#Cider Summit

[chicagobeerpass]

Chicago Beer Pass: IPA Snacks

Welcome to the Chicago Beer Pass: Your ticket to all the great beer events happening in and around Chicago.

On this episode of Chicago Beer Pass, Brad Chmielewski and Nik White have themselves a little IPA Snack to usher in what they hope is Spring and not Chicago's "false Spring". Brad picked up these cans of Raptor Snacks from District Brew Yards and felt like it was just what they needed: a classic IPA. This beer doesn't disappoint and is a good reminder of the tasty beer coming out of District Brew Yards all the time. As the guys crush a few cans, Nik shares a little about his recent trip to Cider Summit.

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[luveline]

𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐩𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐬

Joel remembers, and Ellie learns. (Or, loosely, three times Joel takes care of Ellie.) 5k words.

cw: the events at silver lake (including the attempted sexual assault), assault, all the awful bits of the canon, canon typical violence

𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊

He’s watching Ellie stare out of his window in the Boston apartment, and her eyes look so brown, and she seems so young asking if they’re gonna be okay, and all Joel can think is Fuck, I gotta get away from this kid.

—

Ellie’s never seen somebody hit like that before. The sound of it. Never seen knuckles turn so red they’re almost blue. 

—

The weeks after Henry and Sam are quiet. 

Joel doesn’t know what to say. Ellie keeps like a mouse, skittish footing, twitchy nose. She hasn’t been able to wash her hair in four days and Joel’s getting that tight scalp that says he needs a wash too. They’ve got dirt to the knees, but the wilderness isn’t bad. 

She likes being outside. Joel can see it when she forgets what they’re doing and where they’re going, her head tipping back as she traces a thick line of trees to the summit. Her baby hairs turn to silver in the sun. They’ll stop before evening. He can see a cul-de-sac in the distance with orange-brick houses where they can hole up for the night, maybe scrounge a couple of cans of food or, at least, find Ellie a sink to wash her hair in. 

The first time they did it, it was in silence. Wastes less water if Joel washes it for her. He didn’t do the best job, he knows, eager to stop touching her, to stop remembering what it was like, even if the hair between his fingers in his memory was thicker, tighter, coiled and bouncy and practically impervious to water. Ellie’s soaks it up. Half a big bottle of water gets the roots damp enough to scrub it clean with clary soap he lathers in his hands, and the other half washes it down to her thinner ends. There’s no smell of apple cider vinegar, no shea butter, no jojoba oil for the scalp. Ellie’s hair makes enough of its own oil. Joel’s makes double, it feels like. 

They climb up a drying banking of brambles to the end of the street, its asphalt faded in the sun and driveways invaded by moss. They scuff their shoes down the pathway to shuck off the mud and leaves, pushing into the third house from the end. 

Joel holds a finger to his lip, mouthing Stay here. 

He sweeps the house. Ellie doesn’t listen, following him up the stairs and down them again when he finds the house uninhabited. As far as he can see, it’s a rarity; the house is untouched by infected, mycelium, or damp. It’ll make for a good camp tonight. 

He locks the door and pulls down the kitchen shutters. Ellie drops her backpack onto a dinky table by the fridge. 

Joel leans back against a counter to rub at his face. 

“What are these?” she asks, poking at the side of the fridge.

“The magnets?” 

“Where’s Cancun?” 

“S’in Mexico.” Joel lets his pack fall onto the counter behind him, his sore shoulder twinging in a mixture of relief and new pain. “Was a big holiday destination.” 

“Is that what these are?” Ellie scoops a couple of magnets off of the fridge. “They went to a lot of places.” 

“Sometimes people would bring you one back. Called a souvenir.” Sarah’s friends did it sometimes, but they’d bring back friendship bracelets with shells or pens with the evil eye dotted on them in enamel paint. “But maybe they did.” 

“What other souvenirs would people get?” 

“My brother’s friend went to Egypt once.” Sarah’s friend. He isn’t sure why he lies. “They brought him back a sarcophagus.” 

“A sar-what-acus?” 

Joel tries not to smile. “I thought you liked history?” 

Ellie wrinkles her nose at him, ire in the pinch of her fine eyebrows. “Dude, obviously I do.” 

“Dude,” he says, not really thinking as he turns away from her to open his pack. 

“So what is it?” 

“You know about ancient Egypt?” 

“The pyramids?” 

“Right. Well, they used to bury the kings and stuff in the pyramids, and they’d put them in these fancy coffins. That’s a sarcophagus.” 

“Why didn’t you just say coffin?” Ellie asks scornfully. “I know about those guys, the pharaohs. Wait. Somebody brought your brother a whole sarcophagus from the fucking pyramids?” 

“It was a miniature. It was a keepsake box.” 

“What sort of sakes did you keep in there?” 

“Pretty sure that’s where he kept his smokes.” 

“Sick.” 

Joel agrees, but it’s not the truth. Sarah used to keep all sorts of things in the sarcophagus, notes from friends, erasers, paper clips, until one day the lid smashed into two pieces and she stopped having it on her desk. Joel told her ten times he was gonna fix it for her when he had five minutes with a little bit of wet plaster or mastic or hell, super glue would’ve done the job, but he never fixed it. It might still be in her desk in their house in Austin. Joel won’t ever know. 

Joel pulls a can of ham from the pack, and a can of beans. He misses nothing from the QZ, but most of the time they could eat a real meal. He feels cruel passing Ellie an open can of beans. He won’t. He gets the shitty cooking stove out and flicks the gas canister to remind himself how little they have left. (He should’ve saved it, let them eat cold ravioli and beans, kept it for when there’s nothing left to eat but game. But he warms up her meals for the same reason she said No one’s gonna find us and he repeated it back to her.)

“Joel?” 

“Yeah.” 

When Ellie doesn’t answer, he turns around. She’s sitting at the table now, stupid enough to take her shoes off. He thinks they’re bugging her. He’s gotta get her a pair of boots soon.

“What?” he asks. 

She squeezes one of the magnets between skinny fingers. “Can I ask you something?” 

“No. Last time you said that you pulled out that book.” 

“It’s a real question.” 

He wants to say Ellie, just ask me. C’mon, girl. 

She puts the magnet back on the fridge. “Nothing. Doesn’t matter.” 

He wants to say No, tell me. 

“Alright. Gonna fix this, then.” 

“You broke it?” 

“Fix us something to eat.” 

“Cowboy,” she says, though she’s not quite talking to him anymore as she sits down on the kitchen floor and stretches out. 

“You can go sit on the couch,” he offers. 

She doesn’t bother. Joel cuts the lids off of the cans and dices the ham. He puts it in with the beans, tips it all into the cooking pot to warm over the plate. He lets it bubble for a couple of minutes before pouring it into a bowl. It’s not a lot each. He gives Ellie the bigger portion, figuring she needs it if she’s uncomfortable enough to sit down anywhere, and tired enough to stay there. She’s not gonna like washing her hair tonight —last time she complained it hurt her shoulders afterward. She was quiet the entire time. Could’ve told me. 

“Ellie? We’re gonna wash your hair after this.” 

Usually she complains about the idea, too. She says she can deal with it, throwing it up into the usual ponytail and forgetting about it. 

“‘Kay.” 

They eat their dinner. Joel finishes first, shoving his bowl on the counter to remain unwashed for the rest of time. Back aching like he took a lashing, he follows a shred of beige light up the stairs to the bathroom for soap. Most shampoos have gone like juice now, sediment at the bottom and water at the top. With a real good shake, some of it is still usable, and it’s not as harsh as the soap. Joel’s noticed his hair stays cleaner for longer with shampoo, so long as it’s not completely gone bad, so he searches the bathroom for a bottle and opens it imploring. If Ellie followed him up now he wouldn’t check, but he sniffs the bottle and pours a little of the shampoo out into the sink. It’s miraculously fine. Tess would call that a silver lining, Tex. 

Conditioner hardly ever goes bad. He finds a tub of it on a bottom shelf, real expensive stuff he remembers from carting Sarah around a Sally’s. He was good with her natural hair by then. Couldn’t braid or flat iron for shit, but Sarah Miller had hair she loved, and Joel loved it too. 

It was easier before Ellie to stop thinking so much about Sarah; she’s a frame of reference now. Maybe one day Joel will like thinking about her, but tonight it still burns. 

“Alright,” he says, the both of them shed down into their bare bones, t-shirts and holey socks. The countryside they’ve found themselves in means infected are few and far between. The antsy thrumming of waiting for something to go wrong makes his chest ache a little anyhow. “Come on.” 

She gets up dutifully. The pond they found a half a mile back means he can use what’s left in his pack to wash her hair the right way, and the collapsible litre they collected earlier will be double boiled before they go to sleep tonight. Still, Ellie doesn’t sound like she’s expecting it when he empties a half a bottle onto the top of her head. She actually laughs. “S’fucking cold!” 

Her voice echoes off the sides of the sink. 

“Sorry.” 

He could’ve warned it up. He didn’t think. 

“It’s fine,” she says, before falling into silence as usual. 

And fuck Joel’s fucking life, as Ellie might say, but he hates it. She took a while to come around already after what happened in Kansas City, and he doesn’t like her when she’s not talking. Or, he likes her still. Loathes to like her. Can’t believe he left her in a room with an infected, can’t believe she was screaming his name on the motel floor and all he could do was scowl in his panic. “I got something to tell you about the way we do this.” 

“What?” 

“Reckon it’s something you probably don’t already know, if all you had was FEDRA textbooks.” 

“Tell me.” 

Joel gives the shampoo a shake and squirts it into his hand, bringing it to a lather and then carefully encouraging it into the roots of her hair, behind her ears, a thorough job. The bubbles squelch. 

“This isn’t too different from how astronauts used to wash their hair. They used a squeeze bottle with a long piece of tubing, they had to conserve water up there on the space station. They had this stuff called dry-shampoo, too, like a powder.” 

“Gross,” Ellie says. She sounds ecstatic. “They washed their hair in space?” 

“What, you think they all went up there with buzzcuts?” 

“That’s what they did to us in school. If you can’t wash your hair, you can't have it.” 

Joel rubs his fingers back and forth over her scalp gently. He’s never gonna make her shave her head, but it’s not like she needs him to say that out loud. 

“Is that why you like your ponytails so much?” he asks eventually. 

“I don’t like it when the hair is on my shoulders.” 

“You could… cut it shorter. I could cut it.” 

He’s relieved when she says no. 

Joel rinses the soap from her hair with another bottle of water and squeezes the excess before he gives her the towel he stole from the master bedroom’s linen closet. It still smells faintly like laundry sheets but the fabric is rough as loofah. He cringes internally as she stands up and scrubs her face clean. When she emerges from her hair, her face is red. 

He smiles to himself when she twists the towel into an updo. Looks like all girls are the same, if their hair allows it. 

He’s back to neutrality by the time she’s stopped fussing. 

“How’d you know that? About the astronauts?” she asks. 

Science project. “Think I saw it on TV.” 

—

You’re not my daughter, and I–

—

He finds her aflame in the snow. 

Joel doesn’t know what Ellie was trying to say until they’re in an empty dentist’s office break room five miles from Silver Lake. He can’t be sure who’s looking for her. He walks until he’s popped three stitches, leaning on her too heavily, knowing she needs to lean on him, too.

When he sits Ellie down in the back of the room on a rigid looking couch, she’s like laffy-taffy in the cold, drifting slowly backward, going hard, his jacket falling to either side of her and her sweatshirt ridden up her stomach. Her jeans are unbuttoned. The zipper is caught at the bottom of its teeth. 

He tried to. 

“There you go, baby,” he mumbles, pulling the sides of his jackets tight around her. He can only warm her with his own body. He slips into the seat next to her and drags her face into his arm. “There you go. Alright.” 

The room is spinning like a copper dime, but he has Ellie again. 

“Are you bleeding?” she asks. She stopped shaking hours ago, but the tremble in her voice remains. 

“M’fine, Ellie.” 

“You’re bleeding.”

He tips his head back rather than look down. “It’s healing. You– you stitched me up.”

“Joel.” 

“I’m okay,” he says, firmer now, but his palm a soft touch where it’s curled over her shoulder. “Just let me– Can you give me a minute?” His eyes close. 

She was gasping like somebody had their hands around her neck when he tried to hold her. 

The dentist office doesn’t feel like they used to. It’s musty, the smell of wildlife permeating the air, but Ellie smells like copper and clary soap, and Joel smells like infection and five days in a sagging mattress. He’s exhausted and Ellie’s fucking exhausted but he relaxes, because she’s here. 

She presses her nose into his arm and whines from the back of her throat. 

“You’re alright, Ellie,” he says. 

She sinks into him. 

When they wake up the next day, they’re both agonisingly sore from sleeping on top of one another on that shitty couch. They’re crusted in blood. Joel’s stitches are angry red eyes on his stomach. Ellie licks her lip and winces when she tastes whatever’s waiting on her skin. Ash or blood. 

He stretches as much as he can but his abdomen feels like it’s about to burst. Ellie lays out across the couch without his bulk in the way, her fingers drifting down to her jeans. She tries the zipper, then buttons them without fanfare. Joel ignores how it makes him feel, like he could march right back to Silver Lake and cave his skull in. He isn’t as angry as he is worried. 

“Ellie?” 

“Mm?” 

“How’s your nose?” He crouches down by the couch. “What about the rest of you? You said you’re fine but, now you’ve slept on it, anythin’ really hurting?”

“My nose still hurts.” 

“Alright.” And? 

“Think… got my ribs.” 

“Can I look?” 

“Can you look?” 

He nods sincerely. “Can I take a look at you?” 

“It’s… just a pulled muscle or something.” 

“I won’t look if you don’t want me to.” 

She glares at him and lays back, yanking her sweatshirt up to her bra, then shifting all of it up a little further to show the expanse of her bruise, dark purple and yellow and red and painful from her hip to her chest. He can barely see the dents of her ribs. Carefully, Joel brings his hand up and feels along the front of her for signs of anything pointing the wrong way, but he knows deep down it’s useless. If anything’s wrong, he won’t know from looking. 

“I need to put my ear on your chest so I can listen for fluid in your lungs,” he says softly. “Can I do that?” 

She doesn’t give him another look, no pretending he’s being weird now. She just looks up at the ceiling and whispers, “Yeah.” 

Joel nudges her sweatshirt up further and closes his eyes. “Take a deep breath, baby. Deep breath, there you go. Let it out.” 

He can hear her heart plodding along, ever so slightly quick. Her airways sound clear. 

He sits up and grabs her sweatshirt, pulling it down with care as he tries to catch her gaze. “It sounds alright. Hurt to breathe?” 

“A bit.” 

“We can only keep an eye on it.” 

“Sorry,” she mumbles, turning away from him. 

He lets his hand rest in neutral ground on her side, just above the bruise, not an ounce of pressure to his touch. “Now what are you sorry for? Ain’t done anything wrong.” 

“I had to leave you there.” 

“Yeah, you had to. I know you didn’t have a choice.” 

“If I didn’t…” 

Joel shakes his head, inching closer despite his screaming knees, his still-aching wound, “You should’ve gone when I told you, but you didn’t. ‘Cos of that, I’m alive. You ain’t got nothing to be sorry for.” 

She curls up like a pill bug on her side. He takes it for a dismissal and begins cataloguing their current standing. Not much food. Nothing in the way of first aid besides that bottle of penicillin and a dirty needle. Ellie’s bag has matches, her knife, her one change of clothes, and her books. Joel’s pack has most of the camping stuff they got from Jackson and a box of 9mm plated bullets he has no use for. Ellie must’ve used his change of clothes at some point. They’re missing. As are his lighter, the flask, and any of the maps they’ve collected over time. He can’t fucking beleive it when he finds the can at the bottom of his pack, dented to all fuck, which is why they never tried eating its contents to begin with. 

“What happened to all our stuff?” he asks her.

She’s out of it. When he gets back onto his knees to peer at her, he realises she’s sleeping again. 

“You sleep, girl,” he mutters with a fierceness he isn't necessarily prepared for. 

Ellie snores. Joel brings the ailing stove out of his pack and searches the office for a bucket, finding a metal tool dish under one of the counters. He fills it with snow, brings it inside, heads back out again to snap branches stiff with ice off of small trees. They’ll burn bad if they burn at all, dark smoke, but Joel doesn’t have many options. There’s a shit ton of paper work for kindling no one will miss. He puts a couple of branches over the stove as the smaller ones burn by the door. He only does it for a little while, scared of sending black smoke up into a white sky with Silver Lake at the bottom of a long hill, just long enough to judge the wood. Then he brings it inside and does the bulk of the work in a room at the opposite end of the office. He’s lucky he doesn’t give himself carbon monoxide poisoning, but at the end of an hour he has three jugs of potable water, two warm bowls of spaghetti strands. 

Ellie must be sick to her teeth of tomato sauce, but she doesn’t complain. She flinches when he wakes her up, even as he does it with all the gentle stops, poor sick Sarah red-hot with the flu kissed from temple to temple. “Ellie,��� he says, because he knows what girl he’s taking care of, even if his head’s twisted up and wrong, and his stomach shoots with sharp pains every time he breathes in, “it’s me, just me. Let’s get some food into you while it’s hot.” 

She sits up, blinking sluggishly, hands already open for her portion. While she’s out of sorts the spaghetti seems to go down no problem, it’s when her eyes clear and the bowl is empty that she purses her lips, tipping forward, lungs heaving like a bird’s. Joel should’ve guessed she was gonna chuck it all back up —he should do a lot of things. Only thing he can do now is pull her hair from her face as she pukes between her fingers, spaghetti strands and bile. She heaves until she’s red in the face and her eyes are rimmed with tears, choking out desperate, exhausted apologies.  

And Joel. He grimaces at the feeling of a split stitch, saying, “It’s alright, I don’t mind. It’s okay, baby, it’s fine, just get it out.”

—

Swear to me that everything you said about the Fireflies was true. 

I swear. 

—

“Do you think Maria will let me hold the baby, when she has it?” 

Joel’s squinting into the dark recesses of their stove when Ellie speaks up. It’s one of her quiet days. Joel nearly forgot she was there at all. 

“‘Course she will.” 

Ellie pulls at the collar of a new t-shirt. New clothes, she says, feel like they’re choking her. But new clothes have to get worn to get worn. She’s toughing it out. Joel is proud of her. 

She lets her head tip back until the end of her ponytail is skimming her shoulders. The sunshine gives her hair a sweet hue of auburn, and the good weather has warmed her skin. Jackson seems to live in a near perpetual state of snow, and to have escaped it has heightened her mood somewhat, but she’s still tentative. Of him, of Tommy and Maria and the residents of the commune she has yet to properly meet. She hates the dining hall, and won't step foot in the Tipsy Bison. Joel’s tried to take her to movie nights and greenhouse mornings and she just wants to go on walks. She seems to hate being with him as much as she hates being without him; she goes shy and grouchy when she follows him around for his odd jobs, and she’s never quite herself when she stays home and has to wait for him to return. 

The solution was Maria. Ellie could warm up to Jackson by following Maria around for her council duties. Then Ellie doesn’t have to look like a clingy kid, and she doesn’t have to worry about being alone. Joel felt awkward as a cow on ice asking Maria to do it, but Maria  didn’t give Joel her distrustful long look, she just nodded. 

“I’ve never held one.” 

“No?” 

“I just don’t think she’ll let me.”

There’s this tone of voice Ellie uses when she knows something’s true, and she might not want it to be, and yet she’s learned not to want more, either. Joel doesn’t know what word to ascribe to it. It’s not hopelessness, not self-pity. I’m not family. And she’s a mirror. He’s noticed that whatever emotion he projects is one she ends up mimicking, so maybe it’s his fault that she sounds serious when she does. He didn’t exactly encourage her to share her feelings to begin with. How is she supposed to know she can speak her mind? 

“Why do you think that?” 

Ellie pokes at his mug on the counter. “What if I drop her?” 

“It’s harder to drop a baby than that, you don’t just drop ‘em.” 

“But how does Maria know I won’t?” 

“I doubt the idea has even crossed her mind.” He crawls away from the oven and creaks to his feet. “I can ask Tommy about it, if you want. Do some probing. I don’t see why you can’t hold the baby, but Tommy’ll know best what Maria’s feeling about the whole thing.” 

He rinses the degreaser off of his hands and wipes them dry on a rag. Ellie’s still shifting on her feet restlessly. 

Joel doesn’t know what this is about, but he resolves to get to the bottom of things before dinner. He leans against the sink with his hands at his sides, taking Ellie in, in all her little-ness, fifteen years old and as short as the day they met, stringier —though that half inch of stubborn baby fat in her cheeks remains— and her dark brown eyes. The other day he found her glaring at the TV with her knees to her chest as she massaged her calf in clumsy hands. I don’t know what the fuck I did, they’re just hurting, she’d said with a huff. It feels like glass.

“You got those growing pains again?” he asks now. “Want me to rub ‘em again?” 

She shakes her head. 

“What’s the matter, then?” 

She isn’t perturbed by his gruffness. “Nothing.”

“Any other questions you wanted to ask me?” 

She looks at their fridge, smuggled Cancun magnet on the side pinning a drawing she did of Shimmer next to a handwritten schedule Maria made for the both of them. Neither adhere to it very diligently so far. “Does Tommy hate seeing me this often?” she asks. 

“Tommy likes seeing you more than he likes seeing me, baby. He ain’t interested in old Joel anymore.”

Ellie actually laughs. “Maybe old Joel should learn some new tricks.” 

“I’m trying. Been trying to fix the damn element on the oven all morning, but I guess we’re back over Tommy and Maria’s until I figure it out.” 

Ellie nods. 

Joel sighs. He’s tempted to coax her into a hug, but it’s not something they’ve fallen into doing naturally. He only hugs her when she’s crying, and he’s worried giving her one now will make her start. 

“I know I ain’t been a good listener in the past,” he says, shrugging. “We both know I’m not good at this.” 

“Yeah, you’re… you’re getting better.” 

“Thank you.” 

She shifts. If Joel gives her space— 

“The growing pains aren’t that bad. When did you say they stop?” she asks. 

Ah. “Whenever you’re done growing.” He gestures for the living room. “Resting will help.” 

They head into the living room and she sits in the armchair, which isn’t ideal. Doesn’t matter. She frowns as he sits down by the chair and the coffee table, her legs up to her chest, but she doesn’t stop him from pulling one of her legs straight and feeling down her calf. 

“Sitting like that won’t help.” 

“Honestly this is one of the most alien things that’s ever happened to me in my life,” she says. 

“The growing pains?”

“No.” 

He shakes his head. Joel has done worse for her now. Washed the grease from her hair. Held it all back when she was throwing up, wiped it off of her cheeks. He’s rinsed the blood out of her jeans and seen her spit phlegm into grass all across the Rockies. He knows exactly how gross teenage girls can be. Rubbing a cramp out of her leg is the least of all that, but he won’t embarrass her by saying so. It’s not like it makes her any lesser to him. 

“If you don’t want me to do it, I won’t,” he says gently, thumbing at the elastic of her sock, “but if you think I care about doing it for you, I don’t. I fed and clothed you this last year–”

“Exaggeration–”

“– an’ I told you already. You get a paper cut, you can tell me about it. Even if all I can do about it is feel sorry for you.” 

It took them near enough four months to get to Salt Lake City after Silver Lake. Four months of trying to take care of her the right way, too little too late. Four months of waking up to her snuffling in her sleep or shuffling across the bamboo roll to press her nose against his arm. That close together, he knew when she needed him. Jackson has more room to hide.

“I don’t want you to feel sorry for me, dick.” 

“I do feel sorry for you. What are you, five foot nothing? Sooner these pains are over, the sooner you can reach the good shit on the top shelf.” 

“Like you’d let me have the good shit.” 

“Maybe I will. Starting to feel pretty sorry for you, all these short pains.” 

“That’s not what they’re called.” 

“How would you know? You didn’t even know they were a thing until I told you.” 

“That’s not fair!” Ellie tenses as Joel digs his knuckle into her muscle, but she doesn’t move away. “I don’t know about tons of stuff, it’s not like I chose to live in propaganda-land. You don’t know about a ton of stuff, too. I looked in the library when we got here– Do you know how a siphon works yet? ‘Cos I do.” 

“Which one of us can siphon gas, me or you?” 

“How do you spell ‘mesozoic’?” 

“How much detergent do you put in the washing machine?” Joel asks with a self-satisfied grin, his hands using muscle memory as he taunts her. “Here’s a hint, honey, it’s not the amount you used last time.” 

“You motherfucker.” 

He rubs the front of her calf for a bit, then puts another round of pressure on the back. She has a bruise peeking out of the hem of her jeans that he skirts around. “How’s that feeling, Ellie-girl?” 

The last time Tommy called her that, she wrinkled her nose and started calling him Tim. But Joel must be doing something right. Ellie doesn’t kick up a fuss. 

“Will you do the other one?” she asks carefully.

“Yeah. Could get Tommy in here to do both at the same time.”

“I don’t think so.” 

“Can we move this parlour to the couch? Otherwise I’m gonna have to work the knot out of my back when we’re done.” 

Ellie doesn’t like the sounds of that. They move onto the big couch and she lets him pull her leg into his lap. He works the pains out of them the best he can. She slips sideways and prattles off a story about that book on siphoning gas, how Maria gave her a suspicious look when she asked, and how the town library doesn’t have a single book on dinosaurs or prehistoric creatures. Maybe it’s easier for her to accept his help when they aren’t looking at one another. Maybe she just wanted him to know. Eventually she quietens. 

“I used to think you were scary,” Ellie murmurs after a while. 

“I used to feel scary,” he says, trying to let her off of a hook he hadn’t realised she was caught on. 

“When you beat up that FEDRA soldier the first night we were together… It’s not like I thought you were gonna hit me…” 

“I ain’t gonna hit you. Not ever.” 

She shakes her head, the wavy bits of hair around her face shaking with it. “I know. You’re not that kind of scary.” 

Joel passed his hand down the flank of her calf slowly. 

“Do you think Maria will let you hold the baby?” Ellie asks. She pouts a little when she’s finished. 

“If that baby is anything like Sarah, she’ll run out of people to hold her. You couldn’t put her down.” 

Joel’s thinking it as he’s holding Ellie’s leg. His girls are the same when it comes to that. All this fussing and aching when what they really need is a soft touch, a shoulder to curl into, or a lap where they can kick their feet up. 

She turns limp in his hold. Ellie trusts him, even if things between them aren’t perfect. Joel isn’t stubborn enough to pretend he isn’t grateful. 

“I hope it’s a girl,” she says. “There’s too much fucking testosterone in this place.”

Joel lets his fingers run down to her bony ankle. “I got all the girl’s I can handle,” he admits softly. 

I got you, he’s saying. Promise. 

[pupsmailbox]

NATURE ID PACK

NAMES︰ abelia. acacius. aciano. aini. alder. alfie. almus. amaryllis. ame. antonio. archer. arthur. ashe. ashley. aspen. asper. aster. aveline. aviv. azalea. basil. belle. benedict. berry. bloom. blossom. bluebell. brook. calix. calla. carli. carline. carly. carolina. carrillo. cassia. cassiopeia. cedar. cherie. chun. cider. cira. cirrus. clover. coral. cordelia. crescent. cynthia. cypress. cyrus. dahlia. daisy. daphne. douglas. dune. echo. eilir. elara. elm. elowen. elyana. enon. erica. ester. everest. everett. evergreen. ewan. fauna. fern. finn. finnley. fleur. floor. flora. florian. florise. flower. flynn. forest. forrest. glen. gracie. gunner. haru. haruhime. haruki. hawthorne. heather. hemlock. honey. hyacinth. ianthe. indigo. ione. ipomea. iris. ivy. jaskier. jasmine. jasper. juniper. kalina. kallie. karolina. karoun. kath. kelda. ken. kingsley. lake. lavae. lavender. leilani. lennox. lente. lief. lilac. lily. linnea. lotus. lucinda. lucky. lucy. maayan. madeline. maggie. magnolia. maple. maren. mari. marian. marigold. mars. mary. maud. mauve. meadow. miles. momo. moss. mossie. mossy. moxie. muna. narcisow. nimbus. noi. oak. oasis. oleander. oybahor. pandora. pearl. pebble. pege. petal. plum. poppy. pınar. quanlian. quill. river. rosa. rosalie. rosalind. rose. roswell. rue. rune. saem. sage. sakura. san. sky. sol. star. story. strider. striker. summit. sunny. sylvia. sylvie. tasnim. terra. thistle. thorn. thorne. tree. udaberri. vasanta. verna. violet. waipuna. wells. westley. willow. wisteria. wisty. wren. yuki. zephyr. ziedonis. zinnia.

PRONOUNS︰ amaranth/amaranth. aster/aster. bee/bee. bee/bees. bless/blessed. bloom/bloom. bloss/bloss. bloss/blossomself. bud/bud. camell/camell. camellia/camellia. carnati/carnation. chirp/chirp. ci/cir. cloud/cloud. colum/columbine. columbine/columbine. comfort/comfort. dais/daisy. dawn/dusk. dew/dew. dog/dogwood. dog/wood. ey/em. fe/fer. fer/fern. fern/fern. field/field. fir/fir. fleur/fleur. flor/flor. flor/flora. floral/floral. flori/florid. flow/flower. flower/flower. freesi/freesia. fruit/fruit. fuch/fuchsia. garden/garden. grass/grass. green/green. grow/growth. hawth/hawthorn. hawth/thorn. hi/hits. hib/hibiscus. honey/honey. hy/hys. hya/hyacinth. hyacin/hyacinth. h✦/h✦m. ir/iris. jas/jasmine. jessa/jessamine. jour/ney. laven/lavender. le/leaf. leaf/leaf. leaf/leave. lil/lily. lotu/lotus. lu/luna. mag/magnolia. mar/mar. matcha/matcha. misel/mistletoe. mo/moth. morning/morning. moss/moss. mossy/mossy. narc/narcir. narcissus/narcissus. nature/nature. orch/orchid. pe/peony. peace/peace. peak/peak. per/peri. peri/periwinkle. petal/petal. pi/pix. picnic/picnic. plum/plum. pollen/pollen. pop/poppy. prick/prick. pur/purple. qu/quest. rain/rain. rhod/rhode. ros/rose. rose/rose. sa/sap. sage/sage. sakura/sakura. scent/scent. se/ser.��shine/shine. shroom/shroom. sh✦/h✦r. si/strike. smile/smile. soft/soft. sol/solar. spikes/spike. spring/spring. sprout/sprout. star/star. stem/stem. sun/sun. sun/sunrise. sun/sunset. syr/syringa. tea/party. tea/tea. thist/thistle. thorn/thorn. th✦y/th✦m. tul/tulip. vi/vier. vi/viol. wi/wild. win/winkle. wind/wind. wister/wisteria. yucca/yucca. zinni/zinnia. ☀️ . 🌱 . 🌳 . 🌷 . 🌿 . 🍎 . 🍏 . 🍵 . 🐝 . 🐞 . 💐 . 💐.🌷 . 🕷️ . 🦋 . 🦟 .

[hollygscat]

the festivals of winsome

every celebration is a kind of prayer. a promise. a memory that lives longer than we do.

i just spent like two days on this jfc, next will be about the heirs and the kingdoms (probably multi-part)

🌿🌿🌿🌿🌿🌿🌿🌿🌿🌿🌿🌿🌿🌿🌿🌿🌿

✦ spring ✦

bare feet, salt-soaked hems, coral offerings to the sea. joy that smells like rainwater and freedom

the tide blessing

held on the first warm rain of the year. we step into the sea at dawn, barefoot, and offer coral, pearls, and poems to the water. fishermen and sailors pray for abundance and safety. children wear crowns with coral and sea-glass. those with water magic glow for days after

silent reverence, moss-covered trees, honey on bark, magic old as roots. the forest listens and answers

the communion

when the forests begin to bloom again, we pay respects to nature. quietly. the communion is less of a festival, more of a ritual. we speak to the trees, bury intentions and wishes, and leave bread and honey for the creatures that watch from between the trees

✦ summer ✦

lanterns glowing like fireflies, music echoing from wind, laughter echoing through trees

the forest dance

the most vibrant celebration. lanterns hang from every tree branch, music echoes through the valleys, and everyone wears flowers in their hair. it is said that if you dance long enough, the forest will choose a gift for you, a vision, a promise, a kiss. the line between human and myth runs thin here

glowing tidepools, starlit confessions, lips tasting of salt. a night where magic calls your name

oceanlights

by midsummer the sea is warm and inviting. this night is for love and longing, for confessions whispered over the sound of the waves. lovers swim in fluorescent waters and mages find themselves overwhelmed. it’s common to cry during this festival, and even more common to fall in love. sometimes it hurts. most times it heals

✦ autumn ✦

one long table, warm cider, even warmer stories. the entire kingdom gathering together for one golden night

harvest harmony

our most communal celebration. every village sets a table. strangers are welcomed like family. magic is used only keep the cider warm. even the palace open their gates for the people

masks and shadows, memory made myth. sometimes you lose yourself to be found again

wildsong

as leaves fall and magic begins to stir again, we hold a twilight festival in the hills. the wildsong is more chaotic, often unpredictable. old stories are reenacted in masks

✦ winter ✦

silence, wishes whispered to stars, truths burned into ash. sacred stillness

the balance festival

held on the longest night of the year. we light no fires until the moon rises. it’s a time of reflection and honesty. secrets are shared under the stars, then burned in small crystal bowls. the balance is personal, an inner festival. the land listens in silence. people cry in the snow. it means they’re real

✦ non-seasonal ✦

dust and glitter, chaos, deals made with smiles too wide. blink and it’s gone

the great trade festival

a traveling celebration that flows through the kingdoms. when it arrives in a town, it brings with it all the colors and crafts of the other six realms. fire dancers from éire, illusionists from róis, strange treats from aerys and more. it is a window to the rest of the world. beautiful, temporary, and a little dangerous

midnight feasts lit by floating lanterns. heirs in ceremonial finery, eyes watching each other more than the stars

the concorde

a time where all seven kingdoms get together and the only time it feels like peace might be possible. a once a year summit + celebration held in a neutral estate known as the heartland, said to be the last place the original rulers stood side by side. cultural exchange, each realm brings a delegation, performance or a gift

festival of flame, fang and wings

the fire festival

once every twelve years, when the twin moons align, there’s an ancient celebration for the mythblooded, creatures, beasts, and dragons that once ruled the skies. said to have begun as a truce festival between humans and dragons

[chaletnz]

Welcome to Chicago!

I had an unexpected 5 day weekend before the start of the winter season so I decided to take a trip to Chicago, and cross off another US state. The flights were very cheap on Frontier if I took only carry on and I got my roundtrip tickets for about $70. Summit Express took me again for free to the Denver airport and then once in Chicago I could take the train into the city. I arrived at Midway in the afternoon and made a very long walk through the terminal and out to the train connection. The ticket was only $15 for 3 days of public transport access so super cheap! I decided to do some shopping/sightseeing on State Street before I retired to the hostel later since my bag was pretty light. I stepped off the train at State and Lake and walked down to see the iconic Chicago theatre sign immediately! It was very warm, and my down jacket became a bit annoying to carry around with me but I walked down to Uniqlo as my first destination. I experienced some sticker shock as the prices were so much higher than Uniqlo in Japan that was always very affordable! I bought a couple pairs of the boxers anyway and then walked over the road to Primark (careful to avoid the scam artists trying to get ‘donations’). The Primark certainly delivered and made me miss Ireland and my amazing housemates Shannon and Sorcha. When I emerged from Primark it was starting to get dark and since I was unfamiliar with the city and safe/dangerous areas I decided to make my way to the hostel to check in. When I’d been in Seattle I unknowingly had walked through a scary block of homeless/drug users at about 9pm while following Google maps and didn’t want that to happen again… I checked into my room and while it was small it was only about $50 a night so I couldn’t complain! I emptied a lot of my bag into the locker and then headed out to catch the Second City show tonight so I wouldn’t have to try and cram it in on another night. The bus stop was close but I waited about 15 minutes and it never came and with the updates saying 24 minutes I decided to walk to a train station and catch that instead. Now I’d arrived later my plans for McDonald’s were canceled and I decided to buy something for dinner off their menu at the theatre. With my ticket in hand I headed inside early and got lucky upon arrival when they told me the show was undersold and they moved me from my cheap seat to second row from the front! Gradually everything filled up around me and I think if I’d arrived later I would’ve been sat further to the back but being early and alone I snuck into a free upgrade. My waiter was a guy called Ray and he was nice and his timing was very good, I ordered a Korean fried chicken sandwich with fries and a blackberry cider. It all arrived right as the show was starting so I could eat in the darkness and enjoy the show. It was absolutely hilarious, a live sketch comedy style. They even brought up a guy from the audience who was a really good sport and allowed them to improvise a bit for something fresh. After the show I headed straight back to the hostel as it was almost 10pm and I was exhausted. The roommates were there when I got back so I quickly changed into my pyjamas and brushed my teeth and then made quick introductions with Allie (from Idaho now in LA) and Andre (from a small town in Illinois) before heading to bed. The final roommate whom I never met must’ve been working in the city as he was out all day and then came back very late to snore his head off…

[b0kksu-gone]

050.   a childhood home or bedroom .

           At the pinnacle of the summit, nestled between the lush greenery the old estate still reigns. Amongst the fluttering wind, one could hear the ancient song, the smell of sweet incense && cider that brewed in the mouthfuls. Joyous, prosperous, those below spoke of the odd beauty that reigned && their pious nature. Faithful people that constantly yearned for a wayward son to return home; they masquerade themselves well. Everywhere one turned, the veils of white would flutter && quickly move. Eyes that were made of ice, those of storms && for seldom few the constellations themselves lingered - their smiles all but shrouded could be felt. A guest? Surprise && intrigue, for a few seconds, they stared longer then turned away.

      Embraces && cradling of his jawline, the God who sits as the focal point is cooed over, taunted his height shall outrival the greatest of towering willow trees - his heart breaks in fractures. Tenderness that is deemed to be longing, he does not grant it anymore attention, beckoning her to follow. “We’re lucky to escape the snowfall, any longer it would have been a pain!” his bemoaning fills the space between, a hand that moves back && forth in irritation.

        It wasn’t as if he couldn’t relocate them with ease, the modern frivolities were nothing but pomp && circumstance, a spectacle to be reveled in. The first attendants declares rooms are not available till a few hours later, dinner would be served && they both could relax, till then the young lord would have to be patient. “Follow me” there was no question or patience, merely a statement that would not be denied, through the long corridors the shadows would dance. Artifacts encased in their tombs && the fading of portraits depicting stories of yore, the land bled here && mended itself together, time withstood everything && yet, the present could not touch them. Behind shoji doors, another quarter was revealed, one that was spacious enough for two that overlooked the rich gardens. Bookshelves littered about && overflowing, sunflowers that were neatly cut && placed as a welcome home gift, then the startling realization, this was Satoru’s domain. From his youth till now, nothing had changed, perhaps the futon size, the small trinket of toys that once gathered now all gone, replaced with mementos of the past. Photographs of friends, stray jewelry - gold rings && leather wristbands, apothecary bottles, intimate details that were hardly revealed.

         “Make yourself comfortable, I hardly sleep here anymore it’s weird that this place is still standing to begin with” the bitter tinge in Satoru's voice displaying the complexity of each emotion in his gut, relief to be home, anxiety from the weight of duty, the loneliness that seemed to permeate everywhere. Tea was quickly served as he haphazardly revealed, “I can’t remember the last time someone was in my room, guest are a rarity in our home, the Gojo Clan is off limits to the rest of the noble families. Invitations are exceedingly rare, but, I think my family likes you - they keep pestering me with weird questions” he snickers, charming as the mask of his devil-may-care nature begins to slip, the quietness that lingers && entwined with a soft snort.

       “It’s strangely nice, having someone to share this with, thanks for coming - I think in the past someone like you could have lit up this dull world of ours”   

[laresearchette]

Friday, March 01, 2024 Canadian TV Listings (Times Eastern)

WHERE CAN I FIND THOSE PREMIERES?: THE COMPLETELY MADE-UP ADVENTURES OF DICK TURPIN (Apple TV+) MURDER IS EASY (BritBox) THE BRAID (Paramount+ Canada) IN BLOOM (Paramount + Canada) FBI TRUE (Paramount + Canada) SIDE HUSTLERS (The Roku Channel) BMF (Starz Canada) 9:00pm

NEW TO AMAZON PRIME CANADA/CBC GEM/CRAVE TV/DISNEY + STAR/NETFLIX CANADA:

AMAZON PRIME CANADA AMERICAN GANGSTER ANOTHER FATHER’S DAY BACK TO THE FUTURE BACK TO THE FUTURE 2 BACK TO THE FUTURE 3 BENNY & JOON BLOW OUT CABIN IN THE WOODS DEATH WISH 2 DEATH WISH 3 DEATH WISH 4 DEATH WISH V: THE FACE OF DEATH E.T., THE EXTRA-TERRESTRIAL GOD IS A BULLET THE HORSE SOLDIERS HOT PURSUIT JAQUE MATE KALIFORNIA KING SOLOMON’S MINES MAD MAX OBLIVION PATHS OF GLORY RAINMAKER THE RETURN OF THE LIVING DEAD ROAD HOUSE ROBOCOP (1987) ROBOCOP (2014) ROBOCOP 2 ROBOCOP 3 RUSH HOUR A SHOT IN THE DARK SOME LIKE IT HOT THE THOMAS CROWN AFFAIR THROW MOMMA FROM THE TRAIN VALKYRIE WALKING TALL: THE PAYBACK

CBC GEM THE ADVENTURES OF PADDINGTON (Season 3) CBC MUSIC LIVE AT MASSEY HALL CHATEAU DIY (Season 6B) CROUCHING TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON THE NEXT STEP (Season 6) RUSTY RIVETS (Season 3) TRIGGER POINT (Season 2)

CRAVE TV ARGO BATTLE OF THE GENERATIONS (Season 1B, Canadian title) BMF CABARET CATWOMAN KNIGHTS OF THE ZODIAC LA LA LAND MAN OF STEEL NEVER GOIN’ BACK ONE DAY AS A LION PACIFIC RIM THE SOCIAL NETWORK TMNT

DISNEY + STAR WONDERFUL WORLD (Premiere)

NETFLIX CANADA ANÍKÚLÁPÖ: RISE OF THE SPECTRE (NG) THE ART OF WAR BLOOD & WATER (Season 4) (ZA) BRIDESMAIDS THE CIDER HOUSE RULES DUNE (1984) FURIES (FR) GEOSTORM GROWN UPS IT (2017) MAAMI LEGAL HAI (IN) MY NAME IS LOH KIWAN (KR) NOTTING HILL PREMONITION THE RUINS S.W.A.T SOMEBODY FEED PHIL (Season 7) SPACEMAN STRANGE BUT TRUE SYDNEY WHITE THEY/THEM THE UGLY TRUTH UNDERWORLD: BLOOD WARS YOU ARE NOT ALONE: FIGHTING THE WOLF PACK (ES)

MLB SPRING TRAINING (SN) 6:30pm: Jays vs. Yankees

NHL HOCKEY (SNEast/SNOntario) 7:00pm: Sabres vs. Blue Jackets (TSN5) 7:00pm: Coyotes vs. Sens (SN) 10:00pm: Devils vs. Ducks

NBA BASKETBALL (SN1) 7:30pm: Warriors vs. Raptors (SN Now) 7:30pm: Mavericks vs. Celtics (TSN2) 10:00pm: Bucks vs. Bulls (SN1) 10:30pm: Capitals vs. Clippers

CURLING (TSN/TSN3) 7:00pm: Montana's Brier: Pool Play

NLL LACROSSE (TSN4) 7:00pm: Swarm vs. Thunderbirds (TSN/TSN4) 10:00pm: Bandits vs. Warriors

MILLION DOLLAR ISLAND (Discovery Canada) 8:00pm

THE REAL HOUSEWIVES OF CHESHIRE (Slice) 8:00pm: You’ve Been Served

BOLLYWED (documentary) 8:00pm: With the Grand Opening of the second location only a week away, mom and dad to come to the rescue one last time.

ABOUT THAT (CBC) 8:30pm

NEVER GOIN’ BACK (Crave) 9:00pm: Angela and Jessie are best friends intent on taking a wild beach trip, but when their roommate loses all of their money in a drug scam, the girls -- blissfully stoned -- go to increasingly daring and absurd lengths to get it back.

THE SUMMIT AUSTRALIA (Discovery Canada) 9:30pm: The group is torn between loyalty and strategy as another hiker is voted off the mountain; a massive rocky chasm stands between the final four and the summit.

[providencepeakrp]

𝕴𝖙'𝖘 𝖆𝖑𝖑 𝖏𝖚𝖘𝖙 𝖆 𝖇𝖚𝖓𝖈𝖍 𝖔𝖋 𝖍𝖔𝖈𝖚𝖘 𝖕𝖔𝖈𝖚𝖘 —

Every year Providence Peak goes all out for the week of Halloween and this year is no exception. Among the traditional events the city hosts, like the annual pumpkin carving contest and it's Halloween movie night at Cinematic, come a few once in a lifetime events hosted by members of the city itself. Whether you're looking for a scare of a lifetime with a ghoulish birthday party, a roller rink like you've never seen it before, a spooky evening out with family or friends, or a cozy autumnal wedding, you'll surely find something to help celebrate one of the spiciest times of the year.

𝔖𝔠𝔥𝔢𝔡𝔲𝔩𝔢 𝔬𝔣 𝔈𝔳𝔢𝔫𝔱𝔰 —

Monday (October 23rd) - Enter if you dare to a ghoulish funeral — featuring the ghost of Rachel Hargrove herself. Join the ghost of Rachel to celebrate her life and the death of her 30s at her Summit Lake home where you'll experience the birthday party graveyard smash of a lifetime! Find more information about this event here. Tuesday (October 24th) - Skate on over to High Rollers in Claret Part for a night of dazzling orange and purple lights, a rink full of the creepy and the cute, and a coordinated performance by Providence's own roller derby to Thriller. Stick around for Halloween-themed snacks at the snack bar and a costume contest at the end of the night! Find more information about this event here. Wednesday (October 25th) - Providence Peak's annual pumpkin carving contest will once again be hosted at Jack's Pumpkin Farm and judges will include the city's very own Mayor Ava Harris, The Peak Times' Editor-in-Chief Victoria Carlyle, and Chief of Police Jordan Walker. Submissions should be showcased by noon the day of to allow for judging and all contestents should be present to present their carved pumpkin. Winner will receive an all-inclusive package for Jack's Pumpkin Farm, cornmaze, and Haunted Acres. Find more information about this event here. Thursday (October 26th) - Glide your ghostly selves down to Cinematic with a donation item for the local food pantry and find free front row seats to a showing of Hocus Pocus or if you’re not looking for something family-friendly, try out the theater down the hallway for a truly spooktacular showing of Wes Craven's 1996 Scream and collect your complimentary Ghostface masks before you leave! Friday (October 27th) - Prepare for the spookiest day of the year and come on out to Jack's Pumpkin Farm and Haunted Acres' 50% off day. Receive half-off of Jack's cornmaze, hayride, and pumpkins and admission to Haunted Acres. There will be fresh apple cider, popcorn, and food and craft vendors milling about to give the whole family something to do. Saturday (October 28th) - You're invited to celebrate a day Providence Peak never thought it would see — the wedding of Emeline Cormier and Verda Durmaz. Despite recently already tying the knot, the two wanted the opportunity to celebrate with the friends and family they've made in the city that brought them back together once more. The more the merrier is their ideal and even if you only just know of the two, you're invited too! Find more information about this event here. Sunday (October 29th) - After a night of dancing, drinking, and... more drinking, join the newly re-wedded couple for a post-wedding brunch at noon in the main dining area of Amelie's, located downtown. The brunch will feature Cajun-Creole and Turkish favorites from both brides and will help even the most exhausted or hungover friend recover.

𝔈𝔳𝔢𝔫𝔱 𝔇𝔢𝔱𝔞𝔦𝔩𝔰 —

This event will be kicking off Monday, October 23rd at 12pm EST.

The event will end Sunday, November 5th at 12pm EST. After this time, no new starters should be made. However, members may take their time finishing up threads over the following days.

Non-event related threads can be resumed on Sunday, October 29th at 12pm EST.

Activity checks and acceptances will be held as usual.

All characters are invited to every event hosted, however they do not need to attend every event taking place.

Have fun and be sure to relax and enjoy this event! Please tag all event related posts with providence.event and be sure to check the starter blog for open event starters.

[https-bakugo]

aight lets see here

Tagging: @sangoqueenkoko @tokeposts @sleepdeprivedsprout @somnbul @camvrin

Challenging you all!

Put your music library on shuffle, then list the first five songs that come up in a poll to let people vote for which one they like the most!

Then tag Tumblr friends to keep the game going!

[deadlydelmundo]

A healthier take on the traditional deep-fried treat are these vegan baked tofu beignets. They have a crispy exterior, a soft interior, and an abundance of flavor. Ideal as an appetizer at a party or for snacking!

Ingredients: 1 block firm tofu, pressed and drained. 1 cup all-purpose flour. 1 tablespoon nutritional yeast. 1 teaspoon garlic powder. 1 teaspoon onion powder. 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika. 1/2 teaspoon salt. 1/4 teaspoon black pepper. 1 cup unsweetened plant-based milk. 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar. 1 tablespoon soy sauce or tamari. 1 tablespoon hot sauce optional. 1 cup breadcrumbs or panko breadcrumbs. Cooking spray or oil for greasing.

Instructions: Set the oven temperature to 375F 190C. Apply cooking spray or oil to a baking sheet to grease it. Slice the compressed tofu into thin, bite-sized pieces. Combine the smoked paprika, nutritional yeast, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and black pepper in a shallow dish. Mix the plant-based milk, tamari or soy sauce, apple cider vinegar, and hot sauce if using in a separate shallow dish. After dipping each tofu piece into the wet mixture, evenly coat it with the breadcrumb mixture and gently press it to cling. Put the coated tofu pieces onto the baking sheet that has been ready. Preheat the oven to 250C. Bake the tofu for 25 to 30 minutes, rotating it halfway through, or until it becomes crispy and golden. Warm up and pair with your preferred dipping sauce.

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 30 minutes

imago dei summit

[life-in-lebanon-nh]

Hassle-Free Lifestyle

Living in a place that makes your daily routine easier is a huge plus. Summit on Juniper offers 1-, 2-, 3-, and 4-bedroom apartments that fit right into student life. These student housing near Dartmouth College come with bike storage, so you don’t have to worry about your ride when you’re headed out. With on-site maintenance and management, you’ll always have someone nearby to take care of any issues that pop up. Plus, the shuttle bus to campus and the medical center make commuting a breeze, so you can get where you need to go without the hassle. It’s everything you need for a smoother, more convenient college experience, all in one place. Whether it’s school, work, or play, this is a spot that truly fits your lifestyle.

Job Market and Economy in Lebanon, New Hampshire

If you’re looking for work in Lebanon, you’re in luck. The town has a diverse economy, with jobs spanning healthcare, education, and manufacturing. The Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, one of the area’s biggest employers, plays a huge role in keeping the local economy strong. Lebanon is also home to several small businesses, and there’s always a need for workers in retail, hospitality, and the service industries. If you’re into tech, you’ll find opportunities there too, especially with the growth of nearby innovation hubs. So, whether you’re just starting out or looking for a career change, Lebanon offers a good mix of opportunities to explore.

Poverty Lane Orchards and Farnum Hill Ciders in Lebanon, NH

If you’re in Lebanon during apple season, you’ve got to check out Poverty Lane Orchards. It’s a laid-back place where you can pick your own apples, wander around, and just enjoy being outside. The trees go on and on, and there’s something relaxing about filling your bag at your own pace. But even if apples aren’t your thing, Farnum Hill Ciders—made right there—are worth the trip. They’re not your average sweet ciders; they’ve got a crisp, dry flavor that’s more grown-up and really refreshing. You can do a tasting, chat with the staff, and maybe find a new favorite. It’s a chill way to spend part of your afternoon, especially in the fall when everything smells like apples and fresh air.

‘It’s Going to Be Really Fun’ — Lebanon Seeks Volunteers for Playground Construction

It’s really heartwarming to see a community like Lebanon, NH, come together to build something meaningful like a new playground. When folks volunteer their time and energy for a project like this, it shows how much they care about creating spaces where kids can play and families can gather. It’s not just about swings and slides—it’s about building connections and giving back. Plus, working side by side with neighbors can be a fun and rewarding experience. You get to meet new people, share some laughs, and at the end of the day, see the tangible results of your efforts. It’s these kinds of community-driven projects that make a town feel like home and remind you of the good that can happen when people pitch in together.

Link to Map Driving Direction

Poverty Lane Orchards and Farnum Hill Ciders 98 Poverty Ln, Lebanon, NH 03766, United States

Head northwest on Poverty Ln toward Old Kings Hwy 2 min (1.1 mi)

Take I-89 S/NH-10 S to Heater Rd 4 min (2.5 mi)

Follow Heater Rd and Mt Support Rd to your destination 4 min (1.6 mi)

Summit on Juniper 6 Juniper Cir, Lebanon, NH 03766, United States

[bluemountainresort]

Savor the Summit: Dining Elevated at Slopeside Pub and Grill

Few things in life are as satisfying as a great meal with a spectacular view—and at Slopeside Pub and Grill, you get both. Perched high atop Blue Mountain in Andreas, PA, this scenic dining destination invites you to kick back, enjoy the moment, and indulge in some of the best food the Poconos has to offer.

Whether you’re refueling after a day on the slopes, capping off an adrenaline-filled mountain biking run, or just looking for a relaxed evening with friends, Slopeside Pub and Grill delivers an unforgettable experience at the summit.

A True Blue Mountain Dining Gem

The Slopeside Pub is more than just a restaurant—it’s a staple of the Blue Mountain Resort experience. As the premier Blue Mountain summit restaurant in Andreas PA, it offers panoramic views of the Pocono Mountains year-round. Watch the sun set over the valley in the summer, see the leaves turn fiery red in fall, or gaze out over snow-covered peaks during ski season.

Inside, the vibe is warm and welcoming, with a rustic-modern style that captures the mountain spirit while still feeling upscale. Think crackling fireplaces, exposed beams, and floor-to-ceiling windows that bring the outdoors in.

A Menu That Elevates Every Palate

What’s on the table at Slopeside Pub and Grill? An impressive blend of classic comfort food, elevated pub favorites, and chef-inspired dishes that reflect local flavor and seasonal ingredients.

Some crowd favorites include:

Bavarian Pretzel with Beer Cheese – A must-have starter after a day of adventure.

Mountain Burger – Juicy, flavorful, and stacked high with toppings.

Maple Bacon Brussels Sprouts – A surprising side that keeps guests coming back.

Crispy Chicken Sandwich – Spicy, crunchy, and craveable.

Signature Cocktails & Local Craft Beers – Perfectly paired with the view.

Looking for a refined experience? The slopeside dining room also offers weekly specials, gourmet entrees, and an impressive wine list to elevate your meal even further.

More Than a Meal—It’s a Mountain Experience

Dining at Slopeside Pub isn't just about what’s on your plate—it’s about the atmosphere. The restaurant's name isn’t just clever; it’s literal. You can sit back with a drink in hand and watch skiers carve down the runs in winter, or mountain bikers descend in the warmer months.

The wrap-around deck is a guest favorite, especially during spring and fall, when the mountain is bursting with color. Few other Pocono restaurants can offer views like this while you sip a local IPA or dig into a loaded nacho platter.

It’s the perfect way to end a day on the mountain—or to start a relaxed weekend lunch with friends.

Year-Round Dining With Seasonal Flavor

Open year-round, Slopeside Pub and Grill adapts its menu and events to match the season. Here’s what you can expect throughout the year:

❄️ Winter

After a chilly day on the slopes, warm up in the cozy slopeside dining room with hearty soups, hot toddies, and après-ski favorites. Ski-in, ski-out convenience makes it the go-to for hungry snow lovers.

🌸 Spring & Summer

The deck comes alive with live music, scenic brunches, and cold drinks under the sun. It’s a great stop during your hiking or mountain biking adventure.

🍁 Fall

Catch the leaves at peak color while enjoying seasonal specials like pumpkin beer, apple cider cocktails, and fall-inspired entrees.

No matter when you visit, the food and views make this a top spot for food in the Poconos.

Ideal for Any Occasion

Planning a celebration or group gathering? The slopeside dining room offers space and style for everything from birthdays to wedding rehearsal dinners. With stunning views and exceptional service, it’s one of the most memorable places to host an event in the Poconos.

They even offer event catering and seasonal tasting menus, so your special occasion can feel as elevated as the location itself.

How to Visit Slopeside Pub and Grill

Getting to Slopeside Pub and Grill is easy. Located at the summit of Blue Mountain Resort in Andreas, PA, it’s accessible via scenic drive up the mountain road. Ample parking and welcoming staff ensure a stress-free arrival.

Reservations are recommended during peak times and weekends, especially during ski season or when the foliage draws big crowds.

👉 View the Menu & Plan Your Visit to Slopeside Pub and Grill

Come Hungry, Leave Inspired

If you’ve been searching for a place where great food, breathtaking views, and relaxed mountain vibes come together, Slopeside Pub and Grill is it. As one of the best Blue Mountain summit restaurants in Andreas PA, this is more than just a meal—it’s an experience that sticks with you.

So whether you’re a local looking for your new go-to spot or a traveler exploring the food of the Poconos, make your way to the summit. The views are better up here—and so is the food.

[scottdamron1]

Georgia’s Vertical Playground Scott Damron’s Guide to Conquering Rocks and Trails

How one adventurer mastered climbing and cycling in the Peach State’s wildest landscapes

Introduction: The Call of the Wild South

The first time Scott Damron clung to Stone Mountain’s 600-foot granite face, his hands trembled—not from fear, but revelation. "I finally understood why Georgia’s outdoors are the South’s best-kept secret," says the 34-year-old adventurer. Over the past decade, Scott has transformed from an office worker into a local legend, pioneering routes up Georgia’s cliffs and trails through its backcountry.

This is his ultimate guide to merging two passions: rock climbing’s technical precision and cycling’s endurance challenges.

Chapter 1: Georgia’s Climbing Renaissance

Why Georgia?

While the West Coast gets climbing glory, Georgia offers:

Year-round seasons (vs. Yosemite’s winter closures)

Varied rock types from granite to sandstone

Beginner-friendly to expert-level routes

Scott’s Top 3 Climbing Spots

Stone Mountain’s Walk-Up Route

Best for: First outdoor lead climbs

Pro Tip: "Start at 5 AM to beat the heat—and the crowds."

Mount Yonah’s North Face

Hidden Gem: A 120-foot trad climb with bomber cracks

Scott’s Story: "Took 6 attempts to cleanly send ‘Yonah’s Revenge’—worth every skinned knuckle."

Rocktown’s ‘Super Mario’ Boulder

Why Unique: V4 problem with a dyno move over a 10-foot drop

Local Lore: "The landing zone used to be called ‘ER Alley’ until we padded it properly."

Chapter 2: Pedaling Through Peach Country

Georgia’s Cycling Secret

Scott discovered cycling as cross-training for climbing, but fell in love with:

The Silver Comet Trail’s 61.5 car-free miles

Dahlonega’s Gold Route (3,000ft elevation gain in 25 miles)

Ellijay’s Apple Orchards Ride ("Post-ride cider tastes like victory")

Scott’s Training Hybrid

"Climbing builds explosive power; cycling teaches pain management." His weekly mix:

Monday: Campus board + interval cycling

Wednesday: Outdoor climb + 20-mile recovery ride

Saturday: Back-to-back challenges (e.g., Rocktown bouldering → Blankets Creek MTB)

Chapter 3: Near-Death & Life Lessons

The Sand Rock Wake-Up Call

In 2021, Scott’s quickdraw snapped mid-route. "I took a 15-foot whipper—my harness saved me, but my ego still hurts." The takeaways:

Always double-check gear

Climb with partners who know rescue techniques

"Fear is useful if you listen to it"

Cycling’s Close Calls

Hit by a logging truck on GA-60 ("Now I only ride shoulders before dawn")

Bear encounter on the Pinhoti Trail ("Pro tip: Bear spray fits in bottle cages")

Chapter 4: Local Heroes & Hidden Networks

Meet Georgia’s Adventure Tribe

The ‘Granite Cowboys’: Stone Mountain’s dawn patrol climbers

SORBA Atlanta: Trail-building mountain bikers

Appalachian Outfitters: The Dahlonega shop that sponsors Scott’s gear

Scott’s Rules for Trail Etiquette

Climbing: Brush tick marks after sends

Cycling: Yield to horses (yes, even on singletrack)

Both: Pack out tape, gel wrappers, and ego

Conclusion: Your Turn

As Scott gears up for his first El Capitan attempt this fall, he leaves Georgia adventurers with this: "The best climb? The next one. The best ride? The one where you bonk hard enough to laugh about it later."

Starter Kit (Scott-Approved)

Climbing: $10 day pass at Stone Summit Atlanta

Cycling: Rent a Trek Fuel EX at Outspokin in Ellijay

Must-Follow: @georgiaclimbs and #gapinhoti on Instagram

[legends-of-time]

The Strength of a High and Noble Hill (Outlander)

Chapter 67: A New Culinary Feat

Masterlist

Mrs. Bug, Ellen, and Mama carry the pizzas to the table, the scent of garlic, tomatoes, and toasted crust drifting through the room like a promise. Ellen pulls out her Swiss Army knife with a triumphant grin.

"This should do the job since we don't have a pizza cutter." She says, flipping out the blade and getting to work slicing the first pie into eight even pieces.

Brian presses his lips together, trying not to laugh. Around the table, the Bugs, Fergus, Marsali, and Da lean forward with wide-eyed fascination, murmuring quiet "oohs" and "aahs" as if Ellen's performing a magic trick. Who knew pizza would be such a spectacle?

It had been Ellen's idea. She'd declared she missed pizza and wanted to try making some—well, the closest thing they could come up with in this century. Brian and Roger had backed her immediately. What followed was a sort of summit around the kitchen table—Ellen, Roger, Mama, and himself—hashing out how to recreate the dish with what they had. Sheep's milk cheese makes the cut, since it melts better than the hard wheels they usually keep on hand.

Da had stood nearby during the planning, trying to make sense of it all. He'd repeated the word "pizza" a few times, suspiciously, and it had come out sounding like "peesa." Brian nearly choked laughing—almost as good as Da's attempts at "gerrrms" and "murrrrderr."

Fortunately, they grow their own tomatoes, basil, and garlic—the last of which Mama mostly uses in her surgery, but she's willing to spare a few cloves. Da and Brian had gone up to the distillery earlier in the day and rolled down a barrel of cider they'd made a few weeks ago to pair with the meal. Ellen takes charge of the crust, while Mama gathers the rest of the ingredients. It had come together better than any of them expected.

Brian's glad to be part of it. Since that first breakthrough with Roger and Ellen, he's been slowly making small progressions in speaking with his parents too. His throat is still sore, and some days his voice gives out entirely, but he's talking again—carefully, quietly. Marsali has been particularly relieved and vigilant, often stepping in to remind others not to push him too hard. Brian knows it's because she's afraid—afraid he'll backslide again, disappear back into silence, and it'll be all her fault. She doesn't say that out loud, but he feels it in her carefulness.

Roger has been steady as ever—never reacting with pity, never flinching at the rasp in Brian's voice. Just listening. That alone makes it easier to keep trying. With less pressure from the rest of the family and Roger's unwavering presence beside him, Brian feels like he's finally got both feet under him again.

He's even agreed to go survey the land grant—5,000 acres adjacent to Fraser's Ridge. He and Roger have gone out with stakes and rope, measuring distances and marking boundaries. Brian still doesn't see the point of it—not like he has a family of his own—but Ellen had shrugged and said, "You might as well do it." And she's right. He might as well.

Tonight, it's a full house: Da, Mama, Ellen, Roger, Fergus, Marsali, the children, and the Bugs. They've made at least five big pizzas to feed everyone, and judging by how fast the slices are disappearing, they probably could've used a sixth.

Mama takes a too-big bite and nearly chokes, laughing as she fans her mouth from the heat. Da, cautious as ever, nibbles the tiniest bite Brian has ever seen, then nods in satisfaction and finishes two full slices in quick succession.

They eat and drink until nothing's left but crumbs and oil-streaked wooden plates. Pizza has clearly won the Ridge over—Brian's sure this won't be the last time they make it.

Everyone has a glass of cider in front of them, the golden liquid catching the firelight. The children have milk, of course—though Brian's caught Da letting them sneak sips of cider more than once. Da never seems to think it's a big deal, even when Mama scolds him.

As the meal winds down, Fergus leans toward Roger, launching into a bawdy ballad he picked up during his street-rat years in Paris. The women drift to the hearth, arms full of baby gowns, wool, and knitting needles. Marsali's suspected third pregnancy and Lizzie's recent engagement mean birth stories are flying—some funny, some outright terrifying.

There's other good news, too: Jenny has finally replied to Da's many letters. For months, ever since Ian had joined the Mohawks in Roger's stead, Jenny has steadfastly refused to communicate with her brother. The silence from his Aunt is always defined by the fact that Uncle Ian's sporadic missives with additional notes from Young Jamie and then a line from Maggie, Kitty, Michael, or Janet. But the silence from Jenny is so deafening as to drown out all other communications.

It pained Brian to see him carry that guilt day after day. The guilt of Ian's disappearance had been gnawing at him already, but Jenny's silence made it worse. She is closer to him, more important to him, than anyone in the world—save, perhaps, Mama. She has shared his heart and soul since the day he was born—until the day he lost her youngest son. Or so she plainly saw it.

Brian had tried to understand that. And he does. But he still couldn't help but feel some small resentment toward his Aunt. Ian isn't dead—not so far as they know. She alone could absolve Da, and surely she must've known it.

Brian doesn't know what the letter said, but he notes a difference in his Da, a shift so subtle he hadn't realised it was missing until it returned. Lighter shoulders. Quicker laugh. A kind of stillness behind his eyes. He wonders if the news they'd received from Ian the previous fall had anything to do with Jenny's apparent forgiveness.

Through the agency of John Quincy Myers, they had received a ratty paper letter written in clumsy Latin—one Brian couldn't hope to understand. But it gave them the only concrete evidence they had that Young Ian was still alive and well. The letter assured them he was safe. Happy. Married "in the Mohawk fashion" (which Brian assumed meant he shared her house, bed, and hearth, and she let him). Ian was expected to become a father "in the spring." And that was all.

Spring had come and gone with no further word. Brian knows Da has kept the note. To give it up would've been, in some final way, to relinquish him to the Mohawk. Ian isn't dead, but he was the next thing to it. The chances of them ever seeing him again are remote. Still, it is something.

The night ends in a roar of laughter as Fergus belts out the full version of the prostitute's ballad, arms stretched wide like he's on a stage. Da and Germain keep time on the table, pounding out the rhythm with their hands.

It's loud. It's warm. It's chaotic. And for the first time in a long time, Brian feels like he belongs in the middle of it.

——

A/N: So, I just want to let everyone know that Ian will be turning up later, like in the books rather than in the TV show, so there'll be a couple of things that Ian was involved in that will be happening without him.

Please leave comments on how you're enjoying this story and what you think.

[mariamirrors]

This Holiday Cider Cocktail blends the warmth of bourbon with the comforting flavors of apple cider and maple syrup, perfect for festive gatherings.

Ingredients: 2 oz bourbon. 4 oz apple cider. 1/2 oz lemon juice. 1/2 oz maple syrup. Dash of ground cinnamon. Cinnamon stick, for garnish. Apple slice, for garnish.

Instructions: In a shaker, combine bourbon, apple cider, lemon juice, maple syrup, and ground cinnamon. Shake well until thoroughly mixed. Strain mixture into a glass filled with ice. Garnish with a cinnamon stick and apple slice. Serve and enjoy!

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 0 minutes

imago dei summit

[b0kksu-gone]

He didn't like it here — Surrounded by the extravagance of wealth and dated jujutsu traditions made Megumi feel even more out of place than he already felt, even at such a young age. An age which should have consisted of smiles and naivety. The child ventured around the premises while kicking rocks and wishing he was anywhere but on Gojō clan territory. An hour dragged with the speed of ten when malachite eyes suddenly spotted the four paws, wrinkly whiskers, and friendly tail belonging to a stray cat. He moved swiftly ( purely on animal loving instinct before really thinking about his actions ) and snatched up the colourful feline. A hiss, several scratches, and a conversation later, Megumi returned to the estate with his new friend tucked within his yukata. The boy seemed to march forward with the glee he experienced, and the scratches on his chin and chest went ignored.

           Sweet incense that perfumed the air, the conclave of stone that had been untouched for thousands of years, humble people, virtuous with goodness in their hearts. So was the legend in this land, the tale of those high upon the summit that were graced by the infinite skies, nothing had changed. The practices that were still held like a vice && superstitions that were uniquely their own. Thousand eyes that linger upon the inky hair boy, each holding their tongue beneath a veil, for those of such lineage they hid amongst one another - shrouding their gaze && visage out of humility, protecting their beloved lordling. All those who found a way into the heart of the benevolent God were welcomed, granted with a kindness that was polite && hollow, still cautious as if expecting violence within a moment. Cups of mulled wine, cider that was rich with spices, tea to warm the belly && pretty confections with traditional flavors, never to know desire, they shared in their bounty.

          The sky hangs low, threatening another storm, but the chill is another emotion he has become accustomed to. Constant onslaught of voices that utter this or that, what their enemies or allies plan to do, monotonous topics that drove him to yawn - rudely. The passage of time flows freely within the thin altitude, seeping into every crevice, pausing momentarily to greet the souls long departed. It’s almost lunch, his ward was most likely hungry, elongated fingers that move to pull && tug at bandages mouthing with an utmost brashness; let’s cut this conversation short. Echoing, the sound of whispers fill the courtyard, barren at the moment, awaiting the blossom of Spring to come in. Only the willow tree remains, great && imposing, a constant guardian. His stomach grumbles, threatening to eat itself as he ponders, where is Megumi? Bakeneko, it catches his attention. A feline has found its way onto their grounds? How strange, most would scurry unnerved by the air that hung loosely. Unease, from shrewd eyes that pierced through their veils, the Honored One instead laughs - billowing in delight.

             What a proud creature, which one he spoke of was that of a mystery, “Oh, Megumi-chan! I was wondering where you went. Come, let’s have lunch, I’m sure you are hungry” with his head tilted, arms grasping one another through the flow of teal sleeves, a silver brow quirks. “A friend?” waving off any implorements of what ill luck this could bring, azure eyes rolled, if the shadow child wished to fill the estate with creatures to call friends - then so be. Happiness where it was least found, in their world that threatened to tear apart all that was innocent, a moment of joy in childhood was all that mattered. Crouching down, he stood eye level, lips pursed while reaching out. “Tsk, tsk! You couldn’t dodge those paws now, could you?” this would liven things up in such a haughty structure.

          “See what happens when you skip meals? Cats start to pick on you! That’s never good but, I think your new friend will like oden stew - I heard it’s a sure way of becoming strong that’s only if you eat the vegetables”