#scotch beef

[scr4n]

Crown of slow cooked Aberdeen Angus certified Scotch beef shoulder with a rich horse randish infused gravy & black pudding mashed potato 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

[fattributes]

Authentic Jamaican Oxtail Stew

[morethansalad]

Suya-Spiced Beefless Meatballs (Vegan)

suya spice is a peanut based spice used to flavour grilled meat in West Africa

[petermorwood]

Except for the elderberry wine, those aren't drunk for pleasure but for old-style-medicinal purposes - think "convalescent", think "delicate constitution", think "pale and interesting" - so Tastes Nice was probably never part of the job description.

Sounds Nice wasn't one either:

That said, cooked beef tea is acceptable - decades ago my Mum made it for someone as a tonic, I tried it, and it was like unfinished beef stock. That broiled beef tea would probably turn out quite nice.

Whether there's nutritional value left in any of them is another matter.

*****

"Lobscouse and Spotted Dog", the Aubrey/Maturin cookbook, mentions "Scotch Coffee", which wasn't a version of Irish coffee with cream and Scotch whisky but "burned bread or ship's biscuit, pounded, mixed with hot water and sweetened with brown sugar".

This was drunk when proper coffee wasn't available, and though the "Scotch" part suggested stinginess, I'm betting it was perked up with an occasional tot of Navy rum.

[lifelikesimz]

LIFELIKESIMZ - ISLAND FUSION CARRIBEAN CUISINE FOOD TRUCK

With this food truck includes 15 new items. That's 11 dishes and 4 drinks total. ONLY available by purchasing at food truck.

✧JERK CHICKEN & RICE  -Marinated in a fiery blend of scotch bonnet peppers, thyme, garlic, and spices, then grilled to smoky, crispy perfection. Paired with fluffy, coconut-infused rice that balances the heat, the dish offers a perfect harmony of smoky, spicy, and subtly sweet notes. - §15 ✧JERK PORK & RICE  -Marinated in a spicy-sweet blend of scotch bonnet peppers, allspice, and thyme, then grilled to smoky perfection. The tender, juicy pork packs bold heat and flavor, while the coconut-infused rice adds a creamy, slightly sweet balance. It's a fiery, savory combination that's pure comfort. - §10 ✧CURRY GOAT & RICE  -Tender, slow-cooked in a rich, aromatic blend of curry powder, garlic, ginger, and spices, creating a deep, savory flavor. The meat is melt-in-your-mouth juicy, with a slight heat and earthiness. Paired with fluffy rice that soaks up the flavorful curry sauce, it's a comforting, spicy, and satisfying dish. - §15 ✧BEEF PATTIES -Flaky, golden pastry pockets filled with seasoned, spiced ground beef. The filling is savory with hints of curry, thyme, and heat from scotch bonnet peppers, creating a perfect balance of flavors. Crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside, they're a deliciously satisfying snack or meal. - §10 ✧RASTA PASTA -A vibrant, creamy dish featuring al dente pasta tossed in a rich, flavorful sauce made with bell peppers, onions, garlic, shrimp, and a hint of jerk seasoning. It's a perfect blend of spice, creaminess, and color, creating a comforting, bold dish that's both savory and satisfying. - §13 ✧OXTAILS & RICE -Slow-cooked to tender, fall-off-the-bone perfection in a rich, savory stew of spices, herbs, and aromatic vegetables. The deep, flavorful sauce soaks into the meat, creating a melt-in-your-mouth experience. Paired with fluffy rice that absorbs the delicious sauce, it's a hearty, comforting, and satisfying dish. - §18 ✧OXTAILS & MAC-N-CHEESE -Slow-cooked to tender perfection in a savory, spiced stew, are paired with rich, creamy macaroni and cheese. The oxtail's deep, flavorful sauce seeps into the cheesy, velvety pasta, creating a satisfying, indulgent combination of savory, creamy, and hearty goodness. - §18 ✧SEAFOOD GUMBO -  A hearty, flavorful stew brimming with shrimp, crab, and fish, simmered in a rich, spicy broth made with a roux, bell peppers, onions, and aromatic spices.  - §25 ✧STEAK & SHRIMP -  a mouthwatering combo of juicy, perfectly seared steak with a savory crust and tender shrimp, seasoned to perfection. The rich, smoky flavor of the steak pairs beautifully with the shrimp's sweet, delicate taste, creating a satisfying, flavorful dish.  - §22 ✧PORK RIBS -  Pork ribs are tender and juicy, slow-cooked until the meat falls off the bone. Coated in a smoky, sweet, and tangy barbecue glaze, each bite is a perfect balance of charred, caramelized edges and flavorful, melt-in-your-mouth meat.  - §25 ✧GRIZZADA TARTS -   Sweet, flaky pastries filled with a rich, coconut-based filling that's both creamy and slightly chewy. Infused with a hint of cinnamon and nutmeg, each bite offers a perfect balance of warmth and sweetness in a delightful, bite-sized treat. - §6 ✧SUNRISE DRINK -A vibrant, tropical blend of refreshing fruit juices, with hints of citrus and a touch of sweetness. It's the perfect balance of tart and fruity.  - §5 ✧SEASIDE DRINK -A refreshing blend of crisp, tangy citrus and tropical fruit flavors, with a hint of sweetness and a cool, breezy finish. It's light, invigorating, and perfect for sipping on a sunny day by the ocean. -  §5 ✧LIME LIGHT DRINK -A refreshing, tangy beverage with a zesty citrus punch. It's bright, slightly tart, and perfectly sweetened, offering a cool, crisp sip that's both invigorating and thirst-quenching. -  §5 ✧RUM PUNCH COCKTAIL -A vibrant cocktail blending tropical fruit juices with smooth rum, creating a perfect balance of sweet, tangy, and slightly spicy flavors.  - §8 (BASEMENTAL MOD COMPATIBLE)

These dishes will be released each week   over the month of February

SILVER TIER EARLY ACCESS - 2 WEEKS

BRONZE TIER EARLY ACCESS - 1 WEEK

PUBLIC RELEASE - 3 WEEKS FROM DATE OF RELEASE

DOWNLOAD HERE

[chefkids]

The Bear Season 4 Prep Meta

I made a list of my most relevant/important meta analysis posts to read ahead of Season 4. Enjoy!

Sydney combined her and Carmy's Families

Claire is Carmy's projection of Sydney

Claire is the physical manifestation of Carmy’s avoidance.

The Bear is playing Magic Tricks on you

Carmy is experiencing Vertigo

The Invisible Red String of Fate

Beef Braciole is the Original Bleeding Heart of The Bear

Sydney is on the last train home

Sydney is the Muse

Luca is the Scotch Bonnet Party Trick

The Scrunchie Does Not Fit In, but Carmy is Saving it for Later

Claire is not Carmy's future. She's "Wednesday"

The Bear is A Midsummer Night's Dream and Marcus is making the violet love potion for Syd and Carmy

Iridescence can stop the hauntings

Richie thinks Sydney is lonely

[fireandiceland]

Hetalia characters with dishes typical for their country - part 1 (part 2 here)

Italy: Maritozzo (cream bread) -> This Roman milk bread is said to be dated back to times of Ancient Rome. The baked good is filled with generous amounts of whipped cream and somtimes decorated with fruit or pistachio. Young man also used it in courtship by hiding jewellery or a ring in the filling.

Germany: Breze(l) mit Schokolade (chocolate dipped pretzel) -> A baked pastry with sweet or salty toppings, best known for its distinctive symetrical, knotted shape. Dipped in chocolate the soft pretzel is a popular snack at funfairs and markets, but there are also small, crispy pretzels that are to be eaten like crisps/chips.

Japan: 和菓子 (wagashi; plant based sweet) -> Originally meaning "Japanese confectionery" the term now refers to a traditional dessert made from plant based ingredients. It's artful shapes are influenced by season, nature, or even poetry.

France: Quiche Lorraine -> A savoury tarte traditionally made with a filling of eggs, heavy cream, ham, and bacon. Today cheese is often added, though it is controversial among professionals. (In the drawing there seems to be leek added too which is not mentioned in the original recipe either.)

England: Scotch Egg -> Supposedly inspired by the Indian nargisi koftas, this dish consists of a hard-boiled or soft-boiled egg wrapped in pork (sausage meat) which is coated in breadcrumbs and then baked or deep-fried. Often served in pubs and a popular cold snack as well.

America: Hamburger -> A popular fastfood consisting of a patty (traditionally made from ground beef) between two halfs of a sliced bun. There are countless variations made with all kinds of additional ingredients and condiments, including expensive high-end versions with edible goldflakes.

Russia: пирожки́ (Pirozhki; stuffed bread) -> This popular street food is a baked good made from yeast-dough is typically boat-shaped and filled sweet or savory with meat, vegetables, fruit, jam or tvorog (an Eastern European fermented milk product with a consistency similar to curd cheese)

China: 小籠包 / 小笼包 (Xiaolongbao; steamed bun) -> Steamed dumplings made from leavened or unleavened dough traditionally filled with minced pork, traditionally eaten for breakfast. The top of the dumpling is closed by folding and pinching it. Authentical dumplings have at least 14 folds, preferably 18.

[pasdasin]

Wicked Game

wolverine x vampire!reader

an: omgg I am so happy yall like this! thank you for almost 100 notes!! If you want to be added to my tag list pls comment and ill do my best!! Remember Logan beefs with Alex Summers not Scott bc Scott is my son (dofp casting)

ch 2

warnings: mentions of blood, needles, generic doctor stuff, cussing i think, angst, poor reader :(

previous -- next

~~~~~

The next day you were sitting the in teachers break room, listening to Hank and Charles debate on what to do for the annual end of year movie night. Both options sounded boring, a basic slasher and some movie about a train. You turned to your right to look at your other close friend, Storm. 

“I heard Scott learned Dracula was about you” She hummed, bored of the debate as well. “I was wondering if you finally would tell your version of events?” You turned to look at her and pierced your lips. Thinking about the choice before you. It would be nice to get to talk about it, but at the same time you didn’t see it as fair to only do it since you brought it up to tease the boy. 

“I’m not su-” “She’ll do it” You turned harshly to the voice behind you and not surprisingly it was Logan. 

“Are you serious?” You pushed his arm away as his tried to lower it down on your shoulder. 

“What are you not proud to be a vampire?” 

“I am not a vampire” You grumbled looking back to Storm, who was also starting to get over this conversation. “Yeah sure whatever” She smiled and squeezed your arm as a thank you before leaving the two of you alone. 

Logan looked down at you and smiled. “I ate some broccoli today.”

“Wow. I’m impressed it wasn’t also soaked in scotch”

“Well I didn’t say that” You giggled at his response. You decided to get more comfortable under his arm, sinking into his side. Turning your attention back to Charles and Hank who finally agreed to a movie. The Breakfast Club. As they reached the decision, Alex Summers entered the room. 

Alex Summers was everything he was supposed to be. Kind, tall, handsome. The school girl crush of almost every girl that attended the school. He was calm, he was smart, he was caring, and he hated it. 

“Oh hey y/n.” He always wanted to be with you. You felt Logan tense up against you, his face contorting into an annoyed expression.

“Watch it bub” Logan said, staring at him intensely. You instinctively scratched his back to help him relax.

“Hi Alex! You need to stop by my office later for your check up.” You reminded him cheerfully. Alex thanked you for the reminder, promising to see you before Logan pulled you up with him and out of the lounge. In fact he managed to somehow pull you along out of that section of the mansion before he finally let go of you. 

“Dude what is your problem”

“I don’t like him”

“Yeah no shit.” You remarked, causing him to look down at you and raise an eyebrow. 

“I also don’t like when your sassy.” He poked your forehead with his finger, causing your face to scrunch up. “Besides your giving a presentation about your life, you need to make good on that promise” 

“I didn’t know you cared so much”

“I don’t” Oh. There it was. The fatal rejection that you have experienced from him over and over again. You looked down at the floor, muttering something about finding Storm and hurriedly walked away. He had hurt you for centuries. Your mind, body, and soul yearned for him and yet his own chased another. He had to know at this point. He just wanted to tease you until you couldn’t take it. Unfortunately for you, you had always shown him tolerance. 

Your walk was cut short as you bumped into Storm, who informed you that you were gonna “spill the beans” the next day, leaving you to walk back to your office and get ready for Alex to get his check up. 

As you prepped the trays you needed for his appointment, the all too familiar voice of Alex filled the room.

“Hello doctor,” He said in a flirty tone, cheering you up slightly. 

“Hi Alex, sit down here” You patted the bench and started the procedure. It was just a normal check up. He talked to you about his brother and his upcoming mission. Saying how he will miss his hot doctor when he left for Europe. 

It made you chuckle as you placed the stethoscope on his inner elbow, focusing once again on the sound and patterns of his blood. He watched you intently as you nodded your head along as if some kind of melody was playing and he was producing it. Your eyes were closed and your eyebrows furrowed together before you relaxed and smiled up at him.

“You're all good. Beautiful blood” He thank you before placing a blow pop he kept in his pocket in his mouth and walked out of your office. As the door shut, you started to clean and pack away your personal belongings. Putting the last needle into the biohazard box, you moved to turn off the lights when Charles wheeled into your office.

“Hello y/n. I need to ask you a favor”

~~~~~

tag list: @captain039

[x4-to-da-ice]

once again thinking about how every Rye TCG card in existence has/is implied to have something to do with Scotch. Scotch's canon appearances only revolve around Rye and Bourbon so it would be understandable if it's the other way around where all of his cards are Rye related (which isn't even the case) but Rye has other stuff like Bourbon or Gin's beef with him but they still chose to make all his cards about Scotch. normally it doesn't mean much but I'm not normal about scotchrye

[holy3cake]

Hello, Trouble

Chapters: 2/2

Fandom: Boarders

Rating: Explicit (only part 2)

Pairing: Rupert x Male Reader

Summary: After attending St Gilbert's on a scholarship, you start to reminisce on your time away from home. It's the Spring Ball, and Carol has just given you your final marching orders. Is it too late to admit that you have a massive crush on the dumbest boy in school? Is your deviant roommate going to even care that you're being expelled? Perhaps Rupert cares about you more than you think, but there's only one way to find out.

"Sure, Rupert was possibly the worst roommate you’d ever had, but you would miss the chase. It was thrilling, not knowing whether the arrogant Aphrodite would ruin your life or fall into a soft caress."

Chapter 1: Repression

As the ugly coach pulled up, you tried not to roll your eyes at the students milling about at your side. Most of them had leafy-green faces, matching the hideous lining of the so-called school bus. It was due to binge drinking of course, which despite your course leader constantly lecturing on the subject, was falling on deaf ears. Even though you never really liked the taste of cheap cider or stupidly expensive whisky, you always joined in. It was a ritual of sorts, and you knew better than to dob Abby in if she popped the pills out again. Of course, the distraction never worked for you. Not even as you boarded the bus and bumped into the class harlot, flicking her unsightly fair hair from her face. Florence was poison, but you’d never tell her why you hated her so much. You’d laugh, and pretend every word out of her whorish mouth was hilarious. Which is what you chose to do at that moment, chugging down a swig of your luxurious yet foul Scotch. 

“Oh, Florence! Gorgeous heels, darling.” You drawled, knowing full well that she was wearing last season Prada. She simpered, blowing an egregious kiss full of Tiffany and stark perfume back in your direction. 

“Thank you! It’s our Spring ball, have to make an effort you know?” Florence looked you up and down, as if she was sneering at your outfit choice. Possibly as she wasn’t used to seeing such bare skin in public, or she had no taste whatsoever. You knew it was the latter, when her tongue was so far down Jahiem’s throat. With a forced smile you giggled back, straightening your striped jacket. 

“I completely agree. Enjoy your night, Flo.” It was difficult to stay civil with her, but you forced down your disdain to move further along the bus. Florence wasn’t worth a minute of your time, and you didn’t want to look at her powered face any longer. You swore that she scoffed behind your back, but again, it wasn’t worth a sneeze let alone an acknowledgement. Instead you decided to locate your friends, a genuine smile spreading across your face when you discovered Toby and Abby canoodling at the back of the bus. They leapt apart at your arrival, blushing madly as though nothing had ever happened. Toby patted the space beside them, and you clinked his bottle of vodka with your own glass as you plonked down. 

“‘Sup rude boy? You got beef with Flo again?” Toby grinned, throwing his arm around his sweet girlfriend. Unlike Florence, you’d been friends with Abby for years, and you knew she wasn’t the enemy. Even if she would report back to the blonde witch, you didn’t exactly hide your feelings regarding said cow. 

“She’s playing J. You know that.” You jogged your knee, hoping Toby would be pacified with that response. 

“Nah, bro. Ain't our business, is it? You sure it’s not because she dissed your man?” Toby smirked, sensing the oncoming jab that you delivered to his ribs. 

“He’s not my man, he’s a fucked-up mummy’s boy that thinks he’s God’s gift. Just because he’s my roommate, I don’t have to give a shit about him, Tobes.” At the mention of the deviant living in your shared dorm, your anger flared. Toby seemed to have some delusional idea that you cared about him, even though you despised him more than Florence. But as you stewed, you didn’t realize Abby and Toby quietly cackling at your outrage. 

“Oh, you’ve got it bad, baby. So what if you have a thing for him? It’s not like anyone else does.” Abby shrugged, kicking her feet up. 

“How about the fact that he’d beat the shit out of me? I don’t need that drama.” You didn’t resist the urge to roll your eyes this time, gulping down throatfuls of heated alcohol to match the fury on the outside. 

Rupert Watlington-Geese was a menace to society. You’d seen the videos of him pouring champagne on homeless people before you’d even joined the school, and the real man was worse than the internet fiend. On your first meeting he’d hidden your boxers and claimed it was an initiation ritual, forcing you to go commando against itchy school trousers in the first period. Childish pranks would’ve been fine, but his behaviour had started to get rowdy from your second glance. From the rumours that the little shit had spread, you’d had more sexual experience than most B-list celebrities. You didn’t hide the fact that you were gay, but somehow you’d had a threesome with two teachers and sucked off four boys behind the bike sheds. But you knew Rupert’s game, and somehow had grown used to the inane stunts that he’d pull in an attempt for attention. 

In other instances, you would’ve grown tired and ignored him from the get go. However, if you had, you wouldn’t have seen when Rupert’s mischievous eyes grew sad, and he’d cried dismally into his pillow. You’d never tell Abby or Toby in a million years, but you knew how warm Rupert felt when he’d melted against you in a depressive episode. If his dad had promised to visit but stood him at the last minute, Rupert would always come to you for comfort. Florence was useless in those moments, she’d never understand how fragile Rupert was under all the ego and false cockiness. So perhaps you were a little more susceptible to Rupert’s fragility than you thought, but he didn’t make it easy on you. One day he’d be flashing you his trademark smirk, pretending that he enjoyed his empty existence of pranks and hurting people. On another day, he’d be breaking down in your arms and blinking back tears through those beautiful chestnut eyes. That was another thing that irritated you. Rupert was fucking gorgeous, and a combination that you’d never encountered before. He was ethereal, pale skin glowing in the darkness like some mystical creature. His hazel eyes were always looking at you, whether they were earnest or scheming. And those curls. God, you wanted to tug those magical curls until he cried. Okay, maybe you were lying a little to yourself. There was a definite attraction there, but you were 90% certain that he’d smash your face in if you told him. 

As you were daydreaming, it was as though your thoughts could summon fiction into reality. The man in question bounded up the bus steps, and Abby took the opportunity to torture you further. She sent you a cheeky smile before making her intentions clear, and you turned in horror to the spare seat beside you. 

“Rupert! Join us!” Abby’s voice perforated your ears like a megaphone, and you knew you had to move quickly. But to your dismay, the coach had filled up in record time, and you couldn’t move without leaving the bus entirely. Instead, you downed the remains of your Dalmore single malt and smiled with too much teeth as Rupert sat beside you. His outfit could’ve given you a cardiac arrest, but you remained calm. His rumpled curls were slicked back behind his ears, exposing far too much of his neck. Rupert’s black silk shirt (if you could call it that) cut down into a sharp v-shape, exposing a little bit of his chest. The scent of Lynx Africa infiltrated the bus, and you wanted to gag, or gag him. He looked like a ridiculous rich boy that had been dressed by Carol, yet your jeans grew tighter at his appearance. You wanted to strip him bare, to rip away whatever hideous designer clothes that his mum had chosen for him and pin him against the faded bus seats. The Scotch was making you reckless, and you had to relax, lest actually find out what Rupert’s tongue tasted like. 

“Hi, dickhead.” Rupert greeted you, which didn’t help in the slightest. Today he was wearing his snarkiest grin, which made you want to bite the arrogance away. But then you felt the pang of empathy, causing you to look away and grip your arm. Honestly, you knew why you were feeling such a whirlwind of emotions. Carol had delivered the final blow to your confidence earlier that day, and you had to tell Rupert the truth. 

What was the truth? That you’d lost your scholarship, of course. That’s why you were scrambling to answer a sarcastic salutation from your nemesis, because you had to tell him that you’d never see him again. You wondered if he’d even blink at your news, or if he’d just tell you it was a valiant effort and you didn’t belong there. Sure, Rupert was possibly the worst roommate you’d ever had, but you would miss the chase. It was thrilling, not knowing whether the arrogant aphrodite would ruin your life or fall into a soft caress. Yes, you had stroked his wet cheeks before. But as Abby had declared weeks ago, the Spring ball was certainly the time to tie up loose ends and live the night like it was your last. So, what was on your agenda as the bus pulled away from the school and headed to one of the rascal’s ridiculously large estates? You turned to Rupert, flicking your fringe from your eyes as you beamed at him. 

“Hello, Trouble.” You beamed, eyes sparkling as you gazed into those cat-like eyes. 

Tonight, you were going to break a preposterously ugly bed, donated by the National Trust. Or two. And a thousand year-old table, when Rupert suggested it. 

Chapter 2: Liberty (NSFW WARNING HERE)

It was hard to remember how you ended up in this situation, with Rupert’s hands down your pants and your dick ready to burst with his rough onslaught. But you definitely weren’t complaining, you just wished you had a clearer head when your tip started to throb. Rupert’s hot breath was on your neck, and with one hand kneading your balls and one expertly caressing your cock, you tried to withhold the gasps escaping your throat. It wasn’t until you gripped the rich boy’s shoulders that you halted him, cursing yourself for delaying such a strong orgasm. 

“Rupert! Wait, wait. My head is spinning.” The Scotch had been brutal on you, and you definitely didn’t want to ruin the mood by passing out or throwing up. Rupert raised one eyebrow elegantly, but obediently pulled his hands away. What you didn’t expect was for him to hold your hand, steering you to sit on the creaky bed in whichever bedroom you’d decided to argue in. He left for a moment, returning with a glass of water that he’d seemingly produced from nowhere. As you took the glass, your hands met again and you tried not to let the soft feeling linger. It was so out of character for him to be kind to you, but you drank the cool water regardless. He sat almost tentatively beside you, sheepishly rubbing the back of his neck. 

“Beatrix wasn’t trying to hurt you, you know. She was trying to stop a fight.” Rupert suddenly announced, staring up at the four-poster bed. 

“What?” You sat up, finishing the water. 

“You called her a nosy cow. You called Florence a lot worse but…” Rupert shrugged, trying to hide the grin on his face. 

Hearing the word cow suddenly brought a drunken flashback into perspective. You’d arrived at the party in good spirits, clinging to Toby and Abby like a third arm. But the underlying tension was still gnawing at you, and you tried to dance as though nothing was wrong. You’d danced with Jahiem and Femi, which didn’t cause any problems, not until Jahiem had sought out Florence on the dancefloor. Pretending as though you were on top of the world, you’d gritted your teeth again and offered to spin Florence around. Except when she’d slipped conveniently into Jahiem’s arms, you’d called her a cheap slut that opened her doors more frequently than a lift. That was until Bea had gently tapped you on the back with gentle eyes and pure intentions, which had only aggravated you further. 

“Oh, Bea. I should find her and apologise.” But as you tried to stand, your head whirled and Rupert sniggered at your attempt to walk. 

“Might be a bit hard, considering you can’t use your feet. Sit down, you cock.” Rupert tutted at you, but there was a curious look in his eyes. 

“What?” You glared, crossing your arms. 

“You’re concerned about Beatrix, but you won’t apologise to Florence?” Rupert frowned, but you weren’t sure if he was annoyed about that. 

“No. Why should I? Because she’s your precious little girlfriend? Please.” You managed to laugh, leaning back against the ugly bed sheets. 

“Don’t take the piss. She’s not a slag.” Rupert growled, making you jump. You were unsure of his feelings before, but he seemed content to play second best to his ex-girlfriend again. There was a protective spark in his tone, and even though you should’ve yielded, you couldn’t care less. If he wanted to get back with his girlfriend whilst simultaneously wanking off another guy, it wasn’t your problem. That was his prerogative, and you had nothing left to lose anyway. With a bitter laugh, you nudged his shoulder and rolled your eyes. 

“I really don’t care what she is. Go and waste your time chasing after her, Rupert. I’m sick of your constant bullshit.” Finally regaining feeling in your legs, you rose from the bed and stumbled to the door, fumbling for the handle. To your surprise, the deviant was back at your side, blocking the exit. 

“I mean it! Get out of my fucking way.” You squared up to him, ready to fight. You were pretty sure that was what caused Rupert to touch your cock originally, but that wasn’t your main focus anymore. His moping and whining had set your veins alight, and there was no point at all listening to him defend his “true love”. 

“You’re sick of my bullshit?! What a joke! What about you, huh?” Rupert cornered you, and you held up your fists defensively. Whilst you weren’t sure if he’d actually hit you, you couldn’t tell his mood right now. The strutting peacock had shown his feathers, but the arrogance wasn’t the same as usual. Rupert seemed to be lashing out because he was hurt, it was written across his face in petty insolence. As you took a step back he followed you, glowering with those frighteningly beautiful eyes. 

“Hanging around the popular kids like a little stalker, hoping that someone will notice you? Do you think you’re fucking special, hm? You’re nothing.” Rupert spat insidiously, physically showering you with his spit. Even as the tiny glob landed on your cheek, you made no attempt to move. Whilst you burned on the inside, you fought the urge to bite your lip. Hearing him insult you shouldn’t have been hot, but Rupert was a different breed when he was angry. Perhaps because you’d never seen him show such genuine fury, it made you want to poke the bear. So that’s what you did. 

“Oh, sweetheart. I don’t need to be noticed. At least my mummy and daddy loved me.” You took the higher ground, watching conflict flash across startled hazel orbs. 

“How does it feel, Rupert? Knowing that your mummy prefers your brother? Laying awake at night whilst your girlfriend takes Jahiem’s cock up her-” You reeled at the taste of blood, eyes widening as you gently dabbed your lip with your thumb. Your cheek was starting to sting, and you were bewildered that Rupert had actually slapped you. Through the hurt, your cock started to stand to attention again. Fuck. You weren’t sure what was worse, the fact that you were ragingly hard, or that Rupert would see the bulge in your jeans soon enough. The slap brought back your senses, and you held both hands up. 

“Alright, enough! I don’t want to fight with you.” You thought that would be enough to soothe the enraged egomaniac, but he was still heading straight for you. You braced yourself for a punch this time, but a frosty finger rested gently against your lip instead. Rupert watched you wince slightly as he ran his nail over your open wound, eyes flickering down towards your belt. The gentle action made you tremble, goosebumps littering your arms and tugging the tiny hairs on the back of your neck. Rupert stepped closer, allowing you to see the ragged rise and fall of his chest. Perhaps the panting was from anger, but you wanted to make him breathless in other ways. 

“Why not, hm? I thought you loved the chase.” Rupert outright purred, pressing you into the bedpost. You gasped, equally shocked at his accusation and the close proximity of his body. If you moved your hands, you’d feel the outline of his hips through his stupid silk shirt. This pitiful plush boy had you sussed, but you couldn't fault his observation. You did love the chase, and the prospect of leaving the school without even kissing this idiot was unthinkable. Without worrying about the consequences anymore, you gripped hideous material and kissed his imbecilic, impeccable lips. 

Whether or not he wanted to protest that he wasn’t gay, Rupert lost himself when you attacked his lips. He didn’t seem stunned at all by your advance, instead biting at the little cut on your lower lip. You groaned, meeting the aggressive swipes of his tongue with the edge of your own. God he was such a good kisser, using his hips to grind against you as your tongues played for dominance. You ran one hand up his back, snaking your fingers into his slick curls as his own digits threaded into your belt loops. A glorious moan left his lips as you wrenched his head back, gripping fistfuls of his curls as you licked down his throat. 

“No more wisecracks for me, Trouble?” You uttered softly, drawing a map of his shoulders with your tongue. Each bite and nip made him gasp, but you felt a particularly deep rasp when you reached his nipples. It was a little sad really, wondering if Florence had ever worshipped him thoroughly like this. Judging by the way he tensed and bucked against you when you pinched those gorgeous rose-pink nipples, you doubted anyone had ever explored him properly. You wanted to rectify that immediately, popping the buttons on his shirt as you reached his waist. Rupert’s hands were tangled in your floppy hair, and you were grateful for such thick locks at last. He suddenly tugged on your scalp, forcing your head upwards. 

“Will…Will you…” Rupert panted lightly, looking uncharacteristically shy. There was that slight vulnerability again, so you wanted to reassure him. Moving from your crouched position, you cupped his face and pressed your lips together again. It was a little softer, a little kinder, yet still full of heat and desperation. Rupert pawed at you, dry-humping your thigh in search of friction. 

“Will you fuck me? Make me cry…please…” Rupert rasped, hand dropping to your zipper. Your throat vibrated in response, creating a somewhat animalistic rumble. Not only did he want you to fuck him, but his warm whisper shook something deep within you. This demon would certainly be your undoing, but you welcomed Hell with open arms. To begin your descent you nodded furiously, stripping as though your clothes were offensive. 

“You want me to fuck you, sweetheart? How badly?” You couldn’t resist teasing him, slowly easing your hand under his boxers. If he wasn’t so flustered and breathless, you would’ve yanked his trousers and boxers down immediately. But he looked so pretty painted with pink, you decided to draw out his little gasps further. Your hand circled his ass, squeezing one cheek as he urged you closer. 

“Badly. Hard. Until I break.” Rupert groaned back to you, seemingly impatient. Taking a little pity on him you melded your lips together, intoxicated with his rich taste. How someone could taste luxurious was beyond you, but he did. You savoured his spit, panting harder when he smeared it against your mouth. At the same time your finger reached his hole, startling him into a long drawn-out gasp. The muscle was so tense, constantly puckering as you gently played with him. You couldn’t see it, but there was a little puddle forming at the front of his trousers, spreading whenever you caressed his hole. Touching it clearly wasn’t enough for either of you, and Rupert wrapped his arms around you in an effort to tempt you further. Your cock pressed painfully against his abs, begging you to devour this brat the way you wanted to. Rupert touched your weeping head, gesturing at the ancient bed with a flick of his curls. He led you to the mattress, throwing the remains of his shirt away as he detached from you for a moment. The distance seemed to physically hurt him, but his signature smirk returned when he tossed his trousers and boxers in one sweep. You swore that your dick somehow grew at the sight, but you reached optimum hardness from the moment he kissed you. You watched as he climbed onto the bed, trying to keep your jaw from dropping as he got down on all fours. 

“Are you going to just stand there and stare all day?” Rupert grinned, usual cockiness returning in time just to make you smile. 

“It is a very nice view, after all.” You smiled back, moving to join him on the bed. A light amusement had broken through the tension slightly, and you felt warm all over when you stroked down his bare back. Rupert was biting his lip, eyes bright and full of mischief when he stared back at you. You held his gaze, bringing both hands down to rest against his plump butt. Unspoken emotions stirred in the pit of your belly, but you focused on bringing Rupert pleasure instead. Massaging each round mound in your hands, you slotted yourself between his legs, running a thumb over the furled muscle again. 

“Do you have any lube, Trouble?” You asked, noticing a slight blush creep down Rupert’s back. 

“N-Not here. I wasn’t exactly prepared for this, you know!” Rupert scowled, looking a little annoyed yet disappointed. 

“It’ll have to be the old fashioned way then. But I’ll take care of you.” You leaned forward, licking the shell of Rupert’s ear. “Do you want to stop, baby?” 

“No. Please, please don’t go..” Rupert begged, the tinge of fright outweighing the irritance in his tone. Your heart thudded painfully, he sounded so small and scared at the possibility of you leaving him. Planting firm but soft kisses down his spine, you felt him relaxing at the affirmation of your touch. You spread his legs, rubbing his hole slowly until his head fell forward in exhilaration. 

“I’m not going anywhere, Rupert. Forget everything else, I’m here.” You mumbled softly, threading your free hand through his fingers. He held onto you, closing his eyes as he enjoyed anything you gave him. Your lips dipped lower, and you kissed each cheek before burying yourself between them. It felt as though your cock was screaming at you, knowing that you’d soon be fucking such a gorgeous brat. But your dick could wait, you did not care about him at the moment. No, you wanted to make Rupert cry after all, and you could scarcely wait to see him shuddering in pleasure. Your tongue darted out, and you dragged it down the base of his spine, flattening it against his entrance. Rupert was trembling slightly, and you decided not to torture him for too long. Holding onto his thighs, you lapped at his hole, dipping slightly inside whenever he whined. His cock was dripping, you could hear it between each smear of your spit. It caused you to speed up, one of your hands creeping underneath to stroke his leaking head. 

“Hasn’t anyone ever fucked you with their tongue before?” You wondered aloud, switching to sucking on his rim whilst you waited for an answer. 

“What do you think, smartass?!” Rupert retorted, covering his face with his arm. His back was arching, cock slipping further into your grip. You grinned, spitting onto his asshole as he panted. 

“Then I’m glad to be the first.” You replied, slathering all of the wetness into his opening. Even though he was glistening already, you needed to be sure that he was sticky enough to feel good. If you ended up hurting him this way, you didn’t think you could ever forgive yourself. Your tongue gravitated back inside him, pressing your thumb against the sensitive nerves on the outside. Rupert clawed the sheets and your hand, blunt nails digging against your palm. 

“Put…put your finger inside me.” He demanded, scraping his lower lip with his teeth. His curls stuck to his forehead, sweaty with desire. 

“Promise me you’ll tell me if it’s too much?” You withdrew your lips, still caressing his butt as he struggled to speak. 

“I will. But I don’t think I could be any wetter if I were a girl…” Rupert chuckled weakly, pressing a soft kiss to the back of your palm. You definitely weren’t expecting him to say something like that, but woe betide you to refuse his wishes. One hand still firmly gripping Rupert’s, you released a breath and slid a finger inside him. It was just your finger, yet he thrust his ass back against you and seemed ecstatic. 

“Shit! Another, please!” Rupert whimpered, and it suddenly dawned on you that he’d probably had something up his ass before. Perhaps not a cock, but he’d certainly done this with his own fingers. You shared a moan with him, scissoring another finger alongside the first as he took you easily. 

“How..how are you not taking me right now? Don’t you like it, hmm?” Rupert started to tease you again, but you felt that same thrill wrack through your body at his words. You rewarded him by curling your fingers upwards, pulling them out before jamming them back in. He yelled out, reaching for his cock but failing to grab it before you pinned his hand down. 

“Rupert…you know I want you…” You whined back, thrusting faster as Rupert writhed under your touch. 

“Then don’t wait anymore. Fuck me!” Rupert shoved his ass against you, pouting at your words. It made sense that he’d be demanding in bed, but you felt the same wave of sadness wash over you from earlier. You loved Rupert’s cheeky insolence, but maybe he’d never been able to fully embrace it with Florence. You wondered if their intimacy had always been rushed, with Florence retreating to her phone afterwards. You would never ask of course, but everyone gossiped. Shaking your head slightly to the intrusive thoughts, you pulled your fingers out and allowed Rupert to rub against your cock. He was the one you wanted, not the others. 

“I’ll fuck you, you little brat. It’s hot to see you beg.” You smirked, nudging the tip of your cock over his hole, feeling every flex of his muscles. 

“You’re all talk and no-oh! Mm…mm…Oh God, yes!” Rupert was ready to retort again, but you stunted him in his arrogance by gliding your solid cockhead into his weeping hole. He sucked you in, barely giving you time to register how hot and tight he was. You even had to hold his hips back, stopping him from completely bottoming out. If he did that immediately, you’d cum in seconds. No, you wanted to go slowly, feeling every inch of his fervid walls dripping with your saliva. But you had to be careful thinking about that too, your sensitivity was soaring. 

“Rupert…oh fuck..” You lost your composure for a second, finally letting Rupert engulf the rest of your length inside him. There was a slight mound just above your cock, and grazing it left both of you breathless. Rupert didn’t seem to care about his temperament anymore, fiercely fisting his cock whenever you pushed against that tight space. Your balls were starting to tighten, but you ignored them smacking against Rupert’s ass as you started to plunge your cock inside him. His walls were contracting already, and the harsh squeeze set your body on fire. 

“Ah…Ah…no, not yet!” Rupert cursed quietly to himself, confirming your suspicions when his hand came away wet. 

“Oh baby, you came already? Aww.” You decided to make fun of him a little, but it was done in good spirit. Rupert grumbled and pulled away from you, rolling over to face you. He was gorgeous, curls completely ruined and body covered in handprints. Even though he was spent, he looked at your solid cock curiously. 

“Have me again. But I want to see you this time.” Rupert mumbled grumpily, refusing to meet your eyes. You felt your eyebrow quirk at his statement, but you absolutely wanted to be inside him again. Throwing his legs over your shoulders he beckoned you back, throwing his head back in ecstasy when you found home again. Your hands found his, pressing him down into the bed as you thrust into him for the second time. Rupert made no attempt to hide his moans, almost goading you to go faster. You obeyed, hitting his prostate repeatedly until the bed creaked with your efforts. At a particularly rough thrust you reached down, needing to feel Rupert’s lips as you pounded him. Shockingly he kissed you back, wrapping his legs around your back. Your cock was straining now, desperate for a little more but chasing the need for release. Rupert cupped your face, licking the cut on your lip as you started to clench. 

“Why…why are you afraid to cum?” He asked, teasing your top lip. 

“Because…” Why were you afraid to cum? Was it because you knew you’d never see Rupert again? Because this was the best night of your life, and you’d be leaving at the end of the week? Because Rupert would never love you back, and he’d beat you up if you dared to tell anyone? It was all too much, and you were at risk of slowing down or even stopping. But the arrogant brat kissed you, and eased your worries with unusual tenderness. 

“Let yourself go. It’s you and me, right?” Rupert paused, feeling the beginning of your orgasm. As you shuddered and tensed through it, he helped you through the nerves, keeping you inside him. 

“It’s always been you. I know I’m stupid, but I…I can’t imagine life without you. I’m sorry.” Rupert sniffled, mouthing along your neck as you filled him with your essence. It took a while for your breathing to calm, but when it did, you pulled out and crushed your arms against him. You were both shaking, but you knew without a shred of doubt that you couldn’t leave him. His caresses were so soft now, all the bravado and ego shattering in a moment to hold you close. You absorbed him into your body, warm skin lightly brushing together in harmony as you shared the moment. But you experienced a moment of clarity, and in that, you knew exactly what you needed to do. 

Fuck Carol. I’m here to stay, bitch. 

Tagging in case you'd like to read: @grinningkatz (for the pretty pics ehehe), @lancedoncrimsonwings (I thought you'd like my British quips at the end for NT haha), @lord-aldhelm (would love your opinion) and obviously my usual amazing moots if you find this go wild <3

[hotvintagepoll]

omfg i just had the best dream of my LIFE and i think you’d find it funny lol

so, apparently in my dreamworld, people can just get new grandparents - like if someone dies, you can just be assigned new ones lmao

i was at home awaiting the news and my mom told me that my new grandparents were beefing with each other and I had to help settle them before I got officially assigned and I was like hell yeah bring it on

i get there (specifically at a little estate with a big ass farm strictly between Pennsylvania and Massachusetts bc the train conductor was very persistent that I got off there 😭) and right away, I hear yelling and people throwing stuff

before i can knock, miss bette davis swings open the door - cigarette and scotch in hand dressed in a beautiful dressing gown and calls me her little chick and ushers me inside to tell my new grandfather to kindly stfu and get out of HER house

obvs, im like “yes, ma’am, whatever you say ma’am”

i wander in and see a very broody and very melodramatic mr. claude rains

poor guy is so distraught and im immediately at his side before he and bette trade insults (“old bat” and “over-stuffed shirt”) and then she insults him by bringing up the fact that she actually has oscars and he claps back with the fact that he has a tony

meanwhile, i’m dying bc i want this to happen in real life

i get them to make up and she makes him take me and her to costco to buy things to make up for him being so mean to her :((

14/10 would dream again

incredible dream, I'm going to temporarily pin this to the top of the blog as a badge of honor

[andreablog2]

90% lean beef

Add Olive oil in place of animal fat

Add Dijon mixed in

Add Fresh thyme

Add fresh chopped garlic

Add Salt and pepper

Make the patties and grill

Top with Grated Gruyère and Swiss

Toasted brioche bun

Arugula in place of lettuce,

Red onions, red and yellow tomatoes, avocado as topping options.

Roasted rainbow carrots and potatoes as the sides.

Drink options

Hugo spritz, Diet Coke with scotch, ???

Vegetarian option is like… falafel?

[aimeedaisies]

The Princess Royal’s Official Engagements in September 2024

01/09 unofficial With Sir Tim Attended a church service at Crathie Kirk. ⛪️🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

10/09 As Colonel-in-Chief, visited The King's Royal Hussars at Aliwal Barracks in Tidworth, Wiltshire. 🪖

Sir Tim represented Princess Anne at a Service of Thanksgiving for Sir Clive Johnstone (National President of the Royal British Legion) which was held at St. Margaret's Church in Westminster, London. 🌹

11/09 Visited Estuary Services Limited and named a Pilot Vessel in Ramsgate Royal Harbour, followed by a Reception at Royal Temple Yacht Club. 🍾🚤

As Patron of the English Rural Housing Association, opened a new development at Carpenters Yard in Shepherdswell near Dover, Kent. 🌳🏠

12/09 As Patron of Citizens Advice Scotland, visited Penicuik Citizens Advice Bureau. ⚖️

As Patron of the International Sheep Dog Society, attended the International Sheep Dog Trials at Syde Farm in Lanarkshire. 🐑🐕

Unofficial Sir Tim attended the launch of the Bradford UK City of Culture 2025 🏙️

13/09 Attended the Southampton International Boat Show. 🚤

As Patron of the National Museum of the Royal Navy, visited the Fleet Air Arm Museum at Royal Naval Air Station Yeovilton in Ilchester, to mark its 60th anniversary. ✈️⚓️

As Patron of Save the Children UK, attended a Concert at Cheap Street Church in Sherborne, to mark 30 years of support from the Cambridge Choral Scholars. 🎶

16/09 As President of Victim Support, visited the Bristol Service at St Werburghs Community Centre, to mark its 50th anniversary. 🤝

As Patron of Gloucestershire Rugby Football Union, attended the Annual Volunteer Awards Reception at Lockleaze Sports Centre in Bristol. 🏉

17/09 As Colonel-in-Chief of The Royal Logistic Corps, visited the Joint Helicopter Support Squadron at A Hangar in Royal Air Force Benson. 🚁

As Patron of the National Transport Trust, attended the Annual Awards Ceremony at Fawley Hill Museum, in Henley-on-Thames. 🏆

As Royal Patron of the National Coastwatch Institution, attended a 30th anniversary reception at the Corporation of Trinity House. 🍾

18/09 As President of the UK Fashion and Textile Association, visited ApparelTASKER Sustainable Garment Manufacturer in London. 👕👖

20/09 As Patron of the Beef Shorthorn Cattle Society, attended a Members' Development Day at Podehole Farm in Thorney. 🐮

21/09 Unofficial With Sir Tim Departed from Kemble Airfield and arrived at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol. ✈️🇳🇱

With Sir Tim Attended a Reception at the Airborne Museum Hartenstein, to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the Battle of Arnhem. 🪂

22/09 With Sir Tim As President of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, attended the Annual Service of Commemoration at Oosterbeek Airborne Cemetery. 🪦🌹

With Sir Tim Visited the house of “the Angel of Arnhem” in Oosterbeek. 🏠👼🏻

Unofficial With Sir Tim, departed from Amsterdam Airport Schiphol and arrived back at Kemble Airfield. ✈️🇬🇧

24/09 As President of the Scotch Chef’s Club, visited Hugh Black and Sons Limited in Stirling. 🥩🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

As Patron of the Royal Highland Education Trust, attended a Food and Farming Day at Solsgirth Home Farm in Dollar. 🎓🚜

As Patron of Opportunity International United Kingdom, held a Dinner at St James’s Palace. 🌍 🍽️

25/09 On behalf of The King, held an Investiture at Windsor Castle in the morning and afternoon.

26/09 As President of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, inaugurated the Loos British Cemetery extension and attended a Reburial Service of Unknown Soldiers. 🇬🇧🇫🇷🪦

Attended a Reception at the Town Hall, Place de la République in Loos-en-Gohelle, France. 🇫🇷🥂

As Patron of Sense International, attended a Dinner at Church House, Westminster, to mark the 30th anniversary of the charity. 🦯🦻🎂

27/09 Opened Hull Trinity House Academy in Hull, East Yorkshire. 🏫

As Patron of the Sailors’ Children’s Society, presented awards at the “Anchor of Celebration” ceremony at Hull Trinity House. 🏆⚓️

As Patron of the Spinal Injuries Association, attended a 50th anniversary reception at SIA House in Milton Keynes. 🦽🎂

30/09 With Sir Tim As Patron of the Minchinhampton Centre for the Elderly, visited Horsfall House, to mark its 30th Anniversary. 🏡🎂

As Colonel-in-Chief of The Royal Logistic Corps, visited the Gurkha Allied Rapid Reaction Corps Support Battalion to mark the redesignation of 170 Headquarters Squadron at Imjin Barracks. 🪖

Total official engagements for Anne in September: 33

2024 total so far: 313

Total official engagements accompanied/represented by Tim in September: 5

2024 total so far: 86

FYl - due to certain royal family members being off ill/in recovery I won't be posting everyone's engagement counts out of respect, I am continuing to count them and release the totals at the end of the year.

[assassinschaoticcreed]

What's everyone's favorite food dish?

so specifically from where they're from/their cultural food:

Altaïr: braised lamb with honey and dates

Arno: pork wrapped veal and vegetable hot pot

Connor: hare and root vegetable stew

Desmond: he honestly isn't too picky, but he is very skeptical on some of the Italian dishes maria makes.

Edward: cod and red snapper in a spicy broth

Ezio: lamb and beef lasagna with eggplant caviar and mint

Jacob: breaded scotch eggs with herbs and traditional battered fish

specifically these meals I got from the AC Culinary Codex, my cousin got me the book for Christmas. for those who don't know what the book is; it's got a full meal for each assassin (bayek, altaïr, ezio, connor, aveline, edward, shay, arno, jacob & evie) main dish, soup, dessert and drink that was popular during their time/era. if you're curious for these I'm more than glad to give you the recipes, I personally wouldn't spend $30 + tax like my cousin did on the book rip.

American food wise;

Altaïr: Cold Cut Sandwiches

Arno: Beef Stew

Connor: Steak/Pork Chops

Desmond: Pizza

Edward: Hamburgers

Ezio: BBQ Ribs

Jacob: Chili Dogs & Chili Fries (change my mind)

[justforbooks]

One Club Row, London E1

Battered stuff, things in buns, strong drinks: a thrilling, retro ride. They will feed you, water you, give you a good time and make you feel carefree and cosseted

As a name, One Club Row sounds a bit like the title of a 1990s lads’ mag, but it’s actually a purposely shabby-chic room above a pub in Shoreditch that serves martinis, oysters and schnitzels in a heady, tipsy, twinkly atmosphere that itself may well remind you of the 1990s. Or at least it will if you were “on the scene” back then. These days, the 90s are synonymous with louche, raffish semi-pandemonium, mainly because today feels so saintly in comparison. No 90s restaurateur ever offered reclaimed spud peelings as a starter or a kombucha-led, alcohol-free drinks flight to spare your liver, complete with an earnest lecture on zero-waste hospitality. Puritanism was definitely out there back then, yes, though mainly only in The Cranks Recipe Book. But mindfulness? Not so much.

What One Club Row and similar London establishments such as the Devonshire in Piccadilly and the Plimsoll in Finsbury Park seem to offer, is a thrilling, retro glimpse of mindlessness. Battered stuff, things in buns, strong drinks – and the sense that, at any point, you might cop off with one of Shed Seven or Wendy from Transvision Vamp.

In that same spirit, the Knave of Clubs downstairs calls itself “a proper pub” where dogs are welcome and you can “have a pint and a packet of crisps”. There are bags of Tayto’s, scotch eggs and toasties on the bar menu, and Sunday roasts. On a side street behind the pub, One Club Row has its own separate, neon-signed door, a hole in a graffitied wall, that opens to a wooden staircase – think 1990s squat party – that leads up to a long room where, by 8pm, the party will already be in full swing. Elegantly, of course – this is not a bun fight – with rather sexily dim lighting, and a long bar where you can eat a plate of pickled jalapeño gougeres while sipping one of their four house martinis (club, classic, French or olive oil).

Obviously, if, like me, you remember the 90s from their original incarnation, by 8pm you may well be thinking: “Gosh, it’s a bit late”, and “Why is the font on this menu so faint?” and “Hang on, is this actually Les Trois Garçons?! I thought I’d been here before!” If that all sounds rather expertly staged, then thank owners James Dye and Benjy Leibowitz and chef Patrick Powell for that. It’s all very well creating a buzzy, laid-back, convivial vibe, but with Leibowitz on the floor, alongside general manager Niall Harte, things stay the right side of fancy.

Powell, meanwhile, has been one of my favourite chefs for quite some time, particularly at his former Michelin-starred Allegra in Stratford. Here, however, his menu is much more hearty than fussy or finickety. There are croquettes filled with lobster and ham, roast scallops in confit garlic butter and thick French onion soup topped with comté and gruyere.

We began with a round of those gougeres laced with cheese and sweet, spicy chilli, plus one of the chunky, crisp lobster croquettes, which dance a dainty line between an Antonin Carême classic and a Findus crispy pancake. A classic steak tartare with beef-dripping bread, dressed with crisp baby gem leaves, was really very delicious, as was a remarkably pretty tuna crudo, arranged artistically with teeny slices of pickled celery and draped over a rather funky blend of smoked aubergine, creme fraiche and lemon. Zingy, smoky, delightful.

Mains are marginally even less cheffy, and major on the likes of fishcakes, pasta, moules frites, meatballs, a ribeye with chipotle mayo to share, and so on. Hell, there’s even a burger, and they won’t even resent you for ordering it. This 250g grass-fed specimen, served almost rare, may not quite be the best fancy burger in London, but it’s certainly nothing to complain about, either. The accompanying sauce au poivre, however, was a little weak and drab in comparison. The fries – just fries, mercifully, rather than truffled or faffed with in any way – come separately, with a little bowl of aïoli. A whopping pork schnitzel in a sauce moutarde with added gorgonzola was a feisty combination and, considering its size, felt a bit of a challenge.

For dessert we shared a Dutch baby with chantilly, blueberries and optional smoked bacon. What is a Dutch baby, you may ask – well, it’s what those of us in this parish call a yorkshire pudding.

One Club Row isn’t fine dining by any means, and some things still need a little fine-tuning, but that isn’t really the point. They will feed you, water you, give you a good time and make you feel carefree and cosseted. And if that all sounds a bit old-fashioned, then the future suddenly feels a whole lot brighter.

Daily inspiration. Discover more photos at Just for Books…?

[snowdrop-ivy]

Chasing the Clouds: A Journey Back to The Beef | 3

Summary: After the meet, you reminisced.

WC: 2141

T/W: Cursing, unresolved mental issues, trauma, suic!de, angst, and smut.

You stared at your ring while sitting on the coffee table. You wiped the tears that have been streaming down since you left your dad’s place. It’s been streaming non-stop. You hitched a breath and bawled your eyes out till you heard your phone ring. It was Phillip, your fiance, calling.

You took a deep breath before answering. “Hey, honey.”

“Hey, babe,” He sounded happy. You covered your lips so he won’t hear you crying. “Just wanna check up on you. How was the party?”

You bit your lip. “It was fun. Jer had a blast.”

“That’s good to hear. Sorry I had to miss it.”

“That’s okay,” You replied. “There’s always a next one.”

“Yeah,” He sighed. “Well, just called to check on you but I gotta head out now. I just stepped out to call. I’ll call you later. Love you, babe.”

You felt the tears fall down as the call dropped. You went to your bedside and opened it. There you saw the ring Carm gave you. It’s a silver halo ring with your birthstone in the middle. You smiled when you remembered when you got engaged and when you told your families. How happy you both were back then.

“So, you guys, wanna hear the story?” Mikey asked as he’s washing his hands on the sink. You’re at their family house cooking up lunch for the Sunday barbeque.

“Yeah, Mikes, go ahead,” Carm answered. You sat beside Richie on the counter with your hands inside Carm’s jacket so you can hide the ring.

“All right, here we go,” Richie started while munching on chips.

You and Nat both rolled your eyes together before laughing. Nat’s leaning on the counter beside you, topping up the pizza. Richie was already laughing even though the story’s not starting yet.

“All right,” Mikey added. “So we’re at Ceres, right, which was the bar at the bottom of the Board of Trade Building. It was just this little bar in the lobby, right? The place opened at 6:30 in the morning, so that when traders lost their ass when the market opened they could just walk over and just get hammered in this little fucking bar.”

Carm wiped his hands as he turned to listen to his brother’s story. He looked at you before kissing you then leaned on you. You wrapped your arm around his arms and leaned on his head.

“Anyway, the name “Ceres” was named after the Goddess of Agriculture, sorry, and…” Mikey belched.

Nat went up to him. “You and your fucking Ceres…”

“Someone’s jealous you weren’t invited?” Mickey mocked her.

You laughed then gave Carm a kiss on the temples. He stood between your legs and held your free arm to wrap around his waist. You propped your chin on his neck, giving him a light peck which tickled him.

“I would not have gone. Thank you,” Nat striked back and grinned.

“You would have gone,” Mikey emphasized. “Carmy, grate some parmesan.”

Carm kissed your hand before slipping out. “I got ya,” He tapped Mike on his shoulder.

You smiled at them bickering, seizing the moment you have together. After this, you’ll go back to San Francisco for Nursing School. Who knows when you’ll see each other again.

“You’re jealous,” Mikey snickered to his sister. “Anyway, on top of the building, there was a statue of Ceres and her back, for all of you historians, was facing towards the east. And that’s because all the trading had just moved to the Midwest.”

“Oh, really?” You mockingly asked. Mikey eyed you up which made you laugh. “Sorry, go ahead.”

“So, the architect John Storrs, legend has it that he built this statue as like a big ‘fuck you’,” Mikey continues while sprinkling some parmesan.

“Christ,” Richie laughed. “Wake me up when the story starts and the fucking class is dismissed.”

All of you laughed at him. Mikey gave him a finger. He gave one back before drinking his scotch.

“Tell the story!” Nat urged him as she stirred the marinara sauce.

“I’m trying to tell the fucking story,” Mikey said as she tasted the sauce which earned a grunt of Sug.

“Anyway, so, the point is, we’re out all night, we’re drunk as shit, we’re fucking high as shit,” Mikey went on and faced everyone. “We figure the only place that’s still open of course is…”

“Ceres,” You both answered. He gave you a salute and you winked at him. Richie jumped down to taste the pizza Nat made while Carm garnished the beef.

“And being 6:45 in the morning, we are right to assume that the place is gonna be a fucking ghost town,” Mikey implied. “Fuck off,” he grabbed the raisins Nat was waving at him.

“Get outta here with those raisins,” Richie said with his mouth full.

“Mum always added raisins,” She stated.

“We are not doing raisins,” Mikey screeched while waving his hands.

Nat sighed in disbelief before looking at you. You gave her a smile and a shrug.

“Anyway, cousin, was it a ghost town?” Rich asked.

“Oh, we’re not done yet?” You blurted out.

“Baby doll,” Miked called you. “Shush your mouth.”

Your eyes widened and sized him up. Mikey gave you a smile before joining Richie laughing.

“Hey,” Carm called his brother. “Don’t talk to my girlfriend like that.”

You stuck your tongue out at him. Mikey apologized before resuming his story. “No, it was not a ghost town. Not only was it not a ghost town, it was a fucking rager.”

Carm finished and went back to his previous place. He smiled at you before giving you a squeeze on the thigh. “It was fucking packed,” Mikey bragged, his veins popping out of his neck. “It was just like…” He made an explosion sound. “Right? All fucking Blackhwak fans, and cousin, who’s there?”

“Savvy,” Richie yelled out.

“Get outta here,” You and Carm laughed.

“Dennis motherfucking Savard,” Mickey roared then flexed his Savvy. They both yelled out mundane stuff about who they saw that made you all burst out laughing. Mickey went on to tell that they also saw Belfour and how Savvy was inducted to the Hockey Hall of Fame and they walked to his going off party and when Savvy saw the Ceres pamphlet, he changed his outgoing message as Goddess of Agriculture.

“That’s stupid,” You laughed with them.

“Fucking stupid,” Carm agreed.

“So dumb,” Nat added.

The air filled with laughter as you watched Carm roll the beef and stick it with toothpicks. Mikey continued to tell stories on who they saw, which this time was Bill Murray. You smiled at the view you had. How everything was so light, calm, and you were all truly happy. Nat continued to force smiles and mocked his stories that you sometimes joined. You got down and had a beer with your ringless arm then joined Carmy on rolling the beef.

“Is the story done now?” Carm asked, wiping his hands before turning to everyone. He wrapped an arm around your waist and pulled you tighter. “We have a story to tell as well.”

“Okay,” Mikey crossed his arms. “Shoot, bear.”

You all looked at their eager eyes waiting for your story. Nat crossed his legs and leaned on the counter. You watched as their faces were filled with confusion. Rich held his beer intently. Mikey lightly shrugged with his arms crossed. You slowly showed your left hand with a bright smile along with Carmy who’s hugging you tightly.

“We’re getting married!” You screamed, jumping with joy.

The screams echoed through the wall with congratulatory marks. Rich choked on his beer which splattered a little on Mikey. Nat’s eyes welled with tears as she hugged you both. Mikey had an awe on his face, it took him a moment to say something.

“Aww, guys, this is so awesome,” Nat stuck out her bottom lip as she examined your ring before giving you a hug once again. “This is so exciting!” She exclaimed.

“Mike, you okay, bro?” Carmy called out his brother who had tears in his eyes. Mike slowly approached Carm and pulled him to a tight hug and shut his eyes off. “Woah, okay, buddy.”

Rich turned to you and hugged you as well. “Oh, please, don’t get divorced.”

You jokingly slapped his shoulder and rolled your eyes. Nat hugged you from the back as you watched the brothers hug. You smiled at Mikey when he opened his eyes. You saw the happiness lingering on his eyes and how he’s trying not to let out his tears.

“I can’t tell you how happy I am for you,” Mike said as he pulled out of the hug. He cupped his little brother’s face. “Don’t mess this up.”

You laughed at what he said. Carm shook his head before nodding. “No messing this up,” He acknowledged his brother.

Mike then turned to you and gave you the warmest hugs. You felt him kiss the side of your head as you heard him sniff. “I’m so… so happy for you.”

A smile slowly formed on your face and the tears started to well up on how happy you felt to hear that. “Thanks, Mikey,” you whispered and kissed him on the cheek.

You all went to the Sunday barbecue where you drank champagne, danced til midnight, and had endless laughter from the many stories Mike and Richie had. You went home to your shared apartment and sat on the coffee table that your dad gave as a gift for Christmas. You gave Carm a glass of water while you had a cup of warm milk to help you sleep. Both of you sat in a calm and safe space of silence. Your feet were on Carm’s legs as he massaged your toes from the heels you wore. The only noise coming from you were the sips you both took and the breeze coming from the window.

“When should we get married?” Carm suddenly asked, still looking and massaging your toes.

You let out a chuckle. “When would you want?” You emphasized.

“Up to you, babe,” He answered, giving you a smile.

You shrugged. “That’s not fair.”

“What’s not?” He raised a brow.

“You letting me decide,” You raised a brow back. From the beginning, Carm always lets you get what you want as long as it makes you happy. From the movies you want to the majority of the furniture in your apartment. “Oh! I know a fun way how to decide! We should play a game!”

“Are we basing our wedding decisions on a game?” Confusement gazing on his face.

You stuck out your bottom lip. “Maybe.”

Carmy took a sip of water while staring at you. “Shoot.”

“Okay, you go first.” You sat straight. “Clear your mind. Take a deep breath. We get to ask five questions about the wedding and we answer as fast as we can. No thinking.”

Carm closed his eyes and took a deep breath. You asked if he’s ready and he nodded. You grinned at his seriousness. He’s really taking this seriously since he wants the wedding to be perfect. Just like how perfect you are. He wants to give you the wedding you want and deserve.

“Flowers?” You quickly ask.

“Pink petunias.”

“Cater?”

“Mikey.”

“Color motif?”

“Dusty blue and sage green.”

“Food?”

“Italian and Japanese.”

“Date?”

“November 11”

“Carmy!” You called him out. You raised a brow at him while he had this sneaky grin on his face. “That’s all of my favorite things!”

He let out a chuckle. “I know. It’s your wedding day. I want you to have all the things you want.”

“It’s your wedding too,” You stated, eyeing him.

“I know,” He replied, placing his chin on his palm with his elbows propped on the table. “I just wanna be married to you.”

You pursed your lip trying not to smile. Carmen Berzatto is your death. You can’t help but to squeal and jump on his lap. You grazed his head to his chin while looking at his intense, warm blue eyes. Your hands settled on his chin, drawing circles on it. You saw him lean, so carefully slow. You weren’t sure if you two were breathing or now and you know you can hear your hearts breathing. You felt a shiver as we inserted his hands on your jumper and spelt his name on your waist. You can’t feel whether it's cold or not because at the moment, all you can feel is him, everywhere, filling everything with him.

“I love you so fucking much,” He whispered.

Then he kissed you, gently and passionately.

His lips were the softest thing you’ve ever known, soft like a new bought pillow, like biting into a cotton candy, like floating and being weightless in water. It’s sweet, just like how he is.

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