership because Deli realizes he was used, or if it has anything to do with the possible Bulbian agenda. We know Basha Myaso ends up leading and claims to be of the faith.

I know there was a whoopsy with Ariana and Angela, but now my confusion is this: who is the intended one that Matt wants to call "matronly"? Is the age difference why Deli and Ariana are secret, or is it possible conflict of interest because of their political positions?

Also, I can't imagine Amangeaux having been to the Ceresian Senate in Deli's youth is a coincidence. The only context we have around that event, though: it was before Deli's bread mama died, and shortly after Amangeaux's marriage. If the FDA designs events to happen.... I wonder if one or both of them fell under their purview.

The Packages

Colin's package: already in his room on the bed

Karna's: dropped nearby her (while still in disguise?) by someone who tripped, then seemingly ran away

Delissandro's: Left at his bedroom door

Amangeux's: Left at the foot of her bed within her large, queenly suite

Raphaniel's: package on the windowsill within his modest but Bulbian-adorned bedroom

Karna finds "a wrinkled four-inch carrot wrapped in a band of corn silk silver. Not a carrot on its own, for you now make out the knuckles that bend ever so slightly across this withered finger, the ring adorning it displaying a simple stylized kernel, the brand of Ja Cru Dites. The finger of Ja Cru Dites."

Delissandro: "a small box that contains a strange garment. A soft, verdant dress. A negligee of smooth wheat weave trimmed in lace. And as you unfold, a strong perfume fills the air like a sweet caramel and oats. Perfume you smelled not but earlier this afternoon. It has accompanied every letter that Ariana has sent you. It suffuses the pasta twists that fall from her head to her lower back, her teasing notes and promises of grand partnership, should you be a good, ambitious boy in your mind."

It's weirdly intimate that they nabbed some of Ariana's lingerie when she hasn't slept with Deli yet. So is she banging someone else on the side, or is she like, in on this whole thing? Did she recommend/recruit Deli specifically?

Karna observes the cloak has deep brown and gray patchwork texture to it, elements having almost a yellowish-tan coloration as well, like a calico. On the face, a reflective mask possibly made of some sort of odd vegetable iron that has been rusted to the point where there's kind of a deep brownish-red coloration to it.

5, 10, 15 figures in dark browns, also dull tans and golds and grays and blacks. These calico cloaks and robes, these strange shiny masks on their faces."

The Architects

Some of their spiel reminds me of that other group of Bulbians that were mentioned but I don't THIIINK we ever saw them on-screen in A Crown of Candy? Sanctis Putris?

"Shadow of destruction looms over all of the six kingdoms.."

"our forefathers united under a common cause"

"we deign the necessary conflicts that serve our cause and engineer their doing."

"As Architects, we seek no prestige. We seek no gilded praise, coin, or glory."

"Away from the true terrors and threats that most do but choose not to see, and build a bright, sustainable future."

Interesting... Deli described himself as an architect earlier to Ariana

[hunty627]

Here are more episode titles for Little Einsteins: New Missions.

Girl’s night out. June and Annie have been invited to have girls night with Ellen & her pink rocket ship, Rockette.

A pachyderm predicament! Rajiv the royal engine called our heroes and told them that Big Jet and his gang are in India. They transformed into construction vehicles and were going to pave over the home of the elephants! Ashima was worried about Trusty Trunky, and Leo was concerned about his friend, Little Elephant. Will nature win against Big Jet? Only time will tell.

Rocket rock stars! The Little Einsteins try out being a rock and roll band from a strange vision that I had when I was younger.

The lonely ladybug. The team was playing a video game when suddenly I saw something in the kitchen. It was a ladybug. And she looked lonely. She had gotten separated from all 11 of her friends. She needed to find her friends so she can join the ladybug picnic and eat apple leaf mold. Can the team help ladybug get to the picnic before it’s too late? Find out soon.

The knights of sing a lot! The Little Einsteins were attending a medieval fair, when Big Jet appeared and had teamed up with the very same dragon from the “go team” story! And they kidnapped Princess Bassoon! The Good Knight said the team can become knights and rescue the princess. But can they do in time? Featuring the art “Wheat Field with Cypresses” by Vincent van Gogh and the music “Wedding March” by Felix Mendelssohn.

The sensational sextet. Dorie and her friends and I want to be a band. But when we got our instruments out and onto the bandstand, Red Hawk and Yellow Rat flew in and took the instruments! Can we bring them back so we can make music for all our friends?

Reanne’s recital. Reanne was going to ballet dance with June and me, as well as the blue footed booby birds, Ducky the duckling and Saturn’s ring. But there was a problem. Reanne had lost her ballet flats. They blew away in a windstorm! Can we get her ballet shoes back in time for the dance recital?

Little Einsteins little league. The team is very excited to play little league baseball. But when they were training, Mindy accidentally hit the ball too far. And that was her favorite beanball. It was gifted to her when she and her friends learned how to play baseball. Can they get it back in time for the little league game at school? Only time will tell.

Happy hatch day, Baby Piccolodactyl! We were playing hopscotch outside the Rocket room, when we saw one of the instruments dinosaurs stop by. It was Bassosaurus Rex. He wanted to ask if one of us could spare a cup of sugar. He said was baking a big batch of dinosaur sized cupcakes for baby Piccolodactyl for his birthday. We volunteered to help B-Rex bake the cupcakes. He also said if we had any rainbow sprinkles, that would be great too. And make them as big as houses. Can we make the cupcakes in time for the party?

Rocket and the rainbow coral reef. Rocket was visiting his friend, Little Whale at the seashore. Little whale was telling him about the rainbow coral reef. But Big Jet and his crew were plotting to destroy the rainbow coral reef and make a new underwater base! Can they save the reef? Only time will tell.

A Little Einsteins Thanksgiving. It was Thanksgiving, and the Little Einsteins were having a big thanksgiving feast in the Rocket room with their friends and families. But Big Jet had stolen all the food! Such as the clam stuffing, the cheesy string beans, the banana cream pie and even the mashed potatoes! Can they get all the food back before Big Jet eats them all up? Find out next time!

Captain Leo sails to Neverland! The Little Einsteins were playing pirates again. And we met up with Peter Pan and Tinker Bell. They said that they had some terrible news. Big Jet has made an alliance with Captain Hook and they have kidnapped Jake, Izzy, Cubby, and Skully! And worse of all, that made Bucky the ship get stuck on a sandbar, so he can’t sail for home! Can they rescue Jake and his pirate crew? Only time will tell. Featuring the art "Under the Wave of Kanagawa" by Katsushika Hokusai and the music “Carmen suite number 1” by Georges Bizet.

Hunter goes cuckoo! The Little Einsteins were visiting cuckoo waypoint and were very excited. Cuckoo bird was about to have chicks. She had 3 eggs in her clock nest. But Big Jet stole the eggs! He was gonna cook the eggs and eat them! Cuckoo bird was very upset. Her eggs didn’t even hatch yet. Will the team rescue the cuckoo bird’s eggs before Big Jet hard boils them? Only time will tell. Featuring the art “German folk art” and the music “1812 overture” by Peter Illich Tchaikovsky.

[glowreusbling]

Check out this listing I just added to my Poshmark closet: Sterling silver Abalone Shell Oval Ring.

[thinkko]

Whole Wheat Banana Cake

Wheat Jaggery Cake🍰 banane ke liye:

1️⃣ 1 cup gehu ka aata, 1/4 cup makhana powder, 1 tsp baking powder, 1/2 tsp baking soda, aur namak ko mix kar le.

2️⃣ 2 mashed bananas, 1/2 cup jaggery, 1/2 cup milk, aur 1/4 cup oil ko mila kar ache se mix kar le. Dry & wet ingredients ko achese mila le.

3️⃣ Cake pan ko ghee se grease karke 180°C (350°F) par 30-35 minutes tak ya jab tak toothpick saaf nikalne tak, bake kare.

Oven nahi hai? Chinta na kare! Pressure Cooker Method🔥:

1️⃣ Cooker ke dhakan (rubber ring) aur seeti (whistle) ko nikal de.

2️⃣ Ek steel stand ya purani flat base plate, cooker ke andar rakh de. Ye cake ko cooker ke base se direct contact hone se prevent karega.

3️⃣ Cooker ke dhakan ko band karke, dhimi aanch par 10-minutes tak preheat kare.

Cake batter ko cake mold mein daal kar cooker ko gasket ya seeti ke bina band kare. Cake lagbhag 40-50 minutes mein taiyar ho jayega. 30-minutes ke baad toothpick se check kare.

Taiyar cake ko 3 din tak fridge mein band container mein store kare.

[varshinimusic123]

Stalk Of Wheat They Might Be Giants cover

In this video, I'm covering the Stalk of Wheat by They Might Be Giants. This cover is one of the most popular songs by the band and is sure to get you in the mood for a fun night out! If you're a fan of They Might Be Giants, then you'll love this cover of the Stalk of Wheat. This classic song will get you in the mood for a night out on the town! From the music to the video, this cover is sure to entertain you! #StalkOfWheat #TheyMightBeGiants #cover LIKE | SHARE | SUBSCRIBE | RING THE BELL 🎵***************RELATED VIDEOS***************🎵 Music Covers:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9DT3f15qeAs&list=PLBKZEv1RVHbrqvurOpM1YT3qR47O_HYnG Acoustic Covers:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p722CXyMNYI&list=PLBKZEv1RVHbrzg0cGODD3PxZLq_xNSAbW Guitar Covers:https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLBKZEv1RVHboWDxnHOJB8u8kaXFn9XLf9 🌏**********SOCIAL MEDIA ACCOUNTS**********🌏 ✅ Instagram:Varshini Vijayakumar https://www.instagram.com/varshinivijayakumar123/ ✅ Facebook: Varshini Vijayakumar https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063549962286 ✅  Twitter: Varshini Vijayakumar https://twitter.com/Varshini_123

[metalicious-jewelry]

Wear Nature's Beauty with Unique Wheat Jewelry

Wheat jewelry has become popular for those who want to express their love for nature and the countryside. The wheat band ring, wheat diamond jewelry, wheat wedding ring, silver wheat necklace, and other wheat jewelry pieces available at Metalicious are perfect for those who want to wear unique and beautiful jewelry.

One of the most popular wheat jewelry pieces is the wheat band ring. This ring is perfect for those who want a simple yet elegant piece of jewelry that will last a lifetime. The wheat band ring is made of durable and beautiful, high-quality materials. At Metalicious, you can find a variety of wheat band rings in different styles and designs, ensuring that you find the perfect ring to match your taste.

If you want to buy wheat jewelry online, Metalicious is the perfect place for you. They offer a wide range of wheat jewelry pieces that will impress. You can browse through their wheat jewelry collection, and you will surely find something that catches your eye.

For those who want to add some sparkle to their wheat jewelry, the wheat diamond jewelry collection at Metalicious is perfect. These pieces are carefully crafted to ensure the diamonds are perfectly placed, making them shine brilliantly. The wheat diamond jewelry pieces at Metalicious are not only beautiful but also very affordable.

If you are getting married soon, a wheat wedding ring from Metalicious is an excellent choice. The wheat wedding rings available at Metalicious are unique and beautiful. These rings are crafted to perfection and symbolize everlasting love and commitment.

At Metalicious, you can find some of the best Silver Wheat Necklace pieces on the market. The quality of the jewelry is unmatched, and the prices are very affordable. Whether you are looking for a wheat band ring, wheat diamond jewelry, or a silver wheat necklace, Metalicious has it all.

In conclusion, wheat jewelry is a perfect way to express your love for nature and the countryside. The wheat band ring, wheat diamond jewelry, wheat wedding ring, silver wheat necklace, and other wheat jewelry pieces available at Metalicious are unique, beautiful, and affordable. So, if you want to buy the best wheat jewelry online, visit Metalicious today!

[witchcraftandburialdirt]

Vittorio hums guiding him through the castle, "Pardon my curiosity miss, but is there a reason why you don't wear your wedding band? I know your husband said you two are married, but I never see either of you wearing rings." - Vittorio @ Haru medieval

── 𝐔𝐍𝐏𝐑𝐎𝐌𝐓𝐄𝐃 𝐈𝐍𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐀𝐂𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐒 ── MEDIEVAL VERSE

The halls were eerily silent as the two of them made their way from Vittorio's vast collection of books, that was until the nobleman spoke and ripped Haru out of his thoughts; bringing him back into the castle walls. His dark gaze flicked over to their newest patron and scanned across his brocade and velvet attire, such fine fabrics he had never seen before... much thicker than the silks and Kalamkari. He imagined what it would have been like for Tarhos to wear such comfortable clothing during the winter months, he was sure it would have been much better than the thin cotton and easily chilled linens. It would have been put to good use, rather than just a fashion statement... Still, his brow quirked at the sudden inquiry,

"That is the law of your lands, anyone of low birth is not permitted to have jewels...or anything that might make them appear equal to or above men like you." His tone held no venom when he spoke, simply a remark on the situation, "That being said... We were never able to wear jewelry or rings...I would often braid rings of wheat or flower stems for us, he could wear it under his gloves and I could pretend it was just some...silly thing." His voice trailed off as they continued their trek through the castle, "I do not know if he knows but I... took his blade and made it permanent, for he who holds my heart." The maiden glanced to Vittorio with a calculating squint, measuring how much he could truly trust him until he finally lifted his hand to show the small hairthin ring around his finger.

"While I cannot wear jewels or a band for him, there are other ways...deeper ways, many of which I'm sure the married rich would never understand. I'm not sure any of them truly know what it means to love something - or someone - so deeply that upon losing it you would lose yourself as well." A beat of silence as he brought his hand close to his chest, "I only want this journey to be safe for him, my lord... You seem kind, and only wish for protection... Please don't let him be snuffed out when he's only just beginning to learn how to be a human again. When we both are."

[tma-entity-song-poll]

Battle of the Fear Bands!

B4R2: The Extinction

In the Year 2525:

“An unnerving description of how our humanity gradually erodes over the next several centuries”

London Calling:

“The song is all about the world tearing itself apart through war, famine, and disasters. The sound intensity lends itself to a feeling of danger. At the end of the song, there is a repeating "SOS" (the international distress signal) in Morse code, implying an outgoing call for help at the end of the world.”

Lyrics below the line!

In the Year 2525:

In the year 2525, if man is still alive If woman can survive, they may find In the year 3535 Ain't gonna need to tell the truth, tell no lie Everything you think, do and say Is in the pill you took today In the year 4545 You ain't gonna need your teeth, won't need your eyes You won't find a thing to chew Nobody's gonna look at you In the year 5555 Your arms hangin' limp at your sides Your legs got nothin' to do Some machine's doin' that for you In the year 6565 You won't need no husband, won't need no wife You'll pick your son, pick your daughter too From the bottom of a long glass tube

In the year 7510 If God's a coming, He oughta make it by then Maybe He'll look around Himself and say Guess it's time for the judgment day In the year 8510 God is gonna shake His mighty head He'll either say I'm pleased where man has been Or tear it down, and start again

In the year 9595 I'm kinda wonderin' if man is gonna be alive He's taken everything this old earth can give And he ain't put back nothing

Now it's been ten thousand years Man has cried a billion tears For what, he never knew, now man's reign is through But through eternal night, the twinkling of starlight So very far away, maybe it's only yesterday

In the year 2525, if man is still alive If woman can survive, they may find

London Calling:

London calling to the faraway towns Now war is declared, and battle come down London calling to the underworld Come outta the cupboard, ya boys and girls

London calling, now don't look to us Phony Beatlemania has bitten the dust London calling, see we ain't got no swing Except for the ring of that truncheon thing

The ice age is coming, the sun's zoomin' in Meltdown expected, the wheat is growin' thin Engines stop running, but I have no fear 'Cause London is drownin', and I live by the river

(London calling) to the imitation zone Forget it, brother, you can go it alone London calling to the zombies of death Quit holdin' out and draw another breath

London calling, and I don't wanna shout But while we were talking, I saw you noddin' out London calling, see we ain't got no Hyde 'Cept for that one with the yellowy eyes

The ice age is coming, the sun's zoomin' in Engines stop running, the wheat is growin' thin A nuclear error, but I have no fear 'Cause London is drowning, and I, I live by the river

The ice age is coming, the sun's zoomin' in Engines stop running, the wheat is growin' thin A nuclear error, but I have no fear 'Cause London is drowning, an' I, I live by the river

Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh Ooh, ooh, ooh Now get this

(London calling) Yes, I was there, too And ya know what they said? Well, some of it was true (London calling) At the top of the dial And after all this, won't you give me a smile? (London calling)

I never felt so much alike, alike, alike

[gigikthings]

Check out this listing I just added to my Poshmark closet: Gold wheat Cup & Saucer.

[multi-lefaiye]

:3 it is time. going clockwise from the top right !

as a refresher, here's the poster: [link]

tagging some people i think would enjoy this the most: @corvus-rose @invaderskoodge @vacantgodling @paradoxspir1t @moonflowerrss

@skitzo-kero @anexor

- glaive and blood splatter - the glaive is quite literally the weapon strata uses much of the time, but it being so close to her (and the blood) symbolizes the violence that has always defined strata's life. she was raised in a warzone and had to learn at a very young age to fight for her own survival. violence is part of who she is, for better and for worse. (and it was also ultimately her end, symbolized by the glaive being turned to point towards her.)

- broken wedding band - the broken wedding ring is an actual item from strata's backstory i was asked to include, but i put it here specifically because it relates to both her and barley. they were both married (or engaged) in their first life, but it ended in brutal tragedy for both of them as their loves died.

- pocketwatch - this is a pocketwatch barley carries that belonged to his husband in his first life, one he carries with him now. it's a very literal representation of his grief and the happy life he lost.

- wheat - barley is a farm boy and a cowboy cat, and he frequently has a piece of wheat in his mouth.

- apple - again, farm boy, but also a silly reference to eden teasing eddie by telling him "you could not bite through the skin of an apple without help." but the bite in the apple is also kind of a cheeky nod to the "forbidden fruit of knowledge" thing in the bible... barley and eden are both warlocks for key, but barley took that leap first and was the one to introduce eden to their patron.

- journal - kind of a generic symbol for the books and journals eden carried with him in his university days, pushed to the side because he's abandoned so much of what he'd learned before in favor of diving headfirst into this new kind of magic.

- skeleton key - eden and barley's patron is called the keystone, aka key. this is a pretty literal representation of that, and it's a skeleton key specifically as a nod to key's expansive reach and knowledge. very little hides from it.

- fountain quill - this is at least similar to a pen eden uses in the campaign, frantically taking notes on everything and trying to piece his theories together. always writing, never stopping.

- chalk - this is one of the more literal items lmao, but eden carries a few sticks of chalk with him. for magic reasons.

- skull - here to represent eden's history with necromancy, the good and the bad. it's what he dedicated his life to, but it's also what his father was famous for. in many ways, necromancy is itself a representation of the shadow of abdiel's legacy, always hanging heavy on eden's shoulders.

- cigarettes - eden and hyndrol are both smokers, hyndrol more so. the cigarettes near hyn are all stubbed out and burnt, implying a long life of smoking them down. meanwhile, the one closest to eden is clean and unburnt, representing his own life being cut short. and as a fun aside, fire and arson feature heavily in hyndrol's story--she's burnt a lot more than cigarettes.

- photos - originally i meant for these to represent a picture i imagine eden carries with him of his family, before his father left but with abdiel's face scratched out--a memento eden defaced years ago in a fit of anger and carries with him to this day. BUT... i decided to leave them blank, to fit them both. and as a nod to hyndrol's memories being... not as reliable as they used to be, let's say :) (evil). also, jamie told me that hyndrol definitely kept a copy of her own wanted poster, and that's so funny, so consider this a reference to that.

- knife - again, this is a representation of a knife hyndrol actually carries on her, minus some of the more specific decals. it's something important to her from her previous life, like with barley's pocket watch. a representation of the life she lost and the people in her past, as well as the violence that followed her for much of her life. and like with strata's glaive, it being pointed at her is another nod to the violence that she wrought eventually killing her.

- morel mushroom - so hyndrol's shitty toxic ex-lover's name is morel, which is a kind of mushroom. so i threw one of those here. and as a fun aside, to me morels kinda look... dead, and a little rotten. so i tried to lean into that a bit and make this mushroom look dead and kinda gross. morel is a toxic sack of shit of a person and the rot she brought into hyndrol's life is represented very literally here. but, in a way, i tried to reflect that the rot was destroying her as well.

- arrows - hyn is a sneaky rogue and uses a classic bow and arrow, so i threw some arrows in as a little nod to that. BUT... i had them point away from her as a nod to the violence she did on others, both in this life and her previous. she's an internationally famous pirate and did SO much murder and crime. like... she wasn't responsible for the same scale of destruction and violence as strata, but she's also infamous. and she's proud of it. (also, the arrows pointing to eden was mostly incidental, but is funny enough that i'll say it's intentional. because they have a very mutually antagonistic dynamic and it delights me.)

- wolf figurine - another literal item hyndrol carries, but wolves and wolf imagery are big with her as a character. i don't have much deeper symbolism behind it than that, but the wolf imagery means a lot to me. i care her.

- wedding ring - like strata and barley, hyndrol and pevier were both married in their previous life. this wedding ring is intact, though, because those two's marriages ended... well, not as badly, to put it plainly lol. hyndrol got divorced before her death, but her ex-wife outlived her; pevier, meanwhile, lived a happy life with his husband before they both passed later in life. it's a stark contrast to the other two's tragic romances, but the outcome is much the same. they're both missing their ex-loves.

- lute & flute - listing these together even though they're not next to each other, because they're there for the same reason. pevier is a bard, and in his first life he had a lucrative career as a theater actor. in the campaign, he uses a lute, but i included a flute as well as a nod to him having other talents with performing as well. he's very skilled! king!! also, both of them have red and blue detailing wherever i could get it in there, because red and blue are the pevier colors.

- sea shell - this is the only one that i kinda put in there just to fill space, but i picked a sea shell for two reasons! one, hyndrol is a pirate who spent much of her life on the sea. reminders of that are comforting to her and remind her of home, and, pevier may not be a seafarer, but more than anyone else in the group, pevier makes an effort to see the good in others and the beauty in the world. i picked a pretty sea shell as a little nod to that.

- white feathers - kind of a segue from pevier seeing the good in others, the white feathers are a reference to an npc named lament, a guardian spirit that helped hyn, pevier, and eden at the start of the campaign. when they found out that lament had been lying to them about their motives, hyndrol and eden immediately disregarded them going forward... but pevier has continued hearing them out, and he's been willing to give them another chance and listen to their guidance. so, the feathers are a representation of that influence.

- tickets - i feel like this one is a bit self explanatory lol, but like i said, pevier was an actor in his first life! i threw in some tickets to one of his shows!! that's it, that's what this is.

- open book - i meant this as just a book of james' personal notes, whether they be about potion making or his mission. he's the most modern of the group and has a lot of shit on his person and that he's keeping track of. but i specifically had it lie open because... well, james isn't an open book per se, but he's also been pushing more for open communication in the group and for everyone to be willing to actually trust each other and work together. he's taking a leap on the others and expects that same courtesy.

- potion bottle - this one isn't that deep lmao, james makes potions!! it's something he's very skilled at!! but as a fun fact, i originally planned to have the bottle open or smashed and spilling everywhere, but then i was like... no, he wouldn't be so sloppy. so, it is neatly closed and sealed, and we don't get to see its contents.

- dog tags - this is another item i was specifically asked to include, but i decided to position it here for my own nefarious symbolism purposes. james and strata are both soldiers, just from very, VERY different circumstances. like i said before, james is the most modern of the group, and these dog tags are the kind he'd carry with him. he's a product of his homeland's military industrial complex and it's shaped a lot of who he is. strata, meanwhile, is from ancient times and had to become a soldier to survive the brutal wars her people were forced into. they're two very different kinds of soldiers, but they have a lot in common at the same time.

- wrench (+ nuts) - admittedly this one also isn't that deep, but i wanted to add some representations of some of the tools james carries with him. he makes potions! he tinkers with machinery! he is the only one here who fully understands a lot of modern technology. i love that for him.

- knife & bloodstain - ONCE AGAIN this is a recreation of a specific knife that james carries with him, with some of the specific dragon decals. i'm not gonna repeat myself with the whole "oh the weapon is pointing AT them" thing, but the dragon imagery is more common ground with him and strata. they both carry the sin of Wrath, represented by a dragon, and they're both marked by the dragon as a result. if that makes sense. (and while i don't know all the specific details for this knife's significance to james, iirc it's related to his older brother, the most important person in his life. little nod to family being important to both him AND strata.)

- violets - this is more a symbol for strata than james, but this was inspired by an answer para gave me when i sent him the questions for the into darkness quiz. a specific item he associated with strata was dried flowers. SO.... dried flowers. and i specifically chose violets because violets have a long, documented history as a symbol of sapphic love and romance.

and finally, the marble floor they're all chilling on is specifically white marble with black and gold details as a nod to the domain of eden and barley's warlock patron, key. key's domain is full of this shit!! implying they're all just passed out in key's realm.

we did it gamers

btw if anyone would be interested in a list of every little item in the picture and a description of what it means for the characters and their stories. i would be very happy to provide :3

[preppernewstoday]

(Psst: The FTC wants me to remind you that this website contains affiliate links. That means if you make a purchase from a link you click on, I might receive a small commission. This does not increase the price you'll pay for that item nor does it decrease the awesomeness of the item. ~ Daisy)If you’re looking to bump up your food production during the winter months, why not consider learning how to grow mushrooms with sawdust blocks? This is a fun and easy means of putting some extra food on the table even when nothing is growing outside. Want to learn more? Read on. Why sawdust? Mushrooms are commonly cultivated on a supplemented sawdust substrate that’s been made into blocks. Many, many species can be grown in this way, from oysters to lion’s mane to shiitake and more. Our mushroom course gives one recipe along with instructions for making these blocks, and I’ve learned a few finer points along the way. I’ll discuss those points in this article.  With respect to recipes, there are quite a few out there. The one given in our course is pretty standard: oak pellets + wheat bran + water = supplemented sawdust block. Stamets adds gypsum to his; one teaspoon per 5-pound block. Gypsum is a metabolism enhancer, much analogous to humans drinking caffeine. Another recipe tweak is using what’s called Master Mix, aka Fast Fruiting Mix. This is 50% oak pellets and 50% soy hulls, available in bulk from stores such as Mushroom Media Online. Having worked with both, I find the fast fruiting mix worthwhile. Remember, mushroom mycelia don’t compete well with contaminating organisms. Therefore, the more quickly the substrate is colonized, the less chance of mold settling in. Using a fast-fruiting recipe and some food-grade gypsum can give your species the edge. Heavy inoculation of your substrate can also help.  How we make our bags matters. In addition to having a good recipe, there’s a matter of technique. Plan ahead: do you intend to inoculate using grain spawn or liquid culture? If the latter, then you can try pre-sealing the bags before sterilizing them. Be aware that the bags can burst during this process, however! My research showed about half of the posters reported bursting, and half were fine. I use 6-micrometer thick bags and pack them tightly in my canner, so I’ve been fine. Fold your bag such that the filter is on the inside of the fold and won’t be submerged in water. Those jar rings I use to keep my bags from direct contact with the bottom of my canner have been oxidizing and making an ugly mess! I don’t want any of that in contact with my substrate. Thankfully it scrubs well between uses. Also, be sure to deflate your bag as much as possible while folding. You’ll re-inflate at the point of inoculation so the mycelia will have the oxygen they need to grow and make mushrooms.  A standard food sealer such as a Nesco or Food Saver will work well to seal bags, whether it’s done before sterilization or after. Wipe the inside of the bag so it’s clean of those sawdust crumbs that happen. I use a paper towel sprayed with alcohol. Also, dry plastic seals better than wet. I have my sealer set to Extended Seal. While rubber bands can work to close your bag, I find this works better.  Self-healing ports can be anything from a piece of micropore tape to a fancy reusable rubber gizmo similar to what’s used in a specialized lid. I prefer the simple route myself. Be aware, however, that the humidity inside of your tent will likely dislodge a lesser glue, giving contamination a way in. Done this, been there. Use tape with a good glue and cover your injection site with the same. Silicone will also work, but you’ll have to wait 24-36 hours for it to set before use. If you’re flush with cash and don’t mind the expense, bags with ports are available from several sources. If you’re planning to inoculate from spawn, you’ll need to leave the bag open during sterilization. One thing you can try if you’re doing everything right but still having a problem is a Tyvek sleeve.

These are available on eBay in several sizes and fairly cheaply. They look and feel like thick coated paper. Put them on top of your block inside of the bag before sterilization. The rationale is that anything entering your bag when you open for inoculation will hit the sleeve, therefore not embedding into your substrate. Be sure to remove the sleeve within your still air box before inoculating your bag. And yes, they’re reusable. I rinse mine off and store them once dry with the rest of my small items.  (How do you survive a winter storm? Will you know what to do? Check out our free QUICKSTART Guide to learn more.) Inoculation is an art form. Ah, inoculation! The art of introducing the desired species to substrate that’s also a major point where contamination can be introduced. It can happen even while using a still air box. This is why I wipe all of my surfaces with either alcohol or bleach repeatedly, including between bag inoculations. I also leave my bags in the canner until I’m ready to inoculate. Remember: hot substrate will kill your mycelia. I leave my bags to cool inside the sealed canner overnight. A thermogun is also helpful.  There are two ways to inoculate: liquid culture and grain spawn. If you followed my instructions and made your own master cultures, you’re in a great position to use liquid culture. This is one way to lower the odds of contamination: just inject via the self-healing port, tape it over, and watch the bag colonize. Be aware that it’s still possible for bags inoculated in this way to become contaminated, however. Too high humidity in your Martha tent or mold endemic to that area can and will do it. Done this, been there. In fact, for a time, every one of the ten bags I made became contaminated. It happened so fast I thought that spontaneous generation wasn’t so debunked after all! It turned out that both too-high humidity and endemic contamination were at fault. I now bleach out my tent regularly, about once per month, and adjust the humidity to 75%. I have four species fruiting as of this writing, and they’re delicious! I tend to inoculate heavily, using 5-10 ml of culture. The culture won’t last forever anyway, so it might as well be used, especially if you can give your desired organism an edge.  Inoculating from spawn most definitely needs to be done in a still air box. Video instructions for doing that are contained within the course. Stamets also shows this being done in his book. Basically, just shake the spawn into the bag, then seal the bag. I find it helpful to use a sanitized butter knife to break up the spawn before shaking, as I find the spawn inside of the jar becomes a tight mass during colonization. Have an alcohol wipe or paper towel soaked with alcohol inside of your box. I wipe my blade between uses, even in the same jar, and wipe the spawn jar lid and upper jar area before closing if I haven’t used all of the spawn. Because still air boxes are small, I inoculate one bag at a time and sanitize everything between bags.  (Want uninterrupted access to The Organic Prepper? Check out our paid-subscription newsletter.) So that’s it! A few practical tips for making and inoculating your own supplemented sawdust blocks. Who says gardening can’t happen during a subzero winter! Do you grow mushrooms yourself? Have you learned a few things along the way? If you’re not growing mushrooms, what’s stopping you? Do you have questions? Please share your tips or ask in the comments below!  About Amy Allen Amy Allen is a professional bookworm and student of Life, the Universe, and Everything. She’s also a Master Gardener with a BS in biology, and has been growing food on her small urban lot since 2010.