#authentic sushi near me

[mypersonalchefusa]

My Personal Chef

Website: https://www.mypersonalchef.net/

Address: Orange County, CA; Los Angeles County, CA; San Diego County, CA; (California, USA)

My Personal Chef specializes in delivering an authentic and personalized sushi catering experience in California. Chef Thiago, with his expertise in sushi-making honed in Brazil and the US, brings a fusion of textures and flavors to your special occasions. Whether it's a private dinner, a business meeting, or a sushi party, our team ensures a unique culinary journey tailored to your taste and budget.

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[copperbadge]

Hey Sam. If you're so inclined, could you recommend a few 'must eat' places in Downtown Chicago? My hotel will be near the Red Line (Grand station) and I'm fine walking a good 10 minutes for awesome food. I'm planning my trip and trying to put together a few food places for lunch and dinner and such. Pizza, burgers, bbq, donuts, steak, sushi..., I'm flexible!

You know, honestly, I don't eat out much anymore so I'm not sure where the best places to get a bite are. I'm going to make some recommendations but they're about to be a mixture of "If you come to Chicago this is somewhere everyone goes" and "This is somewhere Sam personally likes to eat but which you may not go for." :D

So, if you're at Grand, you are pretty much on top of the Weber Kettle Grill. Weber Kettle Grill does GREAT grill food and my parents always want to eat there when they come into town. If you ask to sit at the chef's table, you'll be seated at what looks like a bar, but it also looks all the way down the row of giant indoor grills the chefs use to cook the food. If you want something quieter and less busy they also have a fairly large dining room.

If you want a real Chicago experience, there's a Portillo's pretty close to you (that one's called "Portillo's & Barnelli's"); Portillo's is a local chain that does burgers, dogs, and crucially Italian Beef. Italian Beef is my go-to Chicago food for people who (like me) don't want to eat Deep Dish Pizza. It's a crusty roll filled with shredded braised beef; you can get it with sweet peppers, hot peppers, or no peppers (they might call it "giardinera" which is the local term for the pepper relish they use). If you get it "dipped", once the sandwich is made it's dunked in a flavorful jus before being wrapped up; if you don't like wet bread I'd skip this, but I love it. If you REALLY don't like wet bread, maybe get a Chicago Style hot dog instead. Portillo's is also famous for being The Place Where they make you a milkshake with an entire slice of chocolate cake in it. You can also just get a slice of cake, which is fantastic.

There's also an Al's Italian Beef near you if you want a more local experience. Locals absolutely can and will eat at Portillo's, the food's not better at Al's, it's just a bit more tourist-friendly than Al's tends to be.

If you want that true authentic Chicago deep dish experience (pie crust filled with cheese and then topped with sauce) Pizzeria Uno and Pizzeria Due are very close by; they vie for the dubious honor of having invented the deep dish pizza. I can't recommend it, but if you want it, hit one of those.

If you're not from the midwest and would like to sample a decent approximation of Detroit style deep dish (thick bready crust topped with cheese and then sauce) Jet's Pizza likely delivers to your hotel. I can't recommend going to a Jet's, many of them don't have anywhere to sit and eat, and for a pizza joint they're a bit costly, but it's very good pizza. My Detroit friends say it's a perfectly acceptable pie by their standards.

Volare Ristorante is a nearby hidden gem if you're in the mood for upscale Italian; I really like their pasta, but they are on the pricier end. If you're walking east on Grand to get there, you do have to go under Michigan, and you will likely fear that you will be stabbed and left for dead in this weird underground cavern, but I promise you, it's smelly but safe.

Goddess And The Baker and Beatrix are both good places to pick up breakfast. If you wish to glimpse Hell, the Starbucks Roastery at Michigan and Erie is one of the largest buxes in the country (possibly the world?) and is a FUCKING NIGHTMARE to navigate, but it's certainly an experience.

If you're venturing into the Loop, Russian Tea Time is a fun place to have afternoon tea and the a la carte food is also quite good; they're very close to the Art Institute. There's not much to eat if you're going to the museum campus, and my favorite Greek place closed down, but Minghin Cuisine is a good Chinese place (I've eaten there) and AO Hawaiian Hideout is supposedly some of the best Chinese in the city (I have not eaten there).

If you are craving Chinese, you can also catch the Red Line directly to the Chinatown stop and browse, I've never had a bad meal in Chinatown. When you get off the train, if you go north to the station exit with only stairs, you can exit, look left, and see the "new" Chinatown that's basically an outdoor mall; if you go south to the escalator exit, once you leave turn right and you'll see the big pagoda entrance to "old" Chinatown, which is more shops than restaurants. New Chinatown has some excellent bakeries, and also a Korean fried chicken place, Bonchon, that's extremely good. Usually when I take friends we go to Joy Yee which has a huge menu and also bubble tea.

As a final plug I'll list The Berghoff, which is in the loop (off the Jackson Red Line stop); it's pretty hefty German cuisine, all excellent food, and also is a top notch place to take anyone with gluten issues -- the owners have a kid with a gluten intolerance and the restaurant has an exceptional gluten-free menu with unusually strict protocols to prevent cross-contamination in the kitchen.

And if you want to get a little baked first, you are pretty close to Sunnyside dispensary, which is a very nice dispensary with super friendly people. If you take the Red Line to Roosevelt or are in the area, Grasshopper Club is less expensive, just as friendly, and Black-owned, and they've been my go-to for a couple of months now. At either one you can walk-in to speak to a budtender about what you'd like, or you can preorder online, but be aware that there are limitations on what out-of-staters can purchase. Having sampled most of the gummies out there, I'd recommend Mindy's (any flavor is good but the black cherry is my preferred). Do bring ID, you will be carded.

I hope you enjoy Chicago! If you have more questions feel free to hit me up here or at copperbadge@gmail.com if you'd like to have more of like, a dialogue :) Have fun and eat well!

[deathofafoureyedferret]

My Scary Valentine

WARNING: Mentions of seizures, fluff, little bit of angst, lots of smut, polyamorous relationship, fingering, cunnilingus, jealousy. Don't like it don't read it. This isn't coming out no where near Valentines day and it wasn't part of the request, but I thought setting it during Valentines day.

Ship: Bayverse (2014/2016) boys x Chubby!Autistic!Reader

Pronouns: She/Her

Request from @ceciliawastaken : Hey! Do you think you can write a chubby reader x the bayverse tmnt, maybe the reader has autism, I have autism btw, and I also have tics or seizures because of it, so I wanna know what the four would do if they caught the reader mid seizure, if that’s ok with you of course, I don’t want you uncomfortable. Maybe a girl reader and the reader is chubby and autistic at the same time. Do you think they can calm her down after, like have sex with her after her seizure 😩✋🏽I was thinking maybe it’s a poly relationship, were all of the turtles are dating the reader at the same time, the turtles aren’t dating each other though!

A/n: I know there is a bunch of things that might seem unnecessary, but they were requested to be put after the original request was asked.To anyone that doesn't like the fic, fuck you it wasn't made for you, I've been working on this for over 2 weeks and I put in as many requirments that were asked of me that I could and I think it came out great! Also, if it seems a little messy, it's because I didn't edit it before posting, I've been reading and reading only this for 2 weeks, I'm done.

       February is such a romantic time of the year, it's chilly enough to want to cuddle with someone but not too freezing that one can still go out and have fun. That's why it's perfect that Valentine's day, a celebration of romance, is in February! It's been a year since you made your relationship with your four boyfriends official. It was a long complected process, but at the end of it, you were able to create a functioning and caring relationship with four boys. It was hard at first, with all the insecurity and jealousy floating amongst you all, but there was nothing a little of communication couldn't fix. That's why Valentines day is so important, while with usual dates throughout the year are one on ones set up on different days of the week, Valentines day is the one day of the year where your partners come together to make the day special for you. It's a little awkward for them since they are all brothers and helping each other plan dates all for the same girl wasn't something they really enjoyed, but it had to be done since they all want to celebrate with you. The day was seperated into four different dates, one dated planned for each of your boys and each date would be two and a half hours.

Your first date is Leo, he planned something simple, he wanted to show off his cooking skills and make you a homemade meal. He planned to pick you up at your house after you got home from work, but he was so excited for what he planned for the date that he just ambushes you on your way to the subway and takes you back to the lair. Although his intentions were sweet, you reprimand him and tell him not to scare you like that again.

"I'm sorry, Love. Let me make it up to you with this!" He then shows you the food he made, he spent hours working on a three course meal. Being a ninja, he found a lot of inspiration from Japan, so each dish was an authentic Japanese dish. The first dish was miso soup. It is actually really good, it has a gentle flavor that warms your cheeks. "Wow, Leo! This is great! How come you've never made this for me before?"He beams as you complement his hard work. "Well, this is actually the first time I've ever made it. I'm so happy you like it!" You giggle when you see him smile, he seems more excitable than usual. Next is the main course, nigiri and temaki sushi. You are surprised that he could make such small food with such big hands and it still come out looking so well put together. I taste fine at first, but as you chew you can tell that something was wrong with it. While the soup tasted great, this is the complete opposite. It had such a bold sour flavor and the rice stuck to the roof of your mouth making it hard to swallow. You tried your best to conceal your disgust because you knew how much care he put into the food, but you just knew that this was going to come back up later. "Oh- wow. This is so good, Leo." You say while holding your stomach. "It's so good, but I think I'm full now." "Really? That's too bad because I made dessert too." His expression dims and while it hurt your heart to see him disappointed, it hurt you insides more to continue. While the meal doesn't continue according to plan, the date is saved by conversation about each other's day and just generally enjoying the other's presence. When the date was over, you kiss him sweetly to show your appreciation. Although you couldn't eat everything, you know he put a lot of effort in this and you love him for it.

Your next date is with Mikey. He is a fun loving guy, but sometime what seems really fun to him is kind of gross to everyone else. His great date idea is to go swimming in the sewers. Of course he didn't expect you to go swimming in the gray water of New York, he had found a spot where the water has just come from being filtered but has not yet reached the homes of the city people so it was clean, but the main problem for you is that it is still the sewer that is filled with bugs, rats, and other creatures you'd rather stay away from. However, not wanting to ruin the cute date he planned, you reluctantly let him take you swimming.

Mikey gushes over your swim suit, a two piece with high-waist bottoms, it has a light green base with white flowers printed all over. It isn't tight, but it hugs your body in all the right places that Mikey can't help but be handsy and touch all your curves. You smile when you see his swim trunks, neon orange with pizza slices in the shape of lightning bolts. though his swim suit is cute, you can't get rid of your nerves. You try your best not to tic and show him that you really didn't want to go swimming with him, but with the repression plus Leo's bad cooking, you feel like the pressure building up and you want to throw up. "Are You ready?" He asks excitedly. You take a deep breath and hold onto his hand. "...Yes, I think so."

Mikey then pulls you into a tight hug and jumps into the water, The water rushes through the sewers like a water slider, you ride down it on top of your boyfriend as he lies on his back until you two each the bottom with a small pool of clear water, at the end of the pool is spilling water. You hold each other as you two splash into the pool and you both gasp for air and laugh after resurfacing from beneath the water.

You are happy to see clean water, not that you thought he'd take you somewhere gross, but the thought of not being able to see the bottom scares you. The two of you swim and splash in the water, it is fun to be with him. You even have a competition to see who could hold their breath longer, obviously Mikey win due to his amphibious advantage.

Some time later, Mikey get tired and finds that watching you is more enjoyable then doing his own thing. He watches as you swim from one end of the pool to the other. When you notice this, you giggle and swim towards him. "What are you doing? I thought we were swimming?" You ask. When you get close, he instinctively pulls you in close and you wrap your arms around his neck. "I was, but I just wanted to take a moment to admire my hot girlfriend." His comment make you laugh more. Seeing how cute you are, he can't help but reach down to grab your ass, giving it a small squeeze. "Really? That's what you want to do?" You ask, raising a brow. "It is Valentine's Day after all, why not?" He pulls you into a kiss, you feel his smile on your lips and you blush. When you let his lips go you smile at him and scratch his shell in the way he loves so much. "You're right, it is Valentine's day." You pull him closer, seemingly to kiss him again, but then you push him away and giggle as you swim away."But I'm not fucking you in the sewers, that's gross." He grabs his chest likes he's been hit with an arrow to the heart and sighs, making you laugh more. "You really thought, didn't you?" Your giggling echos throughout the sewer. "Yeah, I did. It was worth a shot though." He says disappointed, but his smile never disappearing.

You two continue to swim, but soon his date time is up and he takes you back to the lair where you met up with Donnie, who is next to take you on a date.

After your date with Mikey, you take a quick shower in the lair bathroom and then head to Donnie's lab. There you are greeted with a bright smile. "Hello, Dove! Did you have fun with Mikey?" He asks. "Yeah, I-" You instinctively cover you face and sneeze. "It probably wasn't a good idea to go swimming in February." Donnie laughs and places a hand on your back. "Well, let me help you warm up."

He leads you to his bedroom where a nest of pillows and blankets were lied out "I had a lot of ideas for our date, but then I couldn't pick which one was to do so I ended up copying Raph and set up a movie night." You gasp and playfully push him. "Donnie! I didn't go on his date yet! I thought it was a surprise!" "Sorry, I thought we agreed he'd go first. There was so much arguing that I lost track on the order we agreed on." He rubs his neck bashfully and apologizes. "Actually, Leo went first." You say, sitting on Donnie's bed. You remembered the food Leo gave you and it makes you tic. Donnie places a gentle hand on your shoulder and pulls you closer to kiss your head. This is his go-to way to calm you down when he sees you tic. "No matter who went first, I hope you like my date the best. I made sure the atmosphere was nice and comfy. I hope you like the movie I picked." On his laptop he pulls up a window and a movie starts to play. Donnie sits on his bed with his legs spread and you sit in the space between.

As you watched the movie, you can see why he chose it. It was a scifi which is his favorite fictional genre and had a romance between a human and an alien. You appreciated that he tried to stay on the romantic theme to match the occasion. Throughout watching the film, you notice that Donnie hasn't stopped touching you. He has kept one arm wrapped around your waist while the other has been roaming your body, mainly rubbing up and down your arm or leg. "Uh, Donnie?" You would've looked up to talk to him, but he has rested his chin on your head so you stay still. "Mhm?" His response is absentminded. "You keep touching me." "Oh, sorry. Is it distracting?" He asks, his attention now on you. "No it's not that, but I just feel like you're try to tell me something by doing it." "No, I just like touching you." He leans his head down and nuzzles his snout into the crook of you next. You giggle, it seems all the brothers were the same when it came to being handsy with you. Donnie kisses your neck and you laugh at the tickling sensation. "You don't mind, do you?" He asks. His thumbs rub circles into the joints of your hips. "No, I don't mind." You pull his face close and give him a soft kiss on the cheek. "Are you sure? I'll stop if you want." Donnie warns as he spreads you legs and starts to massage your inner thigh. You put your hand on his and guide him further towards the spot begging for his attention. "I'm sure."

Donnie starts to sensually massage your clothed folds. You reach your arms up and wrap your arms around his neck. He's cold, but you keep him warm with your back presses firmly against his plastron. He slips his hands past the hemline of your bottoms and down into your panties, you flinch at the contact of his cold scaly hands on your clit. You let small soft moans spill from your lips as he rubs circles around your clit. One of his large fingers teases your entrance, only allowing the tip to push in and collect the arousal that was forming. "D-Donnie~" You moan his name when he pushes further in, his fingers are so thick compared to a normal humans, it spreads you apart from the inside. "You're so nice and warm, Dove. This is why I love touching you so much, your so warm and soft, I just can't get enough of you." You bite your lip and you hold onto him tighter as he slowly pumps his finger in and out of you, his thumb still circling your clit. Your walls clamp down around him and he chuckles at the feeling. "You're so cute and so easy to play with, every touch of my fingers bring out the most adorable reactions from you." His fingers start to move faster and you cover your mouth with your hand trying to silence the high pitch whimpers of your voice. With his free hand Donnie pulls your hand away from your face and kisses your wrist. "Don't do that, I want to hear you." His voice is soft and sweet, but it feels stern when it hits your ears and sends a shiver up your spine. Your warm walls clench down tighter around his finger and he smiles. He places your hand around his neck once more and then pulls you in closer by your waist. He pushes another of his fingers in and he starts to pump into you a little faster. You don't try to cover your mouth again though and instead let the moans fall freely out of you. Donnie softly kisses the shell of your ear and whispers, "Good girl."

Donnie starts to pump even fast, and with two of his large fingers now stretching you out, you lets a few tear cascade down you cheeks. "Donnie! I'm really close!" Donnie kisses behind your ear and trails down your neck and onto your shoulder. He holds you close and continues to pleasure you as you squirm and ride through your orgasm, soaking his hand with your arousal. When your finish you are left breathless but satisfied. You relax against his plastron and smile up at him. "Happy Valentine's Day, Dove. I hope you enjoyed our time together, because the movie is over and if I don't get you to Raph soon he's going to tear me a new one." Donnie tries to move, but you stop him. "W-wait, wait, wait. Give me-.... give me a couple minutes to just....." Donnie smiles, he's happy that he has brought you to such a state of ecstasy, the sight of you is just so beautiful. "Okay, five more minutes."

After you recuperate from your date with Donnie, you are sent on your way to your next date. You find Raph in his room, you heard that he had set up a movie date like Donnie, but instead of a laptop you see that he has found an old busted up projector and pinned a large water tarp to the ceiling as a screen. You see him messing with the projector trying to get it to work but with minimal success. You laugh which gets his attention. "Do you find my struggle funny?" He asks, his tone is not angry but more playfully embarrassed. You walk up to him and give him a big hug, still giggling. "Maybe a little. Let me help, okay? I know they can be hard to work with but having smaller fingers can help." You go to fix the projector and it works immediately. You look to Raph and you notice that his expression seems strange, it's softer. As he looks down at you there is a soft smile and you can't quite tell what he's thinking. "What are you thinking?" You ask, turning around to hug him. You see him blush and pull you in closer. "I'm just, y'know, thinking about different things." You giggle at his shy reaction. "Oh yeah? You want to elaborate on that?" He shakes his head and laughs with you. "No, let me just show you the movie." You continue to laugh and embarrass him more as the two of you sit down to watch the movie.

"What are we watching?" You settle down with Raph and he pulls you into a surprisingly tight hug. "So uhm, do you remember that one movie last Halloween where I wanted to show you that one movie but-" "No! No, no, no! I know what movie you're talking about and I'm don't want to!" You try to get up and run away, but Raph's grip on you was too strong. "Babe, please. I know you'll love it you just have to see. In the end it's super romantic!-" "Raphael! I am not watching the movie about the little creature stealing teeth in the middle of the night! I can't do it! You know I can't watch horror movies, I tic like crazy!" You struggle and squirm to get out of his grip but to no avail, what's worse is that it's so effortless to him. "Goddammit! Why are you so strong?" Raph laughs and you feel the vibration of in through his plastron. "Are you really asking me that?" You looks down at you with a charming smile. "Yeah, I already know and it's hot as fuck...." "Really? You think I'm hot?" "Raph this is not the point! I don't want to watch this movie!" You face is red and flustered, the stress of it all makes you tic and small high-pitched puppy like whimpers are ripped from your mouth as you twist your neck to look left repeatedly, it's a very painful and annoyingly cute tic. Raph while still holding you tight, rubs the sides of your arms to calm you down. He's not the best at calming people down, but he tries.

As the movie plays you see the romantic sub-plot and the relationship looks a lot like you and Raph, but you can't get over the cryptic looking fairy creatures stealing the main character's teeth in the middle of the night. "R-Raph, I c-can't do this....." Over some time your tics start to slow down and have pauses in between each once. Raph thinks that means you're calming down and starting to enjoy the movie, but unfortunately that judgement was wrong.

You feel your body be shot with electricity. Your body starts to stiffen and you hold onto Raph tightly, digging your nails into him almost breaking skin. "Ow...Babe? Are you ok?" You don't respond, you can't. Your body shakes and you feel as if trapped, like your body was merely a prison for your mind. "Babe, oh god. Are you-? Okay yeah, you're having one of those seizure things. Oh god!" Out of panic he lets go of his tight grip on you. For a second he thinks that he should carry you to Donnie, but the thought of hurting you because he miss-handled you freaks him out, so he leaves you lying on the floor in front of his bed were the two of you were sitting. "Thank you, Raph. Very gentleman-like" Is what you think before he runs out of the room.

Five second later he comes back to place a pillow under your head. "Please be okay! I got to go!" He then run out of the room again. "Ok, that's better."

A few minutes pass and you return to normal, well, aside from being a little unstable, but nothing a couple minutes of calming down couldn't fix. "Wow, I can't fucking believe he just left me here! Raph, you idiot...." You take a few deep breathes as you pout and wait for your red banded boyfriend to come back. You pick up the pillow he left for you so your wouldn't be hurt and sigh into it with a hug "Idiot...."

Soon enough Mikey and Donnie come rushing in, but noticeably Raph and Leo are absent. "Oh my god, Baby! Are you okay? Mikey rushes to you about to embrace you in a hug, but he stops himself and backs away. You're confused until Donnie steps up. With a sweet but concerned expression he approaches and takes you hand gently. "Please take this and squeeze." He places a marble the size of your palm in your hand. You do as you're told squeeze onto the marble. Donnie brings up a hologram that appears from his wrist. You see that it's vitals, presumably yours. Your expression deadpans and you drop the marble. "You know, you could just ask me how I am. This isn't the first time I've had a seizure and I've told you guys about it before." "We know, it's just that we we're worried." Donnie says, picking up the marble from the floor. "You don't have to be, I'm fine!" Mikey smiles with tears streaming from his face and pulls you into a hug. "I was so scared that you were going to die!" He holds you tight and sobs. You smile and pet his shell to reassure him. "I'm fine, Mikey-" You suddenly hear yelling in the other room and your smile falls. "Where is Raph and Leo? Is that them out there?" You look to Donnie for answers but he just looks away, Mikey let's you go and does the same to avoid you gaze, they both know how you feel about fighting amongst themselves and they didn;t want to confirm your suspicions. You get up and walk past them to leave the room and the two don't stop you.

You walk into the open space of the lair to see Raph and Leo fighting once again. You thought they had stopped this when you guys started dating but it obviously hasn't. "How could you let this happen? We go a year and she has never once had a seizure with us, she has been safe and secure for so long, but the moment she is left alone with you it happens! Did you do this on purpose? You know how much she tics when she watches horror movie-" "I would never put her in harms way on-" "But the thing is, Raph, is that you did! She got hurt because of you! All of this is-" You watch them fight, but you can't let it go on. "Stop! Please stop fighting!" You run in a step in between them to show them your fine. They stand in shock for a second before the chaos break again. "Babe, I'm sorry! I never meant to-" Raph tries apologize but before he can finish you find Leo's arms snake around you and pick you up. He then carries you away and rushes out of the lair.

You hold onto Leo with your eyes closed and face towards his plastron as he rushes away, he can feel his breath is heavy and wavered. When he stops and breathes, you see that your on a roof building somewhere in the city. He loosens up as he calms down, when you try to escape his hold he doesn't let you. "I was scared.....for you." You look up at him, and see a few tears threatening to fall. "I read up on seizure when you told me you told me you got them and I read all about people dying and-.....I was scared you'd get hurt. When it finally happen I thought I was going to lose you." Leo puts your feet on the ground but doesn't let you go, he still holds on tight but shakey. You smile softly and reach for his face, forcing him to look at you. "You got anxious? That's okay, my love! I know you love but you have to remember that you love them too, they're your brothers,  so you can't get mad at them when things happen." Leo doesn't say anything, he just let's you continue to comfort him. "I've dealt with seizure for many years before I met any of you and I will deal with them for many years into the future, at some point you guys were going to see me have one, so it's not Raph's fault and I know you know that."

Leo kneels down on the ground so that you are taller than him and you continue to hug him and lovingly pet his shell. He's still for a moment, but then he smells something. He pushes you away to smell the air and he doesn't find it. He sniffs you and smells something strange. He continues to sniff almost like a dog and pushes you to the ground. You laugh at first but then his snout travels further down your body and you start to get nervous if not a little embarrass. "L-Leo? What are you doing" He makes it all the way to in between your thighs and then stops. He then goes back up to your face and stares into your eyes, it makes you very nervous and you let out a a few small vocal tics. "Who? Who was it?" He asks, not in a stern or angry way but his voice alone still make your stomach sink. "W-who w-what?" You stutter out. His face gets close to yours and you start to blush. "Who did you let fuck you tonight?" He asks, his voice is low and quiet, the tone is almost threatening, but damn does it sound sexy as hell. "I didn't-" "Don't lie to me, I can smell him on you." He uses his arms to cage you under him. You look up at him and in this moment you can't recall a time where he looked sexier then right now as he hovers above you. "Now, I'll ask one more time. Who fucked you?" He never raised his voice at you the whole time, but you could still feel the intensity as he spoke. "Donnie! I-It was Donnie! But we didn't have sex or anything, he just-" You feel your cheeks burn as his arms flex near your head. You feel yourself being turned on by his threatening aura, you squeeze you thighs together as you become wet for him and your lady box begs for his attention. "'He just-' What? What did you do?" You can't tell if he is mad at you or not, but you it feels like you're being scolded. "He fingered me, I let him finger me...." You can't look anywhere but in his eyes, your body won't let you, but still you wish you could hide from his gaze.

Leo sighs and releases you from his arm prison. He sits up, still straddling you to the ground as he looks down at you with and semi-mad and disappointed expression. "I didn't think he out of all of us would be the one to turn you into a whore, but I guess I was wrong." Leo stands up and turns to leave but you get up too and run after him, catching him by the flying tails of his blue bandana. "Leonardo! You cannot just leave me on some random building rooftop in the middle of fuck knows where, New York, just because you are mad at me! He's my boyfriend just like you and I's allowed to be fingered or get fuck by my boyfriend if I want!" Leo turns around sharply and you are finally met with an angry expression. "Speaking of, how is it to hoe yourself out to four different guys? I'm not usually one to slut-shame but seeing as how where all brothers that all fight for your time while you sit back and watch it happen, I've made an exception!" You gasp and then stamp your foot. "You of all people have no right to be mad at me for that! It was your idea in the first place for this to be a thing, for all of us to form this relationship!" "That's only because little-miss-indecisive couldn't pick which one of us should be her boyfriend! You took your sweet-ass time to even consider dating any of us and then took even more time to pick which one out of the four of us to date!" He yells as he slowly walks towards you like a predator getting closer to it's prey, you back up as he gets closer and your skins chills as he does so. "I only did it, so my brother's and I wouldn't suffer waiting for your answer! We were all filled with anxiety and jealousy of one another, you pinned us against each other! I only suggested the relationship because I know my team, my family, would fall apart if I didn't do something! I did it because I knew your wouldn't choose me!"

All the yelling starts to make you cry and you rush at forward and hug him, you cry into his plastron and refuse to look him in the eye. "It's not that I wouldn't have chosen you, I love you so much! I just couldn't not love all of you. You all mean so much to me and I couldn't see my life not loving all four of you. I knew if I chose one of you that not only would I lose the rest of you but the rest of you would hate whoever I chose!" You sniffle and try to calm your breathing. "I want you all in my life..." You aren't able you wrap your arms around him the same way he could with you, but you still hold him tight. You feel him relax in your embrace, but you continue to cry, seemingly unable to stop. "I'm-.....I'm sorry, Love. Please don't cry." He hugs you back and starts to pet your hair. "I'm sorry I got mad, I did mean to become-" He clears his throat, stalling himself from admitting it out loud. "-territorial..." You look up at him, still somewhat teary-eyed. "I'm sorry too, I never mean to make you guys feel so awful."

You both stay silent for a moment, trying to calm down from yelling at each other. "Did you feel jealous? Since I was so intimate with Donnie."  Leo chuckles in a bashful way, a little bit because of they way you asked it but mainly out of embarrassment of being so mad at you for something that seems a little silly. "Yeah, I think I was. It's just that you were pretty intimate with not just Donnie but with Mikey and Raph too. You went swimming with Mikey and he got to see you basically have naked and when Raph had a chance to protect you he just left you there to go through it alone!" You grab a hold of his arms and rub up and down to ground him. "So you felt left out?" He takes a breathe and softly smiles at you. "I guess I did feel that way, sorry."

You reach your arms up pull him into a quick kiss, it's soft and only lasts a second but its warm and sweet. You smile sincerely as you look into his eyes. "Leo, do you want to make it equal then? He feels butterflies in his stomach as you speak, a bit dazed by your affectionate attitude. "Make what equal?...." "You said you felt left out, so do you want to join in? Be intimate with me too?" You kept eye contact with him as you ask this. Leo thinks for a moment and then smirks. He feels up your sides and squeezes your hips. "I thought you'd never ask." Leo picks you up and kisses you. His kisses are always passionate but gentle, a perfect combination of aggression and control. He holds you up by you legs, your holding onto him with your arms around his neck and your thighs are being squeezed by his strong hands.

There is a rooftop access door on the roof you two are on, it has a large metal lock on a chain wrapped around the handle. As the kiss become hotter and more passionate and it starts to become foreplay, he pushes you up against that door and kisses down your neck. When he starts to bite and leave hickeys is when your heavy breathing becomes moans. You clumsily pull down your bottoms when he lifts up your top and leaves a trail of kisses down your chest and belly. He loves kissing your belly, it's soft a squishy, it's like kissing a pillow, he finds comfort in it's warmth.  Soon enough his snout is met your your cunt, wet and dripping arousal from all the heavy-petting. He spreads your folds with his fingers and licks a long strip up from your hole to your clit, it sends a fluttering feeling through your body. He makes kitten licks over your love-bud and then slowly makes his way into your hole. You legs now resting on his shoulders, his face is what keeps you up and you lean your back on the door. His long tongue slithers inside you and reaches for your g-spot, the sensation makes you shutter and a few quivering moans force there way out from your throat. "Leo! P-please don't stop!" You squeeze your thighs around his head, your hands are pushing his face closer to your cunt. You continue to whimper and whine as his tongue tickles your cervix. It only takes a couple of minutes for him to push you to your limit and you cum on his face. You take a moment to relish in the feeling, but then you realize what you've done. You just came on his face. "Oh my god, Leo! I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to do that!" Leo calmly lifts up and off his face and sits up on his knee. "You didn't mean to cum on my face? Was I not good enough?" He asks jokingly. "No, you were great! It's just I didn't mean to make such a mess and on your face too! I'm so sorry!" You blush out of embarrassment, but Leo stays calm and even laughs. "No, it's okay. That's what I was trying to get you to do anyway." He says, licking his lips for traces of you, you blush at the glistening sheen still left on his face.

Leo sets you back down on the ground and allows you to buts your clothes back on. "I think we should go back home, the guys must be worried about us." You say, trying to shake the wrinkles out of your clothes. "You didn't seem to worried about them when you were squirting on my face and screaming my name." Leo says cockily. "For one, I wasn't screaming. Two, maybe it only seemed like that because you were sucking my soul out of my body when you ate my pussy." You flirt and banter for a bit before finally he takes you back to the lair, to reunite with your other boyfriends.

[wordsmithwhumpsandfluff]

Jordan gets food poisoning and Keiko takes care of her

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Twenty texts that spammed Keiko’s name, seven missed calls, and three voicemails. The second Keiko opened his phone when he got out of his last class, that’s what he saw.

With a sigh, he called his sister back. She picked up on the first ring and, without saying hi, just hastily asked, “Do you have dinner plans?!”

Keiko stayed silent for a second. Then said plainly, “Hi, Jor.”

“Yeah yeah, hey. So, dinner plans? Got any?”

Keiko raised a brow. “No. Why?”

“What’s Amber doing tonight?”

“She said she’s gonna try to finish reading the script for Chicago tonight. She’s gonna play a character named Roxy in it or something.” Amberlynn had been excited for the role and insisting that he was really, really gonna love it.

“Have dinner with me!” Jordan insisted. “El is studying the history of Dali tonight and ordering food to her place, so I’m free. And there’s that new Japanese restaurant that opened downtown, and I heard that they have amazing Takoyaki balls! Come with me! It’s the closest thing to Nana’s cooking that we have right now!”

That was really enough to convince Kei. He loved traditional Japanese cooking—even if nothing could beat his Nana’s cooking—and Japanese food was better than take-out pizza any day.

— — —

Dress nice, Jordan had said. Not too fancy, but nice.

It seemed that his simple navy blue button-up and his black dress pants was the right choice. But he groaned loudly and dramatically when Jordan pulled up to his apartment building and came out of her car, and he saw that Jordan was wearing a navy blue dress and a black sweater. As twins, their faces were already almost identical. Now they were matching clothes! It was either an insane coincidence, or some freakish twin telepathy or something.

Jordan seemed as shocked as he was, but less bothered. “Lookin’ spiffy,” she said in a teasing voice as they came up to each other.

Keiko pouted. “Mom would be happy,” he grumbled as he got in the car, remembering the times as kids when they were forced by their mother to wear matching clothes for dinner parties, events, vacations, and even school.

It was a bit of a longish drive. When they got to downtown, they easily found a parking spot. Jordan wore a wide, excited smile as they walked down the sidewalk in the downtown side of the city. Lights twinkled above the street, cars blaring music drove down the road, restaurants and stores looked busy, and Jordan seemed to almost draw energy from the lively buzz surrounding them. Meanwhile, Keiko really just wanted to get dinner and go home. Not that he was unhappy, but he had barely slept the previous night, and it was already almost eight now.

“Here!” Jordan said, pointing at the restaurant. The colorful lights and the music made it look nice. And truthfully, Keiko couldn’t wait to have some authentic ramen—not the instant packaged kind.

Chimes on the door jingled as they walked in. The aroma of incenses and food filled the air, dousing Keiko in a wave of nostalgia as he remembered his Nana’s house. He couldn’t wait to go there in the summer.

“Hello. Table for two?”

Jordan nodded, smiling. The lady grabbed two menus and led then over to a table near the fancy jade fountain in the center of the restaurant, carved fish and dragons making it look detailed and beautiful. Keiko couldn’t help but admit that it was far beyond his expectations.

The two siblings chatted casually, talking about whatever topics came to their minds. When they ordered, Keiko got himself some spicy Tonkotsu ramen with Takoyaki while Jordan ordered herself a giant sushi platter and spring rolls.

The food came out faster than they expected, which just impressed Keiko more.

The food was amazing. Not to his Nana’s standards, but really great.

Keiko could’ve laughed at Jordan who was all but inhaling her sushi. Then he pouted when she took one of his Takoyaki balls, but took one of her spring rolls as payback.

By the time they finished the dinner with cherry blossom jelly desserts, Keiko was in a much better mood than he was in when the night started. They split the check and then decided to go to the city park to just walk around and hang out a little longer.

“No way. Our best vacation was when we went to Birmingham, England,” Keiko states, kicking a rock on the sidewalk. The park was pretty much empty save for a few people here and there. The starry sky was visible through the trees.

“Birmingham was fun, sure, but China was on a whole other level. Don’t you remember the Birds Nest resort? It was something straight out of a fantasy book, I swear. And the food was WAY better.”

Keiko rolled his eyes, but didn’t deny the last part. He’d honestly prefer Chinese street food over fish’n’chips.

Suddenly, Jordan’s stomach let out a growl that was loud enough for Keiko to hear, and he chuckled and raised a brow at her. “Are you already hungry again? You just ate your weight in sushi!”

Jor narrowed her eyes at him. “Not hungry. I’m stuffed, actually. My gut is just a little off, that’s all.”

The smirk on Keiko’s face faltered just slightly. “Off?”

She shrugged, but Keiko noticed the slight tensing of her jaw. Still though, she didn’t say anything until she changed the topic and the two started talking about music and singers and celebrity drama that’s been circulating through the internet.

Keiko was stating his bet on how long Taylor Swift’s relationship with Travis Kelce was gonna last when Jordan suddenly just stopped walking. After realizing a few steps ahead that his sister was no longer walking beside him, he turned and saw her slightly bent over, one hand on her stomach while her head was tilted down.

He frowned. “Jor? Are you o—”

She interrupted his question and answered it at the same time by spewing her dinner all over the sidewalk. Keiko cursed, going back to her and quickly bunching up her long silky hair, even the strands which already had puke in them.

“Crap,” she grumbled, spitting on the ground. “I got sick.”

Keiko snorted a laugh. “Yeah, I can see that, dumbass.” Then his voice softened. “Do you think you caught the flu or something?” He continued to hold her hair in one hand while his other cupped her forehead, but he felt no heat. She was cold and clammy.

“How the fuck am I supposed to know? I’ve never had the stomach flu before!”

Keiko sighed. If she didn’t have a fever, then it likely wasn’t the flu. She’d seemed fine up until just then. What—

She vomited again, and the sight of chunks of white rice and pink meat made him freeze and his blood run cold.

“Shit. Um, okay.” He grabbed her wrist. “Okay, arm around my neck. I’m picking you up.”

She groaned in reply, allowing him to hook her arm around his neck and pick her up bridal style.

Keiko ignored any stares they got from the few people in the park, and Jordan was suddenly too dizzy with nausea to even notice.

When they got to Jordan’s car, Keiko sat her in the passenger seat and took the driver’s side.

It was another semi-long drive to the hospital.

Keiko thought he might have been overreacting a bit, but he’d rather be safe than sorry. It was quite a long wait in the hospital’s waiting room. A nurse had come out with a basin when Jordan had thrown up for the third time while sitting.

Finally, a different nurse took Jordan to get some tests, and Keiko stayed in the waiting room, tapping his foot anxiously. He didn’t want to text any of their friends unless he was sure it was something serious, but he did shoot a quick text to Eliana to tell her.

She was there as well in ten minutes.

It was a tense hour or two before a doctor came out and called Jordan’s name. Keiko and Eliana both stood and walked over to him.

“She’s fine,” the doctor said. “It’s just some fairly nasty food poisoning from some fish toxins, but no salmonella or anything like that. We’ll pump her stomach, hook her up to some antibiotics, and she should be out of here in two days or so.”

Keiko thanked the doctor, and he and Eliana went back to sitting and waiting.

“She was so excited when she heard about that place,” Eliana sighed, sagging back in her seat. “Now she’s getting her stomach pumped because of their crack-attempt at making edible food.”

Keiko shrugged. “It might’ve just been a bad batch of fish. Everything else there was perfect. It was fun.”

Eliana smiled a bit. “It’s nice that you two are so close,” she said. “Not many siblings are like that.” If Keiko noticed the slight catch in her voice, he didn’t show it.

Eliana stood then. “Alright, well, I have to get home and get to sleep. Tomorrow’s an exam day for me. But text me updates, and I’ll come visit Jor tomorrow after my test. Love ya, Kei.”

“Bye, El.”

They hugged, and she left.

It was a while of playing Subway Surfers on his phone to pass time before the doctor returned.

“She’s been settled in a room now. You can see her if you’d like.”

The doctor led Keiko up to a small room where his sister was in a bed glowering at her stomach like she had a vendetta against it. He noticed that her hair had been cleaned up and tied in a loose bun.

“Hey, sis,” Keiko said, sitting in the chair beside her bed. “How’re you feeling?”

She pouted at him. “They stuck a tube up my nose,” she muttered. “It was fucking uncomfortable as hell. And now my stomach feels. . . itchy.”

It took everything Keiko had to not laugh. “Um. . . itchy? Your stomach feels itchy?”

She huffed, rolling her eyes. “Well, not itchy. It’s just, like, tingly and sore and I feel disgusting right now and I’m hungry, but I’m not allowed to eat! And my head hurts and my abdomen is achy and did I mention that I had a tube stuck up my nose?! And it went all the way down to my stomach!!! And I can’t go home, even though I really just wanna be in my own bed while cuddling my girlfriend and life sucks and the world sucks and that stupid restaurant sucks and I really want some tacos!”

Keiko really couldn’t help but start laughing at the end of his sister’s rant.

She pouted at him again. “Really? No sympathy for your sick, ailing, dying sister?”

Keiko smirked. “Not really. But I’ll make the funeral arrangements. Orange and blue flowers, and an open casket with your body dressed in a Baby Shark costume. How does that sound?”

Jordan’s pout seemed to contort weirdly as she tried not to smile or cringe, but it was a losing battle and the cringe won. “I’ll rise from my grave to haunt you.”

“Let’s talk about the inheritance now.”

“Oh my God!”

They both started laughing. When both of their laughing fits subsided, Keiko hugged his sister tightly. “Tonight was a fun night,” he said. “Thanks for getting me out of my house. I swear, I’ve been becoming a cave rat.”

“You’re welcome,” she said. “And how about next time we want Japanese food, we take a trip home and have Nana make it.”

Smiling, Keiko nodded. “Agreed.”

[snowdice]

Creased Hoodies (Chapter 10: Dinner and a Movie) [Folds in Time Universe]

Fandom: Sander Sides

Relationships: Logan/Virgil, Janus/Patton (background), Remus & Roman  (background)

Characters:

Main: Logan, Virgil

Appear: Patton, Roman

Mentioned: Janus, Remus

Summary: Virgil just wanted to go on his planned summer research trip to do an anthropological study in 2005 America. However, when he is taken off course by an unknown enemy, he ends up stranded in the summer of 2018 with no way to get back the the 44rd century. Luckily, 2018 happens to be where a certain illegal time agency is based, and he might have an in with one of its agents.

This is the intermission for the story Folds in Paper. It takes place between Folds in Paper Book 1 and Book 2. It also takes place after the first 5 chapter of “Messages for a Hacker” which are side stories in the universe. Check all of this and more out on my Folds in Time Master Post.

Chapter Summary: Virgil and Logan have a date night.

Notes: Time travel AU

This is a fic I’ve been writing on study breaks that you have probably all already seen at this point. I’ve slightly edited it for wording and grammar, but not for content from my previous posts. Feel free to send in asks to direct it because I’m not 100% sure where this is going and you can help decide if you feel so inclined! You can see the process I went through to build this at this link.

Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5 Part 6 Part 7 Part 8 Part 9

Patton left in the morning and almost immediately sent a confirmation text to Logan saying that he’d made it to the correct time and place with no issue. From there it was just a waiting game for Patton and for those left in the apartment.

That was Virgil’s least favorite type of game.

Even with Patton checking in every so often, Virgil couldn’t help but be nervous. This was why he was a professor and not an employee of the TPI. So many things could go wrong with trips like these!

Virgil did his best to keep his anxiety on the down low. It was, after all, Logan and Roman’s lifelong friend who was running around some other century at the location of a time distortion. They were both obviously nervous since Patton’s last trip had ended in disaster.

…

This trip was going to end in disaster a little bit too, Virgil knew, but for his sanity, he was going to ignore that fact.

The point was, Roman was constantly going to the gym which was reportedly not normal behavior, and Logan spent his days re-checking calculations that were far too late to correct even if Patton hadn’t already confirmed they were perfect by arriving when he should have.

Yet, despite being an anxious wreck, Logan eventually forced himself to put his lined notebook paper away. Roman was out once again when he finally shoved it in a drawer to get it away from himself.

Virgil looked up from doom scrolling on his phone.

“We should go out to dinner,” he suggested suddenly.

Virgil glanced at the pile of take-out containers stacked near the kitchen trashcan. They hadn’t left the apartment in days. “Sure,” he agreed.

They got changed and exited the apartment with no plans in mind. Logan asked him if he wanted anything in particular but Virgil didn’t know many places in this time, so he decided to trust Logan to pick something.

He should not have trusted him.

He glared at Logan from where they stood awkwardly in the middle of a mall. Logan appeared to only be entertained by his ire.

“Really?” Virgil asked.

“I wanted to see for myself if you were really that bad with chopsticks,” he said with a grin.

“I’m not,” Virgil said, crossing his arms. “The anxiety had gotten to me. I resent this experiment.”

Logan just laughed, knowing well enough that Virgil wasn’t actually irritated. In fact, Virgil couldn’t help but feel a fond squeeze in his chest. It was almost an inside joke, just between the two of them.

“It is actually decent sushi,” Logan said.

“Ah yes, 21st century American Midwest sushi,” Virgil drawled. “I’m simply quivering with anticipation for the authenticity we are about to enjoy.”

“It’s unanimously considered the best sushi in town by my friend group,” Logan said as if the fact that Mr. Asiago-Cheese-Bread-For-French-Toast and Mr.-Went-Along-With-Cooking-Asiago-Cheese-Bread-French-Toast’s endorsement would inspire any confidence in Virgil. Patton may have Japanese blood, but he’d grown up in the Appalachians. Don’t even get Virgil started on Roman.

“It’s in. A. Mall.”

“So?” Logan asked.

“It’s a sushi stand in a mall,” Virgil said. “There isn’t even seating.”

“There’s seating,” Logan argued, nodding at the five chairs sitting in front of the counter.

The seating was completely empty, which could be because their eating schedule was off and they were trying to eat dinner at 3pm, but more likely had to do with everyone else having more sense than the man standing in front of Virgil.

“Where’s your sense of adventure?” Logan asked. “Are you not an anthropologist? Do you not wish to experience the culture of the time first-hand.”

Virgil glared at him.

“Please try it,” Logan said, still amused. “It really is good.”

“If I get food poisoning, I’m blaming you,” Virgil warned.

“Noted,” Logan replied with a nod. Then, Virgil reluctantly allowed himself to be led over to the sushi stand.

The man behind the sushi stand greeted them jovially as they approached. He obviously knew Logan and even asked about Patton and Roman as they took a seat.

Virgil did have to admit, despite his instinctual misgivings about mall sushi, what he could glimpse of the man’s set up seemed legit. It looked like a real sushi bar if a bit on the small size.

They’d sat down in front of a glass case filled with chilled fish, and Virgil could see a large rice cooker behind the man and a normal refrigerator for non-fish ingredients.

Laminated menus were handed to them. It was only one page and didn’t even have a back, but honestly that was probably a good thing. If this place served a bunch of complicated or fancy dishes, Virgil would have been worried.

…

Well, he was still worried (it was mall sushi), but he wasn’t running screaming. The place looked like it wouldn’t give him food poisoning at the very least.

Logan suggested they get a “rainbow” and “snake” roll to split as well as a few different types of nigiri and Virgil didn’t argue.

The chef was kind, and he assembled all of the sushi fully in Virgil’s view which made him a lot less leery about the meal. The man seemed to know what he was doing. The fish wouldn’t be as fresh as it would have been in a coastal area, but it was clearly properly handled. When he finished making their order, he handed it to them all on one big plate.

They ate and talked with each other and the chef. Virgil was ribbed gently about his chopstick anxiety and the chef apparently decided to be on Virgil’s side of the conflict because as soon as he heard Logan talking about it, he pipped in with a story about Logan mistaking wasabi for avocado once.

By the end of their dinner, Virgil had to admit, when correcting for ingredient availability, it was pretty good sushi. He would not say it was the best sushi he’d ever had, but it was worlds better than what he’d expected.

Logan could obviously tell what his opinion was as they thanked the chef and paid, because he looked overly smug about it.

“Yeah, yeah,” Virgil said as they left the mall. “You’re good at picking restaurants.”

“I’m sure you are also when you’re in a more familiar location,” Logan said, still smiling smugly.

“I’m not actually,” Virgil said with a laugh. “I consistently panic choose the worst option every time.”

“Well, I’m usually the opposite,” Logan said. “So, I guess we balance each other out in that regard.”

“Yeah,” Virgil said with a grin. He shoved his hands into his hoodie pocket. “Uh, what are we going to do when we get back to the apartment?” he asked. “Because sitting there drowning in anxiety like we’ve been for the last few days isn’t the best for my mental health.”

“I’m not sure,” Logan said. “Did you have anything in mind that you wanted to do?”

“Hmm,” Virgil said. “You guys still have Blockbuster?”

“No,” Logan said, “but we do still have a Family Video store nearby.”

“Is it close enough to walk there?” Virgil asked.

“It is,” Logan said, “though if you wish to watch a movie, we could use a streaming service or my… library of movies.” Virgil doubted the legality of that ‘library’ both with the current authorities and the TPI.

Virgil shrugged. “It’s the charm of it,” he said.

“The charm of going to a business already made obsolete and on the brink of collapse?” Logan asked.

“Exactly,” said Virgil with a smile.

“Very well,” Logan said, turning to head in a slightly different direction. “If that’s what you want, we can go there.”

They were in a building that would look abandoned if there wasn’t a light on inside within 15 minutes.

The video rental store had clearly seen better days. Its carpet pattern was clearly from another decade and had been trampled over so often they might as well be walking on the linoleum underneath. A sign asked patrons to close the door behind them when entering as the spring that was supposed to make it close on its own had long since worn down to nothing. Virgil doubted anyone planned to replace it.

There was only one person working, a guy in his 30s who glanced at them briefly before returning to looking at his phone. Ah yes, Virgil’s favorite type of employee.

“What movie would you like to watch?” Logan asked. He glanced at one small, but still surprisingly present section filled with VHS tapes.

“I don’t know,” Virgil said. “Isn’t that the exciting part? Stop by a movie rental place on a Friday night, grab a more than likely crappy movie and some Milk Duds and proceed to sit and watch the stupid thing anyway because you already paid for it.

“Virgil, I grew up in the 90s. This is nowhere near exciting for me. There is a reason streaming sites have taken over the market,” Logan replied. “Also, it is Tuesday.”

Virgil rolled his eyes. “Just panic choose a movie with me nerd.”

“I don’t ‘panic choose’ anything,” Logan said. “I-”

“You do today,” Virgil interrupted.

“But…”

“Choose a letter, Logan.”

“…S?”

“Great!” Virgil dragged him off in the direction of the movies that started with ‘S.’

~~~

“This is just… gross,” Virgil declared a little under an hour and a half later and about an hour into the film.

“It’s a random romantic comedy from 2002,” Logan responded. “What did you expect?”

“Yeah, but on one hand there’s weird sex jokes and actors that might as well be from mars for all they know about human behavior… then on the other there’s actual on-screen physical abuse between the leads in a romance.

“I will concede that point,” Logan said, “but I will remind you that this could have been avoided if you had allowed me to do proper investigation of the movie choices before renting.”

“Ugh, yeah, yeah,” Virgil replied, leaning back to stare at the ceiling. “Just turn it off.”

Logan complied, reaching over to eject the DVD from his computer. The three roommates didn’t have an actual DVD player connected to their TV, so he and Virgil had chosen to use the desktop computer in the bedroom Virgil had been using during his stay.

Virgil was currently laying on Logan’s bed with Logan sat propped up against the headboard. Logan leaned over to hover over him, interrupting his staring contest with the ceiling.

“Thank you for helping distract me,” he said. “Despite the fact that we now know more about what we’re doing, I still worry about sending Patton through time. His last trip did not improve my confidence. I have been… rather nervous.”

“Well, I’m glad I could help,” Virgil said. “At least a little.”

“You helped a lot,” Logan replied. His hand reached down to pat Virgil’s shoulder, but then lingered there for a moment too long.

Virgil found himself sitting up suddenly. Logan had to jerk back to keep their heads from colliding. “I…” Virgil choked out once he was sitting up. “Um…”

Logan’s mouth curled into a half smile. He offered a hand and Virgil took it.

Virgil glanced at their now entwined hands. “I, uh, I’m an anthropologist.”

“I am aware,” Logan said.

“And, uh, you were born in this time, so technically, I’m studying you…”

“I’m a time traveler, Virgil,” he said, sounding amused. “I doubt I’m a pure specimen for any studies you may wish to run.”

“Right,” Virgil said. “That’s a, uh, good point. You’re right.”

Virgil paused and Logan waited for a long moment.

“So, then,” Virgil said slowly. “No moral quandaries. Just two people sharing a bed and watching a romance movie.”

“It was a bad one,” Logan said.

“It really, really was,” Virgil agreed with a laugh, and then Logan was leaning forward towards him, and Virgil was putting his hand on his shoulder.

The door flung open. “I’m home!” Roman declared as Virgil scrambled back, hitting his head on the headboard in his haste to put distance between himself and Logan.

“Fuck,” Virgil hissed, the sharp pain almost distracting him from his mortification. Almost.

“Roman! You need to knock!” Logan yelled.

“Since when?” Roman asked, plopping down on Logan’s bed between them.

“Since we have a guest,” Logan said meaningfully. Virgil hid his reddening face in his hands, curling into as tight of a ball as possible.

“You were both in here. It’s not like one of you was going to be naked,” Roman said flippantly.

Virgil debated the merits of staying curled up in a ball for the rest of his life.

There was a second of silence, and Virgil was glad he couldn’t see the expressions on the other two’s faces from his ball when Roman said, “Oh my god!”

Want to read more? Click below!

Folds in Time Universe Master Post

My Main Masterpost

[kumadorisushi24]

Discover Glendale's Culinary Gem: Kumadori Sushi

Nestled in the heart of Glendale, Kumadori Sushi stands out as a culinary treasure for sushi enthusiasts and casual diners alike. This acclaimed restaurant has quickly become a local favorite, earning praise for its exceptional quality, authentic flavors, and inviting atmosphere.

A Taste of Tradition and Innovation

Kumadori Sushi offers an exquisite dining experience that marries traditional Japanese techniques with modern culinary innovation. From the moment you step through the door, you're greeted by a warm, contemporary setting that sets the stage for an unforgettable meal.

The restaurant's menu features a broad selection of Best Sushi and Sashimi Near Me, crafted from the freshest ingredients. Whether you're a fan of classic rolls like the California or spicy tuna, or you're looking to try something more adventurous, Kumadori has something to tantalize your taste buds. Their signature rolls, such as the Kumadori Roll and the Volcano Roll, are crafted with creative flair and showcase a perfect balance of flavors and textures.

Commitment to Freshness and Quality

What truly sets Kumadori Sushi apart is its unwavering commitment to quality. The restaurant sources its seafood from top suppliers, ensuring that every dish is made with the highest grade of fish. This dedication to freshness is evident in every bite, making each sushi roll a delightful experience.

In addition to sushi, Kumadori offers a variety of other Japanese dishes, including tempura, teriyaki, and ramen. Each dish is prepared with the same attention to detail and quality, providing a well-rounded dining experience that caters to diverse tastes.

An Inviting Atmosphere

Kumadori Sushi's ambiance enhances the dining experience. The restaurant's modern decor, combined with traditional Japanese elements, creates a relaxing and sophisticated environment. Whether you're dining with friends, or family, or on a romantic date, the welcoming atmosphere ensures a memorable outing.

Exceptional Service

The staff at Kumadori Sushi are known for their friendliness and professionalism. They are knowledgeable about the menu and always ready to offer recommendations or accommodate special requests. This level of service complements the high-quality food and contributes to the overall positive dining experience.

A Community Favorite

Since opening its doors, Kumadori Sushi has become a beloved fixture in Glendale's dining scene. Its reputation for excellence has been built on consistent quality, a diverse menu, and a genuine passion for sushi. For those looking to enjoy a top-notch sushi experience in Glendale, Kumadori Sushi is undoubtedly the place to visit.

Whether you're a sushi aficionado or a newcomer to Japanese cuisine, Kumadori Sushi promises a delightful culinary adventure. Make a reservation today and experience why this restaurant is considered the best sushi spot in Glendale. https://www.kumadorisushi.com/

[daikonnyc]

Sushi Restaurants Near Me

Located in the heart of Forest Hills, New York, Daikon Hand Roll Bar offers a unique and immersive dining experience that celebrates the artistry of sushi. Inspired by the traditional Japanese hand roll concept, Daikon Hand Roll Bar was founded with a passion for delivering the freshest ingredients and authentic flavors in every bite. Our journey began with a vision to introduce Forest Hills to the dynamic world of hand rolls, where simplicity meets sophistication.

[alwaysdial]

The Best Restaurants in Ranchi for Every Foodie

Ranchi, the capital of Jharkhand, is a city brimming with cultural diversity and culinary delights. For food enthusiasts, Ranchi offers an impressive array of dining options that cater to every palate. Whether you're in the mood for traditional Indian cuisine, international flavors, or something entirely unique, Ranchi has it all. In this article, we will explore the best restaurants in Ranchi that every foodie must visit. From cozy cafes to luxurious fine dining establishments, these culinary gems are sure to leave you craving for more.

Traditional Indian Cuisine

Kaveri Restaurant

For those who appreciate the rich and diverse flavors of traditional Indian cuisine, Kaveri Restaurant is a must-visit. Located in the heart of Ranchi, this restaurant is renowned for its authentic North and South Indian dishes. Restaurants in Ranchi The ambiance is warm and inviting, making it an ideal spot for family gatherings and casual dining.

Signature Dishes: Don't miss out on their Butter Chicken, Hyderabadi Biryani, and Masala Dosa. Each dish is prepared with the finest ingredients and traditional cooking techniques, ensuring an unforgettable dining experience.

Capitol Residency

Capitol Residency is another gem for Indian cuisine lovers. This restaurant offers a sophisticated dining experience with an extensive menu that features a blend of traditional and contemporary Indian dishes. The elegant decor and impeccable service add to the overall dining experience.

Signature Dishes: The Dal Makhani, Paneer Tikka, and Rogan Josh are highly recommended. Each dish is a perfect balance of spices and flavors, making it a delight for the taste buds.

International Cuisine

Yellow Sapphire

If you're in the mood for international flavors, Yellow Sapphire is the place to be. Located in the luxurious Radisson Blu Hotel, this restaurant offers a diverse menu that includes Continental, Chinese, and Italian dishes. Best Restaurants in Ranchi The chic and modern ambiance makes it a perfect spot for a sophisticated dining experience.

Signature Dishes: The Grilled Salmon, Sushi Platter, and Pasta Primavera are standout options. The chefs at Yellow Sapphire use the freshest ingredients to create dishes that are both visually appealing and delicious.

Kashmir Vaaishno Dhaba

For a taste of authentic Kashmiri cuisine, Kashmir Vaaishno Dhaba is the go-to place. This restaurant specializes in traditional Kashmiri dishes that are rich in flavor and aroma. The rustic decor and warm hospitality add to the charm of this dining spot.

Signature Dishes: The Rogan Josh, Yakhni, and Kashmiri Naan are must-try dishes. Each dish is prepared with traditional spices and cooking techniques, offering an authentic taste of Kashmir.

Asian Cuisine

Mainland China

Mainland China is a haven for lovers of Chinese cuisine. Restaurants near me ranchi This restaurant offers a wide range of dishes that capture the essence of Chinese flavors. The elegant decor and serene ambiance make it a perfect place for a relaxed dining experience.

Signature Dishes: The Dimsum Platter, Kung Pao Chicken, and Hakka Noodles are highly recommended. The chefs at Mainland China use authentic ingredients and cooking techniques to create dishes that are both flavorful and satisfying.

Flames Restaurant

For a fusion of Asian flavors, Flames Restaurant is a top choice. This restaurant offers a unique blend of Chinese, Thai, and Japanese dishes. The vibrant decor and lively atmosphere make it a great spot for a fun and exciting dining experience.

Signature Dishes: The Sushi Rolls, Pad Thai, and Teriyaki Chicken are standout options. Each dish is prepared with the finest ingredients and traditional cooking techniques, ensuring a memorable dining experience.

Cafes and Bakeries

Cafe Coffee Day

For a relaxed and casual dining experience, Cafe Coffee Day is a popular choice among locals and visitors alike. Food Restaurants in Ranchi This cafe offers a wide range of coffee beverages, snacks, and desserts. The cozy and comfortable ambiance makes it a perfect spot for a quick bite or a leisurely coffee break.

Signature Dishes: The Cappuccino, Chicken Sandwich, and Chocolate Fantasy are must-try items. Each dish is prepared with high-quality ingredients, ensuring a delightful culinary experience.

Hot Lips

Hot Lips is another favorite cafe in Ranchi, known for its delicious snacks and baked goods. This cafe offers a variety of dishes, including sandwiches, pastries, and desserts. The friendly staff and cozy ambiance make it a great place to unwind and enjoy a meal.

Signature Dishes: The Veg Burger, Cheese Croissant, and Red Velvet Cake are highly recommended. Each dish is prepared with the finest ingredients, ensuring a delightful and satisfying dining experience.

Fine Dining

The Great Kebab Factory

For an upscale and luxurious dining experience, The Great Kebab Factory is the place to be. Located in the Radisson Blu Hotel, this restaurant offers a wide range of kebabs and other Indian delicacies. The elegant decor and impeccable service make it a perfect spot for a special occasion.

Signature Dishes: Top Restaurants In Ranchi The Galouti Kebab, Murgh Malai Tikka, and Seekh Kebab are must-try dishes. Each dish is prepared with traditional spices and cooking techniques, ensuring an authentic and flavorful dining experience.

Seventh Heaven

Seventh Heaven is another fine dining restaurant in Ranchi that offers a luxurious dining experience. This restaurant specializes in a variety of cuisines, including Indian, Continental, and Chinese. The elegant decor and sophisticated ambiance make it a perfect spot for a romantic dinner or a special celebration.

Signature Dishes: The Lamb Chops, Seafood Platter, and Chocolate Fondue are highly recommended. Each dish is prepared with the finest ingredients, ensuring a memorable and delightful dining experience.

Ranchi is a city that offers a diverse and vibrant culinary scene, catering to every type of foodie. From traditional Indian cuisine to international flavors, the best restaurants in Ranchi provide an array of dining options that are sure to satisfy your taste buds. Whether you're in the mood for a casual cafe, a cozy bakery, or an upscale fine dining experience, Ranchi has something for everyone. So, the next time you're in the city, be sure to explore these culinary gems and indulge in the delightful flavors they have to offer.

[journey-of-the-ip]

Thursday June 6th

I guess I’m starting a new day even though it’s still the middle of the night in home time.

Bleghh kinda finished the flight zombie mode. The flight was only 8-9 hours which is pretty short imo, and I only “slept” probably like an hour or two? Probably less honestly. It’s crazy with map projections we took a short cut over the top of the globe cause that’s how globes work. Weird.

Upon landing I finally figured out the roaming data with Mint but my coverage is garbage and I couldn’t get signal in most of the airport.

Also the airport WiFi wasn’t working so I was like damn, also I walked past and then subsequently couldn’t get back to the SIM card shop in the airport double damn. I also walked past and couldn’t get back to the money exchange in the airport. Triple damn.

I was anxious that my credit card would be declined and I wouldn’t have any euros so I wandered around a bit by t didn’t really get anywhere, brain was feeling very shot so I just went up to the taxi stand which luckily was really easy to find and got a taxi to my hotel.

Card was accepted, all is good. Is this frontal lobe anxiety finally kicking in? (Albeit too late for me to have done anything about it) I guess just need to practice being more proactively anxious.

At the hotel, I can’t check in until 2 (it’s 11 at this point) so I have 3 hours to kill till I can brush my teeth, shower, and feel human. Also it’s HOT which makes sense because it’s June but Seattle has lulled me into a false sense of security. This trip is gonna be sweaty.

Anyways my hotel is near the airport which means it’s near nothing interesting. I’m between a Nissan dealership and an IKEA.

I have a long vent about globalization which I hopefully get back to because I’m writing this as I’m waiting to check into my room still.

Luckily, seems like there’s a shopping mall about a 15 min walk from the hotel so I go there and grab a bite to eat and hide in the air conditioning for a while. i didn’t realize how ravenous I was bc I wasn’t really craving any of my snacks, classic. After I made my way back to the hotel where I am now.

Schleepy. Hopefully will write more later.

Okay I slept from 3-8pm and then from 10pm-2am. It’s now 7:14. I guess I’m still including this in the day before because I don’t have any pictures yet and these thoughts are from yesterday. Anyways here is my vent I was too sleepy to transcribe yesterday.

Being here is kind of uncanny. Except for a few things, you could easily mistake this place for the US, or Mexico City. Most of the stores I see are international brands. At the mall I saw Starbucks, Sephora, guess, H&M, etc etc. when I was looking for food, I saw Italian, sushi, frozen yogurt. It felt like being in any other urban mall. (One store I thought was funny was straight up the Aliexpress store?? It was like a cross between a dollar store and one of those stupid tech shops that had like massagers in the early 2000s.

Of course some things are different, I found a more traditional tapas place and got some food you wouldn’t normally see in the US. Everyone smokes here, drinking is much more casual, and they’re fond of this weird sloped escalator that’s like half way between an escalator and those airport fast walk things. Maybe it’s wheel chair accessible? But that thing is still pretty steep idk

I’m also not in a touristy spot but like, I feel like the mall I went to was a very authentic local person mall. The people just looked like normal Spanish people not tourists. Even so, Everyone here speaks English, they had an English menu ready for me, it’s all so… samey? Easy? Idk

I think this is part of why I’m not caring as much about traveling these days. Why spend all that money to just go, be somewhere with a slightly different skin? Anything I could want I could personally also get on Amazon, or at my own malls, idk.

I’m going Morocco will be more different. This is definitely bias but it feels like different == poorer. Where cities if given the option will homogenize into a globalized urban center.

When I reflect back, I feel like Saigon had more character and differences even though it also felt like a global city. Anyways.

Gonna chill and rest here until late morning and then hopefully stay out all day today. We’ll see.

[newoninternet]

Discovering the Finest Seafood Dining: Ibn Al Bahr and Beyond

Discovering the Finest Seafood Dining: Ibn Al Bahr and Beyond

Dubai is renowned for its luxurious lifestyle, stunning architecture, and culinary diversity. Among the myriad of dining options available, seafood restaurants hold a special place, offering the freshest catches and the most delectable dishes. This guide delves into the highlights of seafood dining in Dubai, focusing on some of the top locations, including the illustrious Ibn Al Bahr and the vibrant Club Vista Mare.

Ibn Al Bahr: A Jewel Among Seafood Restaurants

Ibn Al Bahr is a standout among seafood restaurants in Dubai, known for its authentic Lebanese seafood cuisine and breathtaking views of the Arabian Gulf. Situated in Club Vista Mare on the iconic Palm Jumeirah, this restaurant offers a unique dining experience that combines the flavors of the sea with a touch of Lebanese tradition.

Guests at Ibn Al Bahr can choose their seafood directly from the restaurant's market-style display, ensuring the freshest possible meal. The menu features an array of mouthwatering dishes, including grilled fish, seafood platters, and traditional Lebanese mezze. The relaxed ambiance, coupled with the serene sea views, makes Ibn Al Bahr a favorite destination for both locals and tourists.

Seafood Restaurants in Club Vista Mare

Club Vista Mare is a vibrant dining and beach club destination on Palm Jumeirah, offering a collection of upscale restaurants and bars. It's a hotspot for those looking to enjoy a meal with a view. Among the various dining options, several standout seafood restaurants provide a range of culinary experiences:

Ibn Al Bahr: As mentioned, it offers a unique Lebanese seafood dining experience.

Breeze Beach Grill: Known for its casual beachside vibe, Breeze Beach Grill serves a variety of seafood dishes, including sushi, ceviche, and grilled fish.

Simply Italian: While primarily an Italian restaurant, Simply Italian also offers a selection of seafood dishes, blending Mediterranean flavors with Italian culinary traditions.

Exploring Seafood Dining in Dubai

Dubai's seafood scene is vast and varied, with numerous restaurants catering to different tastes and preferences. Here are some of the notable mentions:

Best Seafood Restaurant in Dubai: Determining the best seafood restaurant in Dubai is subjective, as it depends on personal preferences. However, Ibn Al Bahr, Pierchic, and Ossiano at Atlantis, The Palm are often cited among the top contenders.

Dubai Fish Restaurant: The term "Dubai fish restaurant" encompasses numerous establishments known for their fresh and delicious seafood offerings. Some notable examples include Bu Qtair, a humble yet famous spot for its fried fish and prawns, and Fish Beach Taverna, which offers a Mediterranean-inspired seafood menu.

Seafood Places in Dubai: Apart from the well-known names, Dubai is home to several hidden gems and local favorites. These include Al Mahara at Burj Al Arab, which offers a luxurious dining experience with an underwater theme, and The Maine Oyster Bar & Grill, which combines East Coast USA vibes with fresh seafood.

Finding Seafood Restaurants Near You

For those seeking "seafood restaurants near me" or "seafood near me," Dubai offers a plethora of options scattered across the city. Whether you're in the bustling downtown area, the serene beaches of Jumeirah, or the vibrant Marina district, you're likely to find a top-notch seafood restaurant within a short distance.

Fish Restaurants Near Me: Fish restaurants in Dubai cater to various budgets and dining preferences. From upscale dining at Nobu and Zuma to more casual settings like Aprons & Hammers and Dampa Seafood Grill, there's something for everyone.

The Top Seafood Restaurants

Ossiano: Located in Atlantis, The Palm, Ossiano offers an unforgettable dining experience with its stunning aquarium views and exquisite seafood dishes.

Pierchic: This over-the-water restaurant at Al Qasr, Madinat Jumeirah, provides a romantic setting with panoramic views and a menu featuring high-quality seafood.

Sea Fu: Situated at the Four Seasons Resort Dubai, Sea Fu offers a sophisticated dining experience with Asian-inspired seafood dishes.

Conclusion

Dubai's seafood dining scene is as diverse and luxurious as the city itself. From the authentic Lebanese flavors at Ibn Al Bahr to the eclectic offerings at Club Vista Mare, there's no shortage of exceptional seafood restaurants to explore. Whether you're searching for the "best seafood restaurant in Dubai" or simply looking for a "seafood restaurant near me," the city's culinary landscape promises a memorable experience for every seafood lover.

With a myriad of choices ranging from casual beachside eateries to high-end dining establishments, Dubai's seafood restaurants cater to all tastes and preferences. So, whether you're a local resident or a visitor, be sure to indulge in the freshest and most delicious seafood that Dubai has to offer

[theplazamall]

Best Food Court Near Me in Gurgaon

Especially for those who enjoy good food, Gurgaon, a thriving city with a thriving culinary culture, has a wide variety of dining alternatives. 'The Plaza' is a gastronomic haven among the many options, enticing guests with its wide selection of fine dining options. Whether you're a visitor to the city or a local, The Plaza's food court offers a unique culinary experience that will leave you wanting more.

An Unmatched Gastronomic Experience

With its unique blend of eateries and cafes that appeal to a broad variety of tastes and preferences, "The Plaza" creates the ideal environment for an unforgettable gastronomic experience.The  best food court near you in Gurgaon is a celebration of culinary excellence, showcasing a variety of regional and global flavors that entice the senses and provide a memorable experience. It's more than just a bunch of restaurants.

The Plaza's Cuisine Treasures

Kogai: Treat yourself to an amazing dining experience at Kogai, where traditional dishes are painstakingly created to give rich and authentic flavors of Asian cuisine. With dishes ranging from delicious sushi rolls to flavorful stir-fries, Kogai transports you to Asia's diverse culinary scene.

Garden Lovers: Treat your body and soul to the healthiest treats available, including freshly made salads and nourishing meals made with only the best ingredients. Garden Lovers, which prioritizes health and fitness, is a refuge for anyone looking for a satisfying and flavorful meal.

I-Cafe: Relax and enjoy a peaceful moment at I-Cafe, where the aroma of freshly baked pastries and freshly brewed coffee blend together. Enjoy a variety of delicious treats as you unwind and revitalize in this quaint café's cozy atmosphere.

The Plaza's Food Court: A Culinary Haven

What sets The Plaza's food court apart is not just the delectable cuisine but also the inviting and vibrant atmosphere that enhances the dining experience. Whether you're looking for a quick bite or a leisurely meal, The Plaza's food court offers a diverse array of options to cater to every craving and preference. From comforting local delicacies to exotic international dishes, every dish served at The Plaza is a testament to the dedication and passion of its culinary experts.

A Culinary Experience to Remember

A visit to The Plaza's food court is more than just a meal; it's an exploration of tastes, textures, and aromas that stimulate the senses and create lasting memories. The Plaza's commitment to providing exceptional dining experiences is reflected in every dish served, making it the perfect destination for food enthusiasts and connoisseurs alike.

Visit The Plaza for an Unforgettable Gastronomic Adventure

Whether you're a food lover or simply looking for a place to enjoy a satisfying meal, The Plaza's food court is a must-visit destination in Gurgaon. With its diverse range of restaurants, warm hospitality, and ambiance that exudes comfort and elegance, The Plaza ensures that every visit is an experience to cherish and savour.

Plan your visit to The Plaza, the best food court near you in Gurgaon, and treat yourself to an unforgettable culinary journey filled with flavours, aromas, and memories that will linger long after your visit.

[hometable4]

Exploring Culinary Delights Restaurants Near Me

In our fast-paced world, finding a great restaurant that serves delicious food is a universal desire. Whether you're a local looking for new dining experiences or a traveler seeking authentic flavors, the phrase "restaurants near me" has become synonymous with culinary exploration. With the rise of technology, it has never been easier to discover hidden gems and satisfy your taste buds. In this article, we will delve into the ever-evolving world of restaurants near me and the myriad options they offer.

The Convenience of Technology

One of the biggest game-changers in the dining scene has been the integration of technology into our daily lives. Smartphone apps and websites have made finding restaurants near you a breeze. Services like Google Maps, Yelp, and TripAdvisor provide a wealth of information, including user reviews, ratings, and even menus. Gone are the days of aimlessHome Cookingly wandering in search of a good meal; now, you can simply search "restaurants near me" and be presented with a plethora of options.

Diverse Cuisines at Your Fingertips

One of the most exciting aspects of searching for restaurants near you is the opportunity to explore diverse cuisines. In multicultural cities, the options are virtually endless. Craving sushi, Thai, or Mexican? A quick search will reveal a variety of establishments specializing in these cuisines. This diversity not only allows you to satisfy your cravings but also encourages cultural appreciation through food.

Supporting Local Businesses

Another reason to search for restaurants near you is the chance to support local businesses. Smaller, family-owned restaurants often offer unique dishes and a warm, personalized atmosphere that chain restaurants cannot replicate. By dining at these establishments, you contribute to the local economy and help preserve the authenticity of your community.

Discovering Hidden Gems

Some of the best dining experiences can be found in the most unexpected places. Searching for restaurants near you can lead to the discovery of hidden gems tucked away in your neighborhood. These establishments may not have the same marketing power as larger chains, but they make up for it with their exceptional food and service. Whether it's a cozy bistro with an outstanding wine list or a hole-in-the-wall eatery known for its mouthwatering barbecue, these hidden gems are waiting to be uncovered.

Catering to Special Diets

For those with dietary restrictions or preferences, searching for restaurants near you is a crucial step in finding meals that suit your needs. Many restaurants now offer extensive menus for vegetarians, vegans, gluten-free, and other dietary requirements. Whether you're following a specific diet or simply looking for healthier options, you can find restaurants that cater to your preferences.

The Joy of Exploring

The act of searching for restaurants near you is an adventure in itself. It encourages exploration of your surroundings and the discovery of new flavors and cultures. It allows you to become a culinary explorer, constantly seeking out new tastes and experiences. Whether you're a food enthusiast or just looking for a satisfying meal, this journey is sure to be an enjoyable one.

The phrase "restaurants near me" has transformed the way we dine and explore the culinary world. Technology has made it easier than ever to find diverse cuisines, support local businesses, discover hidden gems, and cater to special diets. But beyond the convenience, searching for restaurants near you is an opportunity to embark on a culinary adventure, one that tantalizes your taste buds and broadens your horizons. So, the next time you find yourself in search of a great meal, don't hesitate to type those three words into your phone or computer and let the culinary exploration begin.

For More Info:-

Home Cooking

Home Cook In Netherlands

Food Near Me

Best Food Place In Netherlands

[lonestarcafeblog]

Exploring the World of Restaurants: A Culinary Journey

Welcome readers to this exciting blog where we will embark on a journey through the vibrant and diverse world of restaurants. Restaurants near Tauranga hold a special place in our lives as they offer more than just a meal - they provide unique dining experiences that create lasting memories. Whether it's a fancy fine dining establishment, a cozy casual dining spot, a quick and convenient fast food joint, or a food truck serving up ethnic delights, there is something for everyone in the world of restaurants.

Types of Restaurants

To begin our exploration, let's dive into the various types of restaurants that you can find in any city or town. Fine dining establishments are known for their elegance, impeccable service, and high-quality cuisine. These restaurants often have a formal dress code and offer a carefully curated menu with exquisite dishes that are prepared with precision and artistry. This type of restaurant is perfect for special occasions or when you want to indulge in a luxurious dining experience.

On the other end of the spectrum, we have casual dining restaurants, which are more relaxed and laid-back. These restaurants offer a comfortable atmosphere where you can enjoy a delicious meal with friends and family without the need for formal attire. Casual dining restaurants usually have a diverse menu that caters to a wide range of tastes and preferences.

Fast food restaurants, as the name suggests, are known for their quick service and convenience. These establishments are perfect for when you're on the go and need a quick bite to eat. Fast food restaurants often offer a limited menu of popular items that are prepared quickly and efficiently.

For those who crave an authentic taste of different cultures, ethnic cuisine restaurants are the way to go. These establishments specialize in specific cuisines from around the world, offering a wide range of flavors and spices that transport you to a different culinary destination. Whether you're in the mood for spicy Indian curries, flavorful Mexican tacos, or delicate Japanese sushi, ethnic cuisine restaurants have got you covered.

Lastly, we have food trucks, which have gained popularity in recent years. Food trucks are mobile kitchens that offer a variety of delicious and often unique dishes. These trucks can be found at food festivals, markets, or parked on the streets, providing a convenient and affordable option for food lovers on the go.

As a self-proclaimed foodie, I have had the pleasure of exploring all these types of restaurants. One of my favorite fine dining experiences was at a Michelin-starred restaurant in Paris. The attention to detail in every dish and the exceptional service made it an unforgettable evening. On the other hand, I have also enjoyed countless casual dining meals with friends, where we would gather around a table, share laughter, and indulge in comfort food. Food trucks have also played a role in my culinary adventures, often surprising me with their innovative and delicious creations.

The Art of Menu Planning

Now that we have explored the different types of restaurants, let's delve into the art of menu planning. The menu is a restaurant's primary marketing tool, as it showcases the cuisine and entices customers to try their dishes. A well-designed menu should not only be visually appealing but also informative and easy to navigate.

Menus are carefully crafted to highlight the restaurant's best dishes and create a memorable dining experience. One common technique used in menu planning is the placement of popular dishes strategically. These dishes are often placed in prominent positions, such as the top right or in a box, to draw the attention of customers. Pairing recommendations are also commonly included on menus to guide customers in their choices and enhance their dining experience.

When dining out, it's essential to navigate menus effectively to make the best choice. One tip is to scan the entire menu before making a decision, as some hidden gems may catch your eye. Another helpful strategy is to ask the server for recommendations or inquire about the chef's specials. By doing so, you may discover unique dishes that are not listed on the menu.

Behind the Scenes - The Kitchen

Now, let's take a behind-the-scenes look at the heart of any restaurant - the kitchen. The kitchen is a bustling and organized space where the magic happens. It is here that the chefs and kitchen staff work tirelessly to create culinary masterpieces that are served to diners.

In a professional kitchen, there is a hierarchical structure known as the kitchen brigade. At the top of the brigade is the chef de cuisine, who is responsible for overseeing the entire kitchen operations, creating menus, and ensuring the quality of the dishes. Working alongside the chef de cuisine is the sous chef, who assists in managing the kitchen and often steps in when the head chef is unavailable. The line cooks are the backbone of the kitchen, responsible for preparing and cooking the dishes according to the chef's instructions.

Common cooking techniques used in professional kitchens include sautéing, grilling, and braising. Sautéing involves quickly cooking food in a small amount of oil or fat over high heat. Grilling involves cooking food directly over an open flame or hot coals, giving it a smoky and charred flavor. Braising is a slow-cooking method that involves simmering food in liquid over low heat to tenderize and infuse flavors.

The organization and teamwork in a kitchen are what make restaurants successful. In a fast-paced environment, communication and coordination are key. Each member of the kitchen brigade has a specific role and responsibility, and they work together to ensure that every dish is prepared to perfection.

Dining Etiquette Dos and Don'ts

Knowing proper dining etiquette can make a significant difference in your dining experience and how others perceive you. Here are some essential guidelines to keep in mind when visiting restaurants:

Table Manners: Remember to sit up straight, keep your elbows off the table, and chew with your mouth closed. It's also polite to wait for everyone to be served before starting your meal.

Tipping Etiquettes: In many countries, it is customary to tip the server as a gesture of appreciation for their service. The standard tip is usually around 15-20% of the total bill, but it can vary depending on the country and the quality of service received.

Handling Cutlery: Start with the cutlery on the outside and work your way in as each course is served. When you are finished with a course, place your cutlery diagonally across the plate to indicate that you are done.

Using Napkins Properly: Place the napkin on your lap as soon as you sit down, and use it to dab your mouth as needed. When leaving the table temporarily, place the napkin neatly on the seat of your chair.

Remember, dining etiquette should never make you feel uncomfortable or intimidated. It's all about showing respect for the food, the restaurant, and the people around you. If you're unsure about a specific etiquette rule, observe others or discreetly ask the server for guidance.

Sustainable Practices in Restaurants

In recent years, there has been a growing emphasis on sustainability in the restaurant industry. Many restaurants near Tauranga are adopting eco-friendly practices to reduce their environmental impact and promote a greener dining experience.

One common sustainable practice is sourcing locally grown produce and ingredients. By supporting local farmers and producers, restaurants reduce the carbon footprint associated with transporting food long distances. Locally sourced ingredients also tend to be fresher and of higher quality, resulting in better-tasting dishes.

Restaurants are also implementing waste reduction strategies such as composting and recycling. Food waste is a significant issue in the restaurant industry, and many establishments are finding creative ways to minimize it. Some restaurants donate excess food to local charities or community organizations, ensuring that it does not go to waste.

As consumers, we can contribute to a greener dining experience by supporting sustainable restaurants. When choosing where to dine, look for establishments that prioritize sustainability and eco-friendly practices. Additionally, consider opting for vegetarian or vegan dishes, as plant-based diets have a lower environmental impact compared to meat-heavy diets.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the world of restaurants near Tauranga is a vast and exciting one, offering a variety of dining experiences to suit every taste and preference. Whether you're looking for a luxurious fine dining experience, a casual meal with friends, or a quick bite on the go, there is a restaurant out there for you.

We have explored the different types of restaurants, the art of menu planning, the inner workings of the kitchen, dining etiquette, and sustainable practices in the restaurant industry. Restaurants not only provide us with delicious food but also create memorable experiences that bring people together.

Source : Exploring the World of Restaurants: A Culinary Journey

[snowdice]

Finding the Time to Study Fic 2 [Day 133]

Here is my starting post for today’s study break stories session. I will reblog this post with the story as I write them today. Feel free to send in asks about anything at any point, even if it’s not for the part of the story I’m currently on.

If you aren’t interested and don’t want all of these posts clogging your dash, please feel free to block the tag “study break stories” as all posts and voting about it will go there. You can still see the finished product of the story even if you are blocking that tag as I will not tag the edited chapters with “study break stories” but with the tag “folds in paper.”

See the Folds in Time Universe Master Post for edited chapters. Not yet edited chapters are under the cut. I also have a playlist on youtube for this story.

I am going to get so interrupted. I’m not sure if I should even start this lmao.

Chapter 49 (Dinner and a Movie)

Patton left in the morning and almost immediately sent a confirmation text to Logan saying that he’d made it to the correct time and place with no issue. From there it was just a waiting game for Patton and for those left in the apartment.

That was Virgil’s least favorite type of game.

Even with Patton checking in every so often, Virgil couldn’t help but be nervous. This was why he was a professor and not an employee of the TPI. So many things could go wrong with trips like these!

Virgil did his best to keep his anxiety on the down low. It was, after all, Logan and Roman’s lifelong friend who was running around some other century at the location of a time distortion. They were both obviously nervous since Patton’s last trip had ended in disaster.

…

This trip was going to end in disaster a little bit too, Virgil knew, but for his sanity, he was going to ignore that fact.

The point was, Roman was constantly going to the gym which was reportedly not normal behavior, and Logan spent his days re-checking calculations that were far too late to correct even if Patton hadn’t already confirmed they were perfect by arriving when he should have.

Yet, despite being an anxious wreck, Logan eventually forced himself to put his lined notebook paper away. Roman was out once again when he finally shoved it in a drawer to get it away from himself.

Virgil looked up from doom scrolling on his phone.

“We should go out to dinner,” he suggested suddenly.

Virgil glanced at the pile of take-out containers stacked near the kitchen trashcan. They hadn’t left the apartment in days. “Sure,” he agreed.

They got changed and exited the apartment with no plans in mind. Logan asked him if he wanted anything in particular but Virgil didn’t know many places in this time, so he decided to trust Logan to pick something.

He should not have trusted him.

He glared at Logan from where they stood awkwardly in the middle of a mall. Logan appeared to only be entertained by his ire.

“Really?” Virgil asked.

“I wanted to see for myself if you were really that bad with chopsticks,” he said with a grin.

“I’m not,” Virgil said, crossing his arms. “The anxiety had gotten to me. I resent this experiment.”

Logan just laughed, knowing well enough that Virgil wasn’t actually irritated. In fact, Virgil couldn’t help but feel a fond squeeze in his chest. It was almost an inside joke, just between the two of them.

“It is actually decent sushi,” Logan said.

“Ah yes, 21st century American Midwest sushi,” Virgil drawled. “I’m simply quivering with anticipation for the authenticity we are about to enjoy.”

“It’s unanimously considered the best sushi in town by my friend group,” Logan said as if the fact that Mr. Asiago-Cheese-Bread-For-French-Toast and Mr.-Went-Along-With-Cooking-Asiago-Cheese-Bread-French-Toast’s endorsement would inspire any confidence in Virgil. Patton may have Japanese blood, but he’d grown up in the Appalachians. Don’t even get Virgil started on Roman.

“It’s in. A. Mall.”

“So?” Logan asked.

“It’s a sushi stand in a mall,” Virgil said. “There isn’t even seating.”

“There’s seating,” Logan argued, nodding at the five chairs sitting in front of the counter.

The seating was completely empty, which could be because their eating schedule was off and they were trying to eat dinner at 3pm, but more likely had to do with everyone else having more sense than the man standing in front of Virgil.

“Where’s your sense of adventure?” Logan asked. “Are you not an anthropologist? Do you not wish to experience the culture of the time first-hand.”

Virgil glared at him.

“Please try it,” Logan said, still amused. “It really is good.”

“If I get food poisoning, I’m blaming you,” Virgil warned.

“Noted,” Logan replied with a nod. Then, Virgil reluctantly allowed himself to be led over to the sushi stand.

The man behind the sushi stand greeted them jovially as they approached. He obviously knew Logan and even asked about Patton and Roman as they took a seat.

Virgil did have to admit, despite his instinctual misgivings about mall sushi, what he could glimpse of the man’s set up seemed legit. It looked like a real sushi bar if a bit on the small size.

They’d sat down in front of a glass case filled with chilled fish, and Virgil could see a large rice cooker behind the man and a normal refrigerator for non-fish ingredients.

Laminated menus were handed to them. It was only one page and didn’t even have a back, but honestly that was probably a good thing. If this place served a bunch of complicated or fancy dishes, Virgil would have been worried.

…

Well, he was still worried (it was mall sushi), but he wasn’t running screaming. The place looked like it wouldn’t give him food poisoning at the very least.

Logan suggested they get a “rainbow” and “snake” roll to split as well as a few different types of nigiri and Virgil didn’t argue.

The chef was kind, and he assembled all of the sushi fully in Virgil’s view which made him a lot less leery about the meal. The man seemed to know what he was doing. The fish wouldn’t be as fresh as it would have been in a coastal area, but it was clearly properly handled. When he finished making their order, he handed it to them all on one big plate.

They ate and talked with each other and the chef. Virgil was ribbed gently about his chopstick anxiety and the chef apparently decided to be on Virgil’s side of the conflict because as soon as he heard Logan talking about it, he pipped in with a story about Logan mistaking wasabi for avocado once.

By the end of their dinner, Virgil had to admit, when correcting for ingredient availability, it was pretty good sushi. He would not say it was the best sushi he’d ever had, but it was worlds better than what he’d expected.

Logan could obviously tell what his opinion was as they thanked the chef and paid, because he looked overly smug about it.

“Yeah, yeah,” Virgil said as they left the mall. “You’re good at picking restaurants.”

“I’m sure you are also when you’re in a more familiar location,” Logan said, still smiling smugly.

“I’m not actually,” Virgil said with a laugh. “I consistently panic choose the worst option every time.”

“Well, I’m usually the opposite,” Logan said. “So, I guess we balance each other out in that regard.”

“Yeah,” Virgil said with a grin. He shoved his hands into his hoodie pocket. “Uh, what are we going to do when we get back to the apartment?” he asked. “Because sitting there drowning in anxiety like we’ve been for the last few days isn’t the best for my mental health.”

“I’m not sure,” Logan said. “Did you have anything in mind that you wanted to do?”

“Hmm,” Virgil said. “You guys still have Blockbuster?”

“No,” Logan said, “but we do still have a Family Video store nearby.”

“Is it close enough to walk there?” Virgil asked.

“It is,” Logan said, “though if you wish to watch a movie, we could use a streaming service or my… library of movies.” Virgil doubted the legality of that ‘library’ both with the current authorities and the TPI.

Virgil shrugged. “It’s the charm of it,” he said.

“The charm of going to a business already made obsolete and on the brink of collapse?” Logan asked.

“Exactly,” said Virgil with a smile.

“Very well,” Logan said, turning to head in a slightly different direction. “If that’s what you want, we can go there.”

They were in a building that would look abandoned if there wasn’t a light on inside within 15 minutes.

The video rental store had clearly seen better days. Its carpet pattern was clearly from another decade and had been trampled over so often they might as well be walking on the linoleum underneath. A sign asked patrons to close the door behind them when entering as the spring that was supposed to make it close on its own had long since worn down to nothing. Virgil doubted anyone planned to replace it.

There was only one person working, a guy in his 30s who glanced at them briefly before returning to looking at his phone. Ah yes, Virgil’s favorite type of employee.

“What movie would you like to watch?” Logan asked. He glanced at one small, but still surprisingly present section filled with VHS tapes.

“I don’t know,” Virgil said. “Isn’t that the exciting part? Stop by a movie rental place on a Friday night, grab a more than likely crappy movie and some Milk Duds and proceed to sit and watch the stupid thing anyway because you already paid for it.

“Virgil, I grew up in the 90s. This is nowhere near exciting for me. There is a reason streaming sites have taken over the market,” Logan replied. “Also, it is Tuesday.”

Virgil rolled his eyes. “Just panic choose a movie with me nerd.”

“I don’t ‘panic choose’ anything,” Logan said. “I-”

“You do today,” Virgil interrupted.

“But…”

“Choose a letter, Logan.”

“…S?”

“Great!” Virgil dragged him off in the direction of the movies that started with ‘S.’

~~~

“This is just… gross,” Virgil declared a little under an hour and a half later and about an hour into the film.

“It’s a random romantic comedy from 2002,” Logan responded. “What did you expect?”

“Yeah, but on one hand there’s weird sex jokes and actors that might as well be from mars for all they know about human behavior… then on the other there’s actual on-screen physical abuse between the leads in a romance.

“I will concede that point,” Logan said, “but I will remind you that this could have been avoided if you had allowed me to do proper investigation of the movie choices before renting.”

“Ugh, yeah, yeah,” Virgil replied, leaning back to stare at the ceiling. “Just turn it off.”

Logan complied, reaching over to eject the DVD from his computer. The three roommates didn’t have an actual DVD player connected to their TV, so he and Virgil had chosen to use the desktop computer in the bedroom Virgil had been using during his stay.

Virgil was currently laying on Logan’s bed with Logan sat propped up against the headboard. Logan leaned over to hover over him, interrupting his staring contest with the ceiling.

“Thank you for helping distract me,” he said. “Despite the fact that we now know more about what we’re doing, I still worry about sending Patton through time. His last trip did not improve my confidence. I have been… rather nervous.”

“Well, I’m glad I could help,” Virgil said. “At least a little.”

“You helped a lot,” Logan replied. His hand reached down to pat Virgil’s shoulder, but then lingered there for a moment too long.

Virgil found himself sitting up suddenly. Logan had to jerk back to keep their heads from colliding. “I…” Virgil choked out once he was sitting up. “Um…”

Logan’s mouth curled into a half smile. He offered a hand and Virgil took it.

Virgil glanced at their now entwined hands. “I, uh, I’m an anthropologist.”

“I am aware,” Logan said.

“And, uh, you were born in this time, so technically, I’m studying you…”

“I’m a time traveler, Virgil,” he said, sounding amused. “I doubt I’m a pure specimen for any studies you may wish to run.”

“Right,” Virgil said. “That’s a, uh, good point. You’re right.”

Virgil paused and Logan waited for a long moment.

“So, then,” Virgil said slowly. “No moral quandaries. Just two people sharing a bed and watching a romance movie.”

“It was a bad one,” Logan said.

“It really, really was,” Virgil agreed with a laugh, and then Logan was leaning forward towards him, and Virgil was putting his hand on his shoulder.

The door flung open. “I’m home!” Roman declared as Virgil scrambled back, hitting his head on the headboard in his haste to put distance between himself and Logan.

“Fuck,” Virgil hissed, the sharp pain almost distracting him from his mortification. Almost.

“Roman! You need to knock!” Logan yelled.

“Since when?” Roman asked, plopping down on Logan’s bed between them.

“Since we have a guest,” Logan said meaningfully. Virgil hid his reddening face in his hands, curling into as tight of a ball as possible.

“You were both in here. It’s not like one of you was going to be naked,” Roman said flippantly.

Virgil debated the merits of staying curled up in a ball for the rest of his life.

There was a second of silence, and Virgil was glad he couldn’t see the expressions on the other two’s faces from his ball when Roman said, “Oh my god!”

 Chapter 50

           The breakfast table was silent the next morning. Though, if one could call it a breakfast table when Logan was only drinking a cup of tea, Roman was chewing on a slice of unbuttered, untoasted bread, and Virgil was squirreled away in Logan’s bedroom either still asleep or avoiding them both was debatable.

           “…Look,” Roman said.

           “We aren’t talking about it.”

           “How was I supposed to know the two of you were getting it on?!” Roman said, talking about it. “Put a sock on the door next time or something. It’s common courtesy!”

           “We weren’t having sex,” Logan hissed. Roman opened his mouth. “Shut up and learn the ‘common courtesy’ of knocking.” He pointed his spoon at his roommate threateningly.

           Yet, still, because it was Roman, the other man opened his mouth once more. Luckily, before he could say anything else on the matter, there was a loud crack from the living room.

           “I’m going to need a towel please!” Patton called.

           “I’ve got it,” Roman said, jumping into motion and sprinting towards the bathroom. Logan meanwhile, stood and headed towards the living room.

           “Why are you wet?” Logan asked immediately upon taking in the sight of his roommate. His very, very soaked roommate. He was dripping water like he’d just crawled out of a pond.

           “There was an ocean in the church,” Patton replied, seeming unconcerned by the fact that he was getting their carpet wet.

           “What?” Logan asked.

           Patton pushed his sopping wet hair out of his eyes. “The time distortions were a lot more intense than the ones we’ve seen before,” he said. He held out a small innocuous appearing device whose only mechanism seemed to be a small switch. “Be really careful with that. It’s unstable, and we might have damaged it getting out.” Patton winced and removed his timepiece from his write. “Actually, speaking of that… this might need a checkup too.”

           “Were there issues with the tech?” Logan asked, taking both devices.

           “…No,” Patton said, looking a bit sheepish. “We may have… had to turn off all of the safety protocols.”

           “You what?!” Logan asked, snatching away the timepiece and clutching it to his chest. “Patton, I just made this for you!”

           “And you did a really good job!” was Patton’s reply, “but we really didn’t want to drown in a church.”

           “It was a completely new design!”

           “And it’s really good. We didn’t blow up!” Patton said with a smile.

           Logan took a slow breath. “I’ll make sure it wasn’t damaged.”

           “Thanks Lo!”

           Roman entered the living room then, bright blue towel in hand. “I have returned bearing gifts!” he proclaimed.

           “My hero,” Patton said with a laugh. He took the towel and used it to wipe off his face and then start to dry his hair.

           “So, an ocean in a church?” Logan asked.

           Patton nodded. “I’ll have to thank Virgil for suggesting the inflatable raft,” he said. “Though I think he might have cheated on that suggestion.” He paused then as he finished running the towel through his hair. “I saw Remus,” he said.

           Roman froze instantly. “You did?”

           “Uh huh,” Patton replied. “He was with Janus. I didn’t think I should say anything to him since that trip was way out of sync though. I’m sorry.”

           “Yeah, no, of course,” Roman said. “That makes sense. That’s fine. How was he?”

           “He seemed good,” Patton said. He flashed Roman a smile. “Happy. Not exactly what I expected though. He’s quite the character. I can tell he and Janus are good friends.”

           “Oh,” Roman said. “That’s… that’s good.”

           Patton’s face screwed up slightly. “He did flirt with me though, so that was weird.”

 Chapter 51

It took a few days after Patton got home for Logan to first make sure the timepiece and the distortion device were not at a risk of exploding and then to study the distortion device.

“It’s similar to what little we’ve seen of TPI technology,” Logan had mused, sitting on the couch while studying the information he’d managed to get off of it. “It’s definitely derived from the same technology unlike my time travel device, but it looks a bit different, and this version at least is rather shoddily made. Of course, creating disorder and almost ripping apart time is easier than seamlessly moving through it.”

 “So, they’re probably from my time then?” Virgil asked.

“Most likely,” Logan agreed. “Though it could always be a Remus situation where they were from another time originally but accidently ended up in the TPI time. Either way, the origin of their purposeful time travel was certainly around your time.”

Virgil glanced at the device he’d set on the table in front of them all. It looked innocent sitting there, but it had the power to destroy so much, and they didn’t even know why. “Do you think whoever made this trapped me here on purpose?” Virgil asked.

“It would be a big coincidence if you in particular got trapped in this time in particular,” Roman said.

 “I was thinking the same thing actually,” Logan said. “You do work with the TPI and with Janus, a time agent who both often is caught in the middle of devices similar to this being used and who runs into Patton frequently. Plus you know Remus, Roman’s brother even if we didn��t know that connection before you were trapped here and we already had a correspondence before you landed here. It would be strange for you to have ended up here on accident.”

“But why?” Virgil asked. “I am somehow connected to all of you, but I’m still not a time agent myself.”

 “All I am to the TPI is a walking history book. I’m not actually involved.”

“Well,” Logan said. “Perhaps someone knows something we don’t.”

“Or maybe it’s just a happy accident!” Patton said. Virgil highly doubted that and it made anxiety churn in his gut.

“Well,” Logan said, “accident or not, we do now have a solution to the issue. I’ve managed to use this device to recalibrate my calculations and we’ve gotten a ping. I know where the signal blocking Virgil’s time device is coming from.”

“Where?” Roman asked.

“It looks like a local trash dump,” Logan replied. “It must have just ended up in a trashcan that day and was emptied before we checked.”

 “Well, that should be easy enough to get,” Patton said. “Give Roman and I the exact coordinates and we can go and get it now.”

“Wait, why are we the only ones who have to dig through a garbage dump?” Roman asked.

Patton gave him a look.

“Oh,” Roman said, eyes lighting up. “Oh right!” Then, he scowled remembering he was going to be going through a garbage dump. “Fine,” he sighed.

“Think of it as an adventure!” Patton said.

“We’re time travelers. We have so many more exciting adventuring opportunities than dumpster diving, Pat-Pat,” he whined, but he still got up. “I’ll go get changed.”

 Patton stood up and handed Logan his phone, so Logan could program the location of the distortion device into it while he changed as well. “We’ll text you when we’re heading back! I’ll give you a 15- and 5-minute warning,” Patton said with a wink. Virgil immediately hid his face in his hands.

“Do you think the TPI is hiring?” Logan asked as the door closed. “I’d love to move to a different century without those two.”

“Time agents don’t usually live in 4500s,” Virgil said, face still hidden behind his hands. “They’d probably still place you in this century, especially since you’re comfortable here.”

“No escaping them then,” Logan sighed.

 “Mmm,” was Virgil’s response.

He felt Logan shift on the couch next to him and a warm palm touched his wrist, gently tugging his hand away from his face in a way that Virgil could resist if he really wanted. Virgil let the hand fall with a sigh. Logan smiled at him when he could see his face and Virgil smiled back despite how he could still feel heat in his cheeks.

“You will be going home this evening, I’d imagine,” Logan said.

“Yeah,” Virgil agreed softly.

“I would like to give you a gift before you go, if you’ll allow it.”

 “Uh, okay,” Virgil agreed.

Logan nodded and leaned back to grab something out of the pocket of a jacket that was currently hanging over the side of the couch. “Ah,” he said when he found whatever he was looking for. He glanced at Virgil. “It is a ring, by the way, but this is not a proposal.”

“Well, I’d certainly hope not,” said Virgil dryly. “An impulse elopement would be a little off brand for us both.”

Logan smiled at him. “Very true,” he agreed. Then, he opened his palm revealing a small ring.

“So, then, what is it?” Virgil asked.

 “It is an emergency time travel device,” Logan explained. “It’s not particularly complex. It can only take you here to this room between 2 weeks and one year from now, but if you ever need something from me, you can use it.”

He offered the ring and Virgil opened his palm to let him put it in his hand. He studied the ring for a moment. It was a rose gold and very light.

“It also has some security measures,” Logan said. “It wouldn’t do to make an emergency time travel device that someone else might easily try to take from you. It’ll disappear when you put it on. You’ll still be able to feel it and take it off whenever you wish. It’ll become visible again if you take it off.”

 “An invisible ring?” Virgil asked, curious.

“Yes,” Logan said with a smile. “It is designed to store your space time coordinates for up to 48 hours just so you’re aware, but as I said you can take it off whenever you wish and… I won’t use it against you.”

Virgil looked at him. “Okay,” he said. “Can I put it on?” Logan nodded, and Virgil slipped it on his finger. As promised it disappeared from view as soon as he did. He could still feel the weight of it on his finger though.

“You turn it three times counterclockwise to activate it,” Logan said, making Virgil look up from the seemingly empty space on his finger he’d been staring at.

  “It would drop you right about where you are sitting.”

“Thanks,” Virgil said. It wasn’t nearly enough to say how much he appreciated the gift, but he hoped his tone said enough.

“Don’t use it against me?” Logan asked with a half-smile, and Virgil realized just how much trust was being put onto him by giving him a device that was directly linked to their base of operations despite knowing Virgil worked with the TPI.

Virgil shook his head. “I won’t,” he said. Deciding to throw out his nervousness and embarrassment over last time he shot forward to kiss Logan quickly on the lips. They bumped noses and Logan’s glasses ended up askew in the process, but Logan didn’t seem to mind judging by his delighted laugh when they parted.

“Thank you,” Virgil said again.

“Of course,” Logan replied.

 Virgil could still feel the ring on his finger even after Patton and Roman got back from the dump with the device that had caused this whole mess. He could still feel it when Logan turned it off and his time piece reactivated. He could still feel it there when he made it home and gave an excuse as to why he’d left his trip early. He could still feel it when he got an email from an unknown sender making sure he got home okay.

  Arc IV: (To Be Named)

Chapter 52

“What’s this?” Janus asked when a giant bowl was set on the coffee table in front of him.

“We’re eating on the couch tonight,” Emile said cheerfully.

Janus raised an eyebrow and switched off the tablet he’d been using to look at him. “Why?” he asked.

Emile shrugged and set a second huge bowl down next to Janus’s. “For fun,” Emile said. He turned back towards the kitchen and Janus leaned forward to look in the bowl. It was spaghetti with some sort of creamy sauce and a few different vegetables mixed in along with some shrimp.

“I made green tea,” Emile said, coming back into the room with two mugs.

 “Thanks,” Janus said, taking one of the mugs with a small smile.

“What were you doing?” Emile asked as he took a seat beside Janus. He nodded at the deactivated screen now sitting on the end table.

“Just doing some puzzle games,” Janus said.

“That sounds fun,” Emile said with a smile.

“Head doctor said they might be a good thing to do to pass the time when I told him to fuck off after suggesting reading.”

Emile sighed. “Dr. Figueroa is my colleague. You could try to be polite.”

“I thought I was supposed to be my authentic self in therapy,” Janus replied.

 Emile just huffed and rolled his eyes. Janus couldn’t help but smile as he picked up his mug of green tea.

The last few months had been…different. In a lot of ways, Janus’s life had become harder than it had been before. It had been easy to do nothing but eat pre-prepared meals, go to work, and pass out in his empty house every day. It wasn’t good for him. He’d known it even then, but it had been easy. This was not.

Emile had offered, insisted really, that Janus move into his house for a bit just to get back on his feet.

 He’d taken time off of the TPI which would have been given to him anyway since he’d spent so trapped in the past. He’d had to give a report of what had happened, and he’d mentioned Patton, but he hadn’t mentioned everything. They’d offered him a shrink when he’d asked.

Janus had told Emile he needed to tell him something about why he’d been distant, so he wouldn’t end up chickening out, but he’d asked for a bit of time to figure out what to say. He’d finally worked up the courage to talk about it with Dr. Figueroa two weeks ago. Much like with Patton, it was easier to talk to someone who hadn’t been involved in Janus’s mistake, but it still wasn’t easy.

 He was running up on the deadline he’d given for having that talk with him. It had to happen soon, and they both knew it, but Emile was just patiently waiting for him to suck it up. It felt… wrong to use his kindness without him knowing, but it was also nice to get to spend time with his brother. He didn’t even dare to hope that he’d still have the chance once he told him.

He was moving back into his own house in less than a week. He’d tell him then so if Emile ended up kicking him out of his life, he wouldn’t have to kick him out of his home too.

 For now, though everything was fine. Harder, more complicated, and in threat of exploding at any moment, but fine. Fine wasn’t something he’d really felt in a long time. Or at least, fine while in his own time wasn’t something he’d felt in a long time. There’d been a few moments with Patton sitting next to the fire outside the hole in the ground they’d slept in for those few months where the man would turn to look at him and he’d felt fine. Yet, Patton had been right. Those moments were unsustainable with how Janus was actually feeling deep down.

 “This is good,” Janus said, after taking a couple of bites of the pasta in front of him.

“Well, I always was the only one in the house that could cook,” Emile said, and that was true. “It was either learn to defend for myself or eat a cheeseburger for every meal.”

“Hey, I had a good burger seasoning.”

“Not for every meal, Janus.”

“Meat, dairy, bread. What more could you want?”

“Vegetables, Janus.”

“You could have put pickles on!”

“I don’t like pickles.”

“That sounds like your problem, not mine,” Janus argued.

Emile shook his head, turning his eyes to the ceiling. “How have you been surviving on your own?”

 “Well, I mean,” Janus said. “Badly.”

“Right…” Emile said. He leaned over to bump their shoulders together. Janus flashed him a smile.

“Speaking of,” said Janus. “Could you physically force me to pack tonight? I meant to do it today and instead I ended up playing puzzles games.”

Emile chucked. “Sure, I’ll help you after dinner.”

“You don’t have to help me,” said Janus. “Just make me do it.”

“Maybe I want to help,” said Emile.

“Oh, yes, packing. The most entertaining of Thursday night activities.”

Emile hummed and then glanced at him. “Remember when you helped me pack for college?” he asked.

 “Mmm, I do,” Janus replied.

“I was so stressed about going somewhere new,” Emile said, “that I avoided packing for weeks. Every time Mom would ask me how packing was going, I’d tell her it was going fine but in reality, I hadn’t even started. You’d come home two days before I had to leave because you were going to help me move into my dorm. It’s like you could sense no packing had been done the moment you stepped through the front door.”

“You were doing your ‘hiding the broken horse statue from mom’ shuffle,” Janus said with a smirk.

 “Well, you walked me straight to my room and we packed everything up in those two days,” Emile said. “You made it so much easier.”

“Yeah, because I hovered over you until you did it and did half of it for you,” Janus snorted.

“It wasn’t just that,” Emile said. “You also found the music streaming station run by the university and put that on and talked about what your freshman year was like. You also had tips on what things I should and shouldn’t pack when moving into the dorm.”

“You still took all of the cartoon stuffed animals despite my advice.”

 “I thought there’d be more space on the bed,” Emile frowned.

Janus snorted.

“But anyway, just having someone else around made me happier. It wasn’t just about the workload being halved either. You being there made me feel less lonely and reminded me I’d always have someone to come back to.”

Janus internally winced. He was sure Emile hadn’t meant to make him feel guilty in any way. In fact, he probably was trying to do the opposite, but him saying that just reminded Janus that it hadn’t been true. Janus had abandoned him for literal years and hadn’t been someone he could always come back to.

 Emile had proven himself to be at least close to who he was before Janus messed with time the few last months. There were a couple of differences here and there, and Janus could not be sure if they were from him changing time or from him avoiding his brother for the past three years and him naturally changing. Most memories they shared that Janus cautiously brought up or Emile mentioned on his own were consistent with what Janus remembered, but he hadn’t pushed too hard or dug too deep. It just made him feel more guilty about avoiding the man for so long.

 It made him want to ignore the man more, because it seemed every choice Janus ever made only hurt him.

…

Well, perhaps not the college radio station when helping an anxious 18-year-old pack up his childhood bedroom.

He should probably tell Emile that his words made him feel guilty because that was obviously not the intention and he’d want to know. He should probably apologize properly for leaving him alone for three years without an explanation. He should probably provide an explanation for those three years.

He should probably go see the head doctor again soon.

(He should probably stop calling Emile’s colleague who was in the same field as him a head doctor derogatorily in his head.)

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For now, he just glanced at Emile. “You’re trying to bully me into letting you help pack with logic, aren’t you?”

“I am,” Emile confirmed without remorse.

“Fine,” Janus sighed, “but only if you let me do the dishes for you.”

Emile took a long moment to consider the offer. “You drive a hard bargain,” he said, “but okay.”

“And no doing anything sneaky like getting bags ready for me on your own while I’m doing it or the deal is off,” Janus said.

“You always think of all possible loopholes, Janus,” Emile sighed.

There was a long silence.

“Agree, you prick,” said Janus.

“No promises,” Emile replied cheekily with laughter in his eyes, and things were good for a moment more.

 Chapter 53

Today Janus was moving into his house in 24th century for the second time in his life, and honestly, the house wasn’t going to look much different than it had when he’d first moved in. Janus had unpacked his things more at Emile’s house in the past almost 6 months than he had in the two and a half years he’d liven in his house. His house held clothes, bare bone furniture, and exactly one skillet from when he’d decided to be daring and tried to cook himself an egg. All he’d really customized for himself was the setting on the LXC device which controlled the lights, media across the home, and prepackaged food ordering and prepare.

 He almost felt embarrassed that his house was so empty. Emile, of course, knew that his mental health had been fucked, but the blankness of his house was a physical reminder of this fact especially considering how he used to keep house before all of this. He’d warned Emile about the fact that his house was empty, and he had said he understood, but still.

They gathered all of the luggage in a pile in Emile’s guest room. They’d had to get permissions from the TPI to allow Emile to travel to his house, and Janus went ahead and filed to give him permanent permission to travel there.

 The decision felt far too hopeful for someone who hadn’t had that conversation with his brother yet, but it had made Emile smile in the moment.

Emile took three of the bags and Janus took the rest. He waved his arm and selected the third saved location on the device. In a moment, he was standing in the living room of his dark, empty house.

…

His supposed to be dark and empty house. More of the lights were on than Janus had ever switched on himself, and half of the windows were open. (He didn’t even know some of those windows opened.)

 They were letting in the sounds of birds that made the lakeside their home as well as cool late fall breeze. There was also a racket coming from the kitchen. Emile was beside him a second after he himself had appeared. He looked around for a moment. “Did you leave it like this?”

“No,” Janus replied.

“Do you have squatters?” He had a security system from 2 millennia in the future on his house. He highly doubted it.

“I’m going to go check the kitchen,” Janus said, moving towards the noises coming from the other room.

He stopped in the doorway to his kitchen only to see Patton standing at his kitchen counter cutting up a carrot on a cutting board Janus didn’t think he owned, and if he did, it was buried in a box somewhere.

 “What are you doing?” Janus asked.

“Cooking!” was the immediate reply.

“In my house?” Janus asked. “How do you even know where my house is?”

“I may be just a little bit ahead of you,” Patton said with a wink while tapping the side of his nose.

Janus sputtered. “This is my house!”

“I know!” He said it so cheerfully while being a purposefully obtuse asshole that Janus could help but crack a smile and shake his head. He’d missed him after spending so long alone with him though he wasn’t go to admit that to him when he’d broken into Janus’s house to…

“Again, what are you doing?”

 “I’m making you soup.”

“Why?” Janus asked.

“Well,” Patton said. “I know it’s a bit of a rough time for you, so I thought I’d give you a nice welcome home present and what better present than food!” He smiled at him widely.

Janus looked closer at what he was making. “You’re trying to prove to me you can cook.” Patton frowned at him. “Have you considered I have had enough fish stew for a lifetime?”

“Nope!” he said. “It’s entirely different this time anyway. I have carrots!”

“I don’t like carrots,” Janus lied blandly.

“Liar!” Patton declared.

“No, I’m not,” Janus continued to lie.

 “I mean, that was definitely a lie,” Emile interjected from behind Janus. He was looking at them curiously. “Er, hello, who are you?”

“This is Pat,” Janus said.

“The illegal time traveler you’ve been tracking?” Emile asked with a questioning lilt to his tone.

“Ah, yes, well,” Janus said with a cough. “We came to an understanding when stuck in pre-history.”

“And now he is cooking you soup in your house?” Emile asked.

“I’ve long since stopped trying to make sense of him,” Janus grumbled.

“Well,” Emile said. “Hello Pat.”

“You can call me Patton,” he said easily. “I hope it’s nice to meet me, because I’ve already met you.”

 “We haven’t been meeting in the correct order,” Janus informed Emile. “So, he’s apparently already met you which will happen in your future. It is also something he shouldn’t be talking about,” he scolded. Patton took that with a shrug.

“I hate time travel,” Emile said, his nose scrunching up. “Isn’t life already confusing enough.”

Janus winced, not relishing the upcoming conversation with him about how confusing his life was now because of time travel.

“Don’t you work with the TPI too?” Patton asked.

“That doesn’t mean I like time travel,” Emile said. “I’m a stationary agent and I like that just fine.”

 “Time travel can be a bit complicated sometimes,” Patton acknowledged, “but I don’t think it’s all bad.” He finished chopping up the carrot and turned to put it in the self-regulating soup pot. Janus squinted at it. It was certainly not something Patton had in the 21st century. So, the question was. Had he gone out and bought time appropriate cookware before breaking into Janus’s house or had he gone through Janus’s storage to find it?

“You’re a free agent time traveler, right?” Emile asked.

“Depends on what you mean by free agent,” Patton said. “I have always worked with a group of people, and we have rules and procedures. It’s basically a time agency itself, just not the TPI.”

 “And you’ve met me before?”

“I have,” Patton confirmed, “but Janus is right in that I can’t say much more than that about it. In fact,” he said wiping off his hands on a towel hanging from his apron. (The apron was covered in cartoon squirrels and totted the phrase ‘I’m a nut for baking.’) “I should probably be getting out of here.”

“You’ve never been worried about us meeting out of order before,” Janus pointed out with a frown. He didn’t particularly want Patton to go even though the man had broken into his house and possibly went through his boxes of kitchen equipment.

 “Well,” Patton said. “There’s meeting wildly out of order, there’s meeting in order, and then there’s what I’m doing.”

“What are you doing?” Janus asked alarmed.

Patton just shrugged with a smile.

“No, Patton, what are you doing?”

“Soup should be done in about an hour, but you can leave it on all day. I got a pot that’s fridge safe, so just shut it off and stick it in there before going to sleep.”

“Patton.”

“See you later! Bye!” He said and disappeared into thin air.

Janus sighed and rubbed the bridge of his brow. “Why is he like this?”

 “Janus,” Emile asked. “Why did your self-declared mortal enemy make you soup?”

“Because he’s an asshole, that’s why.”

“Uh huh,” Emile said, looking at him oddly.

“What?” Janus asked.

“What exactly happened when you were stuck in the past?” Emile asked.

Janus sighed. “A lot happened. A lot.” He glanced at the soup pot happily performing its function on his kitchen counter. ‘I hope it’s nice to meet me, because I’ve already met you,’ rang in his ears. Fucking Patton with his little hints about the future. It gave Janus just a bit of courage though knowing that Emile at least didn’t flee the continent after the conversation they had to have. He was at least around enough to meet Patton. “In fact,” Janus said. “It’s probably time I told you what happened. Everything that happened.”

 Chapter 54

They sat down in the living room. Janus let Emile have the couch and sat on one of the matching armchairs. There was a squeaky sound when he sat. The plastic covering the chair had been delivered in was still on it.

Emile had a pleasant, open but curious expression on his face and Janus suddenly had an idea what it felt like to be his patient.

“I,” Janus began after a moment, shifting uncomfortably on the squeaky chair. “I don’t know how to start this conversation. I talked about what I wanted to say and possible ways to say it with Dr. Figueroa, but I… I still don’t know.”

 “I guess I should start by saying that I did something horrible that I need to apologize for and I’m not sure if apologizing will even be enough. The problem is you don’t even know what that horrible thing is.” Janus stared at his feet. “So, first, I should probably explain what I did. I just don’t know where to start.”

“Maybe start with what happened before it,” Emile suggested. “Just lead up to it. It might help explain why whatever it was happened too.”

Janus took a breath. “Okay,” he said. “That day was just like most that I remember. We both woke up early. I was going to the TPI and you were going to where you worked your residency. We ate leftover pizza for breakfast because both of us were exhausted. You because it sucks to be a resident and me because I’d been working on a big case.”

 “I was getting frustrated with the case. That was my first mistake: being impatient and angry. It was just a thief, but a slippery one. She’d stolen a half-broken time piece and was using it to rob banks within about a 50-year time frame. I had an idea of where she might go, but no one would listen to me. Or at least,” Janus quirked a half smile, “that’s how I interpreted it. They said they’d look into my idea, but they were being extra cautious because of how close in the timestream her actions were to most of the agents’ lives.”

 “I was so tired of the case and so egotistical. I decided to check it out on my own without being cleared by the TPI. I went back in time without thinking of the consequences and that was the worst thing I’ve ever done.” Janus took a breath. “I’m not sure how, but somewhere in the course of my self-appointed mission…” He trailed off. He didn’t know how to say it. He really didn’t.

“What happened?” Emile asked when he didn’t continue.

“I…” and his next words probably sounded like crackly nonsense to Emile’s ears because he couldn’t get his thoughts straight and his tongue wouldn’t make the words right.

 “I don’t even remember living in that town or the fact that Mom used to work at that bank,” he choked out. “I didn’t think and I didn’t check and…” There was a long silence. “I erased you,” he finally managed to say in a whisper, but in the quiet of his barely lived in house, the words were loud.

There was more silence. “But I…” Emile said after a moment.

“I went back and fixed it,” Janus said, “but I… didn’t do a perfect job. I don’t even know how much I messed things up. It would have been one thing if it’d just been me. If it had just impacted my life, but I did it to you and I don’t even know how to start to apologize.”

 Nothing was said for a long moment. Janus didn’t look at him.

“…Huh,” Emile finally said.

Janus risked a glance at him. He didn’t look irate, but he did still look confused which was probably the reason for that.

“I’m sorry,” Janus said. It was really the only thing he could say at this point.

Emile tilted his head to the side. He took off his glasses and cleaned them with the edge of his shirt with slow circles. Since he was 15, Emile only cleaned his glasses with specially designed wipes, but he’d held onto the habit of cleaning his glasses with his shirt anytime he needed a moment to think. Janus wasn’t sure if Emile even realized he was doing it, but he knew it was a signal for Janus to be quiet for a few seconds.

 The glasses were perched back on Emile’s nose after a few seconds. “I think I remember that,” he said contemplatively.

“…What?” Janus asked, and he was no longer avoiding looking at Emile. He was now blatantly staring at him.

“Well, I didn’t know what it was,” Emile said, “but I did have a very odd dream on the day you mentioned and suspiciously I had said dream in the middle of the day and woke standing up.”

“A dream?” Janus asked.

“A very vivid dream,” Emile said. “I don’t believe you actually erased me completely from existence. My life was simply shifted slightly. I was working as a social worker for about 5 hours and then I was back in my appropriate place.”

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“Why didn’t you tell me about that?” Janus asked, but then immediately wince at his own hypocrisy. “Er… never mind.”

“I didn’t know it was possibly real,” Emile said. “Honestly, I thought I was just really tired. I’d been overworking myself a lot. I took the rest of the day off after that.”

“You shifted reality for a few hours, and you didn’t realize it?” Janus asked.

“Like I said, I was really tired and nothing seemed to be wrong…”

“Wait, but things were different,” Janus said. “Didn’t you notice things were different.”

“Not… really,” Emile said. “Like what?”

“Like…” Janus said. “Like a whole bunch of things!”

 “Like…?”

“Like you had a different job title and you worked different hours.”

“I thought I’d fallen asleep standing up or had a vivid audio-visual hallucination at work from stress. I asked for a switch a couple of weeks later.”

“You used to hate time travel, but then you took a job at the TPI.”

Emile gave him a drawl look. “I still hate time travel,” he said. “I literally just said that not 5 minutes ago.”

“Well then why would you work for the TPI.”

“Because time travel is so confusing and distressing that people doing it on a regular basis as a career need psychological support.”

 “Plus, Lia asked for my consultation when developing the mental health part of the Agent Management Office,” Emile continued. “Considering I already knew quite a bit about time travel from being around you, she knew me personally, and I’d finished my residency, she decided to give me a job offer when my advice panned out.”

“W-well,” Janus said. “You were allergic to pineapples.”

“You mean my childhood allergy?” Emile asked. “That has since resolved itself in my adult life?”

“It has?” Janus asked.

“Janus have you considered,” Emile said, “that some if not all of the inconsistencies you were seeing in my life have to do with the fact that you hadn’t spoken to me in 3 years?”

 “I… uh… hadn’t considered that,” Janus admitted honestly.

“You were looking for information to support your incorrect world view,” Emile said sounding very much like a head doctor and not like a brother, “and you found some.” He sighed. “It makes sense after having faced a traumatic event where you effectively thought you’d killed a loved one that you weren’t thinking clearly.” The head doctor analysis voice slipped just a bit. “I just wish you’d talked about it with someone.”

“Sorry,” Janus said, because no matter which way this conversation had gone and no matter the revelations, the point was an apology. “I’m sorry.”

 Emile sighed. “I would have forgiven you even if you had erased me,” Emile said. “You didn’t mean to, and you did your best to fix it. You did fix it even if you were an idiot about it.”

“What about for being an idiot and not talking to you for three years?” Janus asked.

“I already did forgive you for that Janus,” Emile said pointedly. “What did you think the last 6 months were?”

“Pity?”

Emile gave him his disappointed and exasperated head shake. “Promise to never do anything like that to me again,” he said, “and I’ll forgive you.”

 “I promise,” Janus said immediately.

“And in the future, you’ll talk to me if you have any issue even if you think it’s horrible.”

“I think I’ve learned by lesson on that one.”

“And that goes for other people too,” Emile said. “If anything goes wrong with someone, you talk to them or if that’s too hard you talk to someone so they can convince you to talk to that person.”

Janus nodded.

“Great!” Emile said. “Then you’re officially forgiven for everything. Though I expect you to go to therapy and keep working on making yourself feel better, so these things don’t happen again.”

 And Janus… didn’t know how to feel about that. He should probably feel happy and thankful or at least relieved, but if he was being honest, he just felt kind of empty in that moment like an old well that had finally run dry. Fuck his head doctor and fuck Patton. Wasn’t this supposed to make him feel better? Everything was fine. He hadn’t actually erased Emile permanently from the timeline, in fact, he’d apparently still existed in some form in the alternate timeline Janus had temporarily made. Emile had forgiven him both for erasing him and ignoring him even though that was far more than Janus deserved. This was something he’d never even dared dream would happen, but it had been exactly what he’d wanted.

 Yet, he still didn’t feel good, not really, not like how he remembered feeling before all of this happened.

Though was that really a surprise? Things were not like how they were before. He and Emile were no longer close. There was love and affection there, but they didn’t really know each other. The last six months had been nice. He’d been able to pretend for a bit that everything was back to normal, but in the moments he hadn’t been able to pretend that, it’d been a bit stilted and awkward speaking to his brother especially at the start.

 Beyond that, Janus was just used to misery at this point. It was his default state. Not being miserable took effort and energy he didn’t always have. He felt himself slipping into sadness or numbness even during times he should be feeling good. He’d noticed himself experiencing a sense of desolation when Emile cooked his favorite meal or in the middle of watching a ballet performance Emile had suggested they go to and he’d been looking forward to in the days before or even now when he should be so happy, so ecstatic. Everything should be okay, but it wasn’t.

 “You doing alright over there?” Emile asked, and Janus didn’t know how long he’d been silent.

Instinct said to say yes and force himself to move on, but he wasn’t going to break his promise that fast. “Not really, no,” he admitted.

“That’s okay,” Emile said. “Anything I can do to help?”

“I really don’t know.”

“Why don’t we go taste the soup your arch nemesis,” there was a light teasing tone to his voice, “made for you. Some of the vegetables won’t be completely cooked yet, but I’m sure it’s already good.”

“Yeah,” Janus agreed. “Yeah, okay,” he got to his feet, the chair making that plastic squeaking sound again. “Maybe we could unwrap the furniture in here before you go home.”

“I think that’s a good idea,” Emile said with a smile.

 Chapter 55

Somehow, the strangest thing about his life right now was a picture on the wall. It was one that he’d gotten after college when he moved into his first actual house. It wasn’t anything special. It was just something that had caught his eye when he was specifically looking for something classier to put on his wall than the posters he’d hung in his college dorm and apartment with Virgil. It was a tall painting of a tree, but segmented into four parts, each representing the state of a tree in different seasons. In the top left, the three had small leaves and little buds, on the top right it had full leaves bathed in sunlight, in the bottom left the leaves had changed colors and started to fall off, and in the bottom right the tree was devest of leaves but covered in snow.

 It was on the wall near Janus’s bed. It was one of the first things he saw when he opened his eyes in the morning and was usually what reminded him that everything was different now when he woke.

The picture had been in a box in the houses garage up until the Saturday before the last. Saturdays had become his and Emile’s unofficial unpacking Janus’s house day. They would usually pick one or maybe two boxes that had been sitting untouched for years, unpack it, talk, and eat dinner together.

Notably, dinner was usually not provided by either of them.

 Patton had gotten into the habit of breaking into Janus’s house. Janus would sometimes catch him doing it briefly, but often Patton managed to avoid him. This was quite the feat considering Janus was not currently working and thus stayed at home a lot of the time. Patton had repeatedly reprogrammed Janus’s kitchen taking away the option for pop tarts entirely and replacing the option with real food. Janus’s kitchen was constantly stocked with something to eat that wasn’t trash. He also liked to leave around different smelling hand soaps, flowers, and paper cranes. Janus had an entire drawer in his nightstand dedicated to storing paper cranes now.

 The newest one was still on his nightstand from the night before, sitting cheerfully in the way of his view of the tree paining when his alarm woke up that morning. He sighed. He had not missed getting up early for work.

He was finally going back to working at the TPI this morning. His therapist had signed off on it last week, saying his was fit for duty. Considering they were apparently still understaffed at the TPI and Janus was a senior agent, this was met with much relief. Janus himself still wasn’t sure how he felt about it.

 He turned off the alarm and stood. Dr. Figueroa had him write out a morning schedule to follow when he’d expressed his struggle to get the day started. Either Patton or Emile had taken it upon themselves to copy the schedule on virtual sticky notes that appeared in every location necessary for getting ready in the morning.

First, he took a shower. He threw his nightclothes in the laundry chute. There were currently dozens of different scented soaps in his shower all in small bottles that had about 2 or 3 uses. Janus presumed they were curtesy of Patton. He decided to use one at random and it ended up being cotton candy scented.

 Next, he got dressed. That was easy enough since he always wore the same outfit to work every day. It didn’t matter what he wore much since missions would force him to redress anyway.

Then he went to his kitchen and sat down at the counter. He pushed the pop tart button. As expected at this point, he did not get a pop tart for breakfast. Instead, he got two eggs, toast, a sliced apple, and a few cherry tomatoes with green tea. He ate his breakfast while finishing one of the puzzles he’d been working on the night before.

 Once he finished, it was time to finally face going back to the office. He sighed, stood up and pulled up the screen on his timepiece. He selected his office as his destination and was off.

The first thing that happened upon appearing in his office was he got a face full of… something.

He sputtered, smacking the things fluttering about his face out of the air. “What is wrong with you?” was the first thing out of his mouth before he’d even really confirmed that the culprit of this attack was who he’d automatically assumed he was.

Remus, as anticipated was standing not 2 feet away from him.

 Remus had apparently gotten into the prop department again because he had some type of softly glowing glittery confetti was no all over Janus as well as their entire office.

“Remus, I told you no!” Lena snapped. “You know it’s impossible to clean up 3150s sparkle nukes.”

“Welcome back!” Remus crowed.

“I hate you,” Janus replied. “I just took a shower.”

“You’re fine,” Remus said with an eye roll.

“This shit doesn’t come off in decontamination,” Janus spat. “If my first mission back sends me to a time where I’ll be tried as a witch for glowing, I’m blaming you.”

 “We’re going to 2510,” Remus informed him. “You’ll fit right in.”

Janus grimaced. “Ugh, that decade.”

“It’s my favorite decade!” Remus exclaimed.

“Of course, it is,” Lena grumbled. “Just don’t bring anything gross back this time.”

“No promises,” Remus replied.

Janus chose to disengage from the conversation as Remus and Lena argued about was and what wasn’t allowed to be brought back to their shared office from what was well known as the least tasteful decade in history. It was also one of the least turbulent decades in history. The population was too busy making shitty ice cream flavors to wage war.

 At least they were giving him an easier assignment for his first time back. He turned to his desk and pulled up the files on his next mission, glancing through them. It was just a small blip that the TPI had noticed in a small town in 2510. It probably wasn’t much of anything, but they had no record of what had caused it, so they were going to send someone to look. Honestly, they’d usually just send in a surveillance agent and be done with it, but they’d probably handpicked this one for Janus in particular. He’d be insulted if he didn’t honestly still feel a bit off kilter being in the office.

 To his surprise, he didn’t have a scheduled meeting with Rhi. It wasn’t particularly important to see a mission coordinator for something this small, but it still wasn’t the usual protocol. Instead, he was just instructed to pick up his costume at the costuming department and leave in about an hour.

“Do we really not have an appointment with Rhi?” Janus asked.

“Senior agents haven’t really been meeting with Rhi unless it’s a high priority mission,” Lena told him. “We have too many newbies running around and there’s not time.

“That’s concerning…” Janus said.

“It’s better than trying to rush the inexperienced ones through. We at least have a general idea of what we’re doing. They’re trying to train up more mission coordinators, but that’s taking a while.”

 Janus still frowned, but he glanced back at the mission instructions. He’d have to make sure he thoroughly understood what was being asked of him before leaving if he wasn’t meeting with Rhi. “We should go get changed,” he told Remus. “2510s clothing is notoriously difficult to put on.”

“Five minutes back and he’s already dying to get my clothes off,” Remus said cheekily.

“I would rather tear my own eyeballs out of my socket than see you without your pants on again.”

Remus just wiggled his eyebrows.

“I’m so glad you’re back,” said Lena when Janus looked at her in exasperation. “He’s finally not Fred’s and my problem anymore.”

 Chapter 56

Getting ready for the mission was a bit of a mess honestly. The costume department barely even spared them a glance before sending them on their way. Remy at least was still there to give them one last debrief before sending them off into 2510, though he looked exhausted.

“Are you sleeping?” asked Janus.

“I’m drinking coffee,” was the reply as he shooed them out onto the streets.

The timeline disturbance that had been picked up was somewhere in one of the shops on that street.

“Do you want the bakery or the karaoke/stripper bar?” Remus asked.

Janus raised an eyebrow at him, and Remus clapped him on the back.

“This is why we’re partners,” he said.

 He plodded off towards the building to their right, and Janus turned to the building on the left. It was a small bakery and coffee shop painted in bright colors and sporting the Brazilian and Albanian flags.

There was a soft tinkling bell sound when he entered the shop, and the person behind the counter glanced over at him briefly before finishing putting a pastry in bag for a customer.

Unfortunately, their attention meant Janus wasn’t going to get away with snooping around the store without buying anything. He glanced around the interior of the shop as he walked up to the till.

 He glanced into the bakery display case the worker was standing behind. Oh… oh that all looked disgusting. He was not depressed enough anymore to willingly eat any of that.

“Uh,” Janus said when the worker looked at him. He glanced up at the wide selection of drinks over their head and winced at the ways the letters moved on the screen. He was pretty sure his dyslexia wasn’t quite that bad. Why did anyone choose to make letters move around and shake on purpose? As someone who had to deal with that on a daily basis, it wasn’t exactly entertaining.

 “Is it possible to get a banana and chocolate potato chip smoothie, but without the potato chip part?” he asked.

“Sure,” the worker replied. “Anything else?”

Janus shook his head.

“Can I have a name for that?”

“Jay,” Janus replied.

“Alright. It’ll be out in a minute.”

Janus nodded and turned, able to take in the rest of the establishment now that there weren’t eyes on him. It was as colorful on the inside as it was on the outside and seemed to have a retro cowboy-space theme mixed with posters from a contemporary werewolf romance movie. Janus had actually seen that movie one. It was surprisingly tolerable.

 The seats at least looked comfortable. There were a good number of tables and three couches. All of them were mix-matched. A few of the tables were outfitted with holographic chess and checkers, but most were normal tables. There were even a few physical boardgames and some bookshelves full of books, though he thought some of the bookshelves might just be there for decoration. He wasn’t sure which were and which weren’t.

He pretended to be very interested in the decorations as he waited on his drink, using that as an excuse to look around the entire shop. He was turned away when the door chimed again.

 “Hello,” a familiar voice said, making Janus turn around instantly. Janus could immediately tell that the man hesitantly lingering in front of the bakery display was not the Patton that he’d spent months holed up with or who had broken into Janus’s house repeatedly to replace his soaps and cook him meals. He seemed out of place which was saying something in 2510. He had the air about him that he was an 80-year-old grandpa trying to embrace youth culture, but not quite getting it. He also spoke in an accent that people around him would probably assume was him just not being fluent in Spanish but was actually him not being completely comfortable speaking Spanish from half a century ago.

 “Uh…” said Patton looking at the menu, a crease between his eyes.

“I’d suggest the banana and chocolate potato chip smoothie without the potato chips,” Janus said. Patton startled, whipping around to face him in surprise. “That’s what I got, though I would leave out the potato chips.”

Patton’s eyes narrowed on him. It was not, of course, the first time that Patton hadn’t been thrilled to see him, but it was the first time Janus had been happy to see him and he hadn’t been happy to see him in turn. Janus had gotten used to a Patton that liked him and he found himself not quite prepared for the way he pursed his lips in annoyance at the sight of Janus.

 “I’ll do the banana and chocolate potato chip smoothie, but with the potato chips,” he said in a way that made it sound like he thought he was getting one up on Janus for some reason.

“What flavor of chips?” the worker asked.

“Er, what flavors do you have?”

“Uh, I think drywall, oak wood, and limestone.”

Janus almost laughed at his expression. “Uh, do you have any naturally edible flavors?” he asked.

“We might have grass.”

Patton squinted as the worker bent to look under the cabinet. “Oh, wait, no, it’s glass. Is that alright?”

“…Maybe just no on the chips.”

 Janus did his best to school his features, so it wasn’t obvious he was laughing at him. He didn’t think he did a very good job considering Patton was glaring at him after turning around. That or he was just already pissed at Janus by default. It could go either way honestly.

“So,” Janus said when the worker turned away to start making Patton’s drink. “What are you doing here.”

“It’s none of your business,” Patton said with narrowed eyes.

“I mean, we could both be here for the same reason,” Janus pointed out. “We could share intel.”

“I doubt we’re here for the same reason.”

 “How would you know?” asked Janus.

Patton just looked away from him. He immediately looked confused at the movie poster his eyes landed on.

“Unless,” Janus said curiously, you aren’t here for a reason, reason.” Patton said nothing. “It was a pretty small disturbance, so it would make sense that your equipment might not pick up on it.” At least at this point. “Acting the tourist, Pat?”

“I’m just doing research,” Patton said, crossing his arms.

“Research?” Janus asked.

“I’ve never been here before,” Patton admitted. “I wanted to get a feel for it and other places just in case there ever was an issue.”

 “You just did France, didn’t you?” Janus asked.

Patton frowned and Janus smiled slightly. “It was recent,” he admitted.

“Well,” Janus said. “If you want some advice. I’d start with figuring out accents when you’re in different times.”

“I don’t need your advice,” Patton said and then smugly, “Janus.”

It took a bit for Janus to scan back through his memories and remember that Patton hadn’t known Janus’s name in France. He would have only figured it out after his friend Lo hacked into Silver Mountains University’s system and figured out Virgil had an appointment with him. Janus raised an eyebrow. “You sure about that, Patton?”

 He frowned, pouting like whenever Janus told him he wasn’t allowed to try to catch a bird and make it their pet. It was strange to meet a version of Patton who had not lived in a hole in the ground with him for months when Janus had already done that. Patton was on the back foot for once throughout this conversation. Every time before this, he’d managed to somehow twist it around even when he’d been younger than he was right now. When Janus had arrested him at the University, he’d managed to figure out his equipment wouldn’t be stopped by the TPI’s despite having no idea what the TPI was.

 In France, even when Janus had thought he’d been winning by taking his phone, he ended up getting access to a University in Janus’s time with information on the TPI, a situation that still had not been resolved.

Today, however, Janus knew far more about Patton than Patton expected. He still didn’t know exactly what his agency or whatever it should actually be called did, but he knew some things about it. He knew Patton was from the 21st century which explained the anachronisms in his speech in different times.

“You could help me look if you’d like,” Janus offered casually.

 “Why?” Patton asked suspiciously.

Janus shrugged. It was not because he missed him, he insisted to himself. It wasn’t because after spending so much time with him, not getting to talk with him all day was strange. It had nothing to do with the fact that the few times he’d ran into a farther along version of Patton since he’d moved back home, their interactions had been brief and tinged with something. No, the only reason Janus was inviting him along was so he could teach this younger version a few things, so he hopefully didn’t go about messing up time. “We worked well together in France, didn’t we?” he asked. “Besides, it’s just a small mission without much danger to the timeline.”

 “Pat,” the person at the counter called. Patton turned to him to go grab his smoothie, thanking the worker before turning back around and walking over to Janus.

“Fine,” he said. “I’ll help, but you have to answer my questions.”

“I’ll answer the questions that won’t endanger any timelines or secrets of my agency.”

Patton considered it for a moment, taking a sip of his drink. “Fine,” he agreed.

“Good,” Janus replied. “We’ll start by looking around the coffee shop for anything unusual. Did you have any questions now. It’d look more natural to be walking around if we were having a conversation.”

“Does the glitter in your hair have to do with the style of the time or…?”

Janus sighed.

 Chapter 57

Luckily, the cashier didn’t seem to think them snooping around was very odd. To be fair, the shop had quite a few odd decorations to look at. So, perhaps employees were just used to people walking around and looking at all of the different things. It helped that Janus and Patton were talking as they searched. They just looked like a couple… of friends… casually chatting and exploring the coffee shop together.

“So,” Patton said, keeping his voice quiet, though luckily the few patrons were on the other side of the shop. “What exactly is it that you do working for the TPI?”

 “Well,” Janus said. “I’m a senior field agent. That means I am the person who actually goes on missions in different times. These missions can range from tracking down people who are committing crimes using time travel, stopping anything or anyone that could damage the timestream, and helping waylaid time travelers.”

“So, there are different types of agents?” Patton asked, curiously.

“Yes,” Janus replied. “There are a lot, but only four type time travel on a regular basis.” Should he be telling a very young version of Patton this? Probably not, but he couldn’t find it in himself to care too much.

 “There are surveillance, touchdown, field, and cleanup agents,” he explained. “Surveillance agents do a bunch of things including research about the exact time field agents are going to and figuring out the best places for them to enter the timestream. Touchdown agents come slightly before field agents to do last second checks and stay when field agents are out. They mostly are just there to intervene if there are any unforeseen issues. Field agents actually interact with people from other times on a daily basis as they slip into the timestream and find whatever person or object they’re looking for. Cleanup agents come in afterwards and tie up any loose ends as well as observe the area for a few days to make sure nothing happened that no one caught.”

 “Everyone else who works at the TPI is mostly in research and management. They don’t usually travel, though everyone who works there is licensed to travel if necessary.”

“That’s a lot of people,” Patton commented.

“What we do is important. We want to make sure we are doing it correctly.” It was honestly not meant to be a jab, but Janus could see Patton frown. He decided to change the subject. “Right now, we’re looking for something that’s causing a small disturbance.”

“What type of thing could cause a disturbance? Is it always a machine like the one in France?”

“No,” Janus replied. “That was actually unusual.” He thought for a second. “At least that used to be unusual, but lately we’ve seen more and more of that sort of thing.”

 They were currently standing at a bookshelf, but nothing pinged Janus’s interest or time piece, so they moved on to look at a few of the movie posters. Patton seemed to grow more and more concerned the longer he looked at the posters.

“So, what is it usually?”

“Well,” said Janus. “Some things are natural events. No one’s really sure what causes those. There are theories, but I’m not really involved in that. We leave those alone for the most part if we find those. They’re usually small things, though on occasion they’re a bit bigger. Usually, time disturbances are caused by someone messing up. They say something wrong that gets someone curious and creates a butterfly or they leave an object that doesn’t exist in the time.”

 “So, what do you think this one is?” Patton asked curiously.

“Well,” Janus said. “It’s a rather small disturbance, so it won’t be anything too major. Probably just an object out of place.”

“Hmm,” Patton replied. “Well, I’ve always been good at those find the difference games.”

“Have you now?” Janus said, unable to stop a slight grin from ghosting over his face.”

“Mhmm,” replied Patton. He drained the rest of his smoothie and then turned around, facing away from the wall of posters they’d been looking at. He slowly scanned the room, an action a lot less inconspicuous than what Janus had them doing, but he didn’t protest for now.

 “That’s weird,” Patton declared, pointing rather obviously at a shelf. Janus noticed a woman looking at him funny. “Well,” Patton continued. “More like it isn’t weird, which is weird for here.”

Janus glanced at the shelf full of small figurines. Most of them were of mythical creatures: werewolves, dragons, and even one not even Janus recognized. Janus would guess, especially judging by the plethora of movie posters that they were all from movies or something of the like. However, Patton was correct there was one that stuck out from the rest. It was still a figurine, but unlike the rest, it was of a real animal: a cow.

 “That is odd,” Janus agreed, peering at the cow. Figuring Patton had already been obvious enough, Janus stepped over to the shelf to study it more closely. When looking at it more closely, it became obvious that the cow was very unlike everything else on the shelf. It wasn’t even really a figurine like the ones around it. It looked more like a children’s toy. It’s fur was made out of a soft looking material instead of the stiff plastic of the werewolf next to it.

“It doesn’t really fit in with the collection, does it?” a voice asked from behind Janus.

 Janus winced internally at the fact that a civilian had just noticed him acting oddly, but kept his face smooth externally as he turned to face the woman standing behind him.

“My friend and I were wondering what it was from,” Janus said evenly. “We recognized the rest of the figures, but I’m not sure where this one came from.”

“Well, that’s because it didn’t come from anything,” the woman said. “At least that I know of. I just didn’t know where to put the thing, so I put it on my movie figurine shelf.”

“Ah,” said Janus, a politely interested crinkle to his brow. “Where did you get it then?”

 “A young kid came by about, oh, a week ago. He looked like a high school kid or maybe college. He seemed right confused and upset. He said he didn’t have any money on him, and got weird when I tried to ask him about his parents. I ended up giving him a free drink and let him sit here for a couple’a hours. We got to talking about my collections. See, I have a deal that if someone brings me back something of interest for my displays, they get a free drink. He insisted on giving me that in exchange for the drink even though I told him I’d given him the drink ‘cause he seemed upset.”

 “I don’t even particularly want the thing, but he said he didn’t want it anyway, and he insisted, so I took it.”

“Interesting,” Janus said. “Do you mind if I touch it?”

“Go ahead,” she said with a shrug.

He reached forward to pick up the cow and felt the softest of fizzles that only someone who regularly time traveled would feel. Despite already knowing this must be what he’d come for, he still subtlety set his timepiece to scan it.

 Patton was peering over her shoulder now. “If both you and the person who gave it to you don’t care much about it, do you think we could buy it off of you?” he asked. “I’m a big fan of cows.”

She shrugged her shoulders. “I guess,” she agreed. “If you really like it. I don’t know what else I’d do with it.”

“How much?” Janus asked.

“Well it only cost me a Lemon CastelWalk and a scone, so about 12.”

“Sure,” Janus agreed, pulling out his wallet and forking over the currency. “Thanks,” he said.

“No problem,” she replied. “Hope you can find some use for it.”

 Janus gave her a smile and then looked at Patton. “I think it’s about time to go, don’t you think.”

Patton nodded. “Thank you for the cow statue,” he told the woman as they left the shop. They walked a bit down the street. Patton turned to him once they were out of sight of the shop window. “So, that’s it?” he asked.

Janus nodded and checked his time piece which had finished it’s scan. “The fabric is from the late 43rd century,” he confirmed, “but that’s not all. It’s stranger than that.”

“Stranger how?” Patton asked.

“The materials are definitely from the 43rd century,” Janus said, “but it’s not from the 43rd century.”

“What do you mean?”

 “This,” Janus said, looking at the cow. “This doesn’t exist. Every object has traces of where it’s been no matter how much you clean it. My timepiece can register debris sticking to an object down to the microscopic level and give a general idea where and when they came from. There’s no time travel residue implying it came from the 43rd century or even just dust or dirt from that time period. There isn’t even anything on it from this time period from more than the week the shop owner said it was in her possession. My scans seem to be saying, this thing popped into existence a week ago and didn’t exist in any time or place before that.

Patton frowned. “Well then, what does that mean?”

“I don’t know,” answered Janus frowning down at it. “I have absolutely no idea.”

 Chapter 58

Janus didn’t know what to make of the cow he’d gotten in 2510. He’d said goodbye to the young version of Patton and grabbed Remus before heading back to the TPI. He’d immediately handed the time anomaly over to the labs, but even after a few weeks, he hadn’t heard anything back yet. The labs seemed just as stumped as he was.

The older version of Patton still drifted in and out of his life, usually unseen, like a ghost in the night. Well, a ghost that cooked him plenty of healthy food.

It felt odd slipping back into his old routine of missions.

 Sometimes it felt like no time had passed, but then he’d see the faces of new recruits or get a mission where he didn’t see Rhi and remember that things were different now. The TPI was strained, constantly running after time distortions with no idea what or who was causing them. The new recruits were stumbling to catch up to the agents who knew what they were doing but were still needed to fill the gaps. It made Janus grimace, but he didn’t know what the solution was.

It was nice to be able to talk to Emile about these things.

 If Patton made sure he was taking care of himself at home with nice meals and an ever-changing option of soaps and shampoos, Emile made sure he was taking care of himself at work. Janus was now forced to have a water bottle at his desk to make sure he wasn’t spending the day dehydrated and, assuming he was not on a mission, Emile would either drag him away to eat lunch or bring lunch too him if he was too busy. Today was the later kind of day. Emile had messaged him about 45 minutes ago asking if he was free and then had taken his order for a local restaurant when Janus said he had too much to do.

 There was a knock on the door and both Fred and Janus, the only two occupants of the office at the moment looked up.

“I’ll get it,” Janus said, getting up before Fred did. He knew Fred was currently in the middle of a report on a trip to 2000B.C. he and Lena went to. They’d let a new recruit tag alone for training purposes. It had gone badly to say the least. Fred looked exhausted and stressed which was unlike the usually cheery man.

Janus shuffled to the door and opened it. A man in his early 30s that Janus didn’t recognize was standing there.

 “Hi,” he said. “I, uh, moved into the office next door. My name is Dave.”

There was a moment of silence. “Did you need something Dave.”

“Right,” he said. “Yeah, I was just wondering if your integrator is running, because mine isn’t.”

Janus glanced back at the report he’d been working on. “Yeah, it’s fine.”

“Well, is it, like, connecting to the TPI system?”

“I don’t know,” said Janus, “I was working locally.”

“Yeah, well that’s the problem with mine. I was wondering if anyone else was having the same problem.”

“Let me check,” said Janus, walking over to his desk. He went to open his email and an error message popped up.

 That was… odd to say the least. The TPI had very, very reliable technology. If it was just Janus who could not access the system, he’d assume it was just a local problem, but if the next door neighbor also was having an issue, that could smell trouble.

“Fred,” Janus called. “Are you connected to the internet?”

Fred glanced down at his integrator and clicked a couple of buttons. “No,” he said.

“Hmm,” Janus said. He pulled up his timepiece. That at least connected to the TPI servers, so the servers themselves weren’t down, just the offices’ connection to them. “Well, I can still connect with my timepiece.”

 “Same,” said Fred.

“So, what’s wrong?” Dave asked. “How do we fix it?”

“We don’t fix it,” Janus said. “We submit a tech support request.”

“Oh,” said Dave. “…How do you do that?”

Janus sighed and flicked his wrist to project a screen. “If you go to the web on your timepiece, it’s literally on the page that automatically pops up,” he said pointing.

“We can connect to the internet through our timepieces?” Dave asked.

“…Did you have any training?” Janus asked.

“Don’t be rude,” Fred said absently, still typing on his report.

Janus just rolled his eyes.

“Not on… that part. They did give me a handbook.”

 “Have you read it?” Janus asked.

Dave shrugged which told Janus everything he needed to know.

“Just go back to your office,” Janus told Dave. “I’ll submit the tech support request this time since it’s affecting me as well but read your handbook and familiarize yourself with your timepiece for goodness’s sake.”

“Okay,” Dave said, turning around and wandering back to his office with no thoughts in his eyes.

“I’m not your fucking preschool teacher,” Janus muttered under his breath as he returned to his desk. “It’s not my job to hold your hand and wipe your ass.”

Fred glanced up at him. “Thanks for not saying that when he was still in the room,” he said.

Janus shot him a thumbs up.

 He sat down at his desk and quickly submitted a tech support request. By the time he finished that, Emile was knocking on the door with a bag of food.

“Come in,” Janus said to him, and he did, pulling over Remus’s chair and plopping down the food on Janus’s desk.

“You look stressed,” Emile commented.

Janus sighed, already reaching into the bag to look at what Emile had bought. “Everything’s disorganized, everything’s broken, and no one knows how to do anything.”

“Yeah,” Emile said. “I’ve noticed the TPI is understaffed. Even with all of the new recruits, there never seems to be enough people to go around.”

 “Yeah,” Janus said, pulling out a burger on a pretzel bun and going to unwrap it. “How about you? This all been messing up your job too?”

“In general, for the AMO, yes, because they have to get all of the new agents houses and everything. For my department, not as much, but we are seeing some agents getting stressed because they’re overworked. Mostly the more senior agents.”

“Honestly, I’m lucky stress makes me throw myself into work to avoid thinking about it. I shudder to think how all of the mentally healthy people are holding up.”

“Janus,” Emile scolded.

 “Plus, I’m already set up to have an appointment with a head doctor at least twice a week, so I’m good on that front.”

“I guess that’s true. Just don’t overwork yourself,” Emile said.

“I’m fine Emile. Plus, they need me. I seem to be one of the few people around here who actually know what they’re doing.”

“I just worry…” he said.

“I can handle it well enough,” Janus promised. “I’ve got the toolkit or whatever the head doctor calls it. Plus… work wasn’t ever actually the problem.”

“I know. I know…Just…you aren’t even taking lunch.”

“I have a bit more time free in the afternoon,” Janus said.

 “I was just in the middle of something today. If you’re free for a half hour or something, we could get a cup of coffee. How about that? Would that assuage your worry about me a least a bit?”

“Yeah,” Emile said. “Yeah, it would a bit. I have a break at 2, would that work?”

“Sure,” Janus said. He technically had a good amount of stuff to do, but Emile was right in the end. He should try to take breaks. It wasn’t his duty to do everything at the TPI. “A quick lunch now and coffee at 2.”

 Chapter 59

Janus did fulfil his promise to Emile to take a short coffee break at 2pm. It was nice for both of them, Janus thought and was well worth it… even when he came back to a stack of work and an extra mission on his docket.

“Where did this one even coming from?!” Janus asked as he and Remus speed walked to costuming. “I was gone for less than 30 minutes. They can’t give us more than an hour warning anymore?”

Remus shrugged. “I just got back from a mission,” he said. “I haven’t even had time to write my report on that one.

 “This is a mess,” Janus said. “Everything’s a mess.” Readings of a fairly large time distortion had popped up in 2158 Lille, France out of seemingly nowhere according to write up they’d been given. Though, honestly, with how disorganized the TPI has been, Janus wasn’t 100% confident they hadn’t just missed the thing somehow. It also was apparently giving very similar readings to the time device they’d ran into in Cuba. That’s why they were sending both Remus and Janus, despite the two of them mostly having been split up for missions in the past few weeks. If it was as bad as Cuba, they wanted them to have backup.

 Of course, that was where the TPI’s consideration had ended. Remus and Janus were still being rushed through to this mission and not even seeing Rhi once more. Costuming barely even glanced at them when they got there. They just tossed clothing at them and only gave them a superficial look over before sending them off to decon.

It was almost disorienting how quickly they ended up in a completely different time and place. Janus was lucky that he was used to traveling through time. He could easily slip into the right language and accent and knew how to walk in the shoes they gave him. He worried about other people though.

 They arrived, of course, a bit before the time distortion was meant to begin, especially knowing their devices might not work once whatever it was hit. They waited around on a bench near a small shopping area for a while.

“So,” Remus said. “How’ve you been?”

Janus glanced at him. “Better overall,” he said. “Shit’s fucked with the TPI right now though.”

“I know,” Remus said. “It’s been interfering with my many extracurricular activities.”

“You’re extracurricular activities?” Janus asked. “Do I even want to know?”

Remus show him a smile. “Probably not,” he said. “It’s just the usual: sex, drugs, alcohol, making sure Diesel Fuel has whatever she could ever want.”

 Yet, even as he said it, there was something else in his eyes that gave Janus pause. “Are you sure things are alright?” he asked. “I could help with something if you need.”

“With what time, Janus?” he asked, with a raised eyebrow.

“I could make time,” Janus said.

Remus just shook his head. “It’s nothing,” he claimed.

Janus wanted to press the issue, but then there was a buzz from both of their time pieces.

“Well,” Remus said, getting to his feet. “Duty calls.”

Strangely enough, despite giving off the same signals as the device from Cuba did, their time pieces did not shut off. The detected the time distortion like they were supposed to, but otherwise stayed active.

 It was… incredibly easy to use their time pieces to find the source of the time distortion. Apparently, the caution about it considering that it was similar to the Cuba incident was unfounded.

The tracked the distortion down to a small children’s playground in the middle of the city. There was a device attached to the bottom of one of the slides. Janus flipped it off and balance was restored to time.

“Weird,” Janus said. “It definitely does look like the device we found in Cuba, but…”

“We aren’t currently swimming in an ocean,” Remus filled in.

“Yes,” Janus said. “You’d think the same type of device would have the same effect, but this one was pretty stable.”

 “The main question is still who is putting them,” reminded Remus. “These are clearly not natural. Someone is doing this, but all we’re doing is running around trying to turn them all off instead of getting to the root of the problem.” The last bit was a frustrated mumble.

“You’re right,” Janus had to agree, “but so far these things have been practically untraceable. We can’t even figure out when they’re from. The most we can do is see when they’re active.”

“This doesn’t make any sense,” Remus said.

“No it-” Yet, before Janus could finish, he was cut off by a shout.

 “Janus,” Patton’s voice called from the opposite side of the playground. “Hi!”

“Uh…” Janus said as he approached. “Hi.” He probably shouldn’t be too shocked to see Patton hanging around time distortions. He’d shown up at many of them before, but something about him showing up after the time distortion was already fixed threw Janus off. “We already dealt with time distortion…”

“Oh, good!” Patton said. “That’s good.”

“Yea-”

“So, I was actually wondering something.”

“Er, alright,” Janus said. There was a pause. “What?”

“Oh,” Patton said. “Um. You. Well, you once mentioned that you liked ballet.”

He hadn’t actually that he could remember, but he wouldn’t be surprised if a future version of him had. “Yes,” he said. “That’s true.”

 “Yeah,” Patton said. “Cool, so I have a… nephew who’s been getting into ballet. And I’m trying to learn more about it. I was wondering if you had any suggestions for things to see about ballet to help me, er, get a better idea about how… it… is. You know?”

Before Janus could think of a response, Remus spoke up. “You were a much better flirt in Cuba,” he remarked idly. Janus elbowed him harshly in the side.

“Hey, Remus, honey,” Patton said, glancing at him with a sweet smile. “I saw an interesting looking coffee shop down the road.” He started digging in his pocket. “If I give you money, would you mind getting us all something to drink.” He pulled a few bills out of his pocket.

“Yeah… okay,” Remus said with a smirk. “I see how it is.”

Patton just smiled at him and handed over the money.

“Have fun you two,” Remus said, turning on his heels and striding off.

 Janus glanced back at Patton once he was gone. “So, a nephew?” Janus asked.

Patton nodded. “Yep!”

“What exactly did you want to know?”

“Erm… I dunno,” Patton said. “I don’t know enough about ballet to know what to ask about ballet.”

“Well do you want to know more about the watching side or the dancing side.”

Patton bit his lip. “Well, I guess I’d like to know more about the watching side first,” he said. “Then maybe learn some basics about the dancing stuff if my nephew wants to dance.”

“Well, I actually do know more about watching ballet than participating, so that’s good.”

 Patton ended up pulling him over to sit on the swings even though there was a perfectly good bench at the edge of the playground. Janus talked a bit about ballet in general and then gave him a list of particular shows he liked. He did try to stick to the 21st century and before under the assumption that this nephew was from the same time as Patton. There was still plenty of things to talk about even with those restraints.

Patton seemed interested as he talked, pressing his face against the chain of the swing to look at him as he talked with a smile.

 They spoke about ballet for about 20 minutes before Remus eventually returned from the coffee shop.

“Thanks Remus,” Patton said, taking the cup he’d offered to him.

“No problem,” Remus replied, flashing a smile.

“Well,” Patton said, “thank you for the info Janus, but I really need to be going now.”

“Oh,” Janus said. “Okay.”

“See you soon!” he said, typing something into his timepiece and immediately disappearing without even checking his surroundings. He was lucky the playground was strangely empty today. He left his drink on the ground without taking a sip.

“Well,” Janus sighed once he was gone. “We should probably be getting back to the TPI anyway,” he said, taking a sip of the drink Remus had gotten him.

 “A London Fog?” Janus asked.

“It was the special,” Remus said, taking a sip of his own drink.

Janus shrugged. “We’ll finish these and head back,” he said. “The mission was shorter than expected anyway. They can deal with us being gone a couple of extra minutes.”

“Mhmm.”

Janus took another sip. “About the conversation from early,” he said.

“Uh, could we maybe talk about it later?”

“Remus, you’re my friend and clearly something is bugging you.”

“It’s nothing,” Remus said. “Really.”

“It’s clearly not ‘nothing,’ Remus.”

“I… well,” Remus said. “Maybe not, but let’s not talk about it right now. We’re on a mission.”

Janus snorted. “Remus, I’ve seen you drink on the job.”

“…Right,” Remus said. “But still. Things are busy. We should probably actually head back now.”

Janus sighed. “You’re probably right,” he agreed, “but really, we should talk sometime.”

“Sometimes,” Remus agreed, “just… not now.”

“Fine,” Janus said. “Ready?” Remus nodded and Janus pulled up his timepiece and pushing the correct button to get them back to decon. Remus copied him and they both were off.

 Chapter 60

Remus pretty much bolted out of decon to get away from Janus when he tried to talk to him again or at least ask if he could come by and talk to him after work. Janus felt a pit of worry start to grow in his gut. There was something wrong, but Janus didn’t know what. In fact, thinking back, maybe there had been something wrong for a while, but Janus had been too caught up in his own shit of a brain to properly address it.

He walked back to his office still thinking about it. Maybe he’d get Emile’s opinion on what to do.

 The lights flickered as he entered the hallway his office was in, and he paused. That was strange. Very strange.

He frowned, planning to message someone right away about whatever the fuck that was. It was one thing to be a chaotic mess of a time travel agency; it was another to literally not be able to keep the lights on. What was going on in this place?

He stepped into his office shaking his head. To his surprise, someone was already sitting at his desk.

“Virgil?” Janus asked, confused. “What are you doing here?” It wasn’t completely unheard of for someone in cultural outreach to come physically to the TPI, but usually agents went to them. It was more convenient to them and a bit more secure for the TPI.

 “Oh,” Virgil said in a tone that made Janus narrow his eyes and expect the dish washer not to be loaded. “Hey Janus. What are you doing here?”

“In my office?” Janus asked, glancing at Fred who had obviously let him in. Fred shrugged. Glad to know they had great security here.

“Right, yeah,” Virgil said. “It would be your office, huh?”

“…Yes?”

Virgil paused for a split second and took a breath to regroup. “I was actually looking for your partner.”

“Remus?” Janus asked. “Why?” Then he paused. “What on Earth did he do?”

“Nothing,” Virgil said. “Well, I mean… probably something knowing him, but that’s not why I’m here.”

“Probably,” Janus agreed. “I don’t know where he is right now though. He ran off when we got back from our last mission.”

“And you have no idea where he could have gone?”

“I actually would like to talk to him too,” Janus said. “So, if I did, I wouldn’t be here.”

“Chances he’ll come back to the office?” Virgil asked, hopefully.

“Very low since he’s avoiding me.”

“Great,” Virgil said, rubbing his temples. “That’s great. Why does this have to be physically difficult as well?”

“What exactly do you need with Remus?” Janus asked, noting the way Virgil was holding himself very tensely.

 “I just need to talk to him,” Virgil said.

“Yes,” Janus said. “About…?”

Virgil didn’t say anything. He just looked off to the side.

“Why is everyone acting weird today?” Janus said, almost to himself.

“I’m not!” said Fred from his corner.

Janus shot him an unamused look. “Thank you for your contribution to this conversation, Fred.”

“Look,” Virgil said, “can you just tell him I need to talk to him about something private the next time you see him?”

“What on Earth do you need to talk privately to Remus about?” Janus said.

“Just leave it, Janus,” Virgil said.

 He had his lips downturned in stern way that meant he was trying to hide something from Janus by feigning annoyance. Janus titled his head. “You two aren’t…”

“No! Ew!” Virgil said, looking disgusted. “He’s somehow the worst of two options which is saying something considering the French Toast.”

“What?”

“Nothing,” said Virgil. “Just, can I leave a note for him, or something?”

Janus paused, looking at him. Virgil squirmed under his gaze but didn’t seem like he was going to give in anytime soon. “Fine,” Janus finally relented. “You can leave a note on his desk. I’m not sure why you didn’t just email him.”

 “It’s an in-person type of conversation,” Virgil said, wringing his hands.

“Whatever you say,” Janus said, walking over to Remus’s desk and clicking the memo button that brought up a screen people who weren’t Remus could write on. “There you go,” he said.

“Thanks,” Virgil said with a relieved grin, clearly happy he was no longer being interrogated. He grabbed the stylus tied to the side of Remus’s desk. (If Janus hadn’t tied it there, it would be in Mesopotamia by now, he was sure.)

Janus turned to go back to his own desk.

“Wait,” said Virgil. “It isn’t working.”

 “What do you mean?” Janus asked. “It’s a note app.”

“It’s not tracking what I write,” Virgil said. He tapped the screen with his finger. “It’s not even responding.”

Janus leaned over to take a look for himself. He tapped it a few times and there was nothing, so he tapped it a bit more aggressively. A fuzzy line went across the screen and then it shut off abruptly.

“What is wrong with things in this office lately?” Janus asked with a frown.

“My stuff just froze too,” Fred said.

The door opened then, and Lena entered the room. “The coffee makers are all offline.”

 “What do you mean the coffee makers are offline?” Janus asked.

“I went to get some coffee for Fred and I and they’re not working. Any of them.”

“That’s odd,” Fred said.

“You know,” Virgil said, shifting nervously on his feet. “This seems like a bad time for me to be here. Why don’t I just come back another time or better yet, Janus, just tell Remus to come find me.”

“Yeah,” Janus agreed. “There’s a lot of things going on apparently, so it’s probably best if you leave.”

With that, Virgil brought up the time device he was using and pushed a couple of buttons to return to his university.”

 However, instead of disappearing like he was meant to do, he flickered once and then was immediately on his knees with his hand over his nose.

“Shit,” Virgil hissed.

“Are you okay?” Janus asked, kneeling next to him. There was blood coming from his nose which was concerning, but his eyes focused on Janus easily enough, though he looked very startled.

“I think I just hit the shield.”

“Is your timepiece not approved?” asked Janus, pulling on his arm to see the timepiece.

“I got it approved this morning,” Virgil said, taking a tissue Fred handed to him to press it to his nose. “It’s supposed to have access to the TPI all day. I used it not even 10 minutes ago.”

Lena was already on her own time device. She pushed a button and disappeared for a moment before appearing a couple of steps away. She stumbled and was caught by Fred. “Mine’s blocked too,” she said, “I only put in to go to the entrance of the building.”

That’s when the lights went out.

 Chapter 61

There was screaming from somewhere down the hall.

“Do you think that’s like when kids would scream when the teacher would turn out the lights in elementary school for a movie?” Virgil asked hopefully, voice a bit nasally since he was still holding his nose.

Janus gave him a tightlipped stare.

“Yeah,” Virgil said, “that’s what I was afraid of.”

Fred calmly reached over and shut and locked the office door.

“And what good is that going to do?” asked Virgil.

Fred glanced at him, already moving to shove Remus’s desk in front of the door. Janus instantly went to help him. “Gives us time to regroup.”

 “Or it locks us in,” Virgil argued.

Janus glanced over at him. “Don’t panic,” he said.

“The fuck do you mean, don’t panic?” Virgil asked, panicking, “Do you even know me?”

Janus sighed. “Fine,” he said. “Panic as much as you want but do it quietly.”

Virgil opened his mouth to speak.

“We know what we’re doing. You do not. Contributions from you that are only fears no matter how rational are not helpful at the moment.”

Virgil shut his mouth.

Janus turned Lena and Fred. “Okay, what do we know?”

“Malfunctioning coffee makers,” Lena said. “Malfunctioning tech in general really.”

 “And not just now,” Fred added, now working on barricading the window with the cabinet he kept his hot chocolate in. “There’s been issues with the whole system for a while now, and they’ve been getting worse.”

“Right,” Janus said. “I’d been blaming that on new recruits messing things up out of ignorance or IT not having enough time do normal maintenance, but if everything is down when the shields are malfunctioning, that implies something else.”

“Are the shields even malfunctioning?” Lena asked. “That implies something went wrong with the program, but what happened to Professor Eran and I is what it’s supposed to do to people who don’t have permission to cross them.”

 “So, the shields might be malfunctioning,” Janus said, “or someone went in and changed the permissions.”

“Considering the tech problems we’ve been having,” Lena said, “it’s possible someone’s been playing around in the TPI the system without knowing what they’re doing.”

“Or maybe they know exactly what they’re doing,” Janus suggested, “and they wanted to see our usual protocol for small issues before giving us a big one.”

There were a few moments of silence where they all were lost in thought.

“People are still screaming,” Virgil pipped in.

“Yes,” Janus confirmed. “This is obviously not just a virtual attack.”

 “Which should be the priority?” Lena asked. “The virtual attack or the physical one?”

“The virtual part will be complicated, and if we stabilize the building physically, we’ll have more time and have everyone safe,” Fred said, “but on the other hand the virtual attack is obviously what’s letting the physical attack persist. If people had access to time travel and communication, the physical attack wouldn’t matter.”

“I think-” started Janus, but he was cut off suddenly by a horrible screeching noise like metal on metal. The room they were in jolted like they were in a car that suddenly stopped and then the world was turning sideways, and they were all toppling as the floor became the wall. Janus landed on top of Virgil. Hopefully the blood now staining his shirt was from the man’s already bloody nose. “-we should probably start with the time anomaly attack!”

 Lena was a few feet away from him. She’d luckily been to the right of her desk, so she landed on top of it instead of it landing on top of her. Fred was a couple of feet away, already crouched. Judging by the state of the furniture around him, he’d had to dodge the cabinet he’d been putting over the window.

“What’s going on?” Virgil asked. Good, he was conscious after that.

“Time distortion,” Janus answered.

“What the hell type of time distortion is this?!” Lena exclaimed, holding one of her arms with the other. Janus couldn’t tell what type of injury she’d gotten.

 “One like the one Remus and I ran into in Cuba,” Janus said.

“So…” Fred said.

“I think we’ve finally found whoever has been mucking up time with time distortion devices. Or, more, I think they’ve found us.”

There were more screams from down the hall. “We can still hear other people in the building screaming,” Janus noted. “That’s good.”

“How is that good?” Virgil asked.

“That means the building is still connected to itself,” Janus explained. “Which, means that while the shields are screwed up, they’re still in place and keeping the building from being ripped apart and sent through time and space.”

 “Oh well that’s good at least,” Virgil said, sounding honestly a bit hysterical. He looked over at Janus. “If the building is intact, can’t we just leave? Just through the front door?”

The three time agents in the room exchanged a look.

“Well,” Fred said, “first of all, it’s probably not going to be that easy to get to the front door considering the screaming we’re hearing every so often.”

“Also, we wouldn’t be able to get out if we did make it to the door.”

“What?” Virgil asked. “Why not?”

“It’s kind of a secret that most people don’t know unless they’ve worked here a long time,” Janus said, “but the TPI headquarters isn’t exactly… in a place.”

 “What do you mean it’s not in a place?” Virgil asked. “I’ve seen the outside of the building. It’s on a normal street with restaurants and a park and all of that.”

“It’s really not though,” Janus said.

“It’s kind of floating,” Lena cut in. “Somewhere in deep space. The doors auto-teleport you the doors of a building on Earth which is why you think that it’s there.”

“The building’s a shell?” Virgil asked, flabbergasted.

“Yes, and unfortunately, without time travel being accessible, going out of the front door would be ill advised.”

There was a long pause as Virgil seemed to reboot. “We’re floating in space right now?!”

“Well,” Janus said. “We were always floating in space. You just didn’t know that.”

 “Great, yeah, nice, that’s great,” Virgil said, rubbing his temples.

“So,” Janus said, turning to Fred and Lena. “I think first we need to find whatever is sending out time quakes before they get worse. Then, we’ll figure out the rest along the way.”

“How are we going to find it though?” Fred asked. “It could be anywhere.”

“I’m not sure but standing in here isn’t going to get us anywhere,” Lena said.

“The closer we get the more chaos there will be,” Janus said. “Game of hot and cold with time distortions anyone?”

Lena and Fred nodded, but Virgil just looked queasy. Luckily, when the room had gone sidewise, the door had landed in a place still accessible enough with a bit of crawling.

 Fred and Lena had to pull the desk away from the door, but then they were able to cautiously open it. Fred poked his head out. “Seems clear,” he said. “Sideways, but clear.”

“Good,” Janus said.

Fred started slowly crawling out into the hallway and Lena went after him. Janus turned back to a very green looking Virgil. “You can stay here,” he said. Maybe go in the supply closet to prevent any more injury from falling office supplies. It won’t be comfortable, but it’ll be better. We’ll come get you when things are stable.”

Virgil nodded. Yet, right as Janus turned away to go follow Fred and Lena, there was another rubble and the ground shook. Virgil, still a bit wobbly on his feet from the last couple of falls tumbled down, but luckily the room’s walls stayed in their places.

Unluckily, the walls outside of the room didn’t. Looking through the office door one could see what was outside the room was very much not a hallway anymore, but a different room entirely. There was no Lena or Fred in sight. “You’ve got to be kidding,” Janus said to the universe.

 Chapter 62

“I thought you said the building was stable!” Virgil said.

“I said it’s not being ripped apart,” Janus corrected, “and it still isn’t. We’re still inside the headquarters. The rooms just got a bit… scrambled.”

“Great, great, fuck.”

“It’s fine, Virgil,” Janus said, though he himself was a bit worried. He knew if he showed that, however, Virgil would just panic more, and the last thing Janus needed at the moment was a panicking civilian, let along a panicking Virgil.

“It is not fine,” Virgil said. Luckily, he looked a bit pissed off at Janus’s flippant reply. Good. A pissed off Virgil was better than one having a panic attack.

 Janus just rolled his eyes, making Virgil bristle even more. “Well,” he said, “either way, I need to attempt to find what is causing this time distortion. Come with me or stay here, though I am unsure if the closet is a closet anymore.”

Virgil eyed the closet and then eyed Janus.

“Make your choice quickly though,” Janus cautioned, already steeping towards the open doorway.

He heard Virgil curse after a moment and then a hand was gripping Janus’s arm. He was coming with then.

They both climbed out of the sideways doorway into the room on the other side.

 “Where are we?” Virgil asked, still holding onto Janus’s sleeve. It reminded Janus of welcome week in their freshman year of college.

They’d been randomly assigned as roommates in the dorms. Janus had mostly ignored him the first day after small attempts at making conversation had failed miserably. He’d assumed the boy simply didn’t want to make friends, and Janus had taken that in stride, sure he could make friends elsewhere.

That lasted until that night when he’d found his roommate on the bathroom floor, dry heaving into the toilet. After figuring out that it was from nerves and not some drug his body was trying to desperately expel (Janus had been very glad he didn’t have to drag some dumbass to the hospital on his first day living away from home), he decided to take pity on the poor fool and socially adopted him.

 He'd been a nervous wreck during all of Welcome Weekend even with Janus’s literally leading him by the hand (and sometimes dragging him) to the many social events the university put on. He’d slowly calmed down, however being around a lot of people still sometime freaked him out. He’d warmed up to Janus quickly though and when they were alone, he’d come out of his shell.

He’d proved himself to be a witty, smartass, bastard as soon as he got over his crippling social anxiety. He’d matched Janus perfectly, honestly, and had always been around to help with homework, especially reading and writing. He’d also known more about how to clean himself and his environment more than most college freshman even if sometimes his anxiety had prevented him from using that knowledge appropriately.

 He'd actually managed to stop Janus from making poisonous gas in their apartment by mixing cleaning fluids in their junior year.

Janus glanced around them trying to answer the question of where they were. It was a medium sized room, about the size of the living room in his house and was mostly baren except for a large hollowed out circular desk with one gap for people to be able to walk through. Under the desk was a long line of old school computer towers humming softly with only a few centimeters between them. There was a mess of cords all over the place, connecting to different parts of the computers and thrown over parts of the desk.

 “I’m not sure where we are,” Janus admitted. “This is a pretty archaic set up. I’m not sure what it’d be used for.”

Virgil stepped forward towards the desk with a curious tilt to his head. He bent down to study one of the computers for a few moments. He squinted. “It’s not an archaic set-up. Well,” he amended. “It is, but it’s intentionally an archaic set-up. The techs current, it’s just put in a shell that looks old for some reason.”

“That’s odd,” Janus said.

Virgil pushed a button on the side of one of the towers and the machine started rumbling louder, lighting up Virgil’s face in a soft blue light as it did.

 Virgil stood as the computer tower next to it lit up the same the next moment and the one next to it the moment after that until all of the computers were on. Only after that did the top of the desk light up, a full 3-D hologram lighting up with Virgil inside.

Janus stepped through the gap in the desk to stand inside the hologram too.

He was met with a lock screen, but more worrying.

“Oh no,” Janus said.

“What?” Virgil asked, glancing at him.

“The date,” Janus said.

The date behind the prompt for the password read almost 10 years in the future of the year they were supposed to be in.

 “So much for your shields,” Virgil grumbled.

“We really shouldn’t be here,” Janus said.

“Oh really?” Virgil said. “Thanks for your useful information, Mr. Time Agent. I thought likely stepping on our own personal time streams, especially by going to the future was a good Thursday afternoon activity.”

Janus glared at him.

“Oh wait,” said Virgil, glancing at the date on the screen, “I mean Sunday at 2am.”

“Does being an asshole help?” Janus asked.

“Would you prefer an actual mental breakdown because I have two modes of behavior open to me right now.”

“Asshole it is,” Janus grumbled.

“Great,” said Virgil. “Fuck you, fuck Remus, fuck time travel, and fuck…”

 And, of course, that’s when the room decided to tilt once more. They both went tumbling, but luckily the fall was softer this time. Janus simply landed on his backside as though he’d tripped backwards while walking. Meanwhile, Virgil ended up on his hands and knees having caught himself.

“Fuck this!” Virgil completed his sentence a bit too loudly for Janus’s taste.

“Shh,” Janus said.

Virgil looked up at him and seemed to realize what Janus had. They were no longer in the room they’d just been in. Or perhaps they were in the same room, but the computer wasn’t there, and the lighting was different. It was rather difficult to tell if they’d moved rooms since it was just a rectangular box of a room.

 Instead, they were in what seemed to be just an office, much like Janus’s office, but with six desks instead of four. There was a half-eaten lunch on one of the desks and a hologram with a mission report pulled up on the wall.

There also blood on the floor next to where they had landed.

“Where are we?” Virgil asked in a whisper.

“Back in action,” Janus said. “It’s one of the offices, but I don’t know which at the moment, but I’m going to go ahead and assume it’s in the right time. The shields must have righted us.

 “That’s good,” Virgil said, then paused as there was a crashing sound from the hallway. He looked wide eyed at Janus. “Or not good.”

Janus put his finger to his lips and slowly got to his feet. The door had been left open but only slightly. He walked over to it on silent feet to peer through the gap.

The first thing he saw was a body. It wasn’t moving, so it was likely the person was dead, but they could also be unconscious. They were face first on the floor, so Janus didn’t know if he knew them. Their torso was in front of the door, blocking them in.

 The second thing Janus noticed was the giant creature stalking through the hallway. It looked sort of like a big cat that stood on its hind legs. It looked like it was probably 8 feet tall when erect, but it was about Janus’s height with how it hunched over.

Ah.

Janus went to step back from the door, but before he could, the creature looked over at him.

They met eyes.

Whatever it was clearly was not here to have a conversation. He could see it in its eyes… even without the blood on its mouth.

Janus slammed the door.

“What?” Virgil asked.

  “You don’t want to know,” Janus said, pressing his back against the door. There was a loud thunk as something slammed against the other side.

“What is that?!” Virgil asked, alarmed.

“Just pray the rooms decide to get shuffled soon.”

A clawed arm broke through the door right next to Janus’s head. Janus cursed and jumped away from the door. He grabbed Virgil and pulled him behind a desk.

“This isn’t going to protect us!” Virgil said. “We need to get out of here.”

“I’m currently sourcing for ideas,” Janus spat back. He reached up to dig through the desk drawer.

 All he found was a tablet and a half-squished energy bar. At least he could throw the tablet at the cat creature. He wasn’t sure that would do much good considering it was currently shredding the door with its monstrous claws.

“I have one,” Virgil said.

Janus glanced at him to see him staring at his own hand. “Wh-”

“Give me 5 seconds,” Virgil said, holding up a finger. He then made an odd motion with his hands. Two fingers of one hand rubbed around a finger of the other. It looked like he was turning a dial or spinning a ring on his finger, but nothing was there.

 He suddenly disappeared with a pop.

Janus blinked at the empty space he’d left for a couple of seconds before he heard the door splintering behind him as the cat finally broke into the room.

He did throw the tablet at it and it glanced off it’s head as expected. Luckily, before it could come and eat him alive for that slight, there was another pop. Patton appeared in front of him.

“Need a lift?” he asked.

He didn’t wait for an answer. He just grabbed Janus by the shoulder and Janus felt the familiar sensation of traveling through time.

[alexandermaxblogs]

Savor the Taste of Japan at Home in Hartford

Traveling to Hartford, CT? Don’t leave behind the "Galapagos"

Did you know that when it comes to technology, Japan is frequently called the "Galapagos"? Because of its cultural seclusion, the nation frequently creates astounding innovations that are unique worldwide. This includes the meals. From the tempura to the miso, you’ll seriously feel left out if you travel outside Japan and are not able to access the products of Japan’s culinary wonder.

This is what happened to me when I visited Connecticut (CT) a few years ago. Since I was unfamiliar with Hartford, I had no idea where I could get a taste of Japan while I was there.

You can imagine how my first few days in Hartford gave me sleepless nights because I missed my favorite Japanese foods, including Japanese curry rice, gyoza, Sanuki udon, Te-uchi soba, wagyu, ramen, chirashi-don, sushi, and tonkatsu, among others. Japan has a unique heritage that includes a national obsession with cuisine and an almost religious embrace of freshness and perfect food production.

How my craving for Japanese food made me sample all the restaurants near me

In numerous restaurants close to where I lived in Hartford, I enjoyed the food on the menu, but I couldn't shake the feeling that something was still lacking. I tried to explain to the restaurants near me how various Japanese foods are made in the hopes that they would make something special for me, but I discovered that they lacked the essential elements to make the food as delicious as what I was used to back in Japan.

During one of my regular neighborhood walks, I ran into an old friend from high school back in Japan, and it was only then that I learned about the upcoming cultural event that had been prepared by a well-known Japanese cuisine entrepreneur from Hartford. I went to the event, and I was struck by how, through a local delivery mechanism, the food Hartford entrepreneur helped people enjoy Japanese cuisine and an authentic taste of Japan without ever leaving their Hartford, Connecticut, homes.

Greater Hartford Menus does amazing Japanese food delivery in Hartford

It was a pleasant surprise to learn that there was a Japanese food delivery service near me that I could simply order any Japanese meal from and let them know whether they'd deliver it or I'd pick it up! This initiative by the Greater Hartford Menus (GHM) is the brainchild of a number of independent restaurants in the greater Hartford area. So, you don’t have to walk around restaurants to find out whether they have your favorite Japanese food on their menu. You can reach out to the GHM for any Japanese Food Delivery in Hartford!

Does the GHM handle food delivery in East Hartford, CT?

If you live in any part of Hartford, including East and West Hartford, as well as in Farmington, Newington, New Britain, Plainville, Avon, Wethersfield, Rocky Hill, Glastonbury, Berlin, Bloomfield, Kensington, and Addison, GHM’s Food Hartford delivery services are just a dial away.

Apart from local delivery of Japanese food, GHM can also deliver pizza, Italian food, gyros, bagels, lobsters, seafood, pub food, Mexican food, Thai food, wings, sandwiches, Greek food, Vietnamese food, BBQ, Chinese food, vegan food, pasta, your favorite breakfast, desserts, pastries, cakes, pho, fried chicken, and tacos.

In fact, while I was penning this article, a colleague who knows how much I love my Japanese sushi called to find out whether there is any restaurant offering Japanese food delivery near me so that I could order for her to pick it up from my house in time for the arrival of her Japanese visitors coming to visit her in the evening.

Rather than have the food delivered to my house, I asked GHM whether their food delivery services in East Hartford, CT, could be of help to the lady. You can imagine how the lady was overjoyed when she learned that I had ordered some of the best Japanese foods and that they would be delivered to her home just in time for her visitors’ arrival!

Need help with any Japanese food delivery in Hartford?

You don’t have to move from restaurant to restaurant looking for the Japanese food you want to order. GHM has done things for you. If the food you’re looking for is not in one restaurant, they will get it from any of its numerous independent restaurants and have it delivered to you.

The only thing you have to do is place your order using the user-friendly Eatzy platform, and GHM’s committed staff will be at hand to assist you.

[sapporosushikitchen]

asian food near me

Try our mouth-watering Short Rib Donburi here in Sapporo SpiceSea Sushi Asian Kitchen and have a taste of authentic South East Asian Cuisine. Also available in order delivery and order pick up. Order now!  https://sapporosushikitchen.com/