#ZUCCHINI!!! i discovered that i like them now

[loststarphounix]

Gundham’s biggest rival for Kazuichi’s feelings is definitely Rantaro. Like yeah he suspected that Hajime was another person he had battle against for the mechanic’s affections, but then he got together with Fuyuhiko and Nagito and that soothed his worries. He’s been playing the long game, trying to get the others trust before he makes his feelings known. It’s been somewhat successful- Kazuichi is more friendly towards him and likes hanging out, but he still doesn’t know the goths feelings for him.

But in their third year, Class 79 enters their first year and somehow the Ultimate Adventurer crosses paths with Kazuichi and the two seemingly become inseparable overnight. Rantaro always finds the time to come visit their class just to see Kazuichi (and Sonia and Ibuki but not nearly as much) and they go off campus alone nearly every weekend. It’s maddening and the breeder feels like he needs to act now before it’s too late.

He has the support of nearly the whole class - they’re tired of seeing the breede and mechanic have their “will they, won’t they” weird tango thing. Seriously, Hajime, Fuyuhiko and Nagito were never THIS bad. There’s even a betting pool hosted by Hiyoko (the brat) on how long it’ll take them to get together. Some have already lost, with the longest time period being five years-

So, as you can imagine, they’re all pretty much done with the whole thing.

One day, Gundham is hyped by Ibuki, Sonia and Hajime to try to ask the other out and they make their way to the garage, just to find Kazuichi leaning against his work bench, with Rantaro standing so close it looks like he’s boxing the other in. They’re both smiling like they’re sharing a joke, until the mechanic sees them and pushes off the bench.

“H-hey guys!” He waves, face beet red as he awkwardly smiles at the group. “What are you all doing here?”

Rantaro merely smiles serenely as he stuff his hands in his pockets. “Yo.”

Gundham frowns, pushing his scarf up to cover his face while Sonia and Hajime’s mouths twist into awkward upticks.

“HI HI HI HI!” Ibuki skips into the garage, her bubbly energy more than enough the banish the awkwardness, “We came to see if Zucchini wanted to go out to that new night club tonight! Ibuki wants to dance till her heart gives out!”

The smiles grows into something more fond as Kazuichi chuckles at the girls antics. “Maybe not until your heart gives out, but yeah! I could definitely do some dancing!”

”We were just talking about that actually,” Rantaro smirks, “I was just trying to convince Kaz to go with me. But more the merrier.”

“We’re gonna paint the town red!” Ibuki cheered.

“Wait - all of you? You mean Gun too?” The mechanic looks at the taller teen, his expression slack with disbelief.

Sonia, seeing her friend in mild distress, steps up. “Do not be fooled! Gundham is a demon of many talents and can certainly ‘shred the bed’!”

“It’s ‘cut a rug’, Sonia.” Rantaro beamed and glanced at the breeder. “I liked to see it. Never seen a demon dance before.”

Huffing, Gundham lowered his scarf at glare at the green haired boy. “Then prepare to be amazed, mortal! My serenade is bound to drive you to madness!”

Rantaro simply smiles serenely, but Kazuichi gives him a curious glance. He seems to want to say something, until he’s interrupted by an another student who tells him about a generator malfunction and they both rush off. The rest trail off in a less hurried manner, the up first year giving his phone number to Hajime when he discovers he doesn’t have it, before they split up. Ibuki is excited for tonight, loudly proclaiming all the fun and wonderful things they’ll be able to do.

Hajime laughs at her theatrics before turning to the other boy who has been suspiciously quiet throughout their whole conversation. “How come you never told us you could dance? Kazuichi loves dancing, you know.”

To his surprise, the breeder suddenly looks - scared? He looks away from them, burying himself into the folds of his scarf as he admits in a hushed, shameful hiss.

“I…I do not possess the ability of dance bewitchment.”

And the other three stop in, eyes wide in surprise.

Well. Fuck.

#they try so hard to teach him in less than 5 hours #and it’s just not working #Kazuichi Souda loves dancing #i’ll die on this hill #don’t know if this’ll be a fic or what #i just wanted to write it down #Kazuichi goes out to clubs just to drink and dance and Rantaro goes to dance with/against Kazuichi #he is also playing the long game but is making big moves #yea he was about to kiss Kaz before they came in shhhh #danganronpa #danganronpa 2 #goodbye despair #sdr2 #soudam #kazuichi x rantaro #kazuichi souda #gundham tanaka #hajime hinata #rantaro amami #drv3 rantaro #sonia nevermind #ibuki mioda #silly fic rant thing

[three--rings]

Today I have Made Soup again and this time it’s one of my favorite recipes which I’ve discovered is only available on the Wayback machine.  So I’m gonna repost it here for posterity.

Tex Mex Chicken and Rice Soup

Ingredients:

3 tablespoons olive oil

divided coarse salt and fresh black pepper

1 pound boneless chicken breasts, cut into small cubes

1 small onion, diced

1 red or green bell pepper, diced

1/2 cup finely chopped black olives

3 cloves garlic, minced

1 + 1/2 teaspoons chili powder

1 teaspoon dried oregano(preferably Mexican), crushed between fingertips

1/2 teaspoon dried thyme

1/2 cup uncooked long or medium-grain white rice, rinsed well in a wire strainer with cold water

5 cups low-sodium chicken broth

1 cup salsa

2/3 cup fresh or frozen corn

for serving:

fresh chopped cilantro

lime wedges

shredded sharp cheddar cheese

sour cream

tortilla chips

Instructions

In a large soup pot heat 1 tablespoon of oil over medium heat. Season the chicken well and cook, stirring often so all sides get browned. Remove to a dish and set aside.

Add 2 tablespoons of oil to the pot over medium-low heat and saute the onion, pepper, garlic and olives together 5 minutes, season well with salt and pepper and stir often.

Mix in the chile powder, oregano, thyme and rice, cook 3 minutes.

Stir the chicken back into the pot and add the broth, salsa and corn. Bring to a simmer and cook 30 minutes. Stir and taste often - seasoning as needed.

Serve with toppings like cilantro, cheese, sour cream, lime and tortilla chips if desired.

This soup is really adaptable.  I usually make it with leftover chicken or turkey (like right now) rather than from raw.  The veggies also can be subbed for whatever you have/like. (I like adding chopped zucchini in the later half of cooking to replicate this one soup from a restaurant I love.)  I added black beans this time cause forgot to get corn and also don’t have a lot of leftover turkey.  You can also use fresh herbs if you have them/prefer.

Original recipe at: https://web.archive.org/web/20130307071946/http://www.cinnamonspiceandeverythingnice.com/tex-mex-chicken-rice-soup/   but the blog doesn’t exist at all anymore, so I don’t feel bad doing this.

#recipes #soup recipes

[fcktaken]

End of Year Gardening Asks

On my way home from the garden this afternoon I thought about these questions and I thought why not ask other people as well - so I’m tagging @allthingssoulful, @hilo​ @plantanarchy and everyone who wants to talk about their garden (windowsill, balcony, allotment, farm...). Also, if you are in the middle of gardening season, talk about that! Or keep these questions for in six months ;)

How was your gardening season?

Okay. I enjoyed it a lot, but also I did not spend as much time in the gardens as in previous years. Might have been because of more work, less energy because of covid, less excitement? I definitely did not plan as much as in previous years, but I remember very good days. As every year I am very glad my survival does not depend on the gardens, because that would not turn out very well.

Did you plant vegetables? How did they turn out?

In the city garden we planted less different vegetables, but more of the same ones. Green beans, swiss chard, cucumbers, potatoes did great. Tomatoes were okay. String beans (eaten by slugs), Zucchini (?), and surprisingly salad (sown too late? or maybe early?) did not work.

In the big garden I sowed no vegetables this year, but we had a surprise squash in the red currants. Very pretty, very tasty

Did you plant flowers? How did you like them?

Always. We have the perennials, like roses, asters, daisies and dandelions, primroses, tulips, peonies, dahlias... New was an autumn crocus that I hope will come back. As for annuals there were of course our beloved giant marigolds, the calendula, this year a bright orange garden cosmos.

Did you plant trees or bushes? How are they?

My grandmother planted new currants, black and red, in the big garden. Six out of eight made it, the other two were unearthed by mice. I tried propagating a pear, which did not work. Of course I indulged in my favorite pastime: I pruned my trees and bushes.

What was your biggest project? How did it go?

Probably the propagation, because it was so long term - cutting small branches in January, putting them on the young trees in May, discovering it didn’t work in August. We also had a new ...privy pit (? don’t know the exact word - a closed hole in the ground where the sewage is lead into because there is no sewage system) built, but I couldn’t help because I had covid at the time.

What did really not work this season?

Maybe I’m too positive, but I don’t know... Okay, the propagation, the string beans, the salad.

What worked really well?

The fact that I have these gardens, that I can spend time there, alone and with other people. The communication between all the people enjoying, using, being in, working in the gardens worked very well this year. Especially considering some of the people know each other for almost fourty years now, have complex relationships and some of them rarely talk to each other.

Did your garden surprise you?

Yes. Despite the drought we had so much fruit, especially pears, quinces, raspberries.

What was the biggest challenge?

The drought and the heat.

Anything else you want to talk about?

My girlfriend and I built a moundbed this fall and I am so excited to see how it will work out! Also the pickled green tomatoes are a treat, @allthingssoulful

Favorite picture?

There are people in my most favorites, so here are my favorites sans people: The most photographed views from my favorite places in the city garden (above) and the big garden (below):

#huh that was long #it was nice to reflect on the season though #and answering these questions i realized that they are not particularly well done #so take them and do what you want #in the style of:thank you for the question i will answer another one #hope you have fun! #ask meme #gardening #my gardens

[taimio]

The Art of Vegetable Harvesting: Mastering the Correct Techniques

Kick start your journey into reaping the rewards of your hard work by learning the best practices for harvesting vegetables. This comprehensive guide is packed with all the essential tips and tricks you need to know, whether you're a green-thumbed guru or a budding beginner. From identifying the perfect moment to pluck, to preserving the freshness, get ready to step up your gardening game. Immerse yourself in a deeper understanding of the lifecycle of your favourite veggies. Discover techniques for growing bigger, better, and more bountiful harvests that will make your neighbours green with envy. Unlock the doors to sustainable and healthy living by honing your vegetable harvesting skills. Unlock the joy of gardening and savour the satisfaction of eating fresh produce from your backyard garden. Continue reading to get more value from your garden while enjoying the therapeutic activity of gardening.

How to Harvest Vegetables the Right Way: A Guide for the Wise Gardener

There's something magical about growing your own vegetables, isn't there? The anticipation of a bountiful harvest is enough to make any gardener's heart skip a beat. But wait, before you grab that shovel and start digging, let me share some wisdom I've gathered through my own gardening adventures.

First things first, timing is everything. It's like waiting for the perfect moment to pop the question or to tell a joke – you want to catch your veggies at their ripest, their most flavorful. Trust me, they'll thank you for it. So, how do you know when it's time? Well, each veggie has its own secret signal. Some will be plump and glossy, others might be slightly softer to the touch, while a few will just scream pick me! right out of the ground.

Once you've mastered the art of timing, it's time to get your hands dirty. Literally. Digging up those carrots or pulling up those onions requires a gentle touch. Treat them like you would a delicate flower, with the utmost care and respect. Remember, these veggies have been working hard to bring you joy and nourishment, so handle them with love.

Now, picture this: you're standing in your garden, a beautiful bundle of freshly harvested vegetables cradled in your arms. You feel like a proud parent, and rightly so. But the work doesn't end there, my friend. Your veggies need a little clean-up before they're ready to grace your plate. Give them a gentle rinse to remove any dirt or bugs that may have hitched a ride. I promise, it'll be worth it.

When it comes to storing your newly harvested treasures, remember three little words: cool, dark, and dry. These veggies are like vampires – they thrive in a cool, dark environment. So, find a cozy spot for them, away from direct sunlight and excessive moisture. Whether it's a basement, a cellar, or a cool corner of your kitchen, give them the perfect home to stay fresh and vibrant for as long as possible.

Lastly, my fellow gardening enthusiast, never stop learning. There's always something new to discover about the art of vegetable harvesting. With every season, you'll gain more knowledge, face new challenges, and reap even greater rewards. So, embrace the journey, experiment, and above all, savor the delicious fruits of your labor.

Remember, gardening is not just about growing veggies; it's about nurturing life, fostering patience, and finding solace in nature's embrace.

Now, if you're itching to dive deeper into the world of vegetable harvesting, I highly recommend checking out the related article How To Harvest Vegetables (The Right Way). It's packed with invaluable tips and tricks, written by someone who clearly knows their cucumbers from their zucchinis. Happy harvesting!

Learn more about gardening with Taim.io!

#Harvesting Vegetables

[markmonlux]

Weekly Dose of Mark

Friday, July 14, 2023, Tacoma, WA • 07/14/23

Joining me at Freelance Fandango this week were Greg Spencer Wolf, Haley Waddington, James Stowe, and Allen Gladfelter. I needed to take notes about our discussions and stories, as my head swelled with them when I got home. And now I can’t remember a single one. I do recall that Allen was coaching Greg on how to improve drawing fingers. Maybe the AI programs can take a few tips. We also discussed submitting to have a table at Arts at the Armory. I will apply only on Sunday as I already have booked for Jet City Comicon on Saturday, and the table agreed that most of my fanbase will be there that day.

Stickermule is doing a special this week where they offer a discount on a different type of sticker each day. This is great because my sticker inventory was getting low. However, I only had one design created for a round die-cut sticker, and I just picked those up a couple of weeks ago. But I knew I had to get started on my next Weird Elephant poster for a film titled “The Wickerman.” I was distracted by a few other tasks and didn’t start the project until the afternoon. But once I started, I worked on it non-stop. Well, I did stop to have dinner. I had a deadline. I needed to stop at 9:30 because that’s when I prep for bed. I pushed myself and finished. I then went online to submit the art only to discover that Stickermule’s deadline had passed. They were only offering their next daily deal, which was holographic stickers. I was bummed! This design wasn’t going to work for a holographic sticker. I was low on a design that I’d used holographic backing before and resubmitted that artwork. Oh well, at least I got a much-needed jump start to my poster design.

My friend Penny Firehorse has jury duty all this week. I don’t think she was ever called. Which meant she basically sat in a room all week on-call. I got a jury notice last month. I looked at it today to check the website for next week. Whoops! I got the dates confused and was supposed to be serving this week. I sent Penny a message, “Did I miss anything?”

I was picking up some take-out at Panda Express this week when I saw a small family of four waiting for their order. The husband was playing with their youngest, a boy who I guess was six or seven. He was a small bundle of energy in the dirtiest Crocs I’d ever seen. One fell off his foot as the father slowly strolled after him through the empty tables. In economic movements accomplished only by young fathers, he noted the missing croc and picked up his son just as the kid’s foot touched the floor. He then swung the kid into the errant show. All this went smoothly, even after the father was surprised that his child left a perfect brown footprint on the floor. Baby footprints on birth certificates were not as perfect. The father called his young pre-tween daughter over. She was nothing but long limbs and long hair. Impressed by the footprint, she returned to her mother, who was still seated and waiting for their take-out bags. As the daughter reported on the footprint, the look which crossed her face was not one of amusement. Instead, in was a combination of repelant disgust and mild horror. It wasn’t a fleeting expression. It landed on her face and remained there, much like her child’s footprint on the floor was going to be there until someone scrubbed it away. You could tell that this footprint wasn’t going to disappear with a sweep. Somebody was going to have to get a bucket. In the meantime, it drew attention to itself out of its sheer perfection.

Alley News

We have been eating peas with every dinner. Also coming in are cucumbers, which we are dicing up to include in our salads and zucchini. Krista picks it while it is still less than a foot long and very tender. I’ve asked her to repeat a chicken dish she made earlier this week, but this time with mushrooms. I think it will be perfect then. 

Last trimmed blackberry vines outside our front fence. I also removed many that were in the garden in the hedge that boarders our neighbor’s yard and acts as a screen to their chainlink fence. I filled both of our yard waste containers, which got picked up this week.

For the first time in seven years, the nearby Air Force base will be hosting an air show. One of their attractions is going to be the Thunderbirds. Today they practiced in the sky over our house. While this was noisy at times, it was also very entertaining. Judy Martin came out from under her carport to watch them. Our neighbors Pat and Cathy Smith were also looking up into the sky. They repeated their practice a few hours later when I walked to the Quick-E-Mart a few blocks from here. Krista encouraged me to buy some lottery tickets. Mega Millions is at $560 Million, Powerball is at $875, and the local Lotto is at $4.2 Million. “I want to retire next week,” Krista told me, “so be sure you get the winning numbers.” As I walked home, the four jets flew so low I swore I could read their nametags. SSSSWOOOOOSSSSSHHHHHH!!

I had some dreams this week:

July 6

#IDreamt in order to take a college course, I had to return to high school for a quarter. I wasn’t making any friends in art class.

July 7

#IDreamt my brothers Cliff and Stan were renting a multi-room rent-controlled apartment in NYC with some friends. They invited me to live there too. One of the friends was moving out. We were cleaning garbage out of a shared vehicle.

July 8

#IDreamt a mother kept wearing Pokémon themed clothing to annoy her daughter long after the daughter lost interest in the game as an act of long-burn revenge.

July 9

#IDreamt purgatory was a nearly abandoned Mall. Jack Elan saw my confusion and explained, “All these places are connected.” He then showed me around a corner to a bar in Thailand, where we ordered seared sirloin strips.

July 10

#IDreamt my personality split into multiple parts for a group therapy session. One part of me convinced the others that this was unproductive narcissistic feeding bull hockey.

July 11

#IDreamt while waiting for the hotel shuttle, I found several Hawaiian Shirts buried in the sand with a note from a thief, a guest at a hotel stole them from another guest to make a treasure map for their kids.

July 13

#IDreamt I was the first of several people to turn into a 16-foot giant. Large seeds were popping through my skin like acne. Scientists didn’t know what to make of it.

July 14

#IDreamt it was 1934 when an alien and his equivalent to a cow appeared on a secluded farm where a farmer, his wife, son, daughter, and their cow lived. Everything was fine until the farmer had a psychotic break.

I’m in the middle of a couple of movies right now. But here’s one I did finish watching on YouTube.

64. July 8

They Made Me a Fugitive (1947) Rating: 5

I watched this movie because I was curious about Extraction 2, and I like watching my movies in the sequence they were released. This is a highly challenging kill-count movie. It’s even a difficult explosion-count movie. The action scene goes at a breakneck pace through a warren of alleys, apartments, balconies, and slums. It kept me entertained as Fourth of July fireworks went off through the night and didn’t interfere at all with the view of the film.

More next week,

Mark

#weeklydose

[qaraxuanzenith]

I am posting this for accountability, as a reminder to myself.

Growing up, I was a picky eater. It was difficult to cajole me into eating any vegetables, and even when I'd try one, I would say it made me feel sick and then go back to not eating it. So picky!

As an adult, and especially in the past ten years, I've become more adventurous and deliberately more "grown-up" about the foods I try and the foods I like. I've discovered that I actually like a lot of vegetables that I used to turn up my nose at, like broccoli, zucchini, and spinach!

I've also discovered, though, that while there are some foods I'm still just "picky" about (I'm simply not sold on the taste of eggplant, mushrooms, or cauliflower), there are other foods that I actually for real can't eat.

I have known for a while that I'm intolerant to cabbage and anything cabbage-like (bok choy, brussels sprouts), of the "physically incapable of swallowing it" variety.

And the juice of raw tomatoes and bell peppers makes me feel sick, even though I LIKE tomatoes now (I love them in soups, when they've been cooked enough that the juice doesn't affect me).

And, okay, I'm "mildly intolerant" to spinach, meaning if I eat more than an arbitrarily small amount in a sitting I might throw it up or come close, which is a pain because I really like spinach now, especially raw in a salad or cooked in dough like spanakopita or spinach bourekas.

And, all right, recently I've discovered another mild intolerance to "dark greens" - more than an arbitrarily small amount of things like asparagus, or cucumber or zucchini with the peel on, and I'll suddenly experience the "physically unable to swallow" that I know from my cabbage intolerance.

And then today, proud of my new salad eating habits, I told my mom I would try the (lettuce plus dressing) salad she had made, and she served me a big bowlful. I'm not intolerant to lettuce, I thought in my hubris. Then just past halfway through the very delicious salad, I started gagging violently and couldn't eat more.

So anyway, turns out I'm mildly intolerant to ALL green vegetables (plus tomatoes and bell peppers).

I'm probably going to keep up with the "I'm ideologically opposed to eating salad" line because in my experience only people like my fiancee who have a personal experience of niche / weirdly specific allergies or intolerances will believe you when you say "I'm intolerant to basically all vegetables" and, also in my experience, people are a lot more tolerant of someone giving a funny quip acknowledging her picky eating than of a grown adult who can't even admit to just being picky about vegetables. But I'm writing this to remind myself so I'll know, and feel vindicated, that the vast majority of vegetables that I refuse to eat, or only eat in minuscule quantities or only when overcooked, are not because of baseless picky eating but from genuine for real eating intolerance.

#food #picky eater #eating intolerance #cw vomit mention #cw gagging mention #probably tmi #dietary restrictions #vegetables

[davideldib]

The World's Most Famous Foods

I would say Ramen if you asked me. I've tried wide different varieties because I adore them. One of my favorite foods; you should try it if you haven't already. There are so many variations of Ramen that it is impossible to list them all.

If you're unfamiliar, dim sum is a Chinese food that translates to "touch the heart." This particular savory snack is frequently provided with tea. Numerous varieties of dumplings, noodle rolls, and other foods are available.

You can eat dim sum, either steamed or fried. With each dish, a different filling is used. For instance, the har gow, a traditional Cantonese dim sum, comprises chopped shrimp wrapped in thin skin. Soy sauce is usually served with this. The siu mai, a pork and shrimp dumpling is another well-liked dim sum dish. Among the fillings in this dish are ground pork, green onions, and mushrooms.

A kebab is a meat dish typically served on skewers in Turkey. Kebabs come in various varieties and can be eaten with various toppings. The meat is generally stewed with tomato and onion. Different types of vegetables are also used, though.

Popular Turkish street food is doner kebab. It is made of doner meat that has been thinly sliced and cooked on a vertical rotating spit. The heart is then grilled, and various toppings are added. The doner kebab can be consumed as a sandwich or traditionally served on pita bread.

Greek casserole called moussaka is made with meat and eggplant. It is a well-known Turkish and Balkan recipe. Although its origins are unknown, it is most likely from the Middle East or one of the Arabic nations. Moussaka can be made in various ways, but it's most frequently made as a layered baked dish. There are typically three layers.

Typically, eggplant fills the bottom layer of the casserole. A thick bechamel sauce is placed on top of the baked good. Additionally, some variations contain potatoes and zucchini. "moussaka" was initially used to describe a dish made with thinly sliced eggplant. This dish is also known as musakhan, musakhkhan, or makhana.

One of the most consumed foods worldwide is Ramen. This soup's origins date back hundreds of years to China. It was introduced to Japan, where it is now well-known. A variety of noodles and flavored broth are used to make the dish. The soup is topped with various ingredients, such as pork, chashu, bean sprouts, spinach, and soft-boiled eggs.

Despite having its roots in China, Ramen eventually made its way to Japan. Immigrants from the nation brought the dish to Yokohama in the 19th century, where it quickly gained popularity. The Taisho era (1912–1926) saw an increase in ramen shops opening. Many people discovered Ramen was a filling meal after the war, especially for urban workers and soldiers. It evolved into a simple, affordable method of consuming food.

A dish made of grains called Couscous has its roots in North Africa. It is now a well-liked food on a global scale. For many types of cuisine, it is a necessary side dish. Typically, vegetables or meat are served with Couscous in North African and Middle Eastern cuisine. The versatile food couscous is also simple to make. It can serve as the foundation for other dishes or as a salad. On the other hand, Couscous is typically done with a sauce, like buttermilk or orange flower water.

This straightforward dish is a typical side in Moroccan and Algerian cooking. Couscous is typically made with lamb or chicken in Morocco, but it can also be made with beef, fish, or rabbit. Almonds, cinnamon, sugar, and dates are additional couscous ingredients that can be used.

The green papaya salad is a mouthwatering combination of tastes and textures. Southeast Asia is known for this dish. Papaya is a simple vegetable to locate at an Asian grocer. Garlic, chili, palm sugar, and shredded unripe papaya are among the ingredients in green papaya salad. A food processor, mortar, and pestle can be used to make this salad.

You can use white soy sauce instead of fish sauce to make a vegetarian version of this salad. Additionally, you can omit the dried shrimp. Depending on your preferences, you can also add extras like bell peppers, fried onions, and almonds.

[witne1947]

The Mighty Mushroom

Each time my family requested pizza when I was a youngster, my father would discover a workable method for sneaking mushrooms onto a side of that pizza, conceivably tucked under a layer of cheddar for every extraordinary guidance to the pizza parlor. He cherished them yet I was obstinately persuaded that a solitary mushroom would destroy the whole pizza. Now that I'm more seasoned and have fostered a more refined sense of taste (alright fine, I actually love Cinnamon Toast Crunch), I've come to comprehend how simply exceptional buy spore syringes online are in the realm of food. They give an uncommon assortment of surface and flavors which appear to adjust to any sort of dish. Furthermore, as a touch of good to beat all, I've figured out how mushrooms are genuinely great for your wellbeing. Think about this my tribute to the mushroom.

Medical advantages

With regards to wellbeing, consumable mushrooms are a straight up there with other super-food varieties green tea and broccoli. All things considered, the primary anti-infection agents were removed from growths. Being 80-90% water, mushrooms are low in calories, while as yet being high in fiber. They are sans fat, without cholesterol, and low in sodium (particularly really great for those on a hypertensive eating regimen). Here are a few different motivations to slip more grows into your cooking:

Mushrooms are viewed as probiotic, implying that they assist the body with reinforcing itself and avert sickness. Part of mushrooms' probiotic capacity comes from their high level of the supplement riboflavin. Mushrooms are an extraordinary wellspring of potassium, a mineral which assists lower with blooding pressure and decrease the gamble of stroke. A medium portabella mushroom has more potassium than a glass of squeezed orange or a banana. Phytonutrients found in mushrooms have been at the focal point of against disease research for quite a long time. In numerous nations, therapeutic mushrooms are utilized as an assistant to other disease medicines. White (Button) White mushrooms really range in variety from white to light brown, and come in various sizes. The more modest assortments of white mushrooms are called button mushrooms and are effectively the most famous mushroom in cooking, found in most supermarkets. Newly picked white mushrooms have a gentle or fragile flavor. As the covers obscure, they foster a more extravagant desire.

Late investigations have demonstrated the way that white mushrooms can decrease the gamble of bosom and prostrate disease. Barbecued Lemon Shrimp with Mushrooms This good dinner is impeccably prepared with light lemon juice and garlic, barbecued flawlessly and afterward stuffed into a pita. Carb-accommodating and heavenly!

Fixings

8 oz. new white mushrooms

1 lb. huge shrimp, stripped and deveined

2 medium-sized zucchini, cut 1 inch thick (around 2 1/2 C.)

1 medium-sized red onion cut in 8 wedges

1/4 C. olive oil

2 Tbs. new lemon juice

2 tsp. minced garlic

1 tsp. dried oregano leaves, squashed

1/2 tsp. salt

1/4 tsp. ground dark pepper

4 pitas, warmed

Cucumber Yogurt Sauce:

1 C. plain low-fat yogurt

1 C. stripped, cultivated and diced cucumber

1 Tbs. hacked new mint or parsley

1 tsp. minced garlic

1/2 tsp. salt

Bearings

Preheat outside barbecue or grill until hot. Leave little mushrooms entire; split bigger ones. In an enormous bowl, place mushrooms, shrimp, zucchini and red onion. In a little bowl, join olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, oregano, salt and dark pepper, and pour over vegetables; throw until very much covered. Put vegetables and shrimp on a vegetable barbecuing rack or a rack in a grill container. Barbecue or sear something like 6 creeps from heat until vegetables and shrimp are recently cooked, around 8 minutes, mixing frequently and brushing infrequently with outstanding marinade. Serve on pitas with Cucumber Yogurt Sauce.

To make sauce, in a little bowl, consolidate all fixings and mix well. Makes around 1 1/2 cups.

Yield: 4 servings

From: St. Pete Times

Sustenance data per serving: 308 calories, 25gm protein, 16gm fat

Crimini/Cremini/Italian Brown

Crimini mushrooms are comparative in appearance to white mushrooms, however are a more obscure variety, going from light tan to dim brown. They have a firmer surface and a more grounded, earthier flavor than white mushrooms. These make an extraordinary substitute for white mushrooms in any recipe and function admirably with hamburger.

Crimini mushrooms are a fantastic wellspring of selenium, which is required for the appropriate capability of the cell reinforcement framework in the body. Selenium attempts to forestall colon disease, joint inflammation, and even asthma. Crimini mushrooms are likewise uncommonly great as a wellspring of zinc, a basic mineral for the invulnerable framework. Vegan Vagrant Supper Cooked over hot coals, this feast is made with Boca "meat", mushrooms, carrots, and potatoes.

Fixings

2 carrots, cut

6-8 new potatoes, quartered

1/2 onion, lg. pieces

2 shallots, cut

2-3 cloves garlic, lg. pieces

8-10 cremini mushrooms entire or split

2-4 Tbs. olive oil

2 Tbs. unsalted spread, discretionary

1 pkg. frozen Boca ground "meat"

salt and pepper, to taste

season salt, run

Bearings

Blend all cut vegetables in a bowl. Make 2 pockets with substantial aluminum foil, multiplied. Put a layer of vegetables on base. Layer Boca ground "meat" next. Add a last layer of veggies. Pour 1-2 Tbs. of olive oil on every supper, dab with spread, if utilizing. Season with salt, pepper, and season salt. Overlap foil to make an impermeable seal. Cook on hot coals for fifteen minutes, flipping part of the way through. Present with ketchup, appreciate!

Portabella/Portobello

Portabellas are a bigger comparative with white mushrooms, arriving at a width of up to 6 inches. Portabellas take more time to ruin than white or crimini mushrooms. Due to their more drawn out developing cycle, they have a denser, meatier surface and flavor, making them delightful on sandwiches.

Portabella Pizza

This heavenly, hull less pizza with cheddar, tomatoes, and mushrooms is important for a low-carb diet.

Fixings

1 to 2 tsp. extra-virgin olive oil

1 clove garlic, stripped, minced

6 oz. portabella mushroom covers (around 4), cleaned, stems eliminated

Spot of salt and newly ground dark pepper to taste

12 oz. destroyed or cut mozzarella cheddar 10 new basil leaves

2 new tomatoes, cut, cooked, barbecued or seared Oregano leaves, discretionary

Bearings

Preheat the stove to 450 degrees. In a little bowl, consolidate the oil and garlic. Rub the mushroom covers on all sides with the oil combination. Place the covers, top side down, in a circle on an oiled baking sheet. Season with salt and pepper. Organize the cheddar, basil and tomato cuts on the other hand in a circle on top of the mushrooms. Sprinkle with oregano, in the event that you like. Prepare until the cheddar softens, around 3 to 5 minutes. Eliminate from the stove and serve.

Shitake (Oak/Chinese/Dark Timberland)

Shitake mushroom covers have a rich, woodsy flavor and delicate, elastic surface. They range in variety from tan to dull brown with wide, umbrella-formed covers. Shitake mushrooms can endure as long as 14 days and the disposed of stems can be utilized to enhance soup stocks.

Utilized for quite a long time in East Asia to battle colds and pipes, shitake mushrooms have been displayed to assist with invigorating the resistant framework, battle disease, and avoid cancers. Shitake additionally treats wholesome inadequacies and liver afflictions. Miso Soup Fixings

4 C. water

1-2 C. hacked natural vegetables (see note)

1 1/2 Tbs. of dull natural grain

Miso Firm tofu, diced into 1/2 inch 3D squares

3-inch piece dried wakame kelp (found in most wellbeing food stores)

2 shitake mushrooms, natural, dried (Can pre-drench per bundle directions.)

Bearings

Heat up the water in a little pot. Add slashed vegetables and mushrooms to bubbling water. Lower intensity, cover, and stew until vegetables are delicate (around 8-15 minutes relying upon the vegetables utilized). After vegetables have stewed for around 5 minutes, place a 1/4 C. hot vegetable stock from the pot in a different bowl. Add miso to bowl and blend until miso turns into a wet glue. Add tofu to bowl of miso blend and put bowl to the side until vegetables are delicate. Attack little pieces and add to the pot.

At the point when vegetables are delicate, add the miso combination from the bowl to the pot. Let represent 3 - 4 minutes. Try not to warm miso on high intensity, as it will kill the living microorganisms that guide in absorption and recuperating. Recall making this mending soup is natural. You can attempt pretty much miso and different vegetable mixes. Honor your body's insight as you explore different avenues regarding this miso soup recipe. Partake in this mending soup.

[preppernewstoday]

(Psst. The FTC asks me to remind everyone that this website includes affiliate links. This means that if you click on a link, you might earn a small commission. This doesn't increase the cost of the item or decrease its awesomeness. ~ Daisy) You've completed our Home Agriculture Comprehensive Course and are now able to grow your own food. This is an attractive option in these times of shortages and inflation. It's a plus to me that anything I put in my mouth is something I grew. Although the cost of growing food in the garden is not free, the benefits are worth it. Where do we go from there? What can we do now to make the garden even better? An annual garden review is something I enjoy. I record what went well, what didn’t work and what I intend to do differently next season. This article will show you how I reviewed my year so that you can do yours. Three areas were in production for me this year. I'll be taking each one individually, but the questions are the same. I consider my first year in the community gardening plot a success. What I did at the community gardening plot: - Laying the weed barrier cloth. This saved so much time and effort on the maintenance side! - Vegetable selection. I have had only two-legged varmints. -Overall care and maintenance. I was able to get up at 6 AM without getting sick, and had a great harvest. Fresh air and exercise are invaluable, plus they add a positive spin to my day. – The old bucket and milk jug I used for watering worked great and cost nothing. Mycorrhiza was added to the plants. It worked well. These granules were used by me. The soil test provided by Soil Savvy was a great investment. It was cheaper than the local extension office's offering and it was more thorough. Things I can improve upon/will do different next year at the plot in the community garden: -Vegetable selection. There were too many squashes and too many bell peppers. Keep in mind my seed-starting disaster and that I was forced to use what I could get at the garden center, this is an area where I am still learning. I was able find my old, trusted seed starting mix so that I can use it next year. Mycorrhiza-containing stuff was clearly unsterilized, and it produced seedlings that were runted or diseased. -Snow fence. -Snow fence. Perhaps because they were not used to fencing. Although it was difficult to pull, the critters managed to get in. -Cucumbers. They were liked by both the powdery mildew-loving varmints and the two-legged varmints, so I only got a few. These should be thrown out. I like zucchini pickles better, anyway. What can I do about my deck and yard? What I did right: -Move the pepper plants away form the tomatoes. I don't care about what the companion planting charts suggest. My peppers were thin and spindly when I grew them together. I was fortunate to get two plants. The peppers became prolific after I moved them. -Tomatillos. They were a chance buy and this was my first year of growing them. They were a great success! This is a great keeper for next years garden. I had saved the seeds, but couldn't resist purchasing a few more. I cleaned out my strawberry bed. It was not worth the effort. The berries were small and hardy, so it was easy to choke out. While I was cleaning out the old bed, I discovered that I had accumulated a good pile of viable runners and rooted runners. Here I am, sitting with a pile of viable plants. Success is often about the proper exploitation of opportunities. Let's see how it turns out! It's also possible to grow some garlic bulbs there, which is a bonus. It was very easy to grow carrots in those cinderblock brick spaces. The bricks that I had left over from an older project were used to make a new bed, which didn't cost anything. This new space was very helpful. These spaces were also very helpful for radishes. The beets would have been happier had the rabbits left them alone, I believe. It's okay.

What do you do with all that food? Get our QUICKSTART guide to canning at home. What I can improve on with my yard/deck gardens: Because I couldn't find my potting soil at any price, I bought new garden soil. It worked well in my garden, but it was too heavy to fit into the containers. The deck containers were therefore largely washed this year. It was also full of weed seeds. The deck was empty. I did not get any other items than one pot of wine caps mushrooms. The potatoes did double in size (I got 2 lbs for 1 lb of seed), but they have grown better in these pots. The varieties I selected rotted as they were being cured, and then rotted when stored. Therefore, I did not get anything. It was unacceptable that I had to work so hard for nothing. The amount of greens, herbs, beans, and beans that I received from other pots was much lower than previous years. I believe this was due to the soil. It was too heavy. It was too heavy. I don't think I will be able to find decent potting soil next year. One of the tomato plants I raised died quickly, so I think it was early blight. Despite the fact that my tomatoes did not produce well this year, the squashes and tomatillos in that same bed did well. It could have been the nursery plant. (Want to have uninterrupted access The Organic Prepper? Subscribe to our paid newsletter. ) These are the things that I can do differently in every area: As I mentioned above, if I don't have good potting soil that I can mix with my garden soil, I won’t set up the deck next year. That space can be used for flowers and supporting high school botany clubs. It is also good for pollinators. There are several pots that I have overwintered in my house and they can be taken out to the wild. But don't forget the VegTrug with all that soil! There is no Adirondack Blue, or Magic Molly potatoes. Bah! Bah! The Red Adirondacks were also good. Because seed potatoes online are so expensive, saving seed is possible for free. Now that I know how much I can fit into my plot, I can plan my vegetables accordingly. I also listened to what my neighbors were doing. I can also move tomatoes there and try corn. And, of course, my beans and peas will be grown there. I will definitely reduce my squash consumption, even though there are plenty of winter varieties I feel very grateful for. The food bank was also grateful to me for the donation of 210 pounds. It gives me a positive feeling and allows me to express my gratitude for everything I have. I'm able to do without more than ten plants. Since they don't produce well, I will not use the buttercup and golden varieties. Instead, I will stick to zucchini, butternut and spaghetti and maybe a patty-pan. I can also grow what I need with 3-4 pepper plants. There is no need to buy 10. Since the wine cap mushrooms grew well in a container on my deck, I set up a mushroom bed outside. It's something we'll watch. From the experimental inoculation last year, I was able to harvest a few lion’s mane fruits. Although they were small, each one was enough to make a meal. So, I hope for the wine caps. I have garlic in the brick spaces. Because seed garlic is so expensive this year, it was best to use what I had in the past. Between that and the strawberry bed I have a decent-sized planting of more than 30 cloves. It remains to be seen what I get. Are you doing an end-of-year review of your garden? Keep a journal about your gardening activities. What about a year-end overview? What was successful for you? And what could you do better in the next year? Leave a comment below! About Amy Allen Amy Allen is a professional reader and student of Life and the Universe. Amy Allen is also a Master Gardener and holds a BS degree in biology. She has been growing food on her urban small lot since 2010.

[ediblegardenspointloma]

In My San Diego Garden and Kitchen

Before launching into reports of nectaplum season I’ll catch up on the green theme in the garden. Capturing my attention recently have been green beans, zucchini and cucumbers.

Thankfully, the ‘Raven’ zucchini is slowing just as I’ve saturated the neighborhood. Powdery mildew has not set in yet, though I’ve been thinning the leaves to promote better air circulation.

The zucchini have come in all sizes depending on my attentiveness. The plants are quite large and my husband has discovered two zucchini about 15 inches long. I found a home for one and “zucchini-bombed” the second—hanging it in a bag over the fence at a nearby construction site before workers arrived.

Zucchini, cheese and local sourdough bread are an unbeatable combination. My favorite was the grilled sandwich on the right. I sauteed diagonally cut slices of zucchini about 1/4 inch thick then layered them with Manchego cheese for some punch. The zucchini added substance to the grilled cheese sandwich.

In recent weeks there were numerous entrees with zucchini and of course, zucchini bread. My file folder of zucchini recipes keeps me inspired.

Most days we pick large handfuls of ‘Emerite’ pole beans similar to the thumbnail photo. They are slowing a bit but there are many pints in the freezer.

My Western take on a Niçoise salad (pictured above) happens every July. I’ll be making the salad for a picnic and outdoor pipe organ concert at Balboa Park tonight.

Another simple green bean salad is in the photo with the zucchini sandwich. To blanched green beans I add red onion, diced celery and leaves, olive oil, salt and pepper. When served, I squeeze fresh lemon juice over all.

The first of the trellised ‘Chelsea Prize’ cucumbers made its way to the kitchen last week. It’s been a favorite from Renee’s Garden for fifteen years. Most are 12-15 inches long and the catalog description is not hyperbolic: “thin skinned, bitter-free cucumbers are always easy to digest with absolutely delicious crispy sweet flesh and few seeds.”

We still have some off-bloom navel oranges so I made four jars of sweetened oven dried orange slices. There’s also fresh orange juice a couple mornings a week.

A standout in the vegetable garden this year has been the ‘Junior’ branching, container sunflowers from Renee’s Garden. Planted next to the zucchini, I’d like to think the bees visiting the sunflowers account for the robust zucchini crop.

Next week I’ll provide a nectaplum update. Count me overwhelmed, as we’re at about 80 pounds with a third of the harvest yet to come.

Planting has slowed but you can see the updates in What I’m Planting Now. Then head over to see what other garden bloggers around the world harvested last week at Harvest Monday hosted by Dave at Happy Acres blog.

To leave a comment, click on “Leave a comment/Show comments,” enter the comment, then insert your name. Finally, click on “Comment as Guest” to post comment.

#pole beans #zucchini #Raven zucchini #Emerite pole beans #Chelsea Prize cucumber #cucumbers #Renee's Garden Seeds #branching sunflowers

[ijustcantwaittobeme]

Hope you can forgive my lateness @Yariem-Alkahen!!

This is answering a question about my Five from @enbeast‘s post asking questions concerning Five (which can be found here  )  from the wonderful @yariem-alkahen!! Apologies that it’s taken me so long to see and respond! I appreciate you sending this my way and hope you are doing well! :D Question 21: “ What is the now-100%-expired-and-gone food your five misses the most? “

Oh this one is a thinker!! I’m trying to think of things that would be gone for good and any particular item that my Five would miss the most. In terms of a favourite food item that would be difficult to obtain these days or just cease to exist because of the risk of contamination / zombies infecting things would have to probably be a lot of produce like fruits and vegetables. (Something’s wrong with my Five I know haha) And while this isn’t something that would be completely gone from civilization - I feel like anywhere and at Abel as well that canned goods are just the way of life for everyone after awhile. Probably the safest and go to foods for sure, so even with  canned vegetables and fruit - it’s something that my Five got used to but they would certainly miss the variety of having their fresh fruits and vegetables.) And while it’s not a specific food - my Five misses the - for lack of a better term - the group setting and get-together you could have from restaurants. Don’t know if that’s acceptable for this question to include with the answer because It’s - again - not something that is completely gone but it’s something that is probably not as available as it once was. Plus my Five misses simple things like that (they took it and gathers for granted which haunts them to a degree) but they miss how it brought people together in some way or another. And since food usually makes everyone happy - that is what my Five misses the most; that sort of comfortable time in life to just tune the world out with others you care about and enjoying different foods. To choose from super healthy to the super unhealthy and heart-disease riddled layers of food combinations.  Five continues to try and makeshift moments like that in Abel though if they can. They definitely haven’t initiated this in Abel but it’s something they support and go out of their way to help however they can or have more inclusiveness for the new citizens and new runners especially so that they feel at home. (But seeing as they are methodical and a recipe follower by heart, they have been asked to leave the huge contribution of prepared meals outside of themselves alone; the post zombie-apocalypse era has not been kind to their ‘cooking’ skill(s).)

I promise I won’t keep yammering here but let’s see - if there’s really something specific - I guess it would be this but it’s also already expired so it may not count either... crap haha! But a food that they would miss that’s just gone - and still is to this day is those Butterfinger BB candies from -- I guess it was the 90s? 00s??? Anyway...

Since I don’t know how long they sold these - I thought having a visual would be a neat addition.

Sorry if this got to be too ramble-y on answering this @yariem-alkahen​ ! I’ve enjoyed getting to answer it although I feel like I didn’t give a very specific answer. ^^’ Apologies there but I had to think on it for a while.  My Five’s kind of a grazer anyway and specific foods aren’t necessarily missed by them so much as getting to enjoy them (and having something fresh, warm and just - a huger variety of foods)  with people that matter to them. I don’t know if that makes any more sense or not but thank you again for leaving this and for wanting to know!! I apologize again that it has taken so long but it’s been fun to answer! ^_^

#zr #runner five #zombies run #questions for my five #this is so sweet @yariem-alkahen -- no pun intended but thank you for sending this my way! <3 #my five is an odd one - hope it has been boring for you to read ^^' #i would actually love to hear your Five's take and answers here sometime! Be curious but no pressure! ^^ #also hope the additional photo is acceptable or not a bad addition here #oh and as for fruits - things like blueberries watermelons and or bananas are top picks #vegetables would be all over the place but avocados - zucchinis and most variants of squash really - oh and okra as well #but yeah if my Five discovered a holy grail of sorts and found butterfinger bb's still in existence #or even a simple jar of peanut butter #someone needs to save them from themselves haha #sorry for rambling in the tags - I'll go now ^^'

[freakingbellam]

Timeless (HP & HOO crossover x reader)

Synopsis: What would you say if I told you that Hogwarts and Camp Half-Blood are not so far apart? Yeah, Gale and Y/n would also say this is crazy. But these two girls are about to discover that even though they are far apart, the magic that surrounds them is the same. After all, what do a time travel, a fearful prophecy and a Titan about to resurrect, have in common? Certainly more than you can imagine.

Paring: Apollo x reader

Warnings: None, I guess.

Reader: Percy's step sister! reader

Word count: 1.7k

A / N: escreve o que quiser (notas da autora)

September 2010, New York - USA

Y/n would be lying if she said she didn’t cry like a baby when she saw Argo II return to Camp Half-Blood. She had been forbidden to help in the battle against the giants, but she was nevertheless not full at Camp. After the near invasion of Camp Jupiter and Reyna's visit, things got messed up there.

But the best part of the return of the other demigods was seeing Percy again. He looked extremely exhausted, but happy to be back in one piece. Y/n hugged him for so long that Percy almost fell asleep in her arms.

The boy was welcomed with all the frenzy he deserved, entitled to a hearty banquet and a visit from his father, along with a very tearful Sally and a relieved Paul.

Tyson had been absolutely thrilled to see his older brother talking to his friends by the fire, which glowed high and yellow, mirroring the emotion of the half-bloods.

Despite being as happy as the others, and maybe even more so, Y/n retired a little earlier that night. She didn't walk long before her absence was noticed.

‘Mingling with the shadows? I thought this was my own thing.” The girl smiled at Nico di Angelo, who walked over to her with his hands in the pockets of his aviator jacket, which was still too big for him.

“I'm going to sleep, Nico.” She explained, continuing her way to Cabin 3. “It was a day full of emotions, I'm tired.”

Nico nodded, walking beside her. Y/n always found it fun to be the same size as Nico, but now she realized that he was a few inches taller than she was.

“Are you okay?” she asked, bringing up the subject.

“I think so.” Nico replied, looking surprised by his own conclusion. “Maybe things get better for me from now on.”

“I'm sure it will.” Y/n opened an encouraging smile. Because he was the son of Hades, Nico suffered more than all the other demigods, which worried the girl. She hadn't seen him since the war of the Titans, but she talked to Percy during her mission and discovered things she didn't want to discover.

She looked at Nico. For the first time in his life, his face looked serene, as if his problems were gone. Y/n realized that it would be better not to go into details about the problems he went through. She did not want to end his joy.

“Di Angelo!” someone called, running up to them. Y/n turned to find Will Solace smiling like a ray of sunshine. “Hi Y/n!”

“Will.” She smiled. When looking at Nico, she noticed a pink tint on his cheeks and held her laugh. “Can you take care of Nico for me? I need to go to sleep but he doesn't want to leave.”

Will smiled, realizing what she meant. Nico looked at her with anger and indignation, but he didn't seem against the idea.

“Certainly.” The blonde took a step forward. “Have a good night!”

“You too.” She raised an eyebrow at Nico and walked back to her cabin.

She was still smiling when she passed Hecate's cabin, which looked darker than ever. Her smile wilted. She had always been a little afraid of the goddess's children since she found herself a half-blood and moved to camp. But that night, something seemed comforting in the hideous darkness of the cabin. Unable to contain the impulse that occurred to her, Y/n went up on the porch and went through the open door. None of the goddess's children were there, they were probably still at the stake celebrating, they always loved a good party.

Y/n didn't know exactly what she expected to find inside, but she certainly wasn't ready for what she saw. She had never entered the cabin since she had never been invited and it didn't feel right to enter without an invitation like she did now. But what she found was an absolute void. No bunk beds, bathroom, closet or chest. Nothing for the basic comfort of teenagers. All that was inside was a torch on the floor with a brown leather-bound notebook beside it.

“Take it” A whisper said, and Y/n knelt down to better analyze the notebook.

“Who...?” She started the question, but knew at the time that she had no need to finish it. Hecate was there. “Are you hiding in the shadows?”

There was a harsh laugh, but Y/n couldn't tell where it came from. It was as if the goddess moved in every particle of air around her.

“I heard that Poseidon's children were mocking, but seeing that feat face to face is much more fun. Ares definitely didn't say enough about it.”

“I don't think he has any reason to boast about it.” She commented, but her body was tense. Something about the goddess made her feel that bad things would happen any second.

“Take the notebook.” She asked, seeming to feel the girl's tension. “Take it and bring my girl back.”

“What does that mean?” Y/n asked, but never got an answer.

After several minutes, she finally let herself be overcome by curiosity, put the notebook under her arm and ran out of the cabin.

Y/n spent a few days without touching the notebook, which was comfortably resting on the small table in her cabin. Percy asked several times what the notebook was and why Y/n didn't move it, but the girl always answered the same thing. "It's just a silly notebook." She was afraid to open it and end up triggering something she couldn't control.

Percy and the others had just returned from a massacre battle with irreparable losses, she didn't want to leave anyone alarmed by something as stupid as a leather notebook.

Y/n tried to distract herself. She would swim in the lake, duel with Percy in the arena, ask Tyson to teach her something in the forges, help Chiron with pending camp, talk about the biggest zucchinis with Rachel, encourage Annabeth to talk nonstop about architecture, sometimes make her repeat everything he had said in Greek, but nothing seemed to get her thoughts out of the notebook. Instead of being distracted, she got some scars from the duels, burns from the forges and throbbing ears, but nothing erased the notebook.

Tired of trying, Y/n returned to the cabin and spent several minutes looking at the problem. She would get up a few times, making a move to pick it up, but soon she would go back to sitting on bed. When she finally thought she would be brave enough to end the trip, someone knocked on the door.

Changing her course, Y/n opened the door to the blond, smug figure.

Y/n and Apollo had spent a lot of time together a few months before, not that any of them had a chance to do the opposite. He had helped her save the Camp when everyone seemed too busy saving the world. Now she was no longer able to get rid of the sun god, who suddenly appeared in her cabin. At least now he had learned to knock on the door before entering.

“Good afternoon, beautiful lady.” He smiled, breaking into the cottage before Y/n had a chance to expel him. “What do you do locked in that cabin?”

“Apollo, seriously, now is not the best time.”

“Every hour is the best time for Apollo!” He smiled at her and Y/n found herself unable to say no to him. The god had that effect on her, but she couldn't explain why. She just went back to bed and sighed.

“What happened, Sunshine?” he asked, now more serious.

Y/n pointed to the notebook, like a child pointing out the bully who was mistreating her. Pausing to think, it was almost the same.

Apollo's gaze followed Y/n 's finger until it stopped at the Hecate symbol on the cover of the notebook, and he froze.

“What's it?”

“That notebook.” He got up and picked up it, playing with it in his hands. “I saw Hecate with another of his once many years ago. I asked her what they were, but she cast a spell on me that prevented me from speaking for two months. Where did you find it?”

“I found him at her cabin.” The girl admitted, unable to lie to the closest friend she had at the camp until that moment. “I heard Hecate ask me to take him away. I didn't understand what she expects me to do.”

“Write.” He suggested, after long minutes of silence.

“I’m sorry?” Y/n looked at him, confused. “What if something bad happens, Apollo? I don't know if I want to find out.”

The god smiled gently, taking the book to the girl and handing it over, along with a blue ballpoint pen. Y/n hesitated for a few seconds before picking up the pen and opening the notebook. But she didn't do much more than that, as the words “Owned by G. J. W.” they magically appeared on the first leaf, in a strange black ink.

Y/n looked at Apollo for help, but he just shrugged and encouraged her to write something below. "G. J. W.? This notebook is mine, and my name has none of those letters!”

Before she had a chance to tell Apollo how ridiculous it was, the notebook replied.

G: "Who are you?"

Y: “Y/n Y/l/n, are you?”

G: "Gale Wright"

Y: “How the hell am I talking to you through my notebook? Where you are from?"

G: “England. I'm a student at the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, how about you? What school of magic do you belong to? ”

Y: "I'm not going to any magic school, I'm from New York, there's no such thing here!"

G: "I thought the United States school of magic was Ilvermorny"

Y: "I am not a witch!"

G: "Oh by Merlin, are you a muggle?"

Y: "Look, I may not be a witch but you don't have to curse me!"

G: “Muggle is a term for non-wizards ... But if you are not a witch, how can you talk to me? This notebook is bewitched, only those who have contact with magic could see it ”

Y: "I didn't know that the notebook was enchanted until now ... I didn't even know about the existence of a school of magic, wizards, yes, now schools? No, things are very different here"

G: "Different how?"

Y: "I am a camper at Camp Half-Blood"

G: "And what would that be?"

Y: "Well, a camp for demigods, of course!"

Y/n waited, but nothing else happened. She looked up at Apollo, who looked as upset as she was.

“School of Magic and Witchcraft of... Hogwarts?” She asked, hoping that Apollo would say something to her.

“I've heard of that school. Hecate loves to talk about how she has an entire chain of schools that teach children to do what she does. She is very proud of it.” He explained, taking the notebook from Y/n and examining the last conversation. “I just didn't think it was real at all. All the gods think it's Hecate's invention, but no one has ever tried to prove it.”

“Well, I think we just did that.” Y/n joked, but was far from feeling the fun of the situation, because, there in front of her, there was a problem. Perhaps a much bigger problem than she imagined.

#harry potter #percy jackson #fanfic #apollo x reader #harry potter imagine #percy jackson imagine #apollo #nico di angelo #will solace #tyson the cyclops #camp half blood #hogwarts

[ashintheairlikesnow]

first nat hug! first nat hug! first nat hug!🥺

CW: Traumatized whumpee, minor whumpee, trauma recovery, 

Nat climbs down the ladder from her room in the attic, swings it back up until the little flap closes back into the ceiling with a soft click. She has a mind to do some work in the backyard today, and she’s dressed for it, right down to the old gardening gloves she’s wearing with a loose long-sleeved shirt and her ever-present jeans. She’s traded her braid for a bun, and part of her thinks she can se entirely too much of her father in the lines of her face, and part of her doesn’t mind seeing ‘too much’ of that at all.

She heads down the stairs - she can hear Antoni in his room as she passes, humming to himself. The girls are in the living room curled up on the couch watching a show on TV, Krista squeaking at every jump scare while Leila sits back, unmoved by any of it. 

Jake and Chris she discovers outside, Jake sitting on the back steps drinking his coffee, holding the soft green mug in both hands while Chris does yoga, bending himself into pretzels. It’s genuinely a little unsettling to see the way he can move, when he wants to, as compared to how silent and still he can be when he doesn’t feel safe.

“Any heavy lifting you need done?” Jake asks as Nat passes him, her boots clumping down the steps.

“Not any I can’t handle myself,” Nat says, shrugging. The sun is warm on her back, soaking into even the pale cream of her shirt, settling into her dark brown hair. “I’m old but I’m not that old, Jake. Not yet.”

“I didn’t say you were old,” Jake points out. “Today, anyway.”

Nat laughs, heading to the little shed backed up against the fence in the backyard. She found Kauri sleeping here, once, when she forgot to put the spare key in its hiding spot under the bush next to the house. Came out to get the watering can and found Kauri half-sitting up in the shed, jumping into alertness - and pushing himself onto his knees into Position Two on pure instinct before he was even fully awake.

That had been... a surreal way to start her morning.

This way is much better. 

She gets out a bag of potting soil, carrying it over one shoulder to the newest planter, a big ceramic rectangle lined up along one side of the small concrete patio where her container garden lives. Chris, walking on his hands across the yard, yells a hello and Nat gives him a wave, wishing she had access to the kind of boundless energy that propels Chris now that he’s let his guard down a little. After getting sick - and choosing his new name - he’s been more open, although he still doesn’t touch anyone but Jake.

She heads back for a second bag of potting soil and picks up the little packet of seeds. It doesn’t take long, working hard in the early morning sun, to get the zucchini seeds carefully spaced out, covered up, planted in their little hills of new soil. She shakes out a little of the ‘plant food’ she buys in jugs at a local hardware stare, made by the owner’s mom. 

She turns around as Jake stands. “Can you stick with Chris for a second?” Jake calls out. “I’m gonna go refill my coffee.”

“Yeah, I’ll be out here for a while,” Nat replies, pulling a few weeds from the container with the tomato plants. The screen door bangs shut, and she hums happily while Chris stretches his arms high above his head, up on his toes, making his body as long as he can.

She’s just peeling the sweaty gloves off of her hands when a van drives by, painted a flat featureless white. It’s one of those long vans with the sliding side door and no windows. It rumbles by and she watches Chris go still when he sees it, eyes locking on.

One of the kids in the neighborhood is in the street, and the van has to stop. The driver leans out - a guy with a blocky jaw, older, sandy blond hair and pale skin. He yells something - Nat hears only you little shit, but his van backfires and she misses the rest.

Chris, staring at the man as he raises one hand in a fist, takes a step back. His eyes are impossibly wide, going from the body of the van to the man’s face and back again. His knees start to buckle. 

Nat knows what’s going to happen. She’s seen that look before, a thousand times for a thousand different reasons on a hundred different rescues. 

She can’t possibly move fast enough to catch him before he’s under, terrified and shaking, dropping onto his knees on the ground and then curling over himself in a desperate, frightened attempt to protect himself from the violence he thinks is coming. 

She drops to her knees next to him, ignoring the crack of her aging kneecaps protesting the speed with which she’s moving. She lays her hand over his back - he’s shivering, his whole body shaking, his hands over his head as he rocks himself, pushes forward and back where he curves over his knees on the ground. “Chris, honey-”

“Please no,” Chris whimpers, and looks up at her from behind the hair that falls over his face, copper strands cutting over the freckles on his nose and cheeks, standing out more each day as he spends more and more time outside in the sun. “Please, please, please don’t, don’t give me to, to, to them, please, please don’t, I’m, I’m good, I’m good here, I’m, please-”

“I would never,” Nat answers, forgoing soft and instead speaking with all her fierce and certain conviction. “Sweetie I’d hand myself over before I’d ever hurt you that way. It’s okay. He’s gone, sweetheart, he’s gone.” 

Chris dares only the slightest look down the street. The white van has driven on, turned a corner, disappeared in the direction of its eventual destination. Chris looks, and breathes deeply, and then turns and throws his arms around her waist, squeezing her so tightly it hurts, pressing the top of his head into her stomach. 

Her hands fly up, and then, slowly, she settles one hand into his hair and the other presses between his shoulder blades, rubbing in circles. 

He only ever touches Jake, or lets Jake touch him - follows the older boy everywhere he goes in the house and outside. 

This is the first time he’s ever seen Nat herself as the source of comfort, too, without it being because Jake right there nearby to make him feel safer. 

“You’re all right,” Nat murmurs, running her fingers through his hair. “Was it the van?”

There are always rumors - Nat knows at least some of them are true.

“The, the, the driver, looked, looked like... like m-my-, my, my my my, my-” He mumbles against the fabric of her shirt, breath hitching with buried sobs. 

“Your Sir?” Nat guesses, but Chris shakes his head, sniffing harder.

“M-my handler,” Chris whispers. “He, he was, was like, like like like my handler, h-handler, Handler Petrus... I-I, I, he was-”

“I understand... I understand, honey, it’s all right. It’s not him. It’s never going to be him, you’ll be safe... you’re safe here, sweetheart. You’re safe.”

The screen door opens and closes again and a second later she hears Jake call, “What happened?”

Chris pulls back instantly, pushes himself to his feet, and runs to Jake instead. Nat turns and looks as Chris throws himself at Jake, sighing heavily, laying one hand over her stomach where Chris’s head was just the moment before. 

Jake catches Chris with one arm, moving the mug out with the other so it won’t slosh onto anyone, and blinks at Nat. “What-”

“He just needs a minute,” Nat calls back, and he’s not the only one.

#chris the strawberry blond romantic #natalie yoder: here to help the rescues #trauma recovery #trauma recovery whump #recovery whump #trauma response #conditioning tw #minor whumpee

[whack-ed]

TIMELESS (INTERACTIVE HP & HOO CROSSOVER)

Synopsis: Alex finds Hecate's notebook and discovers about the wizarding world and about Y/n.

Paring: In the beginning it's platonic!fred & george x reader, but I promise that in the end it is fred x reader.

Warnings: None, I guess.

Reader: Slytherin!Female

Word count: 1.9k

A/N: In this chapter, Y/n appears little, but it is extremely important.

September 2010, New York - USA

Alexa would be lying if she said she didn’t cry like a baby when she saw Argo II return to Camp Half-Blood. She had been forbidden to help in the battle against the giants, but she was nevertheless not full at Camp. After the near invasion of Camp Jupiter and Reyna's visit, things got messed up there.

But the best part of the return of the other demigods was seeing Percy again. He looked extremely exhausted, but happy to be back in one piece. Alex hugged him for so long that Percy almost fell asleep in her arms.

The boy was welcomed with all the frenzy he deserved, entitled to a hearty banquet and a visit from his father, along with a very tearful Sally and a relieved Paul. Tyson had been absolutely thrilled to see his older brother talking to his friends by the fire, which glowed high and yellow, mirroring the emotion of the half-bloods.

Despite being as happy as the others, and maybe even more so, Alex retired a little earlier that night. She didn't walk long before her absence was noticed.

‘Mingling with the shadows? I thought this was my own thing.” The girl smiled at Nico di Angelo, who walked over to her with his hands in the pockets of his aviator jacket, which was still too big for him.

“I'm going to sleep, Nico.” She explained, continuing her way to Cabin 3. “It was a day full of emotions, I'm tired.”

Nico nodded, walking beside her. Alex always found it fun to be the same size as Nico, but now she realized that he was a few inches taller than she was.

“Are you okay?” she asked, bringing up the subject.

“I think so.” Nico replied, looking surprised by his own conclusion. “Maybe things get better for me from now on.

“I'm sure it will.” Alexa opened an encouraging smile. Because he was the son of Hades, Nico suffered more than all the other demigods, which worried the girl. She hadn't seen him since the war of the Titans, but she talked to Percy during her mission and discovered things she didn't want to discover.

She looked at Nico. For the first time in his life, his face looked serene, as if his problems were gone. Alex realized that it would be better not to go into details about the problems he went through. She did not want to end his joy.

“Di Angelo!” someone called, running up to them. Alex turned to find Will Solace smiling like a ray of sunshine. “Hi Alex!”

“Will.” She smiled. When looking at Nico, she noticed a pink tint on his cheeks and held her laugh. “Can you take care of Nico for me? I need to go to sleep but he doesn't want to leave.”

Will smiled, realizing what she meant. Nico looked at her with anger and indignation, but he didn't seem against the idea.

“Certainly.” The blonde took a step forward. “Have a good night!”

“You too.” She raised an eyebrow at Nico and walked back to her cabin.

She was still smiling when she passed Hecate's cabin, which looked darker than ever. Her smile wilted. She had always been a little afraid of the goddess's children since she found herself a half-blood and moved to camp. But that night, something seemed comforting in the hideous darkness of the cabin. Unable to contain the impulse that occurred to her, Alexa went up on the porch and went through the open door. None of the goddess's children were there, they were probably still at the stake celebrating, they always loved a good party.

Alexa didn't know exactly what she expected to find inside, but she certainly wasn't ready for what she saw. She had never entered the cabin since she had never been invited and it didn't feel right to enter without an invitation like she did now. But what she found was an absolute void. No bunk beds, bathroom, closet or chest. Nothing for the basic comfort of teenagers. All that was inside was a torch on the floor with a brown leather-bound notebook beside it.

“Take it” A whisper said, and Alex knelt down to better analyze the notebook.

“Who...?” She started the question, but knew at the time that she had no need to finish it. Hecate was there. “Are you hiding in the shadows?”

There was a harsh laugh, but Alex couldn't tell where it came from. It was as if the goddess moved in every particle of air around her.

“I heard that Poseidon's children were mocking, but seeing that feat face to face is much more fun. Ares definitely didn't say enough about it.”

“I don't think he has any reason to boast about it.” She commented, but her body was tense. Something about the goddess made her feel that bad things would happen any second.

“Take the notebook.” She asked, seeming to feel the girl's tension. “Take it and bring my girl back.”

“What does that mean?” Alex asked, but never got an answer.

After several minutes, she finally let herself be overcome by curiosity, put the notebook under her arm and ran out of the cabin.

Alexa spent a few days without touching the notebook, which was comfortably resting on the small table in her cabin. Percy asked several times what the notebook was and why Alex didn't move it, but the girl always answered the same thing. "It's just a silly notebook." She was afraid to open it and end up triggering something she couldn't control.

Percy and the others had just returned from a massacre battle with irreparable losses, she didn't want to leave anyone alarmed by something as stupid as a leather notebook.

Alex tried to distract herself. She would swim in the lake, duel with Percy in the arena, ask Tyson to teach her something in the forges, help Chiron with pending camp, talk about the biggest zucchinis with Rachel, encourage Annabeth to talk nonstop about architecture, sometimes make her repeat everything he had said in Greek, but nothing seemed to get her thoughts out of the notebook. Instead of being distracted, she got some scars from the duels, burns from the forges and throbbing ears, but nothing erased the notebook.

Tired of trying, Alex returned to the cabin and spent several minutes looking at the problem. She would get up a few times, making a move to pick it up, but soon she would go back to sitting on bed. When she finally thought she would be brave enough to end the trip, someone knocked on the door.

Changing her course, Alex opened the door to the blond, smug figure.

Alexa and Apollo had spent a lot of time together a few months before, not that any of them had a chance to do the opposite. He had helped her save the Camp when everyone seemed too busy saving the world. Now she was no longer able to get rid of the sun god, who suddenly appeared in her cabin. At least now he had learned to knock on the door before entering.

“Good afternoon, beautiful lady.” He smiled, breaking into the cottage before Alex had a chance to expel him. “What do you do locked in that cabin?”

“Apollo, seriously, now is not the best time.”

“Every hour is the best time for Apollo!” He smiled at her and Alex found herself unable to say no to him. The god had that effect on her, but she couldn't explain why. She just went back to bed and sighed.

“What happened, Sunshine?” he asked, now more serious.

Alexa pointed to the notebook, like a child pointing out the bully who was mistreating her. Pausing to think, it was almost the same.

Apollo's gaze followed Alexa's finger until it stopped at the Hecate symbol on the cover of the notebook, and he froze.

“What's it?”

“That notebook.” He got up and picked up it, playing with it in his hands. “I saw Hecate with another of his once many years ago. I asked her what they were, but she cast a spell on me that prevented me from speaking for two months. Where did you find it?”

“I found him at her cabin.” The girl admitted, unable to lie to the closest friend she had at the camp until that moment. “I heard Hecate ask me to take him away. I didn't understand what she expects me to do.”

“Write.” He suggested, after long minutes of silence.

“I’m sorry?” Alex looked at him, confused. “What if something bad happens, Apollo? I don't know if I want to find out.”

The god smiled gently, taking the book to the girl and handing it over, along with a blue ballpoint pen. Alexa hesitated for a few seconds before picking up the pen and opening the notebook. But she didn't do much more than that, as the words “Owned by (your initials) ” they magically appeared on the first leaf, in a strange black ink.

Alex looked at Apollo for help, but he just shrugged and encouraged her to write something below. "(your initials)? This notebook is mine, and my name has none of those letters!”

Before she had a chance to tell Apollo how ridiculous it was, the notebook replied.

Y: "Who are you?"

A: “Alexa Pearson, you?”

Y: "Y/n Y/L/N"

A: “How the hell am I talking to you through my notebook? Where you are from?"

Y: “England. I'm a student at the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, how about you? What school of magic do you belong to? ”

A: "I'm not going to any magic school, I'm from New York, there's no such thing here!"

Y: "I thought the United States school of magic was Ilvermorny"

A: "I am not a witch!"

Y: "Oh by Merlin, are you a muggle?"

A: "Look, I may not be a witch but you don't have to curse me!"

Y: “Muggle is a term for non-wizards ... But if you are not a witch, how can you talk to me? This notebook is bewitched, only those who have contact with magic could see it ”

A: "I didn't know that the notebook was enchanted until now ... I didn't even know about the existence of a school of magic, wizards, yes, now schools? No, things are very different here"

Y: "Different how?"

A: "I am a camper at Camp Half-Blood"

Y: "And what would that be?"

A: "A camp for demigods of course!"

Alexa waited, but nothing else happened. She looked up at Apollo, who looked as upset as she was.

“School of Magic and Witchcraft of... Hogwarts?” She asked, hoping that Apollo would say something to her.

“I've heard of that school. Hecate loves to talk about how she has an entire chain of schools that teach children to do what she does. She is very proud of it.” He explained, taking the notebook from Alex and examining the last conversation. “I just didn't think it was real at all. All the gods think it's Hecate's invention, but no one has ever tried to prove it.”

“Well, I think we just did that.” Alex joked, but was far from feeling the fun of the situation, because, there in front of her, there was a problem. Perhaps a much bigger problem than she imagined.

tagging mutuals: @nebulablakemurphy ​​ @jamilelucato ​​ @inglourious-imagines ​​​​ @clarissaxpearce ​​ @beiahadid ​ @idontknowwhatthisisfam ​ @kpopgirlbtssvt ​ @shinydragoness @snitches-at-dawn @freddieweasleyswife

#harry potter #fred weasley #harry potter imagine #draco malfoy #harry potter fanfiction #imagine #george weasley #slytherin #fred weasley imagine #hermione granger #ron weasley #weasley twins #percy jackson fanfiction #percy jackson #percy jackon and the olympians #percy jackson Fanfiction #fanfic #heros of olympus #jason grace #annabeth pjo #pjo #hoo #apollo #apollo x reader #cabin 3 #percy jackson imagine #leo valdez #nico di angelo #will solace

[britishsass]

Dark Woods Circus AU Chapter 13: A Break From The Circus

Saturday 11PM, it was peaceful in the Motherlobe… well, outside the Motherlobe. Hollis had planned that the performers should step outside the Motherlobe. Raz and Lili did step out of the Motherlobe, mainly because Ford felt a weird energy off them. Hollis had thought of having a bbq and picnic outside the Motherlobe, as Gisu stated that the only performers who stepped outside were her, Morris, Sasha, Milla, and Raz and Lili. Sasha and Milla stepped out when they waltz in the night, Raz and Lili went outside to see Lucrecia. But for Gisu and Morris? It was for survival. But now? All of the performers stepped outside.

Hollis was just finishing the reports of missions, when she heard her office door opening, it was Fred. “You said you needed me?” He asked the Lesser Head. 

“In fact I do.” Hollis responded. Fred sat down on the chair that was in front of Hollis. 

“So… what is it about?” Fred asked. 

“Well it’s about how much the performers have admired the Motherlobe. They still adore the agents. And they made Lucrecia more welcoming.” Hollis spoke. 

“Really?” Fred asked. 

“Of course, but there was one thing that bugged me… it was the day that was the first time they arrived at the Motherlobe.” Hollis spoke.

“What was bugging you?” Fred asked. 

“Well… after me and Agents Delucca and Loboto examined Norma’s body. There was an explosion that had happened inside Loboto’s Lab.” Hollis explained. “It turned out that the dust from the explosion was nothing but Sneezing Powder.” she continued. 

“Sneezing Powder?” Fred asked. 

“Of course, but Norma’s body was dead… but she did have some breathing in her… so she might be braindead.” Hollis responded. 

“What else did you discover?” Fred asked with interest. 

“Well, after we cleaned the mess, Loboto discovered that we had one Mobile Brainjar missing.” Hollis answered. 

“What? But how? Their only activated by a brain!” Fred answered. 

“Exactly, we don’t know who caused the explosion, and we don’t know who has the missing Mobile Brainjar.” Hollis sighed, “But that will have to be put to the side, the company picnic is about to start…” Hollis continued. 

“Yeah, better get ready for the lunch, see you soon Hollis!” Fred waved goodbye. 

“You too Freddy.” Hollis spoke. Wait, did I call him Freddy? Only his fellow agents call him that! 

“Did you call me Freddy?” Fred asked with curiosity. 

Hollis had to find something to say, “I… I…” she stuttered.

“I like it.” Fred replied. That made Hollis blush. 

“Well, thanks. But don’t you have to go?” Hollis asked, 

“I do, well… see you later Holly.” Fred chuckled, that made Hollis’ cheeks flush as red as her hair.

As Fred made it to the kitchen, he grabbed the ingredients to make Ratatouille. He got tomatoes, bell peppers, eggplants, zucchinis, vinegar, ground pepper, majoram, and olive oil. He preheated the oven, placed an iron skillet on a burner and coated the pan with oil. But then he saw Gloria popping her out by the kitchen door looking at him. 

“If you’re wondering, I called her Holly, and she called me Freddy.” Fred responded as he sliced the vegetables thin as paper. 

“But you still haven’t asked her out yet?” Edgar spoke as he arrived as well. 

“Well I haven’t yet. But I do think that the movie date was all what was needed.” Fred responded as he stacked the vegetables in a pattern for the ratatouille. 

“Seriously? That’s it? You just went to see a movie and that’s just it?” Boyd answered as he looked out. 

“Yep, but after this, I may go on another date with her.” Fred replied as he finished the Ratatouille. 

“Well, whatever floats your boat– we’re here to help!” Gloria reassured. Fred chuckled as he got the ratatouille packed.

Now the picnic has begun… most of the food was simple, juice boxes for the kids, chicken sandwiches, pb&j sandwiches, soda, salads, fruits, everything. But the Agents made some food as well. Gloria made some delicious smoothies that had lemon, raspberry, blackberry, maraschino cherry juice, and vanilla ice cream mixed together. Edgar made some gazpacho with chicken and peas. Loboto baked some cookies that were a little burnt on the edges. Lucy crafted a traditional Grulovian Dish, a fruit tart mixed with caviar (gross…). And last was Ford, who made his specialty, honey pepper boar pancakes. Meanwhile, the performers were outside, relaxing and playing. Adam and Morris were resting on Gisu’s back. Raz and Lili were drawing with Dogen on a seperate table. and Lizzie, Dart, and Sam went fishing. Sasha and Milla were watching in the distance, hoping that the children would be safe. And as for Hollis and Fred, they were on a boat. Needless to say that this was romantic to Hollis and Fred… well sort of romantic.

“So… this is nice.” Fred spoke.

“Yeah, it kinda is…” Hollis replied. Fred noticed that Hollis was blushing… 

“Are you ok? You look a little pink.” Fred asked, Hollis snapped back to reality.

“Of course! I’m fine!” Hollis quickly replied. 

“Well either way, this is the best choice I could think of for this date.” Fred spoke.

“Well what can you say? Gloria is a sucker for matchmaking.” Hollis replied, she clearly felt her heart beating fast, she wanted to tell Fred that she loves him, this was the same for Fred. But then…

*SPLASH*

Hollis was struck by a cold splash of water. “Sorry!” Loboto shouted in the distance. 

“It’s alright Agent Loboto, but do practice somewhere else.” Hollis replied. This clearly wasn’t like the first date. At least it was her and Fred, but this? This wasn’t bad at all! In fact, it was… it was good. Surely there’s nothing that could affect her.

“Achoo!” Hollis sneezed. Oh, it was the cold talking, who knew that she can get a cold that quickly, but it did make sense. It was Autumn, and it was going to be cold soon. This wasn’t planned. Fred looked at her with concern. 

“Hollis, is everything alright?” Fred asked.

“Yeah… everything is fine… just a little… cold.” Hollis spoke. 

“Here, let me warm you up.” Fred spoke as he removed his jacket. That made Hollis blush again. 

“Thanks…” Hollis thanked the man, but then he was also strucked by water. 

“Ok then, we need to think of a Hydrokinesis testing area.” Fred spoke. 

“That we do.” Hollis responded, but then she saw something she never forgotten, and never wanted to forget it. Fred removed his shirt again. That made Hollis blush once more. “Are… aren’t you going to get cold?” she asked. 

“Don’t worry, I don’t mind the cold.” Fred replied, “And besides, my clothes can dry themselves in the air.” To which they did… quickly. And Fred placed his shirt back on, as well as his jacket… which not only absorbed the moisture in Hollis’ suit, but also air dried itself as well. 

“Miss Forsythe! It’s time for lunch!” Lili shouted. 

“Guess it’s time to eat!” Fred spoke, he then rowed the boat back to the field.

The picnic table was organized. And needless to say, it was a sight to see– the performers eating food they had never tried. Adam scarfed down on apples and grapes. Lizzie ate some of the bacon pancakes. Morris couldn’t eat much food, but his favorite was the gazpacho, which he drank through a straw. Gisu had always tried water, but she never had juice before, needless to say, it was tasty. Raz and Lili were big eaters, they ate an entire plate of sandwiches. It was saddening to the psychonauts to see the children like this. But it was somehow helping the children.

Sunset arrived and everyone but Fred and Hollis left. “Hey Hollis, I got one more surprise for you.” Fred spoke, he then grabbed her hand and took her to the Gulch to Bob’s Greenhouse, which had two mushrooms as chairs, a tree stump as a table, and it had the ratatouille Fred made. 

“Fred… did you make this?” Hollis asked, 

“Oui, I had some help from Bob and Helmut, in fact… have a seat.” Fred answered as he and Hollis sat down and eat the ratatouille.

“Agent Bonaparte, what you made… it’s amazing.” Hollis replied as she finished the meal. 

“What can I say, I did cook when I was at Thorney Towers.” Fred chuckled. 

“Who knew that the descendant of Napoleon could cook?” Hollis replied. 

“Thanks, but there’s something I should talk about.” Fred spoke. 

“I’m all ears.” Hollis replied. 

“Thanks… did you know that there’s a ticket system for the Circus?” Fred asked. 

“There was?” Hollis asked. 

“Exactly, there are six tickets.” Fred responded. Fred showed his notes to Hollis which revealed six different tickets.

One ticket was pink and had a paw on it.

The next was orange, and it had a clown’s head.

The third was yellow, this time it was a fish.

The fourth had a comedy mask and tragedy mask; it was green.

The fifth was blue and had a wolf’s head.

And the last was purple– it was a heart formed by the treble and bass clef.

“So that’s what the tickets look like?” Hollis asked. 

“Exactly. Anyways, I have to go now…” Fred responded. 

“Well, I’ll see you soon Freddy.” Hollis answered. 

“You too Holly.” Fred chuckled. That made Hollis blush, in fact… it caught the eye of one girl. 

“Agent Forsythe?” Sam asked, Hollis turned around and saw that Sam was spying in the distance. 

“I never thought of saying this, but you’re at your best.” Sam spoke. 

“Samantha, I can handle myself. You need to rest.” Hollis ordered. 

“Very well…” Sam spoke. She then left the gulch, followed by Hollis who walked solemnly. 

“Missed my chance… again!” Hollis spoke to herself.

It was night fall, Sam was sleeping in one of the dorms. She then heard a knock, it was Sasha and Milla, they looked a little worried. “Sasha? Milla? What’s wrong?” Sam asked. 

“It’s 1AM, the children need to head back.” Milla spoke.

Ooh, man– The kids really deserve this sort of joy. As well, just imagining Bob and Helmut helping Fred with cooking, or Lucy helping Gloria to get the boats set up for them, or the whole group together… I love imagining odd friendships, and there’s so much potential for that.

As well– The two of them admitting it’s a date!! And the nickname! Eee, goodness, that’s so freaking cute. I love cheesy nicknames so much, so seeing that mine is being used makes me so happy. 

I wonder if they’ll make it back in time? If they don’t, here’s a little idea for the next bit, but feel free to ignore my idea and use your own instead!

They’re already running late, but they sent an agent or two out to guide them back, making sure it goes as quickly as they can. Since Fred is friendly with most of the performers, he’s the easy choice. Of course, he stops by to visit Hollis before he goes, asking her a quick question.

“Maybe we could go on another date soon? If you want?”

That’s the last conversation they have before Fred and the performers take off to head back. 

(Which, of course, might be too late, and leave him trying to protect himself and the others. After all, you saw what he did when he saw someone in need of help at Thorney Towers– He kept trying to help until it broke him instead.)

As I said, though– It’s all up to you! I just like to think of the saddest version of things.

#anon writing #anon #submission #queue #dark woods circus au #hollis/fred

[strongbrew-hamstery]

#Lincoln is such a funny hamster. She reminds me a lot of Bliss - opinionated, sassy, friendly and keen on humans... A bit like fire cracker of awesome. However one thing I discovered yesterday that's unique about Lincoln... She HATES and I mean loathes, detests, a whole thesaurus worth of words - red peppers. She will not, and I repeat not eat them. Right now Ontario has really high produce prices and many of the fruit and veg we do get goes bad quickly. That makes sense - it is winter and Canada in general imports a lot of their produce. However I understand it's also at a supply chain level. This has meant I've reduced the amount of fresh food the hams get. We ran out of cucumber over the weekend, and were totally out of zucchini. We have kale, bell pepper, carrots, one sad apple, tomatoes and romaine lettuce. For us, this is pretty low veggie wise especially since the hams get cucumber daily. So I instead offered bell Pepper with my kale yesterday. Croissant and Cressonii thought it was delicious and great. Lincoln however licked the fertility mush off the pepper and left it. This morning the pepper was laid across one of her chew toys in her wheel. The little cuppie was also in the wheel. So I tried again today. Same thing. Licked around the pepper. In contrast, Bliss had never met food she didn't like. She would eat anything and everything. Lincoln is funny. I'm going to see if she also dislikes yellow and orange pepper as much as red 😂. I don't think I've had a ham turn their nose to bell pepper before. Are there foods your hamster refuses to eat? https://www.instagram.com/p/CW5tyGAg3Fs/?utm_medium=tumblr

#lincoln