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greekcookingmadeeasy · 9 months ago

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Sfouggato (I.E. Greek Style Baked Omelet) With Spinach, Zucchini, Feta And Trahana

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Sfouggato (i.e. Greek style baked omelet) with Spinach, Zucchini, Feta and Trahana - Sfouggato me Spanaki, Kolokythi, Feta kai Trahana

BY: Greek Cooking Made Easy

SUBSCRIBE TO MY YOUTUBE CHANNEL: https://www.youtube.com/greekcookingmadeeasy

Check My YouTube Video: HERE

Κοιτάξτε Επίσης Την Συνταγή Μου Σε YouTube Βίντεο, Το Λίνκ Είναι: ΕΔΩ

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SERVES 🍴⃒ PREP. TIME 🕔⃒

4 pers. for lunch or 40 min.

6 for brunch

COOK. TIME ♨ DIFFIC. LEVEL 👩‍🍳⃒

30-35 min. Fairly Easy

Sfouggato (or sfougato) is the Greek word we had before adopting the word omelet, and which is still used, for the very old food made from beaten fried eggs with vegetables or otherwise a "crustless pie that looks like a sponge''.

Mainly an Aegean islands dish, it is very popular and prepared all over Greece using a variety of ingredients.

Not really an omelet or Kayiana (strapatsada) or Frittata, Quiche or Froutalia but a similar dish that stands proudly on its own. This recipe combines eggs with spinach, zucchini, crumbled feta cheese and Trahana, another ancient food.

The result is a spongy type of "baked omelet" filled with a great combo of tart and vegetable flavors plus the earthy taste of trahana. A delicious, filling pairing.

Intrigued to learn how to prepare it? Let me show you how.

Suitable for lacto-ovo vegetarians

INGREDIENTS:

· 500 gr. /1 lb 2 oz fresh Wild Spinach-washed, drained, coarsely chopped

· 300 gr. / 10.5 oz or 1 large Zucchini, mushed

· 150 gr. / 5.5 oz Feta cheese, crumbled

· 75 gr. / 2.75 oz Trahana, sour variety

· 2 large Eggs

· 2 tbsp. / 30 ml Olive Oil

· 1 medium Onion, finely chopped

· 2-3 Spring Onions, mashed in food processor

· 3/4 bunch fresh Dill, mashed in food processor

· 1.5 tbsp. / 15 gr. / 0.5 oz Cornmeal

· Ground Salt and pepper

METHOD:

A. Prepare the ingredients for Sfougato:

1. Wash well and strain the fresh wild spinach. Leave them for a while for the water to drain.

2. Pour the Olive oil into a deep pot over medium-high heat.

3. When it heats up, sauté first the chopped onion for 2'.

4. Then add the spinach leaves and sauté them for about 5' or until you see that the spinach has shrunk to 1/8 of its original size.

5. Add the mashed zucchini and blend it with the spinach.

6. Reduce heat and add trahana, tossing to mix it with the veggies.

7. Season with ground Pepper and Salt (not too much salt, because you will add all the feta cheese later!)

8. Keep cooking for 10'-12' more, or until trahana absorbs most of the water from the vegetables.

9. Then turn off the heat. Place the cooked mix aside to help it cool down a bit.

B. Assemble Sfougato:

10. Brush or spray some oil in a round fireproof dish of 22-23 cm / 8.7-9 in. Use 2/3 of the corn meal to flour the bottom and sides of the dish. Reserve the rest.

11. In a large bowl, crack the eggs and whisk them well.

12. Now add the mashed spring onions with dill into the beaten eggs, and whisk to mix them.

13. Gradually add the cooled, boiled spinach mixture in the egg mix and with a large spoon blend all ingredients, making sure the egg mix goes everywhere.

14. Crumble 2/3 of the feta cheese between your fingers and blend it in the Sfougato mix.

15. Tip Sfougato mix in the oven dish; crumble the rest of feta cheese and sprinkle it all around the top of the dish.

16. To finish, sprinkle the rest of corn meal on top of Sfougato and season with ground Pepper only.

17. Ready for baking, not so hard was it!?

C. Baking instructions:

18. Bake Sfougato in a preheated oven, FAN @190�� / 375℉ for about 30'-35' or until it turns golden (depends on the oven).

19. After 35', remove Sfougato from the oven.

D. Serving instructions:

Ready to be cut and served. Sfougato can be enjoyed warm or chilled, and it makes for an excellent brunch or meze dish accompanied by a glass of ouzo or raki on the rocks.

A simple, deliciously rustic, healthy, inexpensive dish for the whole family!

Traditional Greek style "omelet", filled with greens, tangy feta and earthy trahana.

Delicious simplicity on a plate!

E. Storage info:

After baking, cooled Sfougato can be stored in the fridge (covered), for up to a week.

F. More info and history of Sfougato:

The word "Sfougato" comes from the ancient Greek word sphongos or spongia, i.e. sponge. And that's because beaten eggs (along with vegetables) have a sponge texture.

The word has existed at least since medieval times - in Ptochoprodromos we find sfougato as well as double sfougato. In a later text, by Damascene Studitis (from the 16th century), we also have the definition of sfougato in a language very similar to today's: "don't you know what sfougato is? Eggs crushed and fried with onions and other herbs".

Its origin can be traced to the islands of the Aegean, with eggs, onions and zucchini as the main ingredients, and its name predates centuries before the French word omelet entered our lives.

A traditional version of the Greek sfougato recipe is the "Smyrna Sfougato" as it was brought by the refugees and was misunderstood as a "gourmet" recipe due to the influence of the Italian occupation of the Dodecanese islands.

In the accounts of West Coast refugees, it is mentioned as an imported Italian gourmet along with "granita", perhaps because of the Italian pronunciation of its name ending in -ato like "gelato".

Sfougato has nothing to do with strapatsada and kayanas and exists in many versions and variations with a range of ingredients.

With excerpts from:

*https://thryallida.wordpress.com/2020/10/26

*https://el.wikipedia.org/wiki/%CE%9F%CE%BC%CE%B5%CE%BB%CE%AD%CF%84%CE%B1

Check my similar recipe for Easy Spinach Tart: HERE

Check my YouTube Video: HERE

Σφουγγάτο με Σπανάκι, Κολοκύθι, Φέτα και Τραχανά

BY: Greek Cooking Made Easy

SUBSCRIBE TO MY YOUTUBE CHANNEL: https://www.youtube.com/greekcookingmadeeasy

ΜΕΡΙΔΕΣ🍴⃒ ΠΡΟΕΤΟΙΜΑΣΙΑ 🕔⃒

4 για μεσημεριανό 40 min.

ή 6 για μπράντς

ΜΑΓΕΙΡΕΜΑ ♨ ΒΑΘΜ. ΔΥΣΚΟΛΙΑΣ 👩‍🍳⃒

30-35 min. Σχετικά Εύκολο

Το Σφουγγάτο είναι η ελληνική λέξη που είχαμε, πριν υιοθετήσουμε τη λέξη ομελέτα, και η οποία χρησιμοποιείται ακόμα, για αυτό το πολύ παλιό φαγητό που φτιάχνετ��ι από χτυπημένα τηγανητά αυγά με λαχανικά ή αλλιώς «πίτα χωρίς ζύμη ή φύλλο που μοιάζει με σφουγγάρι».

Κυρίως πιάτο των νησιών του Αιγαίου, είναι πολύ δημοφιλές και παρασκευάζεται σε όλη την Ελλάδα με ποικιλία υλικών.

Δεν είναι ομελέτα ούτε καγιανάς (στραπατσάδα), ούτε φριτάτα, κις ή φρουτάλια αλλά ένα παρόμοιο πιάτο που όμως στέκεται περήφανα από μόνο του. Η συγκεκριμένη συνταγή συνδυάζει αυγά με σπανάκι, κολοκύθι, τριμμένη φέτα και τραχανά, ένα ακόμα αρχαίο φαγητό.

Το αποτέλεσμα είναι μια σπογγώδης "ομελέτα" φούρνου γεμάτη με έναν υπέροχο συνδυασμό αλμυρών γεύσεων και λαχανικών συν τη γήινη γεύση του τραχανά. Ένα πεντανόστιμο, χορταστικό ταίριασμα.

Ενδιαφέρεστε να μάθετε πώς φτιάχνεται; Πάμε να σας δείξω πώς.

Κατάλληλο για χορτοφάγους

ΥΛΙΚΑ:

• 500 γρ. /1 lb 2 oz φρέσκο άγριο Σπανάκι πλυμένο, στραγγισμένο, χοντροκομμένο

• 300 γρ. / 10,5 oz ή 1 μεγάλο Κολοκύθι, πολτοποιημένο

• 150 γρ. / 5,5 oz τυρί Φέτα, τριμμένη

• 75 γρ. / 2,75 oz Τραχανάς, ξινός

• 2 μεγάλα Αυγά

• 2 κ.σ. / 30 ml Ελαιόλαδο

• 1 μέτριο, ξερό Κρεμμύδι, ψιλοκομμένο

• 2-3 φρέσκα Κρεμμυδάκια, πολτοποιημένα στο μούλτι (πολυκόφτη)

• 3/4 ματσάκι φρέσκος Άνηθος, πολτοποιημένος στο μούλτι

• 1,5 κ.σ. / 15 γρ. / 0,5 oz Καλαμποκάλευρο

• Φρεσκοαλεσμένο αλάτι και πιπέρι

ΜΕΘΟΔΟΣ:

Α. Ετοιμάστε τα υλικά για το Σφουγγάτο:

1. Πλύντε καλά και σουρώστε το φρέσκο σπανάκι. Αφήστε το για λίγο να στραγγίσει καλά από το νερό.

2. Ρίξτε το ελαιόλαδο σε μια βαθιά κατσαρόλα πάνω από μέτρια προς δυνατή φωτιά.

3. Μόλις ζεσταθεί, σοτάρετε πρώτα το ψιλοκομμένο ξερό κρεμμύδι για 2'.

4. Στη συνέχεια προσθέστε τα φύλλα σπανακιού και σοτάρετε τα για περίπου 5' ή μέχρι να δείτε ότι το σπανάκι έχει συρρικνωθεί στο 1/8 του αρχικού του μεγέθους.

5. Προσθέστε το πολτοποιημένο κολοκύθι και ανακατέψτε το με το σπανάκι.

6. Χαμηλώστε τη φωτιά και προσθέστε τον τραχανά ανακατεύοντας να ενωθεί με τα λαχανικά.

7. Προσθέστε φρεσκοαλεσμένο πιπέρι και αλάτι (όχι πολύ αλάτι, γιατί θα προσθέσετε και τη φέτα αργότερα!)

8. Συνεχίστε το μαγείρεμα για 10'-12' ακόμη, ή μέχρι ο τραχανάς να απορροφήσει το μεγαλύτερο μέρος από το νερό των λαχανικών.

9. Στη συνέχεια σβήστε τη φωτιά. Αφήστε το ψημένο μείγμα στην άκρη να κρυώσει λίγο.

B. Συναρμολογήστε το Σφουγγάτο:

10. Βουρτσίστε ή ψεκάστε λίγο λάδι σε ένα στρογγυλό πυρίμαχο σκεύος 22-23 εκ. / 8,7-9 ίντσες. Χρησιμοποιήστε τα 2/3 του καλαμποκάλευρου για να αλευρώσετε τον πάτο και τα πλαϊνά του σκεύους. Κρατήστε το υπόλοιπο στην άκρη.

11. Σε ένα μεγάλο μπολ σπάστε τα αυγά και χτυπήστε τα καλά με τον αυγοδάρτη.

12. Τώρα προσθέστε τα πολτοποιημένα φρέσκα κρεμμυδάκια με τον άνηθο μέσα στα χτυπημένα αυγά και χτυπήστε τα μαζί να ανακατευτούν.

13. Προσθέστε σταδιακά το βρασμένο μείγμα σπανακιού στο μείγμα των αυγών και με μια μεγάλη κουτάλα ανακατέψτε όλα τα υλικά, φροντίζοντας το μείγμα των αυγών να πάει παντού.

14. Θρυμματίστε τα 2/3 της φέτας με τα δάχτυλά σας και ανακατέψτε τα μέσα στο μείγμα για Σφουγγάτο.

15. Χύστε το Σφουγγάτο κατόπιν μέσα στο ταψί. Θρυμματίστε την υπόλοιπη φέτα και πασπαλίστε τη πάνω από το σφουγγάτο.

16. Για να τελειώσετε, πασπαλίστε το υπόλοιπο καλαμποκάλευρο πάνω από το σφουγγάτο και προσθέστε μόνο λίγο ακόμα πιπέρι.

17. Έτοιμο για ψήσιμο, δεν ήταν και τόσο δύσκολο, έτσι!;

Γ. Οδηγίες ψησίματος:

18. Ψήστε το Σφουγγάτο σε προθερμασμένο φούρνο, στον αέρα @190℃ / 375℉ για περίπου 30'-35' ή μέχρι να ροδίσει (εξαρτάται από τον φούρνο).

19. Μετά από 35' βγάλτε το Σφουγγάτο από το φούρνο.

Δ. Οδηγίες σερβιρίσματος:

Έτοιμο για κοπή και σερβίρισμα. Το Σφουγγάτο μπορείτε να το απολαύσετε ζεστό ή και κρύο και αποτελεί ένα εξαιρετικό brunch ή μεζέ συνοδευόμενο από ένα ποτήρι ούζο ή ρακή με πάγο.

Απλό, υπέροχα χωριάτικο, υγιεινό και φθηνό φαγητό για όλη την οικογένεια!

Παραδοσιακή Ελληνική "ομελέτα", γεμάτη χόρτα, πικάντικη φέτα και γήινο τραχανά.

Νόστιμη απλότητα σε ένα πιάτο!

Ε. Πληροφορίες φύλαξης:

Μετά το ψήσιμο, το κρύο Σφουγγάτο μπορεί να διατηρηθεί στο ψυγείο (σκεπασμένο), έως και μια εβδομάδα.

Ζ. Περισσότερες πληροφορίες και ιστορία του Σφουγγάτου:

Η λέξη “Σφουγγάτο” προέρχεται από την αρχαία Ελληνική λέξη σφόγγο ή σπογγιά δηλ. το σπόγγο. Κα�� αυτό γιατί τα χτυπημένα αυγά (μαζί με λαχανικά) έχουν όψη σφουγγαριού.

Η λέξη υπάρχει τουλάχιστον από τα μεσαιωνικά χρόνια -στον Πτωχοπρόδρομο βρίσκουμε σφουγγάτα αλλά και διπλοσφουγγάτα. Σε ένα μεταγενέστερο κείμενο, του Δαμασκηνού Στουδίτη (του 16ου αιώνα), έχουμε και τον ορισμό του σφουγγάτου σε γλώσσα πολύ όμοια με τη σημερινή: "το δε σφουγγάτον ηξεύρετε τι είναι; αυγά συντετριμμένα και τηγανισμένα με κρομμύδια και άλλα μυρωδικά".

Η προέλευσή του εντοπίζεται στα νησιά του Αγαίου, με κύρια υλικά τα αυγά, τα κρεμμύδια και τα κολοκυθάκια, και η ονομασία του προηγείται χρονικά κάτι αιώνες πριν μπει στη ζωή μας η γαλλική λέξη ομελέτα.

Μια παραδοσιακή εκδοχή της συνταγής του ελληνικού σφουγγάτου είναι και το Σφουγγάτο Σμύρνης όπως αυτή μεταφέρθηκε από τους πρόσφυγες παρεξηγημένα σαν μια ‘’γκουρμέ’’ συνταγή από την επιρροή της ιταλικής κατοχής των Δωδεκανήσων.

Σε μαρτυρίες προσφύγων των δυτικών παραλίων αναφέρεται ως ένα εισαγόμενο ιταλικό γκουρμέ παράλληλα με τη ‘’γρανίτα’’, ίσως λόγω της ιταλικής εκφοράς της ονομασίας του που λήγει σε –άτο όπως το ‘’τζελάτο’’.

Δεν έχει καμία σχέση με τη στραπατσάδα και τα καγιανά και υπάρχει σε πολλές εκδοχές και παραλλαγές με διαφορετικά υλικά.

Το σφουγγάτο είναι ένα έδεσμα που μπορεί να συναντήσει κανείς σε πολλά μέρη της Ελλάδας, ως τοπικό όμως έδεσμα με σημαντική παρουσία στις τοπικές κουζίνες συναντάται κυρίως στη Λέσβο και την Σαντορίνη. Οι τρόποι παραγωγής του και οι παραλλαγές ποικίλουν.

Με αποσπάσματα από:

*https://thryallida.wordpress.com/2020/10/26

*https://el.wikipedia.org/wiki/%CE%9F%CE%BC%CE%B5%CE%BB%CE%AD%CF%84%CE%B1

Δείτε την παρόμοια συνταγή μου για Εύκολη Τάρτα με Σπανάκι: ΕΔΩ

Κοιτάξτε επίσης την συνταγή μου σε YouTube βίντεο, το λίνκ είναι: ΕΔΩ

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stardeer-valley · 5 months ago

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Spring 27, Year 2 "Chain of Deals" quests are extremely fucking tedious and Beep hated them. Give this photo to this guy, who gives you tomato salt for some other guy, etcetera etcetera until the wizard gave Beep a worm he gave to Willy, who actually has the fucking item Beep needed. Never mind the days of trying to figure out who's want the item Beep received from the previous person. All that to bring a memento to some old pirate's wife. At least the reward was worth it. A recipe for a magic dust that let's Beep speed up localised time on machines so they instantly finish. The stuff must have a limited range, as it only increased the cheeses and wines Beep was ageing in the Farm's shed by a single quality. (The casks only worked in THAT shed, not any of the other ones for some reason...) It also didn't do anything on plants or living things, as an experiment with a seedling and a baby rabbit yielded nothing. At least he learned that now, and only wasted the resource twice, instead of a lot more. That shit's expensive as fuck. It cost a diamond and a fairy rose (which only grew in very specific conditions) for just enough for a single use. Before heading back home, Beep checked the locked door north of the pirate's wife.. widow? The weird old lady who somehow never noticed or cared a child was left unattended on the island for so long he thought he was an actual fucking parrot. Seriously, she never noticed??? Regardless, Beep still had quite a few Golden Walnuts to go until he could access whatever was behind it. Who was keeping track? Why? And to what end? Beep still used the Golden Walnuts, giving them to the birds around the island to repair and access things, since the count only seemed to care that he FOUND them, not that they were on his person. That only raised more questions. As it was, Beep still had a ways to go before he reached one-hundred Golden Walnuts. He scooped them up in a palm leaf and carried them back to the island farm house, which he's also claimed as a den. This one had two rectangular beds, but Beep shoved them together to make one larger bed. If it worked it worked! ----- Things different from canon; (AU???) Gramps never had an heir, or they never show/ed up. Stardew Valley Expanded; new maps, new NPCs, new events, a LOT of new stuff. The new “Farmer” is just a Weird Ass Deer. NPCs will respond/react accordingly. This is my first time playing Stardew Valley Expanded. Please no spoilers if you play SVE.

#stardew valley #stardew valley expanded #stardew valley au #stardeer valley #peryton #mage hand

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gayest-squrrel · 9 months ago

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I am once again going insane about snaktooth island

this time it's about the sauces baybeeeeee !! I was mulling over how horrid Wambus' special sauce is and why mother naturae should smite him because of it lmao 🙂 I was wondering "hey how did he do that actually" and thus began my research

This is probably gonna be a long post... read more at your own volition

As I wait five minutes for bugsnax to boot up I contemplate my life choices to spend two hours taking screenshots of sauce plants for the next hour and a half while sweating my ass off bc my laptop is burning my legs, and then Garden Grove finally loads and I go yayyy silly bug game 😋😋

The majority of the ketchup plants in Garden Grove are in Wambus' garden. I don't know if the fully grown one was already there before he planted it, but considering how the ground below it isn't tilled I think we can assume it had already grown there.

Most of the natural plants are in the lower level of the grove, because there's more room for them there lol. It could also be because of the river that runs through the ground

You got your ranch plants of course 😌 I don't really have anything to say about them right now

THESE THINGS HOWEVER ! These are the only occurrence of undergrown sauce plants besides the ones Wambus plants, which is cool :)

Onto Simmering Springs 🦅🦅 the chocolate plant really likes warmth and water, but not too warm since it only grows underground in sizzling sands where it's otherwise too hot and dry

chocolate grows all along the beach >.> It sure loves salt water I guess :)

And some hot sauce grows INSIDE A VOLCANOOOOO that's insane that's crazy what are you doing there

Most of the hot sauce in scorched gorge grows on the big rock in the center, but there's one cheeky little goober growing in the canyon.

And there's some more hot sauce plants by the oasis

And we got out previously mentioned chocolate 😌

the cheese plants, being the wild pieces of shit they are, grows on a fucking ROCKKK ITS JUST A ROCK these things will grow anywhere I swear

Just kidding I lied they won't grow anywhere, the sauce plants HATE the mountain. There is a grand total of ONE peanut butter plant in Sugarpine

And the other two peanut butter plants in frosted peak are both next to campfires, so we can safely say sauce plants DESPISE the cold. Peanut butter is just not like the other sauces and decided to grow there anyways

Brokentooth has every sauce except ranch

Now what can we learn from this ?

that tumblr only allows 30 images per post and i need to make a second one haha !!! I have more images :,) and more things to talk about

edit: next post

#bugsnax #wgat am i doing eith my life lmao

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mhalachai · 2 years ago

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more thoughts on vacation planning

thanks to everyone for your vacation suggestions! I have some plans now… lots to do :D

I thought I'd share the suggestions here compiled for your reading pleasure - might be some ideas in here if you're looking for a bit of a break this summer (amid the heat, forest fires, and other climate disasters):

First, some ideas if you're local to the Vancouver area (or planning on a visit)

Vancouver

Day trip! If you want a quick ferry ride, try Bowen Island or Salt Spring Island, or if you want to stay on the mainland, try Sasamat Lake

Maple Ridge tree walk or zip line (or axe-throwing!)

White Rock beach and pier (bonus - taking a double-decker bus from Vancouver down)

Lonsdale Quay (featuring the ever-popular ride on the seabus)

Honey's Donuts in Deep Cove

Granville Island before 12pm on a weekday

Fireworks! But make friends with someone who lives in the West End who will put you up

Lynn Valley suspension bridge (and the local trails – very nice, very free) (and honestly, you can skip the Capilano Suspension Bridge theme park - it's super expensive and not really worth it)

Try the new Michelin star restaurants in Vancouver and then go to the other restaurants you know that are better and enjoy those too

Lastly, if you want some more organized nature, try the Van Dusen Botanical Garden

Now, onto general suggestions!

Self-care

Sleep for a day or three

Do all the hard stuff that a 9-5 gets in the way of - go to the bank, book that eye exam, etc.

go get that warning light in your car looked at, i mean it mhal

Do as much gentle housecleaning as interests you

Spa experience - massage, mani-pedi, other spa things

Bubble bath/hair mask/other home spa pieces

Do a thing

local zoo or aquarium

Art galleries, science centres, and museums

Botanical gardens

Events hosted your local library

Local events/fairs

Trip around to the vintage/antique/flea shops

Check out local second-hand record stores and/or bookstores

Do a thing (+ Effort)

Touch grass/sand/water/trees/flowers. Bring a book and read in nature

Hiking

local walking tours

Kite flying

Activities(tm) - such as paddle board, horseback riding class, go-carting and so on

Maker space - pottery or print making or woodwork

Eating

Every restaurant you haven't tried but want to

Local breweries/wineries

Hit up the local city page on reddit and see if there are any restaurant rec places - they can be hit or miss but sometimes there are some gems.

And this one from @krchov is so cool I'll paste it here in its entirely:

Dedicate time to making a map of the food carts/cheese shops/etc in a specific area of your city. Compare the quality of similar wares in each one. Collect data. In the end you will have a cool map/dataset, new favorite food place and on your wandering you will probably happen upon some before unknown interesting places.

happy vacationing!

#mhalachai goes outside #things to do this summer before the world ends #thanks for your suggestions everyone!

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shipon3q211 · 2 months ago

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Discovering Faro: Gateway to the Algarve’s Hidden Gems

Faro, the sun-kissed capital of Portugal’s Algarve region, is more than just an airport stopover—it’s a captivating blend of medieval charm, natural beauty, and laid-back Portuguese culture. Whether you’re exploring cobbled alleys, gliding through tranquil lagoons, or savoring fresh seafood by the marina, Faro offers an authentic taste of southern Portugal.

1. Wander Through the Old Town (Cidade Velha)

Encircled by ancient Moorish walls, Faro’s Old Town is a maze of whitewashed houses, wrought-iron balconies, and patterned cobblestone streets. Key highlights include:

Arco da Vila: The grand stone gateway that ushers you into history.

Igreja do Carmo: A Baroque marvel famous for its macabre Chapel of Bones.

Sé de Faro (Faro Cathedral): Climb its bell tower for panoramic views over the city and Ria Formosa estuary.

2. Sail the Ria Formosa Natural Park

A protected coastal lagoon stretching over 60 km, the Ria Formosa is a haven for birdlife, salt-flat landscapes, and golden barrier islands:

Boat Tours: Visit Ilha Deserta or Ilha do Farol for pristine sands and calm waters.

Kayaking & Birdwatching: Paddle through winding channels and spot flamingos, herons, and waders.

Fishing Villages: Hop off in Olhão or Fuseta to sample oysters, clams, and “xelos” (local mussels).

3. Engage with Faro’s Rich History

Beyond the medieval walls lies layers of Roman and Moorish influence:

Museu Municipal: Housed in a former convent, it displays archaeological finds from nearby Milreu Roman ruins.

Palácio de Estoi: A short drive away, this pastel-pink palace and gardens transport you to a Belle Époque dream.

4. Stroll the Marina & Waterfront

As evening falls, Faro’s modern marina comes alive:

Waterfront Promenade: Lined with cafés and bars, perfect for a sunset drink.

Fresh-Catch Dining: Choose your seafood at local markets and have it grilled to order at waterfront restaurants.

Live Music: Many venues host Fado nights or open-air concerts under the stars.

5. Local Flavors & Festivities

Culinary Delights: Don’t miss cataplana (seafood stew), piri-piri chicken, and pastéis de nata.

Weekly Farmers’ Market: Held near Arco da Vila, it overflows with regional cheeses, olives, and citrus.

Festivals: In June, the city celebrates São João and São Pedro with colourful processions and fireworks.

Insider Tips

Getting Around: Faro is compact—most sights are within walking distance. Taxis and rented bikes are also readily available.

Best Time to Visit: Late spring (May–June) and early autumn (September) offer warm weather and fewer crowds.

Day-Trips: From Faro, you can easily explore the golden cliffs of Lagos, the bustling port of Albufeira, or the historic town of Tavira.

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parksaversnews · 1 year ago

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Foodie Guide for St. Patrick's Day at the Disney Parks 2024

Welcome to the ultimate foodie guide for celebrating St. Patrick's Day 2024 at the Disney theme parks! Both Walt Disney World and Disneyland Resort are pulling out all the stops this year with festive decor, entertainment, and of course, food and drinks galore across their resorts in honor of the luck o’ the Irish. In this guide, you’ll find extensive details on all the restaurants, lounges, kiosks, and more that will be serving up specialty St. Patrick’s Day dishes, drinks, desserts and snacks at both Disneyland and Walt Disney World for 2024. We've organized this guide by land to make it easy to navigate. So get ready to go green as we dive into all the delicious details! May the road rise up to meet you, and the wind be always at your back as you eat and drink your way through the Disney parks this St. Patrick’s Day.

Walt Disney World Resort

Disney Resort Hotels Disney’s Beach Club Resort Beaches & Cream Soda Shop (Available March 1 through 17) - Mickey Shamrock Milk Shake: Mint milk shake with chocolate drizzle, shamrock sprinkles, and a specialty vanilla cupcake (Non-alcoholic beverage) Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa Gasparilla Island Grill (Available March 1 through 31; mobile order available) - Irish Cream Cheesecake: Bailey’s Irish Cream cheesecake with Chantilly cream and gold ‘coins’ (New) Disney’s Wilderness Lodge Roaring Fork (Available March 1 through 17; mobile order available) - The Nugget: Vanilla bean mousse, stout cake, and a salted caramel ganache center

Available at Various Locations at Disney Resort Hotels - Pot O’ Gold Mousse: Irish stout cake, Irish cream mousse, and a candy rainbow (Available March 1 through 17 at the following) - Beach Club Marketplace at Disney’s Beach Club Resort - BoardWalk Deli at Disney’s BoardWalk - Good's Food to Go at Disney’s Old Key West Resort - The Artist's Palette at Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa - The Market at Ale & Compass at Disney’s Yacht Club Resort - Lucky (Plant-based) Clover Cupcake: Chocolate cupcake with a golden vanilla buttercream swirl and shamrock sprinkles (Plant-based) (Available March 1 through 31at the following) - World Premiere Food Court at Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort - Intermission Food Court at Disney’s All-Star Music Resort - End Zone Food Court at Disney’s All-Star Sports Resort - Landscape of Flavors at Disney’s Art of Animation Resort - Centertown Market at Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort - Spyglass Grill at Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort - Everything POP Shopping & Dining at Disney’s Pop Century Resort - Riverside Mill Food Court at Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – Riverside - Sassagoula Floatworks and Food Factory at Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – French Quarter

Disney Springs Amorette's Patisserie (Available March 1 through 17; mobile order available) - End of the Rainbow Crème Brûlée: Chocolate and coffee crème brûlée with Bailey’s Irish Cream whipped cream (New)

City Works Eatery & Pour House (Available March 13 through 17) - Shepherd’s Pie Flatbread: Stewed seasoned beef, roasted garlic purée, peas, mozzarella, mashed potatoes, and green onion - Pastrami Reuben: House-made pastrami, Swiss cheese, Russian dressing, and bacon-braised sauerkraut on marble rye - Irish Mac N’ Cheese: Caramelized cabbage, beer-braised onions, bacon lardons, shredded corned beef, beer cheese sauce, smoked cheddar, garlic herb crumble, and cavatappi - Jameson Honey Mule: Jameson, lemon juice, honey syrup, orange bitters, and ginger beer - Lucky Grasshopper: Bailey’s Irish Cream Liqueur, crème de menthe, heavy cream, and lucky marshmallow - Dark Side of The Moon: Blue Moon Belgian White and Guinness - Snakebite: Angry Orchard Crisp Apple and Guinness - Voodoo: Rubaeus and Guinness

D-Luxe Burger (Available March 1 through 18; mobile order available) - St Patrick's Day Shake: Vanilla gelato blended with dark caramel sauce, Irish cream syrup, and toasted marshmallow syrup topped with whipped cream, caramel, and green sprinkles (Non-alcoholic beverage)

The Ganachery - Patty's Mickey Chocolate Piñata: Dark chocolate piñata filled with chocolate treats (Available March 1 through 17) - Irish Cream Ganache Square: Bailey’s Irish Cream ganache enrobed in milk chocolate (Available March 1 through 31) Ghirardelli Soda Fountain and Chocolate Shop (Currently available) - Mint Bliss Hot Fudge Sundae: Mint chocolate chip and chocolate ice cream layered with handmade dark chocolate hot fudge and topped with whipped cream and a dark chocolate mint square

Swirls on the Water - Patrick's Day Cone: Pistachio and chocolate soft-serve swirled in a black vanilla cone with shamrock sprinkles and a chocolate Mickey garnish (New) (Available March 1 through April 30) - Chocolate and Coffee Float: Pistachio soft-serve, chocolate soft-serve, Joffrey’s Coffee Cold Brew, and shamrock sprinkles (New) (Available March 1 through 31) (Non-alcoholic beverage) - Cold Brew-Pistachio-Mocha Float: Pistachio and chocolate soft-serve swirled together with Joffrey's Coffee Cold Brew and Bailey’s Irish Cream Liqueur (New) (Available March 1 through April 30) Vivoli il Gelato (Available March 1 through April 30) - Shamrock Shake: Mint chocolate chip and pistachio gelato with whipped cream and chocolate shavings - Guinness Tiramisu: Mascarpone cream with layers of Guinness-soaked lady fingers (New)

DISNEYLAND RESORT

Disneyland Park Red Rose Taverne (Available March 1 through 19; mobile order available) - Green Stuff: Mint-white-chocolate mousse, chocolate cake, mint chocolate chips, and chocolate cookie crumbs on a shortbread cookie

Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa GCH Craftsman Grill (Available March 13 through TBD; mobile order available) - Patrick’s Day Cupcake - Patrick’s Day Donut

Pixar Place Hotel Great Maple (Available March 1 through 31) - Cereal Milk Doughnut: Classic vanilla, yeast-raised doughnut with cereal milk glaze, flavored marshmallows, and gold glitter garnish (New) Downtown Disney District Salt & Straw (Available March 1 through April 4) - Pots of Gold & Rainbows: Hand-sorted rainbow marshmallows tossed into cereal milk ice cream

Available at Various Candy Locations Around Disneyland Resort Including Marceline’s Confectionery, Trolley Treats, Bing Bong’s Sweet Stuff, Candy Palace and Candy Kitchen, and Pooh Corner (Available March 15 through 17) - Mint Chocolate and Cream Cookie Marshmallow Wand: Three marshmallows dipped in caramel and mint-milk chocolate then rolled in crushed chocolate cookies and drizzled with white and green chocolate - Shamrock Cereal Treat: Shamrock-shaped cereal treat dipped in green, white chocolate and decorated in light green, white chocolate and a yellow, white chocolate Mickey

Conclusion We hope this guide has whet your appetite and gotten you excited to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day 2024 in serious foodie style at the Disneyland and Walt Disney World resorts! With festive decorations, entertainment, food, and drinks galore, it’s certain to be an incredible and delicious holiday at the Disney Parks. Just follow this guide on where to find all the specialty Irish eats and sips. And don’t forget to wear green so you don’t get pinched! May the luck of the Irish be with you as you eat and drink your way through Disneyland and Disney World this St. Patrick’s Day. Sláinte! Need help planning your next Disney trip? Check out our new Disney Planning Forum! Read the full article

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whofanforsexed · 3 years ago

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Food Diary: Week One

A small cup of tea, one packet of ready salted Frisps, one Philadelphia wrap (ft. salted butter, table salt, chopped spring onions, ground black pepper, deepfried chicken strips, and leftover Double Dragon takeaway salt & pepper chicken chilies), one seedy bread sandwich (ft. salted butter, table salt, ground black pepper, mushy peas, deepfried spicy chicken strips, chopped spinach, and melted plastic cheese), three episodes of Summer Camp Island (some soft witchy content with a hint of Pratchett influence, albeit played very cutely, a reflection on struggling to connect with estranged dads and the relative strengths and limits of communicating through shared nerd interests, and a runaway bath tub / ode to estranged friend and getting on with connections after awkward romantic complications), one large portion of cheesy garlic mashed potato (divide a handful of potatoes, boil in salt water, leave to simmer for half an hour, strain, leave to cool for thirty minutes, mash in a large bowl with a little salted butter, several Laughing Cow cheese spread triangles, a pinch more table salt, and a spoonful of ground black pepper & garlic granules), two Mediterranean style pork chops, a whole packet of Haribo Tangfastics (sans alligators), Doctor Who (The Keys of Marinus), sleep.

One spinach wrap (ft. salted butter, table salt, microwaved leftover rice [ft. salted butter, ground black pepper, and smokey paprika], chopped spring onions, deepfried chicken strips, and diced red pepper), an episode of Jay & Miles X-Plain The X-Men (lurching into the long middle of an overstuffed 90s event), the back half of an Oh No, Ross & Carrie (on weird guided meditation sleep hypnosis), a whole sausage of cheap smoked cheese, several small slices of tiger bread (ft. salted butter), deepfried oven chips (dusted with salt & pepper, drizzled with Hellman’s mayonnaise, dripped with [Bull’s Eye] Carolina Reaper Extra Hot Chili Sauce, and scattered with chopped spring onions), deepfried salmon fillet slices (drizzled with sweet chili), a mug of pea soup (made with table salt, too much ground black pepper, a teaspoon of white sugar, a tablespoon of English mustard, chopped spring onions and shredded spinach), a Nuii Macadamia Nut & Caramel ice cream, the two concluding episodes of The Keys Of Marinus (Your Honor, the defense is ready to present! I won't lose! Not to the likes of you! I want the truth and nothing but the truth! I spy... a contradiction! Sure you're not forgetting something? A good lawyer has faith in his client... Wow! You gotta learn to keep cool under pressure...), a packet of salt & vinegar Frisps (ft. Philadelphia), Doctor Who (The Curse Of Peladon), sleep.

Another packet of salt & vinegar Frisps (ft. Philadelphia), another large portion of cheesy garlic mashed potato, peas (with salted butter, and ground black pepper), two Mediterranean style pork chops, one Philadelphia wrap (ft. salted butter, table salt, ground black pepper, cayenne pepper, a deepfried battered fish portion, and smoked paprika), four mini hash brown waffles (drizzled with ketchup, dusted with cayenne pepper and paprika), peas (with butter and pepper), one slice of seedy bread (ft. salted butter, Laughing Cow cheese spread and English mustard), two episodes of American Crime Story - Impeachment (I guess it’s just that the show is pretty slow paced but the season definitely feels long. At the halfway point now and it’s weird to think there’s another four or five episodes to go. Still, pretty compelling), one sesame seed bun (ft. salted butter, Laughing Cow cheese spread, salted butter, ground black pepper, and deepfried spicy breaded chicken bites), sleep.

Another sesame seed bun (ft. salted butter, Laughing Cow cheese spread, table salt, ground black pepper, deepfried spicy breaded chicken bites, melted plastic cheese chopped spinach, and diced cherry tomatoes), two triple chocolate cookies, some carrots, The Big Finish Eighth Doctor Audio adventure Blood Of The Daleks (wholesomely stodgy trad Doctor Who nonsense, rockets and asteroids for people who don’t need Billie Piper and soap opera, or clever time twists and whimsy, with their Who to want a big bowl of it – Dalek voices never cease to be a wonder), a fortune cookie (‘You will always be surrounded by close friends’), Double Dragon takeaway pork chow mien, Double Dragon takeaway salt & pepper chicken, the What If finale (there have been some highs to this series [Sad Doctor Strange, Fratboy Thor, and T’Challa Star Lord were all great fun], but it’s remarkable how the constrained feel of it all is what stands out once the dust settles. For a show boasting limitless potential nothing ever feels like it begins to live up to that, and bringing most of the leads from most of the episodes back for a team-up finale does cheapen any sense that this was about even the slightest shred of weirdness considerably. Still basically quite enjoyed the episodes on their own terms), two further triple chocolate cookies, milk (at intervals), Fantastic Four: Rise Of The Silver Surfer (there’s either nothing to say about this, or so much to say that I don’t know where to begin), and sleep.

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kiatheinsomniac · 2 years ago

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──── 𝐒𝐂𝐀𝐑𝐑𝐄𝐃 𝐊𝐈𝐒𝐒𝐄𝐒 ˊˎ -

☾ ⋆ ﾟ𝐌𝐀𝐒𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐋𝐈𝐒𝐓 / 𝐑𝐔𝐋𝐄𝐒 𝐍𝐎𝐓𝐄𝐒: a commission from the wonderful @magical-warlock who is always a pleasure to work with!! 𝐏𝐀𝐈𝐑𝐈𝐍𝐆: Kassandra of Sparta x Reader 𝐖𝐎𝐑𝐃 𝐂𝐎𝐔𝐍𝐓: 4k 𝐖𝐀𝐑𝐍𝐈𝐍𝐆𝐒: canon-typical depictions of violence and injury

You check on the bread in the fire oven to watch it steadily rise, seeing how it bubbles up towards the sky and begins to toast golden, covered in some aromatic herbs that you know will go excellently with the dips that you have already prepared in the kitchen, covered by a cloth to protect them from any stray insects that might find their way into your home while your attention is elsewhere. The weather has warmed significantly as of late and so you don’t really have it in you to work over a hot stove for long and cook with whatever meal you would have going in the pot or pan. Today, dinner would just be bread with an assortment of meats, cheeses and fruits - you had not the energy for much else with the hot weather making the air hang heavily all about you, making your moves slower, sluggish, sweat glistening upon your skin.

You make your way over to the basin in order to dip your hands into the water, rubbing its coolness over your wrists, chest and the back of your neck in an attempt to cool your body. Oh, how you couldn’t wait for this heatwave to pass over so that the weather can return to its habitual state. You could only pray to Apollo and Helios that they would soon show mercy but in the meantime you praise Artemis and Selene for the kindness and reprieve of their feminine and silvery moonlight as opposed to their counterparts whose sunlight beat down on you like the brunt of a mighty warrior’s shield.

You hum a little tune to yourself as you work around the kitchen, preparing food for when you know your sweetheart will be done with her contracts. You used to worry for her safety but Kassandra is the toughest woman you know: she stands for no disrespect, she’s built like an Olympic champion. You hope that her skills will one day get the two of you off this island once she has saved up the money or made the right connections. The two of you whisper about it at night beneath Nyx’s blanket of stars, the glittering stars of her creations the only witnesses to the fantasies that you share between your lips. She promises that she will give you the life you deserve, beyond the limited borders of Kephallonia, that she will get a boat large enough for the two of you to sail to the mainland on. She will buy land and you will tend to it while she works on contract to bring home money to you, eager always to come home to her beloved wife; for she promises the two of you will marry and all the Gods shall bear witness and drink to your union.

You smile fondly to yourself as you recall the memory, the sounds of crickets chirping in the nearby foliage, the soft crashing of waves on the local shore of the island, the salt carried in the breeze. You wonder if you will one day live so far inland with your love that you will smell the spring blossoms more so than sea salt, that Persephone’s return will fill the air more than Posideon’s rule.

Kephallonia’s statue of Zeus is mighty but you have heard travelling merchants talk of temples upon great mountains; to Athena, to Aphrodite, to Apollo. You gaze upon the blue sails of Athenian ships and you wonder just how busy the city of scholars may be, you wonder what Sparta’s wall-free borders must look like from a distance. You think of exploring markets with your love, with Kassandra, knowing that no matter where you are, no matter where you go, you will feel hope so long as you can hold her hand, feel your fingertips caress her callouses as she squeezes your palm and fingers in return. So long as she is by your side, you know that she and her glinting, broken spear shall defend your life.

You have known that spear for as long as you have known Kassandra as the two of them are inseparable – she even sleeps with it upon the bedside table. You have joked time and time again that it will soon fuse with her palm if she does not allow herself a break from time to time. That is something you often worry about when it comes to the woman who has possessed your heart: Kassandra is an incredible fighter, the best you have ever seen – you’d put drachmae on it – but she didn’t know when to rest at times. You do not worry that she will be outmatched but you do worry that she will walk into a fight disadvantaged by fatigue, thirst or hunger. It is why you do your best to assure that you keep her well-fed and rested whenever you can, to entice her to stay longer with food, gifts, open arms and the warm embraces they can give. She is determined to leave and create a better future for the two of you but that future cannot exist if she works herself to death before it can be realised.

Once more, you wander over to the oven in order to check on the bread, covered in aromatic herbs and turning a beautiful gold beneath the fire. Everything else is ready and waiting in the kitchen, as are you, for Kassandra’s return. You close your eyes and a smile dances gently upon your lips as you think of your love, of the lives ahead of you beyond the shores of this little island. It’s always wonderful when your misthios comes home. She always has a smile on her face as she shows you the drachma she’s made. You both pour over how it brings you a little closer to the mainland, a little further from Kephallonia and you’d enjoy seeing her muscles unwind and relax as she sat down and ate with her. This is the image you have in your mind when you hear footsteps approaching the door.

But the little fantasy of your habitual domestic life is shattered when she’s leaning on the doorframe for support and there’s blood all over her.

“Kass!” You lunge forwards to help catch her, looking over her shoulder to assure that she hasn’t been followed; though, deep down, you know that she never would have come home if she knew that she had enemies on her tail, even if she were in a worse condition than she already is. It had happened only once and she swore to you that she would ascertain it would never ever happen again. “What happened?! Come, sit!” You find yourself panicking but try to get a hold of yourself. Your other half is the one who’s strong for you all the time but now it’s your turn to be strong for her.

“They brought a lot more friends with them than I had thought.” She winces as she takes a seat. You could wash up the pillows later but for now you had to stop the healing and get her cleaned up. You keep a box of medical supplies for the instance in which this very situation comes to be. You take out strips of fabric to use as bandages and add pressure and you bring the basin over to the table nearby Kassandra so that you can begin cleaning away some of the half-dried blood in order to get a better look at what you’re working with.

But her armour was in the way and so you began to pull at the straps and buckles methodically to cast it all aside. The metal rattles against the hard surface of the floor as it piles up; like the pillows, it too will need to be cleaned later. “So eager to undress me, γλυκιά μου (my sweet)~” She flirts and you can only return her bloodied smile with a half-hearted glare. How can she joke in a time like this when you’re fretting over her health? She only gives a little laugh at your sharp look and, as much as you had been angry a moment before, it calms you down. If she’s alright enough to make jokes then you don’t need to worry so much and, instead of panicking, you can carefully focus on tending to the misthios who has stolen your heart.

The faintest of smiles ghosts across your lips that had previously been curled down in an anxious frown, quivering with worry for Kassandra. She knows you better than anyone else who walks the world – she knew that some humour would make you relax, would make you realise that you could calm down and approach this with a much more level-headed manner. She trusts you with her life, she trusts you to nurse her back to health so long as she can drag herself to your doorstep. You endeavour to prove that her trust in you and your abilities is not misplaced.

You begin by wetting a clean cloth and trying to wipe away the dried blood from her olive skin, already littered with scars that spoke of her history like the etching of legends upon stone tablets. Her muscles glimmer with the water-thinned blood as you diligently clean her up. Once you determine that her wounds are no longer bleeding as much as they initially must have been, you set to mixing up a balm with some ingredients that you have on hand in order to help the healing process. You apply the sticky honey mixture to her wounds and then wrap them in bandages to keep them clean.

Your anxiety completely dissolves as you walk through this process with her and she looks at you with the warmest brown eyes you have ever bore witness to. As you kneel by her side, wrapping her bicep in bandages, your head dips down to sweetly kiss a large scar that runs over her shoulder. As you tie off the bandage, you lift her forearm to your lips to kiss yet another scar there. You reach for another bandage but are stopped by Kassandra’s alloused and worn palm upon your soft cheek, turning your head so that she can take in your face.

You must be her very own Hellen of Troy, she decided long ago when she first met you. Kassandra sees you as a blessing from Aphrodite herself who surely must have sculpted you in her image so that you can walk this world as a testament to the existence of the goddess of beauty, only able to exist thanks to her divine hands. Now, the roughened pad of her thumb tugs gently at your pillowy bottom lip, feeling the warmth of the mouth that had just pressed the tenderest kisses to her peach-coloured scars.

What did she do to deserve such a thing as sweet and beautiful as you in her life? What had she done that the gods had decided to usher you into her life as a gift of the divine, a sample of ambrosia in this mortal world? The corner of her scarred lips quirk up into a smile and your eyes flit between hers as you try to figure out what’s going on in her head. Kassandra then leans in and kisses you lightly, almost experimentally. She treats you like you could crumble to dust should she be too harsh on you. But once her anxieties seem to quell, she pressed her mouth to yours with much more surety and kisses you in a way that gives you just the briefest glimpse of the bottomless well of passion she harbours in her heart for you.

You pull away by only a few inches afterwards, your warm breaths mingling, Kassandra’s eyes glued still to your mouth, wanting your lips swollen gently with her kisses so that she can leave a lasting part of herself upon you if only to be able to say that she was lucky enough to be born in the same era of one so brilliant as you who had stolen her heart right from the vault of her chest. You can’t help the soft giggle that slips past those very lips her eyes are fixed upon. You will yourself to pull away so that you can continue to patch up your lover.

When you are done securing her in honeyed balm and clean bandages, you strip the pillows of their cases and begin heating up water in the kitchen so that you can clean them. Her armour can be cleaned and polished in the morning, you haven’t the energy to do that tonight too.

“Come, I was preparing dinner before you arrived.” You beckon your misthios into the kitchen where the bread is finished baking and has now cooled and you have a variety of cured meats and some cheese with sliced fruits and a salad prepared. Again, it is not the most extravagant meal but the heat of the season has made you more lethargic than usual and so you didn’t have it in you to cook over the searing heat of a fire.

Kassandra sits right by your side, her toned thigh pressed to yours beneath the table as she begins picking at the food you’ve prepared. It might not be a full-on meal but she’s beyond thankful for anything you make for her, especially after the day she’s had and how incredibly you’ve just handled patching her up after she stumbled through the door so wounded. You’re the beat in her heart, the breath in her lungs, the very electricity dancing through her every nerve and she might survive without you but she knows she could never live.

She recounts her day to you and your heart stutters as she gets to where she suddenly realised how outnumbered she was. She managed to get away – as you know with having her sitting and telling her tale to you over dinner – but she hadn’t got rid of them all and so she wanted to see you on your guard when she is to go out in the days to come in order to eradicate the loose ends of her contract so that she can collect her money, your money, she insists as everything of hers is yours.

She watches you with enamoured eyes as you clean up after the two of you, like you so often do. She rises from her seat as you finish up and tucks some hair behind your ear, pressing her lips to your forehead.

“Go relax for a while, γλυκιά μου (my sweet).” She insists, her words mumbled against your brow as her nose nudges against you and her hands gently caress the swells of your hips beneath her palms. “I’ll run you a bath, you deserve it. Let me look after you now, alright?” Your brow furrows slightly as she pulls away a little to look down at you part your lips to protest – Kassandra is the wounded one, not you. Her finger presses to your mouth. “Shh. Let me pamper you? It’ll make me happy to care for you as you’ve done for me; as you’ve always done for me.” You release the softest of sighs.

“Very well. Don’t strain yourself though, ok?” She affirms your condition with a nod of her head and you go to relax in bed for a while, curling up on your side. You can hear Kassandra moving around to prepare your bath for you, water sloshing and drowning out the more distant sound of the waves crashing upon the nearby coastline of the island. The scent of lavender faintly wafts into your nostrils as you lay with your head upon the plush pillow, your arms tucked under it to cradle it around your head as you lay on your belly with your body turned slightly to one side. You face the door so that you can watch your lover when she walks through it to fetch you.

You had been terribly worried when you saw her covered in half-dried blood as she staggered through the door and, in the moment, you hadn’t realised just how much you were panicking until you looked back on it now. But you have patched her up, shared a meal with her, are now relaxing in the bed you share while she returns the favour and draws a bath for you. After a short while, you hear her footsteps patter into the room and she perches on the edge of the bed next to you, her weight making the mattress sink down.

The misthios leans down over you and presses her lips tenderly to your forehead, beginning to pepper kisses in trails like waterfalls from your temples down to your cheeks, keeping an even balance on either side of your face: first the left and then the right. The corners of your mouth tug up into a smile as your eyes slip closed and you simply enjoy the feeling of her soft, scar-dissected lips pressing to your skin, her breath fanning over your face in gentle exhales. Her fingertips dance across the curve of your jaw, so gentle it almost tickles and you feel one of her arms slide behind your knees. Her other strong arm works its way beneath your shoulders and you let out a breathy laugh as she hoists you up in her arms.

Kassandra knows you’re strong and capable enough to manage yourself but she always loved to show you that you should never need to use those capabilities of yours, that she will always be there for you. Never again would she allow a situation to come to be wherein you need to defend herself without her there standing in front of you to protect you. Her hands glide over your body to unfasten your clothes, letting them pool in a puddle around your feet. She spends a moment grazing her fingers across your skin as though it were the finest foreign silk or velvet that she had ever been given the privilege of feeling. Her lips graze across the slopes of your shoulders as her hands caress the plains of your waist. You feel the warmth of her muscular body press to your back for a while and her nose nudges against your neck, her breath and eyelashes tickling you slightly.

“I love you…” She breathes out, unsure what else to say. The words cannot quite carry the weight of her emotions, taking only a small portion of them and carrying them over to you but she cannot find a single comprehensible way of phrasing just what you stir up in her. She does not think that any set of words in her vocabulary can possibly be strung together in a way that can contain her love for you.

She pulls a stool up beside the bathtub and helps you ease into the warm water. The heat soothes your muscles and melts away much of the tension that you hadn’t realised you were still carrying in your body. Kassandra coaxes you to lay back in the water, hair fanning about in tendrils around your head and framing you like a halo. The word ‘smitten’ does not quite describe how she looks at you. She looks as though you are the sun Helios pulls across the sky, the moon Selene draws across the night, the stars Nyx cast into the sky, the Spring beauty announcing Persephone’s return to her mother. She cannot picture a greater beauty for her mortal eyes to lay upon in this realm.

Delicately, she wets your hair and caresses her fingers across your scalp, massaging in nourishing oils and layering your hair in soaps. Consistently, she plants kisses across your face and smiles down at you. Kassandra leads a life that is full of action and violence; so long as she has a contract, her days are fast-paced and with little rest. That is, right up until she comes home to you. The moment you are in her vicinity, life slows right down and it seems she is finally able to catch up and catch her breath. You are her sanctuary and should anything fatal ever befall you, the Greek world shall see Kassandra possessed by Nemesis herself to see that your justice is realised.

Her calloused fingers smooth over wet, scarred skin just beneath your right collarbone. It was the sort of scar that would never fade, that would persistently push the misthios to assure your safety. She was careful today in making sure she would not be followed home but it was a behaviour she had learned as a result of her past mistake. Once in the past, she had not been so careful and as you tried to assess her wounds, the door had been broken in by those who had harmed Kassandra. She had watched in awe as you took up a spear and shield that your lover had previously only thought of as being for display right up until those men were sent running, stumbling over their feet due to their injuries. It was the one time that you had defended Kassandra against danger and not the other way around and she would never forget it.

Her throat tightens slightly as she recalls how the spear sank into your chest and in that split second when she couldn’t quite see where you had been hit, she worried that your heart had been pierced, her heart, the one you had given her. Thankfully, you had managed to put enough distance between yourself and the assailant that it didn’t go right through you but the scar was deep, prominent and the wound had wept with great amounts of blood. Kassandra could not recall a time in her life that the coppery smell had ever made her feel as ill as it did when she worried she was about to lose you, her other half.

Now, she leans down and presses her lips to the wound in the most passionate of kisses, her soft mouth pouring her love over your marred skin. She swallows hard as she withdraws slowly, so overwhelmed by the feelings you stir up within her that she’s beyond sure Eros has shot arrow upon arrow into her back in order to possess her with the profoundest love she has for you.

“So many legends are full of lovesick fools,” She begins in a quiet but sincere voice, “and I once sneered at them for their stupidity. But now I understand. I’d go to the Underworld for you, I’d launch a thousand ships for you, I’d face the trials of Psyche. I could say I’d die for you but I’d rather live for you.” A smile and a little giggle plays upon your lips as she pours her heart out to you like this. You reach your fingers out of the water and stroke some of her hair behind her ear, wetting it in the process just so you can get a better look at her sun kissed face.

“When did you become a poet, hm?” You muse.

“You bring it out in me.” She returns your smile and leans in so that your breaths mingle once more. Your other hand reaches out of the water so that you cup her jaw in one palm while the other rests at the nape of her neck, keeping her close to you. Meanwhile her palm has pressed over your scar from the spear while the other is cupping your cheek, the pad of her roughened thumb caressing over your soft skin in the tenderest of touches.

“I love you.” Your words fall out on a breath, barely above the volume of a whisper.

“I love you doesn’t even begin to cover it.” She flashes you that smile which makes your heart stutter and your belly fill with butterflies every time as she pulls you in closer and your lips melt into a warm and sweet kiss. You yearn for this moment to last forever and yet you cannot wait to tend to her all day tomorrow so that she can heal and the two of you, hand in hand, can take another step closer to the life that you will have beyond the borders of this island.

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tundrainafrica · 4 years ago

Text

Title: Lovebug (4/10)

Summary:

“It might be a bug.”

“A bug?”

“Sometimes the developers of this application make mistakes. This is our first time meeting I’m sure so…Isn’t it a bit weird that we just met for the first time and it rings like this? And for two strangers to coincidentally ring each other’s alarms?“

Levi is the developer of the Love Alarm App and Hange is married to Zeke.

Link to cross-postings: AO3

Other Chapters: 1 2 3 5

Notes: Feedback is very much appreciated :D

Mid spring shifted to the peak of summer in just three hours.

Or maybe it was less than three hours. Levi wasn’t staring at a clock though, instead enjoying the novel amenities that came with taking a private jet to their destination.

It was a far flung contrast to whatever he had gotten accustomed to in economy class. Three hours on a plane went by much faster when the plane seat could recline a whole one eighty degrees, when the food wasn’t served clumped together in aluminum packs, and when beverages in a hundred different varieties were free flowing.

By the time the plane had landed, Levi was almost disappointed that it didn’t last any longer.

“Is this your first time on anything better than the economy?”

Levi wondered what kind of ridiculous face he had made for Zeke to have taken the time out of his business mogul schedule to give out a backhand insult. Still, that had been more than enough of a reminder that maybe Levi had been overenjoying the free flowing amenities of a private jet.

Erwin had only drank one glass of wine if Levi recalled correctly. Recalling Zeke and Hange who sat a few feet away, he was sure they had drunk nothing more than two glasses of wine each over a simple cheese platter.

Levi on the other hand, had sampled at least ten of the twenty varieties of tea offered. When will you have the opportunity to try it again? He reminded himself. Still, when he was being stared down by the richest man in the country, his partner and his direct boss who were probably all used to the luxuries afforded to the top one percent, Levi became a little self conscious.

The view as Levi disembarked from the plane had only made that slight inferiority complex worse and he was wondering why he had even entertained it. He snuck a glare at Zeke, narrowing his eyes just a little more as Zeke put one arm over Hange, walking ahead just a few feet away.

“Levi, are you going down?”

Levi felt one hand on his shoulder. He looked up to see Erwin, brushing past him, taking the stairs one at a time.

“Of course I am,” Levi answered. He kept his voice, casual and professional, an attempt to disguise whatever emotion was forcing his mouth agape then.

He shouldn't be gaping. It wasn't anything magnificent. It was just a country club after all.

***

It wasn’t just a country club as Levi soon found out.

The reception building was just a reception building and near the front of the desk was a map. A map of an island. Levi was starting to wonder what idiocy had overtaken him just hours ago when he had failed to even google the country club.

The airport lounge they had overnighted in. The experience of riding a private jet. Those all paled in comparison to what awaited Levi.

Although he had already willed himself to act as nonchalant as possible, his eyes had widened and he had frozen a little too quickly at the large map in front of him and he had asked too many questions. “Where do we leave our bags?” he asked.

“Not here. This is the reception building. We’re taking a car to our summer house,” Hange answered.

When they got into the car, Levi asked another question. “So we leave our bags in the summer house and then we go back here to the country club...” he trailed off as Hange frowned in confusion. Was that a stupid question?

“The summer house is part of the country club.” Hange was still answering patiently.

“I’ve heard of places like this but I have to admit, it’s my first time staying in one,” Erwin commented as if he had researched the place himself.

If he did, that meant Levi was the only clueless one left.

Rubbing salt into the wound, Zeke spoke up. “The island is the private country club, Levi.” He raised one eyebrow at Levi, studying him. His face spoke for him ‘you’ve never been to one of these before?’

Sorry, I’m poor. Levi thought to himself, giving Zeke the most mockingly apologetic yet professional face he could muster. He soon realized, it might never be possible to pull off such an expression. Abandoning all attempts, he instead bent down to do a quick google search of the island.

Levi liked to believe he was solidly middle class. After a quick search on the membership prices of staying in some country club island hybrid only to find out annual dues were a good few times above his annual income, he started to come to terms with the fact that maybe he was poor. He kept his head down. Maybe the next time he looked back up at Zeke, his face might look more apologetic than actually mocking and he couldn’t have that.

The ride took five minutes, an excruciatingly long five minutes in the same enclosed piece of metal as Zeke who had only been rubbing him off just a little wrongly since even yesterday. He had to take a few deep breaths, a few subtle ones at least.

He had to bite his lip and force his mouth up into at least a glimmer of a poker face instead of the default grimace that came with having to keep close quarters with Zeke. There were still things about the country club he didn’t understand. Maybe Erwin didn't understand them too.

Although he would have had no problem talking to Hange about it, there was one caveat to approaching her.

She was always with Zeke.

Powerless and with little to no interest in dealing with Zeke personally, Levi decided to just go with the flow, following Erwin where applicable, loitering awkwardly like a lost reed when he had no choice but to be alone. Such an approach to life had turned out to be enough at least to get Levi changed into board shorts and a white shirt, enough to get him passively settled on one of the sun chairs next to the infinity pool, reader in hand.

He wasn’t reading though. He was attempting to read and had been for the past few minutes. Everything just found a way to be distracting.

The silence, the peaceful solitude that came with staying in a country club which he didn’t pay for--- and would probably never be able to pay for anyway---had him looking up again and again for anyone who could sympathize. Erwin still hadn’t gone out to the pool area. It was expected anyway, even on weekends, Erwin liked to work.

By the time Levi had self meditated enough to not be as self conscious and by the time he had mustered enough energy to start to make sense of some of the words on the reader, he heard footsteps---a new distraction. He looked up to find Hange standing in front of him, in a one piece that accentuated her form, in light purple, a color that just made her tan skin a little brighter under the late morning sun.

And she wasn’t with Zeke. So Levi stared for a little longer, or at least he snuck enough glances. Maybe Hange noticed. Levi caught her playful grin, the way she had turned towards him, her figure getting closer and closer until Levi had to force himself to look up and pretend he hadn’t actually been staring since a while ago.

“We don’t get this weather everyday back home. You should swim,” Hange said.

“No, it’s fine. I’m in a good part of the book,” Levi said. And I wanna finish it soon. That was what he wanted to stay before he stopped himself. He was halfway to showing Hange just a little bit of what he was reading until he realized he hadn’t even moved past the title page yet. He pulled back before she could see any more.

Hange shrugged, still the hint of disappointment on her face was perceptible. “But you’ll be joining us this afternoon right?”

“What is our plan anyway?” Levi asked.

“Well, go out for a tour of the island in the afternoon, maybe go to the beach. Then after that, swimming tonight…” Hange trailed off before snapping her fingers. “Right, Zeke reserved for tea time at sunrise tomorrow!”

Tea time? Levi could feel the blood rush through his head. The tea they had served in the airport lounge, the private plane had been the most delectable ones, the most exotic ones he had tasted in his life. A new burst of energy rushed through him as he surveyed his overly luxurious surroundings.

If the lounge and the plane paled in comparison to the resort, would the tea and the variety of tea prove to be anything more?

“Hange, so about that tea time…” Levi started. Before he could even look up from his book again to answer the question, Hange screamed.

At first, it sounded shrill, like a shriek. A shriek of terror?

No, she was laughing. “Zeke! What are you doing?”

Levi had a good view of it from his place on the sun chair, a good upward view.

A very disgusting view. If Levi hadn’t been at the mercy of Zeke’s country club membership, maybe he would have told them to get a room. Maybe he would have walked away. Still, that had seemed too rude of a reaction as well. Levi put his reader in front of him, just staring at the title page for a second longer.

He couldn’t completely avoid his peripherals though and the view they were giving him were tempting. He couldn’t comprehend everything but he did capture the way Zeke had nuzzled his beard on Hange’s neck. Hange’s playful laughs weren’t so easily ignored either. He contemplated putting his fingers into his ears. Would it be rude to plug his ears with his fingers then? If he did he would have to put down his reader and he would have to see it or close his eyes.

Just imagining how he would look had him shuddering and he chose instead to freeze on the spot and stare once again at the title page of his book.

Maybe he could look away. But if he looked away, that might seem rude too. He had taken too long to ponder and just that small and very fruitless problem solving exercise had turned out useless.

Zeke eventually stopped nuzzling her. And maybe for a second he had gone for a kiss. With his peripherals, Levi’s view was limited and Zeke was moving just a little too fast.

By the time Levi had allowed himself to look up, Zeke was running barefoot towards the pool, Hange in his arms bridal style. With Zeke’s back turned on him, Levi saw that as an opportunity to stare a little longer than necessary.

He witnessed it all, the overly flamboyant movements, Hange’s laughs, her playful struggle to get out of his grip and the huge splash that came with them diving feet first into the pool.

The only solace Levi found in the whole ordeal was that the sun chair had been a good distance from the pool. That at least spared him from getting caught in the splash or from having to see anymore than he wanted to.

But even from his position a few feet away, he caught glimpses of their bodies pressed against each other. Were they kissing?

Even when he put his ebook reader just on a perfect spot to conceal their shapes in the pool, he couldn't completely avoid it. After all, Hange was still laughing. She was still talking, her voice something faint yet something still jovial from a few feet away.

Levi turned to the first page of his book, scanning over the first line, reading it once then twice. Words had a way of sucking people into worlds unknown, beyond the dreary dimension called reality.

Or they were supposed to. He needed to get past the first sentence before it could suck him in deep enough to forget Hange's laughter or the drumming baritone of Zeke’s voice.

When the first sentence included phrases like ‘truth universally acknowledged” and when the ending clause read “a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife,” Levi started to find it a little harder to get lost in the book.

There was a man in front of him, loud and proud, who was in possession of a good fortune. And that man had a beautiful, smart partner. There was no need to fabricate his own phantom man when there was one he could be jealous of, right in front of him.

The reader almost forgotten, Levi found himself again watching the blonde, the man in possession of a good fortune and Hange. Hange had settled by the edge of the infinity pool, her damp brown hair falling onto her shoulders, brushing her arms, as she propped her arms on the edge, leaning her upper body forward. She rested her chin on her arms and just watched the sea.

Levi was a good distance away but the angle was good. When he squinted his eyes, he saw admiration, he saw awe in Hange’s eyes. While he was barely unable to get past the first line of the book, Hange had managed to get lost in the beautiful view of the ocean in front of her.

Fast enough that Levi was almost tempted to take his shirt off, dive into the pool and join her.

If it hadn’t been for Zeke. It was the blond bearded man who had obscured his view of Hange. Hange moved a little quickly, pushing herself up from the edge to look back at Zeke.

They were talking a little more quietly. Still, Levi had become familiar enough with the baritone of Zeke’s voice, the melody in Hange’s voice, to know that they were having a dynamic yet balanced conversation, an intimate conversation. Something just for both of them.

He was getting lost in murmurs, in tones, in chuckles. He didn’t even notice his surroundings start to dim, until it had turned everything shades of blue grey and greyed green. Until Hange and Zeke had both looked up at the sky.

He looked down to find light drops had turned the parts of the first line into mush. Soon, the light drops were on his bare arms, then parts of his shirt started to stick to his back. His bangs fell heavier on his face.

“Levi, let’s go back inside, it looks like it’s gonna rain for a while,” Hange said, gesturing for him to follow her.

Why did it take him so long to realize? Levi scolded himself, slipping his ebook reader just under his shirt. It didn’t do much to help though. His shirt was already soaked.

“Well, we were only planning an hour-long swim anyway,” Zeke said from a good distance away, seeming comfortable under the cabana.

“What time is it?” Levi asked as soon as they caught up to Zeke. .

Hange checked her phone. “We’ll be having lunch in a while,”

Levi only needed to do some quick calculations to realize they had been out for an hour. And somehow, he never got past the first line of that damn book.

***

Weather could be very predictable or so that was what Levi liked to believe.

Even when the sky remained a gloomy grey and the rain continued to pour, Levi expected the rain would let up with time. The rain was hard though, forcing itself as a presence in whatever conversation they were trying to have over lunch.

It was Zeke who had enough of it first. He led everyone back to what looked to be a game room towards the other wing of the summerhouse, closing the windows, the doors, quashing the whoosh of the winds and the loud patter of the rain to some distant sound.

Having dealt with it for more than an hour over lunch, Levi had quickly gotten used to the annoying rain, that when the aircon was switched on, overpowering the faint patter of rain, he had almost been surprised.

And fucking cold. Levi only realized then, he was right under the air conditioner with nothing but a semi-wet T-shirt to protect him.

“Would you rather we didn’t turn the aircon on Levi?” Zeke asked. Those words that could have held concern but really, Levi only had to look to Zeke’s face to see nonchalance.

Zeke was paying. Levi was a mere visitor under the mercy of the paying customer so the first thing he could will out of his mouth then were the only appropriate things lowly free loading visitors would usually say. “It’s fine,” Levi stood up. “I’ll just get changed first.”

“No need, I’ll have someone get you a shirt, just change there.” Zeke pointed to the powder room at the corner.

Right, that had been the reason why Hange and Zeke weren’t at all freezing after having spent the last two hours swimming. They had changed already. Among the three of them, he had been the only one too lazy--- or maybe too embarrassed---to have requested for a towel from one of the maids.

Or even a spare shirt. He had half the mind to just lock himself in the bedroom, take a quick shower and maybe actually start on that damn romance novel he had downloaded into his reader only yesterday.

Zeke had an uncanny grin on his face. Hange and Erwin were also staring at him expectantly. “I can just get the shirt myself,” Levi said. And maybe not come back.

“I said, I’ll have one of the maids bring it over,” Zeke said. “Anything in particular you want from your room?” He reached for his cellphone on the table, unlocking it.

“Just a sweater.” And that sweater came quickly, even before it started to feel like a few minutes. Levi pulled the hoodie over himself and that had been more than enough to make the air conditioning bearable. He wasn't desperate enough to complain about the air conditioning again.

"I really hope the weather gets better. I'd hate to reschedule tea time," Zeke muttered. He made himself comfortable on the sofa next to Hange.

"As long as it doesn’t rain tomorrow, we’ll be fine. The grass dries up fast anyway so even if it stops raining tonight, it won't be muddy," Hange said.

"Still, I prefer my course without the post rain atmosphere… if you know what I mean."

You get your tea in courses? Tea usually came in course anyway. Levi imagined shortbread, scones and the right mix of tea to accompany it every time. From his seat a few feet away, with his blood seething just watching that exchange, he felt no need to ask. One thing was for sure though, Hange and Zeke lived in a world far flung from his and there was no use trying to make sense of it.

He did love tea though and just imagining how weather and the state of grass could affect the quality of tea had Levi thinking a little more creatively. Some variants of tea definitely tasted better when it was raining. But tea that particularly tasted better after the rain, when the sun was up? Levi couldn't pick them out with just one thought.

But it would be nice to know which tea.... Before he could draw any more context though, Hange and Zeke had moved on from their conversation on tea time, instead approaching Erwin and Levi by the square table where the two had settled. “The rain doesn’t look like it will stop anytime soon. It’d be a waste though to spend our time doing nothing. We have a few games here if you’re interested in a friendly game?” Zeke suggested.

“What do you have in mind?” Erwin asked, looking up from the book he had been reading. He closed it and Levi knew Erwin enough to figure out, whatever it was, the blond was very much interested.

“Mahjong?” Zeke looked pointedly down at the square table. “I got this table back in a trip to China… It would be a waste of money if I don’t spend more time using it.”

“I haven’t played in a while,” Erwin admitted. "But I think I know enough to manage." He turned to Levi.

The expectant look was directed right on him and Levi almost jumped on his seat. "Mahjong?" He had heard of that game before. He was sure he had tried messing around with a mobile game before. He lived a good distance from China though and he never did make sense of those tiles with those random marks on them.

"That sounds like a good way to pass the time," Hänge commented. "The last time we played was with your other client…Reeves right?"

"That man almost gave me a run for my money. I'm pretty sure I only won because I collected enough flower tiles." Zeke suddenly slammed his hand on the table, his voice stocked full of ideas, there could have been a light bulb on his head. "What about we bet some money on this? Games aren’t fun unless we have some money on the line"

"Actually, I still owe you for that last game of poker we had," Hange said, a wide grin on her face.

"Erwin? What do you think? I think this a great way to build company camaraderie. Just some casual gambling… nothing more than a few hundred dollars…"

Something caught at Levi's throat. Nervousness? Tension? He had a few hundred dollars on hand, he was sure. To put them at risk over a 'casual' rainy afternoon over board games?

Everyone in the room seemed unfazed about spending a few hundred dollars though.

Erwin was the good balance between conservative and vocal in the conversation. "Let's keep it at a thousand dollar limit I'd rather we didn't play anything more over a few casual games," Erwin said. He pulled out his wallet from his back pocket, counting out a few hundred dollar bills and dropping it on the table in front of him.

It was just like Erwin to be prepared.

“What about you Levi? How much will you be betting?”

“Let me just get my wallet first.”

“No, I wouldn’t want you to have to make the journey all the way back to the other wing. I’ll have someone get your bag.”

A few minutes later, Levi’s bag was resting on the sofa just a few feet away and Levi was counting out bills on the table. He was the limiting factor to how much money the rest would be playing. Levi gave in to the silent pressure. The money on hand was disposable income anyway, allowance just in case he had to spend anything in the country club. Although it had been painful, Levi mustered up the courage to empty his wallet in front of them.

“Seven hundred and sixty dollars,” Levi said, counting out twenty dollar bills, fifty dollar bills and hundred dollar bills. He prepared himself for the loss. Still, a few hundred dollars was still too much.

Levi was still in the process of convincing himself that maybe spending a good hundred dollars on a good few games wasn't a bad idea. In some sort of a gamble, nobody was guaranteed a hundred percent loss. In fact he might just gain more.

Maybe it had been Levi's own tendency to play safe, his aversion to loss that had him going through the motions of sliding the money towards Zeke just a little slower than he would have wanted. Still, with a good internal scolding, he managed to raise his eyebrows and clear his throat, a loud and abrupt enough movement to get him at least somewhat focused on the tiles in front of him.

The tiles formed a wall in front of him and as Levi glanced a little further, he saw Hange had pushed her own wall in front of her. Erwin did the same. Then Zeke. A few seconds of coordination later and there was a square of tiled walls.

“Let’s keep betting simple, no flowers, no extra money for certain tiles. Just ‘if you win,’ you get the money on the table,” Zeke suggested. He counted four hundred dollars in varying bills and dropped it on the table in the middle. “You’ve played before Levi?”

Levi shook his head. “No, never.”

Zeke shrugged. “Well, you can learn as we play. Luck plays a part in mahjong anyway. Who knows you might just get the winning tile.” He rolled the dice. “Okay, you pick where we cut.”

“Pick where to cut…”

“The tiles,” Zeke said, his tone just slightly more abrasive. “Pick a tile and count.”

The hair at the back of his neck stood and instinctively, Levi looked up to meet Zeke’s stare. He placed one hand on the corner nearest to him and started counting.

Zeke narrowed his eyes at Levi, leaning on one hand, looking particularly bored. “Away from you. Not towards you.” He was talking to him like he was a kid.

Or maybe, Levi was just being an idiot at the moment. With all eyes watching his every movement thought, when he himself had little to no idea what the hell he was doing, he just wanted to freeze on the spot.

“Levi, it's like this,” Hange’s voice was a stark contrast to Zeke’s. Her sing-songy voice had been enough to get him moving again. He didn’t even notice his hand had frozen halfway through counting until Hange had clutched the back of his hand and started to guide it over the tiles. “You count away from yourself.”

Dealing the tiles was another issue altogether. He probably wouldn’t have been able to run it as smoothly as Hange. It looked more like a ritual and Hange had taken over, her hands moving deftly over the well fitted tiles. She handed him eight stacked in two rows then nine stacked similarly. She distributed them in the same manner over the table before giving him one more. “You start.”

Levi still didn’t know how to play though. But he had counted seventeen tiles and he had remembered playing it over a mobile game so he was sure it had something to do with dropping one of his tiles. He dropped the first one to the left.

“Pong!” Zeke’s voice echoed across the salon as he grabbed the tile in the center and inserted it between two of his tiles.

Levi still didn’t know what was happening but the seemingly concerned stare Hange had given him was evidence enough, he probably wasn’t playing properly.

***

An hour later, Levi was three hundred dollars poorer but on the bright side, he understood the objective of the game. He had organized his wall by ascending numbers and similar pairs and had created for himself a system on how to get five triples and one pair.

He just wasn’t fast enough at creating sets for himself.

Erwin dropped the wall in front of them. “Looks like the next hundred dollars is mine,” he said, grabbing the wad of bills from the center of the table.

Levi allowed himself the comfort of looking away, focusing instead on building the wall again. Losing money hurt. The most painful part of buying had always been putting in the credit card number and watching as the screen loaded to ‘payment received.’ A dull pain that weighed on his chest, pulling his lips down into a curled grimace. Levi was feeling the same way then as he heard the rustle of a good hundred dollars fall back into someone’s wallet.

He was in no mood to continue. But I can’t lose all the games right? Levi willed himself to look up again, quickly building the wall in front of him.

The room was filled with the echoes of ‘pong,’’chow,’ and the clatter of tiles on the wooden table, the clack of plastic against plastic as they hit one another. He was still unbearably slow.

And Hange was staring. He was slow but he wasn’t oblivious. “What do you want?”

Hange looked away. “Nothing.”

Levi looked back down at his tiles. He had been lucky enough to have gotten a conveniently matched set of tiles. Within a few moves, all he needed were a ‘two balls’ tile and an ‘seven sticks tile.’

All he had to do was win that, and that would put his net loss at four hundred dollars. That amount was stomacheable at least. Erwin had his tiles close to him, his blue eyes darting quickly from one end of his wall to the other.

Zeke looked deep in thought but as Levi looked closer, he saw a sliver of a grimace. Hange on the other hand liked to stare at him and he had noticed enough times that she had snuck glances at his tiles while reshuffling her own, more than enough times for Levi to at least allow himself a second of wishful thinking.

Was she thinking of him?

The response came loud and clear. “Chow,” Hange said. Her mind was still in the game.

She dropped one tile. Still not the one Levi wanted. He grabbed one from the wall next to him. Still not the one he wanted either.

He looked around him once again, using the square table as a guide to recalling how many rounds had passed. He still needed those two tiles. Since a while ago, he had been stuck in a cycle of just grabbing a new tile and discarding it.

Zeke dropped a ‘two balls’ tile. Levi reached out to grab it even before Zeke pulled away then he dropped another tile.

All Levi needed then was the ‘seven sticks.’ His eyes scanned his surroundings before sliding the Zeke’s discarded tile between two of his own.

A cycle passed. Erwin played. Zeke played. Then Hange. She looked at Levi’s wall once again then looked up at him. Levi met her stare for a second longer before she looked back at his tiles then at her own.

Whatever she saw was probably more interesting than he was. Still, he wondered what she saw on the blank backs of the tiles clumped together.

Maybe she did see something. Before the next cycle even ended, Hange had dropped her tiles on the table, so clumsily and messily that if Levi had been the arbiter, he would have disqualified her. “I thought I lost this one," she said giving a everyone a wry laugh.

Her tiles were a mess. It had taken a few seconds longer, craning his neck scanning over her mixed up tiles to be certain that she had completed it. Among those tiles wedged carelessly towards the middle was the ‘seven sticks’ tile he had needed to win.

Hange grinned. Maybe it could have been genuine, to Levi it was mocking.. After all, she had one every single one of the games save for one Erwin had won and two, Zeke had won. The evidence of that sat right next to the wall of tiles---a thick wad of cash.

That had him a little ticked. He could still get the money back he was sure. He had three more hundred dollar bills, three more chances to earn back the money. He pulled one out, slamming it on the table in front of him. “Next game.”

***

“The strategy of the game isn’t just to reorganize the tiles. You have to put yourself in a situation where you can win with two different tiles.” Erwin was a very eloquent man.

Still, the explanation went in one ear and out the other. “What?” You need sixteen tiles in the game right?

“For example, I set myself up for a position where if I got a ‘two balls’ tile or a ‘one sticks tile..' That would higher my chances of winning,” Erwin explained. But he didn't win.

The one who had won all the games had been Hange who had chosen that moment to count the bills, a wide cat-like smile on her face. Levi couldn’t choose whether to stare at her or the wad of bills in her hand.

They had proven already through six miserable games that although luck played a part in mahjong, it was a strategy game. Somehow, Hange had been the most privy to strategy among the three of them. How exactly? Levi was still too bitter to ask.

The rain was still pouring and if Levi focused on it, he could use it to drown out conversations. It was as if Zeke knew it though, he let his voice echo across the room as he spoke. “You wanna play another game?”

Erwin shook his head. “I think I’ll go back to the room first. There are just some paperwork I need to sort out.”

A wave of disappointment washed through Levi then, or it could have been something a little more heavy. After all, his wallet was completely empty and thus, notably light. Without any cash, under the mercy of one of the richest men in the country, Levi felt naked.

After taking a quick glance at his wallet, Levi snapped it close. He couldn’t do anything about it. He had turned his heel to follow Erwin out of the game room, towel and wet shirt on hand when Zeke mentioned something about getting back twice what he had lost.

It was the word ‘pay you’ that had his ears perked up. It was the word ‘double’ that had him looking back, almost pathetically.

He wasn’t that pathetic. He reminded myself. But money is money. “How?”

“A game of chess?” Zeke suggested, pulling a board out from the shelf.

“Oh, chess?” Hange asked excitedly as she started to clean out the tiles a little quicker.

Zeke put one finger to Hange’s lips. “Not now hun, this is between me and Levi here.” He focused his eyes on Levi. “You need the money don’t you?”

Levi bit his lip. With the way Zeke was talking, it didn’t look like Levi had the chance to win. Still, he could at least try to get back that seven hundred dollars. More importantly, Hange had settled for the seat in between them. She rested her chin on her hands and she was watching both of them intently.

Hange wasn’t staring at tiles that time, she was staring at him.

“How many games?” Levi asked.

“One would be enough. There’s no timer so take the time you need to move,” Zeke said as he lay the board down.

Levi had played chess before. He stared at the pieces in front of them doing a quick review in his head of how each piece moved as he placed them on the board. He still knew how to play at least.

Zeke seemed to know more though. “The Italian game,” he said around the third move. He was moving quickly and reasonably, solid proof that he was far from a beginner.

Levi didn’t have much of a chance but he wasn’t considering quitting yet. It was a chance at money though and Hange was still watching, her eyes on the board. When his king was under attack, Hange had followed with her eyes, her expression unchanging.

As he moved, Levi continued to look at Hange, watching how her eyes focused clearly on the black king in front of her. Before he knew it, he wasn’t even solving whatever puzzle had appeared on the board, his focus was on those brown eyes, and how the hell they had looked so good even half closed, under the dim light of the room.

“You never played chess growing up?” Zeke asked.

Levi looked back at the board to find his king at the corner. “I did a few times.”

“Well, not enough to spot a mate in two.” With some flourish, Zeke lay the king down at the edge of the table. The piece toppled over and rolled down to the side of the table.

Hange picked it up and twirled it in her hand. "There were a lot of moves you didn't spot either," she told Zeke.

"You think you can do a better job?"

Hange gave Zeke a toothy smile. "You know I can."

If they didn't have a table in between them, Levi was sure they would have gone closer. He cleaned out the pieces and was about to fold the board close when Hange sat directly in front of him.

"Don't clean up the pieces yet. Let's play," she said.

He couldn't say no.

***

Somehow within a few moves, the game had evolved into another gamble.

Maybe it helped that Zeke left the room, mumbling something about a meeting and an IPO of a well known company.The moment he left, Hänge started moving a little faster. Levi was halfway through deciding whether or not to repeat the same mistakes of a while ago when he heard the rustle of bills.

He looked beyond the board to find Hange distracted with something under the table. He had half the mind to look under the table then. He had cocked his head just a little lower, ready to peek from under the table when she spoke up again.

"It's the money I won," she said. "If you win this game, you can win it back. I'll pay you double."

"Something tells me you're better than Zeke"

Hange responded with a wide smirk. "Who said?"

"You were winning most of the mahjong games. And when Zeke played with me… you seemed pretty concentrated. Besides, you said so yourself, you could do a better job "

"Maybe I can." She shrugged. "Zeke just made some pretty glaring mistakes."

"Like…"

Hänge didn't respond instantly. The pieces were doing the work for her. He only had to stare down, to notice patterns crested to conclude for himself Hange had played the exact same moves. "A lot of the games are about thinking ahead," She explained. "Zeke is good at that but having worked with him for so long, I noticed… he doesn't really look too much at details. His plans are always grand and he gets the job done. But personally, I think cleaner and faster wins come from less conventional methods, methods that dig towards the nitty gritty details. A lot of grand plans are built on detail after all, not the other way around."

The next few moments passed in silence, save for the sound of the clacking of pieces, in a way Levi was very much familiar with.

"Like here, Zeke had a good move here," Hange said. "Don't play that, play this instead. If you play the pawn first, you block your bishop in."

"Okay." There wasn't much else to say in between.

Hange moved another piece. "What's your next move?"

Levi found himself attempting to mimic that same attention to detail. There was a dam in his mind, stopping him from thinking beyond what was already on the board.

Hange didn't have that same issue. She looked up at him expectantly.

"You like thinking ahead too." Levi asked.

"I like approaching games with a little more attention to detail," Hange said. “For example, if he left his knight right here, he would have paralyzed your position. He went for a quick and more careless attack.” Hange replayed the game again. “What’s your next move?”

Levi was only a split second from playing his next move, Hange took the reins. “That move is just gonna make your position worse. Move your pieces out first.”

Before Levi even knew it, Hange was playing for him. A few times, he had tried to move the pieces before him of his own volition, only to realize he didn’t have any input.

Hange had placed them both in a position incomprehensible to him. “Sometimes, it’s the small details, which have you reading ahead,” she said. “Like a while ago, Erwin and Zeke liked to focus on the bigger picture. If they place themselves in a lucky enough position to get a perfect set, they win. They didn’t consider one thing…” She wagged her finger at him. “You got a pretty good set right?” she said.

“A while ago?”

Hange nodded. “A few rounds you did. You like to organize your tiles, you clump the similar tiles together so you can more easily see patterns maybe?”

“Yeah, I do.”

“Well, that's a bad idea when playing with actual players. I picked up that you needed a ‘seven sticks’ piece. Or around that range. You were letting go of everything a little too quickly but at the start, you picked up an ‘eight sticks’ then you let go of the rest right? You placed your eight sticks towards the end of the wall, next to one tile which was probably a ‘nine sticks.’

At that moment, as Hange recalled it, Levi saw the tiles clearly once again. They were supposed to be hidden, he was sure. Under Hange’s observant eye, he was exposed.

“The point is, your turn is right after mine. I had the tile you needed and I didn’t let go of it. And if you gave up on completing it, maybe you would have had a better chance of winning.You were just too conservative with your own ways. You didn’t wanna let go of that pattern you were trying to make. And that was your downfall,” Hange said. She started to move the chess pieces a little quicker. “Levi, play the rook out here.”

Levi quietly complied.

“Games teach things and sometimes they expose parts of ourselves… Maybe you’re just a little careful, a little set in your ways. At the same time, you lack the attention to detail. But you know, the attention to detail can make people more confident in taking risks. I couldn’t be too sure that was the piece you needed but I thought it a good risk to play with. Sometimes to make that risk, all you need is that bright new perspective. And where do you get that bright new perspective? Small details. They’re just a bunch of cyclical concepts all interconnected,” Hange said.

Levi was pulling away, leaning back on his seat. Hange was leaning forward. In that split second before Levi had leaned away, they were close enough to kiss. But still far enough for it not to happen.

Hange fell back on the chair, adjusting the pieces. “Or if you can’t see all the small details, then accept what you have for what’s right there. What do you feel? What do you want? What are you planning?”

“No plans, nothing.”

“Then start with accepting. Then observing,” Hange said. “Move your rook to the seventh rank. It’s open.”

Levi had to stare for a split second longer to understand. “Done.”

“What do you see?” Hange asked, waving her hand quickly over the board.

He had a good position. One rook at the seventh rank, the pieces were perfectly placed for an attack. “A winning position,” Levi answered.

“Details, Levi.”

Hange was patient with him. Her eyes were still boring holes into him and if he could blame anything---or anyone---for slowing down his thinking process, it would be her. “It’s a winning position.”

“Zeke’s right. You can’t see a mate in two,” Hange said. She grabbed the pieces and moved them quickly over the board. The game ended with his queen, right over Hange’s king. “A lot of games end like this. With a kiss from the enemy queen to the king…. And it looks like you won this one Levi. I promised you double right? So that’s one thousand four hundred dollars.” She pulled the bills out of her wallet and counted it out, sliding it to the side of the chess board.

“Wait, you might need---”

“Levi, I don’t mind giving it.”

“It’s your money.”

Hange shook her head. “Well, if it makes you feel better. Zeke spoils me enough.”

Levi pushed the money back. “That’s Zeke’s money not yours.”

“You don’t think I’ve accumulated my fair share of assets? I do investment too you know.”

He had put himself in a tight spot, assuming the most vulnerable position from Hange. Giving her a onceover though, he was sure he had been wrong. Hange sat straight, confidently. She had dropped the money so easily in front of him yet her eyes were observing. She wasn’t reckless with money for sure. She wasn’t lying.

Maybe refusing the money could seem insulting. So he let her push it nearer towards him. That was the same wad of cash as a while ago and Levi felt no need to count it.

“I don’t have cash on me but I’ll send you the rest of the money through phone credit,” Hange said. She turned the board over, inserting all the pieces on the hollow shapes underneath. Levi did his part pushing the pieces towards her.

Locking the board closed, Hange stood up. “Let’s go?”

“Where?”

“I’ll take you back to the room. We have to prepare for dinner.”

“Dinner?” Levi only became aware of the time then. The clock on the wall read a little past five. The rain had slowed to a drizzle and he only appreciated it then when they had turned off the air conditioner and filed out of the room.

“Looks like tomorrow might just be a good day,” Hange commented. “We could go to the beach tomorrow afternoon. If you’re fine with that.”

Levi hated swimming in the ocean. It was the world’s bathroom. It was a confluence of waste. When Hange was mentioning something about risks and bright new perspectives, he saw little reason to reject the invite. “I’m fine with that.” Might as well enjoy it while we’re here. As they walked silently, Levi took that moment to look at the setting sun, a very similar view to sunrise.

Hange had mentioned something about ‘sunrise’ and about ‘tea time.’

“You have tea time in the morning right?” Levi asked.

“Yeah, at sunrise why? You don’t have to wake up for it if you don’t wanna. Zeke and Erwin just thought it would be a good way to bond. And I’m going because… Well, Zeke’s my husband…”

“Yeah, I understand but I’m excited for it too.”

Hange’s eyes widened in surprise. “Wait, you wanna join too? Great! I’ll reserve a slot for you. It’s better if we have more people. The course will probably be pretty wet though but it doesn’t get muddy?”

Levi almost tensed up at the word. “Muddy?” When did tea times get muddy?

“Well, we are playing in a grassy course,” Hange said, too matter-of-factly.

Playing? "You said tea time right?” Levi made a subtle gesture, putting his hand up as if holding a tea cup.

Hange didn’t notice it. “Yeah, tee time as in the time when we start playing golf. We’re playing golf tomorrow morning. You’ve played before right?”

“Yeah, I did. A few times.” Levi said. He kept his voice casual, an utter betrayal of how he actually felt. He had never actually played golf but he wondered how ridiculous he could have looked being excited for courses of tea while watching a sunrise, an idea which turned out to have never existed in the first place. He could stick with a white lie and just google the rest later.

“Okay great! I’ll contact the coordinator then,” Hange said. She pulled out her phone and texted. “You have shoes right? Pants? We can rent the clubs… So just make sure to meet by the common room at five alright?”

Once again, Levi couldn’t say no to her.

***

It was around ten in the evening when Levi received the notification.

700 dollars was credited to your account.

He paused the video on the rules of golf and allowed himself a few minutes to just stare at the notification. Before his phone screen turned completely black, another message came.

Just sent you the money! Please check your account.

Levi had already tried to give her back the money during dinner time to no avail. Hange had just been to good at digression.

Still, she didn’t have to have it her way all the time. Levi wanted to protest in his own way. He opened his wallet, ready to send back the money only to be met with another message.

This transaction is subject to 2.9% of the total money transacted. Will you proceed?

He decided then, he could probably wait a little longer to give back the money.

#levihan fanfiction #levihan #zekehan

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